Today is Tuesday, February 24th. It is nine o'clock. Welcome to the Putnham County Board of County Commissioners meeting. Um we'll have invocation led by Alan Bagot from Connect Church, followed by the pledge of allegiance by Commissioner Newold. Please stand if you're able to do so.
Let us pray. God, we are so thankful Lord uh for this day. We we bless you Lord for your goodness, your mercy, your grace and the hope of eternal life that we have uh provided through your son Jesus Christ. We thank you God for this
great nation in which we live. We thank you for this great state of Florida and we thank you God that we can call this county our home. We thank you God for each of our commissioners and we pray blessings upon them. We thank you for the individuals who have helped to
facilitate this meeting today. We ask you Lord that you would be with us during this meeting. We pray God that you would direct each decision that is made. For your word tells us to trust in the Lord with all of our heart and lean not into our own understanding. But in
all of our ways we are to acknowledge you, Lord, and you will direct our paths. We pray God that your will be done in the business of today. We pray all these things, Father God, faith believing in your son's most powerful name, Jesus. Amen.
>> Amen. >> Amen. >> Thank you. >> Please join me in pledge to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice
for all. >> Thank you. All right, moving into the approval of the minutes. >> Madam Chair, I move approval of the minutes uh for the regular meeting January 27th, 2026 as stated in our packet. >> I second that. >> We have a motion to second. Any
discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. Motion carries. All right. Going into planning and development public hearing 25-000018. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh for the record, Michael Graves, Planning and Development Services. This is the second
meeting for the case rez 250000000018. Uh does the board wish to see the presentation again or do they wish to move on to uh >> you can give us a brief over? >> Yes ma'am. Uh, the applicants CR2A Real Estate Holdings LLC are requesting a zoning map
amendment from Planning a Development to Agriculture Estate on 356 more or less acres located at 960 CR2A in Hawthorne to allow for the development of agriculture. Surrounding zonings include agriculture. The subject site has a future land use of rural residential and
approximately 3,100 ft of access from CR28. Uh according to the national wetlands layer and the FEMA flood zone layer on the GIS reference map, the lands do appear to contain jurisdictional wetlands and is located within FEMA flood zones X and A. FEMA flood zone A is a special flood hazard
area. Should the applicant's request be approved, the applicant will then be eligible for any development rights in the agriculture estate zoning district as outlined by land development code section 4573. Intensive agriculture will not be permitted. Here you can see an aerial
overview of the property. the future land use, the zoning, the wetlands, and the FEMA flood hazard area, which matches up mostly with the wetlands. Staff has recommended approval of the request to amend the zoning map from
planning development to agriculture state. finds uh staff finds that the proposed resoning is consistent with the goals, objectives, and policies of the adopted comprehensive plan and meets locationational requirements of the agriculture state zoning district provided in the land development code and comprehensive plan. At the planning
commission meeting, the planning commission unanimously recommended the same. >> Thank you, Michael. Are there any questions for the presenter? All right, this is a public hearing. Is there anybody in the audience who wants to speak on this particular item?
All right, seeing none, it comes back to the board. Madam Chair, I'd like to make a motion that we approve the reszone rec 25-000018 uh ordinance number 2026-00007 amending ordinance number 2024-12 an
ordinance of the county of Putnham, state of Florida, amending the official zoning map for Putin County Incorporated into article 2 of the Putin County Land Development Code, Ordinance number 2024-12, reszone 356.8. 8 plus or minus acres from plan unit
development PUD to agricultural states AE providing for severability and an effective date case number REZ25-000018 CR 2A Real Estate Holdings LLC >> second. >> All right, we have a motion and second. Any discussion? All in favor say I. I.
>> I. Motion carries. Right. Public comment on agenda items. There will be an opportunity for public comment on miscellaneous items afterwards. Further down in the meeting, if you don't have a packet, there's a package on the wall that you can to get the agenda and also if you want to speak,
there's blue speaker callers on the ball as well. Public comment on agenda items. This portion of the agenda is designed to allow citizens an opportunity to bring matters to the attention of the board. It is not reasonable to expect that the board will engage in de 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 pl placed at the meeting room entrance and should be submitted prior to the meeting to the deputy clerk who sits to the right of of the podium. Madam clerk, do you have any speaker cards for um
consent agenda p or agenda items? All right, going through uh item five on the agenda. Any commissioners wishing to pull anything for consent? Commissioner Harvey, >> I have none. >> Commissioner Alexander, >> I have none. >> Commissioner Newald,
>> none. >> Commissioner Palisier, >> I have none. >> I'm going to pull E and F. >> Madam Chair, I'd like to make a motion to accept the consent agenda items A, B, C, D, G, and H. Second. >> We have a motion to second. Any further
discussion or comments? All in favor say I. >> I. All right. Um, Kimberly, if you'll just come forward. I had a um after reviewing this, I just had a question. So I see on both of these we have um
both the rank order for our advertising agency and our rank order for our website development and your committee has come back with a um recommendation on both. So my only question is um
could we potentially go back? Um not that I'm like kicking things down the road, but at the end of the day I do like saving money. So my question is, can we go back to the top two firms and negotiate with them to see
if they were able to do both of the seems like if they had some continuity and they were both able to do one of one agency could do both of those things, both the advertising agency and the website development. It seems like it would be somewhat easier. >> Um, and then so the question is, can we
combine them? Yes. >> When a bid goes out, you you're required to select the lowest responsive bidder. So, >> right. So, as there if you want to reissue it as one singular RFP, we could we could reject all bids and then go back and put it out
as one. But once you have the once you have the RFP out on the street, you can't make adjustments to it afterwards. Otherwise, you're inviting a bit protest. >> Okay. >> So, what you're saying, Mr. we'd have to pull both of these and then restructure
a singular RFP with two requests within that >> if that's the will of the commission. >> Okay. So, Commissioner, um, just to add, Miss Miss Kimberly and I did talk about this conversation specifically after, um, as
she was preparing the documents because the logical question, she had the same one you had. And the problem is just what we, you know, in public procurement, you can't now combine them um, and and attempt to manipulate them. you can
reject them all and write your RFP that you desire one firm that can do both aspects. However, in discussing with Kimberly, um that wasn't her preferred method due to timing. She didn't want to have to go back through an RFP process.
Um and so based on the results and um the ranking of what they have, Miss Kimberly believed that both top ranked firms were very well suited to serve the chamber in the capacities for which they were ranked. Um and it was the desire of the chamber to move forward in this
facet. However, we can't manipulate it quite like um we would have to change the bid spoke spec altogether in order to get the desired result that you're proposing today. Um, and I'm sure when she issued the RFPs, we had no knowledge if there existed one firm who could do
both. And so, you didn't want to limit yourself to having, you know, one really great person doing project A and a horrible project B just because they're one firm, most much like our engineers, right? Um, so all of those options were
discussed before the item was brought to you. >> Okay. Yes, sir. Um, >> thank you, Madam Chair. Um, >> today we're just going to approve you going to negotiate TR and then you're
going to bring that back to us. So, if that point we don't like the price or we don't like it, then we can discuss a different avenue, but you're going to go back and negotiate right now and come back to us at a later date. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Thank you. >> All right. I'm I'm okay with it then. I
just th those were just my thoughts. All right, Madam Chair, I'd like to move that we approve item E and F. >> I'll second that. >> We have a motion on the floor and a second. Any further discussion or comments? All in favor say I. I. Motion carries. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> All right. Is there any new business to come before the board? Do we have any new business? All right. Code enforcement. Madame Chair. >> Yes. >> Is there anyone in the audience? >> Is there any one in the audience that
are that is here for a COD's case? >> Doesn't look like it. Madam Chair, in the essence of time, what I'd like to do is go ahead and propose that we approve the codes case number 2010617
Doddto Drive. The original fine amount 113,268.72 cents. Tax surplus received $3,79318 total posted. And um we're going to the enforcement action is $1831 $1,831
and using the tax surplus for the payment if paid. I mean I guess it's already been paid. So we don't need to do the 90 days. So that's my motion. >> Second that. >> All right. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor say
I. I. I. >> All right. Motion carries. Okay, Madam Chair, on codes case 2020-0000363 now in compliance fine was $42,9269.
