Board of County Commissioners
Gadsden County, Florida
AGENDA
Regular Public Meeting
December 2, 2014
6:00 p.m.
Present: Brenda Holt, Chair, District 4
Eric Hinson, Vice-Chair, District 1
Dr. Anthony O. ”Dr. V” Viegbesie, District 2
Gene Morgan, District 3
Sherrie Taylor, District 5
Robert Presnell, County Administrator
David Weiss, County Attorney
Marcella Blocker, Deputy Clerk
|
INVOCATION, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND ROLL CALL Chair Holt called meeting to order at 6:02 p.m.
|
|
|
AMENDMENTS AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA No amendments
Commissioner Viegbesie arrived at this juncture of the meeting (was here earlier for the workshop)
Hinson/ Holt 4-0 |
|
|
AWARDS, PRESENTATION AND APPEARANCES None |
|
|
CLERK OF COURT Nothing to report |
|
|
CONSENT Hinson/Taylor 4-0
|
|
|
1. |
Approval of Minutes a. September 16, 2014 Regular Meeting b. September 22, 2014 Budget Hearing
|
|
2. |
Approval to Accept Smoke Detector Grant Offered by the Division of State Fire Marshal Bureau of Fire Prevention
|
|
3. |
Approval to Accept the FY 2014 4th Quarter Budget Report
|
|
ITEMS PULLED FOR DISCUSSION
|
|
|
|
None |
|
|
|
|
CITIZENS REQUESTING TO BE HEARD ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
|
|
|
|
Donnell Dawkins, 1158 Bonnie Hill Road, Chattahoochee, FL, code enforcement,
Holt asked that he meet with the manager. (Speaker Form turned in late and heard later in meeting) |
|
PUBLIC HEARINGS
|
|
|
GENERAL BUSINESS
|
|
|
4. |
Board Direction Regarding The Allocation Of Funds For The Provision Of Economic Development Services For Gadsden County Mr. Presnell introduced above item.
Hinson asked to wait until retreat, set board’s goals, and then focus on vote.
Dr. V suggested to come up with plan to give each body , if vote tonight need to know how to distribute money-was work in progress
Commissioner Morgan arrived at this juncture of the meeting (was previously present for workshop).
Commissioner Morgan commended both groups for excellent presentation. Asked same question of both groups & received very specific answers from groups. Found could find common ground together. Lot to offer and need to find way to maximize return on investments. Not fair to have groups come before board when time to dole out money. Need to move forward and allocate $240,000. Proposed invest GCDC $100,000; provide EDC $100,000; $40,000 Small Business Development Center over 3 year period for each.
Commissioner Hinson received information from Administrator’s office showing payments to the Chamber from different counties and payments to the Economic Development Council.
Commissioner Taylor said agreed with some of what Commissioner Morgan said, only concern was with display this evening if could work together effectively. Heard from some commissioners wanted another meeting in January to see progress. Inclined to another meeting, prefer to wait to vote.
Hinson said talked to Administrator & EDC mentioned contracting with GCDC, problem with 2 entities, no-one knows who to contact
Dr. V suggested 2 groups meet, give individual strengths so each know role to play. Did not see funding each with them doing own thing.
Morgan wanted to be clear on funding, under one umbrella with them working together. Not one competing with other.
Chair said heard good things tonight. Why divide up money when Board needs to decide direction. Don’t think ready to vote and workshop was good. Need more work.
Morgan moved $100,000 to GCDC; $100,000 GCEDC and $40,000 Small Business Center, motion died.
Hinson /give Chamber 25-30,000 now
Taylor clean all up in two meeting, if desire to work together, will know. Workshop, agenda & then make decision. Groups need to work as one, come back with formable plan.
Dr. V said appreciate Morgan’s approach but thinks 3 years too long, do it one year or 2 at most.
Holt said Gadsden County provides jobs and laid off in 2008-9. Will not support contract with either group tonight.
Morgan said tossing around deliverables, want to stress ED is mindset and need to change. Two groups understand goals, can work together.
Morgan 3 separate contract $40,000 Small Business, $100,000 GCDC; $100,000 to GEDC/V second.
Taylor said will to support if include unified plan brought back to board within certain timeframe. Morgan Amend motion/V amended second.
Hinson asked how can they put them in situation without having plan first.
Holt said no urgency, did not need to be done tonight. Unrealistic to give money without them saying what they can do.
Taylor said her vote contingent on plan, ED different horse,
Taylor said press conference done saying had $400,000
Morgan amended motion to invest $00,000 GCDC; $100,000 GEDC, $40,000 to Small Business, work together, realistic deliverables contingent upon coming back/V said why tonight. Motion died for lack of second.
