All right, we're going to have the uh >> you can have a little levity. >> Start the uh June the 2nd meeting. We'll have invocation by Commissioner Oliver, pledge of allegiance. Uh Commissioner First, please stand. Let's bow. Most heavenly and gracious father, we come to you in the name of
your son Jesus Christ. Lord, we come to you right now lifting your name up on high, praising, exalting your holy name. Thank you, Lord, for this day that you've created and thank you for allowing us to be a part of your creation yet one more day. Lord, we ask that you would govern over this meeting right now and and and we ask that you
would just allow us to be uh agreeable uh and not be disagreeable. But we also ask Lord that you will watch over those men and women that have sworn to protect our democracy uh across this globe. Watch over them and their families. watch over our our our first responders, Lord, here in in the city of Okoy as
they go out to protect us each and every day, Lord. And Lord, when all is said and done, we're going to be so careful and so grateful to give you all the honor, all the glory, and the highest of praise. These and all things we do pray in the name of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen. >> Amen. >> Amen. I 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. >> Commissioner Kennedy >> here. >> Commissioner Wilson >> here. >> Mayor Johnson >> here.
>> Commissioner Fner >> here. >> Commissioner Oliver >> here. I'm going to uh I'm going to move one of them around here real quick on the presentations that where the person won't get overheated here. Chick-fil-A beneficiary check presentation. Parks
and leisure service director Johnson. Good evening, mayor, commissioners, city manager. I'm going to turn my time over to Miss Beth with Chick-fil-A and she'll talk a little bit about the race this year. >> Good evening, everyone. We just are here tonight to distribute our benefactor um
their check from the 5K. Every year, and this was our 14th year, we had a benefactor, a local benefactor nonprofit that we give back a percentage of the race entries to to help them complete their mission. And tonight, our benefactor was Dog Good Farm. That's
Josh Taylor. Some of you know him out of House Blends Cafe. Um his daughter is here tonight representing Do Good Farm. Her name is Cameron. I'm going to have her step over just for a moment, tell you just a little bit about what their mission is, and then we'll thank everybody that had a part of this.
Hi guys. Thank you. So, we exist to end hunger and malnutrition. We're working on projects all over the world and so we're going to use this check um to help us give back. So, thank you so much, guys. We already have our date for next year's 5K. It's going to be the 15th
annual Chick-fil-A 5K with the city of Akoi and the kids fun run sponsored by Fraal Brewer Orthodontics which are here tonight as well. Want to give a big shout out to this year's we filled up before time. We actually had to cut off entries uh because everybody wanted to come out and be a part of the 14th
annual 5K. Big shout out. We couldn't do it without the city of Akoi. We so appreciate you. Parks and Leisure Services, Mark Johnson, Torren Hogan and their team. Tracy's here tonight. Frail Brewer Orthodontics, Jeannie Fraven's here tonight, Dr. Brewer, my operators,
Sig and Jeannie Boast, who have the Okcoian Winter Garden stores who allow me to do what I get to do in the community that I love, which is give back. So, next year, it's date, put it on your calendar, it's going to be April 10th, it'll be our 15th annual
Chick-fil-A 5K and fun run. and we will post closer to time for if you have a nonprofit that's local within the zip codes that we list on our application, you can apply to be our benefactor next year and then we'd see you here a few months later for check presentation.
Just want to I think Tracy has a list of all of our sponsors that helped this year, but I definitely want to give another shout out to the city of Akoi, not just the city, but the police department and fire department who are always partnering with us and helping us to do what we can do, which is give back
to our community. Thank you guys so much. Lace up your shoes. You got plenty of training time. I think about 11 months. Um and again, it'll be an awesome medal next year because it's the 15th year. And we look forward to seeing you. Thank you again to the city of Akoi, the commissioners that came out and the mayor that always starts the
race, Dwayne Hunt for singing the national anthem. Again, it's why we love our community because community comes out. Have a great night and remember, eat more chicken. >> Any of you want to say anything else? If not, we'll come up front. We'll take some pictures
>> and wait on the check. Oh, that's >> Oh, that's great. >> Big check. >> Oh, yes. $1320 from the race and we also had a check for them of12540 for a community fundraiser that we had. >> Y'all want to fold up here to go behind us here?
