Letters to Editor
Somebody Needs to Speak Up
I am writing because sometimes somebody just has to speak up. I think the vast majority of us are those famous silent majority individuals. Total silence, however, lets a few squeaky wheels attack and attack without consequences. They think they can make up any story because no one will speak up.
Well, I’m speaking up. I was very ashamed to see Bernie Mandel’s letter to the editor attacking Mr. Kilroy for writing a “thank you” letter about the school board picking a good candidate for out school district.
My children are in the school district. I have seen Mr. Mandel write letters for almost 10 year attacking anyone who dared run against his “friends” on the old board. This just isn’t right or fair.
If you are new to the West Geauga district, you need to know that there is a lot of bad, old politics that need to go away around here. This is about children, not politics.
All I know is my children have iPads and Smartboards, Wi-Fi and new computers since Mr. Kilroy joined the board. Mr. Kilroy raised money and donated a lot of his own money to make our schools better with technology. Just ask the elementary principals who made their buildings better and they will tell you Mr. Kilroy.
Mr. Kilroy also helped make sure our taxes for our district were properly accounted for. Even after Mr. Kilroy left the board, he gave $100,000 more for our football field. Thank you, Mr. Kilroy, for all you have done.
Mr. Mandel, if you can do better, then run for the school board. Stop attacking a good man who has done so much to make our district better. The past is over and done. Let’s move forward and support those whoa re doing things to help West G return to the top.
Kevin Higgins
Chester Township
Safe for Animals
Geauga Parks should be a safe place for animals.
No one should be allowed to hunt or trap animals for sport, recreation or profit in Geauga Parks.
Alternatives should be considered before a “nuisance” animal is killed.
Pat and John Leech
Newbury Township
Russell Land Acquisition
Nearly two years ago, the Russell Township Trustees and Fiscal Officer held a series of Town Hall meetings to inform residents that due to the loss of estate tax and reduction of local government revenues, the township’s then rate of expenditures would dangerously consume township carry over funds and place the township in financial strain by January 2015.
At that time, the township asked voters to replace approximately 50 percent of the lost revenue through levies and in turn committed to make up the shortfall through cost savings measures, consolidation of departments, and outsourcing initiatives, which would permit the township to continue servicing the community at the same or better levels.
The residents of Russell stepped up and approved the two most significant levies in the fall of 2013.
In meeting their commitment, the Board of Trustees and Fiscal Officer, together with all Russell employees worked to reduce township costs in all departments, consolidated the maintenance department into the road department, outsourced several township operations to local companies, and improved internal procedures and methodologies resulting in substantial ongoing savings.
In addition, the township has offered residents increased operational transparency and made substantial capital improvements to several township properties which were long overdue.
Today, the township remains on firm financial ground and continues to evaluate the way it performs its business in order to offer improved services that best utilize taxpayer money and reflects the goals and priorities as communicated by the voters.
Part of our responsibility also includes continuing to plan for and move toward the future needs and requirements of the township and the services we provide or hope to provide. We personally believe that the proposed acquisition of the vacant commercial land next to the police station is a prudent step forward toward securing future options for centralization, modernization, or expansion of township services.
This acquisition would be paid for from ongoing savings realized in the general fund and is part of long term strategic plans which include more options for community based services and events.
I applaud my fellow Trustees for continuing this tradition of leadership and I encourage Russell residents to take this opportunity to offer their opinions, encouragements, ideas or concerns about this acquisition during the public comment period at a township trustees meeting or via a call or email to any township trustee or the fiscal officer prior to April 3, 2015.
Justin Madden, Trustees
Chuck Walder, Fiscal Officer
Russell Township
Time to Put Up
I’m very saddened to see that just writing a simple thank you letter to WG for picking a great superintendent causes Bernie Mandel to write another one of his personal attacks against me.
I’m not a public official. As a private citizen, I don’t have to stand for these attacks. People need to know that Mandel is not a casual writer to the newspaper. He is politically very active and, over the years, has written many of these types of letters.
But this crosses political boundaries. This bad blood toward me has a long history. It’s time to stop these personal attacks. This is about children and education, not some personal grudge.
If Mandel has such strong WG feelings, he should run for the school board. He should put himself under the same scrutiny that candidates undergo. Casting stones from the sidelines is easy to do. WG needs people with ideas, not wanton vitriol. Our community needs healing, not this sort of shenanigans.
I also understand what AP courses stand for. Mandel attacks me for wanting them and then says they are of major import for the children. Seems hypocritical to me. I appreciate higher education and was fortunate to attend an Ivy league college. I have some idea of what it takes to give children a “chance” to have their applications have a “chance” at better colleges.
Lastly, WG fell from #20 to #61 in Ohio. That is a fact. Saying it’s just “perceived” by me is only a protection of old friends. WG needed help and wasn’t “best” anymore.
I’m not “doom and loom,” just a realist. I stepped up and helped fix problems as the voters twice elected me to do. Mandel’s friends were voted out, some by landslides votes. Maybe that’s the problem.
But this is about education, not politics. I helped raise almost $1 million in gifts for WG. I tried to help WG even after leaving the board. I hope donating $100,000 for the football field after I left office shows I still care for WG.
So run for the school board Mandel. Time to put up! To the readers, remember to take what Mandel says with a grain of salt, maybe a cup of salt. WG needs healing and creativity to move forward. So let’s put the past behind and start now.
Michael Kilroy
Chester Township