The total hard cost to the con to our constituents $1,852 and uh again that's tax surplus. So that would be paid in full. Correct. Yeah. >> All right. So I move approval of that. >> Second. >> All right. We have a motion second. Any
questions or comments? All in favor say I. I. >> I. Motion carries. >> All right, Madam Chair, on codes case 2009-0000891, uh, that is a total fine occurred of $55,745.50. The hard cost to our constituents, $3,732
as shown in the fine reduction. I move approval of stats recommendation of $3,732 if pay within 90 days. >> Second. Any questions or comments? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Thank you, commissioners.
>> Thank you. Great presentation. >> We rolling. >> We rolling today. All right. Um before we go into public comment on miscellaneous items, um I do want to say that uh we received notice from the St. John's River Water Management
that they are we are Putnham County is currently in a phase one water shortage. And what that means is under a phase one water shortage, all water users, including domestic, utility, and commercial, are encouraged to voluntarily reduce water use. Waste
water and unnecessary water use is prohibited. Residents, businesses, and property managers are encouraged to proactively plan for extended dry conditions and the potential for additional restrictions. That was voted on by the St. John's River Water Management um last week. Commissioner
Harvey, you're recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. You know, as we traveled to Tallahassee and back last week, um if you looked at the Swany River, if you looked at those rivers along that path, um land that used to have water in it dried up. This isn't just prone to us. It's all over Florida
right now, and we're in a severe drought. And um I I compliment the water management district for doing that. But I will tell you that, you know, rural Florida, we don't waste water because we're on wells and we know what that deals with. But, uh, it's important for
everyone to to be mindful of the water they're using right now and, uh, to be very careful with it because like I've been telling the state legislators, uh, the lake I live on can use 9 feet of water to get it back to where it needs
to be at right now. Nine feet. That's unbelievable. I have walked across it before and soon to be if it continues on next couple weeks you'll walk across it again on dry land and that's scary uh because we need to keep the water we know. Thank you madam chair.
>> All right and then one other thing um the department of emergency operations center from the county has requested that we continue our burnban extension. As you guys know they're one week they're seven days at a time. We're still under extreme drought conditions. Um Mr. Grimes, did you want to comment
on that or? >> Sure. Excuse me. I mean, we got to remember we have seen a little bit of rain. The f the first round we got last week was about 8/10 of an inch a countywide. The rain Sunday morning, I checked all
the meters because we have them and everybody can look. I mean, it at Putinham weather stem at Putinham um averaged about 3100s of an inch. Right. So there's as as you went out Sunday morning, you saw a little bit of water on the ground, but that is very
short-lived. Um even yesterday, we had fires with the humidity dropping, you know, in the 20s, high winds yesterday afternoon. I mean, we are able to contain it. I mean, our crews are doing a great job out there, but as you looked in Camden County, I mean, you looked at Daytona yesterday, they did evacuations in Daytona around some of those
subdivisions. Um, so the the the the drought is real out there. Um, we've just been very fortunate that our crews have caught them in plenty of time with our efficient work with the Florida Forest Service, but we need to maintain this and just keep our community vigilant that it is very, very dry here. Even though we did get just a little bit of rain, just a quick spark cigarette
throw it out. I mean, those things are happening dayto day. Um, and just let everybody know if you see something, call it in, right? So, even even if we're working it, call it in because if a lot of times those things go unnoticed, they grow rapidly. Um, so if somebody sees something, I see the the fire department or our sheriff's office
there, you know, in the area, absolutely call us because we need to know it. Um, so, um, the community's done a great job seeing something and call them, but we just need to continue that effort. >> Yeah, we've seen a we've seen a fire on the median, right? Wasn't there one on the median out and headed out nine mile? >> Yes, ma'am. We did burn a median in Nine
Mile. We've run them a few times. Matter of fact, we just saw them and this is, you know, the train last week going north on 17 started them because what'll happen is they'll get a bur or something in the track and that train comes through and throws sparks and we chased I think it was four fires up 17 >> behind a northbound train. Um, and that
was just last week. So, uh, we got to be those things do happen. Um, like I said, it was real quick response and they got it knocked out pretty quick. Uh, but with with these afternoon winds and this low humidity, it's just it's just a recipe for disaster. Thank you. Uh, Commissioner New,
>> is there any chance during these red flag warnings that um, Wastist Pro might pick up yard trash a little more aggressively? Could we I know we just did a contract, but I mean, we could go weeks and weeks and weeks and and I think a lot of the little fires that get
out of hand are people burning in their backyard. Um, I don't know if that's something we could work into a future contract or just ask them if they could help out during red flag warnings. >> Yeah. And if and if we truly I mean we do have a I mean a county grapple truck if we have a a big thing we can absolutely send a crew out to pick up yard if we have a one-off case where but
I mean we'll get to it right just let it sit on the side of the road for now. I mean we'll I mean we'll send waste pro out there. If we have a pile in the neighborhood that needs to get picked up we'll go pick it up. I'd much rather take it to the landfill right now than what I would you trying to burn it in your yard which is absolutely and people got to realize these are the unincorporated areas of Putnham County right so each municipality has to put
their own burn ban in as well. So like Interlock and I know extended theirs. I think the town of Waka is meeting to extend theirs. Crescent City extended theirs. So there other ones I don't think Palaka has put one in yet that I'm aware of. Um but they have an ordinance protects them year round, right? You're not supposed to burn inside the city
limits of Palaca because they do offer twice a week debris pickup from the city. So um we just need to keep those in. But yes, we can absolutely there's we would much rather it be piled now and we'll and we'll and we'll deal with it at the landfill. >> Thank you. Commissioner Alexander Rast.
>> I just want to give a a shout out and a big thank you to the fire department, both Palatka, uh, Boston, and Putnham County. Um, ironically enough, I had another fire. I've I've only called the fire department twice in my life, and it's been since I've been in office. Uh,
our neighbor over in the panile area had an issue with a pump and ended up burning u probably half of our pasture and, uh, didn't get into either of our barns. But uh it's because how quickly you guys moved and I just wanted to say thank you Chief Back and your team.
