to the Putnham County Board of County Commission meeting and the Port Authority meeting. Today is Tuesday, May 12th, and it is 9:00 a.m. Call the meeting to order. Beginning with the invocation by Keith Sber from New Beginning Baptist Church, followed by the pledge of allegiance by Commissioner
Newold. Please stand if you're able to do so and silence your phones. >> Let's pray. Lord, we thank you, our gracious heavenly father. We thank you. We pray in in your son Jesus name. Lord, we come to you today for this county meeting. Lord, we pray for wisdom. We
pray for guidance. Lord, we know it is through you that that comes. We thank you and pray for the first responders. Pray for the firefighters in our community, Lord, sacrificing for us, protecting our property and our lives, Lord. And bless this meeting, Lord. Help
be fruitful to the business of our county, Lord. And again, it is in your precious son's name, Jesus Christ, that we pray. In your name we pray, Lord Jesus. Amen. >> Amen. >> Please join me in the pledge. I aliance 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. >> Okay. Going into the approval of minutes.
>> Madam chair, I move approval of the minutes as stated in our packet. >> Second that. >> Have a motion. Second. Any discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. >> All right. Well, we will recess the BOCC meeting and convene the port authority meeting. >> Madam chair, I move approval of the port
authority minutes in our packet. >> Second. >> Have a motion second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. I. >> I. >> Public comment on port authority items only at this time. Do we have any public comments on port authority items? All
right. Seeing none, um any discussion from the board? All right, hearing none, um we'll adjourn the uh port authority and reconvene the the BOCC meeting. First up, we have a presentation on problem
solving court month. Um Judge Mark Johnson from the seventh judicial circuit. Commissioner Harvey will read the proclamation. Judge, if you have anybody that wants to come up, they're welcome to do so. It's up to you.
>> Good morning, Madam Chair, and good morning, fellow commissioners. Um, today's proclamation, Putnham County Proclamation number 2026-036, problemsolving court month. Whereas problem-solving courts have been
restoring lives, reniting families, and making communities safer for more than 30 years. And whereas problem-solving courts provide focus and leadership for communitywide partnerships bringing together public safety and health professionals in combating substance
abuse, mental illness, and other issues present present in the criminal justice realm. And whereas research shows that the problemolving courts improve treatment outcomes and do so at a lower cost than any other justice system strategies. And whereas since its
inception in 2002, 275 individuals have completed the requirements of Putnham County Drug Court Program. And whereas since 2017 when St. John's and Putnham County Veterans Treatment Court began, nearly
150 justice involved veterans have completed program requirements. And whereas judges, attorneys, treatment and rehabilitation professionals, law enforcement, community supervision personnel, researchers, and educators join to form healing communities, and
therefore be it resolved by the Putnham County Board of County Commissioners declare that court drug court month be established during the month of May. Madam Chair, I move this proclamation forward. >> Second. >> Have a motion second. Any further
discussion? All in favor say I. I. Thank you. >> What I'd like to do, thank you very much for this great honor for our drug court program. What I'd like to do first is I'd like to introduce, if you don't mind, some of our drug court team. if I can have you stand. Miss Jackie um
Pollock, who is our drug court coordinator, Miss Maria Robas, who is our representative from the department of uh corrections, probation, and parole, and Miss Susette Young, who is one of our counselors with SMA Healthcare. If it weren't for these individuals, drug court, we wouldn't be able to do drug court. They're the ones
that make it happen. And um and um and all of our drug court participants, um they wouldn't get the help um that they need. So, thank you to them um for the great work that they do. Um I want to thank you also, commissioners, um for your support. Um this is not simply um a
matter of support. It's an investment you're making in our community. Um there are many, many men and women who desperately need the help um that drug court provides. Um it gives them hope and it makes our community better. And most of all, it saves lives. And so I
thank each of you for the investment that you make in our drug court program. Um because there are many people that benefit greatly from that. Um one of the things that we would like to do um and I know that Judge McGillan is here on behalf of the drug the veterans court program. So I don't want to interrupt
some words that he may have but we do have one of our drug court members that would like to address you at the appropriate time. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Very briefly, I want to add my thanks to that of uh of Mark Johnson and Judge Johnson. He's taken over a great program
here and I know he's going to run it with with excellence. He and I both come from a prosecutorial background. he and the state and myself in the military where the whole idea was lock them up for many years. But we figured out that that doesn't always work and especially with folks that have drug issues and
mental health, especially with our veterans uh who are many of them who are suffering from PTSD, have had traumatic brain injuries and are facing long-term lifelong challenges. And the fact that you all have joined with the St. John's County and formed the joint veterans
treatment court. I really want to thank you very much for that. I brought up a couple of my veteran mentors uh with me. That's the secret sauce of veterans treatment court. We also have treatment providers and probation and such. But in veterans court, we add the secret sauce of our veteran mentors. Those are
volunteers from the community who are veterans themselves and who stand by their participant as a battle buddy or a shipmate and really are an extra added benefit to the program. But thank you very much for everything that you've done for our program and more importantly that we can do for the citizens of Putinham and St. John's
counties. >> Thank you. >> I want to introduce you. This is Joey Patterson. He's one of our drug for participants and um he has um prepared some remarks that he would like to present to you. >> Good morning, Joey. >> Good morning. Thank you for the opportunity to speak today. Like you
said, I'm Joey Patterson. I'm a participant in drug court. Um I'm not much on public speaking, so I'm going to do some public reading of my own words. >> Don't worry. >> So, uh I'm here to share what this program truly means to me. Not just to me, but to people like me who are trying
to change their lives for good. Before drug court, my life was controlled by poor decisions, unhealthy thinking patterns, and the cycle that so many people in addiction know too well. It wasn't just about substance use. It was about the way I thought, the way I reacted to stress, and the choices I made when things got difficult. Drug
court didn't just make me stop using it. Forced me to look at myself honestly. It gave me structure, accountability, and tools that I never had before. It taught me how to handle pressure without running from it. How to take responsibility for my actions and how to start rebuilding the parts of my life that I had damaged.
Because of this program, I've been able to repair relationships with my family, become more present as a father, and begin building a life that I can actually be proud of. For the first time in a long time, I'm not just staying clean. I'm learning how to live right. I want to be clear about something. This
program is not easy, and it shouldn't be. It holds us accountable. It challenges us. And when we fall short, there are consequences. And I've certainly experienced this part firsthand. But that's not that's exactly why it works. Drug court doesn't give people a free pass. Although we feel like it when we're in the jail, it gives
us a real chance, a chance to break cycles that would otherwise lead to repeated arrest, incarceration, and continued strain on our communities and resources. Programs like this don't just change individuals. They strengthen families, reduce crime, and ultimately save taxpayer money by helping people
become more productive members of society instead of repeat offenders. I stand here today as someone still in the process, still learning, but fully committed to doing better. And I can tell you with confidence that without drug court, I would not be on the path I am today. For most of my life, I've
mastered surviving, doing what it took to just get by. But because of this program, I've realized something important. It's time to start living. This program gave me direction when I didn't have any. It gave me accountability when I needed it most. And it gave me an opportunity to build a future instead of continuing to destroy
it. I'm grateful for that opportunity and I'm committed to making the most of it. Thank you for your time and the support of the program. >> Thank you, Joey. >> Don't mind. I would like to have all of our drug for participants if you would please stand.
>> Oh, wow. We are proud of Joey and the rest of our participants and the progress that they have made in our program. One last thing before I conclude. I would be remiss to not honor the legacy of uh Judge Art Nichols and Judge Libby Morris. Judge Nichols started this program many
decades ago. Judge Morris um took his place when Judge Nichols retired. So, I know that I have some big shoes to fill. Um, but I am I am eager for that challenge and but and I thank you again for the support that you've given to our program. Thank you. >> Thank you,
>> Commissioner Al. I we have a commissioner that wants to say a few words. Commissioner Alexander. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Judge Johnson, thank you for accepting the challenge to lead this program. um at the request of our chairman uh when I first came on the board I went to my first drug court
graduation and I've been to another one since then actually the one that uh Libbyy's retirement graduation and each one has touched me because um one actually had a family member graduate the second I had a friend of mine from
my 20s graduate and the and in that same program we had one of our teammates fathers graduate So, I I understand the hard work, but I understand that the program works. And I want to thank you and I want to let all of the participants know that it's very
challenging, but it's rewarding. And I'm proud of every one of you that has accepted that challenge because it changes your life and it actually gives you your life back. >> Well said. Good job. Thank you. >> All right. You want to come up for a picture? >> Sure.
Should you go down? >> How are you? >> Make room for the chair, ladies. I'm excited. >> Hey, sir. >> Oh, yeah. How you doing, buddy?
>> How are you, Chris? >> You're fine. She'll tell us where to go. >> We're from the wrong spot. >> All right, get ready everybody. Congratulations. >> You too. >> Thank you very much. >> You're welcome. >> You're welcome. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> I've been >> Yeah. Good deal. That young man could read his phone from way down. >> Good for you. >> Yeah, >> I'd have to have that. >> Yep.
Thank you. Next up, we have Gerald Don Donnelly, Veteran of Foreign Wars, Post 3349. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. The Veterans of Foreign War Post 3349 is here today to honor our
responders for the year for the famine and policemen and EMT. We are proud of all the uh first responders of the county and the city who keep us safe every day. To present the awards, I have Gerald Scher who will
go through the awards. And the first award being given today will be to the sheriff of the year. Gerald, thank you. I'm not quite sure how I always end up with this privilege of presenting these awards. It's always a a pleasure to do
so though. Um for our deputy of the year. >> There she is. >> Sure is. >> I see her. >> She's over that way. >> Is she even in here? There we go. Miss Miss Holly Griffith. Come on up here, please.
Oh, >> there's sheriff. Okay, we got him by surprise, I do believe. And I'm going to read this if that's all right with you, Sheriff. If I'll do the reading of this, I'd like to formally nomate nominate Holly
Griffith, our community relations deputy of the Putham County Sheriff's Office. Deputy Griffith has consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication to fostering positive relationships between the sheriff's office and our community
through her outreach efforts, programs, and initiatives. She has strengthened our community trust, encouraged public engagement, and exemplified the values of service and commitment that the Veterans of Foreign Wars represents.
When called upon, no matter the task, Deputy Griffith is always there, ready to assist with professionalism, dedication, and a positive attitude. Her willingness to step up and support both the community and her colleagues further
exemplifies why she is an outstanding candidate for the Veteran of Foreign Wars award. Her professionalism, enthusiasm, and tireless efforts make her an outstanding candidate for this recognition. I wholeheartedly endorse
her nomination and believe she is highly deserving of this honor. And this comes from Allison Walters's merit for the sheriff for the So, Miss Griffith, let's give you your plaque here.
I say, Miss Deputy Deputy Holly Griffith, in special recognition of your hard work and dedication to the citizens of Putnham County, the Veterans Foreign Wars like to present you with this plaque to hang on you, your I love me wall.
You also get this handy dandy little certificate, too. >> Oh, thank you so much. I really appreciate that. >> Okay. >> You want to do one at a time? >> Okay. >> Congratulations.
>> I love me wall. I like that. >> Yeah. >> Individually. She doesn't want anybody stealing her son. Time out. >> Open it up. It just looks like a folder like that. >> There you go. And now it looks important.
>> Put your plaque in front of it. There you go. >> Oh, you don't. >> Allison will tell you what to do. >> I will. All right. One, two, three. I'm gonna do it with mine now.
And here we go. One, two, three. One more. Everybody tell Holly happy birthday. One, two, three. >> There. >> Congratulations. All right. Next up is our firefighter of the
year. If you go ahead and come forward, >> you going to a few words afterwards or would you like me to do the what I just did? >> Uh again, it's my pleasure for our first these are all our first responders that
we're honoring today and this was a specially sweet one here uh firefighter Boomer Davis. Now we had a number of people that could be awarded this particular one for this on actions
uh which occurred and on June 22nd of 2025 was a residential structure fire with enttrapment of people. I'm just going to read the nomination summary that was presented. On the
evening of June 22nd, 2025, at approximately 8:30 p.m., multiple units were dispatched to a reported structure fire with confirmed victims trapped inside. Dispatch information indicated that the only viable exit was blocked by heavy fire, creating an immediate
life-threatening situation. Upon arrival, firefighter Boomer Davis demonstrated exceptional courage, leadership, and composure under extreme conditions. As part of his initial entry team, firefighter Davis worked alongside
Engine 7's lead firefighter, Rescue 82's firefighter and Engine 14's firefighters uh to gain access through the master bedroom window after removing a window-mounted air conditioning unit. Once inside the smoke charged
environment, visibility was getting near zero, heat conditions were worsening, and the team faced immediate decision-making steps. Despite these hazards, firefighter Davis pressed forward with determination and focus, performing a coordinated search
that led to the successful rescue of three trapped occupants. His actions were instrumental in locating and removing the victims to safety before the structure became untenable. For this, the firefighter Davis exhibited exceptional bravery by
entering a hostile environment with known life hazards to attempt rescue. his technical proficiency in executing forcible entry, coordinated search and victim removal techniques under fire conditions. Also, a team oriented professionalism,
maintained clear communication and coordination with other firefighters during a complex rescue operation, and showed composure under pressure, ensuring that rescue priorities were achieved without compromise to crew safety or operational integrity. The
outcome of this incident, three lives saved, is a direct reflection of firefighter Davis's dedication to duty, training, and selfless commitment to the mission of saving lives and protecting the public. Without the immediate, decisive, and heroic actions taken by
firefighter Davis and his team, the incident could have resulted in multiple fatalities. Firefighter Davis, we just like to honor you with this award. your certificate of appreciation
>> and your plaque that says in special recognition of your hard work and dedication to the citizens of Putnham County, Veterans of Foreign Wars of United States Post 33449. >> Thank you so much. I just want to take one minute to to recognize Boomer. He is one of the first
three of our public safety trainee program that we started a year and a half, two years ago. U local young man came to us in an apprentice program. um we put him in our public safety training
position and uh he continued his education, got all his certifications and you see the outcome. So thank you >> and if you have anybody else you want to come out please welcome you All right.
One, two, three. Sometimes I get one more. You want >> Mr. Right. >> I forgot to get the one too. already up here. >> I see that. I don't have to call you.
>> That's right. >> The same truth. >> Yes, sir. All right. I our final award of the day is uh is our uh our paramedic of the year. I had to think about that for a second. I'm going
to read the award nomination here. Matt Lucher to be awarded paramedic of the year. He's shown time and time again his knowledge, experience, and dedication to protecting the citizens of Putinham. Anytime I or anyone have spoken to at my
station all enjoy working with Lucher whenever he picks up with me or them. Mr. Matt Lucher goes above and beyond to teach what he has learned to new and experienced employees alike. He's the obvious choice for this award. I believe
every Yeah, I believe and the battalion chiefs and captains would agree that after he was chosen to help clear a struggling medic when it falls outside his normal job description, he goes above and beyond for the department and the citizens of this county and he does
it all with a good attitude. He is the type of employee our leadership should be fighting to keep here in Putnham. And I just like to say uh EMT Matt Lucher, what a wonderful award this is and that we appreciate
each and every hour you spend on the job. So thank you sir. Here's your certificate of appreciation and Putnham County Paramedic of the Year PLA in special recognition of your hard work and dedication to the citizens of
Putinham County. the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the United States Post 3349. Like to present you with this great honorable plaque. >> Thank you very much. >> Say anything. >> I know you want to.
