WestChesterBuzz.com

Sheila McLaughlin reports:

The longtime clerk of Butler County Area Courts will retire this month to come back as a part-timer in February, allowing her to collect her pension as well as a salary.

Butler County commissioners on Monday approved the Nov. 30 retirement of Debbie Bolser. She’ll be rehired on Feb. 1. In the interim, deputy clerk Melinda Parsons will fill in for Bolser.

“There’s a savings of $36,000 a year by doing this,” Judge Rob Lyons, of Butler County Area I Court, told commissioners.

He said Bolser decided to retire now because of recent changes in public pension law. Reforms that go into effect in January raise retirement eligibility ages, set new guidelines for cost-of-living adjustments and created a new formula to calculate benefits.

Bolser, who has worked for the court for 34 years, had an annual salary of $67,535.78, according to the county auditor’s office.

Commissioner Chuck Furmon acknowledged that Bolser will be double-dipping.

“Yes. But she will be working part time so it’s a savings in that regard when she comes back,” he said. “She is really well qualified. She’s got her finger on everything that’s happening. She’s always been the go-to person.”

Posted in: Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Butler County Area Courts, Butler County Commissioner Chuck Furmon, Butler County Commissioners, Chuck Furmon, Debbie Bolser

Sheila McLaughlin reports

Charles Young, the former Hamilton deputy city manager, became Butler County’s new administrator on Thursday.

Without a hitch, and despite infighting over the appointment, commissioners unanimously gave Young the $125,000-a-year job.

Even Commissioner Chuck Furmon, who objected in Monday’s meeting against the way Young’s hiring occurred, voted in his favor.

“I’ve never been against him” Furmon said after Thursday’s meeting. “I didn’t approve of the way (Commissioners Don Dixon and Cindy Carpenter) did it. They had everything all laid out, the contract and everything and all this was done last Friday prior to the Monday meeting. I was not informed,” Furmon said after the meeting.

Young, 53, started the job immediately. According to his contract with commissioners, he has the job for two years but can be fired without cause because he serves at the whim of commissioners.

Besides his salary, the county will pay Young a $500-a-month car allowance but he has to provide his own car and insurance.

Young becomes Butler County’s fourth administrator since 2008, when former long-time administrator DerekConklin resigned amid a scandal involving a $209,000 early-retirement buyout deal for his county-employed wife.

Young was commissioner’s fourth choice for the hire in a process that took more than a year and involved a $23,000 contract with the search firm, Mercer Group.

Posted in: Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Butler County administrator, Butler County administrator Charles Young, Butler County Commission President Chuck Furmon, Butler County Commissioner Chuck Furmon, Butler County Commissioner Don Dixon, Chuck Furmon, Cindy Carpenter, Commissioner Chuck Furmon, Commissioner Cindy Carpenter, Don Dixon, Hamilton deputy city manager Charles Young

Sheila McLaughlin reports

Picture three people who argue frequently.

One has been accused of screaming obscenities at workers. One accuses the others of hiding important meetings from him. The third solicits signed statements from staff to prove the other wrong in the press.

Now imagine they’re all your bosses.

These are Butler County’s elected commissioners, and it took them a year to find a county administrator, the fourth in four years at a time of significant budget challenges. The search was marked by months of infighting that revealed itself in public earlier this week.

The discord past and present led one job candidate to call Butler County “a political environment that’s anything but stable.” Even one commissioner agrees there are, as he put it, “elements of dysfunction.”

Accusations are still flying about disagreements that slowed down the hiring process even though Charles Young, a former deputy city manager in Hamilton, is expected to be appointed today as the commissioner’s fourth choice for the administrator’s job.

Three candidates who earlier received offers from among more than 29 applicants walked away for one reason or another.

One of them, Michael Hinnenkamp, who is the administrator in Springfield Township, said commissioners couldn’t offer him enough money.

He said he asked “north of $150,000” a year. County officials said it was more like $175,000 and a car. Hinnenkamp makes $135,000 annually in his current job. Young will be paid $125,000.

“It never made sense financially to … leave for the same (money) and have to drive up there and deal with a political environment that’s anything but stable,” Hinnenkamp said this week. “They’ve got some difficult challenges and personalities. It’s a long, long culture (of infighting) there.”

Commissioner Chuck Furmon refused to vote on Young’s job offer earlier this week. He said the number of qualified applicants fell short of what he expected.

