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Home > Blogs > Hamilton News and Issues > Archives > 2008 > May
May 2008
Deadline looming for Reds bus trip
Anyone who wants to purchase tickets to City of Hamilton Night and ride the bus to Great American Ball Park, needs to purchase tickets by end of business day Monday. Tickets are $25.
Tickets for the game will continue to be sold throughout the week at $15. City of Hamilton Night is Tuesday, June 10 and it’s the 64th anniversary of Joe Nuxhall’s history-making debut at 15 years old.
The first 30,000 in attendance receive a free mini-replica of the bronze statue in front of the ball park. Call the Parks and Recreation Department at 513-785-7060 for more information.
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TweetFinance director confident in report
At City Council Wednesday, Councilman Jim Noonan inquired of the finance director his impression of the Decosimo report, which predicted financial hardship in the city’s near future.
Noonan asked because the Fraternal Order of Police recently questioned the report’s conclusions. Finance Director Bill Moller had a different opinion, saying he’d been involved in several financial forecasts in the past.
“I consider the methodology of this forecast as sound,” he said. “I’m confident with the conclusions of the report.”
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TweetChange in memorial ride for Mr. K
Bikers planning to gather to ride to Mr. K’s visitation have a change of venue. Ken Glidewell, a longtime musician and radio personality, passed away Tuesday.
Riders will now meet at Aces and Eights Harley Davidson in Mason at noon. They will proceed to the Brown-Dawson Funeral Home with escort at 1 p.m. Visitation runs from 1 until 4 p.m. A memorial service will begin at 4 p.m.
Photos of Glidewell are courtesy of his family.
Glidewell with longtime girlfriend Abby Marcum
Glidewell with brother Kevin Glidewell.
Glidewell was a longtime Hamilton resident. For a video he made about Hamilton, visit this earlier blog.
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TweetPolice get OK for programs
City Council voted Wednesday evening to allow the police department to proceed with several programs aimed at increasing revenue to the department.
Among them are a SWAT camp, a women’s self defense course and an advanced concealed carry class. According to correspondence with the city manager, fees for these classes are $375, $150 and $60 respectively.
The programs come at a time where city officials are looking to increase revenue and cut expenses throughout general fund departments, of which the police department is just one.
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TweetGoodbye Mr. K
Without much effort at all, I can hear his voice in my head. The man known as Mr. K broadcast on WEBN and with his real name Ken Glidewell on 92.5 the Fox throughout my teen years.
Glidewell died Tuesday morning from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. He was a Hamilton resident and graduated from Hamilton High School.
“He knew no stranger,” his longtime girlfriend Abby Marcum told me.
Mandy Gambrell, interim editor of the Fairfield Echo/Pulse-Journal, knew him well and was shocked to hear of his passing.
“Just want you to know he was VERY popular around Hamilton and in the local music scene, performed a lot at Major Leagues and Third Street Tap. This is a huge loss for the entertainment community,” she said.
She also pointed me to this:
The Fox has a tribute to Glidewell on its Web site. View it here.
Visitation is at the Brown-Dawson Funeral Home, located at 1350 Millville Avenue, on Saturday from 1 p.m. until time of memorial service at 4 p.m. Cremation has been held. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Mr. K Memorial Fund through any Fifth Third Bank.
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TweetSummer electric prices
In his weekly report, City Manager Mark Brandenburger shared a report from the Federal Energy Regulation Commission from May 15 that estimated that gas prices would be significantly higher this summer.
He said that forward pricing from the InterContinental exchange are 50 to 90 percent higher than last summer’s prices.
Hamilton hasn’t announced plans to raise its electric prices. The last increase took effect on March 1. Hamilton’s rates are cheaper than those of Duke Energy’s, even before it increased its rates.
Some of Hamilton’s electric consultants will make a presentation to City Council this evening to discuss the electric forecast and talk about the riders that caused Hamilton to raise rates in March.
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TweetCity Council Wednesday
City Council is not planning to discuss the Decosimo report in its meeting Wednesday, May 28. Council is not expected to give its input on proposed budget cuts until its June meeting.
