Tuesday, May 04, 2010

Expanding Springfield Twp. Role in Community:

Plan/GoalsInternal Marketing – Resident Retention/Quality of Life
Inform and make aware to increase community involvement
Provide "good news" stories and experiences to improve image and bring awareness to current residents


External Marketing
Attract new residents and promote home ownership
Economic Development
Improve Website Information and Land Use Availability Data Base
Retain Existing Businesses
Attract New Businesses and Investment
The Grove Banquet Hall and Senior Center
Increase Rental Revenues by marketing as moderately priced facility with superior amenities in competitor class



Brush Service (Had to discontinue service due to loss in revenue & sustainability)

Options Evaluated:
 
Restore to Original Service – Unlimited 32 Week Service
Reduce Months June-Aug
Reduce Months and Offer Service One Week a Month
Reduce Months and Offer Service by District
Offer Service for a Fee as Subscription Service
Allow Drop-off Service

 
Do Not Restore the Service (Cannot justify the cost due to reduced revenues)

Cost and Long Term Sustainability
Difficulty Staffing Service – Unpredictable Demand Levels
Over 280 Miles of Road Frontage
Geographic Area of the Township
Confusion of Service/Fairness in Pay for Service
High Cost for Percentage of Users
No other Township in Hamilton County Provides
Service has already been eliminated
Hamilton County Offers Free Brush Drop-Off (Rumpke)


Working With Schools:


Working With Schools Recommendations
Goals:
Communication/Collaboration/Saving Tax Dollars
 
Initiate a variety of opportunities where relationships between school administrators and the Township can evolve. The dialogue may result in a collaboration of activities, shared resources, or the consolidation of supplies, service agreements, and initiatives


Community in the Classroom
 
Create volunteer projects and classroom experiences for students within our public districts and parochial schools.


Garbage:


Garbage Collection (Aggregation) Recommendations
Residents currently contract on their own for garbage collection service
Ohio Law allows for the Township to select and contract with a sole source garbage collection and dumping facility to provide this service to residents (at their own cost) thereby eliminating residents right to choose their own service


The Township should join a local consortium of 10 other local governments to contract residential garbage collection and other related services such as recycling through sole source garbage collection company in attempt to provide residents with a lower cost

Overview of Services offered by Township

Service Dept./Parks/Fleet

Staffing:
Director (1FT)
Roads (8 FT) (2PT)
Buildings (1FT) (1PT)
Parks (3 FT) (7 Seasonal Summer)
Fleet ( 2 FT)
 
Budget: (Includes Personnel, Capital, Material and Equipment)
Roads and Service Related = $2,297,000
Parks Buildings and Grounds = $689,000
Fleet = $208,000


Road Maintenance
Snow Removal
Sign Maintenance
Stormwater and Drainage Repairs
ROW Maintenance
Project Inspection
ROW Tree Removal
Parks:
Buildings:
Janitorial
Fleet

Fire Protection:


Fire/EMS Department
Staffing:
Command Staff (4 FT)
Full-Time FF/Paramedics (28)
Part-Time Paramedics (35)
Part-Time EMTs (30)
Budget: (Includes Personnel, Capital, Material and Equipment)
$5,120,000
EMS Division Accredited by Cincinnati Academy of Medicine
ISO Rating of 3


Senior Services:

Senior/Community Services
Staffing:
Director (1FT)
Facility Monitors (3PT)
Bartender/Event Facilitator (2PT)
Budget: (Includes Personnel, Capital, Material and Equipment)
$212,000
 
2010 Rental Income Anticipated at $160,000


Development Services Dept.
Staffing:
Director (1FT) (Also Serves as Assistant Township Administrator)
Office Manager/Clerk (1FT)
Code Enforcement Officers (3 PT)
Budget: (Includes Personnel, Material and Equipment)
$498,000
 
2010 Permit Fee Revenue Anticipated at $18,000

Police Services:


Police Department/DART
Staffing:
Command Staff (4 FT)
Communications (5 FT)
Support (2 FTE)
Road Patrol (35 FT, 3 PT)
Detectives/Vice/SRO (11 FT)
Budget: (Includes Personnel, Capital and Equipment)
$8,157,000 (PD)
$232,000 (DART) (Includes Grants and Member Jurisdiction Fees)
Nationally Accredited since 1999


Road Patrol
IMPACT
Traffic
K-9
DART/Vice
Criminal Investigations (Detectives)
Communications/Records (Dispatch)
Administrative
School Resource
DARE
Training/Accreditation
Community Programs
Block Watch, Citizens Police Academy, Citizens on Patrol, Community Awareness Seminars, CERT


