Loveland Magazine

LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

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Tag: Board of County Commissioners

  • Clermont Commissioners introduce new DJFS director

    Clermont Commissioners introduce new DJFS director

    Commissioner Claire Corcoran, Commissioner Bonnie Batchler, Walther, Commissioner David Painter.

    Clermont County, Ohio – The Board of County Commissioners on June 15 welcomed new Department of Job and Family Services Director Susan Walther. She comes to Clermont County after serving as director of Warren County Children Services for five years.

    Walther began her career as a caseworker at Hamilton County Children Services, 1992-2002. She served as a caseworker, supervisor, and deputy director in Warren County Children Services before becoming Director.

    Walter holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Cincinnati and a Master of Science in Management and Leadership from Western Governors University in Salt Lake City.

    “I feel very fortunate to be here to serve Clermont County,” said Walther, who started her duties on June 13.

  • Hemmer-Haight selected as new Clermont County Board of Elections director

    Hemmer-Haight selected as new Clermont County Board of Elections director

    Batavia, Ohio – Claire Corcoran, President of the Board of County Commissioners, today announced the selection of Stephanie Hemmer-Haight by the Clermont County Board of Elections as their new director effective today. She will replace Director Julia Carney, who has accepted a position as Assistant Clermont County Prosecutor.

    A news release issued this afternoon said that after considering “several impressive candidates”, the selection committee recommended Hemmer-Haight to the full board in today’s meeting. The board unanimously approved her as the new director.

    “We wish Stephanie Hemmer-Haight the best in this very important role,” Corcoran said. “We feel fortunate to have such an experienced and well-rounded selection for this position.”

    Hemmer-Haight received her Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Wilmington College and her Master’s Degree as an Intervention Specialist from Antioch University. She has been a county election official for nine years and has organized and led training for many of the county’s poll workers. She resides in Milford with her husband Michael Haight and their dog Pistol.

    Currently, secretary of the Milford Fire Department Board, she is also involved with veteran’s organizations, American Legion Fish Fries, and the Republican Executive Committee.

  • Clermont Commissioners end State of Emergency

    Clermont Commissioners end State of Emergency

    Batavia, Ohio – The Board of County Commissioners voted on Tuesday to end a State of Emergency that had been declared on March 18, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The action was taken in concert with State of Ohio, which ended its State of Emergency on June 18.

    The emergency declaration, along with a previous resolution delegating disaster functions in event of an absence of a quorum of the board, spelled out a succession of leadership and the authority of the county administrator in an emergency. It also exempted from the competitive bidding process purchases related to the emergency that were greater than $50,000 but less than $100,000, so long as no fewer than three informal estimates were obtained. The declaration also allowed the county to obtain state and federal funds.

    Pam Haverkos, director of the Clermont County Emergency Management Agency, thanked the commissioners for their support throughout the pandemic.

    “Clermont County has definitely proved that we are a really resilient community – and that’s a result of the relationships we have built, the collaborations amongst our public safety partners, public health department, healthcare providers, local government agencies, social service agencies, schools, non-profit organizations, faith-based organizations and residents,” Haverkos said.

    “Response and recovery to a pandemic truly requires the ingenuity of the whole community,” she added.

    Haverkos thanked Health Commissioner Julianne Nesbit and Clermont County Public Health for their tireless work, often done behind the scenes.

    “They are the backbone of our response and recovery operations,” Haverkos said.

    Clermont County held its first preparedness meeting on Jan. 31, 2020. The county officially opened its emergency operations center on March 16, 2020. Initially, the emergency operations team met daily and it gradually transitioned into weekly COVID Defense Team meetings.

    In January, an emergency hotline number (732-8500) was activated to facilitate access to vaccines. The number has received almost 17,000 calls. It remains in service.

    Public Health has administered 36,632 vaccinations. Combined with vaccinations from other providers, about 45 percent of the county’s residents have received at least one dose and 41 percent have completed their vaccines.

    Vaccinations continue for those ages 12 and older.

