Friday, March 23, 2007
Austintown and Boardman hired legal help.
By JEANNE STARMACK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CANFIELD -- The city and Youngstown are talking about a long-term contract for water, but unlike officials in Austintown and Boardman, Canfield's aren't worried about reaching an acceptable deal.
Youngstown provides bulk water to Canfield for resale to its residents, and the 10-year contract was up at the end of the year, said Canfield city manager Charles Tieche.
He said the contract is under an extension until the end of this year, and that there have been two meetings with Youngstown, including one this week.
But though Austintown and Boardman are wary that Youngstown may try to force them into complying with Mayor Jay Williams' idea of joint economic development districts, Canfield officials are not as concerned, say Mayor William Kay and Tieche.
Williams has mentioned JEDDs as a way to impose income tax on workers at businesses in the communities outside Youngstown that receive its water. In exchange, he's said, Youngstown could reduce or eliminate a 40 percent surcharge on water it provides.
What's happening
Officials in Austintown and Boardman are not opposed to JEDDs in principle. But they want a say in what those JEDD agreements will include, and they don't like it when Williams cites a March 2006 Ohio Supreme Court decision that allowed a city to annex nonresidents who receive its water. That case could prompt those who aren't interested in his JEDD proposals to the table, he has told The Vindicator.
Canfield isn't in the same situation as the townships, Tieche said, because the city owns its own water system and could buy water from another supplier -- notably Aqua Ohio on its east border. In Austintown and some of Boardman, the waterlines belong to Youngstown, according to a Mahoning County prosecutor's opinion that some township officials dispute.
The two townships recently split the legal bill for a consultation with attorneys who can answer questions about annexation.
Youngstown is finishing a study of its water distribution system and where the best places are for JEDDs.
Tieche said Canfield and Youngstown are awaiting the results of the study, and it's his understanding that the long-term contract to provide water to Canfield could include a JEDD proposal.
Tieche said the talks have not been confrontational.
Williams has said the city is not considering annexation based on water use.
starmack@vindy.com