WELCOME

    Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting at 5:01 pm

INVOCATION, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

  Chair asked for a moment of silence and led in the pledge of allegiance.

CITIZENS REQUESTING TO BE HEARD ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS

Due to COVID-19 and the efforts of 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.

   Commissioner V read the above statement.

   Tari Winkle, 2483 Shady Rest Road, wrote to the board about the broadband issue.

  Christina Travis, wrote to the board about the broadband issue.

   Bishop Green came before the board regarding the Federal Legislative Community Projects Request. Asked to look at the priority look for the greatest impact for the citizens. Whatever will bring the most benefits to the most citizens.

   Don Stewart appeared remotely before the board regarding rural broadband for the citizens.

   Stanley Sims appeared before the board regarding the Federal Legislative Community Projects Request. The importance of having one voice during a global pandemic.

GENERAL BUSINESS

1.

Approval of Federal Legislative Community Projects Request to be Submitted for Gadsden County (Edward J. Dixon, County Administrator)

  Dixon introduced the above agenda item. Congressman is asking for available projects. These projects are competing agents Jacksonville. Pat Thomas park, Sheriffs Office complex, and other projects. Five combined programs. All that is required is the vote for programs. Commission has to also approve programs for cities.

  Chair stated that the congressman needs this as soon as possible. Once turned in they will not be funded until 2022.

  v asked about is this a guaranteed amount or is this for all of distract 5.

  Chair stated that this money is not written in stone. This has not been done in 8 years. Has to go through house and senate.

  v asked if this is the amount if it is for just the county or is it for the 5^th district of Florida. Is it only for Gadsden County.

Dixon stated it is not just for the county. Did not write to that number.

V stated that this project is not prioritized. He asked are the municipalities

D the congressman’s office is the contact. Not aware of any other contacts.

V the BOCC is not the liaison for the municipalities. Get the packages to the congressman’s office for them to find funding for the county.

  g is there are any other cities asking for funding

D stated Gretna and midway are asking for funding. Its first come first

G this is not funding from cares act funding

D this is not

  h stated that congressman stated that he wanted one big project. Four interstate changes are a priority. Infrastructure. This is a one time deal why not get the big project out of the way. Civic center. Host the people. A lot of this we can do on us

  d also that there are two programs coming out. One is for infrastructure. Second is for utilities, such as broadband. This proposal is for the understanding that there is funding for those other projects

C stated that these are time sensitive. Don’t always have plans in place.

D stated that other counties will not submit

C look at these projects not just vote them through. Have to move in a hurry.

  h stated that the county is about to lose an opportunity. Broadband services and interstate exchanges. Have one thing and not have too many projects.

  c stated that they needed to go through the projects.

H its up to both up to city and county to work together.

  D state that project a is covid shelter,

Include electric vehicles, if the property is not big enough add money to expand. This is expensive but they are

H stated that state will h

B is BOCC and admi strive complex. Redesigned sheriff’s office complex.

C the original sheriffs complex had a court room does this include that.

D stated no it does not have a court room. This has been moved by zoom. The reason is because the judges do not have to move.

N asked if the clients of the jail is that included

D stated no. there was request for telephone like booth, privacy booth for one-on-one court season for court. Unless you have court most of them. This

N asked with the five projects that have been presented what puts us in the best position to be receive funding.

 D stated that we do not own the land or the interstate. Show different agencies our plans.

N since we can not have those ready.

D participation in every pot of money to increase chances for success

  v stated 2 trillion dollars for infrastructure is coming after covid. Interchanges, water, broadband is coming through other agencies.

C stated that they need to get ready. Can get healthcare done first. Can’t wait

  h stated we have bridges collapsing in the county. Why are we not focusing on bridges and public health? Have to take care of the citizens first. Serious projects that we can’t afford.

C can’t send them in before infrastructure.

H septic tanks are an issue, look at big projects that we can’t afford.

C stated that it needed to come to the board.

D midway said that they would be submitting a project.            

  v stated on item b that we have here admin complex do we have a location for that in the city of Quincy.

D no we have not

  d stated item c is the saint Hebron park.

G asked if that project been submitted

D not to federal level but it was submitted to CDBG

N asked if we have heard from that grant.

C stated that she wanted the pool inside because of liability’s

V that it is at the very bottom because of liability. Let us be aware that it is also a disaster relief shelter.

  d item d is pat Thomas park. The county has acquired that property but had to halt that project.  Wants to add a new piece.

C stated that tourist around water. It makes money

D stated RVs makes money for the county the

  d item e is the boys and girls club. Has a piece of land by the library. Updated numbers to make it covid friendly. Get facilities  

H right now the BOCC were trying find land for a community center. Would like to put that building in Havana.

C approved this one for that location.

H need a building like family dollars buildings. It may cost less.

C stated try to get the money first.

H he was not part of these projects.

C get the projects in.

V getting additional projects form the municipalities or are they adding

D approve our projects and the municipalities projects. The board will not meet again.

C stated that we can meet again.

  g stated that they cannot approve what they do not see. Does not know when they will present.

Motion green/v

  h stated that midway had already have the information ready for the project.

C asked if they want to meet on Monday.

G stated that it’s not that they don’t want that project it’s just that we don’t have it. That it is not ready to present, and can not vote on what we do not have.

H do we have everything in for were we place the building.

  v asked g if he could amend his motion to include if the municipalities submit any proposals.

C stated that there is a need for a vote     

K stated that there is a motion and second

D approve the plans.

C vote on these.

voice vote called

passed

5-0  

N asked if the information was not available do, we meet.

D no we would cancel the meeting.

C asked for a time for the meeting.

D stated 5pm

   H please give feed back so I can tell the citizens.

D none of the commissioners have seen this information until today because no one has seen until today.

MOTION TO ADJOURN

Chair adjourned at 6:48 pm