From Judge Gallagher's Opinion in the Bass Energy Suit:
"Section 2 of Resolution 63-2006 (authorizing Mayor Coleman to sign a drilling lease ) states that (it) is contingent upon the approval of... three (well) sites by the City of Highalnd Heights and the commitment of Bass Energy to drill the wells on all three sites. Pursuant to Resolution 63-2006, Defendant's mayor (Mayor Coleman) had no power to enter into the Lease until three locations were selected. Despite the fact that three locations were not selected or approved (of) in writing, the parties (Mayor Coleman and Bass) signed the Lease agreement."
No power, but Mayor Coleman signed the lease anyway---- OH MY.
Did You Notice What Was Missing From the Parade Route on Sunday?
The Home Days parade is a wonderful event. It's lots of fun to watch and to be part of (I've had the privilege to participate the last two years, as a member of the LOGS contingent). The parade travels from the Catalano's parking lot along Wilson Mills up to the Community Park.
One eagle eye participant noticed something missing from the parade route this year.
What was it?
The Cutter Oil sign that is posted at the end of Jim Dasher's Wilson Mills driveway--and the accompanying sign that warns against trespassing and the danger of having open flames in the area. (But heh, gas never escapes from those wells, does it? Oh yes, just ask our neighbors in Bainbridge, if you dont know the answer to that question.)
Both signs were gone on Sunday, when the parade passed by. But they were up again, by Monday.
Now you see it, now you don't.
Wonder why Cutter Oil was so anxious to be anonymous all of a sudden, after sinking wells in two Highland Heights residential neighborhoods....
Highland Road Pedestrian Pathway Cost Overruns. Yikes.
The final tally is in, and the cost overruns for that project--overseen by former city engineer Andy Blackley of Stephen Hovanscek & Associates, was approximately $ 150,000. I have heard that two other projects that Mr. Blackley oversaw in the last few years had similar, substantial cost overruns.
Mayor Coleman, with the support of Councilmen Anderson, Legan, Hargate, and Pilla, rehired Mr. Blackley's firm to serve as the city's engineering firm for the next two years...
At least some members of council showed some common and financial sense on that issue---councilwoman Murphy and councilmen Mills and Lombardo voted no.
Council Finally Took a Stand on the Gas Well Issue...but the Mayor was Silent (again)
On Tuesday, Council unanimously passed a resolution endorsing state Sen. Grendell's proposal to change the state's drilling laws, which seeks to better protect our residential neighborhoods from gas wells.
A copy of the resolutionwill be sent to the Governor and state legislative leaders in Columbus. Highland Heights has now joined Gates Mills, Mayfield Village, and other surrounding communities, all of whom have gone on the record in favor of changing the law to protect residential neighborhoods, restore some measure of local control, and stop "mandatory pooling," which drilling companies use to force property owners into drilling leaseholds.
I thanked council and commended them for their action.
Mayor Coleman sat in silence the entire time. He expressed no support for the resolution-- let alone personally endorse it.
Which brings me back to Judge Gallagher's finding:
Mayor Coleman inked the drilling deal with Bass Energy--allowing them to drill gas wells in the park---even though he did not have the legal power to do so. If he hadn't done that, there would be no $ 7 million suit against the city. But he did, and the suit continues on...
# # #
