Meeting summary:

  • Immediately after the start of the meeting, the board convened for an executive session that lasted about an hour and 45 minutes. 
  • During the regular session, the most notable decision was approval of the new Cincinnati Bengals lease agreement at Paycor Stadium. 
  • Other noteworthy moments included the proclamation of August 2025 as National Emergency Management Awareness Month in Hamilton County and praise of the work of Emergency Management Agency Director Nick Crossley, an acknowledgment of the importance of the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame and the celebrations of it last weekend, and additional money portioned to the new hilltop lot in The Banks.


Documenter’s follow-up question:

  • Will the new Paycor Stadium lease be approved by the Cincinnati Bengals and the NFL?
  • What will the public reaction be to the new Bengals lease? If it is approved by all parties, how will this change how the city interacts with the stadium?
  • I’m curious about the future, measurable gains that will rise from the recent implementation of some emergency management services.

Notes

I. Opening

  • It was a rainy day, and attendees remarked on lack of parking and inquired sympathetically about who was caught in the downpour. The clerks were in their places and the rest of the board had not yet arrived.
  • The meeting convened at 10:03 a.m. with silent prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.
  • To the right of the entrance were the recording technicians and their equipment, with the ASL interpreter at the back. It appeared that some people who are sitting to the left have signed in to address the board, including a man in a Bengals insignia jersey.
  • Members of the board were introduced. Members present:
    • Denise Driehaus, president
    • Stephanie Summerow Dumas, commissioner
    • Alicia Reece, commissioner
    • Quinn Falter, executive assistant 
    • Kristie Rechel, assistant to county clerk
    • Jeff Aluotto, county administrator
    • Ann Schooley, prosecutor’s office.
  • Minutes from the last meeting were approved.
  • Driehaus moved that the board go into executive session.
  • Agenda stated this is to discuss the sale or acquisition of property and included Roger Friedmann, Steve Simon, Marty Dunn and Laura Maloney.
  • The executive session ended and the board and attendees returned to the room, restarting the public meeting at 11:45 a.m.

