About the Bellbrook Lions Club For years, the Bellbrook Lions Club Festival has been a major part of the Club’s effort to help the community as its main source of fundraising for community projects and donations. The festival objectives continue to be maintaining a family-oriented festival and encouraging a community atmosphere in order to instill community service; and providing quality entertainment and food. These values are congruent with the Club’s mission to empower volunteers to serve the community, encourage youth, promote health and be stewards of community resources. The club encourages community service efforts throughout the year. Encouragement of youth comes through youth baseball/softball, basketball, and other school athletics, as well as providing$2,000 each year in scholarships to area students. The Lions promote healththrough the collection of used eye glasses and donations to the Ohio Eye Bank.Stewardship of community resources comes through partnerships with the city,township, parks and schools. Just look for the Lions symbol on park shelters,walkways and other buildings in the community where the Lions have had a hand in making these projects possible.

Come join the Bellbrook community as it celebrates the 65th Bellbrook Lions Club Festival in downtown Bellbrook on August 18th – 20th. The theme of this year’s festivalis a “Homecoming for area residents and a welcome to newcomers.” As always, there will be numerous activities for everyone. The festival is a family-friendly atmosphere and everyone is invited to come out and join the fun!

For more information, contact Lion Rick Robertson at (937) 478-1177 or visit the Lions Club website at www.bellbrooklions.org.

65th Bellbrook Lions Club Festival Homecoming and Welcome

August 18th – 20th, 2011

A Publication of the City of Bellbrook

The 65th Bellbrook Lions Club Festival will be held August 18th – 20th. The festival will take place downtown on the campus of the old Sugarcreek Elementary School on South East St. The festival will be open the following times: Thursday and Friday 6 PM – 11 PM and Saturday 4 PM – 11:30 PM.Attractions will include food, games, rides, bingo and more! On Thursday, the Lioness Prince and Princess Contest will feature 5, 6 and 7 year olds with Bellbrook Fire Chief Scott Hall as the emcee. The crowd-favorite parade will be held at 4 PM on Saturday. The parade theme this year follows the festivaltheme of “Homecoming and Welcome.” A Cruise-In and Car Show will be held after the parade until dark. Be sure to pick up your raffle tickets to win acash prize of $10,000, an LCD Flat Screen Television or a Nook electronic reader.

Come out to the Lions Club Festival with your friends and family!

Schedule of Events Thursday, August 18th Dinner Served..........................................6:00 PM Lioness Prince and Princess Contest ...............6:30 PM Close .................................................. 11:00 PM

Friday, August 19th Dinner Served..........................................6:00 PM Close .................................................. 11:00 PM

Come to the Festival!

Saturday, August 20th Parade.................................................. 4:00 PM Car Show ....................Immediately Following Parade BBQ Chicken Dinner .................................. 5:30 PM Raffle Drawing .......................................11:30 PM Close...................................................11:30 PM

City of Bellbrook Community Report August 2011 Volume XVII, Issue 2

July 2009August 2011 City of Bellbrook Community Report

Community News

Hail Storm Recovery As most families in Bellbrook return to normal following historic damage caused by the windand hail storm on May 25th, this is a good moment to express appreciation for the extraordinary efforts by our public safety and service employees in response to the damage. Perhaps only the Xenia tornadoes and the “Ike” wind storm of 2008 rank equally to the force we endured.

The combined effort by public safety and service employees allowed our team of local dispatchers to be aware of the most significant problem areas and enhanced their ability toappropriately direct police, fire and emergency medical personnel. At times, all personnel from the Service, Police and Fire departments were patrolling neighborhoods, blocking dangerous roads, removing downed trees, supervising traffic flow, and responding to individualcalls from citizens. Each department acted commendably during the storm and the City appreciates their efforts.

Finally, if you are a neighbor who helped a fellow citizen during the storm, thank you! Wewitnessed many Bellbrook residents helping with everything from tree removal to expressionsof concern for the safety of the elderly and disabled. This type of care for your neighbors and

Dear Residents ofBellbrook,

Can you believethat the summer isalmost over? What a spring andsummer it hasbeen! The weather has certainly takenits toll on the area,

Message from the Mayor

with the hail, rain and flooding.Citizens have been considerate enoughto realize this is the result of natureand all have pulled together to put thecommunity back in order. I have to

say, in spite of it all, Bellbrook haslooked lovely this summer, but I alwaysthink it looks lovely; I am glad it is home. I want to thank the Garden Club for the lovely plantings; the Service Department for keeping the roadwaysclean and the community looking special; the Park District for keeping the parks in order; the Police Department for keeping us safe; and the Fire Department for making sure our homes, businesses and lives areprotected.

