During the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners meeting, Commissioner Reese pressed county administrators for accountability and clearer results from downtown outreach programs, saying the outreach presence at the courthouse appears insufficient relative to the size of the problem and asking for a focused pilot program between the courthouse and the nearby Kroger store.

Reese told the board she had seen outreach workers and groups operating from the sidewalk in front of the county building and said that despite program activity, she continues to encounter large numbers of people in crisis. "I can't see any sponsor that would sponsor anything, and they say I'm sponsoring something, and they come right outside of their building, and what they were sponsoring didn't even happen in front of the building," Reese said, urging the administration to show measurable results.

Administrator Alluto and other commissioners said several organizations work downtown in different roles: a funded "generosity" team in partnership with behavioral-health and recovery boards, an ambassador program that sweeps the area, and other providers that try to connect people to services. Alluto said those teams attempt to link people with housing, mental-health and recovery services, but some individuals decline help.

Commissioner Reese asked for a pilot focused specifically on the block between the courthouse and Kroger to evaluate whether targeted resources could produce better outcomes before broader expansion. President Driehaus and Commissioner Amber (remarks recorded in the transcript) suggested a legal briefing would be helpful to clarify the county's powers and limits when interacting with individuals on public sidewalks; the administration and prosecutor's office were asked to provide that analysis.

The commissioners also discussed budget implications: Reese said she wants to consider redirecting or reducing funding if outreach investments are not demonstrably effective and asked that the administration prepare information for the budget process. Administrator Alluto said staff will follow up with a legal review and operational briefing on what outreach partners do, what they can and cannot do, and how the county's investments are used.

The exchange followed multiple public-safety and service updates earlier in the meeting and included requests for more detailed reporting so commissioners can judge program performance and budget decisions ahead of the next fiscal cycle.