Board of County Commissioners - May 21, 2024
Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met at 9:30 am on Tuesday, May 21, 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 and at the meeting.
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 County Administrator Gerald Morgan, Assistant County Administrator Linda Burhenne, Finance Manager Adrian Gorton, and Commissioners' Clerk Christine Blair.
County Representatives: Matt Sieracki, Maintenance Contract coordinator; Jessica Boalt, Director, Department on Aging Director; Shane Hajjar, PE, Deputy Engineer; Honorable Timothy Grendell, Judge of Probate/Juvenile Court, and Beth Williams, Director of Youth Services
Others in Attendance: Scott Hildenbrand, Geauga County Sheriff; Adam Litke, Administrator, Geauga Public Health; Carolyn Brakey, County Commissioner Candidate and Geauga Public Health Board member; reporter from the Geauga County Maple Leaf and the Chagrin Valley Times, other members of the public, and this observer.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited, and a prayer was offered by Mr. Dvorak.
Minutes: No Minutes were presented for approval. Observer Comment: Weekly LWVG Observer Reports for BOCC are available online through May 21, 2024, for informational purposes but are not substitutes for approved minutes. Approved BOCC Minutes are posted online here through April 9, 2024.
Administrator’s Report
Mr. Morgan reported on actions he had taken in the prior week that had been authorized by ORC and the Commissioners:
Financial Report
Mr. Gorton received approval for the following:
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Supplemental from the Commissioners in the Sheriff’s vehicle account for carryover encumbrances.
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Cash from Department of Developmental Disabilities (DD) operational fund to the Residential Services Fund for Medicaid waiver and other locally funded services.
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Then and Now from the Auditor for payment for copier maintenance contract services previously unencumbered.
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Travel for the Probate Court.
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Voucher: $53,566 from the Sheriff’s Office for Motorola Solutions. Mr. Gorton noted that this was a partial payment, and that the entire amount would be $143,266.
The Commissioners’ Office received approval for an amendment to the 2025 Tax Budget Hearing Schedule, moving the “other departments” hearing from May 14th at 4:15 p.m. to May 21st at 4:15 p.m. Observer Note: The term “other departments” refers to smaller departments that did not have a scheduled time to appear to discuss their budgets. The Directors of these small departments could theoretically decide to attend this hearing, but are not required to do so.
County Engineer’s Office received approval for the following:
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To award the Bid to CMG Contracting, LLC, for the Embankment Stabilization of the Gem Road Bridge (Structure #0264-00.290) in Chester Township and the Embankment Stabilization of the Bundysburg Road Bridge (Structure #0038-03.080) in Parkman Township in the amount of $129,980.00 as they represented the lowest and best bid. The Bid Bond submitted shall be held to serve as the Performance Bond for this project.
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To award the Bid to Cole Burton Contractors, LLC, for the Asphalt Resurfacing of Various Roads including Ravenwood Drive (CH-0604, Sections A-B) and Merritt Road (CH-0605, Section A) in Claridon and Munson Township in the amount of $828,828.00 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. Lennon asked whether it would be for all the roads next to the new county office building, and Mr. Hajjer said it was. He also said work will begin in the next 45 days.
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To approve and execute Resolution #24-120 Authorizing Participation in the ODOT Cooperative Purchasing Program, pursuant to O.R.C. 5513.01(B) which authorizes Commissioner Spidalieri to participate in ODOT contracts for the purchase of machinery, materials, supplies and for the purchase of Single and Tandem Axle Cab and Chassis.
The Department on Aging received approval to acknowledge and accept the Notice of Grant Award for the Healthy Aging Grant in the amount of $2,956.00 and further approve and authorize the President of the Board to execute the Ohio Department of Aging, Attachment D - Request for Funds for the Award Adjustment of $2,956.00 for the Healthy Aging Grant - for a revised total grant award of $204,532.00. This grant is for the period October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024.
The Maintenance Department received approval for the following:
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To execute the service contract Agreement with Riverside Landscape Management, LLC, to perform concrete repair, replacement, and new concrete work at various County locations per the Director for a two-year period, effective May 21, 2024, in an amount not to exceed $60,000.00.
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To execute the service Contract Agreement with Vinecourt Landscaping, Inc., to provide semi-annual and as needed weed control at various County locations and Tower sites, in addition to as-needed fertilization services for the period ending October 31, 2025 in an amount not to exceed $35,000.00.
The Department of Water Resources received approval to execute the service Contract Agreement with Mark Young General Contracting, LLC ,to perform a Variety of Construction and/or Maintenance, including providing associated equipment as needed at various locations within the department for a one-year period, effective May 21, 2024 in an amount not to exceed $60,000.00.
Portage-Geauga Juvenile Detention Center - Commissioners acknowledged a letter from Judge Grendell regarding a proposal regarding the Detention Center as described below.
