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Lake County Commissioner Comments on Infeasibility 

of a New MPO between Lake County and Geauga County

Board of County Commissioners Meeting - April 21, 2026

Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met in Regular Session on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at 9:30 am for a Regular Meeting at the Geauga County Office Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH.  BOCC Meetings can be live streamed through the Geauga ADP Youtube channel and can be accessed here by scrolling down and clicking on the section for YouTube videos.  Recordings are available for the public. This meeting can be found here.  As of this report’s publication date, the video has been viewed 351 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, revised on April 15, 2025, and again modified on September 30, 2025 and February 24, 2026.

Attendance: Present were Commissioners Carolyn Brakey, James Dvorak and Ralph Spidalieri.  Also present were Commissioners’ Clerk Christine Blair; County Administrator Amy Bevan; Deputy County Administrator Mark Jimison and Finance Manager Adrian Gorton.

County Representatives: Linda Crombie, Director, Planning Department; Dan Spada, Director, Building Department; Matt Granito, Dog Warden; Chuck Tkach, Program Manager, Maintenance; Rob Weigle, Maintenance Director; Kathy Hostutler, Human Resources Administrator;  Megan Ericson, Benefits Specialist; Max Yost, County Communications/Media Specialist; Carmella Shale, Soil and Water Director; Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand; Chief Deputy Sheriff Thomas Rowan.

Others in Attendance: Morris Beverage, Lake County Commissioner; Dr. Bill Koons, Mayor, South Russell Village; Geauga Maple Leaf reporter Allison Wilson; Chagrin Valley Times reporter Anastasia Nicholas; other members of the public and press, and LWVG Observer Carol Benton.  LWVG Observer Gail Roussey attended virtually.

9:45 Min. Pledge of Allegiance and Prayer (Commissioner Dvorak) 

10:36 Min. Public Comment on Agenda Items - No comments.

Minutes - No Minutes were submitted for approval. Observer Note: Weekly LWVG Observer Reports for the BOCC are available online through April 21, 2026 for informational purposes but are not substitutes for approved minutes. Approved BOCC Minutes are posted online here through November 25, 2025.  

10:47 Min. Report of Administrator Amy Bevan - The following actions taken were described:

• On April 15th, executed an appropriations transfer from the Commissioners and Job and Family Services (JFS) to move money into the unemployment accounts of the Building Department and for JFS to transfer the cash necessary to make a payment by the end of the month.

• Cash transfer from JFS from their children's services fund to public assistance, Family First, and the general fund Prosecutor's Office revenue accounts. 

• On April 20th, approved and executed for the Department of Water Resources the service contract with Midwest Tank Management to perform GS submersible mixer replacement at the services center water tower and as needed inspections and repair services at both the services center and Bainbridge water towers for the department for a one-year period effective April 20th, 2026 in an amount amount not to exceed $8,750.

11:55 Min. Report of Financials - Adrian Gorton received approval for the following:

• Reversals and reissued Cash Transfers from the Commissioners and JFS from 4/7/26 that were not entered correctly. 

• Cash Transfers from the Juvenile and Probate Court, JFS, and the building department, general fund unemployment accounts to the unemployment compensation fund.

• Purchase orders from the Commissioners to Chardon Municipal Court, Fairmount Center for the Arts, and the Red Tulip Project of Geauga in preparation for the distribution of approved opioid remediation funds for 2026. 

• Travel from the Auditor's office to attend the Auditors Association of Ohio summer conference in Columbus, Ohio and from the Common Pleas Court to attend the Ohio Common Pleas Judges Association summer conference in Mason, Ohio.

• Incumbrance increase from the Commissioners’ office to CORSA (County Risk Sharing Authority)  to prepare to pay the county's annual insurance coverage bill. 

• Vouchers 

  • $72,622 from the Commissioners to Brilliant Electric Sign Company Limited for labor, equipment, materials, permits, and management to place signage at various county office locations. 

  • $68,771.54 from the Maintenance Department to Kenneth A Rodick for the county barn roof replacement. 

  • $48,717 from the Maintenance Department to train for the installation of a new building, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning automation system at the safety center.

13:41 Min. The Commissioners’ Office received approval to authorize the President of the Board to execute the Request for Partial Payment #33 for Infinity Construction Company, Incorporated for the Geauga County Courthouse Expansion GMP Phase #1 and #2 in the amount of $35,306.18.

