Bath Township Off the Hook for Stormwater Fees

A news release from Summit County Prosector Sherri Bevan Walsh indicates that Bath Township, Boston Heights, Hudson, Northfield Center Township, Twinsburg and Richfield Township will not have to pay for upgrades made by the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District.

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Thomas J. Pokorny granted a summary judgement in the case, NEORSD v. Bath Township, et al. 

Assistant Summit County Prosecutor Mike Todd successfully argued that seven of 11 cities and townships in the lawsuit had not entered into agreements with the district, and could not be considered subject to its rules. The communities also do not have to pay for legal fees in the case.

Residents of the areas had been assessed a fee that would help fund a regional stormwater management system.

Judge Pokony also killed the portion of the district's lawsuit that gave the agency unilateral authority to levy fines and take other action against towns and townships it considered non-compliant. 

Four other Summit communities remain in the lawsuit: Northfield Village, Macedonia, Richfield Village and Sagamore Hills Township.