Category Archives: Xenia

Xenia Muncipal Court Amnesty For Those With Unpaid Fines, Arrest Warrants…

The Xenia Municipal Court says to pay your past fines now or face the possibility of stricter enforcement later. This announcement was made at a press conference held by Judge Michael K. Murry, Clerk of Court Pete Creamer, and Chief Probation Officer, Bobby Robbins.

On the 1st of February 2010, Judge Murry issued a Court Entry declaring an Amnesty program that continues through April 30, 2010.

During amnesty program period, anyone who has an outstanding warrant from the period of January 1, 1994 to December 31, 2008, for failing to pay fines, non-compliance with Court orders, probation violations, etc… may report to the Clerk of Court’s office without fear of arrest. If you have an active warrant and it’s a minor misdemeanor, it must be older than one year, any misdemeanor older than five years old with the exception of any version of Driving Under the Influence, Driving Under Suspension, Assault, or Domestic Violence; those offenses must be older than seven years, and any misdemeanor non-support warrant must be older than 10 years. The violator must pay the outstanding balance on all cases that will include court costs, fines, probation fees, parking tickets, restitution and license forfeiture fees.

As an additional incentive, during the amnesty period the $100.00 court costs for issuing the warrant will be waived. Once this has been accomplished, the warrant will be recalled and your case(s) will be closed within Xenia Municipal Court with no further action required. Any traffic, criminal, parking, probation, or civil case may be resolved in this manner.

This is the third consecutive year that Xenia Municipal Court has held an amnesty program. With this program in place, offenders must understand that by paying their fines, parking tickets, court costs, and restitution, they have the opportunity to have completion of their unfinished court business without further penalty. This will also lift warrant blocks on the offender’s license. The Court also believes this will alleviate over-crowded jails and enable officers to invest that time on more serious criminal matters. These warrants range from outstanding parking tickets to assault on the misdemeanor level. Although we realize that some people are afraid to face their responsibilities or don’t want to come to court for the fear of being arrested, there is a very real possibility of more severe punishment if the amnesty program is ignored and the warrants are not dealt with.

At the present, there are approximately 1200 individuals who have outstanding warrants issued for their arrest. There are also a large number of unpaid parking tickets that should be paid at City Hall’s Utility Billing that have the potential of becoming warrants.

To accommodate persons wishing to take advantage of this unique opportunity, the Xenia Municipal Clerk of Court’s office, 101 N. Detroit St., Xenia, Ohio is open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and Thursday and Friday from 7:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

City of Xenia Announces May Ballot Issue

Xenia City Council unanimously passed legislation on Thursday, January 14, 2010, which is the first step in the process that will give voters the right to decide whether it’s time to raise the City’s income tax rate from 1.75 percent to 2.25 percent. The proposed tax increase, which would appear on the May 4, 2010, ballot, is expected to generate an estimated $2.7 million for the City. This revenue would help to maintain current Police and Fire staffing levels and services as well as provide much needed dollars for street improvements and other general capital improvements. If voters approve the legislation, the City’s tax credit will not be affected, which is a maximum of 1.5 percent. Further, 0.25 percent of the increase is dedicated solely to maintain current Police and Fire staffing levels and services and provide funding for police and fire capital needs (i.e., police cars, ambulances, etc.).

City Council has been deliberating the city’s finances after the defeat of a Replacement 3.5 Mill Operating Levy in February 2009. Voters approved a renewal of the 3.5 Mill Operating Levy in August 2009. Although the City needs those dollars, the renewal levy only kept the existing revenue stream in place and did not provide any additional funding. The City of Xenia has not received a voted income tax increase since 1991. Further, the existing 3.5 Mill Operating Levy was initially passed in 1959 and has generated very few additional dollars since the 1970s. Mr. Bazelak said, “The City of Xenia has received only one voted tax increase (a quarter percent in 1991) over the last 30 years and that increase was almost 20 years ago. Income tax collections have declined significantly over the past year and there has been a reduction in local government funding from the state, and with little growth in other revenues, it is just not enough anymore to be able to provide the same level of services that our residents have come to expect.” City Manager, Jim Percival said, “the City has done everything we can do to reduce expenses, save jobs, and maintain current Police and Fire staffing levels. We have cut everything we can cut … we cut nine full-time and two part-time non-union positions in September 2009, two vacant police officer positions have not been filled, a wage freeze for non-union employees was put in place in 2009 and will continue in 2010, and union contracts have been renegotiated with concessions. This comes on top of a staff reduction of 15 employees in 2003. Voters need to be made aware of the potential additional cuts to police and fire and service reductions so they can make an educated vote on May 4th. City streets are also in grave need of improvements, but there are just not enough capital dollars to make any substantial improvements.”

