BATAVIA, Ohio (July 6, 2015) – To better serve residents who live close to Ohio 125, Clermont County opened a third title office on June 29. The Beechmont Auto Title Office, 550 Beechmont Ave., offers title services for vehicles and watercraft, as well as passport services.
“We did this for the convenience of the public and to be close to Beechmont Auto Mile,” said Clerk of Courts Barbara Wiedenbein. Other title offices are located at 457 Main St., Batavia, and 1011 Lila Ave., Milford. Title offices in Ohio are open to residents of any county in Ohio; sales tax is determined by the county of residence.
The Beechmont office, located in the Home Depot plaza on Ohio 125, is open from 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Saturdays; phone number is 513-732-8025.
A grand opening and ribbon cutting will be held July 15.
BATAVIA, Ohio (July 2, 2015) — Clermont County government offices will be closed Friday, July 3, in honor of Independence Day. Offices will open Monday, July 6, at their regularly scheduled times.
A happy and safe Fourth of July to all our residents!
BATAVIA, Ohio (June 30, 2015) — The Clermont County Domestic Relations Court now offers offer a wallet-size Civil Protection Order card that provides law enforcement agencies with a practical way to verify and enforce protection orders. “The card contains the case number and relevant information from the protection order, but it is a more convenient format for domestic violence victims to carry with them. Law enforcement can use the information provided on the card to confirm the terms of a protection order,” said Judge Kathleen M. Rodenberg. A sample of the card is below.
The card includes the name and identifying characteristics of the person ordered to stay away, the names of protected people, and dates of issuance and expiration. It is about the size of a credit card or driver’s license so it fits easily in a wallet or pocket. The court does not charge a fee for the Civil Protection Order or the card.
Theresa Singleton, area director for the YWCA, believes the cards will be helpful for victims and law enforcement. “The new and innovative Clermont County CPO cards condense information from multiple pages of paperwork into a small card that fits easily into a wallet and provides clear information about the petitioner and the respondent. This is not only helpful to victims of domestic violence, it also provides law enforcement with critical information that will help them protect victims and hold abusers accountable.”
The Clermont County Domestic Relations Court can grant a Civil Protection Order if the purported aggressor is a spouse, a former spouse, a household member, a blood-relative who has lived with the victim at any time, or a natural parent of the victim’s child. The Domestic Relations Court is a division of the Common Pleas Court of Clermont County, Ohio, and empowered by statute to hear all divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment cases as well as civil domestic violence cases. In addition, the court maintains jurisdiction over post-decree matters such as child custody, child support, parenting time issues, spousal support, and other related matters.
For more information, please contact Chris Davis at 513-732-7645, or at cdavis@clermontcountyohio.gov.
BATAVIA, Ohio (June 24, 2015) – Clermont County’s Bauer Road Communications Tower today passed an inspection by the Central Joint Fire-EMS District. All fire code violations cited at the tower after a June 15 inspection have been remedied, said Assistant Fire Chief Roy Short.
At the communications tower, Clermont County:
• Removed all paper and cardboard items, and anything blocking exits
• Removed multiplug adapters
• Replaced emergency lighting
• Fixed cabinet ventilation
• Posted address sign outside the tower
• Installed permanent electrical wiring and removed extension cords
The clutter and temporary wiring were related to the county transitioning from an older communications system to a new Motorola system operated by the State of Ohio called MARCS (Multi Agency Regional Communication System). The old equipment had not yet been moved out of the building at the base of the communications tower.
At their regular Wednesday session today, the Board of County Commissioners approved the purchase of a Motorola MOSCAD monitoring system, which will alert operators to such things as intrusions, temperature swings, or the system going offline. The monitoring system costs approximately $87,000, less than the $125,000 originally budgeted as part of the MARCS project.
“Once these violations were brought to our attention, we immediately began to address them,” said Ed Humphrey, President of the Board of County Commissioners. “We’re pleased to receive a clean bill of health from Central Joint Fire-EMS.”
