The Miami Township Board of Trustees met in regular session on Tuesday, July 17, 2001 at 8:00 PM. Chairperson Edwin H. Humphrey called the meeting to order. The Pledge of Allegiance was given. Joseph W. Uecker gave the invocation. Miami Township Clerk, Eric C. Ferry called the role. Attending the meeting were Edwin H. Humphrey, Joseph W. Uecker and Mary Makley Wolff. Mr. Uecker made a motion to approve the June 19th regular Trustee meeting minutes, the June 20th Public Hearing minutes, the July 10th Public Hearing minutes and the July 16th Public Hearing minutes. Mrs. Wolff seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all voted "AYE."
Mr. Uecker made a motion to adopt a Proclamation declaring CIMx Small Business of the Year 2001. Mrs. Wolff seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all voted "Aye."
Each Department Head presented the June activity reports.
Mr. Ferry read a notice from the Ohio Division of Liquor Control. The Township has no objection to the issuance of a liquor license for Carpe Diem, Inc. dba Donatos Pizza at 1097 SR 28 in Miami Township.
Mr. Ferry read a letter from the officer of Clermont County Engineer, Carl Hartman to Mr. Dino Jennings of Zicka Homes. The letter addressed concerns that Cedar Drive is being used for construction traffic. Mr. Hartman encouraged Mr. Jennings to include an early connection to Hanna Avenue in the future development phase.
Mr. Ferry read a letter from Mackie Price thanking the Trustees for removing the hillside at the curve in front of Arrowhead Apartments.
Mr. Ferry read a letter from Edward D'Errico expressing concern over speeding in excess of the posted 25-MPH limit on Deblin Drive.
Mr. Ferry opened bids received for an Aerial Truck. Vogelpohl Fire Equipment $ 709,894.00 General Safety Equipment $ 655,910.00 Luverne Fire Apparatus $ 681,028.00 Pierce Mfg. $ 757,645.00 Sutphen Corporation $ 803,947.00 Sutphen Corporation (Stock Unit) $ 696,557.00 KME $ 685,139.00 Mr. Uecker made a motion to accept the bids into the record and turn them over to the Fire Chief for review and recommendation. Mrs. Wolff seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all vote "AYE."
Miami Township Administrator, David Duckworth presented the Board with a resolution to amend the Property Maintenance Code of Miami Township, section PM 303.7 and section PM-202.0 Definitions of an Inoperable Vehicle. Mr. Uecker made a motion to adopt RESOLUTION 2001-31 amending the Miami Township, Clermont County, Ohio Property Maintenance Code. Mrs. Wolff seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all voted "AYE." Second reading to be at the next regular Trustee meeting.
Mr. Ferry opened bids received for Restrooms and Shelters projects at Miami Meadows Park with options for Miami Riverview Park. J.B. Schmid Company Miami Meadows Park $217,000.00 Miami Riverview Park $189,500.00 Alternate Roof $ 8.200.00 $414,700.00
Whalen Inc. Miami Meadows Park $223,800.00 Miami Riverview Park $196,300.00 $420,100.00 Alternate Roof $ 8,700.00
John Donohoo & Assoc Miami Meadows Park $176,404.00 Miami Riverview Park $157,635.00 Alternate Roof $ 5,200.00 $386,039.00 Mr. Uecker made a motion to accept the bids into the record and turn them over to the Service Director for review and recommendation. Mrs. Wolff seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all voted "AYE."
Mr. Uecker made a motion to authorize the Township Administrator to enter into a contract with Netdesign Consulting, LLC on behalf of the Board. Mrs. Wolff seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all voted "AYE."
Mrs. Wolff made a motion to pay the bills of the Township including 221 checks numbered 75247 to 75469 for a total amount of $397,289.74 plus payroll and payroll taxes for June 29th and July 13th, 2001 in the amount of $416,865.01. Mr. Uecker seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all voted "AYE."
Mr. Ferry presented the June Financial Statement to the Board for review.
Mr. Duckworth requested the Board grant a final offer of employment to Dene Riggenbach as Full-Time Fire Fighter/Paramedic. Mrs. Wolff made a motion to extend a final offer of employment to Dene Riggenbach as a Full-Time Fire Fighter/Paramedic effective July 23, 2001, at an hourly rate of $12.85. Mr. Uecker seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all voted "AYE."
Mr. Duckworth requested the Board grant conditional employment to Jason Hager for the position of Part-Time Fire Fighter/Paramedic, and to Adam Carrol and Joe Woeber for the position of Seasonal Maintenance Worker. Mrs. Wolff made a motion to offer conditional offers of employment to Jason Hager as a Part-Time Fire Fighter/Paramedic, Adam Carrol and Joe Woeber for the position of Seasonal Maintenance Workers. Mr. Uecker seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all voted "AYE."
