Council looking at tax financing agreements for 3 new businesses
MACEDONIA – Tax Increment Financing agreements for Optima Dermatology, Space Place and The Wave Car Wash are being considered by City Council.
TIF arrangements dedicate tax increments within a defined district to finance the debt issued to pay for infrastructure projects.
Council introduced ordinances Aug. 25 – and moved them to second reading – which would designate improvements at the three properties as a public purpose and allow the city to use service payments from the firms to improve the sites and nearby city roads.
The city has several TIF agreements in place. The payments go to the city in lieu of the firms paying real estate taxes, and the Nordonia Hills schools and Cuyahoga Valley Career Center will receive some real estate tax revenue and a portion of the payments.
Optima Dermatology is being built on Golden Link Boulevard off Route 8, Space Place will be between North Freeway Drive and the Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks and the car wash will be between KFC and the Key Inn.
OTHER BUSINESS
Council approved a contract with Statewide Ford Lincoln for the purchase of six 2023 Ford Explorers with V-6 EcoBoost engines for the police department at a cost not to exceed $422,000.
The city previously placed an order with Greve Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram for six Dodge Durangos, but supply chain issues resulted in those vehicles being removed from the “queue,” according to Mayor Nick Molnar.
Thus, Molnar said whichever of the two dealerships can produce the six vehicles first will land the contract. Council previously OK’d a contract for four Chevy Tahoes at $248,000.
Council also awarded a contract to Environmental Flooring Group LLC for flooring replacement in the recreation center’s activity room at a cost of $11,414.
In July, members OK’d a contract worth $61,400 with the same firm for flooring in the rec center’s lobby, front deak, hallways, bridge and stairwells, but the activity room contract was separate.
Parks-rec director Jason Chadock said he hopes the entire project can be completed by the end of the year if supply chain issues don’t interfere. He added the lighting project at Longwood Park ballfield C will get under way in October.
A position known as “building and equipment maintenance supervisor” was eliminated, and that employee was designated as one of the two “public service supervisors,” with both persons at paygrade 9.
Molnar explained paygrade 9 allows the city to pay the former building and equipment maintenance supervisor a higher salary.
Council also upgraded the clerk of mayor’s court from paygrade 7 to paygrade 9, which Molnar said is the first increase in 22 years. He said human resources director Annette Smith has filled in since the previous clerk’s resignation.
Ordinances pertaining to senior citizens’ refuse collection, gutter cleaning and snow removal programs were approved. An amount not to exceed $15,000 from the general fund will be set aside as the refuse collection subsidy.
Valley View Property Maintenance LLC will provide gutter cleaning this fall. The city will pay $70 per household. Officials say about 40 households typically participate each year.
At a cost of $15 per push – the cost was $13.50 last winter – the snow removal program will provide one push within a 24-hour period when new snowfalls exceed 3 inches.
Applicants for all three of the programs must be at least 65 years old and/or seriously disabled, and must meet the established household income levels.
Council accepted a $5,000 donation from an anonymous person to be used by the fire department, and an American flag from a Hampton Road family. Molnar thanked several local businesses for various donations.
Molnar said T.J. Maxx is slated to open in a portion of Burlington’s former space in Gateway Plaza.
Councilwoman Jessica Brandt said Council has received much public input – both pro and con – about whether to opt out of Ohio’s fireworks law or continue to follow the new state guidelines. She said Council plans no legislation on the issue at this time.
Contact the newspaper at newsleader@recordpub.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Tax financing agreements considered for 3 new Macedonia businesses
