1

An e-mail address is

also appreciated.

For the first meeting, a

location and time will

be scheduled and that

information sent to

those responding. A

public notice will also

be posted at locations

in Germantown.

In an effort to learn

what residents think

the City Council and

Administration are

doing right and where

we can improve,

Mayor Stephen Boeder

is asking for residents

to meet with him.

These will be informal

meetings where

residents can voice

their opinions and ask

questions as well as the

Mayor presenting

issues for discussion.

Other Council

Members and City

Officials may also

participate. The

meetings will be open

to whoever wishes to

attend. If interested,

please send your name,

address and phone

number to the Mayor

at 75 North Walnut,

Germantown, OH

45327.

Mark Your Calendars for Upcoming Events

May 2 & 3-Twin Creek Garden Club

May 4-Historical Society Open House

May 6-Election Day

May 17& 18-Community Garage Sale

May 26-Memorial Day-Veterans Park Ceremony-Municipal Offices Closed

May 31-Germantown/German Township Document Shred Day

June 7-Germantown Aquatic Center Opens for Season

June 13-Relay for Life Event

June 21-Saturday Night Out

July 4-4th of July Parade

July 5-Fire Apparatus Show

July 19-Saturday Night Out

August 2-Historical Society Balloon Glow and Concert

August 5-National Night Out

August 16-Saturday Night Out

September 1–Labor Day-Municipal Offices Closed

MUNICIPALITY OF

GERMANTOWN

Spring Community Garage

Sale will be May 17 and

May 18.

Page 7 has all the details

and great tips for a success-

ful sale!

Rumpke

Holiday

Schedule May 26– Memorial Day

No Collection on Memorial

Day. Schedule for entire

week moves back one day.

July 4– Independence Day

No Collection on Independ-

ence Day. Pick up will be

Saturday.

September 1-Labor Day

No Collection on Labor Day.

Schedule for entire week

moves back one day.

October 13– Columbus Day

No Delays.

Mayor Boeder Asking for Community Participation

2

It is a pleasure to have this opportunity to review the Germantown State of the City report. Significant accomplishments were made in 2013 in all areas of the City’s operation. I would like to thank former Mayor Ted Landis for his many years of leadership and former Council Member Ed Schwaberow for his dedica-tion and contributions to the City. They were a significant part of the 2013 team. Our Council has come together over the last four years to develop a business-like approach to handling many issues. This has contributed greatly to our accom-plishments in 2013. There were two vacancies on the Council in 2014. Council ap-pointed Mr. Mark Heistand and Mr. Scott Johnson to these positions. Each has significant experience on City issues and will bring a cooperative spirit to Council. I am appreciative of the leadership given to the day-to-day operation of the City by our manager Annie Sizemore and the commitment made by all our City’s per-

sonnel in providing a valuable service to our residents. Like many cities, Germantown’s infrastructure commands immediate attention. The Council made a sig-nificant upgrade to our streets, sanitary sewer and storm drains and water distribution system in 2013. Specifically, a water study was completed which identified the need to maintain the old water tower and upgrade water distribution lines. The study also produced a model that can be used to simulate changes in our water distribution system. The model will provide needed guidance in working with the Valley View Water District. The Council did not enter into any agreement with the District because of its concerns over our system’s ability to meet the additional demand and maintain service to our resi-dents. With respect to the old water tower, the Council has directed the Manager to initiate steps to replace the old water tower. Finally, new water meters were installed for all users. This action gives the City one meter type, reduces the cost of reading meters, improves efficiency and produces a more accu-rate billing. With respect to streets, North Main Street, Lindell and Sue Drives and Mary Place were resurfaced as part of the annual street maintenance program. The City spends about $150,000 per year on this pro-gram. The next phase of Cherry Street from Gunckel Street to Center was completed along with a re-construction of West Market Street from Walnut to Astoria. The West Market Street project included reconstruction of the street with new curbs and sidewalks. Also included were the removal of the trees, installation of additional storm drains and water shut-valves. Prior to deciding to remove the trees, the Council sought the services of a professional forester who determined many of the trees were dying and the larger trees would not survive the construction. Trees will be offered to affected residents to plant in 2014. In addition, handicapped ramps were installed downtown and along Market Street and paid for with a Community Development Block Grant. The City has also received a grant to investigate and correct groundwater seepage into the sanitary sewers. Hillcrest is our initial study area. Street per-sonnel have aggressively addressed blockages in the sanitary and storm sewers and fixed water line breaks. Finally, a new chlorinator building and system was constructed at the well field. In 2013, the City parks and pool had improvements. The City assumed management of the pool rather than hiring an outside management organization and made upgrades. Soccer fields were constructed at the Weber Sports Complex and a new monument installation was authorized for Veterans Park by the

