Toledo council rejects permit tied to West Toledo water tower project, creating uncertainty for $85M

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[00:00:01]An unexpected curveball. Um, shocking.

[00:00:05]>> That's how city councilman Adam Martinez describes today's no vote on a project that leaders say is critical to Toledo's future water system. An $85 million project with the Ohio EPA that builds four new water towers. One at Schneider Park in the city southside, one near Holland Sylvania and West Sylvania Avenue, and then two along Northover Road by Silver Creek Elementary. The goal, improve water pressure and have backup supply in case of an emergency, but many North Over Road neighbors aren't for it.

[00:00:33]>> There was no discussion. I mean, I'm sure the neighborhood would have voted against it.

[00:00:37]>> Who's also against it? Councilwoman Terresa Morris.

[00:00:40]>> I really do feel that my constituents were done dirty and I think that they um I think the city didn't do due diligence in looking at other locations.

[00:00:50]>> Martinez isn't a fan of the location either, but says the project still needs to happen. That was the only location we could put these here. So, unfortunately, it was a necessary evil.

[00:00:59]>> Tuesday, frustration led to the no on special permits needed to build the two towers. Five council members voted against it, putting a pause on a project that's already underway with trees already cleared.

[00:01:11]>> By not installing them, as we've already allocated the funding for, now we are jeopardy of not only losing the contractor, uh, but also being fined by the OEPA $4,000 per day until we get it done. Martinez told me he wasn't sure when fines could start, but Morris says she's willing to stick up for her district and says the city should do the same. They make a lot of of considerations of downtown, but when it comes to the neighborhoods, we have to be staunch in what these people are seeing day in and day