LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Stubborn Toledo playing with fire

3/17/2017

Do Toledo leaders recognize that a population loss combined with a decrease in the tax base over the past 50 years drastically impact the city’s ability to continue to independently operate a regional water system?

One would think the city would embrace the overtures of suburban leaders to join in establishing a jointly owned water authority that would relieve Toledo of the sole responsibility of providing the region with safe, clean water. Toledo will face an almost insurmountable problem if the suburbs get together and form a separate system. A separate system would be expensive, but the suburbs could probably pull it off.

With the potential of more algal blooms, suburban leaders probably question the plant’s infrastructure.

It seems that Toledo has little leverage in this situation, and if it does not come to its senses, the suburbs will bolt.

JOHN M. STEWART

Maumee

 

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Defend the Kroger vote of planners

Weren’t two unanimous votes by the planning commission to reject Kroger’s petition to build a store on the Notre Dame property enough to prove that many of the people of Toledo do not want that land used for that? Obviously not.

Now we have a front page story in the March 10 edition of The Blade saying that two members of the zoning commission are off the panel, one of whom says he was forced off. Then we are told that “Pete” Culp, who has met with the mayor three times, is under consideration as a replacement.

This is the same Pete Culp who has been a disruptive force as a member of the Port Authority for years, which has been well-documented by The Blade. He says he has no views on the Kroger issue, but he has had three meetings with the mayor to discuss this appointment. This is cronyism at its worst.

We also have a Realtor, Denny Noneman, who purchased a large ad in The Blade, giving us the same tired arguments that we have all heard and rejected before.

In that same March 10 edition, Catherine G. Hoolahan, who is the chairman of the plan commission, writes a letter explaining just how carefully the commission arrives at its decisions, which she says are based on sound business considerations and not on the personal merits of the parties.

We need more citizens who are outraged at these tactics to speak out loud and clear on this.

If council does not stand up for our plan commission and buckles under pressure from big money interests, let’s remember them all on election day.

NICK SCOTT

Oakridge Drive