The second OEPA hearing for Baard Industry's proposal for effects on water will be held next Tuesday at the high school. The first hearing dealt with the effects on the streams and such. This one will deal with the Draft Wastewater Discharge Permit. Baard plans on using river water for cooling their machinery and then discharging it back into the river. I'm curious to see how it's going to work. Right now I'm guessing it will be similar to what is being done up in Shippingport. I read someone's comment a while back that the water will probably be cleaner after being used then what it was when they pumped it out. Think it was made by one of the engineers at the first event held at the high school earlier this year, the Sitting Board open house.
With Baard showing us they will be using the latest and best technology I have no doubt that the water will be equal in quality from what is pumped out of the river or better. There have been vast improvements made over the years in Ohio River water quality. I can remember the days when there were huge oil slicks from plants up the river. With today's regulations I don't see any harm being done with what is planned by the Ohio River Clean Fuels, LLC. If you are interested you can review their plans at www.epa.state.oh.us/dsw/401/OhioRiverCleanFuels/index/htlm. In the meantime consider getting to the high school Tuesday evening to show your support. You can sign one of the cards to make a comment on record if you so desire. The OEPA notice said things will kick off at 6:30. Wonder if the dude from that Salt Springs outfit will be there?
Speaking of Baard looks like Tracy Drake of the Port Authority has been keeping busy getting things lined up downtown that will at least support Baard's proposed plant. They are buying the Barrett Minerals facilities which will be made available if needed. That includes land and buildings. Then it was announced that Buckeye Industrial Mining got a grant to help build a coal transloading facilitiy down there. Drake said that was in the planning stages before Baard was even thought about. Coal can be shipped in by either barge or rail down there. Wonder what effect that will have on Wellsville Terminals? A lot of coal passes through the ville even today, mostly for the power plants. The Buckeye Industrial facility is suppose to create over 100 new jobs in the ville.
Got a letter from Charlie the other day. That's Charlie as in Charlie Wilson, US Congressman. No, I'm not anyone special. You probably did too. Anyway his letter was in regards to a couple of pieces of legislation pertaining to the housing industry and all the foreclosures the predator lending agencies and the economy are causing these days. The one that caught my eye was the Neighborhood Stabilization Act. That will provide funding for states to acquire vacant foreclosed properties. These properties can then be torn down or fixed up. If this goes through it may be the answer to how village officials will fund taking care of unsightly and condemned places.
It was announced this week that the County's 911 centers will go live on 9-11. About time, don't you think Gary? We've only been paying for it for five years now. It was originally suppose to be in operation in 2005 but every time they turned around there was another hurdle delaying the start-up date. They are still wondering about how they will locate cell phone callers. All I can say is that with all the money that has been collected since 2003 there should be enough to buy our own satellite to run a county GPS system. Former County Commissioner Gary Williams is spearheading the 911 project for us tax payers. Hopefully it won't be 2011 before we see it working.
Tell me. Do these two items fall under the oxymoron classification? CC Commissioner Jim Hoppel is worried we'll lose sales tax with the high fuel prices. What about the folks that are running out of money to feed their families because of the high prices the fuel costs are causing? Is it a Republican thing or did Jim just have a brain fart when he talked to reporters about his concerns? The fuel situation may just be the cause of a lot of people losing their jobs. It's scary.
Then there is the piece about the smoking ban proving costly to enforce. Duh? Even the smoke Nazis don't work for free. Now there are County Health Boards across the state saying they can't afford to have employees follow up and cite offenders. The fines were suppose to fund the enforcement and those people responsible for doing that. There was no funding that I know of to get it started. All I can say is that it sounds good on paper. What do they say about seeing beyond your nose?
Buckeye Water District is considering leasing some of their land for gas and oil drilling. I hope it pays off. This area at one time was a good place for that. It's not big time like in Texas but my grandfather was an oil man around here before the Great Depression wiped him out. He had all his money tied up in bank loans. Maybe BWD can make enough to pay off all their legal fees that Al and the boys are racking up.
I am completely befuddled by events in East Liverpool recently. You got a Police Chief moaning about letting an entrepreneur acquiring a suspended liquor license to use in a new restaurant. Then you got former business people objecting to a zoning change to allow a business to expand. What are these people thinking? That's the kind of thinking that forced Hill's Department Store to locate in Calcutta after ELO authorities declined to work with them. It was said back then that the city fathers didn't think that Hills was good enough for East Liverpool. We all know what Hill's got started in St. Clair Twp. Back then Hill's was the Wal-Mart of today with low prices. My sympathy to those in the 'pool that are trying to get things going.