State of the City for Germantown, Ohio

MUNICIPALITY OF GERMANTOWN

3

Twin Valley Heritage Foundation. The City Administration was busy throughout the year with the annexation of North Well Field, renaming of the Dayton Pike Bridge over Little Twin in honor of Dale E. Shafer, placing the City ordinances online, placing a police officer in the MVCC Technical Crime Suppression Unit, hiring a new Germantown Senior Citizens Center Director and Utility Clerk, taking delivery of a new Fire Rescue Vehicle and Ambulance thanks to Germantown Rescue Squad Inc., and managing the City pool. The Council and City Administration participated in the Memorial Day and the Relay for Life activities, Sat-urday Night Outs, Antique Fire Apparatus Show, the Germantown Historical Society’s Balloon Glow Event, the National Night Out, Pretzel Festival and Christmas in the Park. In conclusion, the Council recognizes that our Police and Fire-EMS staffs bring a great sense of security to our residents and we are thankful for their service to the community. We are also appreciative of our res-idents who are willing to serve on various boards, commissions and committees. There are many other individuals and organizations that contribute to our well-being and community spirit. I believe this is why many find Germantown a great place to live!

- Stephen Boeder, Mayor

MUNICIPALITY OF GERMANTOWN

Any person who owns or rents property within the City limits may be added to the “Do

Not Solicit List” at any time. This list will be provided to any licensed peddler, canvasser,

vendor or solicitor and they will not be permitted to approach your property. At this time

we are asking residents to please contact the City Office by calling 855-7255 / 855-7270,

by visiting the City Offices –second floor, or by a written request that would include the

property address, owner’s name. This would need to be sent to : “Do Not Solicit List”,

75 North Walnut Street, Germantown, OH 45327. You may post a “NO SOLICITORS”

sign yourself if you choose not to be on the list & still be undisturbed.

If for any reason you would want to be removed from the “Do Not Solicit List” you will

need to either call the City Offices or submit a written letter requesting the removal.

Election Day-VOTE! May 6

The Germantown Union Cemetery has a .5 mil. replacement levy on the ballot

May 6. This is a REPLACEMENT for the current Cemetery Levy. Help us

help you and don’t forget to vote and support Issue #5. For more

information please call Mark at 855-3011.

Do-Not-Solicit List

4

Welcome New Council Members

MUNICIPALITY OF GERMANTOWN

We currently have openings

on the Planning Commission,

Personnel Board, Board of Tax

Appeals and the Park Board.

If you have lived in the Munici-

pality for a year or longer and

would be interested in serving

on a Municipal Board, please

contact the Municipal Office

at 855.7255

or send a

letter of in-

terest to 75

North Wal-

nut Street,

German-

town.

Thank YOU!

We could not do it without all the

volunteers who serve on our

many Boards and

Commissions. We

thank you for all

your time!

You make a differ-

ence and make

Germantown the

community it is!

Council would like to welcome the two new members, Mark

Heistand and Scott Johnson. Both members have served on several

Boards and Commissions over the years and now are serving as

Council Members. To get to know them, visit our website for

complete bios on each of them. Tune in to watch the current topics

and discussions of our Council on Cable Channel 5.

The City offers many excellent venues for your wedding,

showers, receptions, reunions, birthday parties, graduation

parties and much more. Call 855-7255 today to see if your

special date is still available.

