WEST CHESTER
COMMUNITY
REPORT
WEST CHESTER TOWNSHIP NEWSLETTER
Fall 2023
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FALL & WINTER SAFETY
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FIRE SAFETY
he beautiful colors of autumn transition to colder weather and snow. Changing seasons signal a shift in potential fire hazards and safety concerns that the West Chester Fire Department want every resident to keep in mind.
HOME HEATING SAFETY
As the temperature drops, we turn to heating sources to stay warm and cozy. It is crucial to inspect your heating systems, such as furnaces, fireplaces, and wood stoves, before use. Remove any accumulated debris and ensure they are in proper working condition. If using space heaters, keep them at least three feet from flammable objects and never leave them unattended. Turn off space heaters when leaving the room or going to bed.
CANDLES & DECOR
Fall and the holidays signal decorations and ambiance that may include open flames. Place candles in sturdy holders on a stable surface and away from curtains or other combustible materials. Always extinguish candles before leaving the room. Consider using battery-operated LED candles as a safer alternative.
SMOKE & CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS With the use of heating equipment and potential carbon monoxide hazards, it is vital to ensure your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are in working order. Test them regularly, change the batteries and replace the device if more than 10 years old. These simple devices can save lives.
LEAVES & YARD DEBRIS
Fall foliage creates a picturesque landscape, but dry leaves and yard debris can also pose fire hazards. Regularly rake and remove dry leaves from around your property, especially near buildings, and dispose of them properly. Store firewood away from the house and off the ground.
OUTDOOR FIRE SAFETY Fall is perfect for gathering around fire pits or enjoying bonfires. If planning an outdoor fire, always keep a bucket of water or a hose nearby to extinguish the fire completely when you are done. Never leave the fire unattended and keep a safe distance from it to prevent accidental burns.
SAFE COOKING PRACTICES As the fall season brings holidays and gatherings, cooking family meals takes center stage. Never leave the kitchen unattended while food is cooking and keep flammable materials away from the stovetop. If using a turkey fryer, do it outdoors, away from structures, and never overfill it with oil.
Emergency Medical Services, the West Chester Way West Chester Fire & EMS has earned the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold achievement award for its commitment to offering rapid, research-based care to people experiencing the most severe form of heart attack and stroke. It’s the ninth consecutive time American Heart Association has recognized West Chester first responders with a Mission: Lifeline® Performance Achievement Award. The Mission: Lifeline EMS achievement award focuses on agencies’ on-scene care, bringing to the forefront the collaboration and contributions to patient care for prehospital providers. West Chester Fire & EMS, which began as a volunteer fire department in 1963, celebrated 60 years of service in 2023.
During the last 10 years, West Chester Fire Department’s call volume has increased 51 percent. There were 5,559 EMS calls for service and 2,939 Fire calls for service in 2022, an increase of 7.1 percent from the previous year.
FIRE
WEST CHESTER TOWNSHIP
PLAY IT SAFE ON WINTER ROADS
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Winter Follows Autumn and West Chester Teams are Preparing for Snow
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est Chester snow fighters are readying plows and filling salt domes to ensure quick response to winter weather conditions. And West Chester public safety teams encourage residents and motorists to also prepare with good tires, an emergency kit in the car and at home, flashlights, batteries and a plan. Part of the plan should be staying connected to West Chester Township by subscribing today to the digital version of the Community Report at www.westchesteroh.org; and following West Chester Township on Nextdoor.com. During heavy snow events, move vehicles off the street and onto your driveway and plan to delay non-essential travel until after roads are cleared. For more winter weather advice, visit www.westchesteroh.org.
