Government - http://maxpages.com/minnickward4/THE

Updated May 25, 2004

MY POSITION ON:

A. Voting on Commercial Proposals

While a member of council, I voted in favor of every commercial project except Butternut Crossings (aka Cypress aka Staubach). I voted against re-zoning Cypress property until required highway access to Lorain Rd. was obtained. (See Butternut Crossings below.) I have NOT "opposed virtually every commercial proposal brought to council." (See "Schmitt Election Complaint.")

I was not in favor of giving Beckett their second large tax abatement since 1993. Since Beckett threatened to move their facilities to another city, a smaller abatement was more appropriate. (Was this extortion on Beckett's part?)

B. Planned Community Developments:

A good concept. However, our PCD ordinance allows the density to be too high (more than six units per acre), green space includes detention basins, parking spaces and wetlands and allows 10 percent commercial--much more than a "neighborhood business." Kingston PCD did not extend Mills Road, a much-needed east/west corridor as indicated on the Master Plan and County Master Street Plan.

C. Westerly Sewers:

I did not approve of the sewer agreement between the land owners because it puts the city at great financial risk. I supported a sound plan, which would have included LORCO (not affiliated with the county), who is under Federal mandate to replace the package plant in Eaton Estates. LORCO had pre-approved money, would have constructed the sewer down Rt. 83 to Sugar Ridge, west on Sugar Ridge to Race Rd. or Maddock Rd. to the Robison Ditch then follow the ditch to Center Ridge and Case Rd. Down Case Rd. (where residents and the shopping center need the sewers) to the Avon/N. Ridgeville interceptor.

The administration's plan brings the trunk line through developer land--Shawville (formerly Kingston), Meadow Lakes (600 acres), down Race Rd. to Waterbury (800 acres). The sewer agreement was combined (contingent upon approval) with the PCD's allowing greater density (greater profits for builders). Meadow Lakes is 90 percent clusters (such as Wildflower), no usable green space for residents, and had a proposed public golf course (which was considered the green space but which now has been abandoned).

The city will pay for the entire sewer by issuing bonds. The developers are supposed to reimburse the city (beginning 5 years after construction) and the city's portion will be paid for in tap-in and construction fees. In my opinion, that takes money away from the sewer fund. The fees could have helped reduce the debt on the French Creek Sewer plant. This plan also puts the taxpayers at risk of paying for the sewer if the developers go bankrupt of if the economy cools.

D. Butternut Crossings

Qpanel planned to build a new facility on Lorain Rd. east of Lear Nagle. Mayor Hill asked them not to build because a large commercial developement was proposed and a portion of Qpanel's property would be needed. (Qpanel was also offered $5 million from First Interstate Land Development,a local land developer, but because the city asked them first to sell to Cypress, Qpanel turned down the offer.) Qpanel's property had the only access to Lorain Rd., a requirement of B-3 zoning. Our Council inappropriately re-zoned Cypress' land from R-1 to B-3 BEFORE proper access to Lorain Rd. was obtained.

Several times Qpanel and Cypress agreed on a price, but Cypress backed out of those agreements. (See "Qpanel letter.") The city then teamed up with Cypress to take Qpanel's property by eminent domain. Five council members approved the eminent domain procedure and were ultimately were sued by Qpanel. (Gil Cornish and I were not sued because we did not vote against our laws.) A lengthy court battle ensued. (The lawsuit is on lorain county.com/clerk.) During that time, AutoNation, the anchor and only business that was committed to building in NR, developed financial problems nationwide and decided not to build any new stores. No other businesses were ever named or committed to the project.

There are small pockets of wetlands on the Qpanel and Cypress properties. The Army Corps of Engineers, at the onset of the proposed commercial site, solicited comments from the residents about destroying the wetlands. Many residents called me requesting that Cypress leave the wetlands intact and to work around them. I relayed the residents concerns to the Corps--my job as Ward 4 council representative.

Cypress obtained a grant to help pay for adding a third lane on a portion of Lear Nagle. That grant had an expiration date and because of the lengthy legal battle and AutoNation backing out, time ran out on the grant before another anchor store could be found. The Hill administration was reponsible for losing THREE different commercial developments--Qpanel, First Interstate Land Development, and Cypress Equities in addition to the lost grant.

E. Lawsuits

The lawsuits that the city finds itself in are the direct result of the Hill administration and council ignoring the residents and ordinances time and time again.

