Welcome to Auburn Township in Beautiful Geauga County Ohio

GEAUGA COMMISSIONERS MEET AT GREAT GEAUGA FAIR TO APPROVE USE OF SACKLER/PERDUE BANKRUPTCY OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS FOR TREATMENT PROGRAMS AND DRUG TESTING EQUIPMENT

Friday, August 29, 2025

On a coolish morning all three Geauga County Commissioners, the County Administrator, and the County Budget Specialist competed against fairgoer noises, hefty breezes, and a persistent barking dog to complete the 21-item agenda called to order at 10 am on the Junior Fair Stage of the annual Great Geauga Fair, , instead of the ritual 9:30 am at the Ravenwood Drive location. Three of those in attendance sported red tee-shirts supporting a candidate involved in the upcoming primary race for commissioner.

Although time was set aside for public comment, no one in attendance felt compelled to speak; 21 items whizzed by to adjournment at 10:50 am for the first day of county fair activities. The meeting was streamed live by the ADP crew and is viewable here.

Perhaps the biggest emphasis of this public meeting was/is attention to Drug Overdose Awareness and explanation of availability of funding as a result of the National Opioid Litigation and its resulting Purdue Pharma Bankruptcy/Sackler Family Settlements Agreements, with information from Christine Lahomiak of the Geauga County Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services, Prosecutor Jim Flaiz, and Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand.

On a note of hope and encouragement Sunday, August 31, 2025, is to be revered as International Overdose Awareness Day as a commemoration of the seven months (January -July 2025) during which there were no deaths from drug overdose. Christine Lakomiak, as Director of the Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services took the time to highlight the effort and dedication to conquer drug abuse, agenda item #5.

As a segue, Prosecutor Flaiz recalled the original legal effort of Geauga County to take part in the original and current funds resulting from settlement funds involving Purdue Pharma Bankruptcy/Sackler Family Bankruptcy Settlement Agreement resulting from the National Opioid Litigation initiated about a dozen years ago.

Flaiz explained the importance of identifying the availability of funds for local use so that assistance can be provided for individuals and families as a result of the continuing need for remediation and prevention. Commissioner Dvorak related that he is at the head of District 13, consisting of Geauga, Lake, Portage,and Ashtabula Counties, an area that has received $2.3 million in drug settlement funds. Although the Geauga Commissioners’ Office is not set up to monitor regulation of outlay/distribution of drug settlement funds, Lakomiak and her agency are indeed set up to oversee that distribution. Lakomiak will be making the recommendations for worthy projects to be funded when the grant distribution program becomes available in January 2026. Flaiz recommended dedicating up to $100,000 each year to fund prevention and treatment programs that Mental Health and Recovery Services will be responsible for administering through review of applications and keeping track treatment results.

Commissioner Brakey expressed concern that Commissioners would be obligated to spend that $100,000 rather than just make the funds available for justifiably worthwhile projects.

Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand explained the importance of Agenda Item #8,

“the use of Opioid Settlement Funds for the purchase of an MX908 Drug Testing Device. . . in the amount of $74,952.17.”

Both Hildenbrand and Flaiz stressed the importance of being able to identify drugs that are suspected within minutes and to get needed intervention and remediation within the quickest time possible instead of having to wait for months for definitive results, whose final delays create serious setbacks for drug victims. Hildenbrand noted that it has taken 6-8 months for lab results, causing delays that allow suspected drug dealers to remain free and at large.

AUDITOR WALDER EXPLAINS EXPANDED PARKING AT COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING

Thursday, August 21, 2025

This update concerns an original agenda item presented by the Maintenance Department on August 12, 2025, and the follow-up clarification/explanation of the August 12 item undertaken by Auditor Charles Walder on Tuesday, August 19, 2025.

Back on August 12, 2025, Maintenance Department Director, Glen Vernick, accompanied by his Project Manager, sat in front of the Geauga Commissioners to present Agenda Items 10 and ii. Readers may recall how charming an Everyman that Mr. Vernick became when he disarmed the audience with his admission that the ADP camera over his head revealed to him for the very first time that he had a bald spot and Commissioner Dvorak joined in the fun with his own revelation: “Everyone knew but you, Glen.”

Mr. Vernick and his Project Manager, Charles Kitkatt, went on to explain item 10 about the most current estimate to reconstruct the Safety Center roof as $3.0- $3.5 million because of water damage to the flat roof and then breezed on to item 11:

The Maintenance Department is requesting the Board discuss an alternate location for the Geauga County Office Building parking lot expansion, impact to professional services scope and authorization to proceed with either original scope and location, a new location, or revised scope to evaluate multiple locations for the project.

What neither gentleman apparently neglected to explain was why the alternate or extra location was necessary, the circumstances demanding the extra space, and the individuals who would be asked to use the alternate space.

Auditor Walder appeared in person to address Agenda Item #3 at the August 19 Commissioner Meeting to address the unanswered details from August 12 that could have caused misunderstanding on August1942 12. Simply stated, Agenda Item #3 in one line follows:

“Auditor Charles Walder will discuss the Geauga County Office Building Parking Lot Expansion concept.”

The video/audio, closed-captioning portion of Walder’s 6.7 minute discussion clarifies that although extra parking at the Administration/Office Building is not necessarily available for the November 2025 election, the hope is that many of the auxiliary county vehicles/buses can be housed on the expansion lot to permit voters participating during primary and fall elections to be able to use the extra available spaces. The Board of Elections has long had a concern about the deficient number of parking spaces available to voters during primary and full election dates.

UPDATE ON GEAUGA COUNTY COURTHOUSE THE END IS IN SIGHT—KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE

Tuesday, August 19, 2025

The Geauga County Commissioner Meeting presented today offered a Courthouse Expansion Project Construction Update today. Jarrett Parker of NV5, Geauga County Budget and Finance Manager, Adrian Gorton; and Brett Bestgen of Infinity Construction Company, Incorporated, presented the construction update, largely in response to an inquiry a couple of weeks ago about determining the total cost to date for the Courthouse Expansion Project. The project’s completion is expected on October 10, 2025, so that the project is thought to be 75% complete. Security measures, such as metal detector, baggage scanner, and rifle rack are estimated to be implemented during mid-November 2025.

Readers may recall that the original stated dollar amount to achieve the stated expansion and renovation for the courthouse was $19,586,776.00. As of the beginning of July 2025 there have been 22 partial pay requests to Infinity Construction, Ltd; and ten approved change orders. The four change orders approved in the period of July 23- October 1, 2024 , totaled an additional $329,200.00. In 2025 change orders 5-10 totaled $154,320 up through July 23, 2025. The change order value up to and including Change Order 10 is $483,529.00. Therefore, the updated contract value is $19,586,775.00+$483,529.00 = $20,170,305.00, but this is not the final amount.

At today’s Commissioner Meeting Agenda Item #15 presented Change Order #11 for the Courthouse:

The Commissioners’ Office is requesting the Board approve and authorize the President of the Board to execute Change Order #11, increasing the Contract with Infinity Construction Company, Incorporated, for the Geauga County Courthouse Expansion Project, GMP Phase #1 and Phase #2 for additional cameras and card readers in the amount of $137,582.00.

Agenda Item #16 presented Change Order #12 for the Courthouse:

The Commissioners’ Office is requesting the Board approve and authorize the President of the Board to execute Change Order #12. increasing the Contract with Infinity Construction Company, Incorporated, for the Geauga County Courthouse Expansion Project, GMP Phase #1 and Phase #3 for additional technology backbone cabling in the amount of $17,817.00

With the 2-0 approval ( Ralph Spidalieri was absent for today’s meeting) of Agenda Items #15 and #16, the new cost of the Courthouse Project is $20,325,704.00.

Agenda Item #13 was approval for made-to-order furniture for the Courthouse Project:

The Commissioners; Office is requesting the Board approve and authorize the President of the Board to execute the AIA Document, Standard Form of agreement between Geauga County Board of Commissioners(owner) and APG Office Furnishings (vendor) Furniture, Furnishings and Equipment (FF&E) for the Furniture Contractor Geauga County Courthouse Expansion Project in the amount of $560.240.54.

Although Infinity Construction had no knowledge of this contract, the vendor’s sale of the courtroom furniture will obviously increase the cost of the Courthouse renovation, this time to $20,325,704.00+ $560,240.54 =  $20,885,944.54. The good news is that we are shy of a $21,000,000.

The bad news is that it would not take much of another change order to put taxpayers over that $21 million dollar total so we should keep our eyes open and our possible solutions on the ready.

RAT TERRIER MIX UP FOR ADOPTION AT HALF PRICE STEALS THE SHOW FROM GEAUGA DOG WARDEN

Tuesday, August 19, 2025

Agenda Item #7 on today’s Commissioner Meeting, the last before the Geauga County Fair, softened the hearts of a bunch of cynical meeting-goers when Dog Warden Matt Granito carried a black and whit, short-legged Rat Terrier mix so he could present Agenda Item #7:

“The Dog Warden is requesting the Board approve a temporary reduction in Adoption Fees for Dogs to half price effective August 19, 2025, through the end of August 2025, $100 for unfixed dogs and puppies (normally $200.00) and $60.00 for all other dogs (normally $120.00) in conjunction with the ‘Clear the Shelter’ national event, sponsored by Channel 3 and other affiliates across the country,”

Warden Granito identified the short-legged, black-and-white Rat Terrier mix as Tiramisu. Tiramisu, already fixed. The featured canine, a six-year-old neutered, rescued male .wagged his white tail and stayed totally quiet and garnered extra affection from dog-owner, Commissioner Brakey.

