By Allen Howard
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Voters in St. Bernard have a chance to decide Tuesday the shape their local government will take when they decide on a charter amendment.

According to the 2000 census, St. Bernard had 4,924 residents, 76 short of the 5,000 it needs for "official" city status. If approved, the amendment would allow St. Bernard to set up the type of government it wants, whether it is a village or city.

But Mayor Barbara Siegel said officials knew they had more than 5,000 residents.

"We challenged the Census Bureau figures," she said.

The Hamilton County auditor established a committee and assisted St. Bernard in doing a head count. Siegel said as a result of that count, St. Bernard found it had 5,146 residents.

Last year, voters adopted a charter commission to draft a charter form of government.

"What the charter will do is allow us to select a form of government, whether we have 5,000 or less than 5,000 residents," Siegel said. "If the charter is adopted, this means we can continue to operate as a city with seven council members, a council president and civil service to protect our employees. Without civil service protection, we could have one family running everything."

A majority vote is required to adopt the charter.

Indian Hill residents, meanwhile, will vote to settle what amounts to a neighborhood dispute between city hall and an adjacent property owner, if they approve an initiative residents put on the ballot.

The initiative would require the approval of 75 percent of adjacent property owners to change zoning involving any non-residential properties, such as schools and government buildings.

"Council refused to approve the zoning change because it has been ruled unconstitutional," said Michael Burns, city manager.

The city purchased property at 8260 Shawnee Run Drive from a private owner with the intent to convert it to municipal use.

David Turner, 8240 Shawnee Run Drive, opposes the use of the property and successfully started the drive to take the issue before the voters.

"I oppose what council did because it did not give proper notice," Turner said. "Also, to convert the use of the property without approval of the adjacent residents would be destructive to the residential integrity of Indian Hill. I am concerned about getting a systemic solution to apply to all such properties, not just me."

The city also faces a lawsuit filed by another neighbor, Steven Bohme, 8255 Shawnee Run Drive, who contends that the city did not put the issue on the ballot within the mandated time required.

In Norwood, residents are asked to approve two tax levies, each 2.5 mills, for police and fire protection and emergency medical services

Each levy would generate $962,656 and each would cause a tax increase of $73 a year for a house valued at $100,000.

Crosby Township residents will vote on a fire protection and emergency medical services levy of 3.5 mills. The levy would generate $212,736 and raise taxes on a $100,000 home by abuot $103 annually.

In Columbia Township, residents will vote on a 3-mill police levy that would generate $351,764 annually. It would bump up annual taxes for the owner of a $100,000 house byabout $88.

E-mail ahoward@enquirer.com