15:25 Min. The Probate / Juvenile Court received approval to execute the Amendment Form / Fiscal Accountability Attachment A, Page 2, to amend the FY26 Department of Youth Services RECLAIM Grant to amend the budget allocations based on fiscal year to date expenditures, to ensure necessary funding availability for the remainder of the grant period.

17:07 Min. The Planning Commission received approval to execute the Final Plat for Maple Ridge Subdivision, Replat of Sublots 6 and 7, creating Sublot 7-R, in Auburn Township. Ms. Crombie said that the total acreage is going to be just over 4 acres at 4.08 and the lots are located on Chanticleer Court.

17:50 Min. The Building Department received approval to execute the Agreement with F & B Engineering, Incorporated to provide required professional plan review services for the period May 1, 2026, through March 31, 2029, at the rate of $140.00 per hour for 2026, $150.00 per hour for 2027, $160.00 per hour for 2028 and $170.00 per hour for 2029.

18:54 Min. The Dog Warden received approval for the following:

• To increase in the number of positions of Part-time Shelter Attendant (#1607-1) from two (2) to three (3) positions to be effective April 21, 2026.

• To revise their Organizational Chart to include the additional position of Part-time Shelter Attendant (#1607-1) increasing to three (3) total positions, to be effective April 21, 2026 and to increase the current posting for the position of Part-time Shelter Attendant (#1607-1) from one to two positions. These positions will remain posted until they are filled.

• To approve hiring for the position of Part-time Shelter Attendant (#1607-1) at the rate of $15.89 per hour, to be effective April 24, 2026, with a one-year probationary period. This offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of the required pre-employment conditions. Mr. Granito said that this person is able to work on Sundays, which is hard to find, and she is a certified vet technician so she can help with shots.

Mrs. Brakey asked Mr. Granito about Avery’s Law and he said that “Avery's law has changed a lot of things in the past month, and I haven't come to you to the board yet for approval…. Now, a dog that bites another dog can be deemed a nuisance. So there's a lot of intricacies in the law and because there's no case law yet, we are still trying to figure out everything that needs to be done.  The Prosecutor's office and the prosecutors at the municipal courts have been very helpful. So we're trying to navigate through that.” Observer Note:  See more information here.

24:24 Min. The Maintenance Department received approval for the following:

• To execute Change Order #1, increasing the Contract with Ohio Paving and Construction Company, Incorporated for the Geauga County Safety Center Parking Lot Repave to replace existing concrete parking bay and sidewalk with extended asphalt parking area and new sidewalk, add geotextile fabric to stabilize subgrade for additional parking spaces on the north end of the Safety Center parking lot in the amount of $27,356.12, for a new fixed, lump sum price amount of $875,038.77.  One of the changes was to include a parking bay, which originally they didn't think they would have to replace. The second change was to add new parking spaces to the back of the lot for deputy parking. He also said that, “with the rain and the weather over the past few weeks, the back fill has not compacted and it has not passed the proof rule test twice. So, we are letting it set for about a week, but we wanted to submit a potential change order. This is not definitive, but it is a potential one....”

• To execute Change Order #1 increasing the Contract by extending the date of completion with Verdantas Architecture, Incorporated for the Geauga County East Park Office Building Facility Condition Assessment Project by an additional fifty-six (56) days through April 24, 2026.

• To execute Change Order #1, increasing the Professional Services Agreement with Verdantas Architecture, Incorporated for the Geauga County Safety Center Visitation Room Alteration Project for the redesign of the masonry wall foundation due to unknown conduits discovered under the slab in the amount of $1,933.43 and to extend the date of completion by 212 days through April 30, 2026.

• To award the Bid to Architectural Siding Trim and Roofing, Incorporated (A-Star) for the Geauga County Courthouse Annex Roof Upgrade Project in the amount of $496,604.60 ($432,604.60 Base Bid and $64,000.00 Owner’s Contingency) as they represented the lowest and best bid.

• To execute the Agreement with the Geauga County Maple Festival, Incorporated to utilize the southern end of the 100 Short Court Parcel during the Maple Festival, for the period of April 23, 2026 through April 27, 2026, for the location and operation of food vendors, festival vendors. 

33:48 Min. The Commissioners’ Office received approval for the following:

• To execute Resolution #26-059 Proclaiming May 3, 2026, through May 9, 2026, as Public Service Recognition Week.

