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Weekly Update to City Council
from the City Manager
July 26, 2010
Estimated Excess of $3 Million Economic Impact From Hot Air Balloon Event
Thanks to the volunteers of the MidFirst Ohio Challenge for another successful event! Their
estimated attendance was nearly 60,000. Due to extreme temperatures and high humidity, the
total attendance was down from the estimated 2009 figures of 67,000 people.
42% of guests were from the immediate area
12% came from other states
17% drove more than an hour to get to the festival
25% of guests get their information about the event from the Internet
16% get their info from the newspaper
The organizers estimate, using a conservative multiplier effect, that the Middletown area
experienced a $3.8 million economic impact – including not only what guests spend on site, but
gasoline, restaurants, hotels, retail purchases, taxes paid, cost to put on the event and supplies
vendors purchased for booths. The 9th annual MidFirst Ohio Challenge hot air balloon festival
will be July 15-16-17, 2011.
City Department Mid-Year Goal Review
We are in the process of reviewing departmental goals for the year: checking off
accomplishments, adjusting goals, establishing new ones. Once complete, the goals will be
provided to City Council.
Sutphin Street Update
Slip form curb and gutter work is complete on the project. Hand form concrete and then
subgrade preparation will take place this week. Paving will begin next week, 8/2 (may not start
on that Monday necessarily) and will continue through 8/14. The road will be opened around
the 14th when the paving is complete. Striping, miscellaneous restoration and cleanup items
will be finished up 8/15 through 8/28 while traffic is maintained. All dates are tentative
weather permitting.
University Boulevard
The water main installation is complete. The contractor is scheduled to pave area where
asphalt was damaged on Wednesday (7/28). Traffic crossover will be removed the following
day opening all lanes. Mill and fill operation to begin 8/15 through 8/28. Striping,
miscellaneous restoration and cleanup items will be finished up 8/29 through 9/11. All dates
are tentative weather permitting.
Community Building Institute – Main Street Meeting
A reminder that the CBI meeting to kick-off/re-start the Main Street project will be held on
Tuesday, July 27, 5:30 p.m. at the Manchester. This is an exciting effort as we continue to
explore ways in which we can reinvigorate our downtown area. The Main Street program is a
great model for us to follow. With Miami U at the helm, in partnership with the city and other
groups, we believe that this has a great chance for success.
Commercial Property Maintenance Enforcement
We continue to enforce property maintenance standards on commercial properties (and
residential) around town. We believe this is an important aspect of improving our community
appearance as we attempt to attract new businesses and residents.
Cities Examining New Ways, And Some Old Ones, To Raise Money
The New York Times (7/26, A14, Davey) reports that the Nebraska community of Beatrice is
homesteading again – just as it did in 1862. While the goal then was to encourage Western
settlement, the city's "Homestead Act of 2010" is designed to "replenish city coffers." The
Times adds, "The calculus is simple, if counterintuitive: hand out city land now to ensure
property tax revenues in the future." The city is filled with unused lots, and, as city attorney
Tobias J. Tempelmeyer notes, "It really hurts having all this stuff off the tax rolls." The Times
points out that "around the nation, cities and towns facing grim budget circumstances are
grasping at unlikely...means to bolster their shrunken tax bases." The Times examines plans
across the nation, which include ideas such as taxing nonprofits and annexing neighborhoods. It
adds that the need for funds is acute, because "analysts say that this year and next, city budgets
will reach their most dismal points of the recession, largely because of lag time inherent in the
way taxes are collected and distributed."
In a related story, the New York Times (7/26, A18, Applebome) examines the role of
legalized gambling revenue on state budgets... "at least 25 states have contemplated expanding
gambling over the past year."
Upcoming Events
July 6- Aug 15 MAC 143rd American Watercolor Society Exhibition” July 6- August 15, 2010.
July 26 Town Hall meeting with Josh Laubach @ Vice Mayor Anita Scott Jones’ residence
located @ 4806 Central Avenue 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
July 28 Broadstreet Bash @ Governors Square 5:00 p.m. Band 6:00 p.m. (After Midnight)
July 31 Middfest International Zoofari- Summer Party at the Zoo 5:00- 8:30 p.m.
August 2 Park Board meeting Conference Room 2C (City Bldg.) 5:30 p.m.
August 3 City Council meeting Council Chambers (LL) 5:30 p.m.
August 3 National Night Out Jacot Park 6:00- 8:00 p.m.
August 3 Board of Education 1515 Girard Street 6:30 p.m.
August 5 Civil Service meeting @ City Building Conference Room 2B 8:00 a.m.
August 5 Chamber Monthly Business Luncheon Middletown Area Senior Center –
3907 Central Avenue, Middletown 11:45 am - 1:15 pm
August 6 First Friday Noon Concert Series Santuary @First United Methodist
12:00 – 1:00p.m.
August 6-8 Giant Radio- Controlled Air Show Airport 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. daily
August 7-8 Senior Pickleball Tournament Lefferson Park All day
August 9 Special Board of Education meeting 1515 Girard Street 6:30 p.m.
August 10 Board of Health Conference Room 2C (City building) 7:30 a.m.
August 11 Primary Health Solutions groundbreaking S. Verity Parkway
(behind present location @ 930 9th. 11:00 a.m.
August 13-14 Radio-Controlled Aircraft Show Airport 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. daily
August 14 Main Street Art & Musical festival 2:00 – 11:00 p.m.
August 17 MPHA meeting Council Chambers (LL) 5:30 p.m.
August 17 City Council meeting Council Chambers (LL) 6:30 p.m.
Links for additional information:
City Manager’s Weekly Update: www.cityofmiddletown.org
Middletown Community Calendar: http://www.calendarwiz.com/middletowncalendar (copy
and paste in your web browser)
Pothole Patrol: www.cityofmiddletown.org or call 727-3691 (Option 2)
Have a great week! Judy
