Geauga County

Foreclosure Auction

Case# 19-F-000526. Quicken Loans Inc. vs Brian P. Smith, et al. The description of the property to be sold is as follows:

Property Address: 808 Bell Road, Chagrin Falls, Geauga, Ohio, 44022;

Legal Description: Full Legal Listed on Public Website; Parcel Number: 29-007750

Bidding will be available only on www.Auction.com opening on 02/11/2020 at 10:00 A.M. for a minimum of 7 days.

Property may be sold on a provisional sale date should the third party purchaser fail to provide their deposit within the allotted time.

Provisional Sale date: 02/25/2020 at 10:00 A.M. Sales subject to cancellation. The deposit required is $5000.00 to be paid by wire transfer within 2 hours of the sale ending. No cash is permitted.

Purchaser shall be responsible for those costs, allowances, and taxes that the proceeds of the sale are insufficient to cover.

To view all sale details and terms for this property visit www.Auction.com and enter the Search Code 19F000526 into the search bar.”

Jan 16-23-30, 2020

Geauga County

Foreclosure Auction

Case# 19-F-000310. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. vs Brian D. Johnson, et al. The description of the property to be sold is as follows:

Property Address: 17450 Leggett Road, Montville, Geauga, Ohio, 44064;

Legal Description: Full Legal Listed on Public Website; Parcel Number: 20-010100 and 20-070825

Bidding will be available only on www.Auction.com opening on 02/11/2020 at 10:00 A.M. for a minimum of 7 days.

Property may be sold on a provisional sale date should the third party purchaser fail to provide their deposit within the allotted time.

Provisional Sale date: 02/25/2020 at 10:00 A.M. Sales subject to cancellation. The deposit required is $10000.00 to be paid by wire transfer within 2 hours of the sale ending. No cash is permitted.

Purchaser shall be responsible for those costs, allowances, and taxes that the proceeds of the sale are insufficient to cover.

To view all sale details and terms for this property visit www.Auction.com and enter the Search Code 19F000310 into the search bar.

Jan 16-23-30, 2020

Geauga County

Foreclosure Auction

Case# 19-F-000519. PNC BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO NATIONAL CITY BANK vs Joyce A. Laughlin aka Joyce Ann Laughlin, et al. The description of the property to be sold is as follows:

Property Address: 11066 Wilson Mills Road, Chardon, Geauga, Ohio, 44024;

Legal Description: Full Legal Listed on Public Website; Parcel Number: 21-174700

Bidding will be available only on www.Auction.com opening on 02/11/2020 at 10:00 A.M. for a minimum of 7 days.

Property may be sold on a provisional sale date should the third party purchaser fail to provide their deposit within the allotted time.

Provisional Sale date: 02/25/2020 at 10:00 A.M. Sales subject to cancellation. The deposit required is $5000.00 to be paid by wire transfer within 2 hours of the sale ending. No cash is permitted.

Purchaser shall be responsible for those costs, allowances, and taxes that the proceeds of the sale are insufficient to cover.

To view all sale details and terms for this property visit www.Auction.com and enter the Search Code 19F000519 into the search bar.

Jan16-23-30, 2020

LEGAL NOTICE

Geauga County Department

of Water Resources

This is a notice to residents of the Berkshire Heights subdivision in Chardon Township regarding the upcoming sanitary sewer project and wastewater treatment plant project. This includes residents on Thwing Road, Henning Drive, Olmar Drive, Howard Drive, and Helmut Drive. In compliance with Ohio Administrative Code 3745-42-08, residents are notified that the location of the proposed treatment plant at 11088 Thwing Road requires a reduction of the isolation distance (200 FT) between the treatment plant and adjacent structures.

A reduction of this required distance may be granted by Ohio EPA on the basis that there are no other feasible locations for the treatment plant. To compensate for this reduced distance, we would like to assure all residents within the service area that the facility will be constructed all of the necessary odor controls, tress, and fencing to screen the facility from neighboring properties. If granted the reduction by Ohio EPA, this would have no impact on the cost or timeline of the project.

Residents are invited to send written comment in response to this notice to the Geauga County Board of Commissioners until February 1, 2020. Send comments to: Geauga County Board of Commissioners, Attn: County Administrator, 470 Center Street, Building 4, Chardon, Ohio 44024.

Jan16-23-30 Feb6, 2020

LEGAL NOTICE

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS

GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO

19-F-000981 – Christopher P. Hitchcock, Treasurer of Geauga County, Ohio, Plaintiff vs. Jeanne Neuvirth, et al., Defendants

Jeanne Neuvirth, the Unknown Spouse of Jeanne Neuvirth and the Unknown Heirs of Jeanne Neuvirth, whose last known address is 18919 Riverview Drive, Chagrin Falls, OH 44022, and present address is unknown, and cannot, with reasonable diligence, be ascertained shall take notice; and, if deceased, their unknown heirs, devises, legatees, administrators, executors and assigns will take notice that on the 16th day of December, 2019, the Treasurer Of Geauga County, filed a Complaint in the Court of Common Pleas, Geauga County, Ohio, located at 100 Short Court Street, Chardon, Ohio 44024 entitled Christopher P. Hitchcock, Treasurer Of Geauga County vs. Jeanne Neuvirth, et al., Case No: 19-F-000981, against the above-named parties, praying that the premises hereinafter described be sold for the collection of delinquent real estate taxes, owed and unpaid, is $5,699.23 together with accruing taxes, assessments, penalties, interest and charges; as well as court costs. Said premises is described as permanent parcel number 02-262800. A complete legal description of the parcel(s) can be obtained from the Geauga County Recorder’s Office. The volume and page number for the parcel(s) can be obtained from the Geauga County Auditor’s Office.

The object of the action is to obtain from the Court a judgment foreclosing the tax liens against such real estate and ordering the sale of such real estate for the satisfaction of delinquent taxes.

Such action is brought against the real property only and no personal judgment shall be entered in it. However, if pursuant to the action, the property is sold for an amount that is less than the amount of the delinquent taxes, assessments, charges, penalties and interest against it, the Court, in a separate order, may enter a deficiency judgment again the owner of record of a parcel for the amount of the difference; if that owner of record is a corporation, the Court may enter the deficiency judgment against the stockholder holding a majority of the corporation’s stock.

The above-named parties are required to answer on or before 28 days after the last date of publication. Such answer must be filed with the Clerk of Courts, and a copy must be served on the Prosecuting Attorney.

By Kristen Rine, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Attorney for Plaintiff.

Jan 16-23-30, 2020

LEGAL NOTICE

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS

GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO

19-F-000985 – Christopher P. Hitchcock, Treasurer of Geauga County, Ohio, Plaintiff vs. Jody J. Meyers, et al., Defendants

Jody J. Meyers, the Unknown Spouse of Jody J. Meyers, the Unknown Heirs of Jody J. Meyer, whose last known address is 10553 Clay Street, Montville, Ohio 44064; Charles Meyers and the Unknown Spouse of Charles Meyers, whose last known address is 397 Park Avenue, Apt. 12-F, Chardon, Ohio 44024, and present address is unknown, and cannot, with reasonable diligence, be ascertained shall take notice; and, if deceased, their unknown heirs, devises, legatees, administrators, executors and assigns will take notice that on the 16th day of December, 2019, the Treasurer Of Geauga County, filed a Complaint in the Court of Common Pleas, Geauga County, Ohio, located at 100 Short Court Street, Chardon, Ohio 44024 entitled Christopher P. Hitchcock, Treasurer Of Geauga County vs. Jody J. Meyers, et al., Case No: 19-F-000985, against the above-named parties, praying that the premises hereinafter described be sold for the collection of delinquent real estate taxes, owed and unpaid, is $5,886.37 together with accruing taxes, assessments, penalties, interest and charges; as well as court costs. Said premises is described as permanent parcel number 20-023300. A complete legal description of the parcel(s) can be obtained from the Geauga County Recorder’s Office. The volume and page number for the parcel(s) can be obtained from the Geauga County Auditor’s Office.

The object of the action is to obtain from the Court a judgment foreclosing the tax liens against such real estate and ordering the sale of such real estate for the satisfaction of delinquent taxes.

Such action is brought against the real property only and no personal judgment shall be entered in it. However, if pursuant to the action, the property is sold for an amount that is less than the amount of the delinquent taxes, assessments, charges, penalties and interest against it, the Court, in a separate order, may enter a deficiency judgment again the owner of record of a parcel for the amount of the difference; if that owner of record is a corporation, the Court may enter the deficiency judgment against the stockholder holding a majority of the corporation’s stock.

The above-named parties are required to answer on or before 28 days after the last date of publication. Such answer must be filed with the Clerk of Courts, and a copy must be served on the Prosecuting Attorney.

By Kristen Rine, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Attorney for Plaintiff.

Jan 16-23-30, 2020

PUBLIC NOTICE

The following matters are the subject of this public notice by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. The complete public notice, including any additional instructions for submitting comments, requesting information, a public hearing, or filing an appeal may be obtained at: http://www.epa.ohio.gov/actions.aspx or Hearing Clerk, Ohio EPA, 50 W. Town St. P.O. Box 1049, Columbus, Ohio 43216. Ph: 614-644-3037 email: HClerk@epa.ohio.gov

Final Approval of Plans and Specifications

Centerville Mills Park PWS

17826 Chillicothe Rd, Chagrin Falls, OH 44023

Facility Description: Transient Water System

ID #: 1336481

Date of Action: 01/14/2020

This final action not preceded by proposed action and is appealable to ERAC.

Detail Plans for PWSID:OH2831012 Plan No:1336481 Regarding Removal of Chlorine Injection.

Final Issuance of Renewal of NPDES Permit

Troyer Water System

14131 Old State Rd, Middlefield, OH

Facility Description: Wastewater-Iron & Manganese Removl

Receiving Water: unnamed trib to Tare Crk

ID #: 3IY00164*CD

Date of Action: 02/01/2020

This final action not preceded by proposed action and is appealable to ERAC.

Final Issuance of Renewal of NPDES Permit

Rosewood Diesel Shop

12111 Mayfield Rd (US322), Munson Township, OH

Facility Description: Wastewater-Semi-Public

Receiving Water: UT to Butternut Creek

ID #: 3PR00665*BD

Date of Action: 02/01/2020

This final action not preceded by proposed action and is appealable to ERAC.

Final Issuance of Renewal of NPDES Permit

Hambden Elem Sch

13871 Gar Hwy, Chardon, OH

Facility Description: Wastewater-School or Hospital

Receiving Water: Unnamed tributary to West Branch Cu

ID #: 3PT00060*DD

Date of Action: 02/01/2020

This final action not preceded by proposed action and is appealable to ERAC.

Jan 23, 2020

Geauga County

Foreclosure Auction

Case# 17-F-000940. Citizens Bank, N.A. fka RBS Citizens N.A. fka Citizens Bank, N.A. successor by merger to Charter One Bank, N.A. fka Charter One Bank, FSB vs Juanita Sanders, et al. The description of the property to be sold is as follows:

Property Address: 16668 Dayton Street, Chagrin Falls, Geauga, Ohio, 44023;

Legal Description: Full Legal Listed on Public Website; Parcel Number: 02-367000 02-366800 02-366400 02-366500 02-366600 02-366900 and 02-366700

Bidding will be available only on www.Auction.com opening on 02/18/2020 at 10:00 A.M. for a minimum of 7 days.

Property may be sold on a provisional sale date should the third party purchaser fail to provide their deposit within the allotted time.

Provisional Sale date: 03/03/2020 at 10:00 A.M. Sales subject to cancellation. The deposit required is $5000.00 to be paid by wire transfer within 2 hours of the sale ending. No cash is permitted.

Purchaser shall be responsible for those costs, allowances, and taxes that the proceeds of the sale are insufficient to cover.

