Y'town no longer scares the suburbs

There was a time, albeit in the distant past, when the city of Youngstown's use of its drinking water as a bargaining chip with suburban communities got results. Not any more.
Youngstown is a mere shadow of its once vibrant self, while the suburbs that receive city water are much larger than they were when they first tapped into the system.
The tables have turned -- as the current water fight between Youngstown on one side and Austintown and Boardman townships on the other clearly shows.
The fight began when Mayor Jay Williams used the "a" word -- annexation -- recently. Williams, who has completed a year and three months in office, wasn't talking about Youngstown's using annexation as a condition for supplying water to the two townships. Rather, he was pointing out that a recent court ruling has affirmed the right of municipalities to pursue such a course of action.
However, when trustees in Boardman and Austintown read his published comments, they perceived a threat. Their defenses went up, and the war of words began.
During a recent meeting of the Austintown Democratic Club, township trustees Lisa Oles, who has been most outspoken about what is transpiring, and David Ditzler made it clear that their community will not be pushed around by the city.
Oles went a step further, saying she does not believe Mayor Williams and other Youngstown officials when they insist that annexation is not being contemplated. It is her belief that any new business in Austintown requesting Youngstown water would have to sign a document agreeing to be annexed if the business is located on property adjacent to the city.
Perceived threat
Youngstown supplies drinking water to the entire township, which is why residents feel threatened any time some city official suggests that it isn't enough for its suburban customers to pay a surcharge on the regular rates.
For instance, the mayor's desire to enter into an agreement with Austintown for the development of a Joint Economic Development District is viewed by many as the city holding water as a hammer over the township's head.
The businesses located in the JEDD would receive Youngstown water, would pay property tax to the township, and its employees would pay Youngstown's income tax.
To sweeten the pot, Williams has said the income tax rate could be lower than the 2.75 percent people working in the city pay.
But there isn't strong support for the plan in Austintown because of the suspicion that Youngstown officials have ulterior motives.
In addition, many township residents aren't eager to have their community so closely aligned with Youngstown. One of the often heard comments goes something like this: I moved out of Youngstown to get away from the crime, deteriorating neighborhoods and failing school system. Why would I want to become part of that again?
The reality is that Youngstown's reputation precedes it.
In Boardman, where about half the township receives city water, trustees are exploring their legal rights with regard to the relationship with Youngstown. They and their counterparts in Austintown have talked to a lawyer who specializes in water and annexation issues.
Boardman trustees are also exploring the possibility of Aqua Ohio supplying drinking water to the entire township should Youngstown play hard ball.
Like the residents in Austintown, many in Boardman view Youngstown as bullying the suburbs -- and they aren't happy about it.
Columbus
In any discussion about water, the city of Columbus is used as an example of a municipality utilizing the resource to annex surrounding communities.
But a post in response to this writer's blog on Vindy.com about the water fight put it, "Columbus has done it for thirty years that I am aware of, they did not do it after the city was failing. Why would I want to pay twice for inefficiency?"
And then there is this reality: Suburbanites know that Youngstown cannot afford to shut off its drinking water to them. There aren't enough customers in the city to generate the revenue needed to operate the water department. In fact, the population is declining.
That's why trustees aren't cowed. They know Youngstown needs the suburbs.