--------- [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat.
[Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat.
[Music]
Heat. Heat. [Music]
All right. Can y'all hear me? All right. Thank you everybody. Sorry we're a little tardy. It's 3:01. We're going to bring this meeting of the Leyon County Board of County Commissioners to order. Thank you all for being here. Uh at this time, I think I'm going to
recognize uh Commissioner Maddox for uh our invocation and pledge of allegiance. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm pleased to welcome Reverend Dr. Wana Jordan, who is the executive director of the campus pack uh pastor and campus pastor of impact at Florida&M University uh Wesley
Foundation. She will provide invocation and words of inspiration for us today. Uh if we're off, please rise for that invocation. Amen. It is so good to be with you all on this day and as we kick off particularly at Florida&M our homecoming
week and so um let us gather to share in these words this prayer. Wise and loving God, first we want to thank you on behalf of all who are gathered here today. Thank you for the
many abundant blessings for life itself, for the measure of health that we need to fulfill our callings, for sustenance, and for friendships. Thank you for the ability to be involved in useful, meaningful work such as this, and for
the honor of bearing appropriate responsibilities. Thank you for freedom to embrace you or reject you. And thank you for loving us even so from your boundless and gracious nature. In your word, you remind us of
our responsibilities as citizens to obey the governing authorities as you have established them to promote peace and order and justice. And so therefore, we pray for our county commission today and ask that you grant them wisdom. wisdom
to govern amid the conflicting interest and issues of our times. That you will give them a sense of the welfare and true needs of our people and our community. That you will have them to have a keen thirst for justice and
rightness. Confidence in what is good and fitting. The ability to work together in harmony even when there is honest disagreement. and that you will grant them personal peace in their lives and joy in their
task. And so we pray for the agenda that is set before them today. And we're praying that you will give them assistance of what would please you and what would benefit those awards and presentations, Mr. County Administrator. Oh, do I I don't need you for that, do I? Uh do I do you want to
introduce that, do you? I can't remember, man. Listen, this is my last meeting as chair, so I'm you know, uh we're going to start uh with our first proclamation recognizing the chair's little league uh 9 to 11year-old all-stars team for winning the national title, Comm title, Commissioner
O'Keeffe. Uh and we've got our players in the room or coaches. Y'all can join Commissioner O'Keeffe at the podium. How about that, man? She look She looks Yeah. All right. Can everyone hear me? Okay. This is exciting for me because after
they reviewed my little league stats, this is as close as they will let me get to a championship game. And no closer. Whereas the chair's little league allstars 9 to11 team was coached by manager Alec Delpra and assistant
coaches Matt Prowett, Kyle Powalik and Brad Bickas. And whereas in July 2025, the chairs little league allstars 9 to11 team clinched the section 1 championship title by defeating by defeating the niceville team. Whereas by becoming the
section 1 champions, the chairs little league allstars 9 to11 team earned a spot in the state tournament. And whereas the chairs little league all-stars 9 to11 team took on Keystone Little League in the state championship game and won becoming the first chairs
team to win a state championship at any level. You may you may applause. Whereas winning the state championship, the chair's little league allstars 9 to11 team then represented the state of Florida in the tournament of state champions in Wilson, North Carolina. And
whereas the leading hitters for the Allstars in the TOSC event were Landon Delprad at 538, Jacob Ross at 462, and Kai Stevens at 429. And whereas the leading pitchers for the
Allstars at the TOSC were Harrison Pawalic, Landon Delprad, and Preston Vicas. And whereas the Chairs Little League Allstars 9 to11 team won the TOSC championship game against South Carolina
76 on a walk-off hit by Jacob Ross. Where's Jacob Ross here? All right, let's go. Whereas the chair's Little League Allstars 911 team is now the only Tallahassee Little League to win a state and regional championship.
There's no no shade on the other districts. Hey, it's all good, man. Now therefore, be it proclaimed by the board of county commissioners of Lyon County, Florida, that we celebrate and honor the achievements of the 2025 chairs Little League Allstars 9 to11 baseball team and congratulate them for winning the state
championship and the tournament of state champions dated this 14th day of October 2025. Signed by chairman Brian Welch, all the county commissioners, and county administrator Vince Long. All right. Where's Where's
Uh on behalf of uh chairs little league, thank you very much. Um we the coaches and the league very proud of how these boys uh represented Tallahassee and the state of Florida. So all the all the glory to these boys. Good job. Thank
you. All right. Anybody want to speak? Yeah. You guys want someone? Come on. They they let the win record speak for themselves. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Well, listen you guys, hey, we're proud of you. And I don't know if everybody knows, we have a great uh youth baseball ecosystem here in Lyon
County. And and you guys are going to move on up and play Babe Ruth probably in a few years and your high school teams. And you know, we are super proud of all you accomplished. I hope you realize that that you guys have done some great stuff. Chairs has an incredible program out there. And Commissioner O'Keefe, we're hoping to get a program in district 4 here soon.
and maybe some of you guys' friends who I I you know I know a lot of you guys seen you around. So, uh you know hopefully they can compete with you, but you guys are currently just crushing it over there. So, congratulations and thank you for coming up here. Absolutely. All right, they're going to get a picture with you guys.
This is all yours time. You guys line up for a picture right there. Everybody together where she can see you. There you go. Don't be shy. Yep. Can I hold this?
Oh, we're doing this right there. Smile for the moms and Gary. All right. Congratulations, guys. Commissioner Maddox. Hi,
Miss uh Sue Dick, if you would join Commissioner Maddox at the podium, please, for our next proclamation. That guy's also a national champion, you guys. All right, Mr. Chair. Yes, sir. Uh, the proclamation reads,
"Whereas strong, vibrant communities depend on visionary leadership, tireless dedication, and the collabor collaborative spirit of individuals who champion economic growth and opportunity. And whereas Sud Dick has faithfully served as president of the
Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce for 25 years, providing exceptional leadership, strategic insight, and unwavering commitment to the achievement of local business community. And whereas under her leadership, the chamber has experienced notable achievements
including the expansion of membership, introduction of innovative programs, and the strengthening of the chamber's role as a vital resource for local businesses. Her vision and dedication has been instrumental in shaping the chamber's success in fostering a
thriving business environment in Tallahassee. And whereas Sue Dig has served as a trusted advocate for local businesses, fostering innovation, encouraging entrepreneurship, and ensuring that the voices of business owners are heard at every level of
government and community decision-making. And whereas during her tenure as president, Sudik has engaged in key initiatives, helped develop new programs, strengthen the chamber's role as a trusted resource with accomplishments to include the creation
of the world class worldclass schools, access Tallahassee and the Greater Tallahassee Chamber Foundation Incorporated. evolved chamber programming to more than 400 events annually, including the two largest business events, the annual community
conference and the annual meeting, as well as serving as the founding partner organization of DOMI station. N where Sudik has served a served a board member uh served as board member of many organizations and committees has given
graciously of her time talents and passion leaving a legacy marked by integrity inclusiveness and a deep commitment to the long-term success of Lyon County. And whereas the business community, local government, and residents alike owe a debt of gratitude
for her service, leadership, and contribution to the betterment of our shared economic future. Now therefore be it proclaimed that the board of county commissioners Leon County, Florida do hereby recognize and applaud Sue Dick for her outstanding service as president of the greater Tallahassee Chamber of
Commerce and urge all members of our community to recognize the c and celebrate her exempl exemplary uh career leadership and dedication to making the greater Tallahassee a thriving place to live, work and do business. This is signed by the chair as
well as the rest of the commission attested to by the county administrator. Congratulations. Thank you. This was supposed to be on the three minutes cut by half. I hope you have as long as you want now. Well, this is u this is very um this is
very nice. Um thank you, Commissioner Maddox, uh Chairman Welch and other county commissioners. Vince, county administrator. We've been in this room a long time together. It's been a pleasure to be able to serve as president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce for 25 years. Commissioner Maddox. Uh actually, I've
been in this room for 15 years with Commissioner Maddox and probably the same for Vince and Wes Alam before you. So, it's been a fun ride. It's been an exciting journey. And I want to thank my chamber uh selection committee 25 years ago that gave me the opportunity to serve as the president CEO. So to Will
Butler and to Bill Smith and the search committee and the board. Um it's a big thank you to them. Just briefly, I want to thank a couple people and then maybe leave you with just a couple thoughts to continue the great work that's taken place. I want to thank my husband Bobby who has been on this journey with me.
He's actually here. First time he's been in this commission chambers. It's now all coming clear to him. He looked at me. He looked at the uh stock market every day and he said, "I could never do what you used to do, Sue." But he's been uh he's been a partner. He's a great husband, a great father, and I think he now knows when I would call him from the
county commission meeting very late saying, "I'm on my way home." He'd say, "No problem. Kids are fed. They're in bed. Just bring it on home and, you know, we'll have some time together." So, to Bobby, he's been wonderful and been by my side. Chiron James, our
current chairwoman um with Gunster, a professional in governmental affairs and attorney. She has been just uh rock solid this entire year through this transition. And we'll hand the reigns over to Eddie Gonzalez Lumier in January who's chairman of
Ruvos and serves as chair- elect. And it is really my pleasure now to also introduce everyone to Michael Dolby who is the president and CEO effect of October 1st. He is on his 10th day. Michael, it's a pleasure to hand the the baton over to you. We are very fortunate
to have Michael and his wife Georgia in our community. He comes from El Paso, Texas. Chiron and the search committee did a tremendous job and in really attracting him to our community and I know there's going to be a lot of great continued success. So, just leave with a couple thoughts. continue to um to work
together uh be unified in our vision and and creation of jobs and intentional economic development, creating an opportunity for our youth to have jobs and to stay in this community and promote our region. So again, thank you for this uh recognition. It's been a
pleasure working with each and every one of you and uh I will be in the community. I'm not sure what my next adventure is going to be and that's okay. So um I'll look forward to supporting you moving forward. Thank you again. Thank you, Sue. All right, Sue, we've got a couple of
commissioners that might want to say a few words to you. Commissioner Miner, you're in the new Q system. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Appreciate it. Um, Sue, I just I just wanted to thank you for your 25 years. Um, the the people of Lyon County and Tallahassee have benefited greatly from your service
to this community. um you you've set the tone for not just the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce, but the entire business community and that tone has been one of integrity and level-headedness and um focus on developing the economy, you know,
growing the businesses that are here, bringing new businesses in. Uh it's really been incredible the the legacy that that you have built and that you're leaving. So, thank you for everything that you've done. Um, I I've come in to see you multiple times over the years talking about uh homelessness and and
other political other topics, economic development. Uh, it's really been um great to to to have you there as someone who can um uh provide some perspective on on what the community is up to and what we need to go. So, thank you for everything and u I hope you aren't leaving Tallahassee. I hope you your
next chapter will be uh continuing the legacy that you've uh you've left us with. So, thank you so much. Thank you, Commissioner Miner and and uh Sue. I'll just echo Commissioner Miner. I've not been involved in this process for nearly as long as most of the people on the dis and certainly you and Vince and our
predecessors and in just the short time I've gotten to know you, it becomes abundantly clear to me that you know your job is often thankless and people don't really understand the impact that you've had and the influence that you've had on growing our community over the
last 25 years. and your longevity really speaks to your effectiveness and and you've had your finger on, you know, the biggest issues that have shaped our community over the last 25 years. Uh, Commissioner Proctor, being here, you know, a similarly long amount of time, I think that that speaks volumes to the
impact that you've had and and so I just want to echo our thanks as a as a county commission. We certainly appreciate that. Um, I think of the the Teddy Roosevelt thing about being in the arena, you know, and it's tough and people criticize you, but the truth is for those of us who have worked with you and who know the impact you've had, it's
greatly appreciated. So, thank you so much for all you've done for the business community and the nonprofit community and our other chambers and and really helping us try to have a cohesive vision here for how we want to grow our community and create jobs and ultimately give people prosperity. So, thank you so much. And thank you, Bobby, for loaning
us loaning her to our community for for so long. We appreciate that as well. All right. Thank you. Um Oh, I'm sorry, Commissioner. Oh, we got a new Q system. I'm sorry. And you it it you know, I just need a beautiful picture of Commissioner Cummings to pop up and then
I would see it. That's the way I see. I don't see your name. All right. Go ahead, Commissioner Cummings. Okay. Thank you. Uh thank you, Mr. Chair. I just I would be remiss if I didn't have something to to say uh on your on your retirement. You and the
chamber certainly embraced me even from the beginning. I want to just thank you for your incredible leadership in the business community which has certainly benefited all of us uh here in this community. So, I wish you and your
husband well in your next endeavor and may God continue to bless you for all the service that you have provided unselfishly to our community. Thank you. We love you. Yes. Thank you, Commissioner Cummings. Commissioner Kaman. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Sue, I appreciate
uh all the work you've done the last few years and uh two things that are really important to me. One, on a personal level, I appreciate in 2021 when I started getting involved with the chamber, you welcome welcoming me in with open arms. And two, um, the the the
week after the May 10th tornadoes, I remember that morning you and I were speaking on the phone and, uh, we were talking about the concept of Team Leon and wanting to help local businesses. and that ultimately, you know, passed this board and helped um you know,
dozens of individuals, hundreds of individuals and dozens of businesses in Southwest Leyon County. And um I I can say that wholeheartedly. I don't believe we would have put that to fruition without the support and your leadership at the chamber. And so I appreciate that sincerely. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Sir, thank you, Mr. Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. And I Mr. Chair. Yeah. Yeah. Go ahead. I would like to say that uh so there's a there's a women who've influenced my political career uh two of which that
when I think about how they influenced me it was through their silence but the fact when they spoke they didn't speak loudly uh it was very monotone but they would said things that would make you think uh things that would make you move
first one was the late Jane Sauls she would sit up there and She would say things when she needed to say them and no more than she needed to say. Uh, but the thing the things that she said made you move. And the second one actually is Sue Dick. Um, I've never heard Sue raise
her voice. U, I've never heard her speak more than she needed to. But again, when she said things, things that she said didn't just make a few people move, it made a community move. And that is a powerful thing to do. And so I was I was
sitting here as I was listening to you all uh talk about her and and uh thank Bobby for the time that he's given us with her. Uh I can only imagine what it's like being her husband when she has those few things to say to make you move
uh very quickly. Uh but but to to to be in all seriousness, Sudik is is a legend in this community. the work that she's done with the chamber and the way she's led is one that could be imitated time and time again. Uh but never be quite as
good as as as she's produced for us. Look forward to our new leader. A lot of pressure there. It's kind of like coming after Bobby Bowen what you do. Uh but uh we believe in you. Yeah. Um but she she's done a great job and and we appreciate who you are for this community and the fact that you're going to stay and continue to work in this
community. Thank you. Uh Mr. Chair, now I have the opportunity in the distinct Hold on one second. Commissioner Maddox, the county admin wanted to hop in real quick. Okay. I think Mr. Chairman, commissioners, you know, I don't normally do this, but this is a special occasion. Sue, uh, let me just say Sue's raised her voice to me
lots of times, so I don't know about, you know, but Sue, I just want to thank you on behalf of all the men and women of of Lyon County. You know, sometimes chambers and local governments have uh adversarial relationships, but it's it's never been like that with with you under
your leadership. Uh I can't, you know, tell you how many trenches uh we've been in over the years. And you really develop uh true genuine relationships over that period of time. And certainly that's the case with uh with Sue. And it helps you get through the really tough
issues that you work with. And whether it's been a a minor tweak to a permitting process or, you know, a billion dollar sales tax extension, Sue and her team have always been there for us at Lyon County. And we can't thank you enough. And your uh your mark is going to be um felt on this community
for really for generations. And there's not many people that can say that. And so I just want to thank you, Sue. All right. that that Vince would speak because Sue whispered in my ear when she started Vince had color in his hair. I'm just kidding. She didn't say
anything. Um, now I have the the prevalent and privilege of of presenting a proclamation to uh Reverend Pastor Rudy Ferguson, a brother and friend of mine. Come on up and bring your family with you if you like. The proclamation reads, "Whereas pastor
Randolph Rudolph Rudolph only in December, his name would be Randy if it was Randolph." Anyway, um whereas Pastor Rudolph Ferguson, Senior, has served faithfully as the shepherd and spiritual leader of
New Birth Tabernacle Church for the past 15 years, demonstrating unwavering dedication to God. the church in the community. And whereas during his ten tenure, Pastor Rudy Ferguson uh has provided compassionate pastoral care,
inspirational sermons, and visionary leadership, helping to grow and strengthen the spiritual lives of countless individuals and families. And whereas under pastor Ferguson Ferguson's leadership, New Birth Tabernacle has expanded its ministries, deep deepened
its outreach efforts, and become a beacon of hope, love, and service in the community. And whereas, Pastor Ferguson has consistently worked uh beyond the walls of the church to engage with the with the broader community, serving as the president and CEO of Frontline
Project, Inc., where is uh which is best known for awarding 10 graduating high school students with a $1,000 scholarship. And whereas he has received numerous awards including the 2015 church of the year award, the 2016
African-American Icon Award, and the 2017 community service award from the significance uh from the significance youth conference, just to name a few. the 2018 uh Junth Freedom Award and the
2019 man uh men of support uh men who support women from from the Leyon County Democratic Women's Club. And whereas Pastor Ferguson's life of service is a testimony to the power of faith, humility, perseverance, and love and
stands an as an example to all who seek to live a life of purpose and meaning. He remains a respected national leader in nonviolence and youth advocacy, working tirelessly to bring meaningful change and earning the respect and
admiration of both parishioners and community members alike. Now therefore be a proclaimed that the that the board of county commissioners of Leon County, Florida do hereby recognize and honor Pastor Rudolph Ferguson Senior for his 15 years of faithful and
dedicated service to the New Birth Tabernacle and Praise Church and to the greater Leyon County community. This is signed by the chairs as well as the rest of commission and attested to by the county administrator. Congratulations, sir. I certainly uh on behalf of my uh my
wife of 33 years, Katrina, my sons of 33 years, uh one is on the route with my granddaughter of four years. But I wanted to take this time to say thank you so much for recognizing what we do. It's not just about our church. It's about our community there in the Griffin
Heights neighborhood. I thank you so much for paying attention to what we have going on in that community. And I certainly appreciate all that you do to ensure that we have the necessary resources and the things that we need for our young people and our family and the elderly in our neighborhood to have
everything that they need. We may not be a wellto-d do community, but we certainly want to do well and we plan to continue to do that. So the 15 years of my pastoring is not just about been about the pull pit. It's been about the pavement and I have my family, my wife, my children, my church members who
decided to come out support their pastor. And again, Commissioner Maddox, thank you so much. Commissioners, thank you so much. As a pastor, I'll stop talking because at some point I'll ask for offering. Thank you. All right, Pastor Ferguson, we've got a couple of commissioners that would like to say a few words for you.
Uh, Commissioner Cummings, followed by Commissioner Miner. Uh, thank you, uh, Mr. Chair. Um, Reverend Ferguson, I just want to say that that proclamation is certainly welld deserved. You're not just a pastor
of New Birth. uh church, but you're a community leader right there in in your community where you have lived all your life. So, we certainly love you. We respect you for all your your leadership there. You're concerned about the least
of these. Uh whenever there is a a shooting in the neighborhood, you're always on the scene. uh in the prayer visual whenever there is is any adverse effects in the community or anything that goes on the in the community we can
call the Reverend Ferguson. He knows the people there. He loves the people there and we certainly appreciate your leadership and we ask you to continue to to be the leader, continue to be concerned, continue to be the advocate
for the least of these in the community. So, thank you for all that you do. Thank you so much, Commissioner. Thank you, Commissioner Cummings. Commissioner Miner, followed by Commissioner Maddox. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Pastor Ferguson, just want to wish you a happy anniversary. Uh it's quite an accomplishment and you said it best
yourself. You know, your service is not just um relegated to the pull pit to the to the pavement and you do that uh in in spades and we we see that. We see that. So, thank you for everything that you do for this community. Um it's people like you that make Tallahassee a special place.
So, thank you very much for your service, sir. Thank you so much, Commissioner. Thank you, Commissioner Miner. Commissioner Maddox. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I had opportunity to um speak about pastor Ferguson, brother Ferguson. Uh but the proclamation did not speak about uh Miss
First Lady Katrina Ferguson. Uh I don't think we could let this opportunity pass by without recognizing that uh she has been uh his backbone in Israel. uh and one that really put in the work when he had to be out in the
community to make sure the family works. And what I can tell you about her uh pastor Reverend Rudy Ferguson and that family is that those boys have done well by them uh and they can and it's something they can be proud of. And so I
wanted to recognize my brother, Pastor Ferguson, but also his bride, First Lady Ferguson, and for what they've done for this community uh and for the example they've been to our community of what a good family uh could look like, should look like, and what it looks like to
raise strong boys in our community. So, I wanted to put that on the record as well. Thank you for what you've done, and we look forward to what you'll continue to do in the future. We wish you uh 50 more years of success uh as our as our pastor and leader in our community. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Maddox. Thank you, M. Uh thank you, Pastor Fergus. Uh Pastor Ferguson, I'm I'm going to wish you 30 more years of service. He only gave you 15. I'll give you 30. I don't know. Amen. You got it, man. You got it. Thank you so much, Commissioner. Yes, sir. Thank you for being here. And thank you and welcome to your family.
Thank you so much. Yes, sir. Uh Commissioner Proctor, are you ready? Yes, sir. Commissioner Proctor, uh, you are recognized to give a proclamation, uh, recognizing October as domestic violence awareness month. If there's anybody here, um, uh, yes,
please join Commissioner Proctor at the podium. Mr. Chairman, uh, members of the DES, ladies and gentlemen, Dean Stith, Mrs. Stith, God bless you all. Uh, glad to see you all. Pastor Ferguson.
Ferguson. Uh, I was um need you to understand that as I get old that I try to be like the Lord. I may not come when you want me, but I'm always right on time. And as you can
see, I'm practicing that. Uh, and I'm committed to being on time and to be here today for this August body of citizens uh to present this. Uh, Mr. Sharon, I apologize to you and the commission for being tardy, but I can't think of a greater I'm not um uh a
better reason than today being my mother's 88th birthday and that we um held a birthday lunchon uh for her. And um as friends and tears and laughter uh
grows deeper uh it tends to um you all understand it it tends to warp the uh sense of time and uh I was buying a little time because I was waiting on Rachel to bring us that's my aid. You are a pro commissioner comments. I
don't know about the greatest aid on planet earthy. I'm going challenge you for that one. Thank you, Rachel. I needed it. And ladies, um I hope I look good in this pink tie today. Y'all got that picture here? All right. Uh we have a proclamation uh
Dean Stiff and um it reads, "Whereas October is annually recognized as domestic violence awareness month and we stand with survivors always." And whereas domestic
violence affects every person in Leon County, Florida, either as a survival of domestic violence as a family member, significant other, friend, neighbor, or coworker, and domestic violence affects
people of all genders, sexual orientations, ages, racial, ethnic, cultural, social, religious, and economic groups. And whereas domestic violence and intimate partner violence can have lifelong consequences
emotionally, mentally, socially, spiritually, and physically. And whereas although progress has been made toward preventing and ending domestic violence and providing support to survivors and
their families, there is still a need to provide resources, education, awareness, and understanding of domestic violence and its causes. And important work remains to be done. And whereas policy
makers and communities must work together to transform the conditions that cause domestic violence and support survival centered solutions. Whereas this year's National Domestic Violence Awareness Month's theme with the
survivors always personifies our commitment to serving domestic violence survivors by acknowledging, invigorating, and rededicating ourselves the goal of eliminating domestic violence for everyone. Two more graphs.
