KIRK SCHURING TO SCPR: THE OHIO DEPT OF NATURAL RESOURCES MEETING LOCATION ON HYDROFRACKING HAS BEEN CHANGED!

UPDATE:  12/10/2010 AT 1:48 PM

 

UPDATE:  12/10/2010 AT 12:22 PM

ORIGINAL POST

Louis Giavasis and Scott Haws (Plain Township trustees) have been working for several months to get a handle on hydrofracking and what, if any, harm the procedure poses to the drinking water supply for Plain Township residents, should natural gas drilling companies obtain mineral right leases from area residents and choose to drill for natural gas encased in subsurface rock.

Hydrofracking is widely defined thusly:

Hydraulic fracturing or fracking (vertical or horizontal) is a means of natural gas extraction employed in deep natural gas well drilling. Once a well is drilled, millions of gallons of water, sand and proprietary chemicals are injected, under high pressure, into a well. The pressure fractures the shale and props open fissures that enable natural gas to flow more freely out of the well.

Gas drilling companies are active in Stark County obtaining mineral leases and are thought to be planning to begin hydraulic fracking in the county including Plain Township.

Accordingly, Giavasis and Haws have seized the initiative to gather information on the process in terms how Ohio regulates and what local governments can do to protect their water supplies (if it is determined that fracking threatens the safety of drinking water) and thereby lookout for the health, safety and welfare of their residents as they have a fiduciary duty to do given their status as elected officials.

All was going well with the joint effort and the two had set up a meeting for December 14, 2010 at 5:30 p.m. at township hall located at 2600 Easton NE for area residents to attend in order to get their questions answered by Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) officials and area Ohio General Assembly members (Senator Kirk Schuring as well as Representatives Scott Oelslager and Todd Snitchler).

However, all that changed between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and noon yesterday as Trustee Giavasis appeared on WHBC1480 AM's Points to Ponder (Ron Ponder, host) and made statements which were deemed by Giavasis' fellow trustee Haws,  Senator Schuring and ODNR officials to be prejudiced against the drilling companies.  In addition to Giavasis' comments on Points to Ponder, Senator Schuring told the Stark County Political Report that he understood that Giavasis has a resolution ready to go which is indicative that Giavasis has prejudged whether or not hydraulic fracking is a safe practice and that therefore a meeting at Plain Township Hall with Giavasis (as president of the Plain Township Board of Trustees) presiding would not be a proper forum for ODNR officials to engage.

Accordingly, Schuring has made arrangements for the meeting to be relocated to the Plain Community Branch of the Stark County District Library located at 1803 Schneider St NE in Plain.  Schuring says the meeting room holds about 100 persons (seated) but that there is standing room should an overflow crowd show up.

Schuring said he respects Giavasis' right to have an opinion of the efficacy of the hyrdraulic fracturing process, but in expressing that opinion on the air waves and in written form (i.e. the prepared resolution), he forfeited the right (and have state officials present) to have the meeting at township hall.  ODNR officials agreed to Schuring's request that they come to Plain on the condition that the session be moderated in a neutral setting by a neutral moderator.  According to Schuring, ODNR understands that there will be members of the public in attendance who will asking tough questions and that they (the Stark County delegation to the Ohio General Assembly and ODNR officials) do not object to same.

Giavasis' supporter Chris Borello of Plain Township and president of the Concerned Citizens of Lake Township (CCLT) disputes that the meeting has been changed and challenges Schuring's authority to effect the change in an e-mail (sent at 10:30 p.m. last night) to Executive Editor Jeff Gauger, to wit:

CANTON REPOSITORY      cc;  Akron Beacon Journal

Jeff Gauger, Managing Editor,   The Canton Respository  

Edd Pritchard, reporter covering Plain Twp.

Dear Mr.  Gauger:

WHY does the headline in the  Friday's edition of the Canton Repository state incorrectly that the meeting location for the Gas Hydro Fracking issue has been changed, when this is patently untrue?!  It appears a dirty trick is being played to thwart citizens from attending this important meeting dealing with an issue that could affect their health and welfare -  and we are truly outraged!

.I just spoke to Plain Trustee, Lou Giavasis, this evening, who will be chaIring this meeting, and he informed me that when he was called this afternoon by your newspaper reporter, Edd Pritchard, and informed that Mr. Schuring (for apparently arbitrary reasons)  took it upon himself to change the location( to a smaller venue),  Trustee Giavasis reportedly informed Edd Prichard of the paper that Mr.Schuring had NO authority to change this meeting location -that it had been called by Plain Twp. Trustees, and Mr. Pritchard was informed that it would indeed, REMAIN at the same time and place - at the Plain Twp. Hall , 2600 Easton Street, Plain Twp. on Tues. Dec. 14th at 5:30 pm.

