WestChesterBuzz.com

Grant Ingram of West Chester at a township zoning meeting holds a sign in favor of stopping a Kroger Marketplace from being built on the corner of Tylersville Road and Princeton-Glendale Road (State Route 747). Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber March 18, 2013.

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.

WestChesterBuzz.com also recently added a new video page last week. To view West Chester and Liberty Township related videos, visit westchesterbuzz.com/videos.

Developer withdraws plans for Kroger Marketplace – A Blue Ash developer has scrapped plans to bring a Kroger Marketplace to West Chester Township – at least, for now. West Chester Township officials received a notice of withdrawal Wednesday morning from Silverman and Company, which planned to build a shopping center that included a 133,000-square-foot Kroger Marketplace on the corner of Tylersville Road and Princeton-Glendale Road (Ohio 747).

Thomas P. Farrell. Photo provided.

Liberty Township names Thomas Farrell trustee – A small business owner has been tapped to join the Liberty Township Board of Trustees. Thomas P. Farrell was named trustee Tuesday to fill the unexpired term of Patrick Hiltman, who resigned his seat last month. Farrell was selected from a field of 13 who submitted letters of interest and resumes.

Deputies plan daily visits to Butler schools – Butler County sheriff’s deputies will be stopping by county schools every day beginning this week through a new initiative being launched this week to help make schools safer. Sheriff Richard K. Jones on Monday announced the start of Operation Safe School, which is designed to have a deputy stop by any school in his or her geographical patrol area every day that school is in session.

VIDEOS: Lakota students do the Harlem Shake - Last week WestChesterBuzz.com posted four videos of Lakota students doing the Harlem Shake. Tell us which one is your favorite and pass on any others that might be floating around the Web.

Butler County prosecutor wants Punxsutawney Phil executed – Death to Punxsutawney Phil! That’s what Butler County Prosecutor Mike Gmoser has suggested. Gmoser on Thursday issued a fake single-count direct indictment of the groundhog charging him with “misrepresentation of spring” for making people believe the season would arrive early.

Princess Paige lives on through foundation – Heather Alessandro, mother of Paige, created the Princess Paige Foundation in honor of her daughter, who passed away unexpectedly in May of 2010 at the age of 6. The foundation provides grants to pediatric patients who need therapeutic services and equipment that might not be covered by insurance.

Posted in: Board of Trustees, Business, Government, News, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Butler County Prosecutor Mike Gmoser, Crossings of Beckett, Groundhog Day, Harlem Shake videos, Heather Alessandro, Kroger, Kroger Marketplace, Kroger Marketplace West Chester, Kroger West Chester, Lakota East, Lakota East Harlem Shake, Lakota East Young Life, Lakota East Young Life Harlem Shake, Lakota West, Lakota West Harlem Shake, Lakota West Young Life, Lakota West Young Life Harlem Shake, Liberty Township Ohio, Liberty Township Trustee Pat Hiltman, Liberty Township trustees, local harlem shake videos, Mike Gmoser, Paige Alessandro, Paige's Princess Foundation, Paige's Princess Run, Pat Hiltman, Punxsutawney Phil, Silverman and Company, Thomas Farrell, Thomas P. Farrell, Tom Eggert, Tom Farrell, West Chester Township Zoning Commission, Wyandot Early Childhood School, Wyandot Early Childhood School Lakota, Wyandot Early Childhood School Liberty Township

Sue Kiesewetter reports:

A small business owner has been tapped to join the Liberty Township Board of Trustees.

Thomas P. Farrell was named trustee Tuesday to fill the unexpired term of Patrick Hiltman, who resigned his seat last month. Farrell was selected from a field of 13 who submitted letters of interest and resumes.

He will serve through Dec. 31, unless he runs for and wins the seat in the Nov. 5 election. Farrell said he plans to take out petitions for that race early next week.

“I want to give back to the community. It’s an exciting time to be living in Liberty Township,’’ Farrell said.

Trustee President Christine Matacic said the decision of who to name trustee was tough because of the quality of those who applied. Farrell, she said, was involved with the community even before he was appointed to the Zoning Commission nearly 10 years ago.

“We have someone who has extensive background with the community,” Matacic said. “He sits on several boards. When it comes to money – he treats those dollars like they were his own.”

Farrell is the owner and president of Alternative Computer Technology in West Chester Township. Besides serving on the Zoning Commission, he sits on the board of Fenwick High School and the Atrium Medical Center Foundation.

“Tom’s business background and commitment to the Liberty Township community is impressive,’’ said Trustee David Kern. “I’m confident we have selected someone who will leave a positive impact on the community.”

