Meeting summary:

  • Hamilton County will set up an eviction prevention center for expectant mothers.
  • Western Hills Viaduct traffic continues to be an issue as renovations have closed the bridge, and now lanes are reduced.

Documenter’s follow-up question:

  • What will be the process for expectant mothers to utilize the eviction prevention program? How can they access those guidelines, and when will the program begin?
  • What’s the latest on the Western Hills Viaduct replacement? The engineer mentioned the program

Notes

SCENE:

The Hamilton County Board of Commissioners meeting was held Thursday, June 4 at the Todd B. Portune Center for County Government. It was called to order at 10:01 a.m.

Present:

  • Alicia Reece, vice president (late to meeting, appeared about 20 minutes into meeting)
  • Stephanie Summerow Dumas, president
  • Denise Driehaus, commissioner
  • Jeff Aluotto, county administrator
  • Ann Schooley, prosecutor’s office
  • Kristie Rechel, clerk
  • Quinn Falter, deputy clerk.

The meeting began with public comment.

Public comment

Barbara Wildon said her son planned a Memorial Day festival at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds set for May 30. They required a sheriff’s office detail at the event, and days before the event, the sheriff’s office pulled the detail. The sheriff’s office also said they could not use a Cincinnati police detail for the event either.

Of the sheriff’s office removing the detail, they were told it was “because of his connection with the village of Lincoln Heights,” Wildon recanted. Lincoln Heights is a predominantly African American community. The vice mayor contacted Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey, who reportedly told her it was because of the number of people who were planning to attend. The fairgrounds told Wilson they had never seen that happen in 20 years, she said.

She said her son lost tons of money because of the abrupt cancellation.

“If it was because of his association with Lincoln Heights, that’s racial as heck. It’s a predominantly Black community. He’s had this event six years, no incidents.” The NAACP advised her to file a complaint with the sheriff’s department, which she did. “They (NAACP) even thought it was crazy (to pull the detail). And then they can’t even put it on paper – like we’re pulling the detail, no you can’t use CPD, and no we’re not going to allow the Hamilton County Department of Health to come and verify any vendors either.” 

Commission President Stephanie Summerow Dumas said she would have her chief of staff speak to her when she finished her comment and see how he could help.

Commissioner reports

Commissioners made comments about what they did this week. Driehaus mentioned she went to the county’s Pride Month flag-raising event. She also noted three high school students were at the meeting Thursday to observe county government proceedings. She thanked them for their interest.

Dumas said she had a briefing on HUD on what they would and wouldn’t be providing in their development and planning department, attended the Black Music Walk of Fame kickoff, and mentioned several other activities of the week.

By-leave items

County Administrator Jeff Aluotto explained six by-leave items on the agenda: for a grant to the Clerk of Courts, a $200,000 Cincinnati Children’s grant for the county to create a Help Center for eviction prevention for expectant mothers, 911 center support grant, and other items

Full agenda details can be found here.

Driehaus said she was excited for the Cincinnati Children’s grant to set up the eviction-prevention help center, as “we know Black babies at a high rate than ever before, so it may have something to do with not having a place to stay or being put out on the street.” Data from Cradle Cincinnati showed Black infant mortality rates have doubled.

The Clerk of Courts grant is also related to the eviction prevention program, Aluotto said.

County engineer

Hamilton County Engineer Eric Beck had two items. Driehaus and Reece asked for an update on the Western Hills Viaduct replacement project.

Engineer said there is a “significant traffic problem” on the viaduct currently, Duke Energy is relocating power lines and the viaduct closed for several days as a result. A helicopter was required to lift power lines out of the railyard.

Consent agenda

Among consent agenda items:

  • Resolution to direct county facilities to fly LGBTQIA pride flags at county buildings for Pride Month.
  • Resolution designating Juneteenth holiday (June 19) and directing county facility to fly the Juneteenth flag at county buildings.
  • $250,000 allocation to Freestore Food Bank from ARPA funds.
  • A $2.1 million upgrade to the county’s 911 public safety radio system.

Reece submitted her report after she arrived:

  • Said she cannot support Duke Energy rate hikes on citizens’ power bills. 
  • Mentioned 513 Relief partnership with Senior Center.
  • Just adopted one resolution to accept one gentleman on board. She asked that they have young people on every board and commission. She cannot think of one they cannot be a part of.
  •  Driehaus commented: “Everyone benefits from the young voices.”

The meeting adjourned 11:04 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.