MAUMEE, Ohio — Monday night in Maumee was filled with more concern from residents over a recent sewer line ordinance that came into law in June.
But Maumee city officials are making a new effort to help relieve the costs of potentially needed repairs.
"This assistance program is going to allow money that was set aside for capital and offer that up to our residents to offset some of the cost," said Mayor James MacDonald.
MacDonald is referring to a grant assistance program that was proposed at Maumee City Council's meeting Monday night to help with paying for potential repairs stemming from the ordinance, which requires properties for sale in Maumee city limits to have their sewer line connections inspected and for owners to pay for potential repairs.
The grant assistance program, ordinance 29-2024, is a proposal set for a vote at the Aug. 19 city council meeting. Per the ordinance, the city would reallocate an undetermined amount of money from the sewer fund, intended for re-lining streets, and put it toward qualifying families.
To qualify, a family's average median income needs to fit between the range of 60-250% of the city's AMI, which is $79,000, according to city administrator Patrick Burtch.
MacDonald says the solution will help bring relief to plenty of families in need.
"We needed to seek out ways to try and alleviate some of the impact that it's going to take for citizens to fix their property," the mayor said.
Council waived the first two readings of the ordinance and pushed it to a vote at the next meeting. But many people shared skepticism over the city's actions, including resident Julie Koralewski, who helped lead a citizen's initiative before the start of Monday's meeting at the Elks Lodge in downtown Maumee.
"This was, I feel, the last resort, is what we have to do is get them to listen to us and understand the community does not want this," she said.
The initiative's goal, according to a community crowdfunding effort, is to collect over 700 signatures in 24 hours and raise roughly $15,000 to pay for legal fees and get a repeal onto the November ballot.
Koralewski is frustrated, and so too is Lucas County Commissioner Pete Gerken, who attended the meeting and offered a different, temporary solution: a moratorium.
"I think a moratorium gives people a chance to settle down and see all the solutions," said Gerken. "I'm not sure that the approach that the city has taken has been fully transparent."
But MacDonald says a moratorium would not have helped.
"The moratorium is just kicking the can down the line and it's not a solution," said MacDonald. "I want a solution. I don't just want something that we wait for no reason whatsoever."