Board of County Commissioners
Gadsden County, Florida
Regular Public Meeting
March 1, 2016
6:00 p.m.
Present: Brenda A. Holt, Chair, District 4
Eric Hinson, Vice Chair, District 1-absent
Dr. Anthony “Dr. V” Viegbesie, District 2
Gene Morgan, District 3
Sherrie Taylor, District 5
Nicholas Thomas, Clerk of Court
Robert Presnell, County Administrator
Debra Mennis, County Attorney
Marcella Blocker, Deputy Clerk
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INVOCATION, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Chair called mee |
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AMENDMENTS AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA Add Item 4A-Adopt Mission Statement Revised 8 & 10 Morgan asked why add Mission statement to tonight’s meeting since it’s not been advertised
V said indifferent but sooner, better didn’t see why delay
Morgan motion to amend w/o mission statement-died lack of second V adopt as amended/Taylor 3-2 Morgan opposed
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AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS AND APPEARANCES
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1. |
State Surgeon General Community Champion Award Rachel Guy, Health Coordinator, Gadsden County Health Department appeared before the board and made presentation and presented award to the Board
Commissioner Hinson appeared at this juncture of the meeting.
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Bobby Key, Chaplain/Evangelist, with Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office, appeared before the Board.
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CLERK OF COURTS Clerk said auditors informed him yesterday audit may be little late to no fault of the auditors or the Clerk’s office |
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CONSENT Morgan/V 5-0
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2. |
Approval of Minutes January 5, 2016-Regular Meeting
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3. |
Ratification to Pay County Bills
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4. |
Approval to Accept the FY 2016 1st Quarter Report
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ITEMS PULLED FOR DISCUSSION
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CITIZENS REQUESTING TO BE HEARD ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
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Mary Jane Hayes, 1253 W. L. Martin Road, Chattahoochee, FL 32324, drainage ditch easement- easement deeded to county for purpose of drainage easement-went to Road and Bridge, work order done in April 2014
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PUBLIC HEARINGS
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5. |
PUBLIC HEARING-Transmittal of a Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map Amendment for Approximately 25 acres on Fantana Lane to the Department of Economic Opportunity for Review (LPA 2016-01) Mr. Presnell introduced the above item. Amendment necessary because of acreage board bought on Fantana Lane for park.
V moved for approval of map amendment
Chair announced public hearing and asked if anyone had any comments and there was no-one.
V made motion for approval/Taylor Hinson had question-asked about wetlands and how issue could be addressed-Presnell said over 20 acre tract and stream located on back side of property and no plans to do anything to wetlands
Morgan asked how the adjoining landowners been notified-everyone within 1500 feet notified
Hinson said interested in flood zone-Presnell said because of creek but confined to flood plain
V said he was one looking for property for park for community and has personally walked property and part where creek is can be used for trail and could be made into fishing pond and the 15 acres good for basketball, softball, baseball, etc., the remaining 5+- can be used
Chair called for vote 5-0
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6. |
PUBLIC HEARING (Legislative)-Consideration of Adoption of Ordinance 2016-004 for Amendment to the Future Land Use Map for a Small Scale Comprehensive Plan Map Amendment (SSA 2016-01) Mr. Presnell introduced above item.
Clean-up item-found glitch
Chair asked if public had any comments
Dusty House 434
V adoption of ordinance/Morgan 5-0
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GENERAL BUSINESS
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7. |
Tactical Drug Enforcement Training-Jacksonville, FL Mr. Presnell introduced above item.
Morgan asked if training was given locally in region-no
Brian Alexander, Investigator, Narcotics Task Force Commander, appeared before the Board to address questions.
V asked why only 1 representative from Midway-because of staffing
Taylor asked Administrator to identify training fund-Clerk maintains fund and
Hinson/V 5-0
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8. |
Impose a $2.50 Fee on Civil Traffic Violations Mr. Presnell introduced above item.
Hinson had opportunity to do research regarding this to see if other counties doing this, was in support of it
V asked attorney if civil traffic penalty statute say $5.00 or up to
Morgan said no impact on Clerks’ office having to collect fine-$1,250 impact-of $5.00 imposed- State not getting money-has to be disbursed to schools
V
Mennis explained statute-shall be used for enhancement an
FS 318.1215
Hinson/V 5-0
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9. |
Approval of Resolution 2016-006 Supporting the Community Transportation Safety Team (CTST to Apply for Transportation Enhancement Funding Through the Capital Region Transportation Planning Agency Mr. Presnell introduced above item sidewalk at Crossroad Academy
Morgan/V 5-0
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10. |
Florida Arts Trail Task Force Recommendation Mr. Presnell introduced above item.
BOCC workshop held November 5, 2015
BOCC directed staff to appoint task force to address concerns He and Dr. V met with each business owner and took concerns back to task force
From Town of Havana and stop at Pt. Milligan; May Nursery would like overpass be considered to make crossing easy;; NAPA locate trail closer to adjacent to SR 12; Tallavana Church and school-locate trail closer or adjacent to SR 12 w/ 2 gates between trail and parking lot
Jack Intern Director, CRTPA, economic development-if stop in Pt. Milligan, project will drop in priority and will affect long-range plan-if components change
V said glad now handling project in manner it’s being handled-including citizens in project-understands what director is saying-with suggestions citizens made-are here to represent citizens needs Suggest adopt recommendation and he will take to CRPTA
Morgan said knew lot of work put into this item-had hard time understanding how economy would benefit-would attract people from region and once more and more would utilize trail Could project be considered in future a different route-if off Highway 12 would require different assessment
Hinson asked costs for this project-hard to say but somewhere between $7-9 Million.
