Board of County Commissioners

Gadsden County, Florida

Regular Public Meeting

January 3, 2017

6:00 p.m.

Present:               Sherrie Taylor, Chair, District 5

                                Eric Hinson, Vice Chair, District 1

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

                                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 called meeting to order at 6:00  p.m., asked everyone to stand for prayer and led in Pledge of Allegiance.  Roll call taken
AMENDMENTS AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA  Pull Item 7 Morgan/Hinson 5-0
AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS AND APPEARANCES
CLERK OF COURTS  Holt asked if Christmas decorations were considered for the good of the Public; had standing practice to give $1,000 to City.  She said to encourage tourism, asked if could by decorations now while on sale; Mr. Thomas pointed out anything over $500 required approval by Board V said glad Holt brought up-was looking at discussing decorating the Courthouse to make very Christmassy for the holidays.  Mr. Thomas said intent of Ordinance was to cover minimal expenses for swearing in of commissioners, etc. and cautioned them. Morgan said didn’t mean to sound like Scrooge but did not need to do it. Attorney agreed with Clerk in not stretching things too far because hard to rein in. Holt said anything could be stretched too far and was asking to look into it while on sale. V said would be a non-recurring expense Morgan asked how front window in this building was done; staff did and did make small purchase for lights. Taylor said did like concept of idea, give manager time to come back to board
DISCUSSION ITEMS BY COMMISSIONERS
1.	Report and Discussion of Public Issues
	Commissioner Brenda A. Holt, District 4  Thanked Housing Department on grant received today Funding for firemen training with State and they need to go after that Presnell said workshop planned before next meeting for fire services to cover number of issues
	Commissioner Anthony “Dr. V” Viegbesie, District 2  Would like to go back to item he suggested at previous meeting-special fire service district because at last meeting fire service in unincorporated areas and suggested Administrator look into possibility of using assessment funding for unincorporated area Wants update National Incident Management System certification & would increase chances of receiving funds for services needed Mural Image-asked status Teen Court program-asked specific questions and wants updates so can answer questions when asked by citizens.
	Commissioner Eric Hinson, Vice Chair, District 1  Thanked Board for workshop today and hoped everyone will have an awesome New Year Concord Light-Mr. Presnell asked Curtis Young to come forward.  Due to rain won’t be this week but should have done by next Friday Wants to hold more conversations regarding Midway with community that had one way in and out-dangerous zone Havana-what going on in front of Hampton Heights when sidewalk will be put in.  Curtis re-appeared-contractors shut down for Christmas break
	Commissioner Gene Morgan, District 3
	Commissioner Sherrie D. Taylor, Chair, District 5  Thanked them for following Agenda Asked if ready to meet with other cities-V said sooner better Presnell said had communication with school board-Taylor asked how soon-had not heard back She congratulated BOCC for winning Christmas decorations Disclosed had conversation with man with grant and asked attorney to get with Administrator to help move forward Holt asked if they did not need to know what problem was-Presnell said would come before Board Shiloh Park-She said parks not maintained regularly and road washed away along side
CONSENT  Morgan/Holt 5-0
2.	Approval of Minutes a. BOCC/Gretna Workshop Minutes May 12, 2016 b. BOCC Special Meeting Minutes-November 1, 2016 c. BOCC Regular Meeting Minutes-November 22, 2016
3.	Ratification to Pay County Bills
4.	Public Officials Bond Review
ITEMS PULLED FOR DISCUSSION
CITIZENS REQUESTING TO BE HEARD ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
PUBLIC HEARINGS
5.	PUBLIC HEARING-Adoption of Ordinance No. 2017-001, An Ordinance of the BOCC of Gadsden County, FL, amending the Tourist Development Plan, providing for repeal, severability, modifications that may arise from consideration at public hearing, and correction of scrivener’s errors, and providing for an effective date  Mr. Presnell introduced above item Weiss said couple goals and objectives deemed had been met and they wanted them removed due to them being met. Holt/Hinson  Morgan asked for public input Taylor announced public hearing and asked if anyone wished to speak-no-one did Morgan said noticed on impact rankings-who came up with that Attorney said words don’t mean more than numbers were  Sonya came up with wording and TDC approved Issue-talking about $8,000 and concerned about feedback from local bed tax Holt said not getting much input from locals Morgan said curious on how gathering info-if increase bed tax-may hurt in end-asked if survey been done-no-These are questions they need to expect and think need to look at Taylor felt questions were valid and asked how came up with amount and agreed When check other areas, TDC there Taylor said did not see why should be held up and in hearing some explanation, something in place that Taylor said would like to see what collected thus far. Presnell said 3 bed tax collectors on staff Chair called for vote 5-0
