By Jenny Callison
Enquirer contributor

SHARONVILLE - A proposal to purchase the Golden Skates property for a new fire station was approved unanimously by city council Tuesday.

The roller skating rink intends to relocate in West Chester Township.

For months the city had discussed purchase terms with Golden Skates for its property at 1640 E. Kemper Road. When negotiations failed to produce agreement, it looked as though Sharonville might resort to eminent domain to acquire the 2.8-acre site.

However, on Tuesday both the city and the skating rink's general manager appeared satisfied with the price and conditions surrounding the sale.

"We got fair market value," said manager Ken Roesel, although he declined to name the sale price.

"The price was slightly more than our appraisal," said Thomas Keating, the city's law director. "Both the city and Golden Skates gave a little and received a little. We avoided a costly court proceeding."

"This was the best and, really, only spot to meet our needs for public safety," said council president Kevin Hardman.

Sharonville must achieve a four-minute response time by its life squad and six-minute response time by its firefighters, officials explained. It is not possible to meet those standards from the current northwest area station at Centerdale Drive and Crescentville Road. Teams from the station downtown likewise cannot reach destinations in the northwest in that amount of time.

Tuesday afternoon, Golden Skates owner Sam Nelson and Roesel met with Schumacher Dugan personnel about a five-acre site the developer owns at Ohio 747 and Union Centre Boulevard. If it can be ironed out, Golden Skates hopes to break ground in March for a facility with two rinks to accommodate skating and roller hockey simultaneously.

E-mail jcallison@cinci.rr.com.