West Chester Community Report Spring/Summer 2021

CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU!

Summer concert plans for 2021

West Chester is thrilled to bring live music back with the 2021 Takeover presented by First Financial Bank.

The Takeover kicks off June 24 with the band Thunderstruck. Each Thursday there will be a new band on The Square @ Union Centre, 9285 Centre Pointe Drive, West Chester. Concerts are from 6 to 9 p.m.

There will be food and beverage sales available at each concert. Beer sales benefit partnering non-profit organizations throughout the season. Alcohol cannot be brought into the event.

Water and soda sales will benefit the West Chester/Union Township Historical Society.

Thunderstruck: America’s AC/DC Tribute Band

Gee, Your Band Smells Terrific

90 Proof Twang Don’t Tell Steve

The Naked Karate Girls SWAGG

Pandora Effect

3 Piece Revival

@ Union Centre

The Keehner Park Concert Series at the Amphitheater, 7211 Barret Road, is back this season with concerts from 7 to 9 p.m. on Saturdays.

The concerts begin June 26 with a patriotic performance by the West Chester Symphony to set the mood for the Fourth of July.

In addition to great performances by local bands, The Cincinnati Shakespeare Company will perform on July 10.

Scan Me

The Whammies

Zack Attack

KEEHNER PARK CONCERT SERIES

West Chester Symphony Orchestra

Shakespeare in the Park: Romeo and Juliet

Hauer Swing Band

Fillmore Philharmonic Brass Band Jump ‘n’ Jive Big Band

Cincinnati Brass Band

The Gamut

The Remains

BlueStone Ivory

West Chester Symphony Orchestra (Concert begins at 6:30 p.m.)

SUMMER EVENT SCHEDULE

New Event Highlights

Ohio’s Old Barns

The Muhlhauser Barn will host a new event highlighting the artwork of Dr. Robert Kroeger. “A Tribute to Historic Barns of Ohio: 88 Counties, 88 Paintings, 88 Essays,” will be open to the public Wednesday, Sept. 29.

The art show and auction will feature paintings of barns from across the state. A portion of art sales benefits local non-profit organizations. The Union Centre Boulevard Merchant Association (UCBMA) will present this event inside the barn at 8558 Beckett Road.

Follow The Historic Barn Project on Facebook for more information.

The Muhlhauser Barn, depicted in Dr. Kroeger’s paintings, was preserved by West Chester Township, the Muhlhauser family and Ohio Casualty Group. The barn was dismantled from its original location and was rebuilt using traditional methods on its current site in Beckett Park.

The Muhlhauser Barn, a part of Cincinnati beer history and West Chester’s agricultural history, is now an event center available for rent.

Like What You See?

In pursuit of the best ways to reach our community, West Chester is launching this newsletter with distribution 2-3 times each year directly to your physical mailbox. There are, however, many more ways to stay on top of the daily news from your community. West Chester is active in

nearly all digital social media platforms –Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Nextdoor.com, Vimeo and YouTube. Our digital Newsroom is the most reliable and customizable tool available. Get the entire scoop on the community and your government delivered directly to your email inbox.

THE MARKET

Local growers and makers add flavor and pizzazz to your Saturday

The Market in West Chester is about more than fresh food. The Market is also about community.

The weekly markets on The Square @ Union Centre kick off May 22 with special opening day activities; every Saturday through September 25 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Local growers and makers line the street and are joined by musicians, special activities and more creating a colorful experience for all.

“Everything sold at The Market was made locally or grown locally,” said Community Outreach Coordinator Monica Dexter. “But people come to The Market for more than shopping at the booths. Guests also enjoy having a cup of coffee while they get some gardening tips from vendors or listen to music. They might visit with adoptable pets that attend The Market on occasion or

participate in other special activities.”

Things have been pretty quiet since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the small cottage businesses represented at The Market have continued to sell their wares. Masks and social distancing will be encouraged at The Market, but music and special activities will resume this summer.

