Commissioners Approve Agreement with Ashtabula County to Board Prisoners
Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Meeting - October 29, 2024
Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met on Tuesday, October 29 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 although public comment was permitted today.
Attendance: Present were Commissioners Ralph Spidalieri, Timothy Lennon and James Dvorak. Also present were Commissioners' Clerk Christine Blair, County Administrator Gerry Morgan, Assistant County Administrator Linda Burhenne and Finance Manager Adrian Gorton.
County Representatives: Richard Blamer, Manager, Geauga Airport Authority; Shane Hajjar, Deputy Engineer; Scott Hildenbrand, Sheriff; Thomas Rowan, Deputy Sheriff; Kathleen Miller, Fiscal Specialist, Water Resources; Gina Hofstetter, Director, Community and Economic Development; Elaine Malkamaki, Program Director, Community and Economic Development; Kathleen Hostuttler, Human Resources Manager.
Others in Attendance: Carolyn Brakey, Geauga Health Board member and candidate for Board of County Commissioners; Kate Jacobs, Compliance Office, Auditor’s Office, other members of the public and press.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and a prayer was offered by Mr. Dvorak.
Minutes: There were no minutes submitted for approval. Observer Comment: Weekly LWVG Observer Reports for BOCC are available online through October 29, 2024, for informational purposes but are not substitutes for approved minutes. Approved BOCC Minutes are posted online here through August 29, 2024.
Administrator’s Report: Mr. Morgan reported on the following action he took in accordance with Ohio law: He approved the hiring of a full time Supervisor for Water Resources.
Financial Report: Mr. Gorton received approval for the following: Observer Note: Monetary figures are generally only given for the Vouchers, but monetary figures are listed in any instance when they are given.
Supplementals:
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From the Commissioners’ Office in the General Fund Misc Transfer Out Account for additional appropriations being set up for a capital transfer for the Agricultural Society, reimbursements for the interest income transfers and grant matches.
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From the Commissioners’ Office in the Building Improvement Fund Professional Services account for additional engineering and architectural work being planned for the safety center roof and parking lots as well as the maintenance barn roof.
Cash Transfer from Commissioners' General Fund Operating Transfer out account for the initial contribution to the Sheriff’s new Traffic Safety fund using money set aside from the Sheriff’s budgeted appropriations that were previously moved.
Travel Requests from Auditor's Office and Water Resources.
Then and Now from Commissioners’ Office to Ibold and O'Brien for 2023 council fees that were not previously encumbered.
Vouchers:
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$298,105.66 from Auditor's Office ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) Fund to Agri Sludge Inc for the Aquilla wastewater water treatment plant project
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$391,282.40 from the Engineer's Office to Kohlberg Contractors LLC for asphalt resurfacing of County Highway 604(sec A-B) and 605(sec A).
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$58,402.96 from Sheriff’s Office to Hall Public Safety Co. for the outfitting of 6 new police cruisers
Discussion followed - Mr. Lennon inquired as to the status of the payroll funds that were previously paid from ARPA funds. Mr. Gorton stated that all of the funds from the last finalized payroll had come out of the correct account. Mr. Gorton also reported that he checked with Prosecutor Flaiz on the return of the previously dispersed funds, and he said that Mr. Flaiz had questioned whether or not the elected officials could legally move funds into the ARPA funds to pay it back. Mr. Gorton said that Mr. Flaiz is looking into that and is not sure if he can resolve this within the 30 days. Mr. Gorton had not heard back from him on this matter. Observer Note: See more information from the LWVGeauga Observer Report of the BOCC Special meeting of October 10, 2024. The funds that were “outside the General Fund” but utilized the ARPA money were: the Auditor’s ADP Contract Services Fund and Real Estate Assessment Fund, the Clerk of Courts’s Certificate of Title Administration Fund, the Engineer’s Road Maintenance Fund, the Prosecutor’s Office’s Victim Witness Fund and Delinquent Tax Fund, and the Treasurer’s Delinquent Tax Fund. These are all payroll funds that are outside the General Fund.
