Let me make sure Amanda said these clocks are synchron synchronized now. >> Come on baby. >> I believe that. But I'm going to look at my phone just in case. because Mr. Commando has taught me that
we have to we can't start um >> you're you're at 6:30. >> Okay. >> You listen to him? >> I listen to him. Yes. >> It is now 6:30. Our county commissioner meeting is called to order and we would stand for invocation and the pledge of
allegiance. Heavenly Father, we thank you for your grace and your mercy and your love. As we begin the meeting tonight, dear Lord, help us to continue to recognize our shared responsibility to serve the
people. Serve the people with fairness and respect. And may we listen carefully and speak thoughtfully. And may the people do so as well. Let us work together to find solutions that promote the well-being of our community and that
our decisions be guided with wisdom and empathy and a good sense of common sense. So Lord, we pray today that you give us the wisdom that we need to conduct this meeting that will be pleasing in your sight. In your name we pray. Amen.
>> Amen. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the rep for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Let the record show that Commissioner Re
is not present with us this evening. So there we have a call. We have our four commissioners that are here. And I wish to acknowledge and to thank um Commissioner Reagan in his absence for facilitating the meet the last
meeting in my absence. Um and I thank my board I brought forth their support. All right. At this time, um, I'm going to receive the public comments. And when you come, um, to the podium, if you
would please, if you forget what we're supposed to do, you have three minutes and just be respectful of the time, state your name, your address for the record, and then speak directly into the mic. if it's if you need to adjust it so that not only do we hear you but the
people who are listening online, we ask that you refrain from any boisterous um defamatory language. Um just be respectful and um when you have finished and you take your seat, if someone else is speaking, we ask that no one talks
from the floor because it's disrupted to the meeting. Okay. All right. So, at this time, we will call um let's see, Miss Tanya Hasten. Good evening, commissioners. Um,
Nicole Allen, Linda Archer, Kevin Barnhill, Wanda Beach, David Benton, Mary Brooks, Officer Henry Canals, Jennifer Carter, Border Patrol Agent Keith Connelly, Detective Mike Davis
Jr., Sandra Duran, Deputy Frank Carrie Fadley, Officer Josie Fox, Cherish Gibson, Dr. Malcolm Goodchild, Haley Hall, Deputy Mike Hartley, Officer Brian
Jackson, Haley King, Officer David Lee, Deputy David March, Scott Miller, Joselyn Nungare, Melissa Pal, and Lake Riley. These are just a couple of the American citizens that have been killed
by illegal aliens. And you know, our country is good at changing words. They're illegal aliens, not uh undocumented migrants. So therefore, I want to let you know I am for ICE. I'm for all law enforcement officers.
They do a hard job. But as far as this ice facility, the location is the wrong spot. It is across from our shopping center where everybody in Brackford County goes to. And let me just say this. Just because we're not Minnesota
or one of these other states, don't think that these people can't bust protesters in, which actually they're not protesters. They are activists. If you are blowing a whistle in someone's face, that is not peaceful. If you are throwing bricks at them and at their
car, it is not peaceful. Using your car is not peaceful. So, when I hear people come up here and say, "We can't have this ice facility because ICE is bad." I'm sorry. You're 100% wrong. Ice is
good. We've been invaded. It needs to stop. But as far as this location, it's the wrong spot. I'm sure everyone in this building goes shopping at the Walmart here. And if you think that buses can't come in with these
protesters and cause chaos in our town, and yes, I'm aware we have a sheriff's department and he would be all over it because he's going to be over this if it gets in here. But just know this, if this happens, it's going to be on your hands. But last week, we've had three
terrorist attacks in our country. There are sleeper cells all over the United States right now from the previous administration letting them into our country. It's just a matter of time. I understand we're a small town and we've been safe, but don't think that it can't
happen here. And I believe that this is absolutely 100% the wrong place to put a ice facility in. you are jeopardizing the residents of Bradford County that if this chaos comes here and it affects them, it's going to affect us all. And
if something happens and God forbid somebody get killed, it's on your hands. So, I would ask that you consider this. Yes, we need ice facilities, but not at that location where it's located. It needs to be further from town. and I
just thank you and um I thank us for all that they're doing because they are doing a hard job and I just appreciate them. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next we will have um Kristen Rubin. >> Madame chair commissioners, my name is
Kristen Rubin and I live in Ice Springs, Florida. Uh several years ago I used to come to the meetings uh to protest protest the HPS to phosphate mine and the reason why was because of the
disaster it would create for our community and for our water. The new river feeds into the Santa Fe River and that goes along the northern border of uh Elatchua and also Columbia County.
Water has no bounds to it. Air has no boundaries either. So, here I am again. And this time I'm here because I'm representing our communities again and I'm representing our morals. The morals of the Bible say, "Love your neighbor."
Now, how does that fit when our neighbors are different colors, different cultures, different languages? My family came from across the Atlantic. My husband's family had to leave Europe
because of the Holocaust. So, here we are and we're looking at putting people with different colors, different cultures, different languages in cages. I can't live with that. I think that,
you know, I understand what was said before, but we have people killing people all over the place, especially in this nation where guns are so rampant. I believe in the Second Amendment. I have
my own guns and I've been vetted and I only use them when I'm going out for target practice because so far I haven't had to kill anybody that came through my door. So, I'm hoping that will never happen. The ICE detention center in my
mind is a euphemism for a concentration camp. The proposal for the one in Bradford County would be placed where the water is contaminated. This is not an idea that is good for Bradford County or your neighbors. Thank you for the
time. Thank you. Next, we have Marie Gear. Hello, my name is Maria Gear and I live at 17245 Bradford Avenue, Brooker, Florida, District 13. I would like to respond to Sheriff Smith's comments he
made at the last commission meeting. He said that he thought we were saying hateful things about the proposed detention center and that he was here in Bradford County for more than 40 years and no one loves Bradford County more than him. Well, my family has been in
Bradford County for 40 years. Also, my ancestors on my mother's side have been in Florida for over 160 years. And my ancestors on both sides of my family have been in America since the 1630s. on
my father's side and the 1720s on my mother's side. So I would beg to differ with Sheriff Smith and who loves not only this county but this country more than him. My ancestors have also f
sacrificed and fought in every conflict and war. I am also a gold star sister. I have nothing but the greatest respect for our law enforcement officers. My grandfather was a police officer, my brother-in-law was a police officer, and
two cousins are police officers with one of them losing his life in the line of duty. I even have a cousin who is an ICE officer. So, there's no hateful speech for me, only practical common sense concern for my community. I believe this
proposed site for this detention center is a big mistake. Sheriff Smith stated that nothing has been decided yet and that there's just discussion at this point. And this is why the community is showing up to discuss this proposal and
to ask the hard questions. This commission must have all the facts and be completely transparent with their constituents before this project is even considered. Normally, I would not mind having a man stare at me in the eyes,
but when it's used to try and intimidate me, I take offense to that. I will not be bullied, intimidated, or silenced. I will be at every meeting
and asking the hard questions, giving the facts as I find them, and hoping this commission will realize that it is a bad proposal for Bradford County and put it in the garbage can where it
belongs. Also, Pete Hexth is already asking for billions of dollars to continue to fund the war in Iran. Where do you think they're going to pull that money from? They're going to look at ICE detention because a lot of the uh
sheriffs in Florida are already pushing back on it. And uh I think that my time's up and thank you. Thank you. Okay. And next we will have uh no clamping, please. Just uh um Carol Mosley next.
