--------- One minute. It is now 9:30 County Board of County Commissioner meeting. Our public hearing and our meeting is now called to order. We will have the indication planned led to us by Commissioner Re. Let's pray. Our father in heavenly
father, we just thank you so much for another day of life. Thank you, Father, for blessing each and every one of us in this room. And Father, I thank you for the rain that's finally coming this way. I just pray you will send us a lot of rain. And Father too, I just thank you so much for this past weekend, dear
Lord, where we celebrated Easter where we celebrated the death, burial, and resurrection of our savior Jesus Christ. I thank you so much, Father, that you did come out of that tomb. >> You're not like any of the other false prophets. You are the one true God. And
Father, we thank you so much for that. Father, as we come into this meeting this morning, dear Lord, there's a lot of people in this room. I pray you have your hand upon each and every one of them. I pray, dear Lord, that we have good discussions. And I pray for this board, dear Lord. Please help us to make
the best and right decisions for all the people in Bradford County. Thank you for everything you do for us. Jesus name I pray. Amen. >> Amen. United States of America. Thank you all for being here today. Um,
at this time we will begin our public hearing for jo zoning changes and I believe I saw Miss Alicia died. Um, that is here. Um, >> all right. We are going to our attorney will
read it first. >> All right. An ordinance of Bradford County, Florida, amending Ordinance 96-07, Bradford County Land Development Regulations, as amended, related to an amendment to the official zoning atlas of Bradford County Land Development Regulations as amended pursuant to the
application number Z25-05 submitted by the property owner of set acreage provided for reszoning from agriculture- 22 and commercial to industrial I of certain lands within the unincorporated limits of Bradford County, Florida, providing severability, repealing all
ordinances in conflict, and providing effective Thank you. And at this time, we'll receive any public comment if there should be any. Okay. Seeing and hearing none, um we'll close this public hearing and ask
for a motion from our board. Motion for approval from the board. >> I will make a motion to approve the ordinance as read. >> Okay. A motion by Commissioner Dhy. Second by commissioners ready. Um any
other further discussion or questions? If not, all in favor by sign I. >> Any oppose? By vote. Second public hearing. Yes ma'am. An ordinance of Bradford County, Florida, amending ordinance 96-07, Brad Bford County Land Development
Regulations as amended related to an amendment to the official zoning atlas of the Batford County Land development regulations as amended pursuant to application number Z25-06 submitted by the property owner of set acreage providing for reszoning from
agriculture-2 A2 to industrial I of certain lands within the unincorporated limit of Bradford County, Florida providing several billing all ordinances and conflict and providing if I can take. >> Okay. Now we receive any further comments if there be any for this
change. Seeing none, hearing none, um none close this and we'll ask for a motion from our board for approval as read. >> I make a motion that ordinance 9607 be
approved as read. Okay. Um motion by Commissioner Andrews is a second to the motion. Second by Commissioner Thompson. Any other further questions or discussion? If not, all in favor by sign I. >> Any oppose? 5.
The third item, um, the enactment of the ordinance. First reading. Yes, ma'am. An ordinance of the board of county commissioners of Bradford County, Florida, amending the purchasing policy, specifically chapter 2- administration,
article 4- purchasing procedures, sections 2-151 through 2-172 for the Bradford County Code of Ordinances in providing an effective date. And this is a first reading, Madam Chair. >> Okay. At this time, are there any public
comments? >> We'll open a public hearing, ma'am. And then Yes, ma'am. Thank you. >> Any comments hearing? None. Seeing none. Okay. And since this is our first reading, >> we'll close the public hearing, Madam Chair. And if there's not any
discussion, if there is discussion, we can have right now. If not, we we'll have a second reading at the next meeting. >> Okay. At this time, the public hearing is closed. Thank you, >> Madam Chair. >> Yes. >> I just had a question for the county manager. This was just in the event of emergencies. Is that correct?
>> There were uh there were several ch well say several few changes in the purchasing policy, right? >> But one of the one of the main ones was the um the local preference issue that we wanted to change. And then also in a state of emergency there was some uh
not having to do with purchase orders not requiring purchase orders if a state of emergency is declared. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Any other questions? Okay. >> All right. Thank you. And again this was just our first reading.
Um now we're going to move on to the public comments. And just again um rules are you'll have 3 minutes and when the buzzer sound just you know gracefully take your seat um state your name the address uh for the record um and address
your comments to the board. Um also um the board or nor the staff will be making uh comments or replying to what you're commenting on today. We'll just ask you to refrain from any force
language. No profanity, no you know rahrh. Um and I appreciate all of you u for the respect that you have um shown in our previous meetings. And so with that our first person did I get everyone's
comment card? Okay. All right. Um we have saved Sierra Hello. Uh, this is uh comments regarding the proposed detention center. >> Can you state your >> Oh, sorry. >> And if you forget, we can just flip
around and we're just going to have you state your name, your address for the record and so forth. Okay. >> Sage Sierra, 1624 Northwest 94th Street, Gainesville, Florida. Um so uh the this is regarding the proposed detention center uh across from the Walmart on
301. Um so uh this detention center will be a humanitarian disaster, an environmental disaster and an economic disaster. Uh putting aside that the center amounts to a uh a human cattle processing facility, uh there are significant concerns about
uh chemical infiltration into the groundwater of the site. Uh and whatever you think about greater environmental concerns like climate change, it should be clear that chemicals in the groundwater are an immediate concern for residents surrounding the site. Um and lastly, the economics uh simply don't
make sense and DHS uh has still has not reimbursed Florida for the construction of alligator Alcatraz. Uh and can the county budget survive if the DHS stiffs Brad Bradford County in a similar way? That's my comment.
>> Thank you. Next we'll have Robin Frasier. It's Robin Fraser. Uh 14627 Southwest 155th Avenue in Brooker. As I look around this room, I'm aware that while I know who many of you are, hardly anyone who works here knows who I
am. I don't want you to think I am not a valuable stakeholder in Bradford County. My husband and I moved to Bradford County in 1984, 42 years ago. Both our children were raised right here in Bradford County. They have attended Bradford County schools from kindergarten through 12th grade before
moving on to higher education. I was a member of the Brooker Elementary PTA for the four years my children went to Brooker Elementary. My kids played te-ball in Brooker. Now my daughter and son-in-law have a baby of their own and will continue to live right here in Bradford County where the cycle will
begin again. I taught in Bradford County schools for 28 years. I was a Girl Scout leader in Bradford County for 15 years. My husband was a Boy Scout leader for 10 years, taking my son all the way to his Eagle Scout award. I was a band booster for the Bradford Middle School for in the
high in the Bradford High School bands for a total of seven years, working the concession stand every single football game for five of those years. I was a Bradford Education Association union member for all of my years in Bradford County and served as a union rep for the
last 5 years of my employment before I retired. I've been an active voter my entire life, never missed an election. My husband is a poll deputy in precinct 13 and a precinct committee person with the DEC. And yes, I have protested on the side of the road right here in
Bradford County because this is my home and always will be. I care about what happens here. It hurts my heart to think anyone is even thinking about putting an ICE detention center in my community. This isn't a right or left issue. This is a right or wrong issue. I have spoken with people on both sides of the
political arena. This goes beyond politics. This is a moral issue. We cannot sell our souls for any amount of money. Bradford County is too precious a commodity to earn income on the backs of immigrants just trying to make a better life for themselves. Please don't soil
our county with an ICE detention center. Whatever the benefits, it won't wipe out the stain of having a concentration camp in our community right here as you enter Stark. We don't want this atrocity in our community. Just please say no. Not here. Not in Bradford County. Thank you.
Thank you. Next. Maria Greer. My name is Maria Gear and I live at 17245 Bradford Avenue in Brooker, Florida. Triclorethylene is a carcinogenic solvent that was used in manufacturing to degrease parts until
it's nationally banned in 2024. It is the main chemical that has polluted the area at the Douglas building property. Per the FD's September 2025 report on groundwater at
the Douglas building, there is mention of triclorethylene levels exceeding acceptable levels in the soil at the lower shallow zones. I personally know the dangers of triclorene poses as it
nearly took my life in 1977 when I was working at a circuit board factory. The machine that cleaned the circuit boards broke down and my boss had me clean the boards by hand in a vat of triclorethylene. Within 15 minutes, I was hallucinating,
becoming incoherent and uh passing out. I was rushed outside to fresh air, but given no medical care, I recovered, but I was young and ignorant of the danger I just experienced. I've worked in other factories where triclorethylene was more
respected and treated as the toxic chemical it is. Triclorethylene has been known to cause primarily kidney and liver cancer with some studies showing cervical cancer miscarriages and fetal
heart defects in women. Red reduced sperm quality, low libido and hormonal imbalances have been found in men. In 1995, I was diagnosed with cervical cancer, but I was one of the lucky ones who was caught early and I was able to
be surgically cured. Most women aren't as lucky as I was. I retired after spending 31 years as an oncology nurse caring for people with cancer. Let me tell you, cancer is a cruel and arduous
journey. I wish on no one. It is not only fraught with physical and emotional pain but also a financial burden many patients and families cannot handle. Unless you have great assurance, many
people cannot afford treatment. So to put people knowingly into a place that could put them at risk of developing cancer or having deformed children is incionable to me. and you should be ashamed for pushing this contaminated
property forward. All the sheriff's deputies, federal ICE agents, other workers, and immigrants will all be taking the same risk if they are exposed. Please do your due diligence
because if somebody gets sick, I'm sure their lawyers will do theirs. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next, Carol Mosley. Carol Mosley, 10121 Southwest 104th Avenue in Graham. Good morning, commissioners. A comment was made that
we deal with facts here, not speculation, but everything is speculation until real facts emerge. We can speculate about alternative uses of the Douglas property, but it is moot until FTP gets in there and gives us some facts about the levels of contamination. SEO can speculate about
the probable costs of detaining immigrants and the county can speculate that we will make billions of dollars, but the devil is hidden in the missing details and there are still many. So, how do we get from the public speculating outcomes to being provided with solid information on which to
comment by the county honestly and opening openly sharing detailed information with the public as soon as it becomes available. Honor records request in a timely fashion. Then you and we can deal with the facts. The fact is there are known contaminants on the
site. You need to be clear of the risks and potential liability. How in the world did the county end up seeking to take ownership of a property with known contamination? Were the risks and of liability clearly weighed in advance if I transfer a known contaminated piece of
land to my neighbor? Would I be legally responsible for any harm? Is Sabo aware of the contamination problem? A month ago, I asked for any communications between staff and Sabot since December 23, 2025. Is it possible that Sabot came here in January with their request to
move forward and yet give staff no update about their progress? According to their speculated timeline, we should be well informed by now of their progress with DHS. Are they still interested or have they decided not to move further? How about you ask staff for an update? You need to weigh not
only the facts but the sentiment of the public as well. Your constituents deserve a personal response when they contact you individually. We need to know your perspective and understanding of a topic in order to do more research and bring you new information. We deserve your personal commit
communication. Just document it. We come here to share information and concerns with you, the decision makers. The public needs assurance that you are well informed. We fe we can't feel like you are afraid to speak with us. So, please don't shut down personal lines of communication. Do not pass the buck on
this responsibility and please don't waste anyone's time by letting this drag on. Set everything aside until we get more facts from FD about what is even suitable on a property with known environmental and health contaminants. Don't jump over step one, the FD. The
fact is what they discover may turn out to be a determining factor of its own for future possible uses of the property. Once we have these environmental facts, then we can speculate on what to do with the property moving forward. Not until then. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Next, we will have Maria Steinwalks. Good morning. My name is Maurice Steinwalks. Excuse me. I live at 626 State Road 26 in Melrose. I've been to several of these commission meetings
since the idea of converting the Douglas building to an ICE detention facility was first introduced. The consultant that night showed us sketches of what looked like rows of dog kennels on concrete slabs with hence. He
called it site improvement. To me, it very much resembled concentration camp. I found it appalling. The citizens of Stark and surrounding areas have spoken against locating an ice facility here. We've raised valid
concerns about the environmental contamination under the site, the impacts on water, sewer, traffic, as well as the incompatibility of the detention camp with surrounding subdivision and commercial district.
Most eloquently, citizens have decrieded the immor immorality of a policy that is ripping immigrants from their workplaces, schools, and homes. For the overwhelming majority of ICE detainees, their crime is that they
have not been granted full citizenship, a process that can take years, and the process keeps changing. Perhaps the unspoken crime they're accused of is having darker pigmented skin. People are being taken without due process,
shackled, transported away to ICE facilities where conditions, abuses, and deaths are widely reported by multiple human right groups and congressional investigations. Those who would seek to profit from this sort of treatment of
other people, in my opinion, are selling their souls. And some folks are making pretty good money. Nice big no bid contracts. They're being issued to several private firms. Oh, and the jailers could earn twice as much per inmate under ICE as
under Florida Corrections. But how is that benefiting the rest of us? Since last year, Florida spent an estimated $850 million of taxpayer money that was earmarked for emergency response on two operating detention centers. No one can
guarantee yet that the state will ever be reimbursed for it. It will cost an estimate of $1.7 billion over the next two years to operate these facilities. Florida taxpayers could again be left with the tab. Please do the right thing.
deny this facility. Make STAR one of the growing numbers of communities all over the US that are saying no to ice. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next, Mark Frasier. I'm Mark Fraser. I live at 14627
Southwest 155th Avenue, Brooker, Florida. Uh recently our sheriff talked about the serious ongoing funding challenges experienced by our county and the need to find ways to enhance revenues. I think it's important that we look at the big picture when it comes to funding
sources for counties and local municipalities. In particular, what's happening at the state level? In a recent 80 to30 vote with all Republicans supporting and all but one Democrat opposing, the Florida House passed HJR 203, which eliminates
non-school property taxes. It also prohibits local governments from reducing funding for law enforcement, firefighters, and first responders. In spite of the fact that property taxes are the primary funding source for these very services in Florida,
local governments would be forced to find alternative sources for funding for these vital services. While the bill stalled in the Senate in March, it could resurface during the special special session this month and if passed could be on the ballot this November.
The Florida Policy Institute denounced the vote on this bill, stating, "Our state already has the most upside down tax code in the nation." According to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, the wealthiest Flidians pay the
least in state and local taxes as a share of household income. Instead of addressing inequities in the tax code, this bill along with other property tax reforms that Florida lawmakers are considering would further entrench them. Florida lawmakers should
only be considering tax relief that is targeted to people who need it the most, households, including renters with low to moderate incomes. At the same time, policymakers should be looking to new ways to raise revenues by closing corporate income tax loopholes or taxing
transfers of high value real estate. The Republican party is trying to limit the ability of local governments to raise revenues for vital services like police, fire, and emergency services. Policies like this may incentivize local governments that are desperate for
revenue to consider potentially devastating funding sources like phosphate strip mining and like detention centers for migrants. We can only hope that this November Bradford County voters will remember on which side their bread is buttered. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Next, I am Williams. Good morning. >> Diane Williams, 1018 Palm Street. Uh Stark, I don't have anything prepared this morning to say. uh most every point has been addressed that I'm interested
in particularly the contaminated ground that scares me to death because I'm well aware of how the Florida aquifers the water table is is so high that if that ground is disturbed and it starts
leeching out from the area that it is it's already been said that it can possibly go further. I don't live that far from there. And how far can it go? Is it going to be safe for the kids to be in the backyard or the animals or whatever? So, that's a big concern.
