Board of County Commissioners

Gadsden County, Florida

 

AGENDA & NOTES

 

Regular Public Meeting/Final Budget Hearing

September 18, 2012

6:00 p.m.

 

Present:               Sherrie Taylor, Chair, District 5

                                Gene Morgan, Vice-Chair, District 3

                                Eugene Lamb, District 1

                                Doug Croley, District 2

                                Brenda A. Holt, District 4

                                Debra Minnis, County Attorney

                                Arthur Lawson, Interim County Administrator

                                Beryl H. Wood, Deputy Clerk

 

Invocation, Pledge of Allegiance and Roll Call  

 

Chair Taylor called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.  She led in a prayer and pledge of allegiance to the U.S. flag. 

 

The deputy clerk called the roll and recorded the attendance as noted above.

 

Amendments and Approval of Agenda: Holt/Lamb 5-0

 

The following changes were made to the agenda:

 

ADD:      Item 10- Budget Amendment; 11A – Value Adjustment Board; Item 8 Revised Consent Agenda Request for the Annual Contract between the Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners and the Florida Department of Health Department for the Contract Year 2012-2013.    

 

MOVE:                 

 

REMOVE:             Item 4: from Consent Agenda (Approval of Workforce Services Plan)

 

Awards, Presentations and Appearances – None

 

Clerk of Courts – No report

               

1.            Presentation of County Finance and County Clerk Issues

                (Nicholas Thomas, Clerk of the Courts)

 

Consent : Lamb/Holt 5-0: with the exception of Item 4 pulled from agenda

                               

2.            Approval of Minutes – July 3, 2012 – Regular Meeting

                                                           - July 17, 2012 – Regular Meeting

                                                           - August 7, 2012 - Regular Meeting                              

               

3.            Ratification of Approval to Pay County Bills – (Aug. 31, 2012; Sept. 7,14,21,28,    2012;     October 5, 2012)

 

 

4.         Approval of Workforce Services Plan – for Strategic & Operating Plan for the 2012-     2016 Timeframe. (Kimberly Moore, CEO, WORKFORCE Plus) pulled from agenda

 

5.         Approval & Signature of the 2012 E911 Rural County Grant for Training

            (Maurice Peddie, E911 Coordinator)

 

6.         Approval and Signature on the 2012 E911 Rural County Grant Application for   Warranty and Maintenance (Maurice Peddie, E911 Coordinator)

 

7.            Approval and Execution of Engaging Tweens, Teens and Their Community          Through Science Exploration II Grant Agreement – Project #-12-LSTA-B-02 -       $40,701.00 (Carolyn Poole, Library Director)

 

8.            Consent Agenda Request for the Annual Contract Year2012-2013 Between the                 Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners and the Florida Department of                 Health for the Operations of the Gadsden County Health Department

                (Aaron Kissler, Administrator, Gadsden County Health Department)

 

Items Pulled for Discussion - None

 

Citizens Requesting to be Heard on Non-Agenda Items (3 minute limit)

 

None

 

Public Hearings  

 

9.            Public Hearing – Second Public Hearing for Adoption of Final Millage Rate and                 Final      Budget for Fiscal Year 2012/2013 (Jeff Price, Senior Management and      Budget Analyst)

 

                Mr. Price conducted the second public hearing for the adoption of the County-wide final           millage rate and final budget for FY 2012/2013. He said the final Gadsden County-wide operating millage rate is 8.9064 (Resolution No. 2012-030) with the adoption, via              Resolution, the Final FY 2012/2013 Countywide Budget (Resolution No. 2012-031).

 

Chair Taylor announced the Public Hearing and called for public comment and there was none.

 

Commissioner Holt asked Mr. Price to explain to the public the millage rate.

 

Mr. Price said the millage is the same as last year, no tax increase.

 

**Motion: Final Millage Rate 8.9064 Croley/Lamb 4 -1 (Holt opposed the motion.)

 

Question – Morgan same millage rate as last year

 

Video Tapping of Meeting – fund video tapping of County Commission Meetings.

 

Motion:

Morgan/Lamb: Funding of Economic Development - $64,020.00 everything voted on. Recommend funding the Chamber same at last year, less 3%. & same amount for Small Business Center. $95,000 Total - $2,100 less than last year $93,900 total- $25,000 Small Business; 3%less on the $75,000.

 

Motion amended by Morgan/Lamb: Chamber to be funded at 3% less and Small Business at $25,000. 2-2 (Motion failed)(Holt,Taylor opposed the motion.)

 

Holt – Chamber has not submitted plan to the County Commission and should not be funded.

 

Croley – Declaration (abstained from voting on this matter.)

 

Morgan – He asked had the Chamber met the deliverables of contract they have in place from last year.

 

Mr. Lawson said he couldn’t accurately answer, but they said they have.

 

Chair Taylor expressed she is finally hearing good things coming out of the Chamber, not in support of this motion.

 

Chair Taylor discussed positive aspects of the Chamber. She mentioned problem with 3% taken from all the Non-Profits. She said she had a problem taking dollars. She asked that they visit the 3%.

 

Commissioner Lamb concurred about 3% to be added back to the Non-Profits.

 

Attorney Minnis law allows you to amend tentative budget and you would not have to rescind vote.

