POST Wednesday, August 5, 2026 • Vol. 19 No. 5 • FREE
Farmland Forum Draws Questions About Data Centers Staff Report The potential construction of data centers in Geauga County prompted discussion during the Geauga County Planning Commission's Farmland Forum on July 15. More than 80 residents attended the event, where organizers gathered information and public input to help update the county's Farmland Preservation Plan, which is scheduled for completion in 2027, Planning Commission Chairman Nick Gorris said in a July 21 phone interview. During the forum's questionand-answer session, Gorris said attendees raised concerns about how data centers could affect agricultural land and whether they are an appropriate fit for Geauga County. “How do you incorporate them? Can we sway people not to use their land for (data centers)? Are they a good fit for Geauga County?” he said. “There are so many other factors.” Some questions revolved around concerns about the amount of water and electricity large data centers require to cool and power the computer systems used to gather information for artificial intelligence applications, Gorris said. Because many data centers require large, undeveloped sites, farmland could be ideal for future development, he said. According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, Geauga County has more than 66,000 acres of farmland, with the average farm consisting of 59 acres. “Lots of good questions came in,” Gorris said. “No decisions were made. It will all be addressed in the updated farmland preservation plan.” The forum, held at the Geauga County Fairgrounds Youth and Livestock Building, was organized similarly to the county's township landuse planning forums, Gorris said. Nine stations allowed participants to review topics including See Farmland • Page 2
A Lifetime of Service
After 39 Years, Middlefield Fire Chief Ready to Retire
color copies
25¢
only
By Ann Wishart ann@karlovecmedia.com When Bill Reed joined the Middlefield Volunteer Fire Department in 1986, he never expected the decision would become a 39-year career that included more than two decades as chief. Now, Bill is preparing to retire in September after helping guide the department through decades of change while building a family legacy of public service. “I applied to the fire department in December of 1986,” he recalled in a recent phone interview. “Russ (Coyle) was a lieutenant on the fire department and urged me to give it a try.” A lifelong Middlefield resident, Bill said his parents, Jerry and Beverly Reed, had no history in the fire service, although his grandfather, Robert Reed, served on the department. Born in Chardon in 1955, Bill graduated from Cardinal High
Postal Customer Local / ECRWSS
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
black&white 10¢ fax $1.49
ea.
plus 6.75% tax 81/2”x11”
1st page includes cover additional pages 99¢ ea.
email/scan 50¢
SUBMITTED
Middlefield Fire Chief Bill Reed, right, will be retiring from the fire department in September and retain the title of Chief Emeritus. Also pictured is Ed Samec, left, former Middlefield Village police chief.
School before serving in the U.S. Navy from 1973 to 1977. He attended the pharmacy technical school in San Diego before returning to Geauga County and marry-
ing Lynn Wright in 1980. Bill joined the department while raising a young family and steadily advanced through the
CHESTERLAND
Chesterland News, 8389 Mayfield Rd.
440-729-7667 ads@karlovecmedia.com
See Chief • Page 7
Amish Safety Day Draws Hundreds By Rose Nemunaitis editor@karlovecmedia.com For more than two decades, the Middlefield Fire Department and the Amish community have worked together to create a safe environment where a growing manufacturing town can coexist with the rural, simple lifestyle that is the Amish way of living. That partnership was on display July 24 as about 700 people attended Amish Safety Day at Heritage Market Place, 15864 Nauvoo Road in Middlefield. The annual event grew out of tragedy. In January 2002, three people died in a house fire caused by the explosion of a white gas lantern used to illuminate a family's living room. Following the fire, the Middlefield Fire Department and Amish community leaders formed the Amish Safety Committee to focus on education and prevention.
ROSE NEMUNAITIS/KMG
Geauga County Farm Bureau President Bob Rogish hands out child-sized reflective safety vests to young attendees during Amish Safety Day in Middlefield.
The committee later established Amish Safety Day to bring together the Amish community, first responders and other Geauga County agencies with a shared goal of helping families stay safe.
For Amish resident Nora Kurtz, of West Farmington, the event represents the type of community connection organizers hoped to create. See Safety • Page 3
facebook.com/middlefieldpost x.com/MiddlefieldPost