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Sub. H. B. No. 411 As Passed by the SenateAs Passed by the Senate
125th General Assembly | Regular Session | 2003-2004 |
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Representatives Seitz, Collier, Niehaus, McGregor, Aslanides, Schneider, Webster, Gilb, Wolpert, Schlichter, Sferra, Daniels, Flowers, Barrett, Boccieri, Driehaus, C. Evans, Grendell, Otterman, Peterson, Raussen, Setzer, Ujvagi, Yates
Senators Jacobson, Robert Gardner
A BILL
To amend sections 163.02, 163.09, 163.12, 303.02, 307.08, 307.79, 504.04, 504.19, 505.07, 505.375, 519.02, 3709.41, 6117.012, 6117.39, 6117.51, and 6119.11 and to enact sections 307.561, 504.21, 6101.181, and 6115.221 of the Revised Code to allow a county, township with a limited home rule government, conservancy district, sanitary district, county sewer district, or regional water and sewer district to appropriate, without a prior jury assessment of compensation for the taking, land for the construction of sewers when the Director of Environmental Protection or a local board of health finds that unsanitary conditions compel the immediate construction of the sewers for the protection of the public health and welfare; to revise the rulemaking authority of a board of county commissioners that adopts rules governing erosion control, sediment control, and water management; to permit townships with a limited home rule government to adopt certain erosion control, sediment control, and water management rules; to establish a potential civil fine for violation of those rules; to authorize a board of county commissioners that has established a county sewer district to adopt rules governing the prevention of sewer back-ups; to exempt certain farm dwellings from certain sewer connections; to authorize the settlement of county-related court actions by consent decrees or court-approved settlement agreements that may include specified rezoning or development agreements; to make changes to the procedures relating to township consent decrees or court-approved settlement agreements; to permit fire and ambulance districts to enter into lease contracts with an option to purchase; to remove a reference to the Oil and Gas Law from the county and township zoning laws; and to require health district licensing councils to meet at least annually rather than quarterly.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That sections 163.02, 163.09, 163.12, 303.02, 307.08, 307.79, 504.04, 504.19, 505.07, 505.375, 519.02, 3709.41, 6117.012, 6117.39, 6117.51, and 6119.11 be amended and sections 307.561, 504.21, 6101.181, and 6115.221 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec. 163.02. (A) Except as provided in divisions (B),
(C), and (D), and (F) of this section, all appropriations of real property
shall be made pursuant to sections 163.01 to 163.22 of the
Revised Code. (B) Subject to division (E) of this section, the director
of transportation may appropriate real property pursuant to
sections 163.01 to 163.22 of the Revised Code or as otherwise
provided by law. (C) Subject to division (E) of this section, a conservancy
district may appropriate real property by procedures prescribed
in Chapter 6101. of the Revised Code. (D) Subject to division (E) of this section, a sanitary
district may appropriate real property by procedures prescribed
in Chapter 6115. of the Revised Code. (E) When the director of transportation, a conservancy
district, or a sanitary district proceeds to appropriate real
property other than under sections 163.01 to 163.22 of the
Revised Code, the proceedings are subject to division (B) of
section 163.21 of the Revised Code. (F) A county, township that has adopted a limited home rule government, conservancy district, sanitary district, county sewer district, or a regional water and sewer district also may appropriate real property in the manner prescribed in division (B) of section 307.08, 6101.181, 6115.221, 6117.39, or 6119.11 or division (D) of section 504.19 of the Revised Code, as applicable. (G) Any instrument by which the state or an agency of the state
acquires real
property pursuant to this section shall identify the agency of the state that
has the use and benefit of the real property as specified in section 5301.012
of the Revised Code.
Sec. 163.09. (A) If no answer is filed pursuant to
section 163.08 of the Revised Code, nor and no approval ordered by the
court to a settlement of the rights of all necessary parties, the
court, on motion of a public agency, shall declare the value of
the property taken and the damages, if any, to the residue to be as set forth in
any document properly filed with the clerk of courts the court of common pleas by the
public agency. In all other cases, the court shall fix a time,
within twenty days from the last date that such the answer could have
been filed, for the assessment of compensation by a jury. (B) When an answer is filed pursuant to section 163.08 of
the Revised Code and any of the matters relating to the right to
make the appropriation, the inability of the parties to agree, or
the necessity for the appropriation are specifically denied in
the manner provided in such that section, the court shall set a day,
not less than five or more than fifteen days from the date the
answer was filed, to hear such questions those matters. Upon such questions those matters,
the burden of proof is upon the owner. A resolution or ordinance
of the governing or controlling body, council, or board of the
agency declaring the necessity for the appropriation shall be
prima-facie evidence of such that necessity in the absence of proof
showing an abuse of discretion by the agency in determining such that
necessity. If, as to any or all of the property or other interests
sought to be appropriated, the court determines the questions matters in
favor of the agency, the court shall set a time for the
assessment of compensation by the jury within twenty days from
the date of the journalization of such that determination. An order
of the court in favor of the agency on any of such questions the matters or
on qualification under section 163.06 of the Revised Code, shall
not be a final order for purposes of appeal. An order of the
court against the agency on any of such questions, the matters or on the
question of qualification under section 163.06 of the Revised
Code, shall be a final order for purposes of appeal. If a public
agency has taken possession prior to such an order and such an order,
after any appeal, is against the agency on any of such questions the matters,
the agency shall restore the property to the owner in its
original condition or respond in damages, which may include the
items set forth in division (A)(2) of section 163.21 of the
Revised Code, recoverable by civil action, to which the state
consents. (C) When an answer is filed pursuant to section 163.08 of
the Revised Code, and none of the matters set forth in division
(B) of this section is specifically denied, the court shall fix a
time within twenty days from the date the answer was filed for
the assessment of compensation by a jury. (D) If answers are filed pursuant to divisions (B) and (C)
of this section, or an answer is filed on behalf of fewer than
all the named owners, the court shall set the hearing or hearings
at such times as are reasonable under all the circumstances, but
in no event later than twenty days after the issues are joined as
to all necessary parties or twenty days after rule therefor,
whichever is earlier. (E) The court, with the consent of the parties, may order
two or more cases to be consolidated and tried together, but the
rights of each owner to compensation, damages, or both shall be
separately determined by the jury in its verdict.
(F) If an answer is filed under section 163.08 of the Revised Code with respect to the value of property appropriated under section 307.08, 504.19, 6101.181, 6115.221, 6117.39, or 6119.11 of the Revised Code as the result of a public exigency, the burden of proof with respect to that value is on the party or parties to the appropriation other than the property owners.
Sec. 163.12. (A) A view of the premises to be appropriated or of premises appropriated shall be ordered by
the court when demanded by a party to the proceedings. The (B) The property owners shall open
and close the case except that, if the premises are appropriated under section 307.08, 504.19, 6101.181, 6115.221, 6117.39, or 6119.11 of the Revised Code as the result of a public exigency, the party or parties other than the owners shall open and close the case. (C) The court may amend any defect or informality in proceedings under sections
163.01 to 163.22, inclusive, of the Revised Code. The court may cause new
parties to be added, and direct such further notice to be given to a party in
interest as the court deems considers proper. (D) No part of the pleadings, other than the petition, shall be read or exhibited
to the jury.
Sec. 303.02. Except as otherwise provided in this section, in the interest of the public health,
safety,
convenience, comfort, prosperity,
or general welfare, the board of county
commissioners may, in
accordance with a
comprehensive plan,
regulate by resolution the
location, height, bulk, number
of
stories, and size of buildings
and other structures, including
tents,
cabins, and trailer
coaches, percentages of lot areas
that may be occupied,
set back
building lines, sizes of yards,
courts,
and other open spaces, the
density of population, the uses
of
buildings and other structures,
including
tents, cabins, and
trailer coaches, and the uses of land
for trade, industry,
residence, recreation, or other purposes in
the unincorporated
territory of
the county, and establish reasonable residential landscaping standards and residential architectural standards, excluding exterior building materials, for the unincorporated territory of the county and, for
all these purposes, the board
may
divide all or any part of the
unincorporated territory of the
county into districts or zones of such number,
shape, and area as
the board determines. All such regulations shall be
uniform for
each class or kind of building or other structure or use
throughout any district or zone, but the regulations in one
district or zone
may differ from those in other districts or
zones.
For any activities permitted and regulated under Chapter 1509., 1513., or 1514. of the Revised Code and any related processing activities, the board of county commissioners may regulate under the authority conferred by this section only in the interest of public health or safety.
