Mayor Michael Beamish

From:
Sent:
Patrick Titterington < patrick.titterington@troyohio.gov>
Thursday, July 10, 2014 1:02 PM
To: 'Doug Trostle'
Cc: Mike Beamish
Subject: RE: Treasure Island & Hobart Arena
Great email, Doug. Thanks for sharing.
From: Doug Trostle [ mailto:dtrostle@woh.rr.com]
Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2014 12:04 PM
To: John Schweser
Subject: Treasure Island & Hobart Arena
John,
Thanks for stopping by the Bakehouse this morning. As you know we discuss a number of
local, national and international events during our morning coffee.
Of particular interest to me was the local initiative to renovate and update the facilities at
Treasure Island and Hobart Arena. This initiative is being considered, in part, as an economic
development issue. Whether we call it economic development or refer to it as a quality of life
initiative, this is the basic responsibility of local government to provide services and
opportunities that otherwise could not be sustained on their own.
What makes Troy, Ohio, "Troy, Ohio"? Is it our infrastructure, including a quality water system,
a full time police and fire department, quality schools and affordable housing or could it be the
recreational facilities? I believe it is "all of the above". Look at other communities and ask,
"Why do they have vacant buildings due to companies moving out or downsizing?" When
Panasonic left town, when Dinner Bell Foods and Friendly's closed, Troy was able to bring in
new industry that continues to offer career opportunities and a tax base that supports our
community. I believe the collective efforts, commitment and ongoing support of our local
government, schools and the parks & recreation department have sustained a quality of life
that was envisioned long before we came on the scene.
We have previously discussed the conscience effort of the Hobart family to center most of the
City's recreational facilities along the Great Miami River. When they proposed to construct
Hobart Arena, they challenged the community to construct Troy Memorial Stadium. They
wanted to locate these facilities on the community golf course so they proposed locating the
new Miami Shores course downstream. Over the years, Council and our civic leaders
recognized this fact and we have been able to enhance this focus by relocating the Community
pool and purchasing the McClung Farm for development of Duke Park. Troy might just be
1
another 1-75 bedroom community if these individuals did not recognize the valuable asset we
had in the Great Miami River.
I believe one of the roles of government is to provide services and activities that individually
are not financially feasible. Collectively they enhance the quality of life, are an asset to
economic development and make's Troy, Ohio an attractive place to live, work and raise your
family. We have all discussed how we can attract more young people to return to Troy. The
continued development and expansion of recreational opportunities is an area of interest. I do
not subscribe to the idea that every activity or facility must stand on its own. If they were
financially feasible, government would not be in the conversation. When government is
involved, it becomes a two edge sword. We want it to be self- sustaining but, at the same
time, we want it to be affordable for everyone to participate. If you are a golfer, you prioritize
the golf course. If you are a swimmer you prioritize the Municipal Pool and soccer and little
league football participants support Duke Park.
Hobart Arena was renovated using private funds. Ken Siler has done an amazing job attracting
additional activities to this landmark and the facility deserves your financial support. The Boat
House was renovated, in the 70's, using State funding. At that time, Duke Park and the bicycle
path did not exist and I don't believe there was adequate support to complete the
redevelopment of Treasure Island. $1-1.5 million seems like a small commitment if this can be
leveraged to redevelop the river corridor. While we may not be able to reintroduce motor
boating, it would be neat to see an amphitheater and canoe rentals reestablished.
Obviously Council cannot be so committed to recreation that they ignore other responsibilities
but not recognizing the role recreation plays in the personality and attraction of Troy, Ohio for
economic development and quality of life, is doing a real disservice to the community you
represent. Current interest rates only enhances' the urgency of this proposal and a long term
bond issue reduces the financial burden on the community. I encourage you to support both
initiatives.
