Board of County Commissioners

Gadsden County, Florida

Regular Public Meeting

May 3, 2016

6:00 p.m.

 

Present:               Brenda A. Holt, Chair, District 4

                                Eric Hinson, Vice Chair, District 1

                                Dr. Anthony “Dr. V” Viegbesie, District 2

                                Gene Morgan, District 3

                                Sherrie Taylor, District 5

                                Nicholas Thomas, Clerk of Court

                                Robert Presnell, County Administrator

                                David Weiss, County Attorney

                                Marcella Blocker, Deputy Clerk

 

INVOCATION, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

  Chair called meeting to order at 6:00 p.m., asked everyone to silence their phones, asked for a moment of silence, led in Pledge of Allegiance.

 

AMENDMENTS AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA

  Add Items 3c-Sipport Letter for Gadsden Arts Renovation Project and 3d Request for Approval of a Proclamation for Child Welfare Professionals Recognition Day.

 

Morgan/Holt  4-0

 

AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS AND APPEARANCES

 

1.

2016 Legislative Update

  Mr. Presnell introduced above item.

 

Al Lawson appeared before the Board and gave legislative update.  Funding for historic properties $500,000; Multi-purpose facility $500,000; Chattahoochee water line replacement $400,000; Midway sewer phase 1 $150,000; $6 Million in additional projects along with other funding.

 

Sarah Bleakley appeared before the Board.  Able to fix Small County Solid Waste program; Legacy FL funding passed; proposed constitutional amendment renewable energy project passed; Did not pass-fracking; fought off mandate for COPCN; Seminole gaming compact; $1 Billion in tax relief did not pass; 

 

Commissioner Taylor appeared at this juncture of the meeting.

 

Hinson said infrastructure important

 

Morgan thanked them for the recap, Chair Holt’s efforts and the GCDC with their efforts.  Disappointing State of Florida received no raise, but were wins for Florida State Hospital and medical dispensing system received funding.  Asked how could improve process of keeping momentum going.  Prioritizing.

 

Presnell said this year taking program little more forward and next Thursday first of 6 meetings with municipalities and hoped to have better to work with next year.

 

Holt said everyone did great job. Learning curve got to overcome and need to work together with School Board.  Asked how to handle with increase with retirement with county.  Bleakley said determined by actuarial study and way to change is get more general revenue from government

 

CLERK OF COURTS

  Mr. Thomas was present and nothing to report

 

CONSENT

  Morgan/V 5-0

2.

Ratification to Pay County Bills

 

3.

Approval of Minutes

a.       March 17, 2016-Workshop Minutes

b.      April 5, 2016-Regular Meeting Minutes

 

ITEMS PULLED FOR DISCUSSION

 

 

 

 

CITIZENS REQUESTING TO BE HEARD ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS

 

 

Pastor Charles Morris, 23201 Blue Star Highway, Quincy, FL-Health Care Statistics-Pastor Morris appeared before the Board on behalf of United Gadsden; said people dying all around us and does not appear anything being done to make better.  If look at statistics, Gadsden leading in all negative factors.  Asked for sense of accountability; already have taken positive steps with women’s clinic, bringing doctor aboard; farmers market.  Suggested strategic plan, budget plan, and accountability.

 

 

 

PUBLIC HEARINGS

 

4.

PUBLIC HEARING-Consideration of Adoption of Ordinance 2016-004 for a Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map Amendment for Approximately 25 acres on Fantana Lane

  Mr. Presnell said first public hearing is to adopt Ordinance 2016-004 for park in St. Hebron community.

 

Chair Holt said public hearing and asked if any questions.

 

V approval option 1/Hinson 5-0

 

5.

