Greenfield’s industrial park could be getting closer to long-sought certification with the state.
According to Greenfield City Manager Ron Coffey in his report to the village council at Wednesday’s council meeting, the “long-awaited” preliminary site plan for the South Central Ohio Industrial Park (formerly the Greenfield Industrial Park) has been created. The design has room for 20 new buildings at the park, 10 of them with 20,000 square feet and 10 with 50,000 square feet, Coffey reported.
“The site plan gives potential employers a view of what the industrial park can become,” Coffey wrote in his report.
The plan is part of the ongoing effort to further economic development by getting the industrial park certified with the state, thereby making it more visible to businesses searching for such a site. Coffey said a second round of site certification for Ohio industrial parks should be completed by early August.
In other business, Coffey reported that the Jefferson Street paving, part of a larger ODOT project, is in the finishing phases, while other paving projects around the village are getting underway on portions of North, Fifth, North Second and Lafayette streets, as well as the south side of the cemetery.
At council’s last meeting earlier this month, legislation was passed creating two new part-time police officer positions, and at this week’s meeting council approved Coffey’s appointment of Michael L. Fryer to fill one of those positions.
Until the industrial park is developed, the village continues to lease acreage at the park, as well as a parcel of land in Ross County, for agricultural purposes. Bids for the new farming leases for 2018-2020 are due to the city manager’s office by 1 p.m. on June 28.
“Bids must be sealed and marked on the outside of envelope as ‘Cash Rent – Industrial Park,’” Coffey wrote in his report. Anyone wanting more information should contact the city offices at 937-981-3500.
Coffey also reported that thanks to the generosity of “several local businesses” recently, Mitchell Park has gotten some help. The park’s flagpole now has a gold ball at the top, new clips, a solar light, and a new flag, all donated by Fayette Flag & Banner, Coffey said. Mulch for the playground area was donated by Jack Hutchinson of Jack’s Equipment Repair.
The city manager reported that the Greenfield Police Department during May handled 503 calls and made 105 arrests. Also contained in Coffey’s report was that the value of stolen property for the month of May was $4,455, down from $41,777 last year.
The Greenfield Village Council meets in regular session the first and third Wednesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. in the council chambers on the first floor of the City Building. For those wanting to address council, call 937-981-3500 to be placed on a meeting agenda.
