Letters to Editor
Quick, Wonderful Reponse
My husband and I are very sorry for the delay in thanking the Chardon Senior Center, especially Sherie and Bob, for the quick and wonderful responses and help that was given to us in our desperate time of need being without water.
When we were told you have the best, you were absolutely correct. The wonderful young man, Jeff, that you sent out was fantastic. He knew what to do and he did it very professionally, and was very pleasant. Within two and a half hours after arriving, we had water. What a wonderful feeling.
I have been very ill, so that is the reason for the delay for this letter in thanking you.
So, once again, we thank you very, very much for all of your help and concern.
Bob and Norma Bolos
Burton
Dedication and Service
How wonderful to read Brian C. Johnston’s response to residents’ concerns regarding proposed amendments to the Geauga Park District bylaws.
It was my personal experience that previous park district officials did not respond with such compassion or respect, as did Mr. Johnston.
Brian Johnston showed great leadership in recognizing that there is a broad perspective that needs to be recognized and addressed in a thoughtful and balanced manner. He understands the need to support conservation efforts while providing essential recreational opportunities for all members of our community.
Under the direction of Judge Timothy Grendell, the Geauga Park District has become user friendly and open to all residents, not just the few who enjoyed private privileges or those who benefited financially from grandiose land purchase deals.
I’m grateful to Geauga Park Commissioners Lou Mucci, Mary Ruth Shumway and Brian Johnston for their dedication and service, true service, to the residents of Geauga County.
Judy K. Zamlen-Spotts
Chester
Bewildering
There has been a bewildering array of contradictory information coming from Judge Timothy Grendell and his minions about the Geauga Park District.
They claim that late in 2013 there was an unacceptable overage of millions of dollars in the park budget. Then, in February of 2014, they claim there was a budget deficit of $1.9 million. In August of 2014, the unacceptable multimillion dollar “overage” was back, so they had to request a levy suspension. Wow, that is odd. How can that be?
Now, after getting the levy suspended due to the “overage,” they say they need to save money by eliminating some staff and cutting the salaries of others.
Odd that the positions removed were communications and development. Wouldn’t you think you would want to have a development director if you needed funds? I would, unless my real goal was to defund the organization.
Would you not want a communications director in the midst of such turmoil? I would, unless I wanted to hide something.
They claim that they want to be responsible with the budget, but then spend $50,800 on sports equipment without even checking to see if there are deed restrictions or other conditions that preclude the use of the equipment.
And talk about irresponsible use of funds, they spent $16,000 on a report done with the purpose of discrediting the staff and slandering a director who was already gone. This report is, by the board’s own admission, largely useless.
The board seems to be unable to explain these strange contradictions. Could it be because they are not making the decisions? Could it be that they are only puppets for a vindictive and Machiavellian judge?
Kathryn Hanratty
Chardon
Fear and Intimidation
As an active user of the Geauga Park District, especially The West Woods Nature Center, I take issue with the “O’Brien Report” assessor’s comments made about the past GPD leadership.
While reading the report, available at Geauga County libraries, I thought it was describing the current spirit and morale of personnel under the so-called “leadership” of Judge Grendell and the current park board: “Significant fear and intimidation … tension and uncertainty has contributed to a serious lack of trust … some are scrambling to generate job security.”
This is tangibly felt with the recent dismissal of three long-termed, dedicated employees.
A “family” spirit and atmosphere existed among the personnel and guests of the park prior to the radical changes made by Grendell and his chosen board. Now there is fear, intimidation, lack of trust and definitely uncertainty with decisions being made by the board.
One never knows who is watching and/or listening, wondering what is going to happen next. It’s like walking on thin ice, waiting for it to crack.
I’d like to know how the assessor stacks up on the same assessment tool. On several occasions, in contacts with her, I must say she definitely was not “amiable” and demonstrated an extreme domineering presence and threat.
Life, love and joy are being drained from dedicated GPD personnel. How can this be restored? How can peacefulness and beauty be restored in Geauga County?
Evelyn L. Boehnlein
Munson
Way Out of Line
I attended the park board meeting Sept. 9 at the Meyer Center in Big Creek Park with the three commissioners present. I heard lots of talk about education and naturalist programs not being cut from the budget. I was pleased to hear that because our children need to learn the beauty and diversity of the nature in our parks, and how it effects all living people and animals outside of Geauga County.
Geauga Park District is not just for the residents of Geauga. The Geauga parks make a very big difference in keeping water, air and erosion down so everyone will benefit from nature’s way of cleaning.
I, however, did not hear how the budgetin its now present condition. Will the trails and parking lots, and all the amenities be kept up with this levy cut that has been proposed and acted upon?
It’s there additional money for property purchases and if one of the buildings or a truck needs repair? If one of the rangers’ vehicles need repair for their everyday duties are there funds set a side for these repairs?