A 14-year resident of the township, Farrell holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Dayton and a master’s degree from Harris University of Florida.

He lives in the Four Bridges subdivision with wife Kim; and three children, Chelsea, a sophomore at Hillsdale College in Michigan; Brady, a senior at Fenwick High School; and Kyle, a sophomore at Fenwick.

Posted in: Board of Trustees, News |

Tags: Tags: Liberty Township Ohio, Liberty Township Trustee Pat Hiltman, Liberty Township trustees, Pat Hiltman, Thomas Farrell, Thomas P. Farrell, Tom Farrell

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.

More than 5,000 runners and walkers participated in the Shamrock Shuffle in West Chester Township on Saturday. The event was expected to raise $100,000 for local causes and charities. Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber.

WestChesterBuzz.com also recently added a new video page last week. To view West Chester and Liberty Township related videos, visit westchesterbuzz.com/videos.

Lakota Local Schools closed – A winter storm last Tuesday night forced Lakota Local Schools to close for the first time in the 2012-2013 school year. West Chester’s Nature Basket program was also canceled due to the weather.

What is your gold worth? – As gold prices soar, so do the number of gold buyers and sellers. That means more work for county auditors, who are tasked with validating the accuracy of scales used to weigh gold at businesses that buy it. In Southwest Ohio, auditors from Butler, Warren, Clermont and Hamilton counties in 2012 registered 186 scales from precious metals buyers, up from just 30 in 2009.

Lakota East OL Jarrett LaRubbio receives multiple offers – Miami (Ohio), West Virginia, Cincinnati and Georgia Tech all offered Lakota East junior offensive lineman Jarrett LaRubbio last week, Lakota East coach Rick Haynes told Cincinnati Enquirer high school sports recruiting writer Mike Dyer. The 6-foot-5, 265-pound lineman has received offers Arizona State, Western Michigan, Duke, Kentucky Nebraska, N.C. State, Akron, Pittsburgh, Bowling Green, Toledo, Kent State and Ohio.

Pat Hiltman is resigned effective immediately, on Feb. 20, from his township trustee post because a recent job change. Photo provided.

13 seek Liberty Township trustee seat – A total of 13 individuals have applied to join the Liberty Township Board of Trustees, Sue Kiesewetter reported late last week for The Cincinnati Enquirer. Whoever is selected would fill Patrick Hiltman’s term, which ends Dec. 31. To keep the seat, the trustee would have to run in the November election. Among the candidates are a former Trenton mayor, the developer of the Carriage Hill development, three members of the township’s Vision Committee and volunteers on three other township groups.

Butler Tech names new superintendent – Bill Miller on last Thursday was named superintendent of Butler Tech, Sue Kiesewetter reported for The Cincinnati Enquirer. For the past two months, Miller has served as interim superintendent following the December resignation of Brett Smith. He was one of three finalists for the job. Miller was given a two-year contract, which runs through July 31, 2015. His salary was set at $126,250 annually.

Census: Cincinnati commuter rate among highest in nation – Hamilton County has among the highest number of commuters coming from another county in the nation, the U.S. Census Bureau reported recently, according to Mark Wert of The Cincinnati Enquirer. Among workers in Hamilton County, 188,113 live outside the county, according to 2006-2010 Census estimates. For example, 45,965 workers commute in from Butler County. Meanwhile, 66,994 residents of Hamilton County leave the county for work, or only 18.6 percent of the county’s total. The biggest group, 20,856, goes to Butler County.

Florida State offers RB Mikel Horton – Florida State offered Lakota West junior running back Mikel Horton on Monday, according to Lakota West head football coach Larry Cox. The previous week, four Division I programs offered Horton. Louisville, Cincinnati, Purdue and Miami (Ohio) offered on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, respectively. In addition, Horton has received interest from Penn State, Michigan State and Arkansas, as well as offers from Indiana, Minnesota, Kent State, Toledo, Bowling Green, Western Michigan and Kentucky.

Lillian’s Leprechauns, others benefit from Shamrock Shuffle – More than 5,000 runners and walkers took part in the 2013 Shamrock Shuffle in West Chester Township Saturday. Each one of them came out for a reason, as many did so for one of the 50 charities that were participating in the annual event. The charity that brought in the most runners/walkers was a new group, Lillian’s Leprechauns, which was created after Adam Woodward and Niki Larson, both of Maineville, lost their baby, Lillian, one day after she was born.