Wednesday’s agenda is short in the wake of the report. The only thing that could take place immediately is three resolutions and one emergency ordinance, which will ive “unused” radio frequencies to Butler County for use in the new countywide radio communications system.
The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in council chambers at 345 High Street.
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TweetF.O.P response to the city
The Fraternal Order of Police issued a statement Saturday in response to the city’s financial crisis.
The response expresses several concerns about the validity and independence of the Decosimo report. As FOP President Brian Robinson says in the response, “The public and all city employees have been duped again. We all just had $50,000 ripped from our pockets for this? Last fall, the FOP had an audit of the general fund finances conducted for about $2,000!”
Read the entire response here:
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TweetSID Web site
I recently stumbled across a Web site that at some point belonged to the Downtown Special Improvement District.
The information is out of date. It’s hard to tell by exactly how much, but the copyright at the bottom of the page still reads 2007. It mentions Gov. Ted Strickland’s visit to the Bever Community Health Center in June 2007. So, it can’t be much further removed from that. Still, take a look. All the projects listed are still active and relevant even if the information is a little behind the times.
The page in question is located off SID’s main page. Other information on the site is updated slightly more recently, but not much.
It’s worth noting that in the recent suggested budget cuts that city council is considering among them is opting out of the city’s $36,000 commitment to the SID. Mayor Don Ryan and Councilwoman Carla Fiehrer are both members of the SID.
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TweetCity salaries
I’ve heard a lot of talk (and grumbling) about city salaries since the city’s financial woes came to the forefront Wednesday.
If inquiring minds want to know, the JournalNews offers a listing of salaries for employees paid with tax payer dollars from various local municipalities, including Hamilton. The only caveat is they have to make more than $50,000 a year to be listed.
You can search the salary database here.
Enjoy.
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TweetPlanning Commission seeks new member
The Planning Commission is looking for someone to take over for member Debi Sparks, who is leaving when someone takes her place. Teri Whitmore, planning director, said that Sparks had other commitments.
Whitmore said the term runs through 2010. The board reviews projects and makes final recommendations to city council. The mayor and city manager are two of the seven board members.
Whitmore said the commission is looking for someone whose city neighborhood or views are not currently represented on the board.
Anyone interested should contact Whitmore at 785-7352 for an application.
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TweetDecosimo executive summary
I took the liberty of scanning in the executive summary Decosimo gave to City Council for your enjoyment. The actual Decosimo report is about 50 pages long and full of numbers. This seemed more manageable.
Read the summary here: Decosimo summary.pdf
Though, I’m not sure why the company printed it in landscape format.
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TweetCutting 5 -10 percent
Before City Council got the bad news Wednesday that its general fund would essentially dry up in a year if changes weren’t made, city administration asked the department heads to suggest cuts to their budgets.
Three percent would be cut almost immediately and mostly bank on not filling vacant positions. View the cuts here: budget cuts.pdf
Departments heads were also asked to suggest ways to trim between 5 to 10 percent out of their budgets in 2009.
“With 10 percent cuts, you kind of get a menu for City Council to chose from,” said Finance Director Bill Moller.
Not surprisingly, all department heads complied with the request. Though, copies of their reports to the city manager reveal some of their frustrations.
Here are a few excerpts:
Fire Chief Joe Schutte: “At this point, the only feasible way to cut that kind of money (5 percent) is eliminating positions. However, with the minimum staffing levels decribed above, eleminating positions just causes more overtime. It seems we are certainly at the point where paying overtime is costing the city more than filling vacancies. The only alternative to that is negotiating with Local 20 IAFF.” The contract with the firefighters’ union requires 27 firefighters and a shift commander on every shift.
Human Relations Director Vaughn Lewis: “I have never exceeded the budget and I have always been very frugal with expenditures. During this time this department has never had a city vehicle. I went years without a city cell phone… I also believe this department has always been understaffed.” Lewis has been director since 1998.
