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Showing posts with label NEORSD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NEORSD. Show all posts

Friday, January 7, 2011

Make a Public Comment on the NEORSD Sewer Rate Increase

 ACTION ALERT

The next step for the imposing of the proposed sewer rate increase in 63 communities in Cuyahoga and parts of Summit, Lorain & Lake County is the filing or formalizing of the proposed Consent Decree recently approved by the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District

The proposed Consent Decree between the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) and the EPA has been filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of OH.  This Consent Decree is for the $3 billion in upgrades to reduce Combined Sewer Overflow's (CSO's) as mandated by the EPA under the Project Clean Lake initiative and the Clean Water Act.  (United States and the State of Ohio v. Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, Civil Action No. 10-cv-02895).

The Notice of Lodging of a Consent Decree Under the Clean Water Act can be read by clicking here.
With the filing of this Consent Decree the Justice Dept has a 30 day period for public comment on the the proposed rate increases and mandated repairs.  Please take the time to make a public comment by email, U.S. Mail, fax and phone. 

Comments should be addressed to;

Assistant Attorney General  (Please note below RE: on envelope if mailing)
Environment and Natural Resources Division
P.O. Box 7611
U.S. Department of Justice
Washington, DC 20044-7611

Fax: (202)514-0097 

AND

Tonia Fleetwood / Legal Information Specialist
PH: (202)514-1547
FX: (202)514-0097

PLEASE NOTE: For all correspondence & comments to be considered you must reference; 
United States v. Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, D.J. Ref. 90-5-1-1-08177/1

You can also approach the elected officials in your community and request that they pass a resolution against these arbitrary increases mandated by the EPA on an already economically distressed area.  Ask your elected official to forward the Resolution to the above contact information.

The Consent Decree and the $3 Billion EPA mandate to reduce CSO"s are the only sewer/infrastructure addressed in this proposed agreement. The combined sewer overflow is not the same and is seperate from a Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) and storm water management.  In the near future we can expect the EPA will also mandate upgrades for SSO's due to the failing sanitary infrastructure throught this region/watershed.

What is a CSO? (Click here for map)
What is a SSO?

All three of the above fall under the Clean Water Act and are regulated by the EPA. To sum this up, the sewer rate increase for the $3 billion in repairs will only address the issues with CSO's and NOT SSO's or Storm Water Management issues. That means -- after the rate increase for the CSO' problem, they will soon be asking for MORE of your money to make EPA mandated upgrades on the SSO's and Storm Water issues.

Previous Sewer Rate Increase Posts;

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Comments from Middleburg Hts Mayor Gary Starr & County Council-elect Dave Greenspan on proposed Sewer Rate Increase (Video)

Comments from the NEORSD, Middleburg Hts Mayor Gary Starr & County Council-elec Dave Greenspan after he NEORSD public meeting on the $3 Billion Clean Lake Project.... (H/T NotAtypicalPatriot)

Sunday, November 28, 2010

NEORSD Public Meeting for Sewer Rate Increase (Video)

H/T & thanks to NotATypicalPatriot for filming the NEORSD Public Meeting on November 17, 2010. 

This was one of the public meetings hosted by the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) regarding the proposed 300% Sewer Rate Increase for 63 communities in the N/E Ohio area.  This tax is being forcefully imposed on the residents by the NEORSD to pay for EPA mandated upgrades under the proposed $3 Billion Clean Lake Project for compliance with the Clean Water Act.  This particular sewer rate increase is separate & above the proposed Storm Sewer Tax being sought by the NEORSD.

Join us and several other Tea Party & Liberty groups in supporting Middleburg Hts Mayor & NEORSD Board Member Gary Starr request that a 1yr moratorium be put in place on any sewer rate increase. For our Action Alerts on contact info and who to call please click the following; Action Alert 1 / Action Alert 2.









Monday, November 22, 2010

ACTION ALERT: Stop The Sewer Rate Increase (Part 2)

ACTION ALERT

In Part 1 of this Stop the Sewer Rate Increase Action Alert (click here to read) the contact information for the NEORSD Sewer Board members & EPA are listed.  Please continue contacting the Board members and the EPA with your concerns about the proposed sewer rate increase, the lack of transparency in the process & the complete disregard of public accountability shown by the NEORSD Board members.

You can also click here to leave comments on the NEORSD website.

Joining the Village of Macedonia, City of Middleburg Hts, City of Lyndhurst, and the City of Broadview Hts. -- the City of Strongsville has also passed a Resolution supporting the 1yr Moratorium. Please contact the Mayor & Council of your city and request they do the same. Click here to find the contact information for the 63 communities serviced by the NEORSD.

