We'll call this meeting to order. Today is Tuesday, July 28th, and it is 9:00 a.m. We will um have invocation led by Pastor Alan Bagot, followed by the pledge of allegiance by Commissioner Alexander. Please stand if you're able
to do so and please silence your phones unless you want to pray. >> Amen. There you go. Hey, let us pray. Father God, we are so grateful Lord for this day. This is the day that you have created and we thank you Lord for it. We
are grateful Lord for those who have chosen to serve their community and for those Lord who have come to be a part of this meeting today. Those who are in positions of authority Lord we ask that you would give them direction as they seek your will in each
decision that is made. We pray God that each of our commissioners will allow your spirit to guide them as to what is best for our community. Your word, Lord, tells us that blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. We
pray, Lord, that you will unite us in your love. Cover us in your grace and in your mercy. We need your help, Lord, today. We pray your blessings and favor upon this meeting as we face the decisions of today, tomorrow, and the
days to come. And it's in your powerful name, Jesus, that we pray. Amen. >> Amen. >> Amen. >> Please join me in the question of life. 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. You may be seated. >> Moving into the approval of the minutes. >> Madam chair, I move approval of the minutes of regular meeting June 23rd,
2026 as stated in our packet. Second. >> Second. Any any comments or questions? All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Like sign. Presentations. We will ask Commissioner Harvey to um give us the presentation for the Community Legal
Services Proclamation. Y'all are welcome to come on up with him. >> I just need Good morning. >> Good morning. >> Come stand with me. >> Thank you, Commissioner Harvey. >> You're welcome. Madame Chair, fellow commissioners,
audience, Putnham County Proclamation number 2026-053 honoring the 60th anniversary of community legal services. Whereas many Americans are are one civil legal problem away from falling into poverty or further into
poverty. Annually, three and four three of four h lowincome American households experience at least one civil legal problem. And yet 92% of these households do not get any or enough legal help for their civil legal problems. And whereas
the community legal services has served the residents of Brevard, Citrus, Flaggler, Hernando, Lake, Marian, Oyola, Orange, Putnham, Seol, Sumpter, and Valuchia counties for six decades since its founding in 1966 through the
provision of no cost legal services for those who could not otherwise gain access to counsel. And whereas a community served by the community legal services include lowincome flidians and their families, seniors, veterans,
survivors of domestic violence, children with disabilities, disaster survivors, and other atrisisk individuals facing critical hardships such as potential loss of a home, fraudulent contracts, financial instability, denial of
benefits, barriers to securing housing, challenges in disaster recovery, and the need to obtain legal protections. And whereas through the dedicated staff and the hundreds of pro bono attorneys who have volunteered their time over the decades, Community Legal Services has
served our clients with more than 300 civil legal cases, 300,000 civil legal cases and committed more than 1 million hours of direct legal assistance for Flidians over the past six decades, embodying its com commitment to legal
access for all, thus strengthening communities and economic stability across its service area. Now, therefore, the Putham County Board of County Commissioners do hereby recognize and commend Community Legal Services for its 60 years of service and dedication to
the mission to provide no cost legal services to the most vulnerable in Central Florida and help them protect their families, health, and livelihood. Madam Chair, I move this approval. >> Second. >> Thank you. We have a motion to second.
All in favor say I. I >> any any opposed like sign. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Here there's the microphone. >> Good morning, Dr. Miller. >> Sure. Good morning, Madame Chair and commissioners. Thank you for recognizing
community legal services and for your continued commitment to ensuring access to justice for everyone in our community. I'm Melissa Miller, a private attorney and endowment committee member with Community Legal Services. For 60 years, one principle has guided our
work. Justice should never depend on one's ability to pay. Every day, Community Legal Services helps individuals and families facing life's most difficult legal challenges, ensuring that access to justice is
available to everyone, not just to those who can afford it. Thank you for your recognition and partnership. Let's continue to stand together and actively ensure that justice remains within reach for every member of our community. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Very good. >> Yeah. You guys want to come up for a picture? >> Hello. Yeah, Julian. All right. On three. One, two, three. >> One more. >> Congratulations.
All right. Next up, we have Heart of Putnham. I believe they've pulled this agenda item. Okay. Um, uh, next up we have Rick Paul, senior business consultant for SBDC. Good morning, Madame Chair, commissioners, staff, and everybody else
in attendance. I hope you're having a good day today. Uh Rick Paul, the Small Business Development Center, 320 St. John's Avenue. Um first, I'd like to start off with a a little bit of a information. Uh this was written by
Kirsten Altus from Fox Business. The title to the uh story is Florida Stock Rising: How It Became the World's 14th largest Economy. Uh and they have some quotes in here by Florida Chamber of Commerce
President and CEO Mark Wilson. Um and the quote is, "The state's economy reached $1.8 trillion dollar after growing 6.3% over the past year, surpassing Australia and Mexico.
While tourism, agriculture, construction remain foundational, industries, chamber data shows Florida ranked number one nationally for new business starts in manufacturing growth. So, um, very impressive. State of Florida has been number one for, I think, four or five
years at a minimum for new business starts. As far as, um, presentations and, uh, workshops and so forth, uh, we've had about, uh, six of them so far this year. I in uh March 3rd I had a lenders roundtable. That's where the
small business administration comes down uh and talks with local bankers about you know trying to increase the SBA lending activity uh for the county down here. Uh then on um looks like May 12th I had a startup uh workshop and then uh
on June 9th a marketing workshop and then followed very closely by uh this one which was very well attended. So this is Florida's rural business resource tour was put on by the SBDC by Florida Commerce and by our local chamber of commerce. Uh I was told
that's the Putinham County turnout was the best that they had throughout the entire state. So congratulations on that. Um then like the next day uh we had one called money moves. This is where we bring lenders and clients
together to let them network uh to see about getting loans and and requirements and so forth. That one was held up at the University of North Florida. Um in front of you, you should have the the quarterly impact report. Um, typically these things come out in the day range
on this one is October 25th through June of this year. And then it goes through and says how many, you know, businesses were consulted, how many business starts and all that sort of stuff. But I' I'd like to point your attention to the $1.81 million uh that has been raised in
Putnham County for this time frame. And since you put in about $25,000, that represents a 7,240% return on your investment. So, I think the SBDC is a good steward of your funds. Um, in front of you also, as
promised, I think last time, is a Florida Trend magazine. Uh, while it's not a feature article, they put uh our state small business person of the year champion in on page 31 in here. Uh so if you turn to page 31, you'll see uh Joe
Fornier and his uh son uh actually Doug Fornier and his son Joe smiling back on you on page 31. They are the state SBA small business people of the year. So congratulations to uh Doug Joe and u uh
Doug's daughter Mary. It's a family business started from scratch here in Putnham County. Uh they currently have 10 employees all live and reside and work in Putham County and their goal is 50 employees in about two or three more years. With that, I think we have a
video. I guess the video is coming up. The neat thing about this video, it's a statewide video. Uh, and it'll be accessible to people all across the country and the world. >> Well, thank you. While she's doing that,
I just want to say thank you for what you're doing. Um, we we obviously know that small businesses are the backbone of our economy and um when you grow up in a small town like this, it's those are the businesses that support the u the soccer teams and the kids baseball
teams and football teams and and everything else. So, um, we appreciate all the small businesses in Putham County. We might need to go back. >> All right. Just bear with me for a >> No problem. >> It helps if it has, you know, the voice
in it. Okay. Down here. >> Yeah, that might be one. Well, hopefully the video will show. Uh, but this is will be a statewide video that will be shown at all the SPDC's.
It'll be available to download. Be nice if you stuck it on your website. I mean, it's a Putinham County business that won the Small Business Administration small business person of the year award. So, uh, it's actually a really cool video. And if we can't get the sound working, then, um, I'll just send a link to you
or something a little bit later on. >> Let's see. I think they're still working on it a little. >> Technology. You got to love it. >> Yeah. We might just have to move on if we can't get the volume to work. >> Thank you for your time. I really appreciate you.
>> Yep. Thank you. >> Yeah. If you'll just send that to us, we'll make sure and um take a look at it. >> Madam Chair. >> Yeah. Yes, sir. >> I would like to bring something up before we go to our next topic. I know it's out of order, but if you don't mind
allowing me just a few minutes to talk about something. >> Sure. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, you know, for months now we've been kicking around data centers and we've heard it on Facebook. We've seen we've been getting emails. We charged our administration
with letting us know when they get comments about uh data centers. Our attorney has contacted us um in an email on July 21st and sent us a draft resolution of a moratorum on uh mega
data centers. And I'm not for mega data centers whatsoever. And I think we've all kind of expressed our views on that. But the email draft said that he the earliest that we could do this meeting would be on August 25th. So I would ask
that if you allow me to say that you know maybe if we could put this on the agenda while we still have a room full of people for the August 25th, 2026 9:00 am moratorum on mega data centers.
All right, we have a motion on the floor. >> I'll second that. >> We have a second. All right, Commissioner Alexander, you're you're recognized. >> For discussion. >> Thank you. >> I I rec I agree with Mr. Harvey's comments. I
just wanted to know now would that be the initial reading of the uh final resolution? >> That would be the first reading. Thank you, Madam Chair. That'll be the first reading of that and then we'll have I'm sure we'll have two readings of it. So, but that'll be our first based on the
advertising requirements as Mr. Commando said that would be our first opportunity to hear a moratorum. >> Yep. So, we can that's the soonest that we can get it done. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay, good deal. Now, I just want to make sure we were moving in expeditiously. >> Thank you for your comments. >> There any comments from administration?
The only comment >> the only comment I would make, Madam Chair, is uh as we all know, Mr. Commando is not available today. I'll reach out to Mr. Commando and I appreciate Commissioner Harvey bringing this up because there is a lot of discussion going on right now in our community uh regarding data centers and
we do need to uh if we're going to move on this, we need to do it as uh expeditiously as possible. Uh as soon as I have an opportunity to reach Mr. Commando, I will see if that if the uh the second meeting in August is indeed the uh the first available. If not, we'll bring it back and we'll we'll
advertise it. We'll get it on there for the first one if we can uh for for for all five of you to be able to discuss it in your first reading. But uh I haven't had an opportunity to speak to Mr. Commando since the moratorum draft came out. So if the uh if that's what he believes is the uh first meeting and be
the second one, then that's what we'll do. So but we'll we'll move on it as expeditious as we can. Thank you. Commissioner Newer recognized >> in conjunction with that moratorum. I think it would be wise for us to I mean that's going to build gain us some time
to study the process. Um I think we've got a large part of the public that might like to be involved in that. I would suggest that we form somewhat of a small task force um to research the whole subject to gather as much
information as we can. I'd like to see us, you know, have each commissioner put two people on this, have a 10p person panel and um move forward with that direction so that we can uh get a better
overall temperature of the community and have them involved in the process. Well, I appreciate that, but I think that um the public will show up and the public will weigh in and we'll have multiple public meetings and the point of the moratorum is to give us time to see and
hear from the public. And I don't I don't want to limit it to I I know what your point is, but I I think we're getting a card a little bit before the horse. I feel like we need to have our first reading, see what how many people show up, see the interest in the community. I I I get calls every day. >> Sure,
>> we all do. Um, Commissioner Bellisir was talking to a group of people here just a little while ago who thought it was on their agenda and it's not. So, um, and I'm not sure I want the task force. That's just me talking. I'm only one commissioner. I feel like that there's
going to be so much public input and it gives us a year to to really vet to vet it. So, I mean, that's just my thoughts. Commissioner Harvey, you recognized? >> No, I'm fine. Thank you. >> Okay. So, let's get through the first reading. >> Sure. >> And then let's talk about that some more. What feels if it feels right, I'll
bring it up in the future. >> Yes, sir. I agree with that. Thank you, >> Commissioner Pelister. You're recognized. >> We've said this. We've said this time and time and time and time. And here goes one more time.
Puttingham County has not been contacted by anyone that wants to put a data center here at this time. Nobody at this dice knows anything about a a data center anywhere in Putham County. Nowhere.
I I get tired of hearing the corner drugstore uh chat of my buddy told me this and they saw that they can buy property and do all they want, but they can't do anything till they come before this board. So just it's just chatter. It's
just chatter. It's all it is. Just this. That's a gumb bumping. That's all it is. So, put your mind to rest at this time. There is nothing happening in Putnham County that relates to an AI data center. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. SGS, you're recognized.
