Butler Township voters will be asked this spring to decide on a critical 3.0 mill  additional police department levy to restore services lost due to budget cuts.

The Butler Township Trustees decided to put the levy on the March 6th ballot after recently finishing the budgeting process for 2012.  The levy will generate about $645,000 and will cost the owner of a $100,000 dollar home about $92 additional dollars per year.

If the March levy fails, the Butler Township Police Department will operate at a -$300,000 to -$400,000 dollar deficit, an amount that cannot be maintained past 2015 without further, more severe service cuts.

Currently, the police department has three vacant positions: one full-time captain and two full-time officers.  If voters approve the March 6th levy, the two full-time officer positions may be filled.  If the levy fails, however, these positions will remain open, and the police department will be forced to make further cuts into their already small 12 officer department.  Butler Township residents have a unique opportunity when voting this March, as townships are one of the few jurisdictions where citizens involvement in voting has a direct effect on local government.

“When you vote on a police, fire or road levy, you directly allocate public money to that specific department’s operations,” said Township Administrator Kim Lapensee.  “Since funds can’t be moved interchangeably from one department to another, a vote for or against a levy has an almost immediate effect on that department’s operation.”

Be sure to vote on March 6!

To welcome the springtime with landscaping ease, Butler Township residents can utilize the township’s free brush disposal every Saturday, running April 14 through May 19 from 8 a.m. to noon.

Brush disposal is held at the Service Department, 3710 West Natioanl Road, for Butler Township residents only.  No commercial disposal will be permitted.

Butler Township asks you to remember the following brush drop-off requirements:

• This program is for brush only.  No construction material, old firewood, yard waste, landscaping or lawn service debris will be accepted.
• Don’t chop brush and limbs too small, this makes them more difficult to handle.
• Brush must be free of nails, wire, rootballs and other similar items.
• Valid ID showing current residence in Butler Township must be presented to participate in drop-off program.

In order to reduce waste and increase recycling, Waste Management is expanding a pilot recycling program run in a few neighborhoods to now include all of Butler Township.

The 2010 pilot program provided 96-gallon recycling carts to residents of Turtlecreek Plat, north of Little York Road.  Last year the pilot program reached residents of Irongate, Brantford Meadows and Yorkshire Reserve.  This year the carts will be provided to the rest of Butler Township.

“This recycling initiative is voluntary, but it allows residents to easily and conveniently reduce the amount of trash and materials filling up landfills,” said Township Administrator Kim Lapensee.  “It will also reduce the township’s tipping fee with Montgomery County, and at some point may even decrease how often the township must raise trash collection fees.”

The recycling carts will be picked up every other week on regular trash collection days.  These carts have yellow lids to distinguish them from other trash receptacles.

If you do not wish to participate in this program, or would prefer a smaller container, please contact Waste Management at 1-800-343-6047.

DP&L will begin trimming  Butler Township/Vandalia area circuits in the next couple of weeks and wanted to give residents a heads up.  CWG, LLC will be trimming the area north of the Northridge substation, which is located at Webster Street and Wyse Road.  This circuit travels north onto Homestretch Road and crosses over I-75 onto Maxton Road.  The circuit splits on North Dixie Drive and stops north at I-70 and south at York Commons Blvd.

This program offers county residents an incentive to seal unused water wells on their properties.  Unsealed wells can allow pollution of drinking water and can be potential safety hazards.  This pilot project is intended to reduce these public health concerns by helping property owners meet the cost of proper well sealing.  Approved applicant will be eligible for a 75% reimbursement of their sealing bill.

• The program application is free and does not obligate the applicant to participate.
• More than one well on a property may be considered for funding by the program.
• Owners will hire a registered Private Water Systems Contractor of their choice to perform the work.
• Work will be performed under a sealing permit and will be inspected for proper completion.
• After the work is completed the owner will be reimbursed up to 75% of the paid sealing cost.
• Reimbursement amounts are subject to a ceiling for typical wells, but a reimbursement amount above the ceiling can be considered if a well is exceptionally deep or large in diameter.

Deadline extended-funding available for 2012!  Funds are limited.  Early application will improve the chances for approval.  Call 937-225-4428 for more information.

The Montgomery County Well Sealing Cost-Share program is a joint project of Public Health – Dayton & Montgomery County and the Miami Conservancy District.

Because the Christmas holiday and New Year’s Day both fall on Sunday this year, Waste Management customers will have their normal collection schedule for both the week of December 25 and the week of January 1.  All Waste Management customers are reminded to put their waste out the night before or by 6 a.m. on their regular collection day.  If customers have any questions, they can call Waste Management Customer Service at 1-800-343-6047.

Waste Management, Inc. is its industry’s leading provider of environmental and waste management services.  The company serves residential, municipal, commercial, and industrial customers throughout North America.  To learn more about Waste Management, visit www.wm.com or www.thinkgreen.com.