Greenhills launches home-building phase

GREENHILLS - The rebuilding phase of the village's $3.1 million redevelopment begins today with an 11 a.m. groundbreaking for 16 new homes on DeWitt Street.

The redevelopment could bring as many as 100 new homes to the 4,000-population village, according to officials.

The village, built as part of a federal greenbelt experiment in the 1930s, has bought 78 run-down housing units, remodeled some and torn down 32

The village invited developer Potterhill Homes to build homes where deteriorating apartments once stood. Potterhill says it plans to sell the houses for $190,000 to $290,000, beginning this fall.

Greenhills is preparing to put a 1-mill property tax levy proposal on the November ballot to continue its redevelopment, said Village Manager David Moore.

The levy would cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $35 more in taxes a year and generate about a million dollars annually for the village, according to officials.

Monfort Hts. to hold public traffic meeting

MONFORT HEIGHTS - The Ohio Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting tonight in Monfort Heights to discuss ramp meters, which control traffic flows onto and off of interstates from busy intersections by sensing gaps in traffic. The meters are being considered for use on eastbound Interstate 74 in Hamilton County. The meeting is scheduled for 4-7 p.m. at the Green Township Senior Center, 3620 Eply Lane. For more information, call Ron Mosby at 933-6511 or Liz Lyons at 933-6534.

Springfield Twp. expanding complex

SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP - Township trustees broke ground on a $3 million Service Department expansion on Tuesday.

The new complex, on about 15 acres at 950 Compton Road, should be completed by spring, township officials said.

The township plans to sell the 1-acre lot on Winton Road at the edge of Brentwood Plaza, where its firehouse and Service Department have been squeezed, to the plaza's redeveloper, according to officials.

Liberty Twp. delays administrator search

LIBERTY TWP. - Advertising for the township's first zoning supervisor has been delayed until new Administrator Dina Minneci can review the job description.

Trustees on Monday delayed starting the search until they could discuss the proposed duties with Minneci, the Wyoming city finance director who starts todayas administrator.

The township is expected to advertise the position next month, says Christine Matacic, trustee president and acting administrator since Barry Tiffany was fired in January.

Middletown weighs council applications

MIDDLETOWN - Candidates for the vacant Second Ward seat will be interviewed at a special City Council meeting at 5 p.m. today at the City Building.

Eight people want to fill the unexpired term of Robert "Sonny" Hill Jr., the council member and former mayor who died last month. They are Michael Bailey, Roberta Derrico, Helen Edwards, Rosa Lean Lindsey, John Soppanish, Greg Tyus, Linda Watson and David Williams.

Three who applied for the position - Richard Farnsworth, James Polley and James Surgenor - were ruled ineligible because they did not live in the Second Ward, said Betsy Parr, council clerk.