December, >> please join me in a word of prayer. Dear heavenly father, father, once again, Lord, we just thank you, Lord, for your many blessings, Lord, as we uh continue, Lord God, to just celebrate this holiday season, Lord. We just, Lord God, just won't forget about you, Lord God, and
the love that you have for your people, Lord God. Father, we just come lifting up this community, Lord. We ask that you be with each and every one, Lord God, as we celebrate, Lord God, and just love on one another, Lord. We just pray for the United States of America, Lord God, from the White House all the way down to the local level, Lord God. Continue to give
us all wisdom and understanding, Lord. Lord, watch over us, Lord. Watch over this nation, Lord. Lord God, watch over this county. Watch over your people, Lord God. Bless everyone in this room. Be with our families, Lord God. Keep us all from any hurt, harm, and danger, Lord. And Lord, let us be a blessing to someone, Lord God, uh this holiday
season, Lord. We thank you for your mercy, Lord. We thank you for your grace. We give you praise, glory, and honor. In Christ's name we pray. Amen. Please join me in the pledge. >> [clears throat] >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> All right. Good morning to everyone. Welcome to the special meeting uh December 16th. We got a few items on the agenda. Uh first up is FWC update.
I think Mr. Kramer's here. If he want to come on up. >> Yes, sir. >> We probably want to talk about more than just uh red tide, but but just whatever you want to talk about to start with. >> All right. >> Okay. Sorry about that. >> It's all right. I do have a handout I
was going to give the commissioner. >> Yes, sir. >> I think more than enough copies there. Uh well, chairman, commissioners, good morning and thank you for the opportunity to come today to talk about red tide. I know it's a concerning issue for the uh community, but hopefully
today's conversation will shed some light on where we're at. Um as we entered into December, we saw red tide levels decreasing slightly from some of the testing we do each week. This event began back in September, and we've been testing each week to see where it's at. [clears throat] Um, I know current or
current samples that were collected over the weekend are being tested now and should be available tomorrow, Thursday, which [snorts] I'll send to the county that update. Um, just to provide some background, normally red tide occurs in this part of the country about every 3 to 5 years. The last event we had was in 21. Prior to that, it was after
Hurricane Michael in 2018 and then 2015. Um, in Florida, red tide is caused by an algae called Karina Baribus and occurs naturally in the Gulf of America. um in low concentrations it's not harmful but when factors are right it
will congregate and then turn into a bloom. Um there's no one root cause the red tide. It normally takes biological conditions, environmental factors and ocean currents to help it develop. When water temperatures are between 70 to 90 degrees and there's light winds again
that algae will come together, start killing fish and plankton. it'll start feeding itself and then current carried into the coastline and we are at where you have what we have today. Um in that packet the first page shows where we
have done sampling this past week. Um as [clears throat] you can see we still have low to moderate concentrations of red tide in the bay. I think the last fish kill that we observed was on the northwest side of the bay of about 20 fish early last week. But you can also
see Bay County East and West Bay has low to medium concentrations of red tide right now as well as St. Vincent Sound. There's some presence [clears throat] of it there. Um, also in that packet, the second page is satellite imagery from October of the Bay when we had red tide
this past month or excuse me in October. The third and fourth page are from 21 and 2018, same time period. You can see that the concentrations of red tide is much more intense. What makes this event a little bit different is the how long it's lasted.
Um, normally what we see in this part of the panhandle is by January, February, the red tide will dissipate and move off. You know, cold fronts move in, push everything to the southwest, the cells, and then that will reverse and then push it out of the bay. One thing that's
unique about St. Joe Bay is a semi-closed system. It's kind of hard for it to get in here, but once it's here, it's hard for it to get out. Again, there's no root one root cause. I know there's been concerns about runoff in past situations here. That doesn't cause red tide, but it can make it
worse. Again, [clears throat] we anticipate probably January, February, this will move out, if not hopefully before then. We're working with the University of South Florida on some forecast models. I think I included that link in the last update I sent and I'll include it this week. Um, as well as
we're working with them on some modeling on how we got to this event. What makes this unusual is usually when we have an event up here, we'll have one in the southwest. We did not this year. So again, we didn't have a lot of tropical systems this year. And um again, what kind of makes um nature tends to work in
balance and whether you have too much rain, too little rain, too many storms, too many too few storms, it can exacerbate the situation. Um again, going forward, how to predict what will come. We're working with the legislature on a funding appropriation along with Moat Marine and University of South
Florida on improved forecasting where we can help predict this stuff when it happens and hopefully have a better prediction of time frames as well as there's some stuff being worked on now that may be dispersements that can help address it when it's in the bay. So, that'll be another tool in the tool box to address it, but that's a little
[snorts] ways off. Um, I know that's kind of a high level overview, but I'll answer any questions, but again, we're we're anticipating probably in the next month it will start to move out of the bay. And like I said, we're seeing slightly decreased levels. We did collect samples from the White City Bridge, so we're waiting to see what
happened there. I talked with some of the folks down at our research institute in St. Pete. It can move, you know, currents take it up that way. And I've been in Lake Wimo myself and had the spray hit me. It's pretty salty at certain times of the year. So, it can move up that way. But we're trying to
see that's never happened that I'm aware of. So we're trying to do some research to see how that occurred. >> All right. Thank you, sir. Any questions? Commissioners, >> I could if I could go ahead. >> You go ahead. >> Uh Mr. Kramer had some people asked me and I Lake
Wimo. They said that this year has been the worst grass. You know, I I've been up there all my life and raised on Lake Wimo, but uh but I've talked to several people said that the grass in Lake Whimico is the worst we they've ever seen.
>> Yes, sir. >> So, it is bad this year. The last time we had an event this bad was probably in 2004, 2005 on the east side of Lake Wimo, as people have told you, there's a lot of hydrillaa. Um we've had invasive plants go down and look at it. It is distressed with the cold weather. So,
we're anticipating probably by February it will be cleaned out. We don't have an event like that this often. Like I said, it's been about 20 years since we've had an event on record that the grass was that bad in the lake. Um, we don't want to spray right now because it would take a lot of spray spray to disperse it, but
we feel like by February and then we're going to monitor it for next year. >> Okay. >> It it it does occur, but not that often. >> Yeah. They tell me and I hadn't been there this year but said the worst worst they've ever seen. You know >> Thanksgiving I tried to go and double by
you and I about had to get out and pull the boat. >> It was they said it's bad. So it's tough. Do you think anything related to what was going on with the red tide or the nutrients or had any effect on that? You know, as far as would you say,
>> I asked the researchers that when it first occurred and when I contacted invasive plants, like I said, I was down there camping on Thanksgiving and saw how bad it was. They don't think it had any impact. They just think it occasionally, every so often, again, the last event was in 20 2004 2005 it
occurred that it will happen. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Ch. >> Yes, sir. Mr. Per, >> thank you for coming out and I I spoke with him. I actually saw him when he was taking his test up in uh in White City. And I guess biggest thing is thank you for being you because we're so fortunate
here to have this man looking out for us. I mean he is one phone call away when we we start hearing the people scream this is happening this is happening. This is happening. And the good thing about it is he's a sportsman. He's been there done that. Still does
it. And he can bring the science side into hey wait a minute you're saying this has never happened before. Well, I go back in 2004 and he pulls it up. And so, thank you for for being here and and being so accessible to us. Um, this was something that everybody said, "Oh, this is the worst ever." Well, you know, no,
remember when we had it in 2018 and different things that that are that caused it and you had a very scientific way of explaining that to it. This is naturally occurring. Yeah, that can make it worse, but that happens everywhere. So, um I guess my thing is is we've
talked about dispersement before. I guess I gave the board a little thing. John, is that what two years out the dispersement they're using in South Florida? >> I'm not sure the time frame. I know they've done some small scale sampling and I think they're ramping that up to try to do on some larger stages. They've got several types of dispersant and I
can't remember the names right now. One's a bioside, one's plant-based. So, there's there's some promising things going on there with Moarine. Um, I can definitely get some information to the county as far as where they're at with the testing, but I think it's still being developed. I'm not sure if there's any widespread application that I'm
aware of. I know Lee County deals with this every year for months on end, and they would love to see something come about very soon, but I can definitely find out some information from our research folks in St. Pete. Yeah, they and I know the dispersement word which everybody gets worried when you hear dispersement. They think of oil spills
and stuff and this is basically something because usually you can see the red tide when it's out there if the water's clear, you can see the brown circles and that's where you disperse it and it's you're just basically putting stuff on it. Um, so that was something I would like board members um at our
retreat to talk maybe about the possibility of creating uh a little group that helps us with monitoring of the bay and the and the sites like that that when John and them are doing this research can actually keep us informed as well. I'm thinking about the fact
that we have some people in our TDC. It affects them grants if we ever have to go after something that is going to be a grant to get this type of dispersement in two or three years. And maybe some citizens like that are interested in it.
