Board of County Commissioners
Gadsden County, Florida
Regular Public Meeting
July 5, 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-appeared by phone
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 called meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. Commissioner Taylor appeared by phone. Chair Holt asked for a moment of silence and then led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag. A silent roll call was conducted by Marcella Blocker, Deputy Clerk.
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AMENDMENTS AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA Add Item 4a-Approval of Resolution 2016-014-Administer the Gretna City Sidewalk Project through the County’s LAP Certificate
Dr. V arrived at this juncture of the meeting.
Hinson approval to add Item 4a/V 5-0
Approval of amended agenda Morgan/Hinson 5-0
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AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS AND APPEARANCES
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1. |
Presentation on Fracking Mr. Presnell said there was a brief presentation on Fracking.
Ulysses Jenkins made a presentation to the Board regarding opposition on fracking.
Mr. Presnell asked the attorney if there was regulation in the land use plan to regulate fracking
Dr. V said his position was to move to create an ordinance to ban fracking in the County-Hinson asked if they could at this time/Hinson second Morgan asked if there had been any interest by anyone conducting seismic testing-not to date.
Chair called for vote 5-0
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CLERK OF COURTS
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CONSENT Morgan/V 5-0
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2. |
Ratification to Pay County Bills
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3. |
Approval of Minutes a. May 16, 2015-Joint Workshop b. May 18, 2016-Community Health Rankings Action Symposium c. May 19, 2016-Joint Workshop d. June 7, 2016-Regular Meeting
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4. |
Approval to Dispose of Surplus Property and Equipment
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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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PUBLIC HEARINGS
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GENERAL BUSINESS
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5. |
Appointment to the Circuit 2 Alliance Community Action Team (Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty and Wakulla) Mr. Presnell introduced above item
V move approval for Hinson to continue/Morgan 5-0
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6. |
Approval of Ethical Hacking Book Camp Training for IT Staff Mr. Presnell introduced above item
V/Morgan 5-0
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7. |
Approval of Book Check and Detection Device Agreement with Bibliothecal/3M Library System Mr. Presnell introduced above item.
Morgan asked if in budget-yes
Morgan/V 5-0
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8. |
Approval of Public Works Mosquito Control Budget FY 2016-2017 Mr. Presnell introduced
V/Morgan 5-0
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9. |
Approval of 2016 Small County Consolidated Grant Agreement with Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Mr. Presnell introduced above item.
V/Morgan 5-0
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10. |
Approval to Award Contract for Bid No. 16-14 Library Technical Services Support Mr. Presnell introduced above item.
Chair asked if bid item-yes and was specialty work.
Morgan asked if agreement was similar to one in place previously-yes and budgeted.
Morgan/V 5-0
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11. |
Request Board Direction and Approval of the Gadsden County Permit Application for the Courthouse Grounds and the Guidelines for the Utilization of the Grounds Mr. Presnell said this item was coming back for discussion and there had been a number of calls.
Holt said when discussed previously, she wanted language in there “No political events and/or campaign rallies will be approved”
Dr. V asked if any reason why didn’t they specifically stated statute that restricts use of grounds. Presnell said application been in use long time and attorney said he also had other suggestions for changes on application
Taylor said glad this was brought back up and she had no problem with candidate using grounds to inform public of their platform
Morgan said he strongly suggested language in no alcohol and no fundraisers. Also don’t overlook need to be legal adult 21 yoa or older and refundable deposit to cover damage.
Hinson said follow what Taylor said and want to look at what other counties was doing
Holt said thinks application on one side and state statute on other but don’t want restricted so public couldn’t use it.
V said anything that would restrict education of citizens should be considered and what Hinson said with looking at what other counties were doing.
Taylor said at proper time make motion go back to original had in place until
Holt said did not want to happen what happened before-no campaign for individual
Dr. V said last time this item was up for discussion, they created document and hope her reversion to existing document would be what was last created before it went to staff
Holt asked Taylor if she wanted “red-line”-no
V said maybe should table item and let staff add other changes/Morgan second 5-0
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12. |
Approval to Award RFP #16-18 (Re-Bid) to an Artist to Create a Public Mural in Downtown Quincy Mr. Presnell introduced above item.