>> Thank you, Madam Chair. Just to echo that, uh, as you know, at the last meeting, I was challenged with making sure with the new policy that we forwarded any information and all information that came in about data centers. Uh, Commissioner Pelis is absolutely correct. I've received no
communicate about anything wanting to relocate or be located here in Putham County as of today. Uh and again uh just want to uh make sure we appreciate Commissioner Harvey's lead on emailing the attorney to get that draft moratorum out to us as quickly as we did. So uh uh
we'll we'll continue to move on that and as soon as we can get that put together for you five, we'll certainly get it on on the agenda in front of you. >> Mr. Alexander, you're recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Just so the general public understands that the whole purpose of the policy change at the last meeting was to keep the public
informed by policy of any contact received because we knew it was going to take multiple weeks to formulate a moratorum and get it advertised and put in place.
So, we wanted the public to be assured that there was nothing nefarious happening in the background, nor was there any closed door meetings going on. Not a single commissioner here has been contacted about a a
data center since that time. So, everything that we do is transparent. We take great pride in that. So, I wanted just to be very clear. So, I'm I'm going to bring something up.
So, um yes, we gave direction. I don't know that we said there was a policy change. I've not seen a draft policy come in front of this board giving that direction. We certainly gave direction and I believe uh administrator Suggs is following that direction. Is there a um
a link or something that's for the available for the public that or how I know that direction that was given but what is there the public can see is going on. I'll need to verify that but I believe that it has put a link on our
website and I'm getting a an affirmative headshake from Mr. Richie in the back of the room. So all the emails and communicate that I've been forwarding also copy it uh Mr. Mr. James Riching, he's uh putting those up on our website. >> Okay. So, that should help with um any
questions as well. So, that is out on our website. With that, we will um we had a motion to second. I didn't call for the vote. >> We did. >> Okay. >> Um all in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Like sign. All right. So, we will uh this next available opportunity, which we believe at this
time is August 25th, have a the first reading of a moratorium for our data center. >> Madam Chair, let me say thank you. Yeah, I know this is out of order and I I appreciate the opportunity, but it is something that needs to come before the board and you know, um, we work very well together and the momentum is going
on here in Putham County and I appreciate the interruption and I know how hard that is when you have a meeting, have an agenda and then something intercepts, but I didn't mean to to do that. So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, fellow board members. >> Thank you. Next, we're going into the solid waste assessment and user fees. If
there's any mayors in the audience, please come forward. This is a public hearing on solid waste and assessments and user fees. Who's doing the presentation? >> Do you have your mayors? >> Recognize Mayor Haynes from town of Interlarkin and Mayor Kareah from city
of Palaka. Thank you both for being here. We did hear from uh Mayor Meyers. She is actually um out of the state right now and cannot attend. >> Are you ready, Chair? >> Yes. >> Thank you. Um this is your solid waste assessment and user fee um public
hearing where we set the assessment fees and uh explain what our tipping rates are going to be. So by a county ordinance, the board is required to establish by resolution the solid waste special assessments user fees prior to the beginning of each fiscal year. So, as you all um are aware, we did have a
cost escalation on the side of WastPro. However, uh we were able to work on our side um and take advantage of some operational efficiencies that allowed us to remain the to allow the fees to remain constant at what they were last
year. So, what staff is proposing is um the exact same fee that was last year uh for the upcoming year to take care of our solid waste disposal. >> Well, I can say I appreciate that. I don't I I didn't like them going up last year, but I know we had to do what we
had to do, but um I'm very appreciative that we are not going up on those. Um mayors, do you guys have any comments or questions? >> I do not. >> All right. Is there any other questions for the presenter? All right, with that we'll we'll take public comment. Is there any public
comment on the solid waste assessments? Mr. Hot and you're recognized. Smile. It's Tuesday. >> Got to go have my eyes dilated. So >> a >> Tim Hoteling 105 Riverside Way San Mateo. Um
everything Jay does is hurahhuru rah the gasification. I think you guys need to have a special report of what he's got going out there. Hur rahur uh on the other hand the state has standards for uh recycling. >> Uhhuh.
>> Supposedly the state uh thinks it's a really good idea. I think it's an extremely good idea and and I think it's it's worth a little bit of effort to develop um improve centers
where citizens that actually want to participate and save the planet can save the planet easily and weatherproof areas where you can put in uh cardboard and jars and all of that
cuz our baby's babies got to live here. >> Okay. >> Can I ask you a question? >> Absolutely. >> Would you be willing to pay extra on your on your solid waste fee every year?
>> Absolutely. Depending on what I get in return for the the money. >> Okay. the the money that I pay to waste pro to handle my yard waste and everything is the best tax dollars that I pay at anywhere for anything my opinion. I always see them there. They
got a smile. They pick up the good stuff. Unfortunately, they took the bin away that I kept separating my paper out out on. Um >> Okay. I think >> I think it just was a fair question because I think that's the challenge
that we face. I know it's the challenge we face. The challenge we face is the cost incurred with recycling. And so >> and again that's why I suggest and Jay knows cuz he worked there. Um Lexington County, South Carolina has the the concept of centers that just have the
bins. People come in, they make their own se separation. Sometimes they have some people there to uh I forget what it was. It was actually uh the effectively volunteer labor to to minimize it. >> Mhm.
>> But all of that uh ended up highly productive and uh until the China problem happened, it was a a cost positive. >> Well, I do know that the um the gasification plant when we're ready, we will certainly have that announcement
when it's ready, but um it's it's very close to being in a test phase. And that's so very exciting. >> And that'll be a 100 99.9% recycled. So, um going to put Putham County on the world map. >> Yes, sir.
>> It will. All right. Um with that, is there any other public comment? All right. Coming back to the board. >> Madam Chair, I move approval of resolution number 20265 setting the rates for establishing the solid waste assessment user fees.
2026-054. >> Second. >> Second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. All right. Motion carries unanimously. Thank you. All right. Next, we have Planning and Development public hearing for ordinance
2026-012. Thank you mayors for attending today. Also, while we're doing that, I want to recognize Bill White from St. John's River Water Management. Thank you for being here. and city commissioner Annie Davis. Thank you for being here.
>> Uh for the record, Michael Graves, Planning and Development Services. Uh this is case REZ26-0000006. U Donna Rose and Stephanie Whmer are requesting a zoning map amendment from industrial light to residential 1A on 34 acres located at 300 Pine Street in
Palaca to allow the redevelopment of a single family residence. Uh surrounding zonings include residential 1A, residential 4, and industrial light. Uh the subject site has a future land use designation of urban service. Uh approximately 90 ft of frontage on Pine
Street. And according to the National Wetlands Lair and the FEMA flood zone layer of the GIS reference map, the lands do not appear to contain wetlands and is located in FEMA flood zone X, which is not a special flood hazard area. Should the applicant's request be approved, the applicant will then be eligible for obtaining all building and
site work permits compatible with the R1A zoning district. Here you can see an aerial overview of the property. Uh the grade out areas are of course annexed by Palaca. Uh here you can see the future land use category.
Uh the zoning and you can see that it's right on the fringe between the multiple zoning districts. Uh staff has recommended approval of the request to amend the zoning map from industrial light to residential 1A. Staff finds that the proposed resoning is consistent with the goals, objectives, and policies
of the adopted comprehensive plan and meets the locationational requirements of the residential 1A zoning district provided in the land development code and comprehensive plan. At the June 10th, 2026 meeting, the Putnham County Planning Commission recommended unanimous approval of the same. >> Thank you, Michael. Are there any
questions for the presenter? All right, seeing none. Is there This is a public hearing. Is there anyone who wishes to speak on this item? Anyone wishing to speak on the reszone? All right, coming back to the board.
>> I'd move approval of reszone 26-00006. Donna Rose, Stephanie Whmer. >> We have a motion on the floor. >> Second >> and a second. Any further comments or questions? All in favor say I. I I any opposed like sign. All right. With that,
uh we will next public hearing coming up will be ordinance amending section 29 of the Putnham County Code, Parks and Recreation, waterways and boat ramps. Uh we're going to take a quick recess. Um be right back in just a few minutes. Yeah, you're going where? Okay,
>> Commissioner Harvey, we're ready. Little bit of rough there. >> All right, we'll call this meeting back to order. Um, presenters recognized to present uh the ordinance. This is the second reading, meeting two of two.
Good morning, fellow commissioners and a staff and audience. Can you guys hear me? Okay. >> Yes, sir. >> As most of you know, I've been a little under the weather since last Thursday. So, I may stumble a little as we as we work through this, but uh I felt it was very important that I be here.
Excuse me again. May need some alcohol in the microphone after I get done. the um the other evening um we were out there, the three of us u celebrating the lighting of the bridge and it was a
beautiful night. You know, we we had a great time and it brought back memories. Um and during the ceremony, I was taken back to the memory of u Jody Marriott and Chan Dunning crashing into the first channel marker north of the bridge
shortly after one of those ceremonies. Although there are only minor cuts and scratches to the boat and its occupants, I was there. And then I thought about a pontoon boat that had two teenage boys on kneeboards thrown into its trimmed up motor at the
old Burger King dock, causing one of them to be rushed to the hospital to sew the sole of his foot back on. I was one of those boys. I was there when Larry Freeman was struck by a jet
ski and both operators were ejected, causing Larry's boat to enter the death spiral, returning to strike and kill the jet ski operator. I still remember the slices in the jet skier's life jacket because I was there
when an offshore fishing boat capsized and sank in the breakers of St. Augustine inlet while running from a storm with a mother-in-law who could not swim. Fortunately, she survived. I was there. It was my mother-in-law.
When a grandfather lost control in a hairpin turn on the Akawa and he and his vessel had to be pulled from the trees. Some of you may remember him. That was former coach and principal Jim Hol. He survived and
yes, I was there. when a young wife was ejected from a bassboat due to a steering failure with the engine narrowly missing her head while the driver struggled to get the engine shut off before it struck the passenger while entering that same death
spiral because the captain wasn't wearing his lanyard. I was there. I was that captain coming upon the recent collision of two sheriff's boats, knowing how much worse that same death spiral could have ended.
I was there watching a river racer flip his boat and subsequently lose his life at Brown's Landing. Yes, I was there watching a 50-foot housebo attempting to dock, crushing and splintering a
boater's leg as he tried to fend it off his vessel. I was the captain of that houseboat. I was there seeing the owner of Arlington Toyota bury his boat in Browns Landing Sandbar, smashing he and his wife's body into the
dash of the windshield of their 27 foot fountain speedboat. They survived, but I was there watching a neighboring boater dive into shallow water, snapping his neck and rendering him paralyzed from the neck down. I assume he survived, but the last
time I saw him, he was being loaded into a lifelike chopper, leaving Silver Glenn in a 32- foot center console offshore boat with Alan Anderson at the helm and being forced back because the storm was so intense.
As we returned, we passed by an overturned cabin cruiser, not knowing that two children were drowning as we passed by in that cabin. They did not survive. I was there. Yeah. So, tragedy hits me a little
differently on the water. And I promised myself that if I had the opportunity to prevent another family from experiencing this type of tragedy, that I would do my best to prevent someone else from seeing what I've had to see. So when I was asked if I could take a
look at making the area around the goat farm a little bit safer, I accepted the challenge. After the first reading of the proposed ordinance, there was much dialogue regarding the noake zone with much of the conversation being focused on
government o overreach and opening the door to other no zones within our county. So, as I travel down this road as a statesman, I recognize that what makes a great representative of the people at the county, the state, or even a
federal level is listening to your constituents and recognizing that the initial offering may have missed the mark and recognizing it soon enough that it changes can be enacted before it becomes law.
So, in closing, you may never know if what you do saves a life, but I promise you, you'll know if it doesn't. With the support of my fellow commissioners, I respectfully ask that we table this item and direct staff to explore other solutions that may provide
a better end product for the people of Putham County. >> Amen. Right. >> Amen. >> Thank you. All right. Is that your presentation? >> Yes. I'd entertain a motion. >> Okay. To table this.
>> Well, I will make the motion to to um take Commissioner Alexander's lead and table this um subject. Staff directing staff to um come up with some less invasive alternatives for us for that space. >> Second that.
>> We have a motion and a second. Commissioner Pelister, you're recognized. Um, Commissioner Alexander, I commend you for uh your being there, if you will. I hate it that you had to be there, but I'm glad that you were and your efforts to help those
folks during those tragic situations. Um, but I too feel like we should uh do some more research here. Maybe there's some u signage or some other things that could be done through that area just to let people know, you know, kayakers in
use, launch area, you know, just give them some heads up what's going on so they'll they'll know. I think this could be a very popular thing for our county and if it turned into be something a little more serious than than it is now, then maybe we address it again. But I think I
think we're making a wise move here to table this and and u rethink if you will. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Thank you, Commissioner Harvey. You're recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Commissioner Alexander, I I applaud you, not for the
tragedies that you've seen, but for the passion that you have. This is what government's about. We have an idea, we run it up the flag pole, we listen to our constituents,
we come back and we regroup sometimes. I applaud you for understanding that and a better product will come out. A product that we that everybody can live with and I thank you again for your passion. and I thank you for your friendship and I thank you for being on this board
because all of us bring a different set of skills to this board, but collectively we move Putham County forward and I I just thank you for that very much for your willingness, your passion, and your your compassion, too.
