Middletown
The $1.8 million purchase price, which is $300,000 less than the property was appraised by the Butler County Auditor’s Office before the $1.5 million renovations, was paid to Middletown Senior Citizens Inc., the owner of the property, said City Manager Paul Lolli.
Lolli said the nonprofit owes about $700,000 to First Financial Bank and $300,000 to the IRS. On July 29, 2022, Rodgers signed a mortgage loan through First Financial Bank for $450,000, then did a loan modification that increased the amount to $650,000, according to the Butler County Recorder’s Office.
Central Connections found itself in financial difficulty after Rodgers was terminated in July. She is under investigation for possible theft, though no charges have been filed, according to Middletown police.
This is the second time Middletown residents have invested in the center. Voters approved two five-year, 1-mill senior levies that generated $7 million to provide or maintain senior services at the center. The levy expired on Dec. 31, 2022, after 10 years.
Counting the $1.8 million purchase price, $8.8 million in taxpayers’ money has been spent on the center in the last 11 years.
Four council members in; police chief on leave
Earlier this month, the face of City Council and the police department changed for very different reasons.
The three newest City
Council members and mayor were sworn-in during a historic ceremony in Council Chambers.
For the first time in city history, four members, or 80% of council, were sworn in together. Typically, depending on the election cycle, either two or three members take the oath of office.
All four — mayor-elect
Elizabeth Slamka and council members Jennifer Carter, Paul Horn and Steve West II — were sworn in.
Slamka, Carter and West II were elected on Nov. 7, and Horn, a Middletown businessman, was selected by City Council to fill the twoyear, unexpired term when Rodney Muterspaw resigned his seat in November due to family health issues.
The new council will hold its first meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Just weeks later, Birk was placed on paid administrative leave “until further notice,” according to Lolli, who declined further comment.
Birk was named chief in December 2019.
Deputy Chief Maj. Eric Crank is the acting police chief.
Birk did not respond to the Journal-News for comment.
He was immediately suspended from any and all work duties, according to the letter. He was instructed to relinquish city keys and fobs, his service weapon and police officer badge, passwords and codes. He was also instructed not to communicate with other city employees during normal work hours and remain at home and provide (the city)