Newsletter Fall 2014

Union Township,
Township, Clermont
Clermont County
County
Union
IN THIS ISSUE:
• Fire Dept. gets reaccredited
• Children & gun safety
• Mt. Moriah Cemetery
• Home-based businesses
• Police Night Out
Talk of the Township
Trustees: John McGraw ◊ Lloyd Acres ◊ Matthew Beamer
Fiscal Officer: Ron Campbell
Fall 2014
Volume 41
Fire Department reaccredited
On Aug. 14, the Union Township
Fire Department was awarded reaccreditation with the Commission on
Fire Accreditation International (CFAI)
for the second time. The department
was first accredited in 2004, one of
the first 100 agencies to attain accreditation, and was subsequently
reaccredited in 2009.
Particularly for emergency services,
criteria is needed to assess professional
capability, performance and efficiency.
Accreditation provides an internationally-recognized,
well
defined
benchmark system to measure the
quality of fire and emergency services.
“It shows (the UTFD’s) dedication
and true concern for the residents
they serve,” said John McGraw,
chairman of the Board of Trustees.
“You only receive accreditation if
you meet tough standards.”
Administrator Ken Geis said those
standards get tougher each time
around.
“Our Fire Department again
demonstrated that they are one of
the elite companies in the United States with their recent reaccreditation,” Geis said. “Each time the organization is reaccredited, the standards are pushed higher because the assessors recognize that this organization is one of the best in the country and
that their baseline is much greater than the average department.
“The organization as a whole continues to over-perform and I
appreciate their daily efforts,” Geis said.
The Fire Department joins the Police, Communications and
Service departments, including Mt. Moriah Cemetery and the
parks, in being accredited, making Union Township the only
township in the country to have all its safety and service departments accredited.
“Our goal in Union Township is to improve our core services
and deliver the best customer service,” McGraw said. “This
shows the commitment from our firefighters to be the best and
deliver the best service.
“I am proud of all the hard work all of the staff put into this,”
McGraw said.
From left to right: Allan Cain, CFAI commission chairman; Keith Bonn, CFAI peer assessor team leader; UT Assistant Chief Mark Fyffe; UT Fire Chief Stan Deimling; UT Lieutenant Chris Goessl; and Randy Bruegman, president, Center for Public Safety Excellence. What is accreditation?
According to Chief Stanley
Deimling, accreditation is a process
by which an association or agency
evaluates and is recognized as
meeting certain predetermined
standards. Fire department accreditation includes an in-depth process
of self-assessment with methods for
determining and analyzing community risks, needs and agency performance in service delivery.
Key performance indicators determine the factors needed to be
benchmarked and monitored. There are 258 performance indicators, 82 of which are critical and non-negotiable. All must be
met.
Why is accreditation important?
Although reaccreditation only recurs every five years, the department must file annual compliance reports to CFAI in order to
keep its standing, indicating continual improvement and progress
toward meeting the site-visit recommendations. That means almost daily supervision of the standards in place and determining
how the department is measuring up.
“We have been able to use the Commission on Fire Accreditation International’s process as a proactive mechanism to plan for
the future of our department and locate areas where we can improve on the quality of the services we provide,” Deimling said.
In addition, local government administration faces increasing
pressure to do more with less and justify their expenditures by
demonstrating a direct link to improved or expanded services.
Page 2
Talk of the Township
Volume 41
CHILDREN AND GUN SAFETY
Lutson showed two video clips that showed chilThe statistics speak volumes:
“ … I don’t think we can
dren who had been taught the NRA gun safety
• On average, one in every three homes has at ‘’teach’ curiosity out of
program playing with guns in a controlled envileast one firearm
children.”
ronment. He followed that with photos of real
• More than half of gun owners with children
guns that are made to look like toys and then
keep their guns loaded and unsecured in the
transitioned to the portion of the class where he showed parents
home
• 150 to 200 children die each year from unintentional shoot- how to install very simple gun locks on any and all types of firearms in the household.
ings (average 3 to 4 children per week)
• Half of all unintentional shooting deaths among children The class was broken into even groups and given scenarios for
occur in the homes where they live and almost half occur in the parents and kids to work through.
