Geauga Park District Financial Report Shows
Over $9 Million in All Funds at End of August
Geauga Park District Board Regular Meeting –September 15, 2025
Meeting Details: The Geauga Park District (GPD) Board met on Monday, September 15, 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. This observer makes a request to GPD Executive Director John Oros (joros@geaugaparkdistrict.org) for the Board packet in advance of the meeting in order to better understand the substance of the matters on the Agenda.
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, Ray Guarino, Sally LaMarca, John Ralph and Frank Stein were present.
Staff Attendance: John Oros, Executive Director; Dawn Sweeney, Fiscal Officer; Jessica Alpers, Administrative Assistant; and Matt McCue, Deputy Director. Also in attendance were Lucas Beamer, IT Manager; Sandy Ward, Marketing Director; Chief Ranger Dennis Sloan, and Attorney Todd Hicks from the law firm of Thrasher, Dinsmore & Dolan.
Public Attendance: Members of Protect Geauga Parks, Kate Jacob, Chief Compliance Officer Geauga County Auditor’s office, and this Observer were present, as well as a reporter from the 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 August 18, 2025 meeting were approved and are posted online here.
Financial Report: Dawn Sweeney, Fiscal Officer, verbally reported these individual fund balances as of August 31, 2025:
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Ending balance as of 8/31/25 in the General Fund: $5,907,702
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Beginning balance as of 8/01/25 in the Land Improvement Fund: $3,470,089
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Ending balance as of 8/31/25 in the Land Improvement Fund: $3,452,933
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All Funds beginning balance on 8/1/25: $9,444,023
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All Funds ending balance on 8/31/25: $9,360,635
There were no questions and no discussion. Observer Note: There were increases in Revenue in the General Fund and Land Improvement Funds which roughly matched expenses, leaving ending balances almost equal to beginning expenses. The balance in All Funds was not addressed, nor was whether there are projects coming up to utilize these funds. Expenses in August in All Funds totaled $639,719. Year to date expenses were $7,053,780, or 70% of the total budgeted.
Presentation of Payment Report for August 2025.
There was one question from Mr. Guarino about the Microsoft licenses and who had those licenses. Mr. McCue stated that everyone in the organization has a license.
Observer Note: There is no approval or motion regarding the payment report as the payments have already occurred.
Old Business
A Planning Update was offered by Deputy Director Matt McCue as follows:
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The West Woods Bridge is complete.
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Tupelo Pond - asphalt is completed and in October they will be working on the pavilion for the picnic area.
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Sunnybrook Preserve - asphalt later in the month.
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Maple Trail signage is complete at the crossover at Lake County.
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Big Creek - The camping upgrades are complete including the second tree house and lean to.
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Veterans Legacy Woods - they are wrapping up the re-forestation project.
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Beartown Lakes - They will be working until mid October on the upgrades to the playground, boardwalk, restroom, and pavilion.
New Business
The following Resolution was approved unanimously without any questions or comments from the Board:
Resolution 17-2025, 2025 Tax Amounts and Rates Certification (2026 Collection Year) - as determined by the Budget Commission and authorizing the necessary Tax Levies and certifying them to the County Auditor. Mr. Oros read the three levies and their rates and amounts as follows:
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0.7 mills (Nov. 8, 2005 approved by voters) - $1,009,739
Observer Note: This levy is on the ballot this November for a 20-year, 1.2-mill renewal and increase and was approved by the Board on May 19, 2025. See LWVGeauga Observer report here.
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0.90 mills (Nov. 5, 2019 approved by voters) - 2,532,947
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1.0 mill (Nov. 6, 2012 approved by voters) - $3,263,885
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Total - $6,806,571
Observer Note: This total does not reflect the renewal and increase of the 0.7 Mill levy which will increase that levy from the $1,009,739 to $3,384,359. See News Herald interview with Mr. Oros here.
Surplus Property - Approved for one kayak to be disposed of.
Commissioner’s Time - There were no presentations or questions or discussion from the Board.
Mr. Oros reviewed the August statistics as follows:
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Total programs - 94; Total Attendance - 2,822; Visitors to the West Woods - 2,158
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17,656 individuals visited the GPD area at the Geauga County Fair and 837 kids visited the archery area.
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The annual Home School Learning Fair was on Thursday, August 14. 251 people attended.
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It was the end of the season for Ropes and Boats after Labor Day. A total of 402 individuals borrowed boats at Headwaters Park and 309 individuals used the ropes course at Claridon Woodlands during this summer.
Executive Session - Mr. Oros said there was no need for an Executive Session.
Public Comment - Per Geauga Park District practice, no public comment was permitted.
Meeting Adjourned at 8:43 am
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, October 20, 2025 at 8:30 am.
See the GPD Website for Additional Information and Minutes.
Observer: Gail Roussey
Editor: Rooney Moy
Reviewer: Carol Benton
Date Submitted: September 22, 2025
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