Through an open window in council chambers, the cheers and chants of Bowling Green citizens and University students emanated up to council members as council unanimously voted against city ordinance 8544. The ordinance would have granted an easement to Nexus Gas Transmission, LLC. to construct a gas transmission pipeline on city land.
The decision came after months of discussions with regional geographical experts, outcry from local environmental activists and unprecedented high attendance at council meetings.
Council member Daniel Gordon said he had always been critical and skeptical of the easement, but community voices reinforced his opinion. He challenged citizens to continue the high level of participation in city matters.
“Remember that this is how you change things. You show up and you fight for what you think is right. Because if you do not, if you sit back, it may not happen and others will shape the world, including your little corner of it here in Bowling Green instead of you,” Gordon said.
Council members were also impressed by University student engagement with this ordinance and hope to see this participation continue.
“We frequently have discussed how important it is for us to include university students in the life of our community,” council chair Mike Aspacher said. “I think this is a great example of the type of thing that can happen when we work together and we include the students in the dealings of our community.”
Attendance at city council was high. Police and fire presence managed the number of people allowed in council chambers and in the building. Under fire code, the capacity for council chambers is 66. After chambers were full, the hallway on the third floor sat 20, and the second floor held 30. More stood outside in the parking lot watching the chamber on a television.
Aspacher cited the high numbers of attendance as a reason for conducting council business out of order. Council voted on ordinance 8544 before visitation, not allowing citizens to address council on the record before the vote.
Several attendants were upset by the change in agenda and asked that they be allowed to speak. Joe DeMare, Green Party candidate for the 2016 United States Senate race, was escorted from the premises by law enforcement.
Although the easement was denied by council, Lorain County resident Andrew Smith said that the fight is far from over. Nexus still has the opportunity to be granted eminent domain, which would allow the company to build the pipeline on city land without the city’s permission. Smith then urged citizens to continue the fight against the pipeline.
“You are not the only ones fighting this,” Smith said. Washtenaw County stands with you. Lenawee County stands with you. Monroe County stands with you.” Those three Michigan counties have already opposed the pipeline.
Smith then continued by listing off 13 other counties from Ohio that opposed the pipeline.
“I just ask everyone in this room tonight going forward to know that this battle does not stop here. This is just one city along a 225-mile stretch of land that we must clear and take back for the people,” Smith said.
