Saturday, March 06, 1999
Ft. Mitchell merger looks at finances
Crescent Park in final audit
BY CINDY SCHROEDER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FORT MITCHELL — Rankin, Rankin & Co. is doing a special audit of Crescent Park's finances, as a prelude to the city's merger with neighboring Fort Mitchell.
“I want Fort Mitchell to know we're free of any debt,” Crescent Park Mayor Maston Ward said. “We have no obligations.”
In November, Crescent Park residents voted by a 2 to 1 majority to dissolve their city of 421 and merge with Fort Mitchell, a city of 8,000. The change would be effective July 1, the start of the fiscal year.
The mayors of the two cities and Fort Mitchell's administrator met Monday to begin the transition, Mr. Ward said. They plan to continue discussions the next four months.
“I think it'll be a smooth transition,” said Fort Mitchell Administrator Bill Goetz.
This week, Crescent Park residents received their first Fort Mitchell city newsletter, complete with a welcome from Mayor Thomas Holocher.
Mr. Ward said that he also has invited Fort Mitchell city officials to attend a meeting of the Crescent Park City Commission.
Last summer, the adoption of a Kentucky law making annexations easier prompted the two governments to express their intent to dissolve Crescent Park and have Fort Mitchell annex its smaller neighbor.
Officials of both cities said the move made sense because Fort Mitchell already provides police, fire, public works and emergency medical services to Crescent Park on a contractual basis.
Once the merger occurs, all city of Crescent Park assets and liabilities will become the property of Fort Mitchell, and all Fort Mitchell tax rates in force will apply to Crescent Park residents.
The former Crescent Park residents also will be able to use all Fort Mitchell city services, including recreational programs and facilities.
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