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Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) – April 18, 2023 

Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners met at 9:30 AM on April 18, 2023 at the County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH. BOCC meetings are in-person only and there are no recordings for the public.  An agenda is available in advance via request to the Commissioners Clerk.

Public Comment Policy: Observer Comment: Commissioner Ralph Spidalieri announced at the end of the April 4, 2023 meeting that public comment would be permitted and that a more formal policy would be forthcoming. There was no formal policy introduced today but public comment was permitted and is detailed at the end of this report.  

Attendance: Commissioners James Dvorak, Timothy Lennon, and Mr. Spidalieri were all present. Also present were Commissioner’s Clerk Christine Blair, Finance Director Adrian Gorton, and County Administrator Gerard Morgan.

County Representatives: Roger Peterson, Emergency Management, Richard Blamer, Geauga Airport Authority, Kathy Hofstutler, Human Resources, Glenn Vernick, Maintenance. In the public, Adam Litke, Administrator, and Carolyn Brakey, Board President, Geauga Public Health District. Reporters from the Maple Leaf and Chagrin Valley Times were also in attendance.

Administrator report - Mr. Morgan informed the BOCC that since their last meeting, he took the following actions:

• Approved a promotion in the Department on Aging.

• Accepted the Ohio Motor Fuel Tax Refund in the amount of $3,862.60.

• Agreed with Bainbridge Twp., to not require a hearing on a Liquor License for Sapphire Restaurant in Chagrin Falls.

• Agreed with Chester Twp to not require a hearing on a Liquor License for Vino_Type in Chesterland.

Minutes - No minutes were presented for review. Reviewer Note:  As of April 21, 2023, approved minutes are available on the BOCC website through March 7, 2023.

Financials - Mr. Gorton reported on the following:

• Travel approved for Common Pleas, Engineers and Job and Family Services.

• Vouchers: $51,909.92 from the Commissioners to Ohio State University for second quarter payment.

• $25,627.84 from Community and Economic Development to Kangas Realty LLC., for work on Camp Ho Mita Koda weatherization project.

• $22,980 from the Engineer’s Office to Junction Buick GMC for a 2023 pick up (after receiving $23,000 credit for a trade-in).

• $91,601.97 from Water Resources to HDR Engineering for design work in connection with the McFarland Treatment Plant.

The Airport Authority received approval for the Local Match on the grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Improvement Program, (AIP) Grant for FY2022 (#3-39-0054-026-2022) for Land Acquisition in the amount of $9,849.00 ($13,221.00 – Donation amount of $3,372.00). Observer Note: As discussed at the April 11 meeting, this was for the purchase of a property required to have sufficient space for the new T-Hangar project which has been completed.  

The Department of Emergency Services received approval to execute the First Addendum to the Contract Agreement with Inspiron Logistics, LLC, to furnish the Geauga County EMA Mass Notification System for the first extension of five additional one-year terms, April 1, 2023 through March 31, 2024 in the amount of $23,650.00 with one third being paid by the Department of Emergency Services ($7,883.34), one third being paid by the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) ($7,883.34) and one third being paid by the Sheriff’s Office ($7,883.34).  All of the remaining terms and conditions of the original contract shall remain in full force and effect.

The Maintenance Department received approval to execute a Service Contract Agreement with McMahon Masonry Restoration LTD to perform masonry repair and replacement services at various Geauga County buildings for a period of two-years, effective April 18, 2023, in an amount not to exceed $40,000.00.  It was noted that this would include anything needed at the Courthouse and in Chardon.

Commissioners Office received approval for the following:

• To authorize the President of the Board to execute the Workers’ Compensation Service Agency Agreement between Geauga County and Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Incorporated, for Workers’ Compensation services for the period May 1, 2023 through April 30, 2024 in the amount of $9,300.00.

• To authorize the President of the Board to execute the Unemployment Compensation Service Agency Agreement between Geauga County and Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Incorporated, for Unemployment Services for the period May 1, 2023 through April 30, 2024 in the amount of $1,205.00.

County Risk Sharing Authority (CORSA) Insurance Program Renewal.

CORSA Insured Partners Agent Gary Wirtz and CORSA Sr. Underwriter Sherry Barboski reviewed the County Risk Sharing Authority (CORSA) Insurance Program. This was a review of the policy and reasons for a small (5.5%)  increase for next year.  

Mr. Wirtz led off the discussion by saying that this was a good year for Geauga County as the net increase over last year was only 5.5%.  He stated that around the country rates for municipalities have increased as much as 18%, and in Ohio increases average 12%.  He stated that drivers of the rate hikes were increased property values and changes in risk exposures in areas like cyber security.  He complimented Geauga for taking advantage of Grant reimbursements and using the loss control credit. 

 

Ms. Barboski said that Geauga has taken advantage of credits and grants.  Added on is coverage enhancement for clean up of chemical pollutants, especially controlled substances.  She stated that this can be an issue in cruisers, holding cells, and at intake areas as fentanyl is sometimes released and the clean up can be extensive.  

In reviewing the reasons for the increase, she said that the property values covered by CORSA have increased and that has caused an increase in rates. She noted that investment income for CORSA is down (as it is for most investment firms) but they were still able to give back a small dividend. Overall in the pool rates have gone up 12% but for Geauga there was only an increase of 5.5%. Ms. Barboski also gave credit to Ms. Hofstutler and Mr. Morgan for their excellent work.

