Wood County intends to arm tow truck drivers with Narcan in order to add a layer of protection to law enforcement officers.

At the Aug. 23 Legislative Update Program, Rep. Haraz Ghanbari announced a partnership with the Wood County Health Department that will provide backup for officers during traffic stops.

Ghanbari shared a story of a state highway trooper – not from the Bowling Green post – who, during a traffic stop, had an interaction with a substance that caused him to go down on the roadway.

His partner gave him two doses of Narcan, Ghanbari said.

State troopers often share that they may be the only individual out on a traffic stop, and if they have to take someone into custody, they’re often required to search the vehicle, he said.

“If you’re a law enforcement officer out on a side road doing an inventory of a vehicle and you come in contact with a substance that causes you to go down and that tow truck driver is the first person on the scene … I certainly would want that tow truck driver to be equipped with something they could use to save someone’s life,” he said.

“It is very early stages, but we are working to identify the towing companies that offer support of the removal of vehicles, and first responders, to equip them with Narcan,” said Ben Robison, Wood County Health commissioner.

Should they be the only other people on site, if the first responder encounters something illicit in the vehicle that causes them to have an overdose reaction, responding tow truck drivers are equipped to offer help, he said.

“Narcan can do incredibly things, but people have to have access to it and be trained in it,” he said.

He said Ghanbari asked his department to join the effort, and he agreed, Robison said.

There will be no cost to the tow truck drivers, but they will need to be trained in usage and storage.

Over the next few weeks, Robinson said the health department will identify training resources and opportunities to begin to equip the tow truck drivers with these resources.

“Our hope is, if we can work the kinks out, we can share this with other communities,” he said.

The issue of finding employees was a hot topic at the program, which was held at Wood County Job and Family Services and attended by 15 people.

Ohio Congressman Bob Latta said the number one issue was finding employees and keeping them from leaving for higher-paying jobs.

“Finding people is essential,” he said, and said employers were taking a chance on training people who could leave and go down the street for another 50 cents an hour.

Ohio Senator Theresa Gavarone said she also has a help wanted sign at Bowling Green’s Mr. Spots, which she owns with her husband.

Gavarone said Bowling Green State University was developing programs to fit workforce needs.

BGSU experienced a 22% enrollment increase in new students, which President Rodney Rogers attributed to the development of programs which aligned to Ohio’s needs, including nursing, software engineering, robotics engineering, forensic science, and aviation.

“Those programs are in high demand,” he said.

Latta said companies are happy to get employees already trained.

He also touched on the need for high-speed broadband.

Broadband service is crucial, especially since the Yellow Pages are no more and small businesses with no internet connection who are unable to connect with others.

Gavarone said she was working on bipartisan election-related legislation that would standardize language for all 88 county boards of election and protect the private information and addresses of elections officials.

“We are really in hostile times,” she said.

She also supports what is being called anti-SLAPP legislation, which gives courts the power to dismiss a public defamation case due to frivolity.

As Senate chair of the state’s Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review, she said she is working to cut the red tape and unnecessary legislation that hinders businesses.

She promoted Cut Red Tape Ohio (https://cutredtape.ohio.gov/), which allows citizens to report State of Ohio regulations that restrict business, family or daily life.

“When we have community involvement and we can get various stakeholders engaged in that process, the more that process moves seamlessly,” Ghanbari said about the investments in the most recent capital budget.

“When we can bring money back to the community we know will be of benefit, it’s really exciting,” Gavarone said, citing Bowling Green’s pickleball courts, accessible playgrounds in Perrysburg and The Cocoon.

In answer to a question about the housing crisis in Ohio, Latta said that when employees are found, they have no place to live. He suggested tearing down decrepit homes where the infrastructure is in place and replacing them with newer buildings.

Gavarone mentioned a homebuyer’s savings account with more information on the state treasurer’s website.

Ghanbari said economic development is a great thing, but communities need long-term strategic plans on how to build out their communities.

Wood County has seen an uptick in people moving here, and more homes requires bigger schools to educate the kids, he said.

In answer to a question about the U.S. 23 study to address the traffic congestion in Delaware, Gavarone said the study has to be done by the end of the year.

The portion of Route 23 between Waldo and I-270 is the only portion of the I-75/Route 23/Ohio 15 corridor with traffic volumes exceeding roadway capacity. The study area includes nearly 40 traffic signals, the only signals between I-270 and Toledo.

Mary Hinkelman, executive director of the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce, which hosted the event, said it was important that elected officials have the opportunity to get in front of their constituents, who can ask questions that are pertinent.