Board of Trustees - Regular Meeting

Please rise and join me in the pledge of allegiance. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Welcome to the E Township Board of Trustees regular meeting agenda, October 14th, 2025, 6 p.m. Mr. Mr. Campbell, let the record show all three trustees are present. Mr. Campbell, is there any correspondence from the fiscal office?

There is. I have one. It's a uh liquor permit. It's for uh it's a new permit for Waw Wa Midwest LLC uh 4630 I Cole Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45244 uh Union Township. And I have all the corresponding documents. It is permitted use. Um that concludes the correspondence. Thank you, Mr. Campbell. Uh gentlemen, tonight we have proclamation special presentation. Uh we want to welcome Union Township um fire department uh Brady uh firefighter Brady Gregory up uh as we're going to be recognizing his 10 years on October 26th, 2025. Um Chief Clemens, you have a few things to say.

And Brady, where you at? Yeah, come on up.

So, firefighter Brady has been with us, uh, Brady Gregory has been with us here for 10 years now. Um, Brady and I used to run the neighborhoods here in the township together. We actually grew up on the same street. So, uh, we've been been at it for quite a long time together. Um, so once we once I became the chief, as you all know, we kind of updated our patch and had a new logo and a new look. And with that comes new uniforms. And if anybody's been a part of uniforms knows what a task that is. Uh firefighter Gregory uh spearheaded that and is in charge of all of our uniforms. Um he is consistently looking at different vendors and options of ways we can save money um and utilizing different vendors and different materials. So um that's what he does outside of his normal duties as a firefighter paramedic. He's been a great employee for 10 years and he's got 15 more to go. So we hope so. Awesome. Thanks, Chief. Trusty deals.

Brady, good people. Thanks for being here tonight. 10 years. Yeah. Is that your Is this your family here? Yeah, that's my wife. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Thanks for giving to us. The uh Freddy, good people. Every time you always got a smile. You're always love your job. You clearly tell that you're passionate and so appreciate you being here for 10 years. Thank you. Absolutely. Trusty Becker. Yeah. Just I want to thank you for your service. And do you have any stories you want to tell us? Anything interesting, bizarre? But it's all interesting and I don't think we have enough time. All right. Fair enough. Well, thank you for your service. Thank you.

Awesome. Well, Brady, we have uh we have this in recognition for you tonight. Stick around a minute. We're going to do a personnel action for the police department as well. Uh then we like to grab uh you know handshake and team photo with you if you don't mind. And we really appreciate your your years of service. love seeing out in the neighborhood. You're always so great with all the kids. Uh and you know that fosters that next generation of people that no matter where in their community that they choose to serve, it matters that they see people that are public servants that love their careers, love their community more than anything. And that inspires them to to find where they're going to fit and where they're going to add value to the community around us. So thanks for your your part and what you do for that.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. [Applause] uh personal actions. Uh police department chief ree if you would please uh as we consider Jonathan Isaac Smith. Isaac Smith for the position police officer if you'd please introduce him and Isaac.

Thank you Mr. Logan. Uh tonight I'd like to present Jonathan Isaac Smith to the board for the position of police officer for Union Township. Mr. Mr. Smith is a current resident of Butler County and is a 2022 graduate of Lakota West High School. Mr. Smith is also a 2025 graduate of the Great Oaks Police Academy where he obtained his OPAD police officer certification. Mr. Smith has successfully completed all pre-employment requirements for the police officer position, including a background investigation, a polygraph examination, and a psychological assessment. I am requesting that the board appoint Jonathan Isaac Smith to the position of police officer in accordance with a collective bargaining agreement pending the successful completion of a physical examination. Mr. Smith's scheduled start date is October 21st, 2025.

Thank you, Chief Trusty Dills. You prefer Isaac or Jonathan? Isaac, sir. Isaac. Okay. Isaac, you got your family here, right? Yes, sir. Oh, yeah. Introduce them, please. Please. So on the left hand side I have my girlfriend Brooke and then next to her and my father Aaron. Then my mom Jennifer and then the far back I have my cousin Michael who's with me and his wife Shelby. It's awesome. It's awesome. The uh so you you live in Butler County, right? Yes sir. So just curious out of all the police departments, what what opened the door here for Union Township? Yeah, at Scarlet Oaks, we've had a lot of um different police departments kind of come in, introduce themselves, and recruit. Yeah. Union Township stuck out the most to me. Why is that?

Very professional. Immediately when they came in, you knew what whenever they came to talk, they had purpose and reasoning behind it. A lot of departments just came in and tried to sweeten the deal, but whenever they spoke, they kind of took everyone's attention away from the work they're doing, from thinking about lunch in 10 minutes, just to kind of focus on them, hear what they had to say. Yeah, you you're you're basically already hired on, so you don't have to, you know, bloom.

I love that. Love it. Appreciate you choosing us. The uh the uh you um you're going to notice the camaraderie just it's it's awesome here. It's awesome. and and and guys that come here, they stay here. So leadership's great here. I noticed that. And so um we'll push you, but uh I think also you'll become a fine officer. So yeah. Yeah. So appreciate you being here. Absolutely. Thank you. Trustee Becker. Yeah. So uh yeah. Well, welcome aboard. And it's kind of a followup to Trusty Dill's line of questioning. So, you know, was it the reputation of Chief Ree or was it the reputation of the board of trustees that want you brought you here? It was us, right? That's the right answer.

Yeah, I would say it's definitely Chief Ree and Officer Smith and Lieutenant He brought with him definitely stood out. All right, sounds good. All right. Well, welcome aboard. Thank you. Are you looking to do a ride along with him soon?

All right. Um, well, gentlemen, uh, it's always great to have a new hire, uh, especially for our police department. Um, these guys have said it. So, Isaac, uh, look forward to welcoming you and seeing you around Union Township. Uh, gentlemen, with that, do we have a motion to hire Jonathan Isaac Smith for the position police officer of the probationary service rate as established in the collective bargaining agreement effective date October 21st, 2025, 12:01 a.m. pending successful completion of medical physical examination. Do we have that motion? Yes. So moved. Second. Roll call. Mr. Dills? Yes. Mr. Becker? Yes. Mr. Lo? Yes. Motion carries.

Congratulations. Congratulations. [Applause]

Hey, congrats.

Welcome. That's great. Great job. Thank you. made my day. [Applause]

All right, we're moving on to public comments. There are public comment cards at the back corner of the room there. Uh if anyone um is interested in speaking, we just ask that you get a public comment card for us and bring it up uh for us. Uh so I'll just start at the top of the pile here. Got Mel Dit like to welcome to the podium. Melvin Dwit 3902 Banks Road, Union Township, Ohio. um for a change that's going to be a compliment rather than a complaint from me. It's going to be about the wall this weekend. It was very good to work with uh Elizabeth and on the prep for it a little bit. Had to put my two cents in here and there. It was very um very good to be able to talk with the veterans in particular as the wall was up and some of the uh citizens and see that they really appreciated it being here. Now, if I may break with protocol, may I ask for a couple other people to come up here for just a moment? And that would be Corey Wright and Elizabeth Hour.

Lisa, you you looking for Lisa? Lisa R. Lisa. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Um, is that okay? Yep. Lisa. Corey. Yeah, of course. Please. Okay. The practice of giving um challenge coins dates back to the Roman Empire times. And I know of um two people right here that put in a lot of work with the wall and they both deserve the coins.

Thank you. Like I said, compliments for a change. Thanks, Mel. Thank you so much. Thank you. Appreciate it.

Thanks, Mel. I feel that I have to disagree because I feel like everything's always a compliment coming coming from me. So, I appreciate that even further. Uh, Kyla Hucker. Hello, 1320 meets drive. Um, I wish I had a compliment. I could probably come up with something, but I wanted to ask, um, I've been attending your meeting at Betavia Township and I learned there's CIC committees and port authority committees in the county level. And I was wondering if you guys worked together. Reason being is when I attended a meeting previously, there was a comment here that I think one of the trustees had said they weren't interested in approving any more multifamily or storage projects, but the Claremont County Port Authority is looking to put out loans and tax exemptions for I think expanding provisional living off Buck Buckton and putting in a multifamily project by

called DC lane phase two both to be off Buck Buckston and I was just curious if all these layers of government that I'm discovering do you guys work together because I've heard you guys talk about overlays and planning and industrial places and commercial places and res people live in those areas and I wonder do you guys all work together or are these separate entities that you guys may say no or multif family or big projects, but then the county can come in and offer the same thing that you guys aren't really looking for in the township. So, I was just wondering, you don't have to answer now. I'm just curious because I've got all this new information and I don't know how to sort it all out and I don't fully understand it.

