NILES, Ohio - They're calling it an "annex war."

The Howland Township Trustees voted to authorize their outside legal counsel to file the appropriate lawsuit against the city of Niles.

Portions of Weathersfield and Howland receive their water, sewer, and power utilities through Niles.

The ordinance that Niles passed requires annexation of properties receiving those utilities, and it doesn't leave resident or commercial property owners much of a choice.

The ordinance states they "will pay an additional amount to the city of Niles equal to the amount of city income tax that would have been paid if the properties had annexed into the city."

In response to this, the trustees also voted to send a letter to the Trumbull County Sanitary Engineer, putting them on notice that they no longer desire to purchase water from the City.

"This is not the way to grow and develop," said township Administrator Darlene St. George. "You can't make people live where they don't want to live."

The mayor of Niles said this is part of the city's strategic plan to gain population as it has been declining.

"Niles is not trying to take over the townships. We want to look at shared resources," said Mayor Steve Mientkiewicz.

The exact locations of the annexation aren't precise.

Howland Trustees warned people not to sign the Development Incentive Agreement Niles plans to send out soon.