Feb 26, 2024 City Council Meeting

[1. Call The Meeting To Order - Mayor Jeff Gore]

[00:00:03]

OKAY.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO CITY RIVER HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MEETING, REGULAR SESSION.

TODAY'S DATE IS FEBRUARY 26TH, 2024.

WE'RE GETTING STARTED AT 6:00 PM THIS MEETING IS OFFICIALLY CALLED TO ORDER.

AND NEXT WE HAVE OUR INVOCATION THIS EVENING

[2. Invocation - Pastor Jon Strifler Of The First Christian Church At 6114 Fishburg Road, Huber Heights, Ohio]

THERE WE GO.

UH, MAYOR GORE CITY COUNCIL.

HELLO.

GOOD EVENING.

GOOD TO BE WITH YOU ALL AGAIN.

UH, TONIGHT I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING A A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, AS I'VE BEEN UP HERE IN THE PAST, HAD OPPORTUNITIES JUST TO ENCOURAGE, UH, ALL OF US REALLY IN OUR, IN OUR LEADERSHIP AND, AND, AND, UH, CARING FOR THE PEOPLE, UH, THAT WE ARE ENTRUSTED WITH CARING FOR THE PEOPLE WE HAVE INFLUENCE, UM, OVER.

BUT TODAY I WANTED TO ACTUALLY KIND OF FOCUS A LITTLE BIT MORE PERSONALLY, IF I MAY.

UH, SEE, ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE REALIZED THE LAST FEW WEEKS IS, IS MY FAMILY AND I ARE WALKING THROUGH A BIT OF A, A PERSONAL TRAGEDY AND UNEXPECTED, UH, KIND OF SHIFT IN LIFE.

UH, REALIZED THAT WITH ALL OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY, IT IS TRICKY.

IT IS, IT IS A, IT IS A, IT IS A TIGHT, A VERY FINE ROPE TO, TO WALK, TO BE IN A POSITION OF INFLUENCE AND LEADERSHIP.

AND AT THE SAME TIME, IN A LOT OF INSTANCES, MAINTAIN YOUR HUMANITY, RIGHT? IT'S WHEN, WHEN, WHEN EVERYBODY LOOKS TO YOU TO HAVE ANSWERS, AND THEN AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU'RE STILL A HUMAN.

YOU'RE STILL, YOU'RE STILL A HUSBAND, YOU'RE STILL A WIFE, YOU'RE STILL A MOM AND A DAD.

AND, AND YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BALANCE ALL OF THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES.

SO, AND IT'S JUST, IT CAN BE SO TRICKY.

SO I JUST WANNA ENCOURAGE, UH, YOU THIS EVENING WITH, WITH, UH, A, A VERSE FROM PROVERBS.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS ANCIENT WISDOM WRITTEN TO, UH, ASPIRING LEADERS.

AND, AND, AND IN PROVERBS FOUR, UH, THE AUTHOR ENCOURAGES, UH, THE, THE, THE READERS WITH, WITH THIS, UH, WITH THIS WISDOM.

HE SAYS, GUARD YOUR HEART ABOVE ALL ELSE.

AND OTHER, UH, OTHER TRANSLATIONS RENDER THAT PHRASE, KEEP CAREFUL.

WATCH OR PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO YOUR HEART ABOVE ALL ELSE.

FOR, FOR IT IS THE SOURCE OF LIFE.

AND IT'S SO EASY TO GET CAUGHT UP IN THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT WE ALL HAVE TO HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF AND FORGET THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHO WE ARE IS THE SAME AS, AS THE PEOPLE WE SERVE.

WE'RE HUMAN BEINGS.

AND SO, I, I JUST OFFER THAT AS ENCOURAGEMENT TO ALL OF US THIS EVENING.

WHAT WHATEVER OUR POSITION MAY BE, WHETHER ON CITY COUNCIL OR PRESENT, UH, WHATEVER LEADERSHIP POSITION WE MAY BE IN THAT FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE'RE HUMAN BEINGS.

WE WORTHY OF LOVE, DIGNITY, RESPECT, AND IT'S ON, ON US, FIRST AND FOREMOST, TO PAY CAREFUL ATTENTION TO THAT SOURCE OF LIFE WITHIN EACH OF US, OUR HEART, THE, THE CENTER OF OUR BEING.

SO WITH THAT, I'LL JUST OFFER A PRAYER FOR US AS WE BEGIN, UH, THIS EVENING.

HEAVENLY FATHER, NOW, WE THANK YOU FOR TODAY.

NOW WE THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME THAT WE HAVE TO BE TOGETHER.