I'm curious why no one or no body from the ville applied for any part of the Community Development Block Grants. That could have possibly been the answer for the Shade Tree Commission's need for an additional six grand they are looking for to complete the Broadway project. In recent newspaper reports Wellsville was not mentioned once. Another possible application could have been the mini-park that is planned for Wells Ave. There's not much money for the county's share of the CDBGs but minor projects like these could have had a very good chance of getting funded there.
I'm going to wrap this up with saying that the "kids caught doing good" idea is something fantastic. In accounts of the last council meeting it was reported that two young ladies from the ville were awarded with certificates for doing good deeds. One young lady got awarded for calling the police for a situation and the other was recognized for pulling her younger brother out of a burning house. As the song goes this is "accentuating the positive" and whoever thought of it should be rewarded too.
ole nib
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26 comments:
better use said...
Was it a typo in the Review last week that Dawn Johnson asked Council for $5,700 to finish the Tree City Project? While it is nice that the city can help out, on the other hand, she started a committe and a project and should have raised that money to finish it. Sort of like other committees do. And by the way, where is the Armistice Day Celebration they are required to have every year after being deemed a tree city. I am all for these projects and making the Ville look good, but I see other committees and churches having fund raisers to finish projects. It makes me really appreciate the people who do go out and work for their projects and the tax payers aren't footing the bill. All I am saying is that committee could have raised the money, and the village money could have been put to better use.
Saturday, 24 May, 2008
I moved "better use's" comment from another section.
It wasn't a typo. The STC has been to the last two council meetings asking for money to finish up the Broadway project. From what I read in the papers on this week's meeting council is going to give them the money. I also read that they are asking for $6,000 but only need $5,700. What is the extra $300 for?
ole nib
Better use, I agreed with your thinking about the committe on raising their funds. But....having said that, PLEEEESE not another barrel day. I'm sure with some creative thinking they could do something that would raise just as much (if not more) money then standing in one spot .... begging.
I agree about having fund-raisers and that not being a begging barrel. I went on that tree city website and they stipulate that one of the conditions of being a "tree city" is that you must have an Arbor Day celebration. I have never heard of this group having such a celebration.
I couldn't agree more. The council should ban the begging barrels. The only thing worse than teaching kids to beg while putting them in harms way, is seeing adults to lazy to do anything better than stand there and beg.
Council has not given the group the money yet. They will have to vote on it next meeting. It is not a done deal. Council is looking out for the taxpayer.
Anonymous: You want to bet on the Council outcome? If we are lucky maybe this could be the start of the end for the barrels....... but I wouldn't put my money on that happening.
The Broadway Park project started over two years ago and the people of the Broadway Park committee has raised the money through donations to purchase around $21,000 for trees and $2,000 or more for engraved pavers. They also applied for a Nature Works grant, for the sidewalks, but only was granted around $10,000. The cost of laying the brick sidewalks will cost $15,700. In the beginning, they asked if there was any money available from the parks fund but they were told no. A few months later, a pavillion at the 18th Street playground was built for $10,400 and the money came from the parks fund. The committee only asked for $5,700 to help complete the project and that will be up to council to approve.
The Broadway Park committee decided to form a Shade Tree commission and become part of Tree City USA to help in future projects. They had a Armistice Day Celebration last year and planted a tree (replacing an existing dying tree) on Broadway Park. The story and photo were in the Review.
In the first comment, you say you don't want taxpayers footing the bill.....well, making donations and securing grants still comes out of taxpayers pockets. They have no plans on doing a tag day and never will. Why is there anything wrong to ask the village to contribute to a project that is benefiting the entire town by improving a beautiful park that is a rich part of Wellsville's history? Wouldn't it be nice to see community events held in this park?
If and when the sidewalks are completed, they plan on searching for means to fund placing wrought iron benches in the park. They are in dire need of members to help with Tree City USA and instead of pointing out their wrongs, maybe you should get involved in helping them do right! They know the requirements and they have met them and continue to work on meeting other requirements. There is a lot of work that you don't realize, that goes into this. They take classes in identifying trees, have to take an inventory of all the trees that are on village property. Keep track of trees that are removed and planted. The Village of Wellsville's Shade Tree commission just received a Growth Award at a Tree City USA ceremony they attended in Leetonia in April.
Please, let's not rip on organizations that are trying to do good for the village. Support them, encourage them, become involved.
It's this stinkin' thinkin' that sucks the wind out of the sails of those who want to make a difference.
