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Commissioners’ Meeting

William F. Hutson called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. with Adam Friedrick and Patricia G. Geissman present. The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer.

The minutes of the March 27, 2018, Commissioners’ meeting were emailed in advance. Mr. Friedrick moved to approve the minutes; Mrs. Geissman seconded the motion. Roll call showed all commissioners voting AYE.

Highway Engineer Andy Conrad presented and reviewed a resolution determining the necessity to close Garman Road (C.H. 91) between Avon Lake Road (S.R. 83) and Friendsville Road (C.H. 35). Mr. Friedrick moved to approve the resolution; Mrs. Geissman seconded the motion. Roll call showed all commissioners voting AYE.

The commissioners reviewed the permits issued March 22-28, 2018.

Finance Director Mike Pataky presented and reviewed the following resolutions: (1) amending the Annual Appropriation Resolution; (2) authorizing the purchase of 5,600 gallons of regular unleaded gasoline for the engineering center; (3) approving the purchase of a used vehicle by the Medina County prosecutor’s office from Medina County Drug Task Force Agency; (4) declaring Medina County property as excess property; (5) approving the transfer of Medina County inventory between various Medina County offices; (6) allowing expenses of the county engineer; and (7) allowing expenses of county officials. Mr. Pataky requested payment of the weekly bills in the amount of $359,318.49. Mr. Friedrick moved to approve the seven resolutions and to pay the bills; Mrs. Geissman seconded the motion. Roll call showed all commissioners voting AYE.

Human Resources Director Holly Muren presented and reviewed a resolution approving personnel changes for the employees under the jurisdiction of the Medina County commissioners. Mr. Friedrick moved to approve the resolution; Mrs. Geissman seconded the motion. Roll call showed all commissioners voting AYE.

County Administrator Scott Miller presented and reviewed a resolution approving an agreement for architectural design and engineering services for the Human Services Center wall project. Mr. Friedrick moved to approve the resolution; Mrs. Geissman seconded the motion. Roll call showed all commissioners voting AYE.

Sanitary Engineer Amy Lyon-Galvin presented and reviewed a resolution amending the sanitary engineer’s authorization to enter into contract negotiations for processing and recovery of recyclables and transfer, transport and disposal of municipal solid waste for the Medina County Solid Waste District. Mr. Friedrick moved to approve the resolution; Mrs. Geissman seconded the motion. Mr. Friedrick stated that it was unfortunate we couldn’t get to a conclusion with Entsorga and Rumpke; this is the next best option. Mrs. Lyon-Galvin noted that through this process, Rumpke recognized the interest on the residential processing side. Mrs. Geissman stated that she understands why Rumpke may not have wanted to work that closely; they ranked the highest and probably want to do it on their own. Roll call showed all commissioners voting AYE.

Planning Director Rob Henwood reported that at tomorrow’s Planning Commission meeting they will be reviewing a preliminary plan for a subdivision in Lafayette Township that would bring 54 new lots into the market. Westfield Township will be doing a map amendment; they were updating the three zoning maps that are in their zoning resolution. Hinckley Township has a text amendment and Granger Township is doing a map amendment where a property owner is requesting a rezoning.

Commissioner Hutson presented and reviewed a resolution proclaiming April 2018 as Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month. Mr. Friedrick moved to approve the resolution; Mrs. Geissman seconded the motion. Roll call showed all commissioners voting AYE.

The Children’s Center Executive Director Rhonda Wurgler invited everyone to attend the Pinwheel Walk on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at the Square; they have 627 pinwheels that need walked to St. Francis. In 2016, they saw 59 children for sexual abuse. In 2017, the number rose to 103. The good news is that kids are getting to them for the interventions that they need to start the healing process and they can prevent this if they get to the family soon enough. She stated she appreciates the community support in their efforts in fighting child abuse all year round. The pinwheels represent a happy childhood and all children deserve a happy childhood.

Commissioner Hutson presented resolutions commending the following students for being selected as a member of the 2018 Spring Leadership Ball in service to Feeding Medina County:

Black River High School: Breanna Renee Clifford, Hannah Marie Heath, Katrina Cherie Skala

Brunswick High School: Erika Sue Cosea,  Lilian Mae Cox, Adrian Grace Slovenec

Cloverleaf High School: Elizabeth Ann Cooper, Meriwether May Harmon, Brooke Katherine Swain, Lisa Mary Wangler

Highland High School: Annamarie DiGiacobbe, Brianna Ryan Kean, Kaila Marie Oberhaus, Olivia Roseana Severyn, Bethany Eden Yu

Medina County Career Center: Rebecca Marie Prandi, Alexis Marie Zgrabik

Medina High School: Melina Noel Barlow, Alyssa Lynn Drehs, Natalie Grace Ely, Isabella Grace Field, Melissa Anne Gottschalk, Janiece Vernae Joyner, Julia Laine Knox, Carlee Victoria Franz Lisser, Crosbee Delaney Lisser, Megan Kelly Polk, Abigail Marie Raitano, Emily Claire Walburn

Mr. Friedrick moved to approve the resolutions; Mrs. Geissman seconded the motion. There was no discussion. Roll call showed both commissioners voting AYE.

