--------- That'll work. All right. Good evening. And I'm going to go to our city manager uh dealing with the employee of the quarter. Thank you, mayor. Uh mayor, this month's or this quarter's employee of the quarter is Michael Nelson. Michael
received multiple recommendations for this award in the last quarter uh from uh from different departments. So that's that's even, you know, even more. So, uh, Michael does a great job. Everybody always has a positive attitude and outcome with Michael. He has a great attitude here in the office. And every
time I call him, he comes up. Other day, I asked him pretty stupid question. He was he was okay and courageous. So, uh, so Michael Nelson's our employee reporter. [Applause] Yeah. All right.
Thank you. Thank you. All right. Good job, Michael. [Applause] He keeps me out of trouble, so I know he's good. Yeah. Okay. All right. We're going to go to
the findings of authentic Walton. Who's that going to be presented by? Here we go. All right. Good deal. Good evening, Mayor and um council members. Um, I'm Kelly Carter. I am director of marketing for the Walton County Tourism Department. With me today
is Aaron Dinkle. She is director of research for Downs and St. Germaine. Um, our research agency. For those who may not know, um, all of our research is based on all of our recommendations for advertising and plans are driven by research and specifically by
understanding exactly who our visitors are. with that the sample size is very small because we're very it it's newer to the people in authentic Walton than it is to South Walton with understanding how important research is. So with that
I would ask you as I've asked Mr. conjurs in the past um from our council meetings. Um if you have meetings with any of the stakeholders or you have any meetings with any of your accommodations partners, please um try to encourage them to participate with us because the
more they participate, the more we know. Um right now I have some really great findings from this research, but if more people participated, we'd have even more. So with that, I'm going to hand it over to Aaron who is the director of research for Downs State Germaine. Thank you.
All right. Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you so much, Kelly, for the introduction. Again, my name is Aaron Dingle, director of research with Downs and St. Germaine Research. Um, and I appreciate the opportunity to present the results of this authentic wall and visitor study today. Uh, as Kelly mentioned, this is really preliminary.
Um the goal of this was to provide initial uh estimates of the uh impact of visitors who do currently come to the area and get a little bit of a better understanding of who this visitor is so that we can um continue um efforts in uh
tourism for this visitor as well. So uh again it is going to be very preliminary results but before we get into this I'd like to go over the data sources we used for this analysis. The survey um of outofcount guests who visited the area
in the past 12 months served as the basis of this study. And along with that survey, we took a look at uh geoloccation data um for where they're coming from, understanding kind of where they primarily reside before coming here. And then we also paired that with
accommodation data looking at hotel occupancy and rates, vacation rental occupancy and rates. Um and then finally we looked at tourism development taxes. Al together we used all of these data sources to help get this better understanding from a preliminary
standpoint. So what we found is that there were um an estimated nearly 131,000 visitors who came to this uh side of Walton County over the past year. And those visitors who were staying overnight in paid accommodations generated uh
approximately 118,000 room nights while they were staying here. And again, this includes if they were staying overnight at a hotel, a motel, um a campground, or vacation rental, wherever they might be paying to stay overnight for their room nights. While they were visiting, we
estimated that visitors spent nearly $54,198,000 in the area. And this includes spending on their accommodations, dining out at restaurants, um enjoying unique shopping experiences, uh going to special events in the area. really anything that they
might be spending money on while they're uh visiting the area. Ultimately, this generated approximately 59.56 million in total economic impact. And when we talk about the direct spending and economic impact figures, I
like to use an example of a coffee shop where a visitor um who might come and visit a coffee shop, what they spend on a cup of coffee, that's their direct spending. But that spending goes a little bit further because that spending is going to support that coffee shop
itself. Um the owners use their revenue to purchase supplies from other businesses in the area. They also use that revenue to uh pay their baristas or their employees who are working. And those employees then take that money home and spend it at a grocery store or
at a pharmacy um in the area. So even though that visitor may have only spent $5 on that cup of coffee, there's still a little bit of an indirect and induced impact to the rest of the economy because of the support of the business and the support to that um employee and
their wages. So that's kind of the difference there when we're talking about the direct spending and that economic impact from the visitor here. But uh aside from just that, uh we saw that visitor spending contributed over 1.4 4 million in local taxes. And for
those who stayed overnight and paid accommodations, they contributed uh over 382,000 in tourism development taxes to the area. And finally, uh the spending of these visitors supported about 330
drops and over 12.39 million in wages for local residents in the area. Again, back to that coffee shop example, that would be like the barista and their wages and other businesses that they go to and the employees of those businesses.
And then looking at the accommodation metrics, we see that there's an average occupancy of about 54.9% in the area with an average daily rate of $110, resulting in a revenue per available room of about $60. And that kind of brings us to the end of
the economic impact portion of your visitor. Next, I want to go into uh really the profile of the visitor. Um again, just to get a better understanding where they're coming from, what they're doing while they're here, and who they are as a visitor. So, we can see that a majority of them
are coming from Florida, followed by uh generally just the southeast area. But if we drill in a little bit further, we can see that really over half of them are coming from Florida. Nearly one in five are coming from Alabama, followed by Georgia and Virginia. And uh
altogether, just those four states represent about 83% of your visitors. So they're really concentrated in this Florida and Southeast region. And that's a a good starting point for any advertising targeting efforts. And then if we dive in just a little bit
further to actually look at what those key markets are, we can see that they're primarily coming from nearby areas such as the Mobile Pensacola um kind of market area which represents over a quarter of those visitors. Panama City for over uh or for nearly one in five
year visitors followed by Dothan, Columbus, Montgomery, Atlanta, Tallahassee, Thomasville area as well as the Orlando area. We saw that your visitors typically traveled in a travel party of about 3.1 people and nearly a quarter of those
traveled with children in their travel party. But largely we saw that many of the visitors came as a couple about 37% of them. Nearly two in five of your visitors came to the event for a special occasion or event uh followed by just a general
vacation or specifically to visit friends and family who live in the area. While they were here, they enjoyed special events, of course, that's why they came. Uh, dining out at local restaurants, some general relaxation and unwinding, shopping or antiquing. Um,
possibly a day trip to the south end for the beach. Um, and family time as well. A large amount of your visitors uh were just day trippers to the area. But for those who were staying overnight, about a third of them stayed with their friends and relatives and about three
and 10 stayed in a hotel or motel in the area. And on average, they stayed about 3.9 or 3.1 nights while they were here. And lastly, um when asked about uh how the visitors would rate the area as a place to vacation, they gave an eight
out of 10. and over half of visitors said that they would definitely return to the area. So with that, um, I'd like to just open it up to any questions. Again, this is really preliminary kind of research getting into discovering the impact of visitors and who they are, but I'd love to answer any questions if they
if you have any questions. Go ahead. So, just want to confirm. I mean, I see it stated here a couple times, but the data that you're pulling this from is for the entire calendar year of 2024. Is that correct? for the past 12 months. Yes. Okay.
Was it a running 12 months or just January to December? It it was the past 12 months. So, not necessarily January through December because we did start this a little bit um earlier in the year. Okay. Okay.
So, you got another. Yes, sir. So that 130,000 800 number is that local here to Phoenix Springs or is that what what um to uh the north uh end of the Walton County which we define as um above the
forgive me if I butcher this the Chakahachi Bay. Okay. Um so not specifically to Funiaak although this would be a um one of the key places one might visit but it is anyone on the north half of Walton County. So that 130,000 just people passing through basically and
some of them might be passing through um like some of those day trippers who may have stopped here for a little while, checked out the area, enjoyed it on their way somewhere else. Um but there are those who stayed overnight um who would not have just been passing through. About a quarter of them stayed overnight.
I don't think we had that many this past Saturday according to the traffic. Just kidding. Anyone else? Yeah, I just I just want to draw attention to a couple of things here. So, number one, I would say that anecdotally uh I agree
with a lot of what is observed here in the data just from talking to visitors when they enter our shop and say why are you here, where are you from, etc. Very much aligns with a lot of this. Uh especially around Christmas time. Uh a lot of people like to show up around Christmas time obviously because of
Merry Main Street that uh Main Street does as well as our Christmas lights. We see a lot of this where people will day trip over from east and west along I 10 to Definiac Springs because of what we've been doing here. And u I you know I love what you said um talking about
the the coffee shop and the barista. I think that's that's an excellent point you know to to really drive home that 50% of the visitor activities were special events. Well let's think in DeFi Springs. Who does special events? Main Street DeFiak Springs. They do they do 40 plus farmers markets.
They do uh several key events throughout the year. They do wine walks, etc. I could I could go on and on. So 50% of these visitor activities are those events. So the the return on dollars, I mean, just just go back and look at uh the page that talked about the spending
and and the return on investment there, it's it's absolutely incredible what what we're what we're doing here. Yeah. on that uh right there. Can you there was a page that showed bed uh beds
113,000. Where was that measured from? Um the room nights. Right there. Yes. Room nights. Yeah. So that um takes into account the percentage of our estimated visitors who stayed overnight um with their length of stay. And then we also kind of paired that with the tourism development tax
collections to estimate the amount of room nights. Were there certain hotels or rooms that you measured based north of the bay or was that based on Yeah, so we use the Smith Travel Research Report um which reports on hotel accommodation metrics um for the
county and it um accounts for all of the hotels uh north of the Chakchi Bay and that's what we counted. So we tried not to count or we uh eliminated any hotels that were on the south end. Just out of curiosity, do you know how many those were? Off the top of my head,
I don't. It is something that I could find for you though. Less than 10. More than 10 then. Sorry. I'd have to double check before I can confirm that. Um, but I can get that back to you. Thank you. 1400 accommodations. Thank you. There's 1400 accommodations north of Chachi Bay.
So, that could be resorts, Airbnb. Yes, ma'am. That's campgrounds. There's approximately 1,400. And if you um if this body does not get the report every month, I can make sure it's sent to Kobe so that he can get out to you
all that tells um how this information is measured. Thank you, Koo. Well, thank you. Anyone else? More questions. Well, thank you so much. All right. Thank you for your time. I appreciate it. Yeah, that's encouraging.
And lastly, I just wanted to say um thank you so much for allowing us to come up and present the information. Um the information is very important. We're also presenting it to Freeport as well. Um and then keep in mind um what Mr. Bearbomb just said. Um one of the things that the tourism department does do is
support all of those events. Not only do we put them on authentic walton.com, but there are a lot of them that are part of we're not going to discuss the events program, but a lot of them are part of the events program and they get specific money to do that. And while they get the money to promote their event, the
tourism department is also promoting their events. So, we are trying to do what we can. Um, and if you ever have any questions or anything, um, just let me know and I'm happy to help out. I'd like to thank Miss Kelly for and, uh, St. Germaine for bringing this to us
tonight. This is excellent information. It shows us who our target audience is, the people who are visiting the area and spending those dollars locally. And um just like Councilman Berbomb said, these are this is a direct impact of some of the things that are being done locally
here through Main Streets. I mean, it is the events, it is that hometown feel that we have going on here that drives um people to come to this area and to spend these dollars with us. So, thank you for what you did tonight. Um we're happy to do anything we can and we're always available anytime you need
us. Thank you so much for having us. Thank you. Thank you. All right, we're going to move on to the consent agenda, which we would entertain a motion to approve as written or if you want to take something on, please let us know right now. Motion to approve. Second. We have a motion in a second. Any
questions? Uh, I think we are going to Is it me? I was first last time. We're going with Amy. I I Carrie. Thank you very much. Um, all
right. On the regular agenda, we're going to four. Well, not four. Let's let's approve the regular agenda. There's no deletions or additions. None there. Okay. Motion to approve on the on the regular agenda. Yeah.
I'd like to add something to that. Okay. It's going to have to be approved by at least three council. That's okay. All right. What do you want to add? I don't know if this would be best put under my name or at council comments, but I do have a veterans memorial update. Uh, it's not going to require a
vote. It's just forformational purposes. He can bring that up under his name, mayor, without it being asked. Okay, no problem. Could I request something there? Go ahead. Um, if it's appropriate, I I see myself and uh Councilman Beerbomb have something on there for finance director.
Could we just kind of put those together so we can talk at one topic or and then my other suggestion is I see we're going to talk about uh item D3 and I have something similar that would go hand in hand with that. So I don't know if we can kind of move those
to merge those discussions together on my item. Absolutely. We can we will merge 92 along with 4D3. I don't know about council. That'll be up to you. That's fine with me.
So if if he's okay with that, then we will merge 9 C1 with 9 A3. Motion to approve with those changes. A second. All right, we have a a motion with
changes. Um, any questions? Now, what was what was added to the uh was it the airport naming? Yeah. No real ad. It was a merger of the items.
Merg with that. I have an item that was nine A2. 9 C1 will go with 9 A3 and 9 A2 will go with 4 D3. Okay.
And then Councilman Cos had a comment by belief. He's going to take care of that in council comments. Okay. All right. All All in favor say I. I. All right. I I I carry. Thank you very much. We'll go
to 4 D1 or 4C1, excuse me. Uh the city marshall, Mr. Hurley. Good evening. Um so just uh looking to the council um I know we had implemented
a freeze over the last few months. We've lost a couple positions um to other agencies and other other things that have happened. So um we're getting down to where we need to fill those positions and um just looking for your
uh how many? So, there's three law enforcement positions and one communications position. Motion to approve request for public safety purposes. Second, mayor. Go ahead.
We don't have the final budget yet, do we? No, they were on the budget. Yeah, this this budgeted. Yeah, these are positions that we just froze three months ago and Okay. Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I think these are some of
those positions that fall under critical um critical positions. They're ones that need to be filled without having to come back every time. So, I think that those need to be filled. Well, I appreciate you bringing this up under this freeze and I don't think it
think you're going to get anybody pulled back on, but that's all up to your votes. I I just I do have a question about the dispatch position. Has it been open since October? So, it has um it's one of those positions where we've been running
basically at minimal staffing. Um, that was one of those that there's times of the year that we need it and then there's certain times where we can get by without it. Um, I was waiting to really have that impact where we need it. Um, of course, right now,
three out of the six communications officers have some stuff that's going on medically, personally, stuff like that. So, it's creating more overtime work on the others, which the others are getting kind of getting burned out at this point. So, um, provided we can find, you know, a qualified applicant for that
position. Um, of course, the salary amount is not comparable necessarily to other law enforcement agencies around. So, that's where it's hard finding good applicants. Um, but it is one of those positions that we need. But, we've been
trying to be mindful of spending and and stuff like that. So, um, providing we do have a a decent applicant that applies and we we can still fe see the need, we we would like to fill it, too. So, thank you.
Any any comments from the public? All in favor say I. I. I. I. I. I. Carry. Thank you very much. Uh we'll go to 4D1 Kobe.
Thank you, mayor. So, this is another one of those big, you know, exhales, but finally we have gotten somewhere on this. Um the Chicago Hall Brotherhood, we've received two bids. So, I reached out to four different contractors locally a few months back. Um of those
four, two really stayed in contact assistant, made multiple trips out there. Myself and uh Liberty Partners went there with them to talk talk through the project. And so u last two weeks ago uh we received the first bid and I notified the other engaged party that this would be on the council
agenda. If they'd like to be considered they need to get theirs in as well and they did. So we have received two bids. Uh one from Earl Offford Construction in the amount of $423,000. Uh the other is from Diversified General Contractors in the amount of $369,77.50.
And so this is the Chicago Hall Brotherhood grant. Um both of these quotes fall within the grant amount. If you recall, between our match and the grant is about $465,000 um for the project. We got here because we went through multiple multiple
renditions of competitive bidding um and never got bids back for this project. At least three times I know of. And so the state waved that requirement of the competitive bid, but I did want to stay as close as possible to the city's purchasing policy as we could. And so that's how we hear today. And I believe
Tim and Jennifer have some comments on the two uh bids to provide some more information for the council. But ultimately what we're looking for is one of the two bids to be selected. We would go back, work with the contractor to clean it up. If there's anything that uh the state may not allow, we want to go ahead and cut those things out to reduce
delays later on. Uh and then we will bring a contract back to the council for final approval. Um hopefully by the next meeting. Were they gonna make a comment? You coming up Tim? Okay with it. Yeah absolutely. Mayor C.
Go ahead and just um can I just ask will we refresh my memory? Does this have to do with the windows also? I know that staff was looking you remember how we were talking about did we already pay for that and could we go back onto the contractor? just the interior of the second floor.
Okay. Thank you. Okay. I'm just coming up if there's any additional questions. Any other questions from this grant? Tim and James and I met discuss spoke
with it. Um we believe both of them have at least majority of the requirements of the project if not all. Again, we we'll have that meeting with them to make sure that everything's in there and then things that may not be allowed from the Division of Historical Resources, we're going to go and get those out, right? We
don't want any issues down the road. So, unless Tim has any further comments, again, we're just looking for the council to select one of the two contractors and we'll bring a contract back. Do you have a recommendation on Sorry to jump. Cool. Couple questions. Um, there was a couple
differences in in the bids and just if you could clarify why. One one was talking about uh replacing some tongue and groove wood on a wall. I'm not sure which wall that was. And the offered uh
quote was sheetrock. So you mentioned historical requirements. I'm not sure what what is met there. There was also a difference in kitchen appliances. I don't I don't know if u the uh the low bid included kitchen
appliances, the offered bid did allowances in there. Um so I think that probably is one of the key differences and that's probably what you'll see with the price difference as well. Um our analysis as it relates to that is u department of state doesn't
generally approve uh the purchase of of that type of of appliances and equipment and stuff. Uh that I don't believe was conveyed to to Mr. Offford. So that is probably your your biggest difference there. I think if he removes that from what's what he's proposed I think you'll
see greater alignment. Huh? I I think for a little bit of history, I recall that being the case when we did the first floor was that we had to set aside as a city uh our own um allowance for the appliances that we
wish to put in there. We didn't we didn't get this funded through the the grant. So, we we could build build the kitchen itself, but as far as actual equipment in it, that all had to be set aside. I believe the um Hollow Brotherhood um nonprofit helped acquire
the some of that equipment. Are these both local contractors? I know the one is but I don't know who. So Earl Offer Construction is here in city limits and then diversified general contractors is out of off Alabama. Okay. Another difference with flooring
uh divers diversified quoted installing flooring upstairs to match the first floor offered quoted repairing places sand and refinish the floor upstairs same so we walked through with the contractors okay essentially what we
said on on multiple fronts was we want to take downstairs and we want to move it upstairs is what I've been under the impression this whole time right so uh in terms of the floor it would match downstairs they will repair any any issues you have upstairs, clean it, refinish it, and however they need to make it match downstairs. Uh, some of
the differences will be uh, you know, downstairs in the ceiling, you have the hanging, I don't even know what you call them, but they're box that are potentially hanging. Um, we will look at those up top, but it's a much different layout up there. So, I don't believe it's possible with the way the um, fire safety line, suppression lines are ran.
Um, and then also the lighting, right? Maybe difficult to find the same exact lighting as we do downstairs. It's been a few years. So, that's why I give a lighting allowance. We will find things that are permissible to the state that meet historical standards. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Sorry. That's okay.
I I just want to offer my opinion on that real quick. I I even even back when we were discussed in the first floor. I did not agree with what was referred to as the clouds, the hanging structures in the ceiling. Like I would much rather
just have the the exposed pipes and AC unit and and be done with it. You can paint it and just go with that industrial look. I I please I felt like we wasted a whole lot of money on the first floor building those things just to sort of kind of hide what was
essentially some of the mechanical mechanicals for the first floor. You just saying upstairs you just want it exposed? I I Yes. Yeah. So they bit so they bid us the sheetrocket. We can look at the exposed look, but you will see a lot of comm lines running. Uh there's a bunch of
electrical lines are running along with the the piping inside the rafters. There's not as hidden as other ones, but okay. If if there's some way we could we could figure out how to, you know, even if it was like a a bulkhead to one side or something. I I just I did not care for
the the cloud hanging structures on the first floor. I felt like it was a lot of money down the tube. So, do I understand if if the local contractor would re move the appliances, we're going to be pretty much in line with each other.
That's our assessment. Yes, ma'am. Because I'd like to see our local local people get those work if at all possible. They're side by side. So, we're having exposed uh air conditioning vents and um
that's a that's a one of the key show show points of our city. I don't know that going cheap at the last minute would be a good idea. That's just my two cents worth.
Well, it has gotten a lot I mean, it's fairly common. doesn't make it and attractive but it's common and from previous conversations here at the dis um y'all know that I am always for uh local people so the person out of
op when they make their money they're taking it back to op when a local person gets a job here they spend their money here so that's a plus for the city any other questions or comments We do believe in if either contractor we
meet with um in particular the case of local contractor or off for construction. We feel like there's probably a number of things that will probably be removed because of like the equipment company spoke of and some of the other things that may be in there that he was unaware of from a historical standard. Um and again even if it comes
out your contract left we will not shift money away from the project till it's done. Right? There's still going to be funds there based off his his quote in case of a contingency essentially. Do you want to do a contingent that he comes close or pretty close to matching
the other contractor if he remove kitchen equipment? I made the motion. There's no motion. There is none yet. There's no motion yet. Okay. Go ahead. I'd like to make a motion that we select Mr. are offered construction. Uh with
the caveat that we try to get this more comparable, like we said, take away the appliance package and um was there another one, Mr. Harrison, that you had that you needed? No, no, I think so. I think I think we're good. Okay, that's my motion.
I'd like to second that. I have a motion second. Any any other questions from the D comments from anyone? All in favor say I. I. I. I. I. I.
Carrie. Thank you very much. Thank you. All right, Kobe. We're going to We'll set that meeting up next week. Tim, D2 on the uh development review. Thank you, mayor. U
good. Okay. Um so few months back or back in the prior budget cycle we had talked about the fee structure of planning reviews. Um and so bring it forward tonight you will see a draft of our existing plane review structure uh changes to it that uh Mr. Wallace has
provided. This would be very close and in line with the city of Freeport uh with the additional fire department review fee as we talked about previously. B County building department no longer does that. So our fire chief has to perform those services on the city's behalf. Um and so question is do
do we want to move forward with the same structure with updated numbers or we have talked a number of council members we've talked about looking at the fee uh structure and or do we want to make sure we're covering cost. Right. Currently we issue a task order for development review fee. It's a $3,500 not to exceed.
So if that development review comes in at $3,500 that's what it costs. if it comes in at 2,000, that's that's what it cost the city. Um, and so that that's the question we're asking the council. Do we want to keep the same structure or would we like to look at uh
a new structure? So, this is something that I' I've been after for a long time and I'm I'm adamant that we we cover our costs on on these reviews and and pass this expense basically along to the developer. So,
uh, I I just want to go ahead and kind of plant my flag that I think we need to set these fees so that they they cover all of our costs. That's that's where I stand with it. Go ahead. I would like to I like that idea, but I want to make a profit on it. I don't
want to just make it break even. So, what can we put in there just so we can make a little bit towards covering not only covering our cost, but that that could be a potential I I'm not trying to make it an exorbitant fee, but I think we need to
start considering where we can increase to earn. So, I mean, currently, obviously, you know, we set we give that 3500 not to exceed task order. So, if that was to be the fee to the developer, $3,500, and the engineers came back and only cost us
$2,500, then the city would be on the good of a,000, uh, if they came back and used the entire amount, we would break even. So, we'd have to work, Mr. Atinson, on some language that would allow us to make something on top of that uh, cost. Yeah, because I don't
want it to be exorbitant, but I think we should be able to Well, I mean, to your point, shouldn't we? We when we issue one of these task orders, it's not just the 3500 $3,500. There's there's time from our staff
processing the requests and and sending it off and communicating. So, to your point, I think we need to include that, not just purely the fee that we get charged by the engineers. And is that an easily calculable item that we just have to take some averages. So
take the of the director some averages based off time spent on preparation, time spent with planning board and then going through the city council for the multiple, you know, steps in that process. And then could we have that increase? So every year we give that person a cost of living and benefits go up,
that kind of thing. I just don't want us to see us always going backwards. Can we somehow built in uh some type of inflation fee? And if not, most certainly we can try to build an escalator. So, I'll make a motion to direct staff
to bring back at the next meeting an updated resolution that would address the fees for development reviews. Second. All right, motion. Second. Any questions or comments for the council?
