Board of County Commissioners

Gadsden County, Florida

Regular Public Meeting

August 16, 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 Holt called meeting to order at 6:00 p.m., asked for moment of silence, led in Pledge to US Flag.  Silent roll call taken by Marcella Blocker, Deputy Clerk.
AMENDMENTS AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA  Mr. Presnell had no amendments Morgan/V 4-0 Commissioner Hinson appeared at this juncture of the meeting.
AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS AND APPEARANCES
1.	Recognition Honoring the Life of Benjamin Franklin Brown
2.	Update on Opportunity Florida Activities Antonio Jefferson, Chairperson, Opportunity Florida, appeared before the Board to give an update of Opportunity Florida.
CLERK OF COURTS  No report will answer questions Taylor said they spoke briefly and wanted to make public statement-2 banks in County-spoke with Manager concerning 1-want to be mindful don’t find themselves with one bank-if with 1 can monopolize and know at one time had issues with fees they were charging. Clerk said he gave write-up last summer that talked about banking and investing-2 qualified depositories in County and $ in both-after that extra money could be deposited outside of county.  Capital City primary depository Have $2.2 Million on Centennial-put $ there when SBA froze; went out for bid to receive proposals an overall have about $19 Million-looking to go out for bid in near future-had problem with fees and was successful in getting them reduced V asked for clarity-did he recall the institution was to be local or regional-Clerk said local depository defined as primary bank for all transactions; other institution no checks being written, Centennial, SBA, Prime Meridian .  Holt asked if local depository had to be in the county-yes-2 institutions that qualified-using both banks, other used to invest excess funds Holt asked if anyway to make even split-Thomas said to look at general fund-what have in Centennial was money don’t anticipate using any time soon-considered excess $; money looking at using over course of year, if put in local bank and need large amount, hurts bank Taylor said mentioned waves $ goes in, wire transfers, direct transfers & understand $ of that magnitude stay, concerned going forward, appreciate points he made, too much daily activity may hinder, Thomas said job not to prop up one bank, mindful they are another qualified institution, important to have money in local institution, next year will go out for proposals and each institution would have opportunity to put it in. Taylor said was his job to ensure they have more than one lending institution and make sure on a daily basis do due diligence – have to invest in future Thomas said he respected what they say-he’s already taken into account there was only 2 institutions and reason there was $2.1 Million there.  They will have opportunity to make their case.  When they were Premier, there was a cap they had to put up Have taken everything into account that has been said. Morgan said he had complete and full confidence in his ability and need to remember as Board critical they have someone overseeing day-to-day operations-question-are credit unions deemed qualified-no not on list. Viegbesie asked why cant there be shared depository for safety, solvency, - primary depository because of amount of activity and used other bank as investment Holt said sure subject will come back up
CONSENT  V/Morgan 5-0
3.	Ratification to Pay County Bills
4.	Approval of Minutes a. July 14, 2016-Budget Workshop
ITEMS PULLED FOR DISCUSSION
CITIZENS REQUESTING TO BE HEARD ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
	Mary Smith, 3137 Atwater Road, Chattahoochee, Florida, appeared before the Board-came today with Tampa Bay paper that son discovered that had her in article
	Alfonso Figgers, 215 N. Chalk Street, Quincy, FL, appeared before the Board to speak concerns regarding economic growth.  CBOR ordinance that not needed-don’t need super majority TCC want to put billboard on I-10-how can let people know of businesses if don’t advertise Some health clinics been closed; Gretna had one, closed-Health Department had dental-closed and everything directed to Neighborhood in Havana Hospital no actively opened, Blountstown, Madison has hospital, maybe could open pediatric wing at hospital and honor Dr. Pat Woodward Economic Growth-felt large confederate flag on 27 causes problems and discourages economic growth-feels county should declare nuisance and have them move it.  Do have ordinance that deals with nuisance-08-   and read aloud a portion of the ordinance.  He suggested maybe the Board, etc could meet with Sons and Daughters of the Confederacy and explain the problem
PUBLIC HEARINGS
5.	SECOND PUBLIC HEARING-CDBG  Mr. Presnell said little different-need motion to adjourn meeting V/Hinson motion to adjourn-5-0 Presnell said purpose was to obtain public comment- Mr. Presnell explained the public hearing Public comments welcomed- Alfonso Figgers appeared before the Board and said he was committee  member and spoke as proponent of draft application Mr. Presnell advised copy of grant kept in office Public hearing concluded Taylor/V to reconvene meeting-5-0 Morgan had issue with grant itself-15% in administrative fees Hinson motion to approve submission of application/V 5-0
6.	Second Public Hearing-Economic Development CDBG  Taylor/V to adjourn meeting 5-0 Presnell introduced item Holt asked for public input Alfonso Figgers appeared before the Board and spoke as proponent to this Chair/V to adjourn public hearing Taylor/Hinson 5-0 Taylor/V approval 5-0
GENERAL BUSINESS
