Back taxes delay Lake Township demolition

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MILLBURY – Back taxes of a quarter-million dollars and a new state regulation are backing up the
demolition and property sale of the old Steve & Barry’s building near Woodville Road.
At the July 15 meeting, the Lake Township Trustees heard a complaint from a resident about the
dilapidated property at 3700 Williston Road.
Police Chief Mark Hummer, who is also the township administrator, said the site has been up for a Wood
County Sheriff’s sale twice. There have been no bidders, he said, probably because of $250,000 owed in
taxes on the property. It is formally owned by the State of Ohio-Forfeited Land.
In the past, after two unsuccessful attempts at a sheriff’s sale, the property would be offered – with no
taxes owed – to state, county, school or townships.
Hummer said when he inquired about it, he was told by a county official that the law had changed and the
tax debt can’t be waived.
The trustees are interested in getting the property to demolish the building, which has been vandalized
and broken into. That would cost around $60,000.
But it would not be feasible to acquire the building with the back taxes.
"It’s just a slow process," Hummer said.
According to the Wood County Auditor website, the 11 acres were purchased by 3700 Williston Road
Northwood S&B LLC from BRC Northwood LLC in November 2008 for $6.4 million. It went to the state
of Ohio on July 11.
Also at the meeting, the trustees:
• Continued discussion about whether to install a portable restroom at Moline Meadows Park. Parks
director Ron Hanely said he was not in favor of it due to the smell and safety issues.
• Heard the annual renewal with Hylant Insurance, Toledo, for buildings, equipment and property is
increasing from $87,490 to $89,672. A vote will be taken at the next meeting.
• Re-enrolled in the Ohio Township Association Worker’s Compensation group rating program for $5,294 to
the Frank Gates Group Retro Program.
• Voted to buy 9,500 pounds of Dura Crack filler from the Wood County Engineer for $5,500 to repair
township roads.
• Bought four Dell OptiPlex 7010 desktop computers with monitors and Microsoft Office from Biz Tech for
$5,040.
• Changed the fire department’s records management software from Firehouse Software to Emergency
Reporting. The one-year contract with Emergency Reporting is $3,949.
• Approved purchasing six Motorola Minitor VI generation pagers from Bender Communications, Toledo, for
$2,790.
• Accepted the resignation of firefighter Pinky Traver, who has been with the department for 54 years.

• Accepted the donation of six pop bottle recyclers valued at $850 from the Friends of Lake Township
Parks.
• Accepted a $400 donation from D&S Boring Inc., Perrysburg, to the police and fire departments.
Hummer and Fire Chief Bruce Moritz said the business owner was pleased with the response to a fire.
• Heard June department reports. Police made eight arrests and issued 19 citations; service calls were
337 for Rossford, 284 for Lake, 138 for Walbridge and seven for Millbury. Fire had 83 runs and EMS Medic
50 had 93. The cemetery had eight burials. Zoning issued 11 permits and collected $395.

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