Mason MattersMason MattersFebruary / March 2014

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This past fall, Mason voters returned four City Council members to

their seats to serve another 4-year term. Members Rich Cox, David F. Nichols, Char Pelfrey, and Don Prince were sworn in to their new term on December 1, 2013, and will serve through November 30, 2017.

Three or four Council members are elected at-large in odd-numbered years. The city’s charter calls for an organizational meeting on the first day of December in odd-numbered years. At that meeting, a mayor and vice mayor are selected by the Council members from among their members. In addition to his duties as Council member, the mayor presides over Council meetings, acts as the ceremonial head of the city, and administers oaths. The vice mayor assumes these duties in the absence of the mayor.

David F. Nichols was selected as Mayor on December 1 and Victor Kidd was named Vice Mayor. Both Mayor Nichols and Vice Mayor Kidd held the same positions for the past two years.

Council Members ReturnTour Mason Community Center

from Anywhere

Inside This Issue:2 City Manager: 2014 Budget3 Business News4 Rate Adjustments4 Tax Changes4 New Recyclables7 Golf Outings7 What to Do until Help Arrives8 Bethany Road Roundabout

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8.20.2013

Mason 7th Best / Gold Oval

Top: Your 2013-2015 Council: Members Tom Grossmann, Don Prince, and Char Pelfrey, Mayor David F. Nichols, Vice Mayor Victor Kidd, and Members Barbara Berry-Spaeth and Rich CoxBottom: Mayor David F. Nichols is sworn in by City Law Director Jeff Forbes

Now you can take a tour of Mason Community Center from almost

anywhere!Using the “See Inside” feature of Google

map searches, you can take a tour of the entire center using any Internet-connected computer or smart phone.

Last November, panoramic shots were taken at over 100 locations in the center and uploaded to the Google site. When you do a google search for “Mason Community Center,” you can click on the photo of the center and “See Inside” the building. By using the navigation arrows and viewing circle, you can explore the entire center, similar to the way you explore street views on Google. You can rotate your view in a complete circle, “walk” down the hall, and enter, look around, and leave rooms.

The tour is also available at www.imaginemason.org. There, you can start at the main door or start at specific locations, such as the pool or fitness area.

New to the area and wondering what the center is like? Take a tour! Wondering if the fitness center has enough treadmills? Take a look. Thinking about dropping your child off at Kids Korner? Show your child what it looks like.

If you are wondering about the new spa services, view the relaxing atmosphere ahead of time. Rather than trying to describe the water features in the leisure pool to some friends, pull out your smart phone and show them! If you are hoping to get a month’s free membership when your friend joins, give them a visual tour while you describe the center.

If you've never been to the center, take a tour and see what you're missing.

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We appreciate your calls, visits and e-mails to Mason Municipal Center to discuss what is going on in the city. I encourage you to call 513.229.8500 or stop in any time during business hours if you need information or assistance.

Dear Mason Resident,Toward the end of each year, Mason City Council sets a budget for the following year. Staff works closely

with the various committees of Council, and ultimately, the Finance Committee of Council, during this process. Recommendations are then made to the full Council concerning equipment and vehicle purchases, employee compensation, projects for the next year, operating expectations, and more. The resulting budget is rigid enough to serve as a guide for city staff yet flexible enough that Council can make adjustments as the city’s priorities change.

This past December, City Council approved a balanced 2014 budget that includes a bike path on Nixon Park Drive, replacing the roof at the outdoor pool, improvements to baseball fields, replacement of the Hanover Drive bridge, mobile computers for police and fire vehicles, drainage improvements in Mason Heights, and full funding for annual programs such as street resurfacing, sidewalks, and the street tree program.

I am particularly proud of the efforts of city staff to control costs and optimize existing resources. Six years ago, we began a concerted effort throughout the organization to increase cooperation, coordination, communication, and cost saving efforts. These efforts, combined with several years of an effective hiring freeze, were significant to the city’s ability to balance the budget during a difficult economic period. While some positions have been strategically filled to reduce further declines in services, several vacant positions were not budgeted in 2014. The 2014 budget anticipates continued careful evaluation of service needs before existing vacant positions are filled.

