[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[6:09] All right, we are going to get started here.
[6:14] We have a full house today in recognition of major ms. We're going to get to that in seconds. But thank you all for being here. I know I want to say a raise here, because we're passing the budget today, but perhaps it's major ms. That is drawn the crowd. So we don't want to be delusional. So anyways, thank you all for being here. This is legislative meeting of the Hamilton County Board of County Commission.
[6:42] It is December 18, 2025.
[6:46] We start our meetings with silent prayer and the pledge of allegiance.
[6:50] So please join us in silent prayer.
[7:13] Foundation underground.
[7:15] Individual with liberty and justice.
[7:20] Let's view introductions from the days.
[7:23] Chris, the initial assistant clerk.
[7:24] Leslie, her reclurct to the board.
[7:26] Stephanie, some are all doing this commissioner.
[7:28] Hamilton County Commissioner, Alicia Reath.
[7:30] Affleito County Administrator,
[7:32] Attric Dressing Assistant Prosecuting Attorney.
[7:34] I'm County Commissioner Denise Dreehouse.
[7:37] All right, I'm going to make a motion that we approve the minutes of the previous session.
[7:41] Commissioner Dreehouse?
[7:42] Commissioner Summary Dremance?
[7:43] Yes.
[7:44] Commissioner Reaves.
[7:45] Yes.
[7:45] Thank you.
[7:46] All right, next on our agenda is a presentation.
[7:49] This is a proclamation honoring major M's.
[7:53] Major M's, will you please come to the podium?
[7:55] So everyone can see you as we do this proclamation.
[8:00] I just want to say we'll read through all of the accolades here.
[8:04] In fact, why don't we do that first and then I'm sure all three of us will have comments
[8:08] to add before we turn it over to you for some comments from yourself.
[8:13] So this is a proclamation celebrating the retirement of Major Dan M's.
[8:18] Whereas Major Dan M's retired from his service at the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office on Friday, December 12, 2025.
[8:26] And whereas Major M's has dedicated his life
[8:29] The public service joining the United States Marine Corps at 17 years old and serving for 12 years and whereas Major
[8:38] Ames joined the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office in January 1996 rising to the role of jail services sergeant in 1998
[8:48] Lieutenant in 2008 in jail services major in 2021 and whereas as a lieutenant he was not only
[8:57] assigned to oversee the operations of a single area in the jail but was also assigned throughout
[9:03] the years as the intake OIC, Sheriff's Office Recruiter, Corrections Academy Commander,
[9:10] and Operations Commander for the jail services division.
[9:16] Whereas, when Major Ames was appointed by Sheriff, Charmama Guffy as the jail services major
[9:23] in 2021, he oversaw the operation of the largest division in the Sheriff's office, managing
[9:31] over 400 uniformed and support staff, as well as ensuring that care, custody, and control
[9:40] of over 1,000 inmates every day for the last five years, and whereas Major M's was also involved
[9:48] in various local and state-level committees, such as the Hamilton County Addiction Response
[9:54] Coalition, where he shaped practice and policy on everything from Ohio jail standards to community
[10:02] addiction response. And whereas the board of County Commissioners of Hamilton County, Ohio,
[10:09] wishes to recognize Major Dan Ems for his decades of service and his lasting impact
[10:16] on the safety and will being of all within our county. Now, therefore, be a proclaimed
[10:22] that the Board of County Commissioners of Hamilton County, Ohio,
[10:26] this year by express its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Major Dan Ems for his
[10:32] outstanding service to our community and extends best wishes for a happy, healthy and well-earned
[10:38] retirement and as hereby proclaim December 18th, 2025 as major Dan M's day in all of Hamilton
[10:46] County.
[11:00] All right.
[11:00] Now we have a couple of comments and I just want to say, you know, you've got this distinguished
[11:05] career that we've just heard about a long time career in public safety, but I got to know
[11:10] major M's for the addiction response coalition.
[11:14] And we, I am the chair of the coalition and we have reorganized a couple of times over
[11:19] the past and we have all these committees that are serving in different sectors, prevention,
[11:24] treatment, law enforcement, all the things.
[11:26] And so, major M's was an individual that was coming to the meetings and adding so much
[11:31] to this conversation, trying to connect the dots for people in addiction and how we serve
[11:36] those people and keep them from being in the jail, basically.
[11:41] And major M's wasn't part of any of the steering committee subcommittees, and so we created
[11:47] especially category called Friends of H-C-RQ because we definitely want to
[11:52] major M's to be there in the room and continue to participate and so he is
[11:55] a friend of the coalition and is added so much to the work particularly for those
[12:00] that are just as involved helping with recovery pods they're over in the
[12:05] Justice Center very forward thinking we did get a state grant for that a number
[12:10] of years ago and now we've got individuals that are entering that pod on a
[12:14] military bases, men and women, saying yes to recovery, and we've got them in that facility
[12:19] and providing supports when they get out, so they don't come back to the facility.
[12:23] Major M's was critical to that success, and I am so grateful for your partnership.
[12:29] Really, it wouldn't have happened without you.
[12:31] I do want to mention that sure, sure, I made my Guffy.
[12:33] It wouldn't have happened without you either, but Major M was on the ground, so just
[12:38] really do want to thank you for your heartfelt service to this community.
[12:43] you are sincerely dedicated to everybody in the community no matter where they come from and
[12:49] making sure that people have the supports to do their best and live their best life. So
[12:53] really, really grateful for your service. Commissioner, some of them. Thank you for your service.
[12:59] And I'm looking at all of the things that we've listed since 1996, but I think I'm not running
[13:05] to use several times, always so pleasant and professional. But I'm thinking about all the things that
[13:10] not on here. The impact that you've had, that we didn't even list, that we don't even know.
[13:15] Maybe the sheriff doesn't even know, but just from your heart and you're giving.
[13:20] There are many more things and more people that you've impacted. So I thank you for that.
[13:25] Thank you.
[13:27] Fisheries.
[13:29] Major hands.
[13:31] I don't know. We need a new proclamation that declines retirement. All these great people leave in a sheriff.
[13:38] would go for you. I do let this happen. No, just kidding. But no, thank you for your service. You
[13:44] ever had a very tough job. And going in there and being able to just really build from the bottom
[13:54] up. And when you build from the bottom up, you have a better understanding when you become in charge of it.
[14:00] And I do want to thank Sheriff, what's up, you're recognizing that she had someone like yourself
[14:06] that could lead this effort and take us to a new height.
[14:12] But I just want to recognize that I know
[14:14] it wasn't easy every day.
[14:16] And we put you in a tough place.
[14:19] You were up for the challenge and leaving it
[14:23] in a lot better shape than probably when you found it.
[14:26] So just want to say thank you again, enjoy your retirement,
[14:31] but if you happen to change your mind on the way out,
[14:33] We'll give we'll get Frank from HR and should have made McGoffy share of we love to keep you
[14:39] But Merry Christmas happy new year and have a wonderful retirement. Thank you. I just wanted to say that when everyone came in in uniform
[14:48] I was looking for major ms and couldn't find him because he's already retired look at him
[14:53] All right, this is all you and clothes. I'm like. Oh, no, it's already done it
[14:57] So anyway, thank you
[15:00] So much for coming in. Thanks to all of you for being here in support. So we're going to turn it over to you.
[15:05] Well, thank you, commissioners for this honor. Thanks, Chair. We'll go for you for having to face the confidence and me to put me in my position.
[15:13] The men and women you see in uniform here with the ones behind me supported me every day, day in and day out. I couldn't have done it without them.
[15:20] in this various trees, Laura, I couldn't have done it without them, they made my success.
[15:27] And I do feel like I'm leaving the place in a better place than what I got it.
[15:31] I'm looking forward to retirement, I don't know if my wife is, but I'm looking forward to it.
[15:39] And thank you for this honor, I appreciate it.
[15:40] Thank you so much.
[15:41] All right, we're going to come down and take a, we're going to go down, yeah.
[15:45] We're going to go down and take a photo with yourself, and then we'd love to have the team
[15:48] I'm getting the second photo and the walk is part of the team, right, to give me the first button.
[16:33] Let me take one.
[16:49] You want to come up?
[17:16] One more.
[17:28] You want to go on the back?
[17:32] Probably.
[17:35] I think I need to.
[17:37] We're going to have our friends back here.
[17:38] We get a bar.
[17:38] I'm gonna do
[17:42] it!
[17:56] Take
[17:59] care of your eyes.
[18:01] I'm gonna do it!
[18:03] I'm gonna do it!
[18:05] I'm gonna do it!
[18:05] Oh we're
[18:11] gonna see it!
[18:13] You guys are gonna stand!
[18:15] It's good!
[18:16] All right, everybody!
[18:18] You know
[18:31] what I mean?
[18:38] That's fun!
[18:42] You
[18:45] know what I mean?
[18:46] We gotta step in on the blade.
[18:49] Yeah?
[18:49] All right, okay!
[19:00] All right, everybody!
[19:00] All that's pretty ready.
[19:03] One, two, three.
[19:16] Thank you.
[19:17] Thank you.
[19:18] One, two, three.
[19:20] Thank you.
[19:21] Thank you.
[19:22] Thank you.
[19:23] I'm just done.
[19:25] I just got a message.
[19:26] I'm just going to be an official.
[19:28] It's a real service holiday.
[19:30] Thank you.
[19:34] Thank you.
[19:35] You're welcome.
[19:35] And my gosh.
[19:36] I'm glad.
[19:37] Thank you.
[19:42] Thank you.
[19:46] Gill, welcome to stay. We're going to be talking about the budget. On a wire of
[19:51] raise leaving,
[19:58] all right. I know, I know. It's so sad.
[20:01] Room is emptying out here. All right. The next item is public comments and I do
[20:09] have a few public comment cards. So we will take them next. Got a few folks in the room
[20:15] and then we've got one on Zoom. Larry Falcon, you're at the top of my list.
[20:21] We've got the pleasure of the floor for two minutes.
[20:25] Welcome.
[20:27] Thank you. Good morning commissioners. I'm here to ask you to direct MSD to start billing
[20:34] for excessive runoff and to put it in the 2026 budget. We've spoken before about the reasons for
[20:43] charging for excessive runoff. Two important facts have come to light since the budget
[20:48] hearings two weeks ago that I want to share with you. First during those budget hearings
[20:54] director Christie told you that stormwater discharge is pay for stormwater as part of
[20:59] their sewer bills, she said nobody gets a free ride. It turns out that's not true.
[21:06] An MSD report identified 49,000 properties that generates stormwater and have no water
[21:15] meter. And you know, if they have no water meter, there's no sewer bill, 49,000 properties,
[21:23] generating storm water that have no sewer bill. Second, some of the free loaders are
[21:30] really big. I give you the example of CSX Corporation. 23 parcels with more than two acres
[21:38] each of impervious surface have as they registered address CSX headquarters in Florida.
[21:45] They total more than 170 acres of pavement, if they were build for the runoff from those properties,
[21:53] it would come to more than a million and a half dollars a year, and they are not build for
[21:58] any of that stormwater runoff. Why am I subsidizing CSX? And all the other big landowners
[22:06] like CSX. So county commissioners, please direct MSD to start billing for excessive runoff.
[22:15] Put that revenue in the 2026 budget. I see that there is a by-leave item on your agenda today
[22:22] to address this issue and I appreciate that. I wish it moved us further and faster. Got us to actual
[22:30] revenue and I appreciate it being on your by-leave agenda. Thank you. Yeah, I was going to note that by
[22:35] I believe number one does directly address this, but thank you for your comments.
[22:39] Appreciate it. Our next speaker is Bishop Sunny James.
[22:44] Welcome.
[22:45] Thank you. Good morning.
[22:48] I didn't come to preach today.
[22:51] Time doesn't go.
[22:52] The pleasure of the floor for two minutes.
[22:56] Hope all of Northwood is watching.
[22:59] I wanted to come today to first celebrate
[23:03] with all of you administrators. I'm celebrating in advance simply because as our
[23:11] public defenders office has submitted a proposal to you all I certainly
[23:16] understand that there are certain restraints that we have to consider and
[23:20] giving the budget. But I came to celebrate today as I'm so used to
[23:24] speaking that thing is the would work. It's just how I live. But I want to make
[23:29] sure that as we clamp down on all of our final decisions, that we do so understand that,
[23:39] you know, folks might say, we're bishop this evening to church, but I want to step a
[23:42] little further and remind us, we are the church, and we are responsible for every decision
[23:48] that we make. And looking at the needs, I understand by cutting some things, it opens the door
[23:55] for others. But what we don't want to do is we don't want to cut some things that would
[24:00] actually cause us to spend more money statewide on the other end. So again, I just came
[24:07] to say, hello, I just came to say, I trust you, but I also came to remind you that we as
[24:14] people of faith have a stronger commitment to the people and to God. And I trust that that
[24:22] budget for the public defender's office will go through simply because there are multiple
[24:27] layers and we never want to reinvent the wheel.
[24:30] If it's not broken, let's not try to fix it.
[24:33] So I stand with you in all confidence knowing that we all do this work together.
[24:38] Amen.
[24:38] And then I want to just announce to everybody, come together.
[24:41] 2.0 has been rescheduled because I messed up on the invites.
[24:45] God bless you all and happy holidays to you all.
[24:47] That's my minute.
[24:48] Thank you.
[24:49] Happy holidays to you.
[24:50] Our next speaker is Dean Nightingale.
[24:58] Good morning.
[25:00] Dean Nightingale, Sierra Club, Kufa, communities United for Action, and I support just what Larry just said.
[25:07] It's a really important finding.
[25:09] I'm here today to urge County Commissioners to adopt a purpose-surface fee for the Metropolitan Sewer District.
[25:15] This was incentivized all landowners, including schools, churches, residents, and businesses, to adopt a more efficient, best managed practice and save our city and money in the long run.
[25:24] Building such incentives into the right structure would effectively invite the whole community to become active and part of the solution to Cincinnati sewer problems.
[25:35] If more of us showcase green infrastructure projects on their properties, and we could together create a more resilient city for the future.
[25:43] Our Cincinnati Zoo offers a perfect zero-waste model of managing stormwater by capturing, storing, and reusing rainwater in their systems and rain gardens.
[25:55] Slows run off into the city, reduces water bills, wind, wind.
[25:59] Schools like Robert's Academy, Clark Monosori, Hartwell, and UC have all been installing bioswales, beautifying their campuses, educating the community and saving the city money.
