By Sue Kiesewetter
Enquirer contributor

ST. CLAIR TWP. - The Edgewood Board of Education will send a letter to Trenton officials this week outlining its position on the city's plan to annex about 100 acres that include Edgewood middle and high schools.

Last week, Trenton City Manager Patrick Titterington made a presentation to the board on the benefits of becoming part of the Butler County city. He outlined savings in water and sewer rates, insurance - because of Trenton's better fire rating - and partnering with the city on strategic planning and other projects.

Board president John Snyder said the board would have to weigh those factors against the cost to employees who work at the high school, middle school and administrative offices. There is no income tax in St. Clair Township, where the schools are now.

Should the land be annexed, school employees would have to pay Trenton's 1.5 percent income tax.

"The next step is up to them,'' Titterington said. "Yes, we want to annex those three parcels but there's one parcel between us (city limits) and them. We would consider (an annexation petition) a first step.''

Although the board property is about a quarter mile outside city limits, the annexation would not be possible unless a narrow strip of land - commonly referred to as the Hunter tract - is also annexed. It sits between the recently annexed Trenton Church of Christ and the school property.

Annexation laws say the property to be annexed has to be contiguous to city property, which the school property would not be without the Hunter tract.

St. Clair Township Trustee Gary Couchsaid trustees would like to see the schools remain in the township, "but it's not an issue for us to decide.''

He disputed that Trenton could provide better services particularly since all the governing bodies have mutual aid agreements. Last year St. Clair Township life squads responded 63 times to Trenton calls, including transporting people to the hospital on 51 of the runs.

"We're very proud of the schools. We like to see the independence by not having all the schools in Trenton,'' Couch said. "We feel we have an equal share. They're (Trenton) looking for income.''

The Edgewood City School District includes Trenton, the village of Seven Mile and parts of Wayne, Madison and St. Clair townships.

Titterington said annexation has been discussed informally in the past. Several months ago Superintendent Tom York approached the mayor about making a presentation to the school board.

E-mail suek@infionline.net