To view all sale details and terms for this property visit www.Auction.com and enter the Search Code 17F000940 into the search bar.

Jan 23-30 Feb6, 2020

APPLICATION FOR

AUTHORIZATION TO RELOCATE

A BANKING OFFICE

Pursuant to sections 1117.02 and 1117.04 of the Ohio Revised Code, The Middlefield Banking Company, 15985 East High Street, P. O. Box 35, Middlefield, Ohio 44062, hereby gives notice that it has filed an application with the Superintendent of the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions, 77 South High Street, 21st Floor, Columbus, Ohio 43215-6120, and with the Regional Director of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation at its Regional Office for permission to relocate a banking office from 10519 Main Street, Village of Mantua, Portage County, Ohio 44255 to 10691 Main Street, Village of Mantua, Portage County, Ohio 44255. Any person wishing to comment may file his or her comments in writing with the Superintendent within fourteen days after the date this notice is published or with the Regional Director of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation at its Regional Office (300 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 1700, Chicago, Illinois 60606-3447) before processing of the application has been completed. Processing will be completed no earlier than the 15th day following either the date of this publication or the date of receipt of the application by the FDIC, whichever is later. The period may be extended by the Regional Director for good cause. The nonconfidential portions of the application are on file in the regional office and are available for public inspection during regular business hours. Photocopies of the nonconfidential portion of the application file will be made available upon request.

Jan 23, 2020

Geauga County

Foreclosure Auction

Case# 19-F-000146. Freedom Mortgage Corporation vs Suzzanne Kay Hansen aka Suzanne Kay Fioritto, et al. The description of the property to be sold is as follows:

Property Address: 13643 Cuyahoga Trail, Novelty, Geauga, Ohio, 44072;

Legal Description: Full Legal Listed on Public Website; Parcel Number: 26-053200

Bidding will be available only on www.Auction.com opening on 02/18/2020 at 10:00 A.M. for a minimum of 7 days.

Property may be sold on a provisional sale date should the third party purchaser fail to provide their deposit within the allotted time.

Provisional Sale date: 03/03/2020 at 10:00 A.M. Sales subject to cancellation. The deposit required is $5000.00 to be paid by wire transfer within 2 hours of the sale ending. No cash is permitted.

Purchaser shall be responsible for those costs, allowances, and taxes that the proceeds of the sale are insufficient to cover.

To view all sale details and terms for this property visit www.Auction.com and enter the Search Code 19F000146 into the search bar.

Jan 23-30 Feb6, 2020

LEGAL NOTICE

2019 FINANCIAL REPORT

MUNSON TOWNSHIP

GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO

Notice is hereby given that the 2019 annual financial report for Munson Township is complete and available for review at the Munson Township Hall, 12210 Auburn Road, between 9:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M., Monday through Friday.

Judy Toth, Fiscal Officer

Jan 23, 2020

LEGAL NOTICE

Burton Public Library

Notice is hereby given that the 2019 Annual Financial Report of the Board of Library Trustees of the Burton Public Library is complete and available for inspection at the office of the Fiscal Officer: Burton Public Library, 14588 West Park St., Burton, OH, Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Rebecca S. Herrick, Fiscal Officer

Jan 23, 2020

BID NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICE

Cardinal Local School District

Sealed bids for “2020 Phase V Roof Replacements” for Board of Education, Cardinal Local School District, Middlefield, Ohio will be received by the Board of Education at the office of: Ms. Merry Lou Knuckles, Treasurer, Cardinal Local School District, 15982 East High Street, P.O. Box 188, Middlefield, Ohio 44062 until 10:00 A.M., current local time, on Friday, February 14, 2020, and will be publicly opened and read aloud immediately thereafter. A report will be made by the Treasurer at the next Board of Education meeting.

Proposed Work consists of all Work of all Trades necessary for the prime bid for roof replacement areas that include complete tear-off of existing built-up roof systems and installation of new EPDM roof system, and related work at Cardinal High School.

Cost Estimates: Roof 1, $500,000.

A mandatory Pre-bid Conference will be held at Cardinal High School, 14785 North Thompson Avenue, Middlefield, Ohio 44062, on Friday, January 31, 2020, at 10:30 A.M.; meet at the Main Entrance.

Each bid shall be submitted on forms available from the School District, and shall be accompanied by Bid Security in the form of a 100% Bid Guaranty and Contract Bond, conforming to the requirements of Sec. 153.54 of the Ohio Revised Code, issued by a Surety licensed to do business in the State of Ohio, and payable to Cardinal Local School District for the full amount of the sealed bid, or a certified check in an amount of 10% of the bid.

The School District reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to waive all informalities and to accept the bid or combination of base bid and any alternates that promote the best interest of the School District; an Equal Opportunity Employer.

This Legal Notice, bidding documents and project drawings and specifications may be examined at the Cardinal Local School District Board Office and are available for viewing online at the School District’s website: www.cardinalschools.org.

Merry Lou Knuckles, Treasurer

Jan 9-16-23, 2020

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

STATE OF OHIO

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Columbus, Ohio

Division of Construction Management

Legal Copy Number: 20057

Sealed proposals will be accepted from pre-qualified bidders at the ODOT Office of Contracts until 10:00 a.m. on February 13, 2020. Project 200057 is located in Geauga County, SR 608-02.45/04.58 and is a TWO LANE RESURFACING project. The date set for completion of this work shall be as set forth in the bidding proposal. Plans and Specifications are on file in the Department of Transportation.

Jan 16-23, 2020

DATE OF SALE: Thursday, February 20, 2020 — 10:00 A.M.

Auburn Township

Case No. 13-F-000170 — Christopher P. Hitchcock, Treasurer of Geauga County, Ohio vs. Staffordshire Development, Inc., et al., Vacant Land On Staffordshire Court (2.04 acres). PPN: 01-117807. Kristen K. Rine, atty.

Set Minimum Bid: $26,026.96

Sheriff’s land sales are held at 10:00 A.M. on Thursday or date scheduled at the GEAUGA COUNTY COMMON PLEAS COURT HOUSE, 100 SHORT COURT STREET, CHARDON, OHIO, 1st floor lobby by the doors of the Court House.

1. Opening bids start at 2/3rds of the appraisal value. If the property remains unsold after the first sale with a minimum bid of 2/3rds of the appraised value, a second sale will go forward on the next scheduled date with no minimum bid and the property will be sold to the highest bidder.

However, the purchaser at the second sale is still subject to the costs, allowances, and real property taxes.

2. Deposit due at the time of bid, (if you do not have the down payment on your person at the time of the bid, property will be re- bid). Balance due 30 days after confirmation. NO PERSONAL CHECKS accepted by Sheriff’s Office. Deposit by CASH, BANK CHECK, or CERTIFIED CHECK at time of bid. Checks can be made payable to the Geauga County Sheriff or to yourself and endorsed over to the Sheriff if you are the successful bidder. A judgment creditor is not required to make a sales deposit.

3. Deeds are issued after the confirmation of sale, when the balance of the purchase price is received by the Sheriff’s Office.

4. You cannot view the inside of the properties for sale. They are owned by the defendants, and the Sheriff’s Office does not have access to these properties. You buy “AS IS”.

5. Information about the lot size, number of rooms, year built, etc. can be obtained from the Auditor’s Office for a small fee using the permanent parcel number.

6. Federal tax liens are filed in the Geauga County Recorder’s Office, Courthouse Annex, 231 Main St, City of Chardon 1st floor, and case files are located in the Clerk of Courts Office, 3rd floor Courthouse 100 Short Court, City of Chardon (www.co.geauga.oh.us click on Departments), and can be researched in the respective offices.

7. Legal descriptions for delinquent tax land can also be found in the Recorder’s Office.

8. Property taxes will be prorated by the Geauga County Treasurer’s Office and paid out of the proceeds of the sale. Tax amount will include arrearages and a prorated estimate to the second sale date.

9. Delinquent tax properties are NOT appraised. They are sold for DELINQUENT TAXES, COSTS, AND PENALTIES. The property is offered for sale two (2) times. If it is not sold on the first sale date, it will be offered again at a later date.

10. The purchaser is responsible for a $50.00 deed fee to be paid to the Sheriff.

NOTICE OF SALE UNDER JUDGMENT

OF FORECLOSURE OF LIENS FOR

DELINQUENT LAND TAX

Revised Code, Sec. 5721.191

Case No. 13-F-000170

CHRISTOPHER P. HITCHCOCK, TREASURER OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO, Plaintiff vs. STAFFORDSHIRE DEVELOPMENT, INC., ET AL., Defendants

Whereas, judgment has been rendered against certain parcels of real property for taxes, assessments, penalties, costs and charges as follows:

Parcel No(s): 01-117807 – 2.04 acres.

Address: known on the tax duplicate as: 01-117807 – VACANT LAND ON STAFFORDSHIRE COURT, AUBURN TOWNSHIP, OH.

Description: “As Geauga County has adopted a permanent parcel number system, it has been determined that publication of the complete legal description is not necessary to provide reasonable notice of the foreclosure sale to potential bidders. The complete legal description can be located in the Court’s file located at the Geauga County Clerk of Court’s office, located on the 3rd floor of the Geauga County Courthouse, 100 Short Court, Chardon, Ohio 44024.”

Last known owner: STAFFORDSHIRE DEVELOPMENT, INC., 16740 MESSENGER ROAD, CHAGRIN FALLS, OH 44023.

MINIMUM BID: $26,026.96

Whereas, such judgment orders such real property to be sold by the undersigned to satisfy the total amount of said judgment;

Now, therefore, public notice is hereby given that Scott A. Hildenbrand, Sheriff of Geauga County, Ohio, will sell such real property at public auction, for cash to the highest bidder of an amount sufficient to satisfy the judgment against each parcel at 10:00 o’clock A.M. at the door of the Court House in the City of Chardon, Ohio on THURSDAY, THE 20TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2020, at 10:00 o’clock A.M., and if any parcel does not receive a sufficient bid, it shall be offered for sale, under the same terms and conditions of the first sale and at the same time of day and at the same place, on THURSDAY, THE 5TH DAY OF MARCH, 2020 for an amount sufficient to satisfy the judgment against the parcel.

Public notice is hereby given that all such real property to be sold at public auction may be subject to a federal tax lien that may not be extinguished by the sale, and purchasers of any such real property are urged to search the Federal Tax Lien index that is kept by the County Recorder to determine if notice of a federal tax lien has been filed with respect to any such real property.

DEPOSIT: Pursuant to Geauga County Local Rule 13, the required deposit for this offering shall be $300 or 10% of bid, whichever is greater. Said deposit shall be CASH or CERTIFIED CHECK, payable to the Geauga County Sheriff.

TERMS OF SALE: Cash if Purchase Price is $300.00 or less. If more than $300.00 Purchase Price is to be paid in accordance with the Rule of Court of Common Pleas, Geauga County, Ohio, governing Sheriff’s Sales.

SCOTT A. HILDENBRAND,

Sheriff Geauga County, Ohio

Kristen K. Rine, attorney

Jan 23-30 Feb6, 2020

DATE OF SALE: Thursday, January 9, 2020

Auburn Township

Case No. 18-F-000917 — Christopher P. Hitchcock, Treasurer of Geauga County, Ohio vs. Prairie Dog Partners, LLC, et al., 11660 Washington Street And Vacant Land On Washington Street (6.00 acres). PPN: 01-027800; 01-027900; 01-028000. NO BID. NO SALE.

Case No. 17-F-000338 — Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. vs. George B. Rumore, et al., 147 Kensington Court, Unit 6 (Unit No. 6 In The Auburn Crossings Condominium) (condo). PPN: 01-118578. WITHDRAWN — ORDER OF COURT.