V said during workshop economic impact questions asked and no doubt trails has positive impact and use of trails would provide ripple effect – was bike ride Sunday from Havana through Georgia and back and they saw impact of economic – money specifically designated for that project and not used for other route-want us to have it but not to detriment of residents
Taylor echoed sentiments of those out there that would feel impact-
Holt said at time done public meeting held, discussed several times, don’t remember notification part but was passed, have seen bike trail in Tallahassee, beautiful, Savannah has one, if do it make it from Havana to Quincy and not stop halfway-Big problem with doing work, not public hearing tonight
Morgan mentioned reference to prior board-no-one realized 31 properties affected by this-not opposed to arts trail but opposed it in wrong place-recommend not to move forward
Hinson said hears if approve this
Variances that can make project work-can’t move forward with design project if doesn’t know what project is
V said concerns of businesses-DOT will address-trouble is with PD&E-if altered will Approve recommendation of task force and present to CRPTA
V motion to recommend task recommendation/Hinson
Susan Letz, FDOT liaison-PD&E not approved and not finalized
Hinson said why so compassionate-Havana merchants anticipating crowd coming and patronizing
Chair called for vote 3-2 Morgan, Holt opposed option 1 approved
Gentleman asked what happened – V explained every item citizens recommended would be presented to CRTPA
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11. |
Request for Procurement Policy Amendment Mr. Presnell introduced above item seeks amendment to procurement policy specific to Public Works Department
Morgan said didn’t understand problem
Hinson said recently purchased 6 dump trucks-wait until budget season before making decision
V said amendment was just amendment of one section and deals specifically with heavy equipment
Presnell said
Clerk said finance department supports policy change
Holt said if goes over $5,000 would come back to Board
Morgan option 1/V 5-0
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12. |
Approval of a Temporary Easement and Resolution with the Florida Department of Transportation Mr. Presnell introduced above item
V/Morgan option 1 5-0
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COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
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13. |
Update on Various Board Requests April 5th Industrial Development workshop prior to meeting
Hospital Board workshop March 17th at 6:00 at Havana Library
Training for appointees-April no date set yet at IFAS Center
GCDC soft launch on website
Spoke with Hackney regarding tour thinks trip worth taking maybe on 15th
Holt said spoke with Manager and felt good opportunity
Taylor asked about protests-was several protests-State looking at issuing more licenses-this exclusive here
V said had opportunity to be present at First Baptist Church when engineer and co-owner came to do presentation-very impressed with operation-not kind to get you high-used for medicinal purposes
Hinson said kills him when people talk about skill set-in his district they have all kind & highly intelligent—need dialogue with school board to finds ways can get jobs
Holt gave quick background and said we need knowledge and skill-based level here for jobs; need to go and see what type of jobs required and know what we need to do
Taylor asked about retreat-quite bit came out of it 1) start working with other municipalities and putting mission statement in action-how soon could objectives be implemented-very soon
Asked about land for recreation/parks on Joe Adams Road-building department looked it over-found nothing negative safety related
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COUNTY ATTORNEY
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14. |
Update on Various Legal Issues Nothing
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DISCUSSION ITEMS BY COMMISSIONERS
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15. |
Report and Discussion of Public Issues
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Commissioner Anthony “Dr. V” Viegbesie, District 2 V had number of things 1) expressed sincere appreciation to body and staff for collaborative done at retreat and continue to put interest of citizens first
Another document not seen-been on commissioner for almost 2 years and not provided generalized individualized performance evaluation for county attorney and administrator
Would like to develop one for attorney – stressed at this point is not an attack on anyone and asked everyone to listen intently to what he saying
Motion for board to present certificate of recognition Lyn-Shells Boutique, Ms. Linda Dixon/Hinson 5-0
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Commissioner Gene Morgan, District 3 Morgan said first thing come to mind regarding V’s comments-reach put to Vince Long
For Administrator-regard update to parks and updating and adding restrooms
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Commissioner Sherrie Taylor, District 5 Current paving project will be opened this Thursday
Asked if too soon to talk about workshops for budget-first in May
Apologized to board regarding last meeting and conduct
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Commissioner Eric Hinson, Vice Chair, District 1 Hinson said last year they talked about community center and asked if moving forward
Taylor left at this juncture of the meeting.
Presnell said would have to come from citizen task force-working on economic development CDBG now
health & fitness center in Havana closed and looking for new spot & thought talked to staff and thought they were working on it. Dee will be back next week and he will mention to her
Felt good to have another retreat and talk about staffing plans
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Commissioner Brenda Holt, Chair, District 4 Holt said not able to do canvassing board and spoke to Shirley and said could vote on someone-she said she spoke to Sjostrom and he putting staff on it and put in motion to have Presnell serve as alternate/
V said with regard to canvassing board only 2 dates not available to be there because of class and if someone has to be there-Presnell can and then he will releav
Hinson second
Morgan question-Mennis said understood 4 dates board meets-2 V can’t be there at time starts and Robert will be there until V can arrive and this is safety measure
Called for vote-4-0
Liked idea of having statute available when item comes up
City of Gretna annexing large parcel-can’t control what they annex – question from citizens-told them to contact City of Gretna-said if annex and don’t take roads, then problem. Because of annexation, 1,300 feet of roads now belong to City of Gretna
Bill to include minority farmers passed Monday
Slots bill was kicked back and hopefully will come back
Recognized former Mayor of Gretna |
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Receipt and File
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16. |
a. Letter from DEO b. Letter from City of Gretna re: Voluntary Annexation c. Resolution Honoring the Life of Mrs. Irene Houston
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UPCOMING MEETINGS
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17. |
March 15, 2016-Regular Meeting at 6:00 p.m.
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MOTION TO ADJOURN Adjourned at 8:32 p.m. |
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