Three Rivers News Dispatch November 12, 2022 |
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CLEVES Renewal Levy Passes on November 8th |
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Addyston Council Discusses Police Coverage in the Village |
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During its October 17th meeting the members of the Addyston Village Council discussed at length police coverage in the village. Councilperson Pam Jackson reported to council that the finance committee discussed hiring a third fulltime police officer for the village. Jackson said, “We need the officer to help out with our shortages and to fill in shift gaps.”
The “Finance Committee” also is recommending to council that council looks at raising the salary of full-time officers and to increase incentives for part-time officers.
Jackson also told council, “We have talked to the chief about rotating shifts and being more creative in our coverage. Currently it looks like weekend shifts are almost always open.” The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department has been covering the village when there are gaps in coverage.
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Councilperson, and “Police Committee" chairperson Ann Pillow added, “We met with the chief and the mayor on October 6th after the Hamilton County Sheriff’s department told the village it would be billing the village $10,000 for coverage for the rest of the shifts for October. We know that they can’t just bill us without talking to council.”
Jackson also told council that the village is unique in that the entire operation of the department is funded from the general fund, while other communities supplement their departments with a police levy. The Addyston Police Department receives about $320,000 and that represents 42% of the budget. Jackson warned council, “We cannot keep paying the entire cost of our department from the general fund.”
“I would like to bring the community in for meetings before we put on a police levy on the ballot”, said council person Ron Pugh. Dan Pillow also a member of council suggested that a document be created that spells out everything so members of council and the community can understand.
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Pillow added, “I am all in on keeping our police department. I know what happens in other communities. There was a rumor that the county was going to be here. I know what happened in Silverton when they got rid of their police department. We need to create a cohesive plan.”
Ann Pillow told council, “the cost for an exclusive Hamilton County Sheriff’s car for Addyston would cost the village $550,000 a year. A joint car shared between North Bend, Miami Township, and Addyston would cost $250,000 a year.”
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McDaniel Notifies Addyston Council about New Senior Health Care Center |
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Michael Mc Daniel, pictured here, came to the Village Council meeting last week to make council members and citizens aware that there is a new medical center available to Addyston residents who are 55 years or older. Dedicated Senior Medical Center is located in the Glenway Crossing shopping center at 5050 Glencrossing Way. The center is about a 10-minute drive from Addyston, and if seniors need transportation, it will just take a call to Michael to make it happen. |
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Dedicated Senior Medical Center is a one stop medical center. That means seniors will not have to travel for medical specialist services, x-rays, prescriptions, lab tests, or acupuncture. Dr. Michael Coffee (pictured here) is the primary care physician that oversees the center and has a long-standing relationship with specialists who are experts in cardiology, oncology, orthopedics, pulmonology, ophthalmology, neurology, pulmonology, rheumatology, and nephrology. A social worker is available to assist patients with their medical care too. |
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A unique medical service that seniors should consider is that doctors at Dedicated Senior Care will see you with or without an appointment. The average wait time before you will see someone is only 15 minutes, and the center’s video tour says that doctors at the center give their personal cell phone numbers to ensure that seniors receive the care they need. Subscribers can take a virtual tour of the facility by clicking on the arrow below. |
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In a phone interview with Michael McDaniel, the Dispatch learned that to ensure that patients receive the attention they deserve, Dedicated Senior Medical Center caps the total patient case load at 500 patients. Doctors like to see their patients every four weeks, if possible, to ensure that their patients remain healthy. They also provide VIP transportation services for patients who need a ride for their appointment. All a patient has to do is call Michael and he will arrange for them to be picked up for their appointment. |
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Dedicated Senior Health Care is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Michael also wants all Addyston seniors to know that the center is open for personal tours of the facility. He is even open to scheduling a van to pick up multiple residents from Addyston so they can tour the facilities. Dedicated Senior Medical Center also provides exercise, educational, and social events for their clients. |
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Hamilton County Resource Center Updates Addyston and North Bend on 5 year Plan |
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Gage Bradford of the Hamilton County Resource Center presented an overview of the organization’s five-year plan. His presentation followed an earlier visit to North Bend’s Council meeting in October. Last month Brad Johnson, Director of Environmental Services for the Hamilton County Resource Center gave a similar presentation at the Miami Township Trustee’s meeting.
