The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Detach petition given to county

Homeowners want land that became part of Middletown in ’90s returned to Turtlecreek.

H1N1 flu suspected in Preble County officer’s death, sheriff says
11:18 a.m.
Top Middies playmaker thrilled to reach playoffs
3:04 a.m.
Franklin police chief spent time at Fort Hood
11/7/09
Coroner confirms identities of three men killed in arson
11/7/09
Middletown police chief has Moeller ties, Middie passion
11/7/09
> More headlines

By Ed Richter, Staff Writer Updated 12:43 AM Saturday, June 27, 2009

A group of Middletown residents who want to secede their homes from the city took their case to Warren County commissioners this week.

Homeowners from the Bridgewater Villa subdivision, which sits on the Middletown-Turtlecreek Twp. border, showed up at the county commission meeting Thursday, June 25, with their petition to detach from Middletown in hand.

Mark Bowen, who is spearheading the petition effort, said he presented the same petition he gave to the city June 16 to county commissioners Pat South and Mike Kilburn. Bowen said there was some uncertainty about where the petition needed to be filed, so residents wanted to cover their bases by going to the county, too.

Sixty of the 80 property owners in the subdivision have signed a petition seeking to sever ties with Middletown and return to Turtlecreek Twp. The land was annexed during the 1990s. Property owners have cited additional taxes from Middletown levies, poor perceptions of the city and a closer connection with Lebanon, where their children attend school, as reasons for the request.

“We’d support it,” Kilburn said of the petition. “There’s no reason not to, if the majority of property owners want it.

“I told them that I wasn’t sure if the city would go along with that, but I wished them good luck,” he said.

Middletown Law Director Les Landen said he’s still researching the issue. Landen said his initial understanding of the law was that the request had to start with Warren County commissioners.

But regardless of where it starts, Bowen said, “It’s going to be up to Middletown (City Council) in the end.”

Bowen said Councilman David Schiavone, an old friend, told him council may vote down the request. Still, residents remain undeterred and will keep moving forward, Bowen said.

If the request is granted, the city would lose about $20,000 in income tax revenues. Meanwhile, residents of Bridgewater Villa would end up paying more — $17 to $30 a month — for utility services such as water, sewer, trash and stormwater.

»Get more news directly from Middletown online at Middletown Journal.com/localnews and at Twitter .com/midd journal

Share this article

ADD COMMENT

Comments feed

This is stupid and WON'T happen...YOU BOUGHT A HOUSE IN MIDDLETOWN, THEREFORE YOU LIVE IN MIDDLETOWN. **** it up and move on or put your house up for sale!!!!!!!! There are more important issues to focus on than this crap!

murdock
1:08 PM, 6/28/2009

REPORT ABUSE

I believe Middletown payed for all of the road construction in that part of warren county at the time of construction .Warren county said Middletown owned it and they would not put a dime into the roads.They are collecting property taxes though and none of the up keep!So live with it.

John
6:20 PM, 6/27/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Understand why these folks want to leave. Another message sent that we, the people, don't want to be a part of the cluster that is the Middletown city government. Realistically, don't hold your breath waiting for Middletown to let you go. They are clinging to any bit of revenue they can scrounge because they have no large company taxes to pull from.

VietVet
10:40 AM, 6/27/2009

REPORT ABUSE

These people should be Thankful that Middletown is not forcing them to send their kids to Middletown Schools. I pray they will get what they want.

Nipper
7:38 AM, 6/27/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Didn't they know this was in Middletown when they bought them?

fedup
1:53 AM, 6/27/2009

REPORT ABUSE

There is 1 additional comment

SHOW ALL

We welcome your comments. Please remember this is a public forum and behave appropriately. Your comments must conform to our visitor's agreement.