On a lighter note…
Don’t forget to stop by the Butler County Fair this weekend. Good times will be had by all.
What is your favorite event at the fair?
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The (real) cost of water
As we wrote about in a comprehensive set of stories Sunday, many factors generally go into the rates residents across Butler County pay for water.
But looking closely at Butler County Environmental Services - which services residents in West Chester, Liberty and Fairfield townships - human error also contributes to that agency’s total cost.
Years ago, for example, Butler County replaced much of its underground piping with a product called Blue Max Pipe. It was supposed to last forever. It didn’t. The county sued and was forced to settle for a fraction of what it costs to continually replace miles of underground pipe that occasionally burst.
Butler County Environmental Services Director Sue Vance says the is “a million and a half dollar a year problem,” and “one piece of why our rates might be a little bit higher than our neighbors.”
Another mistake happened in 2003. That’s when the county, for reasons officials say is unclear, stopped charging the county’s largest water consumer for “peak” sewer charges. The mistake wasn’t discovered for more than three years, and county policy allows the county to recoup only one year back (see below).
This mistake was found the same time as another that goes back even further. In 2007, Environmental Services staff found that roughly 207 businesses weren’t paying peaking charges because of a mistake during a rules change in 1988.
It’s impossible to calculate how much this cost the county, Vance said.
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Dems fare well in purported poll
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Butler County Democratic Party officials say a recent poll funded by the party reflects favorably on their chances for a rally in November.
Party officials would not release the poll’s findings — and only reluctantly admitted it was conducted — but they couldn’t contain their excitement about its implications.
Democratic Party Chairman John Holcomb said the poll focused on local races, and there were no races where Democrats didn’t fare well.
“My expectations before the polling was this will be a huge Democratic year nationally, and we as a party questioned to what extend that would filter down to Butler County, which in the past has been heavily Republican,” he said. “The poll confirmed for us that there is definitely a trickle down effect from the national scene to Butler County and it does make us optimistic about our chances in the local races in the fall.”
Holcomb cited the high Democratic turnout in the March 4 primary as additional justification.
Holcomb confirmed that his name was used in some of the poll questions, but would not say whether he is considering a run for any office. “I don’t want to engage in any rash comments,” he said.
Local races on the ballot with Democratic challengers this year include one county commission seat, a couple of state representatives and county sheriff.
But despite the optimism, the party has no one challenging some seats — such as treasurer, engineer and one county commission seat — and have yet to announce an appointee to take on Butler County Auditor Roger Reynolds.
What do you think? Is this the Dem’s year to lose?
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Kay Rogers update
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To temporarily quell continuous rumors, no sentencing date is set in federal court for former Butler County Auditor Kay Rogers, who resigned in March after pleading guilty to bank fraud.
Go here for the full back-story.
The only thing current court records show is that she found a job as a certified public accountant and private auditor for a company called Hunter Health Inc. And that her work will occasionally take her to Ashland, Kentucky and Hamilton, Ontario (Canada). She is also planning a vacation to New York. The court approved all of these out-of-state travel requests.
Orlando Carter, former president of the fiber optics company whose demise took Rogers with it, has a court date coming up at the end of the month. He pleaded not guilty to charges against him.
And with the FBI’s investigation ongoing, apparently touching on some actions by former County Commissioner Michael Fox, the rumor mill is constantly abuzz that more arrests are coming.
What do you think?
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Agencies partner to study dual diagnosis clients
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Just received this press release from Butler County Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities:
A collaboration between the Butler County Board of MRDD and the Butler County Mental Health Board has resulted in a $50,000 grant to examine the needs of clients who are dually diagnosed with both a developmental disability and a mental illness.
The grant from The Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati will lay the groundwork for organizational changes for both boards. Current projections indicate that around 1,750 children and adults in Butler County have both a developmental disability and a severe mental illness. Special expertise is required for providers to adequately assess, diagnose and treat those individuals.
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November ballot shaping up
What do you think?
In addition to local issues and candidates on the November ballot, local voters will be deciding some major statewide issues.
The Toledo Blade has this interesting story on issues that might or will grace the slate.
Are any of these issues important to you?
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When children are abused in foster care
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It appears to have happened again.
Since 2006, when 3-year-old Marcus Fiesel died at the hands his Butler County Children Services foster parents, the issue of children being abused in foster care has been a contentious one.
On Tuesday, a local 16-year-old who ran away after he was allegedly abused in a foster home in Warren County, was returned to the agency’s care safe — but not unharmed. Click here for the child’s story.
It was just in May that the agency launched an ongoing investigation into another allegation of abuse in Trenton.
Agency Director Michael Fox said children being abused in foster care is shockingly common. An e-mail to this effect he sent to the paper incensed foster parents, who say Fox doesn’t support foster homes enough.
Said Fox Tuesday: “As we’ve said, even when the system works and we do everything right, bad people do bad things to children. That is unfortunately the case here.”
What do you think? Is there anything that can be done?
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