Board of County Commissioners - December 19, 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.
Attendance: Present were Commissioners Mr. Spidalieri and Timothy Lennon. Commissioner James Dvorak 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, Kathleen Miller, Fiscal Specialist, Water Resources, and Kathleen Hostutler, Human Resources Manager.
Others in Attendance: Carolyn Brakey, Board President, Geauga Public Health; Reporters from Chagrin Valley Times and Maple Leaf; other members of the public and this observer.
Report of County Administrator Mr. Morgan - Mr. Morgan reported on the following actions taken by him:
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Funding for the Department on Aging for the Older Americans Act in the amount of $568,000.
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Hiring of a full time maintenance worker in the Maintenance Department.
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Various appropriations, transfers and supplemental appropriations and de-appropriations to adjust various accounts and funds to balance at year’s end.
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Cash transfer from the General Fund to the Department of Emergency Services for their 2022 per capital subdivision receipts and the 2023 sales tax operation stipend.
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Encumbrance - Contract purchase order from the Commissioners’ office to MVC dba Multivista for construction photography of the courthouse expansion project.
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Vouchers - $11,541.00 from the Commissioners’ office to the CCAO/CEAO (County Commissioners Association of Ohio and County Engineers Association of Ohio) for the Commissioners’ office membership dues.
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Revenue Certification for 2024 from the Common Pleas Court in their Community Corrections Fund and from Community Development in their Demolition and Site Revitalization Fund for money they will be getting next year that had not been budgeted and a Revenue De-certification from the Engineer’s office in their Huntington Ridge Stormwater Fund for revenue that they ended up not receiving this year.
Financial Report - There was no report from Mr. Gorton.
Minutes: Minutes from November 7 and November 14, 2023 were submitted for approval. Observer Comment: Weekly LWVG Observer Reports for BOCC are available online through December 19, 2023 for informational purposes but are not substitutes for approved BOCC minutes. BOCC minutes are posted through September 26, 2023.
The Department on Aging received approval for the following:
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Authorization for the County Administrator to execute the Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging Provider Agreement with the Geauga County Department on Aging for Alzheimer’s Respite for the period July 1, 2023 thru June 30, 2024 in the amount of $14,977.00.
The Department of Water Resources received approval for the following:
Submission of the list of delinquent sewer user fees, water fees, tap-in installments and subsequent certification to the Geauga County Auditor in the amount of $453,394.10. This includes $25,663.93 in late fees. This amount is very similar to years past.
The Commissioners’ Office received approval for the following:
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A transfer of funds from the General Fund into the Victim/Witness Assistance Fund for additional funding for the Victim Witness Program for the grant period October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024 in the amount of $39,995.00.
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Execution of the request for Partial Payment #1 for Infinity Construction Company, Inc., for the Geauga County Courthouse Expansion project in the amount of $61,390.00.
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Declaration of County property as surplus and directing the donation of the property to the Geauga County Airport Authority. This is for a 2016 Ford Escape.
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Authorization of board reappointments:
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Carol Tuttle to the Law Library Resources Board for a five-year term beginning January 1, 2024.
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Dennis Bergansky to the Planning Commision for a three-year term beginning January 1, 2024.
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George (Chip) Hess II to the Airport Authority Board for a four-year term beginning January 1, 2024.
Items not on Agenda:
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Kathleen Hostutler introduced the new Sedgwick representative who will be replacing the previous representative, Todd Keserick. He is retiring, and the Commissioners presented him with a Resolution to honor the service that he has provided to Geauga County in regards to Workers’ Compensation.
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Spectrum/Charter Communications is making a grant application for Round #2 to expand broadband service to underdeveloped areas. They have identified 1600 people that are underserved. This was approved. Mr. Lennon remarked that Spectrum / Charter Communications had already invested money in this initiative and that it will not be funded solely by government funds.
Executive Session: The Board moved into Executive Session at 10:00 for the purpose of discussing the employment of a public employee. They returned at 10:40. They accepted 12 hours of vacation carryover for an employee.
Request to the Prosecutor’s Office to assist with the creation and review of Resolutions, documents and any necessary paperwork regarding the sale of the 470 Center Street property and the review of the Statement of Qualifications for Professional Design Services Inc., relating to the Chardon Senior Center.
Public Comment: After offering, there was no public comment
Meeting Adjourned at 10:45.
More Information and Posted Minutes: Available here.
Next Regular Meeting of the BOCC: Thursday December 28, 2023 at 9:30 am (Change from Tuesday due to the Christmas holiday.)
Observers: Mary Heintzelman
Editor: Anne Ondrey
Reviewer: Gail Roussey
Date Submitted: 12/24/23
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