Does it just need to be a resolution, Clay, or do we need to amend an ordinance? No, we'll start with a resolution. We may end up doing an ordinance that authorizes the inflation. We may bring that back as resolution. Don't go, Mr. Townson, on that. Okay. Just just a question. What what what is
the budget for the planning department basically? I mean, we we have to transfer money well to them. Community development is a part of the general fund. So yeah, I mean you supplement with general fund dollars. So we end up supplementing. So yeah, absolutely. Our our fees need
to cover and help reduce a part not to be punitive because we want development. Absolutely. But we we certainly shouldn't be losing money. So we're transferring from water and uh sewer or other enterprise funds.
Well, I mean, so, so the transfer from enterprise funds, we do not specifically go and allocate it. It just goes to cover the shortfall within the general fund. The community development is a department within the general fund. So, it's a general government service.
I support getting out of the red. I I do want to say um I believe it was 2019, 2020, maybe even 21. My memory is not that great, but we updated our development order, uh our
capacity fees. We went away from impact fees, went to capacity fees. And unfortunately, because it had not been touched in, I believe it was over a decade. The council was in an a very uncomfortable position to have to go up 600%.
And I I vividly remember getting phone calls and having people speak publicly and say, "You're going to kill development. This is going to kill, you know, everything everything that's going to happen in the future of the Funi Act." And here we sit today and
development is absolutely taken off. So a lot of these costs get absorbed and they get moved along. And just like council makosen said, I want I want us in the black, not the red because to me that that's our responsibility to the to
the city. Uh Chris, can I ask you a question? This is regards to kind of where we stand now with development. I know that there's several projects within the city and even outside the city that we're going to be seeing a lot of capacity
fees, but presently how many of those projects do have we already seen the capacity fees? I'm not talking about the impacts we did several years ago, but I'm talking about presently right now with the developments going on.
[Music] I guess the reason I'm asking that, that's a tough one to answer off top of my head. Okay. But I assume it's not a whole lot. There's not a whole lot of outstanding. There's a lot of mainly the commercial stuff has been paid for. Yeah.
With the exception of maybe one or two projects um that are still in the works. There's several subdivisions hanging out there. In the next couple of years, it should be substantial, shouldn't it? Yeah, certainly. with Bay Springs,
they've only paid for phase one. So, we've got phase two, three. I guess the point I'm trying to make, Dan, is that there is kind of a lot in the, you know, the hens on the eggs and they getting close to hatching and we're
going to see a lot of dollars come out of that. Now, it's Clay was telling me that it's not near restricted like we used to have with the uh impact and impacts and so we're going to be able to utilize a lot of money is
coming. Well, if I if I might add and Mr. Towns and myself had this conversation, we there's a task order not to exceed and they never exceed that. Um,
but what you get in revenue over the long term on say something as a Chick-fil-A, we've probably earned back every dollar that we spent on our review fees for that development and we're going to continue earning
those dollars for the next 20 years as long as they're in business. Yeah. Um, so it's really easy to make that up in other sorts of revenue. Um, so we're not getting the money up front, but we're certainly seeing it in the
long term. Yeah. But I'm just saying there's there's hope for kind of we're a little bit desperate right now. But, uh, I think that's all going to change over the next couple years. I think I think in the conversation we had is if we're do if we're going to
continue to do what I'll be doing for the next two or three years, looking at the budget from a fund perspective, not a city budget perspective. So, what does it cost each fund in this city to operate and how does each fund impact the other when you're talking about plan development reviews and Chris again Chris and I did have this conversation
you know the general fund is eating the cost of these plan reviews up front right are you going to get it back eventually in gas tax people who live there have yes um but the current impact is to the general fund who's getting the benefit of the gain is the water sewer fund and then the police and fire impact
fees which are reserve accounts they're restricted right so if if we're looking at making up gaps in the general fund, then this is probably something we need to consider. Okay. Mayor. Yeah. Is there a motion on the floor? Yes, sir. Is it seconded?
Yes, sir. Okay. Move on. Josh, go ahead. Okay. Go ahead. Just a couple of things I would look for when you bring it back is minimal threshold of 3500 but covering our cost and language and at
least a 3% escalator because of what we're directly passing on with colas to our employees and everything else over the coming years. So those are things that I would like to see when you bring it back. Okay. Any other question from D? Any
questions or comments from the public? All in favor say I. I. I. I. I. I. I. Gary. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Wallace. All right. Uh, now we're down at the D3.
Is that correct? Uh, yes, sir. Is that what we were combining with Sir 92 with Councilwoman's item of discussion on Jack? You want to start that off? I'll I'll let Miss Heaven begin if she'd like. She Okay, I'll go second.
Thank you. I invited one of our uh residents of Defunia to I wasn't a ve very big uh fan of history in school. I know that might shock you Glenn but but I just learned some great his
history that uh kind of was from Defuniac. So could we invite Miss Hastings up? she was going to share a few minutes with uh a particular aviator that we had in our community and I met her four years ago when she was doing this onewoman show at the theater
uptown. Yes, I was performing at the Chiakqua Theater. Um first of all, thank you for letting me be here tonight to address all of you. I'm very passionate about Jacqueline Cochran. She was a Defuniac
Springs girl. Although Panama City and um Pensacola and other places try to claim her, she actually lived here. Her parents are buried here. Her young babies buried here, her little boys. So I found out
about her and um I wrote and I perform a onewoman show around the country and I'm now along with my husband co-producers on a documentary film about her. So I just wanted to share with you if I could very briefly some of her accomplishments.
Even though she's forgotten to modern-day people, she has gone out of the national consciousness. Um, I know people in aviation know who she was and it's because she earned her pilot's
license in 1932 on a dare. And two years later, she was in her first race from London to Australia. In 1937, she was the first woman to make a blind instrument landing. Also that same year
she was in the Bendex transcontinental, the most prestigious air race in America. She won the women's division and came in third overall. But the next year she won it. She outflew them all,
women and men. Also in the 30s, she set the women's national altitude record and set an international speed record. In 1941, she was appointed director of the Women's Air Force Service Pilots, better known
as the Wasp. In 40 uh after that, she served as a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve. She was the first woman to receive the US Distinguished Service Medal. She was the first living woman inducted into the Aviation Hall of
Fame. And in 1953, her proudest moment, she was the first woman to break the sound barrier. And as she used to say, Joerger was my wingman. She was the first woman to fly a jet over the ocean, the first woman to land and take off on an aircraft carrier, the
only woman elected president of the International Aeronautics uh federation. She won the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Legion of Merit, and in her 50s, she set 73 more records. In
1964, she was the first woman to fly twice the speed of sound, Mach 2, and the Harmon Trophy given out each year to the best male and female pilots in the world. She won it more than anyone 14 times. And I have photographs of
different presidents from FDR to Dwight Eisenhower, Kennedy, Truman handing her the trophies. In her day, she set more speed, distance, and altitude records than
anyone, male or female, in the history of aviation. And I think it would be awfully wonderful, and I just want to add my my um prayer that Defunia could honor her with that beautiful new airport we have here in some way. I
mean, I understand it may already be named, but perhaps the conference room or something. And I have family photographs of Jackie that also came from museums that we could maybe mount out there. And I thank you for your time. Appreciate it.
Thank you. So with that, I was hoping I'd like to propose that we maybe name or consider naming the conference room at the airport the Jquel and Ken uh Jquel and Cochran Conference Room. and it wouldn't cost anything. But uh Nancy, who owns
all the publishing rights to this, has uh given us some pictures and those pictures of the president, which weren't in the attachments that I put because I couldn't get those quick enough into the agenda item. But I propose that we do that and take uh an opportunity before
us to, you know, perhaps consider renaming just the conference room, not the airport, not the field, not the terminal, just that conference room. Conference room.
Second. Second. Okay, we got a motion in a second. Any questions or comments from the council? Okay. I was a little confused. I thought we were rename uh renaming the airport. It's just the conference room. So, this first half of the item is
Councilwoman He's conversation with Jack Cochran. The second half will be my my question about the airport as a whole. Okay. Um, I'm going to just share my two cents worth about the rich aviation
history right here in the Funiac Springs. And when I say history, I'm talking about aviators that have gone above and beyond the call of duty. And I'm just going to give you some information, not necessarily
a vote, but without a doubt, Jackie Cochran stands head and shoulders above so many aviators. I mean, she talk about breaking glass ceilings, you know,
she's the poster child for the golden age of aviation. Um but then again we've got Eward Scany and Eward Scan as you know uh was a
bombader on a B-52 and flew multiple missions into Germany during World War II. and he got the distinguished serving service cross for bringing a badly
damaged B7 back and landed and he was the only man alive left on the plane and he got the distinguished service cross for that which is just one notch below the Medal of Honor and for doing that he was uh he
was asked what do you want to do now uh you've done more than your bit. You flew more missions than we've asked and tried to give him a desk job and he refused. And he said, "I didn't sign up for a desk job. I signed up to beat the Third Reich and I'm going to go back and he
did go back and he went back and he went back and he went back again until finally he was shot down, ended up in a German P camp where he died. There's a lot more to his story than that. Um, I'm going to
switch gears here now. Arley Henderson was an electronic warfare officer on a B-52 during Vietnam War. Um, he flew 47 missions deep into North
Vietnam. 47 missions and defeated well over a hundred SAM missiles, surfacetoair missiles. And at that time, North Vietnam was the most dangerous airspace on the planet. It's far
superior to what the United States had thanks to China and Russia. And 47 times Arley Henderson had had gotten his aircraft and all aboard back home safely. SAM missiles
traveled between two and three Mach Mach 2 and Mach 3. He had literally seconds to identify the signal from each SAM coming in their direction and jam it before they were shot out of the sky.
And my point is, we have so many rich people, rich in history, rich in accomplishments. How how do you pick one? And what I'd like everybody to think about is, and I'm just going to say, for
example, the terminal. If you name the terminal after someone, then you think, well, their accomplishments must be better than anybody else's. And so
I'm against naming the terminal and I know we're not talking about that right now, but it's all connected. Uh, and I think we need to have, as we all saw when we went out to that terminal, there's a lot of blank walls out there.
And we need to be really careful and keep the bar high on who is on our wall of honor. And there's a lot of wall of honors out there. And I would love to see Jackie Cochran,
Edward Scurs, and Harley Henderson to be the first heroes on our wall of honor out there. I don't think a building should be designated uh to any one person because they're all great in their own way. They've all got major
accomplishments to include paying the ultimate sacrifice. So, while we're on the subject of renaming the airport, um I want to I would love to see the airport maintain its historical name,
the Finiac Springs Airport, not name the terminal, but honor our Jackie Cochran's, our Harley Hendersons, our Eward Scanards, and keep the bar high for a lot of other people that's going to be coming into our terminal and
seeing all the heroes in the history of Walton County. In order to be on that wall, you've got to have a connection with Walton County. And all three of these people have a connection with uh Definiac Springs in Walton County. Um
to name a room after someone, it belongs to all of our heroes. It belongs to Harley. It belongs to Eward. It belongs uh it it belongs to uh Jackie. Um, it's just hard to, you can't pick one.
You just can't pick one and say they're the best. They're all the best in their own way, and I'd like to honor them all equally. So, would it be possible uh to amend a motion to um keep our
Definiac Springs Airport historical name and to have a wall of honor for all of our heroes with the first three being to adorn our walls, uh Jackie, Harley, and Eward.
Uh and of course, keep uh Enisfield. Let it let it stay where it is. I'm just interested in seeing us keep the Funac Springs Airport name and no name
on the terminal and honor our veterans inside there on the wall of honor and keep the bar high. And with these three people, Jackie, Eward, and Harley, that's a very high bar.
So, so Councilwoman Evelyn is willing to amend her motion. She can do it. Alternatively, you can make a substitute motion to do that. I appreciate it. But this wasn't about the terminal and I think we're getting off topic because I think that's Mr.
Kobe's next topic. Is that correct? Not terminal specifically, but the airport renaming. Okay. At this moment, we're talking about I'd like to keep it as is. I'd like to take the opportunity to uh present what it is that I did. And I
know that there's all kind of uh heroes and I'm not trying to pick one over the other. I just think this is a wonderful opportunity that this woman has done. I didn't realize she how closely she was related to our uh community.
So it's it's your call councilman if you wish to make a substitute motion to substitute your motion. You have to get a second to do that. And if it is seconded and passes it then replaces and even though there's a first and second on the table correct under substitute motion that
would be the process if he so chooses to do so. So you have that option if you wish to make that in form of substitute motion. Can we talk about something for a minute because Mr. Harris? Yes, his turn next.
Yeah, Councilman Co, thank you for pointing those other folks out. There's a lot and and I'm sure we could listen to the community and and there's a lot of people that need to be recognized. We had this conversation in the past. Um, and we talked about establishing some sort of guidelines or some kind of
policies to how we were going to do this because the last thing we want to do is leave someone out and um and and and nobody deserves to be left out. there's there's not only the the airmen and and the veterans and all the contributions they did to aviation, there's also
people that helped bring the airport about uh over the years and those kind of things. So, I think we'd be wise, just my opinion, to to uh to to look at this policy because this is uh
we these are not people that can be be left out and and it there there might be a good way to do this that we can add to as names come. We might run out of rooms. we might, you know, and then again, like you said, you know, somebody that the terminal is named after, are
they going to be viewed as more important than someone the conference room is named after or any other room? And I see that as as a as a problem. So, I think we need to, you know, really give it some thought and do it justice and do all these people justice and do it in a fair way. Mayor, for
clarification, um I'm not by any stretch of the imagination suggesting that these are the only three that's ever going to be on our wall of honor. The wall of honor is big and we can we
can talk later about how to get someone on that wall. What I'm saying is with your support, we've already got the first three on the wall of honor. with your support.
Um, I'd like to make an amended motion, substitute substitute motion that we keep our airport named Defunia Springs Airport
and that we have a wall of honor with Jackie Cochran, Harley Henderson, Eward Scany as our first recipients and then had a future meeting sometime we can
nail down the requirements for earning a spot on that wall. So the Phoenix Springs airport no name on the terminal and begin the wall of honor with Jackie Cochran,
Harley Henderson, and Edward Scan. And that's the beginning. That's not the end. That's just the beginning. So may we need to know if there's a second to that motion. Yeah. So is there a second to that substitute motion? Fair enough.
Well well let me let me just say again um that's a wall of honor. Are we is are we going to have guidelines or policies? Are we going to consider in future buildings hangers rooms? I don't I don't know what I mean.
Where is a wall of honor going to do? Are we going to do just a simple a not a simple it would be nice but a wall of honor? Is that the method that we're going to do to recognize people that we want to recognize? That that's not the substitute motion. That's for discussion on another day.
But okay, that could be addressed today if we needed to. I think that's where we've been. So, I wanted to add to that, but everything here has been good today. So, everything we've said has has been good. Um, I don't think we need to
dishonor anybody. And you're right, there is limited there is very limited real estate out there as far as how we're going to do this. I know that we did not want to um move forward with a committee for a lot of things at the airport right now as far as
construction, how it's all going on, but would there be room for development of a committee for something like this because of one simple thing? Every one of these people have a story to tell every one of them. And there's no way we have that much time sitting here as a
council to to go through all of these stories all the time to figure out who is the appropriate or what is the appropriate action for honoring um these people who are not only veterans but who've given their lives and and sacrifice the ultimate sacrifice. Um so
with that being said I agree with what you said. I I want to withdraw my second and and it's based upon those comments that everybody have made here today. Not to dishonor Miss Cochran. Go ahead. I can appreciate that because I too
don't want to alienate those stories out there that but what what if we just postpone this and let's come up with a policy. Let's have I would make a motion that we or direction that we ask the staff to come back with a policy on how
we can do this moving forward because there are so many the official go ahead and withdraw your motion. Yes, I withdraw my motion and I substitute it to ask staff to come back with a policy that we can use not just for this particular piece of real
estate but for all parks, uh, fields, whatever it might be. Second. Well, we don't need a motion on that. That's just general direction. So, this is certainly a difficult conversation. Um, it's a conversation
that, you know, I think we all want to approach with reverence because there are many people that that should be honored. Um, you know, the stories told here tonight all uh certainly deserve their their spot of honor for sure. Um
but but I I want to also concur with my fellow council members that we need some some sort of policy um so that we can do this consistently so that we can do this in a in a reverent way. Um I as someone
that's that's seen a lot of committees, you know, you and I sit on on a a committee as well. Um I've seen committees in the past. Um I also um take that very very seriously um because we then are asking people's time to sit
on a committee. So my suggestion I I tend to agree with why don't we as a council direct staff and and that's so far been the general consensus to to bring back some recommended policies. I know that just based on some conversations Kobe and I have had uh since I brought the
topic up originally to honor uh other people uh not related to the airport. Um you know, I think that this this tracks along with that that same exact subject, right? We have we have um not
out at the airport but but within other parks within this this uh city, we have people placing what uh citizens have explained to me to be what they see as headstones um around Chipley Park. Uh but it's for
honoring, you know, significant people there within Chipley Park. Um we we've councils in the past have taken different uh direction on naming things. uh everything from parks to streets to alleyways to you know you name it. Um I
don't want this to be something that is uh left to a motion and a second and a vote. I want there to be consistency and I want there to be a reverence about it. So, so I'm in favor of coming up with not only a policy but maybe a mechanism
for nomination and review and maybe that occurs once a year, once every three years. Um, and then as part of that policy, we say if it's this, it goes here and we have, you know, we can all lot space for it here. If it's this
category like aviation or you know related to to the airport, it can then go out there and we we maybe can contemplate some of those different options right for for for different rec forms of recognition much like um within our armed forces they have different
types of medals for for different types of heroism that that was achieved. So, I really want us to be careful and not just um not again not just kind of on a motion in a second. Exactly. Be inconsistent
about what we're doing. Thank you, Dan. Um you're exactly right. We want to keep the bar high, but I don't think there's any need to delay these three names being on the wall of honor.
They are beyond reproach. Talk about a high bar. Jackie Eward and Harley, you're not going to beat that. We don't we we don't need a We don't need a a committee to decide if they're worthy or not. But we do need a committee to
decide if future nominees are are worthy. All I wanted to All I want to accomplish tonight is to secure our historic name, the Defunia Springs Airport
to secure no name on the terminal so that we can honor all of them, not just one. I mean, how do you pick one? So, if we could go forward tonight and get the ball rolling on having these these first three heroes up on our wall
of honor, I don't see why we should delay that. I mean, they're the saintthood of aviation. You're not going to get any better than that. Mr. Mayor, may Amy and I'll let you I can appreciate that. I don't agree
with that. I would like to see us do everybody consistently and as I look in the audience I can think back last meeting Miss Sarah came up and she wanted to do the very same thing. So we're going to she was the first one to ask just last week and we said or you
know the last meeting she wanted to do one for Mr. Nelson and I'm sorry Miss Sarah I don't remember who the other JW. Yeah. So, I would like to see us thoughtfully just pull back, be consistent, and give everybody the same
shot. I like your idea about just having staff come back with a and and I I would, Councilman Cosen, I agree with you, u but I also agree with Councilwoman Hein that I think we need to treat everyone fairly and equally. So, so let let's put everybody through
the same process. Uh, I think that that to me is the the right approach there. But I also agree with you on the the name of the airport and the name of the terminal. Um, I believe this is this is just Todd's personal opinion that when
the the council voted previously on the naming as as Kobe has has put on the agenda here, my understanding of what we were voting for in that moment was the naming of the field. So it was always going to be from what I understood the
defac springs airport at Inennisfield. That's what we voted on previously. That was my understanding of what we were voting on previously. So I I agree with you that the name of the airport should still be the defi springs airport and there's no name on the terminal as as of
today. That that's my understanding. Okay. Well, let me ask you this. We've got to have some compromise. So, if that's the best we can do tonight and have some forward motion, I would like for my what do you call it, Clay?
Well, now there's no substitute motion because it just be a primary motion at this point. I'd like to make a motion that we keep our historic name to Funiaak Springs Airport and that we not name the terminal
and confirm it as Inisfield. Inisfield is there. Nobody's messing with Enisfield. Well, I think Kubby was wanting clarity on that. So, do we want to confirm that? Can we have him talk on that before we make that motion? Well, why don't why don't we if you'll complete your motion, I would like to offer a second to that
and then we can have discussion. Okay. In my mind, Enisfield is when you walk out of airfield. When you walk out of the terminal onto the airfield, that's Enisfield.
That's separate from the terminal and it's separate from the name of the airport. So, so your motion is to confirm the name of the airport, confirm the name of the field, and to proceed with uh with staff bringing back no name for the terminal.
Correct. And I'll second that. Okay. I have a motion. Second. And it's DeFin Springs Municipal Airport, correct? Or is it just the Phoenix airport? Springs Municipal Airport. Yep. And the terminal is not going to have a
name. No name for the terminal. And whatever was done, yeah, whatever was done months ago about Mr. Anderson, the field will remain the same. Is that your motion? Yes. And that's just for clarity. It's in his field. So the airfield is in his field. This council voted on that. It's just
we're clarifying that and that the the airport is remains to pinak Springs Municipal Airport. Correct. I think the reason for that is when the agenda item was presented originally, it was presented as to rename the airport or the terminal and
then a motion was made to name the Phoenix Springs airport in his field. Um, and then there was back and forth on what sounded better. Um, multiple comments that field rolls off the tongue better. So I think the clarification there is was it the council's intent to
actually go through the formal FAA renaming process for the Funiac Springs Municipal Airport or rather designate the airfield at the defunct Springs Municipal Airport in a field. Yes. So the latter of the two that was my intent was the airfield was
going to be Henry or Inis Field yet the airport remains defunct Springs Municipal Airport. I agree because it's a it's an identity throughout the the US, you know, I mean that is their field is their field is in this building.
I can support that. I actually called uh Mr. Atkinson this afternoon because here's what I would like to offer in this motion is I understand from my husband that every airport has an identifier. They all start with K which
just means it's an international. Um, but I would like to see us have staff go out and get KDFS so that it is Defunia Springs uh with the FAA. So could would you guys
would you make that part of your motion? Part of your motion. Does that even do? Yes, I can do that. Can I ask you whether it's J54 or J something? But it would be nice for the identifier to be DFS, which will always stay. I just I just want to put on the record that I had approached Kobe about
researching that a couple months ago. Oh, huh. I called play today to say how can we do that? Was it doable then? Okay. I had heard back from Destin is KDTS. I will go ahead and tell you the only potential we can ask. The only potential challenge we have is the
proximity to Destin and KDTS and KDFS. the proximity of F and T and the way they may look. We'll let FAA tell us. Right now, we're 54J, but there's no reason we can't make the request. Okay, let me see if I got this.
Okay, this would be a good soriety guess. Okay, so um we're we're going to name the airport. Definiac Springs Regional Airport. Municipal Municipal Airport. It's going to stay the same. Yes.
municipal airport. We're not going to name the terminal. We're gonna form a committee. That's not That's not what they've said. Okay. So, we're going to we're going to get this designation, this K designation.