>> Yeah. >> Okay. I >> get out of the picture. >> I I Okay. I >> I always get stuck behind the cab. >> Tim always make sure he gets my good side. If you can step this way. Did you have anyone from your picture?
>> Listen, let me get back where the microphone's at. >> We want to thank We want to go out of the way make sure we thank you again. You guys are great. Super. Thank you, Doc. You and you. We appreciate it very much for doing it in Okoy. It was great.
>> Got great day. >> All right. Now we'll bring up the Boys and Girls Club of West Orange Update. >> Is that who? >> Now I know what that is. >> Tough to follow the Chick-fil-A cow, but
I'll do my best. We'll do our best. M. Reed, uh, chief. Should I scoot over? >> Maybe say your name again. I'm sorry. We were >> Mac. Reed, chief impact officer for Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Florida. And I'm here for two reasons. First reason,
we are so thrilled, excited to announce our brand new June Family branch is slated to be opened in just a couple of months in August of 2026. I've worked with this young man here for about 10 to 15 years to finally get this club up out
of the ground and become have the dream become a reality. So, it's going to be a 20,000 square foot facility, 10,000 devoted to our youth, our elementary age members, 10,000 devoted to our teens, our middle and high school members. And
this is going to be a state-of-the-art facility, STEM, robotics, dance studio, music studio, and it is just phase one. So when we get this facility open in August, we're going to start on phase two, which would be a fullervice 10,000
ft² boys and girls club gymnasium that will also be part of the campus. so that when this full 30,000 square feet is finished, it'll be our largest Boys and Girls Club in the organization, providing a safe place for our 6 through 18 year old kids to go after school and
during the summer. And what we have also with us today is a very special uh uh person to us and to our organization. We have Miss Amber Shaw, who is our site coordinator of our Okoi Middle School program. And that's the second reason I'm here today because you may not know
that Boys and Girls Clubs has been participating in the afterchool zone with funded by Orange County government since 1999. And we've had an amazing Boys and Girls Club program that operates out of the middle school. And Miss Amber for the last 15 years has been running that site. And also with
Amber is Principal Levit, uh, who's done an amazing job at Okoy Middle School. I'm sure you all know who she is. and you're gonna hear a few words uh from Amber about her experience and why this new Boys and Girls Club is going to tie in perfectly with our kids at Okoey Middle School.
>> Thank you, Mac. Um if you guys look a little closely out the window, you can probably see Okoey Middle School. We are very very close to here. Um our program is one of the biggest afterchool zone, if not actually the biggest afterchool zone in the district. Um we have about
600 families who are registered. We have an average daily of attendance of about 150 to 200 after school every day. So kids uh go to school during the day and then stay with us until about 6:00 p.m. every day. And we're also running a summer camp as well. We just had our
second day. We have about 200 children who are running around crazy all day long. Um and some of them are actually feeding into AOE High School. Most of them are feeding into AOE High School and um we have some Wakiva and some West Orange kids as well. So, one of the
issues that we kind of consistently run into is for sixth grade, seventh grade, and eighth grade, they're able to stay with us after school every day. They have a safe place to go. They're, you know, cultivating their interests. We're developing mentorship programs. We have robotics and drones, computers. They get
tutoring. They get homework help. So, they kind of get that support for three consecutive years at our program. And then when it's time to jump into high school, we're kind of not having a place for them that is compared to what we have. So a lot of times we have parents
say, "Okay, well, what you know, what do you offer from the high school level?" And we do have a Winter Garden branch, but the the proximity is not something that works for our COE families. So, we're really excited for the opportunity that those AKOE students and members who are consistently supported right up the
street can then go, you know, a couple minutes up the road and have an opportunity to be in a safe place after school every day, cultivating those interests. And, you know, like Mac said, it's an amazing facility. It's going to have so many great things for them. And I'm excited to see kind of what these
programs will do for kids in our community and the adults that they become. So, we're really, really excited to see that. I can't wait when a parent asks me like, "Hey, my kid has been in your program for six years or for three years. They've gone to summer school or summer camp every year. What do we do
now?" I actually have an answer for that. So, so many AOE families are going to benefit from this program. So, we're really, really excited about that. So, thank you to you and of course, Principal Levit, who you all know her. She does all the things and is super supportive of our program. So, we can't wait to see kind of how that transfers
over to our high school students as well. So, thank you. >> The new facility will be located at at 9inth Street about 3 miles away from Okoye Middle School, about 6 miles from OKOE High School. We're going to be serving about 250 to 300 kids a day.