The Airport Authority received approval for the following:
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To amend the motion from October 17, 2024 to correct local match numbers to read: approve Reimbursement Request #3 for FAA AIP Grant Project (#3-39-0054-027-2023) for the Construct Parallel Taxiway A, Pavement and LED Lighting, Phase 1 of 2 Design in the amount of $71,600.00 ($64,440.00 FAA Portion, $3,580.00 ODOT portion and $3,580.00 Local County Match)
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To execute Resolution #24-186 Authorizing the President of the Geauga County Airport Authority Board to execute and submit the Application to the Ohio Department of Transportation, Fiscal Year 2024, Ohio Matching Grant Program for General Aviation Airports, for 5% Match of FAA Grant (#3-39-0054-028-2024) Construct Parallel Taxiway A including Connector A1 and A2 Construction, Final Phase and Install Taxiway Edge Lights – Construction, Final Phase, in the amount of $176,365.00
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To authorize the President of the Board to execute the Quit-Claim Deed for the consolidation of Parcel #19-706416, #19-706222, #19-706220, #19-706221, #19-706415, #19-072861, and #19-072805 within the Village of Middlefield and further approve and execute the Map of Survey and Plat Consolidation
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To approve and authorize the President of the Board to execute the Quit-Claim Deed for the consolidation of Parcel #18-703200, #18-706165 and #18-706164 within Middlefield Township
The County Engineer’s Office received approval for the following:
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To execute Change Order #1 and Final, decreasing the Contract with Ronyak Paving, Incorporated for the Asphalt Resurfacing of Auburn Road (CH-0004, Sections K-M) in Munson and Newbury Townships in the amount of $19,851.62
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To execute Change Order #1 and Final, decreasing the Contract with Ronyak Paving, Incorporated for the Asphalt Resurfacing of Chardon-Windsor Road (CH-0013, Sections A-D) in Hambden and Claridon Townships in the amount of $18,349
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To execute Change Order #1 and Final, decreasing the Contract with TRAX Construction Company for the Replacement of the Thwing Road Bridge (Structure #BR-0027-B-02.660-2024) in Chardon and Munson Townships in the amount of $3,417.50
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To execute Change Order #1 and Final, increasing the Contract with Grade Line, Incorporated for the Replacement of the Sperry Road Bridge (Structure #BR-0012-F-03.590-2024) in Chester Township in the amount of $3,697.00
The Sheriff’s Office received approval to execute the Agreement for Boarding of Prisoners by and between the Geauga County Board of Commissioners and Ashtabula County in the amount of $75.00 per day per prisoner, and adjusted each January based on actual daily cost, and pay all necessary medical and mental health expenses, and reimburse Geauga County at the rate of $40.00 per hour for any Deputy needed for guarding and transportation of an inmate. This agreement shall remain in effect unless terminated or re-negotiated by either county.
Sheriff Hildenbrand commented that the Ashtabula County jail is overcrowded and that Geauga County has the space. These prisoners would all have short sentences to be served. Mr. Lennon inquired as to the number of ICE (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement) Detainees and if that has changed over the last couple of years.
Sheriff Hildenbrand stated that it had not changed recently but it was fewer now than 4 years ago. Mr. Lennon said that the current number of ICE detainees could potentially change depending on the election and that when they had more in the past that it was “financially good for the county at the time.”
The Department of Water Resources received approval to execute Contract Maintenance Form #1, increasing the contract with Buckeye Power Sales for services and repairs performed on wastewater and water district generators in the amount of $5,000.00 for a new amount not to exceed $20,000.00
The Commissioners’ Office received approval to authorize the President of the Board to execute the Request for Partial Payment #13 for Infinity Construction Company for the Geauga County Courthouse Expansion Project GMP Phase #1 and Phase #2 expenses in the amount of $569,071.82
The Community and Economic Development Department asked the Board to discuss a request from Mr. John Bonner of Great Lakes Growers regarding subordination of his Revolving Loan Fund Loan to a new mortgage he would like to secure, as the company is seeking funding for a building expansion.
Discussion followed, and Ms. Malkamaki and Ms. Hofstetter stated that Mr. Bonner had been a good participant in the program. A motion was presented and approved for the subordination with Mr. Lennon abstaining due to a possible family connection.
Executive Session: The Commissioners’ Office requested the Board move into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing the employment of a public employee. They returned with action and approved the following motions:
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To accept the resignation of the Human Resource Specialist
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To create the title and job description for a revised position of Benefits Specialist
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To revise the organizational chart to include the new position
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To advertise for the position of Benefits Specialist
Public Comment was solicited, but none was offered.
Meeting adjourned at 10:30 am
More Information and Posted Minutes: Available here.
Next Regular Meeting of the BOCC: The next BOCC meeting after this one is Tuesday, November 5, 2024 at 9:30 am.
Observer: Mary Heintzelman
Editor: Sarah McGlone
Reviewer: Gail Roussey
Date Submitted: 11/05/2024
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