Sec. 307.08. When (A) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, when, in the opinion of the board of county commissioners, it is
necessary to procure real estate, a right-of-way, or an easement for a
courthouse, a jail, or public offices, or for a bridge and the approaches
thereto to it, or other for another structure, or public market place, or market house,
proceedings shall be had in accordance with sections 163.01 to 163.22,
inclusive, of the Revised Code.
(B)(1) For the purposes of division (B) of this section, either of the following constitutes a public exigency:
(a) A finding by the director of environmental protection that a public health nuisance caused by an occasion of unavoidable urgency and suddenness due to unsanitary conditions compels the immediate construction of sewers for the protection of the public health and welfare; (b) The issuance of an order by the board of health of a health district to mitigate or abate a public health nuisance that is caused by an occasion of unavoidable urgency and suddenness due to unsanitary conditions and compels the immediate construction of sewers for the protection of the public health and welfare.
(2) If
the board of county commissioners is unable to purchase property for the purpose of the construction of sewers to mitigate or abate the public health nuisance that is the subject of a finding of the director or an order of the board of health, the board of county commissioners may adopt a resolution finding that it is necessary for the protection of the public health and welfare to appropriate property that the board of county commissioners considers needed for that purpose. The resolution shall contain a definite, accurate, and detailed description of the property and the name and place of residence, if known or with reasonable diligence ascertainable, of the owners of the property to be appropriated.
The board of county commissioners shall fix in its resolution what it considers to be the value of the property to be appropriated, which shall be the board's determination of the compensation for the property and shall be supported by an independent appraisal, together with any damages to the residue. The board shall deposit the compensation so determined, together with an amount for the damages to the residue, with the probate court or the court of common pleas of the county in which the property, or a part of it, is situated. Except as otherwise provided in this division, the power to appropriate property for the purposes of this division shall be exercised in the manner provided in sections 163.01 to 163.22 of the Revised Code for an appropriation in time of public exigency. The board's resolution and a written copy of the independent appraisal shall accompany the petition filed under section 163.05 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 307.561. Notwithstanding any contrary provision in another section of the Revised Code, section 303.12 of the Revised Code, or any vote of the electors on a petition for zoning referendum, a county may settle any court action by a consent decree or court-approved settlement agreement which may include an agreement to rezone any property involved in the action as provided in the decree or court-approved settlement agreement without following the procedures in section 303.12 of the Revised Code and also may include county approval of a development plan for any property involved in the action as provided in the decree or court-approved settlement agreement, provided that the court makes specific findings of fact that notice has been properly made pursuant to this section and the consent decree or court-approved settlement agreement is fair and reasonable. If the subject of the consent decree or court-approved settlement agreement involves a zoning issue subject to referendum under section 303.12 of the Revised Code, the board of county commissioners shall publish notice of their intent to meet and consider and take action on the decree or court-approved settlement agreement and the date and time of the meeting in a newspaper of general circulation in the county at least fifteen days before the meeting. The board shall permit members of the public to express their objections to the consent decree or court-approved settlement agreement at the meeting. Copies of the proposed consent decree or court-approved settlement agreement shall be available to the public at the board's office during normal business hours. At least ten days prior to the submission of a proposed consent decree or settlement agreement to the court for its review and consideration, the plaintiff in the action involving the consent decree or settlement agreement shall publish a notice that shall include the caption of the case, the case number, and the court in which the consent decree or settlement agreement will be filed, the intention of the parties in the action to file a consent decree or settlement agreement, and, when applicable, a description of the real property involved and the proposed change in zoning or permitted use, in a newspaper of general circulation in the county.
Sec. 307.79. (A) The board of county commissioners may adopt,
amend, and rescind rules establishing technically feasible and
economically reasonable standards to achieve a level of
management
and conservation practices
which
that will abate wind or
water
erosion of the soil or abate the degradation of the waters
of the
state by soil sediment in conjunction with land grading,
excavating, filling, or other soil disturbing activities on land
used or being developed for nonfarm commercial, industrial,
residential, or other nonfarm purposes, and establish criteria
for
determination of the acceptability of such those management and
conservation practices. The rules shall be designed
to implement
the applicable areawide
waste treatment management plan prepared
under section 208 of the
"Federal Water Pollution Control Act,"
86 Stat. 816 (1972), 33 U.S.C.A.
1228, as amended, and to implement phase II of the storm water
program of the national pollutant discharge elimination system
established in 40 C.F.R. Part 122. The rules to implement phase II of the storm water program of the national pollutant discharge elimination system shall not be inconsistent with, more stringent than, or broader in scope than the rules or regulations adopted by the environmental protection agency under 40 C.F.R. Part 122.
Such
The rules adopted under this section shall not
apply inside the limits of municipal corporations or the limits of townships with a limited home rule government that have adopted rules under section 504.21 of the Revised Code,
to lands being used in a strip mine operation as defined in
section 1513.01 of the Revised Code, or to land being used in a
surface mine operation as defined in section 1514.01 of the
Revised Code. The rules adopted under this section may require persons to file
plans governing erosion
control, sediment control, and
water management
plans incident
thereto, before clearing,
grading, excavating, filling, or
otherwise wholly or partially
disturbing
five
one or more
contiguous acres of land owned by one
person or operated as one
development unit for the construction
of nonfarm buildings,
structures, utilities, recreational areas,
or other similar
nonfarm uses.
Areas
If the rules require plans to be filed, the
rules shall do all of the following: (1) Designate the board itself, its employees, or another
agency or official to review and approve or disapprove the plans; (2) Establish procedures and criteria for the review and
approval or disapproval of the plans;
(3) Require the designated entity to issue a permit to a
person for the clearing, grading, excavating, filling, or other
project for which plans are approved and to deny a permit to a
person whose plans have been disapproved;
(4) Establish procedures for the issuance of the permits;
(5) Establish procedures under which a person may appeal
the denial of a permit. Areas of less than
five
one
contiguous
acres
acre shall not
be exempt from compliance with other
provisions of this section or
rules adopted pursuant to under this
section. The rules adopted under this section may impose
reasonable filing fees for plan
review, permit processing, and field inspections. No permit or plan shall be required for a public highway,
transportation, or drainage improvement or maintenance thereof project
undertaken by a government agency or political subdivision in
accordance with a statement of its standard sediment control
policies that is approved by the board or the chief of the
division of soil and water
districts
conservation in the
department of natural resources. The rules shall not apply inside the limits of municipal
corporations.