[26:12] The Fairview German School in Clifton is now partnering with a neighboring church to install a bioswale,
[26:19] where they see an environmental justice issue here, as well as keeping the reins from flooding their shared parking lots.
[26:26] If more of us did this, we could pretty much solve the problem.
[26:30] A more equitable fee structure would offer the city a win-win solution, offering financial incentives to implement these win-win projects with help.
[26:39] Thank you. Thank you very much. Our last speaker is on Zoom. I believe it's Marie Kakoshis.
[26:48] Marie, are you with us?
[26:53] On mute. Yes, good morning. This is my husband's laptop. My name is Marie Kakoshis.
[26:58] I am a member of the Miami group of this year club. I am here today to talk about the MSD budget.
[27:05] We know that MSD has a storm water problem.
[27:12] The storm water causes havoc with our combined sewer system.
[27:17] We are proposing and supporting a storm water fee, which will help the problem.
[27:24] Help solve the problem in addition to the items that G9 and Gil has mentioned.
[27:28] We think that a storm water fee will overdo.
[27:32] do. We also believe that the fee will not go into place unless it's in the budget. So I
[27:40] ask you to put it in the MSC budget today and move forward to relieve our system of these
[27:47] huge stormwater impacts. Thank you very much. Thank you, Marie. All right, that's all the speakers,
[27:53] cards I have for today. So we'll move on to comments and motions of the commission's commissioner,
[28:01] Thank you so much.
[28:05] Should I say my budget comments until we get to the budget would you prefer?
[28:10] Think that makes sense.
[28:11] All right.
[28:12] So I participated in our 911 EMA, new brand new building out in Springdale.
[28:18] It's been years and years in the plan and it's absolutely beautiful.
[28:22] It was all over the news about accessibility for each department.
[28:26] and how it's going to really make their services more efficient.
[28:30] So it was glad to see that happen.
[28:33] Also, participate in an executive session with visits
[28:36] and see there are some changes that are coming out of there.
[28:39] And I am on their board and looking forward
[28:43] to the future for visits, since I also participated
[28:46] in interviews for a new JFS director, as we move forward
[28:52] and look at how we want to, I guess, the vision to fulfill the vision that the commission has
[29:01] had. And also the direction that job and family services is taken as a good one. And we want
[29:07] to continue that progress. And other than that, that's about it, Kim's in, so I didn't get my
[29:14] report today, but I remember those things. And so, well, I want to say that I've been looking at
[29:20] budget just as we all have just I think Jeff is a little I don't I
[29:26] want to use a little tired of me but I think outside of the box a little and I
[29:30] research a lot and I'm very detailed and you know just question after question
[29:35] which is my responsibility self I'll talk about the staff a little later thank you
[29:40] Commissioner Reese yes thank you and I will reserve my comments when we get to
[29:47] budget most of the things that we've been focused on is the budget and so did a lot of that obviously
[29:54] these last few weeks. One that's also say that
[30:00] The ribbon cutting at the 911 EMA was amazing. It was good news. Certainly, we look at combining services,
[30:13] state-of-the-art technology, which we have to have if we're going to be safe. And it's just a huge
[30:19] move. I think they were saying that we haven't had a new building in decades. So for our
[30:27] to be able to partner and have 911 EMA ribbon cutting that we had and now have a new joint facility out in Springdale.
[30:38] It was great when I was like everyone that had a hand in that of course Andy and Nick,
[30:43] but all of the architects, all of the people that worked on the project, you know, everything,
[30:49] it just really looked very good, but more importantly for the workers that are out there.
[30:54] have a very tough job. They're on the front lines many times the first person that you're here
[30:59] from all the coordination that's done in our county and in our region to keep our county safe from a
[31:07] lot of these disasters and different things that are happening. So that was a huge, huge deal.
[31:14] And so it was happy to see it go from a concept to actual reality. So I want to thank all of them
[31:22] and thank the administrator, Ludo, and his staff, and getting this done. This is a huge, huge improvement.
[31:32] So was this happy to be a part of that and certainly several elected officials because this is regional.
[31:41] But of course we were in, we were in Mayor Hawkins backyard and of course he said he says lots of
[31:49] other things that's available, but it was just great to do that and be out there.
[31:54] The other thing, the met with regarding the 2026, 513 relief bus and certainly looking
[32:07] to expand partnerships and more help is our mobile services and it's been doing a phenomenal
[32:14] job.
[32:15] They would have pivot when snap benefits were cut and I would have to say they're still are cut because they're not all the way
[32:24] Put back whole but when they were
[32:27] Almost eliminated the bus was able to partner with a number of church pantries and freeze through a food bank and was able to pivot and so just it's helped so many people
[32:38] So I'm excited about
[32:39] Expanding we are very
[32:42] I think unique in having an asset like this with results of helping and providing services
[32:50] of 30,000.
[32:51] I think that's a huge thing in these days and times, no co-pay, which I'm about to rise
[32:58] in medical costs.
[32:59] We want that bus, there's no co-pay, big savings, life savings, and financial savings.
[33:06] people have gotten jobs and been on that bus. People have had their lives say cancer
[33:13] screenings from that bus. So many things back to school, going on there and getting
[33:21] is the coolest parents can't afford it on that bus. So there's just happy to hear
[33:27] about it and we're going to do a much better job and being able to track all of the
[33:33] because we've been under reporting and I'm looking forward to a new system that will be able to capture
[33:40] the real stories, the financial benefits, and the cost savings to the taxpayers around Hamilton County.
[33:48] Those were some of the things. We also participated in looking into the next JFS director
[33:56] and we look forward to having that announcement soon. One of the things I've always said,
[34:02] We want to move from a welfare concept to a customer service-based concept.
[34:07] Look forward to that.
[34:08] The next director will have a lot of challenges.
[34:10] We'll have to hit the job running quickly.
[34:14] And so I'm looking forward to the next chapter with that.
[34:19] We probably will be talking about the budget.
[34:22] So I want to say this to everybody out there.
[34:24] I want to wish everybody a happy holiday season.
[34:27] be hopefully be able to enjoy it with their families and certainly look forward to a
[34:35] prosperous new year but I know it will be challenging but a prosperous new year and then
[34:41] I want to personally thank my staff, I had a medical challenge and I want to thank
[34:47] Beta Stevens and my office, my chief of staff that kept it going so as it has been great
[34:54] with the training because he knows what to do.
[34:57] And he's been in all of these negotiations as well.
[35:00] But on top of that, I've been unable to drive
[35:04] and do all the other kind of things.
[35:06] So we've been able to communicate.
[35:07] And I just want to thank him.
[35:09] And I want to thank Jackie Taggart Boyd also
[35:12] from my office for keeping this thing moving.
[35:14] We haven't missed a beat.
[35:16] And we've been able to continue to represent the people.
[35:19] But I definitely appreciate that.
[35:21] And then last but not least, if you've lost a loved one,
[35:24] This is a grieving time for a lot of people during this time and mental health is important to us.
[35:30] Check on your friends, your family, because this is a tough time when you go through these times.
[35:36] And some people have lost loved ones.
[35:40] And some of the people you think are the strongest who help everyone else.
[35:43] They may need some help.
[35:44] So please check in on them and pray for those.
[35:47] We have people that's outside that's homeless.
[35:49] And we're working every day to try to get them inside where they can have a home.
[35:55] So that's what I have.
[35:56] I just want to say just being thankful for the opportunity to serve and being thankful to
[36:04] represent Hamilton County citizens.
[36:06] Thank you.
[36:07] Thank you.
[36:09] I too want to start with the 911 EMA building consolidation up in Springdale.
[36:15] It was a wonderful event.
[36:17] The facility is so much better than either EMA or 9-1 have had in the past.
[36:23] We are asking people to do very difficult things, particularly at 9-1-1 when they're answering
[36:28] the phone on people's worst day and the old building, I know all three of us have been there.
[36:33] Dark, close, no room to decompress after a difficult call and so we wanted to provide better
[36:41] situation there for those employees and help us recruit because we really have had a
[36:46] difficult time keeping people in some ways because of the environment in which they
[36:50] had to work. So very excited about that, the consolidation of EMA and 911 together, it
[36:55] has a lot of synergies and so it made all the sense in the world to do that consolidation.
[37:00] So it was excited to join my colleagues and others at that ribbon cutting thanks to Nick
[37:05] and Mayor Hawkins up in Springdale for welcoming us and taking us on tours through the building.
[37:12] It was a really a celebratory event.
[37:15] I also participated in the kindness for kids.
[37:18] So kindness for kids is something that JFS, job and family services here at the county has stood up to provide gifts for kids during the holidays.
[37:26] These are kids that are in foster care.
[37:29] And so this program has stood up every year.
[37:31] I know John Nelson is here.
[37:32] Thank you for your participation in helping do this, John.
[37:37] So we have this QR code that you can scan,
[37:40] and I'm going to encourage everybody in the room to do it.
[37:42] Go to JFS as website, scan the code for kindness for kids.
[37:47] Takes you right to Amazon and you can donate some gifts
[37:51] for some of the kids that are in care.
[37:53] So at the Bangle's game on Sunday,
[37:55] we ask people to come by and drop off gifts
[37:57] as they were going to the game or scan the code
[38:01] and do it later on when they were a little bit warmer.
[38:03] It was very cold on Sunday.
[38:07] And so I want to thank those that we collected over 400 gifts
[38:11] for kids.
[38:12] So that's in a lot of people scan the code.
[38:14] It's so hopefully donated after.
[38:15] Nobody wanted to take their gloves off
[38:17] and I get it, right?
[38:18] But they did, they did it.
[38:20] But thanks to Brigid D'Arty, Amanda Quinn, Jeff was out there.
[38:24] So we could only last for about an hour.
[38:27] So it was really cold.
[38:29] But anyway, thank you for that.
[38:30] there's still an opportunity to give is my point. So please go to JFS website if you'd like to donate
[38:35] a football or a paint set or some slippers to one of the kids in our foster care system.
[38:43] I too wanted to say Happy Holidays to everyone. This is the last time we will be together this year,
[38:49] a presuming that we passed the budget, which I am presuming that we're going to pass the budget.
[38:54] And so Happy Holidays to staff, it's been a challenging year, a good year, but a challenging year when it comes to the finances
[38:59] and so I wanted to thank everybody for their service to the county through all of our departments
[39:05] and thank especially the budget staff, Rob is in the room. So thank you for your service to the county.
[39:11] Very grateful for that. So with that, Jeff, I'm going to turn it over to you. I know there are many
[39:18] I leave items so why don't we run through those and then we will move into the conversation regarding the budget.
[39:24] Thanks Commissioner. I'll get the by leaves and just as I can just a couple of quick comments. I do just want to double down on what all three of you indicated about the news with the 911 Center 911 EMA Center and it could be very upset if I've done on behalf of the board and the residents of this county I just wanted to and my comments this year thanking them for all of their of their work.
[39:50] And as you indicated, Commissioner, we do have a substantive by leave list today, which I will get into.
[39:58] The first item, actually, I'm going to defer it to Holly.
[40:02] For the actually the first two items, we're going to walk us through an MSD item and then a property disposition item as well.
[40:07] So Holly.
[40:08] Good morning, Gordon.
[40:09] Thank you.
[40:10] Finally, one is a resolution directing the Metropolitan Sewer District to further evaluate and develop its proposed program to recover costs for excess,
[40:19] wet weather flow in the combined sewer area. You've heard public comments on this earlier.
[40:23] This program concept was shared with the board in July in which MSD would evaluate
[40:29] billing properties with large amounts of impervious area and wet weather flow impacting MSD sewer
[40:35] system. This will also potentially create opportunities for collaboration with property owners and
[40:41] MSD on solutions to reduce the amount of wet weather flow entering the system.
[40:45] This program is an outcome and alternate to the impervious surface task force that the board
[40:51] set up several years ago and I really want to applaud MSD for their efforts to find alternatives
[40:57] that still help meet the intent of the issue.
[41:01] I want to be clear, this resolution, though, does not constitute board approval for the program.
[41:06] It only directs MSD to come back with a plan for board review, no later than the end of the first quarter of 2026.
[41:14] And MSD is here if there are specific programs, questions on this program.
[41:20] Thank you.
[41:21] I'm wondering if we should rule through all of these.
[41:23] We're all through all of them.
[41:24] Okay.
[41:24] Yeah.
[41:26] Okay.
[41:26] Thank you so much.
[41:27] Sure.
[41:27] By the way, two is a resolution declaring certain property no longer needed, and authorizes the Community Improvement Corporation of Greater Cincinnati to act as agent to sell the property.
[41:37] This property is the southern portion of 355 Hunt Road.
[41:42] It's the portion south of Ronald Reagan Highway and consists of roughly 15 acres.
[41:48] So I'm happy to answer any questions.
[41:49] Thank you.
[41:49] I think we've got an information on that one too.
[41:51] So thank you for that.
[41:53] Let's thank you.
[41:54] Commissioner's please interrupt a few of questions.
[41:58] Thank you.
[41:58] Commissioners by leave number three is resolution number 27 adopting a cybersecurity program.
[42:03] I was going to ask John, if John is thought John would say, oh, there he is.
[42:11] Harry.
[42:12] Normally John comes in from the hallway here, so that threw me off a little bit.
[42:18] So I expected there could be more response to Holly's proceed.
[42:22] She was very thorough.
[42:26] The cyber security program, this was actually required under Hustle 96 this fall by the state
[42:33] and it requires all jurisdictions,
[42:36] counties, cities, everybody really
[42:38] to have a program in place that just secures
[42:41] our technology environment.
[42:44] And what's wonderful about this is
[42:45] it's a very collaborative effort.
[42:46] So our director of technical services
[42:49] has worked with the IT staff across every department
[42:52] in the county that come up with a plan that's
[42:55] based on national standards for cybersecurity.
[42:58] And we're glad to present that to you today.
[43:00] OK, very good.
[43:01] Thank you, commissioners. Item number four, I'll take the ones that get substance
[43:08] will easier here. Item number four is authorizing the use of credit cards for the use of
[43:14] the Veteran Services Commission, the amount of $88,500. Item number five actually is a
[43:21] more substance of item that the board acted on portions of this project last week, but this is a
[43:28] resolution authorizing agreement with alpha video and the board for the remainder of the
[43:34] pay course to idiom jungle vision upgrade project. This is in the amount of 19.5 million.