We're going to ask for an FAA identifier change from 54J to KDFS. Okay. Am I leaving anything out? confirming in this field as confirming in this field. Now, I don't know if you want this as part of the motion or not, but I would
like to expedite uh a committee to get our our three heroes up on that wall ASAP. Staff's already been directed to come back with that. We'll bring back some options on naming conventions. Okay, you have my motion and I second that.
I have a motion second. Any other questions? So the FFA is complicated, correct? As far as doing any of this kind of stuff, does it in any way interfere with any of the projects we have going on there? Not that we're aware of. We'll have to
reach out, but not that we're aware of. Okay. Any comments from the public? I don't know what the FA regula FAA regulations are about naming fields, but most of them are named for aviators. You think of Eglund Field, he was an aviator
and but the call numbers are like you said, it's VPS Valareerezo. Um terminals can are usually named after people who pay for them. Okay. Anyone else?
All in favor say I. I. I. I. I. I. Eyes car. Thank you very much. And we'll let you bring that back to us from the plan. Mr. Mayor. All right. Could we consider a break?
Yeah. Let's do uh What time is it? 616. 6. Well, we've been in here since 4:00. I tell you what, let's knock out this Hurley Gene Hurley Park. And are we done with that? Right. That's going to be added to What was that?
We can probably knock these names down relatively quickly. The mayor, if you want to stay, let's do that. Yeah. Yeah. All right. Well, let's roll with that, Kobe. Yeah, Mayor. Uh D4 on Gene Hurley Park. We talked about this briefly at our workshop about the park. Um at some point, the council wants to get rid of
it or keep it. So ultimately what we're ask for is direction on if council wants to keep Gene Hurley Park or do away with it. If so, we would like to set a date if that's something we're comfort we're doing today. We can do that or we can bring it back. Ultimately, we have to also notify the county as we have interlocal agreement for the operation
maintenance of the park. Um so that's what staff's looking for is direction on the park. Did Mr. Supple have anything to offer as far as any commitments? Mr. Supple. It's okay. I motion that we
have that only designated to the airport that we move the kids to somewhere and I'd like to see us do it on 101 if that's not too quickly. What about January 1st? I'm thinking years.
Well, I think we'd heard from the engineer that he's with the FAA that sooner the better that we close that park. second. Yeah. We'll review the interlocal as well and and make sure but I think
so it'll either be this date we're setting or the inter local as already dictated. Would that be mean what everyone can we just do it the earliest possible date if he works with the county and as soon as we can turn it over? I mean people give two weeks notice is
two weeks. We have to look at that. We'll look at local. I couldn't find I'm assuming it's either 60 or 90 days is what typical interlocal notices are. So that's okay. Okay, we'll do 101 or so whatever to be in complian then I'll change my motion to say to be in complian with whatever the interlocal agreement designates but as soon as
possible unless Clay can we ask the county to abandon that to help us or is that in terms of what are we specifically going to ask the interlocal with the well it's not in a manner of abandoning
it we just have to provide notice of the termination either party can terminate either party doing an interlocal can terminate any interlocal. Statute back says you have to have a built-in time frame, but I believe it's a 60-day in this one. So, we're bound by 60 days and can't accelerate it.
What if they want to turn it over before they agree to we can give them the notification and they can choose to let us out earlier and that's certainly fine. That's what we want. That's what my motion would like to be is to try to accelerate it. Then we'll provide notice and ask if they care to keep it. Okay. And who had second?
Mr. Mr. C. Amend your second. Okay. All right. All right. Any other questions on that motion? Any comments from the public? All in favor say I. I. I. I. I. I. Carrie. Thank you very much. All
right. Let's take a uh approve the resolution real quick. Yeah. Yeah. Let's do that. Go ahead. Mayor, we need a we need a motion to approve resolution 2025-08 for the FDOT PTG8 hanger 18/1920 development project amendment number one
authorizing funding increase of 900,000. So moved. Second. I have a motion second. Questions from anyone comments? All in favor say I. I. I. I. I. Eyes carry. All right. We're going to take about uh
seven or eight minute break here. Be be back. We'll we'll crank it back up at 6:30. pretty picture in there. Yep. Oh, the man. Hey, Dan the man.
[Music] Councilman Kos Councilman Kos please come to the council that office. All right. All right. And we want to call this meeting back to order and we're going to
pick up on um request to be on the agenda. I believe we at the Cliff N. Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah. Don't forget about me. Oh, yeah. That that name threw me off. I was looking for planning. All right. Community development director, Mr.
Wallace. Yes, sir. This is uh Pinehurst phase 2 infrastructure acceptance and uh the approval to issue a development order for the construction of the homes
once they pay their capacity fees. We will be taking over their water, sewer, storm water, and a lift station. We will not be taking over the roadway. uh we do not
maintain the roadway for phase one. So it didn't make a whole lot of sense to accept the roadway in in in this portion of the subdivision. Um there were improvements that were made uh or during the installation of
the the lift station that were made under our old technical specifications manual. uh since we adopted Newan in June of 2024, those standards were um increased
and they have agreed and they have paid the money um to make those upgrades that lift station to bring it up to our current uh regulations. So, what I would like is a motion to approve the acceptance and
issue a development order once all the fees are paid. Some moved. Second. I have a motion second. Any questions council in the public? All in favor say I. I. I. I. I. I.
Eyes carry. Thank you very much. All right. Thank you. All right. Now we'll go to Mr. Cliff Nau. Good evening, council. Uh, appreciate the opportunity. I got to tell you, I'm a little disappointed. Uh Kobe Kobe told me that
the uh airport terminal was going to be named after me. Whatever it takes to get you out there. It should clarify. I did not three years three years of bi-weekly construction meetings should count for something.
But uh uh all joking aside, the the tunnel actually is already set up for murals to go up on several of the walls. Uh in fact, the uh architects had murals lined up to go on some of the
walls, but through uh the selection process, we never actually picked what murals to put on the walls. And so there are some murals areas set up for murals on the walls if you guys want to honor um some of the distinguished people that you guys talked about earlier.
Um so today I just wanted to present a couple uh one thing to you which is the final change order to close the project out. Um we had two allowances that were in the contract. Um we had an allowance
uh under um Gulf Power. There was an allowance for $20,000 for Gulf Power that turned into FPNL in the process and they only used $18,000
um 18,336.669. So the difference between those two goes back to the city in this change order. And then the other allowance was for $85,000. And that was for uh permits, utilities, and impact fees. And so, um, back when
this contract started, you guys were under the impact fee ordinance. And governments can't really, uh, exempt themselves from impact fees. And so, this allowance was put in there for you guys to pay yourself for the water and sewer impact fees. But since then you've
changed to uh to capacity fees which do not require that. And so you guys uh get back the difference between the unity fiber cost which was uh $39,494 and the $85,000.
And so change number change order number five to close out the project is a deduct of $47,168.32. And so, um, approval of the final, uh, change order will allow us to close out the contract. And so, I'm asking you guys for, uh,
approval today for the final change order, which is the deduct for that amount. Motion to approve. Second. Motion. Second. Any questions? Is there any comment from staff? Are we is staff comfortable with this final and closing it out?
We are. We still this this does not include retaining. So there is still be a final invoice for retainage and uh Miss McDaniel has spoke to me about it. She would she would like for the city staff to start bringing those to the council. We have large projects for retainage to be released and so if that's her wish I'll be bringing that
back as soon as possible that to be done. So we will have one more but in terms of the contract yes this is it. Any other comment from anyone? I just got one question. Unity charged us $39,000. Yes sir. When they ran right past the airport terminal to start with. So, they had to
install directional bores to get their service out to um the terminal area and the majority of that cost was the directional bores to get to us. I just want to know for my future conversations with them. Thank you. Yes, it was it was way more than any of us were anticipating.
Yeah, that's ridiculous. Yeah. Did they have to go on the tracks? Yes, sir. Oh, well, maybe not then. We had to pay for that per animal. Did did they resolve because the the railroad has come back and hit us
over the head about stuff. So did they do all that properly to satisfy the Okay. Yes, sir. Hold that on the record. Did they sit out there and watch them deal with the railroad? That's probably the Okay. Um no other comments.
All in favor say I. I I I. Thank you. Clear. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah, I just wanted to mention uh one last thing. We've got three warranty items that they're working on right now. Um one is a hose bib that's out by the uh out by
the runway has a like a drip to it. They're getting a new packing uh for that. Uh one of the big round lights that's in the lobby has one bulb that has a section about that long that's not lighting up like it should. And so they have a new bulb uh coming for that to
fix it. Um, and then they owe you guys four palm trees. And so they're ready and willing to give you the four palm trees, but there's no irrigation in that little plaza area. And until there's irrigation in the plaza area, the palm trees aren't going to live. And so, um,
unfortunately, there was no irrigation in the plans for that little plaza area. But if we can, uh, figure out a way to get, uh, irrigation there, they're ready and willing to put you four new, uh, palm trees there. What kind of palm? There were cabbage palms is what was specified. Uh but you
guys don't have to put cabbage palms there. Uh it's a great area for live oaks. Um it gets great sun. It would, you know, provide some shade. You know, palm trees don't provide any kind of shade of any sort. And so, you know, um
whatever you put in there, it's going to need irrigation. And there was no irrigation lined up for that area. And so, um, they've agreed to provide you guys four trees of some sort, but cabbage palms is what they put in there the first time that died. And did I hear you're coming once a week
to water? I don't need to. Yeah, that's right. That's right. Well, it rains every day now, so it doesn't matter. How long have we got to get irrigation in there? Uh, before they I know they can't hold this
out forever. Well, I you know it's a warranty item. So the they put four trees in, the four trees died, right? So the four trees were under warranty. Their warranty for materials and workmanship is for one year. Okay. Today or I mean from when we took it
over, it's actually from uh final acceptance. And so you still got you guys still have not signed off on final acceptance. And so that's probably something that we need to discuss when we bring the retainage back to you is final acceptance as well. So, so those are the two outstanding items right now.
Go ahead. Um, the mayor threw his body down to save Clay out there the other day. We we both almost had lawsuits against the city. That's right. I was gonna I was about to ask the mayor if he was going to mention this or make me.
Well, on the on the drive, you know, where the drive-thru, it's drop off at the door there. Um, there's directly to the right different levels of sidewalk there. So, if you come out the door and took a right to go to those parallel park spaces, there's a step. There's a step down. Yep. Uh he he
stumbled, caught himself with the chain. I caught myself on the chain or I'd have been out. And that's what that's what the chain was for. Well, it worked perfectly. That's that's that's farsightedness right there. Good job. The mayor stumbled, I believe. And I I don't know. But
so there is that lip right there that's not paint. You can't see it if you're looking ahead where you're walking and then stepping off the curb. Uh and then going to the left the ramp to the big parking lot. There's a gradual change in elevation. That's a step off down in the driveway right there as
well. Uh will those be painted striped or anything so people can see them more visibly? We probably could stripe them. The one So if you come out the door uh if you come out the door and turn to the right that could actually be changed to a ramp
if you would prefer that to be a ramp. that could easily be changed to a ramp going that direction. Um, you know, when you turn and come out to the left, that has to be ADA as far as slope. So, that is what it is. Uh, the only thing you could do with that is add a handrail
to it if you wanted to put a handrail there. That's what I'm saying. I wish I just done them alike, you know, that have both sides. Yeah, handrails would be excellent right there. Yeah. Well, uh, so, but anyway, at the bare minimum, it
needed a bright stripe. You know, we had to do that over the admin building with the county. Yeah. Did the same thing. It'd be easy to put a yellow stripe along that edge of the lip you're talking about where they where they trip. That would be very easy to easy to do. The handrail. Uh, yeah, you could put a handrail going
out to the left. You certainly could. It doesn't require one because the height. It's only about um Is that something Rand? Very cool. Is that something Randall could do? Oh, Scott could do it in a heartbeat. Yeah, that would be works. That wouldn't take, you know, we we
strap all the time, you know. So, that wouldn't take nothing. And you're only talking what? 10 ft clay. If that not even that. Yeah. Probably just a little three 10 three inch 10. Yep. So, correct. EDB's gone. And the reason these things aren't in the right, they
weren't part of the plants. Say that again. So DDB is off the project now. The Well, no, they're I mean, they're still handling any warranty issues. Okay. Um I think they've addressed our punch list items. Uh all of them that I'm aware of. So they've got the palm trees
under warranty. They've got that light under warranty. And they've got the uh faucet in the back under warranty. And you know, if any other items come up, everything's under warranty for a year. So do look at the the plans and if it's supposed to be if it's in the plans, we'll give them about doing. If it's not in the plans, it's something we'll have
to Yeah. And you're talking about the striping or Yeah. It's not in the plans. That's all I need. Thank you so much. Yes, sir. Thank you guys. Okay. Get me back on track here, gang.
Six feet. All right, Miss Winterberg. [Laughter] Ladies and gentlemen, thank you. Uh, our beautifification and tree board met last week or possibly the week before. And, uh, as you know, we've been working on
the dog park for several years. I think it actually started in 20 or 21 when we first started the survey process. uh we had the dog dog force dog park task force uh put together and they did a lot of work for us and brought it back to us
and then you all agreed um actually previous to that that it would be one of our priority items, one of our six or seven that we had on the board. Um, now that we have identified uh the site which is right outside this window there on the corner, uh, we really are excited
about that site where I think we felt like maybe we were settling a bit with, uh, behind the armory. We've already got shade trees, we've got grass. Uh, so a lot of the expense that would ordinarily be associated with the dog park uh, will
be avoided. So, you'll see the uh the drawing there that gives you kind of a rough sketch of where it's going to be. Uh we already have parking uh where it it will need to be improved, of course, but there's already room for parking over along the street. Uh we'll need to
have fencing. We really loved the idea that being there at Highway 90 at sort of an entrance to the city, if you will, as people come through. Uh they're slowing down right there to have a really lovely sign that would say, you know, Defiak Springs Dog Park or or
whatever the the name would be. Um with some rot iron fencing uh or aluminum that looks like rot iron there along Highway 90. Uh then uh the original uh concept that we've talked about is doing
um either the green or the the black chain link fencing around the remainder of it, having two separate areas. the small dog park and the large large dog park. Um adding some water for water fountains for people and pets and uh and
then creating seating areas and uh ADA sidewalks for um for those who need them to get to both areas of the park. So with that, uh, we would like to request that you put it on the capital improvements projects list so that we
can, uh, clearly know that it's a priority of the city. Uh, we can go out, uh, and get our partners to look for grants for us. Uh, I've already started a personal fundraiser um that I hope to have completed by the end of the year that
would have roughly by my estimation about $10,000 that would go towards that. And we would uh that's our request is that you put that on the capital improvements projects list. Motion. She seconded or we just got a motion. Second.
Okay. Go ahead. Um, I talked to uh, Miss Kim. I'm for the dog park and I like what's going on. I don't know what is your goal on how to do the cost for all of it. I know you just said $10,000. You're
right. So, primarily from grants. Um, just my own personal fundraiser that I'm talking about. I'm estimating my total cost. We do. We do not have a total cost. Um, uh, Kobe has some some cost. I'll let you chime in.
Some preliminary cost and again our CIP council, you know, a year or so ago, y'all changed that. Anything is $50,000 or more as a CIP project. Um, so based off preliminary cost of defense and other things associated with the bare minimums for the park to operate, you're right around that. You're at that
$50,000 mark and then, you know, as components added, they become more. I appreciate the fact that you're doing taking the time to go out and do that. Thank you for that. Um, I'm not for putting it on the CIP. To me, I think there's more necessity within the city
that I'd like to see uh us do. So, for me, that's kind of a a a plus or a want for the city. Um, and I also understand just from our discussions about the fire department that in order to get the CRA to help, which they're willing, it
sounds like, to help us with a lot of these projects, if we put it on the CIP, then they're un they're unable to assist us for three years plus three years after it comes off of the CIP. So, I don't want it to go on to the
CIP. Um, uh, and I kind of looked at it. The one I saw earlier, the CIP list was from March of 2024. I think it may have been updated from since then. I don't know. Florence Park was the only park I saw.
Yes, it's been updated. So, our budget is the most updated one from June 10th. And so, for me, I just think the priorities, there's way more priorities that I think the city needs to attend to. And for me, the dog park would come to the bottom of that list, like really
low to the bottom. There's just too many things. So, um, that being said, I'm for the dog park and I appreciate what y'all are doing. I just can't I'll have a hard time supporting putting it on there because I'd like to see the CRA maybe
even helping contribute to your efforts and the board's effort. To that end, the CRA board would if it if that's something that the CR is interested in, it's currently not on their list of items that they're in support of. So, it
would have to go to their board um and get their support in doing it. Um and and I agree, we have a lot of priorities as the city. From my personal perspective, $50,000 to make an entire dog park is big impact where $50,000
that would go towards something else would be a drop in the bucket. Um, just my perspective. So, should we examine this either after our final budget meeting to see where our money is
or should we take it off the CIP to get CRA money? Thoughts? Go ahead. So, you know, I I want to commend Miss Winterberg because she she has been pursuing this project for for a long time. I know. Um, and and as
I I looked at, you know, earlier when I was uh working with Kobe on this and reviewing this last week, you know, there there's a list of people on here that have that have also participated in this and they they represent the citizens. So, this goes back to what I said earlier in the meeting about how when we do these committees, we've got
to be considerate of people's time. You know, all of these people that were that were listed here on this agenda attachment put their their time and effort into it. So it's it's difficult for me in this moment to understand do we do we ask the CRA to
look at this? Do we put it on our CIP so that it can then, you know, we can then look at Jennifer and Tim and say, "Hey, you know, if you can find something for this from a grant perspective, pursue that. Is that a better path versus the CRA?" You know, because, you know, to councilwoman's point, like we we have
been pretty explicit in the last couple weeks with what we want the CRA to pursue. So, you know, what what do we do in this in this instance? I think we need to do something because Miss Winterberg has has pursued this. consistently and we we need to respect,
you know, the effort that's gone into it. And our board is open as to however we need to do this. We just want to get it accomplished. We don't want it to fall away and apart the way so many projects tend to do. So, um we're we're not
sitting here saying we've got to have it on the CIP. We just are saying please help us. We want to get this for the citizens. Let me tell you something. Whenever you guys were and I think I shared this with Kim, but when she they were going to try to do the ball the dog
park over there to the west of the armory. Um there is a little piece of property. It is actually paved behind that little concrete place right there on 83 North uh that used to be attached to the old
health department. It's a nice little piece of property. is paved. The people that are operating there would need it desperately bad. They use it every day anyway, but it's our property. And I was thinking, you know, that could be a huge help on financing at Doll Park. We could
get a pretty good chunk of money out of that little piece. And if you look at all of our property, it sticks out. I mean, behind those buildings, it's like we don't need it, you know? And even if we do something with the armory property, still not going to need it.
you got a lot of land around that army right now. And uh so I would say consider selling that and u you know just ear tag that money to the dog park
might take care of half of it or more or all of it. If we did that, would that and and I don't know the if they would be able to or interested, but if there was money earmarked, whether it came from the sale of that or from something else, does that require it to be on the
CIP or does that is that irrelevant? It does not. uh you want to maybe delay getting on the CIP to see if buy some dollars through the uh CRA and
maybe a land sale. I can certainly go back to the board and and ask them that. I mean, of course, it's up to council about the land sale. I'm just saying that was a I think that I think that's a worth, Mr. Mayor. I think that's a worthy pursuit as well. you know, anything we can do to
help them. Um, but I I I again, I hate to just kind of kick it back and and to kind of put Kim back into kind of that that bureaucracy purgatory, you know. Mr. Mayor, um, yeah, I think we're at a point they've been working on this for a while since I was on the tree board, in fact,
and and all those people put a lot of time in. I've spoken with a lot of them, you know, over the months, and they they have done a lot of work. And I think we're just at a point where it's one of those things that it is is is wanted and we're considering all these fiscal
issues and and trying to figure all this out. But you mentioned property over there. You know, we still have the property that came up to, you know, to that we sent out for um bid, right? Or there was an offer uh the property by the Exxon station out there. Yeah. So,
we have some little places like that that could potentially be used to fund something like this if we want to consider um you know selling those those pieces of property. Putting on the CIP doesn't necessarily get it done. You know, when I first came on council, I remember that was something that floored
me that there was items on there been there for years and Kobe has done a wonderful job of cleaning that up and the council, you know, with input and we have things on there that we actually feel like we can go after and obtain. So adding it and then not addressing it
doesn't really accomplish a whole lot. I think we actively need to pursue a way to get this get this done. Uh even if that's moving a piece of piece of property that we I mean it's just like the property by Exxon we've said on it this this amount of time and ideally my
my push for for hanging on to that was to find the best use for it and this could be it. I think we all want to help Kim That's why I made the motion.
I just don't know, you know, I'm the I'm the rookie at the dis. I don't know the best way to go about helping her. So, I'm just going to yield to the council on the best way to go about helping Kim. What was your motion?
To put it on the CIP. Put it on CIP. Mhm. But if we do that, it then disqualify she she asked to put it on the CIP and I made the motion. Our board did to to clarify. And so now that I've heard everybody's
explanation, I'm wondering is the CIP the best choice because I've heard great alternatives. It may be. I think we ought to give the other one a little chance. See if we could go CRA. see if we can possibly do
a quick sale. They do have a meeting at the end of the month. I want that property real bad. If they turn us down, you'll see me again. Go ahead. And that's the the reason for the second to uh Councilman's motion was to give us
that opportunity to discuss and dialogue on this because I don't know that the best option is to put it on the CIP. Much to Councilman Berbomb's and and Councilman Heftlin's comments, it it's something that you guys have put a lot of time and effort into, it's something
that the council uh formed a committee to do. So then at that point, it's like where does it become a priority on that sit list and as it keeps getting moved down, then it makes it look like it's not quite the priority. So I I I made the second so that we could sit here and
discuss this and find a better form for for funding it. But with that, I'm gonna withdraw my second. I'll withdraw my first. Okay. Okay. Amy, and and again, Kim, I do appreciate everything that you're doing. I was for
and I was for the dog park, but just earlier today, we met at 4:00 and we've got, you know, we were tasked with we got a $2 million shortage for this airport uh program that we're trying to do or whether it was earlier. I can't remember which meeting now that we just talked
about a $2 million shortfall in the airport. So to me, those are the kind of things that for me just come before the dog park. So I understand and as long as you've been working on this, Kim, I feel you. I feel you. Y'all deserve a dog park.
Okay, we got I got somebody from CRA that wants to speak if you want to come on. Mr. Rob Hamilton. I am part of the CRA, but I'm also speaking just as a citizen. I would love to have a dog park here. Um, I would also like to not see this on the
CIP so that we can look at it. My only concern is kind of what happened with the Benner Memorial. Like they've got a location picked out. It's a great location, perfect space. It comes before us. We say, "Yeah, we're going to help you." Then it comes back here and you guys say, "Well, not there."
So, I'd like to see at least some kind of agreement that if the and again, I'm only one CRA board member, so I can't I'm not telling you we're doing it for sure, but if we're going to look at that, I want to make sure that when we come back that you guys are at least okay with this location. That's my only request.
Go ahead. To his point, didn't the council as a whole just several months ago uh we changed it. We changed it from where you were just talking about the armory to over here. here and I thought we all voted that that's where it would uh
ultimately be. I'm pretty that was my understanding because I was I was the only one that was the nay and it was a four to one if I'm not mistaken uh on that vote. Um I remember we discussed it. I could not
remember if it was a voted item. Um but I I felt the support for that. It's a terrible description. the same way. I'd have to re I'd have to look it up because I do remember I was the I felt bad because I was the only one again
that said it was 4 to1. Dan, what were we saying? Would it be appropriate to ask Rob at the next CRA meeting? Um Kim made a good point. It's what she's asking for as far as money goes is peanuts.
