Annexation Bid Hits Snag

By Nancy Bowman Staff Writer

FREDERICK — An effort to annex water starved areas in this community split between two southern Miami County townships has stalled, but not for long, if John Applegate has his way.

Applegate, city manager of Union in neighboring Montgomery County, has been working to annex 26.458 acres in Monroe and Union townships.

An annexation petition was filed with the Miami County commission in early January, but was withdrawn Feb. 7 because of technical difficulties.

Applegate said last week he withdrew the request after Miami County engineering staff questioned some lot lines and property deeds to the right-of-way line instead of the center of the road.

Once the technical questions are answered, Applegate said he plans to again file the annexation with Miami County with 100 percent of property owners approving. He hopes that water will be flowing to the area by summer.

Finding a viable source of water for the area, where water shortages in summer are not unusual, has been discussed by Miami County officials for years.

Jim McGarry, former Miami County sanitary engineer now serving as county development director, said the cost to develop a source of water and construct water lines from any source in Miami County to Frederick is not cost effective.

Union was seen as a possible source of water for the county to sell for a system, but Union was not selling the resource and not serving areas outside its corporate limits. Union’s boundaries now are to the south of the community with a water line within sight of some of the properties hardest hit by water woes, and targeted for annexation.

Contact this reporter at (937) 335-4357 or nbowman@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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