GPD Names Mike Rose to the Position of Chief Ranger
Geauga Park District Board Regular Meeting - January 20, 2026
Meeting Details: The Geauga Park District (GPD) Board met on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at 8:30 am at Big Creek Park Meyer Center, 9160 Robinson Rd, Chardon, OH 44024. This meeting was held on Tuesday due to the Monday Martin Luther King Holiday. This meeting was in-person only with no virtual attendance option. This observer makes a request to GPD Executive Director John Oros (joros@geaugaparkdistrict.org) for the Board packet in advance of the meeting in order to better understand the substance of the matters on the Agenda.
Public Comment Policy: The Park District Board does not have a formal policy and in practice never permits public comment.
Board Attendance: Commissioners Howard Bates, Ray Guarino, Sally LaMarca, John Ralph and Frank Stein.
Observer Note: Park Board Commissioners are appointed by the Geauga Probate Judge. Records from the Geauga Probate Court indicate that all five Board Commissioners were re-appointed by Judge Grendell before his disciplinary leave started at the end of December. Commissioners John Ralph and Howard Bates then submitted their resignations, which were accepted by Acting Judge Berger. This Observer could not determine if there was a subsequent appointment of Mr. Ralph and Mr. Bates. Reviewer Note: At the Budget Commission meeting on January 22, 2026, County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz stated that he was aware of this situation and was awaiting an explanation from the Park District’s legal counsel. He said that if an explanation is not provided, he will set up a meeting with Judge Berger to find out what is going on.
Staff Attendance: John Oros, Executive Director; Jessica Alpers, Administrative Assistant; and Matt McCue, Deputy Director. Also in attendance were Lucas Beamer, IT Manager; Sandy Ward, Marketing Director; Holly Sauder, Special Events Coordinator; and Mike Rose, Park Ranger/Sergeant. Dawn Sweeney, Fiscal Officer was not present, nor was Attorney Todd Hicks from the law firm of Thrasher, Dinsmore & Dolan.
Public Attendance: Members of Protect Geauga Parks; Kate Jacobs, Chief Compliance Officer, Geauga County Auditor’s Office; reporters from the Geauga Maple Leaf and Chagrin Valley Times and LWVG Observer Gail Roussey were present.
Pledge of Allegiance: Recited.
Approval of Agenda/Addendum Items: There were no items added to the Agenda. The Agenda was approved.
Election of Officers - Mr. Guarino was elected President and Mr. Bates was elected Vice President. There was no discussion.
Minutes: Minutes from the December 15, 2025 meeting were approved without question or comment and are posted online here.
Financial Report: In the absence of Fiscal Officer Dawn Sweeney, Mr. Oros verbally reported these individual fund balances as of December 31, 2025:
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Beginning balance as of 12/01/25 in the General Fund: $4,358,593
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Ending balance as of 12/31/25 in the General Fund: $4,100,748
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Beginning balance as of 12/01/25 in the Land Improvement Fund: $3,141,932
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Ending balance as of 12/31/25 in the Land Improvement Fund: $3,046,542
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All Funds beginning balance on 12/1/25: $7,500,525
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All Funds ending balance on 12/31/25: $7,147,290
There were no questions and no discussion.
Presentation of Payment Report for December. There were no questions and there was no discussion.
Observer Note: There is no approval or motion regarding the payment report as the payments have already occurred.
Old Business - None
New Business
The following were approved unanimously:
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2026 Statement of Qualifications - Prequalified List/Professional Design and Engineering Services - A list of 25 companies was approved for the 2026 Prequalified list. In response to a question from Mr. Guarino, Mr. McCue said that companies from all over Northeast Ohio submitted qualifications. He also said that they have worked with a majority of the companies in the past.
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Bass Lake Preserve - Spring Brook Stormwater Control Measures/Grant Opportunity and Application - Mr. Oros read from a memo prepared by Paul Pira, Park Biologist, outlining “Stormwater Control Measures/Bioretention cells that would be installed on Park Property at Bass Lake Preserve to capture runoff from Wilson Mills Road just NE of Auburn Road. These control measures would capture roadside stormwater runoff from ditches before it enters Spring Brook.” The estimated cost is $168,000. They will be pursuing two grants - one is an Ohio EPA-319 Grant and the other a H2Ohio River Program Grant.
This was approved with no questions or discussion.
Commissioners Time
Mr. Oros reviewed several holiday events, as follows:
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December 6 - Annual Greens for Giving - This was the 12th year for this event, and 105 volunteers created green centerpieces which were distributed to Meals on Wheels recipients and through the Veterans Food Pantry.
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December 12-13 - Santa and Buddy the Elf - 152 people participated in three walks at the West Woods to celebrate the season with Santa and Buddy the Elf (Naturalist John Kolar).
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December 20 - Winter Program Registration Opened - Mr. Oros reported that 315 people signed up for programs in the first hour that registration was open.
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December 21 - Winter Solstice at West Woods - At this 36th year of the program, there was a record 1,125 people who attended the event.
Mr. Oros reported that in December there were 77 naturalist-led programs; 2,560 patrons enjoyed these programs and the West Woods welcomed 1,332 patrons.
Observer Note: More information on Park District events is available here.
Executive Session - Mr. Oros announced an Executive Session at 8:42 am regarding compensation and employment of public employees and potential land acquisition.
Return from Executive Session at 9:09 am with action on the employment issue. The Board voted to promote Sergeant Ranger Mike Rose to the position of Chief Ranger. Observer Note: Chief Ranger Rose has been a Geauga Park Ranger for 13 years according to a conversation with this Observer.
Public Comment - Per Geauga Park District practice, no public comment was permitted.
Meeting Adjourned at 9:11 am
Reviewer Comment: Without public discussion by the Board of Agenda items or the opportunity for members of the public to comment and ask questions, the ability of the public to fully understand the business of the Geauga Park District and its use of Geauga County taxpayer funding is hindered.
Next meeting – Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 8:30 am. Observer Note: Usual Park Board meetings are on Mondays, but Monday, February 16th is the Presidents’ Day Holiday.
See the GPD Website for Additional Information and Minutes.
Observer: Gail Roussey
Editor: Rooney Moy
Reviewer: Sarah McGlone
Date Submitted: January 21, 2026
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