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Observer Corps Reports on All 30 BOCC Budget Hearings, 

Held This Year Before the Budget Commission Hearings in August

Board of County Commissioners - Department Budget Hearings - May 6, 8, 13 and 29 & June 3, 2025

Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met at various times on May 6, 8, 13, and 29 & June 3, 2025 for the purpose of reviewing 2026 budget requests received from County Departments under the hiring authority of the BOCC.  These hearings were held at the County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH. BOCC meetings were in-person only, and there are no recordings for the public to view.

Background: Hearing times were listed in advance. There were a total of 30 hearings. LWV Observers attended all of the hearings.  

Observer Comment: In the past, the BOCC Budget Hearings have been held in the fall. However, in 2024 these hearings were moved to the spring so that the BOCC Budget Hearings would take place before the Budget Commission’s Budget Hearings, which will occur on August 18 and 19, 2025.  Mr. Adrian Gorton said at the first day’s hearing, in response to a question after the hearing, that he anticipated that the Commissioners would review the Budget at their meeting on July 1, 2025.

Public Comment Policy: There was no public comment and this follows normal practice for all meetings conducted as “hearings.”

Attendance: Present for most hearings were Commissioners James Dvorak, Carolyn Brakey, and Ralph Spidalieri.  Also present were Acting County Assistant Administrator Linda Burhenne, Budget and Finance Manager Adrian Gorton and Senior Financial Specialist Deborah Ashburn. It will be noted if one of the parties is not present or leaves early.

County Representatives: At each hearing, the Department Chair attended, and in some cases other department staff members were present as well.  These are listed below.

More Information and Posted Minutes for BOCC: Available here.

Observer Note: There are statutory increases for certain office holders which are a result of the new population in the 2022 census which lists Geauga population as 95,469.  Once the population is over 95,000, there are mandated increases-  See ORC 325.  Some judicial positions have mandated increases, and these will be covered as they are presented.  This year, departments were instructed to submit budgets that were 90% of the prior year.   Mr. Gorton said this was being done because departments have traditionally not used all of their budget allocations.

Tuesday, May 6th

Present for these hearings were Commissioners James Dvorak, Carolyn Brakey, and Ralph Spidalieri.  Also present were Acting County Assistant Administrator Linda Burhenne, Budget and Finance Manager Adrian Gorton and Senior Financial Specialist Deborah Ashburn. 

9:01 AM to 9:16 AM Treasurer, Chris Hitchcock

Present from the Treasurer's Office were Chris Hitchcock, Treasurer and Deputy Treasurer Caroline Mansfield.

Ms. Mansfield stated that there were not a lot of changes from the previous year. There were small increases in Contract Services, Repair Services, Other, Advertising and Treasurer fees. The Bank fees were estimated to be less as they will be changing banks from Huntington National Bank to Chase Bank. Mr. Hitchcock stated that this is due to Huntington’s lack of digital security. The process will take 6 months to 1 year to complete. 

Mr. Gorton asked if the payments of the bonds for the new County Office Building, which are managed by Huntington, will be affected by the change of banks. Mr. Hitchcock said that he will look into that. He noted  that the process will take 6 months to 1 year and they will run parallel systems for a while. 

Mr. Spidalieri raised the question about the new Ohio Senate bill that recently passed and how it will affect the notices that they have to post in the newspapers. The bill will allow for electronic notices.  Mr. Hitchcock stated that he thinks it will allow electronic foreclosure notices. Those notices are the largest expense in their advertising budget. Ms. Mansfield will look into the new bill. Reviewer Note:  See ORC (Ohio Revised Code) 5721.18 for information about foreclosure proceedings and current publication requirements.

Mrs. Brakey questioned the fluctuation in the interest income account. Mr. Hitchcock said that it is a reflection of interest rates and confirmed that it is not due to how much is in the Treasury.

Tuesday, May 6th - Afternoon Session

Present were Commissioners James Dvorak, Carolyn Brakey, and Ralph Spidalieri.  Also present were Acting County Assistant Administrator Linda Burhenne, Budget and Finance Manager Adrian Gorton and Senior Financial Specialist Deborah Ashburn. It will be noted if one of the parties is not present or leaves early.

12:00 to 12:30 PM Board of Developmental Disabilities (DD), Don Rice

Present were Superintendent Don Rice, Assistant Superintendent Dave Carlson, Director of Business Operations Rean Davis and Board member Dave Lair.

Summary: Mr. Rice said that they were looking for a 3% raise in payroll.

Mr. Gorton said that there is a $1 million decrease in overall revenue. He said there is about a 2.8% increase in payroll accounts. There is $153,000 in equipment for various IT related items. There was an increase in the transfer out expense for the 2027 fund.  There were increases in the rest of the accounts, including $30,000 more for advertising.  He said he has been working with Ms. Davis on the new lease accounts so that the Budget Commission would be happy with the separation of that expense and revenue. 

Mr. Gorton said that when they initialized the budget they used 90% of the 2025 adopted amount.  He said this was not because they wanted the budget reduced by 10% but just to take a look at the amounts.  He said there was a $219,000 increase in residence services and the transfer in revenue for residence accounts with a corresponding increase in contract services.  In the DD reserve fund there was a $200,000 budgeted expense transfer out.  In the construction fund there was a slight increase in contract services.

Ms. Davis said that the reserve fund will be reduced to zero.  She said that correlates to the decrease in revenue. This has been used to replenish the general fund. 

Mr. Rice said that they put money in there when they had the money, but the idea was that when that reserve fund was depleted, they would need to ask for a levy. 

Mrs. Brakey confirmed that this would be an Additional Levy (new money).  

Mr. Gorton confirmed that the remaining levies are continuous.  They are also looking at a 5 year renewal of their 1 mill levy in 2027.

They distributed a set of slides that show the impact of inflation on the budget.  They also talked about the impact of HB 920, which limits levy income to what was received at the time the levy was passed, without any increase due to property value increases.

Ms. Burhenne asked about a replacement levy. Mr. Rice said the Ohio legislature would probably eliminate replacement levies as the House has already approved the elimination.  He also said that a replacement levy would impact the Homestead Rebate so they didn’t want to do that.

Mr. Rice said that costs for homemaker care and transportation have gone up by 38%.  He said that this means “a third of your budget goes up by 38%.”  He said the State sets these rates and that they hadn’t increased them for 15 years.  He said they had trouble recruiting and maintaining staff so they are not opposed to the increase, but having such a large increase at one time is very challenging.

Ms. Davis said that they will have to look at mandated versus non mandated services.  Observer Note:  This would occur if the proposed levy does not pass.

Mr. Rice said that some of the non-mandated services (which he said were of great value) are:

• Early intervention services (up to age 3)

• Special Olympics

• Some transportation

• Respite for caregivers

Mr. Rice said they have 60 employees.

There were no additional questions from the Commissioners or staff.

12:35 to 1:20 PM Department on Aging, Jessica Boalt

Present were Director Jessica Boalt and Fiscal & Budget Officer Duane Bidlack. 

Ms. Boalt said there had been a slight increase in revenue, due to the fact that federal grants for 2024 were higher than in the past.  For 2025 they have already received $576,000.  They are anticipating $600,000 for 2026, which would be closer to normal but with budget cuts she said it was hard to know the impact on their grants.

Ms. Boalt said there were slight increases in salaries and there was a slight increase in congregate meals.  She said cellular expenses went up as they had to purchase additional cell phones, and software expenses are trending upward (Microsoft licenses and voicemail).  Fuel has increased and they have added additional drivers.  The costs of the newsletter have gone up, with printing and postage both increasing.

Ms. Boalt said that Geauga ranks fifth in Ohio in percentage of seniors  at 30.3%.  She said that the senior population average in Ohio is 23.0% and in the United States it is 23.3%.  

There was a discussion of staffing levels, and Ms. Boalt said that the increases in wages (last year’s increases) helped.  They are at 38 staff members out of 41 positions.  

Ms Boalt said that the biggest challenges for seniors are transportation and housing.  She said there are not a lot of options in the county for someone who has lived here 30-40 years.  Ms. Boalt expressed a need for low cost housing for seniors.  She acknowledged that it is sometimes argued that people would move here to take advantage of senior housing.  She expressed doubt that someone would come to Geauga from another county, as adjacent counties have more services for seniors, such as transportation.  

1:25 to 2:10 PM Airport Authority, Richard Blamer

Present were Airport Manager Richard Blamer, Director, and VP of the Airport Board Greg Gyllstrom.

Mr. Gullstrom said that there were two components they wished to discuss: budget requests and their quarterly report. He said that he wanted to distinguish between maintenance and capital needs.

Mr. Gyllstrom said that in terms of Administrative support - BOCC gave $20,000 towards legal expenses and costs for a grant.  He said that legal expenses are not rolled into any grant.  He said that in the past legal work has been done by the Prosecutor's Office, but that changed.  He said it was $80,000- $90,000 for legal work since that point.  There was discussion by the Commissioners about this point.  In 2021 for the other T-Hangar it cost $25,000 for legal services.  Observer Note:  In general, if there is a potential conflict of interest, such as when the Commissioners and an entity like the Geauga Airport, could have different interests in a matter, the Prosecutor would be required to decline to represent the department.

Mr. Dvorak wanted to know what other counties are doing.  Mr. Spidalieri said that it would be a big savings if the Prosecutor would take over some of these contract reviews.

Mrs. Brakey asked several times whether a budget was submitted.  Mr. Gyllstrom said that the annual budget for 2024 was approved.  Mrs Brakey said that this hearing is for the budget for 2026.  Mr. Gyllstrom asked about the budget year for the county and Mr. Gorton reviewed the fact that they need this information before the end of July.

Mrs. Brakey asked about their expenses and revenue, and Mr. Gyllstrom said that the revenue was about $338,000 and expenses match that amount.

Mr. Gyllstrom then talked about their capital needs.  He said that these would not be covered by any FAA grants and are as follows:

• Hangars 4 and 5 - replacing the roof on each, repair any structural damage they find; upgrade office area

• Costs for Hangar 4 - $125,000.  Mr. Gyllstrom said this hangar could bring in $1.5 Million over 30 years

• Costs for Hangar 5 - $75,000 (no office) would include replacing the roof and other work as required.

• University Hospital (UH) Hangar 1 - UH has requested upgrades to the living quarters, and Mr. Gyllstrom said they didn’t have a cost for that yet.

• Hangar 2 - replace doors to make them operate as a hydraulic lift (as they have already done for Hangar 1) - $75,000

Mr. Gyllstrom then talked about projects for which they would get funding from the FAA (Federal Aviation Association).  These would require a minimal match (typically 5% according to Mr. Gyllstrom).  Costs were not discussed.

• Automated weather station

• Acquiring property needed to extend the runway to 4400 ft.

• Runway extension  

Other non-FAA projects would be updating their master plan, improving the pilot area and office area, asphalt repairs and fuel and security cameras.

Mr. Gyllstrom then said that with the first quarter profit and loss computed, they are down about $7,000.  Mr. Blamer said they do accounting on a cash basis.

