Lord, you know the work stands, Lord. Father, you know the problems we having, Lord. And Father, we just pray that you'll just intervene, Lord. And father, for Miss Spooner this morning, Lord, her for being out there by herself, Lord. Father, we just pray you'd comfort her.
Father, kill her daughter, Lord. And Father, uh, as we go through this meeting, Lord, we just pray for wisdom, knowledge, and understanding to do the work that would be pleasing to you and the citizens of Ranch County. Father, now bless this meeting. Forgive us where
we fall short of your perfect will. And we ask these things in your precious name. Amen. >> Amen. Ice to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God,
indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you all for coming this morning. Um, as you see, uh, Commissioner Andrews was not able to be here this morning. She's out of town. And as you heard from Commissioner Thompson, please keep
Commissioner Spooner's daughter in your prayers. Um, she's in really bad health and in the hospital and Commissioner Spooner is with her. So, please keep them in your prayers. All right. So, as we call this meeting to order, first thing is uh public
public comments. Um, and please, when you do the public comments, just come up to the podium, state your name and address. You got three minutes and please be very respectful and um you know don't shout out or nothing like that. Um and we'll
just keep this meeting rolling. Thank you. The first one is uh Cindy uh Gord Gordon. Gordon. >> Yes, that's >> Cindy. >> Good morning, city commissioner and uh city commissioners and uh guests.
Um, I'm here to talk about the >> Please state your name and address for the record, please. >> Cindy Gordon, Gainesville, Florida. Um, I found out about this meeting through, um, residents of Stark and Bradford County. Um, we are all very
concerned about the possibility of the ICE detention center coming to Bradford County. Uh there has been no uh environmental impact study to determine if it would be safe. It's
understood that there's a possibility of it being built on a contaminated site. Um also the jobs that would be coming are temporary jobs. Uh so it's a temporary stimulus to the economy that could later get clawed back. Also the
consider who really benefits from this project. A Fortune 500 company called GEO uh goes around the country and sets these things up. It works with a a
construction company, a a contractor called Save It, which acts as kind of a plugandplay uh operator where they come into a project that GEO has set up and then establish
everything and hire the people. These are the people who are going to profit from this project, not the long-term residents of the Bradford County or the Stark community. Most of the residents
of the Stark community are very upset about this project. They're concerned that uh Stark will become of a prison city. There's already a prison nearby and now an ICE detention center. Is this really
the reputation that we want for North Central Florida? Thank you. That's all. >> Thank you. >> Next one's Paul Steel. >> Paul Still, 14167 Southwest Avenue. Um, I'd like to respond to parts of Sheriff
Smith's February 23rd email to you. The email includes others uh who received a copy of Sheriff Smith's email. Sheriff Smith wrote, "While constructive input is always welcome, your repeated assertions continue to demonstrate a lack of understanding of the
governmental process and the proper sequence required when evaluating a project of this magnitude." My response is I've been inter interacting with Brad some Bradford County Commissioners on environmental issues since 1988 when I attended New
River Solid Waste Association meetings. I've been attending Bradford County Commission meetings since moving to Bradford County in 1996 focusing primarily on environmental issues. A major concern I have about the ICE detention facility is that Bradford County does not have the expertise to
evaluate a project of this magnitude. Sheriff Smith wrote, "Your claim that Bradford County is somehow wasting resources is unfounded. Bradford County has been deliberate, transparent, and responsible in evaluating the opportunity." My response is the claim
that there will be no cost to Bradford County if their project is not funded does not seem to be supported by the fact that the evaluation of the ICE detention facility has had and will continue to have costs associated with staff time. How many county staff hours have been
spent on the ICE detention facility to date? How many staff hours will be required before a proposal can be drafted? Sheriff Smith wrote, "We uh remain committed to transparency and will continue to keep the public
informed as facts are developed and decisions are considered. The best way, my response is the best way to tr be transparent is to place all ICE detention facility documents on the county website. This would also reduce
the staff cost associated with the required responses to requests for public documents. Sheriff Smith wrote, "Your suggesting that all discussions must cease until a fully engineered and funded infrastructure plan is produced reflects a misunderstanding of how
responsible government works. My response is, "My use of the word plan in the email that Sher Smith was responding to may be confusing. I would urge you to consider making this an emergency item so that the following motion could be considered.