In November 2009, the City began a community outreach initiative with a citizen perception survey of a limited number of residents conducted by Wright State University and a focus group of community leaders facilitated by 3-F Coaching. The results of the survey and focus group discussion were utilized in forming a recommendation to Council on a potential levy ballot issue. The survey indicated street improvements as well as police and fire services were top priorities for citizens. The survey results are available on the City’s website at www.ci.xenia.oh.us. Council President Patricia Felton said, “Nobody wants to raise taxes, but we feel an income tax increase is the best approach to raise the necessary dollars to maintain our current Police and Fire staffing levels and also provide much needed capital dollars for street improvements and capital dollars for police and fire. This is essential when it comes to the safety of our City. If it doesn’t pass, we’ll have to go to Plan B – which is to lay off 6 firefighters and 4 police officers – there is no other way around it.”

If approved by the voters on the May 4th ballot, the rate increase would be effective January 1, 2011. The City realizes the economic difficulties of our community and took that into consideration when determining what amount and what of type of issue to place on the ballot. Those with higher incomes would pay more, those with lower incomes would pay less, and those with no earned income would pay nothing at all. For a middle-class Xenia household making $40,000 a year, the increase would cost less than $17 a month. All Social Security, company pensions, dividends, and interest income would continue

New Year Resolutions For Local Officials

Making resolutions is a tradition of the New Year’s holiday. Most organizations establish plan objectives in order to reach their goals. One example of an organizational objective is to reach a specified number of potential customers, clients, or audiences. Another might be to recruit a certain number of new members, clients, new readers, or new businesses. Still another objective might be to increase revenue by a targeted amount whether in the form of sales, membership dues, or taxes.

In the spirit of setting corporate goals, I propose two New Year resolutions that would improve the service of public officials to those who pay them their salaries and that might increase public respect of the same.

Resolution one. Treat Xenia taxpayers like stakeholders and investors. To accomplish this goal, the City will create and distribute to every taxpayer a corporate-like annual report that includes goals, accomplishments, new issues, and simplified financial statements.

Government exists to serve specific needs of the citizens who created it. Services needed by local citizens include police and judicial protection of property and person, facilitation of economic prosperity, education, sanitation, and the like. Like investors in for-profit business, taxpayers invest their hard-earned money into government. Taxpayers have a right to expect a return on their investment (ROI). It could even be said that they are obligated to demand measurable results. To achieve this reasonable demand, city officials could create and distribute an annual report as stated above. An annual report would provide taxpaying investors both with measured and comprehensive results of service achievement and with financial accountability by means of simplified financial statements.

Some people will like react negatively to this resolution because they believe the cost are not justified, That is, they believe the money would be better spent on paving streets, repairing equipment, or some other necessary expenditure. It must be admitted they are mostly right.

The city spends tens of thousands of dollars for each levy campaign to increase taxes. Yet, most local taxpayers have no real clue why the money is needed, whether the need is legitimate, how tax revenue is in a reserve fund, or whether some of that reserve could be used for a proposed levy. It is for these and similar reasons that an annual report widely distributed would provide all taxpayers will the necessary information to overcome such ignorance. In short, such an annual report would go along way in making Xenia taxpayer informed citizens–one of the more important requirements for good decision-making in a participatory democracy.

Resolution two. Honesty and transparency is the only public policy worthy of the public trust. Therefore, honesty and transparency in all public issues, ordinances, levies, and all other public matters will always be practiced. If it is found to be otherwise, any legal matter involved will be deemed null and void.

