Meeting summary:

  • Hamilton County contributed $850,000 to a housing project in Over-the-Rhine for people with mental health challenges. It was part of an American Rescue Plan housing program.
  • The county engineer recommended the grassed-over Mound Drive in Whitewater Township be vacated.
  • Commissioners reminded the public the primary election will be held May 5. Early voting is underway.

Documenter’s follow-up question:

  • Are the petitioners for the Mound Drive vacation property owners? The two adjacent property owners will receive the land there.
  • What is the status of the children’s services levy? Is it being well-received by community members?

 Notes

All current board officers, board members, central office treasurer and The meeting was called to order at 10 a.m. and began with silent prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll call was taken.

Commissioners present:

  • Denise Driehaus, commissioner
  • Alicia Reece
  • Stephanie Summerow Dumas (absent and excused)

Public comment:

  • Michelle Heist said she was terminated from her job with Hamilton County on April 8. She spoke before commissioners the following day about the termination. At Thursday’s meeting, she provided the commissioners and the clerk a set of documents titled “professional conduct.”

Comments and motions

Driehaus:

  •  The Tax Levy Review Commission has started public hearings related to the children’s services levy. 
  • The county engineer had his annual township meeting last night to report recent projects of the Hamilton County Engineer’s Office.
  • On Wednesday night, Driehaus represented the Board of Commissioners in Greenhills for the  groundbreaking of a planned veterans memorial. 
  • She also attended a lunch at the Urban League. 

Reece:

  • Reece was asked to be the keynote speaker for CityLink’s “The Road I Have Traveled” program.
  • Held a recap meeting with Jobs and Family Services and the Office of Youth regarding a recent youth employment event. Nearly 1,000 youth and parents were in attendance. Reece said she wants to hold the meeting again.
  • The 513 Relief Bus will hold its Final Friday stop, April 24, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hearst Recreation Center.
  • She wants to talk to Cincinnati Bengals ownership about bringing more concerts to town at Paycor Stadium.
  • Primary elections are May 5.

County Administrator Jeff Aluotto:

  • Welcomed three new county employees today across three departments. 
  • Will provide a report in May about 3CDC’s purchase of the Garfield Hotel, which will be converted into a mixed-use development. No county dollars used in this project, but commissioners were interested in the plan.

By-leave item

Aluotto presented one by-leave item. The resolution will allow him to enter into an agreement for the 2025 county audit. The state is conducting the audit, which will cost the county $245,196. 

By law, every county and local government must conduct an audit of all its financial statements, and each local government is responsible for paying for it. Reece asked if the price tag was similar to recent years, which Aluotto said it was.

By-leave passed 2-0.

Public hearing

Hamilton County Engineer Eric Beck opened a public hearing regarding Mound Drive in Whitewater Township. The engineer recommends vacating the grassed-over roadway. There is no pavement or utilities on the road, which is owned and maintained by the township.

The engineer’s office received a petition from Thomas and Rita Skeen in September to vacate Mound Drive. The vacation would split the parcel in half and go to each of the adjacent property owners.

Nobody spoke during the hearing, and it was closed.

Consent agenda

The commission reviewed Items 2 to 14 on the agenda.

Among the items: a grant for Board of Elections computer equipment ($10,000), purchase of three Dodge Durango cruisers for the sheriff’s office ($128,584), purchase of a Dodge Durango GT for the sheriff’s office ($40,448), contribution to Urban League’s Building Futures program ($100,00), housing project between commission and Pleasant House Apartments for the HOME American Rescue Plan Program ($850,000).

Driehaus asked for more details on Item 13, HomeARP funding project for rental housing. A representative explained Pleasant House is 25 accessible housing units in Over-the-Rhine. It is intended for people with mental health challenges who may otherwise be homeless.

All agenda items passed.

All details on agenda items can be found here. 

The meeting adjourned at 10:48 a.m

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

Find more Documenters’ notes here.