CHESTERLAND NEWS VOLUME 50 No. 3
Wednesday, June 14, 2017
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Grendell Blames ‘Fake News’ for Problems Judge Testifies Before Ohio House Committee in Support of Park Legislation BY KATHY LYNN GRAY NEWS@CHESTERLANDNEWS.COM The Geauga County probate judge immersed in a battle over control of a township park district told an Ohio House committee June 7 his opponents are manufacturing “fake and false news” to muddy the issue. Testifying before the House Government Accountability and Oversight Committee, Judge Tim Grendell blasted media editorials against him as “simply lies” as he answered questions about legislation that would increase the authority probate judges have over park districts.
The legislation, House Bill 218, was introduced in May by Rep. Bill Seitz, (R-Cincinnati) after an attempt to include it in the state’s biennial budget bill failed. Last Wednesday was the second committee hearing for proponents to testify. Opponent testimony had not been scheduled as of that day, according to committee chair Rep. Louis W. Blessing III, (R-Colerain). The bill stems from a threeyear fight between Grendell, the Chester Township Park District board and the Chester Township trustees. The five-member park district board manages Parkside Park. Under Ohio law, the county pro-
bate judge has the power to both create a park district and appoint and remove park board members. But Grendell, who has been in office since 2011, has been accused of overstepping that authority by authorizing an investigation into the Chester park board’s finances and the township trustees’ financial responsibility to the park board. Both the Ohio Supreme Court and the 11th District Court of Appeals have weighed in on the issue in separate court rulings. Last year, the Supreme Court ruled that probate judges have “the inherent authority” to investigate park district operations. Last week, in contrast, the appeals
court vacated several of Grendell’s orders against the trustees. Seitz introduced H.B. 218 to “codify and clarify” the Supreme Court’s ruling, he testified last week before the House oversight committee. His bill would expand a probate judge’s powers over township and county park districts, allowing the judge to investigate park district matters and order a person to become a party to a proceeding, according to a legislative analysis. On June 7, Grendell testified that current Ohio law makes probate judges “ultimately responsible” See Grendell w Page 6
County Commissioners
Elder Care, New Voting Machines Top Agenda
See Commissioners w Page 8
See Page 3
Appeals Court Tosses Out Two More Grendell Orders in Chester Park District Case See Page 4
Russell Trustees OK Raising EMS Rates See Page 9
BY AMY PATTERSON AMY@GEAUGAMAPLELEAF.COM The Geauga County Department on Aging is renewing their two-year request to fund in-home care services provided to qualifying Geauga seniors. The budget, which allots a maximum of around $400,000 per year, is the same they have operated under in the past, and allows each senior served two two-hour visits per week from a qualified home care provider. Department on Aging Director Jessica Boalt reaffirmed to commissioners at the June 6 meeting her department consistently provides services while using only 7580 percent of its annual budget, which is provided through a tax levy. “We try to be very respectful of the funds we receive,” Boalt said after the meeting. “And that we are staying on top of the programs that we administer.”
Town Crier
Celebrate Father’s Day See Page 17
Classifieds Start on Page 18 GWEN COOPER/KMG
Chester firefighters prepare to enter the search and rescue training trailer Saturday, sizing up the second level of the trailer before they begin.
Firefighters Endure Rigorous Training in Search & Rescue BY GWEN COOPER NEWS@CHESTERLANDNEWS.COM
Ideally, Chester Township firefighters undergo training exercises each shift they work, said Fire Chief John Wargelin. But, on June 2, they donned their full gear and trained in a dark, hot, stuffy cramped, two-
story trailer with unseen hazards that could test even the meddle of men and women who chose fire/rescue as their career. Joining them were firefighters from Munson and Gates Mills, communities they often work with because of an automatic mutual aid system. Firefighters from these three
communities were also trying out their new self-contained breathing apparatus, or air packs, in extreme conditions. The three communities obtained the new SCBAs from a FEMA grant they jointly applied for and received. “In a city department, there See Firefighters w Page 15
Publication Schedule As of May 2016, the Chesterland News switched to publishing every other week. Karlovec Media Group reserves the right to change, cancel or add publication dates at any time. June 28 July 12 July 26 Aug. 9 Aug. 23 Sept. 6 Sept. 20
Oct. 4 Oct. 18 Nov. 1 Nov. 15 Nov. 29 Dec. 13
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