Two suspects have been charged with dumping a dead body discovered in a decomposed condition (suspected overdose). On the WCPO 9 NEWS I think the people who were responsible for dumping the body across the street from their home stated that they didn’t report the death because they feared the city would declare their property a nuisance (and possibly tear it down.)

A small downtown business was robbed two nights in a row. Both Lebanon and Mason have offered to welcome the business owner to their community … and he will likely be moving soon.

Channel 19 reported extreme cruelty to, and torture of cats (probably by children in the neighborhood according to witnesses).

It’s all probably due to the housing situation!!! Mr Adkins says that’s Middletown’s big problem.

According to Mr Adkins and Chief Mutterspaw, these same things happen everywhere all the time.

Let’s ask Mason or Lebanon how many dead bodies they found recently.

 Buddha,

Isn’t this forum and topic having to do with news, info and happenings? Did your comment here offer any of those? But there was a blatant (not even thinly veiled) accusation of slander which had absolutely no basis. Only the facts were presented with some admittedly uncomplimentary remarks. Remarks and opinions come under a constitutional right, freedom of expression (which is now being very heavily exercised in the national news).

The comments made in your post were concerned less with news and more with rhetoric coming from the usual opposing sides. There is an eagerness to express your opinion at a personal level. Among the rambling personal comments there is agreement with Adkins that housing is a major issue but there’s a failure to mention that Adkins can be quoted (right on his own blog) as being exasperated by people insisting that Middletown needs jobs, industry and business.

The balance of your comments are mere repetition of topics expressed on other forums on this blog.

Your last comment includes the idea that we must all be “of one mind and solution oriented.” What happens if that single mindedness is misdirected into narrow mindedness that promotes a misguided direction that fails to provide a solution but continues and compounds the problems? Isn’t that what’s been happening for years in Middletown? Focusing on the wrong things over and over gets us nowhere.

We do need people who will stand together against continuing the status quo. And we need people who will clean up our over blown rules of government and get back to basics, then present some realistic solutions for our poor condition.

 Buddha,

Again, you are in the wrong forum and topic … but here you are … so

Reference to your claimed personal encounters with “the top” (as you describe Mr Adkins) looks suspiciously like a ploy to defend his failed policies.

Contrary to your opinion, Mr Adkins and council actually do have all the power and control over all the issues. That’s the problem! Their focus on housing (a non-issue) calls attention away from the fact that they are ignoring all the real problems, most of which they, themselves, have created. Specifically, what has Mr Adkins done during his tenure as Director of Revitalization or City Manager to improve Middletown? The exact opposite comes to mind as follows: Failure of PAC, Cincinnati State etc., to revitalize downtown; Failure to maintain infrastructure; Losing our best amenities – Weatherwax Golf Course, Sebald Park etc.; Losing value of and revenue from major real estate give aways or $1 sales to favored insiders … ad nauseum. And the current administration seems to care less about our protests and is hoping that we will tire of repeating the same old criticism of the same old mistakes.

Admission of failure is a bitter pill. It’s not an easy thing to do. But learning from your mistakes is much better than continuing to make the same mistakes over and over. The current administration’s denial of our condition is another major fault.

Spider and VietVet, … you have hit the nail on the head with your comment! Sadly, those of us who share your views have failed to effect any changes through the ballot box. Few potential candidates are thick skinned enough to withstand being attacked by the powers that be. The few who have succeeded in being elected to council were publicly, unmercifully and unjustly criticized into submission and finally quit their council seat in the next election. Hope for change in the current administration is very thin. We should be organizing to file recall petitions and also present new candidates for the next election. If we don’t start NOW the next election will have the same old results.

Agreed Buddha … Mr Adkins has not revealed the contents or goal of his five year plan. We are almost three years into this unknown plan wih NO POSITIVE RESULTS. Dougie can leave Middletown high, dry and bankrupt to pursue greener pastures and use his “experience” as City Manager on his resume.  

Candice Keller, our Ohio State Representative from Middletown, made The Journal’s front page news!

Her salient comments show an ability to use common sense in a knee jerk world of political correctness.

There is some new “buzz” about solar energy. Lots of technical advancement/improvements are being made. Government grant money is still available for solar energy installation.

Some old news:

Did you know that the city of Middletown received grant money for construction of a new solar energy powered city garage years ago? The state of the art system was installed but was never used – never even tried out!!! Excuse: Maybe no one in the city knew how to use it! What a farce!! Isn’t that committing fraud on the Federal Government? – accepting grant money and then not following through with the intended purpose of the funding? Middletown could have been on the cutting edge – an example of a forward looking, savvy city.

In addition to that, the entire system has disappeared!!! That’s a lot of expensive equipment! Did Council authorize its removal? Was it trashed? Or did it “go somewhere”? Somebody must know. Removal of that size system could not go unnoticed. If it did go unnoticed that certainly demonstrates some fancy behind the scenes shenanigan.

 The Journal News has published on Saturday August 26, 2017 in the legal notices that $201,359 of CDBG FUNDS have been requested by Butler County to be released to Middletown for DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE.

This could be cause for celebration but only if the funds are actually used for their intended purpose and for people who need the assistance. The citizens have no way of knowing to whom those funds go or for what and how many properties. Maybe the city should be publishing in the Journal News legal notices exactly where and how government grants and funds are spent.

The Journal News has published in the Sunday August 27, 2017 notice of two public hearings by the City of Middletown Planning Commission, concerning the property at I-75 and route 122 and Union Road.  A zoning change from Business Center Hub to Business Center Office is being considered on behalf of Kettering Health Network. This does not appear to be a major zoning change ...  the difference between Hub and Office. Must be another trivial bureaucratic hoop; just one more way Middletown discourages businesses and jobs that might locate in Middletown. Acceptance of an enterprise of this size and desirability should be streamlined and encouraged, not held back and delayed. The entire zoning system needs to be repealed and replaced with the basics that will eliminate the need for approval by four or five redundant bureaucracies.

Thanks to Analytical we are better informed about the misuse of government funds. Quote from his last post:

“Because of major changes in CDBG and HOME Programs funding allocation priorities since my departure, not only has the Down Payment/Closing Cost activity been restructured, but, the Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation Program was terminated outright.  These actions were necessary to provide for much costlier housing code enforcement administrative staffing, etc.”

Maybe all the funds went to administrative costs to pay inspectors to abuse owner-occupants who are seniors having difficulty keeping their property up to city requirements. Owner-occupancy is admittedly at an all time low. But Council seems determined to stay the course of paying for “administration” and “inspectors” of a program which will no longer benefit the intended people or may cease to exist due to lack insufficient funds (drained by administrative cost). Leave no doubt, misuse of funds has worsened the conditions they were intended to help.

 Way to go Monroe for landing Amazon and 1000 new jobs!!!!

Middletown could have been the location of choice for similar business and industry ventures.

If only the acres of property adjacent to I 75 had not been foolishly zoned as high-end residential.

Business and industry continues to build up at interchanges all along the I 75 corridor close to Middletown. Commerce likes locations with quick easy access to major highways.  But our Council decided to zone our commercial appropriate, interchange acreage as residential. What were they thinking? … Oh, they weren’t thinking. There are plenty of other more appropriate locations for housing. Besides, who would want to live adjacent to a noisy highway.

From the Journal News August 31, 2017 Section B State and Local

PUBLIC SAFETY

Another suspicious fire at ‘eye sore’

Middletown firefighters called to fire in abandoned building.

" rel="nofollow -

- - This abandoned building at 3310 Tytus Ave., the site of a suspicious fire Tuesday, has been the site of several fires over the past few months.

- - RICK MCCRABB/ STAFF

- - - Middletown firefighters were called Tuesday to the abandoned building at 3310 Tytus Ave. and found a fire inside.

- - “ - There was a small fire. A pile of stuff on fire inside,” said Middletown Fire Chief Paul Lolli.

- - “ - It is fair to say the fire was suspicious,” Lolli said.

- - - However, Lolli said the “eye sore” is still accessible to people.

- - - It appeared someone could have entered the building, according to firefighters.

