AT A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS HELD IN AND FOR GADSDEN COUNTY, FLORIDA ON APRIL 19, 2011 AT 9:00
A.M., THE FOLLOWING PROCEEDINGS WERE HAD, VIZ.
Present: Sherrie
Taylor, Chair, District 5
Gene
Morgan, Vice-Chair, District 3
Eugene
Lamb, District 1 , appearing via telephone
Doug
Croley, District 2
Brenda
Holt, District 4
Debra
Minnis, County Attorney
Arthur
Lawson, Interim County Administrator
Muriel
Straughn, Deputy Clerk
Invocation, Pledge of Allegiance, Roll Call
Chair Taylor called the meeting to order then opened the meeting with a prayer followed by the pledge of allegiance to the U.S. flag.
Deputy Clerk Muriel Straughn called the roll with all members present as noted above.
UPON MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MORGAN AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER
Amendments and Approval of the Agenda
Add: Post approval for the purchase of playground equipment with Kaboom Grant as Item 10.
Move Item 10 to discuss with Item 4
Holt/Morgan approve the agenda as amended. 5 – 0
Awards, Presentations and Appearances
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1. |
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Presentation
of the Concept to Co-locate the Quincy City Police Department with the
Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office There was no one present from the Sheriff’s office to make the presentation. It was temporarily passed to Item 4B. This item presents the concept of co-locating the Quincy Police Department with the Sheriff’s Office at the W.A. Woodham Justice Center. The co-location would improve services to the citizens of Gadsden County by sharing resources and data. It will also significantly improve the communications that currently exist between local law enforcement agencies and other first responders. Sheriff Morris Young and Police Chief Walt McNeil have engaged in dialogue and are in agreement to co-locate the departments. Since the Justice Center is not owned by the county, but leased from Tallahassee Community College for $1.00 per year, it is necessary to seek approval from them as the lease calls their approval in the event the county desires to sublet a portion of the building. |
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2. |
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Discussion
of Continued Support of Riparian County Stakeholders Coalition (RCSC) Mr. Lee Garner, City Manager of the City of Chattahoochee addressed the board and then introduced Mr. David McLain made a presentation on behalf of RCSC. RCSC jointly represents the six FL counties that border the Apalachicola River. It was formed in 2007 by resolution of each county commission. It seeks to get an equitable distribution of the waters of the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) Rivers. RCSC was created specifically to advocate for that basic truth of resource management. It involves three states: Florida, Georgia and Alabama. See the attached memorandum filed for the record. Until recently, the RCSC was funded by the Apalachicola Riverkeeper. However, due to budget constraints they are asking the six counties to fund the project collaboratively by contributing $5,000 each. A brief board discussion followed. Croley’s remarks. Wants a financial report, report from staff and input from Water Management. Need better reporting. Mr. McLain asked that Mr. Garner and Mr. Presnell continue to serve as the voice of Gadsden County on the Stakeholder Coalition. It was suggested that the nomination of the Gadsden County representation on the coalition be agendaed for proper action. Commissioner Holt’s remarks. Mr. Presnell is a good representative.
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3. |
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Presentation
of the FY 2010 Audit Report by Purvis Gray and Company Ron Whitesides and Ryan Tucker of Purvis Gray addressed the board with the Audit Report for fiscal year ending September 30,2010. Unqualified Opinion issued. Very good. Morgan’s questions and comments. Croley’s remarks. Acknowledged the timely manner in which they completed the audit. Commissioner Holt’s comments. SHIP Expenditures; Capital Outlay – Chair Taylor – unqualified audit is a good audit. Croley/Holt motion to approve the audit report 5 – 0
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Presentation
of Candidate Project Methodology for the Small County Road Assistance Program
(SCRAP) Florida Department of Transportation
(FDOT) Mr. Chris Forehand of Preble Rish Engineering addressed the board. The FDOT periodically has funding available under the SCRAP program. If the selected project is successful, the county and the FDOT will enter into a Joint participation Agreement for the County to administer the project. The project will then be designed and bid. The grant funds are available on a competitive basis for roadway projects which will reduce congestion on the state roadway system. There will be no financial impact on the county because Gadsden County Public Works will administer the project through a Joint Participation agreement with FDOT. This issue will be on the May 3, 2011 agenda for approval. Motion by Commissioner Lamb/Taylor to submit Brickyard Road 5 – 0 |
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4A. |
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Selection
of Candidate Projects for the Small County Outreach Program (SCOP)– Florida
Department of Transportation FDOT periodically has funding available under the SCOP Program. The Florida Legislature has expanded the scope of the SCOP Grant to include widening and bridge repair and rehabilitation work. Historically the program has only been available for resurfacing projects. Since the selection of potential projects is now more broad, the Public Works Staff presented several options for project that could possibly get funding. If the project is selected for funding, the county must enter into a Joint participation Agreement for the county to administer the project. There should be no fiscal impact on the county. The grant application must be submitted by May 2 making it necessary to name the candidate roads at this meeting. Taylor/Holt motion to pave Lewis Lane in District 4 – it would be fiscally responsible to pave this road because it costs the county so much money to maintain it. Commissioner Morgan questioned where Lewis Lane is on the dirt road paving priority list. It was determined that it ranks as a priority along with Peck Betts Road. Commissioner Croley’s remarks. Bridges are falling down. Vote was 4 – 1 to submit Lewis Lane as the SCOP Project Commissioner Croley opposed.
