In Response to Citizen Inquiry, County Administrator Provides Updated
Courthouse Renovation Costs of Almost $20 Million
Board of County Commissioners - August 6, 2024
Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met at 9:30 am on Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at the County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH. The meetings are in-person only, and there are no recordings for the public. An agenda is available in advance via request to the Commissioners’ Clerk and at the meeting.
Public Comment Policy: Observer Comment: Commissioner Ralph Spidalieri announced at the end of the April 4, 2023 meeting that public comment would be permitted and that a more formal policy would be forthcoming. There was no formal policy introduced today, but public comment was permitted.
Attendance: Present were Commissioners James Dvorak, Timothy Lennon and Ralph Spidalieri. Also present were County Administrator Gerry Morgan, Assistant County Administrator Linda Burhenne, Finance Manager Adrian Gorton, and Commissioners' Clerk Christine Blair.
County Representatives: Matt Sieracki, Contract Coordinator; Christine Lakomiak, Director, Geauga County Mental Health and Recovery Services (GC-MHRS); GC-MHRS Board Member Kathy Johnson; Craig Swenson, Director, Job and Family Services (JFS); Richard Blamer, Manager, Geauga Airport, and Nick Gorris, Director, Water Resources, Dan Spada, Building Dept. Director.
Others in Attendance: Adam Litke, Administrator, Geauga Public Health; Auditor Chuck Walder; Elain Malkamaki, Program Director for Community and Economic Development, Tom Jones, Diane Jones, other members of the public, the press and this LWVG observer.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and a prayer was offered by Mr. Dvorak.
Minutes: The following minutes were approved: June 4, 11, 18 and 25. Observer Comment: Weekly LWVG Observer Reports for BOCC are available online through August 6, 2024, for informational purposes but are not substitutes for approved minutes. Approved BOCC Minutes are posted online here through May 21, 2024.
Administrator’s Report - Mr. Morgan reported on the following:
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Accepted the Community and Economic Development Housing Revolving Loan report
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Accepted resignation of Recreational and Educational Assistant in the Aging Department
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Agreed to a new hire in Job and Family Services (JFS) of Social Work II Human Resources Asst., Clerical Specialist 3
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Agreed with Bainbridge Township to not require a hearing for a liquor license for Hammer & Nails Grooming and Supplies
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Agreed to permit parking at the Courthouse parking lot owned by the County during the recent August 4th Artfest
Financial Report - Mr. Gorton received approval for the following (no dollar amounts provided):
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Supplemental to Mental Health and Recovery Services in their Capital Reserve Fund in preparation for the beginning of the Transitional Living Center project
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Cash from the Commissioners’ Office to the Airport Authority for the County match for the parallel taxiway
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Travel for Common Pleas and JFS
Vouchers:
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$34,629 from the Commissioners to NOACA for 2025 yearly fees
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$59,519.34 to Maintenance for Meridia Construction for the Auditor’s basement project
Revenue Certification for the Cap Reserve Fund Phase 2
The Commissioners’ Office received approval to execute 1) the Revised Accounting Authorization Forms for Building, Department of Emergency Services and Maintenance and 2) Payroll Authorization Forms for Building, Community and Economic Development, Dog Warden, Department of Emergency Services and Maintenance.
The Airport Authority received approval for Partial Payment #2 for Kenny Hoar Construction Company for the Hangar One Improvement Project in the amount of $148,351.52.
Airport Manager Mr. Blamer said that the Hangar project is 99% done with just a few small things remaining. He noted that they need to develop a punch list of final items. He said that tenants are back in the building.
Mr. Spidalieri asked a question about Hangar 2. He said that he was asked if they will be putting in new doors on Hangar 2 that would be similar to the ones used for Hangar One. Mr. Blamer said he would get a price but that installation of new doors would also involve modifications to the building itself. He estimated the doors to cost about $30,000, but didn’t know how much the whole project would cost. He said, “It is on our radar.” Mr. Blamer also said that they hadn’t heard back from the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) about their grant for next year. He also expressed his appreciation for the support of the Commissioners.