- - - Kidd said the electricity to the building has been turned off for at least four years and he did not have insurance on the building.Kidd indicated he had many issues over the years with people and stealing items and vandalizing the property, according to the report.

- - - - M - i - ddletown city officials did not respond to this newspaper’s requests about the status of the building.

- - .

The Channel 9 NEWS reported this morning that restrooms of Middletown’s McDonalds on Verity Parkway are now locked.

Due to the numerous overdoses occurring in the restrooms, there is access only upon request.

Mr Adkins’ discussions and summits concerning the drug epidemic in Middletown seems to have had no positive effect.

Action speaks louder than words. What action has been taken by the city??

Here’s one place that the police department could closely monitor to advantage! The mere show of presence of law enforcement would be a deterent.

The heroin epidemic in Middletown is now considered front page news in the Sunday Journal.

QUOTE:

LOCAL COMPANIES Heroin epidemic strains businesses

Butler firms take steps to prevent overdoses from occurring on site.

One of the doors at the McDonald’s restaurant on Verity Parkway in Middletown has been made into an exit only to help curb drug traffic through the business. GREG LYNCH PHOTOS/ STAF

The MidPointe Library in Middletown has removed the doors to its restrooms, which has helped curb drug use at the facility.

The McDonald’s restaurant on Verity Parkway has taken several steps to help prevent addicts from overdosing on the property, including an “exit only” sign. GREG LYNCH / STAFF

BUTLER COUNTY — The heroin epidemic, which already is straining public safety budgets, now is changing how some local businesses operate.

Several local businesses have taken measures to reduce the possibility of patrons overdosing on their property.

The McDonald’s restaurant on Verity Parkway in Middletown has issued remote buttons that allows cashiers to unlock the restrooms for their customers and the entrance door closest to the restrooms is marked “exit only.”

A manager at the Middletown McDonald’s said he couldn’t comment about the new safety steps.

The corporate office, in an email, wrote: “The safety and well-being of customers and employees is our top priority, and we have taken appropriate measures to ensure a positive experience while in our restaurant.”

In the first eight months of this year, Middletown police have filed 49 reports at the Verity McDonald’s, five more than the entire 2016, according to police records reviewed by this newspaper.

This year’s reports include 10 drug complaints and five overdoses. Some of those complaints have been for illegal activity inside the restaurant, while most have occurred in the parking lot, according to the records.

Rick Pearce, president of the Chamber of Commerce serving Middletown, Monroe and Trenton, said he understands the issues facing businesses and organizations that are open to the public.

“While it is sad that businesses that deal with the general public have to go to such measures to ensure the safety of their customers and employees, I do feel that the community at large understands why they have moved in that direction,” Pearce said.

Middletown police also said they have been notified that other local fast-food restaurants and retail stores have locked their public restrooms as a way to keep illegal activity from occurring.

Rodney Muterspaw, Middletown’s police chief, said he believes addicts use drugs in public places so they can be found in case they overdose. If they overdose at home, he said, someone may not find them before they can be revived.

He noted that overdoses are down 25 percent in the city in the last three months.

Middletown Fire Chief Paul Lolli said more than in public restrooms, his department is seeing an increase in overdoses in parking lots, including convenience stores, fast-food restaurants, even churches. Drivers also have overdosed while stopped at intersections, he said.

Lolli said he often wonders what’s happening in a public restroom.

“My gosh, who’s in your bathroom now,” he said.

He said security “is a problem” for business owners.

“It’s a concern,” he added.

Middletown resident Anne Gilmore, 34, said whenever she takes her three children, ages 5, 7 and 11, to a public place — a restaurant, library or amusement park — she’s hesitant sending her children into the restroom alone. She closely monitors how long her children are in the restroom and if anyone enters or leaves.

“You can’t be too careful,” said Gilmore, who added when she was a child her parents were worried about her getting abducted by a stranger.

“Now, as parents we’re worried about people overdosing in front of our kids. This is a different world we’re living in,” she said.

Georgia Thorton, 73, of Hamilton, agreed.

“It’s hard to feel safe anywhere,” she said while downtown. “People get on (heroin) and you don’t know what they will do.”

The entrance doors to the men’s and women’s restrooms at MidPointe Library’s Middletown branch have been removed, but that was based on the architect’s recommendation because it made the rooms more handicap-accessible, said Cari Hillman, public relations director at the library.

She also noted the library, 125 S. Broad St., has trained staff and off-duty Middletown police officers to ensure every effort is made to keep the library safe.

Some restrooms in Hamilton have been closed due to drug usage.

The first-floor restrooms on the city’s side of the Government Services Center were closed because of drugs and public indecency, said Hamilton Director of Public Safety Scott Scrimizzi. People are directed to the second-floor bathrooms, which are near the court security checkpoints on both sides of the building, he said.

Access to the first-floor restrooms on the county’s side of the building has also been limited, according to Butler County Asset Director Randy Quisenberry. Those restrooms are open during business hours when there is an event scheduled.

The Butler County Juvenile Justice Center has been a “substantial drop” in vandalism after the county spent $38,000 to fix the destruction in the first-floor restrooms three years ago, said Tim Myers, Information & Administrative Services Manager.

He said the bathrooms feature material and finishes that are difficult to vandalize and he credited surveillance cameras and more patrolling for the drop in illegal activity.

In the past, people had trashed the bathrooms ripping a mirror off a wall in the men’s bathroom, graffiti decorated the stalls and walls, counter tops were cracked, and sinks flooded, officials said.

One Hamilton business owner recently spoke to City Council about the illegal activity outside her business at the corner of South Edgewood Avenue and Commerce Street.

Darleena Thenot, who owns Edgewood Denture, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary, said she realizes Hamilton has “an extreme problem, but something has to be done.”

She told council: “I’m willing to do whatever it takes.”

Thenot was overcome with emotion talking about the illegal drug activity she sees in areas of the city..

“I work hard,” she said. “My husband works hard. I don’t want to see our business going down because of these issues.”

She’s cleaned up vomit near her business and people have urinated on nearby buildings, she said.

Thenot said she wasn’t putting the police “down.” She said her father is a retired Hamilton police officer and her brother recently retired from the Butler County Sheriff ’s Office.

“It’s everywhere,” she said of the drugs.

“I don’t have time for any of this, but I’m willing to make time to see what we can do for the area,” she told council.

 The Journal News article reveals a lot about cause, effect, consequences and reaction to the drug epidemic in Middletown and Hamilton.

Overall gist of the article appears to point out the continual necessity for businesses and public places to increase or implement new measures to combat the increasing drug epidemic and high crime.

And our City Manager still doesn’t see that the city’s concentration on housing (a non-issue) isn’t going to solve the real problems under which our citizens suffer. Who would want to move here and pay market value for a home in a community with rampant drug problems, high crime, no amenities, poor school academics, no shopping and crumbling infrastructure.

Here’s some slightly stale but very pertinent news plus some interesting back ground information:

Let’s compare the cost of 3 new schools in Fairfield with Middletown’s new schools. First, read this Journal News report on Fairfield:

FAIRFIELD 3 new schools begin classes in Fairfield 10,000 students attend first day; $80M construction project is complete.

BY THE NUMBERS

$80M Fairfield City Schools construction project price tag to build a new Freshman School and two new elementary schools — Central and Compass

10,000 The number of students who started classes in Fairfield Schools on Tuesday. About 20 percent of those students began learning in the new schools.

1929 The year the former Central Elementary building opened. The school was demolished this summer.

 A Journal News’ 9/19/2017 report by Ed Richter, titled “Middletown’s anti-OD work hailed” is more propaganda probably dictated, as usual, by Mr Adkins.

The Journal article about the 11^th Heroin Summit says:

“Three months after some dire predictions were made, the number of heroin overdose runs and deaths have declined.” . . . .

“Through May 31, the city has experienced 451 nonfatal overdoses and 49 fatal overdoses, according to city records. During 2016, there were 458 overdoses in the city and 74 fatal overdoses.”

Adkins said those numbers have gone down from June 1 through Sept. 16 with 303 nonfatal overdoses and 16 fatal overdoses recorded.”

