Issues

For the last 11+ years under Shannon's leadership, much has been accomplished in Fairfield Township. We have many new businesses choosing to call Fairfield Township home! All departments have been upgraded and modernized to better serve our growing community. We have partnered with our citizens, other governmental entities and neighboring communities to make Fairfield Township a community with a bright future. However, in the spirit of continuous improvement we must always seek better ways of doing things!

Shannon believes that to build our township we must:

Continue to strengthen our financial position to safeguard our township's future.
Continuously improve our internal operations (Fire, Police, Service Departments, Zoning, Administration) to ensure excellent services to our community.
Promote economic development.
Encourage community development.

Continue to Strengthen our Financial Position

Funding continues to be a challenge not only to Fairfield Township, but also to townships across the state. With cuts at the state level in the Local Government Fund, the elimination of the Estate Tax fund and other cuts, townships have work to balance services with available funds. The citizens of Fairfield Township approved a safety services levy in 2015. We have used these monies to preserve and improve our fire and police departments. Originally, the Safety Services levy was projected to last only five years. Through careful and measured spending, the Safety Service levy has been extended far beyond the original projection of five years. Increased funding generated from economic development and the retirement of a significant amount of debt is also assisting in preserving our financial position. At present we have approximately 2.5 million surplus in our general fund that can be used to cover expenses in 2025 and 2026. In the future the voters will be given a choice to approve additional funding through a levy.

Looking to the future, we must balance appropriate spending that improves our services and township amenities while preserving our strong bottom line. In addition, increasing township funding through economic development opportunities is critical to strengthening our financial position.

Improve Internal Operations

Each department in Fairfield Township is constantly challenged to streamline their operations and control spending - while focusing on building their departments to provide excellent service to our community for today and for tomorrow.

Fire Department

As calls for service have increased, we have responded by providing necessary resources.

We have replaced the old civil war era fire station building with a modern facility that will meet the needs of the township for years to come. It was completed ahead of schedule and under budget.
Medics and fire trucks have been procured.
Full time positions have been added to better meet staffing requirements.
Added water rescue capabilities for our ponds, canals and rivers.
Worked collaboratively with our surrounding communities to provide mutual aid and leadership on special projects.
Provided a strong and effective leadership presence on countywide initiatives including the Butler County Emergency Management Association.

Looking to the future, we need to work to recruit and retain a trained team of professionals. This includes looking in to expanding our full time staff. Equipment and training must be kept up to date. All of these things will help our fire department to promote excellent services to the community.

Police

The Fairfield Township police department is focused on contemporary community oriented policing. Highlights include:

Remodeled the police department to meet the needs of a modern contemporary agency. The project was completed under budget.
Increased staffing to meet increased calls for service.
Upgraded vehicles and equipment to facilitate safety. This includes upgraded radios, software, in-car cameras, body cameras, and weapons.
Strengthened neighborhood watch programs to support a stronger community.
Addressed the opioid epidemic through active policing.

Our police department believes in contemporary community oriented policing. We have improved our staffing levels and equipment to provide services. We must continue to provide resources to keep our community safe. Strong, effective leadership and a dedicated, professional staff is key to protecting our community.

Public Works (Roads, Parks, Maintenance)

We have invested in equipment and staff so the Public Works Department can provide outstanding services. Highlights include:

Replaced the old Civil War era building with a new public works building to meet the need of our community for today and into the future. This project was finished under budget and ahead of schedule.
Modernized and improved equipment, vehicles and resources to improve the staff's ability to provide services. New snow plows were procured to facilitate our strategic snow removal plans.
Developed a long-term paving program with increased budget allocated to street improvements. The board voted to allocated millions of dollars for paving and road improvements since 2014.
The Heroes Park (Morris Road) has a highly popular new playground and is the site for our own Veterans Memorial. Schaffer’s Run has a beautiful new playground, a new walking trail and a remodeled dog park. TWO new pocket parks have been added to the Five Points. The park improvements were partially funded by grants.
Obtained 3 CDBG Block grants for new sewer improvements in the Five Points Area.

