LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) – Lima City Council had a full agenda Monday night, making decisions on two tax abatements and a study for a potential new water treatment plant.
Council approved two 12-year, 75% tax abatements, both aimed at renovating housing units within the city. The first abatement will go to Lima Towers, where renovations will be made to 200 one-bedroom units. The nearly $14.9 million investment will also include the creation of more ADA-accessible units, along with HVAC and exterior upgrades. The second abatement, submitted by Uprise Investments, will support renovations at a four-unit property at 613 W. Spring St., with nearly $250,000 in planned investment. Lima Mayor Sharetta Smith said the abatements are a tool to help bring more housing opportunities to the city.
“These units, one specifically for senior housing and the other could be for working families, it could be for students, but we also know that with rising costs of housing, it is important for cities like ours to provide tools to incentivize developers to come into your community to build,” says, Mayor Sharetta Smith, City of Lima.
Council also approved an agreement with CDM Smith for a 6- to 12-month study to evaluate the need for a new water treatment plant. The nearly $500,000 study is being conducted due to the aging condition of the current plant. Mayor Smith emphasized that the city does not have a water shortage thanks to its five reservoirs, but the study is a proactive step toward future infrastructure planning.
“Our water treatment plant is more than 50 years old, and so right now, what we're doing is we're hiring a consultant to do a feasibility study that will leave us with a plan to build a new water treatment facility, which allows us to continue to market lima water as an economic development incentive,” Mayor Smith adds.
In other business, Council approved a contract with AstroTurf Corporation to complete nearly $900,000 worth of improvements at Simmons Field. Upgrades will include synthetic turf for the infield and bullpens, new infield drainage and backstop wall, and a new concrete slab for the stadium bleachers.