>> Uh I just want to thank you everyone. Uh it is an honor to serve the community. Appreciate that's a lot better. Uh to serve this community. I've been here seven long years. I've got to see the the growing that we've done from the fire rescue side, from the community paramedic side to everything we've done
together. Um it is great. We are moving forward to serve the community as a whole. Um if we all chip in together, we can all carry the stone together. Thank you. >> I don't know if she wants to come up or Thank you. >> All right.
One, two, three. >> I I took three already. >> One more. Thank you. >> I want to thank the uh commissioners for letting us uh present these awards today. It's our uh it's a great honor to
honor our first responders for the year. >> Well, we appreciate BFW coming forward and always honoring our our first responders. Thank you. All right. Uh we would have had uh human resources come up, but we're going to pull that item. Uh the person is not
here. Next, we have finance uh presentation of the audit. I don't see Matt here. Who's doing that? Do we need to take a quick recess while that loads up? Yeah. Okay, we'll take a few minutes. Recess. Good morning, sir. >> Good morning. You ready?
>> Yes, sir. You You may go ahead. >> Thank you. Uh, good morning. My name is Brennan McKitrich. I'm a partner with James Warren Company. I've also got Zack Shafor in the audience. He's a partner and head of our government practice. Um, appreciate the opportunity to be here today. I do have a PowerPoint slide deck
that kind of summarizes the financial statements that were issued uh and that we audited for fiscal year 2025 for the county. Uh before we get into the presentation itself, I did want to thank the board for the opportunity to perform the audit again this year. Also want to thank everyone involved in the audit. So
the clerk, Ryan, Logan, their team, as well as all the constitutional officers. It's really a team effort to get through an audit. So appreciate everyone's hard work. Um the county does go through a certificate program through the GFOA. So there's some additional requirements
there as well. So not only is it hard to go through an audit, but there's additional hoops that we jump through or the team from the county jumps through as well. And to give you a little bit of context, we do audit 16 counties. Of the 16, you are the third county to get issued. So it kind of shows you the timeliness of how quick we're able to
turn around and get the items that we need uh to get through the audit. One thing I like to remind the board is that these financial statements are your financial statements. However, as auditors, we also include audit reports. This is a really a slide summarizing what those audit reports are. The first
one is where we express our opinion really over the reliability of the numbers that you're looking at in your financial statements. We do have what's called an unmodified opinion or a clean opinion. It's really kind of the best opinion we can provide over a set of financial statements. The second report here, the single audit
report. So, the county did have grant expenditures exceeding a certain threshold. Because of that, there's some additional testing that we're required to perform. There were issues or uh findings identified, we'd communicate that, but as you can see on this slide, there were no findings. The third report, internal control and
compliance report. So, as part of our process, we're required to understand your internal controls with regards to financial reporting and accounting. uh this is an opportunity if we did identify what we consider to be material weaknesses or areas of non-compliance we could communicate that but as you can see on this slide there were no items in
that report either in the fourth report the chapter 10550 report or management letter to the auditor general there's some more required communication that the state asks of us and there's opportunities to provide other recommendations maybe not issues and internal controls but other areas of improvement for financial management but
as you can see here there are no additional recommendations or modifications to the report and then finally the examination report just indicating the county's in compliance with specific state statutes. So I mentioned earlier um the constitutional officers. This slide is
really kind of acknowledging that we do issue five other reports as well as part of the audit. So again um going through that process and working with them as well. Um this is a slide just summarize if we did have any written comments included in any of those reports and as you can see there were no additional
comments on any of those reports. Moving over to the numbers, this is with regards to your general fund for the county. So, this is your main operating fund. Um, looking at the fund balance with regards to the the various categories over the last four years. Um,
you can see here it's got the biggest change having to do with the assigned fund balance from year to year, but that's really related to the next year's budget. What we do to give you kind of a better understanding too is we look at the assigned and unassigned number and we compare it to expenditures and
transfers out. So that that's what this slide is doing as a percentage. So this year it's at about 44.7%. What we do is we compare it to what the GFOA or government finance officers association recommends as a minimum. So think of it as a floor of 16.7%.
But they also, you know, acknowledge the fact there's other needs too as far as capital requirements or, you know, we are in Florida, there could be a need for reserves for emergency purposes as well. So again, thinking of the 16.7 as just the floor. You don't want to go beneath that, but obviously you can be
above that. Moving over to your enterprise funds, this is kind of your what what we also call the proprietary funds and the unrestricted net position. um kind of looking at again similar to that last slide, but with this on the enterprise funds, we always like to say this is
like half the picture. The other half is really the infrastructure in those funds themselves. So making sure you continue to invest in that infrastructure as well. That being said, this year for FY25, the county did invest about $3.4 million in capital asset additions with
regards to these enterprise funds. And then just some other highlights, your other governmental funds, uh overall fund balance of about $56 million with an increase of about $10 million and highlighting the fact that we had no exceptions and testing related to those restricted funds um with
regards to the appropriate purpose of those funds as well. And then the net pension liability, that's related to your Florida retirement system. uh really kind of pushed down from the governmental accounting standards board that we were required to include that as a liability in your financial statements. However, there's no
budgetary impact with regards to that liability and really the budgetary impact are the required contributions you all budget for and make every year. With that, I will stop and answer any questions. >> Are there any questions for the presenter? >> Uh Commissioner Alexander, you're
recognized. >> Thank you for your presentation. Um, this is the second year that you guys have presented since I've been in office. Is it typical of other counties that you find issues or that need to be addressed? Because I've seen two years
in a row we haven't had any issues that needed to be addressed or any any findings. Is that is that common amongst counties or is that isolated to the job that that our staff and our team is doing? Typically we have at least one or two comments, you know, especially on
the con when we think govern countywide on the constitutional officers. >> So the one slide where we show kind of a you know all the comments or written comments where it's all zeros that kind of shows >> just where you're at with regards to kind of the financial reporting and
accounting countywide. So yeah, I would say it's you know typically we'd see at least one or two comments if not more. I guess that's kind of a testament to the job that the team's doing here at Putham County because since I've been in office, I've become more accustomed to
the volume of expenditures through the county and it is just massive and to see that happen and not have any any dings in our armor. Uh I just I want to commend staff that's that's pretty impressive.
>> All right. Thank you, Mr. SGS. You're recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Madam Chair. Apologize. Uh just want to follow up on uh comments from Commissioner Alexander. Uh you're absolutely right. Um the the amount of work and labor that
goes into making sure that we follow our procurement ordinance. You know, I I I'll say it and I say it every time I get opportunity. You we have the right staff in place to make sure that we do things the right way. And uh I know sometimes uh even with U5, you you come
and you ask or something, we have to we have to vet it out and we have to sometimes even say no. But a testament to you five as well uh that we do these things and we do them the right way because these are taxpayer dollars. These are public dollars. These are not our dollars. And uh so I too want to
commend not only the five of you uh for uh the job that you do with uh for us but also the procurement ordinance and how we've updated that a couple of times because that is the the Bible for which we live by in the in the financial side of things. And so you know the the hard
work that's done by Miss Young and her staff, Mr. Grimes and his staff and administration overall and to the folks that actually are on the front line asking for things and pushing these things forward for us to be able to do what we do day in and day out to provide the service but also do it in a way that
we absolutely follow our own procurement ordinance. And so when we get a audit where there is no comments, right, >> no findings for the I think this is the second year in a row, you know, that that should be a testament to to to the work that's being done here. So, uh, Commissioner Alexander and the board, thank you for your comments because that
is a big deal, >> you know, and to Matt Matt Reynolds, honorable Matt Reynolds, who couldn't be here today. Him and his staff are phenomenal to work with. Uh, I know that there's a monthly meeting in Miss Young's office with uh with Matt's staff and Miss Logan and Miss Ryan are
phenomenal folks. So, anytime we have a question, we can reach out to them and get the information that we need and the answers that we need. So, it's absolutely a team effort between our office and their office. O thank them as well and uh I appreciate and thank you for allowing my comments.
>> Thank you. And if you think about the um the amount of uh departments, the amount of constitutionals and their departments, it is it's uh it's quite an undertaking. And like you said, we've got good policies in place and uh good people in place to help with that. and
and I'll say it in comparison to entities that are smaller than us. They've certainly had uh audits that have been quite large with uh opinions and that kind of thing. So, and comments. So, I think having two years of clean audit is phenomenal. So, thank
you for to staff. Commissioner Harvey, you're recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. And you know, in today's world when sound bites seem to matter and Facebook is governed uh by the keyboard warriors, this report right here shows that there's no hiding the
football here. There's nothing like that. All of our stuff is out there transparent. You can find it on the web. You can pull a book open. You can call, ask a question, you know. But when we deal with this kind of money, these kind of grants, these kind of funding
sources, and we find no findings at all, I applaud our staff. I applaud our constitutionals, our finance department. And yes, I'm getting told sometimes no, too, because it doesn't meet the litmus test. But that's what we need to be able
to be told is no sometimes. And then find other ways to make things happen. So it it's a joy to be here. It's a joy to sit in this seat. And it's a joy to see these numbers and to see no findings from anyone. And that that excites me
more than anything. You know, I always told my staff and when I had my office, you might steal from me, but you're going to darn sure work for it. And u we we didn't have that problem. And u so I I appreciate your staff, your what you
did, and I appreciate all of our staff and and encourage the public. If you have any questions, don't listen to the sound bites. Call us, look online. These reports are there. You can find out anything you want to find out about your government because it is your money at the end of the day. Thank you, Madam
Chair. >> Thank you. Thank you for your presentation. >> Thank you. >> Next up, we have uh Julianne. It's not on the agenda, but she has some great announcement that she would like to share with about um animal services. >> Thank you uh chair. I appreciate you letting me take a a point of order out
of order. Um, I want to recognize if our animal services officers that would come up to the front. Um, I'm gonna brag on you guys for a few minutes. So, um this is our street operations team and Madison just recently joined the street
ops team, but uh when they prior to her joining the team, all of them went and attended the animal control officer certification course, which is a 40hour course that's approved by the Florida Animal Control Association, which is also known as Florida Animal Protection
Advocacy Association. It meets the certification requirements under Florida statutes 828.2. 274. They must attend all sessions and pass all state exams with a score of 70 75% or higher to receive the certification. And standing
before you, all of them took it with the exception of Madison who scheduled for the next round. Um and all of them successfully passed it. So for the first time um in animal services history, we have six certified animal services officers um on our team and serving our
citizens. And so I want to commend them. Um it was a long week with a lot of information thrown at them. Um some scored higher than others, but you know, we won't we won't call out anybody. Um so, but we're very proud of them and the work that they do and their commitment
to their jobs, their career, and our citizens. And I just really wanted to brag on them this morning. >> Yeah, that's exciting. We, you know, we're always uh as a board, we have always been trying to since this board's been put together, move animal services
forward. We've done a good job and and um you guys just continue to uh raise the bar and we appreciate that. And having this this certification, it's not just a piece of paper. It it really means a lot to us that you were able to do this and that you continue to to uh get get your education and continue to
be certified. Commissioner Newold, you're you're recognized. >> Well, it's a great team we have here. I want to especially recognize Aaron who is the leader of this group. Um, you know, she could have just sent her staff on. She went and got certified as well.
Um, she leads by example and she's got a one heck of a crew and and we're in good hands and I appreciate all you do. Thank you. >> Commissioner Alexander, you're recognized. >> Yes, ma'am. Guys, don't don't take Miss Holmes comments too heavily. As a former
educator, Miss McNeel probably understands what my kids told me. C's get degrees. >> C is for college. Commissioner Harvey, you're recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I want to thank y'all for the job you do. I know it's it's probably daunting at times to say
the least that you get the call, especially the calls or the comments I get, and then we find out that they might not be as true as they're portrayed to be true. and you're out there searching for a black and white dog that might not be black and white at
all or, you know, has been notoriously ghosted in the community for months. I mean, I I I can only tell you how I get the call. But since I've been here in 2014, animal control building was on the top
of the list. We've set money aside for that and God knows it took us a long time to get there. But we have a facility worthy now. Correct. We have we have the opportunity to always do better. And I applaud each and every one
of you for your hard work and dedication because it is probably the unsung group of people that go out there and make our community safe. You do that. But we appreciate it. I wish we didn't have to have you. You always hear me say that and it's not because I don't care about
you. It's I wish everybody took care of their animals like I take care of mine and probably like you take care of yours, but they don't. And sometimes circumstances get in the way and we have to intervene. But truly, thank y'all from the bottom of my heart for what you do for the animals and the citizens of
Putnham County. Thank you, Madam Chairman. >> Thank you. Congratulations. We appreciate everything y'all are doing. Thank you. You want to get a picture? You want to get a picture? >> Wait, wait. We want to get a picture.
Are you ready? You'll be standing here by yourself. >> Congratulations. I do want to note also that um in the first quarter of the year um we had 110 animals that were adopted through animal services. So um people that's a big
number people don't realize the it is fluid. It's es and flows for sure, but at the end of the day, they are um getting animals adopted and um making s silly videos or whatever needs to be done to get them done. But 110 in the first quarter of this year alone have
been adopted. All right, going into um consent agenda, public comment on agenda items. This portion of the agenda is designed to allow citizens an opportunity to bring matters to the attention of the board. It is not reasonable to expect that the board will engage in debate or deliberation about
matters on which the board has received no prior information as part of the agenda. Please limit your time to three minutes. Public comment cards are conveniently placed at the meeting room entrance that should be submitted prior to the meeting to the deputy clerk who sits to the right of the podium. Are there any uh comment cards on agenda
items? We will have an opportunity um on item eight for public comment on miscellaneous items. All right. Consent. Any commissioners wishing to pull anything? Commissioner Harvey? >> Yes. Uh, Commissioner, item B, Madam Chair. >> All right.
>> Commissioner Alexander. >> Yes, ma'am. I'd like to pull item E. >> Commissioner Newol. >> Commissioner Pelier. >> I have nothing. >> And I'll pull item C. C is in cat. Madam Chair, move approval of the uh
consent agenda of items A and E. >> D. >> I'm sorry. >> D is in dog. >> I thought you pulled. >> E got pulled. >> B. Okay. >> Okay. Let's start again. >> A and D. >> A and D. >> Yes sir. >> E.
>> No sir. Just A and D. >> I got screwed up somehow. >> Alexander Pee >> again. I can't hear you down there. So volume switch. >> All right. A you >> A and D >> D. >> I second. >> You can't hear me. Hear her either.
>> Okay, we got it. A and D. We have a motion to approve. >> I I second at A and D. >> A and D. >> Did you say A and E? >> D. >> Stop. >> All right. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. I.