So why does your paper's headline convey something entirely different? Unless the reader happens to read all the way down to the last sentence, they will clearly be misled and therefore show up at the wrong location Tuesday night!    We request that  the newspaper in the following edition , same page, provide an equally large headline -  that will correct this and properly inform the public to the right location - so that all that want to attend can and will know where to go. 

.

Chris Borello for Concerned Citizens of Plain and Lake Twp.s,

Apparently, The Repository's Edd Pritchard (a Repository reporter) got himself into the middle of the scheduling of the meeting dispute by virtue of two earlier communications he had with Borello.

The latest was on December 3rd email, to wit:

From: Pritchard, Edd <edd.pritchard@cantonrep.com>
To: crborello@aol.com <crborello@aol.com>
Sent: Fri, Dec 3, 2010 7:24 pm
Subject: Your Schuring question

Chris,

At the Nov. 23 Plain Township trustees meeting, Scott Hawes and Louis Giavasis announced plans for a work session and hearing on Dec. 14 about hydraulic fracturing. We had a brief about the meeting in the Nov. 24 paper.

During the meeting, Haws and Giavasis both mentioned that Haws had been organizing the meeting with the help of Ohio Sen. Kirk Schuring. Apparently Schuring's role was talking with ODNR and Ohio EPA officials to find people from their departments who can attend the meeting.

At this point, based on an announcement issued by the Plain trustees on Monday, Schuring, Scott Oelslager and someone from ODNR will attend the meeting to address concerns related to Chesapeake Energy and hydro-fracking.

I hope that clears up your question from you conversation with Jack Richards. Have a good weekend.

Thanks,
Edd

And then there was "apparently" a phone call he had with a citizen calling The Repository in which he is alleged to have said that the meeting was Kirk Schuring's idea, to wit:

From: crborello@aol.com
To: shaws@plaintownship.com
Sent: Fri, Dec 3, 2010 4:24 pm
Subject: Meeting on 12/14 to discuss Fracking Ban

Hi Scott,

I received a phone call last night from a concerned citizen involved with the fracking issue, and he informed me that he got a phone call yesterday from the Canton Rep reporter, Edd Pritchard, about your meeting on the 14th..

The strange part is, Edd told him that Kirk Schuring was putting this meeting together.  What gives?  I thought you had called the meeting.  That's what your Administrator told me yesterday. Please clarify. This is about our residents' concerns and our Twp. right? 

 Did you get a chance to watch GASLAND yet?

We hope you will find the time, because you will see what Americans have to say about this matter, citizens that have already had up close and personal experiences, after being smoozed that fracking was just fine, all the claims that we are sure to hear.....vs. the truth of the matter...  Have a nice weekend.

Chris  (emphasis added)

It appears to the SCPR that Schuring has reasserted (?) control of the scheduling and the conduct of the meeting.  Moreover, it seems that The Report's original blog on this matter was right on the mark.  There is a dispute between the two on the issue of fracking with Giavasis having made at the very least a preliminary determination that he believes those who say that fracking threatens the fresh water supply and therefore needs to protect Plain citizens and their water supply, whereas Haws questions the reliability of the opinion out there (in the public marketplace) supporting Giavasis' statements on Points to Ponder and his planned action via Township resolution.

The Report believes that the Schuring involvement was not originally to schedule and control the meeting, but, rather, to help Trustee Haws in his efforts.

However, being the Republican allies they are; when Giavasis (likely, he along with Mary Cirelli - a Canton councilwoman, the most populist official in Stark County) made it obvious on Points to Ponder that he was going to more or less be against any fracking in Plain Township on top of having attacked Republican Governor-elect Kasich for having supported - when he was in Congress - the former Vice President Dick Cheney's Halliburton amendment (exempting hydrofracking from regulation), then the two (Haws and Schuring) got their heads together and decided that Schuring would come out as taking over the scheduling/locating of the meeting to take the matter out of Giavasis' hands.

Folks, there is nothing "neutral" about this issue.  Environmentalists like Borello have already determined that the risks in fracking are too great to be permitted to be implemented widely across America and therefore are on a national campaign to get a reversal of the Halliburton amendment and, what's more, to gain authority for locals like township trustees and village/city councils to place moratoriums on fracking operations.  Environmentalists enjoy the support of many Democratic office holders.

On the other hand, the drilling industry is working through Republican office holders to stop the burgeoning anti-fracking sentiment that is threatening to sweep the country by storm.

Scott Haws is trying to clothe himself as being some kind of objective person (as is Schuring) in the argument that is in process.  But in the opinion of the SCPR, they are not any more objective than Giavasis and Cirelli.

Hence back to the SCPR's original blog.  Giavasis and Haws (as trustees) are at polar opposites.  No matter what the two of them say for public consumption.

So where will the meeting with ODNR officials actually take place?

