Commission Meeting July 15, 2025

Brown's not there.
Not ONE word about the Field Trips program.

**Presentations/Staff Report

The Clark County Opportunities for Change (OIC) Directors. Started in 1971. Mission to reduce poverty, promote education and opportunity in Clark County. To help people train for work here. There's a documentary on Dr. Leon Sullivan - A Principled Man.

They lost funding in 2025 so they're trying to sell themselves to the community again.

Of course, Estrop commented on the cuts in funding and how challenging it all is.

HUD report talked their accomplishments from 2020-2024.

Of course, Estrop talked about how important federal funds are for the town.

Tackett thanked Logan for all the community work. How do you get the community involved in our neighborhoods?

Funds are allocated by our Consolidated Plan. The commission is voting on the plan from 2025-2029 on how funds are allocated. Not sure how this answered that question, but she mentioned the community feedback on how they spend funds. Something about the schools and the Salvation Army. LOL. There is no other conclusion that Logan has no idea what she's talking about. She might just be the 2-slide PowerPoint creator and a pretty face for the public.

**Rue Statement
The prayer/invocation and pledge. Please give us peace in our community, Lord. (This is always directed at the citizens - we're still dangerous.)

His usual warning to citizen speakers about disruptions. Some new stronger sentences.

Softball team proclamation and pictures and Highway Hikers group for 30 minutes. (They're sucking up to Barron, that's for sure. All theater. I hope he doesn't fall for it.)

**Citizen Speakers
Steve Shlether - Come out Saturday for Southside in Bloom for the garden tours. To highlight neglected, abandoned areas that we citizens have worked on.) And he's allowed to approach the commissioners and give them seed bookmarks.

Clare Copeland - began with "Thank you friends". (Rue said, I know how to say that name well.) Last year Fountain got black-topped and it was a real gift. But when will it get finished. I taught at school - Rose Commons is there now - it is beautiful. For whom and when will it be open? Thank you for everythign you do.

Cindy Mullett - I have 3 minutes, right. Reading names. Victims of gun violence. We ask that you help us.

Mike Lyons - Thanks for listening to me. With some Alliance. Heck met with the PCFO, so thank you very much. Solar Alliance.

Deon Green - Thank you for allowing me to be here. He has his own program because the city does nothing.

Diana Daniels - Fear mongering. The sky is falling. (She's gone off this time.) She belongs to a coalition called Not One More Acre. Do you know why funding was cut? Because of the way it was spent on the open border. The HBA. (home Builders Association) Ask them.

Jenn Casto - Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight. Third gun violence march this weekend at Davy Moore Park. 546 officers per person in Clark County. Donate to the Fudge Foundation.

Marcida Jeffrey - IN A MASK. There was another time when there was a clash of culture here. The Native Americans and the white settlers. Dayton 24 7 now - picked the 3 worst testimonies to represent Springfield upon behalf of the Haitians. These 3 do not represent Springfield.

Devon Hendricks - oh that same dreads guy. Same speech about gun violence every time. Th Youth.

Chief Barnett - I forgot to mention our Field Trips vans as one of this town's successes. Martin Luther wrote Why We Can't Wait. We're still waiting. The oppressed must demand. We must speak truth to power. I appreciate the commissioners and the churches and helping our neighbors.

**Rue's Immediate Comments

I truly appreciate everyone stepping in for our kids in this community. I appreciate the names being read. That's important.

**Heck's Reports and Answers

What is up with Bryan Heck's new voice and tone?

Rose Commons - coming very soon housing community offering income-qualified 2 bedroom. To apply, they need to go to Community Gardens apartments.

South Fountain has been delayed for a long time. The guy spoke on it but had no update. Curb, wires, etc. Ohio Edison delays. Windstorm, etc.

ODOT winter purchasing program something.

**Commission Comments

Tackett
Steve announced Southside in Bloom. I help with that every year. And Grilling the Garden time. Check out the chickens. Near her Holy Trinity School. She appreciates the thoughtfulness of sharing the names of. I lost a daughter.

Guns are now more available and a culture of normalizing them. It's a big complex issue. Keep bringing us resources and ideas. We are more than willing to listen from our seats.

Then, green energy. I got with this group when I first started. Same with gun violence. I'm down to learn about this.

I took a Field Trip van to the meeting tonight. Thank you John, the driver. The vans were nice, he was friendly. 14 vans on the street today and we have 16.

Houston
Sales tax levy talk. There will be meetings. Arts and Crafts building of the Fairgrounds. Work sessions. Potential new facility, but no comments will be allowed.

Estrop
Cuts. 4 million cut. In Springfield and County. They want to spend it in other places. They have different priorities. Youth gun violence is not a priority. Contact your congressmen and senators that this is a priority. If you truly believe that youth gun violence needs a priority. We have nothing to do with guns. That's federal and the state of Ohio. They pass the laws. Diane clapped and said Talk to my lawyer.

They cut HUD. Pulled up his 4 row spreadsheet. 2 million more is at risk of losing from HUD for support of Homeless Services, affordable housing.

**My Thoughts

WHY NOT ONE WORD ABOUT FIELD TRIPS?!??!!?

The OIC lost its funding in 2025. Thank GOD. All this area needs is MORE money in the hands of its corrupt. How many Directors work here now? Who do nothing but spend other people's tax dollars on their vacations and swimming pools. There's a lot of money to be had in the homeless and the OIC and all the federal and state welfare non-profits (Sheltered Inc, etc.) it partners with are on top of every dollar. They aren't of course, but anyone participating in this should be ashamed. They have a Facebook page with 800 followers and they're lucky to get 1 or 2 likes each post. I think that says it all.

Rue is a comedian this meeting.

They were all sucking up to Barron, that's for sure. All theater. I hope he doesn't fall for it. (Tackett, I just want to thank you guys. I've been at the fairgrounds counting all your toys.)

I'm curious about not one mention about the change to the bus replacement program. Ordered to hush?

TWO mask-wearing speakers.

A citizen spoke about paving on Fountain and referred to it as "a real gift". Are these people kidding!!?!?!?

Two speakers said (who are doing their own work - because the city does nothing):
Thank you for allowing me to be here.
Thank you for listening to me.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight.
Thank you for all you do.

What a spin Estrop has. He tells folks that the feds don't care about gun violence so they've cut. Why do these people think they are OWED federal money?!?!?

Tackett's comments are always I I I I I me me me me me. Said, "Please keep telling us about gun violence. We are willing to listen from our seats." She actually said, "from our seats". You can't make this up.