October 28th and uh welcome to the Putham County Board of County Commissioners regular and port authority meeting. We'll call the meeting to order and we'll start with our invocation by Pastor Allison Wetszel from How Commu How Memorial
United Methodist Church followed by the pledge of allegiance by Commissioner Newbold. Please stand if you're able to do so. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we come before you with open hearts.
calm our minds and quiet our spirits so we may focus fully on the tasks ahead. Grant us your peace which surpasses all understanding and help us approach today with clarity
and with purpose and with integrity. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. To the flag of the stands, indivisibley
and justice for all. >> Thank you. As a reminder, please make sure and silence your cell phones. We're going into the approval of minutes. >> Madam Chair, I move approval of minutes stated in our packet. >> I second that. A motion and a second.
Any discussion? All in favor say I. I. Motion carries. All right. We will uh recess the BOCC and convene the port authority meeting. Is there any public comment on port authority? On the port authority. Ashley, do you have any cards for the port authority?
All right. Any public comments on port authority item? All right. Uh with that, we'll move into the extension of the lease of southern uh section of Port Annex. Good morning, Mr. Sullivan. >> Good morning, Commissioner Sam Sullivan
for for staff. Uh we were approached by a detent uh Mr. Josh Lloyd Copper Roads LLC uh who requested an extension of uh his lease on the current southern part of our port annex. His current lease
expires on July uh January 31st of next year. He is uh requested in writing an extension for two more terms. That would be six months until July 31st of 2026. >> All right. Very good. Thank you. Are there any questions for Mr. Sullivan?
>> Mr. S. Madam Chair. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sullivan. Um, since you and I made our ride out there and looked at the condition of the property. Has there been any improvement there? >> Uh, what do you mean by improvement? It mean like >> what we discussed that day,
>> right? Well, he the long concrete blocks that he intends to use on there are still at my last visit at the same location as when we saw it. >> But he's done nothing. >> Not regarding those. I can't remember everything off top of my head, but the those the large concrete blocks have not moved
>> and and you brought this to his attention. >> Uh they has been discussed with him. It it has been discussed with him shortly after you and I went out there. >> Not since. No. >> And why no movement? I do not know.
>> Does he plan on using those? >> He plans on using them on the property as dividers for his materials. >> Okay. So, it's not it's not that he's not doing anything. He has a plan. He just hasn't implemented his plan. >> That is correct. >> Is that a timing issue? >> I do not know. >> Okay. Commissioner Alexander, you're
recognized. Push your button. >> Sorry. >> Do we have anybody else that's interested in the property? At current time lately, I have not had I do know that we've had a company that was interested in a long-term lease on that property, but nobody else has
approached for a short-term lease on that property. No, sir. But I do know that we had somebody who was interested in long-term. The concern was regarded to dredge materials when the course starts dredging our river. Okay. Understood. Understood. I just um I
found something interesting when I was talking to Mr. subs the other day and it's all still a lot of this is still a learning process for me but it's it was interesting commissioners that when these uh properties that we have lie dormant and we lease those out not only
does the county recognize an additional revenue benefit but the tax collector can actually start collecting taxes on those properties. So any of these dormant properties or vacant properties we have, not only can we receive a rent factor from them, but also the tax
collector gets to collect additional revenue that can be put back into the community. So I assume this guy's doing the same thing. >> Uh once uh the tax bill's uh produced from the tax collector, it is passed along to the uh tenant. Yes, sir. >> Good deal. Good deal, sir. I just want
to share that with you guys and with the community. So that's that would behoove us on the additional properties we have as far as getting something done with them. >> And Mr. Sullivan, just to clarify this this the whole intention because I remember the previous board was the one who started this uh approval of this
process with this tenant. U the purpose is that um it's just supposed to be shortterm because we're going to need that land in the near future. >> That is correct. the the official designation that part of the land, the part that we uh declined to lease out
long-term to uh the tenant who has a northern part was based on the fact that we are going to we are required by the court to have a a designated place for our debris uh dredging materials. That place has been designated as that uh
because it was the most logical and it is within re range of the river where it would be acceptable to the core. So we are hopeful in a couple of years maybe less I don't know what's going on DC right now >> right >> uh we will have be commence dredging
operations and we will be funneling that material to that site before final disposal >> all right >> Madam Chair >> I got Commissioner Alexander's light >> there's a button thank you commissioner Alexander you're recognized
>> what started out as a short-term lease and now we're looking at a year. Um, and now we're talking about we're not really sure what's going on with Washington with additional funding. So, you're saying it could be a couple more years. Um if we have another tenant that's
interested in looking at it and uh who is offer could potentially offer more money and recognize additional revenue for the county um before I would be comfortable renewing this lease. I would like to put it out and see if there's somebody that was in interested in the property at an
additional amount that could you know follow the same terms for short-term uh lease. >> Absolutely. We'll do whatever the port authority directs us to do. >> Thank you. I know you will. You been very good. Thank you. >> Commissioner Paliser, you're recognized.
