Tag: loveland ohio

City will not issue subpoena for former city manager

Solicitor responds to request by Tim Canada to subpoena former city manager Tom Carroll

Loveland, Ohio – On Tuesday, August 22, local business owner Tim Canada gave a speech at the Loveland Council meeting and said that former City Manager Tom Carroll spent $15,000 in 2013 when he hired a lobbyist group called the Colwell Group. Canada said that a total of $25,000 was paid to the Colwell Group throughout 2013, but he could not find any authorization from Council He suggested Council issue a subpoena to Carroll to investigate the $25,000 expenditure. He was essentially asking the question to Councilman Rob Weisgerber who was on Council at the time and is seeking re-election. Weisgerber said that he would respond to Canada at a later time.

Later in the meeting, Councilmember Pam Gross did respond to the allegations made by Canada. She also said that the contract with the Colwell Group was illegal, and was the same argument Council Members had for Rob Stansel’s contract. Stansel was the former economic director that had recently been let go because his contract exceeded the spending authority of current City Manager Dave Kennedy. Gross said she appreciated the fact that Mr. Weisgerber wanted to move forward, however she felt it was important to note that the Colwell Group contract was the same as Stansel’s contract and questioned why Stansel’s contract caused such an uproar, but Weisgerber wanted to gloss over the Colwell Group contract.

At the Tuesday, September 12 meeting, Weisgerber responded. He said that there was nothing illegal about the contracts with the Colwell Group, nor were there any City procedures or spending authority violated. He noted that in the 1990’s, Loveland had a city manager that did break up contracts to get around the spending limit and at that time, Council changed the rules to be very specific about the spending limit and how to break up contracts into separate issues/engagements, which are the rules today. He explained that the Colwell Group was used for three separate engagements, had separate contracts, and separate rates for specific issues. He reiterated that nothing illegal was done, no rules were violated, and the City Manager acted within his authority. He turned to Joe Braun the City Solicitor and asked him to confirm what he was saying.

Braun said that he reached out to Canada when he said the City had acted illegally and asked for a subpoena to be issued to the former city manager. He said that he also researched the Colwell Group contracts and asked the clerk of council to pull documents for him so he could check the facts. Braun stated that he came to the same conclusion that Weisgerber did, there was nothing illegal done, there were three separate contracts with the Colwell Group for three separate amounts, three different hourly rates, three different time periods, and three different objectives. He reiterated that there was nothing illegal done and no rules were violated.

In these three LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV videos you can watch Councilwoman Pam Gross and Tim Canada raising the issue of the Colwell Group contract and Weisgerber and Braun saying there was nothing illegal about how Carroll handled them.

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Sep 27, 2017
Loveland Council Voter Poll

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Sep 26, 2017
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.

Sep 26, 2017
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.

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Sep 25, 2017
Hamlin asked why lifelong resident would not receive same privilege as a business owner

Rule 19. Appearing Before Council (Five-Day Rule).

Any person, group or delegation wishing to be placed on the agenda to appear before Council shall direct a letter to the Clerk of Council so it is received by the Clerk no later than 12:00 Noon on the Thursday preceding the regularly scheduled Tuesday Council meeting, or the fifth day prior to the scheduled meeting if it is scheduled for a day other than Tuesday. The Mayor may suspend the Thursday rule in the event of unusual or emergency circumstances.

Loveland, Ohio – Life long Loveland resident Sherry Hamlin prepared a presentation to give at the September 12 council meeting, but while practicing it she discovered it was too long to fit into the five minutes allotted if she spoke during the Open Forum agenda item of the meeting. She said, “As I practiced my presentation it was running long and I didn’t want to cut it short.”

Anyone is allowed to just go to a meeting and sign a sheet at the doorway to the council chambers and they are given five minutes to address any subject on their mind, but Hamlin also knew of the “Appearing Before Council (Five-Day Rule)” which allows people to contact the Clerk of Council by noon on the Thursday preceding the meeting, and be allowed ten minutes of speaking time.

