[1:41] Stability, beautification, committee hearing,

[1:49] call mifes. Jones, here. Driscoll, here. Cramer, here. McPherson, here. Five present, also present, gattest and seron too.

[2:03] Thanks, everybody, it's here from the administration, as well as the public. We really are looking forward to hearing from all of you and what is going to happen.

[2:11] So a few housekeeping moments before we really get started.

[2:17] There is a sign-up sheet that is on the podium.

[2:20] It will move its way over to the side table over here.

[2:23] If you intend to speak and make public comments, please sign up on that sheet.

[2:27] So we can get to everybody in order.

[2:30] We generally keep about a three minute per person rule.

[2:34] So we can make sure we hear from everybody.

[2:36] I just have some discretion on that.

[2:39] So we will see how that goes.

[2:42] And we will first hear from the administration once we get rolling here and then council will be able to ask questions that they would like to ask and then we will open it to public comments.

[2:58] Here we go.

[3:09] teams at the environmental services who were onsite and providing air quality testing before

[3:14] the EPA even arrived.

[3:17] All of these responders put themselves in harm's way to protect our residents and save lives

[3:21] and we're, I don't want to speak for all Council, but I would imagine all deeply grateful

[3:26] for their courage, professionals, and committed.

[3:29] I also want to thank the governmental agencies that responded, those responsible for emergency

[3:32] management, public health, environmental monitoring, and more.

[3:36] They're coordinated efforts where essential protecting residents during immediate crisis in its

[3:40] afternoon.

[3:41] But gratitude for the response cannot substitute for accountability about what happens

[3:46] and I believe that we need answers.

[3:49] Brent Industries is operating in a community where residents have a reasonable expectation

[3:54] that industrial facilities will operate safely and responsibly.

[3:58] When there is a major explosion and fire, the public deserves to know what happens.

[4:02] What failed, whether all applicable safety requirements were being followed, and whether

[4:07] warning signs existed before this incident even occurred.

[4:11] There are also serious questions about the company's obligations to the community.

[4:15] It's my understanding that threat industry is currently $861,000 in the rears on its water bill,

[4:20] and nearly $20,000 in property taxes.

[4:24] That is an extraordinary amount of money, and it raises legitimate questions about the company's financial conditions.

[4:28] It's obligations to the city and whether there are broader compliance or oversight issues that this committee needs to understand.

[4:35] The public should not be left wondering whether financial difficulties, operational decisions, maintenance compliance or other factors play any role in the conditions at this facility.

[4:45] And while we investigate those questions, we cannot lose sight of the people who live nearby.

[4:49] I'm particularly concerned by residents who continue to tell us that they're experiencing symptoms through following the fire.

[4:55] those residents deserve more than assurances, they deserve answers, access to

[5:02] We need to know what was released during the explosion in the fire. We need to know what environmental testing is found, and we need to know what monitoring was conducted, and I'm looking forward to hearing all of that today.

[5:14] And I think it will beg the question whether additional testing is necessary, but I think that everybody will have a better understanding of what all has been done after today's presentation.

[5:26] The people living in this neighborhood should not have to become their own investigators to determine whether they're safe.

[5:31] This hearing should, therefore, be about facts transparency and accountability.

[5:35] If bread industries fail to meet its responsibilities, we need to know.

[5:38] Affregulations were not followed, we need to know.

[5:41] If inspections, permitting, and fortunately communication broke down, we need to know these things.

[5:45] Our obligation is not simply to respond when something goes wrong.

[5:49] Our obligation is to do everything within our authority to prevent these incidents.

[5:52] So I identify risks before they become emerge disease and to make sure that companies operating in our community meet their responsibilities to the public.

[6:01] So today I anticipate hearing difficult questions, not because this committee wants to pre-judge the outcome of any investigation, but because the people we represent deserve real answers.

[6:13] So without that or with that, we'll keep it over to the administration.

[6:18] So I understand what I'm talking to you there.

[6:21] Good afternoon, Mr. Chair, Members of Council,

[6:24] I'm Abby Arnold Deputy Mayor.

[6:26] I'm joined today by Deputy Chief Pasadne of

[6:28] Toledo Fire and Rescue and Abbott Salmon Commissioner

[6:30] of Environmental Services.

[6:33] On August 18th, we suffered a tragedy when a

[6:36] second alarm fire claimed the lives of two members

[6:39] of our community.

[6:41] On behalf of Mayor Kebsickavage and the City of Toledo,

[6:43] we offer our sincere condolences to the families,

[6:46] friends, and co-workers of the victims.

[6:48] Deputy Chief Pasadne served as incident commander during the response and environmental services

[6:53] was the first environmental agency on scene working alongside Slido Fire and Rescue to help

[6:58] ensure the health and safety of the surrounding neighborhood.

[7:02] This was a significant and complex response involving six fire and rescue bureaus, more than

[7:07] a hundred Slido fire fighters, employees representing six city departments and 15 local state

[7:14] and federal agencies and partner organizations.

[7:16] that coordinated response has continued beyond the immediate

[7:20] emergency as work at the site is progressed.

[7:24] We also recognize that residents who live near the site have

[7:27] questions and concerns about the potential impact of this

[7:30] incident on their neighborhood, particularly as it relates to

[7:33] air and water quality. Those concerns are understandable

[7:35] and residents deserve clear information about what has been

[7:39] done, what the testing has shown, and what we will continue

[7:43] to be monitoring going forward.

[7:44] And that is why today's conversation is important.

[7:48] We're here to provide council and the public with an overview of the response.

[7:52] Deputy Chief Pasadne will walk through Toledo Fire and Rescue's response to the fire and

[7:56] commissioner Saman will discuss the environmental response, including the city's coordination

[8:01] with our state and federal partners.

[8:04] The environmental testing and monitoring that has occurred in the ongoing work at the site.

[8:08] Unfortunately, representatives from the U.S. and Ohio EPA were unable to join us today.

[8:13] However, Commissioner Saman will be able to speak to their role in the response and the

[8:17] continued environmental monitoring and oversight moving forward.

[8:21] I want to thank the city employees and our local state and federal partners who responded

[8:26] to an extraordinarily difficult incident and who continue to be engaged in the work

[8:30] that has followed.

[8:32] Most importantly, we want the residents who have questions about this incident to have access

[8:37] to the facts and an understanding of the work that has been and continues to be done

[8:41] protect their health and safety.

[8:43] We appreciate the opportunity to provide that information today and answer council's questions.

[8:47] With that, I will turn it over to Deputy Chief Pasadne.

[8:53] Good afternoon.

[8:54] My name is Mike Pasadne.

[8:56] I am the Deputy Chief of Operations and Special Operations for the City of Toledo.

[9:01] Fire Department.

[9:04] Our alarm came in around 450 in the morning.

[9:08] They were sent to Bren Industries on a possible explosion.

[9:11] They're getting multiple calls on this.

[9:14] I was alerted at home, so I immediately got in and left work for early before they even dispatched us.

[9:20] They could see by the text, what was coming in, that was something significant.

[9:26] While I started going route, dispatched, I was listening to the channel.

[9:31] The incident commander, Battalion II, Chief Dana Williams, was first on scene.

[9:35] He was given a size up what he had in front of him.

[9:39] off of this size up, I start a contact in our dispatch to get a hold to little environmental

[9:43] how EPA, because I knew we had more than what we could handle.

[9:48] We had active rescue, the way in place, we had 12 people that were missing, and that's

[9:56] what they were focusing on at first, they originally because of the devastation.

[10:00] We have a 42,000 square foot building that was heavily damaged from the explosions, multiple explosions.

[10:07] The concerns were more explosions. We had 40,000 gallons of get starter, solid on the back side and the tanks.

[10:18] So that was one of the concerns.