Bainbridge Township

Case No. 19-F-000496 — U.S. Bank National Association, not in its individual capacity but solely as Trustee for Merrill Lynch First Franklin Mortgage Loan Trust, Mortgage Loan Asset-Backed Certificates, Series 2007-2 vs. Norman Thompson, aka Norman Curtis Thompson, as Possible Heir to the Estate of Linda French, aka Linda K. French and William French, aka William French, Jr., et al., 16794 Huron Street (0.24 acres). PPN: 02-230900, 02-231000, 02-231100. 02-231200, 02-231300. SOLD TO PLAINTIFF FOR $65,000.00.

Hambden Township

Case No. 18-F-000311 — Citizens Bank, N.A., etc. vs. Kenneth H. Franklin, et al., 10171 Sawmill Drive (3.06 acres). PPN: 15-101704. SOLD TO PLAINTIFF FOR $123,334.00.

Munson Township

Case No. 19-F-000384 — The Middlefield Banking Company vs. Scot Lee, et al., 11230 Sherman Road (4.09 acres). PPN: 21-176780. SOLD TO PLAINTIFF FOR $375,000.00.

Newbury Township

Case No. 16-F-000404 — HSBC Bank USA, National Association, etc. vs. Rodney P. Butler, et al., 10210 Pekin Road (56.90 acres). PPN: 23-292700. WITHDRAWN — BANKRUPTCY.

The Hawken Hawks used a strong first quarter to build a 10-point lead at Berkshire High School en route to a 46-36 win.

Hawken was led by Makayla White’s 19 points, nine of which came in the first quarter. Maya Dori added 12 for the Hawks.

The Badgers were paced by Lydia Kastor’s 18 points and Lexi Boyk’s eight points.

The Badgers started the week at 8-7.

Kastor leads the team with over 200 points this season, or about 13 points per game. Alyssa Schafter has more than five rebounds per game. Boyk has almost six steals per game.

At the start of the season, the Wolverines had three important games circled on their schedule: matchups against rival Chagrin Falls on Dec. 18 and Jan. 29, and a Chagrin Valley Conference crossover against the Perry Pirates.

West Geauga took game one against the Tigers 39-35, and won again on Wednesday, 42-38, to remain unbeaten in the CVC.

“We were looking at this one big,” said second-year head coach Bob Beutel when asked what this win meant for his team. “This game had a lot of implications for the conference, possibly for the seed meeting.”

Led by freshman Alexa Hocevar’s 14 points and nine rebounds and junior Nicola Ehrbar’s 13 points, the Wolverines shot 65 percent from the field. Eight of Alexa’s 14 points came from the free throw line, where she shot 8 of 14.

“Offensively, we were running our plays correctly, which included setting screens for the far wing and getting the three open, and hitting the post,” Alexa said. “We wanted to run an isolation and get the ball inside to the post, to get to the free throw line. We were trying to hit some threes by sending Athena out to the three point line.”

Athena pitched in with five points, becoming a huge offensive threat for her team in the fourth quarter.

When asked how big the two victories are for the Wolverines, Alexa talked about the momentum they can carry, heading into the end of their season.

“We will be using them to continue to move forward,” said Hocevar.

The Wolverines were looking to head into Perry undefeated, but when two losses over the Christmas break spoiled their plan, Coach Beutel and his team decided enough was enough.

“From that point on, we’ve been playing pretty good and we are getting it done defensively,” Beutel said.

The Wolverines have had to transition their game plan a little bit differently the second half of the season. With transfer rules, sophomore Grace Wolfe now sits the second half, and junior Lauren Munko has been asked to step into a much bigger role.

In Wednesday’s victory Munko added five points.

“Lauren has been able to help contribute, said Beutel. “We have another freshman who has really started to assert herself, and now she’s in the rotation in the last two weeks in Ashlyn Drayer.”

The Wolverines look at four of their remaining five games to host at home where they are undefeated. They look to pick up key CVC victories over Hawken, Chagrin Falls and Beachwood before they close out their regular season over Mentor.

“I tell my team in the locker room that all 21 kids in our program, because of what they do in practice, they are all a part of a win like Perry,” Beutel said. “We really believe in the team.”

In what has become a popular occasion for elementary, middle and high school students of the Joseph Badger and Newbury high schools, the final edition of a girls-boys doubleheader during school hours didn’t disappoint, with a superb atmosphere for playing basketball.

Yelling, screaming and cheering for the home team filled the gymnasium for both teams. Badger even brought some students of their own for a day trip that most will recall with fondness for many years to come.

For Newbury students, memories will be bittersweet of the school’s last season before merging with West Geauga.

That does not mean the athletes can’t give their best, though. Newbury’s girls used the strength of a huge third period, in which they outscored the Braves, 14-2, to force overtime.

However, MacKensie Gross erased a 33-32 Newbury lead in overtime with a 3-pointer, her only points of the game, and Badger won, 36-33.

In the boys game, the Braves, with two players at 6-3 and another pair at 6-4, combined with the hot shooting of Logan Lendak to overrun the Black Knights, 65-37.

Both games were in Northeastern Athletic Conference league action.

Sixteen turnovers by Newbury’s girls put them on the short side of a 17-11 halftime score. Holly Hamilton hit her first trio of shots in scoring eight first-half points, and Grace Laster fired home a second-period 3-pointer for the other markers for the Black Knights (5-5, 2-5 in NAC).

Grace Popovich tallied nine for Badger. Paced by seven rebounds from Sage Neidbalson, the Black Knights had a 19-12 edge on the boards, a good sign they were still very much in the contest.

After a Calena Jablonski fast break layup gave Badger (6-30) a 19-13 lead, Hamilton and HannaRose Brastoff took control at both ends, leading to the huge third period outbreak for the Black Knights.

Three quick hoops for Badger to open the fourth period tied the score, and defenses ruled the rest of regulation. Hamilton sank a free throw with 1:58 left for a 30-27 lead, Lauryn Hamilton of Badger tied the count at 30-30 with just over 29 seconds left to play, and nobody had a clear chance to win in regulation time.

Malarie Eggleston contributed some big-time defense in the contest for Newbury, snaring 10 rebounds for the game.

“We knew they were a pretty tall team,” Eggleston said. “At the same time, having played in front of the kids before here and at their school, I’d have to say that this was possibly the most fun time I’ve ever had playing in a game. We had a chance to win, everybody was yelling and screaming, and that really pushes us to play even harder.”

Brastoff has seen it all for Newbury in her high school career. Playing on the soccer and football teams, while also on the girls hoops squad, she’s seen and experienced just about all the highs and lows an athlete can feel.

“I know we lost this game today,” Brastoff said, “but even in overtime, we had a chance to beat a very good team. Can’t ask for much more than that.”

Brastoff has dealt with an ankle sprain recently, missing a few games. On a team where bodies are very important for depth, her return was huge. She scored six points and snared eight rebounds.

Another big contributor for the Black Knights was Sage Neidbalson. In scoring four points and grabbing 11 rebounds, she was a force in the paint for her team.

“Right now, as a senior, I need to set a good example for the younger girls on the team,” Neidbalson said. “Some of these girls won’t have the memories of an alma mater that I will, but they need to see how important they can be in their own futures and legacies. I need to do everything I can to help them in their own futures.”

Boys couldn’t get off feet

Badger scored the first 20 points of the boys game before Noah Arnold tallied on a conventional 3-point play with 14.3 seconds left in the first quarter. Newbury battled back to within 27-15 at the half, but an 18-1 run for the Braves pretty much settled matters in the first three minutes of the third period.

Depth played a big part in the action. Short-handed to begin with, more Black Knights saw time in the second half as Arnold tweaked a knee and was forced to sit for a while. It gave younger players a chance, and they appreciated it.

For freshman Calvin Eggleston, who got his first varsity start barely a month ago, extended playing came to pass. Going against the trees coming off the bench for Badger, he held his own in the paint in battling for four rebounds and a steal.

“It’s really scary playing against all the tall guys they had,” Eggleston said. “At the same time, being part of this team with all of these guys is about being with and working hard for friends. I’ve known some great guys here with this team.”

John Tropf has put major effort into everything he’s done as part of the program, and preparing to graduate early, a lot has happened in his young life that he treasures.

“For me and for the team, it’s really important, win or lose, to play with heart all the time,” Tropf said. “If you are putting in the effort, you’re building your own legacy in life.”

Coach Dave Orms has stepped into the gap for his players as they play out their final times together as a team.

“We knew this could be a rough game,” the coach said. “At the same time, I try to always focus on positives for ourselves in each game. It’s been such a great honor to coach these kids; I’ve seen them grow up, and I just want to be a positive in their lives for the future.”

Logan Lendak had a hot hand from outside. He scored eight in the first quarter to open the big lead and ended with 19 points. A senior, he’s been part of some very good teams the last couple years, and his legacy seems to be rubbing off on his brother, Jack, a sophomore, who scored 16 while grabbing eight rebounds.

Tropf paced the Black Knight attack with nine points. No matter where on the floor he got the ball, it seemed an octopus waving long tentacles was coming at him. He also snared 10 rebounds.

Noah Arnold and Kaleb Grubbs each scored seven points, Monte Myer tallied five coming off the bench to provide some inside help, and Jacob Orms and Ben Terrill each added four points.

Terrill, a 5-11 freshman, snared six rebounds playing against a large group of much larger players and more than held his own.

Newbury falls to 3-8 on the season.

In the past four years, this daytime doubleheader has given many young athletes a taste of high school basketball. It’s a rush for the players to play in front of a large, energetic crowd, whether there’s a league title at stake or no more than a break from classwork.

This is the last time for these teams, but the blessings have been so good, it’s a wonder more schools don’t give it a try.

More photos available at www.geaugamapleleaf.com/sports.

Auburn’s Zoning in Jeopardy

There was standing room only last Tuesday (Jan. 14) at Adam Hall as Auburn’s old and new residents expressed their feelings at a public hearing on several variances put before the Board of Zoning Appeals by Robert Brosnan (Six Dog Holdings LLC), of Chagrin Falls. He owns 11 parcels of land in our B-3 and B-4 business districts south of Route 422 and 44 that are zoned 2 acres.

The summary of his variances is to change seven of his parcels totaling 31-plus acres to a new district Residential (R-1) allowing high density housing. The plans shown are 110-plus apartment units with very little green space running down to the beautiful LaDue Reservoir and to be built by Redwood USA LLC.

Dale Markowitz, of Thrasher, Dinsmore and Dolan, represented Mr. Brosnan and Redwood USA LLC. A representative for Redwood’s units across Ohio and eight other states described the company. Other presenters spoke on traffic study, water study, environmental impact studies, etc. that were somewhat done on the property.

It was very apparent that well water, endangered species and, most of all, townships were definitely new to Redwood.

Mr. Brosnan has not been able to sell his properties at the current zoning, which is in a sewered district.

First, Mr. Markowitz filed a zoning amendment (see Geauga County Planning Commission minutes of Oct. 8, 2019, pages 63-90, for complete information on this amendment).

At the review of this amendment with the county Planning Commission — which they continued because of the extreme contents — Mr. Markowitz pulled the amendment and started the variance process. Something of this magnitude has not been done in Auburn. Time has always been taken working together to try to satisfy both parties.

The public comments were fast and heated, and it was difficult at times for the chairman to maintain order of the hearing. The newer residents (five years to present), representing a very large number at this hearing, moved here because they like rural Auburn and do not want to see apartments in Auburn, let alone the high density.

This kind of housing is not in the current zoning, not in our Land Use Plan and was never even thought of in the 25-plus years of my zoning commission experience.