There was again a discussion of when the Commissioners would be able to see the 2026 budget, and Mr. Gyllstrom said they would send it the following week.  Observer Note: At the BOCC meeting on July 1, 2025, this Observer asked Mr. Gorton privately if the Airport Authority budget was received by the Commissioners, and he said that it was.  Mr. Gorton clarified that the normal Airport budget just contains the County share of $25,000.  He said that for larger projects, when there is a County match, the Airport comes before the Commissioners for specific approval.  For more information about the Airport and Airport projects, see Chagrin Valley Times article here.

2:15 to 2:45 PM Engineer, Andrew Haupt

Present were County Engineer Andrew Haupt and Administrator Katie Taylor.

Mr. Gorton said to look at infrastructure and equipment.

Mr. Haupt talked about the tax map and the advances that have been made to make this available.  

Mrs. Brakey asked about expenses and why the amended budget was $75,000 different.  Mr. Goton said their carryover included a large purchase (a scanner) that was approved in 2024 but wasn’t paid until this year so they had a large carryover.

Mr. Spidalieri asked about revenue that should have been coming from the City of Chardon.  Mr. Haupt said he would look into it.

Chester, Bainbridge, and Russell maintain their own roads in the winter (which works out better) and the County reimburses them.

Mr. Haupt said that listed under Capital Improvement is the salt dome which they will be starting any day.

Mr. Haupt said that In  Road and Bridge  there are several projects planned, such as resurfacing for Bainbridge Road (partial), Bass Lake Road, and Thwing Road (partial).  Other work will include the Basquin Road bridge and a culvert on Fowlers Mills Road.

There was a question about a high salary paid to a retired/rehired employee which amounted to the equivalent of $160,000/year.  Mr. Haupt said that this individual is part time and that he would not be working past September.  His job is to help a new employee get acclimated.

A question was asked about the use of Company 119 for recruiting.  Mr. Haupt said their ads have been very successful in attracting new employees.  They are not quite fully staffed but doing better at 46 employees.  They need at least five more.

2:50 to 3:05 PM Ohio State University Extension Office, Erik Draper

Present were Ohio State University (OSU) Assistant Professor Erik Draper and Educator Alisha Faudie.

Mr. Draper discussed the work of the outreach extension arm of OSU. 

Their budget is less than $300,000 for five people.  The county pays 40%.

Mr. Draper said that they provide services that no one else provides for plant and tree management.  

Ms. Faudie provides youth development programs to 931 individuals, using 123 volunteers.  They conduct non-traditional 4H programs and school enrichment programs.  

Mr. Draper said that they are very pleased with the new Patterson Building.

Mr. Gorton said that their budget showed a modest increase.

Mr. Draper also mentioned that they coordinate the Master Gardener program.

There were no other questions.

3:10 to 3:40 PM Coroner, Dr. John Urbancic 

Present was Coroner Dr. John Urbancic.

Dr. Urbancic said that their numbers are stable with about 300 cases per year.  He said they are required by law to conduct autopsies for suicides and homicides, but that they rarely have homicides (one in the last seven years).

Dr. Urbancic said he looked at the salaries paid in other counties and recommended a 6% increase in salaries paid to part-time doctors as well as the administrator.  The doctors take a 12- hour shift one night a week and cover for Dr. Urbancic when he is on vacation.  Mr. Spidalieri recommended a 10% increase.

The vehicle they use was discussed as it is 3 years old. Dr. Urbancic said it is running well and only has 12,000 miles. He said they are happy with their location in the Sheriff’s building.

There was a brief discussion of a change that could take effect if the Ohio Budget bill passes without changes, as there is a provision in the budget bill to make the coroner position an appointed one (by County Commissioners) and not an elected position.  Dr. Urbancic said that, although he would appreciate not having to be involved in an election, he feels it is better policy to have this as an elected position since the coroner is then free to do what he/she thinks is best for the people of the county.  Dr. Urbancic alluded to the fact that the Coroner actually takes the place of a Commissioner if there are two vacancies. Observer Note: See ORC 305.03 D for more information.

Thursday, May 8th

Present were Commissioners Brakey and Spidalieri, Acting County Assistant Administrator Linda Burhenne, Budget and Finance Manager Adrian Gorton and Senior Financial Specialist Deborah Ashburn. Commissioner Dvorak was absent.

8:35 AM to 9:20 AM Sheriff, Scott Hildenbrand

The Sheriff’s Budget Hearing was called to order at 8:35 am. Present were Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand and Chief Deputy Tom Rowan. 

Sheriff Hildenbrand began by noting his office’s good working relationship with the Commissioners and said that they always give back any unneeded funding to the Commissioners. He found it problematic to try to forecast next year’s budget in May with so many unknowns so far out. The Sheriff said that overall the budget has gone up, though there are no raises factored into the budget. He noted that they will be negotiating a new contract with the union, and it is their standard practice to not anticipate what the raises might be in the budget. He also said that they may hire a labor attorney to assist with the contract negotiations and cleaning up the contract language.

Reviewer Note: The collective bargaining agreement with the Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association that expires on December 31, 2025 can be found here.

Sheriff Hildenbrand said one of the reasons that his budget was up was because it is going to cost them an extra $40,000 to get the correct version of Microsoft 365. He also noted that their need for cloud storage continues to increase as they add more footage from body cameras and cruiser cameras. He said they recently got a grant for more body cameras and stated that they have become necessary for liability purposes. The Sheriff said 800 megahertz communication equipment needed to be upgraded, and the move to “next gen” 911 required new equipment as well. He said that the public is able to text 911 now. 

Another reason for the increased budget is that the Sheriff’s Office is planning to add four new deputies (one per shift) in 2026 due to the increase in calls received. They are also requesting six new Tahoes and decals and other equipment for a total of eight vehicles so that they can outfit those Tahoes as well as two other vehicles that they already have. Commissioner Brakey asked if they had ever looked at a fleet management program for their vehicles; Chief Deputy Rowan said that they have but it is not cost effective. Mr. Gorton asked about the mobile command unit; Sheriff Hildenbrand said it was getting older but was still in pretty good shape, noting that they were able to replace the radio equipment recently due to a grant. Sheriff Hildenbrand said they were uncertain about what to expect regarding the new courthouse addition, but the budget anticipates having two deputies there all the time.

Mr. Gorton noted that payroll expenses were diverted to ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funding in 2024, which explains the Sheriff’s decreased expenses that year. Commissioner Brakey asked about the budget increase in 2023. Chief Deputy Rowan said that was the first year of a new union contract, which Sheriff Hildenbrand said included 5% raises. Mr. Gorton added that inflation was also a factor in 2023, along with several vehicles coming in at the same time that year. 

Sheriff Hildenbrand stated that in the last 20 years his office has brought in over $22 million in revenue from housing outside inmates, including those from surrounding counties (Cuyahoga and Ashtabula) and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). Mr. Gorton said that they already have brought in almost $1 million for housing outside inmates in 2025. Sheriff Hildenbrand noted that the county jail has never been filled to capacity. Mr. Gorton said they are in the middle of upgrading inmate lockers and may get extra appropriations from the Commissioners for the locker upgrade.  

Chief Deputy Rowan said that they needed to establish funding for unanticipated K9 related expenses. He explained that one of the K9s recently had to have emergency surgery that cost about $8,500, and they want to be better prepared for issues like this in the future. He said they are hoping to have about $25,000 set aside for this purpose. 

Commissioner Brakey asked about how the County sales tax worked as far as funding for the Sheriff’s Office. Mr. Gorton explained that originally some of the County sales tax was set aside to modernize and fund 911 and 800 megahertz communications. Sheriff Hildenbrand added that after five years of that it was no longer specifically earmarked but rather it went into the general fund to create more flexibility in what the tax money could be used for. Mrs. Brakey also inquired about what the “other revenue” listed in the budget was. The Sheriff explained that this money was from a charge assessed by the state on cell phone bills that is given to the counties to maintain 911 services. 

Mrs. Brakey asked about the lack of overtime pay in the Sheriff’s budget. Sheriff Hildenbrand said that they have always been able to absorb overtime costs. Mr. Gorton asked about upcoming retirements. Sheriff Hildenbrand said about 15 people are eligible to retire but they don’t know when they will, other than one person who is planning to retire in September. Mr. Gorton inquired about how recruitment was going. Sheriff Hildenbrand said it was going well, with competitive pay and good equipment to offer resulting in people coming to them from other law enforcement agencies seeking employment. 

Commissioner Brakey asked what the biggest issue facing the Sheriff’s Office was right now. Sheriff Hildenbrand said mental health and addiction issues were the biggest problems both in the jail and on the street. He did note that the county has had no overdose deaths in 2025 so far. 

Recent protests at the jail were discussed briefly. Observer Note: Information about one such protest is available in this April 12, 2025 Geauga Maple Leaf article. Chief Deputy Rowan said they were fine with the protests and supported the first amendment right to do so as long as operations were not interfered with. Sheriff Hildenbrand explained that they have a designated area for the protestors to avoid problems. 

Ms. Burhenne asked about recent public records requests received by the Sheriff’s Office. Chief Deputy Rowan said the Prosecutor’s Office is helping them with that and they will release what they can after the Prosecutor’s Office reviews the requests. Sheriff Hildenbrand noted that they cannot release ICE records. Observer Note: The ACLU is currently suing the Geauga Sheriff’s Office to release its contract for ICE detainees. More information is available here. The Sheriff said that the county has been providing housing for ICE inmates for 20 years and only now is it a “big deal.” He expressed the opinion that one of the biggest problems with providing ICE housing is the “burdensome” required facility inspections multiple times a year, and he said he thought that the current presidential administration might eliminate these inspections, noting that the county jail already is inspected by the state. 

The Sheriff’s Budget Hearing was adjourned at 9:23 am.

9:25 to 9:55 AM Building Department, Dan Spada

The Building Department’s Budget Hearing was called to order at 9:24 am. Present were Building Department
Director Dan Spada and Permit Supervisor Doreen Eppich. 

Mr. Gorton stated that the Building Department’s expenditures have been on a downward trend but noted that they would likely start increasing. Mr. Spada agreed that this was the case because now they are back to full staffing, which he noted has made the department’s workload more manageable. He did observe that somehow
his own salary had been left out of the original salary numbers in the budget, so he added that back in. 

Mr. Spada noted equipment expenses included some “testers,” iPads and laptops. He noted that the app that they need stopped working on their existing iPads, and they are working with IT to find a solution. No new vehicles are needed this year, though Mr. Spada noted vehicle repair costs are up. Other expenses include personnel expenses, contract services, materials/supplies, fuel, training/travel, and professional organization memberships. Mr. Spada noted that the cost of Microsoft 365 has increased greatly.

Mr. Spada said that the Building Department’s revenue is “always a complete guess” and noted that last year was the department’s first time bringing in over $1 million. He indicated that building levels have decreased from the heights of a few years ago. He said that it is time for the department to adjust building permit fees, as they usually do this every three years and it has been four years since the last adjustment. The department will look at the fees of surrounding counties as well as how much the inspections actually cost in determining the new fee structure, which Mr. Spada said would likely be ready for the Commissioners to approve in about two months. He stressed that they wanted the fees to be fair and not to be so high as to “scare people away.” Mr. Gorton asked about the current inspection failure rate. Mr. Spada said that there were fewer failures now compared to a few years ago when a lot of new/inexperienced tradesmen started working in the building industry right after COVID. He also noted that the Insurance Services Organization (ISO) audits the department’s inspections and requires the failure rate to be 7% or more. 

