Latest news with #MontgomeryCountyCommission
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Montgomery Whitewater honors late Commission Chairman Elton Dean with plaque
Blue umbrellas dotted the audience to defend against the sweltering sun. But despite the heat, a crowd of about 50 turned out in their Sunday best to celebrate late Montgomery County Commission Chairman Elton Dean at the sprawling Montgomery Whitewater development he helped drive. 'We're here to honor somebody who meant so much to this county but also so much to each of us individually," Alabama Commerce Secretary Ellen McNair told the crowd of about 50 people. Dean was a champion of west Montgomery and instrumental in advocating for the project. McNair heralded the work Dean did, much of which was behind the scenes and without recognition. Photos: Elton Dean through the years 'We miss you, Chairman Dean, but through this incredible park, we see your vision and move forward every day," McNair said. Brandon Dean spoke emotionally about his father and described him as his best friend. 'My dad was not into politics," Brandon Dean said. "He was into people." More: Montgomery County names new park for longtime leader Elton Dean Former Mayor Todd Strange said that Dean was a visionary. 'You could not help but want to do the great things that Elton wanted to do," Strange said. County Commission Chairman Doug Singleton said that he and Dean loved each other and urged the people of Montgomery County to honor his legacy by loving each other in the same way. Dean was elected to represent County Commission District 2 as a Democrat in 2000 and served as the commission's chairman for more than a decade. He died in 2022. Alex Gladden is the Montgomery Advertiser's education reporter. She can be reached at agladden@ or on Twitter @gladlyalex. This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Community celebrates Elton Dean's commitment to Montgomery Whitewater
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Montgomery County leader honored with regional steward award
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – The Montgomery County Commission President Judy Dodge received an award on Thursday. Dodge was honored with the Arthur D. Haddad Regional Steward Award from the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission (MVRPC). Nearly 300 people were in attendance at the Annual Spring Dinner at the University of Dayton Marriott on Thursday, April 24. The award celebrates leaders who have an innovative spirit, who build support toward shared ideas and who promote progress. 'Ms. Dodge is an active voice for vulnerable populations,' said Brian O. Martin, MVRPC Executive Director. 'Her commitment to Montgomery County and the region epitomizes hometown pride. We are so grateful to have her expertise and leadership on our Board of Directors for over 15 years.' Save a life: Donate blood at local drives this April Montgomery County Administrator Michael Colbert said it is an honor to work with Dodge. 'I've had the honor of working with Commissioner Dodge for the last 10 years in Montgomery County, and I was familiar with her advocacy and passion for this region for years before, when I was working with the state,' said Colbert. 'Her drive to understand the issues that affect our citizens and to improve our quality of life is truly inspiring.' Hershey isn't sure why Kisses are called 'Kisses' — but they have a theory Dodge said she was humbled to receive the award and proud of everything the MVRPC has accomplished. 'It is very humbling to receive this award from the MVRPC,' Commissioner Dodge said. 'Public service is its own reward, and I've been extremely fortunate to work with many partners who are passionate about improving our community, drawing new businesses to us, and addressing issues like hunger and housing. I'm so proud of what we've accomplished with the MVRPC and so grateful for this high honor.' Dodge serves on multiple boards and commissions, including the Food Equity Coalition; Family & Children First Council (FCFC); the Montgomery County Land Reutilization Corporation; MVRPC's Board of Directors and Executive Committee; and MVRPC's Institute for Livable and Equitable Communities. To learn more about the work the MVRPC does in the Miami Valley, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Should Ohio's county coroners be elected? Draft state budget says no
Apr. 17—Ohioans would no longer elect their county coroners if a provision passed by the Ohio House makes its way into state law. The county coroner is one of a handful of countywide political offices elected by the entire county, alongside the offices of county commissioner, sheriff, auditor, recorder, engineer, treasurer, prosecutor, clerk of court and county judges. But the Republican-led Ohio House folded a provision into its budget proposal that would turn all 88 Ohio county coroners offices into offices appointed by county commissioners. Appointed coroners, like elected coroners today, would still serve four-year terms under the proposal. Duly elected coroners would be allowed serve out the remainder of their terms. Ohio House Finance Chair Rep. Brian Stewart, R-Ashville, told reporters that the change was off the back of "years and years" of debate. Stewart said the provision would help solve a scarcity issue counties are frequently running into. "It's really hard to find folks that want to serve as a coroner at all, it's even harder to find folks who are willing to be the coroner and want to run a political campaign to do so," he said. The result, Stewart said, is that Ohio lawmakers have had to step in to allow specific counties to appoint their coroners. "We think it's just time to get away from the entire process," said Stewart, a former Pickaway County commissioner. "I don't think there's a Democrat and a Republican way to sign a death certificate. I