Commissioners press for contractor conduct rules, approve two Alpha Construction contracts over objection

Hamilton County commissioners on March 6 approved two contracts with Alpha Construction after a pointed exchange over contractor conduct and county standards for workers assigned to county projects.

Commissioner Alicia Reese said she would not support moving forward without a written remediation and a countywide code of conduct that all contractor employees must sign, citing a recent on-site incident in which a contractor employee approached her in a county parking area. “You might be the lowest in money, but you can't be the lowest in conduct,” Reese said during the March 6 meeting.

The board ultimately approved the two Alpha Construction items after hearing from County Administrator Jeff Alito that the contractor had reached out to county facilities and indicated the specific employee involved would not be assigned to county jobs. Alito said facilities would use the county badging and access process to enforce that decision.

The two contracts approved were: - A $182,500 award to Alpha Construction for replacement of atrium glass at the Portune Center (agenda item 6). - A $313,900 award to Alpha Construction for Paycor Stadium broadcast cabling and truck-dock/rec room related work (agenda item 8).

Commissioner Denise Dreehaus moved to approve the separated items; Commissioner Stephanie Summer O'Dumas seconded. The final roll call on the two Alpha Construction items was: Dreehaus — yes; Summer O'Dumas — yes; Reese — no. The motion carried on a 2-1 vote.

Reese urged that any contractor awarded taxpayer-funded work be required to sign a county code of conduct before beginning work and asked that the requirement apply to all contractors doing county work, not just the firm involved in the incident. She described the change as a safety and accountability measure and asked that a standard be included in procurement/onboarding so every worker on county projects is aware of expectations before they start.

Alito told the board the contractor had proactively contacted facilities leadership and that the county’s badging process provides a way to keep specific individuals off county sites. He characterized that outreach as a response to the board’s concern but did not present a written remediation plan for the board at the March 6 meeting.

The board also approved the remainder of the consent agenda (with items 6 and 8 considered separately, then approved as above). Reese said she would seek a further process change so that future vendor packets include a signed acknowledgement of county conduct standards for all personnel assigned to county contracts.

The discussion and vote leave the county’s procurement policy unchanged until the commission or staff return with a written code-of-conduct/onboarding requirement for contractor personnel.

Ending — The commissioners asked staff to follow up; Reese indicated she would hold future contract approvals until the county presents a clear, written remediation and a prospective code-of-conduct requirement for contractors. No new county-wide policy was adopted at the March 6 meeting.