County Engineer Error Leaves Middlefield, Chardon Short on Road Funds

February 11, 2026 by Ann Wishart

Middlefield Village Fiscal Officer Nick Giardina demanded an apology Feb. 6 from Geauga County Engineer Andy Haupt for failing to submit two applications required to reimburse municipalities for road work completed last year.

The missed submissions left Middlefield Village short $120,000 and the city of Chardon short $300,000 from the municipal road tax fund for projects completed in 2025.

During the heated meeting in the Geauga County Auditor’s Office conference room, county Prosecutor Jim Flaiz appeared to be as angry as Giardina about the failure of the engineer’s office to complete the reimbursement process.

Geauga County Auditor Chuck Walder said his office received no submissions from the engineer’s office, even though both municipalities had applied for the funds on time and planned their budgets assuming reimbursement.

“We want to make sure people who expect money get money in a timely manner,” he said, noting a process was created in 2020 to ensure all required steps are completed so money from license plate fees is reimbursed to municipalities for road projects.

Flaiz said documentation showed both Chardon and Middlefield received emails last year from Haupt’s department stating the prosecutor’s office was reviewing their municipal road tax applications.

“That was absolutely untrue,” Flaiz said, adding he did not learn about Middlefield’s application until Giardina called him Jan. 9.

“Unfortunately, by the time we were aware of this, it was too late,” he said. “We did not know about this and, if we had, it would have been fixed.”

A checklist created in 2020 to ensure key deadlines are met when moving funds through the approval process is posted on the county engineer’s website, Flaiz said.

“I don’t appreciate it when my office’s reputation is harmed when people lie about sending us emails that were not sent,” he said.

Assistant Prosecutor Kristen Rine, who attended the meeting, outlined the process required to receive municipal road tax funds, which starts with the municipality proposing road projects to the county engineer in advance.

“There needs to be a recommendation from the county engineer that this is a good project for MRT funds,” she said.

Once the engineer reviews and approves the project and cost estimate, the request is sent to the Geauga County Commissioners, who typically certify the funds, Rine said. The funds are then encumbered through the auditor’s office, with the encumbrances signed by the commissioners.

However, neither project was encumbered, with the process apparently stalling in the engineer’s office, leaving the auditor unable to issue reimbursement payments to Middlefield Village and the city of Chardon, Rine said.

She added there is no clear legal path to retroactively reimburse Middlefield Village.

A possible alternative to reimbursing Chardon was discussed but will require legal research, she said.

Walder concurred legal alternatives may be possible.

“There have been a lot of times when our office has had to squint, but we can’t close our eyes,” he said, acknowledging government processes do not always go according to plan and he relies on legal advice regarding flexibility.

In this case, the Ohio Revised Code provisions are strict, Walder said.

“We couldn’t squint hard enough. The money was not there. We couldn’t pay,” he said. “I think we exhausted the remedies that we could have, perhaps, done.”

Middlefield Village Solicitor Luke McConville said the lack of available funds leaves no corrective steps.

“It’s frustrating. We submit this application. We have people in our administration responsibly following up with the engineer’s office, calling to check on it and getting lip service,” he said. “There were any number of opportunities early in the process to have a discussion … that would have benefited everybody.”

The possibility of Middlefield Village filing a lawsuit against the county seeking reimbursement was briefly raised.

“I don’t want the county to get sued over this. I would love to avoid that,” Flaiz said, adding he would prefer to find a way to make the village whole.

McConville said the village does not want to punish the taxpayers.

“If you want to work with us directly… I don’t know if there’s an answer,” Flaiz said.

Giardina said he is open to cooperation, and Walder noted there is $560,000 in unused municipal road tax funds that could cover both municipalities’ losses if a legal solution can be identified.

Walder said he does not want to damage his working relationship with Giardina but must follow the law.

“We know the auditor is not at fault. I appreciate (he) took phone calls from me in January,” Giardina said, then pointed at Haupt. “The biggest problem is, we were literally lied to the entire time on the phone.”

Middlefield Village Administrator Leslie McCoy said she left messages for Haupt seeking clarification on why the village had not received reimbursement in January but did not receive return calls.

“I’m not going to make excuses. It’s on me. And I apologize,” said Haupt, who was quiet until the end of the hourlong meeting.

“Our biggest complaint, with deference to Leslie, is just what we went through,” Giardina said. “(Haupt) apologized and that’s what I wanted to hear.”

Haupt said he believes the current policy does not align with state law and needs revision, adding the timelines for applications are confusing.

Flaiz replied, “The checklist is simple. Do your job and (tell your) employees not to lie to people.”