BOCC Votes 2-1 to Approve Geauga County Airport Grant Application
Despite Lack of Submission of the Application for Review
Board of County Commissioners Meeting - December 23, 2025
Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met in Regular Session on Tuesday, December 23, 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. This meeting can be found here. As of this report’s publication date, the video has been viewed 172 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, 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, James Dvorak and Ralph Spidalieri. Also present were Commissioners’ Clerk Christine Blair, County Administrator Amy Bevan, Deputy County Administrator Mark Jimison, and Finance Manager Adrian Gorton.
County Representatives: Rik Blamer, Manager, Geauga County Airport and Chip Hess, President of the Geauga County Airport Board; Jessica Boalt, Director, Office on Aging;
Others in Attendance:Tate Andersen, Senior Consultant for Maximus Consulting Services, Inc.; Elaine Malkamaki, Project Director, Community and Economic Development; Steve Oluic, President, Geauga County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board; Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Thomas Rowan and two other Deputies (not identified); Anastasia Nicholas, Chagrin Valley Times reporter; Allison Wilson, Geauga County Maple Leaf reporter; Tom and Diane Jones; members of the public and this Observer
4:20 Min The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and a prayer was offered by Mr. Dvorak.
5:15 Min. Public Comment - No Comment by the public.
5:30 Min. Administrator’s Report - Ms. Bevan reported on the following actions she took:
Financials for December 18th
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Appropriations transfer from the Probate Court general fund into their OPERS (Ohio Public Employees Retirement System) account.
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Transfer into the Clerk of Courts in the certificate of title administration fund salaries and OPERS accounts to get through final payments.
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Appropriations transfer from the building department to move money into their contract services account for some needed encumbrance increases.
December 15th
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Department of Water Resources - Accepted the resignation of Joseph Clark, equipment operator, to be effective January 2, 2026.
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Concurred with the Hambden Township trustees in not requesting a hearing on the liquor license being requested by State Route 608 LLC located at 9165 Old State Road, in Hambden, Ohio.
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Concurred with the Newbury Township trustees in not requesting a hearing on the liquor license being requested by Ariano II LLC located at 1111 Kinsman Road, Unit 8, in Newbury, Ohio
December 18th
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Approved for the Department on Aging an Unpaid Medical Leave of Absence for an information and referral assistant during the period December 3, 2025 through December 23, 2025 for up to 120 hours for time not covered by accrued, sick, and vacation leave.
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Approved the promotion of Robert Carter to the position of McFarland Wastewater Treatment Plant Supervisor to be effective January 4, 2026 with a 180 day probationary period.
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Concurred with the Chester Township trustees in not requesting a hearing on the liquor license being requested by Compadres Grill located at 8389 Mayfield Road, Suite A8-13, in Chesterland, Ohio.
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Concurred with the Troy Township trustees in not requesting a hearing on the liquor license being requested by Jack’s Tee and Tap LLC located at 13768 Main Market Road, in Troy, Ohio
Mrs. Bevan continued, “And just a followup from an action that was approved on December 16, we did
approve and execute the service contract for Guardian Alarm Company so that we can proceed with fire alarm monitoring services for the courthouse.”
9:05 Min. Minutes - Minutes from September 30, 2025 and October 7, 2025 were approved. Observer Note: Weekly LWVG Observer Reports for the BOCC are available online through December 23, 2025 for informational purposes but are not substitutes for approved minutes. Approved BOCC Minutes are posted online here through September 24, 2025.
9:26 Min. Financial Report - Mr. Gorton received approval for the following financials:
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Supplemental appropriations from the Commissioners’ miscellaneous capital transfers out account in preparation for a cash transfer to the building improvements fund.
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Various appropriations transfers and supplemental appropriations and de-appropriations to adjust accounts and funds to balance for final invoices and payroll to year-end, including the Common Pleas Court, JFS (Job and Family Services), Law Library and the Sheriff.
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Cash transfer from the General Fund to the building improvements fund to provide partial funding of planned projects for 2026.
Vouchers
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$11,949 from the Commissioners’ Office to CCAO (County Commissioners Association of Ohio) and CEAO (County Engineers Association of Ohio) for 2026 membership dues.
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$40,075.93 from the Sheriff's Office to Hall Public Safety for the conversion of a social security vehicle to a patrol car and an upfit of two new K9 patrol units.
Revenue decertification for JFS in their workforce development fund for money that they will not receive in 2025.
10:52 Min. The Airport Authority received approval for the following:
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To execute Resolution #25-220 Authorizing the President of the Geauga County Airport Authority Board to execute and submit the Application to the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) for FY2026 Ohio Airport Improvement Program for the Supplemental Grant Program, for proposed Hangar 2 Door Replacement Project with a project estimate of $87,000.00 ($78,300.00 ODOT, $8,700.00 Local Match).