[43:42] As the board is aware, folks are watching at home, jungle vision is the system which is the
[43:49] nerve center, if you will, of all of the audio visual interactions that occur down at the stadium.
[43:55] So, this is for any event, not just football, but for any event that occurs that would take
[44:01] would make use of audio visual at this public asset.
[44:06] The jungle vision system is the nerve center of that, and it's at the end of its life
[44:11] needs to be replaced.
[44:13] Last week, the board passed a resolution approving agreements for the electric work and for
[44:19] the general construction portion of the project.
[44:21] today we have this agreement for the remainder and the video mainly the video portion of this
[44:28] project. It's in the total of, as I said, 19.5 million. The good news is it is approximately
[44:33] one million dollars under under budget. So that is the jungle vision project commissioner.
[44:41] Commissioners item by leave six is budget adjustment number 55. This is for the general fund.
[44:50] This is the sheriff in the amount of 1.2 million this is mainly for over time holiday pay
[44:56] There are also some small wreck
[45:00] Congratulations there from the share of and probation, some recommendations and transfers to close-out grants effectively.
[45:08] Commissioners, I did have a question about this when I just want to raise it. Do you see that there is for the share of its one cent? There's a reconciliation for one penny.
[45:17] I just want to say what doing a good job here. No. I was like, whoa, and I thought it was a misprint and the 15.26 isn't 15.26 million. It's $15.26.
[45:27] sense. So good job budget staff for reconciling to the penny, literally to the penny.
[45:33] That's right. Good.
[45:35] They are definitely accurate. Yes.
[45:39] Commissioners, item seven and eight are appointments. I didn't know.
[45:43] I wanted to be sure.
[45:45] So by leaving number seven is resolution,
[45:47] appointing members to the Community Development Advisory Committee,
[45:50] the Laura's Peterson and William Basel.
[45:53] And then number eight is a resolution,
[45:55] appointing a member to the economic and community support advisory council, rely a picket.
[46:01] So those two are the advisory committee appointments.
[46:06] Thank you, Commissioner. Item by leave nine is a budget adjustment. This is 15.7
[46:12] million for capital projects and grant balance close out. So a lot of this is the closing out
[46:18] of capital projects returning to remaining funds to their fund of origin. There are a couple
[46:24] of projects in here that are appropriating dollars for new projects or ongoing projects.
[46:31] There's funding in there for the build-out of the facility where we do commitment hearings
[46:39] for appropriate court out at Summit Behavioral Health, that's a project that's in cooperation
[46:44] with the state. There's funding for a permanent for the permit automation facility redesign
[46:52] up in planning and development, now that they're going with virtual electronic permitting,
[46:57] they've needed to do some workflow redesigns in their offices, and there are also some
[47:01] revisions to the Central Campus project as well, included in that budget adjustment.
[47:08] By leave 10 commissioners is a resolution authorizing the acceptance of donations for the
[47:13] prosecuting attorney's victim support program. This is actually for the donation of a therapy dog
[47:20] in the prosecutor's office that's being donated so we need to pass a resolution in order to accept that donation.
[47:28] I'm going to commissioners if you don't mind, hold by by leave 11.
[47:33] That actually relates directly to the passage of the 2026 budget.
[47:39] So I think it would be appropriate just to lump that item in with that discussion, which we'll have momentarily.
[47:45] And finally, Commissioner's resolution by the 12th, this resolution number 30, this comes at the request of the courts related to the increase of jurors paid to $30 per day from $19 a day.
[47:58] I believe this was discussed in the courts' presentation to the board during their budget presentation.
[48:05] Happy to answer any questions, Commissioner.
[48:07] Thank you very much.
[48:09] So, are there any questions related to the by-lays?
[48:11] I have a call, I believe one, I just wanted to indicate what MSD and the plan that's coming forward
[48:18] that is really happy about that.
[48:20] I'm getting started and also that there's a time when the draft plan should happen.
[48:27] And also, I believe three, I think John talked about it, the cyber security program, I don't know,
[48:35] because AI included in our cyber security program.
[48:40] Because I ended
[48:43] up, okay.
[48:49] We may be getting out of my depth.
[48:56] I'm going to throw this out if our IT director is on the line.
[49:00] I believe Chris Walsh may be on the line and may want to chip in here.
[49:03] I don't know that AI is specifically referenced in it,
[49:05] but I'm sure that the general security premises
[49:09] premises extend to that, but I think Chris may be on the line and may want to say more.
[49:20] Good morning, commissioners. Chris Wallace here. And John is correct that AI is not called
[49:26] out specifically in the program in and of itself. However, it is covered with the national standards
[49:32] that we've adopted through this cybersecurity program.
[49:37] Okay, thank you. I want to get certified in this
[49:41] And I have mentioned that we need Christmas policies and procedures as it relates to internally how we can use it, what it can be used for.
[49:49] So I would just suggest that we kind of upgrade what we're doing our policy internally that would be great.
[49:57] I think for the county.
[50:01] Do you agree?
[50:06] I think we do this program is really specifically around security and where there are vulnerabilities.
[50:14] where as I think what we probably will be looking at and what each office will be looking at more individually is how do they effectively use AI.
[50:23] That's really separate from a security program.
[50:29] And Commissioner Appalda, as I lost the ability to speak there for a minute.
[50:35] We've actually have some processes we're starting.
[50:38] that it's very much in the infancy, but working with Deputy Commissioner Anson where we've started
[50:47] in AI committee when we're starting to do just as John described, we're looking at how this
[50:52] can be used in the business and the various businesses offices and then we're looking at what
[50:58] policies and procedures that we need to put in place. So effectively put guardrails on it, right?
[51:03] We don't want to have data expiltration or inappropriate use of those tools. So that is in
[51:08] process. Although it's not called out specifically. Thank you so much. I appreciate it. That's all I have. Thank you. Commissioner risk.
[51:17] Yes. Thank you. On item number by leave number five. I'd like to have that voted on separately.
[51:29] And I believe that's still in with the video and audio jungle vision. So I do have more questions.
[51:39] can't get answered today so I'd like to have that separately done. I know that there was
[51:45] some issues outside of that as it related to attendees, spans, ethygames and the seats
[51:56] not being cleared and I know that my colleague, Mr. Lewis I'd read she had also expressed concerns.
[52:03] We can't do this one-sided thing when it comes to something for the fans or the attendees
[52:13] or comes to the taxpayers, they're fixing to be fallen last in this thing.
[52:21] And we've had this pattern of behavior, and for me I just can't keep funding stuff on our side.
[52:32] And then on the side, when it's so well, we couldn't clean off the seats, I mean the weather
[52:38] man told us we knew when it was going to start and stop, or they could have caught Nick
[52:42] Crossley.
[52:43] He has all the information, and it's just, we just can't keep just turning a blind eye to
[52:49] this stuff.
[52:51] At the same time, I remember, you know, there was fans, I said, hey, why don't we have a free
[52:57] watch party brought it forward.
[53:00] They went head over heels to say it couldn't be done.
[53:02] And only to come back a year or two after it was done.
[53:07] And it was done everywhere else.
[53:08] Detroit did it, everyone did it.
[53:10] Then it came back and figured out,
[53:11] oh, we can charge people 99, 99 dollars.
[53:14] Now it can be done.
[53:16] So we've just got a, we just can't turn a blind eye.
[53:20] And if we're going into a 11 year deal,
[53:23] I don't know why we have to pay a lot of stuff all up front.
[53:26] it fits over 11 year period. So the season is over. So we won't be needing a jungle vision this week
[53:35] or I'm going to need it after the playoffs, we won't be going in the playoffs. So I just think we just
[53:41] could have had a little more time and I like to know a little bit more of what's going to be available
[53:46] for even other, hopefully other events that are coming. But we can't get those answers today. So I just
[53:51] to pull this out and hold into, I can get some more information on it. So I have that one.
[54:01] The other one, I do want to just thank the people who are serving on these boards.
[54:07] Thank them for stepping up and serving on the board. And yeah, I'm interested to the cybersecurity
[54:15] security program is very important. Of course, going to have to be evolving as new technology
[54:24] continues to be continued, we continue to look at that. And then also, I think item
[54:32] number one, the resolution or the rise in MSD to proceed with further evaluation, I think,
[54:40] is important with the service charge pilot program. So I was certainly interested in
[54:45] supporting those. But those are the things that I like to have that one pulled out and again
[54:51] thanking those who are willing to serve and be on these boards with us. We really appreciate it.
[54:56] Thank you. I too wanted to highlight by leave number one. We've talked about this. We've heard a
[55:02] lot of public comment about this. So we'll move within the first quarter of next year to get something
[55:06] a pilot program launched, hopefully. So I'm excited about that. And by leaf three, the cybersecurity
[55:13] security one. Is there a cost associated with this?
[55:20] Okay, I'm very good. That's a good answer.
[55:23] All right, just curious. And one another, one of those recommendations from the state,
[55:27] and it's like, oh wait a minute, what's going on here? We got a lot of that going on.
[55:32] Okay, and then the jurors pay on to highlight number 12, increasing the jurors pay.
[55:37] I hopefully that will encourage people to do their civic duty and participate on jurors.
[55:42] I actually can miss you if you like. I could say this security program may actually come with some cost savings because I think as these IT folks get together and learn where they might be duplicating
[55:52] Services and security services we're starting to consolidate some of that stuff. So it's a positive.
[55:57] Very good John.
[55:59] I'm glad to get some clues today.
[56:02] All right, so we're going on if there are no further questions.
[56:05] I am going to move that we approve of by leaves.
[56:10] And we can we can we can buy for Kate number five. I think we've got a majority ready to move on that one, but I will pull it out.
[56:17] So by leaves making a motion approval by leaves 1 through 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 12.
[56:28] Second.
[56:30] Commissaire three homes.
[56:31] Yes.
[56:31] Commissaire some are doing this.
[56:32] Yes.
[56:33] Yes.
[56:33] Thank you.
[56:35] So let's vote on by leave five.
[56:37] I'm going to make a motion to approve of by leave five.
[56:41] Commissioner Trey House?
[56:42] Yes.
[56:43] Commissioner Summer, do you miss?
[56:43] Yes.
[56:44] Commissioner Reeves.
[56:46] Thank you.
[56:47] And then by leave 11, Jeff, how do we, how do you, I know you want to hold this because
[56:50] it pertains to the budget?
[56:52] Yes.
[56:52] So at some point that we have to pass this.
[56:54] So.
[56:55] So it, we've got the regular agenda item number one, which relates to the budget.
[56:59] And so this will just be included.
[57:01] Okay.
[57:02] I will make a, I will ask the commissioners to consider by leave item 11 and
[57:07] regular agenda. I just don't want to stress a bit.
[57:10] I won't. We won't let a solution and Rob is burning holes through me.
[57:14] All right. We're going to leave by leave a letter alone for the moment. All right.
[57:17] Let's move into then regular agenda item number one, which is the general
[57:23] fund. Well, all funds budget.
[57:25] Thank you, commissioner. So this is right into that. So before you say are two
[57:30] resolutions associated with the 2026 budget, the first is item number one in
[57:37] packet, this establishes a 1.36 billion dollar all funds operating budget for a 2026
[57:44] of that amount, 403.8 million is appropriated to the county general fund.
[57:50] That amount includes several adjustments to the administrators recommended budget,
[57:55] which I presented back in early November. Many of those adjustments, which we reviewed publicly
[58:00] on Tuesdays, in Tuesdays, to after meeting for transparency purposes.
[58:06] The purpose, those include an increase of 950,000 in the prosecutors budget, an increase
[58:13] of 305,000 in the sheriff's budget, an increase of 203,534 in the better and services commission
[58:20] budget, 100,000 in economic development to support the building futures program, 75,000 increase
[58:27] in the probate court budget and an increase of $46,100 in the public defenders budget.
[58:34] The budget, as adopted, also holds the transfer tax rate at the 2025 level and does not
[58:40] incorporate an additional mill as was proposed in my recommended budget.
[58:45] We also simultaneously commissioned a budget adjustment number one in front of you, which
[58:51] is contained as by leave item number 11, which was also a part of the budget process.
[58:56] This adjustment appropriates funding from the General Fund Reserve.
[59:00] It's just implemented various programs where we still are not quite certain that operating revenues are going to support the long run.
[59:08] But the board wanted to ensure that we continue these programs while we assess the revenue environment in 2026.
[59:15] These include an increase of $250,000 to the large tourism event grant program for a total of $1 million.
[59:22] And increased to the small community event grant program of 150,000 to a total of 250,000.
[59:31] And increased to the community revitalization grant program of $400,000 for a total of $1.55 million.
[59:38] And increased to the pitch night small business day programming of $10,000.
[59:42] And allocation of $100,000 to the Sports Commission, an allocation of 150,000 to support bike trail development,
[59:50] and an allocation of, and I would say that last one is consistent with my initial recommended budget.
[1:00:00] An allocation of 1 million to support affordable housing development or programming in the community, which we will discuss further the programming of that funding in 2026.
[1:00:13] So, Commissioner, as you were aware, this was a tight, challenging budget. To balance as evidence by the various service needs we heard from departments that just didn't align with our revenue availability this year.
[1:00:26] So in the final document, we made a effort to account for some of those.
[1:00:31] But unfortunately, there just wasn't the revenue availability to address all of them.
[1:00:37] So I want to thank the board for its guidance through this process.
[1:00:41] Thank all the department heads, all the elected officials for their cooperation as we've navigated the process.
[1:00:48] The budget department for all their hard work and getting us to this point.
[1:00:52] And most importantly, all the employees of the county do the day-to-day work of our organization
[1:00:58] to deliver value for the taxpayer.
[1:01:01] We're going to need to monitor this budget closely as we always do, but very closely over
[1:01:07] the course of the year, staying in close touch with departments, elected offices, and agencies,
[1:01:13] as we know that there are several offices where budget pressures are going to be particularly
[1:01:18] I think it's important to note that we expect departments to remain within budget during the coming year.
[1:01:26] But I think we've prided ourselves in the past and over the years on being able to work and cooperate with departments and elected offices,
[1:01:34] where there are challenges to ensure that those departments can accomplish their missions successfully on behalf of the residents of the county.
[1:01:42] And we'll continue to work towards that same goal in 2026.
[1:01:45] So in the end commissioners, we have a balanced budget.
[1:01:48] One that supports the mandated functions of the county.
[1:01:51] And also one that continues to provide programming important to the boards,
[1:01:55] specifically as it relates to helping this county grow and prosper.
