Board of County Commissioners - April 2, 2024
Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met at 9:30 am on Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at the County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH. The 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.
Attendance: Present were Commissioners Spidalieri, James Dvorak and Timothy Lennon. Also present were Assistant County Administrator Linda Burhenne, Finance Manager Adrian Gorton, and Commissioners' Clerk Christine Blair. County Administrator Gerald Morgan was absent.
County Representatives: Craig Swenson, Executive Director, Job and Family Services; Matthew Sieracki, Coordinator, Maintenance Department; Nick Gorris, Director, Water Resources; Elaine Malkameki, Program Director, Community and Economic Development; Kelly Bidlack, Human Resource Specialist; and a representative from Engineer’s Department
Others in Attendance: Adam Litke, Administrator, Geauga Public Health; Carolyn Brakey, County Commissioner Candidate and Geauga Public Health District Board Member; reporters from the Chagrin Valley Times and Geauga County Maple Leaf; other members of the public, and this observer.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited, and a prayer was offered by Mr. Dvorak.
Minutes: Meeting minutes were submitted for approval from January 30, 2024. Observer Comment: Weekly LWVG Observer Reports for BOCC are available online through April 2, 2024 for informational purposes but are not substitutes for approved minutes. Approved BOCC Minutes are posted online here through January 8, 2024.
Administrator’s Report - Ms. Burhenne gave the following report of actions that she took, in Mr. Morgan’s absence, pursuant to authority given to her by the Commissioners and in accordance with ORC.
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Approved unpaid medical leave for a custodian supervisor employee
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Approved unpaid personal leave of absence for an electrician employee
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Concurred with the Newbury Township Trustees in not requesting a hearing on the Liquor License being requested by Dolgen Midwest LLC d.b.a. Dollar General Store 25510 located at 9939 Kinsman Road, Newbury, Ohio
Financial Report: Mr. Gorton received approval for the following:
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Supplemental from the Engineer’s Office in the Road & Bridge Fund Infrastructure account to fully appropriate the remaining unappropriated balance of the fund
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Cash Transfer from the Public Defender’s Office to the Unemployment Rotary Fund
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Transfer from the General Fund Miscellaneous Levy Reimbursement account to the JFS Public Assistance Transfers in Revenue account for the first half Children's Services levy reduction payment. Reviewer Note: See the Observer Report for the October 24, 2023 Budget Commission meeting for more information on why this transfer was made.
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Travel requests from JFS and Probate Court
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Purchase Orders from Maintenance to:
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Encumbrance from Water Resources to Treasurer, State of Ohio, for an National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for the Opalocka Waste Water Treatment plan which had not been previously encumbered
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Vouchers:
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$272,622.85 from ADP to Tyler Technologies for 2024 licensing and support payment on the County’s financial system plus cloud integration. Last year the payment amount was $190,839.46, which did not include the cloud integration. The total for cloud integration this year is $121,000.00.
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$64,990.00 from Building Department to Junction Auto Sales for two new 2024 GMC Terrain replacement vehicles
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$123,370.85 from Juvenile Court to Courtview Justice Solutions for services and support of their Courtroom Management Software. This was paid in 2022 primarily from an Ohio Supreme Court Technology Grant.
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$131,875.00 from Maintenance to John F Gallagher Plumbing Company for a new 50 ton replacement chiller unit at the Annex
The Engineer’s Office received approval for the following:
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Award the Bid to Ronyak Paving, Inc., for the Asphalt Resurfacing of Wilson Mills Road (CH-0008, Sections D-F) in Chester Township in the amount of $645,645.00 as they represented the lowest and best bid. The Bid Bond submitted shall be held to serve as the Performance Bond for this project.
The 9-1-1 Program Review Committee received approval to execute Resolution #24-054 approving the Countywide 9-1-1 Plan per O.R.C. 128.08
The Building Department received approval for:
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A revised job description for the position of Assistant Building Official to be effective April 2, 2024.
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To advertise for the position of Assistant Building Official. This position will remain posted until filled.
The Department of Community and Economic Development received approval for the Prosecutor’s Office to file a Mortgage Proof of Claim on behalf of Geauga County with the Bankruptcy Court for the balance due on two (2) CHIP loans that were made to Daniel Rogel for property located at 13404 Chillicothe Road, Chesterland in the amount of $6,182.00.
Discussion followed with Commissioners. Ms. Malkamaki stated that this is the balance from two separate loans. Mr. Spidalieri asked about taking action on the tax side. He expressed that they may get more action from the resident. Ms. Malkamaki stated that they had not done that and would contact the tax department. Mr. Lennon asked about where the County is in line for funds. Ms. Malkamaki stated that the County is second in line, as there is a mortgage on the house.
