Ashland aldermen eye airport land for long-term economic development
City leaders say residential growth in Ashland is booming and it’s higher than the state and national average. But the city is still severely lacking in commercial growth, which is key for its sales-tax base.
“We’ve cut back staff, we’ve cut back services, we’ve cut back work,” said Ashland Mayor Gene Rhorer. “We just have to try and do the best we can with the budget we have.”
Rhorer said the budget remains balanced but at a severe cost. So recently, Ashland has been setting its sights on long-term economic development.
On Tuesday night, the Board of Alderman voted unanimously to annex two tracts of land into the city as general commercial development.
The nearly 90 acres of land will be in addition to land already being developed on the east side of Highway 63 at Route H. The land is owned by Brenda and Larry Potterfield.
The first tract is a 78-acre farm owned by Joe and Elaine McDow situated on the west side of Highway 63 and Route H.
Rhorer said the two don’t have any plans to develop or sell the land.
The second tract of land is owned by Greg and Mitsu Rennier and it’s about six acres along South Hardwick Road, adjacent to Potterfield’s property on the east side of Highway 63.
The land surrounding the Rennier’s property has already been annexed into the city. Rhorer said the Renniers approached the city about annexation. The city approached the McDows.
Neither the McDows nor the Renniers could be reached for comment Wednesday.
Rhorer said acquiring this land for the city is part of a long-term economic plan for the city to strengthen the local sales-tax base and secure more jobs.
“To have near 500 homes already platted on the residential side and hearing that many more might come, we need that industrial and commercial economy for our city and in my opinion, jobs for our citizens,” Rhorer said.
Workers are already moving dirt on Potterfield’s land to ready it for development and the city of Ashland’s new sewer system project on that land should be nearing completion. Once that is complete, commercial development can begin.
