Opioid Settlements Continue to Grow as Disbursements are Discussed
Board of County Commissioners Meeting - August 28, 2025
Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met in Regular Session on Thursday, August 28, 2025 at 10:00 am for a meeting at the Great Geauga County Fairgrounds, Burton, OH. Meetings can be live streamed through the Geauga ADP Youtube channel. Recordings are available for the public. The August 28, 2025 meeting recording can be found here. As of the date of publication this video has been viewed 151 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 Carolyn Brakey, James Dvorak and Ralph Spidalieri. Also present were Commissioners’ Clerk Christine Blair, County Administrator Amy Bevan, and Finance Manager Adrian Gorton.
County Representatives: Christine Lakomiak, Director, Mental Health and Recovery; Jim Flaiz, Prosecutor; Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand; Elaine Malkamaki, Program Director, Community Development, Charles Tkatch, Program Manager, Maintenance; Kathleen Miller, Fiscal Specialist, Water Resources; Beth Williams, Director of Youth Services, Geauga County Juvenile Court; Wendy Anderson, President, Geauga County Fair Board
Others in Attendance: Sheila Bevington, Clerk of Courts; Celeste Mullins, Recorder; Andrew Haupt, Engineer; Katie Burger, Representative from Office of Congressman Dave Joyce; Abbey King Mueller, Magistrate, Probate Court; other members of the public and press, and this Observer.
15 Min. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and a prayer was offered by Mr. Dvorak.
Minutes - No Minutes were submitted for approval. Observer Note: Weekly LWVG Observer Reports for BOCC are available online through August 28, 2025 for informational purposes but are not substitutes for approved minutes. Approved BOCC Minutes are posted online here through April 1, 2025. Reviewer Note: It is not known why the minutes are not being published, but it is not required that minutes be published, just that they be available.
Ms. Anderson, President of Geauga Fair Board, welcomed all to the Great Geauga County Fair!
18:34 Min Administrator’s Report - Ms. Bevan reported on the following:
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Accepted the resignation of an employee from Maintenance Department
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Accepted an unpaid leave of absence for an employee from The Department on Aging
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Approved an advertisement for an electrician position for the Maintenance Department
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Approved hiring of a full-time employee for Department on Aging
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Approved the notice to proceed from Community Development for Gold Star Roofing for the Chagrin Falls Park Community Center replacement roof and siding
Financial Report - The following Financials were approved:
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Formal Purchase Contract offer from Commissioners to APG Office Furnishings LLC for the Courthouse Expansion
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Travel - Common Pleas Court, Engineer's Office, Job and Family Services, Probate Court
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Then and Now from Common Pleas to Family Pride of North East Ohio for program series
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Vouchers:
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$29,633.84 From Commissioners to Airport Authority for the local match for the parallel taxiway project
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$16,444.00 from Commissioners to Destination Geauga for 3rd Quarter bed tax
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$20,315.00 from Maintenance to CT Consultants for safety center parking lot
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Revenue Certification from Board of Elections for additional transfers not originally in budget
Observer Note: Ms. Bevan inadvertently reported on the financials. Mr. Gorton had nothing to add.
The Commissioners’ Office received approval to execute the Request for Partial Payment #23 for Infinity Construction Company, Incorporated for the Geauga County Courthouse Expansion GMP Phase #1 and Phase #2 expenses in the amount of $1,130,850.38.
Mr. Gorton stated that this was reviewed and approved by the architects (TDA) and the engineering company (NV5).
The Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services received approval to execute Resolution #25-169 Recognizing August 31, 2025, as International Overdose Awareness Day “One Big Family, Driven by Hope.”
Ms. Lakomiak spoke of how the opioid crisis is intertwined with Mental Health. She stated that the opioid overdoses have decreased since 2020.
29:16 Min The Prosecutor’s Office is requesting the Board approve and execute Resolution #25-170 to approve the Purdue Pharma Bankruptcy Plan: Sackler Settlement Agreement: Participate in new Opioid Settlement Agreements: and Authorize Prosecuting Attorney James R. Flaiz to execute all necessary documents on behalf of the Board of Commissioners and Geauga County relating to the National Opioid Litigation.
Mr. Flaiz stated that these agreements are part of a national opioid consortium to which Geauga County belongs. He also spoke of the One Ohio Recovery Foundation which the County entered into for the same purpose. Under One Ohio, the state is divided into regions. Commissioner Dvorak is chairman of Region 13 which includes Geauga County. Mr. Flaiz reported that there is a balance of $670,000 in the county opioid fund.
