NILES Drilling leases authorized for gas, oil well company

The city imposed the moratorium in June 1999.
NILES -- City council has approved an ordinance granting an exception to its oil and gas well moratorium.
Council adopted the ordinance Wednesday granting the exception to Everflow Eastern Inc. of Canfield for a well between Mosquito Creek and West Street.
The ordinance authorizes Sam Natoli, city service director, to execute the oil and gas lease with the company for sections of Niles-Cortland Road, North Cedar Avenue, Davis, Hughes, Cannon, Wayne, Clinton, Hickory, Griffin, Cherry, Lafayette and Washington streets and Vine, Long, King and Keystone Alleys and for the city-owned Davis Street playground.
The leases were required because under law, a company needs at least 40 acres for an oil and gas well.
The city imposed the moratorium in June 1999 after residents complained about problems with past drilling projects. The moratorium requires companies interested in drilling wells to explain their proposals to city council.
Council also approved drilling of an oil and gas well at a North Road church by the Canfield company in November 1999.