Weekly Update to City Council
from the City Manager
May 2, 2011
Budget
Staff met again today to further discuss budget reductions. The initial target reduction will be
$3.7M, which will allow us to provide a balanced budget, meet the declining TPP, LGF, Estate
Taxes and other declining funds from the State. We will have scenarios for council to consider
for Thursday’s meeting. This meeting may be moved to the council chambers, but not yet
confirmed. We will also have some options to allow for increased capital dollars for street
improvement projects. I anticipate that this will be the first of several meetings to discuss
budgetary issues, however, I would encourage council to make decisions as expeditiously as
possible so that our organization can make changes and move forward.
Police Division
The Division of Police, in conjunction with the DEA, held a Drug Take-Back on Saturday. This
event took place at Holy Family Church on Clark Street from 10:00am to 2:00pm. Officers and
members of the Coalition for a Healthy Middletown were on hand to receive unwanted, unused
or expired prescription medication from citizens. The drugs will be destroyed in a safe manner
that does not harm the environment or the water system. Citizens who were unable to make
the event can still take advantage of the drop box located in the police lobby.
Middletown Division of Fire EMS News
Middletown Division of Fire recently hosted CareFlight for aircraft safety and landing zone
training. We hold this training semi-annually with the cooperation of CareFlight through their
Public Relations emphasis with their EMS partners in the region. There has been a
standardization of procedures for air medical services in the state resulting in a new training
format. This year’s training included a classroom presentation by Flight Nurse Josh Ingham in
advance of the aircraft’s arrival, supervised landing zone construction, and interaction with the
flight crew as depicted in the photo. With the Atrium Medical Center’s Level 3 Trauma status
we are not flying as many patients as in years past but MDF still relies on air medical services on
a regular basis as outlined by our Medical Director, Dr. Ralph H. Talkers and Chief Trauma
Surgeon, Dr. Dan Butler. On April 27th CareFlight will also participate in the Middletown High
School Mock Prom Crash demonstration.
Reduction in CDBG Funding
Congress passed the final budget for the 2011 resulting in a 16.5% reduction in CDBG program
funding for fiscal year 2011. The City of Middletown lost $120,438 in the process going from
2010 levels of $747,006 to 2011 funding of $626,568.
Neighborhood Stabilization Program 3
Great news! Although the City lost $120,000 in CDBG funds for fiscal 2011, we received notice
this week that are gaining $577,000 in NSP 3 funding.
Butler County received $1.2 million in NSP 3 funding and the target census tracks for NSP 3 are
almost exclusively in the cities of Hamilton and Middletown. Despite many other budget
reductions, NSP 3 has not been cut and the County will be sending a subrecipient agreement for
the City to sign to accept the $577,000 sub-grant.
The budget for our portion of the grant is:
$295,000 = Acquisition and Rehab ( < 120% LMMI )
$182,000 = Acquisition and Rehab ( < 50% LMI )
$100,000 = Demolition of Blighted Properties
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Total = $577,000
SR 122 Gateway Project
We have just received great news from OKI. The SR 122 Gateway Project has been awarded a
$56,000 grant from the OKI Urban Area Transportation Enhancement Program. The grant will
be matched with local funds of $14,000 for a project total of $70,000. The grant was awarded
based on the strength of the project, which will forward enhancing our community’s “front
door” from the east. Our next step in the project is to enter into an agreement with ODOT
District 8 so that the project work can begin. Thanks to staff for their hard work in moving this
project forward.
Miami Regionals / Greentree Academy
Miami Regionals will debut two new academic exploration blocks at Greentree this fall. The
Health Care Exploration Block will include Fundamentals of Nutrition and Physical Activity and
Health, Chemistry Fundamentals, Career Development and a web-based section of Medical
Terminology. The Miami Foundation Exploration Block will include College Composition,
American Politics and Diversity, Public Expression and Critical Inquiry and Personal Computer
Concepts and Applications. These blocks are designed to offer groups of classes in a compact,
convenient time frame. The program will also be helpful for students who may be undecided
about their future course of study in that it gives a broad overview of health and Miami
foundation coursework. Miami will offer a total of 24 classes at Greentree in the fall, during
the day and evening in a mix of formats. This includes 11 Nursing Classes,
Epidemiology, Moral Issues in Health Care, Beginning Spanish and Pathophysiology.
• Wednesday Night Nursing Classes
Wednesday night nursing classes have been scheduled for Greentree, designed to appeal to
Atrium Medical Center staff and other RN-BSN students. “We’re starting with Theory-Based
Nursing Practice and Health Promotion Across the Lifespan,” said Miami University Nursing
Director Paulette Worcester. “These are hybrid courses – approximately 50% online and 50%
classroom time, with classroom time spent on application activities to assist students in doing
more than just understanding content. Assessment of the Well Individual and Epidemiology are
offered close to the cohort time in case a student would want to pick up an additional course.