    “We can’t thank your staff enough and the whole health department for coordination from the very beginning all of the way through – daily updates and keeping everyone posted, most of all taking care of the citizens of Clermont County,” said Claire Corcoran, President, Board of County Commissioners. “What a tremendous, tremendous job all of you did.”

    “Every communication meeting there for a while seemed like there was always new information, a new change of direction,” Commissioner David Painter said. “It really was a changing environment where you had to adapt. We realize how stressful that was.”

    Commissioner Bonnie Batchler added: “You and your staff are always there in every emergency in Clermont County. From my heart, I thank you for what you have always done.”

  • Clermont County allocates CARES Act funds to entities affected by pandemic

    Clermont County allocates CARES Act funds to entities affected by pandemic

    Clermont County continued to allocate nearly $10 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding. Another nearly $10 million in CARES Act funding has been allocated for local municipalities and townships.

    The Board of County Commissioners on Nov. 4 approved memorandums of understanding and agreements with a number of entities for use of CARES Act funding.

    • Clermont County Public Health: $542,000 primarily for expenses related to preparing for vaccinations and reimbursement of personnel;
    • Clermont County Park District: $75,000 for equipment, materials and supplies used to mitigate or respond to the pandemic;
    • Public and private schools: not to exceed $1 million for equipment, materials, supplies and other items used to mitigate or respond to the pandemic;
    • Public and private schools: not to exceed $60,000 for costs of business interruption and required closures due to the pandemic;
    • Clermont Senior Services: not to exceed $45,000 for equipment, materials, supplies and/or other items used to mitigate or respond to the pandemic;
    • YWCA of Greater Cincinnati: not to exceed $110,000 for costs of business interruption and additional costs caused by required closures arising from the pandemic, while serving Clermont County clients;

    Funds already had been allocated for other uses, such as $1 million for a small business relief program. The county is continuing to identify pandemic-related expenses and work with social service agencies who may have costs tied to COVID-19 that would be covered by the CARES Act.

    The county has until Nov. 20 to encumber expenses and the end of the year to spend these funds.

  • Clermont County takes steps to improve water quality at Harsha Lake/East Fork State Park

    Clermont County takes steps to improve water quality at Harsha Lake/East Fork State Park

    Williamsburg, Ohio – Clermont County has taken another step in its effort to lessen harmful algal blooms (HABs) at Harsha Lake: Designing a system to capture storm water rich with fertilizer nutrients that feed the blooms.

    The Board of County Commissioners on July 18 approved a two-year, $42,400 contract with Sustainable Streams of Louisville to design a passive wetland system in Williamsburg for Harsha Lake source water protection.

    Boating on Harsh Lake

    According to the Centers for Disease Control, HABs are the rapid growth of cyanobacteria that can cause harm to animals, people, and the local ecology. A HAB can look like foam, scum, or mats on the surface of the water and can be different colors. Particularly large HABs can result in beach closures and prevent recreational use.

    Hannah Lubbers, Director, Clermont County Office of Environmental Quality (Photo Provided)

    “Wetlands have a natural ability to remove nutrients from surface water,” said Hannah Lubbers, Director, Clermont County Office of Environmental Quality. “Our study of a small scale constructed wetland in Jackson Township indicated they can be a cost effective method of reducing nutrient pollution.”

    Installation of wetlands, in combination with other agricultural and urban best management practices (BMPs), is part of the sourcewater and watershed protection programs being implemented by the East Fork Water Quality Cooperative (EFWC).

    Partners of the cooperative, including Clermont Soil and Water Conservation District, the County Commissioners, and the USEPA, aggressively pursue grant funding to improve local water quality and to date have directed over $2.25-million dollars to the watershed, including $215,500 set aside for construction of the wetland in Williamsburg. The EFWC partners also combine agency resources and technical services to advance watershed efforts.

    “Harsha Lake is a valuable resource for county residents and we are working hard to preserve that resource,” Lubbers said. “The Williamsburg project will provide invaluable water quality data and information to aid watershed efforts across the region and Ohio.”