Note there is no comparison made with the TOTAL numbers from All of 2016 and 9.5 months of 2017.

Because of the arbitrary division of 2017 into 2 periods in 2 different paragraphs, comparison is difficult to make between 2016 and 2017 numbers of overdoses. It’s seems purposely done to create confusion.

Here are the numbers put back in order.

9.5 months in of 2017 Nonfatal OD’s 754 (451 thru May+303 June-Sept 6) Fatal OD’s 65

All 12 months of 2016 Nonfatal OD’s 458 Fatal OD’s 74

Now you can see the dramatic increase over the past 9.5 months of 2017 ... the total number of nonfatal overdoses was 754 (or 79 every month) compared to ALL 12 months of 2016 … the total number of nonfatal overdoses was 458 (or 38 every month). The 9+ month, 2017 numbers of nonfatal OD’s is nearly double the 12 month, 2016 numbers. NOT A GOOD RECORD, and it belies the false impression of improvement Mr Adkins gives by juggling and jumbling the numbers.

The opening line of the article, stated above, should say that the dire predictions were on point.

Premier Health had a full page ad in Sunday 10/1/17, Journal News, defending Atrium Medical Center against the possibility of competition from the proposed new Kettering Medical facility. They really must feel very threatened!!

First, a little background … When Premier built Atrium, they insisted, unnecessarily, that the Middletown Regional Hospital be demolished (perhaps insuring that they would have no competition). City Council agreed to this. The new hospital has approximately half the number of beds that the old hospital had. So Middletown lost half the capacity for local hospital patients.

Basically, all the rooms at Atrium are private, for which Atrium charges a higher rate than surrounding hospitals. Since lower priced semi-private rooms are not available, all the patients pay a premium price. But, some major health insurance companies, like United Healthcare, will not agree to pay the private room, higher rate. Looks like Atrium has priced itself out of business. Before admitting some patients whose insurance may not cover the hospital bill, Atrium has demanded they sign a statement that they will be personally responsible for payment of their care. Also, some insurance companies have informed people who live in this area that they do not think the outcome of care at Atrium meets their standards. What’s worse is, some city employees are insured by United Healthcare!! So, all of those city employees must go out of town for in-hospital care. For example, the accident involving Detective Justin Camper. He was flown to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton for treatment!

Now Mr Uhl, president of Atrium, has taken out a full page ad to whine about having some “healthy” competition which will not present the previously mentioned problems for patients. Those problems were created by Atrium itself. Middletown is paying for their poor judgement. Kettering would supply sorely needed, much better insured coverage, locally, which Atrium obviously can not.

When will Middletown City Council get it’s head out of … the sand and make decisions for the good of the citizens? 

“Atrium Days removes barriers in Middletown” headlines the article in the Journal News Thurs. 10/5/17 by Rick McCrabb.

Michael Uhl, President of Atrium, appears to have taken the initiative to better serve Middletown and to improve relations between Atrium and the community. Even at this late date any and all much needed efforts are appreciated and hopefully will be sustained and quickly recognized and used by those in the community who need it the most. Kudos, Mr Uhl !

Some people may think that your new found generosity toward the community has something to do with the vote, by council, on the zoning for Kettering Medical. Does the timing for this thoughtful move seem suspiciously fortuitous? But we can hope that it’s truly out the goodness of your heart and concern for the welfare of Middletown citizens that the numerous serious needs for services is finally being taken into consideration. Even so, the problem with the hospital’s inability to serve people with insurance which does not recognize Atrium, has not been addressed. Also, the services being offered by Atrium thru already established agencies, are only advisory and “will offer referrals for emergency assistance and eventually, referrals for health care services” (but to where those referrals will be directed is not stated).

The following is a quote which appears on Mr Adkins’ blog with comments in parentheses and :

“Going outside of hospital walls to bring health information (not services?!) to people in the community is just one example (what other examples are there?) of how Premier Health and Atrium Medical Center strives to improve access to services (does not say provide additional services!) with key partners,” said Michael Uhl, president of Atrium Medical Center. “Atrium Days is an opportunity for community members to meet our staff, ask questions about their health or about the hospital’s services (services which Atrium may not be able to provide), and walk away with health tips from our different subject matter experts.”(but walk away with no real services provided?)

In other words, Atrium Days is an opportunity to listen to an infomercial for Atrium Medical Center.

Why hasn’t the new multimillion dollar, Middletown Health Center, on Verity Parkway been included in this partnership group? They, along with all the other agencies are already providing essential services to the community and not just talking about.

The real partnership here seems to be between Adkins and Uhl for the purpose of squelching any competition for Atrium, thereby limiting growth, jobs and healthcare for Middletown citizens.

The Sunday Journal News, October 8, 2017 contained and presented multiple sides and view points concerning the Kettering Medical Facility’s rezoning request.

Mr Adkins has repeatedly pulled this item from council agenda over the last month or so. The reason for this? … might be Mr Adkins’ method of conducting and controlling city business while, by his own admission, circumventing the Sunshine Law (which was addressed on this forum and on Mr Adkins own blog in February of 2017).

Quote from the City Manager’s Blog titled “City Council Deliberations” and dated February 17, 2017:

“My policy has always been that City Council can ask anything about anything on the agenda up until Tuesday night.  On Tuesday night, I want them to come to Council with all of their questions answered and with a full understanding of what I want them to vote on.  The only question Tuesday night should generally be whether or not to pass the legislation presented.  They should fully understand what we are proposing and why we believe it is in the best interest of the city to pass the requested legislation.”

“If there is a serious problem with what I have proposed, generally it would have been raised by City Council two weeks ago when I first told them what was coming on the agenda.  At that point, we can either answers questions and provide information sufficient to resolve their concerns, or we can pull the items from the agenda before we finalize the meeting because City Council is not ready to move forward with whatever the issue is in its current form.”

“So theoretically, Tuesday is a pretty mundane experience.  All questions previously and completely answered.  All information previously provided. City Council makes a fully understood and educated decision on each piece of legislation.”

To sum it up, Mr Adkins will “pull items from the agenda” until “City Council makes a fully understood and educated decision” … the desired decision that Mr Adkins has dictated. And there will be no deliberations since the vote has been predetermined out of public view, thereby circumventing Sunshine Laws.

In the instance of Kettering Medical Facility rezoning, perhaps Mr Adkins has not sufficiently ‘educated’ the council to vote (as he wants) against the rezoning, thus the delay.

But this delay may have backfired! Kettering Health Network placed a “cover sleeve” on the Sunday paper titled “Health Care … How It Should Be” which thoroughly explains why Middletown needs Kettering Medical’s full service, comprehensive care facility. By way of comparison, Premier/Atrium’s defensive duplicate full page ads appear even more “whiny.” Unbelievably, they try to claim that another medical facility will not create jobs and may even do the opposite. Seems the fear of competition for their high cost ,below standard services (according to United Healthcare) has perverted their ability to think logically.

In addition, there is a front page article which addresses healthcare costs; specifically the dispute between United Healthcare and Premier/Atrium that exposes numerous serious problems (of Atrium’s own creation) that are the real reasons for Atrium’s ‘failure to thrive’ and inability to compete.

The front page Journal News article on October 8,2017, regarding “Healthcare Costs” deserves close scrutiny! Here are some excerpts in black followed by comments in red.

Unless a deal is reached soon between UnitedHealthcare and Premier Health, thousands of people with Medicare plans through the insurer will soon have to decide whether they want to switch insurance companies or health care providers next year.

Does council really think that Atrium will win this battle opposing the largest healthcare insurers in the U.S.? Does council understand that Atrium’s services are overpriced and under performing?

That leaves many Medicare recipients with a dilemma. Medicare open enrollment period starts Oct. 15. and runs until Dec. 7. With the two parties saying their negotiations remain far apart, the 4,000 Medicare Advantage members with UnitedHealthcare that use Premier Health are faced with choosing a new doctor or a new insurance company.

You can get a new doctor affiliated with a competent (and less expensive) hospital and keep good insurance or go to Atrium Hospital and ? insurance (which will not be United Healthcare or Anthem since both have unsolved problems with Premier).

