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The Blade (Toledo, OH)
5-18-00
Toledo city council likely will consider soon legislation to sell the site of the Battle of Fallen Timbers.
A formal offer to buy the approximately 185-acre site for $5.3 million was sent to Mayor Carty Finkbeiner and city council late Tuesday, according to Jean Ward, director of the Metropark District of Toledo.
Earlier Tuesday, the mayor said he would accept nothing less than $6 million for the site. The mayor had rejected an offer from the district to buy the land for $5 million.
Councilman Gene Zmuda yesterday said he would prefer for the mayor to refer the offer to city council, "but if he doesn't, I think it is time for council to consider the offer."
Mr. Zmuda said it is likely council will consider legislation to sell the land some time next month.
Peter Ujvagi, president of council, said he doesn't know when council would act.
"We're going to make certain that we have the best offer we can get," and then consider the sale of the land, he said.
He said he agrees that the offer of $5.3 million is adequate for the property west of I-475 near the junction of U.S. 24 in Maumee.
The mayor Tuesday chastised the state government and Lucas County officials for not offering more money to the Metroparks to buy the land.
The first installment of the Metroparks offer consists of $2 million from the state, $500,000 from Maumee, and $300,000 from the county.
Mr. Ward said he has assurances from state and federal officials that the additional $2.5 million will be available to the district and the second payment on the purchase would be made next year.
When Mr. Finkbeiner rejected the earlier offer he said it was too low and there were no guarantees that the second payment would be made.
On Tuesday Mr. Finkeiner said he is "the only legal bargaining agent of the city of Toledo."
Mr. Ujvagi didn't disagree but said council isn't negotiating the deal, and it is the only body that can sell city land.
In a letter to Sandy Isenberg, president of the county commissioners, Mr. Finkbeiner said the county's fair share of the cost of the National Historic Site should be at least $1 million. He said no taxpayer money will be spent for infrastructure improvements around the proposed downtown stadium for the Toledo Mud Hens unless the county pays more than Maumee.
Mrs. Isenberg reiterated that the $300,000 offer was made to the Metroparks to help with the sale, and the county won't pay more. "It's a fair amount, and the Metroparks system was pleased and appreciative. The city now has a reasonable offer on the table, and we'll wait to see what happens," she said. The mayor's office did not return a call seeking comment.
The land is part of 1,200 acres that was in Monclova Township when the city bought it in 1987 for $14 million, intending to annex it.
A court ruling blocked that plan, and much of the land, including the battle site, has become a part of Maumee. Toledo has gradually sold most of the property.
In 1995, the smaller site was identified as the site of the battle, in which forces led by Gen. Anthony Wayne defeated an alliance of Indian tribes. The victory led to the Treaty of Greenville in 1795 which opened much of Ohio and the Northwest Territory to settlers. The battleground was named a National Historic Site last year.
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