BOCC Commits to Secure $750,000 towards New Poultry Barn at Fairgrounds
Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Meeting - October 17, 2024
Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met on Thursday, October 17, at 9:30 am for a meeting 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. Items discussed at the meeting but not on the agenda are addressed 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 has been no formal policy introduced and there was no public comment permitted today.
Attendance: Present were Commissioners Ralph Spidalieri and James Dvorak. Commissioner Timothy Lennon was absent. Also present were Commissioners' Clerk Christine Blair, County Administrator Gerry Morgan, and Assistant County Administrator Linda Burhenne. Finance Manager Adrian Gorton was absent and his report was given by Deborah Ashburn, Senior Financial Specialist.
County Representatives: Richard Blamer, Manager, Geauga Airport Authority; Elaine Malkamaki, Program Director, Community Development; Nick Gorris, Director, Water Resources, and representatives from The Geauga Fair Board.
Others in Attendance: Gina Hofstetter, Director, Community Development; Carolyn Brakey, Geauga Health Board member and candidate for Board of County Commissioners, members of the press, the public and this observer.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and a prayer was offered by Mr. Dvorak.
Minutes: The minutes from the meetings of September 10 and September 17, 2024 were submitted and approved. Observer Comment: Weekly LWVG Observer Reports for BOCC are available online through October 17, 2024, for informational purposes but are not substitutes for approved minutes. Approved BOCC Minutes are posted online here through August 29, 2024.
Mr. Morgan received approval for the following financials from October 9, 2024: Formal Contract purchase order from the Commissioners to the Dann Law LPA Firm for legal representation. Reviewer Note: Please see the LWVG Observer Report for the October 8, 2024 BOCC Meeting for more information about the hiring of this law firm.
Mr. Dvorak asked if this was an approval for an actual payment. Mr. Morgan stated that this was not for an actual payment and just to put the money in place. No bill has
been received yet.
Administrator’s Report: Mr. Morgan received approval for the following:
Financial Report: Ms. Ashburn received approval for the following:
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Appropriation transfers:
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Supplementals from the Sheriff's Office, Juvenile Court and Department of Emergency Services for an increase in payroll accounts for year end
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Cash Transfer from General Fund to the Board of Developmental Disabilities for third quarter gas well allotment proceeds
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Travel Requests:
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Engineer’s Office
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Recorder’s Office
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Public Defender's Office
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Then and Now from the Sheriff's Office to Hall Public Safety Upfitters for additional vehicle equipment
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Encumbrance increase from Commissioners to ThenDesign Architecture change order #3 for the courthouse project
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Vouchers:
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$63,035.29 from Commissioner’s Office to Ohio State University for 4th quarter appropriation
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$72,083.15 and $21,419.50 to from Commissioner’s Office to Donelys Independence for final pay request for the county office building
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$352,396.38 from Engineer's Office to Ronyak Paving Inc., for asphalt resurfacing of Auburn Rd sections K-M
The Airport Authority received approval for the following:
Reimbursement Request #2 for FAA AIP Grant Project (#3-39-0054-027-2023) for Construct Parallel Taxiway A Pavement and LED Lighting Phase 1 (of 2) in the amount of $71,600.00 ($64,440.00 FAA Portion, $3,850.00 ODOT portion and $3,850.00 Local County Match). Phase 1 is for Design and Phase 2 is the actual project.
Community and Economic Development received approval for the following:
To execute Resolution #24-182 Requesting to Establish a New Fund titled the Brownfield Remediation Grant Program Fund, for the deposit of all revenues and expenses associated with the grant award for the remediation of Brownfield sites at industrial, commercial or institutional properties.
Department of Water Resources received approval for the following:
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To authorize James W. Dvorak, board member and Chief Executive Officer, to execute the Ohio Public Works Commission Disbursement Request Form and Certification #2 in order to release funds from the state portion of the OPWC (Ohio Publics Works Commission) grant for the Aquilla Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement Project in the amount of $156,250.12.
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To advertise for Bids for the McFarland Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement Project. Bids will be opened on Wednesday, November 20, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. Notice of this Bid Opening will be advertised on October 24, 2024, October 31, 2024 and on the county website.
The Geauga County Agricultural Society / Fair Board proposed a construction project for a new Poultry Barn.
The proposal’s total cost is $792,000. The Fair Board is asking the county for $750,000 as they feel they have outgrown the existing poultry barn. Discussion followed regarding the issues they are having and the benefits of a new barn. The Commissioners voiced their support of the 4H program and the need for a new barn. They approved moving forward with a commitment to secure the $750,000. Mr. Morgan explained the process that would be needed as they move forward. The Fair Board would like to have the new barn completed for the 2025 fair.
Public Comment: None
Meeting adjourned at 10:03 am
More Information and Posted Minutes: Available here.
Next Regular Meeting of the BOCC: The next BOCC meeting after this one is Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at 9:30 am.
Observer: Mary Heintzelman
Editor: Anne Ondrey
Reviewer: Carol Benton
Date Submitted: 10/24/2024
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