>> Uh beginning with um item B is a boy. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to go on record. Uh we had a lively insurance committee meeting on this topic and I support this topic even though I voted no in the meeting and the only reason I voted no and I'll tell you
why is because I think we as a board need to do more than what this item is going to. If you listen to the meeting or you were there, it was talking about this particular item. But we found out during the meeting that some of the other drugs that people won or our Blue
Cross and Blue Shield were not covering um concern me a lot. So I would like us to revisit one day and I don't know if it's today's the proper way or send it back to the insurance committee asking them to look at uh providing the same
sort of coverage the same amount for those drugs not covered by people one or Florida blue um after the appeals process is exhausted and let's look at helping all of our employees who are under that not just a certain number
here and I don't know what that number looks like but I could say that if somebody's not covered under a certain medicine our goal is to get them healthy and if we can provide $200 for them for this product we should be able to provide $200 for the others. So um
probably in my my opinion we need to ask the insurance committee to come back together and look at expanding that um for that for that reason. Madam Chair. >> All right. Um I I do have a question before we go into further comments. What
is the financial impact of this if it were to be passed? >> We don't have that. We don't know how many people will choose to participate. >> Okay, I understand that. So what is the maximum that that we would be u that we
would have to be obligated for? I mean, it's it's hard to vote on something when I don't know what the what what's the fiscal impact. I don't know if it's $1,000. I don't know if it's 10,000. I don't know if it's a h 100red,000. >> So, just from sitting in other meetings, not here on this issue, um there are
estimates on short-term and long-term impact because even though there's short-term cost essentially, even though it's designed for one purpose or it's being used for one purpose recently, um there's so many long-term health benefits that echo down, which is why many insurance companies are supporting it. and I think why they're paying for
it now. So things like decreased um heart issues, decreased insulin dependence, all those things later on than most insurance companies believe are a net reduction in what the cost would be. >> Okay. I mean I just would it's hard for
me to understand um that we don't have a number as far as what is the immediate cost. I know we can't determine the long-term costs, but how many employees do we have that would I I mean, how many employees do we have
that could be eligible to take get this medicine? I guess that's where I'm at because I don't know the I don't I can't get there with the cost. Commissioner Ali, uh, New Bulge, you're recognized. >> Thank you. Um you you asked an important question but
it is almost an unanswerable question at this point in time and um I supported this because you know it's a participation program between our the county and the employee. I think we'll be able to look at this a year or so down the road. We'll have good idea of
who the potential participants are. um it'll take a little longer for for the money to come back to us, but it is such a wide reaching um drug over time. It's going to save us money in a in a in a
substantial way. And you know, given that, I think what Commissioner Harvey mentioned, pulling other drugs into this type of philosophy over time, I think would be a a big help to our employees
for their quality of life, their their health, but it will also save us and our taxpayers money over time. So, I I would encourage us to look at including others into this as we move forward, but do it in a in a measured approach. Thank you,
>> Commissioner. Commissioner Alexander. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh I understand your questions from the the financial standpoint of that. Um obviously we we can't provide a hard cost on that because we don't have a firm number of how many people are going
to participate. And short of conducting a survey of all of our employees, we we won't have a tangible number unless we did that. But it sounds as though um our attorney, Mr. Commando has already been through this process with other counties
and they have seen a net uh return on it as far as a net benefit overall. But it does take time and I can see his point as far as the reduction in reliance on other drugs, a reduction in other health uh problems that can be attributed to
weight loss and weight gain. So I understand where he's coming. I it would be a lot easier to say yes if I did have a finite cost, but based on what he's told me and some of the research I've done, I I'm going to have to agree with what he said. So, I've done some
research on it as well, but um that's where I'm at. Um, as far as the list of drugs like Mr. Harvey was talking about, are you proposing we have a a new list of drugs that are added or we adding drugs individually as the need arises?
How are I mean, how how are you proposing we do that? >> Madam Chair, >> yes. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, Commissioner Alexander, what I'd like for us to do is, you know, go ahead and decide on this issue today. But I think what we
should go back, well, I know what we should do. We should go back to the insurance committee and say, "These are some of the our employees that are not being covered by the certain drugs after an appeal process and after that process, should we give them the same
benefit?" My point is, what if what if, you know, Joe Joe takes a medicine that's not covered under Florida Blue, but it helps him stay healthy on our plan and it doesn't cost us money. Shouldn't he be entitled to the same
$200 benefit? I would say yes, he should because he's going to avoid that long-term cost on our plan. So today I'm all for it, but I would like for us to to today say, "Hey, insurance committee, let's go back and visit this in the
future." >> Madam Chair, if I may. >> Yeah, you still have the floor. >> Okay. So, I agree with what you're saying, but it would be hard to go drug by drug, per se, but could we not develop a stipend
or a set aside for a certain dollar amount that would help, whether it be GLP1 or some other new drug that came out that was beneficial to only one or two people, because, you know, we're going to have unique health issues that only one person in our network may use
that drug, but we're going to have to go through this whole process. I think it might be easier if we just had a certain sum that we approved for a specific drug for a specific person. That would be my position on that. >> Madam Chair, may I >> Yes. >> So, I agree with you, Commissioner
Alexander. I think that's right on. I think what we got to do today, though, is we're going to do 200 per vial medication. Well, how Julianne, if you don't mind me asking, what does that vial last? Is it a four-week vial? Is it
a six week or is it an 8week? And my point is then we know what that number is at the end of the year that we can set aside. So when when employee Joe goes to administration and says, "I've exhausted my appeal. I want a $200
stipen for six vials or whatever that medication." Then we know that number. Exactly. Okay. Exactly. >> Miss Young, you're recognized. >> Thank you, chair. Couple of items. One, the average vial will last
the average person six to nine weeks based on Dr. Rigdon's advice. Two would be I would caution the board and the insurance committee against overturning appeals. Appeals are made
based on FDA guidance. So if FDA says this isn't a safe medication and we end up saying we're going to buy it anyways, then there is some concern there. Alternatively, what I believe
I'm hearing as the desire from several of you would be a solution where the county pays a flat amount of money into every employees FSA account and then they could spend their FSA dollars on
any medication, be it something they have to buy out of network or in network or any other related health product covered under an FSA card >> would it seems kind of costly to add an
additional dollar amount to the FSA account because not everybody uses the same drugs. Not everybody uses every drug. Could we go on a case-bycase basis where the insurance committee they could bring it forward if it's a drug that's not approved and as long as it meets the
criteria for safety with the FDA because not everybody needs another $200 and not everybody wants to pay the other $200 across the board. >> Could we absolutely >> um >> because I don't want to increase cost for everybody but I want everybody to
have the drugs that they need for to improve their health. So, I think the concern that's being referenced is not necessarily a drug that's not covered by Florida Blue. The it's a drug that hasn't been approved for the patient based on the FDA's guidance as to how we
get there. We encounter that routinely. >> Okay. >> If the patient complies with the medical guidance of of obtaining that drug, then they're approved for it. Yes. The other thing that we see is that we have
employees who are on the low plan that want a brandame drug and they're denied for the brand name alternative because they opted to have a generic plan. If we start allowing those if if we're going
to allow everyone to have a brandame drug, then we need to totally eliminate the low plan and make everybody pay for brandame drugs. Otherwise, you've got people on a low plan paying in a low co-pay amount getting the high benefit
amount. >> Y >> um so it's a little more complex than and that's why the alternative option would be to determine >> to to load everybody's FSA card with whatever you'd like >> to allocate to an employee. Um,
otherwise it's going to be very hairy in an insurance committee. I'm a bean counter, so I'm going to be the first one to tell you I I don't trust myself to make a medical decision as to whether or not a drug is right or wrong for someone and we should um add it to, you
know, plan. If you've got a doctor saying, "Hey, we're going to run this program. We're going to monitor in blood work. There's going to be lifestyle changes. There's going to be all of these things, education happening." That's that's one program, >> right? So, you know, based on what I'm hearing and what the discussion we're
having, I would I would say that we we table that issue and we move forward with the vote on the GOP and maybe we can address this again at the next insurance meeting where we have some professionals in the room other than just commissioners. >> Completely up to you guys.
>> Okay. So, I I have a few things to say. Are you done? >> Yes, ma'am. Um, a couple points in the way I feel about this is we're paying to say no, then we're paying again to say yes. The county contracts with the pharmaceutical benefit manager
to control costs and apply clinical rules. If the PBM denies the GLP1 drugs like WGOI oric, then the county hires a third party. Now, we're potentially hiring a third party program to provide the same drugs anyway. So that's
duplicate spending and it's a fragmented system. Additionally, uh taxpayer dollars are going to the health plan. They're going to the PBM to manage and restrict drugs. A third now our third party vendor to bypass those restrictions. There are people currently
who get who are on our Florida Blue who get the GLP1 drugs. There are actually over 200 people that get those according to the report I got. So, we're layering costs instead of streamlining care. It undermines the plan we already have put in place. The PBM is hired to evaluate
safety, control cost, apply consistent criteria, and now we're going around that process. So, now we've weakened our oversight, and we created conflicting standards. So, if we don't trust the PBM's decision, then why are we paying them?
Couple other things is there's no clear cost on control strategy. GLP-1 drugs are among the most expensive medication on the market, creating a workaround program. Re removes negotiating and at risk open-ended spending. This creates a
backdoor with no clear guard rails. It's and here's the one that really gets me, the inequity and confusion for our employees. Employees may ask, why was my prescription denied but then approved somewhere else? Different pathways can
lead to un unequal access, frustration, and perception of fairness. We have people that probably if they had $200, they would actually be able to sign up for our insurance. We have people that don't have insurance and I have to ask
the question, do we know if they receive $200, would they be able to then go, you know what, now I can afford my health insurance. And so for me, it's an it's an it's an equity thing. I don't think we're being fair to all of our employees. We're taking a certain sector
and saying, "We're going to subsidize your medicine for $200, but we're not doing that across the board. We're not giving equal service to everybody." If somebody is able to get a GLP1, they can go through the their Florida Blue
already and get it through the process that we already have in place. We've also recently added the people one where people can get the um FDA approved drug the um WGOI. So there we have processes
in place if if people want to get on GLP1s and if their doctor approves it and recommends it then why why are we going around the process that we already have in place? So those are my comments. I just think that if if the system's broken, you know, we either fix the
system, but we don't work around it. So, I just have a hard time with pay paying multiple vendors to manage the same issue in different ways. It's not efficient. It's not transparent. And to me, it's not a responsible use of tax taxpayer dollars. If we believe in
covering these medicines, we should fix the plan and not work around it. So, those are my comments. Somebody wants to make a motion, you're welcome to do so. >> Madam Chair, I'd like to make a comment. >> Sure. >> Some of these statements that you just made were the first I've heard of it.
And um and I appreciate that's our job is to sit up here and deliberate. Correct. And uh and we can't do it in the back room when we're not going to do it that way. I think we all want to make our employees better and healthier. But I would think based on what I'm hearing
today that we need to table this item and send it back to our insurance committee and then decide where we're going to go with the other with the other items, too. I think this is a lot more complicated than just, you know, saying today that we're going to cover
it. Although I do want to cover it, I just think it's a bigger, we need to get a bigger conversation and more people, like Commissioner Alexander mentioned, more people in the room to have that discussion. Thank you. It's just it's just not equitable to me. Commissioner Alexander, you're recognized.
>> While while I am for the idea of making our people healthier and if this is a path to get there, I'm definitely for it. But some of the things that you said raised some questions to me about how do we get there? It sounds like we have
some roots in place that I wasn't aware of, but I think before we could take a vote on, I'm going to have to agree with Mr. Harvey. I would like to sit back through. So, being totally transparent, I did miss the last insurance meeting. So, I would like to revisit this topic
in that insurance meeting as well as the coverage of the other drugs. So, I don't I don't think we're at a position where we can take a vote on this today. >> Are you making a motion to table? >> Yes, ma'am. I make a motion that we table this and readress it in the insurance committee meeting. >> Is there a second for discussion?
>> Second. >> Have a second. Um, Commissioner uh Pelister, you're recognized for debate. >> Um, I think there's more layers to this onion than than we've got into so far. And I think it just needs some more some more study before we come to a vote on
anything uh regarding this. Um, and I do second I was going to second I thought Commissioner Al Harvey was going to make the motion, but I was going to second his but I second Alexander. So I'd like to see it move that direction. >> All right. Um, we're in debate. Commissioner Newer recognized.
Given the direction of the discussion, I' I'd like to make sure that we get that insurance committee meeting pushed up, not let it run out another month or quarter or whatever it is and get it um scheduled for ASAP. >> Agreed. >> All right. Any other discussion? Have a
motion on the floor and a second. All in favor say I. >> I. >> All opposed. >> Motion carries. All right. Um C I asked Mr. Suggs. I pulled that but I think Mr. Suggs, just wanted to give you an update.
>> Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, ma'am. Uh, we've been asked to apply for a grant. I believe that's I don't see Mr. Sullivan in the room. >> Oh, there he is. I'm sorry. I looked at where he was normally sitting, but uh this is a a project that Mr. Sullivan is working in conjunction, I believe, with the University of Central Florida. And
it's a letter of support for this project. I'll turn it over to Mr. Sullivan, but I'll be more than happy to answer any questions that you may have. It's just an updated letter from the one that was in your packet earlier. So, this is for transparency purposes because the letter that was originally in the packet versus the letter we have
today in front of us is a little bit different. So, we just wanted to pull it so that everybody knew that there were changes. Mr. um Sam, you're recognized. >> Good morning, Commissioner Sam Sullivan. For the record, um >> you can't take that line, that sax line.
>> I checked for copyright. >> Oh, he did. He copyrighted it. Uh the letter before you is uh for a uh grant that uh actually University of Central Florida approached our public works department and uh public works department have approached me about
helping them with the uh system. It's a US DOT grants. We got to go into the system and all that. I'm familiar with it. So, I've been helping and uh UCF has been doing actually a lot of the weight on this and I figured that uh seeing we applying for a federal grant that
getting letters of support would be a good idea. I drafted the original one which was originally in your packet uh when I had very little information. Um better information and data has been provided to me. Uh so I wrote the second one which I believe is much more powerful and uh impactful. Um, we
already have received letters of support from Representative Sap who actually signed the letter that uh we are bring before you today. Uh, we've also received letters of support from Senator Leak rep, US Congressman Fine and the Chamber of Commerce and we're still working on some more and we'd like to
add the board of county commissioners to that list of supporters. >> Absolutely. and and your second paragraph um says that we're seeking funding to develop a comprehensive countywide vision zero safety action plan focused on roadway improvements,
pedestrian safety, bicycle and micromobility access. I'm not even sure I know what that is. And safer intersections and so I appreciate this because this is something that we do need countywide. we all see that we're there's needs and it's hard because
you've got state roads, you got county roads, you got city roads, you got um federal highways um not coming through Putinham. But the point is I appreciate this and I appreciate you bringing it forward. So with that um someone make want to make a motion?
>> I make a motion that we um approve and endorse this message of support. >> Second have a motion second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. I. Motion carries. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Item E. >> Yes, ma'am. I'd just like to learn a
little bit more about that one and um talk about the lease on that one a little bit. So, we who originally paid the funding for the repairs? Are we reimbursing the tenant?
Um the elevator >> the elevator was paid directly by the county. It was board approved at a board meeting. >> Yep. >> Um I have not seen a roof repair estimate. The board uh repaired the septic tank as a reimbursement.
