Joint TIF agreement to fund intersection project in Massillon, Navarre

PERRY TWP. − Stark County, the city of Massillon and the village of Navarre are setting up a joint tax increment financing agreement for intersection improvements near the former Stark County farm.

The agreement, which will last 10 years, will collect property tax on improved value of the new Dairy Queen and Sheetz businesses on Erie Avenue S. The Dairy Queen is in Massillon and the Sheetz is just north of that in Perry Township.

The agreement is needed to fund an intersection improvement project at Sterilite Street NE and Fohl Street SW in Navarre.

In the future, TIF funds will also be used for two projects in Massillon at Navarre Road SW and Sterilite Street SE and Millennium Boulevard SE and Navarre Road SW.

Navarre, Massillon and the Stark County Port Authority have already passed agreements. The county commissioners will be next to vote on the agreement.

Construction on Navarre intersection to begin soon

United Earthworks LLC, contractor for the village of Navarre, has until the end of September to complete construction at the Sterilite Street NE and Fohl Street SW intersection.

The company recently completed work on two other village improvement projects on Sterilite. Leftover Department of Development grants that funded the street project are able to be used on the intersection.

To take advantage, the village will have to work fast, said Solicitor Terry Seeberger.

"Those funds, I believe, have to be fully expended and reimbursed by Dec. 31," he said.

The grant funds and additional Ohio Department of Transportation and other grants do not cover the entire cost of the project. The village will use TIF funds to cover the $200,000 it is short.

Because construction is beginning this year, the Stark County Port Authority will issue a note or bond which will be purchased by Stark County to repay Navarre through the TIF funds.

The intersection project aims to improve safety in the area, Seeberger said.

He said traffic has increased since the Tractor Supply Co. distribution center moved in, and safety improvements will help the area for new developments.

"That intersection is going to get pretty significant usage," he said. "There is room in that industrial park for an additional Tractor Supply-sized project. When that comes in, who knows, but it will come."

Crews are adding a turn lane and a traffic signal at the intersection. Seeberger said the design will give large trucks and trailers more room to make turns and increase visibility.

Intersection improvements could attract development for industrial area

There are a few vacant parcels in the industrial park at the former county farm.

"There's still some lots there that are undeveloped," county Auditor Alan Harold said.

Harold helped facilitate the TIF agreement among the city, county and village. He said this, among other projects to improve the area, such as a sewer expansion in Navarre, could help attract development.

"When that's done, they can entertain some more people," he said.

Seeberger said the potential for future development made the TIF a great move for Navarre.

"It'll be a little easier to attract new developments to the industrial park," he said.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story included a quote that incorrectly stated Massillon is expanding its sewer capacity in the area around the former Stark County farm. It has been revised to show that Navarre is expanding its sewer capacity.

Reach Grace at 330-580-8364 or gspringer@gannett.com. Follow her on X @GraceSpringer16.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Joint TIF agreement to fund intersection project in Massillon, Navarre