By Carol McIntire
Editor
January 27, 2012
Just how quickly things can change was evidenced Thursday during a meeting of the Carroll County Community Improvement Corporation (CIC). Less than two months ago, Carroll County Commissioners were opening bids for the agricultural lease of the county owned farm on SR 9 north of the village.
Thursday they agreed to transfer about 285 acres of the property to the CIC for development. What happened in such a brief period of time to alter their plans? Simply put: oil and gas development.
During a December meeting of the CIC, an executive session was held with officials of a Texas-based development company called Mages. During the executive session, company officials provided a map of the proposed development, including 19 parcels ranging in size from two acres to 20 acres.
That map, which has been circulated in the community but should not have been since it was discussed in executive session, has parcels designated for retail and industrial business as well as a gas station. Commissioner Tom Wheaton said Thursday the design is flexible and will change as land is sold. “Different companies are going to need different amounts of land,” he noted, “so that map is not correct.”
The initial map included a site for “lodging,” but Carroll County Economic Development Director Glenn Enslen told the group Mages representative Steve Little told him, “It is very unlikely a hotel will be built at the site.” Since that meeting, CIC officials have been negotiating a contract to allow Mages to develop the property.
The contract cannot be signed and development cannot take place until the property is transferred to the CIC because the county cannot sell real estate by private treaty. An employee of the Carroll County Engineer’s office agreed to do the survey, but as of Thursday’s meeting, neither that survey or the one for McJunkin (a company that has already agreed to purchase land) was complete. The CIC held two sessions in January, but failed to notify the media of the meetings so the general public could be informed and invited, so the meetings were not legal sessions.
During those illegal sessions Commissioner Jeff Ohler outlined plans to update the sewer system at the Golden Age Retreat (located on the county-owned land) to a capacity of 40,000 gallons per day. According to calculations, a plant that size could sustain 700 jobs. Commissioners have secured funding for the project, estimated to cost between $1.5 and $2 million, and payment terms with Ohio Department of Development officials.
Ohler also reported his findings on a background check of Mages. He said through research, he learned the company is part of a group in Texas known as the B29 Investment group. The investment group holds ownership of 12-15 companies, two of which are Mages and Select Energy, a company that recently held a job fair in Carrollton and is one of the businesses planning to build a facility in the development area.
McJunkin, another Texas-based company that supplies parts to the oil and gas industry, has already committed to purchase 12 acres to construct a building. During Thursday’s session, Ohler noted all action taken during the previous two sessions was illegal and had to be acted on again.
The CIC then agreed to pay the cost of the Environmental Study out of CIC funds.
Enslen noted that, due to the discovery of a 2006 environmental study, the cost to the study should be reduced significantly from the original estimate of $10,000. The CIC also agreed to set aside at least 50 percent of the profit from the sale of land (at a cost of $5,000 per acre) to pay unscheduled payments on the sewer project. Ohler told the group he was expecting a revised copy of the Mages contract to arrive during session but when it did not, he agreed to email copies to members for their review and to set another session to approve it. No date was set for that session. Enslen noted time is of the essence since the Mages group wants the transaction completed within 30 days.
That means the land was be surveyed and the necessary documents prepared and filed to transfer the land to the CIC. “Select wants to put a shovel in the ground April 1,” he said. “I realize this project is a risk, but this is our shot, guys, we need to take it.” |
