Lorain/Elyria, OH
Avon school board backs off from eminent domain claim
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AVON — Mary Jane Wolfe collapsed in tears against a friend’s shoulder Tuesday night when she learned she would not have to give up her family’s land.
After an hour behind closed doors, the Avon school board relented and said it would not use the courts to force Wolfe to sell 25 acres of her Center Road farmstead.
“When you’re faced with something like this, it’s so good to have friends,” she said, moving from one hug to another across the Heritage North Elementary media center where the meeting was held. “It will be good just to be able to sleep soundly tonight.”
A month ago, the Avon Board of Education announced it wanted her land — with or without her cooperation.
The plan was to build a new middle school there to address an expected surge in students as houses continue to be built in the fast-growing town. Wolfe’s property, school board members insisted, was the best place to do so.
But on Tuesday, the school board was closeted in executive session until about 8:30 p.m., when board president Dale Smitek emerged and announced that the board was reversing course and would abandon its plan to use eminent domain to force her to sell.
Smitek said the change was because of amicable talks with Wolfe and her attorney. But Wolfe said she doesn’t want to sell, and she doesn’t think the school board will continue to pursue her property.
The board’s actions led to the creation of a grassroots group that protested by erecting signs around the town and gathering more than 500 signatures on a petition. In addition, donations totaling more than $4,000 were collected from supporters in Pennsylvania, Michigan and California.
“For now it’s a feeling of overwhelming relief,” said Tim Bresnahan, spokesman for the Avon Citizens for Change.
Kim Vargo, who is the organization’s treasurer, said volunteers put up more than 250 signs and couldn’t keep up with the demand for them. School board members Kevin Romanchok and Susan Harrison also had asked for signs in front of their homes, Vargo said.
“The popular opinion in Avon supports Mary Jane,” said one supporter, Lee Cory. “Everybody here can imagine how it would feel if the school board wanted to take their property.”
Wolfe said she hopes her land — which has been in her family since 1955 — is permanently safe from seizure, but there are no guarantees. She wants to one day hand it down to her descendants, she said.
“It’s the memories, the peace of mind. It’s the quiet there,” she said. “That place is so important to me, especially after everything that’s happened.”
Vargo said the Avon Citizens for Change will continue to stand guard in case Wolfe has to be defended again. The group also wants to help the school board build a new school, she said.
“Everybody knows we need a new middle school. We weren’t protesting that here,” she said. “Our problem was this specific move to take Mary Jane’s property. We didn’t understand why the school had to be built there.”
Contact Jason Hawk at 329-7148 or jhawk@chroniclet.com.
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Everything and everybody has a price. It’s just a matter of time until this land is gone!
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Wow, there wasn’t *nearly* this much outcry in Elyria when the school board used eminent domain to obtain land for the new high school, and that land wasn’t even vacant field like Ms. Wolfe’s property. Elyrians pretty much laid back and thought of England at Rigda’s say-so.
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Sounds like the ones in Elyria sold out!
Ms Wolfe’s may know that a developer would pay more than the city’s fair market price…. especially in this housing market.
Eminent domain stinks.
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Congratulations to Ms Wolfe and the people who stood behind her! I would wager her relief was unmeasurable. A small victory in the grand scheme of things, but a major one for showing doubters we can still fight against the madness and win. Look at what the truckers are doing to protest the high cost of diesel. It’s gaining momentum and I pray they are successful in their endeavors. The website is http://www.theamericandriver.com/files/TruckersAndCitizensUnited.html
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Guys don’t be fooled. They had about 50 signs and order 50 more and never had time to get them in there yards before the BOE changed their minds. Rumor has is her lawyers are already talking with the BOE on a deal.
As for Avon Citizens for a change that group in made up of about 50 people that have it out for the BOE. They supported and helped her for their own agenda. Go to the Loraincounty.com avon forum you will see!
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Do you know this to be true crystal forest? You are making a slanderous accusation. I wouldn’t believe everything you read on that site… You are walking a very fine line that will come back at you. I am sure that the truth will come out. I saw that woman on TV - there was no way that was an act. I’ve been around a long time and know that Avon board – you’ve got some very dirty people on there that don’t like the negative attention and are obviously trying to spin things. Don’t be fooled.
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Ms. Forest, you came to one of the ACFC meetings and you think you know everything about this issue. You do not! Shame on you and the other few (very few) Smitek/Marsiglia/Polovich supporters on loraincounty.com for spreading lies about Ms. Wolfe and the hundreds of residents who supported her on this issue!
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This is pretty weak. You know she is going to end up striking a deal with the school board anyways. Im just glad its not going to be on Stoney Ridge anyways because its already a trainwreck trying to get anywhere in Avon between 2:30 and 5. She should have just gotten paid
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Congratulations Mrs. Wolfe…you have many more supporters outside the Avon city limits as well. As for you naysayers and conspiracy theorist…get a life…take up a good cause…or just go back to your gossip clubs and tell them how wonderful you are and how much you know about everything…you will never be happy…how very sad.
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ACFC supporter, once again making statements you have no clue about. How would you know how many meetings I have been too? Do you take attendence?
I have also been to City Council meetings. This whole article is based on one mans memory of what happen. He didn’t even get the time right. What ever happen to the journalist coming and report based on the facts rather than hear say from a disgruntle resident.
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