While the need may seem minimal now, the growth of electric vehicles appears to be exponential. The International Energy Agency’s 2019 Annual Report predicts that there will be 250 million plugin electric vehicles on the road worldwide by 2030. Mr. Benford closed his comments by offering his support to ensure that Oakwood is prepared for the sustainable transportation future.
Mayor Duncan thanked Mr. Fulford and Mr. Benford for providing informative and interesting information.
Mr. Kelch asked if the existing city vehicles could be retrofitted into electric vehicles.
Mr. Fulford explained that the vehicles could be transformed to electric vehicles and that there is grant money available for this purpose.
Steve Kelch – History of Smith Gardens: Mr. Steve Kelch thanked City Council and Leisure Services Director Carol Collins for inviting him to speak about the history of Smith Gardens. He shared that he is blessed and proud to be the Chair of the Friends of Smith Gardens organization. A PowerPoint presentation, including historical pictures, was displayed as Mr. Kelch provided the following details about his grandparents, Carlton & Jeannette Smith, and the history of Smith Gardens.
Carlton & Jeannette Smith met while attending Lawrence College. After they were married, Carlton Smith followed in his father-in-law’s footsteps and was elected mayor of Appleton, Wisconsin. They raised a family of four daughters, three of which raised their families in Oakwood. The Smith family moved from Wisconsin to the Dayton area after purchasing a house next to a vacant lot on Walnut Lane in the early 1930’s. At the time, Carlton Smith was founder and president of the American Envelope Company. He and his design team invented the “Carrollton Clasp”, which is the metal clasp on the back of envelopes. From 1936 on, Carlton Smith planned, developed and built his dream garden with the help of renowned architect of natural flowing streams & ponds, Romaine B. Ware. Mr. Kelch recalled that visitors would often mistake his grandfather as a hired gardener because of his battered straw hat, grass-stained trousers, and knee pads made from old tires, with a rake in his hand, and a spade in his back pocket working from sunrise to sunset. Mr. Kelch shared that his grandfather would travel to Yellow Springs to gather rocks from John Bryan State Park to keep the gardens vibrant. The gardens continued to grow, as did the number of visitors. Carlton Smith passed away in 1973 and Jeannette Smith passed soon thereafter in 1975. Mr. Kelch shared a story about how Carlton would place one of his prize peace roses on the table every week for their Friday dinner together. Upon Mr. Carlton’s death, the house was sold for $105,000, which was used to establish an endowment fund, and the garden was donated to the city of Oakwood in 1974. Around that same time, Leisure Services Director Carol Collins began working for the city of Oakwood and has been maintaining the gardens ever since. This year, Ms. Collins is celebrating her 45th year of employment with the city of Oakwood. Mr. Kelch then shared some of Carlton and Jeannette’s accomplishments, awards and endowments. He shared that he nominated Carlton to the Dayton Region’s Walk of Fame, and plans to re-nominate him along with Jeannette. In closing, Mr. Kelch shared that he hopes that Smith Gardens will continue to be a place of beauty and peace for all who visit for many years to come. As the Smith Gardens sign says, “Flower lovers are welcome to browse in the garden.”
Mayor Duncan thanked Mr. Kelch for his presentation and also thanked him for his service as Chair of the Friends of Smith Gardens organization. He then recognized Skip and Martha Ordeman for serving as the Co-Chairs for the Friends of Smith Gardens organization for the 12 years between 2007 and 2018.
A copy of the ordinance, having been placed on the desks of each member of Council prior to introduction, was read by title.
Vice Mayor Byington shared that this ordinance was introduced with a first reading at the May 3 city council meeting. He explained that Governor DeWine signed the 2019 Transportation Budget Bill on April 10, 2019. The bill included a provision allowing municipalities to levy a $5 permissive tax on the registration of all motor vehicles, with 100% of that money going to the municipality. The money must be used for authorized purposes, which include the maintenance