(B) Rules or amendments may be adopted under this section only
after public hearing hearings at not fewer than two regular sessions of
the
board. The board of county commissioners shall cause to be published, in a newspaper
of
general circulation in the county, notice of the public
hearings,
including time, date, and place, once a week for two
weeks
immediately preceding the hearings. The proposed rules or
amendments shall be made available by the board to the public at
the board office or other location indicated in the notice. The
rules or amendments shall take effect on the thirty-first day
following the date of their adoption. (C) The board of county commissioners may employ personnel,
to assist in the
administration of this section and the rules adopted under it. The
board also, if the action does not conflict with the rules, may
delegate duties to review
sediment control and water management
plans to its employees, and
may enter into agreements with one or
more political
subdivisions, other county officials, or other
government
agencies, in any combination, in order to obtain
reviews and
comments on
such plans
governing erosion control,
sediment control, and water management or
to obtain other services
for the
administration of the rules adopted under this section. (D) The board of county commissioners or any duly authorized representative of the
board
may, upon identification to the owner or person in charge,
enter
any land
upon obtaining agreement with the owner, tenant,
or
manager thereof of the land in order to determine whether there is
compliance
with the rules adopted under this section. If the board or its duly authorized
representative is unable to obtain
such an agreement, the
board
or representative may apply for, and a judge of the court of
common pleas for the county where the land is located may issue,
an
appropriate inspection warrant as necessary to achieve the
purposes of this chapter. (E)(1) If the board of county commissioners or its duly authorized representative determines that a violation of the rules adopted under this section exists
and
requests, the board or representative may issue an immediate stop work order if the violator failed to obtain any federal, state, or local permit necessary for sediment and erosion control, earth movement, clearing, or cut and fill activity. In addition, if the board or representative determines such a rule violation exists, regardless of whether or not the violator has obtained the proper permits, the board or representative may authorize the issuance of a notice of violation. If, after
a period of not less than thirty days has elapsed following the
issuance of the notice of violation, the violation continues, the board or its duly authorized representative shall issue a second notice of violation. Except as provided in division (E)(3) of this section, if, after a period of not less than fifteen days has elapsed following the issuance of the second notice of violation, the violation continues, the board or its duly authorized representative may issue a stop work order after first obtaining the written approval of the prosecuting attorney of the county if, in the opinion of the prosecuting attorney, the violation is egregious. Once a stop work order is issued, the board or its duly authorize representative shall request, in writing, the prosecuting attorney of the
county
in writing, the
prosecuting attorney shall to seek an
injunction or other appropriate relief in the court of common pleas to abate excessive erosion
or sedimentation
and secure compliance with the rules adopted under this section. In If the prosecuting attorney seeks an injunction or other appropriate relief, then, in
granting relief, the
court of common pleas may order the construction of sediment
control improvements
or implementation of other control measures and may assess a civil fine of not less than one hundred or more than five hundred dollars. Each day of violation of a rule or stop work order issued under this section shall be considered a separate violation subject to a civil fine. (2) The person to whom a stop work order is issued under this section may appeal the order to the court of common pleas of the county in which it was issued, seeking any equitable or other appropriate relief from that order. (3) No stop work order shall be issued under this section against any public highway, transportation, or drainage improvement or maintenance project undertaken by a government agency or political subdivision in accordance with a statement of its standard sediment control policies that is approved by the board or the chief of the division of soil and water conservation in the department of natural resources. (F) No person shall violate any rule adopted or order issued
under this section. Notwithstanding division (E) of this section, if the board of county commissioners determines that a violation of any rule adopted or administrative order issued under this section exists, the board may request, in writing, the prosecuting attorney of the county to seek an injunction or other appropriate relief in the court of common pleas to abate excessive erosion or sedimentation and secure compliance with the rules or order. In granting relief, the court of common pleas may order the construction of sediment control improvements or implementation of other control measures and may assess a civil fine of not less than one hundred or more than five hundred dollars. Each day of violation of a rule adopted or administrative order issued under this section shall be considered a separate violation subject to a civil fine.
Sec. 504.04. (A) A township that adopts a limited
home rule
government may do all of the following by resolution,
provided
that any of these resolutions, other than a
resolution to
supply
water or sewer services in accordance with sections 504.18
to
504.20 of the Revised
Code, may be enforced only by the imposition
of civil fines as authorized in
this chapter: (1) Exercise all powers of local self-government within
the
unincorporated area of the township, other than powers that
are in
conflict with general laws, except that the township shall
comply
with the requirements and prohibitions of this chapter,
and shall
enact no taxes other than those authorized by general
law, and
except that no resolution adopted pursuant to this
chapter shall
encroach upon the powers, duties, and privileges of
elected
township officers or change, alter, combine, eliminate,
or
otherwise modify the form or structure of the township
government
unless the change is required
or permitted by this chapter; (2) Adopt and enforce within the unincorporated area of
the
township local police, sanitary, and other similar
regulations
that are not in conflict with general laws or
otherwise
prohibited
by division (B) of this section; (3) Supply water and sewer services to users within the
unincorporated
area of the township in accordance with sections
504.18
to 504.20 of the
Revised Code. (B) No resolution adopted pursuant to this chapter shall do
any of the
following: (1) Create a criminal offense or impose criminal
penalties,
except as authorized by division (A) of this
section; (2) Impose civil fines other than as authorized by this
chapter; (3) Establish or revise subdivision regulations, road
construction standards, urban
sediment rules, or storm water and
drainage regulations, except as provided in section 504.21 of the Revised Code; (4) Establish or revise building standards, building
codes,
and other standard codes except as provided in section
504.13 of
the Revised Code; (5) Increase, decrease, or otherwise alter the powers or
duties of a township under any other chapter of the Revised Code
pertaining to agriculture or the conservation or
development of
natural resources; (6) Establish regulations affecting hunting, trapping,
fishing, or the possession, use, or sale of firearms; (7) Establish or revise water or sewer regulations,
except
in accordance with sections section
504.18 and, 504.19, or 504.21 of the Revised Code. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as affecting the
powers of counties with regard to the subjects listed in
divisions
(B)(3) to (5) of this section. (C) Under a limited
home rule government, all officers shall
have the
qualifications, and be
nominated, elected, or appointed,
as provided in Chapter 505. of
the Revised Code, except that the
board of township trustees
shall appoint a full-time or part-time
law director pursuant
to section 504.15 of the Revised Code, and
except that
a five-member board of township trustees approved for the
township before the effective date of this amendment September 26, 2003, shall continue to serve as the legislative authority with successive members serving for four-year terms of office until a termination of a limited home rule government under section 504.03 of the Revised Code. (D) In case of conflict between resolutions enacted by a
board of township trustees and municipal ordinances or
resolutions, the ordinance or resolution enacted by the municipal
corporation prevails. In case of conflict between resolutions
enacted by a board of township trustees and any county
resolution,
the resolution enacted by the board of township
trustees prevails.
Sec. 504.19. (A) The board of township trustees may
prepare and adopt a general plan of water supply or sewer services.
After the general plan has been approved by the board, the
board immediately shall notify
the board of county commissioners if territory served by a county water supply
facility or a county sewer district includes territory to be covered by the
plan, the legislative authority of a municipal corporation that operates a
water supply or sewer system in any of the territory to be covered by the
plan, and the board of trustees of any existing regional water and sewer
district
that includes any territory to be covered by the plan,
of the township's
intention to provide water supply or sewer services and shall describe the
area where
the township proposes to provide water supply or sewer services. The
notified board of
county commissioners, legislative authority of a municipal corporation,
and board of trustees
of the regional water and sewer district then have thirty
days from the date of notifleation notification to comment and
object in writing to the
township's provision of water supply or sewer services. An objection may be
based on one or more of the following: (1) The county, municipal corporation, or special district
already provides
the proposed water supply or sewer services to the area to be served. (2) The county, municipal corporation, or special district has in
its service
plan provisions to provide the proposed water supply or sewer services in
the future to the proposed area within a reasonable period of
time. Within fifteen days after receiving objections, the board
of township trustees may request in writing submitted to the objecting
party that the issue of the township's provision of the
proposed water supply or sewer services be mediated. The mediation shall be
performed
either by the Ohio commission on dispute resolution and conflict
management or by having each party select a mediator and having those two
mediators select a third mediator who, together with the other two mediators,
shall conduct
the mediation. Within forty-five days after the
request for mediation is submitted, any mediation shall be completed, and any
agreements reached between the parties shall be filed in writing
with the parties. Thereafter, the respective governing boards
may adopt the agreements, making those agreements binding on the
parties, or, if one or more of the agreed-upon points is
rejected, that rejection shall be considered a final decision of
a governing board for purposes of Chapter 2506. of the
Revised
Code, and the board of township trustees may file an appeal under
that chapter regarding its provision of the proposed water supply or sewer
services. In addition to any findings of the court provided in
section 2506.04 of the Revised
Code, the court may determine
that the county, municipal corporation, or special district has not met
the criteria specified in
divisions (A)(1) and
(2) of this section and,
therefore, the township may provide its proposed water supply or sewer
services or, in
the alternative, may determine that the township could provide
the proposed water supply or sewer services more expediently than the county,
municipal corporation,
or special
district with no substantial increase in cost to the users of
the water supply or sewer services and, therefore, order that the township
may provide
its proposed water supply or sewer services. (B) Once the board
has approved a general plan of water supply or sewer services
under division (A) of this
section, the board shall hire
an engineer to prepare detailed plans, specifications, and
estimates of the cost of the improvements, together
with a
tentative assessment of the cost based on the estimates.
