POST Wednesday, July 13, 2022 • Vol. 15 No. 4 • FREE
Geauga Parks See Multiple Smash-andGrabs
By Brian Doering brian@karlovecmedia.com
Just as summer has started to gain momentum, the Geauga Park District has also seen a spree of “smash-and-grab” vehicle break-ins. GPD Chief Ranger Dennis Sloan said the slew of thefts occurred between June 25 and June 27, at parks that included Walter C. Best Wildlife Preserve, The West Woods, Frohring Meadows, Swine Creek Reservation and Whitlam Woods. “We had what we call a smashand-grab out of an automobile. It would appear that most of these See Theft • Page 7
County Commissioners Review Proposed 2023 Tax Budget By Brian Doering brian@karlovecmedia.com Geauga County’s 2023 budget has increased by $3.1 million — due, in part, to the passage of a county road levy in 2021. “The Geauga County 2023 tax budget is $128 million, which is about $2.2 or $1.7 more than the 2022 adopted budget,” said Adrian Gorton, Geauga County budget and finance manager during a Geauga County Commissioners meeting June 28. Gorton said the increase is due, in large part, to the county engineer’s office passing a road levy in the fall of 2021 and not being able to budget those funds until the beginning of this year. “This resulted in a $3.1 million
increase in the overall budget,” said Gorton. Other notable changes to the proposed 2023 tax budget include a $3 million increase in the Chardon Township sewer project as it is near completion and a $1 million decrease in project funding being requested by water resources in their county sewer improvements fund. Gorton said there was a $400,000 increase in the 2019 commissioners’ capital reserve fund due to the new county office building reaching completion this year. “A $460,000 decrease in airport construction with the newly-completed T-hangars, and concealed handgun licenses were
reduced to $180,000 due to some changes in the license requirements this year,” Gorton said. The general fund portion of the 2023 tax budget is $39.1 million, which is an increase of about $1.2 million in the 2023 tax budget versus what was adopted as the permanent appropriations for 2022 back in December, he said. “Some of the reasons for this are an increase in the funding needed by 911 operations, court technology and the (Geauga County Sheriff’s Office’s) 800-megahertz communications, an increase in staff and contract service requests for the auditor and ADP, and payroll account increases requests from the prosecutor’s office and See County • Page 7
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Young Pilots Earn Their Wings at Summer’s First Fly-In Page 9
Reverse Raffle Benefits Yoder Bros. Foundation Page 10
Classifieds Start on Page 14
Laura Jones is Winner of Maple Splash Raffle
JOHN KARLOVEC/KMG
Laura Jones, third from left, of South Russell, is the grand-prize winner of the 2021 Ford Mustang that Preston Superstore donated to the Rotary Club of Burton-Middlefield (BMR) for the Maple Splash Raffle. Jones received her ticket from Geauga West Rotary Club. Her name was drawn July 2 at the Maple Splash Festival held at Century Village Museum in Burton. Pat Preston, fourth from left, presented Jones with the keys July 7. Also pictured are, from left, BMR President Beverly Goodridge, BMR member John Hurd, BMR member Brian Brockway and BMR member Bob Johnson.
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