County Commission to look at an Alley Vacation in Rossville
Vol. III, No. 103 - A Routine Process Takes Place in a Sensitive Community
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For those of you that may not be aware of the rich history of Miami County, there are quite a few unincorporated communities around here. It’s not fair to necessarily call these places “ghost towns”, but the imagery fits in some ways. These were small, yet bustling, communities, that time has forgotten. These unincorporated communities are too small for their own form of village government and their affiairs are generally governed by their Board of Township Trustees.
One such unincoporated community is Rossville, nestled right across the Great Miami River just north of Downtown Piqua. Rossville is home to the historic African Jackson Cemetery, which is the final resting place for a number of freed slaves that came from Virginia, when their owner, John Randolph, a prominent political and business figure, freed them through his will.
The process of vacating public alleys in townships across Ohio is just one of the decisions local government makes. The vacation process allows officials to change the status and use of land that may no longer serve the needs of the community. This process is usually overseen by the Board of County Commissioners, which holds the legal authority to review and approve requests to vacate alleys and streets, ensuring that public interest and local laws are respected at every step.
The authority for the Board of County Commissioners to vacate alleys, roads, or other public ways comes from Ohio Revised Code. Township trustees may identify alleys or roads within their jurisdiction that have fallen into disuse and petition the County Commissioners to formally vacate the land. This is often the case in older neighborhoods, rural communities, or unincorporated villages where old rights-of-way have been overtaken by grass and vegetation and are no longer maintained or included on official maps for purposes like auto registration fund distributions.
When a township board wants to vacate an alley, they file a formal petition with the county. This petition includes details about the alley, such as its exact location, width, and the lots it runs between. Commissioners then set a date for a public hearing to discuss the proposed change. At this hearing, local residents, property owners, and anyone interested in the matter can express concerns or support. This step is vital because it creates a transparent process, allowing for debate and consideration of public needs or historical significance, and ensures that decisions are not made behind closed doors.
If the commissioners agree the alley should be vacated, they adopt a resolution allowing the vacation to go forward. The physical effect of vacating an alley means the area once set aside for public travel becomes split up, usually between the adjacent property owners. For example, if an alley runs between two lots, the ownership of what was the alley will likely be divided equally between those property owners. The county updates the property records to reflect the change, and the land may be used, developed, or maintained in accordance with local zoning rules. The process removes any public right-of-way, meaning the public can no longer use that space for access.
The recent petition in Rossville in Springcreek Township illustrates this process. Township trustees have requested that three old alleys be vacated, noting that the sections have grown over with grass because of non-use and are not counted for highway funding or maintenance. In the above map, you can see these alleys behind and next to properties on West Miami Street in Rossville, these small strips are no longer functioning alleys.
According to a public notice notice, the Miami County Commissioners have scheduled a public hearing on September 16th at 9:00 a.m. at the Commisisoners Hearing Room to review the proposal. This hearing offers residents the opportunity to provide input before any final decision is made.
Some local residents have expressed concern because Rossville is close to the historic African Jackson Cemetery, the final resting place of the Randolph Freed Slaves. This site is on the National Register of Historic Places and holds significant cultural value for the entire region. However, the vacation of alleyways is a common operation for county governments and does not automatically threaten historic areas. Public hearings are designed to protect such concerns, allowing voices to be heard and issues to be addressed before changes are made.
Residents and stakeholders that are concerned should attend the September 16th public hearing. It will be held at 9:00 a.m. in the Commissioner’s Hearing Room, which is located on the First Floor of The Miami County Safety Building, 201 West Main Street in Troy.
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