January 2024

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Community Calendar

Village Council Video

Administration & Maintenance

Regular Hours 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.



Dispatch Open

24 hours, 7 days a week

Trash & Recycling

New Year's Week Pickup:

Saturday, January 6



Please check the website for updates and schedule changes

Snow Removal Service

Please follow the guidelines in the video at right to ensure our ability to reach all residents in a timely manner. Key takeaways include:

• Do not park on the street during a snow event to allow plows to effectively remove snow and clear catch basins

• Keep trash cans, recyling bins and brush piles out of the street

Leaf & Brush Collection Services

• Brush pickup continues as needed, but is no longer assigned to a particular day.
• Brush pickup includes live, natural Christmas trees.
• Brush pickup will be secondary to snow removal.
• Leaf collection has ended for the season. Leaves can be placed in your trash receptacle for removal.

Amberley Village highlights the two newest changes on Council for the 2023-25 term, including a new mayor and our newest member of Council...

Village resident Claire Eichner was appointed the new Village Treasurer following the retirement of Rick Kay after 15 years of service. Ms. Eichner is a former classmate of Mr. Kay's, and came highly recommended for the position.

The Village Treasurer is an important role, as it serves as the fiscal and accounting officer of the municipality. She is responsible for signing all checks and ensuring all obligations are fulfilled and monies owed the Village are received.

Please join us in welcoming Claire to the role of Village Treasurer!

Andrew Kaake was recently recognized as a 2024 Super Lawyer. A division of Thompson Reuters, Super Lawyers utilizes a patented selection process, including peer influence and research, to identify the top 5% of attorneys each year. They are recognized for their outstanding work, commitment to the spirit of the legal profession, knowledge of law, professional work ethic, and advocacy on behalf of their clients. Congratulations to Andy - we're proud to have you representing our community!

Income tax is the primary source of funds that support municipal services, such as police and fire protection, brush and leaf pickup, wood chips, snow and ice removal and emergency services. Amberley Village employs a variety of cost saving measures to ensure good stewardship of your tax dollars, including collaborative purchasing, grants, and cross training of staff to allow us to make the most of your money.

Amberley Village residents will be receiving a postcard in the mail with important guidelines and reminders regarding their 2023 income tax, including due dates, requirements and contact information for requesting assistance. Forms, instructions and digital filing options are also available via the link below.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE RESIDENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ERRORS IN SUBMITTING TAXES EVEN IF THE SERVICE IS HIRED OUT TO A PROFESSIONAL. For this reason, residents who have someone else doing their taxes are encouraged to share the postcard with them to ensure compliance with the guidelines.

Click the image below for a printable version

Amberley Village reminds all residents running home-based businesses to register with the Village. This ensures the proper taxes are collected, and that Village guidelines for residential zoning are followed.

Amberley Village works to ensure that all residents are contributing appropriately, and that home-based businesses are adhering to the residential atmosphere as outlined in the Village Code. This is why the Village only provides for certain types of businesses to operate out of homes.

If you have a home business and need a permit, contact Village Zoning Administrator Chris Fritsch at 513-531-8675 or cfritsch@amberleyvillage.org. The process is as simple as filling out a form, and fees are only $10. Home-based business registration in Amberley Village must be renewed every two years. The process is as simple as filling out a form, and the cost to file is just $10.

Feeding wild animals is often meant as an act of kindness, driven by our desire to connect with nature. However, the repercussions of this seemingly benevolent act can be severe, impacting the very creatures we aim to help. While the intention may be noble, feeding wild animals can disrupt their natural behaviors, upset ecological balances, and pose significant health risks to the animals themselves.

One of the most immediate and concerning effects of feeding wild animals is the creation of dependency. When animals receive food from humans, they can become reliant on this artificial food source. This dependence can lead to a disruption in their natural foraging and hunting behaviors and over time, diminish their ability to fend for themselves.

This dependency can also alter their behavior towards humans, making them more aggressive or reliant on human presence. Animals accustomed to being fed may lose their fear of humans, increasing the chances of conflict or dangerous encounters.

Feeding wild animals can have detrimental effects on their health. Human food is often not suitable for wildlife, lacking essential nutrients or containing harmful substances. Birds, for instance, can suffer from malnutrition if fed bread, which lacks the necessary nutrients for their diet. Moreover, discarded food in public areas can attract vermin or spread diseases that can affect wildlife populations.

