CALL TO ORDER, INVOCATION, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

  Chair called meeting to Order, gave Invocation and then led in the Pledge

CITIZENS REQUESTING TO BE HEARD (3-Minute Limit)

The Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners welcomes and encourages public participation at all meetings of the Board. Citizens are free to speak for up to three (3) minutes on non-agenda items. Public comments and participation are also encouraged for items on the agenda.  Additionally, if you are unable to attend a meeting in person, comments from the Public can also be submitted via email to CitizensToBeHeard@gadsdencountyfl.gov until noon on the date of the meeting. 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.  Citizens are further encouraged to participate via Zoom using the credentials on the County’s website. The Board’s meetings are also broadcast live on the Board’s Facebook page.

  Read above aloud

Morris Duncan, 1896 Kemp Road, Havana, FL

Kathryn Voight, 4131 Tallavana Trail, Havana, FL

Doug Croley, 255 Longview Lane, Havana, FL  32333

Matt Wesdowski, Havana Council Member

Lawrence Reed, Havana Council member

Tabatha Nelson, Havana Council member

Karen Watson, 1795 Attapulgus Highway, Quincy, FL

GENERAL BUSINESS

1.

Discussion and direction regarding the Fire Services Contract with the Town of Havana

  Dixon said have been requested by Town of Havana to discuss the fire services contract.

  Tabatha Nelson appeared before the board.    Request for funding is $105,000

Kendra Wilkerson, Town Manager then appeared before the Board. Have concerns. When funds used up in first quarter, what then?

Green asked what they were putting into contract.

Nelson said liked Quincy’s contract, their contract was different and volunteers cannot commit to. Issue when first started went from 2 page to 10-page contract.  Way worded makes their volunteer services non-existent. Want 1 ½ year contract then review.

Wilkerson said they feel county should be paying 80% of funding.

  Matt spoke.

  Lawrence Reed-want to work, want to serve-cannot afford to keep working it out. 

  Doug Croley appeared before the board.  Made clear he did not live in the Town of Havana but dependent on Town for fire services.  Need to recognize Havana needs help. Need to better address because Havana has lost ISO rating-now a 10. Need to help get better fire ratings. Can’t control weather but can help with fire services.  Need to focus on 5 road miles. Feel should make sure effort made to restore fire ratings.

  Kathryn Voight appeared before the Board-Board member of Tallavana Homeowners Assn and is impacted, do nit live within Town of Havana but serviced by them and ISO has dropped. Hope they consider their request for additional funding

  Morris Duncan appeared-called Havana home for 34 years. Spoke on how talented Havana Volunteer fire department is. Had rental house that caught fire last year, was a wood frame house built in 1935, did not take long for it to go. Havana and Coonbottom fire departments came and anything that can be done to help would be appreciated.

  Karen Watson appeared-live on Attapulgus Highway just shy of three miles from Quincy fire department but rated with Robertsville that is more than 5 miles from her house. Homeowner’s insurance has jumped over $7000 because of this. 5-mile radius not being considered and felt contract would help clear up lot of gray area.  Understand contract was sent to city but not signed.

  Dixon said have whole county to consider, including working with Quincy and other departments. Has been problem for many years. Board directed him to stabilize situation. Quincy looked at differently because they have 24/7 manned station, therefore contract different.  Looked at numbers as to what could afford.

  Hood said goal was to stabilize situation. Every municipality same-all responding into County areas. Almost at $1.1 Million for contractual fire services. Asked Havana Town Council-they want to mimic Quincy contract but state different.  Some municipalities paying to have 24/7 manned station.

  Green asked Hood if have ball figure-stated don’t have but can get-east side of county is busier.

  Hinson wanted to piggyback on what Chief just said with east side busier. Look at census, everything moving more to east.  Asked if putting limitations/rules on volunteer firemen that would stop them from becoming firefighter. Said had to be a formula.

  Dixon said Hinson hinted on formula and there was no formula.  Goal is to get formula together and establish base. Has to be stabilization and standardization.  Not only have Havana and Coonbottom but just built new fire station in Greenshade/Dogtown. Know need to increase across county-10 ratings all across county.

NeSmith stepped out

  Holt said looking at ability to provide fire services.  Believe County needs county-wide fire service and will be pushing for that. Have 7-11 fire stations. Have had Dispatch calling certain fire stations and not call the others and that built up certain calls from Dispatcher.  She said they had to call in in order to find out what was happening, knew by the firetrucks that showed up who they were calling. Hopefully not going on now. Happy with contract offered now. Need to look at having full-time station on east and west side of county to have regional coverage.  Said verbiage in contract cannot be same because Quincy has 24/7 full-time manned station.

  Ms. Wilkerson said based on analysis and after review with legal counsel, proposed contract they are willing to negotiate on is 1 1/2-year term, funding for stipend and certified fire fighter bonus proposed by the count, includes funding by county for 86% of their revised budget, elimination of unnecessary added administration and control being proposed by the county contract including training requirements, elimination of possible firefighter requirements above state mandate, elimination of county proposed requirements that do not improve ire service, only increased oversight by the county.  Havana just added 11 new firefighters and almost $10,000 each to outfit them. Havana does not have resources to equip new firefighters they have.

