Niles controversy plagues economic development summit
Niles controversy plagues economic development summit
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WARREN -- County commissioners and the speakers they invited to an economic development summit on Tuesday danced around the much-debated topic of annexation, instead guiding the conversation toward cooperation as a driver for development.
However, the approximately 75 people attending the meeting repeatedly returned to the elephant in the room -- in this case the red dragon in the room -- to air grievances and seek possible solutions to the turmoil between the city of Niles and Howland and Weathersfield townships.
Legislation passed in November by Niles requires contiguous parties using city utilities -- including water, sewage and electricity -- be annexed into the city.
Many residents, elected officials and township employees have argued against annexation, citing their right to choose where they want to live as well as access to certain township services and differing taxes. A group of people has been quietly protesting annexation by holding signs at Niles City Council meetings since the end of December.
In response to a legal memorandum the townships' counsel sent to Niles, the city "respectfully" declined to attend the summit.
"We're trying to talk to Niles, but we can't because they won't come to the table," said Weathersfield Township Administrator David Rouan during Tuesday's meeting.
"I'm very disappointed that Niles chose not to be here today," Howland Township Administrator Darlene St. George said. "We're here today to tell you that we are still willing to go to the table; we are still willing to sit down with rational minds and talk. Have we all lawyered up a little bit? Absolutely. We intend to protect our residents who are now saying they're frightened that they're going to be forced to live in a community they didn't choose to live in."
Niles Mayor Steve Mientkiewicz told the Tribune Chronicle on Tuesday night that Niles already has come to the table, and is willing to do it again, but only in a "professional, business-like setting.
"I spoke back in November with Darlene St. George. She sat right across from my desk. I said further discussions can take place," Mientkiewicz said, noting he spoke with Weathersfield trustees and Trumbull County commissioners as well.
"The door has always been open. They chose to go a different route and take legal action against us instead of having a business-like meeting behind closed doors," Mientkiewicz said.
He said his concern with open meetings like the summit is a "lack of agenda or structure, lack of professionalism and untruths that those parties are spreading to their community members."
The summit itself included presentations from Guy Coviello, Foundation president of the Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber; Nicholas Coggins, assistant director of the Trumbull County Planning Commission; Sarah Lown, public finance manager for the Western Reserve Port Authority; and Mark Ragozine, economic development planner for the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments.
Speakers talked about the functions of their organizations and the positive economic growth Trumbull County has seen in the past year, as well as projects with expected completion in 2020. Most encouraged cooperation and regionalization as drivers for development, keeping quiet with regard to annexation.
Coviello said the chamber does not have a policy on annexation, but the controversy is threatening a major project that could come into the area. He said site selectors carefully watch media coverage that comes out of communities where they are considering locating.
"I can tell you right now, just one project that we are aware of that is a $10 million project, it is in jeopardy because of some of the recent controversy over annexation," Coviello said. "If it takes too long to resolve the issue, that one project will go away."
Coviello said the project is confidential.
"Economic development -- where there is strife, where there is division, when there's building of walls, it hurts the whole area," said Commissioner Dan Polivka, who was a force behind organizing the summit. "A divided community will fall."
Still, the crowd remained occasionally rowdy, with Commissioner Frank Fuda sporadically banging his gavel to bring the meeting back on track when annexation talk returned.
One Weathersfield resident, Susan Olive, said she would like to be annexed into Niles, as her neighborhood already falls in the Niles City School District and is often patrolled by Niles safety services.
"For Niles to take us over, that would be great," Olive said.
Rouan said the problem isn't just annexation, but other parts of the legislation that "overreach" what Niles should be able to do.
"About 25 percent of the residents in Howland and about 50 percent or so in Weathersfield are going to be subject to annual fees in addition to the surcharge we already pay. In addition to that, they're going to charge you a 2 percent income tax fee," Rouan said.
He said some residents in Howland already have switched to Ohio Edison for electricity, and he anticipates in one to two years, all residents currently using Niles electric will do the same.
Rouan and St. George asked commissioners for a study seeking alternative water suppliers. The county owns waterlines that run outside of cities' limits. Cities operate and maintain the lines.
"We don't want to bankrupt another community," said St. George, but she said the township would fight for its residents.
Commissioners said they could not force Niles to enter a conversation, but Fuda said they will continue to reach out.
"If they are going to continue to play political games, then we're going to let counsel handle it," Mientkiewicz said.
avugrincic@tribtoday.com