“They’re going to be smart enough to do their research. There’s been elements of dysfunction and just nitpicking and what have you,” Furmon said. “I’m sure it’s in the back of their minds.” (more…)

Posted in: Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Butler County administrator, Butler County administrator Charles Young, Butler County Commission President Chuck Furmon, Butler County Commissioner Chuck Furmon, Butler County Commissioner Don Dixon, Chuck Furmon, Cindy Carpenter, Commissioner Chuck Furmon, Commissioner Cindy Carpenter, Don Dixon, Hamilton deputy city manager Charles Young

Sheila McLaughlin reports

A special meeting on Monday to approve an offer for a new county administrator erupted into a squabble and accusations that lame duck Butler County Commissioner Chuck Furmon was intentionally snubbed from an executive session when his colleagues changed the usual meeting place without telling him.

Chuck Furmon. Photo taken during the Republican primary race for Butler County commissioner by Joseph Fuqua II. Furmon lost the primary in March.

At the end of the day, however, Commissioners Don Dixon and Cindy Carpenter decided to offer the administrator’s job to former Hamilton deputy city manager Charles Young.

They also clarified the county’s pay scales to accommodate a $125,000-a-year salary for Young. That figure was $44,000 more than what commissioners approved when a consultant put together a pay study and recommended wage scales last year.

“You know as well as I do everything is all precast. It’s a dog and pony show,” Furmon charged at his fellow commissioners, adding that resolutions involving Young’s hire were drawn up before the meeting and he wasn’t privy to them.

The meeting was marked by interruptions from Dixon and Carpenter to go to a vote on the salary as Furmon tried to express his opinion about the job offer to Young.

Twenty-nine people applied for the administrator’s position and two applicants received job offers but turned them down. The job has been vacant for just more than a year.

“For someone who didn’t attend all the meetings for the interviews in the past, I find it kind of ironic that you want to have a discussion,” Dixon chastised Furmon.

“I’ve attended 99 percent of those meetings,” Furmon fired back.

“I disagree,” said Carpenter.

Furmon’s final words: “The whole thing’s a joke.”

Furmon voted against going into executive session, but lost out. (more…)

Posted in: Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Butler County administrator, Butler County administrator Charles Young, Butler County Commission President Chuck Furmon, Butler County Commissioner Chuck Furmon, Butler County Commissioner Don Dixon, Chuck Furmon, Cindy Carpenter, Commissioner Chuck Furmon, Commissioner Cindy Carpenter, Don Dixon, Hamilton deputy city manager Charles Young

Sheila McLaughlin reports

They might both be Republicans, but that doesn’t mean Butler County Commissioners Chuck Furmon and Cindy Carpenter agree on everything, especially when it comes to throwing F-bombs and yelling at staff.

Cindy Carpenter. Photo provided.

Furmon fired off a letter this week to Carpenter chastising her about swearing at interim County Administrator Mike Campbell and engaging in a “very loud and angry professional rant” that could even be heard in the public elevators.

It’s the second time that Carpenter has been accused of berating employees.

Pete Landrum, Director of the Management and Budget Office, hired an attorney last November to stop Carpenter from making further threats against him.

The latest tirade involved Carpenter telling Campbell that she was a “(expletive) commissioner,” said the letter The Enquirer obtained from the board of commissioners.

“Your tirades and tantrums are becoming the norm rather than the exception. You seem to be driven to continually create a hostile work environment,” Furmon wrote in his letter to Carpenter.

“Our staff does not deserve your hostile behavior. Day after day they live with the threat of your outbursts.”

• Letter: Exchange between Furmon and Carpenter
• Story: Butler Co. official may sue Commissioner Cindy Carpenter

Chuck Furmon. Photo taken during the Republican primary race for Butler County commissioner by Joseph Fuqua II. Furmon lost the primary in March.

Reached Wednesday for comment, Furmon said, “I’m just disappointed in what she does. If it was an employee, we have zero tolerance for that. She should understand that.”

He was referring to the county’s personnel policy on threatening behavior and workplace violence. The policy does not apply to Carpenter because she is an elected official.

Carpenter did not return a call for comment, but sent a copy of her e-mail response to Furmon.

She said she considers Furmon’s letter “a political attack in light of the fact that you distributed the letter to the press prior to giving it to me.”

Carpenter also said she expressed her “frustration” to Campbell over an unfinished report that she wanted on establishing a Land Bank project in Butler County.

In Landrum’s case, Carpenter was accused of defaming him in public meetings, verbally abusing him and threatening his job security. His attorney warned Carpenter against further attacks.

