FROM THE OHIO ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE

Saturday, December 9, 2023
By: Jonathan Tiber

Below is a copied email I received from The State Attorney General's office. After I read it, I called the Ohio Township Association about it. The OTA said this initiative and project has their blessing and they endorsed it. They also said while the OTA focuses on township governance, the Mount Vernon Project includes local, county and state governance. They asked me to send this to you all which I'm more than happy to do. -Jonathan Tiber

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THE MOUNT VERNON PROJECT: SCHOOL OF PUBLIC SERVICE

Newly elected public officials often face challenges in understanding the nuances of government in Ohio as well as learning the ins & outs of their particular office. The Mount Vernon Project: School of Public Service is a new resource that will aim to better equip newly elected officials with key knowledge necessary to be effective public leaders. The Attorney General’s office has recruited experts in six core areas to deliver this training, including current and former elected officials, representatives of state agencies, and partners from higher education. As a current elected official, you are in a unique position to share this resource with your newly elected colleagues or anyone in your community thinking about running for public office.

The six core topic areas include:

- Structure of Local and State Government
- Constituent Relations
- Government Finance
- Ethics
- Public Records
- Civility

You can enter the The Mount Vernon Project: School of Public Service Portal here to create an account and start working toward your certificate of completion. Each video can also be viewed on our Youtube Channel as well.

ABOUT THE NAME

President George Washington once said, “Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair; the rest is in the hands of God.” We named this new training series The Mount Vernon Project for two reasons. First, because it grew out of a discussion I had with Dr. Matthew Starr, the mayor of Mount Vernon, Ohio, in February of 2023. Mayor Starr noted that those newly elected to their government posts often face a steep learning curve in becoming effective public servants, and he was thinking about creating a video series that could help them understand their role and their responsibilities in our representative democracy.

But there is another level of meaning in the name of the program beyond Ohio. Mount Vernon was the beloved home of George Washington, one of our nation’s Founding Fathers and the man who, as our first President, set the tone and standard for public service in American government, a tone and standard that still resonate more than two centuries later. In voluntarily relinquishing power when he easily could have seized total power, in warning of the dangers of partisan self-interest, and in calling on Americans to defend their unique Constitution, there simply is no better role model for statesmanship and public-spiritedness.

Lindsay Kuhn Carr

Office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost
Direct: 216-346-0617
Lindsay.Carr@OhioAGO.gov

CHESTER TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES' LETTER TO GEAUGA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Published Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Chester Township Board of Trustees (pdf of letter)
November 22, 2023

Geauga County Commissioners
12611 Ravenwood Drive, Rm. B303
Chardon, OH 44024

RE: October 27, 2023 ‘Friends & Neighbors’ Letter

Dear Geauga County Commissioners,

The Elected Officials of Chester Township are writing to express our surprise and dissatisfaction for your October 27, 2023 letter to the “Friends and Neighbors” of Geauga County. Presumably, this was mailed out to every residential home in the county, and our community would like to know at what expense to Geauga County taxpayers?

It is this board’s position that your letter, mailed before and received by many voters on or before the November 7, 2023 election contributed to the ongoing confusion related to property tax valuations, and likely had a negative impact on the levies that were on the ballot. To what degree will not be known, but what is known is that some voters brought your letter to the polls. This is evidence that your letter did have an effect on the voters and that is very concerning.

Was your letter reviewed and approved by our Geauga County Prosecutor’s Office (GCPO) and did the GCPO support this mailing just before an election? We do not take issue with the content of the letter, but rather the timing as well as the use of taxpayer dollars for communicating your personal opinions on matters that voters decide appears to be inconsistent with Ohio Law.

You are hopefully aware that Ohio Law prohibits taxpayer dollars from being used in support of or in opposition to any ballot measures? Guidance the Chester Trustees received from the GCPO advised us not to represent ourselves as elected officials in any public communications (ex: letters to the editor) regarding levies on the ballot. We see your actions and this letter as inconsistent with that advice.

Your façade of fiscal prudence in this letter is inconsistent with your actions. In case you have forgotten, the County Commissioners initial 2024 budget submittal to the Geauga County Budget Commission (GCBC) was tabled in part because of your hoarding taxpayer money (see County Grilled over Annual Budget | Geauga County Maple Leaf (geaugamapleleaf.com). Of the three commissioners, only Jim Dvorak attended the hearing.

In that article, Auditor Walder is quoted as saying: “Your tax budget’s a farce,” he said. “You publicly advertised you passed a tax budget, (but) it’s a total farce because then you have these budget hearings in … September, October,”.

A September 6, 2023 Geauga County Maple Leaf follow up article (Commissioners’ Budget Passes 2-1, with a Warning | Geauga County Maple Leaf (geaugamapleleaf.com) has several notable quotes:

“Hitchcock said Sept. 1 this is the first time in his memory the commission has been forced to establish a budget for a county entity.”

