Commissioners Recognize Girl Scout Gold Award Recipients
Board of County Commissioners Meeting - May 13, 2025
Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met in regular session on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at 9:30 am for a meeting at the County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH. Meetings can also be live streamed through the Geauga ADP Youtube channel. Recordings are available for the public. The May 13, 2025 meeting recording can be found here. As of the date of publication this video has been viewed 111 times. Notations in the report refer to the minute notation on the video for a particular section. An agenda is available in advance via request to the Commissioners’ Clerk and at the meeting. Items discussed at the meeting but not on the agenda, if any, are addressed at the end of this report.
Public Comment Policy: Permitted as outlined in the BOCC’s Public Comment Policy that was adopted on January 28, 2025 and revised on April 15, 2025. Observer Note: The above link to the Policy does not have the revision, which was simply to change the time allowed for public comment from two minutes to three minutes.
Attendance: Present James Dvorak and Carolyn Brakey. Commissioner Spidalieri was absent. Also present were Commissioners Clerk Christine Blair, Acting County Administrator Linda Burhenne and Finance Manager Adrian Gorton.
County Representatives: Shane Hajjar, Deputy Engineer, Engineer’s Office; Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand and a another Deputy who was not identified; Elaine Malkamaki, Program Director, Community Development
Others in Attendance: Adam Litke, Administrator, Geauga Public Health; County residents Tom and Diane Jones, other members of the public and press, and this observer.
3:33 Min The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and a prayer was offered by Commissioner Dvorak.
Minutes: Minutes from April 15, 2025 were submitted and approved. Observer Note: Weekly LWVG Observer Reports for BOCC are available online through May 13, 2025 for informational purposes but are not substitutes for approved minutes. Approved BOCC Minutes are posted online here through April 1, 2025.
Administrator’s Report - Ms. Burhenne received approval for a travel encumbrance from the Commissioners’ Office to attend the White House State Leadership Conference.
5:12 Min Financial Report - Mr. Gorton received approval for the following:
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Appropriation transfer to the Sheriff’s Department in their equipment account for additional replacement inmate lockers
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Purchase order from the Commissioners to the Lake Geauga Recovery Center for the jail treatment program request from the Opioid Settlement Fund
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Travel from Common Pleas Court, Job and Family Services and Recorder's Office.
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Then and Now from Water Resources to HDR Engineering for professional services that were not previously encumbered
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Vouchers:
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$26,402.47 from Job and Family Services to Child Care Resource Center of Cuyahoga County for the first quarter of 2025. This is for a high school oriented program for technical job training and opportunity.
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$37,694.69 from Maintenance to Cable Communications for the installation of new cameras and control panels in the Geauga County Office Building.
7:48 Min. The Engineer’s Office received approval for the following:
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To award the Bid to Eclipse Company, Incorporated for the Realignment of Bainbridge Road at Washington Street Traffic Signalization in Auburn Township in the amount of $575,180.57.
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To award the Bid to Grade Line, Incorporated for the Replacement of the Haskins Road Bridge in Bainbridge Township in the amount of $280,896.50 as they represented the lowest and best bid.
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To award the Bid to Grade Line, Incorporated for the Replacement of the Riverview Drive Bridge in Bainbridge Township in the amount of $515,636.45.
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To execute Resolution #25-089 to Order the Asphalt Resurfacing of Sperry Road (CH-0012, Sections B-G) in Newbury, Russell and Chester Townships and to execute the Title Sheet of the specifications.
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To execute Resolution #25-090 to Order the Asphalt Resurfacing of Fairmount Road (CH-0016, Sections C-E) in Russell and Newbury Townships and to execute the Title Sheet of the Specifications.
Mr. Dvorak questioned how much of the work is supported by the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC). Mr. Hajjar stated that there are three projects with such funding this year and he said they do a robust operation with state funding. They pay about 50% for projects in which they are involved. Mr. Hajjar also mentioned that there is federal funding
14:21 Min The Sheriff’s Office received approval for the following:
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To execute the Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS) Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Grant Pre-award Conditions and Standard Assurances forms for Grant #2024-WF-VA5-70318 in the amount of $80,000.00 ($60,000.00 from OCJS and $20,000.00 local County match). This grant is for the period January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025.
Ms. Brakey inquired about the use of the money. Sheriff Hildenbrand stated that it was used mostly for domestic situations and protective orders..
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To authorize the President of the Board to execute the Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS) Grant Pre-award Conditions and Standard Assurances forms for Grant #2024-JG-A03-47070 for Flock Cameras in the amount of $25,500.00 ($19,125.00 from OCJS and $6,375.00 local County match). This grant is for the period January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025.
The cameras will be installed at various roads entering the county that can recognize license plates.
17:07 Min. Department of Community and Economic Development received approval for the following:
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To accept the Performance Bond for Country Roofing, LLC for the Chagrin Falls Park Community Center Roof Replacement Project, under CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) #B-F-23-1AZ-1 and further release the Bid Bond and to execute the Notice to Proceed for same.
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To amend the motion from May 6, 2025 to read: grant permission to advertise to hold Public Hearing #2 for the 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Allocation Program to be held on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. Notice of this Public Hearing #2 will be advertised on May 15, 2025 and on the county website.
The Commissioners were provided binders with all of the applications. Ms. Malkamaki said that at the hearings they will provide their ranking. The maximum is $300,000 for a maximum of two projects.
The Board of Commissioners received approval for the following:
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Resolution #25-091 Honoring Lake-Geauga United Head Start, Incorporated on celebrating its 60th Anniversary
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Honoring thirty-one (31) Girl Scouts in Northeast Ohio who have achieved their Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouts. Resolution # 25-108 honored Cecelia Mascia from Geauga County.
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To cancel the session on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, due to a lack of quorum.
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To amend the 2026 Tax Budget Hearing Schedule to move the Hearings from Tuesday, May 20, 2025 to Thursday, May 29, 2025 and Tuesday, June 3, 2025.
25:07 Min Board Discussion
Ms. Brakey shared a letter that she had written to First Energy regarding the closure of the Middlefield Service Center. The letter states that the Commissioners will file comments in First Energy’s based distribution rate case. Mr. Dvorak had reviewed the letter and approved. A motion was made and approved to file the letter with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. Reviewer Note: See the May 6, 2025 BOCC Observer Report for more information regarding the closure of First Energy’s Middlefield Service Center.
Public Comment
A Chardon resident asked for some clarification on the First Energy situation. Ms. Brakey explained that it was in response to the closing of the Middlefield location.
Mr. Litke spoke highly of the yearly fishing event. This is a field trip for children with special needs, and they had 52 participants. He thanked Mr. Dvorak who has been involved in this event for 10 years. Golf carts for transportation are donated for the day by Pleasant Hills Golf Club and are transported to the event by O’Reilly Equipment.
A South Russell resident asked all to keep in mind the 60,000 men and women who died in Vietnam as we celebrate Memorial Day.
Meeting adjourned at 9:57
More Information and Posted Minutes: Available here.
Next Regular Meeting of the BOCC: The next Regular Meeting of the BOCC is on Thursday, May 29, 2025 at 9:30 am at the County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH.
Observer: Mary Heintzelman
Editor: Gail Roussey
Reviewer: Sarah McGlone
Date Submitted: May 19, 2025
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