BATAVIA, Ohio (Sept. 27, 2018) – Shaw Farms in Miami Township will be recognized as an “Ohio Bicentennial Farm” on Oct. 11 by Ohio Department of Agriculture Director David Daniels. This extraordinary designation identifies Shaw Farms as being owned and operated by the same family for over 200 years.
Founder Thomas Shaw moved to Clermont County from Bucks County, Pa., in 1807 when he purchased 68 acres in Miami Township. The following year, Shaw purchased an additional 63 acres from none other than Gen. William Lytle, who some recognize as the “Father of Clermont County.” Thomas’ son, James Shaw, purchased the current property in 1834. His son, William, helped run the farm until he was captured during the Civil War and died at the notorious Andersonville prison camp.
Today, Shaw Farms is run by members of the family who are six to eight generations removed from the founder, and is led by matriarch Jean Shaw, who at age 87 still works full days at the farm. The future of the farm is in good hands, with ninth- and tenth-generation children living and playing on the farm. Shaw Farms is perhaps best well known for the produce they sell and their annual Fall Festival, which includes a corn maze, an interactive playground, hayrides and more. This year’s festival runs through October.
Director Daniels will present the Ohio Bicentennial Farm designation at Shaw Farms (1737 SR 131, Milford, OH 45150), at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 11. This event is free and open to the public. No registration is required. For additional information, contact the Clermont Soil & Water Conservation District at 513.732.7075 ext. 3. For more information on Shaw Farms, visit its website at www.shawfarms.com.
########
BATAVIA, Ohio (Sept. 26, 2018) – Clermont County’s South Afton Industrial Park has been certified a SiteOhio Industrial Site by JobsOhio, meaning it has JobsOhio’s imprint as a site “ready for immediate development on day one.”
South Afton is the first industrial park in Southwest Ohio to receive the SiteOhio authentication. It joins 12 other industrial sites throughout Ohio. South Afton comprises 242 acres at Half Acre Road and State Route 32 in Williamsburg Township. Its first project, a distribution facility for upscale furniture manufacturer Design Within Reach, is expected to open next spring and will employ 85 people.
To obtain the authentication, Clermont County had to complete a number of investigative studies as well as install infrastructure on the site. The county began working to accomplish this in 2016, the year it purchased the property. The infrastructure included 2,000 linear feet of road, water main and sanitary sewers, storm water infrastructure, a natural gas line, and conduit for electric, telecom and fiber. All told, the county has invested $2.5 million in infrastructure at South Afton.
The studies included an environmental Phase I report, a geotechnical report, a historic and cultural resources report, a wetlands study, and an endangered species study. Detailed information had to be provided on utility excess capacities, including water, sanitary sewer, natural gas and electric. Duke Energy worked closely with the county on the site.
“The SiteOhio process required Clermont County to meet some very exacting and tough standards,” said Ed Humphrey, President of the Board of County Commissioners. “This authentication will tell potential companies that seek us out that we are serious about providing the best environment possible for their expansion.”
Kristi Clouse, JobsOhio Executive Director of Operations, said, “The SiteOhio Authentication provides businesses the confidence that they can invest in Clermont County successfully on day one. The South Afton site is the first in Southwest Ohio to receive this distinction, and we are excited for the opportunities it can bring to job creators looking to grow in Williamsburg Township.”
JobsOhio began its SiteOhio authentication program in 2016. It hired InSite Consulting Group to evaluate industrial park sites around the state to determine if they met the standards for being included in the SiteOhio program. InSite said South Afton has great potential. “The South Afton Industrial Park is one of the top industrial parks in the Midwest,” said Rob Cornwell of InSite Consulting. “When you combine Clermont County’s great economic development team with the Site Ohio authentication program, the Design Within Reach location is the first of many more to come.”
