Evendale's income tax collections fell sharply in June, dropping 26% compared with a year earlier, village finance figures presented at the July 14 council meeting show. The single-month dip brought in $2.25 million, though year-to-date receipts through June still totaled $13.4 million, a 14.7% increase over the same period in 2025.
Council member Berke presented the finance report to the full six-member council, with Mayor Richard Finan presiding. Despite the June shortfall, the village's receipts exceeded expenditures by roughly $349,000 for the month and by approximately $4 million year-to-date.
All seven ordinances on the agenda passed unanimously and took effect immediately as emergency measures.
New fire chief named
Council approved the appointment of Joshua Asbach as fire chief in training, effective Aug. 3, at a salary of $58.79 per hour ($122,279 annually). Asbach will assume the full fire chief title Jan. 1, 2027, replacing retiring Chief Mike Hauck. A career Evendale firefighter, Asbach was promoted to lieutenant-paramedic in November 2021 and to captain by late 2023. The council's hiring committee reviewed candidates on July 9, according to the adopted ordinance text.
As we reported July 28, the appointment and police station contract were among the key votes at the July 14 session. The minutes, posted Aug. 12, fill in the financial details.
Police station expansion moves forward
Council authorized Mayor Finan to sign a $55,430 design contract with KZF Design for Phase 1 of the police station expansion and renovation. The scope covers programming, a feasibility study and concept design. Three firms submitted qualifications; a selection committee ranked KZF first. A separate ordinance appropriated the same $55,430 from the General Fund's building maintenance line.
Street paving, AeroHub TIF
Paving on the 2026 street improvement project is expected to begin in late August or early September. Service crews have been replacing catch basins on roads scheduled for resurfacing and were set to repair pipes on Grimsby and Swindon in mid-July before moving to the Carpenters Creek area.
Council also approved an additional appropriation in the AeroHub TIF Fund for engineering expenditures. The dollar amount was not disclosed in the minutes.
Other action
The meeting covered several additional items:
- A compartment of fire apparatus Tower 40 struck the fire station's structural support. Insurance estimates put the damage at $3,100 for the truck and $19,000 for the building.
- A contractor removed 111 dead trees along Glendale Milford and Reading Road in four days; the service department took down 30 more on Cooper Road.
- Structural steel and metal framing on the Cultural Arts Center elevator project are complete, with roofing and storefront work underway.
- Residents raised concerns that parked cars blocked cul-de-sacs from emergency vehicles during July 4 celebrations. Council and staff will develop a proposal to keep streets accessible year-round.
- Police Chief Holloway requested an executive session to discuss body cameras, Flock Camera systems and AI integration across public safety platforms.
The July 14 meeting ran 45 minutes. The village's next regular council session has not been confirmed on the village calendar.
