News archive
No Bid and Weak Contracts - why did I talk about them in my Flyer?
No bid and weak contracts have been a major issue the City has had to deal with all year long. I'm pragmatic enough to accept that often it can be cheaper and more efficient to not go out to bid on some contracts and services. However, I expect that if this is the way we are going to do things then we should have good, written documentary evidence that we've done our homework on making sure…
- Read more 0 comments
Mayor Campaigns for School Board - and Wins
Mayor Campaigns for School Board - and Wins
This was the headline I suggested for the Dayton Daily News article that ended up being titled "Huber mayor's flyer blasted". Here is the information that makes my suggested headline much more appropriate than what was chosen (I list points first then I back them up with references later in the artice).
1. Back in May as part of the 2025 plan…
- Read more 0 comments
Another TIF / Music Center Discussion
I was reading Facebook and saw a discussion on the Music Center and then progressed into TIF. I participated and thought I would copy relevant comments here because Brandon made some good points that allowed me to bring up other information people should know. My comments are in black, his in blue.
Brandon posted:
This is my understanding: a TIF district diverts all property tax (above the current tax level) to a special fund that can be used for updates that impact that TIF district. Th…
- Read more 0 comments
Young Marines meet @ St Peters
Open House Jan 14th at 1745 (5:45 PM) Boot Camp starts Jan 21, 2015
Who: Any Miami Valley youth - must be accompanied by a parent/gaurdian
What: Observe regular MVYM drill activity and receive information briefing (one hour)
Where: Saint Peter Church Basement, 6161 Chambersburg Rd. Huber Heights OH
Contact info in the flier.
- Read more 0 comments
No read-ahead for Tuesday's City Budget discussion
Tuesday November 18th at 6:00 pm the Administration Committee will meet. The location is different than usual, it will be in the Police Community Room. The police station is behind City Hall at 6121 Taylorsville rd. The reason the meeting has been moved is because there should be a lot of interest in the main agenda item; The 2015 City Budget.
This morning I was cleaning my bathroom. As…
- Read more 0 comments
Vectren is running gas into our streets.
I have noticed that Vectren is going to run natural gas pipes into out street with the intent of providing gas furnace service and water heater service in the future.
DP&L put this street on restriction long ago and ony serviced electric furnaces.
What I find wrong is they are staking out our front yards in what looks like a ditch to go the length of the street about 12 feet back from the curb. Only that goes through every driveway on the…
- Read more 1 comment
New School Board Member - With post campaign thoughts
During this campaign we had three qualified professionals step up to be considered. You can look at their introductions in the comments section below this post. The opportunity to fill the open position is past. The next opportunity will be to file next August to be on the ballot next November (2015). I've kept the original post. After that I added some fresh thoughts. Don't forget to look and the Candidate intros and encourage them to pursue a seat through election. …
- Read more 3 comments
The City Levy and the School Levy - someone recently asked me what…
I'm seriously thinking of voting for Issue 2 which is the School Levy.
The reasons are:
1. It is in my own best financial interest
2. My conservative friends let me down when they didn't run anyone for school board.
3. I believe Mrs. Gunnell, the School Superintendent is a great administrator.
4. As Mayor I should consider voting for Issue 19. But voting yes on 19 without voting…
- Read more 2 comments
Election Day is Tuesday - which is the best polling place to shake…
Election day is Tuesday. Polls are open on Election Day from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
You can find your polling place at:
Montgomery County http://www.voterfind.com/montgomeryoh/pollfinder.aspx
Miami County http://www.voterfind.com/miamioh/precandpoll.aspx
I picked up my League of Women Voter guide at City Hall this afternoon. The DDN Voter Guide can be found HERE. I entered 6934…
- Read more 0 comments
This is to benefit Carriage Trails
There is an interesting (and should be controversial item) on the agenda Monday night. It would be controversial if some of the more conservative members of the community were aware. This is because the proposal is set up to allow the developers of Carriage Trails to get State money with no real benefit to the State or the City.
Interestingly, one of the Council member was struggling with…
- Read more 1 comment
A Briefing isn't a Report
I know I gave great praise in my article "We Won" to staff for producing some written documentation that can be reviewed by residents to help us understand the financial situation of the City. This will be somewhat helpful in helping people evaluate the city financial situation when they go to vote November 4th. Hopefully, we are working toward the day when the information is made available…
- Read more 0 comments
Ebola will give science a bad name
My apologies this really belongs on tfmsview.com but I haven't written there for awhile and I wanted to get my thoughts out quick.
While listening to Meet the Press this morning a CDC representative kept saying things like the science tells us that you can't get Ebola from a person that doesn't have symptoms and you can't get Ebola if you don't come in contact with a person's bodily fluids. Yet we know that two healthcare works from the first Ebola patient diagnosed in America ended up with the virus.
…
- Read more 0 comments
Just the FAQs flier
I received an email this evening from a resident complaining the City is sending out campaign literature about the upcoming vote on the tax levy. My first inclination was to write him back and tell him the city is forbidden by law to spend money campaigning for a tax levy. I haven't actually read the law or the opinions that state the city or the school district is forbidden from spending…
- Read more 0 comments
We Won!