“Clermont County has become a model for site competitiveness in Southwest Ohio by investing for long-term success,” said Kimm Lauterbach, President & CEO of REDI Cincinnati. “With the creation of the South Afton Industrial Park, Clermont County will be attracting new businesses to build, invest, and create jobs in our region for years to come. As the first site in Southwest Ohio authenticated through the SiteOhio program, we look forward to seeing more companies grow in Greater Cincinnati.”
Andy Kuchta, Director of Clermont County Department of Community & Economic
Development, added, “Some prospective clients that come to JobsOhio won’t even look at a site unless it has been authenticated as SiteOhio. With the SiteOhio authentication, South Afton Industrial Park will have even more appeal to businesses looking to expand or relocate.”
About South Afton Industrial Park: South Afton is a 242-acre industrial park at the southeastern corner of State Route 32 and Half Acre Road in Williamsburg Township. The land was purchased by the Clermont County CIC in February 2016 for $4.9 million, using proceeds from the Ivy Pointe development in Union Township. An economic impact study by the Economics Center of the University of Cincinnati estimated that the industrial park would eventually create more than 1,800 direct jobs and more than 1,600 indirect jobs. Read more here: http://cincinnatiohioindustrialpark.com/.
BATAVIA, Ohio (Sept. 25, 2018) – Some important dates are coming up as the Clermont County Board of Elections prepares for the 2018 General Election on Nov. 6.
This election, commonly referred to as the midterm election, includes these races in Ohio:
Federal:
All House seats
U.S. Senate seat
State:
Governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, justice of Supreme Court (2), Court of Appeals judge
All state representatives
County:
Commissioner, auditor, Common Pleas Court judges (3)
There is one state issue on the ballot, and a number of local issues and levies.
October
Oct. 9: Deadline to register to vote. The Board of Elections is open until 9 p.m.
Oct. 10: Absentee voting by mail begins (ends Nov. 5)
Oct. 10: Early in-person voting begins:
November
Early in-person voting hours:
Nov. 3: Noon deadline to request an absentee ballot
Nov. 5: Mailed absentee ballots must be postmarked by this date
Nov. 6: General Election: Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.; voters can drop off absentee ballot at Board of Elections office until 7:30 p.m.
The Clermont County Board of Elections is located at 76 S. Riverside Drive, Batavia. For questions, call 513.732.7275 or email Director Julia Carney at jcarney@clermontcountyohio.gov. Complete information on the upcoming election, the sample ballot, and where to vote can be found at the Board of Elections website, www.clermontelections.org.
########
OWENSVILLE, Ohio (Sept. 24, 2018) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced that Friday, Oct. 19, is the deadline to submit applications for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) in Ohio.
EQIP is a voluntary conservation program that helps to make conservation easier for producers. Together, NRCS and producers invest in solutions that conserve natural resources for the future while also improving agricultural operations.
Lori Lenhart, the NRCS District Conservationist for Brown and Clermont Counties, says, “Through EQIP, we are able to give producers both financial and one-on-one help to plan and implement conservation practices, such as cover crops, nutrient management and others which lead to healthier soils, cleaner water and improved agricultural operations.”
Financial assistance is now available in a variety of agricultural categories such as cropland, forestry, pasture operations, and organic. Several special projects are also available which address water quality (such as fencing livestock out of streams), forestry management (such as removal of honeysuckle and other invasives), improving pollinator populations, applying best management practices and many more. All available agricultural categories are listed on the Ohio NRCS website under “EQIP Application Deadlines.”
To participate in USDA conservation programs, applicants should be farmers or farm or forest landowners and must meet eligibility criteria. Applications signed and submitted to NRCS by the Oct. 19 deadline will be evaluated for fiscal year 2019 funding.
In Brown and Clermont Counties, agricultural producers interested in applying for EQIP and conservation planning assistance should contact Lenhart prior to Oct. 19 at 513.732.2181, ext. 102 or by email at lori.lenhart@oh.usda.gov.
