SUMMER READING
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The Anderson Township Branch Library held its 38th annual Summer Reading Program.
Your Community Press newspaper serving Anderson Township, California, Mount Washington, Newtown Email: foresthills@communitypress.com Website: communitypress.com We d n e s d a y, A u g u s t
Volume 51 Number 19 © 2011 The Community Press ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Leaves needed
The Mt. Washington Service League is talking currency and cleanup. The Service League is putting a out call out for leaves. Ryan Doan, head of the Service League as well as a member of the Mt. Washington Community Council, said the group wants to collect leaves for the community gardens it maintains in the East End as well as at McNicholas High School. FULL STORY, A2
Temporary fix
Resident Ted Jancha was looking for answers from the Newtown Village Council, and he got them, at least temporarily. Jancha said he has no convenient parking at his home on Edith Road, which has a designated fire lane along the street. And Jancha said he has been told by the Newtown Police Department not to park on the gravel in his yard. FULL STORY, A2
Pet assistance
During the recent economic hardship, many area residents have needed assistance, some who never had to ask for help before now. But for the past couple years, the Anderson Senior Center has been helping an underserved population – household pets. FULL STORY, A3
Hearing requested
Township Trustee Kevin O’Brien will have a hearing before the Ohio Division of Securities on Monday, Aug. 22, concerning a state investigation that alleges he defrauded clients and received compensation for investment advice without a proper license. The agency issued a hearing notice in June that details the results of the division’s investigation of O’Brien and his financial consulting company, Private Wealth Management. The notice states the Ohio Division of Securities intends to issue a “cease and desist” order to stop him from violating Ohio securities law. O’Brien has denied the allegations. FULL STORY, A3
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Forest Hills: No November levy
Majority of school board decides to wait until 2012
By Forrest Sellers
fsellers@communitypress.com
ANDERSON TWP. – The Forest Hills Local School District will not place an operating levy request on the November ballot. Although no motion was officially made during last week’s meeting, three of the four board members in attendance supported a decision to wait until 2012 to place an operating levy request on the ballot. Board member Richard Neumann, who supported a November ballot date, expressed his disappointment. “It’s like walking in front of a firing squad,” he said. Neumann said the decision was like history repeating itself. Neumann had recommended the board put an operating levy request on the November 2008 ballot. Instead the board placed an
operating levy request on the May 2009 ballot. The levy request was defeated by voters. “We’re asking taxpayers to Neumann pay more money in May,” he said. Treasurer Rick Toepfer said a November 2011 levy would require a 3.5-mill request, while a 2012 levy request would require a 4.5-mill request. Each mill generates about $35 per $100,000 of assessed property value, according to Toepfer. That means the owner of a home with a market value of $200,000 would pay about $245 more per year in property taxes if a 3.5-mill levy were approved in November, while that same homeowner would pay about $315 more per
Bissinger
year if a 4.5-mill levy were approved in 2012. Toepfer said a 3.5-mill continuing operating levy would generate an estimated $5 million to
$5.3 million. Board President Randy Smith said he knows the district will eventually have to go before the public with an operating levy request, but he said the district should be financially secure until 2013. Toepfer said the district will have a positive balance until fiscal year 2012-2013. Smith said the district made budget cuts in anticipation of a reduction in state funding. “We were proactive,” he said. “We are not in as much trouble as some
school districts.” Board member Tracy Huebner said her recommendation to wait until next year had not changed even after a discussion with Paul Fallon of Paul Fallon Research & Communications, a public opinion researcher who has said November would be a preferable time for a school levy request. “I think we will have more time to get (our message) out to the community,” she said. Board member Julie Bissinger said she had been leaning toward a November ballot date, but decided it would be better to wait. “The focus should be on need, not when,” she said. “The why (of this levy) has been lost. “We need to have our message strong and united.” Board member Forest Heis was not in attendance. For more about your community visit www.cincinnati.com/andersontownship
Culverts near Beechmont hole damaged By Lisa Wakeland lwakeland@communitypress.com
ANDERSON TWP. – Engineers recently inspected a storm sewer culvert beneath Beechmont Avenue and private property on both sides of the road after significant rainfall earlier this year created a sinkhole behind two Anderson Township businesses. The results? A mix of good and bad news. Inspectors hired by the Ohio Department of Transportation found multiple large cracks, misalignment and other issues in the underground culvert that extends from the U-Haul business on the north side of Beechmont Avenue, under Beechmont Avenue to Red Chopsticks restaurant on the south side of Beechmont Avenue and then to New England Club Drive. Though the concrete culvert under Beechmont Avenue is in good condition, adjacent culverts
Lawsuit
The sinkhole that formed behind Adams Heating and Cooling, Firestone and Plants by Wolfangel in April is now the subject of a civil lawsuit. Plants by Wolfangel filed a complaint June 27 against Adams Heating and Cooling regarding damage caused by the sinkhole. Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Jody Luebbers granted a preliminary injunction July 1 that states "it is in the interest of public safety and welfare for the sinkhole/trench to be repaired." There is a case management conference scheduled for Monday, Aug. 29.
are in poor and critical condition, according to the inspection report. Alan Cleves, general manager at Advanced Auto Parts, 8234 Beechmont Ave., said he wasn’t aware of the significant damage to the storm sewer pipe between his store and U-Haul business on the north side of Beechmont Avenue. That pipe, according to the report, is in critical condition and almost 40 percent of the sections are “exhibiting a full-depth crack, pipe deformation and exposed, corroding, reinforcing steel.” Cleves said the corporate office knows about the problem and is discussing the best solution for repairs. On the south side of Beechmont Avenue, near Red Chopstick restaurant, the culvert is in poor condition with multiple holes in the corrugated metal that are allowing sediment and water to fill the pipe, according to the report. Although the Ohio Department
LISA WAKELAND/STAFF
Crews dig down to a collapsed sewer pipe behind Adams Heating and Cooling and Plants by Wolfangel. The sinkhole opened this spring. of Transportation is responsible only for the section of the culvert under Beechmont Avenue, the inspection was expanded to include private property on both sides of Beechmont Avenue as a courtesy because of the emergency situation, said Brandon Collett, structures planning engineer for the Ohio Department of Trans-
portation’s District 8. A sinkhole formed April 23 behind Adams Heating and Cooling, 8185 Beechmont Ave., and Plants By Wolfangel, 8181 Beechmont Ave., when a culvert line collapsed due to heavy rainfall. The Cincinnati area received 13.52 inches of rain in April, making it the second wettest month on record, according to the National Weather Service. That sinkhole expanded and several businesses on the south side of Beechmont Avenue were flooded June 21 when nearly 3 inches of rain fell in an hour. Steve Sievers, Anderson Township assistant administrator for operations, said if other sections of culvert fail it could cause problems in other areas. Anderson Township has been helping business owners communicate with state and county agencies and will follow up on the situation, he said. “There are many different stakeholders,” Sievers said. “This affects of a lot of businesses and property owners.” Collett said private property owners are responsible for maintenance and repairs of the culverts on their respective properties. Collett said he’s doubtful the neighboring culvert problems will cause damage to Beechmont Avenue. “The worst thing that could happen is more flooding upstream,” he said. “As long as (the culvert under Beechmont Avenue) is concrete and is in good condition, it’s not going to cause problems to Beechmont Avenue.” For more about your community, visit Cincinnati.com/andersontownship.