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The City of St. Bernard Council met on Thursday, September 6. Mayor John Estep asked for a moment of silence for a resident’s family member. Mayor Estep announced that September 17 is Citizenship Day in honor of the signing of the Constitution. September 17 through 223 will be United States Constitution Day in St. Bernard. He urged teachers to hold classes regarding the Constitution. He sent a copy of his proclamation to all schools in the City. Mayor Estep reported that he sent a letter regarding the problems with basketball courts at Baker Street Park. He is looking to get their comments. Mayor Estep will report back to Council regarding them.
Walter St. Clair provided his Auditor’s report to Council. Payroll for the month of August was $578,114.09, year to date $3,510,995.30, other expenditures for the month were $398,090.18 and other expenditures as of August 31 $3,809, 248.49 for a total for the month of $7,320,243.79. The ordinances were discussed at the COW (Committee of the Whole) meeting. There is an ordinance needs to be amended to increase amounts for phone service and insurance. Another ordinance need amended to delete the address on it. Another ordinance allows increase in appropriations for street repair contracts and for Woodside Heights street and sewer projects. After looking at the balances in these accounts there is an ordinance to transfer money into the accounts. Also in the ordinance is the adjustment in Fire Department account that the Fire Chief asked for as discussed at the COW meeting. The last ordinance allows the CIC to negotiate and contract with Al Kanter as the Director of the CIC. This will allow the CIC to develop a budget.
Edward Geiser reported that as discussed at the COW he drew up a resolution to allow the Service Director to apply for State Capital Improvement funds and an ordinance to define the Tax Board of Review (they had to remove the Auditor and Law Director from the board). He has not yet prepared the resolution in opposition of the removal of Mayor’s Courts in Ohio. He hopes to have it ready for the next meeting. Regarding the living of sexual offenders to not be within 1000 feet of a school or nursery, the City filed suits against three offenders to have them move and won a summary judgement. One offender appealed the ruling. The offender is allowed to stay where he is living until the appeal is decided. Mr. Geiser spoke with Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office. As soon as Hamilton County is notified about an sexual offender’s address, they calculate to see how close it is to a school. They will contact an agency if one is 1000 feet of a school. Mr. Geiser spoke to someone in Cincinnati about offenders who live in that City but live too close to a St. Bernard School (Roger Bacon). The City of Cincinnati is aware of one by the stadium. They are using the stadium as part of Roger Bacon School in their calculations. There have been talking about increasing the amount from 1000 to 2000. Reading tried that and found out that they could not do it. They did add areas where children congregate like YMCAs to strengthen their laws and was sued over that. They are now embroiled in litigation.
Mr. Geiser said that Gerald Wiedmann was contacted by someone from Meiner’s about the parking lot. They want to fix the walls and there is concern about what they want to do, there are some restrictions in the contract with the City on this lot. This matter was turned over to Michael Schildmeyer’s Business and Industry Committee. Mr. Geiser spoke to Mr. Schildmeyer about the Post Office wanting to rent parking lot spaces to expand their operations. Currently the City is under contract with the owner of the shopping center to provide so many spaces. This was also referred to Mr. Schildmeyer’s committee.
Thomas Kathman stated that receipts for August were $1,623,949.75, year to date: $8,734,017.33.
Jonathan Stuchell gave the Fire Department report for August. He also spoke about
September being National Preparedness Month. This is a month to focus on preparedness
for families, schools and businesses. He spoke about the week that focuses on schools.
They need a coordinated site-
Joe Kempe asked for Council to pass the resolution to allow the City to go for recycling and SCIP grant funds. He also asked Council to pass the ordinance to access property owners who don’t keep their properties in compliance with the City’s property maintenance laws. Other ordinances allow the city to be reimbursed for work done Woodside Heights and the costs to repair Vine Street. The work on Errun Lane and Advance Avenue is progressing as scheduled. The contractors are storing their equipment on the lot on Sullivan, the contractor will restore the lot once they are finished with their projects.
Kevin Meier announced that the CIC will meet on September 10 at 5:00 pm in Council
Chambers. He also asked Council to pass the ordinance to hire Al Kanters as the Executive
Director of the CIC. He also noted that senior citizens and the handicapped can now
apply for Homestead Exemption to winterize their homes. There is no income requirement.
Call 513-
Patty Hausfeld spoke about the changes in the law regarding the Tax Board of Review. Currently they have the Law Director, Auditor and a resident. They must remove elected officials from the board. They would like to have citizens apply for the positions that have financial experience and some tax experience. Ms. Hausfeld thanks Sheri Williams and Ed Geiser for their help with the ordinance. (Mayor Estep asked for residents who want to be candidates for the board to call him.)
Michael Schildmeyer thanked Joe Brickler of IT Services for their help with the copies of Dr. Romanos report (the company made the CDs for the City to distribute). The City will mail copies out to businesses that have been hard to get a hold of. For any questions or to get a copy of the report, contact the Business and Industry Committee through the City’s website. Also Mr. Schildmeyer asked to have the issues of the wall at Meiner’s and the parking lot for the Post Office put on the next COW agenda.
Sue Kathman read the only letter sent in. It thanked the City workers for their quick response and clean up when a tree fell in their yard.
Council passed all resolutions and ordinances on the agenda.
Under Old Business, Bill Burkhardt asked about the manning for the Police and Fire Departments, Mr. Stuchell said it would be put on the schedule shortly.
Steve Asbach asked if the company using the lot on Sullivan to not get gravel on the sidewalk. He also spoke about an article in the daily paper about Mayor’s Courts. For the most part, Mayor’s Courts keep a handle on local crime and keep things from going downtown.
Mr. Schildmeyer and Ms. Hausfeld asked about the tight turn lanes on Vine Street at Church Street. They wondered who would be liable someone’s vehicle would be hit while in the small turn lane. Ms. Hausfeld said the police said it would be the responsibility of the moving vehicle, not the stationary one. Mr. Kempe said the lanes were kept the same as before. Mr. Geiser suggested that Mr. Kempe checks with the City’s insurance about the matter.
Under New Business, Mr. Asback wants the matter of political signs on City property to be placed on the COW agenda.
Mr. Meier asked to have the City join with the Chamber of Commerce to get information about the City out to those interested. This could give the City other items that they could take advantage of.
From the audience Norm Miller said he had a conversation with several other landscaping companies. They have not completed the plans and will continue to meet with other landscapers regarding plans for Bertus Street Park. Mr. Miller would like to speak with Mr. Kanters about entranceways into St. Bernard. They need something to invite people into the City. He suggested that they also work to get a Graeters or Starbucks into the area across from Church Street on Vine Street. He would like to work with Mr. Kanters on ideas to improve the City.
After excusing the absent member, Peggy Brickweg (out with knee surgery), the date of the next COW meeting was announced, September 13 at 7:30 pm. Then Council adjourned the meeting.