The Market operates year-round with adjusted dates indoors at the Muhlhauser Barn, November through March, and special spring and fall dates on The Square.

Every week is different at The Market and the best way to know who is going to be there, what they are selling, and special activities is to follow The Market Facebook page or visit www.westchesteroh.org.

WOLF Program Returns

The WOLF (World of Land, Forest and Friends) Program returns to Keehner Park this summer for children ages 5 to 12. WOLF is a six-week program focusing on nature and the environment with speakers, hands-on activities and hikes. The class is free and will begin the last week of June.

The sessions will take place on the Amphitheater stage, 7211 Barret Road, to encourage social distancing. Visit www.westchesteroh.org to learn more about each session and to register for the program.

Highway Art

Highway overpass bridges have become a way for communities to create identity through art and architecture. West Chester has five highway overpasses on I-75 – Allen Road, Union Centre Boulevard, West Chester Road, Cincinnati-Dayton Road and Tylersville Road.

With recent opportunities to make improvements, West Chester worked with designers to create unique stainless steel fences that highlight different aspects of our community. These fences still meet the strict guidelines of ODOT for overpass vandal fencing and offer unique impressions from the highway, and when traveling on the bridges.

The clock designs in the Union Centre Boulevard bridge represent the clock tower on The Square with times set at 5:13 (the area code) and 6:23 (translates to 18:23 military time – the year Union Township/West Chester was founded).

The Tylersville Road bridge fencing features soccer balls and the Voice of America Museum. The Voice of America is a true landmark in the Township and the Voice of America athletic fields bring thousands of visitors to our community each year.

As a Township, West Chester is obligated to meet certain ODOT rules which limit representation from the highway. Townships cannot be named on official highway signs. The Union Centre Boulevard highway exit sign, for example, reads “Union Centre Boulevard, Hamilton and Fairfield” – rather than West Chester.

CURB APPEAL

2021 projects add beauty to function

West Chester has several projects under way and ahead that focus on aesthetics and making the community even more welcoming.

While the functional aspects of the DDI were completed in 2020, West Chester begins work this spring on landscape features at the transformed interchange. These features will complement the unique highway bridge fencing and include smaller clock tower replicas and welcome signage.

The Union Centre area has always benefitted from added attention on aesthetics due to dedicated financial resources. Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and a landscape district collect revenue from businesses in the area which are available for streetscape features and large projects.

These financial resources are not available for other parts of the Township.The Board of Trustees, however, increased emphasis on the aesthetics of all areas of the community and have committed resources to projects intended to give the community greater “curb appeal.”

“The aesthetics of the community are critical to retaining West Chester’s standing as an outstanding place to live and do business,” said Township Administrator Larry D. Burks. “We want our residents to feel great pride for their community and we want businesses to know their investment in the community is valued.”

The Cincinnati-Dayton Road improvement project wrapped up in 2019, but still ahead is the addition of a small pocket park at the corner of Cincinnati-Dayton and Station roads. Under construction this spring with a cost estimate of $500,000, the park offers a water feature, some seating and

landscape to create a respite for pedestrians.

A multi-year improvement project on Tylersville Road cleared the way for decorative lighting, retaining walls and fencing and the opportunity for decorative community banners. ODOT work on the Tylersville Road overpass also made it possible to introduce a decorative fence element highlighting the historic Voice of America Bethany Station (VOA Museum) and the recreational amenities of the Voice of America Park.

These are just a few of the larger projects planned for 2021. New signage at Township parks, improvements to the Keehner Park Amphitheater and shelters, new trail markings and more are also part of the 2021 schedule to enhance the community.

*Rendering of pocket park

*Rendering of DDI landscape

*Rendering of DDI landscape

2021 FINANCE: STAYING ON TRACK

2021 Operational Budget

West Chester’s operational budget is focused on a commitment to fiscal responsibility and deploying resources to those services and projects that demonstrate value to taxpayers.