Commissioner Brakey suggested adjusting the fee structure more often than every four years. Mr. Spada said that they have been very busy the last few years which has delayed the adjustment. Mr. Gorton noted that historically the Building Department hasn’t instituted large increases when fees have been adjusted in the past. Mr. Spada again noted that they try to keep the fees fair and that they don’t generally hear cost complaints. Mr. Gorton asked how the department’s space in the County Office Building is working out. Mr. Spada said it is working well.

The Building Department’s Budget Hearing was adjourned at 9:58 am.

10:00 to 10:30 AM Water Resources, Nick Gorris

Water Resources’ Budget Hearing was called to order at 10:00 am. Present were Director Nick Gorris and Fiscal & Personnel Specialist Kathleen Miller. 

Mr. Gorris said that Water Resources’ total 2026 budget was $9.4 million. He stated that the department currently has 38 staff members and that they could have 56 based on their organizational chart; they are budgeting for having 43 personnel in anticipation of making some needed hires, including a sanitary engineer, a fiscal specialist, maintenance workers, and a design engineer. Mr. Gorris said that they have modified their personnel schedule to include scheduled overtime. He noted that the McFarland Plant operates 24/7 and that the water plants require testing daily, including weekends.

Mr. Gorris said that they were planning to replace two operator vehicles, numerous copy machines at several different sites, and some computers. He noted that they are working to get on a five-year replacement cycle for their computers. He also said that they are planning to replace two vehicles each year since they get so many miles driving around to the County’s 27 wastewater treatment plants and 5 water treatment plants. Mr. Gorris said that the department would be spending $10-15 million in 2026 on the McFarland Plant improvement project, and he hopes that it will be operational by October 2026. It was noted that construction on this project is currently ongoing and that the recent EPA inspection went well. Mr. Gorris stated that the annual debt service payment on the $28 million loan for the McFarland project will be $1.4 million. 

Mr. Gorris indicated that they are hoping to create a bulk fill water station that could be used by firefighting agencies to fill trucks and hydrants; this would create an additional revenue stream for the department. Other department expenses include service contracts and as-needed general professional engineering services. 

Mr. Gorris said the new housing units being built in the Canyon Lakes subdivision in Bainbridge have created many new accounts for the department, but he anticipates that this growth will stave off in the next year or so. He said that they are getting more inquiries about water/sewer services from County residents, though the high cost of establishing service can be off-putting. Based on the anticipated plateau in new accounts and other factors, Mr. Gorris estimates that there may need to be a rate increase for water/sewer customers in 2027. He noted that the last water rate increase was in 2020, and the last sewer increase was in 2023. Mr. Gorton and Mr. Gorris both expressed a preference for introducing any rate increases incrementally. 

Mr. Gorton asked about discounts for low users. Mr. Gorris said that they were reviewing that and also they are working on a small discount program for seniors using a $3,000 grant they received. He indicated that they are considering giving Bainbridge residents a small credit if they can prove via photos that their sump pump leads to a pipe that sends its clean water outside rather than being sent back into the water system to be treated unnecessarily.    

Mr. Gorris noted that union contracts are up for negotiation this year. Mrs. Brakey asked how many of Water Resources’ employees are in the union. Mr. Gorris replied that 24 of the 38 employees were in the union. 

Reviewer Note: Employees of the Geauga County Water Resources are members of the Communication Workers of America, Local 4340. See here for information.

Water Resources’ Budget Hearing was adjourned at 10:34 am.

10:35 to 11:05 AM Maintenance Department, Glen Vernick

The Maintenance Department’s Budget Hearing was called to order at 10:35 am. Present were Director Glen Vernick and Fiscal Assistant Suzanne Sotkovsky. 

Mr. Vernick stated that the Maintenance Department takes care of approximately 45 buildings throughout Geauga County as well as two parks that are run by the Park District but located on County-owned land. Commissioner Brakey expressed surprise that the County owns park land, and Mr. Vernick went on to say that the County does own quite a bit of land.  

Mr. Vernick talked about a lot of different maintenance work done by his department around the County. At the Annex, they replaced coils for the heater and air conditioning units. He said that the elevator in the County Home is now up and running. Mr. Vernick said his department has taken care of all the downed trees caused by storms at the Dog Shelter, and they also replaced the gutters there. He stated that they have the fire system up and running at the County Office Building and will test it twice a year. He said that they have replaced rusted pipes in the basement at Next Step, repaired the ice machine at the Safety Center, replaced some windows at the GIS office, and replaced garage doors at both 470 Center Street and the West Geauga Senior Center. Mr. Vernick mentioned helping the Board of Elections by providing box trucks and assistance to move voting equipment for the May 6 election. He said that the department helped the gas company deal with a gas line leak near the Safety Center the week before. 

Mr. Vernick said that Maintenance was able to hire a project coordinator and a contract coordinator this year, and this has been very helpful. He said they are still down four maintenance workers and need another contract coordinator as well. Commissioner Brakey suggested trying a recruiting service to find new employees. Mr. Gorton asked if they were getting summer help, and Mr. Vernick said that they were not. Mr. Vernick said that things were going well in the cleaning department, noting that he had heard “nothing but praise” for their work in the last few months. 

Mr. Vernick said that the utilities were a bit high at the County Office Building and that it would probably take 3-4 years to learn what was best for this new building.  

Mr. Gorton requested that they go through the requested equipment list for 2026, which included new computers, a cherry picker, and a Ford F350 truck with snowplow. The new cherry picker and truck  will replace others that are quite old. It was noted that the current cherry picker and truck these new vehicles will replace are both quite old. 

Mrs. Brakey observed that raises were not factored into the Maintenance Department budget. Mr. Vernick confirmed this. Mr. Gorton said this (2025) is the last year covered by the planned raises approved by the Commissioners, and Mrs. Brakey stated that they will need to start thinking ahead about the plan for raises going forward. Mrs. Burhenne suggested waiting to do this until all the union contract negotiations are finished. Mr. Vernick said that he would like to provide step increases to long-time employees, and Mrs. Brakey said she liked the idea of merit raises for maintenance employees to improve retention of the most valuable employees. Mr. Vernick noted that having an electrician in the department has worked out very well, and he would like to bring an HVAC technician on board as well. He stated that the department is working with ADP to create an automated system to monitor the temperature in the Courthouse and Annex remotely rather than having to send workers to each location to check for problems. Mr. Vernick also said that they are working with ADP to improve the work order system.

The Maintenance Department’s Budget Hearing was adjourned at 11:12 am.

11:10 to 11:40 AM Community and Economic Development, Gina Hofstetter

Community and Economic Development’s Budget Hearing was called to order at 11:13 am. Present was Community and Economic Development Director Gina Hofstetter. 

Mr. Gorton said there was decreasing interest and principal revenue from revolving loans because there are no new loans and people are paying off existing loans. He noted that Community and Economic Development has budgeted a decrease in federal grants and an increase in payroll due to some promotions. Ms. Hofstetter expressed the opinion that her department is able to do a lot with very little, especially considering that they currently have a staff member out on extended leave. She said that there was still interest in the community in revolving loans, but there have been problems on the lending side, such as high interest rates. She explained that she has challenged some potential loan applicants who are too high-risk lending-wise to go back to the drawing board and seek out expert advice. Ms. Hofstetter said they are currently holding nine loans, with two of them being local revolving loans that her department is managing, and she said that the current outstanding debt amount is about $453,000. She explained that she is working very hard to market the revolving loan program, though perhaps they could do more outreach to lenders.

Mr. Gorton observed that nothing was budgeted for 2026 from the Ohio Demolition and Site Revitalization Program. Ms. Hofstetter said that funding was still uncertain so she couldn’t budget for it, but she did estimate that if the program is done again they would be likely to receive $500,000. She stated that grants are getting harder for her department to manage internally because the legal support they need to do it is “just not there.” She went on to say that “it’s almost getting to be, this is no longer even making sense to take these funds and use them. I cannot get the legal support I need. I mean we are literally dead in the water right now on two of our grants, hugely.” Mrs. Brakey asked her if the issues were with the Prosecutor’s Office, and Ms. Hofstetter confirmed that they were. Ms. Hofstetter clarified that it wasn’t that the Prosecutor’s Office doesn’t know what they are doing, but rather there are responsiveness issues at times and also her department gets stuck in the middle between the County and State legal departments when they disagree. Mrs. Brakey asked if Ms. Hofstetter had a solution to the problem, and Ms. Hofstetter said she would like to bring in a third party with the skillset to handle the work required for grants. Mrs. Brakey asked if this meant outside legal counsel to manage grant opportunities for County businesses, and Ms. Hofstetter confirmed that it did. Ms. Hofstetter also said her department could use two more staff people to handle its workload more effectively, as they used to be a department of five and are currently down to two staff members.

Ms. Hofstetter said that she is especially passionate about bringing tourism into Geauga County. She said that the agency currently running tourism in the County (Destination Geauga) is struggling with diminishing funding, which will make it very difficult for them to hire a new Executive Director. She said that there currently are people working to create a new organization to support tourism in the County. Ms. Hofstetter said they have been looking into the legalities as to whether or not this new organization can be brought under the Commissioners’ umbrella, and she said that the answer is yes as long as it is all put in writing. She stressed how important tourism is for bringing money into the County and said she felt not enough effort has been made in this area. Mrs. Brakey asked if the Geauga Amish population wanted tourism, and Ms. Hofstetter said that they definitely did. Mrs. Brakey inquired if Ms. Hofstetter thought that tourism could be better run as a county department compared to a private enterprise, and Ms. Hofstetter said “absolutely.” Mrs. Brakey asked if the submitted budget reflects the additional staff that Community and Economic Development wants to hire; Ms. Hofstetter said it doesn’t. Mrs. Brakey pointed out that they will need additional staff if Community and Economic Development does end up taking on tourism.

Community and Economic Development’s Budget Hearing was adjourned at 11:40 am.

May 8, 2025 - Afternoon session

Present were Acting County Assistant Administrator Linda Burhenne, Budget and Finance Manager Adrian Gorton and Senior Financial Specialist Deborah Ashburn. Commissioner Brakey was present for the entire afternoon.  Commissioner Spidalieri was 5 minutes late and Commissioner Dvorak arrived at about 1:29 pm.

12:30 to 1:15 PM Job and Family Services (JFS), Craig Swenson

Present were Executive Director Craig Swenson, Assistant Director Paul Reiman, and Financial Administrator Alyssa Steinhoff.

Mr. Swenson acknowledged that the JFS budget was complicated because they have multiple programs and funding sources.  They did have six different funds, but now they have five.  He said they receive the most federal funds of any department/agency in the county.  The fund that is being discontinued is for HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Project), which provided funds for low income families.  It is being discontinued.  Mr. Swenson said that there were two people who worked in this program: one has already retired and one will retire once the grant is closed up.  