The sheriff and county manager should suspend work on the ice detention facility until options to provide sewer and water services for a 30,000 bed ICE detention facility have been identified. I know that there was a UF uh WUFT news
article about the ICE detention center and they said that that it said that the city manager is currently working with the uh city's uh engineer to develop u Thank you
Kate Ellison. Kate Ellison, 971 Southeast 32nd Way, Melrose, Florida, Bradford County. We call them ICE detention centers, the name our government uses. Detention means confinement or imprisonment,
usually for a short time. Some people want to bring one of those here to Stark. Currently, across the country, prisoners are waiting months for a hearing in front of an immigration judge. They are also cut off from communication with family and friends
and report having trouble talking to a lawyer. The Trump administration initially fired hundreds of immigration judges, and although they're trying to hire other, more conservative judges, the backlog of cases is decades long. A
concentration camp is defined as a facility where governments imprison specific groups such as political dissident or ethnic minorities without trial, often under harsh conditions. In today's America, we have nearly 70,000
ethnic minorities held in secrecy in these camps under harsh conditions for an undetermined length of time without charges. This is a concentration camp. ICE does not regularly disclose how many people have been deported or how many
people have died in their care. What we do know from leaked documents is that they want to acquire space for 80,000 more prisoners. On the news, you can hear about ISIS's attempts to buy or rent warehouses all over the country. It's not just Bradford County. By fall,
ICE expects to hold 150,000, primarily black and brown people, without charges for an indefinite length of time in converted warehouses and tents, giving them tainted water and rotten food and preventing communication with the outside. These are con these are
concentration camps. It is also big business. As was mentioned, a few private companies have grown rich operating these camps. And the tighter they squeeze the inmates, the larger their profits. Maybe a concentration camp in Stark
would be different. Maybe it would not. At your last meeting, I talked about the comprehensive economic analysis being done to look at the cost consequences of bringing such a facility here. The report is strictly the economic factors
without judgment. It will show the costs to our EMS and public health services, garbage and general cleanup, roads, oversight, and legal risks to our county government. In financial terms, even if ICE pays the rent, we will lose out.
Thank you. Thank you, Robin. Robin Frasier. Folks, please refrain from clapping. If you would like to signify in some way that you're in favor, just wave your hands. Thank you. >> My name is Robin Fraser. I live at 14627
Southwest 55th 155th Avenue in Burger. I'm back and I want to talk to you a little more about why you should vote against having an ICE detention center in Bradford County. This terrible burden is placed on your shoulders and yours alone. Unless there is someone beyond
you that is really making decisions. And if there is, then you should let us know and we will take our concerns to them. An ICE detention center is just not a building with jobs attached. It's a warehouse for human beings. A warehouse where human beings are locked away,
often for months at a time, separated from their children, their spouses, their friends, and their jobs. Most of those who are detained in these centers have no criminal convictions. If someone is convicted of a crime, we have jails and prisons. This isn't about criminals. It's about immigrants and people of
color. Many of them are seeking asylum and some are longtime residents caught up in a very complicated immigration system. Perhaps some of the people who would be warehoused in Bradford County could be your neighbors, people you attend church with, parents of children who go to your
schools or play on your ch child's baseball team, or men or women who work in this community. If you approve this facility, then you approve of this action against fellow human beings, and that shame will belong to Bradford County. There's a moral question at play here. Should we profit
from the detention of people who are simply trying to create a better life for their families? Please do not buy into the lie that ICE is only detaining the worst of the worst. People hear that, they think it's true. Fact check it. Fact check everything you are being told. Even when
I tell you, don't be sheep. be good stewards for our community. I believe if we allow an ICE detention center into Bradford County, we will be left with controversy, the optics of protests, intense scrutiny, and the finger of blame pointing right at Bradford County
every single time something goes wrong. Please take the moral high ground. Immigrants are not dollar signs. They are people. We need to say no to warehousing human beings like they are objects to be stored until we can disperse them elsewhere.
Thank you. Thank you, Susan Brotherton. >> Good morning. Thanks for this opportunity. >> I'm here to speak in opposition of the proposed ICE facility. >> Please state your name and address for the record.
>> Okay. Susan Brotherton, 17493 Northwest 238th Terrace, Ice Springs, Florida. Thank you. I'm here to speak in opposition to the proposed ICE facility. Mass deportation.
We've all heard the term. To be clear, the stated goal is to deport 1 million people a year for 10 years. Who are these people? Early on and still, we are told they are the worst of the worst, rapists and murderers. What
are the facts? First, it's important to note that being undocumented and present in America is not a criminal offense. It's a civil offense, not a criminal offense. The results of a number of studies
demonstrate that the undocumented commit crimes at rates lower than than American citizens. As of last month, ICE reported it had approximately 70,000 people in detention. Of those, from ICE's own
data, 73.6% had no criminal convictions. Only 5% had convictions for violent crimes. These are generally not criminals. So
generally law-abiding immigrants are being rounded up indiscriminately and put into detention centers where their due process rights are routinely violated. They are not allowed family visitation and have trouble getting
legal help. The plan is to lock them up often indefinitely and under deplorable conditions to force them to self-epport. To make this happen, the current administration has militarized ICE. You see it on the news every night, covered
them with masks, and given them free reign to violently arrest people in our communities. In 2025, Congress allotted 75 billion over four years for ICE. Now, that's a
hell of a lot of cash, and it is very tempting to struggling communities. Everyone wants a piece of the pie. We might as well do it or someone else will, right? My questions today, does this community really want to be part of
this morally corrupt process for temporary temporary economic gain? Is this honorable? or will this predominantly Christian community stand up and just say no?
