Commissioners Cancel Plan to Expand Parking
Next to the County Office Building
Board of County Commissioners Meeting - August 11, 2026
Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met in Regular Session on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 at 9:30 am for a meeting at the Geauga County Office Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH. Meetings can be live streamed through the Geauga ADP Youtube channel and can be accessed here by scrolling down and clicking on the section for YouTube videos. Recordings are available for the public. This video for this meeting can be found here. As of this report’s publication date, the video has been viewed 250 times. Notations in the report refer to the minute notation on the video for a particular section. An agenda is available in advance via request to the Commissioners’ Clerk and at the meeting. Items discussed at the meeting but not on the agenda, if any, are addressed at the end of this report.
Public Comment Policy: Permitted as outlined in the BOCC’s Public Comment Policy that was adopted on January 28, 2025, revised on April 15, 2025, and again modified on September 30, 2025 and February 19, 2026.
Attendance: Present were Commissioners Carolyn Brakey and Ralph Spidalieri. Commissioner James Dvorak was absent. Also present were Commissioners’ Clerk Christine Blair, Deputy County Administrator Mark Jimison and Finance Manager Adrian Gorton. County Administrator Amy Bevan was not present.
County Representatives: Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand, Chief Deputy Sheriff Thomas Rowan; Gina Hofstetter, Director Community and Economic Development; Charles Tkach, Program Manager, Maintenance; Nick Gorris, Director, Water Resources; Craig Swenson, Executive Director Job and Family Services (JFS), Tracy Olszowy, Administrator, Child Support Enforcement, Geauga County
Others in Attendance: Rob Weigle, Director, Maintenance; members of the public, Geauga Maple Leaf reporter Allison Wilson; Chagrin Valley Times reporter Anastasia Nichols, and this Observer from the League of Women Voters of Geauga.
4:12 Min. Pledge of Allegiance and Prayer - Commissioner Brakey
5:08 Min. Public Comment on an Agenda Item - No public comment
5:44 Min. Deputy Administrator’s Report - Mr. Jimison reported that he had approved the hiring a maintenance worker effective August 17, 2026
6:22 Min. Minutes - Minutes were approved for March 17, 2026. Observer Note: Weekly LWVG Observer Reports for the BOCC are available online through August 11, 2026 for informational purposes but are not substitutes for approved minutes. Approved BOCC Minutes are posted online here through March 10, 2026.
6:44 Min. Report of Financials - County Finance Manager Adrian Gorton received approval for the following:
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Appropriations transfer to the Sheriff for miscellaneous refunds, reimbursements, and web checks that were deposited into the General Fund.
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Supplemental from the Commissioner's office in the building improvement fund for the Hill projects account in order to certify a contract.
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Cash transfer from the General Fund to Court Technology for a portion of their 2026 funding.
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Incumbrances
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purchase order from the Commissioners to Lake Geauga Recovery Centers using the opioid settlement fund for assistance with the purchase of a recovery house.
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travel incumbrance from the engineer’s office to attend the County Engineers Association of Ohio GIS conference in Columbus, Ohio.
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Vouchers
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$202,973.07 from ADP to CDW Government Incorporated for the county's Crowd Strike Computer Endpoint User Protection Services renewal. Mr. Gorton noted that the County paid $190,596.46 last year.
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$470,744.04 from the Commissioners to Infiniti Construction Company for pay requests number 36 and 37 of the courthouse expansion project.
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$157,742.96 cents from Maintenance to VL Chapman Electric Incorporated for payment application number three for the West Geauga Senior Center project, the generator project.
8:39 Min. The Sheriff’s Office received approval for four Resolutions #26-122- 125 for the sale of patrol cars to Trumbull County, declaring county property as surplus and directing the sales, as authorized by O.R.C. 307.12. The four vehicles were a 2016 Ford Explorer Police Utility Interceptor (VIN#2729) with partition and light bar in the amount of $7,500.00, a 2017 Ford Explorer Police Utility Interceptor (VIN#4205) with partition and light bar in the amount of $10,000.00, a 2017 Ford Explorer Police Utility Interceptor (VIN#3142) in the amount of $10,000.00, and 2019 Ford Explorer Police Utility Interceptor (VIN#5492) in the amount of $10,000.00.
10:26 Min. The Community and Economic Development Department received approval to advertise for bids for the Chardon Township Park Walking Path to be held on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Notice of this Bid Opening will be advertised on August 13, 2026, and on the county website. Ms. Hofstetter said that the Township is anxious to get started. She said that the next project to go to bid will be the Burton Library elevator. She said there will be a 6-month turnaround on parts.
12:00 Min. The Department of Job and Family Services received approval for the following:
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to execute the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services IV-D Contract between the Geauga County Child Support Enforcement Agency and the Geauga County Common Pleas Court for Magistrate services for the period July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, in the amount of $108.94 per hour.
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to execute the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services IV-D Contract between the Geauga County Child Support Enforcement Agency and the Geauga County Prosecutor’s Office for legal services for the period July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, in the amount of $82.59 per hour.
Ms. Olszowy said, “the contracts do allow us to bring money into the county for the child support work completed and we are reimbursed 66% through federal funds.”
Mr. Swenson said, “our Child Support division under Tracy's (Olszowy) leadership has regularly been recognized if not one of the top then the top child support agency for our size. . . We get those certificates every year.”