think it's time to just simplify matters (and) let the county commissioners retain a coroner the same way they retain a dozen other officials to do a very specialized job." Coroners react Montgomery County Coroner Kent Harshbarger told this outlet that the House's proposal wouldn't solve any problems. "We'd love to improve the system if there's ways to improve it," Harshbarger said. "This saves no money; it changes nothing. It doesn't improve any system, but it gives all the power to three people — the coroner's not accountable to anyone other than those three people." Harshbarger, a Republican who has long run unopposed in the county, won another four-year term last year that will take him through 2028. If the House's provision had been law of the land last year, Harshbarger's political fate would have been decided by the three Democrats who manned the Montgomery County Commission at the time. A joint statement from the county coroners of Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, Highland and Warren counties decried that the proposal wasn't brought to county coroners before being added to the bill. The statement called it "unprofessional and reckless." "The office of the County Coroner — a position elected by the people — serves as a vital check against institutional overreach by ensuring that cause and manner of death determinations and forensic investigations are conducted impartially and without undue influence," the statement reads. "Eliminating this role removes a layer of democratic oversight and risks consolidating investigative power in less accountable, potentially politicized hands." The county coroner's job Harshbarger raised general concerns about commissioners' considerations when appointing a coroner, given that commissioners are tasked with setting the county government's budget. "Right now, I sit at the same table with everyone else who's elected by the same people and demands my operational piece of the pie," Harshbarger said. "That goes away when (coroners) become appointed." In Ohio, coroners must at minimum be licensed physicians with two years experience and have good standing. As far as political legwork goes, candidates must obtain 50 verified signatures from independent or politically aligned county voters in order to participate in a primary — any further campaigning is optional. Harshbarger explained that the pay of county coroners doesn't provide incentive to get active physicians to leave the private sector. As such, the county coroner role generally attracts retiring doctors. Recent changes in the state's health benefits, combined with the fact that coroners must be on call 24/7, leads to the job being unattractive for many. Of the state's 88 coroner offices, 10 are currently filled through non-electoral means: either through appointment or through contracting out coroner work to other counties. Harshbarger, for example, also serves as the appointed Morrow County coroner. Stewart told this outlet in a text that he has no intention of changing any other countywide elected office to an appointed office. There is a well-documented shortage of forensic pathologists qualified to do a coroner's job. In fact, several local elected county coroners have full-time jobs in other counties where they can make more money than the law allots for the elected position. — Montgomery Count Coroner Harshbarger is chief deputy coroner for the Franklin County Coroner's Office. — Clark County Coroner Susan Brown is a forensic pathologist at the Montgomery County Coroner's Office. — Warren County Coroner Russell Uptegrove is deputy coroner at the Hamilton County Coroner's Office. There has so far been no public testimony heard on the House's coroner provision. It was folded into the budget proposal alongside more than a hundred other amendments and voted out of committee that same day before the bill was approved by the House the next day. The provision is expected to draw debate once the Ohio Senate begins vetting the budget proposal later this month. ------ For more stories like this, sign up for our Ohio Politics newsletter. It's free, curated, and delivered straight to your inbox every Thursday evening. Avery Kreemer can be reached at 614-981-1422, on X, via email, or you can drop him a comment/tip with the survey below.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Local sewer systems face strain from grease
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – Sewer systems in Montgomery County face strain during Lent. Many people do not eat 'meat' on Fridays during Lent and instead enjoy traditional fish fries. This causes an increased use of oils and fat. Where to find Lent fish fry events in the Miami Valley Households and restaurants who don't dispose of grease properly strain the county's sewer system. 'When grease enters the sewer system, it can solidify and block pipes, leading to costly clogs, backups and potential system failures,' said Judy Dodge, president of the Montgomery County Commission. 'These blockages not only increase the risk of backups in homes but also place an immense burden on the county's sewer infrastructure and water reclamation facilities.' Local university to host Lent art gallery Grease leads to slower filtration, more energy consumed, equipment malfunctions and a reduction of the overall effectiveness of the treatment process. Montgomery County Environmental Services said it is crucial both people and businesses properly dispose of grease during Lent. The proper steps are as follows: Let grease cool after cooking. Put the cooled grease into a non-recyclable container. (Milk cartons, coffee cans or jars work great!) Throw away the container once it is full of grease. Never pour grease down a drain, sink or toilet. These steps protect the water and environment, as well as the sewer system. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