If at all, The Report believes that Schuring will prevail.  For he is the person (being an Ohio elected official) who has the ear of the ODNR.  All he has to do is make a phone call to the ODNR and tell them, as he has obviously done, that the meeting has been relocated and they will show up to the site he directs them too.

Sure.  Giavasis can go ahead with his planned meeting.  But do not expect Schuring, Oelslager, Snitchler and the ODNR folks to show up!

Again, despite the Giavasis and Haws protestations to the contrary, the SCPR stands by The Report's original assessment:  there is a split between Haws and Giavasis and it does threaten to unravel the years of unity that have been emanating from Plain Township Hall.

IS PLAIN TOWNSHIP ABOUT TO UNRAVEL OVER AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE?

UPDATE:  12/06/2010

From:

"Lou G" <lougiavasis1@hotmail.com>

View contact details

To:  "Martin Olsen" <tramols@att.net>

 

Martin,

Trustee Scott Haws has done a fantastic job setting this meeting up at the direction of the board, he has made countless phone calls to Kenyon Energy, Chesapeake, ODNR and to our state legislators, he has also kept Trustee Leno and I informed of his conversations.  The purpose of the meeting on the 14th is to gather facts and information. This subject is not a Democrat or Republican issue, it is one that could very well effect every resident in Plain Township and the drinking water regardless of partisanship. 

 

In my conversation's with Chris Borello on this issue through telephone and email, I stated the same.  I have an opinion about this, as I have been talking with elected officials from PA, New York and West Virginia about what has happened in their respective states and communities.

 

I  am looking forward to hearing from our legislators and representatives from ODNR. Currently Plain Township as every other community in Stark County and across the state has implemented unfunded mandates to protect drinking water to extent that we must now make plans to move all equipment and machinery indoors under roof and take steps to prevent oil and gas from getting into drains, ditches, and storm sewers that could make its way into streams and other bodies of water. These mandates make even unlawful to allow something as bio degradable as grass clippings into our storm sewers because that will make into our waterways.  These mandates to protect our water cost and hit community budgets extremely hard. 

 

So, with that said I have my own questions to ODNR and our State Legislators about a process that will allow for millions of gallons of chemicals to be injected into the ground, they do not have to disclose what chemicals they are using. Gas drilling companies collect only 60% of these chemicals, and are allowed to store this chemical waist at the surface in storage ponds.  This has been proven to affect the under ground water table and air quality in states across the eastern U.S. 

 

I do not think Scott possess different concerns than mine. So we will have the meeting to gather facts and move forward from there.

Louis Giavasis

UPDATE:  12/05/2010


FROM TRUSTEE SCOTT HAWS

Since the group of concerned citizens participated at our October 26th meeting on the Chesapeake - Hydrofracking,  ...  I have worked dilligently to obtain information for OUR board to properly assess all aspects of this environmental concern.  This information and resources that have been obtained as a precursor to our December 14th meeting include and are not limited to:

• Made a visit to Kenyon Energy - Randy Bernauer 10-28-10 (Chesapeake Energy Lease Agent) on behalf of the Board of Trustees to request company representation at our TWP meeting to address Board and Resident questions. This was after no response was provided to our TWP Administrator
• 11-1-10 Contacted Chesapeake Energy Matt Berkely and Ryan Dean requesting attendance at Plain TWP Board of Trustees Meeting to address questions
• Procured information/material from Ryan Dean - Chesapeake Energy 11-18-10 to share with my peers on the Board of Trustees, all of which is available at TWP hall for my peers
• Engaged State Sentaor Kirk Schuring to identify ODNR and EPA representation to have to Plain TWP,
• Engaged the SCTA to invite and allow other elected officials to sit in our meeting to get educated on the matter so as to protect and address their residents
• Engaged representation from North Canton do to their expressed concern for their water fields
• Received and reviewed the over 201 articles since October 4th from Chris Borrello
• Spoke directly with citizens who have declined and entered into contracts with Energy Exploration companies pursuing land in Stark County - Plain TWP

Through every effort I have openly worked and communicated regularly back to my peers on the Board the efforts to properly vet this situation through with all parties involved.  Those parties including but not limited too:

Concerned Citizens
Energy Exploration Companies
Regulatory Oversight (ODNR & EPA)
Legislative Representation


ORIGINAL BLOG

The SCPR has written a number of times as to how Plain Township appears to be the best run township in all of Stark County and, perhaps, even in all of Ohio.

With Democrats Pam Bossart (no longer a trustee, having moved from the area), Al Leno and Phil Giavasis in control, Plain seemed to get it.  They have kept the fiscal house in order for a number of years.  Plain is an exceptional example of Democrats demonstrating that they can govern effectively.

But enter a Republican and "all Hell is about to break loose?"

Well, maybe; maybe not.  However, there are things going on among the trustees that indicate the a major disruption is taking place in Plain Township government.  And nothing has changed but the introduction of Republican Haws into the trustee picture.

