Aurora City Council on Dec. 11 unanimously approved the transfer of $3,351,000 from the general fund to the city operations fund to, according to the legislation, “help finance future property purchases.”
Citing ongoing negotiations with ICP Geauga Lake LLC, council has for months had to postpone action on a proposed city park that would encompass part of the former SeaWorld amusement park and all of Geauga Lake itself, which is about 54 acres.
The cost of the purchase, which council has been eying since July, is $4.5 million, plus additional fees totaling $140,000, the tabled legislation states. City Law Director Dean DePiero has said he expects negotiations to be finalized and the purchase completed early next year.
Additional plans include building a boardwalk around the lake, which the city will entirely own, Council Member George Horvat said after the meeting.
Council also unanimously approved the purchase of a digital message board for fire station #2 on North Aurora Road. The previous sign collapsed and is beyond repair, city leaders said. The cost of the new sign is $39,281.
The city’s dog park is in for an upgrade as council inked a $27,926 contract with R&T Fence Company Inc. to install 935 feet of four-foot high galvanized chain link fencing at Tails ’n Trails Dog Park, located at 841 Page Rd. The existing wooden split rail fence with mesh is some 15 years old, so the new, sturdier fence would be a decided improvement, Parks and Recreation Director Laura Holman said after the meeting.
The park is constructed so large and small dogs can play in separate areas. A fenced space allows pet owners to bring their leashed dogs into the park and then unleash them prior to letting them into the appropriate play area.
Council also approved a $160,999 change order from Ronyak Paving for additional work to pave the remaining half of Lloyd Avenue.
Wendy DiAlesandro is a former Record Publishing Co. reporter and contributing writer for The Portager.