Whereas the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, and the Oasis Center for Women and Girls, and many other community partners, programs, professionals, and advocates of nonviolence have joined together with Refuge House to support each other in
our work and to provide Leon County and our citizens with a well-coordinated community response to domestic violence. And whereas during the month of October, the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council and its many partners will be
intensifying efforts to promote public understanding of family violence and increase sensitivity to survivors of family violence. emphasizing the need for citizen involvement in efforts to
reduce family violence through public education and changing public attitudes. Now therefore, be it proclaimed that the board of county commissioners, Lean County, Florida, do hereby recognize October as domestic
violence awareness and prevention month dated this 14th day of October 20 and 25. And it's signed by all members of the board of county commissioners of Lean County. And it is attested to by the county's administrator, Miss Vincent
Long. And we say to you um that we stand we stand with you. Oh yeah. Let's give them a [Applause] Hi everyone. I'm Kelly Oor and I am the director of the domestic violence
council here in Tallahassee. Um, and as you know, we represent all of the agencies in town and advocates that work with domestic violence survivors or perpetrators. And behind me is just a small sprinkling of the hundreds of people in this community that do work to end domestic violence. Um, so I want to
commend all of them for all the work that they do all the time, every day. And I also want to thank all of the commissioners and also your superb aids who have done such a wonderful job for your generosity, your kindness, and your constant support over the years for the work that we do, which seems to be never ending, but we're still going to fight
the good fight. Thanks again. And also, let me introduce the executive director of Refuge House, Emily Mitchum. Hello. Thank you so much for this. Um, my name's Emily Mitchum. I'm the executive director of Refuge House. Uh
we serve about 7,000 victims of domestic violence every year at Refuge House. We are very proud to be able to offer two 24-hour crisis hotlines, two emergency shelters, five transitional housing programs, an injunction assistance
office right here in the Leyon County Courthouse. Uh community education prevention with youth and counseling and therapy throughout our service area. Our numbers are continuing to rise. We're seeing an increase in people that we can't get into emergency shelter and it's a crisis in our community that we
count on your their support to be to address. So, thank you very much. Thank you. Um, Mr. Chairman, the opportunity of a lifetime. All these uh beautiful ladies want to take a picture with me.
I know it's really like Don't let that moment. Commissioner Cummings and Commissioner O'Keeffe would like to speak first. Commissioner Proctor, hold on one second. Commissioner Cummings, go right ahead. Oh, just very briefly. Thank Thank you, Mr. Chair. I I just want to collectively thank all of all of the partners. I
mean, you guys just do a tremendous job in coord coordination uh of the services for the victims of of domestic violence. And of course we all know that uh domestic violence disproportionately
adversely affects women which is dis is disheartening. But thanks to the work that you all do we we can see that the needle is moving and a lot of it has to do with with education.
We had a great um a great ceremony with last Friday at Cascades and we heard some anecdotic um testimony from a live real life situation and we see how domestic
violence has a a ripple effect. It it ripples through the communities through families for generations. So I just thank you all for your diligence uh for the fact that that you all really just
put forth effort every day to combat uh domestic violence and hopefully through you all's efforts one day one day we can hopefully educate the community and
totally eradicate the the sickening effects of domestic violence. So, thank you. We love you all for all that you do. Thank you, Commissioner Cumins. Commissioner O'Keefe. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, I want to also
say thank you. Um even though really those no the words we can say truly express uh the gratitude for the impact that you have for so many people in our community uh who have been victims of domestic violence and who unfortunately
will become victims of domestic violence. Um, I don't want to let this opportunity pass without um making note that I believe the refuge house is currently uh accepting contributions to help uh expand their facilities to
address the problem of not having enough emergency sheltering for people. And I would like to make sure that everyone who hears this uh knows that that is an option to support such an important part of our community and the friends and family of our community that that need
that. Um thank you for doing that. And um I also want you to know that I appreciate the challenge, the increasing challenge you're going to be facing as federal funds uh disappear for community
services as well as uh um certain policies are likely to increase the number of people who need services and um I and know we are here to help in any way with within our control that we can. Thank you, Commissioner O'Keefe. All
right. Uh, I think the roses can take a picture with a thorn now. Yeah, I know shade when I hear I can get my You need to put this on social media. Hold this one.
the back. Can you see the camera? Okay. Mr. Bob doesn't have no filming. Next time I'll wear higher heels than she got. Maybe pick me up somewhere.
Thank you. See, the secret to this is that you stand in the middle of the picture so you can't get photo shot out of the picture. Yeah, it's all good. Um, all right. Uh, would Mr. I've got a couple of proclamations, commissioners, so I'm going to go down to the podium if Mr.
Carl Hook would join me at the podium, please. All right, commissioners. Mr. Administrator, I have the privilege of offering a proclamation today in recognition of Mr. Carl Hook's uh over 30 years of service to the Rafferville Volunteer Fire Department. Uh whereas
Carl Hook has served Leyon County for 30 years, beginning with the Lake Ammonia Volunteer Fire Rescue Department and later Bradfordville Volunteer Fire and Rescue, where he served as chief and as a firefighter. And whereas Chief Hook was injured in the line of duty,
sustaining thirdderee burns to his hand, yet continued his service, running approximately 7,500 calls in his career. And whereas Mr. Mr. Hook has been certified as a Florida state firefighter, holds wildland certification, is currently certified as an EMT, and has deployed to Pensacola
for wildland fire response. And whereas he continues to serve as a firefighter EMT with Bradfordville Volunteer Fire and Rescue, and has also served with chairs Capola Volunteer Fire Rescue. And whereas Bradfordville Volunteer Fire and Rescue is a nonprofit all volunteer
department serving over 100 square miles in northeast Leyon County providing fire suppression, emergency medical and rescue operations and working in close coordination with the Tallahassy Fire Department and Leyon County EMS. And whereas the department responds to over 820 emergency requests annually, the
majority being medical calls. And whereas Bradfordville volunteer fire and rescue roster includes Mr. hook among its active firefighters responders, reflecting his ongoing commitment to public safety in Lyon County. Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the board of county commissioners of Lyon County,
Florida, that we hereby recognize Chief Carl Hook for 30 years of exemplary volunteer service as a firefighter, EMT, and chief, and express profound gratitude for his dedication, leadership, and sacrifice on behalf of the residents of Lyon County. dated this
14th day of October, 2025, signed by all the commissioners and attested to by the county administrator. Thank you, Mr. Hook, for your dedication to our community. Mr. Proctor, I have to find my glasses also. Thank you. But then I also have to find my words. I'm about 12 to 15 minutes worth of
things to say here. Yeah. Hopefully I'm more composed than I was on Saturday. Commissioner and Commissioner Cabay and I few minutes left and Commissioner will call later. Ouch. Yeah, I I was very taken back, but thank you very much. Um, and at the end
of this, I will be passing the hat. I know that uh Pastor Ferguson didn't, but I I will be. Um, but I would like to thank the commission uh for recognizing my years of service with the community and that includes uh Vince Long who's been with us for probably 30 years as
well and also Chief Chab Abrams with the LCMS who've been huge supporters of the volunteer services. It's wonderful to be honored for something that I love to do. It's a passion of mine and um especially serving neighbors in their time of need. But the commission has been very
supportive in many ways. Many people don't know that the commission provides us with administrative support, financial support, but they provide our medical director. Uh they provide our communications systems. They provide so many other things. I could list them, but most importantly for me personally
and Bradfordville, which I wish you guys were here with me right now, is station 28 out of county road 12 has been great. and your future endeavor with building the uh well and landing zone out in Lake Tapin at the Smith Creek Station. And I think you're voting on that tonight. Uh
the uh with forestry. So I think that thank you very much for that. Those are fantastic uh pieces of support from the county commission. Um but for brevity, there are some other people I'd like to thank uh besides the county commission who support the six volunteer departments. One is the board
of directors of Bradfordville volunteer as well as chairs volunteer. all the board of directors who are volunteer citizens as well. They're very important in our fundraising, our recruiting, which all of y'all can come join a volunteer fire department. We'd appreciate it. Um our uh I mentioned the
fundraising, outreach, um recruiting, and in the op and supporting the operational side of the department. The other PE group I'd like to support or not support, but to to recognize and thank are my fellow firefighters. I have our my chief and assistant chief with
Bradville here, but all the firefighters who we work as a team throughout the county um supporting one another, making each other better. Um and and that's that's key. But most of all, I like to thank um my wife Deborah who's Asheville
um for 30 years who's put up with me being u running out of the house and she'll spend hours fixing a nice wonderful dinner and just as we sit down the pager goes off and I come back hours later and it's cold and thank you very much for that. Um yeah, but um you know
all hours day and night family time and she has experienced me not coming home one time and so that Sorry, that gets me emotional. So, um, Deborah, thank you for your patience and support, especially during my rehab. Um,
anyway, I look for many more years of service, uh, to Leon County, especially in these tremenous times that we're going through now. I look forward to assisting the board, um, Vince, Chad, with what we're going through and making it successful. And again, I like to
thank you for the recognition. So, I appreciate it. Okay. Oh, yeah. Put those down. Okay, there we go. Thank you. Thank you so much. Mr. Chair, we have a few speakers in queue. Commissioner Cummings, you've
been recognized. Hang up here for a second. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. Uh thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. Uh Chief Hooks, uh congratulation on that that proclamation, and I had the pleasure of presenting to
you the firefight volunteer firefighter of the year award last year. And what the audience doesn't know is that his peers voted again this year. So for two consecutive years, he has received the
exemplary firefighter of the year award this year. So I think that deserves a round of applause. But thank you. We certainly appreciate all your volunteerism and appreciate all the service that you provide to this
community. and we certainly wish you and and your wife the best in the future. So, thanks again. Thank you, Commissioner Commissioner O'Keefe. Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. Thank you, Mr. Hook. Um, and thank you to your
family um for the sacrifices all of you have made. Um, I want to take this and I promise I have not talked to Mr. Hook. did not tell me to do this, but I would like to make sure that we remember when the budget comes around that we fund uh
some of what the volunteer firefighter departments do, not all of it. They also have to raise private donations for much of it. And as we look at increasing costs all across the board, let's not forget what these for free volunteers do for us in serving our unincorporated
areas. Thank you. Is this where I pass the hat? No, that's it. All right. Thank you. Appreciate it. Thank you again. All right. Commissioners, I've got uh one more proclamation. Oh, you're welcome.
Uh Edward and uh Secretary Oyola, please join me at the what do we call this? A lectern podium. Lectern. All right. All right. Commissioners, uh I have the honor of presenting a proclamation today uh recognizing uh the Masuki tribe of
Florida. Um, so I'll read the proclamation and uh we'll have a few words. Whereas the Mkasuki tribe of Indians of Florida have lived in Florida since time immemorial where and whereas their ancestral range once stretched from Georgia to the keys
with heartlands around Lake Mkasuki in present day Leyon County. And whereas General Andrew Jackson's 1818 campaign during the first siminal war destroyed Mkasuki towns around Lake Mkasuki, forcing the tribe to disperse under leaders Oh boy. Can I just say John
Hicks? Sure. Okay. Toshafla. John Hicks. Tuscanak. Man, I feel terrible about Oh, you're going to Here, won't come on, secretary. You say it. Come on. Come on. Right up. Come on. I'll get you the lesson after.
Okay. I'm going to skip those. Uh, Tiger Tale, I can read that one. And whereas Tiger Tale and his band remained in the Tallahassee area until the second Simol War, during which Tiger Tale met Governor Call in battle. And whereas following the Simol Wars end in 1858,
only a few hundred Mkasian Simol survived in the Everglades. And whereas in 1962, the United States formally recognized the Mkasuki Tribe of Indians of Florida for their perseverance and diplomacy. And whereas Leyon County encompasses Mkasuki ancestral lands,
including sacred sites such as the Lechworth, Love and Lake Jackson Okihiki mounds. And whereas the Mkasuki people have contributed socially, politically, and economically to this region, stewarding its lands for centuries. And whereas the arrival of European
colonists in 1492 and the ensuing colonization caused great harm to indig indigenous people. And whereas Lyon County is honored to host the new Mkasuki embassy and a community still bearing the trib's name in northeast Leyon County to this day. Now,
therefore, be it proclaimed by the board of county commissioners of Lyon County, Florida, that today or I'm sorry, uh yesterday, October 13th, 2025, is hereby celebrated as Mkasuki Day in Lyon County. and that the second Monday of each October shall henceforth in perpetuity be observed as Indigenous
People's Day dated this 14th day of October 2025. Shinabasha, thank you folks for having me up here. First, I just want to say it heartens me as a fellow citizen to see you folks choosing to exercise the great power and great great responsibility of
your government in a manner that truly allows all of us to thrive. And with this proclamation, to me, it symbolizes so much when I think about the history of the tribe and everything we've been through. And for those who aren't aware, the Mikasuki tribe is one of Florida's two tribes and one of only two
unconquered tribes in this land. Us and our cousins, the Siminals. together we fought in the siminal wars and that's when we got pushed down south. But I find myself here today in front of you folks and to me it's something I never thought I'd see honestly as a Mkasuki. So thank you folks for opening my eyes
to a whole new reality. I see opportunity for collaboration here because when I look out at Lake Mkasuki I see the same thing when I see the Everglades. I see home. I see a sky blue and true. And I see a land made for me and you. And I think that's how it has
to stay. me and you working together hand in hand. It's the only way we're going to have a future that's for everybody. And the only way we can build a future that's going to last is if we don't forget our history and don't neglect the past. We don't ever want to make those mistakes. Want to learn from
them. So again, shabasha to you folks for extending this proclamation to us. It means again I just have to reinforce this. It means so much to think at one point not only were we not welcome here, we were almost destroyed and yet here we
are today creating something together. Uh I don't want to get too emotional cuz I don't want my constituents back home to see that. But thank you guys again. And I'll just leave you with this. It's a great day to be indigenous and it's a great day to be in Lyon County.
Shabish. Commissioner O'Keefe, you've been recognized. Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. Thank you. Um, thank you so much for coming. And I also want to thank you and the Mkasuki tribe for all of your legal
efforts recently to pro protect the Everglades and by extension protect the humanity of so many of the people who reside here in this state and elsewhere. Um, and it is um
I'm having trouble finding the words to adequately um describe it, but thank you um for standing up for so many people that are beyond the bounds of your tribe in our environment. Thank you. That's it.
Mr. Chair. Yes, sir. Mr. Chair, we have one more. Oh, go ahead. Oh, sorry. All right, commissioners. I'm sorry. Yes. Oh, okay. Listen, we're going to give out the Medweek awards right now. Proclamations. All right. We got I'm
joined here by uh uh school board member Jones, uh who's helping us. I had the privilege of attending the Medweek celebration. When was it? The award ceremony was Wednesday. Wednesday last week. It was awesome. Food was great. It was awesome time. Um okay. So, we're going to present the awards for the various categories of uh
our our minority enterprise development week uh winners. So, thank you all for being here. Whereas the first week of October has been recognized as Minority Enterprise Development Week by the President of the United States since 1983 and observed locally by the Big Ben Minority Enterprise Development Week
Committee. And whereas our community and local economy have been enriched and well served by the goods and services provided by minority and womenowned businesses. And whereas the Big Ben Mede Committee, a local consortium of agencies operating in our business and entrepreneurial ecosystem that includes
the Tallahassee Leyon County Office of Economic Vitality, Florida State University Office of Supplier Diversity, Leyon County Schools, Florida Office of Supplier Diversity, Florida&M University Small Business Development Center, and local chambers of commerce promotes business development and
entrepreneurship in the community. And whereas an important activity of the annual medeek observance is the selection of a youth entrepreneur of the year. And as you can see standing next to me with this year's honore being Miss Terry Anne Barber, owner of Tipped by Terry as this year's youth entrepreneur
of the year. I'm only halfway through but let's give her a round of applause. Congratulations. Whereas Miss Barber was born and raised in Tallahass, Florida to parents Brittany Condri and Terrence L. Barber. She began her education in private school at Symphony 7 Charter School
before metriculating through Lyon County Public Schools. Today, she is a senior at Lyon High School where she distinguishes herself as an honor role student. And whereas Miss Barbara is a true entrepreneur at heart. She launched her first business, Anytime Treats, at a very young age. She later created her
own lip gloss line, T- So Balm, B A L M before discovering her passion for nail artistry. For the past two years, she has been the creative force behind Tipped by Terry, providing nail services to a growing clientele. From bookkeeping to marketing, Terryne manages every
aspect of her business independently. She plans to continue pursuing her passion for entrepreneurship after graduation. And whereas beyond academics and business, Miss Barber is also musically talented and plays the violin as part of the Lyon High School Orchestra. Terryne loves to create,
inspire, and connect with others. She enjoys exploring new ideas, spending time with family and friends, and using her talents to uplift those around her with her drive, creativity, and determination. She is preparing to step confidently into adulthood. Excited about the opportunities that await her
future. It's Terry, is it? I'm messing it up. My bad. I beg forgiveness, Terrence El Barber. All right. Now therefore, be it proclaimed, the board of county commissioners, Leyon County, Florida, do hereby recognize Miss Terryon Barber, owner of Tipped by Terry
as the 2025 Big Ben Med youth entrepreneur of the year, signed and attested by everybody with love and congratulations. Come on, man. Get a picture. Mr. Vice Chair, from my uh well-deserved
honor uh by a outstanding young lady uh that's very very talented uh but as you all may know from the Barbara family, entrepreneurship runs in her family. And so I look forward to what she'll do in the future. Proud of what she's done so
far. uh and uh impressed with all of the talents that she has not just uh in entrepreneurship but to play the violin and everything that you're doing. Honorroll student at Leon uh you are a outstanding young lady. Look forward to what you're going to do. Uh make us
proud. Thank you. Mr. Cummings. Uh thank you Mr. Vice Chair. Um, Miss Barbara, I just want to congratulate you as the youth entrepreneur of the year. I tell you, I see a bright
future uh for you. Just keep up the good work. And I want to congratulate your dad uh for having such an amazing and amazing daughter. So, hats off to you and we know that you
will continue uh to do to do well and you certainly have our best wishes from the Lyon County Commission. Thank you. All right, Carion not only making her dad look good, she's making all of us look good.
Okay, start here or there. Okay. All right. Next up, whereas in 2025, the Big Bend Medic Committee has selected Mega Ace Media and its founder and CEO Vaughn Wilson as the minority business enterprise of the year in recognition of
the company's enduring impact and Wilson's steadfast commitment to advancing both media excellence and community empowerment. Whereas Vaughn Wilson is a seasoned media executive, producer, and storyteller with more than 25 years of experience spanning journalism, multimedia production, live
event management, and collegiate athletics communications, who launched Mega Ace Media LLC in two 2019 after distinguished service as director of communications for Florida&M University athletics. And whereas under Mr. Wilson's leadership, Mega Ace Media has
grown from resilience during the challenges of the CO9 pandemic to a flourishing enterprise strengthened by early support from the Office of Economic Vitality and the Big Ben Minority Chamber of Commerce and has since become a platform for uplifting other businesses. And whereas recognizing the transformative power of
collaboration, Mr. Wilson founded the Black Business Expo Tallahassee in 2021 in partnership with OEV, launching a groundbreaking initiative that has awarded over $56,000 in grants, built strategic partnerships between minority owned enterprises and major corporations, and position Tallahassee
and Leyon County as a center of innovation, opportunity, and economic empowerment for businesses across Florida and beyond. Whereas today, Vaughn Wilson is celebrated not only for his artistic and technical expertise in media production, but also for his unwavering mission to use mentorship,
storytelling, and partnership as tools to expand opportunity, strengthen networks, and create lasting prosperity for businesses in our local economy. Now therefore, be it proclaimed that the board of county commissioners Leon County, Florida, do hereby commend Mega Ace Media and Von Wilson for his
remarkable achievements, his entrepreneurial spirit, and his profound contributions to inclusive economic growth dated this 14th day of October, 2025, and signed by everybody. Thank you so much. Congratulations, Mr. [Applause]
Thank you, Chair Welch. Um, I know so many of the commissioners and seen them uh so often. Um, I just knew today u most people would get up here and talk about themselves, but I want to challenge the commission to continue to
support OE. Um, in 2019, we didn't know where to go. in 2020. The call from Daryl got me here today. Um OV offered us a grant and we got back
on our feet and he said this is this is your chance to shine and and you're going to be where you want to be. So, from sitting in the living room in 2020 with nothing to do cuz everything was cancelled, no meetings to stream, no
photos to take, no videos until 2023 when Daryl's words came true. There are a lot of times where I've said, "This business has made it." But when the University of Florida hired us to go to Phoenix,
Arizona to stream their national meeting of paleontologists, geologists, biologists, chronologists, and I walk in the room and all of those doctor's degrees have pads and say, "What do you need?" That's when I say, "Wow."
Um, and so I'd like to challenge you all to continue to support OEV because the outreach that it does um got me this award and of course my wife uh has been my
right hand. I know uh Commissioner Miner, my commissioner, uh had a run in, not a runin, had an interaction, had an interaction with my wife because he dared to come to one of our homeowners association meetings and she was complaining about the light, street light being out,
it was a runin. I'm sure it was a run. But I'm glad to say to the credit of this commission, 3 days later when we came home, it was fixed. There were there were there was a light truck pole out there and that light is a now a bright LED light that has continued to shine.
Commissioner Mina, thank you for that. So, I just like to thank everyone, Keith Bowers and OEV. I I can't take this time to talk about me, but what they've meant to the Black Business Expo um is immeasurable. So, that's my that's
that's my message. Continue to support OE because they support so many Commissioner Maddox. Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. From from all American punter at FAMU to uh voice and and and uh media
uh professional at FAMU to uh now allound media professional for all of us in our community and and and look like worldwide as you go over to Phoenix. Um we're proud of what you've done and what you've accomplished. uh you are quite frankly the example of what minority
businesses that work with or OEV are supposed to be about. Uh my vision when we first started having conversations about uh keeping the MWBE uh program and not going to a SBBE program was that of
uh the late I believe he's late uh great mayor of Atlanta that had this vision that minority businesses didn't have to be subs, they could be primes. Uh all they needed was the opportunity to to grow from subs to primes. What we've
watched you do is exactly that. Uh Mega Ace Productions is not a sub business. It's a business that can operate as a prime in any market uh across the United States and worldwide. And so you should be proud of yourself and and not to
mention the fact that um it's a family business. Um you may not just see Vaughn doing the work. You may see his beautiful wife. You may see his son. You may see his daughter. You may see his sister or niece. everybody and everybody that that that that has has been a part of the Wilson family is a part of the
Mega Ace business and so um wanted to thank you again for being an example of what a a good business can do when they take advantage of our OEB and our MWBE department. I did not want to let this opportunity to pass by also without saying that uh we understand that you
are um legacy as well when it comes to entrepreneurship not just from your father but as he tells a story uh from his grandfather who is Zach Wilson who his son is named after who was a man of many talents uh who didn't have the education that we
all may have but but knew enough and worked hard enough to inspire uh his young grandson to go on to be a worldrenowned media professional and owner of Mega Ace Businesses. And so again, congratulations on on your accomplishment here and we look forward
to great things from you in the future. Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. Mr. Proctor, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh Von Wilson, when I was um serving as special assistant to Governor Lton Child, our last Democratic governor,
uh I never told you this. Um the one person uh in the state of Florida uh who Governor Charles consistently said uh what did Roosevelt uh what did Roosevelt Wilson say about me this week?
And every week uh bi-weekly uh your father graded state agencies in terms of their commitment to um minority hiring uh administrators and different
categories. And out of all the newspapers in the state of Florida and all the writers, uh, Governor Charles never asked me about none of them other folk, but he really wanted to know what did Roosevelt say. So it has been with
the uh with the uh the pen that advocates uh the journalistic skills that liberate uh those which exceed mere pontificating uh is the spirit of which you arise.
