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WELCOME TO CITY OF HEBREW HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
[1. Call The Meeting To Order - Mayor Jeff Gore]
WE'RE GETTING STARTED AT 6:00 PM THIS MEETING IS OFFICIALLY CALLED TO ORDER.[2. Invocation - Pastor Randy Griffith Of The Free Methodist Church At 6875 Old Troy Pike, Huber Heights, Ohio]
WE'LL HAVE OUR INVOCATION FROM PASTOR RANDY GRIFFITH AT THE FREE METHODIST CHURCH AT 68 75 OLD TROY PIKE HERE IN HEBREW HEIGHTS, PASTOR GRIFFITH.JESUS SAID, I TELL YOU THE TRUTH, EVERYONE WHO SINS IS A SLAVE TO SIN.
NOW A SLAVE HAS NO PERMANENT PLACE IN THE FAMILY, BUT A SON BELONGS TO IT FOREVER.
SO IF THE SON OF GOD SET YOU FREE, YOU ARE TRULY FREE.
IN HIS BOOK UP FROM SLAVERY, BOOKER T WASHINGTON WROTE, AFTER THE COMING OF FREEDOM REFERRING TO THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION, THERE WERE TWO POINTS UPON WHICH PRACTICALLY ALL THE PEOPLE ON OUR PLACE WERE AGREED.
AND I FOUND THAT THIS WAS GENERALLY THROUGH, GENERALLY TRUE THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH, THAT THEY MUST CHANGE THEIR NAMES, AND THAT THEY MUST LEAVE THE OLD PLANTATION FOR AT LEAST A FEW DAYS OR WEEKS IN ORDER THAT THEY MIGHT REALLY FEEL SURE THAT THEY WERE FREE.
IN SOME WAY, A FEELING GOT AMONG THE COLORED PEOPLE, THAT IT WAS FAR FROM PROPER FOR THEM TO BEAR THE SURNAME OF THEIR FORMER OWNERS.
AND A GREAT MANY OF THEM TOOK OTHER SURNAMES.
THIS WAS ONE OF THE FIRST SIGNS OF FREEDOM.
A NEW NAME LEAVING THE OLD LIFE OF BONDAGE.
THIS IDEA ALSO APPLIES TO THE FREEDOM BELIEVERS HAVE IN CHRIST.
WHEN BY FAITH A PERSON BELIEVES IN JESUS.
JESUS CHRIST IS FREED FROM THE POWER OF SIN AND RECEIVES THE FREEDOM CHRIST GIVES THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT.
THAT PERSON IS A NEW PERSON WITH A NEW NAME THAT RELATES TO THEIR NEW CHARACTER AND NEW SITUATION.
TEMPTATIONS MAY COME TO TURN BACK TO THAT OLD LIFE OF BONDAGE TO THE WORLD, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES OF TRIAL OR DIFFICULTY.
BUT THOSE WHO OVERCOME AND REMAIN WITH HIM, JESUS MAKES THIS PROMISE TO THE ONE WHO OVERCOMES.
I WILL WRITE ON HIM THE NAME OF MY GOD AND THE NAME OF THE CITY OF MY GOD, THE NEW JERUSALEM, WHICH IS COMING DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN FROM MY GOD.
AND I WILL ALSO WRITE ON HIM MY NEW NAME.
JESUS IS THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
THERE'S NO OTHER NAME THAT IS BETTER OR STRONGER TO HAVE ON US THAN HIS.
THROUGH HIM, WE ARE TRULY FREE.
SO TRUST HIM, FOLLOW HIM, AND BY HIS POWER, PUT HIS WORDS INTO PRACTICE AND NEVER TURN BACK.
FATHER, WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THE FREEDOM THAT WE HAVE.
WE THANK YOU EVEN MORE FOR THE FREEDOM THAT WE HAVE IN CHRIST WHO IS LORD OF ALL.
AND LORD, IN THE LIGHT OF THAT FREEDOM, HELP US TO USE IT APPROPRIATELY.
THAT ALL MIGHT BE DONE IN A WAY THAT'S PLEASING TO YOU AND GOOD FOR PEOPLE.