The standing room only response to the class underscored that
the home of a friend or relative
parents
in our community are aware of the need for extreme cau• 70 percent of accidental shootings involve handguns
tion
with
firearms when children are around. And not all the at• Children as young as 3 years old are strong enough to pull
tendees
were
gun owners.
the trigger of most American handguns
“I would say a little over half the class were gun owners,” Lut• Two-thirds of parents with school age children who have
son said. “There were families that attended that were not gun
guns in their homes believe the firearm is safe or hidden
owners. I made sure the class was not turned into a platform to
from their children
promote or discourage gun ownership, but to focus on the real
• One study found that when a gun was in the home and not
reasons for gun safety—our children.”
secured, almost 80 percent of first and second graders knew
The way a gun is stored can make the difference between life
where the gun was kept or hidden
and death.
According to Judy Shaw, Ed.D., M.P.H., R.N., of Boston’s
In an effort to turn around some of these tragic numbers, the
Children’s Hospital, “Any small child who picks up a gun … is
Union Township Police Department hosted its first Children’s
going to put a finger in the trigger and click it.”
Gun Safety Class in July.
It is for that reason that all gun owners should:
Officer Chad Lutson, who conducted the class, did his own
• Unload and lock up their guns
research in determining a curriculum, how he would go about
• Lock and store ammunition separately
presenting it, and who exactly his target audience would be.
“It became obvious a common theme throughout these shoot- • Hide keys where children are unable to find them
ings was that the guns were accessible to the children but the
parents either thought they had hidden their firearms well enough
or had taught their children how to be safe around firearms,” Lutson said.
“With the national average being one in every three houses
having a firearm, I thought it was at least as important, if not
more, to reach out to the parents.”
Sergeant Tony Rees is in charge of training and education for
the UTPD. He agrees that parents are the first line of defense in
protecting children from gun accidents.
“In this day and age where guns are more popular than ever and
concealed carry permits are on the rise, it seems like almost every
home has a gun in it,” Rees said. “Many of these gun owners are
novices themselves.
“Being able to educate both parents and children on the safe
handling of these guns is imperative to the safety of both the children and the home.”
The National Rifle Association (NRA) has an “Eddie the Eagle” program which teaches the mantra: STOP—DON’T
TOUCH—LEAVE THE AREA—TELL AN ADULT.
Lutson knows responsible adults with firearms in the home
teach their children the same thing, so he tried to bring a variety
of tools to the table to show parents and children alike that, while
it’s natural for kids to have a fascination with weapons, parents
have to be aware that gun safety must be proactive on their part.
“I covered statistics that were eye-opening to most, if not all, of
the parents,” Lutson said.
The number of accidental
shootings involving children be- “ … I have seen parents
lies the fact that as many as 72 unable to deal with and
percent of parents think their kids recover from these types of
would not handle a gun without tragedies.”
their permission. But even children who have been taught to care for and respect guns can be
swayed by a buddy’s curiosity
“I don’t think we can teach children early enough not to touch
firearms and what to do if they do find one, but I don’t think we
can ‘teach’ curiosity out of children,” Lutson said.
Police Chief Terry Zinser agrees.
“Much like water, a child’s curiosity draws them to an unsecured weapon,” Zinser said.
“Over my many years in law enforcement, I have encountered
incidents where children, children’s friends and neighbors have
been harmed and killed by weapons in the home. As a result of
these tragic incidents, I have seen parents unable to deal with and
recover from these types of tragedies,” Zinser said.
And therein lies the message from the Union Township Police
Department.
“It is the gun owner and parents’ responsibility to keep guns in
the house secured and away from children,” Zinser said. “There
is no undoing once a victim is harmed.”
