WATERVILLE TOWNSHIP – Waterville Township received notification that the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority has applied to annex 48 acres on Neapolis-Waterville Road out of the township and into the City of Waterville.
The two parcels are just west of 48 acres of land in the city that the Port purchased and completed improvements on this year – including the construction of the 1,800-foot Big Lucas Drive, and the installation of a retention pond and all utilities. The land, an extension of Farnsworth Industrial Park, is being marketed on the Port’s website for industrial development.
The land is in the annexable zone per the township’s agreement with the city, Trustee Toby Miller said during the June 24 trustees’ meeting.
“Is there a data center going in somewhere?” asked Cari Arellano, who lives on Farnsworth Road across from the industrial park.
Miller said that he’s heard that the property owners who were contacted about a possible data center development in the township are now hearing that interest has cooled due to opposition to such projects, but that the trustees are continuing to put new zoning rules in place in the event that another developer comes along. However, the land proposed for annexation is not among the properties being targeted for a data center, commented Waterville Council Member Mary Duncan, who was in the audience.
“We already have businesses that want to be there, and they have nothing to do with data centers. They want utilities,” she said.
Resident Terry Beam asked about progress in annexation talks with Whitehouse, after two property owners – one on Finzel Road south of S.R. 64 and another at the northeast corner of Texas/Whitehouse-Spencer and Winslow – petitioned for annexation into the village earlier this year. The township and village have a longstanding agreement on areas that are “red zones” that don’t allow annexation. Miller said talks are underway, but it’s likely that the Winslow property will be declined and the Finzel property accepted, as it’s sandwiched by other village properties.
“We have a tentative agreement,” Miller said, adding that trustees would discuss the matter in executive session.
During the meeting, the trustees also:
-Heard that the Lucas County Planning Commission made no recommendation in its review of a proposed 67-page amendment to the zoning resolution, and that the next step will be for the township Zoning Commission to review the language governing data centers during its July 20 meeting.
-Agreed to obtain general liability insurance to cover work done by Amish workers hired to restore the 1911 barn at the corner of Dutch and Waterville Monclova road. The township purchased the property and will have the workers install aluminum siding on the barn, which will be used to store equipment. Work is expected to begin the week of July 20.
-Approved a resolution stating that trustees and zoning officials will not sign any non-disclosure agreements. While Miller said it’s already illegal to sign an NDA, the resolution is an effort to show transparency.
-Agreed to hire a part-time seasonal worker to mow township roadsides and property using equipment purchased by the township. The position will not include benefits.
-Heard Police Chief Kevin Smith say that he’s had people ask him whether the township has any Flock cameras. While one is located in the county outside of the township and one is located in Waterville, the township does not have any.
-Welcomed 2025 Anthony Wayne graduate Marissa Galton, who – because of taking college classes while still in high school – is now a junior majoring in criminal justice at the University of Cincinnati. She is an intern with the police department this summer.
-Heard Miller say that Nexus has updated the contact information on its website with correct phone numbers to call if residents have questions about the Moosman Road compressor station or the pipeline. He was also advised that Nexus will now notify the township of planned “blowdowns” that clear the lines but cause a lot of noise.
-Listened to Russ Schifferly ask about utilities being placed along township roads. Trustee Kyle Hertzfeld said it is a new ATT fiber optic line that is being run all over the county.
-Heard Schifferly ask about whether there are any regulations on what type of items can be stored outside of self storage facilities, and about lighting regulations. Zoning Inspector Jim Fischer said he would drive by Greenlock Storage to look at the light. The items placed outside of the Dutch Road Storage are likely spools of fiber optic cable.
