Commissioners Give Geauga Airport $800,000 for T-Hangar Project
Board of County Commissioners - Special Meeting, April 24, 2025
Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met in Special Session on Thursday, April 24, 2025 at 9:30 am for a meeting at the County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH. Meetings can also be live streamed through the Geauga ADP Youtube channel. Recordings are available for the public. The April 24, 2025 meeting recording can be found here. As of the date of publication this video has been viewed 239 times. 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: Permitted as outlined in the BOCC’s Public Comment Policy that was adopted on January 28, 2025 and revised on April 15, 2025. Observer Note: The above link to the Policy does not have the revision, which was simply to change the time allowed for public comment from two minutes to three minutes.
Attendance: Present were Commissioners Ralph Spidalieri, James Dvorak and Carolyn Brakey. Also present were Commissioners Clerk Christine Blair, Acting County Administrator Linda Burhenne and Finance Manager Adrian Gorton.
County Representatives: Richard Blamer, Geauga Airport Manager; George (Chip) Hess, President, Geauga Airport Authority, and Greg Gyllstrom, Vice-President, Geauga Airport Authority.
Others in Attendance: County residents Tom and Diane Jones and other members of the public and press. This
LWVG Observer prepared this report based on the video posted and noted above.
The meeting started at about 9:40 am.
11:45 Min. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and a prayer was offered by Commissioner Dvorak.
Ms. Burhenne read the following:
“Item 1 Airport Authority - Rescind a motion from April 8th 2025 that read ‘Approve and execute resolution number 25-063 authorizing the Airport Authority to construct a new T-Hanger at the Geauga County Airport and to conditionally approve an appropriation of $800,000 from the general fund to the airport construction fund for the purpose of contributing towards the construction and improvements at the airport in accordance with ORC 308.17 with the elimination of number three in the conditions regarding salary.’”
Mr. Dvorak made the motion to approve and Mr. Spidalieri seconded it for the purposes of discussion.
Ms. Burhenne said that this resolution was needed because it is not what the Commissioners are going to do now. Observer Note: She did not say at this time what they intended to do.
Mr. Dvorak and Mr. Spidalieri voted yes and Mrs. Brakey voted no.
Ms. Burhenne then read the following:
“Item 2 - Airport Authority - The Commissioners’ Office is requesting the Board approve and execute the agreement between Geauga County Board of Commissioners and the Airport Authority regarding the contribution and repayment of $800,000 towards the construction of a new T-Hanger at the Geauga County Airport pending Prosecutor approval and Auditor certification”
Ms. Burhenne said that the issue is that they received a version of this from the Prosecutor’s Office. A second version was created the day before the meeting. She said they were advised to have both available and that changes could be made at this meeting. Observer Note: Ms. Burhenne did not say who advised her to that effect.
Mrs. Brakey said, “Could we take a step back to see how we got here?” She said she was working with the Prosecutor’s Office and Mr. Dvorak was working with the Prosecutor’s Office.
Ms. Burhenne said that when that new resolution was presented to the Airport Authority, that they said there were elements that they were unable to agree to.
Mr. Gyllstrom said they had marked up a version and sent it back, which no one at the meeting was able to locate.
Mrs. Brakey asked, “Why wouldn’t you accept those terms?” She said, “We were going to give you, as a grant, $800,000, and now it is a loan with interest….”
Mr. Gyllstrom said, “It seemed to be an attack on us.”
Mrs. Brakey: “What did you think was an attack on you?”
Observer Note: It took a while to locate the red lined version. There was a break while the red lined version was copied so that everyone could see it. Mr. Gyllstrom was still looking for the approved version that the Airport agreed to. Ms. Burhenne left again to copy that version.
27:42 Min. Mr. Gyllstrom said this new version was reviewed by the Airport Authority.
Mrs. Brakey said she was trying to figure out what was unacceptable about the former agreement that had been approved by the Prosecutor’s Office.
Mr. Gyllstrom said they were guided by their attorney. He pointed to a section of reporting requirements indicating that the loan would be at 2% and they disagreed with the percentage.
Mrs. Brakey again wanted to know what were the specific objections? Mr. Gyllstrom said they objected to the last section which talked about legal remedies. He said that in Item 3 there were terms regarding noncompliance, fraud, misuse of funds, misfeasance, and malfeasance. He said it wasn’t appropriate for partners and co-sponsors to use that kind of language.
Mrs. Brakey said, “An Agreement is hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.”