Landrum was among a handful of employees Carpenter and Commissioner Don Dixon were jockeying to fire and replace as Carpenter was taking office in January 2011. Dixon backed out of the plan at the last minute.

Carpenter’s subsequent threats about firing certain employees in the commissioner’s office and shooting them prompted Landrum to file a formal complaint that Furmon, who was then commission president, forwarded to Butler County Prosecutor Michael Gmoser for advice.

Nothing was done.

At the time, Carpenter told The Enquirer that she was dissatisfied with Landrum’s performance.

“He doesn’t understand he is not a county commissioner,” she said.

Posted in: Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Butler County Commission President Chuck Furmon, Butler County Commissioner Chuck Furmon, Butler County Director of the Office of Budget and Finance, Butler County Director of the Office of Budget and Finance Pete Landrum, Chuck Furmon, Cindy Carpenter, Commissioner Chuck Furmon, Commissioner Cindy Carpenter, Elizabeth Loring, Elizabeth S. Loring, Pete Landrum

To let West Chester and Liberty Township residents catch up with the news that they need to know, WestChesterBuzz.com will list and link to all of last week’s top local stories every Monday.

Lakota West senior Zak Farmer pitches during a 9-2 loss against Mason Monday, March 26, 2012. Photo by Adam Kiefaber.

High school baseball begins – Last Monday, both Lakota West and Lakota East began the 2012 baseball season with a loss during the inaugural Reds Future High School Showcase at Prasco Park Legacy Field in Mason. Lakota West lost by the score of 9-2 against rival Mason, while Lakota East lost to Hamilton 4-2.

Scholarship created to honor student involved in fatal wreck – The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty announced last Monday that it has established a scholarship fund to honor a Lakota West student, who died after being involved in a fatal car wreck March 16. The Ezekiel “Zeke” Stepaniak Memorial Scholarship will be awarded annually to a student at Lakota West High School that exhibits Stepaniak’s qualities.

Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia. Photo taken by Tony Jones.

Lakota seeks students’ input on cuts – Cincinnati Enquirer Michael D. Clark reported that Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia is reaching out to some of those hardest hit by Lakota’s recent $10.5 million in budget cuts – students. Mantia said during Monday evening’s Lakota school board meeting that she will invite students in May to discuss in person the sweeping changes.

Jack in the Box could open in mid-July – A spokesperson with Jack in the Box said last week that it is “only a matter of days” before the company breaks ground on its first restaurant in Ohio. The location, off Tylersville Road near I-75 in West Chester, is expected to be open by mid-July. The target date of the opening could be changed to due weather.

Rogers declared winner after recount – Last week’s recount in the Butler County commission race confirmed that T.C. Rogers of West Chester Township won the Republican primary for Butler County commissioner. Rogers finished 13 votes ahead of former commissioner and State Rep. Courtney Combs. Rogers will face Democratic candidate Jodi Billerman of Liberty Township and Libertarian Daryl Olthaus of Somerville in the November election.

Lakota West pitcher Ashley Sharp pitches in a 6-2 win against Lakota East Friday, March 30, 2012. Photo by Joseph Fuqua II.

Amylin shares soar on takeover bid – Cincinnati Enquirer’s Mike Boyer reported that shares of drug-maker Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. in West Chester Township soared 54 percent Wednesday after a report that the company rejected a $3.5 billion unsolicited takeover bid from Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. Shares of the San Diego-based company closed at $23.77 – up $8.38 in more than 10 times normal trading – after Bloomberg News reported the company had rejected the $22-a-share offer.

Lakota West defeated Lakota East in softball – On Friday, Lakota West won its fourth straight against its school district rival. The latest coming by way of a 6-2 victory over the Thunderhawks. Last season, Lakota East was ranked No. 1 in the state for most of the spring and lost only three of its 31 games. All three losses came at the hand of the Firebirds, including one that eliminated Lakota East in the state quarterfinals.

Posted in: Board of Education, Business, Election, Government, Levy news, News, Schools, Sports, Spring sports |

Tags: Tags: Amylin, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc., Butler County Board of Elections, Butler County commission race, Butler County Election 2012, Chuck Furmon, Community Foundation, Community Foundation WCL, Community Foundation West Chester/Liberty, Courtney Combs, Ezekieal Stephaniak, Ezekieal Zeke Stepaniak, jack in the box, Jack in the Box Cincinnati, Jack in the Box midwest, Jack in the Box Ohio, Jack in the Box West Chester, Karen Manita, Karen Mantia, Lakota, Lakota cuts, Lakota East, Lakota East baseball, Lakota East softball, Lakota East Sports, Lakota Local Schools, Lakota Superintendent Dr. Karen Mantia, Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia, Lakota West, Lakota West High School, Lakota West softball, Lakota West sports, Lakota West student death, Liberty Township election, Ohio election 2012, reductions, school levy, Superintendent Dr. Karen Mantia, superintendent Karen Mantia, T.C. Rogers, WCL Community Foundation, West Chester election, West Chester McDonalds, West Chester restaurant opening, West Chester restaurants, Zeke Stepaniak

Sheila McLaughlin reports

Monday’s recount in the Butler County commission race confirmed political newcomer T.C. Rogers as the Republican candidate for November’s general election.

