CALL TO ORDER, INVOCATION, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

  Chair called the meeting to order.

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.

 NeSmith read the above.

PUBLIC HEARING:

Introduction / Overview (Edward J. Dixon, County Administrator)

1.

  Ms. Daniels came before the Board 

2.

  $10,000 for deadlines that were missed (right??), 10k deductible for insurance if County is in trouble. Increased contingency reserve from 10k to 50k

  Green-if things extend 10k is there a reserve. Daniels says yes.

  Holt- did CHP give numbers. Dixon- no because under community situation, numbers not available until next year. Rates based on community rates right now. Holt- 4% over what number though? How do you adjust for it? Dixon-can’t adjust for it now, it’s based on community rate. Sheriff pull out will be next year so 4% will go in next fiscal year. Dixon left workshop due to DOT issue.

Hinson entered workshop at 4:10.

  NeSmith- 10k is set aside for liability. Daniels, yes as well as 50k for reserve contingency.

  NeSmith- we have actions against the county now? Opal, yes just don’t know the actual number now.

  Daniels- 4.47% increase in CHP health insurance. Already included in 21/22 budget.

  Holt wants the number it’s going to increase over. 

 Green- estimate of what number all single payers of insurance the county will be covering.

  Included funding for legislative assistance for commissioners.

  Public works, included additional $6million mowing crew and equipment. County has 700 miles of paved roads, says private contracts is about $175-200 an acre. Not feasible to do private contracts. Mowing roadways is covered by gas tax.

  Hinson- private do district 1 or 2, county cover the others. Current employees can do some areas. Holt says it can be brought up in a meeting.

  NeSmith- been a cost analysis for private company to cut some areas vs the county? Holt- not that she knows of. Problem is they mow but you have to cut the limbs, etc. Also do the dirt roads also. Private company didn’t want to do the dirt road. NeSmith- privatized?

  Hinson- having to replace the prisoners who mow. Focus on the mowing and not cut limbs back. Holt- check with Counties Association can tell how many are privatizing mowing in small counties like GC.    

  Hinson- Can hire temp people and only pay them for 3 months.

  Daniels- continuing with striping program. 150k for road striping.  Increase bulk pick up, currently do it twice a year. Looking to add a 3^rd in the summer.

  Green- 150K in striping, have each district allotted to them or one big pot? Daniels, 1 big pot. Not sure how public works department allocates that funding. Holt- can have that conversation. Can break it down by road. Need to know if we’ll apply for more funding by FDOT.

  green-2^nd question, bulky items. Can we suggest marketing and flyers for where they can take bulk items? Most don’t know where the county pickup spots are. Daniels- that’s part of the Love Where You Live campaign. Media campaign, when and where the spots are. Green- wants to make sure it says where they can take it and not that the county picks it up at their house. Holt- it’d be better if that advertisement came first.

  NeSmith- 150k, where did that number come from? Daniels- it’s from last year. We don’t budget for grants, it’s general funds and special revenue funds. NeSmith- how much did we use? Daniels- isn’t sure. NeSmith- own equipment? Daniels- isn’t sure on that. NeSmith- says district 3 hasn’t been striped in a long time.

Dr. V entered workshop at 4:30.

  NeSmith- asks questions to determine if 150k is enough for in house. Holt- apply for striping money through the state.  Daniels- the 150k is just in house but can apply for more through the state.

  Hinson- need to put a contract to see how long the striping lasts. Hinson circle, roads have been resurfaced but can’t see a stripe at all. Holt- have that as a discussion item. Reminds budget is set but it’s moveable within that.

  Dr. V- Where the budget amendment comes in during the fiscal year. 2 types of striping they use. Need to get with the contractor and find a way to scrape the old stripe so it lasts longer. Thought they were working on buying striping equipment so it’s not contracted out. Where are we on that? Daniels- isn’t sure, public works had a meeting so she can’t say.  Dr. V- 3 looking at buying; pot hole, striping, and another that was earmarked.