The 2014 plan does include exploring the creation of a new position to add flexibility for assigning multi-skilled staff members to those service areas most in need on a seasonal, weekly, or even daily basis. This is a capitalization of the lessons learned over the last several years by consolidating positions, retitling some positions, outsourcing and shifting employees to higher pay-off areas, and relying on cross-disciplinary teams to accommodate short-term surges in workload or special projects/initiatives.

Some equipment replacement is anticipated during 2014, including five police cruisers, a street sweeper, and fire vehicles. The city’s history of aggressive capital investment, inflationary costs, aging fleet, and demand for commodities such as salt and fuel have increased and will continue to place pressure on operating expenses. Many of the cost reductions made the last several years are no longer sustainable without incurring unacceptable exposures in service levels. The 2014 budget prepares for some of these impacts by establishing small contingency amounts that can be used in emergency situations or, if unused, reserved for capital purchases in future years.

Despite current economic conditions, and notwithstanding concerns with service level expectations, I am confident the 2014 budget represents a fiscally prudent approach to the city’s finances. Coupled with a workforce committed to cost savings, efficiency, and sound investment in growing businesses, I look forward to another successful year for the City of Mason.

For further information about the city’s finances, please visit www.imaginemason.org/city-government/financial-accountibility.cfm.

From the City Manager

Eric Hansen City Manager

Pay Your Water Bill at Mason Municipal Center

Each month, GCWW sends you a utility bill that covers water, sewer, stormwater, and trash collection fees.

Bills can be paid at Mason Municipal Center via cash or check. For information on other payment options, please visit www.cincinnati-oh.gov/gcww.

Mason Municipal Center is located at 6000 Mason-Montgomery Road, near Mason High School. It is the building closest to Mason-Montgomery Road and can be accessed by turning east onto Foxfield Drive or Lakeside Drive. You can enter the parking lot from Lakeside Drive. The main entrance of the building is adjacent to the parking lot. The Customer Service Counter is on the first floor on the left side, opposite the elevators. The building is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Main Number 513.229.8500

City Hotlines513.229.8502

Administration513.229.8510

Community Center513.229.8555

Emergency9.1.1

Engineering & Building513.229.8520

Finance513.229.8530

Fire Department Administration513.229.8540

City Of Mason - Contact Information6000 Mason-Montgomery Road • Mason, Ohio 45040

Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday513.229.8500 • www.imaginemason.org

Parks & Recreation513.229.8555

Police Department Administration513.229.8560

Public Utilities513.229.8570

Public Works513.229.8580

Tax Office513.229.8535

Utility Customer Service

513.229.8533

Utility Billing Questions Greater Cincinnati

Water Works513.591.7700

Utility Service Questions:

Sewer Service and Emergencies

513.229.8570nights, holidays & weekends,

emergencies only513.925.2525

Stormwater513.229.8570

Waste Collection and Recycling513.229.8533

Water Serviceand Emergencies Greater Cincinnati

Water Works513.591.7700

Mason Matters is published by the City of Mason. For information about this publication, or if you are a Mason resident and do not receive this newsletter, either through OurTown magazine or mailed separately with the CenterPoint

program guide, please contact the City of Mason at 513.229.8510.

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Several Mason companies were showcased as growth companies at the Cincy Tech

annual meeting last fall. Connxus, Assurex, and Cloud TakeOff were featured. The event provided networking opportunities for hundreds of local tech entrepreneurs, investors, and other members of Cincinnati’s vibrant startup community.

In early winter, Mason partnered with the European American Chamber of Commerce (EACC) and the Chicago International Trade Commissioner Association (CITCA) on a panel discussion on the significance of life science and collaboration in the region. A tour of the Mason Tech Center was included.

The program is an evolution of an EACC and Regional Economic Development Partners Trade Mission this past spring. Four key industries were highlighted at that event to show the strengths of the CincinnatiUSA region. Trade Commissioners play an active and important role in the city’s international business attraction strategy as they communicate to their countries the vibrant global life science, innovation, and commercialization network infrastructure in Mason and the Midwest.

