A Shameful Situation In Plain Township

Flooded Home Is A Legal Mess

In 1998 Irene Kutz had a home built, on Schneider Street NW in North Canton, by Gregory Grisez. She paid an additional $1,800 so her yard would drain well and there would be no standing water. Today, Kutz is sitting in the middle of what Plain Township Law Director Eric Williams summed up as a legal mess.

Kutz breeds award-winning Kellcrest Shelties, a breed of Shetland sheepdog. “I made it well known to Greg Grisez that my yard had to drain well and have no sitting water because of the dogs,” she explained. Grisez added $1,800 to the selling price of the house for what Kutz described as, “an extra option which he included in the contract as "pipe ditch in backyard".

When contacted by The Observer-Reporter Grisez said, “That may or may not be true.” He added, “I don’t recall anyone saying anything about drainage problems. And I don’t recall as I built houses out there that there were any drainage problems.”

Grisez, owner of Distinguished Homes, noted, “As the builder of the original house, of course, I’m going to get involved. I will contact the county and see what can be done and see what my involvement should be.” The builder went on to say he would, “of course contact the homeowner.”

Two follow-up calls to Grisez by the Observer-Reporter received no response. A week later, Kutz said she had not been contacted by her builder.

Kutz first experienced flooding in August of 2000. She submitted a to drainage complaint form to the Stark County Commissioners. Said Kutz, “The first flood I had, people said this is a hundred year flood. It will never happen again.” Each year, she pointed out, it got worse.

The basement flooded five times between May, 2003 and June, 2006 according to Kutz. “The last letter I sent to the county in February, 2004,” she noted. “They responded in March and forwarded everything to Plain Township. I never heard from Plain Township. I didn’t even know they knew about it. They never contacted me,” she added.

Kutz said, “Stark County sent out their own inspector to my home in August, 2003. He told me personally that their inspector should have never approved the 18-inch drainage pipe. It’s too small. He told me he would put it on the top of the priority list of county drainage problem.”

C.T. Consultants of Willoughby is contracted by Stark County to do independent inspections of drainage problems. Robert Graham is a Project Manager who has worked with the company for six years. “He said the water problem at my house is due to a natural flow of water,” Kutz said of Graham. She added that he told her, “The ditch is not a dedicated ditch so the county has no responsibility.”
“I’ve been out many times to look at that property.” Graham told The Observer-Reporter.

Later in the interview he said, “I think that’s an issue Plain Township is looking at. It’s not something I’m dealing with,” He added, “It’s a matter that the Plain Township Trustees are looking into. It’s not a named county ditch. Out scope of responsibility is to look at named county ditches.”

“I had a personal meeting with Todd Bosley, the newly elected Stark County commissioner, in December, 2006 before he took office,” said Kutz. “At that time, I gave him copies of all my correspondence and pictures. He said he would do what he could when he took office.” Since then, Kutz said, she has spoken to Bosley several times on the telephone. “He told me there was a possibility that the county and township could work together to solve the problem,” noted Kutz.

“The first time I approached Plain Township was at the Board of Trustees meeting in December, 2006,” Kutz pointed out. “They said they would check into it.”

In April of this year Kutz came to another meeting. “When I went to the meeting in April I asked for them to maintain the ditch (in my neighbor’s yard) and keep it clear,” explained Kutz. “The water drains into that ditch, then into an 18-inch pipe that runs under my property, though my backyard. The water overflows from the ditch and comes into my yard. I’ve been paying to have that ditch cleaned for the last 3 years” The trustees requested a study by M-E Companies.

Bosley told The Observer-Reporter it was a call from him that prompted Plain Township to order the study by M-E Companies.

Michael Rekstis presented the findings of M-E Company’s study at the May Plain Township Board of Trustees meeting. Rekstis identified an area of approximately 77 acres. “An 18-inch culvert (behind Kutz’s property) is what drains this entire area,” he said.

“M-E determined it’s not a county ditch. That doesn’t mean that the county can’t get involved,” said Bosley. “That’s why we’re working with Plain Township to get this solved. Maybe they can contribute part of the money and we can get solved.”
“It’s not a dedicated county ditch and it’s not a dedicated flood plane. That is it’s not covered by FEMA,” pointed out Gary Conner, a Hydraulics Engineer with the Stark County Engineer’s Office.

“There are, I believe some wetland areas there. Some of the people in that area, I believe, bought property and built houses quite close to those wetland areas. I don’t think it was part of any subdivision either. I think these houses were probably placed quite close to the wetlands. There was no drainage review of these lots,” explained Conner.