UH, THIS TIME WE HAVE TO, TO ADVOCATE FOR, UH, THE PEOPLE, UH, IN OUR COMMUNITY.

GOD, I I PRAY, UM, FOR OUR TIME TONIGHT THAT YOU WOULD BE PRESENT, THAT YOU WOULD GUIDE OUR CONVERSATION, THAT YOU WOULD, UH, ENCOURAGE US AS WE NEED, ENCOURAGE THAT YOU WOULD CHALLENGE US AS WE NEED CHALLENGED, AND THAT, THAT ABOVE ALL ELSE, GOD, THAT YOU WOULD SHOW US HOW, UH, TO, TO JUST, TO, TO BE HUMAN, TO, TO CARE FOR THE PEOPLE, UH, ON OUR LEFT, AND CARE FOR THE PEOPLE ON OUR RIGHT, UH, AS, AS, AS FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS.

AND WITH THAT, UH, WE JUST, WE OFFER THIS EVENING TO YOU.

WE TRUST YOU.

WE PRAY THIS IN THE NAME OF YOUR SON AND OUR SAVIOR, AMEN.

AMEN.

A PLEASURE JESUS.

[4. Pledge Of Allegiance]

TONY, WOULD YOU CALL HER UP PLEASE?

[5. Roll Call]

MS. BAKER.

HERE.

MR. CAMPBELL.

HERE.

MRS. BURGE.

HERE.

MR. AKINS.

PRESENT.

MR. LOONEY? HERE.

MRS. KITCHEN.

HERE.

MR. WEBB? HERE.

MAYOR GORE HERE.

NEXT UP IS ITEM NUMBER SIX,

[6. Approval Of Minutes]

AND THERE'S, THERE ARE NO MINUTES, NO MINUTES FOR THE LAST MEETING TO BE APPROVED.

SO NEXT UP IS ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.

ITEM SEVEN, A MERRILL

[ Mayoral Proclamation And Presentation To Outgoing At Large Councilmember Glenn Otto - Mayor Jeff Gore]

COUNCIL MEMBER GLEN OTTO, BY MAYOR JEFF GORE.

MR. OTTO, IF YOU PLEASE JOIN US UP FRONT.

SURE.

THERE'S THE TWO PROCLAMATIONS ON TOP.

SO, YOU

[00:05:01]

WE HAD SOME OTHER TIMES, , TUMULTUOUS.

WE'VE HAD TIMES WHERE WE DISAGREED.

UM, BUT I WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW, I, I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT THROUGH ALL THE DISCUSSIONS WE HAD, THROUGH ALL THE DISAGREEMENTS WE HAD, SO MAKE ALL THE ARGUMENTS, UM, I HAVE NEVER ONCE WAVERED THE IDEA THAT I BELIEVE THAT EVEN THOUGH WE DISAGREED SEVERAL TIMES ON, ON HOW TO MOVE THIS CITY FORWARD, UH, I, I'VE NEVER WAVERED AND NEVER DID NOT BELIEVE THAT YOU TWO DIDN'T ALWAYSS ACT AND WHAT YOU BELIEVE TO BE THE BEST INTEREST TO CITY.

AND, AND I, I MEAN THAT TO, SO I, SO THAT BEING SAID, UH, YOU KNOW, I, I MISS YOU GUYS UP THERE, RICHARD.

I MEAN, HOW MANY TIMES I'M READY TO SAY BANG FOR A BUCK AND BUCKETS OF CHICKEN AND ALL THAT, ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF, RIGHT? UM, SO YEAH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN THINGS THAT WE'VE AGREED ON AND LIKE I SAID, DISAGREE ON, BUT IN THE END, I THINK THE CITY IS, IS BETTER OFF FOR HAVING YOU ON COUNCIL AND FOR SERVING.

AND I THINK THROUGH THOSE DISCUSSIONS, UH, THAT WE HAD, I THINK THE LEGISLATION STATE BETTER, AND I DO THINK THE CITY IS BETTER OFF.

THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE SO IT IS MY PLEASURE.

THIS IS A CITY HEBREW HEIGHTS MAYOR PROCLAMATION, SPECIAL RECOGNITION FOR SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT.

SO WHEREAS THE CITY COUNCIL OF HEBREW HEIGHTS WISHES TO EXPRESS ITS SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR THE DEDICATED SERVICE OF RENT AUTO, AS A MEMBER OF THE KEEPER HEAD CITY COUNCIL, REPRESENTING AT BARGE FROM JANUARY 1ST, 2016 THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2023, MAREZ COUNCIL MEMBER GLEN AUTO IS ENGAGED IN A VARIETY OF CITY PROJECTS AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING THE MIAMI VALLEY MILITARY AFFAIRS ASSOCIATION, DAYTON FIRST YEAR SUBURBS, NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES, IN THE ADVOCACY OF REVITALIZATION EFFORTS IN THE BRENT LAKE CORRIDOR AND RECREATIONAL AMENITIES IN THE CITY.