Thanks, Kyla. Well, I firmly believe that government works best when it works together and for the efficiency for the people. Uh that's really the whole platform that I ran on when when I got involved much like you just kind of digging into some things and and got involved. So um to answer your question uh a little bit more detail, I think we can have Mr. Wright speak a little bit specifically about what's going on with the Port Authority right now. And so in addition to that and really the nuts and bolts of that, um you can have that idealistic viewpoint. government should all work together for the efficiency of the taxpayer and for the best benefit and service to the taxpayer. Jurisdictions do have different uh black and white types of authorities and different types of power and influence, but that's where being a representative it can be beneficial to have open lines of communication with with those other entities and and be able to leverage and utilize that when it's possible just to be able to use soft influence when it comes to making change on your behalf. Mr. Wright, would you like to share just a little bit about the Port Authority right now?

Sure. So, the Port Authority is uh basically a different uh formation of government than the township. And so, the township does operate its own CIC, Community Improvement Corporation that is separate from the township, has a separate uh set of books, has a separate audit, all of that. The port authority is a separate entity altogether. I believe on those two projects that you referenced, those are projects that had prior approval. there was no additional approval. And what they typically offer is they will offer a what a sales tax exemption on the construction. That's typically an incentive program that the port authority offers and they do that on many many large projects. Usually it's a it's a project of scale that in that exempts hard goods on construction. Doesn't exempt labor or anything like that. It's just about the hard goods like the the sticks and bricks and all that that build that build the project. So, so it's not uncommon to see a retail project or a residential project or an assisted living project or any of the sort reach out to the port to achieve that or an industrial project for that matter to achieve that sales tax exemption to help offset some of those costs on the project. In fact, a project that also got that um and uh is the Hamilton Safe project, which is an industrial project off of Round Bottom. So, there's a perfect example. If you look up Hamilton Safe, you'll see that the Port Authority actually retains title to the property and it's in a lease back position for that. That's a totally separate entity of government. That's a program that they run. They also have the ability to issue debt. Uh we have used the Port Authority, I believe, in the past uh when we did some credit enhancement and things with Jungle Gyms to to do that on on a special assessment. So there's a number of different ways that those entities work together, but they also have their own incentives that they can offer outside of what maybe the township can offer because of course we don't have a

sales tax to exempt. The township does not whereas the county through the port can do sales tax exemptions on that. So that's really what that what that does. All right, that helps me understand some. But the project I don't think those are finished. They're supposed to meet tomorrow at 3:00. the port authority to finalize those. They have to review those and yeah, they they review those and they'll take action on that. Yeah. All right. But they don't come with you guys don't get together to say we want to do this or we were wanting to do this. We've already approved both of those projects. Okay. So, they did come through you. They they came through a prior board. Okay. So, they've been on the books for a while. They're just building them now.

All right. Well, that helps. Thank you. You're welcome, Lisa. Brit Brighthelped Bright Help

Lisa Bride 7358 Hollywood Drive that's in Westchester. I just wanted to come this evening and introduce myself. I'm the new branch manager at the Union Township Public Library as of last week. Although I've worked for the Claremont County Public Library for almost 32 years. And I wanted to encourage all of you and everyone in this room to please come and visit us just across the highway at that big beautiful building. We have 70,000 items that can be checked out for free. Don't go buy a new book in these economic times. Come and borrow it from the library. Save yourself 30 bucks. Come and rent movies from it. Oh, I shouldn't say rent. They're free. And I also am the notary there. So, we provide free notary service for everyone at all 10 branches in the Claremont County Public Library. And we have free programming for children, adults, precious seniors. Um, just I wanted to encourage all of you to come and utilize our space. Oh, also free meeting rooms. Free meeting rooms. So, if you want to hold a baby shower, a wedding shower, a birthday party, you don't have to clean your house. You can come and rent a meeting room at the library. Okay. So, thank you for your time.

Thank you, Lisa. Chairman, may I make a comment on that topic? Yeah, please. Um, so um I you know, I appreciate the you know, the library and and I'm a steady customer, at least my wife is. And you know, you mentioned uh getting movies. You know, it's there's a lot of um television series that are also available, and that's something my wife and I typically do. So, we go to the library and get them for free. We're currently watching the NCIS Los Angeles versions. Yes.

And and working through that, and I think we watched the um the Washington version of NCIS up until I guess we caught up with like current time and then we ran out of the videos, but then we'll we'll uh pick up on those too once they start stocking them. So, we're steady customers of yours and we really appreciate the library. So, thank you. Right. Thank you. We appreciate you.

That's all Jeremy. My uh my my three kids use the library quite frequently. They're seven, five, and three. And and uh we we we sometimes uh have to pay our our dues for uh the abuse that little kids will put on books uh to the library as well. But that's all fair. It's all fair and it's it's worth it. So, they really enjoy the services there and and the space you provide. I know it's been great place for my wife and her Bible study to meet uh again. So, you you really do provide I'd say really nice foundation in the community. Uh last month we had someone up here speaking about mental health services in the community and I believe it's the type of proactive preventative type of services that your library is able to offer because America you know really founded on uh a a strong creative thinking inquisitive mindset uh founded on the Bible my my faith there and uh you guys I I I really believe that you address a lot of the um ecosystem type of needs in the community right now. So, thanks for what you do.

Okay. All right. Thank you, Lisa. We have another public comment. Yep. Please come on up.

Hey, thank you. Appreciate it.

Good evening, gentlemen. My name is Brenda Vega. Um I live at 6930 6931 Golden Gate Drive. Um I am the swan lady. I've been for the past seven years. Well, it's going on eight now. Um first of all, I want to tell you guys that all the citizens and patrons I've talked to at the park at Veterans, they are so thrilled with all the changes and they wanted me to thank you all for that. Um especially the swings around the pond. They're just in they're they're they're in love. I even took advantage of that at lunch today and and and sat there as well after I fed them. Um this is Mr. I know you're overwhelmed, Mr. Taylor, but I was wondering if there's any way if we're going to have a lot of more people coming to spend time there if we could somehow drag that pond. Even if we need to use the long boat like we did to rescue the one that's miss uh previous Stan Deling and we rescued the one with the hook between his uh his neck. Yeah. I've um that's an ongoing issue is because there's so many lures and you know items in there that are and if people are going to be coming to see the swans, we've even discussed that that people do come just to enjoy them that they um we need to clean that pond. I'll get out there and help. I'm a volunteer. I don't get paid. I do this because I love it. I love this place. I love the township. I love the people and I adore the swans. And so I started this many years ago. um being their overseer. Um so if that's any way we could do that, I mean, I'm I'm on board for free. Just give me a pair a pair of waiters because I'm not going back in that pond again and riding boots, please. It's really gross. But today, I also noticed that maybe the people are still fishing there often, too. And there's nothing to

catch there except for a mess and break off another line, you know, and that's all they do. And I' I get kind of irritated, but I just keep my mouth shut and just go about my business. But you know that you've got that fully stocked pond at Cleer Park and nobody hardly uses it. But u the ones where the swans are should be, you know, no fishing, no swimming, you know. Um that's just common sense like the cemetery and TQL. Speaking of TQL, when I went by there today, um the two females that we thought were mated, male and female pair turned out to be, I call them Lebron and Shirley now. They um were over across the boulevard and were grazing in the uh eye institute's front lawn. So, I had to stop and corral them in the hissy fisty and the attack mode and all that stuff. We no big deal. So I got them back to the pond down the hill, you know, out of safety or out of danger into safety back into the pond where they belong. So maybe we should put up like a, you know, be a swan crossing sign or something because the way people drive through there, it's like incredibly crazy. But that's all I wanted to say. But especially thanks for all the upgrades on that pond on the Veterans Park. It's beautiful. It's absolutely incredible what you guys did. I mean the grant I mean it's welld deserved and if we could allocate just a little bit of time if you cats it I mean anybody who wants to organize a crew I mean I'm in I'm on it. I mean I'm ready to work you know and I do it for free because of my love you know and that's just the kind of person I am. So I'll leave that Matt up to you. Let me know if you guys can do anything. A couple of your guys I think Adam was willing. I don't know about anybody else, but you know, that's just something that's dear to my heart. You know, those birds I've been raising them since they were juveniles. So, and they know me and they're well trained. So, okay guys.

Awesome. Yes, sir. Thank Thank you, Trusty Dillson. Yes, sir. Miss Brena, thank you for doing what you do and volunteering so much. And uh I did notice you said all the changes. Does that include the new playground as well you're talking about? Oh, absolutely. So, you spend a lot of time there at Veterans? Yes, I do. I've seen a lot. you get kind of a gauge of the temperature. Would you say that most the kids and the parents and all that they love that they adore it. They really do. I think everybody is just they're just their minds are blown. Minds are blown. Yeah. They have not see there's not a playground like that around anywhere. And and I mean even Anderson Township, they don't nobody has it a facility like that. There is everything there that they could ever want.