GENERAL BUSINESS
6.	Training Cost-Department of Homeland Security Basic SWAT Training Course in Barnwell, SC  Mr. Presnell introduced above item V/Holt 5-0
7.	Approval and acceptance of the Perpetual Drainage Easement from Ingram’s Marina, LLC for the construction and maintenance of a drainage system from Cook’s Landing Road to Lake Talquin, and instruction for the Clerk to record the Easement with a copy of the minutes showing approval and acceptance Pulled
8.	Board Direction on County Auditing Services  Presnell introduced  Holt said bid contract V asked if contract was bidded, if not why and why just coming to Board-Presnell said part of contract with current firm that they could choose to exercise or not Morgan approval for option 1/no second-died Taylor said reason didn’t second firm had done great job but don’t see what cost would be-agreed to keep cost same Holt moved to bid contract-died for lack of second V moved to extend 1 year at $130,000 and then bid/Taylor second Hinson asked motivation-V said expired and need someone to do audit Hinson said needed to address elephant in room because had engineering firm & Waste Pro that expired and said was management and looking at Administrator letting contracts expire-not fair to citizens V said that was his question-procrastination-needed to be addressed so don’t find selves in bind and was why pushed for succession plan.  But don’t want to go without audit Presnell said auditors would finish handling 2016-and was at fault with Waste Pro in past-but now have way to track contracts Hinson wanted to go through process Holt said nothing against company, Chair called for vote-V asked for roll call- V yes Hinson yes Taylor yes Holt no Morgan yes
9.	Appointment of an Alternate Representative to the Capital Regional Transportation Planning Agency   Mr. Presnell introduced above item Hinson voted for Taylor/Holt 5-0
10.	Approval of a Proclamation in Honor of Health for Hearts United Leadership Unit  Mr. Presnell introduced V approve resolution and Chair to present/Holt  5-0
11.	Approval of Signatures for Special Assessment Liens and Rehabilitation Contract-SHIP  Mr. Presnell introduced Holt/V 5-0
12.	Approval and Signature for Satisfaction of Special Assessment Lien State Housing Initiative Partnership Down Payment and Closing Cost Program  Mr. Presnell introduced Holt/V 5-0
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
13.	Update on Various Board Requests  1-5 special meeting for proposals of legal services – 3 applied Taylor asked if they would have common questions to ask firms-yes V asked questions about experiences David said would hesitate to get too deep in conversation Presnell said each have packet to have time to review-used form from last year that Mr. Lawson developed and felt transportation very important V mentioned areas that needed to be looked at - ranking Presnell said they used form used at last evaluation Taylor asked if anyone had heartburn to put back out-asked for opinion from each on how wanted to proceed Holt said workshop scheduled-had no problem in holding and meeting with them Hinson concurred and whatever Board decided V said concurred with other fellow commissioners-workshop scheduled Morgan felt workshop good idea and attorney with healthcare background critically important along with land use experience-firm that had team of attorneys that specialize in different areas Morgan stepped out Taylor said to move forward with workshop Morgan returned Hinson said look at aggravations-bring to board so all can see-liability insurance-potential conflicts, etc Presnell said advertised as special meeting so decision could be made-asked if now wants workshop Hinson suggested to keep as is-if want to vote can-if not-don’t V said also have option to table if choose to do so at special meeting
COUNTY ATTORNEY
14.	Update on Various Legal Issues  Congratulated Chair on Board on moving through agenda Taylor said Holt has asked him to research item and get back with Board-Holt said they receive agenda 2 weeks ahead of time and time to research and get with Board Weiss said understand people deserve advance notice and assured them as soon as he’s aware of issue, will immediately make Administrator aware Hinson asked if Presnell could breakdown and make everything same so would be easier to look at and pointed out not bid but RFP Holt pointed out if they include more in retainer than County needs,
Receipt and File
15.	Mediacom Letter
16.	FDOH Letter-EMS Grant-December 7, 2016
UPCOMING MEETINGS
18.	January 5, 2017-Special Meeting – 4:00 p.m. January 17, 2017-Regular Meeting-6:00 p.m.
MOTION TO ADJOURN  Adjourned 7:19 p.m.