JEFFERSON — Ashtabula County commissioners approved Thursday a memorandum of understanding with the city of Ashtabula that could correct a decades-old wastewater treatment debate between Ashtabula and townships to the east and west.
Ashtabula Solicitor Michael Franklin said it will encourage economic development in yet-to-be-formed joint economic development districts in which the city would be a partner.
For decades, the city has accepted and treated wastewater from the townships without enjoying the economic-development benefits of the same. Townships, which don’t have income taxes, have grown while the city has withered.
Many cities surrounded by townships have remedied this situation by threatening to terminate wastewater service if the development does not agree to annexation. Cities can “march down the road” annexing township properties by using this tactic.
“It’s a very powerful tool in the hands of many cities,” Franklin said.
The city’s agreement with the county, which claims ownership of the lines in the townships and collects a fee from users, hindered Ashtabula from moving in that direction. But about three years ago, the city, acting under the advice of outside legal counsel, determined it was no longer legally bound to stay in the city-county sewer agreement, said Franklin. Legal action ensued.
About six months after he became solicitor, Franklin and the county began negotiations to find common ground on the issue. The agreement was hammered out through the diligence of Ashtabula County Prosecutor Thomas Sartini and his staff, said Commissioner Peggy Carlo, who also worked on the resolution.
There is still much work to be done on the details and implementation, but the memorandum of understanding signed Thursday establishes a framework for creating JEDDs by resolving the wastewater conveyance, treatment and disposal issues. Carlo said the lines that are in place will remain; township users of the system will still pay the same fee as city residents, plus the county’s fee. The agreement will not affect residential users.
However, future commercial or industrial development that taps into the city’s system will need to occur in a JEDD, which would generate payroll taxes shared between the city and township.
“We will have a seat at the table going forward,” Franklin said.
Carlo said the next step in the process will be to create models for these JEDDs with input from all the parties involved. Franklin said there are many details that need to be worked out yet, but feels “the whole thing can be used for mutual benefit.”
“It’s an opportunity,” Carlo said. “I think it’s the best of all worlds for everybody to grow. This is a huge step forward in working with the city and the townships. If we could all work together like that, we’d be successful in a lot of things.”
Ashtabula Councilman-at-Large Charles Brockway said the benefits of the agreement might not be felt for several years, but he feels it will help put the city on a more level playing field with the townships. Eventually, requiring formation of JEDDs for township economic development could give prospective residents and businesses one more reason to consider locating in the city limits.
Local News
JEDDs may clean old sewer woes
- Local News
-
-
New film showcases county’s scenic rivers
Ohio’s Scenic Rivers program, which protects stretches of 14 waterways — including three in Ashtabula County — is the focus of a new movie by a Dayton-based independent filmmaker.
-
Red Cross holding breakfast for ‘Community Heroes’
The Red Cross Community Heroes Breakfast will honor 12 county residents March 3 at the Bernard Vacca Community Center.
-
County’s 2-1-1 even helps birds get home
Even the birds depend upon Ashtabula County 2-1-1 when they get into a bind.
-
Need for jobs tops county survey
Unemployment tops the list of community needs identified in a survey conducted late last year by the Ashtabula County Community Action Agency.
-
Students can donate clothing to Goodwill
Many Ashtabula Area City Schools students will find themselves cleaning out their closets this week.
-
5 homeless
Five people were left homeless Monday afternoon as fire ripped through a two story home at 1861 Footville Richmond Road.
-
2 meth labs in 1 home
Acting on a tip, police found two working methamphetamine labs under one roof in an early Sunday morning raid at a Main Street house, said Police Chief Charles Burlingham.
-
More money woes for the Lake County sheriff
The Lake County Sheriff’s Officecut another five cars from its road patrol division last week.
-
Scamming for puppies
Pat Payment doesn’t have any puppies.
-
Consultants to assess contaminated land
A consulting firm hired by the city to assess unused commercial and industrial land is fairly confident a study of the contaminated Astatic property can be properly completed, City Council learned at Monday’s work session.
- More Local News Headlines
-
New film showcases county’s scenic rivers
