Letters to the Editor
February 6, 2020 by Submitted

Rambo for Judge

I support Matt Rambo for Geauga County Probate/Juvenile Court Judge in the March 17 Republican Primary. It is time we had a judge who can wisely and competently fulfill the duties of his office relating to our county treasure, the Geauga Park District.

The current probate judge, Timothy Grendell, has jeopardized the GPD since taking office in 2011, by appointing a revolving door of board commissioners whose actions have undermined the park mission to “conserve, preserve, and protect.”

Grendell’s GPD board has banned public comment at its monthly meetings since June 2016.

Judge Grendell does not have a transparent process for recruiting or selecting persons qualified to serve as park board commissioners. There are no open position announcements, application forms or formal review procedures.

Two of the three current GPD board members own and operate businesses that GPD regularly contracts with (Howard Bates of Arms Trucking and Pat Preston of Preston Auto). This conflict of interest requires Mr. Bates and Mr. Preston to abstain from voting on monthly spending plans, an essential component of board oversight. In the past, such voting abstentions have delayed paying the vouchers, disrupting financial management.

Judge Grendell believes in park board member turnover and makes appointments to give opportunities to “people who want to contribute to the good of the county” (Chagrin Valley Times, January 9, 2020, “Judge Names Pat Preston to Geauga Park Board”). I believe Matt Rambo can do much better than the Grendell version of “good.” Surely there are two other people in the county who could serve on the board whose business dealings with the parks don’t create a potential conflict of interest.

Geauga County needs a probate/juvenile court judge who can be judicious, transparent, and accountable in appointing a fully qualified board of commissioners to the Geauga Park Board. It’s time to renew accountability, stewardship and citizen input. Vote for Matt Rambo in the March 2017 Republican Primary Election.

Ann Jacobson
South Russell Village

Marching with Valor

The Newbury Black Knights Marching Band recently came to Chester Township to support “Ride with Valor,” a veteran organization whose primary mission is to assist aging and disabled veterans and widows with home upgrades that allow them to continue living independently.

Not only did the Newbury Black Knights Marching Band perform exceptionally well, they initiated and coordinated a hugely successful food drive for the Geauga County Veterans Food Pantry.

I want to send a very special thank you to the Newbury Black Knights Marching Band and Band Director Caleb Baldwin.

You made a profound difference in the lives of our veterans.

Judy K. Zamlen-Spotts
Chester Township

Russell Taxes

Complaining about high taxes is a common conversation among Russell residents. The standing question is, “Why does this little township create such an extreme tax burden?” With the election next month, there are a few things that residents should know before they vote.

If the new proposed 511 Park levy on the Russell ballot passes, Russell residents will be taxed for three parks. As a past Russell Park Commissioner, I know the 511 Park levy is being promoted by the same group of residents who conducted themselves with “mob mentality” when the Modroo property was being evaluated. Their vulgar, attacking behavior was unwarranted and an embarrassment to our township. These are the people who directly told me that “no park should ever be walked on by humans or dogs” and that “children should not be allowed in the parks because they stomp down the seedlings and scare the animals.”

I support parks being enjoyed by the people who pay for them — Russell residents.

Late last year, I attended a Russell trustees meeting where the Fiscal Officer Karen Walder asked for budget approval of $750,000 for employee health benefits. I asked how many full-time employees were eligible for the plan. The answer was 26.

As a human resources consultant for decades, I sourced, priced and implemented numerous employee benefit plans. I knew immediately that something wasn’t right with this, so I met with Mrs. Walder to confirm. She confirmed the numbers. The budgeted amount per employee comes out to be $28,850 per year.

In today’s market, a very high quality plan should cost approximately $16,000 per employee, if all employees are shown as family, which is not Russell’s case. Using $16,000 for 26 employees would reduce the cost to $416,000 – a savings of $334,000. Russell employees’ contribution is only 15 percent of the cost.

I discovered a couple of additional concerns. First, all employees’ co-pays are 100 percent reimbursed by the township, which is not the case in surrounding townships. As a matter of fact, I have never experienced a plan or a company policy that includes that benefit.

Another interesting fact is that the broker is not local. Rather, it is someone in Columbus. Russell’s plan is not in a Municipal Sharing Group that combines other townships for lower costs. This is due to a previous bad experience that the township suffered through.

I hope Russell residents will consider these facts when they go to the voting polls in March. If we want fair taxation, we need to know who and what we are voting for.

Linda J O’Brien
Russell Township

‘Parksters’ and Pretenders

Judge Tim Grendell’s re-election is opposed Geauga County’s “SWAMP:” “Socialist-Way-out-Anti-Trump-Mean-Progressives” gangstered up with Geauga’s RINOs (good nickname “Parksters?”). 6 years ago Probate Court Judge Grendell “cleaned house” ridding the Park Board of corruption and incompetence.

One former Parks Director, so-called environmental champion, darling of the Parksters, ordered burying a car on Park property, “lost” money and a Thompson sub machine gun in the non-probated Felker Estate. He was recently named a Parkster “Hero of Conservation.”