>> Okay. Gotcha. Gotcha. And in this lease, as I was looking at it, it appears that we agreed to a sub lease um back in 2021. >> That's true. And is that in perpetuity
or at what point can we rescend that? And is there the potential to lease that to the end user if they maintain all of the correct insuranceances and licenses for a nursing home? >> Well, it's for the term of the lease. So, a sub lease only grants any sort of
um permissions and authorizations that would have been entitled under the actual lease. So as far as can we resend that um amendments to the contract which this is require a mutual agreement from the parties. So the tenant the original
tenant would have to actually agree to to withdraw that unless there's a unless there's violation of the contract. But that's not what this lawsuit's about. >> I understand but I thought it would be a good time to talk about it while while we were looking at it. Um, so the parent lease, um, do we reserve the right to
terminate that lease with 30 days notice, 60 days notice, or is it only available available to be terminated by the lease or >> I've got a sorry, the original lease wasn't what was on the agenda. Let me
pull it up for you. you know, as we look at these things and we talked about being good stewards of the county's money, um, I question if there's enough of a profit margin for someone to lease the nursing home from us and then additionally subleasase it
at a profit and have no liability as far as maintenance or any other um, portions of that why wouldn't we lease it directly to the end user, absorb those a portion of those profits and potentially give the end user an
opportunity to lower their costs for our community? >> Yeah. >> So, that's a possibility. Um, this relationship with the the actual tenant existed long before any of us. So, my understanding is it was a
continuation of that relationship. >> Yep. Well, I'd like for that relationship potentially not to continue if we can provide them with a better deal and make more money for the county. >> That that's entirely up to the board. >> This this is uh Commissioner Alexander, if you'll allow me. This is one of the
properties I agreed that we agreed to look at and get appraisals for. >> Yes, ma'am. >> And um potentially um put on the market. That decision will still have to come back to the board and it might be a good time to discuss that. But um Rich, I do have a question on this because it was
it says that um did they file a lawsuit on December 6, 2024? >> That's that sounds about right. Yes, we were sued because essentially the argument was that they had asked us to um to make repairs pursuing to the lease
and then I responded to that lawsuit and we've been in litigation ever since. Um, I mean, the end result is we're able to settle this with um no actual damages and we're not paying their attorney's fees. So,
>> I I guess for me, I'm on my fourth year. I don't ever remember us talking about that we were in the middle of a lawsuit. And are we do we have lawsuits that we just this board doesn't know about? I mean, is it not standard practice that our attorney would give us updates and
say, "Hey, by the way, you guys are in the middle of a litigation." >> Usually, things that apply to you will bring you up, but I mean, for example, there are slip and falls. There are uh a number of different lawsuits that exist on any given day that are handled by
fact and our insurance. So, >> but this one wasn't fact, right? This was you. >> No, this one was me. Fact denied the coverage because it was dealing with the lease. So, I've been dealing with it. But >> do we have other outstanding lawsuits like this? >> We I'm sure we do off the top as you're
asking me. I can't think of the names of them. Yes, we do. >> I would >> I guess I'm just surprised. >> Yeah. I It just seems like if if they're of significance and we would at least be knowledgeable of that they were aware
that that was going on. Um so >> well and again a lease dispute didn't rise to the level that I I thought it was something of significance. I mean it's we get sued on a lot of minutia just because we're the government to be the deep pocket.
>> So so many of those things come forward candidly. I just deal with them. But I mean, if you want a running list of what all the lawsuits are, we do it every year for the um audit legal opinion letter because your auditor is always asking whether or not there's something that could have a financial impact to
the county as we move forward. Generally speaking, very little of it does. >> Yeah, I think that's where I was coming from was that whether there's a financial impact. That was my concern as well. Mr. Sug, you're recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. as we had a conversation as recent as yesterday
about this. I'll take the ownership of this one. Uh as you there are uh lawsuits that we get um periodically that will absolutely have no impact to the board of county commissioners. This may or may not have been one of those. So I'll take the ownership of of not
sharing this information with the board. Uh so uh moving forward, you know, what we'll do if there's a uh if there's a process that we want to put in place, we'll certainly make sure that happens. But I, you know, I appreciate Mr. Commando's responses this morning. And we do get a uh a number of lawsuits uh
here that some of them just get settled, some of them just move on and and they don't have any financial impact to the five of you folks. And so we'll we'll uh we'll put a process in place to make sure that doesn't happen. >> So So thank you for that. So when you say does may or may not affect the board, you're you're referring to
whether it has a financial impact. >> That is correct. That is correct. And you know, just because it comes to mind, for example, like we're being sued by the Nelson family over Chimera Way. Um, we never actually had a formal conversation about it, but they did come to us and we talked about it as part of
that. So, sometimes as things come to your attention, we bring it to you that way. >> I understand. >> Well, you know. >> Okay. Give me Commissioner Newald. I'm sorry. He pushed this button for you. >> That's okay. I'll I was going to make a motion. I'll Commissioner Alexander has
some discussion. >> Yeah. It it it my only my concern is as commissioners, we're we're a small community and we have conversations within the community
and we may share information or be put on the spot about a potential lawsuit that we're unaware of. Um, you know, I know I know we don't need to know about all of them. All of them, excuse me, but any of those, like you said, Mr. is going to put something in place, but it
anything of significance, it's it's not only embarrassing, but it also puts us at risk. So that you know what I'm saying? I just I would like to just kind of get an idea even a 30,000 foot view of what's going on. So I don't get embarrassed in public, >> right? So generally when we do have lawsuits of significance, and I didn't
chalk up a lease to be one of those issues, but if there is something of significance, we definitely do let you know. For example, >> this was a quarter of a million dollar repair, wasn't it? When it first came in as the lawsuit, we didn't know what the prepare was. And honestly, that was just part of our obligations as far as dealing with employees.
>> Okay? >> So, it wasn't like, for example, the Pam Rock case, the second that came in, we let you know that that came in. That was something of significance. And as far as your um role as commissioners, candidly, my advice to you as your attorney is you shouldn't be making comment about pending litigation. So, no matter what
context you're in, anything, >> we don't know it's pending litigation if we're not aware of it. So, if somebody asked me a question in public about something that's going on where we're at, I don't know anything about it. They could ask me a question and back me into a corner. >> Well, if they >> So, that's the thing. I just I would
like to be aware. >> We'll make you aware. But if they ask you a question on something that you didn't know about, that actually puts you in a good situation because then you can't comment on something that again, everything that you say can potentially be used as a component of the litigation that's that we're being sued against.
whether someone comes to talk to you about it in a friendly manner or not. So those are things that again we always advise to not have comments about pending litigation at all. Right? >> So if somebody comes to >> we don't have comments about pending litigation we know about. But if we don't know about them and somebody asks me something
>> sure but if I don't know anything about it I've got no com if I know something about I've got no comment because it's pending litigation. But if I don't know anything about it I just know there's a problem. Well, I I would hope that you all just reach out to me and ask, but um we'll
make sure that you have any information you need on all pending litigations. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Commissioner Newell, you're recognized. >> Um you know, we asked about this property specifically. Um looking into the idea
of marketing the property, clearing up this lawsuit is required for that further step. Um, we have no financial obligation with it. This cleans this up. I would move for approval of consent agenda item E. >> Have a motion.
>> Second. >> We have a second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. >> All right. >> New business, public works. >> Commissioner Harvey, you're recognized. >> Madam Chair, I have a question just
before Mr. Stout come. every year we go through this exercise. Is there a way that we can just say we don't need >> just make it part of your policy? >> Well, undoubtedly the shaking of the head said no. So, we'll just go with
that. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Um Madam Chair, I move approval that we exempt our procurement for the Brownies Boot Shop. >> Second. >> Mr. Leanne, would you like to comment? Just to directly answer your question,
public procurement exists to make sure that it's fair and competitive. Just because it's fair and competitive today does not mean that tomorrow Mr. Harvey doesn't open up a boot shop downtown across the street. >> I get it. >> If that were to happen, it has to be evaluated each year to make sure we
still only have one local provider um selling the boots. And that is what our intent is. That is true for sole sources. That is true for single sources. Every single year in order to stay compliant with audit requirements, we re-evaluate whether or not the status is still exempt.
>> And just a followup and that's why we had no comments on our audit. >> I get it. I get it. >> That's where I was going with that. >> I get it. >> All right. We have a motion, a second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. I. Motion carries. Thank you. Uh request to advertise a public hearing to
vacate a portion of Pine Street. Mr. Stout, you're recognized. >> Yes, ma'am. This area is completely undeveloped. Just runs through the resident's property. Um, and this meeting we're just asking for permission to advertise to see if there's any opposition to the vacation. >> All right. Any questions for Mr. Stout?
Need a motion. Madam Chair, I move that we uh support resolution number 2026-037 authorizing the advertisement for vacation a portion of Pine Street and Lakeside Hill section 10 and providing an effective date for public hearing and
I propose that that would be at our next board meeting um at 9:00 in the morning. Second >> 30 days. >> Huh? >> Need 30 days for the vacate. >> 30 days. >> 30 days >> to advertise. >> Okay. What would the date of that be? >> Yeah.
>> What's the date of that 30-day meeting? >> First meeting in June, >> June 23rd. >> Okay. So, Madam Chair, in my motion that we do June 23rd at 9:00 in the morning. >> I'll second that. >> We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion and comments? All in
favor say I. I. Motion carries. Thank you. Public comment on miscellaneous items. I've already read this one, so I'm not reading it again. So, um, are there any public are there any cards? >> Thank you. You want to sort these for
me? She got two. >> Thank you, >> Tiffany Croer. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. >> I'm gonna take Joey's line. I'm a nervous public speaker, so I'll be a
public reader. So, um, my name is Tiffany Croer and I live at 195 Horseman Club Road. You remember me remember me from previous board meetings with my concerns about the traffic and speed on Horseman Club Road. Uh, I did suggest speed humps or
speed tables for self-regulating speed controlled and it was answered with this would be a liability for the county. There is a speed table an 8 minute walk from this location on Giri Avenue in Cleveland. This is the solution we need
on Horseman Club Road to protect our residents, our students, and our equestrians. I was assured that this concern was going to be followed up on by looking at traffic studies done for the school and seeing if the speed could be reduced to 25. The speed reduction should be an easy
fix, but the more complicated part is the control. People are well over this speed limit on our road. It's not reasonable to ask for police presence since we are such a big county, but this isn't this is only getting worse with
unregulated trucks being obnoxious and racing down our road at all hours of the night. Action needs to be taken. I've emailed the sheriff with no response and so far the board has not addressed um this issue as well. Speed humps or tables are the only way that the issue
will be resolved. The ex excusive liability is just that. Proper signage eliminates the liability for the county. The neighbors on Horseman Club Road are very frustrated. I hope that I'm incorrect and that behind the scenes there is action being taken.
In a few months, the school will be opening and adding a high volume amount of cars. The school is currently stationed for 1,55 students. This will bring a conservative amount of at least 500 cars down our road twice a
day. We are a very small two-lane road with deep ditches on either side with no sidewalks. There's no way children can ride their bikes or even walk to school on this road. Then adding the the speed
of our uh people that are driving is a tragedy waiting to happen. Your assistance and your attention is needed to help resolve this issue and prevent further incidents. And as was advised to me by Mr. Harvey, don't just come with a problem, but come with a
solution. >> Thank you. >> Yes. To add to this, uh, this first one's for Mr. Commando. I don't expect an answer right now, but in the past 10 years, how many lawsuits have been brought against the county due to uh, trafficcoming devices, and how many of
lawsuits were successful? Um maybe next month you can give me that answer. Uh in addition, I think I can speak with both for both the uh police department and fire rescue. Nobody wants that call of child versus car. If the lawsuit
question um is an issue, I got it. If the lawsuit question is an issue, I would say the lawsuit of a dead child greatly outweighs the potential lawsuit of a squatted truck with damage to their modified suspension. Thank you for for your consideration with this.
>> Thank you. We'll do we if we're going to u respond, we'll respond after all of the public comments. Aaron Smith. >> Hey, Miss Smith. >> Hey. How are you? Good. >> All right. Good morning. My name is Aaron Smith. I live at 119 Kelly Smith
Ranch Road, PALA. As a pharmacist, part of my background is in health science. I have been researching information that the county should have performed prior to SUP 26-00003 approval for proposed communication tower to determine whether the application was truthful and accurate.
With the witness, I have documented each coverage location in the application showing for the photos. There is no gap in coverage. Adequate coverage exists in all decided locations. Where there is adequate coverage, there is no need. Per the application, the existing tower in Boswick already contains a T-Mobile
antenna. T-Mobile is not the applicant and the applicant is not a telecom company. If T-Mobile wanted more coverage, it would place its own antenna on a small pole on a rooftop, not a 26-story tower. I have a letter from my mother-in-law whose business name was
used without her consent to falsely claim need for more coverage. When asked at the board meeting about this, the applicant failed to provide an adequate answer. Thus, the applicant uses the T-Mobile name to make false claims of need and purpose for the tower. Our code
requires under land development code 45-6A promotion of the health, safety, morals, and general general welfare to which a complete review by the county has not been done. In 45-172 subsection A1, the definition for communication facility acknowledges
microwave and electromagnetic frequency communications such that these code sections were not met. 45-6 subsection A, 45-1081 subsection A, 45-1083 subsection 9, and 45-1083 subsection 10.
Federal law acknowledges environmental effects of the radiation from antennas. In 2020, the DC Circuit Court of Appeals admitted on the record in CHD, EHT at all vers SEC over 11,000 pages of
scientific studies with statements including quote the commission's failure to provide a reasoned explanation for its determination that exposure to RF radiation at levels below its current lipids does not cause negative health effects unrelated to cancer renders
inadequate. End quote. Quote, "The FCC failed to acknowledge impact of RF radiation on the environment. The court asked the FCC to re-evaluate the science and make a new guideline, which this has not been done. Published science shows the following adverse health effects of
RF microwave radiation, neurologic, cardiac, visual impairment, suppressed immune system, increased fertility, birth effects, DNA damage, and cancer, interference with electronic medical devices, and more. There is research that radiation affects melatonin levels.
We have begun contacting property owners in the area to discuss studying radiation effects on cows using melatonin tongue swabs pre and post tower. I would like to submit a petition that contains 245 signatures from the community with more to come.
If the county cannot provide complete information to the zoning board of admin of adjustment or the board does not have the expertise to evaluate su vote should be moved to a board with the expertise. Community towers are communication towers are not inert
structures. I ask for the county commissioners to review this process and take into consideration when appointing zoning board of of adjustment members. The county failed to show that these towers are safe. These applications require careful consideration for the land development code. Thank you.
>> Thank you, >> Scott Wickersh. >> Good morning, sir. >> Good morning. Please state your name and address for the record. >> Yes. Uh I'm Scott Wickersshy, 742 Ridgeline, Satsuma. So we recently moved into a rental property where we have a
kind neighbor who fosters abandoned cats and uh she's been plagued by ignorant people who see these cats and then they think that's the place that they should dump more cats because she's taking care of them. Right after we moved in, some uh someone abandoned a pregnant cat
there and she wandered over onto our property to have kittens. We called her Brandy. No one was taking care of her, so we took it upon ourselves to feed her. We don't have a lot of money to spend nurturing abandoned animals. And unfortunately, this county has zero affordable services. We didn't have $500
to pay for spaying and neutering a fresh litter of kittens. Uh before we could find any services, she was pregnant again and had four more kittens. Since we have gotten all these kittens since then, we've gotten all these kittens desexed and three of them into loving homes. Brandy was scheduled to be spayed, but a week before her
appointment, another neighbor who was anything but kind baited her with a can of sardines to the edge of his property, where he trapped her and then illegally abandon abandon her south of the Dun Creek Bridge along the highway. A couple days later, her starving kittens emerged from a shed from where
she had been keeping them safe. Two of them struggled to thrive, and thankfully, our kind neighbor attended to the hourly needs of trying to keep them alive. The next disgrace that we encountered was the sheriff's office blowing us off for 4 days until we drove back to the station and demanded that
they at least go and speak with this man. Our mean old neighbor Jack then admitted to PCSO Detective Mullins that he had indeed trapped our cat and abandoned her. Despite the detective having made it clear back at the station that she was well aware that stealing an abandoned cats is a criminal offense,
she then changed her story and told us quote, "People relocate cats all the time." When we then when we then demanded uh to speak with her supervisor about her failure to make an arrest, he made up laws that anybody can kill a cat or dog that steps onto their property.
He then laughed at our concerns about our cat being abandoned. And he threatened us with a felony, an illegal retaliation for exercising our constitutional rights to record him. Please pay close attention to what Sergeant Clayton Eucina is saying. He's either lying or completely ignorant of
state laws. It is a felony to shoot a cat or dog unless it is in self-defense. But we have now learned that this is what happens when you call for help around here with abandoned animals or any animals, your own pets. PCSO threatens you instead of just arresting
criminals. >> Yes, the cat was on his property. >> Yes. So, he is legally justified to kill that cat. >> So, he has every right to shoot at any animals that come on his property because he does this as well. >> That Yes, you can. >> Hey, so you've been recording me? Well,
that went on. That's a thirdderee felony. >> No, it isn't. You serve the public. We know what the law is about two party. >> All right. And this doesn't apply there. Okay. on his property. >> Yes, the cat was on his property. >> Yes. >> So, uh I just like to kindly uh ask you
all uh you know, do you have a cat or dog at home? And how would you feel? Do you have a cat or dog at home? And how would you feel if this happened to you? And this is how the sheriff's office treated you. Thank you.