Maybe looking at a little group that we can put together this, you know, that could put out real knowledge that works with John and his staff and instead of saying, "Well, this is what caused it. this is what caused it. Maybe this group is one that we call together and and and
would give us as a board information on it going forward in the future. Just thoughts. Yeah. Anybody have any thoughts on that or something? Okay. Well, that was just we'll talk about that in January. And uh will the sites in White City be going
forward? Will it be every year? Are we going to do those two? Is I know we do the bay right now. you think you'll move up into White City just to >> Well, that was something we hadn't seen before. So, I imagine they'll want to add that to the the sampling toolbox when we go forward, but again, like I said, I collected the sample the other day myself and plan to do that going
forward through this event. So, I will definitely talk with them about that. We haven't seen a fish kill up and I doesn't mean that hasn't been there before >> and this time of year, low oxygen events, other things can cause fish kills. From what I saw on the video, there was a lot of fish there. So it may very well may have been red tide, but
again we're going to have that test pretty soon to see what comes comes about. >> Michael, you know what I'm talking if we could get some a group together that I don't know what it looks like now, but that works with John's group because you got a good staff that that can help give us the data quickly. I know right now it goes through the health department,
doesn't it, Commissioner McLemore? >> They they do some posting, too. >> Yeah, they do some posting. I get hers a lot, too. [clears throat] Just I don't know. We need all This is very important to our We're a tourist community. when red tide hits, you could see it all over Facebook. People are cancelling their
may cancel their uh tour their um stays down here. I know they're cancing some of the fishing charters and stuff like that. So, it's as you know, John, it's very important to us. So, any ideas you have or anything coming forward, please let us know. >> Well, I think one thing going forward, we test periodically out through through
the summer and fall, you know, and they they call them have reports. We get them weekly. So, going forward, I think I can just provide those to the county. So if we're seeing things start to come about even close by, I know Franklin when you started dealing with the event in September, they asked for updates as well. So I've been updating both counties at the same time. So I think
proactively going forward, we'll provide those reports to the county just as a standing rule and then if we see things coming about um we can let you know. Again, a big part of this we're hoping with forecasting we can have a way to predict this a little bit better in the future instead of just experiencing it than having to shut things down. John,
John, I do I got a question for you. On your site, when you when you do your testing and you post it, does that stay up until you post again? >> Correct. Yeah. >> Or is there or is there some situation where you bring it down and because I've
heard where people like look at the site and then you it'll be up for a period of time and it'll be down then it'll show nothing and then you'll test again and then it's it's back again. So, is that a >> I how does that work? I mean, we've had some issues with some of our web pages
over the past few months. There may have been some glitches there where it just came down accidentally, but my understanding is supposed to be a fluid process. We test one week, we post the results, we test the next week, we post them. Whether they're having to pull it down or not, I'm not sure, but I can definitely check it. >> Yeah, if you don't mind check on that for us.
>> I will. Okay, >> good. Any more? >> All right. First, we want to thank you because uh y'all provided money to to clean up before we even asked for it this time. And y'all done that in the past, but that that the the working relationship we've had with y'all is is great. Going
forward as part of this working group. Uh a couple years ago, we kind of got off kilter a little bit with FWC because it was a much worse fish kill and and we got some of the local voters to to clean that up before it hits the beach. It saves y'all money, saves us money, and
and and and prevents a bigger mess. But thank God it didn't get that bad this time. And I don't know what our final tally is or if we have a final tally. I know we stopped what a week ago was. >> We don't have a tally yet, >> but but yeah, $60,000 is a lot of money. And so, we appreciate y'all stepping up
and and helping us cover that. Of course, we put up the labor, but they paid for the disposal and and whatnot. uh Salt Creek Clay and I went and looked at that last week and for all the the the scares and fears and and and hair pulling. Uh it didn't turn out too bad.
Uh the the steepness seemed to be leveled out. We'll know more when we have a a flood event of of how how high the water's going to be in the road, but overall I think FWC did what you said you were going to do and uh I can't find anything to complain about as of yet. So
that's a a positive. you want to give us a little update on bears? >> Bears, I don't have the numbers of the harvest yet. Um, normally with any [snorts] other species, we wait till the end of the season and report the harvest then. Um, it's gone off fairly well. I haven't heard of any incidents. Um, I
know there's been a few harvested in the panhandle. But again, I think I can have some information when the season gets over. That'll be on the 23rd of this month or 26th, I can't remember which, forgive me. [snorts] But um again we hope to going forward I mean whatever is not filled this year in permits will be
added to next year's quota. Um and again the part of the rule package was the director will set the season as well as the bag limit. So there'll be opportunities to adjust and move forward. Um again I know it's been a long battle when you hearken about the event past. I know the bears came out of
the woods and ate the fish on the beach. So [laughter] maybe hunting season could have coincided if that had happened this time. But again, and on Salt Creek Road, again, we appreciate the folks and the patience. I I've heard several com comments about the road. Um I know the
other day I went down an SUV and drove all the way to Browns Landing in two wheel drive after the rain event all weekend. So not perfect in every spot, but it's a lot better in some of those areas, and we'll continue to monitor the water flow as it goes forward. >> Uh Mr. Kramer. Um, talking about bears,
I got I got a quick question. So, there was a we had a I saw video of an injured bear. Um, I think it was in the Bridgeport area and I I'm just curious, did they ever come out and trap and this probably about two or three weeks ago and I think they notified FWC, but I'm just curious, have you heard anything
about him yet? >> I remember see a report of some type of bear injured. Um, and again, I I don't want this to seem heartless. You know, animals get hurt, bears are tough. you know, a lot of times they may be limping and I know people's hearts and compassion go out to that. Definitely if they're in the city, we want to try to mitigate that where there's no
interaction with a wounded animal, but um I can follow up and see. I remember seeing something about I know the biologist went out, Cheryl Spencer, and I think she tried to canvas the area and I'm not sure if we did a trapping event or not. >> Okay. Just curious. I appreciate it.
>> Good. All right. Thank you, Mr. CR. Appreciate it. >> Chris, thank you. >> Yes, same you. Thank you, sir. >> I'm sorry. I tried to move the furniture when I started out. [laughter] >> Yes, sir. Thank you. >> All right, Mr. Hammond. Notice of uh
application tax de brought this to my attention. >> Okay. >> I'm sorry. Clerk Norris brought this to my attention. I think it's a situation where we abut the property in question and the board needs to decide if they want to bid on the tax certificate.
Um yeah, occasionally, you know, the county does have property that um you know, lines up with, you know, uh something that's going for sale and you're we required to notify you. Um we've never had a situation where the county is actually bid on one, but um we
can't find at the moment where you're prohibited. Um but it's um some acreage that you might be interested in. Uh there is a bidding process. you have to follow that process just like a um in citizen off the street would. Um so if
you're interested, you need to make that decision and um we'll get with Mr. Hammond and his team on what that you know how to go through that process. Um I don't have Miss Elaine Bland here who manages those for me um because you know
she had something come up that she couldn't attend today. But if any of you have any questions about it, you're welcome to stop by the office and we'll be glad to go over any of it with you. >> All right. Thank you, ma'am. Got we You
want us some decide >> today? >> I want y'all to tell me uh I think we have had a pretty short turnaround. If if y'all want to uh to me to bid on this for for y'all, I can up to a reasonable amount. And if y'all want to trust me to do that or you can just say you're not
interested. Uh this is off of 22A and it backs up to the G County Health Department. uh in rough terms. >> Yeah. And the sale is set for January 7th at 11 a.m. [snorts] >> How much how much how many acres are we talking about?
