Loveland Magazine

LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

Without fear or favor

Since 2004

Tag: election

  • Campaign Statement of Neal Oury

    Campaign Statement of Neal Oury

    EDITOR’S NOTE:
    Neal Oury is a candidate for Loveland City Council and provided this Candidate Statement to Loveland Magazine.
     

    Loveland Magazine invites all candidates for public office in the 45140 zip code or within the Loveland City School District boundary to send a similar Candidate Statement for publication. Send to lovelandmagazine@cinci.rr.com

     

    Neal Oury aspires to serve our community

    After being asked many times by several people, I have decided to run for Loveland’s City Council. It is time to give back to the community where I was raised and currently live. I remember Loveland before I-71 or I-275 existed. Loveland was rural, quaint, quiet and residents were involved in their community. Today, Loveland is still quaint, with many changes. The railroad track is now the Bike Trail, Rolke’s is now a multi use development, the Crist Theater is now the Loveland Stage Company. The current Loveland Early Childhood Center was Lloyd Mann School, where I attended starting in the 2nd grade.

    My father worked at the railroad tower that was located behind today’s Cindy’s Tavern. I remember going to work with him, watching him pull large wooden levers in order to switch the tracks. We saved cardboard milk cartons for Harry Andrews to make the bricks to build the Loveland Castle. As a child; I played LYO baseball, enjoyed Eats & Treats candy store and shopped at Millitzer’s that was our “mall” located where Pizazz’s is today.

    My wife Lynn of 34 years and I have lived in our Loveland home for thirty years where we raised our two children. We are parishioners at St. Columban Parish where I served on Parish Council and as Chairperson, Spiritual Director for the Christ Renews His Parish program, coached girls & boys basketball and volunteered with the HANDS program. I have maintained a Real Estate Brokers License since 1980 and started my business in 1984. I served as Secretary, Treasurer, President, Past President for the Greater Cincinnati chapter of the Institute of Real Estate Management. I have served on the Board of Directors of the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Apartment Association. I have managed portfolios in excess of 7000 units, as well as, for Fortune 500 Companies. I served on the Loveland Finance Committee, volunteered with the Loveland Farmers Market, The Loveland Amazing Race, the Loveland Stage Co. and Lowe’s Heros. I was awarded the Business Enhancement Award from the City of Loveland in 2005. My company rebuilt Loveland Stage Company after the devastating fire in. 2008.

    Communication with people is important to me. Understanding your concerns and opinions on issues, programs and development will help move our community in the direction WE desire. Together we can make it happen through dialogue and resident engagement. Transparency will be visible as we openly discuss future development and other priorities. I envision neighborhood meetings to openly listen to what’s on your mind. I want to get to know resident and personally inviting neighborhood representatives to attend council meetings.

    If elected, as a member of Loveland’s City Council, I will listen and respect the opinions of all council members. I will bring to this body a skill set of organization, rational decision making and a inclination to detail with honesty, common sense and integrity.

    I ask for your vote November 7th.

     

    Pizazz Studios and Gifts in Historic Downtown

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  • Gentry says only politics played into the absence of three council members

    Gentry says only politics played into the absence of three council members

    by Shanda Gentry,

    Once again the citizens of Loveland were denied, by three council members, the right to undertake the business of the city. This is the second meeting of 2017 where, from my perspective, the same three council members failed their oath to the citizens of Loveland.  Loveland Charter outlines that two council meetings are required to occur, on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month.

    In researching the absences of councilmembers during the last four years, there has never been a time where three council members were missing for a monthly meeting.

    • There were only 3 times that 2 council members were out for a required charter council meeting

    I also looked at what percentage of meetings councilmembers missed during their time on council (this specific calculation is the only way to determine what affect their absences has had on council) because a straight numbers calculation over different periods is not meaningful.  

    • Two council members have missed almost 17% of the required charter meetings, only one is currently on council – Steve Zamagias
    • One council member has NEVER missed a required charter council meeting – Kathy Bailey
    • Another council member has only missed one meeting in the last four years, the one where that absence caused a lack of quorum- Vice Mayor Angie Settell
    • Rob Weisgerber has missed 10% of meetings, Ted Phelps has missed 7.78% while Pam Gross has only missed 5.56% of required charter council meeting during the previous four years.

    Based on this review I can am left to believe that only Politics played into the absence of three council members for one required by charter council meeting.  Loveland fails when the business of the city is disrupted by officials who sign a pledge to follow the Charter of our city and then fail to live up to that pledge.

    Shanda Gentry is a twenty-year resident of Loveland

    More Background:

    Golladay says three blind mice Settell, Gross, and Zamagias must fully explain their absence immediately

    No Council quorum – no meeting

    Off and on again Council meeting for Tuesday?

