We’re exploring a New Community Authority (NCA) and need your help to determine whether it’s the right funding tool for Lakeside.
There are more than 50 buildings and extensive grounds to maintain and costs are rising. To care for Lakeside, we have three main sources of revenue: admissions and auto fees, lease assessment and donations. Lakeside has been researching various funding tools, including NCA and Tax Increment Financing (TIF).
A Task Force of community members has been named to research NCA and provide evaluation and recommendations to the Lakeside Association Board of Directors in July.
NCA is a two-stage process to set up: 1) To file a petition, or a request, to create the NCA. 2) To establish a declaration in order to develop an NCA board. NCA is not a done deal. We need your input at the following:
- Attend one of the New Community Authority Presentations
- Download the New Community Authority Presentation & Learn More
- Coffee Chats with the President
- Neighborhood Gatherings
- Provide Questions, Insights & Comments on the digital comment card for the New Community Authority
A Task Force has been formed to investigate NCA. The following individuals are on the NCA Task Force:
- Steve Brunot recently retired after a career in government finance. He spent the past 15 years working for the Summit County Engineer’s Office as Director of Administration, overseeing budgeting, human resources and information technology. Brunot previously worked for the cities of Tallmadge, Macedonia and Avon Lake in Northeast Ohio. He now serves on the Lakeside Association Board of Directors. He and his wife live in Shaker Heights. His wife, Susan Glaser, is the Travel Editor for The Cleveland Plain Dealer.
- David Blank is a long-time Lakesider and a retired FirstEnergy executive where he specialized in financial and regulatory roles. He was a member of the Lakeside Association Board from 2011-2017, serving as Chair or Vice Chair of the Finance Committee for four years. Blank is currently on the Lakeside Chautauqua Foundation Board and has participated as a member of many Lakeside Task Forces and study committees. He is a graduate of the University of Mount Union (BS-math) and Cleveland State University (MA-economics, JD). Blank and his wife, Bonnie, are summer residents of Lakeside and live in Westlake, Ohio the rest of the year.
- Bill Drackett owns and operates real estate and commercial and residential development/construction companies. He oversees real estate developments in both Ohio and Florida. Drackett is a fourth generation Lakesider. He and his wife, Mame, own a cottage on the lakefront. Drackett served for six years as the Lakeside Chautauqua Foundation Board Chair and has served on the Lakeside Association Board and committees including Finance, Audit, Housing and Executive Committee.
- Cindy Mahl is a CPA and spent her career in banking, most recently as Chief Financial Officer at Westfield Bank. Prior to that, she was a founding officer and CFO of Western Reserve Bank in Medina, Ohio. Mahl has previously served on several nonprofit boards, including United Way of Medina County and Alternative Paths (a behavioral health agency). She is a graduate of Baldwin Wallace University and Leadership Medina County. She and her husband, Tim, moved from Avon to Lakeside full time in 2018. Mahl has been on the Lakeside Association Board since 2019.
- Mike Shade is a Co-Managing Member of Shade and Shade LLC, Attorneys at Law in Delaware, Ohio. In November 2024, he will commence his 45th year in practice. The primary area of practice is real estate and real estate development. Shade represents clients through various governmental processes and has worked with governments and clients in creating NCAs and TIFs. He is also currently the Chairperson of Oak Funds, a National Mutual Fund Company. Shade is a former Mayor of Delaware, Ohio. He and his wife, Margie, owned a cottage on Oak Avenue of 33 years and have been coming to Lakeside since 1981. The couple now resides at 814 E. Fifth Street.
- Bill Smith is retired as Chief Engineer of Babcock & Wilcox, Fossil Power Division. For him and his wife, Linda, Lakeside has been their primary home since 2005, but the couple has had a long tradition of vacationing in Lakeside. Smith is currently involved in Lakeside’s Streets and Drainage Advisory Task Force and the Lakeside Tree Advisory Committee. He occasionally lectures on climate change and cyanobacteria.
- Doug Talbott is a seasoned government affairs professional with nearly 30 years of experience. A Baldwin-Wallace political science major, Talbott began his career working on the successful (George) Voinovich for Governor Campaign in 1990. Subsequently, he handled scheduling and advance duties for the governor’s office and spent 10 years in state government between the governor’s office and Ohio Department of Development, where he helped retain and create jobs as the Deputy Director of the governor’s regional offices. In his last appointment as Director of Boards and Commissions under Governor Taft, Talbott was the central point of contact and clearing house for all governor appointments. He is a long-time Lakesider and owns a cottage with his wife, Suzy.
- Ron Janke (LPOA Representative) and his wife, Mary Ann, became cottage owners on Oak Avenue in 2015. They serve as communion stewards at the Lakefront Worship Service. Janke is an LPOA Director and the Chairman of the LPOA Community Relations Committee. He is the Director of the Lakeside Environmental Stewardship Society (LESS), serves on Lakeside’s Streets and Drainage Advisory Task Force and is active in the Lakeside Guys’ Club.
- Charles Allen, Lakeside Chautauqua President & CEO
- Gretchen Colon, Lakeside Chautauqua VP of Advancement & Marketing
- Sam Chelliah, Lakeside Chautauqua VP of Finance
The Task Force is currently researching NCA due to a tight deadline of Ohio legislation on December 31 for creation of a Lakeside NCA. Most recently, Charles Allen, Lakeside Chautauqua President & COE, presented informational material at the May 2024 LPOA meeting and the May 2024 Virtual Townhall Meeting.