Board of
County Commissioners
Gadsden County,
Florida
AGENDA & MEETING
NOTES
Regular Public Meeting
July 17, 2012
9:00 a.m.
Present: Sherrie Taylor, Chair, District 5
Gene
Morgan, Vice-Chair, District 3
Eugene
Lamb, District 1
Doug
Croley, District 2
Brenda
Holt, District 4 (arrived late)
Nicholas
Thomas, Clerk of Courts
Deborah
Minnis, County Attorney
Arthur
Lawson, Interim County Administrator
Invocation, Pledge of Allegiance and Roll
Call
**Note – There were technical difficulties in the recording of this portion of
the meeting.
Chair Taylor called the meeting to order
at 6:00 p.m. then led in an invocation and the pledge of allegiance to the U.S.
flag. She then called for all cell
phones to be silenced and requested all speakers to file a “Speakers Request
Form” with the clerk.
The roll was called by Deputy Clerk, Beryl
Wood and attendance was recorded as noted above.
Excusal of Commissioner Holt
Motion: Lamb/Morgan 4-0
Amendments and Approval of Agenda – None
Morgan/ Lamb
Addition
(Morgan)
Discuss &
take action the Medicaid Backlog Issue
Motion:
Morgan/Croley
*Commissioner
Holt entered at this juncture of the meeting.
Chair Taylor
asked Commissioner Morgan to add under his items.
3-2(opposed Holt, Taylor) Motion passed.
Awards, Presentations and Appearances
1. Florida Trail Project to Receive
National Award
(Lee Garner, Chattahoochee City
Manager)
Mr.
Garner gave presentation on the Florida Trail Project to Receive
National Award. He said the Coalition
for Recreational Trails us recognizing the Chattahoochee Nature Trail with an
Annual Achievement Award in the Construction and Design Category for work
completed as a partnership between the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection and the City of Chattahoochee. He then Introduced Mr. & Mrs.
Charles Thrash who diligently on the project. (Passed plague around to show
accomplishment.)
Commissioner Morgan thanked Mr. Garner & the Trashes for all the
hard work.
Lamb – congratulations
Holt – Great job
Croley – acknowledged the accomplishments.
Taylor – great job
2. Gadsden Express – Two Year Report
(Colleen Roland, CRTPA)
Mr. Roland gave
two year report update for Gadsden Express. She said the Gadsden Express was launched on April 5, 2010, as an
express transit service between Quincy and Tallahassee.
This service was funded with federal Job Access/Reverse Commute (JARC) funds and matched with a
service development grant from the Florida Department of Transportation District 3 Model Development
Office. Planning and marketing for the service was coordinated effort of Gadsden
County, StarMetro (City of Tallahassee), Commuter
Services of North Florida, the Capital Region Transportation Planning Agency, and Big Bend Transit.
Commissioner Holt asked about
token passes.
Chair Taylor thanked Mrs. Roland for the hard work. She added they
would like to continue service and spoke of the advantages of the program.
Mrs. Roland said if the fee is to be raised, it would be Board
decision.
3. List of Errors and Insolvencies
Report for the 2011 Tax Roll
(Dale Summerford, Tax Collector)
Mr. Summerford presented the
errors and insolvencies report for the 2011 Tax Roll.
Commissioner Croley asked on the bankruptcy’s does it stop you from
selling tax certificates. Who represents County interest.
Mr. Summerford, yes. I do.
Commissioner Holt asked are you notified about the bankruptcy’s prior
to.
Morgan with recent economy have you seen decrease.
We have not seen an increase, but we have in bankruptcy’s.
Lamb thanked Mr. Summerford and asked has it always been this many
bankruptcy’s.
Mr. Summerford not an additional increase.
Taylor -Who sets discount percentage.
Summerford -Legislature sets it.
