Welcome to Tom McMasters' blog about local politics & life in Huber Heights

Note Tom is a candidate for Huber Heights Council, Ward 6 

Because we are still interested in moving the city forward!


Many of you may have gotten to this page because I mention my Facebook page with the same title as this url.  I post much more often on the Facebook version because it is easier to get out quick thoughts and share public events.  The audience is also a little bigger.  Most of my posts here are longer important articles that need more space than makes sense on Facebook.  Check out the articles below and also follow or like HuberResidents.org on Facebook.   

Tom McMasters

 
 
Mayor Tom McMasters
 

As important as I'd like to think this website can be, if you really want to keep up with City government regularly look at the agenda items found on the City's Meeting Information & Audio / Video page 

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News

Road improvements on Old Troy before Riverside, Office Building vs…

I am sure that if I had listened closely to the Aug 8th Work Session I could come up with more items to address.  However, I was scrubbing walls and didn't catch everything.  You might know that I am running for council and will be on the ballot in November.  Here are a couple take aways from what I heard while listening this morning. 

I don't know why council is wasting staff's time discussing

Wait to Renew the Income Tax Levy

We don't have to pass the renewal levy this year because it does not expire until 2025.  Lets use our vote to make sure council starts to provide the details about big projects like the purchase and revitalization of the strip mall on Brand Pike.  

McMasters for Council?

Will you support my running for Huber Heights City Council?
I often listen to the recording of City Council meetings while driving.  The one nice thing about the pandemic was I didn’t drive to work and often did not subject myself to the frustration

Latest on City wide watermain line refurbishment. 

Latest on City wide watermain line maintenance. 

The Dec 6th Council Work Session ended with Council planning on increasing the budget for Water Line replacement from $1.3 million to $4.5 million and increasing water rates by 7.5% (approximately $2.66 a month per costumer) immediately, with the promise of raising rates at least an and additional 7.5% a month in March.  This combination of increases

Will annexation be approved again without due diligence?

Monday City Council will vote either to verify or not verify that the city is able to provide City Services to property that is proposed for annexation.  This article addresses the lack of due diligence by the city in verifying that adding these properties will not cause bigger deficits than we already experience.

Remember the city originally provided this certification back on Sept 13, 2021. 

Older news

1st November 2021, 1:24 am What to know about the two coalitions 0 comments
16th October 2021, 12:00 am Mayor Gore Honest? or Smart?  [candidate comparison part 2] 0 comments
11th October 2021, 11:45 pm Rating the 2021 Mayoral Candidates part 1 0 comments
17th September 2021, 7:21 pm Open Meeting Act Lawsuit - Summary Judgment
3rd November 2020, 8:07 am Election Day Flier 0 comments
25th August 2020, 12:00 am Inappropriate Executive session leads to more wasted money 2 comments
26th April 2020, 12:45 pm Update - I guess the city is still going broke. 0 comments
13th February 2020, 12:46 am Complaint about the Mayor - the investigation 0 comments
7th December 2019, 12:41 am Another no bid contract.  
23rd October 2019, 10:29 pm Could this illegal flyer get me to vote for Otto? 1 comment
10th October 2019, 11:12 pm Budget Discussion
15th May 2019, 10:10 pm Councilman Otto investigation
13th May 2019, 12:19 am Raise Council Pay by 560%!
18th April 2019, 12:19 am Councilman Morgan thinks blackmail works
14th April 2019, 9:24 am Importance of Timing when creating TIF
4th March 2019, 11:07 pm Rose Music Center Financial Reports:
3rd December 2018, 10:46 pm Thoughts on Ward 2 Appointment Process
11th November 2018, 11:54 am Transparent Ward 2 Appointment Process

Recent Comments

McMasters for Council?

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As a member of Ward 6 I am not motivated to vote for a candidate that is frustrated at paying attention to our City Council. You might get frustrated at the activity or discussion, but if you are frustrated by listening to others….don't run.

I don't believe anyone made deceptive arguments against why the city could not address the water issue. There is a difference of opinion on how to proceed….either reactively or with a life cycle management plan that has yet to be developed that includes identifying the funding sources and plan of action.  It is inappropriate to compare the infrastructure issues that the city owns to the revitalization efforts that are largely commercial activities designed to generate a profit for the private sector.

Inappropriate Executive session leads to more wasted money

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Tom_McMasters is in the usergroup ‘Administrators’

I wonder if we could get an injunction that requires City Council to get court approval before being allowed to go into executive session. The number of times they go into executive session in violation of the law is so frequent this requirement makes sense.