Taylor said want it publically known did not disagree with mural but disagree with funding source-thinking about another position-think others should be considered
Holt said current mural was chosen because of being “colored” street and not intended to leave anyone out
V said the mural was to depict African-Americans and suggested this mural represent more of history of Gadsden County and not only African-American
Morgan said item was asking to approve funds for mural and looks to be no dead-set mural-money was voted to come from contingency funds-where is fire-think public mural would be good thing for downtown and would be positive but foolish to take from contingency fund when have bed tax from people traveling through and is made to use for that-supports this type of project but wrong to take from contingency fund
Holt said vote at that time was 5-0 vote
Chair called for vote 3-2 Morgan/Taylor no
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13. |
Request Direction on Legal Services for Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners Mr. Presnell introduced above item
V said this item was presented at last meeting and vote was 2-2 said for procedural reasons
Hinson said he felt based on situation and to be consistent, should entertain this in January
Holt asked him what he meant
He said since going through County Administrator situation, should wait until that process was over
Holt said they should have looked at this back around May/June-takes a while and if push back too far is when trouble comes
Morgan asked Administrator that the Assistant was retiring in September this year-yes-his contract expires October 30 this year-attorney contract was extended for one year-yes Felt Hinson was looking for a short-term solution
Dr. V said way looked at-this contract expires on September 1 and if need to go to month-by-month until determine can be done-legal issues are law and law does not change and he is stickler for process and if need legal services can do month by month and fails to see how a law firm would interfere with efficiency of county and suggest go month to month
Taylor said feel different-right now County is handling sensitive cases in court and who would handle and know history of cases-said heard him when he said one does not impact other but it does and felt two complement each other Am in favor of going through October and going to month to month until transition was complete
Holt said had twelve months to do this and this was something they needed to do and they needed to go out for bid to see what out there-other people have right to apply
Hinson moved to extend contract to February 7, 2017/Taylor
Holt asked Hinson if by chance there was a board change in November, would he not want who is there to make decisions. He said process would start when new person came and then by February could make decision. If me made decision now, new person would not have opportunity to determine...
Morgan said heard comments about attorneys-however when he came on board was paying 60-70% more for legal fees and very important to consider
V said friendly amendment on contract to be extended another 3 months after maturity of the current contract and if process not complete-go month to month and competition may drive fees down-extend contract for 3 months and if RFP process not completed-make month to month
Hinson amended motion to send RFP out by October 15 and contract extended to February 7, 2017/Taylor second 4-1 Morgan opposed
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14. |
Request Board Direction Concerning the Engineering Services Contracts for Gadsden Mr. Presnell introduced above item
V said going back to his belief in process-no problem with DBP and Preble-Rish and DBP added last meeting-no is Dewberry-Preble-Rish and DBP-not new firm
Hinson said no issues with firm – ready to make motion to state position
Morgan asked if have option to extend another year-yes-Morgan said that his motion
Holt said interested in bidding
Taylor said second Morgan’s motion
V said back to process-not comfortable in assuming existing contract without doing RFP-no problem with firm but want to go back to process
Holt said motion and second for extension of 1 year of contract 2-3 Hinson, Holt, V opposed
Hinson said they doing extraordinary job
V started to speak and Hinson said thought made motion
Hinson made motion to go through bid process immediately with engineering firm/V second with comment-contract expires October and hopes process completed by then
4-1-Morgan opposed
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COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
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15. |
Update on Various Board Requests Presnell said library asked for couple of announcements-
Havana Library Friday, July 27 at 6:30 p.m.-Zumba class Ice Cream social Quincy Library July 13th 2-4:00 p.m. sponsored by Friends of Library Received seed program-garden seeds that can check out and grow them
This Thursday 4-7 p.m. succession planning retreat at Gretna casino
Budget planning workshop July 14th at 4:00
Will bring proposal to them regarding additional savings on refinancing hospital bond and library bond and could save half million
Grant awarded additional dollars to North Florida for dental program and portion putting up for bid
Holt said concerns with services at that site-said he heard as well and met with president in waiting and was discussed-only people they refuse to see are ones with behavior issues-go on list and no longer will be seen there and would have to be someone that refused to pay anything Holt said needed to talk with them and Presnell said they would be coming before them in near future.
