uh to order August 7, 2025. Would you please stand and join me in the pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice
for all. All right. Good afternoon to everyone. We have a few items on the agenda. First item is we're gonna switch it up a little bit. I want to bump Eglund up to the first spot. Uh Mr. Hammond. Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman. Uh as
y'all are aware, uh since last week, we've uh I I don't know how to say it other than Eglund shut us off without any warning and without any any real excuse. And uh we've been trying the the political fix
after we couldn't talk and deal with them. And Clay and I tried to talk deal with them. not reasonable. So, uh, we've got Senator Scott's office, Congressman Patronis, and Congressman Dunn's office, and we might have someone from Congressman Dunn coming today. I'm not positive, but they were going to try if they could. But I've asked Jim Norton
because before he was superintendent and bank president, all these other things he's had in his career. He worked for, uh, a long time ago, uh, Congressman Boyd. And the transfer happened in the late 90s from the old Coast Guard station to the Air Force. from Jim give
a little background and and Jim's passionate about beach driving, too. So, I ask him to come and and give us a little little history on how this happened and and where we need to go. All right. You come on up, Mr. Norton. When you come up, just state your name and address for the record, please.
Yes. Jim Norton, lifelong Guff County resident, and I thank you for allowing me to be here today. as uh county administrator called me this morning. We've been talking about it and know chairman, you and I have had a discussion and uh my old classmate uh Commissioner Mcronone and my old
neighbor uh uh Mr. McLemore and everybody here uh and I know from Mr. Bridgen, Mr. Husband feel the same way we do that, you know, about beach driving. And I just wanted to give a little historical perspective uh in a prior
employment uh uh around the turn of the millennium which wasn't so long ago but around 2000 2001 2002 u uh while I was employed with Congressman Alan Boyd's office uh uh the
Air Force just to give a little historical background owned basically the horseshoe around the inactive Coast Guard property and we're talking about sometimes some of us still say the old D3 site. Uh uh but right there I call it
the elbow of of the state of Florida. And all you have to do is look at a map and and realize there's the strategic need for the military to want it. But the lighthouse, the keeper quarters, and public beach driving were always there
and always allowed. it did make sense that the air force take possession of that property. Uh the historical way that transfers happen in for federal owned property is you know it goes through Bureau of Land Management I think their office is still in Jackson
Mississippi but when an inactive federal property uh is turned over back to the government because you know the Coast Guard station was no longer being utilized for decades and decades. Well, it was going to be turned over to BLM where every other federal agency would
have the same right to go and ask for ownership of it. If they didn't have a use, then the state could step up. If they didn't have a use, then a private land developer could step up. Well, I can tell you from my knowledge, and I did speak to uh retired Congressman Boyd again this morning to get him to help
refresh me because I was one of the ones that took it to him and he bought on to that passion and helped facilitate it. Because my question for him this morning was was it through legislation or a contract? How did that pass? How did the
ownership interest in what the Coast Guard have passed from them bypassing BLM, Bureau of Land Management and land up with the Air Force, which meant it took everybody else out. And as he remind me, it took a little bit bit of
DC politics. I remember the night I was called by his former legislative uh uh leader uh that worked for him up there, Eve Young, and she said, "Well, you owe me one, Norton." And I said, "I do. I know I do." She said, "We achieved the
Air Force will get the property, and you're going to keep your beach driving. You'll keep the lighthouse, and you're going to keep the keeper quarters." And there's probably people in this room like Dr. Hardman that will remember that will remember some of these details. And I said, "Well, what did you do to get it?" She said, "Well, I baked a cake and
I'm not a cook and I took it over this evening to an a a a Coast Guard admiral and he signed the contract." It was not legislation that allowed ownership to pass because had the property landed at BLM, all these other entities would have
had the same right. You know, who are they? DEA and others. I still remember off the top of my head. So, it bypassed that process and and I'm glad to say my employer at the time facilitated the the the sit down and what is what is a
contract uh Mr. Novak offer acceptance and especially mutual ascent and but it's also that mutual ascent is ex is is is supported by consideration. The consideration for the Air Force to give
up was one of the main things was beach driving would continue there in perpetuity. Uh and you know over the past 25 24 years it seems like they've kind of you know we went from having no gate out there to a fence put up there
with a gate open. Well that gate finally shut and uh you know beach driving again there are things that are going to happen. You all as and I as a county taxpayer, we invest a lot in in in in the taxes we pay. You all fund well fund
in my opinion the sheriff's department to patrol it. Well, things do take place. They take place uh uh in everywhere. I mean, and and they can take place right there that aren't good, but law enforcement does a tremendous job here in this county and uh and I
think they do a tremendous job policing that that we don't have just a runaway amount of things. There's no way anyone can hang their hat on that argument. But the historical background is a contract was entered whereby it bypassed BLM
coast the Coast Guard granted their rights in that property. Whoever had the signature authority to the US Air Force and it made common sense for them to take it. And the only time they would ever uh uh and and this is in that contract. I can tell you if you get all
the paperwork and you probably have a copy of it somewhere in your files, but I can assure you they do and uh uh uh you know, wherever it's filed away and recorded and you know, I'm sure Mr. Novak can give you a legal opinion how that works, but it works very much like it does by transferring a piece of
property right here. In order to perfect title, it's going to have to be recorded somewhere. So, uh, but, uh, the Air Force is in breach of their contract and the duty that they owe us as beneficiaries. And I just, you know, there's a lot more I would like to add
in. Yes, it will probably take our congressmen uh, uh, that were mentioned and or andor our senators, but I can assure you, you know, they're on recess and they're working abroad and everywhere they're doing right now when they really get geared in. Uh, I I do think that they're going to see it
there. And I think that if we you know speak within the four corners corners of the contract that existed that uh again we have a lot more rights than the military is asserting. So I encourage you to dig your heels in and uh uh you
know that's a wonderful place that uh I brought my son today James and his brother loves fishing more than he does but one of the most special places we can go is to sit right there. And I know I speak for all of us and and unless you have questions, I'd like to answer it.
But uh but yes, I did have a front row seat and an involvement in in what helped establish those rights. And there are many others in this room that helped save the lighthouse and uh uh uh uh those keepers quarters. They're a big
part of our history and sometimes not just their physical existence, but the right to not uh to continue to be able to drive on that portion of property was granted to us and and that's a big part of our past, present, and future. So, if there are any questions, I open myself
to them. All right. Thank you, sir. Any questions from Mr. Nor? Thank you. Thank you, ma'am. I appreciate you coming. want to say that in hindsight and hindsight's always 2020 when the keeper quart not the keepers quarters when the coast guard barracks were pretty much destroyed most of them were destroyed in
opal in 95 the the county had attempted to get that property and then you know then the air force decided they wanted it and we thought that was great if they was going to keep beach driving in hindsight the county should have got exactly right and we need and we needed we need to demand to get that property now and just as as a re followup it wasn't just about beach driving the air force
did leave that lighthouse intact correct it their intent to tear it down, to dismantle it. They actually removed the lens from it and and and forgot where it was placed. We never got the lens back and uh uh it was jokingly said, I think we have now, but but yes,
okay, maybe you have. Somebody Yeah, somebody said it probably ended up being Well, I won't go there, but the proof is in the pudding that uh the military expended considerable resources doing yet another component of their
fulfilling their consideration part when they restored one of the two keepers quarters. And uh uh we had an interesting interested group here locally that raised a lot of money to help bring this to town. And certainly the Air Force at the time was like, "Okay, we can get it off our plate,
bring it here." And that group restored the other quarters, but no, it was not the Air Force's commitment to restore both of them, but they did fulfill saving the lighthouse, keeping Beach driving open, and uh u in redoing one of the quarter keepers quarters and uh
today they stand in my opinion in breach of their their contractual duty owed to us. Thank you, Mr. H. All right. Thanks, sir. So, so not to rehash anymore, they they they they've used two incidents. Both of them uh appeared to be uh not serious is the
best way I can say. One of them was not even a violation of anything. It was just a straightup lie. Uh the lie that that a bird nest was run over by a tow truck of a stuck person that was violating the law. Appears that the person wasn't violating the law. They did have a beach driving permit. FWC was
there. FWC didn't see any any bird uh nest attack. The other was a a loggerhead turtle that was run over uh in the last two weeks. Uh law enforcement was there. It may or may not have been an ATV. It was way down. But
the gist is you when when people come through the woods or another way, uh we get reports of them going out in the water around the fence. What did we do two weeks ago? We extended the fence further in the water. I mean, we had county employees in the water putting these fence up. So, they don't want it.
They've been trying to run us off for for years. They've turned it over to the environmental wackos. I've dealt with some of those environmental wackos and and and Doge needs to go to Air Force at Tendle and excuse well, probably both of them, but at Eglund and figure out some of these PhD folks that we've been deal.
Uh, anytime you put animals ahead of human beings, you're in the wrong track. And again, we are better stewards of of the environment than they ever will be. and uh it we just got to get control of that property and I know that it's been on our legislative priority for at least five years to get that property
transferred to the county. I don't think we need to just stop with the beach. We need everything on that side of the road uh and protect it for for a you know for a passive park for the county. The history is on our side with those all the other Coast Guard stations. If you remember the Beacon Hill Park was a Coast Guard station. There was a
lighthouse at Beacon Hill Park that BLM transferred to Guff County in the early 80s. Uh the the White City Park was a uh US uh core of engineers uh training and and repair facility, snagboat facility that was transferred in in 1984 to Guff
County. Selenus Park, another Coast Guard property, the prime jewels of Guff County that the county has protected over the years. Same thing with this. We need this to be a passive park and open to the public because without beach driving and without that, you've got six miles of beach that's inaccessible for
people. You can't. And that's the best fishing. And and again, you're not in interfering. There's no houses. There's nobody to bother. And uh yeah, we need to we need to keep the their feet to the fire on this. All right. Thanks, sir. Commissioners, you got anything? Jim, before you leave, where did you get
the term elbow Florida? Come on. You got to come on back. I really want to hear this because I've struggled with what we call it when we go fishing out there. I try to explain to people where I went and did you come up with that or who who came up with the elbow because I I think that's something
that when we prefer this property that's the way I'm going to do it from now on. So I'm going to I'm going to use my my weather app and I'm going to zoom in on it. you see Cape Sand Blast and and very easily you could declare that look at it and associate that
that's an arm resting on a desk and if you zoom in on it we are literally talking about what I deem to be the elbow and uh I don't know how because I've always grown up saying if you don't say specifically the tip of the point that means the charcoal end
or the tip of the cape we know that means this end so I've just started you know yeah I think I did probably coined it. So, but I did say that he and and Mr. Hammond's exactly right. As I think back, you know, we had a chance to influence
this and probably had the county stepped up and said, "We want this to be a park, but we were still in the post paper company days, you know, uh then and you know, we weren't thinking about, you know, the future land uses." You know, I wish sitting back I thought at the time
the best thing made sense. The Air Force committed through the contract, not legislation. And I sat right back here at the back saying, "I hope I made my point." No, it was not special legislation. There is a contract that they signed with with the Coast Guard
with your consent uh going way back. It was a partnership and they are they literally are in breach today for this elbow portion. And uh uh I I'll share that credit. I'm sure somebody else said it, but uh uh but uh but no, it does make sense to talk about that elbow.
