Safety Council
I am pleased to welcome our new neighbors, the Safety Council of Southwestern Ohio. They have relocated their office to the 2nd floor of the city building. The mission of the Safety Council is Saving Lives and Preventing Injuries Through Education and Partnerships. Their work involves partnering with the Police Division in many areas. Stop in and say hello to Kristy and Lisa. Phone 513.423.9758.

School Resource Officer Mike Davis
School Resource Officer Mike Davis’ condition continues to improve after his heart attack. He is resting and recuperating and talking about returning to work for his 26th year of Safety Town. Officer Davis has been employed with the city since October 1966! We're all very happy that Officer Davis is doing well.

Midtown Custom Cabinets Land Purchase
I asked for this item to be removed from the Agenda for tomorrow's meeting so that our economic development staff can have time to work with Midtown Custom Cabinets to find a better way to achieve the goals of the original deal (facilitating the expansion of a good business, clearing an area to make room for new development, occupying a vacant store front on Central Ave.) without getting in the middle of a land swap. The owners of Midtown Custom Cabinets will be in attendance at the meeting to make a presentation to council about their business. Hopefully in the next several weeks we will return with a draft agreement that suits all parties. I apologize for not knowing all of the details, and therefore not informing council, in advance of the legislation coming before Council.

Discuss in the MUSA Forum

DUI Checkpoint
The Middletown Police Division conducted a DUI check point over the weekend. Seven DUI arrests were made at the check point and 2 more by officers doing saturation patrol in the area, for a total of 9. A total of 314 cars were stopped at the check point with 24 people showing indications of alcohol. Those 24 people were given field sobriety tests and 7 were arrested as a result. We are told that this was the most arrests made at a check point in the county this year. The prior record was 5.

Fire Station Master Plan
Recently Council was advised of the Fire Station Master Plan project. Last week,
representatives from both Fire Administration and our Fire Union met with the Michael
Schuster Associates (MSA) Inc. to discuss the overreaching project goals and to focus on the initial objective of examining station locations. The study will evaluate number and locations of stations in order to determine if we can improve upon our situation and make Middletown more competitive for facilities grants. Mapping is being configured and will follow. Thanks to those involved in keeping the project on track.

Diversity Training
Creating a work place atmosphere where diversity is embraced is important. One of the ways that we have been able to further this understanding is through our employee training. Training 400 employees who work round the clock is no small feat. In order to keep costs down, we implemented a "train the trainer" approach where several members of our staff sat in on diversity training sessions presented by a professional trainer. In addition, they spent time being instructed by the trainer.

I’d like to thank our Diversity Team for their commitment and for a job well-done. The members of the diversity training committee: consisted of Sara Mills, Lynwood Milton, Greg Parsons, Marie Edwards, Greg Schwarber, Ambrose Watts, Doug Adkins, Jennifer Minor, Foo San Chan, Todd Day, Angie McCloe, Teresa Jones, Vanessa Motley, Patricia Lovely and Les Landen. The team developed the curriculum for the training and divided into smaller teams to do the training. Fourteen training sessions were scheduled and have been completed, with each training team presenting at least two sessions.

The training was mandatory for full-time employees and encouraged for all others. All but approximately 30 full-time employees have completed the training. Make-up sessions are being scheduled. After the training is complete, the team will meet to debrief and discuss its future role in training and/or the promotion of diversity within the City.

MPD Officer Returns from Tour of Duty in Iraq
Police officer Jamie Wilcox, a 10-year employee with the city, recently returned from
deployment to the Middle East. Jamie was attached to B Troop 2nd squadron, 107th Calvary Company out of Lebanon, Ohio. Jamie was deployed to Iraq on 3/9/09. He is scheduled to return to work with the city on 4/8/10. We’d like to welcome Jamie back to work and thank him for his dedication and service to our country.

Douglass Park Revitalization projects and Re-dedication of Community Center
There are some exciting things happening in the Douglass Park Area this spring! And....more will be developing as the spring shapes up. So far, Keep Middletown Beautiful and Kiwanis will be working there on April 10, KMB will return for Earth Day and Arbor Day on April 22, 24 and 30th for other spruce up activities. Combine that with the Community Revitalization Department efforts in fixing up properties (outlined below) and our southern Gateway will be looking beautiful again by summertime.

Our goal is to have the dedication ceremony for the Sonny Hill, Jr. Community Center this spring. We are still in the planning stages. I will update you as plans materialize so you may make arrangements to attend.

Community Revitalization Property Maintenance Blitz
As Council may recall, our Consolidated Plan targets a different neighborhood each year for improvement. Douglass Park is the targeted area this year. Along with the above outlined KMB activities, the Community Revitalization Department is pleased to announce a partnership with Berachah Baptist Church to work on code enforcement repairs. The church has skilled trades people in the congregation and they would like to complete repair on approximately 50 houses during the four day period of Thursday, May 13 to Sunday, May 16, 2010.

If you would like details of the process, read on:

1) Code enforcement staff will identify up to 50 homes in the Douglass neighborhood that require code enforcement repairs to return the house to compliance with city property maintenance codes. These projects should have repairs requiring material costs less than $1,000 per house and be the homeowner’s primary residence.