AND IT'S IN CHRIST'S NAME WE PRAY.
[3. Pledge Of Allegiance]
FLAG THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLE PLEASE?
[4. Roll Call]
MR. DAVIDSON? HERE.[5. Approval Of Minutes]
WHICH IS APPROVAL OF MINUTES.ITEM FIVE A, THERE'S ONE SET OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES DATED SEPTEMBER 23RD.
IF THERE ARE NO CORRECTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS, THOSE MINUTES WILL STAND AS APPROVED.
OKAY, SEEING NONE THOSE MINUTES FROM THE 23RD OF SEPTEMBER ARE APPROVED.
NEXT UP IS ITEM NUMBER SIX, SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.
NUMBER SEVEN IS CITIZENS COMMENTS ON SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEMS? I HAVE NONE OF THOSE EITHER.
[8. City Manager Report]
OUR CITY MANAGER REPORT.A COUPLE UPDATES FOR YOU AND THEN SOME REMINDERS HERE.
UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, JUST REMEMBER WE DO HAVE THE PUBLIC WORK SITE OPEN, UM, RIGHT NOW EVERY DAY, UH, FROM SEVEN 30 TO TWO.
UM, AND THEN WE STILL HAVE OUR SATURDAYS OPEN.
ANOTHER REMINDER, JUST QUICKLY SO EVERYBODY REALIZES THAT WE ARE GONNA SHUT THAT SITE DOWN IN OCTOBER, UH, THE END OF OCTOBER.
AND THEN WE'RE GONNA TRANSITION EVERYTHING OVER TO THE NEW SITE OFF OF, UM, BRIDGEWATER
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ROAD.OKAY? THAT'S THE FIRST REMINDER FOR ANYBODY WITH YARD WASTE.
SECOND, UM, JUST SOME, UH, PROJECTS THAT HAVE COME BEFORE COUNCIL.
JUST WANNA GIVE YOU SOME UPDATES HERE.
THE FIRST IS THE BRENT PIKE SIDEWALK PROJECT DOWN BY CLOUD PARK.
UM, THAT IS GONNA START THIS WEEK.
UM, AND WE ARE GONNA GET THAT COMPLETED BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
SO THAT WAS GOOD NEWS FROM RUSS.
UM, WE ARE GONNA START THE PROJECT HERE.
UM, UH, UPGRADING 35 OF THE HANDICAP RAMPS.
UH, IT'S GONNA BE ON OLD TROY PIKE.
RUSS PRESENTED THIS TO YOU GUYS EARLIER IN THE SUMMER.
UM, THEN 80% OF THIS WORK, IF YOU REMEMBER, IS FUNDED BY THE CDBG, UM, GRANT AS WELL.
SO THIS IS A, UH, MOMENTOUS DAY FOR MAYOR GORE.
UM, I'M JUST KIDDING,
UM, WE DO HAVE, UH, SOME TEMPORARY STRIPING DOWN.
UH, WE'RE WAITING ON A AND A SAFETY TO FINISH WITH THE, UH, REFLECTIVE STRIPING, WHICH IS GONNA COME LATER THIS WEEK.
SO, AND THEN, UM, INTERNALLY, THE GOVERNANCE CENTER, UM, IF YOU DRIVE DOWN BRENT PIKE, YOU'LL SEE THAT THE, THEY DO HAVE THE PAD COMPLETED.
UM, AND THEN HERE, UH, LATER ON THIS, UH, WEEK, WE'RE GONNA GET FOOTERS AND FOUNDATIONS TO START.
AND THEN WE SHOULD SEE SOME STRUCTURE, UH, STARTING HERE EARLY DECEMBER.
SO, AND THE LAST THING HERE, REMEMBER I BROUGHT IT UP LAST WEEK.
UH, THE COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FORUM IS GONNA BE ON THE 19TH OF OCTOBER, UH, FROM TWO TO FIVE.
AND THAT IS A JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN US AND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, JOHN.
YOU ANYONE HAVE ANYTHING FOR JOHN? YES, MA'AM.
