(A) The agent for the petitioners, any owner of real estate in the territory proposed for annexation, any township in which territory proposed for annexation is located, and the municipal corporation to which the territory is proposed to be annexed may file an appeal under Chapter 2506. of the Revised Code from a resolution of the board of county commissioners granting or denying the petition. The agent for the petitioners, any township in which the territory proposed for annexation is located, and any municipal corporation to which the territory is proposed to be annexed are necessary parties in an appeal. The filing of a notice of appeal with the clerk of the board of county commissioners shall operate as a stay of execution upon that clerk and all parties to the appeal, which stay shall not be lifted until the court having jurisdiction over the proceedings enters a final order affirming or reversing the decision of the board of county commissioners and the time limits for an appeal of that final order have passed without a notice of appeal being filed.

(B) Any party filing an appeal from the court of common pleas or court of appeals decision in an annexation matter shall serve on the clerk of the board of county commissioners a time-stamped copy of the notice of appeal. Upon issuance of a final order of any court regarding an annexation appeal, the clerk of the court shall forward a certified copy of the court's order to the clerk of the board of county commissioners that rendered the annexation decision that was appealed.

(C) If, after all appeals have been exhausted, the final determination of the court is that the petition for annexation should be granted, the board of county commissioners shall enter on its journal a resolution granting the annexation, if such a resolution has not already been journalized, and the clerk of the board shall deliver a certified copy of that journal entry and of the entire record of the annexation proceedings, including all resolutions of the board, signed by a majority of the members of the board, the petition, map, and all other papers on file, the transcript of the proceedings, and exhibits presented at the hearing relating to the annexation proceedings, to the auditor or clerk of the municipal corporation to which annexation is proposed. The municipal auditor or clerk shall lay these certified papers, along with the copy of the court's order, before the legislative authority at its next regular meeting. The legislative authority then shall proceed to accept or reject the petition for annexation as provided under section 709.04 of the Revised Code.

(D) If, after all appeals have been exhausted, the final determination of the court is that the petition for annexation should be denied, the board of county commissioners shall enter on its journal a resolution denying the annexation, if such a resolution has not already been journalized.

Effective Date: 10-26-2001 .