Council's Contempt For Residents

In 2007 Highland Heights Council passed a resolution that conditionally authorized Mayor Scott Coleman to sign gas well leases for the municipal center and the Community Park – an unfortunate act that resulted in a lawsuit and the adoption of a new Charter provision banning gas wells from city parks.

On March 13 council will vote on a new drilling resolution that authorizes the mayor to sign a new lease allowing two "frac" gas wells (one a 1,600-foot directional well) to be drilled in the Community Park.

Residents' last chance to be heard on the issue of putting gas wells in the park is the March 13 Council meeting, 8 p.m., Highland Heights City Hall.

The new resolution was the product of secret, behind-closed-door executive session discussions.

Council did not consult with residents or otherwise make public that it was considering such a move.

Talk about déjà vu.

To comply with state law, council scheduled a public hearing with representatives from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources – the agency that refused to shut down a Bainbridge gas well after it contaminated an aquifer and caused a home explosion a couple of years ago.

The fact that council waited until the last minute to hold the hearing, after the resolution had two of three required readings, sent an unmistakable message to residents regarding its intention to pass the resolution despite the new charter provision, which not only bans gas wells from the park but also requires voter approval before any city parkland is sold, leased or exchanged. 

I attended the March 6 "hearing." Council President Cathy Murphy exercised tight control over the meeting – perhaps out of fear of what Council might hear if residents were allowed to fully and openly speak their minds.

Residents were allowed to ask questions, but were quickly cut off whenever they attempted to engage in a dialogue about the drilling resolution. Significantly, Mayor Coleman and the other Ccouncil members sat mute. They did not make any comments or ask any questions during the meeting.

Council members are not kings or dictators.

They have a duty to serve and obey our charter, our laws, and the will of the people who elected them.

Council’s new drilling resolution reflects clear contempt for the 3,607 Highland Heights residents who overwhelmingly voted in 2008 to amend the charter to ban gas wells from the Community Park.

Shame, shame on them.