BOCC Adds Public Comment on Agenda Items at the Beginning of Meetings
Board of County Commissioners Meeting - September 30, 2025
Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met in Regular Session on Tuesday September 30, 2025 at 9:30 am 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 30, 2025 meeting recording can be found here. As of this report’s publication date, this video has been viewed 210 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 and again modified at this meeting (see below). Observer Note: The above link to the Policy does not have the April revision, which was simply to change the time allowed for public comment from two minutes to three minutes. Today’s revision was to allow public comment on the Agenda items at the beginning of the meeting. This is also not yet on the website.
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: Frank Antenucci, Chief Deputy Administrator, ADP (Automatic Data Processing); Prosecutor Jim Flaiz; Amy Janasik, Public Defender’s Office; Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand and Chief Deputy Sheriff Tom Rowan; Austin Rice, Director, Emergency Management; Christine Lakomiak, Executive Director, Mental Health and Recovery Services; Megan Ericson, Geauga County Benefits Specialist; Kathy Hostutler, Human Resources Administrator; Craig Swenson, Executive Director, Job and Family Services (JFS); Tracy Olszowy, Child Support Enforcement Administrator
Others in Attendance: Ben Young, Chardon City Manager; 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.
5:36 Min. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and a prayer was offered by Mr. Dvorak.
6:17 Min. Administrator’s Report - Ms. Bevan reported on the following:
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Accepted the resignation of Reba Dykes, in-home Service Manager, Department on Aging effective December 5, 2025.
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Approved posting for a full time in-home service manager in the Department of Aging, to be posted internally for five days and then, if no candidate is found, posted externally until filled.
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Approved a satisfaction release of mortgage through Community and Economic Development for a mortgage of property in Middlefield owned by Steven A. Balco and Terry Elbalco.
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Accepted the retirement/resignation of Tammy Coon, full-time contract coordinator for Maintenance.
7:57 Minutes - Minutes were approved for July 29, 2025 and August 5, 2025. Observer Note: Weekly LWVG Observer Reports for BOCC are available online through September 30, 2025 for informational purposes but are not substitutes for approved minutes. Approved BOCC Minutes are posted online here through August 5, 2025.
8:19 Min. The Commissioners’ Office received approval for an Amended Policy on Public Comment, during Board of County Commissioners’ Meetings, effective September 30, 2025. See below for details on the policy. Observer Note: There was a posted note on the table in the front of the room for individuals to sign up to comment.
9:22 Min. Public Comment - According to the Amended Public Comment Policy, individuals can question an item appearing on the meeting’s agenda. In order to comment, individuals are asked to sign in and wait to be called upon, begin by stating their full name and address, will have up to three minutes to comment or ask a question, and are kindly asked to refrain from disorderly or disruptive conduct.
There were no comments from the public.
9:41 Min. Financial Report - The following Financials were approved as discussed by Finance Manager Adrian Gorton:
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Transfer from the general fund to the building improvement fund to begin to build up its resources for upcoming projects.
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Travel encumbrances for the Auditor, JFS (Job and Family Services), Juvenile Court and Probate Court.
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Then and Now encumbrance from the Veterans Office to KT Custom Logos for a bronze plaque that was purchased without previously being encumbered.
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Purchase order from Water Resources to Dex Imaging LLC for the purchase of seven new copiers and multi-function print printers for the office, the McFarland plant, the lab and the Merit Road Garage.
Vouchers
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$55,339.70 from the Commissioners’ Office to the Geauga County Airport Authority for the local match on pay request number four for the parallel taxiway project.
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$278,143.40 from the Engineer’s Office to Gradeline Incorporated for the realignment of the Haskins Road Bridge.
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$135,521.36 from the County Engineer to Ronak Paving Incorporated for the asphalt resurfacing of Wilson Mills Road.