Bradford, pictured here, told Addyston's Council that he was there to explain the 5-year revision of their 20-year plan. The plan is required by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and is designed to increase recycling efforts to reduce the quantity of solid waste that is deposited in Hamilton County's landfills. Part of the plan involves an equity plan designed to put more money into recycling efforts by underserved communities. This includes smaller communities such as Addyston and North Bend and other communities that are not located near our drop off centers.
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At North Bend's meeting, which has a curbside recycling plan that is paid for by individual residents, Bradford explained that smaller communities in the past have received a small amount back for their recycling efforts. The new plan is going to increase the minimum amount back to somewhere between $2,000 and $5,000.
Local communities will need to set goals to reduce organic and other waste from going into landfills to receive those funds. Communities such as Addyston and North Bend have been receiving amounts less than $500 a year. The hope is that communities will use the extra funds to develop local programs that will exponentially increase the amount of recycled products and decrease the amount of waste that ends up in Hamilton County Landfills.
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Bradford also explained to Addyston and North Bend Councils that the funding for the program is generated from TIP fees. For every ton of solid waste that is deposited in Hamilton County landfills from Butler County and Warren County we receive $1.00. Out of state deposits of solid waste in our landfills are charged $2.00 a ton. The Hamilton Resource Center collects about $800,000 and those funds will be reinvested in the 48 communities served by the Hamilton County Resource Center. |
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Both North Bend and Addyston Councils were informed about the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department Environmental Enforcement division. The Environment Enforcemental Task Force is also funded by the fees collected when outside entities t deposit solid waste in Hamilton County landfills.
North Bend Mayor Doug Sammons asked about how the unit operates. Bradford responded, "We rely on tips from the community about illegal dumping. There is a long list of items that are reported, but often it is about the dumping of mattresses and tires."
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Bradford ended his presentation by letting both councils know that he will be back in January to ask them to ratify the plan. The plan must receive 60% approval from the 48 entities in the county. Last time the Resource Center's Plan received approval of 100%. Bradford hopes to match that rate again in 2023. |
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Short Articles from Addyston Village Council's November 7, 2022 Meeting |
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Dan Pillow, chair of the Housing and Community Committee, told council that the committee is working to assemble a detailed list that is designed to make doing business better in Addyston regardless of whether or not the business is a commercial business or one that specializes in housing. The report is not complete, but when it is it will be emailed to other members of council.
Jennifer Anderson, Chair of the Public Works Committee, set its next meeting for Monday, November 14, 2022, at 6 p.m.
Pam Jackson, Finance Committee Chair made council aware that there is still work that must be completed before the Village meets with the auditors. “We have a lot of the work finished, but there are some things that need to be revised and completed" , said Jackson. Mayor Mears added, “I have seen the forms and they really look nice.” The meeting was not scheduled but will be as soon as members submit their availability. An ordinance must be passed by Council approving the changes before the end of the year.
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Addyston Police Chief Eric Pennekamp told council that a decision is needed to be made on candidate Ryan Welch as a full-time officer. Councilperson Dan Pillow responded, “For the record, I am looking for a comprehensive plan that includes an organization chart that shows the number of officers and their duties.” Pennekamp said that he is willing to create an organizational chart in the future, but right now he is trying to manage a department that is understaffed. He added, "Sometimes things change a the drop of hat. I am never sure if the person who is scheduled will show up for their scheduled shift."
Pennekamp told council, “If we are going to survive as a department, we need to transition from a part-time to a fulltime department. The climate today in law enforcement makes it difficult to staff a department. There are currently 41 law enforcement agencies in Hamilton County and about half of them are hiring too.” Pennekamp told council that the November staffing schedule has improved over October. “In October we had 15 open shifts, with the additional staffing he has now, there are only 3 full time shifts open, and 2 part time. The fact that Ryan Welch is now available to cover more shifts has made it easier to schedule.”
