Brian Lamar - Columbia Township Trustee

18/08/2026

Investing in the places that make Columbia Township a stronger community.

At recent meetings, we (the Columbia Township Board of Trustees) approved three actions supporting recreation, arts, historic places, and quality of life in and around our community:

🌳 The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori Playscape
The Township approved funding to help preserve and improve the shared playscape at Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori—the only public park in Columbia Township. This long-standing agreement keeps the park available to Township residents and the public outside school hours and it is heavily used by the community. They have been a great partner in the community for generations and recently made a large contribution to help support stormwater prevention.

🎭 Mariemont Players Inc.
The Township approved support for Mariemont Players’ Lighting the Way campaign. This historic, volunteer-driven community theatre has served the area for more than 90 years. The project will replace aging stage lighting with energy-efficient LED equipment, improving performances, comfort, reliability, and long-term operating costs.

🎬 The Mariemont Theatre by Cindependent
The Township also approved support for the reopening and operation of the historic Mariemont Theatre. While the theatre is located just outside Columbia Township, it is an important regional asset that supports nearby businesses, brings visitors to the area, and adds to the cultural vitality of the community we share.

These investments are possible in part because Columbia Township receives more than $100,000 per month in revenue from medical and adult-use ma*****na sales. Our first priority will always be public safety and essential Township services. At the same time, this revenue gives us an opportunity to make thoughtful investments in community amenities, recreation, cultural institutions, and local economic development. I am proud that we are supporting each of these projects with $25,000.

I’m grateful to Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori, Mariemont Players, and the Mariemont Theatre for being valued community partners. Thank you as well to the Columbia Township staff and Board of Trustees for their creativity and collaboration in finding responsible ways to support projects that strengthen our community. I encourage all residents and community members to use these outstanding members of the community!

We are committed to using available resources responsibly and in ways that benefit Columbia Township residents now and for years to come.

28/07/2026

Meals on Wheels Southwest OH & Northern KY broke ground in October on their new headquarters and meals production center right here on Highland Ave. — the former John Nolan Ford Dealership site.

The organization is renovating the existing 51,500-square-foot building (keeping the exterior, rebuilding the interior) as part of their $30 million "Driving Into The Future" campaign, which has already raised $25.7 million toward that goal. Once complete, the new facility will more than double their production capacity and allow them to grow from serving 10,000 seniors annually to 30,000 across our region.

Meals on Wheels delivered nearly 1.2 million meals to almost 11,000 seniors across 13 counties last year, plus transportation, social work support, and pet food deliveries for homebound seniors — all while relying on more than 5,400 volunteers.

Construction is underway now, with a target move-in around the start of 2027. We're excited to welcome an organization doing this much good in our community to the neighborhood. Stay tuned for updates as the project progresses!

Learn more or support the campaign: muchmorethanameal.org

19/07/2026

After heavy rains Friday, many Greater Cincinnati residents have water in their basements. Here's what to do.

16/07/2026

16/07/2026

7/14/2026 Trustee Meeting Highlights

16/07/2026

Columbia Township Trustees Meeting Recap – July 14, 2026

Packed agenda at this month's meeting! Here's what's happening around the Township:

Storm Recovery — After back-to-back severe storms in June (including reports of six tornadoes in the region), a huge thank-you to our road crew, who worked overtime clearing fallen trees, mud, and drainage issues to keep our roads safe. The new construction at The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori held up well but other areas in the township, like most of the region had some storm damage given the intensity of these storms. Also thank you to Little Miami Joint Fire & Rescue District for their work clearing the streets and helping residents.

Grace Avenue Construction — Work continues on Grace Avenue and it is still on pace to be completed by end of October. To help support our Plainville Business District during closures, we've added 3 new short-term parking spaces near Bramble, plus signage directing folks to parking at HOL Fitness and our public lot at 6805 Cambridge (nearly 30 spaces!).

Columbia Connector Path — Construction is underway connecting the path toward Fifty West Brewing Company by the Mariemont library and Mariemont High School. This work will be completed relatively soon while the connection behind Fifty West/Kroger and extending up SR50 will be completed in about 2 years. This is a complex and key component of the CROWN Cincinnati and Tri-State Trails and will connect to Wasson Way Project and the Little Miami Scenic Trail. Heads up: starting July 22nd at 7am, the right lane of westbound US 50 near Mariemont Library/High School will close for about two weeks, reopening by August 5th.

New Murals — ArtWorks Cincinnati (now 1001 Colors) have started installing our first mural in the northeast stairway at the Community Center — a beautiful cultural design celebrating Columbia Township's iconic spots. A second historic mural is coming to the northwest stairway. Stop by and see the progress in person! This is one of multiple murals being installed, including one commemorating the history of the Madison Place Fire Department.

New Solicitation Ordinance — Trustees passed a new policy regulating door-to-door vendors, giving residents more protection (including no-Sunday solicitation and posted "No Soliciting" signage rights). More details to come as we roll out registration.

Ridge & Highland Business District — Trustees approved demolition of the old, deteriorated sign at the former John Nolan Ford site as part of ongoing redevelopment in the district — home to our largest taxpayers. This is right in front of the Meals on Wheels Southwest OH & Northern KY headquarters as they continue work on their future site.

Community Plan Update — We're kicking off a new community planning process with Yard & Company (who helped shape this very building!) to gather resident input on the Township's future over the next 10 years. I will actually be leading this initiative (with a ton of support) - more info to come soon!