The dispute centers around the giant insurer’s plan to rank hospitals and doctors in tiers based on cost and quality, with the goal of incentivizing lower health care costs.

Premier opposes the ranking system, which it says is already steering patients away from its hospitals and providers.

“Our bottom line is off millions per month by this,” Duncan said.

Premier (Atrium) opposes being ranked by cost and quality! Isn’t that a surprise? Does Atrium really think losing United Healthcare patients (especially the large number of patients who are insured under medicare) would help their bottom line?

Although early data indicates that about 45 percent of the ER volume it normally gets from UnitedHealthcare-covered patients is staying with them, the remaining 55 percent appears to be going to other providers, he said.

Patients with health benefit plans that are part of the UnitedHealthcare tiering system have lower co-payments if they choose doctors from a group ranked “tier 1,” which includes physicians the insurer considers cost-efficient.

Premier officials say the ranking system doesn’t take into account expenses the hospital system has for offering specialized care such as its Level 1 trauma center, high-risk maternity care, and burn care. The cost data used by UnitedHealthcare to determine its tiers is skewed by these higher-end services, according to Premier.

Isn’t cost-efficient care described as the best care for the money? Atrium isn’t a Level 1 trauma center, it is a Level 3, the lowest trauma level in this area (look it up on the current rankings on the web). Can you explain how United Healthcare’s use of cost and quality to determine its tiers is at all unfair to Premier (Atrium)? They are just dealing with the facts!

“All of Premier’s proposals maintain its position as one of the most expensive health systems in Ohio while also demanding local businesses be restricted from offering competitive benefits that put consumer choice first and allow workers to be rewarded for choosing quality, cost-efficient care providers,” it stated.

Is Middletown’s council going to allow Premier (Atrium) to continue without any competition? Is council, once again, going to support their buddies to the detriment of the citizens of Middletown, by limiting the citizens to high cost and poor quality healthcare?

Premier officials dispute the data used by United-Healthcare, calling it “incomplete and misleading.” They also say it doesn’t account for the unique services that Premier provides and the high number of Medicaid patients that it treats at a financial loss to the health provider.

Medicaid does not pay the full cost of care, it says, so the system must either absorb a $50 million loss on its books or cost-shift from elsewhere to cover the difference.

“It’s our high-priced, high-cost, very specialized services that are driving our prices up,” said Duncan.

Does Premier (Atrium) think that they are the only hospital serving Medicaid patients? Isn’t Mr. Duncan, Premier’s chief financial officer, right when he says “It’s our high-priced, high-cost, … services that are driving our prices up?

In one example that Duncan described as a typical visit, a UnitedHealthcare patient arrived at the emergency room and received a $4,000 bill. Withholding the name of the patient, he said UnitedHealthcare designated the full bill to the patient.

From May, when the contract expired, to August, Premier saw roughly 1,100 similar UnitedHealthcare emergency room cases, Duncan said.

Do the ‘unique services’ that Atrium touts include billing a United Healthcare patient $4000 for an emergency room visit? The statement Atrium made here, about this patient, doesn’t tell whether they left with or without having received any services. If memory serves, this patient’s experience was reported as NOT receiving services but was charged for ‘arriving’ in (being admitted to?) the emergency room. Mr Duncan described this as a ‘typical’ visit to Atrium’s emergency room!!! and he said there were 1100 similar emergency room cases!!! IF all of those cases were charged $4000 that would be $4,400,000 … a lot of money for NOT performing any services IF all 1100 were like Mr Duncan’s ‘typical’ example.

Premier CEO Mary Boosalis said “from a pure humanitarian point of view,” she’d like to forgive the patients’ bills because they are stuck in the middle of something they can’t control. But, she said, that would be a slippery slope that would not only be prohibitively expensive, but also eventually lead to insurers like UnitedHealthcare and Anthem not being motivated to negotiate with Premier.

Does it really sound like Premier is motivated to negotiate with United Healthcare and Anthem ? And vice versa! Atrium has created it’s own untenable slippery slope for which they will try to blame everyone except themselves. The patients will bear the brunt of high costs if Atrium can successfully stick it to them. Don’t see anything ‘humanitarian’ about that!

Mr Adkins advocates that city council should not allow Kettering Health Network to provide healthy competition for Premier (Atrium) which would indirectly amount to the city providing Atrium financial support. Something doesn’t smell right. Council, you were elected to serve the citizens of Middletown not protect Atrium from competition!

The Sunday, 10/15/17, Journal News has a new full page ad opposing the zoning change for Kettering Medical. It contains a list of supporters who are mainly doctors and others who are directly dependent on Atrium for a lively hood. In total they are a very small elite group making a desperate attempt to keep Kettering from providing the rest of Middletown’s citizens with an affordable, full service hospital.

We need people to speak up in support of the Kettering Medical Facility rezoning during the Public Hearing at the Council Meeting on Tuesday 10/17/17. This is very important to Middletown if you want a hospital that will accept your insurance and serve your healthcare needs!!!

The “endorsement ad” makes some statements which neglect to tell the “whole truth” on several points and even seems to twist the facts to suit their purpose.

First they claim that the new hospital “stood with Middletown and stayed local.” The truth is … Atrium originally wanted to build out of town, and would have, except Middletown gave Atrium the land east of I75 and sold $195 million in bonds to build the hospital here. After all this generosity, Atrium refused to retain the name, Middletown Hospital, and required that the old hospital be demolished as part of the “deal.” The city of Middletown provided all the infrastructure (water, sewer, storm water sewer and roadway) all free of charge as a bribe to keep the new hospital in Middletown. Kettering Medical is asking for NO FAVORS, NO MONEY and NO HELP from Middletown. Instead they want to CONTRIBUTE TO Middletown … jobs and a full service hospital recognized by major insurance companies.

Next, they claim that when Atrium was built, there was a need for “expansion” (larger capacity?) of the hospital. The whole truth is … the old Middletown Hospital which Atrium replaced had about twice the number of beds in the new section (and probably 4 times the number of beds if you include the old section of the Middletown Hospital). Thus the expansion was actually a downsizing. And the new hospital proudly promised there would be 1000 new jobs … but the truth is they eliminated 1000 jobs. Now they are contradicting their original claim to need an expanded hospital by claiming that our city is not large enough to support a second hospital. Can’t have it both ways!!!

Next, they claim that Atrium supports local schools, but in truth those local schools receiving Atrium’s support are Franklin/Warren County schools, and NOT Middletown/Butler County schools!!!! The city of Middletown has to pay Franklin school district for the loss of property taxes due to Atrium’s non-profit status. Remember the big fight with Franklin school district about Middletown trying to force students in the area surrounding Atrium north east of the Rte122 and I-75 intersection? The state of Ohio settled that in favor of Franklin and labeled Middletown’s action an attempted money grab.

Atrium, will soon, no longer have an agreement with United Healthcare (and perhaps Anthem) and may not even be in negotiations to come to an agreement. Additionally, United Healthcare has questioned the quality of care and the high prices charged at Atrium. They have sent letters to their insured, advising them to seek new doctors associated with a hospital other than Atrium.

Before being admitted at Atrium, patients whose insurance may not be accepted there, are asked to sign a form stating that they will be personally responsible for paying Atrium’s high priced bill (which also makes the patient responsible for any charges that are over and above what their insurance might pay). Some of those patients could easily be bankrupt by a potentially expensive hospital stay … which could cost $100,000 or so. Seems a bit like extortion.

There are multiple reasons why Atrium has mostly empty beds (poor quality care and high prices, the major ones) and that’s a result of their own short sighted, self-serving mismanagement. Atrium beds are empty because Middletown citizens have found it necessary to go out of town to seek quality care under their insurance plans. They are actually unable to use Atrium. This is the very reason that we need Kettering’s “new beds” that Atrium is so desperate to turn away.

How can Council, in good conscience, justify turning down the zoning change for Kettering?

