Chair Croley called the
meeting to order at 9:01 a.m.and
requested that all speakers that wished to address the Commission to file a
“Speaker Request Form” with the Clerk.
Wanted to bring to Commissioners’ attention that this past Sunday, he
received a call from representative of Sheriff’s office and in conjunction
with First Presbyterian Church in Quincy, they were doing a special community
memorial service and the Board was asked to make statement or provide a
statement from the Board in support of the effort and read for the record
what was provided by him for the Service.
Commissioner Holt appeared at this juncture of the meeting.
Chair Croley then opened the meeting with a silent prayer and the pledge
of allegiance.
AMENDMENTS AND APPROVAL OF
AGENDA
UPON MOTION BY COMMISSIONER
HOLT AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MORGAN THE BOARD VOTED 4-0 BY VOICE VOTE TO
APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRINTED.
AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS AND
APPEARANCES
1.
Authority to Move Forward
with Refinancing of the County’s $10,000,000 Sales Tax Revenue Refunding
Bonds, Series 2010 (Gadsden Memorial Hospital Project)
JoLinda Herring, Bryant,
Miller and Olive, 101 Monroe Street, Tallahassee, FL and Jim Gollahan,
Gollahan Financial Services, Financial Advisor, appeared before the
Board.
Item seeks approval to move forward with refinancing of the loan in
order to achieve debt savings.
Commissioner Morgan asked
questions concerning the length of the loan and maybe shortening the time and
seeing what the rates might be and recommended looking into a new
amortization schedule.
Commissioner Holt asked about
partial prepayment and paying on the principal of the loan.
Commissioner Taylor stated
this needed to be discussed with the County financial guide and the County
administrator and explore options as to what the budget would fit.
Mr. Presnell commented there
were 2 years left on the contract and it would involve a lot to change the payment
structure at this time.
Craig McMillan and Michael
Glaser appeared before the Board and Mr. McMillan stated he realized there
were obligations with HCA and Capital Regional Medical Center.There are issues with build-out and ongoing
expenses and there needs to be a pot of money to use for unforeseen issues.
Chair Croley: What I hear you saying, this arrangement might be way
to go, may need cash flow, agreement with hospital to keep 100% of savings to
provide additional services to citizens.
Commissioner Holt: asked for copy of lease.Is in favor of paying debt down
Chair Croley: follow direction of Mr. Glaser seems to be right
way.Any objection?
Direction of Board to bring back in formal
UPON MOTION BY COMMISSIONER
HOLT AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MORGAN THE BOARD VOTED 4-0 BY VOICE VOTE TO
APPROVE OPTION ONE.
Mr. Presnell stated that other options had been considered but this
gives more flexibility.
2.
Pat Thomas Insurance
Presentation
John Pat Thomas, Pat Thomas
and Associates, appeared before the Board and stated they were the agent
for property and casualty for the County and because of partnership with
Florida League of Cities and Municipal Insurance Trust it had entitled the
County to return of premiums of $35,209.
CLERK OF COURT
3.
Presentation of County Finance
and County Clerk Issues
There were no items to
present.
CONSENT
UPON MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MORGAN AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HOLT
THE BOARD VOTED 4-0 BY VOICE VOTE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRINTED.
4.
Approval of Minutes-September 5, 2012-First Budget Hearing
-November
8, 2012-Regular Meeting
-July
26, 2012-Budget Workshop
5.
Ratification of Approval to
Pay County Bills
6.
Approval of Commissioner Eric
Hinson’s Travel to the New CommissionerWorkshop
7.
Approval of Contractual
Agreement between CenturyLink and Gadsden County and Authorize the Chairman
to Sign
8.
Approval to Accept the Fiscal
Year 2012 Preliminary Fourth Quarter Report
9.
Approval to Renew Agreement
for Actuarial Services for OPEB (Optional Post-Employment Benefits) a GASB
(Governmental Accounting Standards Board) Requirement
ITEMS PULLED FOR DISCUSSION
CITIZENS REQUESTING TO BE
HEARD ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS (3 minute limit)
There were no citizens that
requested to be heard.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
GENERAL BUSINESS
10.
Approval of Local Agency (LAP)
Agreement for Shady Rest Road-Paved Shoulders Project
Mr. Presnell stated this item
had been before the Board on several occasions and this was for approval of
the agreement with DOT of the funding.
UPON MOTION BY COMMISSIONER
MORGAN AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HOLT THE BOARD VOTED 4-0 BY VOICE VOTE TO
APPROVE OPTION ONE.
11.
Approval to Change the
Scheduled Time of the Second Monthly Board Meeting of Each Month
Commissioner Taylor liked the
idea of getting the meeting out of the way early in the day.
Chair Croley liked morning meetings also but not seeing large
turn-out of public with morning meetings.
UPON MOTION BY COMMISSIONER
HOLT AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MORGAN THE BOARD VOTED 3-1 BY VOICE VOTE TO
CHANGE THE TIME OF THE SECOND MEETING.COMMISSIONER TAYLOR OPPOSED.
12.
Approval of the 2013 County
Commission Meeting Calendar
UPON MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MORGAN AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HOLT
THE BOARD VOTED 4-0 BY VOICE VOTE TO APPROVE THE 2013 COUNTY COMMISSION
CALENDAR.
Commissioner Morgan stepped out at this juncture of the meeting.
13.
Approval of Appointments to
the Apalachee Regional Planning Council – Transportation Disadvantage
Coordinating Board
UPON MOTION BY COMMISSIONER
HOLT AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER TAYLOR THE BOARD VOTED 3-0 BY VOICE VOTE FOR
APPROVAL OF OPTION ONE.
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
14.
