CHAMPION — Township trustees are discussing the possible sale of the former Champion Central Elementary School property off state Route 45.

Trustee Chairman Doug Emerine said at the trustees meeting Tuesday there have been calls from parties interested in purchasing the 9-acre property. The township has owned the property for the past seven years after the former school was demolished when a new PK-8 complex was built north of the site off Route 45.

Emerine said nothing is official, but there is interest from a buyer for the site. The property was discussed by trustees in recent years as a possible location for a park or a new fire station.

The Champion Board of Education in 2019 approved the final official exchange of the land to the township since the property was no longer needed for school purposes and all insurance coverage was terminated by the school district. The district did retain a nearby bus garage property.

The district closed the 100-year-old Central Elementary School in spring 2018 with the opening of the new PK-8 School complex on Route 45 near the high school. The elementary school was the oldest of the three buildings in the district.

The township previously sold 22 acres of land north of the cemetery to the school district for $106,000 for the new school complex. In exchange, the district transferred the Central school property to the township.

In other business, the trustees are set to negotiate with the Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association on their next contract. Officials said the union represents six full-time police officers,

The current contract expires April 30.

Trustees approved the advance of $100,000 from the general fund to the police department to support that department until the taxes come in March. Trustees will return the funds to the general fund by June 30.

Also, Emerine reported there has been word from the zoning appeals board that a Wendy’s will be opening in the former Huntington Bank building off Route 45 north of Burger King.

The trustees appointed Gerry Brown as the township administration building event coordinator at $17 per hour and to establish necessary appropriations of $3,000 in the general fund to support the role.