Letters to Editor
Response to Judge Grendell
As a citizen of Geauga County and very much involved in the controversy surrounding the Geauga Park District, I am writing in response to Judge Grendell’s recent essay regarding the matter.
Judge Grendell’s article is both illustrative of the problem and disturbing in its reflection of Geauga politics.
First, in passing, the comment that Geauga has more park space than Lake County is reflective of a recent Tea Party activist’s letter to the editor. Why is it bad to be better than another county?
Geauga is substantially larger in area than Lake County. We are the headwaters of three major rivers which influence the water quality for ourselves and others.
A study presented to the Park Board by Environ in May 2013 showed how parks increase property values, bring tourists’ dollars to the local economy, improve air quality and contribute to the overall health and well-being of the community. Are we to strive for mediocrity?
Second, I find it interesting that the original of the Judge’s letter appeared within 18 hours of the decision of the Geauga County Budget Commission. Since that decision differed from that which the Park Board representative had requested at the Budget Commission meeting, did the Judge write, submit and have published this justification in those 18 hours or was the whole process manipulated to a pre-determined outcome?
Moreover, the budget submitted was apparently created and approved in violation of the Sunshine Laws.
Third, as to the budget and its purported savings, a quick review indicates that there is no allowance made for unforeseen emergencies (a usual line item), no provision for regular replacement of vehicles (a usual line item) and does not include salaries and benefits for the three major vacancies in the Park District (Executive Director, Operations Director and Chief Ranger).
The so-called “surplus,” if one reviews prior financial data, is in reality monies being held for specific future projects (Maple Highlands trail improvement, completion of Observatory Park, etc.). Judge Grendell’s figures are all smoke and mirrors.
Fourth, Judge Grendell assures us that the bylaws will again be amended by the inexperienced Park Board that he appointed and that he, too, does not want oil/gas drilling in the Parks. Since the Park Board is supposed to be an independent body, how does he know what they will do?
Oil/gas drilling is controlled by the state and I, for one, would be anxious to join the Judge in any efforts to preclude that activity (however among the new bylaws and “recreational activities,” oil/gas drilling is listed).
Fifth, the suspension of the tax levy will result in an approximate $20 annual savings to the average Geauga taxpayer. Judge Grendell, in a hackneyed response, says if we don’t want the tax savings we can donate it to the Park. Democracy is not a subscription plan. I don’t decide that I don’t need to pay taxes to resurface a road I don’t use. I am not asked to donate to the upkeep of the Probate Court when the presiding Judge decides he needs a bigger budget. We, as a county, have repeatedly voted to support our parks and the appointed Judge Grendell has undemocratically denied us that right.
Moreover, there is a political movement in the county that is pushing to defund the Parks, to remove the Parks from cooperation with other regional organizations and conservation groups, to forego government grants. Judge Grendell has inadvertently supported these positions.
Further, because donors are no longer certain that their money or property will be used to “preserve, conserve, and protect” Geauga’s natural areas, those donations have slowed. Many people have areas, roadways, buildings, even whole parks in the Park District named for them because of their efforts and commitments to conservation (Frohring Meadows, the Meyer Center, Robert McCullough Science Center, Best Wildlife Preserve, and local conservationist William D. Ginn who was influential in establishing the West Woods.).
In every Park informational brochure there is the basic quote, “It is Geauga Park District’s intent to protect this natural area in perpetuity.” Let us hope that we do not one day see the “Grendell ATV Rut.” Both the Judge and the citizens of Geauga County deserve better.
Let’s live up to the commitment so many have made for so many years.
Ed Buckles
Troy Township
Insulting Moral Buster
The past several weeks I have responded to a significant number of inquires from people who wish to review the Geauga Park District’s $16,000 O’Brian report. These public records stimulated a critical examination by the public of the district’s political and organizational management.
For all those who have interest in reading this document, Debra O’Connor, director of the Geauga County Library System, has made a copy of this report available at all branches of that system. And Executive Director Holly Lynn, of the Burton Public Library, has done the same. Two great resources.
The park district commissioners and Judge Grendell agree that the district received ‘little value and was not transparent to the public’ with this contract. As for me, I wouldn’t pay 16 cents for this insulting moral buster.
Rob Roy
Burton
Appreciated the Help
I’d like to let all the rescue personnel in Middlefield know how much our family appreciated the assist in getting out of a muddy ditch on Nauvoo Road in July.
