YOUR INFORMATION NEWSLETTER FROM NORTHFIELD CENTER TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE PAUL G. BUESCHER
~ KEEPING NCT RESIDENTS INFORMED SINCE 2005 ~
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#500 THURSDAY OCTOBER 05, 2017
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MY 500TH EDITION!
OUR AWARD WINNING SERVICE DEPARTMENT
“During the past two years, the Service Department saved us (YOU) over $100,000”
It was just a few short months ago that we renamed our Road Department to Service Department and for good reason. Over the years, through careful hiring and management, our Service Department employees have become a multi-talented, cohesive and highly dedicated workforce.
Prior to 2006, in what we call “the dark years,” under Mark Pepera’s watch, the employees were treated as simple ditch diggers and pot hole pluggers. Nearly all equipment repairs were farmed out at a cost of thousands of dollars. The employees were not even allowed to install electrical outlets on their work benches or to hang anything on the walls. And when the employees scoffed at Pepera’s demand to figure out the exact amount of soil needed for the base of the Townhall flagpole using the pi (3.141592…) formula and how many pieces of gravel in a one-ton load of #57 gravel, he called them a bunch of “Retards!” He was literally micro-managing the Department to death.
The late Brent Sommer and Paul Buescher changed all of that in 2006 and John Romanik continued where Brent left off in 2015. Since then, morale skyrocketed and the services both increased and improved dramatically. The Department even won an award from the Nordonia Hills Garden Club for the huge improvements to the landscaping around the Townhall and surrounding parks!
During the past two years, the Service Department saved us (YOU) over $100,000 by keeping vehicle and equipment maintenance and building repair work in house. They even fabricate their own snow plow parts and converted a used F350 pickup truck into a flatbed with hydraulics. And for the leaf collection program, they modified the commercial vacuums for more reliability and they built the removable collector boxes on the backs of the trucks. If that wasn’t enough, they now maintain our safety building, the Townhall and all of the Fire and EMS vehicles! And we almost forgot, they still continue to maintain our 21 miles of roads and 35+ miles of corresponding drainage ditches and catch basins.
The following is a list of the current talents and expertise of our Service Department workforce:
Diesel & Automobile Maintenance & Repair
Truck & Equipment Mechanics
Metal Fabricating
Light & Heavy Equipment Operators
Landscape Designing
Electrical
Carpentry
Masonry
Welding & Plasma Cutting
Roofing
Siding
Painting
Plumbing
Construction
Snow Plowing
Small Engine Repair
Asphalt & Concrete
Tree Removal
Heavy Equipment Mechanic
Building Maintenance
Licensed Pesticide Applicator
Certified in Horticulture
Certified Retaining Wall Builder
Hydraulic & Electric Motor Repair
Class A CDL (Commercial Driver’s License)
Chemical & Bio Deacon Expert
Folks, each year the Service Department gets better and better and stays within budget! Both of us work closely with the Department’s Supervisor, Rick Youel to ensure that he and his crew have what they need to provide the professional services that YOU deserve and have come to expect.
SENIOR PROGRAM A 5-YEAR SUCCESS STORY
Back in October, 2012, a group of senior citizens approached us and inquired about the possibility of forming some kind of senior center. Within a week I got together with Northfield Village Mayor Jesse Nehez, Sagamore Hills Trustee Paul Schweikert and a couple of Council members from Macedonia. We discussed the lack of any senior programs in our respective communities. Our goal was to establish a real senior center.
Later that month we met with the seniors and approached the Epiphany Lutheran Church and worked out a lease agreement. Unfortunately, Macedonia chose to go their own way so it was left up to Jesse, Paul and me. The three of us worked very well together and convinced our fellow Trustees and Council members to officially lease the church building and share equally in the rent.
Before the program began we told the seniors that this was THEIR program to run as they saw fit without any direct management from any of us – We pay the rent, you run the show!
An open house was held on December 1, 2012, and afterwards the seniors were off and running. From that first day through today, the program has been a very popular and resounding success. The seniors have been meeting every Wednesday at 10AM and host such events and activities as:
Supervised Exercise
Bingo
Holiday parties
Cards
Misc. Games
Guest Speakers
Blood Pressure Checks
$3 Lunches
And Much Much More!
