One of the big problems with one party rule is that the majority party begins taking the voters for granted. They think, sometimes correctly, that the voters will vote for anyone who is in the “right” party no matter who he is. A good example of that in our area is State Representative Tom Letson in the 64th District.
Let me start with my limited personal experience with Mr. Letson. Back in August, I attended a Northwest Neighborhood Association meeting where he spoke and answered questions in a town hall type setting.
Mr. Letson treated his constituents with disrespect and rudeness. At the beginning of his remarks, he referred to someone who wasn’t present with a vulgar word. A gentleman in the audience reminded Mr. Letson that he was in a church. Mr. Letson repeated the epithet. The gentleman again reminded Mr. Letson of where he was. Mr. Letson’s response was to make a smart aleck remark about Jesus riding a “donkey.”
Later, someone asked a question about upkeep on vacant lots. That person referred to the fact a weed filled lot could be both unsightly and dangerous. Mr. Letson responded with a rather bizarre statement about growing up on a farm and how beautiful a wheat field is. His attempt at humor was both strange and disrespectful to the person who asked the question.
When discussing Mr. Letson’s faults, I guess the most glaring are his personal issues. Some would say that his previous problems with taxes and his substance abuse issues are in the past, and it is not fair to bring them up in this election. However, I disagree. While I feel compassion for people who struggle with addiction-in fact two of the people I love most in the world have had these struggles-the skeptic in me cringes each time I see a public figure follow this same tired script that Mr. Letson followed back in January, 2011. It goes like this: public figure has an embarrassing mishap, accident, tax problem, etc.; public figure goes to rehab. Quite frankly, I think using the rehab card is a mockery to people who sincerely seek help.
Mr. Letson’s tax problems are a matter of public record, but let me review the facts for those who haven’t paid attention. In January of 2011, it came to light that Mr. Letson had a tax lien placed on his property by the IRS for $37,416.58 for taxes, interest, and penalties for the tax year 2006. WhiIe I understand how easy it can be to get into trouble with the IRS, my issue with this is not just that he owed that tax. In February of this year, Mr. Letson spoke to another newspaper about the tax issue. He said that he spent money he that he needed for his own taxes on his parents’ care, but that now all of his taxes have “since been paid.” As of September 13, 2012, the county recorder’s office still had the federal tax lien listed as unpaid. It is my understanding that once the taxes have been paid, and a form filed, that the lien must be released within 30 days. It seems to me that a sensible person, having paid those taxes, would make sure that he filed any forms necessary to have the lien released as soon as possible. I’m not sure if Mr. Letson was being dishonest in his interview; or if he doesn’t have the good sense to take care of the paperwork and get the lien off of his property. Neither option inspires much confidence.
More important than Mr. Letson’s personal deficiencies is his history of not putting the best interests of his constituents first. As a member of the Warren City Board of Health, he voted to approve the renewal of the Warren Recycling Landfill in spite of the Ohio EPA’s recommendations and the concerns of the community about the hazards posed by the landfill. It was eventually shut down and declared a Superfund cleanup site.
In 2009, Letson co-sponsored a bill to raise state income taxes by 4.3% and delay a planned tax decrease. In his version of the bill, the pay for state representatives was also increased. That’s right, folks, he co-sponsored a bill to increase taxes on his constituents while raising his own pay.
More recently, as outlined in a previous column, Mr. Letson assisted in successfully blocking the consolidation of the Eastern and Central District Courts. He and his fellow Democrats cared more about making sure the Democrats keep power than saving the taxpayers $150,000-$200,000 a year.
So do the people of the 64th District have an alternative this year? Yes, they do. Former State Representative Randy Law is Mr. Letson’s opponent.
While Mr. Law doesn’t come from a family of attorneys like Mr. Letson, he is a lifelong resident of this area. He has owned several businesses over the years and has been very involved in the community.
Mr. Law was elected to the Ohio House in 2004, and during his time there, he voted for the largest tax cut in state history. Representative Law also sponsored the Landfill Reform Bill as well as the Firefighter Safety Training Bill. It is especially important to note Mr. Law’s work on the Landfill Reform Bill in light on Mr. Letson’s failure in this while on the Warren City Board of Health. Mr. Law had to fight hard for this legislation working to convince his own party that it was the right thing to do. As a true public servant, he put the needs of his constituents before partisan politics.
This year the citizens of the 64th District need to realize that they deserve better than what they have. They have a choice between Letson and the better man. I’ve heard Mr. Law referred to as a “class act.” That is an apt description. I sincerely hope the voters choose to give the “class act” an encore.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Tuesday, October 09, 2012
Trumbull County, We have a problem...