Clerk of Courts
4. Hospital Repair and Maintenance Fund
(Nicholas Thomas, Clerk of the Courts)
Clerk Thomas reminded the Board about the
need to keep the hospital in good/ suitable
condition. He express the need for the hospital repair and maintenance
fund. He mentioned the repair of chiller, in which the Board cobbled together
funds from a grant and unexpected insurance reimbursement. This incident reinforces the need for a
dedicated fund to repair and maintain the hospital. It is a building in
constant use, the repairs are usually very expensive, and there are eighteen
years left on the note.
Previously, this type of repair was made
using the dividends and interest from the Hospital Endowment Trust. These funds
are received on a monthly basis and are now given to Capital Regional Medical
Center as a part of the contract to operate hospital offsetting indigent
care. Currently, there is no revenue
source dedicated for the purpose of maintaining the hospital. He offered for an option to set aside general
revenue for this purpose. However, with
the current state of your budget this is an unlikely option. He said the county needs to renegotiation that
contract before it’s renewed. He said he see’s opportunity with the National
Affordable Health Care Act.
Croley – He mentioned it wise and thanked
him for bringing it to their attention.
Holt – Good point, with line item for
Hospital.
Morgan – thank Clerk Thomas for comments.
He suggested opening the discussion.
Lamb – Thanked Mr. Thomas for bringing
report forward.
Holt – Previously the company wouldn’t
allow us to do repairs. Good reason to have line item. She asked that it be
added to the next budget workshop.
Mr. Lawson said they could discuss.
Taylor – thanked Mr. Thomas for report. She
asked was there a restriction with the ½ sales tax.
Minnis – It does have to be used for what
is it for. It could be used for repairs.
Thomas – It’s only about $200,000,00. He
said most of it is allocated.
Taylor- What amount are we looking at.
Building a facility line item.
Lawson – We have an line item for the
hospital, but it is a minimum.
Atty stated she would start dialogue with
Mr. Glazer.
5. Presentation of County Finance and County Clerk Issues
(Nicholas Thomas, Clerk of the Courts)
Consent Lamb/Holt 5-0
Commissioner Croley pulled item #8
6. Approval of Minutes – May 1, 2012 –
Regular Meeting
- May 24, 2012 – Budget Workshop
7. Ratification of Approval to Pay
County Bills
8. E-911 GIS Mapping Contract (pulled
by Commissioner Croley) Croley/ Lamb 5-0
(Morris Young, Sheriff)
Croley – question post approval.
Katherine Pondexter, CFO for
Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office.
McLendon – The contract was not
brought forward. We need it for record
Croley – I just remember it had
been on agenda before.
Statement of Issue:
Request for post approval of
James A. Sewell Company Contract.
9. Approval of Signatures for Special Assessment Liens and Rehabilitation
Contract – State Housing
Initiative Partnership SHIP Program
(Phyllis Moore, SHIP Administrator/ Clyde Collins, Building Official)
10. Approval of Signatures for Special
Assessment Liens – (SHIP) State Housing Initiative Partnership Program (FHOP) Florida Home Opportunity Program (Down
Payment and Closing Cost
Assistance Programs)
(Phyllis Moore, SHIP
Administrator)
11. Approval to Renew the Contract with
Rudd’s Pest Control
(Clyde Collins, Building
Official)
Items Pulled for Discussion
Citizens Requesting to be Heard on
Non-Agenda Items (3 minute limit)
Chair Taylor directed Mr. Williams to meet with Mr. Lawson and Mr.
Lawson to have findings shared Commissioner Holt and Commissioner Morgan along
with Taylor.
Public Hearings
General Business
12. Approval of Millage Rate for TRIM Notification
and Set the Date, Time and Place for the Public
Hearings to Adopt the Fiscal Year 2012/13 Gadsden County Budget
(Jeff Price, Senior Management and Budget Analyst)
Statement of Issue:
This item seeks
Board approval of the millage rate for Truth in Millage (TRIM) notification and establishes the September
budget adoption public hearing dates in order
to provide this information to the Property Appraiser’s Office by August 4th.