Presnell said they discussed changing from one on one to workshop-V said wanted workshop to meet with service providers to see what they are providing and address issues they are hearing
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COUNTY ATTORNEY
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16. |
Update on Various Legal Issues Nothing to report
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DISCUSSION ITEMS BY COMMISSIONERS
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14. |
Report and Discussion of Public Issues
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Commissioner Gene Morgan, District 3 Budget workshop on July 14th at 4-yes-retreat on 7th at 4:00-yes
Congratulated Chattahoochee Mainstreet and Greensboro for fireworks show
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Commissioner Sherrie Taylor, District 5 Nothing
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Commissioner Anthony “Dr. V” Viegbesie, District 2 Commended Public Works for what done on Charlie Harris Loop
Recommended they invite Mike ? and Carl ? Florida Department of Economic Opportunity to present their workshop at a future meeting and that GCDC be present also
Holt felt Industrial Board and P&Z also be invited
She said several sent to workshop on safety and talked with some counties about what they were doing about offering what they were doing to help get licenses back if suspended for other than child support reasons
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Commissioner Eric Hinson, Vice Chair, District 1 Commended Board for being so nice today, respecting each other’s opinions and moving on
Had someone whose house burned in his community as asked how could set up meeting with Community Action and asked if they could be talked to one-on-one Dr. V said they were located next to “The Greenery”-yes-Mr. Presnell said Red Cross was available for immediate assistance.
Concord Stoplight-been few months since brought up and not sure why light not up yet
Presnell asked Justin come forward-need to have plans bid out-went through road department-took time to track everything down-finally got that-things in place-designs moving forward shortly-30 days to advertise-saved lots of money
4-5 months ago-paving project said should be in Havana and they have yet to be paved-wants on record need speed delivered and when give word-assumes word is bond and he tells constituents what he is told and every week hears “next week”
Presnell said roads were bid out and once bid out to low bidder-they schedule work and asked if they had paved any roads
V piggybacked on Hinson’s concerns and are some roads not prepped yet for paving
Curtis Young came forward and only have 1 paving crew and equipment on Greensboro side finishing up Morgan’s district-then getting dirt roads done and then going to district 1-have been out at other counties-Holt said that’s why bids put out
V asked Administrator when county preps road for paving and they become raggedy again-county has to prepare then again-not exact same process but do have to go over some things
Holt said if put out another bid would it reduce-he has number of days to complete all the roads-met with Presnell on two occasions and said was not making money on way project was running-offered to let him opt out and he chose not to
Holt said Board needed to know about these things and if contract going bad-they need to know
Said need to look at going out for another bid and need not to be at contractor’s beck and call either
Presnell said he’s been within realm of contract and nothing to bring to the Board
Holt said wanted to see schedule from contractor
Hinson said reason talking about change order-lots of roads in area and in going through process
Holt suggested he bring this to Manager
Transportation-issue is have few more pick-up spots but seniors can’t get to pick-up spot-wondering if he was aware of $1 ride-some things Big Bend does under grant but have to qualify
Another senior said certain places bring food to seniors-meals on wheels-are services provided on east side of town in Havana and Midway-Presnell said wanted to check before answering-Presnell said only x number of meals and always a waiting list
Thanking Board for reappointing him to Board
Got recertification as County Commissioner
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Commissioner Brenda Holt, Chair, District 4 Holt said hoping at next training can get more people in there especially for economic development
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Receipt and File
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15. |
a. Letter from FDLE b. USDA Letter c. Letter from Nicholas Thomas
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UPCOMING MEETINGS
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16. |
July 19, 2016-Regular Meeting at 6:00 p.m.
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MOTION TO ADJOURN Adjourned at 8:11 p.m. |
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