The
tentative assessment shall be for the information of property
owners and shall not be certified to the county auditor for
collection. The detailed plans, specifications, estimates of
cost, and tentative assessment, as prepared by the engineer and
approved by the board, shall be preserved in the office of the
board and shall be open to inspection of all persons interested
in the improvements. (C) Once it has been determined under division
(A) of this section that a township may provide its proposed
water supply or sewer services, the board may condemn appropriate for the use of the
township any
public or private land, easement, rights, rights-of-way,
franchises, or other property within or outside the township
required by it for the accomplishment of its purposes. Except as provided in division (D) of this section, the appropriation shall be according
to the procedure set forth in sections 163.01 to 163.22 of the
Revised Code. The engineer hired by the board may enter upon any
public or private property for the purpose of making surveys and
examinations necessary for the design or examination of water
supply or sewer facilities. No person shall forbid or interfere with
the engineer or the engineer's authorized assistants
entering upon property for
these purposes. If actual damage is done to property by the
making of a survey and examination, the board shall pay the
reasonable value of the damage to the owner of the property
damaged, and the cost shall be included in the assessment upon the
property benefited by the improvement. (D)(1) For purposes of this division, either of the following constitutes a public exigency: (a) A finding by the director of environmental protection that a public health nuisance caused by an occasion of unavoidable urgency and suddenness due to unsanitary conditions compels the immediate construction of sewers for the protection of the public health and welfare; (b) The issuance of an order by the board of health of a health district to mitigate or abate a public health nuisance that is caused by an occasion of unavoidable urgency and suddenness due to unsanitary conditions and compels the immediate construction of sewers for the protection of the public health and welfare. (2) If a board of township trustees of a township that has adopted a limited home rule government is unable to purchase property for the purpose of the construction of sewers to mitigate or abate the public health nuisance that is the subject of a finding of the director or an order of the board of health, the board of township trustees may adopt a resolution finding that it is necessary for the protection of the public health and welfare to appropriate property that the board considers needed for that purpose. The resolution shall contain a definite, accurate, and detailed description of the property and the name and place of residence, if known or with reasonable diligence ascertainable, of the owners of the property to be appropriated. The board of township trustees shall fix in its resolution what it considers to be the value of the property to be appropriated, which shall be the board's determination of the compensation for the property and shall be supported by an independent appraisal, together with any damages to the residue. The board shall deposit the compensation so determined, together with an amount for the damages to the residue, with the probate court or the court of common pleas of the county in which the property, or a part of it, is situated. Except as otherwise provided in this division, the power to appropriate property for the purposes of this division shall be exercised in the manner provided in sections 163.01 and 163.22 of the Revised Code for an appropriation in time of public exigency. The board's resolution and a written copy of the independent appraisal shall accompany the petition filed under section 163.05 of the Revised Code. (E) As soon as all questions of compensation and damages
have been determined for any water supply facilities or sewer services
improvement project, the board shall cause to be made an estimated
assessment, upon the lots and lands to be assessed, of such part
of the compensation, damages, and costs of the improvement as is
to be specially assessed according to the method specified by
resolution of the board. The schedule of the assessments shall
be filed with the township clerk for the inspection of interested
persons. Before adopting the estimated assessment, the board
shall cause written notice to be sent to the owners of all lots
and lands to be assessed that the assessment has been made and is
on file with the township clerk, and the date when objections to
the assessment will be heard. Objections shall
be filed in
writing with the board before the date of the hearing. If any
objections are filed, the board shall hear them and act as an
equalizing board, and may change the assessments if, in its
opinion, any change is necessary to make the assessments just and
equitable. The board shall adopt a resolution approving and
confirming the assessments as reported to or modified by the
board. (E)(F) The resolution levying the assessments shall apportion
the cost among the benefited lots and lands in the manner
provided by the board by resolution. The board shall certify the
amounts to be levied upon each lot or parcel of land to the
county auditor, who shall enter the amounts on the tax duplicate,
to be collected as other taxes. The principal shall be payable
in not more than forty semiannual installments, as determined by
the board. Any assessment in the amount of twenty-five dollars
or less, or of which the unpaid balance is twenty-five dollars or
less, shall be paid in full and not in installments, at the time
the first or next installment otherwise would become due and
payable. Assessments are a lien upon the respective lots or
parcels of land assessed from the date of adoption of the
resolution under division (D)(E) of this section. If
bonds are issued to pay the compensation, damages, and the costs
of an improvement, the principal amount of the assessment shall
be payable in such number of semiannual installments and in such
amounts as the board determines to be necessary to provide a fund
for the payment of the principal of and interest on the bonds and
shall bear interest from the date of the issuance of the bonds and at
the same rate as the
bonds.
(F)(G) Any owner of property to be assessed for any water
supply facilities or sewer services improvement project, or other
person aggrieved by the action of the board in regard to any water supply
facilities or sewer services improvement project, may appeal to the
court of common pleas, in the manner prescribed by Chapter 2506. of the
Revised Code.
(G)(H) When collected, the assessments shall be paid by the
county auditor by warrant of the county treasurer into a special
fund in the township treasury created for the purpose of
constructing, improving, maintaining, and operating water supply
facilities or sewer improvements. The board may expend moneys from the
fund only for the purposes for which the assessments were levied.
Sec. 504.21. (A) The board of township trustees of a township that has adopted a limited home rule government may, for the unincorporated territory in the township, adopt,
amend, and rescind rules establishing technically feasible and
economically reasonable standards to achieve a level of
management
and conservation practices
that will abate wind or
water
erosion of the soil or abate the degradation of the waters
of the
state by soil sediment in conjunction with land grading,
excavating, filling, or other soil disturbing activities on land
used or being developed in the township for nonfarm commercial, industrial,
residential, or other nonfarm purposes, and establish criteria
for
determination of the acceptability of those management and
conservation practices. The rules shall be designed
to implement
the applicable areawide
waste treatment management plan prepared
under section 208 of the
"Federal Water Pollution Control Act,"
86 Stat. 816 (1972), 33 U.S.C.A.
1228, as amended, and to implement phase II of the storm water
program of the national pollutant discharge elimination system
established in 40 C.F.R. Part 122. The rules to implement phase II of the storm water program of the national pollutant discharge elimination system shall not be inconsistent with, more stringent than, or broader in scope than the rules or regulations adopted by the environmental protection agency under 40 C.F.R. Part 122.
The rules adopted under this section shall not
apply inside the limits of municipal corporations,
to lands being used in a strip mine operation as defined in
section 1513.01 of the Revised Code, or to land being used in a
surface mine operation as defined in section 1514.01 of the
Revised Code. The rules adopted under this section may require persons to file
plans governing erosion
control, sediment control, and
water management before clearing,
grading, excavating, filling, or
otherwise wholly or partially
disturbing
one or more
contiguous acres of land owned by one
person or operated as one
development unit for the construction
of nonfarm buildings,
structures, utilities, recreational areas,
or other similar
nonfarm uses.
