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LOVELAND HERALD

Your Community Press newspaper serving Loveland, Miami Township, Symmes Township

WEDNESDAY, JULY 10, 2013

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Miami Twp. fire chief to retire MIAMI TWP. — Fire Chief Jim Whitworth will retire Aug. 23 after more than 40 years in the fire and emergency medical field. “After much personal and professional soul searching, I have decided to retire,” Whitworth wrote in an email to township officials June 25. Whitworth has been with Miami Township Fire and EMS since 1992, he said. Whitworth received an offer to work with the adult fire program at Great Oaks in Sharonville, said Trustee Mary Makley Wolff. “I was not looking for a job. I planned to work another two years for Miami

Township and then retire,” Whitworth said. “But an opportunity was presented that made me think maybe it’s about time to go.” Wolff said he was given an offer he couldn’t refuse. “He’s getting a chance at a second act in life, and don’t we all wish we had that?” she said. After finding out about Great Oaks’ interest, Whitworth took about three weeks to make his decision, he said. Those three weeks involved “many sleepless nights,” but he finally decided the department would still be in good hands without him, Whitworth said. “He’s done a remarkably good job. We

will be sad to see him go,” Wolff said. “We’ll have our work cut out for us (finding a replacement).” But change doesn’t always have to be bad, she said. “We look forward to bringing on a new chief Whitworth and new ideas - you have to be excited about the opportunities that lie in the change of command,” Wolff said. “I choose to view change as a positive thing.” Miami Township Police Chief R. Steven Bailey said Whitworth’s knowledge will be tough to match.

New sergeant sworn in before council

By Jason Hoffman jhoffman@communitypress.com

Loveland Police Sgt. Kevin Corbett, right, looks on as Tim Sabransky, police chief, left, reads a list of his accomplishments during 14 years with the Loveland Police Department at the Loveland City Council meeting Tuesday, June 11. JASON HOFFMAN/THE COMMUNITY PRESS

for reaffirmation of its class-3 rating from the Insurance Service Offices. The rating puts Loveland in the 72nd percentile for residential structural safety and the 83rd percentile for commercial structural safety in Ohio. Mayor Rob Weisgerber said he was exceptionally proud of the department because it maintained a high rating despite the city’s budget suffering a 25percent cut. Building and Zoning Coordinator Eva

JOY, TIMES 339 B1

HER OLD SCHOOL

Reflection, celebration marked the graduation of 339 seniors from Loveland High School.

New Loveland AD returning home. See Sports, A6

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See CHIEF, Page A2

Carroll was finalist for job in Cleveland

City recognizes building and zoning ISO rating

LOVELAND — The Loveland Police Department has a new sergeant following a swearing-in ceremony. “The sergeant position is very important in the police division,” said Tim Sabransky, police chief. “It’s the first unitmanagement position and it’s extremely important for leadership.” Sgt. Kevin Corbett joined the LPD in 1999 as a part-time police officer and has worked with the Hamilton County Drug Abuse Reduction Task Force in addition to leading crime investigations for the LPD, Sabransky said. Corbett began his career in law enforcement in Bethel, Ohio and has been full time with the LPD since 2002. “We’re very proud to have Kevin promoted to sergeant,” Sabransky said. “I know he’ll work hard in that role and he’s a part of the leadership team and I look for great things and a lot of hard work.” When he was hired, Corbett said he told then-chief Dennis Reeshe would be the hardest working, most dedicated officer the department has seen. “I was a much skinnier – a little more hair than I have now – police officer looking to better my career and to find a place to retire,” Corbett said. “I think without exception I’ve proved that I have held up my end of the deal.” Corbett thanked the past and current chiefs as well as Loveland residents and pledged he would continue working hard for the city. City Council also recognized the city’s building and zoning department

“Anytime you lose 20 years worth of experience, you have to ask yourself how long it will take to replace that,” Bailey said. Whitworth was the township’s first fire chief, hired from Blue Ash after three private Miami Township fire departments merged into one, he said. Township Administrator Larry Fronk said Whitworth was an asset to the community and he will be sad to see him leave. “I’m happy for him,” Bailey said. “He’s going to be able to retire and do something that he wants to do.”

Parker thanked city council for the opportunity to work in Loveland and said the men and women around her made the achievement possible. “I’ve been very lucky I have a lot of great coworkers and we work very well as a team,” Parker said. “It’s a group effort.” Want to know more about Loveland Schools, community and government? Follow Jason Hoffman on Twitter: @jhoffman_cp.

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LOVELAND — Tom Carroll isn’t going anywhere for the time being. Carroll finished second in the search for new city manager in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, following more than a year-long application process. The city chose Tanisha Briley to fill its vacancy. “Cleveland Heights is a bigger city,” Carroll said. “It’s a community of 45,000 with a workforce of over 400 employees – it seemed like a logical career step.” Loveland has a population of 12,081, according to its community profile. Carroll added that he was honored to be a finalist for the position. This is the second position Carroll applied for outside Loveland since being named city manager in 2005. Last year, Carroll was a finalist for the same job in Montgomery. After Wayne Davis was selected by Montgomery, Carroll received a pay raise from Loveland officials. His base salary, effective Jan. 1, is $111,225. Councilwoman Paulette Leeper, who was a reference for Carroll, said it would have been a good move for Carroll. “I think he’s capable of managing a city much larger than Loveland,” Leeper said. “We are lucky to have him.” Carroll isn’t looking for any other jobs and said that it’s not something he seeks out on a regular basis.

YOUR TURN If another city asked you about the job Tom Carroll has done as Loveland city manager, what would you tell them? Send your response to loveland@communitypress.com or rmaloney@communitypress.com.

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We transport to Loveland area schools and most Milford area schools. Before and after school age programs.

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