County Commissioners Approve Prosecutor’s Office Renovation Project
Board of County Commissioners Meeting - October 21, 2025
Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met in Regular Session on Tuesday, October 21, 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 October 21, 2025 meeting recording can be found here. There is a note as follows: “Please note that the audio recording of the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting held on October 21, 2025, experienced some audio inconsistencies. Specifically, the audio is muted between 13:34 and 18:24.” As of this report’s publication date, this video has been viewed 111 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 the meeting.
Public Comment Policy: Permitted as outlined in the BOCC’s Public Comment Policy that was adopted on January 28, 2025, revised on April 15, 2025, and again modified on September 30, 2025. Observer Note: The above link to the Policy does not have the April or September revisions. The April revision was simply to change the time allowed for public comment from two minutes to three minutes. The revision approved in September allows public comment on Agenda items at the beginning of the meeting, with general public comment still at the end of the meeting.
Attendance: Present were Commissioners Carolyn Brakey and James Dvorak. Commissioner Ralph Spidalieri was absent. Also present were Commissioners’ Clerk Christine Blair, County Administrator Amy Bevan, Deputy County Administrator Mark Jimison, and Finance Manager Adrian Gorton.
County Representatives: Frank Antenucci, Chief Deputy Administrator, ADP (Automatic Data Processing); Karen Murphy, Archives; Shane Hajjar, Deputy Engineer; Prosecutor James Flaiz; Gina Hofstetter, Program Director, Community and Economic Development; Liz Ruvino, Contract Coordinator, Maintenance; Kathy Hostutler, Human Resources Administrator; Megan Ericson, Benefits Specialist
Others in Attendance: Steve Oluic, President, Geauga Mental Health and Recovery Services Board; James Duralia and Jonathan Broadbent, Republican Central Committee for Geauga County; Walter (Skip) Claypool, Geauga Metropolitan Housing 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.
6:30 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 the BOCC are available online through October 21, 2025 for informational purposes but are not substitutes for approved minutes. Approved BOCC Minutes are posted online here through August 5, 2025.
7:07 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.
No Comments.
7:13 Min. Administrator’s Report - Ms. Bevan reported on the following actions she took:
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Approved a cash transfer from Common Pleas General Fund, Adult Probation salary account to the community corrections fund in order to cover payments for payroll.
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Approved new hires in JFS (Job and Family Services).
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Approved resignation of part time general communications/clerk and also approved advertising for this position.
8:54 Min Financial Report: The following financials were approved:
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Cash transfer from the Department of Developmental Disabilities from their operating fund to the residential services fund for Ohio Department of Education pass-through funding for local school districts and waiver match costs.
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Travel for the Common Pleas Court.
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Contract Purchase Order from Maintenance to VL Chapman Electric Incorporated for the new generator at the West Geauga Senior Center.
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Vouchers:
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$21,545 from Maintenance to Lallo Masonry and Concrete for sidewalk repairs in front of the Annex Building in Chardon.
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$191,976.99 from Water Resources to AgriSludge for work in connection with the Aquilla Wastewater Treatment Plant.
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Revenue Certification from the Board of DD (Developmental Disabilities) for the revenue that they transferred from the Ohio Department of Education pass-through funding that was not previously budgeted.
9:58 Min. The County Archives and Records Enterprise (CARE) received approval for the abolishment of the Petty Cash Drawer, containing $40.00, as it is no longer necessary to make change for customers, and that the $40.00 be returned to the General Fund, effective October 21, 2025. Mrs. Brakey confirmed that, yes, this is about $40.00 in a petty cash drawer.
11:00 Min. The County Engineer’s Office received approval to execute Resolution #25-190 to Order the Asphalt Resurfacing of Gingerich Road (CH-0034, Section A) in Burton Township.
This resolution includes approval to execute the Title Sheet of the Specifications and sets a Bid Opening for Friday, November 7, 2025, at 10:05 am using Bid Express at the Engineer’s Office. Notice of this Bid Opening will be advertised on October 23, 2025, and on the County website.
Mr. Dvorak asked when Gingerich Road was last paved, and Mr. Hajjar said it was in 2012.
12:47 Min. The Prosecutor’s Office received approval for the following:
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To execute the Construction Agreement with Millstone Group, Inc. for the Geauga County Prosecutor’s Office Renovation Project in the amount of $379,400.00
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To accept the Performance and Payment Bonds for Millstone Management Group, Incorporated for the Geauga County Prosecutor’s Office Renovation Project, and further release the Bid Bond.
