Board of County Commissioners
Gadsden County, Florida
Regular Public Meeting
May 17, 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
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INVOCATION, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Chair Holt called the meeting to order at 5:59 p.m.
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AMENDMENTS AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA Few amendments-add 4a Resolution JC Kenon; 4b, Erica Burroughs-Girardi, in town for Health symposium, move Item 5 to Item 7a, pull Item 11
Hinson arrived at this juncture.
V/Hinson 5-0 |
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AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS AND APPEARANCES
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1. |
Presentation of Audit Ryan Tucker, Purvis Gray & Associates, appeared before the Board. Gave brief update. Overall books in good shape.
V commended effort of firm with degree of thoroughness on audit. Asked state of County’s reserves-adequate-when looked at where need to be. Recommend between 16- percent
Morgan said they always do great job of communicating-asked about checks and balances-were addressed good. Asked if any concerning trends found-no-long-term debt little higher than peers.
Taylor echoed same sentiments, thanked Clerk for having books prepared and ready for audit. Saw deficiencies and asked if have been addressed-yes.
Holt said regarding FRS-hoping to get help with League of Cities on lobbying help Healthcare issue-some counties run own hospital
V said reserve was in right position-using benchmark-how much do they draw on reserve for future expenditures-don’t let get below 2 months
Morgan/V 5-0
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2. |
Mosquito Control Update Jamison Spencer, Mosquito Control, appeared before the Board and gave brief summary. Has responded to 178 property calls this month-getting 30-40 calls a day. Been busiest month so far.
Holt asked liability-covered under policy. Presnell asked him to touch on requirements and where he could spray. He has to receive complaint, has to see mosquitos and then spray.
V said has received calls from constituents and have been asked if citizen calls, does he go spray property-they can request property spray or street spray.
Morgan said facing different from last year-how are we managing backlog? Morgan asked pros and cons of spray-if would hurt kids, pets, lawns,
Presnell said 3 tier plan with DOH-biggest thing can do is not allow standing water, treatment and monitoring, in phase 1
Chattahoochee and Quincy has own spray truck
Morgan asked about ones that did not want property sprayed-need to contact, placed on map and no spray.
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3. |
Recognition of Public Works Week Chair Holt asked everyone to come up for National Public Works Week. She read aloud the Proclamation and it was presented to Curtis Young, Public Works Supervisor.
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4. |
Recognition of Prima Donna Hair Salon Taylor read the Certificate aloud and presented it to Donna Gibson, Prima Donna Hair Salon.
Ms. Gibson said she was second generation hair stylist.
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4a. |
Dr. V read aloud the Resolution for J C Kenon and presented it to the family.
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4c |
Mr. Presnell introduced the above item. Erica Burroughs-Girardi appeared before the board and said with health ranking, Gadsden County ranked the lowest in the State and now working on changing trajectory of ranking. Health symposium will be tomorrow at IFAS Center.
Presnell said pleased to have her here and coming up with plan tomorrow to improve area.
Taylor said understood when received report other components in report-County Health Ranking uses over 20 measures-don’t collect data-compiled by other sources
Morgan asked if any good news out of report-showed areas of strength in physical environment How often rakings put out-annual basis-this 7th year
V expressed regrets on not being able to be there tomorrow because in school.
Hinson said has done research but waiting for tomorrow. Was on School Board and was successful in getting rid of slushies in school system.
Holt said they had met today to could inform her of what the County was already working on
Erica said website was countyhealthrankings.org.
Pastor Morris appeared before the Board and said hoped this was opportunity to do something. Asked if one-time thing or will it be ongoing. With being on bottom, can only go up.
Hinson said health is his specialty and found when heavy get depressed.
Dr. V stepped out at this juncture of the meeting.
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CLERK OF COURTS Mr. Thomas present and nothing to report
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Moved to Consent Agenda
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CONSENT Morgan/Taylor 4-0
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6. |
Approval of Minutes April 19, 2016-Regular Meeting
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7. |
Approve Gadsden County BOCC to Piggy-back on the PACE Cooperative State Purchasing Agreement
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7a. |
Ratification to Pay County Bills
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ITEMS PULLED FOR DISCUSSION |
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CITIZENS REQUESTING TO BE HEARD ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
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Alphonso Figgers, 215 North Chalk Street, Quincy, FL 32351-Shaw Quarters Community Action Group-appeared before the Board-presented them with bulletin for invite to Shaw Quarters/Addition Elderly Banquet on Saturday, June 11, 2016.
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PUBLIC HEARINGS
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8. |
PUBLIC HEARING (Legislative)-Transmittal of Comprehensive Plan Text Amendment to allow Solar Power Generation Facilities (Solar Farms) Mr. Presnell introduced above item.
Holt said public hearing and asked if any public comments and there was none.
