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Board of County Commissioners - December 12, 2023

Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met at 9:30 AM on December 12, 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, but public comment was permitted. 

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and a prayer was offered by Commissioner James Dvorak.

Attendance: Present were Commissioners Mr. Dvorak and Timothy Lennon. Commissioner Ralph Spidalieri was absent. Also present were County Administrator Gerald Morgan, Finance Manager Adrian Gorton and Commissioners' Clerk Christine Blair.

County Representatives: Linda Burhenne, Assistant County Administrator; Matt Sieracki, Contract Coordinator, Maintenance Department; Roger Peterson, Emergency Management Services, and Jacob Scotese, PE, Deputy Engineer.

Others in Attendance: Carolyn Brakey, Board President, Geauga Public Health;  Adam Litke, Administrator, Geauga Public Health; Kathy Shimer, Director, Destination Geauga; Reporters from Chagrin Valley Times and Geauga Courier; Tom and Diane Jones; other members of the public and this observer.

Report of County Administrator Mr. Morgan -  Mr. Morgan reported on the following actions taken by him:

Agreed with Bainbridge Township Trustees not to require a hearing for a liquor license for the Glass Asylum, 7207 Chagrin Road, Chagrin Falls OH.

Agreed with Newbury Township Trustees not to require a hearing for a liquor license for El Flamazo Mexican Supermarket at 11400 Kinsman Rd. Newbury OH.

Minutes: No minutes were submitted for approval. Observer Comment: Weekly LWVG Observer Reports for BOCC are available online through December 12, 2023 for informational purposes but are not substitutes for approved BOCC minutes. BOCC minutes are posted through September 26, 2023.

Financial Report - The following items of the financial report as presented by Adrian Gorton were approved: 

• Supplemental / Appropriation Transfers: Various appropriations transfers and supplemental appropriations and de-appropriations to adjust various funds to balance for year end.

• Cash Transfers:

  • Cash Transfer from the General Fund to Building Improvement fund for money that will be needed for improvements to County Buildings.

  • Cash Transfer from the General Fund to the Phase II Capital Reserve fund for money that will be needed for the Courthouse expansion.

  • Cash Transfer from the General Fund to the Central Vehicle Maintenance fund for money that will be needed for the purchase of a new County pool vehicle (for purchase next year).

  • A cash transfer from the General Fund to the Victim Witness Assistance fund to pay the local match for VOCA (Victims of Crime Act) against Women Grant grant period October 2023 through September 2024 Grant # 2023-VOCA-135503873.

• Encumbrances:

  • Formal contract PO (Purchase Order) increase from the Commissioners to Infinity Construction Co., Inc., to add GMP #1 (Guaranteed Maximum Price) to the encumbrance for the preconstruction requirements.

• Vouchers:

  • $116,797.34 from the Commissioners' Office to the Portage/Geauga Juvenile Detention Center for 4th Quarter for operating expenses.

  • $1,557,132.09 from Community Development to ICP Geauga Lake LLC for pay request #2 for the Geauga Lake District Demolition Project - paid for by State grant money.

  • $87,023.25 from the Engineer’s Office to Deere & Company for a John Deere 6110M Cab Utility Tractor.

  • $478,259.37 from the Sheriff's office to Motorola Solutions Inc. for the replacement of all of the agency's portable & mobile radios.

• Revenue Certifications:

  • Revenue Certification and De-Certifications from Community Development in their Demolition & Site Revitalization and Block Grant funds and from Job and Family Services in their Workforce Investment fund.

The County Engineer’s Office received approval for the following:

• To execute Resolution #23-205 to Improve the Embankment of the Bundysburg Road Bridge (Structure #BR-0038-03.080) in Parkman Township and the Embankment of the Gem Road Bridge (Structure #BR-0264-00.290) in Chester Township.

The Department of Emergency Services received approval for the following:

• To authorize the Vice President of the Board to execute the Agreement between the Department of Emergency Services and the Geauga County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) to provide the following services to LEPC: Administrative Support, Emergency Response Coordinator (if elected by the Geauga LEPC), Secretarial / Treasurer Responsibilities, Information  Coordinator (if elected by the LEPC), Compliance, Plan Development and Exercising, Grant Applications, Training and the Maintaining of all required chemical filing forms and records for the Year 2024 in the amount of $10,000.00.

• To execute the Grant Agreement between Energy Harbor Nuclear Corporation and the Board of Geauga County Commissioners in connection with emergency planning and preparedness for the Perry Nuclear Power Plant (PNPP) for a two-year period, January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024 in the amount of $248,323.00 and January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025 in the amount of $254,870.00.

• To execute and further authorize the Director of Emergency Services to execute the Geauga County Radiological Emergency Response Plan (for an emergency at the Perry Nuclear Power Plant) Revision 29, dated January 2024.

Maintenance Department received approval for the following:

• To execute the Contract Agreement with Air Force One, Inc., for the Geauga County Safety Center HVAC Maintenance and On-Call Services, including Post 2 and all Tower Sites for a period of three years, effective January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2026 in the amount of $108,340.00.  Additional labor or services  can be provided for On-Call outside of preventative maintenance in an amount not to exceed $100,000.00 for a total for both parts of the contract not to exceed the amount of $208,340.00.

• To accept the Performance Bond from Air Force One, Inc., for the Geauga County Safety Center HVAC Maintenance and On-Call Services, including Post 2 and all Tower Sites, and further release the Bid Bond.

Public Comment:  Mr. Dvorak asked if there was a public comment but there was none

Meeting Adjourned at 9:45 am

Observer Note:  At noon there was a scheduled groundbreaking ceremony for the Courthouse Expansion Project.

More Information and Posted Minutes: Available here.

Next Regular Meeting of the BOCC: December 19, 2023 at 9:30 am 

Observers: Gail Roussey

Editor: Anne Ondrey

Reviewer: Sarah McGlone

Date Submitted:  December 15, 2023

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