Letters to the Editor
These Actions Have Teeth
In the previous edition of “Voices of Nature,” the newsletter of Geauga Park District, Probate Judge Tim Grendell shamelessly used more than half a page in this public forum to attack Protect Geauga Parks. You may have wondered, as I did, how a judge can get away with such behavior. Well, maybe he can’t.
In the latest park newsletter, the judge’s benign comments consume less than half that space, even with larger type. Gone for the moment are the inappropriate political attacks on citizens of Geauga County. Apparently he is trying to act more ‘judicial.’
This uncharacteristic change in behavior may be evidence of the judge’s vulnerability. Despite his proclamations of unfettered power and authority, he does have to answer to the Ohio Supreme Court and to Ohio state legislators in Columbus.
And so, if you are a supporter of Protect Geauga Parks, or have written a letter to the editor, signed the petition to remove this probate judge from office, contacted your state legislators, submitted a complaint to the Ohio Supreme Court or have stepped up in some way to “Take Back Geauga Parks,” then please take heart. These actions have teeth!
And apparently the judge is feeling the bite. But let’s not be satisfied with a mere show of written restraint. Beware of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. I believe this shameless judge is still a threat to the parks that we know and love.
Kathleen O. Webb
Munson Township
Restore Open Enrollment
West Geauga Schools needs to restore a vibrant Open Enrollment program, which benefits both students and taxpayers.
The number of local students in West G schools continues to decline. This creates “empty desks.” Classrooms have excess capacity. Enabling students from nearby communities to fill these empty desks has valuable benefits:
1. Open enrollment students have out-performed local students. This raises our academic standards, which benefits our students.
2. Open enrollment enables the West Geauga District to receive over a million dollars yearly from the State of Ohio, which diverts taxes paid by open enrollment families from their schools over to West G Schools. This reduces the tax burden on West G taxpayers.
Failure to restore open enrollment will sentence West G taxpayers to pay much high taxes than would otherwise be needed.
Doug Bletcher
Russell Township
How is That Possible?
In the new “Summer 2016 Voices of Nature,” a seasonal guide to programs, special events and current news of Geauga Park District, page 2 shows pictures of the Board of Park Commissioners and Executive Director with the statement: “Geauga Park District invites and encourages you to come and let your voice be heard. Please stop by at any time during one of our upcoming Board of Park Commissioners meetings.”
Now, how can that be possible since Executive Director John Oros has proposed and Geauga Park Commissioners are approving the removal of the public comment section in their meetings?
I guess Executive Director and Park Commissioners really mean to say, “Please come and see how we run your park system without your input, as we do not care what you think of our actions and decisions.”
On the same page of Voices of Nature, Probate/Juvenile Judge Grendell continues his monthly non-park spiel “From the Bench” article. Note, this is normally where one would expect the Geauga Park Executive Director to have a voice and not a judge.
“The Wall That Heals,” a memorial to Vietnam Vets, will be coming to the Geauga County Fairgrounds in Burton in September. This is a fantastic project we should be proud to have that honors our Vietnam Veterans who saw action and those who never came back.
This time, the judge takes half of his space in a Geauga Park magazine to do a little self publicity by noting he is a veteran and he will be in the honor guard for this Wall. This statement by the judge seems only to be self-promotion and has very little to do with Preserve, Conserve and Protect part of the Geauga Park District.
Why can’t this judge wait another four years till he is up for another election to give us his BS? Or is he doing damage control now for a reason?
Katherine Malmquist
South Russell Village
