POST Wednesday, January 10, 2024 • Vol. 16 No. 17• FREE
McArthur, Claypool Vying for County Seats By Brian Doering brian@karlovecmedia.com Nancy McArthur and Walter “Skip” Claypool will each be vying for a Geauga County commissioner’s seat after recently filing to enter the 2024 general election. McArthur will be running against incumbent Geauga County Commis- McArthur sioner Ralph Spidalieri and Claypool will be running against candidate Carolyn Brakey for Commissioner Tim Lennon’s vacant seat after he recently announced he will not be seeking a third term.
McArthur
“I’m running for county commissioner because I believe our county should be put first,” McArthur said in an interview Jan. 1. “First in leadership, transparency, responsiveness, collaboration, priority, attention and first for our residents. Geauga County is first in my heart.” McArthur, a 27-year Chardon resident, has served in public office for over 12 years as a member of
Chardon City Council, two years as Chardon mayor and has chaired finance, legislative and economic development committees. “The past year, I have served as a board member for the (Geauga County) Board of Elections and have worked well with my peers in order to bring about fair elections and uphold Ohio Claypool election laws,” McArthur said. “I am proud of my track record as a public servant and will put to practice my many years of experience in the commissioners’ office if voters give me the opportunity to serve in that role.” McArthur said the county deserves to have leaders in the commissioners’ office who not only believe in these principles, but practice them daily. “I will put Geauga first. If elected, I will also motion the board to begin streaming their meetings to more conveniently give residents access to information and county decision-making. I’d also like to have some evening meetings throughout the county to hear from residents,” McArthur said.
She added she would like a public comment section to be listed on the commissioners’ meeting agendas. “I get their agendas and I don’t see anything on the agenda that specifically gives the public the ability to speak. I would like to see on the agenda a specific item that is always allowing for public comment. It doesn’t have to be limited to agenda items. It could be anything,” McArthur said. “I also promise to respectively work with our other elected officials to create a positive environment for all who live and work here.” Geauga County Commissioner Ralph Spidalieri said Dec. 2 the commissioners do take public comments and make the public a part of their discussions. “I made the determination as chairman of the board that we are going to take public comments and we have been taking them since,” Spidalieri said.
Claypool
Claypool, a 20-year Chester Township resident, served as county commissioner from 2014 to 2018 and lost his reelection to challenger Jim Dvorak in 2022. He is a member of the Geauga County Tea Party, Geauga County
Planning Commission and Geauga County Republican Party Central Committee, and is a former member of the Geauga County Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services and a former Chester Township trustee. “I think I’m the most experienced and most knowledgeable about what goes on and so forth,” Claypool said in interview Dec. 28. “I can walk into the position and be ready day one.” Claypool said he would like to continue some of the good work that has been started in Geauga County. “I started the plan for the county buildings and they didn’t go in the direction that I was hoping. I’d like to get that back on track and finish the plan up,” Claypool said, adding he would also like to review the plans for the Geauga County Courthouse. “Just get the county back into shape, so that we’re fiscally sound,” he said. Claypool believes there’s an opportunity to return some cash to the constituents in Geauga County. “I want to get in and review all of the financial situation and see what we can do to make adjustments for the benefit of everybody See Election • Page 7
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Third Water Well Rebid after Contract Dispute By Ann Wishart ann@karlovecmedia.com Middlefield Village’s efforts to drill a third municipal water well were delayed in light of debate over which company’s bid should earn the contract. Joe Bishara, attorney for S.E.T. Inc., of Lowellville, Ohio, one of two bidders for the contract, demanded his company be awarded the contract during the Dec. 14 village council meeting. Council members had an ordinance in front of them selecting Cold Harbor Building Company, of Chardon, to drill the well for no more than $1.144 million as the “lowest, most responsive and responsible bid.” The ordinance was presented as an emergency measure due to
the need to start the project at the earliest possible date. CHBC’s bid was about $800 higher than S.E.T.’s bid, Mayor Ben Garlich said in an interview via phone call Dec. 22. During the council meeting, Bishara said S.E.T. should be awarded the bid, noting the bid instructions said, “If the lowest responsive bidder is responsible, (the contract) shall be awarded to the lowest bidder unless all bids are rejected.” The village engineer requested information from both bidders and nothing changed the bid amounts submitted, he said. “S.E.T. intends to file a lawsuit if it is not awarded the contract,” Bishara said, adding they intend to file in Cuyahoga County. “I think S.E.T. should be entitled to an explanation
why the S.E.T. bid has been rejected,” he said. Bishara said he understands CHBC complained about the S.E.T. bid and might take legal action. “You will have better legal standing if you award it to S.E.T.,” he said. Garlich said there were discrepancies in the S.E.T. bid. “We have the ability to choose the lowest and best (bid),” he said. At a special meeting Dec. 22, council met in executive session for less than an hour and voted unanimously to reject all bids and rebid the contract, he said. “We weren’t confident on a decision to move forward,” Garlich said after the meeting. “I don’t want to spend any more money on attorneys. It’s best for everyone concerned to do a reset.”
Both companies were to be notified Dec. 27 and the call for bids must be advertised for three weeks. Garlich said the village has a tight timeline to make progress on the project. “It puts us behind schedule,” he said, noting a contract will be approved the first week in February. Currently, the village has two wells on state Route 608 north of the village that supply water to residents and businesses. The two wells can provide up to 442,000 gallons of water a day, according to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. South Wind Drilling Company, of Middlefield, drilled test wells in 2019 to find a location for the third well. Bids for the current project were initially opened Oct. 27.
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