Letters to Editor
Speak Up to Power
We are writing to express our appreciation for all those who use their time and talent to write letters to the editor. These letters inform us and often say what we would like to say, but have a hard time putting into words.
I am writing in reference to two letters that appeared in the Jan. 22, 2015, issue of the Maple Leaf and the Courier. The letter from Ed Buckles expresses concerns that many of us who are involved in the Protect our Parks have. There are not just one or two persons that feel this way.
I do hope that young people will follow Mr. Buckles example and speak up to power, even if this action is not always graciously received.
Thank you, Ed, for your letter and your commitment.
We were so very glad to read the letter from Kathy Flora in which she explained her idea of the word “uses” and how the parks are of such great value even if we do not step foot in them as the purpose of the Geauga County Parks is to protect our water, wildlife, air and quality of life.
There are other parks set up for recreational activities.
Catherine & Elbert Whitright
Munson Township
Saving Money, Spending Money
Juvenile/Probate Judge Timothy Grendell hired a new budget coordinator/county liaison employee for approximately $52,000.00 per year.
The late Judge Chip Henry never needed a budget coordinator/county liaison.
Why do taxpayers need to pay for this new position? The court already has a fiscal officer being paid $60,760 a year. Just because Grendell thinks he saved the taxpayers money cutting the Geauga Park District funds he should not think he has this money to spend in his courtroom.
The judge erred by leaving Tom Curtin’s position empty, then firing three key park personnel. One was responsible for getting grants written, one was in public relations and another helped to locate property that would fit into our natural parks.
This is not a great way to save money by removing the backbone of some park departments.
One park levy renewed in 2005 by the supporters of the Geauga Park District was suspended by the judge, who said the park had too much money it didn’t need.
None of the new commissioners on the park board knew how to budget the money. Several park personnel tried to explain to the auditor why there was this extra money, but not one of the commissioners or the judge would listen.
So there was money sitting in limbo that they should have put in a planned budget.
So far, I have seen the judge threaten county Auditor Frank Gilha with jail. Grendell also has pulled two payments for $6,666.66, for an “external services evaluation” done by Mary Ruth Shumway, who is president of the park commissioners. The total of this report cost $9,999.99. Why this amount I wonder? Does the $10,000.00 figure require approval?
I ask, “Why does Judge Grendell need more money for his court in funds and new employees, but needs to cut funding and well qualified personnel from the Geauga Park District?”
As far as I read the laws, the judge is suppose to appoint qualified park board commissioners and then let them do their jobs.
Joy Keco
Bainbridge Township
Complete Picture
I saw your article today (Jan. 22) and wanted to thank you for including my job description, as that should provide more understanding of the many facets of the position and how it stands to benefit the court, Geauga County taxpayers and departmental relations within the county.
I also appreciate that you mentioned my ties to Newbury, establishing my visceral understanding of the needs and desires of Geauga County residents, as I am a product of Geauga County.
I’d like to respectfully make one suggestion; merely stating that I’m a graduate of Newbury High School implies to the reader two things:
1) They may think I am a recent graduate, fresh out of high school, with no experience, when in reality I graduated from Newbury High School 16 years ago, in 1999, and have since acquired over 10 years of experience in business administration, and
2) They may think high school is my highest level of education, when in reality I graduated from the Honors College at Kent State University, in 2002, with a BA in psychology and a minor in business.
It would be prudent to include these facts next time, as I have no doubt the goal is to provide complete information for the residents of Geauga County and not to inadvertently create more questions.
Also, my parents still live in Newbury, in the home in which I grew up, so that could be another important tidbit to help create a more complete picture.
Kimberly Laurie
Budget Coordinator / County Liaison
Geauga County Probate Juvenile Court
Editor’s Note: The Geauga County Maple Leaf emailed the juvenile/probate court on Jan. 20 seeking a written response to several basic questions: (1) Why does the court believe it needs a budget coordinator/county liaison? (2) Was the position advertised? How many people applied? How many people were interviewed? (3) How was Kim Laurie identified as the right person for the job? The court told the Maple Leaf that, “Judge will not be able to respond by your deadline.” Judge Tim Grendell was out of the country on vacation; however, Court Adminstrator David Lubecky was provided a copy of the email.
