By Brett Milam
Editor
The Milford city council met on April 2 to discuss a variety of matters.
– Bill Knepp, the town crier, was on hand to discuss his donation to the Milford Community Fire Department. The donation is a piece of life-saving equipment — a rescue strap — made in the honor of his wife, Nancy.
Mark Baird, fire chief, said the department was appreciative to have the equipment available to them.
The strap, known as a Rapid Extraction System, is a heavy-duty, multi-point strap system; it will be for victim rescue scenarios, making it easier for the victim and the firefighter to remove the victim from a dangerous situation, Baird said.
The department did a demonstration in front of council with a mannequin to show how the strap worked to save conscious or unconscious victims in a quick and safe manner.
The strap can be stored in the firefighter’s pocket.
In addition to fire rescue, the device could also be useful for active shooter situations, hose carries and EMS details with larger patients EMTs made need help lifting, Baird noted.
– Milford and Union Township have entered into another Joint Economic Development District (JEDD) agreement; it is the two governments’ sixth such agreement.
Michael Doss, city manager, explained that JEDDs are a way for a township, which can’t levy an income tax, to partner with municipalities who can, and then split that disbursement received from an economic development program.
Through the JEDD, Union Township would get 85 percent of the 1 percent income tax on the development, and Milford would get the remaining 15 percent.
“We’ve had a really good relationship with Union Township, quite frankly, with the revenue-sharing we’ve able to do with our 1 percent,” Doss said.
This latest JEDD concerns the former Glen Este High School campus at 4342 Glen Este-Withamsville Road in Union Township. There are several development projects ongoing with the property, including a senior assisted-living development.
– Amy Brewer, vice mayor, said in her public service committee report that the committee considered the possibility of utilizing golf carts to off-set parking issues in the city. Two proposals were presented: either the city operate the golf cart service or the city contracts with a service-provider.
It was estimated that for the city to provide the service, it would cost $36,000 a year. That would include the cost of the cart, two part-time employees and other expenses, Brewer said.
Brewer said Gest offered a one-year contract of $45,350.
In January, council considered Gest, the golf cart service company similar to Uber, but with golf carts, to transport people in and around the area they operate in. The company already operates in Downtown Cincinnati, Newport and Covington.
It’s a six-person cart, but with the driver, the cart can hold five people.
It’s a free service for riders, but the company would charge Milford the money to lease the cart, which includes insurance, the driver, gas and so on. The city would also provide storage for the cart.
Corporate sponsorships would supplement the costs.
At the time, council tabled the discussion because the company wouldn’t be available to start until April 1. Now that it’s come up again, the committee said it would be a good service to provide, but the contract isn’t in the budget.
– Joe Dills, from Union Township, was on hand to let council know he is running for John Becker’s House District 65 seat when Becker is term-limited in 2021. The representation includes the city of Milford. Dills is a local business owner and veteran.
– Milford’s spring litter clean up is on April 13 at 9 a.m. at the Milford Service Department, located at 850 Garfield Avenue.