Lots of questions, not many answers... Right now that is the status on the Jim Kenney Center and marina. In a Property Committee meeting yesterday with Committee Chairman John McMahon, Committee Member Joe Soldano, Councilman Tony Cataldo and Village Solicitor Andy Beech there were a ton of questions brought up and very few answers available. As Jo Ann Bobby said in her article in this morning's papers everyone involved has to get on the same page.
As mentioned last week the village is attempting to take sole possession of the Kenney Center and marina to be available to apply for Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources grants to rehabilitate the facilities. Andy Beech related that he seriously doubts that the village would be eligible for these grants with even a co-ownership. The village officials that were there yesterday told us that the Mayor in discussions with ODNR was advised that grants for substantial amounts are available for dredging the creek for the marina, fixing up the buildings, the basketball court and getting a play ground up there. Soldano confirmed yesterday that the Wellsville BOE is donating the play ground equipment behind the old McDonald School to the village. They would like to put that equipment at the Center. If ODNR grant money is available they might be able to get more to add to what is being given to the village. That would make a nice place for a play ground and that end of town has nothing for the kids. Sitting back in a corner away from any streets would make it ideal for safety reasons.
The lease for the center was signed by then Mayor Wayne Rose, Director of Safety & Service Glenn Mathess and Auditor James Haddock on March 12, 1976. Signing for the corporation was Emmett, Frank, & Perry Daniels and Jack Gallagher. It was for the princely sum of $1 for 99 years. Ten years later it was recorded by the County Recorder on June 5, 1986. If those that control the property don't co-operate the lease has 64 years still left to run.
From both the meeting last week and yesterday I'm getting the impression that there is no intent to run off those that control the property. The village officials that were there re-emphasised that they don't want to create any hard feelings or step on any toes. The idea behind this move is simply to get eligible for grant money to improve the facilities. Soldano mentioned that people are always saying that the village needs to make improvements and this is a good opportunity. It would be a shame to pass this up. With some co-operation I imagine a mutually accepted deal could be worked out with that corporation and the village. Just off the top of my head I'm thinking that the village doesn't want to control the facilities. No one said anything to that effect. That's just my impression. Other than changing the title back to the village I feel they are willing to continue with the organization operating the facilities. With the lack of funds available this would be a golden opportunity to upgrade and improve the place, especially for the youngsters and the boaters.
As a result of yesterdays meeting it was decided to set up a public, fact finding meeting in the near future and go from there. The meeting would be held at Village Hall and will be open to all. Pictured above is what the center looks like as of last week. It's obvious that there is lots that can be done. You can see how the basketball court is crumbling and the gutter on the main building is about ready to fall off. You can click on the picture to enlarge.
That building was built in the early 1900s as a pump station that supplied the town with raw, untreated water from the river. That was before the old reservoir was built in the 1920s. It's a stout well built structure that has stood the test of time. It would be great if it can be rehabilitated for continued use for years to come. It would make the ville just that more special.
ole nib
14 comments:
it would be nice if we could get the youth center back up and running. right now this building is very under-utilized.
Nib
You need to take (Youth Center ) out of the title of this article.
The name of the building for years has been “The Jim Kenney Center – Home of the Fraternal Order of Police”
It was called “Youth Center” back in 75 and early 76 to get Business’ and People to donate, which they did, to the tune of $ 55,000.00 to get it ready for the kids.
Once within striking distance of the being completed, they brought in several I-Beams and created a second floor and then renamed it… at least on the sign that they installed at the corner of the entrance to the property and it read “Jim Kenney Center – Home of the F.O.P. or F.O.P.A.”
If you need to know any more just ask, I wired the bottom half of that building (for the kids), when they told me that the top half was to be for the Police I told them that they would have to get someone else to wire that. Which they did.
And lastly, I would like to remind the many, many kids that spent hours of stringing wire and carrying plywood, shingles, and mortar that they did a good job. And add that I was just as surprised as they were the Police Department moved in on them after all their hard work, and the donations of the masses.
Sparky Miller
$$$$$$$ - I think that is the intent. Section 3 of the lease says "These premises shall be used exclusively for lawful recreational purposes available for use by and to the benefit of all of the citizens of Wellsville. Provided however that activities emphasizing youth participation may be provided for in whole or in part on said premises." Section 3 Subsection C states "All types of indoor recreational activities for both youth and adults." The key word here is "indoor".
I remember way back when, after they fixed up the place they did on occasion have activities for kids. One year they had a Halloween party for them. Like I said that was way back then. I really don't recall too much being done in the last couple of decades for the youth. It is indeed under utilized.
We'll see what comes out of the public meeting. I don't think the village are the only ones crash strapped here.
nib
Sparky - Thanks for the input. My memory on the history of the place is very foggy, to say the least.
I do remember they added that second floor to have a meeting place for the FOP/FOPA. I think at one time they were kicking around the idea of opening a small restaurant aimed at boaters to have a place to pull in for food & beverages.
Despite the sign they hung up the name on the lease is exactly as the title on this article. I have a copy of that six page document.
nib
As for the marina, it was renamed Jack Whitacre's Landing back in the mid 80's. Good luck trying to take control of that from him!
Nib
Don't get me wrong here. When the project was in progress (yes) they had $55,000.00 in donations. It is my belief that every penny of that went into that building in one form or the other.
At the time they were renovating that building, if you'll remember they were also building the new section onto the East Liverpool City Hospital.
Either Jack, Perry, or Frank went up and ask then if they would help out by laying some block at the "Center". So those fellows would work their shift during the day laying block at the Hospital, and would come down to Wellsville after they were done and lay block for the "Center".
I did not directly hear this statement but through the grapevine while working there, one of the block layers was to make the comment (I wouldn't work this hard for money.) meaning that he was glad to do it for the kids. we installed lights that we got from the football field so they could work after dark, which they did day after day until finished.
On another note I want to say that every night that at least 30 or 40 kids showed up and worked like men lugging block and motrar, plywood and shingles under the assumption that they were doing something that would benifit them, and I know they were just as disapointed as the rest of the ville when it migrated into what it did.
Sparky Miller
"As for the marina, it was renamed Jack Whitacre's Landing back in the mid 80's. Good luck trying to take control of that from him!"
They can call it anything they want but it still belongs to the village and is leased to the FOP...unless the FOP subleased it to this Jack fellow, he has no claim to it.
who pays the upkeep on the bulding today? it must take alot of money to keep the bills paid. we could use a youth center for the kids. i remember they used to have an arcade and weightroom in there. is any of the equipment still in there?
According to the lease the FOP/FOPA are responsible for the upkeep & maintenance of all the buildings and grounds. That includes utilities, taxes & insurance.
nib
Give it back to the Village? They can't handle half of the things they have now. It does need a revamping, but people don't understand how much work and money it really needs. As far as Jack Whitacre goes, he does a lot of work at that Marina! I just don't see the Village doing the keep up it really takes!
I think the BOE would be wise and holding off in donating the playground equipment until something definite develops with the funding for the Kenney Center. I don't ever remember the Board even taking a vote on the equipment as to where it is going to be donated. I know the MacDonald PTO worked very hard to raise the funds for the equipment.
are people allowed to use the pavilion at the marina, or is it strictly for boaters use?
I don't know for sure but I think Doug Logan, the man who bought the building, owns the playground equipment, not the B.O.E. I am not certain, but if that's the case, he has donated it to the Village.
$$$$$$ - From what I read in the lease the facilities are suppose to be available to any resident of Wellsville. They may require some prior arrangements to be made. Maybe someone involve at the marina can elaborate on this.
nib
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