Observer Note: The additional two resolutions for two different door projects are listed below this discussion since the discussion started after reading the first resolution. For discussion of the T-Hangar project, to which the County contributed $800,000, see the LWV Geauga Observer Report for the April 8, 2025 BOCC Meeting. The T-Hangar is not yet complete.
Mrs. Brakey asked if they had provided the draft Grant agreement, and Mr. Blamer said that they would submit it, “as soon as it is completed.” There was discussion about the local match, and Mr. Hess said they were requesting the Commissioners pay the local match. He said there might be funds left over from the T-Hangar project (to which the Commissioners contributed $800,000), but they weren’t sure since the project wasn’t yet complete.
Mr. Hess also said that ODOT would not pay for demolition, so the Airport would pay for that, again assuming there was money left from the T-Hangar project. Mrs. Brakey also asked “How are you going to generate more revenue?”
Mr. Hess said that, “We raised rents 10%. Okay. We raised fuel prices or reduced the tenant discount. And also, we're going to have the new T-Hangar area come online this spring… that will be new revenue.”
Mrs. Brakey asked about the wait list for the new T-Hangar, and Mr. Blamer said they had 46 people on the wait list.
Mrs. Brakey said she thought that indicated that they could increase rent. Mr Blamer said that some people already have not accepted a spot after being on the wait list because of high rents.
Mrs. Brakey said that she wasn’t comfortable with approving something for which she hadn’t seen the application.
Mr. Hess said this was a new program.
Mr. Dvorak asked how this came about. Mr. Hess again said that they just found out about this ODOT grant at the end of October.
Mr. Spidalieri said he has looked at it, paying $6,500 towards one Hangar, which is a total of $58,000, and he talked about each project. He said, “I wish I could have gotten my hangar doors for that kind of price.” Mr. Spidaieri continued to stress the amount of work that the Airport Board has done and at one point suggested that maybe the Commissioners could fund a person to help the Airport prepare grants.
Mrs. Brakey suggested that “there's a method to do what you're saying, and that is to dissolve the airport board and then for us to take it over. And if you make that motion, I'll second it.”
Mr. Spidalieri said that he would never make that motion, but he again suggested hiring a person to be a liaison and help with grant applications. Discussion continued.
Mrs. Brakey said, “I think there's two different things going on. So my issue today is a process one, which is, if I am authorizing you to submit an application, I need to see the application. So that's just a pure process issue and… that's not picking on the airport. I mean I would require that from everyone else that would come before us with the same request. And then I think there's also a separate issue, which is a policy one, and that is, from my perspective, the people using the airport should pay for the airport. So you know we disagree on that policy, but I don't even get there today because of the process, and I mean, I feel like you know a lot of the conflict that's occurred this year is because administratively you (The Airport Authority Board) are unprepared to come to the Commissioners.”
Mr. Spidalieri made a motion to approve and ask the Airport to bring over the application once it is completed.
Mr. Blamer said he would get it over once it is completed. Mr. Spidalieri said that was for all three resolutions.
Mr. Dvorak seconded the motion.
Mrs. Brakey asked why they couldn’t table this Resolution until they could see the application. There was some additional discussion.
Mrs. Brakey also noted that there is the additional $30,000 which the County might have to contribute to. Observer Note: The $30,000 was mentioned as being a demolition charge that would not be covered by the ODOT grant. Mr. Dvorak said he hoped there would be money left over from the $800,000 for the T-Hangar project that could be used. Mr. Hess said that there are still change orders on that project.
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To execute Resolution #25-221 Authorizing the President of the Geauga County Airport Authority Board to execute and submit the Application to the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) for FY2026 Ohio Airport Improvement Program for the supplemental Grant Program, for proposed Hangar 4 Roof Replacement Project with a project estimate of $65,000.00 ($58,500.00 ODOT, $6,500.00 Local Match).
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To execute Resolution #25-222 Authorizing the President of the Geauga County Airport Authority Board to execute and submit the Application to the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) for FY2026 Ohio Airport Improvement Program for the Supplemental Grant Program, for proposed Hangar 5 Roof Replacement Project with a project estimate of $65,000.00 ($58,500.00 ODOT, $6,500.00 Local Match).
A combined Resolution for all three projects passed, with Mrs Brakey voting no.
25:54 Min. The Department on Aging received approval for the following:
Ms. Boalt said that instead of a guarantee of 5% of the entire contract amount, they posted 5% of one year’s contract. She said that the Prosecutor’s Office advised her that it would be permissible to waive the irregularity.
