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Morrow continues heated debate on vacated street

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By Linda Scott, Contributing writer Updated 12:59 PM Wednesday, March 10, 2010

MORROW — The fate of a stretch of land along the Little Miami River known as Water Street has the village in a heated debate.

Morrow Council heard the first reading of legislation Tuesday night, March 9, that would allow the village to vacate Water Street, a strip of land that has not been used as a roadway for years that separates the river from residential backyards.

Councilwoman Rebecca Isaacs-Niemesh said she had doubts about council’s legal authority to vacate Water Street because mayor Michael Erwin is a property owner abutting the land in question.

“I feel like I’ve been put in a bad situation.” she said. “The fact remains that the mayor, you own four times as much property that borders Water Street than any other person that has adjacent property down there. You own at least eight lots. It looks as if council is voting on an issue that takes property away from the village and gives it directly and benefits you.”

Councilwoman Judy Neal disagreed with her.

“I am not opposed to (vacating) it. It is property that the village has not maintained for decades. Half the time it’s under water,” Neal said.

Councilman Mike McKeenhan said vacating the street would not negatively affect residents.

“It seems to me that this has really got blown way out of proportion. The footage is a small section between the people’s backyards and the river’s edge. The village has never maintained that stretch of property. The property owners down there took it upon themselves to clean things up,” he said. “Yes, the mayor does own property down there, but the mayor doesn’t have a vote in this.”

Councilman Bruce Miller, a former village employee and stanch opponent of vacating the land, said the move would cut off public access to the river.

“That riverbank belongs to the kids of future generations. The first time someone comes down there and they leave garbage behind it’s going to make someone mad. The next time it happens, I guarantee ‘no trespassing’ signs are going to go up,” Miller said.

Erwin said because of his ownership of some of the properties abutting Water Street he believed an unusual amount of debate has been spent on the matter.

“We’re trying to make it a nice place to live back there,” Erwin said. “If this (vacating of Water Street) happens, I’ll be happy. I’m not going to sit here and say I wouldn’t be. I met with Little Miami Inc. and probably the next move (following vacating the stretch) is going to be a conservation easement of 50 feet back,” Erwin said.

Village solicitor Don Oda said he believed council’s approach to vacate the land was legal. The village will have a special meeting on March 18 to hear the second reading of the ordinance. The last reading will be March 23.

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tear all of the village of morrow down!

tear it all down
10:28 AM, 3/12/2010

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I'm just going to cross my arms, stick my lip into a pout, let a tear roll slowly down my cheek and be mad. WAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
**** it up honey you're in the big leagues (albeit small time) now. And by the way, this isn't the City of Mason. You represent the small river village of Morrow. If that bothers you, move. If it doesn't then don't come into office thinking your going to "take the bull by the horns". You're too late. It's already been done. Listen and learn - then speak.

LOLOLOLOL
8:51 PM, 3/11/2010

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I HEARD that someone is planning to put in a gambling casino, high rise river front condos, an oil refinery and possibly a floating dinner club on Water St. I HEARD that engineering firms have been consulted to do testing on the area. JOBS JOBS JOBS!! It's just a matter of time before the rain stops, the river goes down, and testing/planning can commence. Thank you Neimesh and Miller for saving us all. By the way, Bruce, just hang in there, buddy. Your free internet will be up shortly.

dd
8:42 PM, 3/11/2010

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Not to take anything away from the sleuth reporting of Neimesh regarding the property ownership of Erwin, but, her "bombshell" is public information. Where was Neimesh when the other end of Water Street was vacated? Has Neimesh walked down to Water St. or is she still waiting for someone to escort her along the path? Did it ever occur to her to go see for herself or ask another council member to join her? No. That would defeat her purpose. Miller is a disgruntled former employee of the village

actually there 2
8:32 PM, 3/11/2010

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I was actually part of the standing room only crowd. It was obvious that the only people in favor of taking riverfront property from the citizens and giving to the Mayor, his brother, and his buddy Yorkie were the oouncil members quoted in the article and the Mayor's family. Niemesh and Miller are doing exactly what they were elected to do. Sour grapes because Mr. Erwin, his "boy" Mr. Chambers,and Yorkie were not able to slide this one by, because Niemesh and Miller do their homework.

actually there
3:39 PM, 3/11/2010

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