Ohio Code § 709.24

§ 709.24.

If there is presented to the legislative authority of a municipal corporation proposed

to be annexed to an adjoining or contiguous municipal corporation, a petition signed

by resident electors, who voted at the last regular municipal election, numbering

not less than twenty-five per cent of the number of electors who voted in such election

in the territory proposed to be annexed, representing their desire that such legislative

authority take the necessary steps to select and appoint three commissioners to represent

such municipal corporation in annexation proceedings, and if such petition is accompanied

by a certificate verified on belief by oath, from the clerk of the board of elections

of the county in which the municipal corporation is located, to the effect that the

petition does contain the names of resident electors who voted at the last regular

municipal election, of a number not less than twenty-five per cent of those who voted

at such election, the legislative authority shall, within thirty days after the presentation

of such petition, pass an ordinance declaring its intention to enter into negotiations

with the municipal corporation with which annexation is proposed and shall appoint

the three commissioners to represent it in such negotiations.