Preble County Commission

Leachate Line Scandal

After hearing about this issue for so long and still no legal challenge I was willing to let this issue slide. There is a new Economic Development Director and everyone working together for the good of the county issue (Welcome Shawnda Combs).  But then I found out I know some of the people that attended a meeting held at Lakengren on the issue. These are good people who care about the county and they were referred to in File 7 of the September 20, 2010 Commission meeting as “rabble rousers”.   I’ll type it once again; the decision to pipe landfill leachate to Lakengren is one of the poorest decisions made by Preble County Commissioners in years if not ever. They used a flawed incompetent scoring system that left out any emphasis on the possibility of economic development. Here is the “Scoring of Leachate Processing for Preble County”. Please note that the last line “General Overall Benefit to Preble County” shows a four point difference with Camden given a 15 and Lakengren an 11.

They did this at a time when Preble County was averaging the highest unemployment in the region.

They did this at a time where they (Commissioners) were making a show of having “all the players” involved in a committee on Goose Creek. I am talking not only county officials but also township trustees. In contrast Gasper Township trustees were not consulted, Somers Township trustees wrote a letter of support for the Camden route that was published in the Register Herald and Camden officials held a “Cooperative agreement” signed by the previous Commission.

They made this decision on the same day that State of Ohio officials Kevin Carver & Brewster Rhodes asked them about areas with railroad and explained the importance of rail.

The Camden route offers the potential for higher paying industrial jobs than the expected service industry jobs hoped for at the corn and soybean fields of Goose Creek. Factory jobs simply pay better than restaurant and maid jobs.

Included below is a timeline spread sheet on the issue. The record will show that previous Commissioners spent time, money on the Camden route. There is a Co-operative Agreement with Camden.

Not one inch of pipe has been laid to Lakengren, the sordid record of this issue reflects that on two occasions the Camden numbers were publically released in advance of a request for bids.

I believe the record and the best interests of Preble County support calls that this leachate line should go to Camden. If that makes someone voicing that opinion at a public meeting a “rabble rouser” then I join the party.