The Service Department is the backbone of township operations. They are the ones who work tirelessly to plow the roads, fix curb and gutters, maintain the parks, mow the grass and do countless other activities. Looking to the future, we need to continue to provide them with the resources needed to serve our township.

Administration/Zoning

Efforts have been made to modernize and improve front office operations. Highlights include:

Built strong relationships with our surrounding communities.
Streamlined internal businesses process operations.
Overhauled and improved the public records storage systems.
Updated public meeting room for a more professional appearance including updating the vintage 1979 chairs and antiquated sound system.
Implemented numerous community based events.

Looking to the future, we must continue to improve our business processes and build systems designed to meet the needs of our residents and other customers.

Economic Development

Economic development is critical to the financial well-being of the township. Through economic development, community amenities improve as does our tax base. Fairfield Township is a growing community as are our surrounding communities. Working together as a region will help Butler County to improve. A rising tide truly can raise all boats when we work together. The township has built strong relationships with Butler County, the cities of Hamilton and Fairfield and our surrounding townships. Our township staff has worked diligently to create a business positive environment. Highlights include:

Since 2014 multiple businesses including First Watch, Hobby Lobby, Storypoint, Firehouse Subs, Popeye's, Five Below, Sterling Seraph, AAA, El Rancho Nuevo, McAllister’s Deli, Get Air and MORE have chosen to make Fairfield Township their home.
Completed road improvements including widening Gilmore Road and installing a roundabouts at Hamilton-Mason and Gilmore Road and one at Five Points in partnership with the city of Hamilton.
Added a new Joint Economic Development District (JEDD’s) with the City of Hamilton and added two new TIF’s. These entities are income generating which will help improve our financial position.
Added a Community Improvement Corporation (CIC)
Fairfield Township has homes available at multiple price points! Affordable starter homes and high end homes are all here.

Looking to the future, we must support our existing businesses while creating a pro-business environment. Working collaboratively with our surrounding communities is critical. Improvements made to the Gilmore road corridor have opened that area for current and future growth.

Community Development

Fairfield Township is truly a great place to live, work and play. We have worked to sustain existing activities and amenities while adding others that build our community identity. Highlights include:

To improve our branding and community identity, Shannon personally worked with the post master general in Cincinnati to officially change all township mailing addresses to “Fairfield Township.”
Businesses like First Watch have come to the Township. Longhorn Steakhouse is projected to locate in Bridgewater Falls next year!
Lane Library is building a brand new location on Gilmore road.
Our gateway medians have been landscaped and include Fairfield Township branding to identify our community. The township partnered with Butler Tech School of Horticulture to complete the largest median.
Our remodeled parks and new parks have become local attractions.
The land purchased by the township on Gilmore road was used for new fire station and public works buildings. A large portion of the land was sold to Fairfield City Schools for a future school.
Partnered with the Butler County land bank to purchase and demolish blighted properties in the Five Points area. Habitat for Humanity and others have built affordable housing. Parks have been built where run down properties once stood.
Implemented energy aggregation as a option for our residents. This has provided an opportunity for savings.

Looking to the future, we will continue to partner with businesses, residents and our neighboring communities to keep Fairfield Township moving in a positive direction! Building our identity as Fairfield Township will help our community to grow. Our remodeled parks have become an area attraction. Our completed Veterans Memorial stands to proudly honor those who have served.

Learn more about Fairfield Township events by copying and pasting these links into a browser.

