11-14-2024 Licking County Commissioners

The League of Women Voters of Licking County | The Reporting Project

OBSERVER REPORT

Government Body Observed: Licking County Commissioners

Meeting Date: 11-14-2024

Meeting Details

Attendance: Morning 9:00 am: Commissioners Bubb, Black, and Flowers. Staff members: Bev Adziks, David Edelblute. Morning 10:00 am: Members of Hospital Commission: Beth Cavendish (chair) Larry Friesel, Virginia Beach, Dan Hoover, Jacqueline Parrill, Lori Dorsey, Gordon Postle, Pam Jones (Secretary). One member of the press. Afternoon 2:00: 4 employees of Palmer Energy, Wendy Leiser, child support.

Public Comment: None:

Old Business: The following resolutions were on the agenda for approval:

Bubb moved to table Resolution 24-1064 for possible removal later in the day.

Resolution 24-1064, Transferring a parcel of real estate to LMH was tabled.

Bubb moved to approve Resolutions 24-0155 through 24-0178. Approved by all commissioners.

24-0155-COMM Approving Minutes of November 7, 2024 Meeting

24-0156-COMM Approving Payment for Warrants on November 14, 2024

24-0157-COMM Certify Funds

24-0158-COMM Appropriation of Funds

24-0159-COMM Reappropriation of Funds

24-0160-COMM Moral Obligation

24-0161-COMM Entering into an Agreement with the City of Johnstown for Indigent Defense

24-0162-COMM Entering into a Lease Agreement with LEADS

24-0163-COMM Entering into an Agreement with Software Solutions and Licking County Water & Wastewater

24-0164-COMM Transferring a parcel of real estate to LMH and dissolving the Licking County Hospital Commission

24-0165-COMM Reappointing members to the Grow Licking County Community Improvement Corporation Board

24-0166-ENG Permit to place utility lines and facilities - Worthington Road

24-0167-ENG Entering into an Amended Agreement with Zashin & Rich

24-0168-ENG Entering into an Agreement with Hysong Tree Service LLC

24-0169-ENG Entering into an Agreement with Lake Erie Construction Co.

24-0170-ENG Entering into an Agreement with Lake Erie Construction Co.

24-0171-PROS Entering into an Agreement with West Publishing Company dba Thomson Reuters

24-0172-REC Allowing Expenses for staff to attend conference

24-0173-PLAN Approving the J.E. Snelling's Addition to Rock Haven Park Replat of Lots 151, 152 and 153

24-0174-PLAN Awarding proposal of Safe Streets for All Action Plan RF

24-0175-PLAN Adopting the Licking County Water and Wastewater Study

24-0176-CLER Allowing expenses for staff to attend Ohio Clerk of Courts Association Winter Conference

24-0177-CLER Entering into an Agreement with DB Crawford Consulting LLC.

24-0178-CPC Allowing expenses for staff to attend OCPJA Winter Conference

Beth Cavendish called the Hospital Commission into Joint session with the Commissioners.

Attendance of the Hospital Commission was taken. Minutes of the meeting in July 2023 were approved.

Beth Cavendish presented the reason for the joint session of the Hospital Commission and County Commissioners. They were to discuss the ending of the lease between the hospital and the county.

Jacqueline Parrill noted that because of her position at the hospital, she had a conflict of interest in the matter before them and excused herself from the meeting.

Flowers gave a brief history of the relationship between the County Commissioners and the Hospital Commission, noting that since the early 1960s, the donated property, upon which LMH now sits, had been owned by the county, largely so that discounted financing could be arranged. The Hospital Commission was established, and the property leased to the hospital. Bonds for the building of the hospital were issued. The lease allowed for the land to be turned over to the hospital with the consent of County Commissioners and the Hospital Commission and with reimbursement of costs. Commissioners noted that there were no costs in need of reimbursement, and that the property had been leased to the Hospital for $1.00 for years.

V. Beach asked why this action was needed, since the lease had been in effect since the 1960s and renewed as recently as 2013 and was not scheduled for renewal until 2038. She also noted that the lease required the hospital to maintain the property, keep equipment in repair, and remain a non-profit. She wondered if transferring the property might be to the detriment of the hospital, in the event of future administrative changes or other unforeseen changes.

Bubb noted that the underlying ground should be in the hands of the hospital, that their leadership and their board had their confidence and that they remained committed to the hospitals. He noted that there was no benefit to the county or its citizens to continue the present lease agreement.

Gordon Postle wondered if laws regarding the sale of property could be set aside. Flowers noted that the law allows for the transfer of leased property. Bubb again noted that there was no need for the relationship between the Hospital Commission and the County to continue to exist.

Beth Cavendish moved to terminate the lease and that conveyances be completed. Lori Dorsey seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken: Postle Aye, Dorsey Aye, Cavendish Aye, Beach Nay, Hoover Aye, Friesel Aye. Five were in favor of terminating the lease, one opposed. The motion passed.

Bubb expressed appreciation for the concerns of V. Beach and the actions of the Hospital Commission. He noted certificates of appreciation would be given to current members of the Hospital at a reception to follow.

Beth Cavendish moved to adjourn the meeting of the Hospital Commission.

Bubb reminded all that the County commissioners remained in session. Flowers suggested that Resolution 24-0164 could be removed from the table while the Hospital Commission was still present.

Bubb moved to remove Res 24-0164 from the table. The motion was seconded. Bubb, Flowers, and Blake voted in favor of the motion,

The County Commissioners recessed until 1:30 pm.

New Business: Commissioners and staff began the meeting at 2:15, indicating they came in late because of a personnel matter.

Palmer Energy presented an update on the electric market and its potential budgetary impact. Information regarding energy costs, capacity costs, total generation cost, and average unit costs was discussed. Potential impact of future development, infrastructure needs as well as the electrical needs of the county were discussed with a brief focus on the impact of Data Centers on electrical needs in Licking County. The electricity needs of one data center are the equivalent of the needs of 500,000 residences. Bubb noted that the data center builds are removing land from farming and manufacturing in Licking County, and replacing these uses with large buildings full of computers. Palmer Energy said future Ohio legislation will likely be needed to deal with these matters. This was for information purposes only and no action by the Commissioners was needed.

Wendy Leiser updated the Commissioners on the work of Licking County Child Support. She noted that they are currently participating in a review of their work by DJFS. Staff evaluations are now completed. She reported that staffing is good and that a new clerical employee was hired, and in answer to a question by Commissioner Bubb, Leiser noted that a lawyer had not been found. There are currently 10,912 open cases, a decrease from more than 13,000 a decade ago. She noted that online courses and training on customer service and team building and a variety of other matters are now available and being assigned to the staff. Edelblute asked if she wanted the lease to be on a calendar year basis or fiscal year. Leiser answered, “calendar.”

Bev Adzik noted bids for the Hanover Water Line project were being opened at the present time.

Next Meeting: Thursday, November 21