A gentleman whom we later learned was an employee of the sheriff’s department provided space for passing vehicles, directed traffic and called for help.
The policemen/woman arrived first, followed by the fire department, a state trooper and paramedics, and capably did what they were trained to do.
We thank them and look forward to visiting again, without incident.
Carolyn, Esther, Carley Grube
It Will Not Happen Again
It is inevitable when several individuals are brought together on a board that some miscommunication can result. That is the case with the recent Park Board action to amend the Park District’s bylaws.
There was never any intention to open the county parks to oil and gas drilling or logging. The goal was to prohibit such drilling and logging, but maintain language that recognizes that the parks have acquired, and may acquire, some properties with existing oil and gas wells, which should be allowed to remain in order to avoid the cost of closing those wells.
The same is true with logging. The bylaws should recognize the Park District’s ability to manage its forests for natural and fire safety reasons, but commercial logging should be prohibited.
Also, there may be certain zoning issues that would have to be addressed.
Unfortunately, the language used in the amended bylaws was too broad. As the new board member, I should have slowed the process to allow time for further review, but the desire to demonstrate the ability to work with the other board members was compelling. That will not happen again.
At the Board’s next meeting I intend to introduce a motion to reconsider the prior bylaw amendment language to remove oil and gas drilling, logging, ATVs and to make it clear that appropriate limited recreation should be permitted when approved by the Board or Director, when authorized by the Board.
Of course, such recreation must also accommodate the park’s preservation and conservation efforts.
I am confident that the concerns raised by those concerned can be addressed in a reasonable fashion.
Brian C. Johnston
Burton
Out With Playgrounds, Carnival Atmopshere
I am a member of the Geauga County Ohio Horseman’s Council. As a group, we have donated many hours of volunteer work such as working on building bridle trails. We cleared invasive plants on trails. We just had a big sale at The West Woods with many vendors to raise money for the bridle trail fund that we started several years ago with the park and the foundation.
We also have a place on our membership form where you can make a donation directly to the foundation. All this money goes toward building and maintaining the bridle trails in Geauga Park District.
We enjoy the sound of our horse’s hooves in the quiet of the parks. Just the sound of a breeze in the trees, rivers flowing and, of course, the wonderful songs of the birds.
Passing dog walkers, joggers or people just out for a quiet stroll is so nice. It is so pristine and such a stress reliever.
Now add bikes to this quiet setting and you are adding a new element. Walkers must now be vigilant. Horses are on edge for a bike to come around a corner suddenly. The entire stress-free setting is gone.
Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a “Bomb Proof” horse. We don’t need to worry about this unless there is another form of travel put on our trails.
I also had a fellow tell me that he would be afraid to walk his grandchildren on the bridle trails if they allowed bikes on them. He doesn’t worry about the horses as he can hear them coming, but bikes are pretty silent.
Therefore, you do not know they are coming around the corner. I feel we need compatible users on the bridle trails.
The new three members of the Geauga Park Board don’t realize what a wonderful park system we have here in Geauga. Each park is different and yet quiet and beautiful. We need to keep the school playground and carnival atmosphere out of the parks.
Put back Preserve, Conserve and Protect into the bylaws before everything everyone gave with conditions is gone and can not be replaced by any amount of money.
Joy Keco
Bainbridge
Disregarding Intent of Park Founders
I have been greatly troubled by accounts I’ve learned of from this paper and other outlets regarding recent actions of the Geauga Park Board under the alleged or rumored influence of Judge Grendell.
First, apparent changes to the park district’s mission and bylaws to include such activities as logging, oil drilling and the operation of motorized recreational vehicles on the trail system disregards the intent of the local citizen founders of the park district; namely, the League of Women Voters and others who, more than a half century ago, sought to secure the freedom to experience parts of Geauga county in its natural state in perpetuity.
Second, the attempted suspension of the voter-approved tax levy to fund the parks undermines the future financial security and strength of the park district and subverts the will of the voters.
That these changes were made by unelected board members and without public involvement or comment, I find outrageous and, I don’t use this word lightly or often, un-American.
We Americans have a long history of standing up for the land that we love and the representative democracy that we fought for. I recommend Judge Grendell and the Park District Board reconsider how they’re treating both.
Steve Corso
Claridon
Resign
The contention and disputes about the Geauga Parks is truly strange. It seems the people pushing this agenda have lost all perspective.