W I Y TH H T I N U E AR M M T O
Smoke Detectors Focus of Door-to-Door Effort
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he West Chester Fire Department crews canvassed multi-family complexes in September to emphasize the importance of smoke
detectors. “We just can’t say it enough,” said West Chester Fire Chief Rick Prinz. “Have working smoke detectors in your home, test them frequently and make a plan for escape.” West Chester Fire Department responded to 2,939 fire calls for service in 2021. Last September, two children tragically lost their lives in a fatal fire at the Meadow Ridge Apartments. Two other children living in the same unit were hospitalized with serious injuries. “Smoke detectors, when properly selected and properly installed, remain the single most important factor of whether a family will escape a home fire or not,” said Bureau Chief J. Scott Brooks, Loss Prevention. “The West Chester Fire Department recommends that a working smoke detector be installed on every level of your home and at a minimum, one inside every sleeping area.” Between January and June 2023, fire crews made 60 runs for residential fire alarms. Firefighters consulted with property managers on-site to ensure
proper installation of existing smoke alarms at apartment complexes, but crews aren’t permitted to install or service detectors for apartment tenants. Manufactured home owners may request devices and have them installed by professionals at no cost.
Learn more and connect with West Chester Fire & EMS
WEST CHESTER TOWNSHIP
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TIME CAPSULE
HISTORY
Sealing Up Our Present for Future Generations to Learn About Us
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he fun’s not done! West Chester Township celebrated Founders’ Day Weekend in summer 2023, and our 200th birthday party continues all year long through June 2024.
To mark this very moment on the timeline of West Chester, Ohio history, the bicentennial anniversary planning committee requests community input for a 2023 time capsule. The time capsule will be buried next spring at the West Chester History Center. Tell us, what should go inside? Please take a few minutes to let us know your best time capsule ideas. Share your thoughts with the bicentennial planning committee by completing a quick web form. A link to the form is posted at www.westchesteroh.org/200. Items selected for inclusion will be sealed in a rectangular 13-gallon watertight composite case, about the size of a large Bankers Box. Thanks to those who’ve already submitted their time capsule ideas. Ideas sent in so far have ranged from the extraordinary to the ordinary. Things like blueprints, books, devices, dried flowers, keepsakes, maps, masks, mementos, merchandise, periodicals, photographs, souvenirs and more. West Chester Township and the bicentennial planning committee will work with West Chester~Union Township Historical Society to select and coordinate collection of
items for the bicentennial time capsule. Did you know it’s not the first time the people of West Chester (Union) Township have come together to build and bury a time capsule? Forty years ago, when Keehner Park was in its infancy, a time capsule was dedicated at the foot of a flagpole on the east side of the park, 7411 Barret Road. It was buried in 1985 and is not to be opened for a century until 2085.
Can’t get enough West Chester history? Consider scheduling a tour of the West Chester History Center! The museum at 6670 Station Road to open to visitors by appointment. To see the inside of the restored Station Road Schoolhouse and everything curated there for display, please plan your trip with a call or email to the West Chester~Union Township Historical Society. Contact information and more details are available at www.westchesterhistoricalsociety.org. West Chester~Union Township Historical Society is active on Facebook and Instagram.
SUMMER MEMORIES
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RECYCLING
TALKING TRASH...AND RECYCLING Township Considers Community-Wide Contract for Curbside Trash/Recycling
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inding the most cost-effective and responsive approach to curb-side trash and recycling pickup in the community has been a matter of discussion since West Chester Township eliminated its free community recycling centers. A joint public work session with West Chester Township and Liberty Township Boards of Trustees on Dec. 7, 2022 demonstrated some support for a Townshipwide initiative, and even a joint community effort with both communities, to establish a consortium for this service. An online survey conducted in February 2023 showed 93.22% of respondents favored a township-wide contract with one hauler for curbside trash/recycling if it would save them money. West Chester leadership has been collaborating with The Center for Local Government and Butler County Recycling & Solid Waste, and our neighbors in Liberty Township, to discuss options and details for providing this service township-wide and potentially benefitting from economies of scale. “As a community we want to support recycling, but it is not likely that the free recycling bins will ever be re-installed in our parks,” said Township Administrator Larry Burks. "Incorporating curbside recycling in
Yard Debris & Special Collections Fall is a time for yard clean-up which can include a great deal of yard debris requiring disposal. None of the trash haulers serving the West Chester community provide true composting/recycling of organic yard waste, but this debris decomposes quickly in the landfill. Yard waste can be left at the curb for regular pickup, but please consider using biodegradable paper bags for disposal or trash cans – no plastic bags. Backyard composting is also an option for some materials. For special recycling collections visit www.westchesteroh.org
a township-wide contract with trash supports the environment and reduces costs." Contracted services on behalf of residents could net reduced costs to residents for trash hauling that includes curbside recycling. The average cost for individual subscription service for these services is nearly $30 per month. In communities that contract with a single trash hauler, the average cost is $15.82 per month. Next steps in the process would include development of a bid document and launching a process for trash haulers to submit bids. Some stipulations would include: • All residents of single-family properties would be required to participate. • All residents would have access to curbside trash and recycling pick-up. • There will be pricing for limited and unlimited service. • There will be options for special pick-ups (large items, appliances, etc.). • Property owners will pay the hauler directly. Township leaders expect to have further discussions with the possibility of launching the bid process at the start of 2024. To stay informed about this initiative, subscribe to West Chester’s digital Community Report at www.westchesteroh.org.
