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Ohio Townships Explained
CLICK HERE for Information from the Ohio Township Association (OTA) regarding Ohio Townships
Ohio Townships are statutory governments and can only do what the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) permits or inherently implies. Limited Home Rule Townships, of which Fairfield Township is one, have further discretion as follows:
WHAT IS A TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE IN OHIO
Trustees are elected every four years by the citizens in their jurisdiction. They are elected to act as the legal owners of the Township's assets.
Trustees are responsible for managing the assets, filing taxes, and distributing assets as necessary. In Ohio, they must also keep “adequate records of administration” and keep the beneficiaries informed as to the administration, distribution, and status of the trust.
Trustee Duties – The Trustees have legislative authority in the township. Under township responsibilities, the Trustees oversee the care and maintenance of the township roads, fire and police protection, cemeteries, parks and recreation, zoning, and waste disposal. And they can hire a Township Administrator to execute daily operations under their authority.
Township Responsibilities
State law authorizes Ohio townships to operate under a basic form of government and perform a wide variety of functions. There are 1,308 townships in Ohio and they are varied in population size, annual operating budget, and range of services delivered to residents.
Ohio townships most commonly provide residents with services such as road maintenance, cemetery management, police and fire protection, emergency medical services, solid waste disposal, and zoning. Other functions include economic development, accounting, and finances (taxes, borrowing, grants, special assessments, fees, etc.), public records, land use planning, blight elimination, cable and other franchise management, community centers, building code enforcement, off-road vehicle regulation, street lighting, public information, and youth programs. Ohio townships have direct responsibility for maintaining 41,000 miles of roads and streets, and townships manage more than 2,400 cemeteries.
Limited Home Rule Townships
CLICK HERE for information from the Ohio Township Association (OTA) regarding Ohio Townships.
Limited home rule allows townships to enact resolutions to improve the health, safety and welfare of its citizens. The township may not exercise any power that conflicts with the general laws of the State.
What does Home Rule mean?
Section 3 of Article XVIII of the Ohio Constitution reads as follows: Municipalities shall have authority to exercise all powers of local self-government and to adopt and enforce within their limits such local police, sanitary and other similar regulations, as are not in conflict with general laws.
MILLAGE & VALUATION INFORMATION FOR FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP
As of the end of 2023, the assessed value of the Township stands at $780,305,850.
As of that same time, the appraised value stands at $2,239,445,285.71.
One mill would currently generate $780,305.85. To put this figure into perspective, in 2015 when the Safety Service Levy ran, a mill generated approximately $423,000.
To explain a mill - Property tax rate is measured in mills; a mill is one tenth of a cent and is used in expressing tax rates on a per-dollar basis. This translates to $1 for each $1,000 of assessed property value. For more information, click here to read an article about millage in Ohio.
FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP
Fairfield Township is a dynamic growing community of over 80 public road miles that has a wide range of activities and amenities. Established in 1803, our community has evolved from a predominately agricultural community to become an urban township that continues to embrace our natural resources. We are located in southwestern Ohio, about 22 miles north of Cincinnati. Approximately 23,000 residents currently live here. Fairfield Township offers shopping, parks, assorted residential properties within its borders, and easy access to regional amenities.
Whatever your interest, you will find it available nearby. Our residents enjoy the convenience of the expansive recreational, cultural and business areas of Greater Cincinnati and Dayton. For example, the Township is close to the rich arts culture of Music Hall, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, and the Cincinnati Art Museum and the Fitton Center. Local sports fans embrace professional teams like the Cincinnati Reds, the Cincinnati Bengals, FC Cincinnati, and the Cincinnati Cyclones.
Educational opportunities abound for Fairfield Township residents. Both private and public educational options are available for children. The township is also home to Butler Tech, which is one of Ohio's largest career-technical schools. Nationally known schools like the University of Cincinnati, Miami University, Xavier and the University of Dayton are easily accessible to our residents.
Our residents enjoy a wide range of recreational activities. The township manages two public parks and there are a number of county parks in the area. Rentschler Forest is the largest Metropark in the county at 443 acres and offers our residents a truly natural setting along the Great Miami River. Hiking, biking, geocaching, basketball, tennis and frisbee golf are just a few of the things you will find happening at our parks. Several select youth baseball and softball teams call the township home. The East Butler YMCA offers activities for children and adults alike.
Housing options range from small starter homes to high-end homes. In Fairfield Township you can build a home in one of our new neighborhoods or purchase a classic home in an established neighborhood.
