We can have everyone to start taking their seats. Please silence your phone. I'll let you do that. Somebody else can do that. Good morning. We're going to call this meeting to order. Today is Tuesday,
October 14th, and it is 2025 9:00 a.m. U welcome to the board of county commissioners meeting. Uh we're going to have the invocation led by Pastor Roger Phillips of Ba Baptist Church followed by the pledge of allegiance by Commissioner Palisier. Please stand if you're able to do so.
Let us pray. Our father, you are the eternal one. Uh the God of all ages. Uh Father, you have made us and created us. Lord, you are present here with us. And we thank you for that. Father uh you prepare uh our future and will meet us
there. Uh Lord, we thank you for many blessings, the blessings of life, being able to assemble here in this free land. Uh Lord, we thank you for privileges that we uh are able to have here in this country that many around the world do
not have. Father, we're thankful for the peace that has been achieved uh in the world in recent days. And so we give you thanks uh Lord for that uh work that you have brought. But Father, you've used many people and we thank you for our leaders and representatives and those
that have committed theelves to that. Thank you for this body, Lord. Uh for this group of men and women, Lord, I pray guidance and direction upon them that you give them wisdom uh beyond uh any ability that they might have themselves so that you might receive the
glory. Father help us today as we live for you in Jesus name. Amen. God, justice for all. All right. In front of you, we have the approval of minutes from the September 9th meeting.
Madam Chair, I move approval of the minutes of SE September 9th, 2025. Second. Have a motion to second. Any discussion? All in favor say I. I. All right. We will recess the regular meeting and go into the convened porta
authority meeting. We have the approval of the minutes. Madam chair, I move approval of the minutes for September 9th, 2025. Second. Have a motion. Approval and a second. All in favor say I. I. All right. Going into item B, grant agreement and resolution.
Is there a presentation on this or Mr. Sullivan? I'm sorry, Madam Chair. Uh, Mr. Sullivan's at a Florida ports. this morning. This was a grant that uh was applied for and we've been awarded and just like to just get some moving on
this morning this morning by the board to go ahead and approve it. All right. So, just bringing it in. I'm sorry. It's just bringing the money in. Yes, ma'am. All right. Is there any questions? All right. No. And I move for approval. I'll second that. All right. We have a motion and a
second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. I. Motion carries. Second. Okay, we have a grant agreement resolution for port infrastructure. Yes, ma'am. That is that's the requirement for you guys to approve it and then for your signature. All right.
I make a motion we approve the grant agreement and resolution port infrastructure for 1,263,158 resolution 2025-087. Second. We have a motion to second. Any questions or further comments? All in favor say I. I.
All right. Item D was pulled. Um, any public comment on port authority items? Port authority items only. Any public comment on port authority? Any general discussion from the board? All right. Hearing none, we'll close out
that meeting and we'll go into uh reconvene our board of county commission meeting. Go into presentation. Miss Lorie Parker. Good morning. Good morning. We have three presentations today in recognition for employee of the month.
Um we received um nominations and the first award is going to go to Justin Bridges. He's the area supervisor of public works. [Applause] Just a few words about Justin. Uh he's
one of those guys that uh if he's had a bad day since I've known him. I've not seen it. Uh he's always got a smile on his face. Uh gets whatever task that we want him to get accomplished accomplished. Uh and he does it in our time frame. He's one of those guys that when I bring something to him. He's like, "All right, when you want it done,
I can move some stuff around, he's helped a lot out, not just in public works, but with animal services and the fire station, getting things going for us." Uh, so he's a true definition of a team player. Uh, and we're very happy to have him on our team and he's representing Putin County very well. So, congratulations.
Congratulations, Justin. [Applause] He doesn't want to. You want me to do all three and then Sure, we can do that. Okay. you stay here. Uh, the next recognition is Haley Gil. She's from Parks and Recreation. If she
could come up. She is employee of the month for August. Good morning. Just a little bit about Haley. Many, many of you may not know, but Haley is our aquatics coordinator. So she um organizes one of her many tasks is everything through the summer at the pool. This year we had 237
countywide kids um complete their certificates for the Red Cross lifeguard swim program. Haley's responsible for coordinating those programs and for making sure the lifeguards are Red Cross certified and that all of the programs run very smoothly. In addition to that,
we had over a thousand community members um participate in either lap swim or community swim throughout our summer months. And so Haley keeps all the programs moving and um coordinates our swim teams and just the schedules between them um to make sure that we're serving the community the best we can
with our pool. Very good. Thank you. [Applause] Next, the employee of the month for September is Ricky Lyall. If he could come up, Ricky.
Ricky works for planning and development and IT. Congratulations. I'll say a few words. I can get at that. Uh, good morning. Thank y'all for uh for be being able to do this to recognize our employees. Uh he does work in two
different departments. He works in IT under 911 addressing. He also works as zoning and Mr. Baker uh he'll have a few words as well. In my experience with Ricky, he's been nothing but first class employee. I mean that from the bottom of my heart. I've uh there's not one problem he's ever been faced with that
he's not uh you know not tackled it head on and got it taken care of. I mean, I I've not done all the pulled the report, but I would I would uh venture to say that you've done uh thousands upon thousands of addresses in his time uh here uh in his position uh 911 addresses
that is. And um I'm just tremendously proud for him to be a part of our team and he has been a a a wonderful part of 911, no doubt, for sure. So, thank you, Mr. Ricky. Thank you, board. And I'll I'll be brief. Um, as uh Mr. Richie said, you
know, Ricky does 911 addressing and planning and zoning, and Mr. Lyall is kind of the front person for planning and zoning. When he gets all the phone calls and all the people, all the walk-ins, um, and to say, you know, he's issued thousands of addresses, he's probably taken 2,000 phone calls,
emails, and uh, constituent assistance. So, the accolades are well deserved for Mr. Ly this morning, and I'd appreciate another quick round of applause for him. Thank you. Thank you. If everybody wants to come up, we'll do it. We'll just do one big picture. Thank you to all three. Come on up.
We'll do pictures. Individual, whatever they want. Okay. Get your group up here. Okay, good. I knew you would. Okay, good. make you feel real tall. It's okay.
He All right. One more. Congratulations to our employees of the month that covered month of July, August, and September. And we appreciate everybody's patience during that time. It's only 9:12. It just takes a few minutes to
recognize some people in our um in employment, and it means the world to them. So, thank you. Uh moving into planning and development public hearing. Good morning, commission. For the record, Zachary Baker. Uh I do have a presentation prepared.
Would you like me to go through it or kind of uh summarize it? I think you can summarize it. We've already seen it, I believe. Well done. Uh so subject property is uh approximately 443 acres. It's at the intersection of State Road 100 and
County Road 309. Uh the applicants are requesting a zoning map amendment for from agriculture to planned unit development. Uh let's see, it's adjacent to the Karkin airport, St. John's River Water Management District personnel facility,
the Putnham County Business Park, and some residential agricultural uses. Uh there's still a long arduous uh approval process should the zoning map amendment be adopted today. Uh for starters, we still have to wait for the state to come back on the future land
use map amendment. If that's adopted, then we move forward through development review committee, which is uh two different rounds of submitts, a preliminary and a final site plan approval. And then after all of those checks and balances, the applicant will then be able to get different state
permits, whether it's water management district or D for water and sewer, uh so on and so forth. Um predominantly it's a motorsports complex that will include educational facilities, driver training, um some
race type applications. There's also lodging and retail sales, commercial, industrial, um a well-rounded uh assembly of different uses of the property. Nothing's showing up, Zach. You don't have anything up. Here we go. Uh would you all like me to
bounce back or just start from the aerial here? So aerial of the property, the current future land use map designation, current zoning designation, uh some special flood hazard areas on
the southern piece of land included with this application and some sporadic jurisdiction wetlands which will need to be verified by a wetland delineation and possible mitigation if necessary for the development.
Um and then this is the more later uh conceptual plan supplied by the applicant. Uh there has been other more detailed conceptual plans floating around. Uh those have not really been submitted as a part of the record. They've been shared here at public
kings. Here we can see the existing utilities from the city of Palaca. Though it is unknown at this time if they're going to tie in or choose to permit their own self-supporting utilities. And at this point, staff is still
recommending approval of the request uh with the development agreement provided in attachment 2.6, which is page 217 of today's agenda. It's also included at the as exhibit C of the uh applicable ordinance.
And then I do just want to take a moment to touch back on the effective date. So pursuant to section 163.318412 Florida statutes and section 4 of the associated ordinance the effective date of this zoning map amendment if adopted
will not will not occur until after Florida Commerce has accepted the ordinance amending the future land use map of the same lands. Uh the the future land use map amendment application is currently under the expedited state
review process uh with an a response expected October 25th, 2025. As soon as we hear back from that state review process, we will schedule a public hearing for the board to consider whether they want to adopt as presented,
adopt with any conditions or deny the application. If denial uh occurs, then this ordinance for the PUD zoning would not be effective. It would just remain a lands. With that, I can take any questions.
Is there are there any questions at this time? A couple from me. Um I know some of the concerns that we've received from the citizens has been about noise um and and I believe the applicants put in some buffering that they were not required. Can you talk about that a little bit?
Uh yes, ma'am. So the the associated development agreement does have language in there for um certain setback requirements as well as buffer requirements. And while the code does express uh more restrictive requirements
based off of the conditions of the land, the surrounding uses, um the applicants have proposed a shorter setback and uh buffering mechanism which should still provide some level of noise reduction.