Carol Mosley, 10121 Southwest 104th Avenue in Graham. Good evening, commissioners. I think I've posed all the questions and concerns I have about the impacts on our rural community of bringing a 30,000 bed immigrant detention center. Now, we wait. We wait to hear if DHS is still interested. We
wait to find out if sewer and water would be viable. We wait to find out whether the ground contamination makes it environmentally suitable. Other than sharing a few Bible verses verses in a poem I wrote, I haven't spoken about how the thought of caging good people hurts my heart because even those with civil
charges or no charges at all are imprisoned, shackled, and separated from their homes, jobs, and families. Immigration enforcement doesn't have to be done this way. My personal philosophy that I struggle to always uphold is compassion before judgment. In the
1990s, I worked on an environmental project on the border of Colombia and Panama. It was coastal rainforest that was both paradise and hell all at once. In 1999, there was a massacre in the Colombia town, and the people ran through the jungle to the nearest town, which was across the imaginary line into
Panama, where they were always families living on both sides. The women asked, "What do we do now? We don't even have pots and pans. We're lucky to escape with our lives. There was prejudice and refugees were called despados, displaced rather than refugees. The
Panameanian government tried to force them back into an unsafe condition and we flew down there at Christmas to intervene by getting lawyers involved. We worked with the community to set up a preschool tended by the mothers in rotating ships and started a paper cooperative, set up a sea turtle
preservation area and other smallcale economic projects that enhanced the community while maintaining the rural nature. All came up through the community effort without imposition. 30 years later, we're still working in that community and the prejudices have dissolved. Now we work with their
children and grandchildren. The high school now extends through 12th grade and we're working on the virtual university. They tell me to come and live out my days there, drinking coffee and watching the whales and dolphins swim by from my porch. If I don't die in Graham, I'll die there. I have found
people that people who have the least are willing to give the most of themselves. I'm heartened tonight by what feels like a shifting tide of attitude in the country and in our state. We're seeing even hardline sheriffs like Brady Jud realizing that we are better when we work together rather than tear each other apart.
There's common ground that Congress has failed to enact reasonable reasonable laws. That's no excuse to be cruel. The law that a person has to be in the country to seek asylum. When the remain in Mexico policy was enacted, it became dangerous and prompted those to cross at
non-desated entry points to turn themselves over and request asylum. Most would not be granted, but a broken process left people in limbo. The demonization and dehumanization of migrants is what has prompted this mass warehousing scheme that militarizes our streets and snatches good people from
their homes and neighborhoods, sending them hundreds of thousands of miles from home while omade and processing. We're better than that. Thank you. Next, Paul Steel Paul 14167 Southwest 101st Avenue Stark. U I want to address three uh issues
associated with the ICE detention facility proposal. The first is the county staff expertise. Staff Smith Sheriff Smith said in his 3326 remarks at the end of the BLCC meeting, "Counties across Florida, including rural counties, routinely evaluate
complex projects by working in coordination with state and federal partners, professional consultants, engineers, attorneys, and subject matter experts. Will the professional consultants, engineers, attorneys, and subject matter experts provide information at no cost to the county?"
In his comments at the end of the BOCC meeting, Steph Sheriff Smith stated regarding staff time and cost. Yes, evaluating proposals require staff time. Paul, you know that we spend a lot of time on it. Uh you by the way, this
appears to acknowledge that there is a cost associated with staff time. The key questions are how much staff time has been spent to date and how much staff time will be required going forward. The third issue is the impacts of soil and water contamination. In his comment,
Sheriff Smith stated, "Let me absolutely let me be absolutely clear. No motion should be no person should ever be housed in a facility without proper environmental steps. Hence, you hire consultants, hence you hire people." The county spent, I think, over $25,000 for
the last study that we got on a grant that's out there. the D the D people have got have been spoken with and dealt with. The 2,00 $25,000 grant is actually uh not related to uh contamination.
The DE there are in fact over 2,000 pages of D documents related to water contamination associated with the ice site. A 116u uh 26 D temporary point of compliance status update 5-year notice
DMS facility start uh site states although contamination concentr concentrations have decreased complete cleanup has not been achieved and active remediation continues uh for the above reference facility. I would urge you to
hold a workshop to explore the issues that are being raised by the ice facility project before any more county uh resources are wasted. I hope that uh by having a workshop you would have the opportunity to have more input from
citizens and actually have the opportunity to ask staff who have been researching this where they stand and where we actually stand with respect to uh the Sabot uh project. what Sabo is doing, what the county staff are doing. This is all very important information I
think that you don't currently have. It's also very unclear to me and to others what exactly uh is being done, what what uh the motion that passed really meant. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um next we'll have uh Steven
Woff. Hello. Uh, my name is Steve Wine of 8789 State Road 100 West, Stark, Florida, 32091. All right. Since the beginning of this concentration camp ordeal, sheriff has been sure that the people of Bradford County want his concentration camp at
the entrance of the city of Stark. He tells the story of knowingly what the residents around the site of the concentration camp feel. He says that they don't care that the property values will go down just like the values went down from the water contamination.
He says that because the people live around the prison and loy don't complain or the people around the jail don't complain, they shouldn't complain. but they purchased their pro homes knowing that the values were lower because they
were around a detention or a prison. Contrary to what the uh the sheriff says, the concentration camp will have an impa impact on their values just like the contaminated soil on the site did. I was a property appraiser. All right. The
site is knownly contaminated when it was conveyed to Bradford County. Are we as Bradford County residents now liable for lawsuits for the contamination because we just have to we just had to have this site and that's now a liability. Boy,
the state sure saw us coming. Or did they? If I were living on any of those property, I'd be checking into a class action suit. I'm not, you know, so I'm there. Not there. But now we're told they're getting the pro we will get the property back. They will after they use
it, what will will we get back? Three additional pieces of cont concrete with tents on them. Tents have a life uh lifetime uh expectancy of 3 to 5 years or maybe buildings, another building or
a tent for medical or food preparation. nothing that'll improve the value of the property itself, but still have the contaminated site where that will cost residents of Bradford County if we do get sued over this piece of property.