We're going to do a grand opening celebration September the 24th. We would love for all of you to come. We'll make sure that you get invited. Please come even before then. And if you'd ever like a tour of the of the facility to see what the kids will be doing, we would love to have you. Thank you for your
time and your attention. >> Randy, you want to say anything? >> Nope. I think they did a great job. No, as he mentioned, it's just a dream we had with the family out there, uh, for 10 or 15 years with Russo and Dan Petro, uh, who some of you probably know.
>> So, it's been an effort. It's, uh, it's finally finally come true and it's beautiful out there. So, you guys, any you'all got my phone number? I'll give you a tour. We're excited about the gym uh getting close to funding on it and uh breaking ground in August, you said, right? Yeah. So, we just got plans
approved on it and um Yep. It's right next to Shephard's Hope uh across the street diagonally from Maxi and uh it's going to be a heck of an asset for both Okoy and Winter Garden. We're excited. >> We appreciate it. >> Thank you very much for all your
service. >> Appreciate it. >> Thank you. Greg, staff reports. >> Yes, sir. Um, couple of items. I would like to um congratulate Parks
and Leisure Services. Um, this is this is kind of cool on a on a bad day. Um, I have in in my receipt a letter to um the city from Jenna Tala, the executive director with the Florida Municipal
Communicators Association. And I'd like to just tell you how proud I am that our calendar got an honorable mention award from this group this year. And it's a pretty huge pull u to pull from. And you all know
because I get calls when are we going to make more calendars? Um, but it's a very popular item in our community and we take a lot of time in in putting that together and reviewing it and and we've got lots of good reviewers and um we uh
got an award for it. So, congratulations to um Joy Wright and her team, Mark Johnson, his team um in in getting this calendar out. We're very proud of that. Um the second thing I have is is complete opposite spectrum. Um about
three hours ago um the legislature in special session uh adopted a joint resolution to place um a tax reform package on the ballot. And I can tell you that we are already taking action and we'll be presenting to you a uh
public education plan uh pursuant to um advice from city legal u to make sure we don't break any rules and educating our citizens on the impacts that will be coming. Um and it will be include but not be limited to websites
um flyers and um presentations that will be presented at um scheduled community meetings just so that we can try to educate everyone and of course um because there are rules relating to um everyone um in government and not being
able to lobby against proposed ballot language. We will be only presenting the facts um as as we have them and uh that will go through legal review. That will also um have a lot of bearing on discussions in the upcoming commission
meetings. Next uh meeting June 16th, we'll be um having a a discussion about the future of solid waste management in the city as well as the fire assessment resolution will be on for um consideration. And that's it. Mayor.
>> All right. >> Thank you. >> With that, I'm going to start off. Did you want to make tax? Did you want to make some comments? >> No. >> Okay. >> No. >> All right. >> I was going to give you a chance. Okay.
All right. All right. Let's see where we back here. Is um public comments. We have Dr. Jim Moyer. You're welcome. >> Good evening, mayor, commissioners, city manager, audience. My name is Dr. Jim Moyer. I'm
the elected orange so conservation district 2 supervisor. And as always, this presentation is mine and mine alone, not that of uh the Hawin Senwood or Conservation Board of Supervisors,
uh any county or governmental organization or organization or individual. To me, there's nothing more important than life, whether it's plant, animal, fish, or
human. And there's three essential components to that. Air, water, and food. And as you all know, air and water are actually essential to food, too. My focus is on water.
