Commission Meeting August 27, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL4JXoFcJQI&list=PLgMuFaWBmSmjYT9Nf8-yyUgM0VNc51Dac

Note: They've deleted any prior to August 13th, 2024, so I imagine this meeting video will be deleted as time progresses.

No mention of questions or answers from the last meeting.

**Presentation
Tremont Barrell Cleanup Project update - in the design phase hazardous waste disposal. Superfund remedial process. (removal of the drums - this is 3.5 miles north west of Springfield. Ground water analysis. This was in 1980 - ongoing thing.

Clark County Solid waste District - agency located in Springfield. Recycling, trash pickup, etc. Just did an overview.

**Speakers
Alley requested to be vacated proposed

**Citizen Questions

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."

**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 gast 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 tshirts 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.

**Rue Statement
"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.)

Brown Statement
"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 pubilc 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 Statement
"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 Statement
"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 Statement
"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 and spend 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 Deputy 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.

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.