3/19/08

3/19/08
Bravo!  Thank you for stepping in and bringing the disgusting treatment of Mary Jane to the forefront. Knowing that she no longer has to face the BOE and city alone must bring a tiny bit of sunshine to her day. We are TOTALLY against the BOE stealing her land by eminent domain.  Where in Avon can you find an acre for $30K?  If we can help Mary Jane in any way, please let us know.  No one should be forced to give up land that they love.

3/19/08
My ancestors helped build this Village and are laid to rest here. Now they are rolling in their graves. I can't image how Mrs. Wolfe feels to have lived here all of her life and and then have family's land stolen  from beneath her. They call this progress!  I call it out of control. Count me in on the plan to hold our elected officials accountable and assist Mrs. Wolfe in her fight against these greedy bullies.

3/19/08
Just wondering if anyone has a ballpark on what it may cost to fight this in court if it comes to it ?  I hear that it will cost allot, but have not heard any figures yet.   I do not know Mrs. Wolfe, but every time I hear about this issue, my blood boils ! no exaggeration ! my teeth clench and I cannot believe this is happening ?  Literally in my backyard. Its her land period. The fact that she even has to fight for it is crazy and beyond me and it angers me to no end.  And the board members that are spearheading this ? They really have to go.   As a community we really have to pull together and do whatever it takes to NOT let this happen to this lady.
Keep up the pressure and good work ! (and Media coverage)I loved that it was splattered all over the front pages of the local papers and the 10:00 news.  Beside the board members, I wonder how many residents you could find that would SUPPORT the boards actions ? I cant imagine finding ONE.


3/19/08
I am disgusted by what the school board is doing.  It would be one thing if Wolfe wanted to sell her land, but she does not so LEAVE HER ALONE. It seems that Avon politicians are catering to a select few more and more and this is just one example.  The citizens of Avon need to stand up for what is right.  Now is the time.  I am thinking civil disobedience.  How about a student walk-out and march down detroit road.  How about a group willing to sit in front of school busses so they can't pick the children up.  Come on people, let our voices be heard.  Let's do something to help Mrs. Wolfe.  Teachers strike why can't the citizens and students?  What a better way to show the school board how we feel than a massive school walk-out on a planned and organized day?  Extreme actions on the part of government require extreme responses on the part of the citizens.

3/19/08
I don't agree with taking personal property without a homeowner's consent.  Who is to say my land won't be next?

3/19/08
To whom it may concern,
I find the attempt to steal Ms. Wolfe's land deplorable.  It is HER land. PERIOD!   I am emailing the entire board that I will be voting against the 3 board members who want this at the next election, and I will also be voting no on every bond issue in the future.  If enough residents email the board with the above sentiments, they might change their mind. Good luck to Ms. Wolfe!

3/19/08
My husband and I feel very strongly that the process of eminent domain to seize the above mentioned property is WRONG. 
We have been residents of Avon for over 40 years and have always supported the Avon Schools.  Our four children all graduated from Avon (the last in 1990) and we feel that its schools are a large draw for new people wanting to move to Avon.
However, the school board's heavy-handed threat of eminent domain to take Mary Jane Wolfe's property when she has no interest in selling it, does not seem to be the best light to shine on our community.  If this is the way you treat residents, we will no longer support your requests for bond issues or anything else.
Your actions are giving Avon a black eye.
We are not acquainted with Mary Jane Wolfe but support her right to not be forced into giving up property that has been in her family for 50 years.
Congratulations to Mr. Romanchok who made a motion to delay the process by 90 days, so a citizens committe could be formed to consider other possibilities.  Unfortunately, no one had the courage to second it.
We believe this issue will be detrimental to the school board's future requests for financial support.  You certainly won't get our votes!


3/19/08
Where does the madness stop?  A few individuals who have empowered themselves with a "SELF RIGHTOUSNESS of PURPOSE" decide with a feeling that a single woman should give up her home, her land and history of the American dream; the persuit of happiness because behind closed doors they have decided to take it away from her but, not without the kiss of Judas.  Money... Money doesn't but peace, doesn't replace all the historic memories she has experiences with her family and her love.  Yet, a schoolboard has decided her life is worth their silver.