Our immediate task at hand is to have the Sewer Board pass a 1yr Moratorium on the propsoed increase.  This starting to gain traction and currently more cities are taking the steps of passing Resolutions supporting the request for a 1yr Moratorium. Besides expressing disgust over the NEORSD Board members actions, State Senator Tim Grendell & State Senator Tom Patton have also joined us in requesting a 1yr Moratorium.

Please contact the below elected and 'elect' officials and request they also stand for the people and support the 1yr Moratorium.  When contacting the below officials with this initial request we encourage you to be cordial in expressing your concerns.  Officials expressing the willingness to join us & support the 1yr Moratorium can email their public statement of support to clevelandteaparty@gmail.com.

Note: To make emailing easier at the end of the contact info for the below OH Reps & OH Senators their email addresses have been listed together so you can cut, copy & paste them into your email browser.

Cuyahoga County Executive & Council

Ed Fitzgerald (County Executive)
PH: (216) 529-6600
Email: mayor@lakewoodoh.net

Dave Greenspan (District 1)
Will Review & Respond

State Senator Dale Miller (District 2)
(REFUSES to Support Moratorium)
PH: (614)466-5123
PH: (216) 252-7827

Dan Brady (District 3)
Email: daniel.r.brady@gmail.com

Chuck Germana (District 4)
??? Undecided ???
PH: (440)882-2013
Email: chuck.germana@gmail.com

Michael Gallagher (District 5)
Supports Request for Moratorium

Jack Schron (District 6)
Unavailable to Contact

Yvonne Conwell (District 7)
Click Here to Email

Pernell Jones Jr. (District 8)
Will Respond Monday

C. Ellen Connolly (District 9)
PH: (216)321-2705
Email: ellenconnally@gmail.com

Julian Rogers (District 10)
Will Review & Respond

Sunny Simon (District 11)
Unavailable until Nov. 30th
Email: simonsunnys@aol.com

OH House Members

(Cuyahoga County Area)

Rep. Kenny Yuko (District 7)
PH: (614)466-8012
FX: (614)719-0007
Email: district07@ohr.state.oh.us

Rep. Armond Budish (District 8)
PH: (614) 466-5441
FX: (614) 719-0008
Email: district08@ohr.state.oh.us

Rep. Barbara Boyd (District 9)
PH: (614) 644-5079
FX: (614) 719-0009
Email: district09@ohr.state.oh.us

Rep. Robin Belcher (District 10)
PH: (614)466-7954
FX: (614)719-0010
Email: district10@ohr.state.oh.us

Rep.-Elect Bill Patmon (District 10)
PH: (216)861-7368

Rep. Sandra Williams (District 11)
PH: (614) 466-1414
FX: (614) 719-0011
Email: district11@ohr.state.oh.us

Rep. Michael DeBose (District 12)
PH: (614)466-1408
FX: (614)719-3912
Email: district12@ohr.state.oh.us

Rep.-Elect John Barnes (District 12)
Email: info@barnesforohio.com
Email: john@barnesforohio.com
Email: andrew@barnesforohio.com

Rep. Michael Skindell (District 13)
PH: (614)466-5921
FX: (614)719-3913
Email: district13@ohr.state.oh.us

Rep.-Elect Nickie Antonio (District 13)
PH: (216)529-6055
PH: (216)221-4421
Email: nickieantonio@aol.com

Rep. Mike Foley (District 14)
PH: (614)466-3350
FX: (614)719-3910
Email: district14@ohr.state.oh.us

Rep. Timothy DeGeeter (District 15)
PH: (614) 466-3485
FX: (614) 719-3911
Email: district15@ohr.state.oh.us

Rep. Nan Baker (District 16)
PH: (614)466-0961
FX: (614)719-3998
Email: district16@ohr.state.oh.us

Rep. Josh Mandel (District 17)
PH: (614)644-6041
FX: (614)719-6956
Email: district17@ohr.state.oh.us

Rep.-Elect Marlene Anielski (District 17)
Email: Marlene@marlene4ohio.com

Rep. Matt Patten (District 18)
PH: (614)466-4895
FX: (614)719-6957
Email: district18@ohr.state.oh.us

Rep.-Elect Mike Dovilla (District 18)
PH: (440)973-7111
Email: mike@dovillaforohio.com