II. Presentations

  • Presented by Hamilton County Emergency Management Agency Director Nick Crossley: Proclamation of August 2025 as National Emergency Management Awareness Month in Hamilton County (proclamation document linked here),
    1. The document was read by the board and approved to applause.
    2. Driehaus noted that, with the increased number of natural disasters, it is especially important that citizens of Hamilton County are aware of resources and how to access them. She complimented Crossley on his work and thanked him.
    3. Summerow Dumas also congratulated Crossley on his work in training and education, remarking that he is always open to best practices and new methods
    4. Reece commented on the importance of preparation. People tend to think it won’t ever happen to them. She mentioned that the program works with churches to conduct training as well, and she complimented Crossley on his work.
    5. Crossley commented that the onus behind this recent work in training and awareness is the changes that are happening at the federal level. He noted that responsibility for disaster response will continue to shift from federal to state and local governments, and it’s important to be ahead of the curve so Hamilton County is prepared for this shift in responsibility. Crossley mentioned his new staff and the work they are putting into the new 911 center in Springdale, emphasizing the importance of inclusion: “It takes all of Hamilton County to help Hamilton County.” He recalled that Hurricane Ike caused the largest power outage ever in this area and agreed with Commissioner Reece’s observation that people tend to think disasters outside their area are not their problem but can reach their communities in unexpected ways.
  • The board took a photo with Crossley and his staff
  • Public comments
    1. The man in Bengals gear, identified in meeting minutes as Matthew Robinson, came up to address the board to ask about Paycor Stadium. Mentioned having been here in the past, has been emailing the board. 
  • Comments and motions
    1. Summerow Dumas announced that she attended the Cincinnati Music Festival and remarked on its success. She also met with Prosecutor Connie Pillage about some upcoming items, as well as with Covington Mayor Ron Washington, who she hopes to bring in to talk to the board at some point. She also attended an informational meeting about electricity on the new campus.
    2. Reece spoke about her enthusiasm for the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame and the positivity and vitality of the opening event. She highlighted and thanked all the volunteers, Cincinnati Metro, and other partners for their work on this. The Walk of Fame is notable for its innovative technology, sharing stories of musical legacies, education, and impact on tourism and economic development, Reece said. There is a new, free permanent exhibit related to the new Walk of Fame at the library, where visitors can learn more about the artists who appear there.
    3. Driehaus missed the Music Festival but congratulated Reece on its success. She has mostly been active on the West Side: she issued a proclamation recognizing Price Hill Chili for its impact on Cincinnati (founder Sam Beltsos passed away early this summer) and another proclamation recognizing the closing of the Elizabethtown United Methodist Church in May. Working with the QRT in West Price Hill, they picked up trash and listened to community concerns. 
    4. Additionally, Driehaus has been appointed to the Property Tax Relief Force, a bipartisan group commissioned by the governor with the goal of finding methods of property tax relief in order to keep people in their homes without bankrupting local governments. She acknowledged the challenge of this and said she hopes for real relief and strategies. Driehaus also noted that Paddlefest is upcoming this weekend, the largest paddle-boarding festival in the country, organized by Brewster Rhoades. Driehaus says she’s doing all 9 miles, and she did it last year as well.
    5. Reece thanked other partners of the Black Music Walk of Fame and mentioned a forthcoming item proposing a ban of motorized vehicles on the walk, to prevent damage.
  • Jeff Aluotto announced the by-leave items on the agenda.
    1. BL1 MSD-East Branch Ohio Interceptor (EBORI) Extension-Gest Street Tunnel, Metropolitan Sewer District resolutions amending the MSD 2025 Capital Improvement Program, approving the revised General Plan of Sewerage, declaring the necessity to construct and determining to proceed with procurement of the construction contract (link to document).
      • This item is about the preliminary work to relocate utilities for this project. Partnership with Ohio Department of Transportation.
      • Approved by the board.
    2. BL2 Commission Administration-Resolution No. 17 – Authorizing an annual information statement for Hamilton County, Ohio, for the year ended Dec. 31, 2024. Aluotto noted this is a perfunctory item. (RES17 – AIS Authorization 25.pdf –)
      • Approved by the board.
    3. BL3 Commission Administration-Resolution No. 16 – Amendment to a purchase agreement for poperty on Gray and Winton roads for a new animal center. $1,850,732.00 ( RES16 Purchase Agreement Amendment.pdf -.PDF –)
      • Approved by the board.
    4. BL4 Commission Administration-budget adjustment No. 30 $11.474 million for central campus renovation (BA30 Central Campus Reno.pdf –)
    5. BL5 Purchasing Department-Resolution No.P126-25 authorizing the award of ITB# 033-25 and execution of an agreement between Graybach, LLC and the Board of Hamilton County Commissioners on behalf of county facilities for modifications for Hamilton County(P126-25 for award of ITB 033-25.doc.pdf –)
      • Items 4 and 5 were addressed together. John Bruggen, assistant county administrator, g, said they are cash poor right now. Driehaus commented that the term “cash poor” does not bode well and asked if the issue is timing. Bruggen replied affirmatively. The overall budget is fine, but they may need to bridge the gap in funding while they wait for some property sales to close in order to move money into the project. Items were approved by the board.
    6. BL6 Commission Administration-resolution authorizing update to agreement with THP Limited, Inc. for architect/engineer services related to The Banks Public Infrastructure Development $300,000.00 (THP Hilltop Agreement ASR Resolution 31JUL2025.pdf –)
    7. BL7 Commission Administration-budget adjustment No. 31 – $300,000 in project funding for Hilltop Parking (BA31 Hilltop Ph 2.pdf –)
      • The board addressed Items 6 and 7 together. The representative from the project who was presenting said that the money was needed for “conceptual” designs to determine “what [the project] wants to be.” This wording caused some raised eyebrows and laughter from the board. When pressed, the presenter explained that it had to do with trees in the area and a bike path. Reece commented that the county paid a lot of money for this hilltop, and she was not a part of that decision.
      • “I appreciate greenspace, but we don’t make money off of green space,” Reece said, expressing concern about taxpayer cost. It was originally bought for extra parking spaces for Bengals’ games, and Reece doesn’t want to pay that much. All approved of this item except Reece, who abstained.

Aluotto noted there is one additional by leave not on the agenda, which is the new Bengals lease. The county and the team have been negotiating. Aluotto recommended a new 11-year lease along with an ancillary management document associated with that lease. 