The Township offers expansive retail and dining options. We are home to Bridgewater Falls shopping complex and the Regency Center, which includes Kohl’s, Dollar General, Wal-Mart Superstore and more. Many other small businesses offer a range of services and products to our residents.
Fairfield Township is conveniently located with easy access to Cincinnati and Dayton. Using State Route 129 and State Route 4, the Township has easy access to all the major interstates such as I-275, I-75, I-71, and I-74. Air travel to and from the township is accommodated with the Butler County Regional Airport, the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport and with the Dayton International Airport. The township is bordered by the City of Hamilton to the west, the City of Fairfield to the south, Saint Clair Township to the north and Liberty Township to the east.
TOWNSHIP GOVERNMENT
Address:
Fairfield Township Administration Building
6032 Morris Road
Fairfield Township, OH 45011
Phone: 513.887.4400
Fax: 513.887.4405
Fairfield Township’s local government is under the control of a three-person, elected Board of Township Trustees. These trustees serve four-year terms and have a rotating Board presidency. Their decisions are supported by the efforts of an elected Township Fiscal Officer whose staff are responsible for budgetary affairs and record-keeping. Day-to-day Township operations are guided by the Township Administrator, his administrative staff, and department heads. Fairfield Township is an unincorporated civil jurisdiction. Townships are administrative subdivisions of county government and function as a statutory local government. Townships only exercise powers specifically delegated to them by the General Assembly.
Since January 1st, 1992, Fairfield Township has operated under Limited Home Rule, which was voted on by the electors of the Township the previous November.
Benefits of Township home rule include the following:
- The Township trustees have expanded legislative authority.
- The Township trustees have more powerful means of township resolution enforcement.
- The Township is more actively involved in the residential, industrial, and business development for the township.
FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP JURISDICTION
Fairfield Township, a community of approximately 23,000 residents, is located 20 miles north of Cincinnati, Ohio, in Butler County, occupying approximately 17.7 square miles.
Fairfield Township is primarily residential with a rapidly growing commercial district and light industrial structures.
Our main focus is fire suppression, emergency medical service, rescue, fire prevention, and public safety education.
Our borders are split up several different ways. In 1954, the south portion of Fairfield Township voted to become a City. That city is now the City of Fairfield. The northern portion of Fairfield Township voted to stay a township. However, during the incorportion the southern most portion of Fairfield Township decided to stay a township. Those areas are from 6131 East River Rd all the way to the Hamilton County Border. This covers Georgetown Road and all addresses ending in an odd number. The City of Fairfield Fire Department Covers that area with a common automatic aid agreement.
Fairfield Township also has property off of State Rt 128. This area covers Watson Gravel. Ross Township Fire Department covers this area with a common automatic mutual aid agreement.
Fairfield Township is bordered by:
AGGREGATION PROGRAMS
Fairfield Township voters passed both gas and electric aggregation opt-out programs for the Township. At this time, there are a total of 3,161 resident participants and 77 business participants. For residents and businesses who would like to opt into/enroll in the aggregation programs, please call the toll-free # : 1-866-711-6257
Additional gas aggregation facts:
Plan of Operation and Governance for Gas Aggregation
GAS: For prices and questions about the Constellation gas program, residents can go to the link below.
https://energyalliances.com/fairfield-township-butler-co
Fairfield Township has a natural gas program with AEP Energy. The cost is $0.5894 per ccf until October 2025. This program is different from Duke’s natural gas supply, which is called their Gas Cost Recovery (GCR). The price for Duke’s GCR changes every month, but the AEP Energy program has a fixed rate. Even if you choose the AEP Energy program, Duke will still be your natural gas company. You will get one bill from Duke and contact them if you have any problems or smell gas. You will pay Duke for delivering the gas, but no longer pay the Gas Cost Recovery charges.
Additional electric aggregation facts:
Plan of Operation and Governance for Electric Aggregation
ELECTRIC: For additional questions about the Dynegy electric program or to enroll, call 513-762-8226
For additional information or questions, please call Energy Alliances, Inc. at 794-5555.
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Shannon Hartkemeyer AIS, ACS
Elected: November 2013 Term Expires: December 2025
Address: 4250 Bennett Drive
Contact: hartkemeyers@fairfieldtwp.org Cell: 513-236-2580
Education:
B.S. Industrial Engineering Technology, University of Dayton; M.A.
Organizational Management, University of Phoenix.
