238 Geese were rounded up and gassed to death without any public input or debate.
https://www.wfmj.com/story/25879330/more-than-200-geese-euthanized-at-mill-creek-park
Dennis Miller resigns as Mill Creek Metroparks Executive Director.
Environmental group concerned with Mill Creek Park hiring process.
Guardians of Mill Creek is an advocacy group calling for transparency in the hiring of new Executive Director. The group wants a public review of final candidates. and fears someone with a background in the oil and gas industry or in favor of fracking will be hired. They feel that taxpayers have the right to know what is going on and who they are going to hire, what their background is and what are their concerns and plans are. https://www.wfmj.com/story/27432258/environmental-group-concerned-with-mill-creek-metroparks-hiring-process
Park Commissioners, in a direct violation of Ohio's Sunshine law regarding open meetings agreed to hire Aaron Young in a closed meeting. They later convened a public meeting to vote again.
https://vindyarchives.com/news/2014/dec/21/mill-creek-park-board-fails-the-transpar/
Heated exchanges as Mill Creek MertroParks names new director
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Board President Lou Schiavoni has said "For one, the park district is now committed to finding nonlethal means to manage its wildlife. Second, new park board members appointed this year show a commitment to transparency and accountability to the public, including adherence to the state’s open-meetings and public-records laws. Third, the park’s executive director and others are working closely with city, state and federal officials to address slowing the poisonous pollution of park lakes."
https://vindyarchives.com/news/2015/oct/28/controversies-pale-against-need-for-mill/
Mill Creek MetroParks Executive Director, Reporters witnessed what was described as an insensitive, heavy-handed way of dealing with individuals who have been loyal, dedicated employees. Park police stood by while they were escorted from their places of work. Among those fired were two full-time, well-known staff members: Horticulture Director Keith Kaiser and Outdoor Education Manager Ray Novotny.
https://vindyarchives.com/news/2016/feb/21/mill-creek-park-firings-precipitate-publ/
Mike Senchak – Conveyed that he has read all of the messages (61) that he received in the past few weeks. 3-4 comments were positive, 3-4 were extremely personal attacks, and the remainder shared common themes: Aaron must go.
Commissioner Scott Schulick resigned his position after 16 months stating that serving as commissioner is an extremely frustrating position. He said there were personal attacks against him, as well as his displeasure with the direction of the park. There have been people who want to picket his home and business.
Rusu forms a citizens advisory committee that would counsel the board on what members of the public view as priorities.
Protesters of Mill Creek picket Courthouse
State Rep. John Boccieri introduces House Bill (HB) 561. The bill would change the way MetroPark board members are appointed. The bill is co-sponsered by Michele Lepore Hagan and Kathleen Clyde
https://www.wkbn.com/news/mill-creek-picketers-converge-on-mahoning-county-courthouse/
Law by only discussing the reorganization plan through emails or several closed door meetings before the plan was made public on February 12. The lawsuit contends that the park board again violated Ohio’s Open Meetings Sunshine law. The same law Board President, Lou Schiavoni told the Vindicator in October 2015 the board was committed to adhering to in their commitment to transparency and accountability. It would seem that avoiding public divisiveness was again a factor in making a decision affecting 13 careers and an entire community.
https://www.wfmj.com/story/32189217/mill-creek-park-sued-over-firings
Professionals Resign at Board Meeting
Two naturalists with the Nature education program submitted their resignation at the board meeting. Naturalist Hillary Lenton cited a “hostile environment” as her reason for leaving. “My hard work is neither acknowledged nor appreciated and it is no longer healthy for me to be an employee of Mill Creek MetroParks.”
https://vindyarchives.com/news/2016/jun/14/metroparks-new-board-members-bring-an-ai/
Owners of Friends Roastery in Salem and the Garden Cafe in the park, filed a civil rights lawsuit in U.S. District Court claiming they were victims of alleged retaliation by Aaron Young, when he terminated their lease a year and a half early after they became critical of some of his actions when he became the park's Executive Director.
https://www.wfmj.com/story/34201768/mill-creek-park-director-named-in-22-million-retaliation-lawsuit
Commissioner John Ragan is not seeking reappointment to the board.
Shipka said he wanted to serve on the board to “reform” it. He saw problems with how the parks were moving forward. Shipka said although he has seen positive changes during his term, more changes are needed.
Mill Creek MetroParks has reached a settlement with a couple who sued the park district and claimed it terminated their contract to operate a cafe at Fellows Riverside Gardens in retaliation for their decision to speak out against the park’s executive director. https://vindyarchives.com/news/2018/apr/05/mill-creek-couple-reach-settlement-in-
Problems with new lease stipulations and rent increases made it unaffordable and Executive Director Aaron Young said the horse park is being taken over by the MetroParks. For 25 years, the volunteers had put their heart and soul into this equine facility.
https://www.wkbn.com/news/local-news/buckeye-horse-park-will-now-be-run-by-mill-creek-metroparks/1909918503/
Due to the potential spread of the Covid virus and to protect the health, safety and welfare of the employees, volunteers, and visitors, MetroParks events and programs were cancelled effective March 13, 2020. Much of the park remained closed thru april 2021.
Some people are asking if racism and classism led to decades of neglect of the William McGuffey Holmes Wildlife Preserve? Should more money and attention be spent to keep up a wildlife preserve in a poorer less affluent part of Mahoning County by Mill Creek MetroParks, which has more than $7 million in the bank?
https://www.wfmj.com/story/46681098/mill-creek-metroparks-questioned-about-upkeep-of-mcguffey-wildlife-preserve
The idea has drawn criticism and opposition from hundreds of members of the community. People are upset with the park's plan to kill deer to thin the population and say the parks board should not be in the business of killing animals but preserving wildlife. https://www.wfmj.com/story/48693835/mill-creek-metro-parks-board-approves-reduction-of-deer-population-amid-opposition
166 deer were killed by hunters and 38 were killed by USDA/Aphis costing taxpayers over $15,000. 58% of those deer were 1 year old or less.
Mill Creek Metroparks Deer survey results available
It shows an average number of 187 deer per square mile. Previous survey, done in 2022, showed an average of 387 deer.
https://www.wfmj.com/story/50887962/mill-creek-metroparks-deer-survery-results-available
Local historical society asks for help maintaining wildlife preserve.
Landowners have been in court since 2018 after Mill Creek Metroparks wanted to use eminent domain to extend its bike trail six miles from Western Reserve Road through Green Township to the Columbiana County line. Mahoning County Common Pleas Court ruled Thursday in favor of the property owners
saying Ohio law does not authorize the Mill Creek MetroParks to use eminent domain to acquire the properties. The park district is now required to pay their legal fees. The MetroParks announced that it would not appeal the decision and would begin to return $3.4 million of funding for the trail extension.
https://www.wkbn.com/news/local-news/green-twp-news/court-rules-in-favor-of-landowners-in-mill-creek-bikeway-case/
Attorneys for the MetroParks and property owners whose land was involved exchanged filings recently over who should be first to pay the other party money they believe is owed and other issues.
https://www.morningjournalnews.com/news/local-news/2025/02/filings-in-bike-trail-case-reveal-disputes-over-reimbursements/
Ohio state representatives have proposed changing how Mill Creek MetroParks commissioners are selected by moving the authority from the Mahoning County probate judge to the Mahoning County Commissioners. Supported by local legislators to increase accountability.