Mason Matters August / September 2014
Inside This Issue: 2 3 4 4 5 5 6 6
Brush Chipping Bicentennial News Donna Jean Culvert Work Pond Inspections Ball Field Improvements CPR Classes Around Mason Online Shopping
GE Considers Mason
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Mason’s focus on public/private partnerships and collaboration wins us a regular spot on short lists for major business recruitments
eneral Electric Co. announced in April that the company is planning to locate a major new service center in southwest Ohio. GE already has 16,000 employees in Ohio and 9,000 of those are in greater Cincinnati. The new office will bring another 1,400 jobs to the region. The City of Mason location was selected in a nationwide site search and is competing with only two other sites in the Cincinnati region to win the largest new investment and job creation project in the State of Ohio in the last decade. Why was Mason on the short list?
A Unique Approach to Economic Development: the 3 P’s
Connectivity is Key
When it comes to business recruitment, Mason’s connectivity is key. In Mason, connectivity means a lot of things. With local and global businesses, interstate highways, communications, housing, recreation and entertainment, workforce, and local government collaboration, Mason is truly a connected community. Companies reinforce for us that the city’s involvement in creating and attracting educated talent through work fairs and educational partnerships is critical. They talk about the benefits of being within a day’s drive of 60% of their customers. They mention the quality of life they’ve found for their employees through short commutes, access to major regional attractions and sports
The OakPark District, a growing 250-acre mixed use research and technology park on the Western Row Road/I-71 corridor, is already attracting the interest of corporate site searchers.
teams, the variety of dining and shopping, and housing availability in a wide range of prices. They note the community’s focus on wellness and the benefits of memberships at Mason Community Center. They tout the quality of the schools and access to higher education, including workforce development programs. They boast about the growing corporate community and the synergy it creates. And they share their experiences of working with the City of Mason to further their company’s goals.
GE is Good for the Region
As this article is written, General Electric has not announced where in Greater Cincinnati the new service center will be located. Regardless of their decision, Mason welcomes the new service center and its employees to Ohio. www.imaginemason.org
Mason Matters
The City of Mason leadership uses a unique approach and embraces the PublicPrivate Partnership (3P) model of economic development. This model is a customized approach that leverages the public and private sectors’ needs and strengths to develop innovative, customized solutions. The results speak for themselves. The community wins – 7th Best Place. Companies grow – 65% of Mason companies have expanded at least once. New companies locate – think Atricure, Assurex Health, FESTO, CR Bard, and the Mason Tech Center. Schools thrive – number four in the state. In Mason, business as usual is all about adapting to the unusual. The entire Economic Development operation is run with a business mindset, providing a concierge level of service for our business partners. For us, public and private entities working as one is what turns a strong business environment into an advanced ecosystem where creativity can take us wherever we need to be. We consider ourselves as important to our business community’s operations as a key supplier. From groundbreaking to grand opening
to expansion and evolution, a streamlined or expedited process in our system can mean a valuable gain in time and money. And that leads to a stronger return on a long-term investment. A basic tenet of this 3P approach for attracting new businesses is to build a team that does the heavy lifting. The “Why Mason” story is best told by the companies and organizations that operate here—from Mason school leaders to the corporate community. This innovative method of community economic development is becoming a regular course of business development for Mason. In fact, many of the companies are on a mission to tell the story and without any coaching, they tell their own personal version of why Mason has been part of the success model for them.
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From the City Manager AtriCure Chooses Mason I wish to extend a warm welcome to a new corporate partner, AtriCure, which announced this year that it will build a state-of-the-art global corporate headquarters in Mason. AtriCure is a leading atrial fibrillation (Afib) medical device manufacturer that has grown from a start-up medical device company to the global innovator in atrial fibrillation treatment that it is today. In the first five years, AtriCure expects to have 200 science and technology employees located on a 10.5 acre campus in Mason. Its Eric Hansen corporate profile is a perfect match for the city’s business growth strategies and aligns City Manager with the long-term master plan for the 250-acre OakPark District surrounding Innovation Way and Western Row Road in Mason. Corporate neighbors will include pacesetters like Luxottica’s EyeMed, Stress Engineering’s Medical Device Division, the Lindner Center of HOPE, and Seapine Software. Mike Carrel, AtriCure’s president and CEO, told us the company conducted a very thorough search process before determining that Mason is the best fit for the company’s growth projections. He said major decision factors included the competitive financial package, the city’s focus on health and wellness in the community, and the mix of logistic, financial, and partnership benefits that Mason can provide. He and other company leaders felt that this competitive mix of corporate benefits will help position AtriCure for strategic growth and attract top talent for years to come.
