Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners met in person at 9:30 am on January 24, 2023. The meeting was held at the Geauga County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH. This meeting was in person only and there was no link to a recording.
Attendance: Commissioners James Dvorak, Timothy Lennon and Ralph Spidalieri were present, as were Commissioner’s Clerk Christine Blair, County Administrator Gerard Morgan and Finance Director Adrian Gorton.
County Representatives: Steve Oluic, Water Resources Director; and Sheriff Hildenbrand. Health Commission Administrator Adam Litke was in attendance in the public
The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer led by Mr. Dvorak.
Minutes: No minutes were presented for review. Reviewer Comment: As of January 27, 2023, minutes are posted on the BOCC website through November 15, 2022.
Report from County Administrator - There was not a report from Mr. Morgan
Financial Report: Mr. Adrian Gorton reported the following and all were approved:
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Supplement (no figures mentioned) to the Automatic Data Processing Board (ADP) for staff. Reviewer Note: this action appears to reverse ADP budget cuts that led to the Auditor’s Office, during the Jan 9, 2023 ADP Board meeting, to separate from the ADP Board. Mr. Lennon also discussed his support for improving cyber security and protecting the County’s business systems during the Jan 19, 2023 BOCC meeting.
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Supplement (no figures mentioned) to the Sheriff’s Department for replacement radios
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Cash transfers for Water Resources from their Operating Fund to Debt Retirement Fund, and for the Department of Developmental Disabilities to their Residential Services Fund
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Travel for ADP, and for the Engineer’s and Maintenance Departments.
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Vouchers included
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$110,797 from the Auditor’s Office to Amitron for assistance with the County Real Estate Tax system (Last year it was $107,499
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$6,500.76 from the Sheriff’s office to Smart Furniture LLC for chairs for 911 operators
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$36,026 from Water Resources for the Cleveland Water Division for water meters
The Commissioners’ Office received approval to revise the request to the County Auditor to distribute the balance in the Domestic Violence Fund (2070) to Womensafe, the local agency designated by the Commissioners to receive such monies. This allocation is to be paid pursuant to Section 3113.34 of the O.R.C. for the 2022 year, in the amount of $15,214.70 (previous amount $14,958.70 on January 10, 2023).
The Common Pleas Court received approval to Establish a New Fund called the Automated Outbound Text Message Reminder System. (Observer Note: Commissioners approved accepting a grant for this program which will use text messages to advise defendants of court dates.)
The Department on Aging received approval to waive the 200-hour maximum accrual for Sandy McLeod, Senior Center Site Supervisor beginning December 25, 2022 (Payroll #1) through June 24, 2023 (Payroll #13).
The Department of Development (Community & Economic) received approval to execute the Subrecipient Agreement between the Geauga County Commissioners and ICP Geauga Lake, LLC under the Ohio Department of Development, Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program Grant for properties located on the North and East Sides of Geauga Lake within Bainbridge Township (Parcels) during the period January 1, 2023 through May 1, 2023 in the amount of $2,983,107.00.
The Department of Job and Family Services received approval for three employees for the Use of County Credit Cards (O.R.C. 301.27) for the Year 2023 for Walmart Community Card (limit of $3,000.00 per month) and the Wright Express (WEX) Fleet Card (limit of $5,000.00 per month)
The Maintenance Department received approval to advertise for Bids for “Geauga County Sheriff’s Office Security Cameras” to be held on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. Notice of this Bid Opening will be advertised on February 2, 2023, February 9, 2023 and on the county website. Sheriff Hildenbrand explained that the bids were not usable and that they are going to have a mandatory pre-bid meeting on February 27th so that all contractors understand the bid specifications.
The Department of Water Resources received approval for several items related to the Chardon Township Water Treatment Plant (Berkshire Heights) as follows:
Final and Adjusted payment, decreasing the Contract with TRAX Construction Company in the amount of $165,790.97
Partial Payment #16, Ohio Water Development Authority Contractor’s Estimate #16 and the Ohio Water Development Authority Fund Payment Request #16 for TRAX Construction Company for the Chardon Township Wastewater Treatment Plant and Sewer Project in the amount of $8,526.91. This was for the start-up of the plant and final checks.
Public Comment
At this point in the meeting Mr. Spidalari stated that, “This year we’re not taking public comments but last week there were a number of people who wanted to talk about NOACA.” He then said they would hear from 2 people for up to five minutes each. (Observer Note: Mr. Spidealieri was elected President of the Board of County Commissioners at the January organizational meeting. This is a position that is rotated among the commissioners every year.)
Walter (Skip) Claypool spoke first (Observer Note: Mr. Claypool is a past Commissioner and currently sits on the Planning Commission Board and the Mental Health and Recovery Board)
Claypool’s comments were as follows:
He stated that he and a group of citizens attended a NOACA Climate Action forum. He stated that at each of the five county locations there were 50-100 people who were opposing the NOACA climate change action. He stated that at Middlefield there were a number of citizens not happy with the NOACA climate change. He disputed the statement in the Maple Leaf that said that the members in the room were “unruly”. He said that NOACA has a charter for Roads and Bridges and that Climate Change was not within that charter. He said they are using bad data and bad science.
