By Andrew Walsh
awalsh@wbcowqel.com
“It’s never a good feeling.”
Those were the words of Galion Mayor Tom O’Leary during the discussion of Resolution 2013-5. This resolution, which was passed as an emergency, dealt with the 13 parcels of property along the State Route 598 widening project that had so far failed to sign off on easements. The passage of this resolution has the effect of making a “take it or leave it” offer to these property owners, but one that the City made grudgingly.
“The question is do you want the 598 project to go forward?” Councilman Tom Fellner’s rhetorical question provided the framework in which the discussion took place.
Roberta Wade stated that Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) wanted this business wrapped up at July 9’s council meeting, and that she and O’Leary are set to meet with the Department of Transportation this coming Monday. If this resolution was not passed, there is the possibility that ODOT would abandon the project altogether.
To be fair, this project has been in the works for seven years, and O’Leary stated that, “These people have been contacted numerous times.” It has not been a smash and grab job, and fair market assessments of the properties have been done all along this project. The situation is as Councilman Andy Daniels termed it, “A Catch-22.”
Ultimately, Council heeded the warning of the mayor that, “We run the risk of missing the sale date,” and passed the resolution. Although it was pointed out that these people, if they still feel they have been treated unfairly, have recourse to the Common Pleas Court to plead their case. Only time will tell if this is the action taken.
Another familiar subject was resurrected to attention, as council voted to endorse a letter to the Ohio Attorney General, asking him to review the Prairie State Energy Campus, with particular focus on the long-term take or pay contracts.
Galion is the first AMP community in Ohio to take such action, although fellow communities in Indiana and Illinois have done so. The hope is that Galion can lead by example in the Buckeye State, and other communities will follow suit. A point which was reinforced by Roberta Wade, who added that by passing this Galion can now write and send letters to these communities saying what had been done, and encouraging them to do likewise.
There were also calls to invite AMP back to Galion to provide more insight to their side of things. The mayor was particularly encouraging of this, and reminded the citizens that when the city was in dire straits, AMP was the only creditor willing to lend them money.
“I’m not saying they’ve earned our undying devotion,” O’Leary said, “but they’ve earned the chance to make a presentation.”
The resolution was passed, and the letter will be sent, but there was strong urging from many angles for the citizens, and the citizen government, to consider different points of view in this complicated situation.