[1:01:59] So with that commissioners, I turn it back over to you for any comments or questions.
[1:02:02] Thank you. Thank you very much.
[1:02:04] I do have some comments.
[1:02:06] First of all, I want to thank the administration for all the hard work.
[1:02:09] This has been a very challenging process.
[1:02:12] particularly UJF, John Brugin, Robin Wagner, the entire budget team, I know there's been
[1:02:18] a lot of conversation back and forth with the different departments, and it's been
[1:02:23] challenging.
[1:02:23] I've heard from some of them myself, and I know the budget team has heard from them over
[1:02:27] over again about some of the challenges that exist.
[1:02:30] I want to also thank the Chiefs of Staff who have been doing the negotiating on behalf
[1:02:35] of the county commissioners since we are not able to do that ourselves, so thank you
[1:02:39] to the chiefs for productive conversations.
[1:02:44] So as has been said, oh, and I also want to thank
[1:02:46] the citizens, we had a couple of public hearings.
[1:02:48] So thanks to those who came out and testified
[1:02:51] at those hearings, I think this budget reflects a lot.
[1:02:54] It reflects a lot of what we heard by way of the changes
[1:02:57] from the Administrator's recommendation
[1:02:59] to where we are today.
[1:03:01] So it's been challenging because our expenses are up
[1:03:06] and our revenues are fairly flat.
[1:03:08] And that creates a real challenge for us, the primary source of revenue as everyone knows is the sales tax and the sales tax has been pretty flat.
[1:03:17] And so that's created a problem when it comes to some of the requests that came in from the different departments.
[1:03:26] When you think about the what drove the increase because we've got a like a 3% increase in this budget, which is very nominal.
[1:03:34] But remember, we're doing a 3% increase to wages for the folks that work through the county
[1:03:39] throughout all of the systems.
[1:03:42] Trying to make sure we can recruit and retain individuals.
[1:03:45] And so that is responsible for a lot of that growth.
[1:03:48] I think that's where we need to be.
[1:03:50] Years ago, before I got here, we were not in this position.
[1:03:54] And we declined to give raises for five years in a row.
[1:03:58] We lost a lot of people during that time.
[1:04:00] And these are people with a lot of experience and expertise, and we really don't want to be in that position again.
[1:04:06] So I am very proud that this has been a primary focus of this county to make sure that we've got good individual serving the public of Hamilton County.
[1:04:16] So I also want to thank these departments and the other elected officials throughout the county.
[1:04:21] We had budget hearings with them many months ago making sure they understood the landscape of reduced or flat revenues and many of them responded in kind and said okay
[1:04:33] we are going to come in with less than what we would like to come in with as a request acknowledging that we've got a pretty flat revenues source going here.
[1:04:41] So I just also want to point out this budget is no different than those in the past where the bulk of the money over 70% is going to safety.
[1:04:52] When you think about safety for the county, we're talking about the courts, the Justice Center, the Office of Reentry, 9-1-1, emergency management, the coroner's office, the prosecutor's office, the public defenders office, the dog warden, the list goes on, this is a budget build around public safety.
[1:05:11] And I think that's what our constituents expect from us, and that is what we've delivered here on this budget.
[1:05:18] The other piece where we had some movement was some of the economic development opportunities that we have.
[1:05:25] And I want to say that, well, give us some of these grants that were highlighted, the revitalization grant, for instance, with a large event grant.
[1:05:32] While they are great for the community and their community building grants,
[1:05:37] what they're meant to do is drive revenue into the coffers of the county.
[1:05:41] Increase economic activity through some of these grants and so that we've got more
[1:05:46] by way of sales tax. We've got more by way of property tax. We don't collect income tax.
[1:05:51] Otherwise we would see a benefit by way of income tax, but our 49 jurisdictions do.
[1:05:56] And so these grants are in partnership with the 49 jurisdictions throughout the county,
[1:06:01] particularly the community revitalization grant. So these were moved into the category against the
[1:06:08] reserve. I think it's a really important distinction, because these will be evaluated every year.
[1:06:13] So these are not ongoing expenses. We couldn't build them into the bulk of the budget, but rather
[1:06:17] put them against reserve. And there are many of them are lesser amounts than we have funded in the past.
[1:06:23] So it is a recognition that we still want to do these things to create this economic activity out in
[1:06:28] communities, but we've got less to do it with, and so we are providing a little bit less in
[1:06:33] many of these categories.
[1:06:34] So those would include the large event and small event grants, the community revitalization
[1:06:39] grants, and we just heard, I think it was last week, from a couple of communities that have
[1:06:43] received these and done some catalytic projects in their communities, and we're really grateful
[1:06:48] for that partnership.
[1:06:49] Building futures is one of those as is the sports commission.
[1:06:53] So again, all of us are amounts, but important work that we're doing here.
[1:06:57] some of the increases came in the other category which is ongoing expenses. You cannot create a
[1:07:03] budget where say the prosecutor asked for additional dollars and you put that against reserve. We
[1:07:08] can't do that. That is not sustainable because those costs are ongoing. So we had the build that
[1:07:14] into the budget which was a significant challenge. So we increase some investments. They're all through
[1:07:22] public safety. The sheriff, the prosecutor, the public defender and the courts. And so we heard
[1:07:27] lot during the hearings about this. We also heard a lot about some of the economic development
[1:07:31] stuff. And so this budget or our recommendations to the Administrator reflect a lot of what
[1:07:36] we heard. We also heard about veteran services that is being fully funded in this budget. And we
[1:07:42] still have a substantial reserve. Although, as the Administrator indicated, we need to keep an eye
[1:07:47] on that. Some of our other economic development partners support, ready, and ally, all are taking
[1:07:52] here cut in this budget. There's still being funded, but we have provided a few less dollars
[1:07:58] there, something else that I think is concerning, but something that we had to do.
[1:08:04] The Affordable Housing piece, the one million, I think this again is against the reserve,
[1:08:10] am I right about that? It's against the reserve. Yeah. This is something else that we will
[1:08:13] be evaluating year after year, but I do think it shows the ongoing commitment of this
[1:08:18] commission to affordable housing in this community.
[1:08:20] Whether we're spending it on one thing or the other, this commitment, I think is really
[1:08:25] important to individuals that are watching this work and putting in, right?
[1:08:29] Because this commitment leverages money from the city, from the state, from the private
[1:08:33] community.
[1:08:34] And so I think it's really important that we, while it's only a million dollars, I think
[1:08:38] it is a significant indicator that we're interested in continuing this work.
[1:08:43] The budget also funds key social services, things that the community relies on, especially those that are in stressful situations.
[1:08:53] A lot of that is relevant to the levees. We haven't talked a whole lot about the levees here.
[1:08:57] We're going to have ongoing conversations come the new year on the levees and some of the challenges there.
[1:09:03] But it is important that we recognize that we have seven levees under the control of the county commission.
[1:09:09] those being for seniors, for kids, for people with disabilities, for
[1:09:12] indigent care, these are important services that we deliver to this county,
[1:09:17] to the citizens of this county, especially those that are living in the margins.
[1:09:22] And we need to make sure that we are funding those as we can and relying on the
[1:09:28] taxpayers, obviously, to vote for those levees.
[1:09:31] And so more conversation to come next year related to levees.
[1:09:35] So in 2026, we're going to face some headwinds.
[1:09:40] We've already referenced some of these things.
[1:09:42] There are changes going on at the federal level.
[1:09:44] Snap comes to mind.
[1:09:46] We are going to suffer from policy directives of this administration
[1:09:50] at the federal level regarding SNAP.
[1:09:53] We are going to have to pay more to administer that program.
[1:09:56] And if our air rate doesn't improve, we are going to pay a lot more.
[1:10:00] And so that is something that I'm very concerned about related to the JFS loving
[1:10:05] It's created a lot of uncertainty and that is never good for the economy.
[1:10:09] We've got some headwinds coming from the state.
[1:10:11] We've referenced House Bill 335.
[1:10:13] This is the property tax relief bill.
[1:10:16] So property taxes or inside millage for the county will be held at the rate of inflation.
[1:10:21] That is our answer to how do you provide relief to citizens whose property tax bills are
[1:10:27] going way up and spiking.
[1:10:28] This will keep that from happening.
[1:10:30] And so it is our way of addressing that problem, I should say one of the ways, but it's
[1:10:36] going to cost money.
[1:10:37] I mean, this cost will cost millions of dollars to the county.
[1:10:40] This is our, I mean for us to be for myself, this is my idea of partnership, right?
[1:10:45] We have to do something and so we know it's going to cost money, but we have to recognize that
[1:10:50] in the next budget, this is going to come to pass and we're going to have less revenue at
[1:10:54] our disposal because of some of that, something that we're doing in by way of partnership
[1:10:58] with the citizens and property tax payers in this area.
[1:11:03] And then the uncertainty in the economy, I mean, in some ways this budget looks towards
[1:11:08] the future and says we are hopeful that our sales tax revenue will improve.
[1:11:13] I am hopeful that we have a lot of good things going on in this county, I think about the Convention
[1:11:20] Center redevelopment and all the economic activity that that's going to bring in.
[1:11:24] We've done that in partnership with the city.
[1:11:25] we will benefit from that through sales tax, the city will benefit through income tax.
[1:11:31] But hopefully we will see that some of our investments start to pay off by bringing some
[1:11:37] more revenue into our budget, and so that next year is not so difficult.
[1:11:41] But we will know that soon enough, right?
[1:11:43] We will have predictions in the first corner that are indicators of how we are doing.
[1:11:48] And we're going to have to keep an eye on it because it's not as if our costs are going
[1:11:51] down.
[1:11:52] the cost will continue to go up as we continue to invest in our workforce and the workers that provide services to this county.
[1:12:00] And so we are going to have to keep a close eye on how those revenues will come in and make sure they're we're exercising all of our options.
[1:12:09] So that's what I've got related to this budget.
[1:12:11] I once again want to thank everybody.
[1:12:13] There's been a lot of adjustment from the administrative recommendation to the budget.
[1:12:19] we've got in front of us now and so I'm grateful to my colleagues and to staff for working with all of us
[1:12:24] to make sure that we got this right. So that's what I have. I'm going to turn it over to you,
[1:12:28] commissioner. So thank you so much. I just wanted to make a comment as a relay. So I could have it on the
[1:12:35] record. There was a gentleman, John, from Georgia, who sent me an email as a relay to the
[1:12:42] bevel's game and kindness for kids and I want to submit it to the clerks. I just wanted to say that
[1:12:46] clean case. She's watching. As a relates to the budget, certainly one of the
[1:12:54] thanks staff and staff in the finance department, my colleagues, for all the work
[1:13:03] that they've done as a relates to this budget, my concern was not to add any additional
[1:13:09] cost on our residents, if it all possible. And that's why the transfer of fee, which we didn't
[1:13:15] I have to vote on, but I said no to the transfer fee, also, to make sure that did not happen.
[1:13:23] So I really want to thank the Chiefs of Staff, how hard they've worked specifically.
[1:13:28] My Chief of Staff, Bishop Bobby Hilton, who had to go back and forth with me and make sure
[1:13:35] that he communicated what I needed and I'm sure he did that.
[1:13:39] And it seems like the things that I was interested in as a commissioner came through in the budget.
[1:13:47] But for me, it's about trust.
[1:13:50] It was brought up earlier about trust by the Bishops and for administration.
[1:13:56] When I asked all those questions that I asked, I had to trust that the answers were truthful.
[1:14:03] They were coming forward to give me more enlightenment on making a decision.
[1:14:12] It's not blind trust when you work with people for a while and you know that they're there for the greater good at this county.
[1:14:20] And I truly believe that administration is here for that and also finance.
[1:14:25] So I appreciate you answering all those questions.
[1:14:30] we're living in a perilous time.
[1:14:35] There is no business as usual. I'm a very positive person. One of the most positive of you ever need, I think.
[1:14:44] But we don't know what tomorrow may bring. We really don't know. Every day from day to day, some people are literally now living from day to day.
[1:14:57] As a government week
[1:15:00] We can't live from day to day. We have to be able to look ahead and have a reserve and plan ahead. But it's really hard in these times.
[1:15:10] We do not have the millions of the ARPA monies that we had before to fall back on. We have to spend all our monies by the end of 2026.
[1:15:20] And one of my concerns, one of my major concerns, when we started this budget discussion was,
[1:15:26] how long are we going to continue to fund those new programs that we were able to start
[1:15:33] because of the art from money? But I will say that I'm satisfied that we were able to reduce
[1:15:40] the amount of money that we were putting toward those programs, but I still say, how long?
[1:15:45] how long are we going to continue to undergird these different programs they were doing well
[1:15:52] before we gave them additional money of course they did better but i think they will do
[1:15:58] find without the money that we're giving from the county i've said there is i said before it
[1:16:06] our public hearing there's one pie we only have one pie we have to divide it up and who says that somebody
[1:16:13] should get more than others, where, of course, public safety always traditionally everywhere
[1:16:18] gets more. And that's okay with me. But some of the central items for me on the budget
[1:16:25] were, of course, public safety children services, seniors, housing, food insecurity. Some say the return
[1:16:36] of investment is needed to ensure that money is coming in, for instance, that economic development
[1:16:42] programs that we have, and I also agree with that. But I think that they will do fine without
[1:16:49] all the money that we give them from the county. I'm really happy about the developments. I voted
[1:16:54] on the new developments, and I think they're good for the county, of course. I'm one, as I said,
[1:17:00] the visits, the board, and I encourage them to continue doing what they're doing.
[1:17:10] I don't believe we can, the fans will not, they've cut our money.
[1:17:19] We don't know what else they're going to cut.
[1:17:21] They may cut snap again.
[1:17:24] So we're still trying to meet the needs of the needy.
[1:17:26] Every group that we cluster funding is a need.
[1:17:30] Everyone that I mentioned, children, seniors, property owners,
[1:17:33] there's nine profits affordable housing,
[1:17:35] share of court system prosecutors, just to name a few.
[1:17:39] As your commissioner, it's my job to fund these requests,
[1:17:44] keep a reserve.
[1:17:46] Our reserve is down, not a lot,
[1:17:48] I think it's down about 3%
[1:17:50] than where we're used to having that.
[1:17:53] Because we don't know, as I said about SNAP or anything else.
[1:17:56] I mean, HUD is cutting, we don't know about housing for people.
[1:18:02] I can remember several months ago when JFS came in here and they had a hundred million dollars
[1:18:08] reserves.
