BY KEVIN ALDRIDGE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP -- The township could be headed for another annexation battle.
Trustees announced plans this week to oppose a Mason Board of Education decision to annex 97 acres it owns on Mason-Montgomery Road into Mason. The announcement comes a week after school leaders refused to acknowledge trustees' request for a delay.
"I think the consensus is that we are going to file a suit," Trustees President Larry Backus said. "Although we are loath to oppose the board on this or any issue, we feel that the board is wrong in this case." The property, formerly known as the Batsche Farm, is on the east side of Mason-Montgomery and north of Bethany Road. The district bought the land in April 1997 for $1.62 million. School leaders plan to build a school in a couple of years.
Board members said annexation makes sense because they think Mason can provide utilities to the property more quickly than the township. "That's all this amounts to," Superintendent Kevin Bright said. "This was strictly a business decision. We don't want to be a political football in the battles between Mason and Deerfield Township." "I think it is very unfortunate that the trustees are going to waste taxpayers' dollars to fight this," said David Lenert, president of the Mason Board of Education. "This is not going to derail our plans in the least."
Deerfield Township has a history of challenging annexations into Mason.
The most notable skirmish occurred when the city tried to annex Paramount's Kings Island in 1995. Trustees challenged the annexation in a court case that lasted nearly two years. Mason won.
Township leaders view the board's property -- much less than the 834 acres they fought to retain with Kings Island three years ago -- as pivotal to their plans for the development of the township's northwest quadrant. Those plans include the establishment of water and sewer service and the development of parks.
"We don't think we are going to win (the lawsuit)," Mr. Backus said. "But we definitely feel that there is a point to be made here. We believe that the decision to annex is premature since no date has been set for construction to begin on the property."
However, board members think the timing is just right.
"We've already been in this process for six or seven months," Mr. Lenert said. "To delay that wouldn't be prudent for the district. We are resolved that we want the land in the city of Mason. What we need is already there in terms of water and taps.
"The township can't bring us anything that we don't already have that could change our minds."
Mr. Backus questioned how the board could know what amenities the township has to offer because it never discussed its plans for the property with trustees.
". . . We do have a lot to offer," Mr. Backus said. "They have never discussed this issue with the township. They only discussed it with the city. To me, that makes the board's decision appear to be either extremely short-sighted or very political."
But school officials say that is not the case.
"We did have a meeting this summer with (township leaders) and we asked what their plans were for bringing water and sewer to that area," Mr. Bright said. "They couldn't really give us any definitive plans, so we moved ahead."
Trustee Tom Raga said township officials were unaware the board had placed so much emphasis on the June 17 meeting. He said trustees obviously didn't realize the scope of the school board's question. "The township is totally ready to accept the school board's decision, whatever that may be," Mr. Raga said. "What concerns us is that the school board didn't even bother to explore all of the possibilities with the township. They based their decision on one meeting with us. They obviously spent a lot more time with Mason." "I don't think the school board is considering the township properly," Trustee Bill Morand said. "This annexation is totally wrong. I think it's all a bunch of politics."
Despite their less than amiable history, Mason City Council members were slightly surprised to hear about the township's efforts to stop the annexation.
"It's a little surprising to me to see them oppose this because this is their school system, too," Councilman Jim Fox said. "I think it is wise for the political entities to stay out of this one."
Councilman John McCurley added: "It is not surprising that the school board is anxious to move forward. They will be able to gain access to water and sewer much quicker with the city."
Warren County commissioners will hold a public hearing on the annexation Jan. 12. Commissioners have the final say on all annexations. Township leaders are expected to voice their opposition at the hearing. But school leaders aren't worried.
"When all is said and done, the property is going to be in the city of Mason," Mr. Lenert said. "The only ones who are going to be made better by all of this is the attorneys."
