Toledo to fund health department move with $5M upfront, loan and temporary parking plan

The agenda review committee on Oct. 14 considered two ordinances that would let the city provide $5,000,000 from fund balance to support the Lucas County Regional Combined Health District's planned acquisition and renovation of a building on Spielbush Avenue and to amend the 1999 merger agreement governing the regional health district.

The city's economic development director, Brandon Solhorst, told the committee the Erie Street building the health department now uses needs roughly $10.6 million in capital investment over 10 years, including about $4.2 million in immediate repairs. The health department and the city jointly identified a Diocese-owned building on Spielbush Avenue as a lower-cost alternative: acquisition and renovation together were presented as materially cheaper than renovating the existing facility.

The proposed package would have the city contribute $3,140,000 as Toledo's share of the purchase and provide a $1,860,000 loan to the health department at a 4% interest rate over five…