Official lauds service of 2nd member named to board

At least four of the five members will be from Salem or Perry Township.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM -- City council has named its second member to the board of the new Quaker Community Fire District.
Carl A. Ryser was appointed Tuesday on the recommendation of Councilman A. Frederick Vogel, who is council's formal representative to the district.
Vogel said Ryser has long been active in the community but keeps a low profile. Ryser is the former chief operating officer at the Ohio Pump Co.
Ryser was the only person to submit a formal letter showing his interest in serving.
"He has great interest in the community," Vogel said.
Four people expressed "serious interest" in serving, according to the councilman.
Council and Perry Township trustees have agreed to dissolve their fire departments and form the new fire district.
The trustees plan to review candidates today. Two representatives from each subdivision will name a fifth member to complete the board.
Tied up in court
Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge C. Ashley Pike has temporarily prevented the district from becoming operational at the request of the city fire department. The city is appealing that decision.
But the judge ruled the city could proceed with some preliminary planning.
Vogel said he would let the media know about the meeting times of the new board.The first meeting, at least, will probably be at city hall, he said.
Justin Palmer, a candidate for council at large, has questioned whether council has violated state laws that require council to conduct business in open session.
Palmer obtained handbooks on the open meeting laws from Ohio Attorney General James Petro and gave them to council members.
The city wants to replace the fire department with the fire district to cut its costs. The city has lost a number of manufacturing jobs in recent years.
A bright spot
But city officials said they were thrilled with the news that MAC Trailer Manufacturing of Alliance plans to move to the former Crane Deming plant. The move could create up to 400 jobs in five years, according to the Columbiana County Port Authority.
One city official said it took six months to arrange the deal, though Vogel, who has been trying to bring industries to the city, said it took longer.
City Auditor James Armeni said that officials are working to bring businesses to town, but often can't discuss the pending deals. He indicated there may be an interest in the former Hunt Valve Co. building.
Council also gave a first reading to an ordinance to sell 4.7 acres in the city's industrial park to H & amp;M Development for $35,880. The company plans to build open manufacturing space that can be quickly adapted to the needs of different businesses. Three readings are necessary before a measure becomes law.
wilkinson@vindy.com