Friday, August 13, 1999
Symmes official vows to protect turf
Township administrator vigilant for annexation attempts
BY WALT SCHAEFER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
SYMMES TOWNSHIP — Newly appointed Township Administrator Steve Grote vows to protect the township's turf.
This affluent northeastern Hamilton County township has been the target of annexations by neighboring Montgomery and Loveland, and Mr. Grote said that has to stop.
“We want to be a good neighbor ... but, my advice to the good elected officials of Montgomery and Loveland is to remember a motto of our early American patriots: "Don't Tread On Me.'
“I come from Green Township, where we don't take annexations lightly at all,” Mr. Grote said. “That's the way we'll look at them here.”
Mr. Grote, 45, was a trustee in Green Township in western Hamilton County from 1991 to 1995 and is the current township clerk. He assumed the $60,000 administrator's post here last week. Under a contract agreement he will “cease outside employment” by Nov. 30 — including the $15,000 elected clerk's position in Green Township — to devote full time to Symmes Township business.
There is no conflict in Ohio with someone holding an elected clerk's position and appointed government position — such as a township administrator — which Mr. Grote will do for the next three months. Mr. Grote also has been employed as a project manager for Patio Enclosures Inc., and will complete some unfinished work agreements for that firm prior to the end of November.
Eric Minamyer, president of the township board of trustees, said Mr. Grote was selected from 34 applicants to fill the post held by C. W. (Bill) “Bill” Bercaw, 69, who resigned in June after nine years in the job.
“Steve has a wealth of government experience — particularly township government — a great deal of personal charisma and leadership ability,” Mr. Minamyer said.
Bill Seitz, president of the Green Township trustees, said it was Mr. Grote who successfully orchestrated the defeat of an annexation attempt by the city of Cheviot to take over the proposed site of a new nursing home.
“He knows the strategies,” Mr. Seitz said. In that instance, Mr. Grote successfully lobbied the Hamilton County commissioners to match the tax abatement offer presented to the nursing home developer by Cheviot. He then persuaded the developer to sign an agreement protecting the site from any future annexation attempts, Mr. Seitz said.
“This is a great opportunity for him. He knows and supports township government, and he has learned it from our township, which is a lot larger with more employees (than Symmes),” Mr. Seitz said.
Symmes Township Trustee Kathy Wagner said the last annexation battle affecting the township occurred when Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Good Shepherd Church and the small Acrewood subdivision of 22 homes voted to join Montgomery in 1995. The issue was appealed two years later to the Ohio Supreme Court, which allowed the annexation.
Besides Mr. Grote's township government experience, “he is a people person. He is going out and talking to people about issues,” Mrs. Wagner said.
Mr. Grote said the new job “gives me the opportunity to blend everything I've have done (professionally) into one job. I have been the financial manager of an organization, and involved in public service organizations ... and the family business — Grote Bakery,” which he left in 1996 after 20 years.
A University of Cincinnati business finance graduate, Mr. Grote worked for the former Central Trust Bank and was a stock broker. He also worked for a new home builder prior to joining Patio Enclosures and was a dealer at the Grand Victoria Casino in Rising Sun, Ind., “for fun, and to see the seedy side of gambling.”
Mr. Grote will supervise 15 full-time and five summerseasonal employees — comprising an office staff and public works department. The township contracts with the Hamilton County sheriff for police protection and with the Loveland-Symmes Fire Department for fire and paramedic services.
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