More Colerain Twp. meetings overruled

COLERAIN TWP. - One trustee here believes the government issues in Colerain Township, Ohio's largest, warrant a board of trustees that meets more than once a month during the summer. But the other two trustees didn't agree at the most recent Colerain Township trustees meeting.

"I think we're too big and have too much going on" to have only one meeting a month in June, July and August, Trustee Bernie Fiedeldey said at Tuesday's meeting.

But, pointing toward the tradition of township form of government as a hands-off, low-bureaucracy style of government, trustees Keith Corman and Diana Rielage outvoted Fiedeldey, keeping the 2004 summer schedule the same - one meeting on the second Tuesday of each month. They also voted to have one meeting in December 2004 instead of the standard two meetings per month the rest of the year.

"You cannot have a township our size and only meet two times a month," Fiedeldey said later. "It's ludicrous. Maybe people go on vacations, but government doesn't go on vacation."

Trustee Diana Rielage disagreed, saying the township doesn't need so many meetings. "The staff needs a break, too," she said.

Council sets up fee for storm water fund

LEBANON - City Council established a storm water fee this week to meet a federal requirement to improve storm-water management.

Starting March 1, each residential customer will be charged a flat rate of $3.50 a month. Nonresidential properties will be charged a monthly fee based on the amount of impervious area on the property.

City Council also voted Tuesday to create a storm water utility fund within its operating budget.

'Survivor' auditions at Newport on Levee

NEWPORT - Local auditions for the Survivor reality show are Sunday at Newport on the Levee. In February, 850 people participated in taped auditions at the Levee, and many others were turned away.

Auditions for Survivor 9 will take place from 1 to 8 p.m. on the mezzanine level in the Gallery Building.

The Cincinnati area continues to be the No. 1 market for Survivor.

The Enquirer is looking for people planning to audition.

Call (513) 755-4153 or e-mail loakes@enquirer.com; leave name and daytime and evening phone numbers where you can be reached.

Plan to buy church, offices for road OK'd

LOVELAND - Council approved a plan Tuesday to buy a church and its offices to make way for intersection improvements at Second and Broadway streets in the city's historic downtown area.

City Manager Fred Enderle said the city is expected to close in late January on the $284,500 purchase of two buildings from True Holiness Covenant of Peace Assembly. The city also has promised the church an additional $15,000 in relocation fees.

City officials began talking to the church three years ago about the need to acquire the buildings to improve the dangerous and congested intersection in an area pegged for revitalization.

Pastor Pamela Smith said the church, which recently lost its last Loveland congregation member and draws from all over Hamilton County, is moving to Walnut Hills.