Increasing visibility of industrial parks in Greenfield and Leesburg has been a topic often in recent months and Greenfield Village Council heard the topic again at its Wednesday meeting. The Highland County Board of Commissioners offered to advertise for Requests for Proposals (RFP) for the Greenfield park, which belongs to Greenfield, as the county board is doing the same for the Leesburg park, which belongs to the county.
The matter was brought to the attention of council by city manager Ron Coffey, who said the scope of the work would include a phase one environmental site assessment, an archeological investigation and letter from the state’s historic preservation office, wetlands determination, rare or endangered plant and/or species report, and a preliminary geotechnical study.
It is the sort of study that prospective businesses “place a lot of value in” already being done, Coffey reported.
By allowing the advertising for the RFPs, the village is not obligated “to pay for any costs incurred in preparation and submission of responses in anticipation of a contract,” he said.
He added that “Greenfield has the right to reject any and all proposals.”
Coffey wrote in his report that he felt “it’s worth dipping our toes into the water to determine the cost of such a study.”
Coffey also suggested inviting commission president Shane Wilkin or Katy Farber with the Appalachian Partnership for Economic Growth to a council meeting to answer any questions council has.
Council member Mark Clyburn said he already talked to Farber extensively on the subject, adding that she said she feels such a study being done could bring in at least a couple businesses to the industrial park.
Clyburn said he felt the matter was “highly important.”
Coffey said the whole idea was to get Greenfield’s industrial park “to the front of the line,” adding that the park already has things that other communities don’t, such as water and “sewage capacity.”
Another good thing going for the park is that it has been chosen to be a part of the 2016 APEG Featured Facilities Sites Initiative, which will allow the industrial park to be showcased, Coffey reported at a council meeting last month.
In other business, Coffey reported that council member Chris Borreson received permission from the Recreation Commission to install an RC track near the skate park at Mitchell Park for radio-controlled cars.
On Wednesday, Borreson, an RC enthusiast, said it would be an all-dirt track with jumps and turns. If anyone is interested in design input, or wants to donate four-inch perforated drain tile for the project, contact Borreson at 937-876-9710.
The city manager also reported that summer league signups are coming up and that “the Recreation Commission this year has agreed to lower the cost to $30, with discounts for additional siblings.” For more information go to the Greenfield Youth Sports page on Facebook, or Greenfield’s webpage at greenfieldohio.net.
The Tree Commission is planning the planting of 23 trees in the downtown area to replace the 20 dead or dying trees that had to be removed last year.
Coffey said local organizations and businesses have already committed to purchase 15. The cost of a tree, which includes soil preparation and stump removal, is about $360, he said. Anyone wishing to participate should contact Coffey for details.
On another matter, Greenfield Finance Director Carolyn Snodgrass reported the village’s preliminary funds for February as: month-to-date expense, $375,701; month-to-date revenue, $646,675; year-to-date expense, $1.07 million; and year-to-date revenue as $949,012. The general fund balance as of Feb. 29, 2016 was $377,640.
Reach Angela Shepherd at 937-393-3456, ext. 1681, or on Twitter @wordyshepherd.