The fact that I still can't see where this is benefiting the residents of this town, the uh jobs, everything's temporary. The federal government's already cutting back on these things. So, would we ever get reimbursed for
anything? And the other big thing is the infrastructure, the power grid, the water. With this thing running 24/7, doubling the size of the city, almost doubling the size of the size of the city feasibly if it's full, the number
of people, 4,200 people, more utilizing our electricity, our water. So, are our bills going to go up? Are we going to have brownouts? Are we who's going to pay to upgrade all that to accommodate something very temporary?
So, I'll just reiterate everything everybody else has said. Totally oppose this coming here. I don't think it will help Stark at all. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next, Bo Hastings. Good morning, county commissioners. My name is Bo Hast. I live in Stark,
Florida. Y'all all know where I live. Um, I'm four eyes. I'm not from where this facility where they're wanting to put it at across from our main shopping center. I mean, we get a bunch of buses hauled in here by a bunch of people from up north and cause chaos in our town and
they go to the Walmart and people get hurt. um that's going to be on your backs and uh I think you should consider that. Uh but as far as ICE, I'm for ICE. You know, our borders, we were invaded for 4 years with millions and millions and millions of people. And I hear
people say, well, you know, there are neighbors. Well, I tell you what, you see all the fraud going on, take them to your house and you pay for them because I'm tired of paying for them. Uh I will let you know the people that's here and you're speaking out. Our commissioners do not listen to us. They can have 90%
opposition, they're still going to do what they want to do. Kind of like that fire tax when we were all told to skip a meal and they passed it anyway. Uh I skipped the meal. I've got them budgets and I'm going through them and I'm discovering stuff that's just absolutely disgusting.
But uh no, this this ice facility shouldn't go here. And I heard the sheriff say the other day on a live interview on the local radio station because my station wouldn't come in. So, I went to the local that he wants this here for the people that's retired from the prisons to get jobs.
Um, make that one make sense. But, uh, it doesn't need to go across from our shopping center. I mean, there's got to be something in it. I would rather have the methous two doors down from me shut down before we get a ice facility. Um, nothing ever happens. I I don't
understand it, but maybe they can do a job shutting down all the meth and drug houses and property stolen rings going on before we get a ice facility here. Uh that would be real nice for the residents that actually live here because I have to deal with tweakers coming through my gate and me living
alone by myself and it's kind of scary. Um but as far as ice, I'm for eyes. Yeah, they need to deport these people. Americans are being killed every day and it's not right when it could be avoided and our borders could have been shut.
Um, all I can say is TDS is alive and well. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next we have Steven Wine call. Hello. Uh, my name is Steven Wineoff, uh, 8789 State Road 100 West, Stark,
Florida, and I'm opposed to the, uh, ICE concentration camp in Stark. Um and uh hope everyone had a good Easter. And uh you know, isn't it um
uh appropriate that we're all standing here talking about persecuting other people with other people who have less than what we have, trying to get what we have. It's a misdemeanor to be in this
country. Same as if we speed going down the road. It's a misdemeanor. Okay. Bradford County, how do we get here? A county manager wanted to prove he he was good at his job. He sees an old building in the state or in the in the Stark and
is trying to get um trying to get and prove that he's doing his job. He finds someone who needs the building, which was the uh um aerospace company. Okay, we're going to put this
deal together. We're going to take and try to make money for Brford County. He goes and he says, "Okay, let's take and get this building that was on the market. It ran for four or five years that after it was closed, everyone
passed on it." Well, they passed on it because it was a polluted piece of property. Okay. So, um they take and u get the property anyway because the
county manager didn't do his due diligence because of the con uh no should have known about the contamination. Okay. And um I'm sorry. Um okay, so here we are. We got a building
that the uh uh people who said they were going to take the building are no longer going to take it because they proved that the building was contaminated. They had vapors coming up into the building and the land was contaminated. Okay. So
we lost the contract of the possible aerospace company come in. So it sits there empty and then all of a sudden here we got Bradford County's own Wizard of Oz, Gordon Smith. He tells the story of the yellow brick road. He will turn
the into a concentration camp, but it'll be about the pollution. The county says, "Oh, we don't care about the pollution. We'll make lots of money and we will stick our heads in the sand. The proof here is proof of corruption.
Thank you. Next we will have Elder Oil Pines. My name is Elder Oindida Bright Hind. My address is 512 Northwest 180 Way and I'm opposed to the descent
ICE detention center being in Starks, Florida. First of all, we have more than our share of confinement facilities in this area. Secondly, it will do more
harm than good. A burden to the cost of its operation for both the city and the county. Many offenders relocate to our community after being released from
incarceration. This caused our small community to be noticeable in population for exoffenders within it, making us unattractive
for growth and mobility, not to mention a high risk for criminal activity. I strongly URGE YOU TO DENY this proposal
for further consideration. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next one we have Paul Steel. Just to be pass all still 14167 Southwest 101st Avenue Stark. I u would urge you to not
consider leasing the Douglas building site to the Bradford County Sheriff's Office at this time. What is needed is some form some form of progress report from SEBO. Work on the proposal by county staff should stop until DP has completed its
testing and remediation of the site. I do not believe Sheriff Smith and his staff have the expertise to address site contamination issues. A second critical concern is sewer and water services to the proposed ice detention facility.
As of March 31st, 26th, the city of Stark had not been provided the information needed to determine what upgrades to their system would be needed, what the potential cost would be, or how long it would take to add any new infrastructure.
It would be difficult to operate a facility for 3,000 detainees without a sewer hookup. My concerns about Sheriff Smith's department increased increased significantly after Sheriff Smith's comments of the last two commission
meetings and receiving the emails he sent in response to my emails to the commissioners. You heard Sher Sheriff Smith's commission meeting comments and received the email replies he sent. Sheriff Smith's verbal and written
comments tended not to address the issues being raised, but instead attack the motives of the people who were raising the issues. Sheriff Smith said at the March 3rd, 2006 uh commission meeting, the county spent
over, I think it was $25,000 for the last study that we got on a grant that's out there with D. D people have been spoken to and dealt with. I believe the report Sheriff Smith was referencing was a June 8th, 2003
geotechnical engineering report. That report did not address environmental contamination. Understanding the difference between a geotechnical report and the type of documents that would lead to a proper environmental steps is critical in the prevention of
environmental damage and county liability. the January 16th, 2006 uh Duc and the D consent agenda item do not seem to support the claim that D people people
have been spoken with and dealt with. I have attached a list of questions I believe need to be addressed before any proposal is drafted. If Sabau is not willing to address the questions at no cost to the county, it may be time to
end the attempt to use the Douglas building property as an ICE detention facility and stop wasting county resources. Thank you. >> Thank you, Nick. Find us strong. Good morning. >> Morning.
>> My name is May Strong, Post Office Box 530, Lahi. My concern isn't with ICE this morning. Um, my concern is with um my property.
uh taxes, school taxes and such. I have been uh diligently looking over what the county does with my money and I am not
um feeling as though I'm getting what I'm paying for. So therefore, I am concerned if the legislative takes away uh property taxes, what is going to happen?
What what is the county going to do with my services that I have been receiving? Right now, we pay I pay school taxes for children
and I don't have any children in school. I feel like I personally feel like I should get my money back because I haven't had a child in school, but that's neither here nor there. Personally, I feel like I should get my
money back. I feel like that um I shouldn't pay as many taxes into the system as I do because I don't have any children in school. But I see that I'm paying and many other
people are paying for Swany River water. What are we paying for? Why do we pay this county money into the Swany River water? We're paying for water in the ground. Yes, but I paid the city of Lahi
for water in the ground also. Are we being double taxed? Yeah, we're being double taxed. A lot of times we're being double taxed. We're paying for services twice. Why do we continue to pay these taxes?
Nobody knows. Nobody can answer any of these questions. We pay for a lot of double double services. I pay for trash to go to the landfill, but then I also pay for
the same service in the city of Lahi. I pay for double services. Nobody can tell me why I continue to pay for these double services and I don't get double service, but I pay for them.
and we pay we pay these these double fees and and and we don't get the double fe the double services. >> Thank you. Next we'll have Jenna to
good morning commissioners. My name is Jenna Tina and I live at 22186 Northwest 70th Avenue in Stark. I'm here today because I believe this vote on the detention center will say more about who we are as a community than any other
decision you will make on this board. Throughout history, laws that were widely accepted were later realized to be deeply harmful. like when only men could vote or when Jim Crow laws separated people based on their skin
colors or when other countries rounded up and detained large groups of people because of fear mongering. The people enforcing those laws later said, "I was just doing as I was told." An argument that has failed again and
again in court and in the eyes of history. History does not remember those people fondly. They had the power to say no and choose otherwise. Right now, you are the people with that power in Bradford County. I'm asking you to
measure this decision against the same conscious that tells you those chapters were a mistake and not to create a new chapter in history where the world questions our morality. How do you want Bradford to be seen to the world as a town of people with
strong values of faith, freedom, and family? or one that punishes thousands who believe in the same but are simply from another country. You know, the promised jobs are tied to federal contracts and political moods that can change faster than any of us
can vote. When those winds shift, the people making those promises today will move on. The building will still be here. The reputation will still be here. And the responsibility for saying yes will still have your names on it. You
were elected because people here believed you are grounded, thoughtful, and strong enough to make hard choices. This is exactly the kind of moment that tests whether those words are just part of a campaign speech or part of your
character. So I ask you respectfully but plainly when you hold this vote in your hands, does this detention center truly match the kind of leaders you believe you are and how you want to be remembered? Does it match how Bradford
wants to be seen? If it does not, then please vote no. Not because you lack strength, but because you're willing to use your strengths to live up to your personal standards. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um, next is Kate Ellison.
Kate Ellison, 95 971 Southeast 32nd Way, Melrose, Florida. Stark has worked hard to develop a reputation as a wholesome, forward-looking, family-friendly town to move away from being known just as a prison town. Even as executions still
take place, this new extremely visible prison, as you drive into Stark, will destroy all the rehabilitation efforts we've made. Visitors from Hawthorne, Gainesville, Ocala, and drivers stopping on the way to Jacksonville will see the
barb wire. Flood lights all day and night, military transport, and rows of law enforcement vehicles, blue lights flashing. More prisoners will be released onto our streets. This is not what Stark needs. Not for visitors, businesses, or residents.
Before there is any development on this property, the toxins must be removed. We cannot offer people prison jobs that will knowingly expose them to elevated cancer risk. Not to mention prisoners exposures. It is premature to make an
agreement with the sheriff's office, not knowing exactly what contamin contaminants will be found and how long it will take to remove them. Our sheriff is committed to a detention center with a three-year lease, and he says he's not in a rush. He cannot get started until
remediation is complete. So there is really no need for a lease with him at this time. That lease will foreclose other opportunities for development. Are there other land use options? Shouldn't we be sure no one wants to build a new
warehouse, local enterprise or industry, or maybe even some housing before we are locked into bringing even more human misery and suffering into our town? The cost analysis report by Scott Belelfford warns that the county could
be exposed to some genuinely disastrous cost overruns. I strongly urge you to review that document before you take any steps towards such a financially risky venture. You are looking for income, but you will be spending more on this than
you bring in. Especially as we look at decreased revenue the next few years, we cannot afford extra expenses. The sheriff's department has had auditing challenges. A 3,000 bed detention center
is another more another whole order of magnitude larger for financial tracking on top of all the police work and housing issues to be managed. It will be nothing like the 200 bed facility that he currently oversees.
Finally, I have a signed petition to give you from county residents and landowners who don't want the detention center here. We will continue to collect signatures after today, but felt it important to show you that opposition to
this idea is widespread throughout the county. >> Thank you. Next, we'll have Christian Ruben. Kristen Rubin 26280 Northwest 206 Place High Springs, Florida. I am representing the Sierra
Club Swanie St. John's Group Executive Committee. We respectfully ask you to consider a few questions as you evaluate any proposal to authorize the sheriff to negotiate the placement of an ICE detention center in the Douglas
warehouse. First, given the known and potential environmental concerns associated with that site, how will the county ensure that all environmental risks are fully and independently assessed before any negotiations move
forward? and who will ultimately be accountable if unforeseen environmental liabilities arise years down the line. Second, is it in the best interest of Bradford County to delegate negotiation
authority on a matter of this magnitude to an office that may have a direct operational or financial interest in the outcome? How can the public be assured that decisions are being made objectively
without any perceived or actual conflict of interest? Third, what safeguards would be in place to ensure transparency throughout the negotiation process? If authority is delegated, how will the
commission and the public remain fully informed and able to provide input before any commitments are made? Fourth, once negotiations begin, what mechanisms would allow the county to pause or
withdraw if environmental, financial, or community impacts prove greater than anticipated? Are we confident that the county would retain full control over that process? And finally, does
delegating this responsibility align with the commissioner's role as a body elected to exercise independent oversight on behalf of the people of Bradford County? These are not easy questions, but they are important ones.
Taking the time to consider, carefully consider them can help ensure that any decision made reflects transparency, accountability, and the long-term well-being of our community. Thank you again for your
time, your service, and your thoughtful consideration. Thank you. The next one looked like, but I'm not sure. It looks like a Kylie Simba. Um, next Josh Cooper. >> Sorry. I'm Kyla Simol.
>> Okay. Sorry. Thank you. >> Good morning, commissioners. I'm Kyla Simwa from 3800 Southwest 20th Avenue in Gainesville, Florida. I'm here today to oppose the construction of an ICE detention center right at the entrance of start. Other speakers today and in previous meetings
have brought up the immense economic, medical, and e ecological burdens that this facility would put on the city. But today I would like to mention the strain would put on the communities surrounding it. In Gainesville, the University of Florida and Santa Fe College without the
approval of their student bodies have both voluntary voluntarily signed to 7G agreements with ICE, allowing their police forces to question and detain students or citizens they suspect of being undocumented. If you add up the number of international students who currently
study at UF in Santa Fe, you would get a population of over 6,000 people. A population that rivals that of Starks. 6,000 people who are living in fear because the sheriff and commissioners of Bradford County are still debate debating whether they want to create a detention center that would put them in
danger by increasing the number of ICE officers who would profile, harass, and unnecessarily detain them. Not only would students be in danger, but so would our immigrant and international professors, faculty, and student workers. hard-working people who keep
our campuses running and provide me and my fellow students with the knowledge we need to enter the workforce in the future. Do these same people not deserve a safe learning environment? Do they not deserve to come to Stark and experience the southern hospitality, the close-knit
community, and the strawberries that it's known for? If this facility is built, Stark will only be known for detaining, policing, and profiling. That is why I have come here today along with others in this room to oppose the construction of this detention center.
Thank you. >> Thank you. Next, Josh Loopa. >> Good morning, commissioners. >> Josh Cooper, 3800 Southwest 28th Avenue, Gainesville, Florida. Today, I want the public's questions regarding the this center to be stated loud and clear.