Discussion followed with Mr. Flaiz regarding the use of opioid funds. He stated that he would like to get this money out to the community and that this fund will continue to grow. After meeting with Mr. Dvorak, Christine Lakomiak and former Geauga County Assistant Administrator Linda Burhenne, he has drafted an agreement that will have the Commissioners dedicate $100,000 a year that will be available for grants. Ms. Lakomiak has agreed to administer the grants through Mental Health and Recovery Services. She will make recommendations to the Commissioners and they will have final approval of the grants. Mr. Dvorak stated that he would “hate to hesitate on this.” Ms. Brakey will present Mr. Flaiz with questions or comments regarding the agreement.
The Prosecutor’s Office and Sheriff’s Office is requesting the Board approve and authorize the use of Opioid Settlement Funds for the purchase of an MX908 Drug Testing Device and necessary testing supplies in the amount of $74,952.17.
Mr. Flaiz and Sheriff Hildenbrand spoke of how long it takes to get drug test results from the state lab. They said a drug testing device will help with arrests, prosecutions and recovery.
The Department of Community and Economic Development received approval to execute Resolution #25-171 Authorizing the Board of Geauga County Commissioners to make an application to the State of Ohio, Office of Community Development for the use of Economic Development Revolving Loan Funds for a Community Development Project.
Ms. Malkamaki stated that this is for the funds to purchase the Geauga Library building that will be used for the senior center.
52:41 Min The Maintenance Department received approval for the following:
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To execute a service Contract Agreement with McPhillips Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning Company to replace seven (7) CW/HW wall units at the Geauga County Auditor/Mailroom Offices in an amount not to exceed $34,850.00. CW/HW units are for cooling. See one provider here.
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To reject the Bid submitted by Gold Star Roofing, LLC for the County Maintenance Barn Roof Replacement project as it lacked the required bid guarantee, making it non-responsive.
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To reject the Bid submitted by Revere Roofing Company, Incorporated for the County Maintenance Barn Roof Replacement as the Bid Form submitted did not comply with the requirements of the Invitation to Bid, making it non-responsive.
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To award the Bid to 5K Commercial Roofing LLC for the replacement of the County Maintenance Barn Roof in the amount of $660,000.00 ($614,000.00 base bid, $21,000.00 Option 1A- Contract Add, and $25,000.00 Contingency Allowance), as they represented the lowest and best bid.
57:21 Min. The Department of Water Resources received approval to authorize Ralph Spidalieri, authorized representative, to execute the Request for Partial Payment #2 for Shook Construction Company for the McFarland Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements project in the amount of $349,970.00 and execute the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA) Contractor’s Estimate and the OWDA Fund Payment Request #2 in the amount of $349,970.00.
The Probate / Juvenile Court received approval to authorize the President of the Board to execute the amended FY2025 Department of Youth Services (DYS) RECLAIM grant application, to reallocate funds between grant approved programs with no change to the overall grant budget.
The Commissioners’ Office received approval for the following:
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To authorize the use of credit cards by employees at the Common Pleas Court – Court Technology and a replacement card for the Department on Aging.
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To authorize the use of County Credit Cards for the Department on Aging, for use of the Geauga Credit Union Visa (replacement), for the Year 2025.
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To authorize the use of County Credit Cards for the Common Pleas Court – Court IT, for use of a Geauga Credit Union Visa, for the Year 2025.
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To authorize the use of County Credit Cards for the Year 2025 (Quarters 3 and 4) for the Common Pleas Court – Court IT – Geauga Credit Union Visa.
Board Discussion – None
Public Comment - A South Russell resident thanked the Sheriff’s Department for the improved traffic control by Gate 4 at the Geauga County Fair.
Meeting adjourned at approximately 10:49 am
Information and Posted Minutes: Available here.
Next Regular Meeting of the BOCC: The next Regular Meeting of the BOCC will be on Thursday, September 4, 2025 at 9:30 am at the County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH. Note that most meetings are on Tuesdays, but when a holiday is on a Monday, the meeting moves to Thursday.
Observer: Mary Heintzelman
Editor: Rooney Moy
Reviewer: Gail Roussey
Date Submitted: September 1, 2025
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