Troy council approves emergency ordinance to buy 330 South Crawford Street for park expansion

The Troy City Council on March 17 approved Ordinance O5 20 25 authorizing the Director of Public Service and Safety to purchase property at 330 South Crawford Street for $205,000, to expand Hurlingham Park. Council adopted the ordinance the same night after suspending the readings as an emergency measure.

Susan Westfall, chair of the Recreation and Parks Committee, told the council the committee met March 10 regarding the purchase of roughly 0.675 acres at 330 Crawford Street for inclusion in Hurlingham Park. Westfall said the committee recommended legislation authorizing the director to complete the purchase from Pensco Trust Company for $205,000 and supported emergency legislation to speed the transaction.

During committee discussion, council members clarified that a nearby canal property is owned by the State of Ohio and that any transfer of that state-owned land could take time; committee members said they did not anticipate a purchase cost for the canal parcel but cautioned the state process could be lengthy. At the council meeting, Councilmember Samuel J. Pierce moved to suspend the readings; Jeffrey Witten seconded. The motion to adopt the ordinance was moved by Jeffrey Schilling and seconded by Samuel J. Pierce. The roll call recorded unanimous support and the ordinance was adopted that evening.

The committee report and ordinance text did not identify a funding source in detail at the March 17 meeting; the council voted to authorize the director to execute related documents to complete the purchase without delay. The ordinance was presented as a first reading and adopted under the emergency clause, which accelerates the schedule for closing but does not itself provide budget details.