Maumee resident Chelsea Ziss used to drive through the city giving little notice to the arches going up overhead in the Uptown area or trees sprouting the length of the Anthony Wayne Trail.
“We’re all kind of guilty of not paying attention before. I didn’t pay attention,” she said while leading a Citizens of Maumee Action Committee meeting.
“I wasn’t at city council meetings. I wasn’t reading the ordinances or agendas — until this,” Ms. Ziss said.
“This” was a wildly unpopular ordinance that required homeowners to get a sewer inspection and do repairs before a sale. The legislation was repealed by city council after more than 1,000 citizens signed a referendum petition.
The citizens committee was born out of that anger and concern. Around 50 people, many with legal pads and pens, jotting notes, attended Monday’s meeting at the library.
“Look what has come about,” Ms. Ziss said. “They know we’re paying attention.”
She spent two hours with a microphone, answering questions about laterals, pipes, rights-of-way, sump pumps, easements, and city ordinances.
Then Ms. Ziss planned on being at a council committee meeting at 7 a.m. Tuesday, when hiring seven full-time employees for the sewer division would be discussed.
“That’s where those things are discussed,” Ms. Ziss said of council committee meetings. “We’re trying to get members to every meeting.”
Committee member Julie Koralewski said their voices are being heard. The committee has a meeting with some council members and the administration on Oct. 8.
“You guys are literally doing the right thing. We’re getting to them,” she said. “When they have an EPA meeting, we’re going to be invited to that as well. This is a huge step.”
At the same time, Ms. Koralewski said, they are aware that Maumee’s problems are still there. The city for years dumped municipal sewage into the Maumee River, and officials recently submitted a 20-year plan of solutions to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
“This is our problem. This is not going to go away without any pennies out of our pocket,” Ms. Koralewski said. “In the end, our property values will increase because of this.”
Committee member Ric Hardy reported $8,000 has been raised. CMAC funding is going toward public information campaigns, including printing and mailing materials, and public information requests. Funds will also be put toward legal counsel.
The general goals of the committee are to have the city take back responsibility for the right-of-way and find grant programs for residential sewer fixes.
The committee is also implementing a downspout inspection and rain barrel program. The downspout extenders keep water away from foundations.
“And rain barrels are great because the average person with a rain barrel actually prevents 1,300 gallons per year from going into the sewer system,” Ms. Ziss said.
Tom Tschabold said he has come up with a sump pump work-around that costs about $500 to $1,000.
“Sounds like you just volunteered for the engineering committee,” Ms. Ziss said.
Bill Sample attended Monday’s meeting out of frustration with council and the administration.
“There’s so much of ‘We don’t care what our citizens are telling us,’” he said after the meeting. “It’s like, ‘Here’s the solution, it’s more than you can afford, but you’re going to like it.’”
Mr. Sample also said the previous administrations should be criminally charged for the illegal dumping and putting the city in this mess.
“You can’t just lie to the EPA for 30 flipping years and expect to get off scot-free. Where is the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation?” he said. “The problem didn’t happen overnight. It’s not going to get fixed overnight. But we as a community cannot accept kicking the can down the road.”
Audience members also brought up the cost of those uptown arches and facade grants that have been awarded to uptown businesses.
A city spokesman said Tuesday that each arch cost $168,750, which includes ancillary costs such as crane rental and landscaping.
For more information on the citizens committee, visit wearemaumee.com .
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