Council Discusses Whether to Sell or Lease Engineering, Permits & Inspection Building

To sell or lease? North Canton City Council mulled over that one Monday night, wondering whether it would benefit the city more to sell the building that houses the engineering and permits and inspection offices, or if it would be better to lease it.

The departments will move from 220 W. Maple St. into the North Canton Civic Center by Feb. 1, said Council President Jon Snyder at the group's meeting that night.

He said the building will be appraised and, ideally, he'd like to see it in the hands of the Community Improvement Corporation (CIC). However, the city would need to open up the sale to other bidders.

Mayor David Held said the building's sale or lease would reduce the number of city office buildings in North Canton and would save the city money.

Council took no action Monday night. 

In other business: 

• Councilman-at-large Mark Cerreta said two of the city's entryway signs have been installed (sans the tops). Three to four have been paid for, and he's still looking for sponsorships to cover the others. Sponsorships are $500 per name on a six-name plaque; $1,000 per name on a three-name plaque; $1,500 per name on a two-name plaque; and $3,000 per name on a one-name plaque. If interested in a sponsorship, contact Cerreta at 330-499-5401.

• Council discussed applying for the 2013 Recycling Makes Sense Grant agreement between the city and and the Stark-Tuscarawas-Wayne Joint Solid Waste Management District. "The more North Canton recycles, the more grant dollars we get," said Held, adding the city earns anywhere from $25 to $45 per ton of recyclables. The city pulled in $38,000 in 2011 through the grant, said City Administrator Mike Grimes.