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By Ed Richter, Staff Writer 8:34 PM Monday, July 20, 2009

Residents of the Bridgewood Villa subdivision may not get the answer to their question when they attend the Middletown City Council meeting tonight, July 21.

Last month, a group of residents appeared before council — as well as before the Warren County Commission — seeking to secede or detach their subdivision from Middletown.

Mark Bowen, one of the residents leading the effort to leave the city, said Monday, July 20, that several residents plan to attend the council meeting to speak on issue.

City Law Director Les Landen said the submitted petition was incorrectly formatted and a map with the correct legal description of the territory to be transferred has not been received by the county.

Landen said once those items are filed with the county, the city will decide on approving the request. He is slated to give council an update tonight.

Bruce McGary, Warren County’s chief assistant prosecutor, said he did not see the residents’ presentation to the county commission last month. However, McGary said he suggested they consult with a lawyer.

“There is a lot to this,” McGary said. “It’s pretty complicated and without an attorney, it’s a tough row to hoe.”

Before starting the process, he said the Ohio Revised Code requires a correctly formatted petition with the appropriate legal language and a map accurately describing the territory.

McGary said at least 51 percent of the property owners must approve the request, which also needs an ordinance giving Middletown City Council’s assent.

In addition, he said there needs to be a calculation of current or pending liabilities of any improvements made by the city.

Petitions were signed by 60 of the 80 property owners in the subdivision on the city’s southeast border adjacent to Turtlecreek Twp. Residents said they did not feel they are a part of the city and identify more with the township and Lebanon City Schools.

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It will be interesting to see all the reasons/delays Middletown will invent, to keep these people from leaving. We now have delay number one- the wording on the petition was incorrectly formatted and a map with correct legal description of the territory has not been received according to Leslie Landen. Delay number two to follow. Wonder how long Middletown can drag this out hoping these folks will change their minds?

Jerky Gerkenheim
6:57 AM, 7/21/2009

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I say make them stay, if the rest of the people that took a chance and bought property in Middletown have to stay, then they can to. If not, I for one would like my street handed over to city Faifield

Average Joe
3:01 AM, 7/21/2009

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Okay, JB, why don't you enlighten us as to anything in my statement that is wrong, if that is not too much to ask.

I eagerly await your defense of Middletown's money wasting and lack of vision.

A 9 year old could write such a one liner. How bout backing up your statement with some facts. Why are people trying to de-annex out of Middletown if it is so great?

enforcer
11:00 PM, 7/20/2009

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Emforcer, you make little sense.

jb
10:32 PM, 7/20/2009

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Okay, if these people leave, who will be subsidizing our municipal overlords for whom we all toil for? How dare they! Of course, ole Les and the City Council will stress the "vital city services" that Middletown provides (Funny how you can do this WITHOUT A BIG TIME INCOME TAX down in West Chester) and deny the petiton. M'town's econ development is to soak up as much land around I-75 as possible... to keep gov't staffing at 1950's levels or maybe another study to "revitalize" downtown.

Enforcer
8:50 PM, 7/20/2009

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