[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6588898,"mediaKeyId","5499465-1e296a8083c33dcccf17e9df2d585b39","parentId",5499465,"title","Votes at a glance: Butler County commissioners approve multiple resolutions, contracts and a settlement on July 29, 2025","audioSeconds",2059,"startMs",694324,"endMs",2753445,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5499465-1e296a8083c33dcccf17e9df2d585b39&start=694&end=2753","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5499465-1e296a8083c33dcccf17e9df2d585b39/thumbnail_694324.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6588898/Butler-County/Ohio/Votes-at-a-glance-Butler-County-commissioners-approve-multiple-resolutions-contracts-and-a-settlement-on-July-29-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588898-97922b73f69c22d44a40ca0bbf4baaff/orig.mp4?Expires=1770981698&Signature=XQGuqjsZeaI6r6tFHVqaV~1NbZvY9HBfzMewyL8zYINLSH0UvdUWmGY0U0LlYgsCZhmATPH-TaQ5~L-EtdCmYM85mppitRnE12FfSAzVe352wuxv4wsGOTmFHK298RQ4rxDVcnscru3D3LiHgHpnh5LnWvfURX6aKRO2v04O4MO7Juz8xkyuMOurz~UicKFJlLOww0DVe2tN~Ui0Qo2VvMdyCTn4IreeYt7390Q5nKZfIm~MUv8vdJLjER0O6mMYOPYR7SSy7iN7FxARgCldYjzMLdMpIRu1aulo2nej4D0QoFPzafuF5pCxSXJpmx~nj74LgDJY4-YpLmyi8ub-YA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Butler County OH","date","2025-07-29T09:30:00Z","article","The Butler County Board of Commissioners conducted several formal votes during its July 29 meeting. The board approved multiple finance and departmental resolutions from the consent agenda, separately adopted an updated Hamilton‑Middletown Road plat and later approved a settlement agreement in reconvened session.

Key votes and outcomes (recorded at the meeting):

1) Finance resolutions and budget items — approved
- Presentation: Stacy Bailey, Butler County Finance Department. Bailey described purchase order change orders and requisitions: Job and Family Services purchase order increase of $53,000 to $111,000 for Valley Transport; a $65,000 increase to a commissioner's office purchase order for reimbursement of performance bonds; requisition of $120,000 for Capital Reserve Fund professional services related to Liberty Fairfield; water and sewer purchase order of $58,000 for Ford Development for the Seward Mill Creek stream restoration. Budget transfers and an appropriation of $65,000 tied to the performance‑bond reimbursement were also part of the package. The board moved and approved the finance resolutions by roll call. (Vote: Commissioners Carpenter — yes; Rogers — yes; Dixon — yes.)

2) Commissioners' departments resolutions — approved (with two items extracted and later approved)
- Administrator Boyko presented multiple departmental items on the consent agenda, including reappointments to the local emergency planning committee, personnel actions across departments, capital contracts and bid awards. Two items (agenda items 22665 and 21936, related to the Milliken project) were extracted for separate consideration and then approved by the board. A motion to approve the remaining departmental resolutions (except the two extracted items) passed; a subsequent motion approved items 22665 and 21936 (vote roll call: Carpenter — yes; Rogers — yes; Dixon — abstain on the initial consent, later abstained on other recorded items where noted).

3) Contracts and capital improvements — approved
- Award and contract execution with Kelly Carpenter Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. for replacement of an HVAC unit at the Bridal Friends Humane Society, not to exceed $197,966.70 (effective 08/01/2025–12/31/2025).
- Contract with Elite Insulation LLC for replacement of insulation at the Butler County Historical Courthouse, $42,750 (effective 08/01/2025–12/31/2025).
- Contract with Cadence Care Network for foster care placement, $126,406.80 (retroactive 07/01/2025–06/30/2026).
- Contract with Amazing Grace Counseling and Addiction Services for residential treatment placement, not to exceed $382,200 (retroactive 07/02/2025–06/30/2026).
- Amendment to contract with Burgess & Niple, Inc. for Milliken area sewer extension project, increase of $159,776 (total reflected on consent agenda).

4) Plat adoption — approved
- Hamilton‑Middletown Road right‑of‑way dedication plat (0.8967 acres), separately presented by Craig Flotte; board vote: Carpenter — yes; Rogers — yes; Dixon — abstain. (See separate article.)

5) Office holder and agency resolutions — approved
- Multiple routine items including training/overnight expenses for court and engineer staff, bids, bond acceptances and special hauling permits; board approved the resolutions as presented.

6) Executive session — motion carried
- The board recessed into executive session for specified confidential matters (personnel, property disposition, pending or imminent litigation and attorney consultations). The president noted the board may reconvene to take action on one legislative matter.

