Engineer's office recommends vacating two township roads in Columbia Township; formal resolution to follow

Hamilton County held a public hearing Jan. 29 on a petition to vacate two township roads — Buffalo Lane and El Marie Drive — in Columbia Township. Jim Hetzel, representing the county engineer's office and speaking on behalf of Eric Beck, said the petition was filed by 7 Hills School and that utility issues have been resolved.

Hetzel told commissioners the engineer's office reviewed the survey and legal descriptions and found them acceptable, and he noted the township passed a resolution in August supporting the vacation. He said any remaining concerns from abutting property owners had been addressed and that all abutting parcels are owned by the petitioner.

If the hearing records no additional barriers, Hetzel said staff will prepare a formal resolution to vacate and bring it back to the commission for final action in a future meeting. Commissioners closed the hearing and voted to proceed with the next steps; the engineer's office will prepare the formal vacation resolution that will appear on a subsequent agenda.

The hearing concluded with a motion to close, which passed by voice vote.