Howland worried about domino effect

Trustees vow to fight any attempt by Niles to annex neighboring development

HOWLAND -- Township officials are concerned if property for a planned development off Stillwagon Road in Weathersfield is annexed to Niles, it will have a domino effect and lead to surrounding Howland land also possibly being annexed.

Howland trustees on Wednesday approved a motion to fight any possible annexation of township land for the planned development.

"The city of Niles fired a shot over the bow at one of our allies that ultimately may affect us at some point," Trustee Rick Clark said.

Clark said Niles May-or Steven Mientkiewicz sent a letter in June to the Trumbull County commissioners asking for support of the annexation of the proposed Stillwagon Road development and the nearly 50-acre property at the southeast quadrant of the Stillwagon and Niles-Vienna roads intersection in Weathersfield, so Niles could provide city sewer services.

Another letter was sent last week to property owner Jason Altobelli from the Trumbull County Sanitary Engineer's Office saying it's operationally feasible to provide sanitary sewer service to the property.

"If they extend services to them and they annex into the city of Niles, there will be property adjacent to property in Howland and Vienna. If the sewer line is extended, any resident within 200 feet of this sewer line would have to tap in -- which would make them have to annex into the city of Niles. We will fight this," Clark said.

Niles officials previously approved an ordinance to make it mandatory to annex into the city in oreder to receive city services.

Clark said he understands the developer is trying to get services for the 50-acre area so it can be developed for single-family homes and condos.

Trustee Matt Vansuch said the township is prepared for this. He said the county is divided into facility planning areas governed by federal law that dictates what entity will be providing what sewer services in a particular area.

Vansuch said the Stillwagon Road area is under the Girard facility planning area that has increased funds for its wastewater treatment plan, so it's not an issue of ability to provide services. He said the Niles facility area does not reach the Stillwagon area. Vansuch said the Mosquito Creek facility planning area is adjacent to the area.

"What concerns us, and what we raised with the city of Niles, is we would oppose any change in the facility planning areas to allow Niles to encroach upon either the county's service areas or Girard areas," Vansuch said.

Niles officials have said the city has no plans to extend past the Stillwagon Road-Niles-Vienna road area.

Vansuch said Howland wants to protect the area with the current sewer providers. "If one domino falls, they all fall," he said.

If Niles does submit a formal application to provide sewer to the area, Howland plans to submit a formal objection to the plan to the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments.

Township Administrator Darlene St. George said the county commissioners also could initiate a change to the plan.

"The county has a stake in this as well,'' Vansuch said.