Overview:

Hamilton County Board of Commissioners Documented by Lauren Harris

Meeting summary:

  • Tariff costs are the common denominator in build out delays across the nation, requiring entities to seek additional funding.
  • The county will have to pull back some of its support of recreational activities to prioritize more pressing needs.
  • The 513 Relief Bus has been impactful and may need more support in maintaining its service-based efforts.

Documenter’s follow-up question:

  • Will the 513 Relief Bus remain primarily service-based, or will we continue to see a shift to more employment training options?
  • Since a commissioner abstained from the adoption of the Large Tourism Grant, will the amount be adjusted or will the grant be removed entirely? 

Notes

Commission  and administration:

President, Commissioner Stephanie Summerow Dumas 

Vice President, Commissioner Alicia Reece

Commissioner Denise Driehaus 

County Administrator Jeff Aluotto

View Meeting – OnBase Agenda Online

Community concerned about delays in new Regional Safety Complex  

Hamilton County Board of Commissioners Vice President Alicia Reece received a letter requesting additional federal funding for the new regional safety complex. Reece referred to the current safety complex owned by the Cincinnati Police Department as a “safety and environmental hazard” and said she would like to explore state funding options to support expediting the buildout of the new location. 

According to Reece, she and her colleagues have a shared sense of urgency around this matter. Concerned community members are also interested in updates. Commissioner Denise Driehaus mentioned tariff increases as the cause for delays with this project. 

Hamilton County 513 Relief Bus Celebrates its 300th stop and five-year anniversary 

Reece highlighted the success of the Hamilton County 513 Relief Bus kick-off event at Corinthian Baptist Church. On its 300th stop, the program celebrated its five-year anniversary alongside all 60 partners. According to Reece, the bus has served over 50,000 community members.

Reece  said she received a memo the day of the kick-off event. While she did not directly share full details included in the memo, she stated (in response to her observations of the bus beginning to stray from direct services and supplying various community trainings), “this bus is designed to be actionable, with services. This is not a training bus.” 

Reece expressed strong sentiments about the 513 Relief Bus not being a “show bus” for “just smiling and grinning,” but instead it offers “real help and results for people.” 

Reece also suggested hiring professional staff to assist with accurately measuring the bus’ impact/success, as, according to Reece, the number of community members served and services provided by the bus have not been adequately reported. 

2026 Large Tourism Event Grant 

County Administrator Jeff Aluotto presented a request for approval to enter into a funding agreement for the implementation of the $1 million 2026 Large Tourism Event Grant.

According to Aluotto, the grant would be distributed as follows: $450,000 to support the BLINK lights and arts festival, $500,000 to support the Cincinnati Music Festival, and $50,000  to support the Flying Pig Marathon. 

As the board recommended approval, Commission President Stephanie Summerow-Dumas abstained from the adoption of this by-leave item, questioning how long the county will assist in funding these events. Summerow-Dumas said the initiative began during the COVID-19 pandemic to help these entities “get their feet on the ground and be successful,” which she said has already occurred. 

Summerow-Dumas added, “ I believe economic impact will happen without our $1 million and that we should keep that [money] for something else in our reserve.” 

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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