No one has a facility like that. And so I'm actually indirectly talking to Mr. Becker through you right now. And so we we we we pick on each other at this. We like to have this little bit of fun. So Okay. Yeah. Me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me and me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me and Mr. Lo were like this is this is a grand slam, you know. Oh, it is a good job, you know, and our administrator did a good job and and uh I thought it was very much needed. So I'm glad to hear that. Oh, it's it's amazing. At first it's good to get some feedback every now and then. At first I thought it was a splash zone. I was like, wait a minute, guys, that's going to make a horrible mess and who's going to maintain the gross water? But it's beautiful. Awesome. Cool. Love hear that. you know, people seem to be respectful of it too. So far, you know, yeah,

you know, it might cause a little more um for the police department to, you know, patrol that area is especially as nightfall and, you know, there's a lot of people unfortunately for the homeless people and a lot of people hang out up there and use the facilities for other things. So, that's might be an ongoing issue, but you know, I see and hear everything. I appreciate the feedback. Thank you, Miss President. Let me know. Yes, ma'am. Okay, I'm ready. and ready and willing before winter. Let's get her done. Thank you, guys. Thank you. So, minds are blown in Union Township. Totally hurt. That's that's that was the expectation. Yes, ma'am. I did not go out. I apologize. That's fine. That's fine. Yeah.

But we are going to play school here. So, if you'll take each of you take one, pass it down so everybody knows what I'm talking about. Okay. Enjoy that.

I I got another comment to say on that, but yeah. I'll wait till you get this. Um, my name is Rhonda and I don't know that I want to use my last name, but if you choose to ask me, I will be more than happy to. I live at 3673 Bristol Lake Drive. Um, hello township trustees. My name is Rhonda and I thank you so much for allowing me to share what I've been doing at one of your park benches at the Veterans Park. that faced the pond on Monday and Wednesday mornings from 10 to 12. On one of my mornings, your fine trustee, Mr. John Becker, stopped by to see what I was doing. And after talking with him with him, he asked me if I'd come and tell you about my mission. So, let me tell you about my mission. And I bring my wagon with me because this is what goes with me when I come to the park. And I know you're looking at me like, "This is a crazy lady." But I set up by the bench this sign. And I got this this idea from reading this book called the listening bench. You can get it on Amazon. I wish the library carried this, but they don't.

Uhuh. Write that down.

Write that down. They do this in Europe. is very very popular in Europe where people sit in benches and anybody can come and share their story with them because as you can see on the orange piece of paper it says most of us carry things. Some of us can't even talk to a friend or family member about them but they can certainly talk to a stranger. So I'm the stranger at the bench and I've been doing this well let me finish my thing here. I read this book by Randy Jud about two years ago and the subtitle says, "What would you tell a stranger in confidence?" And that question has stuck with me for a long time. It reminds me that many people long for a place to maybe share a piece of their story. It really touched me and I felt that maybe God was calling me to do this. So, in the meantime, I also volunteer at Hospice of Cincinnati on FiveM. I've been doing I do spiritual care down there, and I've been doing it for the last 15 years. So, during my time at hospice, I've learned the power of simply being present with people, of listening with compassion. Sometimes words aren't even needed. It's just offering a safe place for someone to be heard and to make a difference. After much thought and prayer, I decided to set up a sign and see what happens. I've been coming to the Veterans Park since September 8th, and I've had quite a few people come up to me and say, "What is this about?" So, after I explain to them and share the orange paper that I gave you all, they sit down and they share something. They've got something to tell me. Now, mind you, I'm

not a therapist. I'm not a counselor, but I feel that sometimes people just need someone who will truly hear them. Someone they don't know who won't judge them or try to fix things. I'm not a fixer. I'm a listener. It's amazing how much people carry inside things they can't always share with family or friend. It's such a simple idea, but just listening to them. but it could bring a little more peace and kindness to them. So, I give them the orange handout and if you if you look at the very bottom, it says, "The only thing you can you cannot tell me is a confession of a crime."

Chief Ree will be happy to hear those confessions.

I um that's just something I according to Mr. Jud in the book, they don't they that is part of it. So the very first person he ever met was a young lady who said,"I think I killed my mom." And he goes, "Wait a minute. What's the what's the only rule I have?" And she goes, "Well, I know I really didn't kill her, but I was caretaker." And she said, "I need your help in here." And she said, "Mom, just give me five minutes. I'm fixing your breakfast." She went in there with the breakfast and found her mom dead on the floor. She's never told anybody what happened. She never told anybody that if she'd have gone in there when she asked for it, she probably would still be alive. But she was able to share this with somebody. I've not had that happen to me yet, but I might. And if that's the case, it certainly won't be a crime. also that yellow piece of paper that I shared with you. Uh because I am not a therapist, I'm not a counselor, I encourage them to seek professional help and those numbers on that yellow piece of paper, hopefully they'll call and make some connections. So after they share with me, I ask them if they feel better. Most of them have said yes. So my goal is that they walk away a little lighter than they did when they sat down with me.

Do you have any questions for me? Chairman, may I? Yeah, please. So I I want to kind of tell the story of how we met. So I was in Veterans Park. I was looking in the bulletin board there. I was looking for something and I saw this 8 and 1 half by 11 flyer that was, you know, taped to the bottom of the bulletin board and I took a photo of it and I I sent Mr. Right. Do you know anything about this? He he didn't know. So nobody knew anything. So and the schedule was um Monday 9 to noon and Wednesday's 9. You still with that schedule? I'm changing it to 10 to noon because 10 to noon. Yeah. I I deliver backpack on Wednesday and I can't get there till a little bit later. So

Okay. So I went um I don't know was that following Monday or one or the other. And I and I drove through looking for her and I did I I saw her one day and she was with somebody and then I went back around. I maybe I guess it was the maybe that was on a Monday then Wednesday uh she was free. So I you know parked the truck and went to chat with her. So you know so I I just showed up and said I'm here to listen. Well that's you know she's the one that's supposed to be listening. I just wanted to know who are you? Why are you here? You know what what's going on? I just curious. So, I thought I'd be with her about five minutes. I was with her an hour and a half. And um you know, frankly, the the you know, the look, Rhonda, the look on your face was priceless when I told you the biggest problem in my marriage is that I can't get my wife to spend any money. I'd never get any sympathy for that.

Wait a second. Oh, the biggest problem in your marriage. She doesn't have I can't get my wife to spend any money. You are the think you might be the cheapest person I know in my life and your wife doesn't spend any money. So, we've got to talk with her about these incredible ideas like funding the playgrounds. We got to go to her. Oh, yeah. Good luck with that. Yeah, you're welcome to take take a shot. All right. But, uh, yeah, for my experience and and and um, you know, non-judgmental, doesn't press religion on anybody. She she's really awesome to chat with and and I I've been happy to get to know her.

Yeah. I don't um I don't mention God with them unless they share it with me first because that could be a real hurdle for them. So I I try to just listen to what they have to say. So anyway, Rhonda, the uh thank you for doing that. What a what a very cool thing to do. And uh that's neat. I'm just curious though, do you do you ever I mean because usually when somebody has something to say, they are looking for some kind of feedback or solution at all. Do do you provide that at all or no? I try not to. I I try to reinforce what they ask me. I try to make sure what they're asking me first of all.

Um um I'm not sure that they really want feedback. I think they just want somebody here. Now, I've had somebody say, "So, what would you do in this situation?" And I said, "Do you want me to tell you what I would do or what I think the right thing to do is sometimes?" So, um,

I'm I I guess I'm just trying to be somebody who I will share if they ask me. I I had I I will tell you one one grandmother has not seen her great-grandchild because of a conflict with her grandson. She goes, "What do you think I should do?" I said, "Well, what do you want to do?" She goes, "I want to see my grand my grandbaby." And I, "My great grandbaby." And I said, "Well, I suggest you call your grandson and have a heart-to-he heart with him and see what happens." And she said, "Well, I don't think he'll come." And I said, "You don't know unless you ask. You know, maybe he doesn't know how much you miss, you know, your daughter or your, you know, her great-g grandanddaughter." And I said, you know, she goes, "Well, I'm thinking about going to court." And I said, "Well, you better get your ducks in a row then because I don't know. I don't know how to handle something like that. That's not happen, you know." So,

really need of you. Hey, and then John, thanks for bringing her up here. Anybody else? Yeah. Any questions? Good job. No, this is great. And it sounds like you've made use of the bulletin board, which I just it's a low light, but it's it's something that this board uh looked back and forth at each other about a year and a half ago, right? Said, "Wow, there's not a bulletin board in the parks. We need to put a bulletin board out there." So, Mr. Taylor, thank you for getting all that stuff done. This is exactly what we're talking about. how you bring community together and now she's able to utilize the public space of bulletin board which you know we're catching catching things up. Well, I did hang a couple signs in the restrooms. I hung one in the ladies and my husband was nice enough to go hang one in the men's but they were gone. So, and that's okay. I did it.

