Instead of Placing Blame, Join Forces
I am writing in regards to the Hambden fire truck article in last week’s paper.
There are a few things that bother me with not just this most recent article, but previous ones as well.
First and foremost, when a person donates an item to a not-for-profit organization, the person donating, in this case Mike Warner, can write this donation off as a tax deduction on their income taxes. I don’t know whether Mike Warner wrote it off on his taxes, but the opportunity was there.
To ask for the fire truck to be given back, whether to the person donating it or the Hambden Fire Department that had sold it, seems unethical to me.
I do not know what the written agreement was between Geauga County Historical Society and Mike Warner. I do not know how it was stored or what condition it was in when Hambden Fire Department bought it. I will believe what has been written in the paper about its condition and hold GCHS 50 percent responsible. But only 50 percent.
The other 50 percent belongs to Mike Warner. Before he donated the truck, did he consider where it would be stored? Did he look into how it would be maintained, both physically and financially? Was there a written agreement between him and the GCHS?
I enjoy the history of the Hambden fire truck and I am happy that it is preserved for generations to come. However, it seems like all the criticisms on the condition of the truck have been placed on one (volunteer) organization. I have yet to hear how any firemen, either past or present, volunteered their time in working with GCHS to preserve Geauga County’s fire department history for the next generation.
Moving forward, instead of placing blame, perhaps we can all join forces in preserving a very important piece of our county’s history.
Judi Maloney
Claridon Township
Best Booth at the Fair
“The Best Booth at the Fair” is what a fairgoer told me last year; the DKMS/DeleteBloodCancer.org Great Geauga County Fair Booth is the best booth at the Fair because we are there to save lives.
I started registering bone marrow donors a couple of years ago because I had never heard of anyone doing it. 2017 was our first year at the Fair and I had no idea how it would turn out, but we registered an amazing 208 people who are willing to save the life of a person with a blood cancer or 70 other diseases.
The #HelpTimSnyderDeleteBloodCancer Team will have its 2018 Fair booth at the same location as last year on Midway #3, aka: Bainbridge Bend between Newbury Circle and Troy Trail, or more simply, just a little south of the horse shoe courts, or just a little north of the Sheriff’s Office.
You may obtain additional information about bone marrow registration at DKMS.org, DeleteBloodCancer.org, or please read, share, and “like” my Facebook page Help Tim Snyder Delete Blood Cancer. Or stop by just to discuss how you can help save a life.
Please join us at the Best Booth At The Fair, and it only takes a few minutes to register and you may save a life.
Tim Snyder
Burton
What is Park Board Afraid Of?
Decisions that affect the public should be made in the light of public scrutiny. Behind the scenes conversations and public records requests are not an adequate substitute for thoughtful deliberation and discussion of issues in a public meeting.
A week before the Geauga Park District board meeting, I sent a request to each board member and John Oros requesting three minutes or less on the Agenda of the Aug. 15 board meeting. My intent was to publicly ask, once again, that a reasonable time for public comment be reinstated at the GPD public meetings.
I believe that this request should be made in public as a part of the permanent and public record of the meeting. There was no response from any board member or John Oros acknowledging my request.
When I arrived at the meeting I saw that there was no time allotted for my question on the printed agenda.
Near the end of the GPD board meeting, during “Commissioner Time,” Mr. Lah, GPD board president, made a statement announcing that the public has plenty of venues to obtain information through public records requests and questions submitted in writing to Director Oros , “so we are going to leave our meetings the way they are going.”
So, when was this decision made? Why are the park board and Director Oros afraid to hold open and honest discussions in public about their decisions that affect the public?
Kathryn Hanratty
Protect Geauga Parks
