Tuesday, Oct. 2, Mayor Richard Keebler and members of Oxford City Council met and proclaimed the week of Oct. 7-13 fire prevention week.

This week is intended to raise awareness to methods of preventing fire-related death. Throughout fire safety week, smoke detectors will be given out for free at the fire department.

City Council also unanimously approved a resolution allowing the city manager to submit projects to be funded by the 2013 block grant of approximately $111,000, issued by the Butler County Board of Commissioners for the 2013 Community Development Block Grant Program. This grant was lower than previous years, but will be used for maintaining handicap-parking, making the city more handicap accessible and removing architectural barriers from the public sidewalk system.

“The amount received is about 10 percent of what Butler County receives,” Service Director Mike Dreisbach said. “That number fluctuates and I believe it is a bit lower than prior years.”

The first reading of an ordinance to make 303 S. Paterson Ave., the Langstroth House, a part of the city’s historic district was also heard. Keebler and Community Development Director Jung-Han Chen agreed that it was surprising that this home was not already included in the historic area. This residence was the home of Lorenzo Langstroth who played a crucial role in beekeeping and is seen as the Father of American Beekeeping.

“To clarify, we are only expanding the historic zoning boundary, not changing the underlying zoning at all,” Chen said.

Keebler added that there was little discussion about adding this to the historical district, as it was only left out of the historical district to begin with by mistake.

City Manager Douglas Elliott also made an announcement regarding deer population management. He stated that there will be an expansion to four private areas for additional hunting. Permission to hunt in these areas must be granted by the property owners. A hunter may also take more deer this year by donating deer to the food pantry.

“Our goal is to increase the number of deer taken,” Elliot said. “It is not to eliminate the deer; it’s to restore the natural balance.”

Finally, Elliot said that more advanced parking meters, called smart meters, will be installed this November in the large residential and industrial areas. Installation is expected to be complete around summer 2014.