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Weekly Update to City Council
from the City Manager
September 13, 2010
Fire Station Master Plan
Division of Fire has completed a Facilities Master Plan with assistance from Michael Schuster
and Associates. The process included a review of each facility, analysis of map and run data
(recent, current and projected trends) resulting in recommendations to address short and longterm
service needs. The outcome of this project is expected to lend assistance in multiple areas:
immediately improving competitiveness for grant award for fire station renovation and/or
construction, establish cost-effective construction improvement plan for fire division facilities,
and create a strategy to provide services to current areas while preparing for the future. We
will be presenting the draft of the plan to Council at the next meeting.
Discuss in MUSA Forum
Departmental Mid Year Highlights
2010 has been a busy year with quite a few successes as reflected in my mid year meetings with
department heads. Attached is my power point presentation from the September 7 City
Council meeting.
Historic Ordinance
We have done some research on this topic and no one in the organization has any records of
anyone being fined or prosecuted for issues involving the historic ordinance in the approximate
30 years of its existence. Our intention in the future is to continue to work with citizens and
homeowners rather than to take enforcement action.
Discuss in the MUSA Forum
2009 State Audit Results
We have received the certified results of the 2009 Audit and once again received high marks
with a few suggestions for improvement. The Citizen Audit Committee is meeting at 4 p.m.
Thursday with the audit firm to review the results. Bill Becker is the Council representative to
the Audit Committee. If any other member of Council would like to attend, please feel free to
do so.
Discuss in the MUSA Forum
Nuisance Abatement
We have been very busy capturing our nuisance abatement (weeds, grass, litter) costs and
forwarding them on in liens against the property. Total assessed through 9-3-10 is in excess of
$344,000 with four months remaining in 2010. We assess at 2.5 times the actual cost. The
break down by county is as follows:
Butler
Noxious Weeds – 1594 complaints for 484 parcels totaling $309,222
Litter – 73 complaints for 69 parcels totaling $26,839
Warren
Noxious Weeds – 31 complaints for 28 parcels totaling $7955
Litter – 1 complaint totaling $335
Complaints Resolved Voluntarily = 923
Complaints Resolved Contractually = 1,774 (weeds, grass, trash, etc)
# Commercial Complaints – 387
# Residential Complaints – 2,481
Discuss in the MUSA Forum
Bus Wash Facility
The question came up at Council meeting regarding the current bus wash facility – since we
were deleting the new project due to the bids coming in $200,000 over the architect’s estimate.
We do have a bus wash facility that is at least 30 years old, no longer in use by Transit. With
the advent of larger passenger buses and the inability to procure replacement parts, the facility
was no longer useful to the Transit Dept. They transferred ownership to the Public Works
garage, which maintains and handles improvements to the facility. The building is used by
streets and parks to wash their vehicles. The new project that was deleted, planned for a larger
facility to enable the transit system to wash the under carriage of their vehicles, as well as Fire,
Police and Public Works.
Emerald Ash Borer
Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) was recently discovered in Jacot Park. It was discovered in two ash
trees and is suspected in a third. This is the first confirmed observation on City owned property.
EAB was previously identified on private property in Middletown during 2009. Butler County
was quarantined by the Ohio Department of Agriculture in 2007 when EAB was found in
Monroe. Ohio currently has infestations in 53 of Ohio’s 88 Counties. We are working on a plan
to monitor and remove the trees as budgets allow. We also have a great volunteer Tree
Commission which assists with these endeavors.
Further info on the EAB: Emerald Ash Borer is an exotic, invasive, beetle from Asia which is
killing our ash trees. It was first discovered in Michigan in 2002 and Ohio in 2003. EAB has since
spread to Indiana, Illinois, Maryland Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Missouri, Virginia,
Minnesota, New York, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ontario and Quebec Canada.
Middletown homeowners are responsible for removal of infested trees on their property,
including the tree lawn between curb and sidewalk. Once ash trees are infested they typically
die within 2 - 4 years. After an ash tree begins to decline it is important to have it removed to
limit potential hazardous risk. Ash trees become brittle as they die, causing large branches to
break off or entire trees to topple over. Most tree removal companies will charge substantially
more to remove a diseased or dead ash tree.
Indications that a tree is infested with EAB include:
• Branch dieback at the top of the tree
• Vertical splits in the bark
• Sprouting on the trunk and at the base of the tree
• Scratched bark from woodpeckers feeding on the larvae
• Distinct 1/8 inch, D-shaped exit holes in the bark
• S-shaped, sawdust-packed galleries under the bark
EAB is very difficult to detect until a tree has been infested for at least a year because the larvae
usually feed from the top of the tree first. If you think you have a tree with EAB see one of the
web sites below for further information.
If you are having a tree removed please remember to get at least two bids from reputable tree
companies. Ask for references, a copy of insurance and bonding and get in writing a contract
stating exactly what work is to be completed, i.e. remove all wood and debris, grind the stump,
etc. Beware of scams such as people knocking on your door asking to remove or treat a tree.
These people are typically nonprofessional and noninsured. Do not pay until you are satisfied
that all work is complete. Homeowners should also be aware that it is illegal to move ash wood
out of Ohio or to a non-quarantined county within Ohio.
For more information about EAB including identification, treatment options and ash tree
replacements please visit:
www.ashalert.osu.edu
www.ohioagriculture.gov/eab
www.emeraldashborer.info
Upcoming Events
September 13 Park Board meeting Conference Room 2C 5:30 p.m.
September 15 Tree Commission meeting Rathman Building, Smith Park 5:30 p.m.
September 18 Prescription Take Back- Holy Trinity 201 Clark St. 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
September 21 MPHA meeting Council Chambers (LL) 5:30 p.m.
September 21 City Council meeting Council Chambers (LL) 6:30 p.m.
September 22 Citizens Advisory Board meeting MUM Community Center, Room 142 5:30 p.m.
September 30 Civil Service Commission City Building 2B 8:00 a.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