I am sorry Mr. Brosnan that this is property you have not been able to sell. I wish you could find it in your heart to stop this and work with the township for a better fit. It was very obvious that Redwood USA hasn’t developed in townships. They need to stay in their cities, where people want this kind of living and leave the rural townships, like Auburn, alone.

The sad part of all of the above is that 98 percent of the residents that attended his public hearing did not know about it until the weekend before, finding out through social media and flyers, not by our township officials.

Our township website had part of the public notice posted about another variance on the same date. After being told the information was not complete on Friday before the public hearing, they changed their website adding the full public hearing notice. Why was something as important to Auburn not brought before the residents before this? Our Trustees should have known how this would go over. They have been around for lesser of an impact on our zoning several times before. We have an Auburn page in the Spirit of Bainbridge. Why not use it? Bainbridge stays well informed in this paper.

Thank you Zoning Board of Appeals for voting NO on these variances. Your comments were very well stated as well as the many residents’ comments. Our zoning has been strong. Here’s hoping they will not break through it. If they do, it leaves the door wide open for all the other properties down there for high density housing.

Expansion of the sewer has been approved. What about all the other property owners down there? Will the sewer be enough for you?

Trustee meetings are the first and third Mondays of every month at 7:30 p.m. at the Auburn Administration Building.

Dee Belew, 50-Year Resident
Auburn Township

Grendell is Loyal to Geauga GOP

As someone who very rarely shares my views publicly, I am writing to give my voter support for Judge Timothy Grendell in his quest to remain Probate Juvenile Judge of Geauga County.

I have supported Judge Grendell for many years, whether on his campaign endeavors or as a former employee of Probate Juvenile Court. I have witnessed numerous cases before the judge.  His decisions have always been fair, not always popular, and always in the best interest of justice.

Rendering judgments and decisions that are not “popular” does not make them wrong. Let’s be honest, if any issue in life requires judicial intervention, it is not usually for a good reason. There is always going to be the other side who doesn’t like how it concluded.

I was told that Judge Grendell’s opponent in the upcoming election ran as a Democrat, registered and voted as a Democrat, and was referred to as a “progressive Democrat” by the husband of the Geauga County Democratic Party chair. Admittedly, it is a bit difficult to follow the partisan gymnastics with regards to loyalty.

I do know that Judge Grendell has been loyal to the Geauga County Republican Party for his entire political career and, in addition to numerous acknowledgements and awards, he is a voted member of the Lake/Geauga Young Republicans Hall of Fame.

When not on the bench, he works tirelessly in all facets of the community. He has the experience and the knowledge of both juvenile and probate law. He has held hearings in the evening hours, on Saturdays and traveled to homes, hospitals and nursing facilities to make decisions that offer families protection and uphold those laws. He is good father and an awesome grandfather. His goal is not to ruffle the feathers of those who oppose his decisions, but to carry out the duties of his position and enforce the laws of the court legally and objectively.

I hope that all voters of Geauga County who already know these things about Judge Grendell will understand that their vote matters and will continue to support what they know to be true.

I also hope for those of you who are not aware of the accomplishments of Judge Grendell, you will educate yourself throughout the crazy campaign days ahead, put on your safety glasses so you can see clearly through the mud-slinging and inuendo, and cast your vote to keep him right where he is . . . as Geauga County Probate Juvenile Judge.

Laura A. Cooke
Munson Township

Following is a list of real estate transfers for the week ending Jan. 10, 2020, provided as a public service by the Geauga County Auditor’s Office. Transfers may involve the sale of land only.

AUBURN TOWNSHIP

Miles A. McNeal, 310 Overlook Brook Drive (Unit 64A), to Anthony and Amy W. Rizzo, $295,000. (0.00 acres)

Inderjits and Pritam K. Soni, 18075 Chanticleer Court, to Gerald and Phyllis Appel, $422,000. (2.05 acres)

BAINBRIDGE TOWNSHIP

Thomas J. and Tamara A. Seringer, 17380 Tall Tree Trail, to Jessica Squire and John Bionelli, $630,000. (0.74 acres)

Robert W. and Nancy G. Bock (trustees), 17658 East Brook Trail (Unit 204 Bldg. G), to David Thomas, $110,000. (0.00 acres)

BURTON VILLAGE

Deutsche Bank National Trust Company (trustee), 13757 Carlton St., to Robert Sperling, Marla Hunt, and Mike and Natalie Zabukovec, $60,000. (2.27 acres)

CHARDON CITY

Kevin Kilbane and Lisa Darone, 119 Fifth Ave., to Matthew J. Sieracki and Heather N. Ziska, $131,000. (0.48 acres)

Carol C. Hanzel, 109 Middle Post Point, to Moulay A. and Anissa V. Meziane, $237,000. (0.27 acres)

CHARDON TOWNSHIP

Wesley S. and Laurie M. Holder, 9636 Ravenna Road, to Mark S. and Zhao Xin Lyons, $352,000. (5.49 acres)

Margaret E. Gough, 12042 Clark Road, to Christopher H. and Veronica Toflinski, $167,000. (1.00 acres)

CLARIDON TOWNSHIP

Stephen M. and Amy S. Grubbs, 12800 Vista Pointe Drive, to Kevin P. and Susan K. Blake, $373,000. (3.35 acres)

William G. and Deeann Schmid (TOD), Aquilla Road, to Linda Eget (trustee), $153,000. (17.00 acres)

MIDDLEFIELD TOWNSHIP

William H. Varner, 16565 Peters Road, to RBS Citizens N.A., $100,000. (3.06 acres)

John A. and Ann T. Zippay, 16699 Peters Road, to JMZ, $205,000. (1.79 acres)

David and Cheryl Hochstetler, 15965 Chipmunk Lane, to John M. Kurtz (TOD), $175,000. (3.01 acres)

Denise Walsh (trustee), 15935 Adams Road, to Brandon M. Hauser, $160,000. (1.00 acres)

MIDDLEFIELD VILLAGE

Dennis W. Hall (trustee), 14850 Orchard Ave., to Andrew L. Caputo, $207,000. (0.39 acres)

Nationstar REO Sub 1B LLC, 15695 Edgewood Drive, to James Kortan, $150,000. (0.57 acres)

Rosemary Richards and Roxanne R. Havel, 15044 Woodsong Drive (Bldg. 6), to Ann T. and John A. Zippay, $139,500. (0.00 acres)

MUNSON TOWNSHIP

Maureen C. Kline, 11255 Beechnut Lane, to Elizabeth Anne and Brian Glenn Baldacci, $480,000. (2.65 acres)

Stephen M. Croce, 11634 Beachside Road, to Alex C. and Emily T. Stevenson, $270,000. (0.74 acres)

NEWBURY TOWNSHIP

Sandra A. Franklin, Addington Court (s/l 3), to Bravo Homes LLC, $94,000. (3.00 acres)

RUSSELL TOWNSHIP

Catherine R. Winans, 7861 Kinsman Road, to Rachel Anger, $136,500. (0.46 acres)

THOMPSON TOWNSHIP

John L. and Norman Yoder, Moseley Road, to Eric J. and Matthew R. Meister, $155,000. (85.72 acres)

The following is a sampling of the calls handled by the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office Jan. 10-16, 2019. In total, the sheriff’s office handled 406 calls during this period.

ANIMAL BITE

Jan. 11

11:36 a.m., Kile Road, Claridon. Neighbor’s dog attacked caller. This has been ongoing problem. Caller already has filed with dog warden with no resolve; neighbor’s dogs are still running loose. He would like a deputy this time. Dig did not bite him, but caller feared dog would. Contacted dog warden. She advised to notify neighbor of the dog issue and also advised they will be doing follow up with them. Spoke with neighbor and advised him of the incident and that dog warden said keep the dog in their property.

 CITIZEN ASSIST

Jan. 15

6:51 p.m., Kinsman Road, Newbury. Caller in the lobby of GCSO with her 6-year-old son who witnessed a man pull a gun on her husband. Advice given.

DRUGS

Jan. 10

3:01 p.m., Mayfield Road, Claridon. Grandmother went to the trailer to pick up the children’s items and found drug abuse instruments in the dresser. She is not there now, but the deputy can call her and she will point out where it is. Deputy was advised by caller she does not have the authority to give deputies permission to search residence. Deputy advised her when she comes back out to the residence to call GCSO and deputies would take possession of items. Deputy advised. Instruments turned over and logged into evidence for destruction. No criminal charges.

FRAUD

Jan. 13

5:32 p.m., Merritt Road, Munson. Someone used caller’s cards and took money from their loan. Received bank statements from Huntington Bank for three separate accounts each.  Do not have accounts at Huntington and after opening mail discovered new accounts had a deposit of $1,800 from ACE Cash Express and three transactions paid out to Green Dot Bank. A second account had a $1,000 deposit and withdrawals of $498 and $501. Third account shows no activity. Caller called Huntington Bank and was advised to contact ACE Cash Express and credit reporting agencies. Caller also advised to start an emergency credit hold with reporting agencies.

HARASSMENT

Jan. 16

2:39 p.m., Wing Road, Auburn. Caller has received several sexual-oriented texts from an unknown number. She said she contacted her friends to see if any of them were trying to play a joke on her and all denied sending her any texts. Caller requested advice on what to do to get this to stop. Advice given.

POSSIBLE DUI

Jan. 11

2:06 p.m., Kinsman Road, Newbury. Just saw a white male, red shirt and jeans headed eastbound on 87 from Speedway. He was smoking a meth pipe. Unknown who guy is; female in passenger seat. UTL.

RUNAWAY JUVENILE

Jan. 11

9:46 p.m., Hosmer Road, Parkman. 16-year-old daughter just jumped out of the window and took off on foot. Caller thinks she is with a boy. Deputy has the female. Per magistrate, leave juvenile with parents and warn that if she leaves again she does straight to Portage. 21-year-old male with also be charged with contributing.

SUSPICIOUS

Jan. 11

1:54 p.m., Hayes Road, Middlefield. Male in black pickup truck is sitting across from his house. He had binoculars. Male checked OK. Male was waiting for his girlfriend to get home. Girlfriend’s mother does not like him and does not want him around so he waits up the road for her. Male advised to find another place to wait.

Listed are public meetings and executive sessions in the county for the coming week, unless otherwise noted. To have a public meeting included in this section, fax information to 440-285-2015 or email editor@geaugamapleleaf.com no later than Monday noon. These meeting notices are NOT legal notices. 

Geauga County: Jan. 23, 9 a.m., Geauga County Commissioners; Jan. 27, 2 p.m., Family First Council, 12480 Ravenwood Drive, Claridon; Jan. 28, 9 a.m., Geauga County Commissioners All county commissioners meetings are held at 470 Center St., Bldg. 4, Chardon, unless otherwise noted.

Bainbridge Township: Jan. 27, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees. All meetings are held at Town Hall, 17826 Chillicothe Road, unless noted.

Burton Village: Jan. 27, 7 p.m., Village Council. All meetings are held at 14588 W. Park St., 2nd Floor, unless otherwise noted.

Chester Township: Jan. 28, 6:30 p.m., Planning Committee, Geauga West Library; Jan. 30, 6 p.m., Board of Trustees; Feb. 5, 7 p.m., Zoning Commission. All meetings are held at the Township Hall, 12701 Chillicothe Road, unless otherwise noted.

Claridon Township: Jan. 27, 7 p.m., Zoning Commission. All trustees meetings are held at Administrative Building, 13932 Mayfield Road, unless otherwise noted. All Zoning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals meetings are held at Town Hall, 13930 Mayfield Road.

Huntsburg Township: Jan. 27, 7 p.m., Board of Zoning Appeals, organizational meeting. All meetings held at the Town Hall, 16534 Mayfield Road.

Montville Township: Jan. 23, 7:30 p.m., Zoning Commission. All meetings held at the Montville Community Center, 9755 Madison Road, unless noted.

