BOCC Adds Press Table and an Additional Microphone for Public Comment
Board of County Commissioners Meeting - September 23, 2025
Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met in Regular Session on Tuesday September 23, 2025 for a meeting at the Geauga County Office Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH. Meetings can be live streamed through the Geauga ADP Youtube channel. Recordings are available for the public. The September 23, 2025 meeting recording can be found here. As of this report’s publication date, this video has been viewed 37 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: Traci Salkiewicz, PE, Chief Deputy Engineer; Kathy Hostutler, Human Resources Administrator; Craig Swenson, Executive Director, Job and Family Services (JFS); Tracy Olszowy, Child Support Enforcement Administrator; Chuck Tkach, Program Manager, Maintenance Department; Liz Rubino, Contract Coordinator, Maintenance; Nick Gorris, Director, Water Resources.
Others in Attendance: Frank Antenucci, Chief Deputy Administrator, ADP (Automatic Data Processing); Walter (Skip) Claypool, Geauga County Planning Board Member; County residents Diane and Tom Jones; Anastasia Nicholas, Chagrin Valley Times reporter; Allison Wilson, Geauga Maple Leaf reporter; members of the public, and this Observer.
0.02 Min. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and a prayer was offered by Mr. Dvorak.
0.24 Min. Administrator’s Report - Ms. Bevan reported on the following:
0.39 Minutes - Minutes were submitted for approval for July 23, 2025. Observer Note: Weekly LWVG Observer Reports for BOCC are available online through September 23, 2025 for informational purposes but are not substitutes for approved minutes. Approved BOCC Minutes are posted online here through July 8, 2025.
0.57 Min. Financial Report - The following Financials were approved as discussed by Finance Manager Adrian Gorton:
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Appropriations transfer to the Prosecutor's salary account for reimbursement checks that were received from the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) that were subsequently deposited into the general fund. Observer Note: The USDA administers the food stamp program or SNAP and food safety. The County Prosecutor may prosecute food stamp cases. See WKYC report here.
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Transfer from the Commissioners’ Office operating transfers out account to ADP payroll accounts to cover overtime pay for the staff required to cover maintenance projects.
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Supplemental in the building improvements fund 24-hour area projects account to cover the encumbrance of the safety center parking lot project.
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Cash Transfer from the building department improvements fund to pay for replacement computers purchased by ADP for the building department.
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Travel request from the juvenile court to attend the 2025 Ohio Bailiffs and Court Officers Association fall conference in Dublin, Ohio.
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Vouchers
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$36,548.13 from the County Engineer to Ronyak Paving Incorporated for pay request number two for the Butternut Road reconstruction project.
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$133,536.20 from the Maintenance Department to North Bay Construction Incorporated for the purchase and installation of a new generator at the annex building.
2:39 Min The County Engineer’s Office received approval to execute the Mortgage Release for Sublot #391 in Canyon Lakes Colony Subdivision, Phase 14C (PP#02-421507) in Bainbridge Township, as the one-year maintenance period from the date of acceptance has expired and all improvements have been accepted.
3:26 Min. The Emergency Management Agency (EMA) received approval for the revised job descriptions for the positions of Director (#1701), Planner/Trainer (#1712) and Administrative Assistant (#1709) to be effective September 23, 2025.
5:35 Min. The Department of Job and Family Services received approval for the following:
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To execute the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services IV-D Contract between the Geauga County Child Support Enforcement Agency and the Geauga County Common Pleas Court for magistrate services for the period July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, in the amount of $103.29 per hour.
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To execute the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services IV-D Contract between the Geauga County Child Support Enforcement Agency and the Geauga County Prosecutor’s Office for legal services for the period July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, in the amount of $76.31 per hour.
8:46 Min. The Maintenance Department received approval for the following:
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To execute the Construction Agreement with 5K Commercial Roofing LLC for the County Maintenance Barn Roof Replacement Project in the amount of $660,000.00 ($614,000.00 Base Bid, $21,000.00 Option 1A – Contract Add, $25,000.00 Contingency Allowance). The Bid Bond submitted shall be held to serve as the Performance Bond for this project.
Mr. Tkach stated that 20% of the cost will be paid by insurance.