Not only are taxpayers not treated as investing stakeholders in their public institutions, but they are treated like consumers and dupes. The underlying view of citizens and taxpayers by officials is the old sales adage: “A sucker is born every day.” The mentality is if you are stupid enough to buy the lies and half-truths, you deserve what you get. What school officials gave South Hill residents and taxpayers in general was a royal snow job. Officials said that a soil study was conducted showing that the school was atop a high water table, which was the cause of a flooding problem in the basement of Spring Hill elementary school. Because of this, Spring Hill could not be rebuilt.

However, the official geological study also states that all of Xenia is on just as high a water table. In fact, the land Tecumseh is built on is even more prone to flooding than at the Spring Hill site. The fact is officials have no good reason not to rebuild Spring Hill on the same site. Certainly, Spring Hill has no greater land limitations than at Shawnee Elementary.

Any votes for public money schemes based on such misleading information should nullify those votes in favor of it.

Who will be awake at 12:01AM January 1, 2010

If a poll taken by Ramussen today is any indicator, 62 percent of Xenia residents will awake to celebrate the beginning of a New Year. About 75 percent of adults under 30 will be praying, toasting, cheering, or kissing during the New Year’s arrival, but only 41 percent of adults over 30 will be doing the same. That means of the 38 percent of Xenians will be snoring at the New Year. Among those lazy rebels will be 25 percent will under 30s and and 69 percent of the over-the-hill-gang (those over 30).

Those who intend to still be awake at 12:01 are like to be one of the following places: 23 percent will be relaxing at home, 11 percent will be at a friends home, 5 percent will be bashing at a restaurant or bar, 13 percent will be still be wondering around, and 10 percent are not revealing where swanky place will be. Of course, the 38 percent who intend to be asleep at 12:01 AM did not say in whose bed they would presumably be snoring away. Maybe those who will be praying could pray for them as well. You never know it just might make a good and happy New Year become a reality. Anything is possible in Xenia.

The Fluoride Racket

It amazes me the audacity many elected officials have when it comes to deciding public health issues. The “one size fits all” policy seems rampant these days. I’m not sure if they are aware of the potential short and long term effects due to dumping a poison in the water supply, or if they are just ignorant. Let me explain just some of the reasons why you should not allow fluoride-a poison in the city water. Fluoride or hydrofluorosilicic acid, is an industrial “waste” product from the fertilizer industry. This bright idea came to be about the same time as did the bright ideas of asbestos lined pipes, lead in our gasoline and DDT, and was assumed safe and effective by public officials. I’m too young to remember, but some of you may remember seeing the “fogger” vehicles spraying neighborhoods and schools with what turned out to be a very, very bad idea. Today though, fluoride is the devil in disguise that is being propagandized as to the supposed health benefits of preventing tooth decay. Like any good propaganda, millions are spent on advertising to convince the trusting public to believe everything our leaders tell us. Sadly, many including the ADA and many of our dentist go along with this deception.

Fluoridation is unsafe because in accumulates in our bones and makes them brittle and more prone to fractures especially in the elderly. It accumulates in our pineal gland in our brain and possibly lowers the production of melatonin a very important regulatory hormone. It damages the enamel on our teeth especially in younger children. There are serious yet unproven concerns about the connection of osterosarcoma (cancerous-malignant bone tumors) in young men along with the possible connections to arthritis and hypothyroidism. Animal studies showed that 1ppm in drinking water showed an increase in aluminum in the brain. Places where there are 3ppm in public drinking water have proven lower fertility rates. In human studies, the agents in fluoride has been linked to increased lead in children’s blood and associated with increased violent behavior. Lastly, the safety and therapeutic benefit of reducing dental decay is so low that the concerns stated above and those not stated should be enough reasons to not be forced upon those of us who do not want to be “medicated” from our drinking water. I highly encourage everyone concerned to Google “weston price fluoride fraud” and determine yourself. As for me, I even avoid toothpaste with fluoride-but then again shouldn’t that be “my” decision.

