WestChesterBuzz.com

Candidates in the Butler County Commission and Butler County Clerk of Courts races participated in a voting forum at the Lakota West Freshman Campus in West Chester Thursday night.

The event attracted a good crowd and featured Republican primary commission candidates including current county Commissioner Chuck Furmon, state Rep. Courtney Combs and political newcomer T.C. Rogers.

Also taking the stage in the commission race forum was Democrat Jodi Billerman and Libertarian Daryl R. Olthaus. Both, Billerman and Olthaus, will run in November against the winner of the Republican primary March 6.

During the forum, all candidates answered the same questions that included how they would lower the county’s debt, if the county airport should be sold, if the county can justify giving raises to its employees, if they agree with the county sheriff’s immigration policy, how can the county fund the Liberty Town Square retail development project, among others.

• Find out what is on the ballot March 6 on the Butler County Board of Elections page
• Information on the Butler County Commission race

All of candidates provided what their approaches would be in lowing the county debt, which forum host and West Chester Township Trustee George Lang said was at $90 million.

Rogers recently criticized Furmon, saying there is a “mountain of reckless spending” in Butler County government. During the forum, Furmon defended recent expenses.

As far as the airport was concerned, all of the candidates agreed that it was an asset. Only Olthaus was open to selling it, noting that it could be better run privately instead of by the government. Rogers thought it would be a good time to market the airport after seeing reports that the airport in Blue Ash will likely close. According to Rogers, another airport couldn’t be built within 200 miles of the airport in Butler County.

In regards to the pay freeze, Furman acknowledged that there is one currently – saying, “We are not issuing raises, that is not what we are about.” Although no single candidate appeared to be in favor of handing out raises, Billerman said that there should be a good compensation structure and would not favor a select few raises unless they deserve it. (more…)

Posted in: Election, Events, Government, News, Political events, Tea Party |

Tags: Tags: Butler County Commissioner electiion, Butler County Commissioner primary, Butler County Commissioners, Chuck Furmon, Courtney Combs, Daryl R. Olthau, Don Dixon, George Lang, Jodi Billerman, Lakota West Freshman Campus, Mary Swain, T.C. Rogers, West Chester Tea Party, West Chester Township Trustee, West Chester Township Trustee George Lang, West Chester Trustee George Lang

The West Chester Tea Party announced that there would be a voter forum for the March 6 primary race for the positions of Butler County Commissioner and Butler County Clerk of Courts in the Lakota West Freshman Auditorium at 7 p.m. Thursday.

The voter forum will be a chance for the electorate of Butler County to ask questions and hear from the Commissioner and Clerk of Courts candidates. West Chester Township Trustee George Lang is hosting the forum.

Don Dixon, who is running unopposed for one of the Commissioner openings, accepted an invitation to the forum.

In addition, invitations were accepted by Courtney Combs (Rep.) and T.C. Rogers (Rep.) who are running against Chuck Furmon (Rep. – incumbent) in the primary for the second Commissioner position.

• Find out what is on the ballot March 6 on the Butler County Board of Elections page
• Information on the Butler County Commission race

Candidates Jodi Billerman (Dem.) and Daryl R. Olthaus (Lib.), who will be competing in the November election against the winner of the Republican primary, have also accepted the invitation.

Both Clerk of Court Republican primary candidates will be in attendance, current Clerk of Courts Mary Swain and former interim Clerk of Courts Jeff Wyrick.

The event is free to attend and open to the public. The Lakota West Freshman Campus is located at 5050 Tylersville Road in West Chester.

Posted in: Board of Trustees, Election, Events, Government, News, Political events, Tea Party |

Tags: Tags: Butler County Commissioner electiion, Butler County Commissioner primary, Butler County Commissioners, Chuck Furmon, Courtney Combs, Daryl R. Olthau, Don Dixon, George Lang, Jodi Billerman, Lakota West Freshman Campus, Mary Swain, T.C. Rogers, West Chester Tea Party, West Chester Township Trustee, West Chester Township Trustee George Lang, West Chester Trustee George Lang

The West Chester Tea Party recently announced that there would be a voter forum for the March 6 primary race for the positions of Butler County Commissioner and Butler County Clerk of Courts in the Lakota West Freshman Auditorium at 7 p.m. Feb. 9.

The voter forum will be a chance for the electorate of Butler County to ask questions and hear from the Commissioner and Clerk of Courts candidates. West Chester Township Trustee George Lang is hosting the forum.

Don Dixon, who is running unopposed for one of the Commissioner openings, accepted an invitation to the forum.

In addition, invitations were accepted by Courtney Combs (Rep.) and T.C. Rogers (Rep.) who are running against Chuck Furmon (Rep. – incumbent) in the primary for the second Commissioner position.

• Find out what is on the ballot March 6 on the Butler County Board of Elections page

Candidates Jodi Billerman (Dem.) and Daryl R. Olthaus (Lib.), who will be competing in the November election against the winner of the Republican primary, have also accepted the invitation.

Both Clerk of Court Republican primary candidates will be in attendance, current Clerk of Courts Mary Swain and former interim Clerk of Courts Jeff Wyrick.

The event is free to attend and open to the public. The Lakota West Freshman Campus is located at 5050 Tylersville Road in West Chester.

Posted in: Board of Trustees, Election, Events, Government, News, Political events, Tea Party |

Tags: Tags: Butler County Commissioner Chuck Furmon, Butler County Commissioner electiion, Butler County Commissioner primary, Butler County Commissioners, Chuck Furmon, Commissioner Chuck Furmon, Courtney Combs, Daryl R. Olthau, Don Dixon, George Lang, Jodi Billerman, Lakota West Freshman Campus, Mary Swain, T.C. Rogers, West Chester Tea Party, West Chester Township Trustee, West Chester Township Trustee George Lang, West Chester Trustee George Lang

If the mild weather continues, West Chester Township figures to save thousands of dollars that could be used towards road maintenance, core competencies or for eliminating future tax increases.

So far this winter, West Chester has yet to accept delivery of additional salt and have not needed to pay for extra labor. In fact, the township has only used salt that was purchased for last year.

According, to West Chester spokeswoman Barbara Wilson, “our domes are full.”

“West Chester contracts for road salt at the beginning of each winter season and actually purchases the salt as needed throughout the season,” Wilson said. “It is our practice to keep the salt domes full and hold over any unused salt for use the next season.”

While it is not known how much the township has spent this winter on snow removal, two winters ago it spent more than $500,000. Last winter, the township spent $338,150.

“If we have a mild winter, such that the township does not spend as much as usual from its roads fund on snow plowing, the monies saved would not be moved to another fund,” West Chester Township Trustee Catherine Stoker said. “They would be expended as needed on other township road maintenance needs in the coming months.”

Furthermore, if the mild winter continues, the township will likely save money on energy costs. Those savings would remain in the same fund for future utility expenses, according to Stoker.

Posted in: Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Barbara Wilson, Butler County weather, Catherine Stoker, Liberty Township weather, National Weather Service, snow, West Chester freezing rain, West Chester snow, West Chester Township Trustee, West Chester weather