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Residents urge faster licensing, clearer records and better communications in Lincoln Heights public comment
Summary
Multiple residents told council about delays in business licensing and difficulty understanding public records; speakers called for clearer budget breakdowns and improved resident communications, while staff explained zoning and records processes and scheduled follow-ups.
Several residents used the Oct. 27 public-comment period to press administration for clearer timelines, better public records and improved communication.
Kendra Long, owner of Kingdom Minded Youth Company, said her residential youth services business license application was submitted June 25, 2025, was denied on zoning grounds, and had been pending five months. She said she paid a $500 fee for a special-exception permit and asked for a written status and a clear timeline so she could proceed. Mayor Rue McKenzie Mumphrey and staff explained that the planning commission must review and recommend any special exception at a public hearing; a planning commission meeting was scheduled for the upcoming Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Staff and the zoning administrator advised Long that, even if a special exception is approved, the building will need to meet Ohio building-code requirements and obtain county permits before residential occupancy is allowed.
Resident Karen Hingston said a public-records response she received contained position ID numbers and accounting codes she could not interpret and requested department-by-department salary information and a clearer budget breakdown in advance of an upcoming levy vote. Clerk Lisa Randolph and administration acknowledged the communication gaps and said staff would provide the clarified salary and budget information on request.
Council members and the village manager also discussed the village’s communications systems. Councilwoman Laverne Mitchell pressed for a return of robocalls, a regular newsletter and better outreach beyond the website. Village Manager Gaines Brown said administration is exploring Hamilton County alert systems for emergency notifications, will relaunch social-media accounts, aims to launch a renovated website on Nov. 27 and is pursuing a digital marketing consultant to increase capacity.
Council agreed to follow up: staff will ensure the planning commission considers the special-exception application at its next meeting, the clerk will provide clearer public-records extracts with department labels and salary lines on request, and administration will continue developing a communications plan and report back to council.
