I think one of the things that communities and schools is so great, you know, working with career source that we can reach out and um like I said, I used to run the onetop uh when Jim Ward was over at the Votech. So I I know about
this community and we just we we we were always in the schools and so you know if you have any um interest in adding anything more if you have any ideas
please reach out to me because um that's why we're here that's our job. Well, I know the welding program at Votech is is wonderful and um just need more space for more students. So, yeah, but thank
you for what you you're doing and um we really appreciate all your effort. Yeah. Yeah. Thank you. And I'd just like to point out uh my coworker Erica. She's she's in the Stark office quite a bit and um so yes, we're
So, um, yes. Good. Thank you so much. Great, great and awesome presentation. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Next, we have uh Florida Department of Transportation, uh, Barney
Bennett and, uh, Amy. Amy, I guess Amy's not coming up. We Okay. Right. And my name is Barney Bennett. I'm with Florida Department of Transportation. I'm in the consultant
project management area, which means I'm over the design contracts for these trail projects. Uh with me is Amy Roersonson. Amy is in our planning section, and she is the the program manager over the Suntrail program, and Suntrail is the program that's funding these trail projects.
And what I'd like to do is just let you know that come June 11th, we'll have a bid opening on three new projects. We refer to it as a let date. Most people know that as a bid opening date. And that is for three of these four trail projects. I do have additional paper copies of this if any of the
commissioners would like one either now or after. I could have waited till after, but Okay. Um, anyway, I do have more uh paper copies available for each of the commissioners and county staff. And so what I'd like to do is I'm just going to go over each of each of
these trail projects really quick, kind of a high level corridor discussion or presentation, and then I'll open it up to questions for you. So I I believe you all are familiar with where the trail begins in Lake Butler. It's a trail that we constructed in 2011. It goes down to almost down to
the the New River area. That's where we're going to pick up. the first project we'll pick up where that trail ends. We'll continue down to the Samson City area. We do have a a gap and then we have an additional trail project that goes into
Hampton. So the first project, the 434276-1 that picks up in Union County. Make sure we got the right slide. Union County and County Road 237 goes to Bradford County's County Road 235. It is a length of 2.3 miles. The
design plans are finalized. And again, the bid opening date is June 11th with a contract duration of 630 days with an estimated completion date of June of 2027. And what's unique about this project is that if you're familiar with the area, you know there's a railroad trestle across the river. I'm sure you
all have never walked across that railroad trestle. Um there is a railroad trestle there that will be removed and we will replace that with a 600 foot long pedestrian bridge. The next project in the corridor, the 434277-1 project picks up at County Road
235 and goes to Southwest 102nd Avenue in Samson City is 4.1 miles and again the design plans are finalized. These two projects with the bridge over the new river plus this project into Samson City are being let together as a single construction contract. Uh so again the
duration will be 630 days with the June 2027 estimated completion date. The next project the 434278-1 is an unfunded project. It picks up at 102nd Avenue in Samson City and goes to Canerwood 227 a length of
3.4 miles. The design is underway. The reason the construction is unfunded is is is a few issues in Samson City. there's a railroad crossing of CSX. CSX requires us to give permanent easements to bring a trail across their
their railroad tracks. Additionally, CSX will only give us a maximum of 5 foot of width. So, basically, we're putting a sidewalk across. So, it'll be a 12oot trail. It'll narrow down to 5ft sidewalk, get across the tracks, and then it'll widen back out to 12t trail again. But, we are working with that
easement with CSX right now. Additionally, we are putting a small bridge, 120 foot pedestrian bridge over the Samson River. The Samson River is considered state sovereign submerged lands. So, we got to get D permits in order to put that bridge in. Those two
items combined are delaying us. Um because the other thing with CSX is when we do their crossing, it could affect their signal system. And if they have to rebuild their signal system, they're going to charge us for it. And right now, we don't know how much that's going to be. So that's holding up the the
construction funding in addition to our normal uh always store on funds all the time. The next project, the 211522-1, this is by far the most visible project of these trail projects,
visible to the non-trail users. Picks up at Canada 227 and goes to Canada 18 in Hampton. It's 2.9 miles. The design plans are finalized. Again, the bid opening is June 11th and it has a construction duration of 400 days. The
most visible part of this is going to be the pedestrian bridge over US301 as well as the the connection to the existing trail that then goes from Hampton towards Keystone Heights and all the way to St. Augustine. So, I've provided a couple renderings of what the pedestrian bridge will look like over
US301. The bridge height, we require 17 foot 6 inch clearance under the bridge for truck traffic to get under it. The deck of the bridge is roughly 24 feet above the roadway. The bridge is 225 ft long. Florida Power and Light has high voltage power lines in the same
corridor. They conflict with the bridge. So Florida Power and Light is putting their power lines underground. Right now, as we speak, they've already sunk two poles on either side of the bridge, and probably next week, they're actually laid their cable. And Comcast has also got to relocate because they were on the Florida Power and Light
poles. Here's two more renderings of the same bridge. And then when we get into the town of Hampton where we intersect Cany Road 18, the trail users, the bicyclist, pedestrians will need to utilize Candy Road 18 to cross the railroad tracks.
We've set up a signing and pavement marking plan that meets our standards for putting bicyclists in the roadway. We have a project upcoming that's not on here that will then add a 5-ft sidewalk across the railroad tracks, but we've got to go through the same issues with CSX. We got to get
permanent easement. only allow a 5ft sidewalk and we could not put that into this project in a time of manner to where we could bid it out now. So the current plan is to utilize the roadway for the pedestrians and cyclists across CSX. And here's some renderings of
roughly what the county road 18 crossing in Hampton will look like. And with that, I will open it up to questions. If you got questions about the program, the corridor, the individual projects, whatever you'd like to ask. Um, any questions? Um, the bridge over
301. Now, that has not been Has the design already went through or where are we on that again? I'm sorry. Yeah, the design is complete. The project is out for bid right now. Oh, so we're looking at actually starting the project
probably in se August or well September. September would be a a time for them to actually do construction work now. Really they're starting now because Florida Power and Light is moving their power lines right now. So really we're we're starting. Wow, that's wonderful. Yeah, great presentation and thank you.
Yeah, I live in that area, so I I see the the uh lines being moved and all that. So, I really do appreciate all of y'all are doing and um can't wait to get this project completed. That'll be an awesome project. There's a lot of lot of people that use the rails to trails. Yeah, it it really is. It's a great
project. It's a great series of projects. We got fortunate with some state funding where we were able to to fund three of these projects at one time, which is very unusual. Normally, they're several years spread out. It really is it's great for the trail system. Yeah, I've been I've been waiting quite a while for y'all to come
and make the presentation. So, I really do appreciate it. M m M Mr. Chairman, if I may. Yes. Uh Barney, just out of curiosity, will this will this affect or impact traffic on 301 during the construction phase at all? It will. So, we we've got some um requirements that
we cannot close the US 301 lanes during the daytime. It's only nighttime closures. So what we're going to do is when we come to set the beams for the bridge, we will have to close 301, move all the traffic. For instance, on the
northbound traffic, we'll move one lane of southbound onto 301. It's a diversion. We'll create a diversion to set those beams. Other than that, uh pile driving, we've limited to be only in the daytime hours to not interrupt the neighboring community with noise. Uh, so there will be some interruption
to US301 traffic, but I don't see it as being really all that much because you can set those beams in a in a night in one night in each direction. So, it shouldn't be more than just a few days, but there will be some diversions and some lane shifts as that bridge is being
built. Good. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. minute. Yeah. The um I know it's hard to put restroom and break facilities and things like that out in the middle of nowhere as far as you know just people vandalize and maintenance and things like that but would there
would be any kind of a like a stop rest area you know uh somewhere to you know park your bike for a minute sit on a bench or is there things like that that go into the plan? I know at one time I think or maybe they do now uh in
Keystone between the Wendy's and the Walgreens there there's a just kind of a stop area there. Is that right? So I I believe so. So under this these projects, no there won't. The Sunrail program does not allow us to put in benches and restrooms
and trash cans and shade. Unfortunately, that's just part of the legislation. So, the nearest restroom or parking facility will be at Bobby Shepard Park in Hampton. Okay. Uh going the other direction though, you're looking going all the way to Lake Butler before you
have the next stop. Okay. So, Mr. Chairman, if I may, Commissioner Dhy, the uh the trail head that you're talking about in Keystone Heights, that was actually constructed uh by the city of Keystone Heights. They put in the the bike racks and the the uh service
stations with the tools and so forth and also built a parking area right there between the Wendy's and the and the CBS. So yeah, that was all funded by the city of Keystone Heights. And there's a there's one further on down. Um what's the little town going to um out of
Keystone? The next little town. They have a nice park when by the ball fields. Yes. By the by the field. They have a very nice park that has a restroom facility like Mr. Loy was talking about and I assume that they probably did it as well. But
Mr. Bennett, is there any future um plans for tie in of the bike trail into the downtown city, the city of Stark where they have the bike trail? Um I guess it would be going towards the
Klay CL Klay County area. Um but this the seed of start at citywalk has the bike trail um that's there. Yeah, not that I'm aware of. That sounds like a really good application for transportation alternatives program
which Amy just happens to be in charge of. Um so that's something that the city or the county can apply for funding to to make that connection. Um make sure it's a a good valid connection. is constructible and it makes sense and um we'd be willing to uh entertain an
application for that. Okay. I think that would be a good one. Thank you. And also, Mr. Man, I'm not trying to put you on the spot, but remember we talked about uh cuz on uh on uh State Road 100 where you'll have it crossing over with the flashing lights and all that and people used to park
there, but then they they eliminated all the parking that area. But then uh we talked about and I believe the the county has already turned in an application to get some money to uh go down south southeast 9th right by the Salvation Army because the county owns the property all the way to the trail
head and I was just wondering if there was any updates or how we're we're coming on that possible. Yes, I I have reviewed the application and everything looks good. I've created a candidate project for it. I've just got to find some funding. The TA funding program isn't a huge pot of money. Um but yeah, I'm definitely looking at it and as soon
as I can put it in is definitely on the list of priorities. Okay. Yeah, that would be great because I do get a lot of calls, especially since, you know, we blocked off the uh parking off of 100 and again and I've showed y'all on the maps, it's basically just right around the corner and uh and it's a secluded
area. So, um I've already ran it by the sheriff and um and being right in front of the Salvation Army, it'd be a whole lot safer for for especially people with small children and stuff. they could park, get out of the car, don't have to worry about traffic or anybody running them over and then get on the trails and
go. So, absolutely. So, it'd be a great great place if we could get it going. We have it in line. Absolutely. M Mr. Chairman, if I may, Amy, do we have any idea what the timeline on that might be? It's hard to say. Um I couldn't really I'd like to get it in within the next
couple years, but I can't promise that at this point. Okay. So, it's more or less of a not a near-term, but maybe a midterm possibility. Yes. Three to five years, maybe. Thank you. And and actually, when Amy and I leave the meeting today, we're going to go look at
Bobby Shepard Park, and we're also going to go look at that site, too, because it's been about 10 years since I've looked at. Okay. All right. Thank you. Yeah, Bobby Shepard, that's a nice park, too. They got a real nice playground facility there, ball field. It's It's very nice.
