The mayors of most Warren County cities and villages urged the county commissioners Thursday to support Middletown Regional Hospital's planned move to Turtlecreek Township.

        “It's not just about health care,” said Carlisle Mayor Patrick Long, who organized the show of support. “It brings jobs to the county, it increases the tax base, it's going to increase the technology.”

        Also backing the project are the mayors of Mason, Morrow, Maineville, Loveland, South Lebanon, Waynesville, Franklin, Springboro, Harveysburg, Butlerville and Pleasant Plain.

        Middletown Regional wants to build a 550-acre health and technology campus along Interstate 75 at Greentree Road, but the commissioners and some township residents have said they don't want it in the rural area.

        The commissioners — who can veto the city of Middletown's plans to annex the Turtlecreek Township site — would prefer the development to take place just to the north at Ohio 122.

        The hospital, which maintains that it must move from its landlocked, central Middletown site to survive, says the private companies that want to join the campus prefer Greentree Road.

        The mayors' declaration follows a similar one signed by the superintendents of all Warren County school districts earlier this month. The gestures indicate that support for the project goes beyond areas that will be most directly affected.

        Bethesda North Hospital, in northern Hamilton County, will still be closer for Morrow residents, village Mayor Robert Brown noted Thursday, but he nonetheless backs Middletown Regional.

        “We wish we had it over here, but I don't foresee that in the near future,” Mr. Brown said.

        “I think it's a great thing for that part of the county.”

        County Administrator Bob Price had no comment.

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