Posted in: Events, Fall sports, News, Recreational events, Sports |

Tags: Tags: 10K West Chester, 5K West Chester, Community Foundation WCL, Community Foundation West Chester/Liberty, fundraiser West Chester, Jarrett LaRubbio, Jarrett LaRubbio football recruiting, Jarrett LaRubbio Lakota East, Jarrett LaRubbio Michigan, Jarrett LaRubbio Michigan recruiting, Jarrett LaRubbio offensive lineman, Jarrett LaRubbio Pittsburgh, Jarrett LaRubbio Pittsburgh recruiting, Lakota East, Lakota East football, Lakota East Sports, Lakota West, Lakota West football, Lakota West sports, Leprechaun Lap, Liberty Township Ohio, Liberty Township Trustee Pat Hiltman, Liberty Township trustees, Lillian’s Leprechauns, Mikel Horton, Mikel Horton football recruiting, Mikel Horton Lakota West, Ohio football recruiting, Ohio High School sports recruiting, Ohio preps recruiting, Ohio sports recruiting, Pat Hiltman, Shamrock Gives Back, Shamrock Shuffle, Shamrock Shuffle West Chester, St. Patrick's Day, WCL Community Foundation

Sue Kiesewetter reports:

A total of 13 individuals have applied to join the Liberty Township Board of Trustees.

Pat Hiltman is resigned effective immediately, on Feb. 20, from his township trustee post because a recent job change. Photo provided.

Whoever is selected would fill Patrick Hiltman’s term, which ends Dec. 31. To keep the seat, the trustee would have to run in the November election.

• Liberty Township trustee Pat Hiltman steps down

Among the candidates are a former Trenton mayor, the developer of the Carriage Hill development, three members of the township’s Vision Committee and volunteers on three other township groups.

“I think it’s going to be a tough decision. We have some phenomenal candidates,’’ said Christine Matacic, president of the board of trustees. “We are very fortunate (to have) the quality of people (we do) in Liberty Township who want to serve.”

Matacic said she and trustee David Kern have not finished the interview process but hope to name a replacement at their March 19 meeting.

Those who submitted a letter of interest and resume are:

• Freed Buckley
• Barry Thiel, Parks Committee
• Jim Hartman, Vision and Economic Development committees
• Shirley Sampson
• Patrick Merten, Vision Committee
• Randy Terry, Vision Committee and developer for the Carriage Hill project
• Jeff Newman
• Stephe Bacon
• Tom Farrell, Liberty Township Zoning Commission and Vision Committee
• Jason Reeves
• Rhonda Freeze, former mayor of Trenton
• Ronald Aylward
• Robert Coogan

Posted in: Board of Trustees, Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Liberty Township Ohio, Liberty Township Trustee Pat Hiltman, Liberty Township trustees, Pat Hiltman

Alicia Lang participates in a walk in her honor during the Alicia’s Lungs benefit at Lakota West High School in May of 2011. It was one of many fundraisers the family had as Lang waited for new lungs. Photo taken by Amanda Davidson.

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.

WestChesterBuzz.com also recently added a new video page. To view West Chester and Liberty Township related videos, visit westchesterbuzz.com/videos.

Lakota West grad wakes up after double-lung transplant – When Alicia Lang finally woke up Saturday, Feb. 16, at the Cleveland Clinic, she did so with a new pair of lungs. Lang, a 20-year-old Lakota West graduate who has cystic fibrosis, has been waiting for more than two years for a double-lung transplant. On Feb. 11, the long wait was over. Lang’s operation was a success. WestChesterBuzz.com reported the story last week.

Pat Hiltman is resigning effective immediately from his trustee post because a recent job change. Photo provided.

Liberty Township trustee Pat Hiltman steps down – After serving seven years as a Liberty Township trustee, Pat Hiltman is stepping down, 10 months shy of finishing his second term. Hiltman said he was resigning effective immediately because a recent job change requires extensive travel.

Justice doled out differently in Butler Co. courts – Sheila McLaughlin reported last week: The weekly cattle call at Butler County Area III Court swells with a mixed bag of people charged with minor crimes and traffic violations. They spend hours waiting for their cases to be called. Many plead guilty, get probation and make a stop at the clerk’s window to pay their fines. Most go on their way with a criminal record that anyone can see.

Gun rally in West Chester – There were times, on a beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon in West Chester, when the Day of Resistance gathering felt like a heavily armed history class. Hundreds of people stood, many with pistols on their hips or semi-automatic rifles slung over their shoulders, and listened to speakers talk about the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions of 1798, about the Federalists versus the anti-Federalists debate, and the history of the legal theory of nullification.

Two different police departments say this suspect is responsible for stealing donations from a pair of local mosques on the same morning. Photo provided.

West Chester police looking for thief who stole from mosques – West Chester and Miamisburg police departments are trying to identify a man, who detectives say is responsible for stealing donations from a pair of local mosques on the same morning. Crime Stoppers released photos of the suspect last Wednesday.