  Holt- get contractors in the office.

  Hinson- suggests not talking about it and just doing.  Suggests surveillance on most prominent curbs with trash.  Holt- had a process with a judge about dumping, if you ask people to put items out by the road, they will. If you tell people to put items by the road then they’ll put others.

  Green- should be expecting something about cameras in hotspot communities, said about 2. Had that conversation? Daniels- hasn’t had that conversation. Can look into it.

  NeSmith- last month or so and has stopped to take pictures to share on social media. Have to play a role in changing the mindset that you can ruin the county.  Holt- if you encourage the dump/landfill in the first place then it won’t be there anyway. What do the business people say who are trying to come here?

Green stepped out at 4:46PM.

   Code Enforcement ordinances to refine them so there are more stringent rules. Only one code enforcement officer and look at animal control. Both need to be revamped and looked at. Holt- get someone to look at them.

  Looking to move storage tanks underground.

  Looking to continue to fund Love Where you Live and pick it up Mondays so community orgs can participate.

  EMS- Looking to continue service, medical director contract renewed.

  75k in budget for heart monitor equipment and maintenance for EMS.

Green returned to workshop at 4:50.

Dr. V Stepped out at 4:50pm

  Need 2 additional ambulances. 2-400k. Backups were down so they couldn’t pull from anywhere. Fleet is aging. Didn’t allocate all of American rescue plan funding.

  Green- able to get any grant assistance for ambulances? Grant funding is hit or miss. Can’t solely depend on it.

Dr. V returned at 4:52.

  Sometimes there are no grants available. Nothing included in this budget for ambulances but wanted to bring awareness that it is a need.

  NeSmith- How many EMS vehicles are there? 6 or 8. Need to replace at least 2. NeSmith- those 2 not in fleet are ready? Daniels- no, at some point they become too old to be in the game safely. NeSmith- how many of the 8 should retire? 2. 6 are able to be in use now. NeSmith how much? Daniels- $250k. Nesmith- not budgeted? No. Last purchased one 2 years ago.

  Dr. V- Purchased 2 with CARES. Should have bought 4.  

  Holt- several agencies came together, can’t fix them but can do a lease to own program. 

  Daniels- building inspection, expecting a decline due to using a private provider. Cities are contracting with other providers.

  Dr. V- Supervisor of elections situation, has statute number for mandate of accessible canvassing areas. Statute 102.141SS48101.5614 SS48 101.05.72 Section 10102.66 Section 4

  Daniels- code enforcement and animal control need to be revamped. Looking at them.

  Mobile medical unit- cost reimbursement, have to pay for the unit then reimbursed. Indigent county surtaxed then reimbursed for it.

 NeSmith reimbursement.

   GCDC and Chamber of Commerce. 60k for both GCDC and CC. GCDC requested about 160k as before but currently have 60k for both. Have a small amount (5k) for Hoover Woods tax relief funding as per contract.

  NeSmith- asks for clarification on Hoover.

  Holt- GCDC, that board is set up by BOCC. If you don’t want it, you can disband it, can tell them what to do as far as economic development. You control that board. CC is a members group, can get them to encourage economic development. Should have someone on the board that represents the county. You fund what you want to happen.       

  Green- haven’t been able to see what we’ve benefitted from chamber of commerce. Can see from GCDC.  Can we increase what we’re giving to GCDC vs CC (who doesn’t work for us).

  Holt- up to the board to decide.

  Hinson- great relationship with CC, also GCDC. Have to have a goal for them to shoot for.

Fully fund. Invest in infrastructure. Should fund the CC, help a lot of folks out. Should fund both. Should have someone in the office to drive trains bc commissioners are “too busy”.

  V- don’t think we should abandon the chamber. Doesn’t see why the GCDC and CC can’t work together, they shouldn’t be competition especially if they are funded by the County. Don’t alienate the chamber.  Members of the Board want to severe ties with GCCC, it is not operating in the way it should be. Have a conversation, don’t get defensive.

