Director Oros Reports That the State Auditor Gave Geauga Park District
Outstanding Achievement Recognition for “Open and Transparent Government”
Geauga Park District Board Regular Meeting - October 21, 2024
The Geauga Park District (GPD) Board met on Monday, October 21, 2024 at 8:30 am at Big Creek Park Meyer Center, 9160 Robinson Rd, Chardon, OH 44024. This meeting was in-person only with no virtual attendance option.
Public Comment Policy: The Park District Board does not have a formal policy and in practice never permits public comment.
Board Attendance: Commissioners Howard Bates, Jolene Carnabuci, Ray Guarino, and Frank Stein were present. Commissioner Les LaGatta was absent. Observer Note: This is the third meeting in a row Commissioner Les LaGatta has been absent.
Staff Attendance: John Oros, Executive Director, Matt McCue, Deputy Director, Dawn Sweeney, Finance Director and Jessica Alpers, Administrative Assistant. Also in attendance were Chief Ranger Dennis Sloan and IT Manager Lucas Beamer. Attorney Todd Hicks from the firm of Thrasher, Dinsmore Dolan was present as well.
Public Attendance: Members of Protect Geauga Parks, reporters from Chagrin Valley Times and the Maple Leaf, and this Observer.
Approval of Agenda/Addendum Items - There were no items added to the Agenda. The Agenda was approved.
Minutes: Minutes from September 16, 2024 meeting were approved and are posted online here.
Financial Report: Dawn Sweeney, Finance Director, verbally reported these individual fund balances as of September 30, 2024:
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Beginning balance as of 9/1/24 in the General Fund: $5,872,972
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Ending balance as of 9/30/24 in the General Fund: $5,501,816
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Beginning balance as of 9/1/24 in the Land Improvement Fund: $1,617,388
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Ending balance as of 9/30/24 in the Land Improvement Fund: $1,834,043
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All Funds beginning balance on 9/1/24: $7,490,360
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All Funds ending balance on 9/30/24: $7,335,859
There were no questions and no discussion.
Presentation of Payment Report for September 2024. There were no questions and there was no discussion. Observer Note: There is no approval or motion regarding the payment report as the payments have already occurred.
Old Business - Planning Update.
Planning Update: Mr. McCue reported that most projects are complete. He said that they are still working at Veterans Legacy Woods but that everything else is mostly complete. He talked about trail improvements that are underway in the West Woods with the connecting trail to the Affelder Trail. Observer Note: Affelder House has a separate entrance on Route 306 at 15139 Chillicothe Road, Russell Twp and has a facility that is reservable. It is considered part of the West Woods, although there are trails that can be taken in addition to the trail leading to the West Woods. In regards to the cold water stream restoration at Veterans Legacy woods, Mr. McCue said they will be seeding in the fall with reforestation in the spring. He reviewed the new tributaries that will result in the cold water stream habitat necessary for the endangered Brook Trout.
New Business
2025 Healthcare - The Commissioners approved the new 2025 Healthcare rates. The 2025 rates increased by 8.6%. The total employee contribution is estimated to increase by $62,297.16 annually. The 2025 individual employee contribution will increase annually by $240 for those who contribute to a family plan and $84 for those who contribute to a single plan. Mr. Bates asked about what the family contribution per month would be and what it had been in 2024. Neither Mr. Oros or Ms. Sweeney were certain, but they believed it had been $170/month and would be going up to $184/month. Mr. Oros said he would get the correct figures. Observer Note: Those figures do not add up to a $240/year increase.
Resolution 6-2024 Ohio Department of Transportation Easement - The Commissioners approved an easement of .007 acres for a culvert at US Route 322 in Munson which abuts the Beaver Creek Park.
Surplus Items - These were approved. They included education materials (Building Blocks of Geauga, Water Cycle Exhibit, Water in Water out Exhibit, Display Walls) for donation and a piano for auction. There was a question about the piano that is being auctioned, and Mr. Oros said that it was the piano currently in the lobby of the Big Creek Meyer Center. Observer Note: There was no discussion about who or what organizations will receive these donated items.
Commissioner’s Time
Mr. Oros discussed and shared photos of the 3rd Annual Space Race at Observatory Park. He said that 310 individuals participated on Saturday, October 5th. The race uses travel to outer space to designate different space locations for different miles of the race, with Mercury being the shortest race at 1 mile and the longest race being 13.6 miles, which represented travel to interstellar space. Mr. Oros thanked Special Events Coordinator Holly Sauder and Recreational Specialist Carolyn Wetzler for their help in coordinating this event.
Mr. Oros thanked the Foundation for Geauga Parks for their role in contributing funds for the updating of the new interpretive signs at Observatory Park.
In September there were a total of 84 programs with 2,127 participants in all programs.
Mr. Oros said that the State Auditor gave Geauga Park District an Outstanding Achievement recognition for “open and transparent government.” Observer Note: The description from the State Auditor lists items that go into this ranking and include compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act (Sunshine Law) and responses to Public Records requests. The latest year of ratings posted on the Auditor’s website for Geauga Park District was 2021 -2022, which shows a Noncompliance Rating. It is not a requirement of the Sunshine Laws that entities permit public comment or that they have meaningful discussions at meetings.
Mr. Bates brought up a concern in regard to facility reservations. He discussed the fact that reservations for January cannot be placed until December 2nd. He said that poses a difficulty if someone wants to hold an event in early January but can’t confirm a reservation until December 2nd. Mr. Oros said they would take a look at this. One suggestion was to open reservations on a 3 month basis rather than once a year. The current system is to open reservations on December 2nd for the entire next year.
Executive Session - A motion to adjourn to Executive Session for the purpose of discussing pending court action was approved. Attorney Todd Hicks joined the Commissioners for this Executive Session.
Following the Executive Session no action was taken.
Public Comment - Per Geauga Park District Policy, no public comment permitted.
Reviewer Comment: Without public discussion by the Board of Agenda items or the opportunity for members of the public to comment and ask questions, the ability of the public to fully understand the business of the Geauga Park District and its use of Geauga County taxpayer funding is hindered.
Next meeting – Monday, November 18 at 8:30 am.
Motion to adjourn was made and approved unanimously at 9:26 am.
See the GPD Website for Additional Information and Minutes
Observer: Gail Roussey
Editor: Sarah McGlone
Reviewer: Carol Benton
Date Submitted: October 31, 2024
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