YOUR INFORMATION NEWSLETTER FROM NORTHFIELD CENTER TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE PAUL G. BUESCHER
~ KEEPING NCT RESIDENTS INFORMED SINCE 2005 ~
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#552 THURSDAY OCTOBER 17, 2019
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SCAMMERS BUSY IN OUR AREA!
There are a number of scams occurring in our area so everyone needs to be on the alert. I’ve written about many of these over the years and thankfully most of you see through these for what they really are. However, there are some who continue to fall for these scams, especially the elderly.
One of the most prevalent is by phone when the scammer claims to be an official from the jury service or police department warning that there had been an arrest warrant issued for one reason or another. The victim is then told that if a payment is made through some kind of debit or gift card, then the warrant will be cancelled. The Sheriff’s office told me that this recently happened in our Township but with a troubling twist.
A resident received a call as described but when the ‘victim’ refused to pay, the scammer said that the police would be dispatched to her home to arrest her. She hung up on the caller and shortly afterwards, a deputy did in fact arrive at her home. She reluctantly answered the door and found out that the deputy was called to do a “Welfare Check” on her! The scammer called back shortly afterwards to continue with the scam but found out that the ‘victim’ was on to them!
There are many more similar stories just like this one. Everyone needs to use some common sense when dealing with solicitors and phone calls. ALL solicitors in Summit County are required to have a Summit County issued photo ID permit on them and they are required to show the permit to ANYONE requesting to see it. Company ID’s and permits from other areas are NOT valid in our area – Only Summit County permits are authorized. If a solicitor comes to your home and does not have a permit, you are advised to order them off your property and to call the Sheriff’s Office with a description of the person and their vehicle. And even if they have a permit, you should still be wary and NEVER give them any of your personal information.
There are current reports of solicitors claiming to be from utility companies wanting to see your current utility bills. Tell them to get lost and then call the Sheriff!
Telephone and online solicitations have become epidemic and there is nothing that the Sheriff’s Office or our Township can do about it unless an actual law is being broken, including threats. However, there is something that YOU can do to stop the resulting aggravation.
Most folks now have a caller ID feature on their phones along with a list of the names of friends and businesses stored with their associated numbers. It is now becoming common practice to ignore numbers without names and to let the call go to voicemail. If the call is legitimate, then the caller will leave a message that can easily be returned or, in the case of a solicitation message, be ignored and deleted.
When it comes to solicitation emails, you should never reply to them. If you do, then the solicitors and/or scammers now know that your email address is active and they will sell it to others who will bombard you with even more unwanted emails.
Folks, the bottom line here is to NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, give strangers any personal information or to be intimidated by them or their threats. Please follow the above advice. Don’t become a victim!
UPDATES ON THE TOWNSHIP BUILDINGS AND THE PROPOSED BANK BUILDING PURCHASE
As most of you know, there will be a levy issue on the November ballot involving the purchase of the old First Merit building for our new proposed Townhall building. Our Township Administrator, Steve Wright, put together a continuously updated question and answer column on our website. If you have any questions, please click on the link below. Chances are quite high that you will find your answer:
https://www.northfieldcenter.com/updates-regarding-township-buildings-and-properties/
We recently conducted two public forums on this subject. You have an opportunity to attend the last in the series on Saturday, October 26th from 3PM to 4:30PM at the Nordonia Hills Library.
WORK SESSIONS TO DISCUSS FUTURE POLICE CONTRACT
NCT currently uses surplus monies from previous policing contracting years to make up the difference between our policing budget and the current policing contract with the Sheriff, which expires at the end of next year. (See Safety Committee Reports filed with the NCT Township).
The Board of Trustees will be inviting surrounding communities, including Sagamore Hills, Northfield Village, Boston Heights, and the Sheriff via public work sessions to discuss policing services that can be provided to NCT that fall within NCT budget and what those services might entail. Watch for announcements on the dates and times for these work sessions that while open to the public no public comments are permitted. Information regarding the Safety Committee reports submitted to the Board are online at the Northfield Center Township Website at https://www.northfieldcenter.com.
BEACON HILL PARK VANDALIZED – AGAIN!