Congratulations to Mason-headquartered Cintas. The company’s uniform rental facility in Corpus Christi, Texas, received Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star certification from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The VPP Star Certification is OSHA’s highest recognition for the practice of and commitment to exemplary occupational safety and health. The Cintas uniform rental facility in Corpus Christi is the twenty-first facility

Mason Companies Spotlightedcompanywide to receive the Star designation.

Last October, Mitsubishi Electric Automotive America announced that it plans to invest approximately $70 million in its Mason and Maysville plants. The investment in equipment and assembly lines will strengthen Mitsubishi Electric’s capabilities to produce high efficiency alternators and electric power steering products to meet its customers’ production and fuel efficiency needs. The company is developing compact, lightweight, efficient, and high-power products that are expected to improve vehicle fuel efficiency worldwide.

Congratulations to Assurex Health. The company, headquartered in offices at Mason Community Center, opened its first international location in Canada. In partnership with the Toronto-based Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, one of the world’s leading research centers in the areas of addiction and mental health, Assurex Health will expand the use of GeneSight®, a personalized medicine technology that analyzes a patient’s DNA to provide guidance on treatment options for patients with mental illnesses.

Congratulations to Security National Automotive Acceptance Corp, which received the Cincinnati Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award for 2013. The Torch Award recognizes businesses that have made a commitment to and exemplify ethics and integrity in the marketplace. The Cincinnati award recognizes businesses in its 20-county service area. Businesses are nominated from the community and judging is done by an independent, blue-ribbon panel of community leaders and professionals.

The City of Mason is committed to open government. It is our policy to adhere

to and uphold Ohio laws regarding public records.

A public record is any document, device, or item, regardless of physical form or characteristic, including an electronic record as defined in Ohio Revised Code 1306.01, that is created or received by or coming under the jurisdiction of the city, which serves to document the organization, functions, policies, decisions, procedures, operations, or other activities of the office.

If you would like to request public records from the city, you can call the city at 513.229.8500 and ask to be connected to the department that holds the records you need. You can also make the request in person at Mason Municipal Center. The center is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. You may also send a written request along with a self-addressed envelope to the City of Mason at 6000 Mason-Montgomery

City is Committed to Open Records

New Streambank Erosion Control Kit

AvailableThe City of Mason is testing a new

program that provides residents with an erosion control kit that includes live tree stakes and the tools to plant them along stream banks in the city.

If you live along one of the many streams in Mason, you may borrow one of four erosion control kits from October thru April. They will be available on a project specific, first come, first serve basis, at no cost to you. A kit may be signed out for two weeks and includes live stakes from different varieties of willow and dogwood trees that are native to the Ohio Valley. You simply place them two to four feet apart at the water’s edge and drive the stake into the ground.

If you are an individual, family, or group looking for a public service project, the city’s stormwater engineer will be happy to work with you to identify suitable locations for planting. To reserve a kit or get more information about the program or stream erosion, please contact the Mason Public Utilities Department at 513.229.8570.

Road, Mason OH 45040. You do not have to identify yourself or the reason you are requesting the record, but we do ask that you identify the specific record you need. If your request is too broad, you may legally be asked to narrow the scope of your request. If you are unsure, our staff can help you determine which records will meet your needs.

Certain records or information, such as social security numbers, are exempt from the definition of a public record. We will provide an explanation of any redacted or withheld information pursuant to Ohio Revised Code 14.43.

There is no charge for copies of records that are 20 pages or less. If the record is more than 20 pages, the cost is $.05 per page. The Ohio Revised Code specifies that the city may charge only the actual cost of duplicating the records. Records on other media are charged appropriately.

The city is committed to prompt inspection of public records. Copies of records will be

provided in a reasonable time. There is no set time limit for responding to a request. Instead, the appropriate time frame is determined based on the circumstances in each case and allowing for factors such as retrieval from the archives, the volume of the records requested, and legal review, if necessary.