It could have been bad if it had gotten into the pine trees towards Panile Church. >> Thank you, Commissioner Harvey. You're recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Commissioner Nubble, for bringing that up about debris pickup. You know, years ago, we started noticing that recycling
was dropping down and only a small percentage of the people in Putinham County were doing that. I can tell you when I drive around through Interlock and Lake Estates, only a small percentage of people are putting debris out. You know, it's not But we're being charged 100% of the people are paying
for that service. So, I applaud you, Commissioner Newol, uh truly because I believe that Waist Pro, even if they came across, if everybody in my neighbor put out a pile, that would be a lot for Waste Pro to pick up. But not everybody
does that. probably 20% of the people put it out in my neighborhood. So, I think Waste Pro could pick up a lot more without tripping any type of tonnage problem that they have. So, I applaud you for thinking like that because we do we did
put a burn ban, no doubt. And with that, we want people to be responsible and not burn and not, you know, so if they put it out by the road, let's get them to pick it up or whatever we can do to make that happen. So, thank you, >> Mr. Grimes. And just wanted to remind everybody you can also go to our
collection centers, the one in Enlock and the one in Crescent City and Central Landfill. So people can haul it in theirelves and it does run that extended time now. You know, they're open till I think it's 5:30. So I mean you do have time that you could actually run your debris to one of our collection sites as well. If you didn't want to sit in your yard, you can absolutely use any one of our We'll take it at any one of the
outbound collection sites. >> Thank you. So with that, we'll um we'll just wave in support for the burnban extension. and we'll do that again and and probably if the conditions hasn't changed probably go into next week. All right. Um public comment on
miscellaneous items. This portion of the agenda is designed to allow citizens an opportunity to bring matters to the attention of the board. It is not reasonable to expect that the board will engage in debate or deliberation about matters on which the board has received no prior information as part of the agenda. Please limit your time to three
minutes. Public comment cards are conveniently placed at the meeting room entrance and should be submitted prior to the meeting to the deputy clerk who sits to the right of the podium. So, we'll go through public comment cards. Uh, generally we do not um engage
in debate or deliberation just like I just said and uh we'll do that if we have questions or comments. We usually save those for later in the day. Dan Steel. >> Good morning, Mr. Steel. >> Good morning. Good morning, Dia. I'm Dan
Steel. I live with O2 Main Lane in Interlock in Florida. And uh I got a few questions. Like some answers if I get them. Larry Harvey, when was the last time that you was out in your area out by my place out by Trout Lake
out there to check the area? >> Go ahead and with your three minutes >> because I brought up the about month and a half ago, two months ago about all the people that are living in trailers and tents. That's good way to start these fires because they had to have heat last
night and they're burning out there to keep warm. They have no electric, no sewer. I complained about one place probably two years ago of a building that's not even on her property
and she is no electric, no sewer. And between my house and there, there's another one in there that's no no they're living in a trailer. I believe there's a county ordinance. You're not allowed to live in a trailer. Well, I
can name probably 20 or 30 of them there in that area that are living in tents, trailers, no sewer, no nothing, crapping on the ground. It's a it's a sewage place out there. And it's getting sometimes when it gets when it does get
warm, it smells even. You can smell it sometimes. I would like to have something done about all these people living in tents and trailers out there. We've got a county ordinance and I and why don't you stand behind it
and I really know an answer why. I mean I know there's a lot of cases ahead. They don't have enough help. Well, I don't care if you have to hire 10 or 15 people to get rid of them because it's becoming a nuisance. We last Tuesday
night I almost got rid of one of he was pushing a bike right down the middle of the road with no lights on the bike. You see that all the time. They've got more cars. Some of them got cars that are old junk. Probably don't have any insurance on them. And they're uh people
walking with backpacks all over the area. Yeah. I'd like to stop and tell them get the hell out of the county. I mean, really, I would. And it's getting that bad out there. And Larry, you need to have a take a trip out and drive the
roads, too, because they were just graded last week, but they're just as rough as they've ever been. And bring your car out and travel these roads like we have to the handy roads. Maybe you'll get stuck. I don't know. I'll come and pull you out if you do. But you need to
get out, check that area. Now, I was going to come back in a couple of weeks probably and I'm gonna see because I know one person I can get a hold of, Anthony, that will definitely come out and go around the area with me and we'll
put Button was made about. So, thank you very much. But I I'll be back coming to see if Larry's been out there. >> Thank you for your time. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Vernon Myers. Good morning, Vernon. >> Morning, Madame Chairman, commissioners.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak. My name is Vernon Meyers and I'm a Putnham County resident and former mayor of Palatka and Putnham State Bank president retired after 16 years.
I'm here because I believe Senate Bill 1066 and companion legislation House Bill 981 are positive for Putnham County. And I wanted to address some of the disparaging public comments that were
recently made by Commissioner Harvey. First, neither the Okawa River, Rodman Reservoir, Kirkpatrick Dam, nor the waters that flow through them are owned by Putnham County. They are waters of
the state of Florida, part of a connected river system that serves many counties. While some may view the dam and reservoir as Putinham's possession, they are managed as part of a larger 110 mile
long Marjgery Harris car cross Florida greenway and maintained by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection with state taxpayer dollars. decisions about their management have
always been the purview not just of Putnham County but of all fidians. Second, it is important to remember where much of the Okawaha's water comes from. The Silver River fed by Silver Springs in
Marian County is the Okawaja's primary tributary and provides the majority of the flow. Restoring the Silver and Akawahas River's natural connection to the St. John's River supports the long-term
health and reliability of the entire system, including water availability for Putnham County. Senate Bill 1066 does not take water away from Putnham. It strengthens water
security by restoring springs, revolving, reviving the flood plane forest that naturally stores and filters water and reducing reliance on an aging high-risk dam and reservoir that toss
significant water to evapor that lose significant water to evaporation and pose a risk to the people and property of weaka. This bill also provides this commission
a former seat formal seat at the table to identify community transition needs, help guide state investments in outdoor recreation and economic development and ensure maximum benefit for Putnham
County. Senate Bill 1066, House Bill 981 is a positive for Putnham County, not a threat, and I urge the commission to support it. Thank you for your time.
>> Thank you, >> Linda Myers. Good morning, commissioners. >> Good morning. >> Um, I know this sounds to some people like we're beating a dead horse, but truth of the matter is everybody here is concerned about the future and so the
more we all learn, the more we all share is positive. So, for example, was I was appreciative of hearing the drought information today and m commissioner Harvey's comments about West Putham Lakes. My 50 years here, you some of you longer because you were born here. I've
seen those lakes come and go just like you mentioned. Cowpin over time I had friends there. We could walk across it some years. Some years we water skied it. And I know we don't particularly like hurricanes, but the lack of a hurricane, a lack of serious one for a
couple of years has really caused contributed to this drought situation. But let me start by why I'm here today. I appreciate that's the great timing of that though. For the record, my name is Linda Myers. I live in East Palaca and I've had the privilege of serving this community as Putnham County tax
collector, Putnham County Commissioner, and as president of our chamber of commerce. Like you, I care deeply about Putinham and getting the wa aka River Restoration right for Putinham. I want to be very clear, Senate Bill 1066 and
its companion bill entitled the Northeast Florida River Springs and Community Investment Act is not picking on Putham County. Quite the opposite. This bill was written with Putinham in mind and with direct input from leaders and stakeholders. It recognizes both the
history of the Rodman, its significance to our community, and the realities that we face today in changing times. 1066 does three important things specifically for Putnham County. It addresses the public safety and resiliency on our terms. The Kurpatre
Dam is nearly six decades old, decades old, and classified, as you know, high hazard. We want the opportunity to make decisions before we're forced to based on things out of our control, any potential disasters. Second, and important, it invests directly in
Putnham's economy. The bill creates a targeted economic investment program for Putnham County and Marian recognizing that we share almost equally the reservoir lands impacts and opportunities. Independent economic analysis has projected nearly 200
million in net benefits over 20 years. Third, and most important, I think to all of you and from some of your comments, it strengthens recreation and local control. The bill funds fishing and boating access, upgrades to ramps and peers, increases shoreline fishing
opportunities, which I know we've all concerned with sustenance fishing and other outdoor recreation infrastructures that would position Putham to maximi maximize benefits from restored rivers and springs. Importantly, the bill creates an
advisory council with voices from our local government, our business communities, and other stakeholders to guide and prioritize for state investment in our recreation and our economy. This legislation moves us past the
decades of gridlock. It protects our residents, respects our fishing legacy, and positions Putnham County for long-term economic growth. tied to healthy rivers. With the commission's support, we can maximize this state investment in Putnham County.
1066 and 981 are positive for Putnham County. I urge you to readress and reook at the opportunity. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Benji Bates. >> Good morning, Benji Bates. 3,400 Curl
Avenue, Platinum, Florida. So, first I guess um I was coming up here to just want to thank you guys for on public record. You guys, the commission, the staff in particular, Miss Young for the fabulous job that happened last week in Tallahassee. I mean, I it's to see where
our community's come, you know, to have nearly every Interlarkin there, right? Interlarkin working with PLA, working with the county, with our business community, representing Putinham County was awesome. So again, kudos. Congrats to that. Also, just I mean, as you know,
uh we thank you. I guess the chamber thanks you for your support for the the fight on Rodman. Um it's interesting. You know, we just heard our terms. Who's our in that? The chamber, you guys, the city. I don't think we've been had any
input on that bill. So I that takes me back, you know, the head of economic development. I haven't talked to anybody. I mean, the people writing the bill, they're not from Putnham County. Our legislature, our senator, they don't know anything about it. So, again, thank you for what you're doing in that. Um,
you know, not here to debate things, but hearing that, I just can't sit there and not say anything. So, you know, it would have been great to be at the table, you know, from a community to say what we really want. Um, so just just thank you for what you're doing with Robin. Um, thank you for what you did um last week
at the Capitol and continue the good work. Thank you. >> Thank you. Miss Evette Reyes. >> Good morning, ma'am. >> Good morning, Evette Reyes, PO Box 253, Boswick. >> Is that better?
>> Yeah, much better. >> Homeless. You all know how I feel about the homeless. I know the county and a lot of the citizens consider them a nuisance. I consider them people just like the rest of us.
