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Canfield council discusses Red Gate Farm
By KALEA hall
CANFIELD
Canfield city still has about 290 acres of property on Leffingwell Road and U.S. Route 62 with no course for its future.
The property, Red Gate Farm, has brought the city some income through agricultural leases, but about $700,000 is still owed on it.
It was purchased for $2.3 million 11 years ago.
A recent $175-per-acre bid from Martig Farms of Beloit for 200 of the acres would bring in about $35,000 every year for three years.
“In order to bring more revenue into the city, the city has to grow,” Councilman John Morvay said at Wednesday’s council meeting. “That asset could become very valuable. Why get rid of it now?”
In other business Wednesday, council approved an ordinance to pay MS Consultants an additional $6,535 for its 2013-14 contract for work on several more projects, including a new library, and new and expanded business in the city. The contract ended in February.
The lawmakers also approved a contract with MS for March 2014 to February 2015 for $34,800.
In other action, the panel:
Gave first reading to the rezoning of Canfield Grange on Fairground Boulevard from specialty to commercial. The measure will go back to the planning commission, and a public hearing will be set.
Agreed to reimburse a Dartmouth Drive resident $5,244 for overpayment of water and sewer bills for 23 years. The resident had two meters and the city was recording both, resulting in doubled bills. The reimbursement amount is less than what he has overpaid, city officials said.
Discussed the future of a new Cardinal Joint Fire District firehouse. The district is seeking to hire an architect for the proposed facility, and a property on state Route 46 in Canfield Township is being considered. The township would lease the property to the district for $1. The project could cost upwards of $2 million, but some funds are in place from tax collections. The project is expected to begin in 2015.