    City council no-shows: “Alignment of planets” or “Act of political cowardice?”

    Rob Weisgerber: “Their absence was intentional.”

  • Rob Weisgerber: “Their absence was intentional.”

    Rob Weisgerber: “Their absence was intentional.”

     

    Only one conclusion can be reached – that their absence was intentional

    by Rob Weisgerber

    I recently attended the September 26th city council meeting with council members Ted Phelps and Kathy Bailey. This was a scheduled meeting and had been on the calendar, as per the charter. Unfortunately, the meeting never took place due to a lack of quorum when the other three members of council did not show up. (City council no-shows: “Alignment of planets” or “Act of political cowardice?”)

    To cancel a meeting requires a vote of the council – there is no unilateral authority by any one member to cancel or reschedule a planned meeting.  

    Most importantly, I did not find a case where there was a lack of quorum to do the business of the City.

    If and when an individual member of council cannot make a meeting, it has not been an issue. However, In my history on council I can’t remember a time when 3 members had last-minute plans come up which caused a lack of quorum, halting a regularly scheduled meeting.

    Council members do sometimes have to miss meetings. Almost always council votes to excuse him or her. The fact that people miss meetings is not disputable or even in question in my opinion. As a matter of openness, I have missed roughly 18 meetings over 7 years (that is about 165 meetings). This is about an average of 2 to 3  meetings per year. With legitimate reason or cause, being excused is appropriate for any member of council.

    I could not remember in my history on council when we have had 3 members of council miss the same meeting or, even worse, not having a quorum to conduct city business. Nor could I find any request to move a meeting because a couple of members could not make the meeting. This is the real issue. Looking back through the last 8 years of records, I could find about 4 or 5 meetings where 2 members missed the same meeting. No meetings in that time had 3 members missing a meeting. Most importantly, I did not find a case where there was a lack of quorum to do the business of the City.

    Several times while on our family vacation, as happened this year in August, I flew home at my own expense to make the scheduled meeting.

    The first I had received any information from Vice-Mayor Angie Settell was through the city solicitor, about 60 hours following our last regular meeting. The email stated that there may be a problem and she wanted a special meeting the following week. This discussion should have taken place at the council meeting just 2 and 1/2 days prior. My schedule is very busy and full and I could not accommodate her request. Council members Bailey, Ted Phelps, and I did propose other dates but I received no feedback regarding our offer. I did make it clear that priority has to be given to the scheduled meetings as we all know they are coming and can plan. If I make plans that I can control I schedule them for non-council weeks. Several times while on our family vacation, as happened this year in August, I flew home at my own expense to make the scheduled meeting. There are times outside of my control when I can’t make a meeting due to work commitments.

    I did not receive Ms. Settell’s email claiming to be a press release. I also noticed a real issue with the date of the notice being September 19th as meeting alternatives were offered following that date.

    In the last several months we have now had Pam Gross, Steven Zamagias, Settell, and former mayor Mark Fitzgerald vote to schedule a meeting where Bailey, Phelps, and I could not attend, a walk out meeting where Gross, Zamagias, Settell, and Fitzgerald created a lack of quorum to do the business of the city by abruptly ending it and walking out. Now we have the same members not showing up so no meeting can occur. Only one conclusion can be reached – that their absence was intentional – again.

    While I have missed meetings before, not once did any absence of mine preclude the business of the city getting accomplished.  I take my commitment to you and the city seriously.

    Rob Weisgerber is a member of Loveland City Council

    More Background:

    Golladay says three blind mice Settell, Gross, and Zamagias must fully explain their absence immediately

    No Council quorum – no meeting

    Off and on again Council meeting for Tuesday?

    City council no-shows: “Alignment of planets” or “Act of political cowardice?”

     

    Take Home Tano is about fresh, wholesome food for the frenzied family   Our goal is to meet the needs of busy families

     

  • Clermont Commissioners approve increase in poll worker pay

    Clermont Commissioners approve increase in poll worker pay

    Clermont County is seeking 30 Democratic poll workers for the Nov. 7 general election

    Batavia, Ohio – Clermont County Commissioners approved on Sept. 27 an increase in the pay of county local precinct officials, also known as poll workers.

    Beginning immediately, one-day pay for poll workers will go from $105 to $120. Pay for training, which typically lasts two to three hours, will increase from $25 to $35. And pay for mileage will increase, from a minimum of $10 a trip to a maximum of $55 a trip. Poll workers are paid mileage based on the distance from the Board of Elections in Batavia, where they pick up equipment and supplies, to the precinct polling place.

