Geauga Record

The first all-member meeting of the Geauga County League of Women Voters was held on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 8:00 p.m. at the Newbury United Community Church.

Mrs. Charles Osborne, County Line Rd., Chesterland, introduced the main speaker of the evening, Edwin Hofstetter, who spoke on the necessity of passing the jail bond issue and the operating levy. By not passing the levy, which is 1 mill over a period of five years or 85-90 thousand dollars, Mr. Hofstetter said that Geauga County would probably continue to exist but not efficiently. The county office workers haven't had an authorized pay raise in two years. Unless the levy passes, it is doubtful whether their wages will be increased this year.

It would be more economical to buy the voting machines that we now rent. Mr. Hofstetter said that the rental we have paid would apply on the purchase price.

Since the population of Geauga County has doubled since 1940, the planning is stalemated and the jail would have to operate on a part staff basis. The proposed new jail, which would be located on a site near the County Home and the County Hospital, will accommodate 56 male prisoners and 28 female prisoners. The detention space for juveniles will be separated from the adult. The "drunk tank" will have a capacity of 12 men with a limit of 4 men per cell. The cost of the building would be $450,000.00 or 4/10 of a mill over a period not to exceed 20 years. Office space and sheriff's quarters would be included in the proposed building.

In answer to a question as to whether or not it was possible to combine with other counties for detention purposes, Judge Robert B. Ford said that it was possible but "there is little hope for performance," since the counties which surround us are "wealthy."

Mrs. Edward McGeough opened the meeting with a talk on the Metropolitan Amendment Charter and the reasons why the Geauga County League of Women Voters has decided to back it, should it be put on the ballot. Even though Geauga County will not be directly affected by the amendment, should it pass it will benefit our sister counties which have cities in them large enough to profit by being included in the amendment.

Mrs. Osborne then introduced Mrs. Dagmar Utz. Mrs. Utz reported on the Child Care Center. Since November the center has operated in a wing of the County Home. It was closed in June, however, because of inadequate help. Mrs. Utz suggested that if several counties combined to build and support one Child Care Center, the possibility of obtaining sufficient funds to employ adequate help might be greater.

Mr. Robert Ranney, of the County Planning Commission, told the group of the Commission's progress to date.

Among those present at the meeting were several candidates running for county offices. Mr. Williams - W. Geauga School Board; Mr. A. John Rose - W. Geauga School Board; Mr. Ralph Smith - Trustee, Chesterland; Mr. Wilkins - Trustee, Claridon Township; Mr. S. Donald - Kenston School Board; Mr. Lynch Jr. - Kenston School Board; Mr. Weisz - Clerk of Newbury; Dr. J. W. Moats - mayor of Chardon; Mr. Max Greenler - Chardon village Council; Mr. Sturges - Trustee, Bainbridge; and Mr. L. Sanders - Trustee, Bainbridge.

League Hears talk on Jail

"We are all tired of jail bond issues," Commissioner Edwin Hofstetter told the Geauga League of Women Voters and their husbands at a meeting at Newbury United Community Church last week. However that does not alter the fact that the same miserable, inhumane conditions still exist at Chardon’s jail."

Latest jail bond issue to be placed on the ballot in November was explained by Mr. Hofstetter to a capacity crowd of a hundred persons.

The building would be re-erected on a portion of the two hundred, forty acres owned by the county and partially used by the county home. It is estimated $450,000 will be needed. This would assess each tax duplicate four tenths of a mill or forty cents per thousand dollars evaluation, for twenty three years.

The league has as yet taken no stand on the issue. The facts will be carried to all unit meetings, studied carefully and a consensus of opinion taken.

Mr. Hofstetter also explained the need for an operating levy, which will be discussed at unit meetings.

County Planning Director Robert Ranney described progress made in land subdivision regulations. He said the regulations were a shock to builders and real-estate people at this "Boom-time." At present the county is in an adjustment period, which had also been experienced by other counties that had earlier adopted county planning. However "Loop-holers" attempting to circumvent the laws were diminishing.

Representative of the league's state board, Mrs. Ed McGeough explained the Metropolitan Federation Charter, which if placed on the ballot again, will be endorsed by the league. As a continuing responsibility, the Metropolitan Federation Charter has been studied for many years by all leagues across the state of Ohio.