[10:22] So they went to a defense of operation while they were still setting up.

[10:25] having water issues, also when I was in rout, it's called dispatch, start getting on the water

[10:29] Atlas with the explosions. Most of the time, you'll have infrastructure damage and also the building,

[10:36] a sprinkler. So when the building is heavily damaged, they're losing water, so we're able to tell

[10:41] them, tell them members shut down the post indicator valves and shut down that increase the water

[10:48] So going that I arrived on the scene, started establishin' safety zones,

[10:56] then we started, so some of the people they came out of it, started trying to get a head count,

[11:03] I kept asking for a roster to this day, I still didn't have a roster of the members that were in the building.

[11:10] So we're trying to piece together. How many people are still in there? So we went from 12, down to 4, down to 3, 2, and then in our search efforts.

[11:20] We had different descriptions of missing people and missing workers. So our numbers are starting to climb back up because the descriptions weren't matching.

[11:30] So we had a lot of stuff going on at the time, I made a call for the NRC, National Response

[11:35] Center.

[11:36] Once you contact that, they'll hit all the federal agencies because we were tasked to

[11:42] saturate it, we were focused on rescue.

[11:44] At the time, we still had 12 people.

[11:46] We did not confirm until we started confirm.

[11:47] We still haven't confirmed.

[11:49] So we got video evidence that we could start going through and doing head counts on

[11:52] that everybody was a count of four.

[11:55] So that took hours into it to get everything out because we had to pull a stop out of the building.

[12:01] The building, so it's up 42,000 is collapsed.

[12:04] Down had heavy fire conditions, but we had our hazmat teams there.

[12:10] I had to use them, and our technical rescue team, to start searching these buildings.

[12:16] There was, we would call pancakes.

[12:17] They would completely drop down, but our members are trained.

[12:22] So there have searchable weights, even though we had heavy fire conditions.

[12:25] I switched it from a defensive to an offensive, and we started doing rescue searches.

[12:32] They were able to take saws and we caught tunneling through the pile and when as far as they

[12:37] could, based on our last known information of several of the people, we went on a testimony

[12:44] of people that were on the scene, and we started focusing in those areas.

[12:50] There was one that was a discrepancy where there was someone further under the building, so we started getting excavators coming in case we had to dig in further.

[12:59] And our team was able to search for where they encountered heavy fire and then they had to start making their way back.

[13:05] During the search process, they were able to locate two deceased employees through the search and then we went from a rescue to a recovery.

[13:16] Because at that time, the building was completely engulfed in flames, and then we could not

[13:20] handle it.

[13:21] We were able to search some of the front offices to make sure there was no one in there.

[13:25] It's always still got a official head count.

[13:28] I said, when I got hold of the U.S. EPA, the first thing they contacted me, I was asking

[13:36] do we need shelter in place, or start sudden plume modeling, and also do we need to evacuate

[13:43] When they did their Eval, they were saying, no, not at the time, so that's where we went from there.

[13:50] So the environmental agencies were handling the air monitoring.

[13:53] That's what I request that we could not handle it.

[13:55] We had too many other things going on.

[13:57] So not sit there and wait and start to get the agencies coming here quickly.

[14:02] And that's pretty much it for us as a technical rescue team.

[14:07] So as they put it out there in the line, very good.

[14:11] No one else are going to build it, but they did.

[14:19] Okay, I think I'll have Abbott Suman talk through the environmental response.

[14:25] Good afternoon.

[14:27] I'd like to say that this tragedy is not even begins to describe what happened.

[14:35] Especially the loss of life.

[14:37] our hearts co-opt to those who lost loved ones and that read and brings it more real to

[14:45] how important our role is and that just is a city but also as environmental services.

[14:53] The Division of Environmental Services was notified about 5.2530 in the morning by 6.45.

[15:00] We had the responder on the scene that reported to insidic command, it becomes the unified command for the incident, and upon our arrival, we estimated the facility was roughly about 85% destroyed from the initial explosion.

[15:23] TFRD was providing a massive fire and searching for employees, what our role was, we started

[15:32] by the way, surveyed the area and became conducting air monitoring by when we arrived

[15:39] at the scene.

[15:42] Unified command and notified National Response Center, which is alerted the U.S. EPA and

[15:49] EPA of the incident, but also environmental services, we contacted our local representatives

[15:58] of the U.S. EPA and the highly EPA to make sure that they are there to a class.

[16:05] So we know that we do not want to take any chances.

[16:09] We want to make sure we talk to someone.

[16:11] The National Response Center, which referred to as NRC, is the primary federal point of contact

[16:18] for reporting all oil spills, chemical releases,

[16:22] reological discharges,

[16:24] unbiological contamination incidents within the United States.

[16:29] They are operated by the US Coast Guard,

[16:33] while they do not deploy responders.

[16:36] Their role is to notify and emergency

[16:40] dispatch of all correct federal, state, and local agencies.

[16:47] I thought that is important to know this well.

[16:51] So when we got there by nine o'clock,

[16:54] we have deployed two more teams to perform air monitoring

[17:00] around the area in the neighborhood

[17:03] or with the surrounding neighborhood.

[17:05] And after starting this, we contacted Lucas County

[17:10] local emergency planning committee, which I'm sure

[17:13] certificate for to have LEPC and their role is they are the designated local county board

[17:21] responsible for managing chemical inventory and the surrounding Toledo area in the Luke's County

[17:29] and collect tier two hazard reports. And what they do they maintain a comprehensive hazardous

[17:38] inventory of facilities that are supposed to report to them, and also they help in modeling

[17:46] based on the known materials that are there, where our efforts need to be, and that was about

[17:53] in mind around the industries. And that's where we deploy our teams to make sure that they

[18:01] get the readings, hair monitoring, and that area. We did not have any readings on the devices

[18:10] that we have on the meters. And it's good to note here that these meters that we use give

[18:20] a broad spectrum what could be in the air. We refer to them as CGM sort of common.

[18:28] And they

[18:29] designed to tell the person carrying the meter if there is an immediate danger where they are

[18:35] out aiming this around here. That's why we use them when we survey the area and visit the

[18:42] neighborhood. But the only reading we got that morning was 5.3 ppm parts from a real

[18:49] seas directly next to the fence line of the property. But when our staff moved away from

[18:58] friends flying to South Avenue to the street, the entrance, it was zero.

[19:05] And those were also the readings of zero throughout the neighborhood and the locations that we

[19:14] revisited.

[19:18] At approximately 10 a.m., U.S. EPA arrived from the scene, and by 10-30, they began

[19:26] but even though they had their own air monitoring,

[19:30] our staff continued to monitor the air in the neighborhood

[19:35] within that mild radius.

[19:39] And specifically, we visited each and every

[19:42] what decided or recommended by LAPC as sensitive areas

[19:48] or sensitive locations.

[19:52] It could be a school, it could be a day-to-day,

[19:54] it could be a nursing home of the identify these, so we make sure that we visit it.

[20:00] And every location. So even though U.S. EPA contractor began monitoring, we continued to monitors throughout the neighborhood.

[20:11] And to this day and for the foreseeable future, we are continuing to have environmental services to monitor the air daily.

[20:21] And so far, we have no readings indicating its right to help based on the equipment that we have.

[20:31] Based on the regular back to the incident,

[20:33] based on the available information at that time,

[20:36] U.S. EPA on the scene coordinator mobilized their contractors

[20:41] to conduct 24-hour community air monitoring in the affected neighborhood.

[20:49] The contractor monitor for VOC's of all global organic compounds, PM-10 in micrometers and PM-2.5,

[21:00] these are the size of particles, and they did not have any alarming meetings, there were

[21:09] three days that indicate any threat from these sort of elements.

