By Sheila McLaughlin
The Cincinnati Enquirer

SYMMES TWP. - Trustees told residents at a public hearing Thursday that they don't think they will have to raise taxes to build an $11 million satellite of the Ralph J. Stolle Countryside Y with neighboring Deerfield Township.

But they are leaning toward renewal of the existing 1.85-mill park levy that expires this year - and they said they want to make it permanent - to raise $4.5 million that could be needed for the Y and still maintain and improve existing parks.

Residents peppered trustees with questions, and most who spoke at the hearing said they would be in favor of chipping in on the Y if they didn't have to pay higher taxes.

"I want the Y here. But if the rate goes up, then the levy goes down. If the palace requires a higher levy, there's no palace," said Michael Lube. He suggested that a segment of the township that will begin paying higher taxes next year because of a 12-mill Loveland school levy that passed in November would be sure to defeat any tax hike.

The 80,000-square-foot recreation center, which could open in mid-2006, is proposed to be built on more than half of a 27-acre property that Deerfield owns between the Meijer store and Steeplechase apartments on Montgomery Road. Deerfield trustees this week approved a letter of intent with the Y, which includes that Countryside pay $5 million over 20 years to lease the building.

Some residents questioned the location in Deerfield Township and said they objected to paying for a recreation center that would require them to also buy a membership to the Y to use it. Residents of both townships would pay more than $600 a year for a family membership.

However, trustees said the proposal includes use of an outdoor pool that would be exclusive to Symmes and Deerfield residents for a small fee. Residents would not have to become members of the Y to use it.

Darcy Havill, of Camp Dennison, suggested that residents be given a discount to use the Y. He objected to the use of taxes to build it.

"It doesn't seem appropriate to use taxes to build for a private entity even though it is a nonprofit," Havill said. He questioned what would happen if the Y ran into financial problems and quit operating the center.

"It doesn't look like a good business deal," he said.

Trustee Eric Minamyer said if trustees do not pursue the Y, they may still ask for the 1.85-mill levy because residents have expressed interest in a community pool. They have to decide by July 6 whether to place a levy on the November ballot.

A second public hearing for Symmes residents will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Symmes Elementary School on Enyart Road.

E-mail smclaughlin@enquirer