The Mental Health and Recovery Services received approval to recognize August 31, 2024 as International Overdose Awareness Day, #TogetherWeCan#EndOverdose. Ms. Lakomiak, Director of GC-MHRS, spoke about the need for information and outreach regarding overdoses. Ms Lakomiak said there will be events scheduled throughout the month. She said they received a grant of $19,000 to hold these educational events. She also said that people should remember to call the Cope Line and phone 988 for assistance with a mental health emergency. Ms. Lakomiak said, “Treatment works!”
Mr. Lennon asked about the Opioid Settlement funds. Mr. Dvorak said there will be $300,000 in that fund before the end of the year from “One Ohio” settlement money. He said that these funds can be used to fill in gaps. Observer Note: Information about One Ohio can be found here.
The Department of Job and Family Services received approval for the following:
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To acknowledge receipt of the Certificate of Estimated Property Tax Revenue in regard to the renewal of a 0.5 Mill necessary requirements levy.
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To execute Resolution #24-147 Declaring it Necessary to Levy a Tax in Excess of the Ten Mill Limitation and to Provide for the Necessary Requirements of the Geauga County Department of Job and Family Services per O.R.C. 5705.07 and 5705.24.
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To execute the Agreement between the Owner (Geauga County Board of Commissioners) and Architect TDA (ThenDesign Architecture, LLC) for Design and Construction Administration Services for a New Geauga County Youth Home and Renovation of Existing Geauga County Youth Home to be effective August 6, 2024 in an amount not to exceed $490,000.
Director Craig Swenson gave an update on the proposed Youth Home. He said they were looking at two different locations and that TDA would assist them with this process. Mr. Lennon asked if it would make sense to repurpose their current location. Mr. Swenson said that he would recommend asking if Next Steps would want to move there, as it would be a big improvement to their current location in the former County home. Mr. Swenson said that the Director of Next Step, Andrea Pollock, does a great job, and he felt she would be very happy with such a move. Mr. Swenson said that if they decide to put the new Youth Center directly behind the old one, it could be a problem for moving Next Step into the old center, as he didn’t feel it would be a good idea to have these groups in such close proximity since they have different ages and characteristics. Observer Note: For more information about Next Steps, please see their website here.
The Maintenance Department received approval for the following:
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To execute the service Contract Agreement with DEX Imaging, LLC to provide maintenance services on the department’s copier (Kyocera 3553ci) for a three-year period, effective August 6, 2024 in an amount not to exceed $10,000.
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To execute the service Contract Agreement with Cleveland Vicon Company to perform door, lock and key services at various county locations per the Director for the period September 8, 2024 through September 7, 2026 in an amount not to exceed $30,000.
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To execute the Contract Agreement with S.A. Comunale Company, Incorporated to provide HVAC Maintenance and on-call services per the Director at various County Locations for the 2024-2027 South HVAC maintenance project in the amount of $94,881.00 ($14,520.00 for 2024-2025, $14,995.00 for 2025-2026, $15,406.30 for 2026-2027 and for service at the labor rates for 2024-2027 in an amount not to exceed $50,000).
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To advertise for bids for the West Geauga Senior Center Condenser Unit Upgrade to be held on Wednesday, September 11, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. Notice of this Bid Opening will be advertised on August 15, 2024, August 22, 2024 and on the county website.
The Department of Water Resources received approval for the following:
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To execute the service Contract Agreement with Mission Communication to perform Monitoring and Alarm Service at various Water locations within the department for a one-year period, effective August 6, 2024 in an amount not to exceed $10,000.
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To execute the service Contract Agreement with Mission Communication to perform Monitoring and Alarm Service at various Wastewater locations within the department for a one-year period, effective August 6, 2024 in an amount not to exceed $30,000.
