1.

Call to Order, Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance

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

  Chair stated Judge Garner will swear in commissioners

  Chair was sworn in by Judge as a re-elected commissioner

  Chair stated will do recess while they wait for Hinson’s daughter.

  Commissioner Wood was sworn in by Judge as new commissioner    

   Hinson was sworn in by Judge as a re-elected commissioner

    2.

Amendments and Approval of Agenda

   Dixon stated request to add public hearing

item 10.a

Wood requested amendment to add item 11.c external investigation of county

Wood/Holt 5-0

  Wood requested to talk about contracts for new employees

  Green stated if he could add that in his comments instead

Simpkins/ Holt 5-0

6.

Awards, Presentations, and Appearances

6.a   Election of Chairman and Vice Chairman

  Holt nominates Hinson as Chair/ Wood

5-0

  Wood nominates Green as vice-chair/Holt

5-0

CONSENT

   Simpkins/ Holt

5-0

7.

7.a – Ratification Memo

7.b – BOCC Meeting/Workshop Minutes:

         1. October 9, 2024, ARPA Workshop

         2. October 15, 2024, Regular BOCC Meeting

         3. October 22, 2024, Special Meeting

7.c – Approval of the Judicial Inquiry System (JIS) Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) – Access Certification Statement

7.d – Approval of the Community Development Grant (CDBG) Lead Base Paint Inspection Agreement

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

7.f – Approval of 2025 Holiday Schedule

7.g – Approval of the Annual Contract between the Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners and the Florida Department of Health for the Operations of the Gadsden County Health Department

7.h – Approval of Microsoft Enterprise Annual Renewal

8.

Items Pulled for Discussion

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. 

Rodney Moore, 1404 St. Hebron Road

  Moore appeared before the board to discuss County Administrator. He stated it was time for a change and Mr. Dixon needed to go. He also mentioned billing for county attorney. He advised to go to Bainbridge to be shown what needs to be done in regards to economic dev.  

Michael Brown, 588 Charles Brown Lane

  Brown appeared before the board and asked commissioners to represent the people.

Tracey Stallworth, P.O Box 1339

  Stallworth appeared to discuss Mississippi trip. It was important to him as a planning commissioner. 

Dorothy Thomas, 586 Shiloh Road, Quincy FL

  Ms. Thomas appeared to discuss Mississippi trip.

Derrick Elias, 233 Cheeseborough Ave, Quincy FL

  Elias appeared. He stated if they always agree, they will never change or grow.

  He stated these trips they take seem like vacations

  Elias stated expect more from county administrator if they make $100k    

  He stated it was rare that they actually have items on agenda and to not wait on county administrator

Green stepped out at 6:55 p.m.

10.

Public Hearing

10.a

Public Hearing: Approval of Resolution 2024-028 General and Grant Budget Amendments for FY2024

  Attorney stated notice complied with the statute

   Dixon presented item

  Derrick Elias appeared and asked what they were attempting to do.

  Dixon expanded on this item. Budget amend. For LAPA – Adams St Sidewalk

  Budget amendment – FDLE – Salary Assistance Grant

  Simpkins asked to expand on certain amendment

  Dixon stated it was set up to fund new ambulance

Green returned at 7:02 p.m.

   Wood asked if this was the last meeting that they were allowed to do budget amendments and Dixon stated no, they could do that in every meeting

Green stepped out at 7:03 p.m.

   Harris stated they will have budget amend that comes before the board throughout the year.  This item was coming from the finance director.

  Holt stated normally these items are online to review

Green returned at 7:05 p.m.

 Holt/ Wood 5-0

11.

General Business

11.a

Approval to Renew of Waste Pro Contract

  Dixon presented

  renewal agreement has additional terms and conditions for Waste Pro and for the county

  Waste Pro agreed to provide curbside assistance to senior citizens

  Waste Pro will receive a 3.5% increase for the 1^st year and 3.5% increase for 2^nd year as a negotiated inflationary 7% increase for the next 5 yrs

Wood stepped out at 7:09 p.m.

  Attorney stated this was a franchise agreement.

Wood returned at 7:10 p.m. 

  Mr. Childry appeared before the board.  Simpkins asked why the difference in fee

  Childry stated service is geared towards density

  Green asked about other bids – Dixon stated looked at invite to bid, they thought this was best opportunity

  Attorney stated request was for 7% increase for 1^st year – able to negotiate 3.5% increase

  Holt asked if they do large item pickup – Childry stated believed it was once a month, they would have to call it in.    

  Attorney stated there was amendments to agreement – he asked to delete section 5.5 from motion and authorize modifications based on scriveners’ errors.

  Hinson asked if they only pick up certain things – Childry stated it was based on volume.

Holt motion with above amendments/ Green 5-0

11.b

Approval of City of Gretna Love’s Travel Center

  Dixon presented

   seeks Board approval of an Interlocal Agreement for the ownership transfer of an unimproved roadway known as Clifford Johnson Road, owned by Gadsden County and execution of a proposed right of way deed, deeding the unimproved roadway to the City of Gretna

  Attorney stated have spoken with Mr. Knowles and he was present as well.

  Harold Knowles, attorney City of Gretna, appeared before the board.

  Mr. Knowles stated they were requesting timeline be reduced 48 hours

  County attorney thanked board for allowing them to get survey done. In agreement with expediting this.

