Council looks at economic development

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Economic development was the theme of Van Wert City Council committee meetings held Monday in Council Chambers.

Council members first heard a report from Van Wert Economic Development Director Cindy Leis, and then were given a presentation by Main Street Van Wert Program Manager Adam Ries on that organization’s comprehensive plan for the downtown area.

Leis updated City Council on this year’s Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) surveys with local businesses. The economic development director said the local BR&E team has met with 20 of 25 targeted businesses in the county so far, including the major local manufacturing companies and “pillar” companies such as Van Wert County Hospital and Central Insurance Company.

Leis said the surveys indicated that the local economy is stable, with several of the local companies, including Braun Industries, Eaton and Toledo Molding & Die increasing the number of employees over the past year, with a net total of 343 jobs added in the past 12 months.

“There were no declines, that’s the No. 1 message,” she told Council members.

While Leis noted that unemployment has also remained stagnant, with approximately 1,000 people still unemployed in the county, she said she also looked at that as a positive, noting that having people out of work isn’t all negative.

“I look at unemployment as a positive, because it shows we have a workforce,” Leis said, noting that Mercer County, which leads the state in low unemployment, has few workers available if a new company relocated there.

She also talked about marketing efforts for the megasite, noting that there is now a billboard on U.S. 30 identifying the site, with another billboard to go up soon, thanks to a donation from Lamar Advertising. New signs for Vision Industrial Park will also go up in the near future.

Leis noted that options on the megasite’s nearly 1,600 acres are good through the year 2022, and said it shouldn’t take much to certify the property as a Jobs Ready Site, noting that a consultant said the site is ahead of most development sites — even those already certified.

The economic development director also talked about workforce training, noting that businesses are most concerned about finding skilled workers. Leis said young people in Van Wert County need to understand the importance of receiving training at Vantage Career Center or other area resources so they can get the skills needed to make them employable.

Darlene Myers, economic development assistant, reported that the city’s Revolving Loan Fund currently has $340,00 available for business loans, noting that Cool Machines recently took out its second loan through the fund.

During his presentation on Main Street Van Wert’s comprehensive plan, Ries talked about the work that went into the plan, which was compiled by consulting company Poggemeyer Design Group.

The plan includes information from previous downtown development studies as well as a design vision for the downtown area created by a landscape architect that was also paid for by a $10,000 grant, and matching money from the city. The plan also encompasses three public workshops on the planning process and interviews with downtown business owners.

Ries said the plan’s goals include identifying the types of businesses that would be a good fit for the downtown area and trying to recruit businesses to locate downtown, while also helping existing downtown businesses make their buildings — and the downtown area in general — more attractive to shoppers.

Ries noted that areas for improvement in the downtown area include new signs, lighting, benches and other items, and more green spaces that would bring different areas of the downtown together. The Main Street Van Wert program manager also said his organization hopes to increase the variety, as well as number, of downtown businesses to offer a better downtown shopping experience to potential customers.

Also on Monday, Mayor Don Farmer reported that, while “live” video of Van Wert City Council meetings won’t likely be seen for some time, due to technical issues, local residents can now view Council meetings the day after they occur on the city’s website.

The mayor also noted that anyone wanting information on the proposed aquatics park project can go online to www.vanwertwaterpark.com.

Mayor Farmer also talked about a bill pending in the Ohio General Assembly that could have a negative impact on Van Wert’s income tax collections. The mayor said the legislation, if passed, could eliminate dual taxation for people who live in one community and work in another. Van Wert currently does not give tax credits for those paying income taxes in another community.

Mayor Farmer said eliminating dual taxation could cost the city $30,000-$50,000 annually, and City Council approved a letter written to legislators opposing the legislation.

“That’s big numbers to us on a budget like this,” the mayor told City Council.

Safety-Service Director Jay Fleming noted that the West Main Street reconstruction project is moving ahead, and also said he was pleased with bids opened on the Smiley Park concession stand, which came in under projections. That project is expected to be completed by March of next year, he added.

Fleming also noted that a police officer is assisting with traffic control of South Shannon Street, due to the closing of U.S. 127 and the start of school on Monday.

The city is also waiting for materials before workers can install a new traffic light at the intersection of Shannon and Fox Road.

Law Director John Hatcher also reported on enforcement efforts against delinquent city taxpayers, stating that $1,000 in delinquent taxes has already been collected, with another seven delinquent taxpayers agreeing to payment plans to pay their taxes.