[1:18:10] And then we'll talk about why don't we use some of that money for other things and I said absolutely not.
[1:18:17] Our children have lots of needs and we need to keep that money in that offer.
[1:18:22] We're now JFS is looking at a possible 34 million dollar deficit in 2016 if they don't do something different.
[1:18:30] and we do something different.
[1:18:32] So I'm real happy that we kept that money in there.
[1:18:39] One initiative that my started and my colleague supported
[1:18:45] was inspired initiative,
[1:18:46] which will be funded this time.
[1:18:49] It has impacted over 30,000 children.
[1:18:54] Like I said at the start, we have to be ready to respond.
[1:18:57] That's why when we were asked to put in
[1:18:59] billion dollars for the renovation at the pay core stadium, 1.3 billion, and we said no, you
[1:19:08] have to do better than that. We reduced it all the way to 350 million for the board to, and
[1:19:16] also, of course, the bingles will be putting in some money, and F.L.W. also be putting in money,
[1:19:21] but we have been fighting for our residents and for the tax dollar. It's very lean, as was said,
[1:19:29] before. But my wish since I didn't give a wish for Christmas yet, I was going to wait, but
[1:19:36] my wish for this season is that the people of Hamilton County do your research, read, you
[1:19:46] listen to us, but don't take everything that we say, research it, look at the details, not
[1:19:55] listening, but here what we say, because everything you hear is not the fact. You need
[1:20:01] the fact check. That's my wish for our residents. And look at my voting record on the
[1:20:07] issues that concern you. Take a real hard look where your money is going. That's my wish for
[1:20:15] all of these, all of our residents and I'm the county. This is a lot of money we're hopefully
[1:20:20] getting ready to pass this budget for.
[1:20:23] Don't just accept what's being set up here,
[1:20:26] but look into a research because this is your money.
[1:20:36] And that's my wish, my prayer for 2026 as we move forward.
[1:20:44] We're hoping that these money will suffice.
[1:20:47] And as I say, we are not fortune tellers.
[1:20:50] We don't know what's going to come forward.
[1:20:52] And we're hoping that our reserve will handle it.
[1:20:55] But if not, we have to do what we have to do as a commission, so that's all I have.
[1:21:01] Thank you.
[1:21:02] Missionaries.
[1:21:05] Thank you.
[1:21:07] This budget process, which I've been here, has probably been maybe one of the toughest.
[1:21:17] I don't know.
[1:21:18] My first one probably was tough because we were looking to get some going and a new direction on some things.
[1:21:25] But this one was really tough.
[1:21:27] For me, my focus was three things from what I heard from citizens, not at the town hall meeting.
[1:21:35] Not just in this room, but what I would hear from people at the grocery store.
[1:21:42] What I would hear from people coming out of church.
[1:21:45] What I would hear from people at the gas station.
[1:21:49] People would stop me and talk about what they wanted to see.
[1:21:53] Now county government ours has been in existent over with 200 plus years
[1:22:01] Most people don't even know what the county does
[1:22:04] They're getting a little better at it, but basically they know it if they get a child support order or if they got to pay property taxes
[1:22:13] Similar to that, but outside of that they don't really know it's not like when they go down the local city government and those kind of things and so
[1:22:23] As I talk with them and listen to them and call their office in different things, there's
[1:22:30] three things that I wanted to fight for in this, for me, it has to be the people's budget.
[1:22:38] It's not my personal budget, it's the people's budget.
[1:22:42] There were three things that came into my, based on what they said, and these would be people
[1:22:47] also that I see when I go out to the five, one through relief bus, a lot of people that we
[1:22:51] run into. Number one, they want to make sure that their safe safety was important. Number
[1:22:59] two, and not in his order, but the other issue was affordability. So safety of affordability
[1:23:07] is huge right now. And they didn't want any new taxes. So as I looked at this budget and we
[1:23:20] difficult because you have to go through your cheeses staffs. We can't talk directly and do our own
[1:23:27] negotiations as we've been able to do at the State House and they're able to do at the city
[1:23:32] which is part I really love. But our cheeses staffs I think did a good job trying to articulate
[1:23:40] and keep up with as this thing was moving.
[1:23:45] In this budget
[1:23:47] When a first was presented, there was as presented, I couldn't have supported it, as is presented because then the presented budget, it had that there would be an additional tax if you will, on your real estate, you were to sell it, it was going to be a transfer tax, and I had heard from people they didn't want anymore new taxes.
[1:24:15] At the hearings, and I appreciate as hearing from people and saying, yes, we're going to take
[1:24:22] that out.
[1:24:23] And I want to thank the Greater Cincinnati, Religious Alliance, the Relicist Association,
[1:24:29] Home Builders Association, and other alliances, Mary Huttingler and Felicia Bill and Heather
[1:24:36] Cough, and so many others that came and testified in that area, and how that would affect
[1:24:42] even new home buyers, it would affect affordable home buyers.
[1:24:50] And so it would be counterproductive
[1:24:51] to what we have been promoting, affordability.
[1:24:55] We've been saying we have affordable housing,
[1:24:57] but we would have inadvertently put something in
[1:25:00] that made it unaffordable for a person to have a house.
[1:25:05] And so I'm happy that that is out.
[1:25:08] I was not forward when I first saw it
[1:25:11] And I want to thank those who were in this industry who came out and talked about it and even one lady came
[1:25:18] Who does the mortgage is he doesn't for the major banks you're doing for and she really gave a good
[1:25:24] cliff note lesson that even some as much as 10 dollars more could just
[1:25:31] Cut it off you could have the you could have done all the work and got all your down payment. Got all the
[1:25:38] We're a pair of credit and everything but they have a stop and if it's $10, even $10,
[1:25:45] it would kill the deal.
[1:25:47] So I'm glad that that is not in here and so that moved me to it will maybe I can go with
[1:25:53] this budget because with that in there it would have been a no for me because no new taxes
[1:26:00] was a big deal. First a lot of people was a big deal from what I heard affordability.
[1:26:08] People right now
[1:26:11] suffering and not people that you get to think is not just low income. When we look at
[1:26:16] everyday in these companies they're laying off and getting rid of me these are big jobs and it's
[1:26:21] hard to get a big job again and it takes three and four and five interviews sometimes months before
[1:26:28] you get another opportunity and the bills don't stop because you oh I don't have a job
[1:26:34] it's gonna stop now it's rough out here for every bunker who you are so I'm not out here
[1:26:39] judge anybody on their bills bills are killing us medical just getting ready to go up is already
[1:26:46] killing us now it's gonna go up higher for medical go to the grocery store people barely can get
[1:26:55] some eggs and some bacon. It's too expensive. It's too expensive. So those who are not getting
[1:27:04] any help can't hardly make it now, which does affect our sales tax to the person. I can't
[1:27:14] get no whole cart and I get this time. So there's spending less. And those who have a little
[1:27:19] bit of money, they try to hold on to it because they don't know which way this economy is going
[1:27:24] go. So the affordability led by the Washington, trickle down to stake and then hit
[1:27:33] nuts at the county level. So we must, for me, I must put affordability
[1:27:40] top notch in front. It's not so much balancing just this binder. I got to make sure
[1:27:49] But in this binder, is this something a grandma will be able to balance so she can hold on
[1:27:54] until we hopefully get through these crazy times.
[1:27:58] It's got to be something in this binder, not just this binder, is it some foot of veteran
[1:28:03] that just came home or is home and trying to make it and serve our country and trying to hold
[1:28:10] on.
[1:28:11] This is not just a binder, a budget, or we balanced it, we structurally balanced, but that
[1:28:20] has been as unstructured we balance and can't send us keys to college, can't make it,
[1:28:26] don't know how you're going to pay the next mortgage, because if they're unsuccessful, then
[1:28:32] this binder is unsuccessful.
[1:28:36] So for me, that's where I'm when I come into the budget, yes I know numbers, I've been
[1:28:43] on the finance, the city, and the state, I know the numbers, but I'm trying to match it
[1:28:49] with the people, what are their needs, what are they saying, what can we do? And it requires
[1:28:57] us to go non-traditional. So what we've been doing for 200 years, 285 years, no good anymore.
[1:29:08] So we can say, oh, we do it this way all the time and it's over. It's time for new concepts, new
[1:29:15] ideas, very strong negotiations and leveraging every penny. That's all we'll, you know,
[1:29:23] missioners before did it so so what that's all we used to be all horses and
[1:29:28] buggies and we ain't on it no more so it's going to challenge us all
[1:29:32] departments and I said this in our meeting that we had over at the Memorial Hall we
[1:29:38] got to look at it from a different lens we got to be more nimble now we got to meet
[1:29:45] the knees and the challenges because that's what we're here to do so at least for
[1:29:52] So safety, affordability, and no new tax burden.
[1:30:00] Now I will say that I'm disappointed and I won't continue to say it. The new bingo deal counted out the taxpayers. They got less than they got another deal. The other deal was terrible, but at least you can try to get 30%. You could look at it each year. You could vote on it. This new deal could cut them out and say you ain't getting 30% ever.
[1:30:28] So you cut them out, the only way that would have cut them in is if we put it on the ballot
[1:30:33] because then you got to talk to them.
[1:30:35] You put them on the ballot, they won't be running down trying to meet with our officers.
[1:30:38] They'll be out in the community trying to meet with these homeowners.
[1:30:41] That's what happened the first time.
[1:30:43] They didn't go down the county commission office and come here and get two minutes.
[1:30:47] They had to go to these neighborhoods, they had to go to the bingles, had to get out of that
[1:30:51] stadium they was in and get out here and find some people and talk the grandma and talk
[1:30:56] some other people now. It ended up not being truthful, but they had to talk to them. This time
[1:31:03] they didn't have to talk to nobody in the neighborhood. They didn't have to lead that stadium.
[1:31:08] They didn't have to go into these communities. They had to go to the Anderson Township here with
[1:31:11] they had to say, they didn't have to go to the Co-Rain Township, see what they got to say.
[1:31:15] They didn't have to go into everything, see what they got to say. They just stayed in there
[1:31:19] offices that we paid for and all they did was have their lawyers and I lawyers and we was
[1:31:24] have those doors. So that's why I'm disappointed that we're going from 30% to 4.5%
[1:31:32] when the homeowners are the ones that's struggling right now. They lose their home,
[1:31:37] they won't be able to pay it off and then the home goes into a land bank that pays zero dollars.
[1:31:44] So that's why I was fighting for that because that's what I heard from them and some people
[1:31:50] they built. I heard from them. It's not something you got to listen to me, y'all you
[1:31:55] got to do is look at your bill. Your bill will tell you what it is. With that being said,
[1:32:03] this budget, this portion of the budget, does fund our veterans, which is super important.
[1:32:14] If funds safety, we increase our budget for the shares, we increase the budget that was proposed,
[1:32:24] we increase that for the prosecutor's office, we increase the probate court, so we put
[1:32:32] some increases around and, sincerely, around safety, so that's why I can support it.
[1:32:39] The veterans are not counted out. They're counting it in fully funded. I can support it
[1:32:48] The 513 relief bus mobile was more needed now than ever before
[1:32:53] over 30,000 people and services is the county going all over this county. No matter where they go
[1:33:00] There's a need
[1:33:02] They go out to Harris and one time they water was getting ready to be turned up. There was a need
[1:33:07] people going in there getting they're gonna need even more now because the
[1:33:12] coat pays and when I go there at least get your blood pressure check to get your
[1:33:16] diabetes check to those kind of things at no coat pay people now I look
[1:33:22] for discounts when I was in programs and ladies looking this is all
[1:33:26] now that they don't say I'll put it down even though it was only two dollar
[1:33:30] difference they got to look croaker card everybody put it on my car and when you
[1:33:36] you're done. You got $3.50. You're going to give me my $3.00. People are looking for discounts.
[1:33:43] So as a county, any discount we can pass on. And that's what the bus is trying to do.
[1:33:49] To connect you to the services in the discounts. So I'm happy that the bus is in here mobile and
[1:33:56] other counties are trying to follow us because they didn't have no bus. Now they're trying to get a bus.
[1:34:01] And so I'm happy with the five one three relief buses in here, so I can support small businesses.
[1:34:09] Now, we were there to help them in their toughest times.
[1:34:13] But the times of steel talk, restaurants every day, been open 30 years, 25 years every day.
[1:34:20] This one done went out of business after 25 years.
[1:34:23] This one's going out of business out of 30 years.
[1:34:26] Small businesses if if if they companies are laying off small businesses got new money
[1:34:35] So I'm happy that in here we keep
[1:34:39] So funding for the office and small business and try to help people some people will be forced to go in the small business
[1:34:45] Is they got no job?
[1:34:47] And they got to try to make some money. They got to become a entrepreneur
[1:34:50] So I'm glad that we have that in the budget small business data help connect them
[1:34:55] Uh, is in there.
[1:34:57] On pitch tonight is not just a pitch, and I had said this, I want more money going to the actual entrepreneur.
[1:35:04] That's what I want.
[1:35:06] So they can try to help stay afloat and be able to continue.
[1:35:12] I know we rolled the facade program, but it's very important with facade programs.
[1:35:16] Most of my business don't have time to do the outside and all that.
[1:35:20] And these business districts is very important for economic development.
[1:35:24] Now, the community revitalization grants, I support that, because we've been doing nothing
[1:35:32] with revitalizing our tomorrow look up, and believe me, I mean, I'm born and raised
[1:35:36] this name, but it took my look up as the downtown major project.
[1:35:40] So people in the other areas say, we can't have all our money going downtown, what about
[1:35:46] our business districts, and mountain healthy, and local and other places?
[1:35:51] they want something too. Springfield Township. So the community revitalization allows us
[1:35:59] to get around and know that it's one Hamilton County, 49 minutes of
[1:36:04] Palli so it can be strong and be able to collect taxes. If it's empty, then collect
[1:36:10] enough. Then collect enough and buy enough and we're not getting enough. The other
[1:36:15] thing that we make our money on, they say property taxes, they say sales tax, we make
[1:36:20] money also on hotel motel tax. Now what we got to do is put given it away all over place
[1:36:27] if it doesn't bring something back we got to get something to and so I do support the large
[1:36:33] tourism grants. Now this is not this is for me it's not this one no COVID program. What this is is
[1:36:41] if the people are bringing heads to the bayets because this competitive now you can go other places
[1:36:48] you don't have to come here. If you put heads in these beds, we get paid. And I'm willing
[1:36:56] to support those who have events. Why would I want to get rid of or let some other place
[1:37:02] come in and cut them out and they not bring heads to the beds? Now, some things they bring
[1:37:08] no heads to the beds. I ain't really too, you know, that's okay. But I look at for how many
[1:37:15] The hands to the beds have we brought versus how much we don't put into this large, as
[1:37:22] why I put the word tourism,
[1:37:25] grants.
