[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6356351,"mediaKeyId","2216642-3c0efb7628dc57589a889d2c61fdb3b7","parentId",2216642,"title","Lucas County commissioners elect Lisa Cibecchi president, confirm board seats and approve personnel appointments","audioSeconds",2328,"startMs",50000,"endMs",2378000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2216642-3c0efb7628dc57589a889d2c61fdb3b7&start=50&end=2378","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2216642-3c0efb7628dc57589a889d2c61fdb3b7/thumbnail_50000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6356351/Lucas-County/Ohio/Lucas-County-commissioners-elect-Lisa-Cibecchi-president-confirm-board-seats-and-approve-personnel-appointments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6356351-69674b7e810272c971d82efaf93d7240/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186507&Signature=j5mX3qW5CoT7zdnvYeeZQS6-eRAQLL75-FJ~uaxRgqn4xMMN0MPK3tpl5l6~zxi9Om6UgfulxbDSmlx~F5UYrSD1APaBmFbVIZKFHOeLrCq2C28IO3j9mjxLXQFZgORLoNDLAXDMQMza4lq0OCg5f-bHIgRdIl9i3qqfpRLQ5gCQkaV6VyyBozqJkdiwmqAAHPHC9BI-0tn9kfEEgK8zRnI07Uptv26h8XaSCL1zTkojdwePo7f4VLq-nb2LS9zDBNVnJNXLENui4Yd7XSxQoRqshdBXK00ObYNnp-~C3pG9M86BPILk8KKqIqe9w1crVnVHKE3KXhqpPTVK4xacTg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lucas County OH","date","2025-01-07T00:00:00Z","article","Commissioner Lisa Cibecchi was elected president of the Lucas County Board of Commissioners during the board’s Jan. 7 organizational meeting. The board conducted an initial roll call, nominated Cibecchi for president and recorded unanimous support from the three commissioners.

The board also approved its 2025 regular meeting schedule, which will keep regular meetings on Tuesday mornings at 11 a.m. and include 2 p.m. sessions on the first and last Tuesday of the month. County Administrator Jessica Ford presented the schedule and read a resolution designating commissioner assignments to boards and commissions for 2025.

Designations approved include Commissioner Cibecchi serving on a broad set of local and regional bodies (County Commissioners Association advisory roles, health district advisory, economic development and others); Commissioner Pete Gerken’s appointments to several regional and county boards; and Commissioner Anita Lopez’s appointments to local boards including the Records Commission, Solid Waste Management District and others. The board also designated commissioner seats and alternates to Team NCOG (Association of County Governments) and related committees.

After moving to other agenda items and later convening an executive session on personnel and collective-bargaining matters, the board approved several personnel actions presented by Director of Human Resources Trent Boerner. Appointments included:
- Aaliyah Spencer and Jaleesa Lucas to full-time Eligibility Specialist 1 positions (starting salary $17.79/hour, JFS bargaining unit pay grade 27 step 1).
- Michelle Morrow, Robin Franco and Patrice Holmes to full-time Specialist 2 positions (starting $19.50/hour, JFS bargaining unit pay grade 28 step 1).
- Nathan Lottridge to Network Support Specialist (starting $23.34/hour, JFS Bargaining unit grade 31 step 1).
- Brandon Bell to Utility Worker 1 (starting $19.10/hour, TNS bargaining unit pay grade 19 step 1).

The board also approved amendments to the table of organization adding canine care technician positions, a clerk-dispatch position, and new senior personnel and personnel officer positions in Human Resources, as described in the personnel presentation.

Why it matters: The election of a board president sets the commission’s leadership for 2025 and the appointments to boards determine county representation on a range of regional and local bodies. The personnel actions and table-of-organization changes reflect staffing adjustments across county departments.