Um, but given the surrounding uses and the airport and things like that, staff found that what was proposed is still compatible to satisfy the intent of the land development code, which is to try to keep as much of that activity on the property as possible. And by activity, I
mean noise. Okay. All right. Any other questions for the presenter? All right. Go ahead, Commissioner Alexander. Madam Chair, just before we start, we can do export disclosures. Um, has there been any expparte communication?
Starting to my left, Commissioner Alexander? Yes. Okay. And it will not affect my vote. Okay. What it is? You have to say what it is. Whether you met with him, whether you've been on site. No, I've researched it. Um, I have met with them regarding the property. And
that's what I want to touch on now was the u the noise abatement. And I was going to ask if the applicant could come up and discuss some of the noise abatement that they proposed. Yeah, let's get through this. exparte first. Yep. And am I m Mr. Commando?
That's correct. All right. Go ahead, Mr. Neville. Um, nothing other than what I reported before. Met early with the applicant got general overview and have received much more detail since then. Okay. Nothing other than that.
All right. I have also met with the applicant whenever they were were beginning their project and it would not affect my vote. Madam Chair, I've also met with the applicant and other people. It will not affect my vote. I have met with them, but uh none since
the first reading. Since then, I have not had any communication, but yes, I have in the past. Okay. Does that satisfy Mr. Commander? All right. All right. Now, go ahead, Commissioner Alexander. I was just going to ask the applicant if they could come up and discuss some of the noise abatements to the mind of the
constituents that are Yes, sir. They're going to have an opportunity to present. Okay. Are there any questions to any other questions? All right. Is someone on behalf of the applicant wishing to speak? Good morning, Patrick Kennedy, 126 Feel
Avenue, Pomona Park. Uh, obviously we agree with the staff recommendation and uh and hope that you will adopt on a second reading. And uh, Mr. Alexander, could you to me what it is your inquiry is.
Yes, sir. I would just like to review some of the noise abatement that you guys will be enacting. Well, the uh development agreement provides for uh several options to achieve a certain decibel level that was approved uh before it gets to the uh property boundary. The combination of
BMS, fences, and vegetation is is are the are the uh the options that are available to the abant to make sure they meet the sound decibb that are uh provided for in the development. Fantastic. That's the only concern that I've really had from any constituents is the is the increased noise, but with the
proximity to the airport and George Pacific. Um, you know, I kind of understand I think you guys are doing your due diligence by by addressing that. So, thank you, sir. Thank you. All right. Any questions? Not at this time. We we would just we presented our case
to chief at the first reading and we kind of stand on that and staff's recommendation and ask for your approval. All right. And we'll give you an opportunity um if we get some other responses that you can come up and respond. Thank you. Thank you. Is there are there any public comment cards?
Is there anybody who would like to speak on this subject matter regarding this um zoning map amendment? For or against? You're welcome to come up and speak. It's public comment time. All right. Seeing none, we'll come back to the board. Madam Chair, I'd like to
make a motion that we take staff recommendation for the approval of the request to amend the zoning map from a AG to plan unit development. The development agreement provided in the attachment that we have a motion to second. Any further
discussion? All in favor say I. I. Motion carries. Public comment on agenda items. We're going to be moving into our agenda items. Um, this portion of the agenda is designed to allow citizens an opportunity to bring matters to the attention of the board. It's not reasonable to expect that the board will
engage in debate or deliberation about matters on which the board has received no prior information as part of the agenda. Please limit your time to three minutes. Public comment cards are conveniently placed at the meeting room entrance and should be submitted prior to the meeting to the deputy clerk who sits to the right of the podium. Is
there anyone who wants to speak on agenda items? We have no cards. Is there anybody wants to speak on agenda items? Your packet the packets on the back wall if anybody needs it. All right. Moving into consent.
Anybody any commissioners wishing to pull? Starting with Commissioner Pelicier. I have nothing. Commissioner Harvey? I have none. Commissioner Newol? None to pull. Commissioner Alexander? Yes, ma'am. I would like to pull item D. D is a dog. All right.
All right. I need a motion. Oh, I don't have anything to pull. Madam chair, I make a motion that we accept consent agenda. Move it forward. A B C E F G H I J K L M N O P
Q. Second. We have a second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. I. Motion carries. Commissioner Alexander, you're on item D. Yes, ma'am. Um, just a couple of things on here that I'd like to go over. Um, I
was looking down the grants and the approvals. Everything looks really good. I think the TDC has done a great job. Um, I'm not wanting to cut anything surprisingly. I actually am wanting to ask for some leeway from the other commissioners based on some research
that I've done um specifically regarding the John Tindle D2 Classic Baseball tournament. Uh the request was $12,500. Uh staff recommends $5,000. TDC recommends 6250.
So on that um to be totally transparent, I play baseball at St. And I know that the impact that it had on me personally and on the community and when we have something like this, a lot of this advertising and marketing
um you're b it's basically guesswork and and this one is actually has a tangible impact. We can tell you how many people are coming and how much impact it's going to have. There's going to be approximately seven teams here with 30 players per team. the coaching staff,
the training staff, the parents, and um the fans. They're going to be here for four days. They're going to eat in our restaurants. They're going to buy gas. They're going to come and out and see our community. And with what's going on with the
expansion of the student housing out there, um what we're doing with the expansion of the flow arts facility, I think we have a tremendous opportunity to showcase just exactly what we are capable of in Putnham County. And we have a captive audience of approximately
750 to a,000 people, if my numbers are correct, that are associated with this tournament directly that will be here for four days. So they'll get to see our town, our river, everything that we've done. I'm not saying we, that our community has done, not me, but our community has done. And I think it's a
great opportunity to showcase um the facility and our town to uh places other than just our regionally. A lot of these teams are coming from Michigan, Illinois, um not Daytona, St. Augustine. This is a nationwide competition and they will be
here in Putham County, similar to what we see with the bass tournament. So, um I ran some numbers. Um, they're spending about $4,000 on umpires alone, $800 for a case of baseballs. Thou I forget how many thousands of dollars on just bases
alone because they wear out. Um, you know, so these are all costs that the college has incurred and I was just hoping that you guys would get behind me and um help support them a little bit more on this event because this is something tangible. We know how many people are coming and we know what the
exposure is for a 4-day event. So, thoughts from you guys. Is that your only Is that your only option? Your only change? Um I would I like that one. And also there's another event uh the Babe Ruth District 5 Allstar event.
I like where we're at on that. Um maybe adding a little bit there just based on what we saw with the event that the softball girls had earlier this year. Uh Miss Young could probably attest to how many people came and showcased the facility and at that event
if you would like to chime in. Michelle speak. Oh, I'm sorry. That's okay. If I could just So, just be cognizant of the fact that when you approve these dollars, there are tourist development tax dollars that have restrictions with them. So, the dollars have to be spent on essentially marketing for things that attract people
from outside the county. When you talk about um umpires baseball's operation and maintenance, there's attorney general's opinions that say you can't use the money for that kind of expenditure. Okay. So, with that caveat, we will make sure that they and if we do approve additional dollars if they
understand. So, I'm happy to although I believe Miss Morgan invited the groups and I believe you have Babe Ruth here. Um, so I would probably defer my comments to Babe Ruth. Okay, that sounds great. Would you guys like to come forward? I'm sorry, Madam
Chair. I apologize. That is your role. Good morning. George Young and pres current president Babe Ruth 222 North Third Street here in Flack, Florida. I also have with me Mr. Chuck Romer who's our baseball commissioner. Uh he knows more of the facts and figures than I do.
Um stays on top of those type things for us. Plus, just as a an addon to what you're discussing here, the reason why we asked for the numbers we did this year is because we now have the opportunity to host both the softball and baseball all-star tournament for this coming year. So, that's why our
numbers went up a little bit from our request from last year. The baseball tournament is some 40% more people than what you saw at the softball tournament. You're talking about 45 teams. The same multitude of counties, uh, it runs over
days the same. It's a little more complex, a little bigger, a lot more people coming in. I'm a little concerned actually about if we're going to have enough hotel rooms and that kind of thing. But if you have any specific questions, we're happy to answer for you. Sure. Do you plan on spending $20,000
entirely on advertising? No. Okay. Not just on advertising. Other other types of marketing? Yes. We we will primarily our expenses for a this type of tournament come from the cost of the
people we have to bring in the umpires that come in from out of state. We have those costs that are incurred. Uh we have to take care of their housing. We have some advertising but a lot of that's done through the Babe Ruth district. Um and then you have the
expenses of the the actual tournament itself which the big things you know baseballs and softballs and those type things. Now in the past those that we've requested. They were apparently met all the approval requirements because we've only been reimbured for those things
that met the requirements in the past. And what were you what did you receive last year? 8,000. 8,000. You're you're asking for a $2,000 increase. He's got a 2,000 on here. He's approved for 10,000. What is it you're asking for? I I was going to ask for an additional
2,000. So, you want him to get 12? Yes, ma'am. I wasn't asking to fulfill the full full request, but I knew that they were incurring the additional cost of that, but as Mr. uh Commando stated, we have to spend those dollars on advertising and marketing, so it can't
be dedicated to that as far as the equipment versus. Okay. So, these TDC funds Well, I understand. Yes, sir. I knew I knew you did. So, I just want to re I'm going to defer to those folks for how the money can be spent. We turn in
what we believe are qualified expenses based on their requirements and they approve it. So, and again, if if you're talking about an event that's for an organization like ours that's that's all voluntary and and a
nonprofit, any assistance that we can get that's qualified, we appreciate. We're not asking for any more, but we do appreciate. So, thank you. I you know, I just see the value or I see the value. I'm sure some of my other commissioners would agree in the emphasis on sports and promoting sports.
