Wednesday, April 15, 1998
Hamilton County commissioners will pay $48,000 to settle a lawsuit by an upstate New York firm that was the low bidder but was not chosen for riverfront demolition work.
The case resulted in commissioners eliminating preferences for local, women-owned and minority-owned firms from stadium bid documents.
Bianchi Trison Corp. of Syracuse, N.Y., had sought $250,000 in damages. Thomas Yocum, who represented the company, said his client is happy to have covered lost profit and attorney fees.
The company was not chosen for a demolition job in January, even though it was the low bidder, because commissioners said they wanted to hire a local, female-owned firm, O'Rourke Construction Co. All subsequent contracts have been awarded to the low bidder, said county commission President Tom Neyer Jr.
In a 1996 memorandum of understanding with Cincinnati, Hamilton County promised to give first preference to local firms and to contract at least 15 percent of the project to "minority business enterprises, women's enterprises, and other small businesses." Mr. Neyer said a committee of county officialsis working to find a way to keep those commitments.
Cincinnati's administration has recommended moving ahead with a plan that would pair police with probation officers to check up on juvenile delinquents.
In a report issued Tuesday, City Safety Director Kent Ryan said the city should apply for a $126,000 state grant.
Known as the "Operation Night Light Project" police and probation officers want to make sure juveniles are complying with the terms of their probation and parole, including curfews.
Cincinnati may sell
empty Northside school
Cincinnati officials have signed off on a plan to sell Chase School -- a city-owned property at 1615 Chase Ave. in Northside that has been empty for 20 years -- for residential redevelopment and mixed uses, including low-income condominium housing.
The city should also authorize loans of $283,000 from the New Housing Loan program and $237,000 from the Community Development Block Grant program for the project, according to a report issued Tuesday by the city administration to members of city council. The report will likely be discussed during council's regular meeting today before it is referred to a committee for discussion.
Committee gives lower property tax-cut figure
The Hamilton County Budget Commission chastised county commissioners Tuesday for their inaccurate estimate of how much a property tax cut will save homeowners next year. County commissioners had said a one-time, $10 million reduction in the children's services levy would save $22 for the owner of a $100,000 home.
County Auditor Dusty Rhodes, who is a member of the budget commission, said the amount is closer to $18.93.
County Prosecutor Joseph Deters, another member of the budget commission, said commissioners should write a letter to the auditor asking for a figure. They should not do their own estimates.
The commission, whose third member is County Treasurer Robert Goering, decided to wait a month to vote on approving the tax cut.
Grand jury indicts suspect in bank scams
A man accused of posing as a police officer to fool bank patrons into giving him money was indicted Tuesday by a Hamilton County grand jury.
Ronald Craddock, 48, was charged with nine counts of theft and nine counts of impersonating a peace officer.
The scheme, which Mr. Craddock allegedly practiced across the state, involved his telling bank patrons that he was investigating fraud. As part of his "investigation," he would ask the patrons to withdraw money from their accounts.
Police say numerous unsuspecting people were scammed.
Mr. Craddock was arrested after he was profiled in the Tristate's Most Wanted in the Enquirer.
Mannie pleads not guilty in scuffle at Ohio mall
FAIRBORN, Ohio -- Manny the Hippie, who gained fame on the Late Show with David Letterman, has pleaded not guilty to resisting arrest and littering following a shopping mall incident.
Manny, whose real name is Micah Papp, entered the pleas Tuesday in Fairborn Municipal Court. If convicted, he could face up to 150 days in jail and a $1,250 fine.
Police said Mr. Papp, 21, was being banned from a mall in the Dayton suburb of Beavercreek for being disorderly when he tore up a notice banishing him.