Save the Date — Aug 1st Block Party at Fifty West Brewing Company! Our biggest event of the year returns with the Landsharks Jimmy Buffett Tribute Band — 6-9pm, kids' activities, foam pit, and free drink tickets for residents.

Plus a Neighborhood Meet & Greet on July 23rd (5-7pm) and National Night Out supporting the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office Aug 4th at Silverton Elementary.

Thanks to everyone who came out, and see you at the next meeting, August 11th at 4pm.

09/07/2026

This is very exciting news for our community!

Construction to complete the Columbia Connector is underway!

The Columbia Connector currently dead-ends behind Fifty West Brewing Company . This expansion will extend the Little Miami Scenic Trail further west to the Mariemont Library. One day the trail will connect to Murray Path and Wasson Way, making up a key section of the CROWN loop.

This isn't just any infrastructure project; this is an opportunity to see trail development happening in real time.

We're proud partners of Great Parks, the organization leading this project!

18/06/2026

Hoping everyone stayed safe and dry last night. Those storms were something else.

If you did see water in your basement or yard, you're not alone — and if you didn't, a little preparation now can make all the difference next time.

Columbia Township has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in flood prevention infrastructure over the years. Every new road project we undertake incorporates improved drainage, sloped sidewalks, and water retention features. Last summer, thanks to a combination of our own funding, grant funding from Hamilton County and a generous private contribution from The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori, we were able to put an additional ~$550,000 toward flood mitigation efforts. A few years back, we also planted 600 trees using grant money — those root systems genuinely help the ground absorb water over time.

We're proud of that work. And to be honest with you: flooding in Madison Place, like most neighborhoods in Cincinnati, will likely happen again. The storms are getting bigger and more frequent. Infrastructure helps, but it has limits.

Here's what you can do as a homeowner to protect your property - some are admittedly easier and less expensive than others:

Outside Your Home
* Keep storm sewer grates and drainage ditches near your property clear of leaves and debris — this is one of the highest-impact things a resident can do
* Clean your gutters before and after major storms
* Make sure your yard slopes away from your foundation so water flows out rather than pooling against the house
* Consider adding permeable surfaces (spaced pavers, gravel) or a small rain garden to help the ground absorb runoff naturally

Inside and Structural
* Seal any cracks in your basement walls or floors with hydraulic cement and waterproof sealant
* Install a sump pump at the lowest point of your basement — get one with battery backup so it keeps running when the power goes out
* Add flood vents in foundation walls and garage to let water flow through rather than build up pressure
* Raise water heaters, furnaces, electrical panels, and other important items in your garage and basement above potential flood levels if possible

FEMA also has a free guide with more detail on all of these: fema.gov/protect-your-property

We're in this together. The Township will keep investing where we can but Mother Nature is undefeated. Please reach out if you have questions or concerns about drainage in your area — we want to hear from you.

Use these resources to identify, assess and prioritize possible risks and minimize potential losses.

10/06/2026

Notes from June 10 Board of Trustees meeting

Mariemont Players Update
Dan Dermody from the Mariemont Players Inc. stopped by to share an update on their $1.2 million expansion campaign for their historic 1910 building — new lighting, expanded parking, and more. They've already raised $35–40K and are planning a full presentation at our July meeting. Their next production, Cabaret, opens in July. Check out their website for season details!

Flood Infrastructure Win
We want to take a moment to celebrate something that went mostly unnoticed — which is exactly the point. During the big storm on May 27th, our flood mitigation project at the The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori area performed incredibly well, holding back what could have been devastating flooding in Madison Place. For a neighborhood that experienced major flooding in 2015, 2017, and 2020 (among other years), seeing neighbors outside playing on a normal evening while the water handled itself was something else. Huge thanks to the Trustees, Administrator Taylor, Dustin Frazier, Strand Associates, Ford Development Corporation, The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori and our entire staff for making this happen through creative grant funding and a lot of hard work.

Fire District Recognition
The Little Miami Joint Fire & Rescue District board unanimously approved a well-earned pay increase for Chief Siefke. Six years ago, the district was in disarray — today we have a brand-new engine and ambulance, new branding, a passed levy, and a stable, high-performing team. We're proud of where the district stands!

Sheriff's Department Report
We welcomed Deputy Bruser (sp) from the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office who shared strong feedback about Columbia Township as one of the most desirable posts in the county. We were especially glad to hear about our bike patrol deputies connecting with neighbors in the community — that's local policing done right.

Good Shepherd Playscape Renovation
The trustees unanimously approved $25,000 to help renovate the playscape at Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori School — Columbia Township's only public park. Combined with the $50,000+ already raised, this should get the project to the finish line before school starts. We also extended our shared-use agreement through 2041. Look for a community celebration in early August!

New Carryout Parking Space – Grace Avenue
We made permanent a 15-minute carryout parking spot on Grace Avenue near Plainville Road. After a successful test week, it's proven to help local businesses, delivery drivers, and improve safety near the intersection as reconstruction continues.

Save the Date!
Our next community event is August 1st at Fifty West Brewing Company — featuring a Jimmy Buffett tribute band. More details coming soon in our newsletter and other mailers. We'll see you there!

Note: Prior to our monthly meeting, we held a public working session to discuss the 2027 budget, where we discussed options for a budget that we will pass at our July meeting.