Highly Dangerous
I came back to Geauga County with my wife and two children a little over two years ago from North Carolina. I was just becoming politically active when I lost my job due to cutbacks because of the Affordable Care Act.
My wife, Tracy, is a graduate of Chardon High School and a former Topperette. Seventeen years ago, when we were married on the Chardon square, I promised her that when the time was right we would return to Chardon so she could care for her parents as they got older. This was evidently the time.
I am writing today to the people of Geauga County about something that has recently begun to take root here. It is a highly dangerous form of leadership that when followed only leads to the worst type of divisive segregation of society you can imagine.
It is a form of leadership that is easy to fall in line with and whispers to you the things that will make you nod in agreement without putting to much thought into what is being said. It is leadership through the use of emotional blackmail.
Skip Claypool is just such a leader, as he has already shown in his very short time as a commissioner. It began last week with Skip’s gross display of disrespect for Blake Rear in self-appointing himself as president of the Board of Commissioners (despite his lack of experience) with the help of Ralph Spidalieri and the blatantly manufactured “argument” between Blake and Judge Tim Grendell.
This alleged argument, which Grendell manufactured, was all for Skip’s benefit to maneuver him into the top leadership role so the judge can have control of the board through Mr. Spidalieri and Mr. Claypool, and clearly shows that Mr. Claypool’s allegiance is to his friends and cronies, not the people of Geauga County. But more on that later.
Tonight I received an “update” from Skip’s version of the Tea Party. The update was about the pending survey going out to students of the West Geauga Schools that Mr. Claypool has already discussed with the Mental Health Board and didn’t get the answers he wanted.
The language used is flagrantly wrought with emotional overtones to urge people to react with few facts. It begins, “Meeting about outrageous questions on West Geauga school survey.” It then continues, “At the request of a number of angry citizens, the Mental Health Board is holding this meeting.”
It is the use of this type of emotionally manipulative language that put Mr. Claypool on the ballot and which he will continue to use on the people of Geauga County to sway their opinions and votes.
It is the worst type of leadership because Mr. Claypool and those like him will urge you to make decisions based on your emotions. His language is clearly designed to push an emotional agenda. “The Outrageous questions … At the request of a number of angry citizens” using emotional language to urge us to action without any background or detail.
It is this type of irresponsible leadership that Mr. Claypool claimed he wanted to do away with when he ran for office. Since I’ve come to Geauga County, I’ve seen firsthand the type of partisan, extremist and disrespectful behavior that Mr. Claypool has brought to the process of government.
It is behavior that I have not seen anywhere else in politics for good reason. It is because it is dangerous and irresponsible to make important decisions based on emotional responses; and we, as the larger community, need to be especially wary of leadership that urges us to react and vote emotionally as Mr. Claypool does.
None of us make important decisions based on our emotions when it comes to our families, our careers or our finances. We make them based on sound logic and facts, not emotions.
It may be that the survey is something that many of you find outrageous, but that is for you to decide, not Mr. Claypool and his friends, and certainly with a great deal more facts and knowledge than just one man’s opinion of what is good for you and your children.
However, Skip’s intent was to energize his base and get them to turn out and express their outrage since this was sent only to them and not the larger Geauga community. They want to have a voice; they don’t really care if you are heard if you disagree with them and their motives.
I would urge them to keep in mind that they are not the only members of the Geauga County Community. Leadership and governance is about representation of all the members of the community, not just those whose opinions you find palatable and those people you approve of.
It would do you well to remember that, Mr. Claypool, starting today.
Rob Allen
Claridon Township
Who Runs the Parks?
In reference to the invitation issued by Judge Grendell in the paper on Jan. 23, 2015:
With all due respect, I decline the invitation to meet with Judge Grendell, individually, in the probate/juvenile court on Feb. 7.