3/18/08
No to eminent domain and no to our school leadership.  I will be at the meeting tonight and would like to learn more about Citizens for Change.

3/18/08
I think we should all be taking names and remembering who the board of education is when we go to vote.  People like this should not be running our schools, let them corrupt their children but leave mine out of it.  The new board's mandate should be to replace the superintendent immediately.  Paying him off to go away would be far less expensive than continuing to finance his legal bills while he attempts to crush the opposition through intimidation.  The guy just does not get it.

3/18/08

3/18/08

Eminent Domain-NO, this is a democratic country not a communist country where the individual proprties belong to the government.

3/18/08
As a resident of Avon, I feel the eminent domain decision was not a wise one .  In my opinion, it does not represent the values for which the people or the schools stand for.


3/17/08
Avon School Board,
We are disgusted with your initial actions to take Mary Jane Wolfe’s property through eminent domain.  As parents of Avon students, we want a good education in a safe environment.  We want the best programs and teachers to prepare our children for college.  We can achieve all of this without bullying property from Mary Jane Wolfe.

We are fortunate in Avon to still have available land.  Why are you not interested in land that is available for sale?  You do not have the support from the majority of the people in Avon .  Your actions are absolutely deplorable!  How do you go to sleep at night knowing what you are trying to do to her?  How would you sleep if you were being forced to sell your property that you wanted to keep?  Furthermore, would you appreciate receiving under market value for your property in this economic state?  If you can answer these questions honestly and still get a good night sleep, than you are all clearly the wrong people making decisions that affect our children.

Provide growth for our schools the responsible way.  The responsible way is not always the easiest way, and in fact, it seldom is.   Avon wants to remain a community that cares about its people.  Your actions represent the opposite! 

3/17/08
Please continue your fight however it must be done to stop the taking of your land by the Avon Board of Education via eminent domain. Do not let the  bullish, bold members of the Avon Board of Education  continue their superior attitudes by blowing off the public land owners who want to keep their land.  I am not speaking for all of the members of the board - I am speaking to only those who voted in favor of this measure.  Tell them to Look Elsewhere.  I am a life-long resident of Avon and have gotten increasingly disgusted with the attitude of the current board.  First with the rude treatment of a very respected citizen and our former superintendent of schools, Mr. Robert Barnhart, and now by their utter disregard by just taking what they want knowing full well this is not a critical time-sensitive issue.   Be reminded that Mrs. Ruth Plas and the board struck a deal that both parties wanted regarding the sale of the current high school property.  Mrs. Wolfe does not want to sell her land.  This is the difference.  Look elsewhere.  I am also vehemently opposed to this Center Road location as many others are.  Get these schools off the main highways.  State Rt. 83 is a nightmare right now already  and will only increase with time and more shopping centers.  Please tell the board to investigate and advertise for land in Avon.  We are fortunate to have much vacant land yet and certainly there are other parcels to choose from without destroying Mrs. Wolfe's home and land that she dearly wants to keep.  Bottom line is this - all I hear around town since this eminent domain has raised its head is that we need to vote off Smitek, Marsiglia and Polovich in the next election.  I cut out and saved 3 letters to the editer in The Cleveland Plain Dealer last Sunday that came from readers in University Heights, Vermilion and Amherst under the heading "Avon Schools Deserve Scorn for Land Grab".  Apparently our school board is getting a black eye from residents even outside of Avon who are appalled as we are by this unwarranted and vicious action.

Keep up the fight.  We are with you in your struggle

Our e-mail was meant as encouragement to  you and our support of your group.  Please let us know if we can help in any way.  We are already spreading the word to fellow residents who are without exception also on your side.

