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Board of County Commissioners - August 1, 2023

Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met at 9:30 AM on August 1, 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.  

Pledge of Allegiance was recited and a prayer was offered by Mr. Dvorak.

Attendance: Present were Commissioners James Dvorak, Ralph Spidalierin and Timothy Lennon.  Also present were Commissioners' Clerk Christine Blair, County Administrator Gerard Morgan, and Senior Financial Specialist Deborah Ashburn for Finance Manager Adrian Gorton, who was absent. 

County Representatives: Shane Hajjar, Engineer’s Department; Elaine Mlkamaki, Program Director, Community and Economic Development

Others in Attendance: Linda Burhenne, Asst, County Administrator, Gina Hofstetter, Director, Dept of Community and Economic Development, Adam Litke, Geauga Public Health Administrator, Ron Graham, Lake County Public Health Coordinator; Nick Gorris, Interim Director Water Resources, Geauga Maple Leaf reporter, Tom and Diane Jones and several other members of the public.

Minutes: Approved minutes for the meeting of June 6, 2023. At publication, minutes were posted on the BOCC website through June 1, 2023. Reviewer Comment: Weekly LWVG Observer Reports for BOCC are available online through July 25, 2023 for information purposes but are not substitutes for approved BOCC Minutes. 

Observer Note:  At the July 11, 2023 meeting, it was noted that the public had difficulty hearing the discussions between Mr. Morgan, Mrs. Blair and the Commissioners.  Microphones were present on the dais for this meeting but did not appear to work.

County Administrator Report: Mr. Morgan reported on the following action taken by him pursuant to authority granted to him by the Commissioners: 

• Hiring of a full time contract coordinator for maintenance with a start date of 8/14/2023. Wage will be $23.22 per hour with a 1 year probationary period. This position was previously approved.

Discussion followed as Mr. Vernick had also asked for approval for the hiring of a second full time maintenance coordinator at the same wage of $23.22. This will be a new position. One would focus on projects and the other would focus on service contracts.- Approved

Financial Report: Ms. Ashburn presented the Financial Report, which was approved and included the following:

• Supplemental for Mental Health for a cost allocation for Geauga Common Pleas court operations.

• Supplemental for Dept of Emergency Services for EOC software to replace Storm Chaser and 30 old computers.

• Travel for Auditors office

• Then and Now to Circuit Court for preparation of reports from 2021 and 2022.

• Vouchers (2) from Geauga County Board of Developmental Disabilities (GCBDD) totaling $41,725.00 for concrete work. 

• Voucher from Water Resources to ADP in the amount of $14,362.50  for prior cyber incident

• Voucher from Water Resources to Junction Auto in the amount of $43,490.00 for Ram vehicle.

Mr Dvorak inquired as to the scope of concrete work for Geauga County Board of Developmental Disabilities (GCBDD). Ms. Ashburn said It will be around the playground, building and parking lot.

Mr. Spidalieri questioned repurposing of the 30 old computers. It was stated that they were very old and obsolete.

County Engineers Office received approval for the following:

• To authorize Mr. Lennon to execute the Ohio Public Works Commission Disbursement Request Form and Certification #1 in order to release funds from the state portion of our OPWC grant for the Fairmount Rd. resurfacing in Russell Twp in the amount of $200,000.

Geauga Public Health requested the following from the Commissioners:

• Acknowledgment of receipt of the Certificate of Estimated Property Tax Revenue from the county auditor for the public health .2 mill renewal

• Approval and execution of Resolution #23-133 declaring it necessary to levy a tax in excess of the ten mil limitation and to provide for the necessary requirements of the health program of the Geauga County Board of Health..

There was discussion between Mr. Lennon and Adam Lipke in regards to financial information. Points discussed

• This is a renewal levy.

• The impact to taxpayers would be about $30 per $100,000 valuation per tax year.

• Tax collection for last year was $630,000 which was about a 98% collection rate. Average is between $530,000 and $630,000.

• There is a 3.5 million carry over. This includes some funds from Covid relief and some from septic and sewage programs from the past. Mr. Lennon asked about this and Mr. Litke said they would be drawing down about 1 Million from this to pay the HB 110 payments to property owners who were charged but did not have inspections.  Mr, Lennon concluded that there would then be a $2.5 million carryover and he asked how long it would take to “burn through” this amount.  Mr. Litke said that the“Property for Sale” program was a revenue driver but has been replaced by a new program, “Operations &  Maintenance”, which is required by the state. It will take 5-7 years for fees from this program to offset expenses.

• The carry forward would last 3.5 years without a levy.

• Reserves are needed in case of any emergencies

Department of Development requested the following from the board:

• Approval and execution of a letter to the Ohio Development Service Agency requesting a second amendment to the Community Development Block Grant for a six month extension through February 29, 2024 due to supply chain issues for two projects. These are for the clinic generator and the Department of Aging paratransit van.

Change in Meeting Date -The Commissioners office requested approval for the meeting of August 29, 2023 to  be moved to August 31, 2023 and to take place at The Great Geauga County Fair. It will be at the Jr. Fair 4 H stage.

Public Comment

Diane Jones asked for the identity of “the man who accompanied Adam Litke”.  He introduced himself as Ron Graham, Health Commissioner.

There was concern expressed by another resident in regards to the development of the former Sea World and Geauga Lake property in Bainbridge township. The individual inquired as to the involvement of the county. He was informed that the issue was a Bainbridge Township issue so out of the county jurisdiction.

Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at  about 9:55 am

More Information and Posted Minutes: Available here

Next Meeting: Tuesday August 8, 2023 at 9:30 am

Observers:  Mary Heintzelman 

Reviewer:  Gail Roussey

Date Submitted:  8/04/2023

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