Edior’s Note: ALL OTHER NORTHFIELD CENTER TRUSTEE’S CANDIDATES ARE WELCOMED TO SUBMIT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR PROMOTING THEIR CANDIDACY FOR OFFICE. (Send to julied@nordoniahills.news)
YOUR INFORMATION NEWSLETTER FROM NORTHFIELD CENTER TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE
PAUL G. BUESCHER
~ KEEPING NCT RESIDENTS INFORMED SINCE 2005 ~
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#489 MONDAY AUGUST 14, 2017
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KEEPING YOU INFORMED THROUGH THIS NEWSLETTER
In 2005, our township was embroiled in several highly controversial issues. The secrecy surrounding those issues and the total lack of communications with the residents was one of the driving forces that prompted several of us to run for two Trustee positions. My late friend Brent Sommer and I won that election by large margins.
Even prior to that 2005 election, I started this newsletter to fulfill my promise to keep you informed and to communicate with you. Since that time my readership has grown to nearly one thousand and I am now approaching my 500th issue! I know of no other elected official in our region who has done anything like this and I know why. They don’t want the hassle and they don’t want to expose themselves to ‘unnecessary’ public scrutiny over what they put in writing. As one area elected official stated, “if you put it in writing, you have to live with it.”
I have shared my thoughts and opinions with all of you on MANY issues and I have answered, in writing, literally thousands of your questions. In so doing, I have certainly opened myself up to your scrutiny and I am well aware that some of you occasionally disagree with me but I know full well that that’s the nature of this business. In fact, it’s human nature. I’m sure that all of you, at times, disagree with your friends, neighbors, coworkers and even members of your own family. And I am 99.9% sure that none of you always agree with your County, State and Federal elected representatives. Just look at what’s going on in Washington D.C today. Need I say more?
Since the beginning of my first term I have used this newsletter to report the facts as I’ve known them and I have tried to do so as honestly as possible. It’s not an easy job trying to sort through rumors, hearsay, false information and the agendas of a few unscrupulous individuals. I try very hard to not get emotional or carried away with some of my responses to criticism because some of it is justified. I do however, fight back when I receive criticism based solely on the aforementioned and the absence of some or all of the facts.
Folks, I learned early on that one of the major responsibilities of a Trustee or any other elected person for that matter, is to keep the people informed on the issues – To educate them on the facts. That is exactly what I’ve done through this newsletter and with your help I am willing and able to continue this for the next four years.
Remember this … “AN INFORMED PUBLIC IS AN INTELLIGENT PUBLIC”
WHO DO YOU WANT WATCHING YOUR BACK?
As some of you probably know, a resident was recently threatened by an ice cream truck driver right in front of my home. I had to get between them to stop a fight. And then about a week later I was threatened by the same truck driver while questioning him on why he was doing business in our Township since all solicitors were banned. A brief argument took place until the driver threatened me and then I left. When the driver began leaving, I followed him while on the phone with the Summit County Sheriff’s Department. They were unable to locate him after he disappeared in Macedonia. The incident was recorded by the Sheriff’s dispatch center.
After the Sheriff tracked down the driver through the license number that I provided, he was asked to meet with our deputy at the Safety Building. The deputy advised the driver that he could not do business in our township but, within one hour of this meeting, the driver was caught by the same deputy while doing business in the Rolling Brooke area.
I wrote about this incident on an area neighborhood blog to alert people about this one particular driver. As a result of my detailed report, one confused couple began falsely accusing me of using foul language during the argument (it was actually the driver himself), and “pursuing” the ice cream truck driver. I was even accused of vilifying all ice cream truck drivers!
In protest, the drivers from the company drove their trucks to our townhall and came to our Trustees meeting last Monday. One of their drivers chastised me and one resident did the same. The whole matter was reported on a segment that aired on WEWS TV-5.
Folks, we’ve had many incidents involving non-permitted solicitors and vendors in our community. Our Township has heard many complaints from senior residents who were frightened and upset with strangers coming to their front doors. It wasn’t that long ago that a Charolton Circle resident was raped by a door to door salesman. We also had an incident several years ago involving an ice cream truck driver operating without any permit, who had two felony arrest warrants out of Northfield Village. I was the one who alerted the Sheriff’s Department to this guy and they arrested him. He was eventually found guilty in a Summit County Court of two felonies, Breaking and Entering and possession of criminal tools! And at the time, I was informed that this same person was caught having sex in the back of his ice cream truck!
Are these the kind of people that you want doing business on your streets or knocking on your doors? I’ve always watched out for your safety but a few people do not like me getting involved. They say that it’s not a Trustee’s responsibility. One disgruntled resident even accused me of being a vigilante! Really? According to the Sheriff’s Office, everything that I did was fully legal and was something that each and every one of you could have done on your own. I was doing my job to keep you safe. I cannot and will not stand by and let any of our residents, particularly our seniors, fall victim to anyone with criminal intent. Please remember that if you hear any rumors. And also remember that this is an election campaign season where rumors and misinformation are inevitable! Who do you want watching your back – Me or the rumor mongers?
WATCH FOR JOHN ROMANIK’S NEWSLETTER – COMING SOON!