Um many people do not know that it was your your family's FM station that when um Senators um um Tony Hill and u Miami um Kendrick me
uh took over the governor's office so and uh barricaded themselves in without barricades and Janella Gordon was representing uh Capital Outlook with her family on the newspaper and an FM radio
station who does that and um I believe um it was the only media source inside the governor's office for which people around the United States uh was learning
about you know and that led to the um one Florida demonstration and out of that um stance in the governor's office uh more than 50,000 th000 people poured in the tower. I asking for one of the largest demonstrations,
Wilson's communications. But the other night, um, following the presentation, Commissioner Maddox, we we all were there, something was left out of the highlight reel, and when I brought it up to you, you kind of poo pooed it off. But as a
preacher, you were in the cemetery during co filming live stream. And to me, among the things that were lifted up, uh, I did the eulogy for late, um,
assistant superintendent Bill Johnson, uh, Ed Duffy, Virginia Lawrence, among others, my father, others that many people wanted to come, but they were scared to come to the funeral services
to let go, to be a part of, to and you have no idea to measure uh what that did to um reconcile the heartache, the heartbreak and the desire of people
wanting to be in that moment. And that part was not even touched. But I thought that that was innovative. Uh it certainly soothed the heart to be able to participate from home during that co period and you were right there
in the middle of the graveyard u for families that requested uh your availability. I deeply respect that and maybe from a different sense of pastoral um um hermeneutic uh I would just simply say thank you for
that service. It was not captured, but it certainly was well felt. Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. Commissioner Cummings. Uh, thank you, M. Mr. Vice Chair. Uh, Mr. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson. Uh,
congratulations. I I want to though commend um Mr. Daryl Jones and Keith Bowers and OEV for the selection of media uh mega ace media. Uh but beyond I
guess being a producer and a musician, you're also a great writer as well. I don't have all the historical information as uh Commissioner Proctor does, but I can tell you that you have made a positive impact on my life and a
positive impact on our community as well. So, very welldeserved proclamation, very welldeserved um from OEV recognition. So, congratulations. Continue the good work.
I love your mom, Kathy. I remember your I remember your dad uh Roosevelt who was I guess a great profess professor at Florida Florida&M University in the school of journalism and you picked up
the baton and you have carried it in a tremendous manner so thank you congratulations I love you both m Mr. Vice Chair, I was just wondering does Von Hill have any uh college
eligibility left? He's all American football player and we might need him this Saturday. H I'm just saying. Can you help us? Florida Blue said they won't cover me anymore. Both hands. Yes, sir. Mr. Wilson said he hopes
they're not punting too much on Saturday. Sorry. Okay. All right. And last but not least, we are going to present our medeek uh our last mede uh proclamation. Whereas the heart of this celebration is the prestigious Reggie Roll economic
development champion of the year award bestowed upon a trailblazer whose leadership and advocacy have advanced equitable economic opportunity and inspired transformational change. And whereas in 2025 this honor is proudly conferred upon Dr. Melvin T. Stith,
whose extraordinary career as an academic leader, corporate director, and community champion, reflects his unwavering dedication to lifting people, strengthening institutions, and expanding opportunity for all. And whereas Dr. Stith has served with distinction as interim president of
Norfolk State University, Deanmeritus of the Martin J. Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University and Dean ameritus of the Florida State University College of Business where he also held the Jim Moran Professorship of Business Administration and chaired the department of marketing. And whereas his
distinguished service further includes appointments as associate dean at the University of South Florida, visiting professor at Florida&M University School of Business and Industry, and as a trusted leader on the boards of some of the nation's most respected corporations, including Sovous
Financial, Afflac, Rexol, oh my gosh, a sundown, Keebler Foods, and Flowers Foods, as well as numerous nonprofit and higher education organizations. And whereas Dr. Stith's many honors among them Florida State University's do Dr. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished
Service Award, induction into the FSU College of Business Hall of Fame, and the FSU Torch Award stand as testaments to his profound influence and tireless service. And whereas as a founding member of the PhD project, Dr. Stith has expanded access to business education
and champion diversity and academia, shaping future generations of scholars and leaders while advancing a more just and equitable society. Now therefore, be it proclaimed that the board of county commissioners, Leon County, Florida, do hereby recognize and celebrate the extraordinary accomplishments, visionary
leadership, and lasting legacy of Dr. Melvin T. Stiff, the 2025 Reggiroll Economic Development Champion of the Year, and honor his immeasurable contributions to higher education, corporate governance, community advancement, and to the city of Tallahassee. dated this 14th day of
October, 2025. Signed and attested to by all of the Leyon County Commissioners. All right. Well, thank you very much. This is very meaningful to me because I stand before you not as an entrepreneur so much. I had one chance as an entrepreneur and I
realized that wasn't for me. had burned those documents as quickly as the government allowed me to them to burn them in my backyard one day. But I thought I could help from an academic perspective. And when we created the Jimaran Institute to help businesses in the state of Florida, especially in
Leyon County in the city of Tallahass, we thought we could make a difference. And now I stand before you 25 years later that institute is growing. It's now statewide. And we have helped over 3,000 businesses, as Mr. Moran would simply say to make more money and to grow. So I thank you for this
prestigious award. Anyone who had anything to do with it, I wasn't expecting it, but I will I will accept it and make sure it has a prominent place in my home where people can see that if you give of yourself, people will recognize what you do when you're
helping others. This whole idea for me and acade being an academician was to help other young men and women to reach their goals and to believe in themselves and sometimes maybe even when other people didn't. So, I thank this uh commission and I thank everyone Daryl
and everyone that had anything to do with it. And I thought maybe Daryl did it because we're both members of Bethlehem Church and he was trying to get me to increase my donation since he is head of the steward board at the church. But we'll deal with him on that uh privately. But seriously, my wife of
56 years, Dr. Patricia Lyn Stith is with me and I want you to know when you know what you know what you know and what you want. The first day I saw her at NOFK State University. I told her I was going to marry her. Why? And uh she told me wait till I'm 22
and I waited and here we are. So uh she has been by me every step of the way. And she asked me say I'm getting I said yeah cuz I couldn't be here without you. So thank you very much for everyone and may God continue to bless and keep you. Commissioner Cummings, you may be
recognized. Oh, okay. Thank you. Uh oh, wait. Uh, thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, I again want to, um, commend
Mr. Daryl Jones and Keith Buyers and OEV for their selection of Dr. uh, Melvin Stit for the um, Regger Ro Championship Award. Um, I'd like to I guess from a personal note, I think I go way back to
Dr. and Melvin Stid and Dr. Pat uh Patricia Stid years ago when we were raising our children together. It's great to see you guys. I know you're in and out of town, but it's great to see you guys and certainly very welldeserved
award. Uh Dr. Stit from the academic standpoint, business standpoint, entrepreneur standpoint, and I think most of all public service. You guys are great public servants as well. And so
from the county commission standpoint, we certainly know that this award is just very, very well deserved. So, thank you. God bless you. And hopefully you'll spend a lot more time with us here in Tallahass. I know you travel a lot, uh,
but it's certainly great to see you guys. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. Miss Spicer, I want to weigh in. I was Yeah, you're recognized. Okay. Um um first of all, uh Dr. Stith,
uh that that was a powerful line to tell a young lady. I'mma marry you, girl. Now, that gets attention. And go ahead and let a sister know you the bottom line where you trying to go with this thing. And I was just reflecting I wish I had a I was thinking about I should
have used that once in a while but I missed out. That's a strong line. I wanted to say that um as a member of Bethl am church and uh next month concluding my 40th year uh as associate
minister of the Bethl M church ministerial staff. Um I'm sorry December marks the 40th year. Um I'm aware of the impact and service of Dr. and Mrs. Dr.
and Dr. Stith and um they've been a stabilizing force um have been um very very helpful uh to the equilibrium of the church and and um
certain stages of challenge. Uh Dr. I'm keenly aware of um your input uh your advisement uh doors that you've opened uh for uh the greater success of ministries at our church. Um indeed the
things that you don't see that's not on a bio is the faithfulness with which someone who's well uh endowed burdened with many things to do but faithfully uh their shadow crosses the threshold of a church every
Sunday uh faithfully and I can respect that and from the vantage point of which I have sat in Bethl for 40 years uh in the pull pit I see just about everybody that comes in the door and um you know uh who they are and your steadfast
commitment to that church has been meaningful and I believe um commissioners that in our community there are names u among those that will be uh in have been indelibly etched in the sands of
time words like Balden and Gaither uh Thrasher um Mobly and stiff uh the name stiff will be right there uh etched
and will go forward in time and and and doctor and Dr. this. We love y'all. You more than uh sheet of paper can say uh your love and your cherish. and I thank you for what you've meant uh to the
university at FAMU when you on faculty in the business school at Florida State and you were their dean and um and all the other uh wonderful places in which your spirit uh and light has shown.
Thank you all for glorious contributions. uh our community. We love you and God bless y'all for a mighty long time. Thank you, Commissioner Proctor. All right, commissioners. We uh that was a
long awards and presentation section, but we are now on to citizens to be heard on consent and non-aggenda items. Mr. Administrator, thank you, Mr. Chairman. We have two speaker cards in the first one, Curtis Taylor. Mr. Mr. Taylor,
you still? Yes, sir. Name and address for the record, Mr. Taylor. Sure. And you have three minutes once that green light comes on. Yes, sir. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Uh, thank you, chairman, and to our commissioners. Uh, I'm Curtis
Taylor, the president and CEO of the Tallahass Urban League. I'm here to talk briefly about our gun violence prevention campaign. Uh for the last four or five years, the Urban League started putting on police forums. Police
forums are designed to bring our youth, citizens, community leaders, and law enforceers together to help combat gun violence and crime in our community to come up with a dialogue on how better to combat this senseless gun violence. And
as a result of that, we came up with the gun violence prevention campaign to remind our citizens not to leave their guns and unlock cars. A lot of people might not know, but when you're asleep at 3 or 4:00 in the morning, you have
individuals, including our youth, going into neighborhoods, pulling on door locks, and if your your car is not locked within 10 seconds, they have your gun. Now, every one of our police forums, Deputy Chief Home will be there say, "Well, they they
stole so many guns last month." Every they stole so many guns last month. We heard him, but we really was not listening. Not until he said at one of the forums that a gun was stolen in Tallahassee and it was used to shoot and
kill somebody in Miami. So, we say we've got to start this campaign. Uh thank goodness based upon uh data from TPD, the number of guns stolen out of cars and unlocked cars has been reduced by 36%.
And so we want to certainly want to try to continue this campaign with the county. Uh we use billboards, large and small yard signs, uh uh door magnets, uh police forums, town hall meetings, press conference, social media. We use all
means necessary to get the word out to make certain that our citizens are not leaving their guns and unlocked cars. In addition to that, the second thing as a result of the police forum, we started giving out free gun locks. So many of
our young children are being accidentally killed at home because you have guns and they're not secure. Just earlier this year, a young man came home visiting his family out from out of town. He put his gun on the counter.
Three-year-old walked in, pulled a gun, pulled a trigger, killed him. So here again, I see my time is about to expire. But we look forward to working with the county Lyon County Sheriff Department and continuing this campaign and hopefully we can do the same thing in
the county that we able to encompass in the city. Thank you. And we thank you for your leadership, your support, and your commitment to continue to serve Tallahassy. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Taylor. Next speaker, please. Final speaker, Delete Hollinger.
Mr. Hollinger, name and address for the record, please. You have three minutes once you get up there, really, or more than three until the light comes on. Good afternoon, Mr. chairman and commissioners and thank you for this opportunity. Deletry Hollinger, 750 Well
Street, Tallahassee. I serve as president of the National Association for the Preservation of African-American History and Culture. I speak to you today with grave concerns as it relates to the Hston Plantation Cemetery for the Enslaved, which is located on the
grounds of the city-owned Capitol City Country Club here in Tallahassee. In 2019, the National Park Service came in at the request of our organization and utilized ground penetrating radar testing to discover the bodies of nearly 40 formerly enslaved African-Americans.
The Park Service estimates that between 80 to 100 persons were buried there before 1900. The late legendary state archaeologist Calvin Jones estimated in 1986 that between 150 to 200 African-Americans are buried here. Now,
the city of Tallahassee is preparing an agreement to sell this taxpayer owned land to the same entity which has unjustly leased the property for a dollar a year for 99 years since 1956 in order to subvert a ruling of the United States Supreme Court which banned
segregation on municipally owned golf courses. I serve on a city appoint I served on a cityapp appointed commemoration committee which completed its work for the design of an appropriate memorial to the enslaved on that site in May 2021 and absolutely nothing has happened. If history is any
judge, I do not expect the city to ever erect a memorial to this site and I certainly have no expectations that the country club will do so. Commissioners, I implore each of you, if necessary, to use your statutoily given authority to intervene in this matter. Florida law
provides specific guidelines for when a county can intervene to maintain a cemetery. Under section 497.284 of the Florida statutes, a county can take action if a cemetery is abandoned or has not reasonably been maintained for more than 6 months. This authority
allows a county to take steps to secure and maintain the cemetery even in the case that there is a private owner such as hiring contractors for cleanup. They are also empowered to you are also empowered to seek reimbursement from the cemetery's owner. Commissioners, I urge you as county leaders to watch this
matter closely. It's abominable for the city to even entertain selling the portion of this property that is a cemetery to the same private lei that has shown no care or concern for the site since they had knowledge that human remains are present. Such an action
would be achen to a postumous modern-day slave auction. Some have suggested deed restrictions as an appropriate mechanism to ensure the dignity of those who are buried there. I say to you that there are legal ways to get around deed restrictions in Florida and that such
covenants do not guarantee what the eventual use of the property will be and they are insufficient. Please consider this matter. Thank you for your time. Thank you, Mr. Hollinger. Anyone? That concludes our speakers. Mr. Chairman.
All right, commissioners. We are now on consent. No items have been pulled. Uh would someone like to offer a motion? Mr. Chairman, I move consent. All right, we've got a motion for consent. Uh seconded by vice chair, I think I catch that. Okay. All right, we are in
discussion. Um Commissioner Miner, you're in or was that just to make the motion? It's okay. All right, we've got a uh a motion, a second. Is there any discussion? Commissioner Kaban. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll be very brief and uh nothing makes our office happier
than seeing uh projects and consent uh for district 2. And so I just want to give a big thank you to staff. Uh we have in here um we're funding an agreement with Florida Department of Transportation to get the in the light at Woodville Highway and Natural Bridge
Road intersection starting that process. And then um anticipated volunteer uh fire station down at Smith Creek Road. We are engaging in a in a an agreement to get a well uh dug up which will make
it easier for our first responders to uh access water in a in case of an emergency. And I know that this has been a long time waiting for that volunteer fire department. I believe could be like decades that they've been asking for this. So um both these projects very thankful for. Glad to see him on consent
and I' I appreciate the opportunity to speak on this item, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. All right, seeing no further discussion, we've got a motion and a second for the consent agenda. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Passes unanimously. All right, I think we're now on to
general business. Mr. Administrator, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Item number 16, Commissioner seeks your approval of the annual board retreat overview. You know, commissioners, we bring this item to you each year. Again, in short, we're looking forward to uh to another uh great retreat. Uh we would um receive
any direction you might have for us. This is our update year, which will close out our 5-year strategic plan. Uh we're recommending option one. We have no speakers on this item. Move that recommendation. All right. We've got a motion from Commissioner Maddox and a second from Commissioner Miner for staff
recommendation. Uh seeing no discussion. Oh, Commissioner Proctor, you uh you you don't have to use I mean, yeah. You see the new system we got? Yeah, I'm curious about the uh dark and light I have here. And uh if you hit that button, the dark button on the bottom, it'll light up your talk.
Oh, you can't see on your Proctor can't see himself on camera. We have to fix it. Oh, you can't see yourself on the camera. Can we please do that? You're here. We're working on staff is working on that, I'm being told. But, uh I promise you, you're here. Okay. Thank you. I was Thank you very
much, Mr. Chairman. Um I I feel like saying not so fast. not so fast here young people um we have an opportunity to um really um as far as I'm concerned if I look at the numbers with 75%
uh covered on our bold goals for the economy 75% on environment 78 on the quality of life and um 46% we've covered on our um governance and I I would probably suggest that governance may
likely be because we we we've covered the least ground there that we put the most time on it. Uh the other areas uh I think this a remarkable progress report of what uh we can validate as uh
accomplishments and one of the most important words um if not the most important word um in the arena of politics and in serving public is the word done. D O N E and when you ain't
got nothing done, you're not effective. You don't deliver and uh people don't need you. But uh I'm very pleased that we're able to see uh the items that we can check off that our staff has gotten
done. And uh that's the only thing that history respects. Uh it's the only thing that people vote for you again is what you get done. And I want to thank uh our staff. We're a long way out on the area of governance. We need to tighten up and
run fast and get down in the red zone and and cover. Uh commissioners, I wanted to uh place uh for consideration at our retreat the notion of uh health care in this community. And um the discussions occurred related to the
hospital which we as a board of county commissioners uh seem to have had no review of an agreement. We've not been participants. Uh it's like the rest of the community
has been um denied uh voice. Uh we took over the hospital's emergency um hospital u transportation thingy. They dropped it. We picked it up. We carried on this award-winning uh service. Now, uh we have all of the
constituents of each of our districts reporting to that hospital who've done so for years. And as a county government, I can scarce understand how um FAMU desires to be at the table. Uh I
guess TS uh uh C wants to be at the table. How come we ain't at the table? How come we don't review this? How come a billion dollars affecting everybody in the county? And that would include
people who don't live in the incorporated area who depend on the potential shift uh from any angles, directions uh and connections that this hospital could shift and not be the
community commodity for all that it serves now. And I am deeply desirous of um some conversation uh and and maybe the laws, the rules or the ownership issue uh bars us, but as
an entity um uh that the state of Florida sanctioned to provide for health, safety, and welfare, I don't know how the county government is not in this conversation. And I just like to ask this body's um u support for a
discussion if it's within the rim in the wheelhouse of what a county government is concerned about health, safety, and welfare. Uh I'll cite that as one concern, Mr. Chairman. Do I need a motion? Uh or are we just so far removed
from this that we just keep our heads buried in the sand? I'm being told if you would like to add this to the retreat agenda that you would need to make a motion. Yes, sir. Mr. Chairman, members of our August body, I make this motion that uh health
the health I'm sorry. Um, we have a motion. It would be, I guess, a substitute motion or an amendment to Commissioner Maddox's motion or who who made the motion? Could this be an amendment? I I made the motion. I prefer a
substitute. Okay. Okay. He prefers a substitute motion. Very good. Uh looking at the motion uh previously made by uh Commissioner Maddox augmented with the desire that a review of the health care issue of the hospital is added to our agenda and
itinerary for January. Um that was my motion. All right, we have a substitute motion. Is there a second? Seeing no second, Commissioner Proctor, that substitute motion fails. We are back on the original motion. Commissioner O'Keefe, you're in the queue.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I uh agree with um the concern for the assess an assessment of our health of our community. Um, but I have a a purposefully distinct approach from from
from the prior one mentioned. The TMH just issued their 116page community health needs assessment report which was a year-long process bringing in stakeholders, clients, client service organizations from all over Lyon County
and the surrounding regions. So, it does cover more than Lyon County. But what I would like to see is um for our uh annual retreat or or strategy
meeting, a presentation by staff analyzing the results of that report and addressing how the county fits in to addressing the issues laid out in the uh community health needs assessment. And
so it that is separate and unique from any specific issues. That's we have an updated uh comprehensive report on our community health and I think it'd be a good time for the county to have an item seeing where we can help or already help
in those areas and I'd like to offer that as a friendly amendment. Can we can I can can I suggest we keep this item clean and you ask for that in commissioner time? Yes, I will. Okay. Mhm. All right. So, we've got a a clean motion on item number 16 just to accept the uh overview and a second. Uh seeing
no further um discussion, all those in favor signify by saying I. I. Passes unanimously. Thank you. Commissioners, we're on number 17. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, commissioners. Item number 17 seeks the board acceptance of the opioid litigation settlement funds for fiscal year 2026. Uh again,
commissioner, this is an item that uh you've approved in the past. It follows the the same uh structure as the board has approved in the past authorizing us to execute agreements uh to eligible treatment and support providers to purchase uh emergency equipment for
opioid uh overdose response uh consistent with the program guidelines. Um w with that commissioners, we have a uh a resolution and associated budget amendment uh to realize the these funds in our budget and we are uh recommending and seeking your approval of options 1
through five. Happy to answer any questions you might have. We have no speakers on this item. Thank you, Mr. Administrator. All right, we've got a motion from Commissioner Maddox. Is there a second? Second, Commissioner Cummings, and you are recognized for discussion. Uh thank you, uh Mr. Chair. I just I
appreciate this report. Um, I think the county attorney followed the work, but I was wondering I think uh last year was the first time that we received opioid funding and I believe it went to these same entities. Do we have uh do they
report to us the results of utilizing the funds? Are they moving the needle? That that type thing. Do we have reports on that? I'd ask Abby to to respond, but the answer is yes, but Abby can provide additional details.
Um, Vince and Chairman, um, yeah, in the report and the analysis analysis section, um, the Leyon County, our community is seeing a reduction in opioid overdoses as well as the state of Florida, and we're actually doing better than the state of Florida. Um, Disc Village also provides information on how
many people are receiving that treatment as well as the sheriff's office and 211 would do the same thing for us. So, yes, they're reporting to us monthly. We're also getting we're sharing that information with the state for the guidelines. Okay. So, they report each
one of these entities report monthly. Yes, ma'am. Okay. And then we do an annual we're going to do an annual summary on the utilization of it and how it's affecting that I guess that drug community opioid usage and what have
you. Okay. And that'll be given to us correct. Yes. Yes. It's in the report um in the analysis section. Oh yeah. You talking about the overall report? Yes ma'am. Okay. Okay. But we require them to report annually on their usage and what have you. Okay. Great. Great. Great.
That was my question. Mr. Chair. Yes, ma'am. Thank you, Commissioner Cummings. And I just want to compliment staff as well. I I do have a question, though, on the allocation of the money to our EMS for those uh those um I forget what they're called, like uh resuscitation
devices. Naman, is that what that No, it was some kind of uh it was like a it was for resuscitation while transporting. Um is that correct? Yes. Are those something that we've purchased previously? Are we just buying more of those? Are we pivoting to that instead
of Narcan or something else? Just Just curious. That's uh replacement equipment for equipment that we currently have. Okay. Um it's provides some new uh treatments that we don't currently use. So, yeah. Okay, perfect. I saw that in the
item and I thought I'm certainly going to support, you know, helping you guys with all the best equipment you can get. I just want to know if we were upgrading or adding or what. So, all right, commissioners, we've got a motion and a second. Uh, seeing no further discussion, all those in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Passes unanimously. Thank you. We're
on item 18. Thank you, Chief. Oh, I'm sorry, Madam Attorney. You got this one. Thank you. Let's go. Um so agenda item number 18 uh is the legal analysis of whether to advance to the citizen try to review committee the question of which entity should operate and maintain the fire
department the city of Tallahassee or the county. Um the while the county has broad grant broad grant of authority under the Florida constitution uh there is also a transfer provision uh
in the Florida constitution under a separate section and that's article 8 section 4 uh that would require both the city and the county to adopt resolutions in favor of any transfer of fire department services uh and there would
also have to be a dual referendum uh supporting that. Uh as a result, uh staff is recommending that the board accept the uh legal analysis but not advance this issue to the Leyon County Citizen Charter Review Committee. Uh happy to answer any questions the board may have.
