Tuesday, February 6th, 2007

Land buy expands fair site

By Pat Royse
Mercer County commissioners purchased 20.7 acres of land due west of the Mercer County Fairgrounds during their regular session this morning.
The property owned by John Mark Speicher sold for $6,500 an acre or about $134,550.
Commissioner Jerry Laffin said the land could be used for additional parking if some event was proposed for the fairground that needed additional space. There are other possible uses, as well, he said.
Commission Chairman Bob Nuding said the land would be purchased with money the county recently got from the sale of the former county administration building on South Main Street in Celina.
There is only 150 feet of frontage off Market Street (Mud Pike) between a private house and Machine Pro Technologies, but that area could be used as an entrance to parking. A gate could be cut at some spot in the existing fence for entrance to the fairgrounds, Laffin said.
Until a formal use is decided, the commission will likely rent out the land for farming.
County Auditor Mark Giesige said the commission had the money, and it was a really good price for the land.
"It is logical. Fairground use has been picking up over the last few years," he said.
The purchase price and the money from the administration building sale are real close.
When the land first was on the market several years ago, a purchase would have required commissioners borrow money to buy the acreage. The sale of the administration building for $130,000 in January supplied most of the money to seal the deal this time around.
The purchase arrangement was handled by the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office.
Additional online story on this date
Following a lengthy discussion, Lake Development Corporation (LDC) members decided not to take a formal position on lowering the level of Grand Lake, deciding it is a management decision that rests with the state. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
Celina development consultant Kent Bryan is recommending city council members make a possible Market Street reconstruction project a top priority.
A Celina man has been indicted on six felony charges stemming from the theft of two vehicles from a local mobile home park.
Rogelio "Roy" Rodriguez, 37, 3914 Carmel Church Road, will make his initial appearance at 1 p.m. Wednesday in Mercer County Common Pleas Court.
An application has been submitted to the Ohio EPA to use grant money already awarded to the city of St. Marys to reimburse design costs for the new wastewater plant.
ST. MARYS - St. Marys Community Library hosted its eighth annual business persons' breakfast last week with Crystal Oswalt, clinical psychologist, offering an overview of stress in the workplace.
Fort Recovery's long-term separation of storm and sanitary sewers project has hit a minor roadblock due to the history of the southern Mercer County town.
Mercer County residents now can have their property taxes automatically withdrawn from an account on the day the taxes are due, reports Mercer County Treasurer Doris Rutschilling.
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
Celina's rescheduled girls basketball game with Bellefontaine slated for Monday night was cancelled due to the extreme cold as school was cancelled at Bellefontaine on Monday.