Lake-Geauga Recovery Received Grant for a New Recovery Home in Geauga County
Board of County Commissioners Meeting - April 29, 2025
Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met in session on Tuesday, April 29, 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 29, 2025 meeting recording can be found here. As of the date of publication this video has been viewed 217 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: Megan Erickson, Geauga County Benefits Specialist; Melanie Blasko, President and CEO, Lake-Geauga Recovery Centers; Charles Tong, CFO, Lake-Geauga Recovery Centers; Tracey Salkiewicz, Deputy Engineer, Engineers Office; Nick Gorris, Director, Water Resources; Charles Tkatch, Project Manager Maintenance; Christine Lakomiak, Executive Director, Mental Health and Recovery Services; Frank Antenucci, Chief Deputy Administrator ADP.
Others in Attendance: County residents Tom and Diane Jones and other members of the public and press and this observer.
4:54 Min. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and a prayer was offered by Commissioner Dvorak.
Minutes: No minutes were submitted for approval. Observer Note: Weekly LWVG Observer Reports for BOCC are available online here through April 29, 2025. LWVG Observer Reports are available through April 29, 2025 for informational purposes but are not substitutes for approved minutes.
Administrator’s Report - Ms. Burhenne received approval for the following:
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Concurred with Claridon Township Trustees in not requiring a hearing for the liquor license request from Sonia Retail dba Country Style Drive-in on Mayfield Rd. in Huntsburg.
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Approved Notice to proceed for roof and window replacement by Lindsey Construction and Design for three homes at the Maple Leaf residences.
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Approved a service contract between Water Resources and Utility Services Company Inc to perform visual condition assessment of water tower tanks for a period of one year not to exceed $2,400.00
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Approved Appropriation Transfer from Job and Family Services to move needed funds within public assistance to open an encumbrance by the end of the month.
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Approved $800,000 voucher from Board of Commissioners to the Geauga County Airport Authority for 2025 financial support providing a portion of the funding necessary to the authority to construct a new T hangar.
7:43 Min Financial Report - Mr. Gorton received approval for the following:
Ms. Brakey asked for a total of the Courthouse Project. Mr. Gorton stated that he will provide that to her after the session.
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Revenue Certifications:
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Common Pleas Court in their new OneOhio Foundation Grant Fund for additional state revenue. Reviewer Note: Find more information about OneOhio Recovery Foundation here.
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Engineers Office for additional transfers not originally budgeted in 2025
Commissioner’s Office received approval for the following:
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To Amend the 2026 Tax Budget Hearing Schedule, switching time slots for Water Resources and Community and Economic Development on Thursday, May 8, 2025.
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To authorize the President of the Board to execute Amendment 02 to Services Agreement with Maximus US Services extending the contract to perform services rendered in the development of the County’s Central Services Cost Allocation Plan through February 28, 2026, in the amount of $13,000.00.
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To execute the Agreement with Ubuntu Wellness, LLC and Smooth Rider, LLC Services for the Employee Health and Wellness Expo. The cost of services and product will be covered by the CEBCO Wellness Grant.
15:40 Lake-Geauga Recovery Services presented their annual report on services, programs and new developments. The Commissioners were presented with a report outlining the statistics for the programs and comparisons to state and national benchmarks.
Mr. Tong reported that they received a grant from OneOhio for an additional recovery house in Geauga County and are currently looking for a suitable home. Real estate inventory is low so they are open to looking in the entire county for a home that will meet their needs. The deadline to use the funds for a new home is April, 2026.
Mr. Tong stated that they have been running a deficit due to the cost of medication used for medication assisted treatment. Each shot costs $2,181.34. They will need approximately $34,000 to cover the remaining cost of the shots for this fiscal year. They are hoping to receive $8,800.00 from the Geauga County Board of Mental Health toward this program and are asking the Commissioners to fund the remaining $25,115.00. Additionally, Mr. Tong asked for their continued funding for the jail treatment program for the new fiscal year of $46,358.00. Mr. Gorton stated that they now have over $547,000 in opioid settlement money. Ms. Brakey asked if the county had a plan for the funds and maybe “we should be advertising” that these funds are available. Mr. Dvoark put forth a motion for the funding from the opioid settlement fund of $26,176 plus their normal $46,358 for the jail treatment program. All approved.
34:06 Min. Engineer’s Office received approval for the following:
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For the release of the thirty-three percent (33%) maximum load limit reduction on all County Highways and Township Roads to be effective April 29, 2025. Reviewer Note: This reduction is used in the winter months to prevent damage to roads and then lifted in the spring.
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To execute the following for Sandhill Trail in Munson Township:
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Declare the Public Road/Right of Way upon Sandhill Trail to be vacated in order to correct the acreage amount listed in the original Resolution passed on April 15, 2025.
