2 residents ask for help to stop gas well plans

By JORDAN COHEN

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

NILES — Two residents asked city council Wednesday night to help stop plans to drill gas wells in their neighborhoods.

They found out that council, although sympathetic, is powerless to act.

“It’s a state issue and the responsibility has been taken away from us,” said acting council President Stephen Papalas. “It’s very frustrating.”

One of the residents, Leslie Monos, said he was informed about a proposed well behind the now-vacant Topps Supermarket near Old Forge Road when a representative from the drilling company asked him to sign an authorization. Monos refused.

“The noise is unbelievable and they don’t take care of the wells,” Monos said. “They’re left to rust, and it looks terrible.”

Another resident, Charles Johnstone, voiced his disapproval of a well that would be situated near Jackson Elementary off Park Avenue. He said the wells could become a hazard for nearby homes such as his because the ground could possibly sink.

“You’ll have foundation problems with your house and nothing to fall back on,” Johnstone said.

Monos and Johnstone hope to persuade other residents not to sign drilling authorizations. Neither man identified the drilling companies.

Papalas explained that the state law forced cities such as Niles to eliminate ordinances controlling drilling.

“We had the best ordinance, but that’s all been removed,” Papalas said. He attributed passage of the law to lobbying by “the gas well and oil industry.”

Under the law, the residents must take their complaints to the state capital for consideration.

“Why do we have to drive all the way to Columbus to voice our opinion?” Johnstone said.

Also at Wednesday’s council meeting, fire Chief Gary Brown praised the efforts of two members of his department, Ken Heinselman and Trevor Bonnacci, for resuscitating a heart attack victim who had no pulse when they arrived.

“This is why we spend the money to train our first responders,” Brown said.