We don't have a shelter. We don't have a way to house them when it's 30°. I want to ask you all to consider the dignity bus. It houses, I don't know, 15, 20 people for the night in their own
pods, in their own areas with security cameras and the whole nine yards. It's a whole big bus. Um, I can get you the information if you'd like, but each area, Interlockan, Palaca, Crescent City, East Palaca, all have
their own pods of homeless people that need to be serviced. Right now, we only have them in Palaca. The churches, that one church that opens up is the only option that we have. I understand the county doesn't have buildings within the
city which is convenient for them to get to. So if this church doesn't open up, these people freeze out in the cold while we are nice and warm in our homes. So, I'm asking you all to consider maybe
collaboratively with the city getting maybe one bus to start to see how it works out and maybe each district from your discretionary funds can maybe pull together and get one for South Putham,
West Putinham and Central Putnham. >> That's all. >> That's all you got to say? You usually got a lot more to say. >> That's all I do have something regard Since you're asking me, since you're asking me, um, regarding the yard trash,
so I've put mine out on State Road 19 and they haven't picked it up and I've called and I have to put it out there on certain times. I didn't know I could call the county, but we kind of need to
get Westboro to step up. >> If you'll call us, we'll take care of it. I don't put it out anymore. I just >> Fair enough. >> I don't because I mean flipping cigarettes and I I my biggest fear is a
fire on my property. I have 10 acres of property out there and I I my biggest fear is the flicking of cigarettes on State Road 19. So, I don't even put it out. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Reyes. All right. Is there anybody else? Do we have any more public comment cards?
Anybody else in the public button to speak? All right. Moving into commissioner committee updates. Um, this was just every one of us serve on different committees and I was just trying to see if there was um, we all go to committees and we all do our own thing and so I would just just trying to
have more discussion at the board. So, if there's something that you're currently working on that on your committee that you think that the other commissioners would like to know about, um, I'm just going to go down the line. If you don't have anything, that's fine because this is sort of newer. Um, but I'm going to start with Commissioner Alexander. if you have a committee that
or I know you're on several committees and I appreciate everyone. I feel like we have a good division now on our on our um committee assignments and that makes me feel happy. >> Good. Good. Well, um when I first became a commissioner, um Chairman Wilkinson,
who wasn't chairman at the time, suggested I join her on the uh behavioral health council. >> I suggested you take it. Well, I didn't know I didn't know if she was sending me there as an example for them to work on treatment or to assist
in their processes, but um no, I really appreciate that. Um as most of you know, my wife is in um geriatric physical therapy and uh works with a lot of the um the folks in their homes and you know, Lake Estates, uh
Flaggler Estates and stuff like that. So I I made a promise to her um when I started that I I would get involved in some of these activities. Uh Ride Solutions was another one. But um just a brief update on that. Um I maintain a booth every year. I started that with my campaign. Last year I donated that booth
space to the ARC so they could get the word out about the low lowcost uh spay and neuter. And this year I have donated that uh that position to the behavioral health council and there are scheduling times that coincide with that spec
specific demographic that should be present at the fair. Um because there there are there are a lot of programs out there that I was unaware of and I'm hoping that uh more people in our community that may not have you know great access to social media or whatever. Um, this is a probably the
biggest event that we have communitywide and I'm I want them to be able to reach that group. So, that's what's going on with that one. Uh, Ride Solutions, you guys know, is is back up and running. We're working on some stuff with that. I don't know how that's going to go. It's it's a challenge. Um, I continue to
advocate for it in Tallahassee because unlike most of our our communities around us where you have dense populations, Putnham County, we've got 76,000 official, probably a little over 80 unofficial, but they're spread out
across what, 700 miles square miles. And um, you know, we need a transportation source. those folks that from their homes to their doctor's appointments to get groceries to get their medication and they they don't have that opportunity. So, it's it's
even a bigger issue for us. So, we're working on that. And then as far as the waterways and trails comm you know obviously is close to my heart. I just spoke with Mr. Commando talking about um some things with uh expanding the trails
also Dun Creek State Park. Um, we're just entering discussions about getting a no wakeake zone right there at the old goat farm. Most of you from Putnham County know it, but it's a very narrow pass there and uh we've got a handicap kayak access there as well as a small
dock and we want it to be safe for folks to launch their kayaks and actually get to utilize that shoreline. And with boats speeding by there at 40 and 50 miles an hour, it's it's quite dangerous. So, um, talking about that and, um, I think that's about all I've got going on right now.
>> Okay. All right. Commissioner Harvey. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. The only thing I have on the North Florida Economic Development Partnership. They'll be in town in June in Putnham County and u we're going to we're looking for a place to host them for lunch. uh they've come
before, but this is I think 13 different counties if I'm not mistaken. But um they'll come here. Last we went up to Jasper last week and went to their meeting um which was quite a long meeting. I mean not a long but a long drive up there and you in almost in the
middle of nowhere, beautiful facility, but they're going to be here in Putnham County. So Laura and them are working on something extravagant for to show off Putinham County and we look forward to seeing that. So, we'll keep you a breast on the the date in June and let you know what's going on. So, thank you, Madam
Chair. >> All right. Very good. Um, Commissioner Newold. >> Thank you. Um, working with our I'm on the solid waste adjust board. We're working on a date to meet in the spring. So, that's coming together. Um, Florida Association of Counties Trusts. I think at our last
meeting I reported uh representatives at the risk management meeting held in St. John's County. That was we had good representation there from the county. Um, our next meeting is uh March the 5th in Tallahassee. I'll be up there for that. Um, Putnham County Development
Board is uh active at this moment where that is an entity that owns some property in the county. It's charged with um finding ways to improve our our economic activity within the county. Um there's there are some positive things
going on there that we could report on in the future. Um, as Commissioner Alexander said, the Putham County Fair uh is March 20th through March 28th. And that is, you know, one of our the biggest activities in the county. Um, all of your commissioners spend time
there and help promote that. And there's wonderful things going on at the fair. Um, things are going to be tight there this year. There's a building project going on. Um, that just request everybody that goes out to be patient with parking. Um,
I don't know if there's We're looking for some alternative places to to park people and and Josh, I don't know if uh uh we might be able to reach out to ride solutions, maybe employ some of their small buses to help shuttle people, but
okay. Um, let's see. Park wreck. We had our regular meeting in February. uh mostly you know basic activities there although our the members of that will be coming back at the next meeting just charge them with going out and taking
inventory and and seeing what the need are in those specific county parks locations. So that's a a well a good working board that makes progress uh regularly. I'm on a little project for animal services. Um, I kind of
volunteered to start to revamp the enforcement arm of animal services. Got a a a small team working together. We have a um been reviewing our code, other counties codes, comparing and contrasting and and we'll be gathering a
a group of of county players to push that forward. We have a the sheriff has a new um a deputy that is recently um hired in in training and we're looking for good things in that space.
That's all I have. >> Very good. Um before I move on to Commissioner Palier, a quick question for Mr. Grimes. I know when we talked about the fair building and what's going on there, a lot of that's going to be cleaned up and it's not going to look like if you rode out there tonight.
We're digging up stuff, a lot of that's going to be cleaned up by the tuner gets here, right? >> That's what you indicated to me. >> Yeah. Um we're >> if it's not we just got to get >> No, we're condensing. Um so we all the
storm water system is in Okay. Um but with the storm water system as it flows to the wetland um we have drain boxes for no better term that are up. So we got to do some protection around those for the fair. Uh we met out there yesterday. Um they're pouring the
the footers or the columns for the the steel beams building should be going in Thursday. U there for an inspection tomorrow for the footer be poured on Thursday. I asked how long it would be before how much drying time they needed and it all some of it was weather
dependent. Um they're hoping one week. Uh but they'll set a sample out and make sure the concret is hard enough to make sure that we can start hanging steel. If we can get some of that steel moved would be great by the fair. Just that's one thing that's kind of got to spread out. But we work yesterday on a condensing plan for there and putting a
new access road in um across some of the old swailes. Um okay. >> Because the exit road used to go right there by the ticket booth and go out. Well, that's right where that new building is. So, we're working on a a temporary exit road. We met with the president of the association yesterday and the contractor told to get as far as
we can for about a week out in front of the fair and then we put the road in around whatever we needed to do. Right. If feels moved that we can put it here if it's not there, but we do have a plan moving forward. Um, we've also created some more parking. They they they've done some efficient moves on where to put like some livestock trailers and
stuff along the way that will create some spaces. We've also done a little bit of moving around. They've communicated with the sheriff's office about how how far the parking usually goes out. So, they have a plan. I just hope as much as I want rain, I don't want it the week of the fair, >> right?