Development Services Dept.Staffing:
Director (1FT) (Also Serves as Assistant Township Administrator)
Office Manager/Clerk (1FT)
Code Enforcement Officers (3 PT)
Budget: (Includes Personnel, Material and Equipment)
$498,000
 
2010 Permit Fee Revenue Anticipated at $18,000

Senior/Community Services
Staffing:
Director (1FT)
Facility Monitors (3PT)
Bartender/Event Facilitator (2PT)
Budget: (Includes Personnel, Capital, Material and Equipment)
$212,000
 
2010 Rental Income Anticipated at $160,000


Community Programming and Events
Hall Rentarogramming and Activities
Senior Programming (At Facility – Done by Others)
Meals on Wheels

News from the Neighborhood

June 3rd will be taking bids for the final streetscape project on Winton Road. Streetlights, flower baskets, and banners which will be controlled by ODOT.

Galbraith Road will be closed westbound to finish up the county construction project. If you have complaints, it's an issue you need to take up with the county. Springfield Twp. has limits to what can be done on this road.

Great American clean up was successful with 178 volunteers!

ID Theft Program - Police dept. just completed a theft program.

Results from Township Survey:

Results of Neighborhood Meetings


Positives:

Location
Excellent Services (Police, Fire & Service)
Leadership
Good Neighbors
Low Crime
Good Place to Raise Kids
Greenspace (Parks & Trees)
Quiet
Road Conditions
Results of Neighborhood Meetings
Weakness
Barking Dogs – Pit Bulls
Property Maintenance – Vacant Housing
Section 8 – Rental Property
Speeding
Deer
Streetlights
Noise
Drugs
Youth Activities
Litter
Brush
School Issues – taxes
Street Maintenance – Repairs – Sidewalks
Economic Development
High Taxes
Diversity


Weakness:
Barking Dogs – Pit Bulls
Property Maintenance – Vacant Housing
Section 8 – Rental Property
Speeding
Deer
Streetlights
Noise
Drugs
Youth Activities
Litter
Brush
School Issues – taxes
Street Maintenance – Repairs – Sidewalks
Economic Development
High Taxes

Strategic Neighborhood Action Plan

Taking Our Community from Vision to Reality

Like many first-ring suburbs, Springfield Township is faced with both tremendous opportunities and difficult challenges. In order to meet these challenges and preserve the distinctive character, services and quality of life that our residents have come to expect and appreciate, the Board of Trustees together with our staff and a cross section of community representatives have worked hard in recent years towards the creation of a Township Vision Plan. The Vision Plan outlines the needs, wants and aspirations of those who make a living and raise their families in Springfield Township.

Taking this vision and making it reality is the logical next step in this process and the focus of the newly proposed Strategic Neighborhood Action Plan. The Strategic Neighborhood Action Plan is a simple, straightforward approach which outlines goals, desired outcomes and specific strategies towards increasing property values, preserving and enhancing the quality of life, and decreasing the long-term residential tax burden for property owners.
We encourage all residents and business owners to take a look at these ideas and provide us with your feedback so we can work together to make this vision reality. Click here to dowload a brochure.

Friday, April 09, 2010

Community Garage Sale Event

Springfield Township Community Garage Sale

Web: www.springfieldtwp.orgEmail: kflamm@springfieldtwp.org


June 5, 9:00a.m. – 1:00 p.m. It’s spring-cleaning time, but don’t throw everything out! June 5th will mark Springfield Township’s annual Community Garage Sale Event! Last year over 1,400 came to shop!

This one day “sale-a-bration” is the perfect time to sell your unwanted items and make a few bucks! Both indoor and outdoor booth spaces are now available to residents of the Township for just $5-$15. The fees will pay for all of the advertising used to draw in the largest crowds.

As an added benefit, a non-profit center will be on site to take any donations after the event is over! There will only be 50 spaces available, so register early! Call 522-1410 to register

Great American Cleanup April 24th Volunteers Needed

Volunteers Needed

April 24th is the Great American Cleanup in the Greater Cincinnati area. This will be Springfield Township’s ninth year participating in this event. We are actively recruiting volunteers to help clean up neighborhoods and make this area sparkle! If you have a group interested in volunteering, simply log onto http://www.springfieldtwp.org/GreatAmericanCleanUp.cfm

On the website you will find a list of projects and an area for you to register online as a volunteer. Gather a group together and make an impact! *If there is a project you would like to complete that is not listed, please call me at 522-1410 so that it can be added it to the project list!

