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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT B1 Your Community Press newspaper serving Miami Township and Milford E-mail: milford@communitypress.com We d n e s d a y, O c t o b e r 1 3 , 2 0 1 0
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Vol. 30 No. 39 © 2010 The Community Press ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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Commission focuses on playscape
By Kellie Geist
kgeist@communitypress.com
It’s been about a year since the Milford Parks and Recreation Commission started working on a natural playground for Riverside I and II, but where are the grassy mounds and water features? The project has been going slowly because of the city’s financial situation, said Parks and Recreation Commission Chair Rachelle Rapp-Dickerson, but the delay may prove to be a benefit. “It actually might be a good
thing that it’s taken a while because since we started talking about the natural playground, we’ve learned of two other natural playgrounds in the area,” she said. The first is a small-scale natural playground with a butterfly garden at Child Focus in Mt. Carmel and the other is a large playscape being built at the Cincinnati Nature Center in Union Township. “That’s allowed us to work with those people … which I think will really help,” RappDickerson said.
The lapse in time also has allowed for a number of architects and landscape designers in the Greater Cincinnati Area to be trained in building natural playgrounds as part of the Cincinnati Playscape Initiative. In fact, the designer for the playground at Child Focus also is scheduled to speak to Parks and Rec soon, Rapp-Dickerson said. Milford City Council put $20,000 in this year’s Parks and Rec fund to go toward the natural playground, but council did not say what portion of the project the money could be used for.
“When we appropriated money in the budget in order to approach the natural playground concept, there was a lot of discussion of whether that would be first spent on consultants or actual construction of the playground,” City Manager Loretta Rokey told council. “The money is in the budget, but we need to know what we’re going to spend it on,” she said. City Council said they would send that discussion back to the Community Development Committee to be discussed with Parks and Rec.
Wyler inducted into Cincinnati HOF
Jeff Wyler has a pair of cufflinks, a gift from Carl Lindner, that say “Only in America.” “Those are very special to me. My life has been The American Dream,” he said. Wyler has homes all over the country, he’s a minority shareholder of the Cincinnati Reds, he is surrounded by family, and he was inducted into The Greater Cincinnati Business Hall of Fame Sept. 30. And it all started with $10,000 and a dealership in Batavia. FULL STORY, B1
Eagle royalty
The Milford High School Marching Band plays the alma mater just after Tori Calderhead and Chris Saulnier are crowned the 2010 homecoming Queen and King on Friday. The Eagles lost their homecoming game to Anderson High School, 39-15. For more photos from homecoming, visit Cincinnati.com/milford. Photos from the event will be printed in the Oct. 20 Milford-Miami Advertiser.
GARY PRESLEY/STAFF
Co. candidates answer questions
Lykins appointed to Milford City Council
Check out what Scott Croswell and Archie Wilson have to say about Clermont County and their campaigns for commissioner. FULL STORY, A4
By Kellie Geist
County levies will not raise taxes
kgeist@communitypress.com
The Clermont County Mental Health and Recovery Board and Children’s Protective Services are looking for voters’ support at the polls Tuesday, Nov. 2. But neither levy will raise taxes. FULL STORY, A5
KELLIE GEIST/STAFF
The city of Milford cut the ceremonial ribbon for the city’s new clearwell and lime slaker Thursday, Sept. 23. Front row, from left are: Utilities Supervisor Pam Lee, Mayor Ralph Vilardo, Water Plant Supervisor Matt Newman, council member and Public Services Committee Chair Amy Brewer, council members Charlene Hinners and Laurie Walter, and Milford resident RJ Vilardo. Back row, from left are: City Engineer Bud White, Joe Casteel, Milford Fire Chief John Cooper, Kevin Mason, Chamber President Wayne Florea, John Davisson and Eric Allen.
Principal skydives into assembly
Meadowview Elementary School Principal Rob Dunn skydived into the school assembly Friday, Oct. 8, as a way to kick off the annual walk-a-thon. FULL STORY, A5
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Water plant cuts ribbon on new clearwell, lime slaker Representatives from the city of Milford officially dedicated the new clearwell and lime slaker at the city’s water plant during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday, Sept. 23. To pay for the clearwell project, the city received a $1.3 million loan with a two-percent interest rate from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, $500,000 in grant money and $221,000 in interest-free loans from the Ohio Public Works Commission to pay for the $1,651,720.48 project. The clearwell will improve the city’s water storage capacity.
The lime slaker renovation project was completed using $80,000 in stimulus money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and $136,069.09 in Water Supply revolving loan money. This machine uses lime to soften the city’s water before it is distributed. Water Plant Supervisor Matt Newman said both projects will help improve the water quality and supply for the residents of Milford when it comes to drinking water and to water for fire protection.
One of Milford’s most prominent business people has been appointed to city council. Jeff Lykins, president of Lykins Cos., was appointed to Milford City Council Tuesday, Oct. 5. Lykins will fill the unexpired term of Bryan Hawkins, which expires in 2012. Hawkins resigned from council Sept. 8. Lykins said he applied for the council seat to serve the community, not to further any particular projects or ideas. “My goal is just to serve the people of Milford the best way I can. I don’t really have any preset agendas or anything … There are obviously needs out there, but I think the people of the city will tell us what they want us to address,” he said. Lykins said he hopes his business experience and knowledge will serve the city during his term on council – Lykins Cos. is the eighth-largest privately-owned company in Cincinnati. Lykins also brings a wealth of civic engagement to council including experience with the Frontier Days Committee, the Milford Miami Township Chamber of Commerce, the Ohio Petroleum Marketers Association and the Petroleum Marketers Association of America. Lykins also was a volunteer firefighter for Day Heights and a founding member of the Miami Township fire service. He said he’s looking forward to adding council to the list.
KELLIE GEIST/STAFF
Milford Law Director Mike Minniear administered the oath of office to Jeff Lykins after Lykins was appointed Tuesday, Oct. 5, to fill Bryan Hawkin’s unexpired term on council. “I have a lot of respect for the other members of council and I’m looking forward to working with them. I know we’re not always going to agree on things, but we should be able to walk out knowing we’re doing what’s best for the residents. Although Lykins was the only one who applied for the open seat, Vice Mayor Geoff Pittman said he is “100-percent comfortable” with the appointment. “It would have been gratifying if there had been more candidates that applied ... but (Lykins) is a great candidate and he had my unhesitant support,” Pittman said. “He’s going to bring numerous tools to the tool box. I’m excited to have him on council.”