BY LEW MOORES
The Cincinnati Enquirer
IF YOU GO
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What: Colerain Township dedication of new administration complex and Fourth of July celebration.
When: Friday and Saturday.
Ceremonies: Dedication will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, 4200 Springdale Road.
Entertainment: 6 to 10 p.m. both nights, including The Association at 8:30 p.m. Saturday. Fireworks at 10 p.m. Saturday.
Guided tours: 4 to 8 p.m. Friday and 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Traffic: To accommodate the festivities, Springdale Road from 4725 to 3730 at Flattop Drive will be closed from 5:30 p.m. to midnight on Saturday.
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COLERAIN TOWNSHIP -- With much fanfare, fireworks and entertainment, the new township government complex is scheduled to open this weekend amid the July 4 celebration in the township.
The $5 million project, planned over four years, will bring several township departments under one roof and make for more efficient government services, said township officials.
Tours of the 26,000-square-foot building at 4200 Springdale Road will be held Friday and Saturday, and the dedication ceremony will be at 2 p.m. Saturday.
The township has not had a building that consolidated the various township offices; and for years the township's administrative offices operated out of a two-bedroom, ranch-style home at 4200 Springdale Road.
"It will give the township (government) a presence in the community," Trustee Joseph Wolterman said. "The atmosphere will be one of professionalism, and that's what we're trying to bring to the community." The building has a hall where trustees will hold their board meetings; and -- in addition to the administration -- the police department, zoning and fire inspection staffs also will be located in the offices. The zoning department had been next door in a trailer, while the police department was in the northern part of the township at Old Colerain and Kemper Road.
Beginning with the July 21 meeting, board of trustees meetings will be held at the new complex. The July 21 meeting is at 7 p.m.
"It gives more dignity to the township," said Trustee Keith Corman. "It's just going to be a big boost for us all the way around." Township officials said the benefit of housing most offices in one building will mean "one-stop shopping" for residents doing business with the township. They won't have to travel to different offices.
Trustee Diana Lynn Rielage said the new complex is centrally located, making offices more accessible. In addition, residents who had seen the old offices in the ranch-style home recognized the need for improvement.
"Once you go in the house, it became very obvious," said Ms. Rielage. "I don't think anyone who's been in the house questions the need for the new building."
