INVOCATION, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

  Chair welcomed everyone to the workshop and called it to order at 1:06 p.m., asked for moment of silence and then led in Pledge of Allegiance

CONSENT

CITIZENS REQUESTING TO BE HEARD (3-Minute Limit)

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.

   Dr. V read COVID-19 statement aloud.

  There were no emails to be addressed.

GENERAL BUSINESS

2.

Final Comments on Overall Spending Plan Contents

  Gary Yates appeared before the Board. Couple of changes to mention:

1)      Loans for businesses-did couple of things-add info to portal and links and information and added sum of $150,000 to GCDC and move some money upfront on workforce training.

  Chair asked Commissioners if there were any questions. 

  Holt asked to go through the changes 

1)      First item is grants-$1.2 Million

a)       Landlord/tenant-need to look at

He said needed to identify criteria

V wanted to make sure safeguards in place so tenants can apply for late payments and landlord could apply for delinquent payments so there were no duplicates.

  Grant asked when say up to $5,000 or $3,000, was that per tenant and he said yes, could have to be.

  Knowles said have 3-bedroom house, all on lease, how would prevent all from trying to collect.

  Fredricka appeared before Board and suggested it be particular location with number and street  

  Taylor said had program similar to this with School Board-always paid directly to vendor-better tracking

  V commended that train of thought.

  Fredricka re-appeared before the Board.  Holt said was more concerned with other side of things. 

  V said $3,000 for 5 or less and $5,000 for

  Holt asked if knew if large number of people that were affected about this?

She said forms could still be filled out and get utilities taken care.

Yates asked if every applicant received $5,000-how many would that take care of – 450 peeps

He said on utility issue-thinking of

  Taylor had questions on first 3 items:

1.       Delinquent rent-he said wanted to make sure duplicate payments not being made

Dr. Grant said $240,000 does come from CARES but not CARES Act Funding-not CARES funding-comes from SHIP program.  There so no duplication.  Taylor said part of $8 Million

  V said his understanding, SHIP would be one handling

  Gadsden Resident Assistant Grant-are there any other programs out there-how is this validated? How do make sure this is tangible?  What talking about besides utilities and food? 

  Holt said with $3,000 – utilities will come out and balance left, clothes, food or whatever necessity they see is what it would cover.

  Taylor said wanted to see in writing because heard on numerous occasions would be audited and if not spent correctly, County responsible. 

  Holt said not sure can enforce any criteria-can say for living expenses but not generated by County-

V stepped out at 2:09 p.m.

V returned at 2:10 p.m.

Morgan joined meeting

  Holt stepped out

Holt returned

  Hinson said big needs-broadband-school about to start back; hospital – need to address big needs and then can address small stuff.  Just purchased 2 EMS ambulances

  V said did not know if had access to spreadsheet, CARES is Covid related and had to be spent immediately.  Hinson said did not know why talking about bridges and roads and did not know if Chair understood broadband.  People working from home and need to address broadband now with school starting back and people working from home.  Should have had a meeting before this meeting.

  Taylor wanted to address something Morgan said-intent was only to let them know what funding was, not with regards to spending of funding. 

Looking at few things-GCDC-looks like they are doing Yates’ job-looks like he would only be a portal.  What would they be doing for $800,000?  Who is Big Bend Minority Chamber?  Knowles said thought was Antonio Jefferson was part of that.  V said thought they had a presence in Leon County. 

  Holt said did not have a minority Chamber and nothing to do with regular Chamber.

  Taylor said not in favor of giving $150,000-give GCDC and Chamber $.  Concerned with spending money-no-one can tell her about Big Bend Minority Chamber-was told Antonio Jefferson part of it but he also part of GCDC-is that a conflict? 

  Yates said they would have no part in application process – concept would be they take over communicating with businesses in applying and how can

CARES Act could pay for that.

  Holt asked where listed on list-not listed-additional $150,000 broadband. 

Holt said wanted to propose this to Board-have Health Dept. doing testing & Gadsden County Community Health Council-she went to both Saturdays.  The need funding-been doing it for weeks.  If going to put any money out-will be ones already working.  Agree with Hinson on issue with hospital, got to have architect and project manager that builds hospitals. Will work in phases.

  V asked where IT was in getting the communication working?  Working on it. 

  Knowles said had questions from Morgan concerning broadband-was $950,000 

  V said while on broadband-need to be thinking of initial investment dollars.  IT needs to be brought into this conversation

  Holt said was concerned if initial stage was enough-wanted to make sure they covered that.  Can come back and adjust numbers.

  Yates said $950,000 will cover but can also bring in FEMA money to facilitate.  Need to be writing projects now. 

Holt said worried about medical side.

  Hinson said 2-3 projects need to hit-1) Broadband; 2) hospital; 3) homeless issue.  Need to have someone come in to discuss costs of broadband.  Hard for student given computer but has no internet services, or aunt working from home and has no services.  Don’t need to talk about HUD or FEMA anymore, confusing residents – need to stay focused on CARES Act. 

  V said if look at Agenda, they said would focus on CARES Act column. 

  Taylor said to Fredricka-what concerned her most-good with Small Business program $1.2 Million; good with Resident Assistance Program; think mortgage and rent program needs to go back to SHIP; ok with broadband-is priority;

  Hospital-looked at $800,000 for build-out

  Yates said for planning purposes for County, why use CARES $ when can use FEMA?

  Taylor said if get grant for $350,000, how can come back and ask for reimbursement? 

  Jack McLean said $350,000 not grant money-but City dollars

  Taylor said she would yield.

Taylor stepped out at 3:09 p.m.

   Holt asked if was looking at extra legal expenses for attorney

Holt said Sheriff’s Department communications-was that not covered-Holt said need outline on that.  Grant said as go through projects-will be greater detail provided. 

Taylor returned at 3:12 p.m.

Holt asked if looking at

  Hinson said need to increase that amount when talking about homelessness about $100,000+

  Mr. Yates said Board will decide the numbers-money has to be spent by December 30^th.  Can continue with FEMA money after. 

  Taylor asked about $300,000-funding source was CRA-wanted to make sure no conflict. 

  Jack McLean re-appeared before the Board remotely.  Yes, local CRA dollars- when dollars received, will be returned to CRA. 

  Holt said counties don’t win against CRA’s-have to fight that fight with the lobbies.    If a hurricane hits, where going today.  Large amount of mobile homes in area

  V said if can spend CARES money, can look into getting contractor and getting design real quick.  

  Holt said to let them look at that and see what possibilities.  Have new population of people that will have to go somewhere.  Certain amount of marketing dollars have not spent telling people to have evacuation and sheltering plan.  Need plan, something in place where going a, b, c.  Need to make sure can cover people in nursing; need in-house testing, quick turn-around testing for County employees;

  Yates said those were excellent points-have money in for 2 people from each district and City of Quincy to go out sites and how can come operational ASAP. 

  Holt said Eye Associates was on right-hand side of hospital but during hurricane they would be closed. 

  V said the Administrator, Meeks had a walk-through with Emergency Management at the hospital.  Holt said that was not the same thing.  Have to have architect that specialized in that. 

  Grant said the Chair was talking about something temporary-depended on what they wanted to do. 

3.

Final Comments on Resident and Business Grant Eligibility Standards

a.       Consensus on Grant Eligibility Standards

4.

Next Steps

a.       CARES Plan to be finalized by The Integrity Group

b.      BOCC to formally approve plan at the July 31^st Emergency Meeting

c.       County to submit plan to FDEM by August 4, 2020

MOTION TO ADJOURN

Adjourned at 3:42 p.m.