P
The
Since 1972
A hurdler through and through See Second Section
Woodville Mall owner filed bankruptcy
RESS May 18, 2015
FREE
Something to play for See Second Section
Serving More Than h 33 33,000 000 H Homes & B Businesses i iin 4 C Counties ti
M
By Kelly J. Kaczala Press News Editor kkaczala@presspublications.com Ohio Plaza Shopping Center LLC, owner of the Woodville Mall, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in the Ohio Northern Bankruptcy Court on May 11. Late last year, Northwood filed a law-
suit against the Woodville Mall for foreclosure judgment on a lien, previously part of a ruling by the Wood County Common Pleas court to force the owners to complete demolition of the mall on time. Most of the mall, located at 3725 Williston Road, was razed last year, but buildings that were leased by The Andersons and Elder-Beermans are still standing likely due to asbestos contamination, Northwood City Administrator Bob Anderson said last week. The Wood County Common Pleas court in 2013 ruled that all unused structures on the premises, debris, building materials and trash, were to be removed by May 2, 2014, and that asphalt and cement slabs were to be removed by July 31, 2014. “The owners haven’t complied with a court judgment to demolish the buildings,” said Anderson. “We got tired of them making very little progress. So city council, upon the advise of our law director, asked a judge to foreclose on the lien last year.” Last month, the city filed a motion for summary judgment on the foreclosure asking that the property be sold at a sheriff’s sale. The city would receive proceeds from the sale, according to Anderson. Delay The file for bankruptcy, he added, “just slows down the process.” “So the case is now in federal bankruptcy court. Now we have to go to that court and ask them to release that property to us because we have a lien. By the owners filing for bankruptcy, it just delays the whole thing,” said Anderson.
The city has been locked in a legal battle with the mall owner since December 2011 when it was shuttered due to violations of several Wood County Health and Ohio Building codes. The mall was considered an eyesore due to its dilapidated Continued on page 2
Q
uote
of The Week
Most people come thinking it’s too good to be true. Bruce Marks See page 9
Birding week
The binoculars and cameras were out as birdwatchers from all over the country, as well as the world came out for the Biggest Week in American Birding. Top photos, at left, Carrie Lewis and Pam Boomershine, Hamilton, Ohio, and Brian Snith, right, of Hudson, Ohio, go birdwatching at Magee Marsh. Bottom photo, bird enthusiasts spot warblers at Metzger Marsh. (Press photos by Ken Grosjean)
Woodmore schools
Near-term finances looking better By Larry Limpf News Editor news@presspublications.com Buoyed by a reimbursement of $280,000 from the North Point Educational Service Center, the short-term financial outlook of the Woodmore Local School District has become a little rosier. The reimbursement stems from an overpayment by the district to North Point for contracted services in 2013. Jaime Pearson, district treasurer, discovered the discrepancy recently and brought it to the attention of North Point, which agreed with her finding. Pearson presented revised revenue and expenditure figures to the finance committee of the district’s school board last week –including the reimbursement and will present a more detailed picture of the district’s financial situation to the full board at its May 19 regular meeting. The figures project an increase of about $120,000 in property tax collections for the current fiscal year ending June 30, compared to last year ($4.22 million compared to $4.1 million in fiscal 2014) and
about $418,653 more in state aid this fiscal year than last year ($3.83 million compared to $3.42 million in fiscal 2014). “I would still argue we are in a state of financial instability,” Pearson said Wednesday. “The $280,000 is a plus but we need to make sure we are being fiscally responsible in case something negative would come to light.” Voters on May 5 rejected a ballot request for an earned income tax that would have generated about $1.05 million annually over 10 years and a renewal request for a property tax that generates about $600,000 annually. Pearson is projecting total revenues, including the reimbursement from North Point, this fiscal year to reach a little more than $10 million. Last year, revenues were about $9.32 million. Total expenditures last year were about $9.5 million and are expected to be about $9.6 million by June 30. Pearson cautioned the district’s financial numbers are still tentative until an independent audit is complete. “We are still waiting on the final numbers from Julian & Grube (accounting firm)
so there are still pieces to the puzzle that are still missing. While this is a financial picture for today, I can’t guarantee it is the financial picture for tomorrow,” she said. In other business, the school board is expected to appoint a new member during its regular meeting to fill the vacancy created when Grant Cummings, the board’s vice president, resigned. Letters of interest from district residents for the open seat were accepted until May 11 and candidates were interviewed during a special board meeting May 12. Interviewed were: Kelly O’Connor, David Netcher, Jon Overmyer, Dan Hoppe and Sean Rizor. The board will also soon have a vacancy in the administration. Joe Wank, principal of the elementary school, has been hired by the Eastwood School District to be principal of Luckey Elementary School. He will officially begin his duties at Eastwood on Aug. 1. Eastwood superintendent Brent Welker said Margaret Brennan-Krueger, who had been Luckey principal, will return to her previous position of School Improvement Specialist.
Silent Sale...650+ New & Used Cars & Trucks Tagged with XTRA-Low Prices
No Sales People Monday (Memorial Day Weekend) Main 419-693-3000 419-698-4323 I-280 Lot Lot www.dunnchevybuick.com