Commissioners set Jan. 22 date for Madison Township annexation proposals

The Highland County Board of Commissioners discussed several proposed annexations in the Greenfield area during the board's Thursday, Dec. 26 meeting at the Highland County Administration Building.

Betty Bishop, on behalf of property owners Charles and Sheila Beechler and Mildred Cowman, along with Greenfield City Manager Ron Coffey, Highland County Auditor Bill Fawley and Ross Greer, an attorney with the Highland County Prosecutor's Office, met with the commissioners at 9 a.m. Thursday.

There are proposals to annex properties at 702 South Seventh St. and 604 Carford Pike, owned by the Beechlers, and parcels at 811 South Seventh St., 814 South Seventh St., and an unaddressed parcel on South Seventh Street, owned by Cowman.

Commissioners did not take action this week on any of the proposals to annex Madison Township properties into the village of Greenfield.

"We will leave it open for discussion until 9 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22," Commission President Shane Wilkin said.

Bishop said she had reached out to the Madison Township trustees in order to see if there were concerns or objections to the proposals. She said she has not heard back from the trustees.

Greer advised commissioners they have 30 days to make a decision.

Coffey said the Greenfield Village Council had meetings scheduled for Jan. 1 and Jan. 15 and may consider the matter at one of those meetings.

"If we would have a decision on Jan. 22, that would keep us within the 30 days," Wilkin said.

Wilkin also referenced Ohio Revised Code 709.03, which states: "Upon receiving the notice described in division (B)(1) of this section, the legislative authority of the municipal corporation shall adopt, by ordinance or resolution, a statement indicating what services the municipal corporation will provide, and an approximate date by which it will provide them, to the territory proposed for annexation, upon annexation. The statement shall be filed with the board of county commissioners at least 20 days before the date of the hearing. The municipal corporation is entitled in its sole discretion to provide to the territory proposed for annexation, upon annexation, services in addition to the services described in the ordinance or resolution it adopts under this division."

Coffey asked, "Since we have other people who may be interested (in annexation of their property), is this a 'once-for-all' or do we have to get another ordinance (for future annexation proposals)?"

Greer explained that he "cannot give legal advice to the village of Greenfield."

"It ought to speak to the parcels that are being annexed at the given time," Horst said.

"We'll leave it open for discussion until 9 a.m. Jan. 22," Wilkin said.

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Resolutions

In other action, commissioners approved the following resolutions:

• The authorization of tax levies (in mils) and certification of the same to the County Auditor.

• Approval of travel for Engineer Dean Otworth in 2014.

• A request by the Engineer for modification of appropriation to the Engineer Budget.

• The appointment of Susan Zurface, Attorney to the Law Library Resources Board, effective this date and ending Dec. 31, 2018.

• A request for a modification from Chore Services account for $147.05.

• A request by Help Me Grow for additional appropriations to Help Me Grow Fund from Unappropriated Funds for $1,208.02.

• An agreement to reduce the 2013 County Budget.

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• Commissioners held a conference call with Verizon Wireless Thursday in order to discuss the proposed placement of a cell tower near the Highland County Senior Citizens Center in Hillsboro. No action was taken.

• Commissioners will meet again on Thursday (Jan. 2) next week.