[21:15] According to the data, they collected the SEPA indicated that they detected no readings of a concern to the public.

[21:27] Also, the SEPA contacted the agency for toxic substances in disease registry, who referred to as ATSDR,

[21:38] which is a federal public health agency in the United States that works to protect people from

[21:44] harmful exposure of hazardous substances of long modeling, so they do the full modeling.

[21:51] According to that agency and their modeling, assuming the worst case scenario of 40,000 gallons

[21:59] of kerosene because we did not know that point in what was in those tanks but also take

[22:09] the worst case scenario according to U.S. EPA, the SDDR, considered worst case scenario

[22:15] would be 40,000 gallons of kerosene. The full modeling showed that the hazard was isolated

[22:22] to the area immediately surrounding the four tanks located at the property.

[22:29] That's the report we got back from a STDR and USP.

[22:37] As I mentioned though, TES continued, environmental service continued to monitor and remain

[22:44] on the scene in a supportive role in taking the lead and making sure that we do our due

[22:50] and collecting data that would help us give some advice or act in a certain way.

[23:00] Turning now to the water quality, the Huston Ditch is immediately to the north of the property

[23:09] and flows as tributary into the Ottawa River.

[23:13] During the height of the fire, solvent and oil mixed with firefighting one-off began flowing into the ditch.

[23:23] So to protect our waterways, contaminant booms were placed.

[23:29] Environmental services staff identified the ditch behind the facility.

[23:33] Identified the locations where the booms need to be put.

[23:37] should be placed and confirmed their proper deployment.

[23:44] The U.S. EPA contractor are the ones that deployed the containment

[23:49] drones at the three strategic locations that we determine and we

[23:56] mentioned that the U.S. EPA and that was right where the ditch passes under the

[24:02] I don't get familiar with the area.

[24:05] There's a rail road service road.

[24:08] That's what we installed at North East of the facility.

[24:14] One at the dead end of Westwood Avenue and near Scott Park.

[24:22] Now, there are two types of wounds deployed.

[24:26] Absorbent wounds.

[24:28] That absorbed, obviously from the name,

[24:31] and capture any material, and there are hard dunes which both were deployed, and hard dunes prevent the passing through of the material.

[24:44] So any product or origin visible would be absorbed or contained for future collection.

[24:51] Keeping in mind at the depth point we were functioning under emergency response and containing what we are.

[25:01] Additionally, once the U.S. EPA contract to receive approval to access the site from APF and the DFRD and Unified Command,

[25:11] and the person burned to contain the firewater runoff was placed directly behind the building as a temporary measure to prevent firewater runoff from continuing to enter into the hot stream ditch.

[25:26] We did perform water quality sampling in Hudson ditch downstream from the location at the first boom location

[25:34] We sampled for cyanide, total petroleum hydrocarbons, oil and grease,

[25:44] metals, total toxic organics, BTX, which we refer to as benzene, tollene, ethyl benzene and silene.

[25:58] The only thing we detected was mercury that was detected in the sample, which is, in most cases, is normal to a fire that's being extinguished, because it could be from fluorescent light bulbs to be from other things within the facility.

[26:19] It's also important to note that this area is an industrial, historical industrial area.

[26:33] So we do not have it based on that area.

[26:37] Therefore, it's likely the code.

[26:40] So it's sampling, we would expect possibly finding things, metals, maybe in there.

[26:46] I just want to make sure I mention that because of the location of the area.

[26:53] The current status, the multi-agency response has transitioned now from emergency response to

[27:00] containment and mitigation until long-term remediation of the area.

[27:08] U.S. EPA formally transitioned the lead role to Ohio EPA, and that is the Ohio EPA

[27:18] Northwest District Office, and that happened on August 28th, so Ohio EPA will continue

[27:24] to oversee the long-term soil waste and structural cleanup of this site.

[27:32] So again, OEPA is now overseeing the work done by the cleanup contractor, along with our support.

[27:37] We make sure that when work is taking place, that we visit the site, regularly to make sure that we are informed and we are in support of all of the cleanup efforts.

[27:52] The cleanup contractor has been performing air monitoring three times a day, so far.

[27:57] It's my understanding for I came here that might stop today, but that by the contract, but that would not stop us as environmental services continuing to do air monitoring daily and also checking on the rooms to make sure they need to be replaced, removed and the status of the water in the Hudson Bridge.

[28:21] The earthen berms and trenches remain in place and last we saw they are still in good condition.

[28:31] Product removal and tank purging are actively underway that tanks are being replaced.

[28:38] I'm sorry, cleaned and emptied for removal.

[28:42] And that effort is also taking place today.

[28:45] My understanding, the last four before I came here that two of them have been cleaned up before and two, they are in the process of cleaning and emptying and so far they recovered 200 gallons from those tanks.

[29:05] Also additional birth and birth has been placed around the tanks to ensure that while they're removing them nothing gets into the ditch as well.

[29:17] In closing, the development of environmental services continues and when I'm precise that continues daily air monitoring, reading at the home locations, and so far all of our readings have been no readings.

[29:34] We have not recorded anything. We will continue to check that. We're doing it and not just during very days. We do that on weekends and also we have in place.

[29:46] If we get a rainy event, we will send a responder, even if it isn't at night after hours,

[29:54] to make sure that they check the bulls and the air.

[30:02] We will continue to do this. We will provide our services to you to take care of how after you hear reading, roll, monitoring, including.

[30:17] That concludes our presentation. So happy to take any questions.

[30:23] Thank you so much.

[30:28] You might just want to mention that Brent industries, I just want to make sure those

[30:36] manufacturers, because they are operation, you do visit them for care, to make sure

[30:44] they are compliance with the air division and air pollution control regulation.

[30:50] And that's why we're looking at the number of August 7, and we find you a violation.

[30:57] They also, because of the operation,

[31:01] we are part of a free treatment, for basically they can have

[31:04] with anything or source system without testing it

[31:11] and sometimes we go out because they have to send you records to us

[31:17] and we do a really good unfortunately this year

[31:22] with a schedule to one but now we can't have the last one we did

[31:26] to like one fourth time and five

[31:29] And you mentioned that there's a tier 2 report as well, and they were compliant with turning

[31:43] in there, tier 2 report, and listed all of the chemicals that they had on site.

[31:49] That's why that's what we got back from how you can see when they did try to force.

[31:55] I don't really know that I didn't look at the entire report.

[32:00] What people are interested in is the list of these chemicals.

[32:03] Because we have to provide that for, you know, by demand of the U.S. EPA.

[32:11] But basically, the tier 2, what it indicated in the tier 2 of the tier 2 report, and that is self-work assets, which is contained in

[32:28] problems, conflicts, patterns.

[32:32] And, started solving.

[32:33] Sorry, it's solving the right piece.

[32:37] I guess, again, it's disciplines derived, clean and liquid, similar to mental

[32:43] experience that is commonly used in pace in her recovery.

[32:51] Just also the clarifying.

[32:54] One, you still don't have a full list of roster of the people in there, but may have a presence from there, and the truth.

[33:01] I do not, and they haven't arrived. I've seen them on our several times, and said he was going to get it to us, gave me a minute now, and I saw him receive it.

[33:10] I can't account for all the people that may have that inside.

[33:14] At this point, not a hundred percent. I mean, we haven't had any calls coming in for missing loved ones, but unfortunately, they have not provided the information.

[33:24] Thank you, very concerned that they're having fun with that.

[33:30] We were going to have a couple of regards.

[33:33] Thank you.

[33:34] And thank you for your presentation.

[33:37] Deputy Chief, thank you for your staff that came.

[33:40] And we're able to help.

[33:43] I can only imagine what that was like.

[33:45] I heard for many of the neighbors,

[33:47] but it was like, but I kind of imagined what.