Thank you, Madam Attorney. We've got a motion from Commissioner Maddox. Is there a second? Second from Commissioner Cummings. Um Commissioner Maddox, did you want to discuss or Commissioner O'Keefe is in the queue? You're you're Commissioner O'Keefe. Okay. Uh Commissioner Cummings, you're recognized.
Yes, ma'am. You're recognized. Okay. Thank uh thank you uh Mr. Chair. I first of all want to just thank our county attorney, her staff for this uh for this legal analysis because not only
did they look at the Florida Constitution, which is I guess our our Bible, but then they also uh scrutinized it and looked at case law where the judges have
actually addressed similar issues issues as Well, and so I think the legal analysis that that we have received is is pretty straightforward. I think after reading it, we recognize that in order
for this to occur, two things has to happen. First of all, the city and the county have to agree. And I believe in our present posture right now, uh if there's a desire to change service
providers on the county side, I'm not so sure that it's it would be sentiment on the city side. Uh but I think we can all agree uh that at this juncture, I don't believe such an agreement is is
possible. I don't think it's even worth even raising the issue with the city. uh right now. So I think as far as giving this to our citizens review committee, I accept uh the recommendation from our
county attorney is just exercise of of futility that it it should not be advanced. So thank you again, madame county attorney, and I think it's real straightforward and I think we've got clear uh clear direction. So thank you,
Mr. Thank you, Commissioner Cummings. Commissioner Proctor, Mr. Chairman, I want to ask county attorney, I just want to go to the bottom line. Uh, if the city terminates and was indicated that it terminates fire providing fire services to citizens of the county, um, and from the cases
you you've you've you you shared with us, it takes a dual referendum um to for us to acquire ownership of our own uh fire department. Are are we to expect that um we have a city that has
turned hostile, desires to break the agreement, not honor the terms of which we entered into in good faith, and then they terminate us because we disallow them to raise 22% on all of the
citizens. Are we to be left and we can't form our own if we want to and we're bound to be restricted to what? If they don't serve us, we need a dual referendum and the city don't want to be
with us, uh, work with us, partner, collaborate. What are we to do? Can we look that far down the road and speculate? Mr. Chairman. Yes, ma'am. So, so
the city has provided notice that it is not going to renew the existing agreement once the current term ends. What this agenda item says is that there can be no transfer of the fire
department to the county in hold without those resolutions being adopted and the dual referenda in support of such a transfer. This constitutional provision is triggered when there is a complete transfer of a service or a function like
fire protection services. That was the question that was asked in this specific context. But that doesn't mean that uh the parties couldn't agree as they have in the past uh to enter into a new interlocal agreement for continued services by the city fire department.
And I believe administration is going to be bringing back an analysis from a consultant to provide the board with all the potential options uh moving forward uh that may be possible if and when our current agreement with the with the city
terminates. But I would defer to Vince on that. I would just add sure one more thing there. just that there's there's nothing uh that the county attorney uh has covered in the item that prevents or limits the county in in any way to uh determine what the appropriate provision
of service is in the unincorporated area. So, this dual this dual referendum uh transfer of powers provision would not limit in any way the county's ability the board's ability to determine what the provision of services for fire in the unincorporated area. So question,
what is the status of the language that Commissioner Ban brought to our awareness uh with respect that in the current contract uh stations 14 the other two three numbers stations that we could acquire for $500,000?
Uh is that u invalid? Is that null and void? How does that register uh when we need dual referendums uh to activate? Yeah. So, so these are two different things. Uh, if and when the current
interlocal agreement as written ends, uh, there is an obligation of the city to transfer ex some existing fire protection services assets to the county. That is absolutely separate and apart from any desire the county may
have to completely acquire all of the assets. uh and pretty much take over the Tallalasi Fire Department in total. That's what would trigger this transfer requirement under the Florida Constitution.
Okay. Very good. Now I say uh commissioners that um it's interesting that a mere fire department and I don't say mirror um um loosely but there is no
dual referendum required to transfer the ownership of uh the hospital uh to Florida State and to change ownership. There is no referendum requirement. But here's a not only one
referendum, but a city and a county referendum required to transfer ownership of a fire department. Uh I'm not saying that a fire department don't count. I am saying that a hospital counts more, but there is no rigid
standard uh required for the transfer of ownership of that. Um, this is an issue that I wish uh someone here at this table besides myself would have desired to look at in January, but accepting uh
the disinterest of the duality differences or fire station dual referendum and in particular when we've been given a middle finger as to all indicators from the city. they're
not going to work with us and we're held hostage uh to a dual referendum. Uh I believe that this has to be litigated. And while the measure before us today is um whether or not we desire for the citizens review board to look at this,
um I'm quite comfortable with them not doing so. Uh, but I think that a look is needed into the future and there's no way we're going to avoid not dealing with this probably downstairs in a courtroom.
Thank you, Commissioner Proctor. Commissioner Caban, vice chair. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, madam attorney, do we has the city of Tallahassee indicated back to uh back to us in any way, shape, or form how much money uh
they owe the fire services fund based on their shortfalls? No. Do we know what the timeline will be to hear back from the the financial auditor that we hired that was that is looking through the books? I would not anticipate we're going to have that
information before the first of the year for sure. And are they is the city of Tallahassee um you know mandated by public record to respond to all our auditors requests for documentations etc. That would be correct.
Okay. U Mr. County Minister just just a question. Have we had any do do we know if the city of Tallahassee even wants to be running fire services within city limits? We've not had any conversations about
that about the provision of services within the city limits. you know, commissioners, my um I I'll accept the report, but you know, I've I I've heard loosely that the fire is not a service that the city
of Tallahassee even really wants to provide. And so I I think we should just be open to as time progresses and we go through this, us being open to um running fire
for the entire county. Um, every every citizen in the city of Tallahassee is a Leyon County taxpayer. It is my opinion that the infrastructure um that is currently owned by the city of Tallahassee that provides fire
services is owned by already by Leyon County taxpayers. And so I am I am happy with the the the agreement that we have that protects our protects the infrastructure and the unincorporated and I credit staff for making sure that
um that provision was in there. I think that it's a favorable it's a favorable deal for the unincorporated residents. However, we as a county we run EMS countywide and that service is works very closely with fire protection
services. is I mean they're pretty much responding to most calls together as it is. And so I just think it's something that we should look at in the future of as we go through these next few years is hey like I think the city of Taly should just give us the infrastructure for fire
across the county and I think we should look at running the fire department across the county. Leyon County taxpayers have already paid for this over time through the fire services fee and I just think it's something that we should think about over time and you know I'm not I'm not prepared to make a
motion to posture it but you know as we talk about the retreat and and topics for that why not just ask the city of Tallahassee do they want to give us the infrastructure and allow us to to run it. Um, now obviously I would want to make sure that um, our firefighters are
protected with their benefits as I'm I know that we have a different uh, we have a different benefit system and so that would be a top priority to want to make sure that they're protected and their benefits are protected. However, I think it's something that as we're looking at this that we should be open
about having a conversation moving forward. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair, Commissioner Maddox, and Commissioner O'Keefe. Thank you uh Mr. Chair. Uh I I take a different stance than Commissioner Proctor and Commissioner Kan um on this
issue. I'm not interested in running fire services at all. Uh I'm not interested in in asking the city if they want us to. Um I believe that uh the city uh along with the union have worked year after year to come to agreements on
benefits and salaries for their folks. uh and the fire department. What I'm interested in is us working with the city uh to create a new fire services agreement uh whereby the system would stay as is and we'll make whatever
corrections, whatever things uh whatever adjustments we need to make based off whatever reports that come back. I'm not I'm not interested in the county running its own uh fire services outside of the city. I believe that would be
detrimental to our county residents um causing them to have to pay more uh for fire services than they have paid in the past. Um so I I I I first started having this conversation, I we talked about a
lot of things. We talked about taking the fee from uh the electric bill to an assessment. Uh we talked about um maybe how how things are going and and where we are where we may have short shortcomings when it comes to the
agreement. Uh but quite frankly uh had we not been going through what we were going through as far as concerning uh the the fee, we wouldn't be having those conversations. So, I am interested in bringing the city and uh the city of
Tallahassee back to the table once we finish this agreement to make the best deal we can for our unincorporated residents. Uh and and and not just the best deal we can, but the best deal we can providing the the top-notch services
or best services we can in the unincorporated area. I have confidence in the city of Tallahassee. I have confidence in the city running our fire. I have confidence in those firefighters that are running within the city and outside the city. I appreciate the
efforts of our of our volunteer fire fire uh firefighter department. Uh but as I said, I just I think we should be very careful about the conversations that we're having right now. I know we have a lot of leverage right now because of the agreement. We had the leverage to
say that the city could not raise the fee. We had the leverage to say that they couldn't raise it not only in the incorporated area, but they could not raise it in the unincorporated area. I'm sorry, they could not only not raise it in the unincorporated area, but they could not raise it within the city of
Tallahassee as well. What I think we forget is we may win a few battles here. Uh, but will we win the war? Ultimately, the war in my opinion is creating the best services for our our unincorporated and city of Tallahassee residents at the
best possible and lowest possible rate that we can give them. uh right now I believe the system that we've created does that when we get to a place where the rates are so high that it m it
reaches it reaches the level which we could provide our own services at the same rate or cheaper for our residents in unincorporated area then I might consider it do I think we're there now absolutely not and I wish if I asked our
financial folks along with our county administrator. Uh if we're there, they probably tell me no. We were looking at a $5 increase. Uh I believe they estimated. Is that correct, Mr. Administrator? The proposal per month.
Yes. Yes. We're looking at a $5 increase and that's based off of the original the original uh original assessment they sent over that was based on the additional costs that the city identified to put into the fund. Um again, right,
uh 2 years into it, right, we're looking at a $5 increase. Um I venture to say that if we went to running our own services, and um Mr. Administrator, you probably can't answer this, but I bet you it would be a lot
more than that $5 increase would have bought the unincorporated area or residents to what to what to what cost? Mr. Administrator, Mr. Chairman, well, here's what I can say, commissioners. I mean ba based on your direction you're going to have an
exhaustive review of all the options and again this is something that's going to come back to the board uh after the consultant study is done and and again there's not a lot that I can say with complete confidence about this journey but I can tell you this you're going to have all the information before you to
make um the decisions that and there there may be more cost-effective options there may be provisions of service models that this board decides that they like more or there may be benefits to uh again restructuring an agreement that looks like what we have. But you'll have all that information to make that
decision. You didn't answer my question. I'm sorry. I don't know what could you repeat the question. That increase of $5 would have bought the the total of the amount that we that those folks in and would pay to be what? What were they paying current? What were what was the current rate?
The current rate in the unincorporated area, there are two zones in the unincorporated area predominantly. The unincorporated area is in zone 2 and I think it was 20 223. Right now the proposed was 272 in zone 2.
Right. Yeah. Sorry about that. I didn't get that question. It's okay. It's okay. Uh my point is again I I just I think I think we're being a little heavy-handed right now. Uh because we have leverage. Uh but ultimately what I believe is that the city runs fire and that gives them
ultimate le ultimate leverage in the end. In order for us to get it, we would have to create new services or or we would have to go through this dual referendum that then would give services to the county and then the county would have to create services. also working
with how do we how do we make sure those like you talked about those uh prior um benefits of of the firefighters were protected. How do we do we then do we then start to have the conversation about what their their benefits look like here? We will then work with the
union. There's a lot to be considered in that. I think before we go out go down a road of of really thinking about all that, I believe that it's wise for us to go back to the city and ask them to come to the table to see if we can work out something that works for our unincorporate res uninccorporated
residents to bring forth a new agreement. I'm pushing for that. But it seems like as more the more we have conversations on the board that we that we are just dead set on on well we creating our own services. We'll do it ourselves or we'll take the services
from them. And I I just think it's it's we got 18 probably 17 months now before we have to make those decisions. So I I don't even think we're I don't think we're open as a board to to the to the options. I think we're already moving down the road of doing our own thing.
And I just I caution us to really think about what that means for our taxpayers and own corporator. It may give us control, but I think in the end it will cost more and it'll be a while before our systems uh catch up uh to what the
current systems and services that we have currently. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Commissioner Mattis. Commissioners, we got about 21 minutes till we're going to take a recess and I got three of y'all in the queue. So, Commissioner O'Keefe and minor then Kaban. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um I am in
agreement with Commissioner Maddox on this. Uh we have as a as a county we are not alone in the increasing number of challenges we face that are of our not of our own
making. We will have uh continue to have more extreme natural disasters and resilience we have to deal with. Uh we will continue to have state and federal policy implications that uh that assert taking over home rule and funding for
the programs we rely on. We do not need to create another challenge for ourselves when we already trust our staff and have put a lot on our staff to keep serving our community with the efficient performancedriven way we do.
Now, I also think that no one can describe what this board has done in the past year on the fire services agreement as being overly passive. We have already uh gone to arbitration mediation. We
have already come back and found that we have more leverage than we thought. We are already enforcing that leverage protecting our unincorporated residents. we are already um directing our county administrator to have a consultant bring
back all our options. And so while what was said by my other colleagues today needs to be considered, I would say it is being considered by staff. Let's let staff work and bring us back the information. Um I also um ultimately
want to see us continue with this shared service model by the time Siri I'm not talking to you. I'm talking to the public. Um the uh the shared service model is the most efficient, most effective.
[Music] Y'all don't update to the new iOS. Um sorry, the uh is the most effective. And if we are forced, we are being forced to consider establishing our own fire department and we are planning ahead should we have to. But I agree with
Commissioner Maddox that the ultimate outcome of this is a revised agreement, incorporating new costs that are necessary, incorporating new fire stations, incorporating making sure every entity has paid in their fair share from both the county and the city. And that's what we're working towards.
And I caution that if we forget that we already have staff, county administrator and county attorney pursuing all of our legal options representing our county incorporated and unincorporated county residents. Let them work before we come
back and keep pushing in this because we ultimately want people to come back to the table and we are active and exercising all of our rights currently and will continue. Thank you, Commissioner O'Keefe. Commissioner Miner, then Commissioner Vice Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, I I'm in the same camp here as Commissioners Maddox and O'Keeffe. Um, you know, one thing, first and foremost, the thing we always have to put front and center is what's best for the residents of Lyon County, both in the unincorporated areas
as well as within the city limits in terms of um sufficient fire service coverage at a reasonable cost. that is our that should be our only concern is making sure we can provide those services to our residents. Um there's been a lot of talk as Maddox said a lot
of talk recently about about proposing that the the county take over fire services uh or that the county go on its own on the unincorporated area. You know, we have an agenda item coming back that's going to be talking in more detail about what those options are for us. I think it's premature for us to
discuss or take a motion uh to take those steps. Um I am not convinced that the county taking on fire services will be the best thing in service to our residents both unincorporated and city. Uh and that's a heavy lift. I don't think I can be
convinced on that. We'll see what the agenda item comes back and tells us, but I have a I have a feeling that's not going to be something that is going to be viable for us. We're we're not going to be guaranteed that the county doing this is going to be cheaper and better than what the city is doing. I'm
open-minded. If something comes up to us that that shows that's possible, I'm willing to discuss it, but I don't think that's going to come to us. Um, is the time right for us now to negotiate with the city? No. Uh but I what I suspect is over the next
year, over the next year and a half, we will be meeting with the city in some form or fashion to talk about what's what we need to do going forward. I think the best thing and and I've had conversations with city commissioners about this is for us to have discussions at some point in the future about
reestablishing that partnership between the county and the city. The city needs us to help share costs. The county needs the city to help share costs. That has worked in the past. Uh that is what I think is in our best u interest as county residents for the future. So I'm
not going to belabor the point. I want our Leyon County government to be efficient. And so I'm going to wrap this up because we do have an agenda. I'm coming back where we will talk about this again at length. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Commissioner Miner, Commissioner, Mr. Vice Chair, and then Commissioner Cummings.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. You know, I uh I actually believe it or not, Commissioners, I agree with a portion of what each of you said. Commissioner Maddox, Commissioner O'Keefee, and Commissioner Miner. Um, I guess the key distinction is
the current agreement in the system that's currently in place only works if our partners operate at a good faith. And what we're currently seeing is that they're not. And our goal,
in my opinion, should be for us to provide great services at an affordable cost for our residents across the county. The key issue here, and I know we've debated this, so we don't need to hash it out again, is that
the city thinks that we have no say in those costs. So at some point with 14 months into an agreement, a proposed 22% increase, Commissioner Madic sure might be $5 a month now, but what does it look like next year if it's continued to come back at 22%. And they take the position that
we have no say in that cost and it goes up every single year, right? And so my my opinion is we run EMS across the county. Our staff does a damn good job. There
was no increase for 20 years plus, Mr. County Administrator. Right. 20 years. And I think it's we should be open-minded when the consultants come back to us that taxpayers have already paid for
this infrastructure. And if the city is going to continue to take the position that we have no say in the costs, then I think we should be prepared to have our own fire fire department. I think we need to because we need to be able to control costs for unincorporated residents. That is the
key thing here. Um we already have issues with utilities where we have no say in the unincorporated residents. And I think we need to be protecting our taxpayers in the unincorporated area. And I I will say this because Commissioner Max, I agree with you on
the on the looking out for the fire union. And anyone anyone that can, you know, work a a Google search can see that the fire union was used and abused since the last 3 years. And so, um, I appreciate the
open-mindedness, commissioners. I appreciate the dollar from each and every single one of you. And I'll pass it back to you, Comm. Uh, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Uh, Mr. Vice Chair, Commissioner Cummings, and then we'll vote on this. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, the motion is still on the floor to accept
option one was no amendments. Correct, right? No amendments were added to. Correct. Correct. Um, and I believe we need to be to be cautious uh in our discussion and in our actions uh as it relates to the city and the
fire services fee. right now I you know we're discussing um options but I think everything is pretty much pre premature until we that agenda item comes back uh hopefully with some information from
our consultant that we have already given the county administrative authority to to engage and and then then I think we can proceed uh from the standpoint of of being
informed. I mean, right now, I think we can talk all day long, but we're not informed. We're speculating, and I think it's important that that we're we are for informed with the numbers with with
options. Um, and I think once we have options with numbers from a professional, then I think we as a board can address it from an intelligent standpoint. But right now
with lack of information, it's just talk speculation and and I don't think that's going to do us any good. I think ultimately we all want what's best for the citizens of Lyon County from a fiscal standpoint. Clearly, we want to
keep the numbers down, but until I have some information uh that I can rely upon from a professional that's given us options and then we can look at the options, look at the bottom line, compare it to what we have right now,
then I think it's just not uh in our best interest to proceed without concrete information. So, I agree with uh Commissioner M and I think all of us commissioners agree that that's what we have to do in order to make the best
well-rounded decision for our citizens. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Commissioner Cummings. Commissioner Proctor, before I get to you, I just want to throw my little five cents in here. I think we're all right. Yeah. I mean, technically, we're all correct.
Um, yeah, it's in the best interest right now. I think if the city plays nice, I think Commissioner Cummings, you're spot on. It's just a little early yet. We're going to have an item coming back that'll throw out all the options for us. And I think it's it behooves
this board to imagine a scenario in which we find ourselves where the city is continuing not to want to play nice and we have no option but to explore this as an alternative. And you know, Commissioner Kavan makes good points about the way we run EMS. I'm sure there was hesitancy 25 years ago to take over
the EMS too, but look how well we do that. And these do kind of work hand in hand operationally. And I've also heard those murmurss that the city would like to cast off this responsibility. And so if the county has to fill that void, I think that that report will as we move
on down the road, we'll will make that obvious to us. So I think we're going to be revisiting this conversation at some point in the next year or two and then we will really be able to chew on it better. But for now, I I like the posture we're in uh with this legal analysis from the county attorney, and I
think this is not going to go away, and you certainly there will be uh you know, further discussions in a year or two at the city. Uh Commissioner Proctor, can you wrap us up pretty quick? Real good. Um I think the city, um it
sounds as if we may hold an inferiority complex on this day as about what we can do. We may be the little engine but I think that we can and um we operate on onethird
of the city's budget but the efficiencies of which we operate uh with onethird of the city's senior staff with onethird of the city's employees maybe a fourth. Um, we're a
hell of a organization and if anybody sitting up here don't believe that we surpass the efficiencies of the of the uh city of Tallahassee or Leon County, you're not looking at the numbers. The numbers reveal that the effectiveness
that the uh uh public public uh credibility uh citizens uh admiration for uh and and and citizen respect for if referendum you will find that the
city uh does not stand taller than the county. So I don't appreciate if you have a thought that we're inferior. Of course, we're talking about efficiencies, but nobody achieves greater efficiencies among the two local governments than Lyon County. Plus, we
have uh you you all know who our staff leader is. Um I don't have to tell you, he's the world's best, but as the city, speaking of inefficiencies and coping out, um the city cops out, wants to give away the hospital, um you didn't ask us,
we would have took it over and done a hell of a good job. City wants to give away the golf course. Coping out. Don't want to do nothing. That that's not only efficiency. That ain't nothing to look up to. Well, if you going to give away the hospital, give away the golf course, give away this, give away that, give us
the fire department. We will run it with efficiencies that would meet the expectations and the ask of the fireman's union for a livable wage. See, when you're running something that this agreement that we stepped into,
they had this consultant who they gave their own numbers to and we relied on their consultant and the city and then they come a few months later to ask for a 22% increase that did not satisfy
um the curiosity test and we have no basis to look up to them. They can't deliver. And so what has been promised um commissioners for years that the southside fire station uh was covered going to be this. We've been hearing
about that for a long time but only recently we were told if we don't get the 22% increase then we can't get the fire station. But what was you talking about for 10 years? the efficiencies of this county's government. When you look at what we
agreed to look at uh in January, our five-year model for what we set as bold goals, emissions, we check the blocks. We get it done and we do a much better job pound for pound, measure for
measure, we ought to run this uh this um fire station because in everything that we do when you measure it, we do it better. Thank you, Commissioner Proctor. All right, we've got a motion. I think it was Commissioner Maddox and seconded by Commissioner Cummings. Is that right? Uh
all those in favor signify by saying I. I. Passes unanimously. Thank you, commissioners. That's going to uh take us to a recess. We'll reconvene at 6:00 for a public hearing. Yes, sir. You want to try and hammer that out in three minutes? Yeah, I'll make the motion for option number one. Okay. Cory Melton and on
option number two, Emily Johnson Truit, who's had perfect attendance. Okay. Yes, I agree with that. All right, we've got a motion and a second. Commissioner Miner, real quick, Mr. Chairman, real quick, I just wanted to uh um acknowledge Emily Johnson Truit's perfect attendance record. She uh joined the TDC in October
2022. That's three years of meetings and she's been to every single one of them. I just want to thank her for her dedication. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yeah, appreciate that. Commissioners, all those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. I. Passes unanimously. Thank you, commissioners, for getting through general business. We will
reconvene at 6:00 for our public hearing. Did you get the second on that? Motion was Commissioner Maddox. Second was Commissioner Thank you. [Music]
Hey. Hey. Hey. [Music] Part: 2
[Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music]
Commissioners, we are uh adjourned for our 6:00 public hearing. Mr. County Administrator, what is our item? >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Item number 20, commissioners, is your first and only public hearing to consider an ordinance regarding the use of speed detection
devices in school zones. >> Mr. Chair, move staff recommendation. Thank you, Mr. administrator. >> Thank you. We do have uh two speakers on this. Yes. >> What's our first speaker? >> First speaker uh joining us virtually, Richard Salab.