Mason Companies in the News I would like to offer my congratulations to the following Mason companies for their recent achievements. • AtriCure, Assurex Health, and Intelligrated were awarded the 2014 Distinguished Co-op Employer Award from the Ohio Cooperative Education Association (OCEA) for their education leadership and vision through exemplary co-op programs. • Cintas Corporation received the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star certification from the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The award is OSHA’s highest recognition for the practice of and commitment to exemplary occupational safety and health. • Intelligrated again made the Fast 55 Finalist list of the fastestgrowing private firms in the Greater Cincinnati area. • C.M. Paula acquired West Chester-based Remtec Automation, the company’s seventh acquisition since 2005. Remtec makes robotic material handling systems. Condolences On behalf of all city employees, I extend my condolences to the family of Sheri Collins. Sheri worked with us for almost 15 years and was very active in the community both prior to and during her employment with the city. For the last several years, she was invaluable in guiding the success of the community center. Her influence extended into all areas of Mason Community Center and the city’s parks, as well as city events. She will be long remembered for her positive outlook on life, entertaining stories, and efforts to make the city the best it can be.
We appreciate your calls, visits and e-mails to Mason Municipal Center to discuss what is going on in the city. I encourage you to call 513.229.8500 or stop in any time during business hours if you need information or assistance. Mason Matters is published by the City of Mason. For information about this publication, or if you are a Mason resident and do not receive this newsletter, either through OurTown magazine or mailed separately with the CenterPoint program guide, please contact the City of Mason at 513.229.8510.
City Of Mason - Contact Information
6000 Mason-Montgomery Road • Mason, Ohio 45040 Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday
513.229.8500 • www.imaginemason.org Main Number 513.229.8500
Parks & Recreation 513.229.8555
City Hotlines 513.229.8502
Police Department Administration 513.229.8560
Administration 513.229.8510
Public Utilities 513.229.8570
Mason Matters
Community Center 513.229.8555
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Public Works 513.229.8580
Emergency 9.1.1
Tax Office 513.229.8535
Engineering & Building 513.229.8520
Utility Customer Service 513.229.8533
Finance 513.229.8530 Fire Department Administration 513.229.8540
Utility Billing Questions Greater Cincinnati Water Works 513.591.7700
August / September 2014
Utility Service Questions: Sewer Service and Emergencies 513.229.8570 nights, holidays & weekends, emergencies only
513.925.2525 Stormwater 513.229.8570 Waste Collection and Recycling 513.229.8533 Water Service and Emergencies Greater Cincinnati Water Works 513.591.7700
Brush Chipping Schedule Trimming some trees? Mason’s Public Works Department provides free year-round curbside brush chipping for property owners in the city. Starting the second Monday of each month, crews begin working a route that will eventually take them through each neighborhood in the city. We understand that everyone wants their brush removed as quickly as possible, but equipment availability, other work priorities, weather, and the volume of brush to be chipped mean that it may be a week—or more—before the crews get to your neighborhood. We appreciate your patience and understanding. To learn what can and cannot be chipped, please visit www.imaginemason.org/services/ brush-leaf-collection.cfm.
Celebrating Mason’s 200th birthday in 2015 Mason2015.org
r for a d n e l a c r Mark you tennial eventons’s founding. en 200th anniversary of Mas thes-loneg cebleic e bration of th
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2015 Salute to Veterans
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mony pening Cere O l ia n n te n duction Bice a musical pro — 6 n 2 o s a ry a M u , e n Ja agin der Im Mason’s historical foun t April 9 – 12 u o ab Service Day Community terans April 11 Salute to Ve nity ommunity U C n w to n May 16 ent w Do 4 ball Tournam ly e s u a J B 9 y 2 it e n u n m Ju ent end Com nity Baseball Tournam k e e W 8 1 elebration July Commu Signature C d l n ia e n k n e te e n W e alk July 25 Mason’s Bic Cemetery W ty 9 ie c 1 o 8 S 1 l a r ric nd Septembe Mason Histo Ceremony a g in s lo 9 C 1 l r e ia Octob Bicentenn t r e le Placemen b m e c e D Time Capsu
Baseball Tournament
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lans are underway for a bicentennial baseball tournament for ages 10 to 14 on the weekends of July 17-19, 2015, (round robin) and July 24-26 (bracket play). The tournament will be for Masonbased recreational and select baseball teams. All proceeds of the tournament will go toward the Common Ground all-access playground that will be built in Mason. For information about Common Ground, visit www.masonparksfoundation.org. If you are interested in the tournament, please call the city’s event coordinator at 513.229.8500.