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$322,578.00 from the Sheriff's Office to Preston Chevrolet for six new Tahoe Police patrol vehicles
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$100,132.63 from the Sheriff's Office to Diversite LLC for replacement batteries, racks, and trays for the 800 MHz communications towers.
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Revenue certification from the ADP Board for additional reimbursement revenue.
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Revenue certification from the Board of Elections for additional state grant revenue that was not previously budgeted for 2025.
Mrs. Brakey asked if the Sheriff’s new vehicles were replacements, and Mr. Gorton said they will be passed down to replace other used vehicles. The Sheriff confirmed that from the back of the room.
The Commissioners’ Office received approval for the following:
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To execute the Request for Partial Payment #24 for Infinity Construction Company, Incorporated for the Geauga County Courthouse Expansion GMP Phase #1 and Phase #2 expenses in the amount of $1,706,159.91.
Mr. Gorton confirmed that these were reviewed by the owner’s representative and architect.
14:06 Min. The Automatic Data Processing (ADP) Board presented information on Resolution #25-185 to Adopt and Implement the Cybersecurity Program Policies of the Geauga County Automatic Data Processing (ADP) Board (O.R.C. 9.64), effective September 30, 2025.
Mr. Antenucci said that he was happy to answer questions, but that the resolution was not requested by ADP but that it must be from the Commissioners.
Mrs. Brakey asked what would happen to a public official who violated the new policy. Mr. Antenucci said that the individual could potentially have their usage rights suspended. He said there was no enforcement mechanism, but the State Auditor would ask for a list of those in violation of the policy in addition to other information typically requested every year..
Mrs Brakey asked how the policy applied to outside vendors and if there was any penalty for violating the policy for outside contractors. Mr. Antenucci said that if they have had issues with noncompliance in the past they basically “don’t do business with them again” if this occurs.
Mrs. Brakey also talked about the fact that, under this policy, in order to pay a ransom in the event of a ransomware incident, the Commissioners have to say that they are paying the ransom publicly. Reviewer Note: See the September 9, 2025 ADP LWVG Observer Report for more information. She wanted to know what that would look like. Mr. Antenucci said that the matter would go before the ADP Board, and they would craft a recommendation to give to the Commissioners. The Commissioners would then decide. He said further that “I still believe the best process is to not do what some of these communities have done and just wait on it and then pay up and hope that it works out, but rather have back-end procedures and processes in place where you just say we're not doing that. We have an alternative option.” Observer Note: Mr. Antenucci referred to these “back-end” processes that presumably would come into play in the event that a ransomware demand disrupts regular service. These were not specified, presumably for security reasons.
Approved unanimously.
21:25 Min. The Prosecutor’s Office received approval for the following:
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To waive the requirement in the bid solicitation package for the Prosecutor's Office Renovation Project that the bidders provide a lump sum breakdown of their bids.
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To waive the requirement in the bid solicitation package for the Prosecutor's Office Renovation Project that the total value of subcontract assignments listed on the bidders’ Bid Form not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the total contract cost.
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To reject the bid from Infinity Construction as the bid was not the lowest and best bid and failed to provide all responsive and satisfactory information required by the bid solicitation for the project.
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To award the bid to Millstone Management Group for the Prosecutor’s Office Renovation Project in the amount of $379,400.00, as its bid constituted the lowest and best bid.
Mr. Flaiz talked about all of these together. He said they received two bids - one from Infinity and one from Millstone, which was only about $3,000 more than Infinity. The bid from Infinity did not have any details on subcontractors, but Millstone listed all subcontractors, so that they could vet them. Millstone is currently working in the County on the Mental Health Transitional Living Center and has been highly rated by the Mental Health Director, Christine Lakomiak. Therefore, he recommended that Millstone be considered the lowest and best bidder.
Mrs. Brakey referenced the fact that Mr. Walder withdrew his request for money for renovations and used the standard of “want vs. need.” Mr. Flaiz said that some of the changes are in response to security needs and some are in response to the fact that they have taken over municipal prosecutions from the City of Chardon. He said that they need the three new offices as sometimes an attorney is using the kitchen as an office when there are mediations or a grand jury.