AND WHEREAS THE WORK OF COUNCIL GLEN OTTO HAS CONTRIBUTED TO CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CITY THAT HAVE ENHANCED THE PROVISIONS OF THE CITY SERVICES AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND NOW THEREFORE, JEFF FOR MAYOR, THE CITY HEIGHTS, OHIO, HEREBY EXTEND OUR VERY BEST WISHES FOR HEALTH, HAPPINESS, AND CONTINUED SUCCESS TO GLEN T AUTO.

HE HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL AT LARGE.

UPON THIS DEPARTURE, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF HEBER HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY ADMINISTRATION, I EXTEND HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS ON RETAINMENT OF THIS MILESTONE AND THANK HIS SERVICE, UH, HIS YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE, BE IT FOR THE RESULT THAT THIS RECOGNITION IS SEALED BY PRESENTING TO THIS HONOR INDIVIDUAL A CITY OF HEBREW HEIGHTS, COMMEMORATE COIN, AND THE SPECIAL PLAQUE IS A TOKEN OF A AND IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I HERE TO SET MY HAND AND CALL THE SEAL CITY OF HEBREW HEIGHTS TO BE AFFIXED THIS 26TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, THE YEAR OUR LORD, 2024.

BUT THANK YOU AGAIN.

IT'S MY PLEASURE.

THIS IS THE CITY HEIGHT HEIGHTS MERRILL PROCLAMATION,

[ Mayoral Proclamation And Presentation To Outgoing Ward 1 Councilmember Richard Shaw - Mayor Jeff Gore]

WHEREAS THE CITY COUNCIL HUBER HEIGHTS WISHES TO EXPRESS ITS SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR THE DEDICATED SERVICE OF RICHARD SHAW IS A MEMBER OF THE HEBER HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL, REPRESENTING WARD ONE FROM JANUARY 1ST, 2016 THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2023.

AND WHEREAS COUNCILMAN RICHARD SHAW WAS ENGAGED IN A VARIETY OF CITY PROJECTS AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING THE MINOR VALLEY MILITARY AFFAIRS ASSOCIATION, DAYTON FIRST YEAR SUBURBS, NATIONAL GOOD CITIES, AND THE ADVOCACY OF EV CHARGING STATIONS AND RECREATIONAL AMENITIES IN THE CITY.

AND WHEREAS THE WORK OF COUNCILMAN RICHARD SHAW HAS CONTRIBUTED CHANGES IN IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CITY AND WARD THAT BOARD ONE THAT HAVE ENHANCED THE PROVISIONS OF THE CITY SERVICES AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN HUB HEIGHTS.

AND NOW, THEREFORE, I, JEFF, FOR MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HUB HEIGHTS, OHIO, DO HEREBY EXTEND OUR VERY BEST WISHES FOR HEALTH, HAPPINESS, AND CONTINUED SUCCESS TO RICHARD HAW, JR.

HE RIDES CITY COUNCIL BOARD ONE UPON HIS DEPARTURE, AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF HE HEIGHTS, THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY ADMINISTRATION, I EXTEND HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS ON THE ATTAINMENT OF THIS MILESTONE, AND THANKS FOR HIS YEARS PUBLIC SERVICE, BE IT FOR THE RESULT.

THIS RECOGNITION OF THE SEAL BY PRESENTING TO THIS ON, TO THIS HONORED INDIVIDUAL, THE CITY OF HUBER HEIGHTS, COMMEMORATE A COIN AND ITS SERVICE PLAQUE IS A TOKEN OF VARS TEAM AND WITNESS WHEREOF I HERE WHO SET MY HAND AND CALLS THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF HUB HEIGHTS TO BE AFFIXED THIS 26TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, NEAR OUR 2020.

YOU WANT THE PLAQUE IN THE PICTURE OR WE GOT GIFTS? SO I'LL READ THIS, IF YOU DON'T MIND.

IT SAYS, CITY OF HEBREW HEIGHTS WISHES TO ACKNOWLEDGE A SERVICE ON CITY

[00:10:01]

AND RICHARDS IS THE CITY OF RIGHTS WISHES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SERVICE ON CITY COUNCIL FROM JANUARY, 2016 TO DECEMBER, 2023 OF RICHARD HAW JR.

