By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
One of the strongest voices against the Nexus pipeline was back at Bowling Green City Council Monday evening. He lost his battle to stop the pipeline with a charter amendment – so he is now hoping to make sure construction of the line is monitored for safety.
Brad Holmes asked for confirmation that the city will keep its commitment to monitor the pipeline underground crossing of the Maumee River. City officials assured that they would.
The natural gas Nexus pipeline will run from eastern Ohio to Canada, and be buried just 800 feet from Bowling Green’s water treatment plant along its route. So Holmes said he was asking for the line to be monitored on behalf of all the people who rely on the city’s water.
Holmes mentioned the poor environmental record of Rover Pipeline, which has spilled drilling fluid during its construction process in southern Ohio.
The Nexus line is currently under construction and will likely be done by the end of summer.
Mayor Dick Edwards said he has every intention to work very closely with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. “They are the ones who will be doing the monitoring” since they have the equipment and knowledge, he said.
Edwards said he will keep council and the public in the loop on when the river crossing work is scheduled.
Council President Mike Aspacher said Ohio EPA Director Craig Butler promised his agency would be very hands-on during the river crossing construction. “We’re very well on the record with our concerns,” he said.
And the Ohio EPA was responsive.
“They are very mindful of the lessons they learned in southern Ohio,” from the Rover spills, Aspacher said.
Council member John Zanfardino agreed. “They were going to be heightening their monitoring,” he said.
Also at Monday’s meeting, Aspacher congratulated council members Bill Herald, Sandy Rowland and Zanfardino for coming up with a food truck ordinance. City Attorney Mike Marsh is now working on the exact language of the ordinance.
The council committee of the whole will meet May 21, at 6 p.m., to review the proposed food truck ordinance.
Al Alvord, who resides in Bowling Green and Florida, thanked the city for working on the “monumental task” of creating a mobile food vendor ordinance. Alvord, a retired BG police officer, has a hot dog vending business.
Also at Monday’s meeting, Public Utilities Director Brian O’Connell reported that one of the city’s wind turbines needs maintenance for a bad gear box. Two of the four wind turbines have already needed new gear boxes, which were replaced under warranty. This turbine is post warranty, but the gear box has lasted the life expectancy of 15 years, O’Connell said.
The gear box will cost $400,000, which the utilities department had set aside for such expenses.
O’Connell also reported that the city utilities have received an award for reliability.
“I think that’s a really big deal,” Aspacher said. “It distinguishes us in the state of Ohio.”
“We really are spot on in our mission” of delivering utility services, he said.
Council member Bruce Jeffers agreed, saying the award shows “how valuable it is for us to have public power here in Bowling Green.”
In other business at Monday’s meeting:
- Shannon Orr presented an update from the charter review committee. The committee has presented six suggested charter changes. Those changes will be discussed by council at its next meeting on May 21. “We are very appreciative of all the time and effort,” Aspacher said to Orr.
- Edwards reported that more than 400 people are participating in the state fire school being held this week at Bowling Green State University.
- The mayor also noted the progress being made on the Wooster Green. The gazebo construction is on schedule, he said.
- Jeffers asked the city administration to compare Bowling Green’s Job Creation and Retention Program to others to see if the incentives being offered by other communities are comparable to Bowling Green’s.
- O’Connell reported that John Rehm has retired as electric superintendent, and has been replaced by John Stewart.
- Parks and Recreation Director Kristin Otley announced the city pool will open May 26.
- Members of the city’s inaugural Citizens Academy were recognized. Eleven city residents toured various municipal departments and offices to learn about city services. During the last seven months, the group met twice a month at sites like the water treatment plant, fire station, police station and public works garage.