>> Mr. Caleb, are you there? Mr. Salee, are you there? >> Okay. What's our next speaker, Mr. Mr. >> Speaker? David Dorby. David, >> I'm sorry. Okay, >> I am here. You can hear me. Thank you. >> Yeah. Sorry, Mr. Darby. Hold on one second. Uh, m Mr. Ceb, how do you say
your last name? >> Um, s a l i ba. Celiba, sir. >> Caleb. >> Richard. Celiba. Richard Ceba. >> Celiba. Okay. Sorry. >> Close. Close enough. >> No worries. Thank you. You have uh Can
you say your name and address for the record, please? You have three minutes. Richard Celiva, 7104 Summer Ridge Drive, Tallahassee, Florida 32312. >> Yes, sir. Go ahead. >> I wish to address this issue. I'm an attorney. I've been practicing for
nearly half a century. I'm a member of the Florida, Pennsylvania, and California bar. And I state this only to emphasize that I have focused on the statute. And I am certain from my perspective analysis is unconstitutional. That's not the venue.
This is not proper for this venue. If this august body decides to implement this, I'm intimately familiar with it. I've attended the hearings. I've dealt with the city on this. I have one major concern.
The Tallahassee Democrat indicated that the program netted $435,600 from March 28th to June 30th. I am going to speculate and respectfully submit to you
that the reason for that is because the city turns off the yellow flashing light. That major yellow flashing light which is across Kerry Forest Road for example alerts citizens to slow down because this is a speed school zone.
When that light is turned off after the children are in school and there's no other children on the street the city still still tickets individuals and that's where I would speculate the major source of incomes coming from. I believe that's unfair. And if we're interested
in the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens, should we not keep that flashy light on during the time period when the camera is being used? So from a practical perspective, for safety purposes, the citizens should be provided due
process that this c that the cameras are being used and that the light is in effect, the flashing light, so they can slow down. Otherwise, they're not aware. Logically, if I'm an individual driving a car and and I see the flashing light,
I will slow down. But once that flashing light's turned off, I can come upon the inescapable conclusion that the that the speed limit's no longer in effect. And that's where the citizens are being ticketed. And I would speculate that these 95 to 98% my speculation of the
tickets are emanating from the time period when the flashing light is not operative. So I have 11 other reasons why I only have I guess 30 seconds. So I can't go into the other reasons dealing with constitutional issues and I won't. But
the main concern I have is that the citizens of this county be provided fundamental fairness and proper notice. And I believe the way it is now implemented and incorporated into the system by the city of Tallahassee is unfair and doesn't provide due process
to the citizens traversing that roadway. >> Thank you very much. I appreciate your entertaining my position. >> Thank you, Mr. Celiba. Next speaker, please. Final speaker on this item, David Derby. Mr. Derby, uh, if you could
Derby, >> I'm sorry, Derby. Derby. >> Derby. D R. Here's the difference. >> Derby like, >> do I come here? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. >> Uh, you have 3 minutes. Could you just state your name and address for the record? >> Uh, my name is David Derby, 5608 Nature Lane. >> Thank you. >> Tallahassee, Leon County.
Um, this guy's a tough guy to follow up on. He He really did it eloquently, which I'll not be able to do. I I made a few notes here, but in all you need to be fair to your your citizens and along
with the enforcement education in the city, I think is very lacking, especially of the elegant points he made out about doing it when the lights are not on. That's cheap. I mean, the city never fixed this is
what I'm hearing. They don't flash the lights when they're doing their schools enforcement. How do you guys feel about that? I mean, >> we don't answer questions, Mr. >> I know. I know. And I'm not I'm asking in a formal speaking in a form of a question. How do How do y'all feel about
that? You know, >> um now in the middle of the night, when speed zone are they going to enforce 15 or 30? If it's a 30 zone, and they're going to be giving down tickets in the middle of the night. 24-hour
enforcement. Is that what we're looking at? I guess we are. So, it's all about generating revenue to make it look attracting to y'all, not protecting the kids. I'm all about the kids, but I haven't heard of too many accidents during school
out in front of the schools and I'm not doing I don't want to say I'm minimizing the safety of children, but it seems like we're creating more problems for ourselves than we're solving sometimes.
And I know this is a very tish uh a particular subject. I've done a lot of work in schools. I understand the importance of our children. Um they're they're everything to us. Um the the signing is very lacking. Um we need to
be sure we're educating our Lyon County constituents better than the city is educating their people. Are there other citations being written besides speeding? I heard one piece of junk where somebody was uh getting ticketed for a seat belt violation in the in the
school zone. They went back around to see what was going on. They got another ticket at the same time cuz went through the zone again to see what was going on. They were doing the speed limit. They couldn't understand what was going on that needs to be put out there. What are they going to do? Um and
the light issues. I mean exactly exactly um what he said and more eloquent than I am. Um so we need to put out a lot more education to ourselves and we need to be careful about what we task ourselves what we put on ourselves cuz it's like
the red light issue that we had that thank god good goodness went away um it was a disaster because you were having rear end accident. So thank you for your time. Have a good day. >> Thank you Mr. Derby. Any further speakers? All right, commissioners. Um,
just before we get into uh discussion on this, we had a motion from Commissioner Maddox. Was there a second? Second to Commissioner O'Keeffe. Um, excuse me. Just for my clarification, excuse me, Madam County Attorney, I guess you can speak to this. It's my
understanding to our speakers points. Um, and I drive through one of these every day on Kerry Forest Parkway, which has been the most prolific ticketer. Um, there's a sign very clearly indicates the time frame for when the ticketing is
being done automated. It's like 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. There's a sign that says photo enforcement 7:30 to 3:30. It is um really not that confusing. It is not happening at midnight. It's not
happening after between 7:30 and 3:30. Doesn't happen. Is that correct, Madam Attorney? >> Yes. So that the statute outlines the periods of time that this can be enforced. And there are four distinct
categories. 30 minutes before through 30 minutes after the start of a breakfast program at a school. 30 minutes before through 30 minutes after the start of the school day for the entire school day and then 30 minutes before through 30
minutes after the end of the school day. So there would not be any enforcement in the middle of the night. That's not permitted under the statute. In terms of signage, the statute also provides options. It says permanent signs designating school zones and school zone
speed limits shall be uniform in size and color and shall have the times during which the restrictive speed limit is enforced clearly designated thereon. There is another option which is flashing beacons activated by a time clock or other automatic device or
manually activated may be used as an alternative to posting the times during which the restrictive school speed limit is enforced. So there are options in terms of signage. >> Thank you, Madam Attorney. And so again, my understanding is
it there's signage that indicates when it can be enforced. I also understand that the city's program on Perry Force Parkway dropped drastically after the first month uh because people adjusted their behavior. When the light is flashing, the speed limit changes. But
if you and it still giving you an 11 mph grace period. So if it's if light is flashing and children are present, it's 15 mph, you' be going you have to go 26 in that environment to get a ticket. And in on the normal Cary Forest Parkway, it's 35 mph or 30 mph. You'd have to be
going 41 to get a ticket when the light is not flashing. And that's only between 7:30 and 3:30. So, this program, and you all probably know this, but for the speakers, is is outlined in Florida statute. This is approved by the Florida legislature. This is being employed all
over the state of Florida, I would assume. And it is, I think, I I'm pretty sure it's past constitutional muster. It's not like a red light program and it is about safety in our school zones where children are present in all of the hours of that time frame but certainly
when the fl the light is flashing and so um and the city already has this employed in the city's area. We're talking about doing this in like a handful of county school zones. So the vast majority of it is still in the city and has been active now for a few months I think. So I just wanted to frame that
discussion commissioners and for the public listening. Uh, Commissioner O'Keefe, you're first in the queue, followed by Commissioner Maddox and Commissioner Proctor. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, we uh I'd like to ask if since we we jumped past the county administrator
kind of laying it out, would the county administrator like to share any sort of briefing that might address some of these concerns that that he would have had before? >> Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Commissioner. No, I think the one that I was going to point out was what the
chairman just articulated in terms of the violations would would only be in effect for speeds over 10 mph. Uh and of course uh there's also a a a pretty extensive uh placement installation
operation format that's all governed by statute as well as uh a due process uh that that is in place for appealing tickets um and and and uh challenging violations that sort of thing. So again just happy to to answer any questions
that you might have. Of course, this is not a um uh this is a revenue neutral. We we view this as a revenue neutral program. It's it's it's uh really the the dollars that we would collect on our percentages would be um uh sufficient to
cover our expenses related to the program. So, but happy to answer any of the questions you might have. >> Thank you. Um the I support this um and I'm glad we're doing it. I think it's important to note that separate from whatever the city's program does, the
county uh we have a plan, a communication plan, it we're making it clear so this doesn't surprise people. And the it is important to note that no matter what time of it is, whether it's the normal speed limit or the school zone speed limit during the day, when
the school zone speed limit light is flashing, you have to be going over 10 miles an hour above the speed limit. Um, and this is uh, and so I think this is a reasonable thing. Um, one of the main
things I hear from neighbors uh, in our office for constituent requests is on speeding through their neighborhoods and um, trying to get control of that. And what we often run into is the sheriff's office, the police department only have
so much available resources to enforce the speed limit. at least as much concern for people's neighborhood streets should be given to streets in front of schools. Um, and I think that 10 miles and over in a school
zone is a pretty large grace period. Um, a pretty large um, uh, grace zone. And so, um, that's why I'm supporting this. And it, uh, it finds a way to, uh, help
improve the safety of our students. Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner O'Keefe. Commissioner Maddox. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Madam Attorney, you said 30 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after the start of school. What was the other one? I know in the end of school. >> Yeah. So, so and it's kind of like
allocart. Uh Google governments can select the time frames they want it to enforce, but the maximum that you could possibly have it in a given school day is 30 minutes before a breakfast program and 30 minutes after the end of the
school day. that is in its entirety if you were to opt in for every single possible time that you could apply it the maximum time frame in a day that it could be enforced. >> So just
the signs say I I I have to take my son to this school. Um I have to pass Griffin. The sign says it will be in force. I think it was like 8:30 to 4:20. Um,
the assumption is, uh, that those cameras are going from 8:30 all the way to 4:20. Just from my understanding, what you're telling me is that it could be from
I think school starts at 9:30. The breakfast program probably starts at 8:00, something like that. So, so it's 30 minutes before, 30 minutes after, and then at the end of the day, it's 30 minutes. The school day is 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after. >> Yeah. Some breakfast programs at schools
start earlier than the school day. >> So, so for those schools that have those breakfast programs, they have the option to make it 30 minutes before those breakfast programs start. >> And then they can do it 30 minutes after. >> They can do it 30 minutes before the
start of school, 30 minutes after the start of school. They can do it the entire school day and then they can do it up until 30 minutes before and after the end of the school day. >> Got it. So they can do the entire school. >> They can do absolutely the entire if they if they choose to do so. That's
correct. >> So I do have the question of how do you know like does the city enforce the entire school day or are they doing it 30 minutes before the 30? >> They have the signs. >> Huh? >> They put up the signs. >> The signs have to tell you the times that it's being enforced. They're doing
the 30 >> very specific. It's required >> in all schools are doing the 30 minutes. >> Yes. All the schools where they're doing it. >> So that's the part that's the point I'm making. Those signs say from 8:30 to 4:20. To me, that's the entire school day. That's not >> That's actually less than the entire
school day. >> Well, they're doing 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after. They're they're encompassing the whole school day, but they're doing 30 minutes. >> Understand me though, for someone now that now that we know. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> Right. We know. But if I'm in if I'm in this gentleman in general in the general public,
>> I see that sign and it says 8:30 to 4:20. So even if that light's not flashing between 8:30 and 4:20, I'm expecting that if I'm going now, I know 10 miles over, I'm going 11 miles over, I'm going to get ticketed. What you're telling me, Mr. Chair, >> is that it's actually 30 minutes before,
30 minutes after, and at the end of the day, 30 minutes before, 30 minutes after. >> I'm not I think this is this is good. I I would like for us as we go down this road to be very clear even with the
signage to be very clear with our county constituents what times we're enforcing the speed limits that you have to go to be to be ticketed. And so so there's so so even if the light's not on, I know that if
I'm going let's say I'm going through at 1:30, there's nothing that's not 30 minutes before 30 minutes after. It's 1:30. If I go 26 m an hour and I'm going through at 1:30, I'm I'm probably not going to get ticketed because that's not before after, right?
>> No, that is during the school day. So is it's the entire school beginning. >> If the jurisdiction opts to do so, it can be up it can go the entire day from 30 minutes before the beginning of a breakfast program at a school until 30 minutes after the end of school.
>> All I'm saying is now I'm clear. I just want us to be clear. >> The only thing that changes is the speed limit during the day. And that, you know, again, if you post a sign, the only difference is the speed limit changes when the light's flashing. But if the light's flashing, you got to be going 26 to bust the speed and you're
cooking at 26 in a light flashing school zone. >> The speed limit changes if the light flashes, >> right? But when the light is not on, what's the speed limit? >> Whatever it is on the road, 30 40 mph, whatever. But if you go 50 or 41, you're going to get a electronic ticket. >> Oh, I get it now.
It's so simple. Okay. So, so if the speed limit, if it's flashing, it's 15 miles an hour. If the if the road malfire is 30 miles per hour, when it's not flashing, if you go 41, you're going to get a ticket. >> For instance, I'll give you a great scenario where this is going to really change some behavior. I go to Charles
High School every morning. I I'm going northbound, like I'm going to Thomasville, Georgia. Most of the traffic is coming southbound out of Thomasville, Georgia, and that is a 45 mph speed limit under normal circumstances. >> Yes, sir. I worked with Representative
Tant to have a school zone placed there two years ago or a year ago and that speed limit is now 20 or 25 miles an hour in front of the school between 7:00 a.m. and you know on 7:45 a.m. whatever the school zone times are and the light is flashing.
>> Yes, sir. >> So those people coming down southbound from Thomasville who are going from 65 to 55 to 45 now to 25, >> right? if they're going 36, they're going to get a ticket and that's going to be a lot of tickets and then those
people will slow down. >> So, so that's my original thing. Um, now I understand it, but you see how much it took for me to understand. >> I know we got to be clear. >> So, my point is if we could do a media campaign in front of this, I don't know if the city of Tallahassee did it. I
don't I don't think they did. I don't remember seeing one. But our folks like the two gentlemen that spoke this way, then we won't get these kind of folks coming up because it's it's a it's actually a great idea. It's just tell me the rules of the game before I start
playing with you. You know what I'm saying? So, only thing I would ask is as we wrote this RFP out that staff come back with a a media campaign um about how we going to go about educating the public as to how this actually works. Now, after we do that, if folks do what
they do, then that's on them. But I don't want I don't want people to go through these zones not knowing the rules and then they get a whole bunch of tickets cuz they didn't know what was going on. I think to me, I think that's that's cheating a little bit. So, I I look forward to supporting the item. I just want that media campaign, too. Does that Does that need to be part of the
motion? >> No. We've included in the analysis the state law provides at least a 30-day media campaign, and we would, you know, we would do more than that. >> Great. I appreciate it. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Comm Mr. County Minister, will we do the same thing the city did and have a grace period of 30 days of like warnings before we start?
>> That's what we would anticipate. >> Perfect. >> So, there'll be a grace period. All right. Yes, sir. Commissioner Proctor. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Commissioners, I won't be supporting uh this measure. Um Mr. Derby's comments to us uh were
quite compelling. U's comments to us was quite compelling. Uh I've seen in the news that uh these um detection devices have been challenged in courts uh in Florida and uh they've found that the
calibration of the detection devices have not always been no pun intended up to speed. Um, nevertheless, uh, I believe that they've been, uh, I don't know if suspended, but abended or
whatever, but, um, this has not been successful. But more than anything, um, as I look at the schools that would be impacted, um, I have one school among the eight and, uh, that's Woodville,
uh, K through 8. And actually Woodville is on a on a road called Woodville Highway and um it's been there for ever and the people coming that direction every day. Every day uh on a road called
highway um I don't know why you put a school on a highway but that's some other uh pay grades beyond mine that put this on the highway. Um, but my district just can't afford a $100 hit, a
blindside hit, something mailed to them. The officer don't even pull you over. You don't get an immediate understanding. People are not going to understand. Why am I getting mail this from from Commissioner Caban? Why is Caban doing
this to us? Um, why is Commissioner uh Maddox doing this to us? we got blindsided. I mean, I know that ICE has changed the dynamics of expectations for um um you
know, do you need a court um do you need a court uh pre-clance to go search somebody's house or do something? I realize that the sixth amendment is almost dead. Um, but this is uh one of
those phantom uh uh gotcha kind of things. And I'm speaking for solely as a district 1 county commissioner. The people in my area and the part of it is 32304.
They can't take blindsided hits. Uh there have been no instances of children getting run over killed. um no animals have gotten killed and run over to my awareness at Woodsville High. So evidently the people are well trained
um and I would trust law enforcement to uh actively do what officer friendly and Leon County Sheriff have done for years in Woodville and that's continue to protect the children. But you all may not have been going into our grocery
stores lately. um uh rebels um since we've last met gone out of business. Woodville grocery store gone out of business. Um the people who
provide the food can't afford to provide it and the people who are trying to purchase it are even in worse shape. I think that in this economic era as well as the falling away of u um protections
of which American citizens are not used to being blindsided by some phantom something that they don't remember uh is just wrong and this is not the right time and I'm urging you all to consider
the timing uh the absence of uh Mr. Silva said due process, the absence of people getting the right to confront, to speak to the officer in real time because once you get that ticket 5 days, 4 days, 7 days later, um you
done had three headaches, all kind of stress, been to the grocery store, people are hurting. and my people cannot take a blindsided $100 ticket for something that they want will not recall and may not respect. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Commissioner Proctor. Commissioner Cummings, followed by Mr. Vice Chair. >> Uh thank you, uh Mr. Chair. U in looking at the ordinance and of course I'm concerned about due process as well. Um it clearly indicates that violators can
uh request a hearing. Uh the ordinance also says that the rules of evidence will not apply. So, I I'm concerned with whether or not the standards will be set
out someplace for for the hearing officer uh to overcome a presumption of of a violation. And I don't know, it might be a question for for the county attorney, but will there be uh criteria set out
for the hearing officer uh to abide by to make a determination or will the hearing officer have discretion in determining whether you violated or whether you didn't? Does that picture and that that notice sent
to you, is that a primmaaccia case of of a violation? Uh ma if I can ask madam attorney. >> Mr. Chair. >> Yes ma'am. >> Thank you. So as proposed uh law enforcement would have to review
uh and it has to be photographic evidence establishing the ver the the vehicle uh that the vehicle of the the vehicle of the person who committed the infraction. Uh so law enforcement will have to validate
that a violation occurred. Okay. What will happen at that point is and that's before the notice ever gets sent out. All right. So if law enforcement looks at it can't or doesn't violate that validate that a violation occurred, no
notice gets sent. Once notice gets sent person has an opportunity to appeal it. That's when it would go to um the the special magistrate. Uh and in that case, it would be like any other instance where uh an alleged violation of a
county ordinance has occurred. The person will show up, they'll explain, hey, it wasn't me, it was some, you know, whatever their explanation is. The law enforcement officer again will have to validate that they looked at it and
that a violation occurred and they will have to do that based on photographic evidence. In that instance, as in any instance, the special magistrate will weigh the evidence and make a determination just like in any other litigation proceeding.
>> Okay. Thank you, madam attorney. So, will will there be further I guess indication in the or in the ordinance that indicates that the hearing officer has discretion?
Will that will that specifically say that the hearing officer has discretion in finding a violation or not >> if the board wants it in there? Yes. But I mean it is understood that they otherwise there would be no need for the hearing officer. I mean it would just be
automatic. >> Okay, I understand. But but I I think it's important if we're going to give the hearing officer discretion, I think it's important that that's specifically stated in the ordinance. Otherwise, when it gets to the hearing officer and law
enforcement has reviewed it and it's been under this secondary review, I think there's going to be an assumption that that's a primal offacial case of violation and it's nothing they can do and appealing to the hearing officer is just going to end up being just a case
of, you know, futility if we don't if it's not specifically set out saying that the hearing ing officer has discretion >> if that's the will of the board that can be added to the ordinance.
>> That's it's not a problem. >> Oh, okay. >> Add it. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> To make it. >> Does that do do we need a motion to say that or >> Yeah. Can I think you you could maybe ask for an amendment? >> An amendment to to the motion. You're okay with that? >> Can you restate it? I don't understand.
Primmaaccia. >> Well, no. That that the ordinance specifically says that the hearing officer has to >> Right. Absolutely. >> Okay. Who >> in determining whether or not a violation has occurred. >> Okay.
>> Okay. All right. >> How was the second? State that one more time. Very clear for me. Like I'm five. >> The hearing officer has discretion in determining whether or not a violation has occurred. >> Yeah. I Yeah. >> As amendment to that. Okay. And then the
other thing um Mr. chair and she's >> sorry that's okay. I wanted to wait. Uh my other concern is at what stage during the violation is the public put on notice that this
violation is subject to being sent to the Department of Highway Safety Motor Vehicle and it could could affect the status of your driving record, uh your insurance. And I I'm not saying say all of that, but I think there should be some notice. If this is
subject to being sent to DA def of highway safety and motor vehicle, the public needs to be aware of that. >> Madam attorney, >> so my question is it it isn't subject to being sent to Department of Highway Safety Motor Vehicle as a violation as a
moving violation. Right. So, it goes through our administrative process. It's not sent to DHSMV. >> It's not what? I'm sorry. >> It is not sent to DHSMV. >> Okay. >> Highway Safety >> Highway Department of Highway Safety Motor Vehicle. It's
>> Is it ever Is it ever subject to being sent to Highway Safety Motor Vehicle? >> No. Charles, why don't you go to the Charles or Kyle can come to >> Good evening, commissioners. Uh my
understanding is that um if they pay the fines of $100, no problem. But if after the violator receive the notice of violation they do not respond after 30 days law enforcement will issue the
citation. In such case I think the citation will go to the department of motor vehicles highway safety. >> Right. >> Right. And so for clarification if they don't pay and they don't appeal that's when it would go to the department of highway safety and motor vehicle.
>> Okay. So I I believe from a due process standpoint and a notice standpoint, the ordinance needs to make that distinction distinction so that uh the citizens will know and they'll know the you know that
their actions are not is going to subject that violation to be sent to highway safety motor vehicle which can definitely affect your insurance, >> sure, >> your driving record, etc. So, if that
can be another amendment or in addition to the motion that the ordinance clearly puts on notice the public that it could be >> Can I ask you? >> Yes, >> madam attorney, does the does the notice of violation not say plainly that if you
do not pay this or appeal this that it will be forwarded to the division of highway safety motor vehicles and affect your insurance? I would assume that a notice of violation would have that in writing on it when it comes to you in the mail. >> Uh we are still in the pre-implementation phase. The the board
has to adopt the ordinance before staff really moves forward with anything related to implementation. But certainly that the notice itself would have to provide the notice of appeal. It would need to provide information about what happens if you don't pay and you don't
appeal. All of that would be, but it wouldn't be a problem to make that expressed in the ordinance. It wouldn't be a problem to add that language. >> Thank you, Madam Attorney. So, you're okay with adding that to to the audience. >> Okay. Um,
>> so we got adding that to the amendment >> as an amendment. >> Okay. >> To the motion that, Mr. Seconder. >> Okay. Um, madam attorney, >> this I've just got a couple of notes
here. Um, will the will the audience madam attorney if it's okay, Mr. Chair? >> Yes, ma'am. put the public on notice of their responsibility
of what their what the criteria is for them to go before the hearing officer and overcome the presumption of a violation. The notice will provide for the process.
