DISAGREEMENT AT TRUSTEES MEETING

Prairie Township residents feud over water, trash

Thursday, July 07, 2005

Dean Narciso

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Some residents of Prairie Township want to choose who will provide their drinking water and haul away their trash.

But township trustees say what’s best for the township of almost 20,000 residents isn’t always going to please everybody.

The clash of opinions set up a lively meeting last night where more than 100 residents gathered, some shouting down city officials and others walking away in disgust.

The township, in western Franklin County, was considering extending Ohio American Water’s franchise agreement to all of the township and constructing a water-treatment facility that the company would use to serve residents.

Ohio American currently serves a portion of the township, but the rest of its residents use Columbus water or well water, and they don’t want to change.

This year, a group gathered more than 600 signatures to oppose a township resolution to pursue the agreement.

But last night, the three-member board rescinded that resolution.

"The referendum petition will now not be submitted to the voters," Pete Griggs, city attorney, said, explaining that the Ohio Revised Code allows limited home-rule townships, such as Prairie, to rescind adopted legislation.

Township officials also want a single trash hauler. They said the township’s handful of haulers crowd the streets during the week.

"I think I should have freedom of choice on who I want to haul my trash," interrupted Emma Johnson, followed by a cheer inside the Prairie Township firehouse, where the meeting was held after the crowd overflowed town hall.

Last night, trustees opened five bids from competing trash contractors, with Rumpke the lowest bidder.

No one has been hired.

Many residents said they prefer private haulers, such as Robert Cumberlander, whose father started his trash-hauling company almost 40 years ago and who provides service to the township.

"If people want to pay more to get good service, I say let them have it," said resident Neil Distelhorst. "Competition is the best thing for the price we pay."

Cumberlander, who has two trucks and serves 1,100 customers, said he was overwhelmed by the support.

"This is a lift," Cumberlander said. "It pumps me up."

Not everyone in attendance agreed with the majority.

"I don’t care if an old man with a wheelbarrow picks up my trash," said Dave Conrad. "This proposal would save me at least $23 every three months. Why wouldn’t I want that?"

dnarciso@dispatch.com