| Middletown City Managers Weelkly Update To Council April 12, 2009 |
| Friday, April 17, 2009 2:29:40 PM - Middletown Ohio |
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Weekly Update to City Council
from the City Manager
April 12, 2009
Tax Revenue
Good news on property tax: we estimated a 5% decrease in property tax revenues for 2009, and our first half revenues represented only a 1.5% decrease. In dollars, we estimated a $122,500 reduction in 1st half property tax revenues; the decrease was only $28, 525.
Not so good news on income tax: as of April 8, we are $318,000 under the 2008 revenues. This figure is better than reported last week, but still way below where we need to be.
Section 8 Update
We met on Wed. April 8 with CONSOC again and worked together to tighten up some language in the contact. I emailed a draft of the contract to Mayor and Council on Thursday for input. We plan on having the first reading of the contract next Tuesday. Though we have not yet reached agreement on the fee for CONSOC, we are within a couple of percentage points. I hope to have everything complete by Tuesday April 14.
Softball Update
Thanks to our former Parks and Recreation Director, Ralph Conner, who is assisting staff with mediating between the SDS and the MYSA groups for the use of Lefferson Field. Ralph was designated by the Park Board to serve in this role. He has meetings scheduled this week; we hope to bring this issue to a peaceful conclusion that will be a win-win for both groups. We are fortunate to have such great youth sport groups providing quality recreational opportunities for the youth of our city.
Business Retention Visits – a partnership with Volunteers and City staff
The Business Retention Committee continues the formalized visitation program. The committee is scheduling 6 visits during the month of April. The committee is composed of eleven volunteers and Denise Hamet, Economic Development Program Manager. The volunteers are experienced business owners who are engaged to help identify issues and to help determine how the City of Middletown can help businesses succeed.
Police Win Basketball Charity Event
The Middletown Division of Police Basketball team played in a tournament at Madison High School on April 3rd. The tournament was a charity event to raise money for the Madison Boys Varsity Basketball team. The fundraiser also included teams from the Butler County Sheriff’s Office, Madison Twp Fire Dept and the Middletown Fire Department. It was an exciting night as many of our employees came out to watch the game and support the team. The team was presented with a traveling plaque. The team consists of Malcolm Tipton, Earl Nelson, Sam Allen, Phil Salm, Jon Rawlins, Justin Camper, Paris Johnson, Jason Deaton and Dennis Jordan and coach Lt. Muterspaw.
Police Officer of the Month
Chief Greg Schwarber has announced the Officer of the month for March 2009 is Officer Terry Ballinger. This is a peer recognition initiative designed to bring attention to excellent work our Officers are performing. There were 5 officers nominated for the month of March. Ballinger was nominated and selected on the basis of an incident that happened 02-27-09.
On 02-27-09, at approximately 0327 hours, Officer Ballinger responded to a house fire at 1304 Girard St. There were visible flames in the northwest 2nd story of the house. Officer Ballinger assisted getting an elderly wheelchair bound female from 2nd floor of the house. The female suffered severe burns to the lower portion of her body. Officer Ballinger then heard what he believed was a cry for help coming the 2nd floor of the residence. Without hesitation, Officer Ballinger went upstairs into the fire and smoke to attempt to rescue the subject. Officer Ballinger, at one point, was crawling on his stomach looking into rooms attempting to locate the individual. Officer Ballinger eventually was driven back by the smoke and fire and had to retreat. The rescue effort was turned over to responding firefighters who immediately went in looking for any trapped subjects. The subject from the 2nd floor was able to retreat down a backstairs attached to the residence. All subjects got out of the residence safely. Officer Ballinger showed great courage and determination by placing himself in harms way to save another citizens life. Officer Ballinger said he was just doing to his job. Officer Ballinger displayed great valor in his actions this night.
Officer Ballinger has been with the Middletown Division of Police for almost 2 years. He enjoys camping and spending time with his family.
From the Int’l City Management Newsletter:
U.S. Cities receive negative Credit Outlook
The New York Times reports "Moody's Investors Service assigned a negative outlook to the creditworthiness of all local governments in the United States," in "the first time it had ever issued such a blanket report on municipalities." Thankfully Middletown has already issued the bonds for the I-75 project and got ahead of the curve.
Moving Middletown Forward Committee
There has been some confusion about our Community Improvement Corporation: “Middletown Moving Forward”, which is a city-sponsored organization formed to provide economic development opportunities and another organization whose name is similar, but has nothing to do with the city. The other organization is using the name of “Moving Middletown Forward” and seems to be promoting political candidates. Obviously, the city organization is not related to the other organization.
Upcoming Events
April 14 - Board of Health Meeting, 7:30 a.m., Conference Room 2C
April 15 - Health and Safety Fair, 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Middletown Community Center, 800 Lafayette Ave.
April 16 - Tree Commission meeting, Noon, Miami University Middletown, Levey Hall Room 108
April 16 - Metallurgical Solutions, Inc., Ribbon Cutting, 5:00 p.m., 2205 Woodside Blvd.
April 18 - Great American Cleanup – 9:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m. at Jacot Park
April 21 - City Council Meeting, 5:30 p.m., Council Chambers
April 22 - Earth Day – Volunteers will be working from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. in Sunset Park. 10:00 a.m. - Tree planting and Earth Day Ceremony – 20-25 Duke Energy employees will be there for the ceremony and tree planting (16 big trees).
April 24 - Arbor Day – Noon, Sunset Park. Planting of a small tree at the Pool’s Walk-In Entrance
April 25 - Middletown NAACP Freedom fund Banquet, 5:30 (social), 6:00 p.m. (dinner), Tried Stone Baptist Church Banquet Facility, 621 Lafayette Ave. Tickets are $35 and can obtained by calling 513-571-8560 or 513-464-0420
May 1 - Aldi’s Ribbon-cutting (11:00 a.m.) and Open House Event (11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., 3536 S. Dixie Highway
Links for additional information:
City Manager’s Weekly Update: www.cityofmiddletown.org
Middletown Community Calendar: http://www.calendarwiz.com/middletowncalendar
Pothole Patrol: www.cityofmiddletown.org or call 727-3691 (Option 2)
Have a great week! Judy
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