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Sewer issue has community 'deeply divided'
(by Sue Reid - September 11, 2008)
Sewer issue has community 'deeply divided'
By SUE REID
A Maple Hill Drive resident appealed to South Russell Mayor Matthew E. Brett and Village Council members Monday. James Duber said he was "looking for a little bit of political courage" in light of a recent determination against a referendum petition to address the extension of sewers on the road.
Village Solicitor David Ondrey found three deficiencies in the petition circulated by residents. The petition sought to place the question of extending the sewers on the road before the entire village on the November 2009 ballot.
Maple Hill Drive resident Jeffrey Baker said the issue has resulted in a "deeply divided community."
"We are now no sewers vs. sewers," said Mr. Baker, who is in favor of the extension. "I ask that you demonstrate compassion and not only look to Maple Hill but at all of the village."
Mr. Duber said there is still time for the village to reject the recommendation of its solicitor.
"I would say I was deceived purposely," said Mr. Duber, who presented the petitions to the village last month, "but I won't.
"Today, it doesn't matter," he said. "It's still possible to go against the recommendation." Eighty percent of residents "say this is a reasonable thing to do," he said of the referendum. "You can still proceed in that manner and have the political courage to do what most of the community wants you to do."
An ordinance requesting the Geauga County Commissioners to move forward with the project had been put on hold awaiting the result of the referendum petition. Mr. Brett said he would resume his plans to meet with commissioners, and the failure of the referendum means that the ordinance is still in place.
"I know several of you are not happy with that, and I get that. This is a tough issue," he said.
"This group does not take this issue lightly," Mr. Brett said. "I know all of you will not be happy, and I apologize for that."
Mr. Ondrey said the referendum-petition requirements in the Ohio Revised Code "are strict and highly technical."
"I take no great pleasure in reaching a conclusion like that," he said of his recommendation to the village's fiscal officer.
Mr. Brett allowed comments from five of the Maple Hill Drive residents who attended the meeting.
Mary Ellen Miller called a sewer system the "Lexus" of waste removal. "It would be nice to have, but the fact is that almost half of the residents on the street can't afford the Lexus of sewer systems," she said.
"I can't work any more overtime. You are literally driving people out of this village for something that is unnecessary," Ms. Miller said. "I can't understand why you are making me buy a Lexus when I can't afford it. If you can sleep at night, that's fine, but I don't sleep at night."
Shirley Onderisin-Fees said she was there on behalf of her sister-in-law, Patricia Gebeau, and her husband, Charles, who are residents of Maple Hill Drive. Her sister-in-law was under a great deal of stress because of the issue, she said.
Her relatives installed a $15,000 septic system last year "in good faith," Ms. Onderisin-Fees said. "They would like your consideration to take them out of the equation, if the project would move forward. They have a state-of-the-art system at great expense."
"I moved my entire family on Maple Hill, knowing there were other families with kids there," said resident William Partain, who circulated petitions. "It's extremely disappointing and unbelievable how divided our street is over this. It all comes down to money."
Mr. Partain said it doesn't make sense to bypass three or four other streets to have the sewers just on Maple Hill Drive. He said he hopes the village takes the referendum petition under consideration.
Mr. Baker said the division in the community and neighborhood could have been avoided if the village listened to the recommendation of Gus Saikaly, director of the Geauga County Department of Water Resources.
Mr. Saikaly had said that a high portion of 80 percent or 90 percent of residents in favor of sewers would have compelled him to ask the County Commissioners to move forward with the project. The most recent opinion poll showed 62 percent of the residents on the street favoring the project.
Maple Hill Drive resident Gary Dole said he "applauds" Village Council for sticking to the ordinance. "I think you are doing the right thing," he said.
"This is not a village initiative," Mr. Brett said repeatedly. "The village got engaged in this process two years ago based on the request from the residents of Maple Hill."
Councilman John Binder said, "I think it's important for residents to realize there's not a member of this council or the mayor that has a dog in this fight. Our role is to support the majority, and the majority spoke twice. We're strictly facilitators."
Councilman William Koons said all along his concern was how the issue would affect the neighbors. "We'll get through this, and cooler heads will prevail," he said. "We will all get through this together."
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