OVERLAND PARK

County board displeased with deal on Jeep site

Commissioners still seek land for new jail

‘We made a deal with the developer to restrict our land?’ asked G. Opie Rollison, a port board director, on the team looking to build a jail.

Just a week after a Lucas County commissioner described part of the former Jeep plant site as a strong candidate for a new county jail, the commissioners dropped that location from further consideration.

Commissioners discovered that when the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority struck a deal to establish the Overland Industrial Park, the authority restricted the former Jeep site’s use to not allow commercial projects. Only “manufacturing, packaging, distribution, and warehouse operations” uses are allowed, which would exclude a new jail.

“We made a deal with the developer to restrict our land?” G. Opie Rollison, one of several port directors who seemed unaware that the restrictions originated with the port authority, asked during Thursday’s authority meeting when the restriction came up.

The port authority plans to break ground for a warehouse on the 111-acre factory site off Central Avenue and Jeep Parkway in Toledo, and there is space for more projects.

The county is seeking a site with at least 10 acres — preferably 15 to 20 — to build a low-rise facility with between 550 and 600 beds.

Later during their Thursday meeting, the port directors awarded a $2,499,277.99 contract to Miller Brothers Construction Inc. of Archbold for resurfacing most of three taxiways at Toledo Express Airport.

The port board also approved a $166,000 contract with RS&H Ohio Inc. to provide construction administration and inspection services for the project, also with 90 percent federal grant coverage.

Contact David Patch at: dpatch@theblade.com or 419-724-6094.