[33:50] Our fire staff had seen and experienced in their heroes.

[33:54] for going in and helping and thank you for environmental services.

[34:01] As a district council, I see a very different perspective from you guys.

[34:06] And I think that I appreciate everything you've done this step in.

[34:10] And this has been a great report.

[34:13] But unfortunately, this is the most important thing that I've gotten.

[34:16] And that's really alarming to me when I have people calling and reaching out

[34:21] I'm trying to get answers.

[34:26] I think that there was a communication breakdown.

[34:29] I think you guys have all the answers,

[34:31] but the residents don't realize this.

[34:33] And I've been out five times now since the accident.

[34:39] And the residents just don't have all the answers.

[34:42] They've got in cards from the EPA saying,

[34:44] call if you have any questions.

[34:45] But I really think that it's our duty as a city

[34:48] and especially with the use of social media

[34:51] to put out a little report every day, like this is, I mean, this was so helpful that we are in.

[35:00] And we went from emergency to the contamination and mitigation. Next step is remediation. That would be so helpful so that people know what to do last night. They were cleaning and there was smells and there was smoke. And people, that stuff scares them because they don't all have this thing answers. There are so many amazing people in the community that have formed phone trees.

[35:27] And I have, I mean, we've walked and fired people, like you have people that are willing

[35:34] to stop up and support you, but you guys have to build that engine for us to support

[35:39] you.

[35:41] I fear can take over, right?

[35:46] And when you're a woken, so early in the morning by two explosions back to back, people

[35:52] are told me they ran out of their house, the sky is orange, like that's terrifying.

[35:58] And then, you know, there's an influx of people fighting the fire, being there.

[36:03] The police were great protecting things.

[36:06] The EPA was out there, but then it stopped.

[36:08] But there's still questions.

[36:10] And I really think it's our job as a city to step up and make sure that, you know,

[36:16] they know that we're testing one today, seven days a week, and after every rain event.

[36:22] That the the booms in the ditch are doing this and you're going to see this like I just

[36:30] As an educator it's so important for us to say this is what we've learned. This is where we are

[36:36] This is what we've learned. This is what you're going to see those three things. What's happened?

[36:41] What's currently happening and what's happening in the future. That means so much to people and if you can get that out to

[36:49] Me, to social media. There are so many people and they're in the audience and I see them. They will help us get that message out into the neighborhood

[36:57] but

[36:58] to have these horrible

[37:00] incidents happen and they don't they don't happen often

[37:03] That has to be part of our plan. That has to be part of our plan. We didn't forward

[37:08] Regardless of if it's

[37:10] Solfer burning in East Toledo, which happened on the same day,

[37:14] thank God it didn't get into the neighborhood,

[37:16] or an explosion in that bread industry.

[37:18] There needs to be a communication plan.

[37:21] And it would really be nice for the districts that are either touching it,

[37:26] or in it, for us to get the same reports daily,

[37:30] because I am more than willing to go above and beyond

[37:32] to get that information out for you,

[37:34] but I need to have that information first.

[37:36] So, with that, I really appreciate your report, but I will yield my time for other council members.

[37:43] Thank you.

[37:44] Thanks so much.

[37:45] And I feel like perhaps a comment about what I'm doing in communications from this point forward.

[37:51] I'll look like and what the residents can expect from the city.

[37:56] Yes.

[37:56] Thank you.

[37:57] I'll take that.

[37:58] I think we are exploring, you know, sort of,

[38:05] I think we can promise going forward to have

[38:09] that more regular update communication I can promise that I think we're we are trying to ask

[38:14] that the cleanup contractor be responsible in some way for that communication we think that

[38:19] rent industry should be responsible in some way for that. I don't know that we're going to be

[38:24] successful in that just yet but but we can commit to if they are not able to do it or can't come

[38:29] through on that we can commit to that.

[38:39] Thank you and later the current commitments to us I think

[38:43] shown that they might not be the most communicative reliable. Thank you. So I think it's important

[38:52] that we do. I do know that EPA has created a website with updates that are going forward

[38:57] and that wonder if there's a component where we can provide communication updates through there

[39:02] or something similar. Yes, and we have the link to that that we can share.

[39:09] I believe from the

[39:12] Thank you so much, Chair, and thank you so much for this presentation.

[39:16] I really appreciate it.

[39:17] And for all you did that day, I can't imagine going into a burning building and I always appreciate

[39:25] our men and women who do that.

[39:28] I did want to ask about Brent Industries.

[39:31] Have they been cooperative at all?

[39:33] I know we've kind of talked about they haven't been the best neighbor.

[39:38] Have they cooperated in the investigation?

[39:39] are they cooperating with the cleanup, how's that working?

[39:45] Yeah, I can speak about the cleanup.

[39:48] They have been very cooperative.

[39:50] The contractor has been on point.

[39:54] They're doing a really good job.

[39:55] They give us daily updates.

[39:58] Hopefully they do.

[39:59] In addition to us.

[40:00] Being there, observing, and especially when Ohio EPA is there, because they are responsible for the site in the cleanup. But as far as it, we can tell at this point, they hired a good company to do the cleanup and they are cooperating.

[40:17] Okay. I just can't speak on that, sir.

[40:20] Okay. Thank you. Also, I've seen a list of the chemicals that were in the building.

[40:24] do we have a cause, a definitive cause if we don't, when will we have that?

[40:36] Good afternoon, members of Council and the public.

[40:39] Assistant Chief John Kaminski, after checking in with the Arson Investigative Team today,

[40:45] they have told me that working in conjunction with the ATF in this investigation,

[40:51] that they'll continue to go through what they described as copious volumes of evidence,

[40:56] that there are 15 through still, that includes video, electronic, and of course, interviews.

[41:04] There is no timeline when they're going to have the final results in the investigation.

[41:07] Obviously, I think it would service all of the investigation to be thorough and correct.

[41:12] It has not been told to me that Brad industry has been uncooperative with that investigation.

[41:18] But we do not have a timeline when they'll have a definitive answer as to the cause.

[41:22] Okay. Thank you.

[41:23] Yeah, appreciate it.

[41:25] That's all I have.

[41:26] Thank you.

[41:27] Absolutely.

[41:29] Consumant surrounds you.

[41:30] Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[41:32] First of all, I'd like to express my deep appreciation to our first responders, including

[41:38] all of our city employees that responded in the state and federal people.

[41:43] Because it was a truly a tragedy that happened.

[41:47] And obviously we were very touched by the loss of life and injuries that may have occurred

[41:54] very tragic.

[41:56] My question is was the call made about 445 in the morning or was that before to the fire

[42:04] at 4.50, okay?

[42:07] And then do you have a deputy chief, do you have any idea what time the deceased, the two deceased

[42:13] persons were discovered?

[42:14] And

[42:27] I guess I'm just wondering if a contractor commissioner has been hired and is working

[42:34] that, aren't they going to interfere with the investigation in terms of being able to look

[42:39] at various materials at the site if they're cleaning up everything?

[42:48] The investigation is ongoing, but I mean we also have a contractor that's they're cleaning

[42:53] up the site.

[42:54] So I guess I'm wondering if there's going to be a very difficult

[42:59] to get further evidence if it's missing.

[43:03] I don't know, can fire speak to, or maybe,

[43:08] if this is a chief commensky, to what I require.

[43:11] Yep, I guess good evening as I was in correct

[43:14] earlier, sir, good afternoon.

[43:15] Good evening again, John commensky, assistant chief.