    “This is the first increase in pay for our poll workers since 2008,” said Judy Miller, Director of the Clermont County Board of Elections. “Our poll workers are dedicated to what they do, and they are responsible for making our elections a success. They work long days, and we are grateful that the Commissioners recognized that they were due a raise in pay.”

    Clermont County has 167 precincts, and four poll workers – two Democrats and two Republicans – are required by law to staff every precinct. Currently, Clermont County is seeking 30 Democratic poll workers for the Nov. 7 general election. Races for cities, villages, townships, and school boards will be on the ballot, along with a race for a Municipal Court judge, as well as two state issues.

    If you are interested in finding out more about being a poll worker, call the Board of Elections at 513.732.7275. You will also find information here: http://www.clermontelections.org/precinct-election-officials.

    Now Enrolling at All About Kids at Wards Corner today!

     
  • Golladay says three blind mice Settell, Gross, and Zamagias must fully explain their absence immediately

    Golladay says three blind mice Settell, Gross, and Zamagias must fully explain their absence immediately

     

    These three blind mice chose to offend we Loveland residents by disappearing for the week

     

    by Walter D. Golladay

    On 26 September, Loveland City Council was scheduled to meet on the 4th Tuesday of the month. Because a quorum of four council members did not happen, the meeting did not officially take place.

    For unknown reasons, these three blind mice of Vice Mayor Angie Settell, and Council members Pam Gross and Stephen Zamagias were absent without just cause from their appointed duty station. That being, City Hall, Loveland, Ohio, 7 pm.

    These three blind mice chose to conduct personal business elsewhere, not for the benefit of Loveland residents, but for another business, another individual, or themselves.

    This Loveland resident has the firm belief that the 3 blind mice chose not to appear in order to prevent a council quorum being established with the City Council members present of Kathy Bailey, Robert Weisgerber and Ted Phelps. Kathy, Robert and Ted would have been the majority council members for the evening.

    The three blind mice, need to be held accountable. In explicit detail, they must explain to the Loveland residents where they were that evening, and why they could not attend a long established council meeting date.

    The three blind mice must explain to the Loveland residents where they were that evening.

    They must also explain why none of them were available to attend alternates council meeting dates of Monday through Thursday, 25 – 28 September.

    These three blind mice chose to offend we Loveland residents by disappearing for the week and preventing scheduled City of Loveland business from being conducted.

    Should any or all of the three blind mice not be able to offer a valid reason for their absence, then we Loveland residents need to seriously consider not voting for them in the upcoming 2017 General Election.

    These 3 blind mice must fully explain their absence at the 26 September Council meeting. 

    Immediately.

    Walter D. Golladay is a resident of Loveland, Ohio

    Three blind mice. Three blind mice.

    See how they run. See how they run. 

     

    Three Blind Mice.ogg
    Author: CambridgeBayWeather
    Date:

     

     
     
  • Loveland Council Voter Poll

    Loveland Council Voter Poll

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  • No Council quorum – no meeting

    No Council quorum – no meeting

    Loveland, Ohio – There was a scheduled Loveland City Council meeting for Tuesday, September 26 at City Hall. Three members of Council were in attendance… Kathy Bailey, Ted Phelps, and Rob Weisgerber. Vice-Mayor Angie Settell, Pam Gross, and Steve Zamagias did not attend. Without a quorum and a fourth member in attendance the meeting was never called to order, no business was discussed, and no legislation passed.

    Near the -20:53 minute mark of this video Councilman Ted Phelps addressed the audience and gave his explanation of why there was no meeting.

  • Off and on again Council meeting for Tuesday?

    Off and on again Council meeting for Tuesday?

    by David Miller, Publisher

    Loveland, Ohio – Apparently Tuesday’s City Council meeting will take place, however, there may be no business conducted. On Thursday, September 21 Loveland Magazine received the following email from Loveland’s Vice Mayor Angie Settell:

    Never before receiving a press release from an individual member of the council, Loveland Magazine proceeded cautiously on reporting the press release. In this highly charged election season, it seemed prudent to verify Settell’s message and verify that it, in fact, came from her. Press releases are almost always either sent out from the City Manager’s office or the Clerk of Council. Add to that, the release sent by Settell referred to “We” as if it was being sent on behalf of others or from City Hall.

    After receiving the “Press Release” we looked on the City Web site to see if in fact the meeting was canceled as the release might suggest. It was not. It was still listed as a public meeting and there was no “Press Release” on the website such as the one Settell sent out, the City Facebook page, or the City Twitter page. Looking at the City Facebook page also confirmed that there was a council meeting on Tuesday, September 26.

    An email was sent to the Clerk of Council and the City Manager asking for clarification. We asked two questions. Did it come from Settell? Is there a meeting?

