BOCC met on Tuesday, August 30, 2022, at 9:30 am at Geauga County Administration Building, 12811 Ravenwood Drive, Claridon. This meeting was in person only and there was no link to a recording.
Commissioners Dvorak, Lennon and Spidalieri were all present.
Also in attendance were Christine Blair, Commissioner’s Clerk, County Administrator Gerard Morgan and Finance Director Adrian Gorton.
Other members of County Government in attendance were Planning Director Linda Crombie, County Engineer Shane Hajir, Maintenance Director Glen Vernick, Operations Manager for Transit David Lair.and in the public Adam Litke from Geauga Health District and Frank Antonucci, ADP, Steve Oluic and Nick Gorris from Water Resources.
The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer led by Mr. Dvorak.
Reviewer Note: no prior meeting minutes were presented for approval. As of the Sept 9, 2022 publication of this report, the most recent approved minutes available online are for May 10, 2022.
Mr. Gerard Morgan reviewed the actions he had taken in the preceding weeks which included approving Payment # 22 to GPD for the Chardon Wastewater Treatment Plant in the amount of $47.59 and approval for no hearing on a liquor license in Chester for a Mr. L Perrezzio.
Mr. Adrian Gorton reviewed the financials for the week which included:
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Transfer to the Sheriff’s office for miscellaneous refunds
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Cash for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to Water Resources for the Berkshire Heights reimbursement to residents for tie-ins
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Travel for the Engineer’s office, Juvenile and Probate Court
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$61,130.32 from the Engineer’s office to SouthEastern Equipment
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$98,307.75 from the Engineer’s Office to Ronyak Paving for paving of Aquilla and Butternut Roads
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$62,754.06 from Water Resources to Cleveland Division of Water
At this point Commissioner Spidalieri interrupted the County Engineer to ask a question to Mr. Adrian Gorton about a payment (not listed in the public recitation). The question was why the Auditor’s office could have lunch and get paid $83.00. Mr. Gorton replied that it was during the all-day Budget Commission meeting and that the Auditor had gone through the correct process to have a business lunch approved.
County Engineer’s Office:
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received approval to post load limits on Riverview Drive Structure GEA-T0380-0031_(2830590) in Bainbridge Township for a weight limit of a single unit as follows: 2 AXLE – 15 T, 3 AXLE – 21 T, 4 AXLE – 22 T, 5 AXLE – 24 T, 6+ AXLE – 25 T and Tractor Trailer – 39 T), pursuant to O.R.C. 5577.071. It was explained that this bridge is scheduled for replacement in 2-3 years.
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To award the Bid to Grade Line, Incorporated for the Drainage Improvements of Washington Street (CH-0606, Sections C-E) in Auburn and Bainbridge Townships in the amount of $458,187.50 as they represented the lowest and best bid. The Bid Bond submitted shall be held to serve as the Performance Bond for this project.
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To approve and execute Change Order #3, increasing the Contract with Marucci and Gaffney Excavating for the Bundysburg Road Bridge Replacement (Structure #BR-0038-03.080-2021) in Parkman Township in the amount of $5,635.88.
The Planning Commission:
The Sheriff’s Office:
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received approval to execute Resolution #22-158 Declaring County Property as Surplus and Directing its Sale to Meigs County, Ohio, as authorized by O.R.C. 307.12 for a 2011 Chevy Express Van.
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The Sheriff also reported that one of the dogs, Miner, who had been retired at the prior BOCC meeting would need to be “put down”. The commissioners expressed their sympathy. It was discussed that there are two potential dogs for training and that all of this training comes from the K-9 fund that is all from donations.
The Maintenance Department received approval for the following:
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to reject all bids submitted for the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office Security Cameras, as all bids received failed to comply with bid specifications.
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To approve and execute the service Contract Agreement with Geauga Mechanical to perform Repair and Replacement HVAC services as needed at various Geauga County buildings as described in the description of work (Exhibits A – Courthouse Annex Split System Condenser Repairs and B – Opera House Split System Replacement – Third Floor) and provide any other services as requested by the Director for a one year period beginning August 30, 2022 in an amount not to exceed $40,000.00. It was also stated that they will have to look at the Annex soon for more extensive repairs..