>> 20 something. >> 20 something acres. >> Sorry, I didn't bring the file with me. >> Is that something that we could use at a later date or >> there there has been a lot of interest in it. We get a lot we've been getting a lot of calls on this piece. Um it kind
of in the back of the the health department kind of wraps around and goes around behind some residential property and um comes out on 22A. >> What's your thoughts? [snorts] Well, if if it's a piece of property, it's real
property and and we've done good with our budgets and we know that the value of land is only going to increase. It's like money in the bank. Uh take for instance, we're monolith is down there renting from us now. Make it a good
little hit lick on that one. We just picked up some prime real estate right across from where our marine academy is going to be. So, I I'm going to leave it to the guys of the north. Y'all know that property? Is that >> I think it'd be great to get it. Um I do
think that we need to ask Jeremy uh to do a title search on it to see if there's any for other foreclosures or anything like that going on with it. I'm sure it's not part of an HOA, but um but we do need to do that to our due diligence on that part of it.
Well, commissioners, there is a um property information report that um is required to to before you can even begin this process, and it it does list anybody that might have a lean mortgage uh attachment to it at all.
>> And Jeremy's on the line if y'all have any questions, but my understanding is the mortgage holder has to bid as well, but but again, we'll let him make that decision. >> Morning, Commissioners. Commissioner Husband. Commissioner
Husman, I'll run that started today and I'll get you that report. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Anything, Commissioner Malcolm? >> Uh, no. I I don't I was just looking at where it was at. No,
I I don't have nothing. If it's if it's free of leans and and uh we know the mortgage amount that it's going to take to take to take care of that port that portion of it, then I don't know how we would tell Michael and Clay to to put a
number on it because it's going to be it's it's an auction. Um so we're going to have to say a reasonable amount or have a maximum amount or something, but that's going to give it away. If anybody watches this meeting, that's going to give it away. So, uh, they're just going to bid a dollar more than we are,
>> right? >> Um, so it's kind of a precarious a precarious situation. Um, I I think like Michael said, a reasonable amount is what we would probably need to stick with in my opinion. That way, we don't, if we do want the property and have a chance to
get it, that's going to be our only way to do it from a public standpoint. >> Well, let me just let me ask this question because I'm just [snorts] throwing it out there. Is this the direction we want to go? Is this something that we want to do or get into or >> for now in the future or
>> to go along what you just said, Commissioner? Is it something far as workforce housing we could look at or would you >> I mean, I think this is the different situation because it's connected to it's adjacent and adjoining to a piece of property that's already owned by the
county. I think that might be a stipulation that we may need to [clears throat] do in the future and make sure if we do this that that needs to be in our motion because we don't want to start bidding on every piece of property out there. >> Well, yeah, that's what I was trying to get at. >> You don't want to take everything off,
>> but it I mean from what I I had looked at the property, I didn't know which which property it was. So, um, yeah, we could, if you want to loop back around and talk about it to finalize it, we'll maybe look at it for a couple of
minutes anyway during a recess or something. >> That's that's what I was pulling up on the phone looking at because I didn't know exactly where it was at myself. >> Okay. >> You say it's like 20 acres. >> 28 2
>> 22 22 acres. >> Yeah. But I I was thinking the work workforce housing might be a very good place for it. >> It's it's in the city of Weo and it's and it's got sewer. Now I would I would gander to say it's wet in the middle but but >> it's X
>> and it's X that be better. [snorts] >> Well sewer I'm not again I don't know where it comes out at. Sewer stops in the city on 22A at Richards is the last manhole. We'd have it at the health department in
the front. So maybe not in the back. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Could extend. >> Be close. So anyway, >> be be very close. But there is a lift station right across the street from the health department. >> So we come out that way or come out the other way and extend a little bit. Either one.
>> I think we'd be crazy not to. >> I agree. >> Yeah, >> absolutely. reasonable offer. >> I'm certainly good with a reasonable offer. >> You can always fire us if you don't like our offer. >> You a
>> Yeah, fire me. Don't fire Clay. He got kids. [laughter] That's right. >> Clay's got a little way to go. >> All right, Miss Novak, [clears throat] we need to make a motion on that. >> If if you would, Mr. Chairman. [snorts] >> All right, Mr. Chairman. I I'll I'll
make a motion that since this is as a stipulation, since this is adjoining to a existing piece of property that the county owns, uh we will make a reasonable offer during the uh online auction through the
clerk's office. >> All right. Got a motion by Commissioner Husman. >> I'll second it. >> Second by Commissioner Mackmore. Any further board discussion? >> Anyone in the public? Any opposition? >> [snorts] >> All right, motion pass. Five of them.
Eggland update. >> Mr. Chairman, uh I'm out of patience and I know some of y'all are. Uh I I may have forwarded you this letter or Carrie did yesterday, but uh letter N in my packet 21 and 22 is a letter that is
response to Senator Moody's office from Eglund. And if that don't tee you off, I don't know what can. Uh this has gone on for too long. It's a disgrace. Uh it it is an embarrassment that that the political uh folks have
not got this solved. Uh I've been talking to Congressman Patronis' office. Talked to Congressman Petronis last night. He's going to file a bill which will solve the problem for us and that's just to give us a down property. Uh we cannot trust Eglund to to keep this open to the public. They
have proven that they do not care about beach driving and and public access. And this letter that they sent in response is a joke. One, it's filled with you know the entire premise was based on a lie to start with and uh you know they they backed their offer that you know
they let they let let you walk two and a half three miles to go fish or camp or whatever but you can't drive. Uh a joke. So, we should have never let them get it the first time. Uh, now's the time to to to put it to bed and transfer this like all of the other uh Coastg Guard
stations, Selenas, uh, Beacon Hill Park, uh, and and then this one here, um, the last sentence in there, 12 [clears throat] to 18 months, you know, y'all are spending 100 grand. They're supposed to have us report in March. uh
for this updated HCP. We have 20 something miles of of beach driving areas that fish and wildlife's perfectly fine with us driving on, but this three mile stretch, they they seem to think it's the end of the world. So, u know if Commissioner Mcronone's got anything else
>> if I could, Mr. Chair. >> Yes, sir. >> We [clears throat] we've jumped through every hoop. I know several hoops for the last How long we've been doing this? my >> August 1st, I think it's the day that they sent the letter closing the beach. >> And uh I don't think they have any
intention of opening that to to Beach Drive again. Uh I think they they wanted us to make the concession that if we would agree to to pedestrian foot traffic only, they would, you know, they would open it. And if we ever agree to that, they're there never uh I think
[snorts] our only solution is is uh uh Congressman Petronis filing that bill and you know transferring ownership to Guff County. Uh I think we've been good stewards. We we have we have managed we have managed that and I know the sheriff [snorts] and his department has done a
good job and and we have uh overall I think it's it's worked and and then all of a sudden they came up and uh said you know they're just not going and I've also heard that you know to the west they've closed a lot of hunting area to the west that Eglund owns also it's not
just here and so uh something's got to be we met with them they've been down here they they brought seven eight people I think Michael, didn't they? And we met went down to the site and and uh so we've done we've tried to do everything possible to accommodate them
and and even, you know, spend $100,000 for the HCP and I think they have no intention of ever opening that again for you know to driving. So I think we need to move forward with this and and uh whatever we need to do. Uh but
and you know we'd asked I guess in 2019 2019 or 2020 we had asked uh Congressman Dunn to to look at transferring this property because we wanted to do a jetty system at the tip of the point. Uh you know one it would in it would be a a driver for for fishing but other it
would slow erosion. There has been a massive amount miles of erosion in the last 50 years there at the tip of the of the actual cape and all the way back around toward the rocks. So anything we did at the tip to to slow that erosion or to catch sand would help all the way
back up north toward the the the the state park. So u again it's it's disappointing. It is it is a travesty that that our federal government that our defense dollars are being peed away by this kind of crazy DEI crap and and
and for them to bring seven environmentalists that are on the payroll of the defense department. We need to we need to be making things for our defense and to protect the United States, not this garbage. And this is exactly what it is. It's DEI garbage from top to bottom. uh the the the
incidents that they're talking about, one of them has been proven to be a lie. FWC went out, they moved a a a string that was was protecting a bird nest for them to pull out a vehicle from the with the record service. There was no destruction of the nest. There was no destruction of the things. It's just a
straight You tell a lie so many times and they just want to keep repeating it. Uh FBC wind up firing one of these crazies after the Charlie Kirk assassination, you know, that worked for the state. Similar situation again. Uh this is not about American defense. This is about
garbage. And and we can protect our way of life a lot better than they can at Eglund. And and since they can't do it when it needs to be transferred to us because we can't protect that they'll just keep adding to remember this started in 99 with this transfer and it started out at a little agreement and
then it got to be this massive agreement and and again they wanted to close it off and and they have no intention based on this letter. They have no intention of opening it back. So the solution is to transfer the property to Guff County. >> Absolutely. [snorts] >> What's the process? So we
>> uh act to Congress. So So it's it's basically that's and when I say that, I mean it's literally just an act of Congress. I I do understand that the chairman of the uh of the House uh uh committee. What is I'm I'm losing my train of thought, but it's it's the
military committee. military affairs >> arms armed services committee >> and his congressman from from Alabama will agreed to run the bill. So that that should get everybody's attention. The the others were transferred. So we've had three in my lifetime that I
know of that were transferred uh the transfer at Beacon Hill, the transfer at Selenus, and then the core of engineers transfer at White City. All of those were through BLM because they had already been put up as surplus and then transferred. This one was a direct
transfer from the uh US Coast Guard to the Air Force. And again, the county had tried to get this and and then Congressman Boyd uh intervened and they said if they'll leave it open to the public and you keep driving and whatnot and they're going to protect the lighthouse and all this kind of stuff.