For more information about public records, please download the 2013 Sunshine Laws Manual, commonly called the “Yellow Book,” at www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/YellowBook.

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Annual Rate Adjustments

Tax Form Changed for 2013

Cardboard Food Cartons Now Recyclable

City ordinance provides for an annual cost of living adjustment of the rates

charged for services, permits, and other items provided by the city. As a result, some permit and application fees, mostly having to do with construction, were adjusted slightly as of January 1, 2014.

At Mason Community Center, the new rate structure implemented in 2010, increased membership, and improved program offerings have improved the financial outlook of the center. As a result, membership rates were not changed this January.

A few changes have been made to the 2013 tax form that you will be interested in as

you file your 2013 city tax return.For tax year 2013, the income tax rate was

adjusted to 1.12%. Residents who own or have an equity interest in the residence in which they live and pay real estate taxes can receive a credit of .12% percent. The credit applies to the qualifying resident’s dependents as well.

Residents who work outside the city and pay income taxes to the city where they work can continue to take up to a 1% credit on their Mason taxes. Mason residents who do not pay real estate taxes can take an additional .12% credit if they paid 1.12% or more in taxes to the other city.

The 2013 tax form has been adjusted to provide for these changes, which were made in response to a charter amendment approved by voters in 2012. The amendment created a safety services income tax that can be

Utility rates for 2014 are established differently. In 2011, City Council approved a fee schedule that included a 4.5% annual increase in the sewer fee through 2016 and a 5.5% annual increase in the stormwater fee through 2016. The change in sewer rates will gradually bring the city into compliance with the legal debt coverage ratio by 2016. The stormwater utility changes in 2011 were the first increase since the stormwater utility was created in 2001 and help fund the large number of stormwater projects in the city as well as EPA-mandated programs.

adjusted annually and cannot exceed .15%. For 2013, the rate was set at .12%, making a combined income tax rate of 1.12%. The rate is unchanged for 2014.Tax Forms Mailed in January

In January, you should have received, either by mail or e-mail, a tax notice that included your account number and instructions for filing your return electronically at www.imaginemason.org/services/tax-information.cfm. You may use the online tax tool, the online EZ tax form, or your tax preparer’s generic form to complete your return. If you wish to use a printed form, blank forms are available online, at Mason Municipal Center, Mason Community Center, and Mason Public Library.Online Tax Tool with E-filing

Beginning February 15, 2014, you can enter all your income information into the tax tool and it will calculate the correct tax due. Most taxpayers will also be able to e-file. The

2. Remove caps or straws.3. Toss the carton in the recycling

container with other acceptable items.To learn more about Rumpke’s recycling

process and about items you can recycle, please visit www.Rumpke.com.

Trash collection rates did not change. Water is provided to Mason customers by

Greater Cincinnati Water Works, whose rates are set by Cincinnati City Council. A 5.5% increase was approved for 2014, or about 5 cents a day if you use about 9 hundred cubic feet (ccf) of water a month.

These utility fee changes are reflected in your January utility bill from Greater Cincinnati Water Works. If you have questions about your bill, please contact them at 513.591.7700.

online tool also gives you the opportunity to view the total of all payments applied to your account that were received before February 1. EZ Tax Form with E-filing

The EZ tax form, found online, is for those who have W-2 income only. It is a fillable PDF and does not perform any calculations. A link to attach your W-2s is provided so you can submit the form online. 2013 Tax Return Deadline

2013 tax returns and extension requests must be postmarked or dropped off at Mason Municipal Center on or before Tuesday, April 15, 2014. Help from the Tax Office

The tax office will gladly prepare your City of Mason income tax return free of charge. To take advantage of this service, please bring all 2013 tax documents to the Customer Service Counter at Mason Municipal Center between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Now you can recycle more!Rumpke, the city’s waste hauler, now

accepts carton containers like juice, milk, soy milk, soup, broth, egg substitute, and wine cartons. These items can be placed in your Rumpke recycling bin along with your other

recyclables.Rumpke, an Ohio recycling leader,

continues to invest heavily in recycling programs to ensure residents can recycle the most amount of material possible. Jeff Rumpke, Vice President of Rumpke, said that manufacturers are complementing the company’s efforts with new ways to recycle more materials.