Mr. Hutson noted that an Expedited Type 2 Annexation Petition was filed in the Commissioners’ Office on March 16, 2018, for 2.0360 acres to be annexed from Guilford Township to the Village of Seville. There is no hearing for an Expedited Type 2 petition. The commissioners’ review that was originally scheduled for Tuesday, April 10 has been rescheduled for Tuesday, April 24 at approximately 9:45 a.m. during the regular Commissioners’ meeting (if no objections are filed between now and then).

Mr. Friedrick moved to go into Executive Session following the Discussion Session to consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, or compensation of a public employee or official; Mrs. Geissman seconded the motion. Roll call showed all commissioners voting AYE.

With no further business to come before the Commissioners, the meeting recessed at 9:50 a.m.

Discussion Session

At 9:53 a.m., the Commissioners began the Discussion Session in the Commissioners’ Conference Room.

Female Population – Jail

Scott Miller reported that the jail has capacity for 54 females, but over the weekend they had 72. They have been over capacity 43 of the past 44 days in the female pod. Geauga County had space at a cost of $50 per day with no contract required, however, because they were able to work with the courts to get furloughs, they did not have to use Geauga County. This situation has become the “norm” apparently due to the drug issue, and we may need to start leasing space at other facilities for the female population. Unfortunately, when you have this many females going to the facilities, there are now children that we may have to take care of also. Mr. Friedrick noted that in the eight years he has been here, we have never come close to filling the female pod; this is another indication of how heroin is affecting us. Mr. Hutson added that not only will there be the $50 per day housing costs, but there will also be the transportation costs.

Yard Waste Email Inquiry

Amy Lyon-Galvin reported that with the commissioners’ approval, she will be happy to respond to an email inquiry that was received by the commissioners regarding questions about the yard waste program; the commissioners agreed.

Public Hearing

Mike Pataky reminded everyone that the public hearing regarding the Animal Shelter fees will be held next Tuesday, April 10 at 9:00 a.m.

NASA Display

Mr. Hutson reported that as part of the City’s Bicentennial, they wish to have a NASA display in the parking lot of the Administration Building July 5-7.

Hawthorn Suites – Award

Mr. Hutson noted that the Hawthorn Suites in Seville received the Wyndham Award; he congratulated Stan Scheetz

Facilities Task Force

Stan Scheetz requested an update regarding last week’s facilities meeting. Mr. Hutson stated that because the Ohio Revised Code provides a process for selecting an architect or engineer, a subcommittee was formed to begin that process. The subcommittee will consist of Judge Dunn, Judge Werner, Scott Miller, Steven Bastean and Colleen Swedyk. Mr. Scheetz asked if the courthouse plans in 2008 included the municipal court; Mr. Miller answered that they did not. There was discussion regarding the potential costs of the courthouse and whether the costs include the municipal court. Mr. Miller explained that we cannot determine how many square feet will be needed until an architect completes a study.

Mr. Scheetz stated that he is there to encourage transparency and when he reads the promotions about the sales tax, there is no mention of $30M-$35M for a new building or replacement – it only talks about operating costs or maintenance and improvements. Mr. Miller stated that until we do a study, we cannot determine what we need, and the sales tax will go toward operations and there will be money set aside for capital improvements. He provided the example of a wall falling down at the Human Services Center that will cost in excess of $100,000. Mr. Miller stated that something does need to be done with the courthouse whether it’s tearing down and rebuilding or renovating and adding on, but we do not know which is why we need to get an architect in to do a study to determine how much space we need. Mrs. Geissman stated that she understands Mr. Scheetz to be saying that there is material going out on the sales tax and that it should be noted in there that the money is for that purpose which would leave money we already have coming into the general fund for the possibility of taking care of the courthouse which has been on hold for ten years. She stated Mr. Scheetz makes a good point. Mr. Friedrick stated that he agreed with Mr. Miller in that if the sales tax passes, that doesn’t mean we’re going to build a courthouse, so to put that in there, you now create the alternate expectation of now money will be freed up to build a courthouse and we may not do that based on studies. Mr. Hutson noted that the objective is to have a joint municipal and county courthouse if we can do it and it will fit, but we do not know if we can do that; Mr. Friedrick agreed. Mr. Hutson added that we need to have answers before he would say to the public what we are going to do. Mrs. Geissman stated that we don’t need to say that we are going to do something, but if the sales tax passes and we can funnel that money into the criminal justice system which would leave some money here for us to take care of some of the options that are on the table that we’ve been looking at for ten years.

Executive Session

At 10:07 a.m., the Commissioners went into the Executive Session that had been voted on earlier. The Executive Session ended at 11:07 a.m.

Regular Session

At 11:08 a.m., the Commissioners returned to Regular Session. Mr. Friedrick moved to approve a resolution approving personnel changes for the employees under the jurisdiction of the Medina County commissioners; Mrs. Geissman seconded the motion. Roll call showed all commissioners voting AYE.

Adjournment

There being no further business, Mr. Friedrick moved to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by Mrs. Geissman. Roll call showed all commissioners voting AYE. The meeting ended at 11:10 a.m.

RESOLUTIONS PASSED APRIL 3, 2018

All deliberations concerning official business and formal actions by this Board of Commissioners were conducted in an open public meeting this third day of April 2018.

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