The 2021 operational budget includes $48.1 million of expenditures, a 5% decrease from 2020 and is within available resources.

“West Chester operates in a budget-to-need environment, rather than budget based on the amount of money we have,” said Township Finance Director Ken Keim. “With this approach, the Township has been able to build carryover that offers future confidence in resources and prepare for larger expenses or emergencies that may come down the road.”

The operational budget includes 10 primary funds - the General Fund, Police Fund, Fire & EMS Fund, and Roads Funds. These are the largest of the funds that make up the operational budget.

In 2021, more than $33 million will be invested in police and fire services for the community. This accounts for 69% of the overall operational budget. Voter support of police and fire levies in November 2020 made it possible to continue this commitment to public safety.

About $20 million is budgeted for personnel across all of these funds with about $15 million assigned to contract personnel (police, fire, emergency dispatch and roads).

Approximately $2.3 million is budgeted from Roads Funds for infrastructure improvements in 2021, including culverts, curbs, and paving on Township roads.

The General Fund includes expenses from general government services like administration, human resources, finance and IT; as well as Community Development, Parks, and Community Services.

The operational budget, however, doesn’t tell the entire story of West Chester’s financial condition. Not identified in the operational budget are TIF (Tax Increment Financing) Funds. For the past 20plus years, West Chester has benefitted from economic development success and the resulting TIF Funds. In 2021 more than $8.4 million in Township projects will be funded through TIF with no direct financial impact to residential property owners.

In 2021, TIF budget includes the completion of landscape work at the new DDI and an additional $1 million in TIF will go toward the street lighting districts in the Union Centre area, extending lighting to Cincinnati-Dayton Road.

Some 2021 projects funded with TIF:

•$500,000 for the Olde West Chester Pocket Park on Station Road at Cincinnati-Dayton Road

•$300,000 to replace the deck on the Muhlhauser Barn

•$250,000 to improve the entrance to the Township Safety Services building

•$250,000 to extend a West Chester Road water main for improved fire service to the area

What is an Operational Budget?

Townships are different from cities in several ways. One is that a formal budget is not approved by the governing board. The operational budget is presented each January, but is not formally approved by the Board of Trustees. Permanent Appropriations serve as the Township’s official “budget,” but it is a very basic accounting of available resources rather than expenses. The operational budget is a detailed illustration of expected expenditures assigned to specific budget priorities, which the Board of Trustees set. Expenses greater than $7,500 are approved individually by trustees at regular meetings.

RECYCLE RIGHT!

Following simple recycling rules makes program positive, ditching the rules creates a mess

executive director of Butler County’s recycling program.

When items are discarded that are not recyclable it adds significantly to the cost of recycling, and prevents recycling from being available to those who want to recycle the right way. In addition to new recycling bins, there will be new cardboard recycling units - these have slit openings and will easily accept your flattened cardboard boxes.

For those who follow the rules for recycling, these new bins will add a level of aggravation; but the change was needed to thwart those who use the bins inappropriately.

“West Chester Township is happy to make the recycling centers available to the community,” said Tim Franck, Community Services Director for West Chester. “But when the areas are used as dumping sites we all pay. Crews that could be out mowing and taking care of the parks, instead spend their day cleaning up the mess others leave behind.”

West Chester offers three public recycling centers supported by Butler County Recycling & Solid Waste and Rumpke.

Recycling bins accept the following items: aluminum and tin, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles and jugs, No. 5 plastics (yogurt, margarine tubs), cardboard and paper.

Changes have been rolled out in the recycling drop-off areas. Rumpke replaced the “open lid” recycling units with units that have locked lids. Residents must place their recyclables into one of the round openings, and are not able to access the full recycling dumpster as before. These new bins make recycling a more “thoughtful” process and helps reduce items blowing from the bins.

“The change was made to reduce contamination and prevent nuisance items from getting into the recycling dumpster, things like couches, building materials and carpeting,” said Anne Fiehrer Flaig,

Rumpke empties the recycling bins three times per week. If they are full when you get there, come back another day.

