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Sue Kiesewetter reports:

Longtime Liberty Township naturalist Chuck Holliday is rejoining the Liberty Township Parks Committee.

“I am so excited,’’ said Trustee Christine Matacic. “I’m thrilled he’s had his (rest and relaxation) and is willing to come back.”

Holliday’s volunteer appointment is effective immediately and runs through Dec. 31, 2014. The committee next meets March 26.

For several years Holliday conducted nature and bird walks along with other programs in township parks. A member of the Audubon Society, Holliday also conducts programs for MetroParks of Butler County.

“What he does for these parks is remarkable,’’ said Trustee David Kern.

Posted in: Board of Trustees, News |

Tags: Tags: Christine Matacic, Chuck Holliday, Chuck Holliday Liberty Township Parks Committee, David Kern, Liberty Township Parks Committee, Liberty Township Trustee Christine Matacic, Liberty Township Trustee David Kern

Sue Kiesewetter reports:

For the third consecutive year, Christine Matacic will lead the Liberty Township Board of Trustees.

Christine Matacic was elected the 2013 president of the Liberty Township Board of Trustees. Photo provided.

Matacic was re-elected president during the group’s organizational meeting this week. Trustee Pat Hiltman was elected vice-president, replacing trustee David Kern.

A nearly 32-year resident of the township, Matacic was re-elected to a third term as trustee in November 2009. She served as president from 2003-2007.

Matacic is serving or has served on the following boards of directors: Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments; Butler County Regional Transit Authority; West Chester-Liberty Chamber Alliance and the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority.

Hiltman and Dale Chalk will continue to serve another year on the Volunteer Firefighters’ Dependents Fund for 2013. Kern will continue as the board’s representative to the Butler County Emergency Management Agency’s Advisory Council.

The trustees will continue to meet at 6 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at the administrative offices, 6400 Princeton Road.

This month, however, the Jan. 15 meeting has been moved up one day, to Jan. 14 to accommodate the work schedule of Hiltman.

Posted in: Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Christine Matacic, Liberty Township board of trustees, Liberty Township trustee, Liberty Township Trustee Christine Matacic, Liberty Township trustees

Sue Kieswetter reports:

An open house will allow Liberty Township residents, businessmen and others to review progress on the update of the community’s Vision Plan.

From 5 to 8 p.m. this Thursday, there will be stations set up throughout the trustee’s meeting room at the administration building, 6400 Princeton Road. Each station will address one of eight topics.

This is the first major update of the township’s comprehensive plan since its 2006 adoption, said Jon West, director of planning and zoning. There have been two minor updates.

“We have to identify the long term vision of who we want to be when we grow up,’’ West said.

To do that, members of the 25-person Vision Plan Steering Committee will be attending a planning workshop. But before that happens, the committee wants the community to evaluate progress since the last public hearing held in April.

“Here’s the track we’re on. Do you agree with the direction?” West said. “Review our progress and give us feedback.”

Members of the steering committee will be available to answer questions and receive comments on the topics at each station. The community will be asked to provide comments on economic development; land use and development; image and identification; trails, sidewalks and bike paths; transportation and infrastructure; public facilities and government; and parks and recreation.

“It’s critical we properly plan for the future of our community so this open house is an important step to gather feedback from residents and business owners,’’ said Christine Matacic, president of the board of trustees.

“The Vision Plan update will help us best direct our efforts to promote the growth of our commercial tax base with minimal impact on existing residents while preserving the character of the Liberty Township that more than 37,000 people call home.”

The public can view the committee’s progress and follow along through a new tab under the ‘planning/zoning’ section of the township’s website, www.liberty-township.com.

There, the steering committee has posted PowerPoint presentations, the 2006 comprehensive plan, meeting minutes, demographic information and several land use and other maps.

The township will also accept comments online from those not able to attend the meeting.

For more information, call 513-759-7500.

Posted in: Events, Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Christine Matacic, liberty township, Liberty Township trustee, Liberty Township Vision Plan, Liberty Township Vision Plan committee

Sue Kiesewetter reports

Liberty Township residents will get their first chance to tell township officials how they would like to see the community develop during a Vision Plan open house.

Members of the township’s Vision Plan committee will seek input during a Wednesday, April 25, gathering at the township administration building, 6400 Princeton Road.

