Though the actual Fortune 500 company has yet to be named, the Ontario City Council unanimously approved an ordinance at the Thursday, Sept. 19 council meeting to have Mayor Larry Collins sign a purchase and sales agreement for JDC Property Group, LLC to purchase 22.1 acres of the 67 acres available in the Industrial Park.
The Economic Development Committee expressed the need for possible covenants and restrictions on the property in the Industrial Park since none are currently in effect. Councilman Mark Weidemyre also told the council of another potential purchaser interested in three to five acres in the Industrial Park. A piece of property the city obtained a short time ago is also being considered by an existing local business.
Kari Westfield of the Ontario Growth Corporation said, “We’ve been told this business will bring 150 jobs to our community. Once the due diligence requirements are met, we’ll be able to let the public know which company is expected to move in.”
Prior to the news of this sale, the council shared regretfully noted that former council member Charlotte Hellinger passed away on September 11. A moment of silence was requested in her memory.
Other council business involved a lengthy discussion of the Walker Lake and Lexington-Springmill intersection where traffic accidents and near-accidents have been a regular occurrence due to confusing lanes and a lack of adequate signage. Council members questioned Service-Safety Director Roger Heston about the corridor report that was done on the entirety of Lexington-Springmill by the Ohio Department of Transportation to see if the report offered any recommendations about the problem intersection. Heston invited the council to review the multi-page report for any pertinent information.
Councilman Eddie Gallo will finish his report on their observations and recommendations for this intersection and turn it over to the City Engineer and Service-Safety Director for review. The council would like to see some changes made prior to the holiday season.
Carl Hunnell, the Supervisor for Community Outreach and Public Information for the Richland County Children Services spoke to the council about the upcoming levy vote on Nov. 5 to replace the original levy and bring it up to current property values. The original levy was approved in 1984 and again in 1994 and 2004.
“What we’d like to do now is simply replace it. If it’s approved, the owner of a $100,000 home here in Richland County will pay about $35 per year,” explained Hunnell. Approximately 2,000 yard signs will start going up next weekend and they are looking for more places to place their signs.
Other council business included an update by Service-Safety Director Roger Heston regarding bids on use of the current farm land under a rental contract. The council recognized that there’s a need to find out exactly how much farm land is still available to rent with the current Industrial Park projects underway.
“We’ve been told this business will bring 150 jobs to our community. Once the due diligence requirements are met, we’ll be able to let the public know which company is expected to move in.”–Kari Westfield of the Ontario Growth Corporation
