COLUMBIANA CITY Annexation requested

Mahoning County Commissioners have 90 days to rule.
By PETER H. MILLIKEN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
NORTH LIMA -- Mahoning County commissioners have taken under advisement a request to annex about 33 acres of Beaver Township into Columbiana.
The request, heard during a Tuesday hearing at the Beaver Township administration office, came from the three owners of the land on the north side of state Route 14 some 1,200 feet west of state Route 46.
Lawyer Mark Hutson of Columbiana presented the case for brothers Earl and Robert Corey and the Randall A. Carletti Family Trust.
The annexation request is being made to provide water, sewer and electric service from Columbiana to a proposed medical office complex that would be built on the site, Hutson told the commissioners. A truck and trailer sales and service shop occupies part of the land, and most of the land is vacant ground that was farmed until recently.
Commissioners have 90 days to rule on the annexation request. If they approve, the nearly 33 acres would still be part of Beaver Township, even though they would become part of the city. The annexed land would remain within Mahoning County. Columbiana is in Columbiana and Mahoning counties.
Taxes: Atty. Alan Wenger, who spoke on behalf of the Beaver Township trustees, said they were concerned about foregone tax revenues for the township associated with the annexation, but wouldn't oppose this annexation request if they can reach a tax revenue sharing agreement with the property owners and an agreement with the city on a moratorium on further annexations.
Hutson said the owners of the property can enter into an agreement to allow some sharing of current tax revenue levels, but they can't change state tax law. "As the property is developed, any governmental entity involved would receive greater tax revenue," he said.
Keith Chamberlin, city manager, said Columbiana City Council has passed an ordinance saying the city would provide water, sewer, electric, police, fire and emergency medical services to the land if it is annexed to the city.
"The property is prime property to be developed for commerical use. It's a high-traffic area. This medical facility that is proposed is an excellent project," he said.
Commissioners made no comments on their views concerning the proposed annexation during the hearing.