ODNR gets OK to buy acreage in Mesopotamia for wetlands

By MARC KOVAC

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

COLUMBUS — Close to 200 acres along the Grand River in Trumbull County will be designated as state-owned wetlands after a site purchase approved by the state Controlling Board.

Without comment Monday, members increased spending authority for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to purchase several parcels in Mesopotamia Township. The total earmarked was $277,611.

According to state documents, ODNR’s Division of Wildlife plans to buy 184.48 acres, to become the Grand River Wildlife Area. More than a mile of the river runs through the property.

The site is owned by Lanmark Homes of Mentor, and the purchase price is $276,720. Of that total, $176,720 will be paid by Ducks Unlimited through a North American Wetland Conservation Act grant. The state will cover the remainder.

The appropriation authorized by the controlling board includes $891 to cover title work.

According to state documents, “Over 3 million people live within 35 miles of the Grand River Watershed. Habitat destruction and fragmentation are rapidly increasing in the watershed. The Grand River contains the highest diversity of fish and freshwater mussels of any stream of its size in the he Lake Erie-Lake St. Clair Basin. This acquisition would secure critical habitat for an array of waterfowl and wildlife including river otters and mussels. The purchase will also increase hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing opportunities in an extremely populated part of the state.”

In Youngstown

In other business, the board approved the release of more than $4.9 million and amended a contract with Heery International Inc. of Cleveland for construction services involving the Youngstown City School District.

Changes in the master facilities plan for the district extended the timetable for construction projects by 36 months, though no increases to the overall budget were requested, according to documents.

“Enrollment decreases in the district since the initial master facility plan as well as the reconsideration of some of the older buildings, which switched renovation projects to new construction, led to a master facilities plan amendment previously approved by the Controlling Board,” according to documents.

The Ohio School Facilities Commission approved the amended timetable in late July.