Parks and Recreation Director Bob Harris: “We are continually asking our staff to do more as our full-time staff continues to shrink and the work load increases or stays the same as was in prior years. The parks and recreation department needs to increase its staff, NOT continue to decrease it.”
Police Chief Neil Ferderlman: “Reducing our budget is a difficult task since our current budget is realistic and based on actual usage. As a result, we do not maintain excessive funds in any on the line items.”
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TweetWith analysis looming, city manager recommends cuts
Anticipating that the city will be advised to make cuts to its general fund, City Manager Mark Brandenburger asked department heads to prepare how 3 percent could be cut from their budgets immediately and how between 5 and 10 percent could be cut in 2009.
With that data, which will be part of another blog, the city management created a list of ways to cut expenses and raise revenue for the 2009 budget. Read the recommendations here: recommendations.pdf
No action is expected on the recommendations tonight as City Council receives a briefing on the Decosimo report, an analysis of its general fund. Council members are asked to rate each suggestions as either “1-implement,” “2-implement only if necessary” and “3-implement as a last resort.”
The recommendations to cut expenses run the gamut, from closing TV Hamilton to save $130,000 a year to laying off 12 sworn police officers to selling the leaf collection vacuum trucks.
The recommendations to increase revenue are just as diverse. Among them are operating a city impound lot, refinancing the debt of One Renaissance Center and increasing municipal income tax by .1 percent.
Brandenburger said he wants time for the information to sink in and it is likely that council will revisit these recommendations at its June 11 meeting.
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TweetToday is the day
In a matter of hours, City Council will receive the long awaited Decosimo report. Council will receive the report two weeks later than originally intended. The original date of May 7 was canceled because the accountant heading up the report had family issues.
The meeting will start at 5:30 p.m. in council chambers. City Manager Mark Brandenburger expects a packed house of curious parties and members of the police and fire departments. The report is expected to suggest cuts in the general fund, which pays for police and fire department salaries.
Also, in the balance could be the fate of the city’s parks and streets. The maintenance for both come out of the city’s general fund. Though, no action is intended on the report tonight.
Stay tuned to see how it goes.
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TweetDigital television
With the switch from analog to digital looming in February 2009 for people with old TVs, the Federal Communications Commission has asked city officials to get the word out to residents about the change. It emphasizes that the city notify senior citizens, non-English speaking residents, low-income residents and minority communities.
Read the letter here: fcc.pdf
In his weekly report, City Manager Mark Brandenburger said a link would be put on the city’s Web site and the city is checking if it can use a utility stuffer, which would notify the roughly 25,000 utility customers.
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TweetCanoeing on the river
What prior to now has been the occasional recreational activity, one Hamilton resident sees profits in water sports on the Great Miami River.
Misty Duff and her husband founded GMR Riversports. Though it will be based in Colerain, the business will bus interested parties to just below the last low-level dam in Hamilton. Then, they make the 7.5-mile trek back to GMR’s headquarters in Colerain.
Previously, the nearest offering of a similar service was on the Little Miami river at Morgan’s Canoe and Livery.
Duff said the business is starting with 10 canoes and 10 kayaks and hopes to grow into tubes and rafts eventually. Operations will begin in June. Tune in tomorrow for a story about Duff’s business.
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TweetS.W.A.T.
The Hamilton Police Department is attempting to temporarily allow others into the more adrenaline-packed portion of their crew: the Special Weapons and Tactics team.
Think Space Camp and you’ve got the right idea. For $375, anyone with a clean background check can participate in two Saturdays that include demonstrations, paint ball and “hands-on automatic weapon use.”
Now anyone can be Colin Farrell for a day.
The department estimates it may make as much as $4,000 a month with the program.
Check out the pdf for more information: SWAT.pdf
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TweetCrime in the Northend, redux
Police Chief Neil Ferdelman recently provided me with color copies of the maps I attached in an earlier blog. This might give you a better idea:
Northend Property Crimes 1-08to4-08.pdf
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TweetCounty v. Hamilton, part II
Check out Josh Sweigart’s story about Butler County blaming Hamilton for its recent layoffs in the Department of Environmental Services.