Taylor/Croley motion to submit Little River Bridge as the
second SCOP Project 5 – 0 |
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4B. |
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Presentation
of the Concept to Co-locate the Quincy City Police Department with the
Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office There was no one present from the Sheriff’s office to make the presentation. It was temporarily passed to follow Item 4. Sheriff Young addressed the board. He referenced the printed material that he had provided to each commissioner prior to the meeting. This item presents the concept of co-locating the Quincy Police Department with the Sheriff’s Office at the W.A. Woodham Justice Center. The co-location would improve services to the citizens of Gadsden County by sharing resources and data. It will also significantly improve the communications that currently exist between local law enforcement agencies and other first responders. Sheriff Morris Young and Police Chief Walt McNeil have engaged in dialogue and are in agreement to co-locate the departments. Since the Justice Center is not owned by the county, but leased from Tallahassee Community College for $1.00 per year, it is necessary to seek approval from them as the lease calls their approval in the event the county desires to sublet a portion of the building. Crime is on the increase and we are losing the battle to criminals. |
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Commissioner Croley’s remarks. Supports the concept. Page 5 j,k,I - |
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Commissioner Morgan’s remarks. Commended the Sheriff. Questions – regarding term of the lease to coincide with budget year |
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Commissioner Holt’s remarks – long term lease would be better. |
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Motion
by Commissioner Holt and second by Chair Taylor to move forward with the
co-location pending |
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CLERK
OF COURT’S AGENDA |
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5. |
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Presentation
of County Finance and County Clerk Issues The clerk was not present, but submitted a memo asking to be excused due to a conflict with another appointment with his son. |
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CONSENT
AGENDA ( Items 6-9) UPON MOTION BY
COMMISSIONER HOLT AND SECOND BY
COMMISSIONER MORGAN, THE BOARD VOTED 5 – 0, BY VOICE VOTE, TO APPROVE THE
CONSENT AGENDA – Items 6 – 8.) |
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6.
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Approval
of Minutes of February 1, 2011 Regular Meeting |
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7. |
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Ratification
of the Approval to Pay the County Bills Accounts Payables Dated: April 8, 2011 April 15, 2011 Payroll Dated: April 7, 2011 |
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8. |
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Resolution
No. 2011-016 Declaring the Week of May
15-21, 2011 as Public Works Week in Gadsden County |
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CONSENT
ITEMS PULLED FOR DISCUSSION |
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CITIZENS
REQUESTING TO BE HEARD ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS Ms. Emily Rowan – Information to share with the public. Roads in District 3 were placed on the priority list several years ago. Got some paving in their area. But, had roads that were paved that went to nowhere. Some roads were paved that had only one house on them. Commissioner Croley has harped on bridges since he came into office. It is not a new item for him. |
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GENERAL BUSINESS AGENDA |
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9. |
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Approval
to Accept the FY 2011 Second Quarter Financial Report Summation: The departments operating under the supervision of the county administrator have expended approximately 42% of their allotted budgets through the second quarter of the fiscal year. The county’s established benchmark at this point is 50%, The report is through March 31, 2011, but does not include any budget amendments that were recently approved nor does it include any finance adjustments which have not been posted. Proposed
Budget Calendar Holt/Morgan
approve 5 – 0 |
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10. |
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This item was moved to 4A. Kaboom
Grant applicaton – Post Approval for
equipment Taylor/Holt – 4 – 0 |
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11. |
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Change Order No. 1 for the Local Agency Program Project – Florida Department of Transportation – Hardaway Highway (CR 265) Contract with Peavy and Son Construction Company, Inc. The proposed change order reduces the cost of the project contract by $7,925.75 due to cost savings realized through the joint efforts of Peavey and Son and Greenhorne & O’Mara Engineering and Preble Rish Engineering. The grant was funded with federal dollars and there is not an option within the program to use these funds for anything but the specific project awarded. Therefore, the unspent funds must be returned to FDOT to provide for a clean audit of the project. Motion
to Approve Morgan/Holt 4 – 0 |
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12.
