TL Photo/JENNIFER COMPSTON-STROUGH The village-owned Bohandy Building is located at the corner of Main and Chestnut Streets in Barnesville.
BARNESVILLE – The Town Council on Monday backed out of a sale of the Bohandy Building because another offer was received for the property, and the decision sparked strong reactions from several business owners about the township’s handling of their properties.
The turmoil began after Councilman Steve Hill made a motion to transfer the Bohandy building to the Belmont County Community Improvement Corp. to facilitate its sale to Joel Braido.
Council President Tony Johnson mentioned “another offer” for the building.
As part of the motion, Hill read a list of expenses the township had incurred for the building, including $15,201 for gas and electricity over the past 19 months. He also pointed out that two previous potential sales of the property had fallen through.
In his response to Johnson, Hill said there was another offer for a property on North Chestnut Street, which the council recently began the sale process for, but that offer was ignored.
“So I’ll ignore this one,” said Hill, reiterating his motion with the support of City Councilor Brian Yarnall.
However, the motion failed because only Hill and Yarnall voted in favor of selling the property to Braido.
Councillors Terry McCort and Les Tickhill and Councillor Robyn Misner and Johnson voted “NO,” Johnson told Braido: “Joel, it’s nothing personal.”
Then it was revealed that attorney Michael Shaheen was the other party interested in purchasing the building. Hill approached Shaheen, who was present.
“So why do you suddenly want this building?” asked Hill.
Shaheen said that although he had no “second step” he had no intention of selling the property “turn it around.” He later said that based on the available square footage alone, it would certainly be a multi-purpose site.
“We will continue,” Shaheen assured Hill.
A sign in the window of the building offering it for sale or rent states that it is “over 4 floors” and 28,000 square meters of space.
Shaheen said he had only heard rumors about what Braido would pay for the building, adding that he felt that the CIC’s transfer of the property to avoid the bidding process was contrary to Mayor Jake Hershberger’s assurances that his administration “very transparent.”
“Under this pretext, it would have been appropriate, in my opinion, to have the matter put out to tender,” Shaheen said they both still had the opportunity to participate in the bidding process.
Braido spoke up and told the village leaders: “You came to me about this building, and I was very happy to attend your meetings and work sessions. I jumped through your hoops and did exactly what you asked of me. I was very transparent about everything. I was not here to persuade or dissuade you from doing anything, and at the end of the last meeting, you, Jake, assured me that the matter was settled.”
Hershberger said the final decision would be made by the council, and he knew that at a previous meeting several council members “willing to support that.” He later said that it was assumed that Braido was a good fit for the building because he had the resources to carry out the project.
“So I trained for two more weeks to get everything ready and start building, only to find out tonight that as I sit here with you – and you should all be looking at me, because I’m looking at all of you – that it’s not working,” Said Braido.
Johnson told Braido that he told him he didn’t think his offer was good enough and that Shaheen’s offer was better. It was later confirmed that Braido’s offer was $75,000 and Shaheen’s was $90,000 for the property.
Hill pointed out that Shaheen purchased the Patrick’s Restaurant building and land and then sold it to local real estate developer TJ Jefferis.
Hill again mentioned the North Chestnut Street property that the village recently turned over to the Belmont County Port Authority for sale to Darren and Melissa Leach. He said Dave Ralston, the owner of Barnesville Veterinary Service across the street, also submitted a bid. Hill said he believes the proper bidding process should have been followed.
Ralston was also present.
“I suggest to the Council that it is time to return to open, well-publicised tendering procedures rather than using this method to decide who gets a piece of land or a building,” Ralston said. “I’m not saying this because of what happened across the street. But I am saying that if this isn’t stopped, bitter feelings will build.”
Ralston also suggested that the community use the Barnesville Chamber of Commerce newsletter to publicize such issues.
Village attorney Richard Myser agreed with Ralston, saying village officials have made it a habit to audit every property sale “a special situation” to circumvent the proper bidding process under the Ohio Revised Code.
Hershberger said that while there are many people who could buy the Bohandy building for $100,000, very few have the means to do the extensive work required to do it. He said that thought process is what led village leaders to this situation.
Yarnall made a motion to initiate the sale of the building to Shaheen, but a second motion was not made.
“I think we need to think about it. We’re out of step.” said Hill.
Hershberger later said he would encourage the council to conduct a closed bidding process for the sale of the building.
The township purchased the Bohandy Building, which stands prominently on the southeast corner of Main and Chestnut streets in the heart of downtown Barnesville, for $150,000 in 2018 before approving emergency spending to repair the building’s roof and masonry, citing public safety as officials feared the building could collapse. Roof repairs were estimated to cost about $85,000, while repairs to a leaning parapet and other work on the brick facade were estimated to cost another $316,000. The council also approved additional spending of $32,000 for elevator repairs.
