Commission Meeting April 22, 2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phMvsxjw34A&list=PLgMuFaWBmSmi3K5zfqI71n0GP_-2tC8tM

No mention of questions or answers from the last meeting.

**Presentation 1

The Micro Transit project that's been going on for 5 years.

Which is really just a Haitian bussing project now. Human trafficking in this town never ends. A year ago, the project was called "Haitian Public Transportation Project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZeYJPMkIPw&t=199s

The change in workforce has required a change in the project's needs over time.

Via Transportation partner and will operate the system A DEI hire: https://ridewithvia.com/about

Map of routes. Implemented by July.

Includes a mini-van to pick up individuals. What could go wrong?

Drivers hired from community as representative of the city.

5-year contract.

$4 fare.

Commissioner Brown asked if there is an intentional search for bi-lingual drivers. They'll look into it.

Commissioner Estrop asked if businesses be able to provide this for all my employees? Free transport to and from work. Absolutely, able to support. We'll be engaging with local businesses. He can hardly wait 'til July.

**Presentation 2

NOPEC energy aggregator in Ohio explained. Prices are increasing $18 in June for all electricity.

Annexation of 3000 E Main St, rezoning of 317 N Belmont not neighborhood use. Spot-zoning. 430 W Liberty, etc. Neighborhood speaks out against auto-mechanic shop. Used as a junkyard for non-licensed cars.

Per Heck - any rezoning denials by the Commission only last 1 year. Codified ordinance by the city.

**Rue's Opening Warnings

Rue's speech about constructive dialog. Disruptions are not tolerated and will be asked to leave. # times, they're barred and arrested for trespassing. Questions will be followed up on individually.

**Citizen Speakers

Clara Copeland (former mayor's wife): Are we having Culture Fest? Because it was the most wonderful event 2009- 2020. More hugs that year than any other day of the year.

Answer: not having it. No funding for it. Brown responded: Wants a statement that this is not a statement on the city's stance on diversity.

Beth Donohue: Stood the podium several times about domestic violence. Last August said Springfield was a breeding ground. They laughed at her. October had a public meeting about 100 of these animals. Tackett in attendance. Raymond Scott - serial offender. February charged with murder. Did not act with any urgency. 83% failure/dismissal rate - Prosecutor resigned with silence about his firing and replacement. how many more people have to die? February you instructed someone to investigate and you haven't.

Diane Daniels: same lady Spring is come when Bryan goes baby face. watch wtih a smile on her face at the destruction of a field of solar panels and windmills with the weather. Questions - my phone and email still works. The oracle outside the city building? Where is it? Cost 87K. Why does nobody have numbers of Hispanics and Haitians that reside in Springfield?

Jennifer Casto: Event last Saturday with Invisible Springfield with 400 speakers. variety of backgrounds. In love and celebration of our city. Dialog team on the city police department. Wasn't told no microphones at city hall event due to ordinance. Thanks to Tackett and Heck to allow them to use the sound equipment, no complaints, peaceful. She wants to know about permits for future events. Police there were wonderful.

Wes Fabian: Commends the staff and city for a promising way ahead. Economic investments and housing. Invest in legacy neighborhoods that need attention. Aware of uncertain funding. See the incredible opportunities of our immigrant neighbors.

Amanda Richardson: diatribe about systemic racism. Born in Springfield. content to live like livestock, care nothing about this city, country except for what they can take from it. She went Holocaust. (Her past unsubstantiated argument has been that the Haitians have raised the city wage rates.) She's wiped herself from the Internet. The only Amanda Richardson is 38 and lives at 1801 Charles Street that has no sales history. She earns 20 - 29K a year and is single, a high school graduate, and a registered Democrat. So.....that makes sense.

Rue: We'll have answers very shortly. I only heard one answer about CultureFest.

**Gary Armstrong - You should be thrown out a recall for 3. 2 have compassion and heart. Buying hotels, worthless ideas, and kicking out the homeless vs. Homefull. Ties between two guys with LLCs here - violating my property. Turning a single family is a 4-unit house. Tied to the scheme, agenda that brought the agenda here. The Mayor that worked in DeWine's office. It's like the Sopranos in a NJ basement. Working against us as citizens. It's killing the city while several of you are making money renting to the Haitians. haven't disclosed? Playing both sides against the middle. You're posers. For the last 2 years. It's disheartening and depressing. Representatives SERVE.