Thank you. Thanks, sir. I I know there's probably some folks in the public that want to uh speak about this, but the last thing that they have that that's the impossible thing, and again, it's it's a bunch of bull. Uh they're they're throwing up the fact that US Fish and Wildlife has never
accepted our latest uh uh habitat conservation plan. The the sad truth is, and again, we have no problem with our local uh Fish and Wildlife folks. In fact, we've got probably the best relationship we've ever had with them. But the higher-ups at Fish and Wildlife did not accept the 2007 habitat
conservation plan that the county spent somewhere around $100,000 on. In 2015, I believe it started or maybe 2014 it started. We turned it in in 2017. We we spent over $300,000 on that habitat conservation plan. It has not been accepted. And and basically the folks
told us that they would wouldn't accept it because some of these crazy environmental groups would sue them if they did. So, we've kind of been in limbo for the last 20 years. Guff County, however, has been enforcing it just like it had been adopted. We have a land clearing ordinance. We do require people to get permits and inspect before
they can get a building permit before they can have a take all these things. So, we're we're we're doing everything we can. I can't force a federal agency to accept something. And again, their track record for the last 20 years is that they won't. So, again, they just need to back up and and and
and open it up. This was a decision that was apparently made in-house over there in 20 minutes. No phone call to G County. No courtesy or or or any attempt to work something out. No communication whatsoever. The last communication I found from anyone at Eglund to G County.
Now, they have been talking to the TDC who they apparently think must be the planning department because they thought they were over the HCP and whatnot. Don Butler the week that he was retiring sent an email to Eglund that said, "I'm retiring on March 31st. any future correspondence, you go to Michael
Hammond or Warren Jagger who's manager and assistant county manager. Not one email to me or to Warren that we could find since that time to talk about any of these quote unquote questions that they had about us not having an approved HCP. So, hogwash
before Jim gets gone, Michael, uh Jim, that contract you speak of, who who could access that and where would it do you think? Mr. Dovc, I'm I'm looking to you because I I know you know how to dig all that.
But but uh unless they were less than forthcoming uh you know whether you I would either make a public records request a polite request of them a public records request of them or I would look at filing suit and uh get all
the information you could get together whether it's injunctive relief you seek and through the discovery process uh it exists. Uh, you know, we've had a lot go on in this county here that, you know, we've lost records due to Hurricane
Michael at the school. You may be in the same boat here or not, but uh uh I would simply start by picking up a phone call and asking them. Now, uh just to share my two cents, until the general weighs in, uh there's no exclamation point
behind their answer. And I don't mean to insult a colonel, but uh uh Egglund controls this property and a colonel has is typically assigned with a job to do. And uh there are a lot of stars that stack up on top of eagles in the military world. And and I learned that
historically, and no offense to any particular colonel, but uh Eglund, I dare say, has at least a two and a three star billeted to them that could probably weigh in on this. And I just think that if
this is Jim as a citizen of Guff County, if you play in the little league park with them, they're going to keep it in the little league park with you. I just think you're going to have to take get to a to a higher venue to get their attention or at least establish a good
contact. And my contact is long since retired from Egglund. He was the number two civilian there. I still remember him well. His name is Danny Pew. And Danny was the highest ranked man that was there that was not Senate approved. The
the the top civilian had to be Senate approved. And they were, you know, typically like today, they come and go as the presidential administrations happen. Danny was the permanent uh uh civilian in charge. So he knew how
to kind of play it well and facilitate to the military side and the civilian side that were there. There is a civilian chief there. Again, you're going to have to, you know, we can dig well. We do have friends and mutual friends and contacts that we can get a good contact. And before I went filing
suits and doing those things, I would try to go with the olive leaf and try but just let's try to find the right department to deal with because the generals probably would be caught as offguard why G County is filing some injunctive suit against them as they put
you when they went and blocked it off without communicating with you. We just I encourage you, you know, just having had that past dealing dealings and understanding it and having a brother who was a colonel, uh uh you know, I just encourage you, let's try to find a contact that we can work with and
hopefully work through it. And I do think that when our congressmen get back from their work during this recess that they will be able to help do that, too. But uh but anyway, a record does exist and I would start by asking them what under what authority
they took action. Sounds good. Mr. Hammond, I keep coming back. I stick out. Uh but you know, uh if there any other questions you can think of, but I think you'all have addressed it well. Uh you're exactly right. Uh, and I think
there's many I think you have a lot of trump cards in your deck of cards that you can play that they really don't have. They came in with force and shut it down. I think that if we're all in agreement that the the the respectful beach users, those
who go out there to fish and crab and enjoy, you know, getting closer to God, you know, if we're all in agreement right there, uh, as as you as a board and us as a citizenry, then then we're doing the right thing. And, uh, nobody wants a taking of animals wrongfully,
but as Mr. Hammond expressed, uh, you know, I've never seen it. I do know it happens from time to time, but I do know that we have things that we'd rather not happen happen everywhere. Uh, so that can happen outside your front door at home. But I do thank you for having me
here and I thank you for for just spending this time on on our behalf as citizens of Guff County. Appreciate it. Thanks, sir. Any more questions? Commissioners, if we could go to the public, I think we we've had a lot of interest. I've had a lot of calls. I've had some some good
discussions with folks that that uh that may that may want to say something. All right. Anyone in the public want to come before the board in reference to Eglan? Yes, sir. Come on. Yes, sir. Come on up. State your name and address for the record, please. How's everybody doing today?
All good. So, my name is Todd Niner. I'm a I'm a new resident to G County. I've been here three years. Uh when I retired, my week became six Saturdays and a Sunday. So I'm at
145 145 days this year that I've been on the Cape, especially particularly this property we're speaking of. Last year was 268 days. So, the one thing I do want to put out here, it's kind of a a
tangent, but before I do, I' i'd also like to say that from a money perspective, I'm an avid angler, hunter, outdoorsman, have been my whole life. A lot of people don't know this. If you're buying a pack
of fishing hooks, you're paying 10% excise tax. Last year, that was $1.3 billion that went to conservation, right? Nobody wants to hurt animals. I've lifted up washed in shrimp nets,
rescued little baby turtles, took fish hooks, fishing line out of birds, assisted the turtle patrol, the US Fish and Wildlife being stuck on the beach, pulled them out myself, right? Uh
there is a problem that's going on out there. So, we can't hide our heads in the sand and say there's not a problem. This year in particular, the increase in golf cart traffic and ATV traffic on that point has risen exponentially in
just and I can't speak just three years. That's it. It's all I have. And people that live here once in a while, people that come here to visit on vacation, I don't want to say they don't care. I
think they're not as educated. So, I think there is room when you pull somebody out that's stuck. When you engage with other people, I'm a talker, right? I talk to them. I never pass up an opportunity to try to educate somebody. You can't
fix stupid. Some people don't want to be educated. You just have to take a step back and just say, you know what, it is what it is. Last night at the gate, there was tents, coolers,
lawn chairs left on the beach. Turtles are hatching. I'm not a turtle patrol guy, right? I'm not a I'm not an environmentalist. I'm a conservationist, right? I love this. I came here because of the elbow that Mr. Boyd was talking about, right? It's the best fishing in
the panhandle for the for surf fishing, my opinion. What you guys need to be prepared for is that this gate being closed has only going it's only going to move the geographical area in which this problem I speak of is occurring. It's going to
move it further down the beach. We've got 10, 12, 13, 14 year old kids riding golf carts, pulling boogie boards behind them. Uh I've assisted in turning them back over, pulling them out of the sand. People are going people are going out to
the point. Hold on. Second, Mr. T. Let me get you some more time. Get a motion to extend his time. So move. Motion by Commissioner Husman. Second by Commissioner. Any opposition? Motion pass. Go ahead. I I just think it's important that we realize that that this is a bigger issue than just a contractual thing. Al
although I'm not taking away any any importance of that but typically outdoors people are good stewards of the areas they enjoy and I don't want to see that end.
There's a lot of there's a lot of elderly people that the only way they can enjoy it that section of beach uh is by driving out there. So I don't like to point out problems. I'd be happy to be involved in any type of solution that we
can come up with. If there has to be a new conservation program written, I think that that people in the I'd happy I'd be happy to give my two cents worth. And we got to stop the beach carts from being out there. We have to
today on my way here, I saw two golf carts driving on the road down the Cape, right? like it's get it's it's a problem. People are renting a golf cart and they're turning their kids loose on it
and that even opens up a bigger problem that you guys can even think for yourself, especially Mr. Novak who's an attorney. So, I applaud everybody here for their due diligence, for allowing me to speak. Thank you. All right. Thank you, Mr. Anyone else?
Yes, sir. Come on up. State your name, address for the record. John Airman, 385 Blue Heron Drive, board St. Joe. Uh, you know, you talk about contract, we need to look at that contract because it's not just one side
of this, two sides to the contract. You know, yeah, they need to keep their side of the contract, but we need to keep ours. And I agree with this gentleman, but we don't have the enforcement. We don't have the the manpower to go out
there and patrol constantly. So, we're going to have to come up with something else because, you know, it's it's getting out of hand. You know, I'd love to go out there. My son fishes out there. I go with him and you know he drives a big old ramp pickup and uh you
know it's it's beautiful out there and but he's respectful you know so you know we just need to figure out a way to be able to enforce the the ordinances just like we did you know it's gotten so much
better with um the enforcement of the leave no trace. It's like night and day. Once we started enforcing that, it, you know, became a reality. Yeah, there's a few little instances where, you know, people leave their stuff on the beach,
but right now we are in, you know, the hatchling um period now for sea turtles. So, you know, this is going to become a critical problem. We're going to be driving over these uh these hatchlings and, you know, it's an endangered
species. So anyway, that's basically what I wanted to say. We we need to do something about it because we can't just let it continue the way it is. Thank you. Yes, sir. Thank you, sir. All right. Anybody else? What else?
Chairman, last thing I'd say on this, and again, we're going to keep the pressure up until we get a a good outcome. Uh there is a contract, but it's not with Guff County. to the contracts between the the Coast Guard and two two government entities, the
Coast Guard and the Air Force. So, we'll try to get a copy of that. We do have a license agreement and a lot of that license agreement has expounded over the last 20 years uh out of control, but some of the things that they are accusing us on our side of not doing are
things that we have no control over. I can't make a federal agency do something if they don't want to do it. So again, they have a they have a a a a contractual agreement to keep that beach open to the public and we're going to hold them to the fire to keep it to the public. But just want to point that out.