HAVE WE FINISHED THE HYDRO FLUSHING? I THINK SO.
NO, LET ME DOUBLE CHECK WITH SARAH.
SHE DIDN'T SEND ME ANYTHING TODAY, SO THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON MY SLIDES TOO.
SO,
BUT I'LL DOUBLE CHECK FOR YOU.
JUST GO BACK AND START REFERRING RIGHT.
START OFF OVER YOUR ONES THAT WE DID.
DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT THE OVER BRUSH ON RA? WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT? I HAVE NOT.
AND I WILL DO THAT AS WELL, SIR.
ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANYTHING FOR JOHN? YES, DON.
I'M GONNA SAY MANY DAYS, A HALF, A DOZEN TIMES A DAY.
THE DIFFERENCE IN OLD TROY PIKE ISN'T JUST BETTER.
UH, I JUST WANNA SHOUT OUT TO YOUR STAFF.
YOU, UH, EVERYONE WHO, UH, THE MAYOR, EVERYONE WHO HAD A PART IN MAKING THAT HAPPEN, TRAFFIC FLOW IS REMARKABLE THROUGH THERE.
NOW, NOW THAT IT'S OVER TWO, WE ARE GONNA DOUBLE CHECK ALL THE SEQUENTIAL SETTINGS AND THE LIGHTS.
UM, WE HAVE A COUPLE MORE SIGNS WE'RE GONNA PUT UP.
UM, THE RIGHT TURN ONLY CONTINUOUS SIGN IS CONFUSING AS YOU GET PAST WHERE THE FIRST SIGN IS.
SO WE'RE GONNA PUT A COUPLE MORE.
THE DIFFERENCE IS, UH, IS MORE THAN JUST NOTICEABLE.
THE DIFFERENCE IS, UM, I'LL SAY LIFE CHANGING THROUGH THERE FROM WHERE IT WAS TO WHERE IT IS NOW.
SO THANK YOU TO YOU STAFF, EVERYONE INVOLVED.
COUNTY, ANY UPDATE ON, ON THE, THE CROSSWALKS? UM, THEY'RE COMING AS WELL.
SO THOSE WILL BE THE NEXT VENTURE THERE.
SO WE'LL FINISH UP THOSE CROSSWALKS AS WELL.
[ An Ordinance Creating A Tax Increment Financing Incentive District; Declaring Improvements To The Parcels Within The Incentive District To Be A Public Purpose And Exempt From Real Property Taxation; Requiring The Owners Of Those Parcels To Make Service Payments In Lieu Of Taxes; Establishing A Municipal Public Improvement Tax Increment Equivalent Fund For The Deposit Of Those Service Payments; Specifying The Public Infrastructure Improvements That Benefit Or Serve Parcels In The Incentive District; Authorizing Compensation Payments To Montgomery County, Ohio, The Huber Heights City School District, And The Miami Valley Career Technology Center. (second reading)]
THE MEAT OF THE AGENDA, WHICH IS, UH, START WITH NUMBER NINE, PENDING BUSINESS ITEM NINE EIGHT, ITEM NINE A ORDINANCE CREATING A TAX INCREMENT FINANCING INCENTIVE.DISTRICT DECLARING IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PARCELS WITHIN THE INCENTIVE DISTRICT TO BE A PUBLIC PURPOSE AND EXEMPT FROM RE REAL PROPERTY TAXATION, REQUIRING THE OWNERS OF THOSE PARCELS TO MAKE SERVICE PAYMENTS IN LIEU OF TAXES.
ESTABLISHING A MUNICIPAL PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT TAX INCREMENT EQUIVALENT FUND FOR THE DEPOSIT OF THOSE SERVICE PAYMENTS.
SPECIFYING THE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS THAT BENEFIT OR SERVE PARCELS IN THE INCENTIVE DISTRICT AUTHORIZING COMPENSATION PAYMENTS TO MONTGOMERY COUNTY, OHIO, THE HUBER HEIGHTS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND THE MIAMI VALLEY CAREER TECHNOLOGY CENTER AT THE SECOND READING.