Why Would City Council Even Consider Adding Fuoride to Xenia’s Drinking Water

By Daniel Downs

During the last meeting, Council President Dennis Propes proposed an ordinance that would authorize the city manager to fluoridate Xenia’s drinking water. Most council members still remember the community voting down this proposal three times in the past. So why reintroduce it?

In the past, city officials sold water fluoridation as a convenient way to lower the cost of treating water, prevent tooth decay, and build stronger bones. It also is true that fluoride is a natural trace element. Medical studies have supported the belief that consuming water supplemented with fluoride does result in increased bone density or stronger bones. Besides all of those benefits, most, if not all, of neighboring cities and regions fluoridate their water.

In a recent study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association, J.V. Kumar of the New York Health Department reported that the state spent nearly $24 million on water fluoridation with no statistically significant reduction in the rate of tooth decay among children 7 to 17 years of age. His comparative study examined whether children in communities with different levels of water fluoridation demonstrated any differences in levels of cavities. At all levels, including no fluoridation and the optimal level of 1.2 milligrams/ Liter, there was a 2 percent or less difference All of which means the state of New York has been wasting millions of taxpayer dollars.

Wasting a taxpayers’ hard earned money is bad enough, but jeopardizing their health is unconscionable.

In 2005, a majority of EPA scientists by union proxy asked the head of the EPA to place fluoride on its list of carcinogenic chemicals.

In 2006, National Research Council (NRC) published the results of their study of fluoride in drinking water entitled “Fluoride in Drinking Water: A Scientific Review of EPA’s Standard.” They reviewed all relevant research on the health impacts of fluoride on both animal and humans. At press conference, John Doull, chair of the research team, summarized the NRC’s findings. He began by identifying fluoride as an EPA regulated contaminate of drinking water and not as a beneficial trace element. He proceeded to define the EPA’s 40-year-old two-tier standard of acceptable fluoride levels. The EPA set tier one at a maximum of 4 milligrams of fluoride to 1 liter of water below which no adverse health risk was expected, and tier two level is a maximum of 2 milligrams of fluoride in 1 liter of drinking water below which no discoloration or other damage of tooth enamel (fluorosis) was expected. He continued by briefly summarizing several important conclusions of their 530-page review:

  1. Drinking water is the main source of fluoride. Seventy-two (72%) to ninety-four percent (94%) of fluoride intake is through drinking water fluoridated at EPA levels.
  2. Lifelong consumption of fluoride in drinking water results in increased bone fractures.

 

The study uncovered a number of other health risks resulting from fluoride consumption. One of risks includes skeletal fluorosis, which involves increased bone density and pitting of bones. It also causes joint stiffness, pain, and sometime impairment. Fluoride consumption also adversely affects thyroid function when the iodine levels are too low. Because fluoride consumption produces greater glucose intolerance, fluoridating drinking water will exacerbate the health problems of citizens with diabetes. Fluoride consumption is known to weaken the immune system thus putting citizens already with compromised immune systems at greater risk.

NRC also suspects fluoride is an important factor in liver, kidney, intestinal, and mental diseases, but previous research was inconclusive requiring more research.

Some of the research reviewed did show links between fluoride consumption and mental diseases like Alzheimer and dementia. Other studies conducted in China concluded that fluoride also diminishes intellectual abilities like problem solving.

Another study published in 2006 discovered strong links between water fluoridation and bone cancer in young boys. The findings of Harvard medical study led by Dr. Bassin, and referenced by the EPA scientists above, showed that with the consumption of fluoridated water, the risk of osteosarcoma in boys increased sevenfold. Some readers may remember hearing about this study from all of the mainstream news media.

According to some reports, osteosarcoma is the second most common type of bone cancer. It accounts for 20 percent of all bone malignancies, and 50 percent of all cases occur around the knee.

With the widely increasing knowledge about the harmful effects of treating water with fluoride, it is surprising that city officials could agree to further discussion let alone a vote, which they plan to do on December 10. Do they really want to jeopardize further the health of the community’s children and at-risk members? Maybe some do; but citizens have an opportunity to tell them to stop–stop placing our health and welfare at risk.