To ensure your cartons are recycled, please follow these easy steps:

1. Empty the container. Containers still containing liquid will not be recycled.

Mason Recycles!The following items can be placed together in your recycling bin:•  Empty cardboard food cartons (please

remove straws and caps)•  Plastic bottles and jugs (please flatten

and reattach the lid)•  Glass bottles and jars (any color)•  Aluminum and steel cans•  Empty aerosol cans (with lids and tips

removed)•  Paperboard (cereal boxes, 12-pack

containers, etc.)

•  Cardboard (broken down to 3-foot by 3-foot sections)

•  A variety of paper products, including:- Office paper- Newspaper- Magazines- Junk mail and envelopes (with or

without windows)- Telephone books- Paper grocery bags

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Street Lights Upgraded in Baymeadows

Planning Continues for New City Maintenance Center

Late last year, the city began replacing aging streetlights on Lind Place and almost

all of Baymeadows Drive. One light on Shay Lane was also replaced.

The lights being replaced were installed in the 1970s and were almost 40 years old. The new lights match the streetlights on Tylersville and Mason-Montgomery Roads. Because they are more energy efficient, operating costs will be lower.

To install the lights, a directional boring machine was used to place underground conduit for new wiring (photo 1). This method eliminates the extensive landscape restoration work that open digging would have required.

Once the boring machine bores to the location where the new street light will be installed, 1½” conduit is attached and the boring machine pulls it back through the bore (photo 2). About two feet of conduit is left above the ground. This leaves enough for the electrical contractor to attach to an electrical

Employees from all city departments have been collaborating on the plans for the

city’s new maintenance center, which will house the Public Works Department and the Parks Maintenance staff.

In 2013, Mason City Council purchased the vacant building just north of the railroad tracks on State Route 741. Late last fall, Council authorized a contract with KZF Design’s Commercial & Industrial Group to define the criteria that must be met as the building is upgraded from a warehouse to a full-functioning garage, vehicle repair shop, storage facility, and office space.

Beginning with Mason Municipal Center, which was completed in 2002, the city has found great success in collaborating among departments to help with planning everything from what is needed in the new building through what to do with the old one. This collaboration continues with the new maintenance center.

Nine interdepartmental committees have been created:•  Core Committee - oversees the total project

and interfaces with each of the individual committees to keep everything on track in terms of objectives, budget, and timeline

•  Design and Interior Layout – provides program information and review on the equipment, storage, and operations that are to go into the new facility, and how much space they will take

•  Landscaping – ensures conformance with the city’s Zoning, Landscape, and Sign Ordinances; plans and oversees efficient use of the exterior property, such as

box for the new light. In photo 3, a large auger is being used to

screw the galvanized steel base into the ground. A new 14-foot black ornamental pole with

a single lamp was mounted on top of each base (photo 4). Connections to the conduit were made inside an electrical box sunk into the ground over the end of the conduit.

The $65,000 project was funded through earnings tax dollars. The street light replacement is part of a multi-year project that will be completed as budgeting allows.

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parking, outdoor storage, and landscaping•  Moving, Care & Upkeep – plans a move

to the new location that will allow day-to-day operations to be maintained; develops a plan for the care and upkeep of the new facility and grounds

•  Building & Grounds Security - provides input into the planning, design, and construction of the new building complex so as to ensure a safe and secure environment for all employees and equipment

•  Equipment & Furniture - creates an attractive, professional, and work-friendly environment that maximizes existing and new equipment

•  Old Building and Grounds – determines possible uses of the old building and grounds; determines what equipment, materials, records, etc. can be moved, disposed of, and/or retained according to need and the city’s records retention policies

•  Technology - provides input to the design

Employees from all city departments are involved in converting this building into a maintenance center for Public Works and Parks Maintenance.

and construction to insure that when completed, the new facility can support the latest in technology, today and in the future

•  Public Relations & Special Events – provides information to residents about the project and its benefits; plans a public open house once the facility opens.The committees and KZF expected

to complete the development of the design criteria by early January. This document defines what is needed in the building, such as electrical capacity, heating requirements, storage needs, water requirements, number of vehicle stations, number of vehicle maintenance bays, required equipment specifications, and more. Design-build proposals for meeting the design requirements and constructing the improvements will be considered in late winter. Construction is expected to begin in early spring and end late next fall.

