SUCCESSFUL EASTER EGG HUNT RESULT OF STRONG COMMUNITY SUPPORT

On Saturday, March 16, 2013, New Boston hosted its first community-wide Easter Egg Hunt in many years. 

Over 3000 eggs were put on the senior league, little league and t-ball fields at Millbrook Park.  Over 100 children, ages 3-15, then charged the fields with supervision to insure safety and fun.

The event, sponsored primarily by Daymar College also had the support of the New Boston Kiwanis and the Village of New Boston.  Rebecca Mowery, President of Daymar College, along with Mike Bell and Theresa Rowland coordinated the event for Daymar.  Kathy Bender and Mike Payton coordinated for New Boston Kiwanis and the Village Council and Mayor Warren coordinated for the village.

Over the years I have been on village council, I can say that community support is a primary reason for our village continuing to move forward.  Our local businesses always step forward for the various youth programs such as little league, basketball and soccer, not to mention the various other charitable activities such as the Christmas Parade, Police Children's Toy Drive, Veteran's Day Recognition and First Responder's Parade to name a few more. 

I also am very proud that our village employees also step forward, many times without the recognition they so richly deserve, to aid in many of these events, with regard to safety, security and supportive services needs.  

This continued support of each other is very unique in a world where everyone many times appears out only for themselves.  This Easter Egg hunt was so much more than an event for our kids, it was another layer of continued bonding and trust between the various business and governmental entities of the village.  It was New Boston working together for the benefit of all.

I would like to extend my personal thanks to all who were involved in this great beautiful day.  The children's smiles made the day even brighter.  It's just another reason I love being a councilman in the greatest village in the world!!

Mike Payton
3-22-2013

APPOINTMENT TO SOUTHERN OHIO PORT AUTHORITY A SPECIAL HONOR

Very few boards or organizations have had the economic impact the Southern Ohio Port Authority (SOPA)  has had on the Southern Ohio area in the last 25 years.

Today I was honored to accept a position on the SOPA board.  This board has been extremely important not just to New Boston but to surrounding areas economically bringing such industry as SFI and the new Infra Metals into our village.  SOPA was also highly involved in the development of both the old Walmart mall area as well as the property the new Walmart Superstore now occupies. 

Additionally SOPA has been at the front in terms of seeking new industry and job opportunities for our local workforce in forming strong working relationships with organized labor and private businesses.

The Southern Ohio Port Authority I believe is a vital force in future economic development in our area.  Working together with these fine individuals who were appointed with me today as well as those who are returning will be both a pleasure and a challenge.

I look forward to this new challenge and would like to thank the Scioto County Commissioners for giving me this great opportunity.

Mike Payton
2-1-2013

NEW BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT JOINS MISSING PERSON NETWORK

It was great news today to hear the announcement that the New Boston Police Department has announced it has become a participating member of the "A Child is Missing Alert Program."

The program is similar to what the state has in the Amber Alerts, but the "A Child is Missing Alert Program" places actual calls to local citizens, more than 1000 calls within 60 seconds.  The alert message will include the age of the missing person, their clothing description, and the last known time and location of where the person was seen.  The alert covers persons under the age of 21 and disabled and elderly persons, often with Alzheimers and dementia.

The standard Alert Program utilizes computer mapping and enhanced satellite imagery to select an appropriate calling area, and will call between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10:30 p.m., unless significant extenuating circumstances dictate otherwise.  Police departments also have access to 24-hour alert calls.  Unlisted phone numbers can also be entered into the database at www.achildismissing.org to receive alert calls.  According the program, a child is reported missing in the United States every 40 seconds.

Getting information out to the general public in a quick and timely manner is a major factor in helping find the missing child or elderly person before they are hurt.  The more people in our area that can assist the police in going out in their neighborhood and helping to look for the person, the more likely the outcome will be successful in finding the person. 

It is good to see our police department participating in this valuable program and taking the lead in our area in helping locate missing loved ones.

Mike Payton
1-23-2013

NEW BOSTON COMMUNITY STEPS UP FOR CHILDREN AT CHRISTMAS

Every year since I have been on Village Council, I have had the privilege of working with three of the most satisfying projects any community can offer its citizens.

The annual Breakfast with Santa, which is put on by the mayor along with village council and local community leaders is a great way to start the holiday season.  Each year the number of pancake and breakfast sausage meals seem to increase as this year it is estimated we served between 500-600 people.  A Santa Claus is available giving out gifts to each child who shows up and the fellowship and fun make the morning the start to a great day.

Over the last three years, New Boston has began an annual Christmas parade.  The parade gets bigger each year, goes through the village and has entries from all over Scioto County as well as parts of Kentucky.  There were approximately 70 units in the parade this year and next year it is expected to be bigger.   The streets are lined with children and adults cheering and at the fire station Santa Claus meets with children after the parade and cookies and hot chocolate are served.

Probably the oldest tradition in New Boston is the annual Police/Fire Children's Christmas Toy Drive.  Local vendors and citizens donate money and toys to the drive each year and employees and volunteers donate their time wrapping the gifts for families who submit their children's names for gifts.  One day close to Christmas, personnel from the police, fire and village council go throughout the village with Santa Claus passing out the gifts at the children's homes.   Additional gifts are bought for children outside the village and are picked up at the police station by families.

