Earlier this year, the Warren City Council approved $170,000 in American Rescue Plan funding as match for a state recreation grant.

Council changed its mind on Monday.

City Manager Nancy Freenock said the initial grant was unsuccessful but another state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources land acquisition grant opened up. The deadline to apple is a week from Thursday.

Freenock proposed shifting that match from the failed grant to the new one. If successful, it would provide funding for the city to acquire two parcels that are part of the riverfront project – the concrete pad on Liberty St. and the parcel along the river behind the HIY, Inc. building.

“(I) feel this is not a wise use of city funds,” Councilman John Wortman said.

He said he has “every interest in acquiring these properties” for projects that are “excellent ideas.” But he cited a potential recession, with potential for a decline in revenue, as reasons for rejecting this proposal.

“We have yet to even start the 2023 budget in a serious way,” he said. “There are many many other things (that are a) higher priority for these funds.

Representatives from the city fire, police and public works departments asked council to consider hazard pay from the Rescue Plan funds at the outset of Monday’s meeting. Councilwoman Wendy McCain said she “would absolutely say no to this for that reason.”

Mayor Dave Wortman asked if there are other avenues to acquire these funds without this grant.

“No way that I can think of,” Freenock said.

Mayor Wortman said the proposal, then, “is whether or not to acquire the properties in this manner or not at all based on our current financial situation.

Freenock raised concern regarding what changing course would do to the riverfront project generally.

“We’ve started down this path,” she said, calling Monday’s proposal “just a repeat of action that council took in the spring. Are we having second thoughts? If so, that’s fine. We’re going to need some direction.”

“Based on where we’re at and what we need to do with that riverfront, this is probably the best approach that we have to gain control of those properties,” Mayor Wortman added.

McCain proposed instead to consider taking the property via eminent domain or some other legal means.

Freenock noted that eminent domain would still require paying the appraised value.

“(We are) not going to get them back for nothing,” she said.

John Wortman asked if a tax increase was part of staff’s recommendation for 2023.

“We haven’t finished,” Freenock said of the budgeting process. “I think the answer is no.”

“We’re going to give more than a millage of tax increase to Mr. Yoder (the owner of the property),” John Wortman said. “How does that many any sense?”

“We should probably never do development in the City of Warren,” Councilman Phil Gilbert added sarcastically. “Never do anything.”

The motion to move ahead with the proposal failed in a tie vote. Mayor Wortman, Gilbert and Jared Villella in support with John Wortman, McCain and Danielle Flasher in opposition.