Dear Richland County residents,
I am voting NO to the Ban on Property Rights on May 5th.
I am a retired social studies teacher. My students and I read the United States Constitution word for word, cover to cover, annually for 40 years. We reviewed landmark Supreme Court cases and original historical documents.
The Founding Fathers understood that private property is the foundation of prosperity and freedom. They protected the rights of people to freely acquire, use and dispose of personal property.
The issue on the Richland County May 5th ballot centers around the right of control.
Each landowner has the right to submit an application for land usage and have it evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
When the government decides to ban applications for land use without a hearing, the citizens are denied the formal review process developed by the state.
In Ohio, large-scale energy facilities must apply for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need from the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB). This rigorous review includes public meetings, detailed impact studies, expert staff analysis, formal public hearings and a final decision to issue or deny the certificate.
This process is not quick, it is not easy, and it is not guaranteed success. But it should be a guaranteed option for property owners if they choose that path.
I have personally attended public information meetings, town halls and Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) hearings around the state to see this process in action.
Preserve the right to this process. Vote No Ban on Property Rights on May 5th.
Jeff Strang,
Mansfield, Ohio