HAMILTON — The Butler County commissioners declined to make an offer Monday to buy a 23-acre tract needed for the planned route of the Ohio 63 extension. But they are going to seek help with funding.

        Commissioner Mike Fox said the county can't afford to shoulder that cost — estimated at about $900,000 and rising daily as developer and Butler County Republican Party chairman Joe Schwarz prepares to build houses on the site.

        “I'm really torn on this issue,” Mr. Fox said. “This is a really important project. But I can't figure out a way to come up with that money.”

        They haven't given up on acquiring Mr. Schwarz' property, located north of existing Ohio 63 and east of Ohio 4 in Monroe.

        The commissioners are going to ask the towns of Monroe and Trenton and Miller Brewery to contribute money to buy the property. Mr. Fox said he's disturbed Butler is the only local entity that has put up any money for the project.

        “I'm absolutely perplexed that we haven't heard much from the businesses and communities that would benefit from this project,” he said.

        Rerouting the Ohio 63 extension around Mr. Schwarz' property would increase the project's cost, commissioners said. No estimate of that amount was given.

        The commissioners asked David Daugherty, president of the Mid-Miami Valley Chamber of Commerce, to talk to officials of Monroe, Trenton and Miller Brewery about the money. The commissioners will meet with the officials March 21.

        County Engineer Greg Wilkens, who encouraged the commissioners to buy the Schwarz property, said he will ask the state to release now some of the $27.7 million it has committed to the project. That money isn't scheduled to be released until 2004.

        The proposed 10-mile $90 million Ohio 63 extension would run from near Salzman Road in Monroe to U.S. 127, north of Seven Mile.

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