Whitehouse, Waterville Twp. forge agreement

8/14/2002

Agreements on annexation, cemetery maintenance, the DARE program, and fire and rescue services have been reached between the village of Whitehouse and Waterville Township.

The agreements, recently approved by Whitehouse council, include provisions that services would continue if the township is dissolved and another established.

Walter Celley, assistant township solicitor, said the agreements were forged as a result of a renewed sense of cooperation and understanding between the village and Whitehouse.

“We have made a lot of progress with Whitehouse,” he said. An important element of the agreements is that they would be binding with a new township.

The establishment of a new township is possible: Many residents in the unincorporated area of the township want to form a township separate from the villages of Whitehouse and Waterville.

The annexation agreement states the township would not object to any annexation petitions filed by Whitehouse that are signed by 100 per cent of the property owners. The village would give the township 14 days' notice of any filing of such petitions.

Under the DARE agreement, the township would continue to provide the program at the Fallen Timbers Middle School in the Anthony Wayne school district if the township is dissolved and a new one set up.

Whitehouse council also approved a two-year extension of the fire and rescue services contract with the township. The contract calls for an 18-month notice of termination, instead of the previous 30-day notice, if either the township or village wants out of the contract.

The council approved a five-year contract with the township for maintenance of three Whitehouse cemeteries. The township maintains the cemeteries, and that would continue if a new township is formed, said Randy Bukas, Whitehouse village administrator.

In other action, the council:

Approved issuing $2.2 million of notes and bonds for the municipal building's construction. Bids were opened last week, and the contract is to be awarded Aug. 20, Mr. Bukas said. Construction is expected to get under way this fall with completion in 2003;

Approved a one-year extension on the lease of property to the Whitehouse Library;

Agreed to discuss the fact-finder report on the proposed separation of the township from the villages during council's Aug. 20 meeting;

Scheduled an auction of surplus property at 9 a.m. Saturday at the blue building near the baseball diamonds in the Village Park.

Mr. Bukas said the area is still under a ban on watering lawns, washing cars, and other outdoor water usage.

Whitehouse, which has been providing water from its own wells, is in the process of tapping into the Lucas County water system. The connection could be completed by the end of October, Mr. Bukas said. The council decided last year to abandon the village's well system for the county system.