Board of County Commissioners - July 11, 2023
Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met at 9:30 AM on July 11, 2023 at the County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH. BOCC meetings are in-person only and there are no recordings for the public. An agenda is available in advance via request to the Commissioners Clerk.
Public Comment Policy: Observer Comment: Commissioner Ralph Spidalieri announced at the end of the April 4, 2023 meeting that public comment would be permitted and that a more formal policy would be forthcoming. There was no formal policy introduced today.
Pledge of Allegiance was recited and a prayer was offered by Mr. Dvorak.
Attendance: Present were Commissioners James Dvorak, Timothy Lennon and Ralph Spidalieri; Commissioners’ Clerk Christine Blair, County Administrator Gerard Morgan, and Senior Financial Specialist Deborah Ashburn for Finance Manager Adrian Gorton, who was absent.
County Representatives: Sheila Bevington, Geauga Clerk of Courts, Christine Lakomiak, Director,
Mental Health and Recovery Services, Kathleen Miller, Fiscal Specialist Water Resources, Nicholas Gorris, Interim Director Department of Water Resources and Andrew Haupt, PE, PS, Chief Deputy Engineer
Others in Attendance: Carolyn Brakey, Geauga Public Health Board President; Adam Litke, Geauga Public Health Administrator; Linda Burhenne, Assistant County Administrator, Skip Claypool, Planning Commission; Chris Alusheff, President, Health District Advisory Council and Claridon Township Zoning Inspector; members of the press from the Geauga Maple Leaf and Chagrin Valley Times and Tom and Diane Jones, as well as several other members of the public.
Minutes: none presented for approval. Reviewer Comment: Weekly LWVG Observer Reports for BOCC are available online for information purposes but are not substitutes for BOCC Minutes. As publication, minutes were posted on the BOCC website through March 7, 2023.
County Administrator Report: Mr. Morgan reported on the following actions taken by him pursuant to Authority granted to him by the Commissioners:
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Approval Notice to Proceed to Maintenance for Integrated PrecisionSystems for the camera project at the Sheriff’s Dept.
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Agreed with Chester Township not to require a hearing on a liquor license for Perky Kettle in Chesterland
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Approved hiring two individuals in Aging – for Recreation and Education (one part time and one full time)
Financial Report: Ms. Ashburn presented the Financial Report, which was approved and included the following:
The Clerk of Courts Office received approval to execute the Third Addendum between the Geauga County Board of Commissioners and Jennifer Carson to extend the term of the contract up to and including July 15, 2023 to reconcile, balance and prepare required reports for the Clerk of Courts Legal Office Account for year 2021 and 2022. All remaining terms and conditions of the contract shall remain in full force and effect.
The County Engineer’s Office received approval for the following:
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to Electronically Execute and Submit the Project Grant Agreement, for Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) Project DGAA20 Local Transportation Improvement Program for the Resurfacing of Brakeman Road (CH-0022, Section A) project in Hambden Township and for.
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And to Electronically Execute and Submit the Project Grant Agreement, Local Transportation Improvement Program for the Resurfacing of Mumford Road (CH-0024, Sections A-D) project in Troy Township.
These two projects were approved at the last meeting, this resolution was to permit electronic submission.
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to approve and execute Resolution #23-122 Authorizing James W. Dvorak, Board Member of the Geauga County Board of Commissioners and Chief Executive Officer for Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) Project CGAA40/CGAA41 to Electronically Execute and Submit the Project Grant/Loan Agreement, Local Transportation Improvement Program for the Resurfacing of Claridon-Troy Road (CH-0003, Sections D-E) project in Claridon Township.
This project for resurfacing Clairdon-Troy Road has not yet been approved by the Commissioners, but it can be submitted electronically after approval.
The Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services received approval for the following:
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to acknowledge receipt of the Certificate of Estimated Property Tax Revenue from the County Auditor for the Mental Health .7 mill renewal. Director Lakomiak stated that it would be $1 for each $100,000 for a period of five years and could be used for both mental health and addiction services. $2,285,000 a year This levy was passed first in 1989, and replaced in 2009.
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to approve and execute Resolution #23-123 Declaring it Necessary to Levy a Tax in Excess of the Ten Mill Limitation and to Provide for the Necessary Requirements of the County’s Community Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Service District at the Request of the Geauga County Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services, O.R.C. 5705.221 and .25.
Discussion - Lake-Geauga Recovery Centers - During the July 6, 2023 BOCC meeting, Lake-Geauga Recovery Centers requested funding for a second location in the southern portion of Geauga County. That request was not approved. For more information, see LWVG Observer report for July 6, 2023.
Commissioner Spidalieri said he did not agree with a 2nd location, as he would prefer something more central. He wanted to know if there was something that could be done.
Mr.Dvorak asked about the process and if it would be normal for Lake-Geauga Recovery to come directly to the Commissioners.