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Community Unity Days
urn back time and honor those who built our community. A weeklong celebration will begin on Monday, June 29, with a sunrise service and flag raising on Mason’s downtown plaza. Throughout the week, look for the return of some activities from the sesquicentennial celebration in 1965, including sack races, dunking booths, and period costumes. An oldfashioned Fourth of July parade will cap off the week. If you can help with the activities, please leave your name and contact information with the City of Mason at 513.229.8500. www.imaginemason.org
Mason Matters
ason will honor all area veterans at a special event next year. As part of the Mason Bicentennial celebration, the City of Mason is planning a special veteran’s appreciation event for Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 16, 2015. The intent of the “Salute to Veterans” is to honor all Mason area veterans and current military and we are interested in compiling a comprehensive list. It will take place at the Municipal Campus, 6000 Mason-Montgomery Road. Various sessions and displays will be held both indoors and out, as well as in our world class Mason Veteran’s Memorial on the front lawn of the Municipal Center. Mason enjoys a rich history of service to our country dating back to our founder, William Mason, who, at the age of sixteen, enlisted in the “War of the Revolution.” He served under Col. Hookum in the Ohio Militia and was commissioned a Major for meritorious service. He also served briefly in the War of 1812. This day of tribute will include patriotic music and song, solemn ceremonies, guest speakers, historical presentations, workshops, displays, veterans from all eras, military units, re-enactors, demonstrations, and much more. All veterans are encouraged to become a part of this event. Councilwoman Charlene Pelfrey is chairing the Bicentennial Committee, which is scheduling and coordinating all city events throughout the Bicentennial Year. Councilman Don Prince is chairing the committee planning the Salute to Veterans celebration on Armed Forces Day 2015. Volunteers are being sought, and now is the time to get involved to help with Know a Veteran? the planning and execution of what If you are or know of a Mason area will be a memorable event. Planning veteran or current military, please is underway and ideas are still being contact us with that information so considered. we can recognize and celebrate their All veterans are welcome and will be service to our community and our honored. Veteran’s service organizations, nation. veteran’s support groups, scouting groups, and youth groups will be If you would like to volunteer to help participating. with the veteran’s salute, Please volunteer, or sign up the we’d like to hear from you, too. veteran or current military member in your family to be on our mailing masonhonorsvets2015@yahoo.com list to receive updates and continuing 513.229.8500 information. Please see the green box at right for contact information.
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Donna Jean to Close for Culvert Work
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Replacement of a culvert under Donna Joan Boulevard will cause the road to be temporarily closed sometime this fall.
ach year, bridges and culverts located throughout the city are inspected to assess the condition of the structure and facilitate any repairs that are necessary. Recent inspections indicate that the culvert that carries Muddy Creek under Donna Jean Boulevard is nearing the end of its useful life. The existing 120-foot span is a 15’ by 9’ corrugated metal pipe arch that was built in 1975. The city received an Ohio Public Works Commission Issue 1 grant to cover nearly half of the estimated $450,000 project cost. A new concrete structure will be put in place this year. Work is expected to begin in August. Donna Jean Boulevard will be closed to through traffic while the old culvert is removed and the new structure is set in place. The entire project is expected to take about three months, though the closure will not last that long. Detours will be posted.
T New signals are increasing safety for pedestrians crossing Hickory Woods Drive in the Parkside subdivision in Mason.
Parkside Subdivision Safety Improvement
he Parkside Subdivision Homeowners Association (HOA) requested the installation of Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons to alert motorists that a pedestrian is in the crosswalk. The new lights, purchased and maintained by the HOA, are push-button activated and solar powered. The City of Mason partnered with the HOA to install the foundations, lights, and poles. Parkside residents are thrilled that cars are now stopping and allowing them to cross the road.
Neighborhood Retention and Detention Pond Inspection Program
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Mason Matters
etention and retention basins are used to manage stormwater runoff, but what’s the difference, and why do we have them? Retention basins are neighborhood ponds that always hold water. Detention basins are sloped areas that store water for a short period. Both are designed by engineers to control the quantity and quality of water runoff leaving a developed site. Both types of basins protect our safety by directing rainwater into the city’s storm sewer system and by collecting excess water that can no longer soak into our soils due to hard surface development, such as houses, driveways, parking facilities, and buildings. In addition, these ponds serve to clean rainwater that has collected a variety of pollutants while traveling across dirty hard surfaces. In Warren County, there are over 700 retention and detention basins that require inspection and tracking. Inspectors from the Warren County Soil & Water Conservation District visit most of them on a two-year rotation to evaluate the physical aspects and function of each basin. The inspectors look for trees or vegetation on the side slopes, levees, and dams that might compromise the function of these features. They also take a close look at the inlet and outlet structures to make sure they are not obstructed by debris, vegetation,
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or trees and are functioning properly. Property owners of basins that need attention will receive a letter asking for remediation. In many cases, the property owner is a homeowner association. The inspectors are happy to work with property owners and associations on repair timelines, solutions, and maintenance schedules.
