Learn About
Monroe Township

Monroe Township is located at the crossroads of Interstate 75 and State Route #571 in south-central Miami County, Ohio.

Governance

As the Ohio Territory became populated, it was only natural that the surveyed townships should become the basic unit of local government. In 1818, Monroe Township, the most south-central township in Miami County, developed its governing body. This came about some 15 years after the establishment of the State of Ohio in 1803 and Miami County in 1807. In the early years, township government cared for the poor, maintained the roads, preserved the peace, registered brands and fulfilled the needs of local government generally.

The Monroe Township Building was erected about 1915 on the southeast corner of Third and Main Streets in Tipp City. This building provided a permanent meeting place for all official meetings of Monroe Township to conduct business. The building was also a community gathering place for traveling play groups, school functions, and town meetings.

In 1916 a big Seth Thomas town clock was installed on the building. The clock was originally designed to run and be rewound every eight days, but was later fully automated and to this day continues to chime out the hours.

Today

Just as they were in 1818, Monroe Township and all other Ohio townships are a political subdivision of the state of Ohio. As such, townships have only those powers granted to it by the state legislature and perform functions defined by the state. To keep pace with the demands of changing times, the functions, duties and obligations of the township have changed over the years. Demands for increased or different services have prompted the state legislature to grant Ohio's 1,309 townships the authority to fulfill many of the changing demands.

Township administration in all Ohio townships is governed by three trustees and a fiscal officer, each elected for a four-year term. Officially they fill their offices on a part-time basis, but they are always ready to meet their responsibilities and put in many hours of work to serve their constituents. Their accessibility to the township residents and their intimate knowledge of their community, its needs, and its citizens enables them to offer more personal service than any other unit of government.

The Monroe Township Board of Trustees meets regularly at the Monroe Township Meeting Room on the first and third Mondays of each month to conduct Township government business. When the first or third Monday falls on a National Holiday, the Township Board meeting is held on the next Tuesday. All special meetings are advertised. There are public comment sections listed in each meeting agenda and the public is welcome to address the Board at meetings.

Today, the geographic area of Monroe Township is composed of approximately 31 square miles, including about 7 square miles in the incorporated City of Tipp City. The Monroe Township Trustees govern the un-incorporated areas of the township while governance of the incorporated area is by the Tipp City Council. According to the 2010 Census, Monroe Township has a population of about 15,560, with 5,864 persons living in the unincorporated area while the population in the incorporated area is 9,696 persons.

The major priority for the Monroe Township Trustees and their staff is to provide needed services while maintaining the quality of life that the township residents have come to enjoy.