No Vote Yet on Gas Well Settlement
Highland Heights Council has first reading on proposed agreement.
Photos
A final vote on a proposed settlement of the Bass Energy lawsuit might take place at Tuesday's Highland Heights City Council meeting.
The resolution authorizing a $600,000 settlement payment was on the agenda of a special council meeting last night, but no vote was taken. Mayor Scott Coleman said city officials didn't want to take action at a special meeting, but might decide the matter on May 8.
"We want to put this behind us as soon as possible," he said.
Bass Energy had sought $7 million in its breach of contract lawsuit, filed in 2008 after council rescinded a lease for two gas wells in the city's park. The lease had been signed by Coleman in 2007.
A settlement considered earlier this year would have allowed two wells to be drilled in the park, but council unanimously rejected that proposed lease and decided instead to proceed to arbitration to settle the lawsuit.
However, Murphy, Coleman and Law Director Tim Paluf meet with Bass Energy representatives and they agreed to a $600,000 payment to settle the lawsuit.
Mike Times
9:24 pm on Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Murphy, Coleman, Paluf and the rest of council who voted to void the contract need to pay it themselves. If you want to listen to the folks who 100 years ago would have been against electricity because it was different, then I suggest you all refi you houses personally and pay the $600,000 plus lawyers costs yourselves! Maybe the nervous nellies will help you out.
amy feran
8:54 am on Thursday, May 3, 2012
Clearly Mr. Times disagrees with the 73% of Highland Heights residents who, in 2008, overwhelmingly approved adding a new section to the Highland Heights Charter, one that explicitly bans gas wells from the Community Park and all city-owned parkland.
While Mr. Times may personally disagree with that provision, it is the law of our city and must be obeyed.
This has been a very expensive lesson for the city, one that illustrates what happens when elected officials choose NOT to consult with residents before making controversial decisions.
Taxpayers can only hope that Mayor Scott Coleman---who brought the drilling deal to Council and whose premature signing of a drilling lease opened the door to Bass Energy's breach of contract claim---has paid attention and learned from his mistakes.