hamilton township administration
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7780 S. State Route 48 Maineville, OH 45039 Phone: (513) 683.8520 Fax: (513) 683.4325 Mark Sousa - Board Chair Darryl Cordrey - Trustee Joe Rozzi - Trustee Leah Elliott - Fiscal Officer Township Administrator Jeff Wright (513) 239.2372 Police Department Scott Hughes - Police Chief (513) 683.0538 (Non Emergency) Fire & Emergency Services Jason Jewett - Fire Chief (513) 683.1622 (Non Emergency) Public Works Director Don Pelfrey (513) 683.5360 Economic Development and Zoning Director - Cathy Walton (513) 239.2371 Assistant Fiscal Officer Ellen Horman (513) 239.2377 Human Resources Manager Cheryl Allgeyer (513) 239.2384 Zoning Inspector Cory Sanders (513) 683.8520 Parks & Recreation Nicole Earley (513) 239.2391 Cemetery Sexton Justin Thompson (513) 683.5320 Administrative Assistant Heather Murdock (513) 683-8520
Coldstone Creamery Grand Opening
Winter 2026
Hamilton Township continues to be a place where progress meets community pride and last year was full of exciting milestones worth celebrating. From new businesses opening their doors to major investments in our public facilities, we’re seeing meaningful growth that supports residents today and builds toward a strong future. With the new year ahead, our inboxes and feeds are full of inspiration and tips to be successful in 2026. A couple of things resonated with us and we've included them for you to incorporate into your own life. Number One: Put joy on your calendar. In addition to your obligations, take time to schedule things that add joy to your life. Hold yourself to those scheduled events the same way you hold yourself to your carpool obligations. Number Two: Our Township Administrator occasionally shares a "Thought of the Day" (the WJK THD, inspired by Bill Keating) with all employees, usually when one strikes his fancy. It typically comes with a simple way to put the idea into practice. Recently, he shared this reflection: "If you want your life to be a magnificent story, then begin by realizing that you are the author and every day you have the opportunity to write a new page." - Mark Houlahan That day's To Do Today challenge was to create a list of 26 things you want to do in 2026 - places to go, people to see, things to do. Inspired by that idea, we created a list of 26 things you can do right here in Hamilton Township. Turn to page 9 to check it out for you and your family. Check them off as you go, and we're sure they'll add plenty of joy to your 2026 calendar! What makes Hamilton Township special isn’t just the progress you can see, it’s the people who show up, support one another, and take pride in calling this community home. Thank you for being part of the excitement, the celebrations, and the continued growth of Hamilton Township. We look forward to what’s ahead and are glad you’re on this journey with us.
a new year of progress
Newsletter
Our trustee meetings are available to watch live or later on the ht-tv tab of our website.
DID YOU KNOW?
add your number to the do not call registry
We published this very same article years ago; however, the content is still relevant today. In this age of living online, it is more important than ever to take precautions to keep your personal information safe. Whether sharing information online or on the phone, our residents can benefit from these tips to protect yourself. Never give your personal or financial information in response to a request you didn't expect. Never pay someone who insists you pay with a gift card or using a money transfer service. Block unwanted calls and text messages. Recognizing these common signs of a scam could help you avoid falling for one. To report a scam you can submit a claim with The Federal Trade Commission here. Source: Federal Trade Commission Over 770,000 drivers fall victim to vehicle theft each year. It is always a good time to remind yourself of a few simple, yet important tips to prevent your car and contents inside from being stolen. Your mirrors could be tipping car thieves off. When looking for unlocked vehicles, thieves often look for 'ears out' meaning if the side view mirrors are out, your car is possibly unlocked with the key fob inside. If it's visible in your vehicle, there's a risk it could be stolen. Make sure you keep the property inside your vehicle hidden, such as cell phones, phone chargers, and other electronics and valuables. You can prevent crime in your community in several different ways. These tips are very basic habits you can implement for yourselves, your children, your neighbors and friends to help prevent crime and improve the quality of life in your community. Be aware of your surroundings Become familiar with the vehicles on your street Close your garage doors Get to know your neighbors Lock your front and back door Mark and safely secure items of value Report crime or suspicious activity to the Hamilton Township Police Department immediately
protect yourself
Scammers PRETEND to be from an organization you know Scammers say there's a PROBLEM or a PRIZE Scammers PRESSURE you to act immediately Scammers tell you to PAY in a specific way
4 Signs that it's a
Call (888) 382-1222 or Click Here
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Ladder 76
Push-in Ceremony Saturday, February 7th 1:00pm Station 76 - 7684 South State Route 48
Tanker 76
Click here TO LEARN MORE ABOUT the fire department
The push-in ceremony honors a long-standing fire service tradition dating back to the 1800s, when firefighters pushed their horse-drawn equipment into the station after a call. While modern apparatus no longer require this, the tradition lives on as a tribute to those early crews. We invite our community to take part in this moment, celebrating the new equipment made possible through the support of our local taxpayers.
