Recommended Audience: This program is designed for adults in Clermont County.

Program Description: It’s said that knowledge is power. This series will help residents of Clermont County’s fourteen townships become more powerful advocates for their communities. Together, we’ll explore how decisions are made that impact the quality and character of our communities. These live online talks can be enjoyed from the comfort of your home.

• Session 1 - Feb. 18, 2026: Who’s Got the Power?
  • Our guests, Julia Carney (Clermont County Assistant Prosecutor) and Christen Steimle (Tate Township Trustee), will discuss government structures, responsibilities, powers, and goals at state, county, township, city, village, HOA, and citizen levels.
• Session 2 - March 18, 2026: Show Me the Money!
  • Our guests Jennifer Ekey (Miami Township Economic Development Director) and Kris McClintick (Clermont County Director of Community and Economic Development) will discuss where money in our communities comes from, how it is spent, and who decides.
• Session 3 – April 15, 2026: Country Roads, Take Me Home.
  • Our guests, Steve Kelley (Miami Township Service Director) and Jeremy Evans (Clermont County Engineer), will discuss how roads are built and monitored for traffic and safety, and how citizens can request improvements and changes.
• Session 4 – May 20, 2026 - Get Off My Lawn!
  • Guests Jonathan Wocher (Batavia Township Planning Consultant) and Brian Elliff (Miami Township Planning & Zoning Administrator) will discuss the challenges of balancing private property rights with community needs when land is zoned, sold, and developed.
• Session 5 – June 17, 2026: Farmland Isn’t Free
  • Guests Hal Herron (Jackson Township Trustee and farmer), Holly Isaacs (Village of Bethel administrator and Jackson Township fiscal officer), and Sarah Ison (farmer and Farm Bureau advocate) will discuss the economic value of agriculture in our county, the challenges of keeping farmland affordable, and ways citizens and planners can help protect farmland.
• Session 6 – September 16, 2026: Good Buffers Make Good Neighbors
  • Guests John McManus (Director of Clermont Soil and Water Conservation District), Clete Benken (Director of Landscape Architecture for KZF Design), and Frank Birkenhauer (past president of the Mill Creek Watershed Council, Northern Kentucky Alumni Board of Directors, and Western Economic Council) will discuss ways to protect nature when developing land.
• Session 7 – October 21, 2026: Gimme Shelter
  • Guest Desmond Maaytah (Clermont County Community Development Administrator) and Michael Logue (UnionTownship Trustee) will discuss legal, ethical, and economic considerations that citizens and public officials must consider when deciding on the kind and amount of new housing that a township should approve.
• Session 8 – Nov 18, 2026: Homeowners Associations: A Township’s Secret Sauce
  • Taylor Corbett (Batavia Township Planning and Zoning Director) will explain how Homeowners Associations (HOAs) reduce the workload and costs of providing amenities for some township residents, while providing possible avenues to protect greenspace, buffers, and small farms.

About the Facilitators:

• The Clermont Chamber of Commerce has been a driving force behind the economic development and growth of Clermont County since 1969. Because a thriving community is essential for a thriving business environment, we go beyond economic development to focus on improving the overall quality of life in Clermont County. This means balancing social, economic, and environmental priorities to ensure Clermont County remains a vibrant, sustainable community and the preferred place to locate, operate, and grow a successful business. 
• Andrew McAfee is the Vice President of the Clermont Chamber of Commerce.
• Cincinnati Nature Center is located in Clermont County, where rural and urban lifestyles meet. We inspire conservation through personal experiences, education, and care for the land. This involves training, convening, and consulting with citizens who want to make their communities better.  We encourage residents to understand the perspectives, values, and constraints involved with complex issues in their communities.  As we seek common ground and work together, we can improve our local quality of life while supporting a thriving economy and healthy environment. 
• Connie O’Connor is Director of Applied Learning for Cincinnati Nature Center and also serves on the Clermont Soil and Water Conservation District Board, supporting best practices for agriculture and conservation. 

Where to Meet: This program is online.