Personnel & Properties Report: Mrs. Jennifer Wilder, Personnel & Properties Director, referenced a PowerPoint presentation and updated Council on the following topics: zoning and property maintenance, the pre-sale/rental inspection program, the Vectren gas line improvement project, development/construction updates, business updates, personnel updates and an update on the City website.

The Zoning Department exists to protect Oakwood residents. By enforcing the Zoning and Property Maintenance Codes of the city of Oakwood, the City is working to protect property values. This is done by reviewing & analyzing land use, zoning proposals, requests, and administering permits for improvements made to properties. The Zoning Department’s number one goal is compliance with the Council-approved Oakwood Zoning Code and Oakwood Property Maintenance Code.

Mrs. Wilder encouraged residents to contact the Zoning Department before taking any steps on property improvement projects. She explained that Mr. Ethan Kroger, the code enforcement officer, will meet residents at their property and walk them through the permitting process so that residents have a clear understanding of the requirements.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Oakwood Zoning Department stayed busy and issued 351 permits in 2020. This work represents over $14 million dollars being reinvested into the community. $10 million of those investments are related to the Oakwood School updates at the Jr/Sr High School and Smith School.

The Zoning Department also administers a Pre-sale and Rental Inspection Program. This program was established in 1968 to ensure that properties are code-compliant at the time of sale, or brought into compliance shortly thereafter. The COVID-19 pandemic did not slow down the real estate market in Oakwood. Pre-Sale and rental inspections increased to 458 in 2020. During the March – June timeframe, inspections consisted only of outside evaluations and city staff returned to completing full interior inspections in July. This program is especially important to a community like Oakwood with an aging housing stock, further protecting property values by ensuring homes are maintained throughout the transfer of property. Inspections are scheduled once a completed application is received. An inspector will meet the property owner or agent and perform a brief inspection of the interior and exterior of the property for compliance with the building, zoning, and property maintenance codes. This includes confirming placement of smoke detectors, hand rails, and other safety requirements, as well as general property maintenance concerns. Also the inspector will verify that HVAC equipment has been properly inspected through the city of Kettering’s building department. Once an inspection is complete, and any violations are remedied, an occupancy certificate is generated which is necessary for closing on the property.

In addition to ongoing property maintenance efforts, the Zoning Department annually conducts a city-wide automobile tour to identify violations of the Oakwood Property Maintenance Code. Property owners are sent a letter advising them of the violation(s) and establishing a date to complete the repair(s). During the COVID-19 pandemic, only significant property maintenance violations were addressed through normal code enforcement procedures. A city-wide property maintenance review will be conducted in the spring of 2021. In 2020, code enforcement resources were instead directed toward assisting businesses with recovery from government mandated shutdowns and social distancing requirements due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the City’s Law Director suspended prosecution of temporary sign code violations in Oakwood’s business zoning districts, thereby allowing businesses one extra sign to communicate their open status to customers and other passers-by. Additionally, the City created a temporary outdoor seating permit process to help restaurants with limited indoor seating options due to social distancing requirements. This spring, city staff will return to their annual city-wide automobile tour to identify violations of the Oakwood Property Maintenance Code. Property owners are then sent a letter advising them of the violation(s) and establishing a date to complete the repair(s).

Between April and October this year, Vectren will replace underground gas distribution pipes and home service lines in specific areas that were identified in two project areas. Project Area A includes work on Ridgeway Road from Park Road to the southern border; Fairforest Circle; Oak Knoll from Ridgeway west to Deep Hollow Lane; and Deep Hollow Lane. Project Area B includes Triangle and Orchard; Shroyer between Triangle and Orchard; and also includes work on the alleys in the areas. In all work areas, Vectren is installing new polyethylene pipes in place of old steel and cast iron pipes and is moving indoor gas meters to outside wall locations. This is the continuation of a multi-year Vectren infrastructure replacement project in Oakwood. Oakwood residents personally affected by the work will receive detailed information from Vectren. Vectren pipeline project maps are available on the City website or on Vectren’s website.