After a contentious debate, Mahoning Township supervisors on a narrow 3-2 margin agreed to subdivide about 9 acres of land by its new headquarters on Route 443.

Supervisors Ron Reeser, Carol Etheridge, and board Chair Deb McGowan were in favor. Supervisors Mark Schwalm and Matthew Wentz were opposed.

Afterward, supervisors on a thin 3-2 measure agreed to advertise the farm lease, with Reeser, Schwalm and Wentz in favor, and McGowan and Etheridge opposed.

The board then unanimously agreed to advertise to lease the land at its new headquarters, as well as its former headquarters along Route 902.

Before the vote to subdivide the land, Schwalm said he had a petition “with a ton of signatures not to subdivide.”

Reeser said he was trying to follow the original idea of the previous board of supervisors when they purchased the building.

“What if the township expands?” Schwalm asked. “You never know what’s coming.”

Schwalm added that the people do not want houses or stores.

Wentz said, “I think we should hold onto it. I don’t think selling is the proper way (to go about it).”

But, Reeser said they have thousands of square feet behind them that he believes would make a great community center.

“You have the building already,” Reeser said. “The idea was to put something in here for the community to use.”

Schwalm noted that cost gets passed onto whoever leases it, and not the township.

One resident asked the board if it wouldn’t make sense to consolidate all of the township’s assets in one location.

Another resident pointed out that the township has a speeding problem and a homeless problem.

Reeser reiterated that he would like to see a community center.

“I am pro-farming,” Reeser said. “I’d love to see something happen here.”

Resident Pam Wuest told the board it needs to look at the big picture at the way things are trending, and noted hat the township is starting to see more and more development.

“You’re changing our local community and environment,” Wuest said. “Not everybody wants to see our nice little area (developed).”

Wuest cautioned the board that once you start changing their environment like this, the township will see a lot more vagrancy and homeless.

“Now you’re inviting it into Mahoning Township,” Wuest said. “You can at least slow it down, don’t open the door for it.”

A resident asked the board if they’ve talked to the surrounding property owners.

“Ninety-five percent of the property owners are on the petition that’s signed,” Schwalm said. “I think we need to have a public workshop.”

McGowan then asked Schwalm where are the people that signed his petition.

Schwalm then cited an email he said that came from Etheridge in which she said she wants to preserve farmland and open space.

Etheridge, who participated in the meeting via speakerphone, said that was so that the township could preserve the land from things such as data centers, truck terminals, and warehouses.

Background

Last month, supervisors on a 2-1 vote opted to not lease about 9 acres of land by its new headquarters on Route 443, with McGowan and Etheridge in favor, and Schwalm opposed. Reeser and Wentz were absent.

Before that vote, Schwalm said that was the time to farm, and that it should remain a farm.

Schwalm suggested that the board didn’t want him to farm it, despite the fact it’s been farmed.

He said that he has an opportunity to put a bid in, but the board didn’t want that.

McGowan noted that in the past, the township has leased this land to local farmers but they have now discussed the possibility of converting the land into a dog park, or community garden.

Township supervisors moved into the former Diaz building just west of Normal Square in March 2024.

The two-story building is on about 14 acres of land at 2175 Blakeslee Blvd. Drive West.

The total project cost about $1.3 million.