Feeding deer and other species can disrupt the natural food chain. An increase in one animal population due to feeding can affect other species' food sources, leading to a decline in their numbers. This imbalance can have far-reaching consequences on the entire ecosystem.

Respecting the natural behaviors and habitats of wildlife is essential for their well-being and the preservation of balanced ecosystems. Instead of feeding them, observing animals in their natural habitats from a respectful distance ensures their safety and contributes positively to their conservation.

Amberley Village Police Department reminds residents to remain vigilant about home security following the recent string of break-ins tied to a South American crime ring. Residents should be advised, however, that crime is not solely limited to this group, and cannot be addressed solely by Police.

Resident partnership with the Police Department is critical to prevention and reduction of crime in the Village. Please remember to:

• Lock your doors
• Set alarms
• Leave lights on
• Keep valuables stored out of sight
• Check to ensure cameras and cell phones are working properly together and are recording
• Call 513-531-2040 IMMEDIATELY if you see any suspicious activity or behavior, regardless of time of day or night

Chief Wallace tells us that reluctance to call immediately can make the difference between apprehending a criminal and them getting away with a crime. "Trust your instinct - and rest assured - we'd rather have you call and it be nothing than have you NOT call and it be something," he says.

From l. to r.: K9 Creed, Sgt. Mike Koenig, Ofc. Andrea Alt, Carrie Minton, Dispatcher Darlene Waldron, and Brigid Sowder.

Amberley Village staff participated in No Shave November by contributing funds to go without shaving throughout the month. The program was extended into December, and resulted in the donation of more than $3,000 to benefit the family of deceased Amberley Village Police Officer Keith Sowder, who lost his battle with Multiple Sclerosis in 2021.

The Department also wore orange shirts beneath their uniforms and orange badges throughout November in recognition of Officer Sowder's illness. And while March is officially MS Awareness Month, Amberley Village holds its awareness in conjunction with No Shave November in order to give back to his family during the holidays, which can be one of the most difficult times of the year for families who have

lost a loved one. "We always want to make sure the Sowder family knows they are still a part of the Amberley Village family," said Chief Wallace. Sowder's widow, Brigid, expressed her deep gratitude and appreciation for the ongoing support from the Amberley Village Police Department.

Amberley Village recently approved the installation of a private sidewalk along Section Road near Fair Oaks by a homeowner funding the entire project. The walkway connects to the walkway at CZE and is situated on private property and public right-of-way. It has met all zoning regulations, and the homeowner will maintain the sidewalk. The total project is expected to be completed this month.

In anticipation of industrial development at 2100 Section Road (former Gibson Greeting), the Village has a conceptual plan to improve Section Road from the railroad tracks to Ridge Road. Part of this plan for the future includes a walkway to enhance pedestrian safety. The sidewalk that has been installed privately meets our concept plan's criteria, saving the Village from the expense in the future. But more importantly, this sidewalk makes it safer for our residents

The sidewalk will be maintained by the homeowner, and total project completion is expected at the end of January.

Amberley Village is proud to announce that Officer John Burton has been selected to receive the Hamilton County Police Association's Lt. Robert Hovater Award for Valor for his bravery and selflessness in defending his fellow officers during a standoff with a bank robber in Reading.

Officer Burton was nominated for the award by Sgt. Tim Schmidtgoessling, and will be celebrated at an Awards Banquet on January 11. We congratulate Officer Burton and join HCPA in honoring his service to the community at large.

The U.S. Government recently renewed its commitment to safeguarding the well-being of citizens with the reintroduction of free COVID tests for citizens. As of September 25, Americans can visit www.covid.gov/tests to request a few free COVID-19 rapid tests be mailed to their homes.

Find out if your on-hand tests have new expiration dates

The Village of Amberley currently has a contract with IGS Energy for our natural gas aggregation program available to residents and eligible businesses. The current contract rate is $0.869/CCF through the October 2024 billing cycle.

After record highs in 2022 for natural gas prices on the market, those prices have come down in 2023. Increased natural gas production and the 3rd warmest winter on record have led to more available supply in the market that has driven these lower prices.

Duke Energy’s Gas Cost Recovery charge for customers purchasing their natural gas from Duke Energy has lowered as a result. We want to remind you that Duke’s natural gas rates are NOT fixed and will vary monthly with the market. Below is a comparison of our natural gas aggregation rate with IGS Energy compared to Duke’s Gas Cost Recovery rate. Please remember that 80% of our natural gas consumption is in winter months.

The community is locked into our contract rate with IGS Energy, however participation from residents is optional. We are educating our residents on their natural gas supply options for this winter so you can make the choice for your home that will be best for you.