Doug Trostle
937-335-8869 phone/fax
937-546-8869 mobile
dtrostle@woh.rr.com
2
July 6, 2014
Dear Troy City Council,
Hello, my name is Amy Myers, and I am writing to you as a citizen of Troy and former
River Steward in favor of the Hobart Arena and Treasure Island Marina Park development
projects. I am in favor of the projects because I believe it is paramount to the health of this region
physically, mentally, ecologically, and economically.
Before I elaborate upon my decision to support these projects, I would like to offer you
some background on my perspective. I grew up in rural Logan County, where I was fortunate
enough to have spent my summers playing in the creeks of the Mad River. I went onto the
University of Dayton, where I stumbled upon the River Stewards program. The River Stewards
program transformed my life in so many ways that I could probably write a book about it, but I
will do my best to abbreviate the most powerful experiences I had to encourage you as
you make this crucial decision.
My first point is that riverfront development will positively impact the physical health of
the citizens of Troy. While a River Steward, I had the opportunity to learn to kayak and teach
others to kayak. Kayaking is a very easy activity that requires very little training, but appears to
be a very out of reach activity. Much of the exposure to kayaking is in the form of the Olympics
or some elaborate outdoor adventure. By creating easy access for local people to put a kayak or
canoe in the Great Miami River or a Marina, many will realize this sport is great exercise, very
easy to do, and a new way to experience the town they call home. At a time in which childhood
obesity is rampant, I think it is crucial for people of all ages to be exposed to any activity that
encourages an active lifestyle. Similarly, the city of Troy already has wonderful bike paths that
will be utilized more with the additional development.
While physical fitness is extremely important, I actually believe the mental health
benefits that could come from these projects is even more important. As a steward, I had the
opportunity to take young people from all walks of life out on the water and watch them have a
personal transformation. The most powerful experience for me was watching a group of
homeless teens from the Daybreak center find a sense of peace, place, and home for at least that
one day. We had the opportunity to discuss how the teens felt and what the experience meant to
them. All of the teens felt they were good at something, they felt that had a lot more in common
with each other than before, they felt a sense of control in their lives, they felt a sense of peace
and happiness, and they felt they could transfer these feelings into their daily lives. These kids
were very emotional about their day and felt it was a life-changing experience.
While getting in a plastic boat seems like nothing big, it allows a person to feel they can
conquer fear, work with others, explore their world, and do more than they thought possible.
Experiences in nature tend to empower people, which is an experience nobody should be denied.
By developing the Troy Riverfront, the citizens of Troy will have the opportunity to feel
empowered by their rivers and natural resources that will transfer into an improved overall
community.
Third, allowing people the opportunity to feel empowered while experiencing their own
river corridor, will lend itself to the awareness and action necessary to preserve and improve the
natural resources this region is blessed with. If the citizens of Troy feel an emotional attachment
to the river, they will be invested in maintaining it and ensuring that the resource remains healthy
for future generations. The citizens of Troy take great pride in their downtown and local
businesses because they enjoy those amenities. The same principle of preserving a local building
or business will be transferred to the river and natural resources, as well. In addition to hearing,
"I remember going to La Piazza on my first date," you will hear, "I remember the first time I
kayaked by the high school." We are incredibly fortunate to have such a wealth of fresh water in
this region, and it is essential that this resource is cherished and preserved.
Fourth, by developing the river corridor, you are indirectly developing the local
economy. After a few hours of kayaking, walking, or biking, a group of people will be looking
for a place to get a meal or cold drink. With the Troy downtown so conveniently located by the
river, it is logical for a person to go from the river to the local businesses. While the riverfront
development will be used the most by the locals, it will also be used by non -locals. With Dayton
having a hub for bicycling and kayaking in the downtown, people are already drawn to the city
of Dayton for those amenities. Having riverfront development in Troy will make for a several
destination stop for those coming from out of town seeking outdoor adventure. Troy is
strategically located such that it would make for an excellent weekend trip to kayak or bike from
Troy to Dayton to Miamisburg and potentially onward. Just imagine people travelling from all
over the Midwest with their kayaks and bicycles to kayak or bike the Great Miami River!