[1:37:27] This is to get outside people who don't live here, bring the money, stand these hotels
[1:37:33] so we can use the money to be able to reinvest in our county.
[1:37:40] So that's why that's important because we can't keep cutting and we bring a net, we bring
[1:37:45] and then forward to bring old money in.
[1:37:47] Lord can we bring ideas and things forward
[1:37:51] and then we cut taxes.
[1:37:54] We bring development forward and they say,
[1:37:56] no tax.
[1:37:58] So it's also developer and tax free for five things years.
[1:38:02] In reach on grandma grandpa, I've got to pay extra taxes.
[1:38:06] So I'm not interested in bringing a lot of things in
[1:38:08] as given no taxes.
[1:38:10] We might have to put our foot down on some of that stuff.
[1:38:12] But this large event and the community revitalization, I think we could do a better job of looking at how much money did it bring in.
[1:38:23] But it has to be here as in a band.
[1:38:25] It's not just I got a great event.
[1:38:28] So that's what I think is important.
[1:38:30] Sports Commission.
[1:38:32] I support it.
[1:38:33] I want us amateur sports facility.
[1:38:36] We're losing money every day.
[1:38:38] and could nor the Kentucky, we hold nothing, and they say,
[1:38:40] oh, nor the Kentucky is going to build one, and we get the grant.
[1:38:44] We brought in a person that's aggressive, that's going to lead.
[1:38:47] We revitalize this sports commission.
[1:38:51] And the Convention Center can only do so many
[1:38:53] because if you do a convention, you book three, four years out,
[1:38:57] then you can't have the tournament all the time.
[1:39:01] So, but I'm glad that they're doing some things.
[1:39:03] This person has proven we gave them 150,000 last year
[1:39:07] to market and bring in sporting events and they have brought in sporting events and we've
[1:39:13] got, I want to do more, I want to be more aggressive and I want to bring more opportunities
[1:39:17] to kids that live here.
[1:39:19] If you bring these outsides sporting events you bring national coaches and we bring the national
[1:39:24] coaches they get to see our kids and when they see our kids our kids get a chance to get
[1:39:29] the scholarships and that's very important to me so I support this budget having the sports
[1:39:35] commission because they also got what hands in the beets and when those hands get on those
[1:39:42] beets we as a county get money. So I support that and I'm also happy since I'd like me to
[1:39:50] talk things in here because it's funded through restricted funds. No general fund. So I'm happy
[1:39:56] about that that is in here has 300,000 visitors that have come. We got to click it down there. I
[1:40:02] I think it's more than 300,000, that was the October numbers.
[1:40:05] I don't know what the other numbers are gonna be,
[1:40:08] but it's 300,000 coming down there.
[1:40:12] So there are certain things I think this budget
[1:40:14] is diversified, economic development, safety,
[1:40:19] small business, low new taxes on the real estate,
[1:40:25] transfer fee is out of there.
[1:40:27] And I agree that we've got to keep our eye on this
[1:40:31] on a month or month because things are changing
[1:40:35] to the children's services level.
[1:40:38] I'll say this and wrap up to the home owner that's out there
[1:40:42] or the citizen that's out there who they're the ones who pay for that.
[1:40:47] The level is paid by home owners property taxes.
[1:40:53] When they see a $100 million and then all of a sudden
[1:40:57] now it's time for a new leddy and now we're talking about we broke. They're almost the
[1:41:02] answers. And so we've had some preliminary things. But as we move forward, I want to make
[1:41:08] sure we shouldn't be able to get from 100 million all the way down. And now we ain't got
[1:41:12] no money. And now we ready to do something. I need to know if it's starting looking like
[1:41:16] your count going down. We got to hold up time out. Let's have a real. I mean, just a
[1:41:25] thing on this and so I know that the administrators said now we'll get I think every month will be
[1:41:31] looking at our money and we'll be doing that but to the person on the outside this was I mean I
[1:41:36] could I would think it too I wasn't sitting in here I'm still kind of thinking I don't know where we go
[1:41:41] from a hundred million dollars a year ago an extra money and then you come back to your later
[1:41:47] now you talk about you you don't ran out of money people get a little dicey with that and then they
[1:41:52] looking at their own home, Bill, and they ain't getting no break in the property tax going
[1:41:57] up.
[1:41:57] And they get a love saying, so I'm looking forward to, again, doing it different.
[1:42:04] You know, I want to look at this, I want to make need to look at it every week.
[1:42:07] We know that these companies are doing some new things to us.
[1:42:11] They need to be exposed, that they overcharge the county, that I'm for exposing these
[1:42:16] companies.
[1:42:17] That's overcharge in the county and trying to bankrupt the county.
[1:42:21] who are these companies? So that's another thing. We're not voting on that today.
[1:42:28] But, and I'm happy that we got a million dollars for affordable housing, but I'm
[1:42:32] not forgiven it to a specific entity yet. Bring a project. What's the quickest we can
[1:42:40] get some people in some housing? Is it vouchers? Is it building something new? Because
[1:42:46] The goal is to get people this unhoused house, and so I'm happy that that is in the budget.
[1:42:54] So with that, I will support this budget, again, I do want to thank the administration and
[1:43:02] the budget of people that everybody that works on this, because I know you said, man,
[1:43:07] it's a lot of questions, because when I walk out of here, there's a lot of questions
[1:43:12] So I'm going to have to answer to the people that are out here struggling.
[1:43:17] So thank you all for working on this.
[1:43:19] Thanks to the cheese.
[1:43:20] I know it's a lot of back and forth.
[1:43:22] We've gotten there.
[1:43:23] We've got this, you know, and what we do is celebrate each day and take it day by day.
[1:43:30] So today is a good day, safety of affordability and no new taxes.
[1:43:35] Oh, yes.
[1:43:36] Thank you.
[1:43:38] Thank you.
[1:43:39] I'm going to make a motion that we approve of item number one.
[1:43:43] Second.
[1:43:44] Commissure three house?
[1:43:45] Yes.
[1:43:46] Commissure some I do.
[1:43:48] Commissioner.
[1:43:48] Yes.
[1:43:49] Thank you.
[1:43:49] Thank you again, Jeff.
[1:43:51] Oh, and I'll buy leave.
[1:43:52] I leave number 11.
[1:43:53] I'm going to make a motion.
[1:43:54] We approve a buy leave number 11.
[1:43:56] Second.
[1:43:57] Commissure three house?
[1:43:57] Yes.
[1:43:58] Commissure some.
[1:43:59] Yes.
[1:44:01] Thank you.
[1:44:02] I don't number 11.
[1:44:03] That was at $30.
[1:44:06] Which one is that?
[1:44:07] it was the,
[1:44:12] okay, great, I just want to make sure, okay, thank you, all right, we're going to move on.
[1:44:17] Let's go to the engineers, items, items two and three.
[1:44:22] Thank you, commissioners, Todd Long, Chief Deputy in here.
[1:44:26] Item number two refers to some progress in snow and ice removal.
[1:44:30] So I just before I get to item I'd like to thank our hardworking men and women who have been working diligently through our snow and ice season,
[1:44:37] although it's just begun, we know we have worked to prepare to continue to clean the road.
[1:44:41] So I just want to thank them for all their work being away from their family, their hours they have to work.
[1:44:45] So I appreciate that.
[1:44:47] But with no further ado, my item number two is a resolution for an intergovernment agreement with Miami Township,
[1:44:52] with a rental of a rubber tire loader for the 2025-26 snow season.
[1:44:57] The agreement is...
[1:45:00] For $2,000, the Reptile Relator portion, with a 25% app on the engineer's costs, out of road and bridge funds, up to $10,000 for any loader repair.
[1:45:13] Item number three is a resolution to allow the 2026 resurfacing program project 502602 to put it to put out the bid.
[1:45:23] This is located in an Anderson, Coloring, Harrison, Sikomora, and Sims Townships.
[1:45:29] The bid opening date would be January 15, 2026.
[1:45:33] The engineer's estimate is $5 million, $60,000,
[1:45:37] of which two million will be coming from the Road and Bridge Fund,
[1:45:41] and $3 million, $60,000 will be coming from the Road and Bridge Fund.
[1:45:45] The Road list, I'd like to just read that briefly for everyone.
[1:45:49] We've got Campbell Road from the city of Harrison Corp.
[1:45:52] to an address of 10444. We've got an entirety of Dell view road from Shea to Springdale Road on
[1:46:00] list. We've got Dry Ridge Road from 6404 to the Dead End, which is the vast majority of Dry Ridge Road.
[1:46:07] Edgewood Road from Lee's Creek to about 500 feet north of Trailhead place. That's a northern section
[1:46:13] of Edwood, Edgewood rather. Newtown Road from Bartle's Road to Ragland, which is approximately
[1:46:18] two-thirds of the roadway from Newtown, Pottenger Road, Stout Road, between the Struble Road
[1:46:24] and Pippin Road, and then Snider Road in both North and South sections, the North section being
[1:46:29] from Bridalmager Lane to approximately 100 feet south of Pine Cove Court, and then from Cornell Road
[1:46:35] to East Cover Road. If you're keeping track, I didn't list the mileage, but the total is about
[1:46:41] 10.5 total miles for that particular cost to be happy to answer any questions. Thank you.
[1:46:47] And thank you for recognizing the employees that were out there in the scene, the cold.
[1:46:52] It was so cold and it was really challenging to clear the roads.
[1:46:54] I didn't get any complaints after the bad weather.
[1:46:59] I personally couldn't get up a hill in my neighborhood, but it's in the city.
[1:47:03] So, and I did not complain.
[1:47:05] I just waited for it to melt.
[1:47:07] But anyway, thank you for recognizing we too want to recognize that hardware.
[1:47:11] Commissioner Summer, do you want to say thank you all for bringing that up and I was going to ask
[1:47:15] with the manager was and you are already told it was 10 to five.
[1:47:18] So thank you so much.
[1:47:19] That's all I have.
[1:47:20] Commissioner Reese?
[1:47:21] Yeah, I just want to join and thanking the staff,
[1:47:25] that's out there, it's like you said, really cold.
[1:47:29] Last, now we're going to have some more cold coming up.
[1:47:32] We're just getting into the stick of it.
[1:47:34] We'll be, you know, this is our last meeting,
[1:47:36] but we'll be hit January, February.
[1:47:38] And last time after the salt, I don't know,
[1:47:43] they said we had some different kind of salt coming in
[1:47:44] because we were at a salt, now I'm not an expert
[1:47:48] on solid except seasoning for my food,
[1:47:51] but can you, it created these,
[1:47:54] not just little pot holes on me, these things were.
[1:47:57] And then we created more of them,
[1:48:00] and we had to get more people kind of out there,
[1:48:02] do you, is there something different
[1:48:04] that we're gonna be able to do this time or?
[1:48:08] Well, there's a number of different types
[1:48:10] of salt products that are put out in the room.
[1:48:11] It's a vast majority of the attitudes
[1:48:13] For that, or a colorant, and that's what we talked about, and last season we were looking at that.
[1:48:18] I believe the company that we have already did from is not using that blue colorant as more of a straight non-color assault additive.
[1:48:26] County engineers office typically utilizes straight road salt.
[1:48:31] We have some limited pre-treatment that we do, but because of the roadway systems that we have in place, we have the ability to do more with the plow.
[1:48:40] So pushing the off of the road is the first line of defense.
[1:48:46] Salt is then going to clear that with a little bit of temperature and with a little bit of water actually bring it to a solution that it can actually start to begin to doing so that melting work.
[1:48:54] The potholes themselves are actually created from the freeze-thaw cycle.
[1:48:58] So when water infiltrates into a crack or something that's in the pavement, that's actually where we get the freeze-thaw.
[1:49:03] So when we go from these really, really frigid times to these much more warmer times, that's when the damage starts to occur.
[1:49:08] And that's the, so the salt won't be a preventative for that particular function.
[1:49:13] That's something that we have to continue to put cold patch asphalt in place while the
[1:49:17] cold season is out and then wait to come out of the thaw until we can put down a more
[1:49:22] formalized hard surface with, you know, a hot substance asphalt that makes sense.
[1:49:28] Well, thank you for the explanation. I just, my biggest thing was we had bigger
[1:49:33] pod holes and we ever had seen before and I mean these things I was like you
[1:49:39] going all the way down so I didn't I know they had mentioned something was out
[1:49:43] of stock or whatever I don't know whatever we can do to prevent that or
[1:49:50] or in front of it I know we can't predict everything but try to be in front of it
[1:49:54] because we've been doing it for years it's just last year was crazy and
[1:50:00] Student temperatures. Yeah, so anyway, just wanted to highlight that. Thank you. Thank you. I'm going to move that we approve of items two and three.
[1:50:08] Commissioner Drey House. Yes, I'm sure some are doing this. Yes, Mr. Reese. Yes. Thank you. Thank you.
[1:50:13] Thank you. All right. We're on to MSD. I'm going to ask that we move it with your difference commissioners the budgets because we've got some folks from the public that are still here waiting for this item. So these are items number 10 11 and 12.
[1:50:30] so I'll learn with us. Diane is not here today but Lawrence here. Thank you for being here.
[1:50:35] Please walk us through these. We've had quite a bit of conversation about the budgets and we've
[1:50:40] had some public hearings. So thank you for being here. Please give us the highlights of these items.
[1:50:47] Good morning, commissioners. Director Christie had a family matter this morning.
[1:50:50] Couldn't be here but I'm here as well as several others from MSD to support. As you said,
[1:50:56] our last three items on your general, I'm sorry, yes, regular agenda, our annual budgets and
[1:51:03] rate adjustment for 2020-6, Director Christie previously presented on these and two public
[1:51:09] hearings have been held, so I'll just briefly summarize. For our 2020-6 operating budget
[1:51:15] item 10, we're seeking an appropriation of 255,069,450 dollars. We've worked with the administration
[1:51:24] to reduce this by approximately $7 million from our initial request, but are still confident that this request is sufficient to fund our daily operations in 2026.
[1:51:37] Item 11 is our revised sewer rate schedule to be effective as of January 1 of 2026.