“Flaiz said his vote is not to approve the county’s budget, but to approve the budget imposed upon the county by the commission.”

Strong evidence exists that the County Commissioners credibility on financial matters is questionable. Perhaps their letter was more for political purposes given that two county commissioner seats are up in 2024?

What is not in question is the action the Chester Township Trustees took, upon learning of this significant increase, passing a motion on October 5, 2023 to suspend collection of an existing police levy to offset the increase of a new police levy that was on the ballot. Acting in the interest of the people we are elected to serve, not self-interest, is true leadership.

Sincerely,

Chester Township Trustees

Craig Richter, Chairman

Joe Mazzurco, Vice Chairman

Ken Radtke, Jr., Trustee

BIGGEST CORPORATIONS IN THE WORLD - SOME MAY SURPRISE YOU!

Sunday, December 3, 2023
Provided by Harry Hackett

TO ALL RESIDENTS ANYWHERE IN OHIO

Monday, November 13, 2023

We have stuffed mailboxes in our area with the attached notice. also have emailed all school board members, superintendent and twp trustees asking that they lower inside millage..

Hope you have done the same.

I am calling state rep this morning about including inside millage in HB920.

Linda Nokes

ATTENTION AUBURN TOWNSHIP NEIGHBORS

IN RESPONSE TO THE 30% REAL ESTATE TAX INCREASE LETTER RECEIVED THIS WEEK FROM THE GEAUGA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, OUR FAMILY HAS SENT THE FOLLOWING TO KENSTON SCHOOLS AND AUBURN TOWNSHIP AND WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THE SAME! BOTH GROUPS HAVE UNTIL NOVEMBER 14^TH TO ACT OR THE TAX INCREASE WILL GO INTO EFFECT.

OUR EMAIL TO KENSTON AND AUBURN

UPCOMING PROPERTY VALUATION

We ask that the (school BOARD) (Township) lower the inside millage which they receive due to the upcoming increase of 30% in the area’s property valuations. the county auditor and treasurer recommended to the county commissioners that they lower the inside millage they RECEIVE, which is a quarter of the total increase to help compensate local taxpayers with this major unvoted increase. The school receives 45% and the township 30% of inside millage. the county commissioners have willingly lowered the millage which will affect the county’s share and are recommending that all property owners ask the same of the school and township because of this “unprecedented” and unnecessary increase.

We ask your Board to immediately lower the inside millage payable to our school district during this economic period. Your quick action is necessary to accomplish this prior to the deadline of November 14.

Sincerely,
William and Linda Nokes
17619 Messenger Rd.
Auburn Twp. 44023

PLEASE CALL AND EMAIL

LETTER FROM YOUR GEAUGA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABOUT REAL ESTATE TAXES

Tuesday, November 7, 2023

OPEN LETTER FROM KENSTON SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE JIM HENRY AND OUR REPLY

READER QUESTIONS WISDOM OF APPOINTING A “SPECIAL PROJECTS” ADMINISTRATOR

MMay 23, 2023

Oh my Gosh, So these last 10 years the county, including those commissioners responsible, have been derelict in their real jobs but now want to appoint a "Special Projects" administrator to pilfer more money from county residents. So forget about the money we are already collecting and actually stealing by not doing what we are supposed to but let's find new ways to deceive our struggling taxpayers into wild needless spending. This is a great reason to impeach all of those feckless bobbleheads.

Cindy Craft

ADAM LITKE ON THE RECORD ABOUT GEAUGA PUBLIC HEALTH (GPH)

Friday, May 6, 2023

Hello Mr. and Mrs. Jones,

This is Adam Litke with Geauga Public Health. I was reading your site this morning when I came across the article for Geauga Public Health (GPH) and our most recent audit regarding the House Bill 110 (HB110) program. Without taking up much of your time I wanted to point out a few items for your consideration.

1. The HB110 audit was performed at my request after Mr. Daniel Lark, Environmental Health Director, and I noted inconsistencies with the program. Our initial review went back to 2010 and after noting serious concerns I requested an audit from an external company.

2. I am not aware of the Health Department moving out of the new Geauga County building. It was actually discussed at GPH Board of Health meetings that GPH would remain at the County office building.

3. GPH did not relinquish control of the Health Department to Lake County General Health District (LCGHD). The contract signed by both entities actually ensures that the GPH Board of Health retains control of policy making, fees, and other significant areas.

4. The GPH Board of Health, in my opinion, has continuously shown that it will whatever is necessary to put Geauga County residents first. The current HB110 issue is an example of that. The Board of Health could have rejected discussing this topic given it happened in 2010-2022 when LCGHD was not involved with GPH to the degree it is now. The Board of Health instead took bold and decisive action to address the issue and will likely make additional decisions at the May Board of Health meeting. If possible it would be wonderful if you could both attend that meeting. GPH Board of Health meetings start at 5pm.

