Board of County Commissioners

Gadsden County, Florida

Regular Public Meeting

December 20, 2016

6:00 p.m.

 

Present:               Sherrie Taylor, Chair, District 5

                                Eric Hinson, Vice Chair, District 1

                                Dr. Anthony “Dr. V” Viegbesie, District 2-attended by phone

                                Gene Morgan, District 3

                                Brenda Holt, District 4

                                Nicholas Thomas, Clerk of Court

                                Robert Presnell, County Administrator

                                David Weiss, County Attorney

                                Marcella Blocker, Deputy Clerk

 

INVOCATION, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

   Chair Taylor asked everyone to please make sure their phones were on silent.  She called the meeting to Order at 6:00 p.m.,

 

AMENDMENTS AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA

  Commissioner asked to address the change in the format of the Agenda before the meeting started and asked how it would affect First Amendment Rights.  Mr. Weiss said if there were concerns during an item, they would be able to address.

 

Commissioner Hinson appeared at this juncture of the meeting.

 

V said his first concern was citizens that wished to speak were placed lower down on the agenda and the format could adversely impact the commissioners’ comments.

 

Chair Taylor said this was tentative and they would still have the chance to speak at the end of the meeting.

 

Add resolution facsimile stamp as 6a and pull item 8 at attorney’s request.

 

Mr. Weiss said heard from attorney-Chair said if comfortable discussing-leave so can discuss.

 

Holt/V 5-0

 

AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS AND APPEARANCES

 

1.

Proclamation Honoring Kendrick David Evans

  Proclamation honoring Mr. Kendrick David Evans

 

CLERK OF COURTS

  Nothing to report

 

DISCUSSION ITEMS BY COMMISSIONERS

 

2.

Report and Discussion of Public Issues

 

 

Commissioner Brenda A. Holt, District 4

  Will wait to end

 

Commissioner Anthony “Dr. V” Viegbesie, District 2

Wait to end

 

 

Commissioner Eric Hinson, Vice Chair, District 1

  Asked status of Concord light-no change-will be after first of year due to rain-will install light and put on flashing and will have representatives on site to put on flashing mode

 

Asked if still moving forward with Brickyard Road

 

Last few years been asking for workshop or during meeting to have parks and recs come give update along with library, animal control, etc.-have one per meeting to give update

 

Was at Tax Collector’s office and found out have lot of beautiful parks in county

 

Elder Services

 

Holt asked if he wanted report from each department before meeting or during meeting-before

 

Housing-lot of seniors that live in trailers that have leaks or holes in floors

 

 

Commissioner Gene Morgan, District 3

  Question regarding annual report-know waiting to get final copy-have been sent out and will check on it

 

Wished everyone Merry Christmas

 

Hinson said would like to address & know how to follow-up with municipalities before meet with legislatures

 

Presnell said Midway hired lobbyist and County called all cities in to help fill out papers

 

 

Commissioner Sherrie D. Taylor, Chair, District 5

  Recently met with citizens that had issues with sub fire stations and learned issues that commissioners needed to be aware of-number of volunteers less-1) not interested and 2) length of time takes to get certified

 

Andre said he conducts annual inspections of equipment, etc. and asked for report from him; also learned when call 911 at times routed to wrong area-maybe Tallahassee, etc.

 

Economic Development-we know Comp plan needs tweaking and wanted to have conversation with developers to see what Board could do to help

 

She asked Board if willing to set meetings

 

Morgan said no problem good to always communicate and would like to have packet of information to go forward because want to provide the best service available-Chair Taylor agreed

 

Holt said with workshop-comp plan book is problem-need to go through section by section and information needs to be informative and need to compare with places

 

Taylor said administrator can bring back

 

She said there were concerns about format of agenda, purpose was citizens at start of meeting and leave before done and can hear what said and was trying to make agenda effective and efficient.

 

CONSENT

  Holt/Morgan Hinson asked to pull #4

 

5-0

3.

Approval to Accept the FY 2016 4th Quarter Report

 

4.

Approval to Dispose of Surplus Property and Equipment

Item pulled for discussion

 

5.

Approval of Minutes

a.       September 6, 2016-Regular Meeting

b.      October 4, 2016-Regular Meeting

c.       October 18, 2016-Regular Meeting

 

6.

Ratification to Pay County Bills

 

ITEMS PULLED FOR DISCUSSION

 

4.

Approval to Dispose of Surplus Property and Equipment

   Hinson said no date on computers and Mr. Presnell said was items at Health Department and they deemed it “junk”

 

Hinson asked next step-Presnell said will be given to vendors Board chooses-on-line sales and County was pleased

 

Hinson said lot of non-profits and students that might could benefit from computers-

 

Presnell said they could table item if choose so County IT could inspect to see if useable

 

Holt said no problem in tabling but was interested in if table maybe could use money to go toward non-profits.

 

Morgan asked if computers had been wiped and Presnell said was sure was

 

Taylor said only concern was if they refurbished, would it be more costly to county

 

Hinson motion to table/Holt 5-0

 

CITIZENS REQUESTING TO BE HEARD ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS

 

PUBLIC HEARINGS

 

7.

PUBLIC HEARING-Adoption of Ordinance No. 2016-022, an Ordinance of the Board of County Commissioners of Gadsden County, Florida, creating the Gadsden County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, 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; and adoption of Bylaws for the Gadsden County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.

