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PERRY TOWNSHIP -- The board of trustees unanimously approved agreements for two proposed annexations in its meeting Monday.
The trustees authorized trustee Chair Steve Bailey to enter into intergovernmental agreements with the City of Salem for two annexations of property in Perry Township. One annexation concerns county parcel 50-00888.000, an approximately 10.241-acre property off Salem Parkway West and Beechwood Road adjacent to the industrial park. The other concerns 13 parcels along Depot and East Pidgeon roads.
Bailey said that the annexation of properties on Depot and East Pidgeon roads only included 13 parcels rather than the 17 listed when Salem City Council approved the agreements in its Oct. 20 meeting. He explained that the list of parcels included in the original draft of the agreement had included an additional four parcels which had been included in error and that the agreement had since been corrected.
Bailey also stressed that the agreements were for individual annexations requested by the property owners and were not connected to the proposed intergovernmental economic development agreement which would have set terms for all annexations moving forward and has been stalled since last year. He said that by collaborating with the city on terms for an expedited annexation the township is able to ensure it continues receiving 50% of the tax revenue an annexed property generates for the duration of the agreement rather than that figure diminishing with time like in a standard annexation, and to negotiate additional terms benefitting township residents.
Both agreements have a term of 30 years and if the annexations are approved will see Perry Township receive payments from the City of Salem equal to 50% of the property tax the annexed parcels generate for the duration of the agreement. In the event that a property tax deferment, abatement or exemption is granted for one of the annexed parcels the city will be calculated "for a period of 10 years after the expiration of the tax abatement granted to any individual portion of the annexation parcel," which may "in effect extend payments to the township" beyond the initial 30-year period.
The agreements also specify that "the township and city agree any existing deed restriction/covenant requiring a township property owner to file for annexation to the city upon becoming contiguous to city limits shall not be enforce nor any penalty be imposed by the city against any township property owner who becomes contiguous to the annexation parcel as a result of the annexation" for the duration of the agreement.
The annexations will still require approval from the Columbiana County commissioners.
Other matters approved included a resolution to advance $50,000 from the General Fund to the Police Department Fund to be reimbursed when the township receives its second half real estate tax payment from the County Auditor's Office.
Trustee Tony Ieropoli reminded residents that the township's annual leaf pickup would begin Nov. 2 continuing into December as necessary and that all leaves must be collected in paper bags. Ieropoli also reiterated that the township was no longer handing out paper leaf bags and residents would need to obtain their own.
The meeting concluded with an executive session for the discussion of personnel matters with no action to follow.
The board of trustees will meet next at 4 p.m. on Nov. 9.