In addition to the guilt factor of losing 22 jobs, about half of those are in Hamilton, which means that the city will lost 2 percent income tax on each job. If the combined salaries were $1 million, that’s $20,000 the city won’t get anymore. If the county has any leverage to get the city to lower its water rates, that’s it.
Deputy City Manager Charles Young responds that the city will miss the jobs, but he doesn’t anticipate any reductions in the county’s water rate, which is the lowest the city offers.
It’s also worth noting that the loss of income tax will harm the city’s general fund. But, the county pays its water bill into a separate fund that can’t mix with the general fund.
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TweetCounty blames Hamilton for lost jobs
The Butler County Department of Environmental Services announced the cut of 22 1/2 positions on Thursday, May 15. You can read Dave Greber’s blog about it.
The reason it also ends up here on the city blog is that the department suggests one of the key culprits for the cut is the city of Hamilton Water Department.
In an address to the county commissioners, the department’s Director Sue Vance said “We’ve exhausted all efforts to negotiate with the city of Hamilton to lower our costs of purchased water to no avail. We’ve therefore had some very difficult decisions to make, particularly as they involve our employees and jobs.”
Josh Sweigart will have more on the issue Friday, but do you agree with Vance? Are the city’s water rates too high or is the county department just looking for a scapegoat?
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TweetAdditions to welcome signs?
At City Council Wednesday evening, Councilman Ed Shelton suggested that the City of Hamilton signs should bear the mayor’s name on them. Mayor Don Ryan wasn’t at the meeting; he was out of town.
Shelton’s argument was that lots of other cities have the mayor’s name on their welcome signs and that Ryan deserves it.
“I don’t think anybody sitting up here behind this area (where council sits) would say he isn’t one of the best mayors we’ve ever had,” Shelton said.
City Manager Mark Brandenburger will request the Hamilton Community Foundation to install such signs. Shelton suggested plaques that can be attached to the current signs. The signs will be removable and can be switched as new people become mayor.
What do you think? Should people know who Hamilton’s mayor is as they drive into town?
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TweetCrime down in the Northend
Police Chief Neil Ferdelman says crime is down in the Northend neighborhood. He cites efforts by the city’s weed and seed operation which is designed to integrate cops into the community as a preventive measure.
The department reports that violent crime is down 6 percent from 2005 and property crimes are down 25 percent.
The documents he submitted to the city can be read here: Northend.pdf
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TweetSMART to go green
SMART Papers announced late Monday that it would be expanding operations at its B Street plant with a green power plant. Though, SMART said the investment was years in the planning stage, had kept the matter out of public view and scrutiny.
“We believe in not announcing something until you are ready to go with it all the way. We kept it under our hats until we were ready to announce,” said SMART President Dan Maheu.
City officials were scarce to comment on the issue yesterday. Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce President Kenny Craig would call me back shortly after 7 p.m. Monday, May 12. He was excited about the project, but didn’t know much about the details. He said SMART had kept the matter very quiet.
On my voice mail, I had a message from Vice Mayor Pat Moeller that came in about 10:40 p.m. Monday. He was also excited about the project, but again short on the details. Though, he said it was a testament to Hamilton’s workforce.
“It shows how business friendly Hamilton can be when we’re operating on all cylinders,” Moeller said.
Also from voice mail, I heard from City Manager Mark Brandenburger this morning. He said he spoke to Dan Maheu, SMART’s president, about the project and said the city was “delighted.”
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TweetAnother natural gas increase coming
I’m spending my day today going through overtime reports for the city for the last two years. It’s a nice way to inch back into the fray having not been in the office since Tuesday.
Though, while I was out last week, the Public Utilities Commission approved another gas rate increase. The city just increased prices effective May 1.
Reporter Rich Wilson had the story in my absence:
HAMILTON - Utility bills will go up next month for natural gas users, and energy costs are likely to keep increasing, city officials said.