Great American Cleanup
April 24, 2010

Check in at 8:00 a.m.Grove Banquet Hall or the Pleasant Run Farms Swim ClubVolunteers will work from 9:00a.m. - 12:00 noonA light breakfast will be available at check-in

Free T-shirts, while available Kimberlee FlammProjects, Events & Communications CoordinatorSpringfield Township Administration9150 Winton RoadCincinnati, OH 45231

Picture Perfect Classes at Springfield Township Community Center

NEWS RELEASE


Picture Perfect Classes at Springfield Township Community Center





Just in time for those springtime weddings and summer vacation memories, the Springfield Township Senior/Community Center will be hosting two photography classes to help you get the most out of your treasured photo memories.

Advanced Digital SLR Photography will be held on Tuesdays, April 27 and May 4, 11 and 18 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. This four-part class is designed for teens and adults using their own digital SLR camera or for those looking to purchase a new one. You’ll learn about the digital SLR camera and its settings, using the “manual” modes, proper use of the flash, composition tricks and more. Cost for the four, 2 hour classes is $75 for Springfield Township residents and $85 for non-residents. Class size is limited to the first 30 registrants, with a minimum of 10 needed to conduct the class.

Photoshop Elements will be held on Tuesdays, May 25 and June 1, 8 & 15 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. This four-part class will teach you how to touch-up all those digital photos to make them picture perfect. You will learn how to import, format and save images; crop and tone; retouch photos; and advanced techniques including collages, layering and type effects. Participants may bring in their laptop and should download a trial copy of the Photoshop element software at http:adobe.com. Cost for the four, 2 hour classes is $75 for Springfield Township residents and $85 for non-residents. Class size is limited to the first 30 registrants, with a minimum of 10 needed to conduct the class.

Both classes will be taught by Springfield Township resident Malinda Hartong. In addition to her experience in portrait and studio photography, Malinda has freelanced for various publications for over 10 years and now serves as the Staff Photojournalist/Multimedia Producer for the Cincinnati. You can find out more about Malinda by checking out hartongdigitalmedia.com.

Complete information and registration forms can be found at both the Springfield Township Administration building, Senior/Community Center or online at www.springfieldtwp.org .
To register by mail, send completed form along with a check or money order (payable to Springfield Township) to Springfield Twp. Photo Workshop, 9150 Winton Road, Cincinnati, OH 45231.

Participants may also register on-line at www.springtwp.org and make payment using PayPal. Those using PayPal will incur a 4% handling fee.

Reservations can also be made via phone or by e-mail using Visa, Master Card or Discover. Credit card orders will incur a 3% handling fee. To make a reservation by phone, contact Thom Schneider at 522-1154. E-mail reservation requests can be made to tschneider@springfieldtwp.org.
Springfield Township Senior/Community Center is located at 9158 Winton Road, behind the Springfield Township Administration Complex. For more information on this or other activities sponsored by the Springfield Township Senior/Community Center, call 522-1154 or visit the Township website – www.springfieldtwp.org

Friday, February 19, 2010

Bob Dewar Passes Away ...

David Stephens sent this to me Jan. 21st, I'm sorry I'm so late here...

Bob Dewar of Beechtree Dr. suffered a fatal heart attack at his home We extend our heartfelt sympathy to his wife, Barb and children Richard, Sharon, David and their families.

Monday, February 15, 2010

State of Township Community Address Meeting

State of the Township Community Address
This Weekend!


All media, residents of Springfield Township, and business stakeholders are invited to attend Springfield Township’s annual State of the Township Community Address on Sunday, February 28, 2010. The meeting will begin promptly at 2:30p.m. at the Grove Banquet Hall, 9158 Winton Road. (Behind the Senior/Community Center)

Topics to be covered in the community address include:
• A review of 2009
• Tough budget decisions & Current Financial Conditions
• Success of Aggregation Program, Grants & New Community Programming
• Looking towards the future with a Community Master Plan

Following the meeting, residents may stay for the Meet & Greet Social. Trustees and staff will be on hand to answer your questions, one-on-one.


More information and on line registration can be found on www.springfieldtwp.org or by calling 522-1410.
( DIRECT LINK: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e2op3bf4bdad00c9)


Kimberlee Flamm
Projects, Events & Communications Coordinator
Springfield Township Administration
9150 Winton Road
Cincinnati, OH 45231

Phone: 513-522-1410 513-522-1410 513-522-1410 513-522-1410
Fax: 513-522-1411

Email: kflamm@springfieldtwp.org
Website: www.springfieldtwp.org

Thursday, November 05, 2009

News from the Neighborhood

To the View Place Residents:

We invite you to the upcoming exciting musical celebration of the Peaslee Neighborhood Center's 25th anniversary which will take place at the School for the Creative and Performing Arts Auditorium, 1310 Sycamore Street (across the street from Peaslee) on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 7 pm.