**Darlene - wanted to create a facility for youth here. previous mayor Copeland said no - there are already programs. Rue then referred her to Bernie Willis. 4 million to Champion Center. 17 million total cost and for the middle class. Billions being bantered about in 2024 - House - 1.65 billion in state $ 5 mill for Clark County. Rue stopped her here.

**Diana Daniels - It's been a year with no progress. We repeat ourselves over and over and nothing gets done. When people describe what is happening to them, they're called racists. Color has nothing to do with what we're facing. It's culture. The core group trying to tell you what's going on - there's no roudn table for us. Nobody talks to us. We have ideas. But we're being told to go to the Immigration Accountability Task Force and NAACP. Shame on you.

**Yvonne Rains - Thank you, City Commission. City Manager and your team. Community Developer. Zoning Planning Committee. Code Enforcement thank you. Poilce Dept thank you.

**Clayton Klein - 1970s when town was bankrupt. Seen the renaissance and I'm grateful. One thing - the infrastructure of the city. We need an assessment here. Horrible demand on our resources here - very confused about how this all happened. Something strange NGO. Environmental assessment. Rue said, "We're going to get you a detailed response. Thank you for your service."

**Mike Lowe - Been coming to these meetings for years and years. But I'm shocked by all the restrictions. I want my money back. Since 2013, the city hasn't met its charter. Police retiring and not meeting its 124 commitment. Scare tactics to raise taxes. Police 74 times March 2023 to May 2024 to the high school Everyone should get their money back. The leadership has failed us. No clean ups of properties reported to the city. I am tired of coming and asking adn being told we'll look into it. Please quit wasting my tax dollars.

**Anthony Harris - Social media influencer. You guys up there in comfy suits and chairs and I'm in the streets. The Haitians are running into buildings, flipping cars, I don't know how y'all can be comfortable about this. It feels like you're getting paid from this in the background. A bunch of ppl dropped off at the gas station. The welfare office is all immigrants. It's the people bringing them here. They're in the parks killing the ducks. Task force is looking for dope and car blinkers and left of center - take them to Sunset and teach them how to drive. Do something!! Put on some t-shirts and crocs and see what's going on. You're getting paid to sit there. Kids are being hurt. Walking to school and a Haitian ran into them.

**Jeffrey Allen - trash dump behind his house. RIP Warren Copeland. Born and raised here. I've never seen anything like this before. We just can't get an army and busses and drive them out of town. We have to get through this. Lower the temperature. It is dangerous, but we have to work together to get this straightened out. The policy on not being able to speak about items isn't going to work for me. I want to talk in a conversation about a trash dump.

**Peg Foley - Grateful to be able to express our views peacefully. Thousands of new immigrant neighbors has been overwhelming but I'm hopeful about a shared future. They've been kind and grateful and hard-working people. Students, employees, consumers, and business owners who are contributing to our city. Immigrants serve to revive our cities. Costs are small compared to economic benefits they bring. Our new neighbors can belong and contribute. Quoted Michelle Obama - make sure everyone has enough and is part of the solution.

**Lisa Hayes - First time speaker. How many of you go into the local stores, Walmart, to shop? taking my cart down the aisle and 3 immigrants blocked me. I had to bust through them. Common respect. Common decency. Bullying your way through Springfield. 20-year old granddaughter who pay city tax. Works two jobs. Took 4 months to get Medicaid (pregnant). But we can't get through the doors - the line is so long. So many people applying for free stuff. We're paying the taxes for what? So we can't get through the doors of Social Security.

**Recida Jeffrey - Question about the work being done on Yellow Spring street. Patrons can't get to my business. It's blocked off. And what is in our water? No animals, birds, etc, touched the water from a pipe in the ground. Makes her wonder what's in our water.