  • Major terms have been publicly discussed and vetted: rent, capital payments, booking, date of rent, splits of revenue, etc. This broader lease goes through all this and more. There have been numerous spirited negotiations with the team.  It is ready to present to the team for signature, who will then pass it along for consideration by the NFL.
  • Turned over to Summerow Dumas for comments. She said negotiations have not been easy, and she didn’t get everything she wanted, but that’s what negotiation is about. She went over some things that she personally fought for, though they did not all make it into the lease: keeping the team here, continuing the economic impact, increasing public use of the stadium, no new taxes, nothing from the general fund. 
  • She wanted the property tax rebate to continue to be included, for the team to share revenues with Hamilton County, and, overall, a new lease so they are not stuck with a bad lease for 10 more years. Summerow Dumas said, “It’s clear to me that this is the best deal for a time such as this.”
  • Reece noted that if this moves forward today, the Bengals still have to agree to it. Then it moves to the NFL, and the shareholders must agree too.She originally wanted a 15-year minimum lease, but received only 11. She wanted$200 million to $250 million to get 30%on property taxes. This deal doesn’t allow the 30%property taxes rebate. 
  • Reece noted that this 30%number was promised in 1997 but has never been fulfilled, and perhaps this deal would never have been made if they had known they would never get this amount. She said the taxpayers are not in this deal. 
  • Reece emphasized the property taxes and connected them to Driehaus’ mention of a state task force from the beginning of a session. She is disappointed that the Ohio Legislature did not write the Bengals into the Budget (but did write in $600 million for the Cleveland Browns), which means that the Bengals have a fund but nothing is promised after that, and that they will be competing with other entities (museums, cultural facilities, colleges) for this additional “leftover” money. 
  • The Modell Law says that the Bengals wouldn’t be able to leave after accepting public funds, but this was waived. Prices go up, so money from sales tax goes up. She complained that the Bengals got what they wanted on everything and noted that the Reds lease also expires in 10 years. 
  • Reece considered how tough it will be to get a renewed lease with two teams threatening to walk. Reece said: “Can we afford to do it times two? At the same time?” She continued, “Last thing I will say is this is super complicated, most of the discussions have happened behind closed doors  … All of the main big stuff behind closed doors …  I think this is too big for just three commissioners to be voting on …  too much implications, we’ve got risk, we’ve got financing, we’ve got future debt, we’ve got a timetable that overlaps two stadiums at one time, we’ve got 30%off the table.” 
  • Reece suggested that people of Hamilton County vote for the terms of the new lease, as they did in 1996. She submitted a motion “to place the proposed county Bengals lease agreement on the ballot … so that every Hamilton County resident can vote on it.” She said 30% property tax should be explicitly included so voters can decide. She called for a vote on the motion on behalf of the taxpayers and asked for a second to her motion, with no reply. . She submitted her motion for the record of the clerk.
  • Driehaus made her comments. She thanked the negotiating team of Marty Dunn, Jeff, David Alunn and many others and agreed that the task has not been easy. The Bengals were happy with the lease, and this community wanted to change it. She thanked those who have weighed in and reiterated the priorities that she heard from people: no new taxes, a better lease, and keeping the Bengals in town.
  • Driehaus stated, “We have listened to that, and this document is a reflection of that. From my vantage point we have delivered on what the residents want us to do …  We didn’t get everything we wanted, the Cincinnati Bengals didn’t get everything they wanted.” The Bengals wanted a shorter term, a higher number for the city to contribute, and liability is capped (it is not capped in the current lease). 
  • Under the new lease, the Bengals will pay rent, which will go up to $2 million in a couple of years, capital expenditures will be capped, enhancement language has gone away, and the city now has control of the facility. 
  • Driehaus said people in the community want to use their asset and want the city to be able to program it: high school football games, concerts, etc. This gives the opportunity to do that. She also commented on how timing will be critical to get the unclaimed funds money from the state that Reece mentioned. It will not be possible to claim that funding (potentially hundreds of millions) if not already in agreement with the Bengals. 
  • As for the property tax rebate, when first created, the expectation was that revenue would be far higher than it is; 30% is not possible right now, but there is the ability to negotiate more year to year. Driehaus said she is not willing to jeopardize the general fund and that this needs to move forward right now. She asks David Abrams, a consultant, for comment. He said he thinks this is a good outcome for the county.
  • Approved by all members except Reece, who stated, “My vote is no until the taxpayers have a vote.”