The Maintenance Department received approval for the following:
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To execute the Service Contract Agreement with Deandrade Landscape Design, LTD d.b.a. US Lawns of Cleveland East, to perform lawn mowing and landscaping services at various County locations per the Director for the period April 15, 2024 through October 31, 2025 in an amount not to exceed $50,000.00.
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To execute the Service Contract Agreement with Love Power Washing, LLC, to provide pressure washing and stone protection for various County locations for a period of three years, effective April 2, 2024 in an amount not to exceed $30,000.00.
The Department of Water Resources received approval for the following:
To award the Bid to Agri-Sludge, Inc., for the Aquilla Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements (Re-Bid) in the amount of $1,641,850.00 as they represented the lowest and best bid. The Bid Bond submitted shall be held to serve as the Performance Bond for this project.
Mr. Gorris answered questions from the Board about the project. He gave them a rundown of what they will be doing and stated that it is basically a complete upgrade to the system. Following this upgrade, the wastewater treatment plant should last between 40-50 years and is for the entirety of Aquilla Village. It will be paid for with funds from the American Rescue Plan and Water Resources funds.
The Commissioner’s Office received approval for the following:
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To execute the Agreement with Brooks Homestyle BBQ LLC to provide parking lot service with their catering food truck for sale of food and beverages to the public at the Geauga County Office Building located at 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Chardon, Ohio throughout the Year 2024.
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To execute the Agreement with The Bus Stop – Geauga County’s Food Truck to provide parking lot service with their catering food truck for sale of food and beverages to the public at the Geauga County Office Building located at 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Chardon, Ohio throughout the year 2024.
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To execute the Agreement with Vivina LLC d.b.a. Delish Mobile Kitchen to provide parking lot service with their catering food truck for sale of food and beverages to the public at the Geauga County Office Building located at 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Chardon, Ohio throughout the year 2024.
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To designate Commissioner Dvorak as voting representative (Alternate, Human Resources Specialist, Ms. Bidlack) at the County Employee Benefits Consortium of Ohio Annual Membership meeting on Friday, April 5, 2024.
The Department of Job and Family Services received approval for:
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Acknowledging the following new hire appointments, as the Executive Director of Job and Family Services complied with the Board of Commissioners’ recruitment and hiring procedures for:
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Tracy Ross, Eligibility Referral Specialist II (replacement), Effective December 18, 2023
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Lori Babik, Social Services Worker II (replacement), Effective February 20, 2024
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Megan Crumrine, Eligibility Referral Specialist I (replacement), Effective March 18, 2024
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To amend the Procurement Plan of Job and Family Services to be in compliance with current state and federal laws, to be effective March 2024. The Procurement plan has been approved by the State and reviewed by the Prosecutor’s Office.
Executive Session:
The Department of Job and Family Services is requesting the Board move into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing the compensation of public employees. Present were the Commissioners, Ms. Burhenne and Mr. Swenson. They returned with action on two items:
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Revise Classification and Salary schedule of the JFS Policy and Procedure Manual.
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Grant an adjustment of wages of the employees of JFS in accordance with the rate increase in the JFS Policy and Procedure Manual.
Items not on agenda: Ms. Burhenne presented three items to be discussed:
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The County is in possession of software that would take care of the scheduling of the conference rooms. This has been a cumbersome task, and the software will automate the system. Both ADP and Maintenance will be training all County departments on the use of the software the week of April 15th, with the full rollout to all departments shortly thereafter. Only those individuals that actually schedule the conference rooms will be trained.
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The Board of Elections will need to update their security of ballot boxes in order to safeguard the chain of custody. They will need to install cameras inside the elevators at the County Office Building. Mr. Lennon stated that he would like for the Board of Elections to present a Resolution to the Board. He expressed that they need more documentation and information. Mr. Spidalieri asked as to the status of their moving into the County Office Building. Ms. Burhenne stated that they were waiting for the doors to be secured in their area and that that will happen soon. They have started packing up so they will be ready.
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Reappointment for a Library Board member, Josh Hutchinson, is necessary, as his term is up on June 30th. The terms are 7 years. Before they re-appoint him, Mr. Lennon suggested opening the position up to the public to see if anyone else would be interested as well.
Public Comment was solicited, but none was offered.
Meeting adjourned at 11:15am.
More Information and Posted Minutes: Available here.
Next Regular Meeting of the BOCC: Reviewer Note: At the time of this April 2 Meeting, the next meeting was scheduled for April 9, 2024 at 9:30 am at the Geauga County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH. There will be a separate report on that meeting. The next meeting following April 9 will be on April 16, 2024 at 9:30 am at the Geauga County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH.
Observer: Mary Heintzelman
Editor: Anne Ondrey
Reviewer: Sarah McGlone
Date Submitted: 4/11/24
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