Land proposal given to school board

NORWALK — Huron County commissioners had some unexpected guests at its Tuesday meeting Tuesday. Norwalk Schools superintendent Brad Cooley, director of operations Dan Bauman and school board vice president Ralph Ritzenthaler attempted to speak during the public comment section of the meeting. Huron County commissioner Harry Brady explained that the commissioners could not respond to the group's questions during that portion of the meeting due to administrative rules and instead added the men to the agenda. That would allow a back-and-forth conversation between the parties. Cooley expressed concern that the school board had not yet received an official proposal for sale of land needed to build the new school project. The district's project, which depends on an agreement in the land deal with the county, involves the construction of an entirely new elementary/middle, or pre-K-8, school on Shady Lane Drive designed to have an "open campus" with Norwalk High School. Cooley advised the commission that his board is ready to move forward, but the delay in getting the proposal in writing is causing serious delays. "It would be great if we had that (offer) in hand now, as our board is ready to act," Cooley said. Waiting on the contract During the Huron County commission meeting on June 3, assistant county prosecutor Randy Strickler told commissioners that "It's almost done and then (county prosecutor James Sitterly) is going to look at my draft, so we should have it this week." During this past Tuesday's meeting, Strickler appeared to advise that the document was complete and ready for the school board to read. According to Strickler, "it took time to get the language together," but the draft is ready for review and the title work has been started. "The gears are in motion," Strickler said. Cooley expressed that time was of the essence and that the delay was causing delay to beginning the school district's project. "This is critical to us," Cooley said, not having the offer in writing has caused "a significant delay that's pushed us back." Cooley hoped to have the written proposal in hand before the school board meeting on Wednesday. The school board sent a press release hinting at a change in the agenda of the Wednesday meeting, that change was later rescinded, and according to Cooley, "the proposal is in the hands of our attorneys, Bricker Graydon." Cooley added that there will be more comments after the lawyers have studied the document. Project details Norwalk Schools has secured a public bond that pays approximately $48 million for the construction, with the state funding the rest of the nearly $100 million project, which could be the largest single construction project in city history. Commissioners verbally put forth the following offer to the school board: • The county will sell 13.00112 acres at $30,000 per acre. • The county will swap 10 acres of land on Shady Lane Drive for 6 acres on a parcel in the same area already owned by the school board and 4 acres within the parcel for the Main Street School building. The school board will be responsible for "abatement and demolition of the current building" and the city will receive a flat buildable lot. • The school board will "engage in meaningful negotiations with the city of Norwalk for a workable CRA for both parties." That appears to refer to an ongoing debate about Norwalk's CRA, or Community Reinvestment Area. A CRA is an economic development tool that provides real property tax exemptions for property owners who renovate existing or construct new buildings, according to the Ohio Department of Development.