Council members refuse to comment on next Mayor reinstating tradition of getting married at City Hall

[quote_box_left]Although the city’s unusual name came from the last name of the village storeowner and postmaster, rather than the concept, Loveland has incorporated a “love” theme throughout the city. Loveland water towers and park signs sport the city’s logo: a red heart inscribed with a sun, clouds, and the Little Miami River, and surrounded with the city’s nickname, “Sweetheart of Ohio.” The Loveland Post Office, which began operations on October 24, 1831, as the Obionsville Post Office, was also the site of the United States Postal Service’s unveiling of a special “Love Stamp” in 1994. Each year since 1972, the Loveland Area Chamber of Commerce has run a special Valentine’s Day program, which includes a poetry contest and the selection of a volunteer “Valentine Lady”. The Valentine Lady helps stamp up to 20,000 envelopes by hand with a Valentine-themed cachet and cancellation that reads “There is nothing in this world so sweet as Love.” The first Valentine Lady was Doris Pfiester.

As of 1992, Valentine’s Day is the only day of the year when non-residents may reserve Loveland City Hall for marriage ceremonies, other than for senior citizens. (Source: Wikipedia)[/quote_box_left]Loveland, Ohio – Last June the US Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriage is a constitutional right under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, thereby making same-sex marriage legal. Loveland mayors have the legal authority, but not a legal obligation, to perform civil ceremonies.

Loveland promotes itself as the “Sweetheart of Ohio” and is known throughout the country and beyond because of the Valentine Day promotions by the Loveland Area Chamber of Commerce with the theme, “There is nothing in this world so sweet as love”.

Current Mayor, Linda Cox has the authority to solemnize marriages. She previously performed many weddings in her capacity as Mayor of Loveland, however stopped marrying any couples during the period when the Supreme Court decision was pending.

Cox said last June, “I officially had the Clerk, Misty Cheshire, not schedule any wedding ceremonies for me to perform since the end of Feb. and I do not intend to perform any wedding ceremonies in the future.”

Loveland could have a new mayor on December 7

On December 7, Council members will decide among themselves who will be the city’s mayor for the next two-years. Before that vote, Kathy Baily will take the oath for her first term on council. Angie Settle and Mark Fitzgerald have been re-elected. They will join current members, Linda Cox, Rob Weisgerber, Pam Gross, and Ted Phelps to nominate and elect a new mayor and vice-mayor.[quote_box_right]FROM THE RECENT OBITUARY OF FORMER MAYOR, DONNA LAJCAK:   She was elected to serve with the City Council of Loveland, ultimately being elected to Mayor in 1999. Known as “The Marrying Mayor”, she married more than 100 couples from across the nation and from 17 countries around the world, including China, Italy, Poland, and Venezuela.[/quote_box_right]

On November 16, Loveland Magazine asked current and new council members, “If elected to serve as mayor, will you resume the practice of performing marriages that has been abandoned by Mayor Cox? If so, will you perform marriage ceremonies for same sex couples?”

Only Kathy Bailey responded. She said, “I won’t be mayor, so I’ll not be providing a response.”

Will you vote for a councilperson to be Mayor that will not perform marriage ceremonies?

Will you vote for a councilperson to be Mayor that will not perform marriage ceremonies for same sex couples?

There has been no response.

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This LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV video is perhaps the last wedding Mayor Linda Cox performed – The 2015 Valentine Day Wedding of Robyn Cooper and Kyle Konze.

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Project will be competed with another 25-day closure in Spring

Loveland, Ohio – The core of Loveland has been grid-locked because County engineers miscalculated the effect of, and failed to communicate with City officials about, a construction project in Branch Hill.

Jeremy Evans, the Clermont County traffic engineer for the Branch Hill-Guinea Road construction told Loveland Magazine Monday that the contractor will work during the next 4-weeks to complete the replacement and extension of the underground storm drainage system. He said, “The construction of this project will require a total of approximately 60-days of road closure.”

Evans said that the $785,000 project will stop on December 18, and they will return in the spring to complete the roadway improvements. He said, “This means that what would have been a single closure of approximately 55 days to complete the entire project will be broken into two shorter closures; 30 days to complete the underground storm work this fall and 25 days to complete the road work in the spring.”

