Nick McWilliams reporting – After pressing for answers over a dumping violation in the Gorley Street Bottoms, Uhrichsville council will reportedly hear from legal representatives on the matter.
The city received notice from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of solid waste being discovered dumped in a wetland area along Gorley Street, but have never made the violation details public.
That will change, pending full acceptance of a settlement proposed by all involved parties, with Mayor Mark Haney noting that his office expects the details to be discussed in an open meeting soon.
“The Ohio EPA, Army Corps of Engineers, the law firm of McMahon DeGuilis, and our environmental company have agreed upon a restoration plan, and they will likely be here January 26th to explain that. It is 0.005 acres. That’s what our restoration is. The administration will restore and preserve the land in a respectful manner.”
Law Director J.J. Ong was confident that all conducted work could be completed by city service workers. Additionally, he says that the issue will not be discussed openly until that time, and the parameters of the agreement will not be made public until agreed upon.
He also stated that the issue with the bottoms has not been a product of his administration, and has been “years in the making.”
Copyright WTUZ Radio Inc., 2023