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Meadows Park Gets New Swings

Manta Rays Host Fall InvitationalTeam Looks Forward to Ohio Regional Swim Championships

More than 2,000 family, friends, and fans packed the Mason Community Center

Natatorium on a mid-November weekend for the tenth annual Mason Fall Invitational.

“The numbers this year were absolutely astounding,” said Mason Manta Ray Head Coach Ken Heis. “We had 750 swimmers representing ten teams from across the region and had to turn away around 200 swimmers to keep the meet on a reasonable timeline.”

To make a meet like this flow smoothly, three lead volunteers, Valerie Rivir Saurine, Joe Waller, and Rich Decker, recruited over 200 more parent volunteers who donated thousands of hours. A few grandparents, aunts, and uncles helped as well.

The Mason Fall Invitational was won by the Mason Manta Rays with the Mercy HealthPlex Sea Wolves placing second. Other teams competing this year included the Springfield YMCA, Countryside YMCA Torpedoes, Hydra Swimming, Kingfish Aquatic Club, Licking County YMCA, Miami University Aquatic Club, and Milford Area Swim Team.

The most important numbers to the coaches are counted in best times.

“Our swimmers had 1219 lifetime best swims,” Head Age Group Coach Todd Billhimer said. That means everyone from Mason’s 6-year-old Taylor Bacher (the youngest Mason swimmer) to 18-year-old Alisabeth Marsteller (the oldest) went faster in events ranging from the 25-yard freestyle to the 500-yard freestyle.

“Personal improvement is a rewarding measure of success for our swimmers,” said Billhimer. “They all come out smiling when they drop time.”

For those who have never witnessed a swim meet, it can be quite a sight to behold. It’s warm, humid, loud, and full of wet bodies

scurrying in and out of the swimming pool as they ready for their events.

“Our meet has grown in popularity because we have one of the best natatoriums in the region,” said Chrissy Avery, Mason Community Center’s Program Manager. The competition pool is bright and clean, and features seating for 700 fans. The adjacent commons area in the high school offers a place where the swimmers and their family members can spread out and relax between events. Visiting Mercy HealthPlex coach Aaron Dorfman says he loves coming to this meet. “The Manta Rays always run a fun meet and the pool is extremely fast!” stated Dorfman.

The success of the team, combined with the excellent facilities, has led USA Swimming

officials to accept Mason’s bid as the host for the Ohio Regional Championships in February 2014. This will be the tenth year in a row for Mason to host the meet.

“A contributing factor to the meet’s success is the reception the participants get from the community,” said Heis. “Thanks to all the parents, residents, and local businesses who help welcome the swimmers and their families to Mason and to Mason Community Center.”

Swim meets are of great benefit to the community center, says City Manager Eric Hansen. “Not only do they introduce the center to more people who may choose to return, they also bring a significant amount of revenue that helps sustain the center for use by our members,” he said.

Mason Manta Ray swimmers show their spirit before the start of the Fall Invitational swim meet.

A new set of swings has replaced the old wooden play structure at Meadows Park

in Mason.The old structure, built in 1995, was

reaching the end of its life cycle and was located in a flood plain. The new structure was installed last October in a new location that is easier to access and is outside of the flood plain. It has two bucket swings, one belt swing, and one molded seat swing that provides greater support and safety.

Meadows Park, which opened in 1954, was the city’s first park. The 5-acre green space at 643 Lindemann Lane also includes a parking area and basketball courts. The public is welcome during daylight hours.

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Planning an Event?Host your next golf outing at the city-

owned Golf Center at Kings Island and enjoy the rewards!

