BY RAY SCHAEFER
Enquirer Contributor
MAINEVILLE -- Citing a potential conflict of interest, Mayor John Michael said this week he would not sell the village a piece of land he owns for a new village building.
Mr. Michael said Wednesday that the village would instead consider the site of the old NAPA Auto Parts store on Ohio 48 across the street from the current village offices.
Councilman Steve Harmon said the village should be careful about what it chooses.
"But we need more room," he said. "Whatever we do, I want to see it as close to the crossroads (of Ohio 48 and Foster-Maineville Road) as possible."
Mr. Michael's 0.75-acre property in the 8200 block of Ohio 48 has a two-family home he rents out. He said in July the property has been appraised at $73,000, but that he was considering letting it go for $68,000.
Tuesday, Mr. Michael called Susan Cave of the Ohio Municipal League office in Columbus and decided against the sale, even though he said he would have lost money on the deal.
"In her opinion, profit was the taking of any money, whether or not I lose money," Mr. Michael said.
The village has been in its current offices at 8188 Ohio 48 since 1988. Mr. Michael said in February a new building would cost $350,000 to $500,000, but that the Warren County auditor's office said the cost could not be paid out of existing street funds.
Mr. Michael's property was considered the best of four choices to replace the present village offices.
A five-acre site in the 8000 block of Ohio 48 and the site of the Hamilton Township fire station at 50 Foster-Maineville Road are not being considered because neither property owner wants to sell. And a half-acre plot in the 8200 block of Maineville Road is too far from the center of town.
If the city cannot buy the NAPA site, another choice is to tear down the village offices and build a two- or three-story structure.