Improved Financial Position

http://www.journal-news.com/news/township-continues-cutting-expenses/ZWuLTPKrSJPE0LHTyiU0tN/

http://www.journal-news.com/news/fairfield-twp-law-director-change-money-saver/bKtLPJHqnkLCVi3TIuqPrK/

http://www.journal-news.com/news/township-police-officers-agree-not-take-pay-raise/IxuzRXOweRMgOITEQgbY0O/

http://www.journal-news.com/news/local-govt--politics/fairfield-twp-ross-twp-now-posting-finances-online/nnob15bRyygyLM89c17NnM/

Economic Development

http://www.journal-news.com/news/administrator-contracted-help-township-economic-development/BBknZ3jMnzwMYe8NkV33YL/

http://www.journal-news.com/news/hamilton-hobby-lobby-store-relocating-fairfield-twp/MXQSNbTvmiWPxLM9gVjUPJ/

http://www.journal-news.com/news/local/assisted-living-facility-could-bring-100-jobs-fairfield-twp/bDjDsduNeDA2kwBkBmZjYI/

http://www.journal-news.com/news/butler-county-oks-44m-for-assisted-living-complex-fairfield-twp/zR8BXnRfp8nJNtP5TfUaFL/

http://www.journal-news.com/news/office-medical-space-priority-hamilton-fairfield-twp-district/fKT64moaDrRtHbA8Dd3CmJ/

http://www.journal-news.com/news/hamilton-fairfield-twp-split-tax-revenues-expanded-jedd/ObvKmsvluAof0kHof3DlcJ/

http://www.journal-news.com/news/official-more-development-coming-fairfield-twp/fLqDSpuvLbMMzsIa8rvNnM/

http://www.journal-news.com/news/local/firehouse-subs-opens-monday-fairfield-twp/O9V6uflMaymtTXe7VMHMuL/

http://www.journal-news.com/news/martial-arts-business-expands-into-fairfield-twp/raT4PYbI68mOhZqRDsruZL/

http://www.journal-news.com/news/local/new-dog-daycare-boarding-opens-fairfield-twp/rXeeT3tAIHKLktfq0mfiKI/

Community Development

http://www.journal-news.com/news/fairfield-twp-may-demolish-blighted-properties-with-help-land-bank/nb8jc1LGa2fhr8vkCv5fhN/

http://www.journal-news.com/news/local/fairfield-twp-looking-for-its-own-postal-identity/GSqqkXOXefD4tctxduRJ1L/

http://www.journal-news.com/news/local/fairfield-twp-residents-submit-plans-for-military-veterans-memorial/mhA7QnMCEUVTwuB0ceh93J/

http://www.journal-news.com/news/fairfield-twp-residents-offered-deal-increase-recycling/9UQBb0zyiQM5WL21MC4kFO/

http://www.journal-news.com/news/local/saturday-cleanup-day-fairfield-twp/hIXWvj4XZt4JAbVs6q2IhI/

http://www.journal-news.com/news/local/communityfest-set-for-may-fairfield-twp/N2OlVwcIni9wvW5WPLNhEP/

Strengthening Essential Services

http://www.journal-news.com/news/fairfield-twp-firefighters-paramedics-get-pay-bump/eojVt3yHiyT2dzbaWYdlwL/

http://www.journal-news.com/news/local/fairfield-twp-police-get-pay-raises/p5qubRMV5k9ucn5ddlSpnN/

http://www.journal-news.com/news/local/fairfield-twp-new-police-chief-once-dayton-assistant-chief/BCVhDmCJ1pO1IvOk00XajL/

http://www.journal-news.com/news/fairfield-twp-proceeds-with-replacement-firehouse/yGC7eKMb1C9qOiunyX16bO/

http://www.journal-news.com/news/fairfield-twp-repays-unused-million-loan/s55gjfG1JfjnDwimO8uTPO/

http://www.journal-news.com/news/local/township-fire-department-gains-two-lieutenants/eSam19EzJ1v8B92JdnPq3K/

http://www.journal-news.com/news/fairfield-twp-delays-building-new-fire-station/otcMpQjYwS4cD7VwmYM5iJ/

http://www.journal-news.com/news/public-safety-levies-fail-tuesday-election/mmADCz3dct6pvpg45hCMEK/

http://www.journal-news.com/news/fairfield-twp-levy-passes-lemon-twp-levy-does-not/yQKyXQqPfNIYjNCYs99z2H/