Taylor asked whether or not when comes to taxing-are they paying for Ag 1, Ag 2? If approve property, tax rate would reflect equipment value.
Presnell said current Comp Code does not reflect solar and this will protect so when receive, will be protected
Weiss said thought Taylor referred to agriculture exemption
Hinson asked impact to approving change-if solar far, located here will control where they go and positive economic impact. Hinson asked what jobs would be provided-hard to say until plant located here
Morgan said ready to approve option 1
V said ready as well-also said renewable energy and would reduce costs.
Holt said looking at Gulf Power and other companies, getting energy from solar into lines, won’t necessarily reduce light bill. Asked if sales tax generated from sale of solar power-maybe commerce issue.
Holt asked if any public input and was none.
Morgan said simply changing text to allow solar farm
V moved for adoption of option 1/Hinson 5-0
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GENERAL BUSINESS
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9. |
Partial Release of property from SHIP Mortgage from Sylvia Cooper Presnell introduced.
Morgan asked direction from attorney on what they were doing.
Weiss explained mistake in legal description, only meant to convey lot 3 but other lots included. Staff verified only lot 3 improved. Attempt is to release lot 3
Morgan encouraged board to find out value of land before taking action.
Weiss said his opinion this was mistake
Holt approval of option 1-np second.
V moved table item and get more clarity/Morgan
Holt asked original conveyance was Lex Thompson to Cedric Banks, he conveyed to Carla Dudley lot 1, then conveyed lots 1, 2, 3 to Sylvia Cooper, Quit claimed back to Banks lots 1 & 2
V withdrew motion.
Morgan option 1/V 5-0
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10. |
Approval to Pay an Emergency Repair for Installing two (2) Chiller Compressors at the Capital Regional Medical Center-Gadsden Campus Mr. Presnell introduced above item.
V option 1/Morgan 5-0
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Item pulled
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COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
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12. |
Update on Various Board Requests Health Symposium tomorrow
Thursday night joint workshop with Havana
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COUNTY ATTORNEY
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13. |
Update on Various Legal Issues Nothing
June 7th oral argument on Gretna Racing at Supreme Court at 9:00 a.m.
Taylor asked chances-hesitant-nature of case such will be split decision and feel close split.
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DISCUSSION ITEMS BY COMMISSIONERS
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14. |
Report and Discussion of Public Issues
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Commissioner Anthony “Dr. V” Viegbesie, District 2 Asked Administrator where are with mural project approved while back and update scheduling performance workshop
Contacted FL Assoc of Counties, not much success with someone coming to give workshop
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Commissioner Gene Morgan, District 3 Expressed sympathy for loss of her brother
Getting antsy about succession planning mentioned by Dr. V and feels need to be agendaed on next agenda for discussion
Think need to extend Robert’s agreement to give leadership and direction made motion/Taylor
Holt felt succession planning should come before extend agreement
V said current administrator should be part of succession planning
Chair called for vote4-1 Holt opposed
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Commissioner Sherrie Taylor, District 5 With regards to meetings with municipalities-some suggested when get with next
Morgan left
Felt are having great discussions but discussions not focused and no true understanding what meeting about. Suggested looking at whole picture-going well but need more structure
Morgan returned
Health status-mentioned funding for parks-asked staff to look and bring back what can go in budget for health initiatives
Was at meeting earlier and was asked to be mindful of Wednesday night church
Senior Citizens Board-bylaws and term limits and other issues have come up-suggested Presnell look and if need to bring back
Presnell said been asked to serve on regional board for aging
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Commissioner Eric Hinson, Vice Chair, District 1 Asked if Midway been scheduled-no firm date yet
Park issue-been talking with someone-willing to sell piece of property 12-13 acres of land near Havana Heights-needed in community
Need to be very careful, need shared leadership with Board
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Commissioner Brenda Holt, Chair, District 4 Thanked everyone for kind words and sympathy, older brother passed away and unable to attend Apalachee Regional Transportation and need someone to attend in her place.
Meeting with Cities-need to brainstorm, if don’t meet July deadline, still have little time
Parks-people not there and crime going up-need to be monitored by community
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Receipt and File
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15. |
a. Mediacom
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UPCOMING MEETINGS
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16. |
May 18, 2016-Gadsden County Community Health Rankings Symposium-IFAS-8:30 a.m. May 19, 2016-BOCC/Town of Havana Town Council Joint Workshop-Havana Public Library-6 p.m. May 26, 2016-1st Budget Workshop-Meeting Chambers-4:00 p.m. June 2, 2016-BOCC/Chattahoochee City Council Joint Workshop-Arsenal-6:30 p.m. June 7, 2016-BOCC/Greensboro City Council Joint Workshop-Creek Entertainment-6:00 p.m. June 21, 2016-BOCC Meeting-Chambers-6:00 p.m.
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MOTION TO ADJOURN Meeting adjourned 8:13 p.m. |
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