Thank you, sir. >> Thank you. And and I'll I'll say a few words as well. Um I appreciate you listening. Um I'll just go ahead and own it as I you know I put something out on social media and it was simply to I really wanted to
hear from our constituents and um I felt like the first meeting the first reading we had only heard from a smaller group of people and going through that process I learned a lot more so and I think we all did and um first I learned that it's
a 3 to one vote it was three three people three to one who didn't want the wake zone in that area. So I commend you for recognizing and listening to that and I do think that maybe there's a a less restrictive approach to that. Um I
definitely ag and you mentioned it today was the channel markers. My son hit a channel marker. >> Yeah. >> Took out half his boat, but he survived. And that he said to me, "Mom, the problem with the channel markers in the river is they flash about every 50
seconds." He said, >> "Flash at all >> if they flash at all." And he said, "So even with" and he was it was at night and it's always dangerous to run your boat at night. We all understand that. But he could have easily easily not be here today because of that. And so we
learned in this process that that's something that needs to be looked at. The other thing I learned in this process and I was very disappointed with with Dun Creek State Park was finding out that voters can't go up and use the public access from the river and they can't go up and use the restroom and
people who are out on the river who have um a group that they're taking out on a fishing guide trip. They stopped to use the a public park with a public restroom with a public dock and they are the public coming in off of the public water
to learn that they cannot use a public restroom. I was so frustrated with that when I learned that in that in our in this post. I was like, "Okay, now that's a whole different ballgame to me. It's a different subject matter." And I feel like that and again, it's not
we're learning. We learned. It is not our local park rangers mandate from the state >> and unfortunately >> well then I then I'm going to talk to the state legislators about >> that's what we need to do and that's what we're working on and our park
rangers as evidenced by what you saw on there turn a blind eye to what they have been mandated to do because that is unsafe that is unfair and I am 100% with you on that. >> Yeah. I just don't I just don't see how you're going to >> you're going to deny somebody a safe dockage during a storm when you have a
child. No, that's not that's not acceptable. >> That's unacceptable. Right. So, that's So, thank you for um thank you for recognizing and thank you for the citizens for weighing in. Um other than one mean comment, most people were which is good for social media because usually
there's a lot more, but for the for the most part, people explain why they took the position that they took and then we all listened. And so I don't like having to do that kind of stuff and put things on social media for answers. But I do recognize too that not everybody can
come to a board meeting. And so um that was my first time ever doing that. And I I want you to understand I was not my purpose was not to go against you. My purpose was truly to find out what our citizens want. And I felt like they had not been able to to explain themselves.
So thank you again. First of all, thank you for recognizing that there's an issue because there is an issue there. and we want to do what is safe but not so restrictive that it is um an infringement on people's rights. So this is a public hearing and I know you asked
to table it. I'm going to have to ask for public comment. >> Let me make two more comments before I leave. So >> the two takeaways that I feel are very important from this um that are that we we have listened to our public but also this has drawn attention to a 6200 acre
park. >> Yes. that has an approved management plan that has been approved since 2018 that our state has chosen not to act on. >> I agree. >> That could be a big economic boom for our community. >> There are provisions in that plan for an
additional dockage that will allow for our constituents to use the restrooms and enter the park from the water, but our state has chosen not to move forward with it. That is nothing that is not a reflection of this commission. All we can do is push and ask on the on the
state level. But I hope this brings attention to that. >> I agree with you and I appreciate that very much. Mr. Neold, you're recognized >> on I I spoke with a voter who had firsthand experience with that um lack of hospitality at the state park.
>> Um I reached out to the friends of Dun Creek State Park which is a which is not the state park. They are a nonprofit organization which um volunteers and their mission is to you know make things happen there at the state park for the
benefit of the public. Um I brought that issue up to them. They recognize that it has been an issue in the past. They had some unhospitable staff that has since been changed and they assured me that
while it is not the state policy, they have had discussions with the park rangers and I don't think we'll have that lack of hospitality if you have a oh weather emergency or just a need for the restroom. So, um I think that has been
improved, but there's going to have to be a whole new regimen when that when that um that new management plan comes into place. It's going to be a new world. >> Thank you. Thank you. Uh so, we have a motion and a second on the floor, but we need to take public comment. Is there any public comment on this uh
tableabling this item? Is there any public comment? All right. Seeing none, call for the vote. All in favor say I. I. Any oppose? Like sign. Right. Motion to table passes. 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 ma 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 in the meeting room entrance and
should be submitted prior to the meeting to the deputy clerk who sits to the right of the podium. Um, we have two items, uh, correspondence and item B, a sheriff's office on the consent agenda. We have some new business as well. Are
there any comment cards? We will have an opportunity to take miscellaneous items as well. >> Madam Chair, >> yes. on the new business. If if it's okay with you, I'd like to pull item C off of there. Uh we're not ready. Miss
Albbrook has been traveling professor and found herself in the mountains of North Carolina teaching and she has not had time to prepare uh the history of that park. So, I'd like to pull that item off of the agenda, please. >> All right. Uh we um will pull item C
>> off of the new business >> off of new business parks and recreation renames Park. Um, I'd like to go ahead and do the consent agenda. Both of these items are on new business and then we'll bring up the new business. >> Madam Chair, I move approval of the consent agenda item A and B.
>> All right. >> Second. >> Second. All right. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. I. All right. Motion carries for consent agenda. So, new business is administration animal control enforcement. Um
I think well what what I'd like to do is hear the um on this one hear the presentation first and then we'll go into public comment and discussion from the board. >> Sure. Thank you so much chair. Um, as as reported in your agenda packet on July
14th, members of animal control um, team as well as county administration, Commissioner Newold, members of the sheriff's office, members of the city of Palaca, the state's attorney's office um, all met together to collaborate on what the enforcement process looks like
moving forward. So, as you may or may not know, historically we had some citations. Um, however, the process was found to not be, I guess, legally standing. Um, and didn't provide the sheriff's office the venue for the
ordinations to truly be punitive essentially. Um, so what's been determined by both our legal counsel um, as well as Mr. Sharp was there weighing in and helping us from the the sheriff's office legal council um is that we would have to revise the
ordinance to make the infractions as deemed whichever infractions the board deems um to be a citable infraction escalate them into what they call a criminalized infraction. So they would become a secondderee misdemeanor. Um, at
that time all of our law enforcement partner partners as well as animal control officers that are certified would have the ability to write a cit citation just like they do a parking ticket or anything else that that would fall under their purview. Um, the board
would need to do quite a bit of work on directing staff as to what the ordinance would look like, the fee schedule, which offenses would be um those that could be cited for an individual. Additionally, there would be some cost
associated with the program. Um although Mr. Reynolds has told us the filing fees are nominal, Mr. Reynolds was not available at our meeting and of course um the process would have to go through the judicial system. So Mr. Reynolds's
clerk staff courts clerk court staff um would be would have to take on an additional docket at that time as would the county judges um as would the public defender and all of those could incur the county judges wouldn't incur a cost but the clerk's office and the public
defenders would incur a cost that would be passed back to the county as the county would be liable um for paying a public defender's legal the legal fees associated with representation from the public defender for any individual who
requires a lawyer but is legally entitled to one under the the law. Um so with that we're here just as a first conversation with the board. Um, I know enforcement and citation process is something the board's asked us to look at and why we are or aren't writing the
citations and so obviously we were able to ascertain that information as well as what it would look like if we did want to move forward in this realm. >> All right. Um, Commissioner, would you like to >> Sure. I I'd like to commend the staff
and the and the group from the community who came together um last month and maybe it was earlier this month to start this process. There was a a lot of good dialogue I think agreement amongst that group that this was a a space that
needed improvement. Um I learned a lot in that space. Um this subject was pretty passionate when I was running. I think most of the folk who ran at at our time got up and spoke
about trying to improve this space, just animal services in general. We've made great strides in hiring of new staff, new management, new animal shelter. There'll be collaborations with the with public entities
such as the as the mobile unit. Um hiring a part-time veterinarian. There's been so much positive happen in this space. The missing element is is enforcement of code. So, this was an effort to start that process. Um, while
we do still have some data to to bring back to to the commission. Um, I have spoken with Clerk Reynolds. Um, I've reached out to Judge Johnson, who's been away for a while, hadn't been able to get back with me, but we intend to
meet again with the full complement of partners and flesh out come back to you with suggested fee schedules. Um, which infractions might be fines, which might be opportunities for education,
things such as that. Um, I do believe we can get to a workable format. Um, many other counties make this happen. I'm sure we can. I believe there is a a desire for the community um to have us
move in this direction. I'd just like to ask for support from the balance of the commission to continue forward and and try to bring this into reality. >> Okay. All right. Is there any questions for staff at this point or for Commissioner
New? >> Go ahead. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I want to con commend Commissioner New for taking on this is a this is a big topic. It's got lots of legs. It's got it's spread out tremendously. I think there's a a public
perception uh that I was against anything about animal and that's just truly not true. But I'm more of a carrot instead of a stick guy. But there is times that the sick is needed and there's no doubt about that. So I think this is in a step in the right
direction. I just my heart of hearts. I wish and I'm as passionate about animals as anybody. I wish people just took care of their animals. That's the bottom line. If they took care of their animals, we wouldn't be talking about this right now. Uh the way I took care
of mine. Mine lived a life of luxury truly. And and I'm sure Commissioner Wilkinson, she's got some Labradors. They live a life of luxury. Okay. Um better than some people live. I hate to say that, but mine lived mine lived very
comfortable. And and but he was a great he was a great companion for us. And I see most people have that companionship. But there are people and I was out riding my area the other day looking for illegal dump sites and you know these
pit bulls and I'm not counting I'm not this dis the sparring one animal versus another but they're just laying in the middle of the road no no care you have you call but this is a step in the right direction and we've we've solved our animal services facility that was
horrendous we've got a new facility we got a new director we've got a new positive attitudes. I mean, we had a pickle ball court dedication with a dog park there, you know, and how exciting that was. So, you know, and we invested
in this trailer for animals to be served in and and maybe that's not going to happen the way it was supposed to, but I'm telling you, a lot of good things are coming. So, I I do think a good workshop coming up would be more than adequate. And as we start nibbling this
one bite at a time, we're going to get there. And we're going to get there to um to help the citizens of Putham County so we don't see the the tragedies that are taking place. So, thank you, Commissioner Nubble. Thank you to our staff, and thank you to the sheriff's department, clerk of the court, our
judges, everybody who's been involved in this, and we'll continue to see good things coming. But I do encourage a workshop coming up if when you're ready for that so we can dedicate our time and our effort for that moment for that purpose. Thank you. >> Commissioner Alexander, you're
recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I I echo Commissioner Harvey's comments. You know, the unfortunate thing is, you know, we have to put uh guidelines in place not just for children, but but also for animals because people they
forget that uh you have a responsibility to those animals just as you do your children. And it's really encouraging to see um our clerk of courts and our sheriff's office um and our judicial system all getting on board. And again,
I want to commend Commissioner Newold for for taking action and bringing that to fruition. You know, and if we've got all facets of the government working together to make this better, I I think that we can we we've made the strides that we can on the commission side by adding new staff, creating a new
facility. I I believe the buyin is there from the dis and now I very proud to see that the sheriff's office and everybody else is is interested in in making it a better Putnham County. Thank you guys. >> So, so just so I have some clarity on this, we are in the this is like one
step forward. We don't have a draft ordinance. We have a we have this I see this agenda item and it says in order to move forward the following tasks must be accomplished. Meeting with the clerk's clerk of clerk's office to determine ability to accommodate new process for
fee proc payment process. Meeting with county judges. meeting with public defenders and then revising the animal control ordinance. So, this is a a step, like Commissioner Harvey said, a step in the right direction, but there's a lot that goes ahead of this before it
becomes an actual, hey, this is what'll happen. Um, that's your understanding? >> Yes, and and you're absolutely right. Um we we've been working on got a a group together working to revise the code now um in conjunction with animal services
um community group myself um staff revising that we are it's not complete but it's coming together. Um, we intend to have a another meeting with the initial group, but to add to that uh
that group, the clerk and and the and our judge. Um, I would like to do that in in the same venue as we have in the past. We can have a public workshop at some time if you would like, but we I intend to come to you with these items complete um and
ready for the commission's review. and we may bring something to you that you would like to change in some way, shape, or form, but I just I want to get before we go any further, I wanted to get our commission's um approval to move in that
space. So, I don't want to if if you guys are not interested in this, I don't want to waste the time. >> No, I appreciate that. That's that's a very good point. camp. So that that's really the ask here today to kind of give an update to the public to you guys as to what we've achieved so far and and and the few steps that we need to
complete to to kind of bring it home, so to speak. >> All right. Uh Commissioner Pelier, you're recognized. >> I'll be very brief. Um I agree with all my colleagues here across the board. It's sad that we have to step in and and
scold someone, if you will, for not taking care of their animals, not doing the right thing, but something has to be put in place to uh in other words, get their attention. And uh you can do it a couple of ways, but you can certainly start in their hip pockets. Probably the best places to get get something
rolling. But uh I do support this very much. Thank you, Commissioner Newol. All >> right, going into um public comment. Uh, speaker card. Diane Kelly, you're recognized. Do we have any other cards other than the ones you've given me, Miss Ashley?