What’s their problem? Are they anti-tree? Anti-hiking? Anti-dog walking? Anti-green space?
Maybe they’re just politicians looking to slip into another office — with the brilliant strategy of attacking the parks.
I’d wager that the vast majority of people in Geauga County get direct enjoyment and use of their tax dollars from the parks versus any other agency that uses their tax dollars.
If the officials stirring these controversies have ideological problems with public use of tax revenues, why not go into private enterprise full time instead of sabotaging public institutions?
Please have the courage of your convictions and resign.
If they don’t quit, fire them with a recall petition!
Kevin Kimmich
Chardon
Thank You for Clarification
I would like to take this time to thank Judge Grendell for his letter, clarifying the actions taken by the park board and putting to rest the innuendos being thrown about by other people in their letters to the editor.
Since when does only the few have the rights to use the parks and not everyone. If there are some areas set aside in our immense park district for other activities, not enjoyed by others, then why is that a problem?
All I hear about is trying to save the “flora and fauna” as well as the “wild life,” but then parking lots are built, pathways, buildings, etc. in our parks to accommodate the public. The wildlife is slowly but surely being pushed out due to building more and more homes and stores, but then the hue and cry about deer damaging property. Can’t have it both ways.
The large amount of overage in the park funds has to be accounted for, legally, per state laws. To just haphazardly spend it so the levies continue is a waste of our monies. The idea of suspending the levy for a year is an excellent idea. Why are so many people against it?
I remember before they put Eldon Russell Park in, on Rapids Road, you could canoe the river then, with a little bit of effort, and we enjoyed all the wildlife that used to inhabit it there — snapping turtles, painted turtles, blue herons, ducks, and many more species related to river life as well as the duck hunting.
Since the park has been put in, most of these species have vanished due to constant harassment of the wildlife and littering of garbage by the public and the park district trying to make it “easier” for the public to “enjoy.”
Now you are lucky to see a turtle or frog, no ducks and very seldom blue herons. We quit canoeing it when we could no longer enjoy it due to the noise and littering.
Thank you Judge Grendell, for trying to be a servant of the people that elected you. If most of our other representatives in the courts and government would do the same, I do not think the USA would be in the dire straits we are in now.
Deanna and William Ferritto
Huntsburg
Make Voices Heard
I am distressed by what has happened to our fine Geauga Park District.
The bylaws and constitution have been abruptly rewritten, approved and put in place without any discussion or input from the citizens who voted to establish the parks in the first place and are currently the users and supporters of the system.
The original purpose of the Park District is to “Preserve, Conserve and Protect” the land given into their hands. This is no longer the case, as of the formal adoption in July of the rewritten bylaws.
We can no longer be assured that the headwaters of three rivers will be protected and that the water flowing to Lake Erie will be safe.
The actions taken by the Park Commissioners in altering the purpose of the parks jeopardizes a large area of the Great Lakes watershed.
Concerned residents and friends of Geauga County must make their voices heard.
Jane McCullam
Newbury
Hunting, Trapping, ATVs in Parks?
The new Geauga County Park District Board of Commissioners has drafted an expanded list of “recreational” activities they want to allow at our County Parks. Included in their list are recreational hunting and trapping, and the use of dirt bikes and ATVs.
Since it’s inception, our park district lands have been available for passive recreation, which is consistent with the requirement that these properties be purchased and managed to “preserve, conserve, and protect.”
That meant that they were available to anyone, everyone, anytime.
By allowing for shooting sports and ATVs, however, that will no longer be the case. Once hunting starts or the promised shooting ranges are open, for safety’s sake the general public will not be able to access those parks.
Once ATV’s and dirt bikes start racing on the trails, they will be unsafe to anyone else on foot or horseback. The parks where ATV and dirt bike riding occurs will also be of no use to those looking to enjoy the peace and quiet that those parks provide now.
The board should not take away lands that are available to everyone, so that they can be used exclusively by these two groups. The board should not set aside any land for any single special interest over the use of all.
One argument is that there are not enough places for people to hunt or to ride ATV’s. This is not the fault of the park district. Upon further investigation, I question whether it is even accurate.
ODNR, not the county parks, is responsible for regulating hunting in the State of Ohio as well as providing public hunting areas. I spent a few hours recently on the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) website. They have a listing of public hunting areas they either own or manage. By looking up each of those areas, I made a listing of public lands currently set aside for hunting, with individual and total size in acres.