The Train Depot-Offers a small kitchenette, restrooms,

tables and chairs. Can accommodate approximately 45-50

guests, and is climate controled. Public playground in the

area. This rents for $200, with a refund of $50 if left clean

and without any damage.

Veterans Park Shelter-Offers restrooms and picnic tables

for approximately 100 guests. Public playground in the

area. This rents for $150, with a refund of $50 if left clean

and without any damage.

Veterans Park Gazebo-Offers a beautiful outdoor atmos-

phere with limited bench seating. Great for weddings!

This rents for $150, with a refund of $50 if left clean and

without any damage.

Kercher Park Shelter-Offers picnic tables for approxi-

mately 50 guests. This rents for $150, with a refund of $50

if left clean and without any damage.

City facilities available to rent

Don’t Forget to Mow!

Please keep in mind that by ordinance grass and weeds cannot be over 6 inches tall in the Municipality.

5

MUNICIPALITY OF GERMANTOWN

Severe Weather Awareness

As severe weather season approaches, take time to make a safety plan for you and your family. Planning ahead will lower the chance of injury or death in the event severe weather strikes.

Tornadoes develop from severe thunderstorms, usually preceded by very heavy rain and /or large hail. A thunderstorm that contains hail is a good Indicator the storm has large amounts of energy and may be severe. Generally the larger the hailstones, the more potential there is for damaging winds and/or tornadoes.

April through July is Ohio’s peak tornado season- make plans now to BE PREPARED!

Be prepared before a watch or warning is issued- develop a family plan to respond to tornado watches and warnings. The safest place to be during a tornado is in the basement. No basement?- then move to the buildings lowest level, a bathroom or closet is good, away from windows and as close to the center of the building as possible.

REMEMBER D.U.C.K. D= Go DOWN to the lowest level U= Get UNDER something C= COVER your head K= KEEP in shelter until the storm has passed

Firework Safety Tips from Germantown Fire Department

Fireworks during the Fourth of July are as American as apple pie, but did you know that

more than twice the number of fires are reported on that day than on any other day of the

year in the United States? Two out of five of these fires are caused by fireworks. The good

news is you can enjoy your holiday and the fireworks, with just a few simple safety tips:

Proceed with Caution:

Leave the fireworks to the professionals.

Do not use consumer fireworks.

The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public display that will be conducted

by professionals.

After the fireworks display, children should never pick up left over fireworks; they

may still be active.

Consumer fireworks include sparklers and

firecrackers. The tip of

a sparkler burns at a

temperature of more

than 1,200 degrees

Fahrenheit, which is

hot enough to cause

third-degree burns.

FACTS • Each July Fourth, thousands of people, most often children and teens, are injured while using consumer fireworks. • The risk of fire-works injury is highest for chil-dren ages 5–14. • More than 80% of emergency room fireworks injuries involve fireworks consumers are per-mitted to use.

6

MUNICIPALITY OF GERMANTOWN

Prior to June 2, 2014 June 2, 2014 – End of Season

Residents –Municipality or Township Residents-Municipality or Township

Single - $50.00 Single - $62.00

Family of 2 - $90.00 Family of 2 - $105.00

Family of 3 - $115.00 Family of 3 - $130.00

Family of 4 - $130.00 Family of 4 - $145.00

($15.00 for additional persons) ($15.00 for additional persons)

Daily Admission-$5.50 per person

$2.50 ages 3-4, 2 and under are free

FREE Senior Citizen

We also Offer:

Daycares - $2.50 – per person Babysitter Pass - $30.00

Senior Pass - FREE (over 62 years of age) Replacement Pass - $5.00

Swim Lessons – Resident - $30.00

Joint Pass -Your pass may be used at

Pool Party – 2 Hours - $200.00 the Farmersville Pool for $2.50 per

3 Hours - $260.00 person per visit.

If more than fifty (50) people - $30.00 extra

Concessions stand open for an extra $40.00

For more information please call 855-7270 or 855-7255.

