PAINESVILLE – A group of children from Lake County 4-H clubs spoke during a Thursday, July 23, meeting of the county commissioners regarding their projects and what they anticipate from the then-upcoming Lake County Fair.
Lisa Manning, OSU extension educator and head of 4-H youth development, introduced the children before the “big kickoff” for a very exciting week for them.
The 4-H’ers came from clubs across Lake County and were bringing project animals and a variety of non-animal projects.
The 4-H’ers talked about their projects, the skills and virtues they’d learned while working on them and joked about the forms of payment accepted at the 4-H livestock auction on Saturday, Aug. 1.
Board President Morris Beverage III saluted the children’s level of commitment and talked about the pride he’d seen at past fairs during the showmanship portion of the project animal judging.
Beverage also joked that the Thursday, July 30, board meeting had been moved up an hour to 9 a.m. so they could attend the beef show.
Manning said the livestock auction is up by 70 lots this year and asked if the commissioners had received any buyer letters as of the meeting.
A 4-H buyer letter is a formal invitation sent by 4-H’ers to local businesses, community leaders, friends and family members to invite them to the county fair livestock auction.
In other business
The board approved payment of bills in the amount of $9,168,999 and purchase orders totaling $931,995.51.
In resolutions
• Increasing appropriations and transferring cash within various accounts for the Department of Utilities Water, Sewer and Solid Waste funds.
• Advertising for requests for proposals for hydrogeologic site evaluation for an expansion of the county landfill.
The proposed expansion covers 95 acres of an undeveloped portion at the property, adjacent to areas currently approved for use, according to an email to the board from Sanitary Engineer Randall Rothlisberger.
• Certifying unpaid sewer and water sums, plus administrative fees, to the Auditor’s Office.
• Executing amendments to the promissory note for Wesley Village Apartments in Painesville.
The loan agreements cover two phases of development at Wesley Village Apartments, a 104-unit senior living community on West South Street in Painesville.
The first was funded partly through a $657,000 federal HOME Investment Partnership Program loan issued in 1995; and the second phase incurred a $425,000 loan under the HOME Investment Partnership Program as well.
The resolution extends the 30-year maturity date for the loans by 10 years to March 31, 2035, according to an email to the board from Rhea Benton, assistant director of planning and development.
• Continuing the junior loan position through the execution of a subordination and standstill agreement for Wesley Village Apartments in Painesville.
• Amending a Nov. 27, 1978, resolution establishing procedures, technical contents and review fee schedule for site and grading plans in unincorporated areas of the county and setting the date for public hearings.
The new resolution cleans up outdated language and requires the preparation of a site plan by a registered professional and its submittal to the local zoning authority, county stormwater management and – along with a building plan, to the building department, according to meeting materials.
The public hearings are scheduled for Aug. 6 and 13, at 9:45 a.m. in the commissioners’ meeting room.
In administrative reports
Suzanne Casar, director of the Department of Job and Family Services, reminded the board that Lake County JFS is once again sponsoring Kids Day on Thursday, July 30.
During Kids Day, children 14 and under get in free all day when accompanied by an adult over 21. They can also receive unlimited ride wristbands for just $10 for the day. Free popsicles are given out while supplies last.
County Administrator Jason Boyd updated the board on the Lake County Dog Shelter. He said parts for the HVAC system have arrived and maintenance workers are going over the entire system before recharging it and putting it back online.
The air conditioning unit at the dog shelter went down during the recent heatwave and a temporary commercial unit had to be brought in for the animals’ health and safety.
Prior to adjourning, the board moved into executive session to confer with counsel on pending or imminent litigation.
The next regular session meeting of the Lake County Board of Commissioners is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 6, 10 a.m. in the fifth-floor meeting room of the Lake County Administration Building, 105 Main St., Painesville.