• Children’s  Services - Mr. Swenson said that they have been significantly supported by two levies as the State typically underfunds their work.  On May 6, 2025 voters approved the renewal of their 0.5 mill levy with 70% approval. They receive a total of 3.6 mills annually for their levies and a little over $1 million from the State which supports different staff salaries.

Mr. Swenson discussed the Geauga Youth Center, which is in the beginning stages.  This project location has changed (due to site considerations) and changed from electric to gas.  Mrs. Brakey asked about some of the cost figures, and Mr. Swenson said because this was a certified facility there were numerous requirements as to construction materials and furniture.  He confirmed that the furniture was included in the total expense figures. 

Mr. Swenson said that staff retention has been solid and he attributed that to the raises staff received last year.

He discussed the Medicaid work requirement that has been discussed in connection with the Federal budget and also that under the Governor’s budget the Medicaid expansion will be discontinued if the Federal government cuts funds going to the State for this part of Medicaid.

  

The following funds/programs were also discussed:

• Public Assistance, Medicaid and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly food stamps) - Mr. Swenson said that in the past they have been able to “trade funds” with other counties that were not using their full allocation, but that this might change.  There were no new funds allocated when the Medicaid expansion was approved.  He acknowledged that there is a lot of uncertainty in these programs.

• Child Support - The funding remains steady but flat, but caseloads have continued to diminish which Mr. Swenson said is because there used to be a requirement for a child support order when a family went on Medicaid, but that requirement was removed.  He said that there will be several retirements in this program over the next couple years and they might end up not filling some positions.

• Workforce - According to Mr. Swenson, this funding has been decimated in Geauga County having gone from $331,432 to $132,196 in the span of one year.  One of the employees in this sector resigned and another is retiring.  In the past they have sponsored job fairs, worker trainings and other programs, but these might have to be curtailed. He said they would like to “keep the lights on” in the career center.

Levy Funding - Mr. Swenson said that the 0.7 mill qualified levy was passed in Fall of 2020 so they could put it on the ballot for this fall or at the latest fall of 2026.  

County Cost Allocation - Mr. Gorton said it was a Federal requirement that they have a cost allocation for their use of the space in the building, which is significant.  In the past, their cost allocation for their old location was $246,050 a year; now in the new building they are paying $513,432 a year.  Mr. Swenson said that he doesn’t see how this can be sustained.  Mr. Swenson said he would like to look at this as they have to pay a proportion of salaries for Maintenance, Auditor and Treasurer, and these costs have gone up.  Mr. Spidalieri talked about the high cost of salaries in these departments.

Mrs. Brakey asked about the teen pregnancy prevention program.  Mr. Swenson said this was a TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) program.  They work with the Educational Service Center of the Western Reserve for programs presented in schools  They also contract with them for programs on cyber bullying.

Hearing ended at 1:21 pm.

1:20 to 1:35 PM Law Library, Krystal Thompson

Present was Krystal Thompson.  Ms. Thompson said there was a slight overall increase.  Funding comes from fines and fees in municipal court.  Commissioner Dvorak arrived during this budget hearing.

In 2026 their contract with Westlaw is up for renewal.

She said that her salary is based on working 30 hours per week as she did not take a full salary.

Currently they are housed at 470 Center St but will be moving back into the courthouse after the renovation is complete.

There was a discussion about print versus digital resources, and Ms. Thompson said that there are those in the law profession who prefer print versions of Ohio Revised Code.  She also acknowledged that people using the law library like to have a person there to assist them.

She said they do not need computers as they already were replaced recently and that they saved money by moving to the County network.

There were no additional comments.

Hearing ended at 1:33 pm.

1:40 to 2:10 PM Emergency Services, Roger Peterson

Present was Roger Peterson, Director and (Michael) Austin Rice, Deputy Director

Mr. Peterson reviewed the revenue they receive from the State of Ohio.  They are hoping for $27,000 from the
state.

In 2026 software expenses will increase due to Adobe and Microsoft 360.  They have a shared drive which cannot be updated so they will be looking at that.  It has been suggested that they should move  to the cloud, but Mr. Peterson is reluctant to go to a cloud based system because if the internet goes down they have no access.

Their medical/hospitalization costs have increased.  They are replacing a small pickup but they won’t need anything in 2026.

He said that the training for Perry Nuclear Plant is wrapping up.

Their generator is being replaced.

Mr. Gorton asked about their copier, and Mr. Peterson said that it doesn’t need to be replaced as of now.

If the current secretary retires, Mr. Peterson said they might share a secretary with another department.

Mrs. Brakey asked about decreases in salaries, and Mr. Peterson said that last year they only spent 75% of what they had estimated.  

Mr. Gorton said that their cash carryover was $70,000-80,000 and Mr. Peterson said he would like it to be $100,000.

There were no other questions.

Hearing concluded at 1:59 pm.

2:15 to 2:45 PM Dog Warden, Matt Granito

Present was Dog Warden Matt Granito.

Mr. Granito thanked the Commissioners and Ms. Burhenne for helping to make needed changes.

He said that going forward they are going to focus more on law enforcement, and they have purchased vests.  He said there have been more dog citations this year and talked about a pit bull attack that week.  He said they have answered every call from the Sheriff’s Office and the public.

Mr. Granito discussed the fact that many dog owners do not purchase dog licenses.  He feels that there could be 5,000 dogs without tags as only 9,300 have been issued for the County.

He said he needs another staff person, especially someone to help with clerical tasks.

Mr. Granito said that they were short on last year’s budget and would have been short by $60,000 but they received a $150,000 bequest. He acknowledged that this is not a sustainable way to operate.

Mr. Granito said that the average cost of a dog license in Ohio is $17, but Geauga charges $15.  Lake and Cuyahoga both charge $20.  He thought the license fee should be raised and that they should then try to get all dogs registered.

He said that at the shelter they have to take cash because of so many bounced checks.  

They have installed a camera to catch individuals dropping off their pets.

Mrs. Brakey said that a modest increase in fees seems to be in order.

There was a review of adoption fees, which are $200 for a puppy, but the spay/neuter costs $150 and is included in the adoption fee.  They are still taking dogs from other counties, but fewer this year.

Hearing ended at 2:49 pm.

2:50 to 3:20 PM Planning Commission, Linda Crombie

Present was Director Linda Crombie.

Ms. Crombie said that they didn’t have a big budget and that they like to keep it lean.

Total budget in 2025 was $248,000 and in 2026 is $254,000.

Salaries have increased to reflect raises and they now have an intern who is working on special projects.

She said they don’t feel the need to hire additional staff right now, but maybe in 2027 they would like to add another full time planner.  

They are currently working on a Farmland Preservation project and they have had good participation in the Farmland Preservation Task Force.

She also mentioned that membership dues and Microsoft licensing fees have gone up.

They have made an effort to reduce use of the copier, supplies, travel and training.

Ms. Crombie said that it has probably been 10 years since their fees have gone up, and there is now no fee for lot consolidations or lot splits plus consolidations.  She said that Lake County does charge $100 for consolidations. 
She said she felt they are behind on their fee structure.

Mr. Gorton asked about their space needs. Ms. Crombie said she wished they had a bigger space for their intern/staff member but that they are making it work for now.

Hearing concluded at 3:01 pm

3:25 to 3:55 PM Clerk of Courts, Sheila Bevington

Present was Clerk of Courts Sheila Bevington.

Ms. Bevington reported an increase of fees of $35,000.

Ms. Bevington said there was an increase in payroll of about 6% because they hired two new employees at a higher rate.  She said they are not at full staff, and they had to increase the pay rate to $19/hour.  They have switched to merit based increases.  She reported they are still low compared to Lake County but turnover is now good.  She also said hospitalization costs went up.  She said there was a decrease in credit card bank fees.

Ms. Bevington said they received $80,000 from the Attorney General in the past but that it will be $42,000 this year.

Mr. Spidalieri advocated using a bonus system to reward good performance rather than raising salaries which are then at the higher level.  He also commended Ms. Bevington as “the only one to give money back.”  Observer Note:  This is a reference to a situation where payroll was taken out of an ARPA account, but the Commissioners only intended that payroll be taken out of the ARPA account for funds normally coming out of the General Fund.  See October 10, 2024 County Commissioners' LWVG Observer report for details.

Mr. Dvorak asked about the new drive through service at the new county office building and Ms. Bevington said it wasn’t used that much for those who are disabled.  There was a discussion about how to advertise this feature, and it was suggested that perhaps it could be advertised at senior centers and libraries.

It was noted that watercraft registrations have gone up from 44 last year to 87 this year.

Tuesday, May 13th

Attendance: Present for this hearing were Commissioners James Dvorak and Carolyn Brakey. Commissioner Ralph Spidalieri was absent. Also present were Acting County Assistant Administrator Linda Burhenne, Budget and Finance Manager Adrian Gorton and Senior Financial Specialist Deborah Ashburn.

12:30 pm to 12:58 pm Board of Elections (BOE), Michelle Lane

The Board of Elections Budget Hearing was called to order at 12:30 pm. Present were BOE Director Michele Lane, BOE Deputy Director Nora McGinnis, and BOE Board Members Janet Carson and Richard Piraino.  

Mrs. Lane stated their proposed 2025 budget did not include the 10% spending cuts the BOCC requested, explaining the BOE won’t know their budget needs until their relocation to the new County Office building. She listed several expected move-related expenses, including reprinting a “voluminous amount” of materials with the new address, new office furniture and files, public advertisements of the move, new signage, and security system and camera updates. Mrs. Lane also said that mileage expenses will be higher for the twice-daily trip to their new post office which is farther away than their current post office. She stated they anticipate having to split four precincts whose voter rolls exceed state mandated numbers. She said the resulting four new locations will require new voting equipment and additional poll workers.

There was discussion about the purchase of a power stacker lift and new vehicle, neither of which is included in the budget. Mr. Gorton expressed support for the proposed equipment and vehicle needs, pending appropriate appropriation adjustments. Mrs. Carson said a minivan would be more functional than the current SUV (a Ford Escape) on loan to them. She and Mrs. Lane noted that a minivan is preferred for easier loading/unloading and could support emergency equipment delivery on election days. Mrs. Carson said a minivan would also be useful for staff and board member transport to meetings and state-mandated training sessions.

The move to the new location was discussed. Mrs. Lane said the elevator security camera installation, required by the state, is scheduled for June and they have a tentative July 5 move date scheduled. Mr. Dvorak asked about move expenses and was told that costs are already budgeted under the building fund and are expected to remain within the projected range. Mrs. Lane said they expect costs in the “5-figure range.”

There was discussion about voter access and parking availability at the new building. Mr. Gorton said there are plans to expand the parking lot at the southwest corner of the building by approximately 50 new spaces which may also include a driver’s test course. Election officials raised concerns about any shared use with driver training during peak early voting periods. BOE representatives also expressed hope for dedicated parking spots for early voters and the possibility of converting the basement equipment storage room into an early voting space to accommodate increased turnout and reduce strain on current space. Mrs. Carson emphasized early and absentee voting continues to rise (800-1,000 daily voters for a presidential election), with more voters choosing early in-person voting than Election Day voting in recent election cycles. Commissioners agreed to coordinate with elections staff prior to elections for optimal setup and execution.

