Commissioners Vote to Further Ratify 2009 Agreement with US Marshals Service
As It Applies to Cooperation with ICE
Board of County Commissioners Meeting - September 9, 2025
Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met in Regular Session on Tuesday September 9, 2025 for a meeting at the Geauga County Office Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH. Meetings can be live streamed through the Geauga ADP Youtube channel. Recordings are available for the public. The September 9, 2025 meeting recording can be found here. As of this report’s publication date, this video has been viewed 121 times. Notations in the report refer to the minute notation on the video for a particular section. An agenda is available in advance via request to the Commissioners’ Clerk and at the meeting. Items discussed at the meeting but not on the agenda, if any, are addressed at the end of this report.
Public Comment Policy: Permitted as outlined in the BOCC’s Public Comment Policy that was adopted on January 28, 2025 and revised on April 15, 2025. Observer Note: The above link to the Policy does not have the revision, which was simply to change the time allowed for public comment from two minutes to three minutes.
Attendance: Present were Commissioners Carolyn Brakey, James Dvorak and Ralph Spidalieri. Also present were Commissioners’ Clerk Christine Blair, County Administrator Amy Bevan, and Finance Manager Adrian Gorton.
County Representatives: Frank Antenucci, Chief Deputy Administrator, ADP (Automatic Data Processing); Chuck Tkach, Program Manager, Maintenance; Glen Vernick, Director, Maintenance Department; Kathleen Hostutler, Human Resources Administrator; Nick Gorris, Director, Water Resources.
Others in Attendance: Brett Bestgen, Project Manager, Infinity Construction; Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand; Gina Hofstetter, Director, Community and Economic Development; Maximus Yost, Communications Intern; Celesta Mullins, County Recorder; County residents Diane and Tom Jones; Munson Township resident Steve Harrison; Anastasia Nicholas, Chagrin Valley Times reporter; Allison Wilson, Geauga Maple Leaf reporter; members of the public, and this observer.
9:10 Min. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and a prayer was offered by Mr. Dvorak.
Minutes - No Minutes were submitted for approval. Observer Note: Weekly LWVG Observer Reports for BOCC are available online through September 9, 2025 for informational purposes but are not substitutes for approved minutes. Approved BOCC Minutes are posted online here through April 1, 2025.
9:53 Min. Administrator’s Report - Ms. Bevan reported on the following:
Financial Report - The following Financials were approved as discussed by Finance Manager Adrian Gorton:
12:40 Min. The Maintenance Department received approval to award the Bid to V. L. Chapman Electric, Incorporated for the West Geauga Senior Center / MSI Wastewater Treatment Plant Standby Generator Installation in the amount of $198,699.06 as they represented the lowest and best bid. Mr. Tkach said that it was slightly over the estimate.
14:03 Min. The Maintenance Department received approval to execute the service Contract Agreement with Cable Communications, Incorporated to install cameras and access controls at the Treasurer’s Office (located in the Opera House) with work to be completed within 180 days from September 9, 2025, in an amount not to exceed $42,866.18.
Mr. Vernick explained that this covers additional cameras and access controls for 9 doors. He said that everyone had worked well together to get this done.
Mr. Spidalieri commented that Mr. Tkach always came very well prepared for meetings.
The Commissioners’ Office received approval to execute Change Order #13, increasing the Contract with Infinity Construction Company, Incorporated for the Geauga County Courthouse Expansion Project, GMP Phase #1 and Phase #2, for additional courtroom security audio (+$37,829.00) and the elimination of the dedication plaque (-$6,243.00) for a total increase in the amount of $31,586.00.
Mr. Brett Bestgen, Project Manager, Infinity Construction, came forward to discuss the change order for Infinity Construction. He also said that they will need to change the substantial completion date to November 7. He reviewed the timeline, with furniture arriving by mid-October and the move starting the week of December 8th. He stated that this would be in accordance with their promise to have move-in before January.
There was discussion about the cost of the change order and whether the Sheriff approved. The Sheriff said the change was necessary. Mrs. Brakey asked if the Sheriff had been consulted prior to this point, and Mr. Bestgen said that the Architect had made the initial recommendation, but then the Sheriff and the Judges renewed the recommendation more recently and added some items.
Mrs. Brakey also asked why a subcontractor bond was required. Mr. Bestgen said that if there is a contract over $1 Million, then they get a separate bond on that portion. Mrs. Brakey referred to this as “double bonding.” Mr. Bestgen said that he would find out more about it.
The Commissioners’ Office received approval to execute the Certification Request to County Auditor, Request to Board of Commissioners Quarterly Use of County Credit Cards, pursuant to O.R.C. 301.27 for the Year 2025 (Quarters 1,2 3 and 4) for the Emergency Management Agency for the Geauga Credit Union Visa and PNC Bank, N.A.
