By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
The Crawford County commissioners are looking to rectify an outstanding advance balance on a project that is nearly at the decade mark.
Commissioners met with Economic Development Director Dave Williamson, County Prosecutor Matt Crall, and County Auditor Joan Wolfe Tuesday to discuss how to move forward on an advanced balance still due to the county by Weithman Rentals. The advanced balance due was a result of the Stetzer Road Industrial Park project.
The county received approval for two grants – totaling $750,000 – from the state in 2008 to develop land on the east side of Bucyrus.
“We got the amount of money needed to assist Weithman Rentals with infrastructure for 80 to 100 acres of serviceable land back behind WalMart,” explained Williamson, who had been a part of the development in its infancy.
Williamson said the City of Bucyrus was also a partner in the project. He explained that the city had planned to contribute to the project by boring under the railroad tracks and laying down water and sewer line work using the city’s manpower.
It took several years for the project to be built out, longer than it should have in Williamson’s opinion. During that time, however, former Bucyrus mayor Dan Ross resigned and Mike Jacobs was sworn in as the newest mayor. That change in administration resulted in manpower records pertaining to the project to be lost, which in turn did not allow the city to account for the man-hours that had been invested in the project.
“The amount of money that the state gave us was based on projections on what the private sector was putting in, land value, (Weithman’s) own money . . . and the city of Bucyrus’ money and time,” Williamson said.
The city lowered the amount of its investment due to the unaccounted for man-hours, that in turn reduced the cost of the project. Even though the county had already requested the draws on the grants and reimbursed Weithman Rentals certain amounts, the state required that part of the grant – a sum of $29,893 – be returned.
“So the county gave it back,” Williamson said matter-of-factly. “But the county has not yet gotten reimbursed by Weithman. And that’s, I think, the crux of the matter.”
Commissioner Jenny Vermillion sent a letter to Weithman Rentals in July of 2012 explaining that, because the project had been a smaller scope due to the city’s reduced cost, a balance was due to the county.
“It’s not Weithman’s fault; by the same token, it’s not the county’s fault,” Williamson said.
The commissioners, Williamson, Crall, and Wolfe discussed ideas on how to proceed with the outstanding balance, including allowing Weithman Rentals to repay the balance or to forgive the company the balance. Ultimately, it was decided that Williamson and Crall would meet with Ty Weithman to discuss the matter.
The $29,893 is due to the county’s General Fund.