Sylvania Township joins city annexation lawsuit

12/9/2000

Sylvania Township trustees have joined residents as defendants to fight annexation lawsuits filed by the city of Sylvania.

A ruling by Judge James Bates in Lucas County Common Pleas Court allows the trustees to be defendants in four cases, and will amount to a challenge of a 1973 sewer agreement between the city of Sylvania and the county. In the four cases, the city has targeted about 600 acres for annexation.

"The city of Sylvania has required developers and property owners to sign annexation agreements prior to allowing them to tap into the county's sewer line. This litigation will enable the township to challenge that practice," Dave Simko, an attorney for the township, said yesterday.

County commissioners heard testimony Wednesday about allowing the city of Sylvania to annex about 48 of about 600 acres. The land is a residential rectangle at the northwest corner of Sylvania-Metamora and Centennial roads. Commissioners made no decision on the annexation.