The 25-member Vision Plan Steering Committee is working to update the township’s 2006 comprehensive plan. Besides development issues, the plan will address the preservation of environmental features, greenways, parks, trails and economic development.

“It’s critical we properly plan for the future of our community so this is a priority project,’’ said Christine Matacic, president of the Liberty Township Board of Trustees.

“The Vision Plan update will help us best direct our efforts to promote the growth of our commercial tax base with minimal impact on existing residents while preserving the character of Liberty Township.”

Anytime from 5-8 p.m. residents and business owners can visit a series of panels that will be set up in trustees’ meeting space. Members of the steering committee will be available to answer questions.

There will be spots at each station where people can place color coded dots to show agreement with new or existing goals on several topics, said Jonathan West, the township’s director of planning and zoning.

There will also be places where the public can add goals or make suggestions on several topics.

“We want to know what the public’s vision is for how the community should develop,” West said. “We’re looking at where we’ve gone and where we’re headed.”

Input gathered from the public hearing will be used to develop a draft plan by the end of the year.

The public can view the committee’s progress and follow along through a new tab under the ‘planning/zoning’ section of the township’s website, www.liberty-township.com

There, the steering committee has posted PowerPoint presentations, the 2006 comprehensive plan, meeting minutes, demographic information and several land use and other maps.

For more information, call 513-759-7500.

Posted in: Government, News |

Tags: Tags: board of trustees, Christine Matacic, Jonathan West, Liberty Township board of trustees, Liberty Township Director of Planning and Zoning Jonathan West, Liberty Township Trustee Christine Matacic, Liberty Township Vision Plan, Liberty Township Vision Plan committee

The largest retail development to hit Butler County received its first nod Friday when trustees promised public financing for infrastructure to accommodate the $300 million project.

Now it’s up to county commissioners to seal their end of the deal on Monday.

Township trustees approved a memorandum of understanding between the township, the county and Libertytown LLC, promising $5 million in tax increment financing to help fund $56 million in road improvements and a parking garage for the proposed project at Liberty Way and Interstate 75.

Developer Steiner + Associates also had asked county commissioners for $55 million toward infrastructure improvements for the “life style” retail center which would be similar to Easton Town Center in Columbus and The Greene in Beavercreek.

But, it appears Steiner will only get $30 million from the county when commissioners cast their vote at Monday’s regular session.

Commissioner Chuck Furmon said Friday that the county has proposed contributing $20 million in existing funds from a Tax Increment Financing District, with another $10 million — possibly in $5 million increments — as Steiner reaches certain benchmarks in the project.

The money would back bonds that would be sold to pay for infrastructure.

“We want them to reach what they say they are going to do before we give the other $10 (million),” Furmon said.

Township trustees set several conditions on Steiner, including a prohibition on raiding other successful retail projects in Butler County such as Bridgewater Falls in Fairfield Township to fill Liberty Town Square.

Trustee Christine Matacic said Friday’s action was a preliminary step in getting Liberty Town Square off the ground.

Development and financing agreements still have to be finalized, she said.

“This is not a done deal, but we are cautiously optimistic that all three parties can move forward together,” she said.

The first phase of the project, worth $177 million on 60 acres, is expected to open around May 2014 with two department stores, specialty retail shops, a mix of restaurants, 100,000 square feet of class A office space and about 150 high-end apartments. Groundbreaking is expected by November.

Improvements to Cincinnati-Dayton Road at the Ohio 129 interchange, partly to accommodate the increase in traffic from Liberty Town Square, already are being planned.

Yaromir Steiner, who founded the Columbus-based development company, has said construction of Liberty Town Square will add 3,200 jobs during construction and another 4,600 permanent jobs for people who work there when shops open.

The much-touted development was abruptly put on hold in 2008 when the economy tanked.

Since then, it has been scaled back in size and value. Steiner initially proposed the project at $500 million. When completed, Liberty Town Square will sit on 100 acres and include up to 2.5 million square feet of commercial space.

Posted in: Business, Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Christine Matacic, I-75, Interstate 75, Liberty Town Square, Liberty Township trustee, Liberty Township Trustee Christine Matacic, Liberty Township trustees, Liberty Way, Liberty Way Interchange, Liberty Way project, Libertytown LLC, Steiner + Associates

Cincinnati Enquirer’s Sue Kiesewetter reports:

Expenses in Liberty Township’s 2012 approved budget could exceed revenues by as much as $518,000.