These are both these are budget elements which have yet to be addressed to any meaningful degree either by the commission, the sheriff, Sable Consulting, or DHS. The current cost recovery amount is slated at around $200,000 monthly. Considering all cost elements related to this project, it
would require more than $400,000 just to consider not exceeding the budget. I asked then has the has the commission considered cost relating to emergency medical services and the attributed strain on the current services strain on the baseline public health interactions between the facility and the community
at large. Environmental and sanitation interface concerns and how that might strain startup locally. Wastewater strain on the local for an already strained wastewater system. Administrative increases of against the current proposal offered by Sable in
January. Oh, sorry. I do hope that the commission has been properly consulted regarding these issues and has had numerous discussions with Sabbo and the sheriff regarding this proposal so that you can come to the best conclusion with all of the given information. The sheriff continues to charge that this site would
would include and would bring in a influx of of income. Um, sorry. Um, would the BOCC still be oversight? would would still have oversight over the over the um property or would they just let
it be given to the sheriff once it's leased to him? Now, these are all economic questions and arguments that can be pressed and all serve that can be pressed against the site. There has been very little information given to the c given to the people of
Stark, given to the people of Bradford County that actually gives any real information regarding this site. Right now all we have really is one presentation given in January by Sabbo and we have one economic assessment done
by Belelfford which isn't even public knowledge. It's been given to you and not to the public. So how has how can the public work with this information? How can the public make any decision regarding this or make any kind of complaints regarding this topic if no
one has any access to the information? Does the commission have any access to the information besides for these things? Have they talked to the to Sable? Have they talked to the sheriff? How much of this can we be sure that you know what you're doing on? And also, if we're going to lease the
site to to the sheriff, I mean, we haven't even let D step foot on the property yet. How is it that we can even consider leasing the site to the sheriff if the property hasn't even been evaluated environmentally yet? These are all things that I feel like we should
push forward and and and press forward. Anyways, okay, I rest my time. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next, we'll have um Haley Hall. Hello, my name is Haley Hall, 23478 US 129, O'Brien, Florida. So, coming to you today from Swany County specifically,
that's Brford. Uh, we get confused for Bradford County a lot, but no, we're we're Brford. Um, so you all may or may not have realized when you woke up this morning that this is a legacy moment for
you. Um, potentially more so than anything else. I don't know that for sure, but this is undoubtedly a very big legacy moment for each of you. And I ask you to consider the comments made before
me regarding the environmental concerns and the impact on the community, but also the stigma, the impact just of people talking about Stark, just about people talking about this community, uh, this detention center and this
community. Um, and I think we might even get some of that stigma over in Bradford just cuz we sound like Bradford. Um, so please consider the stigma associated with this detention center. Um, so I want to quote a letter here
from the Swany Riverkeeper. I saw him see him up in the front over here. So increasing the population by about 50% in a detention center would stress the local sewage system and directly
detract from community and local business growth capacity leading to rate increases and fees associated with waste management. So, I would like to submit a specific question into the public record
regarding your wastewater plants capacity and how it will be affected by this detention center. I understand that when wastewater plants reach 70% capacity, they have to pay for very expensive upgrades. And so, how is this
going to feed into that? And then who is going to pay for it? And that's going to be your local taxpayers. and and they're going to see rate increases too. AND SO HOW MUCH specifically is this going to impact the capacity? And you you think about 70%
capacity, you think about 100% capacity. Stark has had wastewater spills in the past. The growth you're seeing from this detention center is directly taking away other potential growth for the community. Local business growth, housing growth, other opportunities. It
is directly taking away from that. and it is the community that has to take the tax burden and the rateayers that have to to to are burdened with that rate increase. Um and so please I I want to reiterate that it is absolutely critical
that we obtain the FT environmental studies. We need to make sure that those are completed and we need to in the meantime explore other options for this facility, other options for this land. Please think about your legacy. Deny
this facility. >> Thank you. Next, we'll have Caitlyn Cadell. >> Hello, I'm Caitlyn Cadell. I live at 17044 Southwest State Road 45 in Archer. I'm against the ICE detention facility.
There's um no guarantee that they will pay back the money in a timely manner if at all as they have not in for alligator Alcatraz. How do you develop the town when you're giving so many resources to this
detention center? The money should be sent to um help or spent helping to improve the town and improve people's lives. The Trump term will end soon and a new term will start and this city is still
going to have so many of its like eggs in this detention center basket for like decades to come. It's the Trump term is almost over and I think it's foolish to spend so much money and resources
on um the times are changing I guess is my point. That's all I have to say. Thank you. >> Thank you. And next, it looks like Josh um Palmer Palmer. >> Good morning.
>> I've been listening to all the speakers and they've made all the points I'd like to make. Can I please state your name and address and so forth? >> Yes. Thank you. Uh my name is Josie Palmer and I'm a resident of Gainesville, Florida. I've been here uh 20 plus years and I am an immigrant and
I just want to add this thing because I did tell my story um the last time I was here a couple of months ago. Um we were recruited my father was recruited to come to the US to help the steel plants here because he is an expert at what he does. When we talk about immigrants, I'd
like for you all to consider that all of us are living in fear for our lives uh because we happen to live near where you're considering a detention facility. And many of us are just members of the community doing everything we do um
legally, lawfully, and actually with great passion cuz you know we we gave up everything that we had to come adopt this country. And this is a place we embrace with all of our hearts. And to have you all kick us in the face is really painful. So having said that, um
I'd like to just um ask you all to consider this one other thing. What is your vision for a start? I know all the points have been made about the DP, about the contamination, about um
what happens when people leave the existing prison facilities. And I'd like for you all to just think about this has become your brand now. This is a prison town and I know over the last 20 years you have been moving
away from that and Stark has become a place where I come to. I used to come to the strawberry festival. Now I'm thinking, do we want to come to the strawberry festival here? What else is here in Stark other than you know jails and jails and jails? Um so please when
you're making this decision um couple of things to keep in mind. All of the facilities that you commit to building a facility this detention concentration camp here have an opportunity cost to you. um you will have to build the capacity because from what I've seen uh Bradford
does not have the capacity to serve this a facility of this size. Um you'll have to build the capacity and that'll commit you to that capacity for this location. um and 3,000 beds. Um a a detention center with 3,000 beds would be actually
the equivalent of 1,300 100 residential units. And residents who are free and living in the community using the same amount of facilities will be actually driving an economy. Whereas here you would have a three-year term with people
in jail and people or people around them with guns who are trained to kill others who open carry. How many people in Bedford Pack? I mean I come from a border town. We carry guns. Um and your
people are not going to thank you. Next we will have Diane Emporio. Thank you. Hi, my name is Diane Derio. I live at 7024 Southwest 97th Lane in Gainesville. And even though I live in Elatchua
County, I spent over 25 years working in a program that included Bradford and other rural counties uh in North Central Florida. So, I have a lot of sympathy for rural counties and the economic challenges that you face. and I
understand very much the temptation to sign a contract with the federal government that would provide a lot of good well-paying jobs with benefits. So, I really get that. Um, but I would like you to think about, there have been a lot of good points brought up, but I
just want to bring up a different one is that if you think about the firing of Christine Gnome, I think that that represents a major policy rethink on the part of the administration. And I think that they're realizing that the American voters don't like what
they're seeing in the immigration activity that the government is supporting. And there's been pretty much a lot of distinct messaging in the last couple weeks about the tactics are going to be changing. It's not going to be quite so aggressive. So one can conclude
there may not be as many detainees and there will not be as a great a need for detention centers. So I think looking at the next say 6 to 8 months between now and the elections and then virtually the first of the year there's
really not going to it wouldn't in my opinion make sense to sign a contract for a detainee detention center that may or may not be needed. may or may not have the number of detainees that were originally projected and therefore would
not warrant the number of jobs or the amount of money that they're projecting or that you were hoping for. So I think that's an important sort of new aspect to the situation and then if you you know postpone this decision it gives you more time to address some of the other
issues that that have been brought up today. And I think even though other people have brought this up, I'm just going to reiterate that we have a lot of experience here in Florida where we've had agreements with the federal government to put out our money to pay
for detention centers being built and being run. And then the federal government hasn't been paying us for what they promised. And so definitely you Bradford County I can't say I'm familiar with your budgets but I mean I've been around rural counties for a
long time and I know you can't afford to risk the kinds of millions of dollars it would take to put this facility up and and pay for the staff. So at the very least I strongly suggest that you would negotiate if you do negotiate a contract that is not cost reimbursement. I know
the feds love that, but you need to get the money upfront or I'm afraid based on the experience that Florida's had, you won't be at all. >> Next, we'll have Marcus Franker. >> Uh, good morning. I'm Marcus Ranker. Uh my address is 7956 Plantation Lakes
Drive uh Fort Stacy. I ask why does this commission believe that ongoing conversations with Sabbath and DHS concerning the future of the Douglas warehouse should be had with the sheriff in secret rather than here
publicly where stakeholders and residents can participate and make their voices heard. Bradford County residents have far fewer lefers of public pressure against the sheriff than they do the county commission. And I suspect this is part
of the reason why this commission wishes to lease the warehouse to the sheriff. The sheriff and this commission continues to ensure that the process to move forward with any type of agreement with DHS and SAP is a slow and deliberate one.
This is a deliberate strategy to lull any and all opposition to the proposed detention facility. Once the sheriff's office is in control of the warehouse, they will quickly be able to move forward with the deal under the noses of Bradford of Bradford's residents. The
sheriff assures the commission and Bradford that the entire project would be by the books. How are Bradford's residents meant to hold the sheriff to this? How are they meant to hold him accountable? How are they meant to participate and make their voices heard
when their local leaders are discussing removing themselves from the decision from the decision-making process concerning this warehouse? I implore this commission to make a commitment to transparency and continue to involve the people of Bradford and
other stakeholders in decisions that deeply affect their lives. I yield the rest of my time. >> Thank you. Um, next we'll have Maya D. Hello, my name is Ethan Maya Denidell, a concerned Floridaian from Gainesville, Florida, speaking on the proposed
warehouse detention facility at Douglas Warehouse. Like most others speaking out, I am imploring you all to not move forward with this proposal. The vast majority of those who would fill such a concentration camp are, as Sheriff Grady Jud, the lead sheriff appointed by
Dantis to the Florida State Board of Immigration Enforcement put it. These people are adding to the American dream, enjoying the American dream that came here illegally, but they're doing good and they're not a drag on society and in fact are helping society. The proposed
county run facilities were 3,000 beds, expanding the population of Stark by 50%. Who is actually going to fill these beds? How is the county expecting to provide sewage, electricity, medical care, and more for all those people
while maintaining and building the infrastructure supporting your actual residents? We can look at other similar facilities that are also run by the counties. Glades and Baker both have been mired with story after story of human rights abuses, much having to do with the lack
of those critical resources. And keep in mind, those facilities hold less than 500 each and have still gained notoriety nationally. Not only that, but a report on the Glades detention center showed that the facility did not
contribute to the local economy jobs as revenue went to outofcount bond holders and many jobs went to out of county private security firms. In fact, the report shows that the county has actually had to subsidize the facility as the number of detainees fluctuate
year after year, administration after administration. If comments like those from Sheriff Jud are any indication, what is the long-term risk for building such a facility here? We already know that the consulting firm Sabbat is looking to sub contract with the
outofcount private firm Guarder World to fill many of the required security and logistical positions. forgetting that Garter World is a security forum responsible for alligator Alcatraz, which in the first few months of its opening has also had reports of human
rights abuses, including torture. How will any aspect of the building or running of a Douglas detention warehouse benefit Bradford residents? I ask you all again to please reject the proposed warehouse detention center in Stark. Thank you all.
>> Thank you. Thanks, Ryan Harris. Okay, Ryan here, 666 Southwest 78 Lane. I'm standing before you again uh because despite meeting after meeting, unanimous public opposition um this proposal remains on the table.
Uh but the latest development, the request for the commission to lease this facility to the sheriff so he can in turn host ICE adds a dangerous new layer to this conversation. We have seen the same thing at every single one of these meetings. Not a single resident has stood up in favor of this project. Yet
we find ourselves here again with the sheriff pushing for a lease agreement that the rest of the community is actively fighting against. Um, and he has pitted himself directly against the very citizens he has sworn to protect. Make no mistake, if the
commission signs, this leaves, you're inviting a permanent disruptive presence into the heart of this town. This facility will become a regional flash point for constant demonstrations. This isn't a theory. It's a guarantee.
There will be many people in this room that will be at the protest. and many more will travel from all over the region to take part. To understand the scale of unrest possible, one only needs to look at the
footage from Minneapolis. This is the energy and scale of unrest that will be brought to our doorstep. These kind of protests make their point through agitation and disruption. That is the nature of the movement. When that level of friction exists, things
escalate quickly. History shows us that these clashes can turn deadly, sometimes resulting in questionable murders during chaos. Is this commission prepared to be the ones who signed the lease that led to the loss of life on our streets? Are you
prepared for the national media circus and the permanent strain that would leave on Bradford County? When law enforcement is forced into these high tension environments, overreacts happen and rights are violated. By leasing this facility to the sheriff for this purpose, you are
essentially opening a lawsuit factory. The result will be a wave of expensive, high-profile litigation and longlasting legal consequences for every officer involved. You are being asked to sign a lease that will drain the county's coffers and ruin lives. The financial
and human cost of defending these actions in court is a burden the taxpayers simply cannot afford. Finally, we can't ignore the site itself. We're talking about a warehouse with documented groundwater contamination, volatile organic compounds that are already uh migrating to nearby
properties. This is a small town. The disruption, the legal exposure, potential for tragedy being invited here is entirely avoidable. I ask the commission to listen to the unanimous voice of the community sitting in this room, not the
isolated isolated push of one department head, and vote no on this lease. Do not sign away the peace and safety of this county. Thank you. >> Thank you. And the last um card I have is from Steven Shangle. >> Shel.
Thank you. >> Steven Sharell 1946 Southeast State Road 21, Batford County, right on Lake Santa Fe. I moved there in 1980 when my taxes were
$300 a year. I love it there. My neighbors love it there. We have such Florida theater comes to mind.
I mean, preserving what we've got. What? Somebody mentioned vision here. As a chiropractor since 1980, I saw people. We learned in chiropractic school that there's three types of
things that cause disease. And right up there is toxins. And I just looked up tricloroethylene volatile toxic industrial solvent known to cause kidney cancer, liver cancer,
and lymphoma. I bet you all know loved ones, friends. You can't enjoy Florida theater, the oak tree when you got cancer.
It's there. Chiropractic in my office was built not on putting money because it's a money maker. It was built on my mom told me you take care of the folks and you'll get
you'll do fine. We've got here in Stark a beautiful thing to build on. That's the vision that'll give me and you the right decision. It's obvious.
