Miami Township, Montgomery County, Ohio

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                              CONTACT:             Tracy Williams

                                                                                                                          937-433-9969

Miami Township Voters Approve Police Levy

Miami Township, Ohio – Miami Township voters approved today a 5.25 mill property tax police levy.

Township officials voiced the importance in passing the levy saying it was necessary to maintain current police services.

“This levy will help fill gaps in our funding and keep our officers on the streets,” Miami Township Chief of Police Chris Krug said. “The safety of our residents and businesses are important to our department, and we are pleased we can continue offering the same level of service to the township.”

Deborah Preston, president of the Miami Township Trustees, said the levy will make the community a better place.

“Maintaining our police services is important in keeping our community a great place to live and do business,” Preston said. “Our officers are committed to doing their job and today voters placed their confidence in them to do just that.”

A similar levy failed in 2012 requiring the department to utilize reserve funds in order to maintain current staffing levels. Krug said those funds would be nearly depleted by the end of 2013.

“We were faced with the reality of less revenue, a failed levy last year and reserve funds that were running out,” Krug said. “We were looking at a budget that would have forced us to lay off half of our officers and support staff.

“This levy will ensure we are properly staffed and equipped to do our job, and we would like to thank the voters for their endorsement of the job we are doing.”

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The men and women of the Miami Township Police Department are proud to serve you with a high level of professionalism and integrity. Our police department’s focus is to protect our residents and businesses. It is not an easy job, but it is necessary to keep Miami Township a great place to live and do business. These men and women are committed to this mission.

On May 7, residents will vote on Issue 8, a levy that will allow the Miami Township Police Department to operate at the current level of service we currently provide to the community. Passage of this levy is critical in keeping our officers on the streets.

About 72 percent of the police department’s budget is for personnel with the other 28 percent dedicated to fixed costs that cannot be reduced. Without this levy, personnel cuts will result in a loss of half of our police officers and support staff. Losing these personnel will have a dramatic impact on our community. It will decrease police visibility, delay emergency response, and eliminate other important services we directly provide throughout the township.

It is important for our residents to understand why this levy is needed in order to continue the great work of our department. Years of property value declines, the elimination of the personal property tax, and general inflation have led to a loss in funding. Operating costs continue to increase while these factors result in fewer dollars. The levy will allow our department to recoup these losses and prepare for future funding needs.

The Miami Township Police Department has seen outstanding accomplishments over the past few years. We are proud to have been recognized for many of our community programs. In fact, we have received national recognition for 11 straight years of our “National Night Out Against Crime” events and a “Top Ten in the Country Recognition” in 2012, partnered with the Dayton Mall to create and implement the nationally recognized “Must Be 16” policy, and received the South Metro Regional Chamber of Commerce “Courage in Business Award.” Our department also reduced felony crimes by 10 percent in the past year and is moving toward accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. These successes show how important our role is in Miami Township.

Last fall, voters rejected a similar levy resulting in a loss of half of the department’s operating budget. Utilizing reserve funds built over the years with proper fiscal management, the department was able to maintain current staffing levels despite the loss in funding. Unfortunately those reserve funds will be nearly exhausted by the end of 2013.

In this election, we have a chance to ensure the financial stability of our department and the continuation of quality service.  Our department has proudly served Miami Township since 1956, and we look forward to continuing to provide a high quality of service to the community.

Waste Management will continue to collect trash, recycling, yard waste and large items on Wednesdays.

Beginning in 2014, Waste Management will provide residents with either a 35-gallon or 96-gallon recyclables container at no additional cost.  Also in 2014, recyclables will be collected every other week.  For the remainder of 2013, the 18-gallon recycling bins now being used will be collected weekly. Residents may continue to rent trash carts for $3 per month, or use their own containers.

In May, residents will receive additional service information directly from Waste Management. Questions regarding new service should be directed to the Waste Management customer service center at 1-866-797-9018. Residents choosing to decline service must call the Waste Management customer service center by May 17, 2013 to avoid receiving a bill for June service.

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Ohio Department of Transportation

Between SR 725 and Dryden Road

 Montgomery County (Monday, April 9, 2012) – A traffic pattern switch will take place on I-75 between SR 725 and Dryden Road beginning Monday, April 9^th at 7 am.  I-75 northbound traffic will be shifted to the outside lanes of I-75 northbound.  The inside lane of I-75 southbound will utilize the crossover lane, crossing over the median and using one lane of I-75 northbound.  The two remaining lanes of I-75 southbound will be shifted to the inside of I-75 southbound.  There will be short term lane restrictions during this switch, but three lanes will remain open to motorists in each direction at all times.  The switch is expected to be complete by Friday, April 13^th at 5 pm.

This traffic pattern switch will allow the contractor to rebuild the outside half of I-75 southbound near the West Carrollton interchange.

In addition to the traffic pattern shift, the following ramps will close the evening of Thursday, April 12^th and are scheduled to reopen Saturday, June 9^th:

-          Ramp from I-75 southbound to Central Avenue

-          Ramp from Central Avenue to I-75 southbound

The official detour for these ramp closures is:

-          I-75 south to Central Avenue: Take Dryden Road exit, go south on Dryden Road to Central Avenue

-          Central Avenue to I-75 south: Take Central Avenue east to SR 741 south to SR 725 west to I-75 south

These ramp closures are due to a contractor building retaining walls, reconstructing the ramps and working on bridge decks at that location.

Arrow boards and signs will be in place prior to the work zone to alert motorists of the upcoming closures. Law enforcement will be on hand to monitor traffic flow.  All work is weather permitting.

