Fostoria news

[Scooterb]

From Fostoria live.

Taken From The Fostoria Review Times ( http://www.reviewtimes.com ) --
August 3, 2005



It seemed to be too little, too late for Boneyard owner Richard Elder.

Fostoria City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to take the property
through eminent domain, but it wasn't until after the vote that Elder
expressed to council members his frustration.

Elder, who has owned the property for more than 20 years, attended
Tuesday's council meeting in hopes he would be called to speak prior to
the vote.

"This has been going on for four years and it has been nothing but a
waste of my time," Elder said. "I'm tired of it "¦ I offered to sell it
to the city a year and a half ago at a price of $100,000. Now I don't
want to sell and the city wants to take it away."

The real estate the city will now pursue control of through the court
system is part of the city's Iron Triangle and is made up of Boneyard
Auto Parts Sales & Service, and Codding Properties abandoned warehouse.

Mayor John Davoli has called the land "a diamond in the rough," that the
city "could really do something great for train tourism with."

Together with the Fostoria's Railroad Preservation Society, and Fostoria
Visitors and Convention Bureau, the city hopes to build a viewing
platform and train museum.

Elder said Tuesday there are improvements to his facilities he would
like to see through, but he has been waiting to put money into the
property because he knew the city wanted it.

Citizens of Fostoria, including police officers, have called Elder to
express their distaste over his property being taken from him, the owner
said.

"They tell me 'it's not right, it's not right' -- you should see what
your people really think about this," Elder told the council. "Whose
property will be next?"

Council members Paul Feasel and Barbara Marley both addressed the
property owner, telling him they'd been given the impression from those
involved with the negotiations that he was in agreement with the situation.

"There has not been any point since our first meeting that I didn't
think we were on the same page," City Law Director Alicia Wolph Roshong
said.

Councilman Dave Clark told Elder that he was "disheartened" that council
had already had the vote, and Elder's true feelings were being discussed
after the fact.

The ordinance to take the Boneyard through eminent domain received three
full readings, and has been discussed at the past three council
meetings, said Roshong.

"In all fairness, I have a public portion at the beginning of each
meeting when I invite anyone to come up," Council President Joe Droll
said Tuesday.

With the ordinance passed, the next step in the process will be to file
with the probate court in Seneca County and get the land appraised,
Roshong said.

"The whole point in going through the courts is so the situation is
monitored and the owner is not taken advantage of -- everything will be
open," Roshong said Tuesday.

The law director anticipates filing the issue with the probate court
within the next two weeks.

Once the land is appraised, the city will assess whether or not it is a
price that it can afford.

City bed tax money is being considered as a possibility for funding,
Roshong said.

"We may use the bed tax money for a low-interest loan," she explained
during council. "That's exactly what (the money) is there for --
promotion of tourism. That's why we collect the funds."

In addition, the land must be assessed for any possible chemicals or
contaminants that may be in the ground.

Roshong said Tuesday that Elder has made it clear that he won't allow
access until the land is taken through eminent domain.

However, the Environmental Protection Agency follows a chain of
ownership, and whoever is responsible for the problems, if any are
found, will be liable, said Roshong.

Burgess and Niple, a Columbus engineering/architecture firm, will assist
the city in using its current brownfield grant money, as well as pursue
several federal and state grant possibilities to fund the assessment and
cleanup of the land, if any is needed.

Once started, the phase one assessment will take four to six weeks to
complete.

The deadline for using the $220,000 brownfield grant money is Sept. 30,
though Burgess and Niple have sought a 12- to 18-month extension for the
city, and have indicated that the U.S. EPA has been receptive to the
request.

[~Z~]

too bad for the owner, but wow, this will be great to have a real facility there. thanks for the article scooter

[GreatLakesRailfan]

Last week the Fostoria Review-Times ran a five part series of articles on rail-related tourism, while we were there last Tuesday a reporter from somewhere showed up and took several pictures of both us (Dave Cenci, Andrew H. and myself), and the other railfans who were in the same location we were. I couldn't find any of these pics, but the articles are well worth the read, all you have to do is sign up for a free online subscription.
I think its kind of a development on the article Scooterb posted.
Charles W.