Wind and rain in December; takes its’ toll on our houses and neighborhood, trash flies out of the trash cans and down the streets; we can only hope into another trash can. That does not seem to happen; so how can we help? By being neighborly and picking up the trash that we see on the street or maybe while cleaning up your yard extending a helping hand to your neighbor and picking up the trash in the yard next door. I know that when I walk our dog in the neighborhood I take one of the many shopping bags that we collected before going greener by using reusable shopping bags; and pickup the trash on my path to and from our walk. I know it not a big area but I can fill a plastic bag with trash and make our neighborhood look a little better.
Jim
Residential Committee Chair
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Some Walnut Hills News!! We have received a Christmas present from the City of Dayton!! We found out the lot that we are in the process of using the Real Estate Acquisition Program (R.E.A.P) offered by the City of Dayton is going for the first Sheriff’s sale. For those who don’t now the REAP program is offered to City of Dayton residents the opportunity to acquire abandoned lots for minimal cost, it can take up to 18 months from start to finish but in the end the resident ends up with more land and the city loses an eyesore win/win.
The Judge signed the paper on 23 December. We are very happy!!!! Now we are starting to plan for the new house. How big, how many rooms? How green do we go? All the fun questions as we plan for the present and future.
The Judge signed the paper on 23 December. We are very happy!!!! Now we are starting to plan for the new house. How big, how many rooms? How green do we go? All the fun questions as we plan for the present and future.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
What"s Happening With the SID? Updated
Last year we were featured in the local news because we were considering setting up the neighborhood as a Special Improvement District. Something that hasn't been done before in Ohio for a residential neighborhood. Since then not much has happened. The main reason being that I didn't have much time to produce petition forms and go out into the neighborhood to get signatures from residents. We were also faced with a school levy late in the year which required an outcome before I could ask property owners to put up money to take care of their own neighborhood. With something like 2500 properties within the neighborhood boundaries, in order to obtain the assessment, we require that 1200 owners (60%) agree to the special assessment which was $50 per property per year with a five year term. In order to continue beyond the five year term we need to go through the signature process again. There is still some paperwork to finalize also before proceeding at full tilt. Since this signature gathering phase is truly a monumental task, I decided that the best thing to do was talk to the first two hundred property owners myself and have them sign a petition that states whether they are in favor or opposed to the idea. This will give us actual results that indicate whether there is support for the concept beyond the neighborhood association. If the support exists than I will seek a team of volunteers to get signatures from property owners on their own streets and finalize the service plan which also needs to be approved by signatures from 60% of the owners.
I will update the results as I proceed but here is what we have so far. These results will determine whether or not we proceed with the process.
As of 12/29/08 Total number of property owners consulted = 97
In favor = 79 (82%)
Opposed = 9 (9%)
Undecided = 9 (9%)
Although this is a "tax" attached to our property, most owners are viewing it as an investment in our neighborhood. Those opposed to the assessment so far are elderly on fixed incomes and the few people who don't want to pay any taxes for any reason. The numbers could adjust dramatically once we start talking to the owners of rental properties and bank owned foreclosures.
I have been informed that the city commission and planning department are 100% behind this initiative now that they fully understand that this would make Walnut Hills a very desirable neighborhood to reside in. Basically we would be generating some $100,000 a year which can only be used for improvements in our neighborhood. By taking care of many of our own problems and having the ability to fund our own projects we should find that numbers of vacant properties become reduced as desirability increases. Rents should become more competitive also which will filter out many of the irresponsible tenants.
We should all be proud to be willing to attempt this. Especially in the current economic climate. We have been called "pioneers" and "trailblazers" by other neighborhood associations which follows in the tradition of the first settlers in this neighborhood.
I will update the results as I proceed but here is what we have so far. These results will determine whether or not we proceed with the process.
As of 12/29/08 Total number of property owners consulted = 97
In favor = 79 (82%)
Opposed = 9 (9%)
Undecided = 9 (9%)
Although this is a "tax" attached to our property, most owners are viewing it as an investment in our neighborhood. Those opposed to the assessment so far are elderly on fixed incomes and the few people who don't want to pay any taxes for any reason. The numbers could adjust dramatically once we start talking to the owners of rental properties and bank owned foreclosures.
