Letters to Editor
Insufficient Differentiation
I would like to further explain my reasons for voting against membership in the Chagrin River Watershed Partners and to correct an error in the March 28 Geauga County Maple Leaf.
First, the article incorrectly stated that I voted against the ethics policy for the CRWP. I voted in favor of and strongly support the CRWP ethics policy, which requires a person to disclose whether they have a relationship or vested financial interest in a potential transaction involving the CRWP.
Mr. Joyce was the trustee who voted against this policy.
I have spent my entire professional career (29 years) in the environmental field, including four years with the USEPA. I understand water quality and factors that impact it. My decision on the CRWP was based in part on my research, which included a review of services provided by CRWP in 2012, services provided by the Geauga County Soil and Water Conservation District (GCSWCD) in 2012 and Ohio EPA water quality data on Marsh Hawk Run.
CRWP’s focus in Chester in 2013 would be Marsh Hawk Run. The most recent water quality data is from 2004 and does not take into account potential water quality improvements with the recent upgrade to the Opalacka wastewater treatment plant which discharges to Marsh Hawk Run.
I believe the GCSWCD is responsive in providing a good scope of service to our community; services we are already paying for with taxpayer dollars.
Additionally, if Chester Township or any Geauga County municipality would contribute money to the GCSWCD, the State of Ohio will match those dollars at 70 percent. To me, that is a good investment and return on our tax dollars.
In my opinion, both the CRWP and GCSWCD do good work, but there is insufficient differentiation of services to justify the $4,370 taxpayer expenditure for CRWP membership in 2013.
Ken Radtke Jr.
Chester Township Trustee
Take A Stand
If you, the property owners of Geauga County and surrounding rural country side of Ohio, do not want to be forced to replace your septic system, please support Geauga County Health Department Commissioner Robert Weisdack.
Once again, the Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio EPA, along with lobbyists from Southwest Ohio, want to force us to replace our septic system regardless if it is functioning properly or not.
Mr. Weisdack is fighting the legislative bureaucracy in our interest (property owners, residential and commercial).
If you would like to have the current septic law kept in place and not have the Ohio Department of Healths and the Ohio EPAs proposed and unnecessary statewide law crammed down our throats, then please call or write your State of Ohio representative and senator, and send a copy of your letter to Ohio Senate President Keith Faber as well as a copy to Gov. John Kasich.
Tell your representative and senator that we want the current law kept as it is. It is fair and reasonable. Tell them we do not want to be forced to replace properly functioning septic systems.
Tell them they are not being fair to those unemployed nor are they being fair to the elderly and others on fixed income. Tell them to apply common sense and, if they must create new law, apply it to new construction only.
Tell them that we demand rightful representation from rural counties not just two as is currently in the ODH committee. Ask them, why has this committee been stacked against those of us living in rural counties?
State legislators are listed below:
Ohio Senators
John Eklund (District 18)
1 Capitol Square, 1st Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
614-644-7718
Capri Cafaro (District 32)
2 Capitol Square, Ground Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
614-466-7182
Ohio Representatives
Matthew Lynch (District 76
77 South High St., 13th Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215
614-644-5088
John Patterson (District 99)
77 South High St. 10th Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215
614-466-1405
Senate President Keith Faber
1 Capitol Square, 2nd Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215
614-466-7584
Governor John Kasich
State Capitol
Columbus, Ohio 43215
If you do not show your interest, the Ohio Department of Health, the Ohio EPA and the lobbyists from Southwest Ohio, who represent the septic tank manufactures and installers, will force you to replace your septic system regardless if it needs replacing or if it doesnt. They will have their way with you. You will be forced to pay between $22,000 and $40,000 for a new septic system that will cost you more money in the way of higher monthly electric bills plus state monthly fees and taxes to justify their existence.
Folks, we are being bombarded from all sides federal, state and local. These bureaucrats think we have money trees growing in our back yards. Enough is enough; take a stand. This is a serious situation. Mr. Weisdack needs our support. Don’t let him down; do your part as suggested above.
Tim Sabula
Munson Township
