Commissioners Reluctantly Agree to Bethel Annexation
Property owners want Huber Heights to grow by nearly 300 acres
On Thursday, the Miami County Board of County Commissioners voted, albeit with reluctance, to approve an annexation petition that will see Huber Heights expand by nearly 300 acres. This expansion is not just a physical growth for Huber Heights; the planned residential development is expected to bring thousands of new residents to the county's southern tier. Thursday's vote marks the latest milestone in the lengthy process of integrating this land into the Huber Heights community.
Our publication has devoted significant attention to this annexation in previous editions, even proposing solutions to policymakers regarding the issue.
Why Did The Commissioners Approve the Annexation?
Perhaps Commissioner Wade Westfall summed up the Commission's actions succinctly when he stated, "We must act according to the laws that are written, not necessarily how we wish they were written."
When a similar annexation was proposed last year, the Commissioners voted against the request. The petitioners then took the Board of Commissioners to court and won their case. Although the Second District Court of Appeals appeared to empathize with the arguments presented by the County Commissioners, the judges concluded that state law was explicit; as long as the annexation petition satisfied the legal requirements, the commissioners were obligated to approve the request.
Fast forward to 2024, armed with the knowledge that the Second District Court of Appeals had already made its stance known on the matter, the Board of County Commissioners was legally compelled to approve the contentious annexation. A failure to do so would have exposed the county to costly litigation that it was bound to lose.
At this juncture, the City of Huber Heights still needs to formally accept the annexation. The earliest this could occur would be at their next City Council meeting, scheduled for Monday, February 26th.
An Issue That Needs Addressing in Columbus
Following the vote, the Commissioners urged all county residents to not only attend meetings of the Huber Heights City Council but also to contact state legislators to advocate for changes in these laws. This publication has strived to create a platform for discussion on these issues.
According to sources within the county courthouse, some state legislators, such as Dayton area State Representative Phil Plummer, have expressed willingness to bring these annexation concerns to the General Assembly. Additionally, Jonathan Newman, a candidate for State House Representative from here in Miami County, has indicated that annexation issues warrant broader discussion. Residents would benefit from reaching out to candidates for both the State House of Representatives and State Senate to discuss how annexation issues are impacting not only rural communities but also significantly affecting county taxpayers.
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