In case my previous four points of physical, mental, ecological, and economical health
are not strong enough, I would like to offer you my personal perspective as a young adult who
moved to Troy in search of an active, outdoor lifestyle. I graduated from the University of
Dayton in 2013, and I was seeking a job along the river corridor to continue my experiences as a
river steward into my adult life and classroom. I was blessed with a job as a physics teacher at
Piqua High School, where I was shocked by the lack of experience, knowledge, and appreciation
my students had for the immense natural resources they have in Piqua. From my experience, it
seems as though the youth of Troy have slightly better pride for their town, but I sense they are
not all posting on Twitter about how much they want to come back to Troy after going off to
college. The attitude that staying in the Midwest is not glamorous or good enough can easily be
changed by providing the local youth opportunities that provide them with a sense of place and
pride for their community. This mentality should not be promoted and needs to be changed in
order for these regions to experience the economic success that it is capable of and deserves.
I moved to Troy expecting to find a network of people who also shared my love for this
region, the rivers, and nature in general, but I unfortunately have struggled to find this network.
While living in Dayton, I traversed the bike trails and waterways frequently. I so much loved
hopping on my bike and being at a concert at RiverScape in under 20 minutes. I expected to have
similar experiences here in Troy, but I have only found myself frustrated when I could not find
easy access to bike paths or the rivers. I believe the city has so much to offer already in terms of
water access and bike trail access, but it is not as user-friendly or as enjoyable as it could be.
My husband and I are not the only young people experiencing this frustration. I have a
co-worker from Piqua High School, who also moved to Troy last summer expecting to have
similar experiences to what he had in Athens, Ohio, but he has also been disappointed by the
lack of access to outdoor amenities. He and I are both incredibly positive people, who
desperately wanted to love Troy as we did the places we came from, but we both found ourselves
running into the same frustrations. I am not writing this to complain because I do believe the city
of Troy is a wonderful place with a lot to offer, but I believe these amenities are not being
promoted and utilized as much as they should be. By completing the Hobart Arena and Treasure
Island Marina Park development projects, I believe young people will want to move to Troy,
work in Troy, and stay in Troy.
In conclusion, I ask that you please fully support and believe in the Hobart Arena and
Treasure Island Marina Park development projects because it will improve the physical, mental,
ecological, and economical health of the city of Troy and surrounding region. I believe these
projects will also gamer a sense of pride for this city that will encourage young people to come
here and stay here. Please do not delay in your support for these crucial development projects.
Sincerely,
Amy Myers
P.S. Thank you for reading this letter, and thank you for all you do for the city of Troy.
Mayor Michael Beamish
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Martin Hobart < marthobart@gmail.com>
Monday, July 21, 2014 11:20 AM
Ken Siler; Patrick Titterington; Mike Beamish; Tom Dunn; Donna Snipes; Dave Heffner;
Doug Jackson
Fwd: FW: Warren County tourism surpasses $1 billion in economic impact
To: martin.hobart@hotmail.com
Subject: Warren County tourism surpasses $1 billion in economic impact
From: kking7533@aol.com
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2014 11 :00:59 -0400
Another Dayton Business Journal article on tourism economic impact in Warren County. They have the benefit
of Kings Island and the tennis ATP & WTA Masters tournament.
Warren County tourism surpasses $1 billion in
economic impact
The Western & Southern Masters and Women's Open in Warren County is the largest summer tennis tournament in the nation outside of the
U.S. Open.
StaffDayton Business Journal
Warren County's tourism economy has surpassed $1 billion in total annual sales for the first time in history
according to a new study by Tourism Economics and the Ohio Tourism Division.
Figures show a growth rate of 4.6 percent in state-wide tourism spending in the last year, but Warren County out-
paced the state average with a one-year growth of 5.2 percent. No other county in Southwest Ohio is more
dependent on tourism for jobs than Warren County, the study reports.