5. Personally I don’t know if I would say a formal letter charged both myself and the GPH Board of Health with anything. The audit was requested and completed at my request based on both Mr. Lark and my belief that work was not completed on the program even though it was apparent revenue was collected.

6. At the most recent GPH Board of Health meeting Board of Health President Carolyn Brakey asked for Mr. Kostura to prepare the cost of returning the funds to the public with interest. Mr. Kostura is also reviewing the ability of GPH to pay interest in this specific case. Again my personal opinion is that GPH and the GPH Board of Health is doing its very best to be the shining example of what good government can do.

On a side note, I don’t recall if you are aware but I have worked with GPH for approximately 6 years or so now. I have been with LCGHD for approximately 9 years. I initially started with GPH as a cost sharing initiative to drive down the “administrative” costs that were affecting GPH. I was also tasked with numerous financial and Human Resources related issues. GPH had been under billing grants in some cases and over billing in other cases. Those items were corrected and then our focus turned to the financial audits performed by the Auditor of State of Ohio. Those issues were also corrected. I say this to better reflect the relationship that GPH and LCGHD have. Both entities are involved in helping each other. This provides a more cost effective agency to the public and allows for better training, deeper pool of staff, and far better knowledge base. I can also tell you that the Board of Health puts the residents of Geauga County first in everything that they do. We have a moral, ethical, and legal responsibility to the residents of Geauga County and we do not take that responsibility lightly.

Should you have any questions or concerns related to the above please let me know.

You can reach me at 440-251-7136 nearly 24/7.

Thank you for your time and consideration and I look forward to seeing you next Tuesday at the Commissioner’s meeting.

Adam

ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS IN GEAUGA COUNTY

Saturday, February 18, 2023

My parents and I live in a town with a lot of environmental concerns. There has been a lack of clean up here in my town. If you type in “Middlefield Ohio Contamination,” you will get 3 pages online of what’s going on. The problem is. Different government entities are not efficient at their duties and some do not care. Capitalism is involved. We are living in another Erin Brokovich scenario. Some of the same chemicals in the movie "Erin Brokovich" are found here as well. There have been 2 lawsuits over this. The plaintiffs both won in their favor. The Geauga Maple leaf has done stories about this topic. Just like the News Herald and more. There are 5 locations in Geauga County (Known) of hazardous waste. Both of the Village and Township of Middlefield, City and Township of Chardon and Newbury. My parents wrote to Al Gore back in the 90's. Many House of Representatives, senators and other public servants are aware of the concerns here (State and federal levels). Even local officials too.

https://openjurist.org/767/f2d/263

https://www.casemine.com/judgement/us/59147206add7b0493437762e

https://m.clevescene.com/cleveland/the-dirt-on-middlefield/Content?oid=1931454

https://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/while-the-epa-slept/Content?oid=1478240

https://www.news-herald.com/2004/01/15/township-leukemia-rate-high/

Sincerely,
Alex Duncan

OHIO SCHOOL BOARD CONSTITUTIONAL COALITION COMING EVENT

Tuesday, January 10, 2023
By Kelly Kohls

Happy New Year & welcome to 2023! We are so excited to launch our Quarterly OSBCC Social to meet like-minded citizens across Ohio face to face. The first Social will be NE Ohio in Strongsville. We plan to do Central and Southern Ohio next. Please come from all over Ohio though! We’re rotating this event for convenience to all members.

Come on out and meet everyone! We will be speaking on a couple hot topics and introducing the OSBCC Board & Leadership team. We’ll also be rolling out guest speakers and educational pieces as we evolve.

Be a part of making a difference in your city, county, and state! We can’t wait to meet you.

Here are the Social details.

February OSBCC Social:

RSVP & Payment Link: RSVP/PREPAY HERE

Please RSVP from the above Google Form.

The Payment Link is also in the Google Form.

Please RSVP & Pay by 1/22/23.

Openings are limited so please reserve spots soon (70 max)!

Cost is $25/person. This is at our cost. Additional donations will be accepted & appreciated!

This is on Sunday February 5th, 1:00 at JBella (12201 Pearl Road, Strongsville, Ohio 44136).

If you missed the payment link here is a direct link: https://www.clover.com/pay-widgets/f0ecf44b-ab2e-4115-9a13-4e47890f1fa7

OSBCC Board Members Speaking & Hosting:

Patrick Burch – School Board Member Norton

Rick Cyngier – School Board Member Brooklyn

Tom Hach – School Board Member Riverside

Amy Kissinger – School Board Member Cambridge

Matt Markling – McGown & Markling – Attorneys at Law

Annie Payne – School Board Member Mentor

Jeremiah Sawyer – North Royalton School Board

INVITATION: