ready to get the show on the road. >> All right. Good evening. Good evening, everyone. Um, I'm going to call this meeting to order. First thing we're going to do is have an invocation by Police Chaplain Chris Ryberg, followed by the pledge of
allegiance. Our heavenly father, dear Lord, just thank you for allowing us to be here today. And God, we're just so thankful for all the blessings that you bestow upon us. And God, we ask today that you be with the the mayor and the commissioners and give them wisdom and
direction as to whatever decisions that need to be made. God, give them give them guidance and in making those decisions. God, we ask that you be with our city manager and uh bless him and uh
use him as uh as our leader and and God, we pray that uh that you bless him and everything that he does. And God, we ask that you be with all the city employees, God, that work so hard all week long, week in and week out. And
God, we pray that you just bless them in a mighty way. And God, once again, we ask everything said and done here tonight will honor and glorify you. And we ask all these things in your precious name. Amen.
>> Amen. >> Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America >> and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Thank you, chaplain. >> Thank you, Chaplain. All right, moving along to number three on the agenda, additions, deletions, or modifications. Mr. Lightfoot, you have one. >> Yes, sir. We need to remove item number 10, the uh discussion and possible
approval of resolution 20262-519. We have a couple documents we still need from DOT. Uh we hope to bring that back at a future meeting. >> No problem. Any issues or concerns with that? No. All right. Any other additions or deletions?
>> Um, mayor, if I may, can we add um the uh the appointment of city manager uh to the agenda? >> Yes, sir. So, 16. Um discuss current status. Would that be a good? >> All right. current status
of city manager hire. All right, everyone uh good with that? All right, >> a motion. >> Yes, please. >> Uh make a motion to approve the deletion and the addition. >> I have a second. >> Second. >> All right, got a second and a third.
Thank you, gentlemen. All right, Mr. Lightfoot, call the role. >> Commissioner Ward, >> yes. >> Commissioner Pero, >> yes. >> Commissioner Peeles, >> yes. Commissioner Tinder. >> Yes. >> Mayor Lowry. >> Yes. >> Thank you for that. >> All right. Number four. Proclamation.
Flood awareness week. Proclamation. Whereas the city of Linhaven, Florida has experienced severe weather in the past in the form of extreme rainfall or tropical storm events resulting in the flooding and West Bay area of Florida. And this flooding has caused damage and flood
losses to homes, buildings in all areas, whether they are high-risisk special flood hazard areas or low to moderate risk flood zones. And whereas the city of Linhaven, Florida, is a voluntary participant in the National Flood Insurance Program that provides residents with the opportunity to
protect themselves against flood loss through the purchase of flood insurance at reduced insurance premium rates as well as setting higher regulatory standards to reduce the flood risks and potential flood damage to their property. hand. Whereas the reduction of loss of life and property can be
achieved when appropriate flood prep or preparedness, control and mitigation measures are taken before a flood. And whereas public e education and awareness of potential weather hazards and methods of protection are critical to the health, safety, and welfare of
residents, the Florida Flood Plane Managers Association, FFMA, have declared the week of March 9th through the 15th of 2026 as Flood Awareness Week to promote awareness and increase knowledge of flood risk, the availability of flood insurance, and
flood protection methods, and how to prepare for such emergencies. Now therefore, I, Mayor Lowry, and the city commission, by virtue of the authority vested in us by the laws of Linhaven and Bay County, Florida, do hereby proclaim the week beginning March 9th, 2026 as
flood awareness week, and further encourage our citizens to increase their knowledge of how to protect themselves, their families, and their property from flooding. In witness thereof, I have set my hand and cause the seal of city of Linhaven affixed to this date, the 24th
day of February, 2025. There is your proclamation. All right, we're moving along to the consent agenda. We have two items up. We have approval of our last commission meetings minutes on February 10th. And then we
also have uh de or to declare asset 4794 surplus and authorize staff to transfer the trailer to another police agency. >> Mayor, I would like to add on page six of your agenda packet. Um whoever makes the motion to approve the minutes, they
point out the Mr. Clubs is missing on item nine, page six of the minutes. It just says Mr. um Miss Rushing will fix that in the minutes, but would like to point that out before it's approved. >> Okay. So, a pen and ink change. For those of you in the back, uh the Mr.
Clubs, who we appointed to our planning board, uh in the minutes, it just had Mr. and did not include his last name. Uh that will be manually added to the draft hard copy that the commission received. So, if we approve it, his name will be added. That's I guess you would
call it a pen and ink change. So, any discussion? Ma'am, >> thank you. Um, on number six, I'm just curious for the sake of transparency, who are we giving the trailer to? What other police agency?
>> Yes, ma'am. It's it's in the agenda item that we will give that to the Panama City Police Department and we will trade that for $8,000 worth of radio install labor in police vehicles. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yes, ma'am. Any other questions?
If not, can I get a motion? >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Thank you. All right, Mr. Lightfoot. >> Commissioner War. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Pero, >> yes. >> Commissioner Peebles, >> yes. >> Commissioner Tender, >> yes. >> Mayor Lowry,
>> yes. Thank you for that. All right. Old business number seven, second reading of ordinance 1185 amending the code of ordinances to prohibit smoking and vaping vaping, excuse me, in city parks. An ordinance of the city commission of
Linhaven, Florida, amending the city's code of ordinances to prohibit smoking and vaping in city parks, repealing ordinances in conflict, providing for severability, providing for cotification, and providing an effective date. So, this is the second reading. Is there
any formal action the commission needs to take on this tonight? >> I make a motion we approve. >> Okay, we have a motion. Do we have a second? >> I'll second. >> All right, we have a motion and a second. Mr. Lightfoot, if you'll call
the role. Oh, my apologies. I'm getting ahead of myself. All right. Any public commentary tonight on this ordinance? We read it the last time. We just read it uh this meeting as well uh to prohibit smoking
and vaping in the city parks. The state of Florida largely prescribes um the places where this can be done. However, cities are allowed to uh set their own rules when it comes to public parks and places within our city where
our children play, playgrounds and parks. So, uh this gives us the ability to manage that. That's what we're doing here. Any questions or discussions? Buler Beller. And with that hearing none,
the city manager will call the role. >> Commissioner Tinder, >> yes. >> Commissioner Peebles, >> yes. >> Commissioner Pero, >> yes. >> Commissioner War, >> yes. >> Mayor Lowry, >> yes. Thank you for that. All right. Number eight on the discussion, discussion of public commentary and town
hall. Commissioner War. So, I know we've talked about this quite a bit. Um, I think this is the third time we've discussed it and this is the first time possible action taken on it. But but um as before as I discussed before
the to me the idea was to have a town hall once a month where residents could come in talk to us they could have three minutes to speak and then we could interact with them because that's one of the feedbacks that I get is people come
up here but we don't get that interaction back and forth and then they feel like they don't always get the answers that they want And of course, we can answer minimal reports, but to me, I thought after seeing how Panama City does it, um it would be a lot more
interactive if we had a town hall once a month. And uh the caveat with that would be you would replace public commentary with audience participation, but the only thing they could talk about in audience particip participation is
anything that's on the agenda. And uh one thing I forgot but with the with the town halls is if you get through everyone and no one else has anything more and somebody else wants to come up and speak again then they could have an
opportunity to come up and speak again. Um they do it on a Saturday 8 in the morning. Um I think that might be a little too early. So, um I'm I'm up for options if if it's even something we want to entertain, but maybe um on a
Saturday at 9 in the morning. >> Okay. Any uh questions or discussions from the rest of the commission? Sir, >> um I'm I'm okay with it, but I wouldn't
want to change anything until we did it a couple times or once or twice and then and and then format our our meeting accordingly. I'm but I'm okay with it. I'm okay with I'm agreeable to town hall
every month. all we want to do. But I wouldn't change our format until we deem it a success, so to speak, or you know what I mean? >> Basically test drive it. >> Yeah. Cuz you know, if we're all sitting here staring at each other, what's used to having it? You know, we got to see
what turnout is and you know, run it up the flag pole and see who salutes it. And to commissioner's point or commissioner Warick's point last time when the city of Panama City decided to implement this, a lot of folks were like, "This won't work." And they
genuinely like it. I actually talked to Commissioner Granger this past week and they really really like it. Um to your point though, Commissioner Pero, I wouldn't want to change our current structure here until we know that's going to work, folks like it, we we get the kinks kind
of worked out. But long term, we'll see how it goes. I don't think it's a bad idea at all. I appreciate you bringing it forward, Commissioner Work. You uh you've kind of been a good idea incubator for a while now with a lot of things and um this is definitely something else we can take a hard look at.
>> Any other ma'am? >> Uh h how many uh city employees would it require to be here? So, this is how I envisioned it is uh it would just be the commissioners, the city manager. Um I think I think you're going to have
to have it if we wanted to record it. Right. >> Right. >> And then I think the only thing I wasn't certain is do we want the city attorney here? I don't know. >> And then we'd need somebody either the city attorney or or a stenographer.
We'll do that off the recording. >> We'll do it off the recording. Yeah, that's not required. But so yeah, I don't want all the department heads and I mean I want to take time away from their valuable time away from them, you know. >> Um >> you'd likely need a sergeant-at-arms as
well, right? >> Yeah. You you need court court recorder or or minutes along with recording. >> Use the recording for the minutes. >> Oh, >> and I'd like to ask um uh >> Mr. Jackson
>> Rob. Yeah. Uh would we require would it require an attorney to be present? >> Got to put the mic. >> Turn on. You're going to have to put it right up to your face. Yes, sir. You got to put it right to your mouth. >> You got to put it real close. Can
everybody hear me now? >> Okay. So, the charter requires the city manager to attend all meetings. The charter does not require the city attorney do that. It's just as directed by the commission. So, it would be up to the commission if you all want the city attorney to attend. As far as minutes
goes, we have to have written minutes. Those minutes can be taken off of a a recording, a video or a tape recording. >> Thank you. >> Would you recommend having a city attorney there? >> Um, it depends on what you all if it's just a discussion, it's not necessary.
Um, it would cost extra money obviously the attorney there uh like it would with an employees. Uh, but if you think you need the attorney then, uh, you could do it on an ad as needed basis. If you think you need us, you could call us and if you don't, then you don't. But it's
up to you all. Okay. >> Any other discussion amongst the commission? >> I would add that it should I would suggest that it is in the morning like you said because a lot of us have kids and Saturdays is when we do a lot of our
um you know family activities. So if the purpose is to be more available, we need to make sure we actually are more available. You know what I mean? So, I just wanted to add that, >> sir. >> And I I figure we'd schedule it for two
hours and then once we reach that two hours, we're done. So, >> so now I mean we'll have public commentary here on this in just a second, but um I'm curious.
I think everybody seems more than willing to give this a go and let us do a guinea pig trial run, if you will, or a test drive. Just a matter of getting it scheduled and then properly advertising. Sorry. Um thank you, Miss Arlene. Um,
what I just said was, um, it seems like everybody's in agreement. We're willing to give this a test drive, give it a try, and see how it works out. It's just a matter of, and we're going to have public commentary on this here in just a second. But, uh, just a matter of scheduling it and then getting the word out so that our citizens, if they are
interested in coming and participating, they can do this and they can be in the guinea pig or the trial run, whatever you want to call it, with us, of a town hall. And then we'll figure out based on how many citizens come in, what our feedback is. Do we want to start doing this once a month, once every other
month, once a quarter, whatever that is? I don't think any of us know yet, but till we jump in and start swimming and see how it goes. >> So, I'll I'll propose once a month. I'll just pick a Saturday. And like I said, I'm flexible, but I'll say the second
Saturday of the month from 9 to 11:00. >> All right. And how long will we try this out before we decide whether it's a go or no? >> You think two months? >> I say we try it once and see how it goes. And if it goes good, we try it
again. If it goes poorly and it's just us and two other people sitting here looking at us, maybe we uh we re-evaluate. >> I mean, I don't know how long it's going to take for it to catch on, but we'll see. >> We'll advertise and give it a shot. I
appreciate you recommending it. Um, we'll open up the floor to public commentary. Mr. Hines, come on up. George Hines 603 Rhode Island Avenue. The uh idea is good, but if you have a meeting here on T second and fourth, you
need to have the meeting on Saturday on the third Saturday just so people can have time. If your issue come up on the second or the fourth meeting, then if you're having a weekend meeting on a Saturday, the third Saturday, then they can talk about issues in between the meetings. That's just my suggestion.
>> That's a good idea, sir. You you kind of uh went at that kind of arbitrarily or randomly, but it's a good point. Hey there, Miss Jerry. Come on up. >> Good evening, commission. >> Good evening. Y'all already know I'm
totally 100% opposed to this. Um, Saturdays, what do people do? They go to the farmers market, they mow their lawn, so on and so forth, right? Monday through Friday, most people work Monday through Friday. I don't think this is a good
look for the city of Linhaven at all. Um, it it just just to because Panama City is doing it, that don't mean we should have to do it. I think public commentary is needed in this setting alone and I
just like I said, I totally oppose to it. Thank you. >> Yes, ma'am. Mr. Basher. >> So, I'm going to echo Mr. Hinds and say I think that the third Saturday would work better because it puts you between right between two commission meetings.
Um it might be a good idea when you advertise this to actually ask people to submit some questions to you via email ahead of it. So you might have some information as you come into it what might be brought up in that. I would also say that one meeting is probably not going to be enough. Somebody will
say, "Oh, they're having a town hall. I didn't know." Um you're not going to get that information out there to everybody the first time. It may take two or three times to do that. Those would be my suggestions. Overall, I think it's probably a great idea because we need to talk about certain agenda items during
the meetings. That's that's we still can do that. It's not public commentary and that that should work really well on that aspect. So, I see no issues with with going to this type of a format. I think it will streamline your meetings a
lot. I really do. Um, and you know, I think if people have something important, they'll come out on their Saturday. They will make time on their Saturday to come to the meeting. If it's not that important that they can't take off two hours on one Saturday morning a
month, it's evidently not that important anyway to begin with. Thank you. >> Yes, sir. Thank you, Mayor. Did >> you have a question? >> I did, but that's okay. Let Jody go. Okay. I just have to say I'm not against
having the town halls. Um, if you want to add that, but I think you're making a big mistake to eliminate public commentary. I think you should be as transparent and as open as possible. I think you should have more access and not less. Um, to a point that was made
earlier, you know, this isn't Panama City. I've made this point before. One reason I think Panama City might work a little better, and I don't like what they're doing either. I think they should always have public commentary at their meetings as well. When I talk about that, I mean open public commentary for people to come and speak
about any topic. I I just think that that's always what you need to have if you want open access and you want to be, you know, um the p the citiz, you know, the public servants that you're supposed to be. One reason that Panama City, I think, works well is
because they have the um farmers market downtown. There's already people there. or they're milling around and they're already there at 8 9:00 in the morning and then they come in. Linhaven's a totally different city. So, you can try this and see how it goes. And listen, if everybody loves the idea and they like,
okay, yeah, let's have a town hall and let's not have open public commentary, then I think that you should go with that. But personally, I'd be against it. But to the point that somebody else said, if it's important enough, I really don't want to be here on a Saturday morning at 9:00 in the morning or 8:00
or whatever. And I think there's probably other people who don't want to do that either, but if it's important enough, I'll be here and I'll let myself, you know, be heard. I have a question and then maybe this is for the attorney. Is this something that the commission votes on or is this something that the chairman of the committee or or
the commission can set for himself whether there's uh public commentary or not? Open public commentary. It's an agenda item. >> You want me to answer that, mayor? >> Yeah, please. Um, so your question is is can the mayor
>> this something that the mayor sets or is this something that the the commission votes on? >> He's the chairman. Okay, go ahead. >> So we have an ordinance or excuse me a resolution with a with a meeting policy right now. >> If the commission wants to try this on a trial basis, can everybody hear me? If
the commission wants to do this on a trial basis, I think a vote of the commission would be required to change make that change. uh and then we can come back and revisit the resolution at some point in the future depending on how it goes. >> Okay. My question is this is the mayor's
decision or the commission's decision as do they does the entire commission have to decide or is there something the mayor can decide on his own? >> Uh in light of the resolution that we have I think that would my my opinion would be would require a full vote of the commission to >> Okay. Okay. Thank you for answering
that. Again, just to finish up, like I said, I I just I would oppose only having the town hall. I would, but you know, we can see how it goes. I think you should always have public commentary because, you know what, and I do agree with what someone else said to have it on the third, you know, the the time in
between because if you have a a meeting, and I do like that it'll be more interactive. But I would also point out you can have an interactive discussion here just like you could at the town hall. you could change the fact that if I ask you a question or you a a question you could answer because we used to do
that. Um but again the town hall, you know, if you have that and that's a third meeting that I think that's a great thing. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Jody. Just to clarify for you and Miss Parker, um as we do these trial guinea pig town halls, this is not taking away from anything with public commentary. This is literally
that ultimately it may get there. If we get into these town halls and they work well, we may re-evaluate. But this is an additive opportunity. This is not a subtracting opportunity for citizens to come talk as we go through the wickets and try to test this out.
>> Well, I think you are subtracting. Let's say there's somebody who works on a Saturday, you know, for whatever the reason or they work late on Friday night, they work. Look, I used to work nights. I was a nurse and, you know, I wasn't going to shle up here after working all night long. Again, I think
if you have more opportunities for people to speak, that's a good thing. But if you only have one time that somebody can come up here and talk about any topic at all, I just think you're making a mistake. And we're just starting off at this new commission. >> You know, I personally think you're making a mistake on that. But again, if everybody loves it, like apparently they
do in Panama City, then, you know, go with that. >> Fair. Well, my my takeway, >> it's a democracy. >> Yeah. My takeaway point here is at this point, this would be three opportunities to speak versus currently. >> Yes. >> Yes. And that's that's how I would look at it. I would not look at these trial
guinea pigs runs, if you will, as taking away anything but enhancing citizens opportunities to come speak to their commission. >> And I would agree with you, but if you take away public commentary at the meetings, >> you're double my hook came out. Okay. Thank >> y We're good. Thank you, ma'am. >> Mayor, by me.
>> Yes. Go ahead. No, go ahead, ma'am. >> Um, a couple of things. I love the idea of submitting questions. I love that idea because that'll give us a feel for what's coming number one and what the interest could be that coming Saturday
or whatever. I love that. Um the other thing is everything that let's just say we go crazy and we get all kinds of people here on town hall and we get it all typed up. How are we going to number
one bring that to the people that come to the commission? How are we going to intertwine what we learned and what concerns the citizens have? Are we going to then talk about it in this meeting? >> I mean, how do we get that information
out to the public? >> Well, it it would be recorded >> so they could see it online and the minutes would be the the transcript from from the meeting. >> Um, there was another question in there. I can't remember. So, there's not going
to be agenda or anything like that. Is that what you were getting at? >> Well, no. I'm wondering how the commission will uh give this information out that we've learned in >> You mean to advertise at this there's a town hall? >> Well, no, not advertise. Let's say we
get into a huge discussion about water mane on 9th in Tennessee. um we get into that big conversation and does that mean is it not our job to keep all that information transparent as well?
>> Yeah, it'll it'll be all online. It'll be >> online is it? >> Yeah. I mean, I don't know what else you could do, but >> Miss Tinder, I I think I hear you asking one question and he's answering another part. um you're asking let's say they have a bit we have a huge discussion
lots of people concerned about water works or public works or whatever >> how do we bring that back to our normal meetings >> right >> I see this as basically being a discussion incubator so when people have things on their mind that we may not be tracking
>> we get it from the town halls we add them to as an agenda item for our next meeting and to Mr. Hines's point Mr. Bashers, if you do it the third week and we have the second and fourth, >> we know after the third, we can add whatever those things are for discussion in our fourth weekly.
>> Mhm. >> I know Jamie's been very faithful about having meetings on Saturdays or whenever. And like he said, now he's down to a few people that show up, but he used to come to commission meetings
and bring their concerns to us. So my question is it's a good way to learn what they're thinking, but we have to somehow transpose it here. >> And it will be up to us. Make no mistake about it. It'll be up to us to get bring
those items back and ask the city manager and CJ to add those to the agenda and then we articulate them amongst ourselves here. >> Thank you. >> Also have your commissioner report that you can talk about it too.
All right. Any other discussion, Mr. Langford? >> Yeah, I'm all for trying something new, but I'm a huge test guy, right? I like to figure out metrics and and and and those types of things. And I I understand that there's kind of some
apprehension to do away with public commentary during the commission meetings while this test is going on to kind of see how it goes. But I also feel like that's going to skew your results as well. So, for example, if we still
have public commentary during every commission meeting like we're doing now, and then we try to have a town hall on a Saturday, we you're probably not going to get a whole lot of participation. Why? because we have two opportunities right now to come participate. So, I'm not saying do away with it. I'm just
saying that if you're if you're truly looking to say, hey, is this successful or is this a failure? I think that d it's going to kind of skew your data because you don't you're not realistically looking at how it would be to determine whether it's successful or not. So, just keep that in mind as you
all think through how you're going to do that. Um, you know, I I kind of like that the town hall um the town hall idea. I'm not saying that it's perfect for Linhaven, but it sounds like everybody, you know, or it sounds like a lot of people want to try it. There's
been some good mention already about when that needs to occur. Um, but I look at this as kind of a glass half full kind of guy, right? I know Mr. Peebles and Mr. Warick's been pretty good about having time with the commissioner and how that works. So really what I see is
this is kind of standardizing time with the commissioners, but now everyone is here. It's it's a time with the commissioners with with everyone present. So again, it's just some way I'm trying to think about it to be open-minded and and to try something
new. Um but I I like the fact that that there would be some interaction. I've been over at some uh some workshops with the city manager when they were over at the the garden center or the the the garden club, sorry. Um and you're right, depending on what the what the item was
during the workshop, man, that place was packed. We wanted to talk about where we could park RVs in Linhaven, there was there were plenty of people there to share what they they thought and that was a good thing. So again, whether we're determining success, success or
failure, I think it's going to be difficult because, you know, number one, the rules and parameters that you set in place during that test period um as well as the topics being discussed um at the time. So just something to think about going forward. Thank you. >> Thank you, sir.
>> So what I got out of that was we need to put a hot topic on the agenda every time before we have a town hall so everyone can come out. I do agree with Mr. Langford though. If we're going to test it, we need to test the test it as if it's the true
parameters that we're testing. >> Good evening, Miss Arlene. >> Hello, Arlene Harrison. Thank you, everybody. Um, I was where were we? Well, one question I'd had was where were you planning on holding the town hall? I'm all for a town hall if you
think that might work. I agree with a lot of the commentaries that have been made that may work, may not, you know, but I really feel strongly that we need to still keep public commentary in our regular commission meetings. That this
is when I feel like the real business of our city is takes place and that's when I'd like to see it. As far as I need an attorney at the meeting, I'm not sure that we do for a town hall. If something
arises in the town hall, then it would be brought forth in the in the following business meeting, I would imagine. Um, and attorney would be available. Um, let's see. I had something else. Let's see. Oh, and also would this be it would
be streamed like these meetings are, right? >> Yes, ma'am. It'd be right here. >> It would be here. We'd likely not be on the dis. We would likely be >> city down here. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. And yeah, that was another question I had. Um,
and any Saturday that you guys come up with' be fine with me. But, um, I can understand a lot of families that are not work 9 to5. Come Saturday morning, they got kids. They got to do groceries. They got to do chores. They got to get the house back in order. But good luck with that.
>> Thank you, ma'am. Good evening, >> Christy Maroy, Port St. Joe and Tallahassee. As I recall, y'all wanted the meetings switched to 5:30, especially you, Commissioner War, and that was to get
more participation. You also wanted premeings that went away because they were not wellreceived because the public couldn't speak it. The question I have for you is when
you have your one-on- ons with the commissioner, how many people show up? >> It depends. I've had ones where I've had zero. And I think the most I've had is maybe a dozen people. >> Okay. So you can see with one
commissioner when you have all of their attention, all of their attention, they may not be anyone there. I want to give you an example of what I saw tonight and what I wanted to talk about at public comment.
I almost saw a little boy hit today when I was pulling in to park here because there were so many cars and he was on a bicycle and these SUVs, they can't see him. And so signs need to go up, crosswalks need to go up across this
road, not just across this way because you have children crossing over this way. So, I was going to bring that up because it's a safety issue. Now, should I wait until the third Saturday of every month
to bring that up? I don't think that's a good utilization of your time to wait a month before I can bring that up because right now what I saw is an acute
situation and a sense of urgency that this city needs to address for the safety of your children that play in that park. So have you all here, you can vote on
it. You can make recommendations to all your staff, including your police chief, and y'all can start addressing that because that child came this far from being mowed over
couple, you know, an hour ago and he was scared and I saw the whole thing. Just to let you know, you have things to do. Anyone else for public commentary? Come on up, sir.
Good evening. Uh, just a question of clarity on the public commentary. Are we speaking general public commentary, commentary after motions, or both? And if it's after motions, would the commission think about the
flexibility of hot topics having public commentary after those particular motions? I can answer that. >> It's state requirement that you have to have public commentary on agenda items. So that will never go away.
So if it's on the agenda and we make a vote or a motion, we're required to allow public commentary on that item. So if this was to pass and based on what Commissioner War is saying, what would
happen is every single item that's on the agenda, you'd still everyone would still be able to talk about. So let's use the the five applications received for planning board for example. There will be public commentary on that. No matter what happens tonight deciding
this, there would have been public commentary on that. If this was a future item, >> okay? So, if you have an agenda item, there's a vote, a motion, and a vote. There wouldn't be public commentary
until that uh town hall. >> No, you would be able to talk before we make our official vote. Okay, that that's all I need. Thank you. Yes, sir. any other public commentary on this tonight? We do appreciate all the uh inputs and
and discussion. Some really good ideas generated and uh very much appreciate that. All right, so we're bringing this back. You looking to have a vote tonight for the first one? >> Yeah. What's that? Oh, I just can't hear him.
So I sorry if y'all didn't hear and the if you folks in the back Jerry if uh I may I'm going to give you some homework here ma'am when you can't hear me talking please raise your hand so I know I got to speak into the microphone more thank you ma'am um
so that said thank you all for the inputs tonight uh some good discussion Mr. Hines Mr. Basher, y'all, especially with the uh the third Saturday of the month. I actually think that's kind of a sweet spot calendar-wise and that's just good input or a good put as we would say
in the Air Force. So, are you looking to make a motion and get this started tonight? >> Yeah. So, I think I think what they're trying to set it up as is having it the Saturday prior to the fourth Tuesday meeting. Does that make sense? because
because if you have it every third Saturday, it doesn't necessarily line up with the fourth Tuesday depending on how the days line up. It it probably will in the vast majority of cases. So, um, and I think we got to have a vote on this in order to do this, right? So, so I'll
amend my Well, I never got a second, so I'll just I'll make a motion to we'll keep obviously we're not going to change public commentary currently. Um, but we'll have a town hall once a month prior the Saturday prior to the fourth
Tuesday meeting from 9 to 11 where residents get to speak at least 3 minutes and then we can interact and have discussions ourselves and once everybody goes through and if there's more time I've left available they can come up and speak again if they want
>> and this is starting in March >> I would say yes sir. >> Okay. Do you see any issues with that? >> No, sir. That gives us plenty of time to advertise it. We can also push it out on social media as well since it's the first one to kind of get people's attention. >> Okay. >> Are you going to put a date to where the
trial ends or cuz we've had in the past where we said we're going to try something out and then we just keep doing it and keep doing it and never talk about it again. >> You want to try six months? >> Maybe a lot. How about we try three?
>> All right. three months. >> That's a full quarter. >> Okay. >> If that's your motion, I'll second it. >> I'll second. >> Second. >> You can't second. >> So Pat Perno has seconded on my behalf.
Thank you, Commissioner. >> You're a good wingman if I hadn't told you lately. >> Mr. Mayor, I I have just a a a comment or two just to clarify. >> Go ahead, sir. >> So, uh there will not be any change to the current non-aggenda public commentary section. That'll still remain
on the commission correct meeting agenda. And then the city attorney, do you want the city attorney present or as an ad hoc basis? I would say as a ad hoc basis and uh it would just be us the commissioners, the city manager and it
>> and a sergeant-at-arms probably. >> Okay, got it. >> Good. >> And can I just say one more thing? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Um the fact that um Rob is asking about having an attorney present and if we go with Mr. Basher's idea of um having
people write in questions, we might want to consider it depending on how hot the topic it might be. >> If we if people submit qu questions prior to the meeting, we would be able to disperse those out to the commission and to the attorney to get input to see
if the attorney needed to be there prior to the meeting. >> And fair point. Um and it could be any subject matter expert. So, let's say there's a a health issue or a safety issue or whatever and we know it's going to be a hot topic, we might want to just
go ahead and proactively invite the proper subject matter expert to come attend with us. That way, I think we'll get more bang for the buck, per se, in terms of participation and discussion. because unless one of the five of us are a subject matter expert or a former police
officer or fire or whatever the issue may be, it might be really good to have the right person there to add value to that discussion. So, last clarification, uh, Commissioner
War, for, um, for these meetings, how far in advance would you like questions submitted a week out so that our staff can get the right experts if needed? >> I would recommend the close of business
the Wednesday prior to that Saturday. >> Okay. >> All right. So, we have a motion and a second. We've had public commentary. Um, >> we've had a revised motion and second. >> Well, I think since you had a motion, you got to have have public have
commentary again, right? >> Because I didn't have a motion before. >> Not necessarily. No, it's been discussion and public com been discussion of public commentary. >> Okay. >> And I'll I'll be happy to repeat the motion and make sure I got it. We have it correct if that's okay. >> Yes, sir. So, I have that there's a a
motion on the table to uh have um a town hall meetings on the the Saturday before the fourth fourth Tuesday of the month to coincide before that meeting uh with three minute maximum commentary
interaction from the commission and then an opportunity to respe if needed with the uh public. uh three-month trial, city attorney invited on an ad hoc basis and the public to submit questions the Wednesday close of business the Wednesday before the Saturday meeting
>> from 9 to 11. >> 9 to 11 in this room. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay, that's what I have as the motion. If you all agree, then >> I'm good with that. You good with that, Commissioner Pel? >> All right, so we have a motion in a
second. We've had public discussion. and some good public discussion. Uh, city manager, if there are no other questions or issues or comments, I'll ask you to call the role. >> Commissioner Wart, >> yes. >> Commissioner Pero, >> yes. >> Commissioner Peebles, >> yes. >> Commissioner Tinder,
>> yes. >> Mayor Lowry, >> yes, sir. >> All right. Thank you for that. All right, moving along to number nine. Thank you all for that discussion, folks. Uh, tabled items. So we have number nine, discussion and possible approval of voting for one new member of
the five uh applications received for the planning board. So for those of you that were not here at our last meeting, we actually had six applicants for five or two positions. One had already been previously promised. We basically had a tie the last time. There were two really
wellqualified for one seat. The commission basically picked one of them and told the second person, "We really like you. we want you to be engaged. The very next seat that comes open, we're appointing you to it. So, there was a promisary note there. Um, I was not on
the commission at the time, but the all five of us agreed that we needed to honor that promisary note and not do that again uh moving forward. So, we appointed one of the applicants, Mr. Clubs, to one of the two planning commission seats. This is for the other
five applicants for the other seat. Four of the other five applicants had submitted old school uh applications. One member had submitted the new way online and it had gone to the city manager uh and it was in his inbox, but
it was in a spam folder and it was literally the first guinea pig. So, he didn't know to even look for it. So, when we had everyone advertised for the last meeting and said, "Hey, we're going to pick from these candidates." He said, "Hey, what about me? I sent my stuff in. Here's my documentation." So, they went back, they found it, they said, "Our
bad." So, we tabled the appointment of the other seat until tonight. And so, we're going to uh hopefully get someone appointed out of those other five applicants for the second seat tonight. >> Yes, ma'am. >> So, basically, it's just um
the what you said, the six applicants uh that went to the spam. So, when that occurred, uh this item was tabled. And also, you're probably aware that Mr. Snider withdrew his application on February 10th for consideration. So that's why it reduced from six to five uh candidates.
>> Yes, ma'am. Okay. Thank you. All right. So discussion tonight, folks. >> So um I had the privilege of sitting down and talking with all of them. Um I'm actually really excited about this because since I've been on the
commission, um I think you've been on the commission. Well, you've been on the commission longer. I have and same with you, Commissioner Berno. Normally when we get applicants normally it's like one maybe two people and so to have five people I was like that is awesome and um
>> five great people actually I talked to all of them and they're they're all amazing in their own ways you know >> so um they're you know people are just wanting to get involved and um they're very motivated
and um one of the questions I asked is uh what made you decide to submit your application And what I got from most of them was they like the direction that the city is going in and they want to be part of some of the solutions that are coming up. And uh I just kind of wanted
to get your guys' feeling and what your vibe was when when you talked with them. You got that same thing cuz I I just had a lot of great conversations. >> I I kind of agree with you. Um, you know, they it started I went right down
the list and and kind of tried to stay in order with them and every the the the first when I talked Miss Margaret um she her heart she grew up here, she lived on Indiana Street and I live on Indian Street and now she lives on Fourth Street, you know, and and her kids walk
to the same school she walked to and she wants Linhaven to be the place she grew up in, but she knows the growth is coming. She wants to help, you know, see it done the right way and keep the keep, you know, keep the culture of Lin Haven where it was
when she was young, but also, you know, help help with this enhanced growth that's about to happen to us all. Um same u um all all the way down the list. Everybody had that that feeling that you know they they cared about our city
enough to want to serve and want to be a part of of of of the change and you know and they know that there's aggressive change we're embarking on, you know, and how to manage it and you know and and just and it just to keep us as quaint as
we can be at the same time. So, I I I just can't tell you. Uh it's kind of like the damn art contest. It's so hard to do, you know, when you meet good people and and and and you and you you you feel for all of them and you can only pick one of them, you know, cuz
every one of them had had great qualities when I spoke to them and I felt I I feel better having those little conversations and talking to each one of them and know that they're that they care enough about our city to to to want to serve. So, um I'm uh I'm I'm I'm all
for whoever whoever we pick out of the five. So, but but but uh you know, we need to we need to all agree on a name. So, let's get going. So, >> yes, sir. Miss Judy, did you want to jump in?
>> Yes. Um I also agree. I think I've talked to Margaret and uh Chad and um they both are I think some of these candidates want to be on this board for maybe a
particular reason, but I also think we have some that want to be on the board with the hopes of moving up into the commission at a later date. Uh you know, kind of learning the ropes and everything. So, I don't think we can uh go wrong.
Oh, >> but when you're if I don't know how you're going to vote. I mean, are we just going name by name? You want a suggestion? What do you how do you want to do it? >> Well, I will defer to my four colleagues here. If you want to basically share
your your top name candidate, um there all five were awesome. I agree. I was really impressed. I I sadly we only have one seat to go around. So, um I certainly hope we can have those other four. um you know, as other positions
come up, I'd really like to be able to engage with them and go, "Hey, would you consider this?" >> You know, so um but would y'all mind let's just go ahead and share publicly our our top contender or top two, whichever one you have, preferably your
top one, and let's see where we're at. So my top is uh MK Barnhart or Margaret. Okay. I just uh like Mr. Pero said actually all the commissioners that I'm just absolutely pumped that we have so many
applications. I think this is my third year on the board and I've never seen more than two. So um and you know they come from all different backgrounds and walks of life which is great. So what we need we need all the different minds looking at the planning commission. And
so I'm I'm just pumped. I hope that if they don't get chosen tonight that they continue to apply and um because I want you to be on a board at some point and if if maybe planning board you don't get on the planning board, please apply for another opening for another board. I I'm
just so thankful for everyone that put their name uh in the hat. Uh the reason I'm leaning uh Barnhard is just because, you know, I'm pretty big on uh social media and uh she has a very strong um
social media presence in terms of uh of being engaged on what's going on in the city and uh and talks to other people about it. And so I know for a fact beyond just what she wrote down on her application that she is engaged, you know, and I think that that's not to say
that the others are not. It's just what I've personally seen. >> And I I will say too, Margaret also said if there's another board, you know, she just wants to be involved. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. John John said that as well. So
did I mean Chad. I mean, they they all they're all their ma biggest point is was service to the city, >> you know. >> So I'll I like Margaret and Chad. I'm I'm you know, but um I spoke to Margaret
first, you know, and when I spoke to Chad, I said, "Hey, it's kind of a tie. I like Margaret. I like you. So, I'm going with whoever, you know, and he just said Margaret." So, >> well, and I'm And not to complicate this any further, but I >> I love John. I had a great conversation
with John, you know, but it it was it was it was kind of like my last conversation, and I was like, "Damn, I wish I talked to him first." You know what I mean? But it's just I I've never seen five good Well, I mean, we could we could fill the whole board. I wish, you
know, if there if there was five vacancies, we'd have we'd have five great people in there, you know. >> So, Pat, this is kind of funny, but it goes because we're all of the same mindset here. So, he liked Margaret. You like Margaret and Chad? I'm a big Chad fan. I was really impressed with him.
Lifelong born and raised guy, local businessman. uh very much two young kids in school very much wanted to be engaged and support. So that's kind of where I'm at. Uh Miss Judy, >> I I even though I love Margaret and
we've had good conversations, I'm a huge Chad fan and I've known Chad for probably 20 years, 30 years. And uh he's forwardinking and he's intelligent. Not to say that anybody else isn't, but he's forward
thinking and he's intelligent and he thinks things out. Um, and he does own a business. His family has owned that for years and uh, so he looks at those things, too. The growth the growth of the city. Um,
yeah, we we I think we talked for over two hours, Chad and I did, but he would be my first choice. Commissioner Ward. Uh >> I'm the same with Commissioner Pero, Margaret and and Chad. Um Chad is definitely knowledgeable. He's had
experience and um building with the permit process and and things with his business. So he has knowledge. Margaret I feel is is very creative. And so when I look at when I look at it, I don't look at it just from one person. I look
at the planning board as a whole. you know what do they need more of? Do they need more of the experience and knowledge or they need more of the creativity outside type thinking? So yeah, >> what was your conclusion there?
>> Um I think right now I I think Chad Evans would be my top pick. So, it sounds like there's a a almost a consensus, but anyone else want to throw out uh any more discussion
on that? We're kind of coalesing. We've got two strong We all like all five. We kind of have two top contenders and we're kind of coalesing around Chad Evans. >> I'm I'm actually good with either one. It's It's just >> Yeah, it's tough. That's tough.
>> It really is tough. I I like, you know, I know Chad Chad Chad specifically mentioned that, you know, he's he sees in the planning board that we need to reform the ULDC, that we need to, you know, and and I mentioned to him that we we need to look at zoning, you know, to
to to help to help with development in the right fashion. Um, you know, and he wants to tackle that. He wants to tackle that right away. So, and he could he he he had that he had that wherewithal already. So, that that kind of got me.
But I'm telling you, I I just enjoyed the first conversation I had with Margaret, too. So, I'm I'm good with either one of them really. But I I see I see a Chad Chad Chad, you know, and uh and uh and he's been mentioned all the way around. So, if we we throw whatever
we throw out, I'm I'm supportive of either one of those two. Well, Commissioner Tender, can I get a motion from you? >> Absolutely. I'll make a motion that we uh uh select Chad Evans, keeping Margaret first in line for the next
opening on any board. >> We're not supposed to do that, ain't >> by that. You mean making a point to invite her to apply, not a promisary note? >> No promisary notes. No. >> Okay. >> Absolutely. But Chad Evans would be my first choice. He's got a lot of common
sense and like Pat says with the zoning and everything else, he he's up on it. >> Do I have a motion? Do I have a second? >> Shoot. I'll second it. Okay. Thank you. Thanks for leaving me hanging there. Um,
we have a motion in a second. Uh, any discussion from the audience, uh, commentarywise before we move forward with this appointment? Hearing none. City manager. >> Commissioner Tinder. >> Yes.
>> Commissioner Peebles. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Pero. >> Yes. >> Commissioner War. >> Yes. >> Mayor Lowry. >> Yes. All right. Congratulations, Mr. Chad Evans. All right. Uh, moving on to new business. Uh, we deleted number 10,
which was, uh, still needs some work done on that. It's a sidewalk project, uh, paperwork-wise. So, we're moving down to number 11. Discussion and possible approval of resolution 2026-02-520 approving awarding the ditch digging bid
for as needed services. >> A resolution of the city of Linhaven, Florida, approving an agreement with Chapel Branch and Lyap relating to the provision of ditch digging services to the city. Mayor, we it was time to rebid our ditch digging contract. Uh we
received a total of 10 bids. Um upon review, the lowest bidder uh bid was thrown out due to the lack of supporting documents as required in the bid. Uh the next person was Chapel Branch and Lyap. Their bid is $2.50 per foot for ditch
digging services. >> So they were the second lowest. The first the the lowest lowest bidder had paperwork problems with their package >> and their bids were rejected. Yes, sir. >> Just out of curiosity, how much of a delta was there between the lowest bidder and the second lowest bidder?
>> About a dollar a foot. >> And can we ask who that was? >> You know, Utility Services of Northwest Florida. >> Okay. Any issues, causes, concerns other than just uh uh approving of the
resolution, basically approving of the second lowest bidder out of 10? >> No, sir. >> Any discussion among the commission? Yeah, I just wanted to point out that uh that I like that it specifically says the not to exceed amount that that's
important. We need to continue to do that, the not to exceed especially on these as needed bases. So, I just wanted to point that out that I really like that and please continue to do that. I I thought the whole bid package was was was done well when you looked at the
spreadsheet um and what in the columns and and uh I mean you saw the disparity right away. I mean what one company just just had a a dollar amount that was it and it really didn't it didn't fit the when you looked at every the whole
breakdown. So um but uh I asked I asked Chris where the winning bid company was from and they're from right up the road in Graceville. So, they're not that far. Straight up 77. So, and I'm um I'm pretty pretty confident
y'all did a did a did a good job in assessing all this. So, it's kind of what you do, ain't it? >> Yes, sir. >> Previous life. >> Good bit of bids on this one for sure. >> Yeah. Yeah. It's good to see 10 companies turning in bids for stuff, you know.
>> I make a motion we accept. >> I have a motion. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. I have a motion and a second. So, we will open this up for public commentary. Miss Parker, come on up. I'm fighting the urge to say come on down. And I have like Price's right
music running in my head. You Gen Xers will appreciate that. >> So, this is in reference to ditch digging, correct? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Chris, you already you already know what I was going to say. >> I got you.
Do not dig out my ditch again. It's been done four times. >> Do not do that, please. Thank you. >> So, I hear you saying you don't have ditches anymore. You have canals. >> Any other public commentary?
All right. Hearing none, would uh can we have a a vote? Count. >> Commissioner Tinder? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Pero? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Peebles? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Warick? >> Yes. Mayor Lowry. >> Yes. All right. Thank you'all for that.
Moving on to item number 12. Discussion and possible approval of resolution 2026-02-521 approving the appropriation of additional funds for Yates Plumbing and Utility Services. >> A resolution of the city of Linhaven, Florida, approving an agreement with
Yates Plumbing for services relating to operation of the city's wastewater treatment plant. Mayor, as you recall back in October, we approved a resolution for about $52,000 for staffing at the wastewater treatment plant. We have exhausted those funds. Uh we still need to continue to staff the
wastewater treatment plant. We have advertised the operator positions since. We have had one licensed application uh or one qualified applica applicant with a license since October. However, he did not pass a background check for city requirements. So, we are still having a
hard time filling this position and we will continue to have to reach out to a contractor to fill the wastewater treatment plant for the time being. >> Understood. Um, before I open this up for the rest of the commission, having kind of an HR background, um, and thank
you for giving me a tour two weeks ago, other than getting my hands ate up with that gnarly fiberglass that's 30 years old going up the the stairwells there that we're now replacing with much more secure metal uh, awnings and railings. Um, I really do think we still need to
look at growing our own capability. for right now. We absolutely need the I don't want to call them scabs, but the substitutes, the augmentes, the reservists, if you will, um coming in to help us keep our operations going. I would really like for us to take another
hard look at trying to get a couple of sharp young men and women from this local area that want to stay and work here that we can kind of bring in in an apprentice type role. give them the training, you know, and with a commitment that they have to stay x
number of years or months for said training. Um, so we've had seven trainees in the past 30 months. Um, it's not very enticing to have wastewater operator trainees. We mailed out 3,000
uh postcards to all licensed operators in the state of Florida. We got two phone calls back. It is very hard to fill uh with the current state of the wastewater treatment plant. There's six wastewater treatment plants in Bay County and I would say ours ranked six as far as you know the the condition
that of what the operators do. Um a lot of the plants are modernized today and they you know fully automatic. Um they're not out having to do what what they do at our plant. Um so it will be hard to fill this position until our plan is either expanded or or go to the
county. Fair and I get we need to do this for operations today. And this plant, it was built what in the early mid 90s? >> 1996 to 19 to 1998 was when it was expanded. >> Okay. So yeah, it's it's pushing 30 years old here. But um I have no problem
with keeping the reser going here to keep the lights on per se and keep these functions going. I mean, we all like flushing our toilets, right? And having waste water actually process and work. Um, I just want to encourage and find out what do you need from us. Um, I
think we could get a couple of folks in the training pipeline. I'd like to relook at the whole long-term apprentice growing our own. If you find somebody with roots that want to be here, that's probably the easier way to do that. Get them the training and get the commitment out of them to stay in staff. But in the
short term, I know this is a legit need. And it's not a want, it's a a need. Otherwise, we have to shut the plant down if we don't have the staffing we need. So, that would be a bad thing. >> I make a motion we accept. >> Thank you.
>> Uh, any second? >> I have a motion in a second. Any other discussion from the commission? >> I think I I just have to say this because I can't keep my mouth shut. I think in the postcards going out for this, it should probably the headline on
the postcard should say, "Are you tired of all the crap?" I just been sitting here going, "Oh my gosh, I could come up with something really, really funny that maybe gets somebody's attention." >> Um, you and uh our our wonder kid
working on the the Facebook who does our city Facebook, I mean, he's amazing. He has all those kind of funny great things. You two should do a duet or or something. >> Uh, any other discussion? Okay. Any opening up the floor for public discussion? Mr. Langford, come on
up. I think it was 52,000 is what you said was the last uh was the last amount that was passed. And looking at the agenda packet, it looks like $110,000 to carry out through the remainder of the fiscal year, which I guess would be
162 is total is what we're spending. So we're looking at basically we would be paying an employee $162,000 to fill this if you think about it that way. Hold on a second. So my question
is, is it even possible? I understand that one applicant failed the background check. Is there any sort of waverable process? And I don't even know what what what come up on the background check. I'm just saying if if we think about it just through a a money aspect, if we're
what would if if we did hire an individual, a city employee to fill that position, what would that individual make in a year salary wise? >> Currently, the position is about $24 to $28 an hour just right off hand. um trainees and and lower license are a
little less than that. The 162,000 though is not for just one shift. That's for multiple shifts that the contractor fills uh throughout the week. Uh so it's not just one employee that that would be taking the place of that. >> I still would like Now I understand
we're in a bind here. We're in a short-term bind where we're basically to use a military equivalent. Mr. Langford and I are both retired military guys. Uh we've got reserveists. We're paying basically NPA days on right to cover this. Um, but I want a foot stomp and I want us to Chris, this may be a
discussion item that we have offline, but I really want us to try to re-engage on the whole trainee program and grow one or two. Um, if we can find them, let's grow them. Let's actively recruit and grow. I know nobody wants to be a
wastewater treatment plant guy when they grow up or gal, but you know there may be an opportunity here and let's even if y'all've done it before and not gotten real good results, let's shake the bushes again and see if we can uh give somebody a bright and shiny young man or
woman an opportunity to excel here. So, so my question would be and in this not not necessarily just in this instance but any instance when a city employee is hired or or goes through the application process and a background check is failed. Is there any way to
accept what caused that failure and continue to hire that individual? Let's say they had a fender bender 15 years ago that popped up on something. That was all just Thank you. We have several employees that have been con have a a felony conviction on their record. Uh we
have several employees that have have been incarcerated before. So that is not a deal breaker uh for us. We have definitely lacked that. But there are some things that we cannot lack. >> So this what I'm hearing you say without breaking any confidentiality or privacy
stuff is this was a hard stop issue. >> This was a hard stop. Yes, sir. >> There. Okay. All right. If I may, um, just for the sake of clarity and this is not filling the this is this this contract is not filling the
position like for one person. This is more multiple hours like this is this is this is more than one person can work in a week. Correct. >> Yes, sir. >> And I know Go ahead. Sorry. >> No, I just And we do have Do we have do
we have some of our own staff working in that position right now? We have one full-time city employee and we have one part-time city employee and the rest is fulfilled by Yates contract or Yates Plumbing. >> I know when I sat down with Mr. Lightfoot about it that um we kind of
ran like rough numbers far as because obviously when you you make$25 $28 an hour for a city, you also get the benefits with it which is also increased cost, right? And so when we looked at that, it's really not much different
than what we're paying now. So because it's easy to say, oh, let's just give them x amount of dollars an hour, but by the time you add it up, you're you're kind of in the same boat. >> Yeah. To me, sorry. >> No, sir. I guess to put it for in a like
a militarybased type thing, there's this running thing that like if you're a federal contractor, you make more money than like a civilian employee, but the civilian employee makes their money up by getting better retirement, better healthcare, that kind of thing. So in
this scenario, this would be hiring a contractor, whereas a city employee would be a a the equivalent of like a federal employee where they get to potentially have health care, retirement, things like that. And all that money the city does
have to pay for. So their $24 an hour is much higher than actually $24 an hour. >> The term uh in HR world is total benefits package normally. Um, and it's, yeah, it's exactly what y'all are saying. Insuranceances, medical
benefits, retirement, 401k contributions, whatever. Do we have a motion in a second? Do we have any discussion? Mr. Basher, >> I don't think at this point you really have a choice other than to pass this to staff the sewer plant. But as my
question is, since we're having such a difficult time finding an individual to hire as a city, as a staff, have you looked at con actually contracting out a full year to a company to do that? >> Yes, sir. So, we did reach out to
multiple other companies. Um, this is by far the cheapest. Um, the the one company that would give us a year contract was about 26 to $34,000 a month for the same service. That's that's for them to provide all the staffing for the super treatment plant. >> Yes, sir. And the city would still be responsible for, you know, the lab
testing, the sludge hauling, the the utility bill. That's just for the staffing. >> Okay. So, um, in the past, I think Chris covered some of the shifts over there. If y'all are really going to consider him for city manager, he needs to find somebody to replace that. >> And, uh, if I'm not mistaken, this
company is out of Crest View, correct? >> The, uh, Mr. Yates that owns the company is out of Defunia Springs but employees live all over the panhandle. They take care of multiple wastewater treatment plants. >> Okay. Copy. All right. So, any other discussion from the audience at large?
>> All right. Um Mr. Basher's point is well taken though. This will carry us through the rest of the year. Correct. >> Yes sir. And there will be a budget amendment uh presented at the midyear budget in March. And >> this is a special ask for me. Let's let's take a hard look at actively
trying to recruit and grow at least one or two or heck, let's shoot for the moon and shoot for three recruits and let's see what we can do to start growing our own long term. It's not going to come overnight and we're probably going to have to do this for a couple years, but
let's plan our way out of this and try to be a little less reactive. So, with that, I had a motion in a second. Uh, we've had public commentary. You'll call the role, please. Mr. Lightoot. >> Commissioner Tinder? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Pero? >> Yes.
>> Commissioner Peeles? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Warick? >> Yes. >> Mayor Lowry? >> Yes, sir. Thank you'all for that. All right, we're down to 13 now. Discussion and possible approval of resolution 2026-02-522 approving a three-year extension of the city's commercial garbage contract with
Waste Pro. a resolution of the city of Linhaven, Florida, approving a three-year extension of the city's agreement with WastPro for commercial garbage pickup services. So, it's coming up on the three-year mark for Waste Pros uh contract. It is time they have submitted their
resignation or I'm sorry, their extension request um earlier than than required per contract. It is over $35,000 a year. So, it is required for the commission to approve the extension. Staff does recommend approving the one three-year extension. They've been great
to work with and will continue to do so. >> Awesome. Any comments or questions from the commission? >> That was that was my question is how because I know three years ago we switched companies and so we've been h so staff has been happy with waste. >> Yes sir. Unlike any transition we did
have our challenges when it when it first started. They did a great job with the transition uh from the prior company to waste. We had some, you know, communication issues when we first started. That was, you know, 28, 30 months ago. Um, every ever since we
got all those kinks worked out, they have been great to work with. Uh, their reps come by, check on staff, and make sure everything is good to go. >> Thank you. >> And so, we all everyone understands that the price stays the same. The the increases is your cost of living. So
whatever that cost living is for that year, that's how much it goes by. So yes, sir. >> I have a question. >> They take um when you say, "Is this the commercial?" >> Yes, ma'am. >> These are the people that pick up my trash at the restaurant
>> if you have a dumpster. Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. I have I have to say this just to be out there and make sure that everybody understands this is uh this company's out of Alabama, correct? Waste Pro is all over the country. >> Okay.
>> The the group that we use is is out on Back Beach Road. >> Oh, I was calling the wrong place. >> Thank you. >> You got the You got the green trash cans, right? >> The big I have the big dumpster. >> Oh, you got the dumpster. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> And and I have to honestly say about two
months ago, I called them. Yeah. I know it was them because I got the number off the thing. I called them and asked them if they would switch out my can because we dump 500 lb of chicken raw bones and crap like that in the dumpster a week.