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To award the Bid to Schraff Thomas Law LLC for the Legal Services for Older Adults Program for 3,990 hours for the period January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2030, not to exceed a total of $428,007.30.
Ms. Boalt explained that this program will provide 3 hours of attorney services per senior. She said they are “looking to do wills, transfer on deaths, domestic issues, guardianship, kinship issues, landlord tenant issues with clients, and estate matters.”
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To authorize the President of the Board to execute the Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging provider agreement with Geauga County Department on Aging, Purchase of Service Agreement, State Fiscal Year 2026 Alzheimer’s Respite Funds for eligible Geauga County Seniors, Age 60 and older for the period July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 in the amount of $52,179.00.
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To authorize the President of the Board to execute the Area Agency on Aging Contract with Geauga County Department on Aging, Purchase of Service Agreement for Older Americans Act / Senior Community Services Funds for Geauga County Seniors, Age 60 and older for the period January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026 in the amount of $568,000.00.
Ms. Boalt said that this program provides $130,000 for social services, $170,000 for medical transportation, $70,000 for adult day service transportation vouchers and scheduling, $26,000 for evidence-based health promotion classes for balance, $12,000 for diabetes classes and $160,000 for adult daycare programs. Ms. Boalt said that they are required to do a cash match with all of these. She said that it is 25% for the Alzheimer's program. For other programs, it is a 15% cash match. She said that “because that is the taxpayers' local levy dollars, Geauga County, we do all of our services to Geauga County residents.”
34:45 Min. Maximus Consulting Services, Inc. through Tate Andersen, Senior Consultant gave a presentation on Geauga County’s current Cost Allocation Program.
Mr. Gorton said that Federal program guidelines require the County to do a cost allocation for any programs that receive federal funding.
Mr. Andersen said that county employees administer these federal programs, which costs the county money. The cost allocation is based on “employee headcounts, activity as far as transactions, total expenditures.”
Mrs. Brakey asked how much the County pays Maximus Consulting, and Mr. Gorton said it was $13,000, but then Mr. Andersen said that this $30,000 is also part of the cost allocation, so some of it would come back to the Commissioners.
Mrs. Brakey asked if these are the only programs provided by Maximus. Mr Andersen said that Maximus is a global corporation, mostly in the social services sector.
Mr. Andersen said that Maximus serves 78 counties in Ohio; the other 10 counties do things either on their own or some other way.
Mr. Gorton said that CCAO recommends Maximus for this service.
45:18 Min. The Commissioners’ Office received approval of the Meeting Schedule for 2026. Observer Note: This schedule was not distributed to the public and is not yet listed on the Commissioners website.
46:39 Min. Board Discussion – Board Appointments – There was a discussion about appointments to Fair Housing, Revolving Loan and Local Revolving Loan Fund, and Planning Commission. Ms. Blair said that they had received applications for all of those Boards, and she asked if they are ready to move forward. The following lists those appointed. All motions were approved unanimously.
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Planning Commission - Mr. Spidalieri said he favored Gary Neola and Lee Imhof and Tim Sirack; Mrs. Brakey and Mr. Dvorak favored Lee Imhof, Bob Rogish (from the Farm Bureau) and Matthew Mesok. Motion by Mrs. Brakey and seconded by Mr. Spidalieri for Mr. Imhof, Mr. Rogish and Mr. Mesok. Approved.
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Revolving Loan Fund - Four people applied for five positions, so the Commissioners appointed all four- Victor Como, Caroline Mansfield, Jeff Vaji and Jim Heslop. Approved.
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Fair Housing - Five people applied for four positions. Mrs. Brakey said that one of the applicants was Mr. Como, but they were appointing him to the Revolving Loan Fund, so she proposed appointing the other four as follows: Hollie Rondini, Dawn Farrell, Laurel DeLara and Sara Clemson. Approved.
52 Min. Public Comment - This Observer thanked the Commissioners and staff for updated signage for the new County Office Building.
53 Min. Mrs. Brakey said that the JFS levy suppression was approved by the State and that there was great cooperation from everyone. Reviewer Note: More information on the JFS levy suppression is available in the LWV Geauga Observer Report on the December 16, 2025 BOCC Meeting.
Meeting adjourned at approximately 10:19 am
Information and Posted Minutes: Available here.
Next Regular Meeting of the BOCC: The next two Regular Meetings of the BOCC will be on Tuesday, December 30, and Tuesday, January 6, 2025 at the County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH.
Observer: Gail Roussey
Editor: Rooney Moy
Reviewer: Sarah McGlone
Date Submitted: December 26, 2025
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