It will be up to the person who allegedly violated to try to establish that in fact no violation occurred just like with any other moving citation. >> Right. I understand that. But I'm saying will the audience will the ordinance
that will come back to us set forth what the burden is for the citizen that has been accused of v of violating the ordinance. what their burden is and what they have
to establish to overcome the presumption that they violated. There's there's no presumption per se. If if if they're saying I if an if a notice is issued, they want to assert that they didn't
violate and they ask for the hearing, they will literally just come to the hearing. They will explain how they didn't violate. That will be their position. the law enforcement officer will have to appear
and and produce all the evidence they have that yes in fact a violation occurred and then to your point about what is expressly going to go in this ordinance the hearing officer then will make it his or her own determination
about they will weigh the evidence as hearing officers do and make that determination. >> Okay. So, it the ordinance won't say by clear and convincing evidence, presumption of the evidence, or anything
like that as far as the burden on me as a driver that's been accused of violating the ordinance to overcome the burden that that I did violate the ordinance. It's just up to the hearing officer to accept what I present at the hearing
>> and weigh the evidence that's presented by both sides, both parties. >> Okay? And then under the ordinance, it also says that once you appeal to the hearing officer, if you're not satisfied, then you can appeal to the circuit court. Right. >> That's correct. That's another layer of
due process. >> Okay. And then I I take it that when you get to the circuit court level, then the rules of evidence will apply even though the ordinance says the rules of evidence will not apply. But that's just before
the hearing officer. Am I correct? >> That's correct. The rules the rules of civil procedure would apply in circuit court. Yeah. >> Oh, okay. So, I I I recommend also that in the ordinance in the section that
says if you're not, you know, satisfied and you go up to the circuit court level that we specifically say that the rules of evidence will apply because in the other section we're saying that the rules of evidence will not apply. And I
think it needs to be a distinction between those two levels of appeal. Mr. uh maker have a problem with that. >> Okay. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chair. That's all I have. >> Commissioner O'Keeffe, you're still hanging in there on the second. I think these are just
procedural things. >> Yeah, I'm still in there, but I have comments when it's my turn. >> Okay. Uh we are uh we still we have a motion with three amendments. Hold on. We got you in the queue, Mr. Proctor. >> Oh, good, good, good. >> Uh, Commissioner Command, then Commissioner Proctor, then Commissioner
O'Keefe. Great. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, first off, let me say that I I support this ordinance. A large reason why if you look at the graph on the agenda item,
Woodville K through8, which res resides on Woodville Highway and Natural Bridge Road intersection, has over 1,700 violations going 10 miles and over. And when you look at the surrounding area of the
unincorporated, I mean there it it has more quadrupled if not, you know, 5x majority of the other violations. And so I I think this fits into um
specifically our office's brand about wanting to improve public safety around school zones. And I know the sentiment around this board that we've talked about wanting to improve public safety around school zones as well. And I also want to say that I do think that this further um voices the need for a traffic
light uh Mr. County administrator and I know we have that in motion but at that intersection just for the significant increase in speeding violations. Um, however, I do share a little bit of this um same
sentiment as uh Commissioner Maddox and uh Commissioner Cummings in regards to to noticing the public. Uh it's natural that I believe we can put out a big uh media campaign
educating folks on this. However, it's natural that not every resident or every violator will see this. And so my question is, Mr. County Administrator, uh, Mr. Chair, if I may, how many, um, how many warnings will a violator get
before they are ticketed? >> I think it's just a time frame. >> Will there be any warnings? So, >> it's a 30-day window. >> Yeah, it's just a window. It's just a time window. It's not an amount of warnings. It's just a period of time. >> You know, commissioners, I would like potentially to see, you know, where a
first time violation, they get a warning notice mailed to them. Um, it's a first time violation. It's that way if you are a violator and you didn't know that this is whether you see the sign or not, this is new. First time, hey, here's a
warning in the mail. Um, and then the second time, you know, they get they get ticketed. I think it's I think it's it's fair. Um, you know, I I think it's good governance in my opinion. And if it's the board's will and um Commissioner
Cummings, would you be we the maker of the >> Okay, Commissioner Maddox, you accept that amendment. >> All right, that's all I have, Mr. Chair. Thank you. >> All right, is the second okay with that amendment to I mean, personally, I don't like that amendment because you have a 30-day period in which these are local
traffic going through school zones. These are people that live around there. They're going through there every day. If they're doing this regularly, they're going to get a warning in that 30-day period. So, that would be my take on that. >> If I if I if I may. Sure. >> Um, some of these are state highways. You know, how I look at it, not
everybody, you know, we have elderly folks in in our in our community who they are not going to be, in my opinion, as informed as some as far as this campaign. Some folks don't leave their house very often and I just don't, you know, $100 is a significant
fine. Yes, they are speeding. I just like the personal notice saying that hey this is this is what you you know just you look at if you get pulled over by a police officer he has a discretion to give you a warning and so I like the
heads up on it or we we notice the public and we send okay here's mail that this we're we're enforcing this. I I just I really believe we need to educate folks on this. Um, you know, I don't if it's the board's will. I just think it's
it's really important that we do. So, >> Commissioner O'Keefe, you seem like >> I do not accept the >> Okay, so we now need a second. Here's Listen, I will second the motion. I I hear what you're saying. It didn't occur to me that there might be elderly people who don't travel through a school zone,
but once every 60 days or something. So, that does make sense. I apologize. You changed my mind on that just that quickly, honestly. Um, so I mean I I would be comfortable either extending the warning period to 60 days or if you just want to just have a blanket
policy of the first one is a warning. I mean it's kind of six one half a dozen the other but that is a good point. I mean there are people who don't leave if you're coming from that's a good point. >> Uh we need a point of
>> Okay. Okay. Commissioner Cummings has now has the second. So, we're still back on the motion with all these amendments and stuff. Commissioner, I mean, uh, Mr. Administrator or Miss Madam Attorney, I had some clarification for us. >> I sorry, I just, uh, in response to the last item about the rules of evidence
applying at the circuit level, that will be the circuit court acting in its appellet capacity. So, it won't be about rules of evidence. It will be about the rules of appellet procedure. That's what will apply at the circuit level because
it will be second level appellet review by the circuit court. I just wanted to clarify that it's not going to be a complete retrial. The circuit court will be limited like the district court usually is. >> Okay, Mr. Mr.
>> just very quickly uh and and again we'll obviously whatever the board's direction might be but in just tracking the discussion it may be we're going to be evaluating in the RFP process all the different technology whether you can automate that first uh warning or not is a question I have but it's something
that we can evaluate. I know we can do the 60-day grace period that would wouldn't be as difficult. Um but again that automation process is something we have you have different vendors utilizing different technology and then we have different administrative functions or is it just guidance we
forward to the ad to the hearing officer relative to that but again we can evaluate all that and when we bring the RFPs back to you the results of the RFPs we can have some information on that and answer those questions for you as well. What's the best way to do that? >> Yep. So you can take the ordinance with the amendments we asked for, but then
it'll just come back in the >> That's the direction of the board. Yes. >> Sure. >> Okay. Um, Commissioner Proctor, you've been waiting patiently, followed by Commissioner O'Keefe, and then Commissioner Cummings, are you still in the queue again? >> Okay. So, Proctor O'Keefe and Cummings. >> Uh, commissioners, I'm asking you all,
let's stand down on this. Let's not uh impose um is this a criminal or civil matter? >> Civil. >> Civil. Okay. Let's not impose uh legal hardships uh that don't exist uh prior
to tonight. Um I'm I'm I'm asking you to please understand that um though the Sixth Amendment applies to criminal cases, but yet in the spirit and in the interest of American juristprudence,
uh people expect to uh be able to confront witnesses. uh they expect to be able to cross-examine witnesses and uh I'm telling you all that who whoever uh the camera is uh you you you won't be able
to question the camera uh you won't be able to crossexamine uh the operator of the camera um these elements and we're placing the people of Leyon County up against AI uh artificial intelligence
uh and automation Uh and and the question is how many speeding uh tickets of officers brought downstairs the courtroom and citizens said I was not going there but how many time does the automated u speed gun uh
win the today uh we're in a period where your mama your daddy is um don't have the same weight as uh AI and when AI speaks The court rolls with it. The people get
rolled over. Uh, y'all don't do this to these poor people. Now, hell, y'all might represent folk that $100 don't hurt them. I mean, if they had $100, they give $100 to the American Cancer Society and we sitting up here wearing
pink pink ties and stuff tonight. But ain't now one of us gave the Cancer Society a dollar that I know of. I didn't. and then we're going to ask $100 with 60 of it to go to the county. And you see the walk through everybody. I didn't even see the school board's
recommendation to us. I I I saw nothing that the school board wrote. And I believe that we we can sit up here and and and be allotty toy and uh and all public and d. But the truth is
everybody's going to hurt from this right here. and and and ain't nobody got killed last year, year before and all of that. And of course, if you want to know the greatest carnage in our schools, it happens behind the doors of the school
building. That's where the carnage lies and what happens to the minds to the wheels of hearts of souls. Why don't we go do something about that part of the number of children who get thrown out to school for minor offenses and the and
and the and the gravity of punishment for students behind them doors is totally different. If we want to be big heroes, let's go do something behind the doors of school and um not the poor people who are traveling to and for and
not intentionally trying to drive past and all like that. And I think there's a verse that covers this. For all have fallen short of the glory of God. We've all sinned and we've even fallen short of the glory of God. And for sure we may fall short of the glory of an automatic
uh speed detection. And I think that we're going too far and overlegalizing something which we don't have data to say that uh there have been uh carnage of human life uh on the streets due to
speeding. And I would also suggest that what we're setting up our citizens is for their license to be suspended. Um if they fail county insurance, if there's a failure to pay, uh then they get
reported to I guess the DMV and uh DMV ain't nothing to play with. You get your license suspended. um you're going to get insurance issues and this $100 becomes a permanent fixture of an increase on people's
insurance. And it says that um if people do not pay, do not uh pay their and don't appeal. If they don't pay and they don't appeal,
the county attorney says it goes to highway safety. And stuff like this that goes to highway safety, it ends up in a suspended license. And a suspended license can lead to an increase in insurance. And I'm begging on bended
knee. Don't do this to the people of District 1. Um they ain't criminals. uh civil uh if you will transgressors. Uh let's not create new rules that create a whole lot of folk. I mean $60. I'd
rather I'd rather go up on the county's fire uh fees and let the city go up 32% than to do what we're about to do to people and what we're about to paralyze their lives. We don't have to do this. Just because we have the power to do it,
can we not also have the control to contain to constrict to restrict the power that we have? Not all power has to be exercised and right now there's nothing positive because people um I
think the two elements that I heard a county attorney said if they don't pay and don't appeal with them the two criteria that going to end them up suspended license at DMV uh it's a whole heap of people that vote for me that
they're not they're not going to pay cuz first of all they don't even understand what this this phantom ticket is. Um, and they're not going to appeal because it's not a part of uh uh what they do.
And where do you go? Do you come to the courthouse? Uh do you hire an attorney? Uh what are the next steps? Uh county court, is it the circuit court appellet? It's too confusing. We should not project these kind of new legal layers
into the lives of citizens who before you act on this, they don't have these problems, these headaches. There's enough confusing folk. I'm begging y'all. Don't do this. We powerful. We don't have to flex muscle on folk that
subject to forget and not remember. Um, there got to be some other ways. Let's get in a fight with the city and have a big dog fight the city. Let's fight people our own size. But we we we we about to have with the wrong folk. It's like we we here to help the folk, not
create problems for them. Don't support. Just turn this down. The state of Florida has issues all across it with them them um yellow dog um cameras on those school buses. They they about I
think haven't they been overruled? Um, madam at uh attorney, having the the school bus cameras uh have been largely shut down because they don't work. >> Honestly, I I'm not sure. I am not aware. I don't know.
>> Somebody googled the yellow dog and see if if the uh school bus cam cameras have been shut down, but they are they're problematic. Uh it's occurring uh certainly in the city of Tampa. Uh there have been lawsuits all over the place that those school buses that take
pictures ain't worth it. And I'm telling you, we should not subject um and create a superior uh legal power that's automated that's AI based, AIdriven over the people of Lyon County. Please don't
do that. Vote it now. Thank you. >> All right. Commissioner O'Keefe followed by Commissioner Cummings and then Commissioner Miner and then we need to vote. >> Uh Mr. chair. Uh, is AI part of the enforcement process on anything being bid? >> No.
>> Okay. Uh, and >> it uses radar and LAR. >> Okay. >> Or andor depending on the >> and a hu would a human make the decision? >> Yes. >> Okay. Uh, thank you. So I
what is is apparent to me is very interesting. The observation I make is we are talking about a new enforcement of an existing speed limit. We are not adding new laws that change the speed limit. If you get pulled over for
speeding now you get a ticket, you probably get points on your license. If you get a ticket in the mail from this and you pay it, you don't get points on your license. Is that accurate? Okay. A year ago or so, we were considering an ordinance on we called it
anti-soliciting or safety in the roadway, but it was triggered by panhandling. I did not hear any of this due process discussion where we spend 30 minutes worrying about people who would be subject to new this new enforcement. But now that we're talking about drivers and not pedestrians or people outside of
cars, we want to make sure that the Supreme Court's instructions on how to fight a traffic ticket are going in the mail. It is frustrating because what I hear is the message that when we want to
enforce an existing speed limit in a school zone, we are more concerned with making sure drivers don't have to pay a speeding ticket over safety of pedestrians. We haven't had a discussion about due
process of pedestrians being injured. And so it just it strikes me that we are pre-defending a different party uh population of people who happen to have cars and drive
who are responsible just like you and me for knowing and obeying laws and speed limits. We are driving 3 4 5 6,000B cars. We are responsible drivers. We are not changing the speed limit. We are not changing uh um what the rules of the
road are. But when we were changing the rules for people asking for money in the streets who don't have cars, we we weren't worried about all this. And so I'm going to support I support the program. I don't think we need to give automatic warnings for
people whose warning was taking the driving test, whose warning is all the notice we're giving, and whose warning is the speed limit signs. We're not talking about 1 mph over. We're talking about school zones 11 m hour over. And I
will support the motion only because it seems to be the only motion that gets us the program. But it frustrates me that I don't see this kind of due process concern to all citizens concerned uh when it's not a speeding ticket.
>> All right, Commissioner Cummings, then Commissioner Miner, and we'll go to a vote. >> Oh, thank you, Mr. Chair. I I just want to clarify that this particular ordinance would be effective
during certain portions of the school day when the lights are flashing. >> No, the entire school day, 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after. >> It's enforced. The speed limit changes when the lights flashing, but that's only when kids are present
>> in the morning time. >> Okay. So, >> but it's going to be enforced from 7:30 in the morning to 3:30 or depending on if your high school's middle. >> So, in between when the lights aren't flashing, >> still enforced, but it's at the higher speed. >> We we should have visible signs that
will say >> photo enforced from 7:30 to 3:40. That's what the signs will say. >> And when the light's not flashing, >> 7:30 to 3:40. >> Okay. You're still subject. When the lights flashing, the speed limit
changes. >> Changes. Okay, >> that's it. >> That is sort of that is drastic. >> I mean, if you if you just read the sign, >> you know, studies have shown and I look, I'm not the the consultant for this or nothing. Studies have shown that, you
know, after the first month, these citations go down tremendously >> because people figure it out. >> Don't go 11 mph over the speed limit in a school zone, period. You probably shouldn't go 11 miles over the speed limit ever. Period. But this is going to enforce it on you. But Commissioner
O'Keefe's right. If a cop is sitting there, they can pull you over going 5 miles over the speed limit. >> So it's just it's a statutoily allowed way to slow people down in school. >> Well, well, I needed that and I appreciate that clarification because >> I go through several school zones every
day. Every day. But most of the time the lights, you know, the lights are are flashing and I think it's important that the public knows uh we have some clarification and we have, you know, the public is is on notice. Um I think that
we're all concerned about the safety of the children in the school zones. Children are more likely to be present doing the school zone. So that that's my paramount concern even though I uh Commissioner uh Proctor is is very
convincing. Um I certainly don't want to put more burden on the citizens, but I'm concerned about the safety of our children in these areas areas as well. So I I'm going to support the motion uh
with with those additional concerns. And I think anytime that we can as a body, as a policym body, place it in our ordinances certain provisions to put the public on notice. I think it's incumbent
upon us, you know, to do so. whether they read the ordinance or not, I think it's our responsibility to make sure the public is is on notice about the ramifications or not uh violating that particular order or ordinance. So, I
will be uh supporting the motion with with the various amendments. Now, this will still come back to us as a full document for us to scrutinize. Am I correct? No, madam attorney. >> Well, the RFP will come back. This is this is the public hearing to adopt the
ordinance but then if adopted then the RFP will come back for the selection of the vendor and other things but those are implementation. >> Oh okay I understand. Okay. Thank you. Thank you Mr. Chair. >> Commissioner Cummings I also I think your your amendments accomplish what you
want to accomplish and I should all what I think you're talking about in terms of process but I also think it's important to clarify it's not just pedestrians. There are major traffic accidents in front of Child's High School because kids are turning left in front of southbound traffic that's coming hot. So
like it's car accidents too in front of busy high schools. So just as a clarification, it's not just little kids walking across the street. It can be people in cars. Yeah. So it just really is it creates safety, frankly. >> Let's share a point of information. >> Can I go to Commissioner Miner first and
then you can make a point. We can close out. >> Yes, sir. >> Commissioner Miner. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'll be I'll be brief. You know, this is actually this discussion is is one example of county commissioners having different viewpoints and expressing those viewpoints and and Commissioner Proctor,
I I disagree with you strongly on your on your position on this, but I respect your ability to represent your constituents in District 1. Um, I'm of the opinion and in my district, I look at it a lot differently than you do. I cuz I I look at Canopy Oaks Elementary
um and at Old Banebridge and Perkins up near North Monroe. Um in the one day that was surveyed, a thousand drivers went above 10 miles an hour over the school zone speed limit. That was already there. Right. >> Right. >> Um my perspective is different because I
feel like we are obligated to do something about that and for each of our schools and our districts. Um because if god forbid if a child gets hit walking to Campio Oaks Elementary and we didn't do something about that um I couldn't live with myself.
And so the school zone speeds limits are already there. They're already there. This gives us the mechanism to encourage uh enforcement to to motivate people to obey the school speed limits, school zone speed limits that are already
there. So I'm I'm in favor of the motion. um as amended. Uh I think this is going to be very helpful. As our chairman Welch has said, studies show that once the public campaign has been launched, once people are aware of it, once the um um once the uh process is in
play, you tend to see a dramatic decrease in the amount of people violating the school zone speed limit. That is going to save lives. So, I'm in very much in favor of the motion. I'm um thankful that this is coming to us and I respect the folks that disagree with with me on this, but uh my sense of the
people in my district would would want this strongly. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> Thank you, Commissioner Miner. Commissioner Proctor, will you quickly wrap us up? >> Uh county attorney uh what hindereth uh this body from lowering uh this fine
from $100 to $25. uh that I believe and I I have the statute here. It actually sets the amount. Um it says $20 must be remitted to the department of revenue for deposit into the general revenue fund. $60 must be
retained by the county or municipality and must be used to administer speed detection systems and school zones and other public safety initiatives. $3 remitted to the Department of Revenue for deposit into the Department of Law Enforcement Criminal Justice Standards and Training Trust Fund. $12 are
admitted to the county school district for certain uses. $5 must be retained by the county or the municipal municipality for the school crossing guard recruitment or retention program. It it actually identifies the amount of money per ticket or or citation and where it
has to go. So there is no flexibility for the county to modify that amount. >> Thank you very much. All right, commissioners. Do have a motion with various amendments. Seconded by Commissioner Cummings, made by Commissioner Maddox. Seeing no further discussion. All those in favor signify
by saying I. >> I. All opposed. >> Commissioner Proctor, you you good? >> I I oppose. >> Okay. So, passes 61. Commissioner Proctor in opposition. >> Yeah. >> Thank you, commissioners. That completes our uh general business agenda. Um do we
have any citizens to be heard on non-aggended items, Mr. Administrator? >> We do not, Mr. Chairman. >> All right, commissioners, we're on uh uh comment discussion items. Um Madame County Attorney, you're up. >> I have nothing for the board. Thank you. >> Awesome. Thank you, Madam Attorney. Great job on this agenda, by the way, on
your items. Um Mr. Administrator, uh nothing, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. >> All right, commissioners. Uh Commissioner Proctor, we'll start with you. >> Thank you. um commissioners. Uh today the uh president of Tallahassy Urban League uh Miss Curtis Taylor visited
with us uh to appeal to us to um support to include uh a media campaign uh of which the Urban League was uh working with conjunctively the sheriff as well as uh the county. Um my
understanding and I spoke with Sheriff uh Sheriff McNeel last week um he was open to um working with uh the Urban League as a civic organization uh as well as with the county of which uh he's
indicated some discussions would be forthcoming. Uh the reason I went to Mr. Taylor uh last week aware of uh his position over multiple months with respect to guns and
this this and that. Was out the public's announce that you could bring open carry into the public and you need probably to carry something in Publix um to get up out of there. But they said that you could come into Publix with open carry.
I think that's a dumb dumb rule. Um, crazy, cynical, u nutty, all of those. And check the block three times on all of those words. Um, I believe that open care is is more
dangerous than um the school zones and blah blah blah. Uh, it's more people going to get hurt. Uh, bad things are going to result from this. And my ask tonight is for number one that the
county does engage and bring uh urban league who've been working in the urban area who've been working in the areas in the trenches of kids and folk carrying guns that we bring them in formally as a partner uh in the face of a tumultuous
time on open carry. Um I'd like to make that motion. Can you clarify, Commissioner Proctor, what you're asking for? You want the county to work with the Urban League >> as the county is engaging uh a media campaign with the sheriff that the urban
league is partner continuing what they've been doing with guns and talent for Ford and all of that. >> Okay, got a motion. Is there a second? Commissioner Miner will second that motion. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Oppose. Passes unanimously with Commissioner Cummings out of
chambers. Secondly, commissioners, um I would ask for media uh we need a media campaign to delineate where open carry uh is open and where it don't work. Uh
can you carry the guns to church? Public say you can bring them in their place. Can you carry them to the club? Uh, can you carry them to pot bellies? What? You know, we got some students
killed. Uh, last spring. Somebody had a gun on campus, but we need to have uh not just a campaign about driving fast through the school zone, but the public needs to know since
they can carry where the line stops. And I'm asking for uh our staff's brilliance to uh foster a campaign. If there are areas that you can't go, can we please let the public
know where guns are not uh accepted? I'll make that as a motion. >> Madam Attorney, do you want to weigh in on that? Uh so what I would say is there's a true distinction between where it's permissible on government property,
public property versus private property. And where things get really gray is on the private property side. Private property owners get to decide. So, when you're talking about a media campaign
and informing the public, the line is going to change depending on where you are and what that property owner allows in any specific circumstance. Now, on the public property side, there are certain sensitive areas where
handguns and and weapons are not allowed, but that is expressly enumerated in the statute where those locations are. Um, everywhere else is open for public property.
I mean, that that's that's the line. I mean, I don't know what else to say about that, but but I would be really cautious. The other thing that I think the board needs to be mindful of is
again, nothing about the court determining that that statute was unconstitutional and that now open carry is permitted allows people who are otherwise not allowed to own or possess a gun to have one. to begin with. The
same would go for weapons. If they don't have the mental capacity and they they've determined not to have mental capacity, if they have certain criminal offenses, I mean, there are certain circumstances. if there's been a court order, like if you're on pre-trial release and a court has said you're not allowed to have weapons. But again,
that's going to be a very personspecific analysis that would be very hard to address in a media campaign to the p to the public generally because it's going to be very case specific.
