Blue Ash privatizes building inspections

BLUE ASH - Council approved a measure this week to replace city building inspectors with a private company.

Council voted unanimously Thursday to hire National Inspection Corp. of Dayton, Ohio, to provide building inspections - a move that City Manager Marvin Thompson said would save about $100,000 a year.

Four city inspectors, including two who were employed full-time, were laid off in the change. City officials said a decline in building activity made it more efficient to contract for the service.

Army's Brownlee tours plant in Fairfield

FAIRFIELD - Acting U.S. Army Secretary Les Brownlee toured a Fairfield plant Friday where 2,300 Humvees are being armor plated this year for soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Brownlee and Claude Bolton, Army assistant secretary for acquisition, spent two hours at O'Gara-Hess & Eisenhardt, 9113 Le Saint Drive. Earlier in the day, they visited the AM General Corp. in Mishawaka, Ind., where Army Humvees are manufactured.

Anderson gets grant to upgrade safety services

ANDERSON TOWNSHIP - The Anderson Township Fire and Rescue Department has received a $14,255 grant that will be used to upgrade emergency equipment and to provide EMS personnel training.

The grant is from the Ohio Department of Public Safety's Ohio EMS Grants Program.

Butler court records returning to Internet

HAMILTON - Information about Butler County Domestic Relations Court cases will be back on the clerk of courts Internet site now that software has been installed to block sensitive personal data such as Social Security numbers from appearing.

Last July 1, Domestic Relations Judges Leslie Spillane and Sharon Kennedy ordered all domestic relations cases removed from the Web site. They said it was necessary to protect the privacy of those involved.

Butler County Clerk of Courts Cindy Carpenter tried to fight the order, saying the public deserved Internet access to the court's public records. Recently, Carpenter's office installed software that removes sensitive data from records before they appear on the Internet.

The two judges on Friday issued an order permitting the index and docket sheets of all their court cases to be on the clerk of court's Web site.

Monroe interviews police chief candidates

MONROE - City officials held interviews this week to hire a new chief of police.

The position was left open when former Chief Ernest Howard retired from the department in January after 13 years.

Acting City Manager William Brock said the city interviewed 10 candidates. A decision is expected by the end of March.

Among the candidates are the police chiefs of Amelia, Glendale, North College Hill and Trenton.