There were three big issues. Protect the lighthouse, restore one of the keeper quarters, and leave it open to the public. Uh again, the lighthouse has been moved and the keeper's quarters are all down here in St. Joe now. U but they're not leaving it open to the public. So
>> So [snorts] if if they transfer this u going forward, the environmental side of this, not only is it open to lo, that's our last local beach in my opinion. Um the models show that the sand moves that way and we're putting breakwaters down.
How how far is that from this property to the breakwater crow flies? Huh? >> Two and a half miles. >> Two and a half miles. But if if we started back here like you just talked about, that's a huge thing when they if we ever did the sand engine model, that's going to push that sand all the way down. So I think it's key also for
beach erosion big time all the through the Cape because we don't know that breakwater is going to work, but it only accentuate that if we own that property. Wouldn't that be a lot easier for us going for grants forward to protect the Cape? It it is a massive just looking at the aerials and looking at how shallow it is for two miles out where it's
eroded. The beach accretes up to the tip of the of the gate on the what I would call the Indian Pass side or the money side. >> Yeah. Uh and and at that point it has eroded massively and continues on around and to the point that that when I was a
kid, even back in what 95 is when they were pretty much destroyed, but the keeper quarters were actually still standing uh at at Hurricane Opal in in '95. It's 2,000 ft inside of where those keepers quarters were. They're way out the pylons are way out there in the in in
the water now. So it it is the the highest bet of erosion is from that point at the tip of the of the of the Cape back to the rocks. That's what they have lost tons of property over the last and and again that they refused to participate in the original beach
nourishment. Had they done that it would have helped everybody too. That's that's where I'm trying to go, Michael. So, we can say this our beach and all that, but it also everyone on that cape needs to know that this is also is going to affect could affect them as well because that because that'll be our next point
of ever doing beach and Eglund is not going to take their money and put it on reouring Gulf County beaches. >> Absolutely >> right. Am I am I wrong about that? They if they closed it down, they're sure not going to come in here and renourish it. So, maybe that's an angle we can always talk with them about as well. We talked
to Petronis and um how how about the Senate side? Do we have to have that? I mean, >> so Senator Moody's office has been helping. We we talked to Senator Scott's office first, but uh Senator Moody's office the last couple of weeks. We've been going back and forth with with him. This letter is actually in response to
Senator Moody's office. It's it's actually addressed to Senator Moody, an explanation of why they don't want to open it to the public. So, uh, I think we're in good position to move forward and and and and again, they're not, you know, they're not going to come to see
it our way that we we we need a political solution from DC on this one. >> And I [snorts] to go along what the commissioner said, uh, I know years ago, Michael, you know what I'm talking about. what what we call the shows now where uh that went out I mean I've heard
guys tell me mile mile and a half u out out into the you know that's how that's how bad it [snorts] you know it's eroded which you know the result of bite's cut supposedly >> I think so >> but you know we've tried to get the air force you know I know other boards and
the staff to partner you know with us uh reourishment which if we'd have done it on that southern end down there it would have benefit benefited greatly, but never could get them to come on board. But but uh I think this is our only option and and I think the what the commissioner said about the the beach
erosion and using this as as that would be would play a big part in that also on on this bill. But >> you need what you you need something from us. We're good. All right. If y'all are good, we're moving forward. We trying to get this property
Uh, we can start at the top if you're ready. Yes, sir. >> Matt, you got the first item. I pause. [snorts] Thank you, Administrator Hammond. Mr. Chairman, commissioners. Uh, the first memo is a memo from our deputy director
Wood, uh, asking to ratify the IPAL agreement with the federal government. I pause is the integrated public alert warning system. It's a federal system maintained by FEMA. >> All right. Any questions, commissioners?
[snorts] I entertain a motion that we ratify this agreement. >> So move a motion by Commissioner McRone. >> Second. >> Second by Commissioner Husman. Any further board discussion? Anyone in the public? Any opposition to the motion? All right. Motion pass five and
>> so the next two memos I'm not sure in what order are from me u and they go hand in hand. The first one is a request that the board allow emergency management to uh advertise for bids for disaster recovery and debris removal
services. So, we want to make sure we have that that we get the good people. How do we do that, Michael? That's what because this is critical when it comes. You don't want someone that >> I know you dealt with good ones, you dealt with bad ones. So, make sure we do the however we do it, we want to make
sure we include in there. >> So, la last time we uh we went out for bids. We had a panel score those bids and then the board interviewed the top three and y'all made the ultimate decision. All right. And you'll have input on that. >> So, so and and that's that's not how we
typically do it, but that's how we did it then. So, I we need to know because we need to put it in advertisement how y'all want to handle that going forward. And that's perfectly fine when staff do the same thing that we narrow it down to to three and then you interview the top three or we can make a recommendation of
of who we think after we rank them. It's just whatever the board wants to do. >> I thought the last process were great. >> Yeah. I had no Yeah, I had no problem with the last process. >> So, we'll do it the same way. We'll we'll rank the top three and then y'all pick from the top three. >> Yeah. >> Okay.
>> So, we got this is two sides. One is the disaster uh pickup folks and then the other is the monitor. >> So, so this one that you So, what we on the disaster recovery? >> Oh, we on the monitor. We on the recovery one. >> So, we need to do both, but the one I brought up first was uh disaster
recovery and debris removal services. [snorts] That's two different things though, right? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Well, so so disaster recovery and debris removal is the same thing. Monitoring is the same, >> right? The the monitoring is different than the disaster recovery.
>> So, so item C is the one he's talking about currently, H3. Okay. [clears throat] >> All right. What's the board? >> Make a motion. >> All right. Got a motion by Commissioner Piden and we going to go with the the way that we decide. All right. Thank
you, sir. >> All right. Motion by Commissioner Pigen. >> Second. >> Second by Commissioner Mcronone. Any further board discussion on this one? Anyone in the public? Any opposition to the motion? All right. Motion passed five and0.