AND, UH, THIS PARTICULAR, UM, ORDINANCE DOES NEED TO BE AMENDED.
TONY, WOULD YOU EXPLAIN THAT PLEASE? YEAH.
UM, IT WAS NOTICED, UH, OVER THE WEEKEND THAT, UM, A STAFF MEMBER IN CUTTING AND PASTING SOME OF THIS STUFF OVER IN THE ORDINANCE HAD INADVERTENTLY LEFT A, A REFERENCE TO THE EMERGENCY CLAUSE IN SECTION 11 OF THE ORDINANCE.
I HAD DISTRIBUTED INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ISSUE TO COUNSEL EARLIER TODAY.
I'VE ALSO, UH, PUB PUBLISHED, UH, AND NOTICED PROPERLY AND ORDINANCE, UH, WITH THE AMENDED LANGUAGE, WHICH CLEARLY STATES THAT IT'LL BE EFFECTIVE, UH, 30 DAYS, UH, FROM THE DATE OF ADOPTION.
AND, UM, SO WE WOULD, PRIOR TO CONSIDERING ADOPTION, WOULD NEED TO HAVE A MOTION TO AMEND SECTION 11 TO REMOVE ANY REFERENCES TO THE EMERGENCY CLAUSE.
AND THE RECOMMENDATION WAS TO ADOPT THIS EVENING.
BUT FIRST, AS TONY MENTIONED, WE DO NEED, UH, THE AMENDMENT MARK.
AND SECOND TO AMEND THE AGENDA, OR I'M SORRY TO AMEND THE LEGISLATION.
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ON THE AMENDMENT? OKAY, TONY CO ROLE PLEASE.MOTION TO AMEND CARRIES EIGHT TO ZERO.
AND NEXT WE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT DON, MOVE TO ADOPT FRED.
UH, SECOND WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND FOR ADOPTION.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION TONY? MR. CAMPBELL? YES.
NEXT IS ITEM 10 UNDER NEW BUSINESS AND ITEM 10
[ A Motion To Appoint Bruce Johnson To The Military And Veterans Commission For A Term Ending December 31, 2025.]
A TONY ITEM 10 A.A MOTION TO APPOINT BRUCE JOHNSON TO THE MILITARY AND VETERANS COMMISSION FOR TERM ENDING DECEMBER 31ST, 2020.
UM, THE ONLY THING I'LL SAY ABOUT THIS WHEN WE DISCUSS THIS AT THE WORK SESSION AND, UH, THE, UH, BACKGROUND CHECK WAS IN PROCESS, UM, AS OF FOUR 30 THIS AFTERNOON AND IT'S STILL NOT ARRIVED EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN SEVERAL WEEKS IN THE PROCESS.
UM, SO I WOULD JUST STATE THAT, UM, COUNSEL CAN PROCEED WITH THE MOTION TO APPROVE THIS APPOINTMENT.
UM, 'CAUSE THEY'RE DESPERATELY IN NEED OF MEMBERS FOR THIS COMMISSION TO MAINTAIN A QUORUM.
UM, BUT WE'LL JUST NOTE THAT IT'S GONNA BE PENDING RECEIPT.
UH, SUCCESSFUL RECEIPT OF THE, UH, COMPLETION OF THE BACKGROUND CHECK.
AND IS, UH, IS MR. JOHNSON OKAY WITH THAT? OH YEAH.
NANCY, UH, MOVE TO APPROVE SCOTT.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY.
[ A Motion To Direct The Clerk Of Council To Respond To The Ohio Division Of Liquor Control With No Objections In Reference To New Liquor Permit #7058551 For Tandoor India & Pizza At 7695 Old Troy Pike, Huber Heights, Ohio, 45424.]
B.A MOTION TO DIRECT THE CLERK OF COUNSEL TO RESPOND TO THE OHIO DIVISION OF LIQUOR CONTROL WITH NO OBJECTIONS AND REFERENCE TO NEW LIQUOR PERMIT NUMBER 7 0 5 8 5 5 1 FOR TDO INDIAN PIZZA.