You got a pure heart. Thank you for doing that. Thank you. Thank you. You all have a blessed day. God bless you. [Applause] Come see me at the bench. tell you folks like it's like a sitting with an angel from heaven. Thank you. I'm sorry I have to leave. It's okay. I have my HOA meeting. You definitely need that sign there. All right. Department reports Fire and Emergency Medical Services Chief Austin Clemens.

Thank you, Mr. Lo. Uh the month of September, the fire department responded to 189 fire and service calls, responded to 577 EMS details, made patient contact with 516 patients, and transported 428 of those. The fire department completed 1,149 hours of training, were part of 13 public education details, hosted ride time with EMT medic students for a total of 21 hours, completed two life safety inspections, and 15 joint inspections with the Claremont County Building Department. And that concludes my report. Thanks, Chief. Trusty Dills.

Chief, good job. Appreciate you, sir. Trusty Becker, Police Department, Chief Ree.

Thank you, Mr. Logan. In the month of September, the communications center handled 4,853 calls for service for police, fire, and EMS, and 5,339 total calls. Our records section issued one vendor permit for the month, handled 134 public records requests, and redacted 48 uh body camera videos. In the area of operations, our officers took 351 incident reports, 108 crash reports, made 435 traffic stops, issued 143 citations, 319 warnings, made 72 criminal arrests, 75 traffic arrests, and served 85 warrants. Uh, the honor guard in the month of September participated in the uh lantern lighting ceremony at Mount Mariah Park. And in the area of training, our officers attended 288 hours of total training in September. Uh with tonight's hire, um we are down to one opening that I'm hoping to fill next month. We have a subject in back background right now that looks favorable. Um one other thing I'll just add in the area of public relations, our citizen police academy, which I believe is our 18th uh CPA is wrapping up this month. Uh another big class, another good class. I know Mr. Dills is part of that. Um they'll be doing the ride alongs next week and then our graduation here at the end of the month. So another successful class. That concludes my report.

Thanks, Chief. Trust. Chief, I don't want to be that guy, but it's actually the 20th anniversary. Is it the 20th? 20th. Yeah. Yeah. Stand correct. Yeah. The uh um I was just going to touch on that real quick. And

uh you're usually each each week. It's every week for almost two and a half months, three months. And uh uh I've noticed first off very impressive with your detectives um because they'll they'll get a case and and the detectives only work the hard stuff. They don't work like a crash or whatever, right? So uh and but they'll get a case and they'll work on it. They'll work on it and then out of left field another case falls in their lap and they have to stop mentally what they're doing on this project and work on this project. Then another case comes up and then they got to circle back to the first one. just the brain power and how their mind works and just not it just it was very I was very impressive with with the amount of detail as well. But one thing I noticed with all of the officers that would come in to to train everybody, all the citizens is they have a really good fine line of being ultra professional but also down to earth and relatable. Um but it but and then also they took their job very seriously and also you could tell like okay this is a copy, right? So, so just it was a great fine line. I thought they did a great balance. Just very, you know, approachable. Anybody could approach them, but they knew their job very well and just uh uh just great great officers. Yeah. So, everybody does a fine job. So, I really I've actually I'm thinking three hours every week for for for 10 weeks or you know, three months almost. I'm like gosh, how much information can we possibly? I was wrong. I was wrong. A lot of information. It's good stuff. So, I'm glad we do it. Absolutely worth it. So, yeah.

Thank you. Yeah. Absolutely. Trusty Becker.

Yeah, I think I was one of the one of the first crews at least in the first five, six maybe some some years ago going through it and yeah, I've always strongly recommended it for for people to go through at the Citizens Police Academy. It's a really an awesome experience to, you know, you get to, you know, talk to the police officers, you know, one-on-one and ask questions and kind of get a better feel for kind of what they do and how they do it and how they deal with the emotions. But aside from all that, Chief Ree, I got three items for you. Uh so you know I like to to read the call out reports and and typically I find one or two items to kind of talk about publicly here uh throughout these and I've seen these before the the the use of drones. So you use the drones to sometimes find missing children. Sometimes it's for it's to view an accident scene from you know from from a higher altitude. Um so te tell us what do these drones look like? I mean, how big are they? And and you know, do they are they armed with anything other than a camera? And you know, how are the taxpayers getting their money's worth out of these drones?

So, most of them are really almost look like models. They're they're not very big. I would say, you know, they go anywhere from this small to this big. Okay.

Um, for the most part, we simply use them for the for their ability to videotape and to take still photos. Um, they can zoom in from very far away. And you're right, you hit on a lot of the highlights. We typically use them um if we have a missing child, if we have a a older person that suffers from autism, uh that wanders away from the house. Um they're very useful, especially at night. Uh we have one particularly that has infrared. Um that's proved very useful for us. Uh we shoot crime scenes, uh fatal accidents, uh that help our reconstructionists. And occasionally, and and it's very rare, we may get a situation that's a little hairy for our officers, and we may want to send a drone up to get a look at things before we respond. But those situations are very rare. Um, the one thing I love about our unit is is that, you know, we will call them out uh to assist with other departments and we have been asked to do that from time to time. So, it's good to be able to provide that service not just for our residents, but for the county.

Okay. What about the thermal imaging? So thermal, I can't speak too highly about that because I'm not trained to be a drone operator, but the thermal and the infrared, it does have those capabilities though, right? Particularly helpful at night if we have a subject like we've had children in the woods. Okay, we had an autistic kid that was lost in the woods. And um yeah, those are typically where those features come in handy.

Great. Okay, the next item I have for you is on the call out report, September 10th, ATM robbery at the Sherfax Credit Union. So read a kind of a couple segments here. Multiple subjects were observed committing the offenses which took place over multiple days. What what what happened? What can you tell us? And how'd you catch it?

Well, this is another quite frankly another flock camera success story. Um this was a pretty elaborate scheme. We had a group of uh foreign uh suspects. Uh they approached the ATM in the overnight hours. uh downloaded some malware onto the ATM and about three weeks later an individual came back from the same group and tested the the alarm to see if anybody would come. Um nobody came. So at that point with the malware being downloaded they were able to withdraw a considerable amount of money from the ATM. Now, the flock cameras uh that we have in the area, we were able to identify both vehicles, the the vehicle that the people that downloaded the malware and the vehicle helped the suspect that withdrew the money. Um and through through the use of the fly cameras and obviously we got considerable help from other jurisdictions, one particularly up in northern Indiana, we've identified all three suspects for both instances and one's actually in Claremont County Jail. The other two have warrants out for them. So, um, again, I I can't tell you how invaluable these flock cameras are with helping us solve these crimes.

Yeah, I love hearing these success stories. So, you said they were foreigners, illegal aliens. Well, I I don't know that for a fact, but I would guess that that's there's a good possibility of that.

All right. Very interesting. Okay. Last thing I have for you. Um, you know, I I do ask the public to contact me or, you know, really anybody they want with issues. And so it's a lady I was communicating with in the Viking village. And u what I want to read is an email that she just sent sent me today or sent uh to Chief Ree and copied me on it. Uh dear Chief Ree, I wanted to take a moment to personally thank you and your officers for addressing the ongoing issues with abandoned and long-term parked vehicles in Viking Village. I truly appreciate the time and effort your department dedicated to following up on these concerns and taking action. It is clear that your team went above and beyond, not only by towing abandoned vehicles, but also by citing improperly parked cars and issuing warnings where necessary. These steps have already made a noticeable difference in improving the appearance and order of our neighborhood. Please extend my gratitude to all the officers involved. Your department's attention to this matter and continued commitment to maintaining our community, our community safety and appearance are sincerely appreciated. Thank you again for your professionalism and responsiveness. So, you know, our police department just hits one home run after another. So, I wanted to share that with the public. Thank you, Chief Ree. I appreciate it. Thank you. That's all I have. Chairman,

thank you, Joseph. Thank you, Chief. Service department, Mr. Taylor.

Thank you, Mr. Lo. From September 1st through the 30th, uh, six burials were performed, generating $3,263. One resident grave was purchased for $700 and five calarium niches were purchased for $7,600. One cremation scattering garden uh was purchased generating $600. The total amount generated for the period was $13,939. I also wanted to express uh my gratitude uh as far as the lantern lighting event uh was well attended. I would also like to thank the board and the fiscal office and Mr. right for their continued support and presence uh during the event. In the parks division, uh landscape improvements were completed at the comfort zone and the splash pad and mums were planted at the civic center as well. And in the road department, uh the road department repaired and filled 27 potholes on eight township roads and a total of 16 orders were completed by the road department staff. And that concludes my report.

Thank you, Mr. Taylor. Mr. Taylor, your team did a good job um with the traveling wall park looked very beautiful, very presentable, 100% you and your team. There's no one else as you as you guys. I appreciate you very much. Make sure your team knows that. Um, roads are fine. I I don't think I've reported a pothole in quite some time. Um, and no one's reported one to me. So, I used to give you a bunch, you know, but I haven't had one once. So, good job to your team. Yeah. Yeah. Doing a great job, sir. Appreciate you. Trusty Becker. Yeah, I'm good. Uh, Mr. Jaylen get talking about potholes. Have you has

digitizing that and the request process has that been wellreceived for your team and you're getting good metrics through it? Good volume.

