POST Wednesday, December 28, 2022 • Vol. 15 No. 16 • FREE
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Community News from Middlefield, Parkman, Huntsburg and Surrounding Areas
OR CURRENT RESIDENT
Middlef ield Council Considers Hotel Feasibility Study Firms By Ann Wishart
and Newmark V&A’s Hospitality, Gaming and Leisure Group, both with offices in Cleveland. In order to attract a hotel chain “Middlefield needs to build in the area, Middleto be the first in Geauga field Village Council is conCounty to have (a hotel),” sidering contracting with he said. one of two real estate adviCouncil member Rick sory services to prepare a Seyer said a hotel would feasibility study of the area. benefit the entire comMayor Ben Garlich munity and the project is asked council Dec. 8 to worth the village soliciting consider proposals from Garlich H&LA Hotel and Leisure Advisors some funding for a feasibility study.
ann@karlovecmedia.com
Parkman Township
Walder Explains Process to Lower Some Property Taxes
However, he said he is concerned “consultants tell you what you want to hear.” Garlich said neither of the companies is retained by hotel chains. “Both are highly recommended in the industry. They’d know what would fit our market,” Garlich said. The cover letters in both proposals were addressed in November to Shawn Neece of Renew Partners LLC in Montville Township and, based on the scope of work,
Deck the Halls
Middlefield’s Festival of Trees Returns to Historical Society Submitted
By Ann Wishart ann@karlovecmedia.com
Geauga County Auditor Chuck Walder received a warm welcome from Parkman Township Trustees and residents Dec. 6 as he offered about 120 residents a review of their property valuations, which might result in a change in their taxes to offset costs from being forced to connect to a sewer. Walder spoke at the trustees’ meeting, explaining how his office has the statuary Walder authority to tax equalize a neighborhood’s property values that directly affect owners’ annual tax bills. He said his intention is to create a neighborhood including those homes. He knows the two-pronged process works because he and his staff were able to help the residents of Berkshire Heights in Chardon Township earlier this year, Walder said. In both cases, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency required a wastewater treatment plant be built to handle sewage from homes in a specific area. See Parkman • Page 10
both will charge the village $12,000 for the study. David Sangree, president of H&LA, said in the cover letter his company’s thorough analysis includes in-depth local, regional, state and market information. “We will produce a detailed financial analysis for the project and estimate its probable operating performance for an 11-year holding project,” the proposal read. It outSee Hotel • Page 6
SUBMITTED
The tree decorated by John’s Country Nursery is the People’s Choice winner in Middlefield Chamber of Commerce’s Festival of Trees. The Bee-Lieve in the Magic of Christmas tree beat out 30 other submissions.
Middlefield Historical Society kicked the holiday season off with the return of its popular Festival of Trees, which was held the first two weekends in December. The festival featured 30 trees eligible for People’s Choice voting, each one of them unique and unlike any other. The winner is John’s Country Nursery. Besides flowers and seeds, the tree featured bees and honey-related items to highlight their annual Honey Bee Festival held each September. Other featured businesses and organizations with trees were Cardinal Schools, Destination Geauga, East Geauga Kiwanis, Ferroni’s Allegro, Geauga County Maple Leaf/Middlefield Post, His Daughter, Middlefield Banking Company, Middlefield Chamber of Commerce, Middlefield Historical Society, Middlefield Library, Middlefield Senior Center, Shetler Printing & Office Supply, Siracki Realy and Snuggle Buns Rabbitry. Individuals who decorated one or more trees were Nancy Cook, Barb Youshak, Evelyn Darpel, Corey and Carolyn Wright and Diana Cathan. In addition to decorated trees, festival visitors were treated to festive holiday spirit with other displays, including nativities, angels, collections of snowmen and Santas, holiday lighting and much more. Poinsettias were donated by See Trees • Page 4
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