Board of County Commissioners

Gadsden County, FL

FIRST BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING NOTES

September 10, 2013

6:00 p.m.

Present:               Douglas M. Croley, Chairman-District 5

                                Eric Hinson, Vice-Chair, District 1

                                Gene Morgan, District 3

                                Brenda Holt, District 4

                                Sherrie Taylor, District 5 (phoned in after meeting started)

                                Jeff Price, Budget Director

                                Nicholas Thomas, Clerk of Court

                                Robert Presnell, County Administrator

                                Deborah Minnis, County Attorney

                                Marcella Blocker, Deputy Clerk

INVOCATION, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND ROLL CALL  Chair Croley called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and asked everyone to stand for the prayer and Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag.  Marcella Blocker took a silent roll call.
AMENDMENTS AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA UPON MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MORGAN AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HINSON, THE BOARD VOTED 4-0 BY VOICE VOTE TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.
PRESENTATION BY TOMMY BAKER OF AMBULANCE RUNS Tommy Baker, EMS Director, appeared before the Board and made a presentation of the number of ambulance runs in the Gadsden County area. Commissioner Morgan asked what would be done with the information at this point. Mr. Baker said they would look at possible placement of another ambulance. Commissioner Morgan asked what Jackson County would do. Chair Croley asked the Administrator, based on what they have learned from the mapping, what was concluded and what should they be considering at this point. Commissioner Morgan asked if getting more ambulances would be the answer to the problem. Chair Croley asked the Administrator what his recommendation was after this presentation. Mr. Presnell said after talking with Mr. Baker, he thought there needed to be another ambulance added. Commissioner Morgan asked how much was being moved from fund balance to make the budget work. Commissioner Taylor called in at this juncture of the meeting. Chair Croley brought her up to speed on Mr. Baker’s presentation. Chair Croley said if there were no other questions, he called for public comments or questions and there were none.
PUBLIC HEARING
1.	Public Hearing-First Budget Public Hearing for Adoption of Tentative Millage Rate and Tentative Budget for Fiscal Year 2013/2014 Jeff Price, Senior Management and Budget Analyst, introduced the above item and explained they had to vote for the millage rate first. Chair Croley asked if there was anyone present who wished to be heard on the item and there was no-one. UPON MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HOLT AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HINSON, THE BOARD VOTED 5-0 BY VOICE VOTE TO ADOPT THE COUNTYWIDE MILLAGE RATE OF 89064. Chair Croley said the next item was the budget itself. Jeff Price said the budget amount was $42,953,389. Commissioner Taylor asked what the list of projects were that constituted the $700,000.  $300,000 for additional ambulance, $400,000 for roof repair and chiller at Sheriff’s office. Commissioner Morgan said he understood the needs of what they wanted to fund, but if they were looking at funding, they needed to cut back and not look at that hit from the fund balance. UPON MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HOLT AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HINSON, BEFORE THE VOTE WAS TAKEN, THERE WAS DISCUSSION. Chair Croley said needed to be careful, as the Clerk has warned, but he could not deny the public’s need for the ambulance. THE BOARD VOTED 4-1 BY VOICE VOTE TO ADOPT THE BUDGET.COMMISSIONER MORGAN OPPOSED. Chair Croley encouraged him to meet with the Administrator to discuss his concerns. Commissioner Hinson said at this point they were approving the repair of the building and chiller, but would take no action until receive letter from TCC regarding the building. Commissioner Hinson said, from the bottom of his heart, this budget had really brought tears to his eyes and thanked everyone for their efforts. Commissioner Taylor said she wanted to make sure THE AMBULANCE WOULD GO IN THE Midway/Havana area.
MOTION TO ADJOURN
	Meeting adjourned at 6:38 p.m.