Franklin County commissioners approve $4.5 million TCAP MOU, $180,000 settlement and series of contracts and appropriations

The Franklin County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved a package of resolutions that included a memorandum of understanding to accept $4.5 million in state funds for alternatives-to-prison programming, a $180,000 legal settlement, multiple vendor contracts and supplemental appropriations, and a motion to convene in executive session on pending litigation.

County staff presented Resolution 40525, authorizing the county administrator to execute an MOU with the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections to participate in the Targeted Community Alternatives to Prison (TCAP) program. An unidentified court presenter said the state will provide $4,500,000 over the next two fiscal years to support supervision, programming, treatment and transitions to stable housing for certain fifth-degree felony offenders. Commissioners voted to adopt the resolution.

Dexter Dorsey, assistant prosecuting attorney, presented Resolution 40725 to approve settlement of a prelitigation demand arising from a June 1, 2023 encounter involving Franklin County Sheriff’s Office employees and two claimants. "The settlement in no way includes an admission of liability by the county," Dorsey said. The board approved the $180,000 settlement and authorized the county administrator to execute the agreement.

The board also approved smaller contracts and appropriations across county agencies: a $8,700 contract with Copia Leadership for emotional intelligence training for supervisory court staff (Resolution 40425); a $24,500 contract with Sunflower Lab to update proprietary controls in the Clerk of Courts’ auto-title mobile application (Resolution 40625); supplemental appropriations to operate the county dog shelter, covering security, IT and medical supplies (Resolution 40825); and a $15,960 order and master agreement with Carahsoft Technology to provide Dun & Bradstreet reporting capabilities for purchasing (Resolution 41125).

Cody Hatton, management analyst in the Office of Justice Policy and Programs, presented Resolution 40925 to accept an Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant award totaling $30,822.31, noting the grant requires a 25% county cash match ($7,705.58) and that funds will support specialized training for CASA volunteers.

On infrastructure, Ryan Stowe, assistant director of sanitary engineering, said Resolution 41025 authorizes financial assistance agreements for sanitary sewer connections in the Moneybak and Brown Road East service areas (round 3). Stowe said 21 property owners were approved for assistance and that funding is drawn from the Water Pollution Control Fund administered jointly by the Ohio EPA and the Ohio Water Development Authority.

In procurement business, the board approved Resolution 41225, 81 purchase orders totaling $2,104,809.09. Andrina Austin, economic equity administrator for the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, reported year-to-date supplier-diversity awards to small and emerging businesses and women‑owned businesses and said an in-depth report will follow.

Resolution 41325, approving two purchase orders totaling $20,700, passed with Commissioner Boyce recorded as abstaining.

The board approved Resolution 41425 to reappoint William (Bill) Gerhardt to the Franklin Park Conservatory Joint Recreation District Board of Trustees through Dec. 31, 2026, and approved Resolution 41525 to authorize Britney A. Rasick in her official capacity as secretary to the Ohio Region 1 board arising from national prescription opioid litigation through Dec. 31, 2025. During discussion of Resolution 41525, an unidentified speaker asked whether the matter had been debated previously and expressed concern that deeper background checks should be considered; the resolution was moved, seconded and adopted.

Finally, the board voted to adopt Resolution 41625 to convene into executive session to confer with the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office concerning pending or imminent litigation.

Most resolutions were moved, seconded and adopted without roll-call debate recorded in the provided transcript. Where individual votes were entered on the record, commissioners recorded "yes" votes for adoption of the measures; Resolution 41325 was adopted with one abstention noted. The meeting proceeded to executive session after the formal business concluded.