I'd like to call this meeting of the infrastructure committee of Parker to order. Now we're going to have questions from the audience. I did not turn it on. So now I can see far away but I can't see up. Sorry.
You're not on yet. I think I am. Okay. Um Pat 1344 Stratford. Um I'm glad to see the committee meeting. Um as you said, it's been a while, but I know things have been busy. Lots going on. And then at the same time, I don't, you know, I don't know exactly where we are with um some of the stuff that we're
doing. Um I went back through some of the old minutes of the meetings that I've attended and there has been two meetings where we've discussed the and this also goes to city council and I will address it with city council, but been discussion about trying to get a grant writer. Even Kyle Merritt when he
sat on the committee, he said that he would like to try to help the city hire a grant writer to help us better utilize our infrastructure money so that we can use the infrastructure to maybe pay the percentage and then get a grant to pay the big bulk of it so that we can get
more done for the you know the little bit little bit of money that we've got coming in from the half% half cent sales tax. So just a thought there that has been discussed at a couple of meetings and we haven't It would be nice. It It would be
um I see uh Kathleen has her spreadsheet. I have mine from the looks like the December 7th meeting. Has there been an up has there been an update
to the project spreadsheet? Do we have any more on that? Um because I looked and I didn't find one. And I also looked on the Bay County website and didn't find one. Um, for the benefit of everybody
here, Bay County actually has a website. It is um bayscent.com where all of the infrastructure projects are tracked by city. Is it halfent two words? All no spaces they haveent spelled out.com. It
has all the projects that all the cities were planning to do keeping in mind that this infrastructure tax went into effect 2016 17 I think 16 um and they show what the planned projects are what's completed and what's in progress and I
went there to see what I could find out we show for Parker completed projects were the repaving of Lake Drive which is beautiful the um I remember this was a big project Tony talked about it quite a bit the manhole project on Highway 22
all the linings, all of that. It I remember it cost more than we first expected, but they had some problems. He wanted to go ahead and fix it, which was the great thing to do, and he did that. But we have future projects that have been on there since the beginning, I
believe. Water main replacement in town over here where we've got um uh Mr. Santo's building coming in and the church. That was one of the projects. Cherry Lane water that is I guess sort of done because Melinda is
done but we don't show it even in progress let alone done so that would be nice to see that you know we do show that we've got that project done then we also have the water man replacement on Tindle Parkway but I have a question about that
um I understand from the various council meetings that we actually took a state reserve fund loan out 76 million, whatever it was that um the final bid came in many, many years ago. It came in at 2.3 or 2.4. We didn't get
the project started. Now, we're supposedly getting ready. We had to rebid it. We reapplied for the loan and we have that. Well, if we have a state reserve fund loan, can we use the infrastructure tax money for something else? Why not? Because that's being
paid. Well, as long as it's infrastructure, yes. But we're not going to buy a fire truck. Pardon? We're not going to buy a fire. No, no, no, no. I'm just saying because that's what Callaway did. Oh, no, no, no. I'm not saying yes. I'm just saying if we've got that loan and they forgive I forget the
percentages. I didn't review my notes, but you know, they forgive 60 75% whatever. We have to pay the balance. Well, that means that we're not paying through the infrastructure tax the whole cost of that pipe. Would that be a council issue or a planning committee issue? It's an to me it's an
infrastructure tax. question because when you read the charter for what Bay County put together, you guys are responsible for the um I forget the word that they use, but for the management, they don't use the
oversight. Oversight of how the money is spent. So, I'm just sort of tossing that out there. I mean, you know, we've got that budgeted. We're not going to need it all from the infrastructure. So, are there other projects within Parker? I'm not sure that we're not going to need all the infrastructure money for its
aotted purposes. I'm not sure of that. But I guess bottom line, the question is who's going to know and when are we going to find out? That's a good question. Okay. Um the other one that's on there is street resurfacing. Lake is done. Boat race is
done. The intersection at So SU is done. But there are other roads listed. Do Stratford. I remember having with um Tony because I said my site Stratford doesn't really need to be replaced but I understand down where Mr.