Munson Township: Jan. 28, 6:30 p.m., Board of Trustees. All meetings are held at Township Hall, 12210 Auburn Road, unless otherwise noted.

Parkman Township: Jan. 28, 7 p.m., Zoning Commission. All meetings are held at the Community House, 16295 Main Market Road, unless otherwise noted.

South Russell Village: Jan. 27, 7:30 p.m., Village Council. All meetings are held at Village Hall, 5205 Chillicothe Road, unless otherwise noted.

The City of Chardon put Geauga County Commissioners on notice it objects to moving any offices out of the city that are required by the Ohio Revised Code to stay in the county seat.

A Jan. 21 letter from the city’s attorney, Stephen Funk, of Roetzel and Andress LPA, said nothing in the ORC allows county commissioners to relocate their offices outside of the county seat.

The letter was shared with the Geauga County Maple Leaf that afternoon and Chardon Mayor Dan Meleski said it was also sent to Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz earlier that morning.

The city is taking action because commissioners recently produced plans that show they intend to move forward with construction of a new county administration building on Merritt Road in Claridon Township, Funk said.

“It is unfortunate and unproductive that media outlets received this letter the same day I did,” Flaiz said in an email Jan. 21. “The commissioners have repeatedly expressed to me their desire to make services more accessible to the entire county within the framework of existing law.”

Geauga County Commissioners responded with a press release Jan. 23, in which they called the city’s assumption of an attempt to relocate the county seat a “conspiracy theory.”

“An office for the county commissioners will be in the City of Chardon, as required by law,” commissioners said. “While the county does not currently know where this office will be in the city, the office will not be new construction and with all the vacant space within the city (including the two store fronts recently vacated on the square), the final location can be determined at any time during the construction process and even sometime thereafter as the office could remain at 470 Center St. until that property is sold.”

The county maintains a new campus would be more efficient and cost-effective for the public near University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center in Claridon Township than at their current location in an aging campus north of Chardon Square, and at 231 and 211 Main St.

In a Jan. 22 press release, Chardon City Manager Randy Sharpe said the city was told in December 2019 commissioners had not yet determined the individual offices to be located out of the county seat.

However, the city later discovered the request for qualifications for construction manager-at-risk firms advertised in December did, in fact, include the county commissioners’ offices among those to be housed in the proposed new building in Claridon Township, Sharpe said.

He said the city’s attorney has requested records from the county to determine which offices would be leaving for a Claridon campus, but the city has had a difficult time gathering information regarding the proposed new building.

“It appears that this $26.7 million project is being fast tracked,” Meleski said.

Meleski added he and Sharpe attended a meeting to interview CMR firms Jan. 13, but the commissioners’ office specifically stated public comment or questions were not permitted.

County Administrator Gerry Morgan said public comments or questions were not allowed at that meeting on the order of the county prosecutor, since it was a special meeting to conduct an interview.

“It was not directed at the city,” Morgan said. “Because they were interviews and they were for a request for proposal, there was a specific line of questions we can ask them.”

City representatives could have returned to commissioners chambers Jan. 14 for their regular meeting with comments or questions, he added.

In their press release, commissioners said they recognized the City of Chardon’s stakeholder position throughout the process, including spending extra funds in the evaluation process to allow the county’s architecture firm time to meet with the city to discuss their views. Commissioners said they held up any final decision on how to move forward until the city was given an opportunity to bring the county’s architecture firm in to evaluate consolidating the offices currently situated on Chardon Square in a new facility on the square.

“The commissioners, seeing the desire for the city to maintain the square ‘as is,’ made the decision to leave the offices currently on the square, on the square, and focus on consolidating other county offices located both at 470 Center Street and in the Geauga hospital area,” commissioners said.

Sharpe said relocating county offices from 470 Center Street in the City of Chardon to Claridon Township is anticipated to have a negative impact on the city budget of greater than $120,000 per year.

“Additionally, there will be an unquantifiable loss of revenue to local businesses from the services provided to county employees and those that visit the city while conducting county business,” Sharpe said. “Since the county owns 35 acres of property in the city on South Street, purchased for the purpose of building a future administration building, it is unconscionable that the commissioners attempt to move their offices out of the county seat.”

Commissioners responded their initial preference was to construct a new complex housing all county offices currently in the City of Chardon on the aforementioned 35 acres, and a few offices currently located in the Geauga hospital area.

However, commissioners added once the city made clear it wanted to maintain the square as is, the idea of relocating any offices to the 35 acres was no longer a financially responsible solution.

“The county would still be maintaining three separate campuses of county offices and additional buildings,” commissioners said. “The 35 acres also would not provide the convenience for the citizens of the county that the hospital area provides.”

Vote Frank Hall for District 76 State Rep

I have to be honest when I heard current Chardon High School teacher and football coach Frank Hall was running for political office I was surprised. When I think of Frank, words like integrity, honor, bravery, commitment, sacrifice and humility come to mind among others. These are words not typically associated with most politicians, especially in these tumultuous times.

Most people reading this letter are somewhat familiar with Frank Hall and his history, but not the whole story. Frank and his amazing wife Ashley, currently a dedicated social worker, have adopted nine children who have the opportunity to live a normal life thanks to their incredible sacrifice.

He is most known for his action on Feb. 27, 2012. On that horrific day, he put the safety of the hundreds of students at Chardon High ahead of his own personal safety, a true sign of honor and bravery.

I personally am thankful he was there and chose to do what most normal people would never do, confront an armed killer. Both my daughters were in the building that day and who knows what might have happened had he not been there.

Because of Frank’s humility, he would probably not be happy that I am bringing this up. I believe his personal sacrifice shows his caring for his fellow man. These are the values we need in our politicians today, someone who will go to Columbus and serve his constituents, and drive policy that benefits those in Geauga and Portage counties — unlike the current politicians who serve only their own personal agendas and do what is best for them.

If you live in the 76th Ohio House District, I implore you to learn more about what Frank believes and support him in any way you can. Visit www.frankhallforohio.com to see how Frank plans to serve those in the district.

 Terry Hegner
Hambden Township

Fair Decisions? Grendell?

It seems that virtually every letter to the editor promoting Judge Grendell comes from his honor’s employees, past employees or folks who have some vested economic interest in promoting the good judge. The latest is from Laura Cooke, an apparent past employee of the good judge at the probate court. It deserves a response.

As far as I know, none of us folks who are supporters of Protect Geauga Parks (protectgeaugaparks.us) have any economic interest in criticizing the judge’s actions. Criticizing the good judge typically has negative repercussions to the critic. Check out our website.

One might well wonder if the huge raises and bloated salaries the good judge pays to some of his employees (our tax dollars, of course) are paid with the understanding that they will promote him and contribute to this reelection campaigns. Check their salaries and see how they compare with employees of other similarly sized probate courts.

Ms. Cooke states his decisions have “always been fair.” Was it a fair decision for him to get into fights with the past and present auditor and county commissioners, with jail threats emanating from the good judge?

Was it a fair decision for Judge Grendell to appoint people as park commissioners who essentially have shown no past interest in parks, natural areas or conservation?

Was it a fair decision for him to appoint Mr. Johnston as a past park commissioner knowing that he was running for county commissioner and would have to resign as park commissioner if he won his election? Seems the real goal was publicity for Mr. Johnston, photos and the like in the park newsletter and other mailings to help his election bid.

Was it a fair decision for him to fire any park commissioners who by chance did evidence some concern for protecting endangered species?

Was it a fair decision of the good judge to plaster his photo in every park newsletter to gain publicity for himself?

Was it a fair decision for the good judge to allow the purchase of two large parcels by the park district at prices vastly over the appraised value?

We citizens are facing a “Y” in the road this March. March 17 is the primary election here in Ohio. Tim Grendell and Matthew Rambo will be the only two folks vying for the probate court judgeship on the Republican ballot. Whoever wins will be the next probate judge, as no opponent will be on the November ballot. So, the winner in March will be unopposed in November.

If you wish an opportunity to have your voice heard on this matter, you need to request a Republican ballot on March 17. A Democratic or Independent ballot will not give you that opportunity.

One path of the “Y” will lead to more wasteful spending, like $100,000-plus plastic climbing walls and $1,000,000-plus remodeling of the Nassau Observatory that did not allow the observatory dome to turn to all areas of the sky — and still does not enable disabled folks to actually look through the Nassau telescope.

That road will mean a probate judge who uses tax dollars for his own publicity and, thus, his own benefit.

The other path will mean bringing back honor to the probate court the likes of which Judge Henry aspired to and demonstrated during his many years in office.

Which path we take is up to you on March 17, so please do make your voice heard.

John G. Augustine
Parkman Township

Problem with EdChoice

At our last meeting, Chardon Schools Board of Education approved a resolution opposing EdChoice. It’s important that our community understand this legislation and the reason we oppose it.

The problem is the way it’s funded.

Here’s how it works. Generally, it costs about $11,000 per year to educate one student in Chardon. Of that amount, the State of Ohio contributes approximately $1,200; our local taxpayers pay the rest.

EdChoice vouchers cost $4,650 per student for grades K-8 and $6,000 per student for grades 9-12 per year. The difference — $3,450 for elementary and $4,800 for high school — would come out of our district’s own dollars. In other words, our local taxpayers would be paying for any students in our district who choose to go to parochial or private schools, like Hawken.

At this point, Chardon is not affected by this legislation because the voucher is based on the report card. One grade of “D” or “F” on one element of the report card in one year puts a district on the list.

We believe this is unfair in many, many ways. Throughout the state, in just one year the number of eligible districts has increased by 422 percent, affecting more than 70 percent of districts in the state because of changes to this law.

Vouchers threaten districts’ ability to serve their remaining students and jeopardize the quality of those students’ educational experiences. Public school districts are held to high standards and accountability, unlike many private schools that do not have to use the same state tests to assess student achievement and can determine their own enrollment and admission policies.

There is a reason this country created public education. It is to give all of our kids an equal chance. Public schools already provide busing to private schools and many other mandated supports — more subsidies than most other states. This will even give money to students who have never been enrolled in their local public school.

The legislature is looking to amend this legislation in the next couple of weeks to deal with some of these inequities. It’s called the Dolan Amendment. Please contact your state senator (John Eklund, District 18, for most of Chardon schools) and ask them to support this amendment. Tell them to stop draining funds from public school budgets. Tell them to stop funneling taxpayer dollars to private and parochial schools. Tell them it’s time to stop undermining Ohio’s system of public education, where every child is accepted and educated. You can find contact information for state legislators at ohio.gov.

Madelon Horvath, President
Chardon Schools Board of Education

Enough is Enough

Enough of Judge Tim Grendell’s use of our public money for blatant self-promotion shenanigans. Why are we paying to have his photo on local diner placemats, on church bulletins and on every piece of Geauga Park District literature meant to advertise park and nature programs?

Is this why the court budget for expenditures has increased over $1 million, according to the court’s own annual reports, since 2011?

Enough using our public money to publish “Quarterly Newsletters,” costing well over $50,000 mailed to all residents, filled with outdated quotes, self-aggrandizing articles and information easily found on the court’s own website.

Enough using our public money to pay for the big blue signs ($800) that have graced our county since April 2019 that say SAVE MONEY – FREE over the judge’s name, as if he is giving away candy at a carnival.

Enough using public dollars to, in essence, fund a perpetual political campaign. He can do that on his own dime, not on ours.

And, while I’m at it, enough yelling at people — at a policeman, at other public officials, at his own staff and even at myself.

Enough already.

We need a judge who is fiscally responsible and has a judicial temperament both on and off the bench.

We need a judge we can be proud of.

Vote for Matthew Rambo for Geauga County Probate/Juvenile Court Judge (R) in the March 17 Primary Election.

