Commissioner Bonnie Batchler was elected president, and Commissioner Claire Corcoran, vice president, of the Clermont County Board of Commissioners for 2023 at the annual Reorganization Meeting on Jan. 9. Commissioner David Painter will serve as member.

The 2023 meeting schedule for Regular Sessions was also established. The commissioners are scheduled to meet every Wednesday of the year, except for certain holiday weeks, and the second and fourth Mondays of the first six months of the year. All meetings are at 10 a.m. unless otherwise noted. Commissioners are mandated to have at least 50 Regular Sessions during the calendar year.

Commissioners offered comments and reflections relating to 2022 and thoughts about 2023.

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Claire Corcoran looks forward to her second four-year term on the Board of County Commissioners. She believes Commissioners will spearhead a collaborative effort to keep Clermont County moving ahead.

“We are here as commissioners as leaders – and that means we are relying on everyone in this county,” said Corcoran, before being sworn in for the term on Jan. 9. 

Corcoran pointed out that a wide variety of people have a role to play, ranging from county employees to elected officials to those in social service agencies who work with the Department of Job & Family Services. She noted that organizations such as the Clermont County Chamber of Commerce, the Kiwanis Club and many others also contribute.

“I just love that everyone comes together,” she said.

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Photo (from left): Husband Jeff Corcoran swears in Commissioner Claire Corcoran, son Keegan Corcoran holds Bible, daughter-in-law Amber Corcoran, daughter Kelsi Corcoran and Commissioner Claire Corcoran.

Under Ohio law, all dogs older than three months of age must be licensed (ORC 955.01). All dogs kept, sheltered or owned must display a valid registration tag. The law applies regardless of whether the dog is kept inside or out. The fine for not having a license is $135.

Dog licenses expire annually on Dec. 31.

One-year dog licenses are $16, three-year dog licenses are $48, and permanent dog licenses are $160. Kennel licenses are $80, includes 5 tags ($1 for each additional tag and only available through the Auditor’s Office by mail or in-person).

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Due to federal legislation, emergency SNAP (food stamp) allotments will end in February, reducing the monthly amount received by more than 22,000 in Clermont County since March 2020.

For more information, see the state’s news release https://jfs.ohio.gov/ocomm/index.stm

Here is a list of free food pantries, meals and groceries in Clermont County: Pantries

Also, OhioMeansJobs — Clermont County is open to the public – offering phones, copiers, printers, and fax machines to help people job search or find a training program.

Here are examples of how the change will impact people:

• Individual normally entitled to the minimum allotment of $23 per month has been receiving an additional $258 per month to receive the maximum allotment of $281.
• Household of 3 normally entitled to $180 per month has been receiving an additional $560 per month to receive the maximum allotment of $740.
• Household of 4 normally entitled to $939 per month (maximum allotment) has been receiving an additional $95 per month, for a total of $1,034.

About 53,000 first-half real estate tax bills were mailed on Jan. 13, said Clermont County Treasurer, Jeannie M. Zurmehly. The deadline for payment, without penalty, is Feb. 10.

Taxes can be paid by mail or in person at the Treasurer’s Office on the second floor of the County Administration Building, 101 E. Main Street, Batavia, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Taxes may also be paid by credit card or e-check, go to www.clermonttreasurer.org.

A night deposit is located at the Main Street entrance of the Administration Building for payment of taxes after hours. Taxpayers with questions may call 513-732-7254 or email Treasurer@clermontcountyohio.gov.

The Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments (OKI) Board of Directors approved the appointment of the board and new officers to lead the transportation planning organization for 2023, with Boone County Judge Executive Gary W. Moore heading up the board as its president. Clermont County Commissioner David Painter is serving as past president.

Painter also has been appointed to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Local Government Advisory Committee. 

"I am honored to join with colleagues from across the country on such an important committee," Painter said. "I look forward to working on vital issues such as infrastructure development, economic opportunity and quality of life for people in our county, state, region and country."

See press release from the EPA

Photo: OKI CEO Mark Policinski thanks outgoing Board President David Painter for his “excellent leadership” during his tenure.

Clermont Soil & Water Conservation District and the Adams-Clermont Solid Waste District recently kicked off the 2023 Spring Litter Clean-Up (SLC) event with a Logo Design Contest for local students. Any K-12 student attending school in Clermont County or within the East Fork Little Miami River watershed (including home-schooled students) is eligible.

Logo designs should emphasize litter clean-up and prevention.

Students can register for the contest through the event website: www.springlittercleanup.com. Entries are due to the Clermont SWCD office by 4 p.m. Friday, March 10. For more information, contact Connie Miller at (513) 732-7075 ext. 2 or cmiller@clermontcountyohio.gov.

The student with the winning design will receive a $100 cash award and an additional $100 gift given to their school art department or local art program. There will also be 13 grade-level awards of $25 each.

The 2023 SLC will be held on Saturday, April 22.