While technically other items are recyclable, ONLY those items listed as accepted can be left behind at West Chester’s recycling centers. Anything else left there or things left outside the bins is considered illegal dumping.

West Chester Township received a $5,000 grant from Duke Energy in 2020 that will be put to use improving signage and education at the designated recycling centers and installing security cameras for added enforcement.

There are many opportunities for getting rid of items not accepted at the recycling centers. There are agencies that accept furniture, electronics, hazardous chemicals and building supplies. There are small dumpsters available for rent as well.

“Those with items to be discarded have the responsibility to discard them responsibly,” Mr. Franck said.

Recycling areas are found at Beckett Park, Keehner Park and the former Activity Center on Cox Road.

Learn more about special recycling opportunities here www.westchesteroh.org/recycling

Data Informed Government

West Chester Township’s transparency platform is a self-service tool offering users an inside look at their government operations.

DIG (Data Informed Government) was named by two Wright State University graduate students. Julia Arnold and Cortney Key worked with the Township to design recommendations for communicating performance measurements. The name speaks to the exploration of data in making informed decisions.

DIG, powered by OpenGov, allows you to track West Chester’s checkbook including revenues and expenses; crime statistics, fire responses, Township employee demographics, building permits and more. It’s available from the Township’s website www.westchesteroh.org.

A PLACE FOR EVERYONE

West Chester Township offers new residential options for a lifetime

West Chester Township gained popularity in the early 1990s as a traditional suburban community with beautiful homes and neighborhoods in a safe place with great schools. The Township’s easy access to I-75 and location equal-distant from Cincinnati and Dayton was also a plus for families.

Of course large swaths of privately-owned farm property and undeveloped property still remained; and how the community would ultimately develop was yet to be determined.

West Chester Township’s 36 square miles are fairly evenly divided between residential and commercial/industrial uses. Striving to meet the demands of changing demographics and lifestyle choices, developers and Township leadership have now supported the same diversity experienced in our commercial development, in West Chester’s residential development.

“It’s all about offering options and meeting market demands,” said West Chester Community Development Director Aaron Wiegand. “Residential developers are seeing the audience change to include

renters-by-choice, retirees wishing to downsize, young professionals who crave walkability and more.”

West Chester is seeing a renewed surge in residential development that follows the traditional single-family home model of the suburban community, but also responds to these changing interests.

There are currently six new traditional single-family home developments in various states of approval and/or construction in West Chester accounting for more than 400 homes. The Westfall Preserve by Fischer Homes and Bel Haven Phase 3 by Epcon are patio homes catering to empty nesters and those 55 and older.

Appealing to an audience who wants to be close to work, dining, and lifestyle opportunities, there are also three multifamily residential communities being added to the Union Centre –Downtown district. Developers are banking on demands from young professionals, couples without children and empty nesters who want to be close to the action, and without the burdens that can sometimes be a part of home ownership.

The most high-profile of these developments is the Residences at Clocktower by Hills Properties. The 335-unit complex will fill a large, vacant property across from The Square @ Union Centre and the MidPointe Library. The Residences will highlight proximity to the events on The Square as one of the benefits of living in their community.

Hills Properties also developed The Savoy and will build another 295-unit complex on the southwest corner of Union Centre Boulevard and Cincinnati-Dayton Road.

Allen Lofts, LLC. is building a 300-unit complex on Allen Road, east of The Savoy.

Named seven times as “One of America’s Best Places to Live” by Money Magazine, West Chester is committed to being the place where people can live their best lives – their whole lives.

From Krispy Kreme to Barnes Aerospace; from remodeled retail centers to more than 1 million square feet of commercial space. Corporate investors continue to find value and are “in good company” in West Chester.

The more than 3,600 businesses in the community generate about $8.1 million in property taxes, in addition to the millions of dollars generated in TIF payments that are applied to Township projects.