Kimberly Wickers. Good morning. >> Good morning. >> Kimberly Wickers, 742 Ridgeline Roads at Suma. I'm continuing to speak about justice for our cat, Brandy. It has now been over a month that our neighbor and his two friends have felt empowered to continue abusing animals because of PCO
PCSO's unwillingness to arrest the criminals who took our cat and illegally abandoned her. This man has admitted straight to a detective to committing a crime. According to Florida statute 828 animal cruelty laws and yet nothing has been done. We rent here. We're not even
property owners. And yet we are spending our own money and time to try and solve the problem and doing TNR on a colony in the neighborhood. We have driven to Gainesville and taken 15 of these cats because there are no affordable services here. People cannot afford what it costs
to take care of this problem. Um sorry I just lost my face. Uh PCSO is condoning felony behavior. Not only are they condoning animal cruelty, but they are also saying that you can shoot in residential areas where there
are clear laws. Florida statute 790.15 says that it's illegal to shoot in close neighborhoods, much less at your neighbor's cat or dog, especially just because you don't like them there. We posted our entire interaction on social media and the response has been incredible. The stories that we've heard
from other people in our community who have experienced the same dismissive response from PCSO to their own horrific animal cruelty cases quite frankly is embarrassing. As humans, we need to do better. None of these animals asked to be in these situations. We need to speak
up for the voiceless, not condone the abuse of them. Just because this is a poor county is no excuse for not enforcing the law. Every time we let someone get away with animal cruelty, we are empowering them and others to continue. This needs to stop. There are
so many people in this county trying to do the right thing. And clearly, for a long time, there is no support from Putnham County leadership. I encourage you to go on the local forums and read the comments and just see for yourselves how many people blatantly admit and even
brag about doing wicked and evil things to helpless animals. Sorry. One disturbing comment that really stuck with me was a local man here who killed his wife's five cats. A family member actually reached out and verified that this indeed did happen. It's disgusting.
There have been threats of violence towards us simply for speaking up for these innocent and defenseless animals. There's plenty of evidence available of what criminologists call the link between people who abuse animals and those who are found to abuse humans. A prime exampler that just happened here
is Tyler Holtz, who threw five newborn kittens away. He packed him in a trash bag and threw him in the trash. He was released on bond and he was only charged with misdemeanors. Meanwhile, the woman in Jacksonville who ran over ducklings, she was charged with a felony. Do state
laws not apply in in Putnham County? Do officers of the law get to make up whatever laws they want? Who is going to hold the sheriff's office accountable for doing their job? I encourage anyone who's interested to gojustice for Brandy on Facebook to watch the full encounter
with our um experience with PCSO. Thank you. Thank you, >> Ben Smith. Good morning. My name is Ben Smith, 105 Hires Road, Crescent City 32112. A bit about my credibility. I'm 70 years
old, semi-retired electrical contractor and HVAC contractor and still have eight electrical contracting companies operating in the state of Florida that I license and am responsible for. In 2009, I was appointed to the electrical contractors licensing board by the
governor and confirmed by the Senate and have served as a board member, vice chairman, chairman, and currently chairman of the probable cause committee. I consider myself honest, ethical, of sound mind, and of good reason. My concern here is to bring
attention to the severe drainage problems on County Road 32 309, specifically between Koski Road and Lunker Lodge Road. Mr. Newold has stood on my property and witnessed the devastation to my driveway to my 1200 ft
washed out driveway caused by the runoff from County Road 309. A special meeting was called by J.R. Grimes with attendance of his engineer and other staff members as well as Mr. Newbold. At this time, the drainage was described as tragic but not a result of the county
ditch neglect. I'm here to dispute that and maintain that years of neglect and poor design should not be an individual's responsibility to correct. It has cost me $70,000
to date to rebuild twice since 2022. Um, I'll just add lib here a little bit. I started my complaints in 2022 due to extreme water from our hurricanes that hit. And when it hit, the ditches
filled up with water. It backed up and ran underneath County Road 309 in a 48 inch box cover culvert where it terminated on the west side of 309 with no explanation or design of where the
water's going to go. Since that time, that property has been sold to another individual, and he's had it surveyed and found there was no easement by the county or anybody else for that water to pass through his property. And he has
filled in the area where the water did go. And at this point, should that event happen again, my question is where is that water going to go and whose responsibility is it to move it to the desired locations? Um, what I'd like to
see moving forward from this point is possibly an investigation opened up to find the existing plans for County Road 309 with its elevations and where the water was designed to go. I've been told
by Mr. Grimes that the plans do not exist. At that point, I ask, well, let's get a survey to find out the elevations and where they go. Um, water is actually and I've walked this property and and
actually public works has had someone come out and determine that water is actually running from the west side of 309 back to the east down to that box culvert and coming over the property. I just would like to see something done. I'm not the only resident in the area that's being affected. There are other
countless people in that area that it's affecting. So, you know, if we could possibly open up an investigation, it would be, you know, helpful to all of us. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you for your time. >> All right. Is there anybody else in the audience wishing to speak?
All right. That with that, we'll close the public comment um time. Is there any commissioners who want to address any concerns that were brought up today? Um, >> Madam Chair. >> Yes. Uh, >> Mr. Stout. Have we done any kind of traffic study
on Horseman's Club Road account what's going to be happening there where is currently versus what it's going to grow to when that school does open? >> Uh if there's a traffic study, the school district did it with their engineered plans and I'd have to call JD Thompson to get a copy of that. Okay.
I'd like to know what what what's happening there. And then >> is it going to be at full capacity the day it opens or have you heard it will be? >> It'll be Yeah, it'll be 3 to six uh starting in August. Um I know they are changing the traffic pattern going in and out of the school on Horseman Club.
I met with Miss Oyster on site um and have talked to their engineers and there's going to be two lanes going in instead of one. Mhm. >> Uh so from 19 they're going to take a sharp I'm going to call it a 180, but it's going to be a sharp inside lane. And then coming from 20, there's going to be a left-hand turn to the second
lane. So you got two lanes going in. And then during ingress egress times of the school, it'll be a righthand turn only on the Horseman Club Road. >> My concern is that um we're going to put a lot of traffic on a road that wasn't designed to handle that much. Uh and you know, and it's going to happen overnight
basically. And what how's that road going to hold up and and withstand that? I don't know there's any there's I don't believe there's room for sidewalks unless you got rightaways from certain all the land owners. >> You would have to pipe curb and gutter the entire ditch system to do a sidewalk. >> Yeah. >> And you're talking
>> and there's no there's no land there for that without getting it from you know the property owners. >> Um if nothing else I wish we could put at least widen that road a little bit. You know a foot on each side would be huge. Um, if we can get some numbers from the school board and let us know
where that is, I'd appreciate it. >> I'll call JD today. >> Thank you. >> Yes, sir. >> Thank you. >> I got Commissioner Harvey. Just stand stand by, please. Commissioner Harvey, you're recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Mr. Stout, you know what kind of helps me is when that sign blinks at me and says I'm going too
fast. When kind of I don't like the speed anyway. If you know that with driving with me, I drive the speed limit. But, you know, sometimes you go, "Wow, I am going three miles more than I should be." Um, so is there any way maybe we could look at putting some of
those signs out there that track your speed and say slow down? Um, that might help the problem. You know, there was a school there before. Brierwoods was there back when Commissioner Palisier and I were young kids and and Commissioner Alexander. So, there's been
a school there, but probably not to this extent. Um, so with that in mind, maybe, you know, I always like to to incentivize instead of, you know, beat people over the head. So maybe a sign
out there, flashes that say slow down and you know, but but to be honest with you, I came in on 20 this morning right there at uh on 20 where Kelly Smith School is and people are blowing through that flashing light and you're like, it's flashing and I'm it's 20 and you're
going 50. Come on. You know, um and we can't put a sheriff at every place. We just know that. But maybe those signs would be more advantageous in that area. >> They'll have the flashing school beacons as well um that we'll be installing for them. Uh so that's one of the ways that
they'll try and curb the traffic speed like we do with every school zone. Um my only caution on putting too many signs out there is the lack of rightway. And if you fill up between the road and the ditch too many, do we create another hazard?
>> Um it's a I don't know. We're in a little conundrum. Commissioner Alexander, you're recognized. >> LA earlier this year. Um, not that there's any roadway on the side of there to put the sign, but I did buy a uh a speed awareness trailer and the
sheriff's office can deploy that if we can find somewhere to put it on the side of that road just for the initial opening of that to help with that. But um as I as I go through Gainesville and other other cities, municipalities, I see these tabletops and I've spoken to some of the planning people or one of
the planning guys over in Gainesville and they they seem to get results and they seem to be pleased with the reduction in speed by using, you know, those devices. Um what what uh other
than potential lawsuits for damage of a vehicle, what's the resistance of staff to installing some of those? >> Our job is to make them smooth and not to be smart, Alec, but that's what you want us to do. >> I understand. >> And maybe I I'll help in this one.
>> Yeah. Yeah. I probably a better question for you, but >> So where where do we draw the line, right? Because as soon as we start putting in speed tables and speed bumps, which roads to get some, which one don't, and that's y'all's definition, not ours. Who gets them, who doesn't, when do they stop, how many do we buy, and who's going to set the budget for
it? Because public works doesn't have the budget for it to put speed tables on every road that's going to get requested, and then what's the board's policy direction going to be when we do deploy them? Are we going to buy 10 a year? We're going to buy 20 a year? Who gets them? What's the selection process? Much like roads. Um, so when we open that camp, that when we open Pandora's
box on that one, get ready because we have had them all the time. Everybody wants them in their neighborhood till they don't. And then you're for every person that you make happy with a speed table, you're going to make 10 unhappy. So if speed tables is the way to go, it's going to be back to you guys to determine the policy of who gets them
and who doesn't and who's going to pay for them because public works budget cannot support them. I >> understand. So, we would have to set and determine a policy and certain criteria. But to be perfectly honest, I don't care if I piss off 10 people or a hundred
people if I save one kid's life. JR >> and that's fine. And that's fine. But if we can go back to this, >> but we I I understand what you're saying as well. So, we would have to have a defined policy in place. That's correct. That would come to us. That's correct. Not being resistant to what you're saying. I >> No, it's not the resistance. It's who
who do we pick when when >> Right. We have to define where they're going to go. >> Are we going to put them in school zones? Where are we going to put them? >> Yeah. So, I I think we should start looking at that. Um because I I used to live on Horseman Club Road. I I know that that corner of Horseman Club in Silver Lake Drive was mine. And I've
seen people not even stop at the sign and just blow through past my house. I've been in the yard and had my kids get seen that. So, you know, like like J JT was saying, you know, you put signs out or Commissioner Harvey was saying, if there's no physical reason for some of these people
to slow down, they're not going to slow down. So, and I'm not being I don't I'm not again, like you said, I'm not being a smart. I just I want to make sure that we make every effort possible to protect our citizens. And that that's where I'm at. I didn't mean to.
>> So, if we can if we can dial this thing back to where all this problem started. >> Yes, sir. when the school district decided to put a school on Horseman's Club Road, they never came to the county to get their zoning done and any of those other things were handed for too. There's another agency they didn't ask about that either. The
traffic >> No, I get it. So, I mean, so now we're handed this thing that we would have probably have because there wasn't a traffic study done because it was asked in a meeting when we did an after the-act meeting for the community representation in there by the attorney of the school district to make them do a
traffic study. It probably still hasn't been done. So, I can go ahead and answer the question that was answered for Mr. Stout because it wasn't. We were delivered this. Yep. >> Because if we were, we may have had some comment about, hey, let's fix Horseman's Club Road, but now we're here after the fact trying to make a citizen h citizens happy for a problem that we didn't
create. >> And I wanted you to bring that topic out that it was not the counties that did this. >> We followed our procedure and we did not produce this problem. Other agencies did this. We were not
responsible by not following procedure. Thank you, Mr. Grimes. >> Commissioner Newold, you're recognized. >> Yeah, the whole tabletop speed bump thing is a great big can of worms. It's controversial. It it opens up a lot. You know, the minute the fire truck can't
get there in time to save the house that's burning down, then you get you have an issue there. You want to really open up the can of worms and put a sign out there that sends a ticket to the guy that's speeding. That'll piss people off, but it'll also slow them down. You know, we'll get a lot of grief. Oh, I
got a $500 speeding ticket because I was going 55 through the school zone. Well, you were going 55 through the school zone anyway. Um, I mean, that's an extreme measure, but there's technology out there that will slow people down in those school zones. Um, but do we have
the, you know, the courage to use them? Because I mean, it's controversial. You see them, you see this happen in West Palm, in Miami. Um, but they work anyway. That's one way to slow them down. >> Commissioner Paliser, you're recognized. >> U, Mr. Stout, have you heard any
communication out of the school board as to anything that they are definitely planning to do there far as signage or any kind of other than that one turning lane you were talking about? >> No, just the standard school zone signage. >> School zone ahead, pedestrian crossing,
the flashing beacons. They wouldn't have any maybe a big sign across Horseman's Club stating school zone, kids cross, you know, >> prior prior to the school zone, they'll have a school zone ahead sign. >> Yeah, that's it. >> But that's it. >> Y >> Commissioner Harvey, you recognized.
>> Thank you, Madam Chair. You know, this whole conversation really comes down to what I say about animal control is personal responsibility. And if you're aware that you're driving fast, then you should slow down. If you're aware you're in a school zone, you should slow down.
We grew up out there in that area. Rode my horses from Horseman's Club back to Francis. Um, you know, it was a different time back then. I will say that. But again, slow down. Stop, you know, stop texting on your phone. Stop going 50 miles an hour in a school zone.
