HELP IS HERE
Four projects benefit from Greene Co. grants
Four projects in Greene County are expected to receive Community Development Block Grant funds, including the Xenia Area FISH Food Pantry, which is relocating to the former home of the Greene County Parks & Trails.
The county was granted $236,000 from the state program, which will be used to support projects by the cities of Beavercreek and Bellbrook, the village of Cedarville and the Xenia food pantry, currently located at 531 Ledbetter Road. The total of all requests was more than $273,000, according to Greene County Department of Development records.
A plan by Home Inc. to build 12 low- to moderate-income homes in Yellow Springs was not selected among the five applications.
Relocating the Xenia food pantry, which has been serving the hungry since 1976, would not be possible without the CDBG funds, according to Gail Matson, president of the board of directors.
had been pepper sprayed. A termination agreement was later reached with DiPietro.
In June 2014, the township agreed to a one-year contract with Hess. That agreement came after trustees stopped a statewide search for a police chief, saying there were only seven applicants and none from Montgomery County.
Hess said then his priorities were restoring the police department’s image and financial status. In recent years, Hess has restructured the department’s command staff and led an effort to get the police department nationally accredited for the first time since the 1990s.
Community outreach has also been a focal point. The department’s National Night Out program has been in the top 10 in the U.S. for communities of its size.
“He’s done a fantastic job,” Barry said. “When he was appointed as chief … there were a lot of issues internally within the police department, a lot of (legal action) with regards to the police department.
“And Ron has been able to settle all of those issues and build a police force that is now nationally accredited and very well respected in the state of Ohio,” he said. “And is a model for a lot of other police departments to follow. … He’s provided great leadership.”
He’s also regained the support of voters, as all police levies during his tenure has been approved. The last renewed issue in November was backed by two-thirds of the voters and the recently-approved property tax hike won by a 57-43 margin, according to the board of elections.
“When you’re with Ron — out in the public — everybody knows him. And everyone really respects him as a person, as a chief,” Barry said. “And they know that he’s going to be fair, but he’s also demanding, which I think you need in that role. Because policing is not an easy job.”
Hess calls the police department “a hard-working, dedicated group of individuals who have the township’s best interests at heart.”
“I’ve been working with the township staff as interim administrator for more than a year now, and I can tell you they are just as dedicated to the community,” he said.
Township Trustee John Morris said Hess has proven he has the tools to succeed in his latest role.
“You need somebody who has the ability to lead. And Ron Hess has demonstrated that in every position he has had,” Morris said. “We want somebody who has the respect of the department heads and the community — and Ron has demonstrated that.
“Last, you have to have a real working knowledge of our community — (know) what residents expect,” Morris said. “Ron has hit the mark on all three of those.”