Madisonville gets new pickleball court and tennis courts

• The meeting for the Madisonville Community Council began at 6:33 p.m. on Sept. 18, 2025. It was held at the Madisonville Recreation Center (MRC). The officers present were:
  • Kate Botos, president
  • Monica Hill, vice president
  • Jeff Hart, treasurer
  • Angela Pearson, corresponding secretary
• Botos started the meeting with a moment of silence and the Pledge of Allegiance. Afterward, the community council approved the treasurer’s report , which was included in the agenda packet.
• Next, Botos moved on to presentations from public administration. The Cincinnati Fire Department had a presentation scheduled, but officials were unable to attend.
• The monthly safety report was scheduled next. Officer Monique Martin, the Cincinnati Police Department’s liaison for the Madisonville community, presented.
  • Auto thefts have decreased, personal thefts have increased, and seniors have increasingly fallen victim to phone scams. She suggested using the buddy system while traveling and asked the public to report suspicious individuals or vehicles.
• Many members of the community spoke after the report was given.
  • Multiple citizens requested increased police presence in general, describing their frustration with the overall amount of crime occurring in their neighborhood and their dissatisfaction with CPD’s response to it. 
  • One citizen recommended sending emails to CPD to ensure complaints are established in writing. 
  • Another citizen reported success in using the 311 Cincy service.
• Botos said many crimes go unreported and the police cannot act if they are not made aware. Some members of the community agreed. Martin asked residents to contact her specifically, providing her number and email:
  • (513) 979-4481
  • monique.martin@cincinnati-oh.gov
• The next presentation was from the Cincinnati Recreation Commission (CRC). Bryan Servizzi, manager of the Madisonville Recreation Center, presented.
  • Construction of the new pickleball and tennis courts has finished. The courts’ projected life expectancy is 10 years. 
  • A new pool will be built in one to two years, with construction scheduled for the start of next year. 
  • The MRC has also started various fall programs for senior citizens, A Trunk or Treat will be held form 6  to 8 p.m. on Oct. 24.
• Botos then moved on to presentations from the local school administration. The first to present was Veronica Searcy, resource coordinator for John P. Parker Elementary.
  • The school recently received three stars for its Ohio School Report Card. The average in the Cincinnati Public School (CPS) district is 2.5 stars.
  • Searcy asked the public for more volunteer tutors and gardeners, as well as for donations of clothes and shoes. 
  • She also informed the public of free meals that are given out to the community every Thursday from 1:50 p.m. to 2:20 p.m.
• The next presentation was given by Pam Wilder, resource coordinator for Shroder Middle School and Shroder High School.
  • Both schools received three stars for their Ohio School Report Card, with improved scores in all subjects compared to last year, especially Algebra I.
  • Wilder asked the public to provide volunteer opportunities for students on Oct. 21, as well as for more volunteer tutors and gardeners. 
  • She said the rule requiring all students to use clear backpacks was enacted this year, and donations for clear backpacks were requested. A citizen asked why the rule was enacted, and Wilder replied that it allows the school to address safety concerns while being minimally invasive to students’ privacy.
• The last public administration presentation was from the Madisonville branch of the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library (CHPL). A staff member named Jennifer (surname not given) presented.
  • Various events for families and teens are planned in the coming months. Peruse the library’s calendar to learn more. 
  • She also highlighted the maker space and invited the community to utilize it. 
  • Lastly, she noted that September was Library Card Month.
• Botos then moved on to the special presentations portion of the meeting. 
• The first presentation was from the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas regarding updates to the Hamilton County probation department. Among those presenting from their department were: Thomas Beridon, chief magistrate; Tiana Johnson, chief probation officer; Joe Lambers, probation officer supervisor; and Brian Urban, associate chief probation officer of substations.
  • The probation department has recently adopted a risk-based supervision model. Court officials said it will reduce recidivism by assigning different levels of risk to probationers, and subsequently targeting high-risk individuals. 
  • The court  also established different programs for various demographics of offenders to help them reintegrate into society. These programs include an emerging adult program aimed at people 18 to 25 years old convicted of gun crimes. 
  • The presenters also informed the community that data regarding the model’s efficacy will be published biennially. It was made possible by a collaboration with the University of Cincinnati, as well as a federal grant from the Department of Justice. More information on the Risk-Based Supervision Model program can be found on the probation department’s website. 
• There was much debate among residents regarding the new model, as parole substations around the city are being shut down to centralize resources. The presenters argued the new model would be so effective as to eliminate the need for substations.
  • Members from the community, however, expressed concerns about decreased accessibility, citing issues with arranging childcare and receiving time off from employment to meet probational obligations.
• The next special presentation was given by Jane Sites from the Lunken Airport Oversight Advisory Board regarding upcoming development.
  • A new Federal Aviation Administration customs facility has been built, and construction of a new 39-room hotel, bar and restaurant will begin in January. 
  • The airport is also positioning itself to build larger hangars. This would help  preserve the bike path and nature spaces in the surrounding area, which will become crucial in the coming months, Sites said.
• Concluding the special presentations, Botos acknowledged the president’s report, which was provided in the agenda packet.
• Botos then transitioned to announcements from various affiliated agencies.
  • The first announcement was from Artsville, a nonprofit organization dedicated to nurturing the arts. The speaker listed various upcoming events, which can be found on its calendar. 
  • The last agency announcement came from the Madisonville Education and Assistance Center (MEAC), which is holding a food drive on Sept. 27 at the Madeira Kroger.
• There was no old or new business to discuss. Botos then moved on to general announcements.
  • Recent opening of Churchill’s Fine Teas Madisonville location
  • Laketa Cole, a Democrat running for Cincinnati City Council, spoke about her platform and asked for community support.
  • Latonya Maley, director of the Green Team for Groundwork Ohio River Valley, reported the organization is hiring teenagers and two supervisors to complete environmental projects.
• Before adjourning, Botos made a motion to move the next meeting date to Thursday, Oct. 23. The motion was seconded and the vote passed.
• The meeting was adjourned at 8:07 p.m.

These notes can be found on documenters.org.

If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@signalcincinnati.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.

Find more Documenters’ notes on Cincinnati City Council here.