LIMA — The status of a mobile home park in western Bath Township hangs in the balance after an annexation hearing Tuesday at the Allen County Commissioners office.
The hearing was held to consider the petition of Dan Campbell, owner of Walton Mobile Park on Leonard Avenue, to annex the park, as well as a separate parcel to the south in the vicinity of the recently burned down Christian Convention Center, from Bath Township into the city of Lima.
After a lengthy meeting, commissioners voted to table the motion for 30 days to consider arguments from both sides voiced during the meeting. Lima City Council approved a resolution consenting to the annexation in May, while the Bath Township Board of Trustees opposes it.
Speaking on behalf of Campbell, Derek Younkman said that the park, which had several mobile homes demolished due to deterioration, is currently underutilized and annexation would benefit the area in such areas as utility rates and the potential for economic development.
“They’ll get inside water user rates and other municipal services that the city provides, such as regular water, sewer, fire and police,” he said. “We believe that the city may be more flexible as far as permitting signage, and being close to Interstate 75 and Bellefontaine Avenue, and signs could be important for people who want to put in a new business or develop the area.”
Wanda Carter, an attorney for the Bath trustees, voiced opposition to the proposal, calling it invalid because it included two territories not connected to each other, essentially making the petition two annexations in one. Additionally, she said the annexation would bring city jurisdiction down the middle of the west Bath Township neighborhood, causing jurisdictional confusion.
“When you look at an annexation like this, you’re not looking at what would be for the good of the owner but rather the good of the territory,” she said.
Several officials and members of the public also spoke at the meeting, both in favor of and against the proposal, including Lima Law Director Tony Geiger, 5th Ward Councilor Teresa Adams, Bath Township Trustee Bill Degan, Bath Township Fire Department Chief Joe Kitchen and Bath Township Zoning Inspector Scott Campbell.
“We’re going to take that information, and we have to speak to our attorney on some issues that may have come up and get those cleared, but once they’re done, we have 30 days to render a decision on this,” Commissioner Cory Noonan said.