Do you have um cards or some contact information? We do. Actually, that gentleman sitting right there with a white shirt, he he is with the city. If you could give him that and maybe they can talk it talk about it the the tiein
from the city to the trail that um they may want to discuss that in one of their meetings, but that way they would have your information. If you have enough cards, thank you.
Any other questions? Well, thank you all so much. Again, I' I've been waiting for this presentation for a while, so I really do appreciate it. This is exciting. This has been literally decades in the making to get to the point. We really hope we're going to pull it off on June 11th with a good bid
opening. All righty. And and so so that one you said um 400 days. So you're thinking the one the one going over 301 should be complete in what 2026? The end of 2026. That project right there. Yeah. We're looking at
November of 2026. Currently that's given a given everything everything goes properly. Yes, that would be the All right. I I will always caveat things. It doesn't happen until it happens. Right. Assuming the bid opening goes well, the construction goes well, that would be
the estimated opening date of the trail. All right. All right. Thank you. Well, thank you very much. Thanks for coming. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks again. Good news. All right. Okay, we're going to move on to item
six, uh, recreation funding requests. Um, got a small PowerPoint presentation. All right, board. This this started uh January 14th, 2025 uh when I read a uh a memo
from the city to the TDC board about some uh upgrades at Edwards Road. And um when I saw that memo, I thought to myself, what a great opportunity and a great way for the city and the county to team up and combine resources to help
our children. So, I made I don't even know how many phone calls calling all kind of different people. A lot of them are sitting in here today. Um, talked with people who have been involved in the past, Alicia
McMillan. Um, I've talked with people that are involved now. Um, we had meetings after meetings. Um, and and this is what we come up with. This is our vision to create a
connected, active, thriving Bradford County by providing highquality recreation programs and maintaining safe, inclusive parks that enhance the well-being of all residents and visitors in both Bradford County and the city of
Stark. And with that, at this time, I'd like to ask our sheriff, Gordon Smith, to come up and um and please sheriff the importance of having sports in Bradford County. It's simple to me. It's uh crime
prevention 101. I grew up here. Uh started with Cheryl Kenova, Miss Alicia. We've we've worked in keeping kids involved because statistics show us if we can keep kids actively involved in something besides riding the roads,
doing nothing all summer, all even even in the fall. If you keep kids busy, involved in something, and I'm referring to sports with the different leagues. If your kids's not good at at baseball, maybe they're good at soccer. If they're not good at soccer, they may be good at
basketball. off. They're not good. Some kids, we just got good old tough kids, which I like. They may be playing football. Football and basketball were my two sports. Wasn't good at either one of them. But it taught me a lot about being a man. So when you look at crime prevention 101, it always says that's
where you see all the pals, police, police athletic leagues, those type things that we involve and we invest in. Don't know how we get that investment. I don't know where the money comes from, but I'm telling you as a perspective from the sheriff that the best crimerevention tool we have in this community is called our sports or
athletic leagues. Now, if your kids not good at sports, they may be in the band, and that's great. They may be in I I love the chess club. I just I had to quit it because it got too addicting. It was it that was my crack uh was was playing chess and I'd stay up all night doing it. But,
however, I was a good cheerleader in playing sports. Uh, I had a big mouth and I guess that's prevailed and and carried me on to two things I didn't think I'd need nag was public speaking and and parliamentary procedure. But here I am 40 years later. This is a way to get our kids
involved in something and this patchwork. I can tell you to this day I'm taking my grandkids to Keystone Russell Baptist Church in Lake Asbury for basketball. all these events. We're leaving our community to get our
kids involved knowing that we can do a hell of a lot better here in Bradford County. And I say that personally because our kids, it's not about me anymore. I'm way past the athletic side of it. But my grandkids, the kids in our
community that uh we need to make a difference in the coaches, the men and women that take time off to put their their efforts into guiding and and controlling our our young ones, instilling in them the values of being a productive citizen in our community.
That's what it's all about. So I want to tell you on my aspect of it when you say sports, we've got to have a better coordinated effort. I grew up in the recck department of Stark. Stark took that responsibility back then and did it all. That's gone. And some parents can
get together and we do well for two or three years or they get mad and we got two leagues instead of one uh involved. Take the personalities out of it. Put one person that responsible in that leadership and that's what we stick with. You don't have 10 different groups
come if they're asking for money. I don't know how much money that is and I don't know what the I have missed a couple of the meetings uh due to my commitments, but I'm telling you it's the it's the way that we can do better in Bradford County for our kids because all of us here I'm probably uh you know
I look we're all in the same age group. It's not about us anymore. But what can we do? Don't know how we get there. Don't know how we fund it. But I'm telling you, in all aspects of it, we've got to come together as combined youth athletic sports in Bradford County if we really, really, truly intend to make a
difference. It's where we start with our kids. Thank you. Thank you, Sheriff. Why sports matters? I think you just heard it right there. Like the sheriff said, sports 101. Um, it it it builds friendships that last for a lifetime.
Um it it it builds character in our our children. It gives them confidence and uh it just helps them all the way around. Sports are very important. Um keeping people living in Bradford County uh is more than just good jobs. Um it's
a quality of life. It's having a great park and recreation system is the hallmark of a vibrant community. current activities. Sheriff hit on a little bit. Um we do have a Bradford Youth Athletic League. It's running
about total hund boys, 50 girls. Uh playing softball. Uh you can see the different fees and stuff up there. I just put it up there for for information purposes. Um I'm going to try and move along on this current also current activities.
