Youth Football interested in school site

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Following interest from Van Wert native and philanthropist Scott Niswonger in developing the former Franklin Elementary School site into a community park, a second group has now brought forward a plan for the former Washington Elementary School site.

Members of the Van Wert Youth Football board attended a joint meeting of Van Wert City Council’s Parks and Recreation and Properties and Equipment committees to discuss their interest in development the former Washington school site into a field for youth football games.

The Van Wert Youth Football organization requested that the City of Van Wert accept the former Washington School property, along with the Franklin School site, and would then sign a contract with the city to provide maintenance and the expense of developing the site for youth football games.

Parks and Recreation Committee Chair Stuart Jewett was in support of the plan, if an agreement could be worked out with Van Wert Youth Football to maintain and develop the site.

“I think it’s a win-win situation for everybody, and gives these people a place they can call home right inside the city limits, right there where every kid in Van Wert can literally ride their bike to it,” Jewett said.

First Ward Councilman John Marshall and Second Ward Councilman Joi Mergy said they were in favor of the idea, as long as the city does not incur any liability related to the property.

The biggest concern for Jewett and Mayor Don Farmer’s administration would be the cost of maintaining and developing the property, because of limited funds available in the city budget — especially as it relates to the parks department.

Council President Gary Corcoran asked the group if they had talked with school officials about taking over the property directly from them, to which group members responded that they had met with Superintendent Ken Amstutz, who noted that the school district could only turn over the property, or contract to develop the property, with another governmental entity.

Otherwise, Amstutz told the group, the property would have to be sold at a public auction. Several members of the Van Wert Youth Football board said they hoped they could partner with the city to develop and maintain the site as a field for Youth Football games.

A second meeting will be scheduled to further discuss the idea, during which Van Wert Youth Football board members pledged to bring more concrete plans to Council on what they want to do with the site.

Mayor Farmer added that there was no big hurry on the proposal, since the schools are not in any hurry to do anything with the Washington school property.

Also on Monday, City Council approved legislation authorizing supplemental appropriations and transfers, while Safety-Service Director Jay Fleming noted that work should begin next month on constructing a new concessions stand at Smiley Park.

Fleming also noted that a traffic light should be installed and operational at the intersection of Fox Road and Shannon Street by mid-October.

Van Wert Municipal court Judge Jill Leatherman was also on hand to thank city police and firefighters for their quick action in dealing with a fire in the court building’s air-conditioning system, but also requested that the city repair the system as soon as possible, since the building has been without air-conditioning since the fire occurred on August 22.

Mayor Farmer noted that income tax collections were down approximately $22,000 in August, while City Auditor Martha Balyeat also stated that city revenues, in general, have been flat although she did note that city department heads continue to do a good job of keeping expenses down.

Law Director John Hatcher provided an update on delinquent income tax cases, noting that 28 people have paid their taxes, while another 11 have made arrangements to do so. The law director also noted that approximately seven people, all of them not Van Wert residents, were cited for open container violations following last Friday’s football game with Ottawa-Glandorf, while Marshall provided an update on city code violations, noting that there have been 334 separate violations reported in the city this year, including 44 violations from August 12 through September 6.