Minutes of Committee Meeting
Fire Department, Village Engineer, Service Department
Gorman Farm
April 4, 2006
The meeting of the Evendale Council Committee for Fire Department, Village Engineer, Service Department, and Gorman Farm was called to order at 7:15 pm. immediately following Council seminar on the public records law. Councilmembers Smiley-Robertson, Vonderhaar and Schaefer were present. Also present were Mayor Don Apking, Councilmembers Albrinck and Lohmeier, Michelle Gottschlich and Mary Lou Isaac of the Recreation Commission, Barb Rohs, Jeff Ficke, Dan Hackett, and Gary Goosman of the Gorman Heritage Farm Foundation. Since issues concerning Cooper Creek were to be discussed, Ken Knollman, Greg Eagan, Wayne Mosley, Pat Finan, Chuck Melampy, and Tom Shanks, an Evendale resident and representing concerns of Sacred Heart Parish were present. Village Engineer James Jeffers, Service Director Joe Wiehe, and
Recreation Director Dave Nichols also attended the meeting.
Cooper Creek
Jeff Ficke, Wayne Mosley, Pat Finan, Chuck Melampy, and Tom Shanks brought up concerns about Cooper Creek. Councilmember Schaefer explained that in the 2006 budget hearings in the committee, Wayne Mosley and Chuck Melampy requested that the committee recommend that the budget include $75,000 for installation of gabion baskets to protect the approach to the Cooper Creek bridge over Reading Road from erosion. The erosion is threatening Wayne Mosley’s property on Reading Road where he operates Central Tool Rental. (See January 31, 2006 committee meeting minutes).
Jeff Ficke, Wayne Mosley, Pat Finan, Chuck Melampy, and Tom Shanks requested committee approval for the money to be used for a hydrology study of Cooper Creek as a whole rather than the installation gabion baskets. Mayor Apking acknowledged that he had spoken with the concerned residents along Cooper Road and supported the use of the money for the hydrology study of Cooper Creek. Engineer James Jeffers estimated the study could cost $60,000 to $80,000. Tom Shanks, representing concerns of Sacred Heart Parish, stated that Sacred Heart would not consider any alterations on its property without the hydrology study.
Councilmember Schaefer pointed out that Cooper Creek runs through Blue Ash, Reading, Deer Park, and Sycamore Township; that Evendale, while owning some property along Cooper Creek, does not own the Creek itself. James Jeffers believed that a study of stream had occurred a decade ago and resulted in improvement recommendations estimated to be in excess of $1,000,000. The Village in certain areas had used the Palmiter method to control erosion. James Jeffers confirmed that the Palmiter Method cannot be sealed by an engineer.
Jeff Ficke acknowledged that the Palmiter installations near his home had substantially stopped the erosion and even reversed the process. The concern of the residents in attendance is that a repeat of the storm that occurred in July several years ago could wipe out the improvements. James Jeffers indicated that any design that they would make for stream improvements would not necessarily handle the storm event alluded to by the residents.
After further discussion the committee agreed that the Mayor could use the money for a hydrology study, but suggested that other jurisdictions affected by the creek be contacted to see if they might help in the study and solution.
Gorman Farm
The next issue concerned the trails recommended by the Recreation Department through the Gorman Farm. The concept is to connect the southern part of the Village to the Northern part of the Village with walking trails. The Gorman Farm concurs in the recommendation. The Recreation Department had held two open houses on the subject. Initially, the plan was to apply for state grants to cover the costs. Because of state restrictions and the success of the trails installed by the Service Department in the Griffin Family Nature Preserve, it had previously been decided to abandon the grant and have the trails installed by the Service Department. (See January 31, 2005 Committee Minutes). It was hoped at the prior meeting that the plans would be completed at this meeting. Prior to this meeting notices were sent to the
residents on Brinton Trail, Kingsport, Ambler and Winnebago who adjoin the area of the Gorman Farm where the trails would be installed.
James Jeffers and Gary Goosman presented schematic drawings of the trail locations and marked the locations upon CAGIS photographs of the Gorman Farm. Three locations for trails are recommended. The first is along the western edge of the Farm from the gravel Farm Driveway to the Interpretive Building. This would be behind the UAW Union Hall and telephone exchange. G.E. Elfun Society has shown an interest in helping to construct a bridge that would be required over the creek near the Interpretive Building. James Jeffers has suggested that the initial bridge drawing he examined needs more detail. There was little discussion of this proposal.
The other two proposed locations did cause concern of neighboring residents. These were a connection to Carpenter’s View Drive and to the dead end of Kingsport Drive. Greg Eagan and Dan Hackett, who live on Kingsport, raised a concern with parking and police ability to patrol the trail. Councilmember Albrinck, who lives near Carpenter’s View Drive expressed the same parking concerns as expressed by Greg Eagan and Dan Hackett. Jeff Albrinck commented that people use cars to drop their kids off at homes three doors away. Michelle Gottschlich and Mary Lou Isaac expressed the desire of the Recreation Department not to put up signs advertising the trails. Most people using the trails are expected to come from nearby residential areas. Barb Rohs explained that the Gorman Farm is not going to suggest
that their patrons park on the streets near these trail heads. The signs are expected to be all internal on the trails.
After a lengthy discussion, the committee recommended that all three trails be installed; the parking be monitored as well as the usage. If parking problems arise, the best solution for the Kingsport area seems to be “no parking” signs. The suggestions for the Carpenter’s View Drive trail is either establishing a small parking lot on the Gorman Farm Property or reconfiguring the roadway to provide privacy to the abutting home owners. The gateway at Kingsport is anticipated to be similar to the entrance to the Griffin Trails at the end of Horncastle Drive. The gates at the end of Carpenter’s View would have both a pedestrian gate and a vehicular gate.
Councilmembers Smiley-Robertson recalled that at the last meeting, the Committee wanted all Departments, Police, Fire, Service and Recreation to sign off on a completed proposal. She also was concerned with a system to monitor usage of the trails because it was suggested if there is insufficient usage of the Kingsport entrance, it could be closed. Dave Nichols agreed that the Recreation Department would monitor usage of the trail system. He also would make certain that the Police Department and Fire Department agreed to the plan.
Service Department
Joe Wiehe noted that $7,000 was spent on the Street Sweeper repairs, the first major repairs since it was purchased in 1999. Another new sign was shown from Plasticraft. This will also be installed outside the Administration Building. An ordinance hiring summer help will also be presented.
Engineer
James Jeffers gave a report on the Sanitary Sewer proposed for Plateau Place. The only residents interested are the last six on Plateau, other than Thomas Trammel. The problem has been designing installation of the sewer so that those not wishing to participate are not forced into the project under current MSD Regulations. James reported that the TIF agreements were still not executed because Walmart has not yet signed on to the TIF agreement. Councilmember Smiley-Robertson reported that Matt Griever would like to attend our meetings on a quarterly basis to report on progress in marketing the sites. The Committee was open to these types of reports. Joe Wiehe mentioned that the last time he visited Lowe’s, the employees advised him that Lowe’s had announced that they were going to build a store
in Evendale, presumably in the Anchor project.
The meeting adjourned at 9:45pm.
Approved:
Councilmember Smiley-Robertson
Councilmember Vonderhaar
Councilmember Schaefer
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