Monday, January 31, 2011

SOME COUNTY OFFICE HOLDERS REFUSE TO DEAL WITH REALITY?



Apparently, at a recent meeting of Stark County's elected officials (this past Friday at the Athens Restaurant) rather than focus on ways and means to implement the will of the people of Stark County on November 3, 2009; some county officials are leading a fight to go back again to Stark's taxpayers for an increase in the county sales tax.

 Who is the chief "non-hearing" public official?  Well, Prosecutor John Ferrero seems to be the guy (see Stark elected officials to pay for sales tax poll, Kelli Young, The Repository, January 28, 2011).

Go figure!

The man who balanced his 2010 budget on a "hope and a prayer," and had to borrow money from commissioners to do so and who was the liaison between office holders and the Citizens Review Committee appears to be the driving force to convince Stark County taxpayers to increase the county sales tax.

Maybe, just maybe, Mister Fererro ought to give austerity (i.e. the Citizens Review Committee's recommendations plus some) a chance, first?

That county officials are willing to dip into their own pockets should tell Stark County taxpayers a lot.

They are refusing to get the message (63% to 36%) that office holders implement fully county government austerity measures and "we the public" will determine whether or not we can live with them.

Any move to increase the sales tax should come from the voting Stark County public; not from county office holders.

The "let's do a poll crowd" of county officials are not getting the message of November 3, 2009.

Of course, we all know that their leader John Ferrero is an artisan of wishful thinking!

Sunday, January 30, 2011

VIDEO SERIES: ODNR ANSWERS STARK COUNTIANS' QUESTIONS - "25TH" OF A SERIES FOR SCPR READERS TO VIEW THE Q&A. ODNR WRAP-UP OF PLAIN TOWNSHIP MEETING



VIDEO SERIES: ODNR ANSWERS STARK COUNTIANS' QUESTIONS - "24TH" OF A SERIES FOR SCPR READERS TO VIEW THE Q&A. PATRICK CUSMA ON DIFFERENT FORMATIONS



With this blog series, the Stark County Political Report is posting the Q&A session featuring the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) held at Plain Township's Oakwood Middle School on January 27th. The meeting was put together by Plain Township Trustee Louis Giavasis (Democrat), Ohio Representative Kirk Schuring (Republican - 51st) and Ron Ponder.

Ponder is the talkshow host of Points to Ponder which can be heard M-F, 10:00 a.m. to Noon at WHBC-1480AM on your radio dial.

In this 24th blog video, Patrick Cusma (who has geology training and is an attorney) asks ODNR what measures they are taking in order to ensure safety given that horizontal fracking will be taking place in shale (Marcellus) rather than sandstone (Clinton).

VIDEO SERIES: ODNR ANSWERS STARK COUNTIANS' QUESTIONS - "23RD" OF A SERIES FOR SCPR READERS TO VIEW THE Q&A. STARK COUNTIANS JAMES FORADAS SAYS THAT MOST OIL & GAS COMPANIES ARE RESPONSIBLE



With this blog series, the Stark County Political Report is posting the Q&A session featuring the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) held at Plain Township's Oakwood Middle School on January 27th. The meeting was put together by Plain Township Trustee Louis Giavasis (Democrat), Ohio Representative Kirk Schuring (Republican - 51st) and Ron Ponder.

Ponder is the talkshow host of Points to Ponder which can be heard M-F, 10:00 a.m. to Noon at WHBC-1480AM on your radio dial.

In this 23rd blog video, James Foradas (an oil field worker who has worked in Alaska and Texas) asks Stark Countians to think the best of the oil and gas companies and to understand that oil and gas workers are responsible person who care about safety and the environment.


VIDEO SERIES: ODNR ANSWERS STARK COUNTIANS' QUESTIONS - "20TH" OF A SERIES FOR SCPR READERS TO VIEW THE Q&A. NILES KEERNAN ON GAS STORAGE WELLS OF EAST OHIO GAS


With this blog series, the Stark County Political Report is posting the Q&A session featuring the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) held at Plain Township's Oakwood Middle School on January 27th. The meeting was put together by Plain Township Trustee Louis Giavasis (Democrat), Ohio Representative Kirk Schuring (Republican - 51st) and Ron Ponder.

Ponder is the talkshow host of Points to Ponder which can be heard M-F, 10:00 a.m. to Noon at WHBC-1480AM on your radio dial.

In this 22ND blog video, Dr. Niles Keernan (an environmentalist) asks ODNR about gas storage well drilled by East Ohio Gas.