I think the sheriff might have. Yes, sir. Come on, sheriff. Just kind of want to point out to you, it's not the wild wild west out there. Um we uh we have our share of problems, but it's uh due to the volume. I mean
the volume of people that are there if uh you know we can sit and run radar between here and White City for 23 hours out of the day and the one hour we're not there somebody's going to speed. Okay. Um we're we've got our resources
and I think we are doing better job of enforcing and taking care of the beach and the conservation efforts that's going on out there than we have ever done. Um let's go back 15 years ago. Okay. What did Beach Patrol
comprise of then? A part-time deputy sheriff that would volunteer to go out there and get paid. Um, there wasn't a beach patrol guy assigned permanently out there. Luckily, through funding through the beach driving permits, we've been able to dedicate a person that is
strictly out there year round, not just during the summer hours. He's out there all the time. We've done the best job that we can to keep that position consistent with the same person. I think everybody knows Caleb and he does a great job. He works in with uh the
turtle patrol. My goodness, he was with them at uh um on one of their surveys at the time they found one of the nests that was disturbed that they want to bring up. But uh it's not an enforcement issue. We're out there as much as we can doing everything that we can. Um I I I
believe that just the sheer volume of number of people out there is what we're seeing just like anywhere throughout the county. Um you know, if if if you invite people here and we we we enjoy the benefits of some of those things, but uh when you really look at that area there
from what what I see is not so much the visitors, it's just a lot of locals that are there. And I know they enjoy it. I've enjoyed it in the past and I want to continue to enjoy it. Um but uh just have to defend what we're doing out there and and the efforts that we're making to do it. You know, we've got uh
as I speak right now, we've got two positions. Um and that keeps somebody out there 10 hours a day on the beach assigned to that particular area. Take in mind we've still got to cover through beach driving and everything. We need to cover St. Joe Beach and we're out there on a daily basis on St. Joe Beach and
Beacon Hill. Um, we've got an area to cover, you know, obviously towards Simmons Bio and the entire area out there in addition all the way out to the tip of the Cape. So, uh, or the we we talk about terminology here, the the other end of the Cape. So, it's a
lot of beach to cover and we can't be out there all the time. So, uh, I just wanted to to to let y'all know we've got issues out there, but uh, I think we've got people in compliance more than we've ever had before. You look at the number of tickets that were written last year.
We had two guys out there that it's hard to go up there to somebody that's uh here on their vacation and don't don't quite understand the uh um uh beach driving permits and how that works or somebody does that to come up here and say, "Well, here's a $500 citation." You
know what? But we do it and uh we get a lot of the heat because we're enforcing it and we but we continue to do it. And uh and this year, you know, the the the number of citations are down concerning leave no trace, concerning the beach driving issues and other things like that. Why? I think we're in compliance
in a lot of areas. And uh so so there's less um tickets that have to be issued. But I want to assure you we're doing everything that we can do, not only through the beach driving and and the uh um leave no trace aspect of it, but also from the environmental people and
working in. I mean, we work great with South Gulf. We work great with the turtle patrol and any of the other entities that are willing to help us out there. We partner with them and uh TDC works great with us anytime we've got issues there. I'm so thankful for the relationship that the agency has with
Sylvia and the TDC to uh get things done. But uh just just have to sit here and tell you I I I don't believe there's an enforcement issue out there. I believe we're doing what we have to do in order to get that beyond the contract. between the county, but we're going to continue to do what we're doing
out there and uh um I'm here to answer any questions that y'all might have. Thank you, Sheriff. If I could s chairman, uh I know we've dealt with this for the last sheriff, me and you for last 10 years and uh and we've put so people do know we put
quotas in place on out of state, but we've consistently raised the fee to limit the number. Uh, and I and I'm going to say this. I'll be I don't ever want to see somebody that lives in Guff County is a resident of Guff County limited that cannot use that beach. I'm
100% beach driving. Always have been. I'm pro beach driving. I and and I I'll fight you any day on that. Uh, and I don't ever want to see a quota for the residents of G County. I want to protect that resource for them first and foremost. Now outd of county is a
different story and and if we need to increase at some point go up and decrease that number I'm all for it but but I think if you look over the course of the last 10 years and somebody's not been here I think they don't see the changes that have been made for the
better we have decreased the numbers somewhat out of and and and it's like anything you you you are going to have irresponsible people that's that's just part of life but that needs to be taken on a case a case basis, right? We shouldn't close a resource or or the
Air Force shouldn't close a resource to the public for the acts of one or two people. That's always going to happen. We're always going to have th those acts. You're not going to change. If we use that analogy, we'd be out here on the highway, Sheriff. You'd close every highway in G County. You know what I'm saying?
Because uh you're always going to have irresponsible people that's not going to abide by the rules, right? but to close a resource to to everybody that's used it. We've used that for over a hundred years. We've drove on them beaches and uh and uh and I think we have made strides, sheriff. I
really do. Uh and we've in we've increased your funding, I feel like, through the the fees, increasing the fees and and limiting the number of access, you know, for out of county. But but I just want to say that I think and I think we have worked well with the turtle people for the last 10 years. Don't you, Michael?
I do. I do. It's better than it's ever been as far as that relationship and and but but there again we are going to have incidents what if you look at the the whole scheme of things over the last 10 years I don't think it's been a a great number you know so I I just
wanted to say that while we're talking if we can and I said I wasn't going to say anything else about it but I do I and and I I'd spoke to the gentleman about the golf cart problem. We have seen that and and I would have to I would be lying if I didn't tell you we've seen it. Just six weeks ago, we ran two vendors out of the
uh Selenas Park for renting golf carts in Selena's Park. They are renting to any Tom, Dick, and Harry. They are turning their kids loose and whatnot. I did not know about the boogie boards and the crazy stuff, but but again, that is a that's kind of a loophole around the the the 200 cap for these out of out of
uh state non-propy owners. And and again, I hate to foul up business, but that may be the time that we need to stop that or severely limit that. or or maybe it's only locals that that they can do the golf carts because again it's dangerous for kids to be driving the golf cart on the road on the side of the road or on the beach in the dunes or
doing this stuff. So if you know so if that if that helps us protect the resource for local folks I'm for cutting that out too. We can we can have some more discussions about that. But if if if that's one of our bigger problems we can stop that because it's a loophole. You know the the owner of the golf cart and again I
know Phil Early's done it for years. It hadn't been a problem. Now it's exploded. You got several companies doing it. But the gist is if I can't if I can't get my quota, if it's if it's May and they've already sold out of the 200 that we sell for, you can go rent a golf cart for a week and you do whatever you want to. And that's what everybody's
seems to be doing. And and again, if they following the rules, it's no problem. When they're not following the rules, it's somebody's either going to get killed or or or in this case, we're going to get kicked out of our our park. Okay. I guess this isn't really for the sheriff. This is um like you said
before, I'll sit down then. Yeah, go ahead. Go ahead, Mike. You can sit down. Uh I'm going to get off in it like you said before last meeting. Uh because it's not just there. It is in St. Joe Beach. I witnessed a six-seater golf cart, and people don't believe it. Going over the Highland View
Bridge with two adults and four kids in the back of it in the middle of the day. Now, you couldn't have caught him, Mike, that I saw your deputies on the other end. There's no way it happens. But like the guy said, you're I'm not gonna say that up here, but I I I concur with you a lot on those things, you you can't fix
it. I mean, until you let it be known that this is the way you are when you come to Gulf County. So, we're ending the tour season now. We go through September. Sylvia, you're well aware of this. This is a a break for us after that that time. We've got one issue
going, that's the closing of the elbow that needs to be addressed. You got a plan going forward. this whole thing that this gentleman was speaking about, what Phil's speaking about, what Sher's speaking about, this is a whole another ball game that I've I've spoken to uh our attorney, Mr. Novak about because
it's been a problem. It was on my list today to talk briefly about because we have a this is a special meeting quickly, so I didn't want to bring up the whole thing. This is worthy of a workshop with not just golf carts. We've got other issues that Sylvia we've talked about with some destruction of some of our property that we'll have one
of our persons go out and fix a a bathroom up, get it brand new, and then they tear a toilet up or steal a shower head. So, we got a lot of things that we need to to synthesize what went on and it's worthy of a workshop in my I know it really is, but
let's do it after we're not very upset right now because of the we're at the end of this season. And if you're here local, you know how you feel right now because the tourists are they'll they'll take a little break and that's the time for us to say, "Hey, what can we do better before next March comes? What are
some things we can do with golf carts side by sides this you know it's it's gonna be a it's worthy of that Michael I I just in my opinion board I don't know how y'all feel but it's let's let's get through this this season get with the TDC get the sheriff's department get with us get some feedback from citizens
we pretty much know it because we hit it we've been hearing it and let's come up with some things that we want to address and we I know you've already started and I hate to you to get in another battle with with policym but it's going to be some policy stuff that we have to deal with because I share that with you,
Commissioner Mcronone. We do not want to limit if you live here. Why are we going to limit you? That's not the goal of this. The goal is that when we when March hits that we're prepared for this storm of people that are coming down 71 that y'all see with speeders coming down from the north end. So, how are we going to all it's for all of us. And so, that
was just a thought. I don't know how y'all feel. And Commissioner, I agree. We can I I think right right at the moment we need to concentrate on let's get it reopened instead of hashing out everything right now. Let's get it reopened. Then we can we can address other issues.
Great. Great. All right. You good? Road bun. We have road bond. Okay. I think I I gave you a couple question. Come on. Come on up to the podium. I'm going to Can't get around the gate unless you swim, I guess. Well, it's my understanding that you can walk on the
wet sandy beach. Now, that's what I was told. That's the confusion. So, I don't know. Oh, so just going out there yesterday, I saw the they had the three or four signs up at the gate. Obviously, the gates closed, so it's big bold red signs, but
I would say obviously with our license agreement, it goes to the mean high water. It's that sandy shore. So, that Florida doctrine and we've always had that ability to use that um throughout Florida. So, I would say that you walk along that shoreline and you're the water's rolling up on your ankles. That's the delineation um in terms of
jurisdiction and that that Eggland Air Force is theirs as it is. Um and they're asserting the right to it under the license agreement. But as you're walking along that shoreline, just like as you do anywhere else in Gulf County, you should be able to continue to walk to do that. Um I'm not going to get arrested. I what
it's a it's a great point because I will say this and I and I've heard the commissioners and we've listened to them talk for well for 15 years I've watched all the commissioners talk about it and to to the sheriff's point. G County is the one that enforces this. G County is the one that's the
conservationist. G County is the one that's adopted leave no trace. G County is the one that prohibits holes on the beach, pressuret treated lumber, glass, clean up after your fires. They're the ones that go out and preserve the entire environment. Sylvia's team's the one that goes up every year and spends an inordinate amount of money from
taxpayers in this county to clean those beaches so that it is a natural habitat. Gulf County is a steward of these beaches in Gulf County and that extends into Eglund. So right now we can't go in there and we can enforce it because they have the signs for us to keep our vehicular traffic out of there. But for
folks to walk along their shores, I'm unaware of what would keep someone preventing them from doing that. So I can't tell you what they can or can't do and what they're going to. But I can tell you right now that we're not going out there and we're not enforcing because we're told to stay off of it until further notice which we're working each day to try to resolve.
