1.

Call to Order, Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance

    Chair called meeting to order at 6 p.m. Pastor led into invocation and Chair led into Pledge of Allegiance. 

   4.

Amendments to the Agenda

   Chair stated the below amendments. 

Request to add under General Business:

Item 11.j. Approval of the CDBG-DR EMS Quincy Grant Agreement M0026 Letter to Florida Commerce Requesting Amendment #2 to Extend the Agreement Expiration Date through September 30, 2027.

Item 11.k. Approval of Health Insurance Rates

 Item 11.l. Dewberry Engineers, Inc. Contract Amendment No. 1 for Stevens School COVID-19 Shelter Project

 Item 11.m. Contract Amendment No. 1 to Agreement with Apalachee Regional Planning Council (ARPC) for Gadsden County Comprehensive Vulnerability Assessment

 Item 11.n. Requesting Board approval of the Modification #1 of the Emergency Operations Center and Public Safety Complex Agreement #F0098

Holt motion to approve above amendments/Green 5-0

   5.

Approval of Agenda

 Holt/Green 5-0

  6.

Awards, Presentations, and Appearances

  7.

Consent

  Wood/Holt 5-0

7.a Ratification Memo

7.b BOCC Meeting/Workshop Minutes

1. June 3, 2025, Regular BOCC Meeting

2. June 17, 2025, Regular BOCC Meeting

3. June 11, 2025, Special Meeting

4. June 30, 2025, Special Meeting

5. July 8, 2025, Special Meeting

6. June 2, 2025, Workshop

7. June 3, 2025, Workshop

8. July 8, 2025, Workshop

7.c. Approval and Signatures for Satisfaction of Special Assessment Lien

7.d. – Approval and Ratification of Proclamation Honoring Devarjaye “DJ” Daniel

   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.

Tiffany Northington

  Northington appeared on behalf of a mother who lost their son to Kratom products. 

Kate MacFall, 1206 Walton Dr. Tallahassee, FL

  MacFall appeared to discuss animal services.

Ben Naselivs

  Naselivs appeared on behalf of Tall Timbers to discuss 2 major projects.  

Lemonteh’ Horne, 4434 Gearhart Rd, Apt 4504 Tallahassee, FL

  Horne appeared before the board to discuss economic development.

Derrick Elias, Quincy, FL

  Elias appeared to see where they are at with the boys & girls club.

  Chair stated they will have an emergency mtg soon on this and will let Elias know.

Rev. Charles Flowers, 799 Friday Rd. Quincy, FL 32352

  Flowers appeared to talk about Pine Grove Park. He thanked them for work already done. It is under construction but has not been completed.  

  Green suggested for the park director to come before the board. Chair stated he would prefer to hear from the administrator about this. 

Holt stepped out at 6:35 p.m.

Holt returned at 6:36 p.m.

  Green stated this was his first time hearing that a commissioner took something out of someone else’s park. Chair stated he did not say any names.

Ethelyn Cunningham, 390 Cunningham Rd. Quincy, FL

  Cunningham appeared to also discuss Pine Grove Park. She mentioned that there is no restroom. Swing set is too little as well.

Vivian Grant, 65 Bailey Loop Quincy, FL

  Grant appeared to also discuss Pine Grove Park.

  Chair read aloud citizens to be heard sent via email from Susan Cave in regards to losing her son to Kratom.  

  Simpkins stated they need to stop making things personal and they need to work together.   

  10.

Public Hearing

 10.a.

Approval of Resolution 2025-037 Budget Amendments for FY25

  Baptiste presented item on behalf of Morris.

Wood/ Holt 5-0

 10.b.

Approval of Bid Award to CWR Contracting, Inc. for Ben Bostick Resurfacing

  Baptiste presented item.

Holt/ Wood 5-0

 11.

General Business

 11.a.

Approval of the Finance Office to Process Payment for Matthew 25: Ministries

  Baptiste presented. Board previously approved this payment, but because of wording, Clerk has not paid it.  

Holt/Green 5-0 

 11.b.

Conference Attendance Request for the Planning and Zoning Commission to Attend

Upcoming Urban Planning Conference September 16-19, 2025, in Daytona Beach, Florida

  Baptiste presented item. There is a fiscal cost.

Holt/ Wood 5-0

 11.c.

Approval to Use Opioid Settlement Funds for FY25-26 Implementation Plan

  Baptiste presented item.

Green/ Holt 5-0

 11.d.

Approval of Donation to Toys for Tots Funding

  Baptiste presented.

  Chair stated would like to table item and talk to Morris about it first. 

Green motion to approve item/ Holt 5-0

 11.e.

Approval of the 2025 Partnership Memorandum of Understanding between the State of

Florida Department of Elder Affairs and the Gadsden County BOCC Department of Elderly Affairs

  Baptiste presented.

Holt stated cannot vote on this due to being a farmer.

Green/ Wood 4-0

 11.f.

Approval of accepting the 2025-2026 State Emergency Management Preparedness and Assistance Agreement #A0589

  Baptiste presented.

Holt/ Green 5-0

 11.g.

Approval to Issue the Notice of Intent to Award, the Notice of Award, and to Negotiate a

Contract with CRA for the Design Plan for the Public Safety Complex/EOC in Response to

the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) 25-02 Professional Architectural/Engineering (AE)

Services.

  Baptiste presented. 

Simpkins/ Green 5-0

 11.h.