Barb Partington
Munson Township

Following is a list of real estate transfers for the week ending Jan. 17, 2020, provided as a public service by the Geauga County Auditor’s Office. Transfers may involve the sale of land only.

AUBURN TOWNSHIP

Michael L. and Sheryl A. Rovtar, 11141 Taylor May Road, to Daniel James and Sonja E. Zachowski, $225,000. (2.47 acres)

BAINBRIDGE TOWNSHIP

Robert H. Touzalin, 17667 East Brook Trail (Unit I-201), to Elva Traxler Nowak, $168,700. (0.00 acres)

James E. and Joan M. Swanson, 17260 Buckthorn Drive, to William and Elizabeth Spellacy, $495,000. (0.93 acres)

Tracie A. Custard, 8505 Rockspring Drive, to Ryan M. and Rachael K. Fuller, $226,000. (0.34 acres)

Kenneth W. and Carol J. Willert (trustees), 8751 Lake In The Woods Trail, to Robert M. Hager and Maria P. Vitale, $339,500. (1.50 acres)

John P. and Carly L. Snavely, 7383 Samuel Lord Drive, to Beth A. Nagusky, $200,000. (1.84 acres)

CHARDON CITY

Stephen Bohm, 396 Karen Drive, to Avery and Zachary T. Sly, $147,500. (0.21 acres)

Angelo V. Fiucci Jr. and Jessica E. Abbe, 409 Sylvia Drive, to Alex R. Fedorko and Darianne Armstrong, $167,900. (0.27 acres)

Jon A. and Tracey E. Stehura, 419 Downing St., to Natalie G. and Edward H. Paynter, $351,000. (0.35 acres)

CHARDON TOWNSHIP

Christopher and Krista Temple (TOD), 9910 Ravenna Road, to Ghafoor A. and April R. Siddique, $292,500. (5.17 acres)

CHESTER TOWNSHIP

Robert J. and Mary Kay Swetel, 8543 Cottrell Drive, to Jason and Marie Elizabeth Meleg, $267,500. (2.23 acres)

Angelyn S. Mattson, 8347 Lincoln Drive, to Robert J. and Mary Kay Swetel, $185,000. (1.02 acres)

Leonard and Stella Sigal, Laser Drive (s/l 7), to John M. Gaghan Jr. and Kellie L. Crowley Gaghan, $136,500. (3.53 acres)

HAMBDEN TOWNSHIP

U.S. Bank Trust N.A. (trustee), 10153 Old State Road, to Richard H. III and Linda Crombie, $60,000. (8.00 acres)

MONTVILLE TOWNSHIP

Gerald T. and Bonnie K. Frye, 16165 Hautala Road, to BASP LLC, $127,800. (6.78 acres)

Boyan R. Marsic, 10401 Kile Road, to Kristen D. Galeazzo, $120,000. (4.82 acres)

MUNSON TOWNSHIP

Ronald F. and Penelope J. Wolfe, 12990 Stanfield Drive, to Angelo V. Jr. and Jessica E. Fiucci, $174,900. (1.55 acres)

RUSSELL TOWNSHIP

Ann K. Thompson (TOD), 7324 Johnston Drive, to Sean Michael Dreger, $500,000. (1.50 acres)

Kelley Conway, Cypress Pond Lane (s/l 9), to Jodi Marie Romanini (trustee), $230,000. (5.00 acres)

SOUTH RUSSELL VILLAGE

Brian D. Vigh, 15 W. Bel Meadow Lane, to Allison Albrecht, $204,900. (1.00 acres)

Brian Michael Dunn and Christine Lynne Barman, 106 Anglers Drive, to Eric M. and Erin E. Doland, $388,200. (0.75 acres)

TROY TOWNSHIP

Burton BTS Retail LLC, 17780 Claridon Troy Road, to DG Troy LLC, $1,470,000. (3.00 acres)

LEGAL NOTICES

Geauga County

Foreclosure Auction

Case# 19-F-000526. Quicken Loans Inc. vs Brian P. Smith, et al. The description of the property to be sold is as follows:

Property Address: 808 Bell Road, Chagrin Falls, Geauga, Ohio, 44022;

Legal Description: Full Legal Listed on Public Website; Parcel Number: 29-007750

Bidding will be available only on www.Auction.com opening on 02/11/2020 at 10:00 A.M. for a minimum of 7 days.

Property may be sold on a provisional sale date should the third party purchaser fail to provide their deposit within the allotted time.

Provisional Sale date: 02/25/2020 at 10:00 A.M. Sales subject to cancellation. The deposit required is $5000.00 to be paid by wire transfer within 2 hours of the sale ending. No cash is permitted.

Purchaser shall be responsible for those costs, allowances, and taxes that the proceeds of the sale are insufficient to cover.

To view all sale details and terms for this property visit www.Auction.com and enter the Search Code 19F000526 into the search bar.”

Jan 16-23-30, 2020

Geauga County

Foreclosure Auction

Case# 19-F-000310. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. vs Brian D. Johnson, et al. The description of the property to be sold is as follows:

Property Address: 17450 Leggett Road, Montville, Geauga, Ohio, 44064;

Legal Description: Full Legal Listed on Public Website; Parcel Number: 20-010100 and 20-070825

Bidding will be available only on www.Auction.com opening on 02/11/2020 at 10:00 A.M. for a minimum of 7 days.

Property may be sold on a provisional sale date should the third party purchaser fail to provide their deposit within the allotted time.

Provisional Sale date: 02/25/2020 at 10:00 A.M. Sales subject to cancellation. The deposit required is $10000.00 to be paid by wire transfer within 2 hours of the sale ending. No cash is permitted.

Purchaser shall be responsible for those costs, allowances, and taxes that the proceeds of the sale are insufficient to cover.

To view all sale details and terms for this property visit www.Auction.com and enter the Search Code 19F000310 into the search bar.

Jan 16-23-30, 2020

Geauga County

Foreclosure Auction

Case# 19-F-000519. PNC BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO NATIONAL CITY BANK vs Joyce A. Laughlin aka Joyce Ann Laughlin, et al. The description of the property to be sold is as follows:

Property Address: 11066 Wilson Mills Road, Chardon, Geauga, Ohio, 44024;

Legal Description: Full Legal Listed on Public Website; Parcel Number: 21-174700

Bidding will be available only on www.Auction.com opening on 02/11/2020 at 10:00 A.M. for a minimum of 7 days.

Property may be sold on a provisional sale date should the third party purchaser fail to provide their deposit within the allotted time.

Provisional Sale date: 02/25/2020 at 10:00 A.M. Sales subject to cancellation. The deposit required is $5000.00 to be paid by wire transfer within 2 hours of the sale ending. No cash is permitted.

Purchaser shall be responsible for those costs, allowances, and taxes that the proceeds of the sale are insufficient to cover.

To view all sale details and terms for this property visit www.Auction.com and enter the Search Code 19F000519 into the search bar.

Jan 16-23-30, 2020

LEGAL NOTICE

Geauga County Department

of Water Resources

This is a notice to residents of the Berkshire Heights subdivision in Chardon Township regarding the upcoming sanitary sewer project and wastewater treatment plant project. This includes residents on Thwing Road, Henning Drive, Olmar Drive, Howard Drive, and Helmut Drive. In compliance with Ohio Administrative Code 3745-42-08, residents are notified that the location of the proposed treatment plant at 11088 Thwing Road requires a reduction of the isolation distance (200 FT) between the treatment plant and adjacent structures.

A reduction of this required distance may be granted by Ohio EPA on the basis that there are no other feasible locations for the treatment plant. To compensate for this reduced distance, we would like to assure all residents within the service area that the facility will be constructed all of the necessary odor controls, tress, and fencing to screen the facility from neighboring properties. If granted the reduction by Ohio EPA, this would have no impact on the cost or timeline of the project.

Residents are invited to send written comment in response to this notice to the Geauga County Board of Commissioners until February 1, 2020. Send comments to: Geauga County Board of Commissioners, Attn: County Administrator, 470 Center Street, Building 4, Chardon, Ohio 44024.

Jan 16-23-30 Feb6, 2020

LEGAL NOTICE

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS

GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO

19-F-000981 – Christopher P. Hitchcock, Treasurer of Geauga County, Ohio, Plaintiff vs. Jeanne Neuvirth, et al., Defendants

Jeanne Neuvirth, the Unknown Spouse of Jeanne Neuvirth and the Unknown Heirs of Jeanne Neuvirth, whose last known address is 18919 Riverview Drive, Chagrin Falls, OH 44022, and present address is unknown, and cannot, with reasonable diligence, be ascertained shall take notice; and, if deceased, their unknown heirs, devises, legatees, administrators, executors and assigns will take notice that on the 16th day of December, 2019, the Treasurer Of Geauga County, filed a Complaint in the Court of Common Pleas, Geauga County, Ohio, located at 100 Short Court Street, Chardon, Ohio 44024 entitled Christopher P. Hitchcock, Treasurer Of Geauga County vs. Jeanne Neuvirth, et al., Case No: 19-F-000981, against the above-named parties, praying that the premises hereinafter described be sold for the collection of delinquent real estate taxes, owed and unpaid, is $5,699.23 together with accruing taxes, assessments, penalties, interest and charges; as well as court costs. Said premises is described as permanent parcel number 02-262800. A complete legal description of the parcel(s) can be obtained from the Geauga County Recorder’s Office. The volume and page number for the parcel(s) can be obtained from the Geauga County Auditor’s Office.

The object of the action is to obtain from the Court a judgment foreclosing the tax liens against such real estate and ordering the sale of such real estate for the satisfaction of delinquent taxes.

Such action is brought against the real property only and no personal judgment shall be entered in it. However, if pursuant to the action, the property is sold for an amount that is less than the amount of the delinquent taxes, assessments, charges, penalties and interest against it, the Court, in a separate order, may enter a deficiency judgment again the owner of record of a parcel for the amount of the difference; if that owner of record is a corporation, the Court may enter the deficiency judgment against the stockholder holding a majority of the corporation’s stock.

The above-named parties are required to answer on or before 28 days after the last date of publication. Such answer must be filed with the Clerk of Courts, and a copy must be served on the Prosecuting Attorney.

By Kristen Rine, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Attorney for Plaintiff.

Jan 16-23-30, 2020

LEGAL NOTICE

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS

GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO

19-F-000985 – Christopher P. Hitchcock, Treasurer of Geauga County, Ohio, Plaintiff vs. Jody J. Meyers, et al., Defendants

Jody J. Meyers, the Unknown Spouse of Jody J. Meyers, the Unknown Heirs of Jody J. Meyer, whose last known address is 10553 Clay Street, Montville, Ohio 44064; Charles Meyers and the Unknown Spouse of Charles Meyers, whose last known address is 397 Park Avenue, Apt. 12-F, Chardon, Ohio 44024, and present address is unknown, and cannot, with reasonable diligence, be ascertained shall take notice; and, if deceased, their unknown heirs, devises, legatees, administrators, executors and assigns will take notice that on the 16th day of December, 2019, the Treasurer Of Geauga County, filed a Complaint in the Court of Common Pleas, Geauga County, Ohio, located at 100 Short Court Street, Chardon, Ohio 44024 entitled Christopher P. Hitchcock, Treasurer Of Geauga County vs. Jody J. Meyers, et al., Case No: 19-F-000985, against the above-named parties, praying that the premises hereinafter described be sold for the collection of delinquent real estate taxes, owed and unpaid, is $5,886.37 together with accruing taxes, assessments, penalties, interest and charges; as well as court costs. Said premises is described as permanent parcel number 20-023300. A complete legal description of the parcel(s) can be obtained from the Geauga County Recorder’s Office. The volume and page number for the parcel(s) can be obtained from the Geauga County Auditor’s Office.

