Letters to the Editor
Judge Enjoys Conflict, Citizens Suffer
I was not surprised to read in the Maple Leaf recently that Judge Tim Grendell is again at odds with another elected official in Geauga County.
Judge Grendell’s most recent public dispute with Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz is just another chapter in the ongoing saga of adversarial conduct Judge Grendell has toward citizens and elected officials in Geauga County with whom he disagrees.
I chuckle when Ms. Laurie, juvenile court administrator for Judge Grendell, feigns concern about wasting taxpayer dollars by Mr. Flaiz. Rather, it is Judge Grendell that is guilty of such conduct, having wasted court dollars sending multiple mailings to the public, pleading his righteousness in certain cases and forcing multiple elected officials to spend taxpayer dollars defending themselves against his abuses of power.
Judge Grendell’s actions, including a letter to the editor calling citizens of Geauga County “howling coyotes,” his claim of contempt of court by the Republican Party Chair, filing subpoenas against Russell Township Trustees, threatening our county auditor with jail for questioning the validity of certain expenditures, initiating criminal investigations against Chester Township Trustees, etc., is all part of the makeup of Judge Grendell’s belief of his authority over we the people.
These actions are an abuse of power.
Because of this adversarial and retaliatory conduct, the ‘appearance of impartiality’ is certainly in question on many matters involving Judge Grendell. The Ohio Code of Judicial Conduct Canons 1 and 2 require a judge to uphold and promote independence, integrity and impartiality of the judiciary, and perform the duties of judicial office impartially, competently and diligently.
Perhaps Judge Grendell cannot help himself and needs to be engaged in legal or political battles to feel he is serving the people? That is not healthy for the court, for the citizens nor for Judge Grendell.
Although I am not an attorney, I have read Juvenile Court Rule 29(E) referenced in the Maple Leaf article by Ms. Laurie that states, “If a party denies the allegations, the court shall: (1) Direct the prosecuting attorney or another attorney at law to assist the court by presenting evidence in support of the allegations of a complaint.” How the court can interpret this generic language as giving the judge specific legal authority to appoint lawyers seems illogical. Legal representation appears to be the defined responsibility of the county prosecutor. (See ORC Chapter 309 and Ohio Rule of Juvenile Procedure 2(Y)).
I expect that more tax dollars will be wasted as Judge Grendell drafts another letter to the editor under the pen name of Kim Laurie pointing out how wrong, stupid and misguided I am. We the citizens of Geauga County are tired of his behavior.
I used to have great respect for Tim Grendell as a state representative and state senator. As a state legislator, Tim Grendell publicly professed his great respect for the Ohio and federal constitutions. Those orations were great political theater, because his words as a legislator certainly don’t support his actions as judge.
When will this abuse of power end? Where is Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor in all this? Her court has had multiple affidavits of disqualification filed against Judge Grendell and has received multiple complaints from citizens and elected officials. Is Justice O’Connor failing the citizens of Geauga County while protecting ‘one of her own?’ Only time will tell.
Ken Radtke Jr.
Chester Township Trustee
Don’t Be Penny Wise, Pound Foolish
I am writing in support the levy for the Berkshire Schools.
My grandfather’s name, as a board member, is on the original plaque in the current high/middle school building. I remember him telling that he got a fair amount of push back from the community as they were planning the current building. Those concerns included thoughts like: “We don’t need a new building. I got a great education in the one we have and we can’t afford a new building, who will pay for it?”
He and the other board members persevered and we got a new school building. That was in 1935.
It turns out that their vision was correct. After World War II, the population grew and the old school building (the Burton Library) would have never supported the increased number of students.
In the beginning, the elementary and high schools were all in the same building. That worked for my parents. By the time my sister and I attended, a new elementary building was needed in 1958 to handle the increased influx of students.
We are now at another decision point in our community. Our buildings are old, inefficient and in need of major upgrades. The consolidation of Berkshire Schools, Auburn Career Center and Kent State University is a new and exiting opportunity for our kids. The new facility is just one of the benefits this project offers. These benefits include:
- A brand new state of the art school that offers better facilities in the arts and technology.
