Board of County Commissioners

Gadsden County, Florida

Regular Public Meeting

August 16, 2022

6:00 p.m.

 

Present:               Ronterious “Ron” Green, Chair, District 5

                                Kimblin NeSmith, Vice-Chair, District 3

                                Eric Hinson, District 1

                                Jeffery Moore, District 2

                                Brenda Holt, District 4

                                Edward J. Dixon, County Administrator

                                Clayton Knowles, County Attorney

                                Nicholas Thomas, Clerk

                                Marcella Blocker, Deputy Clerk

                                Crystal Jimenez, Deputy Clerk

 

CALL TO ORDER, INVOCATION, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

  Chair Green called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m., Pastor Demetrius L. Burkes of Greater Bethel Missionary Baptist Church of Chattahoochee gave the Invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Ms. Elaina Torres.

 

AMENDMENTS AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA

  Dixon 2 amendments-8a-Approval of Health Insurance and under Presentations the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority

 

Holt/Nesmith 5-0

 

 

AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS AND APPEARANCES

 

1.

Proclamation Honoring We Care Network

Mr. Dixon read aloud the Proclamation and it was presented to We Care and they said a few words.

 

1a.

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

   The Sorority appeared before the board to introduce themselves and inform the Board what they do.  They would like to be able to continue their efforts and was requesting $20,000 in Gadsden County Grant Funds.

 

CONSENT

  Holt/NeSmith 5-0

 

2.

Ratification Memo

 

3.

Approval of Minutes

·         July 16, 2022-Economic Development Workshop

 

4.

Approval for Adopt-A-Road Agreement with Atkins Family for County Road 159 Salem Road

 

5.

Approval of SHIP/ER Liens and Contracts

 

6.

Approval of Satisfaction of Special Assessment Lien

7.

Approval of Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles-Memorandum of Understanding-Annual Certification Statement

 

ITEMS PULLED FOR DISCUSSION

 

 

 

 

 

CITIZENS REQUESTING TO BE HEARD ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS

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 noon on January 18, 2022.  Comments submitted after the deadline but prior to the meeting will be added to the official record, however the County cannot guarantee that Commissioners and staff will have adequate time to review comments prior to the meeting.

  Commissioner Hinson read aloud the above statement.

 

 

Cassundrea L. Thomas, 159 Strong Road, Quincy, FL  32351 – Request for funding for non-profit

 

 

Gwendolyn Simmons, 125 Jim Williams Road, - Jim Williams Road & Highbridge Road guardrail

  Ms. Simmons appeared before the Board regarding the guardrail at Jim Williams Road and Highbridge Road.  She said the guardrail has been replaced but it was a death trap.  You cannot see over the rail until you are in the road. She asked the Commission look into the guardrail and repairing it.

 

  Mr. Dixon said they have received the email and have sent emails to FDOT and Public Works.    

PUBLIC HEARINGS

 

GENERAL BUSINESS

 

8.

Approval of Policy No. 2022-001; Proclamations, Resolutions and Ceremonial Policy

  Mr. Dixon introduced the above item and said Commissioner NeSmith had asked this be looked at and they h

 

NeSmith motion to approved/Holt second  Hinson had comments

 

  Hinson said what was important in his community may not be important to their community.  He said he was going to vote against this because he believed in giving

Proclamations.

 

  Green said he wanted to be clear and was not sure if he had the chance to read the agenda item.  They were not taking away the Proclamation, they were changing the identities and adding different and more efficient titles.

 

  NeSmith wanted the public to know this was to recognize in different categories.  He said there were categories for different levels of service. 

 

  Hinson

 

  Green said he did not want to spend a lot of time on this item as it was self-explanatory.    

 

  Holt said categorizing this made a lot of sense.  This can aways be changed as it was a policy and she called the question.

 

Board voted 4-1  Hinson opposed.

 

8a.

Approval of Health Insurance Rates

   Dixon introduced the above item.

 

Hinson motion to approve with a question/NeSmith second

 

Hinson said they talked about ways to help retirees.  Need to have a program to help cover costs. 

 

NeSmith wanted to make sure the 4% increase would be covered by the County

 

5-0

 

CLERK OF COURT

 

9.

Updates

 

COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR

 

10.

Updates

  Mr. Dixon announced the budget books were ready. 

 

COUNTY ATTORNEY

 

11.

 Updates

  Knowles said they were setting date for second seminar.

 

  Greens said knew was second seminar but were they coming with any solutions. 

 

DISCUSSION ITEMS BY COMMISSIONERS

 

12.

Report and Discussion of Public Issues

 

 

Commissioner Eric Hinson, District 1

  Hinson thanked the students, teachers and staff and everyone that contributed to the
Back-to-School supply.  Also wanted to recognize a hairstylist, Renee, for staying and helping out. 

 

 

Commissioner Jeffery Moore, District 2

  Commissioner Moore wanted to thank Mr. Dixon, was issue with garbage on Highway 12 for some time but he got with Public Works to get it taken care of. 

 

 

Commissioner Brenda Holt, District 4

  Holt said to Knowles was discussing NPOs or MBO for taxing private roads.  If they go after that, there has to be a policy in place.

 

Also discussed donations to governmental entities and need a policy in place to accept that. 

 

Temporary cutting-in past have ha temporary cutting crew and may could look at bringing that back since have equipment. 

 

Need to know whether the Sheriff has decided if going to rejoin CHP, if did, would help reduce rates. 

 

Legal Services of North Florida-have always supported them.  Need to put more funding into that area to help with heir property.

 

Dixon said biggest problem with CHP, people like going to their favorite place.  Holt said larger numbers, lower rates. 

 

Thanked Sheriff’s Department for helping out with Senior Skip Day. 

 

 

Commissioner Kimblin NeSmith, Vice Chair, District 3

  NeSmith said have a meeting with Administrator regarding the upcoming budget.  Thanked Moore in bringing attention to the blight on Highway 12 and getting it taken care of.

 

Sent condolences to Mr. Roy Barnes family. 

 

 

Commissioner Ronterious Green, Chair, District 5

  Chair Green asked for a copy of the rules and regulations regarding code enforcement as it relates to property upkeep when the banks takeover properties.  He is receiving phone calls regarding abandoned homes.  Was glad to his citizens came out as relates to Joe Adams road.  Would like to look into having a 4-way stop sign placed at the intersection of Joe Adams and Jim Williams road.

 

Had a great time at their Appreciation cook-out celebration. 

 

Made a motion to recognize childhood cancer month and asked to light Courthouse square in yellow/Hinson made second  passed 5-0

 

  Holt said Christmas is coming and need new decorations for Courthouse. 

 

  Dixon said to let the Board know, have already had meetings and met with City of Quincy regarding Christmas and other officials

 

  Chair Green’s “Greenlight moment” -“We’re not given a good life or bad life, we are given a life.  It’ up to us to make it good or bad.  How are you choosing to live?”

 

MOTION TO ADJOURN

  Adjourned 7:07 p.m.

 

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