Clearly, America is strongest when we lead by our values. Thank you. >> Thank you, Maria. Uh Gear Greer >> Gear. >> Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. My
name is Maria Gear and I live at 17245 Bradford Avenue in Burger, Florida, District 13. I am speaking again against the proposed detention center in the Douglas building because new information has come to light that the Justice
Department dealt a significant blow to Florida Governor Ronda Santis' immigration detention project, declaring that $68 million of FEMA reimbursement cannot fund construction or renovation
of the facility known as alligator Alcatraz. Where will that leave Bradford County if the Trump administration decides not to pay the county for upfront costs? Trump is notorious for
having contractors do work for him and then not paying them. A 2016 investigation by USA Today found that over 30 years Donald Trump and his businesses were accused of failing to
pay for work performed by hundreds of contractors, small businesses, and employees. The report identified at least 60 lawsuits over 200 mechanic leans filed by contractors, workers, and
businesses who allegedly were stiffed. Bradford County cannot afford to take a chance on being built out of precious funds. We cannot absorb any false promises of a quick buck. Also, may I
remind you of the negative impact this detention center will have on neighboring businesses such as the fruit company next door, Walmart, and restaurants nearby. It will also disrupt the traffic pattern, and no one wants to
go through a gauntlet of militarized personnel on their way to shop. The fact that there is insufficient insufficient water and sewer available is another very large cost problem. I
can just imagine the smell of 3,000 people defecating on a summer's day across from Walmart. This is a shameful legacy for Bradford County to deal with. I beg you to be smart about our
community and say no to this final proposal. Thank you, Mark Frasier. Good morning, commissioners. Good morning, everyone. Hope this microphone gets a workout, doesn't it?
Uh, I just wanted to say uh my belief that building an ICE detention center Oh, I'm sorry. My name is Mark Fraser. I live at 14627 Southwest 155th Avenue, Brooker, Florida. And I just wanted to express my opinion about the ICE detention center. I think it's a
terrible idea. Public records reveal that in 2012 and again in 2026, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection notified nearby property owners that groundwater contamination identified as volatile organic compounds or VOCC's
uh coming from the Douglas warehouse property had migrated to uh nearly 30 adjacent properties. Construction or occupation of the site as a detention facility could increase risks like vapor intrusion into buildings if the land is
disturbed. A Marshall Project analysis found that at least 3,800 children had been placed into detention since the beginning of 2025 uh in in these places. Not only are these children suffering profound emotional and psychological trauma uh
and distress, they are also being exposed to potentially contaminated food, water, and inadequate medical care. Uh children are also especially vulnerable to the damage caused by these volatile compounds, these VOCC's, including damage to their nervous
system, liver, kidneys, and lungs. Some VOCC's are also linked to higher levels of leukemia. If imprisoned in our community, these children who were not guilty of any crime could sustain permanent damage to multiple organ systems in addition to
the horrific psychological trauma they would suffer from incarceration. We cannot allow our community to be a part of such an atrocity. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you, Monique. Uh Constantino
Hi, commissioners. Uh, my name is Monnique Costantino and I live at 2000 Northwest 36th Avenue in Gainesville. County commissioners should not decide whether to host a new ICE detention facility because the basic rights at
stake are not the kind of thing that can legitimately be traded away by a local majority or its representatives. Human rights are not up for local bargaining. Certain liberties, freedom from arbitrary arrest, bodily security,
due process are basic and must not be infringed for ordinary social or economic advantages. Under this view, it is morally wrong to let a county commission weigh those basic protections against proposed or excuse me, promised
jobs, tax revenue, or political favor. and then decide if abuses are an acceptable cost. Majority rule must be limited by minority rights. If an elected body can subject a vulnerable
minority to serious rights violations, you then have tyranny of the majority, not legitimate self-government. Migrants and detainees are an extreme minority with almost no political voice in this c in this county. Authorizing a detention
center effectively allows a local majority to decide how much cruelty or risk of abuse outsiders must endure. Local bodies have legitimate authority over things like zoning, traffic, noise, or land use where tradeoffs among
residents interests are acceptable. but authorizing a facility embedded in a system widely documented as cruel and inhumane shifts from balancing interests to licensing foreseeable severe rights violations. That is a different category
of decision. It concerns whether some people will be placed in conditions that threaten their basic liberty and security, not where a warehouse or park should go. For a political decision to be legitimate, those subjected to its
coercive power must have their basic rights protected, even when they lack voice in the process. Detainees, often non-citizens, without local vote, sometimes without even formal charges, are precisely the people least able to
contest or escape the harms county commissioners might help create. I plead with members of the commission to stand against an ICE detention center here in Stark. If you move to allow such a detention facility in Stark, history
