MIDDLETOWN — Rep. Gary Cates, concerned about Warren County's opposition to a proposed interchange on Interstate 75, called Friday for Warren officials to cooperate more with Butler County on economic development issues.

        “Warren and Butler counties are growing together,” the West Chester Democrat said. “We have to take the blinders off and work for the good of the whole region.”

        Middletown Regional Hospital wants to relocate to a site at Greentree and Union roads in Warren County along I-75. For good interstate access, hospital officials say, it's critical that an interchange be built at I-75 and Greentree Road.

        But Turtlecreek Township and Warren County officials strongly oppose the new interchange, saying it will destroy the rural atmosphere that residents want to retain. The township also is against relocating the hospital at that site and allowing Middletown to annex it.

        “Middletown's future clearly lies by the interstate,” Mr. Cates said at a state legislators' breakfast at the Manchester Inn sponsored by the Butler County Chamber Caucus. “Our biggest challenge is working with our friends in Warren County.”

        He pointed out that four out of 10 of the hospital's patients live in Warren County, and one-third of its 2,000 employees live in Warren.

        In response to Mr. Cates, Warren County Commissioner Larry Crisenbery said his county is working with Butler. But he said Warren doesn't want unbridled growth.

        “Once the interchange is there, we'll have another Fields Ertel Road and Montgomery Road,” he said. “We're not anti-business. We're just trying to slow down the growth.”

        Middletown Regional Hospital, which says it will eventually close if it doesn't move and expand, has plans for a $115 million health and technology complex. This project initially will create 1,000 new jobs.

        Mr. Cates said this is the kind of high-quality development with good-paying jobs that benefits the whole area.

        “I'm not naive,” Mr. Crisenbery said. “I realize that's prime land. We just to do not want it opened up to become another Deerfield Township.”

        There were other breakfast topics for Mr. Cates, Sen. Scott Nein, Rep. Greg Jolivette and Rep. Shawn Webster:

        • New boundaries for the House and Senate districts. Butler gains half a House seat and half a Senate seat, giving the county more power in Columbus.

        • State budget cuts.

        “We are in some very tough times,” Mr. Webster said. “But we don't want to cut to the point that we interfere with public safety.”

        • Prospects for filling the recently closed Mercy Hospital Hamilton facility.

        Mr. Jolivette said he and Hamilton officials have asked U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, to seek federal funding to renovate the facility for other uses. He recently sent petitions signed by 2,000 local residents supporting the funding request.

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