So, could you put this on the agenda to see if we can't get some faster help? Well, we cannot ask the CRA to put items on their agenda or not, but by not putting on the CIP, Mr. Hamilton certainly free to bring it up as is any other CRA board member,
but I think we need to tread lightly in directing this or even asking the CR. All right. Thank you. Did I, mayor, did I understand correctly that we have some interest in the property right back over here that we attempted to sell and didn't get a bid on? Yes.
Yeah, we got much better interest than we had before. So, we could Which property? The one that uh Mr. Harrison was talking about, the Exxon property. It's between 21st and 22nd Street and we have somebody. It's the one that we acquired through
the magistrate. Correct. There's apparently abatementar better offer with someone who will definitely do something very positive. But anyway, that'll be up to you guys. So, we could potentially have that funds to help with the dog park is where I'm
going with that. Yeah. Yes. So, should we Yes, ma'am. Sorry, Kim. We do not have a motion. Go ahead, res. Okay. We talked about the budget. I say wait for the budget till you got
have something. You just said you're going to get $37,000 back from the airport. But you need to have a budget before you even know whether you can do something with that. If the CRA, which I think I would be really happy
with that, but if they do not put it on theirs by September, you'll have the budget done, right? Oh, yeah. Well, the end of September. Okay. So if she's guaranteed because I know that's what happens with projects here. You say yes and then just like
with the labyrinth it's you know yes it's going to be here and it's not then they spend their money yeah looking into something that hasn't done. So I'd like to make sure that there's something saying that that piece of property that we're talking about is designated for a dog park whether it's
funded by the CRA, the CIP or privately funded. any way would we get it that there's something here that they can have it. Clay, since this is brought on the agenda by Miss Wber, can we possibly ask for a vote on that if we haven't already
on the location? Sure. Okay. Uh, does anybody want to make a motion on that location? Motion to what location? We need to specify. Right here city hall. All right. Have a motion. We have a second. Got a
second. All right. Questions or comments? I have a comment, mayor, but I'll wait till after the motion. I mean, specifically to the location, you know, exactly what you're saying. OB, it's a you don't want to put out a whole lot of effort and squeezing and all this kind of stuff and then they're going to
change your mind if you get even if you get the money. So, we do need to settle in. Um, are we sure we didn't vote on this already? I'm a minute ago. I mean, even even if we did, I mean, what's the hurt in reaffirming it?
I'm okay with that, though. Oh, are we ready? Well, um, any other comments from the DAS from the house? All in favor say I. I have to preface mine. I'm okay with
the location. I just It's not a priority for me at this time. So, is that a name? No, I I mean the motion is is at the location. Correct. That's all the motion. That's all it is. Yeah, I'm okay with the location. I I
I carry it. All right. Mayor, if I may real quick one time conversation. So, a couple things. This the CIP um we did clean last year. I'm working on it now as part of the budget process. We bring that back. I'm putting together hopefully a fiveyear CIP. So, I think
it's I think it's good to know that just because it goes on there right now, and I don't disagree with everyone's logic on it. It may not get funded for four or five years from now, right? Just you don't have to do it this year. It could be later on in the five-year process. There's going to be projects on there that we don't fund for another three or four years. Uh whether that be
through grant funding or whatever set aside funds. Next, just a just point clarification, the airport change order, those funds are not coming back to the general fund. Those funds are staying at the airport and with the runway projects. So, I want to make sure those ARPA dollars are staying out there. They can't come back to the general fund.
Okay. All right. So, we're clear on that. Qu I have one question. Go ahead. So, correct me if I'm wrong, but is the CIP our prioritized list of what projects we want to see get done? I
mean, they might not be numbered, but I thought they were on the left hand side in different kinds of categories. So, uh, we do have prioritiz [Music] Yeah. I thought that's what we did for Liberty Partners. Major funding list.
That that doesn't, in my opinion, that doesn't preclude us from asking Liberty Partners to say, "Hey, can you find us some grants on dog parks?" So, quick question. So, just refresh my memory. Is the building in front of here where they used to collect utility payments, the old
Chelco, is that building on that Under what category is it's not currently on the CIP. Thank you. Okay. Okay. All right. Are we ready to go to this comment? Oh, wait a minute. We already voted.
We already voted. We already glad I'm not the only one. I'll circle it. So, as far as I know, we voted. I I just want to clarify this because th this keeps getting restated.
What are we talking about? Uh a couple of comments that were made ju just now. Um I I want to clarify this at least from for my opinion. This is just my opinion, but when when it comes to this veterans memorial that the the statement keeps being made, well, you know, you told the
CRA to go ahead at that location and then you changed your mind after the fact. Todd's recollection of that is not that. Todd's recollection of what the city council directed the CRA to do was to go out and get input on multiple
locations and multiple designs. That is Todd's recollection of of it. That's been it was stated twice in this meeting. It was stated previously at some of our other meetings. That is not Todd's recollection of what was actually directed at that joint workshop that was
called in which we said we wanted multiple locations and multiple options and we wanted and we tasked Councilman Skongers with being our point to bring back feedback on what they wanted to see. And in my Todd's opinion, again,
I'm only talking about myself. That's why we came to the the vote that we did because that's not what was actually executed on. I'm not I'm not throwing stones. I'm not trying to, you know, upset anybody, but I just want
the the record's straight. Council was very clear. Multiple locations, multiple options, and that's not what occurred. I'm done. Now, I just want to say this because on we had three locations. Two inside,
chibi park, one outside that we were talking about. Mr. Connor made the motion. I don't think he meant to, but he used the word Chipley Park to come back with conceptual plan. We looked this up in the minutes. His
motion was to develop a conceptual plan in the Chipley Bark location because my recollection from that meeting and the ask and Josh can clarify this was hey we want to go out and we want to see is this doable is this would
this fit there is it even possible was what I remember from that which is why the conceptual design at Chipley Park came up is it possible to even put it in that location because for me the one biggest concern in that location was the flooding it it it goes underwater and
then can you and some other citizens comments were can you even get the handicap into that area where it's at. So it was bring back the conceptual design to see if it's possible for that fit there. Now I'm adding some words to that because it was conceptual design at
Chipley Park but the the just the story because Councilman Beerbone's right that was at the workshop but there was a meeting after that which is where the conceptual design came and in that one it was the con conceptual design to see for feasibility I think may have been a
key word in that conversation to even see if it was possible to do it but then that that was it. I mean, that's just clarity is is all I'm saying that for. Not that Josh wanted. I'm just saying when you when you said
Chipley Park, he eliminated one of three places. You know, it makes me chuckle because again, that was a 4 to one vote. I was the only one on that second goaround when y'all were talking about this. It is. You asked them to go back out and do more
locations because I was the only one at that time that supported it within Shipley Park. And I'm thinking, what the heck happened? We just did this like two meetings prior to that and we were and that's when we said go out and do something then it they brought it back and as I recall
I have to laugh now because I was the only one that then supported it in that location and then but again that was conceptual design exactly I get it. I'm just saying he's I think he's correct. it was was said to go because from my my opinion even even in
that I don't I don't believe that we were approving a labyrinth in Chipley Park and and that's I'm sorry but that's what keeps getting saying over and over again and I I disagree with that. Yeah. Yeah. I remember the uh the workshop. We
were pretty pretty clear about our concerns about buildings being put there. The conceptual design, you know, that at least when it was brought this last time, there were no buildings mentioned. Uh but I suspect that might have come later in another phase
possibly if the if the labyrinth was approved. But there were a lot of concerns from the beginning. Those were discussed in the workshop. um you know and it kept coming to us. As it turned out though, we did get I think we all got a lot of feedback from the public
this last goround uh that was opposed to it and so there was a lot of things considered. Uh but I don't recall us ever approving that location for that to to to be it solely.
Yeah. Moving right along. Yes. Okay, that's good. Yeah. All right. We're going to go to citizen comments. Uh this time, if you have a comment, you have three minutes. Please state your name. If you're
representing an organization, please state that as well. And uh floor is yours. Thank you so much. briefly, Todd, when uh when we were talking um about the uh
authentic Walton, just uh wanted to remind everybody, but for 37 years, Hometown Christmas has brought a whole bunch of people into uh North Walton. And at one time, I even had a deal with David Dye, who ran um the Best Western
for our vendors because they would come in and set up on Friday, spend Friday night. And now that we're into Sunday, some of them even spend two nights here. Um, just kind of wanted to add that. Um, but what I was here about a couple of weeks ago was doing something for Robert
Nelson and JW Atkissson. Well, I have come up with a plan. Um, actually a sweet, wonderful young lady that I know gave me this brilliant idea. The benches downtown are owned by
um Main Street, so the city doesn't own them. And as we all know, Robert Nelson spent a great deal of his time sitting on that bench in front of his business conducting city business. So, I think he would be thrilled. He grumble about it,
but he would be thrilled if we put a plaque on a bench downtown with Robert's name on it. And also with JW, actually his family had asked me if we I could get the city to name an alley after JW.
Um, and I had first thought about the alley between course Driftway and the county building. Well, now they're abandoning that alley. Um, so that's no longer a possibility. So, I contacted uh Miss Parsons, who's head of Main Street
right now, and she met with her board and has gotten back with me, and they very much approve of us putting plaques on the benches downtown to honor um Robert and one to honor JW. So,
actually, we've taken the the decision making out of your hands. Um, because uh Main Street paid for the benches and the DVPA will pay for the plaques that go on them. But what I would like from y'all as y'all consider um uh the um the
criteria for honoring people at the airport, for example, um there are more benches downtown and we want um and Miss Parsons and I have discussed it. We want to honor people that have done something for the city, not just, you know, I love
my granny, so I'm gonna put a plaque on one of them for my granny. We'd like for those benches to be um, you know, for uh people who have done something and maybe we could uh as you formulate your criteria for the memorials that we could
um look at it and perhaps go along with it. Um, but that's um that's what we're gonna do. Let me ask you about that plaque. Uh, it is a bench that you'll be sitting on. How do you put that on there without um putting your back on it or whatever?
Well, it you should Well, I call it a plaque. I don't know what what do you call it? It's like a um a metal thingy. Give me a word for it. Is the placard on the metal or the front? Um it would be on the back. Like if I was going to sit down, it would be right here.
A name plate on top of it, but it'd be flat. Yes. In the middle. It's basically a name plate, right? Yeah. Yeah. Kind of like that. Yeah. So that Yeah. It would be flat. Okay. Uh is my idea anyway. Yeah, that's fine. I'm just saying thinking.
Yeah. No, it wouldn't. I knew plaque wasn't the right word, but I couldn't come up with the, you know, the a great idea. Yeah. So that's um so that's what we're going to do to honor these two men. um who dedicated their life to this city.
And as you know, we proceed on um there will be other people that we'd like to honor as well. I'm actually going to try to find out from Main Street if it's not too expensive. Um I'd like to buy another bench and um put in front of
Galloway now that he owns it. Um put one there for Robert because I'm telling you, you didn't you couldn't pass by that. he wasn't sitting there talking to somebody. So, I'd like to see if we could buy another bench or maybe move one down there. But that's that's what we've come
up with and I just wanted to let you y'all know. So, thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else? No eye rolling. Um Kim Winterberg. Uh, I I didn't want to u confuse or or delay the airport conversation any further,
but as we were talking about asking staff about naming and renaming things. It's something that we've run into um as the beautifification and tree board. We have a number of parks with names of people. Um, we've got Pat Kovville one, Pat Kovville 2. This is no disrespect
for the to the Kovville family. Um, but we we don't really have a connection to that. Um and so our board had talked about the potential of renaming not just those parks but any of our parks. So I think that um my my request or
recommendation would be if we can also look at not just naming things but renaming things um and the guidelines that would be surrounding that. Just my two cents. Yeah. Thank you. Consider anyone else.
Okay. Good evening, councilman. It's good to see you once again. Two things quickly. I really need somebody look into the railroad track crossing. Some broke a tower brought in. All the crossings in
dilapidated shape. The other thing need to be looked into the electrical lines going through trees. I cut all over the city and South Second Bowen Park Street. Florida Power. I have a problem with Florida power light. I'm sure everybody
old light bill is a little high and some of them screaming high. But the point there is is that they can run your light bill up. But if the little kids touch a tree while I have uh maintain the property, it'll kill them because the lines are right through the trees. So we
need to get checked into that. It's totally unacceptable for the rideways not to be trimmed back with the light bills we pay here in the city. Even with the city lights, look at it and do the do the math. I'm sure your bill went up
the and that railroad crossing need to be fixed on just about all of them. I broke a tie rod in $600 worth and that's unacceptable all the way down the railroad track. They need to be redid, right? So, but the private guy that got the railroad CSX, I don't think he
hasn't anymore. I think they sold this area out, they need to be redid. And the power lines is very important. I mentioned to one of the councilman earlier, but the power lines going through trees. Yeah. And little kid play around and get on them trees. That's it. And that's very
important. So, we need to address that. I would appreciate if you did. I'm going to get somebody higher than me. I have called Laur Power and Light. I've had lines hung up in the trees. The line is probably 8 feet lower than it
ought to be because it's hung up in the trees. It's been that way for a year and a half. I've had their representatives come and look at it, said they'll get it fixed. Well, still like that today. To add on to that, I agree with I talked to Mr. Bernard Johnson. I I spend over
three and a half hours with him with my personal vehicle, taking him around and nothing has not been done. Not faulting him, but I don't know who else to talk to. Yeah. And the lines are straight through the trees. All we on private property. It's not the the service line. It's the
main line, the hot one. The service line, no problem. But the main line going through the trees. Even on the city street of B, you drive down B, you drive down park, you see the lines going through the trees. That's not good. And we as officials
have a more than spiritual duties. I always say so. So we need to take care of that. And that railroad crossing when you have a little car like our lawyer has that you got to ease across it. You got if you don't creep across it then you got
problem. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else? All right. We're going to close the floor for public comments and we will Clay, you got anything? Okay, sir. All right, then. Uh we will go to say Miss Heavlin on the occupational
license. So several meetings ago we all were talking about the budget. How can we find money to raise our revenues or so I started thinking about oh you know what every year I pay the city for an occupational license. Well then I
stumbled upon by coincidence that uh code and land use is already looking at this particular area. Uh, and so I kind of want to share what they're doing, although they're going to bring theirs back here shortly. Um, at the
meeting I actually got an opportunity to go up to the podium and I I was asking what are the statistics, but there's a lot of different classifications that people pay us for. I only recognize my own because I, as a professional, just pay a
flat $30 for an occupational license for the city. And I kind of like where they're going with this. So again, I just want to share with you that I took uh the finance director gave me for what' you give me four years worth. Anyway, I looked at 2024 and I was
shocked at what I found. What is the money showing us and who wasn't on that list? So for example, I was looking to see were all the grocery stores together. I was thinking Thriftway, Windixie, Piggly,
uh, and there was, oh, I forgot the Mexican, uh, I think there's a grocery store over here. Anyway, I thought they all ought to be paying the same rate, and I thought it would be more than the $30 because I was shocked. I mean, you know, some of our big merchants
uh, are paying a hefty fee, but I realized the structure, the fee structure is a base fee plus square footage. So the the code use was talking about, hey, let's maybe consolidate this. Let's make it
simple. And I'm in agreement with what they're going to propose and bring back forward. But because there wasn't any statistics, I don't want to just do one flat fee at a base rate because I realize we might be leaving a lot of money on the table for these people that
have square footage. Uh but beyond that, what can we do to encourage and uh help our staff enforce this besides going to the magistrate? Is there a way? Because I was shocked that there's some big
players. So, for example, over at Lowe's and Tractor Supply, they don't pay the same kind of uh fee. And I'm thinking, why is that? So, I'm thinking to I want y'all to just start thinking about this because they're going to bring it back. But I'd
like to see them look at maybe two sets of categories. One that has square footage above a certain amount. And uh Mr. Atkinson and I was talking about this earlier today. Right now it's at 50,000 square feet. You pay a base fee
plus you pay $10 for every,000 square feet over and above 50,000 square feet. So I'm thinking, can we kind of throw it out there? can we come up with some way to maximize? And I asked Mr. Atkinson, I said, you know, that I was
I didn't understand why that there was a property beyond Lowe's down at the end of that street that's a big manufacturing. I never I only been back there maybe once or twice in the eight years that I've lived here. And I thought, they're not paying us anything. And he brought to my attention, well,
maybe way back when there might be they might have received an abatement or something. ring a bell to you. The professional products building, they acquired that in the industrial park. Is that it? I I was kind of surprised when she just said that's my only thought was it was our
industrial park and so it was perhaps part of that but that pretty but there were so more like they just like for example the hotels if it's based on beds or even if it's going to go to a flat rate whatever they're bringing back they're not paying us. There's a brand new hotel across the
street there by the Tom Thumb on Live Oak, but that's the only one that was paying us for a and I thought, what? It's like we've got more. So, anyway, is there I kind of just want to throw that out there that I think we need to empower our staff.
How can they enforce this without us having to go through the magistrate and drag this out because it's it's not fair to those who are compliant and pay their fair share. Um, and I also understood from the meeting that I attended that
staff might be confused on um, interstate commerce as it is in section 8. So Clay and I talked about that earlier too and I'll be M Strong and Lisa to clarify the scope of that provision. So right now it appears there's some a lot of the
violate I got 16 pages that the planning department gave me. There's 16 pages of delinquent people who have never paid us for and I'm only talking by the way last fiscal year 2024. Okay. So there's 16
pages of 10 each. So uh hold on. I got the statistics right here. Anyway, it was like roughly $4,800. 34% were for 2024's uh pay uh people paid 34% for that and
then 50 some plus percent was prepayments for the next fiscal year and then 10% were about violations or transfers or ownership changes those types of things. So, I just kind of wanted to share with y'all what I found out. And I again, I know Code's going to
bring this forward, but I kind of wanted to share that uh with everybody because I was there was conversation about 449 commercial properties. What if we just did a flat fee across the board? But then I'm thinking not all those 449 are
occupied. For example, you know, the Ray properties, not all of those are occupied. I know there's some other big land owners in town that Yeah. But that's a government property now. So, they're not even going to be a player any, you know, in the mix anymore, but there are other large
commercial land owners that don't have anything in their buildings. They're just uh so I kind of just wanted to share that with us. Um the 10 pages of violations, that's 160 businesses. Of the 160, 93 of those, Clay, this might help you with
your conversation. 93 of those have no brick andmortar bu location here within the city, but yet they're here doing business uh daily and they are contributing to interstate commerce. So, um just basic math, 30 times that many
businesses, that's 4,800 in revenue. That might not seem like a lot, but if we really dug further on the ones who didn't pay at all, uh some of those are big players. it would have paid us a lot more than the $30 uh range. So, um I'd like to see the
committee keep two categories. One with square footage in mind and then all the others, whether it's professionals, doctors, and then if that's a flat rate, uh I agree. Um, but my goal is to allow
staff to resolve this so that they're able to collect the cash for us and without too much problem. And then I think it says it goes, Clay, correct me if I'm wrong. Does it go to the magistrate after a certain number of days? And but I want right now it doesn't appear
that we're collecting anything. We're just letting them go and we're not enforcing this. And I would like to see that change. So, um, and that will be coming back from the code and land use review committee. Um, councilman EV and I discussed she wanted
to at least put on concern. She was looking at the two categories and wanted the council to think about it so that when it comes back to y'all, we could talk about it at the committee level. MV. So, I I just want to kind of maybe add to it that, you know, was happy to see,
you know, Councilwoman Heavlin participating as a citizen in that in that code and land use review committee meeting. Um, she was the only one in in the audience. Um, but that's okay. Uh we we just like we have done on many other
occasions, we deliberated, we discussed um as as Councilwoman Heavlin got exposed to um you know, we we engaged with with staff on pros and cons. Um and one of the things that that I took away from that particular meeting was it's a
slippery slope. If you look at our categories right now, there's 60 plus subcategories when you add them all together. And so just coming out of that conversation, one of one of my takeaway personal takeaways from it was
you start carving out one exception, then there's that next exception you got to carve out, then there's the next, and there's the next, and then you get to where the code is today where there's all these different categories and all these different and just just like what was cited earlier, there's confusion
about interstate commerce. There was there was a heavy discussion during the the committee meeting about, you know, if you're a lawn business and you're just outside the city limits and that's your primary uh location, but you come into the city on a regular basis, do you
need a a license or not? Um, and depending upon whether you know what does this statute say, etc. So, there's a lot of conversation there. So, I've I think it could be a little bit getting out ahead of our skis to uh to kind of maybe bring some of this up um at this level when we're still very much in the
process of of discussing and debating and and and all of that. I think the conclusion was for staff to bring back some recommendations. Yes. In general, I think the consensus was among the committee to to do a a single flat fee because what we what we experienced
discussing with staff was once you start down the road of making exceptions and and making different rules for different categories, where do you stop? And and it became super complicated almost immediately as to where we stopped. We we we debated we considered, okay, we
we'll make it flat for everybody except for those that are regulated by DBPR. Well, then that got into a whole another discussion about that. And and you know, if there's two lawyers in a practice, are you going to are you going to make both of them because they're both
regulated by DBPR? Same thing with architects or dentists, etc., etc., et go down the rabbit hole. So, um I I would encourage everyone to come. Everyone's welcome to those meetings. They're public. They're once a month. Um and and let's let's continue the debate
and the discussion there and then we can we can bring that back once it's been fully formed uh to to the council because it we're not we're not in any rush. You know, a lot of these a lot of these topics come up for, you know, five and six meetings at a time. So there there's plenty of opportunity there.
Yeah. I was going to ask Chief Ross uh cuz you know I've had several buildings in this city where I've done business over the last I did for about 25 years and of course always had occupational license. Now what triggers him coming
to come it comes to finance somebody comes in for a occupational license. We're work that's one of the things we're working on with the code land use what will or trigger it. I I just want the public to realize
the labor that we have in every one of those occupational. That's right. And chief actually brought back the cost of what that was going to be uh to to to the committee and presented that to the committee. So we we contemplated that because uh it was
it was over $60 an hour that we were we were spending on those and we're not collecting it. We weren't collecting. Obviously, the occupational license for most people is $30. That's right. So, we were we were in the hole on every single one. Um, and then we Well, see, the county doesn't have one. So, everybody, well, the county doesn't
have one. I said, well, my god, should we all go broke? You know, the county is, but you know, it's it's was crazy. I thought it was crazy. First time I ever bought one, $30 a year. And, you know, a lot of businesses that say, "Well, I'm insured and licensed."
Well, when they what they mean by that is I got property insurance and I got an occupational license, you know. Well, and I do want to add, you know, Councilman Mcnite harped on this many many a time from the DIS when we were over at the the BCC room. I remember him
always bringing this up and and very vocally, you know, grousing about the the lack of compliance with the uh occupational license and and and so forth. So this is this is definitely not a new item, right?
