ROSSFORD – Rossford officials are trying to lay the groundwork for cooperation with developers in
anticipation of the passage of a Constitutional amendment that would allow the construction of a casino
on land within Toledo but adjacent to the Wood County municipality.
The developer Penn National Gaming is eyeing the site, off Ohio 65, on the southern bank of the Maumee
River that is now owned by a private developer. The land has been part of the Libbey-Owens-Ford, now
Pilkington Glass, manufacturing plant.
At Monday’s City Council meeting, Mayor Bill Verbosky said he has had conversations with the developers
about cooperation on the project. "Our conversations have always been of a positive nature,"
Verbosky said. If the issue should pass "we want to make sure we have a good neighbor in Penn
National."
A former mayor, Louis Bauer feels the city should investigate to see if it has something the developers
will need to build on the site – a 14-inch sewer line. Bauer told council that he has been trying to
figure out who actually owns the line that runs from the Pilkington plant to Oakdale Avenue. "Often
times easements weren’t filed correctly," he said. In some cases that may not be an issue, he said,
but it does matter "when you add zeros behind it."
The line may give Rossford some leverage. It’s not fair, he said, that Toledo stands to gain millions of
dollars from the project but "Rossford would get zero."
In May, council did approve a resolution asking that the City of Toledo consult with Rossford on its
development plans for that parcel, which is about 44 acres, including the main site to the west of I-75,
as well as a small section to the east of the highway. The resolution also asked that the EPA study the
former industrial site.
Originally Toledo was contemplating a mixed residential and commercial development there.
Councilman Chuck Duricek noted this morning that Toledo used a grant from the Ohio Department of
Development to get the project started. Rossford council gave its blessing to the development at that
point, he said.
Duricek said this morning that residents have concerns about the impact the casino would have on traffic
and public safety as well as wear and tear on the roads. "Will it change the complexion of Rossford
and will we have any financial damage from it?" he asked.
At the meeting Verbosky said that Rossford officials had reached out to Toledo officials, but had gotten
no response yet from Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner.
Verbosky said he didn’t expect much to happen until Toledo has a new mayor. Both candidates, Democrat
Keith Wilkowski and Independent Michael Bell, "have had good relations" with Rossford,
Verbosky said. Wilkowski served for several years as Rossford’s law director.