By Carol McIntire
Editor
June 9, 2009
Carroll County Commissioners are looking to a low-interest loan to fund the purchase of a building for the county health department.
Economic Development Director Wayne Chunat visited commissioners with a large stack of papers he said was the application for a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant “to purchase property in Carroll County.” He said he was presenting it for commissioners to discuss.
When asked by the media what they were purchasing, how much they were paying and the terms of the loan, Commissioners and Chunat said they have a letter from Dr. Mark Lamielle offering them first right of refusal to purchase a building he owns. The building, located at 301 Moody Ave., Carrollton, houses the Carroll County Health Department and the Help Me Grow program and contained 1.094 acres of land. Commissioner Tom Wheaton said the letter from Dr. Lamielle expires July 15. The county’s lease on the building expires Dec. 31, 2009, and Lamielle indicated he does not want to enter into another lease agreement.
Chunat said he has the application ready to be sent to the USDA regional office at Massillon, where it will be reviewed and then forwarded on for another review. The loan is a one percent over prime, 30-year loan with no early payoff charge. Wheaton said by using the loan to purchase the building, the county could save money. “We are required by law to provide an office for the health department,” Wheaton said. “By purchasing the building, we will take over the costs of maintenance, but we could save as much as $20,000 per year.” He said the health department already pays for maintenance on the parking lot and landscaping and pays the utilities.
He said a final purchase price has not been negotiated.
In other business, commissioners:
-APPROVED a request from Chunat for a remodeling project at the Economic Development, Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau office. Chunat explained the cost of the project is being split by the three entities. Estimated cost of the project is less than $15,000.
-HEARD a report from Amy Rutledge, Convention and Visitors Bureau director, on the Blistfully Chocolate event held June 2. Rutledge said the event, sponsored by the Carrollton Business and Retail Association, was “very successful.” She said 195 tickets were sold and proceeds will be used for a Christmas project the group is sponsoring.
-TABLED a decision on a new contract and increase in the cost to inmates who use the jail pay telephone.
Sheriff Dale Williams said the current contract is set to expire and the new one calls for an increase of 10 cents per minute. Williams agreed to find the contract for commissioners to review.
-RECEIVED the monthly Golden Age Retreat report showing 19 male and 26 female residents.
-AGREED to advertise for bids for the replacement of the deck on the Ed Preston Bridge on Azalea Rd. and the Breckenridge Bridge on Avalon and to replace the Elliot Bridge on Clay Rd. Bids will be accepted until 9:30 a.m. July 2 and opened at that time. All three are Issue 2 projects.
-AGREED to accept bids for the scrap pile at the county highway garage until 9:30 a.m. July 2 and open them at that time.
-OPENED and tabled two bids for the Malvern Waterline Replacement project on N. Canton and West Main streets. Bids were received from Sheckler Excavating for $26,380 and Robertson Excavating, $30,500.
-REAPPOINTED Commissioners Larry Garner, Tom Wheaton and Doyle Hawk to the Airport Zoning Board of Appeals retroactive active to April 1 for terms ending March 31, 2010.
-RECEIVED the weekly dog pound report for the period of June 1-6 showing 27 impounded, 26 tagged and two redeemed. There were two citations issued for no license and one for a dog running at large.
APPOINTED Harry W. (Mike) Schmuck to the Law Library Resource Board for the period of July 1, 2009, through Dec. 31, 2013 by a 2-1 vote. Commissioner Wheaton voted no, saying the appointee must be a Carroll County resident.
Commissioner Garner said Schmuck “owns a lot of land in this county and spends a lot of time here.” Commissioner Hawk said Schmuck is a registered voter in Carroll County.
-ANNOUNCED Patti Manfull, director of Carroll County Transit, was elected vice president of the Small Urban/Rural Systems during a recent meeting of the Ohio Public Transit Association Board of Directors. Her term runs May 22, 2009, through May 31, 2010. |
