Board of County Commissioners - December 5, 2023
Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met at 9:30 AM on December 5, 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.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and a prayer was offered by Commissioner James Dvorak.
Attendance: Present were Commissioners Ralph Spidalieri, James Dvorak and Timothy Lennon. Also present were County Administrator Gerald Morgan, Finance Manager Adrian Gorton and Commissioners' Clerk Christine Blair.
County Representative: Linda Burhenne, Assistant County Administrator; Scott Hildenbrand, Sheriff; Elaine Malkamaki, Program Director, Community Development, and Jessica Boalt, Director, Department on Aging
At the Statutory Meeting to discuss the Courthouse Project, The Honorable Carolyn Paschke, Judge, Court of Common Pleas, was present as detailed below.
Others in Attendance: Carolyn Brakey, Board President, Department of Health; Adam Litke, Administrator, Geauga Public Health; Representatives from Then Design; Reporters from Chagrin Valley Times and Geauga Courier, Tom and Diane Jones, other members of the public and this observer.
Report of County Administrator Mr. Morgan - Mr. Morgan reported on the following action taken by him:
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Accepted resignation from Water Resources of a full time maintenance worker at the McFarland Waste Treatment Plant and granted permission for them to advertise for the replacement position.
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Concurred with the Bainbridge Township Trustees not to request a hearing for the liquor license request by 8235 E. Washington LLC dba Zeppes Bainbridge.
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Acknowledged a new hire for Job and Family Services.
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Approved a revenue certification from Common Pleas in their Pretrial Release Supervision Fund for unbudgeted revenue received in 2023.
Minutes: Minutes were approved for the meeting of October 31, 2023. Observer Comment: Weekly LWVG Observer Reports for BOCC are available online through December 5, 2023 for informational purposes but are not substitutes for approved BOCC minutes.
Financial Report - Mr. Gorton received approval for the Financial Report, containing the following:
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To execute the contract agreement with W.B. Mason to provide office furniture, hardware and installation services for a period of 3 months in an amount not to exceed $21,315.39, for ADP office furniture.
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Appropriations transfer and supplemental to prepare for a cash transfer from General Fund to Capital Reserve Fund Phase 2.
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Cash transfer from General Fund to County Facility Bond Retirement Fund for the rest of the money needed for the principal and interest payments for the year 2024.
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Then and Now encumbrance from JFS for the payment of training stipends.
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Vouchers:
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$227,814.44 from Commissioner’s Office to Then Design Architectural for services and design for courthouse expansion project.
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$66,000.00 from Community Development to Driverage Vehicle Innovations LLC for a Paratransit van vehicle for the Department on Aging block grant project.
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Revenue decertification from Water Resources operating fund to true up their revenue accounts for what was actually received in 2023.
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Execution of the updated Accounting Forms Authorization Form and Payroll Authorization Form for Department on Aging.
The Department of Development received approval for the following:
Execution of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Geauga County Board of Commissioners and 7145 Pine LLC regarding the 2023-2025 round of State of Ohio Brownfield Remediation and Development Grants.
The Commissioners were provided with a handout which outlined the scope of the project as well as paperwork to be signed as the deadline for the application was the day of the meeting at 10:00 AM. There was a short window to apply after the rollout of this grant. There is $1,000,000 set aside for each county. The total project will cost about $3,000,000, and the current owners, Snavely Corporation, have already done a lot of work. There are 12 acres at the property. Mr. Lennon asked about the specifics of cleanup. Mr. Morgan stated that it is primarily lead.
The Statutory Group, consisting of the Commissioners, Sheriff, Judge of Common Pleas Court, Judge of Probate Court and Clerk of Courts met to review and approve the plans. drawings, representations, bills of material, specification of work and estimates of the cost in detail and in aggregate relating to GMP Amendment #1 to the contract with Infinity Construction Company. Missing were the Clerk of Courts and the Judge of Probate Court. Reviewer Note: According to Mr. Gorton, GMP is Guaranteed Maximum Price. He stated that there will be another amendment to the GMP in January once subcontractors respond to the contractor with their own bids.
The Commissioners were provided handouts which described the work covered for this part of the Courthouse Expansion project in the amount of $931,002.00. This is in addition to the previously approved amount of $91,000.00.
