Geauga Public Health (GPH) – Regular Meeting July 26, 2023
Meeting Details: The GPH Board met in Regular Session at the Geauga County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Suite B303, Chardon, OH, on July 26, 2023 at 5 pm. The agenda was available on the GPHD facebook page. Geauga County Automated Data Processing (ADP) live streamed this meeting and the recording is available here. At publication, the recording has been viewed 50 times.
Public Comment Policy: There is no separate written policy, but in practice, “Citizens’ Remarks” are included on the agenda and are permitted as detailed there.
Board Attendance: (as seated, from L to R).
-
Carolyn Brakey, President
-
Dr. Ashley Jones, Pro Tem
-
Lynn Roman
-
Dr. Mark Rood
-
Dr. Mark Hendrickson
Staff Attendance:
-
Ron Graham - Health Commissioner
-
Adam Litke - Administrator
-
Daniel Lark - Environmental Health Director
Legal Counsel: Not present
Others Present: Alex Emerson (Geauga Times Courier).
Call to Order: Called to order at 5:00 pm. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. A quorum was declared and a certification of delivery of official notices of meeting.
Minutes: Approved June 28, 2023 regular meeting minutes by voice vote. Approved July 12 Special meeting minutes by voice vote, with Dr. Jones abstaining. Reviewer Comment: Prior to the March 15, 2023 cross jurisdictional agreement with Lake County General Health District, approved GPH minutes were promptly shared on the GPH website. At publication, the most recent published minutes are for the March 2, 2023 Special Meeting. LWVG Observer Reports are available online for information purposes but are not substitutes for GPH minutes.
Health District Staff Reports. Observer Note: The reports were available via the GPH Facebook Page
the day before the meeting.
Population Health Update - Mr. Litke did not discuss the report in detail. He reported that the nursing director who served both Lake and Geauga Counties has resigned, and the position is being filled by an internal staff person. Ms. Roman asked for clarification about the item in the report about Get Vaccinated, where the state has expressed their gratitude to GPH. Mr. Litke explained it was because GPH has caught up with the deliverables for the grant.
Environmental Health Update - Mr. Lark did not discuss the report in detail.
Parkman Wells
Mr. Lark showed a map of the area that identified which wells had been tested and their locations compared to where the salt dome was located. Results from the latest testing showed positive results for Chloride > 250 ppm near the body of water shown on the map, south of route 422. One new test was as high as 1500 ppm. Mr. Lark stated that they would be meeting with the EPA the following week about these results.
As testing has continued farther and farther away from the salt dome, Board members questioned how far out are they responsible for testing? And as the testing is farther away, Ms. Jones asked whether the positive results could be from something else? Mr. Lark said at this point, they have done way more testing than they initially thought they would need to do. They thought they would eventually encounter only negative tests as they moved farther away, but they haven’t gotten there yet.
The houses with wells that have not been tested have refused to allow testing, or could not be contacted after multiple attempts. It was noted that the contamination is not a health threat, but what is called secondary contamination that affects the taste and appearance of the water.
-
Dr. Hendrickson asked if contamination from salt domes had happened elsewhere. Mr. Lark said maybe two other Ohio counties have experienced this issue. In a discussion of why all of the wells are not affected, Mr. Lark explained that wells are drilled to access one of three levels of aquifers. The wells showing contamination are in the higher two aquifers. The new wells being drilled are going to the lowest aquifer.
-
Dr. Rood asked about the Public Health and Safety of the people with wells that have not been tested. Even if they refuse, is there anything GPH can do?. Mr. Lark said GPH cannot force them to have their wells tested.
-
Dr. Hendrickson suggested having another educational meeting with the township with some of the pertinent questions developed as well as a plan with protocols. Mr. Litke said another press conference is planned. The next phase of drilling will begin in the next week or two.
-
Dr. Rood thought some type of meeting where people could hear from their neighbors might be helpful, as often people will trust their neighbors. Mr. Litke mentioned that Mike Derifield (Parkman resident) was very persistent in pressing government officials to get the well project underway.
Other items in the Environmental Health report
Ms. Roman asked about the unlicensed campground in Thompson. Does GPH have the authority to fine the campground operator? Mr. Lark said GPH can’t fine them, but Thompson zoning rules can be applied. Mr. Litke mentioned discussions around the county about AirBnb rentals and how/whether to regulate.
Dr. Rood asked why there were 4 For Sale of Property inspections mentioned in the report. Mr. Lark said that they are now optional but GPH offers them as a service. Some banks require them.
Administration Division Update - Mr. Litke did not discuss his report in detail. He attended a meeting in Summit County with the State about the COVID pandemic - what went right and what went wrong - to provide input to the State.
Ms. Roman asked about the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) rollout August 2 with the Lake/Geauga Realtors Association. Presentations will be made in the communities where the first inspections will take place (Chester and Chardon). There will be presentations at the Trustee meetings, and then public meetings that will take place after 5pm. They are looking into recording the meetings.
The Board asked a few questions about items on the Accounts Payable report.
-
Ms. Brakey asked about spending $4,000 for envelopes. Mr. Lark said they use about 15,000 envelopes each year, and they have GPH’s name on them.
-
There was a question about spending $500/month for services from McDonald Hopkins (a legal firm). Mr. Litke said it’s a retainer for 2-3 hours per month, and he usually uses that many hours.
-
Ms. Roman asked about $5,600 for the Public Health Accreditation Board. Mr. Graham said it’s a fee for maintaining accreditation. Mr. Litke said it’s required by the ORC, and Ms. Brakey said that’s a conversation to be had with state representatives. Reviewer Comment: The Health Commissioner discussed his viewpoints about accreditation at a recent gathering of the Health District Advisory Council. See LWV Geauga Observer Report for June 14 HDAC meeting.
