Township tries to get land near interstate

A change in state law allows townships to sell land at a discount price.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LIBERTY -- The township has begun creating a land bank for development.
Patrick J. Ungaro, township administrator, said Friday the idea is to assemble 25 to 50 acres near Interstate 80 for economic development.
Ungaro said there are about 10 parcels of property behind the former Ramada Inn along Belmont Avenue on which taxes are owed.
Ungaro has said he wants the township to take ownership of the former Ramada Inn property through foreclosure.
"I want things to go smoothly and quickly," Ungaro said of the 10 small parcels.
He called attention to a recent change in state law that allows townships to sell property without competitive bidding.
Township lawyer Mark Finamore said the law changed March 31.
Before that, Finamore explained, the township could dispose of property it owns only through bidding.
Finamore said the township can dispose of property with the unanimous agreement of the trustees.
Townships can obtain land through eminent domain and sell it at a discount price to attract a developer.
Trustees OK process
Trustees have approved a resolution authorizing Finamore to begin the process.
Finamore said the trustees will have to pass a resolution of necessity for each of the 10 parcels. He pointed out it will take six to nine months at the earliest to appropriate the parcels.
The process is slowed, Finamore noted, because the owners must be found and a deal negotiated to sell their land. If a common price can't be worked out, a lawsuit must be filed to determine the fair market value.
"We have to work the system here," Ungaro said.
The administrator has said he wants to obtain the former motel property through foreclosure because of back taxes owed to Trumbull County.
Finamore noted the township itself can't foreclose but must go through the county auditor's and treasurer's offices.
yovich@vindy.com