If the rules require plans to be filed, the
rules shall do all of the following: (1) Designate the board itself, its employees, or another
agency or official to review and approve or disapprove the plans; (2) Establish procedures and criteria for the review and
approval or disapproval of the plans;
(3) Require the designated entity to issue a permit to a
person for the clearing, grading, excavating, filling, or other
project for which plans are approved and to deny a permit to a
person whose plans have been disapproved;
(4) Establish procedures for the issuance of the permits;
(5) Establish procedures under which a person may appeal
the denial of a permit. Areas of less than
one
contiguous
acre shall not
be exempt from compliance with other
provisions of this section or
rules adopted under this
section. The rules adopted under this section may impose
reasonable filing fees for plan
review, permit processing, and field inspections. No permit or plan shall be required for a public highway,
transportation, or drainage improvement or maintenance project
undertaken by a government agency or political subdivision in
accordance with a statement of its standard sediment control
policies that is approved by the board or the chief of the
division of soil and water
conservation in the
department of natural resources. (B) Rules or amendments may be adopted under this section only
after public hearings at not fewer than two regular sessions of
the
board of township trustees. The board shall cause to be published, in a newspaper
of
general circulation in the township, notice of the public
hearings,
including time, date, and place, once a week for two
weeks
immediately preceding the hearings. The proposed rules or
amendments shall be made available by the board to the public at
the board office or other location indicated in the notice. The
rules or amendments shall take effect on the thirty-first day
following the date of their adoption. (C) The board of township trustees may employ personnel
to assist in the
administration of this section and the rules adopted under it. The
board also, if the action does not conflict with the rules, may
delegate duties to review
sediment control and water management
plans to its employees, and
may enter into agreements with one or
more political
subdivisions, other township officials, or other
government
agencies, in any combination, in order to obtain
reviews and
comments on plans
governing erosion control,
sediment control, and water management or
to obtain other services
for the
administration of the rules adopted under this section. (D) The board of township trustees or any duly authorized representative of the
board
may, upon identification to the owner or person in charge,
enter
any land
upon obtaining agreement with the owner, tenant,
or
manager of the land in order to determine whether there is
compliance
with the rules adopted under this section. If the board or its duly authorized
representative is unable to obtain
such an agreement, the
board
or representative may apply for, and a judge of the court of
common pleas for the county where the land is located may issue,
an
appropriate inspection warrant as necessary to achieve the
purposes of this section. (E)(1) If the board of township trustees or its duly authorized representative determines that a violation of the rules adopted under this section exists, the board or representative may issue an immediate stop work order if the violator failed to obtain any federal, state, or local permit necessary for sediment and erosion control, earth movement, clearing, or cut and fill activity. In addition, if the board or representative determines such a rule violation exists, regardless of whether or not the violator has obtained the proper permits, the board or representative may authorize the issuance of a notice of violation. If, after
a period of not less than thirty days has elapsed following the
issuance of the notice of violation, the violation continues, the board or its duly authorized representative shall issue a second notice of violation. Except as provided in division (E)(3) of this section, if, after a period of not less than fifteen days has elapsed following the issuance of the second notice of violation, the violation continues, the board or its duly authorized representative may issue a stop work order after first obtaining the written approval of the prosecuting attorney of the county in which the township is located if, in the opinion of the prosecuting attorney, the violation is egregious. Once a stop work order is issued, the board or its duly authorized representative shall request, in writing, the prosecuting attorney to seek an
injunction or other appropriate relief in the court of common pleas to abate excessive erosion
or sedimentation
and secure compliance with the rules adopted under this section. If the prosecuting attorney seeks an injunction or other appropriate relief, then, in
granting relief, the
court of common pleas may order the construction of sediment
control improvements
or implementation of other control measures and may assess a civil fine of not less than one hundred or more than five hundred dollars. Each day of violation of a rule or stop work order issued under this section shall be considered a separate violation subject to a civil fine. (2) The person to whom a stop work order is issued under this section may appeal the order to the court of common pleas of the county in which it was issued, seeking any equitable or other appropriate relief from that order. (3) No stop work order shall be issued under this section against any public highway, transportation, or drainage improvement or maintenance project undertaken by a government agency or political subdivision in accordance with a statement of its standard sediment control policies that is approved by the board or the chief of the division of soil and water conservation in the department of natural resources. (F) No person shall violate any rule adopted or order issued
under this section. Notwithstanding division (E) of this section, if the board of township trustees determines that a violation of any rule adopted or administrative order issued under this section exists, the board may request, in writing, the prosecuting attorney of the county in which the township is located, to seek an injunction or other appropriate relief in the court of common pleas to abate excessive erosion or sedimentation and secure compliance with the rules or order. In granting relief, the court of common pleas may order the construction of sediment control improvements or implementation of other control measures and may assess a civil fine of not less than one hundred or more than five hundred dollars. Each day of violation of a rule adopted or administrative order issued under this section shall be considered a separate violation subject to a civil fine.
Sec. 505.07. Notwithstanding any contrary provision in another section of the Revised Code, section 519.12 of the Revised Code, or any vote of the electors on a petition for zoning referendum, a township may settle any court action by a consent decree or court-approved settlement agreement which may include an agreement to rezone any property involved in the action as provided in the decree or court-approved settlement agreement without following the procedures in section 519.12 of the Revised Code and also may include township approval of a development plan for any property involved in the action as provided in the decree or court-approved settlement agreement, provided that the court makes specific findings of fact that notice has been properly made pursuant to this section, the plaintiff in the action has presented credible prima facie evidence in the form of an expert report from a planner, property economist, or real estate appraiser supporting the plaintiff's claim that the current zoning is invalid or unconstitutional, and the consent decree or court-approved settlement agreement is fair and reasonable. If the subject of the consent decree or court-approved settlement agreement involves a zoning issue subject to referendum under section 519.12 of the Revised Code, the board of township trustees shall publish notice of their intent to meet and consider and take action on the decree or court-approved settlement agreement and the date and time of the meeting in a newspaper of general circulation in the township at least fifteen days before the meeting. The board shall permit members of the public to express their objections to the consent decree or court-approved settlement agreement at the meeting. Copies of the proposed consent decree or court-approved settlement agreement shall be available to the public at the township clerk's office during normal business hours. At least ten days prior to the submission of a proposed consent decree or settlement agreement to the court for its review and consideration, the plaintiff in the action involving the consent decree or settlement agreement shall publish a notice which that shall include the caption of the case, the case number, and the court in which the consent decree or settlement agreement will be filed, the intention of the parties therein in the action to file a consent decree in that case or settlement agreement, and, when applicable, a description of the real property involved and the proposed change in zoning or permitted use, in a newspaper of general circulation in the township where that real property is located. An elector in the township involving the property in litigation who circulated the petition for zoning referendum relating to the current zoning of the property has the right to intervene in a case in which the decree or court approved settlement agreement is pending solely for the purpose of challenging the sufficiency of the evidence submitted pursuant to this section and the adequacy of the notice given pursuant to this section. Any other members of the electorate may intervene only if permitted by the court pursuant to division (B) of Civil Rule 24 and solely for the purpose of challenging the sufficiency of the evidence submitted pursuant to this section and the adequacy of the notice given pursuant to this section.
Sec. 505.375. (A) The board of a joint
ambulance district
created under section 505.71 of the
Revised Code
and the board of
a joint fire district created under section 505.371 of the
Revised
Code
may negotiate in accordance with this section to combine
their two joint
districts into a single district, called a fire
and ambulance
district, for the delivery of both fire and
ambulance services, if the
geographic area covered by the
combining joint districts is exactly the same.
Both boards shall
adopt a joint resolution ratifying the
agreement and setting a
date on which the fire and ambulance district shall
come into
being. On that date, the joint fire district and the joint
ambulance district shall cease to exist, and the power of each to
levy
a tax
upon taxable property shall terminate, except that any
levy of a tax
for the payment of indebtedness within the territory
of the joint fire or
joint ambulance district as it
was composed
at the time the indebtedness was incurred shall continue to be
collected by the successor fire and ambulance district if the
indebtedness remains unpaid. All funds and other property of the joint districts that
combined into
the fire and ambulance district shall become the
property of the fire
and ambulance district, unless otherwise
provided in the negotiated
agreement. The agreement shall provide
for the settlement of all debts and
obligations of the joint
districts. (B) The governing body of the fire and
ambulance district
shall be a board of trustees of
at least three but no more than
nine members, appointed as
provided in the agreement creating the
district. Members of the board of
trustees may be compensated at
a rate not to exceed thirty dollars per meeting
for not more than
fifteen meetings per year, and may be reimbursed for all
necessary
expenses incurred, as provided in the agreement creating the
district. The board shall employ a clerk and
other employees as it
considers
best, including a fire chief or fire prevention
officers,
and shall fix their compensation.