Commissioner Dvorak mentioned the former JFS (Job and Family Services) building. It was stated that UH (University Hospital) was not using it for doctor’s offices.
Mr. Dvorak said that he thought they should take a deeper dive into the issue. No decision was made on Lake-Geauga Recovery’s request.
Geauga Transit received approval to execute the First Addendum to the Interagency Transit Service Agreement between the Geauga County Board of Commissioners and Laketran to amend the terms in Section 4 and Section 10 with all other remaining terms and conditions remaining in full force and effect. A representative of Geauga Transit said that this addendum was necessary so that the Auditor could make payroll taxes. It is an extension until the end of September.
The Department of Water Resources received approval for the following:
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to execute the First Addendum to Contract Agreement with Ullman Oil Company to extend the term of the Agreement from June 30, 2023 up to and including June 30, 2024 for the bulk purchase of Fuel at a price lower than the Daily State of Ohio Contract Rate for District 12, which includes 87 E10 and ULSD #2 Ultra-low to fuel tanks located at Merritt Road and Chagrin River Road, with all other terms and conditions of the original agreement in full force and effect.
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to approve and authorize the President of the Board to execute and initial the Website Design Agreement with Company 119 for Website Strategy, Design, Development and Training, including Content Migration and Implementation in an amount not to exceed $12,500.00.
Mr. Lennon asked about Company 119, why they chose them and if there was a directive to use Company 119. Mr. Gorris said that Company 119 was recommended by ADP but there was no directive. He said that Company 119 had designed the Commissioner’s website, so the new Water Resources website would integrate well with the county website. He also stated that Water Resources would have complete control of the website so that they could issue immediate notices, like a boil notice (in the event of water contamination). He said their old website was very difficult to use.
Not on the Agenda: Board of Revision (BOR) Alternate - BOCC approved a motion to authorize Linda Burhenne, newly appointed Assistant County Administrator, to attend the Board of Revision (BOR) meetings if none of the Commissioners or Mr Morgan is available.
Reviewer Comment: Under ORC 5715.02, the Board of Revision is a 3 member hearing panel made up of the Auditor, Treasurer and a County Commissioner. Each BOR member may appoint a qualified alternate.
Not on the Agenda: BOR Hearing re: Parkman Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) - As listed at the bottom of the BOCC agenda, Board of Revision hearings are scheduled the following week, each day, from 9-3pm. There seemed to be confusion among the Commissioners about why these hearings were taking place. Initially, it was suggested the hearings were related to the wells that were contaminated by salt. Then it was suggested it had to do with additional costs to connect. Ms. Blair suggested that they were similar to the Berkshire Heights issues.
Mr. Morgan said that the issue is the Wastewater Treatment Plant, which he said has been in operation since 2006. He stated that the hearings are for all houses on the septic system to make an adjustment to property values to account for the increased cost of the sewer system. Morgan said that prior to 2006 that there was sewage being discharged because of the rock structure of the properties. He further stated that these residents didn’t have assessments on their properties due to the provisions of a community development block grant. He seemed to suggest that a portion of the monthly bill was for an assessment. Originally residents had to pay for running the line to their house but there was no charge for connecting.
Observer Note: In follow up correspondence with Board of Revision member Charles E. Walder, LWV Geauga was informed that there has been a history of complaints by Parkman residents concerning the operation of the Park WWTP. Per Mr. Walder, there has been an issue with the homes in Parkman due to sewer gas coming into their homes. Residents have reported that Geauga Water Resources has not addressed the issue and they believe their property values have been negatively affected by the unresolved sewer gas issue and by the costs associated with the sewer project.
Mr. Walder indicated that a letter from Mr. Morgan dated July 26, 2022 was sent to Parkman Trustees suggesting that the residents should request a Board of Revision hearing to lower assessed property values.
Mr. Walder stated further that because he had investigated the initial matter following Mr. Morgan’s letter, he would recuse himself from any deliberations. LWV Geauga Observer Corps will cover this meeting and report further. Nothing was mentioned by Mr. Morgan about the sewer gas complaints.
Public Comment: This observer asked a clarifying question regarding the last motion or resolution proposed by Commissioner’s Clerk Christine Blair, as her reading was inaudible. It was re-stated and is listed above and it concerned the appointment of Linda Burhenne as an alternate to BOR.
Diane Jones asked if the Commissioners and Mr. Morgan could clarify what was said in the discussion concerning the Thompson residents and the Board of Revision hearings for next week. She stated that she could not hear the discussion and could not understand the comments.
Mr. Morgan said that microphones will be installed in a few weeks.
Mrs. Jones again asked for more clarity about the discussion.
Mr. Spidalieri said “thank you” and moved to adjourn.
Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 10:15 am
More Information and Posted Minutes: Available here
Next Meeting: Tuesday July 18, 2023 at 9:30 am
Observer: Gail Roussey
Reviewer: Shelly Lewis
Date Submitted: 7/12/2023
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