Steven M. Kelly, the Fairfax Police Chief, spoke to the Mariemont Kiwanis Club on Tuesday the 19th. He spoke of the reasons why there is a separate police station located in the commercial park on Red Bank road shopping plaza where the Wal-Mart Store is located. He revealed that the Wal-Mart Store had shrinkage losses of about $800,000 last year despite the 216 security cameras in and around the store for surveillance. He noted that these cameras afford an image of every license plate entering and leaving the plaza. Additionally, the police cruisers for the nine police officers employed by Fairfax have ‘reader cameras’ on their cars searching for outstanding warrants and drivers under suspension.
He assured the Kiwanis Club that his police officers have no quotas and seldom arrested speeders unless they are traveling 15 mile per hour or more over the speed limit. Like Mariemont, Fairfax has a Mayor’s Court and a Village Council with six members. Its tax rate is 1.75 %.
Mr. Kelly’s demeanor is very professional and he gave an excellent talk that stimulated my interest in the Village of Fairfax. Did you know that Fairfax covers just 0.76 square miles, has 1699 residents per 2010 census figures and over 50 businesses? Additionally, it has an active Fairfax Swim Club on Southern Avenue, a strong tradition of knothole baseball covering tee ball to age 15 with 11 teams and over 160 participants, and an active Fairfax Youth Organization involving multiple sports.
Carson L. Shelton, the Mayor, is aboard a master plan crafted in 2001 that includes a Bell and Clock Tower at the Western entrance of Fairfax on Wooster Pike.