Fighting Our Fights

As our Commissioner, Chuck has a long record of fighting to make life better for Portage County families, workers and communities.

He organized and led the community effort to replace the county’s broken down old nursing home with a new senior friendly, state-of-the-art facility. The Woodlands at Robinson, the county’s new nursing home, is a place anyone would be proud to call home and a place that should make all of us proud. Not only does this remarkable new environment allow seniors the opportunity to get the best possible care in a compassionate, user friendly space, but it saves tax dollars as well. Chuck fought for the installation of a state-of-the-art lift system so that residents and workers are safer. The results are stunning. Not a resident and not a single worker have received a lifting injury since the Woodlands opened its doors. The county’s worker compensation rates reflect the savings and everyone has benefited.

Chuck promised to make the issue of water rights to the Cuyahoga River an important part of his work. And he kept his word.

Under his leadership, Portage County regained the right to use the water in the Cuyahoga River. The Ohio EPA and others are constantly forcing tougher, more stringent regulations on sewage treatment. The regaining of these rights will save county sewer customers millions of dollars over time and sets the stage for new levels of business and residential growth in Portage County. More water means more opportunity and less out of pocket expense. That’s just what we all need.

A few years ago the City of Kent was ordered to remove the historic Kent dam. The solution chosen by the community was expensive but struck the right balance between meeting the EPA mandate and preserving the legacy and identity of this very special area. Chuck worked with the City and with a regional granting authority for over two years to secure the first $750,000 for the project. That same personal intensity helped Chuck secure similar funds for the purchase of park lands for the new hike and bike trail called The Portage and for a new multi-model transportation facility designed to serve the Kent State Campus. The list goes on and on. Chuck Keiper gets things done and gets them done right.

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