Journal-News FRONT PAGE Oct. 16 2017:

“Hospital’s expansion plans worry Premier”

Premier, Atrium’s parent company, is so worried about having to face stiff, healthy competition that they are pulling out all stops to try keep it at bay!!! What’s really ludicrous about their position is that they say that providing more and better healthcare options for the Middletown community is a bad idea. Maybe it’s a bad idea for Atrium but it’s the best thing that could happen for the Middletown area.

The Journal article barely mentions the fact that Atrium is not able to adequately serve the Middletown area with basic healthcare because they do not accept insurance from the major insurance companies that serve most of the local citizens. They are actually trying to keep Kettering Medical from making a major investment in Middletown, bringing in new jobs and growth. If that presents a problem for Atrium, that’s Atrium’s problem. They might just be forced to provide services equal to the competition and learn to accept insurance!!!

Having healthcare services clustered in the designated Renaissance area was part of the city’s plan for Middletown. Compare it to clustered explosion of growth in competing healthcare facilities in West Chester along I-75!!! Why not Middletown??? If Kettering is able to locally supply Middletown with insured healthcare, patients will be no longer need to leave Middletown to receive care. That means we would retain not lose healthcare dollars in Middletown.

I believe that MRH’s newer sections had about 368 rooms, all of which had at least 2 beds and some of which had 3 beds; making the total capacity well over 700 beds! which is more than twice the beds at Atrium!

Has anyone noticed that the entire Atrium/ Kettering matter has ABSOLUTELY NO MENTION AT ALL in the 10/17/17 Journal-News after Kettering abandoned their zoning request yesterday afternoon? (The reason for that might be very interesting!)  Maybe Kettering will be making other plans for a hospital at a nearby location along or near I-75 close to Middletown.  In that case, Atrium and the city of Middletown will be vulnerable to their competition and will probably lose more of the healthcare market share and tax revenue.

Mayor Larry Mulligan deserves major credit for loosing this and other opportunities to improve Middletown’s dire social-economic condition. Mulligan, under the “guidance” of city manager, Doug Adkins, has too often used our taxpayer’s money to the city’s detriment.

A change in leadership on city council will be required in order to attain a fair and honest local government which will represent all of Middletown instead of a select few. If no resignation(s?) is forthcoming, then the time may be ripe for a recall petition. This change, if successful, ought to be followed with the selection of a new city manger who will hold the city’s best interest above his own.

Unless a majority of Middletown’s taxpaying voters come out in support of making necessary changes in our city government, we will suffer many more years of abuse.

Journal-News articles of interest concerning Kettering rezoning request … annotated in red:

Middletown planners deny Kettering Health Network’s rezoning request

Ed Richter Staff Writer Wed Sept. 13, 2017

MIDDLETOWN

UPDATE @ 9:14 p.m.: A request by Kettering Health Network to rezone two parcels in Middletown to develop a $30 million outpatient medical facility was unanimously denied by the city planning commission on Wednesday night.

The planning commission rejected the city planning department’s recommendation to approve the request, which would enable KHN to have eight to 20 inpatient beds and offer other hospital services.

The decision followed a 90-minute public hearing that included testimony from representatives of KHN, Atrium Medical Center and Premier Health.

The case will be forwarded Middletown City Council next month to uphold or reverse the planning commission’s decision concerning the two parcels off Ohio 122 at Union Road, less than a mile from the Atrium campus.

Richard Haas, KHN senior vice president, said the organization has spent more than $4 million on the nearly 13.7-acre site to demolish a motel that was filled with asbestos.

Haas, the only person to speak in favor of the request during the public hearing, said the request would allow KHN to admit patients overnight. He also said KHN did not intend to build an entire hospital.

When asked why the request was not made in May, when the planning commission approved the preliminary and final site development plans, Haas said, “it was in the back of our minds” but as the process has evolved, KHN officials decided to seek the rezoning.

Several Atrium representatives cited the 100-year relationship with Middletown, the $300 million investment to build the hospital as well as the city’s previous plans that Atrium would anchor a high-tech and healthcare corridor along Interstate 75.

“We were concerned their plan entailed more than what they presented (in May),” said Robert Curry, an Atrium attorney.

Curry said the city’s master and comprehensive plans cited Atrium as the anchor for development and that other businesses would be diversified and complimentary to the hospital. He said KHN’s proposal would be duplicative and ignores the zoning distinctions in the city plans.

The city’s “master plan” authored mainly by Mr Adkins (who has been careful to remain behind the scenes during this controversy), was obviously written with extreme bias for the purpose of protecting Atrium from competition. No government has a legal or ethical right to favor or promote one competing business (of any sort) over another, but, shamefully, this seems a common practice. (Just another nail in the coffin of our democracy!) The restrictive zoning ordinances (if they exist) for the “high-tech and healthcare corridor along I-75” in Middletown’s Renaissance development, were also especially designed to support the desired, established bias with “hair-splitting” requirements for any unwanted competition for Atrium.

Dr. William Andrew said he was “angry” about KHN’s request because they are “someone from outside that’s coming in and hurting the institution that binds us.”

He said KHN’s request was duplicative and unnecessary and said he’d rather see that property be sold to someone else in keeping with the plan.

Andrew called this “a carefully crafted plan that was designed to inflict as much damage to Premier Health.”

Dr. Andrew is angrily accusing KHN of “a carefully crafted plan” while ignoring Middletown’s biased “carefully crafted” zoning ordinances which prevent healthy competition for Atrium. Anti-competition was pre-meditated and applied by the city to the detriment of Middletown citizens.

David Pearce, a former Middletown hospital board member, also cited the 100-year partnership with the city and noted the board’s decision to build the new hospital in Middletown was a way to “pay forward” for the community. He said the zoning was a key pillar to that decision and now that’s coming into question.

Early on, Atrium made every effort to dissociate itself from Middletown Regional Hospital, even demanding MRH’s demolition. Middletown was not Atrium’s first choice location. They agreed to stay only when Middletown gave them the land, provided all infrastructure (no charge) and sold $300 million in bonds for construction. (Does this look like bribery?) What has the community received in return for all these contributions??? Now, count the losses ... poor quality care and Atrium’s subsequent loss of local availability of major insurance coverage. Most of the insured population must go out of town for their healthcare … AK employees? Some city employees? Insured under Medicare supplement and so on! Due to this loss of market-share, Atrium/Premier is in a “fiscal pickle” of their own making!! Now they are falsely claiming that Atrium is an extension and continuation of MRH’s good reputation and 100 years of service to the community. REALLY?? Do you believe that Atrium’s supposed “partnership with the city” puts the best interest of the community above Atrium’s own? The people of Middletown do not owe them anything and it’s high time that city hall, Mr Adkins and city council recognize the fact.

Pearce also said a decision to approve the request would be fraught with “a number of unintended consequences.”

Michael Uhl, Atrium’s president, said Atrium gives a lot to the city in terms of contributions as well as a number of services and programs that benefit and support the community as well as bringing new partners to the city.

Planning commission member Todd Moore asked whether there was a maximum of eight beds approved for the request.

Michael Maiberger, Premier Health’s chief operating officer, said, “it would be a game-changer if overnight stays were allowed…. If that happened, we’d have to look at everything…. We don’t fear competition but when you have duplicative services, it will be hurtful.”

All their complaining and protest only serves to prove that their greatest fear is the competition which they are calling “duplicative services” that “will be hurtful.” Premier’s CEO, Michael Maiberger, claims (fears?) that “it would be a game-changer if overnight stays were allowed” and in the next sentence he says they don’t fear competition!?!? Which is it Mr Maiberger? True, it may be hurtful to Atrium but it would benefit the majority of Middletown’s citizens who must go out of town to get healthcare that Atrium can not provide!! This is in direct conflict with basic fair trade business practices in the USA. It screams an invitation to corruption!!!

UPDATE @ 12:35 p.m.

Middletown city officials said Kettering Health Network they were unaware of any plans to expand a proposed 63,000 square-foot facility from a planned outpatient clinic with an emergency department, diagnostic services and offices into a full-service hospital.

“This was not in the plans that Kettering had shared with us initially,” said Jennifer Ekey, city economic development director. “Our first knowledge was when they made the application.”