David and Roxanne are performing two duets and the Keyboard Club Ensemble will play a duet and six hand arr. of the Sabre Dance. African Drumming will open and close the program and the OTR Steel Drum Band and Brasil Band will perform as well. The Morpheus Chamber String Ensemble from Miami University, the MUSE Women's choir, a vocalist, a cellist, and a Claude Bolling jazz suite for flute and piano will complete the program.

Reception with birthday cake and beverages for all !

Seats can be reserved by calling the Peaslee Center at - 621-5514 - at a sliding scale price of $15 - $20 .
All proceeds will benefit the Peaslee Music Programs.

Hope we see you there!

David and Roxanne Engle
(513) 948-9896

The mission of the Peaslee Neighborhood Center is to provide a peaceful place where
Over-the-Rhine residents create and participate in dialogue-based educational programs that foster creative expression, self-determination, personal and social change. Peaslee Neighborhood Center - (513) 621-5514

Friday, October 23, 2009

Housing Monitors Needed & Upcoming Twp. Meeting

Housing Monitors Needed
By Jim Golan

The FCA Housing Block Watch is simply a network of Finneytown residents looking for signs of housing distress, and directing this information to Springfield Township for corrective action.

How is distress defined? It is those visual signs which would cause its neighbor to lose resale value. The visual signs include vacancy, overgrown grass and plants, peeling paint, roof problems and suspicious activity.

Block Watchers agree to monitor certain streets at least monthly. The watching can be walking or “windshield” (by auto). The streets monitored could be nearby or reachable by auto. The data is then entered into a spreadsheet, processed and forwarded to Chris Gilbert at Springfield Township.

Interested in Block Watching? Call Jim Golan at 522-8075.

Springfield Township Master Plan

Please attend the public forum scheduled for your neighborhood to discuss the planning procedure and gather input for the creation of a neighborhood master plan.

A presentation of current neighborhood conditions will be included in each meeting. Existing land use, zoning, current proposed land use recommendations, redevelopment potential, property maintenance violations, street conditions, crime rate, fire and EMS call response time, service delivery issues and special characteristics of the neighborhood will be discussed. After the presentation, residents will be asked a series of information-seeking questions. The answers that residents give will provide the valuable feedback necessary to begin a plan for the future.

The Finneytown neighborhood meeting (Oct. 26 at the Grove) is the last of eleven public neighborhood meetings held throughout Springfield Township. Trustees will host similar meetings, with the same structure in every Township neighborhood district. Residents will be asked if they wish to participate as a focus group for their neighborhood. Each neighborhood master plan will take one year to complete.

For a street-by-street listing, visit the “Living in Springfield Township” tab (Neighborhood Master Plan) on www.springfieldtwp.org, or call 522-1410

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Springfield Township Neighborhood Master Planning

Neighborhood Master Planning




Springfield Township is a unique, diverse community that is comprised of many different neighborhoods, each with their unique character, attributes and needs. In addition, the Township includes one school district that is entirely within the Township and portions of six others. With a total of 39,755 residents and about 16,000 households, we recognize that an overall Master Plan for the entire Township may fail to address the individual and specific needs of a particular neighborhood. Therefore, we are creating a Master Plan process that embraces the Township for what it is - a community of neighborhoods. You care about your neighborhood, what it looks like and what it could be. It's where you call home. Creating many individually customized, but unified neighborhood and district plans, will allow us to better ensure our Township's sustainability and create a path for a bright future.


The First Neighborhood Meeting:


Your neighborhood meeting has been scheduled. You are encouraged to attend and share your ideas.Each meeting will last approximately two hours and will be held at a location nearby. Starting at 7:00 p.m., each neighborhood meeting will begin with a presentation of your current neighborhood conditions: land use, economic conditions, housing conditions, rental statistics, crime rate, fire response time, road infrastructure, and neighborhood attributes. This will provide residents with statistical information as it relates to where they live. The second half of the meeting will be designed to gather specific suggestions from residents. This segment is to be used as an idea brainstorm from residents - things to make your neighborhood better, stronger, sustainable and prosperous. Your ideas will be written down for consideration. In larger neighborhoods, a moderator may be used to insure everyone's suggestions are heard and recorded. Your ideas will not be disputed or debated. Your Trustees, members of the police, fire and administration departments will be on hand at the conclusion of the meeting to address individual questions or concerns. If you are interested, you can sign up to be a representative in followup focus group meetings.