Family:
Married 15+ years to Jason Hartkemeyer; children, Nathan, Stephanie 'Daisy', Alexandra Skye, and Madelyn.
Experience/qualifications:
For over 20 years Mrs. Hartkemeyer worked in the private sector as an industrial engineer in manufacturing, insurance, and telecommunications. The majority of her work experience revolved around assessing and then improving various processes through continuous improvement methodologies such as Lean Kaizen. In addition, she possesses skills and experience in the following: Continuous Improvement/Kaizen/Lean Implementation, Business Process Improvement, Organizational Transformation, Strategic Planning, Customer Service, Training and Development, Performance Measurement, Facilities Management, Financial Analysis, Employee Development, Human Resources, and Team-based Process Improvement Initiatives.
Main concerns for Township:
Fiscal responsibility; Open, honest, efficient government; Community development.
Michael Berding
Elected: November 2021 Term Expires: December 2025
Address: 4161 Millikin Road
Contact: mberding@fairfieldtwp.org Cell: 513-225-2125
Education:
St. Xavier High School
Butler Tech, FAA - Unmanned Aircraft Pilot
Family:
Married to retired Fairfield Township Trustee Susan Berding
Children: Sarah (Adam) Fowler, Abby (Alex) Berding-Miller, Cole Berding, and Erik VanZandt
Grandchildren: Lily, Molly and Greyson
Experience/Qualifications:
Michael Berding is a 31-year resident of Fairfield Township and a 29-year business owner. He has expanded his business partnerships into seven states. He is also a Career Strategist at Butler Tech. His experience includes finance and budgeting, logistics, supplier management, consumer demands, information technology, forecasting and personnel management.
Michael is a retired Fairfield City Schools Board of Education Member. He was elected in 2013, and subsequently re-elected in 2017 as the top vote-getter in both elections. In 2015 Michael was appointed by the BOE to represent Fairfield Schools on the Butler Technology and Career Development School Board. He was re-appointed in 2018, and 2021. Michael was elected by his colleagues to serve as Board Vice President in 2017 and 2018, and Board President in 2019 - 2021. The Butler Tech Board made Michael Board President in 2017 – 2021.
Michael has fostered relationships with many local, county, state, and federal elected officials that will benefit Fairfield Township in upcoming plans and developments.
As a volunteer, Michael has benefitted the community through his work with Fairfield Township Youth Basketball League (FTYBL), Fairfield Township Zoning Appeals Board, Fairfield Township Zoning Commissioner, Fairfield Township Fire Corps, Fairfield Township Police Academy Alumni Association, Fairfield Township Cleanup Day, Fairfield Township Athletic Fields Scheduler, Fairfield Rotary, Fairfield Civitan, Fairfield City Schools Father-Daughter Dance Committee, The Presbyterian Church of Hamilton and Fairfield North Elementary Parents and Teachers for Children (PTC). Butler County Elderly Services Advisory Board Member.
Main concerns for Fairfield Township:
High functioning safety services, controlled economic development, excellent quality of life for citizens, well maintained roads, reasonable zoning Laws, transparency and fiscal responsibility.
Joseph McAbee
Elected: November 2023 Term Expires: December 2027
Address: 7904 Jessie's Landing
Contact: joemcabeesr@gmail.com Cell: 513-550-1239
Education:
Bachelor of Science Degree Methodist University, Fayetteville, NC.
Master’s Degree in Education, Miami University, Oxford, Oh.
Family:
Married to Susan Walsh McAbee. Three children, Rachel (Chad) Stanfield, Laura (Scott) Lieffers and Joe (Lauren) McAbee, Jr. Four grandchildren: Madison, Emma, Charlotte and Lucy.
Experience/qualifications:
Fairfield Township Trustee, elected 1996 to 2007; current term 2015 to present.
Responsible for all township government services, including set public policy. 8 years as President of the board. Hired and trained three administrators, served 2 years on the planning commission. Coordinated rewrite of current Fairfield Township zoning resolution. Experienced with Joint Economic Development Districts, TIFs, RIDS, grant applications, and operation of township government.
Past board member of Great Miami Valley Y.M.C.A
Founder Fairfield Township Youth Basketball
Current Butler County Transportation Improvement District Board member.
Main concerns for Township:
Promote a healthy community where families can thrive with recreational activities, strong local schools and the best police and fire departments available. Achieve financial responsibility through economic development with a pro-business atmosphere to lessen taxpayer burden.