Sycamore Township is building new sidewalks and resurfacing roads across its north end, backed by $4.4 million in grants that cover most of the cost.

The project, detailed in the township's Fall 2026 Quarterly newsletter published Saturday, Sept. 12, adds sidewalks along Snider Road from Bridlemaker Lane south to Kemper Road and along Baen and Deerfield Roads connecting the Robert Schuler Athletic Complex to East Kemper Road. East Kemper Road will also be resurfaced from Snider Road west to the township border, according to the newsletter.

Grant funding comes from the Southwest Regional Transit Authority's Transit Infrastructure Fund, with the township covering the remainder.

"For the 31 years I have been with Sycamore Township, both in Zoning and as your Trustee, I have worked to add sidewalks to make our community more pedestrian-friendly," Chairman Tom Weidman wrote in the newsletter.

The township's Board of Trustees unanimously approved the contract on March 31, awarding the work to John R. Jurgensen Co. for $4,413,805.06, according to township meeting minutes. Vice-Chairman Tracy Kellums and Trustee Tracy Schwegmann joined Weidman in the vote. Construction began after a notice to proceed was issued April 7, with a completion deadline of Jan. 31, 2027.

Formally called the Sycamore Township North Connectivity Project, the scope also includes resurfacing Northlake Drive from East Kemper Road to Goldcoast Drive, according to Resolution 2026-027. Hamilton County is contributing roughly $771,944 under a joint agreement approved by county commissioners on July 16. Township Inspector Tony Perkins is overseeing the construction.

Maintenance crews are already building a new retaining wall along Snider Road ahead of the sidewalk installation, the newsletter states.

Lower gas rates take effect in September

The same newsletter announced a new natural gas aggregation rate roughly half Duke Energy's published August rate. The township's new rate, supplied by AEP, is $0.5378 per hundred cubic feet. Duke's published variable rate in August was $1.0574 per hundred cubic feet.

The new gas rate also represents a 17% drop from the township's prior aggregation rate of $0.6499 per hundred cubic feet, according to the township's aggregation update. Opt-out letters went to eligible accounts starting the week of Aug. 24, with opt-out deadlines varying from Sept. 15 through Sept. 23 depending on billing cycle.

On the electric side, the township's aggregation rate holds at 10.21 cents per kilowatt-hour through December 2027, supplied by Dynegy Energy Services. Duke's published electric rate as of August was 10.71 cents per kilowatt-hour. The newsletter estimates a household using 1,200 kilowatt-hours per month could save about $175 a year under the prior electric contract.

There is no early termination fee for either program.

Sycamore Township voters approved gas aggregation in 2008 and electric aggregation in 2014. Both programs enroll eligible customers automatically under Ohio law, but residents can opt out or leave at any time without penalty. Duke Energy's published rates are variable, meaning the comparisons reflect August 2026 figures only.

Residents with questions about the aggregation programs can contact the township's energy consultant, Energy Alliances, at 513-794-5555.