Kutz pointed out, “I also had to take out flood insurance; it’s over $400 a year. I’m paying almost a thousand dollars each of the last four three years to take care of this problem I didn’t have anything to do with.” She added, “The bottom line is this, when I bought property I was told this was not a flood plane area. My neighbors were told that too.”

Plain Township made no move at the May meeting to solve the flooding problem on Schneider Street NW. In fact, Law Director Eric Williams said, “We didn’t create this problem. Once we do anything I believe we open ourselves up to liability.”

In a follow-up interview with The Observer-Reporter Williams stated, “We need to be real careful before we go charging in to fix a problem we didn’t create. I feel badly for the property owner, but that’s basically where we stand.”

Williams concluded, “It seems to me from what we’ve looked at so far that this is a private property problem not a township property problem.”

Lou Giavasis, President of the Plain Township Board of Trustees told The Observer-Reporter, “I don’t know how much money the county is going to be willing to spend to fix this problem.”

Giavasis emphasized, “There are some legal ramifications. If we go and start working on that ditch line we assume responsibility for that ditch permanently. A this point it’s strictly between her, the county and the builder.”

“It’s a tough spot she’s in,” said the Stark County Commissioner. “This story plays over and over every day. That’s why we have to move toward a solution. It’s a funding solution and we have to solve it.”

Giavasis said, “I believe the county dropped the ball on this one.”

Kutz said, “I think the county and the township should be equally involved in this. I think the county and the township are equally responsible.” She asked, “If you can’t rely on your elected officials to do something where do you go from there?”

Written May 22, 2007

Nuns Sell Bread And Soup To Heat Local Monastery

Nun Bread From Poor Clares At Sancta Clara Monastery

Sell homemade bread and soup.

That’s the answer the sisters of the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration order came up with to pay for heat at the Sancta Clara Monastery on West Market Avenue.

The sisters started selling bread in March, 2005.

“We needed to make an income over and above little things that we do like a gift shop,” said Mother Superior Marion Zeltmann. “We needed to make an income to pay our heating bills.” The cost, she explained, is $10,000 per month during cold weather season.

The decision to sell bread and soup came after much prayer.

“We weren’t sure that it was absolutely what God wanted,” said the Mother Superior. “It felt like it, that it’s what God wanted. But you can never be sure; there are no absolutes.”

While questions remained at the beginning, the Poor Clares soon saw the result they wanted.

“We started our first sale and not too many people knew about it,” said Mother Marion. “After each sale, we watched it grow.”

As an outgrowth of the bread and soup sale, other needs at Sancta Clara were filled.

“When we needed stoves, all we did was make a phone call and we got four completely different ovens that we needed to bake,” noted Mother Marion. “It was like and then the very next month we had.”

She pointed out, “When the sales really began to grow we needed a larger refrigerator. Someone knew a place that was going out of business. They came here and told us and said, you can have all their refrigerators, freezers, commercial dishwashers. Whatever you want; just go and get your men with a truck.”

Activity at Sancta Clara increases significantly each month when there’s a bread sale. Forty to sixty volunteers work in addition to the eleven sisters.

“Two days before the sale we get everything together,” explained Mother Marion. “We get a lot of things ready on Thursday. People start coming in at 10 o’clock on Thursday.” Hundreds of breadsticks (that go with the soup) are required when the sale starts, she said. The dough is made the night before and they are baked in the morning.

“We have a lady that organizes the volunteers, Daphne, so people that are interested in volunteering can contact her” said Sister Mary Ishmael Lattner. “She’ll find out what their interest is and what skills they have. She’ll be able to tell them the openings, the dates and where the needs are. That has been very effective.”

Of the volunteers, the Mother Superior said, “People have a good time…because it’s in that loving atmosphere.”

Sister Mary Ishmael added, “It’s hard work, but they love it.”

Sister Felicity Palo noted, with a laugh, “They’re disappointed when we don’t have it.”

Quality ingredients are one factor that has made the sale successful.

In June chicken noodle soup will be on the menu. “We go and get chickens from the Amish,” Sister Felicity pointed out. “I think they’re free range chickens. They’re very healthy chickens.”

Bread sale days are long days at Sancta Clara. “We have to get up very early; at about 4 a.m.” said Sister Felicity. “We’re up kneading the dough and baking the bread.”

Proceeds from the soup and bread sale, Mother Marion said, are put aside specifically for the heating bill.

The schedule for the remainder of the year is “the last Friday and Saturday in June, the end of October and probably the second weekend of December,” said Mother Marion.

June 29 and 30 there will be Wedding Soup, chicken noodle, lentil and tomato soup. The price of soup is $3.50 for a pint with one breadstick and $7 for a quart with two breadsticks. A half dozen breadsticks is sold for one dollar.