Um, some of the folks that I've played sports with throughout my career. Um, I still communicate now 40 years later, even former mayor Terra Hill, Chief Judge Boatight. Um, there's a number of people on our staff that we all played sports together and it it builds
camaraderie and it builds relationships that last a lifetime. So, any opportunity I have to promote sports in our community, I think it gets kids off the couch. I think it promotes equality across the board because when you're on that field, you have a respect for all of the players. There's and that's it.
Your abilities. If you don't mind, I might just take that put it on our website, but those who summarize basically what we're trying to do. Yes, sir. But I at um the grant guidelines and are working with staff to update those. A
lot of times in the sports industry, um there are bid, what we call bid fees to attract tournaments that cover those types of expenses that the organization um actually
um uses to to to pay for the tournament to actually happen. That's how they how they exist and how they how they do that. So that's where um the sports um grants usually comes really considered a bid fee.
Does that make sense? Yes. Thank you. Oh, you're here, Kimberly. Miss Morgan, can you explain to this board? I mean, I sit on the TDC board, so I understand how we got from point A to point B. Can you explain to them the process that we went through this year where we changed
it from an objective, from a subjective to an objective of scoring and coming up with this process? Yes. So um we received the applications. There were more than 40 applications submitted um this grant cycle. And what
we did is we actually had criteria I developed based on the guidelines and the agenda or and the and the outline of the grant application. I scored each one and you have that um staff
recommendation. We then got budget information and we um adapted those um those grant or the the staff recommendations to fit the budget. Um
and then um the TDC was presented the staff recommendations and debated over each um each award. Um we looked at budget, we looked at the application, we we had um Many of the applicants were in
uh involved in the TDC meeting. Many of them are here today um to find out about their about the their final award. So um they understand the process that the TDC debates and makes a recommendation to this board, but their final approval
rests with you. Thank you. Are there any questions for Miss Morgan? Mr. Pelis, you're recognized. Um, I like Commissioner Alexander see the value in showcasing the college and the new improvements that have been made
out there. And this is a grand opportunity to, like I say, display all our beauty that we've been improving our atmosphere here. And, uh, young kids that might be, you know, ready to come out of high school, they're going to
head to college. this a chance to put it put really put a bow on top of what our hard work has done. So I do support some sort of in increase in funds. I don't know what that number is. I don't know what you truly you know what what's your Christmas wish list so to speak. It's it's not her Christmas wish list.
And and if I may like so us marketing these teams are already we're not attracting new visitors. these teams are are already coming because they're part of the district or the division that that invites them.
Um they are the the college does a great job hosting um tournament as the tourism department. We can do more to um to service them, service the college
and help them create a better experience. But that may not to more funding from a grant. That may just be manpower and um and tourism staffer support.
Okay. Before we go forward, um is there a motion on the floor? Yes, ma'am. I'd like to make a motion that we increase the budget for the Tindle tournament by $3,000 and the Babe Ruth tournament by $2,000. I can. Right now, we're into discussion. I'm
sorry I let us get into discussion before we had a motion. Um I I'll say a few things. I'm I'm a little bit taken back by this because we have a whole committee. That committee is created of
um members of the community, members who are directly affected by uh tourism dollars. We have the council's made up of elected officials. I see Mayor Kareah is in the audience. She's on that board. Mayor Myers was on that board on that board and we we when when I started this
a year ago and Kimberly was new to the to the um chamber. One of the first things we said was we need to take the subjectivity out of this and make it objective. We need to treat everybody equally. We need to treat everybody fairly. It needs to be a fair process.
And so we created a criteria and a score process and um that was presented. It was discussed at the TDC. And so for it to come to this board and then this board starts nitpicking and saying, "Oh, we're going to add 2,000 to this one and 3,000 to this one." That is the good old
boy system all day long. And I will never vote for that. I can't even believe that we're having this discussion. It's just beyond my comprehension that you wouldn't take what was recommended by your citizens in a subjective manner and I mean I'm sorry
in an objective manner and go with what your sit recommended. So that's my first point and I'll continue debating in a second. Commissioner Newold you're recognized. Well I appreciate your passion. Um, as I got this list, I was heartened to
see the variety within it, the volume on it. I wasn't aware that we had some breadth um of coverage. Um, I like that there's projects all over
the county and it it feels like we're going in a good direction here. So, while I I do understand there's a good system there, I I like the opportunity for us as commissioners to give a little bit of
input. Um, I was as I looked through this and reviewed itself, there were a couple I thought could, you know, be a little different here, there, or yonder, but I'm not on that in that position. And and uh was a uncomfortable
go in that direction. But I I like Commissioner Alexander's focus on these two items. They they don't just bring individuals to the community. They bring families and they're multi-day opportunities.
So, I'll just give my input that I would like to see priority given to events such as that. I'll I'll leave it at that. Thank you, Commissioner Harvey. You're recognized. Thank you, Madam Chair. You know, um, years ago, we all when I served on the
TDC and Kim, you and I talked about this, you relatively new. People were just putting down a number and hoping to get half of it, you know, and that's what they were doing. We all knew that and it wasn't a very good way of doing business. Um, surely coming before the
board and asking more might not be the great business, but we also see needs because my first one when I talked to you was some of the Christmas parade downtown Palaka who's getting $1,000 when they can't even afford to pay the bills. So, I do think there's sometimes
there's extraordinary circumstances that when we see this list, we might know in that community we got a problem here and maybe we can put a little sprinkle on top. But I don't have too much of an issue because at the end of the day, we're going to sprinkle it with whatever
to invite people to community and see something and be a part of something. So, but I think we got to be very careful as we t down this. But the only get take a look at it is after the PDC makes recommendation. So, you know, but is it's our say so and we can say
whatever we want at that one. But, um I do see that there's a lot of I'm hoping that the the wants or the needs meet up one day and not just put a number on the wall and hope to get half of it. That's not the good way of doing business. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Commissioner Alexander, you're recognized. Yes, ma'am. Madam Chair, it's um not my intent to circumvent the CD or TDC and it is never intent to be disrespectful to you or any of the other commissioners. The reason I brought this forward is I saw an opportunity and I
know we want it to be objective across the board, but we have a an event that has a tangible impact that we can document to our community and it and again like like Commissioner Harvey says, occasionally we have extraordinary circumstances and with the new student housing
facility, um I'm not saying we do this every year, but I think that this is a great opportunity to showcase the accomplishments of our community and of our college. Um it it was never my intention to again circumvent that but I saw an opportunity to promote our
community and unfortunately this again falls under the sunshine law. We can't discuss this amongst ourselves as commissioners and I saw an opportunity as with a background in marketing and sales to promote our community that doesn't come around but once a lifetime
once in a lifetime. So, if um if I again, I apologize. Not my intent to offend you or circumvent the TDC, but with what I see, it's a great opportunity to showcase our community. No uh disrespect intended. Thank you. And and I'm not taking it
that way. I'm sorry. I'm passionate about this, but it looks like we're picking and choosing. When we look down these lists and we see the toy store, the toy store comes down, they bring those cigar boats. to come. I mean that we they asked for 35,000 we gave them 5,000. You look at Bart and Frolic they
asked for 16,000 we gave them 8,000. We went through each one of these and decided that based on specific things you know one of the things we talked about with Bart and Frolic was it caters mostly to um students. Great program. It's it's a 4-day program. People do
come down and and they stay and you know same thing with Palaka Porchfest. That's a great program. It it brings in a a great event. It brings in people from all over. So, my only point is I'm not sure why we're picking and choosing.