And they say, "Well, we suggest you pour some bleach in it." They would not bring me another can. >> So the our customers are not supposed to go directly to Wastro. They go to us. We take care of getting the can swapped out. >> Awesome. There you go. Write that note. Appreciate it.
>> Yes, ma'am. Any other discussion? No >> motion to approve. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. Any public commentary on this >> Marroy. Um,
I'm just curious why you're not going out for bid. I mean, BCC had your contract before, right? We know that. And so, I understand you may be satisfied with
service, but garbage is a very competitive business. But go back and ask BCC if if they would be interested and get
some competitive bids just like you did when BCC had the contract and then you went out for bid. So, you know, I' I've seen this in other
municipalities and a lot of times you don't just pass on the same contract. you you may want to go out and revisit, give them an extension and say you you
want to see what else is out there. >> That would save tax dollar if we did that. >> We did ex the last vendor BCC. We did exhaust all of the contract renewals with them as well. Uh this is the first first and only contract renewal in this
contract and when we go out for an RFP for garbage, it is a huge transition if you change vendors. And so it is in the city's best interest in staff's opinion to use this contract extension for the one time that we're able to for 3 years. >> And this uh extension was in the
original contract, right? >> Yes, sir. >> Yeah. So it it's not a new contract. My opinion is the old saying, a bird in the hand is better than two in the Yeah. Because we know what we're getting. We know what the price is. We're in the middle of a budget year. It just makes
sense to me. Not only that, if you put it out for bid, you may end up paying more. Correct. Put it out for bid. There's no guarantee you're going to be able to keep. >> There is no guarantee it will be cheaper. >> Probably, and I'm willing to bet with everything that's been going on the economy, I'm willing to bet that it's probably going to be more expensive if
we put it out for bid. >> And let's not forget that this company's been doing a great job. Um, the city manager has already said, "Hey, there staff's pleased with them." I've had nothing but great experiences with them. I've gotten good feedback on them, especially a couple of the new younger employees that really go out of their
way to help our senior citizens. I've gotten kudos and shout outs for them. Um, they're doing a great job. So, you know, this may be one of those opportunities at the Pentagon. We called it simper Gumby. No good deed goes unpunished. Well, this is one that we can actually recognize and thank them
for a job well done. So, I'm totally good with it. Um, is there any other public commentary before we move on? Hearing none, city commission or city manager, would you call the role? >> Commissioner War. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Pero, >> yes. >> Commissioner Peebles, >> yes.
>> Commissioner Tinder, >> yes. >> Mayor Lowry, >> yes. Thank you all for that. All right. Um 14. Discussion of city attorney dual RFP for new contract or in-house council advertisement.
So, I've been on the job a month now. Um, and it readily became apparent to me that now would be a good time to look at different legal support services moving forward. I thank Amy and Meyers and Kevin Os for their service. I sure appre
appreciate Rob Jackson filling in and supporting us tonight. Um, but I really do think we need a new legal direction. I would really like to have more of a and being a retired military guy, I would like a little bit more of a a JAG
officer. What I mean by that is instead of looking at primarily what is what is the most risky move, what is the most transparent, fair, obvious, legal, straightforward way of doing things. Um, and sometimes you have to get aggressive
and go, "Nope, this is the right thing to do. this is the, you know, and you have to transparently defend it, but I really do believe I'm looking for more of a JAG officer support. I was a three-time squadron commander, and the JAG was very much a piece of my leadership team. They keep you, as Jimmy
Buffett would say, in between the navigational beacons, legally speaking. Here are your options. Here are your courses. This is what the law says. Now, the choice is up to you. And I felt like this would really be a important way for us to go. Let's look at what options are
out there. Um, and I would like to look at this in two ways. Currently, we have a contract. We kind of have an ondemand contract. I would like to put that out for a new contract, but I would also like to put out for an in-house counsel, a full-time attorney. What I'm looking
at is not just municipality, which is a specialization, but also a variety of very similar specializations. And a case in point, again, retired Air Force guy, so I'm going to talk like an Air Force guy. When you have a base commander, mission support group commander of an
air force base. They can be a civil engineer background. They can have a communications IT background. They can have a personnelist background. Be a security forces cop background. Any of those functions can run a successful base commander role. Um, and if they
don't if they're a cop, they're obviously going to have different skill sets than a civil engineer, but that doesn't preclude them from working those kinds of functions. Thank you, Miss Arlene. I'm sorry I didn't see you, Jerry. Um, so what I'm looking at here
is let's look at uh resource protection. Let's look at contract attorneys. Let's look at HR attorneys. Um, so as well as municipality lawyers, let's look at all of the garden variety of direct support for a city. Let's look at that here.
Let's look at what skill sets are out there. who's interested in supporting us moving forward as a city as we start this new organizational chapter and let's go from there. So, what I'm proposing tonight, if uh if the rest of the commission will support, is we'll
have a draft up of uh these two new requests for proposals uh for us to look at at our next meeting and if we are good with them, they will put them out for solicitation and we will see what we get back. In the meantime, I've spoken
with Kevin Os. Uh he and his team will continue to support us until such time as their services are no longer needed and he has assured me they will do a a proper transition to help whoever we select come on board and get spun up. So
that is what I have to propose to the rest of the commission. What say ye? Uh so um the current company that we have are you saying they're not going to RFQ or >> That is correct.
>> So your way forward is you're saying you're requesting that we put out uh two proposals. one for in-house. You're you're direct. You want to direct staff to put out a proposal to hire in-house and
one to bring in contracted as needed. >> Yes, sir. I want to throw out two nets and let's see what we get. Um, we can go with a full-time staff attorney that I I see a lot of inherent value in that if we get a well-qualified full-time staff
attorney. Um, if we don't, well, we can also look at continuing with a new contract. Now, even if we do hire a new full-time person, people get sick, people need vacation, things like that, right? So, we would still need a
reservist or at least a backup augmentee. So, I could see us potentially hiring a full-time attorney and then hiring a contract law firm as a supporting reserve capacity, if you will, right? Uh, and
maybe, let's just say, whoever we hire, let's just say they're a great HR attorney. Well, then you might want to have that municipality specialization in the background as well to be able to augment based on whatever the needs are that come before the city and our city
attorney. Okay, I just wanted to put some expectation management out there. Um, the average attorney in Northwest Florida makes about $150,000 a year. So, if we were to hire an in-house attorney, we're looking at the highest paid
employee on staff and that does not include um that does not include their benefits package. And most of the time if attorney is going to come and we're paying them less than the average then they're just going to leave soon anyways. So that I just wanted to throw
some expectation management. The difference between like I agree with what you're saying with the JAG and how important it is. Um big fan of the JAG office. Uh but the difference here is that when you are a JAG officer and let's say you come in as a what what
rank do you come in as a captain? >> Lieutenant. >> First lieutenant. So all first lieutenants make the same amount of money. Whereas if we're looking at hiring a city attorney, we can negotiate prices, which means other firms can negotiate prices, which means that uh
they will likely make more money. So that that's just the bit there that's going to be different. That would just some expectation management there. >> And Commissioner Peebles, that's a fair input. Uh, I do believe, correct me if I'm wrong, uh, city manager, but we spent what, $210,000,
give or take, >> Miss Roman did an average of the past three years? It was a $21,000 average for for legal. >> For the last three years, 2011 on average for the last three. And what was the highest of those three? >> You just did the average of the three.
>> I want to say the highest was 210. And that would make sense. 2011 being the average of the last three years. Um, so we're in the same ballpark. >> Was that all legal or is that all legal or just one company? >> That was the the handle. Yes.
>> Total legal expense which which didn't didn't include the >> that didn't attorney >> did not include the include the HR attorney. No sir. >> Okay. >> This was for Amy Myers primarily and Kevin Os's backup. I >> I believe that I asked that question of
Kiki a while back. what we had spent total for the year HR attorney and all of that and it was a little over 330,000 >> last year >> that was including the HR attorney is what which is a different firm than >> right but I'm just saying like you're
saying we would have to have different types of attorneys not one attorney is going to know everything >> this is basically a sunk cost of doing business >> we can't operate as a city without well-qualified attorneys can't really operate without well-qualified police
officers. You know, there are certain key core functions, wastewater treatment people, whether we contract or whether we staff ourselves, there are core functions with credentials and qualifications we just have to have to do business. And this unfortunately lawyers are one of the most expensive,
but they're also one of the most essential if you get a good one. >> Mayor, I may have said the average was two 201 over the last three years. That was the last five years. I'm sorry if I may have said three. you did and I thought that's what Kiki had said, but thanks for the clarification. So, I do
believe the highest was last year and I believe it was 210,000. The average over the last three or five year five years you said was uh 2011. So, we're not talking a large variation there. >> Yeah, that's that's good data. Thank you. >> Going to want to have a a parallegal and
an assistant. So you're not talking about one position, but most likely three. And there is the requirement with a a entity of this size, the variety of issues that come before a
city that it would be hard. It's just not that we'd have one one attorney that could span all the various um topics. That's why why now at our size a firm still is a good fit because they will
have attorneys that specialize in land use in labor issues in um Sunshine public uh public information and we can tap into that and they can get us um different attorneys to answer our
questions. >> That's a very fair input. Uh Jennifer, um I'm wanting to cast both nets and let's see what kind of fish we catch in the nets in terms of qualified applicants and then we'll come back and we'll have a a very, you know,
well-meaning and well-intentioned discussion about what that looks like based on the applicants and the qualifications we have. I do anticipate us getting a lot of interest from outside of Bay County, um, Walton County, Okaloosa County, um, Washington
County, um, Leyon County even. Um, so I think having some different experiences from different areas within the panhandle might not be a bad thing. Um, it adds to that breadth of subject matter expertise to your point. So,
let's see what we get. if the rest of the commission will support me on this and uh I'll have a more formal um RFP for us to approve next meeting. So we have it the last one was an RFP. It needs to be an RFQ for the for the
legal team. Uh so we will dust off the old RFP, convert it to an RFQ. We will get that sent out to to the commission prior. Um but you all will have to approve the RFQ package and a job description um to to post if that's what the commission desires.
>> Now RFQ does include will know an annual price or we'll know >> RFQ does not include price >> qualification. It doesn't include a price. So we won't be comparing dollars to dollars, will we? No. >> No, sir. I anticipate the uh the salary
if on the of course for the the contract that's obviously going to be different but on the individual side I'm going to anticipate this being to Commissioner Peele's point I anticipate this being a $150 to $180,000
salary range based on years of experience qualifications certifications all those things. Um, but that's kind of the window of what I fully anticipate. >> 150 to 180 for the the lawyer. >> Yes, sir. >> What about the parallegal? What about
the other the other the other stuff? >> I haven't signed up for that and I don't know. I I get Jennifer's point. They're going to want to support staff, but you can have a good attorney without necessarily all that upfront. And it may be that we build with an attorney first
and then we grow from there. Um, again, it all depends on what we get. If we get a qualified attorney and we can hire them for 150ish, um, the funds there would be based on what we're spending now, there would be funds there to fund
a parallegal, right? So, we got to look, just got to see what applies, what what do we catch in the application net, per se, and then what does that give us to work with? >> So, I just want to make sure I understand this. It says dual RFP and I
know it's supposed to be RFQ, but the RFQ is only for a new contract, right? And then for the in-house council, that's just an advertisement we put out as a job advertisement. >> Yes, sir. There is no dual RFQ to run. It's an RFQ for legal services and then
a job description that will be posted. >> Right. So, I I'll be honest. I I don't have a problem looking at both. You know, it's always great to see all our options. I I do think the in-house council thing. I think it's a pipe dream and I think we're going to realize it's going to be a lot more expensive, but
you know, let's take a look at it. And this is kind of pretty much the last one that I proposed when I brought this up. I don't remember when it was four or five months ago. So, >> you actually gave me the idea and I can't take credit for this. I was sitting there right where Jody Moore is
sitting tonight when you proposed this and I thought, you know what, that's a pretty good idea. So, I do take notes. I do talk a little funny, but I can take good notes. So, that's my uh that's what I'm proposing to the rest of the commission here. Any
other questions, discussions, concerns? My thoughts are almost exactly what Commissioner Wart just said. I think it's kind of a pipe dream, but I'm willing to look at anything. At this point, we need to have the services, so let's look at the options. appreciate
that, Commissioner Pero. >> Um, I'm I'm okay with whatever your consensus is, but I I am not a fan of spending more money than we already spend now.
>> Yes. and and and that's that's um I know there's there's nuances and different feelings to to to factor into this, but when it comes down to it, I feel like my responsibility to the city of Lyn Haven is to make sure Linhaven doesn't spend
as much money as it needs to o when it can overspend on something when it we're not spending that much right now. Why do we have to go out and spend more? Yes, sir. >> Well, can if we're spending more to get more, okay, but
>> but that that's that's where I'm going to lay my cards. >> Yes, sir. And I appreciate that. >> I just say if we're spending 210,000, let's say, and I believe that was the number. Kiki's not here tonight, but I believe the number we spent on legal services for our primary contract was
210. So, if we're going to continue with that and I don't know plus 3% over the next year or even the same hold the same number 210 if we are spending the same amount what are how can we get the best bang for our buck uh and what's in the best interest of the city that's that's
what I want to look at >> I I what will it cost us to advertise this >> it doesn't cost us anything and my thought here was I'd go to Evergreen who's already doing a study and have them pull some stats from other cities that they've done work
for. Um $150,000 is going to have an effective salary of over $200,000. But just so you know that and that's when I say effective, that's all the benefits and the pension and those types of things that we pay.
>> But it won't cost us to actually advertise and no explore. >> I mean, we already have um an application where we could do that. have to advertise it as a possible or pending position because you all would have to grant the
positions that it's it's posted as a possible opening or a possible pending opportunity >> when you just said you already have an application for this job. >> No, we have a a software application that >> Okay, great.
Any other discussion among the commission? Not. Do I have a motion? >> I think it's just staff direction to bring you all an RFQ and a job description for the next meeting for you all to vote on.
>> Well, I think we're in violent agreement here. Let's look at what we got, what we can get, and we will go from there as a team. >> All right. Mayor, was there a motion? and they said bring it back to the commission.
>> Okay. So, no motion needed. >> All right. Um before we go to public commentary, we had an ad here number 16, current status of the city manager hire. And what I will do first off, and Commissioner Pero, you asked for this,
so sir, I'll defer to you, but I would you like for Jennifer to give a quick update since she's kind of spearheading at this point and give a formal update? >> Uh, yes. Um, you all have been um very informative and helpful in trying to set
up the U virtual interviews. Um, the time just ran out. We were attempting to do it tomorrow, but in order to get all of your schedules clear, it was too difficult. Um, therefore, I'd like to recommend Monday, March 16th, which is
in three just one day shy of three weeks, having that the next target for setting up the virtual interviews. I can come back with another grid and a time period using the same process unless you all want to discuss changes to that
process. That process again is to set up four specific rooms where we would have the virtual links. You all would go to room from room to room. It >> um am I back on? Yes, thank you. Um,
but I think that would give us enough time. If the 16th is good for all of you and you can clear your calendars, then I will contact the uh candidates and let them know their time and get them
available. If there's a problem with the 16th, we can discuss it now or tomorrow, you can let me know so we can get the next date ready to go. >> Mayor. Yes, ma'am. >> I would highly, highly like to recommend
that we do this the way it was done last time where we have the candidates. We only have four. They come into this room or any other room. The others wait outside while we ask all the questions right here in front of
them and in front of the public to become totally transparent, get our answers and then and we vote at the end. We don't have to go from room to room or do any virtual anything. We ask the
questions, we see how they answer and at the end it's over. And and what Jamie said last time was true. We did have one person who the wife used her phone to call the husband who was waiting out back, but that's
curable. All we do is take the four candidates phones and set them right here. Tell them they can have them back when we're done. And each candidate just comes up one at a time. We ask and we're done instead of spending the entire day. And it also becomes totally transparent
at that point. >> And this process was to get you to those top candidates, right? Um because we they're not all local, >> right? You have two local, right? Or three >> three local and one out of state. So to do that, you're you're bringing in
someone out of state that maybe you might not at some point. So this was to >> take the four down to a top >> two potentially, >> right? And originally there were five. Um, one had just reach a retired fullird
coast guard captain had just uh accepted another position and took himself out of the running. So, of the top five, we're down to four of those left. >> Correct. And you all um it was discussed if you wanted to have public in those meetings, they could be. They couldn't
um engage in in the interview process, but they could be c I mean, we would make space for that. observers. >> It would be Yeah, it would definitely be transparent. There's a lot in body language. There's a lot in, you know, uh, a lot of things when you're watching
somebody right in front of you versus having it be virtual. >> And I like I like that idea instead of just dillydallying and spending all day. >> Just a point of order. I I don't mean to
interrupt, but it'd be nice if when people hear speaking if we could see them up on the screen because I it's easier to understand what they're saying if we can see them. >> Yes, ma'am. I'm sorry, Miss Arlene. Thank you for that. It did you hear
that? Okay, we're going to try to support that, Miss Arlene. Um Okay, so just to clarify, this is the first phase. We've got four candidates. Three are local, one is in North
Carolina. Um, and we are our attempt is to whittle down to the top two for a formal interview public. All of us open general to the public at large and go from there. Um, three of them are local, so that's not a
problem. The fourth one being from North Carolina, if they're not in the top two, there's no reason for the city to pay for their airfare down to interview. So, um that that was the big crux. Plus, we all get our individual flavoring. I will
actually have three members of the public uh supporting me being flies on the wall. That is uh and they can come out and share their opinions of what they heard and saw when they're done. Um but they can validate. Yep. Major May mayor Lowry asked the exact same
questions to all four and number one and two hit it out of the park, three did okay, and four just crashed and burned or whatever the case may be, right? Um that's the intent of observers to let them come out and say it was open kimono, it was a fair process, they were
consistent. So little transparency never hurt us in that regard. So and if you any of you commissioners want to do that, you want to invite members of the public to come, you can. I actually had volunteers after our last meeting. Um, so I I took them up on their offer.