The featured star wore a red dog sweater urging all who beheld him to “Adopt Me!” because of a less than advantageous life thus far. During his live visit in the Commissioners’ room a little earlier, the featured adoptee offered at $60 got so excited that he experienced a little fecal accident that Granito happily attended to. .Mr. Little Tail-Wagger loved the attention and affection he received from at least three animal-lovers in attendance, including this writer, who found Tiramisu gentle and simply desirous of a little love, obviously a scene-stealer hoping for a good permanent home.

We wish Tiramisu and his new owner a wonderful lasting relationship. Warden Granito stated that it was fair to expect a lifetime of 15 years for Tiramisu.

WALDER ADMITS LAUGHING FOR TWO DAYS AFTER “SPENDING MY OWN MONEY” TO SOLVE GEAUGA COUNTY PLAQUE ISSUE

Monday, August 18, 2025

Today marked the first day of the Annual August Tax Budget Hearings for 2026

Started at 9 am, the Geauga County Budget Commission examined the prospective 2026 Fiscal Budgets for 15 townships, the Geauga Trumbull Solid Waste District, and Geauga County and wrapped up their work by about 2:45pm. Along the way there were a lot of laughs and more than a few heads-up that Russel township taxpayers would have funds returned to them. Most of the townships received kudos for hard work, amid requests from Budget Commission member Chris Hitchcock about the need to relieve the stress in the room with meditation.

The last budget hearing of the day, the Geauga County 2026 Fiscal Budget occurred with Adrian Gorton, Commissioner Carolyn Brakey, and County Administrator Amy Bevan at the table. Auditor/Budget Commission member Chuck Walder verbally credited newly-elected Commissioner, Carolyn Brakey, Esquire, with all the credit “for the remarkable change” of fully-funded budgets in Geauga County.

The Budget Commission, comprised of Auditor Walder, Treasurer Christopher Hitchcock, and Prosecutor Jim Flaiz, identified seven capital projects occupying Geauga County in 2025 and in 2026 with the outlay of lots of money: Courthouse Renovation and Phase 2, Geauga County Office Building Parking Expansion, Safety Center Roof and Parking Lot, Courthouse Annex Basement Conference Room, 215 Main Street Rear Brickwork Repair, Auditor Department Fiscal Renovation, and Prosecutor Remodel. Walder termed this kind of spending as Renovation Creep. Additionally, it may be necessary for Geauga County to present a quarterly budget to say better aware of ongoing expenses.

Also, on the November ballot, the Department of Job and Family Services is asking for passage of .7mills for a term of five years to raise $2,331,346 annually for 5 years for a total of $11,656,730. These were the good years that gave elected leadership and department heads enough leeway so that “[y]ou are spending money like drunken soldiers. Having this much money on hand can change in a heartbeat” or an economic crisis. The tax economy is very different from five years ago. Talks about removal of property tax are taking off.” The real crisis, Walder added, is that taxpayers feel they have contributed too much with no relief. Consequently, they are demanding financial relief, and if they are pushed too much more, they may refuse any further tax issues.

In a magnanimous state of mind, Walder discussed his gift to County Commissioners-- a gift that “kept me laughing for two days-- because it solved the dilemma of the $6000 bronze plaque. Best of all, Walder kept explaining, ”I spent my own money.” The gift is a dry-erase board with magnetic backing that sticks to a wall and anybody can write his. her, or their name(s) with colored dry-erase markers. That could be a former Commissioner, or a contractor, or whoever may feel pride in the Courthouse Expansion Project, without costing the County treasury $6000. He happily presented his dry-erase plaque to Commissioner Brakey, who left the budget hearing with it tucked under her arm.

Mr. Walder expressed to all present that he would be on the Commissioners agenda for August 19 to present the following item:

“Auditor Charles Walder will discuss the Geauga County Office Building Parking Lot Expansion concept.”

GEAUGA COMMISSIONERS: TO HAVE A PLAQUE OR TO SAVE $6K

Thursday, August 14, 2025

The discussion topic for the Tuesday, August 12, Geauga Commissioner Meeting, as foretold on Tuesday, August 5, was the agreement to have a bronze commemoration plaque with some names inscribed forever, to save up to $6000 by bypassing any names, or the latest idea, simply to make the sign smaller and less expensive but go through the decision again of whose names should appear. The last idea has been submitted by Commissioner Carolyn Brakey. Meanwhile the opinions of the other two commissioners have not budged so Commissioner Dvorak still favors a sign with inscriptions of three commissioners, presumably the current slate, plus the contractors who completed the work on the Courthouse Expansion Project. Given his druthers, Commissioner Spidalieri has stated his preference for the $6000 refund/credit on the total project if he can’t get the name of former Commissioner Tim Lennon’s name inscribed in the high place of honor; Spid’s rationale is that most of Lennon’s oversight transpired when Spidalieri was sidelined for months on “medical leave.”

The most significant part of the Courthouse expense may well be the revelation that the entire building is soundproof-- not just individual courtrooms, but also public restrooms, lunchrooms, et al. So if for some reason, there might be the need for one or more individuals to issue a human scream for some agonizing pain or other explicable reason while inside the soundproof surroundings, forget it—no one, it appears, will be able to hear you in time.

The outcome of the bronze plaque or the extra $6K savings still remains a breaking story.

TRUMP DEMANDS 'HIGHLY CONFLICTED' INTEL CEO RESIGN OVER CHINA TIES

Thursday, August 14, 2025

Aditya Soni | Reuters

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday demanded the immediate resignation of new Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan, calling him "highly conflicted" due to his ties to Chinese firms and raising doubts about plans to turn around the struggling American chip icon.

Reuters reported exclusively in April that Tan invested at least $200 million in hundreds of Chinese advanced manufacturing and chip firms, some of which were linked to the Chinese military.

Trump's comments came a day after Reuters was first to report that Republican Senator Tom Cotton had sent a letter to Intel's board chair with questions about Tan's ties to Chinese firms and a recent criminal case involving his former firm Cadence Design.

"The CEO of INTEL is highly CONFLICTED and must resign, immediately. There is no other solution to this problem," Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.

A leadership change could pile pressure on Intel, which is a pillar of U.S. efforts to boost domestic chip making. Last year, it secured $8 billion in subsidies, the largest outlay under the 2022 CHIPS Act, to build new factories in Ohio and other states.

Tan said he shared the president's commitment to advancing U.S. national and economic security.

Intel's board was "fully supportive" of the company's work to transform its business and ramp up advanced chip manufacturing later this year, Tan added in a statement posted on the company's website.

"My reputation has been built on trust – on doing what I say I'll do, and doing it the right way... this is the same way I am leading Intel," he said. "We are engaging with the Administration to address the matters that have been raised and ensure they have the facts."

Trump's intervention marked a rare instance of a U.S. president publicly calling for a CEO's ouster and sparked debate among investors.

"It would be setting a very unfortunate precedent. You don't want American presidents dictating who runs companies, but certainly his opinion has merit and weight," said Phil Blancato, CEO of Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management.

David Wagner, head of equity and portfolio manager at Intel shareholder Aptus Capital Advisors, said while "many investors likely believe that President Trump has his hand in too many cookie jars, it's just another signal that he's very serious about trying to bring business back to the U.S."

Intel said it was making significant investments aligned with Trump's America First agenda.

"We look forward to our continued engagement with the Administration," the company said in a statement on Thursday.

Reuters reported in April that Tan himself, and through venture funds he has founded or operates, invested in Chinese firms including contractors and suppliers for the People's Liberation Army between March 2012 and December 2024.

The reporting was based on a review of Chinese corporate databases cross-referenced with U.S. and analyst lists of firms with connections to the Chinese military.

A source familiar with the matter had at the time told Reuters that Tan had divested his positions in entities in China, without providing further details.

Chinese databases reviewed by Reuters at the time had listed many of his investments as current, and Reuters was at the time unable to establish the extent of his divestitures.

Tan, a Malaysian-born Chinese American business executive, was also the CEO of Cadence Design

from 2008 through December 2021 during which the chip design software maker sold products to a Chinese military university believed to be involved in simulating nuclear explosions.

Cadence last month agreed to plead guilty and pay more than $140 million to resolve the U.S. charges over the sales, which Reuters first reported.

"We don't believe Lip-Bu is 'conflicted,' though given the nature of this administration the China ties are seemingly creating an increasingly bad look," Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon said.

"And unfortunately, unlike other tech CEOs Lip-Bu does not appear to have cultivated the kind of personal relationship with Trump that would help to assuage his ire."