Probate/Juvenile Court Judge Grendell presented his initiative to change juvenile detention centers from the Portage-Geauga Juvenile Detention Center to the Lake County Detention Facility.
Judge Grendell stated the following:
He thanked Commissioner Spidalieri for his efforts to change the current agreement.
The fixed cost of the Portage-Geauga Juvenile Detention Center does not change because they have to have the same number of personnel, which is why the cost to Geauga is so high even though they have few youths in the facility.
The charge to Geauga County ranges broadly but averages $465 - $1400/night for a total yearly charge of $465,000 for 2023. Geauga has only 5.1% of the usage of the Detention Center. Last year Geauga had 43 youths for 267 nights. From April 2023 through April 2024, the County has been charged $541,206.
In 2018 Judge Grendell approached Lake County and Richland County (Mansfield) for long-term stays and Medina for short-term stays. Judge Grendell reported that they lost the Medina deal, so they went back to Lake County. In the past Lake County was not interested. Now, in principle, Lake County Judge DeLeone said that he would take up to 5 kids from Geauga County a day for $225/day. He also was reported to have said that he would expand the number past five in cases of emergencies. Judge Grendell also said that Richland County will take kids for $100/day for long-term stays. These youths will be there over 90 days and won’t be traveling back and forth. Judge Grendell also reported that no Geauga youths have been in long-term detention this year.
Observer Note: Judge Grendell referred to three types of juvenile facilities as follows:
Judge Grendell stated that he gets to decide where youths are sent but the Commissioners provide which facilities will be available. His recommendation was to use Lake County primarily for detention. He also said that Lake County has some tremendous programs (through grants) such as a Community Corrections Rehab program which would be in lieu of DYS. This would cost $300, but it would also mean that Geauga County would not have money deducted by the State of Ohio for the reclaim amount that Geauga receives from the State. Observer Note: See information on the Reclaim program here. It was also stated that Portage has in theory agreed to take some Geauga youths on a per diem basis if numbers exceed five and if Lake County can’t take additional youths.
There was a discussion with the Commissioners regarding the cost of the current program. The County arrangement with Portage is that Geauga County is on the Board for the Detention Center but has only three votes, while Portage has four. Mr. Lennon said that he felt the County had no real authority as an equity share partner in the Portage-Geauga Detention Center.
Mr. Lennon also said that there are plans for respite care in the County.
Mr. Spidalieri said that Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz had been consulted, and Mr. Flaiz had no issues with the planned changes. Mr. Flaiz had mentioned that he was originally concerned about the limit of five youths, but that has been worked out on an emergency basis with Lake to take more than five.
Judge Grendell concluded that three contracts had to be signed simultaneously - to withdraw from Portage, to sign a contract with Lake, and to sign a different agreement with Portage for overflow. The current arrangements with Sandusky (CCY) and Richland (DYS) would continue.
Mr. Dvorak stated that as a result of the meeting with the Portage-Geauga Juvenile Detention Center Board the prior week, the County would be getting back from Portage $220,000 due to some accounting issues from prior years.
Sheriff Hildenbrand stated that their office would love to use Lake County because of convenience and cost savings.
Mr. Dvorak said they have been talking about this for years. The County has invested 22% in the cost of the Portage facility, and there was a discussion about how much Geauga County would receive back from Portage if they got out of the agreement.
Ms. Burhenne suggested that a target date for all of the contracts could be June 30, 2024.
The Commissioners also thought that it might be advisable to withdraw from the agreement even if the compensation wasn’t determined. Judge Grendell suggested that there might be someone in Medina who could help with the appraisal. Judge Grendell said he would supply the contact information for this individual with the Commissioners.
Mr. Spidalieri asked if, in the case that Geauga County is owed more money for getting out of the agreement, could they use those funds if needed to house youths at the Detention Center if they have more than 5 youths in need of detention? This comment was not answered.
Two resolutions were approved by the Commissioners:
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Withdraw from the Portage-Geauga Juvenile Detention Center Agreement effective June 30, 2024.
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Secure an appraisal of the interest of Geauga County in the facility. Observer Note: As noted by the Commissioners, Geauga County has contributed to the cost of the facility and an ongoing proportion of yearly costs. The Commissioners are seeking an appraisal of the value of their past contribution of 22% to the cost of building this facility.
The Commissioners’ Office received approval to cancel the session on Thursday, May 30, 2024 due to a lack of quorum.
Public Comment: Solicited, but none offered
Meeting adjourned.
More Information and Posted Minutes: Available here.
Next Regular Meeting of the BOCC: The next meeting following this meeting will be June 4, 2024 at 9:30 am at the Geauga County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH.
Observer: Gail Roussey
Editor: Anne Ondrey
Reviewer: Sarah McGlone
Date Submitted: 5/30/2024
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