What else you want to say on that? So are we are we consistent with business? Would you say every business in in the city of Libert pays an occupational license? Okay. So I I just I just Googled what you know what's the benefits of occupational
license and and u public safety and welfare. It it gives the city recourse for enforcement of regulations, safety, uh consumer uh issues, uh generates revenue, tracking
and planning for the planning department, economic development. So, there's a lot of good reasons to do this, but I'm not a person that would say, "Well, this needs to be a really high dollar amount, but I I think it needs to be consistent because there
there's where the revenue generation comes from and it can serve to protect the public and the consumers um from unsafe businesses and things like that. So, there is a purpose behind it. Uh it just seems like a monumental task to do that. We're just going to have to get
some thoughts here, too. I'd invite you to go back and watch the meetings. They're all online. Everything that was said is there for you. There was a lot of this dialogue that went back and forth and we're not going to get it over with in 10 minutes here, but you can see the depth that it went into
and what all was brought up. Was that your first meeting on this topic? No. No. Oh, okay. Okay. No, the one before that was incredibly lengthy. So, forgive me because I just wanted to share that. Like I said, I kind of stumbled on y'all were talking about
this, but I want to add something. If we're I was just under the assumption this was going to come back before us like in the next 30 days or something. And if that's not the case, then at a minimum, can we at least discuss? There's already a process in place. How
do we encourage our staff and empower them to go after? There's a lot of money on the table that people haven't paid us for. And I just I'd like to see if it is going to take some time, which it sounds like it is, and I'm okay with that. I really would like to see us let's let's
enforce what we do have on the books and get some of this cash that's just it's just sitting there to be collected. It's like let's empower our staff to get it. a lot of money left on the table.
Okay. So, I guess you just need to keep working with the code enforcement. Well, I I mean I I would like to ask Mr. Mayor staff to to respond to that. Kobe to respond to that and give us some sort
of advice on what that looks like. I mean, we contemplated some of this at at the last meeting, but you're you're talking about Lisa and Chris and Chris. So, are we going to take away from what they're doing currently to to go squeeze
the tournament for a little more blood? I mean, I I don't disagree. There's money on the table, but, you know, it I think we if we're going to have this discussion, then let's have this this discussion. Is this are we, you know, being, you know, pennywise and dollar
foolish? You know, what what what are the implications here? So, that's where, Mr. Mayor, I would like to ask Kobe to kind of give us some some recommendations and some advice here and maybe he needs to look at it and discuss it with staff and come back. I don't I don't know if he's ready to to answer that in this meeting. Well, I just kind of ask the council. I
mean, you mentioned somebody did a while ago about $60 or whatever when we're charging 30, which I think 60 is really light. Uh well, $100 and $150 was discussed in the meeting. Yeah. Well, that sounds a lot more reasonable. Uh and that's kind of what I
would hope the council would kind of seek out because u I know what the chief and them do. I know what they've done in my facilities and man, they they go through it with a fine tooth comb and takes time
and uh you know, so I know it's worth $150, you know. Can I just add something? It was funny because the lady from what was that scenic Walton or that that little and I asked her specifically because I knew that this was on my mind that she's
saying there was 1,400 Airbnbs and not one of them has there's only one Sunbrite that paid that fee in 2024 for rooms. And it's like, okay, if all these 1,400 uh facilities,
now she did say from north of the Chicago Bay, so I don't know, you know, we can't count what'sever in Freeport or along the way. But I just don't know how many Defunia has, but I can count five of them on my hands that should have been there that I was expecting to
see. But but from my time on on the TDC, what they're they're counting there, the way that they're sourcing that data is people that are paying and collecting that TDT tax north of the bay. That's how they're coming up with those numbers. Yeah, I was okay. I just kind of wanted to throw that out there like as a
statistic because I'm just saying it it amazed me that I was expecting to see more motel and hotels and apartments on there paying their fair share and I saw one. I I take that back. I saw two. Adam's Hotel was on there. They paid Adam's Motel, whatever that is out
there, was paying and I thought, "Oh, that's strange. I would get try to get it right." Also known as Pates Hotel. Yeah, it's getting late. Anyway, I don't want to make a motion. I kind of just wanted to share my observations from the
statistics and hope that the I know the board's working on it. Uh, but I'm just hoping that as collectively together when it does come back that we can have some kind of mechanism for enforcement. And if it's going to be a while, I don't want to wait a whole year to
and councilwoman in in all fairness to you. You know, this was discussed at at the meeting. You know, we were talking about 500 an average of 500 licenses are issued right now. So, if we just keep it simple and we just say those 500 licenses, we're going to charge them 150
bucks, we will we will double what we're collecting. Now, we're collecting an average of $30,000 a year. We'll collect over 75,000 just by just making that simple change. In other words, we don't we don't ask about square footage. We don't ask about number of employees. We just simply say instead of paying $30,
you're not paying 150. We will now collect $75,000. So what do we do about those who are not paying? That's my Yeah. You know that let's come up with a plan that we've got to figure out. I agree and I I would just ask only 34% are paying versus Sure. And we can certainly consider some
enforcement mechanisms be included. So I would love to have you back at the next meeting so I'll be there. We can. Okay. The next thing is got Mr. Beerbomb and Amy on the same director finance
director position. Uh, do you want to go first or you want me to? Go ahead. You were on there. Okay. So, as y'all recall a couple meetings ago, I asked to have the item postponed, but we decided I was outranked and we did it in
the meeting. We went through line by line to see since then it came up. It was pulled off of last week's agenda. And I just want to I want to figure out where can we get to a happy medium because all I'm asking
for is I tied it back to the grand jury report and I got I made key like indicators of what I'd like to see measured. Whether that gets in the job description, that's irrelevant to me. What I really want to see is a
college degree be required for the finance director. and I think we can work around everything else. I don't want to substitute a college degree or high school plus. So, is there any way that we can get to an agreement?
I thought we had all this ironed out again the other day and we took it off got taken off the agenda again last. We'll have staff bring it back to us again, finalized, and let's look at it. Or was it on there then and I just missed that part. I think you were
traveling and you just didn't get here before that piece of the direction from the council prior to the last meeting was to to the council work to put it together. So we did councilman co had it pulled off council agreed there was conversation
and it then there was no vote to it. So that that's where we stand. I'm just hoping we can negotiate because I just when I went back and looked at the grand jury report, I just want to strengthen what it is. And uh for that particular
position, I mean, there were several things and I think it's on the attachment, so I don't want to go through them one by one, but I just I would like to see a college degree required for this job position.
Did we ever decide if the finance director answers directly to Kobe or serves to masters uh answers to Kobe and the council? Currently serves I thought currently serves both and that's that's
not been voted to be changed thus far. So that's in place right now. Mhm. So, my agenda item was to to bring back what we had hammered out in the meeting and and discussed. Uh, Councilwoman, I I
if I'm hearing you correctly, you know, your agenda item is is is pretty much a complete rewrite of what we had already hammered out. Uh but from what your statement made is you you simply want to do a bachelor's degree as the requ the
only sole requirement and everything else is preferential the minimum. That's correct. I would like the preferential. I a CPA is preferred a master's preferred. I I'm not asking for all of it. What only thing I'm asking for as a must is you must at least have
a degree in accounting, finance, whatever. plus the whatever we said the number of years of experience in a you know in a because it's not this you you're not really a governmental accountant just because you have a bachelor's degree
uh and I want to make sure because we just went through that where we had a person and it just you know so so from my perspective we we we've hammered all this stuff out we we've gone through this line by line we've we've had we've held multiple meetings
over the last year. Uh, and I'm I am ready to vote. I'm ready to move ahead with what we have all generally agreed upon. Um, I I think it's interesting that here in this moment,
we're now proposing a change which in my personal opinion is a relaxing of the rules because if you read the current requirements, they're they're more stringent than what's being proposed. uh what's being proposed at this moment in time is just
simply to have a degree and then everything else is preferred. And if you read what we what we have in there, it's it's actually in my opinion more strict than that. I I don't know where Clay stands on on my interpretation of it, but I'm ready to move forward. And
let me tell you, can I share with you from my perspective? I felt like I was outnumbered when we were talking about this is my profession. I'm only here I know we're all for the same thing. We all want to have the best for the city and the taxpayers. Okay. I asked for a
twoe postponement and for whatever reason how we got to here today for this to be out here. This could have been settled just by letting me bring it back the way I wanted to. But I played the game. I said, "Okay." Yeah. At a minimum did that a year ago. I know. But I was but why didn't staff
it's not my fault that it didn't come back forward by staff. We did our part but it just sat until I forced it. I asked I went to the admin I went to the city manager and I said do me a favor until we hire this position just put it under
my name every single agenda item. And I only did that recently because I was tired of waiting to see. Well, respect respectfully at 5:15 on Thursday when I left out of city hall. I was the one that the only one that had this on the agenda. This did not get added to the
agenda until Friday. I added it to the agenda because I was ready to vote on it. So, I appreciate that. We we have we have brought this up. We have accommodated your requests in the past for workshops, for continuances, and yet later
here we are having the same thing. We're we're we're I'm sorry, but we're back to square one again. You have presented a completely new and different list than what we hammered out and and went through line by line in a two and a half hour meeting. Listen, I'm okay with what we hammered
out line by line. You can do all of that. What I'm asking for is to make it a requirement that you have a degree in those certain fields. Right now, it says in those certain fields or
experience plus whatever. Okay, let's read it verbatim. I'm sorry. Let's read it. So, so the proposal I sent out on July 29th would have read bachelor's degree in accounting, public finance, business administration, or a closely related field from a four-year
college or university and must have four years local government managerial finance experience semicolon or eight years experience in local government accounting, public finance or business administration with four years experience as the chief financial officer, director of financial assistant
finance director director semicolon. or similarly related work may be substituted for a BS degree. So what I would say to you is the firm requirements right now um as presented would be a
bachelor's degree along with four years of local government experience or if you have eight years of local government accounting etc etc with four years of those the chief financial officer that can be substituted for the
bachelor's degree. That's the way it's been presented. I'm skipping over the must and B and C, but those are the educational and work experience requirements. So, it's it's my understanding from statements made at this DAS
that if Miss Danielle was interested in this job, we would hire her today. I've got she doesn't she doesn't meet those green and she's also, just so you know, it's far far and few between when you find a Danielle of the world. I am tickled to
death that she's there because she doesn't want the position and that is why for the last 6 years when this has come up because this isn't the first time this this council has endeavored to adjust these requirements. Didn't she have an account? That's why she has no degree, Danny.
That's why. Exactly. She does not have a degree. And that is why the council years ago put in the ore. That is why for this very situation right here because there is there's pretty much a unanimous agreement from what I've heard in the past that we
would hire that that lady sitting over there at the end of the dis. Yes. And that is why we put the ore in there so that we would have that flexibility that if we found someone that as phenomenal as her, we could hire her. For what it's worth, she does have a degree. I do. So Oh, sorry. Do you have an accounting degree?
I I have a business administration with a major in accounting. I apologize. I have a CGFO designation and 28 years ago. Would you have rolled her out just then? She just said, but if she didn't, would you have rolled her out just then? It would s it would
be something to think about. That's and this is what I would think since you asked the question. She got us a clean audit for the first time in how many years? Exactly. So here's but she is an accountant. Danielle, no wonder she we got a clean audit.
So So council, you're missing the point though. Okay. Council, let me just ask this. if and I sent you my version of the draft ordinance. So, I'm going to make a couple comments here for y'all to think about. You've added in
the language of eight years of local government accounting with four of those as the chief financial officer, director of finance or assistant finance director. Um and then we have the caveat of or
similarly related work may be substitute for a BS degree. Perhaps the compromise would be to literally say a bachelor's degree is required, but then add and just delete the must have
four years of local government managerial finance experience and say the plus eight years experience in local government accounting with four years as the CFO, director of finance or assistant finance director. You combine
those two, you've got all the work experience you'd ever want and you have the bachelors and there's no question you're covering both and there's no need to substitute anything. I mean, both of those are requirements right now. Um, you're basically going to all you're
saying is you would lose the BS degree if somebody had eight years plus four as the CFO. So why not just tighten it up and say you've got to have a bachelor's plus the eight with a minimum of four as the top position. Just put it all
together as that is your requirement. The experience plus the degree um and go from there. Are you saying a high school person with eight years? Okay, help me Clay because I'm not following exactly. I am literally saying you need to say the bachelor's degree in accounting, public
finance, or business administration or a close related field from a four-year university or college and eight years experience with four of those is the top position. Would you if I I can live with that. Would you live with that?
Yes. Okay, there you go. And that eliminates the similar work experience and eliminates the BS with four years of non director level consideration. So, I'm I make a motion that we change
the ordinance that is attached to or the the description and ordinance that is attached to my agenda item to include Clay's verbiage right there. Is that what I sent out on the 29th or do I know? I only received one. So, if you sent out I sent out one on July 29th. That's the
one I'm going to edit just so and if it's not yours, I will edit and circulate to everybody. From what I understand, Kobe Kobe attached to to my agenda item the original item that was that was presented at the last meeting that was we didn't have a vote. It was a tie the job description.
The job that's the job description. Okay. I'm referring to I said everybody on the council on July 29th after your meeting and the actual ordinance because that's what I was requested. So they will have and that you're going to have to I'll match them up and I and I'm reading from the ordinance so I will make that
happen. Okay. All right. So, we got a motion. Second. I don't know who second. Second. Okay, there you go. Okay. Any other questions, comments? Anyone? [Music]
All in favor say I. Thank you. I I I I finally. All right. Thank you very much. And we're going to go to Mr. Harrison with the
Highway 9 east stormwater issue. Okay. Back in 2021, I believe it was um the DOT, the city worked out an agreement. The DOT, from what I understand, uh exercised a maintenance
contract to to redo the storm water system. um in off of I yeah off of 90 out there neighboring Greg Cone's property there. Um and from what I understand that
project it it took a little while. It started from May. I think it was completed in October. I might have that year wrong. Uh but I think you all have seen photos uh that Mr. Chrison uh provided. Um, I
hope Kobe has show showed those to you hopefully this week. If not, he has those. You can take a look at them. We have photos attached here that shows this. I don't know how well they're showing up. There you go. Uh, you all can see it on the screen better than I can see it on my little iPad here, but
this thing has failed. And it it failed actually during construction. Um, and there is a photo in that collection that um, Kobe currently has where a section of pipe they had the job just about completed and a section of pipe
separated and lifted up out of the ground. And there's a photo that saw that that shows that. So, at some point they they reconnected that I suppose covered it up and then they built concrete uh ditch over the top with the underground pipe. Well, all of that has
blown out. Not only has it blown out uh up the hill where the big hole is now encroaching onto Mr. Crochon's property, uh his it has also blown out um at the lower end where this concrete ditch
you're seeing there now comes down to SLOs uh right there and has blown out another hole there. And at some point the state has come in, you see the rocks right there. they have dumped in here, put tarp or whatever, wheat guard, whatever, dumped the the uh the stones
down in there. Um the grate on the top of this uh one section is missing one half and it's quite a drop down there to standing water. Um that is a safety hazard. Um I first saw this thing back
last year, not long after I uh came on the council. Um Mr. Croch pointed this out. Uh we went out and looked at it. Um I know it's a mess. It's a mess. And supposedly the state says that they at
the completion of this job uh they turned this over to the city. Kobe has requested uh and Kobe, I'll let you speak to that. He has requested that agreement from DOT and has not yet received it. And this has been probably
three, four weeks uh that we've been waiting for this. So what is happening? This big hole is opening up and all this dirt, clay, sand is washing downstream because all this goes right into a creek. And you can see those photos. Um,
if y'all can find those, um, where there's so much sand that has filled this creek bed that the water barely flows and it backs up and it is creating some some overflow problems from another creek that also flows into this. Um,
that you see how shallow that that flow of water and you can see the sand in it. That right there is um on Berdick. that that is north of Berdick right there. A whole entire block uh north from Sloth.
So all this going downstream, we periodically have to send people to kind of get that sand out of there. Three blocks north of Sloth, right? Um well, not as a crow flies. There's woods through there. Well, what I'm saying is you got sloths, you got chafing, you got Toledo, and then you got B.
Yeah. Could be. Okay. So anyway, so so you can see that far down and and so all that dirt you see in that hole right there is all downstream now. And uh our personnel are are periodically having to clean that out so the water will flow. If it's not flowing, what happens is it
backs up um to a couple houses right there on Berdict neighboring this creek um and and flows up to the people's house, their back the back of their house and up the blocks of their house. So
this this is a problem. And so I'm not saying it's our responsibility. I'm not saying it's the state's responsibility. I'm saying we need to find out who's it is and we need to do something about it because um we don't want to be responsible for flooding uh someone's
home. Uh we don't want to be responsible for messing up a creek bed and getting in trouble with D. We don't we don't want to be responsible for all that. So I think um the responsible thing for us to do is is give some direction tonight
uh to Clay possibly or whatever direction we need to go to acquire this piece of paper that if there is an agreement okay then um I don't know the details of that agreement but if there is no agreement if there is no if they can't show us there was an agreement to
turn it over to the city then it's it's not on the city this this water is coming off the US highway this is not Deiniac Spring water. I'll get with Kobe and we'll make a determination on the proper legal title and ownership and how that came to be and we'll get an answer to the council.
Okay. So, do we need to just give the direction or we need to make a motion? I'll take it as direction. I don't need motion and we'll have an update for you if we can put it Kobe. Let's make sure we put on the next meeting. We'll have an update by then. And and can I can I just add one more
thing, Mr. Co, please? Um, and and this is not I'm not directing this at at Kobe. Kobe Kobe works for this council and he and we know he will do it. He's been doing his best every everything he could do to manage this out there. Um, but so I I just I just thought it needed
to be brought before the council for us to discuss see if we can help him get this addressed. I I I support you uh in in giving Kobe direction to investigate this, Clay and Kobe, and coming back to us with with more information. for sure.
Yeah. Thank you. I've walked this. Amy's walked it. This is a problem. Um there's citizens on sloth that have to pay out of their pocket to have their septic tank pumped out because they
can't get city sewage. There's a problem not just with Greg, but that this is a neighborhood problem. So, uh, thank you for bringing this to the to the meeting and it certainly needs some attention. I've seen it with my own
eyes. The FDOT came and built they dug their own uh, River Creek ditch on high ground and the water goes, it's flooding Greg's house.
So, it's it's a bad situation and Greg's been putting up with this. That neighborhood's been putting up with this for a long time. Okay. Mr. Mayor, could um could could we see I was going to say, would you? Yes. Again, Council Dan, this been going
on. I I follow this project from day one all the way through. And Mr. Ray Russian is a white Caucasian. I love him to death. He he raised down in the valley where I was. and back of his house on the corner of Verdict and um Fifth
Street. He's 87 years old and his house flood and the other neighbor on the other side got the double wide trailer. The water come all the way up in yard and if I request co tomorrow, you need to send your crew out there because I
checked it before I came. It's only less than a foot up under the bridge with the dirt. The dirt is transferred from Highway 90 area all the way down to Berdick all the way down north towards the switch plant
and it floods all the way back to Carval Loop. This is a bad problem. I have lost over 5,000 material in my basement. I follow this project from day one all the way through. Before they finish the pipe up under the ditch came up stuck up like
it's sticking a bird at you. And at the end October close to December, it blew out again. And now the cavity is getting bigger and bigger and it's head to towards 90 as well. And then the other ditch is taking
up some of my property now. I'm losing it. And if I understand it right, if you build a house, a brand new house, I think you should have a warrant on it. DOT did not have a warrant on that If I did my research correctly,
they did not have a warranty with the contractor RBM out Freeport on 331 South. I've been researching this firm. I got pictures from day one all the way up even when it blew out and this cavity is getting bigger. It's coming on back and
it's way down there. So, it's a problem. It's going to have to be dealt with. And I appreciate Kobe addressing what you can do with it. U Councilman, y'all have been out there. Several of y'all have been out there and uh it's not going away. We got water
right now standing close to verdict now and I look at when it rain cuz I was down in the rain looking at it. Mr. Ray is over 87 years old. He don't deserve that. And the neighbor cross don't deserve it. I don't deserve it. Ain't no black issue. Ain't no white issue. It's a people issue and it got a little hot with me because
I told him in the building it's right. I've been in landscape and water maintenance business for a long time. I went to Claudia University agriculture mechanical water seeks it lowest elevation. It don't come on top.
DOT have neglected the situation and they have left us holding the situation here and it's really I'm not picking on nobody but it's not the city responsible. D should come back do the job correctly. Water come from the thriftway all the way down to that
ditch. Water come from Highway 90 east all the way down to that ditch when it rains and it just folds the dirt all the way down the B giving this man here another problem headache. And not only that, I tell you something else. We losing money with the city because he
got to direct his workers to go over there and clean the Everything gets up under there. Now what you going to do? I done lost a lot of money. And I'm not raising hell or nothing. I'm just saying that I need it to be fixed.
because it's flooding the neighborhood. I'm speaking for all whether they like it or not, leave it, love it, lump it. I'm just speaking for all of them because I have follow this thing from day one. It was not built correctly. You can't put a ditch on top of a pipe and expect it to stay there. And the ditch
is higher than the pipe. Water don't flow. Water flow under the pipe. Not even in the ditch. And then you got two drapes fell over. Just think about it. If you get a little kid down there, I have stopped a lot of kids and run across there. They fall in, it's go way down there about 20 some feet. You don't
know the kid in there. So, what I'm saying is that it really need to be addressed. And it's going to take all us to to work this situation. I talked to um the U state representative. I talked to wastewater management. I talked to Brad
Drake and I'm still not I'm keep beating the drums till I get where I need to get with all us collected here. There's a lot of scram through all us, not just one. I got proof the ditch was not built right and DOT was down there about a week ago.
They stayed out of two hours. They didn't know I was looking at them, but it's not built correctly. And like I say, if you build a house, brand new house, and it fall apart before you get in it, good. You should have a warranty. And I'm sure
they didn't have a warranty. Thank you. Is that 90th Street? The picture on the screen right now, is that uh right there off of 90? That's right off 90. And the cab is getting big right there. Yes. Mhm. That's right off 90. That's where I remember when you took a tour for me a few years back and I remember and it's
like truck and it Yeah, exactly. I see that. And all the dirt is going to It's going to the east of us. I've seen this. You've seen this. Amy's seen this. I've been out there. You've seen that. Have y'all been out there? We've all been there.
Yeah. And and we talked about What can we do to help Greg? Well, we just said we'll find out the ownership issue and start from there. Yeah, we tried to get DOT on two years ago and it seemed like they just didn't want to take the blame. It It's one It's one of those things, you know, that uh just the hazard that
he mentioned of a child falling down in there, but it's one of those things. The state kind of funny, you know, and and I'm not throwing blame here one way the other, but I mean, something that cost that much and that big a project should not have failed that quickly. And it failed within a few months uh when it
was when the work was done. And so, but it's one of those things that if we touch it, we do anything to it, it might very well be ours at that point. Yeah. So, even even the great thing, you know, it's it's just we just have to have this addressed one way or the other.