We’ve been successful with this model at VOALC and so we’re trying it again.”
• Latest Technology Part of Miami’s Greentree Classrooms
Miami University’s six classrooms at Greentree will feature technology that mirrors the modern
healthcare workplace. The two nursing labs will have 10 fully functional hospital beds and a
SimMan, an advanced patient simulator that has realistic anatomy and clinical functionality.
Miami’s section of the facility will also have two general–purpose classrooms, a video
conference room and 25-station computer lab. All of Miami’s classrooms will have an
Instructor station with a computer, DVD/VCR player, document camera, speakers and
projection system. Designed with student laptops in mind, the entire building is wireless with
extra outlets for recharging.
• WATCH US GROW...
A lot of progress has been made since ground was broken in December. Go to
http://oxblue.com/pro/open/mrh/greentree to see the Greentree Health Science Academy
take shape.
• WE’RE BLOGGING….
Get the latest on Greentree’s progress at: http://greentreeupdate.wordpress.com/
Street Sweeper
Should City Council decide to continue to defer the sweeper replacement past the next couple
of weeks, we will most likely need to re-bid the purchase. Southeastern, after contacting the
manufacturer to inform them of the tabled issue, was notified of the company’s intention to
hold 2010 pricing as long as they have a chassis available. As of Friday, April 29, 2011, 3 are
available.
Preliminary inquiries to vendors indicate the stock of Tier 3 engines will be exhausted (non DEF
additive). The MTEC unit would increase to $195K and the Southeastern unit would increase to
$200K. The value of our trade-in will likely drop $5K or $6K (net effect $16K increase). As
indicated in March 2011 Sweeper Replacement report, we were receiving a trade value $5k
higher than average market resale price from Southeastern equipment.
Indications from the vendors are cost will increase an additional $25,000 to $30,000.
Maintenance and Repair Technologies (MRT)
The MRT expansion is progressing. The expansion adds 12,000 square feet and 160,000 lbs of
lifting capacity for MRT. The increased capacity will enable the company to be a more valuable
supplier to Steel, Paper, and Power plants. (See photo below).
Middletown Pioneer Cemetery
The Middletown Pioneer Cemetery will be the site of an event “Remembering Our Soldiers”
May 28th as part of the Memorial Day Weekend festivities planned by local veteran groups in
partnership with Boy Scout Troop 572 to honor our military.
2011 Employee Development Academy
The first session of the 2011 Employee Development Academy (EDA) was held on April 28,
2011. Employees participating in the 2011 EDA are: Sandy Mueller, Greg Parsons, Denise
Hamet, Matt Romero, Donna Beauregard, Duane Retherford, Scott Tadych, Shelley Meehan,
Jennifer Minor, Ed Sensel, Carrie Carpenter and Bill Orsborne. By offering this internal training
we are able to provide valuable training related to city policies and procedures at a fraction of
the cost of sending employees to outside sources.
Board of Zoning Appeals
The Middletown Board of Zoning Appeals will be meeting on Wednesday, May 4th at 5:30 pm in
the City Council Chambers to hear two sign variance requests. One request is for a proposed
ground mounted sign at the new Taco Bell to replace the existing restaurant on S. Breiel Blvd.
The second request is for a new wall mounted sign for the proposed Hot Head Burritos in the
strip center at the northwest corner of SR 122 and Dixie Hwy.
Middletown Health Department
Public Health 2011 Theme: “Safety is No Accident, Live Injury Free”
Despite Doppler radar, tornadoes can sometimes occur without any warning, allowing very
little time to act. It is important to know the basics of tornado safety:
Whether practicing in a tornado drill or sheltering during a warning, the Ohio Committee for
Severe Weather Awareness encourages Ohioans to DUCK!
D - Go DOWN to the lowest level
U - Get UNDER something
C - COVER your head
K - KEEP in shelter until the storm has passed
Other Important Tips:
• Take responsibility for your safety and be prepared before a watch or warn.
• Meet with household members to develop a disaster plan to respond to tornado watches
and warnings.
• Conduct regular tornado drills. When a tornado watch is issued, review your plan – don't
wait for the watch to become a warning.
• Learn how to turn off the water, gas and electricity at the main switches.
• If you are a person with special needs, register your name and address with your local
emergency management agency, police and fire departments before any natural or manmade disaster.
• Know the difference between tornado watches (conditions favorable) and tornado warnings
(funnel cloud spotted).
