Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners met in person at 9:30 am on December 6, 2022. The meeting was held at the Geauga County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Chardon, OH. This meeting was in person only and there was no link to a recording.
Attendance: Commissioners Dvorak, Lennon and Spidalieri were present.
Also in attendance were Commissioners’ Clerk Christine Blair, County Administrator Gerard Morgan and Finance Director Adrian Gorton.
County Representatives: County Engineer Shane Hajir, Maintenance Director Glenn Vernick, Transit Operations Manager David Lair, Jr., and in the public, Frank Antenucci (ADP), and Adam Litke (Geauga Public Health)
The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer led by Mr. Dvorak.
Meeting Minutes – The Commissioners approved minutes for October 13, 2022, October 18, 2022 and October 25, 2022. Reviewer Comment: As of December 12, 2022, minutes are posted on the BOCC website through October 25, 2022.
County Administrator - Gerard Morgan reported on activities for the week of November 19th. He approved an appropriation to the Sheriff’s General Fund, to the Commissioners from the Miscellaneous fund for COBRA payments, and a supplemental appropriation from the Treasurer’s office to the Delinquent Tax Fund for November and December.
Financial Report: The BOCC Approved the following financials as presented by Mr. Adrian Gorton
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A Supplemental from the Commissioners’ Operating budget
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Then and Now for the Engineer’s office for Rick Weikart (tuition expenses at Kent state), Municipal Court for court appointed attorneys, and Travel for the Juvenile Court
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Vouchers included: $11,743 from the Commissioners for dues for the County Commissioners Association of Ohio: $24,304 from the Commissioners to Destination Geauga for third quarter bed tax. It was stated that the bed tax has gone up the last two years and that Commissioners have paid a little over $86,000 to promote tourism in the county to Destination Geauga; $223,856 to Valley Ford for a plow truck.
Approved Resolution #22-194 Authorizing the Acceptance of Payments by Financial Transaction Devices for county expenses owed to County Officials / Offices in Accordance with R.C. 301.28, allowing county departments who hadn’t accepted credit card payments to do so. Now most departments are accepting credit cards.
County Engineer’s Office: Received approval for the following:
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To execute the Unit Price Contract with Ronyak Paving, Incorporated for the Asphalt Resurfacing of Messenger Road (CH00031, Section A) in Auburn Township in the amount of $475,775.00. The Bid Bond submitted shall be held to serve as the Performance Bond for this project.
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To execute the Highway Easement between the Geauga County Board of Commissioners and Jehovah’s Witnesses Chagrin Falls (Ohio) Company (Parcel #02-711600) for culvert extension and drainage improvements located at or near 8634 Washington Street (CH-0606, Section C) in Bainbridge Township in the amount of $250.00. It was noted that this was the sixth and last easement for the work on Washington St.
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To execute Change Order #1 and Final, decreasing the Contract with Ronyak Paving, Incorporated for the Asphalt and Concrete Paving of the Geauga County Engineer North and South Yards in the amount of $15,438.50.
The Department of Development (Community & Economic) had requested, but was not present for, permission to Re-Advertise for Bids for the Camp Ho Mita Koda Cabin Winterization Project (Grant #B-F-21-1AZ-1) There was discussion that this would be the third attempt and that if no bids were received after this that the Department could then solicit contractors. The Commissioners decided to table this request and go back to Ms. Gina Hofstetter (director) and discuss whether there would be any possibility of changing the bid specifications or finding other sources of income so that the current bid could be changed to get more interest.
The Department of Emergency Services received approval to execute the Agreement between the Department of Emergency Services and the Geauga County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) to provide the following services to LEPC: Administrative Support; Emergency Response Coordinator (if elected by the Geauga LEPC); Secretarial / Treasurer Responsibilities; Information Coordinator (if elected by the Geauga LEPC); Compliance, Plan Development and Exercising; Grant Applications; Training and the maintaining of all required chemical filing forms and records for the Year 2023 in the amount of $10,000.00.
The Maintenance Department received approval to execute the service Contract Agreement with A. J. Goulder Electric, Incorporated to perform electrical services as needed at various Geauga County Buildings for a two-year period, effective December 6, 2022 with an option to renew for an additional one-year period in an amount not to exceed $20,000.00.