>> And then the next one is number two. That'll be uh debris monitoring services. >> Request to bid that one as well. Motion to bid, Mr. Chairman. >> I got a motion by Commissioner Mcronone. >> I'll second. >> Second by Commissioner Mlemore. Any further board discussion on bidding this
out? >> Anyone in the public on this? Any opposition to the motion? All right. Motion pass 5. >> Thank you, sir. Sir. >> Yes, sir. >> Mr. Chairman, on page four, we have a change order request. This is an
increase of 21 93240. This is for Empire Pip and Supply for additional materials related [snorts] to the White City water treatment plant. >> Any questions, commissioners? >> What's the wishes of the board? So just
so everybody knows from my understanding Clay this is saving a lot of money. >> It is the Yes. the answer. Yes. >> Yes. Okay. A lot of lot of money. So >> thank you sir. What's the wishes of the
board reference to change order increase? elaborate on that. >> It's a high level. It we're bringing everything above ground instead of underground. That's one of the changes that'll help us in maintenance long term. We get a leak, we can see the leak, it doesn't leak underground for
months before we catch it. Um it it's things that our operators prefer to have and so this is grant funded. It's covered by the grant but it's going to help us long term for the next 20 years as we operate this plant. So it's a step in the right direction.
>> I made a motion. >> All right. Thank you, sir. Got a motion by Commissioner Mackmore. >> Second. >> Second by Commissioner Piden. Any further board discussion? Anyone in the public on this? Any opposition to the motion? motion passing them.
>> Next one is also related to White City Water Treatment Plant. This one is for Florida Aqua Store and it is a increase of 2205392. This is um for changes with the nozzles
and the ground storage tank that's needed. >> All right. Any questions? Commissioners >> Clay just >> so so along the same lines going from below ground piping above ground piping we had to change some things inside the tank on how the flow in the tank moves and these nozzles help with that.
>> Thank you sir. What's wishes of the board? >> Motion to approve. >> Motion by Commissioner Mcronone. >> I'll second. >> All right. Second by Commissioner Mmore. All right. Any further board discussion? Are anyone in the public? Any
opposition? Right. Motion pass. 5. I have the next one as well. So page six. Um we are requesting permission to accept the D planning agreement for the living shoreline. We just received that
Friday. [snorts] >> All right. Any questions, commissioners? >> Yeah, I'd like to talk about that one. Aaron, we got it right. So, this is the first step, correct? Uh, so planning, the good thing about this planning grant is it's it's a replication of what they've done over in Franklin County.
So, the planning should go along pretty quickly. Correct. >> And so, then we can start getting some stuff done. So, uh, thank you for your work on that, Aaron. Let me ask this. Why are we talking about it? And I don't want to be a >> David downer, but
how big area are we talking about putting that living shoreline in Highland? >> I I don't I'm with Commissioner. I don't know where it's going. So where in relation to the shoreline >> that and that's been a prime flounder floundering area for a hundred years
>> and just being you know, >> so we've we that'll be part of this study. >> Yeah. And believe me, I know the floundering there. I And I love you. I'm not going to You will never hear me say anything is going to be >> to cut down the number of floundering fishing. And I throw my net out there.
>> Hey, you're going to get crucified if it you know. >> Yeah. If it's in the wrong areas. Absolutely. So, what we're looking at now, if you're not looking out towards the docks, [clears throat] >> I would be the St. Joe side. That's not what we're looking at. We're looking at where the where the bridge is there. >> Okay. >> Where it comes out on this side, which
in front of the old butler's area in there. >> Yeah. Okay. >> That side in there. There's not most of your your best we know where the best floundering is. I won't say it again, but it's not doing that. But this side over here is where it looked like it would be the best possible solution. And remember what it does, a living
shoreline, it only does protect the shoreline. It does do that, but it brings that grass back. That's the deck that we want to put that grass behind it and see if we can't get some grass going on that right side where it used to be. Remember, it was all grass in there. And they replant the grass and they're finding that over in Franklin County. It
also attracts oysters, the little small oysters that are filters. And so we talked about the stuff that's coming down the canal. Hopefully this gonna that's one of the entrances of the bay. That right side right there is what we're talking about. It's not on that left side over there. We're talking about the right side if you're looking at the looking at the canal.
>> Yeah. >> Back towards Butler. >> Yeah. And that that is a prime area. >> Well, >> and I and I just don't want us to, you know, I guess we can look at all that in that study and >> Yeah. and and I I guess when we get through that too
>> and it might not have any effect at all, you know, >> it only increases it and that's what that's what that study is going to show you. >> So where they put this when they first started talking about it in Franklin County, they were no don't do that. Don't do it. >> And now it's gotten to where everybody over there, can I get it in front of my house
>> because what it's done is the little juvenile fish have gotten in there and they have just exploded and that's going to show it in this study that they're doing. Great. Great. >> They've had great great success with that. In fact, we're actually competing with them, I think, on the they're trying to do phase two and we're trying
to get ahead of their phase two because we it would be great. >> If it increases it, that that's even better. So, but yeah. >> So, this is for the planning only. This is not for design or construction. >> No, no, no. This is you have to plan it first and make sure >> the right areas. >> So, that's all I was going to say is
this is just planning. So, any decisions to be made on location for if we even design still has to come back to the board. So, this is just for planning. >> Yeah. Let let me ask you this while we talking about that and and I know it's in your district, but u I know there's
plans to change that bridge here on 98, the little bridge before you get to Carpet Country. >> Victoria. >> Victoria. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. On the on the inside, not the outside. >> Right. Right. Right. Uh [snorts] I notice that's getting worse. That's
dropping steadily. Have y'all heard anything? And I'm not changing the subject. I just >> It's a box cover, right? >> They're putting a box. >> I haven't heard anything new on the covert since they repaired it two years ago or whenever that was. So I haven't checked certainly find out. >> If you'd [clears throat] seen the pictures before they repaired it, you
wouldn't have driven over it. It that was that it was that bad. It was jacked up literally because of the damage that they had. So I'm not aware of them changing that. >> I thought they was going I thought they were gone. It was in the I might be wrong. So, so the the bridge that's that's going to be replaced is the one
on Victoria Avenue, which is I don't know 150 yards inland from that on the on the county road. Yeah. >> So, so that's where it's going to be. The one that's on 98 there. That's what we got there is what it's going to be is what you're saying >> for the time being. Now, I mean that they may replace it 10 years or when
they do the road again. It was so bad. Victoria was so bad we could they couldn't do a detour. I mean, so they had to do one lane at a time. But I think that that that is the permanent fix for now on that one. No, no, no. They they they the jacks are gone. They they they repaired it. But it was
>> it looks like to me I mean every time I go across it, it looks like a little more and more is settling. You know what I'm saying? But >> I don't disagree. Anyway, >> I got off. >> Clay, I think you said Victoria Bridge
is in the in their scope though, right? DOT's already got that >> correct. Yeah. >> All right. What's the wishes of the board? You going >> make a motion? Yes, sir. >> A motion by Commissioner Bridgen. >> I I'll second. >> Second by Commissioner Husman. Any
further board discussion? Anyone in the public? Any opposition to the motion? All right. Motion passed five and Austin's got the next couple items. Good morning, commissioners. [clears throat] First thing is I would
like to get permission to trade our transfer station loader that we bought whenever we originally opened the transfer station. It's got around 8,500 hours on it. Got a new one coming. Supposed to be here today. And I would like to trade the old one for the new
for the new one. It's a trade in. >> Yes, sir. >> Make a motion. >> All right. I got a motion by Commissioner Pigen. >> Second. >> Second by Commissioner McRone. Any further board discussion? We going to get some good money off of
it? >> Second. >> Anyone in the public? Any opposition to the motion? Motion pass five. >> Second, I would like permission to
purchase a contour boat. We'll buy it used since it's not something that we'll use every day. Um, we'll buy it from most likely a local business person. Um, I'll obtain three quotes of similar type
pontoon boats, same condition, and go with the lowest one. I'm just I'm just curious. >> I can I can I give you a visual? Let me give you a visual. >> Okay. Help me out. >> Two 250 plus pound guys trying to work
on a little 12 14 foot aluminum boat. >> Okay. >> 12 foot, I'm sorry. 12 foot boat >> putting those dots in. >> Okay. >> If one moves this way though, did they go in? I I They luckily didn't go in that day, but it was uh Yeah, they have to do a lot of dot work. When they did
that, I said, "Oh my goodness." I I knew they were going in at any time. So, I want to give you a little visual. >> Well, I'm definitely going to be for this. I don't I don't want to see them in them little boats doing >> cuz this is a white sea and the river up there. It's going to be even worse. >> Yeah, it is. >> So, I I'll make the motion for you. >> Okay. All right. Yes, sir. I got a
motion by Commissioner Mackmore. >> Second for discussion. >> All right. Second by >> Just want to be careful. I don't want us to get a pontoon boats been on that bay for you know how those pontoons are deteriorating and for you. Yesterday I actually sent one of our mechanics, two of our mechanics out.