While we can’t control the weather, we can manage the condition of the course, the degree of difficulty, and the pace of play. You can enjoy the day and leave the rules, contests, prizes, and menus to the professional staff at The Golf Center.

Outings of all types are available for groups from 20 to 144, including nine-hole morning and 18-hole morning and afternoon shotgun starts. Your golf outing package includes:•  Play on the 18-hole championship Grizzly

course•  Carts for everyone•  Locker facilities at no extra charge•  Your choice of day of the week•  PGA professionals to arrange contests and

scoring•  Course signs installed and removed for you•  Over three dozen menu choices for your

banquet

The Golf Center at Kings Island is just one mile off I-71 and convenient for your guests. Free rounds of golf will be awarded to your outing based on your level of spending. Dates may be reserved up to a year in advance.

The banquet facilities at The Golf Center at Kings Island are also an ideal location for weddings, showers, parties, and meetings. Learn more by contacting the Group Sales Department at 513.398.5200.

What Do You Do Until Help Arrives?

Firefighters Honor Students

What do you do after you’ve called for help in an emergency? This is possibly one

of the scariest times facing anyone who has already called 9-1-1 for help. Apprehension and dread are common, and it seems the sirens are not approaching quickly enough. Seconds feel like minutes and minutes feel like hours.

Mason Fire Department has developed a program called “What to Do until Help Arrives” to introduce you to the realities of an emergency and let you know what you can do to prevent it from becoming worse. The department has collaborated with Mason Community Center to offer more opportunities for Mason residents, community center members, and their guests to attend.

The program begins by teaching you the importance of a prompt and thorough call

The City of Mason Fire Department celebrated the fourth grade students

of Mason Intermediate School art teacher Maggie Moschell with a pizza party late last year. The students participated in the annual State of Ohio Safety Poster contest representing Fire Prevention Week 2013.

The theme for the contest was “Prevent Kitchen Fires.” Since most house fires begin in the kitchen from unattended cooking, the fourth grade students studied and discussed kitchen safety and then designed their posters with hand-drawn pictures and words to communicate an important kitchen safety message.

Mason firefighters then had the challenge

to 9-1-1. It discusses the hows and whys of making that life- or property-saving call for help and stresses the critical importance of time in this equation. You’ll learn how to recognize common medical and traumatic incidents and how to perform initial treatment for the types of incidents anyone could be faced with at their home, at work, or while out and about.

Mason Fire Department will present the class at Mason Community Center. The program can also be presented privately to your homeowners’ association, club, church group, or business meeting by contacting the Mason Fire Department to schedule a time and date. It can be done in one 3-hour session or three shorter sessions.

Register for classes online or by calling Mason Community Center at 513.229.8555.

Please see the listing in the CenterPoint program guide for dates and times. To schedule a private class, please call Mason Fire Department Administration at 513.229.8540. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. A certificate of successful completion will be presented to all participants who finish the course.

of choosing the top twelve safety posters. At the pizza party, Deputy Chief Joe Hoying announced that Emma Wang and Neel Shettigar were tied with an equal number of votes and both were declared the local overall winners of the contest. Their posters were sent to the State Fire Marshall’s office in Columbus for the state competition.

The final 12 state winners will be announced in May 2014. Their posters will be used in a calendar that is available to the public and posted on the State Fire Marshall’s website. In the 12 years that Mason Intermediate School students have participated in the statewide contest, Ms. Moschell’s students have won the contest five times.

Mason firefighters and the local winners of the safety poster contest show off the winning posters. Front row, from left: Jenna Skidmore, Grant Kopfler, Nicholas Wolfe, Maleah Kaneshiro, Firefighter Michael Breen. Back row: FF Jeffrey Walton, Deputy Chief Joe Hoying, Emma Wang (state contest), Neel Shettigar (state contest), FF Doug Woollard, Brooke Paciolla, FF Luke Burkhart, Isabella Manning, Lt. Bill Blades, Kalli Wall, 4th grade Mason art teacher Maggie Moschell holding the poster by Claire Patton, Sophia Hudepohl, Gayatri Rajan, Lisa Zhou, and FF Philip Berner.