Is the Village paying for the flood wall project? That has to be more expensive than this tree thing. We are getting ripped off rght in left.
You dont have any idea why the Chief McVay complained about the liquor license transfer? Well here is a couple a reasons with out putting much thought to it. Whats known about the guy that purchased the license? Where is he getting his money to purchase the bars and license from? I heard he worked at a local pottery. That is the real question and no one will know now because they just approved the transfer with out looking into it.
Stop All of It - It is my understanding that the village doesn't have any funds going for the floodwall murals. Each mural is paid for by private donors and if you would take the time to notice at the base of each mural is the name of the individual donors. I'm pretty sure it is all handled by the Revitalization Committee. In my opinion it is a plus for the ville and we're fortunate to have these volunteers getting it started and maintaining it.
ole nib
Anon- Regarding the liquor license thing in the pool - I still stand by my opinion. The fellow trying to get that license is opening a restaurant, not a night club such as the University Club was. There is a big difference and a liquor license is essential to a restaurant. Who cares where the money is coming from? East Liverpool has a history of dragging their feet for something new and that eventually discourages the people trying to get something started. They either give up or go elsewhere. If it goes bad they can always start the process again. It is far better to have tried and failed then to never have tried at all.
ole nib
The Tree Committee or Shade Commission or whatever they are called should raise the money themselves. Yes, it is a great project, but they should raise the money and finish what they started. And that must have been some Armistice Day Celebration. I never heard word one about it. In Wellsville, that is a feat, to have something happen and not hear about it. Maybe it is a big deal to be on this committee, I just never hear anything about them. Only when they wanted the fire dept. to water trees. I never hear of them doing any fund raisers, and I would support them if they did.
The reason EVERYONE should care where the money is coming from to purchase that liquor permit is because the order that council amended said NO ONE connected to the former owner was ever to have that permit again.
Does ANYONE know whether the new owner is a relative, a business partner, a friend, of the old owner?
No, because council heard the requset and voted on it the same night instead of sending it to the franchise committee to at least look at.
As Chief McVay pointed out, it took police THREE YEARS to get that club shut down and, in two minutes, council made a move that could -- under the right circumstances -- open up another one.
No one is saying the new owner has sinister motives or plans, just that the matter was serious and should have been taken seriously by council.
Hopefully, the new business will be a success and far from the trouble spot that once held that permit, but a little investigation should have been done before just giving the owner the right to buy the permit.
McVay was completely correct.
why do the trees cost so much? I think $5,700 should buy more trees than broadway can handle. believe me i don't have anything against the committee...but can't they get the trees cheaper than that?
Where was the Arbor Day Celebration held this year, I would have liked to attended.
It is unfair if the pavillion was built and the tree people were told there were no funds. I don't like the idea of that, but I still think they could raise money. I know the flood wall committee has raised thousands to do that project.
They did raise money for the trees and engraved pavers through donations. They secured a grant. They are short $5,700 and asked the village if they could fund the rest.
I was at the public hearing held last night at the high school. What makes me mad is that only two councilman were there. They want the public to go, but they don't go themselves. I do want to thank Randy Allmon and Joe Soldano for going, ay least they care.
Who all is on this tree committee and when do they expect to have the project finished after they get the money from the village?
pic wit - your point was well taken but you'll have to clean up the language before I'll post it.
ole nib
The Shade Tree Commission & Broadway Tree/Park Committee are actually two different committees. The Shade Tree Commission has not asked for any funds from the village.
To learn more about the Shade Tree Commission check out their website at
www.wellsvilleshadetreecommission.com
I think you're mistaken about that. I believe the Broadway Park Committee is part of the Shadetree Commission. Broadway Park was/is one of their projects.
ole nib
Sorry Nib, but this time you are mistaken. There are some of the same people on the two committees, but they are totally two different committees. And the Shade Tree Commission is NOT doing Broadway Park. Broadway Park project was actually started before the Shade Tree Commission / Tree USA was ever formed.
Ole Nib......the Broadway Park committee is the one who raised the funds for the trees and sidewalks. The Shade Tree Commission has nothing to do with the project, other than helping maintain the trees once they are planted. As a result of the Broadway Park committee forming and starting this project, members of the said committee decided to form a Shade Tree Commission which is under ordinance of the Village of Wellsville. The Broadway Park committee is a non-profit group that maintains it's own account separate from the village. If the Shade Tree Commission were to raise any money, all money would have to go through the village. It's hard not to fuse the two together since there are members that serve on both.
The money is being used for the Broadway project no matter what the call themselves. So one or the other should raise the money.
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