HUB HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL, WARD ONE FOR TIME GIVEN AND CONTRIBUTIONS MADE TO THE CITY OF HEIGHTS.

YOU GUYS LIKE TO SAY WE, YEAH, WE GOT NICE LITTLE HOLE HERE.

OH, NICE.

AND WE'RE ALSO GONNA PRESENT YOU WITH YOUR, UH, FISHERMAN FRAME CITY COUNCIL PORTRAITS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

AND WHEN YOU'RE DOWN THAT BOX, I'LL TAKE THOSE.

YOU, SO I'LL BE BRIEF, BUT I'LL SAY THAT IT WAS CERTAINLY AN HONOR TO REPRESENT THE FOLKS AT HUBER HEIGHTS.

UM, I TOOK IT VERY SERIOUSLY AND VERY PERSONALLY WHEN I DID IT.

AND, UM, I, I, I DO NOT REGRET A MOMENT OF IT.

UM, IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE.

I, JEFF SAID THERE WAS UPS AND DOWNS, BUT YOU KNOW, THAT'S LIFE, THAT'S HOW IT GOES.

BUT, UM, YEAH, CERTAINLY, UH, AN EXPERIENCE THAT I'LL NEVER FORGET, AND I WAS CERTAINLY HONORED TO DO IT.

THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU.

UM, NO, THIS, UH, THIS WAS A, AN AMAZING ADVENTURE.

UM, UH, SOMEBODY WHO, WHO NEWLY MOVED TO THE CITY AND, UH, HAD NO IDEA THAT HE EVER WANTED TO BE IN POLITICS OR GET INTO POLITICS, ENDED UP AT A TAX MEETING ONE DAY AND THEN BOMBARDED BY ABOUT A GROUP OF 15 TO SAY, HEY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO RUN FOR COUNCIL? AND THEN HISTORY WROTE ITSELF AFTER THAT.

UM, IT, IT'S, IT'S BEEN A GREAT TIME.

IT'S, UH, BEEN A, UH, INTERESTING THREE MONTHS OF SITTING BACK AND, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, WATCHING THINGS ONLINE, UM, YOU KNOW, TAKING SOME FAMILY TIME, FAMILY TRIPS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

UM, BUT AS, UH, SOME, UH, I ALREADY KNOW, UM, I HAVE DECIDED TO, UM, WORK WITH THE FIRST TIER SUBURBS OF DAYTON.

UM, I'M THE INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UH, FOR THAT ORGANIZATION AS OF RIGHT NOW.

SO, UH, I'M NO SURE, NO SHOCK TO ANYBODY.

IT'S NOT, UH, GOODBYE.

IT'S, UH, I'LL SEE YOU LATER.

I'M NOT LEAVING.

I'LL BE AROUND.

SO, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

CONGRATULATIONS.

YES.

YOU READY? ANYBODY NOT COUNSEL THE OPPORTUNITY? IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS, IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? UH, SO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY.

MARK, GLEN AND RICHARD, IT'S FITTING THAT YOU BOTH ARE LEAVING TONIGHT, CAME IN TOGETHER.

YEP.

YOUR LOYALTY TO ONE ANOTHER WAS IMPRESSIVE.

THANK, AND I TRULY DO.

I THINK AS TIME WENT ON, WE WORKED TOGETHER BETTER, AND I, I THINK WE ACCOMPLISHED IT RIGHT NOW.

THANK, THANK YOU.

UH, WHAT CAN I SAY, ? UM, I WENT FROM HARDLY KNOWING EITHER OF YOU TO, I WANNA RUN FOR COUNCIL TO THAT PHONE CALL OF I WANT A FREE THINKER.

UM, YOU GUYS GAVE ME THE TIPS OF HOW TO RUN, HOW TO GET THE CHEAP SIGNS, HOW TO GO LOAD 'EM UP FROM ATHENS, OHIO.

UM, ALL OF THAT STUFF.

UM, I CAN'T BELIEVE POLITICS GAVE ME TWO OF MY BEST FRIENDS.

UM, YOUR FAMILIES ARE AMAZING AND THROUGH LIFE, YOU GUYS HAVE SUPPORTED ME WITH GEMMA, YOU HAVE SUPPORTED ME POLITICALLY.

WE CAN GO OUT TO THE PARKING LOT AND I'VE GONE AGAINST YOUR VOTES AND YOU'RE LIKE, DUDE, WHAT DID YOU DO? AND THEN THE NEXT THING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO EAT, I MEAN, THAT'S THE KIND OF FRIENDSHIP I THOROUGHLY LOVE HAVING WITH BOTH OF YOU.