Neither this
section
nor
any other section of the Revised Code requires, or
shall be
construed to require,
that the fire chief of a fire and
ambulance
district be a
resident
of the district. Before entering
upon the duties of
office, the clerk shall
execute a bond, in the amount and with surety to be
approved
by
the board, payable to the state, conditioned for the faithful
performance of all of the clerk's official duties. The clerk
shall deposit
the bond with the presiding officer of the board,
who shall file a copy of it,
certified by the presiding officer,
with the county auditor of the county
containing the most
territory in the district. The board shall also provide for the appointment of a fiscal
officer for
the district. The board may also enter into
agreements with volunteer fire
companies for the use and operation
of fire-fighting equipment. Volunteer
firefighters acting under
such an agreement are subject to the requirements
for volunteer
firefighters set forth in division (A) of section 505.38 of
the
Revised
Code. Employees of the district shall not be removed from office
except as
provided by sections 733.35 to 733.39 of the
Revised
Code, except that, to initiate removal proceedings,
the board
shall designate a private citizen
or, if the employee is employed
as a firefighter, the board may
designate
the fire chief, to
investigate, conduct the proceedings, and prepare
the
necessary
charges in conformity with sections 733.35 to 733.39 of the
Revised Code, and except that the board shall perform the
functions and duties specified for the municipal legislative
authority under
those sections. The board may pay reasonable
compensation to any private
citizen hired for
services rendered in
the matter. No person shall be appointed as a permanent full-time paid
member of the
district whose duties include fire fighting, or be
appointed as a
volunteer firefighter, unless that person has
received a certificate issued
under former section 3303.07 or
section 4765.55 of the Revised Code
evidencing satisfactory
completion of a firefighter training program. The
board may send
its officers and firefighters to schools of instruction
designed
to promote the efficiency of firefighters and, if authorized
in
advance, may pay their necessary expenses from the funds used for
the
maintenance and operation of the district. The board may choose, by adoption of an appropriate
resolution, to have the
Ohio
medical
transportation board license any
emergency medical service
organization it
operates. If the
board
adopts such a resolution,
Chapter 4766. of
the Revised Code,
except for
sections 4766.06 and
4766.99 of the
Revised Code,
applies
to the organization. All
rules adopted
under the
applicable sections of that
chapter also
apply to the
organization. The board may likewise, by
resolution,
remove its
emergency medical service organization from the
jurisdiction of
the Ohio
medical
transportation board. (C) The board may exercise the following powers: (1) Purchase or otherwise provide any fire apparatus,
mechanical
resuscitators, or other fire or ambulance equipment,
appliances, or materials;
fire hydrants; and water supply for
fire-fighting
purposes that seems
advisable to the board; (2) Provide for the care and maintenance of equipment and,
for that
purpose, purchase, lease, lease with an option to purchase, or construct and maintain
necessary buildings; (3) Establish and maintain lines of fire-alarm
communications within the
limits of the district; (4) Appropriate land for a fire station or medical emergency
unit needed
in order to respond in reasonable time to a fire or
medical emergency, in
accordance with Chapter 163. of the Revised
Code; (5) Purchase, appropriate, or accept a deed or gift of land
to enlarge
or improve a fire station or medical emergency unit; (6) Purchase, lease, lease with an option to purchase, maintain, and use all materials,
equipment,
vehicles, buildings, and land necessary to perform its
duties; (7) Contract for a period not to exceed three years with one
or more
townships, municipal corporations, counties, joint fire
districts,
governmental
agencies, nonprofit corporations, or
private ambulance owners located either
within or outside the
state, to furnish or receive
ambulance services or emergency
medical services within the several
territories
of the contracting
parties, if the contract is first authorized by all boards
of
trustees and legislative authorities concerned; (8) Establish reasonable charges for the use of ambulance or
emergency
medical services under the same conditions under which a
board of fire
district trustees may establish those charges under
section 505.371 of the
Revised Code; (9) Establish all necessary rules to guard against the
occurrence
of
fires and to protect property and lives against
damage and
accidents; (10) Adopt a standard code pertaining to fire, fire
hazards,
and fire
prevention prepared and promulgated by the state or by a
public or private
organization that publishes a model or standard
code; (11) Provide for charges for false alarms at commercial
establishments
in the same manner as joint fire districts are
authorized to do under section
505.391 of the Revised Code; (12) Issue bonds and other evidences of indebtedness,
subject to
Chapter 133. of the Revised Code, but only after
approval by a vote of the
electors of the district as provided by
section 133.18 of the Revised Code; (13) To provide the services and equipment it considers
necessary, levy
a sufficient tax, subject to Chapter 5705. of
the
Revised Code, on all the taxable property in the district. (D) Any municipal corporation or
township may join an
existing fire and ambulance district by its legislative
authority's adoption
of a resolution
requesting
the
membership
and upon approval of the board of
the district.
Any
municipal
corporation or township may withdraw from a district by
its
legislative authority's adoption
of a resolution ordering
withdrawal. Upon its withdrawal, the municipal
corporation or
township
ceases to be a part of the district, and the district's
power to levy a
tax on
taxable property in the withdrawing
township or municipal
corporation terminates, except that the
district shall continue to levy and
collect taxes for the payment
of indebtedness within the territory of the
district as it was
composed at the time the indebtedness was incurred. Upon the withdrawal of any township or municipal corporation
from a
district, the county auditor of the county containing the
most territory in
the district shall ascertain, apportion, and
order a division of the funds on
hand, including funds in the
ambulance and emergency medical
services fund, moneys and taxes in
the process of collection, except
for
taxes levied
for the
payment
of indebtedness, credits, and real and personal property on the
basis
of the valuation of the respective tax duplicates of the
withdrawing
municipal
corporation or township and the remaining
territory of the district. (E) As used in this section: (1)
"Governmental agency" includes all departments, boards,
offices,
commissions, agencies, colleges, universities,
institutions, and other
instrumentalities of this or another
state. (2)
"Emergency medical service organization" has the same
meaning as in
section 4766.01 of the Revised
Code.
Sec. 519.02. Except as otherwise provided in this section, in the interest of the public health,
safety,
convenience, comfort, prosperity,
or general welfare, the board of township
trustees may, in
accordance with a comprehensive
plan, regulate by
resolution the
location, height, bulk, number of stories, and
size
of buildings
and other structures, including tents, cabins, and
trailer
coaches, percentages of lot areas
that may be
occupied, set back
building
lines, sizes of yards, courts, and
other open spaces, the
density of
population, the uses of
buildings and other structures,
including tents,
cabins, and
trailer coaches, and the uses of land
for trade, industry,
residence, recreation, or other purposes in
the unincorporated
territory of
the township, and establish reasonable residential landscaping standards and residential architectural standards, excluding exterior building materials, for the unincorporated territory of the township; and, for
all these purposes, the board may
divide all or any part of the
unincorporated
territory of the
township into districts or zones of such
number,
shape, and area
as the board determines. All such regulations
shall
be uniform
for each class or kind of building or other
structure or use
throughout any district or zone, but the
regulations in one
district or zone
may differ from those in other
districts or
zones.
For any activities permitted and regulated under Chapter 1509., 1513., or 1514. of the Revised Code and any related processing activities, the board of township trustees may regulate under the authority conferred by this section only in the interest of public health or safety.
Sec. 3709.41. (A) There is hereby created in each city and
in each general health district a health district licensing
council, to be appointed by the entity that has responsibility for
appointing the board of health in the health district. The
members of the health district licensing council shall consist of
one representative of each business activity for which the board
of health operates a licensing program.
To be appointed and
remain a member, an individual must shall be a
resident of the health
district for which the council was created. The appointing authority shall make initial appointments to
the council not later than thirty days after
the effective date of
this section
November 21, 2001. Of the initial appointments to the council,
one-third of the members, rounded to the nearest whole number,
shall serve for a term ending three years after
the effective date
of this section
November 21, 2001; one-third, rounded to the nearest whole number,
shall serve for a term ending four years after
the effective date
of this section
November 21, 2001; and the remaining members shall serve for a term
ending five years after
the effective date of this section
November 21, 2001.
Thereafter, terms of office shall be five years, with each term
ending on the same day of the same month as did the term that it
succeeds. Each member shall hold office from the date of the member's
appointment until the end of the term for which the member was
appointed. Members may be reappointed. Vacancies shall be filled in the manner provided for
original
appointments. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy
occurring
prior to the expiration of the term for which the
member's
predecessor was appointed shall hold office as a member
for the
remainder of that term. A member shall continue in office
subsequent to the expiration date of the member's term until the
member's successor takes office or until a period of sixty days
has elapsed, whichever occurs first. Members of a health district licensing council shall serve
without compensation, except to the extent that serving on the
council is part of their regular duties of employment. (B) Each health district licensing council shall organize by
selecting from
among its members a chairperson, a secretary, and any
other officers
it considers necessary. Each council shall adopt
bylaws for the
regulation of its affairs and the conduct of its
business. Each council shall meet at least quarterly annually or at more
frequent intervals if specified in its bylaws. In addition to the
mandatory meetings, a council shall meet at the call of the
chairperson
or the request of a majority of the council members.
(C) Pursuant to sections 3709.03, 3709.05, and 3709.07 of
the Revised Code, the health district licensing council shall
appoint one of its members to serve as a member of the board of
health. The council shall appoint one of its members to serve as
an alternate board of health member if for any reason the original
member is required to abstain from voting on a particular issue
being considered by the board of health. While serving on behalf
of the original member, the alternate member has the same powers
and duties as the original member.
Sec. 6101.181. (A) For the purposes of this section, either of the following constitutes a public exigency:
(1) A finding by the director of environmental protection that a public health nuisance caused by an occasion of unavoidable urgency and suddenness due to unsanitary conditions compels the immediate construction of sewers for the protection of the public health and welfare;
(2) The issuance of an order by the board of health of a health district to mitigate or abate a public health nuisance that is caused by an occasion of unavoidable urgency and suddenness due to unsanitary conditions and compels the immediate construction of sewers for the protection of the public health and welfare.