Brandon and Mr. and Mrs. Childers lives um it's it's much much worse down there but I was curious to know what are we doing we don't see any projects completed this has been in place for almost 10 years and um I did
ask at a council meeting I think two weeks ago whenever it was do we even have an accounting of the that has come in to this committee because you guys should know that. Well, first off, the money doesn't come to this committee. I realize that I apologize, but you are
the stewards. We are we are to make sure we're not to make sure, but we're to oversee how the city spends the money. And when we see something that's inappropriate, then we're supposed to talk about it, okay, and get the council to change their decision. Okay. Um, so
do you have to ask the council to let you know what money is available? I would think so. Yes. Okay. So, I just need to talk to the city council. So, committee basically here does nothing. I mean, I don't We are an oversight committee, but that's what I'm hearing. We are not here to approve projects.
We're not here to uh set order of completion or timelines. We're just here to oversee the money coming in to make sure that it's spent on infrastructure. Okay. Um at one of the last infrastructure meetings, I believe it
was August 31st, um there was also a discussion about because there was quite a discussion. Joyce Wilson was still there, Kyle Merritt was still here, wherever it was that they sat. Um everyone per my perspective, there is no uh video, so
it's just for my notes, but the the discussion was and I think this is reflected in the minutes that invoices would be attached to um the updated spreadsheet so that the committee could see what's being done. So again, is anything being done? I think miss you
also discussed live stream. Why aren't we live streaming this meeting? And I know there's a debate right now about city council, but I'm just asking for these millions of dollars for the citizens to know what's being done. And if we're not using it, do we need more
public works staff? Do we need something else in order to put the money to work? We have completed two maybe three projects if you consider Melindy in eight years with our house of sales tax and that's
um disappointing. You you would expect that more could be done with the money. Is that what you're saying? I would like to see progress. Yes. Yes. Well, I believe we have progress. It's just not as much progress as we want. But and the money is not as much. And the money is not as much as you think.
We're not talking about millions of dollars every quarter. No, we're not. But we're probably sitting on according to this last spreadsheet that I have access
to. And this is allocated money. This isn't money spent. This is as of January of 24. We had 3,142,000 in received. We had 100,000 sorry a million dollars set aside for
the state reserve fund loan. So that's 4 million and change and we've we say we've spent a million3. And I can't figure out, this was also discussed in a previous meeting, what we've spent
versus what we've simply said we're going to do this at some point. So the money's allocated. I understand that. But at what point? Because now we're going into the second 10 years and we basically have three projects completed. And if it's not this committee, thank you. I apologize. But there have been
discussions at some of the other committee meeting or sorry at previous infrastructure committee meetings that the committee wanted to be more involved. They wanted to know there was a mention that Tony Hi mayor, congratulations on your re-election that um Tony would be at the meeting so that
he could answer questions committee had questions or if uh residents had questions. So I would just ask that you know we get back to business. I would think that since we've had a little bit more stable administration in the city hall that
perhaps these things will get done as they should be, but we've had a lot of turnover and I think that is part of the reason things aren't up to speed. Can can I do I remember that the former clerk
uh went through all the invoices? We actually did that or she did that and looked at all this money that was allocated and the invoices that were associated with that. Where that is, I don't know. Well, I don't know, Miss Bunny. It might be somewhere in your
stuff. It's allocated, but it hasn't been spent. Well, some of it had and we've got we've got the invoices of what has been spent and they matched up with the expenses. And when are these other projects going to be moving forward? Again, if we need that's not our our
job. And again, it would be a question for city council. We need more additional um public works staff, then tell the citizens that this committee is not to sit here and think of things to do.