    City Manager Dave Kennedy answered at 2 Pm on Monday simply saying, “There will not be enough members for a quorum at tomorrow’s meeting.”

    Clerk of Council Misty Cheshire responded at 5:43 PM on Monday by saying, “The press release did not come from the City and was independently done by an individual council member. The meeting is scheduled for tomorrow night and will take place if a quorum is present.”

    After the recent resignation of former Mayor, Mark Fitzgerald there remains six members of Council. A quorum of Council would be four. Settell’s release would suggest that three of the six council members do not plan on attending Tuesday’s meeting. She did not say which members would not be attending.

    Not on the meeting agenda, but a decision that could be made at any future meeting is a vote on who will take Fitzgerald’s seat and serve the remaining two years of his vacated term. It will require at least four members to agree on a replacement. A 3-3 split council as it is today is a delicate attendance balance.

    You can read the Agenda for the meeting where apparently none of the business listed will be conducted.

    LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV will be at City Hall tomorrow night at 7 PM and be broadcasting live on our Facebook Page.

     

     

     

    Loveland Sweets – Fine Candies

     

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  • Ryan Kulik announces he is working for Pam Gross campaign

    Ryan Kulik announces he is working for Pam Gross campaign

    Loveland, Ohio – Recent political climate critic, Ryan Kulik told Loveland Magazine this morning that he is now working on behalf of the re-election of Pam Gross to retain her seat on City Council. Kulik has been an outspoken critic of Councilman Rob Weisgerber, The Loveland Community Heartbeat PAC (LCHPAC) whom he recently called, “political motivated amateurs”, and the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance. He has called them all anti-growth and anti-development. Weisgerber is also seeking to be re-elected to Council.

    Ryan Kulik has announced he is working for the Pam Gross re-election committee.

    As recently as September 12 after one of his opinion pieces was published in Loveland Magazine Kulik said in an email to the newspaper, “I am currently not working with anyone associated with the city council. I have talked with a few people who are running, but I have yet to sign a contract to exclusively work for anyone. Due to confidentiality agreements I can not reveal who I have spoken with. I did want you to know all of this so it is clear where I am coming from. As long as I am free from any contracts in the city, I would like to continue to get my opinions out in this volatile political climate. I will keep you updated if any of this changes.”

    Then in an email to the newspaper on September 17 concerning a guest opinion that he submitted about first-time council candidate Tim Butler, that has not yet been published, he said, “It is up to you on publishing the Butler letter. When I wrote the letter I was still an independent player in the political scene. That may change this week. My credibility, if any, as an unbiased source will be in question by the end of the week.”

    Councilwoman Pam Gross

    Loveland Magazine responded to Kulik by asking if he would go ahead and disclose what he was referencing. His response came this morning saying, “I just sent out a press release that should clear up my current situation. Anything I wrote before today was from my own opinion as a resident. Anything after today that I send out concerning the 2017 election will, and should, be seen as a message from the Pam Gross for Loveland City Council campaign.” In the press release, Kulik is quoted as the “Campaign Manager” for the Pam Gross for Loveland City Council campaign.

    Halie Rebeccaschild is the Secretary and Spokesperson for The Loveland Community Heartbeat PAC

    Kulik, a self-described blowhard and political expert has submitted several opinion pieces to Loveland Magazine and is not without his fans and critics after among other things calling community members opposed to the re-election of Gross, “anti-business” and “partisan amateurs”. He said recently, “Their political tactics consist of being filled with rage and discord” and “This group of concerned citizens ignorantly attack hard working public servants.” Kulik called them a mob and “politically motivated flame throwing amateurs.” He warned that the Loveland Community Heartbeat PAC should be well versed in what libel and slander are.

    Halie Rebeccaschild is the Secretary and Spokesperson for LCHPAC. She told Loveland Magazine today that she and the group had suspected that Kulik had been working to re-elect Gross because some of the things he had written had mimicked some of Gross’ talking points at council meetings. She said that there is one thing she wants the public to know about LCHPAC, “We are a grassroots movement and not political professionals.”

    BACKGOUND:

    Ryan Kulik: Loveland Deserves a Better Class of Politics

    James McKenna responds to Ryan Kulik

    Ryan Kulik: Political motivated amateurs have taken over

    Loveland Community Heartbeat PAC responds to Mr. Kulik

    An Apology from Ryan Kulik

    Now Enrolling at All About Kids at Wards Corner today!

     
  • Loveland Magazine’s Voter Poll

    Loveland Magazine’s Voter Poll

    Loveland Sweets is a purveyor of hand-crafted chocolates, caramels, marshmallows, and ice creams. Our house-made candies are prepared in small batches.