PUBLIC HEARING: Adoption of Ordinance No.: 2016-005, An Ordinance No. 2016-005, An Ordinance of the Board of County Commissioners of Gadsden County, FL, providing for the assessment and collection of an additional $5.00 with each civil traffic penalty to enhance driver education program funds in public and nonpublic schools in Gadsden County pursuant to Section 318.1215, Florida Statutes, adopting procedures, criteria, and requirements for the use and distribution of funds providing for repeal, severability, inclusion in the Gadsden County Code of Ordinances, modifications that may arise from consideration at public hearing, and correction of scrivener’s errors, and providing for an effective date

  Mr. Weiss said regarding adoption of Ordinance 2016-005 for driver education program funds for collection of $5.00.

 

Chair Holt said public hearing

 

Morgan asked the $5.00 how much would be seen by individual schools-all goes to schools with qualifying program

 

Hinson/V 4-1 Morgan opposed

 

6.

PUBLIC HEARING: Adoption of Ordinance 2016-006, An Ordinance of the Board of County Commissioners of Gadsden County, FL, relating to economic development; establishing an Economic Development Grant  Program, setting forth application requirements and evaluation criteria, providing for grant agreements with recipient’ providing procedures and requirements for receipt of scheduled grant payments; providing for repeal, severability, inclusion in the Gadsden County Code of Ordinances, modifications that may arise from consideration at public hearing, and correction of scrivener’s errors, and providing for an effective date

  Mr. Weiss introduced the above item.  

 

V asked mechanics of eligibility of criteria

 

Morgan asked attorney if any incentives would be applied after ad valorum taxes paid-yes all taxes paid before grant paid and would like to hear from Beth Kirkland.

 

Beth Kirkland appeared before the Board and said project drivers will help give guidance to board.  Morgan asked if should have any defined boundaries

 

Hinson asked proposed budget available for disposable income budget-BOCC will collect revenues before dispensing anything so can easily budget each year.  Asked if draft copy of application-brought sample of application and listed items on application.  Hinson asked if application fee been determined-no.  Will final report include all applicants who –each application

 

Taylor said going back to scoring criteria, where is point value-point system all mathematical.  Taylor asked if failsafe in place if not meets all criteria where we could recup-won’t recup-

 

V said his understanding –if applicant falls within certain

 

Morgan stepped out at this juncture of meeting.

 

Taylor said in looking at point system, where get point value, what happens to businesses only looking for 3-5 employees-BOCC has full discretion

 

Morgan returned at this juncture.

 

Not meant to diminish other investors.  Taylor said may want to look at language little closer-wants it clear that consideration would be given

 

Weiss said did not think it afforded Board discretion if did not meet minimum threshold but they could do that and point system could change.

 

Holt said always been in favor of 2 pots of money-one for expansion and one for recruitment. Beth said item as presented divided into 3 sections-can always be tweaked but need to start somewhere

 

Morgan agreed with her comments earlier, this was incentive tool for large scale development project-not in favor for small scale-this could get them over hump and felt it would be living ty[r ordinance but not for one-person shop

 

Taylor said when asked about fail safe implement in place, will vary-are they looking at initial start-up or long-range.  Do need to consider putting language in that gives discretion to Board

 

Hinson said had questions-thought Chamber could focus on shall business;

 

V stepped out at this juncture

 

Hinson said felt needed retreat on economic development; did not think Board gave them clear direction,

 

V returned

 

Need to get aggressive

 

Chair said had to take public comment-announced public hearing and asked if anyone wished to speak and there was no-one

 

Morgan option 1/V 5-0

*Toward end of meeting, Commissioner Taylor said would like to rescind her vote on this matter and then Commissioner Hinson also rescinded his vote making it a 3-2 vote.  Motion passed.

 

GENERAL BUSINESS

 

7.

Purchase of Property located on Salem Road. Gadsden County, FL

  Mr. Presnell introduced above item

 

V option 1/Hinson 5-0

 

8.

Approval of the Proposal from CSI Contracting, Inc. for Mitered End Sections on Kemp Road

  Mr. Presnell introduced above item

Hinson/V 5-0

 

9.

