May 2020 Xenia e-Communicator Newsletter

On the heels of Governor DeWine announcing his ‘Responsible Restart Ohio’ plan, the City of Xenia is communicating its re-opening plan for City offices.

City facilities have been closed to the public since March 18 out of an abundance of caution due to the COVID-19 pandemic and in compliance with state orders.

On Monday, May 4th, City staff began returning to a more regular schedule. Staff with the ability to work from home continue to do so, but will have intermittent work time at their office spaces. 

City facilities will re-open to the public on Monday, May 11th. The City Administration Building hours will be 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The building will close on Wednesdays to allow for a deep cleaning. The Justice Center will be closed on Tuesdays for deep cleaning. Facility hours for that building will be set by Xenia Police Chief Randy Person. The public is also asked to allow the first two hours of the day at both facilities (9 a.m. – 11 a.m.) to be reserved for the elderly and those vulnerable to COVID-19. “This was a suggestion made at the State level and we think it’s a good idea,” Merriman said.

When facilities are opened, they will be limited to 50% of fire code occupancy or less to allow for safe physical distancing. “We are still discussing exactly how we do that,” Merriman said. “We are very reluctant to have someone standing at the door saying who can pass and who can’t. 

 We may have to do that, we may not. We are exploring options for that. The key is that we want to be able to provide services in a way that keeps you, our citizens, safe, and our staff safe.”

Protective equipment such as gloves and masks will be made available for all employees. The public is also encouraged to wear masks when visiting City offices, as masks are strongly recommended by health officials and state leaders.

Unfortunately, several upcoming City sponsored spring and summer events have had to be either canceled or postponed due to COVID-19.

First Friday events in May and June have been canceled as well as the first Neighborhood Night Out event in May. The annual Fishing Derby will be postponed, “our hope is to be able to push that back to late summer or early fall,” Xenia City Manager Brent Merriman said.

Many residents have asked about the status of the annual Sonnycalb Fireworks Festival. The annual celebration draws thousands of people not only from Xenia, but surrounding communities.

Due to contracts with vendors and the fireworks provider, a decision will have to be made in the next two to three weeks on whether to continue with the festival, or to cancel it. The decision will depend on if the State relaxes the rules on how many people are allowed at gatherings. “We are very reluctant to cancel that event, and I want to say that we will do everything we can to try and have that event as it is currently scheduled,” Merriman said.

While Ohioans are encouraged to get outdoor exercise with family, playgrounds in Xenia remain closed at this time in accordance with state guidelines.

On Monday, April 20, Governor DeWine announced that Ohio students would not be returning to the classroom during the 2020 school year.

As a tribute to the Class of 2020, Xenia Community Schools turned on the lights at Doug Adams Stadium on April 20, at 8:20 p.m. for 20 minutes.

School across the Miami Valley League stadiums joined in the #BeTheLightOhio campaign. Xenia Police participated, driving their cruisers around the track while Xenia Fire Division took video from the sky with its drone.

Watch the video here.

As we move into severe weather season in the Miami Valley, the City of Xenia wants to make sure the public has the tools it needs to be weather aware.

There are several types of severe weather including flash flood, thunderstorm, and tornado. When preparing a safety plan it is important to understand each weather event and the risks they pose.

In the past the Public Service Center on Towler Road had been a severe weather shelter. However, due to the COVID-19 situation, it is a resource that the City can no longer offer. City Manager Brent Merriman went into more detail regarding the change at the April 9thCity Council meeting. Having staff available for the storm shelter prior to COVID-19 was a challenge, however, with the City operating at a minimum staffing scenario for safety reasons, the shelter is a service that cannot be provided.

Here is information on safety warnings.

Yard waste drop-off, recycling drop-off and mulch pick-up is now available at Greene County Environmental Services.

Hours for yard waste drop-off are:

• Monday - Wednesday: 1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
• Saturday: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Recycling drop-off and mulch pick-up hours are:

• Monday - Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
• Friday: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
• Saturday: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Mulch pick-up is available at no cost to residents.

Greene County Environmental Services is located at 2145 Greene Way Boulevard, Xenia, OH 45385. The special waste drop-offs that were scheduled for May are cancelled.

The City of Xenia Board for Recreational, Arts and Cultural Activities (BRACA) is once again partnering with Greene County Master Gardeners for Bloom with Xenia!

The annual program was established in 2010 and allows individuals, families, businesses, community groups, non-profits, church groups, PTOs to adopt flower beds and flower pots in downtown Xenia. In all there are 36 flower beds and 34 flower pots.

If you are interested in adopting a spot, learn more about the program here, or contact Nelson King by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Fire Lieutenant Leonard Baurle retired from the City of Xenia after responding to his last call with the Xenia Fire Division on April 25, 2020.

Lieutenant Baurle is a 31-year veteran of the Xenia Division. Baurle began his career as a firefighter with the City on March 19, 1989 after serving five years as a member of the Edgewood Volunteer Fire Department in Jefferson County, Kentucky. Over the past 31 years Baurle dedicated his career to providing fire and emergency medical services to the citizens, business owners and visitors of Xenia.

Over the course of his career he attended many training events preparing himself for the next phase of his career. Baurle’s excellent EMS skills, strong ability to evaluate fire scene evolution, and sound decision-making served the Division well when he was promoted to Lieutenant in August 1999. Baurle always conducted his work with a high degree of professionalism. He was always polite, respectful and a positive representative of the Xenia Fire Division as he interacted with the members of the Xenia community. 

“Lt. Baurle has always carried a positive attitude toward Xenia Fire Division and the job he does,” said Xenia Fire Division Chief Riggsby. “He has been a very dedicated employee and worked well with all the staff. His knowledge and skills will be missed.”

The City would like to commend Lieutenant Leonard Baurle and thank him for his years of dedication and service. We wish him an enjoyable retirement and best wishes in his future endeavors.