A White House official said, "President Trump remains fully committed to safeguarding our country's national and economic security. This includes ensuring iconic American companies in cutting-edge sectors are led by men and women who Americans can trust."

BUSINESS TURMOIL

Once the bedrock of Silicon Valley's global dominance in chips, Intel in recent years lost its manufacturing edge to Taiwanese rival TSMC.

It also has virtually no presence in the booming market for artificial intelligence chips dominated by Nvidia and has been losing market share in data centers and personal computers - long its stronghold - to rival AMD.

Late last year, the company fired its then CEO Pat Gelsinger well before the completion of his four-year roadmap to restore Intel's lead in making the fastest and smallest computer chips.

The ousting followed a Reuters special report in October that Intel had failed to live up to the lofty ambitions he had set for manufacturing and AI capabilities.

To revive Intel's fortunes, the board named former board member Tan as CEO, betting on his deep roots in the chip industry and track record as a longtime investor in promising tech startups.

Tan has largely abandoned his predecessor's strategy, aggressively shrinking the company's workforce and putting on hold planned manufacturing plants globally.

The production process that Intel hoped would pave the way to winning manufacturing deals and restore its edge in churning out high-end, high-margin chips is also facing a big hurdle on quality as it puts newer technologies to the test, Reuters reported earlier this month.

Intel has also further slowed the pace of construction of a factory in Ohio, now expected to be completed around 2030 or 2031.

AUSTIN RICE BECOMES FIRST DIRECTOR OF GEAUGA COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY ON AUGUST 12, 2025

Wednesday, August 13, 2025

Many of you may remember the predecessor of the Geauga County Emergency Management Agency because under Director Roger Peterson, the agency had been known for years as the Federal Emergency Management Administration/Agency.

Earlier this summer Roger Peterson attended a meeting with his associate Austin Price to inform the Geauga Commissioners that he was resigning his position with FEMA to take on an administrative position outside Geauga County and to recommend that the FEMA acronym be replaced with the new title of Geauga County Emergency Management Agency, minus Mr. Peterson.

When the Commissioners used Agenda Item #16 to move into Executive Session, “for the purpose of discussing the employment and compensation of a public employee,” few probably figured out the true events until Commissioners returned to announce the promotion of Austin Rice to Department Director, not of the aforementioned FEMA, but of its successor agency, the Emergency Management Agency, at an hourly salary of $40.20.

A large number of attendees broke into applause for Austin, who certainly has created an opportunity to become known as a decisive force in his new position. We wish him much success.

GEAUGA MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT LEARNS THE EXTENT OF WATER DAMAGE TO THE JAIL’S FLAT ROOF: $3.0 MILLION TO $3.5 MILLION

Wednesday, August 13, 2025

The Maintenance Department’s Director, Glen Vernick, and his Project Manager, Charles Kitkaff, elicited some unexpected responses from those in attendance at the Geauga County Commissioners’ Meeting of August 12. Director Vernick was able to win empathy when he noted what he had learned about himself from observing his own presentations during August 5. He successfully reduced any tension in the Commissioners’ Room with his laid-back request that the video camera installed in the ceiling please not focus so closely on the back of his head during his testimony. His clarification sent observers into a gale of laughter full of empathy.

“I didn’t realize,” explained Director Vernick, “that I had a bald spot.”

Enjoying the moment to the maximum, Commissioner Jim Dvorak joined in the delight of the moment.

“Everyone knew but you.” The remark brought on more spontaneous giggles, as everyone seemed to join in the shared moment but Mr. Kitkaff, whose time to explain the true gravity of the situation was rapidly taking center stage.

Vernick and Kitkaff were there in all seriousness to discuss what they had learned about the extent of costs to alleviate water damage to the flat Safety Center roof:

Agenda Item #10: The Maintenance Department is requesting the Board approve the proposed Concept Design for upgrading the Safety Center Roof for an engineering estimate of construction costs of approximately $3,000,000.00 to $3,500.000.00.

Mr. Kitkaff continued in even voice and with some understatement, “The recommendation from the Engineer is a little different from our original idea.” Mr. Kitkaff used the top left and the top right of the spreadsheet he gave to the Commissioners to explain. Both the top left and the top right contained roof re-do estimates; further, estimates were completed in 2017, 2022, and July 2023.

In September 2024 the decision was made to get another roof-repair estimate. As a result of the new analysis, the depth of water damage to the Safety Center roof had increased 15,000 square feet from the original area of damage, 7100 square feet. The square footage of the roof with the most extensive damage will need to be torn off and reconstructed from scratch at an estimate of $3.0 million to $3.5 million.

Mr. Kitkaff asked that he be be provided with a breakdown that included the cost of new insulation. The estimated cost of the new insulation is $750,000, compared with an original cost of $12,000 for insulation. To make matters worse, the cost of materials has increased about 25 % over a five-year period. As of July 2025, there is an area of 80-90% wetness that needs to be made dry.

Nevertheless, Kitkaff is hopeful that the occupation of the Safety Center (Jail) is feasible while roof repairs are ongoing. Because of the perception that the extensive repairs should be initiated ASAP, the motion passed unanimously, 3 to 0.

The Maintenance Department still had one other issue for the Commissioners, Agenda Item#11:

The Maintenance Department is requesting the Board discuss an alternate location for the Geauga County Office Building parking lot expansion, impact fo professional services scope. And authorization to proceed with either original scope and location, a new location, or revised scope to evaluate multiple locations for the project.

This project was the expanded parking lot approved by Commissioners in April 2025. When Commissioner Brakey asked about the actual need for a new parking lot, the Maintenance Director responded about the current consideration to make the area safer with the installation of sidewalks. Mr. Kitkaff was heard to respond about the need to keep projects on track.

GEAUGA FAA EMPLOYEE BLAMER ACCEPTS REIMBURSEMENT #3 FOR ONGOING MIDDLEFIELD AIRPORT CONSTRUCTION

Wednesday, August 13, 2025

After making an appearance before the Geauga Commissioners to ask to release both the Performance Bond. to receive Reimbursement request for the Airport Taxiway Extension Project in the amount of $488,831.92, (Grant #3-39-0054-028-2024) and to review Second Quarter earnings all on July 29, 2025, he made an additional appearance on August 5, 2025, to execute another FAA Grant Offer for construction of a T-Hangtar in the Amount of $585,000.00. Additionally, for the third consecutive week, Blamer made an appearance again on August 12, in regards to the following agenda item:

The Airport Authority is requesting the Board approve Reimbursement Request $3 for the Taxiway Extension Construction Project, specifically to Construct Parallel Taxiway A including Taxiway Connector A1 and A1--Construction, Final Phase, and Install Taxiway Edge Lights--Construction, Grant #3-39-0054-028-2024 in the amount of $592,676,95 (FAA share $533,409.26, ODOT share $29,633.85, and local County match share $29.633.84.

This time the oral vote of the Commissioners resulted in 3 votes to approve.

OHIO FINALLY ENDS SUBSIDIES FOR TWO SCANDAL-LINKED COAL PLANTS

Monday August 11, 2025

Kathiann M. Kowalski | Canary Media

Under the state’s infamous HB6 law, customers had to pay over half a billion dollars to keep the two 1950s-era plants running. A new law ends the subsidies this month.

A new law that takes effect on August 14 officially eliminates the coal subsidies created by House Bill 6, the 2019 nuclear and coal bailout law at the heart of Ohio’s ongoing utility-corruption saga.

Despite the Trump administration’s push to keep polluting coal plants open, their electricity is generally less competitive than alternatives such as combined-cycle gas, solar energy, and wind power. These two coal plants in particular are often among the most expensive options available in the grid region serving Ohio, and yet have run anyway.

Lawmakers repealed HB 6’s nuclear bailout less than a year after the corruption scandal became public, with the arrests of former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and others in 2020, but multiple bills to repeal the coal plant subsidies failed. It wasn’t until HB 15 passed in May that lawmakers finally agreed to end the mandated payments — at least for the 5 million customers of Ohio’s regulated utilities.

Since 2001, customers of Ohio’s regulated utilities have had the option to choose their electricity supplier, and utilities have generally been banned from favoring or subsidizing related generation companies.

Starting in 2013, however, Ohio utility companies began seeking ratepayer-funded bailouts for the two old coal plants — the Kyger Creek plant, in Cheshire, Ohio, and the Clifty Creek plant, in Madison, Indiana — owned by the Ohio Valley Electric Corporation, or OVEC. OVEC’s shareholders are parent companies of Ohio’s regulated utilities.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, or PUCO, let some utilities begin collecting charges in 2017, but those orders faced challenges. Two years later, HB 6 guaranteed those payments through 2030.

The subsidy cutoff comes none too soon, according to an August 4 analysis prepared by RunnerStone for the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association. Ohio utility customers could have paid over $413 million more through 2030. As things stand, the HB 6 subsidies plus earlier payments under challenged regulatory orders total more than $683 million, the analysis shows.

“Instead of propping up shareholders, this money should have gone to help Ohio’s families pay for needed items like groceries, health care, and other essentials,” said Maureen Willis, who serves as Ohio Consumers’ Counsel. As she sees it, “ending the coal plant subsidies is long overdue.”

