“What really burns me” – Fostoria Mayor Don Mennel

You know what really burns me?

That someone could allow the leachate from the landfill to be put into our sewer treatment plant again.

Mr. Mayor as a person I really do like you. I think that you’re a wise man, smart businessman, and all-around decent human being. But you are definitely lacking in the mayoral role that you’re in now.

First and foremost, you stated that you did a visual inspection of the leachate spill of 55,000 gallons more water. And then you try to explain away the decision to do that by trying to explain water runoff from a landfill. You stated something of the nature that if the water seeps into the trash or into the cover soil and then runs off, that is leachate, but if it runs off the top of the soil down the hill, that is not leachate.

Sure, you are not only mistaken, but you are way, way out of the ballpark. As a former employee, I can attest to and tell you and everyone else that any amount of water that touches that landfill immediately becomes leachate.

Let’s talk about the areas that don’t have very good cover or the transfer station that puts out so much dust into the air that it is almost impossible to see 3 ft in front of yourself, and that dust travels, even if a short distance, and lands directly on the runoff water as it’s coming down the top of the hill, not to mention the trucks that go up and down the hills kicking up garbage, dust, and whatever else may happen, and then the heavy equipment that’s supposed to be burying that trash with cover soil. It turns up the trash and the dust and God only knows what, and it lands right on top of all of that runoff.

A visual inspection wasn’t near enough to let you know whether or not that stuff could be cleaned up. Then consider all of the heavy metals and forever chemicals that are inside of that trash because there’s just as much municipal solid waste as there is C&D, sometimes even more, that should have never been taken into the sewer treatment.

Let me ask you a question. What happens to the water after the sewer treatment plant is done with it? They put it back into the environment, correct? What do you think’s inside of that water? All those forever chemicals, all those heavy metals, and all that nasty crap was right back into it, into the soil and possibly into our drinking water. Never thought about that clearly, did you?

You are having that hauled off by tanker truck to an off-site location, the sewer treatment plant. How about to an off-site location that handles that kind of stuff every day? There are many, many disposal places that handle liquid hazardous waste.

Not understanding the last time it was put there, it wasn’t stopped because of a smell. It’s because anybody that knows anything about the environment and the process to clean sewage and stormwater knows that once it has been cleaned, it is dumped right back into the environment, usually open land or creeks, rivers, or ponds. It identifies that liquid as being clean, treated, and can be put back into the environment where it will end up back on the water table and possibly into the drinking water or into the freshwater creeks and streams, killing fish and other wildlife.

The information that you spoke of sounds exactly like what Ben Nutter would have said and placate the citizens of Fostoria, but I’m telling you now, everything that he says, except maybe when he announces his name, is a lie.

The landfill is a self-monitoring entity, meaning they can lie and do whatever they want and put out some report full of only half-truths and lies, and they know that they can get away with it. And then you have an EPA who turns a blind eye and an attorney general who takes credit for anything that happens regarding the landfill that makes them be accountable and of course also turns a blind eye.

It was my hope that you, as the mayor, would not turn a blind eye to the lies, the theft, the fraud, and the downright malice that the landfill continues to do. People are dying, people are being diagnosed with illnesses, and people are being told of their imminent death.

Stop worrying about the money that’s going to come in from it. Stop it from happening. You can figure out something else. Do not accept that toxic liquid in our sewer treatment plant.

THIS IS WHAT BURNS ME

Thomas Domich

 

“What Really Burns Me” – HYPOCRITES, LIARS, THE LANDFILL.

HYPOCRITES, LIARS, THE LANDFILL.

I read the last piece that was done by the Fostoria Free Press about the landfill and its so-called administrator and liaison to former commissioner Ben Nutter. A lot of good information, but also a lot that is still not known, some of which I’m going to give you today.

As a former employee and former manipulator, falsifier of documents, all while working for Sunny Farms and under their instructions, I can tell you things first-hand that you may or may not believe, so I’ll give it to you in the form of my opinion.

Chris Valerian was the owner of Live Earth LLC. While the information is correct that WCA acquired the landfill from Mr. Valerian in the tune of 88 million, there’s some information that’s not given about the ties between Ben Nutter, Mr. Valerian, and WCA.

WCA purchased the landfill earlier than stated; according to the SEC, they purchased that landfill in 2009, not 2011 as others believed or was made public. Also, since Mr. Valerian, who was indebted to someone from whom he received the money to purchase the landfill in the first place, WCA came to the rescue by paying off his debt, giving him 88 million, giving him 555.5 million shares of WCA, which was about 13.7% at that time. Also, they kept him in charge of the landfill and the transfer stations on the East Coast.

