By Marie McCain
The Cincinnati Enquirer

ANDERSON TWP. - As the population in this eastern Hamilton County township continues to grow, so does the need for administrative flexibility, say township leaders.

Trustees have adopted a home rule designation that gives them greater authority to meet specific township needs without turning to Hamilton County departments or officials for assistance.

The measure, approved Sept. 18, takes effect this month.

Township Administrator Henry Dolive said trustees would now be able to hire an engineer to study traffic flow patterns along some residential streets.

In the past, the township had to rely on the county engineer's office.

According to the Ohio Township Association, a Columbus-based agency dedicated to the preservation of township government, there are more than 1,300 townships across Ohio. However, only 1.3 percent have adopted home rule resolutions, and the majority of those are in southwestern Ohio.

Anderson is joining other areas such as Miami Township in Clermont County, Colerain Township in Hamilton County, and West Chester Township in Butler County, .

In November, residents in Warren County's Clearcreek Township will head to the polls to decide whether they want the designation.

Michael Cochran, OTA executive director, said home rule appears to be so popular in this region because of the size of these townships, which in many cases outnumber some cities.

Anderson Township, with 44,000 residents, ranks among Ohio's 10-most-populated townships.

Officials in Anderson, as a result of the home rule designation, will also be able to locally enforce building codes, curb noise pollution, regulate truck traffic, and make limited improvements to the Beechmont Corridor.

E-mail mmccain@enquirer.com