School board applies to have Wade property annexed

By SHELLEY TERRY - Staff Writer - sterry@starbeacon.com
Star Beacon

December 20, 2008 01:07 am

— ASHTABULA - Ashtabula Area City School Board voted Wednesday to apply for annexation of the Wade Avenue property with the county.
If the county approves the application, it then will be forwarded to the city, school board President Janine Trebuchon-Wertz said.
City Council mailed the school board a letter last month, welcoming them to annex the Wade Avenue property with the understanding there’s no commitment on either side, Ward 3 Councilwoman Ericka Severino has said.
The Ashtabula Area City School District plans to close its eight neighborhood schools and build five campus-style elementary schools on Wade Avenue.
Superintendent Joseph Donatone said the city’s letter was read into the minutes of the school board’s Nov. 20 work session, but nothing further was done with it.
In October, City Auditor Michael Zullo presented a proposal during a special City Council meeting that stated annexation alone was not feasible for the city.
“They will say we’ll lose income tax, but the city is already getting income tax from the schools,” Zullo said. “When the schools consolidate, tax collection will go down.”
The proposal Zullo presented for a joint economic development district (JEDD) included the following ideas:
n The city would request and accept the Wade Avenue site;
n The city would commit $750,000 in infrastructure to the incorporated area; and
n The city would take the lead on a JOINT Issue II project with Ashtabula County and Saybrook Township.