AT A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HELD IN AND FOR GADSDEN COUNTY, FLORIDA ON JULY 20, 2010, AT 9:00 A.M., THE FOLLOWING PROCEEDINGS WERE HAD, VIZ.

Present: Eugene Lamb, Chair, District 1

Doug Croley, Vice-Chair, District 2

Gene Morgan, District 3

Sherrie Taylor, District 5

Nicholas Thomas, Clerk

Deborah Minnis, County Attorney

Johnny Williams, County Administrator

Absent: District 4 Seat - vacant due to the resignation of former Commissioner Brenda Holt

CALL TO ORDER

Chair Lamb called the meeting to order and called for a moment of silent prayer prior to leading in the pledge of allegiance to the U.S. flag.

AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA

Add to Consent Agenda 10A: Award the River Road

Croley/Taylor Approve amendment to the agenda . 4 – 0

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Croley/Morgan approved agenda. 4 – 0

AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS AND APPEARANCES

1. Possible License for Use of Space in the Gadsden Memorial Hospital Building

Michael Glazer, Deputy County Attorney spoke to the board regarding the former Urgent Care space – wish to lease it for medical office space for specialty physician (undisclosed) ; will begin only a couple of days per month to begin with and will expand as need increases. Best cost estimate to the county would be $1300 - $1500 per month on infrequent basis. Proposed to charge $150.00 per day in rent. If a physician will commit to 10 days a month, it will break even based on the $150.00 per day. They will need a phone line and internet line. He asked for feedback from board.

Lamb – supportive of the proposed use.

Commissioner Croley What kind of marketing is being done to physicians?

Who is paying the utility costs for the unused spaces? Capital Regional is paying 90% of the utility cost. County’s portion of the bill was $650 last month and will continue to reduce.

Commissioner Morgan – supportive

Commissioner Taylor – How long will the county need services of Attorney relating to the hospital? Are we within the budget for legal services? Rental of space discussion.

Commissioner Morgan

Commissioner Croley -

There was a consensus of the board to approve the direction the attorney is taking with the hospital space.

2. Purchase of Current Tax Collector and Property Appraiser Office Building

Dale Summerford, Tax Collector told the board that the Tax Collector and Property Appraiser moved into their current location at 16 South Calhoun Street in 1973 and the county has leased the building since that time. The property contains 6600 square feet and is adequate to meet the current needs. However, it is likely that the Tax Collector would have to expand its office in order to provide drivers license services to the public when the State of Florida closes the existing driver license office. The landlord also owns the adjacent vacant lot located at 305 West Jefferson St. and has offered to sell it to the county for future expansion needs. Both the Property Appraiser and the Tax Collector support the purchase of the building as well as the vacant lot. He pointed out that the current location is convenient to the public and customer friendly. He also pointed out that a number of years ago, the county hired a consultant to do a property assessment of the county buildings. The consultant recommended that the county purchase the building and the adjacent property.

Mr. Summerford requested that the county move forward with the purchase of the property and the adjacent lot. He noted that the property owner has offered to finance the purchase.

Chair Lamb – would like for the county administrator and property appraiser and tax collector to negotiate a purchase agreement.

Commissioner Croley – space is convenient and customer friendly. Concurred with Chair Lamb. He asked that Clerk Thomas be made a part of the negotiation process. Must come back with a real good deal.

Commissioner Morgan – if it is a fair purchase price, it will make good business sense. Questions regarding maintenance cost. Would like to have inspection done of the building. Closure of the environmental issues regarding the gas tank removal. It would make good sense to move building inspection department to that same location.

Chair Lamb – move forward with appraisal and begin negotiations only.

Administrator Williams – real estate holding in the county is considerable. Need to get much of it back on the tax roll in order to offset the cost of this purchase.

Motion by Morgan/Croley – give Dale and Administration authority to move forward with negotiations. 4-0.

3. Legislative Update

Chris Doolin, President, Doolin and Associates & Sarah M. Bleakley, Esq., Nabors, Giblin & Nickerson, P.A. addressed the board.

Hospital License

Amendment 1 Funding – 8% increase over last year – The distribution is contingent on tax rolls in other counties. There should be increase of about $90,000. He advised staff not to budget that amount yet.

Amendment 4 – Conservation issue.

Privatization Issues – Florida State Hospital – survey revealed that it is run efficiently.

Privatization Issue – Prisons –

Infrastructure Funds – limited funds.

State Libraries were fully funded.

There will be a legislative session held in September regarding oil spill etc. Next year will be a tough year - $3 – $6 million dollar challenge.

Commissioner Taylor’s comments. Not sold on lobbyist services.

Commissioner Morgan – directly involved in issues during session. In his experience, he found that lobbyist brought much value to Gadsden County especially regarding the Florida State Hospital and the behind the scenes discussion that went on with the legislators. State leadership is good, but, they don’t have time to become educated on all the issues and the impacts that things have on a community.

Next years budget cycle. We need representation in the short term at the Legislature.

Commissioner Croley – Road programs – Will there be impact on that funding from population growth? No, the threshold is 75,000 and 150,000.

