If you want something from the Warren County commissioners, at least one of them seems to be in an unusually receptive mood.

        Commissioner Mike Kilburn, who faces newcomer Daryl Dunn in the GOP primary next week, was downright eager to give $1 million to the Humane Association of Warren County at Thursday's meeting. Mr. Kilburn also strayed from standard operating procedure in supporting Lebanon City Schools' controversial annexation request.

        “It's an election season, and I don't want anyone to think Mike Kilburn is getting in front of his fellow commissioners,” Mr. Kilburn told an audience of about 50 Humane Association supporters.

        In practically the next breath, he said the county can afford to kick in $100,000 a year for the next 10 years toward the $2.8 million expansion of the animal shelter.

        Fellow commissioners Pat South and Larry Crisenbery reined in Mr. Kilburn, saying the condition of county coffers will depend on whether voters pass the elderly services levy next week. Passage could free up some $750,000 a year.

        The commissioners deferred a decision on a shelter donation.

        Mr. Kilburn was also the first to weigh in on the commissioners' next agenda item: the Lebanon schools' annexation request.

        The district needs Lebanon to provide utilities to a planned elementary school on Drake Road, but neighbors are concerned about increased traffic and storm-water problems.

        “I don't want to be known as the guy who voted against an annexation for a school to be built,” Mr. Kilburn said.

        Other than Fenwick High School, presumably. Commissioners refused last fall to let Middletown annex Franklin Township land the Catholic school plans to use for a new campus.

        Working the math: Meanwhile, Mike Kilburn's opponent, Daryl Dunn, accused Mr. Kilburn of saying that a proposed relocation of Middletown Regional Hospital to Greentree Road would cost Warren County $100 million.

        Mr. Dunn's own estimates, released Tuesday, put the cost at $7 million, if the state can be convinced to contribute.

        Mr. Kilburn responded that he has never said the county's cost would be $100 million, but rather that the overall infrastructure costs could be at least that. The county is relying on the county engineer's estimates, which put Warren's responsibility for road upgrades and other infrastructure at $30 million to $40 million, Mr. Kilburn said.

        Drawing the line: The new era of cooperation between Lebanon and Turtlecreek Township has its limits, it seems.

        Both sides have made much of the friendlier relationship that's developed since Lebanon City Council changed hands in November. The city is reconsidering letting a bit of land along Ohio 123 on the west side be deannexed back to Turtlecreek for a new township administration building and fire department.

        Turtlecreek, for its part, has not fought several Lebanon annexations, most recently and prominently that of the Lebanon City Schools property on Drake Road.

        However, the city and the township squared off — cordially — on the matter of another annexation Tuesday.

        Several properties on the east end of Ohio 123 — most notably the planned Las Colinas de Lebanon subdivision — are seeking to join Lebanon.

        Lebanon's all for it, but Turtlecreek trustees urged the Warren County commissioners Tuesday to deny the request. With only 300 feet of the territory touching city limits, the other 98 percent would be surrounded by the township, township attorney Don Brosius said.

        “It was an attempt to gerrymander people,” Mr. Brosius said.
        Tips and comments on suburban politics may be relayed to reporter Cindi Andrews via phone, 755-4157, or e-mail, candrews@enquirer.com
       

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