The Public Utilities Commission on Thursday, May 8, approved a second rate increase in as many months for natural gas users in the city of Hamilton. At .765 cents per unit, customers will pay about 10 cents more per unit of natural gas in June than the increase that went into effect this month.
That translates to about a 20 percent increase since Jan. 1. A typical natural gas customer in Hamilton can expect to pay an estimated $1,191 a year for the service, up from about $953 at the end of last year, officials said.
“Prices have increased so dramatically and so horrendously, that we’ve had no choice but to pass those costs along to the customers,” said Deputy City Manager Charles Young.
Hamilton still provides the least expensive natural gas in the state, but the rate is likely to keep increasing before dropping or stabilizing, said Doug Childs, utility services manager.
“All energy costs are moving in the same direction,” Childs said. “It’s a difficult time.”
Commodities speculators - which include private investors, insurance companies and other investment entities - may be partly to blame for driving up energy costs, Childs said.
“Supplies are tighter, but not so much to justify these higher prices,” he said.
The city gets its natural gas from two Texas-based companies. But the proposed Rockies Express Pipeline, which will carry natural gas across the country from the Rocky Mountains, could provide a third supply option for Hamilton.
Young said the city has been in negotiations with Rockies Express attorneys to exchange land at the Twin Run Golf Course on Eaton Road for an interconnection with the pipeline.
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TweetFirst Tee needs volunteers
I recently received an email from organizers of the First Tee program, which aims to teach young people values through the game of golf. It seems they need some volunteers as they get things going at Hamilton’s courses.
“The First Tee of the Greater Miami Valley, a youth development and character building organization, will be programming this summer at Nuxhall’s Golf Center, and Twin Run Golf Course in Hamilton. We are in need of volunteer coaches to work with young people from the area. You do not need to be a low handicapper to be a volunteer. We are looking for people that want to make a difference in the life of a young person. Number of volunteer hours are at your convenience.
For more information, please contact Mike Wolf, Hamilton Head Coach, at 513-756-0313.”
Also, it seems the schedule is as follows:
“The First Tee of the Greater Miami Valley, a youth development and character building organization, will be programming this summer at Nuxhall’s Golf Center and Twin Run Golf Course in Hamilton. There will be 6 sessions with each session consisting of nine classes.
We are offering PAR (beginner) Classes that includes basic golf instruction with the character building. We will meet at 11 am to 12:30 pm and 1 pm to 2:30 pm Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays for 3 weeks, each in the months of June, July and August. Each class is limited to 25 participants. The June Sessions will commence on Tuesday, June 10th., The July Sessions begin July 8th, and the August Sessions start on August 5th. Cost is $75.00 per participant.
Sign-ups will be held from 10am to noon on Saturday, May 17 at Twin Run For more information, please contact Mike Wolf at 756-0313. “
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TweetRyan’s Tavern
A lane of traffic on High Street and the sidewalk in front of Ryan’s Tavern was closed most of Monday and Tuesday this week. I wonder if this is a sign that the long, cold winter Mayor Don Ryan has endured trying to open his establishment might soon be at an end.
Now hoping to open in early June, Ryan said he has missed three previous opening goals: beginning of 2008, IceFest in February and St. Patrick’s Day.
Ryan is trying to keep people interested with appearances at IceFest selling sweatshirts and some free food outside the business.
The lunch business in Downtown is starting to get crowded with the opening of Ronda’s Courthouse Cafe and the introduction of a lunch menu at Cappuccino Depot. Though, the night crowd in Downtown is still a little slim.
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TweetHappy Hour
Starting tonight, the downtown luncheon Thyme Savor will start offering a weekly outdoor happy hour. The establishment usually provides lunch in the basement of the Ohio Casualty building.
Though with the weather warming, appetizers and drinks will be offered every Friday evening on the adjacent patio at 325 Dayton Street.
Appetizers will be availalbe and I hear mojitos are the signature item. It could be a nice stop after work.
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TweetChamber opposes Healthy Families Act
The Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce has come out against the proposed Ohio Healthy Families Act that might be on the ballot this November.