The Auditor’s Office requested approval for the following:
To execute Resolution #23-199 Amended. This Resolution is to accept the amounts and rates as determined by the Budget Commission and Authorize the necessary tax levies and certifying them to the County Auditor.
Observer Note: This Resolution was amended and included the actions taken by many entities to reduce or suppress collections of levies due to recent changes in anticipated revenues due to the revaluation of all property in the County.
Prosecutor’s Office received approval for the following:
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Re-appointment of Auditor Charles Walder to the Volunteer Peace Officers’ Dependents Fund Board for the term ending December 31, 2024.
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Re-appointment of Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand to the Volunteer Peace Officers’ Fund Board for the term ending December 31, 2024.
The Commissioner’s Office received approval for:
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Execution of the Anthem Group Life/Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance for rate renewal 2024.
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Execution of Resolution #23-200 approving American Rescue Pan Act of 2021 Expenditure - Water Resources Aquilla Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrades. The cost will be about $1,000,000.
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Execution of GMP Amendment, State of Ohio Standard Requirements for Public Facility Construction, GMP Amendment #1 and Infinity Construction Company Inc. for the Geauga County Courthouse Expansion project in the amount of $931,002.00.
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Acceptance and Acknowledgement of Surety State of Ohio Standard Requirements for Public Facility Construction for the performance and payment bonds for Infinity Construction Company, Inc,. for CM at Risk Project - Courthouse Expansion Project in the amount of $1,022,022.00.
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Execution of Resolution #23-201 to schedule and hold a special meeting on Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at 12:00 PM for a groundbreaking ceremony on the Geauga County Courthouse Expansion Project, located at 100 Short Court St. on the northeast corner of the existing courthouse in Chardon, OH.
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Execution of Resolution #23-202 for the (Permanent) Annual Appropriation, in accordance with ORC 5705.38 and 5705.40, for the year 2024.
A powerpoint presentation was included with the totals and breakdown of revenue and appropriations.
Carryover Balance $7,612.221
Revenue $43,550,114
Appropriations $43,702,856
There are pending requests for funding in the amount of $1,159,287.00. They will be considered at a later date. The pending requests (not included in the 2024 Budget) are:
Commissioners $500,000 (Emergency & Operating Transfers)
Board of Elections $105,000 (Vehicle and mail extractor)
Juvenile/Probate Court $50,000 (community outreach program)
Maintenance $504,287 (Various vehicles and equipment)
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Execution of Resolution #23-203 to authorize and increase to the maximum limit for Blanket Purchase Orders from $25,000 to $50,000 effective January 1, 2024.
The previous threshold, as set by the State of Ohio, had not been raised since 2014. Mr. Lennon voiced concern about accountability and discussion followed. The Sheriff’s Office commented on the advantage to this threshold being raised.
Ms. Burhenne explained that they are starting the process to have the Building Department and Community and Economic Development Department separate as it was in the past.
Executive Session:
The Commissioners moved into Executive Session at 10:36 for the purpose of considering the purchase of property for public purposes and the sale of property at competitive bidding. They returned at 11:00 with a report that no action would be taken at this time.
Items not on Agenda:
Mr. Morgan received approval for the Department of Emergency Services (DES) to pay a late fee on their phone bill from Windstream.
The Department of Aging received approval for the County Administrator to authorize a contract received from Western Reserve Aging for a grant in the amount of $568,000.
Public Comment:
An Observer from The League of Women Voters questioned the absence of two of the Statutory Group members. Mr. Morgan stated that the Clerk of Courts was at a meeting in Columbus and the Probate Judge Timothy Grendell did not think he should be a part of the meeting as his office will not be part of the new Courthouse. In an answer to a follow up question, it was stated that Judge Grendell has offices in the Annex and would not be moving to the renovated Courthouse.
Meeting adjourned at 11:06 AM
More Information and Posted Minutes: Available here.
Next Regular Meeting of the BOCC: December 12, 2023 at 9:30 am
Observers: Mary Heintzelman
Editor: Anne Ondrey
Reviewer: Gail Roussey
Date Submitted: December 11, 2023
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