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Commissioner Brakey Questions Several Financial Matters and
County Administrator Position Advertised

Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Meeting - January 14, 2025 

Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met in Regular Session on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at 9:30 am at the County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH.  The meetings are in-person only, but starting on January 8, 2025 recordings are available for the public via the Geauga ADP Youtube channel. Meetings can also be viewed livestream through the Geauga ADP Youtube channel.   As of the date of this publication, this video has been viewed 134 times.  The January 14, 2025 meeting can be found here.  Notations in the report refer to the minute notation on the video for a particular section.  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 new Commissioner Carolyn Brakey, and fellow Commissioners Ralph Spidalieri and James Dvorak. Also present were Commissioners' Clerk Christine Blair, Assistant County Administrator and Acting County Administrator Linda Burhenne and Finance Manager Adrian Gorton.  

County Representatives: Shane Hajjar, Engineer’s Department; Matt Sieracki, Contract Administrator, Maintenance Department; Roger Peterson, Director Emergency Services Department; Nick Gorris, Director, Water Resources; Carmella Shale, Director, and Colleen Lair, Administrative Assistant, Geauga Soil and Water Conservation District; Chief Deputy Sheriff Thomas Rowan; Jessica Boalt, Director, Department on Aging, and Kathleen Hostutler, Human Resources Manager. 

Others in Attendance:  Frank Antenucci, Chief Deputy Administrator, Automatic Data Processing (ADP); Susan Wieland, Assistant County Prosecutor; Representatives from Shook Construction Company; Pam McMahan, Fiscal Office Manager, Auditor’s Office; Former County Administrator Gerry Morgan; Glenn Vernick, Director, Maintenance Department; Katie Taylor, Administrator, Engineer’s Office, and Adam Litke, Administrator, Geauga County Public Health. There were members of the public, a reporter from both Geauga Times Courier and the Maple Leaf, as well as County residents Tom and Diane Jones, and this observer.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and a prayer was offered by Mr. Dvorak.

5:45 Min. Administrators'  Report: Ms. Burhenne  received approval for the following:

• Supplemental appropriation for Juvenile Court in their Care and Custody Fund, which submission will enable them to finish payroll

• Hiring in Department on Aging for a full time Recreation Assistant

• Unpaid leave of absence in the Department on Aging (transportation driver)

• New Hire in Job and Family Services (JFS) Social Services Worker II

Minutes: Minutes for the December 17, 2024 BOCC meetings were approved, with Mrs. Brakey abstaining. 
Observer Comment: Weekly LWVG Observer Reports for BOCC are available online through January 14, 2025 for informational purposes but are not substitutes for approved minutes.  Approved BOCC Minutes are posted online here through December 10, 2024.

Financial Report: Mr. Gorton received approval for the following: Observer Note: Monetary figures are given when available.

• Supplemental appropriation for the auditor in the ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) account to fund remaining projects.

• Cash from the General Fund to Job and Family Services for Public Assistance mandated share Jan-March, 2025.

• Cash Transfer to Community and Economic Development (amount not stated).  Mr. Gorton said that the Department moved up their ¼-share payment for adequate cash to meet their obligations.  Mr. Gorton had already anticipated a need for an additional $15,000 in December but he said that hasn’t been enough due to unanticipated expenses.  Mr. Gorton said that they will be getting funds from a block grant that will be used for administrative expenses but that hadn’t been transferred to them yet.  He said he would find out the details of the expenses.

• Travel for the Commissioners office, Engineer’s, Juvenile Court, and from Probate Court (for Judge Grendell to attend oral arguments for his ethics case). Observer Note: See discussion below about this item.

• Then and Now - Family Pride and Planning Commission for amounts not previously encumbered (amounts not listed).

• Vouchers: 

  • $215,906.90 from the ARPA Fund through the Auditor to Agrisludge Inc. for the Aquilla Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement Project

  • $128,828 to Valley Ford Truck for a 2024 Dump Truck for the  Maintenance Department

Revenue certifications in these various funds:  Commissioners for Phase II Capital Reserve Fund, Common Pleas in their Drug Court Fund, and Community Development for Block Grant for Brownfield Remediation for unbudgeted revenues received in 2025.

11:47 Min.  There was discussion, initiated by Mrs. Brakey, on the travel request by Judge Grendell to receive compensation in order to go to oral argument for his disciplinary case.  In her opinion, this was a personal expense, not one the commissioners should pay.  Mr. Spidalieri asked how much other county employees had been paid to travel to Columbus for Judge Grendell’s ethics case.  Mrs. Brakey said that this, in her view, would be a different matter since they were testifying as part of their official capacity.  