So walk along the shore. Let me get you state your name for the record, please. Julie May. Okay. I'm I'm a resident. I live on the south end of the Cape and I usually walk it every day and I don't take your dog. That's another thing. No, I don't do that. I don't They're very strict about as well and I pick up
trash when I walk. Again, you're a steward of the property just like the county commission and everybody else. Everyone in this room I think preserves our beaches. People who do it like I do and we walk it and we pick up trash or people run. So people don't know. I mean some people say on Facebook you can walk. Some
people say you can't. So I they want us to stay off their beaches and obviously that base like I said we can tell you to walk along that sandy shore just like we can anywhere in Gulf County. They've always stood behind that. They've always encouraged me to obviously encourage the public that these sandy shores are ours. Everyone's in Florida to enjoy. um but then
continue to be good stewards of the property. It's it's a sad chapter and an an absolute overreach by some bureaucrats, but we're going to hopefully rectify it as soon as we can with I'll do whatever y'all want me to do. I won't do it if you don't want me to do it. I saw you can walk beach
and pick up my trash. Okay. Thank you, ma'am. Thank you. All right, Ro. Hey, come on back up. Come on up. Come on up. I hate come on back up. Historical knowledge. And uh
uh Jim Jim Norton again. And uh I'm I'm going to speak from memory. Uh the property that the Air Force owns predates Florida. And uh it it gets into you know there five flags uh you know
from the French to the Spanish uh to the Confederacy to the national and I'm know that's I guess four but uh uh but but the military claims ownership into the water and you are getting into the
supremacy clause but it was a Spanish land use grant that that that they cited in their ownership which which predates everything that the state of Florida could have done. And as attorney Novak knows, you get into the supremacy of
things. They don't care what Florida says that walking is is is legal on all beaches here or Destin wherever it may be conflicted. But the military doesn't claim up to the mean high water. They own and I'm talking memory right here. Clear memory because it was what they
asserted. They own into the water to a certain point and they intend to keep supremacy over what their ownership is. So in saying what you say you can walk and use, not saying what they'll enforce, but I'm telling you the
military does not see things the way the state of Florida or Guff County would. So I would caution you before I let somebody just go walking. They've shut it off from access and uh that in my opinion and based on my historical
recollection of being a a little bit more than a fly on the wall uh precludes people from walking down there. All right. We might need to remind them that the that the people own all of that stuff including them airplanes. So at the end of the day
All right. Back to road bond robot. Rob or not really. All right, state your name again for the record. John Airman, 385 Blue Heron Drive. So, if we don't have a contract with the Air
Force, then um they're responsible for the we can't patrol their beach, right? We can't get access to their beach. So, aren't they responsible for patrolling their beach and enforcing the law on their beach? Yes.
So, why can't we force them to patrol the beach? You can't force them to do anything right now. I just wanted to clear that up because that wasn't clear to me. I thought we had a contract. We have a license, you say? It's a 60 so page license we have
with them that we renew every year and we agree to every year and there 40 or 50 endangered species protected species out there we agree to it everything that they put on us each year we agreed to do and one of the things obviously is to patrol and since we don't have access and the license is not in effect we
can't patrol their beaches right okay well I didn't know that okay thank you all right yes sir just want to say sheriff I didn't mean to say that you're not enforcing you can enforce it. So,
thank you. All right, back to back to the road bond. Uh I' I've given you a couple pieces of paper. We staff is recommending something a little bit Hold on one second. From Dr. Don's office.
Uh yes, I'm sorry. You walk in with official shirt, you got to speak. We'll assume he sent you over here to speak. Let's introduce yourself for the record, please. All right. Well, do uh so, uh, good afternoon everyone. My name is Craig
Williams. I'm from Congressman Neil Dunn's office. So, obviously, I've I've heard about what's going on. So, what we're trying to do is try to figure things out and we can get the beach open up as soon as possible. So, I apologize for my tardiness. I had two other meetings. I was not aware that you that
y'all were having a meeting today, but uh I am more than happy to meet with some folks afterwards if we need to discuss uh this a little further. Do I have to say what my address? No, no, you're good. We appreciate it. Thank you, sir. All right. Ro,
we're paused. Yeah, roll. So, uh we're making a recommendation is a little bit different. So, I wanted to bring it back to you to uh to make sure we're all on the same page. Staff's recommending this as a cheaper alternative than doing a traditional road bond. We're going to do a taxexempt
bank loan for 25 years just like we would do a bond for 25 years. And I'm going to go through a couple of the positives with that. U it has a lower issuance cost. So, the cost to do this bonds are expensive upfront and typically save you more money over the
long haul. So, it's about 50% less cost. It's quicker to access. We can close this within three months instead of five months. It's less complicated and the disclosure requirements are much less. So, Sherry will appreciate it and the clerk will certainly appreciate it because of all the requirements for
bonds. Uh it takes out something that's been a pain for us since the the housing crisis, which is the no need for a ratings agency where you have to pay them money and you buy insurance and then if they go under, you have to do other things. And we've had some nightmare scenarios in the last 20 years
with with uh rating agencies. Uh the competitive interest rate uh we went to to market I guess in the last 10 days. We had some great responses and very competitive uh pricing. Uh and the
next thing is the the flexibility. Uh because we have two different refundings. One is taxable for the next four years and one is non-t taxable. uh it allows us to to pay off the higher uh interest debt quicker. So it just
it's cheaper uh it's easier and that's why we recommended it even though it's different. Uh the the next best thing again this will be Clay not me that that worries they're callable sooner. So in the ' 90s, remember when I was giving you this history a year or so ago that
that G County did a road bond in 90, 95, 2001, 2006, we were doing it about every four or five years. Every time the interest rates would go down every time we would get more money every time, you know, but the bond companies got a little smart to that. So they started
putting in restrictions on calling the bonds. You had to wait so long before you could call them. And if you called them before that, you had to pay a big penalty. So these these bonds are callable u a lot quicker. I think that uh you'll find in the in the
documentation I gave you that that uh it's 102% in in 31, 101% in 32, and after October of 32, there's no penalty to to call. So we're going to close this
on or before October 1st. and in six years you could do another road bond if you needed to. Just say interest rates fell out and and you had more funding sources. There would be no penalty to refunding these this bank loan type bond and doing something different. So as a
regular bond, you're going to be you're going to be mandated to keep that for at least 10 years. Sometimes it's it's more than that. Sometimes it's half of the deal, which would be 12 and a half years, or pay a big penalty. This one is is has a lot more flexibility. So, we're recommending to go with this and then
I'll let Jeremy talk about a couple other things. We've got we've got a I don't want to wait um bad things happen like hricanes when we wait till the last minute to do things. This is our will be our third swing at this one and and
again we we paid an outside folks to do this and department revenue didn't like uh and and I would say that particular person's expert in the state uh didn't like either of our previously adopted ordinances so we're going to have to go back and do that. The clerk and Jeremy
have met and uh we're going to do it the way do wants it and uh but but I don't want to do it at the regular meeting uh in September just in the event something happens. It's too important. So Jeremy, you want to talk about that? So we've revised the uh 6ent uh
ordinance that you recently adopted and what we're do is we're going to advertise put the do's amendments in it and then advertise for the two hearings. And what we'll try to do is try to get that done within the statutory notice requirements but also expedite it. So it may require early on in the month of
September to have a special and we'll get that date down, run it by the chairman, make sure we meet each individual commissioner, make sure that date clears. It's administrative function, but it's something that's necessary to be done. So, um, we're going to try to get one of them done in a regular meeting and another under a special, but it shouldn't be too
complicated. We're just going to handle it the way the the state asked us to do it. Okay. Any questions, commissioners? Yes. I just want to make sure, Jeremy, with that change of ordinance, that is what we have to do to keep legal with the state. That's correct.
Okay. That was my question. That's correct. On the gas tax and the agreement we have with them. So we have three floating out there. There was one that would have it would institute the new 6 cent into the 2050 or so. I don't know the specific year. There's another then that was a recision of the old
which is a separate independent. They want them merged together so that they're simultaneous to one another. And then there was that 9th cent which is independent of this does has no bearing but it still needs to be accomplished. We're going to still continue with those public hearings September or August September hearing dates but the six cent we're going to merge them together. The
two ordinances are currently out there. Okay. just for for future generations and public notice. Okay. Thank you. All right. Any more questions? Yes. So, is this the same one that we've been talking about all along and now we got the terms? So, is and is this the one
that both other municipalities have to sign on with? So, they don't have to sign. So, I it's on my sheet to to talk about in local. Just you going to talk about it later. That's fine. Okay. I have absolutely no faith. Okay. I got based on our other stuff. No, but I can talk about that. It was just a question. If both
municipalities were had that's all they want some of this funding he's got there's more to it always so so there's a default so u I'm I'm going to to ask permission to negotiate with both cities on interlocal agreement it's on I
think it's D I can't I can't read my own stuff it's item D on the uh on the agenda the there's a default position it again we've done this every time before, but since we can't agree if it's Thursday right now sometimes, uh it may or may not work. It will be very
detrimental to the ones that don't get on because they'll get a lot more money if they do an interlocal agreement. If not, they'll get the default funding formula of the six cents, not of the full pie. So, it would not be in the best interest not to. So we're going to present them with a very plain jane straightforward
uh interlocal that we have done at least six times in the last 20 years. Uh but but again Mark Mushian's drawing that up and and I'm going to ask permission. You can go ahead and I'll ask you to give me permission to to uh enter into
negotiations for with an interlocal agreement with both cities to bring it back at the next meeting. All right. So, so but before we we give you permission, what what we need to do with the road bond before we
tell tell me you're happy. You've already given me permission to go forward. I just want to make sure since we're not doing a bond, we're doing a taxexempt bank loan with similar rules, regulations, arbitrage, all those things, but it's not a bond. So, that
could be part of the motion, too, to move forward with this. All right. What's What's I got a question. Yes, sir. Go ahead. That Yes, sir. I might have missed I don't know if I understood you correctly, but you said three months a while ago. Is that still going to put us of getting the money October 1st? We we we have some two tenative dates
and I can't find them. I've left left it on the date. We're going to pre-close in September the 22nd or 23rd, whatever that Monday or Tuesday before your road bond. I expect you to vote on that and then the chairman is going to sign. I'm actually supposed to be out of town, but the chairman is supposed to sign the
following week. So, so this is supposed to be funded on like September the 29th or 30th, I believe. Okay. Which is which is what we had uh that was our goal all along. 29th the 29th says 29th on there. Michael say 929
or 25. Okay. So, is that a Tuesday? I I'm thinking anyway I think that's a week after your board meeting. Maybe it's Monday or Tuesday. The the gist is that was an arbitrary the you said it's the 22nd 29. Okay. It's Monday. So, it's the it's
the Monday after you bloom. Uh, that was an arbitrary date all along that I had set because the the co the bonds aren't callable to is it October 5th? Anyway, it's it's within a few days of when they could actually refund uh the bond. So, that's why we set the September 30th
date, but that we're still on target. All right. Any more questions, commissioners? I'd just like to follow up. So whether we get approval from the municipalities or not, we're going forward with our roadblock. Correct.