No, I mean, we can because I'd like the mayor to resurface East Park Street. Yeah. But I don't think he's probably going to do it. But we, you know, we just oversee it and and Tony is usually the keeper of the the golden egg in in
sense because everything is infrastructure. Oh yeah. And and so we're just a little slice of that infrastructure. So it's not as complicated. There's not as much money and it's money used as a supplemental force for whatever other in
infrastructure we do. So, it's uh it's not high level accounting, but we I understand your standpoint that we ought to know what we got, what we spend it on, and we've got that data somewhere. I mean, there should be, but it's not up to date of what we have in
the account as of the last I would think county. Thank you and thank you for indulging me for more than three minutes. Great. Okay. So, I believe we have some marching orders. It's pretty simple. How
much came in and where did we spend it on and what's left if anything? I think you'll find some info in there. I don't know where it is, but she took a lot of time to try to do that because that question was asked before. Yes. A year or so ago. So then the next resources
the next item would be then to set a new meeting time a new meeting day. So um then we should be able to have these questions answered I would think. Well, I I would think may I add
based a little bit on what Pat said, one of the things that has always kind of hasn't bothered me, but uh you know, when I first join first joined the committee, when does the money come in? Where does it go? You know, what is
there a separate budget line item for that in our city budget? I don't know, mayor. you know, you know more about in the council. So, you know, just basic things like that. I I tend to agree with Miss Lusk that we need to have a better idea of what we're dealing with. And
many times it's like uh we get the spreadsheet and here's the money that came in and here's what was done with it. But that's the most difficult spreadsheet I've ever seen in my life to try to even understand what the numbers
mean. So, you know, You can try to think of a better way to keep up with stuff. I don't know what that would do, but just simple writing it by hand would be better than this. That confuses me to death. And uh but if we, you know, I just throw that out there, maybe think
about how we could do that so that the citizens would know here's what came in, here's when it came in, here's what we are planning on using it for. And that's, you know, that's really the council's decision. We just make sure it's done. Yeah.
Once again, as you said u earlier, Mr. Summerland's going to be the one with mo most of the information. Yeah. That we need. So, um we definitely need to make sure he's included in all the research and it would be helpful if he can attend
the meeting. So if we if if meeting at 4:30 is not convenient for him, let's find a time that is everybody okay with that? Yeah. Are we all we're pretty much flexible? Yes. With our time. Pretty much. Yeah. Yeah. And then I guess also we need to set up
I'm sure it's been posted. If not, then we need to post that we need two more members on this committee. There is one application I did hand to them to peruse earlier. Now you may call The applications submitted are only valid for six months according to
performance. I think it was just sent in today. It was just in today. I mean, it's brand new. Okay. Good. Okay. Now, this isn't something that we approve. No, it just just was dropped off, I guess. Yes. Okay. Well, I'm going
to hand it back to the person that takes care of that. That's good. We have one. I'm glad somebody did. Yeah. Yeah. We need more than one. We need two or at least three so we have options. So Pat, why don't you volunteer? I have volunteered twice that I will again.
Submit it again. Let's see what happens. Thank you. All right. So, we're going to set time for a meeting. We're going to make sure that uh citizens of Parker know that we have openings on this committee and that we want them filled. And we're going to get
updates from Mr. Someone on incoming. Well, you can provide us with incoming, but of the infrastructure money, what's been spent, what's set aside for future projects?
Can you think of anything else, Miss Kathleen? Mayor, I got a question. I don't know if it's, you know, fair question or not, but when that tax percent tax money comes in, is that kept in a separate
account? I assume it would be. Yeah. So, it's got a separate account. It's got a separate line item and everything. For everybody that can hear my voice, all of that money has been allocated for roading. And as soon as the SRF loan is
in the bank, the $7 million to rep that money will be spent for road. Okay. Well, that answers that spreadsheet. That's a short spreadsheet that starts
out. My goal is to see every That's right. That's right. Miss Kathleen, did you have anything? That's what that money is allocated for. I didn't spend it. It was spent long. Yes. Well, it was allocated, but it hasn't been spent. Yeah. We're not
making progress. Do you want me to go to the podium? If you'd like, you're more than welcome. You're the mayor. So for clarification, your job here is to sanction the expenditure of the money
generated in this form of tax. And you do that very well. But the expenditure hasn't occurred in all of the allocations yet because we wouldn't we could pave those roads today and then we could dig them back up at the end of the
year and that would be redundant. That would be silly. So, we've been waiting for the contracts to be put in place with now it's been bid and you guys who sit in these meetings saw it get bid by
Anchor Engineering Arbitrating that the company is going to that got the bid is going to lay $7 million worth of pipe. You will start to see that pipe stacked and stored on the property next to rodeos where the apartment complex used
to be. When that's stacked and stored, you'll see heavy equipment arriving on site and then you'll start see them at Blueest Star Memorial trenching out this brand new water line for the city of Parker. Then you'll see the expenditure
of your managed money and that expenditure will pave the road right there. Uh you'll also notice down there on one of the lots there's four mobile homes been delivered. That is the office for the company that's going to build
the new bridge. These things don't happen overnight. It takes a little bit of time to get everything in place. And then this particular case money was allocated. Couldn't dig up the road and put a new pipe in there if we didn't have the money allocated to repair the
road after it was dug. And um I've instructed Mr. Sullan as the road is dug up, I don't know how many yards at a time they're going to dig it up, but they're going to dig it up. As they dig up that road, we're going to repave it because I don't want roads with ruts and
everything in there and people breaking their tires in there. So, if that helps you a little bit, that money does come in annually. We could ask Susan um exactly how much is in the account.