Okay. Thank you very much. Excuse me. Diane Kelly, 123, excuse me, Lakeside Lane, Crescent City, Florida. wanted to certainly thank all of you for entertaining this topic. Um, I don't want to focus much at all on the past, but I will say a couple of things about
the past. I've done a lot of research on this and I've been fortunate enough to work with Mr. Godbold and others on this topic. And frankly, we had a commission previously that made willful decisions to neglect uh caring for animals,
following the law, and protecting people as they should. That's the past. But it is true. We can argue it any way we want, but it's a fact. So today we have and I'm hoping that this team will say yes, we're going to move forward. We are
committed to enforcing animal welfare laws in this county. Uh again, I've done countless research. Many of you know that. And bottom line, Putnham County is one of the only counties, the only one that I found in Florida that does not enforce. We have to do that. And I did
want to start my uh speaking by thanking J.R. Nubold because J.R. Newold in my opinion is a model example of a commissioner who's willing to confront very difficult conversations because this has been a very emotional topic for
a lot of people. He's spoken with a lot of people and he took the bull by the horns and he said, "I am going to champion this because it's important to the community. It's one of the top issues in the community, if not the top issue. So, he took the bull by the horns. He's taking it. He's championing
it. He's trying to get rally the troops so that we can say, "What do we need to do? What are the issues? How do we move forward?" So, I want to thank Mr. Newold for that because I think that's a perfect example of a commissioner taking strong leadership on a countywide issue
that is charged with emotion, frustration, and concern. So, thank you, sir. So the past, we all know the past, not a good place, but we're in a very different place right now. We do have an overall a new commission. I believe this
is a commission that does care about people and animals. And many of you know that all of the situations that we've seen with uh the dog bites, even unfortunately a couple of deaths over time, uh if you look at any studies out
there, 70 to 80% of the time, those are dogs that have been neglected and abused. And unfortunately, they're the ones who pay the price because they're normally put down when the owner should be the one paying the price. We have got to hold people accountable. It's just
like with children. If you don't take care of your child, child protective services is going to step in and the law will step in. It is no different. So, I'm very thankful that this issue is before us. We have to move forward. I will say as well, I did look at u a lot
of the cases under not freedom of information, but a records request to understand what the sheriff's data looks like. And bottom line is for three years 2022 to 2025, we only had an average of seven arrests per year referrals for
animal abuse and cruelty. We probably have seven a week in interlocking alone. And I think we know that this suffering is unspeakable. And when I looked at those records and I see neighbor shot cat and the guts are hanging out, that's from the sheriff's
office. And you know what happened to that request? And there's many of them out there. It was referred to animal control. They're not even empowered to write a $5 ticket. That's unacceptable, guys. We all know that. So anyway, the bottom line it is time. It's time for
change. We've got to make a change. The good news I think and I had the fortune of being in that July 14th meeting that was a crossf functional team of folks throughout the county that include the sheriff's office, the state attorney's office and certainly administrators of
the commission and a host of others. And what I saw and I and I just want citizens to know this. I saw people who do care and they do want to see change. They want to be part of change and they want to make it happen. So hats off and I want to thank Julianne others for
saying we're going to make a change. We're going to do something about this. So I do thank the team for allowing me to be present and there's a lot of good news there because there was a lot of support there. Even Mr. Schwarstein from the state attorney's office said, "Send
the work to me. I want to I want to get the work. Send it to me." It wasn't an issue of I don't know if I can handle the workload. I don't know if that's going to be a budget issue. He said, "Get it to me." So, there's so much commitment out there and there are a lot of good folks that work in the county
without a doubt. And I think we have a commission that's going to say, "Come on, team. We got to move forward. It's time. >> Thank you. >> We're not going to tolerate the suffering." Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> All right. Next up, we have Avette Reyes. Vet Reyes, PO Box 253, Boswick. First,
I'm disappointed that I was told at the last meeting that that meeting was private, but we had a citizen involved. I have come before this board. Larry's the only one that knows for 12 years
to discuss animal services. While we have made strides in where we are with animal services, but if we're going to have meetings, the community needs to be involved. It can't just be siloed. If we're going to have discussions like this, I have a lot of questions and I
would have liked to be part of that meeting. So if we are going to go to a second meeting, it needs to be a workshop and it needs to be in the evening so that those that are working can actually attend the meeting and express their concerns to you all.
My next comment is would you guys consider mandatory spayneuter? It's the only way we're going to address these issues. I understand that some of you have breeder dogs and you want breed dogs. I personally have four pit bulls
that are rescues from animal control from um safe. They're all fixed. All of my animals are fixed. I have 20 cats, four dogs, and I am fostering nine other cats, a mama with five kittens, and I'm bottlefeeding
four babies. That's a lot of animals for one person. Mhm. >> So if we're going to address this animal issue, we have to start at the root. Spa mandatory spayneuter is what we need to start with. We need to figure out how to
register animals and get every animal spayed or neutered to stop this. The next question I have for this, this is going to address citations to people who are abandoning animals or who neglecting animals. for those people who have their
animals roaming. Is this also going to apply? Right. And I'm going to bring it up. The whole cat issue that Mr. Scott brought out. He has his cat roaming. How is it anybody's responsibility to take care of his cat? I can guarantee you I
love animals, but if an animal comes on my property to kill one of my animals, I will kill it. I'm not calling animal control. I'm not calling the sheriff's office. Thank you. Do we have any other speaker cards? Thank you,
Lisa Chryman. Kersman. >> Okay. My apologies if I butchered your name. I got I got close. >> Hello. >> Hello. >> This is my first time in the building. I'm three years new to the county. >> If you'll state your address.
>> And I live at Lisa Cruzman and I live at 109 long, you know, at 109 was my childhood address. So, of course, I had to buy a house. >> 109 Pleasant Trail. >> 109 Pleasant Trail, Crescent City. Um, I was a board member with ARC for two
years. Um, not currently. I do help them when I can. I am your admin for the Animal Welfare League of Putham County Facebook page. I write I am a member of the Dog Writers Association of America. Um I've written about dogs for 15 years.
I'm also a blogger for Widow's Voice, Soaring Spirits International, unfortunately. Um so my biggest writing uh genre is about the animal human bond spec specifically dogs. Um, and I know I'm a
newcomer and I've been watching and quietly kind of reporting and writing and I'm writing a story. I'm writing a series that will be read nationwide and beyond. Um, I have drafted it. It's an installation. So, I wait and I watch and
I am happy to see I'm encouraged to do see some improvement and uh the passion here and again I'm a newcomer. I've lived I'm from New Jersey. I just came from Camden Camden County three years ago. They have a problem there too. Very
similar to yours. Uh so I'm not I'm no stranger to this. I realize Putinham County is a very large county. Um you have your challenges here. Recognize that. Glad to see some movement. I I've sat at many of the AWL meetings, helped
organize them, also help run raise funds for the spay and neuter trailer. And I hope that does stay in the county. We really, really need it. I've won awards for my writing on spay and neuter. Went to Arizona to accept my award. I wrote about the challenges in New Mexico
within um the indigenous people there. So again, no stranger to the challenges of this subject. Um so I just I guess I want to just say for 15 years I've written about this subject. Um and I really want to put a good light on
Putnham County. I really as I write the story and my second memoir and you're in it, the town is in it. Putnham County is in it. I want to really show a great story with a good ending from a county that accepted the challenges and uh I
know again I know there are many. I've only been here three years, but I've kind of gotten to know a lot of people in animal rescue here. I respect them. I agree with everything that's been said by Diane and Avette. Um, so if there's anything I can do as a writer, as a
blogger, I do write about this even for the widow's voice every Saturday morning. I always try to get a little dog uh infused information there because it to widowed people and people who really are forgotten and need help,
their pets really are the way back. So I hope they help. Thank you. Thanks for all you do. Thank you, Miss Jenny Oakwood. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. >> Putnham County, in my opinion, needs to
do this, and I pray it doesn't take a decade. Putnham County is the hole in the donut. All the surrounding counties have this in place. If simple as requiring the owners to
prove rabies vaccination is a statue. There's no reason why we can't do this. And I pray that all of you all,
including Miss Young, goes forward and including Mr. Reynolds because this cannot wait another decade. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other speaker cards? Anybody else wishing to speak on this subject?
All right. Um, back to the board. Any other comments? Miss Young, you're recognized. >> Thank you, chair. Um, just for clarity, um, to address maybe our path forward given option, at least a recommendation by staff. And let me first say excluding
Miss Reyes was never the intent. It was an agency meeting. One of the attendees requested Miss Kelly's attendance based on her relative knowledge and so she was there but agreed if if one citizen to Miss Reyes's
point if one citizen is there then then certainly um the more citizen input we have the better the scenario. Um, so I believe maybe the recommendation would be that we essentially have some concurrent initiatives going. One being
your staff working group with your agencies, your law enforcement partners, your judicial partners, your clerk partners who truly can work through the logistics of what this process looks like. Not so those partners really are
are going to be materially focused on the A B C D. How do we connect the dots and get it from start to finish? And then we can incorporate any citizen who desires to provide input into our animal services advisory board who also needs to be providing input on what the
ordinance should look like at the end, which violations would rise to an occasion of a law enforcement agency writing a citation and then um hopefully bring you back some information from both of those working groups. Again, uh
truly there was no intention to to exclude one citizen over another. >> Okay. Um I have a question. Um as we're going forward in um this exercise or this process, I should call it. Um the county is writing the ordinance. Is that
correct? Not an outside third party. >> That's correct. It would be a county. Yes, the county is writing the ordinance. Again, there has been citizens who have given input to date. Um, but as our ordinance stands today is county written
and those are the that's the input that I do believe probably the the best and most prudent forum uh to vet that out will be your animal services advisory committee um who the board has elected members u or appointed members I'm sorry um representing each of the districts
and then obviously it's open to the public as well so we could have we could have it in here if we needed to and have as much input as we needed um to make sure we've got a fair representation of the citizens desires that that wish to speak on the topic. >> Thank you. That's where I was going to
go with that. So, you know, just like we learned through this um process of a potential uh no wake zone, we learned that not everybody agreed, right? And so, it ended up overwhelmingly being something different than what we originally thought, but at the end of
the day, we're going to end up with a good product, right? And so, I think in my opinion, that's where I am. Um because when you start talking about mandatory spayneuter and you're requiring your citizens to do X, Y, and Z, those citizens should line up in this
room and tell us what they want. It shouldn't be 10 people in a group. It should be the an open public workshop. Whoever said that, I completely agree. And if we have to spend six hours or eight hours or whatever we got to spend
to hear those to hear the citizens input, that's what I would want. I would want that. And so I think um who what did somebody recommend an evening meeting? I think that's a great idea too. I think that's that's I hear what you're saying about the advisory animal advisory, but I I think
even bigger than that that maybe we get a recommendation from them and then we have a big a big open meeting and a big discussion about it when we get to that point. >> Of course. Or you can do it in reverse order. However, >> or you can do it in the reverse order. >> However you'd like to move forward. I just wanted to bring some clarity to um
to the confusion that that was there and and I think it is prudent to separate the two work groups >> and it's got to be tailored um to Putnham County because we as one citizen recognize we have some uniqueness and so um and different challenges that we have
here still f still need to follow the laws that are already in place of course. Commissioner Alexander you're recognized. >> Yes ma'am. Um, and this is a little bit off topic, but uh, since we've got Miss Jenny in the room, could you um, come forward, Miss Jenny? >> If we're going to talk about the
trailer, can we do that separately? Is that what you were going to do? >> Yeah, I was just going to get an update. >> I'd really like us to get through this and then we can bring up the trailer. I have no problem with that, but I'd like for us to get through this. >> Okay. Yeah. I didn't know if you would finish with that. >> Yeah, we got we haven't caught our vote yet. >> Let's do that. >> Okay. Thank you, Commissioner Harvey.