Rep. Richard Hollington (District 98)
PH: (614) 644-5088
FX: (614) 719-6998
Email: district98@ohr.state.oh.us

Rep.-Elect Tim Grendell (District 98)
Supports Request for Moratorium

(Lake County Area)

Rep. Lorain Fende (District 62)
PH: (614)466-7251
FX: (614)719-3962
Email: district62@ohr.state.oh.us

(Lorain County Area)

Rep. Matt Lundy (District 57)
PH: (614)644-5076
FX: (614)719-3957
Email: district57@ohr.state.oh.us

(Summit County Area)

Rep. Brian Williams (District 41)
PH: (614)644-5085
FX: (614)719-6941
Email: district41@ohr.state.oh.us

Rep.-Elect Lynn Slaby (District 41)
Email: slaby4rep@aol.com

Rep. Mike Moran (District 42)
PH: (614)466-1177
FX: (614)719-6942
Email: district42@ohr.state.oh.us

Rep.-Elect Kristina Roegner (District 42)
PH: (330)920-8455

Cut, Copy & Paste into your email for quick sending the above OH Representatives...
district07@ohr.state.oh.us, district08@ohr.state.oh.us, district09@ohr.state.oh.us, district10@ohr.state.oh.usdistrict11@ohr.state.oh.us, district12@ohr.state.oh.usinfo@barnesforohio.com, district13@ohr.state.oh.usnickieantonio@aol.com, district14@ohr.state.oh.us, district15@ohr.state.oh.us, district16@ohr.state.oh.us, district17@ohr.state.oh.us, Marlene@marlene4ohio.comdistrict18@ohr.state.oh.us, mike@dovillaforohio.com, district98@ohr.state.oh.us, district62@ohr.state.oh.us, district42@ohr.state.oh.us, district57@ohr.state.oh.usdistrict41@ohr.state.oh.us, slaby4rep@aol.com,

Ohio Senate

(Cuyahoga County Area)

State Senator Shirley Smith (21st District)
PH: (614)466-4857

State Senator Dale Miller (23rd District)
PH: (614)466-5123

State Senator-Elect Michael Skindell (23rd District)
PH: (614)466-5921
FX: (614)719-3913
Email: district13@ohr.state.oh.us

State Senator Tom Patton (24th District)
Supports Request for Moratorium

State Senator Nina Turner (25th District)
PH: (614)466-4583

(Lorain County Area)

State Senator Sue Morano (13th District)
PH: (614)644-7613

State Senator-Elect Gayle Manning (13th District)

State Senator Kevin Coughlin (27th District)
PH: (614)466-4823

State Senator-Elect Frank LaRose (27th District)
PH: (330)461-6446

U.S. Congress


Congressman Dennis Kucinich (OH-10)
D.C. Office
PH:(202)225-5871
FX: (202)225-5745

Parma Office
PH: (440)845-2707
FX: (440)845-2743

Lakewood Office
PH: (216)228-8850
FX: (216)228-6465

Congresswoman Marcia Fudge (OH-11)
D.C. Office
PH: (202)225-7032
DC FX: (202)225-1339

District Office
PH: (216)522-4900
FX: (216)522-4908

Congresswoman Betty Sutton (OH-13)
D.C. Office
PH: (202)225-3401
District Office
PH: (330)865-8450
Chief of Staff Email:
nichole.reynolds@mail.house.gov or nichole.reynold@mail.house.gov

Friday, November 19, 2010

Action Alert: STOP THE SEWER RATE INCREASE

ACTION ALERT
Stop the Sewer Rate Increase

At the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) public hearing this past Wednesday night nearly 250-300 people showed up to voice their displeasure's over the proposed sewer rate increase. Other than Julius Ciaccia (NEORSD Executive Director), the only NEORSD Board Members present were Middleburg Hts Mayor Gary Starr & Ron Sulik. 

After hearing comments from citizens & Tea Party members from across the District, when asked if he would support the moratorium on the rate increase -- Mr. Sulik "was still undecided."  Whereas, Mayor Starr was a "star" in speaking out against this gross abuse of power by the NEORSD & the U.S. EPA and requested a 1yr moratorium on these increases that will cause an increase in your sewer bill to more than $50 a month by 2016 and eventually to more than $140 per month.

The increase to fund the $3 Billion Clean Lake Project is over, above & separate from the additional Storm Water Management Fees the NEORSD is also seeking to impose on behalf of the U.S. EPA & the Clean Water Act.