Now, we're told that this will help help if we lose our property income taxes. As board members, you have a difficult decision, but that's the way that's why you took the job. It wasn't just for the money. It was to try to
help the people of Raptor County and be proud to do your job. So, what do we do? Approve and wait and pray that no one gets killed, raped, or no medical attention at the concentration camp and for the future of everyone seeing uh
passing the building and saying, "Oh, well, there's where it happened." But the sheriff said it's all it's what we need. I can see the headlines in the Brford County Telegraph now. Medical transport hits alltime record deficit. >> Thank you.
>> Next, Josh Cooper. >> Oh, I say my name and >> I say my name and then I say the where I my my where I live, right? My address. >> Yes. All right. Uh Josh Cooper, 3800 Southwest 20th Avenue, Gainesville, Florida. Uh I'm here on behalf of myself
and a lot of other friends that I have in Gainesville. Um we come to Stark relatively regularly. We find the city or the city very nice. It's it's it's nice to be in. It's enjoyable. It's quiet. Very different. Very very very
different from what Gainesville is like. And we come here, we spend time at the shops, we spend time around the town, and then we go back home. But we love it here. We love coming up here. We love spending time here. And recently, I've heard in the news that we're going to
have a detention center right outside the entrance to the city, like on the road up the road to the city. If I have to be driving up to get to Stark and the first thing I see, not even the city, I don't even get to see the town. I don't
get to see the people. I don't get to see anything like that. The first thing I see is I'm going to see vans. I'm going to see trucks. I'm going to see officers. I'm going to see lights. I'm going to see this, that, this, that, and I'm going to see people getting rounded up. I just went over there. I just took a stop at the where this warehouse is
supposed to be. And it's completely visible. There's nothing hiding it. You get to see the gate and everything. And if that's what I have to see every time that I have to come up here, I'm absolutely not coming up here. And I'm not the only one. I have friends who I'm on behalf of here. They're not coming
either. If this is put there and we have to see that, not even mentioning that however long it takes for the construction to happen, for those however long it's going to take for it to get built, we have to see that every single day, we have to deal with probably the traffic that takes us like the traffic that we're gonna have to
deal with to get up there. Like there's so many things about this that just make it unappealing to come to to come to Stark for anymore. I if I have to see that, I'm going to be just appalled. And yeah, and also not even to mention the
fact that if there is an ICE detention center up here, what does that mean for Gainesville? Does that mean that y'all are going to be coming down to my city and doing things in my city that I don't even agree with? It's not even do I agree with it or not. I have to see that. I have to see this.
I have to deal with this. And then all of my friends are going to have to deal with this. And we're going to have to look at this. And everyone is going to have to look at this. Not even to mention, as the lady earlier said, that it's right across from the Walmart. Everyone has to see it. Everyone will be
seeing it. It's going to be the worst thing that you have to see every single day. If you want to get groceries, you have to see that. If you want to just, I don't know, get something to fix your computer, that's the first thing you're gonna have to see as well. I just think it's completely unnecessary to be built,
especially in such a little town that's, you know, I think it's a it's a small town. It's a nice village. It's a rural little place. Like, it's a great place, but if you put that here. >> Thank you. >> Yes. Thank you. >> Thanks, Kate Ellison. Kate Ellison, 971 Southeast 32nd Way,
Melrose, Florida, in Brenford County. It gives me no pleasure, but I have to talk about the remarks Sheriff Smith made at the last commission meeting. I'm glad to hear that no one has made up their minds about allowing an ICE concentration camp to be erected in our county. He is
promoting it. But maybe all of you are keeping an open mind and listening to all sides even as he gets unlimited time in commission meetings and wields enormous influence. The sheriff brings up the fact that the county jail coexists peacefully within the
surrounding neighborhood. But I question whether a 200 inmate facility is at all comparable to the one housing 3,000 people and guarded by militarized federal authorities. I am surprised to hear we should all assume that a proper
environmental survey will be done given the emergency waiver for alligator Alcatra, the lack of remediation at our facility and the enormous hurry that ICE is in to construct these prisons. It is appropriate for us to bring up this issue and insist on having an
environmental impact study done. I am surprised to hear him bringing up Glades County, saying that the immigrants there are treated better than in his own county jail. He casts a shadow on his own jail with a comparison. This is what
an ACLU legal filing says about the Glades facility. Immigrants at the Glades County Detention Center are experiencing racialized violence, sexually abusive behavior, medical neglect, inhumane treatment, and attacks
on their dignity and safety. And similar to ICE detention centers nationwide, the Glades County Detention Center has a long history of horrific conditions and human rights abuses. From pervasive sexual and medical misconduct to
unlawful overuse of toxic chemicals, the facility continues to attack and dehumanize vulnerable people. I am shocked and insulted to hear the sheriff call our protests hatefilled figure, which he said twice during using that
exact phrase. Bringing out facts and asking serious questions is not hateful. Showing care and concern for powerless prisoners who have been mistreated and rights violated is not
hateful. Some local residents here for the first time have been creative but coming from their hearts. Some local resident um we have not raised our voices, cussed or confronted the commissioners to whom we are addressing
our comments. Rather than exhibiting hate, we have conducted ourselves with respect and complete control of our anger and our outrage. Thank you. Thank you. And next bond strong. >> My name is Vonda Strong, Post Office Box
530 Li. I am here because uh I looked over the agenda and seems like it's time for there to be a Doge again for spending. Um
I look through the checks uh register and again we're wasting money. Um there seems to be no one looking at what we're spending
and where the money is going. We cry about where uh that we don't have the funds. We don't have the funds. We don't have the funds. But yet again, we find money in places
where we should be saving money. Um, it continues to happen time and time again. I stand here, I come up here and I say, "These are areas where we can save money. We
have someone that we're paying in fleet maintenance. I don't know why we don't uh require that that person save money for the county.
I don't understand that there are areas that constantly are areas for improvement. I I could go through and save the county
at least a million dollars in savings just from looking and totaling savings. I guess it's not important. I guess a
million dollars to the five of you guys is not important to someone that uh to some of the county uh people, but I would like for that money to be back in
my coffer. I would like not to have to pay a fire assessment. I would like for that money not to have been wasted. But we continue time and time again, we've got to we've got to stop wasting money. And that's one of the areas where
we continue to waste money when there is an area for improvement in fleet maintenance, in the road department, in other areas. But we've got to work at it.
