Geauga County Veterans Memorial Received Approval for Updates
Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Meeting - December 10, 2024
Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met in Regular Session on Tuesday,
December 10th 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, if any, 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, Ralph Spidalieri 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; Representative from Engineer’s Office; Michelle Pemberton, Geauga County Veterans Services, and John Rhea, Geauga County Veterans Services.
Others in Attendance: Carolyn Brakey, Geauga Board of Health member and newly elected County Commissioner; Gina Hofstetter, Director, Community Development; Nick
Gorris, Director, Water Resources; County residents Diane and Tom Jones, 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 from November 19, 2024 were approved. Observer Comment: Weekly LWVG Observer Reports for BOCC are available online through December 10, 2024, for informational purposes but are not substitutes for approved minutes. Approved BOCC Minutes are posted online here through November 14, 2024.
Financial Report: Mr. Morgan approved a revenue certification from Engineers office in their Building Fund for additional revenue in 2024.
Administrator’s Report: Mr. Morgan approved the following new hires:
-
Eligibility Referral Specialist for Job and Family Services
-
General Communications Clerk for Maintenance Department
-
Senior Maintenance Technician for Maintenance Department
Financial Report: Mr. Gorton received approval for the following: Observer Note: Monetary figures are given when available.
-
Various appropriations transfers and supplemental appropriation transfers to accounts and funds to balance for the final invoices at year end
-
Cash transfer to County Facility Retirement Fund for monies needed to pay principal and interest payments for next year on the Geauga County building (Ravenwood) debt
-
Cash Transfer from General Fund to Phase II Capital Reserve Funds that will be needed for courthouse expansion
-
Cash transfer from General Fund to Community Development for an additional $15,000 to balance out their fund for year end
-
Then and Now encumbrance from Commissioners Office to Kimberly Vioni for approved legal fees that were from 2023 and not previously encumbered
Vouchers:
-
$1,053,105.31 from Commissioner's Office to Infinity Construction for pay request #14 for courthouse expansion project
-
$12,985.00 from Engineer's Office to Junction Buick for a 2024 replacement vehicle. There was a trade in for $17,000
Revenue Certifications and De-Certifications for additional unbudgeted revenue or budgeted revenue that was or wasn't received in order to balance out for year end; this includes Community Development, Emergency Services, JFS, Juvenile Court, Sheriff's Office and Water Resources.
Mr. Lennon inquired about the transfer from the General Fund to the Capital Reserve Fund. Mr. Gorton stated that this will be $1,000,000 to balance out the funds that will be needed for the Courthouse Expansion project. Mr. Lennon asked if this was due to the American Rescue Plan Act money issue, and Mr. Gorton stated that it was due to the ARPA funds that were transferred to various payroll accounts. Observer Note: Please see the Observer Report for the October 10, 2024 BOCC Meeting for more information. Briefly, about $1 Million in ARPA funding was transferred to payroll accounts for several different County departments, and the BOCC requested the return of those funds.
The Airport Authority received approval for reimbursement Request #4 and Final for the Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Project Grant Project (#3-39-0054-027-2023) for the Construct Parallel Taxiway A Pavement and LED Lighting, Phase ½ Design in the amount of $18,125.00 ($16335.00 FAA Portion, $895.00 Ohio Department of Transportation portion and $895.00 Local County Match).
The County Engineer’s Office received approval to execute the Unit Price Contract with Miller Builders LLC for the Construction of a Salt Storage Building in Claridon Township in the amount of $637,780.00.
The Veterans Service Commission requested the Board discuss the Courthouse Veterans Memorial Project.
Ms. Pemberton presented renderings for an updated Veterans Memorial. This is currently located in front of the Courthouse and will remain there with a few changes. One of the changes will be additional plaques. One of the plaques was previously located in the Courthouse and had to be moved due to the expansion of the Courthouse. The estimated cost of the project will be $42,000 and The Veterans Commission has funds still available to cover the cost. They are asking approval for up to $50,000. The Commissioners’ expressed their unanimous support of the project and approved the use of funds.
The Commissioners’ Office received approval for the following:
-
To accept the Retirement Resignation of Dan Spada, Chief Building Official (#1101) to be effective January 31, 2025.
-
To grant permission to advertise for the position of Chief Building Official (#1101). This position will remain posted until filled.
-
To approve and execute Resolution #24-208 Amended Resolution Adopting the Geauga County Board of Commissioners Credit Card Use Policy, Pursuant to Ohio Revised Code 301.27, to be effective January 1, 2025. The original resolution had the incorrect O.R.C.
This resolution, originally presented on November, 26, 2024, had to be amended due to the incorrect O.R.R.. At that time, Ms Berhenned stated that the rules regarding credit card usage for government employees will change as of January 1, 2025. Usage had previously been approved for travel expenses only. This will allow for more latitude for usage such as emergency situations where the employee has been using their own personal credit card for expenses. The new policy requires that a new policy be developed with the Auditors office. This policy was approved at the meeting on November 26, 2024.
-
To approve notification to the County Auditor that the Board of Commissioners plan to approve a resolution allowing certain county credit cards to be used in unforeseeable and emergency situations without pre-notification to the Board of Commissioners.
-
To approve the expenditure for Carolyn Brakey to attend the Geauga County Township Association Dinner meeting on January 8, 2025, in the amount of $32.00.
Executive Session - The Board moved into executive session at 10:13 with Nick Gorris for the purpose of discussing the compensation of public employees. They returned at 10:41 with action. Mr. Gorris presented step increases to be effective with the first payroll of 2025. This was approved.
Item not on Agenda: No items were presented
Public Comment: Solicited but non offered.
Meeting adjourned at 10:43
More Information and Posted Minutes: Available here.
Next Regular Meeting of the BOCC: The next BOCC meeting after this one is Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 9:30 am.
Observer: Mary Heintzelman
Editor: Anne Ondrey
Reviewer: Carol Benton
Date Submitted: 12/20/2024
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.