7.	Purchase of Dash Mount Radar Units for Patrol Vehicles  Mr. Presnell introduced above item V/Taylor second with question noticed funding source for radar coming from confiscated funds and asked what restrictions were Thomas said equipment was primary use for funds-not in sheriff budget-clerk retains funds and most is old money 5-0
8.	Training for Criminal Investigators and Deputies  Mr. Presnell introduced Taylor/V  5-0
9.	Proclamation Honoring Dr. Camara Phyllis Jones  Mr. Presnell introduced above item V/Taylor 5-0
10.	Approval of 2016 Small County Consolidated Waste Grant Agreement with Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)  Mr. Presnell introduced above item Morgan stepped out Taylor/V 4-0
11.	Approval of County Administrator’s Position Description  Mr. Presnell introduced above item V adoption of option 1/Hinson 4-0
12.	Approval and Acceptance of the Temporary Construction Easement from Community & Economic Development Organization of Gadsden County for the Construction and Repair of a Stormwater Conveyance and the Completion of Improvements Associated with the Alleviation of Traffic on County Roads, and Instruction for the Clerk to Record the Easement with a Copy of the minutes Showing Approval and Acceptance   Mr. Presnell introduced above item Morgan returned at this juncture V/Taylor 5-0
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
13.	Update on Various Board Requests  CDBG grants-another public hearing process done at citizen level if interested-David said  required citizen participation and couple of public hearings Taylor stepped out  Commission or fully authorized employee could conduct public hearing-most counties don’t do at commission meeting-supposed to be citizen driven looked to see if County Administrator had been authorized to conduct if interested, bring agenda at next meeting to have on record something to authorize to handle public hearings Holt no problem but wants to see evidence and have in writing Taylor returned V had questions-issue with Senior Center-terms expired and still making policies-what doing to revamp or replace   Presnell met with entire board and heated discussion-motion made and passed to adhere to by-laws-had meeting today at 2:00 and will have report tomorrow to see if issues addressed  if not corrected by next public hearing, can instruct him to not release funds until compliant V said hearing from seniors everything very cantankerous and want run smoothly Holt said want to see-first no control over board members, contact AAA about not abiding by by-laws-need in writing; after that do agenda item Taylor said really great when collaboration and thought would hear from executive director want to make sure proper process followed  Believe need to do something, concerned about holding up funding, need to get someone here to talk with them Holt said want in writing and sent to them-discussion better when email sent and something sent back Morgan asked if each member of board understand role-got affirmative vote-recommended communication best but not until they get it worked out and then come here Presnell said if held money for short period of time felt they would come V said morgan addressed his Presnell said some of board members Taylor said Chair was one of ones that refused to leave-bylaws clearly outline and they are not following- Holt said documentation is what talking about going to board requesting they take care of concerns Taylor said to add time they were to respond so not open-ended-2 weeks V asked about roadwork-paving-noticed and received calls where roads prepped and after laid not gone back to push dirt back and now that raining, dirt washing over asphalt-only getting complaints from second batch of roads not first Morgan asked about department head that chose to leave after last meeting and never received notification and asked to be
COUNTY ATTORNEY
14.	Update on Various Legal Issues  nothing Holt had concern and said Mr. Figgers brought up nuisance law-can’t govern what private citizens do on private property Holt said she had call someone shooting next to them and was nuisance Presnell said ordinance kicks in after 7:00 p.m. Taylor asked attorney about Ms. Smith, 3-4^th time appeared before Board-is Board liable David said nothing that could be done-totally private property and nothing county could do Hinson said had calls about abandoned cars/trucks on property-Presnell said had process-Hinson said they called code enforcement-Presnell asked if had tag-Hinson will have them contact Presnell
DISCUSSION ITEMS BY COMMISSIONERS
15.	Report and Discussion of Public Issues
	Commissioner Gene Morgan, District 3
	Commissioner Sherrie Taylor, District 5
	Commissioner Anthony “Dr. V” Viegbesie, District 2 If Presnell could announce CRPTA having public hearing here regarding Highway 12 Bike trail 24^th 6-
	Commissioner Eric Hinson, Vice Chair, District 1  Notify Board got traffic signal coming in soon and funded through Board Fountain Road off list-what date if grant yet- Lake Yvette East may could get grant for paving- Presnell said one could apply for- Talked to Big Bend Transit-Presnell said starting new route-kick-off 25^th Hinson said problem with communication and information-lot of folks don’t know have transportation Thanked County Manager and staff for help with City of Midway Thanked Board
	Commissioner Brenda Holt, Chair, District 4   Historical corridor from Chattahoochee-if they don’t know-it won’t go there-need to look at advertisement Run campaign to let citizens Taylor said sounds like a workshop Hinson sked if could use radio station for some of this-V said changed it-not any more-Hinson said could be put in budget Holt said sidewalks on Atlanta Street-want to look at September 18^th rural conference in Orlando-have to have input
Receipt and File
16.	Mediacom
UPCOMING MEETINGS
17.	August 23, 2016-Special Budget Meeting – 6:00 p.m.
MOTION TO ADJOURN Adjourned at 7:55