Up Next: Building pad prepped, surveyor to lay out the building, footers and foundation, continue storm sewer installation and hauling dirt spoils to Mounts Park
Click here TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR Public works DEPARTMENT
Public Works Facility Progress Update
The storm sewer is installed from the south detention basin thru the front parking lot. The south section of the front parking lot is cut to grade and gravel is installed. The general outline of the building is becoming apparent, as over 90% of the building pad is cut to grade and gravel is spread. Over 50% of the south detention basin is dug.
Click here to learn more about our finance department
finance update
2026 Budget
Our Parks Assessment Plan is complete and we will be sharing it with our community next month. This assessment will help guide future capital expense priorities and gives a clearer picture of current needs. This plan will also be helpful with competitiveness when applying for grants for future improvements.
pARK PROGRESS
Work at Mounts Park will begin this year to redirect a stream that has breached a historic, illegal landfill. This work will construct a new stream channel, abandon the existing stream channel, and cap the old landfill that has been exposed in the stream channel. This will improve the water quality both in the park and in the adjacent waters of the Little Miami River. ARPA funds and The Shine a Light on Dumpers grant from the Attorney General's Office will fund this project.
Click here to learn more about our parks department
economic development
ALDI is in the construction phase at the southeast corner of State Route 48 & Grandin Road
Soon
Coming
No matter your age, your fitness level or goals, your body needs Pilates. A consistent Pilates practice improves your posture, strengthens your core and corrects muscle imbalances, creating a strong foundation for movement. A balanced more fulfilling life is within reach for everybody.
HOMEARAMA® 2026 will feature seven fully decorated and landscaped homes in a variety of architectural styles. Homes at The Estates at Bothe Farms will be priced from $1.2 million and up.
Show Dates: 8/29- 9/13/26
Click here to learn more about Economic Development, including major projects and available commercial properties.
6400 South State Route 48, Hamilton Township
Click here to learn more about our Zoning Department
planning & ZONING
the entire zoning application process is online? from application to payment, everything can be done on your schedule.
2025 zoning recap
2- 15 oz. Cans Whole Kernel Corn, drained 2 Cups Grated Cheddar Cheese 1 Cup Mayonnaise 1 Cup Green Pepper, chopped 1/2 Cup Red Onion, chopped 1- 10.5 oz Bag Fritos chili cheese corn chips, coarsely crushed
1. Mix first 5 ingredients and chill. Stir in corn chips just before serving.
Frito and Corn Salad
Cathy Walton serves as our Planning and Zoning Director, guiding thoughtful growth throughout the Township. She helps ensure development aligns with community standards while upholding Township codes and resolutions to support a safe, well-planned, and attractive community. She enjoys spending time with all of her family, especially her Granddaughter, crafting, attending baseball games (she's a Braves fan), and rooting for Ohio State football.
Directions
Not a "healthy" salad by any means, but, this delicious, super easy recipe is sure to please your crowd as you gather for the big game. We enjoyed this at a recent staff party and all walked away wanting more!
Ingredients
Cathy's Crowd Pleaser
2026
Event Calendar
Coming Soon!
Click here for our events page
Click here TO download your own copy
Click on any title for more information
New start time!
St. Philip the Apostle Church Lenten Fish Fry Fridays - 4:30pm-7pm 2/20, 2/27, 3/6, 3/13, 3/20, 3/27 Dine-in, Drive-thru, or Carry out
Save the Date!
Warren County Community Shred & Electronics Recycling Day 4/25, 10am-1pm Warren County Administration
Little Miami Youth Football & Cheer Registration Cheer begins 2/25 Football 3/1-3/25
What's Happening!
Registration is open for Spring sports! Little Miami Youth Soccer Assoc. Now through 1/25 Little Miami Youth Lacrosse Now through 1/31 Little Miami Fastpitch Softball Now through 2/15 Little Miami Youth Baseball Now through 2/28 (Tee ball-3/31) Warren County Little League Now through 3/15
Warren County Park District Activities and events happening all winter long!