These three events are just another example of how the New Boston community reaches out to its children each year.   I have been so privileged to work with the great police, fire and service department staffs which go above and beyond to make Christmas special for so many people. 

There are a lot of great things coming to New Boston in the next year, its going to be a great time to live in the village and a great time to raise your children there as well.  Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

Mike Payton
12-24-2012

NEW BOSTON HAS A LOT TO BE THANKFUL FOR

As we complete the Thanksgiving weekend it is always good to look back on the many blessings we have had over the past year.  We do this personally as well with our business life.

Here in New Boston, there have been several events that have given all of us in our village reason to be thankful this year.  How you rate them in importance is up to the individual but blessings to our village they all have been.

The long-awaited completion and opening of the new facilties for the New Boston School District.  This past week several tours have taken place and the students actually started using the building on November 19.  It is a beautifully constructed, state-of-the-art facility that should last the community for another hundred years, as did the old Glenwood High School.   A new, larger gymnasium, the most current computer technology and larger classroom space plus beautiful surroundings reflect the great generosity of the voters of New Boston for their children.

The Village has had two major construction projects over the past year.  Both the new retaining wall on 139 plus the blacktopping of Lakeview and Rt. 139 have caused traffic congestion most of the summer but have made our village much safer and more attractive. 

This past week the announcement that the construction of Infra-Metals was going to be starting with the completion on all paper work will have the possibility of providing an initial 60 jobs at the plant plus the construction jobs that will be required to build the complex.

And finally, the South Central Educational Service Center will take occupation of the old Glenwood High School building in January.  They will bring with them several employees as well as other benefits for the village.

Overall, as we look at where New Boston is this Thanksgiving, we do have a lot to be thankful for.  Our little village has moved forward in a time where many larger cities have fallen by the way side due to poor economic condiditions.  Let's enjoy what we have and look forward to the future.

Mike Payton
11-25-2012

THANKS TO THE AMERICAN LABOR MOVEMENT

As we celebrate another Labor Day weekend, 3 days in fact for many of us, I think it is important to give credit to those that made this traditional weekend away from our jobs possible: The American Labor Movement.

Many great benefits have came our way over the years due to the diligent work of union memberships throughout our great country. Such items as weekends off, overtime pay, 8-hour workday, minimum wage laws, paid vacation, paid sick days, improved safety standards, child labor laws, health benefits, retirement security and unemployment compensation are all a direct result of labor unions and their membership standing up for the American worker.

My father was a member of the railroad unions for close to forty years. I was a member of the AFSCME union while working with the state of Ohio. Throughout all those years I met many dedicated workers who cared for their families, their churches and their communities. They worked hard, obeyed our laws and sent their children to our schools. I can't imagine living any other way than by the solid work ethic and principles I gained growing up and the environment I am proud to have come from.

This Labor Day weekend, as well as throughout the year, stop and think before you sponsor those who out-sourced jobs to other countries, and those who try to eliminate collective bargaining rights and deprive citizens of their right to health insurance and abolish social security, retirement pensions and Medicare.

My thanks to all those of the American Labor Movement for all they have done for my family and yours.

Mike Payton
9-3-2012

NEW BOSTON COUNCIL REQUESTS MEETINGS WITH PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL

As many of you may have read recently, our Village council is in the process of asking Village Solicitor Walter Lytten to coordinate a joint council meeting with the city of Portsmouth's council.

It has become increasingly clear over the last few years issues continue to evolve requiring cooperation between the two communities. Communication has not been as clear or effective between the two governments as it should be. I don't believe this to be the fault of either council or staff, I believe it to be the nature of political bureaucracy.

The past few council meetings at New Boston have resulted in requests by our council to Village Solicitor Walter Lytten to coordinate with Portsmouth Solicitor Mike Jones a joint meeting of the two councils. Especially at this time in our village I feel the position of both councils needs to be exceedingly clear on two particular issues: (1) the floodwall certification process and (2) sewer revenue operations.

The sewer problem in particular dates back to 1991 when the Village and city signed a 30-year contract agreeing that New Boston would maintain all of the sewer lines that pass through the village, and the city would maintain all of the sewer lift stations and the village would receive no revenue from the sewer rates.

Since that time, the city has added more sewer customers on Pleasant Avenue and Scioto County Engineers are planning a sewer project on Munn's Run in the Eden Park area that will pay the city to run through those same village sewer lines. We believe these customers weren't part of the original agreement and are adding more stress to our lines which we have to maintain with no revenue.

What we are asking for, but not agreed to by Portsmouth at this time, is 10 percent of the total sewage fee collected on New Boston residents. According to figures provided by Village Administrator Steve Hamilton, New Boston residents paid $300,000 in sewage fees to the city of Portsmouth last year, and 10% of that would be $30,000 in revenue to New Boston.

With regard to the floodwall certification, FEMA is wanting both Portsmouth and New Boston walls completed successfully so the entire floodwall system can be accredited. Although we know where New Boston is in regards to successful completion, we are not sure with Portsmouth. We have secured a $400,00o bond to insure successful accreditation of the New Boston walls. We want to be sure the Portsmouth walls do not endanger our success.

I believe we can no longer sit by without direct discussion with the Portsmouth council working out written agreements on these issues and several others. We need periodic meetings, quarterly at the least, between the two entities, and these meetings need to be with the best interests of citizens of both communities at the forefront.

Mike Payton
7-1-2012