Advantages to community-wide contracts for trash and recycling • • • •
Save residents money More control over contracted hauler Reduce truck traffic and pollution Achieve higher recycling rate
ZONING
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Building Permit Process Moves Online for Customer Ease
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pplying for building permits has never been easier in West Chester Township. The entire process has been moved online for the convenience of developers and residents seeking to make improvements to their homes and property. “Most projects whether commercial construction or adding a deck to your house require permitting, so this new service has the potential to benefit everyone,” said Community Development Director Aaron Wiegand. The new process includes functionality for uploading construction plans and paying application fees. The Board of Trustees has made residential improvement permits available at no cost, but these permits are still required to ensure project meets building standards and are within residential property restrictions. Property owners in neighborhoods represented by a Home Owners Association should also review neighborhood guidelines/restrictions. “The Community Development staff will continue to be available to answer questions in-person or by phone, but moving the permitting process on line will hopefully make things easier for our customers.” Aaron said. “We’re always aiming for exceptional customer service.” Visit www.westchesteroh.org/permits to be connected to the new process.
Review of Revised Zoning Code and Land Use Plan Under Way
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est Chester Township's draft updates of the community’s Zoning Resolution and Comprehensive Land Use Plan are now ready for the public to review! There will be a period of review, a public work session and ultimately consideration and vote by the West Chester Board of Trustees in the coming months. The Comprehensive Land Use Plan is a snapshot of the current community conditions and serves as a guide for the township's future. It considers a 10– to 15-year future time frame and provides a road map for future community achievement and development decisions. The township's current plan was approved in 2012. The Zoning Resolution is a legal document that establishes the zoning districts for the township and governs land use and development. This document includes what uses are permitted, where they are permitted, what standards apply to certain use, and the parking, signage, landscaping, and fence regulations. This update includes a complete overhaul of the look and flow of the zoning resolution and includes hyperlinked icons at the bottom of every page to provide easy navigation throughout the code. Additional changes include an update to the code's development standards, modernizing the use terms and standards, and creating 2-page spreads for each zoning district that summarize the applicable regulations for that district. Both of the draft updated documents and current versions are available at www.westchesteroh.org for residents to review and consider. A feedback form is provided online for those interested to share their views.
Building Permit Fee Updates, Home Remodel Permits are Free West Chester Board of Trustees approved a revised fee schedule for zoning permits. The updates preserve the free permits for residents adding fences, sheds, decks and similar; but does reflect modest increases to commercial permit fees. In 2019, Trustees waived small residential permit application fees for residential improvements which has been met with positive results. Waiving the fee has resulted in more homeowners actually applying for permits before they begin such projects allowing the Township to better monitor and ensuring proper construction and that codes are met. Before starting any home remodeling or property project, please check with West Chester Community Development AND your Home Owners Association to avoid making costly errors.
Some fee updates include: • Developers of multi-family complexes will pay $250 per unit, with a maximum of $10,000 (increased from $350 per building). This puts West Chester more in line with surrounding communities. • New commercial buildings remain $0.07 per square foot with a maximum of $2,500. This increase in the maximum fee takes into consideration the time required to review large projects without penalizing small businesses.
