BY TOM O'NEILL
The Cincinnati Enquirer
ANDERSON TOWNSHIP -- The township board is expected to decide at an Aug. 17 special meeting whether to put a transportation levy on the November ballot.
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IF YOU GO
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What: Special meeting on transportation levy proposal
Where: Township administration building, 7954 Beechmont Ave., meeting room When: 7 p.m. Aug. 17
Information: Township administration at 474-5560
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A public meeting Tuesday night drew mixed reactions from about 40 residents.
Anderson is the only township of 30,000-plus population in Hamilton County that doesn't have a road levy, Township Administrator Henry Dolive said Wednesday.
The levy cost hasn't been decided, but the Transportation Advisory Committee recommended a levy of no more than 1 mill.
Trustees are considering a levy of 0.95 mill, which would cost the owner of a $100,000 home an estimated $30 per year. Based on Anderson Township's property tax assessment, the levy would bring in about $850,819 annually.
The levy would apply only to improvement of roads the township maintains.
The roads on the township's list for consideration include Rosteree Lane, Watch Hill Lane, Burnes Avenue and the west side of Asbury Hills Drive.
The last road levy in Anderson, in the early 1980s, was rejected by voters. There has never been a road levy passed by voters in Anderson, said township Road Superintendent Dave Sparke.
Of the 207 miles of roads in Anderson, the township is responsible for 109 miles; the county 68, including Beechmont Avenue; and the state 30, including Ohio 125 and Ohio 32.
Mr. Dolive called roads "the biggest asset a township has" and said the levy proposal is a matter of spending a little money now or a lot later.
Clark Carmichael, a member of the citizens advisory panel that recommended the levy, agreed.
"There are a lot that aren't at the critical stage yet, but we don't want them to get to that," he said Wednesday. "We're trying to stay ahead of the game."
If the levy fails, the township will have to assess each household where streets are repaired.
