Medina County commissioners approve multiple routine resolutions, leases and emergency water agreement

The Medina County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 14 approved a package of routine county resolutions, authorized two leases, approved a temporary emergency water agreement with the City of Akron and appointed a member to the Medina County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

The package included nine highway- and engineering-related resolutions presented by an engineer’s office representative, two sanitary department measures including replacement of concrete walkways at the Hinkley Wastewater Treatment Plant and an emergency water agreement with Akron, seven finance resolutions covering transfers and the weekly bills, personnel actions and two lease agreements — one a farm lease and one a no-cost office lease for the office of Congressman Max Miller. The board also approved the appointment of Adena Koehler to the county Board of Developmental Disabilities.

The approvals were routine and mostly uncontested. Dan Becker, an engineer’s office representative, summarized the highway slate as “9 resolutions for your consideration today,” listing bid advertisements and certifications for county highway work and subdivision assessments. Jeremy Cinco of the sanitary department described the Akron agreement as “for supplying emergency water to the City Of Akron … They are fixing a water tower up on the hill by 77 there,” and said the arrangement requires county cooperation to supply water at the Medina Line Road/State Route 18 location. Matt Spurner, County Administrator, told the commission he would abstain on the farm-lease vote because of a potential conflict, saying, “I am have potential conflict that's gonna cause me to abstain … so, I'll be abstaining on that.”

Votes were taken by roll call and passed with either unanimous yes votes or, in the case of the farm lease, two yes votes and one abstention. The commissioners recorded their votes by surname during roll calls: Sweatick, Hambley and Harrison.

The board also approved a no-cost lease for space at 72 Public Square for the office of Congressman Max Miller; county staff described that arrangement as a continuation of a prior practice to provide the congressman’s local office space at no charge.

The meeting closed with a motion to move into executive session to consider an investigation of charges or complaints against a public employee, official, licensee or regulated individual; that motion was approved by roll call and the board adjourned to executive session. The commissioners noted budget hearings were scheduled later and that those sessions would not be broadcast live.

Votes at a glance

- Approve minutes, Jan. 7 meeting — Outcome: approved. Vote tally: Yes 3, No 0, Abstain 0 (Roll call: Sweatick, Hambley, Harrison all yes).

- Engineer’s office resolutions (omnibus presentation of nine items): updating bridge load limits; advertise for ODOT item 422 chip-and-seal bid; advertise for 405 motor-paved bid; advertise for 253 pavement planning/repair bid; advertise for 441 thin-overlay asphalt bid; approve annual county highway system mileage certification; advertise plans/specs for new pavement markings; approve annual assessments for Lakeview Pines Subdivision; approve final plat for Lakeview Pines Subdivision — Outcome: approved (omnibus motion). Vote tally for omnibus motion: Yes 3, No 0, Abstain 0.

- Sanitary: replace portions of concrete walkways at Hinkley Wastewater Treatment Plant (competitive bidding) — Outcome: approved. Vote tally: Yes 3, No 0, Abstain 0.

- Sanitary: temporary emergency water agreement between Medina County and the City of Akron (supply at Medina Line Road/State Route 18 while Akron repairs a water tower) — Outcome: approved. Vote tally: Yes 3, No 0, Abstain 0.

- Personnel changes resolution (promotions, rate increases, transfers, leaves and a probationary removal across multiple departments) — Outcome: approved. Vote tally: Yes 3, No 0, Abstain 0.

- Finance: seven routine resolutions including a $2,611.54 print-shop revenue line; $18,905.41 gasoline rotary fund; $51,359.42 vehicle maintenance transfer; $4,451,882.07 sales-tax distribution to school districts; excess property disposal (move from professional building); expenses of county officials; weekly bills $2,043,848.31 — Outcome: approved. Vote tally: Yes 3, No 0, Abstain 0.

- Lease: farm lease of 28.8 acres behind the Medina County Home to Jonathan Gersbacher — Outcome: approved. Vote tally: Yes 2, No 0, Abstain 1 (Commissioner Harrison abstained).

- Lease: no-cost lease of roughly 531 square feet at 72 Public Square for the office of Congressman Max Miller — Outcome: approved. Vote tally: Yes 3, No 0, Abstain 0.

- Appointment: Adena Koehler to the Medina County Board of Developmental Disabilities — Outcome: approved. Vote tally: Yes 3, No 0, Abstain 0.

- Motion to adjourn to executive session (investigation of charges/complaints) — Outcome: approved. Vote tally: Yes 3, No 0, Abstain 0.

Why this matters

Most votes were routine administrative and budgetary actions that authorize bidding, certify road-mileage, allocate funds and manage county property and leases. The emergency water agreement with the City of Akron establishes a short-term operational connection between Medina County infrastructure and a neighboring city while Akron repairs a water tower — an example of intergovernmental operational coordination.

What’s next

Commissioners scheduled budget hearings for the day; those hearings were described as public but not broadcast live. The board moved into executive session to consider a personnel-related investigation. The county administrator and department heads will continue overseeing implementation of the approved contracts, leases and bidding processes.