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Also, Council person Ron Pugh has resigned his position. Mayor Mears read to council his resignation letter. The Council now has 30 days to find a replacement, after 30 days, the mayor by law will fill the vacancy. Those in the community should immediately contact Mayor Mears or any council member to be considered. Don Mc Whorter, pictured right, was present for the meeting and told council that he is interested in replacing Ron Pugh on Council.
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Thumbs Down Given to North Bend River Project
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North Bend Mayor Doug Sammons informed council that the Village’s $4.7 million-dollar Congressional grant to develop the acreage that will be purchased from the Village of Cleves has been denied.
The Village received a $400,000 grant awarded by the Hamilton County Commissioners to develop a park that would include a William Henry Harrison interpretive center on the acreage the village is purchasing from the Village of Cleves. The closing that was to be finalized on November 1, 2022 has been delayed due to the need to add a couple of missing parcels of land which is part of the deal. Law Director Scott Sollman is handling the closing documents for the village.
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Sammons told the council that he has spoken to Joe Abner from Congressman Steve Chabot’s office and was informed that the Village's initial application was not approved by the appropriations committee. Sammons added, “I asked Joe for the names of the people who serve on the “Appropriations Committee” so I can reach out to them to tell them how important the project is to the Village of North Bend and to the history of the United States.”
Sammons has said in the past if the village does not receive federal funding for the project he will pursue raising funds through philanthropic organizations and private sources.
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North Bend Mayor Questions 119 N Miami in Cleves “Dispatch” Coverage
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North Bend Mayor Doug Sammons |
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Hamilton County Sergeant Mike Carney |
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Immediately following Sergeant Mike Carney’s monthly report of police runs in the Village, North Bend Mayor Doug Sammons said, “There has been a lot of writing about that property in Cleves”, referring to the coverage by the Three Rivers News Dispatch on the ongoing issues at 119 N. Miami in Cleves, Ohio.
Carney responded, “There is not much that we can do because it is all zoning issues. We can’t enforce zoning. As far as any criminal actions, they get enforced, they just don’t report on, referring to the Three Rivers News Dispatch, those because they are not newsworthy to Mr. Birkholtz.”
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Mayor Sammons added, “It just seems like there are a fair number of residents in Cleves up in the air about the property there. I know what we try to do here when we have had property issues. We actually had one torn down and the other one we got the people to move out because it was owned by the parents of the kids that lived there. We try to be proactive on these issues. Mr. Birkholtz reaches out to me, and I try to be open and responsive to him. He made some freedom of information requests and we provided them to him right away on our rental properties. It is always better for a government agency to be as transparent as possible. I think Mr. Birkholtz sometimes may rub people the wrong way, but as far as I am concerned, what he is asking for is legitimate information, and I am more than glad to share it with him.”
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This structure at 119 N. Miami is the trailer Sergeant Carney is referring to in his comments made during the North Bend Council meeting. Area residents have complained about people living in this structure and the homeless people who allegedly stay on the property. |
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This structure is a shed that people are alleged to stay at 119 N. Miami in Cleves, Ohio. A recent call to the Hamilton County Sheriff's department was made about a woman who was unconscious and not breathing from a drug overdose. A resident on the property administered 3 shots of Narcan before she regained consciousness. The shots were given before the Miami Township EMT's were on the scene. |
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In a direct response to Mayor Sammons’ inquiry on 119 N. Miami, Carney said, “It is just a person who has his ear. That person has issues with the people who live there and it’s just an everyday thing. She calls quite frequently. There is not a lot we can do. They claim there are 15-16 people living there. After one village meeting, we went over and knocked on doors and there were two people living there. One is the homeowner’s son who is living in a trailer because there was a fire in the upstairs. That is a zoning issue that the Sheriff’s office cannot enforce. The Village needs to take care of that.”
Subscribers can watch Sergeant Carney's comments by clicking on the arrow on the video below.
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The property has been an unresolved issue for the Village of Cleves for years. The following link is a Channel 19 report on that property from 2020 involving some of the same occupants.
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Editor's Note
Sergeant Carney was in error when he said the tenant who lived in the upstairs apartment before the fire and now is living with his dog in the trailer located in the yard of 119 N. Miami is the son of the owner.