Thank you. >> Thank you. And I want to express my appreciation for the respectful manner in which you all conducted yourself. Uh we're going to move on to um the agenda item um on the consent agenda. But before we do, I have asked our county
manager if he could just elaborate on one of the items. That's item um G um for us on the um site assessment agreement with Port Environment Protection. And Mr. kind of gave you if we just
go ahead. >> Yes, madam chairman. Thank you. This agreement is an extension of the current agreement. We currently have an agreement with D where they have unfettered access to the property. This agreement would expand that u to allow
them access no matter who rents or leases the property. >> Thank you very much. Okay. Um at this time um asking for a motion for approval of the consent agenda. Is there a motion for approval? >> Yes, I make a motion to approve the
consent agenda. >> Motion by Commissioner Rick. Is there a second to the motion? >> Second. >> Second by Commissioner Dory. Any further questions or discussion? If not, all in favor sign I. >> I. >> Any oppose? 5. Thank you. At this time
we will have our presentation partnership for strong families. Our director is Amanda Dearia. >> Hello. Amanda um is not here today, but I'm Brianna Peterson representing Partnership for Strong Families. Um I know that we proposed a proclamation for
April as child abuse prevention month. Um, and I just want to emphasize the importance of schools and government leaders. I'm sorry, I was really really emotional from all that. Um, the role of schools and government leaders that can equip caregivers with tools and resources to protect our local
children. Uh, it's important that child abuse is addressed by supporting families and caregivers first. From things like harm reduction for substance misuse to access to job resources and that the community surround all caregivers with compassion and respect so that families can best care for their children.
And then you have the proclamation, right? >> Yes, I do. I am. Thanks for having us. Okay. You want to stay there? Stay there. >> I'll put you on the spot. No, it's okay. Um I'll read the proclamation um here. Um the board of county commissioners of Rapid County, Florida proclamation
declaring April 2026 as child abuse prevention month. Whereas prevention is possible, with the right policies and investments, families and children can thrive and avoid contact with a avoid contact with child welfare. And whereas
every family and child is filled with tremendous promise and we have a collective responsibility to prevent child abuse, fostering potential of every child and promote a positive childhood. And whereas families who receive the support they need before a
crisis occurs are better equipped to provide safe, healthy, and nurturing environments leading to children who are safer, healthier, and more helpful about their families. And whereas childhood trauma, including abuse and neglect, can have long-term psychological, emotional,
physical effect upon the individual's lifetime and impact future generation. And whereas effective child abuse prevention activities succeeds because of the partnership created between child welfare professionals, education,
health, community, and faith-based organization, businesses, law enforcement agencies, and families. And whereas communities must make every effort to promote programs and activities that create strong and thriving children and families. And
whereas we acknowledge that we must work together as a community to increase awareness about ch child abuse and contribute to promoting the social and emotional well-being of children and families in a safe, stable, and nurturing environment. And whereas
prevention remains the best defense for our children and families. Now therefore, our board chair of the Bradic County Board of County Commissioners do hereby proclaim April 2026 as child abuse prevention month in Brad County
and urge all citizens to recognize this month by declaring by excuse me by dict dictating ourselves to the task of improving the quality of life for all children and families. Together we can create a
community where every child can grow uh happy, healthy and safe and with health and with hope for the future. Um signed by chair myself, Carol. Thank you. All right. At the board, um we heard a
proclamation and I ask for motion approval of this proclamation. >> I make a motion to approve the proclamation as read. Proclamation approval by Commissioner Ready. Motion >> second. >> Second by Commissioner Dhy. Any
questions or further discussion? If not, all in favor by the side. I >> I Okay. >> Thank you for having us and thank you all for being here. >> All right. Now, next we'll have a presentation from
our Klay County Commissioner Betsy Condan from Klay County. Let's give her a warm welcome and thank you for being here. Good morning, Madam Chair and fellow commissioners. Thank you for letting me come and and spend a few minutes with you this morning. I was talking with your county manager just a
few weeks ago and um thought that it would be important to update you on a project that affects Bradford County as well as Clay that we've been working on. I know the county manager has briefed you all on this, but just for the sake of the public, um as you know, if you
read the Bradford Telegraph like I do and the Lake Region Monitor, um the St. John's River Water Management District in partnership with the state of Florida. Recently, last year completed the Black Creek Water Restoration Project for aquifer restoration. But one
of the goals of that was also surface water recreation for the lakes in Keystone Heights, primarily Lake Brooklyn and Lake Geneva that are in the Edinia chain of lakes. And so then um when we were getting ready for water to come through and and at that time last
year, water was pretty high in Lake Brooklyn, it became pretty evident that we were going to get water into Lake Geneva a little bit faster than we thought. And um of course that's not true today in the in the drought situation we find ourselves in, but it
will happen. Um the the water restoration project is fully functional, ready to go as soon as there is significant rainfall. And so with in conjunction with Save Our Lakes, um Klay County Board of County Commissioners set
out to um to restore the Lake Geneva lake bed to the to the point that it could hold water as a as a lake bed should instead of being a forest that had been there for 30 to 40 years. And one of the things that we had um
discussed is that the trees that were there, mature trees, would be a safety issue um if they fell and were under the water surface for recreation, but also didn't um necessarily provide the water the water quality that we wanted to see
in the lakes that had been there previously. We obtained a um with the graciousness of our state delegation, one of which we share with you, Senator Jennifer Bradley. Last year, we were we got a quarter of a million dollars in a state appropriation to put towards the
project. Klay County Board of County Commissioners has put just under $300,000 into the project. Save Our Lakes put in um a a donation of I I believe it was $25,000 as well as the city of Keystone Heights at $40,000.
And so the project is fully funded. It has five project uh five loes. I don't know if they've shown you a map, but it's five has five sections that we are removing trees. That project is currently in progress, but we haven't reached the Bradford County part yet. So
the Bradford County is the smallest. It's 3 acres, but it is um it connects the seventh lobe to Lake Geneva. And so, um, I wanted to come and share that with you that we are using it. I wanted to also let you know that, um, a
significant part of the Klay County money that we've put into that has come from our tourist development tax dollars. and our tourist manager, tourism manager said that he felt like that was one of the purest uses of tourism dollars that we could use
because Lake Geneva was known for its fishing as well as other water sports um destinations. As you probably know, Keystone Heights has hosted the Moto Cross and other jet ski kind of competitions in the in the past and will
continue to do that. And so it offers also an opportunity for Bradford County tourism. You have the closest hotels to Keystone Heights and um as well as some of your other things, gas stations and restaurants and things like that. Certainly you also have our only grocery
store currently. Um so it for anyone that that shops there and so I just wanted to come and share that with you, share it for the public. I would like to offer you the opportunity to participate in it when we finish the project. we'd like to have you come out, do some photo
ops and and let your constituents know um that you you know that that this is now available um to connect that seventh lobe, the far western lobe of Lake Geneva over um into the big lake, if you will. And um I can answer any questions
that you all have, but I wanted to to come and share it with you. I apologize for not coming sooner and before we actually started the project, but we haven't finished it. the part in Radford County, we can't fully fund cutting the trees and removing them from there. So, we're going to cut and do what's called
cut and stack and then they'll have volunteers that can go in and remove some of that timber as well. We're cutting any tree that's over 4 in in diameter and only up to the um high water mark. 102.9 ft is the high water
mark for Lake Geneva. So all of the work is being done on the sovereign sovereign submerged lands that is state property under a permit that Klay County obtained. So the work in Bradford can be done under that permit because Clay obtained it.
>> Commissioner Cond, we really appreciate you coming and sharing this project. you know, our legislators look at our counties working together uh collectively on projects and on projects such as this and um as we have with the
airport um it impacts both Bradford and Clay um areas and I believe that our um next item will have some impact on that the process and project that you're having but um we all benefit from the
use of the lakes um in the Keystone area as well as you guys ours in Bradford County. But we appreciate you coming and sharing that presentation. Any questions anyone has on her? >> If not, thank you so very kindly. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Um our next is the action item for the Keystone Collection site, the air burner purchase. And I believe um you will share more details on on how that will work. >> Yes. Thank you, Madam Chairman. So the
the ask is for a uh capital improvement item that would replace the current approved item of a bucket truck. Uh this air burner incinerator would cost $213,000.
The bucket truck is roughly $300,000. So there would be some initial savings there. by switching those purchases. Um the other benefit is that this air burner will pay for itself within months because of the amount of debris that we
currently have at the speed bill collection site. Um we currently we have to load that haul it over to the landfill. Um it it very very costly to do that plus the wear and tear on our equipment. So there would be immediate
savings um by burning the 320 plus tons of debris that we already have. Now, um, to Commissioner Conman's request, what we could also do if if the board if it's the board's pleasure is offer an inind
service to Klay County to come over to the Bradford County property that she mentioned, area 5, and once the the trees there have been cut and piled up, we could come in with our incinerator and and burn that for them, thereby
saving Commissioner Condan, I don't know what the dollar amount is. I know you were given a a tiered amount for removal of the trees and hauling them off and then removal of the trees and stacking them and then removal of the trees and burning them. So, whatever the
difference in in that cost would be is what the inind contribution would be from Barford County uh to assist with this Lake Geneva project. >> Okay. and I can answer any questions if you have >> and and it looks like it'll be cost saving all around for for now and and in
the in the future. >> Yes, ma'am. Um our public works director, Mr. Dodge, is in Orlando at the public works uh annual conference this week, so he couldn't be here, but I had tasked him previously at trying to identify ways to to save money in that
particular area. and um he he found this option of of purchasing this incinerator that seems to be a um a really good financial arrangement for the county. >> Can I ask a question? Have has have they seen one work on site
>> in person? I don't think so. Of course, there's tons of information on the internet where you you can see them and read about them and that sort of thing, but I don't believe they've traveled anywhere to to investigate it. Um, I I don't I haven't seen it
personally, but I've seen what is used for the cremation. It It works something like that. I mean, that's the only visual I can think of, but it incinerates those um particles, those boards, those logs or whatever you have burned and there is nothing that goes
out uh into the atmosphere that will cause any pollution. So that's the good thing about it and it will be a tremendous costsaving because when I think about all of those piles and piles and piles of tree branches that we have to haul away that would be a tremendous
cost saving. >> Yes ma'am. It would also be a great benefit during storms when we when we collect additional debris rather than hauling it off. Um our our site at Speedville is a FEMA approved collection site. So we would actually be able to
incinerate that debris and then get reimbursed through FEMA uh for that action. >> Okay. Well, any question that you have? >> And one other thing I'd mention would um a description the best way to describe it is it looks very similar to a 20ft
shipping container >> if you're familiar with the shipping container. >> Any other questions u regarding the equipment? If not, do I have a motion for approval for the purchase? I just want to add to the clerk's comment. I know see them on a lot of construction
sites and uh so I have seen them in operation. Um but as far as you know any other you know questions you might have about it. Uh you know it's just certainly more effective than you hauling debris. But uh you know again
like I said and I think that u I see Mr. Douglas back there. I don't know if you all use them on your sites or not, but uh have seen them, you know, in operation on construction sites to, you know, keep from hauling and also I think it also helps prevent the u u you know,
kind of the smoke from, you know, getting into the the roadways and and causing visual issues. >> Any other comments or questions? So, Madam Chairman, the motion would be to replace the current CIP item, the
grapple truck with the air curtain incinerator for this year and then approval of the purchase. >> Okay. Um, do I have a motion for the requested? >> Make a motion to approve. >> Okay. and Rachel needed to assocate
that'll motion. >> Motion for approval by Commissioner Dhy. Is there second to motion? >> Second. >> Second by Commissioner Andrew. Any further discussion or questions? All in favor? S. >> I. Any oppos? Oh,
>> and then one other um request, Madam Chair, is just a consensus from the board um recognizing that we would participate in the Lake Geneva project project by incinerating the debris that is produced in area 5 of the Lake Geneva project.
>> I think it's a reasonable request and a good partnership there. What's the consensus of the board? >> They concur. >> Thank you, ma'am. It's all happening. >> All right. Ma'am, next is the discussion on the Douglas building property
options. >> Yes, ma'am. So, before you, you have uh two items for discussion. Item A is the potential lease with the Bradford County Sheriff's Office for person for the purpose of installation of a temporary ICE detention facility. And option B is
other lease or marketing options. What I'd like to do initially is ask our county agent, Marty Shaw, to come up and uh briefly explain a letter of intent that was received last week. >> Good morning.
>> Uh Marty Shaw, 415 East Call Street, Stark. Um last week we received an offer from a local business, a manufacturing concern, uh OEM Imports. Uh they've been here in Stark about 10 years producing granite for the area. um they uh had an
interest in expanding their operations in the tune of an industrial park. It's all back off 44th Street um and is contiguous to the Douglas property. So, our thought is that we might be able to enter into a lease agreement with the
count with the county for the Douglas building and then um expand that operation to include the Douglas property with marketing and eventually hopefully additional development opportunities. I be happy to answer any questions.
>> Okay. Um also, I guess I'll have a question for our our attorney and our our county manager. So if we're for example um agreed to a lease um with you >> that would not prohibit us from um
miating the property in terms of any um contamination and maybe there's funding available for any improvements to it. So it would not impede that. I think that's what my question is to the legal side.
So, in terms of mediation, um the the county would have no reason to go in and and and construct anything if we were to lease it to to this particular um manufacturer. Uh it would be it would be
incumbent upon him to to face whatever mitigation challenges he he he came across. >> Uh what was the other part of your question? I'm sorry. So, if it's under lease, would we make improvements to it or um be allowed to make
>> improvements? Okay. Yes. So, we haven't we haven't hammered out a lease, right? So, we don't know what the specifics would be, but the um whatever amount was agreed upon as a yearly amount. Um staff's recommendation would probably be
that that amount go into a fund uh that is not accessible for anything other than improvements to that property. Um and then of course along the way the the person that ends up leasing or renting whatever the case may be um would have the option of making improvements on his
own. Uh which is ideally what we hope for. Did I did I characterize that right? >> You did. Um over the last 3 years we really haven't had a chance to do any marketing of the property at all. Um, so this would be a chance for us to go in, I say us, me as the marketing agent, but
OEM grant supporting the project and uh, basically put it out there into the marketplace to everybody worldwide um, through the commercial platforms that we have and just see what we can catch. I understand Commissioner Dohy has maybe a
a prospect as well uh, agricultural use and I just think that we have not explored other options for this um, property properly. So, this would be a chance for us to spend somebody else's money to do all the marketing and y'all would get to see the results and approve of whatever the alternative uses would
be going forward. >> Okay. >> Good morning. Aren't we held to um to ensure that anyone that was going to lease that property be um >> I mean make sure that they understand
the toxins and what has happened there. >> Oh, absolutely. We would disclose any and all reports that are available. The continuing monitoring uh tests that are done being done. I think there's probably some contamination out there. I think the reports are indicate that and we're going to have to address that with
anybody that uses the property >> and I think it's important for for everyone to know DD does come out and make regular checks on that. >> Yes, ma'am. They have unfettered access to the property and the sheriff and I have seen them out there a number of
times in the past few years taking samples from the monitoring wells and so forth >> and that's been going on since the discovery of >> That's correct. Yes, ma'am. >> Just so people are aware cuz someone said that um the EP isn't allowed out there. That's not true. They do test out
there regularly. So just just so people aware of that and and like I said, I would not ever want to u not be transparent with someone that that would put a lease on that property. So >> yes, ma'am, particularly when it gets into building new buildings and stuff because then you're going to disturb the
soil. So yeah, we would be very careful with it. Very, >> you know, and and our initial intent was for it to be an industrial site um which opens it up for lots of business attraction. So, um if it were leased and
you know, of course with uh transparency um then it may be opportunities uh for that property to be improved to be used for that purpose um as an industrial park uh so that we can draw the businesses. >> Well, you're probably been aware over the years of the issues with the
building. Fire suppression, no water and sewer services. There's just a lot of hurdles. I mean the building was built in the 60s late 50s early 60s and it's uh it's really not to code for lack of a better term. So u we would have to
address all those things. Um, but I think without at least pursuing the opportunity, you know, I think we're getting a little shortsided >> and I know sometimes our our residents are our community think we don't listen,
but we do >> and we take to heart what is what is said. But the other thing is is looking um really deeply at the future of that area and what it could be used for. There's lots of potential for that and I
think it's worthy to be explored. >> Well, I think in addition to what um OM is already doing off of 44th Street, I mean, he's 100% occupied back there. And if he can continue to attract businesses to 44th Street, imagine what the opportunity would be if we could offer
up the entire Douglas property. And he's got some contacts and he's got um control of various uh companies around uh basically around the world. uh he's not here today because he's traveling uh down to South America recruiting businesses. So uh I think we have an
opportunity. I just don't know what it is and how long it'll take to get there. >> Certainly worth exploring. Um I don't know thoughts from others. >> Yeah, I I agree. I I would rather go this route and have you explore explore
other opportunities um than the other option we were presented. But, um, that's we would definitely like to see us go that route. Give you the opportunity to turn it into something great. >> We'd limit it to a three-year deal. That way, if it doesn't work, it doesn't
work. Um, but, uh, we pay the county, I think, in our proposal amount on the tables, we would pay the county $50,000 a year to basically master lease the entire property. And, uh, then that way I'll have a revenue stream as as, uh, Scott said to use for other uses. But um
I just think I don't know. I think there's a there's an opportunity there. We just need to explore it. >> Madam Chair, I I think you know again and I have been approached by somebody and just as you have and just as the sheriff has, I don't think anything's
set in stone right now. >> And so I just say that we keep all options open. >> And um you know, we we explore, you know, certainly if there's a bird in the hand, better than two in the bush. um you know and we look at you know kind of moving forward that way. So
>> well I'd like to learn more about what you've got going so that we can see if we can work together on it. >> It's it's a thought and it's u so at this time there's you know really nothing other than a conversation >> and that's it. So okay well I did submit a letter of intent for y'all's review
together with additional information in the packet. >> Okay. Um Mr. I would certainly be um interest interested in us exploring it more and looking at what um is being
proposed. Um because when you think about it, we're not getting anything out of the building as it stands. Um and if it were occupied by detention, we wouldn't get anything out of it either. Um but let's explore.