**Nathaniel Hickers - in a suit. Anti-Haitian march. Someone screaming about swastika. Rue knew about the march. Warning: Stop what you're doing before it's too late. Savagery will only increase with every Haitian you bring in.

Rue interrupted, "You sound threatening. Have him removed."

**Cindy Phillips - Asked in last meeting about Villager insurance - Katie responded to her during the week!! But she had a new question -- a new fire station to be built there. How do you justify demo'ing a homeless shelter when you could have rebuilt? Rue said, "We will have those answers in detail. The reason I asked that person to leave - in our guidelines. Threats are not free speech."

**Lonnie Cole Jr. - wearing a flag. Illegal immigrants - he's speaking of. Cost millions of dollars. Dependent on handouts from taxpayers. They're people who would never make it through the front door.

Applause!!! Rue: "No clapping."

**Barron - 6 questions: What email can questions be sent to for written responses? The website updated? City hire someone to answer questions from taxpayers? Can you explain the process for a citizen to add an item to the agenda? How many code enforcement officers? How many adjudications in 2024? Resolved? Revenue? Has anyone on the Council been professionally or personally connected to George Ten or Karl Rubie? (Highway Hikers Club - have had 4,000 for the kids of Clark County - people aren't coming this year because of the news about Haitian driving). Last year, 3,000 kids got Christmas last year because of them.

**Heck's Reports

Non profit foundations access to city funds. Springfield Foundation stores the money. People submit RFPs.

Tackett asked number of blighted properties in the city. Vacant Property Study - 1200, says Heck. So a percentage of that. Can't demolish our way out of it. We need housing. Wastewater treatment plant to test samples.

**Rue Statement

Rue: "Cards submitted to the clerk who selects the people. We are asking for help. From State and federal officials. Please contact them to help the city get help. The next NAACP forum to teach us about racism related to the immigration issues. No applause from the room or you'll be asked to leave. People who asked questions last week did get answers from us."

"No applause or comments. About me having partnerships and rentals. I do have an LLC for my business and 3 properties with 7 total rentals. I've owned 2 of them for 15 years. I bought 2 so we could have control over how they looked. I've cleaned them up. Each side is a 3br 1 bath that I charge 900 month for. I'm not a good landlord and I don't fix things. And I spend more money than I make. All around my business so I see nicer things around me. I have not benefited at all from the immigrants. I make 14,500 here being the Mayor. It ends in 3 years and 4 months. I spend 15-30 hours a week on this job that I thought I'd spend 5 on. I have 5 children. I hate the traffic concerns that you all see, too. Telling me you don't care makes me so upset, my hands are tired. We were reprimanded. It's your job to represent us. Meetings began to fill up last September. I have created relationships with Congressman Turner and federal money. The TPS was an executive order by the White House. It has no federal funds associated with it. We're asking for money for translation services. The people here aren't leaving any time soon. WE need some money from Turner. State level. Asked DeWine last week - 3rd time there in 4 months. Enough is enough. We need action steps. Working with Dept of Public Safety, Andy Wilson for the state, Highway Patrol, and our Chief - asking for a program about a 30-day blitz, highly publicized, an effort to bring attention to the enforcement. Too late, took too long - but we need a surge to help our local officers. To Haitian leaders in our community - please communicate to stop driving without legal licensure. It's a no brainer, but please just communicate that. We sit here and are silent, but it's not because we don't care. I'm emotional about that. If you private message me on Facebook and so do other Commissioners. I don't care what you say, I'll never believe you."

(He says this, but also instructs the officers to catch and release.)

**Commissioner Comments

Brown

"We do have You Media at the dome open and free to any middle school and high school student. Recording studio, art classes, they get a meal, courses, homework assistance, etc." Then she started reading off more things." And "I just know that in your heart that you want to make changes in Springfield, involve yourself - become a precinct officer. We want more people to get involved." "Barron - birthday shout out." "I work in public education, I have the most degrees and make the least amount of money, I live in a 900 square foot house, I don't have an LLC or a rental property. This job doesn't pay 300-500 a month. I've served this community for years so that come down off your seats - I am poor-middle class, and I udnerstand that drive. I go to Kroger and walmart on E Main and where people are afraid to go. I'm not removed from it. I'm out here every day. I'm not benefiting from immigration."