The Board of Elections Budget Hearing was adjourned at 12:58 pm.

1:08 to 1:36 pm County Prosecutor, Jim Flaiz

The County Prosecutor’s Budget Hearing was called to order at 1:08 pm. Present were County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz and Fiscal Coordinator Samantha Harris.

Mr. Flaiz said their budget remains relatively flat, with minor adjustments based on operational needs and strategic streamlining. He noted they got a supplemental appropriation jump when they took over municipal court cases to pay for such equipment as computers and printers. Mr. Gorton stated they had set up a fund for municipal prosecutions which Mr. Flaiz said they plan to build up to their goal of $50,000.

Among other highlights:

• Eliminated line items for unemployment & Workers’ Compensation: These funds are rarely used, and any claims have historically been handled outside the Prosecutor’s budget. Mr. Flaiz noted they had only one worker’s compensation claim in his 14 years in office.

• Reduced travel from $3,000 to $2,000 based on recent usage trends.

• Increased contract services from $18,000 to $30,000. $13,800 is allocated for 32 Microsoft 365 licenses.

• Additional funds are allocated to long overdue infrastructure projects, including fiber network upgrades and replacement of a critical internal switch/server for document storage and secure access.

• A proposed 3% raise for staff salaries which Mr. Flaiz believes are in line with inflation and general market trends.

• A request to convert a part-time municipal court position to a full-time employee to address growing municipal court workloads and overall case volume. 

There was discussion about the possible need to hire an additional attorney to help with the civil division workload. Mrs. Brakey noted that demand for civil legal services has increased significantly due to heightened litigation, zoning issues, and public records requests. Mr. Flaiz said he was considering it.

• Mr. Flaiz commented that compared to nearby counties (e.g., Lake County) his office handles more civil work despite limited staff. They are considering reevaluating service levels provided to townships, many of which receive legal services at no cost but choose to hire external counsel for additional support.

• Also discussed were economies of scale and whether expanding staff could improve service delivery and reduce inefficiencies long-term.

Mr. Gorton asked about the status of their office remodel. Mr. Flaiz said they had just received the architect’s agreement and expect to have updated cost estimates to present to the BOCC in the next 30 days. He stated the remodel will reconfigure current spaces and give them two additional offices.

The County Prosecutor’s Budget Hearing was adjourned at 1:36 pm.

1:39 pm to 2:02 pm  Geauga County Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services, Christine Lakomiak

The GCBMHRS Budget Hearing was called to order at 1:39 pm. Present were Director Christine Lakomiak and Finance Director Jim Mausser.

Mr. Gorton listed the most notable budget changes:

• $1.26 million overall decrease in revenue from federal grants. 

• Overall decrease in expenses led by a $1.2 million decrease in contract services.

• $750,000 increase in transfers out. 

• Increase in revenue from federal and state grants and rentals. 

• Transitional Living Center (TLC) had a variety of increases led by a $19,000 rise in contract services and $20,000 for repairs. 

• The construction fund had a slight increase in interest income.

• The Capital Reserve Fund had an increase in state revenue and transfers in. 

• $30,000 for Project Contracts, primarily for new bathrooms at WomenSafe. The board expects a matching State grant for this remodeling.

Ms. Lakomiak noted that federally sourced grants no longer flow through the board but go directly to agencies. She said agencies received a little less than $800,000, down from $1.4 million previously, which resulted in contract service reductions. She noted further that some opioid settlement funds are backfilling lost revenue. Ms. Lakomiak said they still do not have their State funding for FY26 which starts July 1, 2025. She said they are currently going through the RFP (Request for Proposals) process and hope to hear from the State in the next weeks and that there are no cuts. 

Discussion with the Commissioners included the following:

• Mrs. Brakey asked if federal grants included an administrative fee. Ms. Lakomiak said though allowed, they never take a fee, instead passing through 100% of funds to agencies.

• Mr. Dvorak emphasized the historical value of over $1 million annually for patients via federal-to-state-to-board grant flow.

• Mr. Dvorak and Mr. Gorton asked which agencies faced cuts and might need opioid fund support.

• Ms. Lakomiak said she hopes to meet soon with the Commissioners to discuss how to address the $800,000 in requests above available funds that are pending board decisions. She cited their medication assisted drug treatment, Lake/Geauga Recovery Center and jail treatment programs as examples of areas in need.

• All parties agreed to schedule a meeting (after May 24) to discuss supplemental funding.

The group discussed the importance of agencies applying first for federal and state grants before coming to the county for funding. 

It was noted that agencies applying for new federal grants will likely know their status by August/September. Ms. Lakomiak pointed out that they apply several years in advance for capital, noting they had asked years ago for Youth Center monies. She said a $1 million grant from the Ohio Department of Health came through this year. 

There was discussion about the expansion of the TLC from 9 beds to 16, the maximum number per state code for residential treatment. 

Observer Note: TLC is permanent supportive housing for persons needing a diversion or transition from a psychiatric hospital or to prevent psychiatric admission. 

Mr. Mausser said that virtually all costs for the TLC are covered by a HUD grant (recently renewed) and a small grant from the State. He also noted that residents pay rent. He said he was concerned about possible federal grant claw backs based on calls he has received urging him to draw down his grant accounts.

Ms. Lakomiak said they have procured a $1 million grant for 2027/28 slated for another apartment building. She said she hopes the funds will be enough to support construction given rising building costs. 

2:17 pm to 2:34 pm Public Defender, Robert Umholtz

Present were Public Defender Robert Umholtz, Office Administrator Victoria Janosik, and Chief Assistant Public Defender Leah Stevenson, and Public Defender Commission Chair Joseph H. Weiss, Jr.

The Public Defenders Budget Hearing was called to order at 2:17 pm.

Mr. Umholtz stated that the Public Defender’s Office operates on a “bare bones” budget with few discretionary expenses due to the nature of operations and reimbursement constraints. He said they are known to be “very, very frugal.” He reminded the Commissioners that their rent is reimbursed at 93% by the state, so any reduction in rent would reduce that reimbursement benefit. He said he hopes the Commissioners approve their budget and would welcome staff salary increases.

Mr. Gorton noted the rent allowance made to offset new building capital charges for maintenance had been included in the budget. 

Mr. Umholtz said the County Commissioners Association (CCA) is working on reimbursement guidelines with a task force of state public defenders, the General Assembly and the Governor which “is always indefinite.”

Mr. Umholtz provided historical context on state reimbursements:

• Originally, the state mandated indigent defense cost reimbursement for counties at 50%. However, actual reimbursement was low, at only 27% in the early 2000s. 

• With State Public Defender Tim Young’s leadership at that time, the State agreed to raise reimbursement to 100%.

• Some larger counties abused this by submitting unrelated costs (e.g., elevators in buildings only partially occupied by public defenders).

• Mr. Umholtz, a member of the State Public Defender Commission, noted that it is difficult for the state public defender to monitor for abuse and advocates for greater state oversight.

• Mr. Umholtz said their submissions for reimbursement are less than anticipated and the reimbursement rate is 83%.

Ms. Janosik commented that their IT costs have increased significantly, citing a rise in Microsoft licensing fees from $1,900 to $3,456 (from a $9,000 account). She said these fees are in the budget under “Other.”

Mr. Gorton noted the current year includes a $15,000 payroll increase, mostly to formalize adjustments made last year (e.g., full-time status changes, hospitalization).

There was a discussion about expense categories. Mrs. Brakey raised questions about costs included in the “Other” account, saying she would like better tracking and transparency. She said she was not especially concerned about the public defender’s “Other” catch-all, but she was uncomfortable when other departments’ “Other” is a “six-figure number.” Ms. Ashburn noted this improved categorization helps manage expectations and avoid surprises. Ms. Janosik agreed and supported the change.

Mr. Gorton said if they’d like to track their IT/software expenses, they could put them in the “Software Services” expense account. He said bar memberships and legal dues, now in “Other,” could be moved to a “Dues, Licenses, and Subscriptions” account.

Mr. Dvorak asked about CCA lobbying to have the state fully take over indigent defense. Mr. Umholtz said there are a couple of task forces looking at the issue with members of the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, CCA, the Attorney General’s Office, and the State Public Defender's office. 

Discussion highlights:

• The task forces are looking into “opt-in/opt-out” models:

  • If a county opts in, Commissioners would no longer need to budget for indigent defense.

  • Some counties resist opting in due to judges not wanting to relinquish control over attorney appointments. Many of these counties do not have public defender offices. Mr. Umholtz referenced issues with “pay-to-play” practices such as in Lorain. Observer Note: Pay to play refers to the system of elected trial court judges appointing private attorneys who donate to their campaigns as counsel for indigent defendants.

Also complicating the decision, Mr. Umholtz said, is finding attorneys with the qualifications (that require continuing legal education training) to represent clients charged with more severe felonies. Conflicts of interest among co-defendants and family members and low hourly pay rates can also make finding people difficult, he said.

Mr. Umholtz mentioned former State Public Defender Tim Young once said Geauga, Lake, and Wayne Counties should be models for the state.

Mr. Weiss expressed pride in the Geauga Public Defender’s Office, saying the public often underestimates the quality of public defenders. He said he reassures those seeking legal help, “You get a real lawyer here.”

Mr. Weiss thanked the Commissioners for their support, noting special appreciation to Mrs. Brakey for her Facebook tribute to Judge Mary Trapp who died recently. 

The Public Defenders Budget Hearing was adjourned at 2:34 pm.

2:49 pm to 3:07 PM Veterans’ Service Commission, Michele Pemberton

Present were Director Michele Pemberton, Veterans' Service Commission President John Riha, and Veterans' Service Commission members Skip Boehnlein and Bill Smith.

The Veterans’ Service Commission Budget Hearing was called to order at 2:49 pm.

Ms. Pemberton said they are requesting a FY26 budget of $718,000.

She noted Geauga County Veterans Services is in the state’s top four for veterans/population and distribution of expenditures.

Mrs. Brakey asked about salary increases outside the 3% raise range. Ms. Pemberton explained the increases were due to changes in employee position status. One staff member was promoted to Service Officer, and another got a salary bump after she’d completed her probationary period.

Mr. Gorton noted that their payroll was up $22,000 from last year. 

Mrs. Brakey asked what expenses are included in “Other,” commenting that $70,000 in that category is a “large number.”

Ms. Pemberton listed paper, files, brochures and materials for their Resource Fair as included in “Other.” She said $20,000-$30,000 of those costs were for flags for graves, county buildings and memorials and that they provide 4-5 large courthouse flags annually at $450 each. She said Maintenance is responsible for replacing worn flags. She noted Veterans Services oversees flag placement for 5,000 veteran graves at All Souls Cemetery, partnering with University Hospitals and Common Pleas Judge Paschke’s New Leaf program. 

Observer Note: The New Leaf Program is a 16–24 month drug court program certified by the Ohio Supreme Court Specialized Docket Section. Participants are supported by a treatment team of professionals assisting in all phases of treatment and recovery.