Let's um be open to other options. Um, and Mr. Beth, >> and if I may, >> there's lots of reports from the DP about the toxins out there that are floating around that people have and they say different things. So, I think
that we need to be very transparent and make sure that the latest um, facts of what D is saying about the property and what can be done and what can't be done out there. um is shared
with the um constituents so everyone knows the upto-date version of what D is saying. >> Okay. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Madam Chair, I just want to make sure I was clear too when I said all options. Yeah, that includes the detention facility as well.
>> So that's all options whether it's an option that Mr. Shaw is bringing or whether uh the the person I'm talking to, you know, potentially has an interest in doing something all options. Any other comments, thoughts?
>> So, Madam Chairman, the consensus is what Commissioner already just articulated to move forward and explore all all options. >> Explore all options. >> Correct. >> Okay. Excellent. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Um,
all right. The clerk's report. We uh I really don't have anything. I have some stuff for the budget meeting in a little while, but Rachel has a few housekeeping notes to tell the board about. >> Thank you, clerk. Madam chair, board, at
this time, um I'm looking for the board to uh present any recommendations you have of the citizen member to serve on the value adjustment board, uh discuss those options and then appoint a member. Um I brought that to you during your last couple of meetings and uh just
wanted to ask, have you all had an opportunity to find any interested folks who you will learn to serve? >> Not found one, but it Okay. >> It fell through. >> It fell through. Okay. So, if there's no one to appoint at this meeting, um we
can try again at the end of give ourselves a couple more meeting because it's something I will have to have a a member serve on the value adjustment board. Um our first meeting of the DAB will be in August for the organizational meetings. So, there is time. Um, but as
you know, sometimes you'll, you know, want to give you plenty of time to be uh talking and maybe with the county manager's help, something could be advertised maybe on the website that we're looking for a citizen member to serve on the VA um and maybe um maybe
certainly do that. >> Uh the next item that I just want to bring to your attention, it's notice of lands available for taxes. Um, we had a tax deed sale in the clerk's office that um, the bidder didn't uh, pay the
necessary fees within the 30-day deadline. When that happens, we have to put this on a list called lands available for taxes. And within the first 90 days, we have that on the list and the county has the opportunity, if it wishes, to purchase that land um, at
the opening bid amount plus the applicable taxes and interest. or it can wave its right to purchase that land. But statutoily I have to bring that to your attention, give you the opportunity to make a decision on whether you want to purchase the lands or you want to wave your right. Um I did email you a
little back a little while back the package of the lands uh the parcel number. Um and so at this time just looking um for some discussion um and direction from you all on whether we want to and the parcel in question just for the
record um and just so I can state in here on December 17th 2025 our office conducted a tax seed sale on parcel 01195- 0-000000 the bidder failed to pay the amounts due within the 30-day deadline when that
happens, our office must enter the land on a list entitled lands available for taxes and within 90 days, the county may purchase the land for the opening bid plus applicable taxes and interest or wave its right to purchase the property. With that said, how does the board like to proceed?
>> I could have it. I couldn't really tell from the little map. >> It's right behind the desert in that burnt down in loium on 125. Okay. Um is old Cornwall property. Okay. 3.4 acres
>> and the deadline the 90-day deadline is uh April 7 16th. Um so which is why I'm putting it on the agenda before you today >> and sent it to you out a little earlier so you have time to look at the property service
that's pretty >> right behind Desert Islands the corn place. >> Okay. So, I'm going to take a look at it. Madam Chair, if I might say um I as far as the county, I don't know that it would be anything of interest to the
county and I think that it should be something that if it's a tax deed sale or whatever it is, I just uh I think we have properties scattered around the county and uh every time we have something like that that comes up, there's certain requirements for that
property uh whether it be ADA accessible or whatever it is and then there's certainly a cost associated with all of that happening. So that would be my recommendation that we move forward with a a tax deed sale. >> Uh just wave your rights. >> Just to wave the rights. Okay.
>> So Mr. Kate, have you had a chance to look at it to see it? >> No, ma'am. I thought I >> Mr. In your opinion, is it worthy of >> I think I think there's like $8,800 added on plus back taxes, I think. plus the uh interest.
>> Mhm. >> But uh it's just going to sit there in perpetuity until somebody comes up and finally says it's going to go on this list and then somebody come up and say, you know, I want to buy it. Then I'm going have to pay the additional interest. The amount's going to keep growing. >> Okay.
>> And it is a buyer beware. You know, we I don't have any details on the property as far as what you would be inheriting. Um it it's totally buyer beware. Um, and that's what we have to indicate to anybody when they decide that they're interested in purchasing a property. >> Okay. But from what you can visually see
without having inspected it, it's not really something >> I would want it. >> That's what I want to tell you. That's what I >> That's what I was trying to tell you this morning. He just came around and said it. So I I
would be in favor of just saying to wave it and let it go for public. >> I agree. >> That consensus of the board. It sounds like it is. Thank you. That's all I have, Madam Chair. >> Okay. All right. Um,
anything else? >> We're having we don't have anything from the sheriff. Anybody representing? >> So, I would mention, madam chair, that you do have the sheriff's annual report in front of you on the dice. Um, he was called away and not able to be here today, but he did submit that report.
>> Okay. All right. Um, and I'll continue conversation with the sheriff, too. But just looking at um I don't know the number of accidents that we continue to have in certain key areas of our
community off of 227 at 301, Highway 100, um the 21B um to look at these areas to see if they can't do a study or have um Department of Transportation and those jurisdictions
uh of theirs to see why. What are the wise? Can I comment on that? And I knew several I've seen several accidents. 227. >> Yes. >> Bunch. >> My one of my my best friend's wife got in an accident there. And I told her for
months after they put a red light up. I said, "Stop and make sure that the cars stop before you pull out in there." And people run that yellow light or red light and they can't stop that semi or camper or whatever it is. And they just go right through there. I don't know if
a a a white beacon light or something over the lights or something just bring people's attention to that light, but uh I sit there and watch people after light my light turns green coming on the 301. Sometimes I watch two or three cars both directions going by. Every light turns
green. But that that's the big cause of the people rushing to get out there. >> And I've seen the same thing on our bypass near the Walmarts. a lot of near miss by those large trucks and um just makes me cringe. But perhaps if you can
continue to >> Yes, ma'am. I I'll have a conversation with it >> and um managers report. >> Yes, ma'am. Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh first thing we want to want to do is uh something we're very excited about. Um
yesterday was our new uh planning and zoning director's first day. Her name is Bernardet Fischer and she is here with us this morning and I would like to introduce her to the board and to the public. And Bernardet, if you want to come up to the to the podium there and
um introduce yourself to the board um that would be great. Good morning. Morning. >> I'm Bernardet Bishop as you've been told and um I'm happy to be here with the county and looking forward to helping
with making things as hard as possible. >> Want to share a little bit about your background, where you work before or any of that? >> Sure. >> A little bit. I originally started as a planner working with government and then I decided to then pursue working in the
private sector and in recent times I decided instead of doing work for government to actually work for government. So that's what I pretty much and I've done a lot of work on the west coast of the state and in other states as well.
>> Welcome aboard. >> My name is um Alicia would be happy to have you. >> Yes, I am. >> I just want to add u talking to Mr. Cornne uh understand that there's a lot of things that you have experience with
that we've been subbing out to our consultants and um so I understand that you'll be able to take those on. So that'll certainly be a cost savings to the county and we appreciate that. >> So uh that's we look forward to it. Thank you. >> Thank you. Okay.
>> Look forward to working with you and thank you for coming to our little town and um if there's any way we can help you, we're always here to help. >> I appreciate that. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. >> The next thing, Madam Chair, a
legislative update. Don't really have a whole lot to say other than um I know April 20th they go back to address the uh redistric redistricting issue. Other than that, we have no indication of when they'll reconvene to to address the
property tax issues and the budget and everything else that is still on the table. So, uh just to just to be clear, nothing has been funded. There's no appropriation that has been guaranteed or uh otherwise approved. Everything is
still up in the air. So, and we typically we don't find out about the u the final budget until mid June when of course the the governor has a chance to review it and make his um changes. So hopefully we'll be on track for mid
June. I I don't know that that will be the case, but that's what we're hoping for. >> All right. >> That's all I have, Madam Chair. Thank you. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. Um, county attorney. >> Uh, nothing to report.
>> Okay. Commissioners, sorry. Um, I just wanted to mention um we had there was one of our citizens that passed away, Cindy Futch. Um, we we like to refer to her as an eternal
cheerleader because she was a huge supporter of all sports in Bradford County. She was there every game yelling and screaming and and trying to get everybody else to support the team. Um they're going to have a um service for
her on Friday night um at the football field and um we just want to let you know keep her family her husband Steve Futch in your prayers. Um just a very sad sad time. Also um I want to send out
a special thanks thanks to our fire and rescue. You I mean I don't know how many times his phone has went off um since he sat down and since we started this meeting, those people worked so hard and it's
constantly I mean and like Miss Spooner said with all the accidents and and the fires and everything else that they do um when you see them just just tell them thank you. That means a lot to them. It goes a long ways. And um they give they
give a lot. I mean, they really do. And also, Miss Barry, you brought up a road, so I'm going to rang up a road um out by fast track. Mr. Carnegie, if we can can remember, if we can get DOT to finish
what should have been finished when they completed that and put FastTrack in the turning lanes and stuff right there because of course it does bottle bottleneck on 3:1 and it really it causes a lot of problems there.
>> Yes, ma'am. >> And thank you. Thank you for coming. Thank you for voicing your opinions. And like Miss Spooner said, it may appear that I hear it all the time. You've made up your minds already. No need. But
that's not the case. We have questions in our mind. I mean, this is a difficult situation. It's a very hard decision and we want to make sure that we do the right thing. Um, I'm a cancer survivor.