The finance report was approved by voice vote.
Health Commissioner Report - Mr. Graham did not discuss his report in detail.
He’s looking to the State to help develop software that could be used to look at drunk driving, safe driving, and senior screening that would be virtual. He did not go into detail on how the software would be used.
He also mentioned that he is on the bio terrorism team that sent a consent letter to CDC where “locals” have to agree that the money is being spent in a productive manner Observer Note: it was difficult to understand the rest of what he said on this topic. “Without this the state can’t receive the $12 million that they have,” Mr. Graham said. The Commissioner did not elaborate on this, it was not in his written report, and it was difficult to understand his speech.
Ms. Roman asked what the Board could do about the underfunding of Public Health as described in the report. Mr. Graham said he is putting together a proposal to have a lobbying effort, maybe by a county commissioner’s group. He explained that for every $7 to 8 dollars that are needed per capita, the county receives just 19 cents.
Mr. Litke passed out a document for board members to sign, related to finance. He said it was for the bills that were already approved.
Old Business
HB 110 Review: Mr. Litke said he got the contract back to sign and the PO is open (for claims administration to pay the refunds). GPH will start working with the company to start getting the money processed.
He said the Board approved transferring the expenses at the last board meeting He said the Sewage fund is going down significantly, and they are transferring additional funds to the Sewage fund to make sure it doesn’t go into the negative. The contract with the claims administrator will probably be in place by August 1. A few businesses have asked about getting their refunds. Observer comment: At the July 12 Special Meeting, a total of $1.3 million was transferred into the Sewage Treatment Fund, which will be used to pay for the HB 110 program refunds. It is unclear whether additional funds are needed.
Geauga Public Health Levy Review: Mr. Litke said the commissioners did not vote on the levy on July 25 because only 2 commissioners were present at their weekly meeting. They plan to vote on August 1. Ms. Brakey asked to be kept informed.
2016 Lawsuit: Mr. Litke mentioned that staff have been spending a lot of time on an outstanding lawsuit from 2016. He was unsure when it would go to trial.
New Business
Financial Reports, Resolution 23-07-07-01-01: This had already been voted and approved earlier in the meeting.
Permission to Pay McDonald Hopkins Settlement Agreement: Appropriations were not in place when the invoice was initially issued because of an oversight. Approved by voice vote.
Rescind Portion of Appropriations Approved June 28, 2023: In the June 28 meeting, $1 million was appropriated to pay back the HB110 refunds from the general fund. It was later decided that HB110 refunds should be paid back from the Sewage fund, and the $1 million plus was appropriated to the Sewage fund at the July 12 Special meeting. Approved by voice vote.
Resolution 2023-12: Then and Now Purchase Order to Conduent Inc., Not to Exceed $12,500.00: Conduent Inc., prepares the community health needs assessment, with University Hospitals. Mr. Litke commented that during the transition, some purchase orders were not prepared in time. Approved by voice vote.
Resolutions 2023-13 through 2023-16 for Then and Now Purchase Orders to Flannery Georgalis, LLC for legal services provided prior to May, 2023 by Bryan Kostura, Esq. Combined total of $49,947.15 is in addition to $132,713.70 in legal fees approved during the May GPH board meeting.
-
2023-13: Then and Now PO to Flannery Georgalis, LLC not to exceed $153.25
-
2023-14: Then and Now PO to Flannery Georgalis, LLC not to exceed $750.00
-
2023-15: Then and Now PO to Flannery Georgalis, LLC not to exceed $43,898.90
-
2023-16: Then and Now PO to Flannery Georgalis, LLC not to exceed $5,145.00
Mr. Litke said the purchase orders were originally made out to the old firm (McDonald Hopkins LLC) but some of the invoices are coming from the new firm (Flannery Georgalis LLC) and so new purchase orders have to be made out to Flannery Georgalis. Each invoice requires a separate resolution. Mr. Litke said this level of payments to Flannery Georgalis shouldn’t occur in the future. All of the resolutions 2023-13 through 2023-16 were approved by voice vote.
Reviewer Note: GPH’s outside legal counsel, Bryan Kostura, Esq., switched law firms from Flannery Georgalis to McDonald Hopkins. During the May 24, 2023 GPH meeting, the GPH board approved resolution 2023-6, authorizing the payment of a Then & Now Purchase order to McDonald Hopkins for legal services. The total was not to exceed $132,713.70. Mr. Litke commented, “this is the audit and everything else.”
Resolution 2023-17 (Not on agenda): Dex Imaging. A purchase order was not opened for work done in January/February. Not to exceed $7,926.
Citizen’s Remarks:
A resident asked about the well with the 1,500 ppm levels of contaminant and whether that level of contamination ever be reduced? Mr. Lark said yes, but it takes a long time. Ground water moves at a speed of only a few feet per year.
A resident talked about a meeting he had with the Deputy Department of Emergency Services for Geauga County where the person was complimentary of Mr. Graham’s participation in the Biowatch exercise. He said he wanted to pass that along to Mr. Graham. The resident also congratulated Mr. Graham on getting the contract for field monitoring teams from Energy Harbor (mentioning that someone named Burt deserved some kudos because he was very tenacious). He said this benefits Geauga County as well.
Alex Emerson with the Geauga Times Courier (Chagrin Valley Time Publishing) introduced himself.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:52 PM.
Next regular meeting: August 23, 2023 at 5 pm. All meetings at Geauga County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Suite B303, Chardon, OH.
More Information: Geauga Public Health
Observer: Nina Lalich
Editor: Anne Ondrey
Reviewer: Gail Roussey
The League of Women Voters of 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.