THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF NORTHFIELD CENTER TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE
PAUL G. BUESCHER
~ KEEPING NCT RESIDENTS INFORMED SINCE 2005 ~
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#459 TUESDAY JULY 19, 2016
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TRUSTEE JOHN ROMANIK
COMMENTS ON ISSUE 3
I would like to comment on the controversy surrounding Issue 3, the Northfield Center Fire and EMS levy. There is a lot of misinformation being expressed in recent editorials in the local newspaper. First of all, Issue 3 is a referendum to allow the people of Northfield Center to decide the future of their fire department. There is a small but vocal opposition writing to the paper every week and to quote a resident that I spoke to; “there’s something fishy about the ‘extreme’ opposition to this issue”. Trustee Buescher and I were rebuked for spending money on an election to put this decision before the people. You have to wonder about the motives of a group that is afraid of the democratic process.
As I was told by one of this small but vocal opposition, YOU, Mr. Romanik are appointed; YOU are not the peoples’ choice. That may be true, but after serving on the Board of Zoning Appeals for ten years, I learned that in a public position you will rarely, if ever, please everyone. You try to do the most good for the most people. And hopefully, someday I will be the people’s choice. But for now, I am completely comfortable with my decision to give the fine residents of this township the right to vote on Issue 3 August 2nd.
There is also confusion regarding regional vs. contracted services. I would love to see a four or five community fire district operating in the area in the near future. Northfield Center would be very interested in such a district. But that is not the reality of the situation. There are organizational hurdles that must be surmounted (that Northfield Center does not control) before that could take place. Our soon to be disbanded Northfield Center Sagamore Hills Fire District was the very type of regionalism that everyone nowadays is clamoring for. Two communities sharing equipment, manpower and resources in order to lower costs and increase efficiency. On September 14th, Sagamore Hills will pull out of the fire district in order to contract service from Macedonia. While the City of Macedonia has a very fine fire department, I do not see the benefit of disbanding a “regional” district to pay more as a contracted customer. We will cease to have a fire department. By Ohio law, we cannot simply continue on. But this is the situation that Sagamore has left us to resolve. We as a township can re-organize our Northfield Center Township Fire Department and control our own destiny, or become the contracted customer of another community. As a Trustee, elected or appointed, I feel that this is a decision that needs to come from the people. I understand that costs will increase; I pay property taxes like every other resident. But many people in this community feel very strongly that the professionalism, dedication and service of their own Northfield Center Township Fire Department is worth saving.
And to Mr. Prusak, whom I’ve never met and who wrote about me in last week’s News Leader, as soon as I find out who my three hundred ‘merry’ supporters are, I will be sure to thank them.
John J. Romanik,
Trustee, Northfield Center Township
TO MY FELLOW
NORTHFIELD CENTER RESIDENTS
There has been an overabundance of misinformation circulating about the upcoming Issue 3 fire levy. The perpetrators are part of a small but vocal group who refuse to accept the truth and facts.
Issue 3 is perhaps the most important issue that we’ve had to face in many decades. We are not talking about blocked ditches or high grass – We are talking about the very lives and homes of you and your loved ones! It is important to remember that a house fire doubles in size every 30-seconds. A human brain begins dying in 4-minutes without oxygen and a person can bleed to death in a few short minutes. THIS IS NOT A GAME! Issue 3 could very well be a life and death decision. Think about that for a moment.
There’s no denying that a 4-mil increase is a fairly substantial amount but to be guaranteed the same level of service that we have now, including vital response times, it is a necessity. Do not forget that it was Sagamore Hills that caused all of this and forced us into our present situation. Due to their actions and Ohio law, our Fire District will end on September 14th. Due to that fact and hearing from the documented majority of nearly 300 residents via email and public meetings, I had no choice but to vote to put the levy on the August 2nd ballot to let everyone decide this issue. This is what democracy is all about.
There are those who ignorantly suggest that we use the $1.2 million in our fire account reserve to fund our Fire and EMS services through the end of the year or longer. Those funds were set aside for capital improvements and equipment purchases, not operational expenses except in an emergency. What would we do in the future if that money was gone? And how do we fund a Fire Department or District that will not exist beyond September 14th had this levy not been placed on the August 2nd ballot?
