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Serving the
sentiments of the people who elected them
That’s My Opinion
By Bob Robinson
A strange thing happened Tuesday night at the Greenville City Council
Public Hearing for Trilogy Health Care.
Despite overwhelming public support for the company’s plan to move
Village Green from its current land-locked location on Chestnut Street
to 6.41 acres, vacant for years, at Russ Road and Hwy 121, a motion to
prepare legislation for it barely passed. It took a “yea” vote by
Council President John Burkett to break a 3-3 tie.
I know the expressed reason… I don’t understand the logic.
It seems there’s this Greenville Economic Growth Plan that is 15-20
years old that Council member Todd Oliver said had basically not been
followed since its inception.
The plan calls for restaurants, convenience stores and similar
businesses to grow out from Wagner Avenue to 121 and I would assume,
eventually beyond to Hwy. 127.
The problem? None of the preferred users seem to want it. I’ve been
told it has sat vacant for over 20 years. I also heard testimony from
nearby residents who said they preferred the lower traffic flow for
Village Green over that for gas stations and convenience stores.
The community wants Trilogy to have it. While the full house that
showed up for the public hearing is not necessarily indicative of the
entire City of Greenville, I’ve heard absolutely no opposition to it in
the past month. More than 80 people showed up to support it… I haven’t
seen that kind of response to a City issue since the Sign Ordinance
fiasco a few years back (acknowledged there may have been others).
Ramsey Development proposes to put an $8 million facility on the tax
rolls, hire over 60 contractors and build a facility that will mean a
minimum of 50 high-paying Trilogy jobs to generate income tax revenue
for the city. It also will offer a community presence that tells
visitors and residents alike that Greenville values its older citizens…
the people who, in many cases, spent a lifetime contributing to and
building their city.
Economic growth and the display of a strong set of community values.
What’s not to like?
According to Mayor Mike Bowers, the question is (paraphrased) “does
this represent the best possible use of the land?”
In a phone interview following the meeting, Bowers said that most of
the growth to date has been on Wagner Avenue, but that businesses are
starting to spread east on Russ as well.
“The land prices on Wagner are growing,” he said, making Russ more
attractive for future growth. From that perspective, he indicated that
as the economy starts to come back, this particular piece of property
could very well have a “better” use, per the development plan.
Bowers said he wants Trilogy in Greenville, and that there are a number
of locations that would be just as good, possibly even better, where
Ramsey could build.
Tim Huber, Ramsey Development, said they have looked at 10 different
possible sites in Greenville… none of which fits their needs like this
one.
“We don’t borrow money for the properties we build,” he said at the
meeting. “We use our own money. Consequently we are very particular
where we spend it…
“That’s the property we are willing to invest our money in,” he said
after the meeting. “If we can’t build there I guess we don’t build in
Greenville.”
I have a tremendous amount of respect for Bowers. It isn’t often that a
public servant will expend so much time and effort – in this case
working with Economic Development Director Marc Saluk – in seeking new
businesses and preserving current ones. They have a solid track record
working together on behalf of Greenville and Darke County.
I have no idea if Bowers and Huber have actually sat down and compared
what Ramsey Development has seen to what it hasn’t. If they haven’t
done that, they need to.
In a brief statement the day after the meeting, Trilogy said the
company will continue to look for a property in Darke County.
Darke
County, not Greenville. That’s what I read into it. Saluk has
said often that a “win” in any local community is a “win” for Darke
County. While I agree with that, I’m still flummoxed over the approach
of the Zoning Commission, which has recommended Trilogy be turned down
on its request, and the Council, which seems to be leaning the same way.
The zoning change from GB (General Business) to SU (Special Use)
requires a super majority (5-2 vote). If the Council President has to
intervene to break a tie vote just to get the legislation prepared,
passing it by a super majority could be a tough sell.
When Councilman Roy Harrison made his motion to prepare the
legislation, Councilman Tracy Tryon asked his reason for it. One of the
possible reasons he asked was if it involved “public sentiment.”
Harrison responded that he’s been passing the vacant lot for years.
This legislation means jobs and economic growth. While I agree with
that, a simple response of yes, it has to do with “public sentiment,”
would also have been sufficient.
Isn’t that what our public servants are elected to do? Serve the needs
and sentiments of the people who elected them?
That’s My Opinion. What’s Yours?
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