Officials look to put issue on May ballot

The state would like about 44 acres on which to place the 140,000-square-foot building, an official said.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- Voters here rejected a 4.9-mill tax levy and bond issue for a new school, but the issue could make its way onto the May ballot with different figures and a new location for the school.
Schools Superintendent Joseph Jeswald said school officials are hoping to secure a site for the potential building and put the issue before voters in May rather than in an August special election. He said getting the word to residents in August is more difficult because school is not in session.
The deadline for getting items on the May ballot is Feb. 16.
August rejection
The district was approved for $17 million from the state to build a $22 million facility on land owned by the Mahoning County Country Club. Voters rejected that idea in August.
Jeswald said the district is still eligible for funds from the state and, if voters approve, would be considered a "priority district" for funding by the state. Details, he said, still must ironed out including millage and a location for the building.
Jeswald said school officials have been scouting locations and have narrowed a list of 12 down to two prime locations -- city-owned property adjacent to Tod Park and several pieces of property off of Mosier Road. He addressed city council Monday about acquiring the city-owned property.
According to Jeswald, the state would like about 44 acres on which to place the 140,000-square-foot building. The school district has 8 acres elsewhere that can be counted for the project, meaning it needs an additional 36. The city property, he said, is about 25 acres, but the state might be willing to compromise on the acreage.
"At this point there is some concern as to if this piece of property is even large enough for the building," he told members of council. "There is a lot of potential there, and we wanted to see if you saw this as a possibility."
Members of council said they would like more information, but said the idea sounded good. They said the land is part of Tod Park, meaning there may be legal issues in turning it over to the school district.
Reverter clause?
Law Director Mark Standohar said the land may have a reverter clause attached to it, meaning that if the city tries to use it for any other purpose than a park it would revert to the donating Tod family. If that is the case, he said, the legal process in freeing the land could be lengthy.
Jeswald told council the board is working with a state-imposed Aug. 25 deadline to keep the state funding.
Jeswald said the state has increased its share from 76 percent to 78 percent, which amounts to a $2 million increase in funding from the state for the building. With the rising cost of construction, he said, the increase will save the district thousands.
School officials, Jeswald said, looked at several locations, including some in Liberty Township. He said officials believe it is important to keep the school, and its tax revenue, in Girard.
jgoodwin@vindy.com