will judge you harshly, as will your children and grandchildren. Thank you. >> Thank you, Carol Mosley. >> Carol Mosley, 10121 Southwest 104th Avenue in Graham. Good morning, commissioners. Uh, I've been, if you've
been reading the emails I've sent you, you know I have many concerns and questions about the viability of converting the Douglas Warehouse into a detention center. Though Sheriff Smith assured me that the kinds of problems we're hearing about with other detention centers won't apply here, I'm not so
confident that the feds always operate above board. In fact, lawsuits are popping up all over the place challenging federal behavior. Trust has already been broken in a couple of areas. How dare Sabo plan with our county reps that to have an agenda setting meeting two days before the BOCC
presentation. It's a shame that staff went along and only gave two days notice to the public and I believe even to you. And it was another slap in the public's face when you all didn't hit the pause button to give more time for the public to bring in questions for Sabot to answer. you should bring so back here
for a workshop where you can where you ask them all the questions that keep arising from the public since uh at these meetings ever since. My main concerns about the details is the lack thereof. There are unanswered questions about the process. Will it be quasa judicial? Should there be a bid process
for consulting of the project for other aspects such as con construction contractors, medical providers, management groups? Will an environmental assessment be conducted? Why aren't zoning and legal uh why can't legal uh zoning and legal provide answers to these questions already? There are
unanswered questions about the structures and infrastructure. Well, there'll be chain link cages inside rather than walls. The county manager assumes so. So do I. No privacy at all, just noise from one end to the other. Everyone admits that water and sewer access are primary. Can and will Stark
provide for those? If so, how long would it take to get in place? Truly, there is someone available to give a ballpark evaluation on that. An answer to that might put the whole project to rest. There will be social implications. Do we have housing for the new employees? I doubt we can pull 1,200 employees from
this county without stress on other employers and not gradually. Who's looking into that aspect? According to SEO timelines, it will take 2 to 3 weeks to get the final proposal from ICE. That's passed already. Do we know if they got that? Then comes IGSA for 3 to
12 week. That means by the first BOCCC meeting in April, they could be ready to start phase zero site preparation and mobilization or it could be as late as the last meeting in May. Of course, the BO will expect a decision from you before they start site prep. They expect 6 to 8 weeks for that and then 10 to 12
weeks later the initial thousand beds with a note that phases are accumulate are cumulative infrastructure is frontloaded into phase one to improve efficiency. So 4 to 5 months after the April BOCC meeting, they could be up and running with a thousand beds. Around October or November, we could have the
buses coming for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Deuteronomy 10:19. You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. Thank you. Thank you, >> Nancy Morim. Thank you for the opportunity to speak.
My name is Nancy Moral. I live at 416 Southeast First Street, Melrose, Florida, Bradford County. I live in a sweet little neighborhood down 21 on the right almost to 26. I live in the back of the neighborhood,
the furthest street from 21. It is an exclusively residential neighborhood by zoning and covenants. It is a neighborhood with small children on bikes. A lady who walks her sweet yellow lab from her wheelchair. Another
elderly lady on a walker that I see most every day walking for her health. An ICU nurse who's very tired at all hours. It is a neighborhood where residents care for each other, check on each other in storms. We have trick-or-treaters on
Halloween still. It used to be a sweet little neighborhood. Now it has become a nightmare. Right next door to me, a group of people bought the residential lot. It is exclusively a residential lot. However,
they did not put a home on it. Instead they put a large commercial style metal warehouse type building. Again it is not being used in any residential way. The lot it is parcel 06230702
first street Bradford County. It is being used solely for commercial purposes. It is being used for staging and storing metal building materials in the warehouse and on a huge commercial trailer, the size trailer that can move
a house. It is transported to and from commercial work sites from the site. It has been going on for about 2 years now. My elderly neighbor had a trailer stolen some years ago and subsequently installed a hunting camera. So
everything they are commercially doing across the street is very well documented. There is no home on the parcel. It is being exclusively commercially used. The elderly gentleman across the street has contacted zoning code enforcement, the
sheriff and the county commission. They don't take his calls or he gets the runaround. This has been going on for about a year. I have called myself with no return calls. We have a petition signed by neighbors. The people running the business know we have contacted the county and are terrorizing us. I watched
them also almost run the lady in the wheelchair off the road speeding and then they flipped her off. She had signed a petition. They have swerved to hit me and my puppy intentionally more than once. I believe an essential duty of Bradford County elected officials and
employees is to protect her residents and enforce codes and laws. We will continue to pursue this for ourselves and our neighbors in every way until someone who cares can come forward. Thank you for your time. Thank you.