    About William H. Harsha Lake

    Located on the East Fork of the Little Miami River in central Clermont County, William H. Harsha Lake and East Fork State Park offer outstanding boating, hiking, hunting, fishing, camping and other outdoor recreation activities.  William H. Harsha Lake is a multipurpose project for flood reduction, water supply, recreation, and wildlife habitat.  Originally called East Fork Lake, the dam and lake were renamed in 1981 to honor retired congressman William H. Harsha.  Mr. Harsha was elected to Congress in 1960 and served until his retirement in 1981.  He was instrumental in getting the funding appropriated to construct the project. MORE

  • Clermont County seeks items for COVID-19 time capsule

    Clermont County seeks items for COVID-19 time capsule

    Clermont County, Ohio – Clermont County residents can help preserve history by contributing their thoughts in writing and other remembrances to a COVID-19 pandemic time capsule. The project is co-sponsored by the Board of County Commissioners and the Coalition for a Drug-Free Clermont County.

    The time capsule will be placed in Municipal Court during a ceremony later this year.

    “We’ve been impressed at how Clermont County residents have come together during this extremely challenging period in our history,” Commissioner Claire Corcoran said. “We will honor their efforts with this special time capsule. We want people in the future to better understand the difficulties that people faced, and how they worked to overcome them.”

    Mary Wolff, director of the Coalition for a Drug-Free Clermont County, added: “We’re very excited to have the community join us in this positive endeavor, helping preserve history for future Clermont County residents. I can’t wait to see what people provide for the time capsule.”

    The time capsule will be placed in Municipal Court during a ceremony later this year with representatives from County Government and the Coalition for a Drug-Free Clermont County. Plans call for opening the capsule in 10 years.

    You can help preserve this time in history by submitting photos and writeups via email to mboehmer@clermontcountyohio.gov. Clermont County residents also may mail items to COVID-19 Time Capsule, 101 East Main St. 3rd Floor, Batavia, OH 45103.

    Here are some prompts the County provided to help those wanting to submit something in writing:

    • What does the COVID-19 pandemic mean to you?
    • What are you excited about?
      What are you nervous about?
    • Write a note to the future you.
  • Investigation continues on Clermont County siren issues

    Investigation continues on Clermont County siren issues

    Batavia, Ohio – The Clermont County Department of Public Safety Services is continuing to investigate what may have caused outdoor warning sirens to sound in Clermont County on Oct. 24 and Nov. 3. On both days, about half the sirens in the county went off at about the same time, 10:30 AM.

    Sirens in Clermont County are used in very limited circumstances, including when:

    • A tornado warning has been issued by the National Weather Service.
    • A funnel cloud is reported by credible source.
    • A chemical emergency has occurred and a shelter-in-place order has been issued.

    The sirens are tested once a month, at noon on the first Wednesday of the month.

    Clermont County has 74 sirens. They are located throughout the county to ensure that residents can hear them when they are outside.

    The sirens consist of reconditioned civil defense sirens, which receive a VHF signal for activation. The remainder are activated by a VHF/FSK signal (Frequency-Shift Keying) technology from the 1990s. Twice now the FSK sirens have been activated without human intervention. Investigations so far have not detected a cause for this random activation according to the County.

    After the activation on Saturday, a manual cutoff circuit was placed between the transmitter and the phone lines to prevent the signal from reaching the sirens. The sirens can still be manually activated if the need arises, said John Kiskaden, Director of Public Safety Services.

    American Signal, the manufacturer of the transmitter, is working with Clermont County to determine whether the transmitter is the issue and recommend solutions to resolve the random activation of the VHF/FSK sirens.

    “We understand the frustrations and confusion of our residents and we will find out why this is happening and do our best to ensure it does not happen again,” said Ed Humphrey, President of the Board of County Commissioners.

    “Inadvertent alarms are very concerning,” said Commissioner David Painter. “We will verify and reverify this system until we find out why this happened.”

