Warren council to vote on utility extension

WARREN -- City council will soon vote on legislation to provide water and sewer service to a new school in Warren Township without requiring annexation.
The city usually requires that properties be annexed before getting city utilities.
Councilman John Homlitas, D-3rd, chairman of council's sewers and water-pollution control committee, said Tuesday that lawmakers are supportive of a variance in that policy to grant utilities to a new school planned in the LaBrae district.
LaBrae schools will pay outside water and sewer rates that are double what residents pay. The district will also pay for upgrading to handle the additional load on the systems.
LaBrae plans to build a nearly $30 million facility to house grades three-12 behind Bascom Elementary School.
Voters in the district approved a 5.4-mill bond issue to raise the local share of $9 million. The Ohio School Facilities Commission is chipping in about $20 million.
The city discussed but decided not to form a Joint Economic Development District with Warren Township in order to provide water and sewer to the school without annexation.