Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1953-01-09
Why Delay Longer?


One of the indisputable marks of strength in any
community the condition of it's churches and the sphere
covered by religious activities. Port Clinton is unusually
healthy in this respect.
Just few weeks ago, Pastor John Braun turned the
first spadeful of earth for the construction of new
parish hall for ST. Johns Lutheran Church The project
when completed will contribute immeasuraby to the COM
mrnity and The NEWS happily commends this group for
it's progressive action and for it's splendid demonstration
of leadership
"A similar construction program long has been in
the blueprint stage for Immaculate Conception Catholic
Church Under the inspiring guidance of the Rev. Karl
A. Brand and his assistant FIR Mueller the parish has
carefully nurtured expansion program that expected
to reach cash outlay of $15000O for the construction OF
badlyneeded additional classrooms and assembly hail.
With current enrolment of 270 and prospects of
parochia students at the rate of 100 year due to
the accelerated birth rate the Catholic parish faces
immediate, tremendous problem. Decisive prompt actlon
is must.
Unfortunately, to comply with state building require
ments the badly proposed addition can't be erected
just anywhere.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation the parish
made informal request of city council not the present
body) two years ago that the alley bisectng the
block between Madison and Monroe be vacated Since the
parish already owned major portion of the property on
both sides of the alley involved the request certainly
merited attention from local officials
For one reason or another however, the request
granted and the parishs expansion program has
been styied Caught in inflatonary PERIOD
each day of delay has sent estimated construction costs
sprahng.
It never was made quite clear why the old council
threw rOadDOck at the way PeTaS personal pTeJudlce
prevailed Whatever the it should have passed out
of existence along with the demise of that body when it
expired December 81, 1851
The puzzng feature is that the present council hasn't
officially considered the proposition.
Surely the issue isn't being sde-stepped for lack of
precedent Communities all the nation have been
quick to recognize critical problems of the times and
bending backwards to help churches and school oganza
tions needed facilities. In area the city
OF Mansfield just recently of it's churches alley
to permit badlyneeded construction. Scores of cities
throughout the country have followed similar action.
Surely the issue isn't being sidestepped because of
personal prejudice for Port Cntons city officials have
demonstrated time and again that they anxious to per-
form in the interest of the general public good.
We'd like to believe that it's just of those matters
that has become innocenty sidetracked happens
frequently with legislative bodies.
Obviously, the facts speak for themselves No one
can deny that this project is of vital Importance to the
community City Council in this instance has solemn
obligation it no longer avoid In consideration of the
urgency and general need the matter should be considered
expedousy possible to avert further unnecessary
and costly delay.
The whole question resolves itself to whether or not
the requested action is good bad for the community
In carefully weighing the general public good against
what may be the token opposition of prejudiced few
The NEWS without reservation hesitation urges me
date favorable action the part of the city that this
important segment of Port Cntons population may make
its desired contribution to the communitys growth and
progress.