The following information was presented to city council on November 12 in order to determine their intent to move forward with the US 36/OH 229 Outer Belt project.
November 12, 2019
Dennis Swingle
1101 E Chestnut St
Mt Vernon, Ohio
740-398-7906
Upper Gilchrist Road Outer Belt Proposal:
- Around thirty years ago a petition and proposal was presented to the city regarding the need for an outer-belt (traffic bypass) in the neighborhood of Eastern Star Road. At that time sufficient land was available so that five different routes were available to implement even the lowest cost approach. In fact, one landowner, located at the very north end of Eastern Star Road, offered his home to the city so that the lowest cost road could go thru his property. He only ask that the city pay him a fair price for his property. At that time Mr. Baker’s housing development had not yet been constructed, nothing was in the WAY for a clear shot thru to Rt US 36.
- In October of this year, a drawing was released to the press in which the city administration proposed that the outer-belt now be routed across Mr. Sweatlic’s property. When I presented public support for this proposal at a recent city council meeting, we were informed by Mr. Hillier that he spoke with Mr. Sweatlic on three separate occasions and confirmed that Mr. Sweatlic said “he does not intend in any way, shape, or form to have a road across his property, there is no deal and will be no deal.”
- Even so, Mr. Ball (City Engineer) has stated that he will pursue a cost estimate for the outer belt as presented in the newspaper along with certain items and alternative details.
- Therefore, since the city Engineering Department is going forward to contract a proposal and cost estimates with Richland Engineering Limited, we would appreciate the city Engineering Department to please provide us with its schedule for completing these tasks.
- Again, the city has stated that it is perusing cost estimates for the outer-belt. Given Mr. Sweatlic’s current position about the sale of his land, are the city administration and the city council ready and willing to acquire the land by eminent domain?
- Will the city administration make a good faith effort to find the funds to obtain the land and move ahead with the project?
- If the city administration and city council are not seriously willing to acquire the necessary land for the one remaining location for a by-pass and to make a good faith effort to pursue funding (tax free municipal bonds and/or state development funds) then it would be best to so state this now and don’t waste any more taxpayer money chasing yet another engineering study.
Citizens for Responsive Government
Dennis Swingle