IT'S 76 95 OLD TROY PI COOPER HEIGHTS, OHIO.
4 5 4 2 4 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, TONY.
UH, JUSTICE, THIS HAS BEEN REVIEWED BY THE POLICE OF FIRE DIVISION WITHOUT ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE GRANTING OF THE NEW PERMIT AND WITH COUNCIL'S APPROVAL, WE'D ASK FOR THE MOTION TO BE APPROVED THIS EVENING.
THAT WAS THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE WORK SESSION.
IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE? SECOND.
MOTION CARRIES EIGHT TO ZERO AND NEXT IS
[ An Ordinance Approving The Editing And Inclusion Of Certain Ordinances And/Or Resolutions As Parts Of The Various Component Codes Of The City Code Of Huber Heights, Ohio; Providing For The Adoption And Publication Of New Matter In The Updated And Revised City Code As Supplement 18; And Repealing Ordinances And Resolutions In Conflict Therewith. (first reading)]
10 C.AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE EDITING AND INCLUSION OF CERTAIN ORDINANCES AND OR RESOLUTIONS AS PARTS OF THE VARIOUS COMPONENT CODES OF THE CITY CODE OF HUBER HEIGHTS, OHIO, PROVIDING FOR THE ADOPTION AND PUBLICATION OF NEW MATTER.
AND THE UPDATED AND REVISED CITY CODE IS SUPPLEMENT 18.
AND REPEALING ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS IN CONFLICT.
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, TONY? UH, NO.
THIS HAS BEEN, UM, THE ONLY THING I'LL SAY IS IT'S BEEN NOTICED, UH, PROPERLY IN A NEWSPAPER OR GENERAL CIRCULATION AS REQUIRED UNDER THE CITY CHARTER.
WORK SESSION RECOMMENDATION WAS TO PASS A SECOND READING.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? OKAY, SEEING NONE, WE'LL MOVE THIS ON TO A SECOND READING.
AND NEXT IS UNDER ADMINISTRATION.
[ A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager Or His Designee To Enter Into A Professional Services Agreement With Element IV For Furnishing Services For The New Huber Heights Senior Center And Waiving The Competitive Bidding Requirements. (first reading)]
ITEM 10 D.ITEM 10 DA RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO ENTER INTO A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH ELEMENT FOUR FOR FURNISHING SERVICES FOR THE NEW HUBER HEIGHTS SENIOR CENTER.
WAIVING THE COMPETITIVE BIDDING REQUIREMENTS AT THE FIRST DEGREE.
JOHN? YEAH, THIS IS THE, UH, INTERIOR FURNISHINGS FOR THE NEW SENIOR CENTER ON SHELL ROAD.
UH, ELEMENTS FOR INTERIORS IS ALSO A PARTNER WITH THE OMNIA CO, UH, CO-OP PURCHASING AGREEMENT.
SO WE WILL GET DISCOUNTED PRICING THROUGH THIS CONTRACT.
IS THERE A MOTION? DON? SO MOVED.
IS THERE A SECOND? OKAY, SECOND.
AND SECOND, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? TONY? MR. LINNEY? YES.
MOTION CARRIES EIGHT TO ZERO AND NEXT WOULD
[ A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Consulting Agreement With Music Event Management, Inc. (first reading)]
BE ITEM 10 E.ITEM 10 EA RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A CONSULTING AGREEMENT WITH MUSIC EVENT MANAGEMENT INCORPORATED AT THE FIRST REGION.
JUST THE FIRST STEP IN OUR PROCESS TO, UH, ENTERTAIN THE, UH, THOUGHTS OF A NEW INDOOR MUSIC CENTER.
OUR ACCESS RECOMMENDATION WAS TO ADOPT.
IS THERE A MOTION? SCOTT? MOVE TO ADOPT.
IS THERE A SECOND? NANCY? SECOND.
AND SECOND, IS THERE DISCUSSION? YES.
HOW LONG DO YOU THINK WE WILL BE IN THIS CONTRACT FOR? $5,000 A MONTH.