Yet controversy continues over whether large chunks of the charges were reasonable and prudent, as required by Ohio law.

One case at the Ohio Supreme Court deals with amounts collected in 2018 and 2019. Another appeal challenges the PUCO’s approval of charges in 2020 under HB 6. Both cases are waiting for the Ohio Supreme Court to schedule oral argument.

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association Energy Group, and the Ohio Environmental Council, and the Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel are challenging the utilities’ decision to pass along the costs of running the old coal plants full tilt even when it was uneconomical, among other things.

Challengers in the HB 6 case argue that the PUCO rulings improperly presumed that the coal plant charges were lawful, instead of making the utilities prove it. The commission then limited challengers’ ability to show that the costs for running the plants during poor market conditions failed to meet statutory requirements, they say.

The case for the 2018 and 2019 charges also includes an argument that the commission improperly influenced an independent audit. For instance, a commission staff member asked the auditor to ​“tone down” a draft report saying that the plants’ must-run strategy was not in the best interests of ratepayers.

Beyond that, a pending regulatory case will examine the coal plants’ costs from 2021 to 2023. And a July 31 filing by the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association Energy Group and the Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel has asked the public utilities to open a case to review the coal plant charges for 2024 and 2025. The commission has not yet ruled on the request.

Meanwhile, spokespeople for American Electric Power and FirstEnergy told Canary Media their Ohio utilities will no longer include the coal charge on bills after August 14.

Others still paying

Due to a 2011 agreement among OVEC’s shareholders, both plants intend to keep operating until 2040.

So while customers of Ohio’s regulated utilities will no longer have to pay for the OVEC plants, other consumers will continue to bear the costs, said Neil Waggoner, who heads the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal program in the Midwest.

Those include the more than 380,000 homes and businesses that get their electricity from Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives, whose supplier is Buckeye Power.

Buckeye has an 18% share in OVEC, the next largest after AEP’s stake of roughly 39%. Elsewhere in the Midwest, Michigan’s public service commission recently disallowed more than $2 million in expenses charged by AEP’s Indiana Michigan Power for the same OVEC plants, while a July 23 ruling requires ratepayers in Indiana to pick up those costs.

Environmental costs from the plants also continue. Since 2020, the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel estimates, the plants have spewed more than 63 million tons of carbon dioxide. The plants also emit nitrous oxides, sulfur dioxide, and particulate pollution that can cause health problems for those living downwind.

“That is a lot of dirty air,” Willis said, adding that “consumers got the bill, while the environment and public health paid the price.”

Both the Kyger Creek and Clifty Creek plants cleared PJM’s capacity auction last month, which will pay generation facilities roughly $329 per megawatt/day starting in June, said American Electric Power spokesperson Scott Blake, who also speaks for OVEC.

But even with the subsidies phasing out for many Ohio utility customers, Waggoner said that the bad business decision to keep these coal plants running has gotten even worse.

“These plants are really old industrial facilities,” Waggoner said. “They’re at the end of their lives. It’s time for these plants to be retired or replaced.”

COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BEVAN EXPANDS “THE BRONZE PLAQUE” HISTORIC CONSENSUS UNTIL AUGUST 12, 2025

Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Back on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, Geauga Commissioners plowed through 25 items, including two Executive Sessions, some new procedures during the Great Geauga Fair, and, by golly, the issue of the inscription on the bronze plaque in the Courthouse Expansion Project. By far, Agenda Item #21 did seem to become the most memorable discussion of the day:

“The Commissioners’ Office is requesting the Board approve the final design for the Courthouse dedication plaque.”

Item #21, however, did not become the streamlined decision this writer thought. (See link to Thursday, July 31 article).

This week, bronze plaque design or no design whatsoever came up for the second round with an expanded selection of choices. County Administrator took charge of presenting the “six draft options”:

DRAFT Option 1: Names of all current Commissioners+ TDA+ Infinity

Construction+ NV5.
Carolyn Brakey, ESQ
James W. Dvorak
Ralph Spidalieri

DRAFT Option 2: Names of all current Commissioners ONLY

Carolyn Brakey, ESQ
James W. Dvorak
Ralph Spidalieri

DRAFT Option 3: Names of all current Commissioners + former Commissioner

Timothy Lennon
Carolyn Brakey, ESQ
James W. Dvorak
Timothy Lennon
Ralph Spidalieri

DRAFT Option 4: Names of two current Commissioners + former Commissioner

Timothy Lennon
Carolyn Brakey, ESQ
James W. Dvorak
Timothy Lennon

DRAFT Option 5: No bronze plaque; Geauga County would receive $6000 in project credit

DRAFT Option 6: The following inscription on the bronze plaque:

“To the People of Geauga County”

For the second week in a row (Tuesday, August 5, 2025) there was yet no consensus among Commissioners. Mr. Dvorak noted his preference as a former bricklayer for the inscription identifying names of skilled craftsmen who could take pride in their achievement and their recognition on the plaque inscription. Mr. Spidalieri asked for the $6000 credit, abandoning his choices a week ago to identify former Commissioner Lennon by name as part of the project or to leave his own name off the plaque. As far as this writer could determine, Mrs. Brakey did not state her preference. As a result of the expanded selection and lack of consensus, Ms. Bevan could afford the Commissioners yet another time during the next Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, August 12, to reach consensus on the “plaque or no plaque” outcome.

GEAUGA COMMISSIONERS APPROVE McDONALD HOPKINS, LLC, FOR $25K FOR LEGAL SERVICES FOR REMAINDER OF 2025

Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Agenda Item #31:

“The Commissioners’ Office is requesting the Board approve and authorize the President of the Board to execute the Letter of Engagement with McDonald Hopkins LLC for General Services Retainer Program for the Year 2025 in an amount not to exceed $25,000.00 unless prior approval by the Board.”

Although the Geauga Commissioners already had arranged prior retainers with other law firms, this agenda item was approved quickly by 2-0, with Commissioner Ralph Spidalieri announcing his abstention and then explaining that he would have preferred to talk to a representative of the Cleveland branch of McDonald Hopkins prior to being asked for his vote without being able to express his questions.

At that point Commissioner Dvorak motioned to a seated figure in attendance, and a man in a suit came forward. He introduced himself as Bryan Kostura, appointed about ten years ago as Special Investigator by Prosecutor James Flaiz, around the time that losses from internal embezzlement became a huge matter of concern for many taxpayers; Prosecutor Flaiz eventually wound up submitting successful financial claims of loss to the county’s insurance carrier at the time. Attorney Kostura, hired by McDonald Hopkins in 2023, explained to the Commissioners his law firm’s particular expertise in cybersecurity issues and litigation issues and offered his firm’s assistance. Acknowledging Commissioner Spidalieri’s concerns, he offered to answer any questions or provide any insights which might be helpful, but neither Commissioner Spidalieri nor the other two Commissioners voiced any further comments.

During the Public Comments portion of the meeting, Chagrin Valley Times/Geauga Courier reporter Anastasia Nichols cited a petition that Geauga County Juvenile/Probate Court Judge Timothy Grendell filed in the Eleventh District Court of Appeals. This petition asks the Eleventh District to order payment of a reported $300,000 in legal fees after Commissioners in January voted 2-0 with Spidalieri’s abstention to deny Grendell’s requests for payment of legal fees.

When Ms. Nicholas asked if Attorney Kostura would defend the Commissioners in this particular Eleventh District case, in the event of conflict of interest with Prosecutor Jim Flaiz, Commissioner Brakey explained that the first action would be to ascertain whether the insurance carrier for the Commissioners’ Office would be their first line of defense.

The public comment also referenced the recusal of several Eleventh District judges from hearing Grendell’s petition, thereby calling for appointment of a visiting Ohio judge to be in charge of the Appeals case as it works its way through the system.

ADRIAN GORTON REPORTS ON TABLED PARTIAL PAYMENT #22 FOR GEAUGA COURTHOUSE EXPANSION

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

Readers may recall that during the rescheduled Geauga Commissioner meeting of Wednesday, July 30, 2025, the question of paying Infinity Construction was resolved. Agenda Item #7 read as follows this morning:

“The Commissioners’ Office is requesting the Board approve and authorize the President of the Board to execute the Request for Partial Payment #22 for Infinity Construction Company, Incorporated, for the Geauga County Courthouse Expansion GMP Phase #1 and #2 expenses in the amount of $950,590.72.”

Fiscal Officer Adrian Gorton reported back that Jared Parker, of NV5, who was able to verify the billed expenses comprising Infinity’s Partial Payment #22, noted that the expenses were legitimate.

Therefore, Commissioners voted unanimously to pay off the invoice and move toward completion of the historic expansion of the building.

GEAUGA AIRPORT AUTHORITY GETS LOTS OF QUESTIONS ABOUT T-1 HANGAR GRANT COMPLIANCE BEFORE 2-1 COMMISSIONER APPROVAL

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

Paid Geauga Airport Manager Ric Blamer showed up a second week in a row. Today’s session saw Blamer to seek approval on Agenda Item #9:

“The Airport Authority is requesting the Board approve and execute Resolution #25-158 Authorizing the President of the Geauga Board of Commissioners to execute electronically and submit the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Grant Offer for Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (HJA), Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) Grant #3-39-0054-029-2025 for the Construction of a T-Hangar in the amount of $585,000.00.”