Between Division of Wildlife, State Forests and State Parks, ODNR provides at least 469,846 acres of land available for public hunting (many also provide trails for ATV use). By adding public hunting available at the Wayne National Forest and the American Electric Power (AEP) property in Southeast Ohio, total public hunting land available in Ohio is at least 771,037 acres.
That’s more than three-quarters of a million acres. That’s a lot of land.
In addition, over time the number of hunters purchasing resident licenses in Ohio have been decreasing, not going up. This does not represent a crisis that the park district needs to address.
To put it into perspective, 771,037 acres equates to more than 1,204 square miles dedicated to hunting, trapping and in many cases ATV use in Ohio. Geauga County is approximately 408 square miles. That means that in Ohio alone there is as much public hunting land as nearly three entire Geauga counties.
If hunters and ATV users want even more land, they should be lobbying the ODNR, not the GCPD. Do not sacrifice our parks.
Chris Parker
Munson
Time for a Change
Please tell me if I’m missing the point. Is Mr. Grendell condemning Tom Curtin and punishing the Geauga Park District for not spending as much money as they could? Is this not sound fiscal management?
The type of thinking Mr. Grendell advocates leads to wasteful spending in order to receive the previous years’ allocation of funds. If having an emergency reserve does not comply with Ohio law, perhaps it might be time for a change.
Karl Kule
Munson
Case of the Disappearing Trail…
Recently, the Geauga Park District removed the southern section of the Pine Ridge Trail at Sunnybrook Preserve.
What was this trail? It was a paved, level, handicap-accessible trail. The section that was removed completed a lovely third-of-a-mile loop near the parking lot. One could stroll this trail on any evening three times and know they just completed a little over a mile in exercise steps.
Over the years, I’ve see people of all abilities enjoying this trail: people with strollers, wheelchairs, walkers and people who were recovering from surgeries. It has been enjoyed ever since the park was created seven years ago.
But the southern section has been removed with no explanation — no input from the public. Sadly. Sunnybrook now has fewer things that visitors can enjoy.
What was the motive for this removal? Being quite upset about the removal of this trail section which occurred for no apparent reason, I requested the public records for this activity to find out it cost $15,000 to remove, level and landscape this trail section. This, of course, is not including the labor cost.
This was an unbudgeted project; the funds for this had to be acquired from a Supplemental Appropriations Request.
As a homeowner in Geauga County for 13 years, I can understand “unbudgeted” expenses. I understand some things are unplanned — your furnace breaks in January, you need a new alternator for your car, you have a new medical expense. Those are all acceptable examples of unbudgeted expenses.
However, removal of a section of an all people, handicap-accessible trail at a park my tax dollars paid to put in (and remove) is not acceptable.
Why was this trail removed? Part of the public records request was for a reason for removal. This was not provided.
I believe all county residents and all Sunnybrook visitors would like this mystery solved.
Why was the southern section of Pine Ridge Trail removed?
Amy Firem
Claridon
Parks Offer Refuge
Others have written to you about the travesty that has embarked upon the Geauga Park Systems, i.e. hunting, trapping, the threat of oil and gas drilling (fracking), All Terrain Vehicles (ATV’s), snowmobiling, shooting ranges, logging, etc., which cause soil, air, water and noise pollution, as if we don’t have more than enough of that already.
This all came about with the change in the Bylaws of the Geauga Park District, which was set up to Conserve, Preserve and Protect.
The change was initiated by Probate Judge Timothy Grendell and his appointed Board of Directors, none of whom have experience in conservation.
This change came about without public input or discussion. The taxpayers supported each levy proposed because they passionately supported the mission of the parks. The majority of taxpayers do not want these changes.
I am a mental health therapist and know the necessity of a place for people to go to experience the stillness, solitude and beauty of nature. I know a parent of an autistic child who brings his child into nature to quiet his restlessness, crying and fussiness when nothing else can calm him. This illustrates only one example what nature does to mind, body and spirit.
The sounds of ATV’s, shooting, logging, sports activities, etc. would eliminate a refuge for those desperately needing what our beautiful parks can and should provide to those in need — that means all of us.
We all need the quietude for our mental health and stability in these troubled and dangerous times.
We, the people, are asking the Board to rescind the current bylaws and reinstate the original bylaws.
Jerol Kennedy R. N., L.I.S.W.
Auburn