AND I'M GONNA MISS YOU DEARLY EVEN THOUGH I'VE LASOW HIM INTO A JOB, AND WE'LL HAVE HIM AROUND.

SO, UM, THANKS FOR EVERYTHING.

I WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT YOU GUYS.

THANK YOU ALSO VERY MUCH INDEED.

GOOD LUCK.

YOUR PLEASURE.

YES.

GOOD LUCK.

I APPRECIATE IT.

LUCK.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

GOOD LUCK IN ALL.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU MUCH.

YOU GOT IT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

OKAY, NEXT UP IS

[8. Citizens Comments]

OKAY.

UH, FIRST UP WE HAVE, UM, JULIE REESE, IF YOU PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM.

GOOD EVENING, COUNSEL.

CAN

[00:15:01]

GOOD EVENING, COUNSEL.

GOOD.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TO YOU.

I'M JULIE REESE FROM BETHEL TOWNSHIP, MIAMI COUNTY.

I'M HERE TO OPPOSE ANNEXATION.

IN FULL DISCLOSURE, I'M A TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE, AND WHILE THE TRUSTEES STAND FIRMLY AGAINST ANNEXATION, I'M NOT HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE TRUSTEES, BUT INSTEAD ONLY AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN.

I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TONIGHT ABOUT THE NEGATIVE IMPACT THAT ANNEXATION IS HAVING ON OUR SCHOOL.

THERE'S BEEN NO LULL IN THE DEVELOPMENT IN THE LAST 15 YEARS TO ALLOW THEM TO EVEN CATCH UP ON CLASSROOM SPACE.

IT TAKES A MINIMUM OF THREE YEARS TO ARCHITECT AND BUILD A NEW SCHOOL, AND THAT CLOCK DOES NOT START TICKING UNTIL AFTER YOU FIGURE OUT HOW TO FUND IT.

WE ARE OVER CAPACITY AT OUR SCHOOL.

NOW, IN ORDER TO BUILD OUR NEWEST K FIVE BUILDING, WE AGREED TO TAKE MONIES FROM THE STATE, BUT WE HAVE YET TO SEE A PENNY OF THAT FUNDING FROM THEM.

SO AT PRESENT, WE CANNOT BEGIN CONSTRUCTION OF ADDITIONAL CLASSROOMS. THE SPACE IN OUR A HUNDRED YEAR OLD SCHOOL, WHICH WE ARE REQUIRED TO VACATE PER OUR STATE AGREEMENT, IS BEING BACKFILLED BY STUDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN ADDED DUE TO THE NUMBER OF HOUSES THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT AND CONTINUE TO BE BUILT IN CARRIAGE TRAILS.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO, UM, USE THE LAND THAT YOU CURRENTLY HAVE AND BUILD THAT OUT FIRST BEFORE ANNEXING OUR LAND, AND, UM, PUTTING MORE HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT ON IT, WHICH WILL, AGAIN, HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT TO OUR SCHOOL.

AND THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

NEXT UP WE HAVE DONNA HUGHES.

IF YOU'D PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM.

THANK YOU ALL.

I'M NOT REALLY, I'M FROM NORTH AND BELE TOWNSHIP.

UM, I'VE BEEN DOING SOME RESEARCH WITH THE DOCTRINE OF THE LESSER OF MAGISTRATES, THE STATE OF OHIO CONSTITUTIONS, UH, THE, THE LAW BY FREDERICK BATISTE, I THINK I SAID HIS NAME CORRECTLY.

AND I'M ALSO A TOWNSHIP PERSON WHO'S OPPOSING THE, UH, ANNEXATION.

BUT BEFORE I GET, UH, THAT PART, I WANNA SAY THE RIGHT, THE CONTINUING RIGHT HAND LANE FROM TAYLORSVILLE E TO EASTBOUND I 70 SEEMS TO BE WORKING FOR ME WHEN I'M DRIVING THROUGH THAT.

I HAVE A LANE I CAN GET OUT ON.

I ALSO WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE LIGHT THAT'S NEAR VIP BOP SO I CAN GET OFF ONTO TO 2 0 2 TO TURN LEFT ON CHAMBERSBURG.

I LIKE THE CONTINUOUS RIGHT HAND LANE FROM CA SOUTHBOUND INTO CARRIAGE TRACE FROM BRANT.

I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA TO JUST KEEP IT CONTINUOUS LIKE IT'S GOING DOWN.

