Board of County Commissioners

Gadsden County, Florida

AGENDA

Regular Public Meeting

April 2, 2013

6:00 p.m.

 

Present:               Chair Doug Croley-District 2, Chairman

                                Eric Hinson-District 1, Vice-Chairman

                                Gene Morgan-District 3                

Brenda Holt, District 4

                                Sherrie Taylor, District 5

                                Deborah Minnis, County Attorney

                                Robert Presnell, County Administrator

                                Marcella Blocker, Deputy Clerk

 

*** NOTE: THERE WERE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES WITH PORTIONS OF THE RECORDING OF AUDIO/VIDEO OF THIS MEETING***

INVOCATION, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND ROLL CALL

Chair Croley called the meeting to order at 6:10 p.m.  He asked everyone to stand for prayer and the pledge of allegiance to the U.S. Flag.

 

AMENDMENTS AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA

 

UPON MOTION BY COMMISSIONER TAYLOR AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HOLT, THE BOARD VOTED 5-0 BY VOICE VOTE TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.

 

AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS AND APPEARANCES

 

1.

Know No Pail Presentation

This item was removed from the agenda.

 CLERK OF COURTS

 

2.

County Finance and County Clerk Issues

 

Commissioner Taylor asked questions regarding the audit draft and she asked when the final audit would be received.

 

Commissioner Morgan stated he had not had a chance to review the draft at length and asked if there were any outstanding issues regarding same.

 

CONSENT

 

THERE WAS A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HOLT AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MORGAN TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA, BEFORE THE VOTE WAS TAKEN, COMMISSIONER TAYLOR ASKED TO PULL ITEMS 5 AND 9.  THE BOARD VOTED 5-0 BY VOICE VOTE TO APPROVE ITEMS 3, 4, 6-8 AND 10.

 

 

3.

Approval of Minutes-

                -March 5, 2013-Regular Meeting

 

4.

Ratification of Approval to Pay County Bills

 

5.

Approval of Commissioner Croley and Commissioner Hinson’s Travel to the National Association of Counties (NACO) Annual Conference

  Pulled

6.

Approval of Performance Agreement with Life as Art Productions

 

7.

Approval of Signatures for Special Assessment Liens and Rehabilitation Contracts-State Housing Initiative Partnership Program (SHIP) and BOCC Emergency Repair Program

 

8.

Request Approval of a Membership Agreement with National Joint Powers Alliance (NJPA)

 

9.

Clarification of Previously Approved Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) Technical Assistance Grant Award Amount and Funding of Kimley-Horn and Associates Individual Project Order (IPO) Number 2012-1

Pulled for discussion

10.

Approval to Execute Updated Application with the Florida Municipal Insurance Trust (FMIT)

 

ITEMS PULLED FOR DISCUSSION

 

5.

  Commissioner Taylor asked if there was adequate funding in the budget for Commissioner Croley and Commissioner Hinson’s travel for them to attend the annual conference.  He said they could do a budget amendment to insure there were sufficient funds.

 

UPON MOTION BY COMMISSIONER TAYLOR AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HOLT, THE BOARD VOTED 5-0 BY VOICE VOTE TO APPROVE THE TRAVEL FOR THE CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR.

 

9.

  Commissioner Taylor asked for an explanation for the difference from $35,000 initially granted and why the grant was now $30,000.

 

Mr. Presnell explained the Board had approved the grant but before the funds were received, the amount of the grant had been cut because of a funding shortage and the extra needed money would come from planning services to make up the difference. 

 

UPON MOTION BY COMMISSIONER TAYLOR AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HOLT, THE BOARD VOTED 5-0 BY VOICE VOTE TO APPROVE THE ITEM.

 

CITIZENS REQUESTING TO BE HEARD ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS

  There were no citizens requesting to speak.

 

PUBLIC HEARINGS

 

GENERAL BUSINESS

 

11.

Approval of Services Contract for Special Magistrate

  Mr. Presnell introduced the above item and explained it was approval of the services contract for services of a special magistrate for code enforcement issues.

 

Commissioner Holt asked who would set schedule for hearings and Mr. Presnell informed them the Board would set the schedule.

 

UPON MOTION BY COMMISSIONER TAYLOR AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HOLT, THE BOARD VOTED 5-0 BY VOICE VOTE TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT.

 

COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR

 

12.

Update on Board Requests

   Mr. Presnell informed the Board there was a database available now to track code enforcement problems and the program was up and running.

 

Commissioner Morgan asked if there was a line item in the budget to help fund the issues that would come before the magistrate. 

 

Commissioner Holt stated this would need to be work shopped to help educate people on the process.

 

Commissioner Taylor said the Board needed to do more than putting liens on the property. 

 

Commissioner Hinson said to keep in mind there were a lot of folks who had lost their jobs and may not be able to afford to clean up their property and the Board might need to be sympathetic.

 

Commissioner Taylor added she wasn’t being insensitive to those that had lost their jobs, the property she was referring to was property that had not been in compliance for 3-5 years and had been abandoned.

