Council Minutes Archives COUNCIL MINUTES City of Harrison December 18, 2007 Council met in regular session with Mayor Daniel J. Gieringer presiding.   Members present included:  Mrs. Deborah Acra , Mr. Tony Burkart,  Mrs. Judy Kercheval, Mr. Joel McGuire, Mr. Bill Neyer, Mr. Jim Robertson, and Mr. Randy Shank.  Mr. Bill Deters, the Law Director, was also in attendance. The meeting opened at 7:30 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. Shank made a motion, seconded by Mr. Burkart to approve the Council meeting minutes for December 4, 2007.  The minutes were approved as presented.  Mr. Shank made a motion, seconded by Mr. Burkart to approve the executives session meeting minutes for December 4, 2007.  Those minutes were also approved as presented. Mrs. Kercheval made a motion, seconded by Mr. Burkart to approve the purchase orders. Roll Call:  All - yea. Mr. Robertson made a motion, seconded by Mr. Shank to approve the November Finance Report.  Roll Call:  All - yea. Tax Commissioner Gayle Grubbs addressed Council to present Jana Cromer with a 30 year award from the City of Harrison.  Jana began her service with the city on October 25, 1977 and will complete her duties on December 28, 2007.  Ms Cromer has worked with four mayors, including Harry Rolfes, Archie Mason, Ruth Glasscock, and Daniel J. Gieringer. Vice Mayor Jim Robertson addressed Council to present Mayor Daniel J. Gieringer with a plaque in appreciation for his leadership and dedicated service to the community as an elected official of the City of Harrison . Mayor Gieringer has served as Mayor since 1999 and as a City Council member from 1994 - 1999. Mr. Don Kocher of New Biddinger Road addressed Council with concerns regarding trucks using an alley that runs between Walnut Street and State Street.  Mr. Kocher is interested in having the alley closed to large trucks.  Mayor Gieringer suggested Mr. Kocher meet with the Street Committee to discuss the issue. Mrs. Kercheval made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Acra to approve an ordinance to adopt annual appropriations for the year 2008. Roll Call:  All - yea.  (Ordinance #44 - 2007). Mr. Robertson made a motion, seconded by Mr. Shank to approve an ordinance setting compensation rates for directors and other non-bargained positions. Roll Call:  All - yea.  (Ordinance #45 - 2007). Mrs. Kercheval made a motion, seconded by Mr. Shank to approve an ordinance that a resolution that the City of Harrison will pick up the statutorily required contribution to the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System for the employees of the City of Harrison pursuant to IRC Section 414(H)(2).  Roll Call:  All - yea. (Ordinance #46 - 2007). Mr. Robertson made a motion, seconded by Mr. Shank to approve an ordinance of an amended resolution of the Council of the City of Harrison of Hamilton County, Ohio.  Roll Call:  All - yea.  (Ordinance #47 - 2007). Mr. Shank made a motion, seconded by Mr. Robertson to approve an ordinance authorizing the transfer of funds for the purpose of reconciling finances for the year end.  Roll Call:  All - yea.  (Ordinance #48 - 2007). Mr. Robertson made a motion, seconded by Mr. Shank to approve an ordinance approving appropriations of funds for the purpose of reconciling finances for the year end.  Roll Call:  All - yea.  (Ordinance #49 - 2007).  Mr. Neyer made a motion, seconded by Mr. McGuire to set a public hearing for January 15, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. for adoption of revisions to Section 501 of the Harrison Zoning Code. This revision would add an R-0 zone to any property which is annexed into the City of Harrison.  The current R-0 zone is only available to property which comes in from Harrison Township.  Roll Call: All - yea.  Mr. Neyer made a motion, seconded by Mr. Shank to table the acceptance and dedication of a portion (Fischer Homes)of Lyness Avenue.   Roll Call:  All - yea. Mr. Neyer made a motion, seconded by Mr. Shank to remove an item from the agenda regarding the recommendation of an indoor firing range at the old IGA store. (At this time, city ordinances prohibit the discharge of firearms in that type of facility.  Council may review this issue at a later date once amendments and revisions are made).   Roll Call:  All - yea. Mrs. Kercheval made a motion, seconded by Mr. Robertson to add an item to the agenda pertaining to office additions at the Community Center.  Roll Call:  All - yea. Mrs. Acra made a motion, seconded by Mr. Robertson to approve an ordinance approving a contract with Teuschler, Inc. for office additions to the Harrison Community Center.   Roll Call:  Kercheval - yea;  Robertson - yea;  Burkart - yea;  Shank - yea;  Neyer - abstain;  McGuire - yea;  Acra - yea. (Ordinance #50 - 2007). Mr. Neyer made a motion, seconded by Mr. Shank to add two items to the agenda regarding  tax incentive agreements and Bear Creek Capital, LLC.  Roll Call:  All - yea. Mr. Neyer made a motion, seconded by Mr. Shank to approve an ordinance declaring improvements to parcels of real property located in the City of Harrison, Ohio to be a public purpose under Section 5709.40(B) of the Ohio Revised Code, exempting such improvements from real property taxation, authorizing the execution of a tax incentive agreement, service agreements and such other documents as may be necessary, establishing a tax increment equivalent fund.  