That's what I'm struggling with. If it's already gone through an an objective process and it's been criteria and it and vetted vetted out at that TDC, then I don't understand how we're sitting here picking and choosing which ones we like and which ones we're going to
increase. Do I I absolutely support the two that you're bringing up, Commissioner Alexander? I do. But I am I'm not good with picking and choosing and I won't be. You've got the floor and then we'll call the vote. Yes, ma'am. No, I agree with you. If it if it wasn't something that's tangible
that we know the impact that it's having on our community and the opportunity that's being presented to us with the opportunity to showcase our community nationwide and we have a tangible numbers. I'm not and um so I was going to use a specific example of one of the other events we're funding, but say
we're funding festival X. We can't physically document how many people are coming or how many people we are reaching with any number of these. I know how many people are coming. I know how many people are going to see this. I know how many people are going to get shared plus any additional help that we
can provide. These games are going to be live streamed nationwide. It's similar in my opinion to on a smaller scale some of the BAS events. Will po I'm not going to say any of the other events. Will any of the other events be streamed nationwide like that? No. Do we have
something going on that's great in our community that has just been developed for student housing that will promote additional uh engagement with our college? Yes. Um I agree with what you're saying as far as uh singling certain ones out, but there are opportunities that um fall outside of
the normal criteria. I think this is one of those. So we streamline our Bay Ruth on a national television. No ma'am. I'm talking about the uh the day the uh other one the tender one. Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. Commissioner Peliser, you have the
floor. I'm sorry. I disagree with you, Madam Chair, on this. Um, I just u I don't I don't see a good old boy in here at all. I see it from a business and marketing standpoint in that the items or the ones that that Commissioner Alexander brought
forward seem to be the ones that um are going to attract the volume of people more so than u not knocking any of the other organizations that are are want at the numbers. The more people you bring, the more money you bring. And
that's my only reason for support of this. Thank you. Miss Morgan, could you please uh talk about how we looked at the amount of numbers of people that'll be bringing to each attraction? So, um we just didn't pull a number out of the
sky. We didn't just, you know, each application is requesting we we ask how many expected attendants um or the attendance that they're expecting. Um,
we are getting research that will actually be able to tell us an estimate of how many people were in the market, where they spent their money, um, how much they spent, and and we'll be able to be able we'll be able to give you all a clearer picture of the true economic
impact in visitors spend. Um, we're just not quite there yet. That's that's my my pain point to you right now. the um in in the TDC meeting we definitely talk about um the value of a day visitor and
the value of an overnight visitor. They bring different value. Um the other thing is is purpose driven. A a sports group is very valuable to us because it's easier to track. However,
they're mandated to come here. They aren't choosing to come here and so they're playing their games here. They aren't necessarily outspending money and shopping and different things because they're focused on their
competitiveness of their of their event which is the purpose of the event. I'm not minimizing that at all. Um the other events commissioner just just to interject here from an involvement from parks and recck. So with regards to the
tournaments for Babe Ruth and for the college um more so for Babe Ruth though they're not mandated to come here. We attempt to bring them here in an effort to support our local communities and our local youth to play. Um, but for years
we have not had the opportunity to host those tournaments in Putnham County. The first time we had the opportunity was the softball tournament last year, which was a joint operation between Parks and Rex and Babe Ruth. Um, they do have an opportunity this year to host both baseball and softball, but there are
other communities vying for those same opportunities. So, they do not they're not mandated to come. So, so thank you, Miss Young, if I may respond. Um, thank you, Miss Young, for for I I chose wrongly the the wording. Um, when
when a tournament host is selected, that is where everyone goes. That that's that's where everyone is um invited to attend. Um, mandate was probably the harsher word. Um what I'm proposing is
that we actually the the tourism team become more more of play more of a role in that bid process. That's what we discussed and and that's what that way we can look at capacity. We can look at dates and
and the last thing that that what what's starting to actually happen is that we are we are having events on similar on the same weekend and cannibalizing each other. Then there's no there's no
there's no hotel space um for all of the events and then we're funding St. John's and Clay counties um and their hotel room when it's our tax dollar paying for the groups to be
here. So, I want us to be more strategic and and work together a lot more. This is this is um a little bit different philosophy and trying to make sure that everybody's on the same page and working together
and rowing in the same direction. Tomorrow night we have a meeting. So the other things that we we did not mention is we did have a grant a grant application workshop um in in uh June to kind of explain the
grant process. Then we had a grant marketing workshop to explain how you use how you market these events. And then um tomorrow night we're having all of the December events come together so that they strategically and
collaboratively use those marketing dollars that we're going to reimburse so that there's a bigger a bigger footprint of Putinham County in the marketplace. So ultimately the goal is to grow these
events and to have more involvement from the community. Correct. So, so the goal is to grow these events so that they are self- sustaining so that the TDC dollars can be used to grow new events to fill gaps in the calendar.
100%. And can you think of a better time to invest in an event at our newly renovated college that is beautiful with housing that our prominent business leaders help produce and a new emphasis
on our um flow arts camp area out there. Additionally, with our investment in our new technical college out there. Commissioner Alexander had buttons list. Oh, I'm sorry, ma'am. Commissioner Harvey, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, Kim, you and
I talked there's a budget number, then there's an award number, and then there's what they actually can prove number, and then there's a settlement number. And over the years, this money just been building up because you got a revenue in income, and then you got a budget income, and that number didn't.
So, we got a lot of money in the TDC, which is which is, you know, good for us to promote Putnham County. Let me ask you this. On the thought of of just being working this out the way I see it, is the TDC going to have another meeting so we can maybe say, "Hey, the
commissioners really wanted 2,000 more on this and 3,000 more on that." Would that be a possibility? And then if then you can come back to us and go, "They didn't agree." And then we can make our own decision at that point. you know, but maybe if the heartburn is that the TDC wasn't involved, send it back to TDC
and ask them if we can bump those two numbers up at the next meeting you have. The next meeting is December 2nd. Okay. So, these events don't happen till 20 26. So, I mean, that's just a thought that I would have. So,
thank you, Madam Chair. So, I'm going to say something. Uh there's 49 49 different events, activities, festival bills on this u on this these two list. Every one of them are important to our community. Every one of them bring in something to this
community. Um the heartburn that I'm having because with Babe Ruth, I think they did excellent. I love their organization. But how is it that you're picking and choosing? That's where I'm struggling with because out of these you who who in
here are you the commissioners that vote for this then you're going to owe 47 other organizations an explanation as to why you pick theirs too above the rest of the rest of them. $2,000 more dollars. We had given Babe Ruth $8,000 last year. This year we proposed 10,000.
So you want to add 2,000 to them. We had I don't remember what we gave. Do you know what we gave Tindle last year? Um so for the um for the softball so everything from a president's perspective has been a 50 last year's
award for these two um well the John Tindle event um that was we did a 50% you just don't I don't remember what the number is it was five it was five it was the same it was $5,000 and then um in for the
Babe Ruth we gave 50% of their request which was $8,000 for the softball tournament which is different than the baseball tournament and I understand that. But there is a precedent set that there is a 50%. Yes, ma'am. You're you're correct. Like
I said, we've given them 2,000 more than what uh we gave them 10,000. They had asked for 8,000 last time and on the Tindle Classic um we actually increased that one by 1250 above the 5,000 that they asked for. So anyway, my only point
is every organization, every festival, every event that's on here is important to this community. We want them all. We want and so we trying to find a fair process and that is not subjective that is not because that's where you went to
school or because of who somebody is. It's because of this is the criteria and it's met. With that, I'm calling for the vote. All in favor say I. I. I. All opposed I. Vote carries four to one.
[Applause] Going into new business. Do we have any new business to discuss? Any new business? No, ma'am. Code enforcement. Good morning, Madam Chair. Is the applicants in the
room for codes enforcement? Is there anybody in the room for code enforcement? Madam Chair, seeing no one in the room for codes enforcement, I'd like to go to the first case. Uh, case number 2021-000034, [Music]
Ronald Whitford. Um, let's see. Staff recommend total fine accured was $35,593.50. Staff has calculated the actual hard cost of enforcement to be $2,69 as shown on the on the sheet. Um so my
approve my recommendation is we take staff recommendation reduce the fines to the actual hard cost of $2,69 if paid within 365 days. Second that. Have a motion to second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I.
I. Motion carries. I'm getting there. I know. Okay. Madam Chair, on codes enforcement case 2021- Z00231, uh I in the Sky Reality Group,
staff recommends, hang on a second. Staff recommends the fine to be the actual hard cost of $1,90 and apply the sales tax surplus of $6,386 2121 cents out of that to pay the fine
redu reduction in full. That's my motion. We have a motion on the floor. Second. Second. Any discussion? All in favor say I. I. I. One more. Yes ma'am. Madam Chair, on codes case 24-006045
is now in compliance. The hard costs are $1,267 to be paid within 90 days. And that's my motion. Second. We have a motion to second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. I. Motion carries.
Public comment on miscellaneous items. This portion of the agenda is designed to allow citizens an opportunity to bring matters to the attention board. It is not reasonable to expect that the board will engage in debate or deliberation about matters on which the board has received no prior information as part of the agenda. Please limit your
time to three minutes. Public comment cards are conveniently placed at the meeting room entrance and should be submitted prior to the meeting to the deputy clerk who sits to the right of the podium. Are there any comment cards? Thank you. Connie Ben.