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Approval
to Enter into a Mutual Aid Agreement between Gadsden County, FL and Decatur
County, GA for Fire Protection and Authorize the Chairperson to Execute the
Agreement Holt/Taylor Motion to Approve 4-0 |
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13.
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Approval of 2011 Small County Consolidated Grant Agreement with Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Authorize Chairperson to Execute DEP Grant Agreement No. 109SC for $70,588 Solid Waste Grant period October 1, 2010 thru September 30, 2011 Hot/Croley
approve 4 – 0 |
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COUNTY
ADMINISTRATOR’S AGENDA |
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14.
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Update
on Board Requests County will be closed on Friday in observance of Good Friday. |
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COUNTY
ATTORNEY’S AGENDA |
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15.
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Update
on Various Legal Issues Bid Protest was received on the award of the Videoing of the Commission meetings. |
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DISCUSSION
ITEMS BY COMMISSIONERS |
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16A. |
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Commissioner
Lamb, District 1 Commissioner Lamb had left the meeting via telephone at this juncture. |
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16B. |
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Commissioner
Croley, District 2 Restated his guiding principles: |
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16C. |
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Commissioner
Holt, District 4 Revenue Possibilities Get with county leaders and determine how to get jobs into the county. Asked to have a economic development workshop. |
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16D.
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Commissioner
Morgan, Vice-Chair, District 3 Timely Audit by Purvis Gray and Company - Trend in Revenues - Need to continue to grow the fund balance until it reaches $8 million. Requested to agenda a discussion of a Spending Freeze – anything we can do now will help offset revenue shortfall that would require further layoffs. Dirt
Road Improvement Plan |
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16E.
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Commissioner
Taylor, Chair, District 5 School Bus Meeting – Need to have someone from Public Works attend those meetings. Strong Road and South Adams Street – road issue causing accidents. Roadway Cutting/Grass Cutting – need a schedule to inform the public Moratorium
on Internet Cafes |
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Discussion
of Future Meetings with Municipalities (Individually) Regarding Lobbying
Services Covering
Goals and Objectives, Growth and Development, Public Safety and Health Issues
Motion
to agenda Economic Development Holt/Morgan 4-0 Spending
Freeze Discussion Motion to agenda at the next meeting - Morgan/Holt 4 – 0 Agenda
Presentation from Ron Sachs Taylor/Holt
also ask Chairman of TDC to present – 4
– 0 |
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Receipt
and File Agenda |
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17A. |
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For the Record: FDLE Grant Adjustment Notice – Area Drug Taskforce 2011-JAGC-GADS-1-B2-072 Adjustment No. 1 - Naming Project director to Sergeant Rodney Moore and clearing the special condition S16337 regarding Task Force Training. |
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17B. |
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For
the Record: Budget Amendments OMB-BA #
11-001 through 11-0030 |
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17C. |
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For
the Record: Letter from Smith,
Thompson, Shaw and Manausa, PA Regarding Warranty Deed for the Tax
Collector/Property Appraiser’s Building and Title Insurance and Quit Claim Deed |
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May
Meetings |
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May
3, 2011 – Special Meeting at 4:30 p.m. May
3, 2011 – Regular Meeting at 6:00 p.m. May
17, 2011 – Regular Meeting at 9:00 a.m. |
ADJOURNMENT
THERE BEING NO OTHER BUSINESS BEFORE THE BOARD, THE CHAIR DECLARED THE
MEETING ADJOURNED.
Sherrie
Taylor, Chair
ATTEST:
Muriel Straughn, Deputy Clerk