Organic raisin walnut wheat and parmesan bread will be sold for $4 per loaf and cinnamon rolls are available for $2. Pure ingredient Agnus Dei (meaning “Lamb of God”) bread will be sold for $5.00.

Bread and soup and be pre-ordered. Contact the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration at 330-492-1171. The sisters are on the web at www.nunsbread.org.

Written May 21, 2007

Casting Of Local Theater Production Has A Unique Twist

Father, Daughter To Appear In Local Theater Production

The Players Guild Theatre in Canton is staging a production of Sleeping Beauty of Loreland. North Canton’s Lexi White and her dad Jeff are appearing in the show. Their background is opposite of what’s normally found in community theater.

Having a parent and their child in a production is not unusual for Director Herb Crum, who has directed more than 50 shows over 30 years.

“A lot of adults that are interested in theater, their children are also interested,” he said. In this case, it’s Lexi who has had experience, appearing in two children’s theatre productions, while her dad is in his first play.

How did Jeff find his way into this production?

“Lexi signed up to audition. Jeff brought her to the audition and was dared to audition himself so he did.” according to Tricia Ostertag, Artistic Manager of The Player’s Guild Theatre.

“She said, ‘Dad, there’s a part for a middle-aged man here.’ It was the first time I’ve been referred to as a middle-aged man.” Jeff explained.

As fate would have it, the “middle-aged man” who was supposed to audition called in sick. Jeff found himself auditioning just two minutes after handing in his paperwork.

The experience has been fun for both father and daughter.

“It’s good for me and my daughter. She’s 12 now and she’s not necessarily interested in doing what dad’s doing,” noted Jeff. “Now, we have a mutual interest.”

The younger White said, “It’s funny to see him in costume and wearing makeup.”

Asked about her feelings, Eun White said, “It’s exciting to see both my husband and daughter performing on the same stage.”

Lexi is playing two roles in Sleeping Beauty; the main one being that of the Yellow Fairy. Jeff has the role of King Tuffy from Tuffington.

“He and his daughter have both had a lot of enthusiasm. They’re willing to learn and do what I ask.” said Crum. “It’s a pleasant experience for me as a director.”

“I’m very happy that they are doing something together that they both enjoy,” added Eun. “I haven’t seen my husband taking so much interest in something. I think he found a new passion.”

Lexi said that after Sleeping Beauty she is “planning to go on in more productions.” There’s no word from Jeff on filling any more “middle-aged man” roles.

The show runs through Sunday. Details are available at www.playersguildtheater.com.

Written April 22, 2007

Township Officials Lobbied For Support Of Levy

Plain Residents Asked To Support Road Levy

Plain Township residents will be asked to pass a 1.5 mill replacement road levy on May 8. This follows a levy that failed in November which would have increased millage from 1.5 to 2.0.

With a turnout of over 6,600 voters last November the levy was defeated by about 1,100 votes.

“What’s important is that the Trustees listened to the voters in the fact that they did not want an increase,” noted Township Administrator Lisa Sabina-Campbell. “Instead they’re only asking for what’s already in place.”

The replacement levy, President of the Board of Trustees Louis Giavasis said, “is a compromise, based on what our voters said. This will at least allow us to keep our service at the same level without having to make any cutbacks….”

He emphasized, “The big thing our residents need to recognize is there is a very visible difference. For example, when you leave the City of Canton and enter Plain Township, in any area of the township, the overall condition of the streets is better. The way we maintain those roads in any weather, you know when you leave Canton and enter Plain at any time of the year. We want to be able to maintain that level; to keep our roads in the condition they’re in.”

While this is a replacement levy it will mean a tax increase of $7.99 per year.

“The property values in Plain Township have increased since the last levy was passed (in 2002),” Sabina-Campbell said, explaining why the replacement involves a cost hike.

Property values were reappraised by Stark County Auditor Kim R. Perez in 2006. The last reappraisal in the county was done in 2000.

What value does the Plain Township government place on this measure?

“It’s very important for us to be able to maintain the current level of service that we offer to our residents,” said Road Superintendent Joseph Iacino, a 16-year employee of Plain Township.

Iacino’s department is responsible for maintaining 169 miles of road. Each year they work to repave 13 to 15 miles. The price for that work, according to the road superintendent, is “skyrocketing”.

“The cost for paving has increased 110% over the past five years,” noted Iacino. The increase in the cost of asphalt is attributed directly to the price of oil.

“Most of the materials we use have something connected to the fuel (cost)” Iacino said. “The fuel prices are really pushing us to ask for this. We can’t control those prices. Our trucks and all the equipment runs on fuel and a lot of the materials we use are fuel-based. Even the storm sewer pipe is fuel-based.”