Approval to make an Appointment to the Juvenile Justice Circuit Advisory Board

  Baptiste presented. 

  Simpkins nominated Wood

Simpkins/ Holt 5-0

 11.i.

Approval to make Appointments to the Gadsden Industrial Development Authority

  Baptiste presented.

  Green nominated Holt.

  Holt asked if they re-applied for their license. Baptiste stated not sure.

Holt motion to table item/ Green 5-0    

 11.j.

Approval of the CDBG-DR EMS Quincy Grant Agreement M0026 Letter to Florida

Commerce Requesting Amendment #2 to Extend the Agreement Expiration Date through

September 30, 2027.

  Baptiste presented.

Green/Holt 5-0

 11.k.

Approval of Health Insurance Rates

  Baptiste presented.

  Chair stated to table.

Wood motion to table item/Green 5-0

 11.l.

Dewberry Engineers, Inc. Contract Amendment No. 1 for Stevens School COVID-19 Shelter

Project

  Baptiste presented.

  Chair mentioned change order.

  Simpkins asked if grant will cover the 12k

  Baptiste stated it would be fully reimbursable.   

Green/ Holt 5-0

11.m.

Contract Amendment No. 1 to Agreement with Apalachee Regional Planning Council

(ARPC) for Gadsden County Comprehensive Vulnerability Assessment

  Baptiste presented. 

Holt/ Wood 5-0

Wood stepped out at 7:14 p.m.

 11.n.

Requesting Board approval of the Modification #1 of the Emergency Operations Center and

Public Safety Complex Agreement #F0098

  Baptiste presented item.

Holt/ Green 4-0

Wood returned at 7:15 p.m.

 11.o.

County Administrator Position Update

  Baptiste presented. He stated they have been in contact with FAC.

  Green stated they have had several changes on handling this and is looking forward to FAC continuing this process.

  Holt stated they need help on budget. It is a lot of stress on Morris.

Holt motion to offer contract to Robert Presnell/

  Chair stated that would need a special mtg first.

  Holt stated they normally do not follow that process.

  Baptiste stated possibility of sunshine violation. All govt. business has to be advertised and noticed.

  Holt stated if that were the case, they would have advertised for it before. Her concern is getting this budget done and Presnell has done this work before.

  Baptiste cannot give legal advice on things this board has done before he joined.

  Green stated he was confident they are going to be o.k. with this budget, but he was sure Raynak could use more eyes on this budget. Wants to go through process again before voting for a new county administrator.

  Wood stated Presnell has done amazing things in Chattahoochee. He asked if Presnell was for interim or permanent position.

  Holt mentioned doing it for one year.

  Wood stated Presnell would be great, but they also have other candidates. He would like a meeting soon on this.    

Chair stated that the motion made earlier by Holt would die due to a lack of second.

  12.

Clerk of Court

No updates.

  13.

County Attorney

  Baptiste stated they had an appeal with Ms. Bopp and the county prevailed in the hearing.

  14.

County Administrator

No updates.

  15.

Discussion Items by Commissioners

 15.a.

Commissioner Alonzetta Simpkins, District 2

  Simpkins thanked all who came out to back-to-school house supply at Fontana Trail. She also thanked public works for their assistance.

 15.b.

Commissioner Shawn Wood, District 3

  Wood mentioned the Planning board looking at putting alcohol near churches. He did not think they should be talking about a bar moving next to a church.

   Baptiste stated it was not proper to talk about it at this moment. Planning and Zoning will hear Wood’s thoughts though.

  Wood mentioned getting these buildings moving forward. He never thought the boys & girls club would become such a huge issue. He would like combined effort with city if done next to the Joe Ferulito center. 

   Wood mentioned first responders and parks. He also mentioned finishing Stevens School.

  Wood mentioned cuts and stated they need to figure out how to get rid of duplicate services.

  Wood stated he did not think there is one commissioner on this board that did not love this county.

  Green wanted to make it clear that they have not misused funds, they just have to be more careful with spending.

  Simpkins motion for proclamation for Church anniversary/ Green 5-0

 15.c.

Commissioner Brenda A. Holt, District 4

  Holt mentioned parks. She stated parks need their own funding.

  Holt stated they need in-house program related to opioids.  

 15.d.

Commissioner Ronterious Green, District 5

  Green thanked Simpkins, AKA’s, Alpha’s regarding back-to-school events.

   Green recommended for commissioners to visit a school and greet kids going back to school. 

  Green mentioned them tabling CHP item and open enrollment coming up.

  Baptiste board has tabled item so they cannot move back to it.

  Green asked if this would have impact on open house.

  Green mentioned McCook’s Road and had questions for Mr. Young about it.

  Green mentioned 9 yr old passing away due to diabetes. He wanted to bring awareness that kids were not exempt from having these medical issues.      

  Green motion for proclamation for Baptist church/ Simpkins 5-0

  Holt mentioned treasure hunt at black churches and collecting history.

 15.e.

Commissioner Eric F. Hinson, District 1

Chair motion for proclamation for Sam Pomo/ Green 5-0

  Chair mentioned New Jerusalem Baptist church hosting back-to-school event.  

  Chair mentioned hosting community resource fair for back-to-school 8/10, 2- 5p.m. at Eugene Lamb rec center. Would love for them to bring in soap, toiletry, etc. He also mentioned kids needing headphones.

  16.

Motion to Adjourn

Chair adjourned meeting at 8:07 p.m.