Financials were approved unanimously except for the request for travel from Judge Grendell.

18 Min. The Commissioners’ Office received approval for the following:

• to execute the revised Accounting and Payroll Authorization Forms for the Department on Aging, Building Department, Commissioners, Community and Economic Development, Dog Warden, Emergency Services and Maintenance (to add Ms. Burhenne as Acting County Administrator).

• to execute the Request for Partial Payment #15 for Infinity Construction Company, Inc., for the Geauga County Courthouse Expansion, GMP Phase #1 and Phase #2 expenses in the amount of $1,051,465.26.  Mr. Gorton stated that the total cost is projected to be just “a hair over” $20 Million and approximately one-third of the total has been paid at this time.

20 Min. Public Hearing - The Commissioners’ held Public Hearing #1 for the Geauga County Water Management and Sediment Control Regulations, Amended 2025.

Director Carmella Shale was sworn in and testified regarding changes in regulations. Observer Note:  Occasionally there is a required Public Hearing in the middle of a regular BOCC meeting, as happened today.  The rules for a Public Hearing are distinct and provide, among other things, sworn testimony and a requirement for public comment.  She said that Geauga County implemented these regulations in 1979 but that the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) regulations required this now.  She said that Geauga County has been ahead of the curve.  She further said that these have to be reviewed every five years.  Some changes were very minor (changing stormwater to one word).  A catch-all was added to make it clear that if EPA changes a regulation and if the County regulations have not been updated, the County would consider them updated in order to comply with the EPA.

One change was that for properties over one acre but less than 2 acres, storm water could go into the grass and not require a structured storm water system.

Slight changes were made in fee structure and plan review.  

Notice of Violation (NOV) - If a resident receives a notice of violation and takes no action, Storm and Water Department will be able to charge $100 for subsequent inspections (for residential) until the resident is in compliance.  If construction is complete, they will have two months to be in compliance.

Public Comment:  This Observer asked what NOV was - and that is listed above.

26:47 Min. The Common Pleas Court received approval for the submission of a credit card application and necessary documents to the Geauga Credit Union for a Visa to use in accordance with O.R.C. 301.27 with a requested credit line of $6,000.00 and a total of four (4) cards.

The Common Pleas – Juvenile / Probate Court requested the Board to approve the submission to the Geauga Credit Union for a credit line increase from $6,000.00 to $20,000.00.  Mrs. Brakey asked for more information as to why Juvenile and Probate Court needed to increase their credit line.  This resolution was tabled for more information.

The County Engineer’s Office received approval to execute the Unit Price Contract with 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.

The Sheriff’s Office received approval to execute a letter to Heritage Health Solutions, Inc., pursuant to Section 5 of the Professional Services Agreement to provide in writing a thirty-day notice to terminate the agreement, effective February 13, 2025.  Chief Deputy Sheriff Rowan confirmed that there would be no legal ramifications for early termination of this contract.

The Soil and Water Conservation District received approval to issue a “Finding of Violation” against Carol and Doug Akromas regarding construction activities occurring at 17395 Crescent Ridge in Bainbridge Township (PPN#02-421544) for failure to comply with Geauga County Water Management and Sediment Control regulations, Sections 7.03 and 7.15 to prevent sediment from leaving the property as identified in the 1st and 2nd Notices of Violations as indicated in the inspection reports, and forward the “Finding of Violation” to the Geauga County Prosecutor for further action as necessary to secure required compliance.

The Department of Emergency Services received approval to acknowledge “no changes” to the Geauga County Radiological Emergency Response Plan (for an emergency at the Perry Nuclear Power Plant), Revision 29, dated January 2024, formally adopted December 12, 2023.

33:32 Min. The Maintenance Department received approval for the following:

• to amend the motion from December 17, 2024 to adjust language to read:  to award the Bid to Air Force One, Inc., for the 2025-2028 “Hill” HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) Maintenance Services for the bid amount of $86,154.00 for maintenance services and to authorize the payment of a separate amount up to a sum which shall not exceed $65,000.00 for any HVAC repair work which may be needed during the term of the contract at the labor rates provided in the bid quote sheet, as they represented the lowest and best bid.     

• to advertise for bids for the Department of Emergency Services and Claridon Tower Site Generator Upgrade Project to be held on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at 2:00 p.m.  Notice of this Bid Opening will be advertised on January 17, 2025, January 24, 2025, and on the County website.