Mrs. Wolff made a motion to adopt RESOLUTION 2002-34 authorizing the abatement, control or removal of vegetation, garbage, refuse or debris dispensing with the second reading and declaring an emergency. The properties are located at 5821 Meadow View Drive, 5717 Tall Oaks Drive, 5710 Tall Oaks Drive and 5842 Buckwheat Road. Mr. Uecker seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all voted "AYE."
Mrs. Wolff made a motion to adopt RESOLUTION 2001-33 authorizing the Miami Township Police Department to apply for a grant through the DARE Grants Program and authorize the Township Administrator to enter into agreement with the Ohio Attorney General's Office, dispensing with the second reading. Mr. Uecker seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all voted "AYE."
Service Director, Walt Fischer presented his recommendation of roads to be resurfaced in the 2001 Program. Mr. Uecker made a motion to approve the listing of roads for resurfacing in the 2001 Program. Mrs. Wolff seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all voted "AYE."
Mrs. Wolff made a motion to approve the formation of the State Route 28 Town Center Redevelopment Study Team as proposed by Larry Fronk. Mr. Uecker seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all voted "AYE."
Mr. Humphrey advised the Public Hearing of the 2002 Budget will be held during the Special Meeting of the Board on August 2, 2001 at 6:30 PM.
Melanie Schefft of 6567 East Knollwood Circle reiterated her desire to prohibit semi-tractor trailers from parking in her subdivision. She thanked the Board and Mr. Fronk for the amendment to the property maintenance code and clarification of an abandoned vehicle. Kathy Wade of 6569 East Knollwood Circle commented the property maintenance code amendment did not address her concerns about child safety and lower property values. Paul Johnson of 1436 Wade Road stated he disagreed with the changes to the property maintenance code. He asked what if a car breaks down and the owner doesn't have the money to repair it for several weeks or even months. He asked how long before it is declared junk. Mr. Fronk stated you are allowed to have one inoperable vehicle on your property. Mark Lewis of 5826 Wade Road stated he was against the property maintenance code change. He stated he felt the Board is now limiting the amount of cars he could own and restore on his property. John Koutros of 5673 Cypress Way stated he restores cars as a hobby and he's against the amendment to the property maintenance code. Ron Leinberger of 5711 East Tall Oaks Drive stated he is a truck driver and he restores old cars. He stated he is against the amendment to the property maintenance code. Gary McWhorter of 6571 East Knollwood Circle stated his property is the one that has led to this amendment because he has vehicles and a semi-tractor cab in his driveway. He stated he felt the Board was taking one side in this case without hearing the opposition to the changes. Mr. McWhorter stated he felt this was a small group of people with a vengeance against him and the changes will affect the entire Township. Angela Maccani of 341 Miami Valley Drive stated she is currently experiencing a similar problem with zoning violations in her neighborhood. She stated she felt the residents of the Township would like to know the procedures, step by step, for complaints of zoning violations.
Break in Public Comments
Lewis White of 6005 Grist Mill Court presented his Eagle Project. He proposes to build a new horseshoe pit at Miami Township Community Park and repair the existing horseshoe pit. The cost to the Township will be the sand. Mr. Lewis will build both to national standards. The Trustees applauded the project and Mr. White.
Return to Public Comments
Chris Bolton of 5 Maplecrest Drive asked that since racecars are not a licensed vehicle where do they fall in the classification? Some neighborhoods do exempt racecars as "hobby vehicles". He stated he is involved in the trucking industry and hopes to be able to attend future meetings regarding parking of semi's in Miami Township neighborhoods. Larry Johnston of 5657 Bee Lane stated he is concerned about the property maintenance code changes. He owns a recreation vehicle and his son, who is a truck driver, occasionally parks his truck in the driveway on weekends.
Mr. Humphrey advised the public that a letter was distributed to many residents implying changes have been made to the property maintenance code. This is incorrect. Tonight was the first public reading of the proposed changes. The second reading will be August 7th. If the changes are approved at that meeting,, they will go into effect in 30 days.
A female (not identified) stated the literature she distributed was factual. A male (not identified) stated he hoped the Board would consider the working class when considering this proposed change to the property maintenance code. A male (not identified) stated he couldn't understand why it is necessary to write a new law because a citizen or group of citizens in the Township wants a change. A female (not identified) stated she felt this problem in her neighborhood has been going on for 15 years and it's time to settle the problem once and for all.
Mrs. Wolff stated it was time to move on.
Mrs. McWhorter states the comments need to be limited to the issues and not personal attacks. The Board concurred.
With no other business to come before the Board, Chairperson Humphrey adjourned the meeting at 11:30PM after a 45-minute delay due to a lack of power.
ATTEST: ___________________________________________________________________ Eric C. Ferry, Clerk
__________________________________________________________________ Edwin H. Humphrey, Chairperson