Thank you. And and I'll I'll be a little more specific. Uh the I think that sheet had a potential funding there. It looks like it's going to be in the neighborhood of 9.5 million
of new money. Uh the city of Port St. Joe based on the interlocal we're going to present them is entitled to 21% of that. City of Weo is entitled to 10% of that. In the event we can't come to an interlocal agreement, they're only entitled the city or both cities are
only entitled to their same percentage. That's the default percentage of the 6 cent which is significantly less than basically 2 million and 1 million 9 950,000. So, yes, it would be in everybody's best
interest to do that. The county would let them pick their roads. The countyy's going to bid it. The countyy's going to inspect it. The countyy's going to contract it out uh just like we have in the past. Any more questions? Yes, sir. I do. So, this motion that
we're going to do today has nothing to do with which type of loan we're going to get or the amateurization schedule. It's simply we're moving forward to negotiate th this this motion as as I've asked you to do is going to allow me to do exactly
what's laid out in this thing which is I've already selected the low bid uh that that our contractor has provided u I think they bid was it six banks that bid six of the major banks bid we we took the lowest bid it's 25 years so all
the all the terms are and and and the interest is locked. I just won't since technically my last motion by the board was to allow me to do the bond. It's not really a bond. It's a bank loan with with the tax exempt
what are we calling it. Five, excuse me, five banks, not six banks. And Michael, part of this has to do with the economy and the interest rates on buying. Banks are flushed with money now versus bonding. Used to be banks could loan it, now they can't. Yeah. It's just timing. Uh you're going with a bond versus a thing
because banks are flushed with money. Not as many people are borrowing money because interest rates are high. Usually you would bond it because that was an easier way to get it. You get a But this in this case, banks are able to get better because they're flush with money are able to give you a better deal. Yes. Exactly. And and in the past, we've
never had a bank that would go 25 years on a on a tax exempt deal on a flat rate. Last thing I'll say, so when we did this last bond had great interest rates. Our first couple years were like 2%, may
have even started at like 1.9. We're up higher than the rate that we're going to do now. And it ends at five something. So a tax exempt 5% bond is extremely high uh in in in the current market. So it it's a great time
for us to do this whether we're doing a bond or the other, but but long term we get the best bang for the buck. All right. So I have another question on this exhibit B that we have. um to go
through to 2035 on the 10-year balloon. And the principal amount is that the amount that should be presented as exhibit A, the top number of exhibit A. Hang on. year
because year 10 and the top one of those two should be if I'm reading this correctly the same number as the principle of year 20 on exhibit B unless I'm totally confused
I'm not sure I understand the question but but this this is what is a little bit confusing so we've got two series bonds one's taxable one's non-T taxable the the taxable bond, the one that's not tax exempt, that's got the higher rate, we're going to pay off first. The reason
that it's structured this way is we be we are we are not allowed by law to pay that off early. There is no callable period on that taxable bond. When we redid it, they said you cannot pay these off early. Come hell or high water, you've got to stay through 2030. 2030, I
guess, is when that's paid off. So the the principle for the for the for the new bond the big will not reduce until we pay off the old one. That makes sense. And then it goes and then it then it goes a little faster. Gotcha.
I will say that even though I don't like the fact that we can't call these the the principle on the that today on this current bond is a million170. uh the interest for a year is still only $44,000. So, it's not a tremendous
amount versus if we looked at the at the cost of interest on the other, it's like $350,000 a year. So, we you know, it's it's not as bad as it could be. But again, that's one of these positives about doing the bank loan. They're callable pretty quick. You're not going
to have to wait forever. So, I hope I answered your question. I don't know if I did or not. Yeah, I'm not I don't think so. I guess are we going with is do are are we doing A, B, and C or do we do A or B and then C.
These are just examples. I think this is this is not a yeah be a and c but but the but but these are these are proposed example we have a firm interest rate guarantee and I guess it could fluctuate because again we've got
some not to exceeds so like on this last page it's like the the their bond council for the attorney as a not to exceed number so we won't get the actual final number so it might change a little bit but it's going to be very representative of this I think very close to Okay, you want to chime in?
I'm honestly not sure what we're looking at. So, I think what might be a little bit confusing on this is we got two separate series of bonds that we're refunding, but we can't refund the the one for four more years. And that's
that skews the the number we had to meet terms. That one's C. Okay. So So our C we had to meet terms. So So what I'm telling you is that that our maximum out-ofpocket contribution to everything is $1,300,000 a year. It will
not exceed that. That's one of our We have a maximum interest rate. It will not exceed that. Now the first couple years are going to be screwy because we're we're not going to be paying what this proposes. We're not going to be paying principal on the the new note until we pay off that old taxable bond
existing bond. Correct. Because we're not allowed by law to do it. We're paying off one. That's the tax exempt. We can't pay off the tax. So, I still have I still have a question. I'm sorry. Um, so this is a lot of money. Um
the total amount of principle is the same on A and B for the grand total. and that's that's where I'm confused and that's where I was wondering if we're doing A and B or is it A or B because or
is this one just the 10ear balloon and if that's the 10ear balloon that number doesn't line up with A. That's where I'm confused. We're not doing the 10ear balloon. We're doing the fix 25. So we're doing A and C.
C's the old one, right? C's the old one, right? That's the old one, right? So you just Yeah, just scratch B totally because that's not a Okay, you're doing A and C, correct? So why wouldn't we do B? Cuz I didn't and and Clay and I talked about this. Uh I didn't want to leave
Clay in the uh in the position of we don't have a choice. just just say that the market goes to crap in and nine years you're at the mercy of of the market to borrow the money. So you could be paying 8%. So I mean so we we we we
pay we're paying a fraction more interest to get a guarantee for 30 for 25 years. Our interest rate doesn't change for 25 years. On this one it's not just callable at 10. It is ballooned at 10 which means you you have to pay the principal in full. Okay. So, and I I
apologize. I didn't get your question, but that that is a great point. So, that the answer I wanted to hear, that number 11 could go way change now. Correct. Is is I don't know if we can legally that number would be what you would finance after 10 years.
I got you. But, but the best part about this is under the under the 10-year balloon, you're stuck because in 10 years, you got to come up with the money. You got to refinance. no is interrupt under the one we chose.
You can refinance in 5 years. So if the market's better, you can you can go back at no penalty and refinance. But but you won't be locked into the fact of if the market's bad 10 years from now that you're stuck. You've got to come up with probably eight or 10 million still owed on this thing. So So we took the safer
approach that had the most options. And again, it cost us a fraction more, but in the end, Don never did that to me. I didn't want to do it in the clay. So, that's that's our recommendation to do the flat. I got you. Yes, sir. Makes very good
sense now. Thank you. I apologize. I didn't understand your question to start with, but yeah, that's probably me. I'm good, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Sorry about that. More questions, Commissioner. I was wishes of the board. I'll make a motion to accept the bank versus the
bond. Second. All right. Got a motion by Commissioner Piden, second by Commissioner Mcronone. All right. Uh, Commissioner P, do you want to include in your motion to allow Mr. H negotiate that interlocal with the two cities?
You want to do that? I'm just telling you I I think there's going to be some bumps in the road on that one. So, I just want the board to be aware. I don't want it to hold us up. I mean, we've got a job to do and I don't want that interlocal to hold us up. If it's one entity that doesn't want
to join it, so be it. That's that's my that's my take on it. I I guess if they don't want to join goes to the default amount regardless. Am I right? Correct. So, so I I'll break it down very simply. It's I mean it is it's not a great breakdown. I So, the the decision was made
in the first bond in 1990 to share and share alike. everybody get a loan and in the only thing we're required to split with the two cities are the six cent local option gas tax. No different than a half cent sales tax or anything else. There's a default rate for everything that amounts to about to less than
onethird of this total amount. So they're going to get three times the money if we do this agreement and the city we would get twice the money essentially. City we will get three times twice. Yeah. Yeah. Same same same scenario same ratio same ratio. They're getting 10, they're
getting 21. So So at the end of the day, but they're only Yeah. It's up to them. It's up to them. That's right. And and again, I hope it's not a burden. They get to pick the roads. You know, I'm sure that all the commissioners have some city in in their district. I'm sure
y'all are going to do some city roads with county money, too. So, it's it shouldn't be contentious. But, yeah. I I think the biggest thing is they don't don't let the cities hold us up. We if y'all approve this, we close in owner before the 30th of September. Come okay.
Pillar high water like we said last week. So yes. Yeah. I've had a conversation with one city commissioner told me they need to be ready and hopefully it put some I got a recommendation of some roads in my district that need to be paved. So um
hopefully it will sign the inter local. All right. You good? So So you good with including that? Absolutely. All right. All right. Any uh any further discussion on it? Anyone in the public on this? Anyone in the public? Any opposition to the motion? Motion pass 5
and0. Need Joe to codify your legislative priorities. They're due tomorrow. Uh the safety tank issue and the private provider issue were the two that we uh and Brad was supposed to have something for me on one of those. Do you know
anything about it? Maybe a gun to carry. Oh, he gave them to you. Okay. Excellent. Excellent. So, if you're good with that, we'll be submitting them this afternoon or first thing in the morning. And that would be in the in the FAC's legislative priority
for the coming session. All right. Except tank tanks, permits, and private providers. All right. Any questions, Commissioner? Private providers. You're talking about the the inspection, correct? Michael, we'll get a copy of what you going to turn in. Absolutely. Commission, if you don't
mind. I'll get the u I'll get the attorney to blind copy y'all. What's the wish of the board? Make a motion. Go ahead with it. I got a motion by Commissioner Mmore. Second. Second by Commissioner Mcronone. Any further board discussion?
Anyone in the public on this? Any opposition to the motion? Motion pass five and item C. It's time to bid the road greater uh contract. Need permission to advertise. and have a motion. We move forward with advertise.
