Board of County Commissioners

Pre-BOCC Meeting Workshop

October 5, 2021

4:30 p.m.

**COMMISSIONERS SAT IN AUDIENCE AND MADE IT HARD TO HEAR ON OCCASION**

Present:               Brenda Holt, Chair, District 4

Dr. Anthony “Dr. V” Viegbesie, Vice Chair, District 2

                                Eric Hinson, District 1

                                Kimblin NeSmith, District 3

                                Ronterious “Ron” Green, District 5

                                Edward J. Dixon, County Administrator

                                Clayton Knowles, County Attorney

                                Marcella Blocker, Deputy Clerk

 

CALL TO ORDER, INVOCATION, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

   Dixon called workshop to order 4:35 p.m.; asked for moment of silence and followed with Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Holt arrived at 4:35 p.m.

 

CITIZENS REQUESTING TO BE HEARD (3-Minute Limit)

Anyone wishing to speak on agenda items or non-agenda items should schedule or notify the County Administrator’s Office before attending the meeting and will be asked to follow the Gadsden County Public Meetings Citizens Access Guidelines.  Also, public comment for Commission meetings can be submitted via email to CitizensToBeHeard@gadsdencountyfl.gov until 11:00 a.m. October 5, 2021.  Comments submitted after the deadline but prior to the meeting will be added to the official record, but the County cannot guarantee that Commissioners and staff will have adequate time to review comments prior to the meeting.

Dixon read aloud the above statement.

 

 

Lakesha Clark, 260 Imani Circle, Midway, FL

Appeared before the Board and is a realtor.  She attended Zoom meetings and gathered knowledge about program, printed out application and hand delivered it.  7/1/21 received email that application was received and was improper.  7/29 received email requesting documents but did not specify what documents were needed so she called Ms. Hamilton and was told was preliminary email and assured her documents were in place.  Week of 9/13 heard from people in County they received their money but she had not.  9/17 stopped by and was informed application in second review and no timeframe was given as to when decision was to be made.  Called today and found out did not qualify because brokerage firm works under was located in Tallahassee.  She is independent contractor and is a sole proprietor and business is located at 260 Imani Circle, Midway and has been since 2017.  Found very disheartening there was no follow-up call or email made to discuss her business or email sent to let know was denied.  She said now to hear about re-allocating funds is a slap in the face to small businesses and hoped it was reconsidered.  When

 

 

Dyronea Bradwell, Triple T Hauling, LLC

Appeared before Board- said she applied for funding in June, her application was in review and now funding has run out.  She said she appreciated what the county has done thus far but they needed funding.

 

 

Hiram T. Cowart, Sunrise Handyman Services

 

 

Samuel Stevens, 45 Imani Circle, Midway, FL.

Appeared before Board-owner of Stewalk Group, LLC.  During pandemic they took care of people that worked for them undocumented.  He sent in information for it to be lost. 

 

GENERAL BUSINESS

Dixon stated for this workshop they will discuss future plans regarding Gadsden County American Rescue Plan and Item two would be review and discussion of the October 5 meeting agenda.

 

1.

Discuss Future Plans Regarding the Gadsden County American Rescue Plan

Have tried to elucidate in hand out what fundings have gone through.  Small businesses assistance program has funded 46 small businesses and that program has a remaining balance of $4000. 

 

Resident assistance food card program has funded 1666 food cart applications and remaining balances $100.

 

Churches/religious organizations assistance funding award – 52 church/religious organization and applications have been paid; has a balance of $520,000.

 

Nonprofit organization assistance funding award at a 26 nonprofit application submitted and have been reviewed; seven were determined to be eligible for a finding award totaling $80,000.  Program closed September 15, 2021 and has a remaining balance of $110,000. 

 

Nonprofit Health Care organization assistance funding award had three nonprofit healthcare organizations approved for funding; two applications have been paid totaling $16,000; one remains to be processed totaling $12,000; balance remaining in program is $137,000.

 

Direct funding awards:

Processed for payment is Gadsden County sheriff’s office $500,000; Second Harvest of Big Bend $25,000; Farm Share $25,000; We Care Network $20,000; Gadsden County Administration and County Workforce $320,400; Gadsden County Health Council $75,000.  Total amount paid out $965,400.  To be processed for payment is Gadsden County judge court room improvement, total award $75,000.  Balance remaining $75,000.

 

Total balance remaining in all programs $771,100.

 

Recommendations for balance remaining:

Should the portion of $512,000 ARP small businesses assistance program for applications currently in portal.

 

Purchase emergency Medical Services ALS ambulance and amount of $250,000.

 

Reimburse $9000 to Gadsden County shares office for security detail at GC ARP residence assistance food cart event held August 9, 2021 thru August 13, 2021.

 

2.

Review and Discuss the October 5, 2021 Regular BOCC Meeting Agenda

 

 

Mr. Wilbert Butler appeared before the Board regarding Item 10 on the 6:00 p.m. agenda.  He is representing Havana Community Development Corporation, Inc.  He said he would wait and present his item at the regular meeting.

 

MOTION TO ADJOURN

Workshop adjourned 5:50 p.m.

 

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