Geauga Park District Says Goodbye to Park Commissioner Jolene Carnabuci
Geauga Park District Board Regular Meeting – April 21, 2025
Meeting Details: The Geauga Park District (GPD) Board met on Monday, April 21, 2025, at 8:30 am at Big Creek Park Meyer Center, 9160 Robinson Rd, Chardon, OH 44024. This meeting was in-person only with no virtual attendance option.
Public Comment Policy: The Park District Board does not have a formal policy and in practice never permits public comment.
Board Attendance: Commissioners Howard Bates, Jolene Carnabuci, Ray Guarino, and Frank Stein were present. Commissioner Les LaGatta was absent.
Staff Attendance: John Oros, Executive Director, Dawn Sweeney, Finance Director and Jessica Alpers, Administrative Assistant. Also in attendance were Matt McCue, Deputy Director, IT Manager Lucas Beamer, Marketing Manager Sandy Ward and Attorney Todd C. Hicks from the law firm of Thrasher, Dinsmore & Dolan.
Public Attendance: Members of Protect Geauga Parks and this Observer were present as well as reporters from the Geauga Maple Leaf and Chagrin Valley Times.
Pledge of Allegiance: Recited.
Approval of Agenda/Addendum Items: There were no items added to the Agenda. The Agenda was approved.
Minutes: Minutes from the March 25, 2025, meeting were approved and are posted online here.
Financial Report: Dawn Sweeney, Finance Director, verbally reported these individual fund balances as of March 31, 2025:
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Ending balance as of 3/31/25 in the General Fund: $6,034,100
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Beginning balance as of 3/01/25 in the Land Improvement Fund: $1,539,938
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Ending balance as of 3/31/25 in the Land Improvement Fund: $1,869,846
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All Funds beginning balance on 3/1/25: $6,551,022
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All Funds ending balance on 3/31/25: $7,903,946
There were no questions and no discussion.
Presentation of Payment Report for March 2025.
There were no questions and no discussion.
Observer Note: There is no approval or motion regarding the payment report as the payments have already occurred.
Old Business
Mr. McCue offered a planning update on construction projects. He said that the Bridge replacement at the West Woods will be starting this spring, as well as the remainder of reforestation at Veterans Legacy Woods.
The following items were not discussed at the meeting but were on the list of planning department construction projects:
Sunnybrook Preserve asphalt improvements - original bid award for $49,830.00 to Cunningham Paving Co. (Original construction budget of $80,000)
Beartown Lakes improvements - original bid award for $209,709.92 to Geauga Park District (GPD) Construction Crew together with Kompan/Romtec. (Original construction budget of $450,000)
Big Creek Camping Improvements with GPD Construction Crew. (Original budget $50,000, current construction cost of $45,838.58)
Big Creek Tupelo Improvements with GPD Crew and others to be determined. (Original construction budget of $200,000).
Maple Highlands Trail (MHT) North Improvements with GPD Crew and I. Caticchio & Sons, Inc. (Original construction budget $50,000, current construction costs $30,400).
Sunnybrook Preserve Trails with GPD Construction Crew (original construction budget $50,000).
Mr. Bates asked if ODOT was funding the bridge replacement at West Woods, and Mr. McCue said that ODOT would be overseeing the project. ODOT will fund 95% of the cost of the project.
New Business
Capital Plan
Mr. McCue reviewed the Five Year Capital Plan contained in the Board packet. He said that staff ranked these projects on a scale of 1-4, 1 being critical and 4 being transformational. Mr. McCue said that over the next five years they looked at how the plan impacts all the parks. He talked about the work that is being planned for 2026 as follows:
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Hambden Hills Dam Improvements - Mr McCue said that this park was acquired from the Western Reserve Land Conservancy last year and that they need to improve the emergency overflow for the dam. Proposed budget $300,000
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Frohring Meadows Dragonfly Trail Improvements - Mr. McCue said that this trail has not been updated in 20-25 years. Proposed budget $60,000
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The Rookery - Shelter and Playground Improvements - Proposed budget $175,000
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The West Woods - Discovery and Trout Lily Trail Improvements - Proposed budget $60,000
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West Operations Facility - Improvements - Proposed budget $935,000. Observer Note: This was not discussed and the improvements needed were not discussed.
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Swine Creek Lodge Pedestrian Bridge Improvements. Mr. McCue said these facilities are 30 years old. Proposed budget $250,000
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Mountain Run Station - asphalt improvements - Proposed budget $250,000
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Professional Services and Permits - Proposed budget $250,000
Observer Note: The following projects are listed for years 2027-2030, but not all were discussed:
2027
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Veterans Legacy Woods - Stream Daylighting and Westland Restoration - Proposed budget $275,000. Mr. McCue said they are pursuing funding for this project.