>> Um so, as we they have we have made some alternative plans um of trying to get people around for parking. So, we should be in good shape. It's just all a lot of us depending >> and >> and we're putting up fences. Yes. Around the work site so we don't have a person get in to the to the site that doesn't need to be there and trying to really
condense the work area the weeks leading up to the fair. >> Yeah. And we have a little bit of time. I just was I remember you had tell the sky wasn't falling and that it wasn't quite as bad as it looked today. >> The sky is not falling. We're under control. >> Yep. Okay. All right. Um Commissioner
Palisier. Um, Madam Chair, you have me on three boards. Um, one of them is not in session right now, which is most favorite is the canvasing board. Look forward to that. When that engages, I think around June or July, we start having some meetings and uh discussing
uh that's going to pro move along. Um, I serve on the uh development authority with Commissioner Newold, which is u I really enjoy that. We've uh looking at moving some um surplus properties that the county has in either uh rental or sale uh possibly. Um
that that's always a good thing. And the other one is the um always interesting CRA board with the uh my city commissioner colleagues. Um always interesting working with them down in the city and seeing if we can help them
move along some of their projects that seem to sometimes just stall. But uh anyhow uh that is a brief update of where I am. Thank you. >> Thank you. Oh, no. The um when I met this the city of Palakam manager said that they have 38
um projects that they're in the middle of doing right now. 38 um grants and projects that they're in the middle of of seeing through. So, I think we've got a lot of things going on in the city that we probably don't know all the details of. Um
thank you for I am on the transportation disadvantage board. Uh we did just review our annual report, our annual um uh contract really that goes up to the state. So that'll be signed and going up there pretty soon. I'm on the Ahack, the
affordable housing committee. Uh we're always looking to see how we can make some positive changes in in that direction. We do have the ability to do um some repairs and down payment assistance. We haven't opened that yet, but we're very hopeful we'll be able to
open that again soon. And then on the TDC board, um we had that update today where we're we've gotten a web design and um uh advertising. So, moving forward on that. And then the Northeast Florida Regional Council, Larry, did you have anything you wanted to say about
that? It we really don't have anything. >> Yeah, nothing's going on there. >> There's just everybody's working on their legislative priorities. >> So, thank you all for doing that. I think it's just important if we can just have that talk since we can't talk outside of here. Um, just giving each other an update of what's going on in our respective boards. Um, I've seen a
couple people come in. Thank you. Um, we had already had commission, we've had already had public comment time, but I see Miss Darlene, are you here for public comment? >> Yes, she is. >> Okay. I thought she was.
12. >> It's okay. It's all right. No problem. >> If she wants to get ready, we'll be glad to have her speak. >> Okay. >> Yes, ma'am. That'll be fine. >> She had emailed me and told me that she
was coming in. >> Yes, ma'am. She also has some um uh copies of her uh speech that she was going to give. >> Okay. >> And flyers for you for the next meeting of the group that she is involved in.
>> Okay. That's fine. >> And it's good to know you. How are you, Miss Leo? >> Good. >> Oh, yes, ma'am. >> Okay. I used to do insurance, but then I switched to real estate. My husband
All right, Miss Darlene, we're ready when you are. >> You ready for me? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. I'm gonna have my phone r to speak to you and I need to turn the Bluetooth off because it's connecting to my hearing aid.
>> Hey Siri, >> thank you. >> Turn Bluetooth off. Okay, Bluetooth is now off. The numbers are clear. Begin forward message from Darl January 24.
>> Hello, my name is Darene Label Crow. Today I speak with the full support of people adjusting to limited sight pals and the Palaka New Vision Lions Club. Our miss is to inspire unity among our commission and community leaders so every person with a disability can
participate fully in community life, enjoy a vibrant quality of living and thrive with dignity and independence. >> Hello, my name is Darlene Label Crow. Today I speak with the full support of people adjusting to limited sight pals
and the palaka new vision lions club. Our mission is to inspire unity among our commission and community leaders. So every person with a disability can participate fully in community life, enjoy a vibrant quality of living, and thrive with dignity and independence.
The numbers are clear. According to national data, nearly 13 of Putnham County residents under 64 have a disability. For those over 65, it's nearly one in four. Across the US, one in four Americans will experience a disability during their lifetime. These
statistics represent our neighbors, friends, and family, each deserving our advocacy and support. Nearby counties benefit from senior services, independent living programs, and active councils on aging, which connect citizens to resources and opportunities.
In Putham County, however, many people wait for vital services due to shortages in funding, providers, and transportation. No one should face isolation or hardship as the norm. We urgently need a council on aging in Putham County, an organization that will
listen to residents, seek new funding, and champion essential programs, especially for those outside city limits where transportation is limited. Without this, too many are left behind because of circumstances beyond their control.
Disability can affect anyone at any time. I lost my sight in my 50s and had to relearn how to live independently while technology helps at home. True inclusion requires access and opportunity throughout our community. Current state programs helps some, but
many still struggle alone. Today, I urge our commissioners and leaders to help build a more inclusive Putnham County. By forming advisory councils, expanding resources, and raising awareness, we can ensure every resident, regardless of age or ability, can live a life of
opportunity and connection. Let's make our county a model of hope and inclusion for all. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Darling. >> Toolbar compose button. Double tapes today.
>> Swipe up with three finger. I got to get it to turn off. >> Okay, >> I got you. Okay, >> did you have any questions for Miss Darling? >> No, ma'am. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you, Sue, for helping her. >> Oh, you're welcome. And uh for y'all
that don't know, I am u uh with the division alliance. This is is Ron Kalik and uh Bobby Jackson over here. And uh uh Ron was is a member of our club. Uh he and Darlene are the ones that um
started the PAL group, people adjusting to losing sight along with Beta Jackson from the Conklin Davis Center in Daytona who has been coming up and the one thing that we have realized working especially with the Lions is that we don't know how
many people are affected because once they lose their vision or lose their hearing or have other disabil abilities. They are isolated and we don't know who they are. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay, Miss Sterling, come in. I'll lead
you to your check. >> Okay, >> thank you. >> Thank you so much. >> And just for the public, while she's sitting down uh that you're invited to on March 17th um from 2 to 4 to the Putnham to the Palaca Public Library, they're having a people adjusting to
limited site uh fellowship and community connection. So, I think it's open to the public. Also, we have Melissa Ray. >> Hey, you guys. >> Welcome. >> Sorry for missing the public comment.
>> You guys went through that agenda quick this morning. >> Yeah, I know. It's not normally like that. You can pull that up, Melissa. It's okay. We're still we're not going to turn you away. >> Appreciate that. Um, so I'm going to speak really quickly because I know I have three minutes and I have the gift of gab. So I'm going to do it really quickly. And he has the gift of not
gabbing. So he's going to stand. >> He's just going to smile. >> Good morning, commissioners. My name is Melissa Ray and I come before you today respectfully asking for your help. My husband and I have lived in this community our entire lives. For the past 14 years, we have faithfully served this county both personally and
professionally. In 2014, we purchased our home outright. There was no mortgage, no loan. It was a HUD foreclosure that needed significant repairs. In many ways, it looked a lot like us at that time. Most of you know that my husband and I are both in long-term recovery. Our journey began in
2012. So, while we were re rebuilding our lives, we were also rebuilding that home and pouring ourselves into rebuilding this community. In 2016, we were approved for the SHIP program. We were grateful. It provided funding for major renovations that we could not have
afforded on our own. While we did not have input on the contractor or the work performed, we remained thankful for the assistance and complied fully with the program requirements. Now, fast forward, we have owned and occupied our home continuously for over a decade. We have never refinanced. We
have never transferred the title. We have never defaulted. According to our agreement, as long as we lived in the home for 20 years, did not refinance, and did not transfer ownership, the ship assistance would remain a grant. Today, we're not selling our home, we are not transferring it. We are not in violation of any terms. We are simply requesting
subordination so that we can access a small portion of the equity in our home to make necessary repairs and continue investing in the nonprofit organization that we have dedicated our lives to serving this community through. As the executive director of a nonprofit, I understand structure, policy, and
process. I also understand urgency. I began requesting assistance in January. I was informed that the appropriate contact was on emergency leave with no return date and our request was stalled. I continued calling multiple times a week for those two months. Now our loan
is clos Now our loan closing is pending and time is critical. We were recently advised that this was an unfortunate situation and that we might consider scaling back our renovations in order to pay back the ship. Respectfully, that guidance appears inconsistent with the very
purpose of SHIP to promote housing stability and long-term home ownership. We have also reviewed county policy stating ship matters requiring board action typically take six weeks for agenda placement and four additional weeks for a decision. However, we became aware of a prior ship related matter
involving approximately $250,000 for an apartment complex that was approved in about 20 days and subordinated not once but twice in 2022 and again in 2024. If the county has the ability to act swiftly to subordinate a $250,000 corporate mortgage, we respectfully ask
the same consideration for our $17,000 ship mortgage so that we can preserve our home and continue serving this community. We have remained fully compliant, continuous ownerships, continuous primary residency, no default, no transfer of title. We are simply asking
for subordination so we can remain stable homeowners and continue giving back to the county that has given us so much. Thank you for your time and consideration. >> Look at you. You got that in exactly three minutes. You did great. >> Yeah. Commissioner Harvey, you're recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, Mr.
