Monday, September 12, 2011

OXYMORON REIGNS IN NORTH CANTON CITY GOV'T? CONFUSION & CERTAINTY ON THE FUTURE OF CITY OWNED ARROWHEAD COUNTRY CLUB: BOTH AT THE SAME TIME?



 UPDATE:  09/12/2011 AT 5:50 PM

The Report received a telephone call from Jon Snyder who is the president of North Canton Council.

He pointed out the appraisal report itself says that the appraisal was for tax evaluation purposes, to wit:


A difficulty in determining whether or not the existing lease is going to have life beyond December 31, 2011 has to do with the current lessees' desire to have North Canton pick up taxes beyond $50,000 per year.  Snyder says North Canton is not willing to agree to pick up the taxes in excess of $50,000, but the city would pass on any reduction in taxes granted by the Stark County auditor's office in a North Canton request of a reappraisal from what Sndyer says is about $2.6 million currently down to the $1.9 that the appraisal pegs itself to as being the marker for the most likely market value.

Moreover, he said that when he received a copy of the report that one thing  he said to himself was that people were going to think that the reason for the appraisal was in preparation for a sale.

Snyder denies that such is the case.

Snyder says he recognizes that some will continue to think that a possible sale was an additional reason for paying the $3,800 for the appraisal but reiterated that such is not the case.

ORIGINAL BLOG

You talk about a topic that has taken many twists and turns in North Canton government and politics it is the city's purchase of Arrowhead Country Club (Arrowhead) which includes the Fairways golf course, a restaurant and a swimming facility.

Reports keep surfacing that North Canton City Council is considering putting Arrowhead up for sale, but there are also ample denials.

The sale issue first came up as having come from Council President Jon Snyder in conversations he had with Daniel and Hillary Mueller when a July 19th rain deluge inundated Arrowhead which in turn spilled over onto the Mueller property and caused them to get flooded.

The Muellers say Snyder indicated that the city could not fix the drainage problems from the golf course because the property was under lease and that a proposed $10,000 or so study of the problems would not go forward because the property was being considered for sale.  Snyder denied to the SCPR that he said to either of the Muellers that the property was up for sale.  He said he thinks they misunderstood.

As if the status of Arrowhead is not already confusing enough, Mrs. Mueller has decided to run as a "write-in" candidate against Snyder, in part, because of his handling of the flooding issue.  The Report hears that the Muellers have filed a "moral claim" with North Canton Council for damages their property suffered as a consequence of the flood.

It seems like one sure thing about Arrowhead is that it is fast becoming a place of choice for "political football" among North Canton's governing elite. 

Another certainty increasing appears to be that should North Canton sell the country club, it will sustain a huge capital loss.  Perhaps as much as $2.3 million.  The city recently commissioned an appraisal of the club facilities at a cost of $3,800.  If no sale is being contemplated as asserted by Councilman Snyder, why spend money for an appraisal?


In the latest turn, it appears that Chuck Osborne (a former councilman), who is currently running for council-at-large, is having a "I told you so" moment in light of the Valuations Services appraisal.  Osborne was the only councilperson who voted "no" on the purchase for Arrowhead for $4.2 million in 2003.


Tom Rice was mayor and said to be a leading proponent (along with Councilman Jon Snyder [4th Ward; now council president]) of the Arrowhead purchase.  Current Councilpersons Kiesling (who abstained on the Arrowhead vote), Foltz and Snyder (all of whom are running for re-election) were among North Canton's 2003 legislators: 


The SCPR is told that when Arrowhead was purchased, it was bought with the idea of controlling the development of the area and, for some city officials, to, perhaps,  turn it into a financial investment.  There was talk that North Canton might turn it into a municipal golf course.  However, that idea was quickly scrapped when it became obvious that such was not financially viable.

The Report's take is that the reality in North Canton is that city officials are wringing their hands as to what to do with Arrowhead in view of:
  • the flooding issue (which go back as far as 1947), and
  • what might be the end of the lease (effective:  December 31st) of Arrowhead with R&S Golf Properties, Inc.; to wit:

New Councilman Mark Cerrata (Daryl Revoldt's replacement on council who is seeking "retention" as a member of council) at last Tuesday's work session reportedly said that Arrowhead is not for sale.

Confusion (on the fate of Arrowhead)?  Certainty that if North Canton sells Arrowhead it will take a financial bath?

Indeed!!!

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