The Transit Department received approval for the First Addendum to the Meritech, Incorporated Agreement as they were acquired and are now DEX Imaging, LLC, and that all remaining terms and conditions for the maintenance services for a Ricoh IM C3000 Copier shall remain in full force and effect.
Volunteer Peace Officers’ Dependents Fund Board BOCC made two appointments to this Board – Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand and Auditor Charles Walder for the term ending December 31, 2023.
(Permanent) Annual Appropriation for 2023 – Approved by BOCC
Mr. Adrian Gorton made a PowerPoint presentation of the Annual Appropriation for 2023. He described the overall source of revenue, expenses and outstanding requests by various departments.
The Summary slide listed the following information on minimum estimated revenues for 2023:
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Carryover Balance $ 3,104,201 (stated that this will probably be higher)
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2023 Revenues 36,412,925
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Total Resources $39,517,126
Revenue – the three largest sources of revenue listed were:
Operating Fund Expenses - The three largest categories of expense listed were:
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Public Safety (Sheriff, Coroner, Building) – 13.4 Million (38.2%)
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Legislative/Executive – Auditor, Commissioners, Archives/Records, Prosecutor, Recorder, Treasurer, ADP Board, Maintenance, Planning, Board of Elections – 12.4 million (35.2%)
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Judicial - Clerk of Courts, Common Pleas Court, Juvenile Court, Probate court, Muni Court, Jury Commission, Public Defender – 6.1 Million, 17.3%
Operating Fund Summary:
Cash Balance, Estimated at Jan1, 2023 $ 13,500,000*
Reduce for Carryover Encumbrances ( 1,750,000)
Net Resources Available as Certified by Budget Commission 1/2023 11,750,000
Add: 2023 Certified Revenue 36,412,925
Deduct: 2023 Appropriations ( 39,452,344)
Actual General Fund Unappropriated Balance 8,710,581
Pending General Fund Requests - DETAILED BELOW ( 8,401,827) **
Estimated Unappropriated General Fund Balance remaining 12/2023 $ 308,754
* Note, as stated this is higher than estimated because the Budget Commission did not certify a request for money to be moved into the Debt Service fund
Pending General Fund Requests Detail:
Capital Transfers $( 2,000,000)
Debt Retirement ( 1,500,000)
Department Requests
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ADP Board $(1,162,104)
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Commissioners (1,500,000)
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Board of Elections - fire suppression system ( 834,327)
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Juvenile/Probate Court ( 50,000)
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Maintenance ( 200,028)
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Sheriff - Vehicles, 911 & 800 MHz (1,155,368)
( 4,901,827)
Total Requests ** $( 8,401,827)
Observer Note: The actual budget viewed by the Commissioners would have contained substantially more information than what was contained in this PowerPoint and reported to the public. A general conclusion is that the County will start the new year with over 11 million in cash carryover but will end the fiscal year with less than $500,000. More information via Maple Leaf reporting.
Mr. Gorton summarized the goals as follows:
Commissioner Lennon also expressed his goal of reducing the debt and being able to set aside money to pay off the debt from construction of the county building early.
Mr. Lennon wanted to know if the county should put aside money for the new construction. Mr. Gorton said that there was 10 million allocated from the ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds that could be immediately available and that $3 million had already been transferred and they intend to transfer another 3 million, giving a total of $16 million available for this project.
Observer Note: This money will be used for the courthouse renovation according to terms of a settlement with the City of Chardon which required a minimum investment of $15 million and will result in substantial renovations of the courthouse among other things. See Maple Leaf reporting. The actual breakdown of how the remaining ARPA funds will be used was not discussed.
Mr. Lennon also asked if more money will be needed over and above what has been budgeted due to negotiations with Water Resources and Sheriff’s department. Mr. Gorton stated that each department prepared their anticipated needs. He did not know if they took the impact of these negotiations into account in preparing the 2023 budget requests.
Public Comment
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A member of the public asked when there would be a Christmas tree in the lobby of the new building. Mr. Morgan stated that he would be looking into this for next year.
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This Observer asked for a copy of the PowerPoint and Mr. Gorton offered to send it to anyone who gave him their email address. He also gave his email address to the public.
More Information and Posted Minutes: Available on BOCC website
Next Meeting: Tuesday, December 13, 2022 at 9:30 am
Name of Observer: Gail Roussey
Name of Reviewer: Shelly Lewis
Submitted 12/06/2022
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