An Annexation Moves Forward

The Huber Heights City Council gives a wink and a nod to a 300 acre annexation

In a recent meeting marked by passionate citizen participation and some council deliberation, the Huber Heights City Council addressed a controversial resolution involving the proposed annexation of nearly 300 acres into the city from nearby Bethel Township. The resolution focused on the services the city would provide to the annexed territory, a step in the annexation process as per Ohio Revised Code Section 709.023.

The discussion opened with one of the city admiminstrators noting that the resolution was not a vote for annexation, but rather a declaration of services the city would commit to providing if the annexation were approved. In other words, council by voting for the resolution wasn’t necesssarily agreeing to the annexation. However, council could deny the resolution and stop the annexation cold by voting against the resolution. Despite this clarification, the resolution sparked some debate among council members and elicited strong reactions from the community.

Anita Kitchen, a council member, expressed opposition to the resolution, citing concerns about the city's readiness to extend services to new residents without addressing existing infrastructure needs, like water supply issues. This sentiment resonated with several residents who spoke during the citizens' comments section.

Residents of both Huber Heights and Bethel Township voiced their apprehensions. Concerns ranged from increased traffic congestion, strain on schools and emergency services, to the loss of rural character and farmland. Speakers like Donna Hughes and Natalie Donahue, both of Bethel Township, emphasized the desire to preserve their current way of life and questioned the benefits of the proposed expansion for both communities.

Some council members acknowledged the contentious nature of the issue in the community. They stressed the need for further information and discussion before making a definitive decision on annexation. The possibility of organizing a town hall meeting for a more comprehensive dialogue with all stakeholders was raised.

Despite these concerns, the resolution to adopt the statement of services passed with a 7-to-1 vote, with Mrs. Kitchen casting the lone dissenting vote. The decision underscored a complex balancing act between the interests of current and future residents, and the sustainable growth of the city.

Inside The Resolution

The Resolution adopted by the City Council stated the services the City would provide to the annexed territory:

The City of Huber Heights states that within a reasonable amount of time anticipated to be approximately 30 days after completion of the annexation of the Proposed Property to the City of Huber Heights, it will provide to the newly annexed territory the following services: police and fire protection; paramedic and ambulance services; professional engineering staff; park and recreation programming; maintenance of any and all public streets and alleyways, falling within the jurisdiction and control of the City, keeping the same open, in repair, and free from nuisance; street lighting in accordance with any citywide plan/policy for streetlights; planning and development services; fire inspections; and any and all other services provided at the discretion of City of Huber Heights, which may be in addition to those services listed herein. - Section 1 of Resolution, as adopted

Why It Matters

One of the most notable services that was not expected to be provided was centralized water and sewer services. Currently, portions of Bethel Township are provided centralized water and sewer services by the Board of County Commissioners and in all reality, these are expensive services to install and maintain for any growing community. While Huber Heights has said they want to annex the 300 acres to their community, they are also saying they want the Board of County Commissioners here in Miami County to be responsible for providing water and sewer services to those newly annexed areas.

Furthermore, the Board of County Commissioners will not have any authority or ability to regulate any of the land use on the annexed property, even though they will have the responsiblity to provide centralized water and sewer services. Why does this matter? Well, the single family residential development that will undoubtedly occur will be considerably more dense and require more water and sewer services than what currently exists in Bethel Township and will come at a great expenses, potentially to the taxpayers and rate payers of Miami County and not to the City of Huber Heights.

The City of Huber Heights is simply trying to have it both ways. They will get income tax from the residents who live in the newly annexed areas, but the expense of providing centralized water and sewer services along with the extra burden of additional students to an already stressed school district will not be felt by those living south of the county line.

And to make matters worse, our Board of County Commissioners has little recourse. Not only must they vote for the annexation, as the Second District Court of Appeals has ruled on a previously withdrawn annxation petition, the Board will also have the responsiiblity for providing water and sewer services to thousands of new residents with no ability to regulate the density of the land being annexed.

What Happens Next?

As the Huber Heights City Council moves forward with the annexation process, the community's reaction highlights the challenges cities face in balancing development with preserving the quality of life and addressing the needs of all affected parties.

The decision has set the stage for further discussions and potential actions regarding the annexation, with the council acknowledging the need for a deeper engagement with the community to address the myriad concerns raised.

Next up, the Board of County Commissioners in Miami County will take a perfunctory vote to approve the annexation, unless it can be found that the annexation petition doesn’t meet the legal requirements set forth in the Ohio Revised Code.