News Briefs
2017 Good Deeds Program
The county recorder’s office and probate court, and local attorneys offer a deed review program called “The Good Deeds Program” to help residents better understand probate issues regarding property transfers.
The program is a volunteer deed review process for Geauga County homeowners. It is a countywide effort to help Geauga residents identify whether the form of their present deed will require transfer through the probate court upon death, and to consider less expensive and less time-consuming alternatives to a probate transfer.
The program will be held on two Wednesdays in March (March 8 and March 22) and one Saturday morning (March 18).
Geauga County Recorder Sharon Gingerich’s office will open at 6 p.m. on March 8 and March 22, and 9:30 a.m. on March 18 to allow residents to obtain copies of their deeds.
The recorder’s office will close shortly before the scheduled presentation time.
The presentation will begin at 7 p.m. on the Wednesday evenings and 10:30 a.m. on Saturday morning in Courtroom A of the Geauga County Probate/Juvenile Court, located on the second floor of the Courthouse Annex on Main Street in Chardon.
After the presentation, attorneys will be available to privately discuss your estate matters.
Clerk of Courts Denise Kaminski also will be present to discuss titles for cars and mobile homes.
Light refreshments will be served.
If county offices are closed due to weather issues, the program will be canceled.
For more information, contact county Recorder Sharon Gingerich at 440-279-2021 or recorder@co.geauga.oh.us, or Cheryl Koncler, Geauga County Probate/Juvenile Court, at 440-279-1840 or ckoncler@geaugacourts.org.
Coffee with a Commissioner
Geauga County Commissioner Walter “Skip” Claypool plans to hold a number of “Coffee with a Commissioner” open sessions with residents.
To be held at locations across the county, Claypool said the sessions are to find out what’s happening in the county and to ask questions or offer input.
The first is planned at Buckeye Chocolate Cafe, 510 Water St., Chardon, on Feb. 16, from 9-10 a.m.
Claypool has asked residents email him at wclaypool@co.geauga.oh.us if they plan to attend.
Johnston Named to Mental Health Board
Geauga County Commissioners have appointed Brian Johnston to serve as a volunteer member of the Geauga County Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services through June 30, 2018.
Johnston, a former Burton Village councilman, was sworn in and took the oath of office at the board’s January meeting.
“I’m privileged to have the honor to serve on this board and look forward to serving the residents of Geauga County,” Johnston said.
He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology, an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Criminal Justice and is a licensed Ohio Funeral Director.
Johnston currently serves as a part-time patrolman for the Hunting Valley Police Department, as a trustee for the Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association Executive Board and as a hearing officer for the Geauga County Metropolitan Housing Authority.
He also is a retired sergeant from the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office, a former executive board member of Extended Housing of Lake County and a former interim Geauga Park District commissioner, and has served as an investigator for the Geauga County Coroner’s Office.
Claridon Halts Tree Cutting on Park Property
Claridon Township Trustees on Feb. 6 temporarily halted contracted tree cutting in the township park after a concerned neighboring resident raised questions about the work.
Trustee David Brockway said Feb. 7 that Jason Grossman, who runs a maple sugaring operation on his adjoining land, attended Monday’s trustees meeting.
Grossman told trustees the firm they hired to perform the work, Mountain Run Forestry LLC, had cut 20-30 trees smaller than 16-inches in diameter, the minimum size called for its contract.
Brockway said trustees hired the Southington-based firm to remove trees from Claridon Park that were either seriously damaged or knocked down during several severe storms last year.
After Monday night’s meeting, Brockway said he called Mountain Run Forestry to cease its work until it had marked with paint the trees to be removed.
Brockway said he took his tractor into the park Tuesday and did observe trees that had been cut that appeared to be under 16-inches in diameter.