I know the amount of money that we get annually is not nearly enough to repay the roads that we want to repave because the cost of repaving goes up annually because the cost of black tap goes up annually predicated on the price of fuel.
So to answer it's as she says it's allocated not spent it is committed. We we are uh going people's hands here shortly uh who are going to um repave these roads and when they'll bid it and
then it'll come before the council to open the bids to see which way we want to go. But for me personally, I'd like to see all of the bad roads in park resurface. Since Hurricane Michael, they've been getting progressively worse. And they've been getting progressively worse because of the
millions and millions of tons of truck lumber that went over the road surfaces and crushed them. They w start. And when you repair a road by just taking up or resurface a road by skimming off an inch with the barber green, the machine that takes it up and relaying it back down an
inch deep. You didn't rebuild that road. All you did was put a paint coat of paint on it. Basically, my desire is to take it down to the bedrock, repave it properly, and put three or four inches of black top in there so it lasts. But we can't do that. We shouldn't do that
until the infrastructure has been repaired. You can have all the police cars you want, fire trucks you want, but you can't beat the infrastructure. That stuff is old. It's failing. And I will recommend all of you to participate in our workshops that we're about to have
for some of the expenditures coming in the future because we've got people who are experts in this are going to come before the city council. I mean, for public record, why we need the things we need and why we do the things we do because they can tell us how much of the rotary surface has got to be replaced.
So, to help you your question. I didn't mean to go on my soap box, but you that's what you do. You make sure your function very important is to make sure that you give guidance to the council and tell the council that yes, you are
legally compliant, spend this money that's been allocated by the sales tax for road resurfacing or whatever it was that they picked five, 10 years ago. But the roads have got to be resurfaced and we commit ourselves to it. And as we
press along, we will get more. Can't spend it today. More in the bank is better than less. And that's pretty much I hope I answered your question. I think you I think that's the best answer I've heard. And I can get you to I can get
you a copy from Suzanne on Monday. She'll be here. She's the auditor. And that simple question. She can ask the computer the infrastructure sales tax, how much is in there? How much have we spent the last two years? What did we spend it on? And she can
push a button and that BSN will push it out. If that information's been dialed in, it'll push it out and you guys can have a copy at every meeting that you have. That would be helpful. I think that's logical and and smart.
Okay, we appreciate that. Appreciate That would get us a long way down the road. Anybody else have anything they want to discuss about the infrastructure committee? I I think you asked me a couple of times. I didn't get a word out yet.
Okay. Um, I can't say exactly what the grant might be, but I'm pretty sure Tony Summerland had something to do with some grants we we've received. So, when when he uh comes forward next time we have an
opportunity, we might want to ask him to uh blow his own horn. Right. Yes. Because he's done a lot here. He has. Oh, absolutely. And I also might point out that unlike Linhaven and Callaway and Springfield,
we didn't spend our money on a fire truck. So, we have more money for what it's supposed to be used for. Thank you. And that is all. Thank you. Anybody else? Did you set the next meeting? No, we have not.
So, the next Tuesday is July 29th. July 29th. And will you check with Mr. Sublin and find if there's a time that's better for him? But we'll tentatively set the date for July 29th. Is that good for Miss Kathleen?
I I have a dentist appointment at 1:00, but as long as it's If you want to make it a little bit earlier, extra Nova. No, I don't like Novacane. Okay. I hate it. find out what works for him on that day because we're not
working. We can we can have come earlier within the work day of uh we can the staff. Yes, it works works for me. Okay, the date is good. We'll find a time. Perfect. Anything else? Hearing nothing else. I'm going to
call this meeting adjourned.