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To rescind the motion from May 29, 2025 that read: Acknowledge the Statement of Qualifications on file for Professional Design and Contract Administration including 1) LDA Architects, Incorporated, 2) SME and 3) Verdantas, LLC and select LDA Architects, Incorporated as the most qualified firm in accordance with O.R.C. 153.69(A) for the kennel expansion and renovation at the Geauga County Animal Shelter Building and further authorize the department to begin contract negotiations, in accordance with O.R.C. 153.69 (B).
Mr. Tkach explained that the Prosecutor asked for this action since the price submitted ($46,000) was so close to the $50,000 threshold required to go out for bid. They are thus changing this process to request bids. Mrs. Brakey asked how this delay will impact the time frame and Mr. Tkach said that it will cause a 2-3 month delay, but they hope to be finished in the spring.
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To grant permission to advertise for Statements of Interest and Qualifications for Professional Design and Contract Administration Services Related to Expansion and Renovation of the County Animal Shelter Kennels. Statements of Interest and Qualifications will be accepted until 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 16, 2025. Notice of this request for Statements of Interest and Qualifications will be advertised on September 26, 2025, October 3, 2025, and on the county website.
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To discuss, review and approve the proposed concept design for upgrading the roofs on the Courthouse Annex buildings, located at 231 Main Street and 237 Main Street, as the engineering estimate of construction costs is approximately $710,800.00.
Mr. Tkach said that the new design was required because when they started the work they realized that there was only 1-½” insulation and there should be 4-½”. This will require a full tear-off for the west side of the roof. There has also been persistent water ice damming on the west side because the roof stays too warm in the winter. Other changes will also address this issue and the added cost will be $10,000.
Approved, with Mr. Spidalieri voting no with the statement that the offices in this building should have been moved to the new county office building.
21:32 Min. The Department of Water Resources received approval to authorize Ralph Spidalieri, authorized representative, to execute the Ohio Water Development Authority Fund Payment Request #5 for the McFarland Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements Project for technical services by HDR Engineering, Incorporated in the amount of $56,509.79.
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) (Revised to adjust amounts) for the Department on Aging - Geauga Credit Union Visa.
22:42 Min.Public Comment - Mrs Brakey asked to move Public Comment to this point in the meeting, which was approved
Ms. Bevan announced the following:
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A press table with electric outlets has been placed in the front of the room
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An additional standing microphone has been installed in the middle of the room for public comment. Ms. Bevan acknowledged that comments from the public have been difficult to hear in the live stream version of the meeting.
Mr. Claypool announced that he had filed a complaint against the Commissioners for failure to release public records. Mr. Claypool asked Mr. Dvorak and Mrs. Brakey why they failed to release the records. Mrs. Brakey and Ms. Bevan agreed that they could not respond due to the pending legal action. Mr. Dvorak said that he had given everything to the Prosecutor and that was all he knew. Reviewer Note: Mr. Claypool directed his question only to Mrs. Brakey and Mr. Dvorak, and he did not specify what ‘public records’ he wanted to be released. He also did not state what type of complaint he filed or with what government entity. No further information has been provided.
A South Russell resident said that the “fly-in” at the Geauga Airport the past weekend “went beautifully.” He also said that he hoped that the Airport would be supported so that it could expand and become an even better airport.
26:22 Min. Executive Session - At 9:57 am The Commissioners’ Office received approval to move into Executive Session for the purpose of considering the purchase of property for public purposes, if premature disclosure of information would give an unfair competitive or bargaining advantage to a person whose personal, private interest is adverse to the general public interest, pursuant to O.R.C. 121.22 (G)(2).
Return from Executive Session - The Board returned from Executive Session at 10:29 min with no action.
27:19 Min. Executive Session - An Executive Session at 10:29 am was approved (not on the Agenda) to discuss personnel matters.
27:50 Min. Return from Executive Session at 11:26 am with no action.
Min. Meeting adjourned at 11:27 am.
Information and Posted Minutes: Available here.
Next Regular Meeting of the BOCC: The next Regular Meeting of the BOCC will be on Tuesday, September 30, 2025 at 9:30 am at the County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH.
Observer: Gail Roussey
Editor: Sarah McGlone
Reviewer: Carol Benton
Date Submitted: September 26, 2025
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