City Manager's Weekly Briefing - May 7, 2012

By Judy Gilleland

Pilot Chemical Announces Expansion Project
Friday April 27th, Pilot Chemical Company's Board of Directors voted to proceed with Pilot's expansion project in the City of Middletown. This is great news for Middletown as we move forward in the revitalization process. Thanks to Duke and the State of Ohio for their assistance in retaining this valuable company in Middletown and allowing for an expansion.

Community Center completes Tax Preparation Assistance
This tax season the Community Center, through its partners, completed 188 tax returns for Middletown residents, which is an increase of 13 returns over last year. The 188 returns generated $214,116 in tax refund dollars to the Middletown community. Also of note is the 3.49% rejection rate which speaks to the quality of work at this site. The IRS sets an acceptable rejection standard of 10%. The returns prepared by the Center are well below the expected rejection rate, which demonstrates outstanding attention to quality! The City and the Community Center thank our partners and volunteers who provide this vital service to our residents.

Property Maintenance
We are beginning to meet individually with problem landlords and/or owners of problem rental properties. By discussing issues such as garbage, litter, and rubbish, lawn maintenance and other property maintenance items with both the landlords and tenants, we hope to permanently improve certain problematic properties such as the rental units on Old Roosevelt.

Record Retention Changes
State House Bill 153 became effective on September 29, 2011. It included changes to Ohio Revised Code §149.381 which outlines the procedures for the disposal of public records. As a result, City departments will begin reviewing their Record Retention Schedules (Form RC-2) and making any necessary changes. Department record managers will be viewing a webinar presented by the Ohio Historical Society Local Government Records Program on May 9th to help with this process.

Middletown Police Division (MPD)
May 6th through May 12th is National Corrections Officer Week. President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation in 1984 designating the first full week in May as the time we honor and thank all those who work in this most challenging of fields. The Corrections Officers in Middletown are:

• Bonnie Booker
• Candi Stultz
• Preston Brewer
• Sheoki Bowlin
• Linda Vance
• April Lambert
• Danny Gibson
• Brandon Dean
• Tony Thompson

These are all hard-working City employees who exhibit sternness, tempered with compassion, on a daily basis as they deal with people who may be at the lowest point in their lives. Thanks to all of them for their hard work.

Middletown Division of Fire: (MDF)
Members of the Suncoke Community Advisory Panel (CAP) are Partnering with Suncoke employees to present the Choices program to Middletown City School 8th grade students. The Choices program is designed to educate students on how the choices they make now will affect them in the future. The State of Ohio has a high school graduation rate of 83% while Middletown has a graduation rate of 69%. Our goal is to keep the students in school and graduate. City of Middletown personnel participating in the program include Mayor Larry Mulligan, Health Commissioner Jackie Phillips and Deputy Fire Chief Brent Dominy. The presentations start May 1st and end the 10th of May.

Road Closure (part of road)
Yankee Rd. between Oxford St. Rd. and the Dick’s Creek Bridge (about a 1000 ft section) will be closed starting May 25th for 75 calendar days, weather permitting. The closure was included with the plans as originally bid and is necessary because we don’t have enough right-of-way through this section to maintain two-way traffic during construction. The contractor will be posting advanced notice signs onsite today or tomorrow. All property owners south of the bridge (including SunCoke, Martco, Pilot, Shepherd, Quaker, MADE Industrial Park, etc.) will have full access from Yankee Rd. to their properties during this time however they will not be able to travel north on Yankee Rd. to Oxford St. Rd.

Greentree Health Science Academy
Greentree Health Science Academy is up and running. The partners have completed their first school year and
there are several adjustments that have been requested that will need council’s approval. To make sure the
changes are ready for the next school year, we’ll be asking for emergency legislation in June.

Cincinnati State Middletown Community Relations Committee
Cincinnati State has also launched the Cincinnati State Community Relations Committee to introduce the school to
Middletown and is chaired by Nan Cahall, CS Director of Government & Community Affairs. The committee is
comprised of key members from the staff of CS as well as government, business, social and educational
representatives. Mayor Mulligan, Denise Hamet, Nadine Begley and I have been asked to serve on the committee
to represent the city.

The Bash is Back
Starting May 30th the Broad Street Bash will be back in Downtown Middletown. Once again Governors Square will
be alive with the sounds of the Classic Rock that made this country great. Check out www.longlivethebash.com for
more information. May 30th- The Rick House Band with Exploding Toads.

Upcoming Events
May 7 Park Board meeting City Bldg. Conference Room 2C 5:00 pm
May 8 Health Board City building Conference Room 2C 7:30 am
May 9 Planning Commission Council Chambers(LL) 6:30 pm
May 15 City Council meeting Council Chambers (LL) 5:30 pm
May 16 Cemetery Board meeting City Bldg. Conference Room 2C 5:00 pm
May 23 Cincinnati State Community Relations meeting Conference Room 4C 5:00 pm
May 28 Memorial Day Observance City Offices closed
May 30 Broad Street Bash Governor’s Square 5:30 – 9:30 pm