Commissioner Pero, you had asked for this update. So, is there anything more you want to discuss there, sir? >> Um, yes, Mayor. Thank you. Um, I just uh wanted to ask the the commission. Um, you know, we've gone
we've gone 8 months or more now with the gentleman um as our city manager, interim city manager doing the job as city manager. And um in the meetings I've attended with him since he's been the interim city manager, he's art he's
been articulate and answering questions to everyone on every issue coming up here. he's been prepared um I I see in him uh someone who can lead our city um as the city manager into in into the
into the future. Um we have a new police chief and Chief Blanchard who's about to hit the ground running here. Um May Mayor Lowry, you're in just your third meeting. Um I just I just I just see someone who lives amongst us who's doing
a great job. I don't want to I don't want to discredit any of the other candidates who are thinking about it, but I I've said this before. I I feel like we have the guy in front of us. Um if you guys could see it possibly to,
you know, that we can we can give him a short-term contract and and assess him uh going forward. Um that's that's my feelings. Um uh I I I' I'd love to
discuss it and you know cuz I' I'm the only one who's come on and said it this way and I think there's support or there's feelings that I'd like to get out right now. So we can we can we can
move move on this because he is the tops ranked of all the of all the candidates and he's on the list of most of us or all of us as as you know. So I mean
we we could dispense of a lot of the a lot of the things that we're embarking on with somebody coming down from North Carolina or or someone else. if we can just move forward right now. Um, so I'd like to know how y'all feel
about that. >> We'll just go down the line among the four commissioners. >> Commissioner Peebles, if you want to say anything, sir. >> So, uh, I thought this is
we've already lost one candidate because we're taking forever. Another candidate just got fired. Mhm. >> Um, this is not to say Mr. Life would do this, but it's not like he's just auditioning for just us. You know,
there's other municipalities seeing what he's doing, and if they like him and offer him more money, there's a possibility that he could leave. You know, um, we got to make a decision ASAP is my is my main point. We got to stop pushing things down the road. I know
that we've said that on other issues. You know, it's cliche. Um, whatever we do though, I just my main point is that we need to make a decision as soon as possible and and if that means like we do not need to go past the 16th. If we
are going to do the 16th, that's when we make the decision. But I mean, if even if we want to make the decision before that, we make the decision before that. We do not need to go past the 16th. I do not want to lose any more qualified candidates. We spent a lot of time on this. Um,
yeah. So, uh, and we've all seen the rankings of how we rated everybody. I think it was Commissioner Pero's number one was Mr. Lightoot. Mr. Lightoot was my number one. Number one
for Mayor Lowry and uh, Commissioner War just got fired from his job. I don't know why he got fired yet. That hasn't come out yet. So, >> actually has and we can discuss it. But anyways, that's just my thoughts. Just throwing them out there. Um, we got to
make a decision soon. >> Okay. Thank you for that. Um, I'm going to go down to you two and I'll I'll I'll be the caboose, but Commissioner Wart, >> um, yeah, I I agree with the process.
It's uh, it's taking a long time and um, and because I think it's taken a long time, we're we're losing people. But I'm going to bring up something that is probably not going to be fun to talk about on the commission, but the thing I don't understand, and I probably should
have brought this up at the last commission meeting when we had the top five, is we all, and I know this is before your time when you became mayor, but you you watched the process. We all sat down with HR and gave what is
it that we want in our next city manager? And we gave them the requirements, the criteria, all those things. Gave them all that. And then we agreed that we'd have a tiger team. And that tiger team spent
hours looking at all those applications and determined based on the criteria that we established as the commission who qualified and who didn't qualify. Now, if there are disagreements as far as whether someone that's qualifi not
qualified that should be to me that should have been brought up on the dis and and if you really felt strongly about that give that person a fighting chance of you know for that for that position. I I honestly I went through
all the applications myself also and there was a couple questions I asked HR and uh I got my answers and I was like okay I understand. So I don't understand why we picked people that weren't on the not that were
not qualified and I still feel that way. And so to me, once you take them, the ones that are not qualified out of the running, that leaves down to two people
and I just I struggle with that. And so that's where I think we're are we are. um whenever you and so since we're want to talk about this, you know, I talk
with the department heads. Hey, how's it going? How do you think the city's going? And I can tell you since since Mr. Lightoot's been in office, the morale has increased increased quite
substantially. And I get inputs of I feel empowered to do my job. I don't feel like I'm micromanaged. Um I'm given leeway to do my job and um
and so they feel like the direction of the city is going the right direction and that they have a high level of confidence in Mr. Lightfoot. And that's the feedback I'm getting. And and so the way I feel about this is the day that we hired Mr. Lightoot as interm city
manager is the day that his interview started and I think that's where you're at commissioner purl. So, and I did talk with the mayor from North
what is it? Spring Lake, North Carolina. I only got one side of the uh what happened with that. I don't know. I I called the others. I didn't get any I couldn't get a hold of them. um and I tried
and uh so I don't know what the other side of the story is which puts doubt in my mind and whenever you hire an outside person it is a risk right and so we're we're kind of facing where we got good continuity stability going on versus
looking at a person that is on the outside and and you know this whenever you hire somebody they might the resume may look really good they may interview really good but then once they get in the position and it may not come out the way that you think it does. So, that's
kind of where I'm at with it. >> Commissioner Tinder, >> I say we do the interviews the way we were supposed to from the get-go. Make it public, make it transparent, and be done with it.
>> So, I will um this is my third meeting. Uh the 20th is a one month on this. Thank you. So I've been on the job a whole month now. Um and I appreciate the four votes that I had and the confidence you had in me. I'm honored and
privileged to serve with y'all. I'm proud to be here and I want to do my best to help Lyn Haven as an organization. Um also had a lot of I had a very different professional background from the last mayor and not throwing any shade at him. He was a minister and I
was a political science, public administration, or leadership kind of academia professor and retired Air Force guy. So, we ve very much came from different perspectives. So, but when I was sitting out there in the where Jody Moore is sitting tonight, uh, which was
kind of my normal seat, um, you guys advertised for a city manager with a master's degree. Y'all literally said that y'all were looking for that level of experience. Um, Mr. Lightfoot, who I like very much, has an associates
degree. He doesn't even come close to meeting the requirements of what y'all sent out for. So, I agree. He's done a hell of a job. I think anybody I think Jennifer Hodes would have done a hell of a job, too, that y'all moved her and and
put uh Chris in place. Both have done a great job. Um, we've advertised. I was not part of that process, but I'm in it now with y'all. And I want to ride this out and be fair and consistent. We called out, we
applied, we've called down from 98 to now four. We have those four. Um, I can dive into the qualifications. It's actually one, if you're talking about me, with Mr. Zach Deweiler where it was literally is it federal experience or is it local
municipal experience when you're a FEMA person on the ground in a disaster zone working hand inand with local city and state and county organizations to repair after a major disaster HR and I saw that very very different but I was very
confident in making my assessment. I have a PhD in human resources. I have over 20 years of federal HR experience. I can spell HR and I know experience when I see it in a resume. Um but that was just a difference of opinion. Um but
that being said, we have these four applicants. Now for um Commissioner Peele's point about Commissioner War and I number one, uh his name is John Rory and he is the gentleman from North Carolina that should be interviewing with us on the 16th. He's been a city
manager three times. He does have the master's degree. y'all said y'all were looking for a masters in public administration. Uh he's been a successful city manager three times and uh our last city meeting and I'm not trying to speak for him. I'm just advocating here's the other I really see
it you know these four candidates here are two uh and one is the interim city manager with an associates degree eight months been doing a great job. The other one, three-time city manager, just got booted out on a 3-2 vote. And go Google his name, John Rory. You'll see the
local news coverage up there. They interviewed one of the three that booted him out. There are three new commissioners that stepped up. Uh, and they voted to fire him because he was pushing them to modernize their infrastructure. His mayor got up and said, "This guy's phenomenal. You just
heard our city kicking him out." And so one of the local reporters up there literally asked one of the three voting commissioners on a 3-2 vote, um, why did you fire him and what was your methodology in appointing the replacement? Her exact quote, I you can hear it. It's actually recorded. Um, we
didn't really have any any thoughts on that. We really didn't have any plans going forward on what we were doing here. We just kind of winged it. I'm paraphrasing that, but she literally said we winged it. We we went in without a plan and just did this. So, uh, and the mayor literally said in her interview, "You're just giving another
city an opportunity to hire a rockstar. This guy's got 30 years of city management experience." So, I'm all about us interviewing the four we got. Chris knows everybody. He's immediately plugandplay and he's done a hell of a job. Do I believe he could do a very
good job if we hire him on the spot on the 16th? Yes, I do. Do I feel like we have other very strong applicants? One in particular, Mr. Roy, that could absolutely plug and play. I don't know the the fourth individual. I've just seen her resume. I'm looking to hear
from her. I'm looking to hear from Mr. Deweiler as well. But we're down to four. I agree, Commissioner Peebles, that we should really, if we can do this on the 16th, let's do this. My only question back to
you, Jennifer, is based on this, if we rewicker, so we originally were going to we wickered it down to a top five and the intent was to get it down to a top two or three we could do in public interviews.
Mood to get this done is rapidly rising, right? I think we're all in violent agreement there. How can we re we we re-wicker this to do instead of a two-phase go from four to two. Let's just go ahead and do a one shot. Let's
take out the second phase. Let's just do it all at once. If we're going to do this on the 16th by golly, let's go ahead and figure out the best way to do this publicly. We'll interview all four instead of trying to do the zoom and all that. Let's bring in the one candidate
from North Carolina, the three locals. to Miss Commissioner Tinder's point, let's just go ahead and do it all at once. And by the time we're done on the 16th, assuming we can agree on a selecte, we will have a new commissioner or
excuse me, a new city manager selected. >> Mayor Mayor, >> not good with that? >> No, sir. May I speak? >> Um, mayor, um, I you just talked for about five minutes.
Um, I started and we went around and I didn't really get to say what I wanted to say about the man on the end over there who's who's done the job. >> He has an associates degree. The man I
personally spoke to Jared, you put words in my mouth when you said that we wanted an MPA. I specifically told Jared, I don't care if this guy, our city manager, has an MPA. I wanted to have the experience on the job and that's
what you need, experience on the job. And we we came up with um or the equivalent of 15 years experience. That was what I said. And and we made that a qualification equal to an MPA. Okay? And
I said that I am the proud possessor of an associates degree only. Okay? I didn't make it all the way through Florida State, but I attended Florida State. Spent a lot of time watching football games instead of going to school. But but work I ended up working in the hotel business after my dad
passed away. And I had to put myself through school and I'd had to go to school half time and then try to afford to go to school uh full-time, but I couldn't afford to go to school as much as I needed to. So,
I worked a lot and my grades suffered. And then I ended up making more money in the field I was in than than getting my degree. So anyway, long story on me, but you know, in my field, I have a lot of experience. I don't have a degree to
show for it, though. In in the field of of what what this man does, he I can ra I I I'd rack and stack him with anybody with an MPA and especially the way he treats people. you know, you you have an HR background. This guy has brought um
smiles to the faces of the people who who didn't have them on their faces working here before, you know. So, I'm I'm of the I'm of a whole different mindset. And I don't want to I don't I don't want to leave here tonight with it with without at least
coming back around. And I'd like to make a motion that we give Chris Lightfoot contract to city manager of uh and remove the interim title and and let's let's work out let's work out a short-term contract with him and and and
make him our city manager. >> So can I say a couple things? So first the way I understood it was masters was what was preferred and if they didn't have it then they had to back it up with x amount of experience depending on what
level of college that they had. Um to your point about a temporary contract I'm totally against that. If whoever we decide to hire city manager give them a contract. >> Let's make them a contract. Let's I'll make a motion. Let's give the
guy a contract that we determined and make him city manager. >> I wanted to say one more thing. Uh, so you weren't, it's probably cuz you weren't in the seat yet, but but when we did the criteria, Gerard had us all have
one-on-one interviews and said what basically and gather what all we came together and what we wanted. It was and it was on that sheet when it showed the qualifications that was sent to all of us and it was I believe associates
degree with 15 years of experience, bachelor's degree with eight years of experience, master's degree with 5 years of experience. So it wasn't just master's degree and that's just master's degree with five years is the
same as an associates with 15. They're equal. Yeah. And that's what we came and we all got sent that as a commission and we all decided that that was fine. >> Well, I appreciate you sharing that with me because I did not have that data point. I saw you guys were looking for a
master's degree or a bachelor's or an associates with x amount of experiences, but a master's was preferred as what I remember reading on the advertisement. >> Mayor, point of order. There's a motion on the table. Is there a second?
And we have a motion, but we are discussing. Uh, and I honestly Well, I'll just second it so that we I'll just second it so that we can have discussion legally. There we go. >> Okay. Um, I will add, um,
as this Chris has been my boss, but I'll point out he does have certifications. What we talked about earlier in both um, advanced wastewater and water to get those licenses and
certifications, he's holding an A in one and and a C in one. Is that correct, Chris? So that A license is equivalent to over four years of study and work. >> The C license is equivalent to at least
one year of work plus passing. They're all all passing very stringent required tests. That doesn't that's not necessarily seen. It doesn't come with the bachelor's or masters, but
the amount of work and the amount of testing and education I would say has a lot of equivalent context, especially in a municipality. >> And just for the record, I am not trying to um down anyone for only having an
associates degree. I am the son and grandson of farmers and I'm the first person in my family to graduate college. So, that is not the issue at all. Um, what I'm saying is there was a preferred master's degree level and no disrespect intended whatsoever, Commissioner Pero
there. Um, that's what I saw as the advertisement. >> Exactly. As Commissioner >> So, and again, I'm not advocating I like Mr. Lightfoot. I think he's done a hell of a job as interim city manager. >> Could someone else plug and play and do
the job? Probably. So, are there other qualified applicants? Yes. Um, so it it's a balance, right? We're trying to be fair. I didn't start this process. I came in a month ago into this and you guys were months into it. Um, just case in point, you will typically see city
managers. They come from generally three tracks within a city management kind of organizational background. You typically will have cops or chief of police, you'll have a chief of fire, sometimes a chief of emergency services and public works. And Chris has done a phenomenal
job in the public works area. He was a 23-year-old department head at Panama City. He was the wonder kid, the Doogie Howouser, if you will. Um, so that is definitely one vein. Um, one of the other applicants literally has the master's degree in 15 years. He was a
fire chief. Uh, and he's been a city manager three times over in three different states. And not just one or two years, three to five years a piece. So, we have a wealth of experience. I'm glad Mr. Lightoot's one of those contenders. Um, but we also have other
well-qualified contenders as well. So, the con the conundrum conundrum is to try to get this done. Let's close this gap. Let's be transparent and fair about it. Let's have our interviews. And by golly, when we walk out of here on the 16th, we have a new city manager.
>> Let's walk out tonight. >> We have a motion and a second. If you guys if the commission doesn't have any more discussion, I'll open it up for the the audience. General comments. Miss Sandy, >> I have nothing against Chris. In fact, I
like him. But this is my thought about it. Let's don't just put somebody in there like they did with Camala Harris when she ran. Let's let let this be a process where it
gets voted on, talked about. Like you say, there's all kind of people with a lot of degrees, a lot of experience. Um, I don't have a degree of any kind, and I beat out people with master's degrees.
So, I'm like Pat. It doesn't matter to me if he has a master's degree, but let the let the people make the choice, not just push somebody in there is my opinion.
>> Thank you, ma'am. Mayor Cy, I saw Corey first, then Basher, >> then Jody. >> This is absolutely unbelievable. You guys made a commitment
to follow a process to hire an individual. It's the fourth quarter now and you guys are like, "We're done. We're impatient. We want to leave this process that you all agreed on and do something
completely different." I'm going to leave it at that. Reference the process. But since we're here and since we're let's go on and talk about everything now. All right. Is there some questions that I've got that I planned on hearing responses to during the interview
process, but based on your motion and your second, we're potentially about to not even get to that point based on what y'all vote on tonight. So now I'm going to state my question. What I'm about to say is probably going to be a little bit controversial, but I
want to hear a response because this is now the hiring process. If James Finch would not have sued the city of Linhaven, Chris Forehand would not have been deposed. If Chris Forehand wouldn't have been deposed,
the allegations of ridingging wouldn't have come up. When the allegations of bid rigging come up, two individuals, both of which are sitting in this room tonight, stated allegedly that it happened. This
is all under all during the meetings. Okay, here's my question. Why did it take somebody being deposed under oath to come forward and say something? And I've already heard it and I'm not buying it that
I was afraid to get fired. I need to hear from Mr. Life and I like Mr. Life is great dude, great guy. He and I disagree fundamentally on some storm water stuff. But since we're now having a public hiring process right now, this is what I wanted to hear get
explained and now we're here. You've opened a can of worms. So now we don't need to hear what went on. I want to need I need I need an answer of had I had it to do all over again, this is what I would have done differently and
this is why. That's what I'm looking for to not only calm my concerns, but I'm not the only one asking the question. Okay. But the can of worms is opened now because you all wanted to completely
alienate the process that you all agreed on to hire the city manager, but now we're going now we're going to throw it all out the water and just hire one night. Appreciate it. So, just for the record, I seconded it
so that we could talk about it and not be a point of like Miss Morris Miss Moore said. I just seconded it so we could talk about it. Just saying. >> And if I may respond immediately to Mr. Corey's statements. >> Yes, sir.