- An impressive coordination with Auburn Career Center to teach important skills for those kids not going to college.
- The opportunity to earn college credit in the same facility while still in school at no cost for the first two years.
We get all of this with the state covering more than half of the cost and a tax increase of only 3.5 mils. This is a great deal for our community and an even better deal for our kids. It’s a win/win no matter how one looks at it.
I know that a great deal of planning has gone into this project. Go to the community meetings. Ask questions. Get informed. If you care about the future of our community, you will see that this is a bargain we would be very foolish to turn down.
I am not crazy about paying higher taxes, but there comes a time, as my grandfather would say, when we don’t want to be penny wise and pound foolish
Tim Riley
Burton Township
Produce Valid Plan First
Burton Village is paying JC Power Strategic Communications — a PR firm — $10,000 to prepare a “strategic plan.”
Burton faces significant future land use, infrastructure, and fiscal issues that require a robust, data-driven comprehensive plan, followed by updated ordinances that are consistent with the new plan.
The village website has no information about the project, but the firm’s name and website tell me it has no experience in community planning, public administration or even engineering. And, a $10k budget is probably not adequate for a proper comprehensive plan. It may not even buy a cartoonish wish list that is often labeled a “plan” and delivered to credulous local officials.
The planning budget should be increased and, if JC Power is retained for the duration, it must partner with an experienced multidisciplinary planning firm so our residents and businesses can benefit from a realistic, measurable, and fiscally responsible plan.
Many issues are integral to a bona fide planning process. Here are a few:
The consolidation and relocation of local schools to the KSU campus are tremendous opportunities. Because KSU is not accessible to pedestrians or to many bicyclists, as are the current elementary, middle and high schools in Burton, almost all students will have to be bused or driven to their new buildings. Thus, close coordination with the school board and Burton Township is key to a successful KSU site plan and supporting infrastructure, school building design and a JEDD agreement or annexation.
Similarly, the fruitful reuse of the school district’s current school sites require many collaborative and thoughtful decisions.
And although it’s technically a school resource, the Burton Public Library should not be co-located with the new school buildings at KSU because KSU is only accessible by car and it isn’t central in Burton. Instead, the library should stay central, visible and accessible by relocating to, for example, the vacant lots adjacent to the fire station.
At the appropriate time, a new fire station could be located to the current ODOT site or to the current high school property. Alternatively, the library could be relocated to the current high school property. (The fire department should also resist its impulse to demolish yet another historic building, the current fire station, which should be preserved and adapted to a new use.)
Community planning should be hard. Burton should hire an experienced firm that can do a true comprehensive plan. The village can buy a splashy PR document after it does the hard work of producing a valid plan, but not at this critical time.
Bill Miller
Burton Village
‘SIGN UP’
Dear Chardon Schools Parents and Community, “SIGN UP!”
That is to say, the Citizen’s for Chardon Schools sign committee is ready to place a sign in your yard or on your business site immediately. This offer is good through May 8, the day to go out and vote in support of Chardon’s students.
No promo-code or coupons needed, just your on-going desire to maintain a school district like ours that is rated highly in Northeast Ohio.
“SIGN UP.” Contact me for a sign at c4cs.sfirem@gmail.com by leaving your name and address. There are four of us to serve you. We deliver in the snow.
“SIGN UP.” The low, low continuing operating levy of 3.9 mills is the same as the one offered last November, no increase. By voting “YES” for the levy ($11.38 per month for each $100,000 of market value), you are supporting the dedicated Chardon staff who seek to offer Chardon’s students an opportunity — an opportunity to be an educated citizen and a fulfilled citizen in his or her life choices.
“SIGN UP.” There is no risk in requesting a sign; we will drop the sign off and we will pick it up. The only risk is not passing the operating levy, as this will involve a significant reduction in services to our students.
Keep Chardon City, Hambden, Munson, Aquilla and Chardon townships growing with future educated citizens.
“SIGN UP” for Chardon Schools, a signature school system.
Sheldon Firem
Sign Committee Chair
Hambden Township