I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE RIGHT HAND LANE COMING OUT OF CARRIAGE TRACE TO HAVE ITS OWN LANE TO CONNECT WITH THE TWO LANES THAT'S ALREADY AT THE COUNTY LINE.

I THINK THAT WOULD KEEP THE TROPE TRAFFIC AND THE ACCIDENTS AS MUCH BECAUSE THOSE SOUTHBOUND PEOPLE ARE USING IT AS A LAUNCHING PAD.

AND, AND I THINK THE LIGHT WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT THING AS OPPOSED TO THE, UM, ROUNDABOUT 'CAUSE THE LIGHT WOULD HANDLE ONLY A LITTLE BIT OF TIME BECAUSE THERE'S A ONLY SHORT, THERE'S ONLY CERTAIN TIME THROUGH THE DAY, IT'S DIFFICULT TO TURN LEFT EITHER WAY.

SO THAT'S MY INTENT, AND I WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT.

NOW, MIAMI COUNTY DIDN'T HAVE A CHOICE IN ANNEXATION BECAUSE IT'S THE LAW.

IT'S THE LAW THAT WAS PASSED IN 2003, AND IT WAS, IT SERVED THE RIGHTS OF THE TOWNSHIP AND GIVEN IT TO THE MUNICIPALITIES.

IT WAS LEGAL PLUNDER AS, AS STATED IN BAAT THE LAW.

IT GAVE THE RIGHTS IN THE LEGAL, LEGAL PLUNDER.

BUT IS IT MORALLY RIGHT TO HARM YOUR NEIGHBOR? WE'VE HAD GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU GUYS AS OUR NEIGHBOR, BUT IS IT MORALLY RIGHT TO TAKE MORE FROM SOMEONE WHO CANNOT FIGHT? AND THAT'S OUR TOWN'S TOWNSHIP.

OUR SCHOOL HAS SEVEN LANGUAGES THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT IN BY THIS NEW AREA THAT'S ALREADY THERE, SEVEN, AND NONE OF THEM ARE SIMILAR.

UH, I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT IF THIS, IF YOU DO CHOOSE TO USE YOUR LEGAL PLUNDER AND ANNEX THAT LAND, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE BUILDER PUT UP THE COST FOR 10 YEARS OF STUDENTS FOR 30 KIDS, THE CLASSROOM, AND PUT IT IN ESCROW FOR EVERY HUNDRED HOMES.

THOSE HOMES, THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL OF 265 ACRES WAS FIVE HOMES TO AN ACRE.

THAT INCLUDED THE SIDEWALK, THE DRIVEWAY, AND THE ROAD.

AND IF YOU HAVE THAT MUCH LAND, LITTLE LAND, HOW ARE THEY GONNA PASS THROUGH?

[00:20:03]

JUST KEEP IT ALL IN YOUR, YOUR PROPERTY.

I GOT OUT OF, I GOT OUTTA THING.

I'M ASKING THAT YOU NOT GO PAST YOUR CURRENT BORDERS NOT TO HARM THE RESIDENTS OF BETHEL TOWNSHIP.

WE WILL HAVE TO AFFORD THE COST OF THE WATER, THE COST OF THE INCREASE OF THE HOMES, BECAUSE THEY TOLD ME AT THE COUNTY HOUSE, COUNTY COURTHOUSE THAT THE, THE SALES OF HOMES WILL INCREASE MY PROPERTY AS A RETIRED PERSON.

I HAVE NO WAYS OF MAKING EXTRA MONEY TO PAY FOR THE EXTRA COST.

SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME, BECAUSE THESE ORIGINAL 13 HOMES WILL BE 26, 1300 TO 26 CARS MORE IN YOUR PROPERTY, 1300 TO 26 MORE STUDENTS THAT BETHEL CAN'T HANDLE AT ALL.

SO I'M ASKING YOU NOT TO USE LEGAL PLUNDER, BUT USE A MORAL RIGHT OF SAYING NO TO FURTHER ANNEXATION INTO BETHEL TOWNSHIP.

THANK YOU.

LAST UP WE HAVE MR. JEFF MORFORD.

GOOD EVENING.

JEFF MORFORD, MIAMI COUNTY BETHEL TOWNSHIP.

LAST MEETING, YOUR GUEST, PASTOR JOHN STIFLER, REFERRED TO A SCRIPTURE FROM PROVERBS CHAPTER 22.

RELATING TO A GOOD NAME IS TO BE CHOSEN OVER MUCH SILVER AND GOLD.

SUGGESTING INTEGRITY AND CHARACTER HAS A HIGHER IMPORTANCE.