I I understand when someone mentioned that earlier. Nobody wants to do that. We want to do the right thing. That's why we're here. It's It's not for any other reason. We don't make a lot of money. Lord knows we don't make a lot of money, but we do the
best we can and we care about people in this county. We are the people in this county. So, um, just bear with us as we work through this and just know it does mean a lot for you to come and give your
opinions. So, thank you for being here. >> Yeah, I'd like to echo on what commission do. Thank each one of y'all for coming. That shows us y'all show interest in the county, you know. So, thank y'all for coming. And uh I'd like
to welcome Miss uh Fisher on board. We need you. And thank the Lord for this little shower we got. Okay, I'll go ahead. Uh, Alicia, thank you. Are you still here? >> She She left. >> She left. Okay. Want to thank Alicia for
filling in until we hired Miss Fischer. So, uh, thank you for her work and for having to answer the phone for several different offices over there. We really appreciate that. Also want to uh remember uh Gretchen that works over at the jail. Uh, her and her family, they
lost their house to a houseire a couple of days ago and uh it's got to be really tough. I know losing everything but uh fortunately there were no lives lost. Uh again the fire department was responsive and and uh saving a structure that was right next to it. I mean right next to
it. So um anyway just uh you know keep her in your prayers and uh uh you know that there are options out there uh that we have been hearing about and uh you certainly uh you know we did have some interest with MHD Rock Glenn prior. Um I
don't think any promises were ever made. Uh it was just something that they were interested in. Um and again you know we if there's interest in it then you know we certainly want to see it. Um, but I think that uh the sheriff and the county has done everything they can to put it
out there uh to make sure that you know there are some uh opportunities to you know either lease or sell that property. So um anyway that's all I have. Thank you >> and and I too want to thank everyone for being here today. Thank you all so much
for all your comments. Um really do appreciate that and uh it's really cool. We just read that proclamation on the strong families. Well, I just want to give you an update. We've got uh 240 kids playing baseball, softball, Edwards Road. Uh 19 teams. We had our opening
day. It was fantastic. I wish I could sit here and name everyone that participated, but city, county, TDC, everybody came together. Uh our fire department Ben actually MCed the whole thing. And uh it was it was very
very good to see all those those kids out there. Awesome. But so uh and then this past Saturday, what was really cool, we had um um I I want to make the right wording. I would guess you would
call them special needs or autistic children. They came out. We got them uniforms. They we had our uh girls older girls softball team on the field kind of playing with and against them. Um it it was fantastic. There was teenagers out
there helping those kids. Unbelievable the amount of people that was there supporting this and you know it's it's hard to describe unless you was there. If you see um
a autistic kid, child that would never have the opportunity to play ball be out there playing ball. It was great how they walked them around the field or it it was it was fantastic. That's all it just just really really good. And uh so anyway, we're continue to move forward
with the sports. Um and then also uh very important this last weekend you know we celebrated Easter Sunday the birth of our savior and or resurrection of our savior and um you know and again that's what sets Christianity apart from
any other religion um you know Jesus was dead burial and resurrection and uh and he's alive and well and seated in heaven by the right hand of father god. So, um, anyway, if you don't know the story or
about it, I I recommend you get a Bible and read it. Um, so, uh, anyway, but thank you so much again for everything. And that's all I got to say. >> Again, I just wanted to commend you and to thank you all for the respectful
manner and the conduct that you you show showed today and then you have, you know, throughout our meetings. and we do want to hear from you and we do listen despite it appearing to you sometime that we don't but we do it and we do care. Um I want to impart to you um the
importance of adhering to the burn ban. Um, when someone starts a backyard fire that impacts anybody in the surrounding areas, even when it's a controlled burn,
it can get out of hand. Um, people who have respiratory issues, you know, when it spreads, you you suffer. But I just can't import to you how important it is to adhere to it. And Mr. got to get I
want us at the at the forestry department to because they can issue um a firm permit for you to burn. But under those conditions that we're we're under right now, I wish that they would make sure that every preventable structures
are in place because even if you get a permit and it's supposed to become trouble, it can get out of hand. And think about those firefighters, those people who are out there putting their lives on the line to protect us. It puts them at risk as well. So adhere to it
until we got enough rain to take care of the drought that we're experiencing. So I I can't say that enough. >> Madam Chairman, may I add May I add to that? >> Um so the burn ban obviously is still in effect and it will remain in effect despite the little bit of rain we've
gotten over the last 24 hours. Every Monday, uh, the fire chief and I meet along with the department of forestry and captain wit with emergency management and we make determination based on the fire weather forecast and some other data that we have on whether
or not to extend. It's done on a weekly basis. By ordinance, we're we're we can only extend the burn ban by 7 days. So, we do that every Monday. So, to your point, the burn ban is still in place. We will take another look at it on Monday and make a determination whether
or not to extend it. >> Thank you. Uh again, I'm I'm happy that we are looking at some alternatives for the Douglas building and it is my hope and my my hope that it will be uh an
industrial park that is can be used by the community in our future and that it also um offers us the opportunity to get that property cleaned up. um as well so they'll be safe for anyone who might who
might have it. Um we have a budget workshop coming up uh next and so I with that again I thank everyone um for being here. >> Madam Chair, if I may if I may suggest we take a 10-minute break. >> Okay. >> And why don't we say we'll reconvene at
11:45. >> All right. And just before that we our next meeting is going to be April 16th. We'll have our commission meeting on May 5th and also our next budget workshop after that is May 21st and commission meeting on the 21st of
May. Okay, we will convene that. Thank you. Part: 2
shop to order and continuing it and we will call our clerk's office. Um at first we're going to do the capital improvement plan. I apologize. The county manager will be back in just a moment. Just to begin the
capital improvement plan, um you need to have a copy of the drafted plan in front of you. This is including items from the last uh year's already approved 5-year capital improvement along with the addition of the 2930 fiscal year. Um
items marked in yellow, those are new requests from department heads. Um so if you would please review those. Uh a couple of things that I would like to point out. Um specifically under road and pedestrians, you will see three uh
roads that have the gas tax chip seal. Um those are already approved. They were approved for the current fiscal year, but they were not completed. Uh so they've been moved to the next fiscal year. Under that you see three chips roads locations not yet approved. The
locations for those uh requests will uh when that request comes before you would be southwest and northeast 161st Street, Northeast 15th and Southeast 27th. Those will come before you at the next meeting to be approved. This just shows
the uh basic budgeted amount of 350,000 that would be needed to cover those uh roads. Um, and then the Southwest 163rd improvements that's marked in yellow, that is a grant that we've received from the uh Florida Commerce. So, that is
already uh uh funded. The Cypress Run Boat ramp, that is an estimated number based on a 10% increase. Um, we don't have an official number yet, but we're about to submit that grant, so we'll have an official number to put in there soon as we get
that back. Let's see. Um, one other to note on the facility upgrades. Uh, you'll see that courthouse ADA upgrade design and construction is broken into two categories. The first one is the $500,000 state appropriation that the
county has received and the 1.8 million that is a um that is the remainder of what it takes to finish out the project. Uh, now that total is not included in the total at the bottom. Uh I've included those totals with the ones marked in red going forward the next
three years as an amount that the county will save uh will will reserve for that project going forwards. Um one final item to note is the library AC replacement of three commercial units.
Um and uh our library librarian is here uh if you would like to ask any questions about that, but they are uh very much in need of replacing those units. And the current quote that we have is $200,000. If you have any questions, please let me know.
>> Is that for all three? Yes, ma'am. >> Um I noticed that and I think you explained it to me. Um the DOT approved project for 17 northwest 177. Um, it's it's not been started yet, but
it was uh approved. So, would it not be listed as one? >> I I will double check on that one. I think 177 we have just we just gotten it approved and I just need to make sure. Okay. >> I have all of that. I'll I'll double check on that.
>> Okay. Because it should be on there from last year. >> Okay. Madam, Madam Chairman, if I may, Kimberly, do you mind coming up and explaining the situation you're in with your AC units?
>> Madame Chair, commissioners, um I'm here to answer any questions that you have. Um I do want to say that out of eight units, three are down, which is 2, five, and eight. It controls a lot of our rooms like our children's story room, our children's area, um Mr. Kaiser's
office, um our meeting room that is for the public. Um my room, my office, um and our new maker space room that will be open in our grand opening in May. So, it does affect those rooms. Um right now
we're okay cuz the weather's not hot, but last year we went through it, it was really hot. So, um you know, with three units down in it, um outside and in um and also I wanted to say that one of the handlers is in the wrong spot for and
it's above our in our women's bathroom that has caused our ceiling to start, you know, um leaking and it's after the $200,000 quote I have mainly it's around 160, but I know that I'm going to have
to have ceiling repair and all that as well. So, and I have not gotten quotes on that cuz we're kind of waiting to see what goes on with the air conditioners, but we desperately need ceiling repair in the women's bathroom because of this.
>> Well, I think that we all saw I think we all saw pictures um when the gentleman went around and found the things that were wrong and so we all know experiment. That's why I was wondering been going on for a while now. So, okay.
>> Yes, ma'am. >> Any further questions for the library? >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Thank you guys. Have a great day. And Mr. Thompson, I am so into the rain cuz when I moved Easter Sunday, I mowed dirt. >> Yes.
And madam chairman, one thing to note is we have solicited uh requests from all the department heads regarding their capital improvement items and everything that we received is reflected on this list. >> Okay. Thank you. As well as constitutional officers too.
>> As well as constitutional. Yes, ma'am. >> Thank you. Any questions from the vote on any of these categories? >> Sure. I got a question. Okay. Um cuz uh Mr. Corn, I just wanted to um under the
the three road projects, the three chip cell roads, um cuz if we got the funding and we already approved them, those are going to be done like within the next couple months, right? two, three months. In other words, why are we why why would we want
to wait until next year? >> Jason, our public horse director requested that they be moved into this capital improvement plate. >> Okay. Yeah. Can we I just want to have a meeting with us and see I mean we got
>> you know there's what 6 months >> have those have those see how those chips said roads already came before the board approved. Yes, these are ones that were approved last year and were moved to the next. >> They were from last year 27. >> He just wasn't sure that we could
complete them this year and wanted to put them on the next >> Okay. >> capital improvement if if they already approved and he can do them this year. I don't know that moving it to the next year would negate his ability to do that. >> It should not. Yeah, that's what I'm
saying. Yeah. Yeah. >> Why put off tomorrow? He can still do it tomorrow even if you move forward with it being presented as it is right now document. >> All right. Just want to make sure. >> And that's of course that's in the CIP
plan. So is this maybe this year there's other projects that they're working on that are not part of our CIP plan? Maybe some maintenance projects or anything like that. Okay. >> No major projects, but I'm aware of that.
>> Okay. And then just just another question is because if this is the budget for next year, shouldn't we have more roads that we want to get ch sealed for next year? >> We have three that will uh come before
you at I believe the next meeting. We'll have those for approval. Um so he was waiting on a couple of them because he needed to get the quotes back. Okay. >> This is just what is available at this time. If we have more chip steel roads, those would come before you individually
or as a group of roads for approval at a future meeting. >> Correct. And this is exactly what this meeting is designed for because you're not taking any action today. You're not approving this. We're just we're we're workshopping it, talking it through so that the final document
has the things that you're that you've uh talked about. >> Okay, cool. Thanks. And with the county road 18 from 231 to um 227 um it we've just submitted it to FDOT for funding. So we we have no idea on
the amount or anything. >> That is correct. >> Okay. >> Madam Chair, while we're talking about roads, um just was I don't see Mr. Trailer. I guess he left. Uh there's a a particular road >> Strawberry Acres. >> No, Strawberry Acres.
>> Oh, the one he mentioned. >> Clark, do you remember the number that >> I don't I can look it up real quick. It's one that goes by the satellite dishes and Li on 225. Uh >> is that the road that turns off of the Samson City Fire Station? >> No. No. It's one that goes from 225 and
Li to Crawford Road. >> So, it's a north and south road. >> Is that 219? >> Okay. 2193 road. >> Yes. Anyway, yeah, he had mentioned that uh the the construction of that he brought it up in a meeting before and uh
I think Anderson Colombia or he thought it was Anderson Columbia that did the project. So, it must have been a a scop or a scrap project. Okay. >> But it sounds like that uh it needs to be, you know, taken a look at as far as the uh the asphalt that's already breaking up on the edges of the road.
And so it would be worth having Jason go out there and take a look at that and see if there's not something that we could do or follow up on. >> Yes, sir. That absolutely we can take a look into that. While the reason I paused is because I was trying to remember there was another road that um
there was a question about the asphalt. They had used a type of asphalt that they no longer use and that was causing the deterioration. But that's the road that goes from Stark to Camp Landing. >> 230. >> 230. Yeah. And I have no idea if it's a similar situation out there where you guys are talking about or not, but we
can certainly look into it. >> Yeah. I don't think it's the surface. I think it's more of like the edge, the shoulders. Uh what he's saying. >> I mean, that's in my area. >> You You have Okay. >> Oh, yeah. Me and Jason both. What it is is just the little edges. It's not a
It's not a finished product. It's just a cap that was put down. and what it's doing in a few right there at the edge is cracking a little bit, but that's not the finished product. I've been out there to that road probably at least 100 times,
>> right, Commissioner Thompson? You said that's not the finished product. >> No, no, no, no. >> Okay. Okay. >> Well, then that would make sense. >> It was after after they rolled it. >> Yeah. >> They put a thin coat of asphalt. >> Okay. >> And I mean, they ain't capped it yet. >> So, well, that makes sense.
>> That's 40. 4. >> That's >> Yeah, there ain't nothing wrong with that road. They're doing a super duper job on >> Okay. >> And the ditches and the drain out there. >> Okay. >> Record Rob saying 41st and he he grew up
there. So he know 41st Rod. >> Yeah. >> Well, and that little I got three roads going. >> Okay. Oh, >> well, I was just going to on Cypress
Run. Um, everything is sitting ready and everything's been passed and and we're ready to go. Other than >> we are now at the point that we've been trying to get to for the last three and a half years, >> right? >> So, we're we're uh we're ready to submit
the grant application for the actual construction. So, we are well underway. >> Thank you very much. excited. >> Oh, but I was also going to bring up one road um because we just mentioned it
turning down beside the um the fire station there on on Samson City going towards the Church of God. That road, >> it it's terrible. I mean, it really really is. And so if we can get Jason just to write out and and take a look at
what can be done. I know that a lot of what's happened is because we went out and did what someone asked us to do out there and it now the road is washed away and the the paving is starting to break off and um we got a
mess out there. >> Yes, ma'am. We're we're aware of that situation. As a matter of fact, um did somebody end up meeting one of the citizens out there recently or
the you remember the road where Jason and I were supposed to meet him out there? >> Oh yes. Yes. Uh it was public works met him. >> It might have been Dale. somebody from public works actually met one of the citizens out there um to take a look at
the road and Jason's very familiar with the issue and um my understanding what I understand from Jason is that in terms of width uh it meets DOT requirements uh however the shoulders are it's it's the
county's responsibility to dress the shoulders with Limerock and whatever other improvements are necessary to make it to where if you need to get off the there's at least a lime rock shoulder that you can get on. So, I think that's what Jason's looking at now to uh to
solve the problem. >> Okay. >> What road was this? I'm sorry. >> It's the one that >> 225A Southwest 225. Um, and I think maybe one of the ones I bring up to you to later, but as they're
doing um, Northeast 173rd Avenue and as they're doing that and then this um, the side road that is um, 19th I think it's 19th Avenue that intersects with it on the left.
>> 12 >> 12 That's 12. It's 12. >> Okay. 12. And I think I think it's 12 and 19 and also 19. It's where the bears were um the bear cubs linger. Um but I
think it's maybe 19 I believe. But what I was my point is when there there's a there's a bear bear family out there. Um Mr. night always calls me about that particular road that washes out. So that
particular road as they're working on 173rd, if they can do the side road while they're doing it, it would uh help prevent the deterioration once you got one part paved the other one not right. Okay, we've got that.
Okay. So, is everyone good with with what we've got here so far? and with the understanding that we'll bring back another iteration of the next the next workshop. >> Yes. >> You want to comment?
>> I have a question. Um, excuse me. Uh, Mr. Still, give me a second. Um and uh Chief Carter on the the 2930. Um was that something that you would look to go after appropriations for the
2.5 million? >> Absolutely. >> Okay. Yes, sir. >> Okay. I know there's just there's I know there's concerns and you know when the fire assessment was passed about an increase and I just want to make sure that we're able to operate you know within our means and not looking at uh funding that through any kind of an
increase definitely uh appropriations would be fantastic. >> Yes sir. Absolutely. We understand that that's unrealistic for you know the county to to to foot that bill. So we definitely seek alternative sources for that. >> Okay. Yes. >> We do that in phases. We like have you
already started requesting the >> Not at all. Okay. Not not yet. Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. >> Um you all okay with Did you have a particular question, Mrs. Steel? >> Yes.
