Cedar Fair HQ here, for how much longer?

It's understandable many were driven to the shakes this week after Cedar Fair announced it was parting ways with longtime vice president and chief counsel Duffield Milkie. It's a decision, it appears, likely made by Cedar Fair CEO Richard Zimmerman. In the wake, so many are left wondering why this happened and whether Zimmerman and the Cedar Fair board have the same commitment to the hometown they had with Milkie on board, as they have now, without him. We fear they do not. Milkie comes from a long line of local people who have had a great impact on the world's greatest amusement park, and the chain of parks it's become since it was founded 151 years ago, starting with George Boeckling through Ohioans Richard Kinzel as CFO and chairman and John Hildebrandt as general manager at the park. Today Carrie Boldman, from Huron, is the park's general manager, and we're glad there is still this important local influence. But Duff Milkie, as corporate counsel, has had the kind of influence on behalf of Sandusky that we want to see. Sandusky is, and wants to remain, the corporate headquarters for Cedar Fair the same as its been since the beginning and for the last 34 years since the group was formed under Kinzel's leadership. Cedar Fair's success didn't happen because of a vision created by corporate executives in Charlotte, North Carolina, or in any other city where the company has properties. Its success can be traced directly back to the leadership from corporate headquarters, right here, from homegrown executives who, along with shareholders, built this company. Milkie, particularly, in our view, has been the consummate team player. He was key to the acquisition, development and founding of the $50 million Cedar Point Sports Center on Cleveland Road in the city as well as the partnership with Bowling Green State University for the hospitality degree program and college the company established in downtown Sandusky. These are key programs that will serve the entire parks group and set the example for a high standard for community involvement. The company, over the years, has acquired other investment properties in the city, including Castaway Bay and, more recently, Sawmill Creek. What will become of these programs and these properties if the foundation of this company is deconstructed, scattered or otherwise changes for the travel conveniences of executives? Sandusky is the Cedar Fair headquarters by birthright, by contract and by common sense. We fear this move, removing Milkie from his senior role, is a grave mistake and undermines that. With so many HQ positions transitioned quietly to Charlotte, is Sandusky becoming the city "where it started" and Charlotte become the new HQ for Cedar Fair? We guess time will tell, but if history and current actions hold true, we fear it's just some legal formalities away.