>> Um, you know, uh, uh, we've been looking for a city manager since July and then the man's taken over since then. And to me, yes, his interview started then. And since July, he's proved himself and over
and over. And that's why I at the point we're at right now, that's why I wanted to move forward and select him as our city manager. Um, uh, for what it for what it's worth, you know, if it was your first week on the
job and something like that happened, I don't know. I mean, would you be the whistleblower? I mean, I'm sure you've got a high moral compass and you would say yes. So, you know, that's you. I'm not the person
involved here, but you know, you're you're you're you're slinging the heat. So, I'm I'm just knowing what I know from what I've seen in the last 8 months. The man's doing the job. We need someone to do the job. He's willing to
do the job at he's he's even said for a year at the salary he's making. He's also utilities and public works. I'm sure if we brought in a city with a city a city manager, we'd be looking for public works and utilities after that as well. I'm sure he's viable enough to
walk out and get a job, you know, in the near future. So, knowing everything I know and what what's in the pipeline for who we have to select, I've only had one person in mind and he's right at the end of the
table. So call me shallow, myopic, whatever you want to call me. That's my answer. So >> no, not not name calling at all. I just want you to interview everyone, all of the qualified candidates. >> I never I never agreed to do that. I only had one. I never picked five. I
only picked one. >> That's my point. They weren't all qualified. >> Yep. >> Whatever we want to say. there there might be somebody out there who's just the most amazing city manager ever, but we're not going to hear from that
individual if they exist. Um, but to answer your question, would I have said something? Absolutely. Because I've been in that position before. >> I know you I know you would have. >> It's a tough position to be in and it hurt and it it hurt a lot. But I did
what was right and I sleep I lay my head down on my pillow every night because I know I did exactly what was right. >> Mr. Basher, I saw your hand up. Are you deferring to your wife? The general Basher. Okay. And then then Jerry Parker.
>> Um Michelle. >> Oh, sorry. >> Oh, I'm sorry. You are Jody. Oh, go ahead, ma'am. Jody and then um Miss Parker. Um Michelle Bashier's 81 Louisiana Avenue. Um before you were mayor, I sent a long letter to the
commissioners. I got only one response that was from Sam Peoples. But um ask about transparency and since um um FDLE has come out with their judgment
on the bid rigging um accusations. Y'all have not made any comment about the outcome of that. And the outcome of it is that there was
no bid rigging that they could find and there's no criminal charges going to be pressed against the former city manager. So that makes me wonder the credibility of the three people who made those
accusations. And you know, I don't know how to speak to y'all. None of y'all like me. I know that. And um I I'm not getting any feedback. I I've sent two letters and I've gotten no
feedback. And to me, this is not transparency to not announce the outcome of the FDLE investigation. Thank you. >> You don't get to ride. You got to wait in line. You gave her You gave her your turn. You got uh Jody and then Gap and
then you can do it. >> Come on up, Mr. Moore. >> I was okay going after Johnny. It's cold in here. Um amen to Corey for what he said. I mean, I totally agree. I think, you know, you have to do the right thing. I
think ethics and uh you know your morality really matters and I think that has to be looked at as well. Um you know I just want to bring up something too. Um when it comes to the scoring okay well first of all you said
there are two candidates. Okay the two viable candidates in your view. So let's look at those two candidates. All right but Pat only scored one person and that was Chris. I Pat, you know, I think you're doing a disservice to the citizens of the city when you only score
one person. I think you need to look at everybody. I think um you know, look at all the qualifications. I didn't know anything about the gentleman that you just brought up, but he sounds like a very viable candidate here. And look, I appreciate that Chris came in in a difficult situation um when the city,
you know, after, you know, Vicki got fired and all that stuff happened, you know, and I I'm glad that he's calmed, you know, the people in the city that um the workers here feel better. But quite frankly, you know, look, my opinion after Vicky Gainor, Chris Light probably
looks like King Arthur coming in here. Okay? Anybody would look good. All right? So you don't you can you can have someone else who would potentially do a great job. Chris does have a lot to speak for him, but I've got a lot of problems with the way this process is played out. Also, I I finally got a
chance to look at the scoring sheet. There are two candidates that are listed at the bottom and there's notes made about them. Not the other ones, but and they were um derogatory comments that were made at the bottom of the sheet. Why was that released? I I don't I don't
like that. that shouldn't have happened. I feel like this is all being pushed in Chris's direction and that's not the way this needs to go. This needs to go in a fair manner and you have to look at the whole picture. And I'm sorry Pat. I I just think you're doing the wrong thing here when you only score one person.
That again that did a disservice to the other candidates that you couldn't even give a 2, three, four, five. And that was also not right for the rest of the commission. You know, if you have a candidate who is a, you know, qualified as a city manager, has been a city manager, and Chris has a lot of
experience, I I understand that, but he has not been a city manager for years and years. If you got someone who has a degree and also is willing to take less money, why wouldn't you consider that person? As far as the interview process, I'm I'm with Judy. Why not have Why are we having these secret Zoom, you know,
you know, uh, interviews or in person? Why not have it all here in public or have a special meeting, have all the candidates come forward and and and like you said, take the phones away so there's no sneaky, you know, behind the scenes kind of stuff. And if somebody cannot come in person, you have these
big screens in here. You can have a Zoom interview and maybe that's not fair to them, but you know what? Don't pay for them to come. Let them they can pay for themselves. If they really want the job, they can come down here or they can do it by Zoom. Anyway, my opinion. >> Thank you, ma'am.
Miss Parker. >> All right, let's talk about the lawsuit with Chris forehand and the bed rigging. Chris, Bobby, did y'all not give a deposition? Was it truthful?
Bobby, was it truthful what you said? There you go. Bid rigging was correct. Y'all have got to start doing your due diligence. What's going on right now is not right.
Not right at all. Let's get this stuff done. Mayor, I comply with your March 16th. Let's get that done. Let's go and get it done.
This is getting ridiculous. This is getting out of hand. Thank you. >> Yes, ma'am. Now, Mr. Basher and Mr. Deweiler next. >> Okay. A couple of things. Um, first, the FDLE has declined to bring charges
against Vicky Gainner for bid rigging. So, they did not find sufficient cause to bring charges for bid rigging. Call it what you want, but that's that's the official status. They've returned her property to the city or the city's property to the city. There's no charges. Um, now that said, let's let's talk about the process. I do think y'all
need to go through the process and interview these different people. I like Chris, too. I drove a Ford for years. I loved it dearly. Then I drove a Toyota. I've never driven another Ford. You don't know what you're missing till you look at everything. And you've got to look at people and compare them and see
who who's going to be best for that. And that's what you need to do. I I understand Chris. Y'all know Chris. You like Chris. He's doing a good job. But we don't know what we might turn down if we don't bring somebody else in and interview them. We really need to follow the process. I think you're going to
lose a lot of ground with the citizens in the city if you don't follow the process. Also, I think that's an important thing to consider that people expect it to be transparent and that they're going to see this and this feels too back room the way this is playing
out right now. Um the one of the criteria I worked in the industry for years and years and the criteria for managers for people as they moved up was were how many direct reports they had, how many people they had reporting to them and how that structure was done. You were did HR stuff and it's kind of
built around that. So you have to consider what that looks like too with the people and I know you have a list of qualifications that were put out and you just got to compare people to it and make the choice who of who fits better. It may be Chris. It may be somebody
else. I like Chris. But you need to look at those and you need to follow the process. I will go along with Corey on that. The process is important and you need that transparency for people to see that it's been followed. Um lastly, the 16th really won't be a drop drop off
date. You may select somebody there, but correct me if I'm wrong, you're still going to have to negotiate salaries and and that's the type of thing. So, it's not going to be on the 17th you're going to have a new city manager. Um, you've got to go through that rest of that process after you make your selection. I would recommend getting it down to two
people instead of four or five. I don't see a real reason to consider that many because it sounds to me like y'all already pick the top two. Get them in here and interview them. Thank you. >> Thank you, sir. I like your metaphor about Ford and Toyota. That's what you
call country boy logic. Cory can understand, too. Come on up, Mr. Deweiler. Good evening. Since this might be my only opportunity to interview, let me go ahead and discuss my actual resume.
So, I did not work for FEMA, nor did I ever contract for FEMA. I worked for a private contractor called Tetrate Tech, same company that was hired by this city, the county, Springfield, Parker, and Callaway for Hurricane Michael. We
came in immediately after the storm. Not 10 days later, not 30 days later, not with cushy accommodations or anything else like that. We were here day one. That is what I did for 15 years. I flew into the eyes of storms. I stood up
projects, multi-million dollar projects, projects that had anywhere from 50 to 500 employees on them. We had hiring events where we would hire 80 people at a time. And I was in charge of training them. I was in charge of hiring them. I was in charge of managing them. I have
managed over a hundred million dollars in projects myself. I have assisted with over a billion dollars in projects myself. And Campfire, I don't know if you're familiar with it. It's where Paradise uh California burned down. It's right outside of Chico. It was the fire that
basically took away most of your FEMA funding. It happened about a month after the hurricane. I was out there as the logistics manager for that storm. We outlaid $8 million in logistics a
week and I was in charge of it. To say that I don't work with municipalities or that I don't have that experience is not accurate. I've worked with over 40 cities and counties to manage their programs. I have managed everything from debris cleanup to grants
management to project setup. I have written policy. I have appealed policy. I have appealed policy to the point in Louisiana that they rewrote the entire federal policy on private property debris removal because of my appeals. I beat them so badly
that they took out every stipulation that I used against them so it couldn't be used against them again. I understand state policy. I understand federal policy. And what you need in a city manager right now is someone who isn't going to look at the one year. They're going to look at the 10-year, the
15-year because you have such large amounts of capital outlay projects that you need to be performed right now. You have to have someone looking at 10 years ahead. Your assistant city manager is who needs to be looking at the day-to-day. And we can go into restructuring and how all that looks.
But fundamentally, you need somebody who can look longterm. And so, Mr. Rory probably has that experience. I have that experience. I'm not sure about Miss Hall, but she may have that experience. But to not interview would be an injustice to this city. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Did you want to say something, Miss Tinder? I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like this. Y'all created a process. This is an insult to all the 80 people
that put forth a resume to y'all to go through the resumes, rank the resumes, and make some decisions on who you want to bring back. Now, I live in Tallahassee and have a house in Port St.
Joe, but due to your corruption and your crooked exat attorney out of ML Britain, that's why I started coming here cuz he was our crook over in Port St. Joe. I was a national director for a biotech
company. My accountability and the contract that I held was $1 billion from 10 billion worldwide Amjunen revenues. So when I hired someone, I darn sure
wanted to make sure I went through everything and I made sure that the process wasn't fair, but was legal and right. And you need to ask your attorney right now. you try to make a decision tonight,
what what are you setting yourself up for? I'd be embarrassed right now. And I'm glad Zach showed up. I don't have a dog in the fight, but I'm sick and tired of seeing municipalities
act like you're running a goat rodeo. We're not military. And you need to get grounded in what you're here for. >> Anyone else? Public commentary. Oh,
you want to go ahead and speak, Judy, or wait? >> Okay. Come on up, Miss Sandy. I had no idea that Zach had applied for city manager till he just spoke. He is one of the most hardworking,
dignified, smart person I've ever met in my life. And I've met a lot of people. I've seen his dedication when he wants to get something done. like he was head of the recall for the
last mayor. He didn't just get people to go out and do it for him. He was there every single time. He loves this city. I can't believe that he was not allowed to interview. >> He's in the top four.
>> You are? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. Well, I I didn't understand that. I thought he wasn't going to be interviewed. Oh, he >> Yeah, he he's somebody you really need need to listen to because he is a fantastic human being. >> Thank you, >> Commissioner Tinder.
>> Ah, thank you, Mayor. First off, I'd like to say no matter what anybody thinks, this gentleman here has bent over backwards for me with every request I have made since he stepped up. He comes
to the cafe, brings me the agenda, he goes out of his way to help me be the commissioner that I want to be. And when I called, I called you today. He I got the answer instantly. I was able to call back the resident right
away. Um so in that light, he has done everything, you know, everything that's been asked of him, I believe. However, I have to say that I think we would look foolish
foolish to the community and everybody if we don't go through with these uh interviews. And Jennifer, you said yesterday or I don't believe it was you. I believe it was Gerard said that we
couldn't go through with the interviews tomorrow because one commissioner couldn't make it. >> No. No. We had a couple conflicts >> of commissioners that couldn't make it >> and and so you just sent the email out at 4:30 on Monday. >> But anyway, that it that's neither here
nor there. I really feel that we need to be transparent about this. We need to do it on the 16th. Take the four T phones, put them up here, have each person come and interview in front of all of us at
one time. And to your concern, mayor, you were talking about having residents um be there to watch and listen and all of that. For me, I would, if I had to pick a resident to come and watch what
was going on, I'd want them uh with the candidate. I I would want them with the candidate. So, I know that that candidate told everybody the same thing. Whereas, if we do it the way we did it before and have
them come here in the public, one at a time, we'll see what they're doing. We'll see how they interact, you know? I mean, it's it's we don't need the public. They can be here and watch, but at the same time, we can do that ourselves. We can see how they interact.
I think we would look foolish if we didn't um go through with these interviews on the 16th. Well, we have a motion and a second on the floor, but Commissioner Tinder, I agree with you. Um, I really feel we have to go through. We owe it. There were I believe it was actually 98
applicants, not 80. Um, and I spent an entire weekend reviewing every single one of them. Um, we really need to go through the final four, but I think, and of course, we need to go through and we need to have a vote here on this proposal, uh, this motion that's been
seconded. But if that does not pass, then my point going forward is a compromise. To Commissioner Peele's point, instead of doing the 16th and then having a final second volley, I hear the frustration. I hear
Commissioner Pero's for gosh sakes, let's just get this done, right? Let's just go back to the 16th instead of the one and two tier. We have four final C candidates. We're not going from five to two or five to three. We've got our final four
>> and three of them are local. >> Three of them are local. Let's get the fourth one in here. Let's have a no kidding public interview. Let's figure out the logistics of making that right and fair and transparent and legal and let's go ahead and pitch that on the 16th. That'll give us three weeks
roughly uh to get this done. Let's plan our work, work our plan. Uh give those four folks a fair hearing. um they all have great backgrounds and qualifications or they wouldn't have gone from 98 to four. Let's hear them out and then we'll transparently make
our pick and whoever gets the majority votes, the three of the five or four of the five or five of the five will be the first selectee. We probably need to select that two and I think it was Johnny Basher brought it up. You're not going to get somebody
immediately that night. We have a primary and we have a secondary. So if the primary doesn't accept or the contract terms don't, we have a second in place. You have a lady in waiting per se and let's just get this done on the 16th and at least have a clear final
decision that it's my fault. Any other commission before we go to a roll vote? >> Yeah. So just want to say again, we just had a whole discussion on the town hall and how we want people to be able to
talk. Miss Moore came up here and had a point of order, so I seconded it so we could talk. So I don't understand how we're the bad guy for doing that. Okay? Like, we just got blasted for giving people a chance to talk about it. I don't get it. All right. That being
said, if we can agree because it's not fair to Mr. Lightfoot and the other candidates to continue to wait. If we can agree that by I don't know, we have one more meeting between the now and the 16th, right? or at least another commission
meeting. What's today's date? >> We'll have the second >> if we can I don't know put on the agenda that we drill down exactly how we're going to do it on the 16th and we can promise to all the candidates you will have an answer on the 16th.
I'll I'll withdraw my second. But um if not and it's going to draw on longer. I'm going to I'm going to leave it and we're going to make a decision tonight cuz I'm tired of freaking waiting. So, that's where I'm at. To that point, Jennifer, you're a career
HR lady yourself. You got a lot of experience here. And um I'm curious your thoughts on us transitioning from the two-phase to just a one-phase public final four. Let's interview and get this done. Any uh first blush thoughts for
the commission? It's it's your all's process. Whatever you want. I mean, it can be done that way. This was trying to to minimize the number of people that might be brought in. Um, but it's whatever the commission desires, we can
set up the process. >> What recommendations do you have for us if we're going to do an all all hands on deck approach on the 16th of March? What is your process recommendation there?
>> Well, because you're worried about sharing the questions, one option you can do is you each have a set of questions that you bring forward and we publicize the questions. >> So, it's not unknown what the questions are going to be. So, basically, the
candidate is going to respond to the questions that you have, you know, made. These are going to be the questions that we ask. Maybe you don't ask all of them, but they're ready with what it is. Or you ask them to do a presentation on a particular topic. Or how would they step
into the job of city manager? What would be their first 180 days? What would be some of the top picks? They can do an actual presentation. And then you all could do follow-up questions. I've seen that done. Um, again, it's your process.
what's important to you all is what how you should organize and and detail out that process. And um are you finished? >> Uh my question too, my thoughts are if you have
uh pre-etermined questions, I think we would be opening a can of worms. I think that we all have different questions and I don't see any issue with asking those of the same
person because you may Jamie may say uh what what makes you feel you're qualified. You know I may say I can't even say it with a straight face. Um you I just think there are different
questions to be asked and I think having it in the public seeing how they answer to all of us is very very important and I think seeing their body language and
everything else is so important and to have when you first talked about residents this would cure the whole thing. This place could be full of people if they wanted to sit and watch the process, you know, and I see nothing wrong with
that. And and I don't know. I just think we should do it. I think we should do it on the 16th. I think we should do it so we don't look silly because this is way way silly. I drew I agree with Corey. I we have gone
like overboard on this big time. >> Okay. So, I guess we have a motion. we need to sort out here or um so um once we get this settled think we should really nail down
if we're going to go forward with the interview. We really need to give Jennifer some guidance tonight because she's going to have to tell all four applicants while two of them are in the room, two of them are not. um what they need to prepare for whether it's a cold interview or if they got to
do a presentation, whatever y'all prefer there. And so that I kind of see being the wrap-up piece here tonight. >> Well, since this was kind of this was not on the agenda for us to talk about this when we walked in. So my suggestion
is let's let's think about it and then have because if we're doing the 16th would the meeting if we gave you if you came prepared to give us options on the meeting before that is that enough time.