We've got to. And if we don't, I'm going to be back up here and I'm going to keep saying it time and time again. Thank you. Next, we have Scott Beford. >> Good evening. >> Good evening. I am Scott Belelfford and
I live at 4756 Southeast Six Sixth Lane in Keystone Heights and I am speaking about the proposed ICE detention facility. I want to begin by acknowledging the people who have spoken before me at these meetings. Many have raised real
moral, social, and human rights concerns about this project. And whether you agree with every word or not, those concerns deserve to be heard and taken seriously. What I am offering tonight is different. It is not a moral argument, nor is it a
political argument. It's a budget argument. Your budget. At the January 15th BCC meeting, there seemed to be an assumption that putting an ICE detention facility might be profitable or at the very least, as Savo said, at least
costneutral. In my humble opinion, it is neither. Consequently, I prepared a 178page cost and risk assessment, a copy which has been sent to each of you.
The core message is simple. Before Bradford County moves forward, the commission needs to know what this project is likely to cost in the real world and not what hope someone hopes it will cost. The most important financial
point is this. Based on the county's likely cost exposure and the C cost recovery figure that Savo proposed in the in January, the county appears to be about $197,000 a month short
on average over the next three years. Put another way, ICE would have to pay would need to pay Bradford County about $396,000 a month just to give the county a 50/50 chance of keeping inside your budget. I
am now the C uh CFO Oh, why should anyone believe me? I am now the CFO of a small nationwide company. But more importantly, earlier in my career as a GS-15 cost and economic analyst for the Department of the Air Force and for the Office of
Secretary of Defense, my work often focused on major weapon systems would cost to sustain them over time. That is very similar to what I'm offering you here. This report identifies the major cost drivers, estimates a realistic
range of costs, and shows where the financial risks fall if those costs are not fully covered. So, I will close quickly where I began financially. It is more probable than not that Bradford
County will be about $197,000 short. And at that level of funding, there's only a 50/50 chance of it staying within budget. If you want a 90% chance, you're going to have to negotiate. >> Thank you.
>> Did I miss anyone's comment card? Thank you. Um, next we have on the agenda is the approval for our consent agenda. I have a motion for approval of the consent agenda. >> Madam Chair, I'll make a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> Motion by Commissioner Dory and second
by Commissioner Thompson. Any further discussion or questions? If not, all in favor by sign I >> I >> for um at this time we are going to have a presentation from Comcast U government regulatory affairs Samuel Walkser.
Welcome. Thank you very much uh commissioner commissioner chair commissioners um county manager staff residents um really glad to be here and present on behalf of Comcast. Uh my name is Sam Walzer and um I am your government affairs
representative here in Northeast Florida and um covering 10 counties basically ranging from Gainesville over to St. John's and up to Nassau County. Uh and then outside of Comcast I'm also a soldier in the Army National Guard. So, uh, 19 years in counting on on service
there. Uh, and, um, I'm not originally from here in Northeast Florida, but I do have family that have been here for many decades. Uh, and, uh, really glad to be here and, uh, excited to, uh, to work with all the local communities here. So, um, next, am I able to scroll the slides
or is that, um, >> a little quicker? Okay, thank you. Excellent. Okay. Um, so just to give a little bit of background on Comcast and uh folks may be familiar with Xfinity is our our Comcast residential internet brand. Uh, and then Comcast Business as
you can see that's our business internet brand. Uh, we are the largest provider of connectivity to small businesses in America. And uh, we do have our Universal Studios movie uh, theater does a lot of um, uh, movies. You may have seen Jurassic Park uh, franchise, Wicked, Oenheimer, Despicable Me with
the the Minions, which a lot of the the kids love and the parents too. So, uh, some exciting stuff there and, uh, we're proud of many of the the brands that make up Comcast, but, uh, the most important thing is, um, working alongside our communities and and serving our communities. So, uh, really, um, important, uh, important piece for
us and we're again, uh, really, uh, thrilled to be here. So, uh, thank you. >> Uh, just a little bit again about our, um, our business here. So, our Expinity network, you can see um, a lot of fiber in the ground. So, very, very reliable.
Uh, Xfinity Mobile also very reliable as far as um our cell phone business. Uh, um, once you're a Comcast Xfinity customer, then you can uh, purchase Xfinity Mobile, which is uh, one of the most reliable uh, carriers that you will find uh, in the country and works overseas as well uh, pretty seamlessly.
And then Comcast business, again leading for our small medium businesses, but we do also serve large businesses, but um, we are the the leading provider of small medium business uh, internet services uh, in in the country. Uh a little bit here about our um affordability, reliability. Uh we do
have a new 5-year price guarantee. Uh so I would encourage folks to go give the the website uh in a little bit or just Google Comcast 5-year price guarantee. Um but uh what that does that obligates us to honor your price for 5 years is there's no obligation to stay. Uh so somebody signs up for the 5-year price guarantee and then uh you know 2 years
in they decide for whatever reason they want to cancel it. There's no penalty, no obligation. Uh it just means that if they sign up for it again, they might have to get that price at at that time. uh if they're signing up for new, but it obligates us to honor the price for 5 years, but not uh not the uh customer can can break it at any time. But uh um
also our internet essentials for folks uh that are a little um uh maybe income constrained. Um we've been providing since uh 2011. You can see here on the slide, $14.95 a month. So uh extremely um extremely affordable and and we're glad to bring internet to uh the entire community. So I want to make sure that
there there's a very um uh well served u um availability there. Uh reliable you can see most reliable network uh in the United States and um we are we have a lot of advanced systems that will detect issues. Uh if there's a a cut in the wire our our computers will detect where it is uh to within a few feet and we'll
send trucks crews right away get it repaired. Uh it does happen unfortunately sometimes um folks are digging or or just um not intended sometimes intentionally but we do fix it right away. Uh and then secure, we have cyber security, some top-notch cyber security both for our um our residential
customers on the Infinity side and also for our Comcast business. And you can see there over 34 billion uh cyber attacks that we've detected on the Comcast business side uh and fought. So uh really really important especially with with a lot of things going on in the world. There's a lot of bad cyber
actors. So if you are going to sign up uh for um um internet services, you want to make sure that you have something that's secure. So uh glad uh for that as well. I do want to highlight also consumer spending on uh home uh broadband has remained around 1% of income on average over the last decade.