There are two tenants who live at 119 N. Miami. The persons who occupy the property is a father and his son, but according to the Hamilton County Auditor the property owner is Ruby Hancock. The property is appropriately registered as a rental property on the Auditor’s site. Neither tenant owns the property. The tax bill for that property is sent to Ruby L. Hancock at 5063 Sandstone Circle Ct. Harrison, OH 45030.
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The Junction of Integrity CT and Prevarication Way Is a Very Dangerous Intersection |
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Think about it for a second! What are some of the most dangerous intersections on the “West Side” of Hamilton County? For me, the most dangerous intersection on the west-side is a four way stop at the intersection of Neeb Rd. and Sydney Rd. People regularly blow through the stop sign at Neeb even though it is a four way stop.
A defensive driver, yes defensive driving was taught in drivers education when I was in school, knows that even if you have the right of way someone might just blow through a stop sign and T-bone you.
There are many dangerous intersections that people must navigate throughout their lives besides the one at Neeb and Sydney. One such intersection that Hamilton County Sergeant Mike Carney should avoid in the future is located at the intersection of Integrity CT and Prevarication Way. That intersection is located between the council chambers of the Village of North Bend and the Village of Cleves. Those meetings are video recorded and just like a picture those videos give a complete and accurate record of what was said.
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Metaphorically speaking, Integrity CT represents honesty and truth, while Prevarication Way represents the avenue to mislead the public by misrepresenting the facts or omitting them. The Three Rivers News Dispatch works very hard to only travel on “Integrity CT” by publishing information that is complete, fair, and accurate.
I do not use “Prevarication Way” because to do so would require me to mislead the public by omitting facts and to knowingly publish information that is not true. I am not interested in destroying my own integrity. Personal integrity is important to me because without it I would have no credibility.
Unfortunately, in my view, Sergeant Mike Carney regularly travels down “Prevarication Way”. His statements to North Bend's Council were patently false when he implied that the articles found in the Three Rivers News Dispatch about 119 N Miami are because a resident (Monica Maddy) has my ear. While it is true that Monica Maddy has called and complained many times, Sergeant Carney knows it is NOT true that she is the only one who has complained about 119 N. Miami.
To refresh his memory, Sergeant Carney might want to revisit our text messages from July 18, 2022, August 8,2022, and August 12, 2022 and a CAD report about a fight among homeless people at 12:05 AM at 119 N. Miami on June 30,2022 made by a respected Cleves resident that was not Monica Maddy.
Sergeant Mike Carney blew right past the STOP SIGN on “Prevarication Way” and T-Boned the Three Rivers News Dispatch when he said in the North Bend Council Meeting, “There is not much that we can do because it is all zoning issues. We can’t enforce zoning. As far as any criminal actions, they get enforced, they just don’t report on those, referring to the Three Rivers News Dispatch, because they are not newsworthy to Mr. Birkholtz.”
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By making a false statement that the Three Rivers News Dispatch does not report on criminal actions , Sergeant Mike Carney must accept total responsibility for the T-Bone collision that occurred between himself and the Three Rivers News Dispatch that took place during last Wednesday’s Cleves Village Council meeting.
Prior to presenting his monthly "low information" statistical report, I decided to publicly challenge Sergeant Carney's duplicity by making the following public statement to Sergeant Carney in front of the members of the Cleves Village Council: “When you give your report for the month instead of just telling the number of criminal reports, please provide the details on any of those reports that you feel are newsworthy so I may report on them."
Please see video below to see how Sergeant Mike Carney answered my question. You will notice that he admits that he read the article in the Three Rivers News Dispatch about the overdose at 119 N. Miami.
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Unfortunately for Sergeant Carney, the facts are the facts. The facts do not support his dystopian view of reality. Sergeant Carney is sent by email every edition of the Three Rivers News Dispatch. Articles in the Three Rivers News Dispatch reported on criminal acts in its April 29, 2022, edition containing information on the fire at 119 N. Miami and a physical assault of a 45-year-old female who was hit in the head with a pipe.