Mr. Dvorak talked about the fact that the contractors should adhere to the drug-free work place requirements.
Approval was unanimous.
32:38 Min. The Public Defender’s Office received approval to reappoint Joseph H. Weiss to the Public Defender Commission for a four-year term, October 4, 2025 through October 3, 2029.
Mrs. Brakey asked about the Public Defender Commission. Amy Janasik from the Public Defender’s Office said it was composed of five members, with three appointed by the Commissioners and two by the Court of Common Pleas.
Mrs. Brakey asked if the opening was advertised, and Ms. Janasik said it was not.
Mrs. Brakey said she wants to get a handle on advertising openings, but she agreed to approving this motion.
Motion approved unanimously.
35:16 Min.The Sheriff’s Office received approval to execute the Amendment to Agreement by and between the Ashtabula County Commissioners and the Geauga County Commissioners to house and maintain Prisoners in the Geauga County Safety Center at a rate of $75.00 per day plus reasonable and necessary medical and mental health expenses, subject to available space, and extend the agreement term through December 31, 2025 with a not to exceed amount of $45,000.00 a month through December 31, 2025.
The Sheriff reported that Ashtabula got a grant to construct a new facility, but currently they need help. He said they get $75/day per Ashtabula prisoner housed in the Geauga Safety Center, and the only cost increase caused by having the additional prisoners is their meals, which are about $3.00/meal.
36:41 Min. The Emergency Management Agency (EMA) received approval to execute the Ohio State Emergency Response Commission, Local Emergency Planning Committee Application of LEPC Member Appointments for Multiple Members for the period October 1, 2025 through October 1, 2027.
Mrs. Brakey asked what LEPC does. Mr. Rice said that it stands for Local Emergency Planning Committee, and they plan for hazardous events, such as dealing with hazardous chemical spills in County facilities. He said they work with the hazmat team.
37:33 Min. The Commissioners’ Office received approval for the following:
Ms. Lakomiak said she has been working with the Prosecutor to make sure there are good checks and balances and no duplication of services.
She said that she and Commissioner Dvorak sit on the Region 13 Board and that region will shortly be receiving $2.1 Million. She also said that Sheriff Hildenbrand is on the Region 13 Board and therefore cannot apply for funds. She said that through this process, she is recommending that if the Sheriff’s Office needs something, “we could work first locally in some of those systems.” She said she would bring any recommendations to the Commissioners. Observer Note: Funds are distributed through One Ohio Recovery. Region 13 information can be found here.
Ms. Lakomiak said that normally they would have an RFP (Request For Proposals) process, but “I do have a couple situations that are top of mind.” She said she has had an opportunity to talk with both Judge Paschke and Judge Stupica about things happening in the jail. She said that the Prosecutor’s Office has also identified some things. She concluded that, rather than going out for brand new programs, “several of us have identified some treatment needs that are happening in the jail that we might be able to help with.” Mr Dvorak added that this $2.1 million is for four counties to share.
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To execute the County Employee Benefit Consortium of Ohio, Incorporated (CEBCO) Participation Agreement for the period January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2028.
Mrs. Brakey questioned the amount of the Administrative fee and said that she didn’t see that listed in the Agreement. Ms. Ericson said that she didn’t know the amount.
Mrs. Brakey asked when the approval was required. Ms. Ericson said December 1st, but sooner would be better.
Mrs Brakey also said that health care costs were going up 18% and wondered what would happen if they didn’t use CEBCO. She noted it was a 3-year contract.
Ms. Ericson said this was the largest consortium in the state with 49 out of 88 counties in it.. She looked at other consortiums, and they are all smaller.
The Resolution was approved with Mrs. Brakey voting no.
