INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

  Chair called meeting to order at 1:06 p.m., asked everyone to bow heads for moment of silence and then led in Pledge of Allegiance

CONSENT

  Taylor motion to approve Agenda/V second

COMMISSIONER HINSON

COMMISSIONER TAYLOR

COMMISSIONER MORGAN

COMMISSIONER HOLT

CHAIR VIEGBESIE

MOTION PASSED 4-0

CITIZENS REQUESTING TO BE HEARD ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS

  Chair V read aloud the statement.

 Due to COVID-19 and the efforts of the Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners to continue the practice of social distancing, Commissioners want to continue to hear from citizens under the Citizens Requesting to be Heard section of the agenda.

If citizens have any questions, comments, or concerns, please email CitizensToBeHeard@gadsdencountyfl.gov and anticipate receiving a response within 48 hours.

The Board of County Commissioners would like to thank everyone for their patience and flexibility during this time.

GENERAL BUSINESS

1.

Discussion with The Integrity Group Regarding the CARES Act

  Dr. Grant introduced the above item and announced there was a workshop scheduled for Tuesday before the regular Board Meeting.

Mr. Yates appeared remotely if there were any questions.

Chair V said he had no questions since there was a workshop scheduled.

  Commissioner Holt phoned in.

  Commissioner Taylor asked if they had received a list from the Commissioners concerning their individual “wish list” and if there were any concerns from the list.  She wanted to find out what they would be offering the County.

  Chair V asked if Mr. Yates wished to respond.

  Mr. Yates said they received excellent ideas for around the County and what will see in package is number of projects grouped under CARES Act funding; FEMA Public Assistance and Infrastructure relief.  Task order from County is to serve as staff to facilitate and assist in management of all opportunities.  Will also be amount of money going back to March 1 moving forward.  Has to be something that was unbudgeted and money has to be spent by December 30 of this year.  He said they were based in Tallahassee, been doing disaster recovery work for 12 years, background is law enforcement

Taylor asked if looking as reimbursement-Dr. Grant said all would be laid out at meeting.

  Holt thanked for having them present on Zoom.  Said was several people that rented out homes and did not get money back; Integrity will help get funding.  Important to get community people involved.

  Taylor asked if the $8 Million was entitlement or competitive-Dr. Grant said was certified for Gadsden County.  Dr. Grant said was allotted to the Counties and if improperly used, County had to pay back.

  V said had conversation with Mrs. Cicchetti and Antonio Jefferson and same concerns were expressed

  Holt said only chose Integrity, needs to be brought to Board and Board decides on that.  Need to make sure choose who wants, how they want them to do it.

  Morgan wanted to mention Mr. Yates comments, any information Integrity has, asked to receive it prior to Tuesday so they could review it.  Asked Dr. Grant if have reached out to each municipality and received anything back?  No, have talked to most of them and have been in on economic end of it and why workshop so important. 

  V dittoed Morgan’s comment, send synopsis before meeting on Tuesday; other concern was all municipalities should be aware of ramifications or restrictions and limitations that CARES Act has with participation and kind of things they should be thinking of in advance

  Holt said they were right where need to be; get those managers and get information; also, if need to schedule a Saturday morning or afternoon to make sure have and get whatever needed.  Also need to look at healthcare because of in event schools open and there is outbreak.

   Taylor asked if $ would have to be spent or could they be ear-marked? Would that be acceptable project to funds being spent as of December 31, 2020?

  Mr. Yates said answer was transaction had to be completed-cannot go into any construction past first of calendar year.  But there are opportunities of funding with FEMA for those cases.  Will see more Tuesday.

  Morgan said Yates answered his question.  Tuesday workshop was to focus CARES Act $.  On municipalities, did not know if Integrity had someone on their team

  Darryl Cox, Integrity Group, explained little of what they do. 

  Holt said some of cities’ projects and County’s would be same thing.

  V suggested be distributed based on population of municipalities.

  Taylor concurred and did not want to give pretense, her was along line of portion, with being said, they said they were willing to reach out.

  Hinson said need to put emphasis on homeless, infrastructure, broadband and preventative services to keep families from becoming homeless.

  Grant said he had been in contact with many of the cities but did not encourage them to put forth any projects because it was the County’s decision if they wanted to share the money with them.  If the money is not spent right, the County has to return the money to the State.

  V said should conclude this discussion at this time.

2.

Approval to Purchase COVID-19 Supplies

  Grant introduced the above item.  

  Holt asked that be repeated into the microphone.

  Holt motion to approve/V second

COMMISSIONER HINSON y

COMMISSIONER TAYLOR y

COMMISSIONER MORGAN y

COMMISSIONER HOLT y

CHAIR VIEGBESIE y

Passed 5-0

Taylor asked what supplies included-masks, sanitizer, gloves, bags for kits -total amount to be $35,000.

3.

Approval of COVID-19 Resolution 2020-039

  Grant introduced item

  V said last Friday couple of commissioners were unable to attend and civil citation of Resolution was omitted.  Have “full house” today and can be discussed.

  Taylor said one concern has with current Resolution, is 50+ gathering, have gone to 749 testing positive.

Spoke with Chief of Police in Havana

  V said have suggestions coming from Chiefs and coming from Sheriff.  If Sheriff is more lenient than Chiefs, suggest adopt Sheriff’s recommendation.  She concurred they go with lesser fee.  Think should try to get one or more on line at next meeting, did not want to do fines or fees at all. 

  Holt said if have average of 700 people infected, divide by 5%; don’t want to fine either, but for lesser of fine. They are invited to meetings every Friday.  Need to have something in place.

  Morgan said as has mentioned many times, strongly recommend give thought and recommend change mandate to strongly recommend.

  V said if recall, he was not one in favor of mandate, but things changed.  If you were member of one of the families of one of the nine that have died, maybe you would feel the need to preserve the lives of people

If do the right thing, won’t be cited $25.00. 

  Taylor said people still out there with 50+ gatherings, wanted to know if should roll back amount and have they opened the County back up?  Grant said no, back to phase 1.    Said heard Sheriff should utilize time on more serious crimes, did not know of anything more rampant than this virus.  This is not passive, all need to be on-board.  Asked Board to go back to 10 or less.

  Holt agreed with Taylor.  Will affect Road and Bridge and other departments.  What will happen if don’t tighten up.

Taylor said so move /V second

  Hinson said wanted to see both entities work together and provide common language and would know that was supported by both.  This is serious issue in Gadsden County.

  Taylor move back to phase 1-total number of gatherings to 10 and adding the new fines from Sheriff Department (civil citations)/V

COMMISSIONER HINSON y

COMMISSIONER TAYLOR y

COMMISSIONER MORGAN n

COMMISSIONER HOLT y

CHAIR VIEGBESIE y

Passed 4-1 Commissioner Morgan opposed

MOTION TO ADJOURN

 Adjourned at 2:17 p.m.