the Southeastern Fast Pitch. Um um Braxton has gotten with them and uh they've already had four organized uh travel ball tournaments here in Bradford County. It brings in teams as you see from everywhere. It fills our hotels. Our restaurants are full. And uh
actually this past weekend I was at a all-star softball tournament and uh Orlando. I ran into a couple parents that have uh daughters on travel ball teams and they actually we got to talking and they said they were planning on coming to a tournament here
in Bradford County. Uh but the hotels were already booked. So they said that their coach had decided to move them somewhere else. But um but still that's a problem we can work out and I even talked with them and you know gave them contact numbers to get a hold of to um
to make these tournaments happen. basketball. Awesome program. I I don't want to steal Samson's thunder, but I will tell you this was at our Bradford High School gym. Uh first through sixth grade. You see the registration fees, 20
bucks is all it costs. Game day, $3 to get in. Concession stand brought in about $200. Even as low as the fees were, they still managed to net around $600 at the end of the year. And again, what a fantastic program. And um that leads me
into my next thing, our athletic director uh for the high school, Samson Jackson. I'm going ask him to come forward if you would and just say a few words. Good morning board. Good morning, everyone. Um so Mr. Rick was referring to uh this spring we got together and uh
myself, the coaching staff, um it's been kind of years of conversations about what do we need to do for our kids. Um, obviously you guys know that our middle school now services athletically seventh and eighth grade only. So without something like this, we don't have anything for our first or first through sixth grade to participate in. So, uh,
with the approval of Mr. Hartley, um, and then getting with our coaches, working with Miss Alicia, um, we were able to put together a spring league. It was a quick 8-week league that we did. um using our elementary schools, sending out information through those principles uh to gather every interested kid, boys
and girls of co-ed league um to come out and play. They would practice one day a week and then we would play on Saturdays at the high school. Um to look around the gym at times and see, you know, community members, family coming out to support the kids um was was well worth the ch worth the task. Um there were a
lot of relationships built during that time. Um there were people that I met during that time, kids um that we're still in contact with. Um obviously uh now um from a financial standpoint, some of those numbers were really really low when we got ready to do it because it was one of the things like we don't know
all the answers to it. We just know we need to start it. Um if you look around in other communities now, uh those fees are a lot higher. Um the participants from those communities, um they're our kids. So there's a league on both sides of us and most of our kids are traveling
to play different sports, flag football, soccer, basketball, those different things. Um like Sheriff just mentioned, um his grandkids are they participate in this as well, but then they're through other seasons they're going to other places to play. So that's something that we want to try to um eliminate with um
by day I am the county athletic director. So that is something that I think if we get ahead of that now, we don't really risk losing a lot of those kids um to other places and and that leads to a lot of other things that we we lose when those kids move. Um so uh the numbers did show some of the things
that uh financially that we were able to uh do. Um the cost of the startup cost was relatively low. Um it was just some jerseys and then the the kids provided their own uniforms. Um, as far as balls and equipments, we use what we had at the high school um, for that. Um, those
two things were really, really good. What the meetings that I've been a part of so far, um, the possibility of partnering with other groups, other boards, um, just expands what we can do. Um, what we did was literally just from our internal athletic department at that one school, just at our high school. Um,
so it wasn't any other funding that we used to do that. Um, and it turned out to be really good. So, um, I appreciate that. With that, I would like to invite up one of our kids who participated in that league. Um, Weston, Weston, you might come over with me. Um, so Weston was one of our youth who played in the
league. Um, he asked could he share some of his comments from that. So, I would like to do that. Here, stand. You can speak. I'm seven years old and I really love sports. I like baseball, soccer,
and flag football, but my favorite is baseball. Coach Samson put on basketball here in Bradford County at the Bford High School gym and it was amazing. I
won so much and I got and I got better at playing basketball because of coach Hampton and the other coaches. It was fun to see my
friends and play together. I have played flag football and soccer in Keystone for two years and probably seeing my school football. It's a lot of fun, but I would
be more fun if I had my friends from school to. Thank you for more time and please bring more sports for us kids. So um
what then came out to play and and um this is an example of what I mean when I say like our kids don't get a chance to intermingle um as much as I think we could offer them. So right now earlier it was mentioned that we um have had the sport of football or that that may branch off to two or three different
groups and teams. Um but our community is kind of small when it comes to where we can pull from and the kids we have here. Um so to lose them to two or three teams in the community and then other communities as well um they don't get to see their kids until or their peers until seventh grade. So, um, our hope is
just that we can provide the resources that we need, can provide the opportunities that we need so that our kids that are growing up together here can literally grow up together, um, and and use athletics and sports as that platform. So, um, if anyone has any questions, I'm more than willing to answer any, but that's all that I have.
Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you, Weston. All right. other current activities uh which was mentioned. This is at Trinity Baptist Church. What I want y'all to look at is the registration was full in 48 hours. 250 children. And uh Sheriff,
please correct me if I'm wrong. I believe the sheriff's grandchildren did not get to play because it was already full by the time they got ready by the time they went to sign up. I mean, that's amazing. Uh it's a fantastic program. They do devotional prayers
before the game. Tell the children about Jesus. And uh and if you want to see some friends and neighbors you haven't seen in a long time, go to one of these games. I guarantee you run into somebody you know. The other thing uh Twin Lakes, 600
children play soccer. And you got to realize a lot of these places, most of those kids are from Bradford County. Uh, Union County, 280 children playing baseball. Uh, 260 children
playing soccer. I've contacted them. Super awesome people over there. Talked to them. They said they wish we would get a program going over here because then that would be more children that could play and also we could play each other. It would be it would be a great another great opportunity we're
missing recreation facilities. I want to make this clear. These are the city of Stark's recreation facilities and they are awesome. You see we got pickle ball courts, raetball courts, uh basketball courts, we got six fields, we got a
splash park, um um skateboard park. There's restrooms and it's all a lit facility. I mean, it the potential is is limitless as to what we can do with
that. And like I said, this is all owned by the city and uh board if they would let us team up with them. What an opportunity this would be for us to team up with the city with uh a facility like that that they already have in place. Like I said, it's just fantastic
facility. current needs at that facility. I won't go through all of them, but uh they do need the uh 200 foot removable fences. That's when they're putting on these tournaments for the younger kids. Um they need the 200 foot home run fence
and then that way if they're removable, we can remove them and then the adults can play on the on on the three big fields without any problem at all. Um, some of the fencing down the sides, if you ever notice at our fields, it's only about three foot high, three and a half foot high. A hard hit foul ball is going
to knock you right in the head. Um, in fact, to be honest with you, this is years years ago when my son was playing, my mom got hit walking out of the park with a foul ball and knocked her out. I mean, right there. So, um, and that's true story. But, u, the other thing is,
um, I'll just tell you this, putting up extra portaotties is not an option. And if you're going to have high quality travel ball tournaments, that's definitely not an option. So, we need to make some improvements there with, and I say we, I'm talking about if the city
will allow us to team up with them. Another facility that the city of Stark has is Thomas Street. If you never been down there, they've got a brand new football field. The grass hasn't really started taken, but uh as you see from the video, they got that the restrooms,
those pavilions are awesome. They've got picnic tables underneath them. They got um uh basketball court, tennis court. They got uh playgrounds over there for the children. And uh that's the other thing I didn't mention at the other park
at Edwards Road. They have two awesome playgrounds for the children. Um and also this is a a lighted facility. This is our Bradford County Fairgrounds. Look at the parking that's out there. And the best part about it, if they come right through this one
little entryway here, you got the restrooms to the right. So you don't have to worry about the children getting run over. Once you get out of the parking lot and get in there, the possibilities are endless. I mean, tons of room there. Some of it is lighted,
but like I said, there's so much room there. The again, the possibilities are endless what we can do there for soccer and flag football. uh potential impacts. Um Bradford County has a population of roughly 28,000
people. Union County 16,000 people, but yet we still have to take our children for Bradford County, travel to Union County, travel to Keystone, travel to Lake Asbury to play soccer or football. Um we just the bottom line is we just need good sports programs in Bradford
County, period. Um, most people in Bradford County are uh double income families. Both of them work and it's hard or almost impossible for them to get off work and then to drive another 30 to 45 minutes to to excuse me to take
their kids to a soccer practice or a football or something like that. Um, we need them we need to make it happen right here in Bradford County and good marketing and promotion is is just a it's a must. And at that time, I'm going to lead it
into our superintendent of schools, Will Hartley. Good morning, U Commission. I appreciate the opportunity to be here today to speak. I first would like to say that um I hope my being here in no way puts off the air
of I'm telling you how to spend your money. I know nothing about your budget. I know nothing about the city's budget. Um, I'm here simply because, um, this is a conversation that needs to be had and where the solution comes from. I just hope that the school district can be a
part of that in some way, shape, or form. I know a lot of work has been done with the county and city to try to create positive growth in our community. I know the school district's um, uh, job in that is to be uh, somewhat of a a marriage. It's going to take all of us
to bring the positive growth to Bradford County. Um, but things like this are also a big part of that. Um, when you're talking about young families looking to come into a community, they're going to be driven by their children. Um, I think there's no there's no doubt about that.
Um, selfishly as a parent for the last two years for three seasons per year, I have driven my son to Oakleaf to play flag football. Um, and before that, he was playing at Twin Twin Lakes soccer in Keystone. And I can tell you when I would go to that park, it was like
walking our school campuses because the majority of those children are our children. Um, and like some others have said, it does bother me that we're taking our kids to other communities to play when I know in some way, shape, or form we can we can come up with a
solution here in Bradford County. So, um, whatever that solution may be, uh, whatever the combinations of groups that come together to make that happen, um, I'm glad we're having this discussion. It is something that needs to happen in
our community and whatever we can do to help make that happen, we we certainly will. Thank you. Thank you. This is just I'll just do this real quick. Potential sports program, it's it's unlimited. Um, you know, we already have the baseball, softball, but you
know, bring in soccer, flag football, basketball, pickle ball, raetball. I mean, with, you know, we the city of Stark has the awesome facilities. We just got to put it to work. What we're looking at is um uh having a
uh five board members, one from Bradford County, one from the city, one from TBC, and then those three standing members would uh appoint two uh citizens. Next step, we need a recreation director. We need somebody
that can coordinate all this and put it all together. You know, um you got those pickle ball courts. You could have, you know, Tuesday morning pickle ball for seniors, uh, Monday night raetball. The the possibilities are endless, but we need somebody in that
position that can organize, put it all together. When you have out of time town teams calling in for tournaments and stuff, you've got to have somebody there that can answer the phone and tell them, "Hey, look, these are good places to eat. These are good places to stay." And
uh and like I said, just someone who that can coordinate the all the programs and make them all work, schedule the fields. We we just we need a a full-time rec director. We also need an assistant part-time, somebody that can help them
put everything in play, keep it going. Here's our proposed budget. Um I'm asking for 150 from the county, 150 from the city, and 150 from the TDC board. Um, as you can see up there, the
300 from the city and county will be used as for salaries, maintenance, and program costs. The 150 from the TDC board will be used for improvements uh on the Edwards Road complex. I sit on the TV TDC board. There's over $800,000
sitting in the bank. Um, there's also it brings in about 20 to $25,000 a month. There's plenty of money, but like I said, they won't commit for every year for that amount. Every year, we'll have to make the request, but believe me, if
we get the right person running these programs and start making them happy, the TDC board will be more than happy to put in money. Um, Pam, I can't speak for you, and I'm not trying to put you on the spot, but anyway. Also, additional funding
sources. You saw that when I put up the other slides. um you know the registration fees, sponsorship, spons partnerships, um grants, I know that takes a while. The money from the concession stands that it brings in is tremendous.