Okay. Well, you ready to move to uh B2? Oh, sure. Um this I mentioned this in the uh July 28th council meeting. I brought it up during council comments. I didn't intend to that night. it just it just
worked out that way. So, I felt like I needed to um the possibility, as I brought up before about the city acquiring um the property that the current fire department is on, uh Harvest and Field, uh the property that community center sits on, the city built
that building, I understand, but it's on state property. So, um I I've had this conversation um and it it seems like it it could be a possibility to acquire that property and and at that point we
are eligible for more grants to do what we need to the fire department. So, it could open up a lot of different things for us, but at least we're not improving just like CRA is looking into making improvements on that building. Great. But it's not our building, right? So, I
think that's been the delay over the few o over the years of improving the fire department. We know it needs a lot of things, right? And but maybe there's been a hesitation in the past to spend money on something that the city didn't own. I I don't know. I wasn't on the
council at that point in time, but looking for remedies. So, we've had this brief conversation about the possibility of county taking over the fire department, whatever. All I'm asking is uh Representative Abbott could had had a prior engagement for tonight. He could not be here tonight otherwise he would
be speaking on this uh as well uh to tell you things that I don't know to tell you about that possibility of of of acquiring this from the state. Uh he can be here however the 25th our second meeting this month and uh he has assured
me he can be here for that. Uh, so what I would like to do is whatever it takes here to get us to delay uh a decision. I know we're talking budget and and what have you. Um, you you all know how I am. I sit here and I listen and I listen everything everybody has to say and I
consider it. I think this is something we have to consider before we make a decision of whether we're going to keep our fire department or whether we're going to let the the county take our fire department. this is this is a this is a potentially viable option for us to consider and I think we have to consider
everything because it's a huge decision. Um, so, um, so I don't know what to really ask for here, but I'd just like to know if the council is willing to,
um, to hold any decisions on the fire department until we have a chance to hear from Representative Abbott. When I read this on the draft, I called Shane and everything he's saying is spot on. If we can get this acquisition from
the state, then we then we'll be eligible for so many more grants and opportunities than with it being in the state's name. and Shane is uh given the green light on he's going
to try to do this and not only as far next session next session. So, while I was on the phone with him, I said, "Would we push be pushing our luck if we did the same acquisition request for the
for the public works property out there next to Magnolia Cemetery?" And he said, "Let's not ask for too much at one time. Let's ask for some this uh this upcoming session and then we'll hit
the next one uh the next year." So if we right now we don't we can't get any any money with it being in the state's name but we can if it's in the city and we can get a lot of help from that. So if
you're making a motion are you is is that what's necessary? I'll make a motion to acquire this from the state. Why don't we just direct to get with Representative Abbott on this acquisition and pushing it
forward next? Yeah, I'm not making a motion to uh to uh to necessarily I just want I want the council to hear from I want to hear from uh more about what it might take to do
something like this and at that point we can decide um you know whether to do that. I don't think I have enough information about that possibility. Uh nor does the council until he's here to to tell us whether whether he thinks
that's feasible or not. I just don't want to see us make a decision about regarding fire department uh and and and budget until we have explored this option. I was just curious, wasn't is there a letter already in our hands? Kobe, do
you have a letter already that says that [Music] that we can acquire uh a fire department? I think I I think what Council Harris is asking about is a legislative ask of of our representative during session. Um I think that's what he's getting at.
I don't think he's asking us to go and pursue the purchase of the property. I think No, no, no. I know. But I'm saying, didn't didn't somebody already send this a letter about a year or so ago? We didn't get a letter. I spoke with the lady who oversees state land leases and we talked about renovations and she made it very
clear that that could happen. All you got to do is submit the plans to the to her and the state department. Um as if you're making an improvement to state property, they most likely will not have a problem with it long as you get a proper approval. Um at the time they were not not engaging in selling the property. They
just came back a week later or so and said that's something they would consider the higherups of FDP if that's something that city was after. By that time we went through a number of different changes and things going on. So I think now the council is not asking to buy it. He's asking city to make it a priority during legislative session at some point for acquisition through our
representative. We can add that to our legislative priority list and talk to our lobbyist about it. But he's also asking us to hold on off making any decisions. So is what I'm understanding you to say is now until Shane can come and share with us what he
can do. Well, what what decision is an issue right now? I didn't know there was one that was being placed at issue. Well, there's just been conversation about um whether we want to let the county take over the fire protection in
the city or do we want to maintain it. I just think I think I think some of that though, Councilman, is related to our budget meetings that we still need to have with that one. I haven't said anything more because I don't think it's the appropriate venues. If you ever see me reserve on something, it's because I
don't think that that's the appropriate venue. time for me to discuss something, but I think that we definitely need to talk about how we're going to pay all the bills and then what would what it's looking like for the rest of the city. It it's come up in several conversations
we had, but I think that all that's more appropriate at a budget hearing than than now because this is about Harvest and Field. So, is Harvest and Field property tied to whether or not we continue to manage fire rescue inside the city? Absolutely. So, if it is, then that's
almost well, I'll give you this if you'll keep that. But does that meet our overall objective of how we're going to run city government, how we're going to fund all of our departments? I don't I'm not a fan of that. I'm a fan of it. If you want to give the city a property that we've been maintaining and taking
care of for years, I'm good with that. If you're saying I'm going to tie this to something if you do or don't do something, I'm not a fan of that. Um, and that's just because that's what that is. It's like, hey, if you if you'll do this, then I'll give you this. If you don't do this, then I'm not going to
give you this. That part of Well, I'm not I'm not arm wrestling with you about this. Um, but I am saying that we have to consider all these avenues in those bud budgetary talks. When is our next budget workshop? And I don't want you to think that I'm
trying to arm wrestle you or fight you against this. When is our next When is our next budget workshop? M. Daniel's finishing up the revenue estimates and then we'll get with y'all. I know the mayor is out uh the remainder of this week starting on Wednesday. I know Councilwoman Hein has some prior
engagements the following week. So, we'll have to coordinate with all of you and see if either one of those are okay missing the first one or if we need to wait until all five all six can be present. So, we need to have another. So, you know, I try to do this a pleasant way. I mean, you know, so what
happens here if I make a motion that we we uh have Shane Abbott here uh and and and I make a motion that we pursue acquiring this and it fails tonight. You know what that signals is that we're not interested in keeping our fire department.
And so I all I'm trying to do is in a fair way here, let's say, hey, we we will consider this and we will give him a chance to present to us and consider this. That's all I'm saying. If I have to make a motion, it fails. Okay. Um
I'll I'll do that. But that sends a message, folks. Not sure. I mean, why do you need to make a motion? I I don't know that I do that. I That's why I'm asking. He's forgetting having a motion. just let him show up on the 25th. But he's going to show up and we're not going to have the statistical numbers to
support whether I think the whole goal is we would only want to acquire as I read of this is we only want to acquire that property if we're going to keep our fire department. That way we can invest in it and we can invest in the building. We can then go out and get grants so on
and so forth. CRA can put money into it. But if we choose not to keep it, why would we jump through this hoop and ask the state for the property? That's what I think is at the issue basically. So, we're not we're not at the point where we can choose to keep it yet.
I tell you why it would be a good idea to acquire that property from the state and just leave the fire department completely out of it. Do you know where the community center sitting? Yeah. On state property? Yeah. we can get grants to help upgrade
our community center if it was in the city's name. So, it's not I don't see this as dependent on the fire department. I see this as a good move for the city so that we can upgrade our community center. Uh,
and if we keep the fire department, which I've always been a proponent of, you know, um, that's icing on the cake. So, do you want to make a Okay, we're waiting until Shane gets here.
That's That's So, the the item is the discussion of potential request for city acquisition of harvest and field property. I don't know that we are postured with this agenda item as presented to vote on anything to do with the future of the fire department. No, it's just not even
got anything to do with the and that's what I was trying to get to. Oh, sorry. No, I apologize. I just want to throw out there, let's say that we do get that property. First of all, we've already invested in Monty. We put a new roof on that community
center. But what's to prevent the five of us, the majority then once we get that property acquisition and turn around and sell that property to the county, let's say you you know what I'm saying? It's like I think there's just
I think the whole goal was how do we protect the fire? Okay. I sure I I just saw it as being a win for the city because everything that's sitting on that state property belongs to the city and we can improve it but not while it belongs to the state. Yes.
But that's not ide. We may be limited to some but we should be able to apply for grants in general. M I I I would I would love to support this with no strings attached for the total for the total benefit of the city
leaving the fire fire department out of it. But the state didn't come to us. We're going to them. Right. So let's that the state's not trying to strongarm us. No, we're trying to figure out a solution on it's tied to the decision of the fire department. It shouldn't be.
Well, it is. I agree with you. Thank you. Well, I think I think it's a viable option to possibly be able to help us afford to keep the fire department. That that's my that's my point. That's why I wanted to uh explore it. Yes, ma'am.
Well, why are we targeting the fire department? Didn't we have this conversation before that we weren't targeting the fire department? Agree. Todd, didn't I ask you if you were right here at this?
I I agree with Councilman Harrison and that we need to consider all options. And just like I told a citizen the other day, we need to consider all options based on facts and data minus emotions.
Okay, we hang on. I've sat over here very very quiet and not said a word. Um, I also understand that
acquiring harvest and field and all of that surrounding property is a win for the city. No matter which way you slice it, whether it is tied to a particular topic or not, it's a win for the city. much like you pointed out, acquiring the old F dot yard that we now
use at public works would be a win for the city. So, I I'm hearing I'm hearing all the sides here, and I think that they're they all merit further discussion, but I I want to look at this from an
analytical analytical standpoint because if we're going to have certain conversations, in my opinion, the this particular agenda item is a much is part of a much bigger ball of wax.
So no matter what we do, I think we need to to to consider all options. I think we need to hear I I think Councilman Harris is completely correct. I think you're completely correct. And what I'm generally hearing from from this this
auto here is let him show up on the 25th and and present whatever whatever options he's got available to us and then we can go from there. We have budget meetings coming up where we can get into some of this data. I will say this, I have asked Kobe some of these
questions because just like it's been said tonight, there is a contemplation about the fire department. And Kobe's response to me when I said, "Okay, well, if this is being contemplated, then I want some facts and I want some numbers
on projections." And Kobe's response to me was, "Well, when there's a consensus among the council for me to investigate that, I'll investigate it." And that's that is a fair statement from from Kobe. So if we're going to contemplate all of this
and we're going to bring it up one way or the other, then I think that we as a council need to provide him with some direction on looking at the whole ball of wax with all of this rounded up into it, including the current fire station and
whether we acquire it, grants, and the costs, etc. It all needs to be looked at in totality. That that's what I'm saying and and I think that's very much what what you're saying as well. Exactly. Okay. But but again, I want to reiterate there was questions that I that I proposed to
Kobe about projections of this topic. And again, there's a lot of emotion involved in this topic. And I get it, but we need to look at this from from a data driven perspective. And and I would ask at some point as a council, we need
to task Kobe with getting that data because it needs to be contemplated. Mayor, so we just we need to shift this whole idea until the 20th when when change here. I agree.
Okay, let's move on. It's his item. So he's got that. That's all we asked for in the first place item until you think back. That's that's what I said in the first place. First thing I said item
under B3 wonderful econom. Thank you'all by the way. Um yes. Uh well we have uh on on the board of county commissioners
agenda tomorrow um there's an item where um a request is being made to defund the economic development alliance and we've sat here tonight and talked about
this uh airport and how deep we are in for millions and millions and we have jobs on on the line that we have to develop uh create through these airport projects. Um you
know we touched on economic development u in in multiple meetings. Um I don't believe that uh the EDA is something that makes a decision today and a building's built tomorrow with a new business in it. It doesn't happen that
way. Um they are planting seeds and it does it's regardless of who the director is of an economic development alliance. the model that they are currently using with gaining private sector supporters, members of the executive board, uh
government members of the executive board, um two county commissioners on that board, um Mr. Beerbomb serves on on that executive board of ED EDA. Nothing has ever been brought up in in the in their meetings about possible
county uh defunding of the EDA. Um and now all of a sudden there's will be a motion made to defund it. Um that's over $400,000 a year which basically shuts down the economic
development alliance. There's also uh coupled with that that motion um a move for the county to hire an economic development person. Um, now a comment was made that only, you
know, the only thing that the EDA has accomplished was hiring employees at the EDA office, but if the county hires an EDA person, not going to work alone, right? They're going to have to have employees as as well. So, that's not
much of an of an argument to end the economic development alliance in my view. We know and I don't I don't I'm not real comfortable with $28 million going to airway uh airport project in in totality when it's completed that'll
roughly be what it is. Correct. Not exactly fair on my head, but of everything out there. Yeah. Everything out there. So that's a lot of money out there that we're depending on. And we I I know and and you know, you've heard him talk. You've heard him present to us. Uriah
has has has planted seeds uh far and wide uh to bring industries to this airport. We just spent time on it tonight uh this afternoon talking about the industrial development out there. Uh Gene Hurley Park using that for industrial development. We have nobody
on staff to do it and we can't hire anybody for $39,000 cont which we are now funding in the next year. Our contribution has gone down from $45,000 over the last two years to this
projected proposal for this next fiscal year. Our contribution would be just over $39,000. So the countyy's contribution has come down as well. So that has been the goal of the EDA to increase private sector
contributions to that organization and work collaboratively with local governments, the city of Defunia, city of Paxton, city of Freeport and Walton County. And that's the way it should work. It has in its name alliance and
and that means people are working together to accomplish things for the entire county. So, I think it's vital for our interest where we're coming from that we we present I'm I'm asking tonight uh for the our council approval
for the mayor to present a letter of support for continued funding of the EDA at the proposed 20 uh 2627 fiscal year. Um, so I would like to make a motion that we do that.
Second. Motion second. Questions or comments? Yes. If we're having a serious discussion about getting rid of our fire department,
but you want to fund this EDA, is that a question to me? No, that was a statement. Next. Now, have we had as a council a serious discussion about getting rid of our fire department? It sounds like to me it's h head h head
in that direction. Well, according to what pieces you pick up on that. Um, but anyway, so Mayor, I forgot my bullet points here if I may.
Um, I mentioned the alliance thing. Um, the EDA is one of the few places where all local governments in our county and private sector business leaders can come together through that executive committee to work together for the
betterment of our community. And these meetings are open to the public. Um, I don't know how well they're attended by the all the executive board members, but that's the effort and it's a countywide effort. Walton County is one of the fastest
growing counties in this entire country. We are fourth fastest growing in Florida. We're the 21st fastest growing county in the entire nation out of 3,144 counties. We rank 21st. We're also home
to the second fastest growing labor force in Florida, underscoring the urgent need for more job opportunities. This momentum paired with our number one state ranking in the child well-being index through our school system positions our county to compete for the
most desirable industries in the southeast. We have nobody on staff to do this. The EDA has created a platform to attract high-paying job opportunities so graduates from our top ranked school district can remain here and thrive.
Um the EDA has been a short-term driver of wins. They're numerous um and a long-term investment in Wal County's prosperity. These things take time. These are long-term investments. They don't happen overnight. And and that's some of the problems
we're facing today is that we're dealing with things as the as the fire burns. You know, it's already burning. The growth is here. We're trying to figure out how to keep up with it. So, the EDA is very farsighted for all of our our our for
our ourselves, our children. A lot of this we won't even see happen, right? It comes down the road. It took 15 years for the Shaw River project to to evolve over there, but it's because people looked ahead. They look far ahead and they invested in the future and that's what I see this as. Um, so the EDA
secured a defense infrastructure grant. Here's the worry about money down on Highway 20. A defense infrastructure grant that the county could not access that grant. EDA got that grant to the tune of over $800,000
or around $800,000 to pay for that project. That's twice as much as the county funds at EDA. So that that's one project, that's one grant. So So the EDA has the potential to do wonderful things for this county
if we just let it take root and and and grow and do what it's intended to do. Um we've done the same thing with erra. This is the approach we took with them. let it take root, find their footing, find their rooting, and and and
fine-tune what how the city and the CRA can work together. And I believe the same thing we have to do the same thing with the with the economic development alliance. Um so again, that that's my motion. Um
you got a second and I got a second. any Yeah, you may just say this. I served as a vice chair for 11 years on the EDA. Um, and it has came come a long long way from where it
was. Um, I know we as a city, we had what you call a EDC. We had our own economic development committee and it it was pretty pathetic. uh we finally shut it down and pretty
well used that money toward the EDA. Uh it's been a lot of good strides that uh had so far not really working out with infrastructure to our east 90 infrastructure to our west on 90 on a
number of projects. We did get a $4 million project that went to the south to Woodlon which uh put infrastructure all the way from south I 10 all the way to Woodlon which we'll be able to
utilize forever. Uh $4 million uh that we benefited from that. We have had uh one thing that uh Uriah has done is he took it from a kind of a one-man operation now to
uh about three and a half uh full-time people. And he's and he's brought in all kind of private sector investment and he's he's got this thing set up now to where it can really run much like our competitors in Okaloosa and Bay County.
Um it is um it's it's I think it's a welloiled machine now. Uh yes, he is uh resigning. Uh he's going to he probably can't speak about what his future holds, but it will play a large role in
continuing to support the EDA in this county. And so uh um matter of fact, probably more so than he's doing right now. But anyway, um I think it's a great thing. it. I think it's set up to to really move forward now. I think that we
probably ought to support it. I certainly support it and uh that's have made mistakes along the way, but hey, I can tell you a bunch of decisions made. But uh but anyway, I I think it's in in
very good shape. Uh we got a lot of commercial minds. The worst thing in the world you can do is to have politicians run economic development. We're pitiful at it. You need business people on that on those boards. And they've got I think
a real good select group, a lot of uh smart people and uh you're going to be a lot of a lot of thinking outside the political box. And so that's my two bits. Anybody else wants to share anything? Yeah. Thought
Uh, Councilman Harris, I I there you've made a lot a lot of valid points. Um, you the the Shaw River Ranch uh deal with Williams International. Um, you're exactly right that that's been in the work for 15 years. Um, at a previous
EDA meeting, um, Uriah brought in a site selector that told the story of over, um, in near Spanish Fort, Alabama, there was an EDA director that I think it was probably 20 years ago, bought some
property out in the middle of nowhere, and he lost his job for it. Well, you know what's going on that property now? A multi-billion dollar metal plant. because he had the foresight 20 years
ago to say this is an opportunity and and that same site selector said why was it that chosen because it fit the criteria for those large manufacturing plants because it was I can't remember the the exact acreage but it it fit it
was in excess of the acreage they were looking for. Um, if you look in Walton County right now, we we don't fit into that. But my point is, just like you made, it's all about thinking very very long term. And it's it's 100% planting seeds. And sometimes those
seeds germinate quickly. Sometimes those seeds take a while. But I I do have this thought. when we made some decisions about who we wanted to appoint to certain councils,
um, this council was very upset when the county exercise their opinion on who we appointed. And I think we need to tread carefully in how we word the letter or even send the letter
telling the county how to spend their money. So I I almost wonder if we don't vote with our budget instead of sending a letter
and and and make make this contemplation at that time during the budget budget item and just send you know it's one of those things where sometimes actions are louder than than words type of thing. Um so maybe maybe sending a letter at this moment
isn't the right answer. Maybe it is. I just want to offer that that other perspective there because we we did not take too kindly when when the county tried to tell us what to do. And I having been in this for six years, sometimes you think you're you're doing
the right thing and then all of a sudden you hear that it was interpreted a completely different way. And that's that I just want to offer that perspective. Well, I wouldn't say, you know, I'm not suggesting that we tell the county how to spend their money, but it's our
money, too. It's Paxton's money, too. It's Freeport's money as well. And it's in all of our best economic interest. And and I firmly believe that and I think this is kind of a crossroads or you know because what what it seems to
me like is you know here we are on the cusp of making great progress in this city and now someone wants to pull the rug out from under us uh as far as economic development goes and we we should make a statement in my view as to
whether we support economic development. for our city. We we can't, you know, we can't tell them what to do with the entire county, but our we have a vital interest in this as far as city and budget and responsibilities for this airport grants and and job creation and
all those things. We do not have somebody that's going to promote economic development on our city staff, nor can we hire somebody for $39,000 a year to do that job. So, um there's a lot at stake here. we have a lot of
growth opportunity. U and you know a letter of support just means we we support the EDA and economic development. Um and that that's what it means to me. That's what it means. It doesn't mean we're directing them what to do with
their money and just saying we support continued funding. Uh it's ultimately their decision. I mean there's five of them. They vote just like we do. Um, but I stand for economic development here. I taught high school kids for 28 years and
watch them leave this town when they graduate and never come back. So, I would like to see some good paying job opportunities here. Uh, that is important to me and I'm I I take this this stand on it. I just I think we have
we have to express ourselves uh to them as a body that we would like to see it continue. Um and I agree with you where I I don't I don't intend any you know I don't think we should do any harsh wording or anything like that. That's not what I'm saying at all. I'm just
saying we support it. It's in our interest to support it for the people that elected us. Um so that that's that's why I'm I'm bringing it. Anyone else? Yeah, we've had probably the most non-toxic
meeting in a long time and I want to keep it that way. So, I'm going to respectfully request that if there is a letter that goes out, I don't want my name on it. I respect
y'all for however you vote. If you want to keep it, fine. But I don't want my name on that letter if one goes out. And I'm think that you're on to something there. Thank you. So So does that mean that you do not
support economic development for the city of Defunia? No. Because you're part of this body. You're part of this council. I get it. I get it. Um it's $39,000 that could go into the airport. It's $39,000 that could go to
infrastructure. It's $39,000 that could go to a dog park. is 30 $39,000 that could go to something right now and not a hope and a dream and a promise and a maybe. Your vote will be your name regardless
one way or the other. I don't want my name on the letter. Okay. Just unless there's something different. The city's letterhead has all council members and mayor's name on it. So majority put a line through my clear. Well, certainly nothing stops. I mean, I think
I gave this It's been probably about a year ago that Councilwoman Heftlin and I had this conversation and I talked about it at the DA that certainly every council member is free to send something from the desk of Councilwoman Heftlin, Councilman Skurs,
Mayor Campbell, you can send something with your own name on it, but if the council votes to send it, unfortunately, it is an official letter of the city. Now, if an individual wants to provide a letter of support, they're welcome to do so. It just doesn't carry the full weight of the city behind them. And
we've talked about that distinction many times before. But if the motion passes, the letter of support would effectively be binding on the entire city, minority vote members included. Okay. I just learned something. Anyone else?
Can we can we have a little bit of clarity on what what the letter of support I didn't see one attached but is is there Yeah, I think one of the things he was mentioning a while ago is about asking them to give the money. Basically,
what would your letter say? In other words, you're just in support of the continuation of the EDA or what? Um yes, ba basically you know and you know I asked for that letter to be
produced for tonight and and we just didn't have time. Mayor had other obligations uh already scheduled with school system nobody's fault but um I did think ahead to have try to try to have that done for tonight for us to take a look at um and
county commission meeting is tomorrow. So, I I think just a a broad-based um letter of support if we choose to vote that way. Um asking and the question is for what? Support for what?
Support for uh continued funding of the of the uh wonderful Walton Economic Development Alliance at the proposed amount, which is lower this this coming year. Um If if asked, we would do the same thing mayor we've done in the past with
letters of support. Mayor and I would meet first thing in the morning. We would put it to write one together and mayor would sign as a representative of the body. So did you have a question? Yes, sir. I I agree with exactly what both of you are asking. What have what
councilman bear bomb has offered and what you have asked the city council or city of the Phoenix Springs like to offer our support for economic development council and request that the county commission continued support them as well. Yeah. And then that way we're not binding
them, hey you got to pay X amount of dollars. I don't want to tell them what to do. I don't want to tell them hey you got to do it. We're just asking you to support it because the city of Dunc Springs supports economic development. something to that extent. So supporting funding or just saying
bravo EDA or I mean should we should we say funding at all or just leave it generic as support? It's their decision on the level. So it would just be like we support you have your own funding decision. Everybody has their own funding agreement and they're under local. So I
mean technically well we all make our own funding decisions one way or the other. I mean, if the quibble is the language, you know, certainly um without a motion, mayor, you're I mean, certainly able to go speak
on behalf of as the mayor of the city if you want to do that, as is every individual councilman. And if one councilman says, "I want to request the county to fund it in their individual capacity," and the other says, "I support the EDA, but your call on funding." Anybody can show up to the board meeting if they want to is the other way to go
about it. But the challenge I think I'm hearing tonight is Kobe's going to have to draft a letter that's going to go out on city letter ed that has to reflect the majority will of the board. And I'm not hearing three people say the same thing.
We'll make it generic asking them to continue for continued support of of the EDA and let's vote. You don't have to mention sir. I mean, if that is putting us in jeopardy,
we have got ourselves in one hell of a situation with the county. If that language puts us in jeopardy, our friend $5 million for that Air Force. Yeah.
