Commissioner Gerken moves to rescind Operation Stone Garden grant after criticizing DHS and ICE

At the Jan. 13 Lucas County commissioners meeting, Commissioner Gerken objected to county acceptance of federal Operation Stone Garden funds and moved to rescind a December resolution authorizing the grant.

Gerken said he would not “be part of taking money from DHS” and characterized recent federal activity involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol as having “walked themselves into the title of a terrorist organization,” language he said he did not use lightly. He said the county should not accept money from what he described as an illegitimate organization and indicated he would bring policy amendments for the sheriff to consider regarding interactions with ICE and Border Patrol.

Commissioner Lopez and Sheriff’s Office staff explained that the board had approved the Stone Garden funding in December and that the Jan. 13 item before the board was an administrative amendment to correct an earlier dollar amount and accept a reduced award for fiscal‑year operations. Lopez said the current action was a reduction and that the board’s December vote remained in effect unless the board chose to rescind it.

Gerken then made a formal motion to rescind the December Stone Garden resolution. The board took a roll call on the rescission motion; the motion passed with Commissioner Gerken and Commissioner Lopez voting yes and President Cebecchi voting no, thereby rescinding the earlier December resolution.

The meeting record shows the sheriff's office had also presented a separate JAG grant (about $10,362.50 with a 25% in‑kind match reported) that the board approved earlier in the same agenda. Commissioners voted separately on the JAG acceptance.