  Knowles asked when will survey be available. Williams stated the goal was tonight.      

  Knowles stated this was an execution issue

  Williams stated they needs all docs in order – will get survey back tomorrow

  Green asked if can approve with expectation of waiting. Williams stated yes, that was his recommendation – approve interlocal agreement upon all docs being in place and do not have to come back for 2^nd review

  Williams stated the motion would be to approve….

  Simpkins asked about legal description – Williams stated county surveyor would provide it      

  Knowles stated their problem was that this has taken 3 months to get done. The project has been on hold.

Williams mentioned going from 15 days to 10 days and Knowles stated that was unacceptable.  

  Wood stated this was his district, thought it was a great project for Gretna. They were putting 50 jobs in his district with this project.

  Holt motion to approve interlocal agreement and execution of right of way deed conveying ownership of Clifford Johnson Road to Gretna and legal description w/o coming back to board/ Green

  Simpkins requesting to be cc’d in email to know time frame of when legal description will be available.  

  Attorney stated not appropriate to include commissioners in emails to surveyor

 Holt motion to approve interlocal agreement and execution of right of way deed conveying ownership of Clifford Johnson Road to Gretna and legal description w/o coming back to board/ Green 5-0

11.c

External Investigation of County

  Wood requested this item to be added to this agenda

  Green stated after process, appropriate actions will be taken.

  Attorney stated when they ask questions, they need to keep it more general.

  Burroughs appeared before the board. Green asked if she had timeline of her part being done. Burroughs stated hopefully end of week.

  Simpkins stated there needs to be external investigation

 Chair asked if policy for investigation – Burroughs stated policy does exist

  Green stated was in favor of external investigation when it gets to that point; allow HR to do due diligence.     

  Wood stated it protects an employee

  Dixon stated contacted law enforcement and stated will go to them with facts   

  Simpkins stated the policy was not being followed.

  Williams stated the employee is being interviewed

  Hinson stated Attorney was telling CA to silence himself without Board approval.

Wood stepped out at 8:17 p.m.

   Williams stated

Holt stepped out at 8:18 p.m.

Wood returned at 8:19 p.m.

  Dixon stated

Holt returned at 8:20 p.m.

  Holt stated would like for person who hired them to not be a part of investigation

  Wood stated not talking policy, talking statutory

Wood motion to ask external law enforcement to come in and see if they violated FL Statute/ Holt

  Colonel appeared before the board. Recommended them to contact FDLE and take Sheriff out of it.

  Derrick Elias appeared. Stated they need to specify what they are investigating. He stated it was not fair for Burroughs to investigate her boss. Would do them great service to allow an outside entity to conduct investigation.

  Williams stated if they go from non-criminal to criminal, have to say ‘allegedly’ criminal activity.      

Wood motion to ask external law enforcement to investigate and see if they violated FL Statute/ Holt 5-0

12.

Clerk of Courts

   no updates from Clerk 

13.

County Attorney

  Williams mentioned concerns regarding billing  

Green stepped out at 8:35 p.m.

Simpkins stepped out at 8:35 p.m.

  mentioned marketing agreement and Waste Pro agreement

  Williams stated billings would have been lower if those agreements were already done before he became county attorney

 Simpkins returned at 8:38 p.m.

  Williams stated there are ordinances needing to be updated.

  Williams stated he has yet to be able to meet with previous county attorney  

Green returned at 8:42 p.m.

  Williams stated he has never billed for conversations with commissioners 

14.

County Administrator

  Dixon stated it was not his job to question the attorney; stated could not get previous attorney to prepare items

  Dixon stated car allowance is $600 a month – county did not buy him a $80k car

  mentioned electric bill next door – bill being paid by Clerk’s office

  mentioned lease program

15.

Discussion Items by Commissioners

15.a

Commissioner Alonzetta Simpkins, District 2

   Simpkins stated Holt was very disrespectful earlier and she would never have disrespected her like that.

15.b

Commissioner Shawn Wood, District 3

  Wood mentioned 3-year contract with Williams – stated Williams was their attorney but not his. Program was put together for him and he did not like it.  

  Wood stated he was not very happy with how they look.

  Wood stated need to work with their high school to make them successful.   

15.c

Commissioner Brenda Holt, District 4

  Holt stated money has to be spent in timely manner

Simpkins stepped out at 9:27 p.m.

15.d

Commissioner Ronterious Green, District 5

  Green motion to pay bill $7800 from trip/ Holt 3-1

  mentioned boys & girls club –

Green motion to have Nov. 27 off/ Holt 5-0

  Recognition for Dale Summerford and Shirley Knight

15.e

Commissioner Eric F. Hinson, District 1

  Hinson motion to fire Dixon/Simpkins

  Holt felt like that was not a good idea – need to look at the transitioning

  Green stated would like to come up with process and needed a plan.

Hinson motion to fire Dixon/Simpkins 3-2

Green and Holt opposed motion  

  Hinson mentioned Roger Milton for interim administrator

  Green said to give opportunity for someone who has been here before.

  Holt mentioned for Roosevelt Morris as interim

  Green stated minimum 90 days to give time

  Holt motion for Roosevelt Morris as interim for 2 months/ 5-0

  Dixon thanked them for the opportunity to serve them. 

16

Motion to Adjourn

Chair adjourned meeting at 10:08 p.m.

17.

Receipt and File