Trustees approve TIF agreement with Nordonia schools

by Laura Bednar

Feb. 12 township trustees meeting

Township Attorney Jeff Snell said the dynamite blasting at the future site of the Parkview Senior Living development on Carter Road should end in March and developers will then break ground on the first phase of homes.

The development is part of a 30-year tax increment financing agreement. A TIF is the incremental amount of taxes over what the property currently generates. Taxes produced on the improvements to the property are used to finance local public infrastructure projects.

Snell said the entire development is being built one portion at a time, meaning the full amount from the TIF will not kick in until completion. Sagamore Hills will receive $1.6 million in taxes from the entire completed development.

Trustees approved the TIF agreement with the Nordonia Hills City School District. At a prior trustees meeting, Snell said for years one through 10 of the TIF, the schools are going to earn the taxes they currently earn on the property, but 25% of future taxes will be made in payments to the school district.

In years 11 through 30, the township will make payments back to the school and vocational school through the TIF of 100% of the taxes they would have received based on the valuation of the property.

Eclipse concern

Trustee David DePasquale stated his concern that people may try to camp in tents or RVs at Sagamore Hills Park during the April solar eclipse. Snell said the park rules already prohibited overnight camping. He suggested Sagamore police monitor the park gates on the day of the eclipse to tell people they may not camp and the park restrooms are closed.

Legislative action

Sagamore Hills will participate in the Summit County Engineer’s regional resurfacing and pavement marking program for a maximum of $1 million. The county will resurface and mark lanes on township roads.

Trustees accepted an annual Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council Energized Community Grant, which varies in amount each year. DePasquale said Sagamore previously used the grant for generators at the police and road department buildings. This grant differs from the NOPEC sponsorship grant, which the township uses for its “Shop with a Cop” program.

The police department purchased a 2023 Dodge Durango cruiser for $40,692.

Historical society

Ellen Bertel from the Historical Society of Old Northfield, which maintains the museum for Macedonia, Northfield Village, Northfield Center and Sagamore Hills, asked for the township’s support for the society’s upcoming season. The society plans to open the museum’s basement for a farming implement display and to create a research space for community members to review historic documents.

She also mentioned the nationwide initiative for America’s sesquicentennial in 2026 called “America 250.” Monthly programs will occur throughout the year and grants are available for communities to hold events or undertake a project, such as refurbishing gravestones of those who took part in the American Revolution. See more information at america250-ohio.org. ∞