By Allen

October 25, 2010 2:33 PM | Link to this

I live in the western side of Butler County, so I frequent Gov. Bebb, Indian Creek Preserve, & Pioneer Church parks. As a frequent visitor to these parks, part of their appeal is a lack of people, activities and development. Aside from maybe improving general maintenance of these western parks, I’d like to see them stay the way they are.

By Westside

October 25, 2010 2:54 PM | Link to this

Any voter living west of the river who thinks this tax will not go in mass to West Chester’s VOA Park is kidding themselves.

By Ohiogal

October 26, 2010 9:21 AM | Link to this

Agree with what Westside said. The only issue I have on this new TAX is that if they want the TAX MONEY from the homeowners, then they need to STOP charging additional money for passes on top of the TAX MONEY. I haven’t heard this, so its a big “NO” vote from me.

By anonymous

October 26, 2010 9:40 AM | Link to this

Ohiogal, on the front page of the paper yesterday it stated that butler county residents will no longer need to purchase the passes if the levy gets approved. I live on the west side of the county and will be voting YES. Among other reasons, I believe that the programs offered in the parks for school children are valuable for their education. I don’t want to see them completely disappear.

By Park Afficionado

October 26, 2010 3:08 PM | Link to this

“Anonymous” is correct, the motor vehicle permit fees will no longer be charged for county residents if the levy passes. NON-county residents, who will not contribute to the levy funds, will still be charged an annual or daily fee.

By Park Afficionado

October 26, 2010 3:14 PM | Link to this

Remember, the levy is for operation and maintenance… this will be done for ALL parks across the county- there will be no large changes to any park; the levy is not large enough. VOA needs the least amount of help because it is the “newest”… if the levy fails, more parks will have to be closed… and I don’t think that will be VOA since it has the most visitors at any given time and actually makes money unlike the other parks.

By Out West

October 26, 2010 4:07 PM | Link to this

VOA has more facilities than any park on the Westside which in itself is unfair to those Westside residents. Since VOA has more facilities it cost more to operate VOA, thus VOA will get the largest part of any taxes collected. Why should someone in Oxford or Middletown support VOA in West Chester? VOA is a West Chester Park, hardly a county park.

By Concerned

October 26, 2010 4:19 PM | Link to this

I understand that there are 5 secretaries at the headquarters building. During the hours they are “closed” in the middle of the day due to lack of funding they actually turn off the lights, close the curtains, and won’t answer the door so we think they are short of money. Will this practice continue if the levy passes and isn’t it shady to do this to make people think you don’t have money? It just doesn’t seem honest to me. Our money for passes has paid their salary, naybe they should stop hiding in their office - literally. I will vote no on the levy.

By Westside Park Lover

October 27, 2010 9:34 AM | Link to this

To “Out West”… VOA is able to make money BECAUSE of the facilities… we do not want a VOA facility out here! We need the levy to pay for the parks that hopefully will never have big buildings and to host weddings and thousands of people coming each year! But who do you think is going to pay to have our grass mowed, trails cleared and shelters maintained out here? The few people who actually bother to buy a $10 permit? I don’t think so! If we don’t like what they are doing, then don’t renew the levy in 6 years! Let’s give them a chance to see what they do with it… I don’t think $15 year (and no motor vehicle fees!) is a risk. If you vote NO, don’t complain when they shut down the west side parks that don’t earn enough money to cover the expenses to keep them open. Open your eyes and keep our west side parks open!Vote Yes for our parks! Vote Yes on Issue 4!

By Concerned Too

October 27, 2010 9:44 AM | Link to this

5 secretaries? Really?? “By Concerned” must have be talking about someplace other than MetroParks! If you had the facts right, you would know they have 5 full-time employees right now to run the entire park system. A Director, a person who handles all the books, and 3 Rangers who double as park caretakers and are responsible for over 1,000 acres each. There are several part-time people but that is it… I stop by there on a regular basis and have never had a problem getting answers, help or anything I need which is amazing seeing how busy everyone is… but they are always ready to help me! (I have never found the blinds to be shut… what time are you showing up??)And you think your $10 a year pays for someone’s salary? Have a little compassion and maybe you should think about volunteering instead of complaining. I agree, Vote Yes on 4!

By Lover of ALL Parks

October 27, 2010 9:55 AM | Link to this

When the levy passes, I hope MetroParks looks at which areas voted FOR the levy and which ones did not and then divide the levy funds accordingly… too many people want everything but want to pay nothing.

By Ned

October 28, 2010 9:53 PM | Link to this

Does the MetroParks Board even know that there are parks on the westside?

By Indian Creek Hiker

October 28, 2010 11:35 PM | Link to this

I have lived in Butler County for 8 years and I love the parks on the west side of the county. As far as I know, the parks have bought a couple large properties west of the river since I moved to the county, but I do not know of any money spent on new land east of the river in the last 8 years. If the board did not care about the west side, why would they purchase land there.

By Indian Creek Hiker

October 28, 2010 11:36 PM | Link to this

I have lived in Butler County for 8 years and I love the parks on the west side of the county. As far as I know, the parks have bought a couple large properties west of the river since I moved to the county, but I do not know of any money spent on new land east of the river in the last 8 years. If the board did not care about the west side, why would they purchase land there.

By Westside Park Lover

October 29, 2010 9:45 AM | Link to this

We are lucky that MetroParks has a long-term vision to obtain property on the westside where it is not very populated right now so prices are low and people are still willing to donate land. Someday it will be more populated and then people may not be willing to donate the land and/or they won’t be able to afford it as the prices go up with higher populations. I applaud MParks for giving us park space out here. As money gets less, it only makes sense to spend it where the people are and that is not “west” of the river. I want our westside parks open and maintained too so I am voting YES on Issue 4… I hope other people on the west side support the parks too!

By Hanover

October 29, 2010 11:35 AM | Link to this

A “yes” vote for issue 4 is a Vote to keep the west side parks open. I will be voting “yes” on issue 4!

By Rob

October 29, 2010 1:04 PM | Link to this

Well, I live in West Chester…and to be frank, I never go to VOA. But if I can be honest - and someone please correct me if I’m wrong - I thought you had to pay to get into the Bebb Preserve and Indian Creek? So that, coupled with their distance from where I live, means I don’t visit them nearly as often as I do Keehner.

By Jon Bell

October 30, 2010 12:52 AM | Link to this

“When the levy passes, I hope MetroParks looks at which areas voted FOR the levy and which ones did not and then divide the levy funds accordingly… too many people want everything but want to pay nothing.” —Lover of ALL Parks Really, you think that will help? Lets charge them and then not let them participate in what they pay for, how childish. EVERY park should be pay per use. NO property tax; if you use it, then pay per use. If you don’t use it, no tax, no fee, nothing. PRIVATIZATION is the answer. If you love parks, then get together with other like minded people, buy some ground and plant stuff on it instead of taxing everyone for your park fetish.

By Bad Math

November 1, 2010 11:32 AM | Link to this

I love all the parks but am voting no because the money doesn’t add up. Last year’s budget was 1 million, the prior year’s was 2 million but now they need almost 4 million per year? That is a little too padded for my taste.