Trail purchase wins approval; resident asks who would clean up a buried petroleum line on Norfolk Southern parcel

Solon City Council’s action to authorize notes for the North Fork Southern Headwaters Connector Trail prompted a public question about environmental liability for a buried petroleum line near the proposed corridor. Council approved Ordinance No. 2025-151, authorizing notes of up to $6 million for acquiring property and preparing a site for the trail. After the vote, resident John Senderec, who said he lives near the corridor, asked whether the city had considered environmental liability tied to a buried petroleum pipeline that runs near the right-of-way and whether the city would be responsible if a spill required cleanup. Senderec asked, “If that pipeline breaks and there’s a spill, who’s responsible for cleaning it up, is it the city?” A city representative replied that the city has been working with Norfolk Southern for years and that lawyers are handling the negotiations; the representative said Norfolk Southern would remove the rails as part of the agreement. Councilmembers also noted that existing easements and utility lines would remain and that the pipeline’s easement might not transfer to the city. Council members directed staff and the city attorney to continue legal and due-diligence work on the acquisition. The ordinance passed unanimously under suspension; council members said the $6 million is intended only for Solon’s portion of the purchase and that follow-up on environmental and easement conditions would be part of the acquisition process.