Geauga record. [volume] (Chardon, Geauga County, Ohio) 1952-1962, 1957-10-31

have elapsed. 1t is with this
thought in mind that provision
should now be made to provide
the necessary land area for the
future. If a new court house is
to be built in the future, it will
necessarily have to be at the
county seat, hence the need for
acquiring land area in the pre-
sent county seat area while it
is still available. The location
of the county seat can be chang
ed only by an act of state legis-
lature. We believe it would be
difficult, if not impossible, to
ever move the county seat as
long established as Chardon vii
lage. For this reason alone it
would seem advisable to con-
fine our attention to the Char
don village area.
Why was the site on state
route 6, about seven-tenths of
mile west of the square sell
ected as the site for the new
county Jail and future civic cen
ter? First of all it was deemed
important to acquire enough
land to provide for future coun-
ty building needs, especially in a
county where land values are
constantly rising. Secondly the
site should have natural physi-
cal advantages. as well as au-
thetic values such as beauty,
pleasant surroundings and a
commanding view of the sur
rounding area. All these featur-
es are had by this site. Water
and sewer facilities are at the
lot line. 1t is on a main highway,
thus making it possible for the
sheriff's department to reach
all positions of the county
quickly and effectively.
Are the land costs prohibi-
tive? Every parcel of land has
some value. Some are valued
above others because of their
location, size, and the demand
for them. Before the land for
Jail purposes is acquired, ap-
praisals by competent apprais-
ers will be obtained and used
as the basis for the land pur-
chase. This purchase could be
by the process of appropriation
if necessary. No reasonable per-
son could object to the price for
the land if the amount is fair
and Mstifiab'"
Have other areas been consid-
cred? What about the County
Home property, or other rural
areas where land values are
lower? We have already discus
sed a portion of this question.
1t is felt that for economy of
operation, the Jail should be as
near as possible to the Court
House within limits dictated by
other requirements. Also if
new court house follows a Jail
to a new location, it will mean
the moving of the county seat.
In attidion to these barriers,
however, there is the cost of
physical improvements to land
in rural areas before it could
be used for the purpose in ques-
ton. Water and sewer are most
important. It would be neces-
sary to privide a sanitary sew
age disposal plant adequate not
only for the present, but for fu-
ture needs. Estimates for pro-
viding adequate water and sew
er facilities run from twenty to
thirty thousand dollars. The
use of County Home property
would require the purchase of
a right of way to route "A. This
along with road improvements
would cost at least eight thou
sand dollars. Certainly no one
would want new Jail facility
and sheriff's department head
quarters unless acess to a ma
jor highway was available.
How much land do we need
for a new Jail and future civic
center? There are many varied
opinions on this question. Some
persons e " no need for acquir-
ing land for county purposes.