MIAMI TOWNSHIP -- We've had several calls and complaints concerning a new sign behind the Miami Township Government Center.
Some are calling it lavish, because it's decked out with a fancy waterfall and sparkling new gazebo.
"I think it's a waste of money, they could invest it into something better," said Douglas Bailey Junior.
The problem some people have is you can't actually see the sign from the public library's parking lot, but if you walk around it, the front faces drivers going 65-miles-an-hour on I-675.
"Have you ever noticed that sign before? No," said Bruce Boddie.
"We really wanted to have something that would act as a gateway into the community," said Chris Snyder, Assistant Planning Director for Miami Township.
He says the sign was partly paid for by Menard's.
"We worked out an arrangement with them that we would permit them to come out and expand this basin and turn it into a wet pond and utilize that as their storm facility," said Snyder.
Menard's paid for the pond, bushes and trees.
The township chipped in 600-thousand-dollars to pay for the sign, waterfall and gazebo.
"Was it worth the money?" asked the reporter, "Um, probably not," said Boddie.
"That's just a sign standing up how does it cost 600-thousand-dollars," said Bailey, "People need money."
"I think it helps the businesses around here I think they'll benefit from it, so it's money well spent," said Tom Mossman.
"To me anything especially in this area is really a plus," said Robert Hobbs.
"We made a commitment to the residents a number of years ago that we would continue to invest in the Dayton Mall area," said Snyder, "And all of these improvements as a whole will ultimately make the area attractive for customers, for retailers."
The money isn't draining your wallet. It's coming from the property taxes from businesses surrounding the Dayton Mall.
Any time they remodel or expand and create additional revenue it's put into a separate fund.
"Those dollars can only be utilized for public infrastructure improvements," said Snyder, "They can not be used for salaries, or for other levies, of other services that are generally provided."
Other improvements the money is paying for the new sidewalk and roadway project along 741.
But while some say that's necessary, others are questioning the new sign and gazebo.
"Could the money have been used, the $600,000 from the township, could it have been used for something else?" asked the reporter, "Well, certainly any time you make a public infrastructure investment it could be used for other, different types of public infrastructure," said Snyder.
The township says those same funds help pay for the Kings Ridge and Lyons Ridge improvements several years ago.
It also helped the Walmart move from 741 to its current location.
Some are calling it lavish, because it's decked out with a fancy waterfall and sparkling new gazebo.
"I think it's a waste of money, they could invest it into something better," said Douglas Bailey Junior.
The problem some people have is you can't actually see the sign from the public library's parking lot, but if you walk around it, the front faces drivers going 65-miles-an-hour on I-675.
"Have you ever noticed that sign before? No," said Bruce Boddie.
"We really wanted to have something that would act as a gateway into the community," said Chris Snyder, Assistant Planning Director for Miami Township.
He says the sign was partly paid for by Menard's.
"We worked out an arrangement with them that we would permit them to come out and expand this basin and turn it into a wet pond and utilize that as their storm facility," said Snyder.
Menard's paid for the pond, bushes and trees.
The township chipped in 600-thousand-dollars to pay for the sign, waterfall and gazebo.
"Was it worth the money?" asked the reporter, "Um, probably not," said Boddie.
"That's just a sign standing up how does it cost 600-thousand-dollars," said Bailey, "People need money."
"I think it helps the businesses around here I think they'll benefit from it, so it's money well spent," said Tom Mossman.
"To me anything especially in this area is really a plus," said Robert Hobbs.
"We made a commitment to the residents a number of years ago that we would continue to invest in the Dayton Mall area," said Snyder, "And all of these improvements as a whole will ultimately make the area attractive for customers, for retailers."
The money isn't draining your wallet. It's coming from the property taxes from businesses surrounding the Dayton Mall.
Any time they remodel or expand and create additional revenue it's put into a separate fund.
"Those dollars can only be utilized for public infrastructure improvements," said Snyder, "They can not be used for salaries, or for other levies, of other services that are generally provided."
Other improvements the money is paying for the new sidewalk and roadway project along 741.
But while some say that's necessary, others are questioning the new sign and gazebo.
"Could the money have been used, the $600,000 from the township, could it have been used for something else?" asked the reporter, "Well, certainly any time you make a public infrastructure investment it could be used for other, different types of public infrastructure," said Snyder.
The township says those same funds help pay for the Kings Ridge and Lyons Ridge improvements several years ago.
It also helped the Walmart move from 741 to its current location.