Kettering representatives filed the rezoning request on Aug. 18 and the city received a letter dated Aug. 23 from Richard Haas, KHN senior vice president, informing them of their plans concerning the rezoning, according to city planning department records.

Ekey did not think KHN was adding more employees as the structure remains the same as approved before.

She said Atrium was notified as were the other property owners in the area through the city’s normal notification process.

UPDATE (Sept. 13):

Atrium Medical Center officials will be attending tonight’s Middletown Planning Commission meeting to share their concerns about a proposed project by Kettering Health Network, according to an Atrium spokesperson.

Michael Uhl, president of Atrium Medical Center, expressed concerns about Kettering Health Network’s rezoning request to build a full hospital in Middletown, about one mile from Atrium.

“… we share the same concerns of many others in the community regarding the impact overbuilding may have on rising health care costs,” Uhl said in a statement.

http://www.journal-news.com/news/middletown-approves-plans-for-new-30m-medical-facility/Np9fa1En0jiUEV3JZxIWfI/" rel="nofollow - - y

The following comments made on the digital Journal News are overwhelmingly in favor of KHN. But these and other opposing viewpoints are routinely well hidden or ignored and the opposition is never interviewed nor has an opportunity to have an opposing opinion published.

29 comments

https://www.facebook.com/app_scoped_user_id/10203841290827959" rel="nofollow - Susan Hayes Christia n https://www.facebook.com/app_scoped_user_id/10203841290827959" rel="nofollow - from Facebook Sep 13, 2017

As a former Atrium employee ( & MRH pre-Atrium, 1994-2008) who is insured through my husband's UHC policy via AK retirees' plan, I preferred to receive our healthcare locally whenever possible. I appreciated the feeling of receiving more personal care from coworkers & caregivers who were also neighbors. Unfortunately Premier/Atrium has decided NOT to accept our AK provided insurance. Their decision makes me welcome the possibility of receiving quality care from a nearby Kettering facility without having to travel outside my community. Rejecting the insurer of our town's largest employer makes Atrium/Premier more vulnerable to local competition from another healthcare provider.

https://www.facebook.com/app_scoped_user_id/10203842233211518" rel="nofollow - Susan Hayes Christia n https://www.facebook.com/app_scoped_user_id/10203842233211518" rel="nofollow - from Facebook Sep 13, 2017

We need easy healthcare access in our community for AK employees & retirees. If Atrium/Premier don't want our business/insurance coverage I'd appreciate a local Kettering option. Premier's choice to reject us.

FurlongGates Sep 14, 2017

Since the city has such a great 100+ year relationship with Atrium/Premier, maybe they can ask them to approve a contract with UMR so the Miami University employees can use Atrium instead of going to outside hospitals such as Kettering and Mercy.  If they're not willing to do that - then let Kettering build. What's more important people or money? THAT'S HYPOTHETICAL!!  

https://www.facebook.com/app_scoped_user_id/1034357223316296" rel="nofollow - Rose Bac k https://www.facebook.com/app_scoped_user_id/1034357223316296" rel="nofollow - from Facebook Sep 14, 2017

Middletown shame on you. This summer my child got a ESR infection from swimming Swimmers ear but it was hurting her so bad I chose to take her to E.R .Atrium walked in the door to A Zoo a line and waiting room packed and shirt staffed ..we left went right up the road to Kettering health Network ..Went right in and in one hour walked with medication easy breezy Will continue to deal with them .Atrium us substandard and has always been.

Ratmandu Sep 14, 2017

This is straight out politics ! This is the city taking care Atrium ! I don't know why because Atrium sold the city out and joined the Dayton Miami Valley Hospital Atrium Network ! Kettering Hospitial Network is far better and would kill Atrium and the city knows it ! That's why they are going to prevent them from putting in a full service Hospital with patient stay rooms. An Emergency Care Center they could not prevent but a Hospital they think they can. Pathetic self serving political move to be sure !

https://www.facebook.com/app_scoped_user_id/824817890952342" rel="nofollow - John James https://www.facebook.com/app_scoped_user_id/824817890952342" rel="nofollow - rom Facebook Sep 16, 2017

Why is atrium afraid to have some competition? They don't take my insurance so I can't use them anyway, however Kettering does honor my insurance

https://www.facebook.com/app_scoped_user_id/10207562973352609" rel="nofollow - Karen Smit h https://www.facebook.com/app_scoped_user_id/10207562973352609" rel="nofollow - from Facebook Sep 16, 2017

I don't know why atrium would have any say so in this, Middletown needs another hospital. When atrium won't take insurance from its own people then get someone who will. They are afarid they will lose money, they probably are now, not taking United health Care. Atrium has not had any competition it's time they should. maybe they would let our doctors work there again. It's a shame we get admitted to our hospital and can't have our doctors. I hope Kettering gets what they want or need. Stay out of it atrium it's none of your business. Wake up city of Middletown do the right thing. Kettering if. Middletown keeps go outside the city limits and build whatever you want, Trenton would be a good place to build.

https://www.facebook.com/app_scoped_user_id/10155792019854697" rel="nofollow - Tyler Cheatha n https://www.facebook.com/app_scoped_user_id/10155792019854697" rel="nofollow - rom Facebook Sep 14, 2017

Good! Shut that sh*thole across the street down!

PapawEarl Sep 14, 2017

Agree! Let's make it clear though that there is no Atrium Network. Atrium is just the name of the hospital once known as Middletown Regional Hospital and Middletown Hospital before that. It was almost as if they didn't want the new digs to be associated with a dying city. A dying city that at one time was the backbone of that hospital! Middletown Hospital made a lot of $$ from Armco, Aeronca, Black-Clawson and many other companies that have dwindled away over the past 30 - 40 years. So, while the city died Atrium moves on only to leave the city with the consloation of naming the grounds that the hospital sits on as the Middletown Regional campus.

BTW....the part about Atrium being in a network is correct only it is called the Premiere Network, not Atrium Network.

PapawEarl Sep 14, 2017

CONTRIBUTIONS??? Yeah, Mason and Franklin got carpet for their high schools' football fields but, outside of a lousy 4th of July fireworks display, which wasn't much more than a few sparklers being lit, what else have they done for Middletown? The only reason for the fireworks was to remind people of their 100 year existence. Council better think hard before they vote on this. Kettering is quite generous in giving back to the communities they serve. I'm sure that if Middletown was still like it was back in the 1950's and 60's, that Atrium would pony up more and still use the city's name in its' title. But the bottom line is that increased medical attention is always a staple in any community. The statement about 'overbuilding' is a joke. Has that guy ever been to West Chester or Liberty Twp.? Those residents are more than happy to have what they've got and I' m sure that folks around here would be more than grateful to have Kettering's full service even if it is on a smaller scale. As for Atrium, business will go on as usual. Adding Kettering to the mix is more of a brotherhood rather than a competition!

https://www.facebook.com/app_scoped_user_id/1233325260013155" rel="nofollow - Kent Keller II https://www.facebook.com/app_scoped_user_id/1233325260013155" rel="nofollow - from Facebook Sep 13, 2017

Free market. Do whatever creates more jobs and competition. Lower prices and more options.

https://www.facebook.com/app_scoped_user_id/10203563075223234" rel="nofollow - Wayne Hall   https://www.facebook.com/app_scoped_user_id/10203563075223234" rel="nofollow - from Facebook Sep 13, 2017

Good! Atrium needs close competition plus Kettering accepts United Health Care.

https://www.facebook.com/app_scoped_user_id/1059982264020649" rel="nofollow - Candy Bailes https://www.facebook.com/app_scoped_user_id/1059982264020649" rel="nofollow - from Facebook Sep 13, 2017

I hope it goes through! Atrium isn't going to take ANY Marketplace (Obamacare) insurance policies.....which means most all local doctors will not take it either.....yeah, serving the community....not.

https://www.facebook.com/app_scoped_user_id/1060603603958515" rel="nofollow - Candy Bailes https://www.facebook.com/app_scoped_user_id/1060603603958515" rel="nofollow - from Facebook Sep 13, 2017