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Students Find Mason’s Water Makes the Grade

Thanks for your Donations

The City of Mason last year began an innovative partnership with Hach, a company that manufactures water analysis equipment, to teach seventh grade

students at Mason Middle School about water quality.MMS science department chairs Jill Arminio and Marty Fish reached out to the

city last summer in search of ideas for designing real-world problems that students could help solve. The result has been a very successful collaboration to test water from Mason’s creeks, lakes, ponds, and streams.

“We could never have dreamed how impactful this partnership would become, and can’t thank the city enough. The Public Utilities Department worked with Hach on our behalf and the company gave us over $10,000 worth of high-end analysis equipment as well as chemicals!” said Arminio.

Water Reclamation Plant Operators Bob Beyer and Josh Creech taught Arminio and Fish how to use the equipment. They also provided aerial maps of Mason made specifically for the classes so that students could track which water sources they tested.

The students took water samples from their neighborhoods and tested the alkalinity of the samples. Alkalinity is a measure of the capacity of water to neutralize acids. The students learned that measuring alkalinity is important in determining a water source’s ability to neutralize acidic pollution from rainfall or wastewater. It’s one of the best measures of the sensitivity of the stream to acid inputs.

In Mason, the class tested Muddy Creek behind Marival Drive, Davis Run near Cocinda Lane, retention ponds on Maxwell Drive and Sunset Ridge Drive, and Muddy Creek at Tradewind Drive.

“Thanks to the new equipment, we found that Mason’s water all meets the US EPA’s standards, and it doesn’t seem like we have acid rain,” said Nihal Ahmed, MMS seventh grader.

Mason’s science curriculum emphasizes problem-based learning, where students experience problems that challenge them and give them an opportunity to investigate, in depth, what they need to know and want to know about a real-world problem.

“Water is one of the city’s most valuable resources. We were excited about the opportunity to collaborate with the school on this project. It is a wonderful opportunity to teach students the importance of water in their own community and to gather quality data about the city’s local ponds and streams,” said Assistant Public Utilities Director and Stormwater Engineer, Kathleen Wade-Dorman.

Mason Middle School 7th graders Lizzy Fontanill and Elyse Coyner test the alkalinity of the water in Sunset Ridge Pond.

Jerry Behymer of Joe Barr American Legion Post 194 presented a $500 check to Gina Brown, Director of Mason Food Pantry (left), and Pattie Connor, organizer of the city’s Hope for the Holidays program. The donation helped serve families in the Mason City School District who were in need of a little extra help during the holiday season.

Mason Middle School science teacher Marty Fish and seventh graders Nihal Ahmed and Daniel Johnson test the alkalinity of a local water source using Hach equipment.

City of Mason employees would like to thank all the members of the community who donated food and gifts to help those in their own

community this past holiday season. For the sixteenth year, city employees sponsored the annual Hope for the Holidays program. Employees partnered with the Mason Food Pantry and the community to provide food and gifts to families in need. Twenty-five families were served, including 74 children ranging in age from infants to high school students.

The Mason Food Pantry provides basic food and health care items on a temporary basis to those in need. Located at 406 Fourth Avenue in Mason

across from the Mason Thrift Store, the pantry accepts monetary donations as well as canned goods, non-perishable foods, and personal hygiene and health care items. Donations are welcome any time of year. For information, call 513.754.0333, extension 1, or visit www.masonfoodpantry.org.

Roundabout Work on Winter HoldWork on the Bethany Road roundabout has slowed for the

winter. If the weather allows, crews may restore some driveways and place some of the sidewalk behind the new curb that has already been installed. The outer lanes of the northern side of the roundabout were paved last fall. The asphalt plants are closed for the winter, so no further paving work is expected until April.

The last of the utility poles was removed in late November. The poles interfered with most of the road work for the new lanes of the roundabout. Once the asphalt plants reopen in the spring, the project should progress quickly now that the utilities are out of the way.

The intersection will continue to function as a four-way stop until spring. The project is on schedule to be completed by the end of June.