Hamilton County board approves Hilltop parking funding, construction award, ODOT/MSD coordination and multiple contracts

The Hamilton County Board of County Commissioners approved a package of budget adjustments, contracts and operational agreements at its April 10 meeting, voting to advance parking, public safety and infrastructure projects and to authorize county negotiations with residential treatment providers.

Major votes at the meeting included:

- Budget adjustment No. 15 and Hilltop parking: The board approved Budget Adjustment 15 adding $1,575,000 to fully fund the Hilltop parking project, including demolition, site prep and paving. County administration recommended the adjustment and the board approved it as part of the by‑leave motions (unanimous vote recorded).

- Construction award for Banks Hilltop (package 1): The board authorized a construction contract for demolition in the Banks Hilltop lot, package 1, to O'Rourke Reking at $633,000, as part of the items tied to the Hilltop project. The award was approved (unanimous).

- Final 911 plan (Ohio Revised Code Chapter 128): The board approved the county’s final 911 plan, a statutory requirement under the Ohio Revised Code, following an earlier presentation by Andy Knapp. The resolution was adopted (unanimous).

- MSD/ODOT I‑75 coordination amendment: The board approved an amendment to an existing agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation under which ODOT will construct certain MSD improvements as part of I‑75 work. The amendment updates ODOT project numbers and contact information and removes a shared head wall in favor of separate headwalls and separate future operation/maintenance responsibilities. The amendment was approved with no change in contract amount (zero cost request).

- Engineer items: The board approved three county engineer items: (1) a joint snow and ice control agreement with the City of Wyoming (no cost swap), (2) authorization to bid the 2025 sidewalk repair and replacement program with an engineer estimate of $111,170 (bid opening May 8), and (3) a joint paving agreement with Sycamore Township for a $200,000 road improvement (county share $100,000, to be paid from permissive auto funds). All three items were approved.

- Consent agenda: The board approved the consent agenda (items 5 through 19), which included a variety of fleet and equipment purchases, a rejected bid for a Banks guard booth, and multiple Job & Family Services items. Notably, JFS requested authorization to enter negotiations with residential treatment providers under a process that the JFS director said is based on prior annual spending; the authorization covers a not‑to‑exceed planning figure of $20,000,000 to permit contract negotiations and will return to the board for final contract approvals.

Votes and procedure: Most motions were approved unanimously by the commissioners present. Several motions were moved and seconded on the floor and adopted without recorded dissent.

Background and next steps: County administration said the Hilltop award follows a revised cost estimate for demolition and paving. The ODOT amendment is described as simplifying future maintenance responsibilities for new infrastructure constructed as part of state highway work. The county will return to the board with negotiated contracts for residential treatment providers and will proceed with the sidewalk bid opening on May 8.