I'd like to have a look a little bit on that. Okay. I've had a lot of comments on and in in my area on the on the grading. Um and and Mark, when you get a chance to chime in on this, if I'm if I'm right on this or wrong or some some thoughts, uh road
grading is an art. Uh there's probably what, five, four or five people in this whole county that can do it and do it well. Um, you don't just say, "I'm going to take my other person and put on there." And I know for experience because I tried it one time and you just I've made a mess. Um, but it is a tough
it's an art when we do this. Um, sometimes the lowest bidder and I don't know how we get around that board. I believe in policies and lowest bidder, but we need to make sure we have the best person doing it. Okay. I've had some complaints. Uh, I mean, I've shared
them with you. And, uh, so when we do this contract, can we look at making sure, I mean, Mark, you probably know who the good guys are, the good ladies are in in the town that know how to do it and that we get the best person to do it. And it may be a little bit more, but you want to get someone that knows what
they're doing because if you don't, you're going to have to come behind them. So if if you got anything to chime in on that we we've struggled with some of the quality control on what we've had. I think I if you'll allow me to work with
the administration and and Mr. Novak on maybe in this contract putting something in about the quality and in the event that there's the quality is not up to a certain standard we either deduct from the contract or we cancel early or I mean where you're in a bind is there are not a lot of people with motivators and
there are not a lot of people that know how to do them how to run them. So maybe a way of reducing their pay in the event that quality goes out of control. We need something that we can hold them check to. So, so Mark, could we ask in this RF, this is going to be an RFP, not
an RFQ. So, can we even in RFQ you can ask for the resumes of the people uh is normally included standard form 330, whatever the case may be. Uh, in an RFP, Jeremy, are we legal to ask for resumes and maybe their list of equipment so we
don't get a a 25y old motorgrader and put a new guy out there? The equipment. Absolutely. And then in terms of referrals or recommendations, they do it all the time through our bid submitts here. And then in our contracts, exhibit G, it's consistent for all the county. We have a quality assurance agreement, too. So push comes
to shove, we're able to call them out on a on a vendor not delivering or performing. So we'll have that function. We can nail it down with Mark's assistance, we can actually make it more specific and have benchmarks and deliverables under the quality assurance agreement that what you want in terms of expectations. But those two things,
Commissioner, you can definitely put in the the request. I I would like to make that suggestion if if possible. Well, with one caveat to that, we've had a couple of different contractors over the years and they have good people and the intent is to use that good person
and then life happens and that person moves on or whatever the case. And then you get mid-stream contract, you get someone else jumps in there that you don't have any background on. I mean, that's what we've had happen a couple of different times. Well, can we ask for two or three? That
might that might that might sway a decision here if if they have if they present to us give them four fourms to fill out for you know say a minimum maximum of four go deep into your bench. Yeah. See see who you have and we can limit the sub obviously in
the in the daisy chain what they'll do in terms of sub it down. Okay. All right. Switch to the board. I make a motion to do it with what we just with with those caveats in there because these people drive these roads every day. I mean, it's not paid. They want
it. They not necessarily want it paid. They like dirt road, but boom and and then they come back and fix it and it doesn't get any better, then then we get the calls. I got a motion by Commissioner Pidge and I'm and I'm just going to sum this up assuming that as long as the uh
administrator, the attorney, and Mr. uh Cochran can work out uh the details and bring it. You want to bring it back to the board. Oh, you want to go? They have to come back. So, so one thing, we're under time. So, the current contract goes out September 30th. So, we actually need to do this
semi expeditiously and get it. So, we can go out for bid and then we can come back for the Yeah. Yeah. We'll come back with the other. All right. So, we we got a motion by Commissioner Pion to uh to go out for bid for the road greater services. I'll second.
All right. I got a second by Commissioner Husman. Anyone in the public on road on this road grader? All right. Any opposition to the motion? All right. Motion pass five. Item A in my packet. Uh Matt Scott.
Thank you, Mr. Hammond, Mr. Chairman, commissioners. Uh there's a memo before you uh requesting your approval to accept a donation. Uh the donation will be a uh a citizen wants to donate a 2003 Blazer Bay uh boat 18 ft motor and
trailer to the South Gulf Fire Department. Their intent the the citizens intent is for it to be used uh for water rescue specifically in the bay. All right. Any questions commissioners? Matt, what's your recommendation on
this? Uh, Chief Barrett and some of his staff have checked out the boat. It seems to be in really good working conditions, so I I think it's a win. Okay. We're going to have a mechanic or anything look at that mo motor. Uh, we can I mean,
do you think we need to What's your I I think it'll be fine, but I I don't have a problem either way. I mean, it might be good to have someone look at it if Mark's got someone on staff that can Yeah, let's do that. Two two-stroke or
four stroke? Uh I I don't know. And I didn't bring the paperwork. It's a Yamaha. Okay. They've already given us the the title for all of it. So, we can certainly give it back if uh we think it's going to cost some money.
I'll say it is needed. We had an instant this year this year and to launch the jet skis in that bay. if he can launch that boat across there because started that person started on windmark north and ended up threequarters of the way to the if they had launched from that side
and didn't have to drive around it you're talking about a lot of time we had to wait on FWC and not their fault they didn't have a boat in the water that day so it was that would be I hope it works yes sir hope it works I'll make a motion uh contingent on let's get a mechanic look at that that motor
all right got a motion by commissioner I'll Second. Second by Commissioner Huzler. Any further board discussion? Anyone in the public on this? Any opposition to the motion? Motion pass 5 and0. Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir. Sherry's got B and this is a very very
good thing. So, we have been working with NIW for the last few years. Um, we have $1.5 million that actually ends. It has to be used by the end of October. Um they have
been able to get us an extension to December 15th and we're going to be able to pre um to order the material for the break orders, the stone and the um mattresses if needed. So this will allow us to be able to use that money and not lose it. So we are requesting permission
to accept that extension. All right. Entertain a motion. So move. Got a motion by Commissioner Mcron. Second by Commissioner Mackmore. Any further board discussion? Anyone in the public? Any opposition? All right. Motion pass. Five and0.
You got see page three. Um we are requesting permission. We have been made aware of additional money available to small rural counties through the fire marshal. Uh so we are requesting permission to apply uh for firefighter fire
firefighter assistance grant for a fire training facility to be located in Lake City. Can I speak on right quick? Yes sir. This a good thing. So basically we were trying to um get that get the process started. It started rolling a little bit faster than we
thought. We got the state fire marshal guy over here and he says, "Hey, I got some money." and uh he says I know it's past a deadline he said but this is really something that he wants to he knows there's a there's a need for training it in this area not just in Gulf County but but Franklin Calhoun
Liberty and because you have to go way let's just say it's a long ways anyway so he said if turn this in and so we already got the list going and it's basically the equipment you would take if to complete fire one training it's your your pipe poles everything else
that goes with that and so the order sent in and it's looking real good. Uh met with someone about how to make this work up there also and we get ready for legislative appropriation time. Uh I'm hoping to have y'all by the end of this month what it's going to probably look
at and what it what that what that building will look like. I had him walk it through because I really didn't have an idea because he does training every day all over the state. So what how would you make this building work? And he had the ideas to make that building work. And then so we got the person that can draw it out and stuff like that. So
we uh Mr. uh Chief Rogers has helped a lot with that. So it's going to be coming real fast at us, but it's going to be a good thing. We got to get it started before this appropriation because if we can get it in, we got the equipment now. We're rocking and rolling on that. And it I'm telling you, it's going to be a gym. Everybody I've talked
to that's come over here says, "Oh my god, you're you're threequarters of the way there because you already have a building, you have three phase, you got plumbing, your water, you're way ahead of everybody else." And it's not a big thing. So I think legislatively, I think it's going to it'll be a it'll be a hit for them, too. So that's where we're at
and that's what this is. That's this is equipment to go inside. Good question. All right. Entertain a motion and we move forward and apply. Make a motion. All right. I got a motion by Commissioner Piden. Second. Second by Commissioner Mcronone. Any
further board discussion? Anyone in the public? Any opposition? Motion pass 5 and0. Please got DN. Page four. Uh we need board approval so we can move forward with that work.
All right, switches to the board. I need to abstain on this one. I'm pretty sure. Yeah, Mr. I'm going to have to abstain on this one. So, is the change or adding basswood? Is that change? Yes. Okay. All right.
I'll make a motion. All right. Got a motion by Commissioner Mammore. I'll second. Second by Commissioner Bridgen. And this is for Lake Grow F Parker and the new road is Basswood. Basswood. Basswood. Okay.
All right. Any uh any further questions? Anyone in the public? One in the public. Any opposition to the motion? All right. Motion pass five and0. Four, Mr. Chairman. Four and0. One abstension.
Oh, sorry. Sorry. Motion pass for one abstension. Page five. Uh we're asking for board permission to enter into a contract with collection bureau of Fort Walton Beach uh so they can help collect bad debt uh on EMS services.
Any questions, commissioners? Um the percentage they're taking is that still good for the count? I mean I know more money it's going to be more money than we're going to we were going to get but so we pay nothing until they collect and when they collect they get 30% we get 70. Okay.
Yeah. And the ones we have now it's a screwy system and they haven't really been doing anything for a long time. We we buy credits and something something. It's Yeah. It it's all a racket so it's got to do it type deal. Okay. Good deal. All right. What's the wishes of the board?
