GREENVILLE — Questions involving the potential future annexation of a property south of Greenville dominated discussion at Greenville City Council’s meeting Tuesday.
Marc Erwin of Erwin Bros. Trucking, which is building a fuel stop at the county’s South Industrial Park, addressed council during the public hearing of its meeting. He and his brother Mike Erwin, co-owners of the business, are asking the city to modify its requirements for future annexation.
In order to provide water and sewer services to the fuel stop, the city wants the business to sign a pre-annexation agreement, one which could require improvements be made to the property. These fixes could include the addition of sidewalks, curbs, and most importantly from the city’s perspective, a widening of the road between the Erwin Bros. property and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) garage, also being constructed.
Greenville and Darke County have already signed off on a pre-annexation agreement to provide water and sewer services for county properties. This includes the Darke County Sheriff’s Office and Jail, the Darke County Home and the ODOT facility. The fuel stop was not included in that agreement, which the Darke County Commissioners called an “oversight” on their part.
The Erwins contend that adding curbs and sidewalks and widening the road are unnecessary, and also, too costly.
“You’re trying to get me to do all this stuff, to widen the road, for a third lane, for no reason whatsoever,” Marc Erwin said, saying the city was trying to “hold it over his head” in order for the fuel stop to get water and sewer.
“If you guys don’t want me, that’s fine. I’ll put in my own well and septic tank,” he added.
City Safety/Service Director Curt Garrison recommended that the Erwins meet with the county and ODOT to explore a solution.
“To have the county, ODOT and the Erwin Bros. come to some sort of agreement for long-term road widening, our agreement with the county could be amended. That those entities, upon annexation, would agree to share in the cost,” he said.
“There is a high probability of a traffic issue with that industrial park. We foresee that. And we foresee that for the city to take that under control, and those problems not be resolved, it will be up to the city to spend the money to resolve those issues in the future. Therefore it’s in our best interest to plan for a resolution now,” Garrison added.
The Erwins have expressed they hope to open their facility by December 1, an opening now jeopardized without working water and sewer.
Darke County Commissioner Diane Delaplane also spoke to council.
“We have a situation with Erwin Bros., that they cannot open their operation,” she said. “[The county has] spent over $1 million to put in the sewer system, to put in the road, so we do have skin in the game.”
Mike Erwin spoke briefly, asking for a special meeting to be scheduled between them, ODOT, the county, and the city to see if an agreement can be reached.
Council President John Burkett said it would be possible but organizing a meeting would require coordinating all the parties’ schedules.
Council also approved the following ordinances and resolutions:
- An ordinance appropriating $1,500 from donations for new tree planting in the city park.
- An ordinance transferring $3,000 to the general fund to cover medical exams and background checks for newly hired firefighters.
- An ordinance transferring $57,000 to the general fund from the Whirlpool income tax to cover tax refunds in excess of the 2016 budget.
- An ordinance authorizing the safety/service director to approve an ODOT project for asphalt concrete overlay on portions of U.S. Route 36 and U.S. Route 127 within the City of Greenville.
- A resolution authorizing the sale of items no longer needed by the city through govdeals.com.
- A resolution authorizing the safety/service director to enter into agreement to purchase a self-contained breathing apparatus for Greenville Fire Department.
- A resolution authorizing submission of proposals with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for grants to obtain financing for constructing a splash park at South Park.
- An ordinance rezoning four tracts of land west of Wagner Avenue for the purpose of commercial development.
Greenville City Council meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. Meetings are open to the public.