[43:18] From where we are with the investigation,

[43:19] as they completed their onsite investigation, sir,

[43:22] is that they believe that both RFIU and the HIF have completed their onsite

[43:27] investigation and collected every evidence that they need to, for their

[43:31] investigation. Okay. So they turned it over to the property owner. And when they

[43:34] do that, that means they have gathered everything that they think to make the

[43:37] determination if that answers your question. You understand my concern. Of course,

[43:41] probably our contractors are cleaning up and if there was any reason that they

[43:46] would still think that they needed to gather things, we would not have turned it back

[43:50] over to the property owner, we'd still be on sites here.

[43:52] Okay, and OSHA also has been involved in my correct.

[43:54] That is to my understanding.

[43:56] Okay, thank you, thank you all.

[43:58] Thank you, Mr. Chair, absolutely.

[44:01] Councilwoman McPherson.

[44:04] Thank you,

[44:07] thank you for the work that you have done thus far

[44:10] in this tragedy.

[44:13] Thank you to lead a fire in police and everyone

[44:16] that has worked so diligently in this.

[44:20] My concern to along with Council Member Gattis is the dissemination of information to the citizens.

[44:34] That has to be our concern because we serve the citizens of Toledo.

[44:42] And speaking with the few that I spoke with and at our press conference is the not knowing and living in that area.

[44:51] And then it was right there close to school starting and all of that and I I always say

[45:01] One of our weakest links is communicating to the citizens of Toledo. What's really going on? And when fear is involved,

[45:15] it doubles. Because they don't know. They're concerned on whether or not they should continue living there.

[45:25] their health issues, their children's safety, there were some that had swimming pools and

[45:33] the yards, all of this could have been, I think, a little easier to deal with a administration

[45:43] been forthcoming with conversations to that community, to say, Ohio EPA is doing this.

[45:57] We have done this, we are continuing to do this, just what you just told us, every step

[46:06] of the way, after that explosion,

[46:12] I would have made the lives of those people that are living

[46:14] in that community a whole lot easier.

[46:17] When we went to, we had depressed conference.

[46:20] No, we didn't have answers, but we were there saying,

[46:25] we support you, and we want to get the answers.

[46:28] What are the questions?

[46:30] And we are here for you.

[46:32] And that's the missing piece when it comes

[46:36] to connecting the dots with the administration.

[46:41] That's my biggest problem.

[46:42] And that's a concern for the citizens, because we should know so that we can share it with them.

[46:55] Or administration could have went on and talked to the citizens.

[47:00] Several times.

[47:01] Or we could have had a community meeting over in that area at Burrell School to say,

[47:08] This is where we are. This is what's happening. This is what we're doing. We want to make sure that you are safe.

[47:16] We are concerned and we're going to keep you abreast. We've got to do better.

[47:24] And this is laid in the game.

[47:26] As far as I'm concerned, I appreciate you having the meeting,

[47:31] Councilmen, co-mise.

[47:33] This is late in the game for our citizens,

[47:37] because they've been dealing with this every single day since that explosion.

[47:42] Wondering, do I stay, do I leave?

[47:47] How are my children doing?

[47:49] The kids over there at Burl School, is the air safe?

[47:53] When we were at the press conference of a constituency, they were doing something with the water.

[48:02] Do you all know what they were doing? Is the water safe?

[48:06] These are answers that we should have been able to give them,

[48:09] because administration should have given it to us,

[48:12] and we should have been communicating with our citizens.

[48:16] We had two employees to lose their life,

[48:20] And we're not talking about this to our citizens.

[48:25] Are we keeping it on the download?

[48:28] No.

[48:31] When we have a tragedy in our city, everybody is affected by it.

[48:37] Not just those in that neighborhood, but every citizen in the city or Toledo.

[48:42] Because it could happen in another place.

[48:45] What are we doing to be proactive?

[48:46] What is the game plan and we need to tell our citizens?

[48:52] We've got to do better.

[48:55] I'm done.

[48:56] Thank you so very much.

[48:59] Fire department.

[48:59] Thank you for your report.

[49:01] Thank you for what you do for us each and every day.

[49:05] And thank you for coming and sharing with us on today.

[49:09] I want you to know I do appreciate that.

[49:12] I really do.

[49:13] But I'm just feeling it for my constituents because we're just now having a conversation about

[49:20] an explosion that has happened what two weeks ago, three weeks ago,

[49:27] and we're just having

[49:28] a conversation about it to let the citizens of Toledo know what we're doing, that's unacceptable.

[49:39] Mr. Chair, may I respond?

[49:43] Thank you, Councilwoman.

[49:46] I hear what you're saying.

[49:47] I think that the ongoing communication needs to be better.

[49:51] We did communicate pretty extensively in the beginning.

[49:55] So, I agree that the ongoing communication needs to be better and we'll fix that.

[49:59] But I just want to make-

[50:00] We did do a lot of communication in the early aftermath of the incident. So I just wanted to mention that. We'll do better going forward.

[50:10] Okay, thank you. That's woman Jones.

[50:14] Thank you chair. First just echoing the remarks from my colleagues as far as just the hard work, the response just taking care of this situation.

[50:26] And however it had happened because also we have to think about there were other incidences,

[50:34] like the Army source fire, the tanker on the east side.

[50:36] So there was a lot of stuff going on at that time, which prompts my question as far as our

[50:42] disaster response when it comes to residents who are dealing with the after effects.

[50:51] So considering what the environmental services has done as far as air monitoring, water,

[50:55] monitoring. Is there a system in place to where residents can call and report in any health concerns?

[51:03] I'm actually, we should probably look into the health department, you know, just to see how their response

[51:08] or how they would fit in this because symptoms may be immediate, immediate, but later on developing,

[51:16] especially as things are being cleaned up, they could arise again. So is there some sort of

[51:21] call-in number or reporting, tracking that we're doing for residents around these disaster areas,

[51:30] particularly since we're talking about brain industries, what are we doing with those residents there?

[51:36] Thank you. I would say, you know, we always have engaged to lead out to take in information.

[51:41] I don't know that we necessarily have a formal category for something like this.

[51:47] I would love for either assistant chief or deputy chief to address, like, sort of our, our disaster planning and efforts that we go through to be prepared for these types of situations.

[51:58] I think that was kind of an a question to know.

[52:03] So these are probably I once in a career type incident.

[52:11] The one thing that we do as a department along with a lot of the agencies that were actually involved in this scene,

[52:17] We do tabletop exercises with both skill exercises and we get prepared.

[52:24] So they always tell you you get a prepare for the preparation for eight hours on your own.

[52:28] We're able to actually get a lot of the stuff done within four hours half of that.

[52:32] And still maintain and still provide for the citizens, along with having a hundred firefighters

[52:37] and backfilling with other departments.

[52:40] And then on top of that we also had an additional hazmat scene over on the inside.

[52:44] So, we had two has magazines going out one time, it shows the might of their team, but it

[52:52] also shows that our resources are stretched, but we do have other access or other agencies

[52:57] that we can call in, and we have mutual aid agreements with that if we need to pull in

[53:01] those we can.

[53:02] We were running short, unmembers, they were, let alone they had that fire, they had the hazmat

[53:11] run, there's a fire on Palmer, and then there's another fire at St.

[53:15] Anthony's, the same day, and there was a lot of the same crew, so they put it out there

[53:20] that day.

[53:21] They worked extremely hard all of them in the women.

[53:25] So that's why we emphasized the attending these exercises, all these parties come together, that's

[53:35] a practice, and then it was a real world, so a lot of us had seen where familiar faces,

[53:44] As we're saying, I'm already calling on the phone.

[53:47] I'm calling Ohio EPA, US EPA, on the phone can we have that personal contact.

[53:51] Tell them what exactly we need to help us out because our resources are strapped.

[53:57] There's no way we can possibly do the air monitoring, what a little quite the fire,

[54:01] and most importantly locate missing civilians.

[54:05] That's what we do preparation-wise, and we'll continue to practice,

[54:09] and stay involved in those community events?