I would like to inform all of you that I offered fellow trustee and candidate, John Romanik, the opportunity to send an occasional newsletter of his own to you via my mailing list. He will send me his newsletter and then I will resend it to all of you in the same manner that I send my own. The confidentiality of my mailing list will remain with me. If you wish to send John any comments or questions, you are encouraged to send them directly to him at romanik_nct@roadrunner.com.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Q >>> – I read where Sagamore is requesting a .75 or 1 mill levy for fire. I, along with a number of others thought the consolidation with Macedonia was supposed to save money? My question is will NCT have to come to us for a similar request? Nothing that happens in that city is above board, so it wouldn’t surprise me if they suddenly jack up the costs because of misreading the actual manpower and calls required to service the townships. I can see them pulling a fast one like they’re currently doing with their road repairs, simply over topping the bad roads with a coat of asphalt. Not even scarfing off the crumbling road. Typical bait & switch that they’re known for.
A >>> – First of all we need to clarify something. There is NO consolidation with Macedonia. Our Township and Sagamore Hills have separate CONTRACTUAL agreements with the City. There is a possibility that within the next year or so we might have to ask for an additional fire levy. We made this VERY clear prior to last year’s Issue 3 vote. This coming September 14th will mark the end of the first fiscal year of our contract with Macedonia. At that time, we will crunch the final numbers to determine exactly what the contract cost us. Remember, our current fire levy produces around $313,000 per year. Our contract with Macedonia alone cost us $375,000 just for personnel. This does not include ALL OTHER fire & EMS related expenses. Again, we reported and discussed this in detail prior to the Issue 3 vote. I will publish a full report on this after September 14th.
Q >>> – We have a problem and I do not know what to do or who to contact. There is a neighbor who puts plates of cat food on her driveway. This is attracting skunks. There have been two instances in which I have to call the sheriff because these skunks have come into my yard during the day. You can tell they are sick and rabid. Yesterday morning my whole garage was hit by a skunk during the night. The smell is rancid. I’m deathly afraid of these animals! This has got to stop. We can’t even let our dog out at night because of this and I am afraid that someone is going to get hurt. What can we do regarding this.
A >>> – I am so sorry to hear about the skunk problem. I’ve experienced this myself with my dogs getting sprayed in my own backyard. I’m not sure if there is anything that our township can do except perhaps, to contact the County Health Department on your behalf to investigate your complaint. I suggest that you contact our zoning inspector, Don Saunders, at 330-467-7646 ext. 2 on Mon, Wed or Fri. Please provide him with the offender’s address. I also suggest giving him your home phone number. I would also suggest that if this happens again, please call the Sheriff because if the skunk(s) appear sick then the deputy can dispatch it. I hope this helps.
Q >>> – Does the township pick up old furniture if arrangements are made ahead of time? Do you know anyone that supplies this service?
A >>> – The Township does not pickup furniture or any other refuse. If your regular rubbish is picked up by Kimble they will pick up your old furniture. If your rubbish is picked up by another company you will have to make arrangements with them or you can contact Kimble for a special pickup for a cost.
Q >>> – I have a quick question about property lines. I’m considering the installation of a driveway addition, as well as a backyard fence, and I know I have to keep the extension within a certain amount of feet from my neighbor’s property line. I’ve searched the county records to ascertain how best to determine the official property line. There’s lots of great images, but no way to accurately determine the property boundary. Is there someone from our township who can help me determine the specific property line before I proceed? I even searched for the old fashioned metal stakes that used to mark off the land to no avail.
A >>> – Unfortunately the Township does not have property line information and cannot assist in this matter. Do not rely on the County’s online information because they are not accurate enough for what you need. The only sure way of finding your property lines is to hire a surveyor. Before you do that however, try to borrow or buy a cheap metal detector to try to find those “old-fashioned” metal property pins because many of them are still in place but covered over!
YOUR GENERAL COMMENTS
NOTE – If you would like your name to appear under your
Comments, please type the word “Signed” next to your name
Trustee Buescher, I and my wife both appreciate and support all you have done for NOT and have in my opinion been swift to address problems and concerns that have been brought to you. It will be an honor and privilege to reelect you for four more years.
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Hello Paul, I will never forget how you helped my neighbors and me with a longstanding problem that I know took a lot of your time. You have all of our support and votes. You are also welcome to put your signs in our yards. Good Luck!
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Best of luck Paul…you have my vote. You also have my yard for your signs, if desired.
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Paul: When you moved from Twinsburg, you moved to Northfield Center and the wise voters elected you to serve as their Trustee. How I envy your constituents when I read your regular newsletters, explaining the issues and your views on how to deal with them. Your service and commitment are rare and I only wish I could vote for you. I commend you. You left a void that has not been filled.
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Paul, I’m glad that you decided to continue servicing in the next 4 years!
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My husband and I would like “another 40”, not just 4. We will be supporting you.
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We haven’t forgotten your work in fixing our street [Butternut] … the drainage system works GREAT! Nice to see the system actually works at times; so many times these things fail but we need good people to be dedicated. We know you are and that deserves a big thanks.
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Thank you,
Paul G. Buescher
Northfield Center Twp. Trustee – Chairman
330-467-9451
This newsletter was produced through my 5-kilowatt SOLAR power system!
<<<<< DISCLAIMER >>>>>
TrusteeBuescher@aol.com is a private informational newsletter published by Northfield Center Township Trustee Paul G. Buescher and emailed under Blind Copy to hundreds of Township residents, businesses and others. The comments and opinions expressed are those of Trustee Buescher and do not necessarily reflect those of the other two Trustees. Comments under “Your Comments” are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect my feelings or thoughts. I also reserve the right to not respond to any emails that do not contain both the name and address of the sender. I also reserve the right to publish in whole or part, on other websites and newsletters, any portion of this newsletter. I also reserve the right to not publish any questions or comments from anyone not currently subscribed to this newsletter. This newsletter is private and NOT affiliated with the Township but is sent to residents requesting it as a public service by Trustee Paul G. Buescher exclusively, at his own expense and time.
