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County Officials Speak Against Proposed Agricultural Area

Posted on: Wednesday, 7 December 2005, 21:00 CST

By Heather Rutz, The Lima News, Ohio

Dec. 7--BATH TOWNSHIP -- Some county officials say a proposed agricultural designation for nearly 1,200 acres of farmland could tie their hands in efforts to improve roads or run water and sewer lines.

Officials expressed concern Tuesday night at a public hearing for a proposed agricultural security area. If county commissioners and township trustees approved the area, it would be the first in the state.

Farmer David Bassett and other landowners initiated the petition for ground in the far northeast section of the township. Trustees have 45 days and commissioners have 60 days from Tuesday to approve or deny the request. Both groups must approve it to take effect.

A new program, created this year by the Legislature and run by the Agriculture Department's Office of Farmland Preservation, permits landowners to request approval from county commissioners and township trustees for a security area, at least 500 acres of contiguous farmland in an unincorporated area that is protected from development for 10 years.

Bassett said his group wants to preserve the rural character of northeast Bath Township, protect farmland from development pressures and assessments and keep a large enough block of land together to make farming profitable.

Chief Deputy Engineer Mark Stockman and Sanitary Engineer Steve Kayatin said the law isn't clear about under what circumstances the county can widen a road or make other improvements to public right of way within a security area.

"Quite often there are problems with laws right out of the shoot. We have a deeper fundamental issue here about public roads for the public good," Stockman said. "This reduces the rights that come with public roads. Engineer Tim Piper wants you to know that he will seek legal measures to protect that right of way, if he needs to."

Bassett said he has received assurances from the Agriculture Department and the bill's sponsor, state Rep. Tony Core, RRushsylvania, the law leaves counties' rights intact. Kayatin said the county should seek a written legal opinion before a decision is made.

"'I was told this,' doesn't mean spit," Kayatin said. "Let's get it in writing."

Lewis Bassett, David Bassett's father, said he only wants to preserve what has been in his family for more than 150 years.

"I can stand on my property on Thayer Road, and see no homes, no pollution for acres on the land that my great-greatgrandfather purchased in 1848," Lewis Bassett said. "I want my grandchildren to see a part of Bath Township that isn't blacktop and three-acre lots with a pond out front. We want to leave it the way it is, and don't want a bunch of red tape to do it."

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Copyright (c) 2005, The Lima News, Ohio

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Source: The Lima News

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