>> Okay, at this time that's all the public comment cards I have. Thank you all for being very respectful. I do appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you for making your points. Thank you for being here. All right. Next item on the list is the approval of the consent agenda.
Do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda? >> I will make a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> I have a motion from Commissioner Daltry. >> Second. >> Second from Commissioner Thompson. Any questions? All in favor by a sign of I >> I. >> Motion carries 300.
And I I didn't say I. All right. Next we have uh item number four, appointment of u representation of the Swany River legal um Swany River Economic Council.
And do we have anybody in mind that y'all would like to put on this board? Who do we currently have in that position? Who's currently in the position? >> So it's been vacated by um recall her
name, Johnson. Janice. >> Janice, >> is it? >> Yeah, she's already resigned. Um, Janice is her first name. We'll have her her last name here in a second. >> That's okay. Um, didn't know. >> But no, we had we had had some
conversation about Lieutenant David Weekes. Uh, filling that position. Miss Yes, I was right. Johnson, Janie Johnson, it was her name or is her name. But in any event, uh, Lieutenant David Weekes has been mentioned. um to fill
that position since he's already involved in the community parame medicine program and as you know commissioner Riddick uh being on the Swany River um transportation for the disadvantage board uh how that ties in. So it would it would be um I guess would
be the recommendation of staff that that Lieutenant Weeks fill that position >> and and board I will say this um I've invited uh uh David Weekes to several meetings. He's he's came and and has great input especially with the position
he holds with the county. So that that would definitely be my recommendation. >> Well, if there's no objection from Lieutenant Weeks, then I say we move forward with nominating him in that position. Lieutenant Weeks. >> Okay. So, >> so do we have a motion to
second from Commissioner Thompson? All in favor by sign of I. I. Motion carries 30. Thank you, Lieutenant Weeks. >> Yes. Thank you. >> All right. Next, we move on to the uh clerk's report. >> Mr. Chair and board, um before you and
your packet is just information. Um Matthew Carlton, who currently serves on the value adjustment board as the citizen member that's appointed by the county governing body, uh will no longer be able to serve in that role. And so I'll need the board at your April your
first meeting in April uh which will be April 7th uh to bring back recommendations and be ready to make an appointment of who can fill that role. Uh citizen member has to own homestead property. They must not be a member or employee of any taxing authority in
Florida or represent owners, property appraisers, tax collectors or taxing authorities in any administrative or judicial review of property taxes. Thank you. Okay. All right. That's all all from the court. >> Okay. Thanks. All right. Next, we have
sheriff's report. Good to come for y'all this morning. Hope you hadn't missed the county fair. It's probably the best I've ever seen it. I know they said Saturday night they sold out more than 1500 armbands. had to go to stamping people. So that's a positive and the animals are showing them. So if you got kids, grandkids, you
know, bring them down and let them see the chickens, let them see the rabbits, the steers, and the hogs. A lot of shows going on. We come out and support our kids. Uh if nothing else. So that being said, however, I did want to come to you this morning and uh I wrote it down so I would kind of stay on topic cuz I'll do
that and I'll answer back Mr. Still since he wanted to read his. I'll I'll give my response back uh publicly as well. Think it's only fair. The first is I am here this morning to briefly um speak briefly about the Douglas building and the discussion surrounding its potential use as an ICE detention
facility. I want to begin by explaining how this process first came to my attention. So there is a clear clear understanding of the facts cuz there's so much misinformation and people spewing their hate and vigor uh just
because it's something a political eye and that's what we got to set aside and the facts and how it began. In July of 2025, I was approached by a longtime friend and colleague who had previously served as chief deputy in OciOla County Oyola County and was at that time working with ICE during the Biden
administration. During our conversation, he informed me that he was working with a savvy consultants, a firm that specializes in consulting for ICE detention operations, including projects such as Glades County Sheriff's Office detention center, who houses ICE detainees. They are not
inmates and they are not criminals. However, let me be real clear. When you cross this country illegal, it is a violation of law of the United States Code 1325, which your first offense is a misdemeanor. Second occurring offenses
are felonies. Yes. And there's deportation orders that come under people that come here seeking immunity. There are deportation orders which currently it's estimated more than a thousand 100 thousand in the state of Florida who are now have pickup orders because they didn't show up for their court appearance and whatever to fight
for that immunity. So that being said, there's a need and somebody's going to do that. They are human beings. Every one of those people put in those facilities are human beings. Now, I've been to those facilities. I've seen how they're housed. I've seen
how they're treated. They get treated better than my inmates in the Bradford County jail. They get two hot meals a day. And at bag lunch, you can say no all you want to, but see, I know the facts. You can read your blogs and you can take your hate field bigger because
you don't believe in one side of the political party to the other, but I'm here to talk facts and what we know. They got 24hour phone access. They have full medical access, and most of them are housed temporarily. There are countries that don't want them back right now, and they're having to fight.
