E-New February 2013

Trash & Recycling
Services Enhanced, Fees Reduced

The Village is pleased to announce that after participating in The Center for Local Government’s waste and recycling consortium to bid for collection services alongside area communities, residents will enjoy reduced fees while receiving enhanced services.

The competitively bid contract resulted in savings for Amberley Village residents primarily due to six municipalities aggregating approximately 15,000 households in an effort to garner favorable pricing for the required services.  Another reason our rates are low is due to the Service Department’s brush chipping, leaf removal, and tree recycling programs which keep yard waste out of the waste stream.

Residents can expect a lower bill as well as a rate-lock for a three-year period, illustrated below.

The new rate for 2013, 2014 and 2015 represents a 7.8% decrease from our 2012 rate and 10.6% decrease from the rate that would have gone into effect January 1, 2013 had the Village not received a more favorable contract.

Besides the reduced rate for residents, there are additional benefits for the Village. The Village is receiving lower pricing on basic services, services previously provided at additional costs, such as the trash dumpster at Amberley Green and the recycle dumpster at the Village Hall, which are now included as basic services.

Another benefit to this new contract is the 65 gallon wheeled recycle tote that will be provided to residents by Rumpke. The process of delivering the totes will take 10-14 days and begin the week of March 11. This wheeled tote will provide a convenient way for residents to get the recycle materials to the curb, offer increased capacity for recyclables and prevent the recyclables from being blown out of the bin since the tote has a lid. 

Residents will receive a mailer in advance from Rumpke announcing the availability of the wheeled totes.  If you would like to opt-out of receiving the larger recycling container, please contact Amberley Village at (513) 531–8675 or email info@AmberleyVillage.org by Feb. 15, 2013.

Please note, you will receive a 65-gallon cart unless you contact the Village prior to Feb. 15, 2013.

If you previously purchased a larger recycling cart, you will not receive another cart unless you call and request a second cart at no additional charge.

Water Main Replacement on Section Road

The Village has received and approved a street opening permit to allow an emergency water main replacement under the Section Road rail crossing. This project will consist of a 10’ x 40’ bore pit being opened in the east bound lane of traffic (south side of Section Road) between the railroad tracks and the driveway to 2121 Section Road, Topicz.

The project will bore a hole and push a steel casing under the railroad tracks and then the new main will be inserted through that casing. The new main will then be tied into the existing water main along the north edge of Section Road.

Traffic over Section Road, including access to businesses, will be maintained utilizing a shift in lanes.  Greater Cincinnati Water Works expects this project to begin on or near February 11, 2013.

A more specific schedule should become available when GCWW holds a pre-construction meeting with the contractor selected for this project. Updates will be provided as information becomes available. If you have any questions regarding this project please feel free to contact the Village’s Public Works Supervisor Steve Rasfeld at 531-8675 or GCWW at 591-7700.

Calendar Events

Feb 4 Board of Zoning Appeals 7 p.m.
Feb 11 Council Meeting 6:30 p.m.
Feb 18 President’s Day – Offices Closed
Feb 25 ESC Meeting 7:30 p.m.

Watch the January Council Meeting
Council meetings can also be watched on Time Warner Cable Channel 4 on Thursdays at 7 p.m. and Fridays at 10 a.m.

Village Receives Tree City USA Award

Amberley is honored to receive the Tree City USA designation for 2012. This nationally recognized award is presented to communities that have met maintenance standards for trees growing along their streets and in their parks. Achievement of this award is a result of the ongoing collaboration efforts by the Environmental Stewardship Committee and Village staff to continue Amberley’s commitment to be stewards of the environment.

Thank You for Recycling!

The Hamilton County Recycling and Solid Waste District and Amberley Village thank the residents for supporting recycling! Your participation has made a positive impact on our environment.

In 2012, Amberley Village received $11,039 in Residential Recycling Incentive dollars. Funding to communities is provided based on the amount of material recycled by residents. The larger, wheeled totes will provide increased recycling capacity!

Three festivals in Amberley Village included recycling for which the County provided recycling containers on loan and residents received encouragement from Hamilton County to increase recycling at home. For more information on recycling, visit www.hamiltoncountyrecycles.org.