Rees said the class received such positive response that the
police department will continue offering it on an annual basis.
Watch for details of the next class early next summer.
Page 3
Talk of the Township
Volume 41
Clarence E. Combs
In the early 19th century, as cemeteries moved from small family
plots on the homestead to church burial grounds, how we view the departed and their resting places began to change. Burial places were becoming cities of the dead—places where you left the mundane world
behind and entered into a space where you could meditate and commune
with nature and deceased loved ones.
Cemeteries began to reflect the prevalent mindset by coupling beautiful headstones, sculptures and mausoleums with ornate landscaping,
scrolled iron fencing, and seating alcoves, creating park-like areas where
people now brought families and picnic lunches for Sunday outings.
Often, it was the entrance gate that set the tone for what visitors would
find inside.
From its infancy on, Mt. Moriah Cemetery has been cared for by the Union Township Board of Trustees. Mt. Moriah Cemetery began as a graveyard on the Witham farm and
eventually surrounded the Methodist Protestant Church of Tobasco, later
known as Mt. Moriah United Methodist Church. The oldest marked
grave is that of Richard Stockton (1739—1810).
According to local historian, Stanley Wilfert, Mt. Moriah Cemetery
was never owned by the church, but rather grew up around it until now,
more than 50 acres of rolling hills are owned by the Union Township
Board of Trustees. Among the 17,787 occupied graves rest the remains
of many early area pioneers.
To honor those pioneers and the thousands who have been buried in
Mt. Moriah since, significant improvements have been made over the
years.
Just as the Cincinnati Horticultural Society formed a cemetery association in 1844 to create Spring Grove Cemetery as an arboretum, Union
Township administration always believed that the beauty of Mt. Moriah
Cemetery is tied to the natural landscape of the area. Many of the improvements and enhancements are geared toward preserving the beauty
of indigenous tree and plant life in the area. Even the winding roadways
follow the natural lay of the land.
In 2004, a Meditation Area was added where the first road dead-ends
toward the lake. The paved circular area with benches is surrounded by
Blue Spruce trees and rose bushes.
The Cremation Scattering Garden, completed in 2005, offers families
an alternative to memorialize cremation. The granite memorial Open
Book has bronze bars that can be etched with a loved one’s name, birth
and death dates. The garden is enhanced with rose bushes, green perennials and hundreds of spring daffodils and tulips.
The cemetery chapel, both inside and outside, was renovated in 2006
to include the addition of eight new pews. The chapel can accommodate
about 35 people and offers a non-denominational space for families to
gather.
In order to dress up the back side of the lake, Service Department personnel created a landscaped waterfall in 2008, which was built entirely
with donated rock. Employees drew up the plans and provided the labor
outside of their day-to-day operations. After nearly a year, the waterfall
was completed in time to be the backdrop for the first Annual Lantern
Lighting Ceremony, an event that just surpassed attendance figures in its
seventh successful year.
Developed in 2009, Heritage Memorial Grove has been described as
an outdoor wedding cathedral, with a granite altar on one side, facing a
granite cross on the other. Raised seating can accommodate small
groups, many of whom have taken advantage of this beautifully landscaped space for wedding photos.
The roads were widened in 2010 and repaved in 2011. In 2012, a butterfly garden, with granite benches, was added to the pond area.
All the trees in the cemetery are identified and entered into an inventory program for pruning, removal or treatment.
In 2012, the new cemetery data base went live, allowing online visitors
to locate the graves of loved ones, and even add photos and comments.
This is an invaluable tool for genealogists.
The newest addition to Mt. Moriah Cemetery will be a columbarium, a
public storage for cremains, to be installed near the pond in December.
This will offer yet another option for those whose loved ones have
passed.
According to Pat Ebright, cemetery sexton, people are not shy about
spending time in the cemetery, visiting the graves of loved ones. He also
said Mt. Moriah has experienced an increase of morning walkers.