Passes MUST be purchased at the Municipal Building.

The Germantown

Aquatic Center Pool= summertime fun!

Summer is time for fun and relaxation and the Germantown Aquatic Center is the

perfect place to unwind and enjoy the season. The pool is a great way to stay cool,

catch some rays, meet new friends and best of all, it’s an activity that can be en-

joyed by the whole family. Residents may purchase their season passes at the

City Building starting NOW! Buy now and Save!

7

Trash to Treasure May 17 & May 18

Spring is finally here and it’s a great time to de-clutter your life and home by having a garage sale either by yourself,

with your neighbors or join our Community Sale. Even if you’ve never hosted a garage sale before, here are ten tips

to make your event easy, fun and profitable!

1. Advertise online. Be sure to promote your sale online in advance. Sites such as GarageSales.com and Craigslist

are great free resources to let people know about your event, as well as what kind of items you'll be selling. Got

great tools, electronics or kids clothing? Say so! Call the Municipal Building to get on our list!

2. Make good signs. Use bold color markers and make your print large enough so it can be seen from a distance as

people travel by. Another tip about signage is to include the date on your sign so people know that it’s current

and not an old leftover sign from last week. Ask permission if it is not located on your property. Call the Mu-

nicipal Building at 855-7255 for any questions.

3. Use as much space as possible. If you have a driveway use it to showcase items. Place a variety of men's, wom-

en's and kid's items near the street and along the sides of your driveway leading buyers right up into your garage

to see what other goodies you’re offering.

4. Merchandise by category. Make it easy for buyers to shop by grouping them into “departments” just like at a

retail store. Arrange your items by clothing, books, power tools, games, toys and household items, for example.

5. Sell cheap! Nobody cares that you bought that coffee maker for $35, all they care about is getting a deal today.

Price items at a fraction of what you paid for them so they sell quickly. A good guide is to price items at 25% of

the original cost.

6. Price by category or price by the entire lot. Rather than pricing every individual item, make things simple by

hanging signs that say “All books $.50” or “All clothing $1.” Another way to simplify pricing is to sell small

items as a “lot” such as an entire box of glassware, kitchen utensils, or toys for a single price.

7. Make price stickers visible. Help buyers out by putting your price stickers on TOP of your items instead of on

the bottom. They’re easier to see and buyers won’t have to pick up each item to look on the bottom for a price.

8. Be safe with your money. Start with $100 in small bills to make change and be smart about handling your mon-

ey. When things get busy and you’re distracted, it’s easy for the cash box to walk away, so instead of a cash box

or drawer, wear a fanny pack. Alternatively, team up with a friend who can wear the fanny pack and act as your

cashier while you engage with your guests.

9. Have a donation plan. There will undoubtedly be items that don’t sell and you don’t want to be hauling them

back into your house. Arrange in advance for your favorite church or charity to bring a truck on the last day of

your sale to pick up leftover items in exchange for a donation receipt.

10. Take down your signs quickly. Don’t be an inconsiderate neighbor. You have to remove signs by 8:30 p.m.

onthe last day of the sale.

The Spring Community Garage Sale will be held Saturday, May 17

9:00—6:00 and Sunday, May 18 1:00—6:00.

If you wish to participate in the Spring Community Garage Sale, please contact the

Municipal Office at 855-7255 by Thursday, May 8, 2014. You will need to leave your

address and three sale items you wish to have published. We do not require a permit for

the community garage sales, but if you are hosting one on your own, you will need to ob-

tain a permit from the Municipal Building, second floor. This permit is FREE!

Helpful Hints to a Successful Garage Sale!

MUNICIPALITY OF GERMANTOWN

8

MUNICIPALITY OF GERMANTOWN

Storm Water Tips

When it Rains…. It Drains.

You are the answer to storm water pollution!

Here are ten simple things every homeowner can do to help reduce the amount of

pollutants that are carried into Ohio’s streams, lakes and rivers.