Mr. Gyllstrom wanted to refer back to the 2018 agreement. He also said that the Airport Authority also objected to the acceleration of the repayment clause. Mr. Gyllstrom said they have done everything to the best of their knowledge according to the 2018 agreement.
Mrs. Brakey also questioned another sentence that was deleted by the Airport that stated that “Authority affirmed that it thoroughly reviewed with their counsel.”
Mr. Gyllstrom said that counsel reviewed it on the phone but not in person and so that is why they deleted that sentence.
37:38 Min. Mrs. Brakey, “I feel that I am being gaslit with this whole thing.” She said that “I just want language that will protect the taxpayers.”
Mrs. Brakey wanted to know how many Airport Board members owned hangars. It appeared that there were two (one of whom was Mr. Gyllstrom), and Mr. Gyllstrom said he and the other Board member didn’t vote on the cost of the hangar rental.
Mr. Gyllstrom also talked about the 2% interest rate, since he said that 1.5% would be better.
Observer Note: There was a long discussion of interest rates and hangar rental rates. See the video for more detail.
The 30 day cure period was also brought up by Mr. Gyllstrom, and Mrs. Brakey said that the Commissioners would have discretion.
Mr. Spidalieri questioned Mr. Dvorak on what had changed since last December when there was an understanding. Mr. Spidalieri said they have made some “incredible leaps of improvements.” He questioned Mr. Dvorak about why he changed his position. Mr. Dvorak said that the Prosecutor’s Office had objected to the proposed Agreement.
Mr. Spidalieri said that originally they were going to contribute $1.3 million and now it is an $800,000 loan.
47:00 Min. Mr. Spidalieri continued “what happened from us supporting them 100% to up to December 31st and now all of a sudden we're here you know, and, and I'll be totally honest with you, like the amount of feedback that I'm getting from the general public on this we look like fools. I mean this is a county building and it's a county airport and we pay to support the county.”
He continued “So do we then make this a common practice that anyone that comes and asks for us to improve county facilities that we're going to create loans now for them?”
Mr. Spidalieri then referenced the expense of the courthouse and money that was approved to upgrade the Prosecutor's Office.
50:18 Min. Mr. Spidalieri continued “are we going to be asking the Sheriff to pay us back for the roof that we're putting on the safety center? No”
Mr. Dvorak talked about the fact that there are employees in the Prosecutor’s Office, who work there every day.
Mr. Spidalieri said, ”You know I'm really disgusted with this process. Be totally honest with you I think that and you know I apologized to you guys a couple weeks ago and I still continue to apologize and I give you guys credit for sitting here to be able to do this. You are volunteers. I can only imagine how much time it has taken away from whatever else you guys do to have attended how many meetings now?”
55:29 Min. Mr. Spidalieri then made a motion to give the Airport Authority $800,000 plus an additional, not to exceed $50,000, for costs expended already in engineering work and to prepare for the FAA grant process.
There was a long discussion again about the red lined version from the Prosecutor’s Office. Mrs. Brakey said that, in her opinion, if they approved an Agreement that was not approved by the Prosecutor’s Office, then the Auditor would not be able to authorize the payment.
Mr. Gyllstrom questioned whether the Prosecutor could overrule the Commissioners. Mrs. Brakey said no, but he is charged with protecting the county legally.
59:50 Min. Mr. Dvork brought the conversation back to the loan. It was unclear from the discussion whether the Prosecutor had reviewed this Agreement.
Ms. Burhenne said that the Agreement was based on the 2018 Agreement that had been reviewed by the Prosecutor, but there seemed to be an additional paragraph. Mrs. Brakey asked for clarification of the total cost of the project. There was a confusing discussion that mentioned a project cost of $1.238 Million and not $1.33 Million. Mr. Gyllstrom said that any money left over would go back to the Commissioners. Observer Note: It was not clear how this would be accomplished or if it was contained in any of the proposed Agreements.
106:02 Min. Mr. Spidalieri said that he had conferred with Ms. Burhenne, and he addressed Mr. Dvorak saying that, “We have the ability to make a transfer of funds.”
Mr. Dvorak then asked what conditions the Airport Authority would fulfill.
Mr. Hess and Mr. Gyllstrom talked about the kind of reports they would be ready to provide.
Mr. Dvorak said he would be willing for a loan of 0% interest and then said he would “slide over” $750,000, the same amount given to the Fair Board.
