Board of County Commissioners – 9-29-2022
The Board of County Commissioners met in person at 9:30 am on a Thursday this week and combined the meeting with Budget Commission Hearings. These will be reported separately. The meeting was held at the Geauga County Administration Building, 12811 Ravenwood Drive, Claridon. This meeting was in person only and there was no link to a recording.
Commissioners Dvorak, Lennon and Spidalieri were all present.
Also in attendance were Ms. Christine Blair, Commissioner’s Clerk, County Administrator Gerard Morgan and Finance Director Adrian Gorton.
Other members of County Government in attendance were Kathleen Miller, Water Resources, County Engineer Shane Hajir, Joanne Santilli, Transit, from the Board of Elections – Michelle Lane and Nora McGinnis, from Maintenance, Glenn Vernick, Director, Laura from the Office on Aging, and Kelly from the County Human Resources Department. Also in the public was Frank Antenucci, ADP.
The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer led by Mr. Dvorak.
Mr. Gerard Morgan reviewed the actions that he took which included a payment of $4,130 for an indigent defense attorney. Also approved – a promotion in the Transit Department from part-time to full time.
Minutes: Minutes were approved for the special meeting of July 27, 2022
Financials: Mr. Adrian Gordon received approval for the financials which included:
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Cash transfer for computer equipment for the Halberg tokens for multi-factor identification (ADP request – previously approved by Commissioners)
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Cash to Transit for purchase of bus (see Reel Auto Sales below)
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General fund transfer to Juvenile Court
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Encumbrances to Donley’s Independence for payments # 15 and 16 (At the 9-20-22 meeting the BOCC approved these change orders that include hydronic snowmelt for the sidewalks in the amount of $318,909.00. and deployment of a hybrid DAS System (antenna)for improved cell service in and out of the building in the amount of $191,735.00
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Travel for an ODOT conference (Engineer’s office)
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Transit conference
Vouchers (all previously approved by the Commissioners)
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$26,000 from the Auditor’s office for IWORKS
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$282,168.90 from the Engineer’s office to Chagrin Valley Paving for Jug Street
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$20,084 for Transit for the purchase of a van from Reel Auto Sales
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$45,687 from Water Resources to Valley Ford Truck for purchase of a truck
Revenue Certification from Transit for additions to the Capital Fund received in 2022
The Auditor’s Office received approval and the BOCC accepted the Amounts and Rates as Determined by the Budget Commission and Authorizing the Necessary Tax Levies and Certifying them to the County Auditor.
The Board of Elections requested the Board approve a transfer of appropriations to the Board of Elections contract services account of the payment of legal services in the amount of $16,175.09. Mr. Spidalieri stated that he was not familiar with this matter and asked that it be tabled. Motion approved to table until the next meeting.
Reviewer Note: the Geauga County Board of Elections has been in a long-running dispute with BOCC over their unique security and equipment storage needs at the new Administration Building.
From the Sep 21, 2022 Board of Elections Observer Corps Report, “After meeting in executive session for an hour with counsel Corey Colombo of McTigue, the BOE voted to request appropriations from the Board of County Commissioners of Geauga County for $16,175.09 for the legal fees to be paid to McTigue & Colombo LLC for the invoice amounts that were submitted to the Board of Elections for legal work completed between April 21, 2022 (when the Prosecutor filed an application of appointment of counsel due to a conflict in Case No. 22 Misc 5) and July 31, 2022, and to authorize McTigue & Colombo LLC to submit the appropriation request and redacted copies of the invoices to the Board of County Commissioners on behalf of the Board of Elections.”
The County Engineer’s Office received approval to execute Change Order #1 and Final, decreasing the Contract with Grade Line, Incorporated for the Munn Road Bridge Replacements in the amount of $8,854.61.
The Department on Aging – The following actions were taken:
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BOCC approved the request to reject the Bid from Trio Community Meals for the Elderly Nutrition Program, Preparation and Delivery of Catered Meals as they did not comply with the Bid Bond requirements.
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BOCC approved the request to Re-Advertise for Bids for the Elderly Nutrition Program, Preparation and Delivery of Catered Meals, according to federal guidelines for Geauga County Residents Age 60 and over to be held on Wednesday, October 26, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. Notice of this Bid Opening will be advertised on October 6, 2022, October 13, 2022 and on the County website.
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BOCC agreed to waive the requirement of the official seal of the corporations or limited liability companies on the Assistance with Daily Living Bids as it is not a statutory requirement and none of the bids included them and the seal is not required.
