June 21, 2001
Eagle Rock Park ready for business
By Erik Burriss
Staff Writer
Tiffin City Council paved the way Wednesday for the first business to open at the Eagle Rock Business Park, then made sure the park won't flood when it rains.
Two days after its introduction, the council approved an ordinance authorizing the sale of nine acres -- at $15,000 an acre -- at the industrial park to American Fine Sinter Co. Ltd., an automobile parts manufacturer. It also grants a five-year option on the purchase of another eight acres.
Because the three-reading rule cannot be suspended for legislation buying or selling real estate, the City Council had special meetings Tuesday and Wednesday for the ordinance.
According to a tax abatement application, American Fine Sinter -- a joint venture by a pair of Japanese companies -- plans on investing more than $8 million at the site and creating more than 100 jobs. However, the deal is not yet final.
The development depends on City Council approving the tax abatement and on the Ohio Department of Development approving two other tax credits and job-training funds for the company, Law Director Brent Howard said.
"It's possible these things could fall apart," Mayor Bernie Hohman said.
If that happens, the city will not sell the land to the company, Hohman said
"We're not going to have speculation," he said.
But if it all pans out, the facility should open next August.
The council also gave the go-ahead for the start of a storm-water drainage project for the southern 40 acres of Eagle Rock. The first of two drainage projects planned for the park, it involves construction of a 1,348-foot-long swale on the south edge of the park connecting to a county-owned ditch across CR 11 from the park. A two-acre detention pond is also part of the project, the mayor said.
Drainage of the northern 92 acres of Eagle Rock would be a separate project.