The Three Rivers News Dispatch issued its first edition on August 17, 2021. Since then, it has reported on area events and government meetings in North Bend, Addyston, Cleves, and Miami Township. The subscriptions are free, and the number of registered subscribers has grown to over 1,300. The TRND also accepts no advertising fees. It encourages local businesses to submit advertisements by email.

March 25, 2024

In This Edition of the Three Rivers News Dispatch

February 29- March 30, 2024

NEW REVISED SHOP LOCAL

Village of Cleves Launches New Website

Rahall Retires Boyce Resigns for Health Reasons

Miami Township Ambassadors Meeting

North Bend Discusses Niehaus Condo Development

Pat Beck-June Rininger Memorial Park

Trustees Vote 3-0 To Change Zoning for Condo Development

Jordan Rd Residents Want Potable Water

Taylor Alumni To Raise $ for Edward Hearne Science Wing

Pete Papinia Rocks Senior Center

This Month at the Miami Township Library Branch

This Month at Miami Township Senior Center

The Latest In the Three Rivers Local School District

Cleves and Area Businesses

Disclosure Statement: The Three Rivers News Dispatch is written and operated by Cleves Mayor Elect Chuck Birkholtz. As of this edition, editorial comments will only be made if a subscriber editorial is submitted.

Village of Cleves Launches New Website

The Village of Cleves has unveiled a new website dedicated to the residents of Three Rivers Valley. While the previous website is still available, it cannot be updated due to the village officials' inability to retrieve the administrative rights of the prior administrator. As a result, a new and more user-friendly website has been developed. The new website offers more features and allows citizens to access the necessary information. Residents can opt-in to receive updates sent directly to their inbox. To subscribe to email updates just check the box.

The updates include notices from Cleves Waterworks about water main breaks or work events that may disrupt water services, village events, notices, blog articles, and video messages from the Harrison Symmes Memorial Museum, the mayor, the Miami Township Senior Center, and the Miami Township Branch Library. Please take a look at the picture below.

It also has information about current and past meetings. The following picture shows a link allowing visitors to watch the taped meetings for 2024. Before 2024, the Village did not broadcast its live sessions. Clicking on the blue link under MINUTES will allow visitors to watch meetings. It is a live link. Try it!

Area residents are advised not to Google Cleves. Doing so will take you to the old website, which has not been updated since December 2023. Instead, type in villageofcleves.us in your browser or click on this link villageofcleves.us

Finally, Cleves residents can report any concern to the Village or ask questions using the contact button on the main page. These concerns will go directly to the Mayor. Just click on the button, and the page below will appear.

Rahall Retires Boyce Resigns for Health Reasons

Long-time Cleves Village Administrator Mike Rahall submitted his resignation to council members following the February Council meeting. His resignation was effective March 8, 2024. Rahall, who served as Administrator for nine years, said it was time for him to spend more time with his family. He plans to take his wife to Italy this year. Rahall stated, "The Village of New Richmond recently asked me to apply for their vacant position, but it is not the right time."

Rahall, in a Nextdoor posting, said, " After 35 years in municipal government, I've decided to move on. I've had the distinct honor of managing a city, township, and village. I've met and worked with some amazing professionals in that time. Many will remain friends for life; a few not so much, but you dance with who brung ya. I'm looking forward to more golf, travel, pickleball, and babysitting grandkids."

The Cleves Village Council discussed replacing Rahall at its March meeting but decided to examine it more thoroughly. Instead, they named Village Solicitor Rob Merkle to oversee the water department until the council decides what to do.

The Village Council also learned this week that Judith Boyce has resigned for unspecified health reasons. Boyce was elected as a write-in candidate in 2021. Ms. Boyce was best known for starting up a 503-C to fund a private committee to beautify the village. In the last two years, her efforts have seen flowers planted in the Village, new banners, the Yard of the Month program, and a Farmers Market.

Ms. Boyce's position must be filled by the Village Council by April 15, 2024.

Miami Township Ambassadors' Meeting Designed To Keep Citizens Informed

Miami Township residents who attended the second annual "Ambassadors Meeting" learned about what is happening throughout the township. Trustee Mike Robison served as the master of ceremonies for the evening. Robison told the audience, "It is important to reach out to more Miami Township residents than just the ones who attend the regular trustee meetings. By being here tonight and learning what is happening in the township and Hamilton County, we all can be good ambassadors and spread the news of the good things happening to our neighbors.."

Ohio Representative Bill Seitz told Miami Township residents that while he is not their representative, he has worked hard to support Miami Township with legislation that helped build Miami Township Fire Department buildings and parks by sponsoring legislation that created TIFF funding for infrastructure improvements in the township. Recently, the legislature extended TIFF funding until 2039.