>> Thank you, Madam Chair. and and the topic of this conversation. Um I'm looking at the animal services advisory committee and I see that it consists of nine members but we like my district doesn't have one. Uh district
one doesn't have one. Um I think we need to get this updated and if there if we can do that let's see it's not consisting of nine members one from each district must reside in the district. uh for at large. Um
so maybe we need to if it's going to filter back through them, maybe we need to look at this. Um because it I don't think this is exactly right right now. I didn't know I had an opening. Uh but I don't know if it's I don't know if we really need to have them residing in our
district. I I would say that, but you know, but I would like to get an appointment on there and I didn't know we had one. So maybe yes I do. It's on my my list but okay but it's just not on this list >> right when we'll get to appointments but that's a good point as we go through our
appointments today and through we'll look into into whatever more appointments we need. Yes sir. >> All right so any other public comment on this item. Oh my goodness Diane you had one time. I'm I'm sorry. We're going to talk about animal trailer in a minute
but yes sir. Come forward. Let's get through. We have another public comment right here. >> Edward Serta, one7 Marian Avenue, Interlock in Florida. Thank you so much. One of the things that wasn't raised also that you should be aware of is that
where I live uh where I'm at at my location. >> Yes, sir. >> I actually, you know, I I own a lot of property. A lot of property. Uh, one of the biggest challenges with this dogs issues that we're having also is that you have all these code enforcement that
do not RVs that are coming and staying on these lands and have all these dogs roaming around and they don't have any gates or anything. That's another issue that that I'm h we're having. You know, I can't keep buying properties and properties to eliminate this problems. But code enforcement needs to get in
there and start eliminating or these RVs that are living on these lots or and or the rent to own uh people, these slum lords that just have things and they put RVs, tents, these dogs are all roaming all around, you know, and so that is
another huge problem, man, is that co you got to get the RVs out that are just living not on the land that are supposed to be in RVs, yet they got all these dogs and cats and pigs and whatever, you all over there. I've actually reached out to Larry several times and says,
"How much money do you need so I can help you or pay for something because I can do it. I mean, I have, thank God I have those means, but you know, getting code enforcement, it takes a whole >> Have you turned them in?" >> Yeah, I bought the property. >> I keep buying the property and I keep
buying the property. >> I appreciate that, but >> Well, I appreciate I'm trying to improve uh Interlock in, you know, Lake Brandon area. Here's the thing. I got another guy that I'm taking to court and actually I'm, you know, >> sorry, retired lawyer with my wife, too. Veteran law, you know, on on that. I'm
taking another slum lord with who's got animal cruelty. It's depressing every single day. I feel horrible for those dogs. I've called animal control and like this beautiful lady right here said, they don't have the power to do anything. Not even give a $5 ticket,
nothing. And you just see this every day. And you see this like, my gosh, you know what? What's what? Poor dogs. Really poor dog. Porn animals. It's not right. It's not fair. But you they're living in a tent. They're living in RVs. I've got code enforcement coming there.
I'm taking it to court. So now I'm in court. It'll be August something when I go and I I I had enough. But I keep buying the land. I keep improving the land, putting new homes in in Interlockin. I'm doing the right, you know, trying to make it better because Interlockin is a nice place. There's
Here's the most here's my what I have to say. Actually, I don't think you guys are ready for the evolution that's happening. Putnham County is getting a lot more educated. A lot more money is coming in and they're building nicer new things. So, you have to move a lot faster because it has to happen. It's
coming and you can't stop it. That's right. There's people coming with money and education that want nicer things. It's a nice area, you know, and I'm sorry that the people that, you know, and why that's happening is because if you lose your home because you don't pay your tax or you don't think, well, they're just going to buy it. Well, that's not wasn't their fault.
And they're going to put nice homes on there. They're going to do things. And that's what I'm doing. Not not that I'm a developer. I just like to see nice things. But these poor dogs are all over the place. These owners are not held accountable for anything. I've called Putnham. In fact, I have Putnham County Sheriff on the same block that I am. two
of them. How can they not do I I don't get it. And not only that, the element that these are again, the RVs are another pro. You guys got to start doing that code enforcement. I'm telling you, and they're not doing it. They're just not doing it. So, you guys should have a
meeting with the code enforcement over there and get them to say, "Hey, man, what are you going to do about this? I got six RVs in the area that I mean, I I own five acres. I can't How much more do I want to get? I can't, you know, I I I don't know how much more
you want me to keep buying. I can't I I shouldn't have to be put in that kind of position. Let me put you that way. That I got to buy to eliminate and not see that that crap. I'm just being honest. >> Yes, sir. >> And it's sad. It really is. But I don't know if you need money, let me know. I
don't know what you guys need. I What we ever got to do? >> May have found your new appointee, Larry. >> I was fixing that. >> Whatever you need. I mean, I don't know what to tell you. >> Right here. Right here. Do you want to be appointed to the animal service committee right now? Because I got a spot open. >> Do you? >> I love animals. Trust me, I have
>> I want to be appointed today. I can make it happen right now. >> Okay. >> Let the public, not me, you know. >> Well, we can talk afterwards. >> I I want to say this though. The sheriff's department are awesome. They are really nice people. >> Why don't you sit down and think about
it and give me the thumbs up when you're ready? Okay. >> I'm looking forward to >> I think you should point this lady right here, whoever. It was really good. >> He's looking for a district appointment. >> But, uh, thank you so much, Mr. You know, I would Yeah. And I would help. >> And that's the road I was on the other day when I saw the dogs laying all over the I know. So,
>> but it's coming, folks. You got to It's coming and you know, it's not right. But start with the RVs, too, because there's a lot of vacant land and people are just squatting on it, bringing RVs. >> Yes, sir. That's been a subject we've talked about. >> Yeah, it needs to. And I put it down so you can eliminate what I was about to
say. Okay. Thank you, ma'am, for hearing me. Thank you, M. >> Thank you, sir. >> All right, Diane. you had a point of clarity. You can come up real quick. I think you all know I've been trying to push this uh for the last three years and I've had countless meetings on this
topic and I'm really tired of it. Today there will be more animals shot. There will be more guts hanging out. There will be more starvations because we are not enforcing the law. I am only asking that all five of you please say in this
meeting that yes, you will support Putnham County enforcing animal welfare state statutes. Period. I'm asking for that commitment. That's what I thought we were going to do today. >> Okay. And then the details can all be
worked out as Julianne said. But let's put a stake in the sand and say we're not going to be the only county around here that doesn't enforce the law. And we care about these animals. We care about people screaming and saying, "Help me, please." The the case for Brandy.
There's tons of those cases. This suffering is unspeakable. It really is unspeakable. Please, can every one of you just say, "Yes, I support Putnham County enforcing animal welfare laws."
And then let's the team let the team and citizens work through the details, please. Please. >> All right. >> Can we do that today, please? >> Thank you. >> All right. Back to the board, >> Madam Chair. I think this is a great
start. I think I'm looking forward to a workshop. I would not have a problem with an evening workshop. Um, and I'd like to see what I'm fixing to say yes to, but I will tell you that I'm in support of Commissioner Newolds and the Animal Control Enforcement Initiative,
and I'd like to see this go forward. >> Mr. Nol, >> I'm I'm looking for This is your This is your um >> We need to support >> No, we're going to discuss this. Go ahead, Mr. No Mr. Newold, what is your comments? >> Well, I I mean, we don't have a a
resolution here, so to speak. I don't I don't have much in in the way of comments other than to ask our board to um provide direction well to support this initiative and and provide staff direction to to move forward um with
everything that was outlined in our presentation package >> in our agenda item. >> Yep. and our agenda item that will push us forward in this space and hopefully um in a timely fashion, relatively timely fashion, achieve the goal of animal enforcement in Putham County.
>> Okay. So, we have >> motion. >> Yes, >> I second that motion. >> We have a motion from Mr. Newold. Is that correct? >> That's a motion. >> All right. And a second by Commissioner um Harvey. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. I. Motion carries.
>> All right. Going forward, we next we have up our quarterly budget report. >> Brier. >> Hey, Brier. >> Good morning, commissioners. Okay, so today we're doing the fiscal
year 26 Q3 budget report. So, we're going to start off with the commissioner's discretionary dollars. So, these are the dollars that y'all are given at the beginning of the year to spend on capital projects that y'all deem are necessary or beneficial to the community. So I'm going to start off by just
telling you the current budget you have and then just listing off the projects under each commissioner real quick. So for district 1 Jr. Newold you have a current budget of 150 500 150,547. And you have the Lake Ko shuffleboard courts, Lake Ko basketball courts,
Georgetown Park poleb barn, purchase arm for rescue South Putinham, South Putinham sports complex mower, the South Putinham sports complex tractor, the South Putinham sports complex barn, the fairgrounds roof, lightning detection at South Putham, street improvements, three
fire thermal cameras, three turf mowers, a fire rescue drone, animal control, and the South Putnham floor. Brier, I I really don't want us to sit here and go through and read every one of these. >> I'll just give you the current budget for each. >> Uh for Miss Leota, District 2, she has a
current budget of 259,524. Uh for district 3, Joshua Alexander, he has a budget of 84,749. District 4, Larry Harvey has a budget of 35,182. and district 5 Walton Palisier has a
budget of 254,417. >> All right. I have one question. Um and um Commissioner Harvey, um on your last item, you just got South Putham Church, $25,000. What was that for? Did you make a donation to the church? >> Commissioner, >> actually that was supposed to be cleaned
up um for last week. It's supposed to say South Putnham Church, not Crutch. And it's for the flooring down there that commissioner believe commissioner newbold and I put in for the floor that ourou with the south put recreational
place. So >> So we didn't So it's 50 total. It's not 50 plus their 50. >> No, it's 50 total. And the 50 is coming from both Commissioner New and Commissioner Harvey who are supporting the renovation of that gym floor which is where we do our programs in South
Putham for parks and recreation. >> Okay. All right. Go ahead, Brier. >> So, I don't know how to spell that. Great, Madam Chair. But I did see that last week when this came out. >> That's okay. I wasn't worried >> and I made an immediate phone call. >> I was making sure that it was 50,000 total and not a h 100,000.
>> Madam Chair, can I make a statement before you go too much further? >> You know, um this is capital improvement dollars. This is, I think, in my opinion, a fast strike fund where staff and the community comes to us with
projects. This is money that comes out of our general fund reserves and we're able to do remarkable things. So when you look at the list of things that have been accomplished, um they weren't budgeted for but they popped up and the community had a need
and us commissioners were able to step in and do something uh with that. But you're going to you see lightning detectors, you see a fiills, you see fairgrounds, you see parks and wreck, you see mowers, you see all kinds of fire rescue uh pickle ball courts, you
see many, many things that need immediate attention that weren't necessarily budgeted for, but we're using our general fund reserves to attack these things for the betterment of our community. So, I want to thank each and every one of you, but truly um
spend that money down and let's get this money out into our community. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right, Mr. Brier. >> The So, we're going to go over the general fund. The revenues are all normal, well expected to meet end of year projections. Taxes are at 96% at 90
at 62,64,000. Uh it's up 6% so Q2 it was at 90%. Um the total revenue for that fund is 95%. Expenses all look normal. Personnel, operating capital, all within normal means and should finish the year well
and good. Transportation, um we talked a little bit about this at the budget workshop. The tax revenue for the gas tax has been coming down and that's because gas prices are higher. It's a flat rate. So just because people
are buying more expensive gas, they're buying less gas and it's not it's not increasing. So that's one thing we should keep in mind as we build the budget going forward is that this this fund is typically in the red and its main source of revenue is coming down.
Um permits, fees, and special assessments are good. Intergovernmental is all good. Um expenses all look normal. We're well within means for operating and personnel, but again, it's just one we should keep in our minds as we build the
budget going forward because it does run in the red. Um, the fire fund uh fund revenues are going really well. Real quick note, intergovernmental is low because money was moved back to fiscal year 25 for the
HMPG um grant. West Putinham Fire Station has had some work done and some equipment has been bought and that's the one million almost one million you'll see down at the
bottom for capital as that's turned in those grants will be reimbured for intergovernmental and you'll see that revenue come out of the negative and eventually come up when those grants are turned in. >> Good. >> You want me to retouch that or that makes sense? >> No, I just want that was my question. You answered it. >> As as those grants get turned in, they
should get that revenue in. So, moving on to the sanitation fund. Sanitation fund's doing really well. They're up a million in revenue for permits, fees, and special assessments. They have the intergovernmental 3 million gasification project, and their expenses are all well
and normal within means. The East Putinham Water Fund, you're going to look at it and it's going to be a little odd at first, so we're just going to skip intergovernmental and touch that in a second. Charges for services are doing real well. They're at 74%. Fiscal year 25 Q3 was at 62% and
1,125,000. So we've seen a 250k increase at the same point from last year. And that's just because we've gotten more people on those services. Other revenue, it's really high. That's your interest. So going down to expenses, you'll see
personnel is good, operating as normal. Capital has had 3.9 million spent. And a vast majority of that is the FT septic to sewer and it's had 2.3 million. And then a big portion of that is the Army Corps water supply phase one. And it's
both of those have had work but we've not received any revenue for this year from those. And that's why your intergovernmental looks like this. And then it's negative 1350 because 1350 was moved to fiscal year 25 for the Curry road lift generator.
