Boardman schools, trustees approve land swap for new facilities

Staff report

BOARDMAN

Township and school officials approved a property exchange Monday to build each of their new facilities.

From the proposal that was announced in April, the township received a 2-acre parcel adjacent to Boardman Center Intermediate School, and the school district received a 4-acre parcel that has been used for a township cold-storage facility.

The township plans to build a new fire station on the corner of Market Street and Stadium Drive, replacing the main station on U.S. Route 224. The school district plans to build a bus garage off of Tod Avenue to replace the old garage on McClurg Road.

“We were relieved that we were able to have both boards pass this on the same night,” township Administrator Jason Loree said. “It really marks a new era for the fire station and the fire department.”

After finalizing construction bids the trustees plan, a ground breaking for the station next spring.

Schools Superintendent Tim Saxton said the district hopes to begin ground breaking for pavement and above-ground fueling stations for the buses in late November at the earliest. Saxton said the district hopes to start parking buses in two to three months. Saxton said the first priority is moving 55 buses off of McClurg Road to reduce congested traffic in the area.

“The sooner we can get our buses parked over onto Tod Avenue, that will be good for the community of Boardman,” he said.