Morgan moved invest $240,000-$100,000 to GCDC; $100,000 GEDC; $40,000 to Small Business Center/ died
Taylor motion to bring back in two weeks/Holt 5-0
|
|
5. |
Appointments/Reappointments To The Small County Coalition Board Of Directors Mr. Presnell introduced above item V/Hinson 5-0
|
|
6. |
Approval of Task Order with Preble-Rish, Inc. for Improvements to Hogan Lane Mr. Presnell introduced above item Taylor/V
Holt wants to see study
Justin Ford appeared before Board and said lighting could be included in project.
Called for vote 5-0
|
|
7. |
Approval of Contract with MTC-Medical to Provide Ambulance Transportation for Patients Housed at Gadsden Correctional Facility Mr. Presnell introduced above item.
Taylor/ Morgan asked difference-same-just formalizing/Morgan 5-0
|
|
8. |
Approval and Execution of Lease with Gadsden Senior Services, Incorporated to Occupy the Building located at 79 Lasalle Lafall Drive and Adoption of Resolution No. 2014-025, Approving the Lease and Setting Forth its Terms Holt/V Morgan question-if changes from past-same but renews in successive years without coming back, better protection for county.
5-0
|
|
9. |
Approval of Contract for State Lobbying Services for Fiscal Year 2014-2015 with Lawson and Associates Mr. Presnell introduced item Hinson/ Morgan-question-what looking at doing
Presnell contract with Lawson for lobbying services
Morgan-no problem in funding total program for $25,000, issue is having two separate agreements-needs to be one-won’t support two- will support one.
Dr. V-asked Mr. Lawson to step forward- if currently have papers needed to lobby-had to wait out two years but has papers now. Has he agreed with other firm to lobby as team or working separately. Has 3 people work with him. Don’t mind working with someone if working together for good of county.
Morgan asked if his line of thinking wrong & asked if anything negative
Called for vote 5-0
|
|
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
|
|
|
10. |
Update on Various Board Issues
12/15 kick-off Completive Florida award
Next agenda also District 2 needs to appoint/reappoint P&Z members; District 4 needs 1
Enterprise Zone maps completed
Legislative plan
Interest in decorating courthouse for Christmas, lighted wreaths, yes.
|
|
COUNTY ATTORNEY
|
|
|
11. |
Update on Various Legal Issues Nothing to report
|
|
DISCUSSION ITEMS BY COMMISSIONERS
|
|
|
12. |
Report and Discussion of Public Issues and Concerns Pertaining to Commission Districts and Gadsden County
|
|
|
Commissioner Anthony “Dr. V” Viegbesie, District 2 Some residents in District 2 have complained about-right of way and set-backs different than in Leon County and asked it be looked into. Mr. Presnell said been set for years and does vary. Dr. V asked they look at Highway 27 so he could get back with residents.
|
|
|
Commissioner Gene Morgan, District 3 1) commended board for discussions today, workshop was good. Believe all have common goal on what wants to achieve
2) wants them to consider in future, bring back televised meetings to enable folks to see what they are doing
Holt said waiting on City to quit fighting, but thought needed to be hashed out.
Motion to have put on agenda/V
Hinson against, Taylor said needed transparency, but no tonight.
3-2 no
|
|
|
Commissioner Sherrie Taylor, District 5 Mentioned Senior Citizens Board and really need appointments, members have dropped off. Board cannot appoint because of by-laws, submit names and they will pick. Centers in different municipalities, need to bring together.
Adopting private roads & got off topic-could it be brought back
Holt said one issue was getting road up to standard before road adopted by county.
Incentive Plan-wondering if 2 entities need to look at that as well because will be part of their make-up.
|
|
|
Commissioner Eric Hinson, Vice-Chairman, District 1 Couple of phone calls-folks wanted to apply for job but application on one due Thanksgiving Day and the other was due on Sunday. While can’t tell Administrator who to hire, should be able to give recommendations and asked that halt be placed on positions, review job descriptions.
Attorney said board effectively have two employees, Administrator and Attorney. Administrator in charge of hiring under him. They can give directives on what they would like to see, but as far as approving every job description. Preference could be expressed, but his authority.
Waste Pro- doing a great job, but make sure
|
|
|
Commissioner Brenda Holt, Chair, District 4 Noticed on two presentations, neither referenced plant in Jackson County.
Senior Citizens-good idea to bring together because they are not applying for grants.
$400,000 incentive was for seed money for new businesses, not expansion of businesses.
Taylor said might want to look at that part of money on how could best help county
Dr. V said when comes to improve business, there are incentives and programs and need to develop them. |
|
RECEIPT AND FILE
|
|
|
|
a. November 1, 2014 Florida Enterprise Zone Program Annual Report b. November 14, 2014 Letter to FDLE from Chairman (Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance) c. November 17, 2014 Letter from the Florida Department of Revenue (Truth in Millage Certification) d. November 18, 2014 Proclamation for National Home Care Month e. FY 2014 Administrative Budget Amendments
|
|
MOTION TO ADJOURN Adjourned at 8:14 p.m. |
|