  Green- Have to agree with Hinson. Doesn’t have documentation to see what the money is going towards. Would like to see the two departments work together. Wants to see what they’ve done up until this point.

  NeSmith- hasn’t heard of any differences (struggles) between the two, didn’t hear of any animosity. Thinks it’s important to state, every city/town, they have a department of economic development. Counties and cities have a point person within their own county/city. Issue is we have to have an office of economic development within the county. Out of all these years, why isn’t there an office of economic development?   

  Holt- we’ve had one. Hired them, the chamber said no because that’s what they did. Chamber felt it was territorial. Person/department lasted 2 years. Board looked at it to work with counties. GCDC was developed. Outsides (CC) considered it to be competition. When the Boards change, opinions change.

  NeSmith- Every city in the nation/County, has an office of economic development. We don’t. We need an office, BOCC board of economic development. 3 people to start out with. Would like to look at smaller counties to compare. Holt suggests using GCDC as that.

  Hinson- Chamber brought in Trulieve. Divide money equally according to their roles. Don’t take money from general fund but American Rescue Fund instead. People need help and information.  Suggests 200k from American rescue, for Office of Economic Development. Take money from ARF to fund everyone. Holt- how much do you want to fund each. Hinson- wants to put it aside to put more time into getting numbers.

  Dr. V- Suggests, GCDC as economic development for county. They already have the people. Let CC do what they do. Suggests 160k for GCDC and 60k for Chamber. GCDC is the EDC.

  Green- thinks it’s been the best discussion. Suggests a director of department that can combine the two. Have a director. 60k across the board, 60 for each and create a 60k position for a director position. 

  NeSmith- merge everything, bring executive director in house. Allocate 240k for that person to have a staff. To work with the county.

  Holt- 20k for chamber,

 Dr. V- Can’t have a champaign taste with a malt liquor wallet. Don’t have the revenue now to exceed the 120K already allotted. American rescue is a 1-time thing. What happens when it ends?

  Holt- money gets pulled from other positions so stay within the 120k. 100K to GCDC, 20k to CC

  NeSmith is confused. Daniels explains more.

  Holt- how do you want the 120k divided. NeSmith, keep the budget as 60k each. Wants changes for the budget.

  Hinson- encourages going to the association of counties. Wants someone within the county to assist businesses with grants, etc. Will bring numbers to next meeting. Look at working with Capital City Chamber.

  Green- based on funding of ARP, can the money be moved into the budget to create the director’s program.

  Daniels- have to be cautious. ARP funding has to be related to COVID. Has to be related to pandemic.

  NeSmith- confused as to the 3 entities (CC, GCDC, proposed new EDC) Holt- stick to agenda.

  Holt- Did we account for census? Daniels- census isn’t in the budget because they don’t have the figures for it. Only place to take money for census would be from contingent fund.         

  Hinson- no one said 120 but you

  Daniels- 120k, 60 for GCDC, 60 for CC.

    V- Budget workshop not economic development workshop. Work with what we have. Have to move things around. Numbers are 60k to GCDC and 60 to CC.

  Hinson- has the 2-million-dollar shortfall decreased? Last year CAREs helped the shortfall. Holt interrupts to remind that budget is balanced.

  Green- has the department head given documents to show what we needed to fund them? Holt- we haven’t. Green- stick to 60k and 60k. Needs an economic development meeting. Suggests reports.

  V- Funding means accountability.

  Hinson- wants to know where the 2 million shortfall is. Wants to see it itemized.

   Holt- explains it was in accounts receivable.

  Hinson- advertisement. Mentions budget should have been up ahead of time. Commissioners couldn’t even see the budget until 15 mins after the meeting so citizens couldn’t either.  

   Dr. V- When is the budget going to be advertised? Daniels- Thursday.

Meeting adjourned at 6:25PM.  

 of County Commissioners Priorities and Direction

MOTION TO ADJOURN

Adjourned 6:25 p.m.