Some do remain there for several months. That's the truth. He was familiar with Bradford County, our community, and the assets we have as they relate to correctional and detention operations. Based on familiarity, we believe our infrastructure, experience, and
professional capacity make Bradford County a community that could could responsibly and effectively support such an operation should the county chose choose to explore. at that this point. This was simply an introduction.
an introduction that y'all got. Not a commitment, not a contract, and not a decision, but rather an opportunity to gather information and determine whether it was
something worth evaluating for the benefits of our community, our taxpayer, and our long-term financial stability. Cuz currently, you know, the only way we have to raise money for any of these projects everybody talks about is taxation. And we've been faced with that. Y'all
have been faced with that. So, somebody's got to come up with some creative and different ideas. We house currently over 3,500 convicted felons in our community. Our county jail has a population of over
200 this morning with a 48 housing unit going right beside it within less than 100 ft. Those are people charged with serious crimes. Now, I'd like to address some of the comments, accusations, and misinformation that have been shared publicly and ensure that the record is
clear. First, for anyone who claims that the county commissioners or I have already made up our minds, that is simply not true. No final decisions have been made. We're in the information gathering and evaluation stage and any decision will follow the proper process
with a full transparency and accountability as anyone in this room would understand politics and how that it works. If you took civics in school, these commissioners can't discuss it unless they're in an open meeting with each other. So that when you find out they find out a lot of times that's how
they come up with their information. That's how civics works. Second, there have been claims that such a facility would decrease home values or harm local businesses. To date, there have been no factual evidence presented to support those claims. In fact,
studies of similar rural detention facilities in other counties have shown neutral or even a positive economic impact due to job creation, infrastructure, investment, and increased economic activity. I challenge you look it up and see for yourself.
That said, my primary concern and the concern of this board is the impact on the residents and the businesses located near the proposed facility. would ever be housed in a facility without proper environmental steps.
Hence, you hire consultants. Hence, you hire people. The county spent over I think it was $25,000 for the last study uh that we got on a grant. Uh that's out there with D people D people have been spoken with and dealt with to be housed in facility without proper environmental
studies, safety evaluations, and regulatory approvals. Issues such as environmental conditions, vapor intrusion, water and sewer capacity, and the infrastructure requirements must be fully evaluated and resolved before any project can move forward.
Any now, anybody speculating otherwise, take your hatred to the house, take your misinformation and your facts. We deal with reality here and facts, not speculation. Just >> asking.
>> And everybody has a right to ask. I also recognize that some opposition is based on broader political views or opinions about immigration enforcement. People are entitled their opinions and I respect the right of every citizen to speak and to be heard. However, my
responsibility as the sheriff is not to engage in your political debate, but to evaluate opportunities that may enhance public safety, strengthen our local community, and benefit the citizens of Bradford County. And you see here this morning, there are
sellers that come from a lot of other areas around us. As soon as they got their their 3 minutes, they left. They didn't care about Bradford County. One of the reasons I was willing to explore this opportunity is because of the potential to create jobs, generate revenue, improve existing
infrastructure, and repurpose a vacant facility in a way that could benefit our community now and into the future because several people have looked at that facility, but they don't want to spend the money to what it would take to upgrade that facility. No different when
they went to Baker, the old Baker CI, and spent 10 to 11 million upgrading a facility. Now, I want to address something. There's some of y'all I've seen emails, "Oh my gosh, the state has not been reimbured by the federal government." You are correct. Very correct. You know why? They didn't
go through the normal process. They declared a state of emergency and spent all this money. As we've told others that we come before this board, you don't spend the money then ask for reimbursement. Hello. got our fair old fair board truck. Well, the same way here. And when I toured those facilities, they said,
"Look, y'all are going about it the right way. Look at Baker County Sheriff's Office. Look at Glades County Sheriff's Office. Run by sheriff's being fully reimbursed cuz you do it the right way." And nobody's going to love a human being more than me. And think somebody's going to allow people to go out there,
mistreat somebody. You are definitely wrong. You are dead seriously wrong. Those are human beings. I've been to the border and watch what happens. I've watched children being sex trapped, people being put into slave labor. We can do it and we can do it the right way at a facility where we can walk in and
look and be something proud of and do it the right way. And there are plenty of facilities doing it the right way. And some people got up here and said, "Go." Well, Gio runs Baker County, but let me explain to you, there's several other companies out there. Gio hasn't been one of the ones been mentioned with Sav to me.