The first sign of disharmony came with the surfacing of a "blanket" Project Labor Agreement (PLA) being promoted by Trustee Louis Giavasis.  In fact, on Giavasis' insistence he and Leno voted to approve a resolution that future Plain construction contracts be subject to PLA.  Republican Haws voted no at the October 12, 2010 meeting at which the matter was brought up.  For a history of developments and more detailed positions of Giavasis and Haws CLICK HERE to see prior blog on Plain's PLA.


Giavasis as a Democrat has typical Democratic ties to organized labor and in this instance is obviously doing their bidding.

Now to a new issue that seems to have surfaced.

On December 14th, there is to be a meeting held at Plain Township Hall on the issue of fracing.

Here is the contents of an e-mail from Giavasis to yours truly on October 7th which indicates a Giavasis interest in the issue, to wit:

Also, as you have been made aware of by Chris Borello about Kenyon Energy and subsidiary of Chesapeake Oil and Gas's intention to drill and mine over 800 acres in the Plain Township area through various methods that include fracking. I have instructed our township administrator to contact Kenyon Energy in North Canton and Chesapeake requesting that they send representatives to one of our next meetings. They have not gotten back with us yet for the meeting on the 12th about our request but I can sure you that myself and my board will do everything within our legal authority to make sure that what has happened in Paris Township recently to residents water wells and environmental damage this industry is causing across Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York will not happen in Plain Township.

Here is an e-mail that the SCPR received yesterday from Borello (which is a copy of an e-mail she sent to Trustee Haws), to wit:

-----Original Message-----
From: crborello@aol.com
To: shaws@plaintownship.com
Sent: Fri, Dec 3, 2010 4:24 pm
Subject: Meeting on 12/14 to discuss Fracking Ban

Hi Scott,

I received a phone call last night from a concerned citizen involved with the fracking issue, and he informed me that he got a phone call yesterday from the Canton Rep reporter, Edd Pritchard, about your meeting on the 14th..

The strange part is, Edd told him that Kirk Schuring was putting this meeting together.  What gives?  I thought you had called the meeting.  That's what your Administrator told me yesterday. Please clarify. This is about our residents' concerns and our Twp. right? 

 Did you get a chance to watch GASLAND yet?

We hope you will find the time, because you will see what Americans have to say about this matter, citizens that have already had up close and personal experiences, after being smoozed that fracking was just fine, all the claims that we are sure to hear.....vs. the truth of the matter...  Have a nice weekend.

Chris

 

In a conversation with Borello on Wednesday evening, she indicated that she was concerned that Haws was weighing in with the oil and gas industry side of the issue.  Moreover, she extolled Giavasis as a protector of citizens rights and expressed confidence that he (as president of the Board of Trustees) would ensure that the citizens' perspective on the issue would be heard.  She cited Giavaisis' long history of siding with everyday persons on various issues that have come along during Giavasis long tenure as trustee.

Borello is correct about Giavasis.

He has taken on such corporate behemoths as Giant Eagle when the Pittsburgh based grocer vacated its Oakwood Square facility (but had a contract forbidding a re-let to a competing grocer).  He was among the first and most vocal of Stark's public officials in standing against American Electric Power on its request for a gigantic rate increase in electric rates made to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) a couple of years ago.  Also, he is supporting legislation in the Ohio General Assembly to "put reasonable limits on the fees publicly owned water works and sewage disposal companies may charge their customers for rate-case expenses."

But suffice it to say that Louis Giavasis is a mixed bag.  Though he can be a political maverick on occasion, he is also consummately connected with the leadership of the Stark County Democratic Party and organized labor.  His connections with the Stark Dem leadership appear to have been beneficial to him.  He is the title bureau czar for Stark County having been hired for that job by Stark County Court of Common Pleas Clerk of Courts Nancy Reinbold (wife of long time, but now retired Judge Richard Reinbold) who was tapped to be clerk of courts by  Louis' brother Phil (Reinbold's predecessor and now clerk of courts for the Canton Municipal Court).

Haws, on the other hand, is a much more conservative type who generally sides with business interests as is typical of Republicans.  His local political pals include Republican Todd Snitchler whom represents Ohio's 50th House District and whom the SCPR considers to be the captive of chamber of commerce, the National Federation of Independent Business, and manufacturer associations which typically finance Republican politicians.

The SCPR will be closely following the fracing (also fraccing or fracking) issue as it connects to Stark County.  Stark Countians should attend the Plain Township meeting of the 14th in great numbers.

Not only could this issue and its potential adverse effects on the county ground water supply prove divisive among the leaders of Plain Township, it could be the beginning of a local struggle between local civic activists like Chris Borello (who, by the way, lives in Plain), the oil and gas industry with Stark's politicians being caught in the middle.