And if Mr. Valerian gave campaign contributions to Ben Nutter, then I believe WCA would have known about it as well because it would have been their money that paid for that campaign.

As far as falsifying documents and things of that nature, being as I was one of the people that did that while I worked there, I can guarantee you that type of conduct has been going on since long before I started working there. Also, by WCA buying the landfill earlier than was publicly released, and WCA being, at that time, part of another company who was owned by Tunnel Hills and GFL, which purchased WCA before that was publicly released as well, it goes to show a pattern of non-compliance, lies, deceit, and downright hatred for the people of Fostoria.

While I worked there, there used to be a scale tower that was on the other side of the landfill, away from the public. It was there for us to be able to weigh the trucks as they were leaving the transfer station and to verify whether or not the trash that was in the back of the trucks was CD&D or if it was MSW (municipal solid waste). While in that scale house, the transfer station was instructed that anything that was loaded into the trucks could be anything that they wanted, MSW or CD&D, but they had to try to get as much CD&D as they could on the top because I had to take pictures of it, which in turn, those pictures were to be sent to the health department and the front scale house as evidence that the majority was CD&D, which in turn, later, those photos were passed to the EPA and to the customers so they could milk them for more money.

I say that because they were crooked enough to have me take pictures only of CD&D. If the truck did not have any CD&D on the top of the municipal trash to hide it, I was to zoom in specifically on a piece of destruction material, and every day I would manipulate weights and photos to make sure that the landfill received the highest pay they could for trash that was exactly that, just trash, with unknown materials inside.

After so long of doing that, when my health started to fade, I came to the realization that if I didn’t do something about it or say something to someone, it wouldn’t be just me whose health would be fading. Most of us were already blowing out black, nasty goop out of our nose and coughing up brown and black phlegm. I thought maybe some of that would have been attributed to the asbestos that was illegally buried there without permits, but I was not diagnosed with mesothelioma. I was diagnosed with COPD, now at stage 4, and something solid in my lungs that they cannot identify and are afraid to try to remove any of because it may cut up my lungs on the way out. But it does move around in my lungs, causing me grief and difficulty breathing. So, I reported to the EPA. I gathered pictures and duplicate pictures and had them in a file that I was going to give the EPA and the customers. Suffice it to say, I was caught. I was threatened for my job and told that my NDA would not allow me to do such a thing. I later found out that if there are health problems that you have from working somewhere, an NDA does not apply.

The connection between Mr. Valerian, Mr. Nutter, and another man named Joe Frola, who happened to be general manager of the landfill at the time, is unknown by this writer, but there is a connection.

This is just the tip of the iceberg that shows the pattern that is there, that continues to happen over and over again because they can get away with it, and all because they learn it from the prior owners who are all under the same umbrella.

I think that maybe the next City Council meeting, we should all bring some water in from our faucet and ask them to drink it. I guarantee you, quick, fast, and in a hurry, they’ll refuse, and if they don’t refuse, that only goes to show you that their health is good enough from living elsewhere, that whatever they drink isn’t going to harm them like it has us.

And for those of you who think I’m living in the past and everything is different now, you’re wrong. We are supposed to learn from our mistakes in the past, not continue them, and the landfill continues to do the same things over and over again, just in a new way, hoping that we won’t catch on. The pattern continues, and I feel bad for anyone who works there right now because quite a lot, if not all of you, will most likely end up with health issues in the future.

And in my opinion, Ben Nutter has betrayed Seneca County and the people that live here. It’s no wonder that he lost his campaign.



AND THAT’S WHAT REALLY BURNS ME
Thomas Domich




Fostoria Mayor Offers Discounted Leachate Processing, Bypassing Democratic Process

FOSTORIA – The Mayor of Fostoria City made the decision to bypass the usual democratic channels by approving the acceptance of leachate from Win Waste Innovations Landfill (formerly known as Sunny Farms Landfill) without seeking the input of the voters or the city council. The City set a price of $.04 per gallon for this service, which is half a cent less than what the City of Marion charges. This lower rate accounts for a savings of over $15,000 on processing fees for Win Waste. Additionally, Win Waste is also benefiting from significant cost savings on transportation to Marion.

Photo byThe Fostoria Free Press

For a single trip with a 5,000-gallon capacity truck, the transportation cost is approximately $265-$300, depending on exact variables. Mayor Mennel said during city council that roughly 50,000 gallons of leachate was spilled into 3,000,000 gallons of “storm water”. The transportation cost to the City of Marion would ammount to roughly $183,000 (610 Trips x $300 = $183,000) in cost savings by sending to the Fostoria Waste Wate Treatment Plant.

