1.

Call to Order, Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance

    Chair called meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. Chair led into Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance.

   4.

Amendments to the Agenda

  Baptiste stated he will be speaking on Morris’s behalf and stated the below amendments

ITEM REQUESTING TO BE ADDED UNDER GENERAL BUSINESS:

11.b. Request for Paramedic Sign-On Bonus

11.c. Approval of Dogtown Road - State Funded Grant Agreement

Holt/ Green 5-0

   5.

Approval of Agenda

 Holt/ Green 5-0

  6.

Awards, Presentations, and Appearances

6.a Presentation of a Proposal from WSB Outlining a Roadmap for Infrastructure Development (Shandra Ganious, Project Manager, WSB)

  Shandra Ganious and Jupe Hale appeared before the board to provide presentation on WSB

  purpose of feasibility study

  Chair wanted clarity that this was legal; he thought this was just a presentation.  

Board has not heard anything about this

  Wood stated they have been asking for this and had no problem with it 

  Green stated they were not asking for vote, they should be fine

  site identification process

  Priority locations overview

  Location A: Midway/1-10 Exit 192

  Location B: Quincy-Joe Adams Rd

Hale stated this was probably one of the easiest sites

  Location C: Havana North to Georgia Line

  Hale went through estimated timeline

  Potential infrastructure construction costs

   Estimated cost for one site: $50k

          Total for all 3 sites: $120k

  Gainous mentioned potential grants

  Wood stated all 3 sites were really good  

  7.

Consent

  Baptiste requesting 7.f. be pulled and moved to general business

Holt/ Green 5-0

7.a Ratification Memo

7.b BOCC Meeting/Workshop Minutes

1. April 15, 2025, Regular BOCC Meeting

2. April 21, 2025, Special Meeting

3. May 6, 2025, Regular BOCC Meeting

7.c Approval of Law Enforcement Education Funds for DARE Officer Training

7.d Approval of Law Enforcement Education Funds for DARE Officer Training

7.e Approval of Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles - Memorandum of

Understanding - Annual Certification Statement

7.f Approval of Funding Request for Sawdust-Gunn May Celebration

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

7.h Approval to Apply for the 2025 911 State Grant Program Funds for $258,080.65 for FY2025-2026

7.i Approval to Accept the State-Funded Agreements for GIS and NextGen 911 Core Services

PSAP Upgrades with the Florida Department of Management Services

   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

A.J. Marlow Jr.,

  Mr. Marlow appeared and stated was speaking on behalf of Mr. Williams, public works employee. Mr. Williams was terminated due to an issue with a property owner that stated he did not have permission to take a watermelon even though they had a conversation about it and the owner let him take one. Mr. Marlow thought that Mr. Williams should get his job back.

Carolyn Ford, 526 Key St.

  Ms. Ford appeared before the board regarding Stephens School

  Chair stated everything should be finalized in June

  Green stated visited the site today

  Morris stated final inspection on Friday; deadline was supposed to be June 1.

Have contingency funds left over to use it for the kitchen equipment

Derrick Elias, P.O. Box 2171 Quincy FL

  Mr. Elias appeared to discuss grievance and disciplinary process 

  Chair read aloud the citizens to be heard sent via email 

  10.

Public Hearings

  11.

General Business

 11.a.

Approval of Two Work Authorizations with CRA for Design Work Associated with

Broadband Grant Funded Projects for a Telehealth/Career Center in Chattahoochee and

Havana

  Baptiste presented item.

Holt/ Simpkins 5-0

11.b.

Request for Paramedic Sign-On Bonus

  Baptiste presented item.

  Baptiste stated bonus would be in quarterly payments, not a lump sum

  Chief Ford appeared before the board; he thought if they stretch it out in 2 years, it would not really be worth it

  Green stated they were referring to committing for 2 years 

  Baptiste stated has no problem with drafting contract regarding this

  Chief stated they do have a reimbursement process

  Green asked if can amend motion to give 5k sign on bonus all up front and with 2-year commitment.   

  Baptiste stated he could draft contract for that.  

  Simpkins stated if Chief was comfortable with how this was outlined, then it should stay like that. 

  Green stated they can follow process already in place  

Simpkins/ Green 5-0 

11.c.

Approval of Dogtown Road – State Funded Grant Agreement

  Holt/ Green 4-0

Wood stepped out at 7:42 p.m.

  Baptiste provided overview 

11.d.

Approval of Funding Request for Sawdust-Gunn May Celebration

   Baptiste presented.

Wood returned at 7:43 p.m. 

  Wood motion to approve item with clarification that the Sawdust May Day event was the Gunn Family event and to authorize the Clerk to release funds to the Gunn family/ Green 5-0   

  12.

Clerk of Court

No updates.

  13.

Interim County Attorney

  Baptiste mentioned hurricane preparedness Friday

  Green asked for Bopp/Champs Chance update 

  Baptiste stated there was a hearing yesterday; will meet with Morris and Bopp

Withhold ruling for 3 weeks

  14.

Interim County Administrator

  No updates.

  15.

Discussion Items by Commissioners

 15.a.

Commissioner Alonzetta Simpkins, District 2

  June 13 in Havana – Senior Father’s Day celebration at 10 a.m. Eugene Lamb Park

  Simpkins asked about strategic planning meeting

  Baptiste mentioned trim notice and document needing to go on record

  Baptiste stated they were pending the County administrator search. HR needs direction to post position

Holt/ Green 5-0

  Chair mentioned having special meeting on Monday regarding this to know about timeframe

   Green asked to add Boys & Girls club to special meeting

  Simpkins stated hats off to TDC for Pro-am water ski tournament   

15.b.

Commissioner Shawn Wood, District 3

No updates.

15.c.

Commissioner Brenda A. Holt, District 4

  First housing meeting 6 p.m.

15.d.

Commissioner Ronterious Green, District 5

  Green mentioned workshop next Thursday 

  Proclamation for housing

Hot/ Simpkins 5-0

15.e.

Commissioner Eric F. Hinson, District 1

  Mentioned Sheriff Young and discussing mental health/ senior awareness at Carter Parramore 6/4 10 a.m.

  Thanked city of Midway and Gretna for May Day

  Chair mentioned bonds and need a meeting    

16.

Motion to Adjourn

Chair adjourned meeting at 8:11 p.m.