[1:51:44] As we've discussed, it's meant to term in that we need a 4.5 increase in revenue to fund the district to accomplish this.
[1:51:52] We're proposing to keep all the minimum base charges flat,
[1:51:56] surcharge, and industrial pretreatment charges.
[1:51:58] We'll also not increase.
[1:52:00] The only change is to our commodity charge,
[1:52:03] which is the charge for water usage over 3CCF.
[1:52:06] That is moving from the current two-tier declining rate
[1:52:09] structure, where you get a cheaper rate,
[1:52:11] if you use more water essentially.
[1:52:14] We'll move to a single rate for all water usage
[1:52:17] over 3CCF, that is our minimum allowance.
[1:52:20] and that is anticipated to generate enough revenue that is determined to be needed to fund
[1:52:27] the district's activities. Moving on to the last item item 12. This is our 2026-2030 capital
[1:52:35] improvement program and 2026 capital budget. The proposed capital budget for 2026 is 153
[1:52:43] 1,600, 4,637 dollars of that amount.
[1:52:50] We are requesting a appropriation today of 84 million, 418,116 dollars.
[1:52:58] We will come back as we always do throughout the year for the remainder of that budget as
[1:53:02] these projects are ready to proceed to construction.
[1:53:05] So, with that, we recommend approval.
[1:53:07] Okay, thank you very much to those who are items 10, 11, and 12.
[1:53:09] I just have a few comments, particularly related to the operating budget and some of the folks
[1:53:19] that are the coming and testified the public hearings we heard from some of them today.
[1:53:24] I just do want to note that we heard some of these concerns in our responding here in this
[1:53:29] budget.
[1:53:30] Primary of them all is that we are keeping rates flat for residential property owners in the coming
[1:53:37] year, there is a shift in how we charge individuals and corporations for the sewer system.
[1:53:45] We have, when I say we, I mean MSD and us, have made an attempt here to right size that
[1:53:52] so that the residential property owners are not bearing the brunt of that, but rather those
[1:53:58] that use more paying more.
[1:53:59] And so I am grateful for that shift, I think that's been a long time coming, I know there's
[1:54:04] more to do, but I think it's good news that the rates will not increase for residents in
[1:54:09] this community.
[1:54:11] The other one is the impervious surface we just passed a resolution about this to make sure that
[1:54:17] we hold ourselves accountable to some of the recommendations that came out of the affordability
[1:54:22] task force.
[1:54:23] I know there was in consensus, but there was interest about impervious surface and thinking
[1:54:27] through how we can do better there to not only capture some of the stormwater that's running
[1:54:33] off into the system, but also make sure that those that are responsible for that run off
[1:54:38] are paying either their fair share or doing something to ameliorate, which would be better.
[1:54:44] I keep that water out of the system to begin with, so I'm glad that we are moving forward on that.
[1:54:48] And then the SPU program we always talk about this, but there is plenty of money in the sewer
[1:54:52] backup program for relief for citizens that continue to struggle with sewer backups. We've done
[1:54:58] quite a bit of prevention work. And again, I want to shout out MSD for this. It's an approach
[1:55:03] that keeps sewers from backing up to begin with so that we put quite a bit of money in there from the SPU program
[1:55:09] So I'm glad that that is it's a more forward-thinking kind of approach and so I'm really grateful that MSD has recommended that to us and we have approved of those shifts
[1:55:21] So not much else to say about the operating budget one question about the capital budget. So we heard a
[1:55:28] months ago, about an example, a thing was a treatment facility that had gone up dramatically
[1:55:35] in price due to economic uncertainties and tariffs.
[1:55:39] What is your forecast moving into the next year related to what is slated here for the
[1:55:46] capital budget and how what's happening at the national level might negatively impact the numbers
[1:55:52] that we're looking at today?
[1:55:54] Sure.
[1:55:54] Thank you for that question.
[1:55:55] and Deputy Director of Restronson is here this morning.
[1:56:00] Ultimately, involved in the development and overseeing the implementation of our CIPs.
[1:56:04] I'm going to ask him to come up and respond.
[1:56:07] Thank you.
[1:56:09] Thank you, Lauren.
[1:56:11] Commissioners.
[1:56:12] So if I heard a question correctly, what would be the impact of potential tariffs on the ACIP in the coming year?
[1:56:19] So we've seen that impact already in projects that we've approved of.
[1:56:24] What I'm wondering is, what is your forecast for that moving into next year?
[1:56:28] We're saying closely aligned with our contractors and our consultants to understand where
[1:56:34] their cost estimates are coming for and reviewing those very closely.
[1:56:38] We don't have a better crystal ball than anybody else does about those.
[1:56:44] So we're keeping a very close eye on that and continuing to watch our costs and our cost estimates.
[1:56:49] We don't have a workcast one way or the other besides the cost estimates that we have today.
[1:56:54] We're expecting to continue to work through the uncertain times as the commissioners have mentioned that we're in those very uncertain times.
[1:57:03] Okay, thank you very much.
[1:57:04] And just to remind or to anybody that might be viewing this meeting, the operating budget is for the consent decree, which is an unfunded mandate from the federal government.
[1:57:19] and for asset management, so making sure the system, which is over a hundred years in some
[1:57:24] areas, is functioning properly and provides the utility to every single resident and every single
[1:57:32] business owner in this community. So I just, just as a broad reminder of what we're doing here
[1:57:36] today, this is an annual budget, we approve it every year and so that's what we're looking at.
[1:57:41] So thank you for your response. I, I too am concerned about what's happening at the federal level,
[1:57:45] but I'm glad you're all keeping an eye on it. And if you could provide us as you come in,
[1:57:49] for these projects. I mean, if you're always coming in, as we need to allocate additional
[1:57:53] dollars that have been budgeted but need to be allocated, I would appreciate that kind of
[1:57:58] analysis as to how we're doing and if the budgets have gone up and what are the things contributing
[1:58:05] to that because I think it's really important for us to understand. So we've been working very closely
[1:58:08] with the county administration on the procedures by which we would bring those forward and highlighting
[1:58:14] And the reasons for this cost increases so that we would understand, oh, that was just because
[1:58:19] cost of this materials went up or because there's a particular tariff on that type of
[1:58:25] tarry labor or stuff.
[1:58:27] So we've been working closely with them that I identify and how to bring that forward as
[1:58:30] those companies.
[1:58:31] Yeah.
[1:58:31] Okay, great.
[1:58:32] Thank you very much.
[1:58:33] Mr. Summer doing this.
[1:58:34] Thank you.
[1:58:36] I asked you a question there.
[1:58:37] item 10 was good to hear about reducing the amount 7 million. And so I appreciate you working with stay
[1:58:46] AF and everyone working to try to reduce. I know we'll probably see you again if you need more.
[1:58:52] We oftentimes do. And then as a relates to item 12, the 84 million. I guess I'll be, and I know I will
[1:59:02] for now and 26 and on, be repetitive as it relates to telling people that are listening,
[1:59:10] that I'll say the life person where this money is coming from, like the 84 million, where
[1:59:17] does that come from?
[1:59:19] So, you understand what I'm saying?
[1:59:20] Sure, it's just a joke.
[1:59:21] I mean, as a, I'm thinking, you couldn't give me 100,000 for this, but it's 84 million
[1:59:27] for that.
[1:59:27] So, just in general, I'm going to be asking you and anybody else that comes up, where
[1:59:32] that money comes from.
[1:59:34] So, if you could just say.
[1:59:35] Yes, generally, I mean, it varies by expense, but generally, we're funding things with
[1:59:39] cash.
[1:59:39] We are a rate payer funded organization, restricted fund.
[1:59:43] We use bond financing, we receive a lot of financial support from our state revolving loan
[1:59:50] fund, WPCLF, so those are the three primary sources.
[1:59:56] Okay.
[1:59:56] reason to let people know it's not.
[2:00:00] I mean, out of our general budget, we couldn't do it before anyway, but just to let people know, this is not the money that we use to take care of your basic needs.
[2:00:10] So, thank you, I appreciate it. That's all I have.
[2:00:12] Thank you, commissioner.
[2:00:15] Thank you.
[2:00:18] Item number 10 and 11 and 12, they all kind of go together.
[2:00:25] Yes, and what I'm concerned is I don't necessarily want to be on the record for any type of
[2:00:33] I don't mind looking at the increase on a year by your bases, but if I go into this 2026-2030 plan
[2:00:39] it does have some step-bladders in terms of the plan.
[2:00:46] So that is correct. It's a five-year planning period, but we have always brought back rates every single year to look at
[2:00:53] what's going on and what is needed for the district but you're right. We are looking
[2:00:57] five years out in terms of our little projects and what we foresee doing and what spending
[2:01:01] is associated with that. Yeah, and I'm sure saying yes to it. The other thing is I kind of want to
[2:01:09] see how this plays out because we're doing a shifting this year and when you hear commercial you think
[2:01:17] of it was a testimony earlier, you're thinking of the big company. But what startled me
[2:01:23] when they said some restaurants could be affected.
[2:01:27] So I kind of want to see how that's going to play out,
[2:01:29] because I know it's up to 15%.
[2:01:31] We kind of don't know yet when I was hearing.
[2:01:36] Right, it very much depends on what those individual organizations,
[2:01:40] businesses, and their water usage is,
[2:01:43] and what they're paying surcharge.
[2:01:45] If they haven't deduct to meter, and maybe they're using more water,
[2:01:48] but they're putting it into a product.
[2:01:50] So they're really charged for that.
[2:01:51] It really does vary whereas with residential properties,
[2:01:53] they tend to be pretty similar. And we can determine what the impact is going to be.
[2:01:58] Those commercial and industrial. I mean, we can say those who are using over approximately
[2:02:02] 58 CCF per month are going to see an increase, but giving you a general impact or average,
[2:02:10] as we're just not able to do that, or it wouldn't be meaningful at least.
[2:02:14] Yeah, no, I got you. And I know they would, we have more time. They would probably be able to
[2:02:23] the roses calling me saying they went out and the pizza went up and all that so let
[2:02:29] um those are just kind of my concerns but I do appreciate a creativity we do have something
[2:02:34] that we're going to be looking at um yeah we just passed and kind of see how that plays out
[2:02:40] um but when we play these scenarios out because what we're doing is kind of a shifting I just
[2:02:46] like to have all the people that not just one group that'll be affected I want to know so
[2:02:52] I don't inadvertently end up hurting
[2:02:55] because a lot of times this is the little guy,
[2:02:58] the little guy, the little guy,
[2:02:59] all day the ones that get hit,
[2:03:00] the big companies, they have lawyers,
[2:03:04] and they have more staff to kind of navigate it,
[2:03:08] versus some of the smaller folks.
[2:03:11] Okay, those are the questions I had.
[2:03:13] Thank you.
[2:03:14] Thank you.
[2:03:15] All right, let's go ahead and take these items
[2:03:17] that I'm gonna move that we approve of items 10, 11 and 12.
[2:03:21] Commissioner Dree House? Yes. Commissioner Samarjumis. Commissioner Rees.
[2:03:25] That's thing.
[2:03:28] Okay. Let's go back to item number four.
[2:03:33] Item four five and six are similar. So I'll summarize those together. They are all legislation
[2:03:38] off-rise design of three sewer assessment projects. Two sewer lateral projects located at
[2:03:44] five six five seven and five six two one work road and a local sewer to serve two properties on
[2:03:52] facilitate the elimination of the household storage treatment systems that currently serve these properties
[2:03:57] and all projects have a hundred percent support of the property owners. These are all zero-dollar requests.
[2:04:04] The funding necessary will be moved from the 2020-5HSTS elimination allowance. Moving on to item seven,
[2:04:13] this is a resolution to cancel the Coldstream Drive and Asbury Road Local Super Project.
[2:04:17] This project was initiated in 2011 by petition with 54% supports, just barely a majority.
[2:04:24] We're recommending canceling the project at this point primarily due to its cost.
[2:04:29] We discovered various challenges through the design phase that will result in a significant increase in construction costs,
[2:04:36] including utility conflicts, necessary rock excavation, coordination with ODOT and easement appropriations.
[2:04:42] We're also recommending canceling this project due to the low level of homeowner support as I said 54% at the beginning and just 51% based on a reporting performed in 2021.
[2:04:54] Per Hamilton County Public Health, all of the HSTS systems are operable, except for three, those owners will need to pursue repair or replacement of their systems.
[2:05:05] Item 8 is legislation to approve an intergovernmental agreement with Green Township for the
[2:05:11] Wesselman Trailside sewer extension project, which is intended to expand sewer service and
[2:05:17] development capacity in Green Township. Under the proposed agreement, Green Township will be funding the
[2:05:23] design and construction of the project and will transfer ownership of the newly constructed sewer to the
[2:05:29] be operated and maintained by MSD in the future.
[2:05:33] Item 9 is to authorize an agreement with UDF, under which UDF will perform work requested by
[2:05:39] MSD as part of their expansion of their operations on bridge town road in Miami Township.
[2:05:45] We're requesting a appropriation of $225,000 for MSD to reimburse UDF for the actual cost
[2:05:52] to relocate an existing MSD sewer to a better location for purposes of ongoing operation,
[2:05:57] maintenance as well as potential expansion in the future.
[2:06:02] And that is all I have.
[2:06:03] Could you take any questions?
[2:06:06] Thank you.
[2:06:08] I would like to ask a question about item number nine.
[2:06:12] Could you say I missed that one.
[2:06:16] And so the cost to the utility is the 225.
[2:06:20] Up to 225.
[2:06:22] It will be for their actual costs of relocating that sewer,
[2:06:25] which they'll submit to us.
[2:06:29] Okay, all right.
[2:06:30] They're asking us to move the sewer.
[2:06:34] So they came to us for permits associated with their expansion of their operations at their current location on bridge town road.
[2:06:41] We took a look at it and noticed that our sewer that is in that location is really not in a desirable location.
[2:06:48] It's very difficult to reach and maintain.
[2:06:51] So we're always looking for opportunities to collaborate and take advantage of them doing the work.
[2:06:57] any way, causes less disruptions, more cost-efficient. So this will move it to a location. It's easier
[2:07:03] for us to maintain. It's also much easier for us to extend in the future if there is desire to expand
[2:07:08] sewer service in that area. So to be clear, it's to the benefit of MSD. Yes, to do this. I know Jim
[2:07:15] Brett is here. Also from Miami Township, do you have any comment to this one?
