By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Safe water, a quality workforce, and the opiate epidemic top the list of concerns for Wood County Commissioner candidates Dr. Ted Bowlus and Joel Kuhlman.
Both Bowlus, a Republican and podiatrist, and incumbent commissioner Kuhlman, a Democratic and attorney, grew up in the Pemberville area. The two are competing for one of the two open commissioner seats.
Facing off for the other open seat are Democrat Ed Kolanko and Republican incumbent Craig LaHote, both from the northern end of Wood County. A story on that race will appear later.
Kuhlman and Bowlus see the water issue as multi-faceted. There is the issue of Lake Erie’s “impaired designation” status, and the decision on water sources for the region.
The commissioners have been asked to support an effort to have the Western Lake Erie Basin declared “impaired.” That designation would get the U.S. EPA involved in identifying the sources of the phosphorus creating the harmful algal blooms.
Neither Bowlus nor Kuhlman are sold on the need for “impaired” status, though Kuhlman is more open to considering the designation. After sitting through a series of meetings on the issue, Kuhlman called the discussions “enlightening” and “confusing.”
While parts of the western basin are already labeled as impaired, Kuhlman wants to delay the decision until more facts are gathered.
Bowlus has made up his mind that the impairment status would do more harm than good.
“I feel strongly we should not designate the lake as impaired,” he said. “The federal government will step in and the Army Corps of Engineers would dictate to us.”
Bowlus also objected to the bulk of the blame being placed on farmers for the water quality problems. “It’s not just the farmers. It’s the antiquated septic systems. It’s the contributions from Detroit. The farmers are complying with the current regulations. How can we blame them?”
Both candidates also believe the county needs to investigate alternative water sources identified in multiple studies.
Kuhlman stressed the importance of three issues – reasonable water rates, voting rights for Wood County on the distribution process, and the regional economic development impact.
“We need to do what’s in the best interest of residents of Wood County,” Kuhlman said.
Kuhlman believes in the value of keeping Toledo strong as changes are considered. A regional water board centered around Toledo, but giving votes to outlying areas would be beneficial, he said. “That gives us a say in rates and infrastructure improvements.”
At the same time, Kuhlman is interested in study results that show Bowling Green as a strong alternative water source.
“We’ll continue to nurture that potentiality,” he said. “We need as many options on the table as we can possibly get.”
Bowlus has also familiarized himself with the water studies conducted by Sylvania, Toledo and the Wood County Economic Development Commission.
“All three agree the regional approach is the best,” Bowlus said, with the possibility of another water intake being added on Lake Erie. “I am in favor of the regional approach.”
Both candidates are also concerned about the opiate crisis and its impact on Wood County residents.
“I think it’s important for the Wood County citizens to realize it’s not just the large cities having deaths, but also the rural areas,” Bowlus said.
“We need to educate the public and have experts come together to develop solutions,” he said.
Kuhlman noted his support of the county commissioners financially backing the Vivitrol program for local inmates who are opiate addicts and are re-entering the community. The medication prevents them from feeling the “high” of opiates and gives them a better chance of staying clean.
“This is the most dangerous time for a heroin addict,” upon release from jail when their tolerance for opiates is so low and the chance of an overdose is so high, Kuhlman said. “It’s so immediate because of the vulnerability of people being affected.”
Kuhlman also has concerns about providing a strong workforce here in Wood County. “With the exception of Wood County, population is in a decline” in the region, he said. “That means we have employers that have less people to hire.”
The Good Jobs Program with the Wood County Economic Development Commission, Kuhlman said, works to gather information from local graduating seniors about their success finding jobs.
Bowlus has concerns about tax abatements given to companies, such as the recent one approved for the solar field north of Bowling Green. “We have given the company building the solar field many, many concessions,” he said.
The construction firm on the site is not required to use local workers, and solar panels from a Korean firm are being used, rather than panels from a local company.
“I was disappointed that our contract didn’t write in that the Wood County company, First Solar, be used,” Bowlus said, adding that the contract should have also required use of local electrical workers.
Kuhlman pushed for answers from the solar firm before the tax abatement was approved. And upon finding that some of the labor requirements may have been violated by the construction firm, the county commissioners wrote a letter insisting that the labor rules be followed.
Bowlus is also concerned about the four pipelines in various planning stages across Wood County. He is worried about decreased crop production and destruction of field tile, that will “possibly cause permanent damage to that land.”
As a commissioner, Bowlus said he would be an advocate for farmers.
And if the pipelines are constructed here, Bowlus said the county should be able to tap into the product being shipped. “Somehow, we should turn lemons into lemonade.”
As a commissioner, Kuhlman requested that pipeline companies consider combining routes to create pipeline corridors and perhaps building in existing road right-of-ways in an effort to damage less farmland.
Another issue mentioned by Kuhlman is the recent effort by the county commissioners to help rural areas fix unsafe intersections and other infrastructure. “We all believe the people in Wood County are our most important investment.”
The county has also been using the casino tax revenue to bulk up the bridge repair fund. “We didn’t want to just supplement our general fund,” Kuhlman said.
And meanwhile, the county’s financial status remains strong, he said.
“The county’s in a great position financially,” Kuhlman said. “That is our primary job, to make sure we manage the taxpayers’ money responsibly.”
Kuhlman, who works as an attorney on a limited basis because of the demands of the commissioner’s job, has served as a county commissioner for five years.
Bowlus, who has worked 30 years in medicine, said he has flexible hours in his podiatry business. He has also served on the Wood County Board of Health, Eastwood Board of Education, Behavioral Connections Board, and National Alliance on Mental Illness Board.