Commando, this is a request. We could not hear this today. would have to be an agenda item. Correct. >> That's correct. >> Thank you. >> I'm a little bit taken back by this request. I didn't know this was an issue. Have Mr. Julian, have you >> It's the first I've heard of it as well.
>> Yeah. >> So, when you were dealing with this ship, you were dealing with um >> So, I count I called the county office >> several times beginning in January and was told that Cindy Trent was on emergency leave with an unknown return date. about a month,
>> she's been working with Guardian. So, Guardian's the one that looks at the um the local housing assistance plan and they look at what the requirements are for it and and they're just trying to apply the guidelines that um that essentially say if somebody's going to
transfer title or refinance that it accelerates the terms of the loan. So, I'm not saying anything wrong with what you're asking for. I'm just telling you that that's what they're applying to the loan. So, it could be considered as far as um if the request is something that is um adding to the investment of the
house. Um the commission would have to take a look at that. You'll have to take a look at how it impacts the rest of the ship applicants. Is this something that you want to see as a more frequent occurrence? Um I think there's a number of things that the commission would want to discuss on this if they put it on a future agenda.
>> Okay. Um Miss Young. Okay. You you don't have any comments or you did >> reach out to me directly. details of what's happen. >> So again, my my immediate concern was the fact that I attempted to find out
what the process was in the beginning of January. And so now we're at the end of the closing on this loan when this came up. And it was actually our loan officers that were able to get a hold of Guardian. We couldn't even get a hold of Guardian. We were given the wrong number when we called. So, there's something
going on in the county office where that process is not clear to immunity. >> Yeah, I appreciate you saying that. Um, we'll look into that as well. I know Miss Trent has had a she her husband's >> she's been working intermittently though. She's been here. Again, if Miss Ray will reach out to me, um, we'll
we'll dissect each step of the process that she's been through and see where there could have been a misstep. if it was on the county side or anything, we'll correct that on our side, of course, and then what we can to assist her in her request. >> Okay? And and if there is a a missing
gap or something when somebody is gone at the county, we want to make sure that those phone calls get forwarded to somebody else or somebody else >> handles that. >> There's there's multiple people on staff that can assist with requests of this nature. >> All right. So about two weeks ago, I finally asked who her supervisor was
because I understand emergencies happen, you know. However, there needs to be somebody to replace that person, and I was told the only person I could talk with was Mr. Suggs, and he was in a um meeting that would last the entire afternoon. >> Okay. >> So, I I mean, I tried for several
several weeks to get a hold of somebody concerning this. >> All right. Um Commissioner Alexander, did you want to say something? >> Yes, ma'am. Um if it if it um pleases the chair, I would like to sit in on some of these meetings because I know very little about SHIP and I would like
to learn more about the process if that's acceptable to you. I don't want to have >> You can come to the SHIP meetings and watch them. >> Okay. >> Is that what you're asking? >> Ship meetings or this process because I'd like to learn more about it because I've heard about it, but obviously I'm not very well verssed and I want to learn more about it. >> Yeah, you can come. I mean, they're all um where you can Julian can go back and
give you the um the recordings of the ship meetings and all of that, but that's not what this is about. That's >> Sure. Sure. Sure. >> Yeah. Anyway, Miss Julian will if you two will get together. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you both for coming forward.
All right. Appointments. Going through appointments. Do we have any appointments? Uh Commissioner Alexander? >> Commissioner Newold? None. >> Commissioner Harvey, >> I have none. >> Commissioner Palisier, >> I have one. Actually had him last week
and I dropped him through the crack. So >> Oh, I hate when that happens. >> Uh Brent Coats, I'd like to appoint to the fair authority. >> Okay. Who? Oh, that's on your District 5 fair authority. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Miss Bardi, I have some contact info. I'll get with you after the meeting.
>> Okay. All right. And I have none. >> Sure. So, with that, uh, clerk of courts, do you have a, um, comment? He had to step out. >> Oh, he had to step out. >> Yes, ma'am. >> County attorney. >> Nothing. Thank you, ma'am. >> County Administrator Suggs.
>> Good morning. Pull your mic up, please, a little bit. >> Sorry, maybe if I turn that on. Thank you, Miss Young. >> Um, just wanted to say, uh, really quick because I know you find we're going to talk about it. Uh, Putnham Day. uh huge
event, huge, huge successful event last Thursday in Tallahassee. You know, it was interesting when I interviewed for this position several years ago, one of the first interview me was uh Commissioner Bill Pickkins. One of the questions Mr. Pickkins asked
me at that time was, "Mr. Suggs, if you're successful in getting this job, what would you do to showcase Putnham County?" And that was one of the things I mentioned to him in the interview was, you know, we take a page out of the book of our surrounding counties and have a a day at the Capitol, Putinham Day. And
uh, you know, and and to see it come to fruition. I know Representative Payne has done Yman's work on rural days. And what a wonderful event that is, and the way it's grown from a handful of counties to all rural counties, and the recognition that we have up there for uh
for for that event is outstanding. But to see Thursday night come together the way that it did uh was just phenomenal. It was uh it really was a great event. The overall theme that I kept hearing from the folks that were in attendance was uh frankly was oh my god Putham
County is showing out. Uh that came from the legislators that came from just the folks walking the room. That came from your folks from Putnham County. And so that was that was a heck of a tribute to you five uh and to the staff. Uh you can't say enough about the folks that
went and set up, the folks that participated. Uh Mr. Tilton talking about a solid waste and gas location. You have Mr. Sullivan holding court back there at the Port Authority table. Matt Reynolds, honorable Matt Reynolds and the staff talking about teen court, you know, and then you have GP in the
chamber. What just a wonderful, wonderful event. And I just wanted to personally say thank you to you five for for allowing that to happen up there. Thank you to the staff who participated because it it was a long long day for them and to Miss Young who took this
challenge on early and just absolutely a home run with this one. Bases loaded, bottom of the ninth home run. It was fantastic. So, uh, thank you, Miss Young, Mr. Grimes, and everybody else that participated. But it was just a wonderful event and, uh, was just proud
to be there. So, thank you guys. >> All right. Does any either of the deputy administrators wish to say anything? >> Just on that note, um certainly Mrs. hit on it, but Thursday was a success, not because of one person, but because of all of us um from from J.R. driving back
and forth to Tallahassee for 10-minute meetings that were required by the capital to all of our executive directors who um jumped in at at the first chance. Right? This was a volunteer thing. We went to them and said, "Hey, do you want to work it? It's work. It's not this isn't play." Right. And every one of our executive directors
stepped up and said, "Yes, we're there." Um, I went to James Richie and said, "I need it. We have to run it. I don't even know what I have for it there." And he goes, "I got you. Don't about it." And I was like, "I don't know if I have electrical cords. I don't know if I have internet. I don't know if I have anything." And he said, "I'll make it happen." Um, so it's not a success
because one of us, it's a success because of the team that we have here. And that includes our business sponsors, um, who also stepped up and graciously gave and covered every expense that we had. Um and and hopefully we'll reconcile with some leftover funds that starts whatever you guys want to do for
the next next round. So um that's it for me. Thank you. >> Very good. All right. With that, we'll go into commissioner comments. Um start with Commissioner Harvey. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I want to echo that, you know, it was a home run last week. It was one of those in the park
home runs. how how exciting it is, you know, when they keep dropping the ball and you're making it to third and coming home. Um, you know, I always say if we're not telling our story, somebody else is. And they're not telling it right. And we had an opportunity
Tallahassee last week to attend meetings, to attend the gallery, to be recognized in the gallery, to be upstairs and entertain legislators and staff. And it was an impark home run
that excited. All of our sponsors were there setting up their booth talking about what they do. Um I know Commissioner Palace will share something soon about that, but it was it was good for us to tell our story because we have a good story to tell. We're in the hub
of so many emerging counties and we have the opportunity to to really grow Putnham County the right way and put Putham County on the map. So, I I do want to thank our staff. I know how hard y'all worked. Um do need to get my extension my bucket of extension cords
back. James called me says, "Do you have any extension cords?" I said, "I have a whole box full." >> They're in my truck to them back. >> Okay, good. Thank you. You know, but but like Julian, we don't know what we need, but we're going to take everything that
we have and we'll make it work. Um so do want to say that it also gave us an opportunity um one of our sponsors say Robin Reservoir paid to be a partner up there and they were up there uh making good comments to the legislators and I
believe the legislators have heard from the citizens of Putnham County. I know the governor has uh the the the bulk of Putton County citizens do not want anything to happen to Lake Octawa Rodman Reservoir and they really started showing out and we were hearing from
legislators where that they're finally hearing from us. U but again Mr. Bates I appreciate your comments because it's the same as it was last time when when Dan Davis tried to use us against the dredging of the port. we didn't have any
involvement in that and he came down and publicly apologized for that and it's important that Putnham County has a seat at the table when the conversation starts, not after the bill is written. That's the the thing about that. And I also want to thank my opponents against
that. You didn't beat me up too bad. I've been beat up here a lot worse than that. So, uh I don't mind that too much. But I'm always going to stand for our environment and our conservation as the people in West Putinham suffer because of wells running dry. And if you don't believe me, you can go to Rodman
Plantation and ask Kay Offford about that today. Um, and other people that are suffering dearly right now because of that. And I also want to say I just flew in last night from Washington DC.