[54:14] So on the day that this happened, when it came to those who may have been affected by the

[54:22] smoke chemicals and things of that nature, do you keep a list of those who were going to

[54:27] the hospitals if there were hospitalizations or the surrounding residences around that property?

[54:35] do we have contact information because basically what I'm trying to say is when disasters like

[54:40] this happen and there's chemicals contamination symptoms don't show up immediate. So further

[54:47] down the line we may have some issues with asthma, may have some issues with just other health

[54:52] issues. So is there a way for people to reach out to either the city, the health department,

[54:57] fire department and environmental services.

[55:00] When it comes to their health, just the tracking aspect of it, because we want to make sure that if somebody does get sick, because of this, I don't know if there are some legalities to it or anything of that nature, but this is something that happens, it's just, we just don't see it immediately, but probably down the line. So kind of like how we did during the pandemic, if you got contact tracing. So in this same essence, do we have that for disasters such as this?

[55:30] The first little fire we do our own exposure forms for our members, that we keep track of who

[55:35] was involved to what degree, what they call personal protective equipment they were wearing,

[55:42] our biggest thing was to stay out of any of the water because we weren't 100% sure exactly.

[55:47] Even though we had the Tier 2's, what chemicals in there, those are reporting chemicals.

[55:53] They could have other chemicals in there that are non-reportable.

[55:57] So that will be, that's why they're doing different sampling to find other things out.

[56:03] It's just like the overall trucks.

[56:06] They'll have a sheet that will tell you exactly what chemicals they have.

[56:10] But they can have a bunch of them in a smaller quantity that will make something pretty dangerous.

[56:17] So that's why we always try and get all the data that we can from the owners and the property and the truck drivers are.

[56:24] And so like on Brent, they had their own safety plan, along we had our Tier 2s, they were

[56:30] not matching.

[56:32] So then we had, that's why I had all the environmental agencies they could handle that portion

[56:38] of it until they could figure out exactly what it was, and the Tier 2 was correct.

[56:42] It was just an old manual that didn't have the updates, but the Tier 2 that came from

[56:48] the LAPC was correct.

[56:49] And I believe U.S. EPA is not here, but they said there was a health breach.

[56:59] Somebody could reach out for a health good name.

[57:01] I couldn't remember what, but they have a link right now, don't they?

[57:06] For the people who want to go on to their website and report their cases.

[57:11] So residents are to go to the EPA website.

[57:15] It was a U.S. EPA, so it went to little environmental high, the U.S. EPA was running it.

[57:22] It went into the back down, Ohio has it right now.

[57:24] So, Ohio EPA is kind of the lead along with the little environmental level.

[57:28] Keep monitoring it and handling it and watching it clean up.

[57:32] We can confirm that to make certain that that's clear how that would happen.

[57:38] Because I think that's what's missing because I'm recalling what you say is no formalized process so people can't call in per se and describe their symptoms or anything like that.

[57:53] So I think that it's definitely important to as far as the city side is concerned to really understand that we need a kind of like a formalized process.

[58:02] I know the fire department has it and pretty sure

[58:04] police has that environmental services.

[58:07] You already have that, but as far as us as the city,

[58:10] we need to have some sort of disaster planning,

[58:12] checklist, something like that.

[58:14] Because it was unusual time.

[58:16] It was a lot of stuff happening environmentally.

[58:19] And I wouldn't say that it won't happen again,

[58:23] but at least we can be proactive when it comes to things

[58:25] like that, because again, it was within a neighborhood

[58:29] and what, you know, just what Councilwoman McPherson was saying, that is contaminating.

[58:36] Especially with the air, I know that you had the measurements, but things can travel.

[58:39] We just had rain, we had wind, and, you know, the stuff can happen later on.

[58:45] So I think that we have to have some sort of system or process to where residents can call in

[58:50] to talk about or just describe their symptoms, and then they can,

[58:58] you know,

[58:58] to certain hospitals because this will have to go into their medical record as a way to

[59:04] kind of document on our side as well as document just their history when it comes to their

[59:09] interaction with Brent Industries at this point because this was pretty big and considering the

[59:14] nature of the business this is something that we have to kind of get ahead of because I don't

[59:20] even know how many of these types of businesses we have in the city that will be something that

[59:25] need to look into and probably just similar industries because, again, we have agent infrastructure.

[59:33] I'm not sure how the maintenance is, I know environmental services are very good with keeping

[59:37] up and checking, just making sure they are in compliance, but as far as our sort of due diligence

[59:45] that should be set up.

[59:46] So I really want to see how the health department can play in all of this.

[59:51] Just as some sort of tracing, just to ensure that health around that those areas aren't getting worse, per se.

[1:00:00] We can follow up with Council on that particular item. We have a couple of conversations. Thank you.

[1:00:07] Thank you. Thank you. I just want to thank Councilman, Dr. Jones for that.

[1:00:16] And I know I've said this on the record, but there was a, because of the explosion that were pieces of the plant in people's yards.

[1:00:24] There was a layer of suffering, everything.

[1:00:28] When I spoke to residents, they complained about asthma attacks, respiratory issues, burning

[1:00:35] sinuses, headaches, swollen eyes, and you could taste the chemicals in the air.

[1:00:42] I was out there.

[1:00:43] It left a sweet taste in your mouth.

[1:00:48] While it might be safe, there was definitely some kind of residue.

[1:00:51] and I appreciate Dr. Jones focus on the health department. By way of referral, I see

[1:01:01] that can we get sent the disaster planning that you guys do and then any and all communication

[1:01:11] records around this disaster to the community.

[1:01:19] And then I list of all the chemicals if we

[1:01:21] have that that would be really helpful for me.

[1:01:24] Thank you so much.

[1:01:26] Thank you, Chair.

[1:01:31] Let's see no further questions from Councilmember.

[1:01:33] So I'm going to open it to public comment.

[1:01:37] I only have four signed up so far.

[1:01:41] There is still a sheet out if you are interested

[1:01:44] and would like to address the committee you may,

[1:01:47] please sign up.

[1:01:48] But we will start with Chris Ramstone.

[1:02:00] If you could just get one name and your address

[1:02:02] Oh, the record.

[1:02:03] Chris Ramso, 516, Shade Street, obviously Toledo, and I just want to add my name to the list

[1:02:10] of the condolences of the two people that perished.

[1:02:14] I think about them every night before I go to bed, it haunts me.

[1:02:18] I've not seen any pictures of Mr. Garcia peruz, but that picture of Ms. Marianne, I don't

[1:02:23] think I'll ever forget it.

[1:02:24] I cannot imagine any worse way to pass away, so I want to put that out there and I think

[1:02:30] also something needs to be said about the first responders. They didn't even question

[1:02:34] that they just went and it could have been a heck of a lot worse.

[1:02:38] Had they not

[1:02:40] do a lot of actions, they do diligence, but what they did. So as a resident,

[1:02:44] I'm forever grateful to all of you for doing that. So I guess one thing I would say is

[1:02:50] for industries does not sound like based on their past history on X. They're being

[1:02:54] 100% transparent. If they're not paying their taxes and they're water bill, how can we rely

[1:02:59] on them to keep records of the chemicals that they had on site, you know, that I think there

[1:03:06] was two chemicals.

[1:03:07] I mean, I've got at least three or four in my laundry area in the basin and they only

[1:03:12] had two and they're processing toxic laundry.

[1:03:15] I find that hard to believe.

[1:03:17] So I also feel that the owner should be out in prison.

[1:03:21] He should be facing all of us, the community.

[1:03:26] So, I will tell you the other thing too is I don't think it's a coincidence that folks in the area are getting sick.

[1:03:34] I'm as healthy as can be. I'm very fortunate for excellent genes and I'll tell you I have not been feeling well since two weeks ago.