I'll make the motion, Mr. Chairman. I got a motion by Commissioner Husman to move forward. I'll second it. Second by Commissioner Per. Any further board discussion on this? Jody, will you have those numbers when we meet on EMS and fire and stuff? We'll
have that workshop. Will you have the numbers of how much we have to collect a year on bads? Because it'll go into the thought if you don't. Yes, I'll get you what we have. Yeah, just just not now. just whenever we get ready it just part of that discussion when we talk about because I know that's one of our workshops talk about collections how we have how we're
it's part of what we have to do right yes anyone in the public on this collection any opposition to the motion that motion pass 5 and0 my last item I I feel bad I sometimes
sleep at night thinking about how bad I am to send Jeremy to the city meetings but uh it uh just a just a thing you have to do every now and then. I uh I I can't take it. So, but again, the uh we going I guess have
a conflict resolution meeting and and go forward with this next one. The the one thing I really detested of the small snippet that I I watched was one of the city contractors just got told a bald-faced lie to say that that the county as of the day before yesterday
had this property zoned uh residential. It's never been anything but industrial. In fact, Don Butler was in my office when I was watching it and he was like, I drew them out. So, u it's kind of odd if it's already residential. Why did they do a land use change in in
conjunction with their annexation requests that anyway? County attorney can give you an update of his meeting. Uh, commissioners, I've um hopefully given you each um as best I can one-on-one and I'll continue to keep you
each informed of my efforts per your directions. As you know, currently we're in court on the annexation that started in January for the Enclave property that abut St. Joe property on the canal and we actually have a hearing coming up before Judge Kier coming up. Hopefully
we're going to get some clarity and resolution and move that forward. We've been working for months to try to get them one to go back to do it properly in terms of due process in their meetings and noticing and having maps and clearly communicating with you the commissioners and the public and ideally we get back
to that on the first one. They then started a second process I told you about two months ago. unfortunately received a letter which is in compliance with your interlocal told you about what they're proposing to do with another piece of property in the industrial park and specifically just for the record it's 04571-0000R
it's 2 and a half acres on industrial road in the industrial park um historically it was referenced as the Kenny Mills platted subdivision so you go back to 1937 so they've had planning board meetings they've now had two city commission meetings and I've gone on
your behalf per your direction and let them know that you're in one opposition to these annexations. Two, that you encourage a dialogue about them before they happen so you can stay out of court and stay out of conflict. And three, that you have this dialogue so you can all express your concerns. They spoke of affordable housing. They spoke of
workforce housing. They spoke of the need for this in this area. Um, and really the the crux of my argument with them on your behalf was one, it has to be lawful by law, and two, it needs to be appropriate. And you county commissioners have been working for as long as I've worked for you to try to
find appropriate places to put workforce and affordable housing. Um, and also to obviously stay within the four corners of the law. The statutes are very clear on what you can and can't do. Granted, this two and a half acres in Industrial Park is surrounded all by city property, all industrial property. And as I spoke
to them and argued with them as best I could to tell them that this is for the better part of the last 35 years has always been industrial. It's been a wooded empty vacant wooded lot for two and a half acres. Um what they're proposing to do now through their ordinance is one annex it in voluntarily
and then immediately simultaneous to that change the land use on it from what they say is residential to residential. We're saying is from industrial to residential. Um I offered them your resolution. I offered I gave them a summary letter of your opposition yesterday. I gave them the letter from
Eastern Ship Building that was addressed to the city three weeks ago which they said they never received and yesterday was the first time that they were receiving it. Um I actually read our letter of opposition to them on the record. I also read Mr. Dernia the CEO of Eastern Ship Building's letter to
them on behalf of his 500 employees and his company and his significant in uh investment in our community moving forward. I I I have litigated and I've briefed and I've discussed with you and we've had a discussions in our meetings. It's obviously a much different uh
temperature and tone in the city meetings because there's a 4-1 vote to put these things through. Um I let them know that if they did put them through that we would right now go down the path of conflict assessment and immediation and then I'll come back to you all and ask for further direction as to what you
want to do in terms of challenging this in court. Um, I I said repeatedly to the mayor and the city commissioners, I I encourage them and I welcome them to hopefully reach out to you all and talk to you if that conflict assessment again is your pleasure to have the five men sit across from each other and have a
dialogue. It was a great two-hour discussion when you had that back in the spring on this last one. You asked a lot of hard questions that we hoped would be carried back to that next meeting and they weren't. And I'll give you some examples. Yesterday, I didn't ask the questions of the developer, but I asked
them of the mayor and the city, which were if you want to bring this in to the city and if you want to make it residential, and the mantra or the theme is affordable or workforce housing, can you get a commitment as you commissioners asked back in the spring, can you get a commitment that you'll fix
the rent? Will you commit to hold on to the property for 15 to 20 years? Will you commit to make three and twobedroom workforce housing a fixed cost? And if you can get that from them because some of the city commissioners, Commissioner Langston asked those cutting questions and said, "I'm really concerned about
what you're going to put in there. We have a need in our community, but we need to know that that's what you're going to do." None of those answers were provided. So, possibly during this conflict assessment meeting, you can then ask these hard questions again, and you can have participation and maybe some feedback to avoid another
litigation that you're currently in. Um, I prepared a resolution at your 22nd July meeting. You adopted it. For the purposes of the record today, I have one resolution for 618 and I have a resolution for 619. With your permission, chairman, I'll read them both by title. I'll ask you to adopt
them. Well, give me the ability to send those formal resolutions of opposition to the city. One for the annexation, which is 618, and then immediately went into a land use change, which we are able to challenge through the courts under 619. Unless there's any objection, I'll just read them by title and ask for your motion.
What's the board? Yeah. Yes, sir. Go ahead and read about that. Thank you. It's a resolution of Board of County Commissioners of Gulf County, Florida, authorizing approving directing administration to initiate conflict resolution under Florida statute chapter 164 regarding the city of Port St. Joe ordinance 618. Um, and again, if I can
ask for a motion to approve that and I'll provide it to Miss Cooper and we'll send it on to the city. Motion. I'll make the motion. All right. Got a motion by Commissioner Pidge, second by Commissioner McRone. And that's for conflict resolution. Conflict to start the process. Yes, sir. That's on the second problem. That is
this is the second one now. This is a two and a half acre track. Yes. Any more questions for Mr. Novak? Anyone in public on this? Any opposition to the motion? All right. Motion pass 5 and0. The second one serves a resolution board
of county commissioners of Gulf County, Florida authorizing approving and directing administration to initiate conflict resolution under Florida statute chapter 164 regarding the city of Port St. Joe ordinance 619. What's the wish of the board? I'll make the motion. All right. Got a motion by Commissioner Piden.
I'll second. Second by Commissioner Husman. Any further board discussion? Anyone in the public? Any opposition? Motion pass five and0. Mr. Chairman, I I I thank you for that and I will move forward. I'll notify the city attorney and city manager. Um I
would encourage anyone in the public and in the commissioners, I think you all have hopefully watched it. There's a lot of topics that come up in this discussion when I go up. Um, they asked for a reader digest version of our opposition and as I said to them and I quoted Mr. Butler, the cheapest thing to do is to talk and you all have talked
and you've talked for six months about these issues to express your concerns to avoid these conflicts. But a lot of things come up in these discussions where they're asking me my opinion. They're asking me on behalf of the county commission and I said I'm not elected official. The county commissioners obviously have very strong
opinions about that. But it goes onto the floating dry dock and they start talking about the future of tourism in the community. They start talking about dredging the channel. They with the port authority came up in the discussion. There's a lot of things that go around this small little two and a half acre piece of property which are vitally
important to the future of our county and I think to the people here and to you and to just bullet, you know, shotgun it through. I I don't know that that's the way that you're going to get an an ability to avoid the conflict. As I mentioned, there's a lot of things they bring up in this meetings centered
around this where they have a need for housing. And I asked them, "Is it appropriate and is it lawful?" And that is a discussion I think the 10 of you all need to have and they had some very valid points. The owner of the property came up and made a presentation and then passion plea about how she wants housing for her 100 employees to which I rebuted
which I didn't have the person there but they had a letter saying I've got 500 employees and they all argued that most of them don't live in Gulf County when we'd love for them all to live here. We'd love for them to be in our churches and our supermarkets and our ball fields but they don't. So that's the discussion that you all have been working on day in
day out with the staff is to try to find appropriate places to find workforce housing again. Is it appropriate and is it lawful? And I think that's the discussion needs to happen. And unfortunately with their adoption yesterday, you're now again, as I mentioned a couple months ago, you're on the clock. You all have to respond in
the next 30 days. They have put the burden on you to respond to their actions. And if you don't, then it becomes law and they move forward and then this issue is over. And I tried to express to them, you are representing the owners of Gulf County properties. You are obviously advocating what you
think is in the best interest of the industrial park and those business owners. So that person that submitted the letter in opposition to this, you're advocating their opposition as well. They're looking out for the 500 families that they employ. And I hope that you all can have in this conflict assessment
meeting an ability to try to find some middle ground or some resolution so you can avoid a conflict and and obviously filing in the 14th judicial circuit. Um I will let them know and I'll start working on dates and unless there's an objection. I think you I think the last time it's not required but I thought it was very helpful to the five of you all
attend that meeting so that you all had a voice and you could look at the city commissioners and you could have an inner a good exchange of ideas and and your concerns. So, I'll move in that direction unless you tell me otherwise. All right. Any questions, Commissioner?
Questions? I don't have any questions, but I have a lot of thoughts. But I'm not going I'm going to I'm definitely These are both properties within district three and they have I think they have different different complexities with each one of them and
tents with each one of them. We don't know what they are. But that being said, I do think we need to go with the mediation process to get them ahead and do the same thing we did before. Kind of flesh it out. Last time we we found out that this was property was fixed to be flipped, right? Y'all remember that it was it was
going to be flipped. So I think that is a very important part of this process. Um the after watching this commission meeting this morning, I uh I'm going to stay I'm going to take the high road folks. I think that's the only way to do it because it was said that we have
bigger fish to fry. We do. Look what we've got. We got a breakwater project going. We've got some things that I want to talk about in a minute that are big. We got a fire academy. We've got redoing the courthouse. We are looking out for the citizens of Gulf County in in totality. That's what we're here for. It
is a big job. We got a lot of work to do. I don't want to get bogged down with this stuff no more than anyone else does. We have a difference. You know, I I've I've heard from our board members how we're looking for generations and we cannot just depend on tourism going forward. I'm going to stay with that
because it's true. If we have a couple of bad summers, we're in trouble. We don't want to be down that road. We have a good budget right now. We have a surplus. We've got good public works. We're doing good things in this county. And we're going to keep frying the fish. Okay? And we're going to we're going to
fry grouper. Okay? We're not frying mully. We're going to fry. I hate to say that, but yeah, we're going to fry our fish and we're going to do a good job of it. So, I don't want to get in the weeds with this. Let's procedurally, like Commissioner Mackmore says, follow your procedures, make it work. Let's follow procedures. This is where we're at. We
have a comp plan. This is how we want to move forward. These are our visions for our citizens, and we don't let the distractions, I purposely said that before with the road bond. We're not going to allow that part of them to, you know, we're going to work with you. Absolutely. That's what we do. But we're
not going to let it distract from our goal and our mission of this board. That's all I need to say. But that's that's my reader's digest version. I'm sorry. I usually don't get this upset. I did sleep at a holiday in last night and but this has to be I mean we
cannot let this bog our work down, folks. That's just my my thought on it. Let let me say a little more, Commissioner. And Mr. Chairman, I me and you both and I I think Commissioner, you live in the city, too. Is that No, I'm in the county, but I'm surrounded by the city. Yes.
Uh been here all my life. Y'all have heard me say it a million times. And I sat on the city board. Got a lot of friends over there. Uh it I hate it's come to this. I really do. And I hope we can find a way forward. But
I said all along, I think we need to diversify this economy. And I guys, I'm not it would be better for me to be quiet for my business and say tourism 100%. Because my business would
that's what drives my business, but the bigger picture I think is is diversification of our economy for my kids, my grandkids. I I would love for my grandkids to be able to stay here and work. I love Port St. J. But we can't be
shortsighted and say, "Hey, we we want just tourism. We don't want any other industry." And I'm just going to say it, guys. Tourism, rental houses, it benefits the top few.
It does. You've got the bottom You've got a lot of bottom people that work at these restaurants. they they they clean and there's nothing wrong with that. But you've got a handful of people that want to hold on to to benefit themselves. I'm
just going to say it. And if you if you if we can diversify this economy, it helps the majority of people. I want you to stop sometime and ride and I've heard this said before about some people in your comm. They talk about their community and I I appreciate that. stop
sometime and ride through North Side and see how many houses are being sold for rentals. How many houses are for second homes for people? The community is going away, guys. That's just a plain fact about it. And and and I and I don't begrudge anybody for for selling real
estate, for making money. That that's what we're all here for is is to to drive that train. But we've got to look at some point and say to benefit everybody to bring back a middle class working
would benefit us to to a floating dry dot would benefit us greatly. I'm going to go on and say this and y'all just be mad with me if you want to. You say that that floating dry is going to devastate the bay. I disagree.
