LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) - After collecting signatures earlier this month, opponents of the $6 million Cable Road project have submitted their referendum petition to the city of Lima and the Allen County Board of Elections.
More than the minimum 255 required signatures from Lima voters were gathered to advance the petition, and Lima City Council Clerk Dana Addis certified it as sufficient. The referendum seeks a full repeal of the ordinance allowing the next phase of right-of-way acquisitions. The ordinance narrowly passed on third reading by a 5-3 vote.
With the petition now on file, Lima City Law Director Tony Geiger explained the next steps in the process.
"At the next council meeting, there will be an ordinance allowing council to reconsider the ordinance that is under referendum. If that is rejected or repealed, I should say at the next meeting, then the issue is over because that's what the referendum is seeking, but if not, then it goes to an additional ordinance, which is sent to the Board of Elections to have the issue put on the ballot. I haven't concluded yet exactly how to formulate the ordinance for the next meeting, so that's something we'll work on," says Tony Geiger, Lima City Law Director.
In other business, council members voted to extend the current moratorium on shared living facilities by six months, now lasting through Sept. 23. Council also received notice from the Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of Liquor Control that all Class C and D annual renewal objections are due by May 4 because those permits expire June 1.
