Board of County Commissioners - August 31, 2023
Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met at 10:00 AM on August 29, 2023 at The Great Geauga County Fair, Junior fair stage, Burton, 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. Observer Note: Due to the location at the Geauga County Fair it was very difficult to hear some of the speakers, especially Mr. Gerald Morgan.
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 and there was no invitation for public comment.
Pledge of Allegiance was recited and a prayer was offered by Mr. Dvorak.
Mr. Spidalieri thanked Mr. Logan, from the Geauga County Fair Board, for hosting the meeting at the fair.
Attendance: Present were Commissioners Ralph Spidalieri, James Dvorak, and Timothy Lennon. Also present were Commissioners' Clerk Christine Blair and County Administrator Gerald Morgan. Finance Manager Adrian Gorton was absent.
County Representatives: There were many representatives in attendance and they were all recognized by Mr. Spidalieri: Scott Hildenbrand, Sheriff; Charles Walder, Auditor/Chief Administrator; Jim Flaiz, Prosecutor; Sheila Bevington, Clerk of Courts; Celesta Mullins, Recorder; Andrew Haupt, Engineer’s office; Glen Vernick, Maintenance Director; Adam Litke, Geauga Public Health Administrator; Carolyn Brakey, Board President, Geauga Board of Health; Nick Gorris, Interim Director Dept of Water Resources; Linda Burhenne, Assistant County Administrator; Dave Parker, Sharon Gingerich and Mr. Logan, Geauga County Fair Board.
Others in Attendance: Reporters from the Geauga Maple Leaf, Geauga Times Courier, several other members of the public and this observer.
County Administrator Report and Financial Report: .Mr. Morgan reported on the following actions taken by him pursuant to authority granted to him by the Commissioners and presented the Financial Report in the absence of Finance Manager Adrian Gorton:
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Approved and executed the Ohio Department of Development summary job certification summary from Great Lakes Growers LLC . They have fulfilled the job creation obligation of their revolving loan fund loan.
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Revenue certification in the general fund from the Commissioners in the Sales Tax revenue account, the Treasurer in the Interest Revenue account and from the Board of Elections Help America Vote Fund Interest Revenue account for additional revenue to be received this year.
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Appropriations transfer from the Commissioners contingency account to the Sheriff's contract services account.
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Supplemental in the Commissioners miscellaneous to set up a payment to the Sheriff’s office.
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Supplemental in the Clerk of Courts Administrative Fund - transfer out account to facilitate a cash transfer to the Commissioner’s capital reserve phase 2 fund.
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Travel for
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Juvenile Court
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Probate Court
Vouchers:
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$13,703.37 from the Commissioners to Donley’s Independence Inc.
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$196,676.32 from Transit to Laketran for the balance of funds owed to Laketran from Geauga Transit operations less the remaining amount on their cash advance on their unpaid 2nd quarter cost allocation payment. $20,000 is also to be held in escrow until September 30th.
Minutes: Minutes were approved for July 6 and July 11, 2023.. At publication, minutes were posted on the BOCC website through July 11, 2023. Reviewer Comment: Weekly LWVG Observer Reports for BOCC are available online through August 22, 2023 for information purposes but are not substitutes for approved BOCC minutes.
The Department of Water Resources received approval to execute the service contract agreement with Agri-Sludge Inc, to perform McFarland Wastewater Treatment Plant dewatering for the department for a period of one-year, effective August 31, 2023, in an amount not to exceed $45,000.
The Commissioners office received approval and authorization for the President of the Board to execute the agreement with Company 119 for the development and implementation of a new announcement section on the existing website, including content migration, general support and trending in an amount not to exceed $2,500.00.
Ms. Burhenne stated that this was in response to a request from Mr. Morgan for more autonomy for their website so they could put content on the website themselves.
The Commissioner’s office received approval to execute Resolution #23-15 appointing Scott Hildenbrand as the initial Region 13 incorporated representative member to the OneOhio Governance Board. OneOhio provides a mechanism for the distribution of any opioid settlement funds and outlines how the funds can be used.
Mr. Dvorak stated that there are 19 regions and region 13 includes Ashtabula, Lake, Geauga and Portage counties. There will be funds distributed in the next 18-19 years based on the Opioid settlement. Region 13 will be receiving 2.4 million sometime in 2024.
Meeting Canceled: The Commissioners’ Office received approval to cancel the session scheduled for Thursday, September 7, 2023.
Executive Session: At 10:10, The Commissioners went into Executive Session for the purpose of considering the purchase of property for public purposes and the sale of property at competitive bidding, pursuant to O.R.C. 121.22 (G)(2). They were joined by Mr. Morgan and Mrs. Burhenne.
Executive Session - Commissioners came out of Executive Session at 10:45 and announced they will move to begin negotiations on a property. They did not comment if it was to buy or sell and said it will be less than $1,000,000. Location of property(s) was not disclosed. Reviewer Note: A recent report in the Geauga County Maple Leaf (September 7, 2023) reported that Mr. Morgan will be conducting the negotiations which involve entities moving out of 470 Center Street. A location on the Chardon City Square was mentioned but not confirmed.
More Information and Posted Minutes: Available here
Next Meeting: Tuesday, September 12, 2023 at 9:30 am.
Observer: Mary Heintzelman
Editor: Anne Ondrey
Reviewer: Gail Roussey
Date Submitted: 9/4/ 2023
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