He then went on to talk about a NOACA general meeting . He said that there were a number of those concerned citizens who had attended the Climate Change forum who also attended this NOACA general meeting. He said that NOACA made it very hard for them to be heard. He expressed that he was really disappointed by the treatment by NOACA. First, the elevator was broken, so that many of the individuals who had mobility issues had difficulty attending. Second, a lot of the people had signed up to make comments during the public portion but that NOACA said that the individual members had not signed in correctly.
Claypool stated that he had been on the NOACA Board and that he had signed in correctly to speak to an Agenda issue. He said that one of the group was recognized to speak and flipped her time to Claypool. He also gave credit to Lake County Commissioner John Plecnik who he said did try to defend the group. He said that the group just wants to be heard.
He urged the Commissioners to “defend your citizens”. He asked the commissioners to instruct their alternates to defend the citizens’ right to be heard. He stated that the Geauga County engineer, Shane Hajir, who was there representing Mr.Dvorak, did not point out correctly that the funds that were given to the County for the Washington Street Project were not from NOACA but were the result of Congressman Dave Joyce including this project in his share coming directly from the federal government. Lennon interjected that this was correct, although NOACA might have helped with the application.
Claypool continued to ask that the commissioners get involved. Claypool said that NOACA won't capture or publish negative input. He again repeated that they have no statutory authority to do this climate action. He asked again for help to defend themselves. He said, “We’re not unruly. We’re not out of control.” He said there is a good case to be made that what they (NOACA) are doing with this climate action plan is illegitimate.
The second speaker was Mr. Jonathan Broadbent, resident of Newbury. (Observer Note: Broadbent is the co-chair of Protect Ohio Children. See https://protectohiochildren.net/)
Broadbent stated that although he was unable to attend the NOACA general meeting he felt there was a need to have an opportunity for redress. He thought that NOACA was not representing the will of “we the people”. He stated that if he had gone he would have been frustrated trying to get them to hear his voice. He said that he would much prefer coming to this body (Commissioners) and ones like it. He recognized that the commissioners are elected and he has the opportunity to come in with a chance to be heard. With an organization like NOACA he didn’t get the sense that this is likely to happen.
Reviewer Comment: Given Mr. Spidalieri’s earlier statement that the BOCC is not allowing public comment this year, it is unclear under what circumstances Mr. Broadbent, or any other Geauga citizen, might address the Board of County Commissioners. LWV Geauga emailed Geauga County public bodies on Jan 26, 2023, requesting information about their public comment policy. That information will be included in our calendar of public meetings.
Response from Commissioner Spidalieri:
Spidalieri said that the county pays dues to NOACA and should be heard. He is going to reach out to Grace Gallucci (Executive Director and CEO of NOACA) and ask her to come to the county for a special meeting with the commissioners or to be part of a regular Commissioners meeting so questions could be asked. He said he wanted it to be done in a respectful manner. He also said he would reach out to John Plecnik in case Lake County Commissioners might want to participate in such a meeting. He stated that the commissioners, “don’t really have a voice either down there.”
Lennon agreed it is a good idea to bring them out and get a group (whoever wants to attend) to see where the differences are.
Spidalieri said if Gallucci says no to coming to a meeting, “then we have our answer”.
At this point three additional individuals were permitted to speak:
Mr. Noel Howard stated that NOACA is coming out to South Russell Village and getting involved there.
Spidalier responded that this is something he would be able to bring up at a meeting.
Ms. Katie Claypool asked if there was a certain number of citizens that would be needed to present to NOACA
Spidalier said that he didn’t know the answer to that question.
Ms. Christine Semno (?) of Munson stated her belief that 99 out of 100 people don’t know what NOACA is. She suggested there be a meeting, not for input but a roundtable discussion to provide education to Geauga County and all the other counties in NOACA..
Spidalieri responded to this comment by saying that maybe an evening meeting might work best so more people could attend.
Christine Semno said that she would like it to be people presenting who are well-versed in the issue.
Observer Note: Local papers covered both of the meetings referenced here. See http://www.chagrinvalleytoday.com/eedition/page_bc396b12-82ea-5773-ae9b-45486b63edcd.html and
https://www.geaugamapleleaf.com/news/crowd-mocks-noaca-climate-action-plan/
The Climate Action Plan presentation is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6lHs2aMLzA
Here is a response from NOACA published in the Geauga Maple Leaf: https://www.geaugamapleleaf.com/news/noaca-letter-answers-questions-explains-mission/
Meeting adjourned.
More Information and Posted Minutes: Available on BOCC website
Next Meeting: Tuesday, January 31st at 9:30 am
Observer: Gail Roussey
Reviewer: Shelly Lewis
Submitted 1/25/2023
The League of Women Voters of Geauga is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. They do not support or oppose individual candidates or parties. Learn more about the LWVG at www.lwvgeauga.org.