Seitz also stated that he supported North Bend’s proposal for CBC state funding for $700,000 for their riverfront park project and that the Ohio income tax brackets should be reduced from seven to two. The maximum income tax that Ohioans now pay is just 3.5%. He also touted that Ohio now has the flattest tax of all midwestern states.

Hamilton County Commissioner Denise Driehaus also spoke to Miami Township residents about representing them at the County Level. Driehaus, who also spoke recently to the Cleves Village Council, talked about funding opportunities provided by Hamilton County. Driehaus said, “As Commissioner, I represent every resident in Hamilton County. I have been visiting all forty-nine jurisdictions to ensure everyone knows and can use our Menu of Opportunities.” Driehaus also spoke about raising salaries for the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department deputies.

Driehaus said, “We must provide a competitive wage for our deputies, which is why we must ensure everyone pays something for police protection. That is why we are working to get all jurisdictions to pay something for that protection."

Three Rivers Local Superintendent Dr. Mark Ault spoke about the district's students' many academic achievements and emphasized the great jobs the teachers do to prepare students for success in life.

Ault frequently speaks at all village council meetings, providing updates on the district’s enrollment trends and academic and sports programs. He told the audience that the district has successfully negotiated a new teacher contract. At the same time, he assured the audience that the district’s unique salary schedule has saved the district money and has helped maintain a quality staff. The district’s starting salary schedule is very competitive, which allows the district to compete and hire the best candidates when there is a vacancy. It somewhat flattens out during a teacher’s mid-career and accelerates again towards the end of the career as teachers approach retirement. It has saved the district money, helped retain teachers long-term, and allowed them a salary at the end of their career that provides a higher retirement income.

Three Rivers Kiwanis President Scott Patraneks addressed the audience, too. He invited area residents to join the area’s most senior community service organization. We need to recruit more and younger members to continue serving the area's youth.

Other speakers, included Miami Township Library Branch Manager Carrie Bernard, Senior Center Director Karen Herbert, Events Center Manager Kerri Robers, Trustee Dan Blanton, Trustee Tim Vollrath, and Miami Township Administrator Jim Brett.

North Bend Council Discusses Niehaus Development on Queen Anne's and the "Road to Nowhere"Anne'Anne'

North Bend Council Person Bev Bolser updated the Village Council on a public hearing about John Niehaus' proposed development in North Bend. Bolser said, " We had a large crowd, and the place was packed." Mayor Sammons added, "We have not dealt with an issue this large before. But we tried to make sure that people remained respectful."

Residents from the Aston Oaks Community expressed concerns about the number of trees that would be removed and the hillside's slippage. Queen Anne's has had to have repairs done in the past due to slippage—concerns about stormwater runoff from the development.

Developer John Niehaus plans to build condominiums near the powerlines, which North Bend residents call the "Road to Nowhere." Pictured below is the area where the condos may be built.

Trustees Vote 3-0 to Approve Zoning Change for Condo Development

Developer Steve Helm announced plans to build condominiums in Miami Township near Bakers Insurance and United Dairy Farmers off Bridgetown Road. The land was rezoned to commercial property, but that project fell through. Helm asked the Miami Township Trustees to rezone it to residential. The Miami Township Trustees voted 3-0 to approve his request. The change in zoning returned the property to its original zoning designation.

Helm is the same developer that built Chestnut Park. The project will be similar to that development. Prices will start around $300,000. To hear the entire discussion, please click on the arrow.

Pat Beck- June Rininger Memorial Park

The Miami Township Trustees reviewed Pat Beck and June Rininger Memorial Park plans. The park will be located at the intersection of East Miami River Road and Buffalo Ridge. It is named in memory of the late wives of former Miami Township Trustees Paul Beck and Jack Rininger.

Bayer and Becker planner Mark Rosenberger presented the visual plans of the park. Rosenberger stated, "The park's signage will be the same Miami Township blue as that used at Miami Township West Park. The park is designed to be safe and accessible to people with disabilities. A pavilion, swings, and other equipment will be installed. The park will have a black metal fence surrounding it. It is designed to allow parents to use the walking trail and other amenities but always be able to watch their children and retrieve them quickly."

Trustee Mike Robison asked the question, “Is this considered to be public input? Robison commented, “We need to do a better job involving the public to get their input or feedback on this and other projects, so they have the facts before we spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on projects.” Trustee Dan Blanton responded quickly, “We did have public input, but you were not here yet. This project has been discussed and planned for over five years. We have received a grant for $50,000 to help build a park that was taken away from the residents when we built the new fire station.”

The debate between the Trustees was a continuation of a discussion that took place last year when Trustee Robison questioned the wisdom of building a park at the East Miami River Road location. Last year, Robison questioned whether or not residents from the Deer Ridge Subdivision would use the park at that location. Subscribers can read the article on Buffalo Ridge Park by clicking on this link

https://conta.cc/3MFXqhj

Our subscribers can watch the discussion at last Wednesday's Miami Township Trustees meeting by clicking on the arrow below.