The Dispatch reported on the criminal act of Vandalism/destruction of property in its June 20, 2022 edition. That article reported on a criminal act committed by an unidentified assailant who took a chain saw and cut through every step that led to the upstairs apartment at 119 N. Miami.
On September 29, 2022, the Dispatch reported on a man being shot in the arm with an arrow by his girlfriend’s brother on Shady Lane.
The Dispatch reported on October 7, 2022, a home invasion and stabbing that took place at 171 Pontius Avenue in Cleves, and in the October 25 edition reported on the overdose of a woman found unconscious and not breathing on the floor of the shed at 119 N. Miami.
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I wonder what Sergeant Carney hoped to accomplish by making the statement,
"As far as any criminal actions, they get enforced, they just don’t report on those, referring to the Three Rivers News Dispatch, because they are not newsworthy to Mr. Birkholtz".
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Was he hoping to undermine a legitimate local source of information? Or is it because he felt threatened? Maybe it is because the Dispatch used the Ohio Constitution to show that he doesn't know much about Village Home Rule? Or could it be he is just too arrogant to take the time to think about the words that came out of his mouth? Or maybe Sergeant Carney never thought I would hold him accountable for his misinformation?
I may never know. But I do know one thing for certain. Sergeant Carney's comments have failed the " Pinocchio Test"!
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During my 28 year career as an Ohio and Indiana public school administrator, I always operated on the premise that "misinformation left uncorrected becomes fact". This editorial is specifically designed to correct the inaccurate information that Sergeant Carney said in a public meeting. Is it possible that he did not read the articles that were sent to him? Absolutely! If that is the case, he needs to refrain in the future from making comments on a topics that he knows very little about.
As an officer of the law, it is is important for Sergeant Carney to be believed by the citizens he serves. If he continues to make statements that are easily proven false, local citizens will NOT take his comments seriously.
Public trust is built on the foundation of believability and making false statements will destroy that foundation.
In "My View" Sergeant Carney's foundation of believability has already collapsed.
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Zoning Enforcement and Rental Issues Center Stage in North Bend
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Council person Max Morgan, pictured here, updated council on the status of the rental applications in the village. North Bend sent out to all landlords who operate rental homes in the village their applications to return. Landlords are required to return application and inspection forms by village ordinance. Morgan told council that 19 rental applications and permits were sent out, of which 9 were returned, 7 were nonresponsive, and 3 were returned non-deliverable. Morgan added, “Those who did not respond were sent a second notice and those have not been returned either. According to our ordinance we can start fining them $150.00 per day for non-compliance.” |
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Mayor Sammons replied, “That is exactly what we should do! I am tired of property owners who do not respond to our letters and do not respect the laws of our Village. Send them one last letter notifying them of an exact date that the letter must be returned, and if they don’t return it, they will be fined $150 per day after that date.”
Village Law Director Scott A. Sollman will explore what options are available to the village to shut down a rental property for failing to have a permit to rent apartments or houses within the Village of North Bend.
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The Village also passed resolution 2022-28 to declare 346 River Rd. in North Bend a nuisance property. The three readings requirement was waived when council voted to declare it an emergency for the Village to protect public safety.
The property is rented to tenants by John Tisch. The Village wants all garbage, junk vehicles, and structures that have been built on the property removed since no permits were granted to build the structures.
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Miami Township Trustees To Hold "Ambassador's Meeting |
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The Miami Township Trustees invite all Miami Township residents to the "Ambassador's Meeting this Wednesday including those residents who reside in Addyston, North Bend, and Cleves.
The purpose of the meeting is for area business owners, civic organizations, churches, and area citizens to share information with each other. It is also a venue where members of the community can express their concerns and or needs. The meeting with be held in the Community Center on Shady Lane Rd. It will begin at 5:30 p.m.
The Miami Trustees Regular Meeting will he held following the completion of the Ambassadors meeting. The regular meeting will begin at 7p.m. this Wednesday.
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THIS WEEK at YOUR Miami Township Branch of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County |
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Carrie Bernard's Presentation about Upcoming JFK Assassination Program to the Addyston Village Council on November 14, 2022 |
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Click the link below to register:
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