Leaf Thursday, October 3, 2024 Vol. 30 No. 40 • Chardon, Ohio www.geaugamapleleaf.com $1.25
Chardon Weighs Repair, Rebuild Costs
Sports
District Seeks Input On Next Steps By Amy Patterson amy@karlovecmedia.com Even after spending millions of dollars on significant improvements to its facilities, Chardon Schools’ buildings still fall far below state standards. But, before potentially pursuing a bond issue to address the needs, the district plans to engage the community in conversation over the general state of its structures. In 2019, voters rejected a 5.3mill bond issue to generate $76 million toward a new high school campus. In 2021, a 0.7-mill, $7.2 million bond to repair district facilities also failed. See Buildings • Page 5
Cardinal Schools
Jordak Auction Scheduled for March 2025
pages 11-15 SUBMITTED
An architectural, three-dimensional rendering shows what the proposed Meijer may look like from Loreto Drive in Chardon.
Meijer Moves Forward Planning Commission Approves Multiple Modifications
By Allison Wilson wilson@karlovecmedia.com Concept plans for a Chardon Meijer store are inching forward, as representatives from the company appeared before Chardon Planning Commission at their Sept. 24 meeting seeking final development design approval. Senior Real Estate Manager Cris Jones and engineers Abby
Jacobs and Brian Smallwood, who appeared in an informal capacity before the commission in May, also sought approval for nine variances, 11 sign deviations and a conditional use for a gas station. “What you have before you this evening is a request for final development plan approval for a Meijer, which is a 159,935-square-foot grocery retail store,” Community Development Administrator Steve Ya-
New Geauga GOP Chair Plans For Continuity, Engagement By Amy Patterson amy@karlovecmedia.com
By Ann Wishart ann@karlovecmedia.com
The sale of the abandoned A.J. Jordak Elementary School in Middlefield Village must take place by July 1, 2025. Cardinal Schools Board of Education President Linda Smallwood told the board Sept. 25 state law gives the district one year to sell a school once it is no longer used for student instruction. “Or we have to give it to somebody,” she said. “Being that we always need the money, (the date) is a starting point for the board to discuss.” See Jordak • Page 3
ney explained to the commission. “Along with it is a 3,373-squarefoot mExpress gas station.” Everything on the site will require architectural review approval, he added. “To approve the plan as submitted this evening, all nine variances and 11 sign deviations would have to be approved or modified in some way,” Yaney said. See Meijer • Page 4
SUBMITTED
The Geauga County Republican Party elected Joan Windnagel, right, as their new chair during a vote held Sept. 23 at Celebration Lutheran Church in Chardon. Also pictured are, from left, Vice Chair of the Executive Committee Kathy Johnson, Secretary James Midyette, Treasurer Joe DeBoth and, front, Vice Chair Kevin O’Reilly.
Joan Windnagel is the new chair of the Geauga County Republican Party after an election Sept. 23 at Celebration Lutheran Church in Chardon. Windnagel won 33 votes from the GOP Central Committee, while competitors Rich Piraino and Janice Sugarman received 18 and 10 votes, respectively. Also elected were Vice Chair of the Executive Committee Kathy Johnson and Secretary James Midyette. Vice Chair Kevin O'Reilly — who served as interim chair after the Sept. 6 resignation of previous GOP Chair Nancy McArthur — and Treasurer Joe DeBoth both retained their positions. In an email to the Geauga County Maple Leaf, Windnagel expressed her gratitude to her fellow party members. “I would like to thank the central committee See Republicans • Page 3
S. Russell Street Commissioner Retires page 7
ADP Space, GPH Lease Hit Speed Bump page 6
Meditation Garden Planned for Addiction Recovery Home page 9
Opinion page 8-9
Obituaries pages 16-17
Sheriff’s Sales & Legal Notices page 21
Classifieds page 23 Single Edition $1.25