Public Safety Recognition – Mayor Duncan read thank you letters commending Oakwood Public Safety Officers Glen Evans and Greg Ortel, and Lieutenant Chuck Balaj.

Public Safety Officer Glen Evans was recognized for being an asset to the Public Safety Department and for providing a positive perspective on everyday police work during a ride along from a Citizens Police Academy participant. Public Safety Officer Greg Ortel was commended for his assistance on a purse snatching incident at Dorothy Lane Market. Lieutenant Chuck Balaj was recognized by the Cincinnati office of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) for playing a significant role in the case where a Beavercreek man pled guilty to involvement in a terrorist organization.

Mayor Duncan thanked Chief Hill and the Oakwood Public Safety Department for being a first class organization.

Property Defacement – Mayor Duncan commented on a series of stickers that were found posted to street signs and street light posts in the Shroyer Road right-of-way near Oakwood’s shared border with Kettering and Dayton over the past week. Not only did these stickers deface public property, they also included hate messages, something that our city will not tolerate. The stickers included a QR code that links to a website for an organization that is not in our area. It is likely that the stickers were posted by someone passing through, and have been posted in other communities besides Oakwood. Immediately upon learning of this incident, the Oakwood Public Works Department removed the stickers. On December 9, the Oakwood Public Safety Department issued a press release to the Oakwood Register announcing the incident and requesting assistance from anyone who may have information that could help us identify and prosecute the responsible subject, or subjects. At this point, it is unknown who placed these stickers. That said, through the excellent work of the Oakwood Public Safety Department, there is a strong record of finding and prosecuting those who commit criminal acts in Oakwood. Mayor Duncan invited Chief Alan Hill to say a few words about the incident and the actions that are being taken to address it.

Chief Hill shared that the Public Safety Department is investigating the defacement of property. A press release was distributed seeking the communities help in identifying and prosecuting the responsible subjects. Chief Hill asked people living in that area to check their security camera footage and to report anything suspicious to the Oakwood Public Safety Department.

VISITORS

Madeline Iseli, Interim Chair of the Oakwood Inclusion Coalition (OIC), addressed City Council about the property defacement on behalf of the Oakwood Inclusion Coalition Leadership Team. Ms. Iseli introduced the following members of the Leadership Team: Mayor (former) Judy Cook; Dan Turben; Healy Jackson; good friend Jacki Housel; Leigh Ann Fulford; Kristi Hale; and Roger Crum.

Ms. Iseli thanked City Council and Chief Hill for their responsive actions to address the property defacement. The OIC appreciates all of the attributes that bring the Oakwood community together. The OIC focuses on building a stronger sense of community and to promote all that is good about Oakwood as a welcoming and increasingly diverse community.

Mayor Duncan thanked Ms. Iseli and the Oakwood Inclusion Coalition for their comments.

LEGISLATION

A copy of the ordinance, having been placed on the desks of each member of Council prior to introduction, was read by title.

Mr. Stephens explained that each year, Council passes an annual house-keeping ordinance to align Oakwood’s local traffic and criminal ordinances with changes that have been made at the state level. This ordinance will adopt the 2021 replacement pages for the Traffic Code and the General Offenses Code, and although this is the second reading, it is being presented as an emergency ordinance so the updates can be incorporated into Oakwood codes by the beginning of 2022.

Thereupon, it was moved by Mr. Stephens and seconded by Mrs. Hilton that the ordinance be passed as an emergency measure.