Board of County Commissioners – December 29, 2022
Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners met in person at 9:30 am on December 29, 2022. The meeting was held at the Geauga County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Claridon. This meeting was in person only and there was no link to a recording.
Attendance: Commissioners Dvorak and Spidalieri were present, as were Commissioner’s Clerk Christine Blair, County Administrator Gerard Morgan and Finance Director Adrian Gorton. Commissioner Lennon was not present.
County Representatives: County Engineer Shane Hajir, Water Resources Director Steve Oluic and Kathleen Miller, Joanne Santilli, Transit, Gina Hofstetter, Community and Economic Development.
The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer led by Mr. Dvorak.
Minutes: No minutes were presented for review. Reviewer Comment: As of January 4, 2023, minutes are posted on the BOCC website through November 15, 2022.
Administrator Report: Gerard Morgan reported on actions he approved: Transfer to the Auditor’s, Supplemental for ADP for equipment purchase (vehicle), Cash transfer to Department of Aging for the Service Center project, Revenue de-certification from Engineer’s account due to fees not received and hiring of a coordinator in the Building Department.
Financial Report: Mr. Adrian Gorton report that he approved transfers in ADP, Engineer’s Dept, Juvenile Court for payroll end of year
The Airport Authority received approval for the following:
It was explained that this involves 3 properties added to the lease agreement.
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to appoint Jim Makee to the Airport Authority Board for a four-year term, January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2026.
The Court of Common Pleas received approval to authorize the President of the Board to execute the Ohio Department of Public Safety, Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS) Subgrant Award Agreement (#2022-AR-CCB-1117) for Automated Outbound Text Message Reminder System software in the amount of $5,000.00 with no local match.
As explained by the representative from the Court, there is a cost to the county for this program which will provide text alerts to those accused of a crime regarding their court date. It was stated that Youngstown had done a study of this method of contact and found that criminal defendants were more likely to appear in court if they were notified by text in advance. Mr. Spidalieri offered an opinion that he wouldn’t have approved of this if there had been a cost since he didn’t think a reminder should be necessary.
The Planning Commission received approval for the re-appointment of James McCaskey and Gary Neola to the Planning Commission Board for three-year terms, January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2025.
The Commissioners tabled a request from the Planning Commission for the re-appointment of Caterina Cocca-Fulton. No explanation was offered.
Reviewer Comment: Caterina Cocca-Fulton served as Chair of the Planning Commission in 2022. As documented in the LWV Geauga Observer Report for the Dec 12, 2022 Planning Commission Meeting, Mrs. Cocca-Fulton resigned as Chair but expressed her desire to continue serving on the Planning Commission.
The Department of Development (Community & Economic) received approval for the following:
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to re-advertise for Bids for the Camp Ho Mita Koda Cabin Winterization Project, to be held on Wednesday, February 1, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. Notice of this Bid Opening will be advertised on Friday, January 6, 2023 and on the County website.
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the re-appointment of Daniel Plant to the Fair Housing Commission for a two-year term, January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2024.
The Department of Job and Family Services received approval for the following:
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to re-appoint the following members to the Family Services Planning Committee for a one-year term, January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023 including: Kimberly Carter, Jessica Boalt, Vicki Clark, Jennifer Felker (Alternate – Nancy Santilli), Julie Gorenc, Scott Hildenbrand, Teri Malnar, Gerry Morgan, Andrea Pollock, Tim Kehres and Angela Spalsbury.
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To approve and authorize the President of the Board to execute the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Geauga Memorandum of Understanding to Address Child Abuse and Neglect and further acknowledging the agreements between Job and Family Services and Community Partners that identify procedures for collaborative service to ensure child safety.
The Transit Department received approval for the following:
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To hire Donald Geddis to the position of Part-time Driver (#2210-1) to be effective January 9, 2023 at the rate of $15.57 per hour with a one-year probationary period.
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To execute the First Addendum to Contract Agreement with Melzer’s Fuel Service to extend the term of the Agreement from January 1, 2023 up to and including June 30, 2023 with all other terms and conditions of the original agreement remaining in full force and effect.
Director Santilli also reported (in answer to a question by Mr. Spidalieri) that the Transit Department is working on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Lake County.
The Department of Water Resources received approval for the following:
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to authorize the President of the Board to execute the Ohio Water Development Authority Fund Payment Request #7 for Woodford Excavating, LLC for the Bainbridge Waterline Extension Project, the Ohio Water Development Authority Contractor’s Estimate #7 and the Ohio Water Development Authority Fund Payment Request #7 in the amount of $51,719.41.
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to authorize the President of the Board to execute the Ohio Water Development Authority Fund Payment Request #13 for the McFarland Wastewater Treatment Plant Renovation Project for technical services by HDR Engineering, Incorporated in the amount of $81,270.23.
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to approve and execute the Agreement between the Board of County Commissioners for Geauga County and the Geauga County Department of Water Resources Employees, Local 4340 Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO/CLC for the period January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2025.
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to approve and execute service Contract Agreements with
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Geauga Door Sales and Service, Incorporated (not to exceed $5,000)to perform Door Repair services as need at various location within in the Water section of the department, and to perform Door Repair services as need at various location within in the Wastewater section of the (not to exceed $5,000.00.)
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The Bergren Associates, Incorporated to perform Maintenance service and installation of all telemetry and control systems, including meter calibration, at various Wastewater facilities (not to exceed $5,000.00.),
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Mack Industries, Incorporated to perform Repair services, as needed at various locations within the department for a period of one-year, (not to exceed $20,000.00.),
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Woodford Excavating, LLC to perform Excavating and water line repair services as needed at various Water District locations within the department for a period of one-year, (not to exceed $30,000.00.)
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Emery Electric, Incorporated to perform electrical repairs as needed at various locations within the department for a period of one-year, (not to exceed $49,000.00.)
Archives received approval to waive the 200-hour maximum accrual for Clair Wilson, Archives Supervisor in Payroll Period #25, as she has reached twenty-five years of service and received a forty-hour increase in vacation accrual causing her to exceed the 200 your maximum limit.
The Commissioners’ Office received approval for the following:
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to increase in the amount by $10,000.00 for the Retention Agreement re: Representation of Geauga County Commissioners in Mediation and Potential Litigation Filed by Charles Walder, Geauga County Auditor, and / or the Geauga County ADP Board with Roetzel and Andress for a new not to exceed amount of $40,000.00, unless prior approval by the Board.
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To approve the Commissioners Meeting / Session Schedule for 2023.
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To execute Resolution #22-200 to Conduct Meetings of the Board of Commissioners for the Year 2023 at the office of the Board at 470 Center Street, Building #4, Chardon or at the Geauga County Office Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Claridon Township, Ohio.
The BOCC decided not to hold the previously scheduled Work Session to review and discuss items for next year’s organizational meeting since all three commissioners were not present.
Public Comment – none
Meeting adjourned.
More Information and Posted Minutes: Available on BOCC website
Next Meeting: Thursday, January 5th at 9:30 am
Name of Observer: Gail Roussey
Name of Reviewer: Shelly Lewis
Submitted 1/3/2023
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