COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Franklin County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved a sweeping agenda of more than two dozen resolutions, including more than $1.6 million in bulk purchase orders and a slate of infrastructure projects, while taking time to celebrate the county’s participation in the Stonewall Columbus Pride Festival.
Commissioners opened the June 23 meeting with a proclamation honoring the LGBTQIA+ community, noting that the festival drew more than 700,000 visitors and that the county led a delegation of 369 registered participants in the march.
“It is a different Franklin County than the kind of Franklin County I grew up in,” Commissioner Kevin Boyce said. “And I like that about this community.”
Commissioner Erica Crawley, who said she was unable to attend this year’s march, praised the event’s spirit of unity. Prosecutor Shannon Favor, whose office fielded more than 60 participants, said the turnout reflected the county’s values.
The board then moved through a lengthy consent agenda without debate.
Among the major items, commissioners approved Resolution 41126, a $56,000 contract modification with MAPS Inc. to extend technical support for the auditor-treasurer data exchange system by three months.
Resolution 41226 adopted the Franklin County Safety Action Plan, funded through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All program, aimed at reducing roadway fatalities.
The board authorized three annexations: 279.5 acres from Brown and Norwich townships to Columbus, 0.39 acres from Blendon Township to Columbus, and 146.9 acres from Washington Township to Dublin.
Commissioners approved $12,570 in compensation for 17 property owners affected by the Ferris Road Improvement Project and $59,550 for property owners on the Frank Road at Brown Road roundabout project, noting the latter was resolved through negotiation without resorting to eminent domain.
Two speed limit reductions were forwarded to the Ohio Department of Transportation: a 10 mph reduction to 45 mph on Wrath Mill Road and a 5 mph reduction to 50 mph on Elder Road.
The board authorized three youth-focused grants totaling more than $276,000: $40,250 to Buckeye Tigers Aviation for an aviation career exploration program, $21,000 to Omega Lamp Foundation for scholarships, and $215,000 to the Willie and Vivian Gatis Foundation for college readiness programming.
Commissioner Boyce abstained from three items: a $225,000 contract extension with Huntington National Bank for banking services, a no-cost extension of a $199,942 opioid settlement subgrant to Ohio State University, and a $9,600 purchase order for the Domestic Relations Agency.
The board approved Resolution 43426, updating the fee schedule for appointed counsel to align with state maximums set by the Ohio Public Defender.
Commissioners also reappointed County Administrator Kenneth Wilson to the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio Board of Trustees and to the Greater Columbus Sports Commission Executive Committee. Maurice Clarrett was reappointed to the Franklin County Community Based Correctional Facility Governing Board.
The meeting concluded with a unanimous vote to enter executive session to discuss property acquisition and disposition.