Most people in Trumbull County know we have a septic problem. A few people understand why we have that problem, and even fewer people know how we can fix it.
First, a little Septic 101 for everyone: If a home can’t be tied in to a centralized sewer system, it must have a septic system. On lot septic systems have a tank for solid waste and the liquid waste or black water is filtered through the soil. All of the waste is contained to the property and none enters the streams and rivers (waters of the state). Off lot systems have a tank for solid waste and a filtering system that cleans the liquid waste before it enters the streams and rivers.
Where there are no central sewers available, the method preferred by the Ohio EPA is an on lot system. Unfortunately, in our area, we have a clay soil that does not filter the liquid waste well. In order to make an on lot system possible, work has to be done to the soil to make it filter. There is also usually a larger footprint required for this system; and of course, it can get very expensive. Usually it is impossible to have an on lot system for lots less than one acre. The Ohio EPA requires that all options be exhausted before an off lot system be installed.
From 1992 to 2002, the Trumbull County Board of Health did not follow Ohio Administrative Code for approving permits for off-lot systems. They also subdivided property into lots smaller than five acres without a plan for a central sewer system or a determination that such a system would be impracticable or inadvisable. As a result, in 2006, the Trumbull County Board of Health was sued by the State of Ohio. To settle that lawsuit, the parties entered into an agreement-the “consent decree.” In this agreement, the Trumbull County Board of Health agreed among other things to only allow off lot systems when it is impossible for the homeowner to connect to a central sewer system or to install an on lot system. They also agreed to only allow sand filter systems for off lot systems. In 2008, the agreement was amended to allow other filtration devices that are “certified by the manufacturer to meet or exceed the performance of a sand filter.” However, the guidelines for accepting these devices are established by the Trumbull County Board of Health.
To date, only two devices have been approved by the Trumbull County Board of Health. One of these is more expensive than the sand filter system. It is also even more unsightly than the sand filter system. We effectively have one system outside of the sand filter system that can be used in an off lot system. The Board of Health has created a monopoly for that manufacturer. Because we have the consent decree which gives TCHD the final authority to regulate competition, it costs more in Trumbull County to have an off lot system installed here than it does anywhere else in Ohio.
The Trumbull County Board of Health has rejected requests to approve another system that was approved by the Ohio Department of Health in 2010. This system was approved for use in all the other counties in Ohio. Our Board of Health believes that it doesn’t conform to the consent decree. Because of the consent decree, they have the power to set the guidelines for approving the systems.
What are the effects of this situation? The cost of putting in an off lot septic is higher here than anywhere in the state. We live in an area where home values are not that high to begin with. Often, when a property is sold, the septic needs to be replaced. Sometimes the cost of the new system is actually close to what the home is actually worth. Also, because our Board of Health now has the reputation of being unfair and heavy handed, people don’t want to buy in Trumbull County. By the way, the heavy handed reputation is earned. They have jailed people for not replacing their septic system. The sales of homes have been stalled making our already depressed economy even worse.
So what is the solution? First, we need to get out from under the consent decree. The intent of the decree was to make us compliant, but it has now become punitive with Trumbull County’s rules now being stricter than the rest of the state. The decree has been amended; why can’t it be revoked? The candidate for 64th District State Representative Randy Law thinks that it can. He believes that as state representative, he would be able to help put pressure on the Administration and the Ohio EPA to bring the parties to the table to agree to revoke the decree. In a candidate meet and greet in September, he vowed to be relentless in trying to solve this problem. Please note in 2005, when he was in the General Assembly, Mr. Law worked diligently to sponsor and pass the Landfill Reform Bill. So he has a history of working hard to solve difficult problems. Tom Letson, the incumbent in that race, hasn’t addressed this issue in the three terms he has been in office.
We also need to realize that we don’t just have a septic problem. We have a Trumbull County Board of Health problem. They have been heavy handed in the enforcement of this decree. Their creation of the monopoly for off lot systems has added to an already difficult situation. They need to be replaced. How do we do that? Understand that your township trustees and some village officials elect the Board of Health. Find out who your trustees are. Go to their meetings. Make sure they understand what is happening at our Board of Health. If they don’t listen, replace them. Remember this: two trustees from each township are up for re-election in 2013.
These people-the State Representatives, the trustees, the Board of Health- are public servants. If they forget that, we need to remember that We the People have the power to replace them. We need to use that power, or we will lose it. We need to pay more attention to what our public officials are doing and hold them accountable for their actions. If we don’t, things will just get worse; and we will have only ourselves to blame.