AND, AND IS THIS REALLY THE FIRST STEP WHEN WE HAVEN'T EVEN TALKED ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE? IF YOU LOOK BACK AT THE FIRST ROSE MUSIC CENTER, UH, THIS WAS THE FIRST STEP IN THAT PROCESS.
I'M GUESSING MAYBE MR. CAMPBELL, MAYBE YOU CAN HELP ME.
AND THIS IS A CHEAPER PRICE THAN THE FIRST MUSIC CENTER'S CONTRACT AS WELL.
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I WAS JUST CURIOUS 'CAUSE I WASN'T AROUND FOR THAT ONE.I JUST REMEMBER 5,000 FOR HOW LONG? I MEAN, WHAT'S THE AVERAGE TYPE THING, SO, OKAY.
ANY OF THE DISCUSSION? TONY, MRS. KITCHEN? YES.
MOTION CARRIES EIGHT TO ZERO AND NEXT IS ITEM
[ An Ordinance Vacating And Extinguishing Certain Utility Easements At The Former Marian Meadows Site. (first reading)]
10 F.ITEM 10 F AN ORDINANCE VACATING AND EXTINGUISHING CERTAIN UTILITY EASEMENTS AT THE FORMER MARION MEADOWS SITE AT THE FIRST THREE, JOHN.
YEAH, THESE EASEMENTS EXISTED WHEN MARY MEADOW'S PARKING LOT WAS THERE.
EVERYBODY REMEMBERS THERE WAS A BIG DRAINAGE DITCH IN THE MIDDLE OF THE, UH, PARKING LOT.
THE TUBING AND EVERYTHING HAS BEEN REMOVED.
THIS IS JUST VACATING THAT, UM, LAND SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY PUT THE GOVERNANCE CENTER THERE.
RECOMMENDATION WAS, I'M SORRY, RECOMMENDATION WAS TO PASS THE ITEM TO A SECOND READING.
SO IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THAT? OKAY.
[ A Resolution Authorizing The Execution Of A Development Agreement With Homestead Development, LLC. (first reading)]
IS ITEM 10 G.ITEM 10 GA RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH HOMESTEAD DEVELOPMENT LLC AT THE FIRST READ.
JOHN? UH, YEAH, THIS IS THE HOMESTEAD DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS, UM, RAMP PIKE AND, UH, CARRIAGE TRAILS PARKWAY ON THE SOUTH END.
AND WORK SESSION RECLAMATION WAS TO ADOPT THIS ITEM THIS EVENING.
IS THERE A MOTION, NANCY? YEAH.
AND SECOND, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION TIME? MR. WEBB? YES.
[11. Citizens Comments - General]
WHICH IS CITIZENS COMMENTS GENERAL.MR. JEFF MORFORD, PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM.
JEFF MORFORD, BETHEL TOWNSHIP, MIAMI COUNTY.
I'M OPPOSED TO ANNEXATIONS AND DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE STATE OF OHIO THAT WHEN THE LAWS AND PROCESSES GIVE PREFERENTIAL ADVANTAGES TO LARGE URBAN CITIES SLASH DEVELOPERS AND DISREGARD THE RIGHTS OF THOSE LIVING IN RURAL TOWNSHIPS, WE ALL PAY OUR TAXES NO MATTER WHERE WE LIVE, WE SHOULD ALL HAVE EQUAL VOICE REGARDING OUR FUTURE.
IN MY OPINION, THE US CONSTITUTION GIVES ALL CITIZENS THE RIGHT TO VOTE.
I WOULD HOPE TO THINK THIS OPINION IS SHARED, SUPPORTED, AND PROTECTED BY ALL AMERICANS WHO BELIEVE IN DEMOCRACY.
FOR ANY STATE TO GIVE SOME CITIZENS A VOICE AND OTHERS NO VOICE IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND UN-AMERICAN.
IN MY OPINION, THE STATE LAWMAKERS HAVE ENACTED LAWS THAT ARE DISCRIMINATORY AND VIOLATE THE CIVIL LIBERTIES OF CITIZENS LIVING IN SMALL RURAL TOWNSHIPS.
