Commissioners Question First Energy Representatives
about Closure of Middlefield Service Office
Board of County Commissioners Meeting - May 6, 2025
Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met in regular session on Tuesday, May 6, 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 May 6, 2025 meeting recording can be found here. As of the date of publication this video has been viewed 191 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: Dave Conley, Liaison Representative, First Energy; Tim Kungpatana (spelling not verified), Director of Operations, First Energy; Shane Hajjar, Deputy Engineer, Engineer’s Office; Jennifer Jones, Director, Geauga Trumbull Solid Waste Management District; Elaine Malkamaki, Program Director, Community Development; Glen Vernick, Director, Maintenance; Nick Gorris, Director, Water Resources; Craig Swenson, Executive Director, Job and Family Services; Gina Schultz, Job and Family Services; Mary Ruth Shumway, Director, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates).
Others in Attendance: David Turner, Director of Customer Accounts and Local Engagement at First Energy, Adam Litke, Administrator, Geauga Public Health; Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand; Ben Garlich, Mayor, Middlefield; Frank Antenucci, Chief Deputy Administrator, Automatic Data Processing (ADP); County residents Tom and Diane Jones, other members of the public and press and this observer.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and a prayer was offered by Commissioner Dvorak.
Minutes: Minutes from April 8, 2025 were submitted and approved. Observer Note: Weekly LWVG Observer Reports for BOCC are available online through May 6, 2025 for informational purposes but are not substitutes for approved minutes. Approved BOCC Minutes are posted online here through April 1, 2025.
Administrator’s Report - Ms. Burhenne received approval to execute a service contract agreement for Water Resources with Independent Diesel Service inc. The agreement is for various repairs and services for the McFarland Wastewater Treatment plant as well as other locations for a period of one year and not to exceed $10,000.00.
6:05 Min Financial Report - Mr. Gorton received approval for the following:
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Appropriation transfer to the Sheriff’s Department for miscellaneous refunds, reimbursements and web checks that were deposited into the general fund.
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Supplemental in the Opioid Settlement Fund to cover an encumbrance to the Lake Geauga Recovery Center.
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Cash Transfer from Commissioners’ Office to the Unemployment Rotary fund
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Travel from the Auditor's Office, Common Pleas Court and Treasurer's Office
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Formal Contract from the Commissioners’ Office to Schindler Elevator Corp. to install security cameras in the elevators at the Geauga County Office Building
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Vouchers:
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$63,721.99 from the Commissioners’ Office to Ohio State University for the 2nd quarter program support payment
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$21,800.00 from Maintenance to CD Consultants Inc. for professional services related to the Safety Center parking project.
8:05 Min Discussion: First Energy Local Engagement Specialist David Conley, along with Tim Kungpatana, Director of Operations came before the Board to discuss the letter that the Commissioners had sent to First Energy regarding the closure of the Middlefield Service Office. Observer Note: See the April 8, 2025 BOCC Observer Report for more information. The Commissioners had communicated their concerns about the closure and the effect it would have on the county. Mr. Conley said that, to ensure responsible resource management, First Energy decided to consolidate the operations currently handled at MIddlefield with the Concord service center. Mr. Conley spoke of improvements that they have made to strengthen the electric grid in Geauga County. He stated that these improvements include the installation of smart meters and the addition of a new substation in 2012. He concluded that they have helped to prevent or minimize the impact of the power outages in the area. Mr. Conley discussed the protocol for outages and said that the relocation of the workers from the Middlefield line shop to Concord will not impact the response time to outages and emergencies. Mr. Spidalieri expressed his concerns about the amount of industry in Middlefield and the loss of business that could occur due to outages. Mr. Mayor Garlich and Sheriff Hildenbrand expressed their concerns as well. Mr. Conley said that he would share any information with management. Ms. Brakey will file public comments with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) during rate hearings.
36:35 Min. Engineer’s Office received approval for the following:
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To execute Resolution #25-084 to Order the Pavement Markings of Various Roads, Geauga County and to execute the Title Sheet of the Specifications for the same. Notice of this Bid Opening will be advertised on May 8, 2025, and on the county website.
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To execute Resolution #25-085 to Order the Placement of Crack Seal on Various Roads in Geauga County and to execute the Title Sheet of the Specifications for the same. Notice of this Bid Opening will be advertised on May 8, 2025, and on the county website.
40:12 Min Geauga Trumbull Solid Waste Management District received approval to execute Resolution #25-086 Approving the Updated Solid Waste Management Plan for the Geauga-Trumbull Solid Waste Management District. This is an EPA requirement.
45:55 Min Department of Community and Economic Development received permission from the Board to advertise to hold Public Hearing #2 for the 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Allocation Program to be held on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 10:00 am.
The Maintenance Department received approval to execute the Contract Agreement with Geauga Mechanical Company to upgrade the 15-ton chiller at the Geauga County Courthouse Annex, effective May 6, 2025 with work to be completed within 180 days in an amount not to exceed $65,445.00.
The Department of Water Resources received approval to execute Contract Maintenance Form #1, increasing the Engineering Agreement with Gutoskey and Associates, Incorporated for additional funds needed for boundary surveys in the amount of $5,000.00 for a new not to exceed amount of $20,000.00.
49:19 Min Department of Job and Family Services received approval to execute the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Subgrant Agreement (#G-2627-11-6138), upon the recommendation of the Executive Director, establishing the terms, conditions and requirements governing the administration and use of Federal Funds by Geauga County Job and Family Services for the period July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027. This agreement enables Job and Family Services to receive Federal funds that get passed through the state.
52:38 Board Discussion - Ms. Shumway appeared before the Board with a request to utilize the first floor room of the county-owned Park Street house for supervised visits through the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) program. She discussed different scenarios of supervised visits and feels that it would be a good fit. Ms. Brakey stated that she is glad that the space will work for CASA, and Mr. Dvorak said that they can meet with Ms. Burhenne on the details. Reviewer Note: BOCC approved the purchase of this property on March 18, 2025. See LWVG report for this meeting and the portion of the meeting that followed the first Executive Session.
57:44 Min. Executive Session #1
The Board moved into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing the discipline of a public employee.
1:11 Min. Return from Executive Session at 10:36 am. They returned with action to approve the disciplinary recommendation by the Director of Job and Family Services for the suspension of a Social Services Supervisor for 8 hours (one working day) without pay. This was for a violation of the policy and procedure manual.
The Commissioners’ Office received approval to execute the Certification Request to County Auditor, Request to Board of Commissioners Quarterly Use of County Credit Cards, pursuant to O.R.C. 301.27 for the Year 2025 (Quarters 1, 2 3 and 4) for the County Engineer’s Office and the Department of Emergency Services.
Public Comment - A reporter from the Geauga Times Courier asked if the Commissioners could talk about the Park Street house and what was the original plan for the property. Mr. Dvorak stated that they wanted to capture the property as it is valuable for the parking lot which is located next to an existing county lot. In the future, they may reconfigure both of the parking lots for employee parking. Both Ms. Brakey and Mr. Dvorak talked about the use of the house for CASA and trying to vacate 470 Center Street.
1:17 Min. Executive Session #2 The Commissioners moved into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing the purchase of public property.
1:23 Min. Commissioners returned with no action.
Meeting adjourned at 10:49 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 13, 2025 at 9:30 am at the County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH.
Observer: Mary Heintzelman
Editor: Gail Roussey
Reviewer: Sarah McGlone
Date Submitted: 05/13/2025
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