Ending: The board adjourned and scheduled its next regular meeting for Jan. 14 at 11 a.m.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lucas OH, Board of County Commissioners Organizational/Regular Meeting - January 07, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its Jan. 7 organizational meeting the Lucas County Board of Commissioners elected Commissioner Lisa Cibecchi as board president for 2025, approved regular meeting schedule and appointed commissioners to multiple boards and commissions; the board also approved a slate of personnel appointments after an executive session.","taxTitle","Lucas County, Ohio","taxId",2658,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6356356,"Lucas County approves $71.8 million six-year capital improvement program, awards multiple 2025 construction contracts",260,1595000,1855000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2216642-3c0efb7628dc57589a889d2c61fdb3b7&start=1595&end=1855","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2216642-3c0efb7628dc57589a889d2c61fdb3b7/thumbnail_1595000.jpg","/articles/6356356/Lucas-County/Ohio/Lucas-County-approves-718-million-six-year-capital-improvement-program-awards-multiple-2025-construction-contracts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6356356-1b4783e317702e1a52fd6793a2b6dd7b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186507&Signature=If6ZsdJEbc3FRKPT20tg2EiHu2anRKyXQAdH3W1ADpqbemJNgwlRWrEywhjBgjYtkSS7ED7N4~~M5eYV4~Q2s58IgpP0bB-AQz7XCI9myays87CHWlBDz6q7LMc9mYR0Z-JiZ52KYlwi7Q4pNKNczAaB9G7TSQjvyboAPCM3Fp91KFrEXf08-~nHw-Nu8~okJcijq9xvF6nsaZIzzIHgtWtkZa2YCMmaSDJ0UZRL1PJz0lI5bTcv0zVoNX8guBWOLhqaKkjwGgAdzjxZ3RGOhbaOjQx~n2spTtvnFh5jlXP0MJmg~5Lmhwi2-uWrAVNzJem974V99Jpxls2GON4fRw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lucas County Board of Commissioners approved the county engineer’s six-year capital improvement program Jan. 7, a plan of projects totaling $71,800,000 across road, bridge and stormwater work over the next six years. Commissioners also accepted the required 2024 bridge inspection report and awarded several construction contracts for 2025 projects.

County Engineer Mike Panuski presented the CIP and supporting items. He told commissioners the county’s highway system mileage certification for 2024 was 252.605 miles and noted the average age of the county’s bridges is about 50 years; 15 bridges were rated fair or poor and likely need work in the next five to 10 years, up from 10 such bridges in 2024.

Contract awards approved by the board included:
- A $1,148,000 contract to Gherkin Paving for the 2025 thin overlay project (lowest of two bidders).
- A $1,076,000 contract to Vernon Nagel of Napoleon, Ohio for the Summit Street and Shoreland Avenue roundabout project (lowest of five bidders).
- A $241,000 contract to Vernon Nagel for the Montclover Road bridge repair (only bidder reported).
- An $848,000 contract to Get Us Paving & Excavating for the Frankfort and Christy Road roundabout intersection project (lowest of five bidders).

The board also approved a recommended 2.5% increase to the county engineer’s schedule of fees based on the consumer price index, a $15,000 memorandum of understanding with Team NCOG for a stormwater public-education campaign, and a two-year Trimble Unity (Cityworks) services order at $171,000 per year shared among county departments.

Commissioner Anita Lopez made the motion to approve items 8 through 22; the clerk recorded unanimous votes of yes from Commissioners Lisa Cibecchi, Pete Gerken and Anita Lopez.

Why it matters: The CIP and contract awards represent the county’s near-term commitment to road, bridge and stormwater work and lock in contractors for specific 2025 projects. Engineer Panuski emphasized that bridge needs are increasing as the county’s stock ages, and the CIP is intended to sequence repairs and replacements over the coming years.