Good morning, ma'am. Please state your name and address for the record. Hey there. Good morning. Um, Connie Benham, 117 Musket Drive. Yes, ma'am. Satsuma. Um, so I'm going to first start off with recyclables. You guys, I'd really like to see you bring that back. I've lived here about a year when I
first started living here. Um the woman wouldn't take my recyclables if they were not in that blue bin. So I borrowed a bin from my neighbor cuz I didn't have any. And and then she was
a little testy because I mixed them. So finally she gave me a second bin because I can't mix my plastics along with my paper. and and she gave me this nasty cracked up holes in the bottom container. So then my neighbors that just moved in,
they said, "Well, how did you get your container?" I said, "I I had to wait for the lady to drive down the road." And I'm going to say that if you have um a deficiency in the collections, it's probably because people don't have blue bins. I don't know how long ago you started it, but I didn't have any and I
had to borrow them andor wave the lady down. I'd like to see you pick that back up. Um, this right here is an issue about Musket Drive. Um, you know, when the scraper comes by, he only comes by and he he softens up like maybe the first
four inches of soil of dirt. The first rain, all those potholes and ditches in the road. And I'm not talking about the ditches on the side. I'm talking about the ditches in the road are back in a heartbeat. I'd really like to see you bring us some dirt because all the
driveways are probably a good 8 12 inches um higher than this than the road and and actually you could get whiplash pulling into the apron because it is so so bad trying to drive in and the you
know on 309 it's it's 55 miles an hour and and you're you're making that turn kind of fast and and so bring us some dirt, level out our road and um drive down it yourself if you're daring to find those potholes in those ditches,
especially when it's wet and raining. Um recently I've been attending a church out there on Browns Landing and and it's dark as dark as it can be and we do a lot of things there at night and and I don't know when it last paved, let alone
painted and and you can hardly see the edges of the road. So, if you guys can find it within transportation to paint this road, you know, you would never even know that there was a a river at the end of that road because you can't there's
outside of a boat ramp sign. You don't I mean, you could go go right into that river. So, now the railroad tracks, they redid railroad tracks, but the painting is in dire need because if you don't know there's railroad tracks there, it's not like you can see the paint on the road that tells you that there's
railroad tracks there. So, if you could show us a little love. Also, out there around the musket drive, the trees overgrow the road. So, then they actually redo the they drivers go around the tree branches. Come out there
and cut out some limbs so we could have some room. All right. Have a blessed day. Commissioner Palister, you're recognized. Um, miss, if you'll get with our public works director, Mr. Stout. he's in the back of the room after the meeting and
tell him your concerns about the road and exactly where you live. He'd be glad to get with you and see what there's something they can't, you know, do to help that out. Ma'am, the Browns Brown's Landing area belongs to this commissioner. You're
No, it was not. I think it's Commissioner Alexander. Oh, it is. And and you got Satsuma. I'm I'm Satsuma and he's Brown's Landing. Yeah, but we've heard everything. It doesn't matter. We represent you all. But Mr. St. That's him standing in the back of the room. After the meeting, he'd be happy to talk with you. Brown's Landing is on the list to be
painted, by the way. It's already on that list. Okay. Thank you. All right. Let's see which one. Dan Steel. Yes. My name is Dan Steel. Live at 202 M Lane there. Lock in Florida. The reason
I'm here is uh this past Saturday night for one thing is I was driving on uh Miners Lake Road and good thing I had my bright lights on. There was a guy walking right down the middle of the road, no black clothes on, no flashlights, one transients out there.
Now I don't know. I'll get with one or all of you to come out to that area. I'll drive you around or whatever we have to do. There is so many people moving out there into the woods. They're living sheds.
They're living in tents. They're crapping all over the ground. I reported one of them over a year ago. Nothing has been done yet. You reported a codes violation. Oh, I've reported I I'll go next door and I'll report a dozen of them. But
they want you to put down your name. They want you to put down an address. Well, how the hell you going to put somebody's address down and live in the middle of the woods? No, sir. They want you. Oh, you're saying their address. They're They're living all over an epidemic from my yard. If I hard
laundered loud enough, I can hear four of them right in my area that could me. It's getting terrible out here. And Larry, this is your your elected official. You're supposed to do something about it. and I will go with
you anytime you want out there. You can go to Lynwood on the north side of the road. There's probably 10 places there. No electricity, no meters on the poles there. There's no power, water, sewer, nothing there. And
and they're just living there. On the other side of the road, the south side, one guy probably got about eight or 10 cars there. They're nothing but junk. No license plates on them. They're parked on the road right away and nothing's being done about it. Now, I would love
to work for the county. Give me some thanks because I go out and hand out citations 30 days to get the hell out of there. Excuse my French because something needs to be done. The other day I was there, I watched a guy have
bring in another building, put it next to another building. They unloaded their stuff. They're living other building. No sewer, no water, no power. Right there on Citrus right there by Twin Lakes Boulevard.
There's two buildings right there. The guy lives behind the high school. I know even though I live back and I'm not exactly what apartment, but I know he lives back there and he's he had some other people in there and I complain I've got them out there. Now he's moved
somebody else in there. But it's getting to be an epidemic. I've talked to Tony about it. He travels them roads all the time. He'll tell you the same thing. It's getting bad. We need to do something about it. All right. Thank you for coming forward. A couple things that I'll I'll say. Um
first of all, for a code's case to happen, it has to be turned in. That's not a decision that this board Let me finish. Ma'am, I heard you thousand cases. Your time is up. Let me finish. Let me finish. What I'm saying is it has to be
turned in by a resident and that that's a Florida statute. That's not something that this board chose. It's Florida statute says for a codes enforcement to happen. Our codes enforcement are not allowed to just go out and go, "Oh, those people are breaking the code. Let me go after them." They're not allowed to do that. That's a Florida statute.
That's one thing. So, it has to be turned in by a person with their name and address. That's the second part. The third is regarding the homeless. you somebody has to turn them in and then you have to allow the codes process to go through the system and so that that's just the way the process is.
The one I turned in over a year ago they have not did nothing about it. Have you followed up? Do you know that? Pardon? Do you not? Oh yes, I'll go right next door. I I'll get the dates. I probably turned it in. And then the other part is that so the other
thing that the Florida Florida um legislature recently did was tell us that we could not make any codes stronger than what they are already on the books. That happened at this last year. We were going to bring forward the uh policy and the ordinance regarding
people sleeping in campers and that whole thing. We were going to have a big joint meeting about it. But the Florida statute changed this year and it said that uh counties and if I'm saying this wrong y'all can correct me. Counties that have been affected by hurricanes
have to wait two years before they can make any restrictions stronger in their community. We were going to go down that road as this board and try to look at how we can make those restrictions. But the but the Florida statute, Florida ordinance, I mean I'm sorry, from the Florida legislature has told us that we
cannot do that. So, it's okay to go crap all over the ground and then do it that way. But no, no septic tank, no water, no sewer, no nothing. It's okay to do that then. You Nobody said that. I'm telling you the restrictions that this Florida legislature has put on to us,
which says we can't we can't what what we allow already in our codes and in our in our policies is we can't make it any stricter is what I'm telling you. Go ahead, Commissioner Harvey. Thank you, Madam Mr. Steel. Okay. Well, we have to we're Mr. Steel. Mr. Steel, I'll give you the statues. It doesn't matter to me.
12. Here I am, buddy. Here I am. Mr. Steel, you've done that to me before, too. So, here's my point. I'm going to make a If you'll sit in the audience just for a few more minutes instead of walking out. You're fixing to find out something.
Okay? So, please sit down. I'm fix under my comments. I got some good news. So, sit down. Yes, sir. We are. And it's not a matter that no one wants to do about anything about it. It's a matter of me just letting you know what the statutes are.
I have one more. Mr. Travis Roberts. Good morning. TR 110 Yansy Circle Sats Suma, Florida 32189. This is my I think 50th time up here. How do you tell me what's going on with Fort Gates? Can you tell me who owns the other side
of of the other side? Yes, I can. And this is something I gave the county seven years ago. Um would you like I got copies for you guys if you'd like them. This will show everything that I guess. Sure.
Have you guys ever heard of perspective rights? You talking about prescript prescriptive or respective? I'm sorry. Are you saying prescriptive or perspective? It it list it both ways in there. All I did was call Friday. I've been taking care of my brother because he's
on hospice. He's going to die dying. He's day now. But I'm sorry to hear that. I saw the meeting last Thank you. I saw the meeting from last month on Friday. On Friday, I was able to get this information in less than 10 minutes. If you'll look, there's a copy right here
of the plot on the other side by Miss Belinda Lynn. She's the one that originally owned the other side. She still actually does on the other side. But if you look on the very first paragraph there on the description of the property right here,
it says um I'm not sure if it says prescriptive or says description right here. You're talking about the description? Yes. Okay. Okay. Fort Gates has had that property since 1939. Who is Fort Gates? Is that a legal entity?
Okay. The state of Florida has owned that since 1939. Okay. The FDOT that that's why it has a bridge number. Originally that road was supposed to be or originally it was to the right of the property if you're on
our side of the river. The road was originally to the right in 1939 all the way back to 1751. They the state moved the road over or somebody did. And what happened when they did that? They put the road and the ferry right there, road 29, which you'll
see on the one colored map. It's just up at the top left hand side. When they come in, the state um when Miss Belinda bought it, the state said, "Okay, here's what we're going to do." So, apparently they gave her a chunk of land and they split the land up from lot 104, which it
was all originally 104. They split it into lot 101 and 104, which road 29 is right in the middle. Then they gave her the equivalent to that road attached to 104. I met with the Department of Forestry and verified that, but it's right there on the
paperwork. And if you'll look at the definition of it, you'll see that anything that's been used for 10, 20 years, it's like not intimate domain, but it the best description that the state gave me yesterday on the phone was if you have a piece of property back
here and I have a piece of property in the front and there's canals on each side, I can't landlock you. So, you've got the right to go across my property to get to that. And that's what they did with this property. The property is still forest road state road or forest
road 29, which is owned by the state. It's actually owned by Miss Belinda, but the state has rights to it. And since they gave her a portion of land on the other side, the road actually belongs to Putnham County. It the the road is owned by the National
Forest Service. It's actually belongs to both. It's kind of complicated. It's Putman County's property. The water in there, just like on the on our side over here in Pman County side, it's still Pman County over there. But the the water going out in
there. You guys don't own the property over there. You own the piece of property that's in the water or you get a lease from the state on that piece of land that's in the water that the ferry sets on. Same on the other side. But state road
cuts or forestry road 29 cuts through there. And another thing, the road is up for federal funding if they want to check into it because when I was pulling the surveys yesterday with state, federal land, not state land, federal land cuts right down and runs right
across that road, opening it up for federal grants instead of the 140,000 a year that would be spent on maintenance. They could get a lot bigger chunk. And the department of forestry in Malika says they will work with you guys on writing grants and getting getting
grants for that road for the other side. He said nobody's ever come and talk to them, but they've switched a lot of different commands over there. We usually can't get grants for roads that we don't own. So while it the forestry owns it, right? So the forestry would have to be part of that grant application,
right? The forestry could do it and that's what they're checking into. But the other parts where Pman County has rights to it or any place that they've got to go up through there, that's Putnick County. It's just an option. Well, it sounds sounds like you and uh is Commissioner Pelicer want to sit down
together because I actually kind of take the for Absolutely. Um I actually had spoke to Mr. Commando and um we looked up this u ladies in California and I didn't know if we could spend uh public money on private land
and he told me if I'm right, Mr. Commando, that if it serves a public purpose that that is allowable. Is that correct? Well, we can't spend public money on to make private improvements, but every dollar that you spend has to be justified by um serving a public
purpose. Um there's a lot of different layers to what's going on with the ferry with the submerged land leases with who actually owns property. Actually, Commissioner Harvey, I was going to ask to talk to you after. We have to identify how much land do we really need for kind of what the proposal would be.
