Council focuses on Knopp House, community center and blight

by Sue Serdinak

April 16 Richfield Village Council meeting

The disposition of the Knopp House on the Green was discussed briefly at the meeting of the Richfield Village Council.

“We are trying to move toward some action on that,’’ Service Director Chris Papp said. “We’ve met with Mr. [Jim] Fry to see what his interest is in the building.”

Mayor Bobbie Beshara said $25,000 is in the budget to raze or move the century home, and she would like it off the property by the start of June, before the Ohio Flags of Honor Traveling Memorial is brought to the Green on August 9.

After the meeting, Fry told the Richfield Times he is trying to obtain federal designation of a two-mile stretch of Route 303 as a Freedom Trail Byway in recognition of John Brown living in Richfield early in his crusade to abolish slavery. He said if the designation is approved, grant money should be available to move and restore the Knopp house, the John Brown home (the site of Benedict’s Antiques) and the Oviatt House in the Richfield Heritage Preserve.

“John Brown is considered one of the five most important people in American History,’’ Fry said. “We may end up with something that no other place in America has.” 

Fry said he has offered to work on the Knopp House with other volunteers to give it a better appearance but has not been given permission to do so.

“That would give us a little more time,” he said, referring to the request for the federal designation.

Brush pick-up

Papp said that village pick-up of brush will start on May 1, and the service department will designate certain days for different areas of the village.

He also reported that the sewer line leak on Brecksville Road did not involve the force main as had been feared but was due to deteriorated bolts. The system will continue to be evaluated to avoid future leaks.

Ground-water tax

Two years ago a citizens group presented petitions to have the 32-square-mile Yellow Creek watershed, which includes parts of the village and township, turned into a conservancy district, governed by an independent board that would levy taxes and exercise eminent domain.

The proposal is before a Summit County Common Pleas Court judge who will decide the issue. Residents in the village already pay a ground water fee to the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District. Law Director William Hanna said that NEORSD is working to ensure that property owners do not pay two fees if the conservancy district is established.

The village formally informed the court of its opposition to the conservancy district months ago.

Richfield Township has not become part Summit County’s ground water management program, and some township properties fall within the Yellow Creek watershed.

Blighted property

Marty Krycszynki of Berkley Drive criticized the appearance of the north end of town.

“You come down Brecksville Road and enter Richfield, it is a desert of concrete and weeds,” he said. “This is the gateway to Richfield.”

He said the street sign for Berkley was knocked down in February and has not been replaced. He said there is a sinkhole about four-feet wide and eight feet deep north of the Cozumel Restaurant, and that trucks park on a vacant gas station property and trash litters the roadside near the bus stop at Columbia Road. 

“It is blighted,’’Kryczynski said. “We have four vacant lots with concrete on a short stretch of road. If the landowners would at least grade their properties and seed them, we would have green space. I’ve been complaining about these things for several years.”

Community Center

Members of the village park board asked if council would approve spending about $25,000 for a feasibility study that focuses on whether the village can afford to build and maintain a community center and what facilities would be included.

Finance Director Sandy Turk said money is in the recreation capital fund that could be spent on a study.

“Serving on the park board, I’ve tried to understand what the community wants,’’ said Brian Stulak.  “It is my job to do everything that we can to find out if we can do this.”

Stulak and Recreation Director Ruth Jocek cited three surveys that showed 65 percent of residents favor building a community center.

Council President Rick Hudak said he hears from many residents who say they don’t see the need for a community center.

“We have a lot of buildings and parks,’’ he said. “The Richfield Heritage Preserve has some good-sized buildings that can be used.  We have only 3,600 people in the village.’’

Said Ellen Daniels, a park board member for more than two decades, “We have wonderful facilities but none of them are suitable for bad weather. A community center would provide a place for us to have activities for children. Our village residents keep saying ‘We want something.’ It is our responsibility to represent them.”

Councilperson Barbara Lanford said that she would love to have a safe place to run in the community. However she does not want to spend the money on a study if council refuses to approve a community center, even if the study shows the village can support it.