Sagamore Hills trustee column

by Paul Schweikert

On the corner of Valley View and Olde 8 roads sits the Northfield Macedonia Cemetery. The budget for the cemetery is based on Summit County’s tax valuations of the four Nordonia Hills communities.

Summit County set the valuation for Macedonia at $655 million. As a result, Macedonia pays $72,000 of the cemetery budget. Sagamore Hills, valued at $478 million, pays $52,000 of the budget. Northfield Center’s contribution is $26,000, based on its $243 million valuation. Northfield Village pays the least at $11,000 and is valued at $97 million. All numbers are rounded off.

The preceding paragraph explains the revenue stream supporting our cemetery. What it does not display is the great job cemetery fiscal officer Jeff Snell and cemetery sexton Dan Sakal have done in managing the budget.

For the second year in a row, the total to operate the cemetery is $161,000. Ten years ago, we spent $153,000 to operate the cemetery. Cost control by Snell and Sakal has been a herculean effort. As elected officials, we appreciate their good stewardship.

Another fixed cost to Sagamore Hills is the $106,000 we pay to the Summit County Health Department. What we pay is also based on our tax valuation. The health department does a number of inspections in Summit County, especially in restaurants. Sharing these expenses helps to explain where part of the township’s general fund tax dollars are spent.

Zoning

Trustee John Zaccardelli manages zoning and parks for the township and was called by a developer last month to sell the 191 acres the township owns on Valley View Road. This property runs from Chaffee Road up to the Bike & Hike Trail and backs into Sagamore Road. John informed the developer the land is zoned green space in perpetuity. Thanks, but no thanks.

Police

When I spoke with Police Chief David Hayes about the department in September, he asked me to share his concerns about walkers. When walking on the street, always face traffic. He said in many traffic accidents the driver is distracted. Worse is when the driver is intoxicated.

Hayes said the police recently arrested a nonresident in a Sagamore Hills parking lot. The individual hit a number of parked cars and was unable to formulate words. Hayes stated if you are facing traffic while walking you have a chance to avoid being hit by a vehicle. Walking with your back to traffic gives you zero chance.

A secondary concern Hayes had was with last-quarter fraudsters. He said during November and December, fraud hits a high mark in victims. The easiest way not to be a victim is to hang up on people who call that you do not know. There are hundreds of ways to be scammed. Hang up!

On behalf of the board of trustees, I want to thank residents for their patience with the summer road projects. More than $1 million was spent, and we hope to be finished by Oct. 15.

Halloween will be on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 6-8 p.m. Be careful driving during trick-or-treating. Go Browns!