So there's there's different people involved from um D, the state, us, and those things. And that's kind of what we're trying to work through. A lot of entities involved that have to all of them have a piece of the pie, so to speak. Um, my thought was, and I'm
I'm no lawyer by no means, is that we contact this lady in Imperial Beach and be sure that she's still on board or her heirs are on board and would give us some right to do so on this property. And Mr. Commando, if she baldled up her
fist and said, "No, that's over with and done, and you can't do anything, where do we stand then?" That's correct. So, when you talk about prescriptive rights or what Mr. Robert's talking about um there are such things as what are considered easements by necessity, but those you have to file lawsuits in order to secure those from a
judicial determination. It's not something that you can just claim. It's it's already on there. If you look on the tax collectors thing, the copy that I just gave you, it's already on there. It's been on there. Um, it says
it right there under under the property description. Actually, on every one of them it says um under description all of lot ex usually means accept. Means what? Except it's less than except less and accept.
But I I've been asking for a workshop since you guys all got in office and I I got some 8,000 pages. I know more about this and I'm not here to say, "Oh, I'm all this." I've done my research as a writer and reporter all my life. I've got some 8,000 pages on Fort Gates that
nobody seems to have. And every few years, this is eight years. We just hit the eightear mark and every couple of months I come in for eight years now. And I one of you guys told me on the phone that they didn't like being threatened by me. If any of you had your
businesses for eight years and they were shut down, you would go nuts. You would go broke. I tried to explain to my grandkids that, you know, Fort Gates isn't up and running or I can't buy them Christmas presents because that luckily I've got other revenues. I'm not here to get in a
piss and match with anybody. It's just frustrating as hell for eight years to come in and then ask for workshops and get workshops and then to be told it's going to take another $4 million and they lost the grants. I remember you were asking a question last time. You weren't sure why they lost the grants.
The grants were because they applied for $4.5 million grant. It was accepted, but Governor Rick Scott said it cannot be done. landing has to stay wood and nobody could justify spending $4 million on a at that time it would have been
30,000 if they would have had it done but it was dragged out because of co um we can't judge justify spending $4.5 million on a $60,000 landing I've got and I turned it into you guys last time I turned it in nobody has called me back
except for JT South Stout is the only one that's called me back the it's getting crazy. I just want to see the thing open. We're going to come up on 275 years that Fort Gates has been open. 275 years. Talking about bringing
tourism in. I mean, and the kids that the schools that go there, that's all for another time. The office, I had a couple things I just want to say. The office I've been asking for six years. The county built the road up 8 in higher than the office. The office is still
flooding today. Now you're on the other side of the property. Oh, this the what you're bringing forward is side, but now you're talking about on east side of the river now, right? Okay. East side of the river. Um the office over there. We hit our
eightyear mark, the workshop. Um and you were asking about that last time, but that was the reason the grant got sent back because the state could not justify it. Governor Rick Scott said to um it had to remain as close to historical
possible, had to stay wood. The county went ahead and paid, not you guys, you weren't in at the time, the county went ahead and paid Taylor Engineering $250,000 in Jacksonville to engineer a concrete landing even after they knew it had to stay wood.
Um the other side, I mean, I don't I'm just getting frustrated. I'm ready to throw the towel in and just say, "Forget it." Because after eight years, why bother with history? Why teach our kids that this 275 year old thing? And by the
way, the forestry you were talking about need to be a a needed thing for the community. The forestry said it kills them every time there's a brush fire over there that will lack where they have a lot of their main equipment at. They can't get across the river to get to the port. It's an hour and a half for
them to take those tankers around. and they're needed all the time there, the lightning storms. But I appreciate everything you guys do. But Commissioner Pal, you recognized um Mr. Roberts, I'm one of your biggest fans here and advocates in this, but I
just you can't do it the wrong way. It's got to be done the right way legally. And that's the proponent the way I'm proposing that we proceed forward. at I don't remember if it's the last meeting or meeting before, but I asked staff about let's getting a letter to this lady in California and get her feelings
on uh if she's willing to give us another lengthy lease on the thing to to start there because like I said to Mr. Commando, if she balls up her fizz and said, "No, you ain't doing it on my place." I don't know what to do then. I I think we're up against the wall.
Well, I've been through this before with the county and it's all it's it's just keeps going. The same thing. Every time we get a new commission in, the same thing again. Again, applying for another grant. Okay? You can't do it. It's got to stay wood. It's going to four and a
half million dollars. No, $60,000. It's basic. You go over there now. And one thing that I would like to bring up to the county for public safety, and I've been saying this for eight years now, that landing on the other side, a kid drove off that landing a few months
ago. I've been saying for eight years, you guys need to put some type of concrete barrier right there. If people come down at 29 at night, there's no lights out there right out into the river. Somebody's going to get killed. The Forestry Service would have to allow
us to do that because that's their road. I believe we don't know that we have any ownership on the forestry side. The landing is registered to Pman County. The stamp is still on there for public bridge. It is listed as a bridge. you know, where the landing and the road start and stop. That would be something
that somebody else would have to answer. I can't do that and I don't think we have anybody that can answer that. But you can't go do things on federal property just because it is encompassed in Putham County. That has no bearing. It's like saying your property is in Putinham County. Agreed. But it's your
property. We can't go in there and do what we want to do because we think it's the best thing. Does that make sense? Right. But the landing belongs to Putnham County and it's state state property. But the landing does belong to Puth County. When you look up the bridge registration, um if you'll get a hold of
um FDOT up there and talk to them, you'll find out that that landing does belong to Putnham County. It has their stamp, the state stamp on it, but that bridge, just like Bon Bridge, is registered to Putnham County. So is that landing or that bridge on the other
side. The side over on our side now is not registered as a bridge because we cut it back one foot, which made it fall out of the bridge category. The other side is still listed county. I still feel like our first move is to write the letter to this lady in Imperial Beach, California, and get her
feelings on what we can or cannot do there. I think that's our first move. She'll be glad to talk to you. I talked to her the other day, sir. She'll be glad to talk to Oh, great. I've got her number if you want to get with me later. Sounds like Mr. Roberts, you and Commissioner Palisier need to work together. We'll after the meeting, we can talk
with Mr. Commando and see if we can't come up with some direction there. Okay. Don't run off. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Is there anybody else who wants to speak on miscellaneous items? Moving into appointments. Commissioner Paler, do you have any appointments?
