December E-News
2018    
Ice Storm Brush Pick-up Ending
The Maintenance Department has collected brush in about three-fourths of the Village and will have made one complete pass through collecting storm damage by the end of this week.  Our plan is to end the storm brush pick up so your last brush removal will be your regular day of brush pick up the week of December 3rd through December 7th, then our brush collection will be suspended until the end of the year so we can fully focus on leaf collection.  If you want to find out your targeted day for brush pick-up, view the   map of the brush route  on your street or call the Village offices at 531-8675.
Remaining brush after the storm collection ends should be bundled and cut into four-foot lengths, or cut the brush and place it into a garbage can or yard waste bag for collection by Rumpke.  
If you have any questions, please feel free to call the Administration office at 531-8675.
Proposed Ordinance to Regulate Accessory Structures
Public Hearing on December 3

The Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing to receive input on proposed Ordinance 2018-13 that amends the zoning code and regulates accessory structures over 200 square feet.

This will be an opportunity for residents to provide input to the Planning Commission. Interested residents can attend the Planning Commission's December 3 regular meeting at 7 p.m. to be held in Council Chambers.

The Planning Commission has the option of making a recommendation back to council on December 3 or deferring a decision and holding a second hearing. The Planning Commission can take up to 60 days to make a recommendation to Council.
Leaf Collection Ends December 28
The Village's curbside leaf collection service concludes on December 28. Residents are encouraged to get leaves to the curb in advance to allow crews to collect leaves prior to the close of the collection season.

To ensure your leaves are picked up, the crews will make multiple routes through the Village during the final week of pickup to make every effort to collect your leaves.

Leaves placed at the curb after December 28 may be bagged for pickup by Rumpke or integrated into backyard compost.
Regular Brush Pick-up Resumes January 2

With bulk leaf collection concluding on December 28, the Maintenance Department will resume the brush collection service January 2.  

Reviewing the brush guidelines can ensure the brush you set out is picked up and keeps our employees safe. Materials mixed in with brush can cause costly damage to the Village's chipper. We appreciate your effort work together with us to provide the most efficient service possible to the community.
Curbside Services Holiday Schedule
Rumpke

Residents can expect a one day delay for trash and recycling collection service from Rumpke during the weeks of Christmas and New Year's.  The regular Friday pick-up will move to Saturday.
Leaf Collection

No collection on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Service ends on December 28.
Holiday Package Delivery Service
Continues through December 24
Holiday Package Delivery Service
Holiday Package Delivery Service
Residents can continue sending packages to the Police Department til December 24.  For ease of package identification , your name should appear as the first line in the address: 

 

 Your Name Here
 c/o Amberley Village Police Dept.
 7149 Ridge Road
 Amberley Village, OH 45237


For questions about how you can take advantage of this secure delivery option this holiday season, call the Amberley Village Police Department at 531-2040.
Holiday Travel Plans?
Request a Vacation House Check

Are you traveling this holiday season?  Did you know the Amberley Village Police will conduct regular checks of your home while you're away?  Residents can contact the Police-Fire Department at 531-2040 in advance of leaving town and the Village will direct special attention to your home while you are away.  Officers conduct routine checks on residents' homes by walking the perimeter of the home and ensuring that there is no out of the ordinary activity such as an open door or broken window and other signs that would show disturbance of the property or home.
Things to Check Before You Go
Crime Prevention Video 
Things to Check Before You Go

After you've let the Department know you'll be travelling, be sure you prepare your home by considering these safety measures:
  • Keep shades and blinds in their normal positions.
  • Stop mail and newspaper delivery, or arrange for someone to pick them up every day.
  • Lock all doors and windows.
  • Activate your security alarm.
  • Use timers on household and holiday lights so they turn on and off at appropriate times.
  • Leave a radio on or put it on a timer.
  • Don't allow deliveries of any kind to accumulate on your doorstep. 
  • Ask a neighbor to park in your driveway overnight.
  • Refrain from publicizing your trip ahead of time.
  • Turn down the ringer on your telephone to avoid a ringing phone.
  • Do not broadcast your vacation on social media.  A post showing you are in Florida is a sure sign that you are out of town.  The less information you put out there, the less likely it is to reach the wrong ears and eyes.
  • Do not leave portable GPS devices and electronics visible in your vehicle while your vehicle is parked at the airport.
  • Don't hide a house key outside.  Burglars know the best hiding places better than you do.
  • Lock up jewelry, electronics, and any other valuables or sensitive documents in a fire-proof safe.
For your convenience, you may notify the department of your plans via fax, phone or email.  Call 531-2040 or visit   AmberleyVillage.org and click on Resident Services.
Preparing Gift Boxes for Recycling

With most of the holiday gifts arriving on our doorsteps in boxes, please remember cardboard is an acceptable item for your curbside recycling bin. 