Regarding the PCD's, Residents came to me and asked what they could do to. They felt (and I agreed) that the PCD's as planned would be disasterous to our city. PCD's could be good, but our ordinance was written favoring developers, not taxpayers. I told the residents referendum could be used. Referendums allow voters to make the final decision at the polls. I provided information to these residents, and Stop Abusing Master Plan (STAMP) for formed.

Kingston PCD was successfully referendumed and placed on the ballot. However, our law director changed his legal opinion and ignored the referendum petition. STAMP took the case to the Supreme Court, who ruled in STAMP's favor. The city was ordered to pay legal fees.

STAMP also successfully referendumed Meadow Lakes and Waterbury. Council illegally added the emergency clause to avoid referendum (adding the "emergency" puts an ordinance in effect immediately rather than waiting 30 days). The referendum petitions were deemed illegal.

You were told that a collector road, to be constructed throgh Meadow Lakes to and through Waterbury would alleviate traffic congestion; however, the collector road does not go through to Chestnut Ridge, where the new residents could pick up I-480 (Rt. 10) and avoid using existing city streets. The proposed "collector" road through Meadow Lakes may not be built nor will Meadow Lakes' golf course.

The lawsuits are a direct result of the administration and council not following the law, our Charter, our ordinances, and not being responsive to residents. The laws were manipulated by our law director, Eric Zagrans, who repead the benefits of the extra legal work--at taxpayer expense.

The Hill administration and democrat majority council did not appear to be working for the residents, had their agendas, which favored special interests, and could have a devastating impact on our city for years to come. (See "Campaign Contributions.")

F. Telephone Issue

Apparently some inaccurate stories are being circulated about my involvement in reducing our telephone bills. Here are the facts: A resident came to me in 1994 and said we have to do something about the long distance charges (35 cents/min or $12.60/2 hrs.). I contacted PUCO, wrote and circulated petitions, created the legal papers and submitted all the documents. (Meanwhile, the other gal backed out and I was left alone with this undaunting responsibility.) The city would not help.

I contacted Elyria Memorial Hospital (and other large companies) in an attempt to have heavy toll users help in the EAS case. EMH referred me to Bob Olesen, who worked there at the time. Mr. Olesen would not get involved. Some businesses offered money; however, I used a great deal of my own money. I was well into the case when Mr. Schmitt called me and offered to pay legal expenses because the phones were crucial to his new Ridgefield development. I had to find someone to circulate petitions for GTE and submit them. NR has 3 telephone companies, 2 are in Ridgefield.

I organized the full-day hearing in NR and prepared many legal briefs. I even found Alltel cheating on billing and a host of other problems. My 3 years of service were given free of charge with nothing expected in return. There were negotiations with Alltel--no tantrums. I don't know where that came from. I (with the help of Mr. Schmitt's money) won optional toll-free service throughout Lorain and Cuyahoga Counties and lowered the per-minute charges to 5 cents. When I received my awards, I always mentioned Mr. Schmitt's help. There are those who want to even take this accomplishment away from me!

G. An excerpt from LorainCounty.com:

"The "Over the Hill Gang", otherwise know as People for Economic Progress (whose economic progress--special interests or the city's?), should change their name to that of the movie "The Gang that Couldn't Shoot Straight". Their attempts to discredit the STAMP group were full of incorrect information and in direct violation of Section 3517.21 of the election laws of the State of Ohio in that they knowingly distributed info that was false and was designed to defeat candidates. (Examples - 1) The Kingston PCD was halted by a vote of the people not by STAMP, 2)The AutoNation project was not halted by harassment by STAMP but by financial problems that Auto Nation had, 3) Candidates that have no involvement with STAMP are labled as STAMP members. Either Jerry Canterbury is stupid or was duped into his role with the "Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight"......"

"The STAMP group should be applauded for their efforts to give the residents of North Ridgeville the opportunity to vote, and for searching for the truth that the "Five Blind Mice," that were characterized in a Chronicle editorial cartoon a while back, seemed to be blind to. Now Jerry C."s group would like us to believe that "North Ridgeville residents are being held hostage by a small band of renegade council members with questionable agendas". Small band?? Two council members that research and question issues that involve the future of NR are holding the residents hostage, while the "Five Blind Mice" rubber stamp the mayor's questionable, hidden agenda. I think the voters of NR should "Cancel the mayor's Rubber Stamp members of council" and take the Jerry C.'s mailer to the polls with them and vote for the those candidates that Jerry C. marked with a "Cancel STAMP"." (footnote: I do believe they did just that!)

THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ THIS PAGE. Please e-mail me with any questions you may have.

minnickgail@hotmail.com

Page Updated Fri Oct 1, 2004 11:36pm EDT