MASON — Nothing can unravel the delicate fabric of goodwill between two communities faster than an ugly little annexation battle.

        Just ask officials in Mason. The city and Deerfield Township have clashed over annexation for the past decade. Since 1989, Mason has swallowed up nearly 5,600 acres and has tried to annex hundreds more.
       

School property
        The latest tug of war over about 100 acres of prime real estate on Mason-Montgomery Road, known as the Batsche Farm, ended last week after a grisly two-year battle that went all the way to the Ohio Supreme Court. Mason City Council recently accepted the land, 96 acres of which is owned by the Mason Board of Education, as part of the city.

        “What has happened here is the dragging of the feet of those who did not want (the land) to leave the township,” said Councilman Tom Muennich. “But the will of the people has finally been heard.”
       

Utilities sooner
        In 1998, school leaders petitioned to annex their land into Mason for water and sewer services. The board said it planned to build a school there and believed the city could provide utilities sooner than the township.

        Trustees tried to convince school officials they could provide services, but the district and the city agreed to an annexation anyway.

        There was little the township could do to stop the process. Ohio law allows for swift action in cases of voluntary annexations.

        The township watched as the district later struck a deal with the city to build a new high school on Mason-Montgomery Road just a few miles away from the 96 acres school leaders sought to annex. Deerfield Township trustees were furious.

        “I think a lot of people have to wonder why the school district would annex 100 acres into the city for a school and then build it someplace else,” said Mr. Backus. “It just goes to prove that there was some collusion between the city and the school board. And that the land was being used as leverage in that deal.”
       

Building possible
        Both city and school leaders have denied any under-the-table deals and stand behind their original reasoning behind the annexation. School leaders say they have not ruled out building a school on the site.

        “We don't see the growth in this area slowing down anytime soon. We are already 650 kids ahead of where we were last year,” said Mason City Schools Superintendent Kevin Bright. “Chances are good that land will be used for an additional building.”

        City leaders were critical of township trustees.

        “It seems silly to keep taking these things to court and losing and losing,” said Mason Mayor John McCurley. “It's been frivolous and a waste of time for the taxpayers of Mason and Deerfield Township. If we've spent just $1 on these lawsuits it has been too much.”

        Mr. Backus countered: “We have an obligation to protect the interests of our residents and aggressive annexation is not in the best interest of our residents.”

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