Board of County Commissioners

Emergency Meeting

Friday, July 31, 2020

1:00 p.m.

 

Present:               Dr. Anthony “Dr. V” Viegbesie, Chair, District 2

                                Brenda Holt, Vice Chair, District 4

                                Eric Hinson, District 1-appeared remotely

                                Gene Morgan, District 3-appeared remotely

                                Sherrie Taylor, District 5

                                Dr. Henry Grant, Interim County Administrator

                                Clayton Knowles, County Attorney

                                Marcella Blocker, Deputy Clerk

 

INVOCATION, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

  Chair welcomed everyone to emergency meeting and called it to order at 1:04 p.m.; asked everyone to bow heads for moment of silence and then led in Pledge of Allegiance 

 

CONSENT

  Asked to pull Item 3

 

Holt/V second

 

Hinson asked why Item 3 being pulled

 

Grant said language from FDOT that did not get made

 

5-0

 

1.

Midway Station Location

 

 

2.

Approval of the Return to Work, Employee Safety, and Social Distancing Policy 20-01

 

3.

Approval of the Title VI Nondiscrimination Policy and Plan

Item Pulled

 

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.

   Chair Viegbesie read aloud the COVID-19 statement.

 

  Taylor asked if they were looking to open County back up or if this was for policy and procedure

 

Grant said this was for employees that have been tested and them returning to work.

 

Hinson asked for clarification of Item 1

 

   Grant said was an interlocal Agreement between Midway and explained same.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GENERAL BUSINESS

 

4.

Approval of the CARES Act Plan for Agreement Number Y2292 with the State of Florida, Division of Emergency Management

   Grant introduced above item

 

  Morgan had questions-page 3 shows funding source $150,000; discussion was funding sources receiving $50,000 but shows only 1 funding source receiving $.  Morgan said needs to be specifically clarified before this document has his support

 

Morgan asked if approving document-no-approving plan-this is work in progress

 

Holt said was not in favor of any of three

 

Taylor said inclined to agree

 

  Hinson said due to time restraints, have workshop on Thursday but think should pass it.

 

  Taylor said with group that is consulting firm, when send over to State office for 

 

  Knowles said State may hold,

 

  Administrator said two items going somewhere is letter and plan

 

Holt made motion for approval of draft document/V second

 

  Hinson said based on past experience, if attorney said hold off, need to listen.  If have to pay back, have to pay back $1.? Million

 

  Morgan said his suggestion was to have someone from Integrity confirm-

 

  Knowles said not saying could not do that-would be remise if did not explain, tries to look 3-5 moves ahead.

 

  Yates appeared before the Board and said this was 100% consistent on what other counties were doing and how to administer the $7.9 Million.  Government would not micro-manage every single penny spent. 

 

  Taylor said to Commission and attorney, he advised and then two-stepped.  As Holt always have said, was here, why not do the work.  So much here missing, does not see where County will get any real help.  Said need to forego regular bid process and start broadband tomorrow. 

 

  Hinson said…think need to talk about some things before moving forward.

 

  V said what have heard from couple of commissioners, can schedule workshop on spreadsheet for Tuesday—carry vote.

 

  Taylor said to clarify motion on floor, can say project plan not specific

 

  Knowles said motion and second on floor-carry what on floor   

 

COMMISSIONER HINSON n

COMMISSIONER TAYLOR n

COMMISSIONER MORGAN y

COMMISSIONER HOLT y

CHAIR VIEGBESIE y

 

MOTION PASSED 3-2

 

 

  V asked Dr. Grant to look at calendar and schedule workshop

 

Taylor recommended not to do on Tuesday, but to do on Wednesday or Thursday and it be a workshop/meeting because time not friend.

 

  Taylor said spent how many hours on item and all needed was plan to be approved and today still have same plan that needed to be voted up

 

  V said workshop will be continuation until finish spreadsheet until get plan approved.  Understand Gadsden County one of few counties that have not submitted plan.  Have time constraints.

 

  Holt said listened to everything and reason pushed everything, need this

 

  Taylor left meeting at 1:50 p.m.

 

  Holt continued that this was proposed numbers and may not receive all this money.

 

  Grant said at the outset, this was a compilation of that Department heads, Sheriff’s department, Constitutional officers, was list of things submitted.

 

  Holt said Grant did tell them that.

 

5.

Approval of COVID-19 Resolution 2020-041

  Grant introduced above item.

  Received 2 emails that were identical from Karen and ? and read one of the 2 aloud for the record.

 

  V asked the PIO if there was anyone that wished to speak and there was no-one.

 

  Morgan recommended changing the curfew from 9:00 p.m. to Midnight to 5:00 a.m. and with regards to the mask mandate, asked to change it to strongly recommend. 

 

Holt asked if law enforcement was present.

 

  Cpl. Collins was present remotely.  Holt asked if there were any concerns from LEO within the County.  Collins said there businesses still open after the curfew that were not essential businesses and they were not in favor of changing the curfew at this time. 

 

  V said one of the requests from LEO was with regards on how to make the civil citation, should be added to the Tuesday regular meeting and document developed that was a non-criminal

 

  Hinson said felt needed to look at curfew being at least 10:00, felt 9:00 was just too early.  Also looking at 18 deaths in the County and this is serious issue. 

 

  V asked what number of deaths were for today, 18,

 

  V said law enforcement suggested 9pm to 6;

 

  Collins said ok with what curfew is now, willing to go with 10-5 but 12-5 causing huge problem.

 

  Holt agreed with what is now and with how hot now, thinking about one that recently died.  If people want to jog, will jog.

 

  Holt said did not address, if people with internet feel have concerns , they can contact law enforcement

 

  Hinson said was serious issue in County

 

  Morgan said jut because someone’s opinion was don’t mandate mask does not mean does not care

 

  Holt move approval curfew change from 10-6:00 am/Hinson second

 

    Major Wood appeared remotely before the Board.  Stated concerns he had with curfew.  In looking at numbers, if relax anything is not message he wants to send.

 

  Hinson said based on daily operations, he wanted to amend his motion/second.  V said they would have to wait to see if Holt wanted to amend her motion.

 

  Holt amended motion to draft as stated/Hinson second 

 

COMMISSIONER HINSON y

COMMISSIONER TAYLOR

COMMISSIONER MORGAN n

COMMISSIONER HOLT y

CHAIR VIEGBESIE y

 

PASSED  3-1

 

  Holt asked attorney to look at statements made today of internet cafes and legalities. 

 

 

 

 

 

MOTION TO ADJOURN

  Adjourned at 2:26 p.m. 

 

-
Status:

Markers:
Status:

Markers:
    0:00:00.0    

Place mini panel



Select format:   WMA/WMV   AAC/H264
  For mobile devices: Auto restore player panel
  Special mode for Android