Tourism is the number one industry in Warren County, according to the report.
"Tourism supports one in every eight jobs in Warren County or 12.7 percent of the total," said Phil Smith, president
and CEO of the Warren County Convention & Visitors Bureau. "We are thrilled to have surpassed the one billion
dollar mark. This confirms the importance of the county's diverse array of leisure tourism attractions and our brand
promise as 'Ohio's Largest Playground'."
In 2013, 8.3 million visitors to Warren County generated more than $1.063 billion in economic impact, the study
revealed. The top three areas of visitor spending were retail ($245.5 million), recreation & entertainment ($184.3
million) and food & beverage ($161.3 million).
In addition, the 11,866 tourism-related jobs in Warren County generated $252.1 million in wages and $136.5 million
in federal, state and local taxes.
Dear Councilpersons:
As a former Councilperson and Council President for a total of 14 years,
I would like to address the Riverfront Development project, including
Hobart Arena and the Treasure Island Marina Park. I can assure you that
in past Council work sessions on the budget, Hobart Arena and
Treasure Island redevelopment were always among the top priorities.
In 1999, Hobart Arena was completely renovated, including enlarging the
size of the rink, new seating, restrooms and locker facilities. This was
accomplished through a city-wide fund drive that matched the $1 million
gift from the Bravo family. Later, the restaurant at Treasure Island was
renovated, the lagoon was dredged, and an old building that housed
boats was demolished.
I believe strongly that it is time again to upgrade these two facilities, as
it has been nearly a decade and a half since the last renovations were
made. Riverfront development will be a tremendous asset to our
community, providing great economic benefits to the small business
community and certainly add to our already strong Quality of Life.
As our business community continues to thrive, these amenities will
certainly have an impact on the growth of our small businesses and
serve as an additional attraction to people looking to move to a new
community. When combined, think of the tax dollars that will be added
to our yearly budget.
When Mayor Beamish and I were first elected to Council in 1993, the late
Carol Hastings, then President of Council, gave us some advice that I
used throughout my Council career. She put her hands to the side of
her head and said we should never think of the impact of our decisions
for six months, a year, or five years. Rather, she said think of your
decisions and their impact 20, 30 or and 50 from now.
This particular project needs your approval. Think of its impact, not for
two years from now, but 2034 and even 2054.
Sincerely,
Bill Lohrer
40 Colony Park
Troy, Ohio 45373
Honorable Michael Beamish
Mayor of Troy
100 S. Market St.
Troy, Ohio
Dear Mayor Beamish:
Bob Taft
Lower Bellbrook Rd.
Spring Valley, OH 45370
July 3, 2014
Thank you very much for your kind invitation to attend the upcoming City Council meeting to
discuss Troy's exciting plans for riverfront development. I am very sorry that I will be out of
town on that date and am unable to attend.
I would have liked to be with you because I have been delighted to observe both as Governor
and in recent years the strong leadership which the City of Troy has provided in regional Great
Miami River discussions. I have also been impressed with your focus on investing in your own
riverfront to enhance the quality of life for your citizens.
Troy is a gateway community to the larger Dayton metropolitan area and it is vital for you to
stay in the forefront of projects that will fully exploit the recreational and economic
development potential of the river. Troy can be both a destination and a starting point for
bicycle, canoe and kayak trips along the river, attracting many 1000's of visitors from outside
the region as well. Shopping and eating establishments can be developed and sustained
wherever there is an accessible riverfront that is fun to visit.
I have become familiar with the efforts of Cincinnati and Dayton to develop their riverfront to
transform their cities and believe that Troy is well positioned to do the same. Increasingly,
young professionals and empty nesters are attracted to live and play in engaging venues along
the banks of rivers.
I encourage you and members of Troy City Council to continue your innovative efforts to
capitalize fully on your greatest natural advantage which is your location on the shores of the
Great Miami.