######
By Ed Humphrey, President
David Painter, Vice President
David Uible, Member
Clermont County Board of Commissioners
As Clermont County Commissioners, we are very concerned about the continued decline of funding from the State of Ohio to counties. This has been going on for several years, and has had a severe impact on our ability to provide services both mandated and needed by our residents.
We fully support the County Commissioners Association of Ohio’s “Stronger Counties. Stronger Partnership. Stronger Ohio” initiative, which has proposed a number of measures to address the concerns of counties throughout our state. On Sept. 20, 2018, we passed a resolution voicing that support.
Here is what CCAO is proposing, all of which we support:
As reliable revenue sources have declined for the county, our obligations have only grown. The opioid crisis alone costs counties tens of millions of dollars a year.
In Clermont County, we’ve seen a huge increase in costs for law enforcement, courts, jail, mental health and treatment, not to mention the impact on children and families, all stemming from the opioid crisis. Counties are bearing a disproportionate share of these costs.
CCAO recently met with Mike DeWine and Richard Cordray, both running for the office of governor, to detail the concerns of Ohio counties and brief the candidates on measures that could put the partnership between the state and counties on a stronger footing.
The next governor and Legislature must address these concerns and take steps to address these budgetary issues. We value our partnership with the State of Ohio, and we know it can become a fairer one.
CCAO: Stronger Counties. Stronger Partnership. Stronger Ohio.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Sept. 20, 2019) – Clermont County Commissioners are joining the County Commissioners Association of Ohio (CCAO) to call for a stronger partnership between state and county government as they released “Stronger Counties. Stronger Partnership. Stronger Ohio,” a briefing guide detailing county funding needs. CCAO and counties around Ohio are asking that these needs be addressed in future state budgets and legislation.
On Sept. 19, Clermont County Commissioners passed a resolution in support of the Stronger Partnership initiative.
The CCAO board met on July 20 with both major gubernatorial candidates (Richard Cordray, and Mike DeWine) and their respective lieutenant governor candidates (Betty Sutton and Jon Husted) to brief them on issues confronting counties and how to work together for Ohio’s future.
“Ohio’s 88 counties serve as branch administrative offices of the state by providing vital services. Counties are given this specific responsibility but limited authority by the Ohio Revised Code,” CCAO President Daniel Troy said. “CCAO was very pleased with the meetings with both gubernatorial candidates, as we look to foster an improved and stronger relationship between state and county government. Collaboration and cooperation between the two government entities must exist to strengthen counties and improve the well-being of all Ohioans.”
State polices enacted over the last decade have placed counties in the difficult position of balancing revenue loss with escalating costs. The loss of the Medicaid managed care organization (MCO) sales tax, severe reductions in the Local Government Fund (LGF) and the phase-out of the tangible personal property tax (TPP) has eliminated approximately $351 million per year in county revenue statewide.
“Counties in Ohio have experienced one financial blow after another,” said Ed Humphrey, President of the Clermont County Board of Commissioners and immediate past President of CCAO. “The State of Ohio’s fiscal policies, including a reduction in the Local Government Fund, and the growth in exemptions to the sales tax, have meant that counties are hamstrung in their abilities to provide the services that Ohioans need.”
“To take just one example, indigent defense is a responsibility of the state,” Mr. Humphrey said. “Yet counties in Ohio continue to bear more of the expense. The state reimbursement rate has averaged 35% over the last 10 years. This fiscal year alone, indigent defense is expected to cost counties $79.5 million.”
“In addition, virtually all counties in Ohio have been affected by the opioid crisis,” Mr. Humphrey said. “This has meant a huge increase in law enforcement costs, court costs, jail costs, mental health costs, treatment costs, not to mention the impact on children and families. Counties are bearing a disproportionate share of this burden.”
The County Commissioners Association of Ohio advances effective county government for Ohio through legislative advocacy, education and training, technical assistance and research, quality enterprise service programs, and greater citizen awareness and understanding of county government.