Would anyone else be interested in helping pursue this kind of action?  

Could this illegal flyer get me to vote for Otto?

I would like to see the candidates talk about issues.  For instance Council is discussing the Lexington Place TIF.  Staff gave them an estimate of $5.1 million dollars.  When I look at this I see the possibility of over $10 million or getting as little as $2 million yet no member of council asked questions that would help determine what is a plausible expectation.  Nor did they ask questions that show they understand the details that would change the amount the city will get.  Glenn missed his opportunity to show he is voting on the plan that maximizes our revenue.  But I would give him or Dana credit if they were to discuss it now.

Thoughts on Signing of the 18th Amendment

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  • Posted 31st May 2016, 7:07 am
  • By michael

In regards to your first objective… I think it is reasonable that you ask those types of questions.  But I also think you should ask yourself this… why should the city get to sit back and provide nothing, but reap all the benefits?  TIF is a pretty common thing used all across the country and in the rest of the world.  The whole purpose of it is to encourage develepment.

As for your suggestion to slow down development…. this has already been going on for how many years now and still has many more to go.  How long exactly do you want this to last?

Have you considered what happens if the city stops contributing and the developer pulls out?  The developer is currently paying millions in debt on behalf of the city are they not?  If DEC pulled out…. the city would have to start paying that debt again?  Or find a third developer at that point to take all the risk because the city doesn't want to help.

Your second objective is basically just to prove a point that you have power or to get some revenge on what some council members told the news in the past?  Tell me I didn't just read that.  You should be less concerned about what some PAC is doing and more concerned about the city.  That is just politics.  That PAC failed to even get enough signatures to support their movement 2 years ago.

 

Site Purpose

I've found that when people talk to our current city council they listen. I also believe council both needs that scrutiny and they don't like it. In fact, they proclaim they want public input but then their actions discourage it. I’ve been trying for a year and a half to get more people to learn about what council is doing because I know with our feedback the city will end up with better government. This website is new online and I have a great vision on where it can go! Right now you can review the beginning of the Aquatic Center or “The Heights” or you can create a profile and start adding content to this site. This is a great project and I look forward to working with you to ensure we get good government here in Huber Heights.
 
Tom




Flier

If you've come to this website because of a flier you probably want to see the City Lawyer's opinion paper first. At the very bottom of that page you can find a link to the flier for you to download it and pass it out yourself. 
 
Tom McMasters



Announcements

Web Designers, Authors, Ideas Wanted

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Tom_McMasters is in the usergroup ‘Administrators’

This website theme has great potential especially since it is open source and free but I can see I'll need help to make it work. If you believe in the vision and you can write code for a website as sophisticated as this contact me. As useful as this site seems it loads pretty slow so if you know of another open source theme that does the same things contact me.
Also, I think if there are 8 of us willing to rotate through the committee meetings and then write about the key events we can improve this city. Contact me if you are interested.

Finally, if you have pictures of City events, construction, public areas or services I'd like to show them. Send them to me and I'll incorporate them into the site. Tom McMasters


Keep Republic

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Tom_McMasters is in the usergroup ‘Administrators’

There probably are a couple more years on the City's trash contract with Republic but I do not think it is too early to compliment the job Republic is doing.

This week the garage got clean and I had a lot of items out front. This morning Republic came and took it all away. I have said it before, Karen Kaleps did a good job organizing the RFP and Jim Borland did a great job in choosing the right…

Robbery - the police and citizens shine

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Tom_McMasters is in the usergroup ‘Administrators’

The other day seven armed men robbed the AT&T store on Old Troy Pike.  Except for the original decision of the seven individuals, the actions taken and decisions made by all that got caught up in this event were outstanding.  The store owner had the foresight to have excellent video surveillance which will be invaluable.  The employees and customers were calm and made the right choices when it

Narcan Training at HH Library

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Tom_McMasters is in the usergroup ‘Administrators’

The Huber Heights Library will be holding a Narcan training session.  7 Pm Tuesday Feb 6 2018.  Advance registration is required.  The training is free.  

Narcan is the antidote used during an Opiod oveverdose. 



Register online at DaytonMetroLibrary.org/Events or call 937-463-2665

Older blog posts

7th November 2017, 12:49 am What is TIF?
19th June 2017, 3:44 am Town Center and Home
28th May 2017, 6:28 pm Memorial Day Service in Huber Heights

 

Image of the day

Tax Split

15876