Tournament fees and again a proper and this last line here I heard this I've called Keystone, Union County, I've called all kind of recreation department. That bottom line right there, a properly run recreation department will self be self-
sustaining. Now, what? This is my second favorite slide that's up here. We need a two-year commitment from the city and the county. I mean, that picture says it all. We need an actual partnership between the
city and Stark. We've come together on some other projects and they're working very well and we need to do something for this for our children. Let's get this done done together. Together, sorry. Together, Bradford County and the
city of Stark can build a unified recreation system that can foster healthier lifestyles, stronger neighborhoods, and a more connected community. The last line, the little word but. If you ever read the Bible,
whenever you see the word but, you know something big is going to happen. That's a very important word. In the Bible, it's always but God and something happens. So, this next slide is the most
important. That's it. It's all about the kids. The whole thing is about the kids. That's the future. Yep. Exactly. That's our future leaders, future everything. That's our future right there. So, it's all about
the kids. Um, and that's my presentation and board at at this time. What I really need is a motion to fund recreation for two years at 150,000 a
year. Well, can can Sure. I If you got questions, I got I guess we can make the motion and then we can discuss. What? Whatever you want. If you got questions, I'll try my best to answer. Well, do we have the commitment from the city? Well,
we don't have a commitment from the city. I I have been meeting with with city people. Um the bottom I needed to get the commitment from us and then what the plan was on the 17th. I will be making this same
presentation before the city to show it to all their commissioners. Um I will say this from from research right now the city of Stark is paying 150,000 a year for recreation. So, it won't cost them anymore, but it would give us an
opportunity to team up with the city of Stark. And um you know, and I don't want to put you on the spot. If you'd like to say something want to make it clear, I'll go all the way back to the beginning. Uh when Commissioner Riddick started, how
this thing came about. We we were actually I'm actually here more from the TDC than in the city of Stark. Although I'm on the TDC because of the city of Stark. So already uh this actually started in talking about in TDC what can
we do in the community not just for the kids but just to to get something more vibrant. Travel ball was mentioned and all of that. So that's how this kind of started growing and then Commissioner Rick came and and it just kept growing and growing. Uh, and the I won't put fam
on the spot, but that the the still got to go back to them. Uh, but there was a vote indirectly to just see if it's even every time they had a meeting, it was do we still want to do this? Is it worth it? Is the money, but we don't know. This is starting. And I think going back
from there and how it started. I'm not here speaking for the city of Stark because they haven't heard the presentation. We were going to do it tonight, but we do not have a forum, so we cannot give the same presentation. Uh, so I cannot speak for them, nor do I speak for them. Uh, I'm just here to to
echo what was already been said is that we have some great facilities and a great chance. Listen, I sit like y'all do. We got budget constraints. We could spend the money on a lot of things. Uh, that's where it comes down to. I think all of us agree we need to invest in the
kids. I I personally not personally think this is the best investment. We're going to get something started back like this. We're for y'all's limited resources, our limited resources. If it's going to happen, it's got to happen through this presentation. Let me stop right now and thank Commissioner uh uh
Rick for doing what he's put a lot of work in this. It's a passionate for him and I think he's done a great job of pulling us all together from the TDC and everything. So, from what I've seen in the meetings I've sat in, this is probably one of the best chances that
I've seen in a long time for something like this to happen for our youth in this community. It would be hard for y'all to do it on your own. It'd be almost extremely hard for the city of Stark to do it on. In fact, we probably neither one of us would take it on by ourselves.
But there is some money at TDC and I think through this partnership and the nucleus of getting it started and then having the fees which we it was it was mentioned that's going to help a lot and I think that's going to get started but we have a lot of people even though we have some people going out of town uh
through uh Samson here and uh Braxton Brett there's some people and then the efforts we do to keep our places up. There's a lot of effort going on right now. We just don't have the the program. And I think with the nucleus of the hard work
that we have going on now and we got great minds to pick from like Alicia's out there, she's done this before. Uh we a lot of people know what's going on. We just have to pull this together, the resources so that we can even take a good honest engine look at it because we
have the same constraints y'all have as far as resources. Uh I I look forward to when it is presented to the city. Uh and I know that I have not talked directly to them, but I know that they've always wanted to to to look at recreation in our community. So I do
know that they're more than open to listen to this and I feel very positive about the presentation as far as an excellent presentation. So I don't have a commitment from the city because they need to hear the same thing. Uh, so we were hoping to have that tonight, but we
do not have it. Going down that road. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Make a comment. Um, the city has worked just tremendous hours of of um
seeking funding and everything to make beautiful changes in our city. Um, we are growing just like someone else said today. You, if you look around, if you drive down 301, you can tell that great things that
presentation on the the bike trail, there's just wonderful things happening in Bradford County that is changing the whole outlook of this county. But what brings people to towns to live, to um, be entertained is
something for their children. Uh people look for churches that have programs for for their kids because you want to you want to teach them the right way. And I think that this is the same way. This is just another big issue that pulls a town
into a whole different category. And I think that Mr. Rick hit the nail on the head and I think you've done a great job Mr. Rick and thank you for doing that. Um, it is going to cost us, but sometimes it's it's hard to put a
number on something this important, just like fire and rescue. We're about to actually have money for fire and rescue. That's wonderful. That's huge. And um hopefully I pray. I shouldn't say but um
there's great things happening for us that's going to we don't we didn't have a motel room for them. What do we need Pam? Another motel. That's right. Bring it on and build it. And that's what we we are hoping will happen. And so I
think like I said to have the mindset that we're moving up and sometimes it's going to be rough but I think that it's very it's imperative that we do. So thank you Mr. Commission. Uh Mr. Chair,
I our children are worth $150,000. Um they're worth that. We're in the throws right now of setting our budget. So, we have to look at that and I'll have to ask um our manager. We have in our budget a certain amount for
recreation and um if that could be taken in consideration of that place. Um but the thing about it is that we have to do it planfully um as we're entering into this considering the city, our county, but
don't forget our other little municipalities of Brooka, Hampton, and Lai. Sometimes you may not have the finances but you can do inind services that would contribute towards um the needs for the community. So let us not exclude them. They may not have the
dollars but there may be other things that it can contribute. But today I thought we were just going to have a a a presentation and discussion but not actually um take an action on the situation. I am
a wholehearted for when I was with the city. Um I begged the county to be a participant and so the county did some things with having different parks but to combine with the city to do some
things. Yes, we need to do that. When people come and if we're going to grow our community, grow our economic development um process, people want to know that they have um a fun place to be in recreation. They want good education.
