Middlefield Post 11-3-21

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Wednesday, November 3, 2021 • Vol. 15 No. 13 • FREE

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Community News from Middlefield, Parkman, Huntsburg and Surrounding Areas

PreSort Std U.S. Postage PAID Middlefield, OH 44062 Permit No. 77

Middlef ield Time to Buy Stock in Middlefield Village, Says Mayor Garlich By John Karlovec editor@geaugamapleleaf.com If the Village of Middlefield were a publicly-traded company, Mayor Ben Garlich would be buying stock. That was the message Mayor Ben Garlich told residents and business owners attending the Middlefield Chamber of Commerce’s annual State of the Village of Middlefield luncheon address Oct. 12 at Mary Yoder’s Amish Kitchen. Garlich began his address saying the village has had the same misGarlich sion for decades, including creating a community where all residents feel safe and providing services to residents and businesses to meet their expectations. “You can’t expect people to invest in their community without being duly serviced,” said Garlich. “We have economic development, we provide assistance to create activity and we try to make it so it’s streamlined.” Reducing expenses always is in

focus, Garlich said, as is assisting residents anyway possible. “We try to be all things to all people, which is never possible, but we do our best,” he added. “I always say living in this community, minus the HOA, is like living in a condo. Everything is provided.” Middlefield also has many amenities other small communities don’t, including the spray park and county park system. “I mean, how many people could get on a bike and ride for 20 miles, go down to a nice park, sit in a pavilion,” Garlich said. “It’s just an amazing community we live in.” Garlich touched on the 4-5 inches of rain that flooded many parts of the village in early October. “Driveways looked like rivers and parts of our streets impassable,” he said, emphasizing the village’s infrastructure is properly maintained. “Our infrastructure is sized for this village; it works properly,” said Garlich, adding when five inches of

rain falls within hour “you couldn’t afford to build infrastructure that would accommodate that.” The mayor said the village would be looking at ways to help residents, including possible subsidies for the installation of backflow preventers for homes with basements that do not have them.

Public Safety

Lt. Aaron Graley filled in for Police Chief Joe Tucholski, who could not attend the luncheon due to village business. “One of the things that Chief Tucholski wanted me to share was that, in light of the current atmosphere with police across the United States, we are proud to say that we are the same department that we’ve always been,” Graley said. “We will continue to treat all citizens, courtesy, dignity and respect, regardless of race, religion or national origin,” he said. “We, as a department, are supported by the mayor and council. And we also have unbelievable backing from our community. We view the residents of our community as partners and

they deserve our care, concern and attention.” Graley noted the department purchased a new Chevy Tahoe, updated all of its long guns, including rifles and shotguns, updated computers in two cruisers with tablets and purchased another hand-held radar unit. Statistically, in 2021, the police department has recorded two parking citations, 52 criminal charges, 1,055 verbal warnings, 100 traffic crashes and one OVI arrest. It has handled 4,176 calls for service, 190 lockouts, 145 alarm drops, 33 thefts and 10 domestic violence incidents. It also has assisted other agencies 78 times and has made 24 warrant arrests. Graley explained the warrant arrest number was somewhat misleading because of COVID. “We’ve had to turn away quite a few of those arrest just because the jail only has so many cells available to take new prisoners because of quarantining and things like that,” he said, adding total would be closer to 60-70 this year. See Middlefield • Page 2

East Geauga Kiwanis Honors Students

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East Geauga Kiwanis Club recently recognized outstanding third-graders, pictured from left, Cameron D., Henry O. and Lyris S. from Jordak Elementary School for their performance in class during the first grading period. Each student received a certificate and four literature books from the club.

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