7) Settlement agreement — approved on reconvened session
- The board approved and authorized execution of a settlement agreement between Butler County and Flora Butler; county administrator was authorized to execute all documents necessary to finalize the settlement upon advice of the prosecuting attorney and outside counsel. The motion passed on roll call: Carpenter — yes; Rogers — yes; Dixon — yes.

Why it matters: the package covers county operational spending, capital maintenance and service contracts, personnel changes and an intergovernmental amendment related to sewer design near the Milliken interchange. The settlement resolution concluded executive‑session business with formal authorization to finalize the agreement.

Documentation: board roll calls were recorded for the plat and for the settlement agreement; most consent agenda items were approved together with routine roll‑call results noted in the record.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Regular Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","At their July 29 meeting the commissioners approved a series of departmental resolutions and contracts, including finance purchase‑order actions, department hires, contracts for an animal shelter HVAC replacement and courthouse insulation, an amendment related to Milliken interchange sewer design and a settlement agreement with a county employee.","taxTitle","Butler County, Ohio","taxId",4032,"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},6588901,"Residents urge Butler County to stop housing ICE detainees; commissioners ask administrator to seek more information",187,1889195,2076225,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5499465-1e296a8083c33dcccf17e9df2d585b39&start=1889&end=2076","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5499465-1e296a8083c33dcccf17e9df2d585b39/thumbnail_1889195.jpg","/articles/6588901/Butler-County/Ohio/Residents-urge-Butler-County-to-stop-housing-ICE-detainees-commissioners-ask-administrator-to-seek-more-information","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588901-eb4d6d0be9919d4828806b6e7aa7d1c2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770981698&Signature=GPTSCFQVrfRc5n2kX6ZMJsGxIawLGM0MVJCCKmmSTsFi-85K4wi327xqNHkCWm-Z6aTTe6RS6XbWjMEsSe79-FIC2E7TwHZ83oADj2mjeq3ZsMg3s7s7Vcda1nQFWtKAZGkp6RRgFFliXiJVtiJlKGVyxdJjOXYHnL0HR2cRdvjcD3abOikm6jSYEZ6ceYfQIp8xQ~nyppTrt8v2l04L-hk0nsE-XgcW6CIkd42kA6bOhDxVargTh2aQfELO1w1Ui0~srzu2MVK6np7Y9XZkFd92kfOpd0hORf~GYEt14CNLrpfQDc4tluJnIUsfDobyuBa4KGPU9zInmxohSHrfaQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several Butler County residents used the public‑comment period on July 29 to press the Board of County Commissioners to stop holding Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees at the Butler County Jail and to provide more transparency about who is being held and why.

Beverly Wetter, who identified herself as a lifelong Butler County resident, said she found a social‑media post from the sheriff mocking detainees unacceptable: \"These people are being torn away from their jobs. Their lives are being upended, and he thinks it's a joke. He has no compassion,\" Wetter said.

Jennifer Richardson of Westchester said she was \"dismayed\" at the jail’s use as an ICE facility and asked when the county’s contract with ICE ends and who benefits financially. \"When does the contract with ICE...for the Butler County Jail end, and who benefits financially from this contract personally?\" Richardson asked.

Ann Janssen of 7 Mile, who said she received a 69‑page report listing ICE detainees since February, asked the county to provide additional information about why each person was held. \"There is no indication of why each of these persons is being or was being held. I request that additional information if possible by your next meeting,\" Janssen said, citing concerns that many detainees have no criminal records.

Anne Brown of Hamilton said she feared reputational harm and urged the board to reconsider. \"Only six facilities in Ohio are doing it. We're the biggest. We don't need to be known for this,\" Brown said.

Commissioner Carpenter thanked speakers and said the county prosecutor had requested advisory guidance from the attorney general. Carpenter told residents the county administrator would look into whether the board can provide additional detainee information and explanatory detail about arrest warrants and the contractual arrangements with ICE.