The contractor began replacing the 48” storm water system, starting from the bottom of the hill working uphill toward Branch Hill-Miamiville. They utilized the first closure to replace the storm pipe across the roadway on the downhill side of the Branch Hill-Loveland intersection. Evans said that as of last week, the plan was to temporarily connect that section of new storm pipe to the old, after crossing the road, and then return in the spring to complete the project. Evans said, “However, after exposing the existing storm pipe on the uphill side of the intersection we found that its condition warranted more immediate action.”

In announcing the change of plans last week, Patrick Manger, the Clermont County Engineer said, “…it is impractical to construct a temporary highway/culvert and that a temporary detour is required.”

Loveland City Manager, Dave Kennedy assigned police officers at traffic signals in downtown Loveland November 17, after complaints from downtown business interests. Kennedy said last Friday in an email exchange with Loveland Business owner, Tim Canada, “The county has agreed to assist the city financially with the added police coverage being utilized to flow traffic through downtown.” (Tim Canada: “What are you going to do about the poor traffic issues in Old Loveland?”)

Kennedy also said last Friday in that email exchange with Canada, “I have a call into Pat Manger, Clermont County Engineer regarding the impact of these closures on neighboring communities and whether the City could be a part of the planning stages prior to the closure being conducted.”

Loveland Magazine asked both Manger and Evans if the City and the Loveland School District had been given the opportunity to have input on the road closing last week. Evans told Loveland Magazine in an email Monday morning, “We discussed this project and the necessary road closures with the Loveland City School Administration and Transportation Department as well as the City of Loveland well before construction began and have maintained close communication with them throughout the project.”

City Manager, Kennedy disputes they were consulted. He said he confirmed with Cindy Klopfenstein, the City Engineer that they were not consulted regarding the closure, or the detour route. Kennedy said it was due to the fact that the county detour plan had traffic going to I-275 and the County did not feel that it would impact the city the way it did. “We were originally planning on a one week closure and we were notified by the County Engineer last week via a phone call and a press release that they were extending the project for another four weeks due to complications.”

Kennedy took his share of the blame for the traffic mess the first closure caused for Loveland motorists. He said, “I admit that I did not properly prepare for Monday and that was my mistake. I think the Police Department has done a good job handling the situation from that point forward. We will continue this throughout the balance of the project.”

“The County Engineer did notify us that there will be another closure in the spring although they don’t have the dates yet or for how long. They stated they will keep us notified as the project progresses,” said Kennedy. Both the City Manager and Chad Hilliker, the Loveland School Superintendent said they understand the next closure will happen once school is out for summer break.

Hilliker, said, “We have appreciated the city’s efforts in making travel easier through the downtown during our operations hours.”

Kennedy said he spoke with Chamber of Commerce President, CeeCee Collins and she confirmed that due to the traffic issues, West Loveland in downtown will stay open during Christmas in Loveland on December 12. Kennedy also said that the Chamber will be providing a shuttle from the Shoppers Haven parking lot into downtown. “We are of course asking everyone to use caution and we will have Police there to assist with traffic and safety,” said Kennedy.

The detour is approximately 4.81 miles.

Click to see a larger view of the current detour map.

Click to see a larger view of map of a short-cut into Loveland from Branch Hill provided by Loveland Magazine.

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My employee’s have showed me on face book that Old Loveland area is getting blasted and being avoided due to poor traffic

Loveland, Ohio – This past Monday, Bond Furniture owner, Tim Canada had had enough with traffic woes hurting downtown businesses. He fired off an email to City administration and Council, the Chamber of Commerce president, Loveland Magazine, and fellow downtown business owners.

Loveland Magazine broke this news on November 5: Uh-oh! – Branch Hill-Guinea Pike to close Nov. 16 – 20

Loveland Magazine broke this news yesterday: Branch Hill Guinea Road will stay closed 4 more weeks.

The traffic issues and gridlock in downtown was not discussed at this week’s City Council meeting.

Here, however is how the discussion played out through the week via emails:

Tim Canada wrote on Monday, November 16 at 9:31 AM

Hello to all,

Since retailers are receiving complaints from customers not being able to get to their businesses due to poor traffic through the Old Loveland area.

Since employee’s are late getting to work because of not being able to get to work due to the poor traffic flow in the Old Loveland area.

