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CHAMPION -- Township trustees were once again asked by residents what is being planned for the former nine-acre Central Elementary School property off Route 45 but one item is for sure trustees say they do not want a park there.
Trustees at their meeting Tuesday said that there have been numerous discussions on what to use the property for since the township acquired it from the Champion schools.
Trustee Chairman Doug Emerine said while most of the property is currently zoned residential and a small section commercial the school district has a bus garage next to the property on one side and the rest is fields used by the youth soccer leagues.
"This board has had discussions with the public for many years and many people would like a park there," Emerine said.
Trustees have property north of the township cemetery and south of the Champion school property, which they feel would be better for a park location.
The township installed outdoor exercise equipment at that property. Officials said the bike path is also nearby that property.
Emerine said the Central school property would not be ideal for a park or even walking trail as people would walk on land that shows the backs of many nearby houses, sheds and a bus garage.
"That is what people will have to look at if a walking path is put there," Emerine said.
He said he has spoken with Champion school officials, who have discussed expanding the bus garage on the land.
Emerine said people have also suggested putting a gazebo at the property, but he noted he travels through Fowler and Southington that have gazebos in their parks, but he rarely sees anyone there.
"Southigton and Fowler do have celebrations at their parks and the gazebos are used then but other than that I rarely see anyone using them," he said.
Emerine expressed concerns that if there was a park at the Central property location children could run out onto the busy state Route 45.
Trustees said they need to look at a park at the other property north of the cemetery.
"If we decide to use the property by the high school, then there would be no need to keep the Central property. We need to get all the pieces of the puzzle together and begin to decide what to do," Emerine said.
He said there is currently no official decision on what to do with the property.
"We will discuss future land usage options and opportunities for that property," Emerine said.
The township acquired the property through land trades with the school district.
Emerine said he knows the local soccer program uses the property and its members help take care of it.
"I know the soccer program is good for the youth of the community, but we can have another place for them," he said.
RESIDENTS INPUT
Resident Debbie Christ described the property as "a gold mine" that could have some type of business located there that would bring people to the township.
"I have never seen a 'For Sale' sign on it for all the years I have lived here," she said.
Christ said if the property is set up for sale it should be done by a professional commercial real estate agent to get the most money for the property.
"We need to get the most money for the property we can," she said.
Trustee Thomas Jeffers said the majority of the land is residential and when trustees tried to get it rezoned to commercial, they were denied by the township zoning board.
A small section near the road is zoned commercial.
Christ said if trustees are not going to use the property it should be put up for sale.
Resident Russell Banks, who has a car dealership business near the property, said he would like to see the property sold and make money for the township.
"I would like to see it sold and have some use. The property right now is an expense for the township.'' Banks said.
Banks told trustees, "We elected you as trustees to make the best decisions for the community and decide what to do with that property."
Emerine said trustees will review the matter and see what directions the best to go with the Central property.
The township obtained ownership of the former property from the Champion schools when a new elementary school was constructed north of that location.
Emerine has said the property needs work on the parking lot, which would cost $100,000 to repair, in addition to other needed work at the site that would cost more than $350,000.
Officials have said the township would also have trouble getting grants for work at the site since the local match required the township would likely not be able to meet.
Emerine said the idea of having a park in the township has been discussed for years, but residents have said they would not support a levy to cover the costs.
The district closed the 100-year-old school in spring 2018 with the opening of the new PK-8 school complex on state Route 45.
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. The district did retain a nearby bus garage property.
Officials said if the property were to be offered for sale, it would be done through a Realtor or public auction.
As for the exercise stations, officials said a sidewalk from the nearby school property to where the exercise equipment will be.
Officials said a grant is covering the cost for the project.
ELECTRONIC SIGN
Officials are also discussing purchasing property by the township administration building near Route 45 for placing an electronic message sign near the road.
Emerine said there are talks with the property owner taking place.
Officials said they would like to have an electronic sign where announcements can be posted,
Trustees said if they decide to purchase the property it would need to be done by public action of the board.
Fiscal Officer Laurie Jo Miller said the trustees will have to take the matter slowly since if funds are used for getting the property the electronic sign would not happen right away.
"Spending any money will take time on this," she said.