POST Wednesday, August 21, 2024 • Vol. 17 No. 7• FREE
New Safety Day Event Takes Off in Middlefield
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INSIDE THIS WEEK
By Rose Nemunaitis editor@karlovecmedia.com Eyes were on the skies Aug. 17 as an Ohio State Highway Patrol helicopter landed in Middlefield to attend a special day in Geauga County. Ohio Department of Transportation District 12 and Geauga County Safety Communities Coalition held its first Safety Day and Touch-A-Truck event at 14520 Tare Creek Parkway. “The hope is that the community supports our efforts to spread awareness about safety when driving, biking and walking; and the effects of distracted driving, impaired driving, speeding; and the importance of seatbelt usage and obeying traffic laws,” said event organizer Emily Landis, Geauga Public Health educator and Geauga County Safe Communities Coalition coordinator. “The hope is that we See Safety Day• Page 4
ROSE NEMUNAITIS/KMG
Families gathered to see a Middlefield fire engine at the first annual Safety Day and Touch-A-Truck event Aug. 17, sponsored by ODOT District 12 and Geauga County Safe Communities Coalition.
Income Tax Revenue Down, But Sky isn’t Falling By Ann Wishart ann@karlovecmedia.com Middlefield Village officials reported a slightly dimmer economic scenario than last year during the village council meeting Aug. 8. But, despite a dip in earned income tax revenue, they said the village is fiscally healthy. Village Fiscal Officer Nick Giardina said while income tax revenue is down about 9% from 2023, this is not alarming. “Income tax is definitely slowing down. Withholdings and business profits are definitely lower,” he said, adding, however, wages have increased due to inflation so individual residents, overall, are doing better this year. “The big thing to consider is the village has lots of expenses going out,” Giardina said.
Drilling a third well to supply a growing residential sector and industry has proven to be a major expense, he said. However, village Administrator Leslie McCoy said Middlefield will be reimbursed for part of the well cost from a $1.5 million grant. “We don’t want to paint a picture of, ‘The sky is falling!’ It’s just that income tax and profitability in the village is not doing as well as it did during COVID. We need to start being aware of that,” she cautioned. Compared to the village’s economic situation in 2012, when it had less than $2 million in reserve, the budget shows more than $13 million available. “We need to start looking at costs to make sure we don’t go backward,” McCoy said. “We are See Taxes• Page 4
Changes Approved For 3 Central Village Parcels page 5
Classifieds page 8
ANN WISHART/KMG
Middlefield Village Mayor Ben Garlich displays a Harrington Way street sign to replace the South Springdale Avenue sign. Village council voted to rename the road in honor of Dave Harrington, who developed Harrington Square, Walmart and other businesses along the former buggy path.
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