>> Please come here. Okay then. >> Can we keep that within 3 minutes, please? >> Yes. >> Thanks. >> All still 14167 Southwest 101st Avenue store. It relates to the Cypress boat ramp. Uh I'm not sure where that stands
in terms of permitting, but uh and I'm not sure what's in the application, but I know the last engineering design that I saw was going to have some serious problems with permitting because it required uh channelization and draining
of a uh of the lake bottom rather than using the old canal. And so I I've hoped that uh you're aware of that and that you would uh make sure that those plans do not include uh drainage uh
dredging a new canal through wetlands. Thank you, >> Madam Chairman. Amanda would like to respond to that. >> Okay. Amen. >> Thank Thank you, Madam Chair. Um just uh I can't uh speak regarding any exactly what the um engineering is but I can
tell you we do have 100% approved plans. We have also uh been completely permitted both by the water management and we submitted a permit um in to the uh army corps of engineers in case we needed a 404 permit. We have received response from them that no permit is
required. The project is fully permitted to the length that it needs to be to go through with construction. So, we have the entire uh packet ready to go. We're just finalizing the grant application itself. The date will be submitted is by April 25th and we will move forward with
this project. >> Thank you. >> Good job, Amanda. >> Okay. >> Um Okay. And um straight. Um, I'm not even advocating for my own area,
but anyway, I got a a text from one of your areas for Southeast 46. Does that ring over by the church? >> By the church by the That's 103rd by your um Macedonia Church off of State
Road 18. That was 103rd and Southeast 46th Avenue. Thank you, Madam Chair. Can I ask a question >> pertaining to what we're addressing here? >> Yes. >> Okay. Brevity,
it's just real quick. um the library um she mentioned um further um bond is strong post office 530 lobby
she mentioned further repairs uh to the roof and I just have a question as to if there's further repairs why they haven't been addressed
uh prior to now. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Well, I don't I don't think that we could make the repairs >> um prior to putting in the new systems because naturally, if we made the
repairs, then the old systems would wet it and tear it back down. So, we have to wait until we get some new air conditioning units, put them in, and then I would think that the repairs would be made, and that way we don't have any any future damage. So, I just
think it's the process. >> It's like it's like this. There's a there's a handler in the ceiling, these ceiling tiles, >> and it's dripping on the ceiling tiles and making the ceiling tiles fill. >> Yeah, that's exactly it. Thank you, Danny. >> You're welcome. Well, I know we had saw the pictures and she probably didn't,
but that's what it was. It's just damage in the roof. >> Sorry, not the roof. >> And you and you've got to take the ceiling down to get the old unit out anyway. So, >> you'd have to take it all down. >> I have one more question. And I see that
we put in for >> um >> the 1.2 million for um Theresa's living quarters with us being uncertain if um the rest
of our um allocation is going to come through or not. Should we put that on here or should we I I don't know what we would do. >> That's just again looking down the road and and forth forth planning. Um, but that building is the same style we've
replaced in Samson City, the uh the portable building, and it's it's on its last leg. We've the county has sunk quite a bit of money into trying to repair that and make it last as long as possible. We are going to explore again alternative funding sources for that. Um, with a lot of the talk and and kind
of the excitement of possible development out of the airport, there may be a future, you know, partnership possibility with uh with them. Um again, so just looking at at the alternative funding sources for that, of course, we would look at appropriations for that project as well. Um to put something
>> and the additional funding for Rooker if we don't receive that this year. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Um would we put that on here or would we just wait and request the funding again at whenever they come or >> since that was a Brooker project, that would be with the town of Brooker. So
that count again, the county's separated from that. I'm just managing those funds for the town. >> Okay. All right. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Anything else? Do you see? >> Well, we said that the on the um air
burner. >> I guess we're moving the grelin truck to next next year, >> correct? Yes, ma'am. That's all I have. just move. I'm sorry. Go ahead. No, I was just I was thinking about the the
point you was making about the two roads. Believe me, I I get calls on them all the time on those two roads. And um so that's why I was making the point that if we've got the money to do the chip seal roads, let's move it along so that we can get these other roads going.
I think that's that's the conversation that I've been having with Jason. Okay. Just just to let you know, I haven't forgot those roads, but but we have to finish the other three. >> Absolutely. >> Before we move on to other things. >> Yes, sir. And and so, um, Amanda, where
we have the graband truck. So, Oh, I see it. Never mind. I see it. I have these young tender eyes and so I have to look a little closer, but I see it. The air burner. All right. I just think about how much that's going
to save all of those load after load after load after load. >> Yes, ma'am. And uh once again, our public works director stepped up to the plate and did an outstanding job finding a way to save money.
>> What will that thing burn per day? >> I don't know the capacity >> told me. Yeah, but it's it >> quite a bit. >> Yeah, it it won't take long, put it that way, to burn those 320 tons that are out that are currently out
there now. >> Money and wear and tear on the diesel fuel. >> Good deal. how we can track that and and and just be be aware of what that amount
that we're saving is cuz it's going to be a lot. >> Oh, we absolutely will. Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. You don't see anything else? I'm going to ask to be excused at this time. I don't have anything else. I've got to go to the APWA conference myself. So, I'm headed to Tampa.
>> Thank you. >> No one has anything else. >> All right. Very good. Thank you for that. we'll uh transition into the uh presentation regarding the loss of the abilorum revenue the uh
so I want to I want to take our time going through this um one of the things that it's important for everyone to understand is there could be literally hundreds of variations to is there are all sorts of
uh increments, all sorts of values that we can we can use to to adjust. Um this will make more sense to you as we go along, but the purpose of this presentation is this. We we want to show
the board and the public what a loss in $5.4 million of tax revenue would mean to the board of county commissioners. uh departments. This does not include constitutional officers offices
and it does not include public safety. So Amanda, if you'll go ahead and um the other thing that's very important that I'd like for everyone to understand is this is not a staff recommendation. We are in no way suggesting that this is
what needs to be done or even can be done. Um neither is it um an attempt to influence people on how to vote in November should this measure make the ballot. Um this is purelyformational.
Uh like I said, not only for our board, but also for the voting public. Um we believe they have a right to know what they're voting on and what their vote will mean practically to them as citizens of Bradford County.
So, we all know what's at stake here. Uh, we're looking at the elimination of the homestead zip property taxes statewide and the counties around the state rely on these taxes to fund day-to-day operations and obviously that
varies from county to county. So, it would not be fair to to uh compare a rural financially or um fiscally constrained county with one of the more affluent counties um in the population centers such as Miami down in South
Florida, uh Orlando, Tampa, even Jacksonville. So, keep in mind that as we go through this exercise that this this impact, this $5.4 $4 million loss in revenue will impact fiscally constrained counties far more than it
would any of the ones that are not. This is our current budget allocation. Um we have backed out the $16.8 million in public works grants that we receive from the state typically for our SCOP
and scrap programs. And that gives a better view of what we actually uh what the board funds um the $3.7 million for public works. And I won't go through each of them, but that gives you a graphic representation
of where the board funded departments uh are situated in terms of the level of of funding. As I said before, um the loss of $5.4 4 million. Um the total amount collected according to the tax collector is around
15.5 million. Of that 15.5 million, 5.4 million is the amount of advant I mean the amount of homestead exempted property tax. That is what we'd be losing. Now the other caveat is that
public safety that being the sheriff's office and the fire department are protected. We cannot re reduce funding to the sheriff or the fire department for the next two years. So any those two uh those two agencies are off limits
when it comes to cuts. >> Can I make a point? >> Yes, please. Um, I think the first point that the manager made was the concept that there's all types of iterations of proposals. So,
while I hear proposals that say that public safety cannot be reduced, that doesn't mean that's going to be the final proposal or what's on the ballot. Um, I I can't tell you what hold harmless
means. I've heard that word those words bantied about but I don't know what that means because what does it mean hold harmless at the current level
of funding what happens in 3 years when you know with inflation and everything that comes with you know increase in costs does it does it rise like uh uh you
like a cost of living um adjustment. I mean that so the the devil's in the details is my point. So while I know that was concluded in some language that was adopted by the house and so it makes sense that's all you can rely on, right?
Is uh Scott's interpretation understandably of what he saw was passed by House passed by anybody else. Right. Right. Um I I don't even know how these numbers work
quite frankly um when you in certain communities. So anyway, I just Right. And I agree with the senator. It's it's this is just an exercise uh so that no one's blindsided in the
end. Uh if the worst case scenario actually happens, that's what we're doing here today. Um amendment. Thanks. >> So, just a few of the countywide impacts that we'd be looking at is uh reduced
access to the services that would include seniors and families um leading to unmet needs. Of course, deferred infrastructure maintenance, uh roads, bridges, public facilities, all that would begin to deteriorate because we would not have the funding to to
maintain it. Uh which would only lead to increasing future costs. And then of course the long-term effects of quality of life. Um you know we're we're in the we're in this growth stages right now. We have an excellent opportunity for
economic growth here in Bradford County and and in the region. Um we have made huge strides over the past 3 years, four years when it comes to economic growth and development. And this would effectively hamstring us going forward.
Um just another thing to be aware of. Um, you may have heard or you may have seen the prep, which I know you did, uh, the press release that came out last week regarding the development of the airport. What a game changer that is, right? I mean, it's just it would be one of the biggest things in terms of
economic development that's happened in this region, uh, maybe ever. So, another thing to keep in mind, now we're going to look at each department, what it means to each department. And by the way, as you know, you can see for yourself, my directors
are all here today. Um, except for, of course, Jason, who's in at a conference, and a couple others that had to keep their shops open because they're one person shops. Um, and all of them understand, each of these directors understand that what they're getting
ready to see over these next 10 or 12 slides is purely hypothetical and it's not being advocated by anyone because we're going to talk about closing departments. And the reason we're going to close departments is to get to that $5.4 million
that we're going to lose. Um, in terms of public works, these are some of the practical impacts that we'd be facing. Uh, we would be delaying road surfacing and maintenance schedules. Uh, reduced drainage and storm water system
improvements, longer response time for potholes and safety issues, higher long-term repair costs due to defer maintenance. And you'll see how that plays out. Uh basically on this slot, some of the specific reductions that
we'd be looking at is we would eliminate two supervisor positions. That would lead the public works director and one supervisor. We look at reducing the number of graders that we lease from 3 to one and cut two FTEEs.
We would reduce the rideway mowing from seven or eight times yearly to three to four times yearly. Imagine that we would reduce milling uh millings and lime rock purchases and eliminate all over time. Now, if we do all these
things that we just pointed out, that total reduction is $1.2 million. You subtract that from the 5.4 million, we've got $4.2 million left to cut. Parks and Recreation. Our total budget,
current total budget for that is $166,000. That includes the 150,000 that you approved for Bradford Sports United along with the 16,000 that was currently in the budget to maintain what we already have. So, if we cut that 166,000
out, close the parks, uh we only have to reduce by another 4.04 million. planning and zoning. If we eliminated the planning and zoning director position, uh be about an $85,000 savings. Um what
would that mean? It would mean that an increased cost to the community for application, processing, and review. What we would essentially do is turn the turn the operation over to a contractor. And we all know how exorbitant those prices are. That's why we were so
delighted to find us a planning and zoning director that could come in and and take over that that job so that we could save that amount of money. But if we do and then of course the the the effect that it would have on the public,
the response times for permitting and inspection, zoning reviews would be increased. And then of course again talking about economic development, it would have a direct negative impact on that as well. But if we cut out the $85,000, then we're only looking at 3.95
million left. The library, if we close the library, we're looking at 40 $415,000. Um, we'll eliminate the lit literacy and summer reading programs. I don't have to explain to you what closing the library
means. It's it's obvious. Uh, that would leave us $3.54 million that we need to cut. Veterans Affairs eliminate the transfer, the VA transfer, close the office, and we can save $250,000 a year. That brings
us to 3.29 million left to cut. Senior center total reduction $76,000. Close the doors and we're down to 3.214 million. Solid waste and mosquito control. This
is a little tricky because we currently have a solid waste assessment that is $125 a year. It generates about $1.4 million. Um, currently our solid waste operation cost us about 1.7 million to
operate. So, we're essentially about a half million dollars short on on that that thing being totally totally funded by an assessment. Um couple like I said in the beginning there's a hundred different variations or more on how to
proceed with this thing. But if we left left things as they are and took out mosquito control we could reduce that budget by $67,000 leaving us $3.147 million left to cut
UFIS. If we eliminate the a transfer, we can save $272,000, discontinue all a IPA functions, and that brings us down to $2.875 million. The IT budget, if we reduce spending on
their budget by 50%. Um, we're looking at about $200,000 that we can save, bringing us to 2.675 million. County Administration Support Services. We could eliminate an FTE there. Uh save
us about $55,000 and that would take us down to 2.62 million. Third party funding. This includes your NOS's and NPOS, the the agencies that come to you every year and ask for funding um for outside agencies. If we
eliminated all that funding, it would save us $171,000, getting us down to 2.449 million left to cut. So all those reductions added up together equal 2,449,000.
If you subtract that from 5.4 million, it leaves a balance of $2,620,000 that we still need to cut. The remaining reductions would be available through salaries and benefits. That's the only thing left to cut. If you went through
an across the board salary reduction, um we'd have to do the math. Uh 10%, 15%, 20%. Whatever the case may be. Um you're looking at serious staffing shortages. Um we have no idea who would stay and
who would go if we were to cut salaries like that. Um, we've had benefits up here on the board. Um, that would include health insurance. Uh, we do have I think we What's our number, Amanda? 3
to >> 3.7 >> $3.7 million. So yeah, that that includes everyone in the county, not only board supervised employees, but constitutions as well. So if you wipe
out health insurance for every county employee, which you cannot do, by the way, you still have to provide um health insurance and funded at 50%. But if you could wipe out the whole thing, that would get you below your 2.6 million. Um
and once again, tons of variation there. You can decide, you know, what level what do you want to spend on health care and other benefits, but it's not going to get you anywhere near 246, right? All right.
So, the key takeaways here are that eliminating revenue source, which is what this means, does not eliminate the cost of services. Those costs are still there. So, service reductions would be the only way to balance the budget. and even the reductions in service that
we've talked about would not get us to the 5.4 million. Um the impacts would obviously be visible and ongoing. There's no there's no overcoming this. Now, let's talk about a couple of u alternatives. There's a few things that
we could do or that the board could do to offset some of this loss. One is the fire assessment. Currently, you are funded at 50%. You could immediately go to 100% funding and that would result in
$1.8 million in revenue to replace that portion of the 5.4 million that you're losing. Um, we talked a little bit about solid waste. Um, there is room to increase that assessment. Benny, I believe we had
talked about that number being up around $175, $180 annually. >> That that would fully fund the solid waste operation. Um, other sources, we've already talked
about utility franchise fees. Uh based upon the work that we did 3 and a half years ago with FPL, um we we anticipate that the additional revenue that would be produced if we did impose franchise
fees uh would be around $2 million. Um >> additional >> Yes, ma'am. That'd be additional revenue to offset. So the 5.4 for an MSTU municipal services taxing unit is not an option for Bradford County
because that is tied to the mill rate and we are currently capped at 10 mills. So MSTUS are out of the question. Now MSBUs, municipal services benefit units are something a little bit different. Um they are not considered a
tax. They're considered a fee or assessment in the eyes of the state. uh which means they're not affected by the current millage rate and they can be levied as um to fund a specific purpose or benefit in a community. We have no
way of knowing what that amount would be without going through some extensive research and analytics to determine that amount, but it would be an option to fund the EMS operation. Just that's just one one of the areas that could be funded by an MSBU.
Other is uh specific roadway work could possibly be funded by an MSBU. All those are things that we would we would have to look at if that time ever came. Now Rachel, I'm going to need your help a little bit here. The uh local option
sales surf tax, are we current are we currently maxed out on that? >> Yes. >> Okay. So that's not even an option. Sales tax increase is not an option. the tourist and bed tax. Pam was here earlier. She had to leave, but we do have a little bit of room. We're at 4%
right now. We could go to 6%. Um, that would be a nominal once again a nominal increase in in revenue there. And then Rachel, once again, gas and fuel taxes. >> I believe we're maxed out on all of our
potential gas and fuel taxes. I'll need to double check that, but I'm pretty sure we're anything that we're eligible to receive as far as taxes have. >> Yes, I think you and I had that conversation a while back and and we determined that that was not not an option.