The road replacement levy vote will have a wide-ranging effect on Plain Township; including current and future projects.

“It helps us to keep pace with repairs on our infrastructure now,” Iacino said.

“Our Road Department is a department that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” emphasized Sabina-Campbell.

“Our Road Department does an excellent job of maintaining the streets and keeping them safe,” Giavasis said. “You don’t have to worry about driving down a road in Plain Township and losing your wheel.”

Giavasis said, “This is a $7 increase versus what the cost of what a front end alignment would be or a new tire or a new rim. It’s very inexpensive. Those are thing people have to keep in mind when they go in to say yes or not to something like this. What the cost and affect is going to be to them in the long –term. Not everybody is going to damage the front end of their vehicle or blow a tire or bend a wheel, but the likelihood of that happening will be greater if this levy fails.”

“What we’re looking at over the next five years,” projected Iacino, “is $500,000 in equipment replacement for older vehicles.”

He added, “We’re doing out best to just keep repairing them.”

A single piece of equipment to clean ditches and under-road-pipe, which is mandated by the federal Environmental Protection Agency, accounts for half the new equipment cost. Another piece of equipment Plain Township needs to replace (at a cost of $70,000) is a roadside mower.

The one currently in use is 28-years-old and it, Iacino said with a laugh, “is held together with rubber bands and Scotch tape.”

The Plain Township Trustees are making efforts to control Road Department costs.

“In just trucks alone,” explained Iacino, “the Board (of Trustees) has decided, which I agree with 100%, we’re replacing the beds on the trucks and not the chassis. We’re getting a longer term out of a truck. Where we used to get 10 years, now we’re looking at 15 to 18 years.”

The cost of a new bed is $11,000, Iacino said, compared with $90,000 (at today’s prices) to replace the vehicle.

“The Township Trustees and the Road Department have been very active in trying to resolve a lot of drainage problems throughout the Township,” according to Iacino.

While numerous projects have been completed over the past five years, he pointed out, “we still have many on the books. This will help us reach our goal of getting a lot of these projects completed over the next five years.”

Even with passage of the levy, “some may still not be completed,” Iacino says, “because of astronomical costs; over $1 million on some of the projects.”

He added, “The smaller projects can be done with the passage of this levy.”

The road superintendent pointed to storm sewer projects on 30th Street NE, Brookhaven Circle, Snyder Road and Linford Street as being dependent on passage of the replacement levy.

Others examples he provided include, “…a project we’re currently working on with the county on Pickett Street; some ditch work and some box culverts. A large project we’re tied in with the City of Canton on, on 25th and 26th Street NE; that’s being worked on right now in the engineering stage.”

What is the levy is voted down in May?

Along with measures to control equipment repair and placement cost, staffing is another area where the Road Department has sought to minimize the price of doing business.

“We’re operating at a manpower level that is low,” pointed out Giavasis. Looking at state standards, were operating below a bare minimum at this point. We just don’t know where else we can make cutbacks in the event that something like this would happen without having to adjust both short and long-range plans.”

Iacino noted, “You should have one person for every 14 miles of road” according to state standards. “Right now we’re at one person for every 17 miles.”

To what does the Superintendent attribute the success of this department?

“Good leadership and good employees,” Iacino said. “I mean starting at the top; starting with our trustees and our administration. Our trustees know our employees. They employees know they can talk to our trustees at any time about anything.”

Giavasis said he feels the success comes from, “The dedication of our employees. The response; whatever the weather, whatever the need, no matter what time of the day or evening; they show up and take care of the problem. They take pride in their work.”

Sabina-Campbell put it this way, “I’ve never seen a harder working group of individuals; from the road superintendent to the foreman to the workers. These guys want to do a fantastic job for our residents. And they pride themselves on a doing a good job for our residents.”

Maintaining the quality of service that township residents currently enjoy is going to be a challenge even with passage of the replacement levy. Several new allotments are being built in the township; ranging in size from 150 to 400 homes. The total to be added is estimated by Giavasis to be about 1,500.

“If this levy weren’t to be successful,” Giavasis said, “we’re going to have to look at areas to make cutbacks. It could be employees; it could be repaving, trucks, storm sewers; we may not be able to go out and fix some of the flooding problems that we’re having in areas of the township.”

The attitude of voters when it comes to levies, according to the Board President, is being fueled by the state government.

Giavasis said, “Voters today, because of the climate that is being created in the State of Ohio, from Columbus back to the local level, are being forced to go into the ballot box and choose between education and the services being provided. The state is forcing more of that burden back to the property owners.”

