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EAST LIVERPOOL -- Responding to concerns of a local environmental activists, city council Monday agreed to send a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding a local business.
During its last meeting, council and Mayor Ryan Stovall were asked by Save Our County President Alonzo Spencer to contact the EPA and ask the status of findings and penalties sent March 23, 2015 to Heritage Thermal Services Inc., which operates a hazardous waste incinerator in the East End of the city.
According to Spencer, the letter sent to HTS notified the company of violations it has committed and the effects of those violations.
Raymond Wayne, spokesman for HTS, said after that meeting the company is in good faith talks with the regulatory agency about the issue and that the company's response to the notification is on its Facebook page for public view.
Nonetheless, at that meeting, council President John Torma indicated he would form an ad hoc committee to look into Spencer's request, and a letter would be written to the EPA.
At this week's meeting, Councilman Bill Hogue presented a draft letter for consideration stating it had been brought to council's attention "word of a problem with a U.S. EPA enforcement action" extending to a couple of years.
The letter requested copies of pertinent documents relative to the issue, as well as any applicable timeline for relief and statements of progress toward a resolution.
Torma said once the information is received from the EPA, he will name the ad hoc committee.
In other matters, council was asked by a resident about the status of the Elizabeth Street Bridge project, but members were at a loss to answer, with Service-Safety Director Brian Allen not in attendance.
Utilities Director Tim Clark said he has received drawings for water and sewer relocations for the project and said there is an on-going effort by those working on the project to acquire property on either side of the bridge.
After the meeting, Allen said core drillings are taking place at the bridge site, which accounts for the heavy equipment on the span, which was closed due to safety concerns.
Among those who addressed council Monday was East Fifth Street resident Terry Sprague, who said she supports the proposed nuisance landlord, offering up a litany of run-ins she has had with residents on her street, including a neighbor who takes photos of her feeding her cats; another who parks his trucks in front of her door, creating problems for her reaching her property; one who screams with beer in her hand; one who "dropped his drawers" when confronted about dumping trash; "boob girl," who raised her shirt, showing her frontal area to Sprague; and another who has threatened to kill her and throws fireworks at her pets.
Councilman Craig Stowers said, "Just because you have bad neighbors that's not what (the legislation) is for. We can't say it's a nuisance just because you can't get along with them. It's geared for landlords who let illegal activity go on."
Councilman Ray Perorazio voiced his displeasure at the county auditor's office regarding delinquent property taxes, specifically noting a property owned by Magnum Investments he said "went delinquent" in 2007 and now owes $55,000 in delinquent taxes.
"Do we even have an auditor in Lisbon who looks at this? What's going on in Lisbon?" Perorazio.
Hogue questioned, "Does it happen across the whole county or just in our community?"
Perorazio said a letter needs sent to the county auditor citing council's concern.
In legislative action, council adopted a resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract with the auditor of state for Local Government Services to conduct the city's GAAP audit at a cost of $12,400, which city Auditor Marilyn Bosco said is no increase in price from the last contract and is cheaper than hiring an independent firm.
Licensing committee Chairman John Mercer reminded council of his committee meeting at 4 p.m. Wednesday and committee meetings were scheduled by Hogue, finance, at 3 p.m. Sept. 26, which will be immediately followed by a recreation committee meeting chaired by Ernest Peachey and then a streets committee chaired by Stowers.