Leaf Thursday, June 12, 2025 Vol. 31 No. 24 • Chardon, Ohio www.geaugamapleleaf.com $1.25
NAMI Geauga Welcomes New Director
Retirement Rolling Around for Baumgartner
By Charlotte Jons editor@karlovecmedia.com
By Ann Wishart ann@karlovecmedia.com
Community members gathered at Vino Type in Chester Township June 4 to welcome Angela North as the new executive director of National Alliance on Mental Illness Geauga County. The event, hosted by the local chapter of NAMI, gave attendees a North chance to meet North, learn about her vision for the organization and discuss the evolving conversation about mental health. North, a licensed social worker with a master’s degree in public administration, brings over a decade See NAMI • Page 5
The wheels of Cardinal Schools’ buses have been going round and round for 25 years under the direction of Transportation Coordinator Diane Baumgartner. With a phone in one hand and her radio in the other, the lifelong Cardinal Huskie often keeps in touch with drivers of buses and vans all day, every day, ensuring students get to and from sports events, outings and numerous other locations, such as private schools, special needs student venues and the Auburn Career Center. “I have 15 calendars to keep track of,” she said during an interview June 5. See Baumgartner • Page 4
ANN WISHART/KMG
With mixed emotions, longtime Cardinal Schools Transportation Coordinator Diane Baumgartner, center, is looking forward to retiring in September. Also pictured, from left, are Tally Hostetler, Samone Lee and Debbie Manfredi in front of Cardinal Junior/Senior High School.
Bainbridge Township
Geauga Lake Developer Threatens Lawsuit Officials Set Town Hall Demolition Date By Emma MacNiven macniven@karlovecmedia.com The VC Park at Geauga Lake developer is threatening to take legal action against Bainbridge Township Trustees after they repeatedly denied occupancy permits for the new apartment complex due to safety concerns. Trustee Jeff Markley announced during the June 9 trustees meeting
Vision Development, the company building the apartments, recently sent a letter threatening a lawsuit against the township. Vorys law firm, representing Columbus-based VD, sent the Geauga County Prosecutor’s Office a letter June 4 stating three reasons why they believe the township is working unlawfully. See Bainbridge • Page 3
VISION DEVELOPMENT
Vision Development — the company building VC Park at Geauga Lake — is threatening legal action against township officials after they denied occupancy permits.
Commission Denies GPH Budget, Auditor ‘Concerned’ By Allison Wilson wilson@karlovecmedia.com
The Geauga County Budget Commission unanimously rejected Geauga Public Health’s 2026 budget June 2. “The numbers on the certificate we have here are the same numbers that were presented during the April 21 official budget hearing,” said county Deputy Auditor Kristen Sinatra, referring to GPH’s
first budget hearing, when the budget commission tabled the matter after criticising high cash amounts in funds and expressing Flaiz concern about how budget information is conveyed to the Health District Advisory Council. Nothing has changed from what
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the commission reviewed then, she said. No representatives from GPH were present at the June meeting.
“The health department was unaware that it had been placed back on the agenda for the budget committee due to some miscommunications at GPH,” Geauga County Health Administrator Adam Litke said in a June 7 email. “Those issues have been addressed and we are now in communication with the auditor’s office in reference to our appearance at the next regularly scheduled meeting.” See Budget • Page 7
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