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October 23, 2017
• Group supports those dealing with heroin/opiate addiction • Heartland of Oregon resident treated to a day on the town • Anniversary wish comes true for Perrysburg Commons resident
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Oregon, power plant to partner
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By Kelly J. Kaczala Press News Editor kkaczala@presspublications.com Oregon City Council on Monday will consider passing an enterprise zone agreement with Clean Energy Future – Oregon LLC, the city’s second natural gas-fired electric power plant. “This is obviously an important next step in what we believe is an important industrial development for Oregon,” said City Administrator Mike Beazley. “We do feel good about what this means in terms of development opportunity and long-term revenue for the city. Agreements like this make sure we’re competitive.” The agreement provides a tax exemption of 100 percent for a period of 15 years on the increase in the assessed value of real and tangible property.
School district As part of the agreement, the company, city and the Oregon City Schools District will enter into a donation agreement acceptable to each of the parties. Beazley said he planned to appear at the school board meeting. Continued on page 4
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If you don’t see your favorite crime fighter here, email me. John Szozda See page 6
A Bald Eagle is spotted taking flight near Jerusalem Township. (Photo by Maggi Dandar)
Lake Twp.
Parcels not meeting zoning regs By Larry Limpf News Editor news@presspublications.com Parcels along Woodville Road in Lake Township being used to temporarily store piles of leaves for making compost don’t meet the township’s zoning requirements, according to a legal opinion provided to the township trustees. Solicitor Philip Dombey informed the trustees Tuesday that the owner of the parcels, Jim Mylnek, who also owns Woodville Road Nursery, must receive a zoning certificate from the township to operate the site as a transfer station for the leaf piles. To receive a certificate, the owner must have a stormwater management plan approved by the Wood County engineer’s office and install a buffer yard around the perimeter of the parcels. The township’s zoning inspector has determined the parcels are zoned R-2 residential. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has authorized the transfer station but that doesn’t preclude the township from deciding whether or not the owner has met stormwater and buffer requirements, Dombey said. Richard Welling, a trustee, said Mylnek will have to present his plans to the township zoning commission, which would hold a public hearing to consider his request and decide whether or not to authorize the zoning inspector to issue a
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There have been no wetlands destroyed. There is no water leaving the property. We’re doing a good thing here.
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Tax incentives The Enterprise Zone Act authorizes counties, with the consent of any affected municipal corporations or townships, to execute agreements with certain enterprises for the purpose of establishing, expanding, renovating or occupying facilities and hiring new employees and/or preserving jobs within the enterprise zone in exchange for specified local tax incentives. Clean Energy Future – Oregon LLC, plans to construct a new energy generation facility at a total cost of approximately $650 million on a parcel of land located within the enterprise zone. The project will enable the company to create on average approximately 450 construction jobs (peak of 850 jobs) over a three year construction period, and 22 new full-time permanent job opportunities once the project begins operations, with a total new annual payroll of approximately $3,100,000.
Taking flight
certificate. Residents of Bailey Road have complained about odors and possible drainage problems from the site. Before storing leaves on the site, Mylnek cleared the parcels, leaving some bushes and small trees standing around the perimeter. His business has been accepting leaves from Lake Township for more than 25 years. Other area municipalities have begun bringing their leaves to him in recent years. Mylnek didn’t attend Tuesday’s meeting. Previously, he said he purchased the parcels to give him some “elbow room” as he began accepting leaves from more
towns. The actual composting process is conducted adjacent to his business on the other side of Woodville Road. Dombey’s opinion states the clearing of the property and changing its use prior to obtaining the proper certificate is a violation of the township’s zoning regulations. “The cart got put in front of the horse,” Welling said. Mylnek on Thursday said he would apply for the zoning certificate. “We’re going to go through the process,” he said. “We are already in full compliance with the Ohio EPA. There have been no wetlands destroyed. There is no water leaving the property. We’re doing a good thing here. Most people don’t think about their leaves and grass clippings. They just know it goes to the curb and then goes away. It’s a problem everywhere, not just here in Lake Township. How to deal with green waste.” Although the parcels are zoned R-2, that stretch of Woodville is generally considered a commercial district, Mylnek said. The regulation of the facility comes under the jurisdiction of the Ohio EPA, Dombey’s opinion says. Dina Pearce, a spokesman for the Ohio EPA, said state law requires yard waste transfer facilities to follow specific rules, including posting instructions at the entrance for people bringing yard waste to the facility and preventing the facility from becoming a nuisance or health hazard due to Continued on page 5
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