Canton takes step needed to annex property for new Aldi

Kelly Byer, The Repository
·2 min read
In the lobby area before entering Canton City Hall Council Chambers in Canton, O.
In the lobby area before entering Canton City Hall Council Chambers in Canton, O.

CANTON – City Council on Monday approved the statement of services needed to annex property intended for a new Aldi grocery store.

Council members approved the standard procedure for about 12.5 acres at 3801 Harmont Ave. NE. Councilman Peter Ferguson, D-8, was the only member absent for the vote, which received no opposition.

Grant Giltz previously discussed plans to renovate the vacant property and former Kmart store with his company, GTW 62. The developer expects to relocate the existing Aldi, just west on U.S. Route 62, to a newly constructed store on the southeast corner of the property.

More: Aldi to open 7th location in Stark County

Glitz has leased the Plain Township site from a family trust.

Mayor Thomas Bernabei said the longtime property owners asked to join Canton to access city water.

"That is the purpose of the annexation," he said.

The annexation itself would need to be approved by Stark County commissioners and Canton City Council.

Meanwhile, Canton Fire Department officials presented information to council members about The Compliance Engine. The third-party service tracks annual fire inspections and would relieve the Fire Prevention Bureau of some administrative work, said Division Chief Steven Henderson.

He plans to convert the department's mostly paper-based process to the electronic one in the coming month. It's at no cost to the city and, therefore, required no formal approval from City Council.

Contractors who conduct routine fire prevention inspections will pay $17 to upload a report. Henderson said contractors charge business owners varying fees, depending on the inspections, and whether those will increase because of the extra fee would be up to contractors.

Fire officials estimated that 35% to 40% of annual inspections are completed now, and the change is expected to increase compliance and decrease false alarms from lack of maintenance.

In other business:

  • The council reconsidered an ordinance that granted newly hired Economic Development Director Christopher Hardesty an exemption from the city's residency requirement and credit for his previous employment with the city toward vacation time. Members on Monday agreed to waive the city law that prevents new hires from bringing more than 80 hours of accrued sick time. Hardesty was credited with 427 hours of sick time, which he earned during his past employment with the city, according to the mayor.

  • The council also approved a resolution to return to its weekly, "pre-COVID-19" meeting schedule after Labor Day.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Canton council approves statement of services for proposed development