By Gary Ogle
gogle@wbcowqel.com
Paula Durbin was not at work Tuesday morning in her office. She was working, however, at something she says she is very passionate about.
The Galion city treasurer was camped outside the city’s Utilities Office trying to gather signatures for her petition requesting Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine’s office investigate the contract between Galion and the American Municipal Power plant known as Prairie State.
“We want the Attorney General to review the contract the city signed with AMP Ohio for the Prairie State Energy Campus in Illinois,” Durbin said. “That’s all we’re asking him to do is just review the contract. If he says ‘yes, he’ll review the contract,’” great. If he says ‘no,’ well at least we tried.”
Durbin announced her intentions in a press release the day before and as promised she was in front of the Utilities Office on Harding Way East with a chair, sign and petition in hand bright and early.
“I had people signing at 8 o’clock,” Durbin said while admitting the collection process was slow.
Still she talked to everyone she could who stopped by the Utilities Office or walked past her on the sidewalk.
“I decided something had to be done. It’s something I’ve been researching for, oh, about the last two years now,” Durbin said. “I think the city deserves to know if it was a good contract or not.”
The issue is that the city is paying more for power from Prairie State than originally projected at the time the contract was signed. That is in large part because of cost overruns related to construction issues. Those overruns fall to the investors, of which Galion is one of several across several states.
Because Durbin is not asking for anything to be placed on the ballot to be voted on by the Galion electorate or asking for a recall, she has no minimum threshold to meet, nor is her collection limited to registered voters. She does, however, have her own self-imposed goal.
“One thousand, that’s my goal right now,” Durbin said. “It will take me awhile.”
Durbin said she wants the contract reviewed by “a legal eye.” When asked if that wasn’t the responsibility and purview of City Law Director Roberta Wade, Durbin said Wade was busy with several other items of city business and had admitted contract issues were not her expertise according to Durbin.
Wade later clarified her statement in that energy contracts were not in her area of expertise.
Galion City Council passed one such resolution that was vetoed by Mayor Tom O’Leary. A rewording of that resolution did not make it out of committee for a vote by the full Galion City Council.
“People want answers,” Durbin said. “That’s all they want and I’m going to try.”
Durbin said she can be reached by those with questions or who want to sign her petition by calling 419-565-9112.