Welcome to Auburn Township in Beautiful Geauga County Ohio

GEAUGA COUNTY COURTHOUSE RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY SCHEDULE; PUBLIC INVITED

MARCH 31, 2026, UPDATE FROM GEAUGA COMMISSIONERS ON BERKSHIRE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT’S MARCH 17 “SAFE ROUTE TO SCHOOL” GRANT REQUEST

Thursday, April 2, 2026

Readers may recall Agenda Item #19 on the March 17 Commissioner Agenda. Dr. Vanessa Provozhaev, Director of Professional Learning and Community Outreach for Berkshire Local Schools presented information regarding the school district’s perception that vehicular traffic patterns in a particular location created a risk for Berkshire school children. She therefore presented a request for the Geauga Board of Commissioners “to make application to the Ohio Department of Transportation Safe Routes to Schools Sidewalks Grant." (See $970K INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT TO BENEFIT BERKSHIRE SCHOOLS)

Since the March 24 Commissioner Meeting was cancelled, the meeting on March 31 was the first time for Geauga Commissioners to deal with the topic in more detail. The discussion began when Commissioner Spidalieri related that he had received questions from the public asking for clarification if Commissioners had signed any paperwork on March 31 in response to Dr. Provozhaev’s presentation and subsequent request. The purpose for his initiation of the topic was his need to verify that the Geauga County Board of Commissioners “have not been involved in aiding Berkshire Schools” and that they have not signed any documents to create that obligation.

During the discussion, County Administrator Amy Bevan offered to do more research on the requirements of the specific grant. Nevertheless, Commissioner Brakey expressed serious concerns with potential legal issues and conflicts arising out of acceptance of Dr. Provozhaev’s March 17 request, and Commissioner Dvorak agreed that Commissioners’ decision to avoid any commitment “is not the first time that Commissioners have shied away.” County Administrator Bevan concluded that the Board of Commissioners as a unified body has no further obligations regarding the issue.

GEAUGA DOG WARDEN GRANITO MARKETS “LITTLE BIT” TO “OOHS AND AAHS”

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

Those in attendance watched live as Geauga’s Matt Granito charmed them with the latest pup whose tail wagged incessantly to identify her as a people pleaser. In between the tail wags, the 3-5 year-old- female smallish mixed-breed from Tennessee communicated her joy at being petted and stroked by Commissioner Brakey. Little Bit is one of two current dogs received from the Ashtabula County Dog Warden for a daily board fee in an effort to find them adoptive homes.

The arrangement with the Ashtabula Dog Warden has been underway since December 2025

SHERIFF HILDENBRAND GETS UNANIMOUS APPROVAL FROM COMMISSIONERS MARCH 31 FOR INMATE VIDEO VISITATION AT FCC-ENFORCED PER-MINUTE CHARGES TO INMATES

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand presented Agenda Item #13 at the March 31, 2026, Commissioner meeting. He explained that the issue of inmates using electronic tablet for video visitation with family members, for watching educational programs, and/or for texting has been impacted by the lack of standard costs for prisoners. The FCC has stepped in, determining that the inmates would be limited to paying $.13 per minute for any phone calls and $.17 per minute for the use of electronic tablets. Sheriff staff will collect the revenue and retain 50% of the proceeds, effective April 20, 2026, with ability to renew the arrangement for 24 months. Sheriff Hildenbrand added that inmates can text “all day provided they pay” the total amount of money at the per-minute rate. The agenda item won unanimous approval quite quickly and without any debate.

AIRPORT AUTHORITY SEEKS ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR T HANGER

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

Ric Blamer, paid employee, represented the Airport Authority in Middlefield, to present Agenda Items 8-10 at the March 31, 2026, Geauga Commissioners’ Meeting.

Agenda Item #8:

The Airport Authority is requesting the Board approve Reimbursement Request #9 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 $24,610.00 (FAA Share $22,149.00, (ODOT Share $1.230.50 and Local County match share $1,230.50).

This request entailed minimal time and effort for Commissioners Dvorak, Brakey, and Spidalieri to agree unanimously to provide the Middlefield Airport with $1,230.50, the County matching share of the grant.

Agenda Items #9 and #10, though approved by virtue of a 2-1 oral vote with Commissioner Brakey voting no each time, raised some issues unforeseen or ignored by the Airport’s Mr. Blamer, regarding T Hangar Construction and Sponsor Certification and Disclosure.

Agenda Item #9:

The Airport Authority is requesting the Board approve and execute Resolution #26-046 Authorizing the President of the Geauga County Airport Authority Board to execute and submit the application to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) FY 2027 Airport Improvement Program Infrastructure Invest and Job Act (IJA) Grant Program for the Airport Authority Construct T Hangar Phase 2 project.

During the discussion Commissioner Brakey reminded Blamer that in 2025 the Commissioners provided the Middlefield Airport with some $800,000 before the above-mentioned IJA Grant Program for fiscal year 2027 became publicized. Mr. Blamer acknowledged that the so-called Phase 2 project is really the same program and a continuation of the Phase 1 T Hangar project. Therefore, Mr. Brakey asked if the Middlefield Airport Board was considering returning the $800,000 if it was awarded the IJA Grant.

Mr. Blamer remarked that return of the $800,000 in Commissioner funds “was not their intention” because they intended to use that funding for other projects. Although Mr. Spidalieri provided no information, Mr. Dvorak cited apparent empathy for Middlefield Airport staff when they were “jumping over the hoops” on short notice to apply for new grants. During the discussion, it also became apparent that airport documents would not be reviewed by the Geauga County Prosecutor’s Office. Shortly, thereafter, oral vote identified Mrs. Brakey as the sole negative vote.

Agenda Item #10:

The Airport Authority is requesting the Board approve and authorize the President of the Board to execute the Sponsor Certification forms for the Construction Project Final Acceptance Airport Improvement Program Sponsor Certification; Drug Free Workplace Airport Improvement Program Sponsor Certification and Disclosure Regarding Potential Conflicts of Interest Airport Improvement Program Sponsor Certification.

This particular item was not defined in terms of its potential relevance to receiving the latest grant application in Agenda Item #9, but again the approval of 2-1 united Commissioners Dvorak and Spidalieri. Commissioners’ Clerk, Christine Blair, pointed out the absence of a required signature on paperwork before submitting it. Mr. Blamer in past appearances has demonstrated lack of attention to similar necessary detail. His last comment was that he would be back the following Tuesday with the required signature. Were it not for Christine Blair’s attention to detail, the Airport Authority might find itself missing out on financial opportunity more than once.