The NEORSD will vote on this rate increase at 12:30pm on December 2, 2010. In a NEORSD meeting held today, Mayor Starr made a motion to re-schedule the time of this meeting at 7:00pm so it would afford the public the availability to attend this meeting.  NOT ONE BOARD MEMBER WOULD SECOND THE MOTION! In fact, NEORSD Board President Darnell Brown found Mayor Starr's Motion -- out of order!

By not attending the public hearing & then by the refusing to even Second a Motion rescheduling the vote at a time where it can be witnessed by the very public they wish impose a tax on by federal edict, shows the board members of the NEORSD, a court-created regulatory & taxing agency created on behalf of the EPA for enforcement of the Clean Water Act (ORC 6119), could care a less about the further hardships their vote will cause on this already financially & economically distressed region.

Our first steps are getting the moratorium in place -- Please contact  the NEORSD Board members and voice your opinion on the increases and request the meeting be reset for 7pm and, the 1yr moratorium be put in place.  Please read entire post for complete list of people to contact.

NEORSD Board Members

Darnell Brown (President)
PH: (216)-664-3990
Email: mayorsactioncenter@city.cleveland.oh.us
Email ATT: Darnell Brown

Ron Sulik (Vice-President)
Email: chapmanj@neorsd.org ATT: Ron Sulik

Mayor Dean DePiero (Secretary)
PH: (440) 885-8001
Fax: 440-885-8012
Email: mayorsoffice@cityofparma-oh.gov

Sheila Kelly (Member)
PH: (216) 295-0100

Walter O'Malley (Member)
PH: (216)621-3090
FX: (216)696-0660
Email: local38@ibew38.org

Mayor Jack Bacci (Member)
PH: (216) 641-7020
FX: 216-641-8485
Email: j.bacci@cuyahogaheights.com

Mayor Gary Starr (Member)
Do not contact; Supports Moratorium

The EPA has recently granted a moratorium in FL, please contact the below EPA offices and request they do the same for here...

EPA Offices

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Lisa Jackson (Administrator)
PH: (202)564-4700

US Environmental Agency / Region 5

Susan Hedman (Region 5 Administrator)
PH: (312)886-3000
Email: hedman.susan@epa.gov

Ohio Environmental Protection Agency

Chris Korleski (Director)
PH: (614) 644-2782
FX: (614) 644-3184
Email: chris.korleski@epa.state.oh.us

Laura Powell (Asst. Director)
PH: (614) 644-2782
Fx: (614) 644-3184
Email: Laura.Powell@epa.state.oh.us

OH EPA N/E Ohio District

Bill Skowronski (District Chief)
PH: (330) 963-1130
FX: (330) 487-0769

Keith Riley (Asst. District Chief)
PH: (330) 963-1111
FX: (330)487-0769
Email: keith.riley@epa.state.oh.us

When you are done contacting the above NEORSD Board members & EPA offices, we urge you to also call the following people;

County Executive-Elect Ed Fitzgerald
PH: (216) 529-6600
Email: mayor@lakewoodoh.net

Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson
PH: (216)664-3990
Email: mayorsactioncenter@city.cleveland.oh.us

Mayor & Council of your City

When contacting your Mayor & Council express your dismay they were not present at the NEORSD meeting last night representing your community.  Ask them if their absence meant they don't care about the increases or does their absence mean they support them?

Mayor Starr of Middleburg Hts has contacted all 63 communities in the NEORSD and has requested they sign on to a statement supporting the request for a moratorium on the rate increase.  To date the cities that have signed on in support are; Village of Macedonia, City of Lyndhurst, City of Broadview Hts.

Most likely your Mayor and/or Council member will tell you they have no authority over the NEORSD and there is nothing they can do.  They are to stand and fight against anything that negatively affects the residents & city they represent.  Should they not come out publicly against this draconian sewer rate increase -- you will remember this when it is time for their re-election.

County Councilman-Elect Dave Greenspan, Middleburg Hts Councilman-at-Large Ray Guttman & Middleburg Hts Ward 4 Councilman John Grech & former Congressman Ron Mottl were the ONLY other public officials in attendance. They have no authority over the NEORSD either - but they were there standing with the residents against this sewer rate increase. Congratulations to these elected officials for doing the right thing! 

And why weren't the elected officials of your city present?  Call and find out -- ask that they also support the moratorium. Email us back at clevelandteaparty@gmail.com and we will make their answers and responses public. Click here for more on some recent EPA actions.

Please continue checking back for more contact information or join our email list by signing up at www.clevelandteaparty.com for updates.