They want a job and they want safety. So, but if we can bring our kids back to Bradford County, have recreation in our community, that is the saving for our community. So, that it's important. Um, but I didn't know we were going to
necessarily move forward with making a dollar commitment today until we do our our budget piece. But, see, the the reason it's so important because our budget, if we don't make a decision this month, then it's kicked off another year. Could I say something? And also,
could I say something, please? Could I interject for a minute? We just spent 1.7 million on the fair grounds for our kids. Mr. Clerk, before you go ahead with that, because that is exactly what I wanted to say. And we're looking at
funding our fire department at only 50%. So, get your umbrellas out because I'm gonna rain on the parade right now because I'm just saying, you know, we tend to save to spend instead of spend to save. Okay. And we talk about this during our budget and Commissioner
Riddick, I've heard you say this several times and and you've been one of the biggest champions of it. I think we all agree though is we want to cut our millage back for our citizens. And so the more we talk about spending and again I'm I'm a a product of youth
sports uh product of high school sports and u you know it's been a a big part of my life and my children's lives too. But you know where is this funding going to come from? And when you said but is usually followed up by good things but we don't have the money. So it's not
always good things that are followed up by but you know the city properties and and and projects that are going on you know they're FDOT funded. The pedestrian bridge is FDOT funded and a lot of this
money is coming from you know other sources that have been put in place for a long time. This FDOT project is many, many years old. This is something that has the money's been put aside and whether it's through cutting projects in other areas because they couldn't get
the right away and then we finally got it. Again, these are these are long-term projects. It's decades. So, again, you know, a lot of the, you know, I think somebody mentioned earlier about, you know, public safety and and and schools
and wreck. You know, there's three reasons that people look in an area. They look at jobs, they look at public safety, and they look at schools, recreation. We're working on public safety right now. I think the sheriff's done an outstanding job with public safety and law enforcement. Uh again,
but we're only 50% funded when it comes to the fire department. So, I think again, these are a lot of things that need to be looked at and and really discussed. I I don't you I thought about this yesterday. There's a lot of times now where we talk about just having a
consensus on the board and rather than bringing it back for a vote. This is a presentation and I don't think this is something that we should vote on right now. I think this is something that should be wait and find out what the city's going to do and certainly with
the TDC uh Senator Bradley with the TDC funding is this something that they can use that for because it would create I guess like a destination. Um, I know that we've always just used TD TDC
funding for, let's say, we have an event here and then that money is used to promote the event out of TDC, but actually using that funding and then and my question to Superintendent Hartley, um, I don't think you were here when
they put in that ball field uh, at the high school, but you know, certainly I know when I played out there, and the sheriff can attest to this too, it was a swamp. If it rained, it was a swamp. And those four ball fields out at Edwards Road,
unless some changes have been made from when my kids were growing up, if it rains on a Friday night, Saturday mornings are pretty much washed out because there's not the adequate drainage out there. There's not the adequate soils out there to be able to turn around and play a game the next
day. So, again, I I'm 100% behind youth sports. Um, you know, I think we need to slow walk this and certainly we need to find funding for it. Um, again, and I think what the clerk was going to say
about, you know, the money that we just spent, that's that's that's more money that's coming out. We just took the 400,000. I think it's 300 3.5 million that we just sent over to the city for the project to get the infrastructure
out to the bypass to create economic growth and development out there. So that's a combined if you look at that what is that you know it's over $5 million that has come out of our account. $5 million that has been
drawing interest on our CDs and now that money's been pulled out and so we still have all these gaps that we're trying to fill and you know just like we want recreation you know it it'd be nice if we had jobs for to keep our kids home
but you know we don't and they do have to travel out of the area. A lot of these programs in Klay County, either their private public partnerships or, you know, the land was, you know, given up again by a private entity. Um, you know, and Klay County's budget is a
whole lot different than our budget is. So, I know this is a a huge wish list here and it's certainly something that's needed for all the reasons that the sheriff said, the athletic director, superintendent, your presentation. But, you know, again, this is something that,
you know, I know that you put this together, uh, chairman, and, you know, you've gone out and had presentations, but, you know, just as the superintendent said, he doesn't know what's in our budget. He doesn't want to spend our money, but, you know, there's no money there. There's no extra money
out there to spend. If I could say one more thing. I'm sorry. Go ahead. No, it's okay. I basically that mirrored what I said. We don't know how we're going to fund take care of fairgrounds yet. I mean, we've already spent $5,000 out there the first two months we've had it. We don't know how we're going to fund that. And the parents out there in
the audience, listen, we had a $600,000 excess last year that we made off of CDs that now that money's been spent on other projects. We're not going to get that money this year. And uh we spent that $600,000 on those pro I mean that 600,000 the last meeting. We approved
the fire department for Brooker. $650,000 a year. We don't even have fire assessments yet. I mean, Danny, my son played ball here. I grew up and Chris and I played ball together in little league here. And
and we did. We did back when Stark had the rec department. We played there with Cheryl. Everybody was there. But I mean, I understand he played soccer here. He played used to it at Pratt Street ballfield. They'd set up a little soccer field for him when they were 10 and
under. But I just want y'all to remember, you know, the financial situation that we're in right now. It's uh devastating. It It's bad and it's rough. And I'm saying that from the bottom of my heart. I care about the
kids, dude. But I mean, you know, load an assessment out there. Do do something for recreation. I I don't know. I don't know what how you handle this. May I ask a question? Um Sure, Chair. Um Mr. is going to get what do we have in our budget for recreation? What's the off
the top of your head? 15,000. 15,000. Okay. Um I you did an excellent presentation. Um, and I think that it's important to um to not um to not dismiss the idea of
doing the recreation, but I think we need to think it through in terms of the actual budget itself, how it would maintain that cost. Recreation in itself is a sustainable um entity because of the fees that you
collect from it. So, it can it could pay for itself over time. um but not immediately. Um but it's certainly sustainable. When Miss McMillan was in charge of the city recreation, they left a million practically a million dollars
on the on the books for recreation that that went away. But so it can certainly sustain itself if we have all of the participation across the county with the kids. But at this very moment, if we
don't don't have it in the budget, we need to plan for it uh to do it. But if we're still in the throws of trying to figure our budget out now and how we're going to maintain oursel without an undue hardship on the
community, we need to walk it through a little more in terms of the details. But I think it's an excellent idea and I think we should pursue it but not make that decision at this instant until we have all those details worked out.
Can I agree? Can I ask just one? Sure. Yeah. When in your when you discuss this with Lake Butler, how how does Lake Butler manage the cost? They um I don't have my notes in front. They put in $135,000 a year. They said they wanted
to um the gentleman I talked to said they would like to hire a full-time rec director like what we're doing. They said, but right now um they're in the process of buying an ambulance and staffing for the ambulance. So they said they're probably going to go with
staffing the ambulance, but as soon as they do that, then they definitely want to hire a full-time athletic director. That's that's exactly what he said. Mr. Chairman, another thing, you know, we have in the works right now, we have a uh a fair manager right now that sits
right over here next to us. Okay. And he's doing a great job and he is but at some point we have to hire a fair manager too. Okay. Okay. So, there's going to be a salary involved there and we we committed, you know, those funds to the fair association and to turn that
around and eventually, you know, one day, you know, maybe it's the the fair association that's paying for that employee, but we do have to have somebody in that position. So again, you know, some of those other and let me say also um to our superintendent, you know, I
mentioned the sheriff, you know, with law enforcement and and been in his department doing a great job with, you know, the fire rescue. You've also done an outstanding job. So I I don't want to leave that, you know, left behind. Um so again, you know, those three things I think that that's certainly uh you I'll
just, you know, bring it up again. I know that those are are three of the things that bring people you know to a community and want to live into a community. But u again mentioning you know somebody I think Miss Spooner did you know let's and I said you know let's
save the money to spend the money instead of spending the money and then trying to figure out how we're going to save it if let's say TDC is not committed the next year which you know I know you feel very positive they would be but you know with the governor
talking about cutting abalorum taxes right now. That's even a bigger issue because then we're really going to have to find out where we're going to cut our own budget to be able to fill the holes that and and and you know when they come up with these Doge committees and
everything else, they look for things like, okay, you know, right now you're struggling in your budget, but you're going to spend x amount of dollars more. And you know, those are just red flags for for those types of committees. And so if that all goes through and the legs
keep growing longer and longer on cutting the Avalorum taxes, there's got to be some holes filled somewhere. And I don't think that the budget throughout the state and the amount of surplus is going to be able to cover all of the things that we need to cover or we're
only going to get enough to just cover the essential services maybe and that's it. So again, thank you so much for the presentation. I think you did a great job. I really do. And you know, I appreciate everybody being here and
listening and I appreciate your support for it. But like I said, I just don't think the timing is right. Um, but certainly as we continue to move on and we look at our budget and we figure we're going to cut somewhere else to put more money back into a recreation budget
and have that $150,000 a year, then I think that's something we'll have to work on as a board. Thank you. Okay. Just got a couple comments just want to make. Um, first I appreciate the appraisal for the uh PowerPoint, but
really it wasn't mine. people like Alicia McMillan, Randy Witzel, um Samson, um the sheriff, a lot of people sitting in this room right here were in those meetings. Uh Cheryl Kenova, I I don't want to I shouldn't start naming
names, but these are people that were in those meetings that helped put all this together. So, this isn't this isn't just me. This is from all those meetings and um with with great and excellent expert advice especially from someone like Alicia McMillan, Randy Whitel's been in
the school system for I don't even know how long, a long time, years, but um so I I say that so that's where this came from. Second, um uh I've already checked into the TDC funding. Uh I didn't bring the paperwork here with me, but I do
have the paperwork on it. you can use this funding for improvements on Bella fields. That's already been checked out. That's a done deal. You can do it. Um second, uh as far as raining on the fields, I've been in Orlando since last
Wednesday night for tournaments. I got to go to one Wednesday night. Thursday night was rained out. Friday night was rained out. Saturday morning was rained out. I can't control the weather. So, what happens to the fields if a game gets rained out, you move it to another
date and you move on. There's about all I can say for that. Um, the the third thing is I believe I'm going to go ahead and present this to the city on the 17th. Y'all want to see what the city said?
