Trustees Consider Rambo’s Replacement
With current Russell Township Trustee Matt Rambo recently elected to serve as the new Geauga County Court of Common Pleas judge starting Jan. 1, trustees discussed protocols for moving forward without him during their Nov. 7 regular meeting.
“You have to wait until I’m not here,” Rambo told Trustee Kristina Port when she asked if they should talk about replacing him. “As long as you make the appointment within 30 days after I leave, you’re good.”
Board Administrator Melissa Palmer said she believed it would be a good idea for trustees to circulate the information that Rambo would be departing and trustees would be entertaining candidates.
“One thing I want to make clear is that I do not want (Geauga County Juvenile/Probate Court) Judge (Tim) Grendell, who is still the active judge up there, to make that appointment,” Trustee Jim Mueller said.
Rambo noted whoever was appointed would still have to run for office eventually.
“The ideal situation would be for the Russell Township board of trustees to take care of their own business,” Palmer said.
Mueller suggested he and Port make a short list of candidates to consider, noting there are people on the Russell Township Board of Zoning Appeals, Zoning Board and other township organizations who are qualified, and trustees are already in a position to judge their record and how they work with others.
“You’ll get my resignation letter on Dec. 31,” Rambo told the board, later reminding them to make sure they get the appointment done by the end of January.
In other news, Fiscal Officer Karen Walder gave a shout out to Russell Township voters, noting Russell Township Precinct A had the highest turnout in the county at the Nov. 5 election, sitting at 86.53%.
Geauga County ranks fourth in voter turnout across the state, per the unofficial results from the state, she added.
Trustees also passed a resolution temporarily reducing collection on a 2016 fire levy from 1.75-mill to 1.26-mill for collection year 2025.
The reduced funds will be repaid by millage through the general fund. The levy comes in the wake of previous property reappraisals that raised real estate taxes by an average of 30% county-wide and is meant to provide relief to taxpayers.
Trustees passed a similar resolution in November of 2023, temporarily reducing collection on a road and bridge levy for one year.
