JOINT PRESS RELEASE ON THE PROPOSED ANNEXATION OF 31 ACRES OF PROPERTY AT THE INTERSECTION OF STILLWAGON AND NILES-VIENNA ROAD
— For Immediate Release on September 22, 2023 —
City of Niles Mayor Steve Mientkiewicz, Vienna Township Trustee Phil Pegg, and Howland Township Trustee Matthew Vansuch announce a tentative agreement that would resolve the pending annexation of 31 acres of real property at the intersection of Stillwagon Road and Niles-Vienna Road in Howland and Vienna townships while addressing the long-term relationship amongst the parties.
A copy of the terms sheet outlining the details is attached to this press release. In summary, while the Townships will not object to the pending annexation of the 31 acres to the City of Niles, and the City agrees that existing customers of its utility services will not be required to annex into the City or enter into a development incentive agreement similar to the one in Ordinance 58-19 in order to continue receiving the utility service(s) from the City. The terms sheet also addresses how the City will treat existing utility customers in the Townships who want to receive a new utility service from the City and the process for addressing future requests for annexation into the City. The agreement is for 20 years with automatic renewals at 5-year intervals unless the City and the Townships all agree to end the agreement.
“The position of the city since the inception of Ordinance 58-19 has been to allow for community growth and stabilization, while following state annexation laws. The ordinance allows my administration to determine what is in the best interest of the City of Niles and forced residential annexation is not that, hence the reason why not a single residential township utility customer has been forced to annex. Niles has always taken the high road as all sides worked through this complicated matter. This collaboration allows for individual communities and property owners to prosper. I will continue to work with our surrounding elected officials, leaders, and developers to benefit Niles and Trumbull County as a whole,” said Mayor Mientkiewcz.
“Vienna Township feels that we have obtained the best that we could in this matter, given the facts on the ground and the law that governs townships and cities. We look forward to moving forward,” said Trustee Pegg.
“I appreciate the time and consideration that Mayor Mientkiewcz and the City gave to the residents who have been concerned about their future in Howland Township since the City adopted Ordinance 58-19. This proposed agreement will give those residents peace of mind, knowing that they will not be forced to agree to annex into the City and pay a development fee to continue to receive the utilities that they have been receiving from the City for decades. I am looking forward to working with – and not against – the City on future projects that move us all forward,” said Trustee Vansuch.
The respective legislative bodies will consider the terms sheet and the full annexation agreement incorporating those terms under Ohio Revised Code 709.192 at the following dates and times: Howland Township Board of Trustees special meeting on Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 6 pm; Vienna Township Board of Trustees regular meeting on Monday, October 2, 2023 at 7 pm; and Niles City Special Council meeting on Monday, September 25, 2023 at 5 pm. The terms sheet is available for public review through each entity and at both the City of Niles website (thecityofniles.com) and Howland Township website (HowlandTownship.org).
Howland Recycling Center