Jeff Price - September 5 & 18 as two dates for Public Hearings.
Holt – Questioned Pipeline revenue, if they don’t pay until January.
Lawson – we are budgeting as if we will receive additionally revenue
from the pipeline. He said at the last workshop may still need funds from
reserve.
Croley – date change 7 mileage change.
Morgan – Trim rate must be set today, Property Appraiser must have be
August.
Taylor – She asked that it be cleaned up.
Lawson – We will make sure it reflects vote for today.
Holt/Lamb 2/3 (Opposed the
motion Taylor,Croley, Morgan) Made motion Sept. 5 & 18 (public hearing )rollback 9.7096 – Motion
failed.
Morgan/ Croley 4-1 Motion passes
Motion: Approve 8.9064
keep mileage rate 2012-2013 budget year; public hearing dates Sept. 5 & 18
13. Request for Law Enforcement
Educational Fund for Training Purposes
(Morris Young, Sheriff)
Croley/ Holt 5-0
14. Approval to Apply for the Federal
Grant and the State Portion of the Emergency Management
Performance Grant
(Shawn Wood, Emergency
Management Director)
Croley – (Motion) requested to defer until they have discussion on the
Interlocal Agreement. Motion died for a lack of second.
Pondexter – this is application for new grant old ended in June.
Major Wood – same grant they have had for last eight years. He reminded the Board they are in hurricane
season.
Croley – point is the timing, date effective July 1. Who is going to
administer the grant. He referenced the
Interlocal Agreement w/out signature.
Lamb – why hasn’t the contract been signed.
Wood – basically it’s not a problem for me. It’s a fine scope of the
job description, needs to be verbiage change, narrow in function, it will hurt.
Lamb – Mr. Lawson what is your recommendation. It will be conflict down
the road.
Lawson – You have requested they bring back agenda item for first
meeting in August concerning Interlocal Agreement.
Morgan – I think it helps job description. It’s very important to have
some one in place to carry out a disaster. I don’t understand why don’t have it
back. Let’s get Interlocal Agreement
signed, then move forward on approval of this item.
Holt – You to have something to look at. If you don’t want Sheriff’s
Office to run Emergency Management say it.
Lamb – I want to see Agreement done. It says approve to apply, don’t
see a problem with applying for it.
Taylor – We need to move this item.
Croley – I don’t have a problem with the application. The point is if the Interlocal Agreement had
been in a place.
Move to approve this
item: Holt/Taylor 3-2 (Opposed Croley, Morgan)
15. Request Approval to Donate the
Generator that was removed from the Capital Regional Medical Center Gadsden Campus to the Gadsden County Health
Department
(Clyde Collins, Building
Official)
Motion: Lamb/ Holt 5-0
Morgan – as is equipment
16. Approval of Agreement with CSX
Railroad
(Charles Chapman, Public Works
Director)
Morgan/Lamb 5-0
17. Approval of Bid Award to Circle B
Contracting Inc. for the High Bluff Landing Boating Improvement Project
(Charles Chapman, Public Works
Director/Robert Presnell, Administrative Coordinator)
Motion: Lamb/Morgan 5-0
Holt – Not a local contractor,
giving preference.
Lawson – I’m trying to get through budget process before we do
amendment to procurement process.
Taylor – instructed him to delegate authority.
Lamb – We went out of state; it’s only a $2,000 difference. Do went
have to accept the bid.
Presnell – According to policy we must accept the lowest bid
Motion: Lamb/Morgan –
5-0
18. Approval of Bid Award to North Florida
Construction Inc. for the Chattahoochee
Landfill Repairs
(Charles Chapman, Public Works
Director/Robert Presnell, Administrative Coordinator)
Motion: Morgan/Lamb 5-0
19. National Solar Update
(Deborah Minnis, County
Attorney/David Weiss, Assistant County Attorney)
No updates
Medicaid Updates
Lawson said
they billed $760,0000 backlog of Medicaid, haven’t received officially. County’s backlog $159,000 -$136,000. We will have to budget moving forward.