• To execute the Agreement with Smooth Rider, LLC to provide a minimum of two hundred (200) 20 oz. healthy fruit smoothies at a cost of $10.00 per smoothie via the Smooth Rider Smoothie Food Truck on May 7, 2026, during the Geauga County Employee Health and Wellness EXPO, for a total number of smoothies not to exceed four hundred (400) and a not to exceed amount of $4,000.00. This will be covered by the CEBCO Wellness Grant.

• To execute the Agreement with Ubuntu Wellness LLC to provide Two Chair Massage Stations on May 7, 2026, during the Geauga County Employee Health and Wellness EXPO at a cost of $120.00 per hour, per massage chair therapist for the total sum not to exceed $1,200.00. This will be covered by the CEBCO Wellness Grant.

Mrs. Brakey asked about whether there might be other ways to utilize this grant to accomplish more long-term health and wellness goals for employees.  Ms. Ericson said “I agree, this expo has always… coincided with the public service recognition week and  this has always just kind of been a treat and a lure to get people to come to the expo....”

• To authorize the County Prosecutor, pursuant to Resolution #25-170 approved on August 28, 2025, to execute and submit on behalf of the County, the required documents to participate in the six (6) Remnant Defendants’ Settlement Agreement (RDSA), as part of the ongoing National Prescription Opiate Litigation and the Prosecutor shall continue to have general, ongoing authority under the Resolution to execute any documents on behalf of the Board related to any opioid litigation involving the County.

• To amend the motion of April 7, 2026 that read: schedule a Work Session on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at 9:00 a.m., to be held in the County Office Building, Room B303, Chardon, to now read: schedule a Special Meeting at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 23, 2026, to be held in the County Office Building, Room B303 that will include a Work Session with the Building Department.

• To approve and execute a Conservation Easement Agreement on county property of approximately 19.9199 acres situated on Autumn Ridge Drive (Permanent Parcel #21-703265) located in Munson Township. Ms. Brakey commented that she and Ms. Blair researched the background on this property and found that it was donated to the county approximately 20 years ago. Ms. Shale confirmed this and further stated that a developer donated the property to comply with a mitigation requirement which was accepted at the time by the Army Corps of Engineers. Ms. Brakey asked if it might be better to split the property amongst the adjacent property owners. Ms. Shale stated that keeping it as one parcel was better to ensure the protection of the Chagrin River branch that runs through it and other water sources nearby.

• To approve the placement of “No Trespassing” signs on Permanent Parcel #21-703265 (see above). Soil and Water received a number of complaints about dirt bikes and ATVs traversing the property and the noise generated from this activity. Ms. Bevan reported that she and Ms. Shale had visited the property to investigate reports of trespassing on the property, and they confirmed that trespassing was occurring. The placement of the signs was meant to deter further activity. Ms. Shale suggested that letters to adjacent property owners be sent to inform them that the land was owned by the county, it was not park space and trespassing was forbidden.

46:01 Min. Public Comment - Observer Note:  Some of the comments were derogatory and are not repeated here, but are available by referring to the video.

Woman from Hambden Township - She mentioned three things that bothered her: the issues with the dog warden from the prior year, the lack of attention to NOACA, and reducing public comment at meetings.  Observer Note:  Public Comment was reduced to a total of 15 minutes for each of the two comment periods, unless extended by the Commissioners, with 3 minutes per person on February 19, 2026, effective February 24, 2026.  See LWVG Observer report here for more information.  Prior to January 2025, there was no formal public comment policy.

Man from Airwolf Aerospace - This individual talked about the impossibility of getting on the Agenda to talk about the Geauga County Airport from a business perspective.  He spoke negatively about several staff members and Commissioners.  He was also upset about the 15 minutes for public comment.

Dr. Bill Koons, Mayor, South Russell Village - He brought in a copy of the Northeast Ohio Properties Magazine, which he said had 8 pages about the renovated Courthouse.  He complimented the Commissioners on the work that was done.  He also said that he was sorry for the abuse to the Commissioners.  He expressed his support for Mr. Dvorak and for NOACA.  

Man from South Russell Village - He distributed information about NOACA and asked a series of questions to the Commissioners, to Mr. Gorton and to South Russell Village mayor Dr. Koons (who is not visible on the video).  He said he would go to NOACA meetings except the elevator isn’t working.  When he was done speaking, Mrs. Brakey said that when she was there last the elevator was working. Mr. Beverage confirmed this.