 

Chair Croley asked for an update on the broadband internet program. 

 

Commissioner Taylor stepped out at this juncture of the meeting.

 

Commissioner Taylor returned at this juncture.

 

Charles Chapman spoke to the Board regarding the broadband internet issue.

 

Commissioner Taylor stepped out at this juncture of the meeting.

 

Commissioner Taylor returned at this juncture of the meeting.

 

Commissioner Taylor asked if the summer employment item would be on the next agenda.

 

COUNTY ATTORNEY

 

13.

Update on Various Legal Issues

   Ms. Minnis mentioned the emergency management agreement would be on the next agenda for their consideration.

 

Chair Croley asked for an update from Mr. Presnell on the jail locks. 

 

Mr. Presnell said they were on hold pending a meeting scheduled for the next day to discuss issues with the facility next to the jail.

 

DISCUSSION ITEMS BY COMMISSIONERS

 

14.

 

 

Commissioner Morgan, District 3

    Commissioner Morgan had nothing to report.

 

Commissioner Holt, District 4

  Commissioner Holt suggested they look for grant money in retrofitting hospital for emergency management. 

 

Ingress/Egress

She also stated that the “one way in, one way out communities” was more of comp plan issue and land development issue and needed to be looked into.

 

Mapping Workshop

She stated there was a need for another workshop.  Mr. Presnell said next meeting would be next Thursday night for mapping issues.

 

FAC

She asked for letter of support from the Board and expressed her interest to run for Executive Vice President of the Florida Association of Counties. 

 

UPON MOTION BY COMMISSIONER TAYLOR AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HINSON, THE BOARD VOTED 5-0 BY VOICE VOTE TO APPROVE A LETTER OF SUPPORT.

 

She commented was good idea to know where hazardous areas were located in the neighborhoods.

 

 

Commissioner Taylor, District 5

   Commissioner Taylor said the emergency management meeting had great information and asked that part 2 to be scheduled for morning or midday.

 

RFP FOR ATTORNEY SERVICES

 

Asked for RFP for attorney services. 

 

UPON MOTION BY COMMISSIONER TAYLOR AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HOLT, BEFORE THE VOTE THERE WAS DISCUSSION.

 

Commissioner Hinson stated he did not have time to do research. 

 

Commissioner Morgan asked if motion could be brought up every meeting or if there was time limit.

 

Commissioner Holt said she seconded motion from economic standpoint. 

 

Chair had comments. 

 

THE BOARD VOTED 2-3.  COMMISSIONER HINSON, COMMISSIONER MORGAN AND COMMISSIONER CROLEY OPPOSED.  MOTION FAILED.

 

Private Roads

 

Commissioner Taylor asked that the Board look at language and relieving costs to constituents.  Asked that they direct staff to look at language to give relief. 

 

UPON MOTION BY COMMISSIONER TAYLOR AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HOLT, THE BOARD VOTED 4-1 BY VOICE VOTE TO INSTRUCT THE BOARD LOOK INTO LANGUAGE TO GRANT RELIEF REGARDING PRIVATELY OWNED ROADS.  COMMISSIONER MORGAN OPPOSED.

 

 

Commissioner Hinson, Vice-Chairman, District 1

   Commissioner Hinson stated today was a great historical moment-there had been great dialogue with the Board today.  He stated he had learned to agree to disagree.

 

He stated he wanted to look into Board protocol with rules of procedure. 

 

He thanked staff for great job with mosquito control.

 

Commissioner Taylor stepped out at this juncture of the meeting.

 

Commissioner Taylor returned at this juncture of the meeting.

 

He stated for the record he loved everybody and was glad to see the camaraderie around the board.

 

 

Commissioner Croley, Chairman, District 2

  CRTPA Update

 

He stated that Highbridge Road had been discussed concerning the widening and improving the safety of the road.  He stated because of abuse with the asphalt, he would be having a meeting with higher ups regarding the allowance of rural counties to be able to have access to asphalt millings.

 

By-Pass

 

He added they were able to advance to second phase of by-pass-little delay because of widening of 319 from Highway 98. 

 

Economic Development

 

Mentioned presentation from Ron Flores relating to seaports in Florida and discovered Big Bend basically in “fly-over” zone.  Reminded commissioners they were hurting because of lack of railroad capacity. 

 

RECEIPT AND FILE

 

April Meeting(s)

                -April 16, 2013, Regular Meeting, 6:00 p.m.

 

MOTION TO ADJOURN

 

                THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE BOARD, CHAIR CROLEY DECLARED THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:28 P.M.

 

                                                                                                                GADSDEN COUNTY, FLORIDA

 

 

 

                                                                                                                _______________________________________

                                                                                                                DOUGLAS M. CROLEY, CHAIR

                                                                                                                BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

 

 

 

ATTEST:

 

 

 

________________________________________

NICHOLAS THOMAS, CLERK OF COURT

GADSDEN COUNTY, FLORIDA