Ending: Staff will proceed with contract execution and the planned outreach/meetings with townships in March required by the county engineer’s office. The board recorded the approvals by roll call and moved to other agenda items.","County commissioners approved a 2025 six-year capital improvement program totaling $71.8 million, accepted bridge inspection results and awarded several road, roundabout and bridge repair contracts to low bidders.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6356361,"Lucas County extends 2024 out-of-county autopsy pricing for 60 days amid competitive pressure",779,807000,1586000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2216642-3c0efb7628dc57589a889d2c61fdb3b7&start=807&end=1586","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2216642-3c0efb7628dc57589a889d2c61fdb3b7/thumbnail_807000.jpg","/articles/6356361/Lucas-County/Ohio/Lucas-County-extends-2024-out-of-county-autopsy-pricing-for-60-days-amid-competitive-pressure","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6356361-8bf083c17514a99e84cf2a04bd98e3e4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186508&Signature=DMhkio3V~6hhuHI5unJqGJD591s3q2DfYo09oUP3R4yPAmHWJgbepkpO1L1WnuJwKoy4cvfnBNYgU1ynB7q6mjwGfcxuMTe~N1m7mdd7wiridz~nz3HREiosWy9Fsto~1FOX2R3yN5RLFAti9xow8bCljE0esOjya2Iapv-kDykHx4OSKP-VgfAKygljIhMmah5aoYshna~-98lQy0NQlloSvPcvdoiWysTjBdusj0rabQdZgk6qd8qtA4b5CUw9ngAD~wpbXE7u6MYi-4Ynw5WElcjUzSId6tQbdNz0CRohEDPpWSEXsm~xTiU2YKhJehbgS9zjpjC3U8lxz9Y0PQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lucas County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Jan. 7 to extend 2024 contract pricing for out-of-county autopsy and death-investigation services for 60 days, through the end of February, while county staff pursue follow-up meetings with neighboring jurisdictions and finalize a pricing plan.

The action followed a detailed presentation from Lucas County Coroner Dr. Blumquist, who told commissioners the office had planned a step increase in out-of-county contract rates but stopped implementation after neighboring jurisdictions cut their prices late last year. “We’re freezing this new contract until we can resolve issues,” Dr. Blumquist said, describing a sudden loss of several contracted cases and what he called an emergent pricing race that threatened roughly $300,000 in expected revenue.

The extension gives Dr. Blumquist, the county’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) staff and affected counties time to hold town-hall style meetings and negotiate a new approach. Dr. Blumquist said town-hall meetings were already scheduled for late January to discuss court-related needs and other operational factors with counties that might switch providers.

Why it matters: Dr. Blumquist told the board that roughly half of autopsies performed in the county are for Lucas County residents and half are for other counties. He said the county’s cost-per-out-of-county autopsy — accounting for shared facility and staffing costs — is about $2,700, while in-county cases run about $3,200. Those figures, he said, reflect fixed costs and economies of scale that make outright elimination of out-of-county work likely to increase costs borne by Lucas County taxpayers.

Dr. Blumquist described competing offers from other providers: he said some counties had signaled bids near $1,850 per autopsy and that the sudden downward move by larger counties had altered projected revenues. He warned commissioners that a 15% planned price increase could be offset by larger revenue losses if partner counties moved to lower-priced providers.

Commissioner Anita Lopez said she appreciated Dr. Blumquist’s “steadfast approach” and supported the 60-day extension to allow the office and OMB to finish outreach. Commissioner Pete Gerken and Board President Lisa Cibecchi likewise voted in favor; the clerk called a roll of unanimous yeas.

What the extension does and next steps: The extension maintains 2024 contract terms for existing out-of-county partners through Feb. 28, 2025. County staff will hold the scheduled meetings, analyze court and operational drivers identified in those conversations and return to the commissioners with a revised pricing or contracting recommendation within approximately one month.

The board recorded the vote as an approval of the 60-day extension; there were no abstentions or recorded no votes.

Ending: The coroner’s office and OMB will report back to the board with a recommended contract strategy following the end of the outreach period; commissioners signaled support for additional staff-level discussions and potential follow-up actions tied to those recommendations.","The Board of Lucas County Commissioners voted to extend 2024 contract pricing for out-of-county autopsy work through the end of February while the coroner and county budget staff pursue talks with neighboring counties and review pricing strategy.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Lucas County commissioners elect Lisa Cibecchi president, confirm board seats and approve personnel appointments

Lucas County approves $71.8 million six-year capital improvement program, awards multiple 2025 construction contracts

Lucas County extends 2024 out-of-county autopsy pricing for 60 days amid competitive pressure