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Trumbull commissioners reject proposed Newton Falls annexation near Turnpike exit
By Ed Runyan
WARREN
The Trumbull County commissioners Wednesday voted to reject a proposal by the Village of Newton Falls to annex 440 acres in Braceville and Newton townships near the Ohio Turnpike into the village.
Attorneys for Newton Falls and the two townships presented oral arguments in a courtroom-like setting in the commissioners hearing room. The commissioners cast a 3-0 vote against the annexation.
The presentations took more than an hour, with the commissioners asking several questions regarding the legal arguments. The commissioners have said the only consideration for them would be whether the annexation met the requirements of Ohio law.
If it did, they were bound by law to approve it.
A lawyer the commissioners hired to assist them, Thomas G. Carey of Harrington, Hoppe & Mitchell, said the townships raised two “material” issues as to whether the petition met requirements.
One was whether a 2016 court case involving a proposed Marion County annexation applied. In that case, the decision was that all of the owners of land within the annexation area needed to sign the annexation petition. In the proposed Newton Falls annexation, two land owners did not sign the petition – the Ohio Turnpike Commission and CXS Railroad.
“... I think that precedent should be followed,” Carey said.
Secondly, Carey said there is a legitimate question as to whether one of the lots in the proposed annexation area would become an “island,” meaning it would not touch any part of Newton Falls or the newly annexed area.
After the commissioners had reached their decision, Newton Falls Mayor Lyle Waddell said the village will “revise this and refile it.”
Waddell has said the purpose of the annexation was to develop the area near the turnpike exit on state Route 5, which already has a truck stop and hotels.
The annexation was supported by several businesses in the annexation area that would have benefited from lower water and sewer services from Newton Falls.
After the commissioners decision, Braceville Township Trustee Todd Brewster said he and other residents of Braceville Township are “definitely happy” with the decision.
Braceville officials said the township would have lost $60,000 to $70,000 per year in hotel-motel taxes if the annexation had been approved plus the potential to receive other tax revenue as a result of future development.