I have a program I initiated called OSWCD2C3 water challenge, standing for Orange Water Conservation District 2. Um C3 the first C is change habits. Second one
conserve water use and third is clean water bodies. Habits matter. If you can think think back or heard from your parents or grandparents or greatgrandparents our habits during the great depression
are much different than they are today. Uh, second, conserve water. If you have a leak, fix it. If you have a washer or dishwasher, fill it up. If you are able
to afford it, get new fixtures, washer, dishwasher, toilets, because nowadays there's more water efficient um fixtures out there. Your reward is saving money.
Clean water bodies. If you see litter, pick it up. If you have dog, I call it whatever stuff, pick it up. If you have leaves, pick it up. Prevent it from going into the storm water drains. Our
reward is our future. Stop water pollution. Take personal responsibility. Be smart. Do your part. You've got existing habits. Make changes. Create new habits that benefit all of us. Thank you for
your time as always and God bless you all. >> Thank you, Dr. Moyer. All right, we have another one here with uh Steve Breler. Is this a call in or is this >> Stephen Brler?
He's not here. >> Not here. >> All right, let's move on to the consent agenda. >> I'll make a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> Motion made by Commissioner Kennedy to approve the consent agenda. Do I hear a second?
>> I'll second. >> Seconded by Commissioner Wilson. Any more comments? No more comments. Let's vote. Motion carries unanimously. All right. Move down the first reading of ordinance. None. Second reading of ordinance. Public hearing. Second
reading of ordinance. Reading of ordinance for fiscal year 202526 midyear budget amendment. Finance director Weber. >> Well, good evening Mr. Mayor and city manager. Uh this is the second reading of a
>> midyear uh ordinance for midyear budget amendment. Uh this is a budget trueup. Uh the first reading was held on May 19th. There's been no uh amendments to the ordinance or the midyear budget schedule since that first reading. Uh as
I mentioned, this is a budget trueup. There is no impact to the general fund fund balance. Uh staff recommends um approving the ordinance as presented. Be happy to answer any questions. Um it
does require um a public hearing and the public hearing has been properly noticed. >> Oh >> yeah, I'll do that. >> Sure. >> He's going to read the ordinance and then I'll open the public. >> Sounds good. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, mayor. Ordinance number 2026-lb blank an ordinance of the city
of Okcoy, Orange County, Florida relating to the city budget. Amending the city budget adopted by ordinance 2025-20 for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025 and ending September 30, 2026 by providing for increase in of
appropriations providing for severability providing for an effective date. >> All right, I'm going to open the public hearing. Anybody in the public have any comments on item six, reading of ordinance for fiscal year 202526 midyear budget?
All right, I'll close it. bring it back up to the commission. Anybody got any questions or make a motion? >> I'll make that motion to approve. >> Motion made by Commissioner Wilson, seconded by who? >> I'll second it. >> Who? Commissioner Oliver. Motion made
and seconded. Let's No more comments. Let's vote. Motion carries unanimously. Moving right along here. We're going to No public hearings. Move the regular agenda item number seven, approval for appointment of a regular member and an
alternate member to the code enforcement board. >> Good evening, mayor commissioners. Um so this item, our office received two applica applications from residents interested in the board. Um, the board
has one vacant regular member seat that has a term that'll expire in June of 27 and it has two alternate member seats. So, staff is recommending that you consider these applications and name
which applicant will be appointed to which seat, either the vacant regular member seat or one of the alternate member seats. You you got them where you can read them off. >> You read them off. >> Well, I was wondering can I ask a question? >> Yeah.
>> We have two board seats. You have Michael Montgomery >> and we have Bradley Jackson. Is one of the is one alternate and one regular seat? >> Yes. Well, that's what you have to name. One to be alternate and one to be in the
regular seat. >> Can I ask which one put the application in first? >> Michael Montgomery. >> Okay. These are the two names. >> Michael, see that >> Michael? Yeah, Monty Montgomery is with in district two. I know him. Um,
>> all right. Do we need to vote on that? >> Bradley Jackson. Do we How many Can I ask >> I have to That's a good point. Uh, so one, four, and two all have two. So the only other preference I would have other than what you said, first come, first serve, would be if there was somebody from three, but there isn't.
