Wednesday, February 18, 2026 • Vol. 18 No. 19 • FREE
Postal Customer Local / ECRWSS
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OR CURRENT RESIDENT
Community News from Middlefield, Parkman, Huntsburg and Surrounding Areas
PreSort Std U.S. Postage PAID Middlefield, OH 44062 Permit No. 77
Middlef ield Geauga County
Engineer Error Leaves Middlefield, Chardon Short on Road Funds By Ann Wishart ann@karlovecmedia.com Middlefield Village Fiscal Officer Nick Giardina demanded an apology Feb. 6 from Geauga County Engineer Andy Haupt for failing to submit two applications required to reimburse municipalities for road work completed last year. The missed submissions left Middlefield Village short $120,000 and the city of Chardon short $300,000
from the municipal road tax fund for projects completed in 2025. During the heated meeting in the Geauga County Auditor’s Office conference room, county Prosecutor Jim Flaiz appeared to be as angry as Giardina about the failure of the engineer’s office to complete the reimbursement process. Geauga County Auditor Chuck Walder said his office received no submissions from the engineer’s office, even though both municipalities
had applied for the funds on time and planned their budgets assuming reimbursement. “We want to make sure people who expect Haupt money get money in a timely manner,” he said, noting a process was created in 2020 to ensure all required steps are completed so money from license plate
fees is reimbursed to municipalities for road projects. Flaiz said documentation showed both Chardon and Middlefield received emails last year from Haupt’s department stating the prosecutor’s office was reviewing their municipal road tax applications. “That was absolutely untrue,” Flaiz said, adding he did not learn about Middlefield’s application until Giardina called him Jan. 9. See Engineer • Page 3
Parkman Township
ODOT Partners with Amish, Trustees on Rt. 422 By Ann Wishart ann@karlovecmedia.com
Solutions are being explored to improve safety for Amish buggy traffic along U.S. Route 422 following a meeting between members of the Amish Road Safety Committee, Ohio Department of Transportation officials and Parkman Township Trustee Joyce Peters. “It was one of the more productive meetings I’ve ever been to,” Peters said during the Parkman Township Trustees regular meeting Feb. 3.
An October motor vehicle-buggy crash on Route 422 resulted in one fatality and one serious injury, both Amish residents, prompting members of the Amish community to attend the Oct. 21 trustees meeting to ask for help. Other buggy-vehicle accidents have occurred along the corridor, the committee said, citing high speeds, heavy traffic and drivers unfamiliar with horse-drawn buggies as ongoing safety concerns. Peters said the Feb. 3 meeting led ODOT personnel to agree to explore several possible solutions.
“There are several irons in the fire on how to fix this,” she said. One proposal includes installing a traffic light at the Y-intersection of Route 422, Main Market Road and Farmington Road, a solution the Amish committee strongly supports, Peters said. Farther west, the intersection of state Route 528 and Main Market Road is particularly dangerous for slower horse-drawn buggies due to heavy traffic, according to previous reporting. In October, the Amish Road Safety Committee asked whether a
bypass could be constructed from north of the intersection to Farmington Road to allow buggies to avoid the intersection. Peters said Feb. 3 multiple bypass options were discussed. “There are two or three options for a bypass. It depends on the property owners,” she said, noting an easement across private property would be required. Ideally, the bypass would begin near the Route 528 intersection with state Route 168 north of the intersection, she said. See Safety • Page 7
Cardinal Welcomes Special Olympics Athlete Ryan Manfredi recently visited Mrs. Tomazic’s class to share his experiences competing in the Special Olympics and other athletic competitions. He spoke about perseverance, sportsmanship and representing the community through athletics. SUBMITTED
Community Meetings Listed are upcoming public meetings and executive sessions in Huntsburg, Middlefield and Parkman townships, the Village of Middlefield and Cardinal Schools. (Please note: These meeting notices are NOT legal notices.) Huntsburg Twp.: March 3, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees; March 17, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees. All meetings held at the Town Hall, 16534 Mayfield Road. Middlefield Twp.: March 9, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees. All meetings are held at Township Office, 15228 Madison Road, unless otherwise noted. Middlefield Village: March 5, 12 p.m., Housing Council; March 10, 6 p.m., Planning Commission; March 12, 5:30 p.m. – Recreation Committee, 6 p.m. – Finance & Ordinance Committee, 6:30 p.m. – Safety Committee, 7 p.m. – Village Council. All meetings are at the Municipal Center, 14860 N. State Ave. Parkman Twp.: March 3, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees; March 17, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees. All meetings are held at the Parkman Community House, 16295 Main Market Road, unless otherwise noted. Cardinal BOE: Feb. 25, 6:30 p.m., work session; March 11, 6:30 p.m., regular meeting; March 25, 6:30 p.m., work session. All meetings held at BOE Office, 15982 E. High St., Middlefield, unless otherwise indicated.
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