At a chamber function Friday, May 2, chamber President Kenny Craig said the measure could adversely affect many local businesses because they have more than 25 employees.
“We’re going to do a campaign to try to get this defeated, but it’s going to be difficult,” he said.
Read the chamber’s letter here:
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TweetCity still waiting for Decosimo
As it turns out, city council will not receive a briefing about the Decosimo report tonight, leaving city departments in spending limbo for another few weeks. The report will analyze the revenues and expenses in the city’s $48 million general fund.
“I’ve told everyone that we’re under a hiring freeze and you’re under a spending freeze until this report comes back,” Brandenburger said.
With the general fund projected to have more than a $500,000 deficit in 2008, Brandenburger said he expects the report to recommend cuts.
“It’s all a matter of who’s ox is going to get gored here,” Brandenburger said.
City Council is now expected to receive the Decosimo report on Wednesday, May 21.
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TweetCommission recommends closing Wilson Pool
The Parks and Recreation Commission voted to recommend that city council close the Wilson pool, but try to save the North End Pool.
“I think we all agree Wilson can’t be saved,” said Bill Wilks, a commission member.
The commission met Tuesday, May 6, after the city received a report Friday from the Ohio Department of Health about the conditions of its two remaining pools.
The commission concurred with the report’s recommendation that the city keep the Wilson Pool closed. The report also said that the city needs to replace the concrete deck surrounding the North End pool and create a plan to bring other hazards to compliance by year’s end.
Parks and Recreation Director Bob Harris said that a new concrete deck is estimated to cost about $145,000. The pool fund only has $147,000 for its 2008 operations.
The commission voted to research if a patch of the deck would be sufficient to allow the pools to be open and to look at offering busing service to the pool if a patch can be effective.
“We have an obligation to at least open a pool,” Wilks said.
The recommendations will have to be voted on by city council to be enacted.
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TweetHamilton aquatic center
Such a center will likely never exist in Hamilton, Ohio because the Parks Commission opted not to pursue it further after a brutal levy defeat in November.
But, I did stumble upon this story about a Hamilton Aquatic Center in Hamilton, Iowa.
It’s funny how small the world is sometimes.
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TweetGovernment Services Center evacuation
Luckily, it was a sunny day.
Had 300-some city employees and many more county and court employees been standing outside in the rain, they might have been less agreeable. As is, the only rain was inside the Government Services Center.
Responding to smoke in the basement from a burned out generator, that knocked out power to the entire block, a person pulled a fire alarm activating a “water curtain.” The curtain is designed to separate the city and county sides of the building in the event of a fire and flooded most of the lobby on the county side of the building.
Jurors in the Harvey Johnson murder trial were among the evacuees. As crews tried to dry the floor, Butler County Children’s Services had to move a press conference to the front of the building.
The power outtage affected businesses on the same block like Ronda’s Courthouse Cafe and 5/3 Bank. Power came back on to most of the block by 1:20 p.m. Though, the traffic light at Third and Court streets was still out at 2:50 p.m.
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TweetLunch with that coffee?
The Cappuccino Depot, the quintessential coffee fix in Downtown, will start serving lunch today.
Available will be a variety of paninis made with ham, turkey, bacon or chicken salad; a spring mix salad and the soup of the day. The soup will be roted daily. The menu mentions broccoli cheese, potato, Italian wedding, roasted vegetable and tomato Florentine among the options.
Lunch starts at 11 a.m. The Cappuccino Depot is at 221 High Street.
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TweetAttempted puppy-napping
I was having lunch at Riverbank Cafe the other day, when I noticed that a window was boarded up at Cheri’s Prefered Puppies across the street at 105 Main Street.
Seeing how some of the cutest dogs I’ve ever seen lived in that window, I had to walk over there to ask about it. The person working the counter informed me that someone had tried to break in through the window, but were unsuccessful.
Apparently, it’s happened before. Upon further questioning, she said that in the previous encounter it was not money, but the puppies stolen from the business.
The store is still open and the puppies have been moved away from their display window until it can be repaired.
