The 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