So, this is one that should be fine, but we should definitely keep an eye on and make sure we get those grant reimbursements back. And finally, we have St. John's Harbor Water Plant. This is a rather new fund. Uh the charges for services are at 81%, $146,000.
That's really good. We want it to be at 75% at this point of the year to cover its operating costs, which it is doing. Personnel is real low. Operating is in normal bounds. And then Capital has a rapid infiltration basin engineering and redesign that's had some work but not a
lot of work done on it yet. >> Any questions for >> any questions? All right. Thank you, Prior. >> Thank you. >> All right. Parks and wreck we talked about that's been pulled. We have code enforcement and then we'll be going in to comment on
miscellaneous items. >> Madam Chair, is anyone in the audience here for any codes enforcement cases? All right. Seeing none. >> Madam chair, I'd like to go ahead and move this process forward really quick.
Thank you. Coach's case 201300563. The recommendation is uh pay the hard cost back to the citizens of Putnham County of 6,146 to be paid within 1880 days. That's my recommendation. >> Second. >> We have a motion second. Any further
discussion? All in favor say I. I. Motion carries. next. >> All right, let me get there. I'm almost I'm working on the computer, so it's a little slow right now, but here we go. On the next case, 201400567.
U the staff recommendation is a hard cost back to Putnham County citizens of $1,557 to be paid within 90 days. That's our recommendation. >> Second. >> Motion second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. I.
>> Madam chair, on the following case, the last case, case number 2020-0000355, uh staff recommendation is reduce fine cost, the actual hard cost back to the citizens of Putham County, $1,698 if paid within 90 days.
>> Second. >> Have a motion and second. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Thank you. So, as we go into our budget year, I would like to see our planning department and our um codes enforcement
work on these numbers. When we say that we've been using these costs per unit, I know the entire four years I've been here, I don't know that they've changed. And as we move forward in the fact that we're probably going to have to deal
with a $15 million loss if if amendment passes, tax reform passes, and if the purpose of this is to say, all right, the original find is this, but we we just need to recoup our actual cost, then I think we need to go through
and say, is this our actual cost? Because we haven't done that exercise in a while. and um then come back with what our actual cost is because we know that cost per hour has gone up and everything has gone up. So um I would just ask
staff if they would take a look at that and come back as we look at going into our next our new budget year. Thank you. Um public comment on miscellaneous items. Now we will have that. Thank you ma'am. Britney Wise.
>> Good morning, commissioners. >> Good morning. >> I'm I'm Britney Wise. I'm at 1720 Harrison Street, Hollywood, Florida, 33020. Uh I serve as spokesperson for the Florida Digital Infrastructure and Security Alliance or FIDSA. We are a
newly launched statewide 501c6 trade association representing Florida companies and homegrown community leaders across technology, water, energy, and infrastructure sectors who are committed to advancing Florida's digital future. We are here today simply
to introduce ourselves and our organization. We appreciate the thoughtful and respectful dialogue taking place around this important issue as well as the transparency, which is why we're introducing ourselves via public comment. Pedisa believes that
thoughtfully planned and well-developed digital infrastructure is essential to Florida's continued success, competitiveness, and security. Our goal is to help policymakers and communities make informed decisions by providing credible information, research, and
access to subject matter matter experts. With clear expectations and strong standards, Florida can protect land, water, and neighborhoods while encouraging the innovation that makes these facilities more efficient, sustainable, and better neighbors. Communities should not have to choose
between protecting their quality of life and welcoming economic opportunity. Both are possible. To that end, we recently submitted an op-ed to the Palaca Daily News outlining our perspective and we will also share it with the commission along with an
invitation to meet individually with any commissioner who would find it helpful. Data centers play an important role in providing the services people rely on every day, including health care, financial services, emergency communications, education, business, and
the digital platforms that power modern life. They are also a vital part of America's national and cyber security infrastructure, helping ensure critical data remain secure and housed in the United States. We look forward to engaging on these and other issues with
Putham County and other communities across the state. If Fedza can ever be of service as a resource, please don't hesitate to reach out. Thank you for your time and service to the community. >> Thank you for introducing yourself today. Um, next we have Larry Flamman.
Flamman, sorry. Good morning. >> Good morning. >> Uh Larry Flamman, 204 Perry Street, Pomona Park. Uh I'm also a member of the board of directors for the Friends of Duns Creek. Mhm. >> And as a point of information, I just
wanted to let you know that part of our founding documents in our charter is that we promote public access to the park. So, anything that you guys can do to help us with that, I certainly appreciate it.
>> So, to the point that we brought I brought up earlier, public access from all different ways or just for kayakers? >> Oh, absolutely. >> So, you're okay with you're okay with motorboats coming on? Yeah, with a with a proper dock. >> Okay. >> You know that that dock is not proper
right now for boat landing. >> Okay. And also, if you're going to put a a a dock and a boat launch in, I think it'd be better to to make a this is my personal opinion, it'd be better to make an indentation
from the creek rather than putting it like out on the creek just to prevent the issue with with wake boat boat wakes and stuff. Mhm. >> So, just I I didn't realize that it was going to be such an extensive discussion
today, so I'm not really prepared, but I just thought I'd give you that information about >> Okay. No, that's fair. I think it I mean, that's why we have these open forums so we can ask questions and and get information. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Commissioner Alexander, you're recognized. >> Thank you, Larry, for coming up. Um,
just a point of clarity, uh, for those that don't know, the Friends of Duns Creek State Park is a completely separate entity from the state park staff. >> That's fair. >> Um, so if there is any animosity about
access to the park, that is not fostered by the Friends of Duns Creek. Their goal in their bylaws, which I am a member, full disclosure is access and promoting access to that state park as you and I, Madam Chair,
have discussed on multiple issues. We want it open. We want people to be able to camp and utilize that park. >> So, they would be considered allies in that in that fight to move the state forward to put their money where their mouth is with that 2018 management plan
that has been kind of cast to the side. So >> again, that was the second point of this conversation that hopefully this will bring attention to the natural resource that we have that is again un completely underutilized and could provide recreational activities to our community
and get them out into the environment. So just want to make everybody aware that that is a completely separate group and they are fighting >> clarity. I get passionate sometimes and >> No, no, we all do because it it's very frustrating and as a as a new commissioner still and a year and a half
into this, the speed of government is very frustrating to me and to re to realize that we've had a plan in place that was approved by the state for almost 10 years now and very very little has been done. Um I hope that um this
may brings awareness to my other commissioners and our staff and the public. Thank you. >> All right. Um, a vet Reyes spay and neuter trailer. Miss Jenny, did you want Are you gonna be talking about this, too? I don't know. Um, come on up.
Ray, PO Box 253, Boswick. Um, so I know that you guys were asked about the trailer and taking the trailer under the county realm. Me personally, I don't agree it should be with the county. My
reason is you will be expected to provide free spayneuter for everyone's animals. I don't agree my tax money should go to any of that because we all choose to have animals. We need to be responsible for our animals. I got my
four dogs, my 20 cats spayed, neutered on my dime. My 20 cats came from animal control. I didn't ask animal control for help. Jenny was providing vouchers at the time. I spent $700
at ARC. Thank God it it was through a deal, right? >> Yeah. It was a big deal. $700 to get cats spayed or neutered and vaccinated out of my money, which came from animal control. They were bottle babies. Animal control didn't have the staff at the
time. That was three years ago. They didn't have anybody to do their bottle baby feeding. I took them in. I took them home. And after I spent all those hours bottlefeeding these babies, I converted a shed into a cat condo. They have a carport on the back and a and a
outside catio on the front. So, they live large. Yes. My four dogs. They were also um from animal control and from safe. I paid for that. They had vouchers. Again, animal control didn't have a voucher, but safe provided the
voucher, so I was able to get them all spayed and neuter. The county should not be responsible for that. I don't care if it's a pet or a feral. If you choose to feed that feral, that is your pet and you should be responsible for it. The next thing, I'm a donor to that trailer.
I own part of that trailer. It's a measly $3,000. Let's make it public. But $3,000 can feed a lot of my animals. So with respect to it going to another organization or coming to the board, it should be a collaborative decision.
Many municipalities and cities and individual donors gave money to that trailer. That $100,000 didn't come from one person and it didn't come from two people. It came from a collaboration and we all deserve a seat at that table to
make that decision. Thank you. >> Thank you. So, I just want to clarify because some people are probably wondering why this Go ahead. You can have a seat. Um why um why this is probably coming up. So, I want to Miss uh Jenny at the last board meeting came and told us that um they had served the
community through um the ARC uh mobile unit and that she was um not going to be able to do that anymore, that they had to make a difficult decision. And um first I want to go on a record and thank ARC and Miss Jenny for the support and
what you've done for the year I think it was a year year and a half of and the and the hundreds of spay and neuters that y'all were able to do with that trailer. So let I want to say thank you publicly. Um and then second,
she requested a meeting and Julianne and I did sit down with her um on July 2nd and another member of her board and um she shared with us that um basically that you know we we discussed what would
be the options of the trailer like what what would be the options and I believe at that time um she was we were asking because one of the biggest things for the trailer is for me is what are the costs? What are what kind of cost would
incur with this trailer if the county were to take it on? So, that's a big subject that uh will have to come in front of this board at some point. I'm not no sure that's coming in front of the board today, but that I think that is the reason why you were speaking about that, Miss Reyes, is because it
we I think we are still waiting on information, Miss Young. Following that or in that meeting with Miss Oak, we did request information on um cost, what it was costing her to operate, as well as an inventory of what would be considered included with the
trailer versus she expressed that there would be some inventory or equipment that would need to be purchased that uh she believes ARC purchased. Um, so to date, we have not received any of that information for me to give you any sort of cost estimate on what it was costing
her or what it would cost the county on on operations. >> Right. And I don't and we don't have an action item that's been publicized to put on there on the agenda right now, but um there is, you know, a question as to what happens to the trailer. I think Mr. Alexander, you were Commissioner Alexander, you want to say something
earlier? >> Thank you for recognizing me, Madam Chair. Um I I was my concern is where is the trailer and a lot of the surgical equipment and the equip um the equipment
that is in there is rubber based. Um what are we doing to mitigate the humidity and corrosion? Is it plugged up? Is the air conditioning running or is all of that equipment just degrading in a in a field somewhere? U please come up Miss Jenny if you would like to answer.
Miss Jenny, thanks for being here today. Oh, >> no problem. >> First of all, I want to clarify that our goal is to keep the spay and neuter mobile in the county. >> There are some things in on Facebook
about safe, but safe, remember, is still in Putinham County. They are in St. John's and in Putnham County. When I presented this to the board the 23rd of June, then Miss Young and Commissioner
Wilkinson approached me and to make a meeting. Unfortunately, two meetings were cancelled due to conflict of schedule. We just met July 16th. I will be forwarding all the information that
Miss Young and Commissioner Wilkinson had requested and it will be uh CC to all of you. So you can look at that. The trailer is at Crescent City Kennel. We put her on with the generator. I am
getting an electrician to hook her up permanently. Um all the equipment is safe, secured. The trailer is also insured fully and that is part of our requirement.
We we were unable to continue doing spay and neuter due to veterinarians. Veterinarians right now have a choice. It's called release of of care. They can choose wherever they want. Unfortunately, our medical director got
a full-time position because she was offered health insurance, 50 401c, etc. I cannot compete with that. And those veterinarians out there have to be high volume, high quality
veterinarians for spay and neuter programs to succeed. Yeah. >> And I assure you with all the information I could provide you, I know that Putnham County is able to do this with a cooperation of a veterinarian,
getting a recruitment of a veterinarian and providing them with employment benefits is going to be the key carrot like Mr. Harvey says in my opinion. And right now I know you have a veterinarian plus you have a partnership with
University of Florida. I'm sorry, a Florida veterinarian and things can progress. So, all this information will be in your e email by the end of the week. Unfortunately, I I dislocated my thumb and I'm limited on typing, but you
will have all this information CC to Miss Young and all of the commissioner by the end of the week. >> And I apologize if I got the date wrong. Thank you for clarifying that. That was not purposeful. >> I understand. And >> thank you for clarifying that the trailer's being taken care of. >> Thank you.