I have been informed that the city commission and planning department are 100% behind this initiative now that they fully understand that this would make Walnut Hills a very desirable neighborhood to reside in. Basically we would be generating some $100,000 a year which can only be used for improvements in our neighborhood. By taking care of many of our own problems and having the ability to fund our own projects we should find that numbers of vacant properties become reduced as desirability increases. Rents should become more competitive also which will filter out many of the irresponsible tenants.
We should all be proud to be willing to attempt this. Especially in the current economic climate. We have been called "pioneers" and "trailblazers" by other neighborhood associations which follows in the tradition of the first settlers in this neighborhood.
Monday, December 15, 2008
City Advises Extra Caution for Winter Driving
City Advises Extra Caution for Winter Driving
Rise in Costs Will Limit Road Salt Use
Release Date: Monday, December 15, 2008
Contact: Frederick Stovall, Director of Public Works, 333-4070
“Ice & Snow, Take It Slow” is the approach advised by the City of Dayton Division of Street Maintenance for the 2008-2009 winter driving season.
City of Dayton crews will work to keep roadways as clear and safe as possible, despite limited supplies of road salt caused by a significant cost increase over previous years.
The price per ton for road salt paid by the City of Dayton is $144 for the winter of 2008-2009, compared to $44 for the previous winter.
The City is starting the winter maintenance season with a beginning inventory of 12,000 tons of road salt, somewhat lower than the usual beginning inventory of up to 19,000 tons. Last winter, City road crews applied 20,836 tons of salt in order to maintain safe roadways.
The Division of Street Maintenance is equipped with 46 plow trucks that apply salt to 1,800 lane-miles throughout the city.
As a result of smaller salt inventories, drivers may encounter more snow-covered or slushy roads. Residential streets will be plowed and salted only following snowfalls of four inches or more.
Roadways in the city of Dayton will be prioritized as follows for plow and salt operations:
Primary
Highways/freeways and ramps
Thoroughfares (such as Salem Avenue, Main Street, Smithville Road, Third Street, etc.)
Hills and bridges
Arterials (such as Catalpa Drive, Hoover Avenue, Troy Street, Patterson Road, etc.)
Secondary Residential streets
The Public Works Department page at www.cityofdayton.org now includes an interactive map showing whether particular addresses are located on primary or secondary routes.
Hazardous road conditions can be reported by calling the Dayton Public Works 24-hour Call Center, at 333-4800.
Safe Driving Tips:
Don’t Crowd the Plow: A snowplow driver’s field of vision is restricted. You may see them, but they don’t always see you.
Watch for Clouds of Snow: Snowplows can throw up a cloud of snow that can reduce your visibility to zero in less time than you can react.
Keep Lights and Windows Clear: Clear snow from you vehicle’s windows and lights (clear snow from lights with the lights turned on).
Rise in Costs Will Limit Road Salt Use
Release Date: Monday, December 15, 2008
Contact: Frederick Stovall, Director of Public Works, 333-4070
“Ice & Snow, Take It Slow” is the approach advised by the City of Dayton Division of Street Maintenance for the 2008-2009 winter driving season.
City of Dayton crews will work to keep roadways as clear and safe as possible, despite limited supplies of road salt caused by a significant cost increase over previous years.
The price per ton for road salt paid by the City of Dayton is $144 for the winter of 2008-2009, compared to $44 for the previous winter.
The City is starting the winter maintenance season with a beginning inventory of 12,000 tons of road salt, somewhat lower than the usual beginning inventory of up to 19,000 tons. Last winter, City road crews applied 20,836 tons of salt in order to maintain safe roadways.
The Division of Street Maintenance is equipped with 46 plow trucks that apply salt to 1,800 lane-miles throughout the city.
As a result of smaller salt inventories, drivers may encounter more snow-covered or slushy roads. Residential streets will be plowed and salted only following snowfalls of four inches or more.
Roadways in the city of Dayton will be prioritized as follows for plow and salt operations:
Primary
Highways/freeways and ramps
Thoroughfares (such as Salem Avenue, Main Street, Smithville Road, Third Street, etc.)