The Beacon Hill Park was hit last month for the third time by vandals. This time they attempted to burn down a slide and covered the interior of one of the slide tubes with graffiti. If anyone has any information on those responsible, you are urged to contact the Townhall. We will be happy to receive any information anonymous or otherwise. We would certainly like to know who “Jackie” is since she ‘signed’ the graffiti! When these culprits are caught, they will think that a ton of bricks fell on them because they will not only be charged criminally, they will also be held responsible for well over $1,000 in damages!
This subject was discussed at our last Trustees meeting and the installation of high-resolution security cameras with night vision is being seriously considered. We found that this is necessary due to the fact that nobody in the area seems to hear or see anything when these incidents are occurring.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Q >>> – I live on W. Twinsburg Road and am concerned about the clear cutting happening in the woods near and behind my home. My neighbors are equally concerned. Isn’t this illegal?
A >>> – After receiving your complaint, I visited with you and your neighbors and toured the area of your concern. There IS a problem and I immediately informed our Zoning Inspector. This resulted in a “Cease and Desist” order being issued by Summit Soil and Water. The EPA will also be issuing their Cease and Desist order.
Q >>> – A friend told me that you told her that any email that I or anyone else sends to the township that it is a public document that anyone can get a copy of. She also said that you told her that all email addresses on the email notification list are also public records. Can you verify this?
A >>> – Yes and I wrote about this numerous times in my past newsletters. I also stated that this is NOT the case with this newsletter because it is private!
Q >>> – Currently, I am looking at the zoning laws for NCT. First, it clearly states that only one RV, boat, or trailer is allowed to be stored on someone’s property. Our neighbors directly across the street have one rather large RV and 3 trailers, for example. It also states that these must be stored either on the side of the house behind the main structure of the house or in the back. It also states that these cannot surpass 32 feet on a lot less than one acre. All of these vehicles must, of course, have current plates. Most of these vehicles in our neighborhood are clearly in the fronts of the houses—not where they should be according to the zoning laws—such as on the sides parked further back from the houses or in the backyards. There is definitely a tent in a front yard on Timberlane, and there is a playground set in the front yard of the house immediately next door to the All About You Salon. I am a bit confused by your response here and with your conversation with my mother, as some of these comments directly contradict with what is written on the NCT website. The Zoning Resolution on the website states that this was just approved on 8/5/19, so I am looking at the most current laws. What is to be done about these violations?
A >>> – Your emailed concern was forwarded to me by our Township Administrator. After reading your email, I drove to the areas of your concern and after my drive through, I stopped in at your home and visited with your mother.
During my drive I found two minor and one major zoning violations on Beachwood and none on Forestwood or Timberlane. The major violation is well known to us with corrective measures in process. The other two involve a car port and the other, a trailer parked on grass. The parking of RV’s, boats and trailers in a driveway is legal providing that they do not pose a traffic hazard. This is the result of a case known as City of Euclid v. Fitzthum, et al., 48 Ohio App. 2d 297,357 N.E. 2d 402 (1976), cert. denied 429 U.S. 1094, 51 L. Ed. 2d 540 (1977).
Also, during my drive through, I did not see any “playgrounds.” What I DID see were some easily movable toys laying around in two yards. I also did not see any “tents” unless you were referring to a temporary car port on Beachwood.
I took the time to investigate your complaint and concerns and in a strict factual sense, No “Major Concerns” were apparent to me. As you can see in my emailed reply, I copied our Zoning Inspector, Don Saunders, for a follow up on anything I might have missed. I am also copying our Service Department Supervisor, Rick Youel, so that he can follow up on your complaint about holes and dips on the shoulder of the road in front of your driveway and front yard. I DID find this to be a problem that could be fixed. I hope I have answered your concerns. Please feel free to contact me any time.
Q >>> – Paul, quick question, can you please explain the quiet zone rule for train horns? I would say for the last month or so, whenever trains pass over Twinsburg Rd., they have been sounding their horn. I thought there was an ordinance that was in place. Thank you for your help.
A >>> – Prior to the creation of the quiet zone railroad crossing, the train engineers were REQUIRED to sound their horns when approaching the crossing. Since the creation of the zone, engineers are no longer required. Instead, it is now their OPTION to sound the horn. Many times, they sound the horn to scare Deer and other wildlife from the tracks or they can do it just because they like to. The bottom line is that the decision to use the horns is entirely up to them. That is what the Federal Law dictates and there is nothing that our local communities can do to regulate this. I know that this doesn’t help but it is a factual explanation.