    “Although residents are understandably confused by these false alarms, they should not ignore sirens,” said Pam Haverkos, Director of the Clermont County Emergency Management Agency. “If the sirens sound, seek shelter, tune into local media outlets for additional information, and take the appropriate action.”

    Residents are also encouraged to have multiple means of receiving weather-related alerts and warnings.  For more information go to:https://ema.clermontcountyohio.gov/emergency-notification/

    For more information on warning sirens, go to https://ema.clermontcountyohio.gov/outdoor-weather-sirens.

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  • Hamilton County Recycling and Solid Waste District accepting applications for its Policy Committee

    Hamilton County Recycling and Solid Waste District accepting applications for its Policy Committee

    The Hamilton County Recycling and Solid Waste District (District), whose mission is to reduce reliance on landfills, is accepting applications for its Policy Committee.

    Solid waste policy in Hamilton County is managed by a Policy Committee. The Committee consists of four permanent members, one non-voting member, and three other representatives. The District is currently seeking applications for the General Interest Representative. This position, whose term is four years, is responsible for representing the interests of citizens and cannot have a conflict of interest through affiliation with a waste management company or with any entity that is a significant generator of solid waste.

    Policy Committee responsibilities include reviewing and providing guidance on programs, reviewing and adjusting funding for these programs, writing and implementing a 15 year solid waste management plan, and making recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners on solid waste management policies and budget. The Committee meets every other month.

    If you are interested in volunteering as the General Interest Representative, complete the application by April 13.

  • Clermont Animal CARE Humane Society to manage animal shelter in 2018

    Clermont Animal CARE Humane Society to manage animal shelter in 2018

    CACHS board members from left, Ray Campagna, Cindy Unkenholt, Carol Sanger, Robin Tackett, and Carolyn Evans.

    Batavia, Ohio – Clermont Animal CARE Humane Society (CACHS) will assume operations of the county animal shelter beginning on Jan. 1, 2018. The non-profit was approved today by Clermont County Commissioners as the shelter’s new operator for a one-year term, with the option to extend the contract for two additional years. The contract amount is for $310,000.

    Clermont Animal CARE Humane Society and Clermont to the Rescue Humane Society both submitted proposals to the county in response to a Request for Proposal issued in September. Clermont to the Rescue currently manages the animal shelter, and has since Jan. 1, 2015. A three-person panel of county employees evaluated each proposal,  interviewed representatives of both organizations, and recommended CACHS.

    “We are excited to begin this new partnership with Clermont Animal CARE,” said David Uible, President of the Board of County Commissioners. “The organization’s community partnerships and the extensive experience of its Board of Directors and Advisory Board in animal welfare and rescue are impressive. Its proposal was ambitious and it has a number of plans that are ready to go.”

    Clermont Animal CARE (Compassion, Advocacy, Rescue and Education) was formed earlier this year specifically to present a proposal to the Board of Commissioners to operate the shelter. Its Board of Directors and Advisory Board, which includes President Robin Tackett, Vice President Cindy Unkenholt, Executive Director Carolyn Evans, and Carol Sanger, have all been active in animal welfare, foster, and rescue groups.

    These include Smith’s Pit Stop, My Furry Valentine, the League for Animal Welfare, and Save the Animals Foundation, among others. Its proposal emphasized its reliance on partnerships, and it included 17 letters of support.

    CACHS presented an ambitious proposal that pledged to reduce shelter intake; accept owner surrenders; and engage the community by offering opportunities to volunteer, foster, donate and adopt. It plans to apply for grants, solicit donations and hold fundraising events. Its ultimate goal is to operate an open admissions, no-kill shelter.  To date, it has raised $100,000 in donor pledges and $3,000 in spay/neuter subsidies.

    “We are honored by the trust placed in us by the county, and we are committed to making Clermont County the model for open-intake, no-kill animal sheltering in the State of Ohio. Phasing in services and support for public-owned animals, we will strive to reach this status by the end of 2018,” Tackett said. 

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