My reasons for declining this invitation are:
First and foremost, does the judge run the Geauga Park District or does the Geauga Park District board? If the GPD board runs the park, what is the purpose of the judge’s meeting?
I believe that, at best, this meeting would be just one more opportunity for the judge to impose his viewpoint, a viewpoint which, I believe, has been covered quite completely in his newspaper ads — paid for by court funds — his lengthy editorials in the Geauga Park District newsletters — paid for by taxpayers — and in the letter sent to me, personally, on official court letterhead. The intent of the letter seemed to be to intimidate me into relinquishing my right to freedom of speech.
This letter also makes me question the motivation behind the invitation, since in his letter he stated, “Why would anyone want to pursue communication with close-minded, disrespectful and disingenuous individuals.”
Does this invitation mean that he has changed his assessment? If not, why does he want to meet with me?
Could it be that such a one- on-one meeting, in his court and away from the light of public scrutiny, opens me to potential contempt of court charges if I dared to make statements that contradict his opinions? This does seem to be a recurring theme with the judge.
Or, is this meeting designed to be a divide and conquer exercise? One-on-one meetings with no witnesses seems to be a good place to make promises that will not be kept.
I am only one of a large and growing group that believes in true conservation of our parks for the future, transparency and effectiveness in the governance of the parks, and assuring that in the future no one person has such uninhibited power over our county park districts.
I expect that political ‘hay’ will be made of the fact that few in this group are willing to meet under the confines of the criteria set by this “invitation.”
When the judge chooses to meet in a public forum, free of the trappings of the court and clarifies the purpose of the meeting, I will be happy to meet — and I believe that many others will be willing to join in.
Kathryn Hanratty
Chardon Township
Shame on the Court
On Sunday, Jan. 25, a meeting sponsored by Protect Geauga Parks (PGP) was well attended by over 90 people. The subject was the social, physical, psychological, environmental and economic benefits of parks in general and the Geauga parks in particular.
The material will appear on the website of protectgeaugaparks.us shortly.
It was based on a report presented free of charge by a international consulting company to the Park Board almost two years ago and confirms the spectacular benefits of this Park system. Unfortunately, these benefits are now being threatened, as this report is ignored by the Board.
If you wonder why the Geauga Probate Court is asking for an estimated $800,000 budget increase and if you are wondering where your estimated $20 annual savings on the Park levy suspension is going, perhaps I can help. Attending the meeting were Mr. Ralph and Ms. Laurie, the Probate Court’s constable and park liaison representative, respectively — unique positions created by the Geauga Probate Court.
Ms. Laurie videotaped the meeting, presumably for the Court. Because PGP meetings are open to all who are interested in the Parks, because speaker did not object, the sponsors, after advising the attendees, did not object.
Since the organization videos its meetings, perhaps it could save the Court money by sending a copy to the Court? Do you prefer your tax dollars be spent on maintaining the Parks or on monitoring your fellow citizens?
Whether you agree with the goals of PGP — passive recreation, strong environmental leadership, transparent management, and state reform — or not, if you perceive this, as I do, as a heavy-handed attempt to intimidate an active, committed citizens’ group, you should be enraged.
Park employees and their families, Park volunteers, people who may have business with the Juvenile or Probate Court, people who want to learn but don’t necessarily want to be identified as part of a group, ordinary citizens, all may not wish to be on camera to be reviewed by a prying government and may choose not come to these events. Shame on such a government.
If you are angry and believe this conduct is outrageous, there are steps you can take: write this newspaper; write the Honorable Judge Timothy Grendell; contact the Ohio Ethics Commission; review the Code of Judicial Conduct; and contact the Ohio Supreme Court. Many of the forms and addresses are on the above website or can be gotten off the Internet.
On the other hand, I assume Mr. Ralph was present to protect Ms. Laurie from a rowdy group of anarchists. Since I am almost 68 years old, I feel complimented that I can still be considered rowdy.
Ed Buckles
Troy Township