I'M NOT AGAINST PEOPLE BEING SUCCESSFUL AND SUCCEED IN BUSINESS AND BECOME WEALTHY AS LONG AS IT IS NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHERS.

YOUR WEALTH AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS SHOULD BE ACQUIRED WITHIN YOUR MORAL AND ETHICAL BOUNDARIES.

I HAVE SUGGESTED IN THE PAST.

WHEN WE ALL MEET OUR MAKER, THE QUESTION WILL NEVER COME UP AS, HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU HAVE OR WHAT HAVE YOU ACCUMULATED? THE QUESTIONS WILL BE, WHAT KIND OF PERSON WERE YOU? HOW DID YOU TREAT YOUR WIFE AND CHILDREN? HOW DID YOU TREAT YOUR NEIGHBORS AND PEOPLE YOU'VE MET OVER YOUR LIFE? AND BECAUSE OF YOUR JOB HERE, HAVE YOUR DECISIONS BEEN FAIR? AND JUST HAVE YOUR DECISIONS HAD POSITIVE RESULTS? HAVE YOUR DECISIONS CAUSED OTHERS TO SUFFER UNNECESSARILY? I WOULD LIKE TO COMPARE THE ANNEXATION IN NEW CARLISLE SLASH BETHEL TOWNSHIP TO THE ANNEXATION IN HUBER HEIGHTS SLASH BETHEL TOWNSHIP.

THEY'RE VERY SIMILAR IN MANY WAYS.

THE DEVELOPERS TRY TO PAINT A PRETTY PICTURE, ALWAYS SUGGESTING HOW MUCH MONEY WILL BE AVAILABLE.

TAX WISE, BOTH OF THESE ANNEXATIONS AND DEVELOPMENTS WERE LOCATED IN BETHEL TOWNSHIP.

BOTH OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS WOULD HAVE STUDENTS GOING TO BETHEL SCHOOLS, NOT NEW CARLISLE SCHOOLS OR HUBER HEIGHTS SCHOOLS.

BOTH OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS WOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ZONING AVAILABLE IN NEW CARLISLE AND HUBER HEIGHTS, NOT AVAILABLE IN BETHEL TOWNSHIP AS IT HAS BEEN FOR DECADES, RELATING TO OUR COMMUNITY'S DESIRE TO PRESERVE OUR RURAL LIFESTYLE.

IN BOTH ANNEX STATIONS, THE CITIZENS HAVE BROUGHT UP OTHER SIDES TO THE STORY.

SCHOOL ISSUES, WATER AND SEWAGE QUESTIONS, TRAFFIC PROBLEMS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

AND NEW CARLISLE.

THE CITY COUNCIL WAS INTERESTED IN THE DEVELOPER'S IDEAS, BUT AFTER CITIZENS EXPLAIN THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY, AND THERE IS ALWAYS THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY.

WHEN THE NEW CARLISLE CITY COUNCIL VOTED, ONLY ONE OF SEVEN OF THEIR MEMBERS VOTED FOR THE PROJECT.

BUT SHORTLY AFTER, NEW CARLISLE COUNCIL VOTED NO TO THE BETHEL TOWNSHIP ANNEX REQUEST.

THEY DID APPROVE A DEVELOPMENT NORTH OF TOWN WITHIN THEIR COUNTY, WITHIN THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICT.

SO THEIR VOTE WOULD AFFECT ONLY THEIR COMMUNITY NOT PUSHING THEIR DECISIONS AND ITS RAMIFICATIONS ONTO A NEIGHBOR COMMUNITY WHERE THE CITIZENS WERE OPPOSED TO THE DEVELOPMENT.

SO PLEASE REMEMBER, YOU CAN VOTE NO, AS DID THE NEW CARLISLE CITY COUNCIL.

TO THOSE AMONG YOU WHO ARE PLANNING TO VOTE NO TO THIS ANNEX STATION REQUEST, THANK YOU FOR BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR.

THANK YOU FOR SEEING THAT OUR COMMUNITY REPRESENTED BY THE THREE BETHEL TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES AND BY THE THREE MIAMI COUNTY COMMISSIONERS REPRESENTING OUR COUNTY'S 110,000 RESIDENTS WHO OBJECT TO THIS ANNEXATION AND DEVELOPMENT AGAINST OUR ESTABLISHED ZONING.

THANK YOU FOR SEEING THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS BEING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST AND OUR CIVIL RIGHTS ARE BEING VIOLATED BY GIVING YOU THE PRIVILEGE TO VOTE ON ISSUES THAT WILL FOREVER CHANGE OUR COMMUNITY,

[00:25:01]

NOW I CALL NO ANNEXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.

