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The Blade (Toledo, OH)
by Betsy Hiel, Blade staff writer
02-24-98
The Fallen Timbers Battlefield Preservation Commission asked Lucas County commissioners for $500,000 yesterday to be used toward the purchase of the 185-acre historical tract of land in Maumee.
It is listed in a National Park study as the second most endangered national historic landmark, said Ralph Johnson, a spokesman for the battlefield advocates.
"If you make any kind of heritage trail for the Ohio bicentennial in 2003, there is no way that you can have such a historic trail without the Fallen Timbers Battlefield in so far as it represents the opening up of the Ohio frontier," said Mr. Johnson of Ottawa Hills.
The land is in the city of Maumee but is owned by the city of Toledo. Maumee has pledged $500,000, Toledo Metroparks has volunteered to maintain the site, and Toledo has agreed to donate 15 acres for a battlefield memorial.
The battlefield advocates fear that if the historic area is not designated an affiliated site of the National Park system, it may be developed commercially.
The commissioners said they would look into the matter.
"I would like to see the two cities and their friends find a solution that would be palatable for all sides," Sandy Isenberg, president of the commissioners said.
"Unfortunately, it is just not taught in school how special this part of northwest Ohio is, all the neat historic happenings that took place around here," she said.
In other business, Tim Yenrick of the East Toledo Family Center asked the commissioners for help in closing the gap on the remaining $400,000 funds for the family center's early children center.
The money would be used to expand the family health care clinic, community policing center, and early intervention services for families and children, Mr. Yenrich said.
The commissioners decided in a split 2-1 vote last month to locate the regional communication center at 711 Adams St. instead of the alternate 2144 Monroe St. location.
The decision followed a study that showed there was not enough space, among other things, at the Monroe Street building, said Thomas Bodi, executive director of the 911 center. Because the money used for the study of the Monroe Street building is not recoupable, it is "as if we are starting from scratch," he said.
Ms. Isenberg, who voted against the Adams Street location, said the figure is high and that the commissioners are going to work on reducing that number.
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