1.

Call to Order, Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance

   Chair called meeting to order at 6 p.m. Chair led into Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance to U.S. Flag.

Holt appeared at 6:01 p.m.

    2.

Amendments and Approval of Agenda

  Dixon stated the following amendments:

Add under Consent: 7.i and under general business item 11.h

Dixon pulled items 11.c and 11.d

  Chair asked if considered other property for item 11.d

  Simpkins stated item 7h should be under general business and asked that item 11h be pulled because stated they were going to do policy

  Attorney stated should approve amendments and then go to consent and pull item to discuss

Simpkins requested for item 11h be pulled. Attorney stated need to take a vote

3-2; item was pulled

Holt stated she did not realize she was voting for the item to be pulled and wanted to change her vote

Commissioners voted 2-3; item 11h stays on agenda.  

Holt motion to approve with amendments/NeSmith 5-0

    6.

Awards, Presentations and Appearances

6.a. – Recognition of Mother Maudie Lee Green Nealy

  Chair asked for Ms. Nealy to come forward and presented recognition

  Chair gave recognition to Commissioner Kimblin NeSmith. This will be his last board meeting. 

6.b. – Tourist Development Council Presentation:

  Steele provided presentation on TDC

  Lewis appeared and provided presentation regarding Golden Triangle Mississippi trip.   

CONSENT

Holt/NeSmith 5-0

  Hinson asked to discuss 7g

  Simpkins requested to discuss 7h

  Hinson stated 11e and 11f are normally under public hearing   

  Williams stated those budget amendments have been under consent in the past. Can move it to public hearing

  Chair stated it was properly advertised and citizens can always request to speak. 

 Attorney stated was properly advertised.

  Hinson stated at last meeting, they voted to cancel Nov 5 meeting. This could be an illegal meeting as the board did not vote for a Nov. 4 meeting. He asked for an opinion from the county attorney.

  Chair stated he asked for them to call commissioners to see if they wanted meeting, was told that the commissioners agreed to have this meeting. Chair asked if it was properly advertised and Dixon stated yes.

  County Attorney stated he did call Commissioner Hinson about this. He stated he could not get it back to him in writing on time.

 Holt stepped out at 7:07 p.m.

Holt returned at 7:09 p.m.

  Hinson stated they did not want to set precedent

  Chair stated Hinson could have stated he was unavailable for today’s meeting.

  Simpkins stated she was told they were having this meeting; they did not ask if she was available.

  Chair asked Attorney if this meeting was illegal.

  Attorney stated there is a section that states regular mtg can be held in any appropriate place; allowed to have mtg other than first and third of the week.

Attorney stated to have motion to ratify as regular mtg

Holt motion to ratify as a regular meeting/NeSmith 5-0

    7.

7.a – Ratification Memo

7.b – BOCC Meeting/ Workshop Minutes:

          1. September 17, 2024, Economic Development Workshop

          2. September 24, 2024, 2^nd Budget Public Hearing

          3. September 24, 2024, Emergency Meeting

          4. October 1, 2024, Regular BOCC Meeting

7.c – Approval of Signatures for Special Assessment Liens and Contracts – State Housing Initiative Partnership Program (SHIP) 

7.d. – Approval and Signatures for Satisfaction of Special Assessment Lien State Housing Initiative Partnership Program (SHIP)

7.e – Approval of Payment to Emerald Coast Striping

7.f – Approval of a Letter to Governor Ron DeSantis in Support of Reintroducing Passenger Rail to North Florida

7.g – Approval of Selling Surplus Vehicles at Auction

7.h – Approval to Reinstate Memorandum of Agreement between the Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners and the Gadsden County Health Council to assist with the Prescription Assistance Medical Assistance Program Funding

7.i – Approval of the Finance Office to Process Payment for the 3^rd Annual HOLA Gadsden

    8.

Items Pulled for Discussion

7.g – Approval of Selling Surplus Vehicles at Auction

  Hinson asked how could he go to this event. 

  Young stated it was last Saturday.

  Chair stated they could not vote on this item since it already took place.

  Chair asked if all vehicles were sold

  Charles Hayes coordinated this

  Charles Hayes appeared.

  Chair asked who gave authority to do it in that manner; he would have liked to be a part of this convo.

  Simpkins asked who gave authority; has a problem with this.

  Chair stated docs from auction should have been included as well.

  Dixon stated this caught him off guard as well. Asked to bring this back with a written report.

Hinson motion to table item/ NeSmith 5-0

7.h – Approval to Reinstate Memorandum of Agreement between the Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners and the Gadsden County Health Council to assist with the Prescription Assistance Medical Assistance Program Funding

  Simpkins asked about funding

  Dixon stated funds coming directly from county; when board stated no more funding for nonprofit, the funding stopped

  Simpkins asked if still receive funds from DOH; Rev. Hannah stated yes.

  Dixon stated money comes from board and given to DOH; from half cent sales tax

  Simpkins stated wanted specifics; it was a broad item.

  Chair stated it needed to be more detailed as to what services are being provided and what funding they already receive

  Rev. Hannah stated it was their desire to provide services. Already gone to Havana and plan to go to Midway. Will come back with more details.

