Interim manager announces safety walkthrough, street repairs and cemetery work

Interim Village Manager Chris Williams told the Lincoln Heights Village Council on April 14 that Hamilton County Sheriff's Office personnel conducted an initial risk assessment of Village Hall and plan to return within one to two weeks for a full facility walkthrough and safety recommendations.

"They did the first step of the risk assessment on this building," Williams said, adding that the sheriff's staff asked 20 to 30 questions and will make recommendations for changes "so employees and council can feel safer while they're in the building." He also said the county will begin enforcing parking violations — starting with warnings in May — to address parking on sidewalks and abandoned vehicles.

Williams reported public-works activity: crews used about 16 tons of asphalt for pothole and crack repairs and plan to repave Adams, Jackson and McGee streets this year. He said a cemetery renovation project is scheduled to start July 7 and will begin with gas- and water-line replacements followed by concrete repairs; he noted this will be a targeted repair rather than a complete overhaul.

On a question about Serenity Park, Williams said the water fountain installed last year lacked the required tap service due to a contract language mix-up and that Cincinnati Waterworks will run a tap to the fountain at lower cost after locating an existing tap.

Williams also reminded residents that the tax department is available for in-person and online assistance and announced the village chipper program will begin its first run next week for brush collection.

What happens next: The sheriff's office will return for a facility walkthrough and finance/operations staff will post project timelines on the village website; the cemetery contractor work is scheduled to begin July 7, and public-works tasks will continue through the spring and summer.