Letters to the Editor
‘Real Road Hazards’
In this week’s article, “Deputy Warns Parkman Officials Their Roads are Unsafe for Pedestrians, Buggies,” which first appeared online last week, Geauga County Sheriff’s Office deputy Dan Fant told Parkman Township officials he has “speeders and impaired drivers making it dangerous for pedestrians and slow-moving vehicles in the township.”
I do believe that some of the accidents are because of this reasoning, but not completely.
Personally, I almost hit a buggy when I was attempting to pass on south Windsor just last week. Not because I was “impaired or speeding,” but because as I went to go the Amish buggy turned left into a driveway. They gave no indication that they were turning — had lights, but no turn signal; hands, but no hand signals.
Most likely the same thing that happened to the 26-year-old who passed away without being able to tell if that was the cause. Well, I’m 27 and it happens to me monthly with the Amish giving no sign of turning ever!
Same with Amish hauling vans; they don’t signal 90 percent of the time and, when they do, it’s break slamming last minute. Plus, they are too impatient to wait 30 seconds at a stop sign and just pull out right in front of cars. I feel these are real road hazards.
John Whitely
Orwell
Rogish’s Resignation Surprising
Bob Rogish’s decision to step down as a Chester Township Trustee was surprising.
We found Bob to be a devoted trustee, who always seemed to put the welfare of our townships resident’s front and center in his decision-making process.
Thank you Bob for your time served in public service, and best wishes to you and your family.
Timothy J. and Diane V. Grendell
Chester Township
More on Middlefield’s Northview Drive
Regarding Rick Sommers’ May 9 letter to the editor, here’s a follow-up. I think I can clarify some things about the road in question, since I live on it.
Four years ago, Mr. Sommers purchased the property after the previous owner declared bankruptcy, before he completed the finish coat the road required. The road had not been maintained at all by the previous owner and the trustees tried stop-gap measures to prevent further damage.
The Cardinal Point trustees met with Mr. Sommers and an agreement was reached that he would finish the road if we paid half, even though the property and responsibility was solely his.
Mr. Sommers demanded that the trustees have a lawyer draw up a contract to his specifications, which he would pay for, before any repair would be done. However, his lawyer objected to the way it was worded, so nothing was ever done nor were we reimbursed for the lawyer fees. That was in April of 2015 — four years ago.
I laughed when I read that he was never contacted by the Huths. Our trustees tried to contact Mr. Sommers for four years, by phone, letter and email to no avail. This is his idea of “running a business in a responsible and professional manner?” Not to me.
The only reason the road was paved was because, Ben Garlich, Middlefield’s mayor, took it upon himself to get involved. When he called, in late 2018, to find out what our problem was, I told him what had transpired in 2015. He said it could easily be resolved by communicating and he offered to facilitate a meeting. I told him we did not have much faith in Mr. Sommers’ word, but Mr. Garlich persisted and after many unreturned calls, meetings, changes in agreements and general frustration, Mr. Garlich finally succeeded in ensuring that our road was paved to Middlefield Village standards, on Thursday, May 9, 2019.
The credit belongs solely to Mr. Ben Garlich.
As one of the homeowners said after a particularly frustrating meeting, “Ben Garlich is a man of integrity;” she would not say the same about Mr. Sommers.
Chris Hippely
Middlefield
Did the Law Change?
Could you or one of your readers please tell me when the law requiring motor vehicles to come to a complete stop at stop signs and red lights was changed?
I know bicyclist were never required to stop at stop signs. But now I see motor vehicles not coming to a complete stop at stop signs nor red lights.
I was going to stop a Chester Township police officer about this, but when I witnessed him rolling through four stop signs I figured I must have missed when the law was changed.
I look forward to a reply from you or one of your readers.
Paul Buettner
Chester Township