>> Mr. Con and Rachel, what would if they did an increase in the bed tax from 4 to 6% about roughly what would that bring? Do you have any motion? >> I think I may I think I may have that right here. But that's that money is very restricted
in how it will be spent. So I'm not sure that that would produce revenue for the >> the things you're trying to >> you know supplement >> or replace 16,7 >> but it could be used for example let's
say with the recreation that they could um whatever they were contributing they could still do that where we would actually cut it from the county budget. That would be an example of where they could >> I think it depends on it's a case by
case analysis. I I couldn't say you could definitely do something recre quote unquote recreation on exactly what it was that you was proposing to do and and that would be a case by case. It's that particular tax is
>> it's particularly uh ownorous in the requirements. >> So the as I said the if we if you were to increase the bed tax from four to six, you'd be looking at approximately $5,000 in additional revenue. So it's
nominal. >> So just just Make sure I'm So we have about 350,000 budgeted in our budget for TDC. We're looking at the budget correctly. Local option tax tourism 350,000
and >> yeah, last year she reported that they brought in $275,233. >> So I base the the 2% increase off that number. >> Okay. >> Seems like it be more than 5,000. Yeah, it would be more than that 2%.
It would be it would be 6%. >> Yeah, but it would be um >> what was the total this year? >> 275. >> Yes, it would probably be an increase of $130,000. Yeah. >> But again, that money would be
restricted. All right. >> All right. Um, moving on. >> That's it. >> All right. So, there there's the the doomsday >> the doomsday >> scenario. >> And as Rachel um the I think at the beginning when you showed this I think
it was our revenue was like 15.5 that we take in. >> So is that the hard number or is that a projected number based on the increase in property taxes that we currently have or is that
what we would have done from the previous year? >> That's based on what the property appraiser estimates the revenue that we're going to bring in. And so Mr. Cornnegade uh plugged in that number because that's the number we plugged into this year's budget. The budget we're working in this year. >> Okay. it will
>> we're not sure you know what's going to happen with the military trade but you know you know >> but I was just wondering if it in included the projected increase in the value of the property um >> for this year
>> okay and and once again I can't say this too many times or enough um it's exactly what Senator Bradley said earlier We at this point we just don't know >> we have no idea
>> what's going to happen. >> He mentioned carve outs or making hole. What what does that even mean? Does it mean that the fiscally constrained counties like Bradford will be carved out of this this legislation and
provided for in the amount that we're currently receiving? We don't know. We have no idea. And the purpose for this exercise, like I said from the very beginning, is to let this board know, which you
already did, but more importantly, let the public know what they're voting for in November. >> And you did exactly what we asked you to do. And it's important for I guess the reality to sink in if you
know if the propert is tax passes what what that would how that would impact our community. Um and out of everything that you presented today it seemed like the only way that we could recover at least half of what we would need would
be through um franchise fee with the two um power companies. >> Yes ma'am. And that 2 million that was up there, that's that's probably a very optimistic number. Um probably 1.5, maybe more realistic. Um but I was
trying to be optimistic. You know what I would like to do? Lori offered to be here today and I think it it's worth um hearing from her and let you let her give you her perspective on the the the health insurance benefit issue.
um she's got all the the technical numbers and dollar amounts and so forth. And uh thank you Lori so much for offering to be here and do this. Um you certainly didn't have to. >> Thank you for having me. So, I don't really know um
really don't know what all to say, but I would like to say that um the over the last couple of years, we've done a really good job of triming back the costs for employees health insurance and we've been able to manage doing that and saving money without really affecting
the employees. So, I look forward to working even more um with you guys and possibly looking at alternatives and see how much more we can cut. Um you know, it's all about it's all
about their benefits and taking care of them and doing the best we can for them. But I just want to um say that um we are required because of the size group that we are, we are required
um to offer what they call the minimum essential coverages. And so we have to offer a plan that covers at least 60% of their bills without exceeding
$10,600 max out of pocket per employee. Um if we fail to do that, then um there is a $3,340 um penalty per employee.
And we there's all different ways um you know right now the board funds 100% of the employees coverage. There are some ways um to look at things like that
um for the employee to share some of that cost each month. um for but for example um we cannot charge them we cannot let them pay a
contribution that's more than 9.96% of their income. So, for an example, if we have an employee that makes $15 an hour and and that 9.96% um percent, we cannot that has to be
based on the lowest paid employee, not not an average or of all the employees, it's the lowest paid employee. So, like I say, if we have an employee that makes $15 an hour, um they cannot be required
to pay more than $258.96 towards their health insurance contribution. Now with with that being said with you know with what we have to stay within the
criteria of not exceeding that $10,600 max out of pocket um for health coverage. there are a lot of things that we can do um you know to to possibly not have to pay you know it's y'all's
decision but possibly not have to impact them terribly. But just for an example for what we did last year um in 202 um 4 through 2025 period um we
just simply increased the inpatient and outpatient um cost for the for the insured from $750 to $1,500. and in return the county issues a
reimbursement to those employees if they're affected by that change. Um then and that that caused us to avoid a 17.8% rate increase. So that that was huge for plan years 25 through 26.
Again, we increased the coverage for the inpatient and outpatient. Um we took it from 1500 to 3,000. That little change alone still not impacting the employees at all cost us to save $254,000.
So there are things that we can look at, you know, if we want to get a little more aggressive. There are things that we can look at and consider um without, you know, without hurting the employees too bad. And hopefully, you know,
there's things that we can do to maybe not hurt them at all. um you know, maybe there's something that we can do to stay in a in a reimbursement situation to where they're not impacted, but yet the county still gets to save money, if that
makes sense. >> So, Lori, I think you may have already said this, but if you don't mind, >> um if the board chose to eliminate the the healthcare benefit all together,
>> Yes, sir. Then we are compelled by >> federal >> federal Yes. We're compelled by federal law to pay Yes. to But if we if we don't comply with that, we have to pay a penalty. Is that right?
>> $3,340 per employee after the first 30. So like say we have 250 employees, we subtract 30, we would still have 220 employees
that you would be assess the penalty on. So we have we have is it 60% that we have to >> so we we have to um >> it's never going to make financial sense not to not to provide it because there's the federal law is set up to when you're
an employer of this size to make sure you provide health insurance. It's never going to make financial sense to do that. >> The question is whether you I've had to deal with this stuff at the state before. I mean the question is whether you do something with what employees
contribute uh to their monthly um I mean to their you know health insurance payment and or do you deal with deductibles and raising the deductibles. Those are two things you can play with. you can play with their with their money, you know, that
they're bringing in um on their salary like he says start a contri, you know, a contribution to where they have to start paying some of the premiums or we can do it based on their coverages.
Um, I think the first place would be to look is to look at their coverages and see what we can do to to make the changes that would least impact them. Um, you know, on a group this size, you know, we unfortunately we have some
people that are very sick, but we also have some people who are very well. And so I think if you know if we look at maybe adding deductibles, right now we don't have deductibles. Everything that we do is co-pays. So maybe we could look
at adding deductibles. Maybe we could look at taking the co-ay for the inpatient and outpatient up to 5,000 instead of 3,000. Um those are things that the county has reimbured for in the past and and when we made these changes,
we won. um you know when when we made the changes to the increase the county has been able to see the benefit and the employees have not seen any um you know they've not been impacted by that at all because of your generous
reimbursements to them for the impatient and outpatient. So, I think I think there's several different ways we can look at it that would make everybody feel a lot more comfortable with the changes that we know that we may
possibly have to make. >> And the challenge you're going to run into is that health insurance is increasing. So, you're you're going to have to either pay more for health insurance or make these changes anyway just to break even in terms of how much
you paid from last year to this year. And then if you want to actually go in and negative so you pay less towards health insurance then you start looking at things like um having the employee e contribute more to their um when they go
to the hospital they pay more out of pocket you know or when or if they have any kind of services pay more out of pocket which is like the deductible right um or you deal with the premium them picking up more of the cost the
monthly premium. Uh and um you know those are just and and sometimes you can do all those things put more burdens on their backs and then it doesn't actually improve your bottom line because you're having to make up for the fact that the entire system if you didn't change it at
all would have gone up year. You see what I'm saying? >> So um it's it's going to be something you're going to have to deal with ongoing anyway, >> right? And another thing to keep in mind when you start talking about reducing
employees salaries and reducing their benefits, you have to seriously consider what that means in terms of attraction and retention. I'll give you a couple of good examples. We've had a diesel mechanic position
open for months, months. We cannot fill it >> because of the salary >> because of the salary and the benefit pack. It's just not it's just not competitive. >> Well, the the one thing to think about
is, you know, don't mess with the salaries and focus on the benefits. In other words, at the water management district, for instance, when we put our salaries up, we we stop bleeding employees. I mean, it's not rocket
science because you're paying people more, >> but people are very sensitive to salaries um amounts probably more so than benefit issues, you know. So, it's it's a there's a marketing element to it, but there also is a reality element
to it, which is if you're a healthier, younger person, you're aren't going to utilize in the health plans as much. and and so um you know it it might be more important an individual like that uh to get higher salary than worry so much
about the level of benefits that they're having to contribute more than they did year prior. You see what I mean? >> It's a balancing act for sure. But uh those are just things to keep in mind uh when it comes to trying to close the 2 whatever million dollar gap. One thing
the chief deputy clerk uh just brought up going back to franchise fees. Um you know we saw that movie back in 2023 and we all know how it ended with uh Clay Electric.
um this the number that I gave the 2 million which as I already told you is optimistic and that's also assuming that this time Clay Electric would play ball which we have no no reason to believe that they would or
or wouldn't. We've just got to approach them again and see if we can make that happen. Um, but yes, uh, Rachel brought that up and that's very much worth noting. >> Well, Clay Electric doesn't seem to mind
increasing their rates. >> So, um, they need to they need to um, >> stay out of these decisions uh, to the extent they have been before. >> I know that's not a legal opinion, but it's a >> it's a Rob Brownley opinion. Yeah. Well,
I said shortly after >> we met with them >> that there was an increase that came. >> Yes, ma'am. I mean shortly after >> within months we we had a missed opportunity but one other question I wanted to ask um Miss
Roman of the I know I know we don't know exactly what may be on the ballot but I know there some there were some some proposal where they would do it in increment you know over 10 year a period
have you all done any projections on the on the loss over time as opposed to we have to come up with the 5 million at the worst scenario. >> I think that it seems like their
proposals keep changing. You know, initially there was a incremental phase. Um we were told at one time fiscally constrained counties would be carved out. Then we kind of heard again that maybe the first year you're going to be fine, but then after that you're going
to need to figure things out on your own. ly constrained counties. Um, so I I'm reluctant to answer that because that field goal just keeps moving and I I we're presenting the the county
manager and his team have done a phenomenal job putting this together. >> It's based on very limited information. We know it's being discussed something the governor is pushing hard for and but it does seem like the information you know what the committee is proposing is
changing but what we feel consistent on is that it's you know the homestead revenue or adorn you know um is what's being kind of tossed around is seems to be the most popular and this is what we bring in. Um, I feel like the first year if it does pass in November, the first
year after that, that we'll be fine. But I >> I don't know that for sure. >> I know. >> You know, I just want >> And again, from my standpoint, you know, for the changes that we have made over the last couple years, we've always done it um to where it would not where it did
not impact the employees. So my goal would be to bring you guys some alternatives to look at that first and then some worst case scenarios also for you guys to decide on. So just be assured that we'll do the very best that
we can to to make it a minimal impact. Madam Chair, >> may I ask a question? Sure, Miss Lori. Miss Lori is part of the proposals that you can explore and I don't know if this is feasible um but to the um Mr.
Bradley's uh position earlier younger person may not need you know such such a healthy plan as maybe an older person. So is part of a you know a plan that we could look like look at could be tiered you know maybe it's certain employees
could sign up for this type of package and other employees could sign up for this type of package. um it'd be more of a savings to this employee if they're younger and they're more healthy and they don't need such a plan, but maybe there's another way that they can benefit from, you know, that savings to
the county in other ways. >> I just wanted to throw that out there if that's something we could look at as well. >> We could look at that. Um, we could also, you know, we could look, we could look at those tiers and look at a plan that the board would fund the majority
of and like you mentioned in the employee um, who may need a more robust health plan buy into. Um, the other thing we could look at is adding deductibles that we've never
added before and look at the figures on how the group has performed. Say like if we have 250 employees, well, there may not only be 50 of them that's ever needed services that would cause them to
meet a deductible. Um, we could look at those type things, you know, adding deductibles and then maybe the board reimburseing for the deductibles or the or a portion of the deductibles instead of the inpatient outpatient co-pays that we do now. So, there's a lot of things
that we can look at to save on if that makes sense. Did that >> Yeah. So, uh, just to mention that first of all, I want to recognize our people. Um, Amanda
and Chief Carter were a tremendous help in getting this done and, uh, putting this presentation together. Uh Rachel was instrumental in getting this done, providing me with numbers and ideas and other things that
that I couldn't have done on my own. And in terms of these directors, they've all got their budgets in. Everybody has already submitted their budgets. um at the next budget workshop which is when Amanda
>> May 6th >> May 21st at 5:30 p.m. >> May 21st at 5:30 p.m. each of them will be presenting uh their budgets for your review um and submission
in the public. So, uh, thank you to each of you for your hard work. Um, I know it's it's tough sitting there hearing this. U, once again, you're all smart and you all know that this is, uh, just an exercise and, uh, what what could but
probably will not happen. Um, but in terms of the next budget workshop, we'll have the, uh, opportunity to go through each department's budget uh, individually. Um and even prior then next week as a matter and then next week
is our next board meeting the 16th on April 16th is um the state of the county. So I'll be delivering the annual progress report at at that meeting and um they'll all have an opportunity to to to blow their horns
and ring their bells and whistles. So uh and there's a lot of whistle to be done. Okay. So, uh, just thank you all for that. Thank you very much for your hard work and everything you do to to, you know, help the county manager's office
and to get into a position where we're able to to accurately share this information not only with the board but also the public. And in terms of the presentation itself, Madam Chairman, that's all I have. >> All right. Um, any further questions from the board?
I just I think that everybody everyone that you know doesn't want to pay property taxes. Nobody does. But I hope that everybody understands
just like you have shown what is going to happen if we don't. um there'll either be other taxes or there will be um fees or what however it's classified
but to just be able to survive and um just so everybody understands that >> I just like to commend Mr. Carnegie and all all of our staff, Amanda and um Taylor and Miss Ro and the clerk,
everybody who's helped with this and all of the department heads because we asked you to do this. We wanted to look at those hard numbers. What what does reality say um to us if we lose that money? Our community needs to hear it
and know it. This is what it means. if you go and you say, "Hey, we don't want any property tax. This is what this is the reality of what the potential could be um for us." But you did what we asked and we appreciate it and um we we thank
you for it and we're going to continue looking, you know, at our budget, dissecting it, looking at what we can do without and what we just must have. And any suggestions, thoughts that you all had, uh please share it with us. Yeah,
we appreciate it. Um, if nothing more, I I I missed Andrew's uh acknowledged um Cindy Futch at the other meeting, but I wanted to acknowledge that we had three CL I had three classmates within one week um to pass on. Cindy was my
classmate and um Ego Williams and u Miss Nancy Stro was also a classmate. And so it all reminds us of the brevity of life and to looking at what's really important uh in our lives. And so um
remember one another and show some love, some kindness. All right, with that, if not more, uh this meeting is a journ.