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Michael D. Pitman reports about Butler County, Ohio, politics, county government, countywide issues and Butler County people just like you for Cox Ohio Publishing (including the Hamilton JournalNews, Middletown Journal and several weekly papers in Butler County). He wants your suggestions and questions for more news stories. Leave a comment for him here or e-mail Michael at Home > Blogs > Butler County News and Issues > Archives > 2011 > February > 08 > Entry
Lot’s of things happening today
EDITOR’S NOTE: A reference to the Jan. 13 article on the EMA was included due to questions posted in the commenting section. This posting was updated at 4:11 p.m. Feb. 8.
Tonight there will be a new county prosecutor and there may be a new fee for townships to pay to the county Emergency Management Agency.
The Butler County GOP central committee will name either assistant county prosecutor Jason Phillabaum, defense attorney Michael T. Gmoser, former Butler County assistant prosecutor Lance Salyers and West Chester Twp. Police Chief and attorney Erik Niehaus as the successor to Robin Piper, who is now on the bench of the 12th District Court of Appeals.
This race has been contentious, as evident by this blog post. Comments got so out of hand they, the commenting feature was turned off. This also demonstrates the courage of anonymity — anybody will and can say anything so long as they don’t have to give their name.
The other issue is the fact that the Butler County EMA board will vote tonight, Feb. 8, (or at least expected to vote tonight) if the townships will pay into the EMA. The county had paid the townships’ share, but have not in the last few years. It’s unclear if there’s any document saying the county is supposed to be doing this. The county already pays for the capital expenses — such as the hazmat equipment.
A Jan. 13 story on this topic sheds some light as to why they funding increase is needed. As stated in the story:
This lack of funding has put the agency in a predicament considering the board would like to hire a deputy director in the near future. The need to seek this added — or makeup — revenue is because the county EMA must provide a 50 percent match toward its emergency management performance grant, and by 2012 that would be in jeopardy, said county EMA Director Jeff Galloway.
Fairfield Mayor Ron D’Epifanio was the one who brought this issue to the EMA’s executive board. He said it isn’t fair townships reap the rewards without paying into it — though admits it’s not the townships’ fault if the county didn’t pay into it for them (assuming that was indeed the agreement).
Now the advisory board is expected tonight to decide if the townships will pay into it, or go it alone — meaning they won’t use the EMA’s services. And by statute a community must have EMA services, either provided by another agency or its own. Any payment to the county EMA — which the cities already pay — is per capita. If OK’d, the townships would begin paying the EMA in 2012 at roughly 40 cents per resident.
What are your thoughts (and remember, please keep it civil)?
Permalink | Comments (10) | Post your comment | Categories: Butler County
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By Jan
February 8, 2011 3:08 PM | Link to this
If EMA has gotten by without the money for years why do they need the money now? In this economy asking the townships for money is outrageous. Maybe the EMA Board should ask the director why he needs the money when previous directors got by without it.
By Randy
February 8, 2011 3:12 PM | Link to this
Butler County population is 360,000 and at .40 cents each that�s a $144,000.00 pay day to EMA. I�m amazed at how our local government and its agency work, always looking for more money. EDITOR’S NOTE: The per capital payment for operational expenses is per resident per year.
By Adam
February 8, 2011 3:49 PM | Link to this
What I take away from the EMA information is the county commissioners aren�t paying anything for emergency management. How�s that fair? EDITOR’S NOTE: The county commission pays for capital expenses, not operational expenses.
By Rod
February 8, 2011 9:42 PM | Link to this
Emergency Management has had an Assistant Directors in the past and paid for them without raiding the townships. What’s changed.
By JJ
February 8, 2011 10:01 PM | Link to this
EMA use to have a staff of only three, it now has five and they want to add a sixth. D’Epifanio just wants more big government on the taxpayers dime.
By John
February 8, 2011 10:05 PM | Link to this
Dixon and Carpenter must know someone who needs a job.
By vote counted
February 9, 2011 6:03 AM | Link to this
Congratulations Mike! It seems the majority of the staff of the Prosecutor’s Office was exceptionally excited when they saw the tallies rising for Mr. Gmoser during the Republican Central Committe vote on Tuesday evening. The tallies were completed after the first counting with Mike Gmoser winning the majority of the vote in the first round. It was obvious that most of his staff was very supportive of a new prosecutor by the outbursting of cheers and clapping. I imagine Mr.Gmoser will be welcomed with lots of smiles and warm congratulations on Wednesday morning. Does this make you wonder what problems the “old administration” had? Maybe this is finally the new beginning of a fresh, “transparent” political office in Butler County. Good Luck and Thumbs Up Mike! We are confident you will do a superb job!
By Sam
February 9, 2011 9:00 AM | Link to this
I guess this means the commissioners will not have to pay the $100,000 to EMA next year. That’s how it worked with Metro Parks.
By Max
February 9, 2011 12:39 PM | Link to this
Good for Gmoser for getting rid of Phillabaum, last thing he needs in his office is someone packing information to Piper, Jones and Dixon.
By Teaparty Gal
February 9, 2011 1:54 PM | Link to this
Well, Well, Don Dixon, Robin Piper and Rick Jones finally failed to get the Central Committee to pick one of their cronies. Good work Central Committee, it’s about time.