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To execute Resolution #24-148 Approving American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 Expenditure for the Services Center Drinking Water System in the amount of $1,000,000. Observer Note: Mr. Gorris, Water Resource Director, confirmed to this Observer that the “Services Center” is the area off Ravenwood including the University Hospital, Ravenwood and the new County Office Building among other users.
The Commissioners’ Office received approval for the following:
Mr. Lennon asked Mr. Morgan how much the County would be receiving, but Mr. Morgan said he didn’t know yet. Mr. Dvorak said that Prosecutor Flaiz has been working with other counties to pursue some of these settlement agreements, and that the County should receive $60,000 - $80,000 every couple months. He said the total now is $300,000.
Executive Session - The Commissioners’ Office requested the Board move into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing the employment and compensation of a public employee in the Building Department. In addition to the Commissioners, they were joined by Mr. Morgan, Ms. Burhenne and the Building Department Director Dan Spada.
Return from Executive Session with the following action:
Approval to promote Michael Davet
The Commissioners’ Office received approval for the following:
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To execute Resolution #24-149 to hold a Work Session with the Geauga County Agricultural Society/ Fair Board to be held at the Geauga County Fairgrounds on August 6, 2024 at 11:30 a.m. as part of their regular meeting, per action taken on July 30, 2024.
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To execute Resolution #24-150 Establishing the Location and Time of the August 29, 2024, Regular Meeting of the Board of Commissioners to be held at 10:00 a.m. at the Great Geauga County Fair.
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To cancel the session on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, due to the regular meeting scheduled on Thursday, August 29, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at the Fair.
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To move the regular scheduled session on Tuesday, September 24, 2024 to Thursday, September 26, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. due to the Evaluated Perry Nuclear Power Plant Drill.
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To hold a work session at 11:30 a.m. at the Geauga County Fairgrounds on Thursday August 29, 2024.
Public Comment:
Mrs. Jones stated that, at a previous meeting, Mr. Morgan was asked for a total of the courthouse expansion overruns, and she asked if those numbers were now available. He produced a list of charges. The list states that the change orders total $292,761, and that total costs for the entire project are now at $19,979,507. Observer Note: It was not clear if this is the total that the Commissioners are required to pay or if this is the total of the project (for which the City of Chardon would contribute $2 Million). The City of Chardon agreed in a settlement with the Commissioner to pay 10%, capped at $2 Million. See Geauga Maple Leaf article for more information.
Reviewer Note: In an article in the Chagrin Valley Times Geauga Courier edition on August 15, 2024 Mr. Morgan stated that the Commissioners had actually budgeted $20,000,000 for this project. The article states:
“We didn’t advertise that because we never wanted anybody to know that,” he said. “We kept saying $15 million because we wanted to try to keep it the $15 million.”
The article details the design changes that caused the costs to increase.
This Observer asked if arrangements had been made to have free admission for Thursday morning due to the fact that the Commissioners are holding a public meeting at the Fair Thursday at 10 am. Ms. Blair and Mr. Dvorak both stated that it was free to get in on Thursday morning. Ms. Blair said it was on the Fair website. Observer Note:
This Observer checked the Geauga Fair website and the admission is $8 for Thursday. This observer also called the Geauga County Fair office and was told that there used to be free admission on Thursday mornings a few years ago, but now the admission is $8 for the day. At the BOCC meeting on August 13, 2024, Mr. Spidalieri said they would reach out to the Geauga Fair Board about this matter.
Meeting adjourned at 10:00 am
More Information and Posted Minutes: Available here.
Next Regular Meeting of the BOCC: The next two meetings following this meeting will be August 13, 2024 and August 20, 2024 both at 9:30 am at the Geauga County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH.
Observer: Gail Roussey
Editor: Sarah McGlone
Reviewer: Carol Benton
Date Submitted: 8/15/2024
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