Explanation
The purpose of this legislation is to authorize the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a lease agreement of land owned by the Division of Sewerage and Drainage to be used for agricultural purposes with Jeff Writsel.
The Division of Sewerage and Drainage owns approximately three hundred thirty five (335) acres, more or less, of City-owned tillable cropland located approximately 1/2 mile south of State Route 665, between State Route 104 and US Route 23. The 335 acres, more or less, consisting of 15 fields.
The Division of Sewerage and Drainage, Compost Facility received bids on October 9, 2008 for a per acre cost for each of the 15 fields. Five (5) bids were received and the tabulation of those bids is attached. The highest bidder was JRS Farms, however the company has declined the award of the contract, see letter attached. The next highest bidder was Jeff Writsel, 9220 Scioto Darby Road, Orient, OH 43146.
The lease agreement covers the period starting January 1, 2009 to and including December 31, 2013 on a year to year basis. The land will be used for agricultural purposes and the proceeds will be deposited into the Sewerage System Operating Fund. This agreement has been for 11 fields (288 acres) as four fields were in the process of being reclaimed. This modification to the lease agreement will continue to cover the 11 fields at the full price per acre.
Three farm fields were removed from the farm lease for 3 years during construction. After construction the contractor failed to fully restore the cropland to the "bid condition". The farmer's bid is no longer accurate based on the conditions of the fields (gravel, metal, compacted roadways, etc.); as a result the farmer won't honor the bid price for the non-reclaimed areas of these fields. Since a portion of the fields are okay it is in the City's best interest to establish crops on the non-reclaimed areas for weed control and determining a "value" for future bidding. Thi...
Click here for full text