Safety is a top priority at ODOT.  To help ensure the safety of the construction workers as well as the traveling public, motorists should remain alert, reduce their speed and watch for stopped traffic while passing through the work zone.

The Spring edition of the Miami Township newsletter can be accessed by clicking here.

The Miami Township website has a very helpful “Search” function located in the upper right hand corner of the home page. If you re looking for something, use Search!

Grounds Maintenance

Applications for the position of Maintenance Worker with the Public Works Department are being accepted through 4:30 PM, 04/05/2012.

Application information and downloads are available by clicking here or by visiting the Government Center at 2700 Lyons Road, Miamisburg, OH 45342.

Ohio Department of Transportation

Montgomery County (Tuesday, March 13, 2012) –  ODOT bridge inspectors will be in the area of the SR 725 bridge west of Germantown Tuesday, March 13^th beginning at 9 am. One lane of SR 725 will be closed for the routine inspections.  The inspection is expected to take approximately four hours.  One lane of traffic will remain open to motorists during inspections.

Inspectors will also be in the following areas throughout the day:

I-75 south ramp to I-675 north in Miami Township

Crews will close one lane of traffic on each route for routine inspections.  Each inspection is expected to take approximately four hours. One lane of traffic will remain open to motorists on each route during inspections.

ODOT crews will be performing routine bridge inspections with a large truck equipped with a bucket that swings out under the bridge to allow personnel to examine and evaluate each bridge.

Arrow boards and signs will be in place prior to the work zone to alert motorists of the upcoming lane closures.  All work is weather permitting.

Safety is a top priority at ODOT.  To help ensure the safety of the construction workers as well as the traveling public, motorists should remain alert, reduce their speed and watch for stopped traffic while passing through the work zone.

Ohio’s highways are essential to keeping and creating new jobs.  With a mission to provide easy movement of people and goods from place to place, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is responsible for maintaining one of the largest transportation networks in the nation.  Guided by ethical principles and accountability, ODOT works to improve safety, enhance travel and advance economic development.  As a $2.8 billion enterprise, the department wisely invests in its core services of snow and ice removal, annual construction program and highway maintenance operations.

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For more information contact:

Mandi Abner, Public Information Officer (937) 497-6820

Prescription and Over the Counter Drug Drop Off

The Miami Township Police Department, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and the R.A.N.G.E. Task Force will be holding a drop off for all unwanted Prescription (Rx) and Over the Counter (OTC) medications on Saturday, October 20, 2012 between the hours of 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM at the Miami Township Administration Building, 2700 Lyons Road.  All types of medications may be dropped off.  Sharps are accepted.  Please make sure all sharps are in their proper containers when dropped off.

Due to coordination between the Montgomery County Engineer’s Office, The City of West Carrollton, and the unexpected good weather, the construction for the Farmersville West Carrollton Road and bridge projects have been moved up to February of this year. This will allow the road to reopen in late August instead of September 2012.

The bridge will be closed to traffic beginning February 15, 2012 for six months. Traffic will be rerouted to Soldiers Home Miamisburg Road, W. Sycamore Street (SR 725) in Miamisburg, and West Central Avenue. Signs will be erected notifying drivers of detour route.

Beginning March 3, 2012, Soldiers Home West Carrollton Road will be closed between Farmersville West Carrollton Road and the railroad bridge for reconstruction.  It will be reopened in late August.

Upper River Road will be closed within the City of West Carrollton city limits for a two month period in the summer 2012 for reconstruction.

Questions may directed to the City of West Carrollton.

2012 Montgomery County Dog Licenses will be sold December 1, 2011 through February 29, 2012. Miami Township provides an outpost to Montgomery County for the public’s convenience to purchase dog tags.

Dog owners need to be aware of a fee change.

Owners whose dogs have been spayed or neutered will continue to pay the current $20 license fee. However, owners whose dogs have not been altered will pay $24 per dog license beginning on December 1, 2011.

“Unaltered and unlicensed dogs comprise the majority of the animals impounded during calls for service and those involved in bites or injuries handled by Public Health – Dayton & Montgomery County,” said Montgomery County Animal Resource Center Director Mark Kumpf. “We are facing serious budget challenges as we head into the new year and this adjustment will allow the ARC to continue to provide the quality services our citizens have come to know.”

A recent survey by the County Auditor showed over 90% of dog owners support differential licensing for spayed and neutered dogs.

There are exceptions made for dog breeders who have proper registration and hunters who have a valid hunting license and use their dog for hunting. In addition, dogs who are medically certified by their veterinarian as being too old or health compromised may receive the discounted rate by providing certification with their application to the Auditor’s Office.

All currently licensed dogs registered as spayed or neutered will automatically receive the differential rate. Newly acquired dogs or those applying for the differential rate can:

• Provide veterinary records confirming spay / neuter status
• Submit a form provided by the County and completed by their veterinarian
• Submit a legal affidavit affirming that their dog is altered

Montgomery County Auditor Karl Keith reminds citizens that licenses are available online at www.mcohio.org/dogs, at the County Auditor’s Office, the Animal Resource Center and numerous outposts. Call 937-225-4314 for more information. Montgomery County is now able to accept credit cards via the web.

Ohio Revised Code provides for criminal enforcement for fraudulently acquired licenses. In the event a dog is impounded and determined to have an incorrect license, a citation may be issued and the tag forfeited.

Dog license sales are the Animal Resource Center’s major source of funding. Proceeds from license sales ensure that the Animal Resource Center can care for stray and lost animals, spay and neuter every animal that leaves the center as an adopted pet and provide animal control services throughout the County.

The Animal Resource Center is a nationally recognized shelter providing excellent service and care to the citizens of Montgomery County and their pets.