Ohio § 709.031

§ 709.031.

(A) Within five days after the petition for annexation is filed with the board of county

commissioners, the clerk of the board shall refer the legal description of the perimeter

and the map or plat of the territory proposed to be annexed to the county engineer

for a report upon the accuracy of the legal description of the perimeter, map, or

plat.  Upon receiving these items, the county engineer shall file, at least twenty-five

days before the hearing, a written report with the board based on the engineer's findings,

which shall not be conclusive upon the board.  Failure of the engineer to make the report shall not affect the jurisdiction or

duty of the board to proceed. (B) The petition may be amended without further notice by leave of the board of county

commissioners and with the consent of the agent for the petitioners if the amendment

does not add to the territory embraced in the original petition and is made at least

fifteen days before the date of the hearing.  The board may rerefer the legal description of the perimeter, map, or plat to the

county engineer if revisions are made in them, for a report on their accuracy.  Upon receiving these items, the county engineer shall file, on or before the date

of the hearing, a written report with the board based on the engineer's findings,

which shall not be conclusive upon the board.  Failure of the engineer to make the report shall not affect the jurisdiction or

duty of the board to proceed. (C) The board of township trustees of any township containing any territory proposed

for annexation and any owners of real estate in the territory proposed for annexation

may request that reasonable proof be presented of the authority of a person signing

the petition on behalf of any person other than a natural being, the state, or a political

subdivision of the state.  The request shall be in writing and be filed with the board of county commissioners

and with the agent for the petitioners at least fifteen days prior to the hearing

on the petition.  When such a request is filed, the agent for the petitioners shall present to the

board of county commissioners at the hearing held under section 709.032 of the Revised Code sufficient evidence by affidavit or testimony to establish that the owner is a person

other than a natural being, the state, or a political subdivision of the state and

that the owner authorized the person whose signature is on the petition to sign the

petition on its behalf.  If the board does not find the evidence sufficient to establish this authority,

it shall remove the signature from the petition.