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HIDDEN WEST CHESTER
HISTORY
Uncovering History at Dimmick Road Cemetery is Project for Student Intern
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emeteries tell the history of communities and a small church cemetery, once part of the Presbyterian Society of Pisgah, has many stories to tell. Known as the Dimmick Road Cemetery, this small plot of land was once home to the brick meeting house of the Presbyterian Society and remains the burial place for about 145 of our community founders. Family names like Irwin, Lowes and Skinner are prevalent in the cemetery and many of those buried here were born before or during the American Revolution. Brittany Corwin, a junior at Miami University, is working to unravel the stories of those buried in the cemetery and take action to repair and upright many of the headstones. No formal record of burials on the property is known, but Brittany has been working to piece the details together using resources from local historical societies.
“I would hope to one day see the cemetery looking like it once did, but that will be a real challenge; and maybe write a book about the cemetery,” Brittany shared. The property was sold to the church in 1827 by James Irwin and his wife Agnes, but the property was likely already in use as a family burial plot. The earliest death date (recorded in Virginia Shewalter’s History of Union Township) was 1818 for the death of nine-month-old Lucinda Skinner. It is believed the last date recorded for burial in the cemetery is 1900. Brittany has worked to unearth some of the headstones, but many more have become buried beneath the surface of the ground and will require further excavation to uncover them safely. If you have information about the Dimmick Road Cemetery, please email bwilson@westchesteroh.org
PARKS
MAKING A SPLASH
WEST CHESTER TOWNSHIP
Water Playground Anticipated for Summer Play in 2024
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hink warm thoughts! As we head into the coldest season of the year, families can envision the fun ahead as West Chester Township constructs a splash playground at Beckett Park. “A water playground was first envisioned for Beckett Park more than two decades ago and water play areas continue to be a request we hear from residents,” said Township Administrator Larry D. Burks. The splash playground will feature a variety of sprays and features accessible to children of all abilities. Shade structures and seating will also be incorporated into the design.
“The new splash playground will be a great complement to the natural trails, walkways and ponds on the west side of Beckett Park,” said Community Services Director Arun Hindupur. The $1.54 million project will be funded with State Route 747 TIF resources generated by corporate development. The splash playground will be constructed in an area now allocated as a man-made water feature near the picnic shelter on the west side of the park. Groundbreaking is expected in November.
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WEST CHESTER TOWNSHIP
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STEP BACK 200 YEARS
PARKS
Keehner Park Cabin in the Clearing is Restored and Preserved for the Future
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he Cabin in the Clearing is a 1833 log cabin reconstructed at Keehner Park with lumber reclaimed from two demolished Ohio log cabins. The landmark was preserved in the 1990s and reassembled in the park where it’s served as an educational resource, and a type of time capsule, for 30 years.
In 2023, West Chester Township invested $65,000 in historically sensitive exterior renovations including clapboard siding and rain gutters to preserve the Cabin in the Clearing for future generations. The interior, however, remains largely unchanged. It’s furnished just as it would have been two centuries ago, like a working home to a family living and thriving on the Western frontier. Visitors who step inside the cabin will see and learn about household items of the period like a spinning wheel, a rope bed with straw mattress, a chamber pot, children’s toys, authentic housewares and tools, and a real wood-burning stone fireplace complete with cast-iron cooking equipment. The hand-hewn wooded beams and chinking remain visible from the inside and from under the cabin’s front porch. The Cabin in the Clearing at Keehner Park, 7211 Barret Road, is open to the community only select days throughout the year. Groups and organizations may request educational tours, field trips, etc. by appointment. Contact the West Chester Community Services Department for more information. Can’t make it to a community event? Watch “Pioneer Days at The Cabin in the Clearing” on West Chester TV for a guided virtual tour! West Chester Township celebrates its bicentennial anniversary in 2023. Learn more about our 200 years of history at www.westchesteroh.org/200.
