Miami Township Monthly
May 2018
|
|
Introducing the Community Cat Program
Free* program to help control the cat population
|
|
Miami Township is teaming up with the Humane Society of Greater Dayton to help control the stray cat population within the unincorporated portion of our township. The Community Cat Program is designed to decrease the number of un-owned cats reproducing in the township and provide a humane solution to residents.
This is a FREE service provided by the Humane Society of Greater Dayton to *anyone living in unincorporated Miami Township. Residents can rent a trap from the Humane Society ($75 refundable), trap the
un-owned cat on your property, then call the Humane Society at (937) 268-7387, to schedule an appointment to drop off the trapped cats at its Dayton location, 1661 Nicholas Rd. The Humane Society will spay/neuter the cat, ear-tip it for identification, and release it where it was initially caught. This program is not for family pets.
The Community Cat Program is a great first step to welcoming the
Humane Society of Greater Dayton
into our community. The township recently closed on a sale of property to the Humane Society at the northeast corner of SR 741 and Austin Boulevard for a new adoption center. The Humane Society believes that by opening a facility in a high-traffic area like that surrounding Austin Landing, will give more exposure to the animals it cares for and will ultimately help find those animals new homes faster.
“The sale of this property to the Humane Society of Greater Dayton gives the township another avenue to provide quality services to the citizens in our community,” said Miami Township Board of Trustees President John Morris. “A piece of land that was once used for storage will now be a bustling place where we can all come together to help celebrate the bond between people and pets.”
|
|
Improvements planned along Lyons Road
|
|
Plans to improve safety for pedestrians along Lyons Road between Byers Road and State Route 741 will move forward with bid solicitations. The Board of Trustees voted to approve the project at its April 10 business meeting.
Improvements will include a safer walkway for pedestrians and bicyclists, as well as new curbs, gutters and bridge enhancements. The new walkway will connect with existing sidewalks along the west side of SR 741 for better access to local businesses within the Miami Crossing District.
The project is a collaborative effort between Miami Township, the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission and the Montgomery County Transportation Improvement District. The $1.9 million project is expected to begin this fall.
|
|
Plans approved for new trampoline park
|
Plans for a new indoor trampoline park have been approved by the Board of Trustees. It will be located just around the corner from where the Lyons Road improvements will be made.
The
Get Air Trampoline Park
will
be located at the Southland 75 Center in the space that was previously an Office Max. The site owners also plan to give the development a face-lift and add new tree islands that will create better traffic patterns and parking.
|
|
|
Auntie Anne's knows how to celebrate and donate
|
Auntie Anne's Pretzels at the Dayton Mall knows how to celebrate National Pretzel Day. The longtime business donated all of its sales April 26 to Dayton Children's Hospital. Customers helped raise $2,700. That's nearly a 10 percent increase from last year!
Township Trustee President John Morris presented Auntie Anne's owners with a special proclamation recognizing their 24-years of business in the township and their dedication to the community.
|
|
Top photo from left: Acting Administrator Ron Hess, Auntie Anne's owner, Rick Hatcher, Trustee John Morris, and Auntie Anne's General Manager Tim Chafins.
|
|
|
|
CFMT fundraiser a big success
|
The Greater Dayton Beer and Wine Tasting raised about $3,000 that will benefit Miami Township.
Approximately 65 people attended and enjoyed craft beers and wine, along with delicious appetizers, music and even a round of bowling, thanks to Poelking Lanes South, who hosted the event in the VIP Lounge.
Guests also bid on donated items in a silent auction. The CFMT wishes to thank all of the generous sponsors and guests of this yearly event.
|
|
Watch our YouTube Welcome video:
|
|
A new way to stay in touch
|
We are always coming up with new ways to connect with you! Our YouTube channel is up and running. We are now posting each Board of Trustees meeting. Subscribe to our page now, so you don't miss a thing.
|
|
Community Profile
Hillgrove Union Cemetery
|
|
Hillgrove Union Cemetery is a historic treasure shared by the city of Miamisburg and Miami Township. After more than 10 years of oversight, the Hillgrove Union Cemetery Board says it is making progress in its efforts to help the cemetery become less dependent on financial assistance from the community.
“Our communities have been working together to offset the costs of running Hillgrove,” said Hillgrove board member and Miami Township Trustee Donald Culp. “While maintaining the cemetery is a state law mandate, there is also a real historic value that is well worth preserving.”
The 30-acre cemetery is nestled in the hills along East Central Avenue in Miamisburg. People have been remembering loved ones there since 1863. Four of five Miamisburg founding fathers are buried there. The board was created after a private cemetery association went bankrupt in 2006 and Miami Township was forced to take over operations as required by state law. Miamisburg and Miami Township later agreed to share operations and maintenance expenses resulting in the Hillgrove Union Cemetery Board – a board which started from scratch monetarily.
|
|
The board officially changed the cemetery’s name to Hillgrove
Union
Cemetery to mark its collaboration. Per Ohio law, the board also established a perpetual care fund that reserves 10 percent of revenue generated from plot sales that can only be used for cemetery operations.
