County hears about property from surveyor

The Miami County commissioners Thursday took another step in determining the future of the former Children’s Home property in Elizabeth Twp. by hearing from a surveyor who determined the boundaries of the more than 170 acres donated to the county in 1877.

The county paid Brumbaugh Engineering and Surveying of West Milton to survey the property off Children’s Home Road east of Troy.

The property was donated to the county for use as a children’ home by John K. and Jacob Knoop in 1877.

The property includes the former county children’s home that in more recent years served as a youth center. The David L. Brown Youth Center, a residential program for teenage boys, was closed in mid-November by the county Juvenile Court.

The commissioners hired Brumbaugh in December after obtaining a legal opinion that the county would remain the property owner even if it no longer was used for a children’s home or related purpose.

The property includes farm land, the home, barn and other buildings.

John Brumbaugh said the survey showed 171.75 acres. The surveyor was asked to create three tracts of land and a legal description of each.

County Commissioner John “Bud” O’Brien said the commissioners needed to first know the land’s official boundaries.

“We know what we are dealing with. We can get it appraised, and see what we want to do,” O’Brien said.