I lost my insurance policy, one I liked, Aetna several years ago because of Obamacare. Then I was forced to get a policy from the Marketplace. I went with Aetna, paid a lot more for an awful policy, but did so because of the doctors and facilities on the list because. I was going to have two surgeries. I WAS TOLD by the Marketplace employee out of the Chicago office I COULD receive the needed surgeries from my doctors in another state....total lies! Then the following year I had to pick again from the Marketplace, again another terrible high priced awful company and policy. They will not pay for medicines I've taken for decades, even through their same company. If it's a cheap med they will approve it, but more average cost mess they won't. Then one year, lost count, think it was last year, in August they up and cancelled coverage from all hospitals and doctors that were on the list and the ones in my contract. So, again this year I had to pick another insurance company and policy, which is one of if not the best Premier Insurance policies......all Premier facilities Atrium, Miami Valley, and such. Now, for this coming year those facilities and Premier Insurance will not be a choice on the Marketplace. As of right now only two companies are participating in Obamacare and Atrium does not take them, but to my knowledge Kettering does. Again, it's all about money, control, and politics and the ones that don't receive free government healthcare or work for a large Union controlled company, you slowly and sometimes rapidly die while playing the Obamacare guessing game struggle. Where's the, you can keep your doctor, your policy, and save about two grand a year plan?

Veteran 4817 Sep 12, 2017

Here we go again , Change the zoning now. Sounds to me the RIGHT palm did not get greased . Hey Kettering Health more $$$$$$ to the ZONING people !!!!

https://www.facebook.com/app_scoped_user_id/849591811820032" rel="nofollow - Robert State   https://www.facebook.com/app_scoped_user_id/849591811820032" rel="nofollow - from Facebook Sep 13, 2017

obama care doesnt float,....i was going to get a much needed surgery on my feet at the same time the principle insurer pulled out,....NO SURGERY FOR ME,.....my knee is messed up and two busted rotor cuffs, they didnt want to cut on me, always some stretchin exercize....and if your above poverty level your screwed too, my sister owes a 12 thousand dollar deductible.....i did however get a umbilical surgery for my hernia.....obamacare sucks.....doctors and hospital charge too much.....well have to suffer and die en mass.....

This Journal-News article Wednesday. October 18, 2017 seems to contain “Richter-ized” propaganda to support Mr Adkins (unverified) claim that approval of Kettering rezoning required a super majority, 4 out of 5 council members, to reverse the planning commission’s disapproval. Comments in red.

Hospital zoning support battle waged by email

Kettering, Premier sent 300 missives over Middletown project.

MIDDLETOWN — Before Kettering Health Network pulled its rezoning request to allow overnight patient stays at its $30 million facility under construction in Middletown, the healthcare organization and its main competitor in the region — Premier Health — each worked to sway Middletown City Council to support their opposite stances on the proposal.

More than 300 emails were sent to city leaders since Middletown Planning Commission denied Kettering Health’s rezoning request last month as both sides lobbied for council support of their side.

A super-majority of council members, four of the five members, was required to reverse the planning commission recommendation.

Mr Adkins, please tell us (if you can) exactly what ordinance contains the rule that a super majority is required to reverse any recommendation by a bureaucratic planning commission!!!! If this can not be demonstrated, then Kettering should be allowed to revisit their rezoning request, and win an approval with a simple majority of 3 votes.

City staff had recommended approving the request to the planning commission and city council.

During the required 30-day notice period between the planning commission meeting and next council meeting, Kettering Health officials met separately with council members to explain their desire to add as many as 20 beds for overnight patient stays at the 63,000-square-foot facility slated to open in mid-2018.

Kettering Health needed the two parcels off Ohio 122 at Union Road, about a mile south of Atrium Medical Center, to be rezoned as the current zoning code was written as part of the incentives to have the hospital, now Atrium Medical Center, built there. While other types of healthcare facilities were permitted uses, there was a specific category for hospitals for patient stays for 24 hours or more.

There would be no need for any of this controversy if the zoning code had been written without the preconceived, preplanned bias to unfairly insulate Atrium from competition. Why should Middletown’s citizens be limited to 1 hospital facility?? City hall had already bribed Atrium with free land, free installed infrastructure and $195 million in bonds to build the hospital. Taxpayer money paid the bribe!!! But that didn’t satisfy Atrium. By contrast, Kettering is asking for no assistance and is able to provide insured care. Read on to the next comment.

Kettering Health gave no reason for withdrawing the requests, which the city received about noon Monday from Richard Haas, Kettering Health senior vice president.

“Our decision to withdraw our rezoning request has no impact on our original plans for the medical facility,” Elizabeth Long, Kettering Health spokeswoman, said in a statement. “Our services will include a freestanding Emergency Department; outpatient services such as Lab and Radiology; and a Physician Office Building. Construction is on track and we will be caring for patients by mid-2018. We are enjoying a great partnership with Middletown city leaders and we look forward to furthering our involvement in the Middletown community.

In a letter to Mayor Larry Mulligan urging for council to uphold the planning commission’s decision, David Pearce, a former Middletown Regional Hospital board member, said “the zoning was intentionally crafted with the $300 million hospital as the key centerpiece/ stakeholder.”

Take note!!!! “the zoning was intentionally crafted with the $300 million hospital as the key centerpiece/ stakeholder.” THE ZONING WAS INTENTIONALLY CRAFTED … and a virtual monopoly took over Middletown’s healthcare.

Pearce said that in the past 17 years “nothing has changed and the zoning remains critical to the hospital’s (and its partners’) success.”

Since when is it ethical for a government entity to use zoning ordinances to create a monopoly; especially one that has had such adverse effects on our city’s quality of healthcare and the loss of availability of health insurance. These are big changes in the last 17 years.

That zoning for the hospital was part of the city’s master plan adopted in 2005.

Where, in the 2005 master plan, does it say that the zoning for the parcels designated for healthcare facilities should be biased to favor one facility over another? Besides, in 2005, Atrium was not yet built and special zoning for them could not have been in the original master plan. And even if it was in the plan, it is unethical to arbitrarily limit competition in the healthcare marketplace. A monopoly usually results in higher prices and lower quality! That is exactly what our citizens are complaining about already!!!

Premier Health employees and other community supporters emailed dozens of letters to council members to uphold the planning commission’s decision. A number of the email letters contained the same paragraphs with Premier Health’s main points:

■That they believe in providing quality health care to the Middletown community and proud of the hospital’s 100 years of service. At the outset, Atrium wanted to erase our memory of MRH. Now that Atrium is failing dismally they want to claim to be an extension of MRH’s proud 100 years of service.

■ That they want these high-quality services to continue and feel that the addition of unnecessary hospital beds would jeopardize Atrium’s ability to continue offering specialty services that benefit the community. Comments from the community do not describe Atrium’s hospital services as high quality. That’s why so many beds at Atrium are empty.

■That adding a second hospital in Middletown will not create new jobs long term, but could cost the jobs of Middletown citizens who have worked there with pride for many years. Atrium has half the number of beds that MRH’s new section had which resulted in the loss of 1000 jobs. when Atrium opened.

Note that this entire article is biased in favor of Atrium. The claimed dozens of emails in show of support is limited to Premier employees and associates. The numerous expressions of opposition (such as the reader comment section which follows Journal articles in the digital copy) are totally ignored. They can be viewed in a previous post on this forum.

“Atrium Medical Center is proud to be the City of Middletown’s hospital. As evidenced by our 100-year legacy serving the community, we are committed to continually improving health services for Middletown area residents. Our patients come first,” Michael Uhl, president of Atrium Medical Center, said in a statement. “As a stakeholder in the City of Middletown’s economic development efforts, Atrium will continue to work with the city and others to revise the master plan. By working collaboratively to update the master plan, it could benefit all parties and promote the overall economic viability of the city.”

Atrium and Michael Uhl should be ashamed of trying to take credit for the proud 100 year legacy of MRH. Atrium has continually reduced the quality of health services and they lack the necessary contracts to provide insured services to the majority of area residents (which makes patients their last consideration). The statement that the master plan will be revised/updated looks like it will be reworded to agree with all of Atrium’s pretenses to be a pillar of the community. A match stick might better describe that pillar.