BATAVIA, Ohio (June 22, 2015) – As summer grows warmer, so does concern about harmful algal blooms, commonly known as HABs, and found the last couple of years on Harsha Lake in East Fork State Park.
Last August, a spike in HABs around its water intake crib in western Lake Erie caused Toledo to issue a ban on drinking water, which lasted several days. HABs produce a toxin called microcystin, which, even in minuscule amounts, can be harmful.
In Clermont County, HABs on Harsha Lake in June 2014 led to public health advisories warning against swimming in the lake. (The growth in algal blooms is partly attributable to nutrient runoff, and the Clermont County Soil and Water Conservation District is working on a number of measures with local farms to address that.)
The Clermont County Water Resource Department has measures in place to protect the safety and quality of the water drawn from Harsha Lake, said Water Resources Director Lyle Bloom.
“We have multiple barriers at the Bob McEwen Water (BMW) Treatment Plant to effectively prevent or remove algal toxins,” said Bloom. These include:
• The plant’s intake structure, which draws water from the lake, and has three different levels. Algal blooms occur near the surface, so a deeper intake screen can be used to avoid the affected water.
• A combined coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, and filtration treatment. In laymen’s terms, this standard treatment removes particles from water. “This method of treatment is extremely effective for removal of algal cells,” said Bloom.
• Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) treatment technology, which traps contaminants and is a primary way to remove algal toxins.
• Disinfecting the water at the plant with chlorine, which will inactivate microcystin.
Clermont County collaborates with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Ohio EPA, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Army Corps of Engineers to monitor Harsha Lake for algal blooms and test for algal toxins once a bloom is detected, said Bloom.
When samples collected in the lake exceed the current Public Health Advisory level of 6 micrograms per liter, the Ohio EPA samples untreated and treated water samples from the plant. To date, no toxins have been detected in the treated water, said Bloom.
Only a portion of the water used each day by Clermont County customers is produced at the BMW plant. Clermont County also owns and operates two additional water treatment plants that draw water from wells. The groundwater drawn from the wells is not susceptible to algal toxins. The current demand for water in the Clermont County Water System can be met utilizing only these two sources if necessary.
For more information, contact Mark K. Day, at 513-732-7945 or mday@clermontcountyohio.gov
(Photo: Harsha Lake)
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BATAVIA, Ohio (June 19, 2015) — The Family Dependency Treatment Court of the Clermont County Juvenile Court has earned final certification from the Ohio Supreme Court’s Commission on Specialized Dockets.
To receive the certification, the local court had to submit an application, undergo a site visit, and provide specific program materials in response to certification standards that went into effect in January 2014.
Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor congratulated the Clermont County Juvenile Court and Judge James A. Shriver for receiving final certification.
“Specialized dockets have proven effective at addressing persistent criminal behaviors,” said Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor. “Specialized dockets result in significantly lower recidivism rates which means offenders become productive members of society, for which we all benefit.”
Specialized dockets are courts that are dedicated to specific types of offenses or offenders and use a combination of different techniques for holding offenders accountable while also addressing the underlying causes of their behavior. There are more than 150 specialized dockets in Ohio courts that deal with issues such as:
• Drugs and alcohol
• Mental health
• Domestic violence
• Sex offenses
The new standards provide a minimum level of uniform practices for specialized dockets throughout Ohio, and allow local courts to innovate and tailor to meet their community’s needs and resources.
“Our community has been significantly impacted by heroin and opiate addiction. Many parents struggle with addiction. The Family Dependency Treatment Court will provide the extra support and
accountability to parents as they work to achieve and maintain sobriety. The program is designed to benefit the parents, the child and ultimately, our community,” Shriver said.
Recommended practices outlined in the certification process include establishing eligibility requirements, evaluating effectiveness of the specialized docket, and assembling a treatment team for implementing daily operations of the specialized docket. The team can include licensed treatment providers, law enforcement, court personnel, and is headed by the specialized docket judge.