 

Morgan asked for clarification. He said everyone was asked to take a 3% cut (department heads and Constitutionals) he said it sends a very poor message if everyone does not take part in the 3%. He asked that it be on a level playing field.

 

Croley – Spoke of different things on budget. He spoke in support of the Chamber.  He spoke of deficiencies.  He said if you keep taking money out of cash balances, you aren’t giving your departments enough to work with.

 

Holt – Spoke in support of Video Tapping; so everyone will know what is going at the meetings.

 

Morgan – Commented they have done a great job improving the County.  He said some don’t want they County to move forward. He said change is hard to embrace. He asked that the Chamber be funded at 3% less like all other Non-Profits.

 

Mr. Michael Taylor, Small Business – asked what the plans for the county are. He said in terms of trying to make life better for citizens. He asked why they are fighting over a report being turned in. He said if they need one; give them time to turn it in.  He spoke in support of funding for Economic Development.

 

Holt – 3 months was length of time to turn in report.

 

David Gardner, Economic Development, Chamber has done everything they have been asked to do. He said they report quarterly. He said in the contract they have adhered to all the County has asked for.

 

Chair Taylor expounded on the task of approving an acceptable budget. I appreciate comments made by non-profits. She would like the 3% added back to the Non-Profits.

 

Lamb – all have different opinions.

 

Motion: Lamb/ Taylor to rescind the vote of the 3% and have it placed back for Non- Profits added back to the budget. $6,100 3-2 (Motion passed) (Opposed Holt, Croley)

 

Holt – where would funding come from. $11,005.00(Video Tapping)

 

Mr. Lawson said Reserve or Contingency.

 

Croley – nothing to do with merits of each individual charity.  He said Contingency is for emergencies.

 

 

 

 

Video Services

 

Commissioner Holt spoke in support of Video Services.

 

Morgan – Contingency Fund mentioned dollars could come from.  Clerk Office’s records every meeting. Not in support of funding.

 

Chair Taylor mentioned more have internet than cable.

 

Motion: Holt /   Video Services - $11,500 – (motioned died for lack of second.)

 

Motion: Morgan/Lamb 2-2 fully fund Chamber (Commissioner Holt and Taylor opposed the motion. Motion failed.

 

**Motion: Croley/Lamb – Approve the Budget 3-2 (Commissioner Morgan and                                       Holt opposed the motion.)

 

 

General Business

               

10.          Request for Budget Approval and Amendment for Equitable Sharing Funds

                (Morris Young, Sheriff)   Croley/Holt 5-0

 

                Sheriff Young addressed the Board concerning a request to use Equitable Sharing Funds             to purchase equipment, software upgrade, and vehicle for Law Enforcement purposes. He                 presented for the Board’s review the following.

 

Tasers:

                21           954.24   20,039.04

 

Special Response Team Equipment:

                1              30,000.00             30,000.00

 

Vehicle:

                1              25,500.00             25,500.00

 

Finance software upgrade:

                1              4664.66 7,578.11                              

                                                          83,117.15

                                                         (83,117.15)                

 

11.          Approval of Inter-Local Agreement with Municipalities and School Board for Road

                Maintenance and Special Projects (Charles Chapman, Public Works Director)  

 

                Mr. Chapman addressed the Board in regards to approval of the Inter-Local Agreement               with Municipalities and School Board for Read Maintenance and Special Projects. He            said this agreement is with 6 municipalities. It also including a revised version of the            Town of Greensboro inter-local agreement approved on September 4, 2012.

 

                Morgan/Croley 5-0 (approved)

 

11a.     Value Adjustment – Martha Peeler:  Croley/Lamb 5-0

                Commissioner Morgan & Taylor appointees

 

12.          National Solar Update (Deborah Minnis, County Attorney/David Weiss, Assistant          County Attorney) - None

 

County Administrator

 

13.          Update on Board Requests (Arthur Lawson, Interim County Administrator)         

 

Nov. 6, 2012 Meeting Date

Motion: Lamb/ Holt 5-0: Nov. 6 – Meeting (to have or move) Consensus to have that Thursday, Nov. 8 due to the 6th being Election Day.

 

Nov. 20, 2012 Meeting Date

Motion: Holt/ Croley 5-0: Second Meeting in November 20, Installation Meeting would you like to move meeting, reschedule for 6pm.

 

County Attorney

                 

14.          Update on Various Legal Issues (Deborah Minnis, County Attorney)

 

  Judge issued ruling in Patel matter. Matter will be coming back to the Board and would forward order to the Board.

 

I have been working with staff on the CW Roberts Property. She said she would come back before the Board in the next couple of meetings.

 

Discussion Items by Commissioners      

 

 15.

                Commissioner Lamb, District 1 - None

 

 

                Commissioner Croley, District 2 - None

 

                Commissioner Holt, District 4   Tickets for Michelle Obama event at the Civic                                                                                                             Center.                                                                

               

                Commissioner Morgan, Vice Chairman, District 3 - None

                                                                    

                Commissioner Taylor, Chairperson, District 5 - None

  

Motion to Adjourn          @7:05pm            

 

Receipt and File

 

16.

 

a.            For the Record:  Letter from Gadsden County Chamber of Commerce Regarding the       Small Business Service Center Program

 

October Meeting(s)

               

                - October 2, 2012, Regular Meeting, 6:00 p.m.

 

                - October 16, 2012, Regular Meeting, 9:00 a.m.