Roll Call:  All - yea.  (Ordinance #51 - 2007). Mr. Neyer made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Kercheval to approve an ordinance approving a public improvements agreement between the City of Harrison and Bear Creek Capital, LLC.  Roll Call:  All - yea.  (Ordinance #52 - 2007). Mayor Report Mayor Gieringer reported on the following receipts from the November 2007 Mayor’s Court:  City of Harrison - $8810;  Treasurer of State - $1863;  Drug Cases - $740;  Computer Fund - $390;  OVI Cases - $610;  Interest for September - $22.72.  Mayor’s Court receipts are down $3705 in comparison to November 2006. Mayor Gieringer thanked Lynn Ungru, Pam Kravetz, Karen Schweinfest and all the volunteers who helped to make the Harrison High School Soup Bowl program a success again this year.  They raised $1452 for the Mayor’s Fund. Mayor Gieringer also thanked Alice Dole, Frank and Joan Miller, and Gene Curry for bagging over 325 bags of groceries for the Mayor’s Fund Christmas list.  He also expressed his thanks to the American Federation of Riders members, Lonnie Montavon, Sherri Schneider, Connie Dickerson, Sandy Buesing, Anita Dougherty, Teri Hannon, and the Harrison Fire Department for bagging toys for the families. The Mayor reminded residents the Coat Drive will be available thru March during regular business hours at the Harrison Community Center.  Mayor Gieringer asked for a motion for an executive session to discuss real estate matters. Mr. Robertson made a motion, seconded by Mr. Shank to enter into an executive session for the purpose of discussing real estate matters.  Roll Call:  All - yea. Law Director Report Mr. Deters had no report. Council - Committee Report Mr. Neyer reported on the following items from the Utilities Committee meeting: Several members of a condo association addressed the committee with questions regarding their storm water rates.  The committee will review how their rate is applied to see whether they should apply for commercial class which would preclude them from taking senior discounts. Presently they are in the residential class. ; The committee looked at a request for a discount for residents with disabilities.  The committee is continuing discussions but is considering a $1.00 discount for those with 100% permanent disability.;  The committee discussed the Dry Fork sewer project.  Phase I runs north and west of West Road and Phase II runs from West Road to Harrison Avenue across to Simonson Road.  Mr. Neyer reported on the following items from the Planning Commission meeting:  The committee discussed large lot zoning.;  The committee re-visited the site plan review for Best Western hotel on Ring Road.;  The committee discussed a request for a change of occupancy at 111 N. Walnut St.  Since the owner was not present, the request was tabled until the owner brings forth drawings.;  The committee declined a request for a 6 foot fence at 119 S. Walnut St. since it did not conform with the zoning use.;  The committee discussed the dedication and acceptance of a section of Lyness Avenue and the request for an indoor shooting range at the former IGA store.  Mr. Neyer thanked Mayor Gieringer for his support and counseling and congratulated him on a job well done. Mr. McGuire announced the Safety and Civil Defense Committee meetings scheduled for December 19 have been cancelled. Mrs. Acra announced the Police Committee will meet on December 19 at 6:00 p.m. at the Community Center.  Mrs. Acra thanked Mayor Gieringer for his service to the city of Harrison as the Mayor and a Council member and that it was an honor to serve with him. Mrs. Kercheval had no committee reports.  She thanked the Summerfun kids for the Christmas gift as well as the ceramics group for the ornament. Mrs. Kercheval expressed her gratitude to Mayor Gieringer for his 13 years of service to the city. Mr. Robertson thanked the Summerfun kids and the ceramics group for the gifts.  Mr. Robertson reported the WeatherTracker Channel may change at the end of the year.  Mr. Robertson reminded residents the first council meeting of the year will be held on Wednesday, January 2 instead of the usual first Tuesday of the month which falls on New Years Day.  Due to the schedule change, there will be no live broadcast of the meeting, but residents may watch the re-broadcast at the usual times. Mr. Robertson expressed his pleasure in serving with Mayor Gieringer over the past 13 years. Mr. Burkart reported the EMS billing to date is $255,771, which represents a $40,000 to $50,000 increase from last year.  Mr. Burkart thanked Mayor Gieringer for his service to the city and his assistance to Council Mr. Shank announced the 6th Annual Turkey Drop for city employees and members of boards and commissions will take place on Thursday, December 20 from 12:00 to 4:30 p.m. Mr. Shank thanked the Summerfun and ceramics group for the homemade gifts. Mr. Shank thanked Jana Cromer for her 30 years of service to the city and thanked Mayor Gieringer for all he has done for the city of Harrison. Mayor Gieringer thanked everyone for all their kind words and wished everyone a Merry Christmas. There being no further business, Council entered into an executive session. ATTEST: Daniel J. Gieringer, Mayor            Carol A. Wiwi, Clerk Back to top • Home
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