Your options:

1.If you are currently participating in the natural gas aggregation program with IGS Energy, you will remain there at a fixed rate of $0.869/CCF all winter with no action required.

2.If you wish to return to Duke’s Gas Cost Recovery rate, you can contact IGS Energy at 1-877-353-0162 to opt-out of our natural gas aggregation rate. Opting-out with IGS Energy will automatically revert your natural gas supply back to Duke on the next available billing cycle.

3.You always have the option to shop for rates on your own. Participation in our aggregation program is not mandatory. You can visit energychoice.ohio.gov to compare rates of all natural gas suppliers.

We will continue to keep you updated on rates and your options with our aggregation programs. The goal for these programs is to provide value to our residents.

The community is locked into our contract rate with IGS Energy, however participation from residents is optional. We are educating our residents on their natural gas supply options for this winter so you can make the choice for your home that will be best for you.

Your options:

1) If you are currently participating in the natural gas aggregation program with IGS Energy, you will remain there at a fixed rate of $0.869/CCF all winter with no action required.

2) If you wish to return to Duke’s Gas Cost Recovery rate, you can contact IGS Energy at 1-877-353-0162 to opt-out of our natural gas aggregation rate. Opting-out with IGS Energy will automatically revert your natural gas supply back to Duke on the next available billing cycle.

3) You always have the option to shop for rates on your own. Participation in our aggregation program is not mandatory. You can visit energychoice.ohio.gov to compare rates of all natural gas suppliers.

We will continue to keep you updated on rates and your options with our aggregation programs. The goal for these programs is to provide value to our residents.

Amberley Village Administration has received an increasing number of calls regarding cars parked in yards or for extended periods on the street. Please note that Amberley Village Code requires that immobilized cars must be towed, and cars may not be parked in the same place for more than 72 hours. In addition, parking on the grass is not permitted except for short-term events, and even then, for no longer than six hours.

Our January banner campaign (pictured above) highlights the Village's commitment to safety by encouraging drivers to embrace the fresh start of the new year. Residents are reminded that the new cell phone laws are in effect, and are encouraged to avoid distracted driving of any kind.

Amberley Village Council meets on the second Monday of each month (unless there is a conflict). The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 8, 2024 at 6:30 pm in Council Chambers at the Municipal Building, located at 7149 Ridge Road.

Residents may submit comments in writing or attend in-person to participate. To speak at the meeting or submit written comments, please contact Clerk of Council Tammy Reasoner by noon the day of the meeting at 513-531-8675 or at tpreasoner@amberleyvillage.org. Speakers for the public hearing may also sign up in Chambers prior to the start of the meeting.

Copies of the agenda and council packet are posted on the website by noon on the day of each meeting via the Agendas and Minutes button, or by clicking the button below:

Ordinance 2023-09, Appointing Claire Eichner as Village Treasurer

Ordinance 2023-10, Appointing Andrew Kaake as Village Solicitor

Ordinance 2023-11, Appointing Tammy Reasoner as Clerk of Council

Ordinance 2023-12, Amending Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2023

Ordinance 2023-13, Making Appropriations for Expenses of the Village of Amberley for Fiscal Year 2024

Resolution 2023-24, Adopting the Hamilton County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan

Resolution 2023-25, Authorizing a Contract for Property Casualty Insurance

Resolution 2023-26, Unclaimed Funds

Whether your nearest library is Deer Park, Reading, Pleasant Ridge or Blue Ash, our local libraries are an excellent resource for kids and adults alike! Amberley Village E-News makes it easy for you to check out library programming for the upcoming month via the button below. 

For more information regarding the Featured Program, click on the Featured Program block below.

Featured Program:

Join us on Nextdoor, YouTube & Facebook

rbardach@amberleyvillage.org

afrankel@amberleyvillage.org

bhunt@amberleyvillage.org

kpaul@amberleyvillage.org

brosen@amberleyvillage.org

jshatz@amberleyvillage.org

dwood@amberleyvillage.org

Amberley Village is committed to keeping lines of communication open and accessible between residents and government officials. In this spirit, Amberley Village has incorporated Village-issued email addresses for Councilmembers into its digital communications protocol.

These measures unify the format, making it easier for residents to send a message when an issue comes to mind. The member's first initial followed by last name (no space) @amberleyvillage.org will get your message on its way to members of the Amberley Village Council.

Even easier, visit our website and just click on the links to reach your elected officials!