The board is focusing on efforts to increase cemetery revenue so that the cemetery becomes self-sustaining and relies less on annual subsidies from the city and township. For 2018, Miami Township and Miamisburg each budgeted $40,000 for shared cemetery operating expenses.
Among the board’s revenue-generating projects is the planned construction of a new 72-unit columbarium. Last year, the board researched the income potential of a columbarium and concluded that additional funding for construction was a good long-term investment. As a result, the township and city each approved a $20,000 expenditure to assist with the costs – an investment which may eventually provide a return nearing 100 percent. To keep the momentum going,
Miamisburg’s Parks and Recreation Department
promotes event planning, community awareness and upkeep. Miami Township’s
Public Works Department
also provides maintenance support where needed.
The
Hillgrove Union Cemetery Board
is comprised of Miamisburg City Councilman Mike McCabe, citizen Gary Pascoe, and Miami Township Trustee Donald Culp. Cemetery Superintendent Wade Collins oversees daily operations. Hillgrove Union Cemetery is open daily to visitors. For more information, call (937) 866-2263 or follow Hillgrove on
Facebook
.
|
|
Meet Your Neighbors
Eric and Abigail Shepard
|
|
Eric and Abigail Shepard have a busy life, and that is an understatement. They are the proud parents of five children, including two sets of twins. That’s right, two sets of twins! Big brothers Eli and Adam are 3 years old. Their sister, Maci, is 2, and they just welcomed Liam and Ezra, born March 19. Add two rambunctious dogs into the mix, plus Eric and Abigail’s full-time jobs, and you are probably ready to pull your hair out just thinking about it.
While Eric says, “It’s not as bad as it seems,” they recognize the need for a helping hand. They have family nearby and a babysitter ready to take care of the children, but it is what their neighbors did for their family that is most extraordinary.
The Shepards knew their friend, Nicole D’Amico, was watching their dogs while Abigail was in the hospital giving birth, but they never expected her to round up a ‘work crew’ of 15 people to pull off a secret surprise. “They cleaned all the way down to even changing light bulbs,” Eric said.
“They divided and conquered. Some people were given laundry, about four different women in our neighborhood had our laundry,” Abigail said. “The stripped our all our beds, washed all our bedding. People vacuumed the rooms, even moved the furniture to vacuum.”
|
|
Eric realized something was up when he came home from the hospital one day to find cleaning products strewn around the house. But, his family was overwhelmed by the gesture. He says the neighbors worked for two days to get their home spic-and-span, and that was after each worked all day.
“I was in complete shock. We know some of the neighbors, but some of these people are complete strangers. They don’t know our family. That they are willing to go out of their daily routine and help a family they don’t know, was like, there are still good people around!”
Now that the Shepards are home, the kind gestures are still arriving. D’Amico set up a so-called mule train in which people sign up to deliver meals to the family. Abigail says it’s been anything from carry-out to home cooked meals.
The Shepards say they can’t possibly thank their neighbors in the Villages of Miami enough. They wrote a heartfelt thank you on Facebook, hoping they will see it. In it, Abigail wrote, “We greatly appreciate all they did for us. We were shocked to see such kindness. I don’t know how we could repay you for everything everyone did, except to one day show the kindness given to us in return.”
By the sound of that neighborhood cleaning crew, the Shepards’ expression of gratitude is all the thanks they need.
|
|
Cutting down on 'ouchies' at the park
|
|
Playground equipment is always a top draw during the summer months at township parks.
Our Public Works Department is already working to make sure they are safe. Crews are replacing so-called ‘fall zone’ material at several parks this summer. Crains Run, Omietanski, Zengel, Waldruhe and Miami View parks will all get a new layer of the safety material designed to cushion any falls. The play equipment will also be cleaned, and any necessary repairs made.
|
|
Waldruhe Park playground keeps climbing
|
|
Residents will see a couple changes at Waldruhe Park this summer. The swing set will be repaired and moved to a new location within the park. New 'fall zone' material will be laid down to help cushion any falls and the sandbox is getting a refresh. A new wood fence line along SR 741 is already installed.
|
|
- Primary Election Day is Tuesday, May 8! Remember to vote!
- Mother's Day is Sunday, May 13!
- Township offices are closed Monday, May 28, 2018 in observance of Memorial Day.
- Austin Landing hosts a JoyRide Saturday, May 26, 9-11 a.m. This special car club event is exclusively for children with special needs. Kids can sit inside unique cars on display and even take a ride. JoyRide caters to their needs and promises a fun, family experience.
|
|
|
|
|
First Friday Food Truck Frenzy travels the Yellow Brick Road
|
It will soon be food truck season at Austin Landing! The First Friday Food Truck Frenzy is set for June 1, and includes a special concert.
Yellow Brick Road “A Tribute to Elton John,” with opening act,
Stranger
, is planned in The Park at Austin Landing. Tickets are $5 and all proceeds benefit
Sophie's For The Love of Animals Foundation
. Enjoy good eats, fresh brew and a show to remember!
|
|
Share Your Stories with Us
|
|
|
|
Have you followed us yet?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