All right. Is there any other public comment? Okay. Um is there anybody wishing um that hasn't spoke already? All right. Going into commissioner committee updates. Do we have any commissioner committee
updates? Beginning with Commissioner Alexander, Commissioner Newold? >> No. >> Commissioner Harvey? >> I have none. >> Commissioner Palisier. Um I serve along with Commissioner Harvey on the uh Putnham County Development Authority Board.
>> Uhu. >> And um we're looking at all our properties that the county owns and um >> the development authority owns. Yeah, >> I'm sorry. Development authority. Same same but not the same. um and liquidating. Um
there's three that we're working on liquidating possibly and increasing uh the lease of one that is will be a benefit to the county, but um I do like serving on that board and I think we do good work there and trying to make a few
dollars for that board. >> Okay, >> that's it. >> All right. I don't have any updates as well. Um appointments going to uh Commissioner Alexander. >> None today. >> None today. Commissioner Newold, >> the list shows um an opening on the animal services board, but that is in
the process of being filled. So that should help complement that uh that working group and nothing else. >> Commissioner Harvey, >> I have none. And my gentleman that wanted that we wanted ran out the door, >> right?
>> But we will hunt him down. Okay. >> Commissioner uh Pelicir. Uh, yes. On the fishing fund advisory board, I have an opening there. Um, I want to appoint Chuck Blocker, >> Charles Blocker. Chuck, if you know him well,
>> Chuck to his friends, >> I have contact info for you, Mr. Porardi. >> All right. Anything else? >> No. No, ma'am. Okay. >> All right. Um, am I correct? Is this correct that there's an atlarge
appointment for animal services? All right. I'd like to um >> a category. >> Okay. What's the categories? >> That's what's left. >> That's that large that has to be one of those.
>> It has to be a veterinarian. >> What the heck? is an animal behaviorist. >> We need to clean that that up that committee. >> This this thing needs to be re relooked at >> seen the dog whisper. >> No, I haven't seen a dog whisper in
Putham County. >> A dog whisperer. >> All right. So, I'm sorry. We're going to take that. Let's take that ordinance and look at that because that whatever that is. Is that an ordinance? >> Yes. >> All right. We need to look into this
because this is you're never going to find those people. >> We have had in the past serving members um both behavioralist and veterinarian. >> How about just an animal advocate? >> Well, in theory that's what all five of your district appoint.
>> Wow. Okay. Um yeah, I um I' I'd like us to take a look into that into that. >> Okay. Well, moving on. Um anything else? Clerk of court, you're
recognized for public comment. >> Good morning, ma'am. Good morning, commissioners. Um just a just a couple of things. Um, speaking of the uh the citations, our office uh standing by ready and willing to um to process those
once we've got the pipeline kind of built out with, you know, all the partners that will be included in it, specifically, you know, the judicial partners. Um, I think that's kind of where the issue lied last time, but we're looking forward to that, Commissioner Newold, and and we stand
stand by ready and willing to to uh assist in that endeavor. Um, also like to take just a second to again thank this board and thank our legislative delegation, Representative Sap and Senator Leak for their work and
specifically Commissioner Alexander as well on um securing the ERP um appropriation. Um that's going to be a big uh big big deal, big project for the county. Um going to create a lot of efficiency. So again, just wanted to um
to thank y'all for your support in that endeavor. Looking forward to working with county staff on that. Um getting the RFP ready to go. So I know that we're we're getting things in line for that. Um and also we're um getting
closer, I think, on plans for the our old customer service building, the building that we moved customer service out of. Um that's the one that has the war murals on the western u western side of the building. Um once we've gotten uh
more information back from our again our judicial partners um that are located in that building, I think we have a tenative plan. But I want, you know, all of us to hopefully agree on that and um hoping that it's a win-win for all of
the parties involved and uh once we've gotten word back from from our judicial partners, I will uh come back to the board and let you know what that what that plan looks like. >> Did we already put that in our budget? >> I can't remember. >> That is um in my budget request letter. Um, I mentioned that we will be looking
at using the 354,000 that um, the board is holding in reserve for clerk. Um, and I think that the project will be close to that. If there's anything above that amount that we'll need, I'm hoping that we'll be able to use kind of our surplus money
within the fiscal year to to wrap that up so that we won't need any additional funding. So, Commissioner Wilkinson, just to alleviate maybe the concern that's coming in your mind, the dollars he's talking about were set aside about two or maybe even three years ago for
this project. So, this is not a new budget line or new budget request. It's sitting there. Um, in fact, it was on your budget report this morning and I've already given Logan the expense code is where it is now. We'll move it out of reserves into somewhere, but this is not a new request. This is something that the clerk's office fore coming uh many
years ago and and the board and the clerk and us worked together to put the money aside for this project. >> Yes. Thank Thank you, Julianne. And it was this money we had originally set aside and we were going to potentially use it for the new customer service building, the one that we just did the
ribbon cutting on, but we were able to get that project done with surplus dollars through the fiscal year. So, we we didn't need to use it. >> Good job. >> All right. >> And that's that's all I have. All right. Uh, county attorney is um out this week.
He um explained that at his last board meeting. Uh, administrator Suggs. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, kudos to the hardest working commissioner we have at the desk because he obviously never sleeps. That will be Commissioner Harvey who at 4:30 a.m.
this morning sent his email regarding the moratorum. And yes, the first reading will be at your uh second meeting in August. So, uh, Commissioner Harvey, I apologize for not reading the email 4:30 this morning, sir. So, uh, but no, uh, so we we'll move forward
with that with the, uh, with the first reading in at the second meeting in in August. So, thank you, sir. >> Also, why Commissioner Annie Davis is here. Uh, had a brief conversation with Miss Davis, Commissioner Davis this morning. Uh we are scheduled I believe
for the August 27th uh city commission meeting for the uh joint project for the water sewer project. Uh I will reach out to uh u city manager Miss Cynthia Curry to make sure uh we have everything that we need turned in so that we can be on
the agenda for uh August 27th >> with the city >> 27th >> 27th and um >> it is regarding the grant and water expansion on 309C and out to 309C and I
believe um is Mr. Suggs will you be presenting that or will be Mr. crimes or it's a team effort. >> Yeah, it'll probably be a team effort, but Mr. Grimes will probably leave with the infrastructure conversation, but we'll all be be available. >> What do you need from this board? I mean, obviously, you know, how we feel when we want to move to see that go
forward. Do you want us there in support? Do you want us to what do you want us to do? >> That is certainly up to the board. Uh, honestly, it's it should be a straightforward presentation uh from staff to uh to city commission to explain the project and the value of the
project. But I would certainly uh you know if you madam chair would like to be there if any of the other board members like to be there I certainly don't would not hesitate to say the support would be great. Uh but I do believe it's it should be a straightforward presentation. >> All right. Thank you. I appreciate that.
Anything else? >> I'm sorry. >> Anything else? >> Okay. All right. Commissioner comments starting with Commissioner Alexander. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, I think we had a good meeting today. It was very productive. I think we we learned a few
things. Um, myself included. Um, let's see. Um, com uh, Mr. Reynolds, uh, when we're talking about the update on the old customer service center, um, you and I
had spoken briefly about creating potential space for the guardian adm program. Is that still being considered? >> Yes, sir. That's uh well I have not spoken with them yet. I'm speaking with our other judicial partner that has space in that building to make sure that they are okay with making some moves and
making some additional changes. If that space is okay for them, then I plan to go to guardian item and talk about space that they may be able to utilize, you know, elsewhere that might be better for them. So >> that's great, man. I anything we can do to help those folks, I I really
appreciate it. Um, the only other thing I'd like to talk about is during my campaign year and a half, two years ago, through the course of it, I got multiple requests regarding a a night meeting for those folks that
um that couldn't make it to the 9:00 a.m. meeting. And, you know, I appreciate what they're saying. Um, I've I've heard it again. I've heard had some other requests. And I honestly don't I don't think that it's fair for somebody to have to take time vacation time away from their job that could be spent with
their family so they can come in here and meet with us. So I I would ask my other commissioners to consider at least a quarterly meeting in the evening once a quarter so that those folks don't have to take a vacation day or a vacation
hour um to come in here and tell us what they think about what we're doing or provide solutions or suggestions. So if you would just consider that and give me some feedback down the road. Okay. Commissioner Nebul, you're recognized.
>> I don't I don't have a whole lot to talk about. I wanted to address Miss Reyes's um straight up concern about free spayneuter in this process. Um while we need to improve that space, I have no
intent to try to push free spayneuter on through this process um as it develops. I hope our the fee structure we develop will um actually I would like to try to keep some of that
money and dedicated it towards that space animal services. I don't know if that's possible yet. Um that may afford us to do some low cost but um you know accountability is important in this space and you know we're not here to
raise everybody's animals. So anyway, just wanted to express that. Thank you. That's all I have. >> Mr. Harvey, you're recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. If you don't mind, u, Mr. Richie, will you come forward? We got something very exciting. Okay. So, just hang tight.
>> All right. All right. >> Wow. Something exciting. >> I kind of set the stage, fellow commissioners. This came from Mr. Grimes. Okay. I got to give them kudos and our staff. We've had heard a lot about illegal dumping in Putnham County.
Correct. And if you remember back in the hurricane time, we had what we called a dashboard where people could actually put in where their piles of stuff needed to be picked up and the private contractor went around. So, Mr. Richie, go take the floor right now. So keep in
mind the same illegal dumping, the same dashboard where people can come in here and let us know where this is at. >> So this is your this is a multi-step uh multi-step process. It can be done, Mr. Grimes and I spoke about this uh last
week. It can be done on a cell phone, tablet, laptop, computer, accessible anywhere. Uh so you hit next on on this particular screen is our it uses the county's uh address data. So we can nothing outside
of the county that can it can be used uh as far as addresses go. Of course it autolocated us here. You drag drag and drop an image. You can take an image on a cell phone or whatever from this location. You're also able to uh because it is uh debris in a in a rideway. you
you're able to move this uh point around. Uh you hit once you find your location, you hit next. It has an arrow. Oh, you got to have a picture. Stand by. Let me find a picture. We have one on here. >> We have a picture. >> We'll use this.
And then uh hit next. Now, this is this is a question that was built into uh this application. Is the debris posing an immediate risk to life safety? If you hit yes, uh it gives us much like we have at public works on their site, it
gives you the the emergency the non-emergency number at the sheriff's office to uh notify the authorities. You can submit here and what we'll work out internally as a staff is where these emails will be sent and the data that has been collected and to whom it needs to be sent to to the appropriate
authority from our side. Uh for this and for this case, we'll go ahead and hit no. Hit next. You have several different types of uh of debris categories. Uh certainly if it doesn't fit in any of these, you can hit other. It offers you a box to type that
in. We'll say uh uh tire or tires for this particular have a uh >> a fantastic example. >> There you go. Uh a description of what they see uh and what you know your picture uh says as well. And then of course it says any additional
information. Is there any additional information you would like to add that would give that would assist in the response or cleanup? If you hit yes, you can add additional information. Hit no. And you hit next. And this is all completely optional. Nothing's required as far as information of who and a way
to contact uh them. It can be completely anonymous. And you hit submit. And once that's done, it uploads the picture. And I just got an email uh because I'm the one who's going to be receiving these for the moment till it goes live. and it goes back to your uh once it's uploaded
it'll go who it needs to go to. >> And I've spoken to Marshall Fulgren with Keep Putnham and Beautiful who's excited about this process that we can, you know, in my area we do uh community cleanups a lot. Um but this is some way that we could have a road map to go out
there and go on this Saturday we're going to go here, here, and here to pick up these piles. And if they are in danger of the community, then we can take different action for that. but work with the sheriff's department and their environmental officer. I think this is going to be a huge step in cleaning up
Putinham County. This is at infasy right now. Um we'll come back with more information, but I just wanted to kind of share that with you and and kudos to Mr. Grimes and and Mr. Richie for and our staff for allowing this to take place. Uh because this is we hear, you
know, people think we don't hear them, but we do hear them. We just got to know how to manage the process when we get there. And this is a great management tool that we can use. So, >> I'm really excited about this. You're right. It was very exciting. Um, when we had this for the hurricane,
>> I used it hourly. Like, I would ride around the neighborhood and I was putting in piles or people would call me and say, "It's been two weeks." And I say, "Hold on, let me see if you're on the list." And so it was very instrumental and it allowed whenever they were picking up that yard debris
that they knew if they were hitting Wilkinson Road, they had at least six piles to pick up or whatever. So I I commend this. I am very excited about it. We I am really hopeful that it will stop some of the illegal dumping because I feel like that if the sheriff's office
knows that there's a continuous problem in one area, then they can monitor that area and that they can then hopefully get the person or people that are continuing to to do that. And it blows my mind the amount of people that are okay with rolling down their window and
throwing out their McDonald's bag. Blows my mind that they would do that. But I can't control that obviously. Um, Commissioner Newbuler recognized >> and I may have missed this. Is this going to integrate for the yard debris pickup or is this a separate just trash?
