By Gary Ogle
gogle@wbcowqel.com
It appears that no matter who is in office in Galion there are two different camps when it comes to the city’s contracts through American Municipal Power with Prairie State. It is also clear that there is no consensus as to whether or not the city wants the Ohio Attorney General to investigate the marketing of those contracts.
Although Galion City Council passed a resolution on Aug. 27 requesting AG Mike DeWine to conduct such an investigation, Galion Mayor Tom O’Leary vetoed the resolution on Thursday.
“I hope this is the last episode in a story that didn’t need to be told and an issue that didn’t need to be brought to the top of the agenda,” O’Leary said Friday.
O’Leary and council member Shirley Clark talked with members of the local media in O’Leary’s office Friday morning. Clark admitted there was a point in time she was in favor of investigating the Prairie State contracts and seeking an avenue for Galion to void those contracts to purchase power from the Illinois facility. Clark said what changed her mind was talking to other cities in the same position as Galion.
“Painesville is very, very happy with Prairie State and AMP,” Clark said. That’s true with all the other towns I’ve contacted. A couple have bought other projects with AMP.”
Therein is the problem with the resolution, O’Leary said.
“We’re talking for other communities, but we’re not talking to them,” O’Leary opined more than once.
O’Leary noted the Prairie State controversy actually began before the May election and change in government. The mayor, who was elected in May and is on the ballot again in November as part of the city’s transition from a charter form of government back to one that operates according to the Ohio Revised Code, cited a litany of issues with the resolution.
O’Leary began with the strong influence of the environmental lobby on the resolution, right down to its language.
“The point of view (of the resolution) mirrors Ohio Citizen Action, and in my opinion that represents an extreme environmental point of view,” O’Leary said. “Ohio Citizens Action gets funding from large environmental groups. The motive (for the resolution) comes from interests outside the community.”
Later on O’Leary said, “I don’t want Galion to be a stooge for environmentalists.”
He added those groups have stated their opposition to burning fossil fuels to create electricity, especially coal. Although a new plant, Prairie State does burn coal.
Environmental groups have also sought to get the Indiana Attorney General to open an investigation into Prairie State. That state AG declined to do so.
O’Leary also cited a letter from former City Council President Richard Swain who indicated the decision to enter into a contract with AMP to purchase power from Prairie State which is a coal-burning plant was not rushed into. That, said O’Leary, is a contradiction to what is spelled out in the resolution adopted by council.
Swain indicated at the time the Prairie State opportunity came up Galion had recently lost power from another coal burning plant that had been shut down for environmental reasons.
Power from Prairie State would replace that lost power source plus help Galion build a purchasing reserve O’Leary says it needs to attract new business.
“We’re trying to secure long-term power capacity so we can market our city,” O’Leary said. “By having the power supply agreement we’re controlling our own costs and guaranteeing supply for our businesses and residents.”
O’Leary took special note of comments from one council member who asked regarding the resolution and subsequent investigation, “What could it hurt?”.
First and foremost, O’Leary said, it hurts the relationship between Galion and other communities who are members of AMP. The mayor very pointedly said they had entered into an agreement of bond indebtedness with these cities that Galion now apparently wants to renege on.
“These other communities aren’t too happy with that,” O’Leary said, noting the specific language of the resolution holds Galion out as leading the charge on behalf of other communities he says have been wrongly portrayed as having suffered financial hardships as a result of their involvement with the Prairie State campus.
“Don’t hold yourself out as vanguards. They don’t need us to speak for them.”
O’Leary reiterated that while no Galion official had contacted other cities to inquire of their experience or feelings about the Prairie State contract prior to council passing the resolution, many had contacted him since word had gotten out.
“We are their partners and we are going to need them to partner with us in the future,” O’Leary said.
Comparing Celina to Galion, the mayor said Galion’s monthly power usage and purchase was anywhere from 16 to 24 megawatts. Celina, which has a similar size population, routinely uses 44 megawatts. The difference O’Leary said is that community has used reserves to attract industry and recently got a 5-megawatt user who chose that community over much larger Fort Wayne.
Furthermore, O’Leary said, Celina has some of the lowest electric rates in the state and enjoys its relationship with Prairie State.
“I think, unfortunately, it’s made us the villain,” O’Leary said of Galion’s reputation in the controversy.
O’Leary said the resolution and possible withdrawal from the contract also hurt in that it would make the city unattractive to potential employees for the city electric department. He noted one of the biggest needs the city has is to replace Superintendent Mark Triplett who resigned this spring.
“It makes it hard to recruit,” O’Leary said, “Where do you think we’re going to get qualified people from – from those cities and communities with public power.”
The mayor said he wasn’t opposed to investigating the Prairie State issue, but believed it would be best if officials did the investigating themselves before turning to state authorities.
“That should have been the beginning of the (our) inquiry, not the end of it” O’Leary said of discussions with Ohio Citizens Action. “This path of inquiry is ongoing.”
O’Leary further blasted what he called “fact-free assertions” stated in the resolution.
“Don’t accept the assertion that Galion has no power to investigate it,” O’Leary said. “That’s shirking our responsibilities as elected officials.”
City Council could override O’Leary’s veto but would need five votes to do so. O’Leary indicated the in addition to Clark, council members Thomas Fellner and Matt Strickler would support his veto. City Council has a regular meeting scheduled for Tuesday evening.