Sincerely,
Bob Taft
Governor of Ohio 1999-2007
Mayor Michael Beamish
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Mr. Mayor,
Good Morning!
david potts <davidpotts@me.com>
Monday, July 21, 2014 10:09 AM
Mayor. Beamish
Jim Paluch
Riverfront Proposal
I have been noticing your progress with respect to the riverfront development and continued pursuit of
upgrading the quality of life for us residents and visitors of our great city. I have been "on board" with your
administrations focus on this development which include the Treasure Island-Hobart Arena-Bike Trail and
Riverfront areas and overall potential investment of 17 Million Dollars to this endeavor.
This brings my thoughts to a good friend of mine, Jim Paluch, who started a company called "Come Alive
Outside" several years ago. His movement has inspired individuals, families, businesses and communities to
start finding ways to encourage one another back into the great outdoors! His company, located in Northern
Ohio, has worked with many cities in organizing events to create outdoor spaces to encourage this activity.
As the City of Troy continues the great work in providing this environment which is aided by our bikeways and
riverfront I would not hesitate in at least having a discussion with Jim to see if his experience with other
municipalities would benefit Troy.
I have copied him in this email since I have not discussed Troy's development in this area previously with him.
I have copied the link to his website for your review.
http://comealiveoutside.com/what-is-this/
Have a great week!
David M. Potts
937-287-4313
1
Mayor Michael Beamish
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Martin Hobart <marthobart@gmail.com>
Monday, July 21, 2014 10:17 AM
Ken Siler; Tom Dunn; Donna Snipes; Doug Jackson; Dave Heffner; Patrick Titterington;
Kendall, Tom; Mike Beamish
Dayton Business Journal article on tourism economic impact in Clark County
http://www.bizjoumals.com/davton/news/20 14/07 /18/tourism-dollars-flowing-in-clark-
county .html ?ana=e day rdup&s=newsletter&ed=20 14-07-
21 &u=MfNmpMJESoNtZfSgAnGoCQOOfad48d&t= 14059520 15&page=all
1
Tourism dollars flowing in Clark County- Dayton Business Journal
http://www.bizjoumals.com/dayton/news/2014/07/1 8/tourism-dollars-...
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Jul 18, 2014, 3:35pm EDT Updated: Jul 18, 2014, 3:40pm EDT
Tourism dollars flowing in Clark County
Tristan Navera
Staff Reporter- Dayton Business Journal
Email I Twitter I Linkedin I Gooole+
Clark County is seeing a boon in tourism dollars, according to a report released Friday by the Greater Springfield
Convention and Visitors Bureau
In 2013, visitors to the county generated $368 million in business sales- an increase of $42 million from the last
time an economic impact study on the county was done in 2011. It's a 13 percent increase in tourism dollars for the
county, according to the bureau.
"The Tourism Economics study mirrors data we have received from the Smith Travel Report which indicates that
occupancy rates have spiked some 13% over the past two years," said Chris Schutte, Director of the Greater
Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau. "This pattern of growth is a tribute to our local lodging and attractions
partners who help make Greater Springfield a true destination."
Schutte said it's not just the attractions to the county- there has been an 11.5 percent increase in hotel occupancy,
which has been driven in part by major employers in the county bringing people in for corporate training. Among
them Konecranes USA, CodeBiue, Soeedway and Navistar, Schutte said.
Those numbers mean a significant boost for the region. Tourism-related work accounts for 8 percent of salaried
employment in Clark County, generating $86 million in personal income and $24 million in state and local taxes during
2013, according to the study.
There's an effect for the larger area, too. Karen Wintrow, executive di rector of the Yellow Springs Chamber of
Commerce, said Springfield's attractions have also driven t raffic into that town, just south of the county line in Greene
County. A significant number of the visitors tend to visit the village for its shops and bike trails.
"The businesses have seen an uptick, especially for the Street Fair where they've seen a huge percentage of increase
in sales," Wintrow said. "It's been a busy season- lodging in town is almost always full now."