So last 10 years but the speeds have skyrocketed. So average download speeds now have increased about ninefold from where they were over the last over 10 years ago. Uh but still paying roughly the same household income proportion. So a 30% annually increased uh increase speed. Uh investing in our communities
as I mentioned um you can see there are 65 million uh homes and businesses. uh the nation's largest internet provider. Uh and then uh 2 million plus Comcast business uh um uh small businesses that are connected. So uh small businesses are back backbone of our economy, you know, here in Bradford County, but uh
all over Florida and all over um all over the country. So really really glad to bring that connectivity uh to everybody and uh investment specifically here in Florida. Um when it says homes and businesses passed, that means served. So over 262,000
uh and then um uh 2.2 million plus on our uh internet essentials uh over the last roughly uh 11 years or so since 2015. Uh and then our workforce here in Florida drives helps to drive the Florida economy uh close to $7 billion in payroll and benefits for our Florida
uh employees with um just under 31,000 employees here uh in Florida. So again, helping to um to drive the economy here and uh and really glad to do so. uh we are building in Florida and that's the main reason why I came out here um to to let everybody know there's a lot of um
expansion here for our broad our broadband lines uh that are uh being built this year specifically. Um so we've been doing a lot of planning partnering uh with with government subsidy programs and I'll get into those in a in a little bit. Um but um we've been awarded over $und00 million in bead
which is the most recent um subsidy program but then there's also um the broadband opportunity program and the capital project fund as well. And uh those are those will all be built out by the end of uh of this year uh is the schedule. So a lot of building going on, a lot of expansion. So folks will have the opportunity um to sign up for
Comcast Exfinity services on the personal side and then uh Comcast business on the business side uh folks uh have that interest and uh just by the numbers here as far as I mentioned the broadband between the pop and the capital project fund the CPF. Um so we're looking at uh 4335
passings here uh by the end of the year uh expected. I know um that's significant um in proportion to the the population here in Bradford County and uh we are very uh very glad again to serve um and then be also is uh coming up in the next few years. So the majority of that build is getting done
uh here. It's going to be uh basically um templ so um uh route 100 kind of north south uh backbone of the of the county is where you can expect to see a lot of that build. Uh and there is a resource I'll point to the website as well where you can enter your address of either your business or your residence
and you can see uh do we serve it now or if not are we going to serve it in the near future uh and and it'll tell you it'll give you a rough estimate you know summer of 2026 or fall of 2026 the the service may not be there with you now but it is uh coming in the near future. So really glad again to um expand and uh
serve have the ability to serve more uh customers. So um the the you can see there on the xfinity.com/mytown. So that's where you can go to enter your address uh to to see does um does it cover does Comcast service is it available here uh in um you know at my
address or will it be in the near future? Um we understand there's other providers too. Uh Comcast is the most reliable not not here to say other things about other providers you know but uh Comcast is the most reliable. The cyber security again is second to none. uh which is really important in in
today's day and age. Um my boss is our vice president of government affairs for the entire state of Florida right there. You see on the slide Michelle McGovern. Uh and then I'm Samuel Walter and you see my uh email and phone. Um I work with your commissioners and county manager and staff. Uh but please if anybody has questions, comments, um if
you want to know anything more about Comcast, I'm really glad to receive uh phone calls, text messages, emails, um just please get in touch and uh I'm here to be your resource. But, uh, we're uh, really excited for this buildout. So, just be on on the lookout here. We're going to do a lot of, um, publicity, uh,
campaigns with, um, um, door hangers and and TV commercials and so forth, working in partnership with the commissioners and with the the manager and the staff. Uh, so that way folks know that we're where the buildout is and where, um, where we'll be serving soon. So, uh, a lot of, um, a lot of exciting times here
so that we can increase our ability to serve the community, increase, uh, services of small businesses, medium businesses, uh, and residents. uh to give everybody that uh opportunity to be connected. So, uh really excited. >> Mr. Watzer, um just I know that you say
you could put your address and determine whether you're you're serving them now, but do you know off the top whether you're serving at this time the southern end of Stark, let's say near the area from um on 301 towards a Walmart. Are
you covering that area at this time? there's an extent I will say by the end of the year if it's an area that's not served at the moment um we do have we do have service in parts of the area what this um what this this so this bill is is a partnership between Comcast and the
government where um you know we partner to build and and and on funding um there is some areas that are served there uh but um uh some areas it's an extensive expansion and I do have um a map that I'm glad to uh uh go over uh later on but yeah it's expansive basic basically
the whole north south artery of Bradford County there's a very very expan expansive area so if it's not served at the moment uh there's a very very good chance that it will be by the end of the year >> okay and that would also further um include the Hampton Brooker areas
>> yeah very very extensive um uh bill uh going on just for this year and that's not that's not even counting the extra bead build that's coming up in the next few years but yeah this year it's going to be um very very expansive so um it's it's definitely excite time.
>> Okay. Thank you. Other commissioners questions. >> Well, I'll just echo what you said. Um they're working very hard in Brooker. Matter of fact, they buried cable in my yard today. So, um there's been a lot of people out there and and getting it in
and I I know I I speak for that area um that we appreciate the effort and it will be nice to have have the service. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Yeah, we're very glad to provide. Madam Chairman, if I may, I'm sorry. Sam, I know you got a plane to catch, brother, so I don't want to hold
you up, but I just wanted to wanted to thank you for your involvement since you came on board in in this position. You've come here and you met with county staff, and you've really uh answered all a lot of our questions and been very transparent about what Comcast is doing here in Bradford County. And I also want
to take the opportunity to thank Commissioner Andrews. She and I started down this road about four years ago. and uh thank you for your leadership and your involvement in this in this effort and we're we're we're finally getting to where we wanted to be or where we wanted
to get to when we started this four years ago. So once again, Sam, thank you and uh we'll certainly be in touch. >> Absolutely. Normally, I would stay and and take questions at the end of the meeting. I'm uh tomorrow's military reserve day for me, so I I just have to get off to my uh my military unit. >> Mr. Walter, just real quick, I I want to
thank you for your service. Thank you very much. come from a military family so I know it's a sacrifice for you and your family and uh thank you so much for that and uh so I don't want to hold you up I did have a quick question where where there's coax now is that being converted to fiber or
>> there's a poss there's a possibility that that it may be um you know the priority is to get areas that are unserved or underserved is actually how these programs work so um we can go over certainly specific addresses or or areas I'm certainly glad um to come So, my
office is up in Jacksonville, but it's not uncommon for me to be here in Stark. Love coming down here. Best strawberries in the world. So, um but yeah, certainly glad to meet and go over any specific addresses or areas. Uh and and as residents have concerns or questions, um certainly glad to uh to answer those as well. So,
>> thank you. >> Thank you for your time. >> Absolutely. Thank you. >> All right. Okay. Um next we have our clerk's report. Madame Chair, just a reminder uh to the board that um you will need to appoint a
new citizen member to serve on the value adjustment board to replace um Matthew Carlton. Um just reminder that the member must own homestead property in the county. 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. And um just please plan to share your recommendations and appoint a qualified citizen member during your Tuesday, April 2nd county commission meeting. I
thought we >> have you got any names now? >> I I'm waiting on the board. You all have to appoint a citizen member. And so at that April 7th meeting, I'm hoping that you all will have recommendations to share amongst each other. And then from those recommendations, you all can make
a recommendation, you know, vote on who you want to serve. This again is to replace Matthew Carlton who currently serves on the value adjustment board who's the citizen member. Um he's no longer able to serve and that's the position we need to fill. >> Can I make uh give you a a name denied
or >> um if you know of someone and you know they're interested. Yes, ma'am. >> I would say uh be ready to talk about that at the April 7th meeting and then I'll ask the board to vote >> on uh one that wants to do it. >> Wonderful. That'd be great.
