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The City of Bellbrook was settled in 1816 and was named for
one of its founders, Stephen Bell, who helped plat
part of what is now the “old village” area. The
second part of the City’s name refers to the many
local waterways, which include the Little Sugar
Creek, the Sugar Creek and the Little Miami River
which enhance the local scenery.
Bellbrook is proud of its well-planned and desirable
neighborhoods which offer a range of housing from
custom built single family homes on large lots to
luxury apartment and condominium units. New housing
developments currently under construction near the
downtown area help support the varied restaurants
and specialty shops in the old village business
district.
Bellbrook, with a population of approximately 7,000, is
unique in Ohio because it is one of only four (4)
out of 250 cities in the state which do not levy a
local income tax. Yet in spite of the low tax
burden, the services provided by Bellbrook’s Fire,
Police and Service Departments rank among the best
of any municipality in southwest Ohio, regardless of
size.
Bellbrook’s Fire Department provides some of the best small
city fire and paramedic services in the state
utilizing full time, part time and volunteer
firefighter/paramedics with round-the-clock
staffing. With the existing fleet of fire fighting
apparatus and medics, the Bellbrook Fire Department
will undoubtedly maintain its reputation as one of
the best small city departments in the state.
The Police Department helps keep Bellbrook’s crime rate at
the lowest level in the area through a combination
of comprehensive neighborhood patrol, neighborhood
and business watch programs and a wide range of
public education programs. The Police Department is
staffed by very qualified and experienced personnel,
well-trained on a wide range of topics, including
homeland security issues.
The Service Department is responsible for all of the City’s
public works including the operation of the 9,200
customer water system which serves all of Bellbrook
and portions of Sugarcreek Township. The Service
Department also provides some of the best snow
removal services in the area and administers an
annual street maintenance program.
Bellbrook is also home to the Bellbrook Historic Museum,
Winter’s Library and over thirty (30) parcels of
parkland and open space throughout the community
including the charming “turn-of-the-century”
Bellbrock Park downtown, the large playfields at
Sackett-Wright Park east of town and the basketball
and tennis courts at Petrikis Park along SR 725.
The legislative and policy-making body of the City is
comprised of a Mayor and six Council members elected
at large on a non-partisan basis. The Council hires
a professional city manager who operates the city on
a day-to-day basis. The Bellbrook City Council has
placed strong emphasis on zoning and property
maintenance in an effort to maintain the high
property values in both owner-occupied and rental
units throughout the city. City officials continue
to seek and invest in projects that will continue to
provide strong public services for Bellbrook
residents both for today and for the future. |