Hills and bridges
Arterials (such as Catalpa Drive, Hoover Avenue, Troy Street, Patterson Road, etc.)
Secondary Residential streets
The Public Works Department page at www.cityofdayton.org now includes an interactive map showing whether particular addresses are located on primary or secondary routes.
Hazardous road conditions can be reported by calling the Dayton Public Works 24-hour Call Center, at 333-4800.
Safe Driving Tips:
Don’t Crowd the Plow: A snowplow driver’s field of vision is restricted. You may see them, but they don’t always see you.
Watch for Clouds of Snow: Snowplows can throw up a cloud of snow that can reduce your visibility to zero in less time than you can react.
Keep Lights and Windows Clear: Clear snow from you vehicle’s windows and lights (clear snow from lights with the lights turned on).
Friday, December 12, 2008
New Kroger Project Dead
I saw this on WHIO.tv's website Friday, Dec 12. Apparently, Kroger has backed out of the deal to build a new store at the corner of Wayne & Wyoming streets.
Kroger No Longer Interested Building New Store
Thursday, December 11, 2008 – updated: 6:15 am EST December 12, 2008
DAYTON, Ohio -- Dayton City Manager Rashad Young said he is tremendously frustrated with what has happened between the city and Kroger.
Young said Kroger is no longer interested in building a new store at the corner of Wayne and Wyoming streets in Dayton.
According to Young, the project’s price tag was too costly. He said Kroger was $4.5 million away from making this a reality and the city must start working on plan B.
Laura Chism and her husband agreed to sell their home to the city to make way for Kroger’s proposed new 57,000-square-foot store. On Thursday, they and others in the neighborhood got letters from the city, telling them the project will not be moving forward as planned.
“Everyone thought it was a done deal and now we receive this letter it not a done deal,” Chism said.
“Here we are able to acquire virtually all these properties. Then to have Kroger tell us their circumstances have changed, it is very frustrating,” Young said.
Many others who live near the east Dayton intersection did not like this latest news.
The city said it still wants to buy the homes in this area and wants to extend its option on those homes to March of next year.
The city is planning a meeting to meet with residents on Dec. 16.
Copyright 2008 by WHIOTV.com.
All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Kroger No Longer Interested Building New Store
Thursday, December 11, 2008 – updated: 6:15 am EST December 12, 2008
DAYTON, Ohio -- Dayton City Manager Rashad Young said he is tremendously frustrated with what has happened between the city and Kroger.
Young said Kroger is no longer interested in building a new store at the corner of Wayne and Wyoming streets in Dayton.
According to Young, the project’s price tag was too costly. He said Kroger was $4.5 million away from making this a reality and the city must start working on plan B.
Laura Chism and her husband agreed to sell their home to the city to make way for Kroger’s proposed new 57,000-square-foot store. On Thursday, they and others in the neighborhood got letters from the city, telling them the project will not be moving forward as planned.
“Everyone thought it was a done deal and now we receive this letter it not a done deal,” Chism said.
“Here we are able to acquire virtually all these properties. Then to have Kroger tell us their circumstances have changed, it is very frustrating,” Young said.
Many others who live near the east Dayton intersection did not like this latest news.
The city said it still wants to buy the homes in this area and wants to extend its option on those homes to March of next year.
The city is planning a meeting to meet with residents on Dec. 16.
Copyright 2008 by WHIOTV.com.
All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
For The Homeschoolers
HOMESCHOOL PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM: Come join the YMCA staff and other home school children in a fun and exciting environment for physical activity. This program will be offered every Wednesday beginning January 14th and running through May 27th. Activities will include, but not limited to; Basketball, Volleyball, Weight Training, Presidential Challenge and Team Building. Please contact Karisa Steed, Program Director at 937.223.7711 with any questions.
Begins: January 14th Wednesdays
Time: 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Fee: $3/child/visit with the Max. A family will pay is $10/visit
Location: YMCA Downtown 316 N. Wilkinson St.
Begins: January 14th Wednesdays
Time: 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Fee: $3/child/visit with the Max. A family will pay is $10/visit
Location: YMCA Downtown 316 N. Wilkinson St.
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