Estimated Total Cost Per Trip: Adding these together:
(Grok3 AI)

  • Fuel: $57.05
  • Labor: $54
  • Maintenance/Depreciation: $24.40
  • Disposal Fees: $100
  • Other Costs: $30
  • Total ≈ $57.05 + $54 + $24.40 + $100 + $30 = $265.45 per trip.

Photo byThe Fostoria Free Press

Fostoria Mayor Don Mennel has failed to negotiate a reasonable processing rate. Instead giving Win Waste a massive discount. When questioned by the public, Mennel called opposers irrational & emotional.

Photo byThe Fostoria Free Press

The question that should be asked, Is Mayor Mennel catering to Win Waste Landfill & it’s spokeperson Ben Nutter?

Photo byThe Fostoria Free Press

Fostoria Police Officers Likely Saved a Life on Center St. CSX Bridge

Photo byThe Fostoria PD

FOSTORIA – On February 25, 2025, at around 9:53 a.m., the Fostoria Police Department responded to a report of a man standing on the outside of the railing on the E. Center St. train overpass, threatening to jump. Officers arrived, blocked traffic, and coordinated with CSX to halt trains while Fostoria EMS was called. After 15 minutes of de-escalation, the man reluctantly returned to the inside of the railing but then tried to climb back out. Officers restrained him as he resisted, ensuring his safety, and transported him to Fostoria ProMedica Hospital for evaluation. Police Chief Gabe Wedge praised the officers—Don Dennis, Brady Jaso, Kent Reinbolt, Dan Dell, and Nate Elliott—for their Crisis Intervention Training and life-saving efforts.

####Fostoria PD Press Release####

02/25/2025
At approximately 0953 hrs, the Fostoria Police Department received a call of a subject on the E. Center St train overpass, standing on the outside of the railing. When responding officers arrived on scene, the male subject began threatening to jump from the overpass. Officers blocked traffic and relayed with CSX to stop any incoming trains. Fostoria EMS was also called to the scene. After approximately 15 minutes of de-escalating the situation and calming the subject down, the subject reluctantly came back to the inside of the railing. However, he then changed his mind and attempted to climb to the outside of the railing again, but officers were able to pull him back away from doing so.

The subject then began fighting the officers; however, officers were able to restrain the subject and secure his movements. The subject was then taken to Fostoria ProMedica Hospital to be evaluated.“This is just another example of how Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) is paying off in the City of Fostoria and across the nation. Officers are entering the situation in a safe but more passive manner, to de-escalate the situations by speaking to the subject first, slowing things down, instead of going straight to hands on.”

“A special thanks to the officers on scene, Officer Don Dennis, Officer Brady Jaso, Sergeant Kent Reinbolt, Captain Dan Dell, and Detective Sergeant Nate Elliott. Their hard work and dedication to training likely saved a life today.”

Police Chief Gabe Wedge
Fostoria Police Department.

Arrest Made in Fostoria From Crocker St. Home

KODAK Digital Still Camera

FOSTORIA – On February 23, 2025, at around 4:30 a.m., the Fostoria Police Department responded to a shooting at 310 S. Poplar St. in Fostoria, Ohio, where four shots were fired at the residence. On February 24, 2025, at approximately 9:30 p.m., detectives, with assistance from the Seneca County Regional SRT, executed a search warrant at 201 E. Crocker St., securing the residence and occupants.

The investigation led to the arrest of 18-year-old Michael Bollinger on February 25, 2025, for Discharging a Firearm into Habitation, a second-degree felony under Ohio law. Bollinger was held in Seneca County Jail without bond, awaiting his initial court appearance, as the investigation continues. Police Chief Gabriel M. Wedge praised the officers’ quick response, Detective Hall’s thorough investigation, and the Seneca County Regional SRT’s assistance, noting their professionalism and the strong collaboration among local law enforcement agencies.


Fostoria Mayor on Damage Control While Calling Citizens Irrational & Emotional

FOSTORIA – In a recent damage control article published by the Review Times, Fostoria Mayor Don Mennel defended his decision to accept landfill toxic liquid waste while dismissing concerned citizens as irrational and emotional. Mennel’s true colors are emerging, which comes as no surprise since his term began with a lie to the public about a splash pad soak park that was supposed to open in 2024.

Mennel bypassed voters and the city council to unilaterally decide to process leachate (liquid toxic waste) at the wastewater treatment plant.

