Thursday, September 23, 1999
Deerfield trustees consider home rule
BY KEVIN ALDRIDGE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP — Township trustees have been searching for legal authority to assume greater control over their own destiny — and the solution might be home rule.
Township officials Tuesday held a public hearing on whether to adopt the home rule form of government. Home rule would give township officials limited authority to pass laws in the unincorporated township.
Specifically, home rule gives townships authority to adopt laws including sanitary regulations, start police departments and form water and sewer districts.
“This is a major change that I think will make Deerfield Township more viable,” said Bill Morand, township trustee. “Given the total lack of support for townships by our county government and the need to fight off annexations and provide water and sewer service, I think we have to become a home rule township.”
In the past, township trustees have had little lawmaking authority under the Ohio Constitution. Many townships complained they were legally handcuffed from enacting specific projects or initiatives.
The new township model of home rule passed by the state, which went into effect Sept. 20, allows township trustees to adopt the model by a resolution, if the population is more than 15,000.
Residents may rescind the resolution through a ballot initiative.
If adopted, townships can pass ordinances and contract with independent legal counsel and engineers, rather than rely on county resources. Townships can also borrow at the
same rate as cities, villages and counties under the law.
“You can't really do anything when you're borrowing money over four years,” Mr. Morand said noting townships can raise their net indebtedness from 5.5 percent to 10.5 percent. “But you can do a lot of different things when you can spread it out over 30 years.”
Lee Speidel, a township resident and member of Deerfield's zoning commission, said while home rule is probably the next logical step in the township's evolution, it's a power trustees must use cautiously.
“I think this is a necessary step, but we should be very careful,” Mr. Speidel said. “Most cities don't use their legislative powers wisely. I don't think townships should be trying to act like cities.”
Trustees President Tom Raga added: “I agree that we need to maintain the character of the township, but we also need to become more progressive.”
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 and Delhi townships (1992).
Deerfield trustees will decide in two weeks whether to add their name to that list. The new law allows home rule powers on a unanimous vote by township trustees, who before had to hold an election.
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