GC-MHRS State Fiscal Year 2026 Allocations to Provider Agencies Approved
Geauga County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board (GC-MHRS) - May 21, 2025
Meeting Details: GC-MHRS Board held a Regular Meeting on Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at 6:00 pm at the Board offices located at 13244 Ravenna Rd., Chardon, OH 44024. This meeting was in person only with no recording available. The agenda was available through a request to Office/Administrative Manager Teresa Slater by email at tslater@geauga.org.
Public Comment Policy: No formal policy but in practice, public comment is permitted at the end of the meeting.
Board Members Attending: Chair Steven Oluic, Secretary Jimmy Lee Holden, Treasurer Michael Petruziello and Board Members Reba Dykes, Kathy Johnson, Douglas Lundblad, Mary Ruth Shumway, and Patricia Varanese.
Board Members Absent: Vice Chair Alberta Chokshi and Board Member Carolee Lesyk.
Staff Members Attending: Executive Director Christine Lakomiak, Finance Director Jim Mausser, Office/Administrative Manager Teresa Slater and Clinical/Compliance Manager Michelle Maneage.
Others Attending: Agency representatives: Angi Daugherty and Erin Mooneesawry (Family Pride), Melanie Blasko (Lake Geauga Recovery Center - LGRC), Tia Lawrence and Tina Ringenbach (Torchlight), Michelle Bergman (Catholic Charities), Mary Wynne-Peaspanen (Signature Health), Dianne Kellogg (Red Tulip Project), Angela North (NAMI), James Jonovich and Tracy Jordan (Geauga Sheriff LOSS Team), Andrea Gutka (WomenSafe) and Vicky Clark (Ravenwood). Community members Newell Howard (Veterans Groups), Allison Wilson (Geauga County Maple Leaf journalist), Linda Miller (prior Board member), and this LWVGeauga Observer.
Call to Order, Roll Call, and Pledge of Allegiance occurred as listed on the agenda. The meeting was called to order at 6:01 pm.
Minutes: Minutes for the April 16, 2025 Regular Meeting were approved. Minutes are available on the Board’s webpage here.
Chairman’s Report - Dr. Oluic announced, “If you haven’t had a chance, do drive by the Transitional Living Center (TLC).” He said the expansion is moving along and the roof is up. He noted that May is Mental Health Awareness month. Dr. Oluic stated that many resolutions will be acted upon tonight and that staff and contracting agencies have done a lot of work.
Executive Director’s Report - Ms. Lakomiak discussed the following:
Statewide update:
Local updates:
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Two Class II Residential Group Homes are closing: Joy’s Place (13 residents) and Vron’s Place (5 residents). These homes will be closing their doors on June 27, 2025. Michelle Maneage is working with Joy (no last name provided) on transitioning the 18 residents. There may be an interested buyer who would continue to operate as a care facility.
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The County Commissioners received a bit less than $600,000 for Opiate Settlement money. They invited Ms. Lakomiak to make recommendations for the funds. All 13 agencies asked to have input into recommendations and will meet with Ms. Lakomiak. This changed some of the Requests for Proposals (RFP) Awards being voted on tonight, as some of this money will be available to fund programs included in the RFPs.
Committee Reports -
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Programs and Policies - Chair Kathy Johnson said that they did not meet.
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Fiscal and Capital - Chair Reba Dykes said they met on May 5th. They reviewed the financial forecasting tool Jim Mausser uses. He’ll share this with the full board at a later date. Two grants were reviewed. $35,000 will go to WomenSafe. Another one will not come into play until 2027-2028; there will be more on this later.
Board Review and Action Items -
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Ms. Lakomiak explained how RFPs are collected each year. In February 2025 the RFP was published, and staff vetted programs in April and May. Every program has been audited. This year there were two fiscal audits by Mr. Mausser, clinical and outcome audits by Michele Maneage, an annual budget audit carried out by an independent outside auditor, and audits by each agencies’ licensing authority were all performed for each contracting agency. All agencies being recommended today for funding are in good standing with all of these audits. GC-MHRS Board is a payor of last resort, so when other funding is available it is preferred. GC-MHRS Board is responsible to see that the full continuum of care for mental health and drug addiction services is available to residents. The team has worked hard to make informed decisions. All the RFPs were considered. GC-MHRS made allocations based on the budget for SFY2026 of $6.9 million plus. This does not include an additional $2 million for the TLC expansion.