Stop doing these things. And I think that's where it comes down to awareness that, you know, hey, do we want to do these enforcement efforts and we do we want to do all the other things to try to get people to slow down because truly, you know, they're not slowing
down on speed bumps in Gainesville. I watch them fly over that, you know, and it's you hear the truck bam, you know. Um, so I think it's all personal responsibility and you know, but if you're aware you're speeding, then then you're held accountable for that. Thank
you, Madam Chair. >> And I'll make a couple comments. Um, uh, we are the policymaking arm of the government. We're not the enforcement side. Um, I would encourage citizens in that area, if there if there are people that are currently not
adhering to the speed limit, you should call it in because the sheriff's office, I don't care if you blow up their phone every day, every day, every day, every day. They need to know that you got a problem in that neighborhood. Um, second, are we on as far as speed limit? What is the current speed limit out
there? >> Do you say it's 35 on horse? So a reduction of to 25. >> It's either 20 or 25 in the school zone. I don't remember which one it is. >> Okay. So that would be in the school zone area. So there will be an area with that with that speed limit that will be
lowered. >> Okay. And then lastly, I'll say this. This is this was something that we got handed as a board and but at the same time it doesn't mean we now don't have to deal with the issue. Um,
I would say as we go into our next appropriation year with the state, because this, you know, when we went up this last year to the state, we heard from a lot of our legislators saying, "You guys should all be coming forward with the same projects, right? And so
this is a huge need in our community. One again that we didn't create, but we can't go back and change time. What about asking for an appropriation for filling in those ditches, putting in
the would you call it curb and gutter pipe curb and gutter on Horseman's Club and that that be supported by this board of county commissioners this that be supported by the school district that be supported by the city of Palaca because it's in the city of PLA if that should be a number one priority if we because
there isn't any my my grandkids go to school they don't they're at school they don't have to walk thank god There are people that walk to school. I've seen mothers walking with their student students with their kids, grandparents, um bike riding, it happens. So, if there's one priority that we should have
going forward, and this is just one me talking and I'm throwing it out there, that should be the one that all entities get together and that we push for on on repairing this problem because we can't keep kicking the can down the road. We can't keep ignoring that there's a
problem because there is a problem. Those ditches are deep. There's no place to go for those students. And it's wrong. It is dang sure wrong. And it's a problem that we inherited. And the only and we don't have the funds to fix it. So the only way I know to to say is that
we collectively come together, all of the agencies, and they support it. And if they don't support it publicly, I want to know why. And then that becomes our priority as we go through the new legislative year. Now, does it answer the problem in June or July? No, it doesn't. but we at least get a plan moving forward. So, those are my
comments. Commissioner Newold, you're recognized. >> I was going to change to a different thorny subject, but but would you like anything on this? I I would just um I I think that's a fantastic idea as we we
needed to start discussing our appropriations for the year and um I can't think of a a more important one to our community other than protecting our children. And it's just crazy to me that that was built because to access the
rear of the school, you have to go down Davis Lake Road. So, if somebody decided to walk from Horseman Club or anywhere down there, there's no good way to access that school by sidewalk and you you're not going to get in a car and drive two blocks. That doesn't make sense. You should have the ability to walk to the school with your child or
your child walk home. So, the design was poor and we were handed that, but that sounds like a potential solution and and I'm in support of that. >> Thank you. And I just, you know, I know we have a lot of other things that we were already working on and trying to get appropriations for, but this is a safety issue with when our children are
concerned. Commissioner Peliser, you're recognized. >> Um, Madam Chair, thank you. Um, I think this you have a outstanding idea of the curb and gutter and and that allow us more roadway there to deal with and and widen that road, make it safer. Don't know what that does for the speed, but
it certainly would create a walkway for those children uh along Horseman's Club. I don't know if we just go to the 19 or do it from one end to the other to Highway 20, but I think that's a great idea. I think we need to uh if we have need need to have a joint meeting with the school board, >> but certainly uh bond with them on this
because I I don't see why they couldn't get behind and support this. And I think you're 100% right. uh ask the the legislature as as one to fund this to uh help take care of this situation and and save kids lives >> and look at any grants that that are available and every one of those
entities buy in. It shouldn't all just fall on the on the backs of the BOCC. Every one of those has a should have a vested interest in that area. And what it if it ends up that that we only get a portion whether it's through a grant or we only get a portion. We try both, right? We try a grant, we try
appropriation, we try every funding, we we look under every rock we can and then whatever's left, if there's still stuff left, that that's when we all have to come together and pitch in um as three entities. Mr. Grimes, you're recognized. >> I'd like to point out the fact that this
isn't the only the only school that you got going to have this problem with. You're going to the same problem at the school on Union Avenue in Crescent City. There's no sidewalks. There's no um we have we have no rideway. Um it's the main thorough affair for the school in Crescent City as well. I know the people
are here today for Horseman's Club Road, but you have the same issue for there. We put in for a state um grant for the the TAP grant for the transportation alternative um which was denied um by the state DOT. Um so we we we have the
same issue in multiple locations. So, I think whenever you guys have your meeting with the school district, we need to figure out a plan and solution for both of them because that school's opening the same day as the one is on Horseman's Club Road and they both are in the same identical situation. Um, and that one there may the one in credit
city may even be worse because that is the only access into the building. There is no access off of Davis Lake Road for all of every single vehicle coming into that school is coming off a two-lane Union Avenue that only thing we have is prescriptive rights. Um, so there is there's not even a turn-in lane for that
one. So, we're going to have even a larger issue there. Commissioner Newolt has um agreed to use some of his discretionary money to put up signage um and on the school and make trying to get that through with public works to make that a four-way stop so at least we can slow the traffic down. Um I don't know
that I mean maybe the direction is from the board is to give us the look and see how much the signs cost that tells people how much what what they're going the speed. I mean, we got to come up with some kind of solution. Um, and in the meantime, right? If this thing's starting in June or I'm sorry, when
school starts in August, what are we going to do then, right? Do we do we need to give public works the some direction to go, hey, go get us a price and bring it back to the BOCC? See if you guys want to fund a sign on each side of it, right? Do we want to put them on Union Avenue in Crescent City just so we can start protecting our children? Because I mean,
>> a temporary sign, one that's on the trailers. >> No, I mean, I think you're going to have to put them permanent. We have We're going to have to install it. We did it at Georgetown Denver Road and 309 when Commissioner Pickkins was here. We put a culvert in the road built typically in like an island, put the pole in the island for no better term, and then put
the put the speed sign there. That's what we had to do there. We could do the same thing on horseman's club and put it in the ditch. We just had to pipe it as a little short portion of the ditch. Um I think >> does it tell people that like you're going >> I think you're going to say, "Hey, you're going 35 miles an hour. Speed limits 25." And have it flashing on the front. So it's reminding people how fast
they're going. I think I mean if you guys would give us the direction, but we're going to have to ask you guys for funding because we don't get those capital dollars in a budget because it wasn't brought before during the capital time. So, we'd have to ask you guys for some funding for it. But, I think that would be that's a step in the right direction to slowing the traffic down.
Um, and then when people realize, hey, I'm actually going this fast. It does make people slow down. I slow down every day going into WA because they have a trailer there that says, hey, you're going it blinks at you and tells you you're going too fast. So, u maybe that's an alternative to get us started and see if we can, you know, come up
with some kind of solution, right? At least we put a positive step forward. >> Thank you, Mr. Grimes. Those are great, uh, great suggestions. Um, Commissioner Newold, you still have the floor. >> Sure. Thank you. Um, yeah, it all goes back to poor planning with the school
system from the beginning. Um, we've got to come up with a better way. You know, our citizens voted to to build those schools. I mean, we collectively are paying for that. And um we didn't we didn't It's terrible that we're going to pay.
It all comes out of taxpayer dollars, you know, in the end. But it's terrible we're going to have kind of a a halfway deal and then they have to come to us for it when it could have been incorporated into Amen. into that that initial bond. >> Hallelujah. >> Just preach it, brother.
>> Preach it. Anyway, we've got to get together and speak in the beginning and not fix it all in the end. Um, I agree with that. I'm going to change the subject from this difficult one to another difficult one. >> Let me before you get to that, let's make a motion on this one. Commissioner
Alexander, your your lights on. >> Yeah. Yeah. I was just going to um say that, you know, if staff will get us some pricing together. We were just talking about things for discretionary funds. I'd be happy to help in that manner. >> I agree. So, can we um do we have a wave of support and give wave support or do you want a motion? Do you need a motion?
>> No, >> I don't need a motion, but I I mean we need to we need to formulate some kind of policy, right? Because now here we go again. We're picking two schools. We have how many schools in the county, right? So, I mean, I just I don't want >> schools that have an immediate need. >> Immediate immediate need >> immediate need. I get it. But I'm saying but I mean we got to figure out how long
term how are we going to go? Are we going to go ahead and say, you know what, we're going to put them in front of schools that don't have a lot of protection. I mean, we need because I I do have a concern because you got the new Kelly Smith coming, right? It's on Krill Avenue. Um, you have Brownie Parish Elementary School, the charter school, the reading learning center. I mean, we have schools all over. I know
that these are the ones in the forefront, but we also I mean just looking for policy guidance on how we want to treat all of the the the school zones. Is this we're just going to do these two for now and then and and move forward in the future with the other ones or how do we want to do it? >> Madam Chair. >> Yes, sir. If you don't, I think you just
need to get us a price on two and and the point is then if we want to multiply that per school, we can do that >> and we know what money we're talking about, >> right? Okay. >> Yep. No problem. >> All right. All right. We got that. All right. Now, Commissioner Alexander, were you done on this subject?
>> Yeah, I'm done. I'm done. >> And then the other thing I would say u before um Mr. New takes the floor again is Mr. Mr. Suggs, if you could help help me and we'll coordinate a meeting with the school district and with um in the city of Palaca
>> and we're going to discuss this openly and we're going to have a big meeting about it and because again we have an idea. We need to know if they're going to be willing to sit down at the table and go forward with us and looking at funding options and that kind of thing. So, um I'd like to schedule a joint
meeting, a public joint meeting. >> Madam Chair, >> yes. Just very briefly, I've heard Commissioner Harvey say something may I want to comment on. You talking about com uh cost of every school. Every school is going to vary greatly greatly. They're not any going to be near close
because they create a whole different set of circumstances in length and width and depth and whatever else. So don't get in your mind of this one's going to cost 300,000. They're all going to cost 300. That just ain't going to happen. So I just want to keep everybody keep that in mind. >> All right, Commissioner Palisier. Thank
you. Um so that we've worked on that one. All right. Um Commissioner Newbul, you're recognized. >> Okay. Thank you. Um I just wanted to touch on um the Wickershire's comments. Um appreciate you guys coming and bringing that uh you know to our
attention. I do that's a tough deal. We talk about you know personal responsibility. you know, taking care of your animals and doing the things that are are right there is a is a big deal here in Putham County. We got a long way to go. Um, we
have not had enforcement um that has been robust for a long time. >> Um, we are working in that direction. Um, I appreciate your willingness to try to fix that those those cat issues in
your personal space, in your community space. um you know if others could do that that would be helpful as well. Um but you know we have made it a priority to um collaborate with the sheriff's department and our judicial system and
our staff animal services program to resuscitate and make that enforcement apparatus work for the future. Um it's a process. We are moving in that direction. We're going to have a lot of community input in in that process. So
while I don't have a fix for you today, we are actively working on it. So >> thank you. >> Uh thank you for that. But uh let me ask you uh where does this you know process start? Do we just leave Florida state statutes like Florida statute 828.12
section 2 aggravated animal cruelty? Do we just say that we don't enforce that until we have a bunch of meetings? Because I thought that was fully established already. Yeah, you know, let me just add this other thing here that was uh brought out by uh Commissioner
Harvey, you know, and repeated by yourself. You know, I I definitely agree. Personal responsibility is a huge deal. We should all be responsible for our own actions. And especially if we're charged with taking care of animals.
Kimberly and I, we didn't ask for any of this responsibility of these animals dumped on us or our neighbor who she bought this property with the problem already on it and it was there as far as we've heard for over a decade. But, uh,
that doesn't mean that neighbors can continue to go and commit felonies and at least misdemeanors until meetings, uh, decide that we indeed hold the sheriff's office accountable to enforce state laws and
our own co county commission laws that are on the animal control website. >> Well, thank you for your commentary. I I appreciate your commentary and I'm I am you can know that there's going to be progress made here and and if I I probably cannot satisfy you with any
commentary today. So >> can I just ask that you we work on a TNR service here? People don't have the money to deal with it. So you can you please make that a priority to actually have affordable free I mean other counties are doing it and our county has
to rely on communities next door to help us. We're moving forward in that space and it's it's a collaboration between the county, with nonprofits, with a lot of others. We now have a part-time veterinarian on staff. There is positive progress here and you will see it in the future. And that's the end of my
commentary for today. >> Thank you for Thank you. Uh when do we get to see justice for our cat that was stolen from us, baited right across the property line? >> That's between you and the sheriff's office. I mean, the sheriff does not report to us. >> I I'm sorry. I understand this, you know, but who's going to hold the
sheriff's office accountable because they are call to you guys? >> The governor, the the next person that above the sheriff is the governor. >> All right. Thank you. >> Real real quickly before y'all walk off, Miss Young has a few comments that she would like to address. >> So, just on the spayneuter services,
Miss McNeel, who is in the back, can get you set up with contact information. We actually have two options. Um, the county in collaboration with ARC has a low call spayneuter trailer. We also have a rescue in town that does TNR. Um, so she can make sure you have contact information. That way if you do have an
animal in your care that you're seeking those low call services, you'll be able to get them. >> Okay. >> Thank you for that. I was going to comment on that, too. >> Thank you. Uh, you know, that sounds great, but uh, you know, unfortunately, we don't have a lot of money and we didn't ask for this problem and these services, they should be provided by the
county. If this is a, you know, if we want, if the county wants to fix this problem, the county needs to pay to fix this problem. We can't expect the community to take it upon our shoulders. These services that you're mentioning, it's, you know, it's great that they're trying and they're doing what they can,
what they've had aotted, but you know, you can't expect people that don't have any money in this county, and there's a lot of them to start paying, you know, a hundred bucks a cat when there's 10 cats, you know, 20, 50. There's cats everywhere you look and dogs as well.
>> Thank you. I think your point's been made. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Next issue, Madam Chair. >> Yes, sir. >> Um I'd like to address Mr. Smith's water issue on 309. Okay. If we if we could. >> Um
we don't have any kind of documentation of drainage in there when that road was built. I know that's far before mine and your time, Mr. Grimes. way beyond but there should be some documentation of how that road was designed. >> That road was a state road back in the 1950s and60s. So the state built that
road. It was turned over to the county I think in the 70s. So if there's any plans that are on County Road 309 are held with the state of Florida or somewhere. We do not have them in our possessions. We've looked through everything we have for plans on 309. The thing that we have to remember is our drainage on site of 309 is there to
capture the first one inch of rainfall. That is all. Is that one inch per hour, per day, per month? What does one inch? >> It's the one inch per storm, per storm event. The first one inch in every afternoon thunderstorm is what is what our ditching system is designed. >> It still doesn't define in what length
of time. One inch doesn't mean a lot to me when you're I mean one inch per event. That doesn't sound like it's proper to me. I'm sure there's a set of guidelines that that state >> I've never had that, you know, definition explained what is one inch
mean. >> I've never heard it either, but I'm I'm sure there's some sort of guidelines, but >> I've been in the contracting business my whole life and I've never heard of one inch and not a definition of what time frame that has elapsed for. >> Um, have we tried to reach out to the
state, see if they got anything from the 50s and No, sir, we have not. Can we do that? Can we work into that? See if there's some guidelines to >> That's the first time I heard it was designed by the state of Florida. It was a state road back then. I did not
realize that. >> You know, I can do some research myself and see if I can find something from the state. Um, but if we can't, I would like to ask for at least some kind of a civil engineer third party to go out and
survey. I mean, at one time, Mr. Grimes had someone from his staff come out and do some surveys, which they indicated they were going to let me know when that was going to happen. And I just happened to drive by one day as I saw them out surveying. And that's how I determined with the fellow that was doing the the
the the survey that the elevations were moving water from the west side of the road back to the east. That the it was running that way when I thought it would be running the other way to take it to the river. So, you know, maybe we just need to find out what the elevations are and how we can get that water to the
river. >> Scott, have you had a chance to look at this and give us some insight or tell us a little bit more about it? >> Yes, sir. Well, we went out and looked at that. That is at the low spot. Water is heading in his direction. Uh, one of the things that we did look at in his
driveway was talking about installing cross coververts because what the what's happening is the water is being trapped by his driveway and it ends up washing out his driveway to get to where the water wants to go to get into the river. Uh, so I think that's one of the
problems. But we don't have any information on the roadway. I mean what we have are the um just the rightway maps. We have no elevations or design of the roadway or anything like that. That's all we were handed over were the rightway maps. So to be able to
establish what drainage is happening out there, it's a pretty aggressive surveying job and flood study that would have to be done for it. >> I'm not familiar exactly where you're you're located there, but I'm not above coming and checking it out and looking
for my, you know, for myself. Um, >> I would just would like to think and hope that there's some solution. Do you have some idea of your own that possibly >> I would, you know, and thank you Scott for coming up here and representing what you know and Mr. Grimes for making the comments about it also. But the water
should have never got to my driveway to begin with to cause me to have to put a culvert to force it down to the river. And I have put in that culvert you're talking about. We did that crossover and I did a 24inch cover down my driveway. And again, that's part of the expense that I assumed and and took on to get to
the $70,000 that I've taken out of my pocket. That was >> Has that helped? >> We haven't had an event to this point where we've had water down there. You're right. It's not a It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when that happens again. >> Oh, absolutely. >> And I don't know whether we're going to have a severe summer or what's going to
come. You know, only God knows that. >> I didn't know when you put it in. I know if you'd had an event to test it to see if it >> Haven't had an event to test it yet. You know, I I hopefully we won't, but we all going to happen. >> We're going to >> Yeah. >> As Mr. Grimes says, we we need what is it? Storm with a name or rain with a name.
