Wednesday, April 21, 2021 • Vol. 14 No. 24 • FREE
New Hangar on Horizon For Geauga County Airport By Ann Wishart ann@geaugamapleleaf.com
An expansion of Geauga County Airport, in the works since 2000, is expected to get off the ground by the end of April, said airport Manager Richard Blamer. Bids for a T hangar for 10 airplanes will be opened April 22 and he said he hopes for a groundbreaking in May. The building, shaped like a T, will be about 230 feet long by 50 feet wide and is designed for parking efficiency, Blamer said. “The shape allows us to put in planes from either side and stagger them so the tails are in the middle,” he said in a phone interview April 9. The county has budgeted about $750,000 and Blamer said he is hopeful the bids will come in low enough that the project won’t be delayed. Demand for protected plane parking is apparent. The airport website shows only three units available and several tie-down spaces open on the ramp. The website also said the Geauga County Airport Authority is taking reservations for all 10 private spaces in the new T hangar. As of April 1, the site lists a rental fee of $197 per month for a semi-private space in building 5 and two other spaces in buildings 4 and 5 for $176 per month. Rental fees for the new building are to be determined. The airport is located in the southeast corner of Middlefield Village, making it convenient for companies to fly in clients, customers, consultants and other visitors over the years, Blamer said. “The Geauga County Airport is a link to the rest of the world. Business people fly in to visit MASCO (Cabinetry) and Flambeau (Inc.),” he said, adding he has seen an uptick of Canadians flying in to purchase hardwood lumber and having it shipped north to use in high-end luxury condos. See Airport • Page 7
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Rick Krahe provided a rendering of the Willo Wash car wash he and partners operate in Willoughby for Middlefield Village planning and zoning commission and council members last week. He plans to build his third car wash near the Walmart Superstore in Middlefield.
Middlefield Village Working on a Car Wash
By Ann Wishart ann@geaugamapleleaf.com Former Bainbridge Township resident Rick Krahe is one step closer to expanding his car wash mini-empire since the Middlefield Village Planning and Zoning Commission had no objections to lot splits and a lot consolidation at Harrington Square April 6. The plans show the 130-foot long carwash located on less than an acre on South Springdale Avenue in front of Walmart. Krahe said in a phone interview he and his partners have been looking at Middlefield for a long time as a potential site for a third carwash. He also has partners in car washes in Euclid and in Willoughby, where he now lives, he said. The village appeals to him because of its atmosphere and he has
done his demographic research. “I like what’s going on with development in Middlefield,” he said, noting the new Aldi grocery store on South Springdale is an example of the community’s commercial expansion. “You have nice, continuing, steady growth there,” he said. The car wash tunnel, which uses a conveyor to take vehicles through while driver and passengers stay seated, may have nine outside vacuum stations free for anyone to use, Krahe said. He added he hopes people who use the vacuums will also pay to go through the car wash. In addition, the operation, open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. all week, will have a membership program with unlimited washes. A staff of four will be on site, Krahe said. Construction is planned for this summer.
“We’re hoping to start in July, but that’s up to the engineers and architects. The goal is to open by November so we can get everything right before the holidays,” Krahe said, adding car washes are busiest during winter months because car owners want the road salt washed off their vehicles. Since it will be the only car wash in the village, the name was a slam dunk. “We’re going to call it the Middlefield Carwash because we’re not very creative,” Krahe quipped. Slicing off part of the parcel owned by the Harrington Family Limited Partnership required a hearing in front of the commission. At their April 6 meeting, commission members discussed the venture with Dave Harrington and zoning inspector John Boksansky. See Car Wash • Page 3
Christmas in July Events at Santa’s Hide-A-Way Hollow Return After pivoting to virtual events in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Santa’s Hide-A-Way Hollow will host Christmas in July events during the summer. The events for the Cleveland Clinic, Akron Children’s, Rainbow Babies, craniofacial groups, Down syndrome groups, autism groups, veterans, Hattie Larlham and more will return. Families will be invited through their organizations for a Christmas celebration in the summer. Santa’s Hide-A-Way is not open to the public and is through invitation only. Santa’s Hide-A-Way Hollow, Middlefield, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing comfort and support to seriously and terminally ill children, veterans and their families. Visit www.santashideawayhollow.com for information.
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