I I just wanted to frame that for the commission. Well, I um appreciate uh what you said, County Attorney. Uh you and Commissioner Cummings. Uh y'all read most state statutes than anybody in this room in
your staff. >> Uh the rest of us, we don't, you know, spend the day reading state statutes like y'all. Um and I would say that the public reads even less. And when you use the word open carry,
for those people whose minds may be weak, uh, foggy, uh, unclear, we got the fair, uh, swinging through Tallahassee. Uh, do you carry open carry and just get up on top of the ferris wheel and just
nut up? I mean, it's got to be someplace that if the state statutes have demarcated where guns don't go, we ought to be able to amplify that
because to say open carry uh without any qualifications such as you're a felon, you're this, you're that, you know, no, people don't really know. They don't you can't assume they know.
So, I'm asking for us, uh, we need to work with our sheriff. Uh, we need to let folk know that it just ain't no wide open, the wild wild west. You all would be surprised
how words people just take it as open carrot. and the folk who you don't want to be enthusiastic about it more excited than others. So speaking of what we can't do and if
someone got killed in a in a school zone, it would hurt me as much that somebody got killed because we did not alert folk uh they they they stand the risk of becoming criminals if they went to the wrong place it was not supposed to. But
the law said open carry. Kind of like jump. Well, let's jump. Well, not you. Not you. You. Well, explain what what you said jump. If if it ain't open, you it can't be the word itself cannot
be u open. I mean, Smokey asked the question, how can it be daylight and darkness at the same time? How can it be open and not at the same time? So I ask us uh madams madam attorney that there's
nothing that hinderth your staff our staff to figure out the um clear measures in which we can say in Leyon County this is not an open this is not an open we need to do something uh in
that regard and not let silence be our best response. response. Silence is not a response. And a climate that is pushing open carry and a spirit that is about stand your ground and a public
that is not very clear on none of this stuff is just amping up the environment for bad things to happen. >> Madam attorney, do you want to say something? So, I can provide legal advice about
where open care would be permitted or not permitted for county property because I represent the board of county commissioners for Lyon County. I would not opine about where it might be permitted in city facilities or state
facilities or any other governmental property because I do not represent those other governmental entities. And again, as for private property, every private property owner is going to make their own individual decision. That
is the blanket advice I would give to anybody who wonders if they go on somebody's private property whether they are allowed to open carry. That is very straightforward and very simple. Well, I see some pictures up here on
this screen, and I was down there at the ribbon cutting at the public library on the second floor a couple weeks ago, and when somebody like Publix says, "Y'all can open carry inside of Publix.
I saw uh patrons of the library who probably don't filter as theoretically pure as you madam county attorney folk need to know can you open carry in the library
and if you can't I want something wherever your jurisdiction lies of Lyon County let's state that in over county property can public works workers go to work well we heard The public say you can bring a gun down the public. You walk up in there and go on in there.
Well, can you do that as an employee? Can you do that as a patron at the And there's all kinds of folk, all kinds of diverse people in in the public library. What could go wrong if you're caring? I don't know. But I'm asking you to
exercise for the interest of our board. If this board is in, we may not be interested. I may be the only person here. So, it don't matter. But if there are three others who join me, I think that our uh librarian and her staff should be protected and the folk that
just heard open carry meandering downtown and drifting all through them folk need to be told something not in here. So that's a minimum starting with the county attorney I think can handle. I don't want to put anything beyond your
ability, but you have great ability and I want you to exercise it at least to protect the county. >> So, actually for employees, we are not preempted from how we regulate whether employees carry firearms or weapons
while they're at work in the course of their employment. We have a lot of authority over that. We are not prudent by state law for that. The board has had a long-standing policy that prohibits any employee from carrying a firearm or weapon during work hours in the course
of their employment. There is one exception for that and that is statutory. An employee is allowed to have a firearm in a locked personal vehicle on county property as long as it is concealed.
That is the only exception. That is the current county policy. We are allowed to have that and that is what the county currently uses. So that's for county employees specifically. Uh I have drafted question and answer
a document to be distributed to employees. It's currently being vetted and reviewed before it's disseminated. We've also been meeting with different divisions and offices individually to answer questions that employees have because as you pointed out, people know
that that decision came out. Of course, they're worried and concerned. Uh and yes, library staff is one of those groups that we met with and we had to break it to them. Yes, it is now legal to open carry in a library.
>> Okay. So, so we don't have the authority to prohibit or can we uh enunciate a policy that prohibits open carry in the library? Uh has the state of people across the street preempted our own
ability to home rule and and make a decision there? >> We are preempted under section 790.033. We have been completely prohibited and preempted except for for our own employees. uh from regulating firearms or
ammunition period. >> So can people come into this court? How well judges are here? Um are there other areas if you can go into the public library and open carry? Are there other properties that the county have that are
subject to the same openness of arms? >> Um almost all county properties and facilities are open. There are very very few. There is currently a statute, it's 790.06. There's a subsection 12 in that statute
that currently has a list of what we'll call sensitive areas where you cannot carry. You can't conceal carry and you cannot open carry. County commission meetings are one of them. Okay, that's on the list. Jails, prisons, detention
facilities are another. Uh, professional athletic events not related to firearms is another one. Schools have their own special exemptions. Um, >> Madam Attorney, instead of enumerating all this, Commissioner Parker, can can
you perhaps get a status report or something to come back and update everybody on where you can and can't um carry? I would welcome um I think subsection 12 you cited as um >> for all of us to know because you know
Friday night some high school homecoming got shot up um this past weekend. Um open carry is not a friend of this community and I'm not a legislator. Um, but
this is not good and I'm trying to understand in those areas, Mr. Chair, where we can >> Sure. >> Not here. We need to do that. >> Okay. Um, do you want to ask for a motion or a status report or something like that? >> I I'd like a status report. Um,
delineating um, >> is that cool? >> Okay. >> Where and you know who all qualifies to carry. >> Okay. >> Those things means I'm sorry. Hey, it's a motion. You second it. Commissioner O'Keefee. Um I think Commissioner Kaman, >> I was just going to ask since we're on
the topic. You mentioned schools and and I was going to ask my question for the the county attorney. Um Jeancock Stadium, county owns it, lease it to the school board. They do school events there. Would that be considered
open carry? What I would say is the school board as the lei of that property has to make a determination about what is and is not permissible while the school board has owners uh maintenance ownership. Well,
not ownership but control of that property. That is a question for the school board about what is permitted at the Gancock Stadium. >> Is that not regulated by state statute that says you can't school property? >> They have their own they have their own regulations. >> Yeah, but it's still school property it to them. Yeah, that's lease property.
>> I guarantee you 100% you cannot have a weapon. >> Yeah, I what I'm saying is I guess it's in the agenda item. Would be good to clarify that, right? >> Because you know, >> I I will obtain that information from the attorney for the school board. Let them opine on that and I will include it in the status report.
>> That's all I have. >> And I curious also, Mr. Chairman, uh about the fair. We had a shooting outside of the fairground uh about five or seven years ago and um folk looking for things to do and um I appreciate
that coming back. We need a motion on that. >> Yes, sir. You got a motion in a second. Commissioner O'Keefe's in the uh in the queue. Can we let him talk and then move on? Commissioner O'Keeffe. >> Thank you. Um and uh so knowing that we
have a policy that um does not allow staff to bring firearms uh to county facilities and now knowing that county facilities such as the library allow others to bring in firearms. I would um
ask for a friendly our employees should and have the right to a safe workplace. And so I would like uh information uh friendly amendment to bring back information for options for increasing security for our public facilities uh
whether it's deputies or other um armed security so that we ensure do everything we can to ensure the safety of our employees and our other patrons. >> Very good. Okay, we got a motion in a second. Um seeing no discussion
>> and and no one more. Okay, >> just a question. Uh, if we wanted to add uh a legislative um >> item uh to our annual process uh to advocate for something about closing a
loophole like this, what meeting would that be at? >> Yes, it would be at your October 28th meeting. Commissioners, I think, and let me just add to this. We obviously the county attorney and I've been monitoring the legislation or potential legislation or or potential committee work on this
very very closely. I think something that that the county attorney was was uh trying to thread the needle there is that especially in the area of media campaigns and some of the other things agenda items. >> It could inadvertently simply illuminate
the very liberal interpretation of open carry. And again, inadvertently, but that's again what we're also trying to balance here because it is a very liberal interpretation. Um, but again, I think the county attorneys covered it. That means open. >> All right, Commissioner O'Keefe, you good? All right, we got a motion and a
second for a status report with some specific guidance uh on the open carry law. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. All oppose. Passes unanimously. Commissioner Parker, still with you. >> Um, Mr. Chairman, I wanted to say um you did a great meeting tonight. you've done
great meetings all year long and um I' I've en enjoyed another u pleasurable uh meeting on Friday uh wanted to share uh that a statute of late Dr. Frederick Humphre uh will be unveiled uh at
Florida&M University and um uh you are truly truly um um welcome at 8:00 a.m. on uh um 17th. I think that's Friday. Um it's
Friday at 8:00 a.m. at university uh quad. Also, um I express and send condolences to the family of uh Elder uh Terry Price Senior who passed uh this past weekend of the pastor of the
Philadelphia Primitive Baptist Church. Um wonderful man. Um just just a great great pastor and um heartfelt expressions to the members of Philadelphia Primitive Baptist Church uh
there on Dade and Dun Street. Um what a tremendous loss. And then uh of course this week marks FAMU's homecoming and we say go Rattlers and we're looking forward to the Rattler striking striking
and strike again. And finally um to my mother who turns 88 today mama uh I love you. I thank you for the wonderful wonders uh you've inspired, contributed, given to my life. Um you're amazing and
I thank you commissioners. I love y'all. If I've hurt anybody's feelings um charge it to um Commissioner Cummings um um account and uh she's going to make make good on that and she's looking real sweet and in in that pink tonight and uh
all like that. You're the best. We're the greatest. We're the best. Even with Nick Maddox up here, we're still the best. We're the best. So, thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> Thank you, Commissioner Proctor. And happy birthday to your mother and thank her on our behalf for the gift of you.
>> Yes, sir. >> Uh, Commissioner Biner. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Two quick things. Uh, you know, for those of you who may have driven on North Monroe in the last few weeks, you've seen um dozens of traffic barrels on the westand uh side. Um
that's because um the Florida Department of Transportation is starting the sidewalk project uh that's going to be installing sidewalk from uh Lake Shore down to John Knox. And the project's going to take a while. It's going in phases. So it's going to be starting from now until November 2026. But uh
that project is a long time coming. Very grateful to the Florida Department of Transportation for uh for that project. And then also on North Monroe by the end of the year, Blueprint will be um installing two new landscaped
medians between Allen and John Knox. So that's uh going to start before the end of the year. Just want to give a shout out to the Florida Department of Transportation and to Blueprint for all their great work on North Monroe. Uh it really matters. And then lastly, I want to um actually I attended the longest
table event hosted by the city of Tallahassee on on Sunday, which is terrific. Chairman Welch was there as well. Um really outstanding event. Um I actually was there at the very first one 10 years ago and um I had a brand new daughter that was less than a year old
that I took with me and the Taly Democrat took a picture of us um at the table talking with um the city manager Anita Favorvers at the time. and um to actually go to the longest table last Sunday and have that same daughter who's
now 11 uh go to longest table and sit there and talk with people that live in this community was really terrific. Uh you know things seem very divided now. You know people are kind of fighting between Democrats and Republicans and um
a lot of division but but Sunday evening was much different than that. It was a great expression of this community and its ability the the neighbors ability to just sit down, break bread with each other and talk with each other and be and make new friends. So, just want to give a big shout out to the city of
Tallahassee for hosting that. Uh 10 years ago at the first one they had about 500 people attend. On Sunday they had a thousand. So, uh kudos to the city. Uh great job. Well done. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> Thank you, Commissioner Miner. And I will second that. It was a great event.
Uh, super cool, lots of people, very long table and pyrochnics, which you know, very, very luxurious item to have at your table event. Commissioner O'Keefe. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, as I mentioned
earlier, the uh, TAB Memorial Hospital community health needs assessment report has been issued and it does an incredible job laying out the status, the needs, the the weaknesses, the strengths of our entire community's health. Um, including, you know, the top
three most important priorities as as provided by respondents in Lyon County is chronic disease and conditions, mental well-being, and social and economic factors affecting health. It even splits out 320 32304 and the unique
uh status. And so I ask for an agenda item to come back from staff that looks over the community health needs assessment and uh shares with us what we need to know about it and what the county is doing and can do to uh
implement um and to address any improved way the items in the report. >> Second. All right. Got a motion, a second. You guys cool with that? All right. Uh, Commissioner Kaman. >> Mr. Chair, if I may ask Commissioner O'Keefe a question. >> Yes. Uh, Commissioner O'Keefe, what's
this the spirit of the motion? Is this just for us to come back and look at ways for the county to how can we improve healthcare? I know there was conversation earlier related to the TMH um situation or TMH deal going on right now. And um I'm happy to support the
motion if it's for education purposes education purposes for us to look at, hey, how can we improve community health care? However, um I want to be clear. I I don't intend on supporting anything that interjects ourselves in the ongoing negotiations with FSU and TMH.
>> I'm glad you clarified that. It is nothing to do with anything even specific to TMH's operations or ownership. This is a a study performed by TMH. It covers all information and providers. This is to be an item that
provides us the results in a digestible format to guide our policies on overall community health uh systems and ways we support it purely that. >> Cool. Thank you for the clarification. >> Yep. Got it. Uh got a motion. Is there a second? Oh, Commissioner Proctor. Um all
those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> I. Passes unanimous. I think that's a good motion. >> Thank you. Um the other one is uh is an affordable housing one. Um we uh uh two years ago part of the live local
act laid out a statute um that allows county and municipalities to create an ordinance that uh provides property tax exemption to affordable housing properties that meet statutory requirements that they must be more than
50 units. uh they must have 20% of it being affordable units and they uh must be allocating for families making less than 30% of the area median income or between 30 and 60% of the area media income. Uh and so this the the the
requirements are laid out in statute. It just requires an enacting ordinance from the municipality. Um and I will say that Shington's looking at me because he knows I'm right. I'm kidding. Um, I will say that uh as this came up, the county
um has noted that this ordinance is not necessary for every proposal we've had so far. That we have ways that these qualify, but I'm going to be asking for this because there's no harm in having every tool in the toolbox uh should another proposal come up in the future
that fits this. And so I am uh uh making I move to have an agenda item come back uh to propose an ordinance enacting the property tax exemption for affordable rental properties related to Florida
statute 196.1 1979. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? Shington, did you want to speak on that at all? You're good. Okay. just an enacting clause. You're
good. We're good. They're good. So, I'm cool with agenda items. Uh, see no discussion. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Passes unanimously. >> Thank you, everyone. >> Thank you, Commissioner O'Keefe. Uh, Commissioner Cummings. >> Uh, thank you. Uh, thank you, Mr. Chair.
I got a couple of things. Uh, I'd like to propose for a proclamation recognizing Nick Tagry, which is directly across the street from the Augustus G. Akins courthouse, who are
celebrating 75 years of providing services to uh to this community. >> All right, we've got a motion and a second for proclamation. Uh, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> All oppose. Passes unanimously. Okay.
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh earlier uh tonight, um one of the public speakers, Mr. Dinger Hollinger, raised the issue about a memorial site
um at Capitol City Country Club location for the graves of 150 to 200 uh uh slaves. and he pointed out uh certain statutes uh madame attorney that
indicated where the county could act or could intervene in instances where um the city failed to to intervene or municipality failed to intervene. Uh, I would like to just move for an agenda
item to come back specifically on that issue as it relates to Capitol City Country Club. And we know there's um uh has been allegations in the paper of rumors about perhaps selling uh the city selling the property to Capital City
Country Club. And of course, Mr. Hollinger indicated that there have been appeals before the city to preserve or designate certain areas within uh the golf course and that has been no action from the city. So I'd like to see
what authority uh I'd ask for an agenda item to come back to address what authority uh the county would have in that particular instance. Madam Chair, >> I'll second it. All right, we got a motion and a second. Commissioner Command,
>> Commissioner Cummings, is this a uh a status report to look at like an update or is this looking for an actionable an actionable report or an actionable item that would look at the county? I guess we I'm unfamiliar with the the statute by the way. Um so yeah, it's not an
update because I don't think it's been before us before, but it was raised by one of one of the speakers. So, I would like to get some background information about Capital City Country Club ownership, what authority the county has
in instances where a municipality according to Mr. Hollinger has failed to act to protect that particular uh portion of the country club that has been designated um as a grave site for 80 to 200 slave
graves. If I may, Mr. Chair, I watched the city commission meeting. I think it was the last meeting where this particular item came up because I know that this was an important issue uh in our community. And from my understanding, I believe every single commissioner up there basically stated
and that they intend on preserving um the grave site as part and and wanted from my understanding they wanted to make it part of the transaction. And so, Mr. county administrator. Would this if if we I mean I would like I would like
to uh help commissioner Cummings initiative, but I don't want to obviously interject ourselves in their transaction. I think this is an agenda item that's coming short I mean in the next meeting or two with the city. Um so what what's what's the feedback as far
as like what jurisdiction do we have there? >> Yes. I was just listening closely to um uh Commissioner Cummings motion and and the reference to the statutes which too I I'm I would obviously defer to the county attorney on but again at a high level we could bring back a status report of what the city is considering
what they're doing and provide that information to you then chassity could help on the on on the statute >> and and it's it's I guess it's my intention that all of that would be part of the agenda item that's coming back. I'm not proposing that the county does
any interjection in any >> city proceeding at this time, but at least know where where we are, what our authority is under. >> Got that that was my question, >> right? Absolutely. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Yeah, Commissioner Cummings. I'm with Commissioner Kaban on that. I I I'll welcome the agenda item back, but I
don't want to poke the mayor. Absolutely not. >> At the city. Uh Commissioner was >> just responding to Mr. Mr. I don't know what he's talking about either. So, I'd be interested to hear that, too. and it would educate us all. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Commissioner Proctor and then >> sir, Mr. Ch, thank you very much. County
attorney, when the item comes back, I think Hollinger, Mr. Holler reference a Florida statute 497.284 284. And he suggested that it singularly uh grants the county an authority to um
inter intervene if in 6 months time uh particular standards of care have not um been um adhered to uh by um whoever owns the cemetery. And um and I may um be a
little foggy about this, but um somehow or the other I thought that counties do have authority uh some authority over cemeteries some some relationship to the functions of uh c cemeteries and I would
definitely appreciate um um in addition to if uh what commissioner Cummings is suggesting that we augment and highlight the county's authority and u potential
uh to intervene if in fact um if Mr. Calvin Jones is right 150 to 200 uh persons are buried there or if the um Fed's assessment of 40 to 100 persons
are um are buried there. Um exactly how do you uh give away a graveyard? um uh pass it along and do you need a referendum? Uh I mean these things um the authority, the care uh and and and
are dead people owed any kind of um um care lesions um that kind of thing. what what what do you owe dead people uh in particular if they're under the ownership of um of the of a city
municipal government >> country club? >> Yeah. So so there there's actually a a structure for uh regulation of cemeteries at the state level. The department of financial services division of funerals cemetery and
consumer services has some regulatory authority but uh local jurisdictions do in some instances as well. So, we would definitely provide that information in the agenda item to come back if that's the board's direction. >> Very good. >> All right. Commissioner Maddox, you're in the queue.
>> Hey, Mr. Chair. Uh, so >> should I figure out how to say it? >> Oh, he was commenting on your on your item. >> I I am not going to support the item. Here's why. Um, madam attorney, cast
some questions. Sure. Madam attorney, um, it's a city asset, correct? >> It's my understanding it's city own property. I will, full disclosure, I have not looked into any of this stuff. This is the first time it's been raised. >> And and so what I'm beginning to see
here is a bit of a trend. Uh, people go across the street to the city, they don't get the answer they want, >> and they come over here to the county, y'all got to do something, but it's city business. So I kin it to right now we
are working on an agreement with the um with the Florida uh with the fair association north Florida fair association uh as to how we're going to work through the members on the board and other things that we want to consider before we invest the blueprint
money into it. Uh that is a county fair fairground function. Um and we will have jurisdiction over how that goes. Um and if we don't hand handle it the way the general public wants us to handle it, um
fairgrounds in the city, they go across the street, >> right? >> County didn't do what they supposed to do. Then city comes over here and try to tell us how to handle our property. Um, so I I I get where Mr. Hollinger's
coming from. I just I don't like this thing of you're not getting what you want from the city, so all of a sudden now you come to us and we're supposed to make them do it. Um, and over something that we really don't have. So the question is what jurisdiction do we have? What can we do? Uh, I would say we
probably can't do anything, but I I want the city to handle their piece of the business. If there's an issue that's pertaining to me that I find that I I want to jump into the city on, I almost think I'm gonna go across the street
myself and speak as a private citizen and tell them how I feel about it. I just we've all seen it. I mean, it's just like over the past year and a half, every time something happens over there that folks don't like, they come to us.
Yes, I know we are elected. I'm elected countywide. Um, you guys are are elected within your districts, but they include uh city residents as well. But there are certain things that the city has jurisdiction over that we don't. This issue is one of those issues where the
city is working out a deal on selling that piece of property. Now, Commissioner Kan brings up a good point of, well, he watched the meeting. Let's let's wait and see because the city has said that they're going to uh reserve preserve that site and try to honor it.
So at that level worse, I think this may be premature in the sense that what if the city goes goes ahead and does try to preserve the site. Um so even from the standpoint if I did want to jump over there and say what can we do? Uh I would still say can we at least wait until we
see if they're going to preserve the site before we try to see what we can do. I just and and understand this is a very important issue for me too. Um those grave sites do deserve to be preserved. I've always been one to try
to respect jurisdiction though because there's times before some of you were on the board where where the city would try to get into our business and we would we will we would feel some type of way about that because it's our business. And I've always tried to make it a point again to try to stay on my side of the
tracks and they stay on their side of the tracks and when we have to have conversations, we have conversation together and work through it amicably as much as we can. And so it's a long a long way of me saying I can't support the motion. I am interested in in in the in the issue. I would have almost
rather, you know, get information sent to us through email that tells us individually what we can do and then if somebody wants to bring it up, they can rather than come back with an agenda item that's almost saying if the if you can't get done what you want to get done
at the city, then we have this thing that we can do that would prevent the city from being able to do what they are trying to do. We're not I mean I think we're both trying to do the best job we can as respective governments and respecting uh in representing our
constituents. So Mr. Chair, I know I'm taking a long time. I just it's bigger it's bigger than this one agenda item. It's becoming a trend throughout all things that citizens don't like that's going on in the city. We're not consolidated government. We're not
consolidated government. We are the county government. That is the city government. There are certain things we do have jurisdiction over, but for the most part, they they they run their own government. So, I I can't support an emotion on the floor, though, I do I do
appreciate and understand the spirit behind it. I just think it for one, it's premature, and two, I I would really like to get to a point where we um we really let the city do their business and we do ours. Uh, and when we when we need to step in, we step in because we
have jurisdiction to. We're not looking for places to have jurisdiction to. Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you, Commissioner O'Keefe. Then Commissioner Cummings again, then Proctor, then Miner. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Can Can you restate the motion?
>> Uh, yes. I asked for an agenda item to come back from our our county attorney and county administrator to look at the statute that provides what authority the county has to intervene in an instance
when another municipality has the authority and they fail to intervene. Uh my motion in no way uh suggests that we send anything to the city uh that that we intervene in anything that the city is doing. I think it's incumbent upon us
and certainly incumbent upon me to just know the extent of the authority that the board has. Um Mr. Hollinger raised it with us. He pointed out certain statues that I'm not familiar with and I
think it's education for all of us. I think I think we are presuming I think we've got a presumption out there that we as a county is going to intervene in city action. I'm not proposing that. I'm not suggesting that we intervene in any
city action, but I think it's important to me to know if the statute has some criteria for county action that we know it and we might not act upon it in this instance, but at least we are aware uh
of what authority that that we have. Uh, Mr. chair. So that that's basically my my clarification in the request uh Commissioner uh O'Keefe that I'm asking for the agenda item to come back on that.