Warren County Soil & Water Annual Tree Sale Now through 3/8
Historic
the mysterious bridge over the little miami river
On a warm, quiet day, take a canoe trip down the Little Miami River from Foster and keep your eyes open; this stretch of water holds more history than you might expect. Your paddle will first pass the rapids near the site of Governor Jeremiah Morrow’s old mill. A bit farther along, on the left bank, you’ll spot the historic Butterworth stone house, once a safe haven for runaway slaves. After another set of rapids, the river bends gently to the left. That’s when something unexpected appears, a tall concrete structure rising from the right bank. Drift a little closer through yet another set of rapids, and a matching structure comes into view on the left bank. These impressive structures are the pylons, all that remain, from a footbridge that once spanned the Little Miami River, connecting Loveland Park to Hamilton Township. But why was a footbridge built at this location in the first place? The story begins when 600 acres of land, made up of the farms of John Apgar, John Rabenstein, and Raymond W. Wehr in the southeastern corner of Deerfield Township were purchased and subdivided into 20-by-100-foot lots. The area was then promoted by a major Cincinnati newspaper, The Commercial Tribune, in an effort to boost its readership. The offer was hard to resist with lots priced at just $58.50 each for anyone who subscribed to the paper for six months. Buyers could purchase up to five lots, and many did, some even building small cabins. The Loveland Castle itself was built on these very lots. To make the area even more attractive, developers transformed the riverfront into a park and constructed a clubhouse complete with a bar; an especially enticing feature during the era of Prohibition. A baseball diamond, basketball court, bathhouses, and a dock were added, and the area was promoted as a resort destination. By June of 1924, an impressive 3,000 lots had been sold.
Tales of the Township
the mysterious bridge over the little miami river, cont.
Initially, visitors reached the resort by taking a train to Loveland, followed by a special bus, which was both costly and inconvenient. Since the Pennsylvania Railroad ran along the opposite side of the river, building a footbridge across the river made perfect sense for arriving and departing visitors. Before construction could begin, the Pennsylvania Railroad had to agree to make Loveland Park an official stop. Once that hurdle was cleared, land was needed in Hamilton Township for the bridge’s landing and a platform where passengers could board and exit the train. On February 18, 1927, Joseph and Clara Shinkle, owners of the farm across the river, deeded a strip of land, about a half acre, to William B. Fortlage, a trustee of the Loveland Park Association. The deed specified that the land was to be used for a footbridge and would revert to the original owners if the bridge ever ceased to exist. The Loveland Park Association also agreed to maintain the bridge, its abutments, and piers in safe condition and to allow the general public free use of the bridge at all times. Soon after, an attractive wooden footbridge was built across the Little Miami River, along with a small platform for train passengers. The 1920s were a time of post–World War I prosperity, and people were eager to have fun. Loveland Park quickly became a popular weekend and holiday getaway for city residents. But the good times didn’t last. In 1929, the stock market crashed, banks failed, and the country entered the Great Depression. The resort faded soon after. No one knows for certain what ultimately happened to the footbridge, but it is widely believed to have been swept away during the devastating flood of 1937. The Loveland Park clubhouse survived until 1972, when it was destroyed by fire. Over the years, it had served many purposes; a meeting place for various organizations and even, for a time, as a small store selling everyday essentials like milk, bread, and lunch meat.
Loveland Park Clubhouse
HISTORY OF MAINEVILLE - PART 2
did you miss our issue about farm cemeteries? click here to get caught up!
Historic Tales of the Township is researched and written by Dr. Karen Dinsmore. Special thanks to Dan Kindel, Jerry York, and Ralph Royal for their assistance with this article.
NEXT ISSUE: Hamilton Township's Earliest Schools
Strip of land that bridge sat on in Hamilton Township
It’s unclear when the Pennsylvania Railroad stopped serving the footbridge stop, but trains continued to pass Loveland Park until the railroad went bankrupt following its merger with the New York Central Railroad in the late 1970s. The Shinkle farm across the river was sold to Lillian Burkel in 1930 and later purchased by Robert Stauss in 1945. It remains in the Stauss family to this day. Interestingly, the small strip of land deeded to the Loveland Park Association, intended to revert once the bridge was gone, was never returned. For reasons unknown, it is now owned by Deerfield Township. That means if you pause on the bike trail near the old bridge pylons, you’re actually standing on Deerfield Township land. Nearly 100 years have passed since the footbridge was built. While the bridge itself, the clubhouse, and the railroad are long gone, the massive concrete pylons and remnants of the bridge’s foundation still stand as silent reminders of a memorable era, when Loveland Park was a bustling resort and an official stop on the Pennsylvania Railroad.