You Can Help
If you notice any of the following, please contact your homeowner association or the Warren County Soil & Water Conservation District at 513.695.1337. • Trees or vegetation blocking an inlet or outlet • Deteriorated or damaged structures or pipes • Moved or dwindling rock inlet or outlet protection • Soil erosion around any structure or other basin feature • A detention basin (dry basin) that is holding water for an unusually long period of time • A noticeable decrease in water level in a retention basin • Trash or debris in the basin Keeping detention and retention basins in good condition helps prevent flooding and reduces pollution in our streams and rivers. Good stormwater management is good for all of us.
Retention Basin
Detention Basin
Ball Field Improvements
CPR Classes Could Help You Save a Life
Replacement of the deteriorating netting at Corwin M. Nixon Park will help keep foul balls from hitting spectators. New dugouts will help protect the players.
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ignificant upgrades coming to the ball fields at Corwin M. Nixon Park will improve safety in the park. This fall, visitors to Corwin M. Nixon Park will notice that the fencing, netting, and backstops on the baseball fields were replaced. The backstops will be raised to provide more protection from foul balls. Visitors will also see new dugouts enclosed with a chain link fence and capped with a metal roof. The dugouts will help protect players from foul balls and from the sun’s UV rays. The work is expected to begin this summer so it can be complete before the next baseball season.
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Saving Rain For a Sunny Day Kings High School Students are helping save the rain for a sunny day. Mary Claire and Kianna painted a “Sahara Sunset” design on their rain barrel. Brook and Claire’s barrel, now at Wildflower Café in Mason, is called “Show the World your Colors.”
conversations about protecting water. Collecting water in a rain barrel can potentially help local streams by reducing pollutants carried by runoff and reducing the amount of water piped to the streams. Rain barrels can also help with outdoor summer watering costs. The Wildflower Café is pleased to have the extra water from their barrel on the sunny, dry side of the building. Rain barrels are inexpensive, easy to install, and easy to operate and maintain. For information about creating your own rain barrel, painted or plain, please visit www. warrenswcd.com or call 513.695.1337.
hen a sudden illness happens, time is important. Could you help save a family member, a friend, or a complete stranger? As part of an effort to make the community a safer place to live and work, the City of Mason Fire Department offers free CPR training to Mason residents and to Mason Community Center Premier members. Nonresidents can take the class for a small fee, which is reduced for Community Center Basic members. Your instructors will be Mason firefighter/ paramedics and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members. Adult and child CPR are taught as well as the proper operation of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). After the 4-hour class, participants will receive a certification from the American Heart Association. The next class begins at 8 a.m. on Monday, September 8. The class will be held in the community room at Fire Station 51, 4420 Mason-Montgomery Road. Please register for activity 521620 through Mason Community Center by calling 513.229.8555, stopping by, or registering online at www. imaginemason.org if you already have an account. In addition to the bi-monthly classes for residents, Mason Fire Department also offers CPR classes to local businesses. Please contact Mason Fire Administration at 513.229.8540 during regular business hours (8-4:30, M-F) for information.
Mason Matters
top by the Wildflower Café on East Main Street in downtown Mason and you’ll find a rather colorful—and functional— piece of art. Kings High School students recently participated in a project called Saving Rain for a Sunny Day. Through this project, Greater Cincinnati schools and local artists took part in promoting water quality by painting nearly 50 rain barrels. The barrels were auctioned off last spring at the Cincinnati Zoo’s Party for the Planet. Wildflower Café’s rain barrel was donated to the café by the Warren County Soil & Water Conservation District. Rainwater flowing off the roof is collected in the colorful barrel through the gutters and downspouts. An irrigation system distributes the water to the flower beds and window boxes. This is Kings High School Art Teacher Carrie Cooke’s second year participating in the project. To increase exposure to the project, she decided not to design and paint a rain barrel herself, but asked her students to participate instead. Four students were selected to paint two barrels. The beautifully painted rain barrels created quite a stir at the school. Students asked about them and the girls were able turn their art into
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www.imaginemason.org
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Patriot Fair
Library Book Fair The Volunteer Friends for the Mason Public Library (VFML) will be selling adult fiction and non-fiction, books for children and young adults, history books, coffee table books, cookbooks, craft and hobby books, and DVDs and CDs at their next book sale, August 6-9. Stop by the library at 200 Reading Road to pick up some fall reading material. Hours are 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The VFML is a community group that helps offset the continuing budget cuts for libraries across the state of Ohio. Through fund-raising events, donations, and volunteering, VFML helps to support the library’s children and teen summer reading programs, the adult reading program, continued improvement of the library’s circulation, and continued improvement of the facility. For information, visit vfmlibrary.org. America’s tomboy, Annie Oakley, and humorist Mark Twain. The American Spirit Education Alliance is a non-profit, 501-c3 organization dedicated to fostering an appreciation for our American heritage. Look for more information at www.aseaohio.com.
