Lucas County commissioners approve grant, contracts and personnel actions; adopt workforce plan

Lucas County commissioners handled a roster of administrative items on Oct. 7, voting unanimously on grant acceptances, contract renewals, the workforce strategic plan and personnel appointments following an executive session.

Key votes and outcomes

- Community Corrections Act award: Commissioners approved acceptance of an increased award for Adult Probation totaling $249,834 to cover two cost-of-living adjustments (5% for year one, 4.5% for year two). Adult Probation sought permission to accept the award and add one position; the motion passed on roll call.

- Board of Elections: The Board of Elections received an initial $4,300 to support software and communications required by the 2023 Voter Registration Data Integrity Act. Presenters said the funding does not cover all expected costs and that additional postal and personnel expenses will be requested in next year’s budget; commissioners approved the initial payment.

- Everbridge mass-notification contract: Emergency Services requested renewal of the county’s contract with Everbridge for Lucas County Alerts and access to IPAWS; commissioners approved the renewal.

- Prevention, Retention and Contingency (PRC) plan: Job & Family Services presented its biennial PRC spending and services plan required by the state; commissioners approved the plan and were told specific contracts will return for individual approval.

- Support services financial items: Support Services requested approval of the September "then and now" certification and an increase of $6,000 to a blanket purchase order for the County Auditor’s office; commissioners approved.

- Workforce Development strategic plan: Commissioners adopted the Lucas County Workforce Development Board’s 2025–2029 strategic plan after staff said it aligns with county priorities.

- Personnel actions: After an executive session to discuss personnel, commissioners approved multiple personnel actions including the appointment of Tara Bundy as interim director of canine care and control at $50.14 per hour and the hiring of Angela Biersbach as an economic support worker starting at $16.88 per hour; they also approved a new full-time building services supervisor position, a lateral transfer for Michael Mater with no pay change, the abolishment of one vacant position and a title change for Sherry Crane to chief budget officer with no pay change.

Roll calls and movers

When recorded, motions were moved and approved by roll call with Commissioners Cebecchi, Gerken and Lopez voting yes on the items encountered in the meeting record. Where a specific mover was recorded, the transcript attributed the motion to the named commissioner or to the presenting staff member.

Context and follow-up

Staff noted early voting for upcoming elections had begun and that the Board of Elections’ initial funding was intended to cover initial software and implementation costs; additional budget requests were expected. The coroner’s office held a budget hearing during the meeting and outlined a roughly $85,000 request for FY2026 and contingencies tied to inter-county contracts and revenue assumptions. Commissioners asked administration and departmental staff to return detailed contracts and budget items for final approval as needed.

Provenance: Actions and roll-call votes are recorded throughout the meeting transcript at the times cited in county records; supporting remarks for each item are in the transcript near the listed agenda times.