The Commissioners’ Office received approval to designate Kathy Hostutler, Human Resources Administrator, as the voting representative for Geauga County at the 2025 CORSA (County Risk Sharing Authority) Annual meeting on September 12, 2025.
Ms. Hostutler said that there would be a discussion on cyber security and cyber coverage and a demonstration on new virtual training for law enforcement. She said that attendance counts toward the County getting their incentive, which is a payment that CORSA pays if the County fulfils certain training requirements. Mr. Dvorak asked how many counties were in CORSA, and Ms. Hostutler said it was 54-55 and that she would verify the number.
Ms. Hostutler said she anticipates there will be a rise in the premium cost next year due to any lawsuits during the year, plus the increased cost due to the court house expansion, and the risk-sharing with other counties who experienced cyber attacks. Ms. Hostutler said that many counties had experienced cyber attacks and that since everyone shares in risk, Geauga County’s portion will be impacted by this even though Geauga County did not experience a successful cyber attack.
Observer Note: The following item was added late to the Agenda, as it was not listed on the Agenda emailed by Commissioners’ Clerk Christine Blair on September 8, 2025.
28:49 Min. Commissioners approved and executed Resolution #25-177 to “further Ratify the 2009 Agreement as updated between the Geauga County Board of Commissioners, Geauga County Sheriff and the US Department of Justice, United States Marshals Service and further authorized, ratifies and signs by its President, the Agreement as updated, as provided in the resolution.”
Mrs. Brakey said that they had been advised not to comment due to pending litigation. However, she did say that they are affirming that Sheriff Hildenbrand has authority to cooperate with law enforcement and to house ICE detainees.
Observer Note: Jocelyn Rosnick, Chief Policy & Advocacy Officer of the ACLU of Ohio, has sued the Geauga County Sheriff to obtain a copy of the Agreement that permits them to house ICE detainees. The Ohio Supreme Court docket on the case can be found here. On August 20, 2025 the Court set the dates for filing evidence (20 days) and briefs (30 days). The ACLU complaint alleges that, “Respondents have not denied that they possess these records, but rather, have asserted that the requested records are not public and therefore not subject to disclosure under the Ohio Public Records Act (PRA), R.C. 149.43(A)(1)(v), because, they claim, the release of such records is prohibited by federal law.” The ACLU further asserts that “None of the federal statutes Respondents have cited, however, prohibit the disclosure of the requested records.”
During the Executive Session that followed this Resolution, Sheriff Hildenbrand spoke informally with the two reporters present and this Observer. He clarified that there was a recent Ohio Attorney General’s opinion from Butler County. This opinion in part states that: “The board of county commissioners may enter into an agreement with federal immigration authorities, on behalf of the sheriff, to detain aliens subject to removal in the county jail. The sheriff, however, does not have independent contracting authority for this purpose.” See the opinion here.
Executive Session - Water Resources received approval at 9:58 am to move into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing the employment and compensation of public employees, pursuant to O.R.C. 121.22 (G)(4). The Commissioners and Ms. Bevan were joined by the Director of Water Resources, Nick Gorris.
46:40 Min. Return from Executive Session at 10:15 am with no action
Board Discussion – Ms. Bevan noted that the Courthouse Walkthrough scheduled for September 16, 2025, has been cancelled.
Ms. Bevan also said that she wanted to find out if the Commissioners wanted to permit the offices to be closed the day after Thanksgiving. This was approved, with 8 hours paid time off permitted with overtime for those who are required to work.
49 Min. Public Comment
Ms. Anastasia Nicholas of the Chagrin Valley Times asked about the Agreement with the Sheriff regarding ICE. Mrs. Brakey said because of the pending litigation they could not discuss this. Ms. Nicholas asked for a copy of the Agreement, but Mrs. Brakey said they would have to check with the Prosecutor’s Office to see if it would be considered a public record.
A South Russell Village resident asked that everyone remember 9/11, which is coming up soon.
Steve Harrison from Munson Township said that he noticed there wasn’t much room for signage if the sign for the new County Office Building was going to be the same size as the University Hospital sign.
The Sheriff said that the 4-way stop was being installed today at Route 608 and Chardon-Windsor Road. He said it would be a big change for those driving 55 MPH. Mr. Dvorak thanked him for helping keep Geauga County residents safer.
Meeting adjourned at 10:20 am.
Information and Posted Minutes: Available here.
Next Regular Meeting of the BOCC: The next Regular Meeting of the BOCC will be on Tuesday, September 16, 2025 at 9:30 am at the County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH.
Observer: Gail Roussey
Editor: Rooney Moy
Reviewer: Sarah McGlone
Date Submitted: September 11, 2025
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