Decision on Gas Well at Church Opposed by Residents Won't Come For Weeks
Several people from Stow and a nearby community came to Monday's meeting to voice their concerns about fracking. The church, however, would like to see the gas well completed.
A very small piece of city-owned property is causing a pretty big stir in Stow over a gas and oil well on church property.
On Monday, City Council had a public hearing to get feedback from the community on whether it should lease three-tenths of an acre to PEP Drilling for a gas well already drilled on the Church of New Hope's property.
Councilman Mike Rasor has been in talks with Bill Marks of PEP Drilling to come up with a contract to present the city.
Rasor said the latest and probably final offer is $20,000 plus royalty money. Nothing has been agreed to by the city — in fact, as of July 26, a draft of a contract had not been drawn up yet.
The well in question is already drilled at the church. Marks came to council when he found out that he needed to drill his well deeper. Originally Marks needed clearance on any property within a 20-acre radius of the well. Now, since the well needs to go deeper, he needs a 40-acre radius.
For a map of the area and additional information, check out the .pdf attached to this post that was provided by the city.
Within that 40-acre radius is the city's property beneath the street on Ritchie Road.
Associate Pastor of the Church of New Hope Paul Thompson said he wants the well to be functional for the church's benefit.
"We've been in this process for about three years with the driller. It has been a source of hope for us that we could essentially lower gas bills and maybe see a little bit of additional income," said Thompson, who also lives on Ritchie Road. "I see no plausible risk to children or youth of our church."
But many disagree. And about 25 more people who could not attend the meeting signed a petition against the land lease.
"My opinion is it would not be best interest of the majority of people in Stow to enter into a lease agreement with PEP Drilling for gas well next to Church of New Hope," said Stow resident Alice Marusiak. "A new study predicts fracking chemicals injected into the ground could migrate toward drinking water supplies far more quickly than experts previously predicted."
She is also concerned with property values going down if the well is functional.
Council's chamber was filled with residents from Stow echoeing Marusiak's opinions on Monday. People from outside of Stow in Shalersville were also concerned about fracking.
"I just feel that we’re just at such a crucial moment in this matter of drilling," said Mary Grael to council. "People are angry and rising up and you have an opportunity to say no to this one little piece of property — $20,000 is not going to buy back your water and when we frack and drink bottled water … you’ll be glad you said no here."
PEP's representative, Mark, said his company not only follows all of the state and federal regulations on drilling — they go beyond it by testing the water frequently by a company contracted from Hudson.
"That being said, we have never contaminated any wells in this area or anywhere else — and we’ve drilled in 17 states," he said.
Council is not expected to make a decision on the land lease for weeks still. Expect the issue to come back to council during the week of Aug. 6.
How do you feel about the land lease? Should the city consider it? Is the well too risky for the area? Tell us in the comments.
Matthew M
6:48 am on Friday, July 27, 2012
So the chemicals could migrate towards our drinking supply quicker than experts previously predicted. Originally, It was ok that the chemicals would hit our drinking supply. Now that it will happen quicker than predicted, this is bad? Ummmmm........ Either way is bad!!!!! And we are considering this?
Dev
8:13 am on Friday, July 27, 2012
"we have never contaminated any wells in this area or anywhere else — and we’ve drilled in 17 states," so whats the worry?
Sounds like a deep well (5000-7000 feet). we risk more contamination from cars with leaky oil seals and leakage from the dumpsters in that area.
Is it "safety"? or do people around the area want their cut of the cash? or envy that someone will not have to pay for gas when global cooling kicks in Oct-March.
I have a relative who put in a gas well . Few neighbors started raising a fuss (standard contamination of water/farm land) She gave em a percentage of the gas well profits.. Now that the neighbors get a monthly check.. all worries/complaints of land/water contamination went away and its a safe/wonderfull well.....
and everyone has shiny new ATVs (to survey their land I guess).
Sigh...
Matthew M
11:50 am on Friday, July 27, 2012
It's not about the cash at all. Its about my child not developing cancer later in life so somebody can drive a new ATV around there property. Common sense. But unfortunately most people lack that.
I.M. Wright
3:36 pm on Friday, July 27, 2012
What is it with church's thinking they can do whatever the (bad word) they want?
This is the second church in Stow that has pursued this, and quite frankly, I'm sick of it just because it's a "church."
IIRC, with the other church in Stow, which later dropped its' pursuit over some ongoing property owner objections (among a few other issues), the main issue was money. A church is no different than a business. If you can't afford to keep your congregation going, then I guess you better put a "For Sale" or "For Lease" sign in your front lawn.