Okay. Thank you. >> Anything else? Uh, this room. >> No, madam chair. Thank you. >> Thank you and congratulations um for your recognition at the point. Thank
you. Um, okay. Uh, our sheriff. Yes, ma'am. >> Thank you. >> I'm going try. I'm going to try. >> All right. >> You know, we >> kindness. >> Well, hopefully your daughter's doing better. >> Yes. >> We've kept her in prayer. Had a little
prayer train. So, >> I appreciate that's doing better. But also remember our men and women that are abroad uh in this vast war that's already claimed lives. It's uh whether you agree or disagree, you still got to support the men and women that serve serve our country. >> Amen.
>> So, I just want to put that in there wherever you're at with it. But, uh just a couple things I heard from the audience. I can't address them all. There was too many. I'm just going to leave it as it is. The first is better look up Jud again.
Sheriff Greater Jud blast media reports that he criticized federal mass deportation efforts as simply not true. They did mislead that we have meetings regards to it. So I knew that's when I addressed your letter back. Um >> yeah. So it's a lot of misinformation as
it still goes out there. Um, in regards to it, as I said in the last meeting, nobody is going to love Braford County more than me. You may love it as much as me. That was the statement made. As far as generations, mine go back about seven generations.
This is my home. This is where I raised my family. As far as you talk about people that built next to it, the jail facility to this morning was about 204 people, wasn't 100. A lot of misinformation. They hear what they want to, and I can't fight that.
I can't. However, the last time we've been threatened, we'll protest. Well, that's a constitutional right. You know what? And I'm a constitutional sheriff. I believe in the constitutional right. I've never kept anybody from protesting ever. Get out there. What I say is we
follow the law. We will enforce the law. If you get out there peaceful and protest, hold your sign. I'm part of the guy that brings you water, as I've done many times. We're the people that's helped you get out. So, I won't be threatened with that. You block traffic, you throw things.
We got the Grey Bar Motel. I don't I don't have any issues with that. I've not had to come up here and threaten anybody. I've not had to stare people down. The only reason they got stared at or looked at because they kept interrupting the last time I spoke with the grunts and the groans that Miss Spinner said she could hear on the the recording. That's what that was all
about. So, with that being said, I had not intended to discuss this controversial subject. So, I put some things in writing as I like to do cuz I'll carry on if I don't. Keeps me on track and I'm a constitutional officer and I am on the agenda to address. So, yes, I I am privileged as the elected
official to represent Bradford County, the entire county of Bradford to speak and address some of these things that are twisted or turned or they say or see what they want to. Not until all the it says controversial subject at this particular time. Not
until all the information and facts were gathered to answer all the questions our community will have and to provide answers with backed up documentation and facts. Hence, we hired a consultant. Actually, there's been no pay. They came to me and they said, "Can we put this
together? We address it." Then they still got to send it to DHS. To think for one minute that you, our board of county commissioner, would place people on soil that they couldn't be. There's people that live on it now. to think they're going to drink contaminated water. That is just asinine and absurd.
They're grasping at straws to come because they don't like the political nature. They're going to be housed somewhere. We talk about Glades County. It was Sabo that actually went in there and it's become one of the gold standards. Baker County, you know those facilities were built? The Obama
administration and they were full. So, let's be honest and let's be true. However, I want you to know that I do not It says the meeting with the commission was to approve the use of the property and move a proposal for housing. We can put together a proposal and submit it and it may not get
approved. But I've heard people here tonight say, "Well, the sheriff's for he's selling it." Well, you know what? I'm going to give you a little answer. So, here's how I feel about the ICE detention center at Stark. I'mma talk slow so y'all can hear it.
It's recorded. If when you say ICE detention and Senator Stark, you mean the cruel cage, the alleged human rights scourge which has none have been proven. The inhumane monster that defiles dignity, dethrones
compassion, destroys families, creates misery and trauma. Yes. Literally tears tear literally tears children from the arms of their parents. Which by the way, ask any arrested American citizen what happens when they
get torn from their family. If you mean the evil system that topples vulnerable migrants and asylum seekers from the hope of safety and opportunity into the bottomless pit of indefinite detention, despair, abuse, hopelessness, then
certainly I am against it. See, you don't know me. I am married to a woman with Mexican descent. Family was an Alvarez. Came here with a Campost family. Her uncle teaches the Hispanic church in this
county for the Hispanics. Written numerous letters for people to get their citizenship of all different nationalities, but mainly Mexicans. I've worked with them. I eat with them. They come to my home. not to work but to
break bread or to pray. So you don't know me and think for a minute that I'm not going to take every Bible step to make sure that we get including money that some have all different great article. You did a lot of work by the way impressive took me a lot of reading. That was a lot of work.
So thank you and I'm with you. I want more. I want to bring to our county because the only way we have for revenue in this county is tax people. Miss Bond is is correct. You know what I'm saying? And so so before you shout out about things you don't know about me,
let's make sure we get it right. But when you say ice detention center and start, you mean the opportunity to get it done right. The economic engine, the job creating boom, the facility that's built with when leaders when leaders get together to boost the local economy that puts
paychecks in workers pockets and tax revenue in county coffers. the promise of growth in our struggling rural communities. If you mean fiscal cheer, if you mean the development that puts a spring in the local business owner step on a slow economic morning, I mean, you talk about housing, take those houses in
that subdivision, look back 10 years ago, look back 15 years ago and look today. What's been said is not true here today. So, let's talk about facts, not speculation. If you mean the project enables our community to magnify its
prosperity and its stability and to forget, if only for a little while, years of stagnation, how long is that building sitting there, unemployment, and budget shortfalls?