Jordan Rd. Residents Tired of Waiting for Potable Water Tempers Flare

Tempers flared at the March Trustees Meeting when residents from Jordan Rd told the Trustees they had waited long enough to have portable water at their homes. The Miami Township Trustees have been working to extend waterlines along Jordan Road for over three years. Miami Township Board President told the residents that he had been working with Cleves Mayor Chuck Birkholtz to bring back the old pumping station at the Cleves Maintenance Building so that residents could fill their cisterns with potable water.

The issue stems from a more significant concern that the trustees have addressed for years: ensuring that the residents have installed waterlines to support fire hydrants and protect their homes. Those conversations have involved Cincinnati Waterworks, the Trustees, former Cleves Village Administrator Mike Rahall, and Cleves Waterworks. Blanton told the residents he hopes waterline negotiations with Cleves Waterworks will be successful this year. Until then, Blanton said, "the Township has committed the funds to reinstall the pumping station.

Jordan Rd residents told the Trustees that they were tired of waiting. One resident shouted, "It is time for you to take care of the necessities instead of building parks and amphitheaters. All this time, I have had to use nonpotable water. It is not right."

Subscribers can watch the Jordan Rd residents express their concerns about water by clicking on the arrow,

Taylor High School Alumni To Raise Money for Edward Hearne Science Wing

Every one of us has at least a few school memories of “that teacher” who really made a connection with us. For many at Taylor High School, Ed Hearn was that teacher.

During his 35 years as a teacher at Taylor, Mr. Hearn inspired many students. Now, a group of those former students has contacted the school about acquiring naming rights to designate an Edward Hearn Science Wing at Taylor High School. In case you were not aware, Mr. Hearn passed away in 2017.

We remember Mr. Hearn as the teacher who pushed students to experiment, to ask questions and ‘think outside the box’ - skills that we would need even if we didn’t follow a science-related career path. He instilled in his students that attitude of “learning is an exciting adventure”.

Our fundraising goal is $10,000. Donations will go into the account that is used to support the school’s capital needs, which will include the signage that will identify the science wing with Mr. Hearn’s name, years of service as a teacher, and other information.

So, how can you help? First, you can contact as many of your classmates who benefitted from Mr. Hearn’s teaching and urge them to get in on this effort.

Second, you can personally donate to the funding. A motivated former student has offered to match any contributions made, up to the amount needed to fund this campaign.

The Taylor High School Alumni Association will receive donations and transfer them to the school for this purpose. If you would like to send a check, make it payable to the Taylor High School Alumni Association, be sure to write Ed Hearn Science Wing on the Memo line of the check and send it to:

Taylor High School Alumni Association

PO Box 94

North Bend, OH 45052

Do you have questions? Text/call 812-907-0504 or email [email protected]

This fund raising campaign will be open from January 15 – April 15, or until our goal amount is met.

Please help us honor Mr. Hearn, a great teacher who inspired many students at Taylor High School. Thank you for spreading the word to get this legacy project accomplished.

Pictured below (L to R) are Steve Puckett, Mr. Hearne, Bill Felix, and Bill Bennett- Class of 1971.

Pete Papania Rocked Senior Center

Pete Papania performed a medley of songs during a live concert at the Senior Center in downtown Cleves on March 7th. Residents heard renditions from Elvis, Roger Miller, and Ben E. King, among others. In the video below, Pete Papinia performs Roger Miller's Hit Kong of the Road. Ben E. King and Jay And The Americans performed the second song. Join in on the fun by joining your Miami Township Senior Center. This Magic Moment.

NEW SHOP LOCAL SECTION TO HIGHLIGHT BUSINESSES IN THREE RIVERS VALLEY

The Three Rivers News Dispatch has revised the Shop Locally section of our electronic newspaper to make it easier for residents to access information about local businesses. We serve the residents of the Three Rivers Valley and want the companies that serve our community to grow and prosper.

We will continue to add businesses in future editions. Whenever possible, we have included websites and Facebook pages to make it easier for subscribers to shop locally.

Our revised section has added Regina Bakery, Wild Mikes, and the BIERmarkt. In our next edition, we will add Kroger, Sullivans, North Bend Automotive, B& B Automotive, Java Jackets, Papa John and Fishtails, Gerard Heating and Air, and PNC Bank.

TRAM FOOD PANTRY NEW Location

The TRAM food pantry has served in various locations to serve those in need in the Three Rivers Valley. It changed its location to the Miami Township Hall complex this summer. Also located in this complex is the Harrison Symmes Memorial Foundation Museum. The entrance to the food pantry is on the right side of the building towards the back of the building. Please see the pictures below.