Parksters set up a semi-environmental non-profit organization instantaneously when Grendell cleared their cronies off the Board. Yet their “Hero” broke numerous laws and trashed the environment. No charges? No trial? Welcome to “Republican” Geauga County.

Ex-Democrat Jim Dvorak crossed over to become a “Republican” perfecting future Democrat “burrowing in” tactics. Grossly unprepared for County leadership, he urged Democrats to vote for him in the Republican primary. Coupled with big donations from all the trade unions in Cuyahoga County and signs in Parksters’ yards (for a REBUBLICAN PRIMARY??!!) and the thinly veiled support of Republican leadership, he won. Shameful.

The Democrat Geauga success formula? Switch parties, be lovingly welcomed by Republican leadership, then run against an incumbent Conservative while paying lip service to Conservative values. The tactic is again underway by the weak, inexperienced Democrat infiltrator that is challenging Judge Grendell in the Republican primary.

This overly ambitious pretender has never set foot in a Juvenile or Probate Court to practice law yet emphasizes “experience.” Obama and Hillary signs in one’s yard ought to say it all. A Democrat official said on their web site that this pretender . . . would be just the kind of Democrat Progressive Judge we need. That was in the last election when he ran as a Democrat and lost, but promised to keep running until he was elected.

Ohio desperately needs a Primary where Democrats and Republicans vote ONLY within their own party. We must stop cross-party meddling and corruption. For Democrat defectors who “see the light” and become cosmetic Republicans, no matter how fine the Republican wine, when mixed with their vinegar, it becomes vinegar. As well RINOs who support this must be replaced.

James R. MacNeal
Troy Township

Lifeline

The loss of another young life in Geauga County due to suicide is heartbreaking.

Over the past two years, no less than six children have lost their lives to suicide in our county. Each one is a tragic loss of a young life with so much promise.

Suicide causes a ripple effect of grief, loss, and confusion for loved ones, friends and community who are affected. For the families of the children we have lost, we pray that they find a way to cope.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death of young people between the ages of 10-24. If you know of a youth who is struggling with depression or despair, or is the victim of bullying, please offer that youth a lifeline.

In Geauga County, you can call COPELINE at 440-285-5665 or 888-285-5665 for assistance, or you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) (http://suicidepreventionlifeline.org). If you feel that danger is imminent, call 9-1-1.

Judge Timothy J. Grendell
Geauga County Probate/Juvenile Court

Time for a Change: Vote Rambo

After Judge Timothy Grendell was appointed juvenile and probate judge to replace Judge “Chip” Henry, who tragically was killed by a hit-skip driver, troubles started brewing with Grendell’s control of our county park district.

I have been following events of the past several years and am very concerned with several issues, like the frequent appointing of park commissioners, some of whom had no previous interest or professional background in park management, and then their firing after a few months if they didn’t conform to his wishes — or asserted themselves on an issue. Why?

Public participation is no longer allowed at the park commissioners’ public meetings. Why?

And now I see our tax dollars being spent on big blue signs placed around the county, slick brochures and expensive mailings, always with his name and face on them. Why?

This is not how our parks should be run. This was not how Judge Henry ran our parks.  I miss Judge Henry. It’s time for a change.

Rosemary Balazs
Chester Township

Drain the Swamp

Read some of the Grendell’s old articles for the Geauga County Bar Association newsletter “Ipso Jure.” It is clear they are about expanding power of the judiciary and controlling speech against judicial abuse of power. They represent the Republican “swamp” President Trump has tried to flush out in Washington.

It doesn’t matter how many self-proclaimed patriots or religious conservatives in this county have been duped by them. The proof is in the pudding.

Judge Grendell has harmed children and families. He is a political animal who calculates which children and families he can get away with harming. He contracts with numerous attorneys for piece work so they cannot help people who are harmed by bad decisions he makes, due to the conflict of having done work for him. Many attorneys will not even practice in Geauga County because of poor reputation of our juvenile court.

Meanwhile, the people who know firsthand — who could do something about it — do little or nothing to stop his abuses of power. They enable and participate in the harming children and families.

Then there are the harms caused by GCJFS decisions, bad decisions which have led to the passing of Public Law 115-123.

We need separation of powers at the county level. It is an antiquated system. Did you know the juvenile judge also serves as clerk of the juvenile court in some counties in Ohio?

Why do we need our probate and juvenile courts combined today? The function of each division requires specific legal expertise and experience. The juvenile side would be better served by a family court system.

Why is our county prosecutor responsible for defending people he is called to police? That is an obvious conflict of interest. Why isn’t our state providing children in the dependency system with their own attorneys? The attorney for GCJFS is directly paid by the prosecutor’s office.

A conflict exists when they protect the legal interests of GCJFS over what is best for the children. There is federal funding to pay for representation.

Our county system of government allows for too much potential abuse of power. People who like to abuse power, like the Grendells, are not going to fight to change it.

Geauga County is one of the richest counties in Ohio, per capita income. Why aren’t our county commissioners discussing and attempting to address the inherent conflicts of interest our county charter allows? People talk and talk, and talk about how bad things are. It is time for action. Don’t expect power-mongers who profit from the status quo to do anything about it. It is time to drain the Geauga County Swamp!

Robin Neff
City of Chardon