CONNEAUT – During President Donald Trump’s first term in office, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 was enacted created opportunity zones throughout the country.
Conneaut, under previous City Manager Jim Hockaday, was nominated and selected for one of those opportunity zones in the downtown section.
“Federal opportunity zones were created under the tax cuts and Jobs act in 2017 under, I believe, Trump’s first administration,” Conneaut City Manager Nick Sanford said during a regular city council meeting on Monday, July 13. “What that is, is state governors nominate income-eligible census tracts, and the U.S. treasury secretary, certifies them as qualified opportunity zones.”
Circumstances stood in the way of any movement toward development.
“The COVID pandemic and its economic ripple effects, I would say, inhibited that development to some degree and, frankly, I don’t know if it was very well advertised,” Sanford said.
An opportunity zone provides a stimulus of economic development and job creation where investments are made through a national qualified opportunity fund which may qualify for preferential federal capital gains tax treatment and incentivize a development-ready site.
“Think of a mixed use for your downtown buildings or for a new construction or the like, that is available,” Sanford said.
The area will remain an opportunity zone for a new proposal for what is being dubbed as Opportunity Zone 2.0.
“What that is is the consideration of the contiguous census tract to the south and surrounding area, which includes the port area and the Interstate 90 and Route 7 interchange, as well, which we have been seeing development at the interchange, which is positive,” Sanford said. “We’re seeing the consideration of a proposed expansion Truck World’s lot for a hotel possibly.”
“It also considers the Astatic property, which has benefited from Brownfield redevelopment dollars and we submitted that application for consideration on (June 26) in advance of its July 10 deadline. Again, that’s just submitted for nomination. If it’s selected, that geographic census tract area is available for future development.”
Council heard updates on a number of topics, including:
• Sanford offered a special word of thanks to the city’s safety forces as wells as the employees of Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific for making the arrival and departure of Union Pacific 4014 “Big Boy” safe for everyone involved on Sunday, July 12, and Monday, July 13.
• Sanford sought information as to what construction crews have been working on along West Main Road.
“This is work that’s been related to FirstEnergy, so I asked their government affairs liaison to get me some more information to relay to everybody. FirstEnergy has been coordinating some bonded contract work in replacing some fiber-optic communication lines from their Ashtabula service center to the state line along a 14-mile project route which includes six miles through the City of Conneaut,” he said.
The construction route extends from Gore Road east along West Main Road, Main and Liberty streets in the downtown area, Old Main Road and East Main Road along public rights of way.
The expected completion date is Oct. 30.
“It’s all dependent on how fast the utility locating services, OUPS (Ohio Utilities Protection Service), can keep up with the work. I know OUPS has been very backlogged and so it’s just relative to how fast they can keep up,” Sanford said.
• Sanford noted the Lake Erie Monster Festival is planned for Saturday, Aug. 1, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Conneaut Arts Center, 1025 Buffalo St.
Park Avenue between Sandusky and Buffalo streets will be temporarily closed for the festival.
• The Conneaut High School National Honor Society will sponsor A Night Out for the second consecutive year on Tuesday, Aug. 4, from 5-8 p.m. on Main Street in front of City Hall.
“It’s an opportunity for the community to come together on Main Street and meet with our first responders,” Sanford said.
Main Street will temporarily be closed during the event.
• The Old Main Road bridge replacement is currently estimated to cost $3.63 million and is out to bid by the Ohio Department of Transportation.
The city will have ancillary work completed with the water line and booster station completed.
“From that, using Small Cities funding and the federal LPA program, the city’s total anticipated share will be a of minimum of $434,300, which is stipulated to the resolution in agreement,” Sanford said. “The previous iterations of this estimate were anywhere from, on the high side $1.1 million, and I think at the Stage 2 design phase in November last year, $854,000. At bare minimum, depending on what the bids come in by ODOT at the end of this month, $434,300 would be adjusted in order that the local public authority’s, being the city, ultimate share would be correspondent with the actual percentages.”
The maximum cost of the project for the city is unknown.
“I had a conversation with the district engineer on this because of the way the resolution reads, ‘The said estimated amount is to be adjusted and ordered at the LPA’s ultimate share of said improvement shall correspond with said percentages of actual cost when said actual cost is determined.’ The final agreement will be pending the receipt of construction bids. Understanding what the estimate range is based on the current basis is most critical,” Sanford said.
• The ordinance governing signage in the city, modified in 2024, is in need of further modification. A public meeting on the proposal will be held on Aug. 10 at 5:30 p.m. in city council’s chambers.
• The portion of the code regarding golf carts and low-speed vehicle operation on the city’s streets is in need of amending.
“This dates back to 2020 when this was created, and it adds a regulation layer governing conduct and responsibility of operators and passengers as well as occupancy limits within vehicles, purely from a safety perspective,” Sanford said. “We would reiterate that only vehicles that have passed inspection by city police shall be deemed eligible to be operated city streets regulated to not more than 25 miles per hour and by licensed drivers with registration and proof of insurance. That component has not changed.”
• Sanford gave credit to the city’s water distribution department.
“They have very busy within the past week and a half with main breaks and some unfortunate mainline valve replacements,” Sanford said. “I know Broad Street has been the unfortunate victim of some disruptions. Park Avenue had some disruptions, as well.”
The city suffered a massive main break on Broad Street near Pearl. A 20-foot section of cast iron pipe dating back dating back to roughly 1900 suffered a longitudinal split break and there were two valves that failed at the intersection of Broad Street and Park Avenue subsequent to that.
There was also a sizable main break along Center Road near South Ridge Road.
“A 40-foot section of schedule 40 PVC pipe that was installed sometime prior to 1980 (broke),” Sanford said. “From an engineering perspective, schedule 40 was a high-efficiency, if you will, material to install in those days. I would not recommend that. I would recommend if we were going with PVC, C909 pipe.”
• The utility cut at Harbor Street and 19th Street has been permanently repaired with concrete to pleasure of Sanford.
“That’s been a nuisance of mine for quite some time,” Sanford said. “I’m very happy that’s been dealt with.”
• Public Works has been mowing rights of way, cemeteries and parks and ditching of South Ridge Road is taking place. Crack sealing the east leg of West Main Road between Parrish Road and the bend at Dairy Queen has begun.
• The 2026 paving program is set to begin the week of July 27 and will take approximately two weeks to complete. The project is valued at $409,213.
• Work along Buffalo Street between Dean Avenue Lake Road has started and will continue until Labor Day weekend. The project includes a waterline replacement, sanitary and storm sewer replacement. The pavement and curbs will be replaced.
A skim coat of asphalt had been placed over Buffalo Street in 2024 while the city awaited completion of the project.
The project was to be completed in tandem with the project at Park and Day streets.
“In consultation with the business owners along Park Avenue and hearing them out, and their concerns were absolutely noted, the project has been sideline and deferred in favor of minimizing disruptions to the Port District businesses during the peak summer months,” Sanford said.
The contract for both projects is $2.45 million.
• The wastewater NFA (no feasible alternative) project based on an engineering survey done in 2019 is a $7.45 million project and is currently underway. It is on track for a November completion.
• The Broad Street project is nearing completion. It comes at a cost of $2.2 million with a city share of $750,000.
ODOT’s contract with Katz Construction runs through Aug. 20.
“I’m very happy that traffic is open,” Sanford said.
The replacement of the Clark Street water tower, built in 1933, has begun.
It is a $5.16 million project.
