CORTLAND Funding sought for lodge study

The state representative is looking for as many funding sources as possible.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
CORTLAND -- Mayor Curt Moll will ask city council at its Oct. 3 meeting to transfer $10,000 to help fund a study to determine whether a lodge at Mosquito Lake is feasible.
Moll said Tuesday that the $10,000 is in the Cortland Parks Board budget. He wants the money to be transferred to the Trumbull County Planning Commission.
The commission will be the fiscal agent for the $80,000 to $85,000 needed for the feasibility study.
State Rep. Randy Law of Warren, R-64th, has been in discussions with both public and private sources to fund the balance.
They include the federal, state and county funding sources, surrounding townships and Trumbull 100, a group of civic and business leaders.
Possible site
Moll said there is land available just outside the city limits on North Mecca Street and owned by the state that could be a possible site of a lodge and park. It has sewer and water services available to it.
Another possible location is near the state park at the southwestern tip of the reservoir.
"Anywhere along the lake would be good," the mayor said.
The study would look at such items as lodging occupancy, business climate and potential for business meetings, clientele, competition among existing lodges, access to water and sewer and marketing.
"The lodge can do nothing but help Cortland," the mayor said, regardless if it's inside or outside the city.
Commitments
Law said that he has both tentative and spoken commitments to fund the study aside from Cortland.
"We'd like to get as many people involved as we can," he said.
Law said he hopes to have the financial pieces in place later this fall, although the study can be started without all of the money needed to pay for it.
It hasn't been determined who will do the study, Law said, noting he wants to see an independent company rather than a public agency.
The study could begin as early as December, he added.
yovich@vindy.com