It is. It's actually helped us quite a bit because anytime um anyone would, you know, reach out to us, we would still put it on a work order. Uh but now more and more people are using the website. That's great. You know, to you know, and that helps generate the work order. generates it and pinpoints the the right data that your team needs to be able to go out and fix it more efficiently. So, that's great. You know, uh I just keep on seeing process improvement like that. Uh so, thank you for your team. Um yeah, you guys have done phenomenal work just around the township always in general. But you heard it tonight uh again with with Veterans Park. Minds are blown and you know, large undertaking that you guys have had with that. So, uh, it's it's it's really really positive and great buzz around the township, uh, overall from, uh, what, uh, every department's able to make an impact. So, thank you.

Planning, zoning, Mr. McCormack.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh for the month of September, we had 49 inspections for code enforcement, eight complaints, four of which were unfounded, two warning citations, five 15-day non-compliance letters, one 30-day violation letter, uh 26 cases resolved, 419 illegal signs removed, um 13 violations for the month, 28 reinspections and then violations, and two nuisances filed. In terms of permits, we had six commercial permits, five changes of use, eight signs, one temporary sign, four single family dwelling units, five additions, three decks, four accessory permits, 16 uh pool or fence permits or 52 permits issued, revenue of $12,285. And for the fire department revenue, we took in $300 for the month. Any questions?

Thank you, Mr. McCormack. Trusty Dills, I got nothing. Thanks, Mark. Becker, I'm good.

Thank you, Mr. McCormick. Great work. Administration, Mr. Right. Thank you, Mr. Lug. And I'll be very brief. We've had a lot of comments tonight. Um, got the contractor back at Splash Pad. that made the repair on the one segment and so we have some minor issues there ongoing and be winterizing that feature and getting it ready for the official official grand opening next year even though uh it was wellreceived. Work is now generally complete at Veterans Park. Uh I drove through yesterday and literally it was standing room only at the playground.

I mean it was the busiest I have ever seen. So, uh, you know, we'll schedule a ribbon cutting event in the next 30 to And I'm not kidding, and I'm just telling the board, I mean, it I think Mr. Taylor saw it, too. It's the most people I've ever seen. Um, and, uh, we'll schedule a ribbon cutting event in the next 30 to 45 days, you know, weather permitting, of course, on that. Um, and there's one item on here I want to I want to do that last, so I'm going to jump around a little bit. Uh, initial roundabout landscaping has been completed. Looks very good. We'll continue to add some additional beautifification to that. Mark's still working on the EV chargers. A lot of that has to do with ODOT's process, but I believe there's a light at the end of the tunnel uh forthcoming. They did green light combining the design and the construction or whatever. Uh and uh we've also received consultant responses for the systemic safety grant for ODOT or ODOT from ODOT for old 74 sidewalks. So, we'll be engaging that consultant soon. Regarding UTV, we received very very little feedback on that. So, it looks like, you know, we're going to migrate to a digital only platform with that as that equipment, you know, either it's going to fail or we'll just phase it out. We'll probably look to mid 2026 to do that. Um, assuming it lasts that long. Uh, service garage renovations are continuing. Uh, the process is a little bit slow, but it is measured progress and Mr. Taylor's troops have done a great job moving materials and equipment over there. It's amazing how much stuff you can fit in a relatively small space when given decades to do so. So, uh there's been some pairing down some some other, you know, uh efforts in that to enhance the efficiency of that operation. We have two resolutions for the board to consider regarding false alarm false alarm drops for both our police and fire. This is an inordinate drain on our resources and we need people to get with

the program and fix their alarm systems after three chances and this will provide us with some financial uh penalties for people who fail to take the appropriate action within uh a calendar year. You know, thankfully each department has developed a policy responsive to these uh so that we can effectively administer this if the board approves both of those. Uh we're waiting on we're still waiting to transfer the trail uh over at the former high school site. I believe that is imminent. There's one overlay case tonight. I believe Mark will be very brief on that as it is a continuation of a prior hearing. We have filed the OPWC funding application for the Elmont Drive project and the Baldwin Midding Road landslide projects. Uh looks like we may be successful in our funding effort. Uh however um I won't know until the scoring meeting at the end of I believe this week where we stand uh if we need to bump our funding contribution to be competitive. Uh you know obviously we'll we'll look to do that in partnership with the county on both of those. But I believe we're going to score very well. Um the county has pushed back the capital grant request process to the end of October. Uh you have a resolution this evening authorizing an LWCF grant application since we have not been successful and the county has uh chosen to allocate CDBG funds elsewhere other than Mount Carmel where there is probably the largest population of LMI people in the county. We are going to go after L LWCF funding. Uh it's a lesser grant match, but I think on our CDBG applications we were in the 60/40 range and with LWCF we're capped at 50/50. So this will give us sort of a beach head to make some more improvements in the Mount Carmel area. Uh if we're successful, uh we're still working through the Cleer Lane acquisition process with ODOT. We're kind of at their mercy. One other item tonight, you'll see a purchase order for uh

around $100,000. This is to replace both play sets at the Mount Carmel Park. This is covered entirely through an insurance settlement that is a result of a storm damage event that occurred. The equipment was obsolete. Manufacturer went out of business. New manufacturer refused to certify the parts. And so we had the opportunity to take advantage of a dollar for-doll matching grant program with DWA who did an outstanding job on the playground set at Veterans Park to where we're able to replace both playsets at basically zero cost to the taxpayers here. So that is uh we were able to take uh lemons and turn it into lemonade and I appreciate Mr. Taylor's support in that regard. Um we uh will uh continue uh to uh look to enhance uh our operations. Uh we are conducting a comprehensive review of our cemetery fees. I know the board did that a couple years ago. We cannot we just continue to subsidize that to the detriment of the general fund. And that is an operation where I believe we need to be competitive with top-of-the-line pier cemeteries, Rest Haven, uh uh Spring Grove, and um Gate of Heaven. I mean, those are the big three over here that I would consider us on par with. So, uh we'll continue to refine that and bring up our findings to the board at a later date for discussion. Um, one other item I do want to talk about or one other item we had mentioned, uh, you know, we have a license plate fee increase. We have the ability under OC to bump the plate fees. We haven't done that. Uh, we continue to need to do that and, uh, I will be bringing that forward to the board, uh, for two different hearings in December, um, for that. And there are some specific notice requirements that we need to uh, follow. Last item of business tonight, I want to talk about the wall. I know we've talked

about it multiple times, but uh I believe this was a moving and honorable tribute to the to our veterans, you know, both in the the township as well as the county in the greater Cincinnati area and veterans everywhere and uh to their to their sacrifice. Um, I owe a a special amount of thanks to Lisa R who developed and managed and oversaw the aspects of the event planning. And I would like to thank uh the police department and fire department, specifically Chief Ree and Chief Clemens for their steadfast commitment and the personnel as well as the command staff uh to ensuring that all aspects of the event were without issue and really a first class uh event in every regard. I also would be remiss if I did not extend my thanks to Matt Taylor and the hardworking men of the service department because without them there was no wall and those guys did a phenomenal job preparing the grounds, positioning the park, dealing with the rentals and the equipment and the staging and most importantly assembling and tearing down the wall and what uh the ABTT folks indicated was not I don't know if it was record time or not but it was really fast. We put that together. So without them uh we were not able to make that possible. You know, every chance I get, I say that our staff here at Union Township are really beyond comparison. They're the best of the best, and I owe each and every one of them a debt of gratitude for their performance and participation in this outstanding and moving event, and we couldn't do it without them. So for that, I say thank you and thanks for the opportunity.

Thank you, Justy Dills. Um, Mr. Wright, everything you just said I completely agree with you on in your entire reporting, especially the wall. Uh, it's pretty neat that we're the only ones in the area that is doing it. So, special. Um, we're going to have two hearings in December. Just for clarity sake, uh, are is this going to be business meetings or are they actually going to be working sessions? So, so there'll be bit the first hearing will occur at a business meeting uh as a under the public hearing section on December 9th and then the second meeting will be the following Monday which I believe is uh the 15th. Yeah.

And we have to have that hearing not less than 3 days, not more than 10 days consecutively. You have to have one and then the other. So that is the process that u we identify and that'll be one will be a regular business meeting and one will be a notice and scheduled uh special meeting for that specific purpose.

