Residents press county for clarity as Sloopy project proceeds through OPSB process

Mary Adkins, a Springfield Township resident, opened public comment by asking whether there were updates on the Sloopy Project after an open forum last week. Commissioner Sasha L. Rittenhouse said the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) staff report "did not recommend moving forward with the project" and noted the report listed 64 recommended conditions. Rittenhouse said the report is posted online and that she had not heard additional updates.

"There were ten sheets filled out for opposing the project, and three that were for the project," Rittenhouse said, describing sign-up sheets from the open forum where attendees registered support or opposition.

Beau Thompson, the county's chief legal counsel, explained the next procedural step. "The evidentiary hearings are the next step in the process and are coming up," he said, adding that intervening parties — including the county — will be present to present evidence, and administrative law judges will consider the open forum transcript and written comments on the docket when making recommendations to the OPSB voting members.

Charlotte Trapp asked who would address public comments and who would make the ultimate decision. Rittenhouse said the OPSB will make the final decision; Thompson added that OPSB staff prepare a staff report, administrative law judges produce recommendations after hearings, and then the OPSB voting members decide.

The county did not take a formal position at the meeting and did not announce new filings. The next public step described by counsel is the evidentiary phase before administrative law judges, whose findings and the OPSB staff report will be part of the record the board reviews.