Mrs. Brakey said that, “We have verbal promises but that doesn't have the same sort of teeth that a written document would have where there's actually consequences for violating it. What would be the consequences if they don't follow the 2018 (Agreement) because that's good till February of 2028?”
1:10:52 Min. Mrs. Brakey said that the importance of having an Agreement is that there would be consequences for not performing the work as expected.
1:12:12 Min. Mr. Spidalieri again made a motion for the $800,000 direct transfer to the Airport fund.
Mr. Dvorak asked again what conditions the Airport would agree to.
Mr. Hess referred to the 2018 Agreement.
Mr. Dvorak then said he would second the motion to transfer the money for $800,000.
Ms. Blair agreed to find the 2024 resolution that was a “straight up” transfer of $20,000.
Mrs. Brakey said she would “point out that there are no protections for taxpayers.” She went on to say that “all the requirements that we put in the resolution from last Tuesday are completely stripped out.”
1:25:16 Min. Ms. Blair read the proposed resolution and then there was a lull while the resolution was printed. During this period Mr. Gyllstrom talked about reporting and the need for more clarity. Mr. Gorton said that his question was whether the annual report during the Budget Hearing was sufficient. All agreed on the need for more reporting during the project. Both Mrs. Brakey and Mr. Dvorak said they would like written reports rather than just verbal updates.
1:34:30 Min. – Resolution (as read by Christine Blair) Commissioners’ Office is requesting the Board of County Commissioners execute Resolution 25-077 to provide a portion of the expense to the Airport Authority in accordance with ORC (Ohio Revised Code) 308.17 for the year 2025 of $800,000.”
Motion made to approve by Mr. Spidlaieri, second by Mr. Dvorak. Both Mr. Dvorak and Mr. Spidalieri voted yes and Mrs. Brakey voted no. Motion approved.
1:35:20 Min. They then moved on to Item 3 as follows:
Item 3: Approval of Sponsor Certificate in Application to FAA
Ms. Blair: “So number three on the Agenda is the Airport Authority is requesting the Board approve the President of the Board to execute the FAA airport improvement sponsor certification forms including construction project final acceptance airport improvement program sponsor certification FAA form 51000-130 drug-free workplace, FAA form 5900-131 equipment and construction contract, FAA form 5100 132 project plans and specifications, FAA form 5100-134 selection of consultants and FAA form 5100-135 for certification and disclosure regarding potential conflicts of interest.”
Mrs. Brakey then had a question about the bid: “So in the application packet it said that there was an irregularity with the accepted bid. Could you talk about that?”
Mr. Blamer said “the person that submitted the low bid on the bid alternates put his four bid alternates on two identical pages instead of having the two separate pages.”
Mrs. Brakey responded: “Okay, the numbers were all correct. They just were put in the wrong place on the form.”
Mrs. Brakey asked if the Prosecutor had signed off on this.
Ms. Burhenne said that Ms. LaChapelle (Assistant Prosecutor) did see it. Observer Note: It was not clear if the Prosecutor approved it.
Mrs. Brakey also asked about the numbers on the waitlist for hangars and Mr. Blamer said this had been updated.
The motion to approve the Grant application was approved unanimously.
1:39:25 Min. Then, Ms. Blair read Item 4 of the Agenda:
Item Four Approval of Application to FAA
Airport Authority is requesting the Board of County Commissioners execute Resolution 25-075 authorizing the President of the Geauga County Airport Authority Board to execute and submit the application to the Federal Aviation Administration for the fiscal year 2025 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Airport Improvement Grant program.
This resolution was passed unanimously.
1:40:45 Min. Financial Report
Mr. Gorton received approval for an encumbrance which is a formal contract PO (Purchase Order) from the Commissioners to the Geauga County Airport Authority for the funds to help the airport build the T-Hanger.
Mr. Dvorak and Mr. Spidalieri approved the financial report and Mrs. Brakey voted no.
Mr. Gorton said that once all the documentation is together there will be another special financial approval as early as this afternoon or tomorrow in order to cut the check for the $800,000. Observer Note: Ms. Burhenne is authorized under the ORC and by resolution of the Commissioners to approve financials that are required in between meetings.
Public Comment - None
Meeting adjourned approximately 11:14 am.
More Information and Posted Minutes: Available here.
Next Regular Meeting of the BOCC: The next Regular meeting of the BOCC meeting is on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at 9:30 am at the County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH.
Observer: Gail Roussey
Editor: Carol Benton
Reviewer: Sarah McGlone
Date Submitted: May 1, 2025
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