As far as the cemetery um yeah I think I think it just I mean there's only so much land left over there eventually it will run out. Uh we got years on it still but ain't much. So, I'm in agreements with you that hate to do it, but we lose money. The township loses money in cemeteries. So, I I you know, I'm 100% in favor. I'm mostly talking to the to the board of trustees uh and and raising the prices. I do believe if you're a township resident, you should get a uh residential uh discount of some kind compared if you live outside the township. That's only fair, but the prices need to be raised up a little bit. They haven't been raised for quite a while. So, um last question. I was just kind of throw your curveball here. Just a small one. Um I know you're in communication with ODOT. Do you have any update on the Glenn SD Withersville overpass and will they get it done this quarter or no?

So So the answer to that is no. And uh Mr. Becker, he attends the T meetings where I go every month and every month ODOT told us they would be open this fall, this fall. This fall. uh last at last month's meeting they indicated to us, oh we're behind, we won't open until next year. So there I mean and honestly that is the most disappointing thing to hear. There's zero accountability. They do their own thing. They don't hold the contractors accountable and it's very frustrating. It's frustrating for our residences and our businesses.

So it's better if you do it than I do it because I have a tendency to put my foot in my mouth. Um, I do not like OD dot. I think they're ran very poorly and um, they've lied to us. They've had the most amazing, most beautiful weather for the past three months. I know this because I'm in the roofing business and it sucks for me, but it's good for everybody else, right? And um, this is they flat out lied to us. There's a difference between a little bit of a delay, but we're talking almost a year. I remember back when Susan was was our administrator and they told us it was going to be first second quarter of this year was going to get done. Now, now we're pushing fourth quarter in Christmas. It's still not done. So, probably better than you than me, but I do not like them and uh I think they're ran very poorly and um yeah, that's all I have to say about that. But anyways, appreciate the update. It's all good. It's just frustrating that uh no one moves with a sense of urgency. You wonder why people hate government all the red tape and garbage. It's like these residents need that open. You promised the date and not only are you a little bit behind, but you're like a year behind. You know, it's all

there's no question. I drove through there this morning two or three times and I think I counted two people working. Just frustrated. Yeah, it's it's absolutely first world problems. We're all going to be all right. It's just holy cow, you're off by a year, you know. So that's that's that's embarrassing. So I get it. I'd rather you deliver that than me because I will appropriately deliver that message. You got it. So that's all I got, sir. Thank you, Justine Becker.

Yeah. So um and ODOT's defense a little bit on that project. There is because of all the the dirt buildup on both sides to to build that ramp or build, you know, since it's the overpass, the approach to the overpass. It takes time for all that to settle. And I think they said it's like a was it 90 days? It's a 90-day settling period.

90-day settling period. And that's something they can't rush forward. Now, to get back to your point, well, yeah, but they knew about that 90 days, you know, for years now. I mean, that's not new information. I would just say these engineers make a lot of money and if you gave me a date of first second quarter of 2025 and you ain't going to get it done to 2026, you're a liar. You don't know what you're doing and and and you clearly you're outside your wheelhouse. So don't tell me, you know, I I get it. A month delay, there's bad weather, things happen, whatever. You know, material might be on back order, but a year, sorry, not sorry. uh you they all should be embarrassed and they should know that hey if this takes this long for the for the land to settle and the settlements they they should have made that very crystal clear but uh they fell short and quite honestly I call it poor management and they clearly don't know what they're doing so I I stand by what I just said and I I know every word I just said so I doubt they'll ever watch this meeting but it is what it is so disappointing they should be embarrassed

your your your point is well taken uh part of it was had to do with weather and then the weather created a delay of maybe I don't know a month, two months, whatever it was. Then you have the issue with asphalt plants get shut down for the winter. So then it was simply too late to get the asphalt to finish it this year and which pushed it out the next year. That's my understanding of what happened. Fair enough. I think government they're not here to defend themselves. I thought

I think government's the only one get away with this. If this was private sector, there ain't no way I guarantee that they'd be fired. So that's just my thoughts. But um it's okay. No worries. I I digress. We're not here to talk about ODOT. I just brought it up because it was on my mind and I wanted to drive by it today and use it and I couldn't. So, first world problems. Well, it's all going to be okay. Very appropriate comments. Absolutely.

I'll have you and Mr. Wright deliver them at the T, not me. So, all right. So, shifting gears. I was going to um I was going to hold comments on on the u you know the traveling wall and the u military tribute for um board comments. Um but I'll just make them now. You know, uh Mr. Right. He said it all. You know, it was all hands on deck. All departments here. Everybody worked together and everybody did a fabulous job. I mean, I don't know how anything could have gone any better other than my speech, the tribute night or the candle light vigilant. But aside from that, everything was perfect or near perfect. So, and I told Mr. Wright before coming to this meeting that he needs to buy Lisa R steak dinner for all the hours she put into that. and she's really the rock star here when it came to that particular event. Other thing, um I I want to do a a restaurant review, Hot Head Burritos down on Bennett Road, Bennett 125. Uh it's got carry out from there and and and it it it won the Becker Seal of Approval Award. This thing, this bowl, it was like this big and it was heavy. I mean, it was heavy. I picked up the so I I use a mobile app most of the time and I just you know bring home dinner. I picked this bag I thought there was like dinner for three or four people and I had the looks I no this is one bowl and it was really good and I think if you like hot food that's the place to go but I don't so you know I'm actually using AI look what is this what is it because I I don't I don't like hot spicy food so I was able to you know dial it back that it was it was good. So anyway, another restaurant and and you know earlier I made the comment I can't get my wife to spend any money. You say I'm the cheapest guy. You know I got I got another example for you on that.

So these mobile apps I bring home dinner carry out typically twice a week. You're delivering Uber Eats for people. No, I'd never use it. Be a wise way to get paid while you're going out to do something. I just get I go get paid. I usually get on the way home from some place and I love that. A lot of times you get this, you know, this BOGO deal, buy one, get one. So, it is common. I'll bring home dinner for two for less than $10. It works for us. You can make 10. You know, I Yeah, we So, Saturday nights, we typically go to Gold Star Chili in in Mount Carmel.

You know, I'm using their app. I get a free cheese coney every time I'm in there because of some survey I fill out. and and you know dinner for two plus the tips it still comes out to around 20 bucks and I get I think a pretty decent tip. It's a whole it's a whole lot more than 20% of the bottom line after all the discounts. I'm proud of you, John. So anyway, I you know live living it cheap's easy. I'm an expert at it. Do do you get the inquir and you all pick up the coupons together on Sunday? You know, do they still do coupons? I I don't think there's any coupons in the inquir. We get stuff that comes in the mail and yes, I use those coupons. I'm just giving you

and and you know Kroger we you know every Wednesday we look forward to the cro the new Kroger ad that comes out. We go through we clip the digital coupons and I got the little app if I'm in the store and forgot to do that or something. Oh yeah, I know how I know how to Crazy Life at the Becker Residence House.

All right, that um that Mr. Chairman concludes my remarks. Well, I mean, he's demonstrated to you the ultimate maneuver in which he uh is ecstatic at the thrill of the township being excited on playground improvements. And he gets to say that he saved how many thousands of dollars by voting no on those playground improvements? 900,000. So, it's a win-win. It's like a million dollars. It's a win-win for him. He gets it. He gets it all to replace perfectly good playground equipment.

He he gets it all. Apparently, it was perfectly good because as Mr. Wright has shared, the park was booming the other day and that is a fresh return uh in this township as far as taking care of and being stewards of the community assets. That's something that stood out to me. I think that's a really measure of good government uh for the people and working for the people. a comment that was made earlier today. You can see that it's a little courageous sometimes to say you need to spend something in some locations, but what good is 60 acres of a park if it's not being utilized and no one's using it?

Uh, and now you can already see and touch those tangible results uh here in the community. So, um that's great. Thanks for sharing that, Mr. Wright. Uh on the ODOT, I was lost in all the conversation on it. Is there an actual date that they have said for an opening or no? They they continue to push back when we talk to them at the T meetings. The contract is through the end of next year, the end of next year. And I just find that absolutely appalling. And I will tell you the biggest issue is, you know, in the state of Kentucky, they pay incentives, okay, to get projects done early and Ohio will not do that. They just, for whatever reason, they don't do it. I could be totally wrong.

Is that an executive branch issue or is that a legislative branch? probably it starts in based contracting. So, okay, incentive based. Thank you. Um, I will call tomorrow. Uh, maybe they do. I haven't looked at their contracts, but nobody in Ohio seems to want to make extra money to finish on time, which I find that incredibly hard to believe.

I believe there's a prioritization. I think as I understand it when the the uh bridge project came through and the bridge money came through ODOT has has prioritized resources that direction. Uh I think Mr. Becker brings up great points on the settling of the earthwork. Mr. Dills, you're right about frustrations that anyone in the community can have for a 20 plus long year project. Uh but I I'm interested to see that there's an actual date and I think that's great feedback on the incentive structure. Uh I will personally call the chief operating officer of ODOT and uh just see what type of information can can get informed and shared on a date. I think it's important that we would have a date or a specific range. Um Mr. Becker, talking about steak dinners and restaurant reviews, is there Becker seal of approval for the best place to get a steak in Union Township?