3/17/08

3/17/08
To the Avon School Board, Avon Citizens for Change, et al.
Unfortunately we won’t be able to attend the Avon School Board meeting on March 18^th, but I did want to express my outrage of what is being done to Mrs. Mary Jane Wolfe. My wife and I are both graduates of Avon High School , Class of 1981.  We recently moved back into Avon last year after being away for about 15 years but have always considered ourselves “life long residents”.   I grew up a neighbor of Mrs. Wolfe’s and my parent’s home is still on the other side of French Creek from her farm.  What a disappointment with most of this current School Board!

I find it extremely reprehensible that the Schools Board has badgered Mrs. Wolfe for years and is now resorting to “strong-arming” her with eminent domain. It’s obvious that Mrs. Wolfe has always wished to remain and retain her family farm as is.  If her ultimate goal was speculating to sell and wanting the highest price on her property she would’ve have sold out to a developer long ago! If that had been the case what would the School Board be doing now?  How about using whatever that option would have been instead of taking most of someone’s life long home. But now the School Board, because of its lack of foresight years ago has supposedly lost out on nearly all of the “desirable properties” because the city refuses to control the developers and the limit development within the city to any reasonable degree, and now Mrs. Wolfe is being made the scapegoat.  She is, for all intents and purposes, being taken advantage of because she had no desire to ever sell out to developers over the years, even when offered maximum dollars. Plus, to add insult to injury, she is now being punished for not selling before and having the school board come in and just take almost all of her property for a price significantly below-market!

I find it ironic that taking Mrs Wolfe’s property is viewed by the school board as the “cheapest” option but for her the “cost” appears to be immeasurable since her family has owned the property for years and years and even developer money was never enough to tempt her.  But now her desire to remain undisturbed and not to sell out over the years may cost her hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not more, and all she’ll end up with is a tiny corner of what is rightfully hers!

 OPTION #1: Yes, refurbishing the old High School/Middle School will probably cost more than invoking eminent domain – probably even after the legal costs and time that will be wasted on this battle by both parties. But just because a refurbishment will cost more money and Mrs. Wolfe’s property happens to be in a convenient location is no reason to force someone to give up most of their life long home and property that has been in the family for years.  However, I find it hard to believe that a new middle school can’t be built on the property already owned by the school district - even without touching the football stadium and field!  If for some reason there isn’t enough property there (hard to believe though) then the district needs to bear the cost of refurbishment and not just assume it’s OK to take away someone’s home and property because it the easiest and most convenient solution!  What would been done if Mrs. Wolfe had already sold the property 15 years ago?  If refurbishment and adding on is disruptive to the students then move the 8^th graders to the unused classrooms in the new wing of the High School if necessary,  7^th-12^th were all in the current middle school back in the mid 1990’s, and keep the 7^th graders to one end of the building while the renovations are occurring.  With all of the growth in the city and with so much new mid to high end residential, retail and industry coming in, worst case, I find it hard to believe that these additional rebuilding costs can’t be ultimately absorbed with some careful planning and appropriate budgeting. 

 OPTION #2: If tearing down and rebuilding or adding on is truly so prohibitively expensive, invoke eminent domain on property that has little or no significance to its owner other than pure speculation. In other words, take the property of a developer instead of one of the few remaining family farms in the city?  The rural setting and the few family farms left are the very heritage on which Avon was built and make Avon attractive to new families and to the city’s make up.  If eminent domain is a viable way to take private property for a school, then shouldn’t it be viable to take a developer’s acreage?? If it isn’t viable, then why is it being used on Mrs. Wolfe?? This option would solve several issues and probably give the School Board much more positive support from the community.  First and foremost it would allow a lifelong, loyal resident who truly loves her way of life in Avon to continue on as is and to give the piece of mind to others who may want the same.  Second it would help some with the overzealous growth that is currently taking place which is forcing this situation to begin with – the need to quickly build more schools while having a supposed lack of “available” property suitable for a new school because the developers have speculated on most of the significant properties in Avon .  Punish the opportunistic developers for not having this foresight and caution when buying up all of the properties rather than a loyal, dedicated lifelong small farm family.  SO - Why isn’t the School Board targeting the developer’s properties for eminent domain?? Of course, other than the obvious answer that the developers have more money and attorneys than Mrs. Wolfe.  That would only imply that eminent domain is the correct solution to the problem BUT only as long as the current owner has less money and resources than the city is willing to expend – developers need not worry!