######
BATAVIA, Ohio (Sept. 18, 2018) — Clermont County Child Support Services will offer amnesty during October to noncustodial parents who have outstanding civil warrants relating to a child support hearing. The amnesty does not include criminal cases that are filed in Common Pleas Court.
During the month of October, parents who have failed to appear for a court hearing, or to report to jail to serve a sentence relating to child support only, should contact the Child Support Services.
The child support agency will suspend or withdraw civil bench warrants for those parents who arrange to make payments toward their child support, who are employed or registered with Ohio Means Jobs, or who meet certain other criteria. There will be no fee for this service.
“The goal of the amnesty program is to reduce the number of outstanding civil warrants and to try to get these parents back on track and heading in the right direction,” said Brenda Gilreath, assistant director of Child Support Services. “This amnesty program will allow the parents who have warrants an opportunity to reach a legal resolution by working on a compliance plan – and the resolution is at no cost for the service.”
In March 2017, Child Support Services held an amnesty, and were encouraged by the response. One hundred twenty noncustodial parents had their warrants removed and began paying child support. “Our message then, and our message now, is that this is the right thing to do,” said Gilreath. “Parents who are in jail cannot hold a job, and cannot pay child support. If the parent is serious, we will do everything we can to help them so that they can help their children.”
The child support program serves more children than any other public program in Ohio, second only to the Department of Education. In 2017, the Clermont County agency collected almost $36 million in child support. The agency currently has 719 civil warrants associated with child support cases, representing $10.3 million in past due support.
To find out more, or to start arrangements, noncustodial parents can call the warrant caseworker at 513.732.7334 at any time (leave a voicemail after hours), or visit the Child Support Office from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday during the month of October. Appointments are not necessary during these hours but are encouraged.
Noncustodial parents can also email shonna.johnson@jfs.ohio.gov. Find out more information on the Child Support Services website, www.clermontsupportskids.org.
Media: For more information, contact Theresa Bechtel Ellison, Lead Attorney, or Brenda Gilreath, Deputy Director, at 513.732.7429.
#######
REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (Sept. 12, 2018) – The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) today announced that Monroe Township in Clermont County is free from the invasive Asian longhorned beetle (ALB). This follows the eradication of ALB from Stonelick and Batavia townships in March.
“We are excited to see continued success due to the dedication of our state, federal and local partners in the fight against the Asian longhorned beetle,” said Tim Derickson, assistant director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture. “This is one more important step to rid this pest from Ohio and we will continue to work together to achieve this common goal.”
Derickson was joined by USDA APHIS representatives, as well as community leaders at an announcement ceremony and tree planting in Fair Oak Park, near the quarantined area in Monroe Township. Commissioners Ed Humphrey and David Painter also spoke.
ODA and USDA APHIS will move to lift the quarantine of Monroe Township. The beetle was first discovered in Tate Township in Clermont County in June 2011. ALB quarantines remain in effect for Tate Township, East Fork State Park and portions of the East Fork Wildlife Area.
Residents should remain vigilant and inspect their trees regularly for signs of the beetle. Adult ALBs are large, shiny black insects measuring 1 to 1 ½ inches long, not including antennae, with random white spots. Their white-banded antennae can be as long as the body itself on females and almost twice the body length on males.
Signs of infestation include perfectly round exit holes (about 3/8 to 1/2 inch in diameter) made by adult beetles when they emerge from trees; pockmarks on tree trunks and branches where female beetles deposit eggs; frass (wood shavings and saw dust) produced by larvae feeding and tunneling; early fall coloration of leaves or dead branches; and running sap produced by the tree at the egg laying sites or in response to larval tunneling. The beetle will infest various common trees in Ohio, including all species of maple, buckeye, willow and elm.
To report signs or symptoms of ALB, call the Ohio ALB Eradication Program Office at 513-381-7180 or report online at asianlonghornedbeetle.com.