The object of the action is to obtain from the Court a judgment foreclosing the tax liens against such real estate and ordering the sale of such real estate for the satisfaction of delinquent taxes.

Such action is brought against the real property only and no personal judgment shall be entered in it. However, if pursuant to the action, the property is sold for an amount that is less than the amount of the delinquent taxes, assessments, charges, penalties and interest against it, the Court, in a separate order, may enter a deficiency judgment again the owner of record of a parcel for the amount of the difference; if that owner of record is a corporation, the Court may enter the deficiency judgment against the stockholder holding a majority of the corporation’s stock.

The above-named parties are required to answer on or before 28 days after the last date of publication. Such answer must be filed with the Clerk of Courts, and a copy must be served on the Prosecuting Attorney.

By Kristen Rine, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Attorney for Plaintiff.

Jan 16-23-30, 2020

Geauga County

Foreclosure Auction

Case# 17-F-000940. Citizens Bank, N.A. fka RBS Citizens N.A. fka Citizens Bank, N.A. successor by merger to Charter One Bank, N.A. fka Charter One Bank, FSB vs Juanita Sanders, et al. The description of the property to be sold is as follows:

Property Address: 16668 Dayton Street, Chagrin Falls, Geauga, Ohio, 44023;

Legal Description: Full Legal Listed on Public Website; Parcel Number: 02-367000 02-366800 02-366400 02-366500 02-366600 02-366900 and 02-366700

Bidding will be available only on www.Auction.com opening on 02/18/2020 at 10:00 A.M. for a minimum of 7 days.

Property may be sold on a provisional sale date should the third party purchaser fail to provide their deposit within the allotted time.

Provisional Sale date: 03/03/2020 at 10:00 A.M. Sales subject to cancellation. The deposit required is $5000.00 to be paid by wire transfer within 2 hours of the sale ending. No cash is permitted.

Purchaser shall be responsible for those costs, allowances, and taxes that the proceeds of the sale are insufficient to cover.

To view all sale details and terms for this property visit www.Auction.com and enter the Search Code 17F000940 into the search bar.

Jan 23-30 Feb 6, 2020

Geauga County

Foreclosure Auction

Case# 19-F-000146. Freedom Mortgage Corporation vs Suzzanne Kay Hansen aka Suzanne Kay Fioritto, et al. The description of the property to be sold is as follows:

Property Address: 13643 Cuyahoga Trail, Novelty, Geauga, Ohio, 44072;

Legal Description: Full Legal Listed on Public Website; Parcel Number: 26-053200

Bidding will be available only on www.Auction.com opening on 02/18/2020 at 10:00 A.M. for a minimum of 7 days.

Property may be sold on a provisional sale date should the third party purchaser fail to provide their deposit within the allotted time.

Provisional Sale date: 03/03/2020 at 10:00 A.M. Sales subject to cancellation. The deposit required is $5000.00 to be paid by wire transfer within 2 hours of the sale ending. No cash is permitted.

Purchaser shall be responsible for those costs, allowances, and taxes that the proceeds of the sale are insufficient to cover.

To view all sale details and terms for this property visit www.Auction.com and enter the Search Code 19F000146 into the search bar.

Jan 23-30 Feb 6, 2020

LEGAL NOTICE

Geauga County Sheriff’s Office

Forfeiture Notice

Pursuant to O.R.C. 2981, the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office is seeking forfeiture of unclaimed property that was found or seized by the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office between 1/1/19 and 12/31/19.

The following are the items: Cash, Cell Phone, Bike, Necklace, Bag of Climbing Gear, Cash, Key, Foreign Coins, Purse, and BB Gun.

Anyone claiming ownership in this property may contact the Geauga County Sheriff, Evidence Clerk at 440-279-2009 ext. 4313. Any item not claimed will be disposed of according to the Ohio Revised Code.

Jan30 Feb6, 2020

LEGAL NOTICE

Newbury Township

The 2019 Unaudited Financial Report for Newbury Township has been completed by the Township Fiscal Officer and is available for public inspection in the Administrative Office at the Newbury Township Town Hall, 14899 Auburn Rd., Newbury, OH  44065 between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., Tuesday – Thursday. It is also available for viewing at the following website address: http://www.newburyohio.com.

Marcia Mansfield, Fiscal Officer

Jan 30, 2020

Foreclosure Auction

Case# 18-F-000819. JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association vs Francesco Digiannantonio, et al. The description of the property to be sold is as follows:

Property Address: 14470 County Line Road, Chagrin Falls, Geauga, Ohio, 44022;

Legal Description: Full Legal Listed on Public Website; Parcel Number: 27-004695

Bidding will be available only on www.Auction.com opening on 02/25/2020 at 10:00 A.M. for a minimum of 7 days.

Property may be sold on a provisional sale date should the third party purchaser fail to provide their deposit within the allotted time.

Provisional Sale date: 03/10/2020 at 10:00 A.M. Sales subject to cancellation. The deposit required is $10000.00 to be paid by wire transfer within 2 hours of the sale ending. No cash is permitted.

Purchaser shall be responsible for those costs, allowances, and taxes that the proceeds of the sale are insufficient to cover.

To view all sale details and terms for this property visit www.Auction.com and enter the Search Code 18F000819 into the search bar.”

Jan 30 Feb 6-13, 2020

NOTICE OF AGREED

JUDGMENT ENTRY

19-A-000675 – BTE Properties LLC vs. Parkman Township Zoning Inspector, et al.

Please be advised that the Township of Parkman located in Geauga County, Ohio by and through the Parkman Township Board of Trustees has entered into an Agreed Judgment Entry in the case captioned “BTE Properties LLC vs. Parkman Township Zoning Inspector, et al., Geauga County Court of Common Pleas, Geauga County, Ohio, located at 100 Short Court Street, Chardon, Ohio 44024, Case No. 19-A-000675. This settlement affects the real property commonly known as 18385 Nelson Road, Parkman Township, Ohio more fully described as permanent parcel number 25-190811 and more accurately described in the Geauga County Records of Deeds, Volume 2078, Page 1399 consisting of 4.45 acres of property. A copy of the Agreed Judgment Entry is available for review at the Township offices during normal business hours.

Jan 30, 2020

PUBLIC NOTICE

The following matters are the subject of this public notice by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. The complete public notice, including any additional instructions for submitting comments, requesting information, a public hearing, or filing an appeal may be obtained at: http://www.epa.ohio.gov/actions.aspx or Hearing Clerk, Ohio EPA, 50 W. Town St. P.O. Box 1049, Columbus, Ohio 43216. Ph: 614-644-3037 email: HClerk@epa.ohio.gov

Final Issuance of Permit to Install

PLAST Ukrainian Youth Organization

Facility Description: Wastewater

ID #: 1334049

Date of Action: 01/22/2020

This final action not preceded by proposed action and is appealable to ERAC.

Project: PLAST Ukrainian Youth Organization – Pool Backwash Filter System Improvements

Project Location: 17030 Shedd Road, Middlefield

Final Approval of Plans and Specifications

Chagrin Valley Farms

9250 E Washington St, Chagrin Falls, OH 44023

Facility Description: Public Water System

ID #: 1338524

Date of Action: 01/23/2020

This final action not preceded by proposed action and is appealable to ERAC.

Detail Plans for PWSID:OH2876956 Plan No:1338524 Regarding New Well Site.

Jan30, 2020

LEGAL NOTICE

BAINBRIDGE TOWNSHIP

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

2019 FINANCIAL REPORT

Copies of the Bainbridge Township 2019 Financial report are available for inspection at the office of the Fiscal Officer of said Township, 17826 Chillicothe Road, Chagrin Falls, OH 44023 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Janice S. Sugarman, Fiscal Officer

Jan 30, 2020

LEGAL NOTICE

Chester Township

The Chester Township Board of Zoning Appeals will hold a public hearing on Monday, February 10, 2020, in the Chester Town Hall, 12701 Chillicothe Road, Chesterland, Ohio, at 7:00 p.m. at which time the following requests will be heard:

APPEAL 2019-4 CONTINUED – REBECCA PANTUSO, representing Property Owners of Record, Gint and Katrina Strautnieks, seeks one (1) AREA VARIANCE from SECTION 5.01.03 PERMITTED ACCESSORY BUILDINGS, STRUCTURES AND USES, accessory buildings shall be located to the rear of the principal building or structure, not in required front and side yards, from the Chester Township Zoning Resolution (effective July 22, 2017) for the property located at 7500 Sherman Road, Chester Township, Ohio.

Cynthia J. Kovach, Secretary

Jan 30, 2020

BID NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICE

Geauga County

Board of Commissioners

Notice is hereby given that sealed bids will be received by the Geauga County Board of Commissioners at 470 Center Street, Building #4, Chardon, Ohio 44024 until 1:45 p.m. official local time on Wednesday, February 19, 2020 for the “GEAUGA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS – PUBLIC REHABILITATION PROJECT (OPERA HOUSE ELEVATOR)” located in the Opera House at 211 Main Street, Chardon, Ohio. Bids received will be publicly opened and read aloud the same day at 2:00 p.m. The estimated cost for this project is $87,500.

The specifications will be available for inspection at the Department of Community & Economic Development, 470 Center Street, Building #8-A, Chardon, Ohio, during normal business hours from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday from Thursday, January 23, 2020, UNTIL 1:45 p.m., Wednesday, February 19, 2020. The bid packages may be purchased for $25.00 (CHECK ONLY AND NON-REFUNDABLE), and payable to Geauga County Board of Commissioners, or mailed at the expense of the purchaser. Each bid must be accompanied by either a bid bond in the amount of 100% of the total bid amount with a surety satisfactory to the aforesaid Geauga County, or by a certified check, cashier’s check, or letter of credit in the amount of not less than 10% of the bid amount, in favor of the aforesaid Geauga County. The Bid Guaranty must be submitted as a guarantee that if the proposal is accepted, a proper contract in accordance with the bid, plans, details, and bills of material will be entered into and its performance properly secured.

A copy of this legal notice is posted on the County’s Internet site in the World Wide Web. Go to https://www.co.geauga.oh.us/Notices/Bids and click on the project name to view this legal.

This contract is being funded from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Community Development Block Grant Program. The successful bidder will be subject to the requirements of Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968, as amended, 12 U.S.C. 17010.

Geauga County reserves the right to reject any and all bids or any part thereof, and to waive any informalities and/or irregularities in the bids. The County’s decision on any award is final. Each bidder must insure that all employees and applicants for employment are not discriminated against because of national origin, creed, color, or gender.

BY ORDER OF THE

GEAUGA COUNTY

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Christine Blair, Clerk

Jan 30 Feb 6, 2020

BID NOTICE

Chester Township

Board of Trustees

Sealed bids will be received by the Chester Township Board of Trustees, Geauga County, Ohio, at the Township Office, 12701 Chillicothe Road, Chesterland, Ohio, until 12:00 p.m. February 27, 2020, for the furnishing and delivering to Township storage facilities various quantities of anti-skid materials, slag, limestone, clay, aggregate, and asphalt and asphalt products. These bids will be opened and read aloud at the Board of Trustees meeting on February 27, 2020, at 6:05 p.m. additionally, you can view the bid information on our website at www.chestertwp.org in the Road Department Section.

Specifications and bid blanks may be obtained at the Township Office, 12701 Chillicothe Road, Chesterland, Ohio, 44026.

All mailed bids are to be addressed to the Chester TownHall, 12701 Chillicothe Road, Chesterland, Ohio, 44026.

Bids shall be submitted only on blank forms provided for that purpose.

A certified check or bid bond in the amount of $1,000.00 will be required with bid submittal.

The Trustees reserve the right to reject any and all bids or any part thereof, and to purchase only the materials needed.