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OhioMHAS has not given their budget yet, so the allocations presented at this meeting are based on the anticipated budget from OhioMHAS. This GC-MHRS budget shows a deficit, but history shows that the full allocation is not drawn down. For example, last year’s budget showed deficit spending of about $200,000 but at year end there was about $200,000 carryover (surplus).
Roll Call vote: Ayes: Unanimous
Changes from last year reflect the new staff position funded for a full year (salary and benefits). Increases in health insurance costs are also reflected. A question was asked about the generator; the money for this is already appropriated by a separate resolution. They are awaiting delivery of the generator.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Unanimous
There is a slight increase for HIV/AIDS prevention. GC-MHRS did not fund Sex Education; it was not funded last year either. Mary Wynne-Peaspanen was able to secure funding for this from the Ohio Department of Health. Signature provided Suicide Prevention Programming last year and this year will provide it again.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Unanimous
Last year’s goal to increase the numbers served in the foster care transitional program was met. An outcome in one case was that a mentor adopted their mentee.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Unanimous
The CFO from OhioMHAS indicated that all Ohio federal funding is intact. As part of this funding, two programs are offered. First, the Fatherhood Initiative is offered to fathers in jail. Second is the Triple P Parenting Program, which is tailored to the parent’s needs.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Unanimous
Amount awarded is less than requested but is based on potential funding from the Geauga County Opioid Settlement money. Ms. Lakomiak stated that they can reevaluate later.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Unanimous
Ms Lakomiak welcomed the new Executive Director, Angela North.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Unanimous
There has been an increase in demand for children’s mental health services.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Unanimous
Increases for TLC expansion in beds will require increases in counseling, additional staff, and everything else needed to support the additional residents. Ravenwood did experience a decrease in two other areas and asked for less funding in those areas.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Unanimous
They have experienced a rise in counseling services. Requested mental health education outreach and mental health consultation last year, and the Board did not fund that request. They requested this again this year, and GC-MHRS once again did not fund it. Instead they are recommending reallocating these dollars to support the increased counseling costs. Also, they are recommending considering additional funding in this fiscal year for counseling if the trend continues.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Unanimous
Ms. Lakomiak said the commitment our Sheriff has shown for crisis response is not typical and the County is fortunate for this. She indicated that there is room for even more partnership, with a focus on crisis response and minimizing the trauma. The fatality review board will provide an opportunity to partner and collaborate. Funding will enhance the LOSS Team, training for personnel, increased follow up, and will build on success. Suicide, Overdose, Accidental Deaths are situations where the LOSS team steps in.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Unanimous
Financial Reports - Mr. Mausser reported the April2025 totals as follows:
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The Board SFY2025 (7/1/24-6/30/25) office budget is through April 2025, and GC-MHRS has currently expended 75.5% of the budget.
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The County calendar year (1/1/25-12/31/25) Budget Performance Report shows they have expended just over $2.42 million through April.
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The Auditor's Fund Balance: the April Unencumbered Balance is just over $2.76 million.
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Voucher recap #706 April: $663,619.
Old Business - None
New Business -
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The Board needs to appoint the nominating committee. Cathy Johnson will be the chair. Each of the Board’s two committees will nominate one person to serve on the nominating committee. Mike Petruziello from Fiscal and Capital and Patty Varanese from Programs and Policies were asked by the chairpersons to join the nominating committee, and both were willing to serve.
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Ms. Shumway brought information about new legislation concerning online gambling. Ms. Shumway noted that gambling is linked to suicide. Following discussion, Ms. Lakomiak will send a letter on behalf of the Board opposing online gambling, though it was unclear to whom the letter will be sent. Ms. Shumway will provide background information.
Public Comments:
Angela North, new Executive Director of NAMI, introduced herself. She is looking forward to moving NAMI in a positive direction. She is enthusiastic about working with law enforcement. All of those in attendance introduced themselves.
Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 7:10 pm.
Board Minutes: Available at https://www.geauga.org/board-minutes/
Next meeting: The next meeting will be the Regular Meeting on June 18, 2025 at 6:00 pm. Meetings are held at the Board offices located at 13244 Ravenna Rd., Chardon, OH 44024.
More Information: https://www.geauga.org/
Observer: Kathy Franz
Editor: Sarah McGlone
Reviewer: Gail Roussey
Date Submitted: 6/1/2025
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