There was discussion about county flags and their replacement at county locations. Mr. Gorton commented on how the flag retirement container in the county office lobby provided a nice service to the community. Ms. Pemberton said it was handmade by a local veteran.

Ms. Pemberton said after Memorial Day they would start applying for permits for work on the courthouse Veterans’ Memorial and hoped for completion by September. 

There was discussion about Veterans Service office space and the challenge of limited, shared restrooms. No other issues were mentioned.

Mrs. Brakey asked about the relief allowance. Ms. Pemberton explained the fund provides financial assistance for basics like rent, mortgage, food, and fuel. She said there were only 5 applicants this year which reflects a huge shift toward local veterans securing long-term federal benefits rather than relying on short-term relief. She noted last year they processed over 1,300 federal claims and are already at 400 in this first quarter.  

Mr. Riha spoke at length about his experiences as a veteran seeking care and as an advocate for Veterans Services. He praised Ms. Pemberton’s work in developing and implementing their community outreach programs, especially their Resource Fair, now in its second year. He said 98 vets came through the fair last year and they hope to reach 100 this year.

Mr. Smith commented more about the Resource Fair which this year will be on July 30 at Generations Party Center in Chesterland from 3:00 to 6:00 pm. He invited everyone to attend and observe. He also commented about the service their Veterans Food Pantry provides, noting that there is a nine-year waiting list for volunteers.

Mrs. Brakey asked what mental health services are available and how veterans learn about them. Ms. Pemberton said that their office bridges this gap, explaining that anyone who served in the military on active duty is eligible for VA health care. She said those who have a mental health condition can receive free care from the VA. She said they partner with the Vet Center to provide mental health counseling twice a week at their offices for those unable to make it to the VA’s weekday treatment window. She commented that counseling includes mental health, drug, gambling and alcohol treatment. She cited a number of other partnerships with local mental health providers, including Ravenwood and a suicide prevention coordinator so that “no one is forgotten.” (Ms. Pemberton had noted earlier that there had been two veteran suicides this year.) 

The Veterans’ Service Commission Budget Hearing was adjourned at 3:07 pm.

3:10 to 3:24 pm Recorder, Celesta Mullins

The Recorder’s Office Budget Hearing was called to order at 3:10 pm.

Present was Recorder Celesta Mullins.

Ms. Mullins thanked the Commissioners for the new carpet and paint for their offices.

She reported that last year her office collected over $600,000 and recorded almost 11,000 documents.  She said about $335,000 of those monies went to the Ohio Housing Trust Fund, required by law, to support low-income housing in Ohio. She noted that the State is currently discussing giving that money to County Commissioners to decide where to use it. As background, she said the State doubled recorder fees many years ago, with half going to the State and half to county. She pointed out that Geauga County has historically not received its fair share of the funds, paying a disproportionate amount to the fund. She said the Recorders Association feels like the change will happen but will not take an official stand.

Ms. Mullins said she did a wage study for her staff. She explained that she did not replace herself after she took office and has been using those savings to slowly try to adjust staff salaries to make them comparable to other counties. Reviewer Note: Ms. Mullins worked as the Chief Deputy Recorder from 2004 until her election. She said she is getting close to this goal. She noted that the average salaries for Lake and Portage County staff is $20.59/hour and only one Geauga employee makes more than that. She noted other staff make about $1.00 less an hour and is hoping to give them “a bump.” She said she has not budgeted raises but typically gives year-end bonuses that range from $200 to an entire paycheck.

• Other budget highlights include: savings from an individual going off insurance family plan down to an individual plan.

• Their office has received requested new computers but still needs a new printer.

• Later in the meeting, Ms. Mullins noted they would be saving about $1,800 in internet fees when they move from their own server to the county’s at the end of the year.

Ms. Mullins announced that they will have a new recording system next year when their current contract ends. She said their current system is a per document charge which is why the cost of the equipment is based on how busy the economy is. She explained that when the housing market is busy, their office does well. She noted that it has been slow for the past few years. Mrs. Brakey noted the big drop in revenue from over $1 million in 2021 to $562,00 in 2024. 

She said the slowdown in her office has allowed staff to come into compliance with SB 94 that mandates all records from 1980 forward be readied to put online by June 30, 2026. She stated she plans to go live in January 2026.

Observer Note: According to the Ohio Recorders Association, Senate Bill 94, effective October 24, 2024, mandates all county recorders to offer electronic recording options and to make their indexes and images available online. 

She informed the Commissioners about a $5.00 per document preservation surcharge for digitizing documents that they are entitled to charge, noting that 55 out of 88 counties now charge the fee. She explained that the surcharge has been in effect less than a year and that she hasn’t implemented it because the records are not yet online and it wasn’t fair to charge “for a service that wasn’t there.”

She noted the $5.00 fee goes into the general fund. She said the $15-20,000 in copy fees they typically receive annually will be a consideration in the decision about charging the preservation fee. Mr. Gorton noted that, except for Portage, all the counties surrounding Geauga charge the $5.00 fee.

Ms. Mullins said they have a single staff member dedicated to document scanning and that all documents are in the system. She noted they investigated using the county software that digitizes film but found the data could not be integrated into their very specialized system.

She said she is very proud of saving her office $1,856 by using Quill coupons.

After Ms. Mullins noted that her budget has not increased over the years, Mr. Gorton commended her for “not
just being the elected official” but working alongside her people which “says a lot.”

The Recorder’s Office Budget Hearing was adjourned at 3:24 pm.

3:27 pm to 5:09 pm Auditor/Automatic Data Processing (ADP)

Present were Auditor Charles Walder, Chief Deputy Administrator of ADP Frank Antenucci, and Chief Operating Officer Pamela McMahan

The Auditor/ADP Budget Hearing was called to order at 3:27 pm.

Commissioner Dvorak left the meeting at 4:00 pm, and Ms. Ashburn left the meeting at 4:33 pm.

Mr. Walder provided an overview of his department’s budget history, noting that revenues have exceeded expenditures in each year since he became Auditor in 2018. He said revenues remain relatively flat compared to 2024. He stated that revenue is collected largely by conveyance of real property. He explained that because revenue is a percentage of the sale of property, it goes up as property values and sale volume increase as in 2021 and 2024. Monies collected are deposited in the general fund. He said that he wanted “to put that perspective in mind, because I think that's where I've been disconnected from the Commissioners in the past.”

There was a brief discussion about county income from sales taxes and their benefit to county finances.

Mr. Walder noted that ADP’s outside revenue comes from township contract services which can change year to year. By law, the department is not allowed to make money; the goal is to recover as much money as they spend.

Mr. Walder talked about the Real Estate Assessment Fund (REAF), which is an account that performs property reappraisals and is funded by property tax settlement fees. Mr. Walder said he monitors the flow of money into the REAF fund which pays for their sexennial and triennial updates. He stated that because the reappraisals are cyclical, the fund fluctuates. The sexennial, or full reappraisals, cost between $1.3 to $1.4 million, while the triennial ranges between $700,000-$800,000.

Mr. Walder said he runs three independent budgets: REAF, Auditor and ADP, and the first two are “driven by statute.” He noted that he is limited by law in how he can spend REAF funds. He noted that the “entire enterprise is a profit center…making more money than it’s spending.”

He commented they have a compliance officer who monitors how the salaries are billed to his departments on an annual basis. In addition, Mr. Walder said he teams with Ms. McMahan and Mr. Antenucci to determine how and where staff are used and to account for billed time. Billing for employee time is carefully tracked among the departments.

He noted that the “enterprises” are interconnected, sharing resources and personnel. As examples, Mr. Walder said they have Auditor employees who service the ADP market and ADP staff specializing in mapping systems working in REAF. 

Ms. McMahan thanked Mr. Gorton for his assistance in preparing the budget. Highlights included:

• There is an open position in the Auditor’s office. Mr. Walder is waiting to hire until he learns the impact of their new ACH payment system which will be implemented soon. He expects a drastic reduction in the current 27,000 checks they process a year. 

• The Auditor’s department will have an open position due to retirement. Mr. Walder said the individual leaving is integral to the Budget Commission process and will not be easy to replace. They plan to hire someone soon to start training with that individual.

• ADP has new contracts with MCCi Laserfiche ($50,165) and MCCi Managed Cloud ($30,845) that will allow them to take vouchering, purchase orders and vendors off paper lists. They expect this to cut down tremendously on “the mounds of paper” and reduce foot traffic to their office as residents will use the Auditor website instead. Full implementation is expected in 18-24 months.

• Their database, New World, is scheduled to go fully to the cloud in June.

• The Auditor’s department is partnering with vendors on electronic payments. All vendors have been notified and provided banking information. Once the cloud is fully integrated, they will “flip the switch.” 

• REAF needs to replace an aging printer and an aging copier.

• Equipment needs for Real Estate include replacement cameras and Board of Revision (BOR) upgrades and lights and keyboards.

• They will renew the ISSG contract (a cloud software development firm)

• GIS (Geographic Information System) needs cameras, mics and a replacement FDF (forms data format) file

Mr. Gorton noted that checks and electronic payments are big areas of fraud. A recent fraudulent check incident in Geauga County was discussed, which resulted in the eventual recovery of $50,000 in stolen funds. Mr. Antenucci addressed Mr. Dvorak’s query about safeguarding electronic funds, saying that the biggest hurdle is verification of the destination account number. Mr. Walder pointed to a recent Trumbull County case where the Auditor sent settlement checks to a township through a fraudulent exchange. The township had refused to use multi-factor authentication (MFA). A court ruled that though the township had removed all the cybersecurity, the Auditor was still responsible for payment. Mr. Walder said this incident demonstrates why townships need MFAs and high security as they protect everyone at risk.

Mr. Walder told the Commissioners that moving Archives and Records under ADP demonstrated to the townships that they were committed to ADP. He also noted the Board’s general approach to that department has helped townships’ confidence and resulted in improved discussions with them. Mr. Antenucci said they are currently working with Burton and Chardon Townships and have meetings set up with four others.

Ms. Burhenne asked how many people ADP needs to hire. Mr. Walder said that in the technology field there is a minimum requirement of staff. He stated he hopes to use the salaries of upcoming retirements to hire new individuals. Later in the meeting, he pointed out that he is monitoring salary ratios among the predominant entities in the county that have IT personnel: ADP, Court IT (primarily IT workstation work), and IT personnel in the Sheriff’s office. He emphasized that he is concerned that ADP technicians support the highest number of users but are the lowest paid of two other IT groups. He said he is looking at ways to retain his technicians, noting that the Board’s “temperament change” toward ADP “has gone a long way to help that.” He said if he doesn’t have to replace the open position, he would like to use those funds for raises to make salaries more competitive with the industry.

Mr. Walder noted that the rising cost of their contract services and needed equipment are outside their control. He pointed to the unanticipated necessity of having to purchase new Microsoft equipment that will run new Windows 11 (with upgraded cybersecurity controls) software.

Mr. Antenucci talked about the initiatives ADP is working on, including:

• Harnessing AI to reduce paperwork for county boards, noting they are in the final stages of approval by the Prosecutor.

• Beta testing Human Resources Information System (HRIS) software that manages and stores employee data and will ultimately streamline HR processes.