I'm going to try to do this is as you know I'm the second vice president of FAC, the Florida Association of Counties and this board has allowed me to have that opportunity to move up to be president. Um never been done here in
Putham County before. On Sunday at 12:15 I was able in the in the rain and the sleet to be one of four people who put the wreath on tomb of the unknown soldier. uh recognizing recognizing Florida's 67 counties. When they played
taps, there wasn't a dry to be found. I was asked to briefly under my breath mention some people that their loves were buried in Arlington National Cemetery. What an opportunity for for a for a guy that frankly people gave up on
in this community. Said I'd never turn out to be anything. started right here in this plaza. Um, bag groceries, you'll never make it. Had a great career. Had a great life. Still have a great life, great career.
It's amazing that people, and I always tell our young people, you can recreate yourself anytime in Putnham County because we give people second, third, 450th chances if you need it. So, it was a highlight of my life. We'll have three
more attempts at doing this. So I would encourage all of our commissioners love to have you all up there watching that and being part of that. It was really really a great time. We flew home yesterday. We didn't know we were cuz we were it was snowed a little bit in DC.
Um first plane wasn't functional. It just wouldn't fire up for some reason. So they put us on a second plane. Thank God that round that out before we were in there like Commissioner Alexander. So, uh, but we got home and everything
was good and just an honor to serve, uh, this commission in the role that I do on a regional and state and national basis so we can propel Putnham County and promote Putnham County to the finest uh, ways we do it. So, thank you, Madam
Chair, and I appreciate you allowing me to make my comments. >> All right, Commissioner Alexander, you're recognized. I'm having a little trouble with my voice today. So, I mean, you're always strategic, so you put me close to the end so everybody else can cover
everything. But, uh, Larry, what a true honor to go up there and be able to participate in that. Um, every one of us on this board has the utmost respect for our veterans and to be able to take part in a ceremony like that, um, that that's something to be proud of. And again, um,
I echo your statements regarding reinventing yourself in Putnham County. Um, I think each one of us up here on the board, came from somewhere different than where we are now and we respect that and we we are all utilizing that to make the best
and the most of Putnham County and do the the job best job that we can for our constituents. We're fighting hard for something we believe in. And basically what's been conveyed to us by the folks that put us in this position, this is what we want. This is what you want us
to fight for. Um, you know, we're just conduits of the folks that we represent. Um, so I'm going to do what I'm what's asked of me by those folks until they decide they want to make a change. But right now, I'm going to carry that torch
forward. But on a brighter note, everybody's already told uh Miss Holmes what a great job she did and it's a team effort. But at the end of the day, the team's got to have a captain, a quarterback, a leader, and uh she did a fantastic job up there. Thank you very
much. That's all I got. >> Right, Commissioner? >> Well, I'm just going to again pile on that. That's really the the bulk of my commentary is thanks to the staff. Um, we were very well represented in in
Tallahassee. I think there were folks from Interlockan, Crescent City, uh, Pomona Park, Palatka, all from those municipalities. Um, all five commissioners were there. I mean, I was surprised when um,
legislators from other places said, "You have all five commissioners in one place. How how do you do that?" Well, I mean, we had department heads, we had staff members, and we would not have been nearly as effective without those folks there in the room. I mean, we had representatives from the the largest
entities, um, you know, GP and and Steuart Marchman and, um, Bass Pro all the way down to the little tea company in Crescent City. And, and that I mean, it speaks volumes. today. Folks were overwhelmed with how
Putnham County came to show off and and make themselves present. So, thank y'all so much. It uh it was eye opening to me. Um but I got to tell you, having staff there, I think Charlie Douglas was there just on behalf of the community, there's so many little people that that um that
were working the room that were were giving details. Man, it was it was good stuff. So, we've got to continue that. Maybe, you know, we'll just keep it rolling. So, thank you all. And it's all I've got. >> That's all you got. >> That's all I got. >> Commissioner Pelis, you're recognized. >> Okay.
Number one, I would love to see our constituents use some common sense. If you're outside and the wind's blowing your hair and you could fly a kite really, really well without much effort, don't strike a match.
I think that's just some common sense that we all should uh pay heed with. Um I I've got three or four nice trash piles at my house. I'm just ready to go, but I'm not about dare to do that until we get some get some precipitation. Um we have uh I would like to ask that we
have a uh workshop u at 2 o'clock on our next meeting um uh in March uh to discuss some more updates on the Fort Gates uh happenings down there. um on our part. I think some good things we're
going to hear. Uh not necessarily the end of the uh road for that deal, but certainly I think it's a it's a step in the right direction. >> So I would like to have that if we could. >> All right. Do So you want to make a motion to have a >> Yes, I would like to make a motion. >> Motion to have a workshop on uh 2
o'clock on what's our next meeting? March 10th of March. >> March 10th. >> I'll second that. >> All right. Any further discussion? All right, I guess we're about to go here. >> Um, all in favor say I. I. >> I.
>> Okay. So, we'll move um the Fort Gates Ferry discussion to March 10th at 2 o'clock in a workshop. >> All right. >> Um, everybody's talked about it. I'd be remiss if I left it out. Putinham Day. I had no clue as to what really to expect.