It’s all about the access – access to customers, access to a quality workforce, access to suppliers and access to transportation.

“Along with being considered one of America’s best places to live, West Chester has been identified as a great place to do business for decades,” said West Chester Community Development Director Aaron Wiegand. “New companies seek us out and existing companies find success and expand here.”

A decades-old retail center on Tylersville and Cox roads got a big facelift in 2020 and gained retailer Ross Dress for Less and Krispy Kreme. Midland Atlantic purchased the center with flagship retailer Big Lots and kicked things up a notch with new landscaped entrances, store fronts and signage.

Residents are always excited about the new dining and retail options in the community, but probably know less about the diverse and fascinating industries that make a home here in West Chester.

“One reason for West Chester’s success has been its diverse local economy,” Wiegand said. “This is not a one-industry town, but instead a diverse collection of producers, designers, and innovators representing nearly every industry imaginable.”

West Chester Township recently celebrated with Barnes Aerospace as the company expanded its West Chester presence. A global leader in the manufacture of complex fabricated and precision-machined components for the commercial and defense aviation industries, Barnes first came to West Chester in 1998 when the company purchased a 45,500 square-foot facility. The facility has undergone several expansions with the most recent bringing the company to 108,700 square feet of manufacturing space.

When NorthPointe Development acquired developable property

Who’s Getting Tax Breaks?

West Chester is often asked why companies are always getting tax breaks. In reality, of the more than 3,600 companies doing business in West Chester there are only nine that are part of an abatement package.

Through TIF, West Chester has supported some public infrastructure as part of a commercial development, building a road, a multi-purpose trail, bridge over a culvert, etc.; but has not extended abatements. TIF projects are intended to support wider community

west of State Route 747 near Union Centre Boulevard, it was with some speculation. The developers believed if they built it, companies would come. With more than 1 million square feet under roof, occupancy rates continue to exceed expectations.

The West Chester Trade Center development is now home to GE Additive, Fameccanica, Suburban Ford Accessories, Aeroflex, Innomark Communications, TSC Apparel, Hammacher, Shlemmer & Co. and others.

infrastructure needs in addition to supporting the needs of businesses. The Square, the library and Beckett Park were all TIF projects to name a few.

West Chester traditionally does not extend abatements to residential or retail-type developments. Things taken into consideration when negotiating an incentive package: jobs/payroll, value of the investment, willingness to negotiate a payment with Lakota School District.

Ribbon Cutting - Barnes Aerospace Expansion

Krispy Kreme adds new location on Tylersville near Cox Road.

STATION 73

Anticipated August opening for newest firehouse

Construction of a new Fire Station 73 on Duff Road is on track with an expected opening in August.

“If weather cooperates and construction remains on schedule, we would expect to welcome the community to an open house at Station 73 sometime in late August,” said Fire Chief Rick Prinz.

The Duff Road station, built in 1970, was remodeled in 1992, but the building did not meet current guidelines for fire stations. The new fire station will be larger and accommodate future growth while featuring a training room, appropriate clean storage for fire gear and fitness room.

The Board of Trustees accepted a bid for construction from Graybach LLC in March 2020. The station is expected to cost about $3.5 million.

Station 73 crews have been working from temporary facilities at 4976 Provident Drive, a short distance from the current station location.

Funding for the new station comes from Tax Increment Financing Funds, rather than fire levy funds.

New 4-legged Officer Joins West Chester PD

Officer Mike Veeneman has been assigned to handle Canine Max. Canine Max takes over for Canine Jax and joins Canine Rico to bring the West Chester Police K9 Unit one dog nearer to a full complement of three.

Cameras enhance Neighborhood Watch

Technology can enhance Neighborhood Watch by offering the ability to share information, images and video in real time through social media apps such as Nextdoor.com, Neighbors App by Ring, Facebook, etc. This technology takes Neighborhood Watch programs to a new level.

The West Chester community has always worked hand-in-hand with police officers to fight crime and with firefighters to protect homes. With easily available and accessible home security cameras, the community has the ability to share even more information faster in order to make our community safer.

