IS STARK COUNTY IN DANGER OF LOSING ITS ONLY "COUNTYWIDE" NEWSPAPER?

A little over five years ago (April 11, 2007) The Canton Repository was purchased by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Preparatory to the sale by pre-GateHouse owner Copley News, Repository publisher David Greenfield was instructed to let managing editor Michael Hanke go (despite his very able performance over a 35 year employment run) in order to reduce the newspaper's "expense base," per the recommendation of the investment banker involved in the sale. (source:  He Has Covered Both Sides, New York Times, Michael Winerip, March 20, 2009)

Consequently, Hanke (who went on to become [2007] and continues to serve as Stark County's chief administrator) never had to work for GateHouse Media, Inc. (GateHouse).

GateHouse stock was at about $23.00 a share at The Repository purchase date.  As yours truly writes this blog, it stands at $0.06. 

It is likely now that Hanke is grateful Greenfield let him go effective December 31, 2006, given the financial hard times that GateHouse has been experiencing since shortly after its Rep purchase.

At the time, it had to be extremely trying to Hanke because he had had many good years at The Rep and he left with fond memories of his time there.

Unsurprisingly, (in light of its common stock plummet) on April 2, 2012, an article appearing on "theday.com." contains this excerpt from GateHouse's annual report (facing an outstanding debt due date of of more than $1 billion in 2014), to wit:

There can be no assurance that our business will generate cash flow from operations or that future borrowings will be available to us in amounts sufficient to enable us to pay our indebtedness.    If we are unable to repay our indebtedness at maturity we may be forced to liquidate or reorganize our operations and business under the federal bankruptcy laws. (emphasis added)

Even if GateHouse is forced into bankruptcy, one has to believe that The Repository (begun in 1815) will find a way to continue to serve Stark County in some way, shape or form.

However, nothing in life is a sure thing.

There are problems (labor/management tension) at The Repository these days in addition to the overall financial struggle that its parent company is going through that gives pause for thought.

So the SCPR believes that Stark Countians should be concerned about the continued viability of the nearly 200 year old "institution."

There has been a tug-of-war going on between the  Northeast Ohio Newspaper Guild-CWA Local 1 (the union for non-management employees) and the management at GateHouse for some time.

The union represents about 180 non-management Repository employees and the Canton aspect of the union effort is headed up by reporters Tim Botos and Edd Pritchard.

A Facebook page "Save The Repository" (LINK) shows a history of dispute over the management's desire to have the right to outsource Canton-based (The Repository), Massillon-based (The Massillon Independent) and New Philadelphia (The Times-Reporter) going back at least into 2011.

Recently, things have heated up.

The Report is told that while huge numbers of local jobs are not thought to be at stake presently, the fear is that the drive for outsourcing will prove to be a "slippery slope" that will eventually threaten many more of the jobs currently in place.  Perhaps, in time, even reaching into the reporter pool.

This past Monday Newspaper Guild members conducted an informational picketing demonstration in front of The Repository's building located at 500 Market Avenue, South.

The Report hears that another demonstration is scheduled for Friday, May 4th (Canton's First Friday) in front of the Newspaper Guild headquarters located at 203 Market Avenue, South in Canton.

Moreover, a community rally is said to be in the works for May 24th from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.  No word on location of the rally.

While the outsourcing seems to be the main issue, the SCPR is told that Repository non-management employees have not received any raises for some four years.

The lack of raises has to be particularly galling given the following excerpt from Media Nation:

One source suggested to yours truly that ever since GateHouse has taken over, it has been doing so on the cheap.  The source doubted that departed executive editor Jeff Gauger (August, 2007 through March 2, 2012) was making anywhere near the money that his predecessor David Kaminski (now with the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce) made.

The question:  Did GateHouse's frugality and/or its dire financial condition have anything to do with Gauger's departure?

It will be interesting to see whether or not GateHouse replaces Gauger.  Managing Editor Don Detore was appointed this past February as interim executive director.

While yours truly has never been enamored of The Repository, there is no doubt that Stark County needs a countywide daily newspaper.  So whatever happens to GateHouse, Stark Countians should be rooting for an enduring Canton Repository.

Just a much better one than we have known in the recent past!

DO YOU KNOW THAT MASSILLON NEGOTIATES WATER PRICES FOR THE STARK COUNTY METRO WATER/SEWER DISTRICT. ARE COMMISSIONERS SIMPLY GOING TO LET IT HAPPEN?

At last Wednesday's meeting, Stark County commissioners were astonished to learn that the city of Massillon negotiates (at least in a de facto if not de jure setting) the water rate for Stark County's unincorporated area insofar as to what price Aqua of Ohio/America, Incorporated (Aqua) charges for its water to the likes of the Stark County Metropolitan Sewer District which services about 2,300 Stark Countians.