Commissioner Brakey initiated the discussion by noting that the Prosecutor’s Office had okayed the legal contract August 4, 2025. She wondered out loud how Manager Blamer would go about offering assurances that the Geauga Airport Authority at the Middlefield Airport could/ would provide assurances about its compliance with the innumerable terms of the Grant cited and then added with a smile, “No way any airport in the country can comply with all of the terms of this grant.”

When the Airport Director explained that he would be looking for any possible “differences between this grant and the earlier ones,” Mrs. Brakey noted her apparent true concerns: “I’m worried about taxpayers being on the hook over and beyond . . .” because of “no bilateral agreement.”

Blamer continued to insist that the Middlefield Airport staff would only claim what they were entitled to and nothing beyond. He listened for the oral vote of the Commissioners, with Carolyn Brakey being the only negative vote. Subsequently, he said, “okay,” as he picked himself up and walked towards the exit of the Commissioners’ meeting room.

SPIDALIERI HAS CONCERNS OVER FINAL COURTHOUSE PLAQUE CONTENT

Thursday, July 31, 2025

The item for Geauga County Commissioners’ discussion at the Tuesday, July 29, 2025, public meeting was the upcoming Great Geauga Fair, Thursday, August 28- Monday, September 1, 2025. Nevertheless, the issue which seemed to raise the most emotions among Commissioners, and certainly the most passionate response from Commissioner Ralph Spidalieri, revolved around the final choice among three prototypes of plaques to be displayed in the Geauga Courthouse complex, once the Courthouse Expansion Project is finally complete. To date, three different designs for the plaque have been submitted as finalists. The time is now approaching to choose one of the three prototypes.

Although Mr. Spidalieri has been observed to be quite quiet during the last several public meetings, he suddenly seemed to spring to life with the responsibility of finalizing the plaque design. He first asked what the plaque would cost. Mrs. Brakey said she would research that topic for later discussion, but in the meantime she favored Option #2 on page 3. It seemed as though Commissioner Dvorak also favored Option # 2.

Mr. Spidalieri noted how much time and work former Commissioner Lennon had put into research on the Courthouse Expansion Project. Mrs. Brakey suggested that perhaps there was another way that former Commissioner Lennon’s devotion could be honored rather than being named on the plaque. Commissioner Dvorak noted for the record, “ A lot of different people put a lot of time in (to researching the Courthouse Expansion Project).

Mr. Spidalieri, apparently was not assuaged. He had more to say. This time he offered that Mr. Lennon’s name could/ should replace his own as one of the individuals responsible for the successful restoration and expansion of the historic Geauga Courthouse plot.

Since the final topic of the cost, the design, and the location of the final bronze plaque remains to be resolved, perhaps this writer, as a member of the tax paying community of Geauga County can offer another addition to this pristine plaque to be on display forever in the new Courthouse:

“In grateful memory to the Taxpayers of Geauga County, along with their Elected and Designated Commissioners, who all made this historic transformation possible.”

GEAUGA COMMISSIONERS TABLE APPROVAL TO PAY INFINITY CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC. $950,590.72 FOR PARTIAL PAYMENT 22 FOR COURTHOUSE EXPANSION PROJECT AT JULY 29 MEETING.

Thursday, July 31, 2025

After announcing cancellation of the Tuesday, August 26, 2025, regular Geauga Commissioners’ Meeting because of Thursday, August 28, Commissioners’ program at the Junior Fair Stage on opening day of the Great Geauga Fair, County Administrator presented Agenda Item #20:

“The Commissioners’ Office is requesting the Board approve and authorize the President of the Board to execute the Request for Partial Payment #22 for Infinity Construction Company, Incorporated for the Geauga County Courthouse Expansion GMP Phase #1 and #2 expenses in the amount of $950,590.72.”

Commissioner Brakey noted her understanding that the price for the Courthouse Expansion so far is about $20,158,951.00 without any other additions or modifications, However, she noted that the cumulative cost for Change Orders undertaken on the Courthouse thus far are in the neighborhood of $473,000. Therefore, she wondered if any other Change Orders may be in the works. Ms. Bevan promised to check on total costs and any inspections being undertaken on behalf of the Commissioners and Geauga County taxpayers to keep the final price from reaching $21,000,000 or even more. Therefore, Partial Payment #22 is tabled at least until Ms. Bevan reports back to the Commissioners. The soonest date of action will be August 5, 2025.

By this writer’s calculations, if the numbers presented at the July 29 meeting are current and accurate, the total amount of funds currently sunk into the Courthouse Expansion Project are at least $20,631,951.00 ($20,158,951 + $473,000= $20,631,951).

LAKETRAN, PER JULY 2023 LEASE AGREEMENT, BY WHICH IT PROVIDES RIDES FOR GEAUGA TRANSIT CLIENTS, REQUESTS LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM GEAUGA COMMISSIONERS FOR GRANT REQUEST

Wednesday, July 30, 2025

Ben Capelle, CEO of Lake County’s Laketran, the Lake County Transit Authority, in July 2023, just two years ago, took over operational control of Geauga County’s Transit System, after Director JoAnna Santilli informed the then commissioners of a financial shortfall and subsequent receipt of an interest-free loan of $275,000 to be paid back in quarterly payments. Then Laketran came along and by means of a legally-vetted contract was to assume total operation of Geauga Transit but according to Section 1(b) not be financially responsible for repayment of any loans made prior to the July 2023 agreement with 90 days to mutually terminate the agreement. In the meantime, Laketran has prided itself for years for its ability to attract state grant money.

Capelle accompanied JoAnna Santilli to present Agenda Items 9 and 10 at the July 29 Geauga Commissioner Meeting.

#9 read as follows:

“Laketran and Geauga Transit is [sic] requesting the Board approve and execute a Letter of Support for a Joint Application to the Ohio Workforce Mobility Partnership Program.”

In the short conversation, Laketran’s Capelle indicated that receipt of the $1.2 million grant request over a three-year period ($400,000 per year) would enable the hiring of extra drivers, presumably at least some of them to serve the populace served by Geauga Transit, as well as the ability of Geauga Transit buses to cross into Lake County.

With unanimous approval by Geauga Commissioners Dvorak, Brakey, and Spidalieri of Item #9, Geauga Transit’s Santilli immediately presented Agenda Item # 10, which read as follows:

“Laketran and Geauga Transit is [sic] requesting the Board approve in accordance with the Lease Agreement [July, 2023], Maintenance Improvement to the driveway [on Merritt Road] that includes replacing the existing asphalt in the back lot and resurfacing the existing asphalt in the access drives and parking lot.”

In response to Commissioner Brakey’s question of “Who’s paying for it [the asphalt replacement and the resurfacing]?”, Santilli noted, “the Ohio grant.” Again, as with item #9, Commissioners approved the request unanimously.

RIC BLAMER, PAID GEAUGA COUNTY AIRPORT (MIDDLEFIELD) MANAGER, REPORTS ON GRANTS, PROFIT AND LOSS STATEMENTS, HANGAR OCCUPANCY

Wednesday, July 25, 2025

Readers of this newsletter will recall that the Geauga Airport under the paid management of Ric Blamer last drew the attention of the Geauga County Board of Commissioners in April 2025, when the issues of the financial solvency of hangar rentals, in addition to the question of receiving funding from the said Commissioners probably upset more than one Geauga County elected official’s digestive system during the height of 2025’s Easter weekend. Back to report on Second Quarter financial events, Mr. Blamer presented Agenda Items #4, #5, and #6 regarding those earlier topics in thoughtful and measured tones without the intervention of several other members of the current Airport Board of Trustees.

Agenda Item # 4 read as follows:

“The Airport Authority is requesting the Board [Geauga County Board of Commissioners} release the Bid/Performance Bond for Hoar Construction Company for the Hangar 1 Improvement project, as all specifications have been satisfied.”

Commissioners approved this item unanimously.

Agenda Item #5 read as follows:

“The Airport Authority is requesting the Board approve Reimbursement Request #2 for the Taxiway Extension Construction Project, specifically to Construct Parallel Taxiway A including Taxiway Connector A1 and A2 –Construction, Final Phase and Install Taxiway Edge Lights –Construction, Grant #3-39-0054-028-2024 in the amount of $488,831.91 (FAA share $439,948.72, ODOT share $24,441.60 and local County match share $24,441.59).”

Commissioners approved this item unanimously, but a small fly in the ointment, mostly involving timing of receipt of information seemed to muddy the waters. For example, although Blamer identified September 19, 2025, as the close of construction, the official termination of the construction is sometime in October to provide for a “cure period,” according to Blamer.

Then Spidalieri asked about the status of other funding for the Airport. Blamer acknowledged receipt of critical information about the middle of July, but Commissioners did not receive their information from Blamer until Thursday, July 24, about the same time that Commissioner Clerk received email copy from Blamer and forwarded it on to Amy Blevin, who in return found her information on Monday, July 28.