• to approve and execute the Agreement with Geauga Mechanical Company to replace the hanging heater located in the main garage at Sheriff’s Post 2 Station, effective January 14, 2025, with work to be completed within 60 days in the amount of $7,245.00.

• to execute the service Contract Agreement with Countywide Replacement Windows, Inc., to provide window and glass repair services, as needed at various county locations per the director, for a two-year period, effective January 14, 2025, in an amount not to exceed $30,000.00.

• to execute the service Contract Agreement with Geauga Mechanical Company to provide as needed HVAC repairs at various County locations per the Director for a two-year period, effective January 14, 2025, in an amount not to exceed $60,000.00.

• to execute the service Contract Agreement with Wesley Welding, LLC, to provide welding services at various County locations per the Director for a two-year period, effective January 14, 2025, in an amount not to exceed $25,000.00.  Mr. Sieracki said this would be to repair the fire escape at the Annex (in Chardon).  Mr. Dvorak asked whether this could include work done such as inspecting other fire escapes and doing repairs and Mr. Sieracki said that it could be used for that.

• to execute the service Contract Agreement with Harrington Electric Company to perform electrical maintenance and services at various County locations per the Director for a two-year period, effective January 31, 2025, in an amount not to exceed $65,000.00.

38:08 Min. The Department of Water Resources received approval to tentatively award the Bid to Shook Construction Company for the McFarland Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement Project in the amount of $30,842,400.00 as they represented the lowest and best bid for the project being the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.  Water Resources Director Gorris explained that the award was tentative because this is one step in the EPA process.  Then EPA will act and the contract will be finalized.  Susan Wieland, the Assistant Prosecutor who reviewed the contract, was present and said she had nothing to add.  Representatives from Shook Construction were also there, but they had no questions.

41:17 Min. The Department of Job and Family Services requested approval to re-appoint the following members to serve on the Family Services Planning Committee for a one-year term, January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025, including Jessica Boalt, Vicki Clark, Julie Gorenc, Scott Hildenbrand, Tim Kehres, Jennifer Felker (Alternate-Nancy Santilli), Kristine Frankenberry, Teri Malnar, Andrea Pollack and Angela Spalsbury.  Commissioner Brakey asked if these positions had been advertised and no one knew the answer.  Chief Deputy Sheriff Rowan said that Ohio Revised Code 329.06 mandated that certain representatives be on this Committee.  Ms. Burhenne said that she would find out more information.  Request was tabled.

The Department of Job and Family Services requested approval for the following, which was also tabled,

• to appoint James W. Dvorak to serve on the Family Services Planning Committee for a one-year term, January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025.

• to appoint Amy Buresch to the Ohio Children’s Trust Fund Child Abuse and Child Neglect Regional Council for a two-year term, January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026.

46:05 Min. The Commissioners’ Office received approval for the following:

• to re-appoint Mark Dinishak as County Apiarist for the Year 2025 and further approve and execute the 2025 Ohio Department of Agriculture Appointment for County Apiary Inspector Form to be effective January 14, 2025.  The hourly rate was increased by $1.00 from the previous hourly rate of $13.00 per hour and a mileage reimbursement rate of 70 cents per mile was approved.

• to execute Resolution #25-008 to Designate the Official Representative and Alternate Representative for the Purpose of Voting at Meetings of the County Commissioners’ Association of Ohio in 2025.

• to execute Resolution #25-009 Amended Resolution Approving the Use of County Credit Cards for the Year 2025 for Agencies and Cardholders Pursuant to O.R.C. 301.27.

• to execute the Application for the use of County Credit Cards Form for the Clerk of Courts Office for the Year 2025, pursuant to O.R.C. 301.27.

• to executive Resolution #25-010 Authorizing the use of Specific Credit Card(s) by Designated Employees or Officers of the Geauga County Sheriff’s Offices, Office of the Board of Commissioners, Office for Geauga County Job and Family Services.

Public Comment - None

53:45 Min. Executive Session - The Commissioners’ Office approved a move into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing the compensation of a public employee.

126:13 Following Executive Session at 10:56 am Mr. Dvorak announced that the job description for County Administrator had been modified although the changes were not announced.  It was also announced that this position would be advertised.  This position description can be seen on the BOCC website here. Observer Note:  There appears to be a short period of time not captured by the video as it goes directly into the discussion of the item below in the middle of that discussion.

Items Not listed on the Agenda

127:34 Min. Airport -  Ms. Burhenne stated that there were two outstanding issues pertaining to the Airport.