Rogers, a home builder and real estate agent from West Chester Township, remained 13 votes ahead of Courtney Combs. Rogers had 11,571 votes to Combs’ 11,558.

A recount in the Butler County commission race confirmed T.C. Rogers as the Republican candidate for November’s general election. Photo taken by Joseph Fuqua II.

Earlier this month, Rogers appeared to have defeated two longtime politicos: Combs, a longtime state representative and former county commissioner, and current commissioner Chuck Furmon. Rogers kept his edge last week when absentee and provisional ballots were counted.

The race between Rogers and Combs was so close, the automatic recount was required by law.

But the numbers stayed the same after the 11-hour recount process at the Butler County Board of Elections, Director Lynn Edward Kinkaid said.

Neither Rogers nor Combs could be reached for comment.

Furmon still brought up the rear with 9,392 total votes in the primary race, so he’s out of a job next year.

The votes will be certified today.

Combs also loses his job in Ohio’s Statehouse in January because of term limits. He had hoped to return to Butler County as a commissioner, a job he held for 17 years before heading to Columbus in 2004.

Combs had said earlier that Rogers’ win signaled a change in Republican politics in Butler County.

Rogers subscribes to the tea party movement, and Combs is seen as part of the GOP establishment.

Rogers will face Democratic candidate Jodi Billerman, of Liberty Township, and Libertarian Daryl Olthaus, a registered nurse from Somerville, in the November election.

Posted in: Election, Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Butler County Board of Elections, Butler County commission race, Butler County Election 2012, Chuck Furmon, Courtney Combs, Liberty Township election, Ohio election 2012, T.C. Rogers, West Chester election

To let West Chester and Liberty Township residents catch up with the news that they need to know, WestChesterBuzz.com will list and link to all of last week’s top local stories every Monday.

Community leader passes away – The West Chester and Liberty township communities grieved the loss A. Christian Worrell III, who was responsible for the Graydon Head Legal Counsel Butler/Warren Office and was a member of countless local committees. Worrell’s funeral took place last Tuesday afternoon.

T.C. Rogers. File photo.

My Furry Valentine to come back – The organizer for My Furry Valentine, a large pet adoption event that took place throughout Cincinnati, said that she expects to host another event next February. This past February, the main event was in West Chester. There have also been discussions to add another large pet adoption event in the summer or in the early fall.

Rogers keeps lead in commission vote – Political newcomer T.C. Rogers kept his edge over Courtney Combs as the Republican nominee for Butler County Commissioner last Tuesday when absentee and provisional ballots were counted. But the race is destined for an automatic recount by law because the margin is less than half of 1 percent. The recount is expected to take place this Monday.

West Chester playing role in Ohio’s economic development – The Atlanta-based magazine Site Selection awarded Ohio and Governor John Kasich first place in its annual Governor’s Cup rankings. The Governor’s Cup, which was announced in its March issue, ranks the 50 states according to their success in attracting capital investment projects. West Chester Township played a role in the state’s accomplishment.

Ezekiel "Zeke" Stepaniak. Photo provided.

The Cone opens for the season – A West Chester landmark and popular location in the summer, The Cone, officially opened for the season last Thursday with a surprise opening night. The seasonal destination is open from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Saturday and from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.

Lakota community comes together after fatal wreck – Lakota West High School and others in the school community mourned the loss of one its students – junior Ezekiel “Zeke” Stepaniak – and prayed for the recovery of another student – sophomore Ashley Stacy. Throughout the week, students showed their support in many ways.

Office Depot donates $97,000 in supplies to Lakota – The Lakota school district announced that it received $97,000 worth of office supplies from Office Depot. According to school officials, Office Depot donated 79,000 items that included highlighters, pens, trash bags, paper towels, batteries, glue sticks and binders.