I've been here all my life. I've commercial fished. I've I've done a lot of different jobs, guys. I talk to fishermanmen all the time. The one thing that's destroying that bay is not a floating dry dock. It's It's a herd of turtles, guys. And
you can say, I know people love turtles. I'm just going to say it. Those turtles are eating the grass. That's what they do. Go do your research. They eat the grass, guys. You take a herd of turtles, they're no different than cattle, and you put them in that bay, they're eating the grass.
That's why the grass is dying off. And when you release thousands and thousands of turtles, guess where they coming back to? They're coming back to our bay. I'm I'm just I'm being honest. And I'm just saying that that it's time that we diversify this economy. And the
one way the one thing we do have is is is water access. And I'm gonna leave it at that. I'm not going to say anything else. I said enough, but but I'm I'm done. Thank you. Anyone else? You good? Uh yeah. Uh just to echo, it would
be good to if we can all just get along, you know. Uh that and that is your strength, T. If I have to say, yeah, that is your strength. I I wish we could all just get along because I I think we can all do some great things for all our communities.
Uh, like I said, we need we do we need the cities and um they need us. But if we can just all just man, we can all just just get along. We can make this thing work. But uh I just sometimes I just don't I I don't know. I just don't understand. Uh
but but all you got to do is go to the schools, man. All some of those kids graduate or we got a lot of kids going off of college, but we got some kids that just want to stay home. They just want to work. I just want to be in Guff County. I just want to be where I was born, raised. So that's how some of those kids are. So, like I said, we got to make sure we got something for them
for the ones that do want to stay here and just want to work, just want to build a home and raise their family here. And that's what we want. Uh, so but with that being said, uh, y'all got anything else, commissioners? Yeah, I'm sorry. I got one quick thing. It's a good thing.
So, I got a call yesterday afternoon, Erin, and we've been working with you. Josh called from Appalache Regional and the somehow money appeared for the living shoreline and so we are going to go down the GR. Let me tell you, remember we talked about that in Highland View right there where the
where it washed out, the road washed out. If you go along that area there, they've already done some aerials on it. Uh he I told him I was going to get it out there today because it is he they're ready to actually move it at a quick pace and uh I didn't think I thought it was going to be a longterm thing, but
they're they're ready to start writing for grants and they wanted me to make sure that board members knew what we were we were talking about because they want to come do a presentation pretty quick to sh to shore it up. We're talking about the bay and the grass. It actually is what they did over in Franklin County. I think I told y'all that before. they have the ability to
replicate that in that little area there which means growing trying to get the grass growing back in there and protections for that area. They're g the process is is to that they no cost to us. They're going to do some the engineering part of it and to study
quickly and and look at you know we know that that washes out. We we got we got pictures of it. They'll take historical perspective of it over the time see how it's eroded what has changed. We all know that how much grass has gone out of there. I mean it's sand all the way out to the channel now there in Highland
View. So that that it's going to be a good project I think. So it's moving forward and I sorry it's late minute finding this out but he just called yesterday and so Erin they'll be calling to you however you'all want to do it. Uh so I thought that was good news talking about the bay.
Anybody else? You got something else? Uh Mr. Mr. Hammond, let me ask you this. Is is it possible when uh I know you're going to meet with the I mean when you go do the interlocal is to talk with them is because could I give you my letter of just request for roads?
Uh actually I should I know they do what they they going to do whatever they want to do but can I just give you that letter? Yes, I will and I'll I'll present it to them and again as we've done it in the past they get to pick you know their roads and and you know we'll do it for them and so it's it's they get the use of all that. We just don't give either
city the money uh because we're responsible for the for the bond requirements and arbitrage and all that kind of good stuff. Uh Clay and I had long discussion yesterday about this. If we don't get our road list in pretty quick, we ain't going to be paving roads
after the first of the year. I mean, we've got to have these a lot of them's got to be surveyed. A lot of them's got to be done, you know, through through the engineers. So, the quicker y'all can get your list in, and I know some of you already have a list, and some of you've already rode with Mark or Clay or me,
uh, the quicker we can do that, and and the quicker y'all tell us how we're going to do this. I mean, what's what's y'all's individual split going to be and what's how's how's the ranking going to be? Because there's no need in having a 100 roads on the list when we can only do 50 type deal. So, the sooner y'all
come up with that, either today or at the next meeting, the the the quicker we can get it in the hopper to get these things designed because it's going to I mean, if we get money September 30th, we ain't going to be paving roads September 30th if we don't have the list and going through the process. So, it's and it's
going to take 60 to 90 days. So, the sooner we do that, the the better. But I know you've already got your list and I'll be glad to pass it on to the city. Uh, you know, where they don't put the same roads on the list or maybe y'all want to put half and half. Maybe you want to do half of a road and they do
half of a road. But yes, sir. You You still got some just one thing. Okay, Mr. Chairman, I'll bring it back up. What we opened with today was Eglund. Um, I'm sitting here looking at the pictures that I took and some others that were sent to me. Um, and to the young lady that came up and asked, I I
really have been watching the administration, what we've been trying to do with our legislative contacts in DC. Um, and I would just encourage the public for the time being, just so I think we all get caught up. Obviously, it's an emotional subject for all of us, but I would encourage the public probably just to stand down, stay off
that beach, not put the sheriff, our emergency responders in any kind of harm's way. let us work through this legislative correction of this overreach, but in the meantime, it doesn't put anybody in the public in harm's way either. Once they go past that gate, we can't go in. We don't know
they're there. We can't help them. I just think it would be prudent and a wise thing for the public get to the gate, see the sign, stay off of it for now, enjoy the Gulf County shores until hopefully we can get this remedied as soon as possible. So, and I would encourage the commissioners to hopefully promote that and embrace that and tell
the public as well. Some good advice from an attorney. You got something else? Great advice because we can't uh we can't control them. Now, I would say this, they don't have their own law enforcement, so they can send MPs from
Eglund and and I guess they could get US Fish and Wildlife folks out, but you know, so they're kind of restrained if the sheriff and FWC and going enforce it that that that's the case. The other thing that I said and and I thought better of it and Commissioner Mcronone and I talked that's our gate. That's our
fence. our people that we own it and and when I told her that I'd tear it down and you know they could put their own one up, she threatened to put me in Commissioner Mcronone in jail, but that's okay. I let her know it was it was ours. So, uh hopefully we're going to get to a quick resolution. I'm I'm
aggravating again. I don't know how many emails we've passed back and forth, but but uh Congressman Dun's office has been very responsive. Uh, somebody was in my office when Congressman Patronis called me the other day. Were you in there,
Phil? Were you in the office when he he he just happened to tell me he was in Greece? And and then he called me back and said he had got Senator Scott's office to call. So, I mean that we've got we've got some good folks that that work, but uh again, it we shouldn't be in this position, but
we're not going to let it rest until we get a positive resolution. Anything else? We want to do the the road bond at the next meeting. Let everybody think about it one more two more weeks here and
we'll do it the next meeting. I guess something I need to ask too. Do do y'all want as a board to try to get some of the dirt roads? I mean, I got a lot of dirt road which I know that eats a lot of money up too. I mean, just something to think about. Well, what if we came up with an amount
for for everybody equally and then based it on need that put it clay in Mark's hands and both of those guys are more than capable of doing that for sure. Right in their wheelhouse. So,
would that be just come up with a number? Let's just think about the number. We'll do it on the next meeting if y'all want to. What's agreeable to everybody? Well, that's f that's fine with me. I mean, I just I instead of just doing it off the cuff today. I mean, we I think Mark and them
and and Michael and Clay all have I mean, I was using them for, you know, I try to get everybody in every community and uh so yeah, I've got a little list going on, but I think there's a priority within my little list, too. So, I think I we somehow got to get there because,
you know, some of them are critical, some of them are Yeah, we'd like to have this. And then, like you said, Commissioner Mort, there's some dirt roads. There's coupled up there that that are dirt that that I guess that costs more money too, doesn't it, Clay? Because you got to engineer the whole thing and also and some people that don't live on a dirt road don't want a dirt road
and they don't want they don't want they don't want to pay grade. So that's that that goes into effect. So uh uh yes, I I think we need to I guess I'm going to do a little priority of mine and then then I guess we could all come together too. I want that's great.
I mean, you know, to me, whatever one's the worst, that's the one that needs we need to try to try to fix. Well, too, it'll help our motor grader services go down too over the course of time. So, get you. So, so we if I'm understanding right, we going you guys going to get the list together and then
if you got I mean, if it's dirt road, put it I mean, if it needs to be done, put it on there. It's going to demand too. Put it on there, right? Yeah. We don't want if you got a bunch of houses on a dirt road versus one house. Absolutely. Or if a motor grader's going road one or two or three houses, you know. Yeah. or if a motorgrader is going seven
miles out the way to do one road even though there's only three people on the road it might behoove us to do that road you know in that case there's just every every road is different right so that might be a reason for you know to rank them so to speak but I think all the money could be spent
in district one if if we wanted to or district two if we wanted to or district three if we wanted to so I mean there's plenty of I mean every every district could probably spend all this money in their own district by themselves right and and I got that. But I'll be we have done a lot in district three.
There's from starting with Mr. Rogers through Commissioner Frell. District 3 has gotten a lot of of of paving. There's some bad roads. Uh some of the things that we can fix when we get our our new little thing. They're little small things that we can take care of. So that that's what I say. You know, I
think yeah, I've got some a couple bad ones, but it's probably not going to be as substantial because of the fact I mean I think that's comes into play here. Historically, we we've got we've done a lot in district three in that area because of the hurricane. It destroyed that area. So, that's that was our focus. So, as we move forward there,
I think there's going to be some I know that there's going to be some So, I don't want to just hold it that hey, you get 1 million, I get 1 million. I know that's but that's not for the good of the whole county and and it's just not um so because we have people that come down here. I mean, we share north south. That's not a thing. It needs to be
across all districts and what the priority list. I think Mark, you know, that's why I said using those guys, you know, what's traveled more, you know, whether we do counts. Yeah. Where the problems are. I' I'd rather take it by the most problematic problematic throughout the county and then work down.
Let's take out maintenance, you know, take out the maintenance of these roads. Next meeting. I'm fine with that. Fine with me. Thank you for coming to the board of county commissioners meeting. One question. Come on up. Ask a
question. We got one question. Pat Hardman, Coastal Community Association. I'd just like a quick update for everybody on where we are with the contract for uh putting the sand out on the beach, beach restoration
and the um reef, artificial reef. I think it's on way back. I know we've got sitting on my desk. It got delivered today. date. Okay. So, and start date projection of the start time December 1st. December 1st.
December 1st. Great. Thank you. Appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you for coming to the board of county commissioner me entertain a motion to adjourn. So move first by Commissioner H. Second by Commissioner Mackmore. Any opposition? Ocean pass 5.