Middletown City Manager's Weekly Briefing - November 14, 2011
By Judith Gilleland, Middletown City Manager
Council News
City staff wishes to welcome Ann Mort and Joe Mulligan to the Middletown City Council. In the next few weeks, at your convenience, we will schedule an orientation.
Congratulations to Mayor Mulligan and Anita Scott Jones on their successful re-election campaigns.
We also thank Bill Becker and Tom Allen for their service to the city; they will be missed in our organization!
Betsy is working on scheduling an evening for swearing in new council members and recognizing outgoing council members.
Winterization of Manchester Inn and First National Bank Buildings
Winterization/mothballing work is proceeding on the Manchester Inn, Sonshine Building and the First National Bank building. As work is completed within the next week, the heat and water will be permanently shut off in all affected buildings until a final use is determined. This process will allow us to save several thousand dollars each month in utility bills.
Middletown Police –Lincoln Center Building
The Lincoln Center on Central Avenue has been the source of several thefts recently. Thieves have been stealing scrap and copper out of the vacant building. Detectives installed a VARDA alarm and motion detector camera at the Lincoln Center, as well as performed surveillance on the building. Information and pictures from the motion camera lead officers to Mike Howard and Joseph Sims. Detectives were alerted by the VARDA alarm that someone was in the building on Sunday, November 6th. Officers responded and upon arriving noticed Simms running from the Lincoln Center and he was apprehended after a foot chase near Superior Ave. Warrants have been issued for Mike Howard as well. Scrap and copper theft have been a huge problem in Middletown and this arrest takes several of our thieves off the street. Nice job!
2011 Employee Development Academy Induction
Another successful class of supervisory employees has been inducted into the City’s Employee Development Academy. Over the last eight months, the 11 class participants completed interactive training modules to further their understanding of leadership, communication, listening, team-building and policy. This training was designed specifically to provide an insight into those issues that were important to the city organization. By conducting this training in-house, we were able to train a number of people at a very economical cost. Thanks to Les Landen and Marie Edwards for their time in leading and organizing the EDA.
Congratulations to the 2011 Employee Development Academy inductees for all of their hard work and dedication to the program. The City is proud and fortunate to have these leaders as a part of the organization. 2011 Employee Development Academy inductees from left to right: Bill Orsborne, Matt Romero, Sandy Mueller, Scott Tadych, Denise Hamet, Ed Sensel, Duane Retherford, Greg Parsons, Donna Beauregard, Shelley Meehan and Jennifer Minor.
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan Town Hall Meeting
Staff attended a Town Hall forum this week featuring Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. The event drew attendance from a variety of school districts and colleges including Cincinnati State. The Secretary addressed many concerns, drawing on his background with the Chicago Schools to talk about issues and opportunities for urban districts. A positive take-away from the discussion was that so many of the topics covered are being proactively and creatively handled by the Middletown School District. Secretary Duncan talked about the importance of creating a vision of achievement. The MCS are establishing objectives and strategies at each grade level to help create the vision, including engaging the community through the new Employer Partnering project. Another question was about college affordability. This question highlights the advantages Middletown offers by having a local Miami campus and also the pending Cincinnati State campus. Lastly, the Secretary made a significant effort to highlight that one size does not fit all, and that having a choice of a technical education is an important complement to a traditional four year education.
Middletown Fire Division Awarded Middletown Community Foundation Grant
The Middletown Community Foundation has awarded a grant to the Middletown Division of Fire (MDF) for the lease and maintenance of air monitors to be used by fire personnel. The grant, issued in four (4) annual payments, will cover approximately eighty percent (80%) of the lease agreement and allow for the complete update of MDF’s air monitors and provide for real-time maintenance. These monitors are used to identify potential hazardous situations such as carbon monoxide investigations and potential natural gas leaks. Firefighter Gary Myers researched several manufactures to find the best solution for the division and Captain Jeff Spaulding managed the grant application; thank you and congratulations to both. THANK YOU to the Community Foundation for their ongoing generosity.
Aeronca Project
A No-Further-Action letter was submitted to Ohio EPA in August regarding the Aeronca Project. The Brownfield project, which started in 2006, consisted of facility demolition and soil and groundwater remediation. Once all the environmental data is reviewed and any questions answered, a maintenance program will be implemented for ongoing monitoring. Final approval by Ohio EPA will allow for the redevelopment of the 18-acre property.
Airport Commission
The City of Middletown’s Airport Commission meets the first Wednesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. in the airport’s FBO hanger on Hook Drive. This is a public meeting open to any citizen interested in airport operations. If you are interested in attending, you may call 513-425-7906 and speak with Ms. Sylvia Maynard who can give additional information
Light Up Middletown
Light Up Middletown is the drive through fantasy light display open from the day after Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve, 6-10 p.m. nightly. Santa and Mrs. Claus are available every Friday and Saturday ‘til Christmas 7-9 p.m. Photos with Santa are available. Light Up Middletown is located in Smith Park, 500 Tytus Avenue with admission by donation. For information all 513.423.18777 or www.LightUpMiddletown.org.
Upcoming Events
Nov 15 City Council meeting Council Chambers (LL) 5:30 p.m.
Nov 16 Cemetery Board meeting City Bldg. Conference Room 2C 5:00 p.m.
Nov 17 Chamber Ribbon Cutting Salon Nouveau 2201 Central Avenue - Open House 4- 8 p.m.
Ribbon cutting 4:15 p.m.
Nov 18 Butler County National Philanthropy Day Luncheon, Pendleton Art Center
Jim Wainscott keynote speaker, NOON
Nov 24 Happy Thanksgiving!
Nov 25 City Bldg. Closed- In Observance of Holiday
Nov 25 Light Up Middletown 500 Tytus Avenue Smith Park 6:00- 10:00 p.m.
Nov 26 2011 Home for the Holidays Santa Parade Downtown 4:00 p.m.
Nov 29 Special City Council meeting, cont. from 11-15-11 Council Chambers (LL) 5:30 p.m.
Nov 30 Chamber Ribbon Cutting - Open House 4:00 - 6:00 pm
LifeSpan - 1002 N. University Blvd., Middletown Ribbon cutting at 4:30 pm
Dec 4 Southwestern Ohio Symphonic Band, Middletown High School, 2:30 p.m.
Dec 4 Highlands Historic District Home Holiday Tour 4:00-8:00 p.m.