As part of the Service Department, Mt. Moriah Cemetery is accredited
with the American Public Works Association (APWA) and is a member
in good standing with the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association and the Ohio Cemetery Association Inc.
As it has grown over the years, Mt. Moriah staff has kept up with
maintenance and improvements. Stroll through the cemetery and you
will see gazebos, benches, and lush landscapes. The variety of gravestones and mausoleums is testament to the partnership felt by both the
township and the families of those who are buried there, held together by
the desire to keep the grounds peaceful and beautiful.
All improvements are implemented with a focus on providing a proper
and dignified setting for those who are buried at the cemetery as well as
those who are paying their respects.
rea
Meditation A
Cremation Scattering Garden
Chapel
Waterfal
l
Page 4
Talk of the Township
One of the most frequently asked questions of the
Planning & Zoning Department involves Home
Based Businesses. In fact, many people may maintain
a home office already. However, before you seek to
establish a new business operation from your home,
please contact the Planning & Zoning Department for
specific requirements regarding home based businesses. It is very important to distinguish home based
businesses from general business district uses because
of the impact that home based uses can have on
neighboring properties.
Importantly, the size, scope and type of business conducted can
have a large impact on the process required to receive approval
for such types of businesses. For instance, certain types of home
based business operations are considered to be accessory uses
and may be authorized by the department upon submittal of correspondence addressing the requirements of Article 7, Section
715 of the Union Township Zoning Resolution. Generally speaking, Section 715 regulations include prohibitions against alteration to the principal structure and limiting use to no more than
250 sq. ft. for business use, as well as rules against using accessory structures for the business or employment of persons other
than residents at the home, and other relevant provisions.
Once reviewed by the Planning & Zoning Department for com-
Volume 41
pliance, a letter will be issued authorizing the accessory use home occupation, if all requirements are
met.
However, the Zoning Resolution recognizes that certain types of business operations may be permitted as
conditional uses, which require special approval by
the Board of Zoning Appeals. This process provides
an additional level of review for businesses that are
generally compliant with Article 6, Section 612.6 of
the Zoning Resolution. The Board of Zoning Appeals
will weigh the character of the use and the proposal
against testimony either for or against the proposal and then ultimately grant approval or deny the request. Even still, conditionally approved uses must generally subscribe to and follow strict
guidelines as detailed in Section 612.6 of the Zoning Resolution.
If you are thinking of starting a home based business in Union
Township, you are always encouraged to contact the Union
Township Planning and Zoning Department at (513) 753-2300
with any questions you may have. As always, we encourage existing and prospective property owners and tenants to inquire
about zoning requirements in advance of any planned move, expansion, or alteration in any location, whether residential or commercial in character.
Bulletin Board
WARNING
In 2011, Dave Miller burned down his house. It was not a
case of arson; it was not a case of carelessness.
It was a case of trying to do the right thing, but not having all
the facts.
Miller was conscientious in changing his smoke detector batteries every spring and fall. He was also responsible about recycling them, because he knew just throwing them away was not
the right way to dispose of them.
He just didn’t know the right way to recycle them.
9-Volt batteries are particularly flawed in that the terminals
are extremely close together, making it very easy to short them
out.
Contact with any metal—coins and keys in a pocket, screw
drivers and scissors in your kitchen junk drawer —can spark
the battery and fuel a fire—especially in an inviting environment like a junk drawer.
Paper clips, soup cans, steel wool, foil gum wrappers—
ANYTHING metal can be hazardous to the health of a 9-Volt
battery—and you.
Some 9-Volts these days come with caps on them. Never take
the batteries out of the packaging or cap until you are ready to
use them.
Store or dispose of loose 9-Volt batteries separately in plastic
baggies, or place electrical tape over the terminals.
And never store or carry unprotected 9-Volt batteries where
they may come into contact with other metals.
Save the Dates—Fall Junk Days
Union Township Fall Junk Days are set for Thursday through
Saturday, Oct. 9 through Oct. 11. Look for more specific information in your local media.