III. Regular Agenda

  • Vacation of portions of unimproved fee rights-of-way for Maple Drive and Cedar Drive in Symmes Township. Petitioners: C. J. Carr, Ann Griesdorn and Trevor Minton (Maple_Drive_and_Cedar_Drive_VACATION_Between_Cinnamon_Rd_and_Willow_Rd_RESOLUTION_ONLY_7-31-2025_BOCC)
    • Engineer spoke on this item, which has already been approved by Symmes Township. Public hearing on July 17. Recommended by engineer. Approved by the board.
  • [MSD] MSD Resolution approving an exemption to Article II “Control of Sewers” Section 206: “Construction of structures over sewers” of the Rules and Regulations governing the design, construction, maintenance, operation and use of sanitary and combined sewers (Exception to Article 206 of MSD Rules and Regs_MLK and Reading Rd_.pdf –)
    • Property owners are requesting permission for a building overhang above the sewer, an area that is normally prohibited from obstructing except for designated purposes or by designated objects.
    • Current regulations don’t allow structures but can grant an exception. 45 feet off the ground, encroaching on the easement. Requires the owner to be responsible for any damage but that is unlikely. Approved by the board.

IV. Consent Agenda

1 p.m.: At this time many people began to leave and pack up. Jeff reads the consent agenda:

  • 3 Auditor’s statement of financial transactions for June 2025. (Auditor’s Statement of Financial Transactions for June 2025.pdf –)
  • 4 Bond financing: Bond financing. Resolution authorizing the county of Hamilton, Ohio, to provide for the public approval of healthcare improvement and refunding revenue bonds for the benefit of Life Enriching Communities in order to facilitate compliance with Section 147(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. (Hamilton County – Dinsmore Submission – LEC.pdf -.PDF –)
    • Life Enriching Communities, an Ohio nonprofit corporation wants approval of bonds to build new facilities called Trillium at Twinlakes in Westlake
  • Commission administration
  • County Facilities
    • Resolution determining that certain sanitary easements are no longer needed for county purposes and authorizing the county administrator to execute a release of easement and other agreement documents necessary to release the easement $0.00 BOCC Submission_Release of Easement_3120 Algus Ln.pdf –
  • Human Resources
  • Job and Family Services
    • Job & Family Services-Resolution No. J121-25: Authorizing the first renewal agreement between Talbert House and the Board of Hamilton County Commissioners on behalf of the Department of Job & Family Services for comprehensive case management and employment program services $4,944,000.00 Talbert CCMEP 131499-201 for BOCC.pdf –
    • Job & Family Services:Resolution No. J122-25. Authorizing agreement between the Board of County Commissioners, Hamilton County, Ohio, on behalf of The Department of Job & Family Services and The Village Network for residential treatment services $423,000.00 Resolution J122-25 for July 31, 2025.pdf –
    • Job & Family Services-Resolution No. J123-25: Authorizing agreement between the Board of County Commissioners, Hamilton County, Ohio, on behalf of The Department of Job & Family Services and Carrington Youth Academy, LLC. DBA Carrington Behavioral Health for residential treatment services $455,000.00 Resolution J123-25 for July 31, 2025.pdf –
    • Job and Family Services-Resolution Number J124-25: Authorizing agreement between the Board of County Commissioners, Hamilton County, Ohio, on behalf of the Department of Job & Family Services and Keystone Richland Center LLC, dba Foundations for Living, for residential treatment services $2,530,000.00 Resolution J124-25 for BOCC date 7-31-25.pdf –
    • Job & Family Services-Resolution No. J126-25: Authorizing original agreement with the Board of County Commissioners, Hamilton County, Ohio, on behalf of the Hamilton County Department of Job & Family and YWCA of Greater Cincinnati for home visitation parent training services $600,900.85 Resolution #J126-25 for BOCC 7-31-25.pdf –
  • Planning and Development
  • Dumas asked about items 16 through 18 and why these are not all located in Cincinnati. Dumas’ goal is to keep kids as close as possible. The speaker representing these items, Bruggen, said yes, that’s because they are offering special services. Dumas said this is appreciated, these services used to be even further away.
  • Reece acknowledged item 14 and thanked Waterworks for water resources.
  • Driehaus moved to approve, all approve.
  • Motion to adjourn at 1:10 p.m. 

If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@citybureau.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.

You can find these notes on Documenters.org

If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@signalcincinnati.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.

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