WELLINGTON — The former Ponderosa Restaurant at 712 N. Main St. won’t be purchased for township offices — at least at a cost of $550,000 — because Wellington Township trustees voted 3-0 to withdraw an offer for the building.

Wellington Township trustees have dropped a bid to purchase the former Ponderosa restaurant building for a new township building and community center. (Photo by Chuck Humel, The Chronicle-Telegram.)

Trustee Dale McAvena hailed Tuesday night’s vote as a wise move, saying residents were overwhelmingly opposed to the purchase at public meetings Saturday, Sunday and Monday, as well as Tuesday’s trustee meeting, attended by about 60 people.

Trustees earlier voted 2-1 — with McAvena opposed and trustees Calvin Woods and Virginia Haynes voting yes — to authorize Woods to negotiate for the purchase of the Ponderosa building.

The township had an agreement to pay $550,000 for the building and its 1.7 acres of land, but estimates of its value varied.
The property is valued at $613,000 on the Web site of the Lorain County auditor, but an appraiser who looked at the Ponderosa set a value of $450,000 with its current setup as a restaurant.

McAvena said he hopes trustees do not continue to pursue the purchase — even at a lower price — because the Ponderosa is twice the size that is needed. McAvena said it would be better to build a new structure next to the township garage at 105 Maple St.

The township has accrued $750,000 of funds for a new township hall. The money is comprised of $90,000 from a railroad sound abatement program several years ago and 10 years of inheritance taxes.

Contact Cindy Leise at 329-7245 or cleise@chroniclet.com.

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