Mennel also failed to negotiate a reasonable rate for processing the liquid waste. The City of Fostoria is currently charging four cents per gallon, the cheapest rate in the area. In comparison, the City of Bowling Green charges $0.063 per gallon, and the City of Marion charges $0.045 per gallon.

Photo byThe Fostoria Free Press

In addition to the $15,000 discount granted by the City of Fostoria to Win Waste Landfill compared to the City of Marion’s rate, Win Waste is also achieving significant savings on transportation costs.

Not to be forgotten is the previous mayor’s decision to stop processing leachate in 2019. That decision was made because the city had no knowledge of what was going into the landfill or what would be in the liquid waste. Apparently, a miracle has occurred, and Mennel now claims to know everything entering the landfill—despite the lack of comprehensive leachate testing. The city continues to rely on a local water testing lab, Bojhun Labs, which has shown signs of incompetence in its testing results. Previously, Fostoria used Alloway Labs in Bowling Green, OH.

Photo byThe Fostoria Free Press

Photo byThe Fostoria Free Press

 

“What really burns me” – OH-EPA Where rules really ARE made to be broken.

Author: TD

“Rules are made to be broken” at least that’s what we were told when we were kids.

We heard it from all our friends, and older siblings, and we believed it.

Until our all-knowing smarter parents shot that down, put us to rights and made us understand that rules are made to be followed.

Rules are made to protect us, and rules are made because some people have done things that can be considered ignorant and silly.

So rules were made to protect us just like signs are never made unless someone has actually done the deed that caused the making of the sign.

With that being said, I want to tell you about someone, an organization, who breaks their own rules and allows others to break them too.

The Ohio EPA, and yes I know just as all of you do that these folks are not elected, they’re bureaucrats, hired under the promise of watching out for our health and wellbeing, keeping an eye on our environment and stopping all the pollution and all the toxification of our air and water etc etc.

But What I bet you don’t see, is that the EPA is not a government organization as we were led to believe. They are hired bureaucrats who can talk fancy and make you want their services. they’re given power over protecting our environment and our water and our kids and our lives but they don’t use it for that they use it to make money.

It’s a money grabbing organization that answers to no one but gives all the money they earn to their pockets and to the government officials who let them stay in power.

The EPA gets their funds from fines and fees that they charge to every company, large organization or anyone who violates their rule.

But of course they can’t fine themselves or charge themselves any fees even though they break their own rules as well.

Ask yourself a question When a company needs to get rid of waste if they don’t ask the EPA and get caught they get fined and that’s it.

And yes I know sometimes they get sued and lose a lot of money. Now lets say that same company asks the EPA for a permit to commit whatever atrocity that they’re going to commit And they receive it for a fee.

What I don’t understand is how does the EPA make rules stating that you can’t do this and you can’t do that but if you want to do those things call us and we’ll sell you a permit that allows you to do those things

So if you want to pollute call the EPA if you want to put toxic waste in the water call the EPA and get a permit.

Only as an example Win Waste Innovations. They have purchased multiple different permits and all of those permits give them allowance to do exactly what the EPA has made rules against. Such as SO2 levels, such as expansions, such as height of the trash mountain so on and so forth

It shows me that either the EPA is on the take, or they just take enough to give the landfill the opportunity to have a permit, to do exactly what the EPA has mandated that no one can do.

So I guess our friends were right when we were kids, rules are made to be broken… at least when it comes to keeping our air and water clean for our children and for their future.

What is the actual use of the EPA? why do they exist?

They might need to change their name to the Environmental Payoff Agency.

“What really burns me” and my opinion about it.

 

Incomplete Testing Report Raises Concerns for City of Fostoria’s Leachate Management

FOSTORIA – Bojun Labs conducted a basic test on the recent Win Waste Innovations Landfil leachate “spill”. The report was provided last minute to The Fostoria Free Press on 2.18.25 just hours prior to the city council meeting. Although, the short notice did not stop the spread of the report to interested citizens who spoke at the meeting.

Landfill leachate is a complex mixture of water, organic and inorganic compounds, and microorganisms that can pose environmental and health risks if not properly managed.

What’s Included in Bojhuns Rerport:

  • The report covers several key parameters relevant to wastewater or leachate, such as ammonia, COD, mercury, oil and grease, phosphorus, and TSS. These are important for assessing nutrient levels, organic content, heavy metals, and solids in the sample.
  • The matrix is listed as “WW” (wastewater), which aligns with leachate being a type of wastewater from landfills.

