YOUR INFORMATION NEWSLETTER FROM NORTHFIELD CENTER TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE
PAUL G. BUESCHER
~ KEEPING NCT RESIDENTS INFORMED SINCE 2005 ~
REMEMBER THAT HUGE SOCCER STADIUM PROPOSAL?
“imagine where we would be today if that stadium would have been built!”
It wasn’t that long ago that the Wolstein Group proposed the building of a massive soccer stadium next to the Rolling Brooke development off of Twinsburg Road. The original proposed cost was $265 million. This project would be located in both Macedonia and Northfield Center. This generated quite a bit of excitement within the local, county and state political circles. I have to confess that as a newly elected Trustee, I was equally excited but it wasn’t long before I began having second thoughts due to the many promises made by the promoters that I thought were unrealistic.
What social and economic impact would this stadium have on our community? Who or what would pay for this project? How would it affect the hundreds of our residents in Rolling Brooke and the surrounding area? And how would the promoters finagle their way around all of the area’s wetland and riparian regulations, especially those that were recently enacted by the Summit County Council?
Wolstein Group President and CEO, Paul Garofolo, assured everyone that our concerns would be looked into and taken care of. He also publicly stated many times that “no taxpayer dollars would be used” in the project. I soon learned that this was not exactly accurate.
The promoters initially promised $90 million of their own money but by September, 2006, they lowered it to $15 million. They then began to seek “state aid” and then worked through back doors and in secret with State representatives to shove through a cigarette tax on a state level. This soon failed due to a lack of support. Shortly afterwards I discovered another secret plot that was in the making, this time through an unsuspecting State Senator. Their plan was to enact a title transfer fee on all real estate transactions. I wanted the public to be informed about this so I visited the Cleveland Plain Dealer office, which at that time was located right here in Northfield Center. I had a good working relationship with one of their reporters so I shared all of the information that I had with the understanding that for the time being, my name could not be associated with any resulting article. She agreed and several days later the Cleveland Plain Dealer published an article exposing the deception. Their plan for the transfer fee tax was nixed soon afterwards.
For the longest time, I was the only elected official who was publicly opposed to the soccer stadium. I even conducted a poll on my newsletter that resulted in 401 responses with 94% opposed to the plan.
Once the opposition to the stadium grew, the promoters publicly threatened Northfield Center residents by stating that if they didn’t get their way they might consider building a “Pig Slaughterhouse” on the land. I quickly countered that when I was quoted in the newspaper as stating that, “they don’t own one square inch of that land and cannot backup that empty and ridiculous threat!” They only purchased first options with the landowners but never purchased one single square inch of that land.
The soccer stadium proposal eventually failed in its entirety due, in part, to my efforts and other contributing factors. Several months later, all of the communities along the northern portion of Route 8 commissioned a $10,000 “Route 8 Corridor Study” to ascertain possible uses for the land along the highway. Ironically, that study concluded that due to federal, state and local regulations involving wetlands and riparian setbacks, the building of the stadium would never have been permitted. I brought up this very concern early on but nobody would listen. Talk about wasted time, energy and money!
Folks, imagine where we would be today if that stadium would have been built! Think about the costs associated with all of the added fire, ems and police coverage that would have been required. Remember, our Township cannot collect income tax. There would have also been hundreds of additional dollars that you would have had to pay whenever you would sell/buy your home with the title transfer fee that they wanted. And what about the traffic nightmares and the light and noise that would have directly affected Rolling Brooke, Charter Lake, Brandywine Preserve and even the Oakmont and Hazel Driveresidents.
Please remember that I watched your back during this fiasco and I have continued to watch your back all these years later and hopefully you will give me the chance to do so for the next four years!
CAN YOU HELP WITH SIGNS LOCATIONS?
Political signs have always been a part of the campaign season and our local campaigns appear to have already started. I would consider it an honor if you would allow me to place my sign in your yard. I plan to place signs about two weeks prior to the election and then remove them as soon as the polls close on Election Day. Please consider this small favor by emailing me your name and address. And would you also consider one for John Romanik? Please let me know. THANK YOU from both of us! And a BIG thank you to those who have already contacted us!
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Q >>> – I read in the paper that a new development is coming to our township. The paper failed to tell us where?
A >>> – The plans are very preliminary but the proposed location is off E. Twinsburg Road between ADESA and Nieds Garden Center with part extending behind Nieds.
Q >>> – Thank you Paul on your newsletters. One question, how do we know if Cleveland isn’t hiding the NEORSD fee on our bills? On my D.O.E.S bill I have a Cleveland Charge of $4.44. When I call to find out what it is for I am told it is a charge passed on from Cleveland. So I call Cleveland and they tell me it is correct but no reason is given. Is there something else I should be looking for?
A >>> – NEVER quit looking into what these utilities are doing. We have to keep them on their toes. Anyway, in the case that you brought up, that is the Cleveland Water’s billing charge to the DOSSS for ‘assembling’ DOSSS’s billing list for your sewer bill. Since your sewer bill is based on your water usage, DOSSS has to have that information to bill you. Is this worth $4.44 from each of us for what computers do in seconds? It’s just another rip-off over which we have no control!
Q >>> – Paul, just a quick question. I know it’s not in Northfield Center, but any idea who to talk to about putting some sort of elevated walkway at intersection of Rt 8 and 82? There are prime examples in valley view on Canal and Grainger. It seems like after the death of the elderly couple on Summer Road would cause an impetus in public safety. There were 2 small kids heading east on 82 attempting to cross Rt8. I held my breath. Every day I see someone cross, on foot, from NTB to Panera. Someone is bound to end up splattered. Any ideas who to write to or email to request information would be greatly appreciated. It it hard to believe that Grainger and Canal is a more dangerous intersection than the abovementioned. Thanks
A >>> – I brought up this very subject shortly after the Rt. 8 expansion project ended. At the time, the School Board ended some of the bussing for the children. My concern was the fact that all of the pedestrian crossings were eliminated and remain so today! There is absolutely no Route 8 pedestrian crossing all the way from Northfield Village to the Village of Boston Heights. To the best of my knowledge, this is the responsibility of BOTH Macedonia and ODOT!
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 for your diligent work on the NEORSD issue. I remember that Northfield Center was not part of this program.
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Good job Mr. Buescher Re NEORSD!! My kind of advocate!!
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Glad to see the sheriffs dept will be continuing to serve nct! Well done. We wouldn’t want it any other way.
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Please place signs on my property for both you and John Romanik. Oh, the bigger the better and the more the merrier. Let me know if there is anything else I can do to help both your campaigns.
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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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