Holt said can’t see more contribution until plan in place.

Green asked if way to find out what calls were for fire and what was for other services?

  Simpkins said, as a Board, have to realize the dynamics of county is different. When look at actual increases that took place with municipal fire departments, Havana received a 1% funding increase and asking for 34% increase. Havana has also allowed their employees to answer calls so cost to them allowing their employees on clock to go take care of calls in unincorporated areas. Can’t compare each municipality the same because affordability is different. After ISO situation brought to her attention, had workshop at Tri-Eagle and they do what they do, have workshop and never came back to the table until few weeks ago. Need to look at numbers and services being provided and fund accordingly.  Put money where they want to put money.  Board puts money where they want. Have made priority what they wanted it to be and top priority is health, safety and wellbeing of citizens.  Have to take care of who’s taking care of citizens.  Said have $1.1 Billion in budget now and curious as to what will be if decide to do county fire service. Asked if dealt with 5-mile radius in contract. Dixon said was in Havana document not county document. Asked fellow commissioners to take look at what in best interest of citizens as whole. If Town of Havana does not answer calls, will be in trouble.

  Green said if Town and County does not come to resolution of contract, what will fall back to?

  Dixon said if Havana does not continue contract-option will be to step up Dogtown facility and relocate resources to that area to respond to fire. County has always required EMT and paramedic personnel to be qualified in fire so had about 20+/- certified to fight fires. Have to look at this in whole new way, not just in Havana.

  Hinson asked Chief Hood percentage given to Quincy-County gave around 20%. Hood said had 3-year contract from 2107-2021-they asked for increase. Hinson said simple situation-everything went up after COVID.

  Croley re-appeared before Board to clarify-appreciate remark made if could not come to terms with Havana, he would make them dependent on Greenshade fire station.

Dixon said did not mean defund-not fund.

 Croley continued and said fire protection based upon emergency communications, fire departments and equipment, water supply, ability to respond, water supply major thing. Why asked if still maintaining hydrant program. Greenshade at disadvantage by not having central water supply. He said have fire hydrant within 1000 feet of his house, he paid for it, bought from Talquin and turned it over to County for access. Water supply very important and very important to have business relationship with Havana for those in unincorporated areas with Havana fire department. Very disturbing there would be any consideration to not work out with some agreement with Havana. Majority of population is on eastern side of county, naturally more houses, businesses, more exposure, more calls-Havana has reinforced that. 

  NeSmith returned

Croley said can’t treat every community on equal basis. Have to go by where exposure is and where response is needed. Told Chair counting on him to make leadership happen because needed.

  Matt reappeared-asked for clarification on Dixon’s comment about funding Greenshade.

Dixon said goal was never to “defund” Havana.

  Green said will give as of right now, $50,000 but if they do not accept that, question was, if Board does not offer any additional and they do not accept that, what is the plan?

  Dixon said will follow direction of Board.

  Holt wanted to clarify-reason increase in other stations wad because they were underfunded and never funded correctly because they weren’t getting calls. Dispatcher wasn’t calling them.  She said she knew that because she “sat in front of Gretna’s fire station, had a young man to call in for a house next door and everyone was called but Gretna” and she stood in front of the fire station. Goal was to get them to where should have been and look for funding for more. Holt said “we’re not a cash cow”.

  Green said glad to know other stations received increase but want to be fair across board as far as stabilizing. Whole energy needs to shift. 

  Simpkins said he hit nail on head and had nothing else to say.

  Hinson thanked TOH and manager and council people for coming.  Thanked Croley for all he’s done. Thanked community for coming out in support of this project.

  Holt said don’t do for one that don’t do for others. Reporting should be same, documentation should be same. Be fair and all get same percentage.

  Simpkins said other municipalities signed their contract-Havana had problem with theirs. Havana now presenting their contract and their requests.

  John Browning appeared and stated they do have volunteer firefighters.  Unincorporated fire departments not signed contract because can’t meet ?

  Holt asked what was difficult-he said being Fire 1 certified.  They have to sign contract that they are Fire I, Fire II

  Hood reappeared and received memo to day from Chief Maxwell, Wetumpka and they have concerns about way contract reads.

  Holt said

  Holt asked how would affect. Dixon said attorney will get with them-misunderstanding in contract.

  Hinson said received phone call and ?  requested letter of support

  Tomy Lutz appeared before Board-said Croley spoke about problem-asked what “5 mile rating” was.

  Hinson wanted to make sure clear-insurance went up and had nothing to do with BOCC.

  Dixon said was informed yes, portion of insurance was because of ISO rating, part because of being in State of Florida because of hurricanes, etc.    

  Green thanked everyone

MOTION TO ADJOURN

  Adjourned 6:40 pm