The Transit Department:
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received approval to execute the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Subaward Grant Agreement Amendment under CY2021 Bus and Bus Facilities Program between the Geauga County Board of Commissioners and the Ohio Department of Transportation Office of Transit, Project Number CARE-0101-064-201, CARE-0101-064-202, CARE-0101-064-211 and CARE-0101-054-212, for a modification (increase) to the federal grant awarded for replacement vehicles for a total of $430,814.00, and further authorize the Director to submit the document electronically.
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The Commissioners acknowledged the bus shortage and asked if buses would be coming. It was stated that the problem is not in having the money for new buses, which are very much needed, but in being able to get the buses under the state contract as none are available.
The Department of Water Resources received approval for the following:
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to execute the Request for Partial Payment #4 for Woodford Excavating, LLC for the Bainbridge Waterline Extension Project, the Ohio Water Development Authority Contractor’s Estimate #4 and the Ohio Water Development Authority Fund Payment Request #4 in the amount of $135,359.32.
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to execute the service Contract Agreement with Buckeye Scale, LLC to perform Scale Calibration for a one-year period effective August 30, 2022 in an amount not to exceed $5,000.00.
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to advertise giving public notice and to hold a public hearing for the proposed rehiring of David Osborn as a retirant and employment to the position of Operations Manager (#2311) to be effective November 1, 2022. This public hearing will be held on Thursday, October 13, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. The public notice for this issue and the public hearing will be published on September 2, 2022 and on the county website.
Commissioner Lennon in particular questioned Kathleen Miller, Water Resources and Mr. Morgan, about why Mr. Osborn was being rehired instead of promoting someone already at Water Resources. It was stated that no one in the department had the proper licenses for the position, but they will be working on trying to get someone eligible for the position. Mr. Lennon wanted to know if there should be a moratorium, or time limit on this rehire position. It was stated that Mr. Osborn would not be in the position after they find someone.
Geauga County Fair:
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The Commissioners’ Office is requesting the Board approve and execute Resolution #22-159 Honoring the Geauga County Agricultural Society and Fair Board on the 200th Anniversary of the Great Geauga County Fair. It was stated that there would be a parade, but that the Commissioners should be there at 11:30 am for the noon ribbon cutting and that concessions would be open at 1 pm
Non-agenda Items: Mr. Morgan brought up several items not on the Agenda as follows:
- Appointment of Amily Imbrogno of Meyers, Roman to represent the Commissioners in the lawsuit filed in May by the Geauga County Board of Elections.
- Mr. Lennon stated this was because the Prosecutor recused himself and Mr. Flaiz refused to allow obtaining legal counsel. The Prosecutor stated that the Commissioners could get legal counsel themselves, as permitted under the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) however, the problem is that they are limited to the amount of the Prosecutor’s total salary and benefits.
- Mr. Morgan gave his opinion that the ORC section that the Prosecutor is relying on is really only for Commissioners just getting legal advice.
(Observer Note: See ORC 309.09. https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/chapter-309 for the language of the statute which appears to differ from the stated position of Mr. Morgan. The County Prosecutor’s salary as set by https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-325.11. Geauga County has a population over 95,000 and the prosecutor does not have an outside position.
Christine Blair brought up another item – the approval of a legal license in Newbury Township for which they didn’t have all the paperwork. Because there was a deadline they requested that the BOCC approve to concur with Newbury Township in not requesting a hearing. This was approved.
Public Comment
- The Berkshire Heights resident said that he understood that Mr. Walder had asked to be put on the Agenda and whether it was ignored or not processed and why.
- Mr. Morgan said that they did receive the request but that there was no documentation as to what he wanted to present. Christine Blair also stated that normally there is a request filled out and they have to attach documentation. It was stated that Auditor Walder just asked to be put on the Agenda about the Chardon Twp. Wastewater Project.
- Ms Jones from aburntownship.org asked for clarification of the name of the attorney that is representing the BOCC and the amount. Mr. Morgan stated the name (as listed above) and that it will be certified for $50,000.
- Chardon Township – Question about a letter sent to Mr. Morgan about something a resident received from the US Dept of Treasury. Mr. Morgan said he hadn’t had a chance to review it and he stated that he would review it. The Chardon resident stated that it had been many weeks with no response.
More Information and Minutes of past meetings available here when posted: Minutes
Next Meeting: September 8, 2022 at 9:30 am
Name of Observer: Gail Roussey
Name of Editor: Betsy Kubbins
Name of Reviewer: Shelly Lewis
Submitted 9/02/2022
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