ASHLAND – Ashland City Council approved four ordinances Tuesday, including one annexing property on Ohio 96 and one selling a piece of downtown property to a developer.

The annexation adds nearly 30 acres of land to the city, 13.216 acres from Milton Township and 17.364 from Montgomery Township. The parcels included in the annexation are 1093 Ohio 96, 1095 Ohio 96, 1097 Ohio 96, 1101 Ohio 96, 1103 Ohio 96 and 1109 Ohio 96.

The petition for annexation was approved by Ashland County Commissioners in April.

The annexation allows the city to extend sanitary sewer service to the six annexed properties. According to officials, the septic systems on some of the properties were dumping partially treated sewage into Town Creek. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency requires the properties be hooked up to city sewer lines but Ashland would not provide sewer service without annexation.

Council also approved an ordinance authorizing the sale of a 0.18-acre parcel on South Street commonly known as Appleseed Park.

City Engineer Shane Kremser said the company that owns the former Associated Charities location at 121 South St. wants to purchase the land to use as an outdoor patio space to accompany a restaurant they plan to open. According to the County Auditor’s Office, Truecraft Business Solutions purchased the building in August 2016 for $45,000.

“Ninety percent of it (the park) is in the floodplain so it’s very unlikely anything will ever be built on it,” Kremser said.

The city will have the right of first repurchase for the park property.

“This will bring amenities to our downtown and bring some new business downtown and hopefully that will continue the catalyst moving forward,” Kremser said.

Mayor Duane Fishpaw said Truecraft will maintain the sidewalk for public access.

“Certainly this is one of the things people talk about all the time when they talk about downtown is we need more outdoor patio seating,” Councilman Matt Miller said. “This, with this particular location right along Town Creek, fits in with all of the artists’ renderings we’ve seen over the years of what could be in that area. It’s exciting to have someone that’s willng to invest in that area.”

In other business:

  • Council approved the purchase of a 2017 Elgin Whirlwind MV street sweeper for the sewer division at a cost of $278,095.50.
  • Council authorized the city to advertise for bids and enter into a contract for a $77,369 fire station improvement project.
  • Council discussed amending an existing ordinance allowing reconstruction of residential dwellings in an M-2 heavy industrial district.
  • Council adjourned to executive session to discuss the potential sale of property. No action was taken.