This will be my next to lastparticipation in a newsletter. Leaving

the position of Mayor is going to be hard for me, for I have loved every moment of my tenure and appreciate all the support you have given me over these past 16 years. I want to stayinvolved in the community, so please feel free to get in touch with me if I can be of any help in the future.

Enjoy the rest of the summer and myfavorite season, fall. You are all special to me.

Sincerely,

Mary C. Graves, Mayor

City News

The Park District has a full schedule of events for the fall! Join them for their workout sessions, “Peek at the Creek” to explore the Little Sugar Creek and take advantage of the free Wellness Screenings. Other programs include knitting,dancing, bird explorations, and “Halloween in the Park” on October 22nd. For more information for these and other events, contact the Park District at (937) 848-3535 or visit their website at www.bellbrooksugarcreekparks.org.

Bellbrook Sugarcreek Park District

The Greene County Council on Aging exists to provide senior citizens with helpful information, a community connection with other seniors and also work to provide them with better access to care. If you or a loved one, who lives in GreeneCounty, are looking for assistance for seniors, please contact the Council today! You can contact them at (937) 376-5486, visit their website at www.gccoa.org or stop by their Bellbrook satellite location in the Sugarcreek Education ServicesBuilding located at 3757 Upper Bellbrook Road next to the high school.

Greene County Council on Aging

friends demonstrates the true spirit of our community.

Although we never hope for a stormy day, the aftermath of the devastation serves as a reminder of the generous energy anddedication that surrounds us. The City of Bellbrook is grateful to all the citizens and our staff who make Bellbrook a wonderfulplace to live.

City of Bellbrook Community Report August 2011

City News

Waste Collection Holidays Please note that trash collection will be delayed one day dueto the Labor Day and Thanksgiving holidays. Trash collection will take place on Saturday, September 10th and Saturday, November 26th for those weeks.

City Recycling Program The City has a bi-weekly recycling program. Special items such as hazardous waste, electronics, metal appliances and scrap metal are recycled by GreeneCounty Environmental Services who can be contacted at (937) 562-5925. For more information on the recycling program, call the Utilities Office at (937) 848-4638.

Bulk Pick-up Large items may be picked up by Allied Waste on Fridays. However, you mustcall ahead and schedule a pick-up with Allied Waste at (937) 268-8110.

Yard Waste The City does not have a leaf or yard waste collection service. However, residents may use the Greene County satellite site located at 2120 Ferry Rd., which is open on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The site accepts leaves, grass and brush nolonger than 4 feet and no more than 4 inches in diameter.

For more information, visit the Utilities page on our website at www.cityofbellbrook.org.

Bellbrook has several gas pipelines that run through various parts of the city. These lines areoperated and maintained by pipeline companies. Periodically, they inspect and performmaintenance in the right of way, which is the ground directly above the lines. Some of theselines and right of ways may include homeowner’s properties. This summer, the pipelinecompanies have been in Bellbrook to perform this maintenance.

If you are affected by the pipelines, please be aware of the following items to ensure yoursafety. First, know your pipeline markings. Examples of these markings can be seen here.Second, be on the lookout for leaking in the right of way. You can recognize a pipeline leak by

The Bellbrook Beautification Committee has made their selections for the annual Beautification Awards. For many years, volunteers from the community have taken part inhonoring homeowners with properties that are well-maintained and stand out from the rest. Ten homes and several businesses are chosen each year to receive the awards. Ahome or business may only win an award once every five years.

The committee begins their process in late June and takes several weeks to make theirfinal decisions. The City is divided into five sections with each having two homes selected along with one or two businesses. Properties are voted upon by committee members andthen are presented with a plaque by the City Council in the fall. They also receive a signto place in their front yard for a few weeks with the title, “Bellbrook Beautification Winner.”

For more information, please contact Bronne Wilson at (937) 848-3458 or email her at bronnew@att.net.