They looked at several of them and chose this one. >> Okay. Okay. Cause >> they put their stamp of approval on it. They're going to be the ones working on them. So obviously they want what's best >> because you know that saw corrode that will eat that aluminum up and you won't
even know it till you you know. >> He did say that they they had treated pontoons um every year. They've got very good maintenance records on them. Okay. >> All right. Anyone uh any other members?
Anyone in the public? Any opposition to the motion? All right. Motion pass. 5. >> And lastly, I would like for the procurement policy to be waved for the purchase of two tire machines that are
going to be funded by our capital projects fund. Um, the reason that I'm wanting it waved is because currently Coats, which is the brand that manufactures these machines, is running $1,000 per machine rebate through the end of the year. So, time is kind of the
essence. Don't necessarily have time to bid it out. >> All right. Any questions, Commissioners? >> Austin, you think that'll save us money? >> Absolutely. And and again, I'm chopping those around as well. I'm not just
Okay. >> All right. First, let's get a motion to wave the policy. >> Motion to wave. >> I got a motion by Commissioner Mcronone. Second by Commissioner uh Piden. Are any further board discussion on waving the policy? Anyone in the public on waving this policy for this purchase? Are any
opposition to the motion? All right. Motion pass five. All right. We get a motion to go out and purchase the tire machine. >> I'm I'll make a motion. Motion by Commissioner Mackmore. >> Second. >> Second by Commissioner Husband. Any further board discussion? Anyone in the
public? Any opposition to the motion? >> Motion pass. Thank you, sir. Mr. Hman >> Raymond has got item J. >> Okay. Morning.
>> The new chiller is on site at the site. We don't have an install date yet, but we're working on the electricians came their material. The pipe headers came working on their
material list. It's going to take probably three days install and mainly the pipe work. This thing in 40. That's
inst hopefully have three days of cold weather. We'll change it out. >> That's why you're getting cold in your stockings because all our money went to pay for that. >> Expensive unit.
That that's not going to interfere with none the normal operation of it, right? Or is that out back or where where's that even at? It's over here. >> It's behind >> by the jail. Right. >> Okay. >> I got you. I got you. >> Sally there. >> I got you.
>> I guess it' be >> Yeah, I know. >> Any questions from M? >> We're good. >> We still got a guy Tallahassee. Is he putting mechanical? >> Yeah. Lane. Yeah. He's subbing out, you
know. >> What are we doing with the old tiller? >> Is it good for parts or different manufacturing? They changing that. Is this a det installed? >> That's That's not
>> Yeah, absolutely. What's your total? >> What's the total? What's the total on install and all? Do you know where we're at on that? 46. >> I think we're still ahead way ahead of the game on that. Stuff is out of sight.
It is. Yeah. >> Thank you, sir. >> Control. A quick update on breakwater project. Last week we had a pre-construction conference with the contractor and every regulatory agency you could ever imagine. So we've checked that box which is a requirement of our permit to do still looking at
immobilization sometime after the first of the year and then mid to late January start and pumping sand. The idea is to start or the plan is to start at the rocks pumping sand work their way north towards that mileish area of the project.
Once they get enough sand and it's dry enough, the contractor, subcontractor will come behind them and start building the breakwater. So, at some juncture, you'll see both sand pumping and breakwater construction happening at the same time. Uh, the plan is to be completely off the beach by April 1. So,
it'll be we'll blow through $38 million pretty quick. >> Appreciate that, Clay. All right. item here. Commissioners, you got the floor. Mr. Husman, you got any? >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, I only have
one thing today. Um, I just wanted to bring to your attention, um, House Bill 735 for 2026, uh, does have some good information in it, uh, regarding our firefighters and how they're going to be able to grandfather in. Uh, so that's
going to be on the floor here soon. So, I just want to bring that to y'all's attention. I've got a copy of it for Michael and Clay. So, um, everybody can read it after that, but, um, I went ahead and printed that out. Other than that, I just wanted to say merry Christmas, everybody. Hope you have a safe new year. Uh, hope 2026 gets off to
a great start for everybody. >> Appreciate it. >> I hope you have a very merry Christmas. >> Thank you, sir. >> Mr. President, >> so I went back and I looked at this year, Mark and Raymond and Sylvia and Brad
of all the stuff that I've called. I got a whole another notebook in here of what you guys have done and Clay and Michael and everybody trying to solve stuff in district three for me. And I know everybody, every other one of these commissioners has the same books and stuff like I I have to have the books
because I'll forget it. But anyway, what a great job. And the amount of stuff that we going back and looking at what y'all done [snorts] encapsulating the whole year, that's a we had an awesome year. We had a good year and uh and and I just want to thank y'all for and please let your guys and
your girl ladies know what how much y'all do for this for this county. I know we're having the party Thursday, but I wanted to say it to y'all here in public because it is it's amazing the number of things. I I catch myself. I call it the Calvary. We have we have a a meeting Wednesday that I'll talk about
people coming over to look at the old basic site I guess you call it and the calary is called out there and it's like it's gone. We had a grass situation in the summer. Remember we had the gr bad grass couldn't get ahead of it. The calvary comes. We have a problem with fish TDC. Boom they're out there. Have a
question about something to do with uh a building height. These things get solved within days. Put that across a Bay County. You put that across a Lyon County. You're talking about a month before you may even get a call back. [snorts] We get service in a day or two. So, y'all have done a great job and I
want to I want to my hats off to you for this year. Had a great year going forward. Uh board, I I I would like for us really to be prepared on that January retreat because I know we've been talking about the things that could be affecting us with this legislative session and the
property tax. I know we're going to start getting a lot of questions about that. Uh Matt, I was going to ask if Mitch would come and and Dennis, but I think they're going to need to be involved in our January retreat, giving us some data on what it looks like on these different ones, whether it's a
whole homestead, whether it's a 65 plus homestead. So, we just have some dollar figures. They did it in Wakulla County and theirs is a lot more drastic than we are. We're going to be in a better shape. We know that. But still, there's could be some possible cuts if this happens. And I I think the public needs
to know what it looks like in our budgets going forward. So, um I' I'd like to have that for January for sure. I think it's very important that we do. Uh and those are some numbers that Michael we might want to get him to get started on now um going forward. I don't
want to be the Debbie Down, but it's it could affect us a lot next year looking at those numbers from where we're going because we've done so good being able to get this being able to get the stuff that we need to take care of what we need [snorts] in our citizens. It would it would affect that. Um, I want to
thank the commissioners for this year. I think we had a great year looking at stuff that was it's just been phenomenal and uh hope everybody has a good holiday and uh get ready to go back in January. Thank you, sir. Commissioner Mmore.
>> Yeah. Well, I got one thing I want to just kind of run by y'all and see what y'all's thoughts are. And I know we're coming up on on next year. Uh I want us to look at our health insurance. I don't I don't want us to
wait till the last minute and we got to make a quick decision. And I want I want some updates prior to maybe get Reed to if he gets with Mike or Clay or whoever, but I want to update so I can look at them so we can look at them as a board and make a decision even before budget
gets here. Y'all got any thoughts on any of that? >> I I I will. Um, thank you, Commissioner McLemore. Um, I just I didn't run this by Michael or Clay before I did it, but I I went ahead and called Reed a couple of weeks ago and asked him to give us a quarterly update every quarter. Um, as
we instead of getting the third quarter of the year, let's get it the first, the second, and the third so that we'll have a good idea of where we're tracking. That's going to be our only only way that I that I see that can actually help us. So, uh, he's supposed to provide those to us on a on a quarterly basis
and he said he would do that. So, when is when is going to be the first the first one? >> I'm assuming it'll be like January, February, somewhere along in there be should be our our first one >> because it's just now starting. Um, so it should be January or February.