Inmate crews have been reduced. As alternative, they are offering contract services for payment. Need to talk to leadership at DOC. Privatization has impacted this. Local elected leadership needs to be involved as they are very critical to legislators. Lobbyist are instrumental in developing historical information and statistical information to the legislators on such issues.

Put Quincy by-pass on the list of priorities. Safety issue.

Commissioner Taylor – By-pass is coming off the funding priority of the State. Must be smart. Example – learned of the proposed closing of Riverchase Nursing facility from someone at the supermarket – not from lobbyist or staff. We need to be intuned to what is going on in the Legislature. Can’t we use staff to do this? Make sure to be smart with dollars. Argument – need to capitalize the dollars – lobbying services is something that can be done by staff.

Commissioner Morgan – need to become more involved at staff and board level. However, this company has the skill and networking that the staff and board does not have.

Chair Lamb – can appreciate Commissioner Taylor’s remarks. He felt the same way 4 years ago. But, he went to the Legislature and did some homework and determined that lobbyist services is very necessary and advantageous to the county. He has been very satisfied with their services. They have the network capabilities that the county cannot duplicate.

Will work with DOT and the administration on issues to Gadsden County. Will keep the board informed through the administrator.

4. Home for American Legion Post 84, Auxiliary Unit 84 and Legion Riders Chapter 84 - Use During Natural Disasters as a Shelter J

James Brennan, Commander – not present.

CONSENT AGENGA

Taylor/Croley approve all 4 - 0

5. Approval of Minutes – May 18, 2010 – Regular Meeting

6. Ratification of Approval to Pay County Bills

7. List of Errors, Insolvencies and Discounts Report – 2009 Tax Roll
(Dale Summerford, Tax Collector)

8. Approval of Resolution Number 2010-036 Designating and Recognizing the Parole, Probation, and Community Supervision Week
(Johnny Williams, County Administrator

9. Approval of Signatures for Special Assessment Lien and Rehabilitation Contract-Emergency Repairs for Lucretia Dixon (Clyde Collins, Building Official)

10. Approval of Signatures for Special Assessment Lien for Carla Dudley; Mauricio & Sonya Solis; Treva Peacock; Carla Adams
(Clyde Collins, Building Official)

10a. Approval to Award the River Road and Ochlockonee River road Paving Contract to Peavy & Son Construction Company for $102,107.60

CONSENT ITEMS PULLED FOR DISCUSSION

None.

CITIZENS REQUESTING TO BE HEARD ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS (3 MINUTE LIMIT)

None.

GENERAL BUSINESS

11. Approval of Bid Award for Professional Construction Engineering Inspection Services to Greenhorn and Omara, Inc. (Robert Presnell, Public Works Director)

This agenda item seeks Board approval to award bid number 10-18 for construction, engineering and inspection services for the County Road 268 – Hardaway Highway Project to Greenhorn & Omara, Inc. Funding requires separate engineering for inspection and reports.

Taylor/Croley approve.

Commissioner Morgan’s questions – Conflict of Interest – email approval from DOT - Need email confirmation to include with documentation.

Vote 4 – 0 approval.

COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR

12. Update on Board Requests
(Johnny Williams, County Administrator)

COUNTY ATTORNEY

13. Update on Various Legal Issues

Deborah Minnis, County Attorney - Drug Abatement Ordinance – will bring back with updated version at public hearing that will amend it with the authority to match what the state now allows.

14. DISCUSSION ITEMS BY COMMISSIONERS

Commissioner Morgan, District 3 – No Items

5 goals reached at the Commissioners’ Retreat. Read into record.

Would like to see the BCC to focus on what they found to be important. Put in each agenda packet and the budget.

Representation of Lobbying service. It is now reduced to $25,000 and there has been a good return on the investment.

District 4 – No Items

Commissioner Taylor, District 5 – No Items

Joe Adams Road – new paving with pretty lights – where it stops, there is ½ gap where there is no marking and stripping at all. She asked that staff speak to the City about getting that portion completed.

Commissioners Jackson and Nealy from City of Gretna present.

Requested results of EMS investigation.

Commissioner Croley, Vice Chairman, District 2 –

Chair Lamb selected as Chairman on the TCC Board of Trustees

Recognized Chair Lamb for having received advanced certification by FAC.

Commissioner Lamb, Chairman, District 1

Budget issues.

Housing situation in Florida – over 2 million homes in Florida are going into foreclosure. It is leading the nation in foreclosures. Big topic at the National Association of Counties.

Home Depot has program to help small counties. They want to partner with counties.

15. RECEIPT AND FILE

· 15a. For the Record: GAG Program Grant Adjustment Notice – Drug Taskforce

· 15b.For the Record: GAG Program Grant Adjustment Notice – Greensboro Police

· 15c. For the Record: GAG Program Grant Adjustment Notice – Gretna Police

· 15d. For the Record: GAG Program Grant Adjustment Notice – Quincy Police

· 15e. For the Record: GAG Program Grant Adjustment Notice – Havana Police

· 15f. For the Record: Letter from Florida Department of Transportation Regarding Speed Limit Improvement – S.R. 267

August Meeting(s)

August 3, 2010 – Regular Meeting, 6:00 p.m.

August 17, 2010 – Regular Meeting, 9:00 a.m.

Adjourned at 10:30 a.m.