[1:03:43] That one says when I start having symptoms and I don't think it's a coincidence.

[1:03:46] And now while my symptoms are minor and I can proceed forth my day-to-day activities,

[1:03:52] it's a new sense.

[1:03:53] I know one family they had to leave their house last night because the fire reeknited.

[1:03:58] They can't stay there.

[1:03:59] My cousins who live two walks away, they're really sick.

[1:04:04] So I think it was Dr. Jones or Dr. Williams, brought up a really good point about

[1:04:11] involving the health and right thing that would be really beneficial, but again I want to thank

[1:04:18] you all for hosting this and for being so connected with us, Councilwoman Gattas and

[1:04:24] Colmerized for being really good conversations and Councilwoman McPherson, you brought up

[1:04:29] some excellent points.

[1:04:30] In fact, all the points that I had written down, each one of you, my check them all off

[1:04:34] my list, so I just want to reinforce my support of those, so thank you so much.

[1:04:38] So thank you so much for your testimony.

[1:04:43] Next I have Sherry Straub.

[1:04:53] I need my name is Sherry Straub.

[1:04:56] I resided 1825 Rainer Drive to Little High.

[1:05:00] I just wanted to thank you all for hosting this community conversation today and bringing everybody

[1:05:08] and making us aware. It was this had tragedy. And at the loss of life and everything else that is going on,

[1:05:17] the people of our community and human answers, we weren't getting them. And so, when you don't get them, you look from yourself, we hired independent

[1:05:28] testers because we don't think we're getting the truth. We want answers and we wanted them

[1:05:36] two weeks ago, not standing here today. I brought in the big dogs with me. I have a couple

[1:05:44] teenage kids because that's how concerned they were. These are the kids that play in this neighborhood.

[1:05:51] These are the kids that are going to be in your seat someday. So just remember that and I

[1:05:58] going, not to go on about myself, because this isn't about me. I don't live in that community.

[1:06:05] But I'm an organizer here with the people of that community, and I won't back down.

[1:06:11] But I do speak for Sarah Lacker, and I'd like to read what she had wrote, because these meetings

[1:06:17] are set up to where people can't come.

[1:06:21] Our community isn't able to be here, so with that said, if you could just give me a few moments.

[1:06:31] It says, my name is Sarah Locker, and unfortunately I could not physically be present today for this meeting.

[1:06:38] I come to you straight from my heart on behalf of my family and my fellow neighbors.

[1:06:44] August 18th was supposed to be a day like any other day.

[1:06:48] Wake up, have coffee with my husband on the front porch, and wave at the neighbors as they walk their dogs.

[1:06:55] What other plants, and greet our children, as we do every single morning.

[1:07:00] We are a family of routine.

[1:07:02] Little did we know that morning would be far from routine.

[1:07:05] I got home from work at 12.15 a.m.

[1:07:08] That morning, and like a lot of people, she couldn't go to bed right away.

[1:07:13] She laid in bed and watched some TV until she started to get and sleep.

[1:07:17] before the clock set up with 4.15 a.m.

[1:07:21] She reached for the remote, shut the TV off,

[1:07:23] and dosed off only to be a welcome 30 minutes later

[1:07:26] by what she thought was someone hitting a transformer.

[1:07:31] She started to go back to sleep,

[1:07:33] and then even a louder boom shook their entire home.

[1:07:37] Caused her husband to leap out of bed in a state of panic,

[1:07:40] running out the front door to investigate

[1:07:43] what the madness was, also terrified and ripped them from their sleep.

[1:07:51] I don't know if you guys seen the videos online,

[1:07:53] but it also scared the heck out of their cats.

[1:07:59] Following hours will forever be burned to under our memories,

[1:08:03] flames of smoke, barreling through the sky and the air.

[1:08:07] People running from all directions, fire trucks, ambulance, police.

[1:08:12] It was almost like a scene from a movie we had a lady pull into our driveway that was supposed

[1:08:19] to be reporting to work for her 5 a.m. shift at Bren industry. She was horrified. Family members

[1:08:26] of those inside scrambling everywhere. Neighbors and their pajamas flocking to see what

[1:08:31] was happening. Then the smells of chemicals burning the air. The smoke so thick there was

[1:08:37] little to know visibility at all,

[1:08:41] ass dropping from the sky like snow.

[1:08:43] As the days go on, we all start to ponder,

[1:08:46] what caused this to happen.

[1:08:49] The scent of chemicals burning in our noses,

[1:08:52] cause headaches among other symptoms,

[1:08:55] residents till this day, experience.

[1:08:58] Two people lost their lives that day,

[1:09:00] and the community that surrounds bread industries

[1:09:02] are suffering the loss as well.

[1:09:05] We, as regents live with the smell of what we've been told, isn't toxic, toxic, and the

[1:09:12] headaches, sore throats, stomach cramping, etc, continue.

[1:09:17] You can't tell me that a chemical plant explodes and there's no toxins in the air or the soil

[1:09:23] of the water.

[1:09:24] People that don't live there where we live are seeing what we saw can tell me or my neighbors

[1:09:31] that it's safe.

[1:09:33] Respectfully, I don't believe that one bit.

[1:09:36] I personally have experienced several symptoms

[1:09:39] that are the very same as my neighbors.

[1:09:42] I have spoke to.

[1:09:43] My kids are feeling them as well.

[1:09:46] September 1st, while at work,

[1:09:48] I got a text from my husband saying,

[1:09:50] there was smoke coming from the same stack

[1:09:53] at Brent Industries again.

[1:09:55] And the smell was much worse than yet before.

[1:09:58] yet again we're still being told.

[1:10:00] There's no dark sins. And again, I don't believe that. None of the people here today do.

[1:10:11] Today, my 16-year-old son, Evan and his friend Damian, are standing with me to represent their family, because her husband and she could not be here in person. They wanted to be present to show the council members that his generation truly cares about what's happening, five doors down from where they live.

[1:10:33] to show you all that he wants answers as well too.

[1:10:40] We want justice for those of us who continue to see ground zero sight.

[1:10:45] Small those chemicals and deal with the headaches, the sore throats, the stomach cramps.

[1:10:50] To show everyone that because of this we had to leave our safe place we call home.

[1:10:56] Just stay in a hotel for the night because we were worried about going home and having to deal with it over and over.

[1:11:04] We got no help so no answers just left in the dark shoved under a rug if you will.

[1:11:13] What it is that the city plans to do is the city going to relocate those of us close

[1:11:18] to Bren Industries temporarily until it's cleaned up to be honest I doubt it because

[1:11:25] like so many other issues the city faces we feel it will get forgotten after a while and

[1:11:32] residents will be forced to just deal with it. On behalf of my family, we continue to pray

[1:11:39] for the families who lost the loved ones and we continue to fight for what we feel is right

[1:11:44] and respectfully, this isn't right. She thanks you for taking the time to listen.

[1:11:53] But Dr. Jones, it made a point and I think what you're looking for is an ICD-10 form

[1:12:00] from the health department because they can document that at the hospital.

[1:12:06] I know that when I was working on the cyanobacteria, they didn't have that at the time.

[1:12:13] So it was something that we helped the health department implement and create.

[1:12:18] Keeping data of everybody that has been sick.

[1:12:21] It is important because what happens today, it may not be just today.

[1:12:28] like this gentleman from the EPA said, or the fire chief, you know, what is in the air?

[1:12:33] What was in that plume, just because it wasn't in your area, that plume went over your house.

[1:12:42] My nephew works for DOT and was standing on I280 in the turnpike and seen the plume go over

[1:12:52] of him. So you can't tell me that that stayed in that backyard. And that's all. You guys

[1:13:00] have a nice day. Thank you for taking the time to listen to me.