• BoardDocs (meetings management software) is in the final stages of approval with the Prosecutor

• They have a contract with BoxCast, a live video streaming service

• Software for the Facilities department

Mr. Walder said the one thing ADP is lacking is an implementation group. Currently, they “pull people out of other areas, which is not effective.” They are still working on a solution to that.

Mr. Gorton and Ms. McMahan returned to discussing the budget. Ms. McMahan said the goal for 2026 is to be budget neutral. 

Mr. Walder stated he has two unfunded mandates, one for Board of Revision (BOR) and one for Real Estate, which require conveyances for both to be electronic by 2026. He said the Engineer’s, Recorder’s and Auditor’s offices have worked together to find a free back-end solution with DocRouter. The contract is now being reviewed by the Prosecutor’s office. Once the software is up and running, Mr. Walder said they will write software for the public side of the system. He pointed to their success with putting the BOR online, allowing residents to go through the complaint process without ever having to come to their office. Mrs. Brakey wondered if they got more operations out of the change. Mr. Walder told her that requests were far lower (about 700) than the anticipated increase, even with the most recent reappraisals. He stated they allowed for a virtual BOR presentation during COVID that never changed and the number keeps growing. 

Mr. Walder reviewed a list of their top vendors for the commissioners to give them a better understanding of the services provided by each. They are:

1.   Tyler Technology – their accounting and budgetary system. Mr. Walder is looking into some third-party products that connect to their New World software and give more robust budgeting. He plans to work with Mr. Gorton on a selection.

2.   Windstream/Spectrum – internet services

3.   MNJ Technologies – hardware server purchasing. Mr. Walder explained that if hardware is dedicated to only one department, that department is asked to pay for it. If the hardware is providing service to a variety of places (e.g.print server or public work station), then ADP covers the cost which is paid out of the general fund.

4.   CDW – software housing

5.   Star 76 – service engine for ADP, providing backup and disaster recovery

6.   Expert IT – for Microsoft 365 deployments

7.   Company 119 – generic file cabinet

8.   SHI International – computer systems and hardware

9.   ZeroEyes – gun detection software

10.  Callas – contract to maintain merakis (WiFi connection transponders)

11.  Untethered Lab – provides “gatekeepers” computer security fobs. Mrs. Brakey asked the annual cost of the gatekeepers. Mr. Antenucci said there was an annual hardware fee. He said their longevity is unpredictable with some lasting six months and others a year and a half. He thanked the Commissioners for their help in moving staff to this MFA feature a few years ago.

Mr. Antenucci provided the ADP budget report. He stated that they are evaluating archive space and are currently negotiating terms with the Prosecutor’s office regarding a complete overhaul to digitization. Mr. Antenucci stated they are trying to find a solution to “the microfilming environment,” as there are fewer vendors who support it. He predicted the archivers would be aggressively updating the infrastructure, moving to full digitization in the next 18 months.

Mr. Walder said they have six ongoing initiatives:

1.   ISSG implementation (a computer-aided mass appraisal system which records a property, its value, asset, grade, condition, and scale). The database was converted a year ago and is now being refined. ISSG connects to Geauga REALink, the property information system.

2.   Archives and Records (discussed above)

3.   BoardDocs (discussed above)

4.   New World system cloud scheduled to go live June 2. Mr. Walder said the user experience will be somewhat different, but it will improve system vulnerability.

5.   Moving GIS (geometric top-level mapping of Geauga properties) to the cloud

6.   HRIS product which is currently being tested in the sheriff’s department. Full implementation is projected over the next 12-18 months.

Mr. Gorton asked about the remodeling work planned. Ms. McMahan said maintenance is scheduled to construct a new conference room in the ADP basement (starting in September) to host board meetings, freeing up the old room for conversion into office space, a second bathroom, and a small kitchen. 

Mr. Walder pointed to staff overcrowding and lack of bathrooms (12 employees share one restroom; others must use shared basement facilities) as reasons for the remodeling.

There was discussion about the funding source for the project. Mr. Walder said he had proposed using REAF funds (Revenue Enhancement Allocation Fund) instead of general or building improvement funds to alleviate pressure on the general fund while appropriately using available REAF monies. Mrs. Brakey agreed REAF may be the more appropriate funding source.

Mr. Walder emphasized the need for upfront planning, expressing frustration with repeated funding requests and last-minute approvals that delay execution. He noted the process is inefficient, unpredictable, and results in underfunding key operations (e.g., IT infrastructure). He said it also gives the public a false impression of actual government spending needs.

Mr. Gorton said that typically they have removed equipment requests to avoid a negative ending balance in the general fund. He reminded Mr. Walder that when the actual cash carryover is determined at the beginning of the year, supplements were provided to the departments for requested equipment.

Mr. Walder said that, “In theory, I totally agree. The first time in my eight years of being here that that's actually happened is this year. Every other year before this year, I've had to come before the board multiple times to sell the same concept.”

There was discussion about possible ways to get around showing the general fund going into the negative. Mr. Walder said he would be willing to discuss potential solutions, but did not want “to do something just because it benefits me.”

There was further discussion about the general fund, the budgeting process and building improvement fund projects. Mr. Walder expressed frustration with the lack of response to his requests for maintenance and repairs at his offices, citing two incidents in which employees were injured due to threadbare carpeting and rotten steps.

Mr. Gorton acknowledged the past problems and said they thought the Auditor’s office and Board were on a “better path now to be able to work together on things a little bit better and be able to provide the resources that you need and just figuring out the best mechanism to get that to you guys as timely as possible.”

The meeting ended with an agreement for Mr. Gorton, Ms. McMahan and Mr. Antenucci to meet to discuss the budget and try to find a solution.

The Auditor/ADP Budget Hearing was adjourned at 5:09 pm.

Thursday, May 29th (Morning and Afternoon)

Observer Note:  The order for these hearings was changed and is reflected in the order below.

Attendance: Present for these hearings were Commissioners James Dvorak, Carolyn Brakey and Ralph Spidalieri. Also present were County Administrator Amy Bevan, Assistant County Administrator Linda Burhenne, Budget and Finance Manager Adrian Gorton, and Senior Financial Specialist Deborah Ashburn.

8:45 AM -9:15 AM Municipal Court, Terri Stupica

Present were Judge Terri Stupica and Victoria L. Dailey, Clerk of Court.

Hearing began at 8:46 am.

Mr. Gorton noted that the budget submitted was the same as the 2025 adopted budget.  Mr. Gorton said that they had suggested a cost reduction of 10% for all budgets, but this was not reflected in the submitted budget.

Ms. Dailey said that most of the money for their budget comes from the city (Chardon), with the County portion being minimal. She said their total budget is $5 million.  

Mrs. Brakey asked about the breakdown of who pays for which parts of the budget. Judge Stupica said the County is required to fund salaries of the judge, bailiff and clerk, but 60% of the Judge’s salary comes from the State and then the 40% is split 60/40 with the City, with the City paying the 60%.  Those other salaries are split 60/40 as well, with the City paying 60%.  Also, the County budgets $22,500 for indigent attorneys when there is a co-defendant and the public defender can’t represent them.  They do get reimbursed by the State.  Judge Stupica said that it fluctuates, but generally the reimbursement rate is nearly 100%.  

Judge Stupica said that they have an acting Judge who is available in cases of conflict.

Ms. Stupica also said that jury trials result when there are state infractions, which are rare. These are paid for initially by the County.  Judge Stupica said that costs are reimbursed by the defendant if they lose. 

There are cost of living raises when the City of Chardon implements cost of living increases.

Judge Stupica said that in 2013 the Commissioners contributed $20,000 for a part-time probation officer.  In 2025 that amount is $23,000.  Judge Stupica said that the need is still there for the probation officer.  She asked the Commissioners to consider contributing more to this position, which is a split position - half probation and half pre-trial monitor.  She thought that the Opiate Fund could fund this position since this position oversees drug screens and coordinates with treatment providers.  She said the City has only a small opiate fund.  Judge Stupica thought it would be possible to use the County Opiate Fund to increase the County’s contribution to $30,000. Mrs. Brakey said she would look into using the Opiate Fund.

Mr. Gorton asked what a fair amount would be for the County to contribute.  Judge Stupica said the base salary for this position is $67,000.  Judge Stupica’s request would be $30,000 from the County.  It was unclear if only the increase or the entire amount would come from the Opiate fund.

Mr. Spidalieri wanted to know, since the City of Chardon no longer has responsibility for prosecutions of County offenses and the County is taking on dispatch duties from the City, how much the City has added to its contribution to the Municipal Court.  He also said that “The City of Chardon is pretty flush.”

Ms. Dailey said that a full-time victim advocate was added by the City of Chardon due to domestic violence situations. 

Ms. Dailey said that prosecutions have always been primarily for County violations.  She said there are three small villages that still pay.  She said the City has carried the burden for a long time, but that it was fair for the County to assume the costs for these prosecutions.  She also mentioned that sometimes Prosecutor Flaiz needs a Special Prosecutor because there is a conflict, and now there is an agreement that the City Prosecutor would fill in if there is a conflict so that would be some savings for the County.

Judge Stupica said license forfeitures in the past resulted in fees to the court, but that has ended. Observer Note:  There was no further explanation of this, but a new law went into effect in January to stop suspension of driver’s licenses for unpaid court fines.  See Columbus Dispatch article here for more information.

Mr. Spidalieri continued to talk about the high salaries in Chardon and expressed the opinion that the City of
Chardon should step up and help the Municipal Court.

The hearing concluded at 9:09 am.

1:00 PM to 1:30 PM Maintenance Projects, Glen Vernick

Present were Director Glen Vernick and Fiscal Assistant Susan Sotkovsky.

Mr. Vernick said that their department is not doing any substantial updating at 470 Center Street but just doing things to keep it functioning. He said they will replace some bricks in a retaining wall, but didn’t want to spend the money for an engineer.  He said that every Tuesday at 1 pm he goes on a walkthrough of the work site for the Courthouse addition in order to anticipate and prevent possible issues down the line.  Right now he knows that the clock tower, which is part of the original courthouse, will need an engineer and repair.  They are also going to be looking at putting in a parking lot at the new property that the County just acquired across the street.

For the Annex they have ordered a generator and a 15-ton chiller which will be for the Auditor for the 1st floor and part of the 2nd floor.  The carpet for the Auditor is scheduled for that week.  Roof and basement drawings are due in June for the Annex. In the Recorder’s area they did a lot already, including replacing carpet and painting. In the GIS (Geographic Information System) area, they are putting in a public counter with a sliding window.

Mr. Vernick said that another big project is the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) automation, which will be on the cloud.  Maintenance will be able to view all systems from all buildings from their desk.

At the Opera House, they need to do point tucking, and they need a quote from ADP on key cards.

Because the Board of Elections is moving to the new county office building, they are looking at a parking lot extension.  To complete this project, they can use some of the dirt that was excavated to build the new county office building which is currently behind the building.

Mrs. Brakey asked if the Board of Elections is on track to move in July 1st.  In response Mr Vernick talked about the sprinkler that is in the server room.  He said this is a big issue and that they might need to get a different type of fire suppression system and remove the current (water based) sprinkler from that room.

