COLUMBUS GROVE — Columbus Grove Village Council ultimately agreed to testing a resident’s sewer line in lieu of an inspection after hearing a resident’s complaints about having to dig up the line at Monday’s meeting.
Albert Morales Jr. questioned council members about a sewer line he installed for a resident during the meeting. The city is currently in the third phase of a project to separate the sewer and storm water lines in the village. Morales installed the line for Jamie Lehmann on Sycamore Street just a couple of days after installing the line on his own property.
However, Village Administrator Jeff Vance was on vacation when Morales had his line inspected. The three village employees permitted to do inspections were all not available and another village employee told Morales that the line was good to go. Morales then installed Lehmann’s line according to the specifications from his property. Vance returned from vacation that day and said that line would have to be dug up after it had been covered to be inspected.
“I spoke with the man for 20 minutes and was absolutely sure it was acceptable,” Morales said. “When I dug another for the young lady, I left with no uncertainty that it was done correctly.”
Vance said that specifications were written for residents and contractors to follow. The specifications did spell out that lines had to be inspected before being filled in. The village wanted the line dug up to be inspected, but Morales said he didn’t feel he should have the burden of the cost to dig the line back up to be inspected. Vance admitted that the village employee inspecting the line did not have the authorization to do so.
A heated discussion ensued, with Mayor Ken Wright banging his gavel several times to restore order. After much discussion, the council decided to just run a test through the line and make sure it was functioning properly. They also verified from this point out that no village employees who were not permitted to do so completed any inspections.
The issue ultimately tied into the next, when Rick Martin, of Fort Jennings, questioned the council on receiving a summons to appear in mayor’s court for soliciting without a permit.
Martin is the brother-in-law of Morales.
On Aug. 31, the Columbus Grove Police Department sent out a statement that said: “Village Residents: If you have been approached and advised that you need to have your sewer hookup completed within the next few days, or you’ll be fined, please contact the Columbus Grove Police Department. You can call Putnam County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch at 419-523-3208 and ask to speak with a Columbus Grove officer. There were allegedly two individuals soliciting to hookup sewers for residences and allegedly added that it needed to be completed within a couple days. This Is false. If you have any questions about the sewer hookup deadlines or need suggested contractors, contact the City building Monday – Friday at 419-659-2365 and they will assist.”
Martin had been soliciting to complete sewer hookups for residents. He said he based the premise on a village document released Nov. 23 that stated villagers would be fined if they did not have tie-ins finished by Sept. 1.
A follow up phone call to the Police Department identified two individuals, Martin and his father-in-law, Albert Morales Sr., also Morales Jr.’s father, as being the culprits.
Martin was accused of using “strong-arm tactics” to get people to sign. Village officials have said the Sept. 1 date was not set in stone, despite the way the release that went to residents had read. Martin was approached by an officer after going to a few houses and asked to stop and get a permit before soliciting any more homes. The next day he was served with the violation, in which he is to appear in mayor’s court on Wednesday. Some council members and the mayor all said they had received calls that they felt Martin’s approach was “strong-armed.”
When asked why he had issued the violation, Gilgenbach said he based the decision on if it were someone who should have known better.
“It was someone local, and he should have,” Gilgenbach said.