1. Airport Lease between the Airport and University Hospital.  Ms. Burhenne said that there were two versions of the lease - one approved by the Airport and the other a marked-up version from the County’s Assistant Prosecutor (AP).  She said that the AP suggested changes that were felt to protect the County.  It was acknowledged by the Commissioners that the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is not a party to this agreement, but it was also noted that the BOCC is required to acknowledge the Agreement and that the airport is on County-owned property.  As such, the Prosecutor’s office had reviewed the lease and created a “marked-up version” of potential areas to review.   Observer Note: This is where the tape resumes.  Mr. Spiadlieri was concerned about getting this thing “to the finish line” and stated that “We don’t want to lose this asset in our own backyard.”  There was a discussion of the role of the Commissioners and the length of the Agreement, which is five years with automatic renewal.  Mrs. Burhenne said they wouldn’t be signing that day because they needed three copies.  

2. 130 Min. Capital Funds for Airport Construction.  There was a review of the agreement for construction of the Hangar.  The question was whether the funds allocated were restricted to the Hangar or were open-ended.  It was also mentioned that there had been a review of this agreement by the Prosecutor’s office. 

Mr. Spidalieri said that on December 17, 2024, they had approved an encumbrance of $1.33 million for a hangar project but that once they got money back from the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), they could spend that on whatever projects they thought were necessary.  Ms. Burhenne said that there was some accountability as the Airport was required to report back to the Commissioners about how they are using the money. It was clarified that $565,000 would be given to the Airport by the FAA for this project.  Mrs. Brakey then clarified that the Airport was actually getting the $1.33 million plus $565,000.  Mr. Spidalieri said they had committed to allowing the Airport to use all the funds at their disposal.  Mr. Dvorak agreed.  Mrs. Brakey thought that several of the changes suggested by the Prosecutor’s office were prudent and made the Airport accountable to the Commissioners. She thought that some of these changes would protect the taxpayers.  

Mr. Spidalieri made a motion to keep everything in the Agreement (not the red-lined changes).  This motion was not seconded. 

Mr. Spidalieri further stated that if we “can’t trust the Board then maybe we figure out the next move of disbanding the Board and do it ourselves.”  He also said that Board members had “no skin in the game except improving our facility.” He asked Mrs. Brakey for specific issues that stood out and Mrs. Brakey said that the open- ended nature of it was one thing that bothered her.  Mr. Spidalieri said again that the goal was to allow them to make those decisions.   Observer Note:  The Airport Authority Board consists of 7 members, three of whom are appointed by the Commissioners.  See more information here.  

Commissioner’s Clerk Blair also noted that there was a discrepancy about how to handle the bidding process.  Mr. Spidalieri said that he would meet with the Airport and ask them to come to a BOCC meeting. Observer Note:  In the past, the Airport Manager Richard Blamer has attended meetings, and sometimes Mr. Hess, the Airport Board President has attended.   Mr. Dvorak said that the Airport should go through the county bidding process, adhering to prevailing wage and other laws.  Mrs. Burhenne said she would sit down with Mrs. Brakey about her concerns.  Mrs. Brakey asked about whether the funds could be used for salaries and it was unclear whether that would be prohibited.

150 Min. Additional Security Cameras in Parking Lot

Mrs. Burhenne said that it had been requested to add additional cameras in the parking lot for the county office building as several areas have no cameras covering them.  This appeared to be approved but there was no motion and no cost figures were mentioned.

Discussion of Videotaping and AV equipment in the conference room.  Ms. Burhenne said that there were questions about the Creston equipment, already installed in the conference room.  Mr. Antenucci said that there were several ways of approaching this issue.  Mr. Antenucci said that, with training, he felt that ADP could learn how to operate this system and that it all appeared to be working.  He said he had never seen it functional and didn’t know where the control panel was located.  

Mr. Antenucci said he would like to work with whomever would do the training for Creston in the software operation.  He said it was the “cadillac” of systems and would require “a high level of technical training” to operate.  

Mrs. Burhenne  said that the same manufacturer (Crestron) has been hired for the courthouse expansion project.  This could not be verified.  

It was confirmed that Mr. Antenucci could proceed with the training and that a motion was not necessary.

Meeting adjourned at 11:22 am.

More Information and Posted Minutes: Available here.

Next Regular Meeting of the BOCC: The next BOCC meeting after this one will be January 23, 2025 at 9:30 am (change to day due to the Martin Luther King Holiday on Monday January 20) at 9:30 am. Regular Tuesday meeting schedule will resume on January 28, 2025 at 9:30 am.

Observer: Gail Roussey

Editor: Anne Ondrey

Reviewer: Carol Benton

Date Submitted: 1/23/2025

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