Mr. Flaiz said this was the final leg in the renovation process. Mr. Flaiz also said they are in the process of setting up the kick-off meeting. He said they were working on logistics and how to either share offices, move some people to the courthouse or have some individuals work from home during construction.
Observer Note: It was during the above discussion the audio portion cut out.
15:34 Min. The Maintenance Department received approval to execute a service Contract Agreement with Hershberger Roofing and Siding, LLC to perform roof installation, repair and maintenance services at various county locations per the Maintenance Director for a period of one-year, effective October 21, 2025, in an amount not to exceed $50,000.00.
The Commissioners’ Office received approval for the following:
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To approve the revised job description for the position of Director, Maintenance – Building and Grounds, (#1901) to be effective October 21, 2025.
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To advertise for the position of Director, Maintenance – Building and Grounds, (#1901). This position will remain posted until filled.
18:00 Min. Public Comment: (audio restored during the first speaker’s comments at 18:23 Min.)
Mr. James Duralia addressed Commissioner Brakey and asked, “in the past you’ve been kinda, tearing down people who have put in money requests. The airport for one example: $900,000 grant. And you were complaining about $300,000. You said nothing about the almost $400,000 that the Prosecutor’s Office wanted. Did you review the contract? Has there been another, any check for conflict of interest?” [audio restored]. Mr. Duralia made a public records request for all information in regard to the Prosecutor’s Office project.
This Observer asked about the change in the Maintenance Director job description, and Ms. Bevan stated it hasn’t been changed since 2007. It was confirmed that this information will be posted on the website.
Another citizen spoke about the Prosecutor’s Office and stated that he considered this a luxury item. He said he hadn’t seen anything about it before, but he could have missed it.
Mrs. Brakey said that this was on previous agendas and that they had a “pretty extensive discussion” about it. She said they discussed the “want” versus “need” and decided this was a “need.” Observer Note: See more about the discussion in the LWVGeauga report for September 30, 2025.
Mr. Dvorak said that the Prosecutor gave up part of his office for the renovation and also that the Prosecutor has new hires and there could be more in the future. He said that once Geauga County reaches 100,000 in population, another Judge would be required, which would create more work for the Prosecutor.
Mr. Walter Claypool spoke and also asked Mrs. Brakey about why she approved the work to renovate the Prosecutor's Office.
Mrs. Brakey again responded that this had been discussed in detail at a prior meeting.
24:25 Min. Board Discussion - Ms. Gina Hofstetter received approval from the Board to endorse a letter of intent for round three funding for the demolition and site revitalization grant. She said this would be round three for the county and was reflective of House Bill 96. Geauga County would be allocated $230,000 if approved for the Grant. Ms. Hofstetter said that In the last round, Geauga County received $500,000 and they are finishing the work at Chardon Schools and for a private home. Observer Note: The Chardon school project stems from the fact that Chardon has recently moved their bus depot from its previous location next to the high school to an off-site location. Remediation was needed for the site adjacent to Chardon High School.
Ms. Hofstetter said they have a deadline of that day and that the letter of intent would name Community and Economic Development as the lead agency to oversee the grant from the State.
29:08 Minn. Executive Session - The Board entered Executive Session at 9:52 am to discuss compensation of public employees. The Board was joined by Ms. Bevan, Mr. Jimison, Adrian Gorton, Kathy Hostutler and Megan Ericson.
Observer Note: This observer viewed the remainder of the meeting virtually.
1:10:06 Min. - Return from Executive Session at 10:33 am with the following actions, which were approved:
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To continue to offer the 1C Anthem Healthcare Plan and current 2025 waiver rate for elected officials until the completion of their current term.
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To approve and accept the 2026 Geauga County CEBCO (County Employee Benefits Consortium of Ohio) Anthem Healthcare Anthem RX prescription and Delta Dental Renewal Plans and rates for plan 1F and 1C to be effective January 1, 2026. Mrs. Brakey confirmed that the 1C plan was for elected officials.
Observer Note: There was no discussion of the details of these plans.
1:12 Min. Meeting adjourned at approximately 10:35 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 28, 2025 at 9:30 am at the County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH.
Observer: Gail Roussey
Editor: Carol Benton
Reviewer: Sarah McGlone
Date Submitted: October 25, 2025
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