For example, there are several large tracts of land on the SW corner of Jaycox and Detroit that have been surveyed and plotted out to be Palmer Village by Jim Gamellia of AVON LAKE .  Why not come in and take that property by eminent domain?  In fact, I believe Gamellia doesn’t even own any or most of those properties yet! I hate to see all that woods and farm land disappear, but if the owners are getting rid of it anyway, I’d much rather see a school there than have it be developed.  I’m sure the school, at the very least, would be better with leaving wooded areas and green space than a developer.  What about the properties directly East of Heritage North and South or across the street from Heritage – take that away from the commercial developers through eminent domain!  Lutheran West is directly next door to the old Westgate shopping plaza and there are no issues there! What about on the NE corner of Jaycox & Detroit which was recently cleared for “farming” purposes, per Mr. Jim Piazza.  How about taking that for the school, the sewers are now in there and it’s already cleared!  We sure don’t need another eye sore of a strip mall which everyone knows is ultimately going there.  At least the school will: serve a better purpose, won’t be some future eye sore, won’t contribute nearly as much to the currently overused underdeveloped infrastructure, and not likely end up half empty once city’s the rapid growth eventually transitions to another city.  Given the choice, I’m sure most Avon residents would rather have a school than some strip mall there! In fact, even now the infrastructure of Detroit Road is much better suited for the increased traffic of a middle school than either 83 or Stoney Ridge Rd – what are you going to do to improve those roads if the board takes Mrs. Wolfe’s property?  How about the property across from Avon Commons that Romes owns? Take that with eminent domain.  This land also has sewers and is slated for another strip mall which no one in Avon needs.  Take a property that no one is passionate about and which has no significance to anyone other than some developer who has no history, allegiance, loyalty, nor regard for the long term overall quality of life in Avon.

Finally, I’ve read in several newspapers and heard on news reports such as on WTAM/Bill Wills on Monday morning 3/17 about how the board and Dale Smitek are trying to make a comparison on Mrs. Wolfe’s situation versus how Mr Smitek’s family.  Apparently Mr. Smitek’s grandfather was affected by eminent domain in the 1950’s when the then high school now current middle school was built.  Mr. Smitek, I feel this repeated comparison to Mrs. Wolfe’s situation is very insulting and belittling!  In the 1950’s, when my parents moved to Avon, it was considered “the sticks” and route 83 (or route 76, then) was a country road and large tracts of property in Avon were plentiful.  I’m sure that the amount of property owned by the Smitek family was much greater than the 25 acres or so that the school was threatening to take by eminent domain!  In Mrs. Wolfe’s situation, the Board wants to take 95% of her property, assuming she is allowed to keep 1.5 acres of her family’s original 25 acres.  In addition, if Mrs. Wolfe wants to remain in Avon and live on a comparable piece of property, as she has been accustomed to most to her life, I would have to believe there is no way she could acquire property remotely comparable.  According to the School Board they supposedly can’t find a parcel like that now, so how is a private citizen supposed to!  To make a somewhat more relevant comparison, though still not the same, did the school take 95% of your grandfather’s property in the 1950’s, Mr Smitek?? Also, it was stated that ultimately eminent domain was not used in that situation.  What was the final compensation or resolution that convinced your grandfather to sell the necessary acreage to the schools?  If nothing else, at least he would have had ample opportunity and a realistic chance to acquire a comparable piece of property within the city limits, something which Mrs. Wolfe more than likely does not.

 Sincerely,
 Erik H. Samoson


3/17/08
I am aghast at the arrogance of the Avon school board. 
Please place my "vote" AGAINST the board's decision to take
her property by eminent domain
Avon Resident & Voter


3/15/08

We feel that it is wrong for the school board to take someone's property.  Eminent domain is a socialist concept that has no place in a democratic country.