It appears Oxford Village won’t be purchasing the former township hall adjacent to its offices in the municipal complex on W. Burdick Street.
Council last week voted 5-0 to reject the township’s counteroffer sale price of $262,500 for the 2,500-square-foot building vacated by the township in September 2006.
‘I don’t think we should spend one penny more than $200,000,? said village President George Del Vigna.
On June 13, township officials rejected the village’s $200,000 offer for the property, which was the one and only bid submitted.
The township countered with a price of $262,500, which was based on splitting the difference between the village’s bid and the $325,000 appraised value, obtained and paid for by the village.
But council didn’t go for that idea.
‘To me, the property’s only worth what people are willing to pay for it,? Del Vigna said. ‘So far, no one’s willing to pay any more.?
It was noted the village’s bid took into consideration things like the fact the old township hall needs a new roof, which could ‘easily? cost $50,000, according to Manager Joe Young.
Councilwoman Teri Stiles objected to township Supervisor Bill Dunn’s previous statement that the village was ‘low-balling.?
‘We were not low-balling and trying to screw our own taxpayers,? she said.
Councilman Dave Bailey said officials were simply doing what they always do, trying to save tax dollars and spend money responsibly.
‘If that’s called low-balling, well then so be it,? he said. ‘I’ll defend low-balling, if what it means is to save the taxpayer money.?
Stiles agreed saying the village was just ‘being frugal and smart? with its money.
‘The village is not the municipality that’s fiscally hurting right now,? she said, referring to the township’s present financial difficulties.
Del Vigna noted village finances are ‘not in the hole? because ‘we’re just not spending money to spend money.?
Dunn indicated in his letter to council that if the counteroffer was rejected, the township ‘will need to explore other leasing or renting opportunities.?
If the building was leased to a private entity, the township would have to begin paying property taxes on it, according to Young.
Because it’s government property that had a public function, the hall is currently tax exempt.
However, leasing the old township hall could prove tricky because the property is currently zoned multiple family residential (RM-2).
As a municipal office building it was considered a nonconforming use and under the village zoning ordinance if a nonconforming use ceases for any reason for at least six months, the property must be used in accordance with the zoning district it’s located in.
Depending on the future use, the township could apply for one of 12 uses permitted with special approval in the RM-2 district. Those uses include single family detached dwellings, religious institutions, schools, convalescent homes, hospitals, group homes, boarding houses, municipal buildings, noncommercial recreation facilities or essential services.
Anything other than those permitted special uses would require requests for either a use variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals or rezoning of the property, according to Young
Use variances, while allowed by state law, are not permitted under village ordinance, Young noted.