My Accomplishments

By Eric Minamyer

This is a partial list of things accomplished since I took office. I pledge to continue to serve Symmes with the same vigor and skill in the future.

1. "Identifying" Symmes as a great place to live and work as part of vision to stop annexations.

2. Only two successful annexations by Loveland were land they bought adjacent to Symmes.

3. Safety Service Center initiated.

4. Safety sidewalk and road resurfacing plan initiated.

5. Getting log house on the Meade property by opening communication with Historical Society.

6. Leadership during tornado.

7. Two months as acting administrator

8. Recent garbage clean up at apartments initiated

9. Blong Memorial Park initiated

10. Green space program, which includes buying land near river for future use but doing so as quietly as possible and slowly so we don't have to pay much.

11. Effective tax rate lower now than when I took office with excellent service

12. Salt domes

13. Converting of old district three to maintenance department use allowing for much need storage and work space at the township without additional cost

14. Improvements to Symmes Park; electric service and the barn.

15. Veterans Memorial initiated

16. Master Plan initiated at Jerry Beckman's suggestion but with significant additions to the plan

17. Improved website and distribution of information to public

18. Got sidewalk project done on Lebanon Road after opposition to start project by other board members.

19. Improved relations with ODOT and County Engineer after prior board had battled with them

20. With John Borcher's help the trustees have been able to pay all debts ahead of schedule thus saying $100,000's in interest.

21. Contributed money for road improvements to Montgomery Road and Loveland-Madeira Road

22. Insisted upon developers building sidewalks in accordance with our ordinance.

23. Ad Hoc committee structure.

24. Built good relations with Loveland

25. Communication Center.

26. Kept HCSO when some at Symmes and Sycamore wanted to form a separate police force.

27. Treated all board members with respect as President.

28. Addressed surface water issues in Camp Dennison and by acquiring hole and Blong so we can retain water to slow down Polk Run.

29. Initiated more open forum at meetings allowing citizens to speak during discussion of issues

30. Initiated tax on hotel guests

31. Home Rule

32. Local zoning

33. Initiated invocation for board meetings

34. Work with state and local government officials and businesses to ensure Symmes Township is well represented in regional planning in projects such as Loveland-Madeira Road, Montgomery Road and Kemper Road as well as Polk Run Watershed. Our administrator works in regional groups on our behalf.

35. Move forward with successes such as the Rozzi property park development. The park committee has already been appointed (13 members from around the township). An agreement with the Historical Society for the Ross Log House was negotiated by me and approved by the Board. The land has already been cleared and a ceremony is set for Oct 22.

36. I have already secured pledges for donation of the marble base and the fabrication for the monument in the Veterans Memorial. We purchased the marble etched picture and started to raise private funds for the project. The likely land location has already been transferred to township ownership.

37. I am already working with developers to bring new projects that fit in with community goals. The Master Plan project started in 2006, to which I am the board liaison, is well underway. The writing of a strategic development plan will guide the leaders of the township for decades to come. JC Penney is a good example of redevelopment of the commercial areas of the township. That entire shopping center has a new look.

38. I have advocated a position on the township staff that would include an economic development role in addition to resident communications (news letter, internet, etc.). As of yet we do not have the budget room for this, but I am hoping to see this done.

39. I have introduced measures at our board meetings to enhance citizen participation in matters that impact their homes and neighborhoods. Our "hearing from residents" segments which are greatly improved from when I first joined the board allow anyone to address the board. We have no time limits and do not require that questions be in writing or approved in advance.

40. In 2006 I announced that citizens can ask to speak during board deliberations on an issue. We ask only that the speaker be polite and respect that the board meeting is an official proceeding. Citizen participation has helped the board and I intend to continue this practice. Again, we are the most open board of which I am aware. Most boards and council severely restrict citizen participation. Sometimes people use the opportunity to personally attack board members but I feel the benefits outweigh this.

41. We have promoted development of projects that enhances citizen safety and comfort. For example we added the resource officer in the schools. We also built the new safety service center to house both District 3 of the Sheriff's Office and replace the Chapel Square Firehouse (which was old and too small). Our fire service is one of the best in the state. Everything that can be done to improve safety services is done as soon as possible. The ISO rating of the FSFD also saves our residents money on their insurance.

42. We recently added radio controls to traffic lights in the fire trucks path to assure prompt arrival at scenes. Our response times are very rapid.

43. We have local dispatchers familiar with Symmes streets and buildings sending police and fire to our citizens in need.

44. We instituted a system to bill insurance companies for ambulance and fire truck runs so we can recoup the cost of serving non-residents. This is especially helpful considering how much interstate we are responsible to cover. Yes, we provide ambulance service for accidents on the interstates on I275 and I71 in Symmes. This is expensive so we are trying to get some of that money back from insurance carriers.

45. We have more officers now than when I was first elected. We work closely with the HCSO to make sure we have the correct number of officers at all times. WE also now have full-time detectives working out of the Safety Service Center.

46. Promote zoning and recycling decisions that enhance the quality of life of residents of many communities. We now have home rule and local zoning, both of which came during my tenure. WE recycle regularly and participate in countywide recycling already.

47. I have fostered strong relationships with the Ohio Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Sewer District, and County Commissioners to provide comment and input on issues like flood control and road maintenance. I started (along with Mike Gentry) township road resurfacing. We contribute to state route improvements which are under the jurisdiction of the county engineer. The County Engineer has endorsed me.

48. I apply true concrete solutions to the issues facing Symmes Township.

49. I constantly look for new and better ways to deliver maximum value for tax dollars. This includes partnerships with other governments and private enterprise.

50. A clear vision and concrete results is what I offer to the voters. Please re-elect me on November 6 so I can continue my service to you.