To do so, visit to the Council website at http://www.ci.xenia.oh.us where each council member’s email address and telephone number may be obtain.

Funding for Xenia’s Juvenile Rehabilitation Center Approved

In a November 24 press release, Ohio Representative Jarrod Martin announced that the state Controlling Board had approved $192,750 for general renovations at the Miami Valley Juvenile Rehabilitation Center in Xenia, Ohio.

“These dollars are crucial to the regular upkeep of the facility in order to reduce major repair costs to the taxpayers over the long term,” Martin said. “This center is an important place of reintegrating our troubled youth back into society as productive members and citizens.”

The Controlling Board approval means that the facility can move forward with such renovations as roof replacement, kitchen improvements, fence repairs, parking lot resurfacing and security system improvements, among others.

The center houses 30 male and female youth and provides post-adjudicated rehabilitation for the felony youth that are housed there. Ten Ohio counties are served through the Miami Valley facility.

Xenia Leaf Pick Up Schedule

City workers will pick up leafs only once (not twice) this year. That’s the thanks taxpayers get for electing federal politicians who create recessions and for not voting to increase city taxes.

Be that as it may, if you want your leafs picked up by city workers, you must first rack them into piles along the curb. You must also keep vehicles a minimum of 10 feet away from your pile during the entire week of the scheduled pick up in your area (Monday-Friday). Last but not least, leaf piles must contain nothing but leafs–trees, tree limbs, old siding, appliances, furniture, bikes, cars, or any other objects.

The [remaining] lead pick up schedule is as follows:

Nov 17-23
Neighbors west of US35 Bypass including New Arrowhead, Windsor Park, Reserve of Xenia, Sterling Green and Wright Cycles Estates. (Zone 2)

Nov 20-Dec 4
Southeast section from Church St. and continuing south to include East End, South End, South Hill and Old Arrowhead east of US 35 Bypass. (Zone 3)

Dec 7-11
All of Laynewood neighborhoods and the neighborhoods that include Charles, Maple and Center Streets. (Zone 4)

To see a map of zones and streets, see the city’s map or list.

This is a one-shot deal. So, leaf owners make the best of it.

Bond Issue 28 Update: Xenia On A High Water Table Not Just Spring Hill Elementary

I just found the multi-governmental soil survey of Xenia. It is part of the Soil Survey of Greene County made by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Soil and Water Conservation, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, the Ohio State University Extension, the Greene Soil and Water Conservation District and the Greene County Commissioners. It was part of the technical assistance furnished to the Greene Soil and Water Conservation District. This and all other soil surveys are archived at the US Dept. of Agriculture

The soil survey presents several revealing facts about Issue 28. First, the survey defined the types of soil complexes for every parcel of land in Xenia. The area surrounding City Hall, including Towne Square, is classified as Oakely-Urban complex (undulating). The type of soil surrounding Tecumseh Elementary is described as Eldean Silt Loam. Cox Elementary is built on the same type of soil as City Hall. The type of soil underneath Spring Hill Elementary is Miamian-Urban (undulated).

Second, all of these areas have similar characteristics:

(1) All have temporary high water tables during certain times during the year. The depth to the seasonally high water table is more than 6 feet in all areas.

(2) Flooding is highly improbable.

(3) Moderate shrinking and swelling of soil could crack foundations and basement walls without special design techniques. The same applies to roads and streets.

Third, the facts of the soil survey that I am at present looking at reveals how the politics of money trumps the good of all school children in Xenia. The use of soil survey data by school officials to justify the elimination of an important neighborhood school is deceptively wrong. Issue 28 may be sold as good for all Xenia’s school buildings; but, it is not for the good of South Hill’s school children and their families.

What the School Bond Issue 28 Teaches Xenia Children

By Daniel Downs

One question rarely asked during elections is what children learn. Having spent a lot of time studying education, this is probably the most neglected issue about election campaigns. That is why this article addresses what children will likely learn from one particular campaign: the campaign to pass a 2.7 mill bond issue and 0.5 mill levy for rebuilding five elementary schools in Xenia.