Lakota West RB Mikel Horton adds offers – Minnesota and Western Michigan offered Lakota West junior running back Mikel Horton last Wednesday, according Lakota West head football coach Larry Cox. Horton, who has received interest from Louisville, Penn State and Michigan State, also has offers from Indiana, Kent State, Toledo, Bowling Green and Kentucky.

ASU offers Lakota East OL Jarrett LaRubbio – Arizona State offered Lakota East junior offensive lineman Jarrett LaRubbio last Tuesday, Lakota East coach Rick Haynes told Cincinnati Enquirer high school sports recruiting writer Mike Dyer. Haynes later told Dyer that Western Michigan is offering, as well. he 6-foot-5, 265-pound lineman received offers earlier this month from Duke, Kentucky and Nebraska. He also has offers from Akron, Pittsburgh, Bowling Green, Toledo, Kent State and Ohio.

Posted in: Board of Trustees, Crime, News |

Tags: Tags: Alicia Lang, Alicia's Lungs, Crime Stoppers, Cystic Fibrosis, Day of Resistance, Day of Resistance rally, Day of Resistance rally West Chester, Day of Resistance West Chester, fundraiser, gun control, Jim Lang, Judge Rob Lyons, Lakota West, Liberty Township Ohio, Liberty Township Trustee Pat Hiltman, Liberty Township trustees, Mary Kay Lang, Miami University, Miami University crime, Nick Lang, Pat Hiltman, Rob Lyons, West Chester Ohio crime, West Chester Police, West Chester Police Department

Sue Kiesewetter reports:

After serving seven years as a Liberty Township trustee, Pat Hiltman is stepping down, 10 months shy of finishing his second term.

Pat Hiltman is resigning effective immediately from his township trustee post because a recent job change. Photo provided.

“I can’t do both justice,’’ Hiltman said Wednesday. “It was an absolute honor and privilege to serve the residents of Liberty Township. I’m really going to miss it.”

Trustee President Christine Matacic said she would accept resumes with a cover letter from any township resident interested in filling Hiltman’s position through Feb. 28.

She and trustee David Kern have until March 21 to fill Hiltman’s spot. Whoever is selected would serve through the end of the year and would have to run in the November election to keep the seat past Dec. 31.

Hiltman said he is proud to have served on the board that brought a more business-like approach to running the township with the assistance of former administrator Dina Minneci.

“We brought a true business approach to the township,’’ Hiltman said. “I hope my legacy will be the business structure we’ve established in the township. I’m proud to have been involved in that.”

He cited the creation of the economic development, finance, and human resource departments along with establishing an overlay district for zoning, introducing merit pay increases, and becoming a home rule township.

During his terms Hiltman said he’s finished all the goals he had set – with one exception.

“I’ve accomplished everything I wanted to with the exception of bringing the Steiner project to fruition, but I think that will happen anyway. It’s been a good run.”

Steiner and Associates plans to develop a $500 million mixed use project along the north side of Liberty Way that includes a cinema, luxury apartments, restaurants, offices and retail.

Posted in: Board of Trustees, Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Liberty Township Ohio, Liberty Township Trustee Pat Hiltman, Liberty Township trustees, Pat Hiltman

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 Kiesewetter reports:

Declining federal and state dollars won’t deter Liberty Township officials from balancing their budget this year.

With revenues estimated at $19.7 million and expenses projected at $19.8 million, officials are confident that through careful spending they won’t have to dip into reserves to balance this year’s budget.

“We won’t spend everything that we budgeted,” said Caroline McKinney, economic development director and spokeswoman. “All projects and capital expenses will be thoroughly analyzed and we will look for other financing opportunities. Our best intention is to have a balanced budget.”

Trustees adopted the 2013 budget that includes appropriations of nearly $1.9 million in the general fund – used for the day-to-day operations of the township – along with $5.3 million in the fire fund; $327,400 in the ambulance fund; and $2.3 million in the police fund.

For the second year trustees removed money to purchase a new engine truck to replace a 1999 vehicle. Trustees also scaled back dollars requested for a new staff vehicle for the fire department.

“We need to scale back,’’ said Trustee Pat Hiltman. “We have to think differently. There’s a need and a want. We need to cut our costs down.”

Hiltman said a full review of the fire department should be done early in 2013, including an examination of staffing to see if any positions can be reduced. He suggested nine full-time positions – one per shift, per fire station.

About 44 percent of the township’s revenues come from levies or emergency services billing but 51 percent of next year’s expenses will come from that department.

