VW City Council hears megasite update

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Van Wert City Council learned Monday from outgoing Economic Director Nancy Bowen that the 1,600-acre Jobs Ready Site (megasite) located on the northeast side of Van Wert could begin construction this spring, if the state will agree to postpone installation of an expensive natural gas pipeline to the site.

Bowen noted that, while installation of a rail line to the site is “an absolute have-to part of the project and we have the funding for that piece of the project through JRS,” building a gas line now would not only be very expensive — approximately $5 million — but could be overkill, depending on what type of industry is interested in locating on the site.

“The piece of the project we are concerned about is a gas line that would run all the way from Convoy,” Bowen said, noting that the line, which would be approximately seven miles in length, is something local developers feel should be installed after a company decides to build on the JRS site.

“We really didn’t think that we should build that gas line up-front and spend close to $5 million not knowing what the end user’s actual gas needs would be,” she added.

Currently, the state JRS criteria call for installing a gas line that would bring 600,000 cubic feet of natural gas per hour to the site, enough for heavy natural gas users such as a refinery or steel mill, but much more than most industrial users would need.

Hopefully, state officials will feel the same way as local development officials when they make their case for postponing the gas line during a conference call to be held Wednesday, February 1.

Bowen said she felt both state and local officials think the same way about the fact that the gas line is unnecessary — and unnecessarily expensive — especially when public money is needed to fund it.

“We’re talking about taxpayers’ money; we’re talking about something that really shouldn’t be to be done up-front,” Bowen said, “particularly when a project this size would take an entire year to build, thus allowing the state to move forward with the construction of the rail line, which is really the essential piece (of the project) … to get site certified.

“This is a project they want to see happen,” Bowen added. “In my last conversation with JRS staff, they would like to see the grant agreement executed and construction begin this year.”

Also Monday, City Council either adopted or began the process leading to adoption of several pieces of legislation needed for street-related projects.

New Streets and Alleys Committee Chair Pete Weir dominated the meeting’s legislative portion, introducing five ordinances, including two that authorize the city to provide matching funds for the West Main Street reconstruction project and to replace a bridge on Wall Street. Those two measures were passed on first and final reading because of deadlines that need to be met this month to allow construction to begin on the projects this year.

City Council unanimously voted to prepare three other ordinances, including one that would provide two handicap parking spots on the Shannon Street side of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5803, one that approves a loading zone outside First United Methodist Church and one authorizing bids be taken for the Wall Street reconstruction project.

Council also passed an emergency resolution honoring outgoing mayor Louis Ehmer for his service to the city as a member of Council, Council president and mayor.

Council also accepted the annual report of the Woodland Cemetery Board and held an executive session to discuss the possible purchase of property with no action taken afterwards.