First, a little Septic 101 for everyone: If a home can’t be tied in to a centralized sewer system, it must have a septic system. On lot septic systems have a tank for solid waste and the liquid waste or black water is filtered through the soil. All of the waste is contained to the property and none enters the streams and rivers (waters of the state). Off lot systems have a tank for solid waste and a filtering system that cleans the liquid waste before it enters the streams and rivers.
Where there are no central sewers available, the method preferred by the Ohio EPA is an on lot system. Unfortunately, in our area, we have a clay soil that does not filter the liquid waste well. In order to make an on lot system possible, work has to be done to the soil to make it filter. There is also usually a larger footprint required for this system; and of course, it can get very expensive. Usually it is impossible to have an on lot system for lots less than one acre. The Ohio EPA requires that all options be exhausted before an off lot system be installed.
From 1992 to 2002, the Trumbull County Board of Health did not follow Ohio Administrative Code for approving permits for off-lot systems. They also subdivided property into lots smaller than five acres without a plan for a central sewer system or a determination that such a system would be impracticable or inadvisable. As a result, in 2006, the Trumbull County Board of Health was sued by the State of Ohio. To settle that lawsuit, the parties entered into an agreement-the “consent decree.” In this agreement, the Trumbull County Board of Health agreed among other things to only allow off lot systems when it is impossible for the homeowner to connect to a central sewer system or to install an on lot system. They also agreed to only allow sand filter systems for off lot systems. In 2008, the agreement was amended to allow other filtration devices that are “certified by the manufacturer to meet or exceed the performance of a sand filter.” However, the guidelines for accepting these devices are established by the Trumbull County Board of Health.
To date, only two devices have been approved by the Trumbull County Board of Health. One of these is more expensive than the sand filter system. It is also even more unsightly than the sand filter system. We effectively have one system outside of the sand filter system that can be used in an off lot system. The Board of Health has created a monopoly for that manufacturer. Because we have the consent decree which gives TCHD the final authority to regulate competition, it costs more in Trumbull County to have an off lot system installed here than it does anywhere else in Ohio.
The Trumbull County Board of Health has rejected requests to approve another system that was approved by the Ohio Department of Health in 2010. This system was approved for use in all the other counties in Ohio. Our Board of Health believes that it doesn’t conform to the consent decree. Because of the consent decree, they have the power to set the guidelines for approving the systems.
What are the effects of this situation? The cost of putting in an off lot septic is higher here than anywhere in the state. We live in an area where home values are not that high to begin with. Often, when a property is sold, the septic needs to be replaced. Sometimes the cost of the new system is actually close to what the home is actually worth. Also, because our Board of Health now has the reputation of being unfair and heavy handed, people don’t want to buy in Trumbull County. By the way, the heavy handed reputation is earned. They have jailed people for not replacing their septic system. The sales of homes have been stalled making our already depressed economy even worse.
So what is the solution? First, we need to get out from under the consent decree. The intent of the decree was to make us compliant, but it has now become punitive with Trumbull County’s rules now being stricter than the rest of the state. The decree has been amended; why can’t it be revoked? The candidate for 64th District State Representative Randy Law thinks that it can. He believes that as state representative, he would be able to help put pressure on the Administration and the Ohio EPA to bring the parties to the table to agree to revoke the decree. In a candidate meet and greet in September, he vowed to be relentless in trying to solve this problem. Please note in 2005, when he was in the General Assembly, Mr. Law worked diligently to sponsor and pass the Landfill Reform Bill. So he has a history of working hard to solve difficult problems. Tom Letson, the incumbent in that race, hasn’t addressed this issue in the three terms he has been in office.
We also need to realize that we don’t just have a septic problem. We have a Trumbull County Board of Health problem. They have been heavy handed in the enforcement of this decree. Their creation of the monopoly for off lot systems has added to an already difficult situation. They need to be replaced. How do we do that? Understand that your township trustees and some village officials elect the Board of Health. Find out who your trustees are. Go to their meetings. Make sure they understand what is happening at our Board of Health. If they don’t listen, replace them. Remember this: two trustees from each township are up for re-election in 2013.
These people-the State Representatives, the trustees, the Board of Health- are public servants. If they forget that, we need to remember that We the People have the power to replace them. We need to use that power, or we will lose it. We need to pay more attention to what our public officials are doing and hold them accountable for their actions. If we don’t, things will just get worse; and we will have only ourselves to blame.
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