I know that crime typically rises during times of economic slowdown like we’re in now, but puppies?
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TweetThe super street
If I learned anything at the Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce information session Friday about the Bypass 4 project, and I learned a few things, it’s that people still don’t understand what a super street is and how it will affect traffic.
Ohio Department of Transportation officials touted the super street project, saying it was the out-of-the-box thinking that would effectively alleviate congestion on Bypass 4. Well, an interchange, like you’d see on any federal highway, would be the most effective method. Though, an interchange is more than double the price tag. Also, if the county tried to install interchanges on the Ohio 4 Bypass it would need to purchase several businesses at the Symmes intersection just make it work.
So, it seems the super street is likely here to stay. This Web site might help you understand it a little better.
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TweetHamilton pools likely to stay closed
City officials received a report from the Ohio Department of Health on Friday, May 2, that does not bode well for the city’s pools.
The report recommends that Wilson Pool remains closed this year and that significant improvements need to be made to the North End pool in order for it to open. While the issue will ultimately be decided by city council, the report likely condemns the city’s two remaining pools.
“We don’t have the money to fix it. That’s basically it,” said Parks and Recreation Director Bob Harris.
The city operated four pools just a few years ago. Two closed last summer because of disrepair and lack of funds to fix them.
Harris said his department currently had $147,000 slated for pool operations this year. If that money was enough to cover necessary repairs at the North End pool, he said city council would still have to approve additional funds for the pools operations.
Stay tuned for more information. Read the letter from the Ohio Department of Health here: poolletter.pdf
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Tweet“We’re an older city. We know that.”
Various city officials took part in a town-hall meeting event at the Miami Hamilton Downtown Center for Civic Engagement Thursday evening. About 20 community members joined Mayor Don Ryan, City Manager Mark Brandenburger, Deputy City Manager Charles Young, Economic Development Director Tim Bigler and Planning Director Teri Whitmore.
For about 50 minutes, city officials spoke about various items they felt were important - downtown development, Hamilton’s utilities, jobs, etc. - before opening the forum up for questions.
A couple points of interest from the event:
Ryan said that many people are unfamiliar that the city, county and Hamilton school board are all separate entities. He wanted residents to know that none of those entitities has power over the others. Meaning, a lot of people have been calling him about county and school issues.
The South Hamilton Crossing overpass is still somethingthe city wants to do, but funding will likely not be available for several years.
The Mercantile Building is still sorting out its historic tax credits for work to really begin at the site, but the company has redone the roof and is restoring windows already.
Bigler said that in the 1950s the city had about 125 manufacturers that employed between 300-500 people each. He said now the city still has about 125 manufacturers, but they only employ about 30-40 employees each.
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TweetCouncil with Vision
For the first time in two years, the majority of City Council and the majority of the Vision 2020 Commission met together. The commission is a group of volunteers that is charged with forwarding the ideas of the Vision 2020 master plan. The commission is really a who’s who of Hamilton with volunteers from city departments like Planning Director Teri Whitmore to civic leaders like Miami University Hamilton Dean Daniel Hall and Hamilton Community Foundation President John Guidugli to community members like entrepreneur Bill Wilks or architect Mike Dingeldein.
Council took no action at the dinner on Wednesday, April 30. Though, they had to take role and motion to start the meeting and adjourn because they had quorum. The bulk of the meeting was to allow Vision Commission Chairwoman Nancy Wiley to discuss its progress.
“This is all very informal,” she said.
The strength of Vision 2020, the longterm plan the commission works to implement, is that it was done in house by locals and doesn’t set unachievable goals, Wiley said.
“It’s done by people who (will) have to do it.
Wiley said the biggest accomplishment of the commission was the establishment of a rowing club on the Great Miami River. Though, she lauded other accomplishment such as Fitton After Five and the group’s involvement with IceFest.
Upcoming inititatives include having murals painted on buildings downtown and the establishment of an arts district.
The Vision Commission meets next at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, May 8, in the basement of Fort Hamilton Hospital.
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