Hamlin said she wrote the required request three days before the cut-off, and it was the first time she had ever requested to speak in that time slot. “What happened next surprised me. I received a reply that Vice-Mayor Angie Settell denied my request to speak before council and suggested I consider speaking during the Open Forum instead. It seems I don’t have much choice since I was omitted from the agenda published on Friday.” She said there were no other requirements, “I just had to do was ask by Thursday at noon. I asked on Monday, nearly three full days before the deadline and I saw nothing in the rules that allowed the Vice-Mayor to deny my request.”

After the meeting, Hamlin told Loveland Magazine that what she originally wanted to talk about at the council meeting would have to wait for another meeting because the denial of speaking rights suddenly took precedence.

Hamlin said that business owner Tim Canada who does not live in Loveland or pay personal income taxes to the City has appeared during the ten-minute time slot four times since the beginning of the year. She asked Settell, “So I would like to ask this question. Why is it that a local business owner is permitted to speak during persons before Council, but I a resident am not?”

You can watch these LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV videos to see Hamlin asking her question, Settell’s response, and Councilwoman Kathy Baliey’s response. The Vice-Mayor defended her actions however Bailey raised some of the same questions as Hamlin.

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Sep 25, 2017
October 1st is last day of season for Dairy Whip

Sep 24, 2017

Loveland Soccer now ranked #1 in Ohio and #4 in Nation

Senior, Colleen “Jelly” Swift does a front flip throw-in

Don’t miss this chance to see the 4th best Womens soccer team in the nation play this Saturday at Loveland Stadium

UP-DATE: Loveland beat Ross on their Senior Night 7-0 with another shut-out and are now 11-0.

Senior, Brice Grieshop dribbles in the Campbell County game. Brice scored for Loveland, helping secure their decisive 8-0 victory

Loveland, Ohio – MaXPreps has the Loveland Womens soccer team ranked #1 in Ohio. The Tigers are 10-0 and 4-0 in Eastern Cincinnati Conference play. They have only had 1 goal scored against them this year. MaXPreps also says the Tigers are the 4th best team in the USA.

The Loveland varsity soccer team has a home non-conference game against Ross on Saturday, September 23 at Tiger Stadium. Game time is 7 PM.

SEE the full list of Ohio team rankings. MaXPreps says 11-0, but the Tigers are 10-0.

School Name	*W-L-T	*Pct.	*GF	*GA	W-L-T	Pct.	GF	GA	Strk
Loveland	4-0-0	1.000	14	0	11-0-0	1.000	44	1	11 W
Medina	3-0-0	1.000	18	0	8-0-0	1.000	37	1	8 W
Lakewood	1-0-0	1.000	2	1	1-0-0	1.000	2	1	1 W
Tecumseh	0-0-0	0.000	0	0	7-0-0	1.000	28	3	7 W
Marietta	4-0-0	1.000	29	1	10-0-1	0.955	47	8	5 W
Pickerington North	1-0-1	0.750	7	0	10-0-1	0.955	44	9	1 W
Hoover	2-0-0	1.000	12	0	5-0-1	0.917	26	3	1 T
Xenia	0-0-0	0.000	0	0	10-1-0	0.909	43	8	9 W
Anthony Wayne	4-0-0	1.000	16	1	10-1-0	0.909	26	8	4 W
Geneva	0-0-0	0.000	0	0	4-0-1	0.900	16	4	1 T

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Sep 23, 2017

ORDER DEADLINE EXTENDED – Tree Corps Fall Tree Sale

Because of the number of trees already ordered we can extend the ORDER DEADLINE to

SEPT. 26

WHEN YOU PLANT A TREE, YOU ARE INVESTING IN THE LONG TERM BEAUTY AND CHARACTER OF THE LOVELAND AREA, A TRUE GIFT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

Volunteers planting Tree Corps trees along Loveland Madeira Rd, in front of the Loveland Primary and Elementary School, last fall.

by David Miller

Volunteers planting a bald cypress along Loveland Madeira Road last fall. Biological diversity helps prevent wholesale loss of tree cover if a pest or disease hits your area. The Tree Corps chose a variety of trees so a single pest or disease would not greatly impact our effort in the future.

