How Could they “Skip” My Property Again?

By Uffa Dave

I’m thinking of seceding my farm from Aurora and rejoining Bainbridge Township. Not because Aurora has done anything to make me mad, Iím just tired of sitting out here on the northern edge of the city, forgotten, except when it comes time to pay taxes or when local politicians are looking for road space to drop in campaign signs.

Sticks and branches get left out by the road are waiting for a pickup that never comes; we call and call but for some reason city services seem to think we’re part of Bainbridge. Thankfully the police and fire haven’t taken on the same impression. Even the trash guys pass us by without even a glance. There have been occasions where we’ve gone three weeks without them so much as slowing down to inspect the cans along side the drive.

Back when we moved up here I called American Electric Power, the electricity supplier for Aurora, to make arrangements for the transfer from previous tenant to us ñ they couldnít find our address. I asked might there be another supplier for Aurora? Oh no, I was firmly rebuked, AEP is the only supplier for the city. After the third call with no results, the customer service rep. suggested I try CEI. I did, they said I was a customer but I wasn’t in Aurora, I was in Bainbridge.

There was even the time I had an application for a new structure before the city planning commission. When I stopped in to check on the status of my application I was told no action had been taken because I wasn’t in Aurora. Imagine my surprise. After all, the family farm has only been in its present location, and associated with Aurora, since 1813. I asked if I could stop paying my taxes to the city the request was not received very well.

Just as an aside, it took us nine-and-a-half years to convince the Aurora Advocate that we were, indeed, in Aurora and therefore eligible for free delivery. The Bainbridge Banter shows up weekly without a request.

But let’s get back to this thought of secession. The real push came a few weeks back when Skip Bohrer with Heritage Development and Concept Communities, the developer who just recently won a zoning change to put 96 cluster-type units at the corner of Treat Road and North Chillicothe (that’s 306 for those who donít know) was interviewed for an article in the Aurora Advocate. The Skipper was elaborating on all the positives for rezoning the corner to allow the condo kings to erect another white bread (with crust cut off) edifice. Skip said the corner was, “A bit of an eyesore.” I can’t even begin to recount how many times I’ve advocated tearing up trees and undergrowth to be replaced with manicured green lawns, plastic siding and concrete. Why the dazzling beauty of it all will be simply breathtaking.

But what really got to the wife and me was Skip’s assertion that his corner was the first place travelers from the north saw as they drove into the city. It was their first impression and it was an ugly one. Never mind that half-mile stretch from the Geauga County/Portage County border between Crackle Road and Treat; never mind the 42 acre green space defining the hypotenuse of my property (and while I think of it, never mind the constant flow of spectators stopping in to gaze upon my wife’s beautiful gardens). According to the developer, the first impression visitors and commuters have of Aurora is roughly the length of nine football fields past the border. Thanks to the Heritage Development and Concept Communities beautification program there won’t be that ugly corner anymore.

Hey Skip, here’s a community concept; more green space and less tacky cluster housing.

Now, thanks to the voters of Aurora, in the future, the first impression will be condominiums. Of course, maybe I shouldn’t mind all that much, being ignored can sometimes have its advantages, like not having nosey neighbors or city officials poking into our business. Still, when I’m passed over as the first place commuters and visitors see driving into Aurora for an overcrowded, cookie-cutter, mini McMansion, 90-unit condominium that hurts.

The sad part; this city seems hell-bent on giving up green space for shabbily-built housing with no more appeal than a pig in lipstick. At the present rate of development in the city my farm may be one of the last bastions of green space left. I have been accused of being a tree-hugger but hey, go figure, I might soon be the last one with trees left to hug.

So I’m thinking of secession. If Aurora doesn’t want to acknowledge me maybe Bainbridge will. If the township balks at the idea I could start my own state. I’ll call it Jackson (after the old family name); get my own flag, my own government, the whole nine yards or 42 acres in this case. But, in all honesty, I like being a part of Aurora so here’s my plan: I’m close enough to the waterfalls that I’m thinking of opening up my own popcorn stand. After all, the city already took my original idea of a clocktower.