The Modroo Farm, the largest rural tract of land left in Russell Township, could be developed into 15 three-acre home sites if the Russell Park…
The Modroo Farm, the largest rural tract of land left in Russell Township, could be developed into 15 three-acre home sites if the Russell Park Commission backs away from a planned acquisition of 52 acres of farmland.
About 15 concerned residents organized Sunday morning to distribute flyers to most Russell residents, urging them to attend the next park commission meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. May 9 at town hall.
Residents are also asked to take a survey indicating their land preservation preference online at www.surveymonkey.com/r/Modroo.
“When our land-use plan was being updated in 2014, a survey of residents showed that 85 percent favored land preservation and keeping the rural character of the township,” Modroo neighbor, Barbara Berkeley said. “We need to hear from these residents now. Time is short.”
Based on communications Berk-eley and other residents have had with recently appointed park commission members, Charles Butters and Linda O’Brien, the residents believe the long-planned acquisition of the farm is being thwarted.
Berkeley said Butters and O’Brien have indicated they are considering paying $4,000 for legal advice on changing the language of the 20-year-old levy to allow them to use the tax money collected for land acquisition for other purposes, including adding active park amenities.
Butters has also proposed leasing land from the Uplands Park to revenue-generating cell tower operators.
The residents claim both of these changes would be in violation of laws and agreements and could cost the residents more than $1 million to return state grant money for the Uplands Park, which was intended for passive use.
“They could save that $4,000 by just asking the county auditor’s office or Prosecutor Jim Flaiz,” Russell Township Trustee Jim Mueller said. “I don’t think they can legally change levy language for a 20-year-old levy.”
According to an insider, who did not want to be named in this story, the park commission had been saving the money for years from a small levy for land acquisition to purchase the land with the help of the Western Reserve Land Conservancy.
“The property owner recently lowered the price to $1.4 million, but would retain the house and 6 acres, and the RPC will have amassed enough to pay for it at the end of 2017, when the 20-year levy would stop collecting tax revenues,” he said.
In addition to preserving the property, the plan was to put in a walking path, he explained.
He further explained the farmland would provide a flat, level path for seniors and others who may use wheelchairs or walkers, as well as people who want flat paths. Russell’s other large passive park, The Uplands Preserve, on Russell Road, provides steep walking trails in a woodland environment.
Butters and O’Brien were appointed to the three-member park commission by Geauga County Probate Judge Timothy Grendell, who last year did not re-appoint long-standing members Terry Ries, a landscape architect with a degree in environmental science, and Sandy Siegler, a businessman with a financial background.
The third seat was recently vacated by its former chairman, Roy Podojil, who was a science educator and had served on the commission for the past 16 years.
Both O’Brien and Butters have run unsuccessful campaigns for seats as Russell Township trustees, but were rejected by the voters, resident Shelly Chernin, pointed out.
“What in the world made Judge Grendell think that we want them to be our park commissioners,” Chernin asked.