David Badagnani
3:57 pm on Friday, July 27, 2012
Can this article state the basic information of how many people attended the meeting?
Elyse
9:29 am on Tuesday, July 31, 2012
There were about 50 people who attended the meeting. I wrote up a blog and just got around to posting it. http://stow.patch.com/blog_posts/should-stow-city-council-lease-to-pep-drilling-company <--This has some more information about drilling, the company's track record and other oppositions.
David Badagnani
4:01 pm on Friday, July 27, 2012
Josh Fox's new short documentary film (available for free on the Internet), called "The Sky is Pink," shows that fracking companies' own documents state that well casings fail, many within just a few years' time, and most within 50-100 years' time. The clergyman quoted here is claiming that he doesn't envision any problems with water contamination, but a leader of church that is 2000 years old should have more foresight, looking ahead many generations into the future rather than caring only about the present. If contamination of the area's water happens to our descendants after we are gone, is that okay because it's not our problem?
jiim may
9:28 pm on Friday, July 27, 2012
I have an idea!!!!! Lets stop all jobs from coming in and we can all sit on welfare!!!! As far as the kids go, maybe it will make them stronger so we dont have such weenie kids running around.
Elyse
9:32 am on Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Jobs? Outdoor parks and recreation outnumbered gas and oil jobs 3-1. So why wouldn't be pushing for SUSTAINABLE jobs? Like Ohio needs another bust in its economy. Drilling is hardly a temporary fix-- They destroy the environment, human health, and what measly money that can be acquired is going to go back into fixing everything they destroyed.
Matthew M
10:42 pm on Friday, July 27, 2012
Maybe you can continue to sit on welfare while my tax dollars pay your way. Jobs?? You mean all the folks coming in from OK, ND and Texas. Yes, why don't we continue to support them here in Ohio. And yes, obv you are single w/o children. How's that going for you?
jiim may
8:01 am on Saturday, July 28, 2012
actually going geat. no stress or worries. come on fracking!!!!!
jiim may
8:06 am on Saturday, July 28, 2012
wow all I hear is me me me. actually I'm not on welfare. I worked hard all my life. I never missed a day at work. I am not selfish like yourself
Dan Shramo
1:33 am on Monday, July 30, 2012
Way to bring down the discussion, Jiim. Why are you so gung ho about this project? How many jobs will this thing create really? Are we so desperate for work these days that we'll applaud temporary occupations that very realistically could lead to serious and permanent damage to our water supply? Have we become that blind? Surely we could find another way to create jobs or, more importantly a means of survival couldn't we?
jiim may
7:44 am on Monday, July 30, 2012
any money is better than none. this earth will be destroyed way before the water supply is damaged. I remember playing with mercury!!! now if a kid comes within 100 feet of mercury we have to call hazmat and wash them down with ever solution possible. the older generation are like sharks we grew and adapted. kids off today are like moths. they won't last the rain storm!!!!!
Kari
8:43 am on Tuesday, July 31, 2012
False info provided by the energy company already as seen by articles below- what else are they lying about?
http://blog.cleveland.com/sunmessenger/2010/07/ohio_will_sue_gates_mills_gas.html
http://www.cleveland.com/sun/all/index.ssf/2010/06/gates_mills_oil_spill_quickly.html
tara nelson
10:20 am on Tuesday, July 31, 2012
please get out there and be active get off the computer and gather the people to stand with you... even though we had 6 on the streets marching we also had at least 30 at city council 20 people spoke out... we got a temporary win in the city of canton... my daughters live in cuyahoga falls...i will offer my support ne way to stop fracking ion stow peace love and solidarity
jiim may
9:16 pm on Tuesday, July 31, 2012
come on fracking!!!!!!! its good enough for god!!!!!!!!!
jiim may
10:04 pm on Tuesday, July 31, 2012
god fracked a rib from adam and women were created and men are still here. so, new creations will evolve from oil fracking!!!!
Colleen
10:48 pm on Tuesday, July 31, 2012
There is a strong link between water contamination and these types of gas wells. I live 3 miles away from this proposed gas well, and i'm worried about these chemicals will impact my family's drinking well. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=fracking-linked-water-contamination-federal-agency
jiim may
5:35 am on Wednesday, August 1, 2012
it wont
jiim may
6:07 am on Wednesday, August 1, 2012
wow!!!!! GOD came to me last night and said" These fools are going against my church? I selfishly gave up my son for them and they question me????????? Those who oppose this fracking will be fracking in hell forever". in other words they will be fracked up!!!!!