BY ORDER OF THE

Chester township

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Craig Richter, Fiscal Officer

Jan 30 Feb 6, 2020

LEGAL NOTICE

Request for Quotes

Geauga County Job and Family Services

Notice is hereby given that Geauga County Job and Family Services is soliciting quotes for two (2) new vehicles: (1) compact sport utility vehicle and (1) 7-passenger minivan.

DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF QUOTES: 3:00 P.M. on Friday, February 14, 2020.

Copies of the Request for Quote and vehicle specifications are available in person, Monday – Friday, 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. at, or by mail request to, Geauga County Job and Family Services; Attn: Paul Reiman; 12480 Ravenwood Drive; PO Box 309; Chardon, Ohio 44024. E-mail requests may be sent to Paul.Reiman@jfs.ohio.gov with “Vehicle RFQ” in the subject line.

All quotes must be received on time and in compliance with the instructions contained in the RFQ. Geauga County Job and Family Services reserves the right to reject any and all quotes and to waive any irregularities in the quote.

Jan 30 Feb 6, 2020

DATE OF SALE: Thursday, February 20, 2020 — 10:00 A.M.

Auburn Township

Case No. 13-F-000170 — Christopher P. Hitchcock, Treasurer of Geauga County, Ohio vs. Staffordshire Development, Inc., et al., Vacant Land On Staffordshire Court (2.04 acres). PPN: 01-117807. Kristen K. Rine, atty.

Set Minimum Bid: $26,026.96

Sheriff’s land sales are held at 10:00 A.M. on Thursday or date scheduled at the GEAUGA COUNTY COMMON PLEAS COURT HOUSE, 100 SHORT COURT STREET, CHARDON, OHIO, 1st floor lobby by the doors of the Court House.

1. Opening bids start at 2/3rds of the appraisal value. If the property remains unsold after the first sale with a minimum bid of 2/3rds of the appraised value, a second sale will go forward on the next scheduled date with no minimum bid and the property will be sold to the highest bidder.

However, the purchaser at the second sale is still subject to the costs, allowances, and real property taxes.

2. Deposit due at the time of bid, (if you do not have the down payment on your person at the time of the bid, property will be re- bid). Balance due 30 days after confirmation. NO PERSONAL CHECKS accepted by Sheriff’s Office. Deposit by CASH, BANK CHECK, or CERTIFIED CHECK at time of bid. Checks can be made payable to the Geauga County Sheriff or to yourself and endorsed over to the Sheriff if you are the successful bidder. A judgment creditor is not required to make a sales deposit.

3. Deeds are issued after the confirmation of sale, when the balance of the purchase price is received by the Sheriff’s Office.

4. You cannot view the inside of the properties for sale. They are owned by the defendants, and the Sheriff’s Office does not have access to these properties. You buy “AS IS”.

5. Information about the lot size, number of rooms, year built, etc. can be obtained from the Auditor’s Office for a small fee using the permanent parcel number.

6. Federal tax liens are filed in the Geauga County Recorder’s Office, Courthouse Annex, 231 Main St, City of Chardon 1st floor, and case files are located in the Clerk of Courts Office, 3rd floor Courthouse 100 Short Court, City of Chardon (www.co.geauga.oh.us click on Departments), and can be researched in the respective offices.

7. Legal descriptions for delinquent tax land can also be found in the Recorder’s Office.

8. Property taxes will be prorated by the Geauga County Treasurer’s Office and paid out of the proceeds of the sale. Tax amount will include arrearages and a prorated estimate to the second sale date.

9. Delinquent tax properties are NOT appraised. They are sold for DELINQUENT TAXES, COSTS, AND PENALTIES. The property is offered for sale two (2) times. If it is not sold on the first sale date, it will be offered again at a later date.

10. The purchaser is responsible for a $50.00 deed fee to be paid to the Sheriff.

Full game photos click here.

The first time the Bombers and Hilltoppers boys basketball teams played in Chardon, Kenston came out on top, taking advantage of Chardon’s absence of Nathaneal Sulka due to injury.

The Bombers won Dec. 10 by a 71-53 score.

Six weeks later it happened again as the Hilltoppers left Kenston High School on the short end of a 70-53 count.

Riding a 13-point first half from Brady Toth and a styling defense, the Hilltoppers were down only by a point, 28-27, at the half.

Kenston senior guard Alan Wood got hot, hitting a trio of 3-pointers for his team.

And Ethan Thorne added another pair. Kenston (9-7) hit on 11 of 24 long shots while hitting on just over 48 percent the entire evening.

Chardon shot the ball well, too, hitting for over 51 percent, but they turned the ball over 23 times to only eight for Kenston. With that many fewer shots taken, and a huge defensive effort paced by Kyle Quinlan’s long arms, Chardon never got back in the swing of things.

Kenston coach Derrick DeJarnette asked his players to step it up for this game.

“We try to play aggressive defense all the time,” DeJarnette said. “We’re not the tallest team around, for sure, and with Toth and Sulka together, you know they will attack all the time to take advantage of their size. We may be small, but we also are one scrappy team with a lot of quickness, and we have to use that to our advantage all the time.

“We also shoot the ball well, and when everybody is making shots, we can be a very tough team to beat.”

Kenston put four players into double digits in scoring.

While Toth had a good game for the Hilltoppers (3-11), whether it was a matter of Kenston aggressiveness or just Sulka remaining a bit rusty from his long layoff, he only could score 10.

Kenston continuously denied Sulka access to the ball anywhere near the paint, and with no other Chardon players getting good looks at the basket, the only offense the Hilltoppers could muster came from Shane Callahan’s trio of 3-pointers in the second half.

It was the second time that week Chardon struggled with energy.

In a 79-63 loss days before against the Perry Pirates, Chardon coach Chad Murawski was disenchanted after the game with the effort his players have been giving.

Photos of that game are here.

“Our starters played with no effort,” Murawski said afte the Perry game. “Zero effort, and that’s the bottom line. It was selfish basketball, and it was a bad effort.”

For the Bombers, Andy Kooser and Wood hit 3-pointers in the second half, and combined with the ball handling and distribution of Thorne, the Hilltoppers simply could not stop the Bombers’ bombing.

“We’re not the biggest team around,” Thorne said. “We haven’t been playing as hard as we should be in recent games, so Coach has emphasized boxing out more on the boards to start our offense, and we did a good job tonight. We had to, with Sulka being back now. He and Toth might be the best duo of players around the area together, so we knew we had to bring our A game tonight.”

For the Hilltoppers, a sometimes difficult season goes on, combining flashes of brilliance with moments of confusion.

Murawski tries to endure it all with positives about his team.

“You can’t win games if you’re turning the ball over,” he said.

Eight turnovers in the third period alone, of their total 23 for the game, all preceded Kenston baskets.

“I have no complaints about the effort our kids gave tonight,” Murawski said. “They’ve played like this all season: wire-to-wire effort.”

He talked about the season and its challenges: Injuries, a late start due to the football season and some personal issues.

“My grandmother passed on the night of the Chagrin game, and it’s a wonder my family didn’t murder me that night, too,” he said. “I was on my phone whenever possible following that game, and the kids were spectacular. It is tough to build continuity on a team when you have players missing. I’ve had four different starting lineups lately, so it’s tough for the kids to adjust on the floor like they have.”

Gabe Brkic, an Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin graduate and Chardon named, was named a Freshmen All-American by the Football Writers Association of America.

Brkic had a perfect season for the Oklahoma Sooners after taking over the kicking duties in Week 4. He converted 69 of 69 kicks: 17 field goals and 52 extra points.

It comes as no surprise to those who knew Brkic as the Lions lead kicker over his career at NDCL.

“Absolutely, I’ve told people for years now that he’s going to be the best football player that I’ve coach,” said NDCL head coach Andrew Mooney. “He’s that elite, and you saw it this year.”

Brkic routinely attempted kicks at NDCL almost unheard of for a high school kicker, including a 53-yarder in an NDCL playoff win in 2017.

Mooney said he never had any doubt in bringing in the young kicker in tough situations, even attempting a number of 60-yard kicks in high school. Any time NDCL went over the 50-yard line, Brkic was an option.

“He’s very even keeled,” the coach said. “He’s never too high, never too low. He’s laid back, and he was a tremendous student, as well.”

While at Oklahoma, Brkic made a 31-yard field goal for the win in Oklahoma’s 34-31 comeback win at Baylor on Nov. 16, 2019, according to a Sooners’ blog post.

Given Austin Seibert’s solid rookie season for the Cleveland Browns after being drafted in the 5^th round out of Oklahoma, Brkic could be in the pipeline for a very bright future.

From another perspective, NDLC Athletic Assistant Paulette Welch will always remember Brkic’s endless touchbacks on kick-offs when she was keeping statistics.

“For me, he was a dream because he was automatic on extra points and always had touchbacks on kick-offs,” she wrote in an email. “It gave me at least three minutes of extra time after we scored to give complete social media updates and text updates to media outlets.”

After taking a small 3-1 lead over the first half of the first period, the Cardinal Huskies started to fall into some bad habits, dropping a 56-39 Chagrin Valley Conference battle to the Mustangs on January 21 at Grand Valley High School.

Those bad habits were turnovers and missed shots, and whenever those items are put together, even good defense doesn’t very often result in a victory.

A 9-0 run over the last 2:09 of that opening period spelled doom for the Huskies (3-11). Ashton Zupancic, the leading GV scorer on the season, scored four of those points and dished for another 3-pointer in that span.

Combined with a one-of-nine shooting effort and 10 turnovers, the Huskies could never slow the bleeding after that, although an early fourth-period spurt did cut the deficit to just 10 points, at 43-33, with six minutes remaining in the game.

In a four-minute span, the Mustangs pushed the lead back to 19 points, then, and that was the ball game.

“The kids battled hard all night tonight,” Cardinal coach James Heath said. “Once we fell behind, though, we just didn’t have the energy left to make it all the way back. We’re no longer what you might call a young team, but we still are very young in varsity experiences, and the kids just aren’t used to fighting back when they fall into a big hole.”

He added: “We did some things very well, though, so we just need to not hang our heads and get back to work. We’re part of a very tough league, and we compete, but it’s tough.”

Freshman Cardinal forward Paul Gall has enjoyed some success as this season has progressed; he sees positives, but the negatives, like missed shots and turnovers, are something the team needs to slow down. There is nearly half a season yet to play.

“I’m having fun and I’m learning a lot so far,” Gall said. “At the same time, tonight we missed a lot of shots we shouldn’t be missing, and the turnovers came in a rush. We’re trying hard, and we’ve played some really good teams, and I can see a lot of better things since the season started for us. We’re getting more of the younger kids more playing time. The seniors haven’t had that much experience, but we’re all working together and doing better things as a unit on the floor.”

Gall paced an attack for the Huskies that saw nine players score. He tallied nine points to go with 12 rebounds as Cardinal out-rebounded the Mustangs, 34-22.

With Gall and Robbie Granny each snaring 12 missed shots, more than half of them on the offensive end, missed layups issues were clear. Cardinal also hit on only 27 percent of its 44 shots as 28 turnovers limited the offensive effort a lot.

An aggressive Huskies defense forced 19 turnovers, but with opportune times to grab loose balls going Grand Valley’s way most of the night, the Mustangs — paced by 23 points from Zupancic, 11 more from Malik Mitchell, and 10 from Derek Jackson — hit on 43 percent of their shots, mostly in clusters, to stretch the lead most of the night.

Hunter Schaeffer nailed a 3-pointer from the left wing after taking a pass from Granny with six minutes left in the game to narrow the gap to 43-33, but Jackson drove to the hoop for a layup to cap a 9-0 run, and only four free throws in the game’s last minute narrowed the gap for Cardinal.