So with that softer language, are we still worried about their reaction for us stating that we support economic development? I mean, I'm willing to do that. I just think that,
you know, it's in our best interest for economic development. So, I mean, we're at that point where it's either important, you know, we're the part of the county that has to worry about this, you know, in economic development. We
don't have a beach, you know, we we don't the economy of the of the south end of the county is is geared largely towards that. So, that there's not a lot of economic development necessarily that has to take place down there, but there is up here. we're struggling to make this place successful and we're
investing a huge amount of money in it without possibly someone now to guide economic development uh here. So that's my concern and um so
do you think the county really cares what we think? Yeah. Okay. Some of them not all of them. Then send the letter. I I'll just add one comment. Just be aware you're going to be called upon to vote on the funding of the EDA.
Um so whatever you put in this letter probably is going to be your budget decision. I I guess I'm cautioning the council. Don't put something in writing that you're going to support something when the council hasn't voted on in the budget yet. So I mean if there's a
concern or we haven't made those decisions on our budget, you're putting it in writing. we support something and you may be voting an opposite way here in a month and a half if that's what it gets to and and I'm only sensitive to that comment because I think I've heard seven times tonight the budget we got to look at the
budget so and I'm not insensitive to that. So, but I mean just but also the other side is I mean certainly if the council wants the mayor to go express you know the city's appreciative of the NDA that's another way to go about it
off all of you. I'll go on my own and I'll speak for myself. Uh if everybody is so apprehensive it speaks volumes to me but I cannot believe we're this apprehensive. But anyway, I was I would support you going down
there and speaking in your behalf. You couldn't do anything about it. I'm trying to be nice. I think I I put on my best behavior tonight. Yeah. I think we've all put on our best behavior. I think this is a new
a new positive step for this council. Yeah. I got a lot to do tomorrow, but I'll be there. So, there's a lot of hesitation here. Uh, which which I I get it, but but it's still it's still pretty uh
disturbing. But, mayor, are are you planning to go? And I am now. And speak. I am now. Would you be willing to go and speak as a voice of the council? Sure. Councilman, would you modify your motion
to request the mayor be present to speak on behalf of the city of Phoenix and the support for the EDA? I I I will, but I I do want to say that, you know, we we are responsible to the people of this city.
Um, [Music] and and we we we spent a lot of time and and and I respect our county. There's no question about it. we couldn't do without their their help and their support. But I just feel very strongly that we
have a right to try to have something continue that is going to benefit this community tremendously. And I think we're failing if if we don't uh try to help see that that happens. Not trying
to offend anybody on the count. I'm offended that this is even coming up. I'm offended by the the the attempt to defund something that has the potential to do a tremendous amount of good in in
this county without it ever having being brought up in an executive board meeting of that of that economic development council. It's never been discussed. It's just out there now and we worry about, you know, whether we should
say anything about that or not. Um, so mayor, if you I withdraw my motion if you if you will speak your your mind, but this this really bothers me. You want to withdraw it or amend it to ask the mayor to speak for the council? Well, the mayor says he's going to
speak. I think that accomplishes the mayor has the authority of the executive, but I'm talking about as a voice for the entire council. Um, I would ask the mayor, if you would please, I know you don't have to do this, but when you address uh
the DCC to just use the phrase, I represent the majority of the council's wishes. This is a council's voice. If we don't that here's the one ingenious part about this. There's a lot of things to understand about this board, this
council when we speak. Oh, wait a minute. Hang on. We ain't got a motion yet. And I'm not barrel beating. I just I get to I get kind of frustrated because the quorum gets out of hand at times like I'll apologize to somebody in a little bit about something and then you can't properly express
yourself because you'll just fuel a fire. But when we come together in this setting, this is a meeting to do exactly what we're doing right now. All of us discussing between how we feel about something to direct staff to do a job
and then that's it. We're not up here to grandstand. We're not up here to make ourselves famous or look frowned upon. It's to make hard decisions about tough facts. And then at the end of that period of time when a motion is raised and it's decided upon by the council,
the city council decided that not individuals. If you want to be an individual, you need to be an individual citizen, not a member of this council. And I don't mean that mean. I mean that because irregardless if there was an opinion made that went against the way that I feel about something, the
council's decision has been made and that's the wishes of this board. Now, the next meeting that we have, if there's something that stems from that as a result of that, that was the council's decision. And now we have to continue to support that because that was this council's decision. It's not
Josh as an individual. This is me as one of five members that made a voice through a decision and that's it. It's a council. It's not hey saying, "Hey, forget Josh out of that because Josh didn't want to do that or Josh didn't feel that was right." No, that's the
decision of this body that I respect and that's the way we're supposed to to carry ourselves accordingly. So, so I I I go back to I'm hearing it and again, you know,
Uriah has called me before contemplating um you know, property that connects to a rail spur to help spur economic development. You know, he has he has worked tirelessly. He's he's pitched an an idea about um going back to Triumph
for additional stuff out at the airport. He he has labored to the benefit of this community. Uh and and that should not go unnoticed. But I I go back to my original concern which is if the shoe was on the
other foot and let's say our meeting was was tomorrow and the county's meeting was tonight and there was some topic pick pick any one of these the finance director position occupational licenses and all of a sudden at the BCC meeting
they're voting to send a letter to tell us what they think about that particular topic. I I don't know that we wouldn't be indignant about it. I mean, like I said, we we got indignant when when they uh rejected our our selection for the
TDC. So, I I'm I don't think this has to do with anything other than we just need to we need to be careful about this because again, I've been there, done that, bought the t-shirt. I've voted on stuff and then had conversations with county
commissioners after the fact and they basically whacked me upside the head and I'm like I didn't I didn't see that coming. They they had a different viewpoint on it. So I I I just think we need to be very careful about this. I appreciate your concern there
and I do as well. But you know I'd like to clarify Councilman Conurs if you mentioned grandstanding. You don't think I'm grandstanding do you? No, sir. I'm not I'm not I wasn't referring to that at all by no means. I I just want to make sure because that's not what I do. I try to make the
most objective decisions. I I support what this council votes on. It's just like those stop sign. I didn't say a word when when when I lost that vote. Miss Heav and I voted against stop. It's water under the bridge. We our camp council decided it and went with it.
Never questioned it. Never questioned it. Not one time. So we do work as a group and we have been very civil. We have worked together very well. But I can apologize for being passionate about this. I believe in in what the economic development alliance can do for us. I
just I hope they will believe in it as well. Uh there's five of them and they have to make that decision as far as what they fund, but it affects three cities as well. So, I just I just hope that this conversation is is heard and they know that we don't have any ill
intent toward them. I don't I certainly do not. I just think it's very important for our community. That's all. I withdraw my second being that councilman's withdraw this motion. All right. Well, don't sweat it. Um I'll
take the heat and uh enjoy done. Thank you. All right, let's keep moving. All right. Uh, we go to Mr. Mr. Cosen on the uh down communication lines on East Liveo.
Okay, we got some uh video here, believe that. Yes. Okay, this is on live oak. You'll be able to look at the um houses. This is what we're dealing with. We're trying to beautify our city. They come out there and I don't nobody's
taking responsibility of this. Kobe did a 811. Everybody went out there and looked at this and all of them are saying it's not ours. Is that correct? Correct. Staff public works put in 811 and and nobody claimed. So it kind of reminds me if y'all have
ever seen these documentaries on India and their power lines and how that goes. This is one of our main thorough fairs right here. And this one right here, it's not it's not the code. That's a live. That's Look at that. It's supposed
to go underground over to the pole and up. That's that's not even the code. And you were in the telecommunication. Mhm. Yeah. That that's that's dangerous. Cut the mustard there. And so I can tell you that the same thing
happens at the theater. There's a bunch of there's a rat sensor lines behind the theater and they're all half abandoned England in the and the people that live here got tired of mowing around it so they just stuck it in the tree so that they could mow their yard. Yeah.
You know, this is third world stuff. Yeah. And we're all sitting here wanting to make our our city better, look better, and we've got this garbage on right here in in the middle of our historic district. So, um,
Clay, can I just take my ladder out there and cut that thing off? No, no, no. As much as we all want to get out of here, I'm not going to tell you yes and get you into more trouble. So, that that's a federal crime because I will tell you that there was a person I will not name
names. Nobody's gonna Nobody's wants it. They said it's not ours. Not ours. I promise you though, there was a person. As soon as it's cut, they'll say it's ours. There was a person in the alleyway that was threatening to do that to a cable repair person and the cable repair person reminded them that that all those
telecommunication lines are federally protected. If they catch you cutting them, they the FBI will be knocking at your door. Okay. So, what do how do we clean this mess up? So, again, we did day one, no one contacted. Um, I spoke with Jesse. Jesse's working on some moves right now
as well, but he's reaching out to the various communication providers in the city and and see who will claim it. So we just live. I think the first step is we figure out whose it is to the best we can. If none of them claim it, then we may have to take action in this area of public
safety. You know, if nobody claims it, it may not be protected anymore. On the other hand, if someone does, they need to fix it. We do have franchises we've granted to them. If they are in violation of their franchise, we can take remedy. So step one's figuring out whose it is. Step two is taking action from there. So that one where you saw
the going into a pedestal, you know, you were saying, "Man, that M code." Well, who owns a pedestal? They can't deny that. Yeah. But it could also, you know, uh it's got a name on it. And of course, if it says Sprint, then it's it's it's probably name.
An old one. Yeah. You know, Sprint and Central Telephone and Yeah. Oh my god. They've had nine names. Well, and and not all of those and mayor, you know this, of course, that's one of the challenges.
Not all of the current Sentry Link holdings are the same as what Sentel and Sprint was. So, it may well be that they say that's not ours, even though it's one of their predecessors. Would it be fair to two weeks from now when we have another meeting to ask
staff um what's the status on this? Well, we can get you an update if we have any. Well, if there's no update, nobody's doing anything. Well, we can certainly ask. Understand we may not get answers back from the people we ask. Okay. But we'll do everything we can to get you an answer. Okay.
And what happens here in town, it's just it's just like a substation. You know, all the people that have administrative authority over this, they're not in Punia. There may be a few in football, you know,
and of course, Centry Link is allowing a lot of other users to come in and use their facilities for their switch equipment. So, I don't know who all in there. Most of them don't even run a logo on the side of the vehicles anymore. So,
it could be a tough task to figure out. You know, of course, those that you see laying out on there, that's been there. Those are lines that Central Link probably owns. Okay. So, number two that I added to the agenda was a veterans update. So, while
Kobe was giving me my briefing for tonight's meeting, um I asked him, um I said, "Uh, oh, by the way, I got an update and uh on the Veterans Memorial, and I'd like to share it." And he said,
"Okay, what's that?" And I said, "Uh, I've contacted um Sergeant Major. He had to leave earlier. The meeting just got too long with him. I don't know if he's got night driving issues or what, but he he was
here uh with the disabled veterans and it and I've talked to uh VFW. We rode out to Amb. Uh, Sergeant Major went to um, American Legion. So, we got four areas where the veterans are starting to
talk to each other and, um, they're wanting to know where we can build this. So, uh, I want to give a little shout out to Chris Strong. Uh, I called him and I said, uh, Kobe was in a meeting. I said, I need a map or something that
shows me, uh, where the city properties are. And uh he said, "No problem." I said, "I'm not asking you to do this. I'm just can you tell me where to find some maps?" And he said, "Well, what are you trying to do?" So I I told him and
he printed everything out, the location of the property, uh the address, the parial number, and a picture of the property. and excluding properties that the city owns that has utilities on, you know, like a water tower or a pump or
something like that. And uh and and Kobe said, "Now, when you give him this uh make sure um make sure you let him know that the CRA is an option, too, and that the
uh the CRA can work with them on acquiring land." And I said, "Okay." So, they've got all the all the tools they need. Uh, in other words, I'm taking it from the city from the city's plate. I'm putting it on the veterans plate. Let
them decide. And then when that happens, could be two years, three years, could be 20 years. They'll come back and say, "This is what we want. This is where we want it." And there is, I think, a little bit of consideration now being
given to the airport out there since it's a lot of the military people relate to airports because they either worked in them or had some connection to them during their military service and they kind of like that idea. So that's not a final answer. That was just them saying,
"Oh, the airport's available." Yeah. So, after I got finished uh talking to Kobe about this, he says, "Oh, by the way, something you you might want to do is uh you might want to let uh Councilman Scany know what you're doing because before you were elected, you was
appointed as the veterans rep on this." Uh so, would So, you would you like this all handed over to you? Sure. You're doing good with it there. Okay. Well, that's all I've got on my agenda. Um, I think the question. Yes, ma'am.
Yeah. Long as it doesn't start another 30-minute conversation. I don't want another 30-minut conversation, but with whatever this update is, are you removing it from the CRA? Are you Are you taking it out of the CRA? They're putting a lot of
Okay. Well, the veterans weren't happy with the design and they weren't happy that it got voted off the lakeyard. So now they're looking for another design. Uh, and their complaint was, "We weren't given
options. We were given one." That's a CRA. We should direct, in my opinion, I think you should direct them to the CRA. I don't think we as individuals should try to spearhead what what's being said in my opinion. Okay. And I think the reason they're
wanting to link up with the city is because I think that's how they did it with the memorial, the veterans memorial, they've gotten free. So I don't think it was a CR to me. The city has delegated that to the CRA. And so therefore,
if you step in and then you start what they're doing, they're trying to find a location and they're trying to come up with a with a design. then they should work with the CRA in my opinion because aren't they paying for it at this point? I don't know who's paying
for it. I don't think Well, they have so far, right? The only the only thing that is considered a baby step of progress right here is that they're now working to pick up pick out a design and they're also
looking for location. And once that happens, they will either come back here or send word through me or Josh and say, um, okay, we've got this design we'd like and we've got a location picked out. Now, what? So, at that point, we
could say, uh, hook them up with Rob and uh, do the CR thing. Or we can skip, excuse me. Or we can skip the middle, man. Just send them straight to us since we're already doing Clay, is that appropriate that one of us
go doing that when this has already been delegated as a group? I thought that our instruction was to give it to the CRA. Well, well, I missed that memo. Well, let me say this. Technically, we can't delegate it to the CRA. So, one of our council members being involved is
not an overstep. However, what I would say at this point, Mr. Cozen if you want to get with the people you've been talking to and get with some of the CRA members perhaps Mr. Hamilton make the connections and let them work from there. Okay.
So as a council we have not said look CRA take this back I mean am I missing something? What what direction did we give them last week when they were when Josh was presenting that? Actually, the only direction we gave was that the city council no longer wanted in the lakeyard, which was within your
exclusive prerogative because you control and own the lakeyard. That was the only action at the last meeting. The CRA is just wanting to fund it for that. Yeah. The the action was to come back with conceptual plans about where it would go if it was going on city
property. So, we can't actually task them with anything. CRA is the one who chose to do this on the of their own valition, right? But I mean they've they've put money into this uh and now they have to go back to the drawing board. So I guess I'm just confused why we as an
individual would be I just want to see I think it pertains to city property so it's always going to be your level when it's pertaining to the property you own. We own the airport but based on what he just shared if they're looking it's like
I don't want the veterans to think that you know we're or are we? I think if he gets I think Councilman Cosen if you'll get with the members of the veterans I know unfortunately one of them had to leave this evening and get with the Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Irvin I think it'll be
very easy to make those connections and let them move forward from there. So I link up with Rob. You got Josh back there too. Okay. And then we go through the deck. Got you. You good? Yes sir.
Oh god. 30 minutes 1500 gone and say I just told you to deal with him and I'll be pay that price. Look, he's up here. I I just want to clarify for the record. I mean, we spent a lot of time with veterans and I think the position that
the board took at our last meeting was to table this project until the veterans and the city can agree on a location and a design and bring that back to us. So basically what you're saying is just that work with the veterans, figure out exactly where they want it, what they
want it to look like, bring it to CRA and we'll take it from there. Thank you. All right, Mr. Coners on E. And mine is dealing with the CRA as well. So for a long time I've had there's been a vacant seat on the CRA
board. Um they've been patient with me on picking a member to fill that vacancy. And tonight I would like to announce that um I would like to see Mr. Eric Joiner uh fill that vacancy for me at the CRA.
Is that a motion? That would be in the form of a motion. Yes. All right. I have a motion to second. Any questions, comments? Anyone? All in favor say I. I. I. I. I. I. Eyes carry. Thank you very much.
Toby. Just a couple mayor. I won't take long. I promise. At least um before we got the lake samples back. Um I I'll have a phone call sometime next week with Lelay to interpret that. It's just a bunch of raw numbers. So I don't know what they mean. So I'll have that at our next
update. Um second, Miss McDaniel has completed and we submitted uh our third Doge request information request to them. Uh we requested a month extension. We got two weeks. We were two days past the due date. So I'm just making everyone aware of it, but we did get it submitted. So um that was a lot of
information to gather in a two week period. Uh five years worth of information four that they already have. Yeah. So just want to be aware we have submitted on that. Don't you got what what how much how many hours have we put into into those requests? Oh, please don't start. Okay.
M Daniels last was all me. It was about 20 hours. Just get it to me later, please. Yeah. Well well over 20 30. This is our third one. Okay. Do they reimburse us? No, of course not. Of course, that Thank you, Danielle. You're welcome.
Um, I got I have received the Florence Park fence quotes, so I'll have those up out to everyone soon to review. Um, and then lastly, the uh historic signs for the Dorsy District have been replaced. So, those are all up now on the east side of town.
Wonderful. All right. I did, mayor, but I it's late and I don't recall, but I All right. I'm good, Dan. I'm good. Good. I have one thing and it's going to be
for you. So, kind of going to that conversation before at the last meeting, we there was a heated conversation here for a minute. And when I left the council meeting that night, I realized that I was not able to completely finish my statements out. And
it and it offended some people. So, I wanted to clarify my statement and and get it all out there. The fire department discussion is heated on a lot of different avenues and my view on that is strictly in the best interest of the city and for our citizens. Hasn't got
anything to do with city verse county, any of that. But during that heated engagement there for a minute, I had started a conversation about a Walton County EMS contract being and that was mainly for EMS transport is what I was
trying to allude to, but I got cut short in that conversation. Had I continued it, it would have just strictly poured gas on a fire and gotten it hotter when a situation had been quelled. So, by no means did I mean to demean the fire department in any manner. And if anybody
took it that way, I sincerely apologize. Our firefighters provide us with emergency medical service in the form of ALS, BLS, and they're nothing shy of heroes. So, anytime that you hear conversations coming up from me relating to fire department, by no means do I
mean to demean them or the job they do, the service they provide for our citizens, and for me and my family as well. I fully support a fire department and that that's my stance on it. Thank you. Thank you very much. We'll call this meeting ajourned.
Thank God. That's on the recording. Part: 2
Oh man. All right, we're going to call this workshop the airport to order. Um, they're going to handle it in the back. Oh, nothing. Hey, mayor, you could go.
All right, Toby, you want to take this? Yeah. Thank you, Mayor. Um, before we get started, we're going to get Garver on the phone. Jesse and Michael, are we doing that back here? Up here in the front? Okay. If you don't mind calling real quick, we'll get them on the phone. This will be uh I don't know if believe it would be Matt Sarinick and uh Gordon,
they're both with Garver. They're the ones doing the design CI for this project. Jesse, when he's pulling, when he's calling, will you pull up the sheet I just forwarded you a few minutes ago? Thank you. Okay, Michael. We'll try them again in a
little bit. Okay. Okay, I think we can move forward for the most part unless we have specific questions. Go ahead, Kobe. All right, mayor. So, just going to give a quick uh overview of of the project um and the funding and then we can get into kind of some what I'm looking for and we can get into discussion. That's all
right with everyone. So, this is the runway 927 widening extension project. We are now at that point that we talked about back in the spring. We're going to we were going to get to the point to where the environmental assessment was getting submitted to the FAA for review. was going to have a number of months to be reviewed by the agency and then
preliminary design was going to was going to stop until we came back to the council, told you where we were, what we're looking at, uh, and if it's up to the council if they want to continue moving forward with design while that EA environmental assessment was being reviewed. So, first off, uh, let's just
take a quick at the funding uh, to this project. We have $5.5 million that the county designated from their ARPA funds for this. Uh the city designated $2 million for their ARPA funds. FDOT, we had a grant for $650,000 for design and
then we the funds from 1836 the dirt runway that the council moved a few years back. Uh that's in the amount of $2,156,5554. Uh that grant agreement, we're still working with the state on that. Garver's actively doing that and we hope to get that here soon. So that brings us to a
project total funding secured of 10,36,5554. So that that is the funding. If you'll see the sketch on the screen and there are handouts for the public as well. We got this today from Garver. This is an updated uh sketch. It's got updated
numbers as well. And so what we can do is we can walk through this pretty quickly. And you'll see that this project is busted up in two priorities. Priority one, FDOT compliance items and priority two, airfield improvements. Priority one are the things that DOT and FA are going to require us to do if we
want to do uh this project. That's the whole thing. Um these these these issues have been noted on our license for the last couple years and our renewals. Um and so with the money and DOT's made it very clear with the PTGA agreement um that it's got to be a part of some of
these aspects of the project. And so what that will be is that that will remove the existing road that you see um that's kind of scratched out there running north south in the red. It will relocate the fence.
It will do tree clearing in a section you see on the west end of the runway. It will extend Air Park Road. We will get to that a little a little bit deeper in just a second. It'll it will create Huckaba Road at connection. That's a piece of property that the city bought a
few months back. Um, and then runway reconstruction. So, that is the hump in the runway. That's the part of the runway that needs to be leveled and repaved as part of this. So, back to the air park road connection. If you all see on the east side of Gene Hurley Park,
right there where the mouse is cursor, there is a dotted line that is what the road relocation shows on our airport layout plan. We've been in contact with Gar, myself and Andre talked to them a lot about this. They recommend we do not do that path and rather we do the path
that you see at the north end of Gene Hurley Park uh to the red to your on the east. Yeah, right there coming across here in the front. Um that would shorten the distance and wouldn't
be as much ground work to be done and have less impact to potential trails that run through there. and that is to the attune of about $292,000 cheaper than the ALP proposed re road relocation. The second priority is airfield
improvements. This encompasses the runway and expansion and widening which is the widening, lighting and extension of that and then the taxiway fillet widening. So, this one's a little better. You see the yellow sections? Those would have to be widening widened in accordance with the runway. Bigger
planes also need bigger taxiways off. Um, so all of those aspects of the project combined is 11,517,300 of our funding of 10,36,000. 176,000 is environmental assessment. 90,000 was to purchase the property
there off of Hooker Road. $689,747 is design and $458,734 is CI. I tell you that because we need to go ahead and back that out of our total money. Those are things we know we've either spent or going to spend. That leaves us with $8 million 892,74
construction. So if you're looking at that, Kobe, are you reading off this paper? Yes, but I got my numbers. I've broken down more detail. Oh, so okay. You're not following anything in particular. So, Jesse, go back to the um the
attachment on the document. Scroll down to this to uh A1.2 and I apologize. I'm going fast comment. I'm pretty intimate with this information. Yeah. Comprehend what you're zoom in on that please. Thank you, buddy.
