Tuesday, July 20, 1999
New law empowers townships
Home rule lets trustees manage growth
BY KEVIN ALDRIDGE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP — The oldest form of government in the United States appears to be getting better with age.
A new Ohio law gives township governments which represent unincorporated areas increased legislative powers.
House Bill 187, championed by State Rep. Lynn Olman, R-Maumee, received overwhelming support in both the House and Senate. The measure, effective Sept. 20, gives townships with more than 15,000 residents broader governing ability, or “home rule.”
“We feel that this new bill is a major step for township government,” said Michael Cochran, executive director of the Ohio Township Association. “Home rule allows larger, more urbanized townships to deal with the growing pains of development and related urban issues by opening up areas in which they may legislate.”
“Urban townships” will have the authority to establish water and sewer districts, receive better township representation on county planning commissions, and will have increased borrowing authority. Townships also may pass curfew restrictions for minors, nuisance and public safety reg ulations, institute emergency traffic and parking ordinances, restrict or expand the use of township facilities, and establish reimbursement procedures of other political subdivisions.
“It gives larger townships some of the same powers of a city or village without having that designation,” Mr. Cochran said.
The township form of government dates to the fifth century, when the Saxons conquered parts of England. It made its way to America on the Mayflower and was suited for the predominantly agrarian population it served then.
The limited self-government, or home rule, form of township government was established in Ohio law in 1991. Of Ohio's 1,309 townships, only eight have sought limited self-government, including Hamilton Township (1993), Symmes Township (1996) and Sycamore Township (1992).
The new law allows home rule powers on a unanimous vote by township trustees, who before had to hold an election. Voters can seek a referendum on the trustees' decisions.
Eric Minamyer, president of the Symmes Township trustees and acting township administrator. said the key aspect is the ability of townships to raise their net indebtedness from 5.5 percent to 10.5 percent.
“Now we have the same limit on the amount that we can borrow as cities and vil lages,” he said. “And best of all, now we can pay it back over a period of 30 years rather than four or five.”
The new law also allows townships to contract with independent legal counsel and engineers, rather than rely on county resources.
“A lot of times, county engineers get backed up and have to subcontract projects, and that can be a tedious process for townships,” said Larry Backus, a Deerfield Township trustee. “Plus in those situations, townships have limited control over what goes on.”
Hamilton Township Clerk Jacqueline Terwilleger said home rule allowed the township to form its own police department, hire independent legal counsel, and pass numerous resolutions and ordinances. She said the township hopes to use the additional borrowing power to build a new administration building.
Jean Schmidt, a trustee for Miami Township in Clermont County and member of the Coalition of Large Ohio Urban Townships (CLOUT), said the law was five years in the making.
“I'm so excited the bill passed, I feel like I've given birth to a brand-new baby,” said Mrs. Schmidt, who watched Gov. Bob Taft sign the bill.
Taft scuttles sales tax plan
Anderson High to stay Redskins
Bad air likely to linger for the week
Corrections made in way trash hauled
Headline: 'Footsteps on moon!'
Neighbors missed auto
911 service cut off for 12 hours
Taft gives Bush Ohio thumbs-up
Bell's upstream ride goes smoothly
A generation will remember Jackie's boy
A feel for farming
Friends of slain West End man 'can't figure out the reason why'
Let out, Watts now prisoner of his memories
Pickets back MU students
Butler Co. high school backs off on uniforms
Butler traffic watch reports big drop in DUI accidents, no deaths
Clermont's 150th fair has touch of history
Ky. man helped Kennedy keep fit
New law empowers townships
Parking at airport may get easier
Plant will give town a new life
Study: Ohio education agency lost, inefficient
Walnut Hills man found dead in Fla.
Buyouts may solve flood woes
Center accepts check
GET TO IT
Juvenile judge must decide: Is teen a victim or attacker?
Two new defendants OK'd in school asbestos case
Police, coroner study death of West End girl, 4
Principal coming out of retirement for one-year stint at Donovan
School's in session for Heritage Hill kids
Storms sap power in 200 homes
TRISTATE DIGEST
Victimized family forgives man who shot at them
