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Regular Council Minutes <br />5/16/OS <br />Page 11 <br />Roll Call: AYES: All <br />NAYS: None Motion Carried <br />Resolution Adopted <br />Discussion: Drilling for Oil/Gas Wells <br />Council President Buckholtz said let me explain what this is. If you don't already know <br />that it is going on in Mayfield Heights, they have passed an ordinance not permitting gas <br />wells to be drilled on private property. I am not sure what the language is. <br />Mr. Brett said bringing suit against-I don't know who they were bringing it against-an <br />injunction, Joe-do you know? <br />Mr. Diemert said it is an association of a coalition of property owners against gas wells <br />have formed together and is asking various cities to join them in their litigation against the <br />gas companies and the State statute which was essentially taking away local municipalities <br />rights to regulate this type of thing. It is a new bill that has just gone into effect. They are <br />still trying to figure out some nooks and crannies of how to enforce it statewide. In effect, <br />municipalities really don't have any leverage anymore to control through our own <br />legislation a location or manner in which these gas wells are...... and operated. <br />Council President Buckholtz asked, so we are looking for a Resolution of support- <br />basically? <br />Mr. Diemert said they are looking for financial contributions or else to join as friends of <br />the court and join in the action. I don't know what the Village of Mayfield's interest is in <br />that or if you have any potential gas well areas. It is mostly in areas--- <br />Council President Buckholtz said we did. We had one on my front yard. So it is something <br />that could come up here. The reason I wanted it on tonight is typically something we would <br />talk about in a Caucus situation but I suggested (and the Mayor brought it to my attention), <br />my suggestion was that we just get little feedback from everyone here on how they felt on <br />it and at least pass a resolution supporting the effort that they are making but find out if we <br />have stronger feelings about it-about wanting to be able to take the same stand here and <br />not have the drilling go on-in which case it would be more along the lines that we would <br />create an ordinance. Is that correct? <br />Mr. Diemert said right. <br />Mrs. Mills asked, don't you have to have a specific amount of acreage before they can drill <br />for a gas well? 'Mr. Diemert said state law does regulate the amount of acreage and proximity to schools, <br />etc.