>> My big concern right now is that 48 inch box cover that comes underneath 309 and terminates nowhere and and the water is now going and when the water flows through that, it fills up to maximum capacity. Culverts are not designed to handle maximum capacity. They have to
have water. They have to have flow. And that one is maximum capacity. When that water comes out of there, it's coming out at over 30 PSI. It would take a cow off of his feet and suck him right down through it. Um I know Mr. Grimes has seen it. You know, I know some of the others have seen that.
>> But uh you know, it's it's a bad event and it's, you know, affecting me and I I just don't want to have to continue to spend $70,000 every storm. >> Thank you, Mr. Smith. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Madam Chair, if I could. Um I am very familiar with the project. Um
one of the other issues we're going to face is this is goes onto private land. Okay. And water's going to go to the to the to the natural fall, right? So down there where Mr. Smith lives beyond his place. Um his neighbor they closed the road down many years ago. That's a
private road. They removed the culvert out of the road. It goes further down the road into another neighbor that reduced culvert size down the road. But this is all private. The county can't go in I mean, I would I mean, if if if I had the easements tomorrow, this we could probably help with a fix, but the problem is is it turns into private
drainage, and I can't spend our resources and our time working on private property. We go through this on a very, very regular basis. If there was another way to get it there, we actually went down to look see if we could send it further south, southeast on 309. The problem is it comes up to a hill there and it tries to cross and go down by the
fire station. >> There's really nowhere else to put this water and make it go um before it hits private land. Um I mean and then the water goes under 309. It's gone underneath 309 my entire life right there. Um it's in a different spot. It's always gone for that 48 inch box cover
culbert. What's changed down the road down the way is really unknown because we didn't do it. I mean so we're going to take this and put it in front of you guys that is maybe there is something we can do. I don't know. We can open up an investigation. We we can do all the looking we want to do but it's going to come back to all this water is dead
ending into private land. >> Right. >> If I could make one comment on that. you know, just to to to say how I feel about it. And you're right about going on the private property. Um, and but somebody has got to police that when somebody
comes in and removes a culvert and moves something or stops up water flow from going in one direction to another. To give an example of that, if I had a drain field that malfunctioned and it had sewage dumping out on my property, the county would certainly come down to
me and say, "Mr. Smith, you've got to fix that." or otherwise we're going to have to come in here and declare this a problem and we'll fix it and bill you for it. Um, somebody has got to maintain that. You know, I have was given by your office the property owners names up and down that street and I don't know
whether I was supposed to go knock on doors and say, "Hey, we need to address this situation." But I don't think an individual should be faced with that. But we still don't know how the road was designed and engineered and where the water was originally supposed to go, especially at that box culvert
termination. You know, that water that comes out of there at 30 PSI has blown a rut through now Mr. Russell's property and he says, "I'll be darn if I'm going to have that." And has covered all that up. So now it's going to create a major problem in the event we have another
storm and or hurricane and that's going to happen. So, I know I'm still at a, you know, not quite understanding how we're going to address it, but I do appreciate everybody listening to my concerns. >> Thank you. >> I'll be in touch. >> Wonderful. >> Yeah, I I'll
I've spent a lot of time with Mr. Smith. He is the He has a wonderful spot right down there on the river. Um, you know, the road was put in back in the 50s. I'll bet 30% of those homes were probably not there in the 50s. Um, some of them were, but in that time there
have been a bunch of ownership changes. Every owner goes in there and customizes their property a little bit and exasperates this problem more and more and more and more. And that that area just does not have good drainage. There's not a public easement there with good drainage.
>> I can say one other thing. My house was built >> I5. >> I gota the gentleman who built the house did a great job. >> Yeah. Yeah. and and and his his driveway is in a a really bad spot, you know, and
and that that's just the way it is. So, short of a, you know, a big countywide management program, water, you know, drainage program, a um >> you know, a project in that space would require a ton of of property owner
consent to get the rightway. It would probably be a state appropriation for the size of the program. Um, and maybe we get there one day, but it's going to be a toughy. >> You guys, dig it up, put it down the river, but I
would like to see an engineer. >> Thank you, Mr. Smith. I think you made your point. >> Thank you. Um, and then one other thing I'll I'll discuss. I know Aaron Smith's still here. Um, the cell phone tower concerns. Just for the record, the
zoning board of adjustment considered a variance application for setback reduction on April 15th as a companion application for the special use permit for a communication tower on the same property. The CBOA approved the issuance
of the SUP to allow the communication tower. However, the applicants withdrew the variance application prior to the public comment section of the public meeting. At this time, the applicants are observing the 30-day appeal period. Once the appeal appeal period has
terminated and no appeals are made, our department may receive an application for development review. So, we're in the appeal process and the the you have to just go through the appeal process. That's a legal way to to um handle this
situation. >> Yes, I I understand that. Um my concern is with with the the way that the land development code states there's lots of things in there to evaluate that the towers actually have lots of things
health safety general welfare that are to consider for these structures. They're not inert. And so my understanding is the time of of review of the application it was received February 3rd and the letters went out to the abuters March 31st. So, there was a
month of consideration. I mean, there wasn't even wildlife evaluation. We've got eagles in the area. There's there's lots of things about these towers that shouldn't be rushed through. And so, the the community feels like our input has not been considered. We don't need or
want this tower here. And now we're at the point where instead of actually being allowed to hear our concerns, now we have to hire a lawyer to appeal it. And this is a board that's appointed. We don't vote for them and the meetings are during the week. So I have a lot of
people that would love to be here to speak with you guys or at the prior board meeting and weren't able to be there. And so with something like this, the difference between I mean it's the application is designed to mislead the county. It's not T-Mobile. It's an
investment company company applying using T-Mobile as the reason. And if you're not taking the time to understand that or validate the objectives in their slides, it's it's it's at the behest like it
it's you're filling the pockets of investors at the expense of the residents. Like there was no consideration for us. We don't want this tower. We don't need it. And so now, >> did you speak at the ZBOA meeting? >> Yes, ma'am. >> So then you did have an opportunity to speak.
>> Yes. >> Okay. And so did other people >> there? Yes, there was. But then there's a lot of people there was a lot of confusion that a lot of people thought because the applicant pulled their application for the variance that the tower was done. And so yes, there was a sign for 14 day for 14 days at the site,
but not everyone noticed. There's still a lot of people under like finding out now about it. And so I think it would have been great to have more of a community input on our needs because there's also fiber out there which is much safer for us, more effective like
in an emergency than a tower. >> So you there's fiber on Wester Road >> for business. Yes. There's been multiple people that have confirmed they've got business fiber for residents. They say it's not available for residents. I don't know why that is, but the infrastructure is there and that is more
reliable. a tower. If we have a hurricane and they lose power. Now, for me, where I can't get a resident line and I don't have power, I can't call on my cell phone. But if I had fiber, that was much more secure and I can call in an emergency. So, that's another concern. I think just
there it just went so fast that all these things weren't considered beforehand. There is no wetlands evaluation. >> When you when you're making these assertations, you've confirmed all that all of that. You've confirmed that none of those things that you've just said is were done. >> Which ones? Wetland.
>> All of them. All of them. I mean, you said there was no wetlands determination. There was no >> That was discussed in the board. It was discussed in the board meeting. >> Okay. >> Um, a lot of these things though, you don't have time. It's such a deep topic, right? And so when you find out from the public like of the notice, I found out
three days before the meeting trying to understand what is involved in this. Um, and then you start learning after the fact. There's a lot of information out there. um designed to confuse us, right? And so, I mean, just understanding the difference between the applicant being an investment company versus T-Mobile,
we're being told better sell service. Well, there's all they're going to decorate that whole structure. If it was really cell company, it would just be one antenna on a 50- foot pole. That's it. Not 265 feet of multiple things. And it
>> Madam Chair, >> yes, >> sorry, there's a lot of misinformation. Um, >> yeah, there is. Let me just start as the lawyer with the legal side of it. So local governments are prohibited from regulating the placement of wireless based services um
based on the effects of radio frequency emissions and that has been the law since the 1996 federal telecommunications act under 47 USC 332. Um, as far as what uh poll looks like, there's state laws that then say any of
these communication towers that are put up have to make themselves available to our public safety system. So, there are certain regulations that go along with that. As far as brokers going around for the placement of these towers, that's been happening for the past 20 years.
That's the process they go through. So when they say that they represent or that they're looking at T-Mobile or Verizon or AT&T or any of the other providers, what happens is people buy space on the tower. That just happens to be who they intend to sell it to. But
that's also not a basis that we can use to deny the application. So I just want to be clear that first off, this is not an appeal hearing. >> Correct. In addition to people being able to come to the actual hearings, we do accept telephone calls, emails, letters. There are other ways that
people can provide their input to the deciders of that. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> And the appeal process is what? >> Writing. >> Can you? >> So, so um with the denial, it gets appealed to the court system. Um, and then they can move to join that system
or if they're the actual appellant, they can intervene that way, >> but they have the right to to appeal it. Any any person in the community has the right to appeal it? >> Not any person. You have to you have to demonstrate to the court system that you're an effective party. >> Okay. That you're an effective party. Thank you. Did you want to speak, Mr.
Alexander? >> I'd like to ask Zach Baker to come forward, please. Madam Chair, why he's coming forward just from somebody that's built a tower in the county because we just built a communication system just so maybe she gets a little understanding after as the process goes. So the the wetlands
delineation study has to be done, the wildlife study has to be done, the archeological study has to be done after it goes to ZBOa. So like even when we had to build our communication tower, we still had to go through all those steps. They had to have artifact hunters come out. They'd look through the site. They did we had to have gopher tortoises
removed. We had to do all of that kind of stuff before we could ever even get the FCC clearance for the tower. So there is a lot of steps beyond the ZBA of that that approval process because we had to live it too, right? When we had to build our public safety radio communications tower system, we were a
year and a half getting permits and studies and geoteex and all of the things. Um so just for your you know so you do have a little relief those things will get done. >> Okay. Thank you. It's I guess my question is why wouldn't that be before be done before the permit's approved
because >> there was never a permit approved >> it's just >> it's a placement for zoning >> is all that was approved >> and that's why I was bringing Zach forward so he can address some of your other concerns and whether it conforms to the zoning of that area and if there are other issues or some other things
that might not be true that may have been presented to you. So Zach, would you like to weigh in on this at all? >> Yes. No. >> Yeah. Uh, for the record, Zach Baker, um, I will answer I'll answer any questions from the board if you have any.
>> Do you see any, um, problems with this tower being placed on that property as far as zoning setbacks? Obviously, the setback they removed. Um, what other issues do you see? >> Uh, it's un undetermined at this time until the application comes in for development review committee review. Uh,
we don't know the placement of that tower. Um they did get the special use permit so it is compliant with the zoning district which is agriculture for that property. >> Okay. >> And we've done and those have been done in other parts of the county. >> Uh yes ma'am. We have another one under
review right now. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Right. Hopefully Miss Smith that cleared up a little bit of your questions but if you if um you want to move forward with an appeal process if you're an affected party. >> All right. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you.
All right. Are there any commissioner committee updates? Starting with Commissioner Alexander. >> Um, just want to give the community update that um, Mr. Commando and I are working on the no weight policy for down near Dun
Creek that we had discussed a couple weeks ago. I'll give you guys an update and present it to you for your review later, hopefully at the next meeting so you guys can take a look at it. I got some pictures too to go with it uh and get y'all's feedback. >> Thank you for um thank you for your transparency on this.
>> Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. And um as far as anything else, that's that's really all we that's our focal point right now that that committee. Thank you. >> All right, Commissioner Newald. >> Wrong button. I don't have any committee
updates. Um I was going to put forth a few comments, but You want to do them during commissioner comments >> or you want to do them right now? >> I I'll just I'll pass my commissioner comments. You can run us that much farther. I I'll hit it at the next meeting.
>> It doesn't matter. We're all going to have some. It doesn't matter. We're here to serve. We'll just whatever time it takes it takes. Commissioner Harvey, >> I have no updates. Madam Chair, >> Commissioner Pelier, >> I have none. >> You have none. All right. Um any
appointments? Commissioner Alexander? No, ma'am. >> Commissioner New? >> None. >> Commissioner Harvey. >> Madam Chair, I have no appointments, but I do have a question. Um, >> at the last meeting, Commissioner Palisier uh resigned off the CRA, and um
I think we'd like to go I'd like to go ahead and see if we have a commissioner willing to do that. I believe we have one in that area, but I'll I'll leave that up to you to tell me how you want to handle that. >> So, um I appreciate that. I would like to get some clarity from their from the
CRA board because there's a little confusion um in the um agenda item they had. The letter that was drafted that I never received but was part of the package um asked for Commissioner Alexander. However, their uh resolution
says District 2, which is me. So, I need that board to weigh in and tell me what they want. That's where I'm at. Can I ask a point of clarity, Mr. Commando? Is >> um is that up to them to tell us who
they want or is it up to us to tell? >> It's up to us. You could ask me that. That is up to us. It's up to us. But at the end of the day, I also have some concerns um regarding Commissioner Alexander because uh what was stated at the both meetings
at the at the CRA meeting and stated here by a cons by a citizen regarding conflicts of interest um any kind of a perceived conflict. Um I have some concerns about that. >> So I think >> I'm not sure. I think I I'd rather us as
a board of county commissioners decide who we want to put on there and if there's any conflicts of interest with a with somebody that we have that they can satisfy that that requirement if they feel like that's a problem. >> Commissioner Alexander, you're recognized.
>> Yes, ma'am. I appreciate your concerns. Um there's perceived conflicts of interest every day in our community, but um it's my understanding I would I I would assume that you're referring to my brother Jeremy Alexander.
Um it is my understanding that he received a grant from the CRA within the last year or two and they you he's not eligible to receive any additional grants for a 10-year time frame. So hopefully that'll put some of those
issues to rest. >> Well, so I had I've been thinking about this and I went back to when we took our uh ethics class and there's something in there in Florida statute when and I took some pictures and so I had to go back and look at this and I just don't want
to put you in a bad position. I really really really don't. I think that that it's not just your brother. It's who your brother your any client your brother represents the firm that he works for. So every time Douglas Law Forum comes forward are you going to
have to recuse yourself? I don't know. I'm not the attorney but it's >> but that being said you would have to recuse yourself from real estate deals because you work for a realtor. >> I don't disagree with you and I have done that. >> You have on occasion but not all. So I
think it's a casebyase basis. Florida Statute 112.3136. Public officers, employees, and local government attorneys are prohibited from using or attempting to use their public position or resources to secure a special benefit, privilege, or exemption
for themselves or others. Let me finish. particularly um to obtain it's called a disproportionate benefit for themselves, spouse or children, employer, any business entity
with whom they contract or serve with or have an an interest in. So, I mean, if you want to serve, I'm not going to fight you on it, but I I am going to go on record to say this because I do have that concern because it was brought brought up at both the CRA meeting and
it was brought up here whenever um Miss Kitchens came forward. >> But, Madam Chair, the I think as I still have the floor, if you don't mind. >> Yes, you do. >> Um, three of us cannot serve, no doubt. So, Commissioner Nubold is down in South Putham. I'm in West Putnham.