Update on Board Requests
Mr. Presnell stated at last
meeting he updated about $35,000 getting from Governor’s Office to help with
planning and economic development strategies and are planning a preliminary
workshop on January 31st from 12:00-7:00 p.m. with formal
presentation at 6:00 p.m.
Commissioner Morgan returned at this juncture of the meeting.
Mr. Presnell explained the meeting would be to create an existing
land use map for the County and then update the future land use map and look
at the I-10 interchanges for development strategy.
Commissioner Holt added that
the money is there every year and are other funds through federal government
that does the same thing and need to look at other economic development
issues and bring those together.
Mr. Presnell said the Retreat Workshop is scheduled for January 12th
from 10:30-1:00 at the Holiday Inn Express and the Economic Development workshop
is scheduled for January 17th.
He also added there were road striping issues that were being
addressed.
Commissioner Taylor said the Administrator mentioned the roads and
streets and wanted to remind them this was best time to submit application to
US Rural Development because of tedious process and she encouraged them to
begin hunt now for grant money.
Mr. Presnell added that the workshop in February would be dealing
with roads and funding.
COUNTY ATTORNEY
15.
Update on Various Legal Issues
Mr. Weiss said there were no
issues.
Commissioner Taylor mentioned she was still looking to hear from
National Solar and had asked previously to have them appear before the Board.
Mr. Weiss stated there had not been much contact recently with them.
Commissioner Morgan commented that the focus with National Solar was
securing property within the county to move forward and at previous meeting there
were questions about attorney’s fees and savings were roughly in neighborhood
of 65-70% and wanted it on record.
DISCUSSION ITEMS BY
COMMISSIONERS
16.
Commissioner Morgan, District
3
Commissioner Morgan wanted to
wish everyone a Merry Christmas and with the incidence in Newtown, CT it
helps put things in perspective.
Commissioner Holt, District 4
Commissioner Holt said Planning
and Zoning appointments coming up and Mr. Presnell said scheduled for January
15th.She asked when could
cameras could come back and said she had been approached again why not on television.
UPON MOTION BY COMMISSIONER
HOLT FOR CAMERAS TO BE ADDED BACK BUT DIED FOR LACK OF SECOND.
She added that Commissioner Morgan made comment about attorneys’ fees
and stated she was one that had brought that up and said when you do nothing it
usually cost nothing.
Commissioner Taylor, District
5
Commissioner Taylor said
there had been dialogue going on with build-out of by-pass to make sure there
were employment efforts made here in County and asked when more employment would
take place.
Mr. Presnell responded in February.
Commissioner Taylor said some people have had history in their
background that have not paid their debt to society and should be given
consideration but was understanding that fallout has had impact in employing
because of company standards and asked if would be negotiations in looking at
those that had kept themselves in good standing with the law the past 3-5
years and if they would be given consideration.
Mr. Presnell said was ongoing conversation, obviously private company
and they have own policy but will get really busy there and thinks she will
be pleased.
Commissioner Taylor asked if the public knew where to apply because
she understands they are not working through WorkForce.
Mr. Presnell stated they had opened local office behind old pawn shop
.
She asked if media could help in getting word out.
She then said this was a personal preference and said when they did
not pray outwards it was like not owning God and it was important that he be
in everything they do, especially in Chambers and wanted the Chair to know
she thought his meetings had been fair but wanted to publically make this
comment and it concerned her.Meetings
have been fair, but her personal preference was to add public prayer back to
meeting.
She also asked if Commissioner Hinson knew that meeting was at 9:00
a.m.
Commissioner Holt wanted to make comment about employment issueCommissioner Taylor brought up and said approximately
8 years ago they had looked at federal program where if someone was hired out
of area, the employer could get subsidized pay and if they could look into
that matter.
Commissioner Hinson, Vice
Chairman, District 1
Commissioner Croley, Chairman,
District 2
Chair Croley asked Mr.
Presnell to reach out to Commissioner Hinson and find out reason he was not
here.
Chair Croley then thanked everyone for their jobs and wished everyone
a Merry Christmas.
He addressed the question of invocations and said had discussion with
County Attorney’s office, and sitting as governmental body with different
religions.Asked if could re-examine and
if each of Commissioners would join in the invocation, maybe could go back to
way done in past, but asked attorney for guidance in future to avoid putting
them at odds with current laws and asked that they work on it for new year.
He added that concerning the Bypass and employment, GLF has contract and asked Commissioner Taylor
to be liaison to speak with them concerning their employment process and
advocate for local employment.
Concerning appointments to Boards Chair Croley asked Commissioner
Holt if she would serve on Apalachee Regional Planning Council Board and
asked Commissioner Taylor if she would serve as alternate and concerning the Tourism
Development Council, he asked Commissioner Morgan if he would serve and
nominated Commissioner Hinson as alternate.
He added there would be other committees as they move forward.
He further added that he had served past 2-3 years with CRTPA asked
if anyone wished to take on responsibility.Commissioner Morgan said Chair Croley had done a lot of work and
suited him if he continued.
He then asked to have agenda in place for workshop .
UPON MOTION BY COMMISSIONER
HOLT AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MORGAN THE BOARD VOTED 4-0 BY VOICE VOTE THAT
CHAIR CROLEY CONTINUE ON THE BOARD FOR CRTPA.
He then stated that Mrs. Julia Woodward passed away and she had been
a major benefactor to County and City of Quincy and asked Board to prepare
resolution to present to Dr. Pat Woodward and family to be presented to.
UPON MOTION BY COMMISSIONER
HOLT AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MORGAN THE BOARD VOTED 4-0 BY VOICE VOTE TO
APPROVE THE RESOLUTION.
RECEIPT AND FILE
17A
For the Record: Letter from
FDLE Regarding Contract Number 2012-GADS-IC4-162
B.
For the Record: Letter from
Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Regarding Comprehensive Plan
Review