If you mean that facility the operation of which has the potential to pour into our county budget untold bills and I hope to get as much as I can if it goes forward we can prepare a plan and submit it. It doesn't mean it's
going to get approved. How many grants do we submit that don't get approved? But some people lose their mind at the mention of it because of their politics or their stance politically. Not everyone, but the vast majority
that's coming here that don't live here, don't care what happens here. They come in say in 3 minutes, get it recorded and leave tells you all you need to know which is the told me which are used to provide tender care for our little
children, our schools and our roads and our aging infrastructure. Then certainly I am for So, this is my stand and I will not retreat and I will not compromise.
And to my board of county commissioners, I can't thank you enough. And when I was on the phone the other day, if anybody's been in my office, you know, around my phone, I got lots of quotes. And several years ago, I wrote a quote from somebody I didn't particularly care about. Kirby Smart, coach of the Georgia Bulldogs.
I'm a Gator, a baby brother. He got mistreated growing up. He's a bulldog fan. He's a sergeant over in logical at the training academy. But it says you can't ignore the cost of leadership and great leaders are willing to accept
those cost. But I said out here I realized one of the quotes that several post on my office and this one stuck out. Hit me right between the ears and y'all know I got big ears. as I'm sitting there on the phone and I read it. I said it kind of hits home to what we're going through with this
because everybody wants to know what's going on, wants to put their fingers in. It's a work product and when we get there, everyone will know. Everything I've ever done these to getting these meetings recorded to what we're doing. But I'll share three of those things
were written on that note. You will have to make hard decisions that negatively affect people you care about. Two, you will be disliked despite your best attempt to do the best for the most.
And third, you will be misunderstood as we can see here tonight. It's easy example, and won't always have the opportunity to defend yourself. But these are three of the costs that come from being a great leader. And I admire all of them sitting up here each
and every meeting, listen to the same stuff, beat the same drum. That majority or half the people or more that come here don't care what the outcome is. They're driven by their own agenda. Others come with legitimate gripes or
concerns or anxieties. Those are the people we address. Those are the people that we display and be open and forthright with. and everybody that's come to see me, which by the way has been one person from that community near it. Another one reached
out and called me that lived near just a day or two ago and the other two didn't live in Bradford County. And I'm out in the public every single day. So to that, I want to thank you for standing in what you've had to do and
taking the time to listen, especially to us and the people we serve. Thank you. the chair before you um and we appreciate all of the comments from the people from our community and and so forth. But I want to address a
few other issues. I >> Okay. um the number of continuous accidents that we were having near the bypass and also% >> yes I wish um that we can ask for another um DOT study on the the safety
of the road maybe it's the elevation maybe it's a the speed the lighting whatever but we have to do something and I would ask if you can address that the other is I wanted to um Well, he's not
yet to thank um Lieutenant Weeks for working with the jail um inmates. >> They have been phenomenal. The staff from the the fire rescue Yes. >> have stepped up. Matter of fact, they caught me in the fence. You know, we didn't know they just didn't know how operations of jails work. >> Um in regards to it, and I want to
stress that all of our jail inspections, the un, you know, the unannounced inspections, we have one of the top rated jail facilities in the state, by the way. And when you look back at the issues that were brought forward about some of that, that's where Sabo stepped in and made it the gold standard. So,
>> and then the other I wanted to also um thank um Captain Whit for um their response in this recent storms and for the different parks and departments working together uh along with the um
sheriff department. >> But thank you, commissioners. Also, I know he brags and we all do. There's not a commissioner we have that's not responsive. When we bring the phone, they answer. You were out of town. You answered. >> I still answered. Did someone >> you knew? You were still watching the commission meeting. You know what I'm
saying? Because you knew what was going on >> and and called to get a a tree removed from the Pleasant Grove area before I got back. >> In fact, that that wind the other day was as bad as we've had in a long time. I can tell you just in my neighborhood and we didn't the county out the 125
area where the tornado hit the Rayford area. I can tell you speaking to some people the next day after lunch they were still without power. >> So but but as you're saying Captain Brad Whit is phenomenal that guy's on his game. >> Amen. >> All right. But but thank you. But if we
can get DOT to take a look at these errors that we have in the Scott you'll sit down with that. We'll get a we'll call them again. They want to do everything virtual now. Nobody wants to come uh you know in regards to it. But that issue we've addressed. We try to get acceleration lanes and some
deceleration lanes. It's been a fight, but uh I'm with you. We can't give up. We got to keep >> Yes. And there are lots of federal dollars that that might be able to assist. And so >> they don't all go to Iran >> with the transportation.
>> I hope not. I hope not. Those are all different buckets of money. But yeah, it's it's a that's a serious problem when you got that big a percentage in either the north end and y'all y'all realize at one end you got halogen lights and street lights, the other end you got LED. They use two different
companies and when they took the overpasses out and made just the the it's been a nightmare. We spent a lot of time there probably more so with cra crashes. We don't call them accidents anymore. They're crashes.
uh than anywhere else. We had a bad one in Keystone. Danny's not here yesterday with a fatality right at the entrance of the Keystone uh golf and country club. But uh and we've we've lost some good community leaders here in the last last little bit, too. So, keep those families
in prayer. We've been it comes in in spurts, but >> but thank you. >> Thank you as always. >> Let me know. Let me know, Sheriff. We'll do what we need to do. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Sheriff. >> All right. Sheriff, >> thank you. Next, we'll have a county manager report.
>> Yes. Thank you, Madam Chairman. First of all, we uh we have a workshop, a community workshop scheduled for next Tuesday, March 24th at 5:30 p.m. at the Charlie John Center. As you know, this is not a board of county commissioners
workshop. It will not be a uh it will not be noticed or advertised. This is a workshop put on by two of our jointly by two of our consultants half engineers and North Florida professional services um where we will be getting or taking
public input from uh from the public regarding the comprehensive plan and also the strategic plan. So we're trying to get as much participation as we can from the public. uh uh community leaders have been encouraged to attend and we're
hoping to have a have a good turnout for that. Also, I would like to mention that this coming Saturday is opening day for Bradford Sportsman or Bradford Sports United. Uh what a big day this is going to be. I've I've been going around to
the different uh service clubs and different meetings that I attend throughout the county and more or less just been bragging on on what that board has done uh over the last 3 or 4 months standing this effort up. Um they held a
sign up day about 3 or 4 weeks ago where they were signing up uh kids to play and in an 8 hour period they signed up over 240 kids to play baseball and softball. which is wrap your head around that. So, um evidently we have found an unmet need
and Bradford Sports United seems to be um meeting that. So, we're very excited about that. Opening day, March 21st, this Saturday at 9:00 a.m. at the Edwards Road Park. The next thing I want to talk about is
the uh this past week our public works department participated in a American public works association rodeo up in Jacksonville. Um and one of our very own public works employees um Heath Beckner
won the let's see I want to get this right. Heath Begner was the overall winner, first place overall winner at the public works radio. So, congratulations to Heath and uh thank you to Jason Dods and his team for the
outstanding work that they did. Also, a reminder that the burn ban is still in effect. The we're thankful for the little bit of rain that we got last week, this week, last week, but uh currently the ban is still in effect and will remain in effect until further
notice. Um, >> that's all I have, Madam Chair. >> Okay. Um, thank you. Um, and next, um, county attorney. >> All right. And our commissioner comments
at this time. >> Um, well, I'd just like to further what Miss Spooner said. um with the storm and everything. I want to thank the sheriff and Jason very much because we worry about the people in our in our counties
and and when I called they were very quick with answers. Yes, ma'am. That we did have a tree down there where we've got it up and there's no one no one hurt. So that gives you um a lot of I mean it helps you to feel okay about
your people and um so I'd like to thank them for that very very much. Also I was hoping that um very soon we'll have an update on the fair. >> Yes ma'am. Actually uh April the 19th at
the April 19th meeting it'll be the um I'll deliver the state of camp 16th. I'm sorry, I've been saying the 19th now for 3 months. April 16th, it'll be the Thursday night meeting in April. Uh I will present the state of the county report and at that time the fair manager
will also be here to uh give us a report on the fair. >> Okay. Well, I just want to just say that um it was obvious that they did a great job uh from the minute that you step up to it.