We won the opportunity to do more work. Monday night at the Administration Committee meeting Huber Heights residents got background information that was useful in helping us understand some of the positive and negative reasons past decisions have been made. We received a number of briefings, accompanied by worksheets, that can help us understand the financial situation of the city. For once…
- Read more 0 comments
There are Budgets and there are Budgets
I was included on an email inquiry and I thought I would share the author's request as well as my response:
"I attended the meeting last night and JVargo said at the end the reports were at library, online etc, the only thing on line are estimated for 2013, 2014 and the one from 2013 refers back to the 2012. I respectfully request that you direct to the actual expenditure reports for 2013."…
- Read more 0 comments
Resignation effective 31 Dec 2015 resume office on 1 Jan 2016
Not sure how WHIO reported it but I did ask Alan Scheafer tonight, "what would happen if I announced that I intended to resign effective Dec 31, 2015? Would the Board of Elections schedule a mayoral election for next year with the primary in May 2015 and the general election November 2015. If so would I be eligible to run?
If this is how it would work then I would be willing to announce a Dec 2015 resignation and then run in the May 2015 primary and November 2015…
- Read more 2 comments
Town Hall - where's the facts?
Not too long ago council borrowed $8 million dollars to build Carriage Trails Parkway. They kept rolling over the short term notes until the debt became $13 million. Then they got a public / private partnership going where the private party paid the debt down so that there is only $7 million dollars left on that original investment. Of course the city has borrowed another $12 million…
- Read more 4 comments
Aquatic Center and other Park discussions
Monday 29 Sept after the Music Center discussion which starts at 6 pm City Council will discuss some of the controversial items about the Aquatic and Amphitheater as well as try to develop an overall strategy to improve the operations of the entire park system. Read the meeting notice below. Keep in mind we’ve already heard from opposing views on many of these items. Your yea and nea…
- Read more 0 comments
Spending the $750,000 Music Center Budget
Monday (29 Sept 2013) Huber Heights City Council will hold a Special Session of Council in order to discuss:
The Process By Which Talent Is Engaged For The Music Center At The Heights By Music Event Management, Inc., The Role Of The City In That Process And The Role Of The City Manager In The Execution Of The City’s Duties Under The Facility Management Agreement,
My apologies for the…
- Read more 0 comments
Music Center Sponsorship Council meeting discussion
Though tonight's meeting seemed pretty chaotic it boils down pretty simply.
Before reading the VIP sponsorship contract I thought the VIP section concept consisted of individual ticket purchasers having the option of also buying the experience of using the VIP section. In this concept if it turned out that all the people in the VIP section were all associated with one family or company it…
- Read more 3 comments
Marigold Festival Sept 2013
The Marigold Festival will be held Sept 13, 2014. Admission and Parking are free to the public. Click read more below to see the vendor maps. The announcement on the City Website can be found by clicking here The times for the live performances should be available there soon. I'll be there so come out and say hello.
Attractions for the day:
|
- Read more 0 comments
Aquatic Center Costs
I've heard a lot of comments and received some inquiries about the Aquatic Center over the last few weeks. Over the last couple months council has been provided a running total of the number of attendees at the aquatic center this year. These numbers have been much closer to last years numbers than they have been to the first year's attendance numbers.
We've heard a lot of rumors and seen…
- Read more 0 comments
New Library discussion
There will be an edit to this article - Alizea is currently telling me I'm late to taking her swimming, I'd appreciate you emails / comments that will assist in corrections:
A couple years ago Montgomery County voters approved a Library Levy that will result in Huber Heights getting a new library. Huber Heights new facility is planned to be completed as part of the last phase of the County's…
- Read more 0 comments
Viewing City Council Meetings
There are a couple new broadcasts of the City Council Meetings. I received this message from the Clerk of Council.
- Read more 0 comments
Another television appearance!
Well - my picture was on WHIO and the DDN quoted the report in their article. This report was about the recall effort and after viewing it someone made a Facebook post. It is because of that Facebook post that I've composed this article.
After seeing the news report Bill made this Facebook response.
Tyler, I have a question for you. The mayor of Huber apparently stated that he would address…
- Read more 0 comments
VA Healthcare Benefits
I received the following letter with contact information for Veterans eligible for VA benefits.
- Read more 0 comments
Union Negotiations
I personally believe that having full disclosure of the negotiations provides the public the best insight into the complexities of the job…
- Read more 0 comments
Young Marines - Boot Camp
The Yound Marines meet in Huber Heights at St Peters. Contact information is at the bottom of the flier.
- Read more 0 comments
Have you been duped into believing the Mayor is "just" a figure head?
According to the City Charter the Huber Heights Mayor is the most influential member of council with the most duties and responsibilities. Even though the rest of council inappropriately stated the Mayor doesn't get a committee vote, this doesn't change the fact that the Mayor gets to vote on Legislation and that the Mayor's legislative voting privileges are always more powerful than any…
- Read more 2 comments
water bill
I received my water bill, this month and it has doubled, I have no leaks, and I do not understand why my bill has doubled for this last cycle, does anyone have any suggestions!
- Read more 1 comment