Halloween
Union Township will observe Halloween between 6 p.m. and 8
p.m. Friday, Oct. 31. In traditional fashion, police officers in patrol cars will hand out candy, and fire and EMS vehicles will
again be in residential neighborhoods to distribute goodies and
generally keep an eye on little trick-or-treaters. Most importantly,
the message to parents is: Follow all safety rules for your children’s healthy and happy celebration.
Women’s Self-Defense Class
The Police Department will offer the Women’s Self-Defense
class from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, at the Civic Center
gym.
The class is open to females age 16 and up, but those under 18
must be accompanied by an adult.
All participants will be required to sign a waiver form provided
at the class.
Participants should dress comfortably in gym shoes and
sweat/workout clothing or something similar, as they will be on
their feet and on mats.
To register, or if you have questions, please contact Sgt. Tony
Rees at 753-2247 and leave your name, address, phone number
and age.
Page 5
Talk of the Township
Volume 41
POLICE NIGHT OUT
The eighth annual Police Night Out took place Aug. 5, and Sergeant Tony Rees, organizer of the event, said it was the most
successful yet.
“This event continues to grow,” Rees said. “We served over
1,000 people this year, which is slightly up from last year’s event
in attendance.”
Rees said the additional parking within the park, as well as
the shuttle from the Civic Center, made the event easier to at-
tend. He also said that, thanks to generous sponsors, the police
department gave more raffle items away. “We almost doubled the
amount in cost of raffle items,” he said.
The purpose of Police Night Out is to foster communication
and partnerships between the police and residents to ensure the
safety of our neighborhoods.
SPONSORS
Auxier Gas
Duke Energy
Eastgate Graphics
General Date Corporation
Jungle Jim’s International Market
Walmart
L3 Communications Corporation
Meijer
Walmart
PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES
CASA for Clermont Kids
Cincy Kids-4-Kids
Glen Este Baptist Church
The Home Depot
Realty Executives
The Public Library of Clermont County
United Way
VOLUNTEERS
Steve Ahrenholz
Lynn Baird
Eric Bose
Brenda Brausch
Karen Brenes
Mewl and Jude Dewitt
Laura Esslinger
Marla Goodwin
Ken and Tina Hare
Jeff and Sheila Harris
Kathy Henstsgen
Mac Hickman
Tim and Paula Hoeflich
Caryl Johnson
Jimmy Link
Dick Mallon
Wanda McPhillips
Sue Osterbrink
Dan Prince
Emily Prince
Sharon Proctor
Eric Sears
Chris Swofford
Missy Williams
Auxier Gas Staff
Walmart Staff
CONTRIBUTORS
A&A Safety
Beechmont Motorsports
UC Health Air Care
Union Township Board of Trustees
John McGraw
Lloyd Acres
Matthew Beamer
4350 Aicholtz Road.
Union Township, Ohio 45245
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
CINCINNATI, OH
PERMIT NO. 2599
Union Township, Clermont County
Monthly Meetings
Contacts
Trustees
2nd & 4th Thursday 7 p.m.
Zoning Commission
2nd Wednesday
7 p.m.
Board of Zoning Appeals
1st Thursday
7 p.m.
Don’t forget
to make the Union Township U.S. Postal Service Contract Unit your
one-stop shop for all your postal needs.
Stamps, envelopes, packages, priority mail,
express mail. Conveniently located on the
lower level of the Civic Center.
Stop in and see us today!!
EMERGENCY NUMBER
911
Trustees & Administration
752-1741
http://www.union-township.oh.us
Fiscal Officer
753-2216
Planning & Zoning Department
753-2300
Fire Department
528-4446
http://www.utfire-ems.org
Police Department
752-1230
http://www.utpd.org
We’re on the web!
www.union-township.oh.us
Service Department
753-2221
Post Office
947-7330
UTTV
947-7336