A month or two ago Aqua notified commissioners that it would be seeking a 20% up front increase from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO).

This news caused a storm of protest by water users of Aqua supplied water.  Apparently, the protests were effective as Aqua is now only asking for 14.75% spread over three years.  Another shift?  Aqua is now willing to negotiate (but only with Massillon).  Hmm?

From what the SCPR has been able to learn, the process by which Massillon negotiates the lead agreement goes back perhaps as far as 1961.  The Report talked with Mayor Cicchinelli this past week and all he could tell yours truly was that this has been the arrangement that he is familiar with going back to the beginning of his days in Massillon government.


Relevant to this discussion is a item on the Mayor's campaign finance report for 2009 that shows a $180,.00 campaign contribution by Aqua America, Inc's H2O PAC.

So what?

The Report's take is as follows:

The principals would, if asked,  - one would think - assert that the contribution had nothing whatsoever to do with the upcoming negotiations between Massillon and Aqua as well as the results as shown in the Jones letter to the county commissioners date June 2nd.

More specifically, Cicchinelli, for his part - the SCPR believes -  would say that Aqua was and is merely interested in good government and that he has been a good mayor and deserving of support.  Undoubtedly, Aqua would would vouch for such an explanation.

The SCPR has no basis on which to question the conjectured  positions on the contribution as they were posited in the preceding paragraphs.

However, whether it's Mayor Healy in Canton or Mayor Cicchinelli in Massillon or any other elected official, the SCPR does not think it is a wise practice for elected officials to accept campaign contributions from company PACs (Political Action Committees) for companies or, for that matter, from individuals with which/whom the political entity involved does business.

In this day and age there is heightened skepticism and cynicism about government, in general.  Only about 20% of Americans - national polls show - trust government at any level;.

Accordingly, elected officials - across the board - should reevaluate whom they will and will not take campaign contributions from.  Otherwise, they fuel public skepticism and cynicism and have only themselves to blame when they experience citizen criticism.  Moreover, declining such contributions will, over time, help restore public confidence in government to higher levels.

In his memo, Engineer Jones does point out that "[t]he last increase for Aqua was in 2005."  He goes on to elaborate that Aqua got no increase in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Jones' assertion that "[i]n light of no increases for two and one-half years, the requested [Aqua] increases seem reasonable" did not mollify commissioners.  They asked Jones to have an Aqua representative appear at Wednesday's (June 9, 2010) meeting.  The meeting should be interesting.

Here is a video showing the amazement, astonishment and disgust of commissioners demonstrated in their June 2, 2010 meeting.

PLAIN TRUSTEE LOUIS GIAVASIS ONCE AGAIN PREPARED TO GO TO BAT FOR THE PEOPLE OF PLAIN TOWHSHIP. WILL NORTH CANTON, MASSILLON, HILLS & DALES, JACKSON, LAKE, LAWRENCE, PERRY AND TUSCARAWAS TOWNSHIP FOLLOW HIS LEAD?

UPDATE/CORRECTION:  MARCH 24, 2010

As pointed out by a SCPR reader, The Report missed that Jackson Township passed a resolution on Monday night with The Repository reporting that Trustee James Walters termed the expected  request for increase (20%) as being "outrageous."

UPDATE:  MARCH 23, 2010 AT 4:15 PM.

The SCPR just received a call from Trustee Craig Chessler (Perry Township) to inform yours truly that Perry Township will also be considering a resolution objecting to Aqua's 20% requested increase to be made by Aqua to the PUCO

ORIGINAL POST

Last week it came out that Aqua Ohio, Inc will be asking the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio on or about April 1, 2010 to allow it to increase rates 20% on its Ohio water customers which includes thousands of Stark Countians.

The commissioners will be considering a resolution soon to ask the PUCO to deny the request.

It will likely be the Plain Township trustees who will act first.  And, it is "fitting and proper" for Plain to be first.

Why is that?

Because one of Stark County's better advocates for the people is Plain Trustee Louis Giavasis.  He has written the SCPR to the effect he will be offering a resolution at tonight's regular township meeting.

Giavasis deserves credit for being the foremost Stark County government official to step forward to convince the PUCO to cut down on American Electric Power's request for a gigantic - over three years - increase about a year ago or so.

The Report applauds Giavasis for his work on behalf of ordinary types who need the voice of government to speak loudly and clearly on their behalf.

A SCPR "tip-of-the-hat" to Trustee Louis Giavasis for looking out for the people of Plain Township and by extension for all Aqua water users throughout Stark County!