The program for Geauga County is a municipal pool that is a non-profit program.  Mr. Dvorak asked how many new counties joined and Ms. Barboski stated that 8 had joined, the most that have joined since the beginning of the pool. She clarified that this is strictly a pool for counties and county agencies.  

Ms. Barboski said that another issue is cyber enforcement and she commented that Geauga is “up to speed.” In order to continue coverage for cyber, she stressed that members have to go to multifactor authentication and that grants are available to help with converting to that level of security.

• Mr. Lennon said that he knew that a lot of counties are still behind the curve but that over the last year Geauga has gotten up to date.  He further stated that our ADP has been working to get us to that level with only a couple areas still working on it.  

• Per Ms. Barboski, there is $456,000 available to help with this. Mr. Morgan said that last year Geauga took advantage of this and received grant money which was used in the Safety Center. 

Ms. Barboski said that she loved working with Geauga and that Gerry (Mr. Morgan) was very responsive.

Reviewer Comment: Mr. Lennon appears to be referring to recent action by the ADP Board to bring the Department of Water Resources under ADP authority.  See  April 13 ADP Emergency Meeting and April 17 ADP Emergency Meeting reports detailing ADP efforts to contain a cyber attack on an unpatched Water Resources server and to upgrade password and multifactor authentication standards.

CORSA Renewal -  BOCC approved the County Risk Sharing Authority (CORSA) Insurance Program Renewal for the period May 1, 2023 through April 30, 2024 and further authorized the payment of $402,415.00.

Not on the Agenda: Appointment to Library Board - Mr. Dvorak noted that there was a vacancy on the Library Board and made a motion for Chris Miller to be appointed to the Library Board for the unexpired term of Larry Pitorak.  Motion passed unanimously. 

Public Comment - These were the comments from the public:

Tiffany Boardbent of Newbury Twp relayed her concerns about NOACA.  She opined that NOACA is not beneficial to Geauga and stated they have been ideologically captured regarding their version of the climate agenda which she said was not in the purview of NOACA.  She said there was no pushback and also that the old idea of equity (money put in equalling money out) did not apply but that certain demographics were benefiting.  She said there was an imbalance on the NOACA Board, since only 3 board members out of 48 were from Geauga.  She felt NOACA had no fidelity to “our way of life” and that NOACA will not let citizens of Geauga speak. She expressed the opinion that the only answer is to get out of NOACA and asked the Commissioners to do anything possible to achieve that goal.

Diane Jones, who runs the website www.auburntownship.org asked CORSA about the cyber grants.  

• Mr. Morgan said that the county used the money last year to purchase multi-factor identification.  

• Mr. Lennon said there was a maximum of $2,750 per member. 

Gail Roussey of LWV Geauga Observer Corps asked a clarifying question about the change in property values. The answer is included in the information above.

Jonathan Broadbent, elected representative of Newbury Twp Precinct A for the Republican Central Committee, questioned if there were requirements to get the Cyber Grant. 

• Ms Barboski said that grant availability was sent to Directors in member counties.   

• Mr. Spidalieri said that these grants are not like federal grants in that there are no strings attached. Mr. Spidalieri said that sometimes the federal money is not worth pursuing because it would cost more to comply with the requirements and that they are “left-leaning.”  He stated they want to put programs out there just so you do certain things and he opined that CORSA is different.  

• Mr. Dvorak said this is a team effort in the consortium.  

• Mr. Lennon said that CORSA probably saved this county millions of dollars over the years.   

• Mr. Wirtz said that the grants are meant to reduce exposure. He said that the grants last year were used by the Sheriff’s Department for body cameras and if all counties comply in the consortium that makes a big difference.

Mrs. Jones asked about the “score” of 5.15 that Geauga received and wanted context as to how that score was established. 

• Barboski said that the 5.15 was not a score but was the amount of increase for Geauga County, which was low compared to overall 12% increase.  

Chri Alusheff,  elected representative of Aquilla Village for the Republican Central Committee, Council Member of Aquilla Village, President of HDAC and appointed Zoning Inspector for Claridon Twp, commended the Commissioners for their public comment policy, which he acknowledged is not required but is much appreciated.  He  also offered his opinion that the previous speaker on NOACA was correct.  He stated that he had studied the information about NOACA and their climate change mandate and he could find no justification for NOACA’s involvement in climate change.

• Mr. Lennon said that there has been a lot of discussion about “mission creep” from NOACA.  They have authority regarding transportation and that everyone is racing to get in position to take advantage of federal infrastructure money.  

• He further stated his opinion that NOACA was caught off guard by the public reaction to their climate change initiative and that other county commissioners also had concerns about implementation of this plan and the idea of net zero.  He stated he was glad people are paying attention and this topic has been frustrating as a Board (of Commissioners).  

• He said this is not the only NPO that acts like that (focusing on transportation). 

• He further stated that there has been a push for equity but that if it is based on racial make-up it would go against the 14th Amendment.

An unidentified resident announced that the Geauga County Veterans Services is running a Veterans Resource Fair the following day (April 19) at the County Office Building from 3-6 pm.

Mr. Dvorak said that his Rotary Club was very involved with veterans and that they work with Chardon VFW.

Meeting adjourned at 10:18 am

More Information and Posted Minutes: Available here

Next Meeting: Tuesday  April 25, 2023 at 9:30 am 

Observer:  Gail Roussey

Editor: Anne Ondrey

Reviewer: Shelly Lewis

The League of Women Voters Geauga is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. They do not support or oppose individual candidates or parties. Learn more about the LWVG at www.lwvgeauga.org.