13:47 Min. The Maintenance Department reviewed the proposed Owner/Engineer Agreement with Verdantas LLC for professional design and contract administration services to expand the Geauga County Office Building (GCOB) parking lot in an amount not to exceed $49,000.00 ($44,000.00 base quote and $5,000.00 Owner’s Contingency). Mrs. Brakey asked the cost for the entire project and Mr. Tkach estimated $400,000. She also asked why an engineer was required and Mr. Tkach said it was due to the proximity to two wells. Mrs Brakey also questioned if there is a need for these parking areas as she had noted that during the last election there was no issue with parking at the County Office Building. She said, “maybe we don't really need to spend $400,000 plus about $50,000 for engineering for what will be, I believe, 60 to 100 spots it was estimated and they'll be used maybe once every four years when there's a presidential election.” Mr. Tkach agreed: “Those are the facts.” Mrs. Brakey then asked Mr. Spidalieri what he thought and he said, “Yeah. I don't think it's necessary right now.“ Mr. Spidalieri also said, “I would say put money into that entranceway with that swing out there.” Observer Note: This has been discussed in prior meetings, as there is a very sharp curve when cars enter the first entrance after Ravenwood. Mrs. Brakey asked about the BMV (Bureau of Motor Vehicles) and their expressed need for a maneuverability course which would have been part of this parking lot project. Mr. Tkach said that part of the proposed parking would have been a fourth to a third of the space. It was decided that Mr. Tkach would return with a different proposal for just the BMV maneuverability course and potential changes to the one entrance with the sharp curve.
23:22 Min. The Department of Water Resources received approval for the following:
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to authorize Ralph Spidalieri authorized representative to execute the Ohio Water Development Authority Fund Payment Request #17 for the McFarland Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements Project for technical services by HDR Engineering, Incorporated in the amount of $39,987.84. Mr. Gorris said, “This is for the on-site full-time inspection services and construction management that HDR is providing for the McFarland project.”
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to authorize the Vice President of the Board to execute the Easement between the Board of County Commissioners and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) on Permanent Parcel No. 26-705400, the location of the Surrey Downs Wastewater Treatment Plant, for highway purposes and the supporting Ohio Office of Budget and Management Payee Information form, and further request that upon receipt of the agreed upon sum of $3,150.00 for compensation of said easement, transfer the agreed upon sum to the Department of Water Resources to be used for Maintenance and Operations on the referenced property. Mr. Gorris said, “This is the parcel on 87 in Russell Township off Surrey Downs where ODOT (Ohio Department of Transportation) is looking to do bridge work in the next year.”
Mr. Gorris also added, “As you drove in, you saw the Merritt Road sanitary sewer extension project going along. It's going pretty smoothly - little minor hiccup on the bore underneath Ravenwood. We ran into a rock in the middle of it, so we had to adjust some grades, but other than that, honestly, they'll be cleaned up and out of here by the end of this week.” Observer Note: This project is needed to connect water and sewer for the new JFS Youth Center. See pages 26-27 of the LWVGeauga Observer Report on the Department Budget Hearings for information about this project.
26:27 Min. The Commissioners’ Office received approval to schedule a special meeting on Monday, August 17, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. that will be held concurrently with the Geauga County Budget Commission, to be held in the Auditor’s Appraisal Conference Room, located at 231 Main Street, Chardon, Ohio.
27:06 Min. Board Discussion - no topics were on the Agenda
Mrs. Brakey asked about “Where things stood with the Treasurer’s Office” Observer Note: During the last two meetings there has been discussion, originating with the Treasurer’s Office, for pay raises for 5 of the 6 individuals who work in the Treasurer’s office. Estimates were 22.9% to 32.5%, depending on the particular individual. For more information see LWVG Observer reports for July 28 and August 4, 2026. Mr. Spidalieri explained that he thought there had been a good discussion and he was going ahead with discussions, but then he received a letter from the employees in the Treasurer’s office that he said was very disappointing. Observer Note: He did not read the letter. He said that this left a bad impression as far as negotiations. He said he then sent a letter to the Treasurer and Deputy Treasurer, copying Mr. Jimison and Ms. Bevan and said, “I basically sent them a letter stating that my position on this would be no more than a 5% increase in addition to the 3% that was given to the employees already this year that was approved which would give them a total of 8%.” Mr Spidalieri also detailed what he considered other benefits for employment with the County such as holidays, vacations, medical and pension. He said he had not heard back from the Treasurer. Mr. Jimison said he would be in touch with the Treasurer’s Office.
37:32 Min. Public Comment - A man from South Russell spoke about pedestrian safety at the Geauga Fair, especially for senior citizens and those parking outside the Fair grounds crossing at the “Ronyak Paving” entrance. He asked the Sheriff what he would do about it. Sheriff Hildenbrand said that the Geauga Fair Board provides free handicapped parking within the Fair Grounds and therefore it was not the responsibility of the Fair Board to make other provisions. Mr. Spidalieri noted that there is often a Deputy to assist people and direct traffic.
44:15 Min. Commissioners received approval for 80 hours of unpaid leave for Amy Bevan, County Administrator between August 10 and December 31, 2026.
Adjournment - 10:10 am
Information and Posted Minutes: Available here.
Next Regular Meeting of the BOCC: The next Regular Meeting of the BOCC is scheduled for Tuesday, August 18, 2026
Observer: Gail Roussey
Editor: Rooney Moy
Reviewer: Carol Benton
Date Submitted: August 16, 2026
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