Q >>> – Hi Paul, I heard a couple of things on our neighborhood “grapevine” that I thought I should mention. Someone is hunting and shooting animals over on Bayberry Drive, skunks in particular. Also, someone is supposed to be hunting in the woods next to All Saints Cemetery, which I thought was prohibited. Thought you should know.
A >>> – My “grapevine” indicates that those skunks and other critters are being drawn to that home on Bayberry that is putting out plates and bowls full of food to feed the wildlife. The place is disgusting and the owners have been advised that this is a nuisance. However, any “hunting” in a residential area is illegal and dangerous. Hunting however, is perfectly legal on the private properties next to All Saints Cemetery provided that those hunting have the written permission from the owner(s) on their person while hunting.
Q >>> – I have held off writing you since there has been road construction on E. Twinsburg Rd, but we are approaching a year since the County last cleared the vegetation at the Walters Rd and E Twinsburg Rd. intersection. I respectfully am requesting your help once again to see that this is completed for 2019.
A >>> – As before, I will pass this on to our County Engineer’s Office.
Q >>> – Someone in the neighborhood was target shooting with a gun (I’m not sure what kind) in their back yard on Sunday morning. I thought this was illegal in Northfield to discharge any kind of weapon.Please advise.
A >>> – The discharging of firearms is LEGAL in all Townships in Ohio. However, there are some safety restrictions. Are you sure what you heard was not quick claps of thunder like I heard? Also, air BB and Pellet guns are becoming very popular for target shooting in one’s backyard. I seriously doubt if someone was really target shooting with an actual firearm. I was home all day and would have heard this myself. If, in the future, you hear what you believe are actual firearms being discharged in your residential neighborhood, then by all means call the Sheriff.
Q >>> – There is a vacant house on Marwyck where the grass is high and there is a swimming pool in the backyard with stagnant water and mosquitoes. Can something be done about this?
A >>> – YES, something can and was done about this. The grass was cut and we had the Summit County Public Health Department inspect the property and then treated the pool with a product that will last for the rest of the season.
YOUR GENERAL COMMENTS
NOTE – If you would like your name to appear under your Comments, please type the word “Signed” next to your name
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Dear Paul, at around 4:30 PM on Sept 16th, i received an email from Steve Wright, announcing the sale of the old street signs. The email said “first come, first served”. Mr Wright sent me an email today 9/17, stating that both signs have been accounted for. Im not sure that this is the best way to have done the dispersal of the old signs. My wife and I live on Cherry lane and would have paid more than the $5 for one of the old signs. Wouldnt it have been more fair to hold a random drawing of names, if there were more people interested, than availabke signs? Im sure im not only person to be a little ticked off, by not having a chance to secure a sign. Mr Wright sent me an email that stated “we can never make everyone happy”, but i disagree. Holding a drawing for the signs, or an auction could have done that. Maybe i can be in first in line for one of the white signs, when they are replaced. I appreciate the chance to be heard
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The proposed Oakmont development appears to sit on a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area and would probably require future residential owners to purchase flood insurance. It is also adjacent to the high noise level of Rt. 8. The developers needs to be advised that the tax payers in our area are not going to pay to mitigated flooding issues or require ODOT to build sound barriers on this section of property. Developing this area could also send flooding issues to existing property owners. The Township has a history of property owners requesting assistance for problems that they knew or should have known when purchasing their property. A full disclosure must be made to any future owners on the current and possible future problems in the Oakmont area. The project may require an EPA wetlands permit.
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I highly support retaining The Summit County Sheriff as our primary law enforcement agency. In these turbulent times, we need a fully trained and equipped police force ready to response to any type of an emergency. Insinuating that we could receive the same services, at a lower cost, from adjacent small town departments is unrealistic. In addition, I do not support any kind of “district” with Sagamore Hills after they reneged on the fire department situation that so many people worked hard on to form. Furthermore, other then a mutual aid situation, I do want Sagamore’s police in our township due to their many problems involving questionable personnel and large litigation settlements. We must have a dependable police force and not start shopping around by price. The constant suggestion of combining services with Sagamore by certain individuals is questionable. Like our cable bill and Netflix, our residents may have to face up to the facts that they may have to spend a few more dollars a month for security protection.