I have noticed on Sunday’s at local churches there are Loveland Police Officers making sure the traffic flows into and out of the church’s (which I think is a good thing). Why is there not a police officer or officers,  assigned to maintain at traffic flow in the Old  Loveland Area so that consumers can get in and out of local business’s. The local business’s pay taxes do we not deserve the same type of service?

Since my employee’s have showed me on face book that Old Loveland area is getting blasted and being avoided due to poor traffic.

Last but not least, with the additional parking being built and paid for out of tax dollars, is the money being spent a waste if people can not get to the old part of Loveland? If you can not get here then you do not have to worry about parking?

My Question is to the city administration, the mayor and the city council, what is your plan for traffic flow and infrastructure in the old area of Loveland.

Wrecks in other community’s that add to traffic are only excuses, because of with the added residents living in this area this will be a common situation, plus then added effects from other community’s will only add to the issue.

This is not an issue any business owner created including the new development at Loveland Station, this is an issue created by a lack of fore thought,  and a lack of execution for traffic flow and infrastructure by the city administration, the mayor and city council.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT THE POOR TRAFFIC ISSUES IN OLD LOVELAND?

No plan has been presented or discussed with community business leaders. Do we not matter?

Please respond to all so all the business owners can see your vision to fix this issue that is getting worse all the time!

David Kennedy, City Manager responded on on Monday, November 16 at 10:34 AM

The traffic is due to a closure on Branch Hill Guinea Road.  We are placing Officers at the downtown intersections. The closure will re-open at the end of the week. Officers will be present throughout the week.

Dave

Chamber President Cee Cee Collins responded on Mon, Nov 16,  at 12:51 PM

David, that made a big difference. I was in the traffic and could tell when the officers arrived. There is no other way to go but through downtown to get from one side of Loveland to the other until Branch Hill Guinea Pike opens up. It is supposed to be on 11/20.

Tim Canada wrote on Monday, November 16 at  7:18  PM

Hello Dave,

I agree that the officers helped but where were they this morning?

But where is the planning, the closure of BHGP has been known about for a while, why were the officers not in place to begin with this morning?

Three of my employee’s where over 30 minutes late this morning, one of them lives on walker and it took that person 35 minutes to get here!

Also what goes on in a neighboring community should not effect downtown Loveland.

With proper planning and rerouting it should not happen! Where is the froward thinking?

It is 6:45 on a Monday night and it is still backed up!

A customer just came and and told us that it took 20 minutes to get here from Loveland Maderia Rd.

Also, that answers the question for today and this week. What about the other days that traffic is terrible?

Which is most!

Another Loveland business owner just left the store. Their employees are late all the time due to traffic as are mine and others I speak with on a regular basis.

Is it true the reason we can not get officers down here to control traffic issues caused by the city administration, is because the police department is not allowed any overtime?

Also is it true that the school district is down one or two resource officers due to the city budget?

I hope not, I would hate to think that the children of the LPSD are being put at risk due to budget concerns!

The fact is the poor or lack of planning by the city administration on traffic flow is unacceptable!

When customers or potential customers are calling and posting on social media that they are staying away from the down town area because of traffic jams created by the city administration what is the administration, the mayor and the council going to do about it.

I am glad there is a new camera light sensor system coming on line in 2016, why is it not here already?

2016 does not help the local business’s now!

Please respond to all so we all can get the same answers.

Thanks

Tim

David Kennedy, City Manager responded on on Monday, November 16 at 7:37 PM

Tim. Im in a finance committee meeting so ill answer in more detail  tomorrow. But i want to let everyone know that officers will be in downtown tomorrow morning. They werent there this morning because i underestimated the impact of the closure. That was my mistake.

Dave

David Kennedy, City Manager wrote on Tuesday, November 17 at 12:17 PM

Councilman Mark Fitzgerald responded On Tue, Nov 17 at 3:41 PM

Thanks Dave but you are not responsible for road closures in the county and interstate highway disruptions. Officers did well but volume far exceeded capacity in town due ,primarily, to disruptions that occurred elsewhere

Tim Canada wrote on Tuesday, November 17 at 5:15 PM

Dave,

Thank you for the update!

I appreciate your respect for the business people in the community.

I also respect the fact you are a stand up individual.

Yes the police did a great job this morning.

As for yesterday mornings fiasco, the accident on 275 could not have been foreseen. However, anticipating traffic from the closure of BHGP should have been considered and prepared for.

