COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Franklin County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday honored retiring Judge James Edward Green for 31 years on the municipal court bench and unanimously approved a slate of resolutions including a $1.59 million contract for a medically assisted treatment program for felony offenders.
Commissioners opened the Dec. 2 meeting with a ceremonial resolution recognizing Green, the most senior judge on the Franklin County Municipal Court, who retires this month. Green, who presided over hundreds of thousands of cases, told commissioners he plans to pursue life coaching, garage and closet makeovers, and work as a traveling judge.
“It’s been a very interesting journey,” Green said. “It’s been a journey wrought with experiences that I never expected in life to have. And it’s been about 85% positive on the journey.”
Commissioner Kevin Boyce noted Green has served throughout his entire political career. Commissioner John O’Grady called Green “a pillar of this legal community.”
The board also received updates from the Columbus Fashion Alliance, where Yogi Terrell reported the Ready to Work program has achieved a 70% job placement rate, with 24 placements and an estimated $6.49 million annual economic impact. The Heritage Projects presented on its Civil Rights Tour of the South, which served 45 participants including 12 students.
Among the resolutions approved:
- Resolution 89625 renewed a contract with Alvis Inc. for the POWER program, providing medication-assisted treatment, cognitive behavioral programming and housing to felony offenders at a cost of $1,586,318.
- Resolution 90225 awarded a $711,240.27 contract to Capital Electric Line Builders LLC for 2026 traffic signal maintenance.
- Resolution 90925 authorized $134,196 in Community Development Block Grant funds to the Community Shelter Board for street outreach services, including crisis interventions and basic needs.
- Resolution 91825 approved $100,000 for Think Make Live Youth to operate the Guns Down program at Independence High School, serving 50 students.
- Resolution 91925 authorized $75,000 for Cornerstone Promise Inc. to provide temporary emergency housing and case management for homeless inmates released between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m.
- Resolution 92125 authorized $25,000 for Legal Aid to provide record sealing and expungement services at the Franklin County Tap-In Center, which has served 304 residents and resulted in 192 warrant set-asides.
- Resolution 90525 declared necessary the replacement or rehabilitation of five bridges: Amony Road, Flint Road, Georgesville-Wrightsville Road, Marlane Drive and Mifflin Street.
- Resolutions 91025 and 91125 approved expedited annexations of 4.6 acres from Mifflin Township to Columbus and 7.6 acres from Jefferson Township to Gahanna.
- Resolution 92725 authorized repayment of a $10 million loan for the crisis center and extended due dates for nine other interfund loans by one year.
- Resolution 90125 approved the update and readoption of the Storm Water Drainage Manual to comply with current Ohio EPA standards.
The board also approved appointments to the Board of Zoning Appeals, Parks and Recreation Board, Local Food Board, Planning Commission and the One Ohio Region One Board.
No contentious issues arose during the meeting. The session concluded with the journalization of intergovernmental agreements.