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The West Woods Nature Center - Exhibit Improvements and the Playground - Proposed budget $875,000. Mr. McCue said that these exhibits are 20-25 years old. Observer Note: These improvements were discussed at the prior meeting on March 25, 2025. See LWVGeauga Observer Report.
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Big Creek Park - Deepwoods Restroom Improvements - Proposed budget $300,000
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Swine Creek Lodge - Pedestrian Bridge Improvements - Proposed budget $50,000
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Cold Water Stream Habitat & Wetland Restoration - Proposed budget $1,200,000 (Noted that GPD is pursuing funding for this project)
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Professional Services and Permits - Proposed budget $250,000
2028
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Hambden Hills Improvements - Proposed budget $500,000
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Big Creek Park - Hemlock & Creek Trail Connector Bridge - Proposed budget $300,000
Mr McCue said they are looking at a possible pedestrian bridge that would connect Tupelo Park and the Bridle Trail at Big Creek.
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Meadow Highlands Trail - Asphalt and Bridge improvements - Proposed budget $750,000
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Professional Services and Permits - $250,000
2029
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Eldon Russell Shelter Improvements - Proposed budget $200,000. Mr. McCue said this is an older picnic area.
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Swine Creek Valley Improvements - Proposed budget $200,000
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Observatory Park - Asphalt Improvements - Proposed budget $350,000
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Whitlam Woods Improvements - Proposed budget $75,000
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Burton Wetlands Improvements - Proposed budget $125,000
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Professional Services and Permits - Proposed budget $250,000
2030
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Claridon Woodlands Phase II Improvements - Proposed budget $500,000
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The West Woods Improvements - Proposed budget $500,000
Mr. McCue also said that the projects in 2026 are more exact in terms of budgeting. He said that the Park District has added 5,000 acres since 2005, which is a doubling of acreage. They have completed 900,000 feet of stream restoration, restored 31 acres of wetlands and 188 acres of meadows (chiefly at Frohring Meadows), and planted 16,000 trees.
Mr. McCue added that again since 2005 they acquired 13 parks (out of the current total of 28), put up 9 new shelters, 10 semi-enclosed shelters, 8 playgrounds and 20 restroom facilities.
Mr. Guarino asked about restroom facilities and Mr. McCue and Mr. Oros acknowledged that they need to work on upgrading bathrooms. Two slated for work are Swine Creek Lodge and Deep Woods Lodge.
Observer Note: At a prior Geauga Park District Meeting there was discussion about upgrades needed for the Newbury Chapel with possible work in 2025. See LWVGeauga Report for July 18, 2022. The GPD owns the ground under the historic chapel, but the chapel itself is managed by an independent Board. It is currently not open to visitors due to the building being unstable and unsafe for visitors. Items of historical significance are currently being housed elsewhere but an historic bell is still atop the chapel.
Commissioner’s Time
Mr. Oros reviewed the following:
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Rangers attended Axon taser instruction and they will now be capable of training rangers in- house on taser use.
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Observatory Park welcomed 250 people to view the lunar eclipse (midnight-2:30 am) on March 13, 2025.
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On various walks and van trips, Chief Naturalist John Kolar has taken participants to see 9 of the 13 bald eagle nests in the county. Those located within Geauga parks are at Bass Lake and Headwaters Park.
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There were 113 naturalist-led programs for the month of March, with 3,209 people attending.
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Park employee Isaiah Shipman submitted maple syrup from the GPD Maple sugaring projects to the Maple Festival Maple syrup competition and received a second place award in the amber category.
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Mr. Oros recognized Jolene Carnabuci for her service to the Geauga Park District through the presentation of a handmade cutting board composed of several kinds of native woods. Ms. Carnabuci said she had been privileged to serve.
Mr. Guarino thanked Ms. Carnabuci, but no other board members made any comments.
Observer Note: It was also reported in the Chagrin Valley Times that Ms. Carnabuci resigned from the Board. She was appointed June 2022, and the Chagrin Valley Times said that her resignation was to be effective April 21, 2025. Mr. Oros said she resigned to attend to other business. The Probate Judge (currently Judge Grendell) appoints members of the Geauga Park District Board.
Executive Session - There was no Executive Session.
Public Comment - Per Geauga Park District Policy, no public comment was permitted.
Reviewer Comment: Without public discussion by the Board of Agenda items or the opportunity for members of the public to comment and ask questions, the ability of the public to fully understand the business of the Geauga Park District and its use of Geauga County taxpayer funding is hindered.
Next meeting – Monday, May 19 at 8:30 am.
Meeting adjourned at 9:00 am.
See the GPD Website for Additional Information and Minutes.
Observer: Gail Roussey
Editor: Rooney Moy
Reviewer: Carol Benton
Date Submitted: April 27, 2025
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