The Commission on Specialized Dockets has 22 members who advise the Supreme Court and its staff regarding the promotion of statewide rules and uniform standards concerning specialized dockets in Ohio courts; the development and delivery of specialized docket services to Ohio courts; and the
creation of training programs for judges and court personnel. The commission makes all decisions regarding final certification.
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Judge Shriver launches Family Dependency Treatment Court
BATAVIA, Ohio (June 17, 2015) – Financial data from Clermont County will appear later this year on the State Treasurer’s OhioCheckbook.com site. On June 15, Clermont County Commissioners approved the transfer of the data to the Treasurer.
OhioCheckbook.com was launched by Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel in December 2014 to give citizens complete access to the state’s financials, which citizens can search, download, compare and analyze. Now, counties, cities and other jurisdictions across the state are piggybacking on OhioCheckbook.com, and will use the software to post their own revenue and spending information in a similar format. Clermont is the eighth Ohio county to partner with the Treasurer.
Clermont County Commissioners praised this commitment to transparency. “While our financial information has always been available to citizens, the OhioCheckbook.com website will make accessing that information much easier,” said BCC President Ed Humphrey. “This is the right thing to do.”
“It is a great idea,” said Commissioner Bob Proud. “I am pleased that we are taking this step; citizens and taxpayers should be able to find this information without jumping through a lot of hoops.”
Added Commissioner David Uible, “We are proud to be partnering with OhioCheckbook.com to make this information available and usable to our citizens.”
“I believe the people of Clermont County have a right to know how their tax money is being spent and I applaud local leaders here for partnering with the Treasurer’s office to post their finances on OhioCheckbook.com,” said Treasurer Mandel. “My vision is to create an army of citizen watchdogs who are empowered to hold public officials accountable.”
Mandel has been praised by advocates for OhioCheckbook.com, including the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, which moved Ohio to the top of its list in a ranking of states’ “transparency” websites, judged by easy access to financial information.
Once Clermont County’s information is on OhioCheckbook.com – with the url clermontcounty.ohiocheckbook.com — a link will also be posted on the county’s website, www.clermontcountyohio.gov.
OhioCheckbook.com is built on a platform developed by OpenGov, a company created in 2012 to help governments share financial data.
REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (June 12, 2015) – The Ohio Department of Agriculture will begin aerial treatments designed to disrupt gypsy moth mating on 132,770 acres in Athens, Clermont, Fairfield, Hocking, Jackson, Perry and Vinton counties.
To help protect Ohio’s diverse habitat, the Ohio Department of Agriculture operates multiple programs aimed at managing the gypsy moth in Ohio. One such program, the Slow-the-Spread program, focuses on monitoring, detecting, and reducing isolated populations to slow the gypsy moth’s movement across the state through treatments.
Airplanes will fly 100-200 feet above the tree tops to apply the treatment throughout the day. Weather permitting, treatments will begin in southern Ohio at the end of the week of June 15th and occur over two or three days. In Clermont County, the treatment will occur throughout approximately 900 acres east and west of U.S. 50 including the northern half of the Cincinnati Nature Center. (See map here.)
In all counties receiving treatment, the department will use a single application of the product Disrupt II. This product does not kill the moth, but it disrupts the mating process by confusing the male as it searches for a female mate. Disrupt II is not harmful to birds, plants, pets or humans.
Pre-recorded daily updates about planned treatment blocks are available to citizens by calling 614-387-0907 or 800-282-1955 ext.37, after 5 p.m.
The gypsy moth is a non-native, invasive species that feeds on the leaves of more than 300 different trees and shrubs and is especially fond of oak. A healthy tree can usually withstand only two years of defoliation before it is permanently damaged or dies. To date, 51 of Ohio’s 88 counties have established gypsy moth populations.
For more information on the gypsy moth, including maps of treatment areas and videos of the mating disruption process, please visit http://www.agri.ohio.gov/divs/plant/gypsy/gypsy-index.aspx.
News release from the Ohio Department of Agriculture
(Photo: Defoliation caused by gypsy moths.)