1. Never dump anything down a storm drain or drainage ditch. The storm

drain system conveys storm water directly to Little Twin Creek and Twin

Creek, without any treatment.

2. Properly dispose of all trash, rubbish and garbage. Trash that is left in

your yard, or on the street will eventually end up in the closest creek.

3. Place your cigarette butts in the proper receptacle. Don't throw them on the

ground.

4. Recycle used motor oil. Find out if your local auto parts store will accept

used motor oil and take it there. Whatever you do, never dump motor oil, gaso-

line, or solvents down a storm drain!

5. Wash your car in the grass, or take to a commercial car wash. Your car has

oils and greases that wash off and then flow into the storm drains, polluting our

water ways. Commercial car washes have special procedures for treating the wa-

ter that washes off your car.

6. Clean up after your pet. Place pet waste in a trash receptacle or flush down

the toilet. Pet waste contains harmful bacteria that will wash into our creeks

when it rains.

7. Use fertilizers and pesticides only when needed. Fertilizers promote algae

growth in creeks. When using fertilizers, follow application instructions and do

not apply if rain is forecasted.

8. Compost yard & grass clippings. Don't allow your grass clippings to blow into

the street, or curb.

9. Check your vehicles for leaks and repair them!

10. Tell a friend or neighbor about how to prevent storm water pollution. Little

Twin Creek and Twin Creek are ours to protect! If you see something harmful-

Say something!

The pollution you prevent today

will protect your drinking water supply tomorrow.

DID YOU

KNOW??

One drip every

second from a

faucet adds up

to five gallons

per day!

150 gallons a

month! 1,000

gallons a year!

Check all your

faucets and

don’t forget to

check your out-

door spigots

too!

9

Controlling weeds is not only a good idea for improving a property’s appeal and value, it’s also promoted by City property maintenance reg-ulations. Controlling those weeds also includes those nagging ones that grow in the cracks and crevices of neighborhood sidewalks. Catching these sidewalk invaders when they are small, perhaps even pulling them out with your fingers or digging them with a simple tool is a key to easily maintaining the walkway. Commercial chemical prod-

ucts either ready to use in a spray bottle or as a concentrate to be mixed are readily available at hardware or home and garden stores. Follow product directions carefully for effective and safe use. For those preferring a natural herbicide, an economical formula can be mixed that will kill weeds (as well as all vegetation, so use caution when you spray and be careful of any runoff). The formula is most effective when ap-plied during the hottest period of the day, under direct sunlight if possi-ble. Plan on applying the mixture only if rain is not expected for at least 8-10 hours.

Vegetation killer 1 gallon white vinegar 1 cup table salt 1/4-1/2 cup liquid dishwashing soap* * Experimentation with the amount of dishwashing soap may be neces-sary. Use of amounts toward the higher amount outlined in the formula will cause pressurized hand held sprayers to foam excessively. If the mixture will be used in a hand held pressur-ized sprayer, use the lower amount.

Kill weeds naturally and economically

By law, everyone MUST contact the

Ohio Utilities Protection

Service, 8-1-1 or 1-800-362-2764, at least 48 hours but no more than 10 working days before beginning

ANY digging project.

We will be hosting a community Document Shred Day Saturday, May 31 for all

Germantown and German Township residents. This event will be held from

10:00—Noon in the Municipal Building parking lot, 75 North Walnut Street. Bring

all your personal/confidential documents that you would like to have professionally

shredded. You will be required to provide proof of residency to participate in

this event. Documents you may want to consider bringing:

Old Paystubs (recommend to keep 1 year)

Old Income Tax Documents (recommend to

keep 7 years)

Utility/Credit Card Statements (depends on

what you have purchased on statement)

Expired Credit Cards (destroy immediately)

Receipts (keep as long as you own the major

appliance/item)

Books of old checks (recommended to keep 1

year)

Medical Bills (recommend to keep 1 year)

Anything that may have your Social Security

Number or ANY personal information to avoid

Identity Theft!

Germantown and German Township

Community Shred Day May 31

MUNICIPALITY OF GERMANTOWN