46:24 Min. Public Comment
This Observer asked for the split among the counties for the Opioid Settlement. Mr. Dvorak said that the percentages are based on population and number of drugs sold. He said that Lake County gets the most, then Portage and then Ashtabula and then Geauga, with Ashtabula and Geauga being pretty close. Observer Note: The actual amount was not specified.
A resident from South Russell Village said that the Geauga Airport ceremony was well attended, and he said that the Airport needs to grow larger.
A resident from Munson Township stated that a couple of Board members had petitioned to remove Mr. Claypool from NOACA. The individual said that Mr. Claypool was an expert on NOACA..
Mrs. Brakey responded, “Just to clarify, there's been no petition to get rid of Mr. Clayool. The suggestion was to have two commissioners and the engineer. Mr. Clayool is an alternate. He's not a member of NOACA.” She said that if this change was ratified (by NOACA), the Commissioners would need to decide which two Commissioners would remain on the NOACA Board along with the Engineer.
Observer Note: Mr Claypool is Mr. Spidalieri’s NOACA alternate. Mr. Claypool gave a copy of a complaint he said he filed to reporters for the Geauga Maple Leaf and Chagrin Valley Times. This Observer was able to see a copy of the complaint, which is captioned, “Ohio Court of Claims, with Walter Claypool as the Claimant and the Public Office as the Geauga County Commissioners.” The Commissioners’ Clerk, Christine Blair, is listed as the person who responded to the public records request. The complaint states: “On June 20, 2025, I made a public records request for (1) all documents sent to NOACA from the Geauga County Board of Commissioners between January 1, 2025 and that date, to include e-mails and text messages between Commissioners Dvorak and Brakey and any NOACA staff or board member and (2) all emails and text messages between Commissioners Dvorak and Brakey between January 1, 2025 and that date.” The complaint further alleges that the County Commissioners failed to provide the information in a reasonable period of time. Additional correspondence is included. An online search of records for the Ohio Court of Claims has not yet yielded any results on this matter.
Executive Session: The Commissioners’ Office received approval to move into Executive Session at 10:15 am for the purpose of discussing the compensation of public employees, pursuant to O.R.C. 121.22 (G)(1). Megan Ericson, Geauga County Benefits Specialist, Kathy Hostutler, Human Resources Administrator and Mr. Gorton joined in the Executive Session.
Observer Note: This Observer participated in the rest of the meeting virtually.
1:49:16 Min. Return from Executive Session at 11:12 am. The following resolution was approved unanimously:
To approve and accept the CEBCO (County Employee Benefits Consortium of Ohio) member 2025-2026 wellness program partnered with Anthem for Geauga County employee health and wellness running July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026.
1:50 Min. Executive Session: The Commissioners’ Office received approval to move into Executive Session at 11:14 am for the purpose of considering the employment of a public employee, pursuant to O.R.C. 121.22 (G)(1).
2:42 Min. Return from Executive Session - Mr. Dvorak said there was no action from the Executive Session.
Mr. Dvorak then said they wanted to finish up with the healthcare topic and said to Ms. Ericson that she had the floor. She then introduced the following Resolutions.
The following Resolutions were approved:
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To accept the 2026 Geauga County employee healthcare waiver rates to be effective January 1, 2026.
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To execute the CEBCO county healthcare rate renewal acceptance for 2026.
Ms. Ericson confirmed that this has been updated to be just one plan with dental at the $1,000 cap.
Mrs. Brakey confirmed that this would include the 90/10 split, with the County paying 90% and employees paying 10%.
Board Discussion – Ms. Bevan said she had nothing to suggest for discussion.
2:42:32 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, October 7, 2025, 2025 at 9:30 am at the County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH. Following that meeting, the Tuesday October 13, 2025 meeting will be moved to Thursday, October 16, 2025 due to the holiday on Monday.
Observer: Gail Roussey
Editor: Rooney Moy
Reviewer: Sarah McGlone
Date Submitted: October 7, 2025
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