VIDEO SERIES: ODNR ANSWERS STARK COUNTIANS' QUESTIONS - "21ST" OF A SERIES FOR SCPR READERS TO VIEW THE Q&A. JOYCE WILSON ON TIMELINE FOR WATER REMEDIATION



With this blog series, the Stark County Political Report is posting the Q&A session featuring the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) held at Plain Township's Oakwood Middle School on January 27th. The meeting was put together by Plain Township Trustee Louis Giavasis (Democrat), Ohio Representative Kirk Schuring (Republican - 51st) and Ron Ponder.

Ponder is the talkshow host of Points to Ponder which can be heard M-F, 10:00 a.m. to Noon at WHBC-1480AM on your radio dial.

In this 21st blog video, Navarre resident Joyce Wilson worries to ODNR about the timeline for getting water replaced if there is a drilling problem that pollutes her drinking water supply.



VIDEO SERIES: ODNR ANSWERS STARK COUNTIANS' QUESTIONS - "20TH" OF A SERIES FOR SCPR READERS TO VIEW THE Q&A. CANTON COUNCILWOMAN MARY CIREILLI TO ODNR ABOUT ROADS AMONG OTHER ITEMS



With this blog series, the Stark County Political Report is posting the Q&A session featuring the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) held at Plain Township's Oakwood Middle School on January 27th. The meeting was put together by Plain Township Trustee Louis Giavasis (Democrat), Ohio Representative Kirk Schuring (Republican - 51st) and Ron Ponder.

Ponder is the talkshow host of Points to Ponder which can be heard M-F, 10:00 a.m. to Noon at WHBC-1480AM on your radio dial.

In this 20th blog video, well known Stark County (Canton) politician Mary Cirelli expresses concerns to ODNR about requiring that drillers use certain practices and inquires about who will be responsible for road damage done by drillers' heavy equipment.


VIDEO SERIES: ODNR ANSWERS STARK COUNTIANS' QUESTIONS - "19TH" OF A SERIES FOR SCPR READERS TO VIEW THE Q&A. CITIZEN RON WILSON ASKS ABOUT MANDATORY POOLING



With this blog series, the Stark County Political Report is posting the Q&A session featuring the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) held at Plain Township's Oakwood Middle School on January 27th. The meeting was put together by Plain Township Trustee Louis Giavasis (Democrat), Ohio Representative Kirk Schuring (Republican - 51st) and Ron Ponder.

Ponder is the talkshow host of Points to Ponder which can be heard M-F, 10:00 a.m. to Noon at WHBC-1480AM on your radio dial.

In this 19th blog video, Ronald Wilson of Navarre, makes the point that anyone who holds out on leasing (remember Permits Manager Mike McCormac and his "local control" spiel) loses out on any "bonus for signing" if they are ultimately forced into a drilling by operation of mandatory pooling.


VIDEO SERIES: ODNR ANSWERS STARK COUNTIANS' QUESTIONS - "18TH" OF A SERIES FOR SCPR READERS TO VIEW THE Q&A. BORELLO QUERIES ODNR ON WELL INSPECTIONS



With this blog series, the Stark County Political Report is posting the Q&A session featuring the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) held at Plain Township's Oakwood Middle School on January 27th. The meeting was put together by Plain Township Trustee Louis Giavasis (Democrat), Ohio Representative Kirk Schuring (Republican - 51st) and Ron Ponder.

Ponder is the talkshow host of Points to Ponder which can be heard M-F, 10:00 a.m. to Noon at WHBC-1480AM on your radio dial.

In this 18th blog video, Robb Borello (husband of Christine Borello - a long time environmentalist activist) presses ODNR about the thoroughness of well inspections and the adequacies (3 inspectors in Stark County 3,000 active wells; 33 inspectors statewide for 64,000 active wells when ODNR is fully manned) of well inspections.


VIDEO SERIES: ODNR ANSWERS STARK COUNTIANS' QUESTIONS - "17TH" OF A SERIES FOR SCPR READERS TO VIEW THE Q&A. JUDY ROSSETTI QUERIES ODNR ON H20 & PLUGGINGS



With this blog series, the Stark County Political Report is posting the Q&A session featuring the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) held at Plain Township's Oakwood Middle School on January 27th. The meeting was put together by Plain Township Trustee Louis Giavasis (Democrat), Ohio Representative Kirk Schuring (Republican - 51st) and Ron Ponder.

Ponder is the talkshow host of Points to Ponder which can be heard M-F, 10:00 a.m. to Noon at WHBC-1480AM on your radio dial.