(B) If the board of directors of a conservancy district is unable to purchase property for the purpose of the construction of sewers to mitigate or abate the public health nuisance that is the subject of a finding of the director or an order of the board of health, the board of directors may adopt a resolution finding that it is necessary for the protection of the public health and welfare to appropriate property that the board of directors considers needed for that purpose. The resolution shall contain a definite, accurate, and detailed description of the property and the name and place of residence, if known or with reasonable diligence ascertainable, of the owners of the property to be appropriated.
The board of directors shall fix in its resolution what it considers to be the value of the property to be appropriated, which shall be the board's determination of the compensation for the property and shall be supported by an independent appraisal, together with any damages to the residue. The board shall deposit the compensation so determined, together with an amount for the damages to the residue, with the probate court or the court of common pleas of the county in which the property, or a part of it, is situated. Except as otherwise provided in this division, the power to appropriate property for the purposes of this division shall be exercised in the manner provided in sections 163.01 to 163.22 of the Revised Code for an appropriation in the time of public exigency. The board's resolution and a written copy of the independent appraisal shall accompany the petition filed under section 163.05 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 6115.221. (A) For the purposes of this section, either of the following constitutes a public exigency:
(1) A finding by the director of environmental protection that a public health nuisance caused by an occasion of unavoidable urgency and suddenness due to unsanitary conditions compels the immediate construction of sewers for the protection of the public health and welfare;
(2) The issuance of an order by the board of health of a health district to mitigate or abate a public health nuisance that is caused by an occasion of unavoidable urgency and suddenness due to unsanitary conditions and compels the immediate construction of sewers for the protection of the public health and welfare.
(B) If the board of directors of a sanitary district is unable to purchase property for the purpose of the construction of sewers to mitigate or abate the public health nuisance that is the subject of a finding of the director or an order of the board of health, the board of directors may adopt a resolution finding that it is necessary for the protection of the public health and welfare to appropriate property that the board of directors considers needed for that purpose. The resolution shall contain a definite, accurate, and detailed description of the property and the name and place of residence, if known or with reasonable diligence ascertainable, of the owners of the property to be appropriated.
The board of directors shall fix in its resolution what it considers to be the value of the property to be appropriated, which shall be the board's determination of the compensation for the property and shall be supported by an independent appraisal, together with any damages to the residue. The board shall deposit the compensation so determined, together with an amount for the damages to the residue, with the probate court or the court of common pleas of the county in which the property, or a part of it, is situated. Except as otherwise provided in this division, the power to appropriate property for the purposes of this division shall be exercised in the manner provided in sections 163.01 to 163.22 of the Revised Code for an appropriation in time of public exigency. The board's resolution and a written copy of the independent appraisal shall accompany the petition filed under section 163.05 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 6117.012. (A) A board of county commissioners may
adopt rules requiring owners of property within the district
whose property is served by a connection to sewers maintained and
operated by the board or to sewers that are connected to
interceptor sewers maintained and operated by the board to do any of the following: (1) Disconnect stormwater inflows to sanitary sewers
maintained and operated by the board and not operated as a
combined sewer, or to connections with such those sewers; (2) Disconnect non-stormwater inflows to stormwater sewers
maintained and operated by the board and not operated as a
combined sewer, or to connections with such those sewers; (3) Reconnect or relocate any such disconnected inflows in
compliance with board rules and applicable building codes, health
codes, or other relevant codes; (4) Prevent sewer back-ups into properties that have experienced one or more overflows of sanitary or combined sewers maintained and operated by the board. (B) Any inflow required to be disconnected or any sewer back-up required to be prevented under a rule
adopted pursuant to division (A) of this section constitutes a
nuisance subject to injunctive relief and abatement pursuant to
Chapter 3767. of the Revised Code or as otherwise permitted by
law. (C) A board of county commissioners may use sewer district
funds; county general fund moneys; and, to the extent permitted
by their terms, loans, grants, or other moneys from appropriate
state or federal funds, for either of the following: (1) The cost of disconnections, reconnections, or
relocations, or sewer back-up prevention required by rules adopted pursuant to division (A) of
this section, performed by the county or under contract with the
county; (2) Payments to the property owner or a contractor hired
by the property owner pursuant to a competitive process
established by district rules, for the cost of disconnections,
reconnections, or relocations, or sewer back-up prevention required by rules adopted pursuant
to division (A) of this section after the board, pursuant to its
rules, has approved the work to be performed and after the county
has received from the property owner a statement releasing the
county from all liability in connection with the disconnections,
reconnections, or relocations, or sewer back-up prevention. (D) Except as provided in division (E) of this section,
the board of county commissioners shall require in its rules
regarding disconnections, reconnections, or relocations of sewers or sewer back-up prevention
the reimbursement of moneys expended pursuant to division (C) of
this section by either of the following methods: (1) A charge to the property owner in the amount of the
payment made pursuant to division (C) of this section for
immediate payment or payment in installments with interest as
determined by the board not to exceed ten per cent, which
payments may be billed as a separate item with the rents charged
to that owner for use of the sewers. The board may approve
installment payments for a period of not more than fifteen years.
If charges are to be paid in installments, the board shall
certify to the county auditor information sufficient to identify
each subject parcel of property, the total of the charges to be
paid in installments, and the total number of installments to be
paid. The auditor shall record the information in the sewer
improvement record until these charges are paid in full. Charges
not paid when due shall be certified to the county auditor, who
shall place the charges upon the real property tax list and
duplicate against that property. Such Those charges shall be a lien on
the property from the date they are placed on the tax list and
duplicate and shall be collected in the same manner as other
taxes. (2) A special assessment levied against the property,
payable in such the number of years as the board determines, not to
exceed fifteen years, with interest as determined by the board
not to exceed ten per cent. The board of county commissioners
shall certify the assessments to the county auditor, stating the
amount and time of payment. The auditor shall record the
information in the county sewer improvement record, showing
separately the assessments to be collected, and shall place the
assessments upon the real property tax list and duplicate for
collection. Such assessment The assessments shall be a lien on the property from
the date it is they are placed on the tax list and duplicate and shall be
collected in the same manner as other taxes. (E) The county may adopt a resolution specifying a maximum
amount of the cost of any disconnection, reconnection, or
relocation, or sewer back-up prevention required pursuant to division (A) of this section that
may be paid by the county for each affected parcel of property
without requiring reimbursement. Such That amount may be allowed only
if there is a building code, health code, or other relevant code, or a federally imposed or state-imposed consent decree that is filed or otherwise recorded in a court of competent jurisdiction,
applicable to the affected parcel that prohibits in the future
any inflows or sewer back-ups not allowed under rules adopted pursuant to division
(A)(1) or (4) of this section. The board, by rule, shall establish
criteria for determining how much of the maximum amount for each
qualifying parcel need not be reimbursed. (F) Disconnections, reconnections, or relocations, or sewer back-up prevention required
under this section that are and performed by a contractor under
contract with the property owner shall not be considered a
"public improvement", and those performed by the county shall be
considered a "public improvement" as defined in section 4115.03
of the Revised Code. Disconnections, reconnections, or relocations, or sewer back-up prevention required
under this section performed by a contractor under contract with
the property owner shall not be subject to competitive bidding or
public bond laws. (G) Property owners shall be responsible for maintaining
any improvements made on private property to reconnect or
relocate disconnected inflows or for sewer back-up prevention pursuant to this section unless a
public easement exists for the county to maintain that
improvement.
Sec. 6117.39. Whenever (A) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, whenever, in the opinion of the board of
county
commissioners, it is necessary to acquire real
estate or
any interest in real estate for the
acquisition, construction,
maintenance, or
operation of any sewer, drainage, or other
improvement
authorized by
this
chapter, or to acquire
the right
to construct, maintain, and operate the
sewer, drainage, or
other
improvement in and upon any property within or outside
of a
county
sewer district, it may purchase the real
estate, interest
in real estate, or right by negotiation. If the board
and
the
owner of the real estate, interest in real
estate, or right are
unable to agree upon its purchase and
sale, or the amount of
damages to be awarded for it,
the board
may appropriate the real
estate, interest, or
right in
accordance with sections 163.01 to
163.22 of the
Revised Code, except that the
board, in the exercise
of the powers granted by this section or any other
section of this
chapter, may
not appropriate real estate or personal property
owned by a municipal
corporation.
(B)(1) For the purposes of division (B) of this section, either of the following constitutes a public exigency:
(a) A finding by
the director of environmental protection that a public health nuisance caused by an occasion of unavoidable urgency and suddenness due to unsanitary conditions compels the immediate construction of sewers for the protection of the public health and welfare; (b) The issuance of an order by the board of health of a health district to mitigate or abate a public health nuisance that is caused by an occasion of unavoidable urgency and suddenness due to unsanitary conditions and compels the immediate construction of sewers for the protection of the public health and welfare.
