Environmental chief quits in Butler County

HAMILTON - Two weeks after reaching a water deal with Cincinnati, Butler County Environmental Services Director James "Tony" Parrott resigned for personal reasons.

"We've accomplished a lot of great things. It was time for me to pursue other opportunities," says Parrott, a 19-year county employee. He had supervised the department for nearly nine years.

Parrott, a Fairfield Township resident, negotiated a 20-year strategic alliance with Cincinnati Water Works last month to provide an alternative water source through a new 36-inch pipe to West Chester, Liberty, Fairfield and Lemon townships.

Most of the county's water comes from Hamilton through a 60-year-old 42-inch main, he said.

Parrott also reduced staffing by 25 percent through automation and took over installation of the New Miami sewer system from the village.

Sue Vance, technical services superintendent, will be appointed acting director, said Derek Conklin, county administrator.

Downtown district proposed for Mason

MASON - The Planning commission recommended Tuesday night that the city change its zoning code to establish a downtown preservation district.

The change is part of efforts to revitalize the older part of this Warren County city. The district includes properties along U.S. 42 from Second Avenue to Cowan Drive.

Council will hear public comments before voting June 14.

Radio Free Europe items given to museum

WEST CHESTER TWP. - Broadcasting equipment from a Cold War-era Radio Free Europe broadcast center in Germany has been donated to the Voice of America Museum on Tylersville Road.

Seven pallets arrived Wednesday from Stanford University's Hoover Institute, said Catherine Stoker, township trustee.

Museum officers want to recreate a 1950s Radio Free Europe studio at the Voice of America's old Bethany station, now the centerpiece of the township's 330-acre park.

The items will not be on display during the D-Day 60th anniversary guided tours 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the museum, 8070 Tylersville Road, east of Interstate 75.

Symmes schedules meeting on parks, Y

SYMMES TWP. - Residents can have a say on how trustees raise money to build a YMCA and maintain parks at a 7 p.m. meeting June 22, at the administration building.

Trustees will discuss and vote on options to place one or two levies on the November ballot. Officials have said 1.85 mills is needed for park maintenance and development and to join with Deerfield Township on construction of an $11 million satellite of the Ralph J. Stolle Countryside Y on Montgomery Road.

The township Finance Committee has recommended that a construction levy should not be linked to the general park levy.

Trustees were expected to vote on the measure Tuesday, but instead scheduled the special meeting because no residents attended this week's general session.