>> There is anybody from three. Do we have >> So I'm good with that. Do we have one more seat, alternate seat sitting out there? >> Yes. And that if if someone comes forward from district three would be even >> Yeah. >> Wonderful. >> Yep. >> As I look over at Mr. Fner. Um, >> you mean district three? >> District Yeah. District three. There's
no one from district three on the board. Correct. I have to go back to That's correct. I have to go back to my notes here. >> All right. So, we need a for for All right. Let's do Mr. McGomery. Michael McGomery. He's going to be on the code enforcement board. The director member. >> Yes, sir. >> All right. I need a motion.
>> I'll make that motion. >> Motion made by Commissioner Wilson. Do I hear a second? >> I'll second. >> Seconded by Commissioner Ky. Any more comments? Not. Let's vote. >> Oh, everybody. We need to vote again. Let's vote. Okay.
>> We still got 40%. That's not >> Hold on. Nope. And >> I'll vote. >> All right. Everybody vote. Motion carries unanimously. Now, now >> make a motion for Bradley Jackson of District 1 to be appointed as an
alternate member to the code enforcement. >> All right. Motion made by Commissioner Kennedy for Bradley Johnson. >> Jackson. >> Jackson. >> All right. No more comments. >> We need a second. Did we >> We need a second. >> I'm sorry. >> Would you second? >> I'll be happy.
>> Yeah. Commissioner Kennedy, I mean, Commissioner Wills second. No more comments. Let's vote on that one. >> Mayor, we still >> motion carries unanimously. >> We still have that one alternate position that's in >> We didn't say that on here. >> No, it isn't. We still But I our city
our acting city clerk here. Is that the right coruties? >> Deputies, excuse me. >> What is it for? We have one more alternate that we >> Who is Do we have another name? >> We don't have any more applications at this time. >> We just want to put it out there.
You want to wait? >> Okay. All right. All right. We can wait. Put it on there for next time. >> All right. See if we can pick up one for next time. >> Keep promoting. All right. >> All right. Um, mayor announcements.
Community survey. The city of Okcoy wants to hear from you. Share your thoughts about city services and community priorities. Your voice matters. Visit okcoy.org or to take the survey. June events, cookies and milk with a cop
happen on June the 12th and 26th and July the 10th and 24th at the West Oaks Library from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Children can enjoy story time with the Okcoy Police Department. Restoration is required. Visit okcoy.org for more
information. July events, Fourth of July and 2:50 celebration will take place on Saturday, July the 4th from 5:00 p.m. through 900 p.m. at Bill Breeze Park. Come enjoy rides, games, live music,
food trucks, and fireworks. Family Recreation Day happening on Saturday, July the 18th from 11:00 a.m. through 2:00 p.m. at the Jim Beach Center. Enjoy a day with your family and join us for rides, games, and free pool
admissions. All right, Commissioner Oliver. Um, just one thing, and that that's uh dealing with the uh tax reform uh bill that is coming our way. Um,
it's something that's really uh been been weighing on me and I'm sure it's been weighing on a lot of us and other elected officials throughout throughout this county is um how do we pivot from these things? But more importantly, uh
how do we educate the public at large to understand the possible catastrophic uh sweeping um implications of this bill that that that we're going to have to be able to grunt. We're going to grunt to bear and grunt and bear this
um the implications behind this. Uh it is it is important that we understand as citizens that this is a constitutional bill. That means that it cannot just be rolled back easily. This is something
that's going to affect us in the present. It's going to affect our children, our grandchildren, our great grandchildren uh for years to come. And um I just think that we really owe it to ourselves to make sure we educate our
neighbors, our circles of friends, and anybody else and let them know that there is a wide implications behind this particular bill. And um and to take it seriously and um again, this is just something I've been thinking about for for a while since this is uh been
presented for, you know, past year year or so. So, um, that's all I really have. But then I also say this. I will also leave with this. Sometimes the only way that God can show us he's in control is to place us in situations where we
cannot control. Nothing is too hard for God who created it all. That's all I got. >> Thank you, sir. Commissioner Commissioner Fner, >> the only thing I have to add to that is that I'm I'm really concerned about how
the state is taking away the ability for cities and counties to use home rule. It's eroding our our home rule abilities and everything. And if they can do that with the taxes,
I don't know what else they can do to take home rule decisions away from us, but I don't think it's a good trend that they're following. Thank you. >> Thank you, sir. Commissioner Wilson, >> I have nothing to add, I think, to