In this 17th blog video, Stark County Citizen Judy Rossetti questions ODNR on behalf of future generations about "who is going to take care of future drinking water contamination" and getting Ohio's inactive wells plugged.


VIDEO SERIES: ODNR ANSWERS STARK COUNTIANS' QUESTIONS - "16TH" OF A SERIES FOR SCPR READERS TO VIEW THE Q&A. ODNR ON THE "FOOTPRINT" OF A DRILLING OPERATION ON THE LAND SURFACE



With this blog series, the Stark County Political Report is posting the Q&A session featuring the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) held at Plain Township's Oakwood Middle School on January 27th. The meeting was put together by Plain Township Trustee Louis Giavasis (Democrat), Ohio Representative Kirk Schuring (Republican - 51st) and Ron Ponder.

Ponder is the talkshow host of Points to Ponder which can be heard M-F, 10:00 a.m. to Noon at WHBC-1480AM on your radio dial.

In this 16th blog video, the ODNR is featured in the voice of Chief Deputy Tom Tugend answering a question from a unidentified audience member suggesting that the "footprint" of drilling rigs, water pits, et cetera could take up to five acres.



VIDEO SERIES: ODNR ANSWERS STARK COUNTIANS' QUESTIONS - "15TH" OF A SERIES FOR SCPR READERS TO VIEW THE Q&A. ODNR RESPONDS TO NEOGAP CRITIQUE



With this blog series, the Stark County Political Report is posting the Q&A session featuring the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) held at Plain Township's Oakwood Middle School on January 27th. The meeting was put together by Plain Township Trustee Louis Giavasis (Democrat), Ohio Representative Kirk Schuring (Republican - 51st) and Ron Ponder.

Ponder is the talkshow host of Points to Ponder which can be heard M-F, 10:00 a.m. to Noon at WHBC-1480AM on your radio dial.

In this 15th blog, the ODNR is featured in the voices of Chief Deputy Tom Tugend and Richard Simmers (enforcement manager) answer charges made by the Northeast Ohio Gas Accountability Project (NEOGAP) of the quality of the administration of fracking in Ohio.


VIDEO SERIES: ODNR ANSWERS STARK COUNTIANS' QUESTIONS - "14TH" OF A SERIES FOR SCPR READERS TO VIEW THE Q&A. NEOGAP CRITIQUES ODNR & FRACKING


With this blog series, the Stark County Political Report is posting the Q&A session featuring the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) held at Plain Township's Oakwood Middle School on January 27th. The meeting was put together by Plain Township Trustee Louis Giavasis (Democrat), Ohio Representative Kirk Schuring (Republican - 51st) and Ron Ponder.

Ponder is the talkshow host of Points to Ponder which can be heard M-F, 10:00 a.m. to Noon at WHBC-1480AM on your radio dial.

This 14th video features Northeast Ohio Gas Accountability Project (NEOGAP) spokesperson Vanessa Pesec who critiques the fracking process ODNR's regulation of it.



VIDEO SERIES: ODNR ANSWERS STARK COUNTIANS' QUESTIONS - "13TH" OF A SERIES FOR SCPR READERS TO VIEW THE Q&A. QUESTION (HOLBROOK) ON NUMBER OF FRACKING MISHAPS



With this blog series, the Stark County Political Report is posting the Q&A session featuring the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) held at Plain Township's Oakwood Middle School on January 27th. The meeting was put together by Plain Township Trustee Louis Giavasis (Democrat), Ohio Representative Kirk Schuring (Republican - 51st) and Ron Ponder.

Ponder is the talkshow host of Points to Ponder which can be heard M-F, 10:00 a.m. to Noon at WHBC-1480AM on your radio dial.

This 13th video features student Eleanor Holbrook asking ODNR officials about the number of mishaps that occur in fracking.

VIDEO SERIES: ODNR ANSWERS STARK COUNTIANS' QUESTIONS - "TWELFTH" OF A SERIES FOR SCPR READERS TO VIEW THE Q&A. ODNR'S SIMMERS & McCORMAC ON POOLING AND SPACING



With this blog series, the Stark County Political Report is posting the Q&A session featuring the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) held at Plain Township's Oakwood Middle School on January 27th. The meeting was put together by Plain Township Trustee Louis Giavasis (Democrat), Ohio Representative Kirk Schuring (Republican - 51st) and Ron Ponder.

Ponder is the talkshow host of Points to Ponder which can be heard M-F, 10:00 a.m. to Noon at WHBC-1480AM on your radio dial.