Why it matters: residents described the practice as harmful and asked for public records and transparency on detainee status and the county's contractual relationship with ICE. Commissioners did not announce a change in policy but agreed to seek additional information.","Multiple residents criticized the county's practice of housing Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees at the Butler County Jail and asked commissioners for more transparency about contracts and detainee records; commissioners agreed to ask the county administrator for additional information.",{"_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},6588909,"Commissioners accept updated Hamilton‑Middletown Road right‑of‑way dedication plat for Liberty Township",72,571780,644485,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5499465-1e296a8083c33dcccf17e9df2d585b39&start=571&end=644","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5499465-1e296a8083c33dcccf17e9df2d585b39/thumbnail_571780.jpg","/articles/6588909/Butler-County/Ohio/Commissioners-accept-updated-HamiltonMiddletown-Road-rightofway-dedication-plat-for-Liberty-Township","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588909-8c23cf689448519580b6b0b317f709c1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770981698&Signature=ZRZNi1U2sYsjgJte8ByFii2Q7X7oMJ08d266E0-clerPchCvUoXBILmnKutCrxHltQdVmxLzp-owDIKGABKloHs0AfyvUnre2ejFsAssQBxNpzMtp1Dj6hRC7pkowg0eSMvzrJvWHyDfhcRNk0i10Jj~sV2hjCblSy46ls~JmKQVAKeIUQi41IiPzRWhXo8KIi~tNZxgf25kZ6oKc10IocGWc775IZx7XzB2Delzw9Jv3S-FzA3jSYgJ1D~IKaG2xotYgGtnYAbKWlJ~IxgbkGr9ePONRV5spJUzebm1tb6AEVaGWjRFRmrLsIQKKfmycu81kyvjkf9Y7xB1tbuCOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Craig Flotte of the Butler County Department of Development presented an updated plat for the Hamilton‑Middletown Road right‑of‑way and asked the board to adopt the revision.

Flotte said the updated plat, signed previously on July 12, incorporates subdivision review comments, adds a 10‑foot utility easement along the property and updates the acknowledgment and dedication statements for standard plats. \"It is to total 0.8967 acres to be dedicated as road right of way located in Liberty Township,\" Flotte said.

A commissioner moved to accept the dedication; the motion was seconded and passed by roll call with Commissioners Carpenter and Rogers voting yes and Commissioner Dixon abstaining.

Why it matters: acceptance of the plat dedicates land and an easement needed for road and utility infrastructure in Liberty Township and clears a procedural step required for the subdivision record.

Key fact: dedicated area — 0.8967 acres; notable addition — 10‑foot utility easement.","The board approved an updated plat dedicating 0.8967 acres for road right‑of‑way on Hamilton‑Middletown Road in Liberty Township, including a 10‑foot utility easement; one commissioner abstained.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6588912,"Princeton Road campus bids moving forward; site work bid opening tomorrow, completion planned for 2027",212,80615,292710,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5499465-1e296a8083c33dcccf17e9df2d585b39&start=80&end=292","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5499465-1e296a8083c33dcccf17e9df2d585b39/thumbnail_80615.jpg","/articles/6588912/Butler-County/Ohio/Princeton-Road-campus-bids-moving-forward-site-work-bid-opening-tomorrow-completion-planned-for-2027","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588912-65847f8dc5e1e35601b355529d48b341/orig.mp4?Expires=1770981698&Signature=nMkyvxLLZUnxU5xuhVfnYug2nl7jHfxnZAAPQZ085e87ogWuzMOatol--kXdTflUP3BKrrqi0Bw4sAXer9bmsqshGIKZq5wjoNYmjKpgYcPzHhROjRsYOVt2SYlqnnI9JlNsoGd5XRR5ygFjVkP3Jaiw-muEFwVsvqAuTJkseLfyhZgt8ejyw3j1ziPfgYuiQDAKfJwRjixfU4L2NZOJaGibtuGOZHA7iqtvR5WNTAdfGmeHDMKe6bfQfDawuxleHw6P9IvRXNH3c0pHK23Hng64xYEJgy2QYv~ML3j~l-dP8mJDYqDXoq7fZLIUrO3uJ~OuJgJ4uBDxqJBu-Sspqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County Administrator Judy Boyko updated the Board of County Commissioners on July 29 on the Princeton Road campus master plan, a multi‑phase project that will house the sheriff's 9‑1‑1 emergency communications and dispatch center and consolidate the coroner's administrative offices and morgue.

\"We have issued bid package 1 — site work and utility work — and at a mandatory pre‑bid meeting there were seven contractors who attended,\" Boyko said. She said bids for the site and utility package will be opened the following day and that, after review of eligible and qualified bids, she hoped to recommend a preferred contractor by mid‑August. \"Mobilization is probably sometime after the Labor Day holiday,\" Boyko said, adding that the county may hold a groundbreaking with Sheriff Jones and Coroner Mannix.

Boyko outlined the remaining procurement sequence: a future core‑and‑shell package followed by interior‑systems packages. Construction documents are in progress; design‑development estimates will be refreshed this week. She told commissioners the project’s completion target is 2027.

Why it matters: the campus will centralize emergency dispatch and coroner services in a new facility and has attracted contractor interest at the site‑work stage. The county has begun sequential bidding to phase the work and limit schedule risk.

