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IS THE SKY REALLY FALLING?

Once again, at the June 11, 2018 regular meeting and a June 16, 2018 special meeting, Council continued to gloss over the fact that both the Summit County Health Department and the EPA have stated there is NO SEPTIC CRISIS in Peninsula. In a May 22, 2018 meeting, the Health Dept. told the residents and Council they know of no non—compliant residential systems to date. The EPA said they are working with the FOUR non—compliant commercial systems to bring them into compliance. In addition, to claiming a crisis that does not exist, what is Council doing?

  • Not approving minutes for months. That means they are not available for public viewing, effectively keeping citizens in the dark
  • Calling multiple special meetings, which only require 24—hour notice, eliminating practical notice to the citizens, again leaving them in the dark.
  • Voicing publicly that the decision of the sewer project is better left with Council, and not the residents by referendum.
  • Failing to discuss the ethics behind Stantec Engineering`s admission that they asked the EPA to take action against the Village, essentially requiring sewer or be heavily fined.
  • Acting before the Health Department has had sufficient time to complete their five—year plan to assess each of our residential septic systems to determine compliance.
  • Not considering zoning/planning/parking implications/traffic flow as a result of the sewer project (which should have been done FIRST).
  • Putting the cart before the horse—putting the plan in place before any need has been confirmed.


Amazingly, it took the EPA to convey to us the astronomical initial costs of this project, estimated to be $200 per month for each residence. By now most of you have received your second quarter tax bill. Are you currently prepared to pay an extra $2400 per year? Are we really choosing this and not considering the Health Department`s program for septic upgrades, including help for lower income residents? It appears there are options available that are not being considered and the sky is not really falling.

Jodi Padrutt