POST Wednesday, July 26, 2023 • Vol. 16 No. 5 • FREE
State Issue 1 Debate Comes to Geauga By Amy Patterson amy@karlovecmedia.com
AMY PATTERSON/KMG
State Rep. Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) traveled to Geauga County July 12 to discuss Issue 1, which will appear on the ballot Aug. 8. Stewart spoke before an audience gathered at Panini’s in Chagrin Falls as a guest of the Western Reserve Women’s Republican Club.
Making a special trip up from his home in Southern Ohio, state Rep. Brian Stewart visited Geauga County July 12 to argue his case in favor of Issue 1. State Rep. Steve Demetriou (R-Bainbridge), who represents portions of Geauga County, introduced Stewart (R-Ashville) at a dinnertime event hosted by the Western Reserve Women’s Republican Club at Panini’s in Chagrin Falls. “I know the word ‘friend’ gets tossed around pretty loosely in Columbus, but this guy is an actual friend,” Demetriou said. “I’m really glad he’s here up in Northeast Ohio to talk to us about a really important issue.” For Geauga residents, the issue will appear alone on the Aug. 8 ballot after the General Assembly moved last December to eliminate See Issue 1 • Page 5
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Spotlight Kochy Raises a Stink over Green Leaf Emissions By Ann Wishart ann@karlovecmedia.com Although John Kochy was scheduled to be part of the Middlefield Village Council’s executive session July 13, he chose instead to raise a stink during council’s open session. Kochy lives in Middlefield Township just south of the Green Leaf Ohio medical marijuana processing plant and 75,000-square-foot greenhouse on state Route 528. He has been protesting the company’s release of fumes for more than a year. The gas is released unpredictably, Kochy said. In May 2022, he complained to council the emissions flow over his property and through his open windows, comparing the effect to getting a face full of skunk spray. Last Thursday, he implored council to enforce the Dec. 31, 2022, deadline they set for Green Leaf to solve its emissions problem. “I was told it was an absolute deadline to get it done. I’m pleading with council — hold them to their agreement,” Kochy said. “You gave them every chance to solve it.” Kochy is managing partner of
Airwolf Aerospace LLC on state Route 528 and said his personal life and his work are suffering from the miasma of gas unexpectedly invading his property. “When it does happen, it can be real inconvenient for me. I’m trying to run a business. It disrupts my sleep pattern. I get cranky,” he said, suggesting the greenhouse operation be shut down until the company solves the problem. “Please help me,” he said. “I’m done.” Village Solicitor Luke McConville said Green Leaf made some remedial efforts in June, but if there is still odor, he needs evidence to that point or a village official needs to witness the problem in person and testify it exists. “We met with them today,” Mayor Ben Garlich said. Green Leaf has equipment they say will record any air pollution from their plant and he was told they will share the data with the village, he said. “They are sealing the gutters now. They offered to share the testing results with us,” he said, adding
it will take time. McConville said asking a judge for a temporary restraining order against Green Leaf is chancy from an evidentiary point of view and could become a law of case if Kochy loses. “We need a little more evidence,” he said. Plans to build the multi-million-dollar plant and greenhouses on 7.88 acres along the southern village-township line were approved in May 2019 on Green Leaf’s promise that a dehumidification system would include charcoal filters that would clean the air released outside. “I want this behind me,” Garlich said, canceling the executive session. Attempts to reach a spokesperson for Green Leaf Ohio were unsuccessful prior to deadline. In other business, Zoning Inspector John Boksansky said he issued 11 permits for homes to be built on Windsong Drive as part of phase 11 of the development. “They started digging the first foundation Wednesday,” he said,
adding 18 of the 20 lots of the phase have been sold and excavation for phase 12 is going to start this summer. “It’s going to be a pretty busy site,” he said. Council also unanimously passed an ordinance to rezone about 4.1 acres from general commercial to residential planned unit development and authorized a special use permit by amending a section of the zoning code. The acreage, bought by the Ohman family in 2021, is west of three existing homes on North State Avenue the business recently renovated for independent senior living. Ohman Family Living at Briar is across the street. The vacant 4-plus acres will accommodate eight triplexes and a main street with access off Tare Creek Parkway. Garlich said the Ohmans have gotten past a couple of hurdles. “The triplexes will mirror the cottages on (North State),” he said, adding some older garages on the property are being demolished and excavation should begin this year.
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