The largest problem is apparently that there is an August 4 Board of Trustees meeting for the Airport Authority, at which time Blamer had hoped to have prosecutor-approved paperwork for the Airport Authority to rubber stamp, but the reality is that with the short amount of time since Blamer’s forwarding of the paperwork in question, there simply has not been enough time for proper reading, analysis, and possible editing of that paperwork. Thus, we can expect the appearance of Ric Blamer at the Tuesday, August 5, 2025, Commissioner meeting for further discussion and possible approval.

Agenda Item #6 read as follows:

“Airport Manager Ric Blamer will provide an update and go over the Second Quarter (2025) report.”

Mr. Blamer quickly announced the Airport Authority’s Pancake Breakfast, which he reported to be a financial success. In terms of the financial success of hangar rentals for the Second Quarter, Blamer identified a wait-list of 37 individuals. He went over the details of what he identified as the Profit and Loss report for the same time period. He notified that the revenue without the benefit of any grants was $110,392.28. Expenses were noted as $92,768.04. while he identified “excess revenue as $9,614.21.” This writer was surprised by that last figure, as she expected “excess revenues” to be the difference between the $110,392.28 and $92,768.04, for a remainder of those two integers as $18,614.21, not the reported $9,614.21.

We will continue to follow the details of this Airport Authority story as they become available and clearer after the August 5, 2025, Geauga Commissioner Meeting at 9:30 am.

GEAUGA MAINTENANCE DIRECTOR DISCUSSES AUTOMATIC TRANSFER SWITCH CONTRACT AT $10,000.00 + AND GENERATOR UPGRADE FOR GEAUGA SENIOR CENTER AND MSI WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT AT $191,000

Friday, July 25, 2025

Geauga County Maintenance Director, Glen Vernick, presented Agenda Items 12 and 13 dealing with an automatic transfer switch for a an emergency services generator upgrade and then a generator that will apparently provide multiple services down the road. Combined costs appear to exceed $200,000 ($10,000.00+ $191,000.00).

Director Vernick talked about catching #12’s Change Order with North Bay Construction “in time” in order to be able to effect a generator upgrade. He related the past personal experiences of “being burned” with automatic transfer switches that were supposed to work with ancient generators, but in the final analysis did not have that ability. He expressed his belief that the county was out of trouble with this solution. He went on to explain about the $191,000 generator (200 amp) that will be advertised for bid on the county website in an effort to find a contractor who can install a special generator that will be able to service both the West Geauga Senior Center under the Department of Aging and the MSI Waste water Treatment Plant so as to justify the extra upfront investment cost.

GEAUGA COMMISSIONERS UTILIZE EXECUTIVE SESSION TO AUTHORIZE CREATION OF NEW POSITION OF “COMMUNICATIONS INTERN” AS CONSERVATIVE PROBLEM SOLUTION

Friday, July 25, 2025

At the July 23 Geauga County Commissioner Meeting, Commissioners moved into Executive Session (Agenda Item #20) at 10:15 am “for the purpose of discussing the employment and compensation of public employees, pursuant to O.R.C. 121.22(G)(1).” Involved were Commissioners Dvorak, Brakey, and Spidalieri and County Administrator, Amy Bevan.

This was an atypical executive session, lasting only 15 minutes, coming back into Commissioner quarters to approve the creation of a position known as #1332, “Communications Intern, and the location of #1332 on the County Organizational Chart, effective July 22, 2025. County Administrator Bevan made the announcement, along with the further information that the County would continue to advertise for an individual to pursue a “conservative approach” for the Commissioners to provide Press Releases, monitor social media, engage in Port Authority directives, etc. If a salary range was to be offered, that information was not publicly released by Ms. Bevan.

It would appear that the Board of County Commissioners values the positive power of well-planned and timely press releases. We will try to keep you informed as more information breaks on the choice of an appropriate individual to fill #1332.

GEAUGA COMMISSIONERS CONTINUE THE ISSUE OF THE FIRST ENERGY MIDDLEFIELD LINE SHOP INITIATED MAY 6, 2025

July 25, 2025

Back on May 7, 2025, these independent writers brought coverage on the breaking story of the First Energy Line Shop that had served the Middlefield area with its five workers whenever there was a need to repair/replace spare parts to maintain energy/illumination. At the May 6 meeting attended by First Energy’s Public Relations Manager, Dave Conley, testimony was provided by Commissioner Spidalieri, Commissioner Brakey, Middlefield Mayor Ben Garlich, and Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand to reinforce the continued importance of having timely skilled service from First Energy in the event of a power failure or electrical crisis in Middlefield.

When Manager Conley finished his testimony with the impression that consolidation of the line shop was moving to Concord in Lake County, he responded to Commissioner Brakey’s question about what might be the logical next step from the Geauga Commissioners to preserve First Energy service in Geauga County. Conley’s response was to file a complaint with the Public Utility Commission of Ohio. At the May 6 Meeting the Geauga Commissioners voted 3-0 to file such a complaint protesting the suffering that would befall Geauga County without the Middlefield Line Shop.

By May 13, 2025, Carolyn Brakey, herself an attorney, had composed such a letter on behalf of all three Commissioners, addressed to the PUCO in Columbus, protesting the closure of First Energy’s Middlefield Service Office on the basis of unjustified profit motives utilized by First Energy as Cases 24-0468 EL-AIR, 24-2469-EL-ATA , 24-0470-EL-AAM, and 24-0471-EL-UNC.

Although there were extensive hearings conducted later that in May to gather testimonies on utility company procedures that might have drawn more conclusions about the ethical conclusions of First Energy moves to consolidate, little else has come to light in the eight weeks following Dave Conley’s appearance.

At the July 23, 2025, Geauga County Commissioners meeting, Commissioner Brakey reported that the Middlefield Line Office has been vacant since early July, apparently with the line shop moved to Concord, Lake County, Ohio.

It is our feeling that this story about the actions of First Energy for the last several years are still the subject to the judgment of history and may yet provide the details of a breaking story.

GEAUGA COMMISSIONERS VOTE UNANIMOUSLY TO RETAIN SEDGWICK TO ADMINISTER BUREAU OF WORKERS COMP CLAIMS FOR $11,500

Thursday, July 24, 2025

Sedgwick TPA (Third Party Administrator) has identified itself online as “the world’s leading claims administration partner,” with offices in cities across the globe. Sedgwick became the subject of the June 24, 2025,agenda. Item 13 that day was ”[P]resentation by Mara McClain, Account Executive, Sedgwick TPA, on Group Retrospective Rating Premium and Rebate History.” Long-time Geauga County representative for Workers’ Compensation, Cathy Hofsteter, introduced Ms. McClain for her report to the Commissioners. The contract for Sedgwick was about to expire and needed Commissioner approval to be continued. Ms. McClain punctuated her comments with a personal note: You folks have done a fabulous job! Your EMR (aka Experience Modifier Ratio) is .65, having dropped below 1.00.”

So, what was that pat on the back supposed to mean for Sedgwick’s clients, the Geauga County Commissioners? It meant that Geauga County, included within a 59 member pool of County Commissioners, had kept their liability and Workers’ Compensation Claims down to 0 for the period of the Sedgwick contract.

Newest Commissioner, Carolyn Brakey, Esquire, had questions about the possible benefits derived for Geauga County. She wondered whether Geauga County’s move toward self-insuring instead of paying a premium, in this case $11,500.00 for the Sedgwick’s third-party administration of insurance claims might not be a reasonable solution and questioned whether the county employees’ “fabulous job” of keeping claims at 0 was an unearned benefit for the other 58 members of the pooled group.

In order to allow time to answer the question before signing the contract, Agenda Item #13 was tabled till July, In the meantime, two Commissioner meetings were canceled. The July 15 meeting was canceled because Commissioners were unable to reach a quorum. The July 22 meeting was canceled so that Commissioners could attend a funeral for long-time Geauga and Lake County firefighter, Mike Warner. That left July 23 as the date to hold the updated Commissioner meeting, at which time Assistant County Administrator, Linda Burhenne, had already taken her vacation hours and apparently been able to update her retirement plans, leaving full responsibility to new County Administrator, Amy Bevan.

Ms. Bevan, by the way, gifted with a firm voice and great ability to read smoothly, carried off her new responsibilities quite admirably at the July 23 meeting, and we send our Kudos to her!

Thus, Cathy Hofsteter, returned on July 23 to represent the tabled Sedgwick issue, identified as Item# 18. This time Ms. McClain was not present, as were not many meeting attendees, because of the quick need on Tuesday, July 22, to reschedule the second canceled Commissioner meeting.

Agenda Item 18, a long item, read as follows: “[T]o execute the Geauga County/ County Commissioners Association of Ohio (CCAO) Workers’ Compensation Group Retrospective Rating Plan Agreement with the CCAO Service Corporation for the period January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026 in an amount not to exceed $11,500.00 and further execute the Ohio Bureau of Workers; Compensation, Employer Statement for GroupRetrospective-rating Program enrollment form.”

