Oct. 24—FAIRMONT — City Council set the wheel's spinning on its acquisition of the Fairmont Box Factory on 12th Street, despite Deputy Mayor Josh Rice's objection that the city's eminent domain process go forth.
Rice explained that he missed the last executive session where they discussed the property's acquisition.
"I need a little bit more information, for different questions I have with demolition and environmental on the site," Rice said. "Before I feel I could make a proper judgment and decision on whether I think this property would be beneficial for our city."
Rice said that with the structure having previously served as a glass factory, there is a level of uncertainty with what's contained in the ground, how much demolition will cost and if the environment will be safe. He said that more review and reevaluation needs to be done before the council makes any further moves.
What Rice voted nay on was a vote to set a date for a public hearing regarding an ordinance that would empower the City of Fairmont to acquire the Box Factory through eminent domain. Prior to the vote, after Mayor Anne Bolyard asked if there was any discussion from council on the vote, Rice asked if there was anyone to speak on the matter before council.
After another council member asked when the public could weigh in, Bolyard clarified that the public could do so at the public hearing, that the council was there to specifically schedule their current vote.
In attendance was Kirk Naternicola, who bought the property at a public auction in 2010 for $2,500. Thanks to a newspaper article he was under the impression that part of the Council's agenda was to make a final decision as a whole as far as what to do with the Box Factory, rather than a preliminary meeting that would begin the process to set up the acquisition.
"I was just curious what was going to happen," he said. "I had no contact and was just curious with what's going on."
Naternicola said that he hadn't had any contact with the council. However, he did say he did have one meeting with the City of Fairmont in its offices, where he spoke with the city manager, members of council and a couple department heads. However, when news broke of the city's plans to obtain the property through eminent domain, it was uncharted territory for him.
That said, Naternicola thinks the proposed rail trail improvements would come after the Box Factory's demolition are needed for the city. However, his concern is getting a fair price for the property.