Commissioners approve child‑protection partnerships, advance Children's Services levy to ballot

Lucas County commissioners on July 1 approved a set of agreements to support a newly established Lucas County Child Protection Task Force and passed a resolution to submit a 1.8‑mill renewal levy for children's services to the county ballot.

Chief of Staff Mike Hart described three related actions: a zero‑cost memorandum of understanding with KC Family Programs to provide in‑kind technical assistance; a contract with DBT Solutions LLC to provide facilitation and project management for the task force (the firm’s principal is Doris Buford Toliver); and an intergovernmental agreement with Lucas County Children's Services under which children's services will reimburse the board for facilitation and project management costs. Hart said the DBT Solutions engagement will support the task force over a 12‑month period and that children’s‑services funding will reimburse facilitation costs.

Hart also presented a resolution to submit to electors the renewal of an existing 1.8‑mill tax levy for the support and care of children pursuant to Ohio Revised Code chapter 5705.24. He said this would be the second and final board resolution required to place the issue on the ballot ahead of the county’s August 6 deadline. The board approved the package of items and the resolution; the clerk called roll and recorded affirmative votes.