>> Well, we just we just need to know where we're at, where we're staying, where we're going. That way we can have a plan prior to any any of y'all got any got any thoughts on that? >> Yeah, I I I do. Uh, Commissioner Makamore, I think it's great. I know the
quarterly things came here and that that's going to help a lot but I also as we look at our budget because we'll start budget pretty soon and so we need to start looking at that how that budget's going to affect because we don't want to get this year where we had to make a decision where our budget had
already been done and the 145 comes back versus the 110 you know I mean that the 14 45% increase in a year I mean that's I don't think anybody can be prepared for that so we need to have ahead of time knowing what's happening, but we also need to have in our mind that we
know health insurance is a big thing for our employees and that when we budget for it, that's how we it needs to be part of that whole process. So, absolutely. I mean, it's it needs to stay on the forefront. >> That's that's all I got. >> Okay. Um I would like to thank everybody
though. Uh and just during this holiday season on your time off, just take a break. try to slow down a little bit, enjoy time with family. >> So that's all I got to say. >> Thank you, sir. Commissioner McCro, >> just wish everyone a merry Christmas,
happy new year, and and our staff has done a great job to go along what Commissioner said. We we're we're fortunate to uh uh to have the staff we have. I tell you, man, y'all y'all done a tremendous job. a lot of big projects and and uh took took a lot of a lot of
spears and the you know public but but uh but they've done a great job and and uh this board I tell you it it's it's diverse. We all have different u attributes and and uh I I've enjoyed
working with y'all guys this year. I tell you, we I feel like we've got a lot accomplished and for this community and I think we all have a comm community at heart. I really do. And again, just wish everyone a merry Christmas and a happy new year. >> Yes, sir.
>> I think y'all said it all. I appreciate everybody, all the hard work um that goes on in G County. Now, like I say, there there would be no five of us without a great staff and uh so appreciate you guys everything you guys do. Um,
we couldn't, like I say, we couldn't do it without you guys. So, uh, we definitely going to celebrate you guys because like I say, I always say this, you guys make us look good. So, like I say, every time I can call Mark on the phone, he's he's going to make something happen. So, we really appreciate
everything you guys do, not only uh, public works, but you know, Mr. Crane, Mr. Bailey, Jody, we appreciate you guys. um from our finance department. We appreciate >> everything you guys do. Uh sheriff, we definitely appreciate you. Um >> he's been quiet over there, Sheriff.
Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. [laughter] >> Sheriff, I got you wrote down here. So, you got anything you want to say? Uh >> I'm good. >> You good to go? >> Pleasure to work with you. >> Yes, sir. So, um >> we got one thing to add. >> Yeah. Well, I I think I got it here. >> You got it? >> Yeah, I got it. >> Madam clerk,
>> uh we really do appreciate everything you have done for us. um going off to retirement and enjoy enjoy your family, enjoy those grandbabies. Uh spend lots of money on them. Spend lots of money. Get them everything they want for Christmas. So, we really do appreciate
you, Miss Miss Norris. You you've been u you've been a blessing to this community. Um and we appreciate all your love because you shared a lot of love with us and um we want to reciprocate that love back to you. Uh so thank you for everything you've done leading this uh your clerk your clerk's office for
the many many years. Uh we definitely going to miss you but we know where you live at so we can always come see you. So thank you for everything you do. You got you got the floor. [clears throat] >> Thank you Mr. Chairman U. Commissioners. It has been my honor and privilege to
serve in this position um for three months shy of 42 years of being in uh the clerk's office world and um it you know it's my family away from home. I love each and every one of you. It's
been an honor to serve with you guys, many boards over the years, but um you as the city and commission now I it's it's been a joy. you know, we've buted heads, tangled antlers several times and you know that that means we're doing our job right. Um but um y'all been a
pleasant um been very pleasant to work with and your staff as well. So thank you. I've enjoyed my time, but my time um needs to go somewhere else now and that's my kids and my grandbabies. I have eight, so I'm I'll be busy and um
helping take care of my sweet little mama. So, >> it's been an honor. Thank you. >> Commissioner, >> can we say something? Uh, Miss Miss Becky, it's been a pleasure. I just want you to know and I know our kids have grown up together and man, I I just uh
we going to miss you and uh but it's been a pleasure and and honor my life and and uh my time on it on this board and I I just want to thank you for your service. app. >> I've only been in this role one year,
Becky, but I've known you for longer than that. And uh someone was talking about it. Well, if she goes out, who are we going to get? It's a big job. And I didn't until I sat in this role, I did not know the many hats that you wear as clerk of the court. It's not an easy
job. And uh and and no one took you for granted. Let me tell you what. Uh you had a great career. 42 years is a long time. You know, I think back when Bill Munford, I don't know, you know, Senator Munford, he always said when he retired, he was gonna throw beer cans at buses.
>> I said I was gonna throw my my cell phone in Lake Talquin. So, what are you going to do, Becky? Besides grandkids, you got to do something different. >> Um, well, I have two muts, two two hunting dogs I spend a lot of time with in the afternoons. I'll continue to look
after them. Um, but you know, um, I want to learn how to play pickle ball. So, I appreciate you guys taking care of these new courts or upgrading the courts that we have. So, hopefully I won't get injured. But anyway, a little out of
shape, but >> we can handle that. We can handle your pickle balls. Okay. [laughter] >> Any other commission? >> You got something? I'm jealous. Uh when she told me the other day that she was gonna leave, I I was hoping she was kidding. But uh it it is important to
have a a person with integrity that's honest and will tell you no from time to time. There's probably nobody buted heads. We had buted heads in the last 10 years probably, but but over the last 32 or three years, we probably have but heads a bunch. And that's that's
>> that's uh but that's that's what that's supposed to be. That keeps us out of the paper and out of trouble. And where bad things have happened all the way around us, we've never had anything bad happen. And and it all starts with the person that holds the checkbook. And uh I wish
you a long happy retirement. And uh you you deserve it if if if anybody but I follow you pretty quick. >> All right. Y'all good? Good. All right, Michael, you got a few more things, I think. >> Travel policy. Uh, the clerk's always
brought this to our attention just to So, we put the whole policy in, but it's just that last page on page 15, the last paragraph, and we're changing that to advanced payments for airfare or lodging shall be limited to bonafide expenses that have been charged to a credit card
and do not include guarantees, holes, or confirmations without taxual charge. which means that you've had to have actually incurred the expense, not just put a hold on your card. And and and that goes with without saying, but we just wanted to to put that uh in in
black and white because we had some when we're changing. Uh most of y'all have got rid of your cards and and and travel things. So, this is streamlining. Uh if you pay for it in advance, you get reimbursed in advance. If you don't, if it's just a hold, you don't.
Everybody understand? >> Did I explain that? Okay. >> Okay. >> We [snorts] need a vote on it, >> please. This will be an amendment to your to your policy. >> All right. Thank you, sir. All right. What's the wishes of the board? >> I'll make a motion.
>> All right. Got a motion by Commissioner Piden. Make that policy change. >> I'll second. >> Second by Commissioner Husman. Any further board discussion? Anyone in the public? Any opposition to the motion? All right. Motion pass. Shar's got item O.
>> Yes, sir. On page 23, this is Lynn's recommendation to accept the um each of the bids received as qualified contractors for our ship program and doing those rehabs. Um it is of course subject to final verification
and approval of those qualifications from the building department. But um all that were received um as long as they all qualifications. Gladly take all five. >> Make sure you gonna make sure they're good to go. >> Yes, sir.