######
BATAVIA, Ohio (Sept. 10, 2018) — OhioMeansJobs/Clermont County is hosting a free business tax law seminar from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 4, at the Clermont Chamber of Commerce office, 4355 Ferguson Drive, Suite 150, Cincinnati, OH 45245.
What does a small business owner need to know? Are the new tax laws important to you and your business? Why is it important to have a business protection plan? Get answers to these and other questions at this free lunch and learn from Western & Southern.
Program hosts include Tara Manis and Gina Schenk, registered representatives with Western & Southern Life. Their goal is to help small business owners plan for the financial future of their businesses, themselves and their employees. Kate Goldsmith, JD, CLU, advance markets consultant for Western & Southern Financial Group, will also offer insights.
Reserve your seat today for this event! Call or email Business Services Representative Sherri Bowling, OhioMeansJobs/Clermont, at 513.943.3737 or sherri.bowling@jfs.ohio.gov.
####
BATAVIA, Ohio (Sept. 5, 2018) – The Clermont County Port Authority today approved issuing $30 million in lease revenue bonds to finance the cost of building a training facility and youth academy for FC Cincinnati, Cincinnati’s professional soccer league.
The vote was 4-1. Port Authority Vice Chairman Loretta Rokey, Administrator, Pierce Township; Fiscal Officer Sam DeBonis, Assistant Vice President, Park National Bank, and members Greg DeFisher, President & CEO, Freeman Schwabe Machinery, and Rex Parsons, Administrator, Batavia Township; voted in favor. Member Greg Simpson, Principal, Key Transportation Inc., voted against the resolution.
Under the agreement, the Port Authority will lease the land — 24 acres on U.S. 50 in the City of Milford near Interstate 275 – and facilities to be built to FC Cincinnati. The bonds will be privately purchased by FC Cincinnati. The construction materials will be exempted from sales tax, estimated to be $1 million.
Because the Port Authority is tax exempt, FC Cincinnati will not have to pay property taxes. It has negotiated annual payments with the Milford School District to help compensate for that. The Port Authority will receive a one-time fee of $105,000 and an annual average fee of $9,000, most of which will go to support various county levies.
“The structure of the lease answers all of the questions related to what the economic impact will actually be and if it is worth the level of incentives being provided,” said Andy Kuchta, Executive Director and Secretary of the Port Authority. “The Port Authority will have the choice to not renew the lease every 360 days for any reason. This is not a 20-year deal but a 360-day deal, full stop.
“Within the next 3-5 years there will be a comprehensive evaluation of the actual economic impacts and benefits once the facility has been constructed and operational for a period of time,” Kuchta continued. “If that evaluation determines the economic impacts have not materialized, the Port Authority will be able to substantially renegotiate the terms of these agreements or simply not renew them and return the property to a fully taxable status.”
Under the agreement, FC Cincinnati will indemnify the Port Authority from any cost, liability, claim, lawsuit or loss related to the project.
On Aug. 22, Clermont County Commissioners approved an increase in the lodging tax in the county, from 6% to 7%. The revenue generated by the increase in the tax, approximately $223,000 a year, will also be used to help support the project.
The $30 million soccer complex will include a 30,000-square-foot training facility and a 6,500-square-foot youth academy. FC Cincinnati hopes to complete the training facility by next summer.
The Port Authority decision represents the last step before the project can begin. FC Cincinnati also entered into agreements with the City of Milford and the Clermont County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
A study by Sports Facilities Advisory, a sports management consulting group based in Clearwater, Fla., estimated that the FC complex would generate almost 65,000 visitor days by out-of-town visitors and result in almost $7 million in direct spending annually.
FC Cincinnati, whose owners were recently granted expansion status by Major League Soccer, will also build an estimated $200 million stadium in the West End of Cincinnati, which is expected to be open for the 2021 season. The team currently plays at Nippert Stadium at the University of Cincinnati.
#####