Santa Stops in West Chester Santa will be making three stops in West Chester before Christmas to visit with families, double check lists and pose for pictures. The West Chester Market will host Santa at the Muhlhauser Barn in Beckett Park on Dec. 2 and Dec. 16 from 2 to 4 p.m. Santa will be waiting in front of the beautiful fireplace to visit with guests and there will be free hot chocolate. While visiting with Santa, plan to shop local with our wonderful Market vendors. Celebrate the holiday season just like our earliest American ancestors on Sunday, Dec. 10 and visit with Santa at the Keehner Park Cabin in the Clearing. Pioneer Christmas recreates the early-19th century Yuletide experience with samples of traditional cuisine beside the
crackling fireplace from 1 to 4 p.m. Families can tour the Cabin in the Clearing and take pictures with Santa. This event is free, weather permitting, and no RSVP is required. A free West Chester Bicentennial Commemorate Tree ornament will be available at these events while supplies last. One ornament per family please.
POLICE
WEST CHESTER TOWNSHIP
SCAMMERS DON'T DISCRIMINATE
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West Chester Police: Everyone Should Be Aware of the Dangers
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hone and internet scammers prey on people of all ages and anyone can get caught in their traps. “Crimes committed by scammers are abundant and it’s not just the elderly who are victimized,” said West Chester Police Sgt. Doug Farris. “These criminals flood technology looking to catch someone at just the right time to fall for their schemes.” Scams are perpetrated through email, text and by phone. They can take control of your devices and with just a little bit of information can steal your identity and your money. Sgt. Farris shares two common scams that are tripping people up and making victims of unsuspecting people. • Targeting older populations: Phishing scam in which the victim is contacted with a problem that needs to be resolved using gift cards or Bitcoin deposits. Suspects have posed as representatives from Amazon, Microsoft, or local/federal law enforcement. Suspects typically get thousands of dollars from the victims. • Targeting younger populations: The victims, historically male, connect with a stranger on social media (Instagram/Snapchat). The victim sends nude photos to strangers and is later extorted by the suspect through gift cards or Zelle transfers. Victims are usually out a few hundred dollars. “We are getting about one or two a week of the Instagram/Snapchat scam,” Sgt. Farris said. “People think they are too smart to be caught up in these scams, but in a vulnerable moment anyone can become a victim.” These scams often originate from overseas and can be challenging to investigate, but law enforcement across the country is really cracking down to stop the perpetrators. West Chester Police offer this advice: • Guard your personal information carefully. Never provide personal information to someone you don’t know. • Don’t act quickly. If something appears to be suspect, it likely is. Talk it over with a friend or the police, before sending money, photos or any sensitive
information. • Law enforcement and reputable companies will not reach out by phone or text demanding immediate payment (especially with gift cards). • Don't give out your credit card number online unless the site is secure and reputable. Sometimes a tiny icon of a padlock appears to represent a higher level of security. This icon is not a guarantee of security, but provides some assurance. • Support family members who might be more vulnerable to scammers by employing safety measures for accounts. “It’s embarrassing to get caught up in a scam, but residents should always feel comfortable speaking with a trusted individual about it and reaching out to police,” Sgt. Farris said. “The more details we have, the better we can become at pursuing these criminals and finding justice for the victims.”
Bass Pro Shops Construction is full speed ahead at the new Bass Pro Shops, a 123,348-square-foot mega-store that will include a 20,000-square-foot restaurant. Construction began earlier this year after years of waiting and officials with the national chain said the giant store is scheduled to open in spring 2024.
Township Trustees
9113 Cincinnati-Dayton Road West Chester, Ohio 45069-3840
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Township Contacts General 513-777-5900 Community Development 513-777-4214 Community Services 513-777-6145
Ann Becker Chair
Mark Welch Trustee
Lee Wong Vice-Chair
FISCAL OFFICER
TOWNSHIP ADMINISTRATOR
Bruce Jones
Larry D. Burks
Fire Department & EMS (Non-Emergency) 513-777-1133 Police Department (Non-Emergency) 513-777-2231