Dover considers construction of power line to supply electricity to Schaeffler plant

Jon Baker, The Times-Reporter
·3 min read

DOVER ‒ Mayor Shane Gunnoe is asking Dover City Council to authorize construction of an additional power line from the North Substation to Crown Road to provide electricity from Dover Light & Power for the new Schaeffler Group USA plant.

The project is estimated to cost $1.4 million, with the city to be reimbursed for eligible expenses through a proposed Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) agreement. The plant will be built on 53-acre site on the property known as the Streb farm along North Wooster Avenue. Under the TIF agreement, the site would be exempt from property taxes for up to 30 years, but the company would have to make service payments in lieu of taxes.

The plant, which will manufacture electric beam axles and electric drivetrain systems to support the hybrid/EV industry, is expected to bring 450 jobs to the area.

Gunnoe told council the power line is necessary to be able to deliver the required large power needs of the Schaeffler plant. Officials expect the company will require up to 5 megawatt hours (MWH) of electricity in Phase 1 of the project and up to 10 MWH of electricity upon completion of Phase 2.

"To put this in perspective, Dover Light & Power customers as a whole average about 25 MWH of usage in the community on a given day, so this new project will be a positive benefit for Dover Light & Power," the mayor said.

Gunnoe pointed out the project is for services and equipment only in front of the meter, in accordance with the city's electrical regulations.

In 2021, city council voted to place a surcharge on electricity used by Dover Chemical Corp., a measure officials said would allow the city to recoup the cost of benefits and services that council said the company improperly received. Former Law Director Doug O’Meara alleged at that time that employees of the city's Electric Field Division had been maintaining and upgrading the lines and equipment inside Dover Chemical, in violation of an ordinance passed by council in 1975. The surcharge ordinance sparked a lawsuit by Dover Chemical, which has yet to be settled. The company is no longer a customer of the municipal light plant.

Council will act on the power line request at an upcoming meeting.

In other action, council:

  • Gave first readings to a resolution to allocate $5,000 in bed tax dollars to the Dover Lions Club to replace signage at the Dover City Park entrance, the Deis Hill park entry, pool road and the pathway to the amphitheater at Deis Hill Park and a resolution to allocate $5,000 in bed tax dollars to the Ernest Warther Museum for directional signs and storyboards.

  • Heard Gunnoe report the Tuscarawas County Health Department, the village of Newcomerstown, Kimble Companies, Liberty Tire and the Tuscarawas County Sheriff's Office are hosting a scrap tire disposal day from 9 a.m. to noon on April 6, which is free to Dover residents. It will be held at the Newcomerstown Street Department, 201 S. College St., Newcomerstown.

  • Heard the mayor give a reminder that the Dover Planning Commission will be holding a public hearing on the proposed Crimson Cove housing development at 10 a.m. April 9 in council chambers. Lawver Construction of New Philadelphia is proposing to build the 30-lot development on a 14-acre tract of land off of Ohio Avenue/County Road 80 just past Aspen Drive on the edge of the city corporation limit.

Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at jon.baker@timesreporter.com.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Dover works to address electricity needs of Schaeffler plant