CONNEAUT — A Painesville man interested in building a corporate headquarters in Conneaut will formally withdraw his offer for industrial park land.
Michael Ratcliffe, of Saxcliffe Structural Products, said this week he will take his request for an option on 17 acres of city-owned property “completely off the table.” Ratcliffe will share that news with City Council at Monday night’s work session.
Ratcliffe is upset with what he perceives as a lack of interest in his project on the part of city officials. Comments made at a recent council work session were upsetting and indicate a lack of interest in the project, he said.
“In November, I offered to purchase an option on real estate,” he said. “Seven months later, they have yet to respond. I’m very, very, very frustrated,” Ratcliffe said.
As a result, Ratcliffe has begun to re-examine other possible communities for the company.
“I have reopened the investigation process and am looking at other locations,” he said.
City Manager Robert Schaumleffel Jr. said he has signed and dispatched a proposal to Ratcliffe late Friday afternoon.
Last fall, Ratcliffe approached council with a plan to erect a building on industrial park property, that would serve as headquarters for his business, which markets a new building system he says will allow contractors to erect sturdier houses for less money.
“We license technology to builders,” he said this week.
The building would house mostly clerical staff, but also have room for some manufacturing and warehousing, Ratcliffe said last year.
A meeting was held at the end of May with Schaumleffel and Council President James Jones, Ratcliffe said. Officials from the state development office and Growth Partnership for Ashtabula County also attended, he said.
The Saxcliffe situation resurfaced earlier this month, when council discussed a multipoint proposal from Ratcliffe. Remarks made by officials were inaccurate and misleading, Ratcliffe said.
Ratcliffe attended Monday’s regular meeting to respond, but was denied a chance to speak by a new council rule that limits audience comments to legislation on the agenda.
“It was never implied or articulated that this was a done deal,” he said. “We made an offer, and they have yet to respond.”
Saxcliffe proposed paying $20,000 an acre for the 17 acres, but requested a $3,000 credit for every full-time job the company produced at the site. In addition, the company wanted tax credits on the building.
The company is interested in using government block grant money available to the city to help finance its project. The money would be loaned to Saxcliffe and then repaid, Ratcliffe said.
“It would help us get up and running faster than if we get money privately,” he said.
Conneaut was one of six locations examined for the operation, Ratcliffe said. Access to a port was critical for shipment of product, he said.
Based on the city’s response, however, Conneaut is falling out of favor, Ratcliffe said.
“We’re very committed to Conneaut,” he said. “It has most everything needed to make a business a success. But instead of helping, the administration is dragging their feet, making misstatements and doing nothing but casting doubt on whether this project will happen in Conneaut.
“I’ve spent a lot of time in Conneaut,” Ratcliffe said. “I like the town. We’re looking for a place to revolutionize the building industry. Our first choice is to make a deal in Conneaut.”
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