Columbus, Ohio (June 11, 2015)
KEY MESSAGES: Residents in the ALB regulated areas established within Clermont County cannot move firewood or wood debris outside of the regulated area and outside of East Fork State Park. Residents are also discouraged from moving firewood and wood debris inside the regulated area. For answers to questions about regulated materials and permits, or to report wood movement or suspected ALB infested trees, residents are asked to call the program office at 513-381-7180. Residents can also report suspected ALB infestations online at www.AsianLonghornedBeetle.com.
Clermont County
Tree removals are ongoing. Property owners are asked to communicate any concerns with the contractor in advance of tree removal work being conducted by calling 513-226-9138. Ground and tree-climbing survey crews continue to conduct delimiting surveys, inspecting all host trees throughout the regulated areas in Clermont County. Staff survey for the presence of ALB by examining individual host trees for signs of beetle damage. The following numbers pertain to the tree removals and surveys currently being conducted:
1,546,021 Number of tree surveys conducted as of 6/6/15 (since surveys began on 7/1/11)
16,310 Number of ALB infested trees confirmed as of 6/6/15 (since detection on 6/17/11)
15,189 Number of ALB infested trees removed as of 6/6/15 (since removals started on 11/14/11)
50,686 Number of ALB high risk host trees removed as of 6/6/15 (since removals started on 5/1/13)
36,130 Number of ALB high risk host tree treatments conducted since 2013
61 square miles under regulation; see “Regulated Area” map:
http://agri.ohio.gov/topnews/asianbeetle/docs/ALB_ohio_quarantine_082112.pdf
The quarantine restricts the movement of hardwood logs, firewood, stumps, roots and branches out of the regulated area and also restricts the sale of nursery stock, green lumber, and logs of the following trees: maples, horse chestnut, buckeye, mimosa, birch, hackberry, ash, golden raintree, katsura, sycamore, poplar, willow, mountain ash, and elms. Program staff continue to monitor regulated areas, respond to service calls and conduct training sessions for compliance agreements.
OPEN OFFICE HOURS: There are no ALB program public meetings planned for the upcoming week.
ONLINE RESOURCES:
SDA ALB information site: www.AsianLonghornedBeetle.com
USDA APHIS ALB newsroom: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/hot_issues/alb/alb.shtml ODA ALB information: http://www.agri.ohio.gov/TopNews/asianbeetle/
ODNR ALB information: http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/health/asianlonghorned/tabid/5197/Default.aspx OSU Clermont County Extension: http://clermont.osu.edu/
Clermont County ALB page: http://bugs.clermontcountyohio.gov/ Firewood Outreach and Education: http://dontmovefirewood.org/
BACKGROUND: The Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis, ALB) is an invasive insect from Asia that came to the United States concealed in solid wood packing material; pallets, crates and dunnage, used to transport goods from overseas. ALB was first detected in the United States in 1996 in Brooklyn, NY. Ohio is the fifth state to detect the destructive ALB. Eradication has been declared in Illinois, New Jersey and parts of New York. Eradication operations continue within Ohio, Massachusetts and New York.
The Ohio ALB Cooperative Eradication Program is comprised of USDA APHIS, Ohio Department of Agriculture, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio State University Extension, USDA’s Agricultural Research Service and Forest Service.
BATAVIA, Ohio (June 11, 2015) – OhioMeansJobs Clermont County will hold a health care job fair from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. June 29.
Mercy Health, Interim Health Care, Patient Transport Services, Helping Hands Heathcare, American-Mercy Home Care and Eastgatespring are among the participating employers. Employers have openings for home health aides, LPNs, STNAs, paramedics and nurse practitioners, among others. Wages range from $9-$11 an hour at the low end to $40-$50 an hour for nurse practitioners.
Job seekers are asked to dress professionally, and to bring copies of their resumes as well as ID.
OMJ Clermont is located at 756 Old State Route 74, Cincinnati. For more information, call 513-943-3000.