After comparing the text of the bond issue with advertisements and statements made by school officials and supporters, I have come to the conclusion that one thing children may learn is that dishonesty pays. The text of Bond Issue 28 repeatedly states $34.57 million is for “renovating, improving, and constructing additions to existing facilities.” Yet, school officials, the Xenia Education Association, and supporters claim the state will only fund 5 new schools. If state rules prohibits the use of its money for renovations our schools, the state would not have approved the text of Issue 28.

So what buildings do school official plan to repair or renovate? The central office building? Warner Middle School? Xenia High School?

One thing is certain, Spring Hill Elementary will not be one of them. School officials claim state geologists tested the land on which Spring and found springs of water underground. Those springs are the reasons for flooding in the school’s basement. Therefore, the state determined the current site is unfit for building a new school.

School officials expect voters to believe soil sampling was neither performed 50 years ago nor were officials aware of those springs back then. Because they say so, voters are also to believe underground water seeping through unrepaired cracks in the basement makes the site unfit to build a new school. Didn’t anyone suggest building a new school without a basement. Buildings are probably built over supposed high water tables and springs often.

Another thing Issue 28 will likely teach children is government extortion is okay. Extortion is defined as obtaining money by using force, threats, or some other unacceptable means.” Isn’t getting taxpayers hard earn income by deceitful means unacceptable? So was the means states employed to get $200 billion from tobacco companies, of which Ohio got $10 billion.

According to the Cato Institute, tobacco companies were not held responsible for tobacco-related illnesses for over 40 years. In 1994, states began suing tobacco companies to recover medical expenses due to smoking. In the meantime, states changed laws making it possible to win their law suits based on charges that the companies were violating racketeering law. Congress helped the state by crafting master settlement legislation that forced tobacco companies to pay the states for tobacco-related medical expenses indefinitely. Yet, everyone knows smokers choose to smoke knowing the health risks. The money extorted by the governments was to fund medical costs, programs to reduce youth smoking, and programs to prevent tobacco related disease.

How then does building schools help youth quit smoking or prevent cancer?

I image some children will catch the message that government extortion is regarded by many as a good thing. So why we not regard cheating on tests, theft at work, and a host of similar behaviors as good too?

Issue 28 is an object lesson of how the rule of law has been made a bad joke. Rule of law is not whatever politicians say is law. It is not whether a majority agree with an idea, a plan, a party platform, or legislation that violates just laws. The rule of law is the supreme law. It is above all and is applicable to all, even elected and unelected politicians. Federal and state constitutions are the supreme law, not unjust legislation.

Just as states extorting money from tobacco companies violates the rule of law, so does Issue 28. The consolidation of elementary schools and the future middle schools violates the Ohio Revised Code. As I wrote in previous articles, Ohio law requires the building of small schools. I also referred to studies that proved the optimal size of an elementary school less than 350 students. Yet, school officials claim the Ohio School Facilities Commission refuses to fund construction of schools with less than 350 students. Either OSFC does not know Ohio law or doesn’t care. The consolidation plan further demonstrates that the rule of law is a huge farce.

The unlawful and unethical practices of public officials demonstrate that schooling has become the justification for all kinds of vices, corrupt, and illegal practices. Our children are nothing more than pawns in their political strategies.

And what Bond Issue 28 teaches the children of Xenia is that dishonesty and law breaking pays.

Previous posts on the proposed bond issue:

Xenia Community Schools Rebuilding Plan : What I Learned at the Forum, October 21, 2008

Xenia Community Schools Rebuilding Plan : Why Small Schools are Best, October 22, 2009

Xenia Community Schools Rebuilding Plan : Its All About the Money, October 23, 2008

Xenia Deserves Better Schools Than Proposed by Issue 20, November 3, 2008

Comparing City and School Revenues and Their Respective Tax Issues, January 31, 2009

May 5 Xenia Community Schools Bond Issue Text, April 30, 2009

Maintaining the Status Quo in Education, August 13, 2009