Posted in: Events, News, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Ashley Stacy, Butler County Board of Elections, Butler County commission race, Butler County Election 2012, Butler County United Way Board of Trustees, Chris Worrell, Chris Worrell III, Chris Worrell III obit, Chris Worrell obit, Christian Worrell III, Christian Worrell III obit, Chuck Furmon, Courtney Combs, Drews Mitchell, Ezekieal Stephaniak, Ezekieal Zeke Stepaniak, Graydon Head, Graydon Head Legal Counsel, Lakota West, Lakota West High School, Lakota West student death, Liberty Township election, My Furry Valentine Cincinnati, My Furry Valentine Northern Kentucky, My Furry Valentine West Chester, Office Depot, Office Depot donates to schools, Ohio election 2012, Pet Adoption Day, pet adoption West Chester, Site Selection, T.C. Rogers, The Cone, The Cone West Chester, West Chester business, West Chester business news, West Chester election, West Chester jobs, West Chester McDonalds, Zeke Stepaniak

The Enquirer

The Republican nominee for the Butler County Commissioner race this fall finally should be decided by day’s end.

T.C. Rogers is only 13 votes up on unofficial runner-up Courtney Combs in the Butler County Commission Republican primary - voting took place, March 6, 2012. In photo, Roger speaks at a voter forum in February. Photo taken by Joseph Fuqua II.

The final recount is expected to begin at the county’s board of elections at 8:30 am.

Earlier this month, political newcomer T.C. Rogers defeated two longtime politicos: current commissioner Chuck Furmon and longtime state representative Courtney Combs. He kept his edge last week when absentee and provisional ballots were counted.

The race was so close, however, today’s automatic recount was required by law.

Rogers, a home builder and real estate agent from West Chester Township, came in 13 votes ahead of Combs. Rogers now has 11,571 votes to Combs’ 11,558.

Furmon gained 82 votes, but still brought up the rear with 9,392 total votes in the primary race.

Today’s recount is not expected the change things.

Rogers subscribes to the tea party movement and Combs is seen as part of the GOP establishment.

Rogers will face Democratic candidate Jodi Billerman of Liberty Township and Libertarian Daryl Olthaus, a registered nurse from Somerville, in the November election.

Posted in: Election, Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Butler County Board of Elections, Butler County commission race, Butler County Election 2012, Chuck Furmon, Courtney Combs, Liberty Township election, Ohio election 2012, T.C. Rogers, West Chester election

Sheila McLaughlin reports

Political newcomer T.C. Rogers kept his edge over Courtney Combs as the Republican nominee for Butler County Commissioner Tuesday when absentee and provisional ballots were counted.

T.C. Rogers is only 13 votes up on unofficial runner-up Courtney Combs in the Butler County Commission Republican primary - voting took place, March 6, 2012. In photo, Roger speaks at a voter forum in February. Photo taken by Joseph Fuqua II.

But the race is destined for an automatic recount by law because the margin is less than half of 1 percent.

Rogers, a home builder and real estate agent from West Chester Township, came in 13 votes ahead of Combs in Tuesday’s count at the Butler County Board of Elections.

Tuesday’s count gave Rogers 11,571 votes to Combs’ 11,558.

Incumbent Commissioner Chuck Furmon gained 82 votes, but still brought up the rear with 9,392 total votes in the primary race.

“It came down to the last day so I’m the poster boy for every vote counts,” Rogers said. “Elections are not horseshoes.”

The recount is not expected the change things, said Board of Elections Deputy Director Jocelyn Bucaro.

“We’ve never had a recount produce different results,” she said.

If the numbers hold through the recount, Combs is out of a political job after losing his Ohio House seat at the end of the year. He has represented the 54th District since 2004 after serving as a county commissioner.

“Yes, I would have liked to be county commissioner but if it’s not meant to be, it won’t be,” Combs said. “I’m a Realtor by trade so politics is not my whole life. It’s so close and I feel very humbled by the fact that I won, I think, 13 townships and three of the big cities in Butler County. So obviously the support was there.”

Rogers subscribes to the tea party movement and Combs is seen as part of the GOP establishment.

Voters obviously are looking for something new from the county commission, Combs said.

“I wish him the best. It’s a challenge now in Butler County for sure,” he said.

Rogers will face Democratic candidate Jodi Billerman of Liberty Township and Libertarian Daryl Olthaus, a registered nurse from Somerville, in the November election.

Posted in: Election, Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Butler County Board of Elections, Butler County commission race, Butler County Election 2012, Chuck Furmon, Courtney Combs, Liberty Township election, Ohio election 2012, T.C. Rogers, West Chester election