Headed in Wrong DirectionA few weeks ago, we went to…
Headed in Wrong DirectionA few weeks ago, we went to a program at Observatory Park. Observatory Park is part of our Geauga park system. We…
Headed in Wrong Direction
A few weeks ago, we went to a program at Observatory Park. Observatory Park is part of our Geauga park system. We were impressed with both the evening’s programs and the facility.
Observatory Park is a center for science and astronomy. We were amazed at how captivated the kids at the program were with the science of astronomy and how eager they were to participate. We feel many more programs like these should be offered on a regular basis.
As we walked around the grounds, we saw a small wall with the names of so many people who contributed to help build this park. We are grateful for the vision of former Park Director Tom Curtin and his guidance from Judge Charles “Chip” Henry for conceiving and then making this great park a reality.
Now the park has only a few programs a month and a part time staffer. We live very close to this park and when we drive down to see what is happening, the buildings are closed.
Worse, the park has adopted a really bad idea. They have made this particular park available for snowmobiling in the winter. It seems the park district is headed off in the wrong direction.
Observatory Park is an incredible facility. Let’s use it to promote science and nature studies for our kids.
Tony and Shirley Erjavec
Montville Township
‘Hobsen’s Choice’
I’m sure virtually all of you citizens will be surprised to learn there will be a special election on Aug. 2 for a new Cardinal Schools levy and a new Parkman road levy.
The school levy will be a continuing levy that will not come up for renewal, but will just go on and on forever. It’s not really news why these special elections regularly pop up with most citizens not knowing about them.
Typically, the levy proponents know they can get their friends out on special election day and thus have a better chance of passing their levies. The cost for this special election will be about $16,000, per the auditor’s office, and the two entities will have to pay this out of our tax dollars proportioned between the schools and the township. They say they are in fiscal straits, but they have no problem coming up with $16.000 of our taxes to pay for a special election.
Frankly, I think this a subversion of the democratic process. The school district and township typically have an opportunity twice each year to put a levy on the ballot, at no additional cost to taxpayers, and make their case for passage. If the levy does not pass, well, the people have spoken. Right?
I’ve made suggestions in the past about alternatives to constantly increasing property tax levies for roads.
A. The county could take over all township road maintenance. Per folks at the county engineer’s office, our township officials have offered no serious discussion on this issue. If you live on a county road, this levy will have no affect on the maintenance of your road as the county does the maintenance. Would it not make sense to have the county maintain all of them?
B. Gas taxes are a fairer way of paying for road maintenance. Those who drive the most would pay the most to maintain the road. Have our officials made any effort to get Parkman a fairer share of gas taxes? No, in my view.
C. Our trustees could show leadership with the state township association to put pressure on our legislatures to get townships more state income tax funding, gas tax funding, etc. Have they shown leadership here? No, in my view.
D. Our state rep is available once a month at Kent State Geauga to meet with citizens. I’ve suggested our trustees meet together with her regularly to keep the pressure on. Our rep states the three have never met together with her or made any effort to do so.
E. How about letters to the editor from our trustees criticizing the tax policies of our state legislature. Have you ever seen a letter to the editor from any of our trustees? On any subject? I have not.
Our Ohio legislature has been cutting income taxes which mostly benefits their rich friends with the result the legislature has to reduce funding to libraries, townships, schools, etc. They are giving us a hobsen’s choice. If you don’t like it, too bad. Go raise your property taxes.
Tom Hobson was a livery stable owner in England back in the 17th century. If you wanted to rent a horse from him you got the next horse in line or no horse at all. Thus, a hobson’s choice. No real choice other than going to another stable. With our legislators and trustees, who only give us a hobson’s choice, we can tell them how we feel on election day.
I urge you to send them a message Aug. 2 by going to the polls and voting ‘no’ on these two levies. If they continue to offer us only a “hobson’s choice,” then maybe we need new people running our legislature and township.
John G. Augustine
Parkman Township
