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SATURDA Y,AUGUST JUNE 26, 2021 SATURDAY, 28, 2021
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Headline 2 Scio’s annexation bid called a ‘shakedown’ Headline 2 as public hearing gets dicey
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Scio passes ordinance to include North Township in potential annex tax benefits
Lengthy hearing leaves Scio annex in commissioners’ hands BY JD LONG jim@harrisonnewsherald.com
CADIZ—A long and arduous public hearing over Scio’s wish to annex land, which targets the Williams fractionation plant, took place Friday inside the Harrison County Common Pleas courtroom. The meeting lasted for more than three hours as attorneys for Scio and the Utica East Williams plant represented their respective clients — but at times, they came with harsh words. The hearing was conducted almost like a trial, including opening and closing arguments. While the hearing seemed to go mostly smoothly, it wasn’t long before Utica attorney Joseph Miller went on the offensive, accusing Scio’s council of shaking down the Utica plant in the name of tax dollars. “Frankly, and I don’t say this lightly, this process is being used to shake down my client,” Miller said, warning the village they could be setting themselves up for liability issues. Miller called the attempt to annex the more than 700 acres of land “illegal” while citing the Ohio Revised Code. One of the issues Miller raised was that land targeted for the annexation is divided intoBody two Copy parts by Crimm Road, which Regular he said should be separate petitions. MillThe bulkadded of our that paragraphs willis look er also the land too large for likeannexation; this! Scio attorney Jim Mattews said Regular Body Copy this was untrue. It was also revealedwill that The bulk of our paragraphs looka $250,000 offer for 10 years was made to the village like this! just days before the hearing, according to
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Scio village administrator Jason Tubaugh. Council member Andrew Turner, and Scio’s chairperson for land and business, was present and stated there was no offer made at the private meeting. A c cording to Tubaugh, t h e $250,000 was intended to be a one-time p ay ment over 10 years, not per year, and came to him later in a text. But Di rector of Operations Stephen Furbacher stated by phone this week the figures offered by Williams were a per-year payment. The offer came via text message from Williams Director of State and Local Government Affairs Kino Becton and included an initial sum of $200,000 over 10 years. What was rejected was Tubaugh’s counteroffer of $250,000 “annually for the life of the plant.” “[We] would be willing to do 250k over a 10-year period to help support you all but See ANNEXATION Pg.- 10
BY JD Long jim@harrisonnewsherald.com
The agreement between Scio and North Township is one thing, but an official annexation will depend on the Harrison County commissioners’ decision; they have a 30-day limit, SCIO—After many years of backroom talks which started at last Friday’s public hearing. Scio and disagreements, Scio’s council took a pio- village administrator Jason Tubaugh told the ne e r i n g , council that notification of the ordinance would pr e l i m i- be sent to the commissioners for Thursday. Tunary step baugh explained this maneuver confirmed Scio’s Wednes- promise from last week’s hearing to include the day to township. secure “This is being done on behalf of the village a n n e x - in good faith,” Tubaugh explained to council. ation of “Whether they choose to accept or not accept more than is irrelevant. So, the intent is to let the commis700 acres sioners know their argument has been negated (a c r e a g e on our part. Whether they choose to accept that that holds or not is on them.” the WilTalk of a possible agreement between Scio liams frac- and North Township arose during last Friday’s tionation public hearing, but no agreement had been plant) and reached, according to Tubaugh and North r e a s s u r e Township attorney John Albers. Tubaugh said N o r t h this week an agreement had initially materialTownship’s trustees that they will be included in ized between Scio and Albers before last Friday’s property or mileage taxation. annexation hearing — but not with the trustees Just as they promised during last Friday’s “Today,—the Department of Health amended andOhio they had not signed anything. public hearing, Scio has now agreed to include its remaining health the new Tubaugh alsoorder statedto theconform township’stobudget the township in any tax benefits from theCenters pro- will for not Disease and Prevention (CDC) changeControl if annexation succeeds. And posed annexation, and the village proved itguidance, with what which allows those who have been theDepartment township didn’t receive to possithe Ohio ofmasks. Healthprior amended the passing of Ordinance 2021-006. “Today, vaccinated to stop wearing ble annexation won’t them to nowthe concernits remaining order toaffect conform new Article 4.2 of the written agreement states inghealth taxes from the plant orPrevention their employees. Centers for Disease Control and (CDC) that it’s good for 50 years with an additional 50 “I don’tallows want to those see the plant I don’t want whofail. have been established “unless the parties jointlyguidance, agree to towhich see the township fail,” Tubaugh said, “but I vaccinated to stop wearing masks. terminate the Agreement.” But Article 4.3 states don’t want to see the village fail either.” that the agreement “may be terminated at any Tubaugh highlighted Sections 2.2 and 2.3 of time by mutual consent” and would be effective “within a period of ninety (90) days from the See ORDINANCE Pg.- 10 date of legislative action.”
