Celina may sell unused tract of land

CELINA - City officials intend to sell an unused parcel of land that two entities currently use for parking.

However, councilman Myron Buxton voiced concern at Monday's regular meeting that one organization using the parking lot could be left out in the cold during the proposed public sale.

Buxton cast the sole "no" vote on first reading of an ordinance authorizing city safety service director Tom Hitchcock to advertise the notice of public auction of the land located on the southwest corner of the intersection of Ash and Center streets, next to the building owned by E Link Enterprises LLC, which houses the Celina-Mercer County Chamber of Commerce.

The city-owned parcel of land is zoned for business use, Hitchcock said, adding Zuma Automotive and the chamber use it for parking. The land was given to the city, and officials have not spent any money on it, as far as Hitchcock could determine.

"To me, I don't know why we're selling it, for one," Buxton said.

"The mayor was approached by the chamber wanting the city to pave the lot, which the city was not in favor of doing," Hitchcock explained. "So we talked about just putting it up for sale and letting them buy it and pay for (it)."

That is, if someone else doesn't tender a higher bid, Buxton pointed out.

"To me, that makes a concern to the chamber because they're … very limited in parking spaces there and to be welcoming to somebody coming into the city and not have a parking place there, we're not being very friendly to the chamber," Buxton said.

The city has two options to sell its real estate. If the transaction leads to job creation, officials can sell directly to a specific person or entity through the Mercer County Community Improvement Corp. If no jobs are to be created, they must open the sale to the public through sealed bids, Hitchcock told the newspaper after the meeting.

"Everybody just kind of uses it. We just kind of own it," councilman Jeff Larmore said. "I think when we talked about this we thought, 'well, (Zuma Automotive owner Jeff) Link's probably already using it, so he owns most of that so he would probably go after it.' "

The market value of the land is $15,040, according to the Mercer County Auditor's website.

"Mr. Link has put money into it as far as throwing gravel on it and stuff and maintained it," councilman June Scott said, adding Buxton has a legitimate point. "But on the other hand, if we do decide to sell this, then it's just open game for anyone who decides to pay the highest price. So I think this is kind of a rock and hard spot here."

Councilman Mark Fleck added that officials can reject bids if they come in too low.

Councilman Mike Sovinski agreed.

"We can put it out for bid, and if it's not acceptable. then we can reject it, as far as what I'm reading," he said, pointing to the legislation at hand. "Even if we put it out and we get no bids or we reject all bids, I don't have a problem with it, even just from an information standpoint."

Council then voted to advance the ordinance to second reading.

In other action, council members,

• passed final reading of an ordinance authorizing mayor Jeff Hazel to enter into an agreement with county commissioners for indigent defense services in municipal court.

• passed final reading of an ordinance to accept a $200,000 private donation from Kathy Sharkey, owner of Ergo Desktop in Celina, for a splash pad in honor of her late husband, Daniel J. Sharkey, who died on Jan. 15, 2015, after a yearlong battle with cancer.

• passed final reading of an ordinance authorizing Hitchcock to award a $175,966 splash pad contract to sole bidder DWA Recreation (c/o David Williams & Associates Inc.) of Harrison.

The amenity will be located on the former mobile park ground within the Bryson Park District behind the planned amphitheater and toward the lake side. Hazel expects it to be operating in the summer.

The planned 2,827-square-foot splash pad will consist of a concrete circle with various sprinkler and sprayer apparatuses. Users of all ages could play in the water for free.

• heard from candidates running in upcoming Republican primary elections. Van Wert County Commissioner Todd Wolfrum. also a practicing attorney, business owner and author, is running for Ohio's Fifth U.S. Congressional District that includes Celina, Mendon and Rockford in Mercer County, as well as sections of Defiance, Hancock, Hardin, Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert, Williams, Wood and Wyandot counties.  

Aaron Heilers of Anna, the project manager for the Blanchard River Demonstration Farm Network, is running for Ohio's 84th District seat, which encompasses Mercer County and portions of Auglaize, Darke and Shelby counties.