LET ALL ANNEXATION REQUESTS BE PUT ON THE BALLOT, NEEDING APPROVAL FROM BOTH COMMUNITIES TO MOVE FORWARD TO THOSE OF YOU PLANNING TO VOTE YES.

WHEN YOU LEFT YOUR HOUSE TODAY AND YOU SAW YOUR NEIGHBOR IN THE DRIVEWAY, YOU EACH PROBABLY NODDED AND WAIVED, IMPLYING GOOD MORNING, HOW ARE YOU? HAVE A NICE DAY.

IF YOU VOTE YES TO THE SANEX STATION, YOU MIGHT AS WELL JUST STAND UP FACE NORTH, RAISE BOTH ARMS AND EXTEND A SINGLE FINGER FROM EACH HAND.

THAT WILL BE YOUR MESSAGE.

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE IT IF EACH AND EVERY MORNING YOU SAW YOUR NEIGHBORS AND THEY SHARED THAT SAME GESTURE WITH A YES BOAT, THAT IS EXACTLY THE MESSAGE YOU ARE SENDING WITH EVERY HOUSE THAT IS BUILT THE SAME GESTURE, THE SAME MESSAGE WITH EVERY STUDENT FROM THE DEVELOPMENT, THE SAME GESTURE, THE SAME MESSAGE.

REMEMBER WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND.

REMEMBER, YOU REAP WHAT YOU SAW.

REMEMBER, KARMA'S A B***H AGAIN AND REQUEST THE DEVELOPER TO DO THE RIGHT THING TONIGHT.

DONATE THE LANDS THAT YOU HAVE ACQUIRED TO BETHEL TOWNSHIP TO MAKE PARTIAL, PARTIAL RESTITUTION FOR THE DAMAGE.

THOSE PAST DEVELOPMENTS HAVE ALREADY CAUSED OUR COMMUNITY.

AND DO NOT DIRECT YOUR UNSOLICITED BUSINESS TOWARD OUR COMMUNITY.

AGAIN, AS ALWAYS, I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH A GOLDEN RULE.

DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

NUMBER NINE, CITIZENS REGISTERED TO SPEAK ON FAIR THIS EVENING, MAYOR.

AND NEXT IS ITEM NUMBER 10, CITY

[10. City Manager Report]

RICK MAYOR, NOT MUCH TO REPORT TONIGHT.

I DID WANNA LET COUNCIL KNOW THAT I'LL BE SUBMITTING AN IT DIRECTOR CANDIDATE TO COUNCIL AT OUR NEXT WORK SESSION.

UH, IF APPROVED, WE EXPECT THIS PERSON TO START, UH, 30 DAYS AFTER THAT APPROVAL.

UH, DID WANT TO GIVE COUNSEL AN UPDATE ON OCTOBER 23RD OF LAST YEAR, COUNSEL AUTHORIZED ME TO TEMPORARILY INCREASE THE PERMANENT STAFFING OF A DEPARTMENT OR DIVISION, UH, WHEN WE HAD A PLANNED OR LONG-TERM VACANCY.

I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT THAT SINCE THEN, UH, WE'VE UTILIZED THIS A NUMBER OF TIMES.

MOST RECENTLY TO PROMOTE A FIRE LIEUTENANT PRIOR TO A, A RETIREMENT, UH, TO APPOINT A FIREFIGHTER PRIOR TO RETIREMENT.

AND ALSO, UH, WE APPOINTED AN ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN WHILE WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE PROMOTIONAL PROCESS.

SO, UH, THE ADMINISTRATION DOES WANT TO THANK COUNSEL FOR GIVING US THIS EARLY HIRING, UH, TO MAINTAIN OUR STAFFING, BUT IT'S ALSO ENABLED US TO SECURE GOOD CANDIDATES BEFORE THEY FIND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.

SO THERE'S AN UPDATE ON THAT.

AND THEN, UH, THE THIRD THING IS COUNCILWOMAN KITCHEN HAS WORKED WITH SECURE CYBER DEFENSE TO SET UP PUBLIC TRAINING ON CYBERSECURITY AND SECURING PERSONAL INFORMATION.

UH, THESE SESSIONS ARE GONNA BE HELD APRIL 15TH FROM ONE TO 3:00 PM AND THEN AN EVENING SESSION ON THAT DATE FROM SIX, UH, TO 8:00 PM UH, THESE WILL BE HELD IN THE HUBER HEIGHTS COMMUNITY ROOM AT THE LIBRARY.

AND UH, I'LL DO A REMINDER, UH, A MEETING OR TWO BEFORE THOSE START.