Butler County approves $5 million Middletown revitalization grant and multiple construction contracts

The Butler County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 21 approved a package of resolutions and contract awards that included a $5 million grant commitment to a Downtown Middletown Revitalization Fund and several construction contracts for county facilities.

Staff presented a memorandum of understanding among the county, the Butler County Finance Authority and the Middletown Community Foundation that would provide the $5,000,000 contribution to a Downtown Middletown Revitalization Fund, effective upon execution and until obligations are fulfilled. Staff said the authority to make such economic-development grants is provided in the Ohio Revised Code (transcript reference). Joshua Smith, speaking for the revitalization effort, described the plan to catalyze downtown density and reactivate vacant commercial buildings; Ashley Combs, city manager for Middletown, thanked the county for the investment.

The board also approved eight contracts (Bid Group 2) for the Princeton Road campus project that will house the 911 communication center, the sheriff and the coroner. Contracts cited in the presentation included:

- John P. Tumlin and Sons, Ltd. — foundations/slabs, not to exceed $812,000 plus 1.5% contingency. - Delta Electrical Contractors, Ltd. — underground and early electrical, not to exceed $1,370,000 plus 3% contingency. - Nelson Stark Company — underground plumbing, not to exceed $288,260 plus 3% contingency. - Jess Howard Masonry, Inc. — masonry, $1,997,619 plus 3% contingency. - General Commercial Construction Management, LLC — glass/glazing/storefronts, not to exceed $853,809 plus a $3,890,000 line item listed in the transcript (clarified in minutes) plus 3% contingency. - Calcutt Roofing and Sheet Metal — roofing, not to exceed $1,039,700 plus 1.5% contingency. - Avenue Fabricating, Inc. — structural steel deck/erection, $950,759 plus 2% contingency. - SNME, Inc. — special inspections/testing/core and shell, not to exceed $77,770 plus 2% contingency.

Separately, the board approved awarding the Liberty Fairfield renovation (130 High Street) to Triton Services, Inc., not to exceed $1,847,990 plus a 2.5% contingency. Staff said the contingency amounts were budgeted as part of the projects and that approval of requisitions is contingent upon subsequent contract approval as listed later in the agenda.

Finance staff reported 33 requisitions totaling $14,584,282.75 (including $3.4M from the auditor for hotel tax distribution and $9.5M from the commissioners for capital reserve). The board moved and voted to approve the financial items and the construction/contract items as presented.

Other items approved or presented included personnel actions (two hires in Child Support Enforcement Agency), consultant contracts (e.g., Atlas Technical Consultants, Burgess & Niple), encroachment agreements for fences in Liberty Township, bridge load-limit updates, and renewal of an alcohol-monitoring contract for electronic ankle monitoring up to $100,000 (effective Feb. 8, 2026 to Feb. 7, 2027).

What happened next: The board approved the package of resolutions and contracts as submitted; staff will finalize agreements and the county administrator is authorized to make non-substantive changes with prosecutor approval of form.