It was just it it set up like it was set up like a big fair that you go into in Klay County or Jack or Dubal County. I mean, it was I really really appreciate the work that they did. everything was clean and um people were having a good
time and I I just want to thank the board for such a great job and um Miss Spooner, it's so good to have you back >> and um we prayed hard for you and your family and we will continue to keep your family in prayer. And like the sheriff
said, please pray for our our um our staff that are overseas fightened and and um giving their lives for us. So please keep them in your prayers and thank y'all for coming and giving us
your thoughts and um because we do listen and we take everything into consideration. So thank you again. That's all I have to say. Commissioner Thompson, >> best Andrew said all,
>> but no, I thank the citizen for coming out >> and I I mean, we had a super fair >> how they put it together in that short time. They did an awesome job. >> Amen.
>> And sheriff's department, love y'all. Appreciate what you stand up for county. Thank you. and your staff. >> Thank you, Commissioner D. >> Yeah, I just want to uh again, prayers to the metal and glad to have you back.
>> Thank you. >> Uh certainly uh when I got a call from Mr. Carnegate, um you know, we were all trying to figure out how we could help. So anyway, >> cut her grass. If it rained some, we'd have some grass, right? You roll over.
>> I said we cut whatever you need while you worry. You can roll over it and it'll break. That's about it right now. Um, Sheriff, I just want to make a comment about something you said about your family. I remember uh Roman Alvarez and going into Laredo and how the
families down there that operate Laredo would just flock around him and and Mrs. Alvarez and how much he did for them. And again, I've been invited to many of their events and during that time, uh,
you know, they were always there and, uh, they were they were appreciated and, you know, certainly they were loved and I know that, uh, the passing of Mr. Alvarez, uh, you know, certainly, you know, hit them very hard. Also want to mention too um the upcoming uh April the
10th shoot with the sheriff event. Um and you know what you and your staff do for the charitable foundation that goes to the nonprofits here in Bradford County. Uh the Heroes with Holidays, the food bank, and uh any of the uh charitable, you know, organizations that
reach out to you and that you're always there for them and always giving >> back to our community. There's no there's no fees. It just whatever we raising. That's right. Divided. >> It's not coming out of our general fund. It's not coming out of jail set aside, you know, it's coming out of that charitable foundation. So again, thank
you for your work. Uh to all your staff and to uh everybody there, you know, uh whether it's uh uh law enforcement, you know, whether it's uh fire and rescue, uh whether it's the gentleman that was up here earlier that that serves in the
military. Um, you all do things that a lot of people don't do and we depend on you guys and women that are out there that are serving because there are people that that will run away from situations where you all go to them. And
again, we appreciate that. And again, we appreciate our fire department, our rescue. Uh, for instance, rolling up on that accident out by the golf course in Keystone. you know, that's something that most people would, you know, drive around and and and keep going, you know.
So, um, but anyway, again, I want to thank you, Mr. that that kudos goes to my staff. I'm the only official, but they're the ones who do the hard work. >> I know. And then the same same applies to us. Um, you know, certainly we're up here, you know, we're overseeing policies and budgets and things like
that, but it's the staff, uh, you know, and when you look at, you know, even public works, u, you know, how they come, you know, to the rescue a lot of times and, uh, they make they make our job so much easier. They really do. um you know we we we we do sit up here and
we are the sounding board but you know at the end of the day those are the ones that really you know look out for us and take care of us. So again I thank you all and shar thank you. Well, uh again I echo to thank you those
who individually um you you reached out you reached out and I didn't know that you were praying for my daughter and for my board and the prayer that you you all rendered and I appreciate each and every one of you and I just said thank you and continue to lift her up. Uh I won't be
here for the the um between this this weekend. I have to fly out on on Saturday morning for a memorial for a family member. Um but otherwise I would be be here as well. Also I just wanted to again thank the public works um Mr.
Dons and u Mr. Wit and the sheriff department for the good work that you did and during the storm. Um also for our financial department getting our workshops um set up because that's an important part uh for us in our planning
and looking at what we may need may need to do in preparation for what is to come once our legislative session is finalized and your input is important. So Mr. Cardig mentioned to you about the workshop coming up. Um, it's important
to get the community's input in our comprehensive plan and in our strategic plan. That's one of the most important things that we can have for our our community looking at what our goals and objectives are for for the community. So, I would appreciate as many people
turning out for that as as possible. The other thing is please please stress the important for people to adhere to the burn ban um on We had a person burning um debris that
was hazardous and had left it. Um thankfully our um fire department came out, took care of it, talked to the family. So when you see something, say something cuz we have to keep each other safe. Um some people think it's okay to just burn the trash in the brick, but
it's not. It's very dangerous. Um and Miss Belelfford had this study. I'm very interested in looking at what you had and I want to express my appreciation to all of you in providing your comments and doing it in a very respectful manner. Again, I say congratulations to
um Rachel and her um recognition. Um and I'm thankful to the community for the good job in uh that they've done and also with um our fair for this year. um trying to do the best to bring some
activity back and to do it in a fashion that it is appreciated by our community. So um again, let's continue to work together, hear each other, respect each other, and let's continue to work and build Bradford because we are one
community, Bradford County strong. Um and with that, um I say thank you to you all. And if there's nothing more, this meeting is ajourned. Yes.