Council OKs pre-annexation agreements

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Van Wert City Council approved legislation to facilitate the annexation of three pieces of property into the city, while also hearing some concerns from area residents about speed-limit changes on three city streets during Monday’s meeting.

Council members unanimously approved three pre-annexation ordinances that authorize Mayor Jerry Mazur to enter into agreements to annex three pieces of property when it becomes feasible. All three properties are linked to economic development.

The first property is east of U.S. 127 and is the site of a rail spur to the city’s Jobs Ready Site on the north edge of Van Wert. The second property is northwest of Vision Drive and is an extension of Vision Industrial Park, while the third property is south of Industrial Avenue and would extend Van Wert Industrial Park on the southern edge of the city.

Council also prepared and introduced legislation authorizing speed limit changes for three city streets, although there were concerns from the public on all three speed limit changes.

Owners of a business on Westwood Drive opposed raising the speed limit on a portion of that street from 25 mph to 35 mph, noting that trucks often make deliveries in the area, which might result in accidents at the higher speed. They also noted that delivery trucks for Lee Kinstle’s GM Sales & Service also park along the street, sometimes on both sides of the street, to unload vehicles.

Vantage Director Ben Winans also attended Monday night’s meeting to oppose returning a portion of North Franklin Street/Marsh Road coming back into the city from 35 mph to 45 mph at the overpass for U.S. 30. The stretch of road from the overpass to Walmart is already 45 mph.

Winans said the higher speeds could be a problem for Vantage students and staff in the morning and the afternoon, when students and coming and going from the school.

Council members discussed the possibility creating a school zone that would lower the speed limit to 20 mph for a portion of the road during those times, but raising the speed limit to 45 mph all other times.

Councilman At-Large Jon Tomlinson said he had also received several emails opposing raising the speed limit on South Walnut Street, from Ervin Road to where it becomes 35 mph, from 25 mph to 35 mph. Several people said they felt raising the speed limit, which was lowered a few years ago, would create a hazard for those biking, walking, and jogging in the area.

Tomlinson said his son is a member of the cross country team, which uses the street as a practice route, while Safety-Service Director Jay Fleming questioned the wisdom of having cross country and track runners using South Walnut Street in the first place.

The legislation will be read three times before passage to give others a chance to comment on the speed limit changes.

Tomlinson also reported on the Economic Development Committee meeting held prior to the regular Council meeting, noting that discussion centered on add-ons to the language for a contract between the city and the newly created city-county economic development agency, the Van Wert Area Economic Development Council.

Add-ons to the contract sought include quarterly profit-and-loss statements, annual audits, bonding for the group’s fiscal officer, and Errors & Omissions insurance for officers, a balance sheet, adding a clause noting city money can only be spent for “proper public purposes”, and the need to follow Sunshine Law requirements.

The ordinance was prepared and introduced and will be read three times before passage, although as an emergency measure, it would then go into effect immediately after being signed by the mayor and Council President Pete Weir.

During his report, the mayor noted that the new economic group has had its articles of incorporation approved by the state, while a request for 501(c)(3) status is still pending. The mayor also noted that a meeting of those who become voting members of the economic group would be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 16, in the First Federal Lecture Hall of the Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio. Area residents who pay $1 to become members of the organization will vote in June on three at-large members of a nine-member economic development governing board.

Mayor Mazur also noted that he, Fleming, Law Director John Hatcher, Engineering Supervisor Bill Lawson, and Police Chief Joel Hammond are working on junk vehicle enforcement, and identifying possible changes needed for the city’s junk vehicle ordinance.

During his report, Fleming said the next brush pick-up date is Monday, May 2. City employees will begin picking up brush that day and should complete the task by the end of the week.

The safety-service director also noted that Dominion Gas would be involved in a number of work projects in the city this spring and summer, while city crews will be working on North Washington Street to change out water services in the area.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of Van Wert City Council will be at 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 9, in Council Chambers of the Municipal Building, 515 E. Main St.