Protect Geauga Parks welcomes Bill Gertz to the Geauga Park District board.We hope that Mr. Gertz's appointment will help usher in a new spirit of…
Protect Geauga Parks welcomes Bill Gertz to the Geauga Park District board.
We hope that Mr. Gertz’s appointment will help usher in a new spirit of cooperation, transparency and respect between the Geauga Park District Board and the public.
We have not met Mr. Gertz yet, but believe his long record of public service has been and will continue to be an asset to Geauga County.
We hope the following will set a foundation for future interactions between the Geauga Park District Board and the citizens whom they serve:
Recognition by all parties that we all want what is best for the Park.
Understanding that the land protected within the Geauga Park District is vitally important to clean air, clean water, wildlife habitat, erosion control, peace and tranquility and the value of our properties.
Respect for the fact that our county park districts were created for the purpose of preservation and conservation of fast disappearing natural resources and that the parks underpin the environmental health of the entire county.
We hope that we can agree on one set of standards by which every use of park land is determined. It’s the use compatible with the primary mission of Conservation — has a scientific and unbiased Environmental Impact Study been completed? It’s the use necessary — has due diligence been done to assure this is not a duplication of services already available in the county? It’s the use fiscally responsible when factors such as increased park liability, more staff and ranger or maintenance hours are factored?
The specific goals of the group ‘Protect Geauga Parks’ are listed below. We hope that all will agree that these goals reflect a very reasonable and thoughtful process for good government.
1. Revoke the current bylaws and reinstate the pre-July 2014 bylaws to be in effect until a new rewrite of the bylaws is completed.
2. Reinstate in the bylaws the primary mission of the Parks is to Preserve, Conserve and Protect the natural beauty and resources of Geauga County for future generations and to educate the public while making the parks reasonably available to all people.
3. Require that the Board and Park personnel conduct all business related to the use, disposal or acquisition of Park property in an open forum giving respect to and consideration of public comment.
All Park activities must be compatible with and enhance the mission to preserve, conserve and protect.
4. Any and all surveys and polls of the public about the use of or activities allowed on public land should be done by a professional, unbiased organization, the methodology should mirror that of the 2008 poll and results should be evaluated professionally.
5. Revise the authority of the Park staff and executive director position to make these positions appealing to very qualified candidates.
6. Work with state and local officials and other interested parties to revise state law to make park boards more accountable to the public.
Kathryn Hanratty
On behalf of Protect Geauga Parks