Money has been set aside to replace wood chips at Dudley, Liberty and Fort Liberty parks; add a shelter at Dudley Park; along with replacing a merry-go-round and slide at the Reserves Park.

Another $10,000 has been earmarked to complete the first phase of a path around Wilhelmina Park.

Money is also included for a Millikin Road and Hawthorne Hills hike and bicycle connection, phase two of the redesign of the Ohio 129 and Ohio 747 entrance and exit ramp planting beds, which will reduce maintenance with the planting of grass and evergreens.

The township will look for grant opportunities to fund park and other projects, McKinney said.

Posted in: Government, News |

Tags: Tags: board of trustees, Caroline McKinney, Liberty Township board of trustees, Liberty Township board of trustees meeting, Liberty Township trustee, Liberty Township Trustee Pat Hiltman, Liberty Township trustees, Pat Hiltman

Sue Kiesewetter reports:

The owner of West Chester Lawn and Garden will have to wait another month to get a decision on a zone change and overall plan for his property, located in Liberty Township.

Owner Dale Magie had asked the zoning be changed from business to business planned unit development for his four-acre property at 7267 Yankee Road. The property also lies in the Cincinnati-Dayton Road overlay district.

But it wasn’t until the public hearing – after the township’s zoning and the Butler County planning commissions – that Magie asked for a change to the sidewalk width and for relief on sign requirements.

“I don’t like this coming at us with loose ends. Why wasn’t this brought up at the zoning commission?’’ said Trustee Pat Hiltman. “We ask a lot of our volunteers (on the zoning commission.) I think they deserve the opportunity to look at this again and report back.”

Trustees have final approval on zoning changes but receive recommendations from both the county and township zoning commissions. Both approved the change, with conditions, before the sidewalk width and sign issues were brought up.

In the plan for the property, the owner proposes to add a 12-foot by 30-foot concrete pad that could be seen from nearby Ohio 129 to display tractors.

It also calls for a 75-foot long storage area for mulch or other bulk materials. It would be screened by a six-foot high wall.

Staff members recommended in favor of the project with some condition, including installation of a sidewalk along Yankee Road within five years, sooner if the building is expanded.

It also recommended that if signs are replaced, new ones would have to conform with existing code.

The staff also recommended that the business be limited to 12 annual temporary events on the property, each running no longer than Thursday to Sunday.

For only three events displays, tents and product could be left in the open during the duration of the event. Materials would have to be brought in each evening for the other nine.

Magie is in the process of renaming the business. The existing signs were installed before the current code was adopted and do not meet current standards.

Liberty Township trustees sent the project back to the zoning commission for reconsideration of issues related to the sidewalk and signs. It will be reviewed Sept. 10.

Posted in: Business, Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Dale Magie, Liberty Township business news, Liberty Township Trustee Pat Hiltman, Liberty Township trustees, Pat Hiltman, West Chester Lawn and Garden

Sue Kiesewetter reports

A rash of vandalism in parts of Liberty Township has officials working to increase Butler County sheriff’s patrols in targeted areas.

Residents in the Eagle Ridge subdivision brought concerns to trustees this week after some families experienced more than one incident in the past several weeks.

Ramakrishna Kesireddy said vandals put mustard on his garage, threw eggs on his door and spread detergent on his driveway in the first incident.

More recently, a rock was thrown into his basement window, shattering the glass and damaging drywall.

“The response is very good (by Butler County sheriff’s officers) but the outcome is zero,” Kesireddy said.

Others complained of obscenities spray painted on streets, mailboxes and other places.

Even the Lakota Family YMCA was hit. Aquatics director Sara Matchison spoke of a minor incident where flower pots were thrown into a pool but also two incidents where money and keys were stolen. Items have also been stolen from locked lockers.

Lt. Lance Bunnell, who heads the sheriff’s office Liberty substation, said patrols are increasing.

“For some of the incidents we have persons of interest,’’ Bunnell said. “There are some things we’re doing in your neighborhood.”

He declined to elaborate further on tactics being used to stop the vandalism.

“This stuff runs in spurts. It’s kind of a cyclical thing. It’s just an ugly situation right now,’’ said Trustee Pat Hiltman.

“Keep your eyes open and report anything to the police. They’ll catch them. It’s just a matter of time.”

Hiltman predicted that some of the vandalism would end once school begins later this month.

Posted in: Crime, News |

Tags: Tags: Butler County Sheriff's Office, Eagle Ridge subdivision Liberty Township, Eagle Ridge subdivision vandalism, Lakota Family YMCA, Lakota Family YMCA vandalism, Liberty Township Trustee Pat Hiltman, Liberty Township trustees, Pat Hiltman