Bellbrook Beautification Awards

Gas Pipeline Maintenance

sight, sound and smell. For more safety information, visitwww.pipelinesafetyinfo.com. If you think there is apipeline leak, call 911 immediately. Third, certainbuildings and landscaping are prohibited from being placedin the right of way. Sheds, pools and playgrounds are notallowed to be built in the pipeline right of way. Somelandscaping, such as the planting of shrubs and trees arealso prohibited. Some exceptions may be allowed. To findout what landscaping is allowed in the right of way, contact the pipeline company at the phone number located on thenearest marker. To find where the pipeline right of way islocated on your property, you can contact a free locationservice by calling 811 or visit their website atwww.call811.com.

Waste, Recycling & Yard Waste Disposal

August 2011 City of Bellbrook Community Report

City News

Your Bellbrook Fire Department Urges Back-to-School Safety

As summer winds down and the school year starts, it is time to remind all parents and students about back-to-school safety. Here are the top 10 back-to-school safety lessons: Always buckle-up when riding in the car; children 12 and under should ride in

the back seat. Stay in your seat when riding on a bus and hold on to bus handrails when

getting on and off a bus. When waiting for a bus, stay at least five giant steps (10 feet) from the curb

until the bus has completely stopped. Wear a helmet every time you ride your bicycle and make sure the helmet

The Fire Escape

fits correctly. Always walk your bicycle when you need to cross a street. Use crosswalks for crossing streets and remember to look left, right, left before crossing (Children under 10 should cross

with the assistance of a grown-up). Do not push or shove anyone when lining up or playing on school grounds. At lunch time, stay seated while eating; no running or playing. Never accept medicine, vitamins, candy or other food from anyone other than your parent or caregiver. When the fire alarm sounds at school, stop what you are doing and immediately exit the school. Once you are outside, go

quickly to your meeting place for roll call.

Your Fire Department to Host Annual Open House This is a great opportunity for you tomeet the fire department members who find it rewarding to voluntarilyserve our community. Those residentsinterested in being part of our exciting fire and emergency medical service team can obtain application information at the event.

The Bellbrook Fire Department wouldlike to take this opportunity to invitethe entire community to join us at ourannual Bellbrook Fire Department“Open House” on Tuesday, October11th, 2011 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM.

Franklin Street. The whole family is encouraged to visit “your” fire department and view the various fire, emergency medical displays and safetypresentations. As a highlight this year,several children from the Bellbrook -Sugarcreek area will be awarded fortheir participation in fire preventionefforts.

This collaborative event will be held atBellbrook Fire Station #2, 4254 West

The Bellbrook Service Department has been busy this summer maintaining City properties, streets, and the water system.

This past spring was challenging for both our residents and the Service Departmentin regards to rain and drainage. The department maintains many storm drains andoutflows around the City. They have rebuilt several drains along curbing onFranklin and other streets. These drains are critical when we receive largeamounts of rain.

The summer is a good time to repair streets. The streets that will be paved thissummer include: South East Street, East Maple Street, East South Street,Brookwood Drive, North East Street, East Walnut Street, Ryder Court, LittleSugarcreek Road and Portage Path.

Keep an eye out for our Service Department workers in their yellow safety shirts!

The Works: Service Department Update

City of Bellbrook Community Report August 2011

City News

The Policeman’s Bad

ge New Police Cruisers Make their Debut

You may have noticed the two new police cruisers on the streets of Bellbrook. The new cars, 2011 Dodge Chargers, werepurchased earlier this year. The Chargers replace two Ford Crown Victorias that were purchased in 2005. Since Ford willdiscontinue manufacturing the Crown Victorias in the future, the City had to find another suitable vehicle. The six year oldCrown Victorias have over 200,000 miles of driving and engine use. Generally, police cruisers are replaced every five years dueto increasing maintenance costs as they age. The Citydecided to delay the capital purchase one year and stretchthe cars to their limit. Currently, the Police Departmenthas a fleet of seven cruisers.

The new Chargers have a V-6 engine, which should increase fuel efficiency. The Chargers cost $22,500 each and haveover $5,000 in policeequipment added to them. Ifyou would like to take a closerlook at the new Chargers, orthe old Crown Victorias theyreplaced, let us know!

Summer Safety Kicks Off

Bicycle Safety The Bellbrook Police Department completed two of its annual safety programs to kick off the summermonths of 2011. In May, Officer Vincent Vanscoy presented our Bicycle Safety program at Stephen Bell Elementary. His presentation culminated in our annual Bicycle Rodeo on Saturday, May 21st. Each participant rode in a competition based on their grade and age group. Winners were announced after all competitors completed his or her ride through four challenging courses. Bicycles were given away to two lucky entrants. We would like to thank the members of the Bellbrook PoliceVolunteer Association for all of their support presenting this program. Additionally, we thank Dayton Children’s Medical Center for their supply of bike helmets for riders who are without a helmet. This year’s event was attended by over 100 children andtheir families. Great weather made the event very enjoyable.