Anyone with a security camera or a doorbell camera, such as Ring, Nest or Blink, can register their camera with the West Chester Police Department. If a crime occurs in your neighborhood, police may contact you to see if anything might have been recorded on your camera around the time of the crime. If something suspicious was captured on your camera, you may choose to notify the police department and share the video.

Canine Max reported for duty with the West Chester Police Department this spring.

The 1-year-old Dutch Shepherd recently graduated from an intensive, six week canine training program at Shallow Creek Kennels, a premier police service dog training facility located in northwestern Pennsylvania.

Canine Max was purchased through the Matt Haverkamp Foundation, a local non-profit organization dedicated to supporting law enforcement agencies in the Tri-state area. Training was funded by a local resident with a passion for dogs. The West Chester Township Police Department K9 Unit was founded in 1993.

This does not replace a 911 call in case of an emergency requiring immediate attention.

By registering with this program, residents are not obligated to provide the video and they are not giving direct video access to the police or fire departments. By registering, residents are simply providing police and fire with another tool for keeping West Chester neighborhoods safe. Scan the QR code to register today.

INFRASTRUCTURE 2021

Warm weather brings summer road construction - paving, roundabouts, storm pipes...

feet of concrete curb replacement. Curb replacement/repair is generally focused on the same streets that are being paved.

If your street is getting paved, you’ll receive a letter with instructions. Residents can also use DIG (Data Informed Government) to see a project map and Nextdoor.com is a great way to stay updated.

Seventy sections of storm pipe will be repaired throughout the Township at a cost of $700,000.

Ready, set, go! With just a few months of reliable weather and no school, West Chester works to get as much infrastructure work as possible completed each year.

In 2021, about $2.6 million will be invested in the annual infrastructure improvement program which includes roads, curbs, and storm pipe replacement.

West Chester partners with the Butler County Engineer’s Office to get the most competitive pricing available.

Most of West Chester’s neighborhood development occurred within a short window of time in the late 1980s and early 1990s. This means a considerable amount of the community’s infrastructure matures and deteriorates at the same time, concentrating costs and the amount of work required in a short span of time.

Through the years, West Chester has been proactive using products like slurry to extend the useful life of pavement and spreading the rate of road deterioration over a longer period.

“Slurry bought us some time and now we can focus more of our resources on paving and storm pipe replacement,” said Community Services Director Tim Franck. “Our crews go out and survey every street, every year, and rank its condition. This information is used to make our paving lists for the year.”

Approximately 5.5 miles of road will be repaved at a cost of $1 million this year.

About $700,000 will be spent for approximately 14,000 lineal

What is Community Services?

Community Services is the name given to the township department that most closely resembles public works.

In West Chester, the Community Services department is responsible for roads, maintenance, parks, township facilities and the township cemetery; as well as special projects like the DDI, building remodels, landscape and fire station construction. In the winter, Community Services plows your street.

The number of storm pipes requiring repairs continues to increase each year and a greater funding commitment for these repairs will be necessary. West Chester continues to explore different ways to maintain storm piping. In the past several years, pipe lining methods were used instead of digging up and replacing storm pipe.

Added investment in storm pipe repair also affects road paving. It only makes sense to fix storm pipes before investment in new pavement on an affected road. v

Your Storm Pipes: Be Prepared

Residents need to know that their properties may have storm pipe requiring repair.

Pipes on private property are the responsibility of the property owner and residents should plan for these inevitable repair costs. They can be costly.

Take time to understand your obligations with regard to these storm pipes.

West Chester offers a free door-to-door transportation service for West Chester residents age 60+ to help keep senior citizens moving! Volunteer drivers transport clients to doctor appointments, grocery store trips and social events.

Transportation is available Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Appointments are necessary and should be made least 48 hours in advance.

Call 759-7208 or email mdexter@WestChesterOH.org to schedule your ride.