Consideration of a Park to be located on Five Acres

  Mr. Presnell introduced above item.

 

Taylor said when initially brought before board-board had safety concerns-since had meeting with community leaders asked to not consider this parcel because of location and look at other areas and asked to pull this for consideration.

 

V said understood what Taylor doing for security reasons but should have been done before agenda was approved-

 

Taylor moved to deny/Hinson 5-0

 

10.

Approval to Accept the FY 2016 2nd Quarter Report

  Mr. Presnell introduced above item.

 

V/Hinson 5-0

 

COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR

 

11.

Update on Various Board Requests

  Proclamation for National Public Works Week  V/Hinson 5-0

 

Job fair to be held August 11 at IFAS Center

 

Reminder Capital Hydraulics ribbon cutting tomorrow

 

Meetings scheduled with individual cities

 

Meeting scheduled at IFAS regarding health ranking May 18th

 

Gave list of dates for meetings

 

Budget workshop May 26th

 

Holt asked for list of who providing what in county health-care wise

 

Taylor said Gadsden County Health Council needed to be present at IFAS meeting-they will be

 

Taylor said Gadsden County always been reactive and not proactive-reason for health council was before grants could be applied for, they were to check with health council.  Need to get out of being comfortable, need to march to different drum-divide and conquer

 

Presnell said lady coming from Robert Woods Foundation

 

Holt said would like to have meeting with School Board and Superintendent & Presnell said they would be at meeting on 18th but could schedule separate meeting with them in June.

 

Hinson said don’t offend locals, call local doctors and use who we have first and get team together to see what they could do

 

Holt said good idea to incorporate medical directors here

 

Morgan asked for paving update in District 3-should be there Monday

 

Asked regarding meetings with local municipalities-when meet with Chattahoochee asked to consider recognizing Camp James and Max Fletcher and asked for resolution honoring their service.  Taylor moved to approve/V 5-0

 

COUNTY ATTORNEY

 

12.

 Update on Various Legal Issues

 

DISCUSSION ITEMS BY COMMISSIONERS

 

13.

Report and Discussion of Public Issues

 

 

Commissioner Anthony “Dr. V” Viegbesie, District 2

V asked if website connected to CRPTA with items happening there-of not currently-will

 

V said email with mosquito spraying-received lots of calls regarding level of mosquitos and mild winter-overload of mosquitos and asked if could increase spraying

 

V would like to make motion for resolution to Kenon family for passing of father/Taylor 5-0

 

Taylor asked if could get notification in paper giving spraying times and 627-5396 is number to call for spraying

 

 

Commissioner Gene Morgan, District 3

 

 

Commissioner Sherrie Taylor, District 5

*Taylor said voted tonight and wanted to rescind vote regarding economic development incentive and felt could if she had not left meeting.  Felt should be some changes with regard to language and point system, said would agree with option 2 with changes. Weiss said was rescission and reconsideration and Holt asked him to check.

 

*Weiss said Taylor was simply asking for her vote to be rescinded and not for board action-yes and Hinson wanted his vote to reflect nay also.

 

 

Commissioner Eric Hinson, Vice Chair, District 1

Hinson said with mosquito spray needed to be aggressive because of Zika virus and educate people that have ponds regarding mosquitos

 

Hinson asked for another dog catcher and mosquito sprayer-Gadsden County too large for one

 

 

Commissioner Brenda Holt, Chair, District 4

 

Receipt and File

 

14.

a.  Letter from DEO

b. FY 2016 Administrative Budget Amendments

c. Florida Department of Health-Gadsden Quarterly Progress Report

 

 

UPCOMING MEETINGS

 

15.

May 17, 2016-Regular Meeting at 6:00 p.m.

May 26, 2016-First Budget Workshop-4:00 p.m.

 

MOTION TO ADJOURN

Adjourned at 8:22 p.m.