Dayton Mayor Ben Baker gave a State of the City address at the council meeting on Tuesday. He addressed council and community members through a tapped video as he was not in town for the meeting.
“I apologize that I can’t be there tonight to present my State of City in person, but I still stand before you tonight with immense pride as we reflect on the accomplishments of our city government over the past year. It has been a year of progress, collaboration and commitment to making Dayton not just a city, but a thriving community,” he said.
He started by noting the financial health of the city. With a net positive budget, he said, the city is well poised to meet both current and future needs.
Code Enforcement accomplishments
Baker praised the work of the city’s code enforcement department, led by Cassie Patterson. The department has successfully addressed issues of blight, vacancy and violations in the city’s housing stock, he said. Thanks to a new city program, started four years ago, the city has addressed a record number of vacant and abandoned properties.
The department has also worked to visit all of the rental properties within the city limits. Patterson announced at the meeting that housing inspector Bill Burns had visited 99% of the 1,587 rental properties in the city within a new rental inspection program’s first two-year period. The program will repeat another two-year cycle starting next fiscal year.
The mayor shared some statistics on the impact of the program. Since 2021, 63 problem properties have been identified and addressed by code enforcement:
- Five structures were demolished because of dangerous conditions
- 26 properties were rehabbed and are now owner-occupied properties
- 11 were rehabbed as rental properties
- Six properties were rehabbed and are currently for sale
- 12 properties are in the process of being rehabbed
- Three properties are currently in the foreclosure process
Infrastructure improvements
The mayor also praised the public works department and the city’s efforts to make its streets safe and accessible.
He noted that the city opened the Berry Street Connector at Manhattan Boulevard. The connector creates a clear path for residents and visitors from the city’s historic downtown to the riverfront. With a grant from Southbank Partners, the city also installed an information kiosk at the intersection so that those walking along the river area could see a list of events and city amenities.
Baker said the city improved landscaping across the city with the help of a new dump truck and other public works equipment. He also pointed to the city’s new cost-sharing initiatives to help homeowners improve and maintain sidewalks in front of their homes and to build off-street parking pads on their properties.
Economic development
The city welcomed several new businesses this year, including Wayfarer Tavern, Elliot Coffee, Giametti Bakery and Pompilio’s Commissary, as well as Strangeways Tatoo Co., Indie Northern Kentucky and Best Day Massage.
A highlight of the year was the $2 million rehabilitation of the historic Burton Building on Sixth Avenue. The building added retail on the bottom floor (Wayfarer Tavern) and 10 loft-style apartments on the upper floors. Additional housing also came with the Velo Riverside Apartments, a $30+ million project on Manhattan Boulevard.
Baker also noted three local businesses took advantage of the city’s facade improvement grant program — the Rose Room, Body of Art Tatoo and the former Cherry Creek Cabinets building.
More to share
The mayor noted improvements and progress in all the city departments. Some highlights included:
Dayton Police Department
- The department added six new vehicles to its fleet.
- Police Chief David Halfhill successfully completed all three levels of FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association leadership training.
- The city partnered with Campbell County to add a full-time social worker to the Dayton and Bellevue police departments.
- K-9 Officer Cooper graduated from narcotics training this year.
Fire Department of Bellevue-Dayton
- The department welcomed new Fire Chief Brent Schaffer.
- Members of the department were recognized with a “Door to Needle” award from St Elizabeth Healthcare for their quick time getting a stroke patient to the hospital for a life-saving shot of a powerful blood thinner.
Parks and museum
- Sargeant Park has received a more than $100,000 Recreational Trail Grant from the state, which is adding new trails to the park, officially opening this spring.
- Plans are in place for major improvements in Gil Lynn Park including shelters, bathrooms, pickleball courts, a GaGa pit (a request from the Lincoln Elementary School Student Council) and other improvements.
- The city made several improvements to the Dayton Heritage Museum this year including a new roof on the garage, new windows and flooring, interior painting and the addition of nine wooden display cabinets.
“The accomplishments we celebrate today demonstrate the power of community collaboration and dedicated public service. We are moving forward together, making Dayton a place where families can flourish, businesses can thrive, and friendships can bloom,” said Baker.