That being said, the bigger issue is the continual traffic nightmare that is Downtown Loveland and the fact that the administration before yours and the city council did nothing to prepare for the traffic increase.

The fact that the study was done last summer after the sale of the property and construction had already started proves my point.

This question is more for The Mayor and Council, why were the traffic support additions you spoke of in your email not done before construction started? It seems like it was very poor planning if any and total lack of consideration for the business community in Downtown.

The sales pitch to the community was that there would be more people downtown and the would be a good thing. Which I do not disagree, but after the traffic issues created by the farmers market two summers ago, anyone with a little common sense would have realized that a traffic plan was needed before starting anything! The reality is that if they were planning or attempting to sell the property at Loveland Station then the traffic plan should have been designed, created and started before talks to purchase were even done!

The fact of the matter is that the previous administration’s and city council’s lack of planning is costing local business owners money in lost sales, overtime wages due to employee’s being late to the job and bad publicity in social media.

The continual traffic jam a key times of day is hurting the community!

As for the resource officers being at the same number as always, that kind of makes my point!

LPSD student levels have increased and the number of students requires more resource officers than current levels.

This information was given to me directly by the former chief along with the budget concerns for overtime. Also other public officials have mentioned in conversation that the city is in need of additional officers. Also after doing my research on the contract for Loveland Station last fall, I thought he tax increment financing with the school helped pay for more resource officers?

Any way thanks for your information and follow through.

Tim

Tim Canada wrote on Wednesday, November 18, at 9:08 AM

Dave,

Great Job on the traffic flow this morning!

Please forward compliments to the police department for a job well done!

Tim

David Kennedy, City Manager wrote on Fri, Nov 20 at 8:13 AM

The city was notified that the Branch Hill Guinea closure will be continued for up to four (4) more weeks (notice attached).  The county has agreed to assist the city financially with the added police coverage being utilized to flow traffic through downtown.  We will continue to communicate with the County Engineer’s Office and supply updates.

Tim Canada wrote on Friday, 11/20 at 9:52 AM

Thank you for the update.

Good call on getting the county involved to pay for traffic control.

Just an FYI, customers were complaining about getting here last night and we missed pick-up by our carpet installer for a job to day because of the the Grid lock last night in town. Employee’s are complaining about being late to work and getting home late due to delays caused by grid lock.

Also other business owners are receiving complaints about the traffic.

One business owner shared with me that Monday was the worst day they have had in years because of the GRID LOCK that is downtown Loveland.

I guess the question we all would like to know is, what is the city’s plan for loss of revenue by businesses during this Grid Lock situation caused by a lack of planning and foresight by the previous administration and council?

Are we going to get property taxes reduced proportionately or should we just start deducting from the taxes like we do from other vendors that provide products and services and that are not getting the job done.

Last but not least, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is the biggest entertainment night of the year,

Pubs, restaurants, carry outs,need traffic flow mid afternoon on! Friday and Saturday are two of the busiest retail days of the year.

What are the plans to handle this on the city’s part. The business owners are advertising to get people here, is the city going to hender our efforts like they are doing now! Remember if people can not get here, then there is not a parking problem and building parking lots are a waste of tax payers money!

I realize that this is a situation you inherited and the business owners know you are doing the best you can.

It is frustrating that our elected officials do not feel they have any fault in this matter. They are the body that voted and approved the events that is causing the situation.

Many of us realize that they have not answered questions directed to them in previous emails.

Hang in there!

Tim

Loveland, Ohio – The demolition of the Loveland Bowling Alley began in earnest this week.

Branch Hill Guinea Road now closed until December 18

Loveland, Ohio – Patrick Manger, the Clermont County Engineer said in a statement to County Commissioners on Thursday that he will keep Branch Hill Guinea Road closed until December 18.

The closure is associated with a drainage improvement project that closed the road last Monday, but was expected to open again today.

Manger said, “…it is impractical to construct a temporary highway/culvert and that a temporary detour is required.”

Loveland City Manager, Dave Kennedy assigned police officers at traffic signals in downtown Loveland on Tuesday after complaints from downtown business interests. Kennedy said this morning in an email, “The county has agreed to assist the city financially with the added police coverage being utilized to flow traffic through downtown.”

The detour is approximately 4.81 miles

Click to see a larger view of this new detour map…

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