MANSFIELD — City council on Tuesday approved legislation allowing the city to advertise for bids and enter into an agreement with the highest bidder for the agricultural use of approximately 512 acres of farmland in the vicinity of the Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport.
City engineer Bob Bianchi called this a win-win situation.
Not only will it allow the city to avoid costs associated with mowing and maintaining the land, but it’s also anticipated to generate potentially $50,000 to $60,000 in revenue to the city per year.
The contract is for a five-year period. Bianchi said the current contract with the Keller Brothers has expired.
The city will open bids in less than two weeks, according to Bianchi.
“We’re looking for as many bids as we can get,” he said.
In the past, inmates at Mansfield Correctional Institution farmed much of this land, Bianchi said, before the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction phased out the MANCI farm operation.
Some of the property has restrictions on what can be farmed.
“They’ll (the bid awardee) have to do their field reconnaissance and determine what they can farm and when and what the field conditions are as is, and then develop their payment off of that,” Bianchi said.
He hopes the city will receive $100 to $130 per tillable acre.
Mayor Tim Theaker pointed out that any revenue the city earns via the farmland (since it’s on airport property) must be designated to the airport fund, according to Federal Aviation Administration requirements.
“I look forward to having more business at our airport, so hopefully we can continue moving forward out there,” said Councilman-at-large Don Bryant.
