Letters to the Editor
Spruce Up the Area
The Republican National Convention is fast approaching. I am proud to have the RNC held in Cleveland. It means a lot to a lot of people, especially since our beloved Geauga County is predominantly Republican. We are a very caring and proud community.
Traveling our state and county highways, I look around and notice that several of our communities are not marked with the name of the community, for example, “Welcome to Bainbridge TOwnship, Population X.” It would be nice if our visitors knew what community they are driving through.
Perhaps another friendly sign stating, for example, “Leaving Bainbridge Township, Thank You for Visiting with Us. Have a Safe Trip and Come Back Again Soon.”
Also, one state highway in particular (Route 44) has several farms, particularly in Auburn Township, that are desperately in need of repair — barns, out buildings, silos, etc. Even farm houses are desperately in need of a major “face” lift and are in need of repair and/or painting.
As I look at them, my pride diminishes and I feel ashamed. Beautiful farms becoming dilapidated. How sad. Farm equipment rusted and abandoned outside of the barns and in the fields. If they could be covered or pulled into the barns that are halfway safe to store farm equipment, that would make a big difference in the appearance making the area look less “cluttered.”
I am sure without naming names, the owners of these farms know by the description what farms are being referred to. Please try to “spruce” up your area of Geauga County, Auburn Township. Lets make our rural communities a pleasure to be seen.
This pertains to other areas of Geauga County. Identification name signs would help to “spruce” up the area.
Linda J. Zmek
Auburn Township
Unacceptable Behavior
I’m sure that most Geauga County residents live here because they like living in an area with farms, forests, nice natural wetlands, a low density population, no traffic jams — you get the idea.
Geauga residents have strongly supported agencies and programs designed to protect many farms and natural areas from being turned into parking lots, subdivisions and the lot.
Unfortunately, we have two tea party-affiliated county commissioners who lose no opportunity to stand in the way of such protection.
The Clean Ohio State Bond Initiative was overwhelmingly approved by Ohio voters in the year 2000 in every Ohio county. It was again approved by voters in 2008 by a similar overwhelming vote of the people.
Funds from Clean Ohio were designed to be used, in part, for the protection of natural areas and farms. In order for funding to go through for any particular preservation application, the local county authority (county commissioners) must vote support for the application. A voted support will in no way cost the county any funds for the easement/purchase.
At least twice now, two of our tea party-affiliated commissioners have refused to support Clean Ohio applications. The latest incident involved the McDonald farm, which would have had an agricultural easement added to the land deed that would have protected the farm from development. Due to the inaction by our commissioners, funds for the easement purchase will likely go to some other part of the state.
A previous application which the commissioners refused to approve would have protected the only location of native brook trout in Ohio. a state listed threatened species. Commissioner Claypool has stated that the location was already protected, but that was not the case and such statements indicate Mr. Claypool’s ignorance of wetland protection law. He has a habit of making similar statements that fail to stand up to scrutiny, such as stating that an agricultural easement in Parkman would prevent future agricultural use of that farm.
The two tea party-affiliated commissioners have never supported any Clean Ohio proposal they were asked to support. As a result, farms and natural areas that strongly deserved protection did not get protection and our tax dollars we voted for went to other parts of the state.
If you Geauga voters feel this is unacceptable behavior, do something about it when you go to vote this November.
John G. Augustine
Parkman Township
New Gathering Place
Director Jessica Boalt and her great staff at the Geauga County Department on Aging deserve special recognition for their efforts in providing seniors in the Chesterland area with the new Senior Center in the West Geauga Plaza in Chester Township.
The new facility is roomy, yet comfortable, and has numerous healthy exercise opportunities and other great programs. The leaded glass activity is truly unique.
Geauga Seniors should really enjoy this new gathering place and senior services center.
Judges Diane and Tim Grendell
Chester Township
Another Successful Event
Our seventh annual Tail Waggin’ Good Time for the Geauga Dog Shelter and Geauga K-9 Unit was held on April 29, 2016. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the Totally Dogs 4-H club and their advisors for another successful event.
Special thanks to our generous sponsors who underwrote our event this year making it possible for us to give approximately $5,800 to the Geauga Dog Shelter and $1,000 to the Geauga K-9 Unit. Those sponsors are Chagrin Animal Clinic, Dr. Jim Eldridge; state Sen. John Eklund; Mar-Bal Inc., the Balogh Family; and Burton Middlefield Rotary.
Home Savings Bank also helped with their volunteers and credit card assistance.
West Geauga High School Art teacher Andi Jahnke again provided us with bowls made by her students for auction. These bowls are always a hit with the bidders.
It would not have been possible without all the area business owners who contributed baskets and/or gift certificates for the silent auction.
Everyone put a lot of effort and hard work into making this event a success. From the ladies who went to the businesses to gather the items before the dinner to the parents who stayed after the dinner to sweep the floors and put everything away and everyone inbetween. Thank you so much for all your hard work.
Sharon Gingerich
Geauga County Recorder