I'm going to present this to at the city. I'll be at their meeting. I believe it starts at 5:30. I'm going to present this presentation. If I get a yes from them, that gives y'all to the 17th to think about it some more. I'll bring it back to this board on the se the 9th of the
17th to see if I can get three votes to approve the the U funding for Wreck. And um I'm going to say this last comment, it's going to sting, but I'll just be honest with you. If we can't
come up with 150,000 a year for recreation for our kids, the countyy's already broke. We're already broke. If we can't come up with 150 grand a year for our children and to team up with the city and the TDC board for something as important as
this, we're we're already broke. I mean, that's all I can say. We're already broke. So, um but anyway, um so that's it for the presentation. and I'll move it on and then um I will present it. I will be back uh on the 17th before our
board. I'll give you all time to look into it, discuss it, and uh and check with our attorney, make sure what I'm saying is true about the TDC funding and um we'll go from there. Well, Mr. Chairman, yes, sir. Uh you know, your last comment there. I mean, I certainly think we can come up with 150,000. You
just got to figure out where you going to cut it. Well, you have to cut it somewhere else. So, you know, if we can, you know, diligently look into this during our budget season and say, "Hey, where can we cut so we'll have the $150,000, then, you know, we can do it. But, you know, I think we cut cut where
we can." But anyway, I just want to say that, you know, it's not that we don't have the $150,000 because there's $150,000 in the budget. There's way more than that. We just got to figure out where we're going to cut it or where we're going to move it to be able to do that. That's all. And and and I'll just to comment with that. If this gets
tabled, it could be years before this is brought up again. So, I mean that that's, you know, so all those kids up there, it it'll be years before they can play sports in Bradford County. So, you know, and that's what I was telling my
wife this morning. I I said, "If this gets cut, I don't see it being brought up for at least four years." because one, they'll wait till I'm out of office and then or whatever. But I don't see it being brought up for
for no time soon because I've seen too many things like this once they get tabled like this, it takes a long time to get the momentum that we have now from the citizens and the community to get it back going. So anyway, I'll leave it at that. May I make a comment? A
dream deferred is not saying it's not going to happen and it's not going to necessarily be for a long time. just asking to work on more details. Let's figure out how we can fund it. Not not to to dismiss it like if if it's table is not going to happen. Amen. That it
can happen. We just got to figure it out together and and work those details out. So, I don't want you to feel um discouraged because she did an ex you you you put your heart into it. Um excellent presentation. We have to work and figure out how we can do this. But
our kids are worth $150,000 and we just have to figure it out how we can do it. We get the commitment from the others and let's look critically at our budget, analyze what we can do and what we can't and then go forward. But it's not a dead deal. Okay. Thanks. All right.
Appreciate it. All right. One place we can look maybe trim trim some of the contingencies that we have and and build up on that. So there's m like Mr. doctor said there's money there. Um, and I
think that we can find it, but um, it may take cutting some people's budgets a little bit to add it up. But this is a very very um, great program that doesn't need to be dropped. And so, and one other thing,
and I'll leave it be, sometimes you can also get sponsorships. So, that's another area of exploration that you you we can consider as well. there there are lots of agencies, businesses that may want to be sponsors. And another thing um what we hear at conferences
constantly is there is there is a lot of money for recreation. And so we really need to look into that and try to see what we can find um to help with that too, Mr. Rick. Um Okay.
All right. Thanks. All right. Well, quit kicking this dead horse and move on. Uh, clerk's report. I don't really have a whole lot. Okay. Our kids, our kids are worth more than $150,000 a year. They're worth a million. If we had it, they're worth a
billion dollars a year. And to expound on what Commissioner Dhy said earlier, because I just want you guys, you all, every year y'all ask me, can we cut the millage rate? And we keep adding stuff to the budget. We keep adding and we still don't have a fire assessment. And if they cut that advalorum taxes in
Florida and we can't levy property tax anymore, that's $15 million a year. So I'm worried about a lot more than 150 right now. I mean, I'm really worried about a fair manager and how how that's going to be funded and how that's
going to be paid for. And they left us with no money in the bank down there at the fair association and you know, $80,000 for uh insurance on that place. if it's $20,000 in the bank anyway. Okay. You know, if they cut those abnorm taxes, I don't know how
strongly. Some people tell me it's going, some people tell me it's not when they go to legislative um consensuses. And I just don't know. But, you know, we're cutting it, slicing it thin now, especially after we you guys passed Brooker last week. I
mean, we're right back to zero again. And and like I said, our kids are worth billions of dollars. They're not worth 150,000. They're worth a lot more than that. So that having said that, just please be cautious and think about what you do. And you know, if y'all want to
cut, I understand that, but I'm already worried about how to pay for the fair manager because I don't think that's going to come in as cheap as everybody thinks it is. Having said that, thank you. All right. Thanks, Sheriff's Report. Great presentations and a lot of great
understanding this morning. I think everybody's painting from the proverbial same bucket and we just how we get there. As Commissioner Dory and Andrews and everybody on the board, I think everybody's hearts in the right mind. Clerk, as he says, he's got a lot more to worry about than the rest of us and how it's going to be.
God only knows what's going on in Tallahassee because we're getting the same. It's a fist fight. They don't come up with something by July 1, we shut the government. We're we're in a whole another another pickle that's going on. But that's not what I'm here for today is uh federal forefeer funds. We make a
drug arrest through federal side. Those funds have to be set over into a separate account at the county. Last time I checked it was 237ish $237,000 or whatever is there. Hadn't used it many years. We've been fortunate enough to use some of our state forefeiter uh
grant to accomplish everything. The last time I came before you was for the flock safety system to pull money out. We didn't at that time. Uh we was able to fund it another way. When I say flock, y'all say, "What is the sheriff talking about?" It's our uh license plate readers. We have them strategically
placed all over the county. It's probably become one of our biggest crime fighting tools. uh private businesses such as like the RV resort and all they've purchased their own that ties into our system. This ties into the states. If you report a car stolen, if
you report uh a trailer, some item suspect in a burglary and says it's a red truck with a ladder rack and a you know a uh Gordon Smith for sheriff sticker in the back window. You can run those things and through AI it will will pick out cars during time and frames and
give you those. I'll give you a couple incidents real quick. Laui up a year or so ago was up doing their sewer upgrades in Ludy. Two fifth wheel trailers from Louisiana that was doing the system were stolen overnight. Uh we went to looking at the
cameras in Lai that were there. Matter of fact, Li's speed zone cameras actually tie into the flock system for reading license and plates. We was able to we seen uh couldn't tell we seen the trailers leaving except on the system we
entered it. Went back during a time frame and found two trucks that looked just alike following each other. Got a tag number off of one. In less than 24 hours we recovered those trailers, everything in them and busted a that Jacksonville worked on for over three years. A multi-
uh illegal immigrant theft ring recovering multiple dump trucks, skitterters, all those type things out of Jacksonville. Another one was a gentleman missing from Kansas. Apparently, he had worked in Tampa in the military, got dementia, got in his truck and he was going to work and been missing five days. Cameras picked up
that vehicle, was able to recover. It's like fishing in a barrel, but it helps us track incidents throughout the county. Uh people are entering, exiting. Uh this is the upgrade, and if we do it on a three-year contract, we can save about
$16,000. But with the federal forfeite fund, you can't spend it without my approval and I can't spend it without y'all's approval. It's a safety net that's there. And I'm coming for you today on a three-year contract. Saves that money over a three-year period is
$115,500, but I have to have your permission to be able to withdraw that out of our federal forefe drug arrest. The fines if we sell a car under the federal system, federal amounts, it goes into that federal forfeite fund. I haven't used it many years. I just thought I'd come for you because it was a way to do it and save
money in regards to it. Sheriff, Mr. Chair. Yes, Sheriff. So again, those, you know, those are funds that you all are collecting through Yes. It's the federal floor for drug arrest, right? Right. Yeah. So again, I think that money set aside for it is it has to
be used for crime prevention. This is a crime prevention tool. You can't just do this for building or it has to be used for crime prevention. And this is one of the the things that we can use it for. Okay. Do we need a vote or can we just have a consensus of the board?
