Letters to Editor
Very Jovial Guy
Have you ever met Judge Tim Grendell? I hope I don’t embarrass him by saying this, but meeting Judge Grendell is truly a pleasure. He’s a very jovial guy, yet he can be firm, especially when it comes to the law.
I’ve known the judge for several years. I know it’s hard for him to understand how a person can be so disrespectful. To have a woman, such as Nancy McArthur, who should know better, interfering in such a disrespectful way could put a child’s life at risk making the judge’s job harder, eating up his precious time. Of course he would react like a judge who cares about the children and families of which he will have to pass judgment. He does care.
His position in the juvenile court system is more than a job. For Judge Grendell, working with children and their families is a calling.
The dispute between Nancy McArthur, chairwoman for the Geauga County Republican Party and also a Chardon Township Trustee, began when Judge Grendell discovered that McArthur had intentionally interfered in a child protective custody case.
According to the Maple Leaf, Judge Grendell stated that McArthur undermined the judge’s authority by telling a litigant that he misuses and misinterprets the law to please himself. Going even further, this chairwoman encouraged the litigant to continue making trouble and to “kick the judge while he’s down.”
And our judges, to be men and women of integrity, one of McArthur’s final statements was,”I wish he would go away, but for now we are stuck with him.” Tim Grendell.
Sharon Haynes
Chardon
Editor’s Note: Nancy McArthur is not a Chardon Township trustee. She is a City of Chardon councilwoman.
Gratuitous Swipe
I read with interest Mr. Oros’ recent letter regarding the park’s very successful Frozen Fest. These kinds of programs are great. Over many years, I have taken my children and now my grandchildren to these kinds of events.
This park staff is first class and excellent at these events. These are events that ensure strong future support for the park. They should be commended for their dedication and hard work.
Unfortunately, Mr. Oros chose this well-deserved celebratory occasion to take a gratuitous swipe at people who want to insure that this kind of program can continue without gun ranges, snowmobiles and other noisy activities competing in the background.
All we are asking is that the time-tested standard that park activities be compatible with preserving, protecting and conserving this gem for these children and their children.
Meanwhile, Mr. Oros cannot explain why illegal trapping and hunting is going on at Burton Wetlands. He apparently told the News Herald that it was because he “accidentally” failed to renew older permission he had from ODNR.
Such a document was not in materials given under a public document request. I have asked him for a copy and look forward to receiving it.
This is the man who had the monarch butterfly field turned into a ball field, had the only handicapped accessible trail removed, demeaned this fine park staff by reading “Green Eggs and Ham” to them at a staff meeting, and now is interviewing to be the executive director.
Ed Buckles
Troy Township
Open Season on Animals?
I have questions about trapping in Geauga Park District: Why was the trapping (and hunting) responsibility removed from the GPD Natural Resources Management team and given to the GPD Ranger Department?
And for the seven 2014-15 trapping permits in Geauga Park District, why wasn’t a specific location in each park noted for trapping? Why wasn’t a specific nuisance animal listed (except for one permit which noted raccoon)? Why was trapping allowed in parks that were not even listed as having nuisance animals? And, lastly, why was trapping allowed in a State Nature Preserve (Burton Wetlands) which is against state rules? The way these unsigned trapping permits are written it seems that any animal is open to trapping anywhere in the listed park.
So, are the policies of the parks and laws of the state being followed consistently — for everyone? Are the records available to the public to show this to be true? Are there records anywhere that show the number of animals targeted for removal? Are the specific places where those animals have been shown to be a nuisance listed?
Are trappers only allowed to trap in the targeted areas? How is this monitored? When the number of animals targeted has been achieved is the season stopped? How is this done? How is it monitored?
Are there records of the numbers and types of animals caught recorded? It’s the location where they have been taken recorded? If not, why not?
If it is “yes” to any of these questions, can you please show us the documents that prove this? Or is it open season on any and all animals anywhere?
John Oros, deputy director and “acting” executive director of the Geauga Park District, is hoping to be permanently named executive director. But Oros has shown he is not up to the job. At a recent GPD board meeting, Oros was asked about the illegal trapping in Burton Wetlands and, though it is a part of his own park system, Oros wasn’t aware of Burton Wetlands status as a State Nature Preserve. Oros had to ask a member of the audience who had previously managed the GPD Natural Resources Management who confirmed the status.
The trouble with Oros is that he cannot even handle trapping in the GPD in a way that is both ethical and follows standard procedure, including noting specific animals to be removed for specific nuisance reasons.
Lastly, Oros denies that there is trapping using leg hold traps, but that is how one traps raccoons. While it isn’t illegal under ODNR standards, it is unethical to lie. Geauga Park District and the taxpayers of Geauga County need someone who is not clueless about the park system and can handle the job in an ethical manner.
Katherine Malmquist
South Russell
Event Success Doesn’t Prove Park Value
Interim Geauga Park Director John Oros is justifiably proud of their recent Frozen Fest at Westwoods. Many families were no doubt happy to take their children to a popular Disney-themed event in a natural setting, without having to go to a mall. A success in terms of numbers, the event attracted 1,700 people by the park’s estimate.
Let’s not get confused; counting the number of people attending a special event or program may measure the success of that event, but it does not begin to assess the value of the park district. Thinking about the attendance at this one event brings to mind the number of Geauga residents who benefit from our Geauga parks every day, seven days a week, year after year. All 93,000 residents of Geauga County enjoy the high quality of clean water and air provided by the forests and wetlands protected by Geauga parks.
This fact is something to think about for anyone who feels they do not use Geauga parks because their favorite activity isn’t offered on park land. Though we may not give much thought to the many ecosystem services provided directly or indirectly by park lands, they are priceless and they have value.
The estimated total value of benefits to our welfare and well-being provided freely by the conservation lands in our park system is over $15.8 million per year. From this perspective, our county property tax dollars leverage a lot of bang for the buck. Pop culture fads come and go, but the benefits of preserving, conserving and protecting park lands have been realized by generations before us and will continue to benefit future generations.
Oros and park staff deserve kudos for their special event, and for their many educational programs and appropriate recreational activities. We owe our deepest gratitude to the men and women who established Geauga Park District and those who continue to preserve, conserve and protect over more than fifty years.
Kathleen O. Webb
Munson Township