Oh boy. You know, I'm mostly an Arby's guy, but uh for your steak, for your steak, I don't do uh don't do steak dinners a whole lot. I I can tell you Outback is good. There we go. Um across the street, uh um Longhorn, that that that's another good place. Um seems like there's a third one. Who am I missing? Of course, there's a lot of lot of restaurants that serve steak, but um yeah, I'd certainly recommend those two places. Yeah. Outback. I Yep. I appreciate it. You didn't have something? No. Very good.

Okay. All right. Uh well, gentlemen, I believe that concludes the township administrator's uh report and ongoings uh from the trustes perspective. Uh thank you, Mr. Wright. Uh at this time, we've got a public hearing. Um, this is going to be reopening or the table uh township overlay case 319 Oscar from August 12th, 2025. Um, Mr. Wright, I want to make sure I get this right with where we're at that we don't need a you you would need a motion to open the public hearing. Reop you would make a motion to reopen the public hearing and then you would ask Mr. McCormack if he has any additional information.

Okay. All right, gentlemen. Do we have a motion to reopen the public hearing? So moved. Second. Roll call. Mr. Hills. Yes. Mr. Becker? Yes. Mr. Lo? Yes. Public hearing is reopened 7:14 p.m. Mr. McCormack, is there any new information to present from what the applicant and opposition or or two proponents really had the discussion?

Yes. So, pages four and five of the staff report have been amended. Um there was an on-site meeting in August after the trustee meeting between the two owners, one for the property involved in this request and the neighboring property along with staff and the representatives for the um owner advancing this particular request. The applicant has provided instead of a 15oot buffer along the the shared property line, now it's a 20ft buffer. provided a letter dated October 7th signed by both the subject property owner and the adjoining property owner to the southwest Mr. Freley, which states, "The trees of substantial character in the area discussed between the two properties appear to be out the limits of disturbance and could remain postdevelopment. If after land disturbance and grading for the proposed development takes place, existing trees to remain post construction are apparent. There are any gaps in natural screening greater than 10 ft in width. The owner and developer proposes to provide proposed landscaping consistent with the intent of the landscape plan. The cemental package to supplement the natural screening between the two properties. Um so the basic in short the trees that the neighbor was concerned about is not are not going to be impacted um whether there are going to be gaps there will be um plantings that are consistent with what we've seen previous in the previous amendment. And the only other item that we had um changed from last the last meeting is that um we have new architectural elevations and u we need the elevations to match the renderings I put on page five. But essentially other than that um that's what's changed. And then I updated the the plan materials and I included the October 7th letter that was uh signed by the owner of the prospective property for development and also the neighbor Mr. Freiling. All right. Thank you, Mr.

Um, see, so we reopen the public hearing. Do we need a there any additional applicant here tonight for it? Yep. Please come on up. Swear you in. You swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So I hope you got Yes. And please give your name and address for the record, please.

Michael Chandler, 602 Laya Avenue, Milford, Ohio. Thank you again for listening and uh entertaining our project. I want to thank Mark for his coordination and updated report. Um happy to say through collaborating with the property owners, visiting the site, surveying the line, setting the setbacks, observing the the area disturbance in the trees in question that we were able to come to an agreement uh that both parties are um comfortable with. Um, nothing further to add, but I'm happy to answer any questions. Okay. What was what was your name again? Michael Chandler.

Mr. Chandler. And then just want to say M. Chandler and then the the Rup family as well. Um, thank you for doing what you did. It's a very good neighborly thing. You didn't have to do that. I appreciate that. And uh uh for me, you don't even have to waste your time. I'm going to push this through. You get a yes vote for me. Thanks for doing what you did. It's very nice of you. That's what we want in Union Township is just trying to coexist the best we can. So commend you both very much. So thank you. I'm I'm a yes vote to I mean I'm not going to talk about anymore. I got it. Trusty Becker. Everything Trusty Dills just did. It's all right. Thank you, Mr. Chandler. Thank you.

Are there any proponents for this case? Are there any opponents for this case? All right. Seeing none, gentlemen entertain a motion to close the public hearing. So moved. Second. Roll call. Mr. Dills. Yes, Mr. Becker. Yes, Mr. Logan. Yes. Public hearing is closed at 7:18 p.m. All right, gentlemen. We'll open this to the board for discussion. Any further comments or discussion? Okay. Uh we'll entertain uh Mr. McCormack, do you need anything specific on the um motion for the approval? It's all captured in your staff report page. Yes.

Okay. Uh, do we have the mo a motion to approve as submitted in the staff report? So move. Second. No further discussion. Roll call. Mr. Gills. Yes. Mr. Becker. Yes. Mr. Log. Yes. Motion carries. Congratulations guys. Thank you guys. Appreciate the time working through it. Congratulations. Thank you, gentlemen.

All right, gentlemen. Old business. Seeing none, new business. The consent agenda item alpha consists of items uh one approval of minutes. Item and that's alpha September 9th, 2025 regular meeting minutes. Item two, approval of payments prepared by Mr. Campbell. Item three, approval of monthly financial reports prepared by Mr. Campbell. Do we have a motion to approve the consent agenda? Item alpha 1, two, and three. So moved. Second. Roll call. Mr. Dills. Yes. Mr. Becker. Yes. Mr. Lo, yes. Motion carries. Item Bravo motion agenda. Gentlemen, do we have a motion to approve the purchase orders? I'll take the motion and we can um have them presented.

So moved. Second. Open up for discussion. U Mr. Campbell, do you want to or I'm sorry, Mr. Wright, do you want to um Sure. Mr. Becker, do you want to see any of the purchase order items? Have Mr. Wright present? No, I'm good. You're good with the You're good with the purchase everything as is. Yes. Oh, normally you like to

Why don't you let them list them? I'll just read them out if that's okay. We have the total quality logistics for their August economic development reimbursement in the amount of 4748245 mobile for the access control upgrade. We discussed at the last meeting in the amount of uh 165,000 that's phase one. Uh and that gets us off and running. United States Postal Service for retail postage in the amount of $50,000. Deckin International for the fire department annual software maintenance agreement 22,500. Striker Sales Corporation this is our annual tech service on our cardiac treatment devices in the amount of 32,16614. Striker Sales Corporation the amount annual tech service on our patient loading and moving equipment that's your power CODs other things like that. uh in the amount of 40,99920 Motorola solutions for our CAD RMS RMS upgrade for year one that's 154249 uh that's uh that we discussed that at the last meeting as well critical infrastructure Axon enterprise moving into the taser 7s year three of that deployment 46,99358 wax bank for estimated fuel usage in the amount of $26,000 Bachman's Inc. for the storage facility. Mini ton uh three-tonon mini split systems, two of them 3766 677, excuse me, and playcore Wisconsin. This is uh DWA for uh the Mount Carl playground equipment replacement 9992904. Happy to answer any questions.

I have none. I'm good. Okay. There's playground equipment on here. I saw it. All right, you're good. That's free. It's 99,000. It's free. All right. Just want to make sure we're good. Insurance paid for it all. Can't beat free. I'll vote for free every time. All right. I think I had to buy when I didn't want to deprive you of the opportunity to vote no on playground equipment. So, just that's all. All right. Uh, roll call. No further discussion. Roll call. Mr. Dills. Yes. Mr. Becker? Yes. Mr. Lo? Yes. Motion carries.

All right. Item C, Charlie, legislation agenda. Gentlemen, we have a motion to approve resolution 2025-58, resolution authorizing charges for false alarm fire alarms pursuing to higher vias code 505.391 to defer costs incurred in responding to false alarms. So moved. Second. Any discussion?

Uh Mr. Wright, what is the fee? What's what's the the fee schedule for the fire department is after three false alarms on the fourth alarm it's $300 for each subsequent alarm for the fire department. All right. All right. No further discussion. Roll call. Mr. Dills. Yes. Mr. Becker. Yes. Mr. Lo. Yes. Motion carries. Item two, resolution 2025-59, resolution authorizing fees for false alarms pursuant to higher revised code section 505.511 to defay costs incurred in responding to false alarms. Do we have that motion? So moved. Second. Any discussion? I got a question. Yes.

Um well, first uh Mr. Right, explain how this one's different, then I'll ask my question.

So this one's slightly different because it involves the police. There's there's a different statute that governs the police. And again, this is the three strikes, right? Principle. It's after three. It's not before you. It's after three. And this one ramps up. For the fourth alarm, it's 50. For the fifth alarm that's false, it's 100. And each one thereafter after number five is $150 per. And again, important point of clarification, both of these are January 1 to December 31. So we do have a reset, right? And it's in a calendar year. That's the way that works and that's per the statute. So uh but that's how this is this is why this is different than the UTFD one which is prescribed by a different statute section. And u so uh it's just a little different. Basically the police unfortunately only get to charge half of what the fire department does. I think the thinking goes the apparatus is more expensive to roll. You know it's much bigger equipment. Usually it's an ambulance and a and a fire truck on a fire alarm. Minimum minimum two unit call out on something like that. Police car again two officers two cars little different time and material involved in that. So that's why there's some differences on that.

