Board of County Commissioners – September 8, 2022
The Board of County Commissioners met in person at 9:30 am on September 8, 2022. This Thursday meeting was the result of the Labor Day holiday. The meeting was held at the 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 a Ms. Debbie Ashburn (Senior Fiscal Specialist), acting as a substitute for Ms. Christine Blair, Commissioner’s Clerk, County Administrator Gerard Morgan and Finance Director Adrian Gorton.
Other members of County Government in attendance were County Engineer Shane Hajir, Maintenance Director Glen Vernick, Steve Oluic and Kathleen Miller from Water Resources and in the public Frank Antonucci, ADP.
The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer led by Mr. Dvorak.
Mr. Gerard Morgan reviewed the actions he had taken in the preceding weeks which included approving a revenue certification for Job and Family Services (JFS) for additional funds in the Workforce Investment Fund due to Federal grants.
Minutes: BOCC approved the minutes for the meeting of June 28, 2022.
Financials: Mr. Adrian Gorton reviewed the financials for the week which included:
A supplemental payment was authorized for Emergency Services for a replacement vehicle and computers, and several Then and Now approvals from the Auditor’s office, Clerk of courts and Community Development. There were two travel expenses from the Engineer’s office and JFS. Vouchers were approved:
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$10,130.25 from Community Development to Neighborhood Development
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$27,472.13 from the Sheriff’s office for replacement panels on the jail doors
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$31,602.72 from the Sheriff’s office to Upstate Wholesale Supplies for video cameras and cloud storage
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$96,916.74 from Water Resources to HDR Engineering Inc. for services in connection with the McFarland Wastewater Treatment plant upgrade.
Budget Hearing Schedule – BOCC approved the 2023 Budget Hearing Schedule that includes September 29, October 4, and October 6, 2022
Geauga County Office Building: BOCC approved Partial Payment #21 for Donley’s Independence, LLC for the Geauga County Office Building, Phase #1 and #2 in the amount of $467,451.89 and for Partial Payment #22 for Donley’s Independence, LLC for the Geauga County Office Building, GMP Phase #1 and #2 in the amount of $963,070.07. (Observer Note: Mr. Morgan said the reason there are two payments and one from 2021 is that one got lost in the shuffle, but since they are both from Phase 1 and 2 it was unclear which one was from 2021.)
CORSA – BOCC approved the designation of Gerard Morgan, County Administrator and alternate as Kathleen Hostutler, Human Resources Administrator for the 2022 Annual CORSA meeting on September 9, 2022.
The Clerk of Courts Office received approval for the First Addendum to the service Contract Agreement with RDT-Bruynzeel Storage Systems extending the term of the Contract up to and including December 31, 2022 with all remaining terms and conditions to remain in full force and effect.
The County Engineer’s Office received approval for the following:
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To execute Change Order #1 and Final, decreasing the Contract with Chagrin Valley Paving, Incorporated for the Asphalt Resurfacing of Chagrin Road (CH-0009, Section A) in Burton and Troy Townships in the amount of $16,340.25.
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To appoint Katie Taylor as an additional Prevailing Wage Coordinator for Geauga County for 2022.
The Department of Development (Building) received approval to execute Resolution #22-162 Honoring Larry Heiden on the occasion of his Retirement and Dedicated Service of Thirty-six Years to Geauga County. Mr. Heiden was present and the Commissioners thanked him for his service .
The Maintenance Department received approval for the following:
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To execute a service Contract Agreement with Cleveland Vicon Company to perform Door and Lock Services per the Director effective September 8, 2022 for a two-year period with an option to renew for an additional two-year period in an amount not to exceed $20,000.00.
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To execute the service Contract Agreement with Nelski Incorporated, d.b.a. Paul Davis Restoration of Cleveland to perform Painting and / or Repair and Replacement Construction Services at various Geauga County Buildings, included in Exhibits A, B and C and to provide any other services as requested by the Director effective September 8, 2022 for a period of one year in an amount not to exceed $30,000.00.
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To advertise for Bids for the Snowplowing, Salt and / or Cindering of Geauga County Parking Lots for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 seasons to be held on Wednesday, October 5, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. for Group #1 Chardon Square and 2:05 p.m. for Group #2 24-Hour Service Area. Notice of these Bid Openings will be advertised on September 15, 2022, September 22, 2022 and on the county website. Mr. Glen Vernick, Director of the Maintenance Department explained that they did not have enough staff to plow the “first push in the morning”.
The Department of Water Resources received approval for the following:
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To execute the Ohio Water Development Authority Fund Payment Request #9 (loan #9441) for the McFarland Wastewater Treatment Plant Renovation and Upgrade Project for technical services by HDR Engineering, Incorporated in the amount of $96,916.74. (Observer Note: This amount was also approved as a voucher.) It was explained that this was for engineering services so it was not covered by ARPA.
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To execute the service Contract Agreement with Cleveland Tree and Stump to perform tree removal services at various wastewater locations, including after storm damage effective September 8, 2022 for a one-year period in an amount not to exceed $15,000.00.
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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. It was stated that this work was almost done.
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To execute Resolution #22-163 to Amend Resolution #22-052 that Extended the Current Time Allowed by Fourteen (14) days and Revise the Interest Rate for the Assessed Amount to be Paid Against Parcels within the Levied Assessments for the Chardon Township Wastewater Treatment Plant and Sewer Project in the Geauga County Sanitary Sewer District. It was explained that the interest rate is being adjusted from 1.5 to 1.33 because “no one can make money on a loan). Observer Note: See background information on this resolution in the Chagrin Valley Times: http://www.chagrinvalleytoday.com/editions/geauga_times_courier/article_6037c62e-2fdc-11ed-9537-af9ccd721822.html
The Department of Water Resources requested the Board move into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing the employment of a public employee. Following a brief Executive Session the Commissioners returned and approved the termination of a probationary employee.
The Commissioners had been anticipating a presentation by Adam Litke of Geauga County Public Health Department but he was not in attendance. The substitute clerk, Ms. Ashburn, stated that in looking at the request, it was actually requested by Mr. Litke for September 20th.
Public Comment:
Mr. Ray Rosenberger from Bainbridge delivered written comments to the Commissioners which he did not read aloud. Mr. Dvorak said they would review the comments.
Ms Diane Jones asked about the Water Resources interest rate reduction. It was said that there was confusion because there were two loans. Mr. Morgan said he didn’t know how much money would be saved due to the reduction from l.5 to 1.33 but that it was a 30 year loan.
Mr. Noel Howard stated that the Board of Health had an excellent presentation and distributed NARCAN kits for opioid overdoses.
More Information and Minutes of past meetings available here when posted:
https://bocc.geauga.oh.gov/meeting-minutes/#group=documentlist&doc-category=&doc-year=0&docspagination=0-15
Next Meeting: September 13, 2022 at 9:30 am
Name of Observer: Gail Roussey
Name of Editor: Betsy Kubbins
Reviewer: Shelly Lewis
Submitted 9/12/2022
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