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The Blade (Toledo, OH)
5-12-00
Lucas County commissioners yesterday forwarded $300,000 to the Toledo Area Metroparks District to be added to money allotted for the purchase of the Fallen Timbers battlefield site from the city of Toledo.
Jean Ward, director of the Metroparks, told commissioners that with the county's contribution he probably will submit an offer of $5.3 million to the city.
Mayor Carty Finkbeiner on Monday rejected an offer of $5 million from the district and said he will not accept less than $6 million for the land.
The Metroparks' offer was to pay $2.5 million now for half of the 187-acre site with an equal payment next year for the other half.
The mayor objected that money for the second payment had not been secured.
Fallen Timbers is part of 1,200 acres the city bought in 1987 for $14 million, in what was then Monclova Township. When the city was not able to annex the land, it began selling the property, most of which is now in Maumee. Congress declared the Fallen Timbers battlefield a National Historic Site last year. Plans are to turn the land into a national park.
Sandy Isenberg, president of the county commissioners, yesterday said that funds for the second half of the deal would be from governmental entities, "and we're not going out of business." She said that $5.3 million is a fair price for the site. "At some point, you have to be realistic," she said.
Meanwhile, the mayor continued his battle over Fallen Timbers with city council President Peter Ujvagi, whom he publicly blasted for saying the city should accept $5.3 million for the historic site.
Mr. Ujvagi said Tuesday that amount would be a fair price, and he'd urge the mayor to accept it.
The mayor sent Mr. Ujvagi an angry letter, accusing him of putting the city in the position of having to negotiate against itself. The mayor sent another letter to Mr. Ward and Metroparks board President Susan Horvath, reiterating that all land negotiations should be conducted through his administration.
"Any member of Toledo city council, including President Ujvagi, who contacts you in an attempt to negotiate the sale price for the city's Fallen Timbers land is in violation of the Toledo City Charter," the mayor wrote.
Mr. Ujvagi said he has one message for the mayor: "Calm down, Carty."
"The goal here should be to put the best deal together that everyone can agree on, not who is in control," he said. "I would ask him to take a deep breath and gauge where we are at."
Mr. Ujvagi said council ultimately would have to approve any legislation selling the land, and he said he believes there is nothing to prevent council from initiating legislation on its own for the sale.
Ms. Isenberg said that, if necessary, city council "should show its leadership and accept this offer."
City Law Director Barbara Herring, however, said such an action by council would violate the city charter, which gives powers for land negotiations to the executive branch of city government.
She said the city's charter was adopted in 1992 to establish a strong-mayor form of government. For council to act independently and sell the land on its own would "fly in the face of and be contrary to the checks and balances built into the charter," she said.
Clerk of Council Michael Beazley, however, said council is the only body with the authority to sell city land.
Mr. Beazley, who is a lawyer, said although the mayor or council can negotiate land sales, the mayor has no authority to enter into contracts over $10,000.
State Reps. Randy Gardner (R., Bowling Green) and Lynn Olman (R., Maumee) sent the mayor a letter Wednesday supporting the $5.3 million price.
"Those of us in the Ohio General Assembly who worked to secure the initial $2 million state investment for Fallen Timbers respect the negotiation process. But ultimately, we want a solution," their letter states.
The mayor, however, said he does not think representatives from suburban areas should be suggesting that he not get the best deal for Toledo taxpayers. He said the letter is proof that Mr. Ujvagi was trying to negotiate with others behind his back.
County commissioners Harry Barlos and Bill Copeland urged a settlement.
"You can't place a dollar figure on parkland. This is a National Historic Site," Mr. Barlos said.
Mr. Copeland said he'd like to see the offer accepted to bring an "appropriate and fair conclusion to this important matter."
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