Um, and it it was just a a thing that came together so quickly, so fast with so many people. It it was like it was in u the tape was spinning very fast and you couldn't keep up. And Commissioner
Harvey said an inside park home run. I think we hit it out of Leyon County. I'm feel pretty certain we did. Um, I know I'm going to miss some people, but um, our sponsors, we can't thank them enough. They they picked up the whole ticket for everything that was done up
there. SMA, GP, Clerk of Court, uh our local hospital, S Rodman, Bass Pro, Bates Huitt, uh Clay Electric, Florida Power and Light, um Douglas Law Firm, Beck Auto, and that group downtown. Um Chamber of Commerce. That's it. That's
it. Yeah, those guys that that won't die, Miss Pavlo. So, uh anyhow, they they did a everybody did a great job. It just it just came together so fast, so quickly. And I like I said, I had no idea what to expect. But I could not have been prouder of Putnham
County. And by God, they know who we are now. We shine brighter than the sh brightest star you've ever seen. I'm telling you, it just I saw legislators come out of that elevator and when they saw what we had on display, um it was amazing. Uh the um
the the track guy, the track the >> legacy >> legacy track people that was there. That was a lot of fun. They had the you could get in and sit and drive the track thing. That was a lot of fun. >> Did you? >> I did. And I I think I turned the second best time on that by the by the way. Absolutely. But uh
>> yeah, a little bit. I was never running from the law, Larry. Um but anyhow, um it was just a a well old machine and she doesn't get enough credit. But Miss Young, you you I don't how you got you had a
vision, I guess, or something or it came to you during your a dream or something, but you the food was fantastic. Everything was good. It was just it we couldn't we couldn't have been any better. We just could not have been any better of of how brightly Putinham
shined that day up there. We >> An epiphany, he said. >> Oh, yes. If he'd learned not whisper, I could hear him. Um, yes, it was epiphany. It was it was just a phenomenal day. I can't say enough about it. Um, I think we made a mark that will stick
up there for a little while and if not, we might need to go up next year and freshen it up with some fresh ink on it so they'll remember. But thank you for your time and thank everybody for their help and it was a great day. Thank you. >> All those notes and that's what you got? >> That's what I got. >> Okay.
>> Thank you. I'd like to give this board grief because we have to have fun otherwise it's way too serious. >> Yeah. >> Um, a couple things I want to talk about. Um, first of all, I want to uh give my hats off to the animal services group. We had 15 dogs adopted this
weekend uh in cooperation with the farmers market and with the town of Interlarkin. So, we want to thank them. We want to thank the town of Interlarkin and the farmers market for allowing us to have those pet adoptions there. It's a big deal for us to get 15 uh dogs adopted in one weekend and and uh we're
moving that. Um we've made so many changes out there and we're continuing to make changes and they're all for the good and we're going to see so many things happening out there and animal services codes. Um Commissioner Newold, you mentioned you were working on that. I want to say thank you for taking the lead on that. That is something that
needs to happen in regards to our burn van. Um, I just want to say that I hope that the sheriff's office is able to write tickets and then he he's already left. There he is. So, is there anybody here? Soon as I go to say something, he's gone. Anyway, I'd like to see um
I'd like to see that really enforced. If there's something that that needs to be done, we need to be writing tickets. We wrote the code and uh now we need them the ordinance and now we need it enforced on the sheriff's office. Um resources in Putinham.
There's there are resources. The challenge is and Miss Avet has been dealing with this with a with a couple that we're help I'm helping her with and um there's a lot of resources that do come to Putham County through a a variety of agencies. But then how does
those resources get to the actual people on the ground? That's the challenge. How does it get to the people? And we have a resource guide, but at the same time, you got to be able to get to the resource guide. And then and then what Miss Avette found out with a homeless couple that she an unhoused couple she's
working with is you they they don't even have identification. You have to go and get the identification. I mean it's just a long process to get them the resources. And so we're looking at a lot of that and seeing what gaps we can fill or what dots we can connect to make
things happen better. Um, a lot of agencies in Putnham County receive dollars from both the federal level and the state level in Putnham County, but we need to make sure that those resources are getting to the actual people on the ground, and that's that's
a priority. Um, as far as comments regarding the tents and RVs and rural areas, camper trailers, I can't I can't disagree with you. Uh, one of the things, and I think we've talked about this before, the state
codes people cannot go out and just actively go up to somebody's door and knock on their door and say, "Hey, you can't you're not allowed to live in this tent." That's not what the state of Florida allows. The state of Florida says they have to be and and I'm talking
pretty layman's term, but if I say something wrong, um, I assume my county attorney will correct me. You have to turn in, somebody has to turn in the code's case, you have to be willing to give your name and address. And the problem we have in this county is, and it's not just this county, it's
statewide. People are afraid to do that. They don't want to give their name and address because they don't want retaliation against from their neighbors. They don't want their neighbors to know they turned them in. The flip side of that is the reason the state did that is because they were getting people who were mad about
everything. Um, and so they were turning their neighbor in for every little thing and then it wasn't really a true code's case. So if you are upset about something, you you somebody has to be willing to turn in the address and put
give your name and address and what the code is and then it can be followed up with a code's case. So we had some of them come today uh three of them come in front of us today. codes is active, but again, for them to be able to go out and violate some somebody and give them a
violation or a code, um they have to then um be turned in by somebody. Yes, ma'am. >> Just one point of clarity because we're advising the public of where to go. Anything related to sewage being not properly disposed of, it does not is not handled by codes. It is handled by the
Department of Health Environmental Services. Um, so if there is a concern there that that complaint or report needs to be filed with that division. >> Okay. Thank you for Thank you for that. I appreciate that. Give me just a second. I wanted to pull
up something. And then regarding Rodman, I will make a couple comments. Um, one of the things that really bothers me about this whole discussion of Rodman is that there is not one extensive
empirical research on this highly specific topic. What we do have is we have two major government studies which confirm the exact same conclusion over a three decade period. Um, the St. John's River Water
Management did an almost 30-year period study which confirmed the same exact conclusion. The Rodman Reservoir helps protect the upper Flidian aquifer. In addition, in 1990, and that was study
SJ 2017- FS2, that study documents the effects of a draw down on Rodman Reservoir on the upper Flidian aquifer. It specifically says, quote, "Hydrographs for wells
located adjacent to Rodman Reservoir indicate declines in surficial aquafer water levels of up to six feet and upper flidian aquifer declines of 3 to six feet during the draw down event. These
effects indicate a hydraological connection between the surficial and upper flidian aquifers and a connection between groundwater levels in the stage of the Rodman reservoir. In addition to that in 1990 there was a US geological
survey done hydrarology of the Floridaian aquifer system in east central Florida. This study concludes the increase in pool elevation caused by Rodman Dam reduced the upper Floridaian aquifer
discharge from 89 ft to about 75 ft which is a decline of about 14 ft. My concern has always been about the wells in Putnham County
particularly um in a 15 mile radius. reports indicate that it would affect wells within a 15 milei radius. When you take the he I'm not a science scientist. I'm reading what I've been given and what I've what I've studied on. And when you take the pressure off of the Rodman
Reservoir, we can't risk the 19,000 wells that are within a 15 mile radius of Rodman Reservoir. We can't risk it. We don't have a public water supply to attach those residents to.
And so that is a big a big reason why I completely support um keeping Rodman until I find some kind of scientific empirical da d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d da not something based on somebody's theory not something based on somebody's emotion
um if I had an empirical study and it's completely confirmed that when you draw down Rodman that it doesn't affect the wells that's a different discussion but that's not what I have I have two independent studies that have been done that specifically say that they would
affect the aquafer within the 15 milei range. So that is bothersome to me because I'm very concerned about I mean we're in a drought right now obviously um but I'm very concerned about the constituents that live in that area. Additionally, there was a 2021
inspection report prepared for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection by me and Hunt. And so to say that this is a high risk dam is interesting.
And I'll tell you why. The overall condition assessment of the structure for Rodman Reservoir was considered satisfactory. It said no existing and this is exactly
off of the report itself. No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions in accordance with the applicable regulatory criteria or tolerable risk
guidelines. So this is the highest rating that assessment for the condition of the assessment that can be done. It didn't rate unsatisfactory. It didn't rate poor and it didn't rate fair. It rated at the highest rating which is sadactory.
In addition to that, it said no immediate safety concerns with regard to the lock structure were observed during our inspection. No significant concrete deterioration of the lock chamber was observed. And it
goes on to talk about everything basically didn't it didn't have any issues. And then the inspection report on page 152 of 261. The assessment says, "Assessment of dam hazard potential. The Kurpatre Dam is
currently listed as a lowhazard facility on the web and version of the National Inventory of Dams. So let's just talk truths. Use data. Don't use theories. and don't
use emotions. That's what we aren't afforded whenever we make decisions of constituents of our people of our county. So with that, that's all I have to say about that subject. Is there anything else to come before the board?
All right, this meeting is adjourned.