>> Yes. However I won't be here on the 10th. >> Oh okay. >> I mean we can do it like we have been doing it. Um, the cumbersome issue is always working within the sunshine. In other words, I can send out to everybody. I have a whole bank of
possible questions you might want to ask, but that's just generic >> possible questions. It doesn't mean you have to ask those questions. They may be prompters for you. Um, you all could decide. You each get three to five
questions. Again, that's what the mayor is saying. You you've got to kind of orchestrate the plan. It's easy to set up the logistics and to set up how to to do it, but this is not my plan. This is your plan. Um, but we can do it through
emails. just remember to respond to me and I'll try to do the best to to make it a a um holicit together into some kind of process. If that's the >> direction with the sun with the sunshine, a general direction from the five of us tonight would be very helpful
for Jennifer. If we're going to do the project presentation, let's at least agree on that and a topic, right? And then all five can give their project, my vision of Linhaven in the next 10 years or whatever that is, right? Well, my my point is that I haven't been given time
to think about what process I want because this was sprung on us tonight. >> So, you expect me to make a knee-jerk reaction on how we want to do this? >> That's fair. >> We have a motion that we have to go through first before we decide that.
>> Well, but what I'm saying though is I can just resend my second. >> No, he's got to resend his. Okay. In order for it to die. >> Okay. And so you can ask them, but I don't think he will. But >> let's vote. >> If there's no other discussion amongst
the commission, um, >> Mr. Lightfoot, would you call the role? >> Commissioner Pero, >> yes. >> Commissioner Peebles, >> no. >> Commissioner Warick, >> no. >> Commissioner Tender, >> no. >> Mayor Bowing, >> no. >> So on to the other part. So now we can
get into the other part of discussion. I So we keep bringing up the 16th, right? And this is for when we bring up the 16th, are we talking in person or we talking Zoom? >> In person, transparent. We'll fill the fill the audience. We'll fill the
audience. >> Um, okay. >> To the public. Let's do our interviews and let's get our next city manager hired. >> We can we say the 16th or earlier if because really it's going to come down to when John Rory can get here. You know what I'm saying?
Would I mean and of course I am fine with her. >> I'm going to say when she coordinates, we need to answer her email. >> We need to answer quickly so that she can coordinate. And it means if he can get here next week, then we can do it next week. If he get has to take two
weeks, then we do it in two weeks. But yes, that that's kind of where I'm at. You guys feel the same way? >> Go ahead, Judy. >> I say get her done. just get it done. Yes.
>> I've And I don't know if we get to voice our opinion on the outline or however you want to do it. I don't care about listening to any presentation. I have questions ready and I don't I would like to keep them to myself
>> until it's time to ask them. >> I agree. We just have to make sure I don't know if we have to make sure that we ask the same question from every candidate. Well, I don't know if that would be a requirement, but it would probably be a good idea. >> I'm going to ask the same questions to
every candidate. I'm just going to tell you that >> there's one question I'd have to turn a little bit because the way it's worded, but yes. So, from what I hear from everybody, if we can get a date before the 16th, which is 3 weeks from
yesterday, y'all are good with that. We need to give all four applicants a fair notice, make sure that they can actually achieve that date. We need to make sure first that all five of us can do it. Um, and we go forward from there. I'm
totally good with having them come up here and sit right where Jennifer's sitting. Yep. and we'll go around and we'll ask our questions. We'll do our interview can be broadcast. We can have a room full of folks. Uh we will need to figure out the security thing because if
Zack Deweiler's first and Chris Lightfoot's last, you know, you don't want an undo advantage there if somebody's broadcasting the questions. So maybe we keep them all in the back here watching Spongebob cartoons or something. I don't know. But we'll figure it out. Um,
>> uh, Team Cartoon Network over here. So, I'm >> kidding about Spongebob. But you guys get my point. We'll give them something to do, but take away the phones so there's no undo advantage >> and keep them entertained in the back till it's their time to interview. And that way everybody's fresh, everybody
gets them first. Have them draw a number out of a hat. >> Okay, >> there you go. The draw the order. Yeah. So, when you when you guys did this last time, do you remember how long it took per candidate to question them? >> 10 minutes. >> That was it.
>> Yeah, it wasn't long. It wasn't long. Uh you again, body language. Body language. Body language. >> Okay. >> And you saw whether they were nervous. You saw whether they were calm and confident. And we already had their
resume, so we knew their basic background. And you could you could tell you could tell exactly what was going on. >> So five >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> No, ma'am. I'm sorry. You go ahead. >> And I was just going to say the the
having the I don't know, mayor, how you still feel about having the um uh taxpayer people, you know, or the residents watching, but we'll see for ourselves. And I don't think we need that backup because they'll be here if they want to
be here and watch. >> We'll open it to the public and >> we'll just need to notice it, right? You have to be a you have to notice it >> by a certain amount of time. >> I I will say that each candidate, I'm sure, would take more than a collective 10 minutes. >> Oh yeah.
>> If if you each take 10 minutes, we're at the hour times four. So you're looking at a minimum of four physical hours with a break. So, it's going to be a long a long day. >> So, you project an hour per candidate?
>> I would project at least 45 minutes per candidate because that allows you questions and then some possible follow-ups. But, you have there's five of you. That's going to be a lot of questions. So, it it will be a day >> and we've got to give them time to
answer and they probably need at least an ability to make an opening statement or a closing statement as well. So, we're looking realistically at an hour. >> Yes, >> Mayor, if I I've been through this process many times. Yes, sir. >> Many different public entities. And I I
would uh second what Jennifer said about time, I would think you would need at least 30 minutes with the candidates. >> If it turns out you don't need it, you can always cut the interviews off short and take, you know, more break time, but I would schedule at least 30, 45, an hour, whatever y'all think. But you
know, you're going to have at least one candidate coming from a different state and you you don't want to talk to him for 10 minutes. So, >> right. >> Yes. >> So, will we be limited how many questions we can ask? Like >> be two per commissioner, three per
commissioner. I don't know cuz two is that's 10 questions. Three is that's 15. That's >> I I think you'll find that many of the commissioners have similar questions, right? And so if you come in with four or five yourself, a lot of the other commissioners may answer and you can follow up.
>> I already got seven questions ready to go. >> Seven, 10, whatever you think you need. And then prioritize what you what's important. >> Okay. >> Rob, were you present at the last >> I was here for uh Mr. Schubert. I was here for Mr. um White.
>> Mr. White is the one. Yeah. That I was talking about. >> Mr. White. There was for both those we had public interviews >> um in the commission room. We also had time just a short period of time oneonone just before that meeting about 10 15 minutes with each commissioner
>> for any questions that they did want to ask in public basically to get a good feel for it. But there's there is no right way to do this. Um it it's a very commission driven process. Uh and so it's what you all are most comfortable with. Um, but the last two that I was
involved with, we did here in the commission room. >> I just hope that when you contact these last four that they believe we're really going to do it. I hope we haven't lost anybody else. >> So, I know this has been painful.
Sunshine Law doesn't allow us to meet and discuss outside of these published meetings. Uh, it's cumbersome and you guys and ladies are watching sausage making be made here. I'm sorry. It's been a long meeting tonight and commissioners, I apologize to y'all as well. You guys know this better than I
do, but uh I appreciate the due diligence. I think the end product here is a good one. Instead of a two-phase, we're going with one phase. Um the 16th is the latest we're going to get this done. If we can get it done reasonably
faster, maybe a week earlier, maybe we're two weeks out instead of three weeks out. Great. Let's do it. Let's do it all at once. Let's plan to have it right here. Good old sunshine. Uh it can be recorded and let's let's get this done. Let's just ask our questions. No
presentations in. I hear that loud and clear. Let's just have our questions ready and we'll go through. I would say at least each commissioner have three questions. And you may find that Pat and I or Jamie and I are asking the same question. So you only end up asking two questions. You don't have to ask all
three. But if you have things important to you, we will ask. We just need to make sure you ask that exact same question to all four of the candidates when they come up for their interview. >> Before the commission goes, do you all also want a time for one-on ones with
the candidates? >> That was not beneficial at that last one. Yeah, I saw two different people. >> One in the one. Let's have the interviews and let's select our city manager. >> Let's just do it. >> Okay. >> Sunshine, transparency. Let's get it
done. >> If they want to meet individually with us afterwards, like especially we pick our top two, it'd probably be good if we actually all met with them after it was done and go, "Hey, I'm Dave Lowry. How are you?" Especially if you don't already know him.
Mayor, may I are you all planning on selecting the manager directly after that interview or those interviews or you going to narrow it down to top two and then my thoughts are we select a top person
and a runner up and we if the top person does not get the salary, contract, negotiation, whatever it is that he or she is looking for, we go we already have a designated ated alternative. >> Okay. So coming out of the the March
whatever meet day the meeting is Yes sir. >> There will be a number one and a number two >> and an authorization to go negotiate a contract with the number one. >> That is my intent. Commissioners, are you good with that? >> Yes. So we'll have to make a motion >> that day
>> at the conclusion of that. I really we need a break. We probably need Right, right, right. >> Oh, no, no. >> But we'll have a number one. We'll have a number one and a number two. So
maybe uh maybe we do the interviews, all four of them. We schedule those and then we have like an hour set aside for the five of us to basically do our jury deliberation thing here, right? Where we discuss it. We go back and forth. I
really like Joe Jones did this and Smith said this and this really hit it out of the park. Whatever it is, we discuss it like a jury, but it's it's open so everybody can hear our inputs and our back and forth. Then we make our selection
that I mean Sunshine Law, that's how we have to do it. We I can work with Jennifer to to come up with a a a plan and we can distribute that to the commissioners beforehand and and make sure you all comfortable with it and tweak it as we need to. So going into
the those interviews, you know what the plan will be. >> Rob, I want to publicly thank you for being here. I I know you're an old hat. You were our attorney years ago. You've been through actually two city manager hires with us as an organization. uh your experience is invaluable here and I
want to publicly thank you for stepping up and filling in as we kind of potentially transition uh and help Jennifer Hodes with this. I very much appreciate you, sir. Thank you. >> And did we decide that they're they will
draw numbers to who goes first? >> Sure. >> That seems like the fairest way. >> And I'll leave that for Jennifer. In fact, Jody Moore, I'm going to ask you to help her. You You two will draw the hats. Just because you're in line of sight, I'm going to ask you to help draw
the numbers with Jennifer Hodes. You two will decide the rack and stack. >> I'm not touching anything. >> That's what you get for sitting in the front row or second in the front row. >> All right. Anything else on that? The only last thing that I'll add for
you all to consider is that is that you can do you can have an open discussion and try to hash it out among yourselves. You could also have written ballots beforehand where each one of you pick either just one or two and then you know if if nobody gets any votes then that
person is out and then you can hash it out with those with the the two that you pick that are in there. And so if you do with just one person, if you just pick your top person, there's going to be if everybody picks the same top person, there's no need for discussion. If there's more than one top person, then
you need to probably hash it out with those. And that's something that can narrow the discussion down. >> But we could decide that on that day. >> You can decide that. We can suggest that and you guys can decide how you want to do it based on how the interviews go. Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Sure.
>> Okay. Did that give you enough guidance to press forward? >> Yes. And you'll The first thing I'll be doing is sending an email to you for you to clear your calendars or tell me if there's any date any of you cannot be
present. Got to start there and then we go to the candidates. >> Okay. All right. Thank you for what you've done and thank you for what you're about to do. All right. So, are we good there?
All right. If there is no other discussion amongst the commission there, let's go uh to what was 16, I guess now 17, the mayor's report really quickly. Who else? I'm sorry.
>> Oh, my my apologies. Yep. Okay. My apologies. I wrote on the bottom of it. So, we're at 15. We're at public commentary. First, we have Miss Jerry Parker.
I'm not going to give a whole lot of more information, but I would like to know if 18th Street would please get paved. There's so many potholes for so many years on that street, 18th
Street. Please, y'all get that paved. That needs to be paid. That's right across the street from um McDonald's. Please. >> On which side of 77? >> On this side. >> Okay. >> There. I mean, it's right there where Diego's is and right there. It's I mean,
that road is horrible. And I've I've said it probably four or five times before. So, please try to get it paved. Not graveled but paved. >> Yes, ma'am. All right. Thank you, Miss Parker. Christie Mroy
already brought up what I wanted to mention. This is Ninth Street. People park over there. This parking lot gets full. And not only that, try to back up in this parking lot and you're
in a truck, you might end up hitting someone. You need a crosswalk across Ninth Street with the little flashy lights so that when somebody starts to approach or see it,
you also have a park over there. with a lot of children. Like I said, little tight on a bike this big was almost mowed over tonight. Lady was in a taller vehicle. She can't
see the little tight this big. So, if you could get some signs put out there, watch out for children. I think that would be most helpful since you've got a very heavily used park by church.
Now, if you didn't have general public comment, I wouldn't be able to say that. All right. Any other uh catchall public commentary? I got two. I let Corey go first last time. I saw Basher. So, Mr. Basher, Miss Basher, Corey, and Miss
Jody. >> For ever since we started having meetings in this building, we've struggled as the citizens to hear y'all speak. And it's an ongoing problem. It's it's sometimes we can hear you, sometimes we can't. Can we get some of
those little headsets that have the microphone that comes in front of your mouth where we can hear y'all well each time instead of maybe hearing you, maybe not hearing you. Um, I think that would be helpful if we could get some of those little headsets. I think it would help us a lot out there. I think it would
really help us. >> So, just so you know, our IT guy in the back literally we had a discussion earlier tonight. He's actually putting together a proposal. We're actually looking to redo the speakers and actually even perhaps put up some curtains to help off this arch and off
the back for the sound. And instead of the radio frequencies, actually doing an RF with these microphones and actually getting some more effective microphones. That doesn't work. Probably the the McDonald's drive-thru like I did in high school. That those kind. Yeah. Um
hopefully we won't have to get there, but a little bit better retrograde here because the acoustics are awful in here, >> right? It it just because the microphone distance, y'all are all different and the gains. I know he's got the gain turned up, but that's something that can be worked on. Hopefully, we'll get that cured. >> But true story. And the IT guy can vouch
for me. He's literally putting together a proposal for us to look at exactly that. So, you're spot on, Johnny. >> We've already received one quote. We're working on the others. Okay. >> Miss Basher, you were next. I want to talk about the eighth and ninth street or the ninth street
crossings here. Um when Johnny was running for office, we saw a lot of balls run out. We saw a lot of stuff. I've been talking to um Bobby Baker about getting crosswalks, blinky signs, blinky signs. It's a funding issue at this point.
Y'all need to all lot the funds to do that work. I completely agree. This is a dangerous area and people come off 77 and I've also asked maybe for 10th Street to be closed off some to, you
know, make that safer. Um, y'all got to do something. >> Well, you know, >> is this CRA? Can we do something through CRA? >> Probably. >> CRA is a possibility. Um, just general funds is also another. And you know, we
have a brand new police chief here with a pair of fresh eyes. So, I'm going to ask him I formally tasking. I'm asking uh for our new police chief and deputy police chief to take a look at that specific intersection. Gentlemen, y'all have heard the the concerns tonight.
Would y'all please take a hard look at that? It'll be a good teaching and learning opportunity for you two to work together and come back with some recommendations to the city manager and the commission, please. And they can do that literally tomorrow. >> Yes, ma'am.
>> Michelle. Michelle, I also have to say that I agree with what she's saying for sure. But if a child is maimed or killed right out here in our park, guess what? It'll cost us a lot more than the cost of a few signs.
>> Um, yeah. I saw one run out after one of those airplanes and the balls and we sat out there for a whole week and watched it. You were out there, too. Right there in front of the park. >> Yes, sir. >> We're going to have our our new top cop and deputy chief take a look at that.
They can look at it tomorrow. >> Yes, ma'am. Little too late tonight. >> All right, Miss Jody and Oh, no. You were next, Corey. I'm sorry. And then, Miss Jody. >> Mr. Mayor, I just want to go off of what Miss Michelle just said. I did have a Well, I'll wait to my report. I'll wait
till my report. >> Okay, sir. >> Lori. >> Yeah. I just wanted to take a minute to really explain how much what I just had to come up here and say pained me to do. I did not want to have that conversation. At least not in not in
this forum. Um, and um, you know, there's there's a lot of questions that I have for several of the candidates, and I hope they address it in their opening statement. I want to know why why the cat got fired, right? I want I got some some questions that that I hope
Mr. Debtweiler answers. Okay. So, I I'm not anti Mr. Lightfoot. I'm not pro Mr. Lightfoot. I'm not pro anyone or anti- anyone. Okay? That's all I want is for the process to play out. Four of you got
it right. Thank you. I appreciate it, >> sir. All right, Miss Jody. Miss Arlene, are you standing up to Okay. >> All right. Just a few odds and ends. Um Sam, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for you to be blasted, but there is a proper
procedure, which I know. So, I mean, it needed to be second. I mean, you had an option also not to second, but I'm glad the discussion was had because I think it needed to be. Um, you know, I do want to say too that when it comes to the city manager um interviews, I hope that uh one of the
questions for Mr. Lightfoot in the interview will be the question that Mr. Langford had with an answer because we didn't get one tonight. Um, and when I'm uh up here talking, you know, I just want to say this is uh why public commentary is important because of the odds and ends that I'm saying right now.
