Board of County Commissioners - March 12, 2024
Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met at 9:30 am on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at the County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH. The 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. Observer Note: The meeting actually began at about 9:37 am. Mr. Dvorak was present at 9:30 am and Commissioners Lennon, Spidalieri and Mr. Morgan all arrived at 9:36 am.
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.
Attendance: Present were Commissioners Mr. Spidalieri, James Dvorak and Timothy Lennon. Also present were County Administrator Gerald Morgan, Finance Manager Adrian Gorton, and Commissioners' Clerk Christine Blair.
County Representatives: Richard Blamer, Manager, Geauga Airport Authority; Jacob Scotese, PE, Deputy Engineer; Linda Burhenne, Assistant County Administrator; Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand and Chief Deputy Thomas Rowan; Jessica Boalt, Director Office on Aging; Gina Hofstetter, Director and Elaine Malkamaki, Program Director, Community and Economic Development; Nicholas Gorris, Director, Water Resources, and Craig Swenson, Executive Director, Job and Family Services.
Others in Attendance: Gary Sommers, Sherpa Development; Brad Ehrhart, Portage Development Board; Adam Litke, Geauga Public Health Administrator; Reporters from the Chagrin Valley Times and Geauga County Maple Leaf, other members of the public, and this observer.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited, and a prayer was offered by Mr. Dvorak.
Administrator’s Report
Mr. Morgan reported on actions he had taken in the prior week that had been authorized by ORC and the Commissioners:
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Accepted a resignation in the Water Resources Department and approved posting for a full time Design Engineer in the Engineer’s Department.
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Approved two welding contracts with Arc-hound Welding for one year, not to exceed $5,000.
Minutes: No meeting minutes were submitted for approval. Observer Comment: Weekly LWVG Observer Reports for BOCC are available online through March 12, 2024 for informational purposes but are not substitutes for approved minutes. Approved BOCC Minutes are posted online here through January 8, 2024.
Financial Report: Mr. Gorton received approval for the following:
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Supplemental to Maintenance payroll for previously approved amounts.
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Cash to Community Development for ACE (Agriculture Career Education) Charter School (once paperwork is approved by the State). Observer Note: The Commissioners approved $100,000 to be paid to ACE Charter School through Community and Economic Development. More information about ACE Charter School is available in the Observer Report January 4, 2024. This school is not yet approved as a Community School by the State of Ohio, but it has established a local Board of Directors. These funds would be used for startup expenses, but, once the school has a minimum number of students and is approved by the State as a Charter School, it would receive State funding. See State of Ohio Community Schools for more details. Cardinal Schools approved this arrangement at their March 13, 2024 meeting. The agreement can be found here.
Travel for JFS (Job and Family Services), Juvenile Court, and Probate Court were all approved.
Vouchers
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$61,226.18 payment to Infinity Construction for payments # 4 and 5 for the Courthouse Expansion Project
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$36,200 from Maintenance to Gable Elevator for elevator repairs to the Opera House building located on Chardon Square.
The Airport Authority received approval for Reimbursement Request #2 for FAA AIP Grant project (#3-39-0054-027-2023) for the Construct Parallel Taxiway A Pavement and LED Lighting, Phase ½ Design in the amount of $62,650.00 ($56,385.00 FAA portion, $3,132.50 ODOT portion and $3,132.50 Local County Match). It was stated by Mr. Blamer that this is for the design phase. Geauga County’s portion is 5%.
The County Engineer’s Office received approval for the following:
The Probate / Juvenile Court received approval to execute the Ohio Department of Youth Services Subsidy Grant Amendment #1 for FY2024 for a Realignment of Funds due to changes in staff and additional programs. Reviewer Note: This request was tabled at the last two BOCC meetings (February 27 and March 5) because the Commissioners wanted a Court representative to appear before them to explain this item. At this meeting, the item was approved even though the previously requested Court representative was not present.
The Sheriff’s Office received approval for the Subaward (MicroGrant) Agreement between the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Justice Services and Justice and Security Strategies, Incorporated for the Rural Body Worn Camera Grant in the amount of $152,000.00 ($76,000.00 Federal Funds, $76,000.00 County General Fund). This grant is for the period January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2025.
The Department on Aging received approval for the following:
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For a revised job description for the position of Chore and Home Safety Program Coordinator (#1032) to be effective March 12, 2024 and for permission to advertise for the position of Chore and Home Safety Program Coordinator (#1032) internally for a period of five days with applications accepted from March 18, 2024 through 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 22, 2024. If no qualified candidate is found, then external advertisement will occur until the position is filled.
The Department of Community and Economic Development received approval for the following:
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To acknowledge receipt of Statement of Qualifications for Architects and Engineering Firms to be considered for projects by the Departments under the Commissioners Hiring Authority and remain on file for one year, through March 12, 2025, including Architects: Byron D. Myers, Architect, LLC; CT Consultants; Envelope Consulting Services; Fogle/Stenzel Architects, Incorporated; and Engineers: Barrington Consulting Group, Incorporated; CT Consultants, Envelope Consulting Services; Greenland Engineering; SME; Smolen Engineering, and TEC Incorporated Engineering and Design.