He emphasized, “Until something changes in Columbus, where they come up with alternative ways for larger communities like us to fund our services where we’re not competing with the schools peoples’ attitudes are always going to be that they don’t want their taxes to increase. As the cost of everything continues to rise we have no other choice but to come back at some point and ask for some type of an increase. Or, cut services.”

Iacino added, “We feel that we offer the residents of Plain Township very good service. More than you’ll find in other neighboring communities. We hope that if passage of this levy does happen we will be able to keep the level of service equal at worst. If possible, if there is more money to do more we’re going to try to add more to it. At this time we’re just trying to keep our level of service level.”

“I personally attribute the success of our board to our road department…” noted Giavasis. “because people judge a community by the condition of the roads.”

“When we talk we believe what we say,” concluded Iacino. “We talk as a group all the time and make sure this is what we all want. We’re happy providing the services that we do to the residents. If a resident has a problem our phones are always going to be answered and our doors are always open from the trustees down to all the departments.

Written April 19, 2007

Labor Leader Looks Back On History Of Hoover Company In North Canton

Hoover Closing A Tough Pill To Swallow For Repace

The mood is somber at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union hall located on South Main Street in North Canton. The days have been especially difficult since Techtronic Industries closed what was once The Hoover Company’s flagship manufacturing facility.

“My heart is broken, believe me,” Jim Repace said as he looked back on more than 35 years he spent as an employee of Hoover.

Repace has been a labor leader for 23 years. Since 1993 he’s been the President and Business Manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1985.

There have been seven contracts Repace has participated in negotiating with Goodyear’s various ownership groups. Those deals have significantly lengthened the company’s life in Northeast Ohio.

The significance of Hoover shutting its doors is important beyond local impact when you consider the state of business in this country.

“In the floor care business you have to remember,” Repace noted, “we are the only major floor care manufacturer left in the United States of America. We are the only unionized floor care manufacturer in America. Orrick has a small operation in the United States, but they’re not a leading competitor.”

In addition to his duties at Hoover, Jim Repace serves as an At-Large Representative on the North Canton City Council. That gets to the heart of the matter, it’s the people who are important to him.

“Our people are caring, compassionate people,” Repace said. “(They are) Quality conscious, high productivity workers. I truly think the world of our union members. I will continue to do everything humanly possible to help them through this very difficult time. My heart really goes out to them, it really does.”

Looking back on his experience, the former laborer and millright said, “Hoover was really a great place to work. It was a personable place, everybody knew everybody. It was a fun place to work.”

Those were days when the North Canton facility were abuzz with activity.

Repace said, “We ran a variety of products in the early days. We weren’t just floor care; we ran everything from toasters to coffee pots to roasters to fry pans, irons, hair dryers, washers…. We even contracted different work in when we had die cast. We made parts for Rockwell; we made valve covers for the Corvettes.”

In 1985 Chicago Pacific Corporation acquired Hoover. Things didn’t change much from when it was a publicly held company, according to Repace.

“Hoovers still ran Hoover. Chicago Pacific did not try to butt in and run the business. Hoover was still a stand alone company,” he said.

In the mid-80’s things began to evolve.

“It really started changing when the Maquiladora system came into effect,” said Repace. It was during “this Mexico invasion, when jobs started going to the Southwest” that there was a dramatic shift in contract negotiations.

“In 1988 we had to negotiate a contract. It was when we had our first job security language,” Repace explained. “We negotiated what some of our members considered a controversial contract.”

Repace said, “At that time we had no language in our contract to stop the movement of jobs or products out of this facility. Time has shown what the union did in 1988 turned out to be the salvation of the Stark County facilities.”

Chicago Pacific, according to Repace, “might have bought Hoover (in 1985) for a little over $500 million and sold it (to Maytag in 1989) for over $900 million.”

What happened when Maytag bought the company?

“For years there weren’t any major changes,” said Repace. “We had over $900 million in sales. We were experiencing record quarterly profits each quarter for years. We remained a stand alone company under Hoover Company President Brian Girdlestone; who in my mind was a marketing genius. He really knew the business well.”

In the late 1990’s Hoover built a plant in El Paso, Texas that was a twin to one they operated in Juarez, Mexico.

Repace said this, “really challenged once again our future here in North Canton.” He noted, “Due to our job security language we were able to continue to work out agreements to bring new products into our Stark County, Ohio facilities.”

Hoover experienced record profits through the 1990’s. As the decade changed new leadership took control of Maytag Corporation.

“They changed the whole structure,” Repace said. “They decided to go to a one company approach and no longer have Hoover as a stand alone company.”

The problem this brought about, according to Repace was that, “Maytag leadership did not know nor understand the floor care business. That was basically the end for us. They just completely ran a $900 million company right into the ground.”