But township officials say they expect that number to decrease.

“Because it’s in the budget doesn’t mean we’ll spend it,’’ said Trustee Pat Hiltman. “We’re going to be real tight for the next 18 months.”

The approved budget includes projected revenues of $19,641,505 and expenses of $20,159,778. Included in that figure is $10.6 million for operations, which is lower than 2011’s estimated operating revenue.

The shortfall between revenue and expenses will come from carryover and reserve funds, said Kristen Bitonte, finance director.

“There’s no guarantee everything in there will be approved,” Bitonte said. “It could be less and that’s the goal.”

Although items are included in the budget trustees approve most large expenditures on a case by case basis after reviewing bids.

No employee layoffs or service reductions are planned for 2012. Instead it will be a year of maintaining existing services and programs. (more…)

Posted in: Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Christine Matacic, Liberty Township Administrator, Liberty Township Administrator Dina Minneci, Liberty Township trustee, Liberty Township Trustee Christine Matacic, Liberty Township Trustee David Kern, Liberty Township Trustee Pat Hiltman, Liberty Township trustees, Pat Hiltman

The House Republican Caucus selected Margaret Conditt Tuesday, June 7, to fill the 55th District seat left empty last month when Bill Coley was appointed to replace Gary Cates in the Ohio Senate, according to Cincinnati.com.

Conditt, who is a retired chemist and a former Liberty Township trustee, was among 13 Republicans who applied for the appointment and was the top vote getter of four candidates recommended by the Butler County GOP.

Cincinnati.com reporter Sheila McLaughlin covered the selection:

The others were central committee member George Nafziger of West Chester, current Liberty Township Trustee Christine Matacic, and Don Spurlock, a West Chester businessman who has run a number of campaigns for Butler County politicians.

Conditt will be sworn in Wednesday during a House session.

Conditt, who served as a Liberty Township trustee from 1998 to 2001, retired from serving in Professional and Scientific Relations at Procter & Gamble in 2006. She received her Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Colorado.

She has remained active in various Republican endeavors, such as working with the Butler County Republican Party, serving as a delegate alternate for the Republican National Convention in 2008, and assisting with various statewide and national political campaigns.

Coley left his House seat to fill the Senate seat left by West Chester’s Gary Cates, who was appointed by Gov. John Kasich as senior vice chancellor for the division of Innovation and Enterprise Development at the Ohio Board of Regents.

Coley, who was serving his fourth term representing House District 55, was barred from running for his House seat again because of term limits.

For more on story, visits Cincinnati.com’s “Retired chemist replaces Coley in House.”

Posted in: Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Bill Coley, Christine Matacic, Don Spurlock, Gary Cates, George Nafziger, Liberty Township trustee, Margaret Conditt, Senator Bill Coley, Senator Gary Cates, State Rep. Bill Coley

The Butler County Republican Party screening committee meet Thursday, June 2, night at the Ronald Reagan Lodge at Voice of America Park in West Chester Township in order to make its recommendations for the open House seat left by state Senator Bill Coley of Liberty Township.

The local GOP gave the seal of approval to Margaret Conditt, George Nafziger, Christine Matacic (photo) and Don Spurlock, in that order, according to Cincinnati.com. The four recommended candidates were among 12 seeking the open seat.

Cincinnati.com reporter Sheila McLaughlin provided more about the recommendations:

Those four names will be forwarded to the House Republican Caucus, which has 13 candidates who have expressed interest in the seat to them, including the 12 who applied to the Butler County Republican Party.

The caucus does not have to consider the local GOP’s recommendation in making its appointment.

The appointment will be announced Wednesday during a regular House session.

The job pays about $60,580 a year. The winner will have to run in 2012 to keep the seat, which represents Middletown, as well as West Chester and Liberty townships.

Conditt is former Liberty Township trustee, while Matacic currently serves as a Liberty Township trustee. Nafziger and Spurlock are both residents of West Chester Township.

Coley left his House seat to fill the Senate seat left by West Chester’s Gary Cates, who was appointed by Gov. John Kasich as senior vice chancellor for the division of Innovation and Enterprise Development at the Ohio Board of Regents.

Coley, who was serving his fourth term representing House District 55, was barred from running for his House seat again because of term limits.