[1:13:04] Thank you, I'm next I have Sue Terrell.

[1:13:17] My name is Sue Terrell. I live at 1844 Lindbrook, but I had a home at 5.5.1. That, a couple

[1:13:24] blocks away for several years, or my kids went to school in that area. I went to the press

[1:13:30] conference because I was very concerned about city council really meeting with its citizens in person and really knowing issues that their citizens are facing.

[1:13:41] So it was really important to me that as it's been, I think, exemplified by a previous speaker that this meeting should be held over in the area,

[1:13:51] school or whatever rather than here. The person that testified with the letter from, you know,

[1:13:58] someone who couldn't make it, how many other people couldn't make it. Or just think,

[1:14:04] when you say, make it, you know, driving here, you have to, you know, having access to

[1:14:09] getting to the building, paying for parking, coming down to city council before council members.

[1:14:15] I think there should have been some kind of emergency vehicle in the neighborhood parked in the

[1:14:20] questions from the neighbors, you know, for a period of time, just park there, so that people

[1:14:25] were getting information right away. And I've brought this subject up before, in many cases,

[1:14:32] before city council, I think there should be satellite offices, Cindy council in the districts.

[1:14:38] There has to be a closer relationship with city council with its members, not necessarily

[1:14:44] through some of these organizations that supposedly represent us. And I also want to point

[1:14:50] that I noticed that at what's the, who is the official contractor, the name was

[1:14:55] in state it? Anyway, I'll put that out there, the name was in state it.

[1:15:00] In any event, I recognized too that they set out the measurement was done within a mile. My God, are we testing a plume or wherever, you know, how far did it actually go and have we tested the soil, the pools, the plants, the, you know, and the care of the animals. So, has that been tested? I don't know. I haven't heard that related. So, I think the idea of residue is a very important issue.

[1:15:30] and I don't know if it was explored, but I certainly think it should have been.

[1:15:35] And just so that you know, after I attended your press conference, I made signs for the

[1:15:40] neighborhood, I placed on Facebook, information about it, I announced it at the Universal

[1:15:46] Unitary at Church, so they could announce it over their media TV program, so you know, the

[1:15:54] work got out.

[1:15:55] But I'm very concerned how the word really does get out in this stage.

[1:15:59] There has to be a better way of communicating with the public.

[1:16:03] Thank you.

[1:16:05] Thank you.

[1:16:05] Thank you, too.

[1:16:07] Yes.

[1:16:08] The company is GHD.

[1:16:10] That is doing the cleanup.

[1:16:12] I'm sorry, I didn't hear you.

[1:16:13] The company doing the cleanup is GHD.

[1:16:17] What does that stand for?

[1:16:19] I think it's just the name of their company.

[1:16:21] Is it from Toledo?

[1:16:22] Is it a Toledo company?

[1:16:26] Do you know the answer to the question?

[1:16:29] There are listed address is Rosemont Illinois.

[1:16:33] I'm sorry I didn't hear him. Rosemont Illinois is their address, that's listed.

[1:16:38] And the company, Brent Industries, the company that hired this cleanup company.

[1:16:44] Okay, so there wasn't another, you didn't have your own.

[1:16:48] When you first got the company, it wasn't, it was always bread.

[1:16:52] The responsibility is on Brent to clean up their own mess, yes.

[1:16:55] Okay.

[1:16:55] And I thought that was included to me.

[1:16:57] Yep.

[1:16:58] And the Ohio EPA is overseeing that cleanup effort.

[1:17:01] They're the governmental agency that is going to be holding them accountable.

[1:17:05] See, all this information is already been, you know, as witnesses are telling you, how

[1:17:11] do people get this information, how they know where things stand is, you know, it's still

[1:17:15] being fearful.

[1:17:16] I mean, anytime being fearful that any loud noise or the smell is something burning.

[1:17:21] Thank you.

[1:17:22] Thanks for your testimony.

[1:17:25] I have one more person on this list, and there is a sheet that's out, I think we might have another there too, but up next is Leonard Chandler.

[1:17:38] Good evening, everybody.

[1:17:40] I'm really at the list and this is my first council meeting coming to.

[1:17:44] And I'm kind of impressed because I didn't know this kind of stuff was happening in Toledo.

[1:17:49] I don't really want to address the problem.

[1:17:51] I came here because these people was going through some way more than what I came to talk about.

[1:17:57] So I got a letter here, my name, I lived in 1435 from my commercial street.

[1:18:02] My name is Leonard Chandler.

[1:18:04] My issue was trying to get my street paved for over 20 years, and I keep getting the run around

[1:18:10] about when it's going to get paved.

[1:18:11] It was posted, been on the list, two years ago, when I called, in case the leader of

[1:18:16] finally got to me through the website to see what has actually been done, where I went from

[1:18:22] my whole street being paved to just one block. So when I'm not going like I say I'm not

[1:18:26] going to go deeper to my cause this issue is just way more than what I got. I got letters

[1:18:30] from Hale's Crosse performance. There are on the end of Alabama and Matt Comber. I moved

[1:18:38] in my house in February 1989. I've been living there a whole older since then, paying taxes.

[1:18:44] And I've been trying to get this street paved back when Tyrone Roddy was around.

[1:18:50] I had the mayor come over there.

[1:18:52] I was a city council.

[1:18:52] I was the chairman for our call, Neighborhood Coalition,

[1:18:56] which we never got under.

[1:18:57] So once I've seen that you guys only did one block of my company

[1:19:02] between Upton and that first street and just left everybody else hanging,

[1:19:07] I got tired of calling and won't, they're not getting away.

[1:19:09] I want to come and speak to you guys in person.

[1:19:11] So the president of Hell's Corps letters for all of y'all, so I want to give maybe you can pass these out to them because I don't have my glasses to read it.

[1:19:20] But my issue is nowhere near what these people are going to, so I'm not going to waste you guys tired when they got bigger issues than I got.

[1:19:29] We're grateful that you came down.

[1:19:31] I have a number listed here that you put down.

[1:19:35] It's okay, we call you with you.

[1:19:36] Yes, I appreciate it.

[1:19:37] Yeah, of course.

[1:19:37] We will try to get your answers and communicate that to you.

[1:19:42] Thank you.

[1:19:44] Thank you.

[1:19:46] Up next, Cindy Krauser.

[1:20:00] Good evening. Thank you for the time this evening. I live at 5, 5, 4,

[1:20:04] Shay, which is at the opposite end of where Chris lives.

[1:20:10] When I first saw that Chris was saying he was having breathing issues, my husband and I both said,

[1:20:17] well, we don't notice anything down here. Last night, I went out for a walk and met Chris for the first

[1:20:27] So, tragedies do introduce you to your neighbors,

[1:20:31] unfortunately or unfortunately,

[1:20:35] the smell was horrendous last night.

[1:20:37] You could taste it, you could smell it.

[1:20:41] I had to turn around and finish my walk.

[1:20:45] But because of that walk,

[1:20:46] I got to know about what was happening tonight.

[1:20:50] So, my biggest point that I want to talk about

[1:20:53] is the communication.

[1:20:55] We've heard nothing from anybody, so the only way I knew about this was from meeting Chris.

[1:21:03] There's not been a door hanger, a piece of mail that came to tell us this is what we are doing.

[1:21:14] Should you experience seeing any of these issues, this is who you should call?

[1:21:20] Some people know all that.

[1:21:22] a lot of people don't, and so I just think that we need to be better about that.

[1:21:31] I think our little neighborhood there in South Toledo is we're experiencing ongoing issues

[1:21:39] now this, and I think we just need to be paid attention.

Sustainability & Beautification on 2026-09-02 5:00 PM - Brent Industries Explosion

Agenda

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