Geauga County office move slowed by virus

Prosecutor reports ‘productive’ meeting with city’s legal counsel

It appears that the global pandemic will delay Geauga County officials’ plans to move some offices out of Chardon.

Just how much is yet to be seen. “We are still evaluating the impacts the coronavirus may have on the new building and, more importantly, how the virus will impact the overall finances of the Geauga County general fund,” County Administrator Gerry Morgan said. “At this point, we have put a slow down on the office project and there will be some impact to the schedule as well.”

Commissioners also are looking at potential effects on services, personnel and other projects, he said.

The original schedule for the proposed new office building indicated that site grading and earthwork would begin in June. Occupancy wasn’t expected until early 2022.

Commissioners seek to move service-oriented offices from 470 Center St. in Chardon to 12611 Ravenwood Drive in Claridon Township.

A 103,000-square-foot building with an estimated cost of $26.7 million is to provide residents a more centrally located, one-stop shop for county services.

The Department on Aging, Job and Family Services, adult services, Health Department and veterans services would be housed in one building.

Commissioners intend to complete the project without raising taxes.

A number of scenarios

were investigated by county leaders, including renovating existing offices, building on 35 acres on South Street in Chardon City and potentially redeveloping property on Chardon Square. That option was reviewed at the urging of Chardon officials, concerned about losing income tax revenue and traffic for local businesses.

In January, Chardon leaders retained an attorney to send a letter to Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz protesting perceived plans to relocate the county commissioners’ offices from the county seat.

The city’s attorney said the commissioners’ office must remain in the county seat of Chardon, based on the Ohio Revised Code and Ohio Constitution. The city also made an extensive public records request regarding the matter.

However, the alarm appears to be abated at the moment.

“At this time, the county is moving forward to build a building by the hospital for offices that statutorily

are not required to stay in the county seat,” Chardon City Manager Randy Sharpe said. “They have stated publicly that the commissioner’s office will stay in the city of Chardon as required by the Ohio Revised Code.”

The city’s position that the administrative offices should be built on the South Street land hasn’t changed, he noted.

“This land is already owned by the commissioners and was purchased for the express purpose of building their administrative offices,” Sharpe said.

Flaiz said he recently had a “very productive meeting” with legal counsel for the city.

“We are very hopeful we can keep things moving in the right direction,” he said. “Understandably, the recent public health crisis has been all-consuming at federal, state and local government levels, but we are happy to continue to meet with the city’s legal representative, when possible, in an effort to address their concerns.”