The decisions made in the front office had a major impact both on the union and with the personnel on the manufacturing floor.

“When Maytag started making decisions that didn’t seem to be in the best interest of our company everyone questioned their poor business decisions. We felt like they were setting us up here for failure,” Repace explained.

Things spiraled out of control (under Maytag management) for what was once an iconic American brand.

Repace said that, “when Maytag saw that they were approaching bankruptcy” they sold their company (including Hoover) to Whirlpool (in 2006). The new owner then said they did not want to get into the floor care business. In less than a year Whirlpool divested itself of Hoover. The new owner was Techtronic Industries (TTI), a corporation based in Hong Kong.

Hoover employees did not sit idly by as their company went from one owner to another.

“When Whirlpool announced they were going to sell Hoover,” recounted the Union President, “we decided to research the possibility of an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan)…. The main source of funding for the ESOP would have been through pension plans and our membership made it very clear they did not want us to go that direction and involve their pensions.”

The union, Repace said, understood that “using their pensions with a business that was failing drastically was very risky.”

While Whirlpool sought a new buyer for Hoover the employees continued in their effort to regain control and right the ship.

Their next effort was to attempt forming a partnership with a private equity firm. Management of this proposed new venture would include a group of former Hoover executives who had been successful in leading the company including Brian Girdlestone. That effort also failed and ownership was transferred to TTI.

“All through this process our main concern was that if this company was successful (in acquiring Hoover) that the future of the North Canton facility could be in jeopardy. Those fears have come true,” said Repace.

A contract negotiation in 2003, it turned out, changed the landscape when ownership of Hoover moved to TTI earlier this year.

First and foremost, the contract included a successor clause. That obligated whomever purchased The Hoover Company from Whirlpool to also buy the union contract.

“We negotiated a contract,” said Repace, “that turned out to be very beneficial not only to our union members, but to the entire community. Due to our job security language being changed from ‘product protection’ to ‘a guaranteed number of jobs’ our 800 members would be paid (including benefits) through the expiration of our agreement in June, 2008. And a lump sum contractual payment.”

Repace added, “Along with that we negotiated a pension cash balance plan which has turned out to be financially beneficial for a lot of our younger seniority union members.”

Another win for Local 1985 came in the form of “the Rule of 85” which was included in the 2003 agreement.

The Rule involved a formula that determined if adding (at least 30) years of pension credits to age would equal 85 or more. Those who achieved or exceeded that mark would have the option to take early retirement.

“When TTI acquired Hoover they ran a 60-day assessment,” noted Repace. “It was a cost assessment on operating this plant vs. Mexico vs. China. This was the highest cost facility; which we all knew.”

Wages are often cited as the reason companies move to Mexico or offshore. Wages were not the issue, according to published reports, that caused the recent closing of Hoover’s North Canton facility.

Looking at the results of this 2006 assessment, though, the contrast is startling.

TTI estimated that the cost per worker in this area, including a full package of fringe benefits, to be $75,000. In Mexico the cost was $8,000; in China $5,000.

While Mexico is still a thorn in the side of American companies, Repace said, there is now a new threat, the Far East.

“The amazing thing is, Mexico is worried about China today,” Repace explained, looking at The Hoover Company manufacturing facility through his office window.

“Our biggest fear used to be Mexico,” Repace said. “Now it’s China and it’s even Mexico’s fear.”

Based on his 23 years as a labor leader, Jim Repace said, “In my opinion, the federal government has promoted and rewarded manufacturing companies in the United States to move offshore and to Mexico.”

This, he said, has caused millions and millions of people throughout the country to lose their jobs.

How did Repace’s Union Local 1985 take the news that The Hoover Company’s North Canton plant was closing?

“The employees were anticipating the announcement,” Repace said,

While he expresses a belief that the membership was devastated by the news, Repace said, “They’ve been coming into the plant every day wondering what was going to happen next.”

He concluded, “In some respect they were relieved to know that there had been an announcement and what their destiny is (with Hoover). It’s been a very, very stressful time for our union members.”

Hoover hasn’t turned out the light and left Stark County yet.

“As they go through this process of moving the assembly lines from this facility,” Replace explained, “when it’s all said and done there will be between 150 and 175 jobs remaining between the distribution center in Jackson Township and Plant Two located in Canton.”

It has not yet been determined where the payment negotiated in the 2003 contract will be paid in a lump sum or whether there will be weekly payments through the remainder of the contract period.

“Some of our members have expressed that they would like a lump sum payment. Some of them have expressed that they would like a weekly check, getting paid as they are today,” Repace said.

“What we are probably going to do is give them a choice. We’re currently trying to work that out with TTI. The ones who want the lump sum payment I have no problem with that; the ones who want paid weekly I have no problem,” said Repace.

