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The Blade (Toledo, OH)
6-10-00
Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner yesterday announced a two-phase proposal to sell the site of the Battle of Fallen Timbers to the Toledo Area Metroparks District for almost $5.6 million.
Under Mayor Finkbeiner's proposal, the city would sell approximately 72 acres of the 185-acre site this year to the Metroparks for $2.8 million, which is the amount of money committed from the state, city of Maumee, and Lucas County commissioners.
Mayor Finkbeiner said the proposal was put together after he learned last week that federal money to purchase the land for the site is unlikely to be available.
"For the first time I think we are dealing with the reality that we have about half of what we need in terms of money in hand," Mayor Finkbeiner said.
The park district would have about one year to raise the remaining $2,792,500 to purchase the rest of the land.
Under the mayor's proposal, the city eventually would sell all the land for $5,592,500, which is $292,500 above the Metropark's latest offer of $5.3 million.
So far the Metroparks has obtained $2 million from the state, $500,000 from Maumee, and $300,000 from the county.
Metroparks Director Jean Ward was in Maryland for a conference and had not seen the proposal, said Art Weber, a Metroparks spokesman.
"Obviously we are closer than what we were before with this offer. I think it is encouraging that we are moving together here. I think that is what the negotiations are trying to accomplish," Mr. Weber said.
Mayor Finkbeiner would like to see the park district secure financial assistance from other sources such as private foundations, corporations, individuals, and preservation groups such as the Ohio Historical Society.
"Really no effort has been made to reach out to alternative sources," he said.
The nearly $5.6 million offer is almost the midpoint between the city of Toledo's appraisal of $7.3 million and a $3,885,000 appraisal made by the state, Mayor Finkbeiner said.
U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Toledo) said President Clinton or the Senate might come through with the money for Fallen Timbers this year.
She said the worst-case scenario is that it will take five years to receive the federal money.
Fallen Timbers was included in the U.S. Department of the Interior budget that President Clinton sent to Congress, Miss Kaptur said.
But about a week ago, the House Appropriations Committee approved a measure by party-line vote that did not include Fallen Timbers.
Miss Kaptur said she voted against the measure, with other Democrats, because it did not include the support she wanted for ethanol and biodiesel and the national parks system, including the Fallen Timbers site.
Federal taxpayers have spent more than $500,000 on studies and maps of the Fallen Timbers area over the years, and the federal government is committed to the project, she said.
Sen. Mike DeWine (R, O.) was traveling and had not seen Mayor Finkbeiner's proposal, said Charles Boesel, a spokesman for the senator.
Mr. Boesel said the Senate appropriations process is taking place and no federal funding for the Fallen Timbers purchase is included in the discussions.
But he said it has been difficult for legislators to agree on financing for the purchase when a final price has not been agreed upon by the city or the Metroparks board.
"We have to have a final number to move forward and that's why Senator DeWine has felt very strongly they need to keep the dialogue going," Mr. Boesel said.
He said Senator DeWine will continue through the appropriations process to push for federal funding to complete the purchase.
"We will continue to fight for the money. There's no line item for it, but it's something we will continue to press for," Mr. Boesel said.
Lucas County Commission President Sandy Isenberg said approval of the first phase of the package would show lawmakers that the Metroparks has made a commitment to the project.
"They have not been given any green light to go ahead to do anything. It has been one problem after another," she said. "We will eventually get the land and it will be preserved for history."
Councilman Peter Ujvagi said he is happy to see Mayor Finkbeiner moving forward with a plan to sell the land.
"The question becomes what is realistic and what is achievable. I think the important thing is to move forward on the project and raise the money," he said.
Negotiations between the Metroparks and the city have been ongoing for several months. Mayor Finkbeiner has been criticized by Commissioner Isenberg and Mr. Ujvagi for asking too much for the land.
The city spent $14 million in 1987 to purchase approximately 1,200 acres in what was then Monclova Township.
The city intended to annex the land to Toledo, but after a lengthy court battle, the move was not allowed.
Much of the land, including the Fallen Timbers site, has since become part of Maumee.
Over the years, the city has sold all but about 400 acres of the property.
In the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794, forces led by Gen. Anthony Wayne defeated an alliance of American Indian Tribes.
General Wayne's victory led to the Treaty of Greenville and opened Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois for settlement.
The land, which is west of I-475 near the junction of U.S. 24 in Maumee, was declared a National Historic Site last year by Congress.
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