Letters to Editor
The Truth About GPD
An emotional attachment to our wonderful Geauga County Parks is understandable, but emotional reactions do not justify misstating or misrepresenting the facts.
Here is the truth about the Geauga County Park District’s current situation:
Geauga County has spent more than $100,000,000 for the acquisition, maintenance and operation of the Geauga County parks.
With more than 9,500 acres of county park land, there is no legitimate reason why thoughtfully selected areas within the parks cannot accommodate the reasonable recreational needs of all Geauga County taxpayers. Most of the park land will remain in its natural condition, including substantial acreage that is not accessible to the residents for preservation/conservation reasons.
Oil and gas drilling, pipelines and logging should not be allowed in any of our county parks. As a state senator, I opposed oil and gas drilling in state parks and I continue to believe that such industrial activities are inappropriate in publicly financed parks.
I anticipate that the Park District’s bylaws will be amended to prohibit such activities.
Based on the Park District’s financial documents, it is a proven fact that the Geauga County Park District is expected to have more than $9,000,000 in the district’s estimated cash balance in 2015. This large cash balance is the result of the current park district board of commissioners and Director John Oros’ good fiscal management.
No previous board approved programs or land acquisitions have been eliminated or unfunded by the current park board. In fact, MORE naturalist programs have been added, as well as additional recreational amenities.
Under the Ohio Constitution, a public body, such as the park district, cannot hoard tax dollars. The Geauga County Budget Commission warned former Director Tom Curtin about this excess cash balance problem in 2013.
Under Ohio law, the park board has the authority to request the temporary suspension of the collection of a voter approved tax levy. The Ohio Supreme Court has ruled that a county budget commission has the legal authority to suspend tax levy collection if the governmental entity has sufficient operating funds.
Suspending collection of the 0.70 mill 1986 park tax levy will have no negative effect on our great county parks or park programs. Most importantly, the park district CAN seek reinstatement of the collection of that levy (which expires in 2025) in the future should those additional tax funds be needed.
Under Ohio law, the fact the voters passed the park levy, while important, is not the determining factor with respect to the issue of collection or the suspension of collection.
First, the prior park administration represented to voters before passage of the 1986 levy that those tax revenues were necessary for the ongoing operation of the park district. This representation turned out to be inaccurate.
Second, under Ohio law, the purpose of the Geauga County Budget Commis-sion is to assure that excess tax revenues collected under a levy are not stockpiled by a public entity if those funds are not needed for current or expected operational purposes. Such adjustment by the budget commission, even with a voter approved levy, is specifically permitted under Ohio law, and as such, does not disenfranchise the vote of the people.
Ohio law creates both a voter tax levy process and county budget commission oversight, with the budget commission as a check and balance for levy collections. Those who argue otherwise simply do not understand Ohio law.
Since our park district will have more than enough operating funds to maintain our excellent parks and park programs in 2015, letting Geauga County taxpayers keep some of their hard earned money for their personal or family needs makes sense. Suspending collection of the park tax levy is not only right, it is the law.
Of course, if some individuals want to give the park district more of their money, they can do so by making a donation to the park district or Geauga Park Foundation.
When all is said and done, Geauga County parks will continue to operate in a manner that preserves and conserves these valuable natural resources while providing appropriate recreational opportunities, with sufficient funds to accomplish all of these purposes.
Timothy J. Grendell
Probate Judge
Preserve Parks as They Are
The new Geauga Park Board has recently made changes to its bylaws, changing the focus of the parks from conserving our natural areas and protecting the habitat and migration routes of our native plants and animals to one focused on the money that can be generated from the use of these properties.
The park district website still states that, “The quality of life in Geauga County is inextricably linked to clean air, clean water and open space,” but some of the activities listed in the bylaws as newly permissible seem to stand in opposition to the founding goals of the park district.
These new commercially-oriented usages are better suited to existing venues in the area and, in some cases, would serve to undermine profits at existing local small businesses.
There’s also a push to stop collecting a voter-approved levy due to what has been cited as an “excessive” savings account. This seems to be political grandstanding, as it saves the average family in Geauga less than $20 a year, but is worrisome as it serves to undermine future funding for the parks. This would create the necessity of money generating activities in the future.
These parks are some of our last common areas and protect our clean air and water and the diversity that our intertwined lives depend on. They provide an invaluable resource to our entire region, which is life itself.
My hope is that the parks are preserved as they are and our local businesses are allowed to thrive without added competition.
Steve Buss
Thompson
Claypool Challenges Status Quo
The press has failed to do its job of reporting news objectively. It has made it almost criminal to be called a member of the “Tea Party.”
When did it become anti-American to want the Constitution of the United States upheld, to want to hold the line on the expanding federal bureaucracy, to want to challenge laws that are usurping our individual liberties or to want to protect the innocent?
It became anti-American when the Tea Party started to challenge the status quo.
Skip Claypool challenges the status quo. He dares to question the way highway funds are distributed and used in Geauga County. He dares to question the motives of unelected bureaucrats from NEOSCC influencing the work at NOACA. He dares to ask why we should expand Medicare when the country can’t pay for the people already on Medicare and Ohio may end up footing the bill.
How radical! What a crazy idea, electing a commissioner who will question, investigate and then make decisions based on the facts.
The Tea Party supports accountable government. We want the taxes paid by the citizens of Geauga County to stay in the county. We want elected officials making decisions for Geauga citizens and do not want unelected bureaucrats from NEOSCC, HUD or the EPA deciding what is best for our county.
We are proud to be members of the Geauga County Tea Party whose only mission is to protect and defend the Constitution, to promote individual liberty and to ask for responsible taxation with representation.
We believe the person running for county commissioner who will best promote these values is Skip Claypool.
Christie Hall
Newbury
Best Theater in Town
I had no idea that by attending the unannounced Park District hearing with the Geauga County Budget Committee today (Aug. 25) I would have a seat at the best theater in town.
It had all the right elements, including what appeared to be a prearranged script.
John Oros played his part as the sacrificial lamb, the budget committee played theirs and, when things started going a bit off script, a suspiciously timed text message from his trusty sidekick seemed to summon Judge Grendell from the wings to help save the day.
The story was that the park board had approved a budget which called for a half-year levy suspension and, instead of advocating for it themselves or asking the very competent seeming CFO to do it, John was sent with their instructions to present it.
Low and behold, and apparently unbeknownst to our clueless Park Board, the levy, for practical reasons, cannot be suspended for less than one full year. So, in a surprise twist, the board did exactly what the Judge’s press release said had happened when he had sent it out a week and a half ago: They suspended it for a year. Ta-dah! A nice, tidy ending.
One cannot help wondering, though, when it was that the board decided on the new budget incorporating the reduced levy or when it was that they requested that John Oros stand in for them and in place of the financial officer, as they have not met since the last budget meeting.
I checked the Park Board meeting schedule to make sure.
One wonders also what role the judge is actually playing here. Other members of the “audience” seemed puzzled also. Unfortunately, there seems to be large parts of this script that the public has not been allowed to see.
Kathy Flora
Thompson
No Other Candidate Comes Close
Skip Claypool as candidate for Geauga County Commissioner has shown commitment to learning about the county and how it operates that is unequaled by any other candidate.
He has attended almost every Geauga County Commissioners meeting for the past four years and actually reads budget proposals, grant applications, strategic plans and a multitude of other documents. As a result, he has detailed knowledge and thorough understanding of county finances, county agencies and county problems.
No other candidate comes close to his dedication to the well being of Geauga County residents.
Peg Hunt
Chester