There again, more misinformation being pumped out in a public setting that some people actually believe without doing their homework. Any such project would also be subjected to federal approval which we can do everything submit a proposal and not get
approved. So we have to put something together. That's what I ask this board to entrust in me is to be the person to oversee that. And I can tell you there's a lot of commissioners up here and they're very smart. They ask questions. They say, "Sheriff, if they do the water and sewer, is there going to be a chopping system? Is there going to be rightway
easement for the people that are going to propose to put commercial in back in behind it?" Now, there's a lot of things that have to go into it. It's not guesswork. If we do it, we got to do it right and make sure that we treat people as human beings, not as an item or a tool or or
something else. As you know, some facilities do it real well, others don't. The proof's out there. This is my county. So, this the same process successfully followed by other Florida counties,
including Baker and Glades County, whose sheriff's office operate ICE detention facilities in partnership with the federal government. So, let me say this. I have served this community for 40 years. This is my home. My family lives here. I care deeply
about the future of Bradford County and I do not take this responsibility lightly. No one cares more about protecting this community, preserving its character and ensuring its future than those of us entrusted to serve it. See, I spent my 40 years adult my entire
adult life serving this community. So now nobody is on as you might love as much as me, but you'll never love it more than me. And if we can't do it right, it doesn't cost us anything to say no. And if they can't get it right, they can't meet the demands and I'm very
demanding. Then I say no. What do I lose other than the possible opportunity to use that facility one day, have it upgraded, and use it for something that I think would be much more worth it? But there's a lot of planned development for this community. And without taxing the people, we got to be more resourceful. And if this
property tax passes, we're at a $5.25 255$5.5 million shortfall in taxes. So you can complain, but when you come to the table, bring something to the table. If you got an idea, bring your idea and a way to fund it. I'm all ears.
So I remain open to hearing from our citizens. If there are concerns, bring them forward. If you are better, if you there are better ideas that create jobs, generate revenue, and strengthen our community without placing additional tax burdens on our residents.
I'll welcome those discussions anytime. It was an opportunity that came. I had to bring it to my commissioner. That's a responsibility and I had to look at the future of my county. We are known when they placed that prison in the middle of a residential area in Ludi 50 years ago.
People fussed. There was homes right next to the gate. But if you went out there and tried to close it down today, there people beating enough work because of jobs and opportunity and economic development that brought the county jail surrounded by homes and 48 more going in
beside it and a rock throw away. Can we do it right? Yes, you can bet on it. I'm not going to be the person responsible for mistreating people. It will not happen. So I rest assured in that. So that's my my that's how the Douglas building come into play. I know my commissioners have taken a lot of heat
and you had to hear a lot of stuff that wasn't true. I've even heard somebody call themselves a problem. That being said, I think the public needs to know from me the reality how we got here and that's being transparent. As Miss Mosley, she holds me accountable. I have no grief. She's asked good questions and we all know
she's feisty, but I like that. There's nothing wrong with that. However, I will address Mr. Steel because he want to make his public letter to the address to the commissioners. I think it's only fair we give the response back. So bear with me about 2 minutes. Paul,
I'll respond once again directly and clearly. First, let's address this narrative. You continue to advance. No one has criticized you for weighing environmental risk. That is your right. What has been pointed out accurately is your consistent opposition to nearly
every major project that presents economic opportunity in this county. There is a difference between thoughtful environmental stewardship and reflective resistance to growth. Bradford County deserve balanced leadership, not perpetual paralysis.
Now, I want to see our county grow, but I believe we want to control that growth. Florida's growing. Our county is growing. I've seen things I used to joke that the only gated community in our county was the jail, and we're trying to keep people in, not keep people out. But I look to the future, and that's going
to change. Second, your suggestion that Bradford County lacks the expertise to evaluate a project of this magnitude is simply incorrect. Counties across Florida, including including rural counties, routinely evaluate complex projects by
working in coordination with state and federal partners, professional consultants, engineers, attorneys, and subject matter experts. That is how government works. We do not operate in a vacuum, and we are not improvising. Third, regarding staff time and cost.
Yes, evaluating any proposal requires staff time. Paul, you know that we spent a lot of it on you. By the way, that is called governance. County staff review grants, economic development proposals, infrastructure plans,
emergency management updates, and capital projects every day. Evaluating an opportunity before deciding whether to proceed is not a waste. It's called due diligence. You ask how many staff hours have been
spent. Staff are doing what they are employed to do. Gather information, communicate with agencies, access feasibility, and prepare material for elected officials to consider. This is not an extraordinary expense. It is a routine county administration. The
alternative refusing to even evaluate opportunities would be irresponsible. Four on transparency. We remain committed to transparency. When documents become part of the official public record, they are available
consistent with Florida law. Posting materials prematurely before they are complete or verified can create confusion rather than clarity. You understand that? I'm sure.