(2) If
the board of county commissioners is unable to purchase property for the purpose of the construction of sewers to mitigate or abate the public health nuisance that is the subject of a finding of the director or an order of the board of health, the board of county commissioners may adopt a resolution finding that it is necessary for the protection of the public health and welfare to appropriate property that the board of county commissioners considers needed for that purpose. The resolution shall contain a definite, accurate, and detailed description of the property and the name and place of residence, if known or with reasonable diligence ascertainable, of the owners of the property to be appropriated.
The board of county commissioners shall fix in its resolution what it considers to be the value of the property to be appropriated, which shall be the board's determination of the compensation for the property and shall be supported by an independent appraisal, together with any damages to the residue. The board shall deposit the compensation so determined, together with an amount for the damages to the residue, with the probate court or the court of common pleas of the county in which the property, or a part of it, is situated. Except as otherwise provided in this division, the power to appropriate property for the purposes of this division shall be exercised in the manner provided in sections 163.01 to 163.22 of the Revised Code for an appropriation in the time of public exigency. The board's resolution and a written copy of the independent appraisal shall accompany the petition filed under section 163.05 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 6117.51. If the board of health of the health
district within which a new public sewer construction project is
proposed or located passes a resolution stating that the reason
for the project is to reduce or eliminate an existing
health problem or a hazard of water pollution, the board of county
commissioners of
the county, by resolution, may order the owner of any
premises located in a
sewer district in the county, the owner's agent, lessee, or
tenant, or
any other occupant of the premises to connect the premises to
the sewer for the purpose of discharging sewage or other waste
that the board determines is originating on the premises, to make
use of the connection, and to cease the discharge of the sewage
or other waste into a cesspool, ditch, private sewer, privy,
septic tank, semipublic disposal system as defined in division
(B)(1)(a) of section 3709.085 of the Revised Code, or other
outlet if the board finds that the sewer is available for use and
is accessible to the premises following a determination and
certification to the board by a registered professional engineer
designated by it as to the availability and accessibility of the
sewer. This section does not apply to any of the following: (A) Any discharge authorized by a permit issued under
division (J) of section 6111.03 of the Revised Code other than a
discharge to or from a semipublic disposal system as defined in
division (B)(1)(a) of section 3709.085 of the Revised Code; (B) Wastes resulting from the keeping of animals; (C) Any premises that are not served by a common sewage
collection system when the foundation wall of the structure from
which sewage or other waste originates is more than two hundred
feet from the nearest boundary of the right-of-way within which
the sewer is located; (D) Any premises that are served by a common sewage
collection system when both the foundation wall of the structure
from which the sewage or other waste originates and the common
sewage collection system are more than two hundred feet from the
nearest boundary of the right-of-way within which the public
sewer is located; (E) Any dwelling house located on property that is listed on the county's agricultural land tax list as being valued for tax purposes as land devoted exclusively to agricultural use under section 5713.31 of the Revised Code, when the foundation wall of the dwelling house is two hundred feet or less from the nearest boundary of the right-of-way within which the sewer is located, if both of the following also apply: (1) The sewer right-of-way for the property on which the dwelling house is located was obtained by appropriation due to a public exigency pursuant to division (B) of section 307.08, 6101.181, 6115.211, 6117.39, or 6119.11 of the Revised Code. (2) The local health department has certified that the household sewage disposal system is functioning properly. The board shall not direct an order under this section to a
resident tenant unless it determines that the terms of the
tenancy are such that the owner lacks sufficient rights of access
to permit the owner to comply with the terms of the order. An owner, agent, lessee, tenant, or occupant shall comply
with the order of the board within ninety days after the
completion of service of the order upon that person as
provided in this section. The board, upon written application
filed prior to
the expiration of the ninety-day period, may waive compliance with
any order either temporarily or permanently and conditionally or
unconditionally. In its resolution, the board shall direct its clerk, or the
clerk's designee, to serve its order upon the owner, agent, lessee,
tenant, or occupant. Service of the order shall be made
personally, by leaving the order at the usual place of residence
with a person of suitable age and discretion then residing
therein, or by certified mail addressed to the owner, agent,
lessee, tenant, or occupant at that person's last known
address or to the
address to which tax bills are sent. If it appears by the return
of service or the return of the order forwarded by certified mail
that the owner, agent, lessee, tenant, or occupant cannot be
found, that person shall be served by publication of the
order once in a
newspaper of general circulation within the county, or if that
person refuses service, that person shall be served by
ordinary mail addressed to that person's last known
address or to the address to which tax
bills are sent. The return of the person serving the order or a
certified copy of the return, or a returned receipt for the order
forwarded by certified mail accepted by the addressee or anyone
purporting to act for the addressee, is prima-facie evidence
of the service
of the order under this section. The return of the person
attempting to serve the order, or the return to the sender of the
order forwarded by certified mail with an indication on the
return of the refusal of the addressee to accept delivery, is
prima-facie evidence of the refusal of service. No owner, agent, lessee, tenant, or occupant shall violate
an order issued under this section. Upon request of the board,
the prosecuting attorney shall prosecute in a court of competent
jurisdiction any owner, agent, lessee, tenant, or occupant who
violates an order issued under this section. Each day that a
violation continues after conviction for the violation of an
order issued under this section and the final determination
thereof is a separate offense. The court, for good cause
shown, may grant a reasonable additional period of time for
compliance after conviction. Any owner, agent, lessee, tenant, or occupant violating an
order issued under this section also may be enjoined from
continuing in violation. Upon request of the board, the
prosecuting attorney shall bring an action in a court of
competent jurisdiction for an injunction against the owner,
agent, lessee, tenant, or occupant violating an order. The Ohio water development authority created under section
6121.02 of the Revised Code, in addition to its other powers, has
the same power and shall be governed by the same procedures in a
waste water facilities service area, or in any area adjacent to a
public sewer operated by the authority, as a board of county
commissioners in a county sewer district under this section,
except that the authority shall act by order, and the attorney
general, upon request of the authority, shall prosecute any
person who violates an order of the authority issued under this
section.
Sec. 6119.11. The (A) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, the board of trustees of a regional water and sewer district
may
condemn for the use of the district any public or private land, easement,
rights, rights-of-way, franchises, or other property within or without the
district required by it for the accomplishment of its purposes according to
the
procedure set forth in sections 163.01 to 163.22, inclusive, of the Revised
Code.
(B)(1) For the purposes of division (B) of this section, either of the following constitutes a public exigency:
(a) A finding by
the director of environmental protection that a public health nuisance caused by an occasion of unavoidable urgency and suddenness due to unsanitary conditions compels the immediate construction of sewers for the protection of the public health and welfare; (b) The issuance of an order by the board of health of a health district to mitigate or abate a public health nuisance that is caused by an occasion of unavoidable urgency and suddenness due to unsanitary conditions and compels the immediate construction of sewers for the protection of the public health and welfare.
(2) If
the board of trustees of a regional water and sewer district is unable to purchase property for the purpose of the construction of sewers to mitigate or abate the public health nuisance that is the subject of a finding of the director or an order of the board of health, the board of trustees may adopt a resolution finding that it is necessary for the protection of the public health and welfare to appropriate property that the board of trustees considers needed for that purpose. The resolution shall contain a definite, accurate, and detailed description of the property and the name and place of residence, if known or with reasonable diligence ascertainable, of the owners of the property to be appropriated.
The board of trustees shall fix in its resolution what it considers to be the value of the property to be appropriated, which shall be the board's determination of the compensation for the property and shall be supported by an independent appraisal, together with any damages to the residue. The board shall deposit the compensation so determined, together with an amount for the damages to the residue, with the probate court or the court of common pleas of the county in which the property, or a part of it, is situated. Except as otherwise provided in this division, the power to appropriate property for the purposes of this division shall be exercised in the manner provided in sections 163.01 to 163.22 of the Revised Code for an appropriation in the time of public exigency. The board's resolution and a written copy of the independent appraisal shall accompany the petition filed under section 163.05 of the Revised Code.
Section 2. That existing sections 163.02, 163.09, 163.12, 303.02, 307.08, 307.79, 504.04, 504.19, 505.07, 505.375, 519.02, 3709.41, 6117.012, 6117.39, 6117.51, and 6119.11 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.
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