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PRAIRIE TWP. WATER-SEWER
FRANCHISE IN JEOPARDY AFTER BOARD MEETING SHOWDOWN
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By Carla Smith |
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Members of the
Trustee Joe Wharton dubbed the June 22
board meeting the "Steve Kennedy and Doug Stormont Show" after
resident Steve Kennedy asked questions concerning the franchise agreement.
Kennedy, who is running for one of two trustee seats open this fall, was backed
up by trustee Stormont.
Wharton moved to rescind the township's
franchise agreement with Ohio American Water after dialogue with Kennedy,
Stormont and trustee Teresa Keller.
Kennedy wanted to know if trustees knew
that documents had been filed with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency on
June 1 that included an opt-out petition and an alternative sewer plan for the
township.
Wharton and Keller both said they were
aware. Stormont said he wasn't.
"A petition to opt out of the
Columbus 208 Plan was filed by Ohio American Water Company for
Stormont said the petition states several
reasons why the township supports such a petition, including another franchise
agreement that was made with the water company in 2002 known as Resolution
17-02.
"Resolution 17-02 is ineffective in
that it was not properly adopted and no contract was authorized or signed with
Ohio American," Stormont said.
Stormont also said the petition states
that the township and Ohio American Water are currently negotiating a contract
to establish the terms of the franchise and that the board has determined that
the city of
"The board has not taken any action
authorizing the negotiation of a contract with Ohio American," Stormont
said. "The board has also taken no action making a determination that the
city of
The Franklin County Board of Elections
has already certified the signatures collected by Kennedy to put the franchise
agreement on the November ballot. The issue will allow residents to decide for
themselves whether the township should pursue water and sewer.
Kennedy wanted to know why the
information about the filing to the Ohio EPA wasn't made available to all board
members and to the township residents.
Wharton told Kennedy that those documents
have nothing to do with the board.
Keller backed Wharton.
"Ohio American Water did this independently,"
Keller said.
"It's your duty to inform the
residents of what goes on," Kennedy said. "That resolution (17-02)
was an agreement never signed which voided an opt-out petition."
Wharton said everything that the board
does is public information and that information is made available.
"This is not our document,"
Wharton said. "Do your homework. It is not filed with
"I want to develop our township, not
Stormont proposed a motion that would
require the board to first approve any action, transaction, document or
expenditure proposed to be taken, entered into, submitted or incurred on behalf
of the township by any member of the board relating to the securing of water
and or sewer services for any portion of the township or the granting of any
franchise agreement for those services or contracting for those services.
Showing frustration, Wharton said he
wanted to rescind the current franchise agreement with Ohio American Water.
"It's obviously the Kennedy-Stormont
Show," Wharton said. "I make the motion to rescind resolution 06-05
and that will take the issue off of the table."
Peter Griggs, township attorney, said he
will research whether the resolution can be rescinded since it's up for a
referendum vote. If it can be, he said, he intends to produce the necessary
paperwork to rescind the deal.
Resolution 17-02 is ineffective in that
it was not properly adopted and no contract was authorized or signed with Ohio
American.
Doug Stormont
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