In the event that Issue 3 fails, we are working diligently on fire contract proposals from our surrounding communities. However, contracting with another community is a second choice because we would have very little control over operations, services and future cost increases. Many of those who oppose this levy demand that we regionalize and form a Fire District with our surrounding Nordonia Hills communities. I have no ego or personal agendas to oppose this. In fact, I am overwhelmingly in favor of local regionalism, which would include a full fire district with all the communities. Unfortunately, this cannot happen due to the fact that the charters of both Macedonia and Northfield Village prohibit their forming a district with their Fire Departments. This can only change if the people of both of those communities vote to change the language of their respective charters.
Folks, you have given me the honor of serving you for three terms and during those terms I’ve been involved in some very serious and hard decisions but this issue is by far the most difficult and heart-wrenching one. I want each and every one of you to know that EVERY decision that I’ve made, continue to make and will make in the future was and will be for YOUR health, safety and well-being. Just like you, when I dial 911, I want our fire personnel or paramedics there immediately. That is something that the fine and highly dedicated members of our Fire Department/District have been doing since 1928. Please join me on August 2nd and VOTE YES ON ISSUE 3!
Respectfully,
Paul G. Buescher
JUNE WAS A VERY STRANGE MONTH!
I don’t know if any of you noticed just how unusual the month of June was. In addition to the Cicadas, did any of you notice that there were NO Maple Tree helicopter seeds? Remember how they covered our yards and streets? Not this year. There were also NO June bugs! Remember those large brown beetles that would buzz on your screens at night as they were attracted to the light? Not this year. Does anyone out there know the cause for this?
LATE NIGHT POKEMON PLAYERS
CAUSING PROBLEMS IN OUR TOWNSHIP
We are receiving reports from residents and the Sheriff’s Department about groups of young people roaming our Township playing the game “Pokemon Go.” These people have been reported in neighborhoods at 4AM and even in our two cemeteries late at night. If this keeps up it won’t be long before someone gets hurt, especially by a startled homeowner! If your children are taking part in this game, please teach them some common sense. And if you encounter any of these people or suspicious vehicles at these late hours, do not hesitate to call the Sheriff’s Office.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Q >>> – I have talked to different people and some people still think that if the levy Goes down the station will close Can you put in your newsletter that the station will not close but the township will
Have to look at different choices
A >>> – I included a six-page report on the current status of the Fire District issue in my previous newsletter. The report fully addressed your concern. However, in the interest of preventing any misunderstandings, no matter what happens our fire station WILL REMAIN OPEN!
Q >>> – I would like a copy of the map that indicates when the homes were built that affect the Dorwick ditch issue. Thanks for all the info. The news about an assessment doesn’t sound good, especially, being retired and on a fixed income. Thanks again.
A >>> – You now have the map that I sent to you. This map clearly shows when ALL of the homes located in the Dorwick drainage area were built. The map is still available to anyone asking for a copy OR you can obtain one and other relevant information by visiting the following website:
http://www.summitengineer.net/news/publications/609-northfield-center-ditch-petition-information
DON’T FORGET ABOUT THE PUBLIC HEARING ON WED. AUG. 27TH AT 6PM AT THE NORTHFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL!
Q >>> – Who are the dopes who are distributing the vote no on issue 3 pamphlets? These loose papers are blowing all over my yard and neighborhood because they are too lazy to fold or roll them so they don’t blow out of the paper boxes. Who do I contact?
A >>> – You can call the Sheriff for the littering or call Lou LaGuardia whose name appears on the bottom of the flyers.
YOUR GENERAL COMMENTS
Issue 3, residents of Northfield Center, don’t believe everything you hear. The naysayers are saying Trustee Buescher is using scare tactics, not true, he is giving you facts not fiction.
Fact, if we were to contract with Macedonia or anyone else those dollars ($375, 000 or whatever) is for the “labor” portion “ONLY” to have firefighter’s man our existing station. Northfield Center Township would still have to provide the engines, squads, their maintenance, station maintenance and upkeep, pay all the utilities etc.
Fact, our taxes are not going to be tripled as some people are saying. Figure it out and the average homeowner will be paying about a dollar a day.
Fact, Northfield Center has not asked for an increase in the fire levy for the last 10 to 15 years. The past levies were for a renewal and the last one in 2012 was for a continuous 2 mill levy. The current 2 mill levy produces around $320,000 annually and that again would only cover the labor. The township is going to have to come up with funds from somewhere to cover the rest whether they contract or continue with the existing department and its personnel.