>> Thank you. Um, and so I am in agreement with uh um a lot of what Commissioner Maddox has said and uh this is this is this is um this particular site is uh is in my district and even if
it wasn't, it would still be important to me and everyone in this community. Um I intended after uh Mr. Hollinger's um information. I was not aware that there was a statute that possibly gave
counties authority to preserve abandoned um cemeteries and grave sites. And so I actually had this similar thought to Commissioner Maddox following this meeting. I would look at it myself, read it, get comfortable if it was a path I understood as viable, and come back at
at another meeting to bring it forward. But since it's been brought up, it's sort of worth going ahead and getting the item to find from the county attorney. Is this anything we have any authority over? And so, um, my interest
in supporting it is, uh, is not anything to do with who owns it, not anything to do with who owns it now or who owns it in the future, not anything to do with any deals or transfers that are between the city and someone else. Um, I have my opinions, but on those things, that's
not our jurisdiction here. The thing I would thing I'm curious about and want to know is, is preserving abandoned grave sites throughout the county part of our jurisdiction? That'sformational and it does not rely on who owns what.
Um and so my intention in supporting this is totally independent of whatever happens regarding any deals or anything. It's when we find uh abandoned grave sites uh
how can we intercede if they are not being preserved correctly? By the time we find out it may be preserved and honored correctly. Uh, and I doubt unfortunately I doubt that this site as we go through the rest of our county and
more research is done, I doubt this will be the only site we find this and it would be good for me to know what our role might be or not our role might be. I want to echo also Commissioner Maddox in that it is becoming it feels like it's
becoming a thing where if if you don't get what you want at the city you come here where we have authority where it is in our in our capacity I'm happy to and and support going through it but ultimately things that are controlled by another
entity the citizens vote for that those people and if they don't like what they're heading over there. That's what our elections are for. And so I support this because I was basically going to research it and bring it back next meeting. Um but I really don't want
us to get involved in transactions of another entity. I just want to find out if we um what our role is in preserving history. Thank you. >> All right, Commissioner Proctor, then Commissioner Miner, then back to Commissioner Maddox. Um, Commissioner
Maddox brought interesting points up and um, I think that he he hit a note of which uh, previously um, that he said that people come down here when they can't get nothing done. And that's exactly what um, Mr. Hollinger said that
since 2020 or 2021, the city agreed and promised to do something to provide a marker. But that key critical word, nothing has been done. And you will find the efficiencies of Leyon County's government. People all the time coming
to us because people come where they think there's empathy or sympathy or understanding of their plight, their issue, their problem. And that's why my office gets more than a
fair share of district one calls which all go to the city. But Rachel will tell you pro they going to call you and they call Bill Proctor because there's something very important.
interested in the word done. And the um Demetri Haringer came here today after four years of waiting on the city. And I guess what revved up his angst is the notion that the property is
about to be transferred to a owner potentially, a private owner potentially, of which the city has not done anything. and whether or not in that void uh can we casually uh drop golf
balls on the faces of uh African-Americans? Now, um I don't recall ever seeing someone who was a Mkasuki Indian, but today um someone from the Mkasuki Indian
community came here and thanked us for a proclamation. But I've known lots of people that have come from the slave community. My own family come from the slave community. I ain't I ain't got to talk about Mkasuki Indians cuz I never seen one, but I done
seen lots of slaves and the uh and the uh uh and I'm I'm I'm an offspring of slaves. So if if if if if if someone came and said that there were uh two different archaeologists said
that there were 40 to 100 and then another said 150 to 200 uh white people buried under um Jay Gaither Park Golf Course. Um, there probably be a different take as to
whether or not we ought to be dropping golf balls on the faces of dead white people at Japan Park Golf Course. You'd hear it differently. You feel it differently. You see, empathy is always a basis why people call on you and it's
a compliment to us that people when they don't get nothing done at the city, they come to where they know we care, we react. And so as long as we pay taxes, city taxes and county taxes, you ought
to be able to go, you putting your money in them. Stand up and do something. Do it. Done it. Did it. That right there should always be an open door. And as long as I pay taxes to the city, uh I
don't care what it look like. if something ain't get done at the county, I'mma go ask the city and vice versa. So, it goes back to um that right there. Um it's the response.
Um that man and people pay to both governments. City want to charge a 22% extra for fire services. We said no, but both governments collaborate. But I think that what we dealt with tonight,
uh, what Mr. Hollinger was seeking is the qualitative response to an issue which, you know, is a old American favorite, race and the discarding of people who were discarded even while
they live. They were discarded. They were not whole people when they live. They was not citizens when they live. and they are even less so dead. So whether you have the empathy to
understand this peculiar dynamic of American uh history and evolution, uh it comes back to um he perceived that we would be empathetic to this very important issue. And as a black person,
um, a father, grandfather, um, a son, and many other things, um, I'm keenly interested, and I'm deeply hurt. I've not said anything about those dead
black people out there, um, in the, you know, getting golfed over sport, uh, golf carts rolling over them. He he haha. I mean that hurts. And if that's all
they were nobody living and ain't nobody dead, that's a reason to pause. But I'm not a city commissioner and try to stay in my lane. But do I hurt and do I share
what Mr. Hollinger was asking of us that somebody care and give a good goddamn about these dead Africans who represent me who served before me and but for the grace of God could have been me. So,
Commissioner Maddox, that's what is at stake. And as long as that man pay taxes to the city and the county, he ought to be to go anywhere he want to for a result and to get something done. >> All right, madam attorney, do you have
some thoughts? >> I mean, I can bring back a status report if that's what the board wants. I can send it by email. I will tell you that looking at the statute on its face, uh, it's fairly clear what we can and can't
do. So, I can just tell you now if you'd like or again I can put it in a status report or I can email it to everybody what whatever your pleasure is. But the statute says a county or municipality which has within its jurisdiction, an abandoned cemetery or a cemetery that
has not been reasonably maintained for a period in excess of 6 months may upon notice to the department which in this case it's going to be department of financial services take such action as is necessary and appropriate to provide for the maintenance and security of the
cemetery. Okay. So, that's just the first part of it. But what I'm going to tell you is pretty sure that property is within the jurisdiction of the city, not the county. So, that's issue number one.
Two, I don't know whether it's been maintained or not. Mr. Hollinger was talking about the fact that they committed put a marker there. That's not the same thing as whether it's been maintained. Okay. That's not necessarily the same thing. Okay. Um,
and then what what a jurisdiction you would have, assuming it's in your jurisdiction and it hasn't been maintained, is just to maintain and secure the cemetery. That is not the same thing as putting a marker there. That would be beyond the scope of what
we would be authorized to do under that statute. You would be saying, "We're going to maintain and secure the cemetery. That's it." If that isn't being done, that's basically what this statute would
allow the county to do. But I don't even think it's in the county's jurisdiction to begin with. I think that's problematic. It's in the city's jurisdiction, aside from the fact that it's literally on city property. >> Thanks, Attorney. >> Mr. Chair,
>> um, can you go right after Commissioner Miner? Can he go first? >> Of course. Commissioner Miner, go ahead. >> Mr. Chairman, it's it's all right. I I I think commission commissioner Maddox might have something. >> Yeah. I I when I went down and talked to the county attorney and and the uh county administrator, Commissioner
Cummings, what I what I said to him what I said to them both is just that if we could get an email of her analysis of the statute and then if there's something in there that we want to bring back as agenda item, then I I would much prefer us do that even if we had to make
a motion for that. Here's why. when we are bringing a agenda items to the table, I want it to be actionable items and we know that we can do something. If we're just asking for information about what we can do, then they and they can give it to us via, you know, analysis list like she just kind of read off, I
would almost rather have it have it come to us and for for us to be able to read through, look at, give her get her analysis in it, and then we can bring it back. So I I would almost pref prefer but it's your agenda item Commissioner Cummings that if we could have it staff send us
communication about it all of us and then once we get that communication and we we if we see we can actually do something then we bring that back based off the communication as an agenda item. I would prefer it that way. But again it's it's your item Mr. Chair. >> Thank you.
>> Would that need a motion madam attorney? If we did if we did a a email per se from from staff, >> usually that's the guy. Usually the commission lets us know whether they want a formal agenda item status report or just disseminated by email. That's
you. So, so I would ask I guess what I'm asking Commissioner Cummings is if you would amend your motion to be an email from sta email communication from staff um specifying exactly what you asked for um to be sent to us to for our
consideration to be maybe brought back at the next meeting. That would be my uh friendly amendment that I would ask you consider. >> Okay. U Mr. Chair. >> Yes ma'am. >> May I speak? So the email communication to be brought back at the next meeting. Is that what you're saying? >> The email commissioner, the email
communication will come to us as soon as possible. >> If we read the email, we see that there's something that we can do within it, then we would come back in the next meeting and ask for the agenda item that specifies exactly what we could do given the jur given given our powers here at
the county we could do um about the item. >> Okay, I see. And I don't have a major problem with that, Miss Mr. Chair. My initial motion was essentially that, you know, what what authority do we have? And in doing the analysis and and I
recognize the county attorney read the statute, but I know she always goes further and she looks for case law because there might be some specific instance where judges have scrutinized the factual situation perhaps that has
been raised raised with us. So I don't I don't have a problem with it coming to us as email. Uh I can amend my motion or you do a substitute motion. I can I can amend. >> No, I won't substitute it. I will second your amended motion. Commissioner Proctor stepped out. >> Okay. >> I will second your amended motion.
>> Okay. I can amend it. >> Commissioner. >> Um Commissioner Miner. >> Mr. Chairman, I think I can wrap this up. Um, and and I'm glad I'm glad you two were able to kind of talk about that step because and the friendly amendment has been accepted because I I think that's the right direction to go and and
I'm going to support the motion. Um, if I could make one more suggestion, um, in addition to the motion, as you've described, having an email come back to us, uh, would you also accept a felony amendment to add a couple of paragraphs to address Commissioner O'Keefe's
important point, which is to take a look at this in a general way, too. uh if if the county attorney could just give us a a paragraph or two of how uh the county or or just the citizenry in general could go to I think the department of state has a a grave site registry how we
could go in if if we have a gra a grave site in our districts for example we're not sure if it's completely abandoned or if it's actually been designated in the registry how can we go about and check and what do we do if it's not registered um just a couple paragraphs on that would be very helpful and I think it
also addresses Commissioner Maddox's earlier point, which is that let's let's let's not just always think about what we can do to the city. I mean, this is a way to kind of generalize this motion uh and and have this be pertaining to grave sites in general. And Commissioner Cummings, I know you weren't looking at
it from that perspective. It's not about what what the city needs to do. It's about what we needed to protect the people that are that are buried there. Right. I totally understand that. But um would you be willing to accept that friendly amendment to add a paragraph or two of of general approach on grave sites in general?
>> Absolutely. And Mr. Chair, uh I would accept that uh friendly amendment. And just for clarification, my initial motion was never about what we could do to the city. We have authority to do the city as it relates to the grace sites. >> Yeah. Yeah. Okay.
>> Yeah. All right. Commissioner Cummings, that was misstated. I I didn't mean mean to imply that. It was not your intent whatsoever. rather to protect the heritage of the folks who were who were laid to rest there. So, I totally understand. But, uh, Mr. Chairman, thank you very much. I'll support the motion. >> All right, Commissioner Cummings, we
have a motion, uh, and a second for, uh, some information to come back to us via email about what we can and can't do regarding cemeteries in various jurisdictions in the county. Uh, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. All oppose. Passes unanimously.
Commissioner Proctor out of chambers. Commissioner Cummings, still with you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I also want to just recognize October is breast cancer awareness month. We all
have on our our pink and just give encouragement to those among us who and individuals and families who are struggling with um experiences from the effects of um this devastating
disease. And also just I guess remember and commemorate those who who are no longer with us who who um who suffered from from that disease and
uh that includes my mom who is no longer no longer with us as well. Um Mr. chair is as the representative from this body on the children uh services council. Uh one of the quality of life
initiatives that we adopted was to partner with the children services council um for collaboration um program and different things as it
relates to our children and our families. And I want to just commend the county and our county administrator for allowing us to utilize the county own facility down at uh at Fort Braden. We
have two um family resource centers now, one at um Cross Creek and one at Fort Braden. And they are they are really game changers for our families
uh and for our children. in those areas. But I also want to just ask the county administrator and the county to be supportive and open-minded uh because we are working on um trying to place another family resource center
in the Springfield, Frenchtown in in that in that particular area um Griffin Heights Griffin Heights area. And I'm not sure if the county has
facilities in that area or not, uh, Mr. County Administrator, but um, just asking for the support as much as we can from the county. Hopefully within the next two months, maybe sometime next year, we'll be able to open up a brick
and mortar family resource center in those areas. and we had a needs assessment done before we could expend any of the taxpayer money from uh under the children's service council uh ordinance and that um that study
indicated that the Springfield Griffin Heights Frenchtown area is one of one of the areas in most need of uh utilization of uh funds from the children's services council. So, we're going to try to uh try to try to make that happen, make it
come to fruition. So, thank you very much for that. And lastly, I'd like to congratulate my fellow commissioner Christian Caban for being inducted into Tallahassee State College Hall of Fame.
So, I think that a round of applause is in order. Uh that's all I have, Mr. Chair. Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner Cummings. Commissioner Maddox. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. First things first, Miss Junth Florida USA is Karen
Hobbs. Karen Hobbs uh is a local youth was crowned Miss Junth USA. Her perform her platform is literary uh literacy and food insecurity. I want to highlight her stellar repres representation for our community and positive image for our youth with a proclamation.
>> You got it. We have a motion. Is there a second? Second. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Passes unanimously. >> Secondly, uh last year I think you had the honor of doing this. This year I do. Um the Fair View Falcons were division
one football champions and my daughter Miley is a cheerleader on that team and I was not going to pass up the opportunity >> uh to to ask for them to get a proclamation. They got a heck of a team. Good coach. >> Tough squad, buddy. They drum off for middle.
>> I'll make that motion. >> All right. All right, we got a motion in a second to recognize Fair View's district title for football. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Passes unanimously. >> Finally, uh, Mr. Chair, I want to give staff some credit and, uh, a shout out to staff for what they did in Mki. Those
folks are very pleased. That event went really well. Mr. Chair, you would have been proud. Uh, you represented well out there. Um, you know, we had some folks come here and feel like they weren't appreciated. Uh, but we, uh, the county, this board did another event. And I think everybody left happy. And so I
wanted to let staff know that we definitely appreciate what they did out there and the effort they put into it. It was not lost upon us. Uh how much effort it took uh to get that done. Even down to the signage of the Boys and Girls Club being changed or or put up correctly. Everything we asked for staff
did. So Matt, your team, you did a great job. We appreciate you. Mr. Administrator, we appreciate you uh for for being patient with us and getting that done for us. So um Mr. chair. That's That's all Commissioner Proctor did come out and preached the whole sermon. He even sang the hymn uh out
there. It was ridiculous. >> Yeah. >> I hate I missed it, man. >> Yeah. No, you No, you don't. No, you don't. >> No, I really genuinely It was on my calendar and I completely and utterly Saturday happened and I like >> You hate you missed the event. I don't I'm sure you didn't hate missing Commissioner Proctor.
>> No, man. >> lead in a hymn. That's the part I was >> I feel like we watch Commissioner Proctor preach once a month. Second Tuesday. Uh, and so, uh, I made I made a a a friendly wager of of a few push-ups with, uh, the second greatest aid in
America, Chanty Haynes. He said we'd be out here by 7:15. I said 6:45. It is now 8:15. So, we both lose. Uh, so we owe each other push-ups. Thank you, Mr. Chair. That's all I have. >> Thank you, Commissioner Maddox. Um, a couple push-ups is all I can do. So, you
know, uh, uh, Mr. Mr. Vice Chair, sorry, Commissioner Cummings, you're in the >> I have one more item. I'm sorry. >> Okay. Uh I think Mr. Vice Chair let you roll it out. Go ahead. >> Okay. I I just had one more item on my list. I apologize. Um
over the last couple of months there there have been maybe the last year several uh deaths at the jail. I'm not sure if we have any exposure, madam attorney, or not, if we have gotten any liability letters or or anything. Uh, do we
normally have we normally been received any exposure from any of the jail deaths? Madam Attorney, you >> um I I don't believe that we've had any notices of claim filed um on that issue.
I I don't think so. I haven't specifically noticed any. Um, but I could send an email update to the board letting you know if you'd like just forformational purposes. >> Okay. I think I think that would be great. Miss Mr. Chair, I I don't necessarily want an agenda item to come
back, but I would I'm just wondering if we have any any exposure. Apparently, the deaths have different causes of death. Um and and I'm not sure if the sheriff he's not obligated to do make a report to us about that, right, Mr.
County Administrator or what? >> Uh not necessarily. I mean certainly I know his style is one where he's certainly willing to to discuss it. I will tell you the uh detention center is is a um a very complex operation and
it's one where uh there's that vulnerability is assessed continuously and we continuously make changes to include uh very significant budget appropriations made by this body uh to address some of the vulnerabilities and
it's part of their accreditation. It's part of a continuous review of things that we do again to limit and to mitigate to the greatest extent possible um any untimely >> and that's ongoing I'm sure >> it's an ongoing thing. It's a high priority. >> Okay.
>> And again very um extensive budgeting appropriated by the board to address some of those issues. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. County Administrator. So yeah, >> I would also just say that um as of several years ago, uh we the county uh I
guess took back um responsibility for certain uh maintenance responsibilities, but but the sheriff and we have an an agreement in place to govern that. Uh but in terms of the operations of the
facility that is squarely within the jurisdiction of the sheriff. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you. Uh Commissioner Cummings, Commissioner Command, Vice Chair. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh Commissioners, I will be brief. I have two proclam two
proclamations. Um you may recall in a previous meeting, I requested a proclamation for Pine View and Stable Palm. I would like to amend that proclamation to add Rutiger Elementary School who also received an an Agrade and do them all at the same time. Um, so
that's my motion. >> Second. >> All right, we got a motion and a second. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Passes unanimously. Commissioner Proctor out of chambers. >> Thank you. The next one is our uh Fort Braden Pioneers. their their volleyball
team won the county championship and I would like to uh request a proclamation to honor that. All right, we got a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Second. Commissioner Cummings uh for the Fort Braen Pioneers Volleyball Championship. All those in favor signify by saying I.
>> I. Passes unanimously. Commissioner Proctor out of chambers. Next, I just have a few uh handful of big shout out and thank yous. I would like to thank uh the Florida Highway Patrol for their partnership in doing a um we you know did they did a traffic operation on
Highway 20. They increased presence um just with a lot of you know the accidents and speeding that we've had out there and we've had great feedback. Additionally, the sheriff also recently had an operation out there. um they sent us the numbers earlier today and so you know the last the last few weeks and
last few months our office has really been trying to work with law enforcement to increase presence on Highway 20 and we're very pleased in their partnership and ongoing efforts. Next, you know, I love to give uh I love to give our shout out to public works Pelle team does an
amazing job. I I want to say one thing, guys. Um the the work they're doing on Oakidge Road is incredible. They're out there all the time. We've had compliments from our neighbors out there just how quick they're really working. And something I saw with my own eyes I wanted to share with the board. I was
down Spring Hill Road. It was a Wednesday evening. Um Alex and I were just looking at a piece of land out there. 7:00 at night. I did a U-turn and there was a a a handful of our public works crews still working off on a on a on a side road. And so, uh Brent, you
know, we love to see those guys working late and we appreciate it sincerely. Um, next, Florida Department of Transportation is continuing to invest in Highway 20 and um and District 2 initiatives and we could not be more
thankful. Um, recently had a meeting with Secretary Tim Smith and uh, who's the new secretary for FDOT in our region and they have committed to funding six turning lanes on Highway 20 and result of our traffic study that we had, you
know, back in 2023. These are six intersections that were deemed dangerous intersections with high volume of accidents and they are going to um implement the six turning lanes as part of our resurfacing project within the next two fiscal years. And um
additionally uh Mr. administrator, thank you for um the collaboration between uh county staff um Talcon Electric Co-op and FOT and implementing in the process of implementing a string of lights on um
electric poles in the Silver Lake corridor, which is another part of Highway 20 that has a that in our safety study said needed additional lighting. And so, you know, we're thrilled and we're thankful for all the the the partnerships across different governmental agencies to help, you know,
deliver wins for our constituency. So, very much thankful and appreciative. Last, I want to give our our our chairman this is our his last meeting um formal meeting as a chairman and uh you know, it's it's been a great year and I
think you have represented us very well, uh Commissioner Welch. I I it's been honored to be your vice chairman and looking forward to where we have our legislative workshop and I think that's it. >> Yeah, man. Thank you. >> So, all right, commissioners. That's all I got.
>> All right. Thank you, uh, Mr. Vice Chair. It's been a pleasure and looking forward to my last chair opening of a meeting in November. Um, it's been certainly a great experience obviously. Um, and I'll have more to say about that
in November. Um, I just have a few proclamations. Uh, I was asked to, uh, request a proclamation recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month, which I think is in November. Um, so I'd like to >> Okay, got I think. >> Yeah. Can you make the motion? Thank
you. Second. Uh, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. All oppose. Passes unanimously. Commissioner Proctor out of chambers. That's Hispanic Heritage Month. Uh, I'd also like to request a proclamation recognizing Pisgga Methodist Church out there off Centerville Road for their uh
upcoming 200th anniversary. Um, and their opening of their new Fellowship Hall. Pisgah Methodist Church is one of our oldest churches created post Civil War 1859. And their previous building was built in 1859. So they created they built a new fellowship
hall. So uh, we've got a motion and a second. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> I. Pisgga Methodist Church. It's off uh it's off Pisgga Church Road out there in uh off Centerville. It's a beautiful church. Really truly beautiful old old
church. Um and I'll be going to their uh their ceremony uh I think it's first week of November, first Sunday of November uh to dedicate their new building and I'll be taking that proclamation. So, thank you. Um, and request a proclamation for Chief Master
Sergeant Charles Lcroy for his service to be presented at Operation Thank You. Coming up on Veterans Day at the American Legion Hall. Second. >> All right, we've got a motion from Commissioner O'Keefe. Second from Commissioner Miner. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. All opposed. Passes unanimously.
Commissioner Proctor out of chambers. And one more proclamation for Timothy Griffith for his service also to be presented at operation. Thank you. Moved by Commissioner Maddox. seconded by Commissioner Miner. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Passes
unanimously. Commissioner Proctor out of chambers. And lastly, I also want to shout out the vice chair for his induction into the TSC Hall of Fame where he joins me, a couple of fellow proud Eagles from TSC. I I had the privilege of being at his uh induction
ceremony, which was awesome. uh you well-deserved honor and I know we're all proud of Taly State College and all it does for our community and and uh you know it's it's it's a pretty pretty uh impressive hall of fame at TSC actually. You go look at that wall and you're like
man it's a lot of uh very influential people in our community have come through TSC and uh and uh so always cool to to be there and to see uh Commissioner Kaban get uh recognized. So, um, that is basically all I've got.
Just want to give a shout out to our county administrator and our county attorney and all our staff for, uh, for sticking with us, uh, into the evening. We, we appreciate you guys more than you know. Thank you all so much. And, uh, we'll see you in a couple weeks. We are ajourned.
Oh, man. [Music] Clinton on the other side of the street and he's just cuz George Plimpmpton's like 6'4 very distinguished preppy kind
of guy dressed in dude he says George George Plimpmpton he hadn't seen