  Holt stated would like schedule of where the bus will be; wants a workshop on this.

   NeSmith motion to table item/ Holt 5-0

    9.

Citizens Requesting to be Heard on Non-Agenda Items (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 on the County’s website at www.gadsdencountyfl.gov.  

  Chair read aloud the above statement.

Marion Lasley, 5 Dante Court Quincy, FL

  Here regarding cease-and-desist letter from Special Magistrate Paul Arnold to Alicia Bopp regarding Champs Chance dog rescue. Stated Ms. Bopp has not stopped her activities and has done poor job on capturing her escapees. Lasley complained about the barking and smell of feces.

  County Attorney stated there was an order on Sept 23 stating this activity should be terminated. Alicia Bopp filed an appeal and county is in litigation right now. Comments about this would be premature. 

  10.

Public Hearing

  11.

General Business

11.a

Approval of Titel VI Nondiscrimination Policy and Plan

  Dixon presented

 Attorney stated they needed this for compliance.   

NeSmith/ Holt 5-0

11.b 

Approval to Upgrade the Avtec Radio Dispatch Software

  Dixon presented.

  Kembrew Jackson and Andre Walker appeared before the board.    

  Dixon stated coming from general fund reserve 

  Janice Harris appeared and stated it was coming from general fund budget.

  Rep. appeared before the board. 

Holt motion to fund this item/ NeSmith 5-0

11.c

Approval to Renew Waste Pro Contract

Item pulled.

11.d

Discussion and Approval of Lease Agreement with the City of Quincy for property located at S 9^th Street

Item pulled.

11.e  

Approval of Resolution 25-007 Budget Amendments for FY25

  Dixon presented

  Hinson asked for overview

  Janice Harris appeared and stated this was to correct transfers.

Simpkins/Holt 5-0

11.f  

Approval of Resolution 24-037 Budget Amendments for FY24

  Dixon presented

Simpkins/ Green 5-0

11.g

Board Approval to Award RFP 24-02 Professional Auditing Services to Purvis-Gray and Approval for Staff to Negotiate a Contract

  Dixon presented

  Dixon stated for the record…

  Simpkins stated would have liked for other firm to present; had about a week to go through both proposals. 

 Hinson stated did not have a problem with Purvis personally

  Attorney stated all constitutionals reviewed and scored both proposals.  

Holt motion to negotiate length of contract/ NeSmith 5-0

11.h

Approval of Settlement Agreement with Georgette Daniels

   Dixon presented.

  Hinson asked if could table until they have a workshop

  Chair stated was ready to approve this item with a policy in place going forward

  Attorney stated there are no pending lawsuits; thought it was a proper issue to bring before the board.

Chair motion to table item/ Hinson 5-0

  12.

Clerk of Court

No updates.

 13.

County Attorney

No updates.

 14. 

County Administrator

  Dixon mentioned that they did walk thru of Stevens

 15.

Discussion Items by Commissioners

 15.a

Commissioner Eric F. Hinson, District 1

  Hinson stated to make sure to go out to vote tomorrow.

  Hinson stated Halloween was fun in Gadsden County this year.

  Hinson mentioned bulky item pick-up; District 1 was the only one not advertised.   

Simpkins stepped out at 9:03 p.m.

  Hinson stated would like to give proclamation to FAMU Baseball Coach 

Hinson/ Holt 4-0

Simpkins returned at 9:04 p.m.

15.b

Commissioner Kimblin E. NeSmith, J.D., District 3

  NeSmith asked about Hardaway hwy and final inspection

  Young appeared and stated they were still trying to set up final inspection 

  NeSmith asked about Providence Rd.; Young stated 100% design done and waiting to be informed that they can proceed.  

  NeSmith asked about Aspalaga; Young stated has not heard about it yet

  NeSmith asked CA about Lincoln Dr.; Dixon stated was part of striping list

  NeSmith asked about Summer Youth 2025

  NeSmith thanked them for letting him serve these past 4 years.

15.c

Commissioner Brenda A. Holt, District 4

  Holt mentioned regional evacuation center 

  Holt mentioned industrial development 

NeSmith stepped out at 9:28 p.m.

15.d

Commissioner Alonzetta Simpkins, District 2

  Simpkins asked about Jaimeson 

Hinson stepped out at 9:31 p.m.

  Simpkins asked about Dog Town; Young stated 60% design 

  Simpkins asked about Selman Rd.

NeSmith returned at 9:32 p.m.

  Simpkins mentioned that she had been studying Bainbridge; would be beneficial to have convos with them. Bainbridge is doing well bc of collaborations

  Simpkins mentioned community clean up on Saturday   

15.e

Commissioner Ronterious Green, District 5

  Chair stated traffic light on Pat Thomas was back on. 

  Chair asked about Spooner Rd; Young stated did walk thru this morning

  Chair stated would like bulky item pick up to be more detailed

  Simpkins mentioned that district 2 had a lot of dead trees and trash.    

  Chair thanked everyone who participated with homecoming

  Chair mentioned issue with wild hogs 

  Simpkins stated spoke with Flock regarding cameras 

 16.

Motion to Adjourn

Chair adjourned meeting at 9:55 p.m.