[2:07:24] Thank you. First,
[2:07:26] UDF and represented as an permemesty of kept the township involved and everything.
[2:07:34] We see this as a big plus or MSD for maintenance and we also see some opportunity to get some expansion in the area.
[2:07:45] So, eliminate some failing on the sewage treatment system.
[2:07:50] So, township is a very impovery this and just to give you any questions.
[2:07:54] Okay, great. Thank you very much. Thanks for coming in. All right, commissioners any other questions.
[2:08:00] No questions.
[2:08:03] Okay. All right. I'm going to make a motion to approve of items four through nine.
[2:08:09] Second.
[2:08:10] Commissioner 3 House.
[2:08:11] Yes.
[2:08:11] Commissioner 3 House.
[2:08:12] Yes.
[2:08:13] Thank you. Thanks to the MSD team for being here. Appreciate it. Happy holidays to you all.
[2:08:19] Commissioner just said the risk of blabbering things just a bit just on that 514 project. I just wanted to say just at a very high level
[2:08:27] Board hasn't seen a lot of these recently, but it seems like when they come they do come in and and bunches sometimes
[2:08:34] And this is as a policy has put in place years ago
[2:08:37] There was a really
[2:08:39] Innovative way of trying to ensure that when a private developer needs to do something that involves sewer infrastructure that this the utility was not
[2:08:49] otherwise planning to do anything for. But it does serve to the benefit of the utility that
[2:08:54] it allows that development to move forward and MST then reimburses the cost of it. So it was
[2:08:59] something that we were needing to do anyway just wasn't on the plans. And it helps that private
[2:09:04] development also helps the utility. So you could be seeing more of these. I just wanted to
[2:09:09] put it out there when they do come forward. We typically call them a 514 project. So just for a future
[2:09:14] I just want to make sure that the public benefit was there for that project to be part of it.
[2:09:20] We are in the community and we hear from MSD. So thank you very much.
[2:09:23] All right, Jeff, we're back to you with item number 13.
[2:09:27] All right. I don't this is your consent agenda commissioners.
[2:09:30] Item number 13 is approving the use of credit cards in the office of addiction response for
[2:09:36] $20, $26, $90,000. Item number 14 is the auditor statement of financial transactions for
[2:09:43] November of 2025. Item 15 is authorizing credit card use in the auditor's office for $60,000.
[2:09:53] Item number 16 is the action of the administration for November of 2025. Item number 17 is a
[2:10:01] resolution authorizing agreement with Tribium Interactive for $210,232. Item number 18 is authorizing
[2:10:10] the administration to finalize an agreement with Mr.
[2:10:13] for construction management services
[2:10:15] to complete the club VT vertical transportation projects
[2:10:18] down at Pekor Stadium.
[2:10:21] Item 19 is authorizing the use of credit cards
[2:10:24] under the Board of County Commissioners
[2:10:26] for $180,000.
[2:10:29] Item number 20 is authorizing the use of credit cards
[2:10:33] in the Office of Media and Engagement
[2:10:35] for $240,000 in 2026.
[2:10:38] Item number 21 is approving the for the record the bid awards and contracts executed by the purchasing department in November of 2025 for 4.6 million dollars.
[2:10:52] item 22 is a resolution establishing parking rate changes for
[2:10:58] finley market garage for 2026. These are actually slight reductions in the 24-7 and
[2:11:05] monthly charges at that garage. Item 23 is a resolution authorizing, I'm sorry this is the
[2:11:16] authorizing the county auditor to process approved payments on behalf of the Board of County
[2:11:21] commissioners. For 2026, item number 24 is an agreement with for with company. This is
[2:11:31] for move services associated with the central campus project at $391,000.
[2:11:37] Item 25 is then and now between the county and carousel of technology for 31,958 dollars.
[2:11:47] Item 26 is an agreement with Mayor Electric for a fire alarm replacement project at great American ballpark $1.28 million.
[2:11:58] Item 27 is the use of credit cards by the coroner's office in 2026 at $12,000.
[2:12:06] There's also item number 28 which is also credit cards in the coroner's office for $24,000.
[2:12:12] The first of those relates to fuel purchases.
[2:12:15] items 29, 30, and 31 are all facade projects occurring in Springfield Township,
[2:12:23] Chiviot and Wyoming.
[2:12:25] Item 29 is Springfield Township for $51,000.
[2:12:29] I do want to acknowledge Kathleen Kennedy being here from Springfield Township.
[2:12:33] If there's any questions that the Board has, item 30 is with the City of Chiviot.
[2:12:40] at 65,000 item 31 is Wyoming for 52,000 item 32 is an agreement with the Port Authority
[2:12:50] for renovation and revitalization of the former Perry and Derek facility in Norwood.
[2:12:57] This is for asbestos abatement and very structural upgrades to that former paint facility.
[2:13:03] I believe Melissa Johnson is here, although she is over on the other side of the room.
[2:13:08] If there's any questions, commissioners, that's at $755,000.
[2:13:13] Item 33, commissioners is the agreement with the Hamilton County General Health District for
[2:13:19] facility inspection services on behalf of the Solid Ways Management District, $339,000.
[2:13:26] Item 34 is a tentative collected bargaining agreement with AFSME Field Operations in planning and development.
[2:13:33] Item 35 is a resolution declaring December 26th a paid holiday of the county.
[2:13:40] That's the day right after Christmas obviously, but falls on a Friday, so that would make it a seamless weekend for employees.
[2:13:50] Item 36 is a resolution off these are all JFS items, authorizing an amendment to an agreement
[2:13:58] with the, between the Ohio Region Workforce Investment Board in Princeton City School District
[2:14:04] for Career Navigation Services.
[2:14:06] I believe that's just an extension of time associated with that agreement.
[2:14:10] Item 37 is an amendment for an agreement with Prestige Travel, for travel arrangement
[2:14:16] and related services, $14,000.
[2:14:19] Item 38 is an amendment to an agreement with Legacy Residential Home for Group Home Services
[2:14:25] at $240,900 at $39 is a resolution authorizing credit cards in the Law Library for $1,700.
[2:14:36] Item 40 is authorizing credit card usage in the Prosecutor's Office at $6,000.
[2:14:42] Item 41 is a report on the use of detack funds in the Prosecutor's Office for 2025.
[2:14:50] item 42 is a resolution authorizing the use of credit cards in the public defender's office for $85,000.
[2:15:00] And item 43 is the monthly investment report for the Treasurer, for the month of November 2025. I believe that is the consent agenda commission.
[2:15:09] I don't want to miss anything. I believe it is, too. So let's just go with that.
[2:15:14] So I just a couple of things. Item 22, which is the Finley Market Garage, you know, when we built this garage, it was in response to a need by FC Cincinnati, but most primarily a need from the community.
[2:15:28] both for the finley market operations and the employees that work there in the vendors and the customers,
[2:15:36] but also the residents that live in that area and their plenty of them and more to come.
[2:15:40] And so I am glad that we are doing this.
[2:15:42] I personally always felt that the rates were a little too high,
[2:15:46] not by way of the transient population but rather the residents and the business owners.
[2:15:51] And so I am glad we're making this adjustment to make this more accessible community asset
[2:15:57] to those that live and work in that area.
[2:15:59] So I appreciate the adjustment there.
[2:16:02] I know it's not always easy to do that work,
[2:16:03] but I think that's right, the right thing to do.
[2:16:07] Under economic development,
[2:16:08] 29, 30, and 31, we just talked about the importance
[2:16:10] of economic development and revitalization in neighborhoods.
[2:16:14] And these are three pretty good examples of that
[2:16:16] in Springfield, Chiviet and Wyoming,
[2:16:18] so I did want to shout those out.
[2:16:21] The item 32 is the Perian Derrick
[2:16:23] and Norwood, Melissa Johnson is here.
[2:16:26] Would you just come forward and could you just briefly describe this investment, because we talk
[2:16:33] quite a bit about site readiness and getting sites available for businesses in our community
[2:16:39] and government doing the work of the cleanup so that a private developer will go in and invest
[2:16:45] and create jobs on these locations. So we've talked about this in terms of the budget a little bit,
[2:16:51] but help us better understand the importance of this one.
[2:16:54] I'm happy to, afternoon, Melissa Johnson, with the Cincinnati Port Authority, I want to start
[2:16:59] up by saying that we do appreciate your acknowledgement of the priority of economic development.
[2:17:02] You've continued to invest in writing the spree years. It takes time to pay dividends,
[2:17:07] but it is a patient game, and we appreciate your patience in that game, but we value even
[2:17:12] inside of this difficult budget that you continue to prioritize that and invest in this initiative.
[2:17:17] But Perry and Derek has been a problematic property for the city of Norwood for some time.
[2:17:23] Over, as they passed 12 or 15 years, it had unstable and inconsistent ownership, which resulted
[2:17:29] in a need in a partnership between the port and the city of Norwood where they asked us to step in
[2:17:34] and pursue ownership.
[2:17:36] That ultimately was funded via a subrecipient grant from what I understand from the city of Norwood.
[2:17:42] I think that we've purchased it for about 178,000.
[2:17:45] I think both parties kind of recognize the importance of public ownership to reach a point
[2:17:50] of stabilization.
[2:17:51] So this has been a rather chronic piece of real estate.
[2:17:54] Since the ports ownership, we've invested about $260,000 by demolishing three pretty unstable
[2:18:00] structures on the property, which totals about just under four acres.
[2:18:05] We've also tried to be creative and leverage other resources around the project, asking
[2:18:09] for some technical brown field assistance from the Ohio EPA, which has funded kind of subsidized
[2:18:16] if you will, directly to an environmental consultant, their work for Phase I and Phase II
[2:18:19] site assessments.
[2:18:21] We also had prior to the Ports ownership, the U.S. EPA invested about a million dollars
[2:18:25] to remove pretty chronic hazard assistance that was throughout the property.
[2:18:30] So, your funds today is truly gap funding, some of the traditional avenues that we would
[2:18:34] in the Ohio Department of Development or other U.S. or Ohio EPA funds aren't directly available
[2:18:41] given the timing of some of the site assessment work that was done, so your 750,000 will
[2:18:47] provide a structural assessment stabilization. The removal of a specialist which will be critical
[2:18:52] to moving the project forward in any railway and making development possible. From what I understand
[2:18:57] the U.S. EPA did also do a conceptual plan in partnership with support and I believe the city of
[2:19:03] would with a part of that process, which kind of started the conversation around like, of
[2:19:08] ideas and what could this property be moving forward? So, to be transparent with you,
[2:19:13] it still has a long way to go after this, but this will be, you know, I think one of the
[2:19:18] the times where we do see a true need for some gap funding to kind of move it forward,
[2:19:22] get over a couple of hurdles and be able to hope to find other free development funds and
[2:19:26] development funds moving forward. We do have support letters from the City of Norwood and Alloy,
[2:19:31] which I think maybe we're provided to you but it's I think then a long standing issue for the city of Norwood and so we're happy to be partnered with them.
[2:19:40] Thank you so much for the explanation really appreciate it. Thank you. Commissioner Samarodimus.
[2:19:46] I have no questions for Melissa. Or I'm finished with all of my questions.
[2:19:50] Well I'm sorry. Well so far so good, right?
[2:19:53] Okay. Yeah that's right. That's right. Leave the podium. Leave the podium. I have no further questions.
[2:20:00] I just wanted to bring up item 26 as we look at the farm system replaced and it's just, I think, reminiscent of our commitment to follow through on upgrading facilities, not only pay core, but the very American ballfarks, so we need to do that and we're doing it.
[2:20:21] Thank you, commissioners. Yes, items 29 to 31. Yeah, if you said someone who he was here from Sprinkles to
[2:20:33] She come up and tell us about the facade. Oh, there she is. I'm sorry. We have this poll. So we're like is it this way?
[2:20:40] Yeah, I can't talk around them. Yeah, hi there.
[2:20:43] Was there a question?
[2:20:44] I'm just telling us about the Fusat.
[2:20:46] Will that be in Springfield Shore?
[2:20:50] So Springfield Township, so I'm Kathleen Kennedy
[2:20:51] and the Assistant Administrator
[2:20:53] was Springfield Township.
[2:20:53] Thank you, Simon, for having us.
[2:20:56] And for your continued commitment to economic development
[2:20:58] in the campus here in Hamilton County.
[2:21:02] The $51,000 that is being recommended for award
[2:21:05] to the Township would be to reinvest
[2:21:07] in the facade of many of our local businesses
[2:21:10] in our main business corner for in sprinkle township. So along Whitton Road, but we also have businesses
[2:21:16] on Galberth Road and Daily Road and Hamilton Avenue, we're quite spread out just to continue to
[2:21:23] invest in the appearance of those businesses. Great, that's what I was wondering because I was like,
[2:21:29] it's spread out was not one business district, so it could be able to help multiple. So sprinkle
[2:21:33] township actually already currently has something similar, so this is going to be able to
[2:21:38] stretch that funding with the township even further.
[2:21:42] As you can imagine, the solid improvements have become very expensive, especially if you're
[2:21:46] a small business or a local business owner.
[2:21:49] And so to be able to increase the funding that we have for that program and the township,
[2:21:53] I'm excited to take that even further than we have in the past.
[2:21:57] Thank you.
[2:21:58] Thank you very much.
[2:22:00] No, that's all I had.
[2:22:02] Just wanted to acknowledge that again.
[2:22:04] This does help like she said small businesses. They don't have the money to the outside
[2:22:09] This is great and it's good to know it will be able to stretch
[2:22:14] Multiple here. So
[2:22:16] Happy to support them. I think this is a very good program. So
[2:22:24] Okay, all right
[2:22:26] I am going to make a motion that we approve of consent agenda items 13 through 43 second commissioner three
[2:22:34] Yes. Yes. Mr. Samaradhuma. Yes. Commissioner Reese. Yes. Thank you. This is the last meeting of the year for us. And because of that, it is my last meeting as President. And so I just wanted to thank everyone for all the hard work over the last year. We'll be passing the gavel. If all goes as planned to commissioner Samaradhuma's in the upcoming year. So just wanted to say it's been a pleasure to serve as President. Thank you for all the work. And.
[2:23:04] forward to moving into the next year. With that commissioner, I'm going to make a motion that we adjourn.
[2:23:11] Be safe, second.
[2:23:13] Commissioner Dree House.
[2:23:15] Commissioner Dree House.
[2:23:16] Yes.
[2:23:16] Thank you.