I have none. Commissioner Harvey, I have none. Commissioner Alexander. Commissioner Newbold? None. I have none. Clerk of court uh was not able to be here today. County attorney Rich Commando. Thank you, Madam Chair. Just to follow up on a couple of things that you had
referenced, um the the law that kind of preempts us from making any sort of changes is Senate Bill 180. Um in addition to the term of art that's in that bill or in that newly passed law that we cannot pass any restrictions
that are more burdensome on the property. Um thank you for explaining that better. I wasn't doing a great job explaining it. I I've had to actually explain it a couple times everywhere I go. So um but in addition to it, it has a two-year look back period. So if we have done something that creates a more burdensome
or restrictive regulation, then those are considered by Florida Commerce void abonio, meaning they didn't even happen. And then this bill doesn't sunset until October 1st of 2027. So there's some discussion that there will be uh I don't know if it's a glitch or cleanup or
clarification bill coming through session this year, but I haven't seen any text of a document. Um the second thing madam chair was you we were talking a little bit about code enforcement. You know I would also add to what you described as the code enforcement process that we are a reactive code enforcement. We are not
proactive. But in addition to that we have to our code enforcement officers have to be able to observe the violation from a public right away. Um and that's sometimes what the restriction is. We cannot go onto people's private properties to observe a violation. And I think that's where some of the
misunderstanding happens as far as we do go out, we do investigate. If we can't observe a violation, then we're required to close the case. So that's all I have, Madam Chair. Very good. Thank you for that clarity. County administrator. Yes, ma'am. Good morning, Madam Chair
and commissioners. Uh we have Miss uh Robbie Craig, mayor of city in the audience this morning. Welcome. Uh, one of the things I've been tasked for is to uh, uh, look at scheduling a joint city county commission meeting. Uh, looks like we're looking at probably January
13th at 300 p.m. Uh, so uh, there were some options I was throwing at her and I think that's what works best for both us as well as the city. So, just wanted to bring that to your attention this morning and let Miss Korea, Mayor Kareah know that we're moving forward on that. And if you guys have any questions on that, please get with me and and I'll
I'll coordinate back and forth with Mayor Korea and her staff. All right. Okay. Uh secondly, I know we've been dealing uh with the purchase of the property out off of Gilbert Road with Rayanir. Just want to give an update
this morning to the commissioners on where we're at with that. The survey is now complete. Uh just received uh notification that from uh uh from Mr. Stout and uh Mr. Scott in the back. So, thank you guys for that. I know that was a monumental task. So, thank you guys
for that. Our environmental study is also completed and we have a required two appraisals and one appraisals done. We're waiting on the second one. So, once we get everything completed, we'll move forward. Rayaner did contact me while I was in Milwaukee a week or so
ago and asked if we could amend the agreement to push the closing date from December to January. Um, and I didn't see an issue with that. Spoke to the chair. So, we move forward with that. Uh, so, uh, so our closing date on that property now has been moved to, I think, January 7th. So, we'll we'll bring that
back at the time. You know, and I got a very interesting phone call. I say it's interesting because anytime you talk to Mr. Larry Corn, you never know what you're going to get. Uh, he is such an advocate for uh, his farming community and the things that he is passionate
about. And one of the things that uh he shared with me was his passion for what Ephas is doing and how uh Wendy is working with the farmers and supporting the uh the farmer farming community. And he he to share that and I asked him uh you want to share with me. I asked him
if it'd be okay if I shared that with the board today and he said absolutely. And so that was one of his accolades was uh the relationship that that the county has with the farmers and the ability to help them in their organization and save
money as well. And that's one of the things he was talking about was uh some of the efficiencies that they've created. So just wanted to uh share that this morning, let Winnie and her staff need know that they are being recognized and they are appreciated for what they're doing. And secondly, he wanted
to comment and and compliment the public works department uh for the work that they're doing and their grading and their ditch cleaning and said that uh again it's better than he has seen it in years. So again to you folks in the back, thank you guys for what you're
doing back there. So, I I just wanted to share those comments this morning because you you never never get enough of those and uh and I think it's important for all of us to recognize the work that this staff is doing and say thank you when we get the opportunity. Madam Chair, that concludes my my comments.
Thank you. Moving into commissioner comments since um Larry, I'm gonna let you go first since you have a couple updates. Okay. Thank you. Um just want to keep our eye on the ball on George's leg. Julian, have you seen anything come across yet? We're kind of hoping we'd
get something, but No, sir. The the appraiser's been engaged. Sorry. But the work has not been completed. The report is not ready yet. Okay, good. Thank you. Um, I would like to do a West Putinham
cleanup. I promised a gentleman here months ago that we would do it as soon as it got uh cooler, but I'm not the comm I can't just do it on my own. So, I want to bring that before the board of county commissioners to do a West Putinham cleanup on November 15th. Um,
keep putting beautiful will be involved and we'll do it somewhere out in the west end probably there by the town of Enark somewhere. So, if that's okay with the board, allow me to do a cleanup. Sure. You need a wave of support or I was gonna say you're asking for are you asking for
volunteers? We'll be fine. We'll get people involved. Uh, Madame Chair, uh, uh, Commissioner Harvey, uh, the cleanup, uh, let's get together afterwards and let's talk to Mr. Tilton and see what kind of service we can we can get, uh, from our waste
haulers, provide some, uh, some transport and some some dumpsters and things like that. See, if we can make this a full-fledged community event. Thank you. Yes, sir. We'll do that. But again, it's up to the board. So, are we good with that, guys? Sure. Good. Thank you. And one other thing, since um the last meeting we had,
Meridian here, if you remember, Mrs. Cohen spoke about homelessness and it kind of caught your eye. I've had a Zoom meeting with her and her staff. They are doing work with homeless people in West Putnham on lots. Um and they are surveying them right now to see what we
can do to help them. So she like to come in the f the meeting November and just spend about five seven minutes talking about what they're currently doing for homeless and what they would like to be doing with the homeless. So I'll send that to you madam chair if you want to put on the agenda. Sure. Thank you.
Thank you very much. Was that the good news for Mr. Steel? That's it. All right Mr. Commissioner Paliser. Oh okay. Um I I asked some time ago about getting an update on um
properties that we own within the county. Build raw land, whatever it is, a list and um let's seeing about getting some of that stuff sold or possibly joining land owners if it was stuff that we were never going to use. Uh returning
it to them and getting that back uh on a taxable basis. Any comment there, Mr. We have that list for you, Commissioner. I we to take we actually took two lists and give Nicole Baker credit for this because she manages those lists and we've mirror we married those two lists.
So I have a complete uh spreadsheet for you. I can I can get that to you. And you also asked about the uh in care I believe it was of burials at one point and I have that information for you as well. I couldn't hear the first part the uh the the uh burial process
indigent ask about that. I also have that for you as well. So, uh, after this meeting, if you like, we can get together for a few minutes and I can share both of those with you. I'm going to just lightly give them a little dash of what this is about. Um, the indigents that pass away in the
county from time to time, the funeral homes, uh, rotate who takes and handles that kind of thing. And they are only being paid $500 per uh, incident to process that body um, if there's no
other means. And um knowing a little about that business um um I think that fee should be raised. What that number is, I can't tell you, but I just don't think that's enough for for them out there. It cost that they have involved when you handle the body and and then
disposal thereof. Um it's just something for y'all to be thinking about kind of put on your plate, so to speak. Is that something staff's going to go out and research to see if it's equitable to what other cats are paying or are we directing staff? We can we can we can do that. Absolutely. Just see
what some of our neighboring counties are paying for that type service. Can we discuss how we got to the $500? How did we get is it been 500 for like 30 years or is it like something we sent out for bid? It was it was previously 250 and we moved it to
500. That's what I thought. Um, traditionally in the past we have made an adjustment unless we have a shortage of individuals of funeral homes willing to do the services and we have not had a scenario where we can't get the bodies placed.
Um, certainly we can happy to take any direction the board would like us to go but the is has simply been um it's up to the funeral home to dispose of it in their methods. So, Miss Young, um, how long ago did we go
from 250 to 500? About it's been probably Let me look up that direct information so that I don't give you something that's not correct, but um, I'm happy to get it for you. Um,
have we had any, uh, come back from our design architect fella on the neighboring building here next to us? and what's going on there. Uh yes, sir. Uh matter of fact, we sent out I met with a contractor Friday. Um
he had returned us a piece back. Um we have it like to see it. Met with uh Allen on Friday, I think it was. He liked it. U made some minor adjustments, sent it back to him on Friday, see the rendition back yesterday. So uh we've got it. We just got to figure out, you know, give us a baseline of what it's
going to cost so we know which route to take whether to send it out for solicitation or we we're able to do it without going out for bid. Okay. Um something that we could be doing. I don't know where have the manpower and the certainly the time of the day, but that building right now is housing a lot
of junk that needs to be cleared out next door. There's tons of old computers and stuff that we've surplus that needs to go to the scrap man or whatever. But that's, you know, anything we can do to start taking those steps to move the ball along, I think is something we need
to look into. Um, let me look over my notes here. Uh, as a reminder, uh, November 15th is tire at the landfill. um up to 20 uh passenger car or tire truck tires, not
commercial tires, tractor tires or semi- tires, so to speak, can be dumped, but uh regular automobile tires up to 15 per um what would you say address, Mr. Tilton? um that of registered us in the county,
you can bring. I've uh I'd encourage everyone to, you know, that has a pickup truck when you're riding around between now and then, throw one in the back of the truck because I I've got about six spotted in the county that are just laying there that I'm when it's convenient, I'm going to throw them in the back of the truck and have them ready because I plan on making a trip to
see Mr. Tilton at the landfill and get those cleaned up. It's just an eyesore and more than anything, it's just another place for mosquitoes to breed and raise u little ones and we don't need that in Putham County. So, uh, with that, I think I am done. If I think of something else, I'll raise my hand.
Madam Chair. All right. Thank you, Commissioner Alexander. You're recognized. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, when uh I met with Mr. Suggs yesterday and um got got some good news uh regarding u
architect and the drawings for the VA services and potentially uh expanding their area. Uh we have a ton of space within this building that that is underutilized. Kind of going back to what Commissioner Pelis
said. Um I think it's a it's a great opportunity if we could centralize a lot of the county's functions in this area. So you got a one-stop shop for constituents. They're not driving here, they're not driving there. So, um, and we could move some of those again back
on the tax roles that are being occupied by other entities of the community or of the county and get them over here. So, if we need something with it's within walk distance, you know, so thank you for your efforts on that, J.R., I know you've been involved in that and I look
forward to that that project. All right, Commissioner. Thank you. Well, Commissioner Tier, thank you for the reminder on tire day. That was a big uh push down on my end. I think it was I'd like to get the word out.
