County Commissioners Stand Against Bethel Annexation

State law gives few options for Commission to consider in regards to 300 acre annexation

Facing a 300 acre annexation under an Expeditied Type 2 petition, the Miami County Commissioners had few options but to send off a letter to the Huber Heights City Council which was signed by the commissioners earlier this week.

Under State Law, the Board of Commissioners must approve the annexation petition, unless the annexation petition does not meet the standards outlined in the law. To add insult to injury, early signals from Huber Heights show that the city has no desire to offer the 300 acre annexation any centralized water or sewer services. Instead, the city is relying on the small centralized water and sewer system that the County already operates to service the newly annexed lands.

This publication received the letter sent by the Board of County Commissioners to the Huber Heights City Council:

While many may say that a tersely-worded letter won’t change the minds of the elected officials of Huber Heights, it is helpful to understand that the options that the Board of Commissioners have are extremely limited. Last year, the Board, facing a similar annexation from Bethel Township, voted against it and the Second District Court of Appeals affirmed state law and ruled that the Commissioners must vote for the annexation. That annexation petition was pulled due to a failure of the City of Huber Heights to take timely action on the petition.

This publication will continue to inform and provide insights on this annexation, just as we have in the past.

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