LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — Lima voters will decide the future of the Cable Road Improvement Project after Lima City Council voted Monday night to place a referendum on the Nov. 3 ballot.
Council members voted unanimously to allow voters to approve or reject a previously approved ordinance that would authorize the mayor to purchase or accept donated property connected to the project.
The proposed project along North Cable Road, stretching from Latham Avenue to College Park West Drive, would change southbound traffic from two lanes to one lane and add a median separating northbound and southbound traffic.
The referendum will ask voters whether the ordinance allowing the city to acquire property for the project should stand.
“So, the question on the ballot is, should that ordinance be approved. Should the mayor be allowed to acquire property, which, in essence, if you vote yes, you're voting to allow the mayor to acquire property, and you're voting, in a sense, in favor of the cable road project. If you vote no against the ordinance. Then it's the opposite. You're voting no. We don't want the mayor to acquire the property. By extension, we're not in favor of a project, at least as it is constituted now. So, what should appear on the ballot, based upon our charter, is language that says either for the ordinance or against the ordinance, not just yes or no,” says Tony Geiger, Lima Law Director.
The referendum will now be submitted to the Allen County Board of Elections for placement on the November ballot. The Ohio Secretary of State’s Office will approve the ballot language that registered voters within Lima city limits will consider.