I also did not hear that the bylaws at this time are going to be changed back to the original way they were written.
I understand the vouchers need to be preapproved for payment now. I also see this is part of the taking away from the judgment of the director, who, with the changes being made, will not have hardly any power. He will more or less just be a question and answer man. Guess he won’t have to be paid as much and that will save some more money for the park, which, of course, they really need to keep track of since the levy collection was curtailed by the park and auditors.
I also did not like the fact that so much of the blame was passed back to previous employees and commissioners. They were identified by name and also by the numbers involved according to Mr. Mucci. I felt this was way out of line. If there were any errors made in past years, he should in my mind go on and not make the same mistake the second time. If there was an error, which I don’t believe there could be with all the checks and balances that the paperwork has to go through, then Mr. Mucci should learn from previous acts.
I did not come away from the meeting with a wonderful feeling of accomplishment. There were many, many questions that we did not have time to have voiced. So, as far as the bylaws getting changed back to original, we don’t know when or if they will be at this time.
Joy Keco
Bainbridge
Geauga Learn Program
Thanks to the volunteer efforts of numerous individuals, 684 Geauga County sixth-graders attended The Great Geauga County Fair on Aug. 28, for presentations on agriculture, Geauga County military and history, earth science and outdoors.
The student day was part of the Geauga Learn Program.
Special thanks to all of the following who made Geauga Learn Day another great success: Geauga County Fair Board, Geauga Park District, Howard Bates/Arms Trucking, Congressman David Joyce, State Rep. John Patterson, John A. Ralph, Geauga Soil & Water Conservation, Chardon Giant Eagle, Chardon Home Depot, Probate/Juvenile Court Staff, Geauga County Farm Bureau, Veterans’ Service Commission, Judge Diane Grendell, Senator John Eklund, Geauga County Historical Society, Scott Denamen/ODNR, Geauga Bowmen, Sunrise Springs Water Co., Tracy Jemison, Hambden Grange & Volunteers, American Legion Posts 663/459, Geauga County Sheriff’s, Senator Capri Cafaro, Helen Schering, Sage’s Apples, Eddy’s Fruit Farm, Mary Yoder’s and KMI Printing.
Through the Geauga Learn Program, this excellent opportunity for our youth to learn about our county’s rich history and The Great Geauga County Fair could not happen without the efforts of these wonderful people and organizations.
Judge Tim Grendell
Probate/Juvenile Court
Willing Learners?
At the meeting of Geauga Park District Board of Commissioners on Sept. 9, I did not have an opportunity to ask a question before the commissioners brought the public comment section of the meeting to a close.
If I had been granted a turn at the podium, I would have first offered a comment for board President Mary Ruth Shumway.
Earlier in the meeting, Shumway told the audience a very special piece of beautiful and pristine property had become available for purchase in Geauga County.
In her opinion, this property that she called the Weldon Gorge would be a fitting addition to Geauga Parks lands. However, she also stated she did not feel she and the other commissioners could take the steps to purchase this property, even though funds are available, until she sees the results of a county survey that has not yet begun and will not be completed before next February.
I would have stated to Mrs. Shumway that she and the board do indeed have the power and the support of Geauga residents to make that purchase. The results of a 2008 county survey, conducted by an independent agency, revealed that 91 percent of residents have a favorable or strongly favorable opinion of Geauga Parks and 57 percent believed any new park lands should be conserved, not developed.
To me, this reads like an endorsement of our Geauga Parks’ legacy of protecting, preserving and conserving natural areas in our county, and the board may proceed in the same direction with confidence and the blessing of the Geauga public.
Also, I would have asked the commissioners if they know how many species of moths are found in Geauga County (the answer is 580 species). Then, I would have asked if they were aware that 15 moth species are found only in Geauga County and nowhere else in Ohio.
These questions may seem frivolous and trivial, but they get to the heart of the purpose of Geauga Parks and the reason that our park district exists: conservation.
Many rare and uncommon species of insects, plants, fish, amphibians and birds are found in Geauga Parks, precisely because Geauga Park District has focused on protecting, preserving and conserving important and rare habitats, including the headwaters of the Chagrin, Grand and Cuyahoga rivers.
This is the proper role of the Geauga Park District Board of Commissioners, not trying to assure the public has more active recreation sites, something better carried out by municipalities.
Sadly, this board seems to be confused about their own role and authority, as well as the mission and function of Geauga Parks. Perhaps this is because Judge Tim Grendell effectively erased institutional memory when he replaced the entire board in recent months and dismissed the park district executive director.
Grendell then created his own narrative about recent Geauga Parks history and imposed his own mission and agenda on this unsuspecting board. The board could remedy the situation by doing some homework, by looking to sources other than Grendell, but are they willing learners?
Kathleen O. Webb
Munson