>> Okay. All right. What's the What's the wishes of the board? Any questions first? Any questions on these? How many we had last time? I mean, how many we got total now? >> So, prior to this bid, we only had two. >> Two. Okay. Hopefully, all qualified so we can have
some more. All right. What's the wishes of the board? >> So move, Mr. Chair. >> All right. Motion by Commissioner Mcronone. >> Second. >> Second by Commissioner Husman. Any further board discussion on these contracts? Anyone in the uh public? Any opposition
to the motion? Motion pass. >> Mark, you want to give update on the work day last week? [snorts] >> So the fellas sure appreciated the work day y'all out on the I only saw Randy. I don't know if any of y'all actually come out there, but we
weren't at the golf course and was a tremendous amount of trees cut that needed to be cut, um, hauled off, stumps, ground down, ditches dug out, pawns cleaned up around, I mean, daylight and dark from what it looked like when we got there. When we left for
just one day of work, it was us and TDC, public works and TDC went out, it was safe. Everybody came with 10 fingers, left with 10 fingers. That's always important. And so we appreciate it. Look forward to the next one some point in
spring. >> Thank you, sir. >> It was it was phenomenal. So three of the holes I was telling someone I didn't recognize they had changed so much. And what they've done is it's going to allow because we've had some issues with grass out there and too many trees. It's going to allow that sunlight to hit it. And
Jordan, I guess, had y'all list and those guys got after it. And uh my hats off to them. I just like I call them the Calvary. when you put them out there, you see machines going wide open here, there, they they got a plan and and they they put it in gear. So, thank y'all for
that. It made a huge difference in our asset and that golf course. >> We have great staff. >> Yep. >> All right. Thank you, sir. Appreciate them guys. Appreciate the update. >> All right. Humane Society
>> item P. Yes. Uh so against my recommendation which would be to tie into the to the city line that where they're flushing at the end of the line. Uh I think they talk the city into paying half the city of Port St. Joe to paying half of the the well cost for the
uh Humane Society because their water bill's so outrageous. I do think that's problematic. I I I don't want to get into the we got to replplum and because we got to they can't crosscontaminate and I don't know about how the sewer situation is going to work but I'd recommend that we pay
half and it's going to be in the 6,000 range between 6 and 7,000 for our half of the deep well for the humane society. >> All right, any questions? >> Does the well have a chlorinator? >> Sir,
>> does the well have to have a chlorinator? Well, they can't crosscontaminate with the city line. So, they gonna have to either run new lines to the outside or something. I don't know. It's This is a >> Chinese wash down. Is that what they going? >> I'm assuming that's their biggest cost
is the wash down. >> Okay. >> Who's who's paying the other half? They are themselves. >> Cities ain't just supposedly paying the other half. It's what what I was told. I think it'll ultimately save us money. >> That's their biggest bill.
>> Yeah. Save us money, which will save us money. >> Their water bill is pretty is huge. >> Absolutely. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. [clears throat] >> I I'm good with it. You want to? >> Yeah. I'll make a motion. >> I'll second. >> All right. Got a motion by Commissioner Cone, second by Commissioner Pid. Any
further board discussion? Anyone in the public on this? Any opposition to the motion? All right. Motion pass. Five. >> Can I piggy back on Mike's sentiments on the water? [clears throat] >> Yeah. >> Can we Clay and Michael in January have
someone that has done a consolidation in I know they're looking at one in Appalach. That's a different ballgame. But there are some small district some small areas in Florida that we know about that are
going to a mis municipal utilities model with water and sewer. Is there a way we could probably get somebody in January to just might come and talk about what that looks like? Would y'all be interested in that? I know we're doing it with WeWalk. I got that. but countywide what it would look
like maybe what they're doing and because there's always some battles you go through and was that something that we could possibly do by January. >> Are we talking about water or sewer? >> Well, my mind is we start with with sewer and then down the road maybe go to water, but I know sewer is important
right off the bat. >> We've reached out to the city. How am I going? >> So, so I think they're I think both cities are going to come in January for you know in the afternoon after the retreat. The I I'm not we we can find somebody. I don't know exactly who we would get to come but the best models in
my opinion is a Bay County model >> in in just about every case. Bay County sells wholesale water to the cities and takes their sewer from the cities. And I I think there's a little quirk. I think Lin Haven may not be on the sewer, but they're trying to get on. But all the other cities from the beach to to Mexico
Beach are all on that system. And again, they all pay the same rate and they you know, so that is the model of the future. It's more efficient and all of those things. So yes, we'll try to find somebody. >> So D wants I mean that they're wanting us to do that. The state >> water management all all of those
because I mean it's and it doesn't matter. I mean everybody's got their own FFT them. You started Pensacola back this way, but North South in most of those counties that South's on something different. Some of those in South Walton uh were were a private utility and I I guess they still are. Uh but the the
gist is if everybody will regionalize and consolidate instead of paying three sew sewer operators, pay one instead of paying three water. >> You make a sewer board type deal. >> That's what I was saying. I was some kind of board maybe. How would you
>> if if you don't care about making money and a profit, just care about providing the best service at the best cost, then then there should be no fear in having an independent board, >> right? >> And uh I certainly have no problem with that. >> Well, I was thinking about that, Phil. You're talking about the board,
>> you and Sandy, and I've got part of the city of St. Joe is in my district. So, >> probably somebody that I was going to say I'd like to be on that board is going to be a city person anyway. You know what I mean? and they're actually getting it now. So, I don't think the board would be a problem and the guys you have too probably were going to be
we live in the city as well. >> So, I think if we had like a five member board that was that definitely would be members that would be from the municipalities as well. Absolutely. >> Um so, and they would have a say in it and I just >> because when you got three people going
after grants by themselves, it's tough. If you got three people going or one group representing that whole group makes a lot more sense. That's what they're telling us. DP sells us that board of management. They're all telling us that >> and I guess now would be the time before we step off in that sewer plant. >> Absolutely.
>> So, hey, >> absolutely. >> You know, >> the engineering on it, Clay, right now if we had to engineer it, if they say, "Hey, yeah, we want to go. We ought to saves a whole bunch of money for the taxpayers." Correct. >> Which they'll see in their sewer rates. That's where it'll land.
>> Yeah. So, I just would maybe part of January if we could y'all be good with that. Let's [snorts] get get that set up. Michael, however you want to conceptualize that. You know, you and Clay put your heads together. Bay County is where we want to go or that's you
know what that looks like. >> Anything else? Commissioner Mike, you got anything? >> Just last thing. I'm thank you all for the extra time that y'all gave your employees Christmas extra day and New Year's to to kind of match what the state did. We've had a great year. We got a lot of big
things coming up next year. We we say the biggest project every year, whether it was closing the landfield or doing the beach or nourishment or what. Now, it's the of course the $38 million project on the Cape, but hopefully in the spring we'll be done and and we'll see the fruits of that sewer plant. That's $28 million. And you know, that's
kicking off. the water plant will kick off hopefully in the end of February. That's $15 million. So, a lot of huge projects uh that that were positive. They're going to have longtime positive impacts. We got a lot of things to be thankful for and look forward to to a
bright new year. >> I forgot to ask one question. Uh Austin Porn on 10th Street. I forgot to ask about >> I called the Mariana Trust and The guy was trying to get back to me and just
had I'll follow up with him today. >> Okay. All right. Appreciate it. Anything else, commissioners? Sheriff, you sure you're good? >> I'm good, sir. >> You good? All right, >> Becky. >> I do have one more thing. Um, merry
Christmas, by the way. I hope y'all have a wonderful time um with your family and friends. Um I I would just I sent you the um administrative order once uh Chief Judge Christopher Patterson um entered it and
sent it to me, but he has appointed an ad interim clerk and that I'd like to just say that for the record. It's Miss Tanya Knox. She's been an employee of the office for many many years, 40ome years either uh with us or other organizations. Um, so she's well
experienced and she'll serve um for a little time until the governor can make an an appointment or an election can be held, but she'll do a great job. And you have Mr. Leo and Miss Lyanna that'll always take care of anything needs to be taken care of as well.
>> Appreciate it. >> Thank you, ma'am. Commissioners, y'all good? >> Good. >> All right. Thank everyone for coming to the board of county commissioners meeting. Entertain a motion to adjourn. >> So move, Mr. Chairman. >> Motion by Commissioner Husman. Second by Commissioner Cone. Any opposition?