   Mr. Presnell introduced above item.  Agenda item has proposed by-laws attached

 

Hinson said Item 7 not in his packet and not had chance to review

 

Hinson motion to table/Holt 4-1-Morgan opposed

 

8.

PUBLIC HEARING-Approval and Execution of Resolution 2016-030 and the Non-Exclusive Interlocal Subscription Agreement Granting the Green Corridor Property Assessment Clean Energy (PACE) District Owners for Qualifying Improvements to Commercial and Residential Properties

   Mr. Presnell introduced above item

 

Taylor announced public hearing and liked to have discussion so audience knows what about-asked for word from attorney and then would ask for input from citizens

 

Weiss said this would allow if want can apply for clean energy, solar, wind-can go to PACE provider and apply  County only allowing provider to come in and operate in county

 

Taylor asked if any input from audience-none

 

Holt asked when negotiations started with company-don’t know if negotiations-was request from property owner to have this-when-month to 6 weeks ago-asked when responded-couple of weeks after receiving-was changes made-yes-Holt asked why tabled after that-received call/email from attorney there were concerns to revisions made yesterday and they responded and he requested they pull it

 

She said lately they were pulling items at last minute

 

Taylor said felt

 

Holt move to table/Hinson 5-0

 

GENERAL BUSINESS

 

9.

Approval of Contractual Agreement between CenturyLink and Gadsden County BOCC

  Mr. Presnell introduced above item

 

Holt/Morgan  Hinson question-is this sole source-yes-asked to put out there so public knows-

 

Chair called for vote 5-0

 

10.

Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2016 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program-Florida JAG Direct

  

Holt/Morgan

 

Hinson said times things move so quick-public doesn’t understand what’s happening

 

Brian Alexander, Gadsden County Sheriff’s Department, Sgt of Narcotics TASK Force, appeared before the Board to explain what grant used for

 

Chair called for vote 5-0

 

11.

Lease of County Property-Bid Award

  Mr. Presnell

V/Holt Morgan asked Presnell to recap situation

 

Presnell said approached-took proposal to GHI, CRMC has right of first refusal, received their blessing, put out bid for space, only received one bid from Dr. Hart to provide services one Saturday/month

 

Morgan asked if he & Glaser reviewed-yes-costs incurred by county for them to be there-basically none-limited impact

 

Hinson said curious-was all she wanted one day month-wording there to approve 4 days month in hopes business grows-

 

Chair called for vote 5-0

 

Dr. Celeste Hart appeared before the Board-said already here 2 Mondays/month working with Mothers Care Network and have begun to establish in community

 

12.

Grant Documents to Complete Execution for Renovations to the Old Courthouse

  Mr. Presnell introduced above item

 

V move option 1/Holt 5-0

 

13.

Stevens High Removal of Regulated Asbestos Containing Materials Grant Agreement Document Execution

  Mr. Presnell said similar item

 

V/Holt second with question Holt said requested grant for Havana Elementary for business incubator and several grants can apply for

 

Taylor asked about matching grant-waived because small county

 

Morgan asked total costs-will have to be bid-Morgan said when removing/abating asbestos can be expensive

 

5-0

 

14.

USDA Rural Business Development Grant Submission

  Mr. Presnell introduced above item

 

Holt/V 5-0

 

COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR

 

15.

Update on Various Board Requests

  Crappie Tournament be held February 3rd & 4th

 

Request for responses for legal services-3 responses-rank or interview Holt interview

 

V interview process  Presnell said prior to next 3 meetings-workshops scheduled

 

Taylor said since so close-maybe have Administrator rank and then interview

 

Wished everyone Merry Christmas, having get-together at LR’s Thursday night

 

Morgan asked about Rosedale water project upgrade and hoped could get staff to do update for paper

 

V asked update on situation with Gadsden Senior Center

 

Morgan stepped out

 

New additions to Board but terms of longer serving members not addressed yet

 

Fire department volunteers

 

Morgan returned

 

V commented about comments Taylor made earlier regarding economic development and think obvious Secretary of Eco Opportunity-1 thing P&Z has is expediting and readdress

 

Public Works and Justin looked at and recommendation was reflective cracking due to slag road and not alarming-provide him with copy of finding

 

Hinson asked about Havana Heights apartment sidewalk-when will start-approved 2 weeks ago-will have to ask contractor intended start date and will get end date to him

 

Hinson asked in future for January-need to talk about mental health in County and need to look at homelessness because coincides –maybe some property county owns could be used to house people whose house burnt to ground for month or two

 

Presnell said new coalition tri-county-federal funds-

 

V said he requested Administrator look into specific case brought to his attention & not sure what can do in those situation and need to look into how can assist

 

COUNTY ATTORNEY

 

16.

 Update on Various Legal Issues

  Nothing to report-wished everyone merry Christmas

 

Holt said when talking about fire-reducing requirements because could not get volunteer firemen

 

Franklin County-commissioners are department heads and report to Board on what happening-Escambia comes in 1 hour before meeting and takes care of that

 

Some places sell internet thumb drives and was asked if possible here

 

Asked if could get grant for this building

 

Economic Development grant-can get USDA-get as much as possible for Stevens school to pump in as much as possible to get done

 

Receipt and File

 

17.

                a. Letter from FDOT

                b. Letter from Mediacom

 

UPCOMING MEETINGS

 

18.

January 3, 2017-Regular Meeting – 6:00 p.m.

 

MOTION TO ADJOURN

Adjourned 7:51