2) Code enforcement staff will approach the owner of the property and discuss the repairs required. Under this project, the City will utilize CDBG funds and a grant from the Middletown Community Foundation to provide free materials to low income
homeowners to make required repairs. Berachah Church will supply the labor and expertise to complete the repairs.

3) If the homeowner would like to be part of the project, code enforcement staff will help homeowners complete the required paperwork for HUD compliance and release of the City and the Church from liability.

4) On Friday, April 9, 2010, the City will send over to the church a list of as many of the 50 project houses as we can complete by that date with the listing of required repairs and our listing of materials to complete repairs.

5) On Friday, April 16, 2010, the City will send over any of the remaining 50 project houses that were not sent on April 9.

6) Berachah Church tradesmen will then drive by each house and review the repairs and materials list and request any variations from the City list that they believe is necessary.

7) City staff will work with Berachah to complete an agreed material list for each house.

8) During the week of May 10-14, City staff will purchase the required materials for all 50 houses.

9) The projects will be staged at the Community Center multipurpose room by address. In addition, the City and Berachah will develop a list of standard materials that can be purchased in bulk for use, such as paint brushes, rollers, etc.

10) Starting on Thursday, May 13, most of the Community Revitalization staff will be at the Community Center in support of Berachah volunteers. Berachah volunteers must each sign a City volunteer waiver. Community Revitalization staff will be given comp time for time donated on Saturday and Sunday.

11) Berachah volunteers will load projects by house and go out into the neighborhood to complete repairs. If there are unforeseen problems, building inspectors Larry Tuttle and Tom Huiet will be on call to go to the project site and direct work.

12) When repairs are completed, we will have Com. Rev. pickup trucks available to pick up construction debris for proper removal and disposal. We may use the jail trustees for this task.

13) Berachah would like to have a celebration cook out/ gathering at the Community Center and Douglass Park Sunday evening May 16th for their congregation and the members of the Douglass neighborhood celebrating all the good work achieved over the four day period. Many other things are still taking shape. This project is one example of the types of projects that help improve our community image. If anyone has access to materials, volunteers, or anything else that would improve this project, please contact Doug Adkins, Director of Community Revitalization @ 513.425.1856 or via email douga@cityofmiddletown.org

Discuss in the MUSA Forum

Bark Park
The Humane Officer in the police division is doing some research on bark parks and will provide the information to Chief Schwarber within the next few weeks; from there we will provide some background to city council for discussion.

Discuss in the MUSA Forum

Detroit to Tear Down 10,000 Vacant Homes
Canada's CBC News (3/26) reports Detroit will tear down 10,000 vacant and dilapidated homes this year in hopes of revitalizing the city. Mayor Dave Bing promised, during his State of the City address, the government will tear down 3,000 homes this year and 7,000 more by 2014. The demolition project is scheduled to begin in April 1, and Jeff Horner of Wayne State University called Bing's plan "ambitious" and added, "I think Mayor Bing will continue to do a very good job of leveraging the private sector with these areas of the city that he is clearing for productive use."

Extended Income Tax Division Hours
The Middletown Tax Office will have extended hours to aid our citizens in getting their taxes filed on time. As an added service, the Tax Department also assists residents with preparing their local tax returns. Residents who desire assistance should bring the appropriate paperwork, i.e., W-2s, 1099s, Federal returns, etc. This service is free of charge, on a first – come, first-served basis. The extended hours are as follows:

Tuesday, April 13th 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday, April 14th 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Thursday, April 15th 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Upcoming Events
April 5 Park Board meeting – Conference Room 2C City Building 5:30 p.m.
Middletown Board of Education – 1515 Girard Avenue 6:30 p.m.

April 6 City Council meeting – Council Chambers (LL) City Building 5:30 p.m.

April 9 First Friday Noon Concert Series – First Methodist Church (across from
Library) 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

April 10 KMB and Kiwanis Douglass Park Revitalization

April 12 Golf Commission – Weatherwax Golf Course 6:00 p.m.

April 13 Board of Health meeting – Conference Room 2C 7:30 a.m.

April 13 Town Hall meeting w/ Councilman Josh Laubach - Middletown Area Senior
Citizens on Central Avenue

April 14 Planning Commission meeting – Council Chambers (LL) City Building 6:30 p.m.

April 17 Great American Cleanup Keep Middletown Beautiful – Jacot Park 9:00 a.m.
1:00 p.m.

April 19 Middletown Friends of the Library Board meeting – Library 11:00 a.m.

April 19 Middletown Board of Education – 1515 Girard Avenue 6:30 p.m.

April 20 Middletown Library Board of Trustees – Library 4:00 p.m.

April 20 MPHA meeting – Council Chambers 5:30 p.m. City Council – Council Chambers (LL) 6:30 p.m.

April 22 Earth Day – Douglass Park 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Links for additional information:

City Manager’s Weekly Update: www.cityofmiddletown.org

Middletown Community Calendar: http://www.calendarwiz.com/middletowncalendar 

Pothole Patrol: www.cityofmiddletown.org or call 727-3691 (Option 2)

Have a great week!

Judy