Mon, Jul 06 2009
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Published January 03, 2009 12:53 am - The new year should bring at least two big-ticket development projects to Conneaut and the potential for two others. Love’s reaffirms interest in Conneaut Wind farm, Saxcliffe projects also in the hopper By MARK TODD - Staff Writer - mtodd@starbeacon.com Star Beacon CONNEAUT — The new year should bring at least two big-ticket development projects to Conneaut and the potential for two others.
On Friday, a representative of Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores said the company plans to proceed with construction of a $6 million facility at Route 7 and Interstate 90. “We haven’t changed anything as far as the time frame,” said Christina Dukeman, Love’s spokeswoman. “We’re still on schedule to begin the Conneaut project in mid to late spring — a May time frame.” Love’s secured all the necessary local and county permits last year for the project. City Council and the Conneaut Board of Education also approved a tax abatement plan to assist the work. However, last May, the company announced it was delaying all of its construction projects because of the worsening economy and skyrocketing fuel prices. Love’s assured the city it was just a momentary delay and the company was committed to the community. The Oklahoma-based company, which has some 200 stores across the country, plans to erect fuel pump stations for both trucks and passenger vehicles, a convenience store, gift shop and two small fast-food restaurants. The operation could employ around 30 people, officials have said. Some preliminary site-clearing work was done early last year before Love’s decided to apply the brakes to the project temporarily. Another local fuel business, True North at the corner of State and Mill streets, is expected to undergo an overhaul this year. True North wants to replace its store with a larger more elaborate business at the intersection. Barring snags, demolition of the old store could start in the spring and be completed around Memorial Day. The new year also could bring big news regarding two other economic development projects with huge potential. BQ Energy of New York, an alternative energy company, could be asked to present a proposal regarding a wind turbine farm that could be erected on publicly owned land in the East Conneaut Industrial Park. BQ representatives spoke with City Council last fall about its business, which includes a recently launched wind turbine farm in the Lackawanna, N.Y., area. Council was impressed by the group. Two other companies talked about acquiring the land for wind energy purposes, but both plans fizzled. Council rejected a contract to sell land to one firm, SGR Site Associates, after members had questions about the company and the purchase agreement. The second group, Property Investment Enterprises, never got a foot in the door. Council is also expected to pursue vigorously a proposal made public this past fall by Michael Ratcliffe of Painesville. Ratcliffe and his partner want to build the headquarters for their company, which hopes to market a new type of building system to contractors. The building pitched by Ratcliffe would house mostly clerical workers, although there also would be some warehousing and manufacturing. He envisioned the company, Saxcliffe Structural Building Systems, could employ as many as 1,000 people within five years. Council President James Jones said Friday he plans to meet with City Manager Robert Schaumleffel Jr., on the projects and contact the developers. 
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