I BELIEVE IF AN ELECTED OFFICIAL SEES THESE RIGHTS VIOLATED, IT WOULD BE THEIR SWORN DUTY TO RIGHT THAT WRONG AND NOT PROMOTE ANY ACTIVITY THAT SUPPORTS THIS INJUSTICE AND VIOLATES THE COURSE STRUCTURE OF DEMOCRACY AGAINST CITIZENS' RIGHT TO VOTE, VOTE ON THEIR FUTURE.
I WILL READ TO YOU FROM A SPEECH FROM THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY GENERAL MERRICK GARLAND, DATED THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2024.
I WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT HIS SPEECH WAS NOT DIRECTLY RELATING TO ANNEXATION, BUT ADDRESSES POLITICAL EVENTS.
QUOTE, THERE IS NOT ONE RULE FOR FRIENDS AND ANOTHER FOR FOES.
ONE RULE FOR THE POWERFUL AND ANOTHER FOR THE POWERLESS.
ONE RULE FOR THE RICH AND ANOTHER FOR THE POOR.
ONE RULE FOR THE DEMOCRATS AND ANOTHER FOR THE REPUBLICANS.
OR DIFFERENT RULES DEPENDING ON ONE'S RACE OR ETHNICITY.
IF I CAN ADD TO THAT TRAIN OF THOUGHT, NOT ONE RULE FOR THOSE LIVING IN CITIES THAN ANOTHER FOR CITIZENS LIVING IN RURAL TOWNSHIPS.
NOT ONE RULE FOR THOSE WHO PREFER URBANIZATION.
AND ANOTHER RULE FOR THOSE WANTING TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE RURAL WAY OF LIFE AS IT RELATES TO ANNEXATION ACCEPTANCE BY HUBER HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL.
WHATEVER YOUR MOTIVATION, WHATEVER YOUR RATIONALE, YOUR PART AND PARCEL TO THIS INJUSTICE.
SADLY, YOUR DECISIONS HAVE BEEN INSPIRED BY GREED AND AMBITION, NOT THE BEST OF HUMAN TRAITS.
A FEW WEEKS AGO, THE HUBER HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO ACCEPT THE ANNEXATION REQUEST FOR 300 ACRES LOCATED IN BETHEL TOWNSHIP.
A GROUP OF YOUR CITIZENS WHO OPPOSE YOUR ACTION SLASH VOTE DECIDED TO TAKE ON THE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TASK OF A REFERENDUM CHALLENGE.
IN THE END, THE REFERENDUM WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING ENOUGH SIGNATURES WITHIN THE ALLOTTED TIME, SO IT DID NOT REACH THE BALLOT.
BUT IN REALITY, THE REFERENDUM WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, A SMALL GROUP
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OF PEOPLE COLLECTED OVER 1000 HUBER HEIGHTS RESIDENT SIGNATURES IN FOUR DAYS THAT DISAGREE WITH YOUR ACTION AND VOTE TO GET 1000 PLUS SIGNATURES IN FOUR DAYS AS A LOUD CALL THAT YOU AS ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE MADE A MISTAKE.I HAVE TALKED TO A COUPLE OF HUBER HEIGHTS LONGTIME RESIDENTS, ASKING THEM IF THEY REMEMBER ANY OTHER TIME A REFERENDUM WAS USED TO CHALLENGE THE CITY COUNCIL'S VOTE.
AGAIN, THIS SHOWS JUST HOW SERIOUS YOUR CITIZENS CONSIDER CONSIDER ANNEXATION AND DEVELOPMENTS AND HOW MUCH THEY DISAGREE WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP.
IN MY OPINION, THIS WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN WHEN FUTURE ELECTIONS TAKE PLACE.
REMEMBER, REFERENDUMS IF SUCCESSFUL ARE ONLY ARE NOT A REVERSAL OF ANY GOVERNING BODY'S ACTIONS.
IT ONLY PUTS THE ISSUE ON THE BALLOT FOR THE CITIZENS TO VOTE ON, FOR OR AGAINST NORMALLY.