Mr. Beverage, Lake County Commissioner - He said he was a new Commissioner and made an effort to find out about NOACA.  He said a lot of the frustration has to do with the Federal Government.  He concluded, “But from the financial standpoint, I will say at this point in time, I'm one commissioner. I don't speak on behalf of the board here today, but the research that I did said that there is no financial benefit to Lake County, specifically when it comes to partnering up with Geauga County. Geauga County has a less urbanized population than Lake County does, and we're less than Cuyahoga County. And there are some features that being part of NOACA allow NOACA dollars to be used all across Geauga County...  but at this point in time I don't think that there's any interest in Lake County to explore the opportunity to start a new MPO (Metropolitan Planning Organization). So I just wanted to come and hopefully answer some questions and clear some things up.”

Mr. Spidalieri said he wanted to make a comment at this point and said that he “... know(s) that you were probably the point of that tip to eliminate my ability of being represented at NOACA by what you put forward instead of you probably should have used your energy and efforts to try to get us so that we could have full representation of our board and our engineer rather than have it. So I guess and take this however you want. Hopefully the climate changes down in Lake County that you could get put in the same position that I've been put in.”

Mr. Beverage said “And so, I did what I felt was right for my county and you will do what you feel is right for your county and you have the ability to change the course of some of these decisions as I understand.”

Mr. Spidalieri responded, “Every county has representation there except for Geauga. We are the minority group of three and your efforts should have probably been to push for us to have another member on that board before you to completely cut my legs off. So, thanks for coming in.” Observer Note:  The Geauga Commissioners voted on January 22, 2026 to replace one commissioner on NOACA with the County Engineer and that the two commissioners for this term would be Commissioners Brakey and Dvorak. See LWVGeauga Observer Report here and Maple Leaf summary here.  At a subsequent meeting on February 3, 2026 NOACA requested that BOCC vote again to ratify changes approved by the NOACA Board.  The NOACA Board members, which are composed of representatives from all five counties, voted to permit each county to determine its own representative mix.  Due to population, Lake County has more representatives on NOACA than Geauga.

Anastasia Nicholas from Chagrin Valley Times asked, “Just because the Lake Commissioner is here, all the commissioners please talk about the data center that's coming to Perry.  Just what are you thinking is going to happen... what do you want to happen?”

Mr. Beverage said, “I'm more than happy to answer any questions you guys have about the situation, but I've been fairly vocal with the media.  I actually live in Perry Village, which is where the proposed data center is being talked about. I have said I have no issues with data centers per se so long as they're not polluting my water. But that project at this time at that location I'm not a supporter of…. I can tell you right now my frustrations is that Vistra Energy just struck a deal with Meta… the deal that was struck with Vistra and Meta is that allows Meta to then take 100% of the power coming out of the Perry Nuclear Power Plant starting in December of this year. So basically that nuclear power plant - all the power it generates - 100% of that is coming offline as far as it going into the grid.”  Observer Note: Read more about the deal between Vistra Corporation and Meta regarding the sourcing of energy from nuclear power plants from a Cleveland.com article here and a Vistra press release here.

Mr. Dvorak welcomed the comment and said he would be happy to talk about it after the meeting.

Ms. Nicholas questioned Mr. Dvorak about his stance on data centers, and he said he was cautious but that he personally would probably be opposed.

Mrs. Brakey said that she didn't think the Commissioners would have much authority in that situation.  She said “those are often more of a city or a township level decision with zoning and so forth.”

Mr. Dvorak said, “That concludes public comment.”

Mrs. Brakey said that she would be in favor of extending public comment if anyone else wanted to speak. No one came forward.

1:07:50 Min. Executive Session - At 10:28 am the Commissioners received approval to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing the compensation of public employees pursuant to ORC121.22G1.  They were joined by Ms. Bevan, Mr. Jimison, Mr. Gorton, Ms. Hostutler, Ms. Erikson, Sheriff Hildenbrand and Chief Deputy Sheriff Rowan.

1:33:56 Min. Return from Executive Session at 10:54 am with no action.

The meeting adjourned at 10:55 am.

Next Regular Meeting of the BOCC: The next Regular Meeting of the BOCC will be on Tuesday, April 28, at 9:30 am at the Geauga County Office Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH. 

Observer: Carol Benton (in person), Gail Roussey (virtually)

Editor: Harry Rees

Reviewer: Sarah McGlone

Date Submitted: April 26, 2026

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