Simply break-down and fold the boxes flat to recycle your packages. For more about recycling, visit Rumpke.com.
Recycle Holiday Lights

Did you know holiday lights can be recycled? The Great Parks of Hamilton County has a drop-off program for residents to recycle holiday lights now through February 1, 2019. Broken or unwanted lights can be dropped off at any Great Parks visitor center. Marked bins will be located just inside the lobby doors at designated locations. Contact Great Parks for questions at 521-7275 or visit https://www.greatparks.org/ for a location convenient for you.

In addition to the Great Parks' locations, the Loveland Sustainability Council is collecting old holiday lights at these locations:

Loveland: UPS Store, 10663 Loveland Madeira Road
Miami Township: Move2Loveland/Keller Williams, 6377 Branch Hill Guinea Pike
Symmes Township: Symmes Administration Building, 9323 Union Cemetery Road
Snow and Ice Removal Operations

The Village's Maintenance Department is responsible for keeping the roadways clear and passable for residents throughout the winter season. Snow and ice control is a core service among our winter activities and becomes the priority for the duration of each weather event.

Before inclement weather arrives, the seven-member Maintenance Department is focused on preparing its trucks for snow fighting by adding snow plows, salt brine sprayers and salt spreaders. The Village's trucks are outfitted with a tailgate salt spreader, a 10-foot plow, and a 50-gallon salt brine tank.
It takes a two-man crew approximately 45 minutes to convert each of the four trucks from normal daily use such as pot hole repair, brush or leaf equipment to the winter setup. The same trucks are utilized year-round to provide brush collection, leaf collection, street and storm water repairs and snow removal services.

The Village also generates its own salt brine solution in advance of inclement weather. The salt and water are mixed to a 23.3% solution and in colder weather beet juice is added to the mixture. To conserve the usage of rock salt, pre-treatment of the Village roadways with beet juice and brine solution are utilized for light snow and ice events.
 
During a response to a winter storm where snow or ice is accumulating on the roadways, the Village is divided into four quadrants. Each of the four trucks that are outfitted with plow blades and salt spreaders are dispatched to each area. Priority streets/major roadways, hills, bridges, and emergency routes are cleared first. Collector or secondary streets within each area are the next priority. Once priority streets are clear, crews begin clearing the shorter residential streets.

However, as long as it's snowing, crews must focus on priority streets. The safety of the traveling public and emergency response is the first concern and every effort will be made to provide the highest level of service to all residents.

How You Can Help:
 
Shovel snow to the right of your driveway (when looking from your driveway into the street) this helps eliminate plowed snow from blocking your driveway. Plow drivers try their best to not block residents' driveways.
Shake Your Mailbox

The Amberley Village Maintenance Department asks residents to "shake your mailbox" as part of routine preparation for the winter months. Common mailbox maintenance includes tightening screws, replacing deteriorated wood posts, securing any loose parts to ensure the integrity of the structure and replacing house numbers. This is also a good time to install reflectors that make your mailbox easier to see during storms and when it is dark.

Mailboxes regularly maintained and constructed in accordance with the U.S. Postal Service rules and regulations are more likely to withstand the discarded snow.    
Council Legislation: November 

The following legislation was presented and passed at the regular Village Council meeting November 12, 2018.  Questions about legislation may be directed to the administration office at 531-8675.  To view or download legislation, including the council packet in its entirety, click on Council Agendas  on the Village homepage and select the November 12 Village Council Meeting from the recent events list of meetings shown. Minutes and legislation may also be accessed via Forms & Documents on the Village website.

Ordinance 2018-12 Amending Appropriations for the Fiscal Year 2018
Resolution 2018-25 Authorizing Renewal of Software to Promote Access to Public Financial Records
Resolution 2018-26 Authorizing the Village Manager to Purchase Firehouse Exhaust System
Resolution 2018-27 Authorizing the Village Manager to Purchase Gloves, Hoods, and a Washer for the Fire Department
Resolution 2018-28 Authorizing the Village Manager to Purchase a Voice Recording System for Police Dispatch
Resolution 2018-29 Adopting the Hamilton County Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan
Resolution 2018-30 Authorizing the Village Manager to Complete Repairs to Dump Truck
Resolution 2018-31 Referring to the Planning Commission Changes to the Village Code
2019 Dog Licensing Period
December 1 - January 31

Ohio law requires that dogs older than three months be licensed.  Residents may purchase a Hamilton County dog license during the regular licensing period of December 1 through January 31.
1 Year Tag - $19
3 Year Tag - $57
Permanent Tag - $190

If you fail to renew by the January 31, 2019 deadline, you can still purchase a dog license, but late fees do apply and will be added to the cost.   
A license can be purchased at the Hamilton County Auditor's Office, 138 East Court Street, Room 304, in downtown Cincinnati. Licenses can also be purchased beginning December 1 on-line at  Dog and Kennel Licenses New or Renewal . There is a convenience fee charged for on-line purchases. 
One-year licenses are also available at the Hamilton County SPCA or you may visit one of Hamilton County's  convenient neighborhood vendors. There is a 75ยข agent fee for purchasing this way. Please call 946-4106 for an application or details, or email [email protected].