Western Magnesium bringing first-of-its-kind industry to Harrison Co. — and 200 permanent jobs along with it
Small Body Copy In case we just *really have to fit in more words than we bargained for.
Small Body Copy In case we just *really have to fit in more words than we bargained for. PHOTO CREDiT
BY JD Long jim@harrisonnewsherald.com NH PHOTO BY ED BANKS
NEW YORK—Harrison County officials were recently inPHOTO CREDiT NH PHOTO BY ED BANKS formed of another new business venture that could occupy a Cutline spot on Industrial Park Road. Just one week prior, it was revealed ThisNottingham is the text that captions our up residence in Athens that Solar wouldallbeoftaking beautiful pictures. Township for a solar farm. And along with the 20 part- and fullCutline time jobs Nottingham is proposing, the Western Magnesium Corporation’s move to Harrison will add 200 more into This is the text that captions all of County our the mix.pictures. beautiful Commissioners received the press release from the magnesium Writer’s extractionName company last week: “Western Magnesium Corporation is pleased to announce, that after a lengthy search and due diligence, we have an agreement with Harrison County, Ohio which will be the site of the first full-scale deployment of our proWriter’s Name prietaryTitle magnesium extraction technology in the United States.” Writer’s The announcement came to the Harrison County Commissioners rather quickly, and the promise of approximately 200 permanent jobs was the real eye-opener. Writer’s Title “We’re excited for this,” commissioner Paul Coffland said Wednesday, Crossword Text speaking on behalf of his fellow commissioners. “We look forward to working closely with the developers to make sure it becomes a reality. And the potential for local jobs is obviously a big win for the county. Two hundred jobs is a lot of jobs.” Crossword Text Coffland added that the company had been working with JobsOhio, and Western Magnesium is expected to exercise an 18- to 24-month option on property at Industrial Park Road. Coffland continued that they expect a public signing to follow in just a few weeks. HARRISON SPORTS
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“The company was obviously looking at places besides Harrison County and besides Ohio. JobsOhio narrowed down some site selections here recently within the last four or five weeks now. [And] our local development has been involved,” Coffland explained. The public statement noted the search across multiple states but commended Harrison County, calling it an “ideal space for [Western Magnesium’s] first plant in the U.S.” The statement also referred to the proposed Harrison Power Plant, hoping it would provide its facility. Western Magnesium also noted the proximity to “a dolomite supply and an infrastructure of rail and highway that will carry [Western Magnesium’s] magnesium finished product to industries across the United States.” And the opportunities of the land value and more future growth were not lost on the commissioners as Coffland stated that, “Every time you put an additional tenant out there, the property becomes a little more valuable and a little more appealing.” “It’s going to be huge,” commissioner Don Bethel added. “Because the thing about it is you’re talking about bringing rail back.” They all agreed major construction is in the future, which could involve improving other rail lines — and possibly a bridge. But at this time, it’s mostly speculation. Harrison County Economic Development director Nick Homrighausen stated this proves that the county “can compete on a worldwide scale to attract business. Furthermore, not just in the oil and gas sector of the economy but the manufacturing side as well.” The rest of the public statement reads, in part, as follows: “Western Magnesium intends to start with the build-out of a 100,000 metric tonne plant, the equivalency of 10% of the world’s current supply. Each plant will employ up to 200 full-time 500
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See COVID Pg. 2 auxiliary positions. This will accelerate economic development-for Harrison County and the State of Ohio. With the 122 acres, we [Western Magnesium] have the ability to scale production due to the close proximity of the power See plant and the extensive COVID - Pg.feed 2 supply of dolomite available to us...” “Ohio is on the cutting edge of developing and utilizing See - Pg.2 high-performing advance materials, andELECTIONS Western Magnesium’s decision to locate in Harrison County is yet another example of why Ohio remains a worldwide leader in cutting edge manufacturing,” said Dana Saucier, JobsOhio vice president and head See ELECTIONS - Pg.2of economic development. “Safe and efficient production of magnesium will no doubt benefit many of Ohio’s industries seeking lighter and more durable metals for aerospace, automotive, and many other applications. We’re honored that Western Magnesium chose to make this important strategic investment in Ohio,” Saucier added. The company plans to manufacture “99.8% pure magnesium metal with a low-cost and eco-friendly process,” said Ohio Southeast Economic Development president Mike Jacoby. “We thank Western Magnesium Corporation for their decision, and we congratulate Harrison County on their economic efforts.” “Western Magnesium’s goal is to be a low-cost producer of green, primary magnesium metal, a strategic commodity prized for its strength and light weight. Unlike outdated and costly production processes, Western Magnesium uses a continuous silicothermic extraction technology to produce magnesium, which significantly reduces labor and energy costs relative to current methods and processes while being environmentally friendly,” the Western Magnesium press release concluded.
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