Clermont County commissioners approve $5,000 Duke Energy Foundation grant application; appoint members to local emergency planning committee

The Clermont County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 10, 2025, voted unanimously to acknowledge submission of a $5,000 grant application to the Duke Energy Foundation aimed at supporting local mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery activities, and approved appointments to the Clermont County Local Emergency Planning Committee.

The actions came after opening formalities and a presentation from Joe Abner, deputy district director for Congressman David Taylor, who described services his office provides to constituents, including casework with federal agencies, assistance with military academy appointments, internships, White House and Capitol tour requests, flags flown over the U.S. Capitol, and letters of support for local projects. "One of the things that we can do is casework for folks that are having issues with federal agencies," Abner said, adding county residents can contact any of the congressman’s district offices for assistance. He provided a district phone number for constituents.

Why it matters: The Duke Energy Foundation grant—if awarded—would provide a modest, targeted infusion for local emergency-related activities that the commissioners said would support mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. The Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) appointments update the county's emergency-planning roster under state law and establish membership through the specified term dates.

Votes at a glance

- Acknowledgment of submission of a $5,000 grant application to the Duke Energy Foundation to support local mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery activities — Approved (Roll call: Commissioner Bachelor — Yes; Commissioner Corcoran — Yes; Commissioner Painter — Yes).

- Appointment and acceptance of resignations to the Clermont County Local Emergency Planning Committee, effective upon approval through Aug. 14, 2025, as reported by the committee — Approved (Roll call: Commissioner Bachelor — Yes; Commissioner Corcoran — Yes; Commissioner Painter — Yes).

- Routine approvals (minutes, consent agenda) — Approved (unanimous roll calls).

Meeting details and actions

The Board first approved regular-session minutes and amended minutes from earlier meetings. During the nonconsent agenda, staff presented item 6, a recommendation to acknowledge submission of the Duke Energy Foundation grant application for $5,000; the board approved the motion by roll call. Item 7 requested nominations and acceptance of resignations for membership on the Clermont County Local Emergency Planning Committee, citing state law; the board approved the appointments and accepted the resignations by roll call.

The LEPC resignations listed in the meeting record were Steve Armstrong, Mike Bamer, Chris Stratton and Kevin Riley. The appointments approved were Kim Francis, Ursula Miller, Mike White and Steven Downey; the committee listed the term as effective upon approval through Aug. 14, 2025.

The board also voted to enter executive session under the statutory exceptions cited on the record to consider the employment or compensation of public employees and matters related to the sale or disposition of county property; the board returned to open session and stated that no decisions were made and no actions were taken in executive session.

The commissioners closed the meeting with routine member comments and adjourned. The board noted its next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the Clermont County meeting location.