Oxford City Council met for the first time Tuesday evening since the Miami University academic year began. Mayor Richard Keebler and the council members renewed a resolution authorizing the City of Oxford to provide Fire and EMS services to Oxford Township, Butler County and Ohio. The City Manager’s office updated City Council on the curb, gutter and sidewalk repairs of Oxford city streets. The city ordinance requires property owners to take care of those areas, while the city takes care of roads and trees. Council discussed how the maintenance would be funded, and how taxpayers on the areas in question would be affected.

During the meeting, Michael Dreisbach of the Oxford City Manager’s office said, “We did assessments in advance of three projects in the city. Many people repaired their concrete on their own. There are only 12 parcels… that will face assessment. Should we pass the ordinance; the owner will have up to thirty days to pay cash for the work that is done on the property. Otherwise we will assess it to the county tax role and they will have five years to pay it off at a five percent interest rate.” The assessments include properties on Locust Street, Foxfire Drive, Tallawanda Road and High Street. Miami University’s Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Nu, on Tallawanda Road are two of the 12 parcels that require assessments for sidewalk, gutter and curb repairs.

The assessment determines the actual cost that will be given to property owners based on repairs needed to fix sidewalks and curbs. The City Manager’s office also addressed the drought that is affecting Oxford and surrounding areas. It assured City Council that water supply was not in danger of being too low.

“There is no need for restrictions,” Dreisbach said. “Hopefully when fall rains come everything will get back to normal.” The city had to tap into the Seven Mile Aquifer, located off the Miami River Watershed, to meet higher demand of water supply, after Miami University students returned to campus.

At the meeting, the Oxford Police Department also addressed Miami University’s move in week and reported the number of arrests for this year is at a three-year low. In 2010, there were 119 arrests, followed by 76 in 2011. This year there were 72 arrests. City Council also voted on zoning map amendments and routine budget adjustments.