Um at previous meeting, I committed to a couple different projects and I don't mean to put uh Miss Young with this. I don't know that I'll need you to to fill in, but animal control um code enforcement project kind of cleaning that up and moving forward. I don't have
anything specific to report today other than the the fact that I've been in communication with a lot of the partners at play and the staff and the sheriff's office are working in a positive direction toward that end. Um I'll let that develop further before we throw any civics out unless there's anything you
want to comment. Um we can talk initially we've set up um monthly meetings, collaborative meetings between the sheriff's office and animal control. We had our first where we took animal control through um training that the sheriff's office requires their
deputies to go through. So, they've all been through the initial how to write a report, the fundamentals of a report, that type of thing. So, that was our first training. And we're um working with the sheriff's office in collaboration to discuss would look like
if one or both of our agencies has the ability to issue a citation related to an animal control issue. um the ESO um their a deputy is Mr. Westberry and he's working with ESO legal counsel and through the system and bring back to you
all all of those options to talk through what it would look like and get some board direction. Well, thanks for that. I didn't mean to throw out there so quickly, but um I appreciate those efforts. It I'm getting a lot of good input from local communities. um have a a need for some
collaboration there and I'm getting positive initial feedback from parties involved so far. So I think we're moving forward in that regard. Um at a previous meeting I also asked you know my fellow commissioners should speak with the
school board about a possible project at the Miller Middle School campus in Crescent City. Um, since our last meeting, I met with um, Superintendent Serency and and um, Mr. Bowling, Assistant Superintendent Bowling with some initial discussion. Um, based on
that, I I would like to attend the next school board meeting and kind of make this subject aware to their board publicly. See if I can push it along a little further before I I bring back a
um kind of any detail to you guys. I think if if the project I have in mind, if I if it if that campus can't be acquired um economically, I don't think there's any sense in us wasting our
time, you know, pushing it any farther forward. But I will I plan to attend the next school board meeting, get on that agenda, and and kind of start that discussion publicly. Commissioner Noel, I would ask that um I believe the blue ribbon committee has
already done a um a report or some kind of a finding saying what the what the needs are to make that building into compliance. Yes. Um they've done a lot of good work, spent quite a bit of uh money professionally to assess the the
property. All that is available and will be, you know, play a key role in in the possibility of this project coming together. I would ask that you go ahead and share that with the board members here or get somebody to share it with them because to me it's a very key component as to if or what we do with
that building. Sure. Because there was some numbers in there um that I was a little bit taken back by and so I I I just want us to all be on the same page if we're going to look at doing something or not doing something. Surely I I will do that. Okay. Is that it? You have anything else?
I I don't have anything else. All right. Commissioner Palis, you're going in number two. I I told you I'd didn't sound right. It did. It really did. But uh I told you I'd remember something or a couple things actually. Um, I'd like to see staff um because I've called a little
bit of flack about it that they're not receptive, but I'd like to see us coordinate a meeting with tax collector, property appraiser about our plans and ideas out here and give them some input and see, you know, what their feelings are and how that how that will work uh to to uh possibly pull us together here
as a unit. Um, on a sadder note, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention uh my and Larry's colleague and my good friend uh the passing of Commissioner Harris. Uh she was a uh a wonderful lady. U
Putinham County grow lost a great leader, a very gentle giant if you will of a person. It's very softspoken, but uh she swung a big axe. Uh I had the pleasure of serving with her and Larry did as well. And um she'll
be truly missed. Always late. Yes. She'd be late. I get a text. I'm I'm in the East or something when she come. her granddaughter did very uh very well and spoke about her being late and missing a train one time and how her grandmother turned it into
something very special even though they missed the train and um I thought I thought her family did an excellent job. So, thank you for mentioning her. Yes. All right. Regarding uh let's go back to your uh property appraiser tax collector discussion. I think the first thing we need to see is what their square foot
needs are and if our building is even big enough for what their square foot needs are. I think that's the very first check, the reason for the meeting. Let's all sit down and talk about numbers, square footage. Square footage and space is put it all out there. Yep. And while we're talking about the buildout, I have said from since I got
elected that I want it put in this building. It needs to be moved. If we're going to look at a building a space, in my opinion, I said it first. So that means I get it first. It should come first. followed by the
veteran services. I know veterans is another area. Um JR and I walked and uh Mr. Suggs walked and looked at the buildings. We've got the the building next to vacant building that's uh right next to veteran services and we have from the end up to through the where the
sheriff's department had an office up through the um place that cut hair. So we have some on the fringes. If we wanted to fill those in first, it would make sense and then leave the big space in the middle. But at the end of the day, we all have to come together whether it's a workshop or whatever. But
um those are my thoughts on on that. But I want to see it and and I thought that was already in the works. So I wasn't trying to jump over. No, just so they're already being worked on. So yeah, I know. So those are two things. Um I want to make make sure everybody's aware of
breast cancer awareness month. It's why we're wearing pink. Um, we will have a mobile u mammogram screening here at the county commission governmental complex on October 31st from 8:00 a.m. to 4 pm. It's free or low cost. There's no prescription needed. Only takes about 10
minutes. It's for women 40 to 64. Um, Department of Health will provide free mammograms for those who do not qualify with insurance. There's no co-pay deductible and um, it's on the board of county commissioners Facebook page. So,
you're welcome to go look at that. If you haven't had your girls checked in a while, this is a good time. Um, animal control, I know we talked about that and I appreciate your leadership on that. Um, Commissioner Newold, can somebody give us an update on the building?
Sure. So, we got the furniture's in. I think it called for CO on the office building last week. Uh, the uh was waiting. I think the good Lord the rain has quit for a couple days. So, it's supposed to get paid this week. the um I'm sorry, it's going to get paved next
week. They're waiting this week. They're finishing up some other projects around town. Supposed to get paved this next upcoming week and the sprinkler company should be mobilized. They have their building their submission to the building department for their overhead sprinklers for the kennels. The outdoor
pin poles are put in. Um I think we finally dried out enough. I did text yesterday for the vendor to put the astroturf in the play areas. Um so that should be getting done within the next week. And then we'll put the fences up. The remainder of the kennel fences should be put in this week. And then the
uh we should be able to reach out for a se as soon as the sprinklers get hung and the um the backs are put on the the kennel building. So other than that, everything else is completed. The generator, the gas is ran for the generator. I got to get the generator installed, but other than that, the gas is ran. All the
underground utilities are done. Uh the delivery of the next building is scheduled Oh golly, I got the date somewhere. Not not right on two weeks from 21st um supposed to be here. So other than that, we're 100% ready to go. I think we should have a CO for the office building the furniture.
Like I said, it might have already said the furniture was put together last week. Um got to go get I need to get with Mr. Tilton or somebody and see if we can get some inmates out to take some furniture boxes because we got a ton of boxes we need to get moved in our dumpsters full. So, but other than that, we're just about just about wrapped up.
Commissioner Paliser, you're recognized. the things get said and sparks those memory banks. Um the um bank building, the old bank building over here in the parking lot. I'd like to see some evaluation done on that. And is that something that is salvageable or is it
ready for the wrecking ball? Ready for the wrecking ball. Okay. All right. So, okay. I just I didn't know what the status of that was. Is it full of stuff, too? You need a hazmat suit to walk into it. I mean truly it's it's disgusting. I
mean the roof was failed on it many years back and nobody did anything with it. It is there's not enough valuable space there to put the effort in. It's it's a very small building. Um and you'd spend as much money repairing that one as what you would do to replace it. Okay. All right. Good enough. I just
thought it was one back of my mind. It was freestanding building. Be excellent for like veteran services if there was enough room there for them. Just just a thought. But anyhow, um, and to go a little bit on Commissioner Wilson, uh, breast cancer is not limited to just
women. I have a very good friend of mine, a little bit older, a man who, uh, developed breast cancer and, uh, he's very proud to tell you about it and he headed it off and is living a very, uh, fruitful life. U So, it's it's not just for the ladies. Um, you guys, and I
asked I asked him because I wanted to know, how did you find it? He said, "I was just taking a shower." And he said, "I felt something in my chest that just felt odd." And uh he went to the doctor and it was breast cancer. And had it removed and that was five, six years ago. So it's not just limited to the
ladies. Thank you. Thank you. A couple things that um one of our constituents brought up, Miss Connie. Um I do think that we should have something out there on Brown's Landing to help with it being You're not wrong. I think there should be some reflectors or we can have JT's team look
at that and see if there's more that we can do in that area. Um down in that area we can't put light I don't know that we can put lights up but there's certainly more reflective stuff. Um yes ma'am. And then on recyclables. Recyclables is a sore subject that nobody on this commission wanted to vote
for that. Um unfortunately it would have cost constituents more money. We only had about 17% of people using the recyclables. It was not cost-effective. Um, Putnham County is not the only county that has had to do away with
recyclable curbside. We still have recyclables. We just aren't picking them up at your home. Uh, there is opportunities in the community to recycle. We have also looked into um um a gasification. Uh we approved that at the last meeting. We're are going to
look at a pilot program for gasification and if that is successful like we believe it will be um we can uh use recyclables and we could use materials to um run that through the gasification process. It's a sin gas. You can look it up. U University of Florida helped make
the equipment. Um you can look it up and um what we're looking I don't have all the details. I'm not a techie person, but basically recyclables would be able to basically any waste could turn into a gasification process which then turns
into a gas that can be uh reused. So um we can get together on that. I see you standing up. I'll be glad to speak with you oneon-one on that. I understand your point. I got it. Thank you. Yes, ma'am. All right. With that, is there anything else to come before
the board? This meeting's a journ.