Suburban Press 12/25/17

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• Cardinal Stritch • Clay • Eastwood • Genoa • Gibsonburg • Lake • Northwood • Oak Harbor • Waite • Woodmore

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Northwood

Seeking ideas on former mall property Northwood has scheduled a public forum next month to seek input from the public about ideas for the former Woodville Mall property. “Everyone’s invited,” said City Administrator Bob Anderson. “We want to see what people would like at that location. Give us your ideas.” The meeting is scheduled on Thursday, Jan. 25, at 6 p.m. before the regular council meeting at 7 p.m., according to Anderson. Asbestos removal The city owns the property. Most of the asbestos from the site has been removed. “The asbestos is supposed to be out of the Anderson’s building by the end of this year,” said Anderson. The city hired Midwest Environmental and D & R Demolition to do the job. “They are going to start demolishing it, knocking it down, at the first of the year,” he said. Removing the asbestos from the Elder-Beerman building won’t take as long, he added. “It doesn’t have as much. The entire project should be done by March 31.” The city has been discussing possible development at the site with the Wood

We want to see what people would like at that location. Give us your ideas.

By Kelly J. Kaczala Press News Editor kkaczala@presspublications.com

County Economic Development office, said Anderson. “We’ve also talked to the Regional Growth Partnership and state economic development officials to try and get some ideas,” said Anderson. The site could include a combination of commercial and residential. Less likely is a park, or industrial development, he said. “We have a lot of park property. And there are two neighborhoods on either side of the site, so I don’t think they would like that,” said Anderson Razed The main mall structure was razed in 2014 due to structural issues. Before the

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Andersons, Tireman, and Elder-Beerman could be torn down, the city was required to remove the asbestos. The city accepted the bid of Midwest Environmental Inc. earlier this year for $1,947,000. The contract runs through the first quarter of 2018. The city received a low interest loan from the Ohio Water Development Authority to fund the asbestos removal. “We’ve been thinking of many ideas. But the city will not act as a developer on the site. It’s not government’s responsibility. We will be selling it to somebody. We will seek help from commercial developers, real estate agents, and the public on what they think should go in there,” said Anderson. The mall, which was built in 1969, was shuttered in 2011 after officials from the Wood County Health Department and the City of Northwood toured the structure. They found a leaking and collapsing roof and ceiling, mold, wet carpeting, no heat and an inoperable fire suppression system. The Andersons decided not to renew its lease with the mall due to the deteriorating conditions of the structure, and closed in 2013. Northwood sued the owners of the mall after they failed to make needed repairs. The city eventually acquired the property through a sheriff’s auction.

The Lake Township trustees have authorized the township fire chief and solicitor to prepare a contract and job description for the new position of Emergency Medical Service coordinator. The trustees last week approved the hiring of Kevin Sanders, a lieutenant in the township’s fire department, for the position. A contract between the township and LifeStar for the service ends in March and township officials plan to have paramedics in place before the agreement expires, Mark Hummer, township administrator and police chief, said. Voters in the township on Nov. 7 approved a 1-mill property tax levy that will generate about $230,204 annually for the 24/7 service. A 0.8-mill levy already on the tax duplicate also helps fund the service. Under the agreement with LifeStar, the company provides two paramedics for each shift and the township provides an emergency vehicle, equipment and houses the on-duty personnel at the administration building on Cummings Road. During Tuesday’s trustees meeting, Chief Hummer and Fire Chief Bruce Moritz both took time to stress that LifeStar has had no intention of renewing the agreement with the township, countering rumors that the township wanted to end the agreement. “We’ve asked them; do you want to give us a proposal?” Chief Hummer said. “They’re not going to stay in the 9-1-1 business. They’re no longer interested in providing this service for the township.” Chief Moritz said LifeStar “has made it very clear they want out….sooner rather than later.” Sanders has worked as an operations manager for LifeStar and also has worked for ProMedica, Moritz said. “Kevin brings what we need to the table,” he said. The chief said he was confident he could find qualified paramedics from both Continued on page 5

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I like being able to go into a store and feel and look at what I am purchasing. You cannot get that online.

Ida Mottmiller See page 4

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