ONTARIO — Ontario City Council has authorized Mayor Randy Hutchinson to move forward with several tasks related to utilities and the cleanup of Ontario Commerce Park.
Prior to its council meeting, members of the economic development and utilities committees had a joint meeting to determine its next steps with the former General Motors (GM) property.
The city acquired the property, positioned along West Fourth Street and Stumbo Roads, last year after the former owners didn’t create the 500 jobs required under their development agreement. The city was to receive $1 million held in escrow, but accepted the property in lieu of what the mayor anticipated would be a “costly and lengthy lawsuit.”
Motion 1: To authorize engineering and bids for a possible waterline.
Council first authorized the mayor and service safety director Jeff Wilson to complete engineering and begin the process for bids on a possible waterline. The 12-inch line would run from the north side of Fourth Street, under the road and down the west side of Stumbo Road. Future property owners would be responsible for connecting into the line.
Hutchinson said he had a couple of estimates for water.
“To run a water line from underneath Fourth Street and come right down near the press prep building and put a fire hydrant on the north side of that drive, it’d be about $110,000,” he said.
The estimated cost to run a line down Stumbo Road is more than $300,000.
Motion 2: To authorize getting quotes for the initial cleanup process.
Council also discussed how to clean up the property, weighing the benefits of hiring someone versus contracting the work.
Early estimates, the mayor said, showed the initial cleanup could cost $25,000.
“We’d spend more than $25,000 hiring somebody, and then, wear and tear on our equipment. And then you break something because you don’t know what’s laying around out there,” said second ward councilwoman Michelle Webb. “Just hire somebody, get it done initially and then we can talk about how we want to maintain it.”
The motion that came out of the discussion allows the mayor and service safety director to get quotes for the initial cleanup process, specifically for the property’s perimeter.
Motion 3: To authorize engaging with engineers for bidding of “unsafe building” demolition and filling of basements.
Council determined the mayor and service safety director should connect with engineers to discuss filling the basement of the former powerhouse and demolishing an “unsafe building” at the property.
Motion 4: To authorize the planning of an auction.
Council asked Hutchinson and Wilson to move forward with an “industrial facility auction.” The auction would give the city a chance to sell dozens of industrial items located at the former GM property.
Other steps moving forward.
The mayor said he’d also come back to council with sewer estimates. A portion will need to be done but there is a section that is already intact.
“(That portion of) the sewer is going to save us a fortune because it’s already there. It’s got to have some work done,” Hutchinson said.
Council debated equipping properties with utilities.
“I just want to make sure we’re not over-spending,” at-large councilman Ken Earhart said.
Economic development committee leader Mark Weidemyre is optimistic.
“I think we’re going to find that building brings some decent money because of the ceiling heights,” Weidemyre said. “Mayor and I went over there with a realtor … and he said, these buildings just don’t exist … We’ve got a gem there.”
He and Hutchinson will be attending Select USA to market the Ontario Commerce Park in June.
“This gives us a lot to look at right now,” Hutchinson said.