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To execute the Vacation Plat located in Lot 3, Tract 3 in Munson Township.
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To execute the Quit-Claim Deeds to Matthias A. Lee and Jessica S. Lee for various property/acreage from the vacated Sandhill Trail (TR-0753) located in Munson Township.
38:18 Min. Department of Water Resources received approval for the following:
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To execute Contract Maintenance Form #1, increasing the service Contract Agreement with Bill Conti Plumbing, LLC for additional backflow testing and plumbing services as needed in 2025, in the amount of $4,000.00 for a new not to exceed amount of $6,500.00.
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To authorize Ralph Spidalieri, Authorized Representative, to execute the Delegation of Authority Letter for the Ohio Water Development Authority Loan #11217 for the McFarland Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement Project giving authority to Director Nicholas Gorris to request the payment instruction forms for the project now being sent via a DocuSign email.
Maintenance Department received approval for the following:
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Acknowledgement from the Board of County Commissioners for the Statement of Qualifications on file for professional design and contract administration including 1) Verdantas, LLC, 2) SME and 3) Smolen Engineering Ltd. and to select Verdantas, LLC as the most qualified firm for the parking lot expansion at the Geauga County Office Building and further authorize the Department to begin contract negotiations.
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The proposed concept design for upgrading the Safety Center Parking Lot, as the engineering estimate of construction costs is approximately $1,000,000.00.
47:25 Commissioners’ Office received approval for the following:
Ms. Lakomiak stated that she would like to offer a follow up to the presentation of the Lake-Geauga Recovery Services Presentation. As the executive director of the Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services, she feels that the medication treatment assistance program is important, and she would like to offer her assistance and expertise with the handling of any funding. Mrs. Brakey agreed and said that they should have a plan for the opioid settlement fund and that she would be a good partner in that plan. Mrs. Brakey stated “Let's figure out a way to distribute this money”.
Ms. Burhenne stated that a letter from the Commissioners in support of the project is required when asking for this federal funding. The project will cost $1.5 million and they are asking for $750,000. It was discussed that the housing of ICE detainees at the safety center may help with a more favorable outcome.
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To acknowledge the letters received March 10, 2025, and April 17, 2025, from Norfolk Southern Corporation regarding abandonment of its railroad line from Solon to Aurora, Ohio, and further approve and execute a letter of response that includes information and requests from the County Engineer’s Office, the Planning Commission and the Department of Water Resources.
Ms. Blair asked that the Commissioners send a letter to Norfolk Southern that would include all of the concerns and requests for information from all three agencies. She also spoke of the rail trail project that will be replacing the abandoned property. The driving force behind this project is the Mayor of Solon. This will be much like the Maple Highlands Trail and will connect multiple counties.
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To amend the motion form April 8, 2025 that will revise the start date of Amy Bevan, newly appointed County Administrator, to May 19, 2025. Ms. Burhenne explained that Ms. Bevan is working her way through her retirement at her current position and “we fully believe she’s coming”.
1:04 Min. ADP received approval to execute Resolution #25-082 by the Geauga County Board of Commissioners to grant approval to the Geauga County Automatic Data Processing Board to enter into an Agreement with the Legislative Authority of the Township of Burton.
This is in response to a serious phishing incident that Burton Township experienced last week. Mr. Antenucci stated that, because they do not have an agreement with the township, they would not be able to provide any services and could only give advice at this time. ADP helped as much as they could and also spoke to the Township about a future agreement. Before ADP can go forward with an agreement, they will need the Commissioners to pass this resolution. Ms. Brakey stated that she would like to get in front of this with other townships before cybersecurity emergencies happen.
1:08:26 Min Board Discussion:
Ms. Brakey received an email from a resident complaining about the Geauga Public Health Operation and Maintenance septic program that is mandated by the state. She stated that the program “is penalizing the property owners who are already maintaining their systems.” She suggested that the Commissioners write a letter to the state representatives to state that this law is harmful to our residents and ask them to change the law and remove some of the restrictions. She stated that she would have Mr. Litke, from the Health Department, proof the letter. Mr. Dvoark said that it is a “form of a tax”.
1:15 Min. Ms. Burhenne has discovered the credentials for the old Youtube account for the Commissioners. It is still active. Mr. Antenucci will be able to move the videos from the ADP account to the Commissioners’ account. Ms. Burhenne also brought up the fact that viewers can add comments while it is streaming. Ms. Burhenne said that this feature can be turned off. Mrs. Brakey asked if there was “any appetite to close comment”. There was no response and she said “folks should have their first amendment right of free speech”. It was decided to allow comments during streaming.
Public Comment - None
Meeting adjourned approximately 10:43.
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: Mary Heintzelman
Editor: Carol Benton
Reviewer: Gail Roussey
Date Submitted: May 4, 2025
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