Commissioners Approve Changes to Tax Budget
Board of County Commissioners - August 29, 2024
Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met at 10:00 am on Thursday, August 29, 2024 at the Great Geauga County Fairgrounds, Junior Fair Stage, Burton, 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. Observer Note: Discussion about items not on the agenda is included at the end of this report.
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 Ralph Spidalieri, James Dvorak. and Timothy Lennon. Also present were County Administrator Gerry Morgan, Assistant County Administrator Linda Burhenne, Finance Manager Adrian Gorton, and Commissioners' Clerk Christine Blair.
County Representatives: Dave Logan, President, Agricultural Society and Geauga Fair Board member; Matt Sieracki, Contract Coordinator, Maintenance; Glen Vernick, Director, Maintenance Department; Nick Gorris, Director, Water Resources.
Others in Attendance: 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; Carolyn Brakey, Geauga Public Health Board member and County Commissioner candidate and Dave Parker, Geauga County Fair Board member. In addition, there were several members of the public, the press and this observer.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and a prayer was offered by Mr. Dvorak.
Mr. Logan welcomed all to the BOCC meeting at the Great Geauga County Fair and thanked the Commissioners for all of their support.
Minutes: The Minutes were approved from July 2, July 9 and July 16, 2024. Observer Comment: Weekly LWVG Observer Reports for BOCC are available online through August 29, 2024, for informational purposes but are not substitutes for approved minutes. Approved BOCC Minutes are posted online here through May 21, 2024.
Administrator’s Report: Mr. Morgan reported on the following actions he took in accordance with Ohio law: Observer Comment: Due to the meeting being held at the Fairgrounds, it was difficult to hear Mr. Morgan's report.
Approved the following:
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Hiring of a full time custodian for Maintenance
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Accepted retirement resignations from Water Resources for two employees
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Appropriations Transfer to the Sheriff’s Office for a CORSA insurance check that was deposited into the General Fund
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Cash Transfer to Sheriff's Office unemployment rotary fund
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Travel for Common Pleas Court
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Then and Now from Juvenile Court to Court View Justice Solutions for Courtview 3 migration software and services from 2023 that were not previously encumbered
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Vouchers:
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$36,200 from Maintenance to Gable Elevator for the Opera House elevator repairs
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$98,244 from Sheriff’s Office to Tim Lally Chevrolet for a 2024 Police Pursuit vehicle
Financial Report: Mr. Gorton received approval for the following:
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Formal contract encumbrance from Maintenance for Barbicas Construction Company for various county parking lot repairs
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Revenue Certification from Sheriff’s office for additional revenue to be received from the Fair Police Rotary Fund to pay for extra police.
The Department of Water Resources received approval for the following:
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To execute Change Order #1 increasing the Contract with Agri-Sludge, Incorporated for the Aquilla Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement Project in the amount of $11,080.56.
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To authorize James W. Dvorak, Board member and CEO, to execute the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) Disbursement Request Form and Certification #1 in order to release funds from the state portion of the OPWC grant for the Aquilla Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement Project in the amount of $73,801.72.
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To execute the service Contract Agreement with Murphy Tractor and Equipment Company to perform on-site service and repairs to equipment as needed at various locations within the department for a period of one-year, effective August 29, 2024 in an amount not to exceed $10,000.
The Maintenance Department received approval for the following:
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To execute the Lease Agreement between the Geauga County Board of Commissioners and Family and Community Services, Incorporated d.b.a. Next Step for use of the Pleasant Hill Director’s House, located at 13211 Aquilla Road, including the first and second floors, designated parking area and grounds for the period September 1, 2024 through August 31, 2026 with an automatic renewal for a successive one year term and shall not exceed three years in length in the amount of $28,800 per year (payable in equal installments at $2,400 per month).
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To execute the Service Contract Agreement with Schindler Elevator Corporation to perform preventative maintenance and inspections of the elevators at the Geauga County Office Building, and further authorize the President of the Board of County Commissioners to execute the Schindler Preventative Maintenance Program Terms and Conditions, for a three-year period, effective August 29, 2024, in an amount not to exceed $55,000.
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To execute the Contract Agreement with TEC Incorporated to provide professional design and project management services for the generator upgrade at the Department of Emergency Services, per the specifications for a one-year period, effective August 29, 2024 in an amount not to exceed $38,000.
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To award the bid to Delta Industrial Services, Incorporated for the Geauga County Window and Glass Cleaning Services for 2024-2027 in the amount of $123,084 (2024-2025 - $41,028, 2025-2026 - $41,028, and 2026-2027 - $41,028) as they represented the lowest and best bid.
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To execute the Contract Agreement with Barbicas Construction Company, Incorporated for the Geauga County Parking Lot Repairs, including Patchwork ($55,630), Sealcoating ($56,182) and Line-Striping ($16,500) at various Geauga County Parking Lots in the amount of $128,312. The Bid Bond submitted shall be held to serve as the Performance Bond for this project.
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To authorize the President of the Board of the Board of County Commissioners to execute the Notice to Proceed for Barbicas Construction Company for the Geauga County Parking Lot Repairs Project.
Not on the Agenda:
Mr. Lennon asked if he could appoint Carolyn Brakey as his replacement on the Family First Council. Ms Blair’s response was inaudible. This was tabled. Reviewer Note: Ms. Brakey is a candidate for Geauga County Commissioner, but the appointment is for a Commissioner.
The Commissioners approved the following motion presented by Mr. Gorton:
The Commissioners’ Office is requesting the Budget Commission accept and approve the recommended changes to the 2025 tax budget adding a line to the end of the 2024 appropriations title “estimated unused appropriations” in the amount of 10% of the General Fund expense totals to make the ending 2024 balance and the beginning 2025 balance $9,876,924.10. Reviewer Note: At their August 30, 2024 meeting, the Budget Commission approved the Geauga County budget after making this change. The LWVGeauga Observer report of this meeting will provide more information when published.
Mr. Gorton stated that this is “more in line with what the actual cash carryforward has been”.
Discussion followed. Mr. Spidalieri spoke of how we have been successful as a county and “need to look at what the giveback possibly is going to be to our taxpayers”.
Mr. Spidalieri thanked and recognized Mr. Lennon’s contribution to the Board of County Commissioners and that he will be missed once his term ends at the end of December.
Public Comment: None
Meeting adjourned at 10:30 am.
More Information and Posted Minutes: Available here.
Next Regular Meeting of the BOCC: The meeting following this meeting will be Thursday, September 5, 2024 at 9:30 am.
Observer: Mary Heintzelman
Editor: Carol Benton
Reviewer: Gail Roussey
Date Submitted: 9/8/2024
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