Carolyn Brakey to Replace Timothy Lennon as Commissioner in 2025
Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Meeting - November 14, 2024
Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met in Special Session on Thursday, November 14 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 Timothy Lennon and James Dvorak. Mr. Spidalieri was absent. Also present were Commissioners' Clerk Christine Blair, County Administrator Gerry Morgan, Assistant County Administrator Linda Burhenne and Finance Manager Adrian Gorton.
County Representatives: Shane Hajjar, Deputy Engineer; Matt Sieracki, Maintenance Contract coordinator and Nick Gorris, Director, Water Resources.
Others in Attendance: Carolyn Brakey, Geauga Health Board member and newly elected County Commissioner; Adam Litke, Administrator, Geauga Public Health; Glen Vernick, Director, Maintenance Department; Jessica Boalt, Director, Office on Aging, an unnamed Maintenance Department representative, County residents Diane and Tom Jones, other members of the public and press, and this observer.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and a prayer was offered by Mr. Dvorak.
Minutes: Minutes for the October 10, 2024 meeting were approved. Observer Comment: Weekly LWVG Observer Reports for BOCC are available online through November 14, 2024, for informational purposes but are not substitutes for approved minutes. Approved BOCC Minutes are posted online here through October 8, 2024.
Administrator’s Report: Mr. Morgan reported on the following action he took in accordance with Ohio law: He concurred with the Hambden Township Trustees in not requesting a hearing for the liquor license request from Hamden Convenient LLC.
Financial Report: Mr. Gorton received approval for the following: Observer Note: Monetary figures are generally only given for Vouchers, but monetary figures are listed in any instance when they are given.
Appropriation transfer from the Commissioners’ Miscellaneous Operating Transfers Out Account to the Public Defenders Equipment Account to replace some old computers this year. They were budgeted to be replaced in 2025.
Supplementals:
-
Sheriffs’ Rotary Fund and 911 Fund to true up payroll for year end
-
Soil and Water to true up payroll for year end
-
Department of Emergency Services to increase Equipment Account for the purchase of a replacement vehicle
-
Commissioners’ Office in the Miscellaneous Capital Transfers Out Account to cover transfers to the Capital Reserve Fund and the Computer Replacement Fund
Cash Transfers:
-
To the Sheriff's 911 and 800 Communication Fund from General Fund for second half of 2024 budgeted commitment
-
From General Fund to Sheriff’s Victims of Crime Act Fund to pay local matching funds for the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Grant 2024
Contract purchase order from Commissioners’ Office to the Geauga Airport Authority to cover the local match of the FAA grant for the construction of the taxiway project.
Voucher of $106,233.00 from Engineer’s Office to Valley Ford for an additional truck.
Revenue Certification
The Board of County Commissioners approved executing the Memorandum of Understanding between the Geauga County Board of Commissioners and the Geauga County Court of Common Pleas to document the roles and responsibilities set forth in the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs and Bureau of Justice Assistance with Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program for the 48 month grant period, effective October 1, 2024 in the awarded amount of $716,548.00 to the Court of Common Pleas that includes a twenty-five percent (25%) in-kind match that utilizes the services of existing employees in the Geauga County Drug Court Treatment Team.
The County Engineer’s Office received approval for the following:
-
To execute Change Order #1 and Final, decreasing the Contract with Aero-Mark Company, LLC, for the Application of Polyester Pavement Markings to Various Roads in the amount of $2,180.45.
-
To authorize Commissioner Dvorak, member and Chief Executive Officer, to execute the Ohio Public Works Commission, Appendix E – Disbursement Request Form and Certification #1 in order to release funds from the state portion of the OPWC (Ohio Public Works Commission) grant for the Sperry Road Bridge Replacement in Chester Township in the amount of $100,000.00.
-
To award the bid to Ronyak Paving, Inc., for the Asphalt Resurfacing of Various Roads including Clay Street (CH-0037, Sections E-F) and Leggett Road (CH-0033, Section A) in Huntsburg and Montville Townships in the amount of $1,026,000.00 as they represented the lowest and best bid. The bid bond submitted shall be held to serve as the Performance Bond for this project.
-
To award the bid to Miller Builders, LLC, for the Construction of a Salt Storage Structure in Claridon Township in the amount of $637,780.00 as they represented the lowest and best bid. The bid bond submitted shall be held to serve as the Performance Bond for this project.
The Maintenance Department received approval for the following:
-
To amend the motion from the November 5, 2024 BOCC Meeting, to correct the bid opening date to read: Grant permission to advertise for bids for Geauga County February 2025 – January 2028 Non-Hazardous Waste Removal Services to be held on December 4, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. Notice of this bid opening will be advertised on November 15, 2024, November 22, 2024 and on the County website.
-
To amend the motion from November 5, 2024, to correct the bid opening date to read: Grant permission to advertise for bids for Geauga County 2025-2028 “Hill” (Chardon City locations) HVAC Maintenance to be held on December 4, 2024 at 2:10 p.m. Notice of this bid opening will be advertised on November 15, 2024, November 22, 2024 and on the County website.
-
To execute the Agreement for Professional Design Services between the County of Geauga, Ohio, through its Board of Commissioners and CT Consultants, Inc., to provide professional design and contract administration services to restore and repave the Geauga County Safety Center Parking Lot in an amount not to exceed $102,500.00, which includes $83,250.00 Total Base Contract and $19,250.00 Repair Engineering.
The Department of Water Resources received approval for the following:
-
To execute the service Contract Agreement with All Lift Service Company to perform Periodic Maintenance and repairs as needed at both Wastewater and Water District locations within the department for a one-year period, effective November 14, 2024 in an amount not to exceed $5,000.00 ($3,500.00 Wastewater, $1,500.00 Water).
-
Addendum to move the date and time of the advertised bid opening for the McFarland Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements Project from November 20, 2024 at 2:00 pm to now be held on Wednesday, December 4, 2024 at 2:30 pm, and further authorize the department to issue an Addendum to all current and future plan holders.
Item not on agenda:
-
The Department on Aging received approval to amend the resignation date of the Human Resource Specialist from October 29, 2024 to December 7, 2024. The employee has offered to stay to help with the transition.
Public Comment
Meeting adjourned at 9:50 am.
More Information and Posted Minutes: Available here.
Next Regular Meeting of the BOCC: The next BOCC meeting after this one is Tuesday, November 19, 2024 at 9:30 am.
Observer: Mary Heintzelman
Editor: Anne Ondrey
Reviewer: Sarah McGlone
Date Submitted: 11/18/2024
The League of Women Voters Geauga is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. They do not support or oppose individual candidates or parties. Learn more about the LWVG at www.lwvgeauga.org.