Next steps: bid openings, contractor evaluation and recommendation in mid‑August, expected mobilization after Labor Day and subsequent bid packages for building shell and interiors.","County administrator reported pre-bid interest and an upcoming bid opening for site and utility work at the Princeton Road campus, which will house the sheriff's 9-1-1 dispatch center and the coroner's offices; the county expects contractor recommendation by mid‑August and mobilization after Labor Day.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6588918,"Butler County reviews local option to adopt homestead exemption and owner-occupied credit after House Bill 96",309,44615,354135,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5499465-1e296a8083c33dcccf17e9df2d585b39&start=44&end=354","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5499465-1e296a8083c33dcccf17e9df2d585b39/thumbnail_44615.jpg","/articles/6588918/Butler-County/Ohio/Butler-County-reviews-local-option-to-adopt-homestead-exemption-and-owner-occupied-credit-after-House-Bill-96","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588918-b603f431e96af6316c159eb808cef2b5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770981698&Signature=gS2~bkNpzlCWTeJtjYJXxTe6D3ONU7AlM9JxgF-u2gTfnf6M42AZYUichIR3QreF~41~1Fi7rT~PExBXNpVbKvOH0rkVy2ZZKfDagrp5nvVvoty6deXzMLB72AwRCDPm0eig-Zj2MJMcASad1pWmZVuzu6La8ibvW4APh9CuH81sO4nAQ7M0TLO51RcitTVZ8RwjR4xZLyWLQd6cUh1jNzgxba2KK12kBDxEs6sDL~i~njUJf~tarzlUSJ3V6Dhm70rSWfjIxnyhW-cw8FzuMysOq7A4Glut0RPWkeRA6NQoKLgBLY-siQbJemImpnO59qq~ANfNj9ZT-qo8O~nnNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County Administrator Judy Boyko told the Butler County Board of Commissioners on July 29 that House Bill 96, the state's biennial budget bill for fiscal years 2026–27, included language allowing counties to piggyback the state's homestead exemption and to apply a local owner-occupied credit.

Boyko said the auditor's office has provided preliminary numbers to help the board consider whether to adopt either or both local options. \"For those reductions if locally funded, about $7,200,000 would be a reduction in cost to taxpayers for the homestead exemption,\" Boyko said, adding that the auditor estimates the exemption would affect slightly over 18,000 Butler County residents who qualify as elderly, disabled, veterans or surviving spouses of veterans. She said the owner-occupied credit is currently applied in the county at about $8,900,000 to roughly 10,500 households.

The administrator emphasized the board has at least two implementation paths. \"You have two paths should the board want to do something,\" Boyko said, explaining the county could either assume the cost directly or allocate the credit to taxing levies so that individual taxing entities would see reduced levies based on the total deductions.

Commissioner Dixon asked whether the owner-occupied credit could be limited to targeted areas to encourage homeownership in neighborhoods where cities such as Hamilton and Middletown are making investments. \"When you're asking your questions about this, my question would be, can we use the owner occupied credit in targeted areas as part of their initiative to draw more homeowners into particular areas?\" Dixon asked. Boyko said she was still researching statutory limits and could not confirm whether the credit could be geographically restricted.

Commissioner Carpenter pressed on the scale of the change. One comment from the public session framed possible effects at scale: \"We gave back $26,000,000 in inside millage to every property owner in Butler County,\" a speaker said during public remarks, arguing the current proposal would benefit a limited number of households. That commenter abstained from supporting the concept in the meeting's discussion.

Why it matters: adopting either the homestead exemption or an owner-occupied credit would shift tax liabilities among county taxpayers and taxing entities and could reduce taxes for eligible homeowners. The board heard data but did not take a vote; Boyko said she will provide additional maps and breakdowns by political subdivision and further research on statutory eligibility so the commissioners can decide at a later meeting.

What remains unresolved: whether the owner-occupied credit may be geographically targeted, the precise levy-level accounting if the county elects to charge credits to taxing levies, and whether the board will fund the credits from county revenues or require taxing entities to absorb reductions. Boyko said she will return with more granular data and refreshed cost estimates.","County administrators presented data on state House Bill 96 and local options to adopt the state's homestead exemption and an owner-occupied credit; officials discussed eligibility, possible costs and whether benefits can be targeted to specific neighborhoods.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Butler County commissioners approve multiple resolutions, contracts and a settlement on July 29, 2025

Residents urge Butler County to stop housing ICE detainees; commissioners ask administrator to seek more information

Commissioners accept updated Hamilton‑Middletown Road right‑of‑way dedication plat for Liberty Township

Princeton Road campus bids moving forward; site work bid opening tomorrow, completion planned for 2027

Butler County reviews local option to adopt homestead exemption and owner-occupied credit after House Bill 96