Ohio EPA ID's people fired, demoted in Sebring water-quality snafu

COLUMBUS — The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has identified the two Columbus office staffers it fired and the Twinsburg office staff member it demoted over their alleged failure to notify their OEPA colleagues concerning toxic lead in the Sebring water system.

Terminated were: Kenneth Baughman, Environmental Specialist 2, who earned $70,491 annually; and Julie Spangler, environmental supervisor, who earned $82,451 a year.

Demoted from environmental manager to environmental supervisor was Nancy Rice, whose salary dropped from $90,979 to $82,451 annually.

Richard Giroux, Sebring village manager, declined to comment on the firings and demotion.

“I don’t have any comment on the internal affairs of the EPA. My focus is to continue to meet our obligations to the EPA and continue to work on resolving the current situation,” Giroux said.

He said his primary focus in recent days has been to work with W.E. Quicksall & Associates Inc. engineers of New Philadelphia on the soon-to-begin application of orthophosphate to the water as an anti-corrosive agent.

For the complete story, read Friday's Vindicator and Vindy.com