Council formally dedicates, renames connector as Latchall Drive to clear mapping confusion

The Defiance City Council on June 24 adopted an ordinance to formally dedicate a connector road as a public right of way and to name the entire street Latchall Drive, officials said.

Council member Mister O'Donnell told the council the road dates to an ODOT connector built about 20 years ago when US 24 was realigned. "We have legislation, and deeds, that accept that. And, but nothing really that confirms it as right of way," O'Donnell said, describing how different mapping systems and older ordinances left portions of the connector identified inconsistently as Harding Street or other names.

O'Donnell said the ordinance addresses two issues: formally dedicating the connector as a public right of way under Ohio Revised Code 723.03 and naming the thoroughfare Latchall Drive to eliminate conflicting references across GIS and commercial maps. He noted that some systems still list the northeastern portion as Harding Street and that signage and digital maps have been inconsistent.

The council also heard that two homes and the Legends Recovery Center will be affected by the renaming; the city engineer will send 30-day notices and property owners will be allowed to retain existing house and business numbers. O'Donnell said the renaming will also help with title work and is timely given a planned Ralston Avenue roundabout project next year.

Council members voted to suspend rules and adopt the ordinance on final passage; the president announced the ordinance was adopted.

No changes to property addresses were announced at the meeting beyond the city's statement that house and business numbers would be retained.