For more on the recommendations, visit Cincinnati.com’s story titled “Butler Co. GOP recommends four to replace Coley.”

Posted in: Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Bill Coley, Christine Matacic, Don Spurlock, George Nafziger, House, Margaret Conditt, Senate, Senator Bill Coley, State Rep. Bill Coley, State Senate

According to a report from Cincinnati.com, a dozen Butler County Republicans – including sitting trustees and a former mayor – want to succeed former state Rep. Bill Coley, who moved to the Senate last week.

Here is the list of candidates from Cincinnati.com:

Margaret Conditt, former trustee in Liberty Township; Mark Haverkos, a small business owner from West Chester; Candice Keller, a central committee member and executive director of the Community Pregnancy Center in Middletown; Bruce Jones, an unsuccessful candidate for West Chester trustee in 2009; Liberty Township Trustee Christine Matacic; Doug Mink, an online social studies instructor at Butler Tech; Philip Morrical III, a former Talawanda School Board member who made an unsuccessful bid for Liberty trustee in 2005; central committee member George Nafziger of West Chester; former Middletown mayor David Schiavone; Don Spurlock, a West Chester businessman who has run a number of campaigns for Butler County politicians; West Chester Township Trustee Lee Wong; and Burt Young of West Chester.

Coley of Liberty Township left his House seat to fill the Senate seat left by West Chester’s Gary Cates, who was appointed by Gov. John Kasich as senior vice chancellor for the division of Innovation and Enterprise Development at the Ohio Board of Regents.

This Thursday, June 2, the Butler County Republican Party’s screening committee could make up to three recommendations for the seat at its meeting at the Ronald Reagan Lodge at Voice of America Park. Candidates can then expect to screened the week of June 6 and, after a vote of the House Republican Caucus, the new member should expect to be appointed during House session June 8.

For more on Cincinnati.com’s story, visit “12 vie for Coley’s House seat.”

Posted in: Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Bill Coley, Bruce Jones, Burt Young, Candice Keller, Christine Matacic, David Schiavone, Don Spurlock, George Nafziger, Governor John Kasich, House, John Kasich, Lee Wong, Margy Conditt, Mark Haverkos, Philip Morrical III, Senate, Senator Bill Coley, State Rep. Bill Coley, State Senate

According to a report from the Middletown Journal, Bill Coley of Liberty Township took the oath of office and was seated this Tuesday, May 24, as a member of the Ohio Senate.

The oath comes in less than a week after the Butler County Republican Party selected Coley for the Ohio State Senate seat, which was previously held by West Chester’s Gary Cates.

Gates left his seat on Monday, May 23, after receiving Gov. John Kasich’s appointment as senior vice chancellor for the division of Innovation and Enterprise Development at the Ohio Board of Regents.

Coley, who was serving his fourth term representing House District 55, was barred from running for his House seat again because of term limits.

According to the Journal’s article, Coley will serve on the Senate highways and transportation, health and human services, and education committees.

Currently, the Butler County Republican Party is accepting applicants for Coley’s former House seat for the 55th District (West Chester, Liberty Township, Middletown). The deadline to apply is this Thursday at 4 p.m. Candidates must give their intention, fill out a form and pay $125 to the Butler County GOP by the deadline.

Butler County GOP screening committee chairman Don Spurlock said this morning, May 25, that eight people have already put their names in for the seat. Those candidates include Mark Haverkos, Bruce Jones, Lee Wong (West Chester Township trustee), George Nafziger, Burt Young, Christine Matacic (Liberty Township trustee), Margy Conditt (former Liberty Township trustee) and Candice Keller.

The screening committee is scheduled to meet June 1 at 6 p.m. at its headquarters at Bridgewater Falls, which is located 3431 Princeton Road Suite 100 in Fairfield Township. Then on June 2 at 6 p.m. at the Ronald Reagan Lodge at Voice of America Park, the committee could make up to three recommendations for the seat.

For more information on how to apply, call Spurlock at 513-777-4550 or the party office at 513-893-5292.

Posted in: Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Bill Coley, Bruce Jones, Burt Young, Candice Keller, Christine Matacic, George Nafziger, Governor John Kasich, House, John Kasich, Lee Wong, Margy Conditt, Mark Haverkos, Senate, Senator Bill Coley, State Rep. Bill Coley, State Senate