Again, for Jim Repace it’s the people who are the heart of the matter.

He said, “I love the people to have a choice. If we can provide that, that’s what we need to do. It’s not quite as easy as it sounds; there are issues within that that we need to work out with TTI.”

Repace went to work in earnest for his union members the day after the plant closing was announced.

He said, “We had a meeting which included the Lieutenant Governor’s Rapid Response Team, The Employment Source, The (State of Ohio) Department of Job and Family Services, the Stark Development Board, the Union, the company and a representative from the City of North Canton.”

Repace noted that when he spoke to the Lieutenant Governor on the telephone he was told that the Rapid Response Team would provide any service they possibly can to assist the union and its members.

State Senator Kirk Schuring has been working with Repace’s team and will continue to do so.

Repace says that the union is setting up an in-house transition center where members can meet with professionals who will answer questions. Every effort will be made to provide any opportunities in the community as far as job placement; along with the potential of the state bringing something new into our facility.

At the end of an exclusive two hour interview two things are clear. Jim Repace will work tirelessly for the displaced workers of The Hoover Company; the City of North Canton is moving forward with enthusiasm about the future.

Written April 16, 2006

Hoover Closure Announcement Took Center Stage In North Canton

Hoover Closure and Recycling Program
Expansion Top N. Canton Council Agenda

Expanding the city’s recycling program and the potential modification of a rule related to the recognition of meeting visitors were the focus of much discussion at the North Canton City Council Committee Meeting Monday evening. The big story though was a non-agenda item which concluded the meeting that took the air out of the room.

Councilman Jim Repace called it a dark day in North Canton history when he announced that The Hoover Company would cease manufacturing operations and the plant would be put up for sale this week.

Repace, who is the president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1985, said that he felt “betrayed and let down by the Maytag Company” who sold Hoover to Hong Kong-based Techtronics Industries Co. Ltd. earlier this year. Repace went on to say that Maytag “didn’t do what was necessary” to bring stability back to Hoover.

The State of Ohio, Repace noted, would be sending a Rapid Response team to Canton on Tuesday headed by Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher. The Councilman will be one of the people attending a meeting with Fisher’s group.

The departure of Hoover, said Mayor David Held, would have both an economic and a psychological impact on the community. Held noted that the city seal includes the words “Pride in our past” and “Hope for the future”. He said that there was be no loss of pride related to the role Hoover played in the city’s past and that there would be no lack of hope for the future.

“It’s a new day,” Councilman Repace said. “A lot has changed in a short period of time.” He pointed out that, “We’ve got to go in a different direction today and we’re going to do that.” He suggested that the city could possibly use some of the Hoover properties. A number of members agreed that such options should be explored.

“We’re going to go forward as a city,” summed up Council President Doug Foltz. “We owe that to our citizens.”

In other business, consideration of a Solid Waste District Recycling Grant led to extensive discussion related to recycling in the city.

Applying the $61,800 grant for a four to six week pilot program was discussed. The consensus was that this program could easily consume if not exceed the funds provided through the grant. Using the grant it was suggested could negatively impact the city’s handling of leaves in the fall. There were also a number of questions related to the recycling of Christmas trees.

Several issues were discussed related to expanding North Canton’s recycling program. A number of members spoke about their participation in the program; noting it significantly decreased the amount of trash they have for pickup. An increased promotion effort in regard to recycling can be expected.

Another topic that received attention was the Rules of Council related to members of the public speaking at meetings.

There was a fracas at a recent meeting which resulted in one visitor being escorted from the council chamber. The man returned to the last meeting and discussion again became heated. Police were called, but the situation calmed by the time they arrived.

An amendment was considered with five provisions centered on limiting the amount of time any visitor can address council. It was determined that existing rules negate the need for two of the provisions. The revised amendment will be considered at the next meeting.

Recommendations brought forth by the Housing and Tax Incentive Review Committee received positive response. That included discussion of Community Development Block Grants in the Lipton area.

There were two items on the agenda from the Street and Alley Committee. Traffic signals at North Main and Woodrow were discussed; it was determined no action needs to be taken for improvements to be made. A South Main/Everhard Agreement Amendment will be taken up at the next meeting.

Another issue to be addressed at the next meeting is the Glenwood Street Sanitary Sewer Overflow Project. There was discussion about the agreement the city has with Stark County as well as working with the City of Canton on this issue.

The main point of discussion was whether language would reflect that the city budget will have a minimum or a maximum amount of $50,000 per year for the installation of flow meters. There is a concern that future Councils could have a burden imposed upon them if there is a minimum while a maximum could tie their hands.