Mr. Vernick also said that there is a generator on order for their main cell tower, in coordination with Claridon Township, which is where the main tower is located.

There was a question about who is mowing the grass at the Geauga/Trumbull Recycling Center. Mr. Gorton said there is a cost allocation for this, but Maintenance mows it.

Mr. Vernick said they are in the process of choosing an engineer for the updates to the Dog Shelter.

At the Geauga County Safety Center, Mr. Vernick said they are doing a battery upgrade.  Boiler upgrades are done at the Safety Center, but they need to do a generator upgrade.  Parking lot repairs are needed and underway, a new camera system is being done, and they are starting to work on the roof.

At the County home, they are repairing the barn roof in July. Mr. Vernick said, “I really need that barn,” and noted that it is being used for storage.  They are going to tear down part of the house, and they have gone out to bid on that work.

At the Youth Center, they need to do improvements on the windowsills, parking, and windows in order to rent to Next Step.  Observer Note:  Once the new Youth Center is built, it is contemplated that the prior Youth Center would be rented to Next Step.

Mr. Vernick said he doesn’t know the plans for the 2 houses at the Metzenbaum Center.

They need to repair the bell tower at the Fairgrounds.

At the Patterson Center, they need to look at the lift to figure out how to make it usable.

They are looking at generators (either propane or diesel, with automatic turn-ons) for the tower sites. 

Mr. Spidalieri said, “You do a great job.”

The hearing concluded at 1:25 pm.

1:30 PM - 2:00 pm Soil and Water, Carmella Shale

Present were Carmella Shale, Director and Board Chair Jeff Huntsberger..

Ms. Shale started out by stating that half of their funds come from the State, in which the State matches  (at a certain percentage) what the County contributes.  This allocation (percentage) goes through the State budget process.  They are expecting and hoping to receive a 79%-80% match this year.  They are on a biennium, and they still don’t know what they will get for the rest of 2025.  She noted that years ago they got a 97-98% match.  In the 2026 budget, they have submitted a request for $345,000 ($4,000 less than last year).  They have been helped in their budget by a staff member who declined medical insurance because she could obtain it from another family member. This is why they could ask for less.

Ms. Shale detailed some of their activities:

Planting the Seed to Read Program: Every kindergarten student is eligible for this program where they get an apple and a book (this includes private and home schooled children).

Thompson Township: They assisted Thompson in receiving a grant for work to improve the Ledges Park.

Agriculture Easement Program: This is a program to assist farm owners who want to have a permanent agricultural easement for their property through the Ohio Department Farmland Preservation Program.  There are four in Geauga County.   Every 3-4 years they have a request. The Commissioners are the local sponsor.

Woodland Wednesdays Workshops: This focuses on various aspects of woodland management (5 programs held this year).

Phase II Technical Program NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems; See Ohio Department of Health for more information). This is a collaboration with Geauga Public Health.

• Program Reviews have gone up from 321 to 436 this past year

• Site inspections: 3,141

• Over 570 storm water basins inspected

• 3,141 Site Inspections and 102 Post Construction stormwater Basin Inspections

• Compiled, assembled and submitted County Annual Report for Compliance with NPDES permits.

The department has seven staff: 4 technical (including Ms. Shale); 2 education, 1 administration. They are looking for an intern who can read plans.  Ms. Shale said that they did have an AmeriCorps program person, for which they were going to pay $11,000, but the money “did fall through.”  Observer Note:  As a result of cuts to various programs in the Federal government, AmeriCorps was terminated. It is not clear whether it will be reinstated. See more information here.  

The Equine Workshop (occurring the day of the hearing) provides education on the proper disposal of animal waste.

They have subcontracted education services to Geauga Trumbull Solid Waste District, who has created educational brochures, advertised programs and conducted 4 educational programs. They have set a 20 hour a month retainer for these educational services.

They held a 3-day immersive workshop for teachers on wetlands.

They use a program called “Hive,” in which all staff record what they do in 15 minute increments.  This program produced the following summary of staff time:

• Education - 32% of time

• Technical - 42%  (includes NPDES work)

• Technical Assistance (Drainage, erosion, soils, ponds, local government, agriculture, streams, logging) - 15%

This year they held a RealLink workshop for realtors to help them find out what natural features are on land that they are listing.

H2Ohio - All of Ohio is eligible. They are charged with getting a certain number of acres under review. Geauga is charged with 1,000 acres.  Three fields are in the program in Geauga.  They commit to measuring nutrient levels in the fields and receive some compensation (amount unspecified) in return.  

They also do pond management.

Education programs summary:

• 31 Adult programs (these are the most time intensive)

• Schools - 102 youth programs

Environthon - They assist with the Area and State Envirothon, which is the high school environmental academic competition. Previously Chardon was winning every year but Berkshire came in first this year. Cardinal participated as well.

Ms. Shale noted that their Fish Sale is a very popular program.

Mr. Gorton asked about their new space in the County Office Building, and Ms. Shale said that they were very pleased with it.

The hearing concluded at 1:54 pm.

1:55 PM - 2:25 PM Commissioners, Linda Burhenne and Amy Bevan

Present for the Commissioners were County Administrator Amy Bevan and Assistant County Administrator Linda Burhenne.

The Hearing started at 2:00 pm.

Mr. Gorton discussed the revenue sources and said that “sales tax is going up.”  He noted that more big box stores are moving in, including an unspecified one coming to Chardon. He said that there has been continued development. 

Assessments:  There was a $33,000 assessment increase due to some land not being available for the Farmland exemption.  Mr. Gorton said if it is just vacant land, they can’t say “public purpose.”  There must be some farming being done to receive the exemption.

He said there were a few things outstanding with the State Tax Commissioner, including Metzenbaum and Berkshire.  Observer Note:  The Department of Developmental Disabilities (also known as Metzenbaum) received notice the week of June 12, 2025 that the properties would be considered tax exempt; see the June 18, 2025 Department of Developmental Disabilities LWVGeauga Observer Report for more information. Berkshire’s request for an inside millage shift was denied by the Budget Commission on April 22, 2025; for details see the April 22, 2025 Budget Commission LWVGeauga Observer Report.  At the June 2, 2025 Budget Commission Meeting, Prosecutor Flaiz said that the appeal time has lapsed for Berkshire to appeal the Budget Commission’s decision to deny its requested inside millage shift.

Mr. Gorton said there were two large increases below:

• Court Technology -  Mr. Gorton said they don’t receive regular state money for this.

• Building Improvements - Estimated $850,000 additional, which is now changed in the budget.  

Children’s Services Levies:  The Commissioners have reimbursed JFS (Job and Family Services)  0.5 mill already for the 1 mill suppressed levy. Observer Note:  In the prior year, the Commissioners decided to suppress a 1 mill levy of JFS in order to provide a tax reduction for homeowners struggling with increased property taxes.  In return, the Commissioners had promised to replace those funds for JFS from the General Fund.  

Mr. Gorton mentioned that there might be a constitutional amendment on the Ohio ballot to eliminate property taxes, in which case they would need to raise the sales tax.

The cost of insurance (CORSA - County Risk Sharing Association) went up.

Salaries: Mr. Gorton said that there have been some salary adjustments.

Mr. Gorton reviewed some of the Funds under the control of the Commissioners:

• Fund 4032:  This was used for the new County Office Building. There are projects (not specifically identified) which will use this fund.  Mr. Gorton said they have a few more years. He said that some of the money in this fund was bond money, and it might have to go into debt retirement.  

• Fund 4033:  This is a 2020/21 fund, so they will have until 2030 to use that (ten years).  It was used to purchase a property across from the courthouse on Park Street.  Mr. Gorton said they should “start having discussions” about use of funds and plans for different buildings.  He said they will continue to still put money into this fund for some upcoming projects, like work on the old part of the courthouse.  

Ms. Burhenne said that in regard to Line item 2109, their federal grant request for the project to repair the roof on the Sheriff’s building “was not advanced,” nor was the grant request for the McFarland Wastewater Treatment Plant.  Mr. Gorton asked if the $250,000 was still available from the State for the Safety Center.  Ms. Burhenne said that was correct, but it needed to be used for the parking area. Observer Note: There are other funds that will be used for the McFarland Wastewater renovation project.  See Maple Leaf article for details. 

Mrs. Brakey asked, “When is the last time we did a salary study for the Commissioners’ Office?”  Ms. Burhenne said she has gathered some information for the clerk position.  Mrs. Brakey thought this should be pursued.

The Hearing concluded at 2:19 pm

Tuesday, June 3rd

8:16 - 8:37 PM Common Pleas/Court Technology

Observer Note: This meeting was rescheduled from May 29th to June 3rd.

Present were Judge Carolyn Paschke, Judge Matt Rambo, Legal Administrator David Lubecky, IT Director Velta Moisio and HR Fiscal Officer & Staff Attorney Randy Taylor.

Ms. Pashke opened her remarks by stating “that we are not required to appear. We’re choosing to do this voluntarily.” She also remarked that they are happy to be there and happy to have the Commissioners’ input.

Ms. Paschke stated that the submitted budget is similar to the previous year. Increases in the budget are due to the addition of a new law clerk position and retirements that they are anticipating. Due to these retirements, they will be losing a lot of institutional knowledge, so they will be incorporating overlap time with the replacements.  Ms. Pashke informed the Commissioners that they are anticipating that they will need an additional Judge in the next 10 years, and they will need space for that Judge, perhaps in the old County building. She stated that it would most likely be a Family Court Judge. She remarked that it is a lengthy process to hire an additional Judge, so they will start looking into that after they move into the new building.

Mr. Gorton asked about the $64,000 in the Court Technology Equipment Fund. Ms. Moisio stated that they systematically have an inventory refresh. It also includes the implementation of a kiosk in the new Courthouse building. This kiosk will enable people to check in, pay fines and obtain information. 

Discussion followed with the Commissioners on Court Technology. Mrs. Brakey inquired as to how that works with ADP. Ms. Moisio stated that ADP houses the servers and is in charge of security and server functions. Ms. Pashke said that they have a great deal of court-specific technology and specialized software that is handled by Court Technology, as it takes court expertise and experience. Mr. Gorton asked if they shared any IT with the Juvenile Probate Court. Ms. Moisio said that they did not and that the Juvenile Court has their own consultant.

The meeting adjourned at 8:37

A discussion followed the budget meeting regarding the frustrations that the Common Pleas Court were having regarding the technology in the courtroom at the new Courthouse building. They expressed their concern about a contract with Infinity that had been signed but that they had not seen. There will be a meeting on Thursday, June 5th with ADP and Common Pleas Court representatives to try to make sure that expectations are met. Ms. Brakey offered to join the meeting to help facilitate. Reviewer Note:  See the June 18, 2025 ADP Board LWVGeauga Observer Report for updates to this meeting.

More Information and Posted Minutes: Available here

Observers:  Mary Heintzelman, Sarah McGlone, Rooney Moy, and Gail Roussey

Editor: Gail Roussey, Sarah McGlone

Reviewer: Carol Benton

Date Submitted: June 19, 2025 

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