Transparency does not mean bypassing orderly procedure. Finally, your proposed emergency motion emotion to suspend discussions until sewer and water options are identified reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of sequencing. Infrastructure feasibility
is part of the evaluation process. It is not something that appears fully engineered before conversations even begin. No responsible government demands fully developed utility solutions before determining whether a proposal is viable enough to warrant that level of
engineering analysis. The process is step by step. One is determine interest and pre preliminary feasibility. We did that consultants come forward. Engage appropriate agencies and stakeholders. That is the process we're taking. Identify infrastructure
considerations. assess cost, funding mechanisms, and risk. And fifth, make a decision based on facts. Bradford County will continue to evaluate this proposal deliberately and responsibly. No final decision has been made, no
commitments have been executed, and no shortcuts are being taken. I appreciate civic engagement. As y'all know me, I'm a talker. Uh you can put me in the same category as Miss Mosley if you'd like. We we like to debate. We like to get to the bottom of things. I admire you for
that. Miss Bosn, I do not appreciate mischaracterizations of process or implications. This county is incapable of handling its responsibilities. Respectfully, Mr. Ste. So, I thought he spread his. I thought I need to read mine into the record so
it's publicly known. I appreciate y'all's time. Any questions, you pick up the phone and call. To date, I've had two people call me in my office. Both of neither one of them were from our county, and I was able to answer both those questions professionally, whether they agree with or not. There's
a lot of things I don't agree with, but I appreciate people giving me an answer. Not always what I want, but that's going to I ran into a couple others and and we aired our side. It has been professional. I've had no disrespect at all. So, to that, I want to say thank you to my commissioners allowing me this
time this this morning. Thank you. >> Thank you, Sheriff. Thank you, sir. All right, moving on to the uh county manager report. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The chairman or the uh sheriff mentioned it earlier about the Bradford County Fair that
kicked off last Thursday with the grand opening ribbon cutting. I just wanted to mention that at that ribbon cutting there were over a 100 people in attendance and from last year's records it looks like there were eight. So, what a uh what a fantastic first day and
grand opening for the Bradford County Fair. I'm also been told that on Saturday night they sold out of armbands. Uh sales were way beyond what had been anticipated. and we've gotten nothing but positive feedback from those
who have actually attended the fair and uh have commented on how wellrun it is, how thoughtful um the the presentation is, and how much work was put into uh putting the fair together. So, we're very excited about that. I know this board um courageously stood up and and
acquired that property two years ago um anticipating what it could be. And I think this past five days or six days, however long it's been, is uh validates your your feelings in the beginning. So, we're looking um we're just looking for
bigger and better. I know next year is going to be even more of a success than this year. Um that brings me to April the 19th. Next month, um at the Thursday evening meeting will be the annual state of the county report, the county manager's progress report. And part of
that report will include u an afteraction report from the Bradford County Fairgrounds. So you can look forward to that as well. Um I believe Mr. Chairman, are you going to talk about the upcoming upcoming meetings when we get down to your part? Yes.
Okay. So you'll talk about that. Um the other thing is as you know yesterday afternoon we made a decision to cancel the budget workshop that was scheduled for immediately following this meeting. Um two commissioners are not here. So that pretty much negates the um the
reason for having a workshop. So, we will pick up the business that we were had scheduled for today at the next scheduled budget workshop which will be Tuesday, April 7th. That's all I have, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. County Attorney
report. >> Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Nothing to report. >> Okay. Commissioner comments. Commissioner Thompson. >> Yeah. I'd like to thank each and every one of y'all for coming out, spending your time here. Uh, and I'd like to say
go down there and support that fair. I mean, they've done a super duper job and uh, you know, we owe a bunch to the fair board. I mean, they have worked to get all this in place and it it's very nice. And
thank y'all for coming again. And oh, and remember Miss Spooner's family in your prayers. Thank you. >> Yeah, I just wanted to add that as well. just uh please remember Miss Spooner and her family and um we pray for a a great
outcome and for a safe travels home. So, thank you all for being here and have a great day. Thank you again. Thank you all for coming. Thank you for being very respectful. Um and again, the fair opening was was awesome. If you haven't been to the fair, need to go there and
check it out. Um to be honest, I haven't been on the midway yet. They've been at the ball field every single night. But uh but my grandkids have got it lined up, so I guarantee I'll be there for a couple days. But um so anyway, so go go to the
fair and check it out. Um other thing I want to say, uh Ben Carter and the fire and rescue, thank you so much. I mean, we're under a burn ban. It's extremely dry. And um every time those brush fires break out, I tell you what, it just it
you y you'all are on them immediately. and I really do appreciate it because y'all have saved several several brush fires that could have got out of control real quick, especially with the high winds. So, I just want to thank y'all very much for what y'all are doing. So,
um and um other than that, the uh the next board meeting is uh Tuesday, I mean, I'm sorry, Thursday, March 19th at 6:30 right here. Um after that uh there'll be one uh Tuesday, April 7th at 9:30 right here and then the budget
workshop uh will follow that meeting on Tuesday, April 7th at 10:30. So um if there's nothing else, come before the board. Good. All right, the meeting is ajourned. Thank you for coming. Heat. Heat.
Yeah. Heat. Heat. Heat.