• NOAA Weather Radio has available an alerting tool for people who are deaf or have hearing
impairments. Some weather radio receivers can be connected to an existing home security
system, much the same as a doorbell, smoke detector or other sensor. For additional
information, visit: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/special_need.htm.
• Tune in to one of the following for weather information: NOAA Weather Radio, local/cable
television (Ohio News Network or the Weather Channel), or local radio station.
• The safest place to be during a tornado is a basement. If the building has no basement or
cellar, go to a small room (a bathroom or closet) on the lowest level of the structure, away
from windows and as close to the center of the building as possible.
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Be aware of emergency shelter plans in stores, offices and schools. If no specific shelter has
been identified, move to the building's lowest level.
Try to avoid areas with large glass windows, large rooms and wide-span roofs such as
auditoriums, cafeterias, large hallways or shopping malls.
If you're outside or in mobile home, find shelter immediately by going to the lowest level of
a nearby sturdy building.
Sturdy buildings are the safest structures to be in when tornadoes threaten.
Winds from tornadoes can blow large objects, including cars and mobile homes, hundreds
of feet away.
If you cannot quickly get to a shelter, get into your vehicle, buckle your seatbelt and try to
drive to the nearest sturdy shelter.
If you experience flying debris while driving, pull over and park. Choose to stay in your
vehicle, stay buckled up, duck down below the windows and cover your head with your
hands, or find a depression or ditch, exit your vehicle and use your arms and hands to
protect your head. Never seek shelter under highway overpasses and bridges.
Please Note: Warning sirens are “outdoor” warning devices; they aren’t meant to be heard
inside a residence.
Group Workcamps
Just a quick reminder from Jeffrey Diver, Executive Director of Supports to Encourage Lowincome Families (SELF) - We are seeking volunteers for the July Group Workcamp which is
scheduled to do neighborhood repairs in Middletown. We currently have 423 campers and 18
adult supervisors scheduled to come in July!! We also expect over 200 local volunteers. We
will have over 70 teams of workers working on 60 or more homes with 10 to 15 backups.
This is an event which has the potential of bringing together of all of Middletown for a great
community service and neighborhood improvements.
For volunteer opportunities or to make donations please contact:
John Post
Housing Coordinator
Supports to Encourage Low-Income Families (SELF)
P.O. Box 1322
Hamilton, OH 45012
513-820-5024
513-787-9956 (cell)
FAX 513-785-3692
Arbor Day
Arbor Day was celebrated at Miami Park on April 29th with the planting of a Japanese Katsura
(Redbud) tree in honor of our Sister City / Osaki City, Japan at noon. Thanks to staff and our
many volunteers in the community for making this event special.
Butler County Mayors Task Force Meeting
Hosted in Middletown last week at Pendleton Art Center. Mayors and Managers from various
communities hold quarterly meetings to discuss common issues. The group selected several
items to jointly purchase in order to save dollars: gasoline, sand, gravel, office paper, and
others.
First Friday Pendleton Grand Opening!
5-9 May 6, Second look Saturday, 11-2 May 7.
Upcoming Events
May 2
Park Board meeting – City Building Conference Room 2C 5:00 p.m.
May 3
Council Work Session City building Conf. Rm. 4C 5:30 p.m.
May 3
City Council meeting Council Chambers (LL) 6:30 p.m.
May 4
Airport Commission meeting Airport (B&B Aero) 2nd floor 5:00 p.m.
May 4
Board of Zoning Appeals meeting Council Chambers (LL) 5:30 p.m.
May 5
Warren County Prayer Breakfast Heritage Baptist Church, Lebanon
(RSVP needed) 7:00 a.m.
May 5
1st Annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast Towne Blvd Church of God 8:00 a.m.
May 5
Chamber Monthly Luncheon-MASC on Central 11:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.
May 5
City Council Budget meeting w/ Staff City Bldg. location TBD 5:00 p.m.
May 6
Chamber Ribbon Cutting / Open House Pendleton Art Center - 1105 Central Avenue,
Middletown 5:00 - 9:00 pm Ribbon cutting at 5:30 pm
May 8
Health Board meeting- City Building Conference Room 2C 7:30 a.m.
May 10
District Dialogue w/ Councilman Smith Sonny Hill, Jr. Community Center 6:00 p.m.
Links for additional information:
City Manager’s Weekly Update: www.cityofmiddletown.org
Middletown Community Calendar: http://www.calendarwiz.com/middletowncalendar (copy
and paste in your web browser)
Pothole Patrol: www.cityofmiddletown.org or call 727-3691 (Option 2)
Requests for Service regarding Snow and Ice Removal 425-1897
Requests for recycling toters (free) or the brown waste toters (monthly fee):
www.cityofmiddletown.org/features/toters.html or call 513.425.7870.
Have a great week!
Judy