Yeah, I don't seem to have that page. So, this is on the attachment. This is what was attached to the agenda. And so, a lot of the numbers you see I'm talking about the funding in the top left corner there, the 10,36,000. Then you will see the pre-RO ARPA, so
the EA, the property purchase. You'll see the engineering for a total 1.1,148,000. And then you see the other priorities. Now, this information is prior to the update that we received today, which is the sketch you're looking at now. The new number, the old number, and what you
would have seen on document A1 was $14,739,450. So what has happened is as Garver has done their preliminary design, they've done their surveying, their uh their geo work, they found a lot of the family ability to cut down a lot of costs when
it comes to the line of sight issue and also to reduce the contingency from 30% to 20%. Now they have a better understanding of the project and hopefully that would even come down further as we got into construction bidding. Contingencies are usually around 10%. So, uh, that's that's where
we're at with the funding, um, and aspects of the project. Trying to make sure I'm not missing anything here. to see anything there. So of the pro of the project of 11,517,300
which is the sketch you have before you and of the funding we have when you back it out based off of the expenses we know to be true. We are short $2,625,226 uh for priority number two. And again, priority number two encompasses a runway
extension and widening and a taxi fillet widening. So, we have to meet the we have to do the projects in priority one. Those are requirement from DOT and FAA. And so, for project two, which you're saying we're short, at what point in
time will we get there to figure out how we're going to develop this cash flow? So, as we continue to move through design, we hope to refine the numbers even more. Like I said, contingency would probably be a big one that would come down. Currently at 20%. Uh Garber also included in all these estimates a
two and a half% escalation because we started doing this. We told we want to see what could be the worst case scenario. We want to be preparing for the worst. Um and so as it goes through design, hope cost will come down. Uh but I don't know that we'll cut 2.6 million out of that right from even from that.
So we'll have to find more funding. Yeah. But I'm just thinking at what point in time are we going to get there to where you're going to need the funding? Is that this fiscal year? Is it next fiscal year? Next fiscal year. So when you see the airport budget this year, it'll go from about 4 million to 23 million or so
because all the grant money that we have for this project and the hangar development project will be in the budget because all the deadlines are the end of 2026 calendar year. So these projects will be moving really fast. So the 2 million shortfall, I just want to clarify the 2 million shortfall that
you're talking about right this minute is in the 2026 budget that will be a shortfall like you're going to have to figure out where that money is going to come from. No. So our our budget will be balanced the funding there but the project the the cost of the project and the funds we
have for the cost project we will be short $2.6 million. Yes. But we won't be to the point timewise where you're going to need to spend that 2.6 6 next year before 96 26 or 27. Yeah. 26 or 27.
26. Fiscal year 26. The project has to be completed by by December 31st, 2026 because $7.7 million which is ARPA city and county has a deadline of December 31st 2026. And what's realistically
get an extension for those or monies to be extended beyond that time frame? Cannot. No. Oh, Mr. Mayor. Go ahead, Don. So, I I do want to report
that the the airport and specifically, if I remember correctly, Kobe, correct me if I'm wrong, um these projects were included in the TPO um project list as of this year. So, I I I have faith that
the the inclusion of that at at the TPO level uh partnered with um our excellent um partners, Liberty, Liberty Partners, sorry to say partners. so many times. Um, I think that we can we can make this work. We faced almost the exact same
amount and I referenced this at at the grand opening of the airport. We faced almost the exact same shortfall with the terminal when we rebid the terminal and we were short. It went from a $3 million project to a $9 million project. And a lot of that was contingency that we had to come up
with and we had to sit on just in case. So, I I fully believe Kobe has worked these numbers for several years now. I I have faith in Tim and Jennifer. Um with with the current funding that we received, it's it's much easier to go to
our legislators and our other uh federal officials and say there's $25 million committed. We just need a little bit more to get this completed. I see that happen all the time at the TPO level where people say, "Hey, we've got this funding. We just need a little bit more to get it completed. And what do you
know that funding shows up? Yeah. Go ahead. So, does that So, what I'm I'm hearing from you is it's not going to come out of our other revenues that we're trying to balance our budget with. You believe it's going to come from other sources outside of Yes, ma'am. Okay.
Yes, ma'am. And if we don't, we're going to sunset and lose a lot of money. That's right. Is that right? Yes. If if we were to stick to the plan presented, we would sunset. If we if the city were to get into a situation in which we could not find those funds,
right? Really, if we just could not, we would come back and present an alternative plan to use those funds for the benefit of the airport. 100%. We're not going to We are not in the business of giving money back to the federal government at all. Okay. So, at a workshop, there's no motion, right?
Yeah. Right. I'd like to I'd like to support this, but instead of hearing you Todd talk about how optimistic you are about us getting these extra funds, I'd like to hear it from Tim Parson. Not to put you on the spot, Tim. Come on up, Miss Mayor.
No, no, no, no. I'll call him up. Say again. I think Mr. Harrison has something to say. Go ahead. Just a clarification. Uh go beyond the contingency. Am I looking at this correctly on the sheet that you gave us today? the the new information
contingencies for let's see had it right in my head a minute ago. All right. For for priority one, $860,000 contingency, right? Correct. 20% calculation on that particular part of the project.
Priority two um 1 well $1,50,000 contingency there. So for a total contingency of project one and two of $1.9 million and then inflation
calculated for the two uh two projects, property one and two, we're looking at $282,000. So So in inflation calculations and contingency allowance, we're at $2 million. Um so if those contingencies
don't come into play, they don't cost us. Correct. So just about guarantee when we have the grant agreements with the state particularly with the state they're going to require a certain level of contingency to be placed in the contract. Typically it's around 10% I think is what we've t we've
historically seen on these. Um so 10% you will have to budget as part of the project cost. Now those don't come in at the end you know that's different story but we will have to budget them because you also have retainers and stuff. So yeah we will have to factor some of this in. Correct. But there is a chance that they won't come in.
Correct. There there is a chance that as as design gets further along uh and we go to bid the project engineers could have that could come down based off of what they see and what the project's bid out at. Contractor may have a 10% it may have a 12%. It just depends on what they see.
May I've seen Liberty pro uh partners u perform miracles for this city and y'all have done an outstanding job. We wouldn't be on this airport project where we are if it weren't for y'all. So, there's going to be another legislative session, correct? Yes, sir. Okay. And you did remarkable on this
last one. Um, so do you feel like this is a safe gamble? Do you think this is a good um you know, we're we're hoping, but what
we want to hear something a little more solid than a hope and a prayer. Mhm. Mayor, if I may, um, you know, a lot of these numbers we've, you know, reviewed since they came out, and I know that, as Kobe had stressed, some of these numbers
are worst case scenario. Um, I I think the 30% contingency is is on the very high end. So, um I I think as we work on these numbers, work on them with uh the engineering firm and come to a, you know, come to something that we can put
our arms around and and then go either either like you said, uh to request funds, additional funds to complete the project from the legislature or seek out different grant opportunities. We know that we know that there's plenty of economic development related grant opportunities that are out there that we
could pursue on behalf of the city. uh very very confident that this is a project that that the funds will be able to be identified and obtained. Um we we know how important this project is. This was really something that this council
had set forth as a priority many many years ago. I think mayor you probably know exactly when before my time really. I mean, we've certainly expanded, but Oh, yeah. And and having, you know, gone to the county and asked them to be a big
partner in this. Um, I said, and and with regards to the ARPA funds, I we know there's no there's no wiggle room with with uh expending those funds by the end of next year. There there's no way out out of that. But as far as, you
know, working on additional funds to help complete the project, we're we're very confident in that. And I'd not not only like to thank Liberty Partners, but uh Congressman Dunn, uh Representative Shane Abbott, uh y'all have really done a lot to help us. And
we've got too much to lose to not go forward on this. So, do you feel okay with this, Amy? I don't have enough information yet. Okay. Any other questions for Tim?
Thank you very much. Okay, um so mayor that's if there's any more questions about that, we can go deeper into that, but ultimately what conversation we need to have today is um again we are at the point we talked about a few months ago. the the uh EA and Kevin's here to speak on that if he
needs to is is been going back and forth with the FAA to provide comments. That's very soon to be submitted for formal review by the FAA. We've actually submitted. Okay. And so they do they tell me how much how long they have. Okay. That's going to be several weeks. Yeah. So there is a set period they have
of review of that. Oh, it's several weeks. So the EA has been submitted to the FIA. Um it's going to take a few it's going to take several weeks to be review. However, we've stopped design. So design uh has done it his preliminary stuff and they're ready to move on to get closer to 30% and to move forward with that
aspect. What I want the council to be comfortable with and decide if that's what they want to do or not is if we continue with design as the EA is being reviewed. Right. The risk is always if they FA gets it and there's go for tortoises somewhere, there's an endangered species or there's a tree that can't whatever we may have to go
back and look at design and may have to make some minor tweaks or this or that. So there's always a risk that you run of spending money and have to do a 180 and go a different direction. So um that's something I look for direction for the council on. Um but that's where we're at. We're at that confliction point. We
need to decide if we're going to wait or if we're going to move forward. I'll I'll just leave the charge here and say that I I think we do need to move move forward. I think we have we have our backs up against the wall with these ARPA funds. um and this this EA um we
we've got to operate these in parallel and understand that there is a little bit of risk here. Um but there's also a tremendous economic reward in having this airport flourish and and be what we all know it can be. So, I understand
that there there is a risk and but I believe again I'm just one opinion based on everything I've seen. we're not gonna have any kind of major major issues with the EA because I do want to remind everybody that a preliminary EA I guess
you could call it and that that that would be my phrase was conducted way back in I think it was 2018 2019 it was partially completed. Um and we didn't we didn't have any major concerns then. So, I'm not saying that there's not going to
be tweaks and adjustments, but I firmly believe that we've got to continue this parallel course and allow this development or this engineering to continue because of the timelines that are involved because I I don't want to see any any of these ARP dollars
disappear. Okay. So my question is I understand the risk but let's put it how long do we have to wait Kobe for this assessment to come back to us so that we will know for example if we do need to
run parallel we're only doing it for two months we're really not going to be out that much money but is it going to be six months and I don't know where they are on the design I don't know what we're paying for the design you know what I mean I'm trying to pull out the most previous um design
of M design invoice. So design as a whole and again on a A12 is design is 600 sorry $689,747 650 of that is a grant. The uh difference of 39,747
will be paid out of the ARPA funds at the end of the design portion of it. Um, but I'm trying to pull up now risking that portion of the project right now by paralleling. The risk is by paralleling is if if we
go through design and and it takes FAA three months to do the review and within three months Carver spends $50,000 on design. They build us. They do it back. We may have to go back that and restart again. And that means we have to take that on to the construction dollars we have. I'm not necessarily opposed to what the
councilman's suggesting, but I am wanting to be very cautious on okay, how much time are we really trying to put uh to this. So, we we I mean, we don't know exactly how many weeks already. We've always kind of factored in three
months as as that time period review. It could be shorter, it could be longer. We we don't know it. We've never been through this before. Well, where are we on the design to where I would like to know where are we on the design to know whether it's 50,000 or this one pulling up?
What acreage exactly are we looking at for the environmental assessment? Is it the the the actual end of the runway as well or is it just these blocked off areas? It's a it's a it's a larger area. We did on purpose. I'll let Kevin explain. 300 acres. So, um the whole the whole site is we're
looking at to to update. So, we are going to get it should be several weeks to get comments back on this this round of of uh the EA assessment, but once then we're going to get comments back. So, we're I think we're thinking about October probably having the assessment
totally complete and have all their final comments. But, we we should get some uh I said several weeks to get these this next round of comments. The noise study has kind of held up. they they've been uh wanting to they've been asking a lot of questions about that and then and and I I concur with uh
Councilman Beer Mom that you don't want to lose momentum because this is a different they've had a lot of turnover FAA the environmental people are much tougher than they've been in the past. In fact, they told us that it's going to be statewide. Any project is going to come on more scrutiny environmentally.
So, you don't want to you don't want to start over. You want to keep momentum going. We're we're at the you know, we're we're in the red zone with the assessment. We're going to keep it moving and keep it going. Let me ask you a question. On the uh back when we had the industrial site certified, which I don't know if it's 50
or 60 acres total, uh did that have to have an environmental assessment because when it was done, you were guaranteed six months of inhabiting that property. Uh so I didn't know I didn't keep up with all the everything it
required. And one other question is everything is occupied now and in use. Is that in jeopardy to the environmental study? Well, the the other thing that's held up is the uh of course the Gene Park. That's one they keep asking about and and uh that we're trying to give them a
solid answer on what the plan is for that. So that's been that's been the hold up. Um, but to to try to answer your question, I mean, we we have focused on the uh the fence in, you know, we didn't really focus on the uh the the industrial zone part because that wasn't part of the project. So,
that we've been kind of focused on everything inside that that's we don't want to do anything more than what's required. So, but in terms of the first for Florida first sights mayor, I don't think Kevin really has they weren't here for that. Um but we can't find anything where an
environmental assessment was done for those designations. I just know that when it was completed and it took a long time to get completed uh those properties were guaranteed at that time 6 months for to being occupied with industry.
So go ahead. I'm just curious what has to happen from your perspective between now and October for this. Like I said, we're going to we're going to get the final round of comments and then we'll we're expecting we are expecting comments. So, we're going to address those quickly, but I
think we have all the major things major concerns dealt with. So, it's just matter of them concurring with all of our assessments. Are you just in a holding pattern? Do I understand you're in a holding pattern until you get the assessment back? Until we get their next round of comments back and then we'll we'll do the final because we know we're going to
get comments back. So we're we're just we're just anticipating comments and then we'll hopefully finalize that and but they're they're telling us Octoberish time frame is when we could probably get this thing. I don't mean to be fixed. So what is it that we need to parallel if they're in a holding pattern? And we're actually we've been talking with Garber too. We we've been really
kind of talking with them too to make sure we're in alignment with what we're getting proof. So so they're not, you know, surprised about anything too. But if we're going to be uh altering alignments of the road, um I was texting one of our engineers and that that could
change the assessment. Um but not hugely. I mean that with all the all the environmental things it wouldn't affect, but we would have to amend the assessment of the alignment of the road, but that's that wouldn't be a big change if we had to do that. So because majority of that is probably already in use for the park.
But what's being paused is you have two different firms doing two different things at the moment. You've got bars design who's doing the environmental assessment we have a separate agreement with for $176,000 and you've got Garver doing the design CI of the project. They that's the one we're asking do we want to continue to
move forward with the design as as the EA is being reviewed by the FAA and as Kevin talking about they've been in contact and forth the proposed alternative road relocation is going onto an already used piece of property actively being used park. Um so the EA impacts are probably very minimal. um
versus where it was going. It was going right through the middle of the woods and potentially affecting a trail trail head. Um so I'm also getting the number on the design so far. So what's our options in reality then? Uh we don't have very many options to go
from if we don't want to lose the money. That's the whole end goal, right? So what's the options? So the deadlines you have on the design grant I believe is June 30th of 2026 which will be used up by then. We expect
design to be done uh you know early 2026 sometime into the spring. um your ARPA money, both the city and the county have a deadlines of December 31st, 2026. And then the FDOT will be a PTGA for the 2.1 million. Um will most likely have a
deadline of usually a year out from the date we get it. So it probably end up being June 30th of 2027. However, those funds have to be used first, right? Because priority one, those projects have to be completed before you can get to the runway extension. That's just
that's just the nature of the project. Um, so those are the deadlines. So just one final question. What? Okay, they're going to give you a round of feedback. My question would be, okay, so you answer their and give them another
one. What happens next? Are they going to come back with another round of feedback that we're going to have to continue this? I mean, we can't of course we can't guarantee the way FA is working right now environmentally, but you know, we're hoping we've got but just talking with them, we think we've got the majority concerns addressed. So, we don't think it' be major major issues
because I noticed later on we're going to be talking about the other issue that you just mentioned and I'm just curious is that going to satisfy I think I think we're good on all the issues. It's just a matter of getting getting it in the the how they want it to to say and look and everything else.
So, thank you. Yep. So, as of today, we have paid Garber Engineers $86,928 for design of the $600 an $89,000 amount. So, we roughly have
$600,000 remaining on design that could be impacted by this assessment, whatever they might come back with. Yes. Yeah. Um Kobe, does the city I don't know if this is
going to affect you, sir. You might want to stay at the podium. He'll come back. Yeah, he'll come back. Okay. Um, Jean Hurley Park, does that belong to us now or are we still working on that or where we at on
that process? So, that'll be a uh we can get Tim and Jennifer to second, but the the park is sunset on the grant. Um, which is a fur app grant. We spent a lot of time going over that last I think two years ago. Me and the mayor, I do a lot of digging. Um, but it's sunset. So, that's a conversation we're going to have tonight
later in the council meeting and an agenda item. We need to understand the council's direction for the park. Is a park going to stay? Is a park going to go? If it is going to go, when is it going to go? Um, obviously, the sooner we can identify that date, if that's what the majority of the council wants to do, the better we can include that in environmental assessment, which probably
help some of their some of the FA environmental people. We we have beat our heads over numerous times that this project does not impact the park. They seem to want to circle back around every time. So um and possibly a resolution possibly. Yeah, they might want to see something like that some.
So that's that's part of the conversation not as a park. It is a city park. We do have an interlocal agreement with the county. The county does maintain and operate it within their recreation program. So isn't this park in the construction zone? The roads.
Okay. So very top portion of it. What was that? The very top portion of it. I've never even seen any kids play in there. Um, why don't we just use that for the benefit of the airport?
It's not you be being used for the benefit of of children. I don't think that's true. Didn't you say there was So, I I know that the county using the recreation program for kickball, Tim. Um, but I know I know Councilman Beerbomb's also told me about some um travel ball teams that utilize it as
well. So that they would be everyone would be properly noticed. Well, and in my conversations with those travel ball teams, they they have acknowledged every time that they've spoken with me that yes, we know at some point it's going away. We're just going to use it until the day y'all tell us we can't use it. And it's just for practice. It's not
that it's not that we're hosting tournaments out there. And so does the county. So I have that conversation. We have an alternative to send these kids to go play somewhere that they can do. We have another park they can So, so a long time ago, and mayor can probably speak to this a little bit
better than I can, there there was when we were trying to advance advance all of this um early in my tenure here, there was a proposal put forward to take the equipment while it was still under the FURDAP grant and relocate it to the
weare park. Okay. and use that as a kind of like a match like a swap and allow and see if FDR app would allow us to do that. That never really got any traction, but that was we had um mayor, correct me if I'm
wrong here, we had some tentative agreement from the school board as well as the county to kind of participate in that project. Now, that's been four, five years ago now. So, I mean, that would certainly need to be revisited. But I also know that um there is some
development occurring out at Eagle Springs that maybe we could then say to the county, please consider adding ball fields because from what I understand, they're adding some other volleyball and pickle ball and one other type of
activity out there to Eagle Springs. Now, that that's apparently on the very early or near horizon. So maybe we could lean on the county to expand that and to include some of these practice fields. But thankfully we don't have since it is
sunset, we don't have the value to keep up with that we had back then. Right. Back then it was uh golly, it's $300,000. Yeah. And now we just love to give them give them the lights, give them whatever
they want. Just take it and run. Uh and and we can do that now. Can we still do that? We can do that now. We can sunset. It's already done. It's already done. November 24th of 2024. Okay. Thank you. So, we would definitely ensure that the field not only compliance refer, but if
there's anything the FA may require and review and then we will we will definitely coordinate with the county on it because if the city doesn't have a use for it, we definitely don't want to get rid of good good equipment. So, so am I hearing sorry to jump in here, but am I hearing that there might be consensus to just go ahead and maybe pass a resolution that we close the park
at a certain date? Let's let's figure out what that date needs to be. When their season ends or whatever when the season ends, but maybe in, you know, whatever would make BFA happy, whether it's now or later, whatever time that is. How soon do you need it? Maybe. So, we have that conversation tonight.
We had that conversation. We had a conversation tonight. So, we could bring back a resolution at the next meeting. Um, and we'll just need to be mindful and I will I try to pull it. I could not find it. I find it the county's notice. We do have to notice the counties that are local. So, I'm going to assume that's 60 or 90 days, but I was trying
to find it. I could not this afternoon. So, I'll try to locate that. But, we'll need to keep that in mind as well. Just out of curiosity, I don't know what's out there because it's been a long time since I've been out there. But, if they've got lights and stuff like that and so that we don't have to reinvest in that in one of our
other parks or whatever, is it potential that we could take whatever's there and put in one of our other parks? Would it besides giving it to Yeah, I mean, assuming there's no conflict either of the agencies. Um, yeah, it's our equipment. So, the park is our is the cities. We our interlocal agreement with the county is that they
maintain and operate. Was it Florence Park that we just did all those lights for or y'all? No, tennis court. It's the tennis courts. It was the tennis courts. Oh, and these lights are not what you want. Tennis court. Okay. But we I guess I'm just trying to say,
can we salvage them versus give them away to somebody else for nothing? We could look into it. We'll look into it. Yeah. Well, anytime we can scratch the county's back, I'm all for it. Yeah. They like it. We own it. Make them smile because it's it is very old.
So, um, go ahead. This may sound cold, but I think the greater good for this piece of property would be to the airport. And um if we could, we've already lost
opportunities by letting Grant sunset and uh that that right there that piece of property could be very advantageous to our future plans on the airport. So I'm it this may sound cold, but I'm not
a big fan of the park there. And so one of the things we have we have done um back I think two weeks ago Denise and James with Liberty Partners submitted a grant for us. It was a no match grant. It's a community planning technical assistance grant. And so the narrative of it and the request is uh I think it's
$75,000 for us to get a consultant to come in and do uh an industrial master plan for the airport. So that would encompass all city-owned property around the airport within the airport to provide a plan if the city were did want to move forward with industrial development uh to show prospective
developers and to let us know what we are missing in terms of infrastructure we would need to have to support those things. So that's something we did submit and we hope we hope we get that to support us as well. So mayor, what do we need to do at this meeting to move forward
this workshop? Yes, sir. Well, actually what we're taking up now is something we're going to take up in the regular meeting. Yeah. But um that's up to Kobe. Yeah. So Gan Harley will have an item this later in the meeting which may result in a continuence for resolution. We can deal with that at that time. But
the biggest thing right now we're looking for is the direction on the design. Do we want to wait until the EA is completed uh and got comments back and finalized from FA or do we want to move forward simultaneously with design? That that's the question I need to I need to know tonight so we can let
Garver know. My opinion is move forward parallel move forward. You know the thing is uh you're I think the most critical thing to jeopardize is the timing on ARP and if this will give us edge up I think this is what we ought
to do. Okay. I would I would I would say move forward. Yeah. And I don't want to see us lose anything either. So unfortunately, I'm just trying to figure out what can we do so that we're all on the same this is what
we're saying today based on the information we know today, but in a month from now or and at the end of October, I want to revisit. I want to hear an update. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? It's like so just in case we have to change up or absolutely perhaps we get more back than what you were anticipating hearing.
Absolutely. If we if something comes back that causes a major issue with the projects, we'll bring it back. I have to discuss that, right? Because some point we'll run bars run out of money and they want more. So that require change order at some point. Um so those things will come back. Yeah. If we have a big issue with design, we'll be bringing that
back. We'll keep the council advised moving forward. In the meantime, we're moving forward parallel. If that's everyone if everyone's in consensus with that, then yes, we will. If we're not, then we'll need to put an item on the next regular on regular agenda to approve that. So, does it seem like everyone's okay
with moving forward? I'm okay. Okay, mayor. I see five. So, we'll move forward. We'll provide updates. Right. Nothing else you cover in this work. Uh, no, sir. That was it. And, um, the funding as we talked about, that's
something that u Tim, James, myself, and staff will start aggressively pursuing. All right. Amy and it's not really referenced in this, but is there any way we could add a prayer in the pledge at all these special meetings? Got Mr. Ali. He had a he had a typo.
Okay, that would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Good. All right. Thank you very much. And we're going to journ until the 5:00 meeting.