EAST LIVERPOOL — The former East End fire station property could become part of an expanding vehicle dealership following action taken Thursday by the Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) property committee.

By a unanimous vote, the committee agreed to recommend to the full CIC board that it enter into an agreement to sell or exchange the East End property.

If the board agrees, the plan is to transfer the property to Tri-State Ford (formerly Grand Ford) which may use it for expansion, according to Service-Safety Director Brian Allen.

Allen told the committee he and Mayor Ryan Stovall had met with company officials who expressed interest in growing with the city.

He said the business’ plans fit in with Stovall’s new theme for the city, “We’re Open for Business,” saying it has invested more than $500,000 in its current location and plans to create 10 more jobs by June.

According to Allen, the fire station blocked traffic from seeing the dealership, but it was recently demolished due to its deteriorated condition, leaving the empty lot adjacent to Tri-State Ford’s property.

“This is incredible for us, because we didn’t expect to get any money for the station anyway,” Allen said.

He proposed adding a provision to the transfer that, should the company close or be sold, the fire station property reverts to the city, but committee member Ray Perorazio, a retired city firefighter who worked out of the East End station, balked.

Perorazio said, “That fire station served us well. It’s going to continue serving us well.”

He pointed out the station cost just $10,000 when new in 1950, with about $6,000 to $7,000 invested in it for an addition in later years, saying Tri-State Ford “has already proven themselves to me.”

That provision will not be added to the transfer agreement. Council voted in February to transfer the property to the CIC to sell or exchange it to an interested party. By transferring property to the CIC, the city circumvents the need to advertise for bids to sell it.

The full board will meet at 5:15 p.m. March 22 in council chambers to consider the recommendation.

President Pat Scafide reminded members that Patrick B. Ford, executive director of the Business Development Corporation of the Northern Panhandle, will be offering a presentation on economic development at that meeting and encouraged them to attend, as well as bring anyone interested in the topic, saying, “You’ll come out of here pumped up.”

The meeting is open to the public.