Cathy Hofsteter opined that when the group insurance program had been initiated 16 years ago, Geauga County had been only one of ten members of the CCAO pool, which has subsequently grown to 59 members, including Geauga County. She appeared to express some passion when she affirmed her attested personal view that using a third-party-administrator, in this case Sedgwick, was the better alternative at $11,500 than attempting self-insurance procedures for the county.

Commissioner Dvorak, as a long-time participant in the consortium advised by Sedgwick, indicated his personal satisfaction with the benefits provided by the third party administrator. Nevertheless, he advised keeping an open mind and looking out for the best interests of both insured members and tax payers.

Commissioners Dvorak, Brakey, and Spidalieri voted unanimously to retain Sedgwick for the 2026 year for $11,500.00.

PRESS RELEASE

Committee to Abolish Ohio Property Taxes
July 21, 2025
Contact: Brian Massie
Phone: (440) 479-7061
Email: Stoppropertytaxes@gmail.com

For immediate release:

The Committee to Abolish Ohio Property Taxes Provides a Response to State Legislators Contemplating Overriding Governor DeWine’s Veto of Token Property Taxes Changes in the Budget Bill.

Cleveland, Ohio – The Committee to Abolish Ohio Property Taxes will not be influenced by the outcome of the vote by the State legislature on Governor Mike DeWine’s veto of the property tax changes since they were never real reform in the first place. The proposed changes are designed to pacify angry homeowners while preserving the overly complex, broken, immoral tax system. The legislators are doing nothing to address the core injustice of taxing people out of their homes while funding an ever-growing bureaucracy.

“Once again, the people of Ohio take a back seat to big government, and the donor class,” said Brian Massie, spokesperson for the Committee. They have chosen to protect government coffers over family budgets.

Governor DeWine justified his veto by expressing concern for school funding, yet the Committee argues that the whole system must change to avoid bankrupting property owners and pricing families out of their homes.

“Property ownership is the foundation of freedom and liberty,” Massie added. “But when taxes increase without your consent and without regard to your ability to pay, that foundation starts to crack.”

“With this vote, the legislature sent a message loud and clear: their loyalty lies with tax-hungry bureaucracies and their donor base, not with the people who elected them,” said Massie. “We are not going away – the fight to abolish unfair property taxes is just beginning.”

The Committee to Abolish Ohio Property Taxes is calling on citizens across the State to join the movement to completely abolish the complex property tax system in the State. Please sign the petition and become a circulator to help us collect signatures. Go to AxOhTax.com or ReformPropertyTax.com for more information.

ANY TAX CAUSING A CITIZEN TO BECOME HOMELESS IS IMMORAL!

AG DAVE YOST: OHIO VOTERS MAY SOON ABOLISH PROPERTY TAXES IF LEADERS DON’T ACT

Wednesday July 9, 2025
Victoria Dugger | WTOL11, Toledo, Ohio

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is calling on county leaders to take control of the growing property tax crisis before voters take matters into their own hands and eliminate the system entirely.

“Ohioans are as angry as I’ve ever seen them - and rightly so,” Yost said Wednesday, addressing the Ohio Council of County Officials. “These inflationary tax increases are hurting everyone and, in some cases, are forcing people out of the homes they worked their entire lives for.”

Yost pointed to a nearly 19% increase in property taxes statewide from 2020 to 2024 - totaling an additional $3.8 billion - with homeowners and farmers shouldering most of that burden. He warned that a resident-led constitutional amendment to abolish property taxes altogether is gaining steam and could easily pass if lawmakers and local governments don’t act swiftly.

Lucas County is already living the crisis

Yost’s speech mirrors what Lucas County property owners have experienced firsthand.

In 2024, a countywide revaluation caused home values to initially spike an average of close to 32%, leading to sharp increases in tax bills. Outraged homeowners flooded the Board of Revision with more than 7,100 appeals. So far, about 2,444 property owners have won reductions, with nearly $850,000 in refunds or billing adjustments issued, according to county records.

An audit of the Lucas County Auditor’s Office revealed delays, software problems and internal control issues that contributed to confusion and inconsistencies in the revaluation process. Auditor Katie Moline has pledged changes ahead of the next revaluation in 2030.

Meanwhile, the Ohio State Auditor’s Office has launched an investigation into possible past mismanagement by former county auditor Anita Lopez, now a Lucas County commissioner.

Lead now, or the people will blow up the system’

Yost emphasized that schools, local governments, and counties depend on property taxes for funding and warned that failing to lead on reform now could devastate public services.

“Reform will be painful,” Yost said, “but not nearly as painful as trying to replace $20 billion in revenue that supports schools and local government.”

Yost called for a coalition of county officials - including auditors, treasurers and commissioners - to propose legislative fixes, such as valuation caps or new relief mechanisms for residents. He argued that county governments are best positioned to lead reform, given their direct role in setting and collecting taxes.

A statewide movement with Toledo ties

Yost’s remarks follow months of growing support for a constitutional amendment that would eliminate property taxes in Ohio. The group Citizens for Tax Reform is gathering signatures now for a possible 2026 vote, after just missing the July 2 deadline for signature gathering for the November 2025 ballot.

That movement has gained traction in communities like Lucas County, where public frustration over steep revaluations, outdated assessment practices and poor communication from officials has been widely reported.

In a March investigation by 11 Investigates, homeowners described their tax hikes as unaffordable and unfair - and local officials pointed fingers at both state policy and past administrative failures.

What’s next

Yost’s statement may add pressure on Lucas County officials to engage in statewide reform efforts. It also raises the stakes for state lawmakers who have taken steps toward property tax relief.

If the ballot initiative qualifies and passes, Ohio would become the first state in the nation to abolish property taxes, forcing a complete restructuring of how local services are funded.

GEAUGA COUNTY 2026 TAX BUDGET PASSES UNANIMOUSLY ON JULY 8, 2025, WITH MINIMAL CONCERNS

Thursday, July 10, 2025

Agenda Item #4, Resolution #25-141, “Adopting the 2026 Annual Tax Budget,” passed unanimously after Commissioner Brakey, asked Budget and Finance Manager, Adrian Gorton, about the time line for initiating financial decisions regarding employees in light of Governor DeWine’s use of his line-item veto 67 times in approving the 2026 Ohio Tax Budget.

Mr. Gorton indicated that any discussions regarding county employees are appropriate between this time period and December 31, 2025.

With that short discussion an oral vote resulted in a 3-0 vote to approve the 2026 County Budget, which was discussed at length on Thursday, July 3. 2025.

Commissioner Dvorak, in a comment made during Agenda Item #21, Public Discussion, noted that as a result of receiving over $500,000 from the Opioid Settlement from litigation over the last several years, Geauga County will be able to aid departments and agencies dealing with monetary shortfalls. Adrian Gorton confirmed that a deposit to that account on Monday, July 7, assets in that account now surpass $500,000.

There will be a presentation regarding the possible usage of the deposits gained from the Opioid Settlement fund on Tuesday, July 22, during public session of the Commissioner Meeting.

GEAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS SCHEDULED TO VACATE CURRENT LOCATION AT CENTER STREET FOR NEW PERMANENT LOCATION IN COUNTY OFFICE BUILDING

Wednesday, July 9. 2025

Kash Moving and Storage will execute the Contract Agreement to relocate the Geauga County Board of Elections from its current presence within the Center Street block within a six month period (July 8, 2025-January 7, 2026) at a cost not to exceed $39,040.00. Once the 470 Center Street Complex is devoid of its former County Department presence, those buildings can be sold or leased to provide an alternate revenue source to amplify the Geauga County Budget.

GEAUGA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISCUSSES DISSOLUTION OF COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION (CIC)

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Gina Hofstetter, Director of Geauga’s CIC, came forward with Assistant County Administrator, Linda Burhenne, during Board Discussion time (Agenda Item #21) to provide background on the development of the CIC in the 1960s and to figure out why the County would prefer to keep the CIC active or decide to dissolve its operation as no longer pertinent or relative to fostering or maintaining effective governmental procedures.

Ms. Burhenne noted that the Community Improvement Corporation operated like a social club that required membership in order to achieve the sale of property by avoiding legal government pathways. Eventually, Ms. Burhenne explained, it became impossible to keep CIC on-task, but even the hiring of attorneys did not result in fruition of the original operational tasks so that “arms-length” sales were avoided.

Director Hofstetter described the operation of CIC as “reinventing the wheel” so as to incur expensive legal bills that may show up during the audit of the department for for years 2023 and 2024. As a result of past inefficient bureaucracy, the Department of Community and Economic Development incurred excessive legal bills over actions and/or procedures which could not be streamlined . Effectively, the only utilizations under CIC occurred in 2012 and in 2019. Originally involved in Lake County with the development of a Land Bank and with the development of bonds, CIC apparently resulted in substantial legal bills still needing resolution.

When Commissioner Brakey asked if affiliation with the CIC might bring a higher price for a property offered for sale, Linda Burhenne responded, “I have no idea,” claiming unfamiliarity with the real estate market. Gina Hostetter cited one of the original purposes of CIC as “to sell county-owned property for economic improvement.”