>> The the intent was because it is super inefficient for us to run out and pick up one pile. Right. So if I got to send a truck cleared interlock and somebody complains about one pile, if we can have a way to see it as dots on a map, so when the pile gets picked up, they our employees will be able to push it on
their cell phone. We can change the pin from red to green that's been removed. So then we can actually see it. So then we can say, "Okay, today's the day we need to go pick up two boats or whatever that's in the So when I was talking with Mr. Paproski the other day, you know, it's he's like, I can take and show you
six boats right now that are just dumped." Well, if we don't take action to get those boats removed, it's kind of hard. So now that we can have an ability to take a picture of it, send it, and then I can see it. We'll make it public facing. You'll be able to see it, right? But it also helps investigators, right?
So if somebody comes out and has one pile, it's really hard to do. But if we got a hot spot on a map, so I mean like we use the same stuff in fire rescue seeing overdose data, you can see cardiacs, you can see all kinds of things on a different platform. So we just move this into a different area so that we can see a hot spot. Is there
something we can change inside that area to become proactive to maybe catch somebody dumping or something? So I thought that was just a real quick idea. Miss Brookke invented it during the hurricanes. I just found another application for it that I thought would just really help in the citizens is it's easier than having to call in and do a
work order with the um folks at public works. It just makes it a lot easier when you can just drive by with a cell phone and turn it right in. Um so just a quick thought and pass it along. >> Well, thank you for that for recognizing that synergy there. But after this the kinks get worked out of it and it's
moving smoothly. It would be fantastic if we could somehow integrate getting that data to Waste Bro. So maybe use the same type idea that they could look at
input from us from our side to say, "Oh, we missed these yard debris piles." It would uh if I think that's the biggest call I get is yard debris piles. So anyway, if we could double duty that sometime in the future, it would be cool.
>> Maybe we can. Commissioner Palis here. >> Um, tip of the hat to all involved who's bringing this to the forefront. And just for clarity, any citizen with a cell phone can type this in from any time and log it and get it reported during
hurricane season. Let's not have one. Um, this I see where this would be really helpful, you know, for all the, you know, residents. They they do it themselves. Punch it right in. Hey, big tree fell over in the road here or there, wherever. So, I see a lot of good this can do.
>> And currently, what I mentioned, what I forgot to mention was basically we're asking our bus drivers, we're asking our contractors who do the roads. We're asking um those people to kind of turn those in if they see them. This will be something the citizens can actually if they don't want to get involved, they
don't have to put their name, right? You know, we'll know where they're at. And that that in the last hurricane, that debris dashboard was a lifesaver for Putinham County because when people called up and said, "Hey, we got we didn't know. We didn't know on their road and we were able to put that
information in." >> It's like an Easter egg hunt is what they said, you know, so now we don't have the Easter egg hunt. >> Exactly. So, thank you. We're at our just bringing that to your attention. We'll have more. And that's the end of my comments, Madam Chair. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you, Commissioner Paliser. You're recognized for your
comments. Um Mr. Grimes, any kind of update on VA or it the design of that? >> We we matter of fact, yes, we actually met with um Mr. Kumire last week. He said he was in the final stages. We had actually met with Mr. Richie and um
>> Allan from VA and they gave their inputs, some minor changes, modifications. I think I could probably have Joe if y'all like, he can bring a probably a rendition to y'all next probably at the next meeting. That'd be great. Um he's almost to the point he told me the other day he's almost ready for bid ready documents which would be the process moving it to the street for
bid so we can go under construction. So we're really we're getting a lot closer than we ever were. Um he said he was just waiting on some minor things making some minor changes. He said he does need to get up on our roof cuz we're probably going to replace the mechanical equipment um the HVAC equipment over top of it. So he just need to get there and
make sure he can find some light kinder units so he didn't have to do a lot of adapter changes and up on the roof. that he was going to um supposed to get there I think this week and take a peek and see so we can write those final final steps. >> Outstanding news. Glad to hear it. That's moving forward. Like to see that.
Um talking about our discretionary money. Um I just recently purchased a mobile speed radar trailer, I guess. Am I saying that right, Mr. Blunt? Wake up, Mr. Blunt. >> Hello. >> Don't say that. He's busy being the
administrator. I was making comment about the radar speed trailer whatever. What all does that thing do? Can you give us a brief scenario of that please? >> Doesn't it record some stuff or something?
We we've already got one I think that Commissioner Alexander purchased and I've got you another one. So hopefully hit some of these speed areas that uh we're having problems with and and as I say get in somebody's hip, make it real for them.
>> I'm in trouble. you anything else? >> I'm good. That's it. Thank you. >> People who drive with me know what I'm talking about. Um >> I don't ride with her. I drive us. >> So, a couple things I want to ask or
talk about. Um before before I get into that, let me just say this is Ashley Beard's last meeting with us as clerk. Is that correct? and so um as our board clerk and she has served us many how many years have you been here Ashley?
Five. And we always enjoy her her smiling face and her efficiency and her job and we just want to say thank you for for the five years you've been here. >> Pardon me. >> Yeah, we can do that before we before we leave. So, um I want to ask about um and
Mr. Mr. Grimes, I don't know if you can answer this or if this is a a sheriff's office question. Derelick vessels on the water, it seems to be the hot topic up right now. How is that handled? How do we do deal with is there something that the county can do to do we reach out to
FWC >> vessel program has changed over the years. There was a time where it was initiated by the county. It is currently an FWC process from start to finish. >> Okay. Um, so it has to be reported to FWC, um, not to any local agency and
then they take it through the process. >> So FWC handles the complete thing and then I guess if they're out in funding then they have nothing to they can't pick them up. So that's another issue that apparently is is going on >> also. True. Um, so they FWC many years
ago the process was the county would initiate and identify a derelic vessel existed. FWC would validate it through the legal process. FWC would grant and authorize the county to engage a contractor for removal and disposal. That law changed a few years ago and now
it's completely handled by FWC. And when there are no funds through that state agency, then the vessels remain and we have no authority to do anything with them. >> So if a citizen is seeing something that's been uh abandoned on the water, the only advice we can give them is call FWC.
>> Please report it to FWC. it. Obviously, they do uh pose potential hazards for our voters and our waterways. >> Um but we have no local authority to do anything with them. Neither does the sheriff's office. >> And we do we do not want to assume that responsibility because it is very very
expensive to remove those. >> And I'm not saying that we do. What I'm saying is let's educate ourselves and our >> um constituents about that because I I mean I they tend to everybody says, "Well, what's the county going to do? What's the city going to do?" And I probably should have shared that with you, but
>> yeah. So it's it's um >> Mr. Miner might have something. Do you have some experience in this? >> Sure. Go ahead. >> So So in the past what they've done a lot of times is FWT gets put red sticker on it and then they send it they can
send it out for bids, but also you Putinham County can send it out for bids. Okay? And what they do is they turn around and the lowest bidder, you know, gets it. But then what you do is you build the person the boat's named in. They can choose to do that and go
ahead and pay that. And so that way it doesn't come out of the county's wallet. It comes out of their wallet. If they don't do pay it, and I know this for a fact because I've done this before, they can charge them with a felony and now they've got a little bit more bite.
Well, I I understand what you're saying, but it sounds like that used to be the process and now the county's portion and responsibility and role is completely out of it and it's only FWC's. >> So, we don't get we're not involved in it at all. That was the point that
Julianne was making because of a couple years ago that that that completely changed. So, thank you. All right. Um so, thank you for on that. Um, next I want to um commend uh Commissioner Harvey for his role in
the broadband initiative. You served. Can you tell me on the was it called the the bead? >> Well, the access 67 with the >> access 67. Yeah. >> I dressed up as Flash. >> Oh, Lord. >> Okay. And I ran through the audience
promoting broadband in the state of Florida. Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. So, you were on that state access >> I was access 67 uh board and then uh you served on the Florida Association of Counties Correct broadband board and I
know I worked for Bobby Payne's office and then I became county commissioner and it was something that we continued to continue to continue to push and we would see federal dollars coming down and then we're like well where's Putinham where's Putnham what's Putnham going where are we going to get it in Putinham and now we are actually seeing
the fruits of our labor and it's wasn't us. It was collectively a whole group of people starting at the federal government level and James Richie was our local um gentleman here who led our broadband meetings. Uh Wayne Mlan represented the chamber of commerce so we want to thank him. But we're starting
to see broadband. the the governor of Florida actually did a a um press release toward the end of June and on that press release it showed the amount of funding across the state and which counties got what and what areas they were being serve that were
being served um that's available on the governor's website but we are excited to see that broadband's coming to Putham County and I I watched the comments when I put a small announcement just about my district and people were like well why are we even having this discussion now
because now everybody's got Starlink. Well, I had people in my district immediately respond and say, "Because I can't afford $100 a month. I can't afford $150 a month." And by the way, my my grandma, Mr. Richie, you've got family that lives all the way out at the end of Ardan Road out in the out in the
boonies as we call them. But you just can't get service out there. Um and so having fiber in the ground or in this case I think it's on the poles in my area um is a big deal for our community. When we when we were going through CO we
saw that students were having to go to um McDonald's and other areas just to get access to um the internet to do their work their school work from home. I had a niece that would have to come to my house because we had a hot spot and we would go to work and she would have
to sit at our kitchen table because she didn't have access to where she was at to um any kind of um internet service. So, it is something that's going to be a big deal in Putham County. And um when I was selling real estate on a on a full-time basis, I would have people in
my car who would looking on the river out in Boss week for big homes and they would they would love the house, fall in love with it, fall in love with the location and then they would say, "Well, is there can I get internet?" This was a little bit before Starlink was such a big deal, too. I'd say, "Uh, you might
need to call on that one." and they wouldn't buy the house because they were there were people that were working from home and they can't work from home if they don't have good internet service. So, this is a this for a small rural county. I know it's across the state, but I'm excited to see that this
infrastructure is being put in place. I don't have the exact mapping or know where it is. Do you have any >> Madam Chair, if you don't mind, um there is a Zoom call this coming week with one of the local providers who is almost build out in their area for Putham County. Okay. >> They're going to be announcing some type
of a community presentation. >> That would be great. >> Um through with the chamber and and Mr. Mlan has been invited to join that conversation. Um and and I've made a call to another provider who wants to do the same thing. So you'll see in the next couple months a big big
announcements throughout Putham County of where they're building, what they're doing, promoting their product, and informing the community. >> So, but it's been a long time. >> Mhm. You know, we we it's kind of like with okay, the money's here, now we want it now, right?
>> But we're now finally seeing cable being buried in the ground throughout Putinham County. And it's exciting because you're right, people work from home. They tele medicine from home. You know, you can't do anything hardly without your computer. So, this is a big big step for Putham County. >> Yep. So, thank you. I just wanted to say
thank you for your leadership on that. And lastly, but certainly not least, my Christmas tree project, my community Christmas tree project. I say it mine, it's not mine, it's ours. Um is coming together and uh we are at the stage that
we are seeking um community support in the way of sponsorships. And so we um have to raise 30 plus thousands and um but it's going to be so exciting. We're going to have a
30-foot Christmas tree with a five- foot star on the courthouse lawn, which where on the courthouse lawn will be determined. That's still part of the project, but um I really see it as a center point in downtown Palaca where people come for whatever reason they
want to come. And it we light it up right after the same night of the Christmas parade where we have 20,000 people down there or however many Sam says we have down there. And then we start the the parade and it stays lit all the way through until after um New
Year's. And what's exciting about that is I really think it could bring a lot of community events and bring people downtown. We can light up from all the way through downtown area. And now we have a bridge to match and hopefully uh the courthouse has made some
improvements on their lighting and what we can do there. And so I'm just so excited about that. some more news to come and uh but it is out on social media now about the community Christmas tree and we are looking for sponsors because it's not a tax funded project it
is a community funded project um with that is there anything else to come in front of the board um I'm going to recess this meeting and we have a 505 yes >> I did what just because I know it was a thing y'all signed us to the other day the PO has been issued to do the gazebo
>> oh yes thank the new roof, the painting, all that stuff is should be underway in the next few weeks. So, it um the PO has been issued to the contractor. So, that's >> one other project moving forward. >> Good. That'll be nice to have that. Okay. All right. With that, um we will recess this meeting and reconvene at
5:05 for our setting the max millillage and tenative and final budget hearing.