County buys 10 acres

The Auglaize County Board of Commissioners made their plan to buy 10 acres of the 250-acre Crossroads development in Cridersville official Tuesday.

The $140,000 purchase continues to assist with the cost of utility extensions to the business, retail and residential development. Instead of 10 acres in the middle of the facility as had been previously discussed, commissioners purchased 10 acres of the southeast portion of the development in a mostly wooded area off Mudsock Road.

One idea that had previously been floated was to have a county park.

“I’m not sure we are interested in having a county park and maintaining it,” Commissioner Dave Bambauer said.

He said commissioners may sell

the property back to the developer and aren’t looking to make a profit.

“We’re trying to help him get

it off the ground,” Bambauer said.

Commissioner Bambauer sees the project benefit in terms of sales tax and income tax revenue as well as more places for people to live and work.

Commissioners had already committed a $50,000 grant to the

project in May to assist with utility extension costs. The $50,000 represents the maximum amount commissioners can contribute without putting a project out to bid. Crossroads has already found a preferred contractor for their work.