Fact, monies currently in the fire fund is for capital improvements as existing equipment is wearing out and will have to be purchased whether we contract or not.
Fact, whoever we contract with or we have our own fire department the township will be paying for it NOT Macedonia, NOT Northfield Village or anyone else, it’s all on the township. In other words we may still have a levy at some point.
Fact, if the township decides to contract, to cut costs, more than likely the existing station would be manned by two people. That means if there was a house fire those two people would have to wait for additional help as they cannot run the fire engine and attempt to extinguish the fire with those two people. EMS, the same thing, there may be 3 people however the chase car would be coming from another station.
Fact, regionalization, it has been rejected before when all 3 communities met in the past with professionals and decided for whatever reason not to go forward with it.
As for the men and women of the existing fire department, some have been there for many years helping to keep you, your families, friends and neighbors’ safe, providing help in medical emergencies. Please vote YES on Issue 3, they have helped us now it’s our turn to help them.
Richard Switzer
Northfield Center Resident
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I wish that those boisterous few who are opposing Issue 3 and pushing for us to contract with Macedonia would wake up and see what’s really happening.
It’s clear to me that it looks like Macedonia Mayor Joe Migliorini is trying to take over all of Nordonia Hills. In my opinion, he snared Sagamore Hills and now he’s trying to get his hook into Northfield Center. Sagamore Hills abandoned us and now Migliorini is trying to force us back together again. Under Macedonia’s contract proposal, our only two personnel would have to back up all of the many multiple ems calls that come from Sagamore leaving our residents highly vulnerable! Thankfully two of our Trustees were smart enough to see through all of this by seeing what Macedonia’s end game actually is.
Their proposal to ‘cover’ our township with only two people for $375,000 is a slap in the face to every Northfield Center resident. Two people are not enough to run a rescue squad let alone a fire engine. I have no doubt that in a year or so that $375,000 figure will rise substantially given the financial condition of Macedonia. It is also my opinion that Sagamore Hills will see an even bigger increase after the first year of their contract. But then that’s their problem. Hopefully our residents, after being given an opportunity by our Trustees, will make the right choice.
We need our Fire Department back. I encourage everyone to VOTE FOR ISSUE 3!
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I just wanted to say thank you for voting to put a levy on the ballot that, if passed, will increase my property taxes by 10%. This is a fact. You know as well as I do that voter turnout is pitiful in November, even more so during when it’s not a general election (as easily evidenced by the less than 10% of the eligible voters who showed up to vote for last year’s library levy). So, to sit there and tell the actual voters, “it’s up to the people to decide,” is a crock. You sound as bad as the library director when he declared, “The people have told us how important the libraries are to them.” Really? I was insulted by the apathy of the citizens, the audacity to claim true victory, and the increase in government spending. You’re doing the same.
[PAUL’S RESPONSE]
If you bothered to read the comprehensive report that I sent to you and everyone else via this newsletter (#457 June 6, 2016) you would know why we HAD to put the levy on the August ballot. Whatever the cause is for voter apathy, whether it’s during a regular or special election is anyone’s guess. Your blaming me for this and just about everything else is the real “Crock!”
I don’t care how bad you think I sound but this issue IS UP TO THE PEOPLE and killing the messenger is a very immature response. It doesn’t matter whether 100 or 1,000 choose to vote because the opportunity and yes, even the obligation, is there for every voter in the Township to decide the issue.
You are part of a very small but vocal minority who appears to be hell-bent on blaming us/me for giving you a choice in this matter. Perhaps you would rather live in our neighboring community whose ‘leaders’ started this whole mess to begin with and refused to listen to their residents! I understand your frustration but you need to vent with facts and to those deserving of your rantings. We made a necessary decision now it’s up to the voters.
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Thank you,
Paul G. Buescher
Northfield Center Twp. Trustee Vice-Chairman
Northfield Center-Sagamore Hills Fire Dist. Board
330-467-9451
This newsletter was produced through my 5-kilowatt SOLAR power system!
<<<<< DISCLAIMER >>>>>
TrusteeBuescher@aol.com is the official newsletter of 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 comments from this newsletter. This newsletter is not an official publication of 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.
