Commissioners Recognize March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
Board of County Commissioners Meeting - February 27, 2025
Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met in Regular Session on Thursday,
February 27, 2025 at 9:30 am for a meeting at the County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH. This meeting was held on a Thursday due to a lack of Quorum for the meeting on Tuesday. Meetings can also be live streamed through the Geauga ADP Youtube channel. Recordings are available for the public. The February 27, 2025 meeting recording can be found here. As of the date of publication this video has been viewed 114 times. Notations in the report refer to the minute notation on the first 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: Permitted as outlined in the BOCC’s Public Comment Policy that was adopted on January 28, 2025.
Attendance: Present were Commissioners Carolyn Brakey, James Dvorak, and Ralph Spidalieri. Also present were Commissioners' Clerk Christine Blair, Acting County Administrator Linda Burhenne and Finance Manager Adrian Gorton.
County Representatives: Don Rice, Superintendent, Board of Developmental Disabilities; Matt Sieracki, Contract Coordinator, Maintenance Department; Elaine Malkamaki, Community Development; Austin Rice, Department of Emergency Services; Frank Antenucci, Chief Deputy Administrator, ADP, and Nick Gorris, Director, Water Resources
Others in Attendance: Glen Vernick, Director, Maintenance Department; Gina Hofstetter, Director, Community Development; Jessica Boalt, Director, Department on Aging; Dave Lair, Former Geauga County Administrator; County residents Tom and Diane Jones, members of the public and press, and this LWVG Observer.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and a prayer was offered by Mr. Dvorak.
Minutes: Minutes were approved for February 11, 2025. Observer Note: Weekly LWVG Observer Reports for BOCC are available online through February 27, 2025 for informational purposes but are not substitutes for approved minutes. Approved BOCC Minutes are posted online here through February 11, 2025.
County Administrator’s report - Ms. Burhenne received approval for the following:
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Department on Aging - New hire of a full time Recreation and Education Assistant
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Maintenance - Acceptance of the resignation of a Senior Maintenance Technician and approval to increase the posting of the position of Senior Maintenance technician from two to three positions
5:49 Min Financial Report: Ms. Burhenne received approval for the following: Observer Note: Monetary figures are given when available. As stated in the Agenda: “pursuant to Resolution #25-004, approved January 7, 2025 authorize the County Administrator to execute, in the case of a lack of quorum of Commissioners and / or if session is cancelled on a regular financial day or on a day when financials need to be approved, the required approvals for county financials on behalf of the Board during the Year 2025, as authorized by O.R.C. 305.30.”
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Supplemental in the Sick and Vacation Accrual Transfers Out expense account
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Supplemental in the Commissioners Capital Reserve Fund Phase 2 Contract Services account for additional encumbrances and increases as needed
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Cash Transfer from General Fund to the County Agricultural Society Fund for the building of two new buildings on the fairground property
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Travel requests from Common Pleas Court
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Vouchers:
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$114,363.01 from the Engineer’s Office to Cargill Inc Salt Division for the 2024-2025 snow plowing season
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$49,248.00 from the Maintenance Department to E Technologies for the uninterruptible power supply upgrades at the Safety Center.
7:40 Min The Commissioners approved recognizing March as Developmental Disabilities Month. Pictures were taken with the Commissioners and some of the younger individuals. Mr. Don Rice, Superintendent of the Board of Developmental Disabilities, addressed the Commissioners and brought individuals up front for the photos.
Community and Economic Development was granted permission to advertise to hold Public Hearing #1 for the Fiscal Year 2025 Community Development Block Grant Small Cities Program.
The Department of Emergency Services received approval to authorize the Director, Roger Peterson, to execute the Go Green Community Grant Agreement between the Geauga Trumbull Solid Waste Management District and Geauga County Emergency Services in the amount of $3,500.00. The Geauga County Local Emergency planning Committee applied for funding that will be used to update hazardous material detection equipment.
13:37 Min The Maintenance Department received approval for the following:
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To execute the service Contract Agreement with Garland DBS Incorporated to perform roof repairs at various County buildings per the Director for a one-year period, effective February 27, 2025, in an amount not to exceed $50,000.00.
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To execute the service Contract Agreement with Dan Peck Painting Solutions, LLC to provide painting services at various County locations per the Director for a three-year period, effective February 27, 2025, in an amount not to exceed $30,000.00.
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To execute the Contract Agreement with Cable Communications, Incorporated to install cameras and access controls at the Recorder’s Office (located within the Courthouse Annex) with work completed within sixty (60) days of February 27, 2025, in an amount not to exceed $39,997.75.
Mr. Antenucci joined Mr. Sieracki to explain the agreement. It will be a comprehensive set up with 4-6 cameras and key card access for essential locations.
17:05 Min The Department of Water Resources received approval to authorize Ralph Spidalieri to execute the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund Agreement and Exhibit 1, between Geauga County, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the Ohio Water Development Authority for the McFarland Wastewater Treatment Plant Renovation and Upgrade Project in the total loan amount of $28,040,930.59. Observer Note: Previous actions by the Commissioners on this project include the original application on May 2, 2023 and updated application on December 17, 2024.
Mr. Gorris stated that this is the next step in the McFarland project. Ms. Brakey inquired as to the contingency part of the cost breakdown. Mr. Gorris stated that it includes a 10% contingency - about $3 million, for overruns and contingencies. He also stated that, in addition to the loan, grants obtained and ARPA funds, they are still checking out different grants that may still be available.
The Commissioners’ Office received approval to approve and authorize the President of the Board to execute the United States District Court, Northern District, Ohio Eastern Division, Notice of Voluntary Dismissal of Defendant Miami-Luken, Incorporated in Re: National Prescription Opiate Litigation.
Ms. Brakey stated that the defendant is going bankrupt so there will be no accountability.
51:20 Min.Executive Session - The BOCC moved into executive session at 9:47 am for the purpose of considering the purchase of property for public purposes if premature disclosure of information would give an unfair competitive or bargaining advantage to a person whose personal, private interest is adverse to the general public interest. They returned at 10:17 am with no action.
51:40 Min Board Discussion: Mr. Gorton initiated a follow up to the discussion from the previous week on how they would like to proceed on the initialization of the 2026 budget. Observer Note: See the February 20, 2025 BOCC Observer Report for more information. His suggestion was to initialize it using the adopted numbers from this year and look at reducing the budget by a certain percentage to encourage the departments to analyze what the request is going to be and how they justify those numbers. The Commissioners agreed on a 10% reduction. Mr. Gorton also brought up the actual scheduling of the budget hearings and whether to include all departments. Ms. Brakey expressed that, due to her being new to the board, she would like to include all departments. It was also discussed whether to extend the scheduling to add an all day Thursday budget hearing, as it would provide more time. They all agreed to having the budget hearings all day on a Thursday in May in addition to the Tuesdays after session.
Public Comment: Solicited but none offered
Meeting adjourned at 10:28 am
More Information and Posted Minutes: Available here.
Next Regular Meeting of the BOCC: The next BOCC meeting is on Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at 9:30 am at the County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH.
Observer: Mary Heintzelman
Editor: Sarah McGlone
Reviewer: Gail Roussey
Date Submitted: 3/3/2025
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