what's already been said because I think it's affecting it's going to affect all of us and our community and our state at large. So, uh, you know, I'm looking forward to July 4th that we have a celebration coming on here at CO. It's going to be great. So, let's have a little positive comment instead of doing
doom and gloom, I guess, what I've been hearing. >> Thank you, >> Commissioner Kennedy. >> Yeah, I have a few comments. Um, on home rule, I've been watching and I made a comment a couple meetings ago. It's really
interesting how our elected officials at all levels are sometimes for home rule and cited and they act as home rule heroes and then other times they're not. And so citizens
need to be informed, stay informed, and hold public officials accountable for being consistent. You either believe that decisions should be made at the local level or you don't. And uh that all of them from all sides are trying to
have it both ways whether it comes to planning and zoning and should we make our own decisions on planning and zoning and development the rural boundaries tax reform etc. I haven't seen a single person at any
level that has a consistent uh philosophical position even if they're against if they would just say I'm totally against home rule. There's nobody like that. Um it just depends on what the issue is and it's
not good for any of us. Um on tax reform, the implications are largely yet unknown. Um, but I want to give a shout out in particular to our city manager
who as far as I know among the population of city managers has stayed on top of this issue has stayed uh more informed. He's informed me uh more than anybody and uh my CPA firm has
a large government accounting practice and and he knows what's going on before it's publicly announced to us. um and the things that he's talking about and anticipating and doing
the the changes with fees and enterprise funds etc are very innovative and um I just want to say he's having public hearings he's having community outreach he's scheduling workshops
um if you have a strong opinion about assess assessing fees versus adorum. Um, these are going to be the forums to talk about that. Um, calling us after the fact or posting on Facebook is
great, but it doesn't affect anything. So, uh, this is really an important time for everyone to get involved, get informed, and voice your opinion. Um, a lot is going to change for all of us.
Um, lastly, I'm the liaison to the CACOPD, which is the citizens advisory council for the OKOE Police Department. And um, we had a couple members resign
and now we have four members and we can't meet quum consistently again. Um, recently we had a class, a cohort, class, whatever you call it, graduate from the Citizens Public Safety Academy.
And I know that the chiefs, both chiefs, address those um, citizens as they go through the academy and encourage them to volunteer on both the fire and the police advisory council. um to volunteer
on the police council, you have to be a graduate of that program. Uh I think you have two years to do it. Um I sent a letter as the liaison to recent graduates of that committee inviting them to serve on the board. Um but as I
said, they can volunteer for the board and then take the public safety academy. So, I just want to say uh publicly and to commissioners, if you or you know somebody um that is interested in the community relations with the police
department and the policing um and advise the city on those issues. This is a really great board. They do a lot of good things for um young people in the community. They support the Explorers program. They support cops, which is uh
families of officers that have been killed in the line of duty. Um, if this topic interests you, please reach out. You can reach out to me, you can reach out to the clerk's office, you can reach out to the police department, community affairs, almost anywhere you reach out
and get a hold of someone, they're going to be able to help you get signed up for these boards. That's it, sir. >> Thank you. One of the things I got in when I first got in office back in ' 85 or somewhere, first things that we went to different
things with the state and different things and I I know Commissioner Wilson's heard this, but it was always home rule. Home rule. Keep preaching home rule to everybody. So, we we did it for the last 40 years I've been involved. Every time I go to Tallahassee, every time we have our
league meetings or the state meetings, home rule is the big the big thing in the room. We want to run. I think personally these guys sitting up there, some of them are ex city commissioners and ex city council members. how in the
world they expect the cities to do with the with the ability with the tax base changing like it's going to change to keep being the cities of uh places you want to live. It's going to cut out the benefits and this and the the things we've had established forever. So it's