New Warren County Digital Radio System Improves Communications for Mason Departments
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Mason Matters
ommunication, whether between members of the same department, separate departments, or with other jurisdictions, can be the critical element to successful and safe outcomes. To coordinate day-to-day activities, special events, and emergency responses, Mason’s Police, Fire/ EMS, Public Works, Public Utilities, and Parks Departments use portable, mobile, and desktop radios. In 2012, Warren County completed an FCC-mandated “rebanding” of the radio frequencies that its agencies use. As part of the effort over the last couple of years, Mason’s police and fire departments have received improved radios at no cost to the city. This past May, Warren County’s Telecommunications Department upgraded the county and all of its users to a digital radio system. The new technology allows for encrypted content-sensitive talkgroups, prohibiting scanners from picking up social security numbers, license plates, dates of birth, and other sensitive data. The new system also makes Warren County part of the State of Ohio’s Multi-Agency Radio Communications System. Warren County agencies can now stay in communication within and beyond the county border, creating
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the additional benefit of allowing departments from multiple jurisdictions to communicate more effectively when providing or receiving mutual aid. By joining with the state, Mason and Warren County achieved significant savings. Up until the digital switch, Mason’s Public Works, Public Utilities, and Parks Departments had older style radios with a more limited feature set. Before replacing them one-for-one, city staff reviewed the possible options for effective staff communications via cell phones, pagers, and radios. The study included cost, shortand long-term capabilities, and options for how each device has a role in day-to-day operations. The possibility of an emergency in Mason where city staff members would need to be contacted to assist with the mitigation of the situation was also considered. As a result of the study, the city was able to reduce the number of radios for use by nonemergency departments but still outfit them with new digital-capable models. Evaluation to determine the effective use and proper combination of mobile radios, portable radios, cell phones, and pagers will be ongoing. The end result will be a cache of communication tools that will provide the most effective communications and have the best mix of pricing, long-term capability, and dependability.
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The American Spirit Education Alliance will bring the fourth annual Patriot Fair to Mason Municipal Center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, September 27, 2014. The Alliance believes that history is at its best when you bring it to life. The cornerstone of the event is the credit-worthy history programs moderated by seasoned re-enactors and storytellers. It’s a win-win for all because while students benefit from knowledge learned in a non-traditional way, Alliance members benefit from the satisfaction of knowing they helped to make a learning experience fun. Make this a family affair. Whether it’s your spellbound little one waiting to shake hands with Abe Lincoln, your 4th grader listening to stories about life in early America, your teenager immersed in a Constitutional discussion, or engaging in a fun spy game, there’s something for everyone at the Patriot Fair. You can attend scheduled programs of Patrick Henry, Ben Franklin, George Wythe, and Frederick Douglass, watch a Lincoln/ Jefferson Davis debate, and more. Then visit artisans at work, engage in period dancing, and watch Molly Pitcher come to life at the Battle of Monmouth, followed by a tribute to our military. And don’t forget Grandma who may especially enjoy seeing in action
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Mason
Online Shopping – Is It Safe?
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f you’re like most Americans who use the Internet, you have purchased or will purchase an item online. The convenience of making a purchase from your residence and avoiding long lines, traffic jams, and parking issues is hard to beat. The key is how to avoid becoming a victim of Cyber Crime. Here are several safety tips from the Mason Police Department to help you avoid becoming a victim when purchasing items online. • Research the web site before providing your financial information. Make sure you’re familiar and comfortable with the website before providing your financial institution’s information. • Do not send cash or wire money. • Do not use a debit card. Using a debit card provides access to your checking or savings account. This is hard to overcome if your account is hacked and the money is taken directly from your account as opposed to a credit card. • If the deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Thousands of purchases are made online each day, most all without incident. If you’re going to make purchases online, remember these tips and practice sound judgment. That will help minimize the risk of becoming a target for online crime.