Hamilton County directing money to Freestore Food Bank and Council on Aging

Notes

Meeting called to order at 10:03 a.m.

Meeting adjourned at 10:51 a.m.

Committee members in attendance:

Assistant Clerk Quinn Falter

Clerk Kristie Rechel 

Commission Vice President Alicia Reece
President Stephanie Summerow Dumas

Commissioner Denise Driehaus

Assistant Administrator Holly Christmann

Assistant prosecuting attorney

Silent Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance

Comments/Motions

Driehaus congratulated Peter Matthews for the Village Walk event highlighting children’s needs. Driehaus joined him in Clifton and Matthews continued the walk in Lockland, Woodlawn and Lincoln Heights today on Oct. 22. 

The Access to Justice Network Conference took place Oct. 21 -22. The event discussed ways to ensure people have access to justice, Driehaus said, adding  that they have a help center at the commissioners’ office.

Dumas said that the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) was proud to celebrate the grand reopening of The Beechwood last week. Dumas also gave a historical overview of voting across the nation and the globe since 1645, urging everyone to go to the polls and vote as soon as they can. 

Reece thanked colleagues for the Board of Elections who explained the voting process to residents. Reece also said that there are concerns with voter intimidation as residents are seeing it in different parts of the country, but she saidthose same issues won’t happen here. Reece encouraged everyone to vote in this upcoming election, noting that this is the first weekend that you can vote (on Oct. 24) and there is no voting on the Monday before Election Day, which is Nov. 3.  

Later, Reece thanked everyone who helped organize the third annual Hamilton County State of Cancer Forum and Cancer Caucus meeting on Oct. 21. Jackie Taggart-Boyd, a cancer survivor, led the effort and said it was a great turnout. Eighteen million people are living with cancer, so Reece said that we must take doctors to the community through the 513 Relief Bus. They took action with several cancer screenings, mammograms, and even customized wigs for women with no charge. 

“They painted the county pink,” Reece said. They thanked UC Health, the Clerk’s Office, YWCA, Brent Billingsley and Elizabeth Shaughnessy. Throughout the event, they honored over 40 people and over 50 survivors. The commissioners’ office will be honoring Liz Bonis, a medical reporter and cancer survivor, on Oct. 29. Reece said the event’s goal is to educate, activate and eliminate cancer. 

By-Leave Item

• Christmann welcomed new employees.  
• Agenda featured one By-Leave item, which amended Hamilton County’s Rescue Plan Act Funding Plan and reclassified state and local fiscal recovery funds to split evenly between the Freestore Foodbank and Council on Aging for $147,000.
  • Reece said that “affordability is the No. 1 issue” and people are being squeezed, so they are happy to support this and invest money into the resolution. Driehaus is also grateful to these agencies and their partnership with the county.
• The By-Leave item passed 

Regular Agenda 

Engineer – Both of the following resolutions passed:

Resolution #1: Authorized the 2026/2027 Joint Agreement between Hamilton County Board of County Commissioners, the Board of Trustees of Delhi Township and the Board of Education of Oak Hills Local School District for the shared use of a Rubber Tire Loader for $4,924. 

• This resolution will run from December 2026 to March 2027

Resolution #2: Approved and authorized the County Engineer to provide funding for the following townships: 

• Anderson: $87,300
• Colerain: $161,640
• Columbia: $13,400, $262,340

Consent Agenda

Auditor – The following resolution passed: 

Resolution #3: Auditor’s Statement of financial transactions for September 2026: $407,505,712.79. 

Commission Administration – The following resolutions passed:

Resolution #4: Actions taken by the Hamilton County Administrator for the month of September 2026. 

Resolution #5: Authorized acceptance of a Capital Assistance Grant from the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health for the Hillcrest Child Wellness Campus and Authorizing Designated Officials to Execute Related State Project Documents with a revenue of $1,500,000. 

• Driehaus is working on the schedule for which companies will be coming in.
• The grant will continue construction and renovation of the cottage, kitchen, and gym.

Resolution #6: Accepted the amounts and rates as determined by the Budget Commission, authorized the necessary tax levies, and certified them to the County Auditor.

Resolution #7: Budget adjustment for general fund: Court of Common Pleas ($1.6 million), Non-Departmentals ($120,000), Grants ($95,000), and Social Services and Justice Programs ($42,000, $129,000 transfers) – Overall Cost: $1,856,750.69

• Driehaus said that this budget looked like a “mixed bag” with supplemental appropriations of departments. Departments are projecting higher than what they are supposed to be spending. 
• The budget adjustment will be supplemental for personnel costs, and the board will ensure that all departments are spending at a reasonable level for the 2027 budget. 
• As the board builds the 2027 budget, they will keep a close eye on the 2026 budget and clearly communicate with the departments with those numbers. 

Resolution #8: Bid awards and contracts authorized or executed by the Purchasing Department for the month of September 2026: $254,292.27 

Resolution #9: Authorized the award of invitation to Bid 049-26 and execution of an agreement between Grayback, LLC and the Board of Hamilton County Commissioners on behalf of Stadia and Parking for Elevator Modernization at the Parkhaus Garage: $329,772.

Resolution #10: Accepted Sales Tax for Hamilton County Clerk of Courts, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, and Sheriff’s Office and authorized its execution and release for Fifth Third Bank: $141.07.

Resolution #11: Accepted one purchase order of Hamilton County and authorized its execution and release: $120,000.

• This resolution will go towards parking and software upgrades in the parking garage located at Race Street and Mehring Way. 
• Reece asked if  any of the current malfunctions with the screens will be fixed and Dumas said that they should be updated on any improvements. 

Human Resources – Both of the following resolutions passed:

Resolution #12: To fund the collective bargaining agreement between the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office and the Hamilton County Deputy Sheriff’s Supervisors Association representing Corrections Sergeants, Lieutenants and Captains, and waive ORC 4117.14 (G) (11) (SERB Case #2026-MED-09-0797. 

Resolution #13: To fund the collective bargaining agreement between the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Association representing Enforcement and Court Services Officers and waive ORC 4117.14 (G) (11) (SERB Case #2026-MED-09-0796).

• Dumas thanked everyone that was a part of the collective bargaining agreement and clarified that this resolution is not a finalized agreement. 

Jobs and Family Services – The following resolution passed:

Resolution #14: Authorized single source agreement with the Board of Commissioners, Hamilton County, Ohio, on behalf of the Hamilton County Department of Job & Family Services and the Foundation for Love for Youth, LLC for group home services: $100,000.  

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