Commissioners Rescind Request to Vacate Wisner Road

June 30, 2022 by Brian Doering

Geauga County Commissioners on June 23 rescinded their previous approval in October of 2021 to vacate a portion of Wisner Road in Chardon Township.

County Administrator Gerry Morgan explained why the action was necessary.

“It was approved in error. The road was still being utilized for the calculation on the road distribution,” said Morgan. “Under the section of the code that was used for the vacation, we cannot vacate a road that is being utilized for that.”

Geauga County Assistant Prosecutor Laura LaChapelle appeared before commissioners and Commissioner James Dvorak asked her what options the Holden Arboretum would have now.

“We’re in litigation, so I really don’t want to get into that,” said LaChapelle. “But I think for all intents and purposes, we have a situation where there was an issue with compliance with the statute.”

LaChapelle said if the road was petitioned under that section of the code, the road must be off the auto distribution list.

“The township brought it to our attention after the vacation where they notified us that, well, in fact, it is on the auto distribution list, so we’re trying to address that issue right now,” said LaChapelle. “As far as how it’s gonna impact the current litigation, we obviously have the administrative appeal and we have the federal case.”

Commissioners also declined a Geauga County Department of Water Resources’ request for a $1 per month fuel surcharge to be applied to water customer accounts effective Aug. 1

Commissioner Tim Lennon said they are not going to turn around and tax the taxpayer.

“Everybody is raising their rates. At some point, this bubble is going to pop and we can’t keep doing it,” said Lennon. “We will have to make adjustments within. If that means cutting something, then we have got to cut it. You can’t just put the burden on the taxpayer every single time.”

In other business, commissioners approved several other items, including:

• Approval for the county ADP board president to execute the Kinetic Business Service Agreement, Amendment to Windstream Agreement, service agreement summary, letter of agency and Windstream VoIP 911 for a period of 60 months, replacing all current Windstream accounts and costs.
• Commissioners approved department of water resources’ request for partial payment number two to Woodford Excavating for the Bainbridge waterline extension project, the Ohio Water Development Authority contractor’s estimate number two, and the Ohio Water Development Authority fund payment request number two in the amount of $136,306.
• Commissioners also approved a Ohio Water Development Authority fund payment request for the McFarland Wastewater Treatment Plant renovation and upgrade project for technical services provided by HDR Engineering in the amount of $45,426.
• Commissioners approved a request from the county engineer authorizing Lennon to execute the Ohio Public Works Commission disbursement request and certification number two, releasing funds from the state portion of an OPWC grant for the Thompson Township Road Resurfacing (Sections A-E) in the amount of $28,343.
• Department of water resources’ revised water resources rates and fees effective July 1.
• Reappointment of Karen Delano to the Geauga County Public Library Board of Trustees for a seven-year term from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2029.
• Acknowledged and accepted the resignation of Nicholas Gorris from the Geauga County Planning Commission effective June 6.
• Cancellation of the July 7 commissioners’ meeting due to the move to the new county office building.

Commissioners will hold their next regular session on June 28 at 9:30 a.m., which will include a public hearing at 10 a.m. for the 2023 tax budget.