What’s Potentially Lacking:

Based on a typical landfill leachate testing profile, this report may be missing several critical parameters, depending on the regulatory requirements or the specific concerns of the site. Here are some potential gaps:

  1. pH: Not included, but pH is a fundamental parameter for assessing the corrosivity and chemical stability of leachate.
  2. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS): This is often tested to understand the overall dissolved mineral content, which can affect treatment processes and environmental impact.
  3. Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD): While COD is included, BOD is another critical measure of biodegradable organic matter and is often required in tandem with COD.
  4. Other Heavy Metals: The report only tests for mercury, but landfill leachate may contain other metals like lead, cadmium, chromium, arsenic, copper, zinc, and nickel, which are common in leachate and regulated under environmental laws.
  5. Nitrogen Compounds: While ammonia is tested, other forms like nitrate, nitrite, and total nitrogen are often required to fully assess nitrogen loading.
  6. Organic Compounds: The report does not include testing for VOCs, SVOCs, PAHs, or TPH, which are common in landfill leachate, especially from older or industrial waste sites.
  7. Chloride, Sulfate, and Other Anions: These are often present in leachate and can impact treatment and receiving water bodies.
  8. Toxicity Testing: There’s no mention of bioassays or toxicity tests to evaluate the potential harm to aquatic life or ecosystems.
  9. Microbiological Testing: No testing for fecal coliforms, E. coli, or total coliforms, which could indicate biological contamination.
  10. Emerging Contaminants: No testing for PFAS or other emerging contaminants, which are increasingly regulated in environmental samples.

The provided testing report includes several relevant parameters for wastewater/leachate analysis, such as ammonia, COD, mercury, oil and grease, phosphorus, and TSS. However, it appears to lack a comprehensive suite of tests typically required for landfill leachate, including pH, TDS, BOD, additional heavy metals, nitrogen compounds, organic compounds (VOCs, SVOCs, PAHs, TPH), chloride, sulfate, toxicity testing, microbiological indicators, and emerging contaminants. The specific tests needed depend on local regulations, the landfill’s characteristics (e.g., age, type of waste), and the intended use of the data (e.g., discharge permits, environmental impact assessments).

If this report is for landfill leachate, it may not meet all regulatory or environmental monitoring requirements. I recommend consulting the applicable local or national environmental regulations (e.g., U.S. EPA guidelines for leachate management) or working with an environmental engineer to ensure all necessary parameters are tested.

Fostoria Passes Ch 946, Leachate & HazMat Incoming? CnclMember Claims It’s For “EPA Compliance”

FOSTORIA – Council voted to enact chapter 946. Councilman Podach questioned whether this primarily for accepting landfill leachate. Mayor Mennel responded saying that 946 is for EPA compliance. Mennel also could not answer the question whether or not the writers of 946 knew that the City of Fostoria is considering taking leachate at a cheap rate of $0.04 per gallon.

Mennel also responded to Podach “Thats why you get 3 readings”.

Councilwoman Ward 3: Sue Lehmann voted in favor of 946 “because it puts us in compliance with the EPA”. Also stating that the leachate can be addressed at a later date. Lehmann also commented “Leachate is a new topic for us”. No its not!

Some community members also do not trust Bojhun Labs, a new local water testing lab doing business with The City of Fostoria. Due to their recent incomplete 1/2 page leachate testing report I can see why. Honest leachate testing does not fit on 1 page. It is my opinion that the City of Fostoria is acting negligently by using this inexperienced lab.

Fostoria: Council Member Addresses Council Over Leachate – Mayor Mennel Asleep at The Helm?

Author: (2) Members of The Fostoria Free Press

FOSTORIA – During the February 18, 2025, Fostoria City Council meeting, council member Bob Podach addressed the city council as a citizen. He voiced his concerns regarding the city’s recent rush to accept the Win Waste Innovations Landfill, particularly in light of an alleged spill.

Podach was one of many individuals who addressed the city council that evening.

According to reports, leachate from the landfill is currently being transported by Bugner’s and Black Swamp septic companies via tanker trucks. These companies have reportedly been transporting the leachate as early as 4 a.m. This information came to light from a recently forced-out scale operator employee at the Win Waste Innovations Landfill in Fostoria.

Editor’s Note: Seeing a member of the city council addressing both the city council and the mayor as a citizen is a rare circumstance in my experience. This situation raises a red flag regarding Mayor Don Mennel and his apparent inability to communicate effectively with council members. After recently undergoing spine surgery and currently being in recovery, this development is not entirely surprising. Ultimately, it paints a picture that Mennel may be incapable of fulfilling his duties, largely due to a lack of communication within city government.