So my my question is so in both cases what is the mechanism for collections?

So it's actually prescribed in the resolution. So um after this uh each department will determine you know they'll they'll monitor this and I imagine you know we'll do monthly CAD uh reviews. We have the ability out of our software systems to do monthly CAD reviews to be able to tally those in each department. We'll maintain a database of false alarms that are registered. Both departments have also adopted policies on how to you know administer this and there is also the ability to do uh appeals. You know people can say hey you know I had an electrical bug or power outage caused my system to do this or do that. It wasn't our fault and or whatever and there is a process for that review in that. Um so that's basically how that'll go. If it's determined it goes to the fiscal office fiscal office sends them a bill. um they have um and it can go to the the establishment, the occupant, the leie, agent, the tenant, the owner. Um and they have to pay the bill within 30 days. And if it's not paid, it's entered as an assessment on the tax duplicate just like nuisances are. So very good. All right. Thank you. That's all chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Becker. Roll call. Mr. Campbell. Mr. Dills. Yes. Mr. Becker. Yes. Mr. L. Yes. Motion carries. Item three, resolution 2025-60L WWCF grant application authorization. Do we have that motion to approve? So moved. Second. Any discussion? Hearing none. Roll call. Mr. Dills. Yes. Mr. Becker. Yes. Mr. Lo. Yes. Motion carries.

Thank you. Comments from board members. Trusty Dills. To brief the uh we've talked about the traveling memorial wall quite a bit. Uh it was very moving. this great great event. Um, and I believe I know we do it every 10 years, but um, Mr. Look, I think you pushed this pretty hard, I think, last year to get this done. So, just want to say thank you for that. Um, and then the the brains behind it, Miss R, did a great job, Mr. Wright. Good job. I had the honor of introducing um, Mr. Mopin, and he was our keynote speaker uh, for Thursday evening. I had the honor of introducing him. So, it was just a great event. Loved it. It was a good job. Um, last thing is is the day after our last trustee meeting is when Charlie Kirk was assassinated and uh I really like that guy and uh uh everything he stood for and I I've watched so much of his videos. I can't even really find out whenever he's been wrong that I've disagreed with him. That's how and he's so sharp. Uh but today's actually his birthday as well. So, uh, just, um, um, yeah, really just just wanted to talk about that just for a minute and and bring that up, but that's all I got, sir. That's it.

Thank you, Trusty Becker.

Well, Mr. Chairman, I was going to tell you that uh I have nothing more to add. Um, but u since Trusty Dills mentioned uh Charlie Kirk, I I I I share th those feelings. Uh, he wasn't on my radar at all. And you know when I heard the names like that name's familiar and but you know I wasn't sure I could even place it. So I you know quickly learned and then I started finding YouTube videos. It's like this guy is sharp. I'm like real impressed. I mean he's quick on his feet and you know you know I wish I was that knowledgeable and and quick with that. So yeah, I just extraordinarily impressed with Charlie Kirk and I'm glad I'm kind of seeing this revival nationwide with young people and get involved in uh in church and politics. It's all great stuff. That's all. Chairman,

thank you, Trusty Becker. Um yeah, you know, on on that front, um we're able to to host a candle light vigual uh shortly after the assassination in the village of Battavia. And really, it just organically kind of um we just wanted to honor and remember and and come together as community. Uh and just that's why we downtown village Battavian and the courthouse steps. Uh but over 600 people attended. I mean it was just a matter of two three days of um barely putting the information out. Uh again just to provide people that were searching or see seeking that an opportunity to come together in prayerful visual. Um, you know, and Charlie, he's someone that I know believe that the Bible more than any other text has shaped Western civilization and the ideas that we celebrate when it comes to human dignity, reason, science, compassion, u, and that liberty comes from God. I mean, I think that's something that really promotes why democracies exist. uh your authority, your rights don't come from government, they come from God. Uh so I echo both of what you would say uh on that as well. Um didn't really prepare to to share much on that. I appreciate you sharing that about his birthday today and President Trump awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom postmously and um I don't know. I wouldn't be opposed in that same vein to consider the small there was a question earlier about jurisdictions working together or what types of authorities that we have but I wouldn't be opposed to finding a way to uh have honor and remembrance in the township uh through something for

Charlie Kirk uh in name uh could be a township road could be an area of the park could be something I would think I would just leave that as open thoughts for people to consider at this point in time. But but I do believe that it is a a turning point um in the country and an embrace uh as as you're eloquently stated, trusty backer uh as far as what the future direction may be um and trusty deals. So I would just lay that out there. um you know similar in nature that we're able to put in God we trust as the national motto. Uh I believe that there's other ways in which we can do naming conventions for different impactful um people on on our western civilization. So leave it at that. Um with that open no other comments. So you okay uh we'll move forward with uh upcoming events. Mark your calendars and join us for the second annual sip and shop at the Union Township Civic Center on Saturday, October 18th, 2025 from 12 to 4 pm. Union Township Zoning Commission meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 22nd, 2025 at 7 p.m. As a reminder, the 2025 general election will be held on Tuesday, November 4th, 2025. The Civic Center will host several precincts again this year. Union Township Board of Zoning Appeals meeting will be held on Thursday, November 6th at 7 p.m. Union Township offices will be closed on Tuesday, November 11th in observance of Veterans Day holiday. And the Union Township Board of Trustees next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 18th at 6 PM. Um, I do have one go back to

the board comments for uh you both uh adequately got me on the on the focus there, Charlie Kirk. Um, in regards to what you reference about a 10-year cycle return for doing some type of veteran or military appreciation event, um, trustee deals, would you like to see some type of framework that would make that a little more frequent, a little bit more uh, not it doesn't have to be a decade event? I'm actually going to since all the brain power and hard work went to Miss R, I'm actually going to defer to her and let her decide if she thinks she can handle it and the workload then, uh, if she says it's too much, then okay. But, uh, because I think I think a lot of work went into this. A lot. And so, um, if if she can handle it and wants to do it and is excited about it, then sure. But if it's too much to do it every year or whatever, then I would say maybe a little less frequent. So, but I'll defer. It depends on the manpower and how much work it takes. But I I loved it. So

less than a decade though. Yeah. And and the same thing with Mr. Wright. If he if he thinks it's something manageable, but um Miss R is the one who put all the work in. She's the one who did it all. So we'll uh I just don't want to make her play any bigger. But if you think I I'll defer. So if you if you want to do it more frequently, okay. Just it serves as a ways to connect with the with the community and the public. So you know, um, government working for the people, it's one of the impactful ways we can, but I just want to get a sentiment if more frequent than every 10 years is something that's appetizing to you.

I concur with uh, all of Trustees Dill's uh, comments and it's not just Miss R. Obviously, she was the point person on it, but you know, it was, like I said, all hands on deck. All the departments put in a lot of time, a lot of effort, and a lot of work. It's not something we're going to want to do annually, that's for sure. uh what the what the right frequency is. I I don't know the answer to that.

Well, I did pull her aside and talk to her. She said whatever this board would be interested in doing, she is more than willing and happy to execute on. So, uh but with that, I want to make sure she's given the resources that that are available. So, I don't think a $25,000 type of budget every year needs to be done. and it can be much lower but something um and something that's on a man manageable frequency if it's by annually or um something to that extent. That's what that's what I'm thinking. I know that when you go 10 years you basically have to start all over again. Um so because 10 years points of contacts are completely different. Everything's just just starting over versus uh refreshing. But happy to hear uh what the team wants to do and put together. I'll move us forward to executive session. Uh entertain motion to enter into executive session pursuant to higher revised code section 121.22 golf as follows. Item one to confer with an attorney for the public body concerning disputes involving the public body that are the subject of a pending or imminent court action pursuant to higher revised code section 121.22 22 Golf 3 and two preparing for conducting or reviewing negotiations or bargaining sessions public employees concerning their compensation or other terms and conditions of their employment pursuant to hire code section 121.22 Golf 4. Do we have that motion? So moved.

Second. Roll call. Mr. Dills. Yes. Mr. Becker. Yes. Mr. Logan. Yes. We're into executive session at 7:36 p.m. All right. Thanks. Thank you, gentlemen. I appreciate you very much.

Mic's hot. Turn your mic's on. Gentlemen, at this time I entertain a motion to exit executive session with no action taken. So moved. Second. Roll call. Mr. Dills. Yes. Mr. Becker. Yes. Mr. Loe. Yes. We're out of executive session with no action taken at 8:27 p.m. Entertain motion for adjournment. So moved. Second. Roll call. Mr. Dills. Yes. Mr. Becker. Yes. Mr. Lo. Yes. We're adjourned at 8:27 p.m.