Order Deadline NOW: Sept. 26

Pickup Date: Saturday October 7th, 8 AM to 2 PM

Loveland, Ohio -Last fall Loveland’s Tree Planting Alliance (Tree Corps) held its first successful sale and volunteer tree planting event as part of Make a Difference Day. Eighty trees were sold to home and business owners. Volunteers planted 20 trees in public spaces, mostly in front of the Loveland Primary and Elementary schools, along Loveland Madeira Road. The City of Loveland participated by buying trees for the new Cox Parking Lot. Afterwards, Loveland City Manager Dave Kennedy said, “This was a great event. We are adding [trees] in some good locations.”

The tree sale this past spring went well also.

In an effort to continue the momentum, the Loveland Tree Corps is again offering a Fall sale of attractive, hardwood, shade trees, all of which grow well in southwest Ohio. At maturity, these trees will provide that wonderfully high canopy that adds so much character to our community.

The available trees are listed on the order form, including two that are appropriate for sites with overhead wires. Download the Tree Corps Order Form Fall 2017

The City of Loveland bought many trees. This one was planted by Public Works in a City park.

The Loveland Tree Corps was founded by Loveland Magazine and Loveland resident, Cindy Kessler because currently more trees are being removed than are being planted. In an effort to reverse this trend, the Tree Corps is providing reasonably priced trees and encouraging people to plant them anywhere and everywhere: at home, church, place of business, local parks/schools/etc (with permission, of course). Plant to shade pavement from the summer sun, to shade your house and reduce your summer AC bill, to improve neighborhood property values, for a friend to make them smile, for environmental reasons, or simply for the sheer beauty that trees provide. Whatever your reason, let’s all make our community a little greener one season at a time.

Pickup will be Saturday October 7th between 8 AM until 2 PM at Loveland Magazine, 514 W. Loveland Avenue, Loveland, Ohio, 45140 (next to Union Savings Bank, look for signs). Orders must be received before Sept. 26.

Cindy Kessler did some final pruning before orders were picked up last fall.

Biological diversity helps prevent widespread loss of trees if a pest or disease hits your area, as we are currently experiencing with the Emerald Ash Borer. For this reason, the tree offerings include some trees that may be new to you. Though lesser known, they are beautiful shade trees that do great in our area. If you are going to buy more than one, be sure to choose a variety of species.

The trees are in manageable 3-gallon containers and cost $25 each.

Pickup Date: Saturday October 7th between 8 AM until 2 PM at:

Loveland Magazine

514 W. Loveland Avenue

Loveland, Ohio, 45140

(Next to Union Savings Bank, look for signs)

Please know that we may have to make substitutions at the last minute, without being able to notify you. Feel free to write your preferences on the back of the order form and we’ll do our best to accommodate them.

For additional information: David Miller (513-305-6071) or Cindy Kessler (513-403-1427) or email treecorps@cinci.rr.com.

Download the Tree Corps Order Form Fall 2017

The trees were wrapped with a guard which made them less prone to accidental damage, and leaf mulch was applied to provide nourishment and retain water.

Sep 22, 2017
[Exclusive Video] Loveland Stage Company dedicates their new marquee

Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland Stage Company cut a red ribbon, hooted, and lit up their new marquee at dusk on Tuesday.

This LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV video is exclusive coverage of the event and includes an interview with Bob Kessler about how for the most part volunteers constructed the new sign. Kessler led the project and is the President of the Stage Company.

The new lighted marquee replaces a sign that laid flat on the front of the wall and was not very visible as motorist and pedestrians went past the theater. The still photos of the construction below were provided by the Stage Company. (© 2017 Loveland Stage Company)

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Sep 20, 2017
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

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Sep 19, 2017