To the editor: Lead ordinance is not unreasonable for landlords
6/14/2018
A representative of the Lucas County Public Health Department holds a dust wipe that is used to get an accurate assessment of lead particulate in a house. Opponents of the city's lead safe ordinance seek to roll back one of its most important elements.
As a landlord, at first I did not really feel that the lead inspection law was fair because it was required for units with one to four families (June 3, “Confusion and panic as Toledo tenants fear ousting for lead law”). That being said, I did have my four units inspected. They passed.
Reading that there is such a low percentage that have complied is something I don’t understand. The law is more of a maintenance issue — no peeling paint inside or out and no bare ground three feet from the outside of the building. Further, you are allowed to clean the dust wipe test areas before testing. It’s not an abatement.
So, before landlords evict people and give up your income, maybe they should look into what is required under the law.
CHUCK JACKSON
Temperance
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Discuss water safety and rates, not ownership and control
In 40 years of living in Toledo, there have been numerous decisions and actions that have made no sense. The latest is the arrogance and shortsightedness of the city to walk out of the regional water talks.
Ultimately, this is just another effort by the city to bully the suburbs and have things their way. The city is wrong, and this approach will never work. After all, aren’t the reasons to assemble a governing board to set sensible rates, manage the entire system, and ensure success and potable water for the years to come?
In the end, TAWA not only makes sense but is in the best interest of entire region. The issue should not be water plant ownership or control of the water and water rates, but rather regional cooperation, water rate stabilization, and equalization. Affordable and reasonable water rates should be primary while plant ownership secondary.
Not forming a regional water authority is not an option. It’s time the city shed its bullying, “my way or the highway” tactic and return to the table and negotiate in a way that makes sense for the entire region. It’s time for Toledo to look to the future rather than doing things the way we always have. There is more at stake than just water.
DONALD CARINO
Ottawa Hills