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To execute the Office of Community Development 2021 Community Development Program Amended Scope of Work and Budget #3 for Grant B-F-21-1AZ-1 for a two-month extension due to a delay with the Contractor on the DDC Clinic Generator project through June 30, 2024. Observer Note: This is a nonprofit in Middlefield that provides care for children and adults with special needs and also researches rare genetic anomalies.
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To approve various agreements for demolition work that is part of a Grant as follows:
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To execute the Pre-Subrecipient Agreement Memorandum of Understanding and the Grant of Right of Entry, Consent to Demolish and Remediate, and Release from Liability between the Geauga County Board of Commissioners for the following projects:
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The Thompson Township Board of Trustees to demolish property located at 6784 Madison Road for the FY2023-2025 Ohio Department of Development Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program Grant in the amount of $34,463.00.
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The Troy Township Board of Trustees to demolish property located at 14083 Nash Road for the FY2023-2025 Ohio Department of Development Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program Grant in the amount of $14,500.00.
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Newbury residents, Amy and Rolant Foliart II for property in Newbury for a total amount of $14,500. This was added to the Agenda and also approved for the FY2023-2025 Ohio Department of Development Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program Grant in the amount listed above of $14,500. This property is privately owned and there is a structure on the property that was reported to be an eyesore and dilapidated. Ms. Hofstetter stated that it met the criteria for eliminating blight. There was substantial discussion about this, as the property owners had issues originally getting approved because the deed listed a trust as a co-owner, but no trust had actually been established. Mr. Spidalieri stated that he had spent many hours in conversation with the property owners and others and was satisfied that this should be approved. Ms. Hofstetter agreed.
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The Chardon Local Schools Board of Education to demolish property located at 400-404 Washington Street for the FY2023-2025 Ohio Department of Development Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program Grant in the amount of $555,000.00. This was reported to be for the purpose of moving the school bus area from behind the high school. Observer Note: This was the total cost, but Chardon Board of Education will actually receive less. Ms. Hofstetter said that Chardon would receive whatever was left after the other smaller amounts were paid. The total that Geauga County will receive from the State of Ohio will be $500,000. After subtracting the three others, that would leave a balance of $436,537.
Observer Note: These grants are open to townships, non-profit organizations and private individuals, but the applications must be received by a deadline in the faIl and then are evaluated by the Geauga County Department of Community and Economic Development. Last year’s application form was available on October 31, 2023, and final applications were due no later than February 15, 2024. Geauga County received a total of $500,000. There is more information on this program, the Revolving Loan program and other grants available to individuals and organizations on the Geauga County Department of Community and Economic Development website here.
The Department of Water Resources received approval to advertise for the position of Engineering Technician (#2304) internally for a period of five days; if no qualified candidate is found, then they will advertise externally until the position is filled.
Discussion on Port Authority financing in Middlefield - Gary Sommers with Sherpa Development and Brad Ehrhart with Portage Development Board discussed a possible Cooperative Agreement with the Board regarding financing the construction of the Hartville Hardware building through the Portage County Port Authority in the Village of Middlefield. Observer Note: In prior BOCC meetings (see January 4, 2024 Observer Report), the Commissioners approved the annexation of the portion of land that will be used for the building into Middlefield Village so that Hartville could utilize the water and sewer available in Middlefield Village. A Port Authority loan will allow Hartville to have certain tax advantages available to a port authority. See the OSU Extension Fact sheet here for more details. Mr. Somers stated that he and Mr. Ehrhart would attend next week’s meeting to answer questions when there will probably be a vote on this agreement. There was no action taken at this meeting, but Mr. Spidalieri spoke favorably about this opportunity. He stated that the Commissioners declined to approve one of these port authorities in the past, but this one “will create more jobs and bring money into the county.” Mr. Sommers said that it was “easy to do business” with the Commissioners, and he appreciated that. He also stated that, with a Capital lease transaction through the Port Authority, there would be a sales tax exemption, which will allow more money to be put back into the project. It was stated that Hartville will be employing 100 individuals as a result of this new project. It was also stated that the Annexation will be final this week. Observer Note: The port authority that was declined is outlined in the September 19, 2023 Observer Report. It was requested by Blanchard Valley Port Authority for 331 housing units to be built on the former Geauga Lake Property.
Executive Session
The Commissioners moved into executive session at approximately 10:00 am for the purpose of the discipline and employment of a public employee in the Department on Aging. Department Hearing Officer Craig Swenson and Office on Aging Director Jessica Boalt attended along with the Commissioners, Mr. Morgan and Ms. Burnenne.
Return from Executive Session at 10:41 am with acceptance of a resignation and final employment date for an employee in the Office on Aging. The Commissioners then approved a resolution detailing the end date and other details.
Executive Session
At 10:44 am, Mr. Dvorak asked for another executive session, with the purpose of this one being discussing the purchase of property.
Return from Executive Session at 11:02 am with no action.
Public Comment
A member of the public asked when the Senior Center would be moving to the Dollar Store location, and the Office on Aging Director, Jessica Boalt, stated that they are just now in the phase of Requests for Qualifications for Architects, which will be followed by Requests for Proposals for Architects.
More Information and Posted Minutes: Available here.
Next Regular Meeting of the BOCC: The next meeting will be March 19, 2024 at 9:30 am at the County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH.
Observer: Gail Roussey
Reviewer: Sarah McGlone
Date Submitted: 3/14/24
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