I would uh move to I would make a motion to approve uh the requested use of those funds. Um Mr. Chair, then I would offer that motion to allow the sheriff to use those requested forfeiture funds. Second. Okay, motion and second. All in
favor by sign of I. I. Motion carries. Thank you and thank you for what you all have done today and considering and hopefully I can work with you in moving forward and find those ways we can cut and make that beneficial. Thank you. Thanks. Thanks, Sheriff. County manager report. Yes. Thank you,
Mr. Chairman. There's several things we need to talk about this morning. Uh the first of which would be um scheduling a workshop for the uh North Florida Planning Services. As you well know, we engaged with them to update our comp plan and our LDRs, and they would like
to uh have a workshop to to discuss that. Uh staff is proposing July 17th at 5:30 if that would be convenient for the board. Good. Is that one of our regular
meetings? Yes, ma'am. That's right before our meeting. That's correct. There'll be a regularly scheduled board. Actually, it's a the meeting would have been on the 19th, but we moved it to the 17th. Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Yeah, that's July 17th. July 17th. Yes,
sir. Yep. Everybody good? All right. Very good. Then we'll schedule it for then. Uh the next thing we need to talk about, I would like to ask Chief Carter to come up and discuss the uh situation in Lahi. Good morning board. Morning. So uh
attended the Lahie City Council meeting last night. Commissioner Spooner was there as well in attendance and so we were talking about they're you know they are the last municipality uh regarding the fire assessment who has not done their second reading. So um in discussions last night uh they are in
agreement to move forward with the fire assessment. However, they do want anou in place uh prior to signing that agreement. So what they've done is they've set a special meeting on June 16th, which is the day before our June 17th meeting. Um, and they will at that
time vote on the or move forward with the second reading and then vote uh for the fire assessment. But now between now and then they would like some sort ofou established with the city of Lahi. Um and in thatou their biggest thing um is basically they feel that they are being
their citizens are being double taxed if they're paying for the fire assessment they already pay county property taxes and then they pay uh an additional amount for the city of Lahi the city of Lahi allocates $27,000 in their budget
for fire department activities which is uh you know it covers their utility bill um and and repairs to bay doors and things of that nature. And so they feel that it's it's not fair for them to pay an additional tax an additional tax um
if they're paying on top of the fire assessment plus the uh the tax they're paying to the city plus their property taxes. I can see their I can see their point um in that regard and I think that um you know the the their argument also was that the town of Brooker and our
agreement with the town of Brooker is that we're going to to basically cover the cost of everything for the town of Brooker as well. So, um, you know, they they essentially they own the building. Um, they do not own any of the apparatus. They own the the building specifically, and they would be willing
to enter into a long-term lease agreement with that facility as well. Um, again, similar to what we're what we're doing in Brooker, and they just had requested that we do the same thing for for them, but they would like that in writing before they move forward with the reading. But they've scheduled that
emergency meeting to where they can make that happen before our next meeting. and I was um present with the chief and then what they were asking was reasonable because some of the fees that they were paying I wasn't really aware of those. So it gives them some relief from some of the utilities and and that
kind of thing that they're paying and um they're willing to to um come on board. So I I think I think it's a reasonable request and and I'd made the argument also that they were paying these fees for a volunteer department. You know, now they're getting a paid professional service there. Um, not saying that the
volunteer department wasn't doing a great job prior, but um, you know, they are getting a professional response there now. And so their argument back to that was the fact that they have no control over that fire department anymore as whereas when it was the volunteers, that was their fire department. This is now the county's
fire department. Um, and so again, I I I kind of I do understand their their side uh their point and um yeah, I'm happy to take back to them whatever you all would recommend uh how to move forward with that. But um you know, again, I think
that they budget $27,000 uh for the the fire department repair and maintenance there. Um I don't know that that's a a number that we would need to budget within our budget. But I think a lot of those costs could probably be covered um with our
with our current budget uh with just a small addition there. There's approximately 270 dwelling units in the town of in the city of Lahi. So we would collect around $45,000 from them if they participate in the fire assessment. So in essence, we would u still be uh
gaining some revenue from that if they participate in the fire assessment. And might I add, I think it will be a win-win for both the city of Lord and for for our county. They the Lord the city of Lord wanted to know that they're they're important to us, too. And the
message is that all parts of our community or of all part of Bradford County, we're one community and we work together. Again, I don't I don't think it's an unreasonable ask from the city. So, Mr. Chairman, what what we would
need is just a consensus from the board to move forward with theou. We're up against a timeline because their next meeting is June 16th. Yes, sir. So, we need to have it in place by then. Um I have a draft ready. I just I've got to make a couple minor changes to that. Um
but I do have a draft for uh for the board to review and then again, they'll approve it on the June 16th meeting and they would just ask for our appro approval of that on June 17th. Uh but they will do their second reading and approval uh on on June 16th. So if you
decide to move forward, the senior staff is prepared to meet later today and u make whatever additions. Correct. Yep. So right, if we move forward with it, then it'll be back before you on the 17th for final approval.
If you had any concerns, you could address them on the 17th, but unless you hear we hear something. Otherwise, we'll just go forward and it'll show up on your agenda on the 17th. So, you can review it and probably probably approve it based on what I'm seeing or feeling in the
room. Okay. Does that sound good? Yes. And I'm confident they would be uh on board with the assessment if you know if they move forward with that agreement or if we move forward with that agreement. Excuse me. Okay. All right. So, we have consensus. Everybody good? Okay. Yes.
Good. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Ben. The next thing we need to talk about is, and it's been brought up a couple of times this morning already, uh, Commissioner Doherty and and Clerk Thompson both both mentioned it, and
it's a it's a topic that we have, I guess, tried to ignore as long as we can, but uh, I think it needs to be talked about publicly, and that is the issue with the property tax and the possibility of it being eliminated in Tallahassee. As you know, I was at the
Florida City and County Managers Association annual conference last week, and there was a breakout session devoted entirely to that to that subject. And it's still unclear. No one has a crystal ball. We don't know which way
this thing's going to go. Was talking to Senator Bradley about it a little bit earlier. He and I agree that it's there's probably going to be a lot of wailing and nashing of the teeth between now and whenever this thing is resolved,
but we also agree that whatever happens is not going to happen quickly. Um because it has to go on the ballot and it'll be if there is an adverse effect, it'll be what a year or more down the road. Yeah, you would probably have two more budget cycles under the normal
state of affairs at least. And I I just it's I it's a mistake to try to predict what's going to happen. Uh and tensions are high for other reasons in Tallahassee um between the various parties.
But I I I do believe that um when it comes to physically constrained counties um that uh there's an understanding and recognition that that's a particular um group of um local governments that
rely on that revenue stream. So whatever gets done or not done, I think there will be some acknowledgement of that. So, I I I don't want anyone to think that the sky is falling because I don't see evidence of that. But I also think
it's important to be mindful and and and watch very closely and and um and continue um with your approach that I hear being discussed today from all five of you, which is that you're just very careful about each of your decisions
that you make. um and um and uh which is very admirable. So yeah, I I just thought it was important to to have a brief discussion about this publicly because um I think all of us were hoping in the beginning
that it was, you know, posturing and uh politics and that it would just go away, but it has not gone away and uh there's no way to predict which way it's going to go. So that's all I have to say about that. The next thing is I would like to
get a feel from the board uh regarding the community organizations funding requests. I know in the past we've done it a couple of different ways. We would just provide you with a list of the requests and the dollar amounts and you approve it. And then we've also done it where we've had the organizations come
in and give a presentation. So, uh, we need to make a decision on that so Amanda can start scheduling, uh, the the organizations to come in and and and present. What's the board's decision? Well, I I like for them to come in and
um give a presentation on where the money is going and how it's going to be spent, but um, that's just me. you. I'm okay with them uh coming and do a presentation. But when we did um the
previous time we based it on um their expenditures or the budget we had from the previous year, but some of those things may have changed and maybe some of the funding for some they may not need and maybe others might need more or whatever. So, um, the notion of having
them to come and present may be the best. So, if a person isn't coming, that may mean they don't need the money. Well, and if I can make one more comment, when when they do these ju when they put together their information,
um, I just would like for them to be specific in what they're asking for. If a $100 is going for equipment, what kind of equipment? how what did we buy last year? Did we lose it? Do we throw it away or do we give it away? But, you
know, be mindful in what they're asking and and just so we have a little detail about what's going on in um in that area. Tim, well, at the same time, I think they need to be prepared, too. Uh,
for instance, I know the money that we do have in our wreck budget, we've been given to the the Cowboys and I think previously the tornadoes. And so we got to understand, you know, moving forward having a wreck discussion. Where do they fall into that? Is that something that will still
continue to fund them and fund the wreck or will it all fall, you know, fall up under one fund or, you know, how we're going to figure out how to do that? So I think that uh and and I think some of the other organizations, you know, we look at cutting and trying to find the money, you know, we look at at those
particular organizations and see if it's not something that we can pull out of there, um, you know, to go towards like a wreck budget. So yeah, I think that's a good idea to have them here and certainly, you know, vet them out and see what u what's changed or, you know,
what they've added or anything like, you know, because I'm sure they'd all like to have more. Great. Okay, that seems pretty clear. The to follow up on that, would attendance be mandatory? In other words, if they're not here, they're not getting any money. Well, maybe they could have a
representative if if whoever is the coordinator or um chair of their organization is to have a representative from that organization. I think if it's important enough to ask, I mean, they probably should be here to ask.
Okay. All right. We'll make it mandatory. And uh that's all I have, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Thanks. County Attorney report. Yeah. I just wanted to compliment all five of you for um an impressive display
of leadership. Uh very frank talk with one another and uh heartfelt and uh very impressive approach to public service by all of you. Um, it's this is why I mean it's a tough job y'all have and these
are all things everybody's heart is is obviously trying to do the right for their people and that really shows. So, u kudos. I don't have anything to report from the legal staff. May I go back to um Mr. Carnegie at our
at the um loudest meeting last evening. One of the things that came up was about the department of transportation is going to be doing a detour on 301 um where they would redirect the traffic
on 200B. So would Mr. U Bennett be the person that they would get in contact with? Yes, ma'am. Okay. Thanks. Okay, moving on to uh commissioner's uh comments. I'll start with Commissioner Dry. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um again, I
just want to make sure that everybody's clear that I'm not against rec sports at all. Uh I'm against you know uh you know us just you know throwing money out there and and u I think it was um what
Miss Brown from the career source when they talked about money management training. Um it's no different up here than it is at our homes, you know, and uh you know, we can't spend money we don't have and certainly can't rely on money uh that we may get now that we may
not get later, you know, so we just have to be real careful about that. And um other than that, I don't have anything else. So thank you'all for being here. Mr. I'd like to thank uh Chairman Riddig for his passion and the
work effort that went into um the plan and presentation for the recreation um services program. Um and we will continue to work towards trying to figure out a way to make that happen.