This TWELFTH video features Enforcement Manager Richard Simmers and Permits Manager Mike McCormac elaborating on ODNR's handling of mandatory pooling and spacing requirement of Ohio's regulatory scheme.


VIDEO SERIES: ODNR ANSWERS STARK COUNTIANS' QUESTIONS - "ELEVENTH" OF A SERIES FOR SCPR READERS TO VIEW THE Q&A. BRENNEMAN ON BOND/INS & POOLING



With this blog series, the Stark County Political Report is posting the Q&A session featuring the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) held at Plain Township's Oakwood Middle School on January 27th. The meeting was put together by Plain Township Trustee Louis Giavasis (Democrat), Ohio Representative Kirk Schuring (Republican - 51st) and Ron Ponder.

Ponder is the talkshow host of Points to Ponder which can be heard M-F, 10:00 a.m. to Noon at WHBC-1480AM on your radio dial.

This ELEVENTH video features Citizen Bob Brennenman who asks Chief Deputy Thomas Tugend and Permits Manager Mike McCormac on bonding and insurance to protect localities if a disaster occurs and also inquires about how his property use/ownership gets affected by mandatory pooling.


VIDEO SERIES: ODNR ANSWERS STARK COUNTIANS' QUESTIONS - TENTH" OF A SERIES FOR SCPR READERS TO VIEW THE Q&A. BRUNO: CAN ODNR DEAL WITH LAZINESS, STUPIDITY & GREED?



With this blog series, the Stark County Political Report is posting the Q&A session featuring the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) held at Plain Township's Oakwood Middle School on January 27th. The meeting was put together by Plain Township Trustee Louis Giavasis (Democrat), Ohio Representative Kirk Schuring (Republican - 51st) and Ron Ponder.

Ponder is the talkshow host of Points to Ponder which can be heard M-F, 10:00 a.m. to Noon at WHBC-1480AM on your radio dial.

This TENTH video features Citizen Darla Bruno who asks Chief Deputy Thomas Tugend how ODNR deals with the laziness, stupidity and greed of some of the drillers that ODNR has to deal with.


VIDEO SERIES: ODNR ANSWERS STARK COUNTIANS' QUESTIONS - "NINTH" OF A SERIES FOR SCPR READERS TO VIEW THE Q&A. CHIEF DEPUTY TUGEND RESPONDS TO COLERIDGE CHARGES



With this blog series, the Stark County Political Report is posting the Q&A session featuring the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) held at Plain Township's Oakwood Middle School on January 27th. The meeting was put together by Plain Township Trustee Louis Giavasis (Democrat), Ohio Representative Kirk Schuring (Republican - 51st) and Ron Ponder.

Ponder is the talkshow host of Points to Ponder which can be heard M-F, 10:00 a.m. to Noon at WHBC-1480AM on your radio dial.

This NINTH video features ODNR Chief Deputy Thomas Tugend's response to Greg Coleridge, Director Economic Justice & Empowerment Program Northeast Ohio American Friends Service Committee, Cuyahoga Falls, OH who charged that:
  • ODNR's decisions are controlled by the political appointees of Governor Kasich
  • ODNR officials are unconcerned with local factors because they do not live in Plain, and
  • ODNR are controlled by the oil and gas industry because ODNR exists on the permit fees paid by the industry

Saturday, January 29, 2011

VIDEO SERIES: ODNR ANSWERS STARK COUNTIANS' QUESTIONS - "EIGHTH" OF A SERIES FOR SCPR READERS TO VIEW THE Q&A. COLERIDGE: "ODNR UNDEMOCRATIC"




With this blog series, the Stark County Political Report is posting the Q&A session featuring the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) held at Plain Township's Oakwood Middle School on January 27th. The meeting was put together by Plain Township Trustee Louis Giavasis (Democrat), Ohio Representative Kirk Schuring (Republican - 51st) and Ron Ponder.

Ponder is the talkshow host of Points to Ponder which can be heard M-F, 10:00 a.m. to Noon at WHBC-1480AM on your radio dial.

This EIGHTH video features Greg Coleridge, Director Economic Justice & Empowerment Program Northeast Ohio American Friends Service Committee Cuyahoga Falls, OH who spoke to the non-political appointees of ODNR present on Thursday night about "Democracy & Self-Governance."

In his talk, Coleridge referred to the Kashich administration political appointee heads of ODNR.

He says that the background of Director David Mustine indicates that his being the head of ODNR is "like having the fox guard the henhouse:'


Here is the video on Coleridge with his Democracy 101 presentation, to wit: