The initial response from Berea’s Mayor was to blame the homeowners for not doing enough to waterproof their basements.  However, many residents, including Gail, spent tens of thousands of dollars to waterproof their basements to no avail.  The mayor noted the money the city spent on cleaning and relining the storm sewers for Ward 1. He said there was nothing more the city could do.

Ward One Organizes

Gail’s group organized and posted yard signs asking the mayor for help. Refuting the city’s position, they posted videos showing the water bubbling up from the drains connected to the city.  Yes, that is correct- water was not coming in from basement walls or from the ground; it was coming from the drain itself.  No amount of waterproofing could fix this problem.  It was the sewer system that had to be fixed.

Gail, along with residents, confronted Leon Dozier about the issue.  Leon parroted the mayor’s view reasserting there wasn’t anything the city could do. 

As a result, Gail contacted and gained the support of other city council members that did not represent Ward 1.  These members listened and began to investigate the issue to find a solution.  They created a working group to study the issue and devise a solution.

As this began to unfold, Leon refused to join and advocate for his Ward.  Instead, he surprised his constituents by announcing he would not be voting on any plan the city proposed to fix Ward 1 issues.  He said that voting on these measures would be an ethical violation because “his basement floods”.  It is worth noting, that almost everything voted on at a city council directly impacts the members of the council because they live in Berea.  If members recused themselves from voting on things that impacted them, nothing would be voted on in Berea.

Leon Had to Go

Gail and other community activists decided it was time for Leon to go.  They organized a petition drive to recall Leon and remove him from city council.  Consequently, Leon has gone silent refusing to answer return phone calls or answer emails. 

Despite Leon’s obstinance, Ward 1 with the help of Berea’s city council has settled on a plan and secured funding.  Knowing the city council will pass the plan with or without his support, the mayor has begrudgingly changed his stance on the issue.  He now champions the new plan as one of his ‘accomplishments’ despite his past insistence that there was nothing the city could do.  

Depending Tuesday’s vote, Leon’s days as a city council member may be numbered.