If refuse and recycling, sidewalks and errant grass clippings count as Wapakoneta’s greatest hits, being asked to adopt legislation as an emergency is surely city council’s longest standing complaint.
Two pieces of legislation authorizing annexation of property into the city were introduced as emergencies during Monday’s meeting, prompting Councilman Jim Neumeier to ask why. City Solicitor Denny Faller was quick to respond the action is necessary to keep the Pratt industries-related project moving. The property is for the new electric substation.
Faller said he couldn’t file the annexation until the property was purchased; they closed on the property last week. He listed the steps taken to get to this point in the process, noting he didn’t care if city council wanted to sit on the legislation for two months but said it “makes sense to get this to the Planning Commission, to get it to the Zoning Board but things can’t happen until we own the property.”
“Why didn’t we own it?” Neumeier asked.
“We hadn’t closed on it,” Faller replied.
The two sniped back and forth before Neumeier said the process of getting to this point in the project isn’t what set off the discussion.
“It upsets me that we don’t get more information before we get to this table on a Monday night,” Neumeier said. “We ask for it. We never get it. I feel like a rubber stamp. All I’m asking for is advance information.”
Faller said council...
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