So, I hope it's not taken away at the meetings. I mean, I think we need to have open public commentary. Sometimes things come up in the meeting and then, you know, I don't want to have to wait till a Saturday, you know, two weeks later or whatever. Um, so I hope that the answer will be that we keep open public commentary. I know it isn't
always fun, but you know, when you run for office, um, that's what you're up there for is to, you know, listen to the citizens, listen to the people. Um, I just want to also talk about the city attorney. You know, um, that issue. It's kind of interesting to me how that all
came about. Um I do think and all I'm going to say about that is, you know, this commission needs to work together. You know, you're one body. You know, we have a chairman who's the leader of the meeting, but you guys are the boss, all five of you. So, y'all need to work together on decisions that happen. Um
but I think um Judy referenced it earlier. We did have a um in-house attorney. Actually, weren't you the in-house attorney at one time? No. Okay. So, you worked for a company and then and came in. I work for the same law firm that represents the city now. >> Yes. Okay. Been >> here since two 2002. >> Okay. I thought maybe you were an
in-house attorney, but I mean years ago. Okay. But we have had that before. Um and the bottom line is whoever we get needs to be ethical but board and have good decisions, good opinions, um you know, for whoever it is, whether it's a
a firm that comes in otherwise. Um and I have a question for um the city attorney regarding the um consent agenda. Um, this kind of bothers me. Um, public commentary. Uh, I'm sorry, not public commentary on the consent agenda. Is that that's an item that's voted on? So,
shouldn't there be public commentary? I know it isn't um traditionally done or I've seen it. It's like public commentary doesn't happen because the commission just votes on it. But I think that there actually should be before the vote is taken on the consent agenda, you should have the citizens have a chance
to ask questions, especially if you eliminate um public commentary and we can't even talk about it at the meeting or even if you keep public commentary, it's at the end now and then you know we don't we don't get a chance to talk about that issue before you vote on it. I mean whatever those items are. So what
is the the answer to that on public commentary um for the consent agenda? Should there be public commentary >> that go ahead sir? Um, so I would think and I have not looked at that issue, but I would think that there should be public commentary at the end of the
commission at the consent. >> It's an agenda. Thank you. >> Any item on the agenda, >> but I'm happy to take a look at that if Mr. Life wants. >> Okay. Because it isn't happening and I think there should be a vote when you know anything that you vote on at a meeting there should be there should be
public commentary. Yes, sir. I think we have we've been doing that, but I think we just missed it tonight. >> And that's probably your inexperienced mayor with his third hole. You know, >> you're not the only one. No, seriously, I have Mayor Nelson did the same thing. Um, but I just that's something that has
bothered me that needs to happen. All right. Thanks. >> And if that was an error on my part, I apologize. There was no intent to screw up the process there, but if I jumped that, >> okay, >> we should we should have caught that, too. >> Okay. No problem. Like I said, it wasn't just you. I've noticed that before. All
right. Thanks. >> The new guy excuse only works so long and I got a month on the job now. So I I can't use that anymore. But my bad. So if that was something I erited on, I'll make a note to to ensure that we get the
uh commentary on the consent agenda. Normally those are very non-controversial, non-issues, right? So it is what it is. But thank you for catching it. All right. So, if there is no other consent uh excuse me uh public
commentary, we'll move on to uh the mayor's report and the commission reports real quick. Uh it's been a long meeting. I appreciate the handful of you that are still here. You're the dieards and uh I appreciate y'all participating tonight. Uh mayor's report very quickly,
month on the job now. I'm still grateful to be a part of this team and honored to be here with you four. uh and you citizens. Um we had our art awards for all these uh for African-American or Black History Month uh earlier this
afternoon. Uh Commissioner War handed out a whole bunch of uh well-earned ribbons and we were able to recognize students from three or four different schools. You know, three four >> three schools. One of the schools had
three grades. So, a whole bunch of students anyway. So, the place was packed and it wasn't for a controversial issue or meeting and most everybody had smiles on their faces. So, that was a good thing. That's all I've got. Happy to be here and proud to serve. So, we started last time on
the right with uh Commissioner Tinder. So, we'll start again over here with Commissioner Perno tonight. >> Thank you, Mayor. I don't have much to report. I do know that um uh you know it's been a tough meeting but um I wouldn't I don't think I'm giving any
disservice to the city on how I feel and my integrity speaks for itself. I did review all the all the candidates. I read the flow sheets and I made my decision based on that and we waited our we waited our decisions. I spoke to Gerard. There was other people that I
wanted but I said I said with conviction I had one candidate and that was it. And I'm I have the right to that opinion and I'm sorry if it offends people or they think I'm doing a disservice to this city. I think I've served the city for the last eight years and I I don't I don't have any problems putting my head
on a pillow either as as uh Mr. Langford would say. So, you know, take that for what it's worth. I know you can stick it in the beacon, you know, whatever you want to do. So, um I would like to thank um Chelsea, Melissa, John, and and
Margaret uh the other candidates who we did not select and and that man I again think that it was very very powerful people are stepping forward to serve our city and that's a good sign. So, I know
when I leave the city with a smile on my face a year from April that um that I hope a very qualified person is going to take the chair and I think we're we're we're aiming to that. So, um at this point, the way I feel tonight and you
know um I'm sure that I'm I'm feeling low and they're aiming high. So, um uh again, I'm sorry if I wasted anybody's time. Um, I will say that I did get an email. Um, I was going to expound on
what Miss Michelle said. Um, but um uh the um um u a mom was at the park on President's Day and it was packed over there. Lots of moms. Lots of kids. And
her kid and another mom had to run. She had to She has three boys and they're hella on fire. So, one of them took off, gravitated to water. Most autistic kids escaped to water. So, we don't have much
fence over there around that that lake that we expanded and it's near the playground. And if a kid gets away from a mom, that's and and and kids on the spectrum run straight in the water and some of them don't know how to swim, you
know, and that's not a good thing. So, um, it's something that we need to address. I spoke to city manager. He said he talked to Tai, um, and it's something we're going to look at. Uh, I do think CRA dollars would be well spent on some safety issues over there. Um,
and, uh, or or or, um, you know, we're going to be looking at some budgetary constraints with, uh, with with some with some issues with the state legislature if if it goes down like that. So, we need to think about what we've got to do there. Um, also I'd
like to thank um our new our new police chief and and our exin police chief, deputy police chief that are back there in the back of the room. Couple bald heads back there. I appreciate you guys. Um I I want to welcome our new chief. Uh
um and and it it's always good to have have have new blood. Um, I've got an old friend uh who is who was in the police department in Gainesville. He's he's I don't think he's in town this week, but I'd love to get you guys together to have some war stories and talk about
some things cuz he was he was high ranking officer in in the Gainesville Police Department. And so, uh um but with that being said, all of our city employees, all of our department heads, and everybody who sat through this meeting who came and cared, I I really appreciate you and your time. So, thank
you all for being here and that's my report. >> Only one uh response, Commissioner Pero, before uh uh Commissioner Peele starts. You've heard me say this a lot and I will say it to you here uh with very much respect. It's better to be hated
for who you are than beloved for who you're not. And you have been you have made your intentions and your convictions very clear in your preference. And you've been remarkably consistent. >> Yeah. And I I could give a rat's ass about what other people think about what you know what what you know that I don't
I have I'm just serving the city of Linhaven. That's Understood. And I respect your convictions and you've made it very clear what your preferences are and I salute you for that and I appreciate your service here very much. And that's you know
>> you can spell that in the notes too. Okay. Not boine feces bull. So, Commissioner Peoples, >> first I want to say uh welcome home, Chief. We're happy to have you and thank you uh Deputy Chief Enfinger for all you
did. Great job. And also the shout out for the what was it? The um the marshall what was Yeah, federal marshals got we got the report sent to us. Great job. Um,
next, uh, Miss Bashers, um, if you have before you leave, get with me and I wanted to get information from you about the FDLE since you talked since you have some information on it. Maybe we can figure out who I need to talk to to get the information. Okay. All right. Um,
because I do want to I feel I do feel bad. I should have gotten on that and I apologize. Um, and then LA Oh, okay. Don't leave without seeing me first, if
that's okay. Um, and then finally, I just want to use the rest of my time to talk about something that I've been meaning to bring up, but it just hasn't come up. So, I'm just going to use my report for it. So, one of the things I'd like to do is something that we had been doing in the past and it kind of died off is we
were bringing forward new ordinances to review because a lot of our ordinances are from 1996. Uh, in the past, I don't know if it was city manager that put it on the agenda or the former chair, but that was one thing that when I was campaigning that I was really wanted to
do and I definitely noticed among talking to people. So, I would like to bring that back up. I don't know if I don't know if anyone has the history of that. Uh, Mayor Lowry, if you want to head that up, if you want me to head that up, I'm happy to do that to coordinate with uh Mr. Lightfoot or
whatever. Um, but I would like to get that back on our agendas to go through our old ordinances because a lot of them are very outdated. For example, there there were a few of our ordinances that some of the words I would consider derogatory. You know, we
we don't want that in our city. We also want um you know the language to be modernized because in my opinion I know that ultimately ordinances are in place so that you have something to enforce but I also believe the ordinances are in place so it's a rule book that the city
understands code enforcement understands and the citizens understand and there are some ordinances that we can update to make them more readable for the general public that may not understand certain acronyms or whatever. So, I mean, you get it with the military and all that. So, that's that's my report.
I'll be at the TPO meeting tomorrow. Um, that's the first one. I'll be there present. So, I'm looking forward to it. Um, as weird as this sounds, the last one I went to, my first one was death piepoint, and I actually enjoyed the PowerPoints, which was kind of crazy to say, but I did. So, I'm looking forward
to tomorrow. And that's my report. Commissioner Peebles, if you want to volunteer to spearhead an an ordinance relook, sir, I would be honored to have you bird dog that. Um, and the rest of the commission can uh follow your lead on that. Fresh pair of eyes is or maybe
we end up dividing it up and we all do a divide and conquer, but it clearly needs to be done. And uh you know, whatever the biggest closest gators are to the boat, the ones with derogatory language are the ones that desperately need common sense modern updating, those are
the ones that we need to look at first. So, thank you for volunteering to do that. >> Mayor, if I may on that, I mean, we we probably need to wait until there the decision is made for the attorney and the city manager. I mean, we can't have a a a law firm that's serving on an
interim basis until you all make a decision and a city manager serving on an interim basis until you all make a decision to look at ordinances. >> I agree. >> That's fair. That's fair. Once these two are done, Sam, let's let's let's look to launch that and I'll help you with it however we need to tag team. But, uh,
I'd love for you to bird dog that. And thank you for volunteering, Commissioner War. So, just a reminder, uh, 9th of March was the Bay County Leo cities event. Um, I believe Commissioner Perl, you're going. >> Yes. >> People, you're going. Mayor, you're going.
>> My calendar. 9th of March, >> right? You're not going. You're going. CJ's going. Yeah. It's a Monday. It's at Uncle Ernie's. So, >> what time? >> It's uh starts at 5:30. >> The calendar invite has been sent to everyone. >> So, but if you can't go, please let me
know so we don't have a extra dinner. we have to pay for it. >> Sure. >> Um I don't know if anybody's been out to the Atlantis Event Center. Used to be the old Sally May building now then became Maximus. I know Commissioner Tender is very familiar with that building. >> Yes.
>> If you have not been over there, I highly highly urge you to go over and get a tour of it. It's um to me if it ends up being successful, I think it's going to be a game changer for Linhaven. I mean, it's a 133,000
square foot building and they can use it for all kinds of big events, which is a big void in Bay County, especially ever since the Marina Civic Center is no longer there, ever since the hurricane. So, I really highly encourage you all to do that because I think there's a lot of
opportunities there. Um, of course it's privately owned, but being educated on it and seeing where maybe we could help them in one way or another. Um, I think it would be very beneficial for the community. >> Is it built out? Is it >> What's that?
>> Is it built out? Like is it is it already built >> or they working on it? They're working on it, >> but there's they they already have it set up where they can do certain events like like FSU is having a graduation there in May, >> right? And then people can have weddings, the wedding receptions. I
mean, they're talking in the future of having concerts in there. And I don't mean just like a local band. I'm talking like headliner type stuff. >> That's big. >> It's it's it's a huge, as you know, it's a huge building. And so when I had the tour, one of the questions I had is,
"What can't you do in here that they could do at the old Marina Civic Center?" And the gentleman didn't have an answer because there's enough room. The only thing that's big difference is it doesn't have the the tiered seating, you know, but they have ideas for that
>> and and so after that did that um I don't know if you remember Jennifer Vigil from Panama um >> destination Panama City came and talked to us >> a bit >> I talked to her on Monday and uh got a lot of information from her and that
kind of relates to this Atlantis Event Center and I I think it could and so There's a lot of moving or not I shouldn't say moving pieces. There's a lot of information to learn because I didn't understand how all that stuff works and she explained it all to me and she gave
me a good graphic to explain all of it and I'd highly recommend all you do that also because I think that might be something we need to we should look at. So that's what I've been up to. >> Could we have her back? Can we have her back at a meeting to
>> We could, but I think I think we should talk to her first so we understand what our options are because there is a couple different options and it's it's understanding how all those come together. It it's I can't explain it all like right here
right now, but it's it's a lot to kind of have in your head and understand how it all plays out. You mean in terms of all the capabilities that they could provide as >> how it's all organized >> conventions? Uh does >> does she go around and come here or we
would we have to go see her or where did you meet her? >> I met her at uh Panama City destination destination Panama City downtown. >> Okay. >> Yep. >> That'd be awesome. The biggest limb fact there I see is lack We only have one hotel in Winhaven. Right.
>> Right. And and they're in favor of it. >> Yeah. But we have a lot of Airbnbs and more coming online. >> That's what that was her point when she presented to us said we do only have one hotel, but we have we have more and more real estate turning to Airbnb in Lin
Haven. >> Yeah. And >> going back to Atlanta's Event Center. >> Yeah. >> The opportunities out there, maybe some other hotels show up. So, >> um, and I'll just echo whatever everything's been said. I am so excited that uh we have a new police chief and
uh he's I'm just floored with it and I'm I'm really looking forward to working with him. But that's all I have. Thank you. >> Thank you, Commissioner Tinder. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um first on the ordinances, I have to say
I've seen ordinances that tie your horse up outside of businesses. Um, we actually at the cafe were threatened every day for a week years ago about having an open sign out
front and where it was going to be put and all that business, but ordinances definitely need to be looked at. um fire department fire chief's not here tonight, but I'm so excited and I know we hired two, but I know Nate and boy
have we gained a real asset uh to the city of Lyn Haven. He's one of the new fire firefighters. Um, also I just I want everybody to uh say
an extra prayer for Kevin um Kevin Hogan. He was a deputy at the sheriff's department that passed two days ago. Young man. I spent uh about three hours with his mother today and she's only
mother of one son and uh so everybody say a prayer for her and for him like she said I know where he's at now and he's a veteran and uh very nice tributes to him on Facebook but um
my heart goes out to her too but we've got great the police chief I'm excited I've seen good things already and and anything anything positive is something we need to grab a hold of and hold on to. Hold on tight. And that
is the end of my report. >> Thank you, ma'am. All right. And uh so, Chief, that's uh four new welcomes. I'll make it a fifth. Uh we're proud to have you with us. We're proud of uh Steve's service as a deputy uh and interim for
quite a while and uh you guys are going to make one hell of a tag team. So, I'll leave it at that. Um we're now on to item 18, interim city manager report. >> The uh Davis Lake draw down ended today. It was supposed to end March 1st. FWC
email. They said go ahead and close the the gate there. So, staff got that taken care of. I would like to invite you all to Coffee with a Cop March 5th from 10:00 to 12:00 at Starbucks. Uh the Bayou Park, the Bayou Preserve Park will be closed to the public Thursday and Friday, February 26th and 27th for the
Bay County Sheriff's Office K9 search and rescue training seminar. The new playground at Kain Griffin Park is almost complete. Irrigation and sod are scheduled for this week and fence fence installation scheduled to begin March 11th. The spring art in the park
event is scheduled for March 20th. the 1300 and400 block of Minnesota Avenue sidewalk project. It's moving right along. If you go through there, they're making a lot of progress. We did have a uh meeting today for the living shoreline grant. We sent you that, Commissioner Pero. Um and Jacobs is
working great with Dr. Graham over there. Um we will have a community workshop, probably the last meeting in April prior to the commission meeting and let the public see what we're doing there um outside the wastewater treatment plant on the shoreline as well as at the Bayou Preserve Park shoreline. Um, and then I would like to invite
Chief Blanchard to come up. I know it's a late meeting, but just to give a quick introduction. I know the public is pretty much gone for the evening, but those still watching at home can hear from Chief Blanchard for just a second. >> Oh, yes. >> Good evening. >> Appreciate it. Keep it short and sweet.
Um, loving what I'm being able to do so far. I appreciate the honor. Um we have been able to u meet with about half the staff one ons so far. Uh we've got some meetings set up after that. We've got coffee with a cop coming up to meet the community. Um
deputy chief caught a murder suspect this morning with some of our partners. Uh we've working on solving solving the problems that Commissioner Tender brought forward and a few others. And anything that you need, we're here for you. We'll uh we'll do our best to make it better. would like so much
>> to make sure you all are at uh March 2nd is the swearing in ceremony for Chief Blanchard as well as some new officers and some promotions um that have been outstanding. So, we'd like for you all to be there 10:00 a.m. March 2nd here in the chambers. >> Yes, sir. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you, Chief. And welcome. >> Any questions on the checklist from Miss Marsh? All right, that's it. All right. Finance report. Just miss Marsh. Nothing else. All right. City attorney report. Rob. Uh,
not meaning to put you on the spot. I don't know if you have anything to follow up on. >> I have two two quick things, I guess. First off, I think the commission knows why I'm here, but just so y'all know, Amy is at the bar um administering the bar exam. She's been elected to the be a member of the Florida Bar Examiners, and
so she's giving helping give the bar exam in um in Tampa. So, I'm filling in temporarily while that happens. Uh, two, Amy had a follow-up item from last commission meeting to determine the cost of the election for the charter and, uh,
contacted the supervisor election today. If we do it in August with the countywide election, it'll be free for the city. If we call a special election, the estimate is $28,000. >> Makes a lot of sense. And Sammy, we're right on point. And that's all I have.
Thank you, sir. and thank you for supporting us tonight. >> All right. Well, the night >> Well, it's probably free as long as you keep it down to that one page. I think >> I I don't know. I can I'll follow up and and I did need to follow up on the date that we would need to get the information. My guess would be May.
>> I think it's June. >> Yeah, June. Okay. >> Right. All right. Well, if there's nothing else for the good of the order,