Rainbow Paint Reblending Program

Residents interested in recycling their leftover paint can drop it off at Matthew 25 Ministries to be recycled and reblended into a high-quality latex paint for nonprofits, schools, public facilities, and low-income individuals.

Latex Paint Drop-Off Requirements 

• Oil-Based paint, Combustible paint, or Stain will not be accepted – can only accept Latex paint.
• Only 1 Gallon or 5 Gallon cans of Latex Paint will be accepted.
• Must be original container(s) with original label(s). Containers without original labels will not be accepted.
• Empty cans or nearly empty cans will not be accepted.

The facility, located at 11060 Kenwood Road, accepts paint year-round, Monday-Friday from 9-4 p.m. and Saturdays 9-3 p.m.  Look for the donation drop-off sign on the right side of the parking lot.

For more information and a tour of the Rainbow Paint Center, visit http://www.m25m.org or call 793-6256.

The Amberley Village Maintenance Department prides itself on the response to winter storms.  The goal of the Department is to maintain the main roads and priority routes as passable during the storm and to clear all the streets as soon as possible after the storm has subsided, working from the highest priority to the low volume, dead end streets so as to provide passable streets to our residents and all of the traveling public as soon as practical.

Every winter storm is different.  Some of the variable factors include the existing weather conditions, anticipated volumes of precipitation, temperatures, duration of the storm, availability and effectiveness of deicing agents, volume of traffic and availability of equipment and manpower.

The Maintenance Department shares the following driving tips to keep in mind during a winter storm:

• Avoid unnecessary travel. If you must travel the roads take the proper precautions, such as cleaning the snow and ice off of your car, car windows, lights and signals to increase visibility.
• Allow more space between you and the car head of you…take it slow!
• Watch out for “black ice”. Roads that seem dry may actually be slippery. Elevated roadways, roads over culverts and shaded areas are prime locations for the formation of “black ice” and re-freezing.
• Even four wheel drive vehicles slide on ice.
• Brake early and slowly; anticipate the flow of traffic.
• Keep your gas tank topped off to prevent condensation/fuel line freeze-up. A full tank provides additional weight and enough fuel to stay warm if you get stranded.
• Maintain your vehicle and components. such as the windshield wipers and tires.
• Do not pull out in front of plow trucks or attempt to pass them.
• Avoid plowing snow from the driveway into or across the roadway; plow into your lot instead.
• Do not park in or along the streets (especially in the cul-de-sacs or near intersections).

Residents looking for a meeting room or planning a gathering may want to consider the Community Room located on the lower level of the Amberley Village Municipal Building.  The Community Room boasts a full kitchen, dry erase board, projection screen, and restroom access.  It may be used for family celebrations and other private gatherings.  Capacity is 60 people, auditorium style, and 40 people with table seating.  For more information and reservation requirements, visit the Community Room webpage or contact the Public Safety Department at 531-2040.

It’s refreshing to think Spring, so why not try a garden plot this year?  There is room for green thumbs and beginner gardeners at the Amberley Green Garden! For $50 a growing season, you will get:

• A 9 x 15 garden plot to plant as you desire (with some restrictions)
• Access to a garden cart and water
• Friendly gardeners with whom to share your expertise (or learn from)
• Access to the Amberley Garden education series

Organic practices will be utilized in the Amberley Green Garden and assistance will be available to anyone who needs it.  If you are interested, please email AmberleyGarden@Gmail.com to request an Amberley Green Garden Welcome Packet and application.

Interested in learning more about composting? Save this date! On May 14, 2013 at 6:00 p.m., Amberley Village will be hosting a guest speaker from the Hamilton County Recycling and Solid Waste District for an hour‐long evening seminar focusing on the basics of backyard composting. You will learn how to balance a compost bin, what materials are compostable, and some troubleshooting. There will also be time to answer your composting questions. At the end of the hour, you will receive a free kitchen collector, as well as a $20 coupon redeemable at partnering stores toward the purchase of a compost bin. Get the Dirt on Backyard Composting will be held in the Community Room in the Amberley Village Municipal Building located at 7149 Ridge Road, Amberley, 45237. Call 946-7734 to register. Space is limited.

Can’t make this date? There are the other communities hosting Composting in Your Backyard. Call 946-7734 for exact times and locations.