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BOCC agreed to the following Bids and awarded contracts for Home Care Services, Assistance with Daily Living for Geauga Residents Age 60 and over for the period January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2024: Board awarded the Bid to Cherished Companions Home Care in the amount of 14,864 units of service at the reimbursement rate of $30.00 per unit for a total amount of $445,920.00; to Qual Care, LLC d.b.a. Home Instead in the amount of 5,768 units of service at the reimbursement rate of $30.00 per unit for a total amount of 173,040.00, to The Hills at Home Incorporated d.b.a. Ohman Family Living for the Home Care Services, in the amount of 4,160 units of service at the reimbursement rate of $30.00 per unit for a total amount of $124,800.00 and to Addus HealthCare (South Carolina), Incorporated d.b.a. Arcadia Home Care and Staffing in the amount of 1,832 units of service at the reimbursement rate of $30.00 per unit for a total amount of $54,960.00.
The Department of Development (Community & Economic) received approval for the following:
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To award the Bid to Geauga Highway Company for the WomenSafe Paving Project under CDBG Grant #B-F-21-1AZ-1 in the amount of $46,290.00 as they represented the lowest and best bid, ($35,100.00 in CDBG funds, $11,190.00 WomenSafe).
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To re-advertise (Re-Bid #4) for Bids for the Geauga County Department on Aging – Paratransit Van under CDBG Grant #B-F-21-1AZ-1 to be held on Wednesday, October 26, 2022 at 2:15 p.m. Notice of this Bid Opening will be advertised on October 6, 2022 and on the County website.
The Maintenance Department received approval to execute the service Contract Agreement with Gardiner Service Company to provide HVAC related maintenance and services per the Director for the period of one-year effective September 29, 2022 in an amount not to exceed $45,000.00.
Item not on the Agenda: Mr. Spidalieri said that he had made a site visit with members of the Sheriff’s Department to a building adjacent to Metzenbaum which they no longer use. Half of the building is being used by the Department on Aging. They have done significant renovations. The Office on Aging Director, Jessica Boalt stated (when asked by Mr. Spidalieri during this discussion) that they had no interest in the other half of the building. Mr. Spidalieri stated that the Sheriff’s Department could use this space as a training center and classroom area. He stated that he will bring this up during the Sheriff’s Department budget meeting because he wants to make sure that the Sheriff’s Department gets enough money to pay for renovations. It was stated that an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) might be required prior to the renovation.
Reviewer Note: this reviewer is unaware of any prior discussions in public session about a need for additional training and classroom space above what is already provided at the Geauga County Safety Center.
The Department of Water Resources received approval for the following:
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To execute the Request for Partial Payment #5 for Woodford Excavating, LLC for the Bainbridge Waterline Extension Project, the Ohio Water Development Authority Contractor’s Estimate #5 and the Ohio Water Development Authority Fund Payment Request #5 in the amount of $135,091.62.
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To execute the Contract Agreement with Ullman Oil Company for the bulk purchase of Fuel at a price lower than the Daily State of Ohio Contract Rate for District 12 which includes 87 E10 and ULSD #2 ultra-low to fuel tanks located on Merritt Road and Chagrin River Road to be effective September 29, 2022 through up to and including, June 30, 2023 in the amount of $50,000.00 through December 31, 2022.
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To execute the service Contract Agreement with Midwest Tank Management to perform Water Tower Inspections at Geauga County Bainbridge Water Tower and Geauga County Services Center Water Tower for the period of one-year effective September 29, 2022 in an amount not to exceed $3,000.00.
The Commissioners’ Office received approval for the following:
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To accept and approve the purchase of the Health Education: Challenge (Weight Loss Challenge) from HealthWorks, as an additional challenge under the Healthworks Wellness Program for participating Geauga County Employees using CEBCO Wellness Program Grant Funds in the amount of $250.00.
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To advertise for a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Construction Management-at Risk for the expansion and renovation work at the Geauga County Courthouse Building with Qualifications due on Friday, October 28, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. Notice of this Request for Qualification will be advertised on October 6, 2022, October 13, 2022 and on the County website.
There was some discussion that the renovation of the courthouse might have to be delayed if costs are too high (and are expected to come down).
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To accept and approve the 2023 Geauga County CEBCO/Anthem Healthcare County and Employee Contribution Rates.
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To accept and approve the 2023 Geauga County Employee Waiver Rates to be effective January 1, 2023.
More Information and Minutes of past meetings available here when posted:
https://bocc.geauga.oh.gov/meeting-minutes/#group=documentlist&doc-category=&doc-year=0&docspagination=0-15
Minutes are posted through July 21, 2022
Next Meeting: Tuesday, October 4, 2022 at 9:30 am
Budget hearings for all departments with the Commissioners will continue next Tuesday (October 4, 2022) and next Thursday, October 6, 2022
Name of Observer: Gail Roussey
Name of Editor: Betsy Kubbins
Reviewer: Shelly Lewis
Submitted 9/30/2022
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