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'Shoe tree' gives way to trucks
(by Dave Lange - August 07, 2008)
'Shoe tree' gives way to trucks
Dear County Line: First of all, Bainbridge Township doesn't need any more high-speed thoroughfares, so it's ridiculous to spend over $1 million of the taxpayers' money to widen and repave Savage Road. Secondly, if they cut down the world-famous "shoe tree" to make way for more pavement, it will be an even bigger loss to Bainbridge's tourist industry than the closing of Geauga Lake Park was last autumn.
-- Dusty Rhodes, Bainbridge
Dear Dusty: There's no doubt that the "shoe tree" is a major vacation destination, but, without any shoe stores nearby, it doesn't bring in a lot of income for the local economy.
Some folks claim that township officials want to widen Savage Road so that more people will drive their Hummers to the walking trails at Frohring Meadows park and to help a housing developer sell more oversized homes by nearby wetlands.
But I think the real reason is to create a better shortcut for heavy truck traffic to get between the Route 422 freeway interchange and downtown Chagrin Falls. After all, why should truckers be encouraged to use the main roads, when they could be speeding along residential streets instead? Besides, it will give the Township Trustees another reason to beg the county engineer for more traffic lights.
Dear County Line: The next thing you know, the Geauga County Democratic Party will be blaming the Geauga County Fair Board for their chronic inability to get candidates elected to county offices. Those tax-and-spend liberals are always whining about something.
Just because the Republicans get a bigger tent and a much better location on the midway, while the Dems get an out-of-the-way spot with loud bands playing nearby, doesn't mean the fair board has been playing favorites. Based on past elections, it's evident that Geauga County voters just don't care much for Democrats, and people wouldn't stop at their tent at the fair even if they gave away free donkeys.
-- Ellie Phant, Burton
Dear Ellie: Given the fact that the Democrats gave up their previous space at the Great Geauga County Fair in the late 1980s, while the GOP has been a loyal participant all along, this complaint sounds like a bunch of hogwash. I'm surprised that the two political parties aren't fighting over who can get the tent closest to the pork pavilion.
Dear County Line: I must take issue with the so-called research study done by Cleveland State University and paid for the Coral Co., which supposedly found that the proposed Central Park "lifestyle center" would increase property values in nearby residential neighborhoods. I wasn't born yesterday, and I've never seen home buyers jumping at the chance to live close to shopping centers and their noisy, dirty, congested parking lots.
-- Wayne E. Conomy, Solon
Dear Wayne: Keep in mind that this is the same university which was paid $35,000 by Geauga County Commissioners last year to conclude that Claridon Township would be a good place for relocating the county seat.
I don't give much credence to the rumor that the researchers inadvertently studied the area around the wrong Central Park. However, I do believe, if a developer pays enough for the study, some "experts" could show that values go up for homes with landfill views.
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