The final priority project taken up was a Supplemental Appropriation for replacement of Park Department Equipment. The damaged equipment being discussed is a mower and trailer that will have a cost not to exceed $3,850. This was deemed to be a priority issue. It is likely to be addressed through a supplemental appropriation from the general fund.

The next meeting will be Monday, April 9 at 7 o’clock.

Written April 3, 2007

The First Murder Trial I Covered

Media Spotlight Shines Bright In
Jessie Marie Davis Murder Case

Media outlets from across the nation descended on Canton Monday. Canton police officer Bobby Cutts Jr. and Myisha L. Ferrell appeared before Municipal Court Judge John Poulos on charges related to the death of Jessie Marie Davis.

There was a throng of media vying for the 70 seats available in the courtroom. “There were as many as 140 media requests at one point,” pointed out Michael Kochera, Court Administrator of The Canton Municipal Court.

“Every seat in that courtroom was taken up by media. Except for a few undercover police officers, in case anything happened, and the families,” said Kochera. There were five members of the victim’s family and eight for the defense. To the best of my knowledge there were only people from the Cutts family.”

It has been widely reported that Cutts and Ferrell appeared in the courtroom separately. They stood behind a glass panel. There has been intense media scrutiny of this case. National news networks including CNN, MSNBC and Fox News carried the court proceedings live.

Patty Porter, the mother of Jessie Marie Davis, explained why she stood during Cutts’ appearance. "I wanted to make sure he knew I was there,” she said. “I’m not sitting down when I see Bobby Cutts.”

Porter said when she looked into the face of Bobby Cutts during the initial court appearance she saw “nothing”.

Cutts is facing two murder charges. One for Davis, his girlfriend, and the other for the nearly full-term fetus that died in her womb.

Members of Davis’ family contend that Cutts fathered the child. If so it would have been the second child for Davis and Cutts. They had a son together, Blake Davis who is two-years-old. Cutts is estranged from his wife.

Municipal Court Judge John Poulos ordered Cutts, 30, of 7438 Ayrshire Avenue NE in Plain Township, held on a $5 million bond.

Myisha Ferrell, 29, of 1245 Oxford Avenue NW in Canton, was a classmate of Cutts at GlenOak High School. She has been accused of lying to investigators and was charged with obstruction of justice. Her bond was set at $500,000.

Cutts is being represented by attorney Bradley Iams. Iams faced the crush of media outside the courthouse. He said he would not discuss any legal theories or strategies, would not talk about the evidence and would not provide any details about conversations he has had with Cutts.

Asked whether he will file a motion to have the case moved to another jurisdiction, Iams said, “It’s too early to tell.” He characterized his response to the $5 million bond as “surprised.”

Iams noted that he had “represented a lot of police officers” including Cutts in a previous case.

Tammi Johnson, an attorney with the Stark County Public Defenders Office, is representing Ferrell. She did not speak to the media after the proceeding.

Attorney Rick Pitinii appeared with the family of Jessie Marie Davis when they addressed the media gathered outside the courthouse. “I almost started cheering at $5 million; wishing it would be $10 million.” Patty Porter said. She emphasized that the family wants justice in this case, not vengeance.

Davis’ mother stated, “I think everyone knows what happened. Everyone knows he’s guilty.” Porter said the Canton Police Department has been wonderful. “I’m not blaming the police department at all,” she said.

Monday’s court proceeding has been referred to widely as an arraignment. That, noted Kochera, in inaccurate.

“July 2nd is the preliminary hearing. The judge will determine if there is probable cause for any felony to have been committed,” Kochera explained. “If so, that’s when an arraignment is done; in the Stark County Common Please Court. That’s when a plea would be filed.”

The hearing for Cutts is scheduled for 10 AM and for Ferrell at 2 PM. Those hearings may or may not happen according to the Court Administrator. “The grand jury is a secret process in Ohio. The prosecutor could have already convened a grand jury. If the grand jury returns an indictment that supersedes the preliminary hearing.”

Later in the day a petition Pitinni filed for temporary custody of Blake Davis came before the Stark County Family Court.

Custody of the two-year-old was given to this grandmother by Stark County Family Court Judge Mike Howard. He scheduled another hearing for August 21.

Asked whether the family would pursue full custody, Pitinni said, “You start with temporary then you go to full.”

The family said that Blake is doing as well as can be expected. Porter said, “He plays with an old cell phone, pretending to talk to his mother in heaven.” Pitinni said the well being of the two-year-old “is the utmost concern.”

The Summit County Coroner, Pitinni said, is not done processing information yet on their findings. “I would imagine the next thing is they’ll let us know when the body is released,” he said. And that the family, “will be setting up funeral arrangements.”