All area seniors are cordially invited to stop in at the Epiphany Lutheran Church (10503 Valley View Rd.) on any Wednesday at 10AM and meet some of your very friendly neighbors. There are too many times when seniors seem to be left out of the mainstream of planning and activities – Not on my watch!
YOUR GENERAL COMMENTS
NOTE – If you would like your name to appear under your
Comments, please type the word “Signed” next to your name
Thank you so much for all you have done and continue to do for NFCT. I no longer live in the area, but still have family and friends there so I an grateful to you sir, for all you do. If only some people could get there heads out of their rearsends and see what a great job you have done for the community.
Thank you again
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At the town hall meeting, I found it odd that Reveille asked the Sheriff to confirm the shift hours. I would imagine that Reveille would already know this info. In conjunction with some of the rumors and the feasibility study by Macedonia, it appears that Reveille is building a case to add NCT to Macedonia’s police force. I have also heard that Mazzola is attempting to do the same as his running platform. We lost our fire district to Macedonia and now we are facing the same outcome with law enforcement. Next will be the Service Dept. In my opinion, NCT’s sovereignty is eroding. If this should continue, NCT will end up paying regional taxes. And Macedonia will control everything. I’m sure there is truth to the rumors about Reveille and Mazzola and they would only be acting in their best future political interests, not NCT. Neither of these Macedonia minions will ever earn my vote.
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Hi Paul.. I really appreciate all you have done for our community and you definitely have my vote..
Now, about the sound walls that you fought so hard for, I live on N. Oakmont and have to say the dud not do anything for us, in fact the noise is worse then ever. I can never sleep with my windows open. Even during the day when we are outside there are times my husband and I are talking and it is hard to hear each other unless we are right next to each other. When I walk into my bedroom you can hear a constant humming sound, many nights I don’t even sleep in my bedroom because the humming is so bad..sorry to be venting but just wanted to say the walls did nothing for us..it is worse..
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I was recently made aware that there was going to be a meeting regarding whether or not the ever-popular Farmer Dave would be allowed to continue to sell his produce in the Dragon Garden parking lot. I am writing to urge you to please let him continue. I have bought from him often and I believe his prices are fair and he is just a wonderfully kind man. Most of all, it means the world to me that he is able to tell me what local farm my vegetables came from and when it was picked. He provides our family with a connection to local farmers we would not have otherwise, and I believe that not only benefits my family but also the local farmers. I urge you to please let him continue doing what he does best; supplying fresh, local produce to families in our community.
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Please allow Dave to sell his produce in the Dragon Garden parking lot. Farm to table is the best for everyone that buys it. Save the little man!
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I am not in favor of prohibiting Dave Calhoun “Farmer Dave” from selling his produce on Olde 8.
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I live just west off Brandywine. That puts me in Sagamore Hills.
It’s not the highway. When we moved here 22 years a go, I never heard the highway or the Conrail trains tracks. Now, I can hear them all day. What has changed? The removal of the trees to build Macedonia Commons and The Crossings at Golden Link. Also, traffic has increased because more homes were built. That also took down more trees. If people want real quiet, they need to move to Gates Mills, Hunting Valley, Bentleyville or closer to the CVNP in Sagamore Hills or Brecksville.
Sorry, but you can’t tear down trees to build a home in a development where 100 to 1000 others have done the same and expect it to remain as quiet as it was before and then expect someone else to take care of the issue that you were part of creating. Tell the HO Associations they could reduce the noise levels by each planting 6-8 large growing shade or pine trees, or more, on their properties. Sound travels deeper and louder across open areas.
We could just request that the state close I-271 from the I-490 cut off down to Rt. 303 and close rout 8 from Hines Hill Road. Sure would be quiet then: Except for the screaming going on of how it takes so long to get to Akron, Cleveland or the Eastern Suburbs.. We would probably also lose a lot of businesses in Macedonia, that all the surrounding communities also enjoy.
Now if someone wants to build an airport, then Ill have to object.
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Thank you,
Paul G. Buescher
Northfield Center Twp. Trustee – Chairman
330-467-9451
TrusteeBuescher@aol.com
www.northfieldcenter.com
AMATEUR RADIO STATION N8HHG
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