Board hears about summer projects, tax abatement
Members also updated on the strategic plan
The school board heard about a possible tax abatement for a development at the southwest side of the Interstate 71 and state Route 18 interchange. Photo by ALLISON WOOD
MEDINA – The Medina School Board discussed upcoming projects and a tax abatement proposal during an April 3 work session.
This summer, the district will continue its paving program and is estimated to cost around $500,000, which will come from sales tax monies earmarked for capital projects, said Jon Burkhart, director of business affairs.
Areas to be paved include the high school’s main entrance and part of the driveway at Root Middle School, estimated to cost $50,000 each. The bus garage parking lot will also be paved at an estimated price of $225,000 and the Heritage Elementary playground will be done at a cost of around $35,000.
A separate set of bid specifications will be issued for the resurfacing of the tennis courts located behind the board office, which Burkhart estimated would cost around $100,000.
The district will soon go out for bids and the board will approve them at a later meeting, likely in May. If bids are lower than predicted, Burkhart said the leftover money will be used for other paving projects that are needed but were not originally scheduled for this summer.
Strategic plan
Superintendent Aaron Sable said the district is the midst of finalizing its strategic plan, a document outlining the district’s goals for the next several years.
Amy Busby, director of community relations, said the plan will focus on the areas of finances, facilities, community relations and academics.
Committees were created to address each area and members are finalizing a list of between three and five goals, estimating the cost accomplish each one. Members were also asked to prioritize the goals and examine alternatives at different price points.
“(We’re) taking a look at it from the Kia perspective and then from the Cadillac perspective so that we can take a look at the big picture before we can make a decision on any further steps beyond that,” Busby said.
Committees were also asked to create an action plan with deadlines for accomplishing each goal.
District officials said the plan will help the district with its plans to successfully pass a tax levy on the ballot next year. Yet to be determined is if the levy will replace the one expiring or if voters will be asked for more money.
Sable said he hopes to call a special board meeting May 8 so members can hear more from strategic plan committees and then present the final draft at a community meeting in June.
Proposed tax abatement
Bethany Dentler, director of the county’s Economic Development Corportation, said the county is interested in providing a tax abatement to the developer interested in building on vacant land near the Interstate 71 and state Route 18 interchange off of Normandy Park Drive.
The developer plans to put in a Get-Go gas station along with a building housing both a Chipotle and Starbucks on the property, Dentler said. The value of the new buildings is estimated to be $2.3 million and will also involve the creation of turn lanes on both Route 18 and Normandy Park Drive.
Dentler said the exemption would be for 15 years and would be for 50 percent for the first five years, 35 percent in years 5-10 and 25 percent the last five years. She was told the property will be challenging to develop due to uneven elevation and low-lying wetland areas; it is estimated the first building would be constructed there by next year.
The abatement would be part of a Community Reinvestment Area that must be approved by by the county, Montville Township and Medina City Schools due to the district losing property tax revenue.
In exchange, the district would receive $2,000 a year for 15 years payable to the Medina City Schools Foundation, which funds scholarships and teacher projects. Dentler said the district would also receive a reduced rate of property tax revenue.
Sable said he and Burkhart have met with the developer and will bring the abatement for a vote during a future board meeting.
This summer, the district will continue its paving program and is estimated to cost around $500,000, which will come from sales tax monies earmarked for capital projects, said Jon Burkhart, director of business affairs.
Areas to be paved include the high school’s main entrance and part of the driveway at Root Middle School, estimated to cost $50,000 each. The bus garage parking lot will also be paved at an estimated price of $225,000 and the Heritage Elementary playground will be done at a cost of around $35,000.
A separate set of bid specifications will be issued for the resurfacing of the tennis courts located behind the board office, which Burkhart estimated would cost around $100,000.
The district will soon go out for bids and the board will approve them at a later meeting, likely in May. If bids are lower than predicted, Burkhart said the leftover money will be used for other paving projects that are needed but were not originally scheduled for this summer.
Strategic plan
Superintendent Aaron Sable said the district is the midst of finalizing its strategic plan, a document outlining the district’s goals for the next several years.
Amy Busby, director of community relations, said the plan will focus on the areas of finances, facilities, community relations and academics.
Committees were created to address each area and members are finalizing a list of between three and five goals, estimating the cost accomplish each one. Members were also asked to prioritize the goals and examine alternatives at different price points.
“(We’re) taking a look at it from the Kia perspective and then from the Cadillac perspective so that we can take a look at the big picture before we can make a decision on any further steps beyond that,” Busby said.
Committees were also asked to create an action plan with deadlines for accomplishing each goal.
District officials said the plan will help the district with its plans to successfully pass a tax levy on the ballot next year. Yet to be determined is if the levy will replace the one expiring or if voters will be asked for more money.
Sable said he hopes to call a special board meeting May 8 so members can hear more from strategic plan committees and then present the final draft at a community meeting in June.
Proposed tax abatement
Bethany Dentler, director of the county’s Economic Development Corportation, said the county is interested in providing a tax abatement to the developer interested in building on vacant land near the Interstate 71 and state Route 18 interchange off of Normandy Park Drive.
The developer plans to put in a Get-Go gas station along with a building housing both a Chipotle and Starbucks on the property, Dentler said. The value of the new buildings is estimated to be $2.3 million and will also involve the creation of turn lanes on both Route 18 and Normandy Park Drive.
Dentler said the exemption would be for 15 years and would be for 50 percent for the first five years, 35 percent in years 5-10 and 25 percent the last five years. She was told the property will be challenging to develop due to uneven elevation and low-lying wetland areas; it is estimated the first building would be constructed there by next year.
The abatement would be part of a Community Reinvestment Area that must be approved by by the county, Montville Township and Medina City Schools due to the district losing property tax revenue.
In exchange, the district would receive $2,000 a year for 15 years payable to the Medina City Schools Foundation, which funds scholarships and teacher projects. Dentler said the district would also receive a reduced rate of property tax revenue.
Sable said he and Burkhart have met with the developer and will bring the abatement for a vote during a future board meeting.