I want to take the opportunity to um to say thank you to all of the contributors to the Shirley Brown Scholarship Foundation and to our breast cancer walk. Um what funds we um generate from that um we we um present scholarship. So
we have enough funds that we're going to be uh presenting six scholarship. Our goal was five and we're going to be presenting six and I'll be getting with uh Mr. Hartley and so that we can get those presented to the students and to
um somewhere at the school. Um but these are all graduates of Rapid High School for this year. Um so and people like Mr. Dorree, our fire department and others, the sheriff department and many sponsors and uh contributors throughout the
community made this possible. So, I just want to say thank you for that. And just a reminder that the summer camp for the RJ concerned citizens is going to be starting on June the 9th and go through, I believe, the 3rd of July. Um, and also
they're going to have this science bus come out again on the 13th of June. So, um, it it's a fun event and I wanted to thank the um the fire department. It was a
wonderful push in engine push in on yesterday with the bag pipes and all. I was like a big kid myself. It was just so exciting and and just to see that progress and so we really appreciate that and uh and I'm so grateful to our
our board for adding the um Fourth of July splash event. Um that's a significant event for our community and I just appreciate our board working together to make things happen and better in Bradford County. Um with that,
thank you. Um well, can we talk a little bit about the fair the fair manager position? I mean, um, which I know you're doing a wonderful job, but, um, I mean, is there any idea as far as
the people that we may be wanting to to bring about, what the salary might be? Um, do you have any information on that? I've just gotten some phone calls and I'm I'm not sure what to say. Nothing specific. the the the new fair
association board met for the first time last week, last Tuesday night and they elected their board or or not their board, their uh their officers and so we're in the process now of doing the paperwork with the state of Florida through Sunbiz to get those those
changes made and then the the subject of fair manager did come up but nothing was nothing concrete came out of it. I think that'll be the first order of business for their next meeting. Uh they did agree to meet uh recurring the fourth
Tuesday, the fourth Tuesday of the month and for the time being they'll be using the boardroom um until I guess they can come up with a different location. But uh it is a public meeting um so the public is welcome and would encourage anyone that
has an interest to come. But uh back to your question directly, there's nothing specific come out of the um out of the fair manager search or what that what that even will look like. But as I said, hopefully that'll be the the priority for the next meeting. Well, and that's
that was another thing I was going to ask. Will they come up with the duties and responsibilities like that will be on the application for the people to apply? Yes, ma'am. As a matter of fact, we'll uh we'll be collaborating with the Clay Fair Association and u getting
getting some input from them and also there's plenty of of u local expertise and knowledge amongst that board that we just seated. So, uh yes, we'll put a we'll put a job description and a and a skills requirement and all that together
before we before we advertise it. Okay. And is there um a county relatively our size that still has their fair that we can kind of look at the salary range of that that Yes, ma'am. That's what we intend to do.
I don't know what county that is, but you're you're exactly right. We'll look at other similarly situated counties and and and take their example. Baker's about the only one I know right around us that's our size within a thousand people that has they still have their county. Oh, yeah. I was just saying
around us. Yeah, around us. North Florida, they what did you say, Commissioner Dy? The party party. They they still have livestock show. They have hog show and cow show and and fairway and midway and all that stuff. Okay. Okay.
Um and you said we can attend the meetings. When did you say the next one would be? So there'll be recurring uh every fourth Tuesday. Tuesday. Yes, ma'am. At what time
they settle on 6 was it 6 p.m. Okay. And um again I think this was a good meeting. I think um a lot of truthful information come
out. Um and Mr. Ric, I I I know that you're disappointed, but I just want you to know that um we're going to work with you on this and and try to find a
solution to this. Um you know, there's a a a huge difference between what each one puts in. We we have budgeted 15,000 for our wreck. The city has 150. So that's a a big big difference. But um
like I said, we will work diligently with you to try to get because I think this is where we need to be. We need to have this program for for all of the kids in our county. And um but and thank you again all of you for the work that
you did on this because it's very very needed. Thank y'all for being here with us today as always. Um we love when people come and are part of this meeting because it does help recommendations and things that people see that we may not. Um we
don't proclaim to to know everything but um so your eyes are always welcome and thank you again. Uh too I again I just want to thank everyone for being here especially um Lisa McMillan thank you so much for all your help. Randy Whitel, Samson Jackson,
Will Hartley, and I apologize. I didn't catch your name because I I know you was at one of the meetings, too. But I appreciate y'all for being here and all your input uh on this um great meeting and um um Chief Carter, the pushin was
awesome. Two brand new trucks for Bradford County. I mean, that's fantastic. and uh won't steal the sun thunder of the ones that are coming forward. But um it it just great things happen in Bradford County. I really do appreciate it. And also I do want to make this uh real clear. If you know me,
you know there's no way in the world I could have put together that PowerPoint presentation. So I didn't put it together. Chief Carter put it together. And uh we have about the same working hours about between 11 and 12 at night. So uh I do appreciate it. And uh also
for uh for Amanda and uh Mr. Cornay, I really do appreciate all your help and advice on this and um and we'll just see what happens moving forward. Mr. Chair. Yes. If I could just add one thing. Um I just want to say that, you know, we've
been discussing the fire assessment for what, nine years, I think. You know, and it's been a slow walk. Yeah, it's been a slow walk, but anyway, man, I can make you feel better than that. It was in the Telegraph in 1977. Yeah. With Harry Green, Nelson's dad, and all of them.
Well, I know I know since I've been on the board, we we've discussed it for nine years. And I I just want to say that it was it's been slow walked and uh there's a lot of thoughts gone into it. So, I think you know your presentation, as much as it means to everybody here and everybody that that saw your
presentation, I think that uh certainly I don't expect this to get tabled and I expect it to go on, but it's just not something that um you know, we should look at as as a as a tabled presentation. I think we should look at it as something that is going to grow and uh we'll we'll educate ourselves on
it and continue to move forward. Okay. and and I agree with you and uh and you make a fantastic point especially with the fire assessment because I know I've been pushing that since day one. I just haven't had the support to get it in place. Uh and that is my biggest point
I'm trying to make about the wreck. If the fire assessment was pushed off for all these years, what do you think is going to happen to the wreck? That's my biggest point I'm trying to make. And that's why I'm so um just wanting to get it in place because I know how things
get get pushed off. We have good intentions, but um but we don't do nothing with the good intentions. So anyway, I again I I won't keep kicking that horse. You all know where I feel on this. You also know where I feel on the fire assessment. You also know where I
felt on the um the gas tax. My goodness, I think it took me five years to get the gas tax passed. And now it's the best thing we got going. And if we didn't have it, we sure as crow wouldn't be doing all these roads with chips we're doing. So I I'm just saying, you know, you have to you have to step out there
and do something to make something happen. If you just sit here, we can discuss it every meeting and and nothing happened. So that that's that's the only point I'm trying to make. I'm not mad or aggravated. Um I'm very disappointed for our kids. They're the ones that suffer
from our decisions. So um but anyway, Mr. Chairman, if I may, I'm I missed an opportunity earlier. I'm glad you and Commissioner Spooner brought it up regarding the uh pushin ceremony at station 10. What an outstanding job
Chief Carter and his team did putting that event together. Uh you mentioned the bag pipes and the the organization of it all. And uh I know I brag on him all the time, but he um I made the comment yesterday when when I was speaking there. Uh there were
I told everyone that he's a much better fire chief than he is an exterminator because the gnats were terrible. They were all over everybody. But seriously, he uh everything he touches turns to gold. And I'm very proud of him and thank him for what he does. It was a
beautiful ceremony. I want you to know I did watch so that the next one we can step it up a little bit. You know, maybe bagpipe by um more or something like that. But I can't wait to see that one.
Sure. We were planning on having u bringing the new fire engines to the next meeting on on uh June 17th. So, we'll have those for display here. But uh one of the things I said in my in my speech yesterday was that you'll notice that these are some of the first fire trucks in the state of Florida since the
passing of Senate Bill I believe it was 1158 that uh Mrs. uh Senator Bradley was was a part of champion championing that bill that allows for blue lights on the rear of fire apparatus. So these new trucks do have blue lights on the rear and and we took them took one to the LI
city council meeting last night and Lahi police department was like why do you have blue lights on the back of this thing? So, we're not trying to pull people over and write tickets, but uh they're only on the back and we'll leave that we'll leave that to Lahi. So, we're desperate for funding. So, there you go. Um but no, I just wanted to say, you
know, thank you to to uh M Senator Bradley and and uh it was a great great bill that's uh much better for v visibility for our units and and um yeah, we're glad to have that and and again, one of the first departments to put that into action. So, but that was all I wanted to say. Thank you very much and it was a great ceremony. Thank
you'all for those those that were able to attend. Um, and we're looking forward. We got a few more to do. So, thank you. And what year did you say they I found an old telegraph from 1977. Somebody stole it. I let somebody look at it and somebody stole my paper. Well,
I was going to say 1979 they donated land for sappers from I thought I had you, but I didn't. I mean, the wheels do move slowly. So, but thanks to Amanda, it's moving. So all right. All right. That
that's it. No else come before the board. Meeting adjourned.