OTTAWA — There was much sound and fury Wednesday at the Ottawa City Commission meeting over a proposal to annex nearly 40 acres south of the Love’s Travel Center. Attorney Blaine Finch said owner Mark Shay has cooperated with the city in other annexations to help establish a special taxing district that helped Love’s development at I-35 and U.S. 59. However, Finch said if the city annexed the rest of his property, Shay would be forced to close his wholesale and retail fireworks business and would have to sue to fight the annexation. City rules forbid the sale of fireworks, and city attorney Bob Bezek said Shay’s business won’t be “grandfathered” in and would have to be closed. The city is concerned about the proximity of a fireworks business next to a convenience story selling fuel, he said. Both Finch and Bezek told commissioners they would be willing to continue to working out a deal. Finch said his client would be willing to agree to certain conditions that would automatically trigger the annexation.
Commissioners decided to wait a couple of weeks to see if a deal is possible. The annexation has been delayed four months as both sides have wrangled over a settlement.
Thursday, Sept. 22, 4 p.m.