Safetyville In June, Officer Vanscoy, along with members of the school district’s Parent Teacher Organization and student-volunteers from the National Honor Society, presented Safetyville, a safety-focused program for our pre-kindergarten school children. Each day, the soon-to-be school children were introduced to safety throughout their community. Activities included a school bus ride to their new school where everyone got a chance to meet their new principal; a visit from the Bellbrook FireDepartment and their mascot, Sparky; and they explored Officer Vanscoy’s police vehicle and met the Police Departmentmascot, McGruff. Other activities included numerous trips to Safetyville square to learn about seatbelts and traffic safety.This year’s class was attended by over 30 children heading to Bellbrook schools in the fall.

School Safety Classes to Come in the Fall

DARE The Police Department will be presenting the DAREProgram to 5th Graders at Bell Creek Intermediate School fromAugust through October. DARE, Drug Abuse ResistanceEducation, will be taught by certified instructors in thedepartment.

Halloween Safety In October, the Police Department will be visiting Stephen Bell Elementary School to discuss HalloweenSafety with Pre-K through 2nd Graders.

August 2011 City of Bellbrook Community Report

City News

The improvements to the City’s water treatment facility are nearing completion.The two new 150,000 gallon water tanks are complete and operational. The threenew water pumps are distributing water to the system. The wells have been cleaned and converted to smaller pumps and motors. The emergency generatorhas been installed to permit operation of the water system when power is lost. When complete, the improvements will have cost almost $2.9 million. Of this total, $1 million was paid with a grant from the Ohio Public Works Commission(OPWC), $1.1 million was paid with a loan from the OPWC (0% interest for 20 years)and the remainder ($800,000) was paid with revenue from the City’s Water fund.

The Works: Water Plant Improvements

In an effort to keep residents informed,certain provisions of the Municipal &Zoning Codes have been highlightedbelow.

Solicitors After the hail storm inMay, a large number of solicitorsdescended on the City. The MunicipalCode regulates soliciting as follows:

A license must be obtained fromthe Bellbrook Police Department.

Prior to the issuance of a license,the police department will performa background check on all listed individuals.

Soliciting is only allowed from 9 am to sundown (Monday to Saturday)and 12 noon to sundown on Sunday.

A solicitor must show their licenseto anyone who requests to see it.

If you ever have any questions or issueswith solicitors, please don’t hesitate tocall the Bellbrook Police Department at(937) 848-8484.

Municipal & Zoning Code Highlights Signs A temporary sign with a commercial message is permitted in residential areas for no more than 30 days per calendar year. Therefore, the temporary signs placed by contractors(roofing, siding, painting etc.) for workdone on the premises should not be inplace for longer than 30 days. Due tothe unprecedented circumstancesfollowing the May hail storm, thesetemporary signs have been allowed tostay for a longer period. EffectiveSeptember 1, 2011, any temporary commercial sign will be removed fromthe property. Residents can help by removing any violating sign prior tothat date.

Property Maintenance As the summer continues, please remember that grass, shrubs and trees need to be maintained. The Property Maintenance Code requires that property ownersmaintain their property, so there is an unobstructed view of traffic from all directions. Low-hanging trees and shrub branches should not interfere with vehicle or pedestrian use of sidewalks and/or streets. Also, adverse property issues may affect the value ofa house or neighboring houses. The Municipal Code says that grass above 8 inches tall is a violation and further action by the City will be taken to make sure the grass is maintained.Please be considerate of your neighbors!

City non-emergency services will beclosed September 5th in observance ofLabor Day, November 11th in observance of Veterans Day, and November 24th & 25th in observance ofThanksgiving.

Holidays Hydrant Painting & Flushing This summer, the Bellbrook Service Department has been painting fire hydrants in the City. Also, the Fire Department will be performing routine maintenance oneach hydrant. All of this maintenance will ensure a safe and dependable fire suppression and water supply system.

Fire hydrant flushing has taken place in June for the past several years. Due to theongoing construction on the water plant addition, hydrant flushing will be delayeduntil the week of October 24th through the 28th.

