Although it is good to finally see one of our paid township trustees join the RESIDENT-driven fight against OAW and do something more than put a signature on a letter (3 in the last 2 rate increases). It is with some respect, I must say that if we have any questions regarding this rate increase, the expert would not be you, it would be Jim Welch, President of the Huber Ridge Area Association.
As you well know, Jim has led the charge for all Blendon Township OAW customers here for some years now. In fact, he reached out to the Sunbury Woods Executive leadership, including you, asking for your help specifically in past years and all he could get from you was help putting out a few signs. A quick inquiry into PUCO cases online reveals that you didn't even write a letter to be added to the docket. Not once. Jim and the HRAA have asked the township trustees several times to join with him and us without success. So it's nice that you have put together a little meeting with the OCC....of course, not the first, second, third, etc meeting with the OCC and our township.
And now having representatives join in the fight.....hardly innovative as that ball has been rolling for some time as well which has elevated the profile of this issue to where it is to date with our elected officials. In fact Jim has spoken to our Governor himself who not only recognized the leader on this issue for our area but did the reaching out to speak to Jim.
It would have been nice to have seen more residents show up from your home neighborhood, Sunbury Woods, as they had for past meetings (OCC and PUCO hearings). You’ve spoken in the press that many of your neighbors have expressed to you that they’re glad you’re on the board representing your neighborhood. Clearly this water issue can take all the work and support from as many as possible regardless of their address because all of us OAW customers are victimized equally. Forgive my blunt honesty and suspicion but it’s interesting that you just now seemingly embrace the Huber Ridge residents through our highly visited website in this way after having been installed as a trustee back in June….and we comprise the lions share of population within the township….and coincidentally, its election season.
So, my point here is that perhaps you should give credit where credit is due as there has been a mountain of work that happened way before you lucked into your job as trustee and could grab onto the coattails of the number of RESIDENTS who have fought this fight before you were paid to. That mountain of work was done largely by the very residents who cared to show up at the meeting. It would have been a good opportunity for you to show some true leadership by recognizing those who had forged the path before and it could have even been a opportunity for you to appear gracious to make a statement to those who came that you too would like to work with us to help try and make a dent. Instead, you make no mention of either, imply that you're "the man". I think not. Glad to have you or anyone else on board, but it sure would make it easier to work with you if you could find your direction away from campaigning and approach it like the team WE have been for some time now.
Carolyn E. Cordray
Huber Ridge Resident
Disgusted OAW Customer