Commissioner Palisier has already resigned off of that. So, at least two of us on there. Okay. Um, I don't have a problem with a commissioner in ethics. I believe they take ethics class there. I believe we're
all ethical people and if there is a conflict of interest, they'll make an ethical decision at that time. And I I just think that I was thinking about it since Commissioner Palaceir resigned that we need to have somebody on that
and we decide who we put on there other than they tell us who to put on. I've always had that problem with any boards that we appoint. I don't want to be told who to put on there. I want to be able to do what we feel is best for our board. So I would like to put
Commissioner Alexander on the CRA board. >> All right. You making a motion? >> That's my motion. >> Is there a second? Second. >> All right. All in favor say I. I. I. Motion carries. >> I'm just curious. Um,
is that a yearong forever more or how long does that have a term limit on it or what does that how does that work? >> I don't know we've ever that we've ever talked about there. There might be a commission committee or two I might want to hand over to you. >> Well, I was going comment I was going to make the dynamics of that board will be
changing in January. >> Yes, sir. and we can see things change down there and our representative change here. >> Sure. >> Just comment. >> Now, uh with with that being said to um Madam Chair, is it specific to the
commissioners that represent the CRA district? because I know that when you and I were um when I looked at it and it sounds like you were addressing it too. The CRA representative from the commission
should cover that territory. >> Well, that's the resolution says that. That's why I'm saying it's because it also says it specifically says district two. So that's why I was looking for their guidance um simply because it it almost contradicts it because a portion
of my area does cover the CRA but the majority of the CRA is yours. >> Yep. But that would preclude any of the other three from being eligible. >> Correct. I agree with that. >> Okay. So it's you or I. >> Correct. >> And I have the majority of the territory. >> Correct. >> Okay. Thank you.
>> Yep. All of that's true. All right. Where are we at? Um Pardon me. Clerk of courts. >> Committee reports. I think >> committee reports. Did you He said none. I have none either. All right. Uh any uh comments by clerk of courts,
county attorney? >> Yes, madam chair. Thank you. So, since it came up in our conversation today, I did pull the list of our pending litigation and just to run through those with you all. So, there's a case called Mckame versus Putin County, which is a personal injury lawsuit. There's a Petri
versus Putnham County which is also Putinham County um personal injury lawsuit as we discussed. There's the Nelson versus Putnham County case which is related to Chimeare Way. There's a Holland versus Putnham County which is also personal injury lawsuit.
Excuse me. There's the Olander family trust which just closed which was a lawsuit um disputing the amount of money that should be paid for property taxes. There was the case that you the pavilion at Crescent Lakes you just approved the
settlement but it's still technically pending. Excuse me. And then we were just sued. We haven't been served um by an organization called Justice Transitioned
Transitions Incorporated um and there's a named defendant with that as well where we're being sued on the sexual um offender ordinance that we just created the enhancements for. So, we're being sued on that issue too. So, we're going to wave service on that and then we'll file a response. But that is
all the pending litigation that we have. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, >> county administrator. keep hitting the wrong button up here today for some reason. Anyway, uh just the first thing is a reminder of the 505 uh meeting uh next at at our next
meeting, which is May 26th, is a budget meeting. So, we talked about it the last commission meeting. We want to make sure everybody keeps it on their calendar for a 505 at the next meeting. And then just some housekeeping comments on honestly. Uh again, uh I can't say
enough about staff uh and the audit that we received again this year. You know, we went through a u a time where we were we went through the legislative audit. We all know about that. Then we went through where we had to clean up a few things that we all inherited. We took
care of those, you know, and now we're we're moving forward. and you know to be able to receive a clean audit for the last two years I think is a is a testament to the processes that we put in place here and the people that we have working here and so you know I I I
can't say that enough and how much we appreciate that and the fact that they are watching out for the taxpayer dollars the public dollars so uh thank you staff for for all of that uh again spirited conversation at the dis today between commissioners and staff
however over. Those need to happen from time to time. Those are conversations that were created when by organizations outside of the BOCC. >> That's correct. >> Okay. You have had a lot dropped on you today from from from those other
organizations. I think Mr. Grimes, Miss Young, they they handle those conversations really well. They they do not sugarcoat nothing. They tell you straight up what what you need to hear. Okay. >> Exciting. We also come we also have those conversations and we bring
solutions to the table. Right. >> Okay. I heard a couple things today. We had no idea that these are going to be dropped on you guys today. However, our staff sitting here at the dis found you a workable solution, you know, to bring back to to fix some of those issues that
were not created by your folks. So, I just want to say thank you again to uh to them for that because that is the that is the ability that they are given. the empowerment they are given is to have those difficult conversations in a public arena because that's what they're
charged to do by frankly by me because that's they are the subject matter experts okay so I just want to say thank you publicly to them it's a tough spot to be in sometimes when you're sitting on this side of the dis however they don't shy down and they don't back down from making the comments that need to be
made and they find solutions for you five to be able to answer the concerns in the community you know so uh those are those for my comments today as far as the meeting today. Uh commit uh Chair Wilson, we'll we'll get together, look at our calendars and reach out to the
school board and the city. We also have another project that you and I with the help of Mr. Grimes is probably going to push through as well. So, we'll get those scheduled in the next couple of days and see where we're at. Uh other than that, that's that's my comments for today, Madam Chair. Thank you. >> All right. Very good. Thank you,
Commissioner Alexander. You're recognized for comments. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, I just want to agree and with Mr. Suggs regarding the audit. Um, I hate to use such a childish term, but uh, that's awesome.
You guys to have two years in a row without any findings. Um, I I don't do that with my checkbook in a year's time. So, I think that's pretty amazing for the amount of volume that you guys pass through there. Um, again, as as Mr. Suggs said that it was
some spirited conversation today. Um, but it was done with respect. It's never going to be rainbows and unicorns up here all the time, every day. But these are conversations that have to be had. They have to be done with respect. But
when we walk out of here, we all walk out here and understand that we had these conversations for the benefit of our community and nothing changes regarding that. So I I thank my fellow commissioners um for being candid and open and transparent as
well as staff, Mr. Grimes especially. Um he has unique solutions and sometimes we put him on the spot and uh he's he's pretty agile. He he can figure a way out. I thank you for that. So that's all I got today.
>> All right, Commissioner New Bulger, you're recognized. >> I don't have a whole ton. May open up a little something here. I understand there was been a little bit of new information received on the Fort Gates Ferry subject. Um, is there anything that can be shared there?
The newest information I'm aware of is information that came out of the title search. Is there something other than that? >> I think that's I think that's it. >> Okay. Well, the title search showed that we have some type of ownership or partial ownership or some ownership on the Fort Gates Ferry side depending on
where the actual facility was built. Make sure that it matches the legal description that's included within the uh the deed itself. Uh cross over the river to the to the forest sign. we have no ownership and so we're going to have to look at uh what we want to do over
there. That'll be a direction of U5, but as of the uh uh title search, there's no ownership within that road right away all the way down to the river and down to the uh to the uh facility itself. And there's no ownership of the facility
itself, nor do we have submersible leases on either side of the river at this time. >> Okay. Thank you. I I um I was maybe going to propose a little action, but I think I'll I'll wait until we find out if the apparatus on the Fort Gates Ferry
side is actually in the area in which we own. Um after we get that determination, um we'll probably propose a little action. So, thank you. >> All right. Anything else? >> That's the last of my comments. >> Commissioner Harvey, you're recognized.
>> Thank you, Madam Chair, and I do appreciate the audit. Um it's nice to see years of, you know, clean audits, uh kind of drowns out the sound bites that we've been hearing lately. Um truly our government's transparent and you can see
anything that you want to see in our government. Um you know, most of the time we do inherit problems and that's what we're sitting up here listening to. Gosh knows we inherit go out in Larkin and we inherited land problems. And on the drive in this morning, I'm looking
at this driveway way up the hill. It's just fixing to get paved. And I know where that water's coming to. It's going to come to County Road 315, you know, and there's no covert there. There's no there's no stopping it, you know, and
we're going to inherit that problem. We're going to We inherit problems all the time. But I enjoy our citizens coming to us, holding us to the fire, expecting us to solve problems that we can solve. And we do try to solve those.
We try to solve them in a public form like we're doing today. And and that's that's just a wonderful example of government in action. Um I don't believe in a liberal policy of me spending money to fix every cat in the in the world or
dog. I'll say that. I tried to fix my neighbor's cat because Frank was doing the same thing that other cats were doing. The lady didn't want Frank to be fixed. So, um I can't help that. U but I offered to do it just because I didn't
want cats in my neighborhood either. That I mean I I'm an animal lover. If I want a cat, I'll bring a cat home. If I want a dog, I'll bring a dog home. But I'm not going to spend taxpayers money on some something else like that. I'm just not going to do it. Um, the other
thing this coming Saturday night, don't forget, is the Leo Granger puts on private first class uh Jenkins scholarship dinner at the uh elementary school there on 3:15. And I've sent you all information if you'd like to attend.
That's how they raise their scholarships to take care of giving scholarship money to kids and also taking care of the cemetery. So, if you can avail yourself on that on Saturday night, you're more than welcome to be out to the private first class drinking scholarship dinner.
Madam Chair, that is the end of my comments. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Commissioner Pelster. You're recognized. >> Um, while it's Well, I'll come back to it. It went off on my phone, but anyhow, um, Mr. Suggs gets a big attra
thankfully. So, uh, I appreciate that. Um, I'm I know y'all heard the rain and so thankful for it and I'm waiting for this. There it is. There's lots more coming. So, I'm very glad to see that. But we are still burn in effect. Is that
correct? Okay. Very good. Just want to remind everybody about that. Maybe this will be lifted with if we get inches here in this today and tomorrow because they they say we're going to get some more tomorrow. That's what they're they're calling for. Um, y'all know I always like to give ada boys. Mr. Suggs
got one, but um I had an interaction with uh um and it was a positive one and it was not a negative with uh one of our deputies uh Sunday morning down in the south end and just a very very nice uh
officer um officer Graa. He is Polish. Um just a nice young man. gave me a good story of his how he came to this country and uh he act he actually lives in St. John's and chooses to work in Putinham
and just a nice fellow just an asset to have with us. I wish the sheriff had stayed to hear my comments but u he's certainly an asset to that agency and uh just doing a great job. Um, like I said, young man, just a real success story
coming to our country and, uh, becoming a law enforcement officer and and moving up and just doing really well. I think he's been with our agency five, six years, something like that. Um, said he definitely likes the south end better than the west end. Hate to tell you that, Larry. And same on me. Same on me.
But, uh, anyhow, um, I think that is it. Um, I will be reaching out to the, um, uh, school board about the issues on Horseman's Club. um Mr. Liry who's chairman of the board. I'll be speaking with him and seeing if we can't come up with some um joint conversation or joint
teamwork on on possibly fixing that. And I think that is it for me, Madam Chair. >> Thank you, Mr. SGS, your lights on. >> Uh yes, ma'am. I apologize. There was one more item that staff would like for me to uh bring up today and that is the
old facilities out at animal control as well as the uh solid waste out at the landfield. Uh as you know we've got new facilities built at both locations and we like to see if they we can get a wave of support for us to move forward on on bringing the the appropriate paperwork
forward to go ahead and do a demo of those facilities and get them removed. >> Well, yeah. Right. So would that you're saying it would then come on our agenda after you do the appropriate paperwork or you're asking for what are you asking for? >> Yes. >> All right. Thank you.
>> Yeah. I think it needs to come back for approval to take it off of our asset and then we'll we'll move forward with demo. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Can we can we add the bank building to it right over here? >> Yeah. Seriously. Serious discussion. That's good. >> We we'll we'll put all all the paperwork together, bring it back, and we'll have
further discussion in the next meeting. >> Demolition. Demolition. >> Yeah. Take it down. >> All right. Sounds like everybody's good with that. Everybody's good with that. >> I got one. >> All right. So, a couple things um I want to bring up. Um I received an update and
I want to thank Marshall Fulgum who's the interim executive director for Keep Pton Beautiful. Um they wanted to provide the first quarter for 2026 um and second quarter report. I don't think we're quite through the sec. Are we?
Um, total community volunteer hours 754.5 hours. Total trash removed 13,170 pounds. He states all boat ramps are being monitored with three requiring weekly pickups. They have a new sponsor
that has completed their information to sponsor river the riverfront boat ramps. And they have a new sponsor that's completed their information to sponsor a county road in the panile area. So, thank you to keep Putham beautiful and everything you guys continue to do for Putnham County. An announcement we
received from Town of Pomona Park that they would like to personally invite everybody to attend the town of Pomona Park's great celebration taking place on Saturday, May 16th from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Mayor's Park and the surrounding community areas in Pomona
Park. So, come down and learn a little bit more about Pomona Park's history and celebrate with them. Couple other things going on in the community this weekend. We have the Wolson's Bass tournament. Is that right, Mr. Suggs? Wolson's Bass tournament. We also have
the um farmers market downtown. So, a lot going on downtown. Um I want to say thank you for the everybody who was able to attend and recognize Tim Smith and the new customer service rebuild. Um I'm very proud of that. this board of county
commissioners continues to improve the working spaces and um infrastructure for our citizens and staff and I it turned out really nice. I want to personally thank Julie um Mlan. She she was the project manager on that and it it turned out really really good. Um, I also want
to say again, um, how proud we are of our fire firefighters and first responders for everything they did during our our, um, fires and and everything that continue they continue to do in Putham County to help keep our county safe. And then lastly, I want to
bring up uh, something that um, I mentioned to Miss Julianne about the possibility of getting shade for the dog runs out at the animal control park um, animal services building. We put in the dog runs, but they don't necessarily have shade. And she's got an initial
cost estimate. Um, I was going to use discretionary funds, but if any of my fellow colleagues would like to pitch in 20 or 25,000, let me know. Let Julia know. I got one from Commissioner Alexander. He'll pitch in. Um, what's your number? 25 then.
>> Put me on the spot now. I don't know what you >> um the rest of it which is about a little bit more than a lot more than that but I don't Yeah, it's okay. >> Madam Chair, let me check my pocketbook and see what I've got. >> Okay. All right. Get back. >> Madam Chair, I need to do
>> Okay. >> Me or him? >> Are you saying I'm the most conservative commissioner? Is that what you're saying? Anyway, >> Madam Chair, >> I think we've got some support and we can get with you on what what we want to do. But >> yes, if everybody can just let me know,
we'll the project's going to have to be bid, so we'll go ahead and put the bid together, but I don't know where the budget's going to come from because it had to be bid, but um yeah, I was thinking something like that. >> Madam Chair, I met with Julianne and Mr. Suggs this week and spent a lot of money, so I have to see what kind of balance.
>> It's fine if you don't. I got >> I'll be glad to help if I can. So >> anyway, we would like to see the shade um over those runs now that it's getting hotter and we didn't have the funds at the exact time when we built that out there, but we do want to see that um that area covered and usable and um just
better for our animals out there. With that, that's all I have. Is there anything else to come before the board? And we are in a drought, still in a drought condition and a burn ban that was signed yesterday. So, I know it's raining right this moment, but that doesn't mean we're still not in drought
conditions.