IF A COMMUNITY DOES NOT LIKE HOW THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE RUNNING THEIR GOVERNMENT, THE CITIZENS LET THEIR SENTIMENT BE KNOWN AT THE NEXT ELECTION.
BUT WHEN THE COMMUNITY IS EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS DECISION AND LEADERSHIP, A REFERENDUM IS WARRANTED.
AT YOUR SEPTEMBER 23RD COUNCIL MEETING, YOUR LAW DIRECTOR SUGGESTED THAT BY ALLOWING REFERENDUMS TO BE ALLOWED ON SUBSEQUENT VOTING OVER AND OVER, THIS COULD SHUT DOWN A GOVERNMENT.
REALLY, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, YOUR CITY COUNCIL HAS NEVER BEEN OPPOSED TO BY A REFERENDUM.
SO TO SUGGEST THAT ALLOWING SUBSEQUENT REFERENDUMS TO BE AVAILABLE WOULD ESSENTIALLY SHUT DOWN YOUR GOVERNMENT IS ABSURD.
REFERENDUMS ARE ONLY A WAY TO BRING MORE IMPORTANT OBJECTED TO ISSUES TO THE BALLOT.
A DEMOCRATIC MEANS TO OF CHECKS AND BALANCES.
PLEASE REMEMBER, THE CITIZENS ARE THE GOVERNMENT, NOT YOU.
YOU ONLY REPRESENT THE CITIZENS.
MONTHS AGO I SUGGESTED THAT YOU TALK TO A 100 OF YOUR WARD NEIGHBORS, ASK ABOUT ANNEXATION DEVELOPMENT.
I DID NOT HEAR THAT YOU DID IT OR DIDN'T DO IT.
I WILL ASSUME IF YOU DID, THE RESULTS WERE SUPPORT.
IF THE RESULTS WERE SUPPORT OF ANNEXATION DEVELOPMENT, YOU WOULD'VE MADE THOSE RESULTS KNOWN.
IN MY OPINION, THE REFERENDUM PETITION CIRCULAR BY A FEW PEOPLE, COLLECTING OVER A THOUSAND SIGNATURES IN FOUR DAYS IS IN ESSENCE A TYPE OF SURVEY.
AND MANY OF YOUR CITIZENS TOOK THE TIME OUT OF THEIR BUSY SCHEDULE TO FIND THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUT THEIR NAME ON THE REFERENDUM PETITION, LEGALLY SIGNING IN OPPOSITION TO YOUR VOTE 20 YEARS IN THE FUTURE WHEN MANY OF US WILL BE DEAD AND GONE.
MR. I'M GONNA HAVE TO ASK YOU TO CLOSE IT DOWN.
YOU, WE'VE, I'VE ALLOWED YOU TO GO OVER ALREADY.
[12. City Official Reports And Comments]
12, CITY OFFICIAL REPORTS AND COMMENTS.UH, IT IS A NIGHT FOR CONGRATULATIONS.
MY WIFE AND I WENT TO THE, UH, SHAWL ROAD PARK.
SHAWL GATE PARK, UH, SAW THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT BEING INSTALLED, RAN INTO, UH, A MOTHER AND TWO KIDS THERE.
AND THE KID CAME UP TO ME AND, UH, I ASKED THEM HOW THEY LIKED THE WAY IT LOOKED.
THEY WERE SAD WHEN THEY TOOK OUT THE OLD PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, BUT THEY'RE HAPPY BECAUSE THEIR MOM TOLD 'EM THEY WERE BUILDING THIS FOR THEM.
THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT LOOKS MAGNIFICENT, JOHN.
AND, UH, THE WORK THAT'S GOING IN THERE, I, I CAN TELL YOU THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT IT.
UH, I CAN'T WAIT FOR, UH, TO SEE WHAT IT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE WHEN COMPLETED.
UH, MY THANKS TO SARAH AND, UH, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
ANYONE ELSE? ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY.
THERE'S NO NEED FOR AN EXECUTIVE SESSION THIS EVENING AND IT IS NOW 6 24 AND THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.