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Lucas County health commissioner says board approved purchase of new Toledo facility; funding ask to follow
Summary
Commissioner Kareem told the committee the health department’s board approved buying a building on “Spill Bush” (as presented) and will seek multi-jurisdictional appropriations over five years to finance purchase and remodel; staff argued the move will reduce maintenance costs at the current building.
Lucas County’s public health commissioner told the City Council Parks, Education, Workforce and Health Committee that the health department board approved an agreement to purchase a new building to replace an aging facility and that the department will ask local jurisdictions to commit to a five-year funding plan.
At the meeting Commissioner Kareem said the board approved buying a building on “Spill Bush” (as discussed to the committee) and that the final cost includes the purchase price plus interior renovations to adapt the site to health services. Kareem said the department plans to allocate capital costs by population among the jurisdictions it serves.
Kareem described the current building as increasingly unreliable: he said families seeking vaccinations had been exposed to extreme temperatures and that the office has suffered winter and summer shutdowns because of failing systems. He said the new site will reduce ongoing maintenance spending and anticipated the County will request appropriations in upcoming budget cycles so jurisdictions can share the capital cost over five years.
Kareem said the county board negotiated the purchase with the Catholic diocese, which had previously planned to sell the site for demolition as a future jail location; the department expects to remodel the interior to house services including WIC, sexually transmitted infection clinics, and other programs. “We’re asking for the jurisdictions all across Lucas County to commit for five years to pay off that building or that capital project including the remodel,” Kareem said.
Committee members raised timing and budget questions. Kareem said city budget staff will see the request during next-year budget discussions and that the proposal aims to save money over the long run by avoiding repeated emergency maintenance on the existing building. He also said the department plans to work with partner jurisdictions to finalize appropriation shares based on population.
Clarifying details: the board has approved an agreement to purchase a building (location described in the presentation as “Spill Bush”); the department proposes a five-year funding commitment from the jurisdictions it serves (source: Kareem). The diocese negotiated the sale and will relocate (source: Kareem). Remodel and interior work are anticipated but specific renovation costs were not specified.
Kareem asked council members for support during forthcoming budget review and said staff will brief jurisdictions and explain the population-based funding formula.