Morgan – Once
we receive certification for the state. I recommended going into paying it in
full to receive 15% discount amount.
Thomas –
Spread sheet points were cleared by Mr. Lawson.
Taylor – Where
did you get numbers from.
Lawson – this
is history, better mechanism to identify addresses.
Holt – do we
need officially wait.
Lamb – Do we
have money to make payment in full.
Morgan –
suggested we pull from fund balance.
Taylor – we
will embrace this. Assume news.
Atty Minnis –
since you don’t have official number, that could cause a problem. Most are
waiting on the official notification.
Motion: Mogan/Croley - once officially certificated then we pay.
Morgan – I can
withdraw and Croley withdraw.
County Administrator
20. Update on Board Requests
(Arthur Lawson,
Interim County Administrator)
Budget Workshop –Reminder – July
16,2012
Croley –
Status of Jail Lock & Lighting at Jail.
Clyde Collins
- Still waiting on one to come down for locks. Lights coming today.
Taylor –
Mentioned the PSCC by definition it is a committee comes back to make
recommendation to the Board. This
committee superseded the Board. Not how process should be done.
Lawson – The
jail locks had been approved 3 or 4 years ago. The Board did approve. He said the Clerk said the funds where there.
Taylor – A
committee doesn’t have authority.
Lawson – What
ever the Board decides, we will back up.
Lamb – I
remember it being approved. The money is there for the Manger to do the job.
Croley
–reminded the Chair of the statutory requirements of the Council. He spoke of
the importance of the locks & lighting.
He said the process is moving forward as it should.
Taylor – my
points are: when we do an item or conduct business, let’s do it right to make
it effective.
County Attorney
21. Update on Various Legal Issues – No
items
(Deborah Minnis, County
Attorney)
Croley – we received a rebuttal on the use of Inmate Work Crews.
(Public Works) The difference of opinion.
Atty. Minnis – Who sets the policy. My opinion is you can seek an
opinion for the Atty General or the courts can decide. My opinion is the Board
can move forward and set policy, the Sheriff may object.
Holt – agreed with the Attorney. It doesn’t control where they work.
She suggested negotiating with the Sheriff with want we want.
Morgan – I think this can be worked out between the Sheriff and the
Board. Facilities Management we should be able to work half of the inmate
population (work crew).
Holt – I think it has to be at will work. See if they can get gain
time. Incentives to get them out of jail.
Croley – ask for it to be agenda at a later meeting. For Mr. Lawson to
meet with staff to see how many inmates would be needed.
Commissioner Lamb left at this juncture of the meeting.
Attorney: Mr. Lawson and other stake holders to meet.
Taylor – take best direction for the county.
Motion: Croley/
Allow Attorney to start dialogue with Sheriff’s Representative
Discussion Items by Commissioners
22.
Commissioner Lamb, District 1 –
County Concerns – No items
Commissioner Croley, District 2
– Report and Discussion on Public Issues and Concerns Pertaining to Commission District Two
and Gadsden County
Croley/Holt 4-0
Commissioner Holt, District 4 –
County Concerns - No concerns
Commissioner Morgan, Vice
Chairman, District 3 – District 3 Concerns
Clyde Collins – We have not been inside building due to conflict in
schedule. We will schedule this week.
Commissioner Taylor, Chairperson, District
5 – No
Items
Taylor – instructed that we write letter
to Rep. Alan Williams to move forward.
Motion to Adjourn @ 12:00pm
Receipt and File
23.
a. For the Record: Economic Development Report, June 2012 –
Gadsden County Chamber of
Commerce
b. For
the Record: Notice, Canvass of Returns –
The Supervisor of Elections
c. For the Record: Gadsden County Small Business Service Center
– Activity Report
July Meeting(s)
-July 26, 2012, Budget Workshop,
4:00 p.m.