August 31
7:00 p.m.
Neighborhoods closest to Valleydale, Edgemont, Caldwell
Mercy Franciscan
100 Compton Road

Sept. 2
7:00 p.m.
The Neighborhood of Sevenhills
Frost Elementary
2065 Mistyhill Drive

Sept. 21
7:00 p.m.
The Neighborhood of West College Hill
West College Hill Neighborhood Services Center
2062 North Bend Road

Sept. 28
7:00 p.m.
The Neighborhood of Hollydale
Springfield Township Senior/Community Center
9158 Winton Road

Sept. 30
7:00 p.m.
The Neighborhoods of Lexington Heights, Glencoe & Wellspring
St. Mark AME Zion Methodist Church
9208 Daly Road

Oct. 5
7:00 p.m.
The Area Called "Hamilton Southwest" - Which includes the areas in and around Skyline Acres, Ranchill, Adams Ridge, Hudepohl & Miles
Mt. Healthy Junior High
1917 Miles Road

Oct. 7
7:00 p.m.
The Area Called "Hamilton Northeast" - Which includes the areas in and around Covered Bridge, New Burlington, Ridgevale & Golf View The Winton Center
10245 Winton Road

Oct. 14
7:00 p.m.
The Area Called "Winton Northwest" - Which includes the areas North & South of West McKelvey, and covers the streets off of Sarbrook, Lakeside & Bridge Creek
The Grove Banquet Hall
9158 Winton Road

Oct. 19
7:00 p.m.
The Neighborhood of Pleasant Run Farms
Welch Elementary
12084 Deerhorn Drive

Oct. 21
7:00 p.m.
The Area Called " Winton Northeast" - Which includes the areas in and around Long Lane, Millbrook, Windcrest Acres, Meadows of Wright
Farm, Bonham, Lakeshore & Lochcrest The Grove Banquet Hall
9158 Winton Road

Oct. 26
7:00 p.m.
Any resident in the Finneytown School District
The Grove Banquet Hall
9158 Winton Road

Friday, May 22, 2009

Concert at Civic Garden Sunday, May 24, 2009

Hi Friends!

We wanted to let you know about the upcoming Beyer Musical Society program at the Civic Garden Center this Sunday at 3 pm.


Our involvement with the Society goes back many years. The program will include Broadway songs, "pop" standards, and a few gospel songs.

A young violinist is on the program and also a jazz clarinetist. All of the ten vocalists are experienced, fine singers.

David will perform as soloist and accompanist. It is sure to be a delightful and entertaining hour of music.

And it is Free!

Friday, May 15, 2009

Beware of Loose Dogs at 455 Beechtree Drive

Most of you know my daughter delivers the Hilltop Press in View Place and on several occasions, we have found three huge dogs at 455 Beechtree ready to come after her while delivering to the house next door. Are they Akitas?



Also while the kids are riding bikes, the dogs will come running out of the yard and into the street running after the kids. No one is ever home and quite frankly, I'm afraid to get out of the car to find out if anyone is home.


Please use caution in this area until I can phone the people living there and find out why the dogs are not on leashes or left outside when no one is at home.



Since this street backs up into the Commonwealth area, I would also advise families to keep an eye out for your kids.

The weather is nice and kids will be out. I would hate to see any of our kids hurt and I'm sure the homeowners would like to be made aware of the potentially dangerous situation they are putting the neighborhood by not supervising their dogs while they are out.

They are beautiful dogs, Akitas. The AKC breeders information, however, warns all owners not to let these dogs around kids or small pets while unsupervised. They are very territorial and if something is not right "in their mind" they will instinctively go after whatever it is they feel is a threat to their terrority. They are known to break through an invisible fence barrier to protect their territory.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

This Weekend May 2nd

May 2 – Springfield Township Police Department Open House

May 2 – Hamilton County 1-Day Compost Bin Sale ($35 – Regular price $100!)

If you have not had a chance, you may want to visit the Springfield Township Community Calendar & News Board. It is packed FULL of programs: http://springfieldtwp.besavvy.egovlink.com/CommunityNewsBoard.cfm?MonthChange=Forward&LastDate=04%2F27%2F2009

Thank You for the Flowers!




A special thank you goes out to Melanie McNulty who gave us donated pansies to fill our flower boxes this Spring and Barb Rizzi who helped fill the boxes on the corners of Shelley & Blossomhill, Viewplace & Keats, Viewplace & Wellesley, and at the Welcome Board ... Thank you!!!