Contact this reporter at 513-755-5067 or email Ed.Richter@coxinc.com.

See comments in red on Mr Adkins “explanation” of Kettering’s abandoned rezoning request which he posted on City of Middletown Manager’s blog.

Kettering Health Network Rezoning Request

https://citymanagermiddletown.com/2017/10/17/kettering-health-network-rezoning-request/" rel="nofollow - October 17, 2017October 17, 2017 https://citymanagermiddletown.com/author/middletowncm/" rel="nofollow - City Manager Middletown https://citymanagermiddletown.com/2017/10/17/kettering-health-network-rezoning-request/#comments" rel="nofollow - 1 Comment

There’s been a lot of discussion around town on the benefits and pitfalls of allowing Kettering Health Network to add overnight beds to their facility at the old Reyton Inn site at the I-75 Interchange.

Kettering (KHN) originally came to the city with a plan to build a $30 million outpatient medical facility that offered an Emergency Room and outpatient services. As the project progressed, KHN revisited the original plan and inquired about adding 8-20 beds for overnight stays in space that wasn’t otherwise designated. As it stands now, an outpatient stay is anything less than 23 hours. In order to accommodate that request, a zone change would have to be sought and approved by Planning Commission and subsequently, City Council.

That’s right, our “leaders” have “intentionally crafted zoning ordinance” which split hairs and make it as difficult as possible for anyone to bring in good jobs and healthcare for a majority of the citizens. Every other nearby area would welcome the opportunity to have KHN’s jobs, services and professionals especially if, like Middletown, Atrium was their only choice for healthcare. It would be great to go to a local doctor or hospital that would accept our insurance.

The KHN application for a zoning change went to Planning Commission, and after a long public hearing, the Planning Commission recommended denial of KHN’s zoning request to allow the hospital beds for overnight stays. This had no impact on the original KHN plans for the facility.

The Planning Commission (even after staff recommended approval) recommended denial of KHN’s zoning request. I wonder why?

On the MUSA blog, blogger swohio75 (who seems to be in the know in the city building) says:

“As I said, staff's recommendation was for approval. Assumption is that the City's Planner ran this recommendation up through the chain of command (to Adkins likely) who didn't see an issue with the recommendation.

The decision is now in Council's hands. I can't say why Planning Commission denied, because the Admin has decided that Planning Commission meetings are not necessary to record and broadcast on their YouTube channel as had previously been done.”

This sounds like a complaint from swohio75 that the Planning Commission meetings are no longer recorded or easily available for public view. We need more people to take note that our city government is becoming more unapproachable and unresponsive because more and more government processes are taking place out of public view. What an invitation to run a muck!!

Do you know why the Planning Commission meetings are no longer recorded and broad cast?Adkins’ directive to discontinue YouTube recording of the Planning Commission meetings conveniently keeps meetings and discussions hidden from the citizens. Mr Adkins, ... didn’t we lose about $360,000 which the cable company paid to Middletown annually for their cable TV monopoly, but was actually money to be used for the operation of Public Access Channel 24!!! That money (according to you) was just a gift to the city and if any funding went to Channel 24, it was just out of the goodness of your heart. In truth, that money did not belong to the city at all, but was only for the public access channel. Adkins closed Channel 24 down, citing their lack of funds to operate, funds which the city had confiscated. Because our city business is longer monitored by the public via broadcasting, our city government has become even more unresponsive to the citizens they were elected to serve. City council is oblivious to this just like they are oblivious to other city admin methods of circumventing the Sunshine Laws!!! “Little” things like the Sunshine Laws mean nothing to Adkins.

After Planning Commission votes on a proposed zoning change, the matter comes to City Council to affirm or deny the recommendation of Planning Commission.  Under City Ordinances, there must be a published notice of public hearing at least 30 days before the matter can come before City Council for consideration.   The notice was published and the 30 day notice period meant that the matter would not come to City Council at the October 3rd meeting, but rather on Tuesday’s meeting on October 17th.

The delay was not staff driven, Planning Commission driven, or at the request of either KHN or Atrium Medical Center.  It was simply a matter of Middletown law which requires that people know about the proposed change and have 30 days opportunity to express public opinion, both at the Public Hearing, and also to their City Council representatives.

Why did Mr Adkins’ Planning Commission recommend opposing Kettering’s request?? Mr Adkins may have had a lot to do with Planning Commission’s denial. It seems rather convenient that he brought up the zoning ordinance that “requires 4 affirmative votes to overturn Planning Commission’s recommendation. (He has total control over these boards and commissions! Remember when CVB didn’t do exactly as Adkins wanted?? So, he forced the entire board to resign and replaced them with his own puppets; even though requests for resignations and appointments to boards is a function of council).

The KHN zoning request was set to come to City Council today.  Under Middletown Ordinances, if City Council wishes to reverse the recommendation of Planning Commission, it takes an affirmative vote of four of the five Council members to overturn Planning Commission’s recommendation.  Four out of five City Council members would need to vote yes to allow the KHN zoning to be changed to permit hospital beds at the new facility.  City staff recommended to City Council that the zoning be changed to allow the beds as requested by KHN.

This is a misquote … the zoning ordinance amendment does not describe the total number of council members as 5.

Here’s the amendment found under Middletown zoning ordinance which addresses Council’s voting requirements to overturn a Planning Commission recommendation:

1284.01 of the Middletown Ordinances
http://library.amlegal.com/nxt/gateway.dll/Ohio/middletown_oh/parttwelveplanningandzoningcode/titlefourzoning/chapter1284amendments?f=templates$fn=default.htm$3.0$vid=amlegal:middletown_oh$anc=JD_1284.01" rel="nofollow - -

WCPO, Channel 9 TV news, has been doing investigative reporting on local police departments. (You can see it on WCPO.com) Three days in a row, their reports included a segment about specific complaints on Middletown police officers (three officers to be exact). The reports exposed records of misconduct from excessive and unnecessary use of force to sexual harassment.

Perhaps the most scandalous of these reports was the numerous filings against Lieutenant James Cunningham by fellow police officers (both male and female) concerning sexual harassment. Many of the complaints were made BEFORE he was promoted to lieutenant! There was minimal disciplinary action taken by Major Hoffman (who maybe should be held complicit?) for Cunningham’s numerous and serious violations. Cunningham, as a police officer, was doing the very things for which he could arrest others. It’s shameful that good officers have been subjected to such working conditions.

Were there many other incidents that went unreported or ignored? This investigation encompasses only the last 3 years. But what other violations and suspensions have occurred and been condoned by the police department and municipal court over the other 25 years of Cunningham’s tenure?

Since our city manager, Mr Adkins, has requested Cunningham for some of his “special” projects unrelated to policing, such as locating blight for the city to seize (or buy … like Bar Boca for $35,000) and tear down. It would appear that Adkins is also complicit!. Adkins had to know about Cunningham’s record, in fact, Mr Adkins was Prosecutor for the city when Cunningham was a patrolman and sergeant.

Cunningham has been allowed to retire rather than be fired or held responsible for his actions, thus continuing to be rewarded for bad behavior and Middletown residents are paying for it. He has demoralized our police department, maligned our residents and been the source of deep embarrassment to the city. NOW OUR TAX DOLLARS WILL PAY FOR HIS RETIREMENT!! One more financial nail in the city’s coffin.

Where was council when all this corruption was taking place? Were they waiting for instructions from Mr. Adkins or were they just oblivious as usual? Shouldn’t council have some questions for Mr Adkins at the next council meeting? Oh, they’re still waiting for instructions.

Wonder if the group of people who have been abused or maligned by Cunningham have thought of going for a civil suit?

More demolition. More demolition.More demolition. Less Middletown. Lost Middletown.

Here’s some slightly stale news that may be worth another look.

Journal News Friday, October 27, 2017

Butler students set for big transition

More demolition. More demolition.More demolition. Less Middletown. Lost Middletown.

Here’s some slightly stale news that may be worth another look.

Journal News Friday, October 27, 2017

Butler students set for big transition