Action leading to the Commissioners’ possible action for dissolution of CIC is tabled for the July 15 Commissioners’ meeting.

ANALYSIS OF GEAUGA COUNTY 2026 TAX BUDGET; ACCEPTANCE VOTE TO BE TAKEN JULY 8

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

The 10:00 a.m. public hearing of the county 2026 tax budget came with the acknowledgment of Budget and Finance Manager, Adrian Gorton, that for the first time all three monitors were operational during his presentation. With his usual thoroughness and precision, he also took time to credit his two associates, Amy Bevan, County Administrator; and Deborah Ashburn, Senior Fiscal Specialist. Nevertheless, it was the ADP video technician whose fine-tuning and understanding made the presentation come off without any hitches or delays. That kind of quiet coordination was only the beginning of the kudos.

The first piece of information, the knowledge that the total 2026 tax budget had reached $168.7 million, initially might be enough of a shock to take one’s breath away. When was the last time that this writer could visualize $168,700,000.00. anyway? Of that total, the General Fund Budget, along with requests from departments for 2026, totaled a neat $50,600,000.00. (Link, p2)

As in past years the largest source of General Fund revenue for 2026 will be the 6.75% Sales Tax that consumers pay on general merchandise. The 6.75% sales tax is expected to generate $21,800,000.00 , or 45.53% of all General Fund revenue with the twice-per-year payment of county real estate taxes to bring in $11,500,000.00 (24.15%) of the General Fund revenue. Together these two sources will bring in a whopping $43,300,000.00, or 69.68% of the funds. By comparison, the highly-touted Casino Tax of yesteryear will generate just $1,500,000.00 (3.14% of the funds), on about equal par with revenue from Prisoner Housing generated by the County Jail. (Link, p4)

As long as payment of Geauga County real estate (property) tax is a significant homeowner contribution to the annual budget, it is important to note that the operation of Geauga County and Geauga Township government function each costs approximately $0.17 of each taxpayer $1.00, but the cost to operate public school districts in Geauga County entails more than 3 times that taxpayer expense. (Link, p7)

It is interesting to note that during Calendar Years 2022 through 2025, the generated revenue increased dramatically, but the 2025 Budget reflecting amended Unencumbered Carryover Balance demonstrated the huge availability of cash/resources with no intention. It seemed as though the 2025 recorded notation of $69,300,000 seemed to reflect a high point in cash availability (Link, p10). It would appear, from the documentation on page 11 of the budget that 2026 Operating Expenses will constitute a 7.2% increase. It would also appear that there is a decided effort to counteract spending increases, particularly in the realm of inflationary wage hikes and spiraling hospitalization costs incurred by the county during 2024 and 2025.

Clearly, the biggest operational expenses continue to arise in the Public Safety (Sheriff) in 2026, with about a 9.7% increase over the 2025 BUDGET. Operating expenses for Legislative Executive will increase by about 9.15% over the department’s 2025 net transfers out. 2026 operating expenses for Judicial will apparently increase from $6.6 Million in 2025 to $6.9 Million in 2026, reflecting just a small increase in operating expenses. On a positive note, operating expenses in 2026 in the areas of

Conservation/Recreation, Human Services, Health, and Miscellaneous appear to be kept at their 2025 level of $3.7/$3.8 Million. (Link, p14).

In terms of funds set aside to cover future construction and improvement, it is important to consider four standing funds. Currently identified are the Senior Center Construction Fund, composed of $2.6 Million in cash assets from the earlier sale of a former Senior Center plus cash assets transferred from the Department on Aging. A second fund, dating from the American Rescue Plan is comprised of $6.2 Million: $5 Million for McFarland Waste Water plus $1 Million for Aquilla Waste Water plus $200,000 to be granted to the Department on Aging (Added together, these 3 sets of assets total $6,200,000.00 in the American Rescue Plan Fund). The third cash fund currently is comprised of $3.2 Million, which has been set aside to pay for $4 Million worth of projects to be completed during 2026 to improve existing county buildings. It would seem that this is the fund that may require closest monitoring in an effort to control any inflationary expenses not anticipated during initial budget planning. Finally, the Capital Reserve Funds, which have funded the Geauga County Office Building on Ravenwood Drive and which originally held $13 Million, have been depleted to $800,000 in liquid funds as a result of ongoing payments for Courthouse renovation/expansion. (Link, p15)

It would appear from ongoing discussions at each Commissioner Meeting that there are a plethora of unanticipated expenses resulting from the need for renovations which were never caught by current building enterprises and which conceivably could create a deficit in available funds from lack of precise advance planning. As a result, Long-term Planning Strategy will continue to be a critical area of constant surveillance so the county does not find itself short of necessary funding. As noted on page 16 of the 2026 Geauga County Tax Budget the Master Plan “to divest. . .under-utilized County properties and consolidate departmental operations under one footprint” remains a plan that must be critically and narrowly followed with great purpose and intention to prevent the growth of indebtedness on the part of Geauga County and to demonstrate the county’s demonstration of responsibility to its taxpayer base, without which this county might lose its ability to function.

Finally, it becomes apparent that after years of assumptions that the taxpayer base in Geauga County will remain solvent and sustainable with guaranteed sources of income growth, the reality is that Geauga County continues to have the responsibility to “[e]xplore alternative revenue streams,” particularly in light of current unresolved litigation filed against this county and dependent on future judicial resolution whose costs are not yet open to final speculation. (Link, p16)

In other words, in the midst of multiple possible drains on sources of county revenue, it is absolutely critical that the powers that be in Geauga County keep their noses to the grindstone to keep Geauga County assets working on behalf of its diminishing taxpayer base. It also means that the elected decision makers in the county must demonstrate their willingness to be prepared and to provide documentation for their decisions to the electorate.

ROGER PETERSON, GEAUGA’S DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY SERVICES, RESIGNS AFTER TEN YEARS OF KUDOS AND BEST WISHES FOR NEW SUCCESSES

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Roger Peterson, Geauga County’s well-regarded Director of Emergency Services for the last ten years, announced to the Geauga County Commissioners that he has reached the time in his life and career when he can follow the advice of a personal mentor who told him, “Do good and then walk away.” Mr. Peterson clarified that his resignation, effective August 1, 2025, will afford him a teaching position in regard to the position of fire chief, officially to be known as Works and Management Director.

Commissioner Carolyn Brakey announced her regrets at having to accept Mr. Peterson’s resignation but wished him all the best in his “moving on.” Commissioner Jim Dvorak, likewise, praised Mr. Peterson for his service to the Geauga County Community: “You’ve done a great job for ten years.”

Commissioners Dvorak, Brakey, and Spidalieri voted unanimously to accept Roger Peterson’s resignation in Agenda Item 15. In Agenda Item #16, the Board of Commissioners consequently voted unanimously “to advertise for the position of Director, Department of Emergency Services” until they find a proper replacement for Mr. Peterson.

Best wishes, Roger Peterson, for the future. Thank you, sincerely, for the valuable service you have performed for Geauga County.

GEAUGA SHERIFF CATCHES GRANT IDENTIFICATION ERROR IN $25.5K OHIO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AWARD

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand, accompanied by Chief Deputy Tom Rowan, presented items 9 and 10 regarding two grants from the Ohio Department of Public Safety, Office of Criminal Justice Services. Hildebrand was very quick to note that the identification number for the $25,500.00 award that permits acquisition of five SWAT cameras for the Sheriff Department did not agree with the identification number from his records. In Agenda Item #9, the award agreement identified as Grant 2025-VC-VCR-78337 for the time period from January 1-December 31,2025 did not agree with his documentation, Commissioner Carolyn Brakey was very quick to agree that her research into the project revealed that the correct identification of the project was Grant 2024-JG-AR3-4707.

Sheriff Hildenbrand was quick to express relief that any potential problem had been caught and rectified in a timely fashion. Commissioners’ Clerk, Christine Blair, conceded that she had recorded the identification on this grant incorrectly.

Gratefully, there were no errors on the second grant agreement. This second award, also from the Ohio Department of Public Safety turned out to be the actual Grant #2025-VC-VCR-78337, not for $25,500, but for $12,750.00 for the period July 1, 2024-June 30, 2026. This grant was able to provide 3 SWAT cameras to patrol members on active duty.

Commissioners Dvorak, Brakey, and Spidalieri unanimously approved Items 9 and 10 after Sheriff Hildenbrand was able to relate how the cameras provided local safety forces with the information to follow up with an aggressor from Virginia with retaliatory intentions before family members in northeast Ohio were harmed.

We are grateful for the lives saved through the availability of the SWAT cameras and through Sheriff Hildenbrand’s explanation.

As an endnote, toward the end of the July 1 Commissioners’ Meeting, Budget and Finance Manager, Adrian Gorton, realized that he had failed to recognize the presence of Sheriff Hildenbrand during his 2026 Geauga County Budget Presentation in Item 15. Mr. Gorton apologized for any possible unintended oversight. Sheriff Hildenbrand responded in typical deadpan fashion, “I felt slighted.” Gales of laughter resounded in the room.