Proponent Testimony on House Bill 379 by Mayor Shane N. Gunnoe of the City of Dover

Summary

Proponent testimony on House Bill 379 submitted by Mayor Shane N. Gunnoe of the City of Dover, Ohio, with a witness information form dated October 8, 2025. The form states the City of Dover supports HB 379 because it would allow unused State of Ohio public lands to be sold and repurposed for commercial use. The written testimony, addressed to Chairman Hoops and the committee, says the bill would open approximately 1.7 acres of unused land owned by the Ohio National Guard in Dover. It describes commercial growth near the armory site, including a $230 million Schaeffler Corporation facility expected to create 450 jobs, and states the land would be sold at fair market value with funds returned to the state. The mayor asks the committee to support the legislation.

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Full text

WITNESS INFORMATION FORM

Please complete the Witness Information Form before testifying:

Date: October 8, 2025

Name: Mayor Shane N. Gunnoe

Are you representing: Yourself [_] Organization

Organization (If Applicable): City of Dover

Position/Title: Mayor _
110 East Third Street

Address:
City: Dover State: Ohio Zip: 44622
Best Contact Telephone: (330) 343-6726 Email: shane.gunnoe@doverohio.com

Do you wish to be added to the committee notice email distribution list? Yes [|] No

Business before the committee

Legislation (Bill/Resolution Number): HB 379

Specific Issue: Proponent Testimony 7

Are you testifying as a: Proponent |“] Opponent [_] Interested Party [_]
Will you have a written statement, visual aids, or other material to distribute? Yes [¥] No _]

(If yes, please send an electronic version of the documents, if possible, to the Chair’s office prior
to committee. You may also submit hard copies to the Chair’s staff prior to committee.)

How much time will your testimony require? Five minutes

Please provide a brief statement on your position:

The City of Dover is supportive of HB 379, which will encourage and promote
economic development within the city by allowing unused State of Ohio public lands
to be sold and repurposed for commercial use.

Please be advised that this form and any materials (written or otherwise) submitted or presented
to this committee are records that may be requested by the public and may be published online.
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DOVED Gity Of Dover”
aa Heal Office of the Mayor
AT: MUNICIPAL BUILDING, 110 EAST THIRD STREET
OTTO DOVER, OHIO 44622-2292
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Shane Gunnoe, Mayor

(330) 343-6726 E-mail: shane.gunnoe@doverohio.com

Fax (330) 343-7336

HB 379

Chairman Hoops, Vice Chair Lorenz, Ranking Member Brownlee and the members of the
committee, Thank you for the opportunity to testify regarding House Bill 379.

My name is Shane Gunnoe, and it is my honor to serve as the Mayor of the City of Dover,
Ohio, and | come before the committee to today in support of HB 379. This legislation will
provide the State of Ohio an opportunity to support important public services surrounding
national security, education, utilities and recreation by divesting itself of state-owned
property that is otherwise no longer needed for its original governmental purpose.

In my community this legislation also has a direct local impact by opening up
approximately 1.7 acres of unused land currently owned by the Ohio National Guard.
Decades ago, when a new National Guard Armory in town was built, it was sited at the far
north end of the city and was then surrounded by cornfields. However, after decades of
gradual growth in the area, the site now sits right in the heart of a busy commercial zone
that has really taken off in the last few years.

Our city has been ranked by Site Selection Magazine as the #3 small micropolitan
community in the US in 2024 for economic development growth. Within one mile of the
Natural Guard Armory site, you will find multiple housing subdivisions underway, several
planned or recently constructed commercial or industrial expansions, and the largest
economic development project Dover has ever experienced. The Schaeffler Corporation is
investing $230 million into constructing a new e-mobility facility that will create 450 new
high skill and high wage jobs in our city just down the road from the land we are discussing
today.

This activity has increased the need for available land in Northern Dover. Our office has
fielded a number of inquiries into the National Guard Site from commercial prospects, and
we have worked with the National Guard, and the Department of Administrative Services,
to ensure the state otherwise does not need the parcel which would be conveyed in HB379.

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TREE CITY USA /

So, in my mind HB 379 provides positives for all parties involved both statewide and as it
relates to the parcel in the City of Dover. The State of Ohio is able to divest itself from land
which otherwise no longer is needed and support important other functions along the way.
In our case, this land would be sold at fair market value with the funds returned to the state
coffers. Private developers would get the opportunity to acquire valuable ground for
commercial development in highly sought after part of the community at fair market value.
The City of Dover, and our residents, will see the benefits of new jobs, an increased tax
base and improved quality of life as a result of the future commercial development of this
parcel. This legislation truly is a win for all parties involved.

For these reasons, | respectfully ask for your support of this legislation. Thank you!

DOVER

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