August 2011City of Bellbrook Community Report

Environmental News

To report a suspected Illegal Discharge, call the Bellbrook Service Department (937) 848-8415 Monday - Friday 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM After Hours, call (937) 848-8484

Storm drains are designed to handle stormwater runoff only and do not provide treatment to water or other substances thatenter the system. The Bellbrook Service Department manages the storm drain system in the city of Bellbrook. Public education and participation in reporting sightings or evidence of suspicious substances being dumped down storm drains ordirectly into our local creeks is an important part in preventing water pollution. Odors, unnatural colors or dead fish are signs that something harmful has entered the water.

As part of our Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) program, we ask that citizens who suspect that they havewitnessed illegal dumping into a storm drain or water pollution to contact the Bellbrook Service Department at the numbersabove. If you are not sure whether an illegal discharge has occurred, please report it and we will determine whether action isrequired to protect the water supply and/or the environment.

KEEP CREEKS CLEAN AND STORM DRAINS CLEAR

Our water is not unlimited - let’s be careful what we put in it. You canmake clean and clear choices thatpositively affect the quality of ourwater today:

Construction contractors andbuilders should keep all dirt andconstruction debris on the buildinglot until final grading.

Cover or seed all bare soil andpreserve stream side vegetation.Sediment is the #1 water pollutantby volume.

Stockpiling of dirt or debris shouldbe covered or contained so raindoes not cause it to be washed intostorm drains or nearby creeks.

In residential neighborhoods, keep

Summer Time Tips

Limited Water

Did you know? Soapy runoff from washing vehicles in your driveway enters the storm drains

and flows untreated into our streams. Detergent levels as low as 0.1 ppm can harm wildlife. Detergents are a source of excessive nutrients, which also degrade the creeks

and streams in the Miami Valley.

Car care tips to minimize your impact on the environment: Used motor oil can be recycled. Put used oil in clean cont ainer with a tight lidand contact Greene County Environmental Services at (937) 562-5925 for disposal information. Park and wash your ca running from your driveway directly into the storm drains. Even better, takeyour car to a commercial car wash where the water is typically filtered for re-use and ultimately treated at a wastewater treatment plant. Keep your car serviced. Regular tune-ups reduce the amount

rs in the grass, keeping the dirty and soapy water from

of hydrocarbons,

,nitrous oxide, and other pollutants which impact our water as well as our air. Repair leaks. Spots on your driveway or garage floor indicate that the engine transmission or radiator may be leaking. Clean up spots and spills with catlitter or other absorbent materials and place into the trash. Do not dump orhose these pollutants into streets or storm drains.

Storm Drain Dumping & Stream Pollution

creeks clean and storm drainsclear. Do not throw leaves orgrass, branches or gas, oil, fertilizer or other hazardous wastesin or near creeks or storm drains.

Pick up pet wastes promptly anddispose of properly.

Limit use of fertilizers andpesticides.

Wash your car in the grass so washwater will infiltrate into the groundrather than run off into stormdrains.

For more Stormwater information and to learn how you can help keep our water clean, visit our website at www.cityofbellbrook.org and go to the Stormwater page!

City of Bellbrook Community Report

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE

PAID DAYTON OH

PERMIT NO 41

CITY OF BELLBROOK 15 E FRANKLIN ST BELLBROOK OH 45305

City of Bellbrook Community Report

Articles of Interest City Council 65th Bellbrook Lions Club

Festival

Information regarding activities to do and things to see at the festival

Community News For information about City Council, past meetings and current issues, call the Clerk of Council at (937) 848-4321 or visit the Council page on our website at www.cityofbellbrook.org.

Council Members

Mary Graves, Mayor

Mike Schweller, Deputy Mayor

Bob Baird

Denny Bennett

Ralph Fussner

Jon Martin

Joe Ritzel

The Bellbrook City Council would like to invite you to join its regular meetings on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month. Meetings begin at 7 PM.

Environmental News

o The Works

o The Policeman’s Badge

o The Fire Escape

o Message from the Mayor

Information on what is happening at the City and services that we provide our residents

Information on community events happening this fall

City News

City of Bellbrook 15 E Franklin St

Bellbrook OH 45305

Departments Administration........(937) 848-4666Clerk of Council ......(937) 848-4321Zoning .................(937) 848-8477Police ..................(937) 848-8484Fire.....................(937) 848-3272Service.................(937) 848-8415Utility Billing..........(937) 848-4638

We’re on the Web! www.cityofbellbrook.org