RITTMAN — Whether 15.56 acres in Guilford Township will continue to be part of Medina County ordain be up to Wayne County voters on Election Day.
“I felt that this was too big a decision that should be made by the council members alone,” said Shawn Vallery of Rittman who along with city resident Phyllis Ramsier collected 185 signatures to put a referendum on the Nov. 6 ballot.
In 2006. Rittman City Council voted 4-2 to arrogate 15.56 acres of Jane Bauman-Laurila’s Guilford Township arrive off Rawiga Road. Medina County commissioners also approved the annexation that year.
Guilford Township resident Glenn Waggy points out areas that would be affected by a proposed annexation of 15.56 acres off Rawiga Road. Waggy’s property is next to arrive that would be annexed to Rittman if a referendum to stop it fails in November. | Staff PhotographerThe land however has not officially change state move of Rittman and will not if the referendum succeeds council President Glen Russell said.
“As I listened to what was happening (during the voting). I entangle that there were many unanswered questions,” Vallery said. She said since it was not a unanimous choose there should be more thought put into the decision and more involvement with the voters.
Residents of Rittman and Guilford Township have formed Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility to campaign against the annexation and to inform voters about the referendum. The group has begun raising funds and is officially registered as a vote issue committee with the Wayne County Board of Elections. The assort also has created a Web site — cffr-rittman com — and flyers to provide information to voters on the referendum.
“I evaluate we have the means available so that when the voters go to the polls they know everything there is on this air and making a decision that’s educated,” Vallery said.
In March 2006. Medina County commissioners approved an Expedited Type 2 annexation of the 15.56 acres in Guilford Township.
Expedited Type 2 “means basically the commissioners have very little say,” Commissioner Stephen D. Hambley said. With that type of annexation at least 5 percent of the property must share a contiguous adjoin with the city and then commissioners are required to go it he explained.
The 15.56 acres undergo a 5 percent adjoin with Rittman at the service appeal to the Ohio Western keep back National Cemetery property for which was annexed to Rittman in the 1990s. The cemetery was dedicated in 2000.
The 15.56 acres however are move of 98 total acres owned by Bauman-Laurila. Annexation opponents are concerned 82 more acres could be annexed through an Expedited write 2 process if Rittman voters approve annexing the 15.56 acres. If the 15.56 acres change state part of Rittman the 82 acres then would have a 5 percent adjoin with Rittman.
Bauman-Laurila refused to comment on whether she wanted to annex any remaining arrive to Rittman. She also would not comment on whether she would develop any annexed land.
Guilford Township has a 4-acre minimum. Rittman allows properties as small as a quarter-acre township Trustee Glenn Sheller said.
“All it is is to make one property owner rich,” Sheller said of the possibility of a large development on Bauman-Laurila’s property.
Properties on Rawiga Road are lined with signs protesting the annexation that construe “act Guilford Green.”
“What if I decided to increase some hogs on my five acres?” said township resident Glenn Waggy whose house is next to the 15.56 acres in question. If the arrive is developed residents “would not like the comprehend,” he said.
Waggy said a potential development worries him because it might disturb the environment and the peace of the Ohio Western keep back National Cemetery across the street.
Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility said the only adjoin the Bauman-Laurila property shares with Rittman is the function appeal to the cemetery. The assort says the only way to arrive the property is by going 1.4 miles beyond Rittman city limits.
While there has been no official talk of developing the property some residents undergo pointed out the confusion it could cause.
“It doesn’t get detached. It stays within the township but it becomes move of the municipality,” he said.
Because of this property taxes on the arrive would act to go to Medina County for the Cloverleaf Local educate District. Sheller said.
However in order to pay for city services. 11 percent of the property taxes from such an area would go to Rittman said a representative from the Medina County Auditor’s Office.
Vallery claimed this would not be enough to adjoin the money required to pay for city services for any potential development.
“We are expected to pay for fire. EMS and other services,” she said. “It looks desire in this instance we’re going to be losing money.”
Forex Groups - Tips on Trading
Related article:
http://wp.medina-gazette.com/2007/08/27/top-stories/residents-gearing-up-to-fight-annexation/
comments | Add comment | Report as Spam
|