to me they're I think they're kicking on the home rule and trying to make it the state rule. So and then they they make comments like and I heard the and I heard the I think it was the governor said to make a comment about the money. If you if we
don't get enough, we can go ask them for a grant. Well, ladies and gentlemen, we try to get grants all the time. They just don't give them out and what's going to happen. Maybe some little city out in the middle of the podunk's going to get it, but not us. So, I'm I'm
worried about our youth, our children out at the parks, things. And as uh city manager said earlier, when we did the golf course years ago, it was put on to the state comp plan to be part of the recreation thing. And now they're
telling us they don't want it on its benefit for the taxes. So everybody, I I know it's going to be hard. You look at that ballot and it says this, you're going to save all this. It's also going to come back somewhere. And I don't know where they're going to add it. where to
go to add this stuff to get this money that we can have fire protection, police protection, and and activities for our citizens. Beside that, you got we've got roads that have to be paved already. You you see the sidewalks were always a problem and and
the just like mowing the yards. So, the the city streets and things. So, beware. I mean, pay read all the activities you can all the things you can read about this tax thing because it is what really, like I said again, it upsets me
that some of the people up there that are doing this are the ones that did what we do. They they're the ones that know how you operate and what we're trying to do here. But so that's that's my comments on it. I will say that Craig, we've been talking the mayor and
I've been talking with him. We're going to try to round up where we can all tie into the other cities local especially on this west side of town. We tie in Winter Garden, tie in to Windmir, tie into Oakland, all of us get together and keep putting it to our citizens and show them what this is going to do to our
cities and it's going to affect everybody. It'll affect you also if you say, "Well, I don't have to pay taxes on a certain amount." Well, then there's things here that's going to have to be done and changed. So, take your time. listen to what these things are going to be and try to take a different view and
look at it and see if you can get out of it or what I I I think it's going to be terrible. But I hate to see these cities that are we've done everything we could do for 10 years. The last 10 years going on 11 years we have not we as the city of Ocoy and these commissioners have not
raised taxes. We have not raised the taxes. So think about that. But that's going to have to change with this new system they got. >> I I'm I'm not on the board any longer of Florida League of Cities, but um when I
was also we have they have a program called Hometown Heroes. Home Rule Heroes, I'm sorry. And this year I again received a certificate for home rule hero and what really discourages me. We go to Tallahassee. We preach them what we want for our cities. I don't know if
they forget where they came from. They come from here. They come from They're right here. We're talking to folks who live in our community. They ask you for your vote. They come to you every so many years and ask you for that vote. But sometimes I think when I'm up there that they forget where they actually came from and are they
listening to us? And you know, it's time that we make them understand and we try to do that this is their community. They came to you, they asked you, they wanted you to represent them just as we ask you to. We represent you. We're where the rubber meets the road. We think they should be also I feel they
should be and you know we can go up there. I go up there and talk and talk and talk. We send letters. We call them. We do emails and it's just frustrating. So, um I hope you understand that that we're here to support you. We're doing what we can and we just hope you have an
open mind and you read all the documentation that's necessary and make a good decision. Just as we have to make our decisions here, we ask you to make your decisions. And we want them not to forget you. We're making decisions here where it's affecting our residents and this is
going to affect you also, whatever happens. So, sorry. >> One one last thing before I close the meeting. I want to say I want to appreciate everybody that sent emails or texts to my house and to my
city thing for me being sick a couple weeks ago. I I I truly appreciate it. Main thing I want to say is I want to thank the fire department for being Johnny on spot right there and the police department. They were super super good. It was not a serious thing but it was I was sick at the time and I want to
I hate doing being them that way at this meeting but I couldn't I had to get up and go. So I want to tell let all the citizens who sent me and and people out of town I appreciate it very much and I thank you very much. So see you again in
two weeks. That's