Rue reply: "This isn't a dialog. Please don't comment to the Commissioner. "

Bridget Houston

"I also don't own any rental properties. And about the narrative that divides this city, I'm not making any money from the immigrants. It's costing money and time from our business. About commissioners not going shopping in Springfield - I do, I don't have time to go anywhere else. I met with JD Vance's team in January 2024 about resources. And I meet with him again in a few weeks. Someone asked about the long-term plan for homeless. Without Sheltered, Inc, we have no plan."

Estrop

"Repeat the salaries Highest is 14K, lowest is 11K. We have letters with all the people responsible for making decisions we've told yuo it's a state or federal level. They're making the policies that some of you are complaining about."

Tackett

"I'm a starving artist. Downtown for a decade. No LLCs no rentals. I jsut graduated from OSU and seeking employment and that's a struggle here now as I make 11K here. JD Vance and Senator Brown (he was in town all day today). Vance has cancelled on me 5 times. Thank you to Child and Family Services as I continue to do boots on the ground work here in town. The environmental survey - I would like a copy of that and the city's plan for the homelessness, because there is nobody working on this.There should never have been a plan wtih no information asking for a vote. Credit to Bryan - we meet often to make votes."

**Bryan Heck Answers

"I get tied to the same questions as the Commission. I do not own any rentals or businesses. I shop here in Springfield. But I go to Meijer and Aldi andspend money in gas. Facebook hasn't been good for my mental health but I know the things that are said about me. I attend church at First Christian Church for 9 years. Then, Restoration Church for 5 years until Covid. Central Christian Church where Karl Rubie is Didn't like it - now at First Christian Church again. Attendance isn't great due to travel baseball. The Executive Inn - why were they thrown out? This is a City Mgr form of Gov't. Homefull's contract was not renewed. Logan Cobbs and I met with them to talk about the plan to exit the facility. we had to tell them they had to leave. I can't keep small children in a building with no operator. My staff worked tirelessly that day. That's the care and compassion my staff has for this community."

Jason Via Director of Public Safety about EPA assessment. He can speak to the Clark County Haitian Coalition trying to find solutions with this surge of population."

Jason Via - "Clark County Haitian Coalition consists of 60 community members and 6 agencies. Schools, United way, Rocking Horse, JOb and Family Services, Catholic Social Services, St Vincent de Paul, and City of Springfield. Lots of others that participate - non-profit, public coordinators. Examples - translations, ESL courses, driving, Workforce, health care, legal and safety, landlord and tenant rights."

"About the police Charter requirements - 124, we have 120. Budgeted at 130. We are living in a difficult time for hiring officers. We'd get 300-500 to take the test, this time we had 34 show up to take the test. It's a problem across the country."

"About what's in the water. We are an open book about the water. I'm drinking it now. Maybe they dug up a sewer pipe."

"The agenda is available on Friday before each of these meetings. Our team is available to answer questions. Email, call. We are always available to get info to you for every meeting. Reach out - you don't have to wait for these meetings."

**Business

Economic development. PACE. Energy improvement projects.

City Manager contract with Pipeline Company approval.

Grant (Julie Springer Project Manager) from US Transportation for a Safety Action Plan. Upgrading signaling system so police and fire can get the right of way. Trainfo system - installs sensors at 10 locations, alerts dispatch of trains.

Bryan Heck and Grow America 2-year contract. Heck said it's "help distributing federal HUD funds in our community".

Appointed Pamela Toliver to Human Relations Board (Advisory Board to the Springfield City Commission - education and workforce dev).

Adjourned.

**My Thoughts

I'm too mad to list all my thoughts.

They never answered a question. They're all too offended and upset about being blamed for things.

Jason Via, Deputy Director of Public Safety, is the manager of all things Haitian. And I do mean Haitian. Nothing he does mentions citizens.

Answered the questions to defend themselves. I believe this will be the last meeting where Heck or any of them provided information/communication or welcomed and encouraged comments, participation, involvement, etc.