Claire Corcoran gve her perspective as a Clermont County Commissioner and former long-term Job & Family Services employee during the Public Children's Services Agency Legal Representation Structures Workgroup meeting in Columbus on Dec. 21.

The workgroup is reviewing legal structures throughout the state as part of Gov. DeWine's priority to reform Ohio's foster care system to provide better outcomes for kids.

Adams-Clermont Solid Waste District’s efforts to promote proper recycling at its 45 public drop-off sites have been catching residents' attention for a while, and also recently caught the eye of the Ohio EPA (OEPA).

The district’s successful ongoing campaign was featured in the OEPA’s “Scraps of Wisdom” winter newsletter, which shares program highlights, best practices and case studies for solid waste management districts and local health departments.

A full copy of the OEPA newsletter article can be found here.

Winter is a great time to visit the Clermont County Public Library. It has lots of great programs as well as materials you can borrow to enjoy some quiet time one evening or over the weekend.

The Cozy Winter Read program continues through the end of February. For each book read, guests are entered into a drawing for a great gift basket filled with all the essentials to enjoy reading on a cold winter day. Books read in physical or digital forms are accepted.

The library's annual Science Fair takes place Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Owensville United Methodist Church just east of Owensville. Visit the Science Fair and take a look at the great projects kids from across the county have created. Some will go on to compete at the regional Science Fair.

February is National Library Lovers Month. Visit any of 10 branches and check something out. As a gift, pick up a tumbler. The library has lots to love including its new Memory Kits. These are filled with items that will help loved ones who struggle with memory loss. Items include music, photos and activities that can help trigger memories. The library offers several different kits and they are ready to be checked out.

The Ohio Emergency Management Agency has announced the Ohio Safe Room Rebate Program is once again accepting applications. The program provides a rebate to Ohio homeowners for the purchase and installation of tornado-safe rooms.

Homeowners that are selected for the program are eligible for a rebate of 75 percent of the cost to purchase, install and/or construct a safe room up to a maximum of $4,875.

Safe rooms are defined as any above or below-ground shelter that meets or exceed the requirements outlined in FEMA publication 320 and/or 361. For additional information on safe rooms, visit: www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/risk-management/safe-rooms.

Homeowners have until Feb. 20 to apply for the Safe Room Rebate Program at https://ema.ohio.gov/mitigation-recovery/safe-room-rebate

They're literally building excitement at the Clermont County Park District! The staff has been working hard with consulting team MKSK to get feedback from its collaborative partners, stakeholders and most importantly, the community it serves, to build the park’s first comprehensive master plan. This plan will be ready for its unveiling this spring at Earth Day festivities on April 22. In it you’ll find updated mission and priorities, expected projects and new ways that you can get outdoors – be sure to mark your calendars to come to Shor Park and check it out. 

Park staff hasn’t been waiting on the Master Plan to get working though; they’ve already been building some big changes throughout our parks, including: 

• two new bridges at Wilson Nature Preserve and Shor Park;

• a new parking lot at Kathryn Stagge-Marr Park; 

• a meandering trail through wetlands, open meadows and along streams, as well as replaced the parking lot at Ten-Mile Creek Nature Preserve;

• a large-scale invasive removal, updated benches and trail updates at Kelley Nature Preserve.  

The staff has been busy - and it's just getting started. Check out some of the 2023 projects that they’re most excited about:

Sycamore Park Sundeck: Enjoy the river with the new sundeck. This raised platform will be the perfect spot to sit back and take in the sights of the East Fork River. Looking to launch your kayak? You’ll be able to use the new kayak launch near the sundeck. 

Wilson Nature Preserve Suspension Bridge: From Sycamore, take a stroll over to the adjacent Wilson Nature Preserve to the new suspension bridge. This unique project will come to life utilizing Clean Ohio grant funds, as well as Park District capital monies. The 105-foot suspension bridge will connect guests to a 25- acre island in the East Fork River, where they’ll be able to enjoy over a mile of new and restored trails. Park leaders are excited to see this project become one of the most iconic spots to visit in our parks.  

New Chilo Lock #34 Playground: Bring your kids for a day on the Ohio River! Enjoy Chilo’s historic river history museum and a new accessible playground. Utilizing Park District capital money and a CDBG grant, construction will soon be starting. This playground is the last one to get a recent and much-needed overhaul in the Park District.

Kathryn Stagge-Marr Pavilion: The 2022 tornado structurally damaged the onsite shelter at Stagge-Marr Park, leaving it unavailable for rentals. Well, time to take advantage of new opportunities! In 2023, the Park District is investing funds from insurance monies into building a structure that will not only be available as a shelter, but also as a pavilion for concerts and other special events in the park. The new pavilion will have an additional space for storage, and will be located near the pond at the park. 

Have questions about the master plan or the future of these projects or others in the Park District? Reach out to Executive Director, Josh Torbeck, at 513-732-2977.