No movement on possible land purchase
By KEVIN HOWELL, Staff WriterThe city's purchase of a strip of land along Pine Lake Road must wait at least two more meetings.
City council failed at its regular meeting Tuesday night to allow all three necessary readings of the purchase resolution, requiring instead each reading separately. Council will vote on the purchase on the final reading.
The prospective land purchase regards a 1.26-acre stretch with 100 feet of frontage 551 feet deep along Pine Lake Road in Green Township currently owned by Quaker City Raceway. Appraised by the Mahonig County Auditor's Office at $18,500, the city can purchase the land for $7,000.
The land will be used to connect utilities from the city to the Quaker City Raceway property in the event the city can acquire it.
According to Utilities Superintendent Don Weingart, raceway owner Dan Swindell offered the land at a bargain, which is why he suggested moving forward with the purchase. Even if the city does not purchase the raceway property, it can resell the 1.26 acres on Pine Lake Road without losing money.
Councilman Clyde Brown voiced concern about what the purchase may indicate.
"I realize the property is a good value...but I'm afraid it will obligate us to find a way to purchase [the raceway]," he said.
The purchase of the Pine Lake Road property was previously approved at the Utilities Commission meeting in September.
In other news:
Mike Grimstad of Community Promotions addressed concerns regarding what he called the city's "pirating" the group's After Party for the Steel Valley Super Nationals, insisting that the city cease to promote the event as a continuation of the Community Promotions event and misleading the public into believing the group is supportive of the change.
Grimstad also said that the event has been the city's largest the past four years and that he fails to understand how the group is unaccountable and unfit to host the event, as has been stated since the city announced control of the event.
Council expressed support of state Issue 2 which will create a board to establish reasonable livestock care standards in the state.
According to Philip Greenisen, president of the Columbiana County Farm Bureau, the amendment is a pre-emptive move by the state to prevent an animal rights group that has targeted Ohio from conducting an inappropriate campaign.
Safety/Service Director Steve Andres informed council that the 2009 street paving project has been awarded to Central Allied for $131,937.45, $28,000 less than expected, which may allow for more total miles to be paved. The project should start around Oct. 20 and will close State Street between Lincoln and Ellsworth avenues for portions of the day over three days, he added.
Auditor Jim Armeni reported that the city will not be included in the Ohio Municipal League's workers compensation program in 2010 due to a complicated claim this year. The city can be included in an independent program, but premiums may double, he said.
Council set Trick-or-Treat for 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31 and changed its Nov. 3 meeting to Nov. 4
Kevin Howell can be reached at khowell@salemnews.net
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block50
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10-07-09 4:25 PM
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Give the city a few thousand dollar break on a piece of land for a million dollar return. Not bad. How generous of the owner! Who in this town is so stupid as not to see what this is? Thankfully, Mr. Brown has courage enough to stand up to these thugs. That drag strip, right next to a giant landfill, is nothing but a 'white elephant' that will line the pockets of a discreet few with our taxpayer dollars. There is so much vacant industrial property in this town already; so why the hurry to own more. Fill the Eljer property, or the Solartec property. Or all the other land out there lying unused. Wolford and Andres should occupy their time with the 'after party' or the duck pond (my God) and keep their hands away from where they can do even more damage than they've already done.
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concerned
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10-07-09 8:51 AM
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There is a lot of property that can be bought at a cheap price. Maybe the city would be better off investing their millions they have in the water dept. funds in land speculation purchases. Of course MR. Swindell wants to sell the city this "cheap" piece of property. He wants to sell his race track to us for a million dollars. Something he has been trying to unload for years and hasn't got any takers. Why was there a rush to push this so called "good deal" through? Think Mr. Swindel will withdraw his offer to sell the city this land when it is needed if this race track deal goes through. If you believe this needed to be pushed through, I have a bridge I will sell you in Brooklyn. Quit playing politics dalesr this thing needed the brakes put on it. The deal is not going anywhere, Swindel is not stupid. Don't you think it is humorous that the city keeps poor mouthing it trying to get us to buy their need for a tax increase, yet they keep spending money like there is
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dalesr
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10-07-09 7:44 AM
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Once again Councilmen Clyde Brown and Bud Schory have thrown a wrench into the works of asquiring land. Granted it is connected to the Drag Strip but when you can purchase a piece of land for less than full value you need to jump on it. it is time to replace Brown he has done nothing for four years except cause trouble. Schory will be gone in January. Grandstanding does not move this city forward it sets it back, the personal agenda's of these two councilman have set us back for years.
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