>> I agree with Commissioner Alexander. I think that's a great idea. Um, we're all about, you know, bringing in more revenue for the county and that number that he's paying is not cut it cutting it and he's not keeping up his end of the bargain by keeping the place somewhat tidy and you know just and and
his neighbor to the north is a far better housekeeper than he is. And um I just u you know we're not we're getting anywhere with this guy. >> Well, we're getting $1,250 a month. But go ahead, uh, Commissioner, I mean,
Mr. Suggs. >> Uh, thank you, Madam Chair. Just a point of clarification for the port authority here this morning. The lease was brought back in front of the board because there's a stipulation within the lease that he has to let us know within 90 days of the expiration of
the lease. Uh, the Mr. Lloyd brought the uh, lease back to Mr. Sullivan with a request to renew it for an additional six months. Uh, as you know, staff is not supporting or or not supporting the board's direction either way on whether
we renew the lease or not. Uh, so whatever the port authority decides to do here this morning, whether you renew the lease or not, we'll move forward in whatever direction that the port authority tells us to. I will tell you that Mr. Lloyd has expressed his desire to stay there for an additional six months to to move his business forward.
However, uh like I said earlier, he's required to within 90 days to give us written notification of his his intentions and and we're just bringing it back to the board for for you to decide this morning whether or not we want to re renew the lease or not. >> Commissioner New, you're recognized.
>> I understand when we got into this lease, there was a maximum time period um stipulated. What is that period? >> I'm sorry, Mr. Bolt. I I understood that there was a maximum time period that he would be allowed to
>> I think it runs through next year if I'm not mistaken. I don't have a copy to lease in front of me. >> Was it run through July? >> Uh the the longest he could uh lease it would be two more after the July. So that would be December January, I'm
sorry, of 27. >> So he would have a whole another year. He could he has another option. >> That's the latest he could be leasing it per the original terms of the lease. All right. And then you anticipate that we will need the um that property. I know it's hard. I know you don't have a
crystal ball. I get it. Um but what are you you're thinking? >> I I'm hopeful. Uh I'm optimist cautiously optimistic that uh within two years we'll be starting dredging operations. >> Okay. >> I mean, right now DC is kind of at a standstill,
>> right? Okay. All right. What's the pleasure of the board? What's the pleasure of the board authority? Madam Chair, um I do think that the current tenant has done a lot more work out there than he thought that was supposed to be done out there according to his
contract. But I I do think that we help this gentleman get started. He's paved our roads, kept our prices down a little bit. So I recommend that we uh renew his lease as he's requested. >> All right. There's motion on the floor. Is there a second? >> I will second. >> All right. We have a motion and a
second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. All opposed. >> Nay. >> All right. Three to two. Motion carries. >> Thank you. >> All right. General discussion on port
authority items. All right. We will adjourn the port authority and reconvene the BOCC. Um Veterans Day proclamation. And if we could have everyone who is here for the Veterans Day proclamation to please come forward and uh Commissioner Paliser will
read the proclamation at the podium. >> No, not at all. If there are any other veterans in the audience who would like to join, please feel free to do so. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, where would we be without our veterans? They are
very important to us. Uh, the very freedom and air that we breathe, we owe to them. And, uh, I'm forever grateful. Put Putham County Proclamation number 2024-0101 declaring November 11th, 2025 as Veterans Day in Putham County, Florida.
Whereas throughout US history, Americans have kept a special and well-deserved place of honor in our hearts of our nations veterans. And whereas for more than 70 years, we have set aside each November 11th to recognize the men and women who have valiantly served our
country, first known as Armmesus Day in 1947 and changed to Veterans Day in 1954. Whereas on this day, we pause to remember and pay tribute to these veterans whose courage and sacrifice have secured our freedom. And whereas in Putnham County, we have over 10,000
veterans who have answered our country's call of duty. And whereas each veteran of our community celebrates and honors our veterans and invites all Americans to display their American flag in honor and pay tribute safely to our Americans who gave themselves to keep us free. Now
therefore, be it proclaimed by the board of county commissioners of Putnham County, Florida, November 11th, 2025 is Veterans Day in Putham County, Florida. done, ordered and adopted this 28th day of October uh 2025. Board of County Commissioners, Padam County, Florida,
Theod Wilson, Chair. Madam Chair, I make a move that we accept this proclamation. >> Second. >> All right, we have a motion to second. All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Thank you. Uh commissioners, are there is there anything you'd like to say? >> There there's so much you could say, but
I'm going to keep it short. I thank you guys. >> All right. Thank you. Yes, I do have a couple words. >> All right. >> Can I do a couple words real quick? >> Awesome. >> Good morning, everyone. Good morning,
county commissioners, Mr. [snorts] Suggs, Miss Julian Young. Hey. Uh, I just want to do a quick year-end review of what the office has done real quick. I need to brag about my guys. I really do. And I'm sorry Zach's not here. He had to he had a family member pass. That's all. So, um, in the past year, we
filed over 6,100 VA forms. 3,700 veterans and their families have come through our office. 7,100 phone calls. Uh, in the fiscal year, we generated 58.8 million into the local economy. uh increased about five and 5.3 million
dollars last year right through our office. Um additionally 608 veterans in 2024 were receiving the taxfree benefit. Uh now there are 730. So that's 122 people getting the tax-free benefit here
in this county. Um and every number that you hear to today it improves a veteran's life. >> It really does. Um, and it's more dollars into our local economy. Um, lastly, I want to thank the board of the county commissioners for allowing us an opportunity to go to a training in
Louisville, Kentucky. So, two interesting facts that I learned about Louisville, Kentucky. Number one, there are 2.5 barrels of bourbon in Louisville for every citizen in Kentucky. And since I'm not allowed to bring back any
bourbon for you guys, I thought I'd bring this baseball bat because the second large fact that I learned is that the world's largest baseball bat is in Louisville, Kentucky. >> Pretty good. >> So, I did want to thank the B board of
county commissioners for all the training opportunities that you offer my office, all the support you guys give us, and I'd like to present this to you, Miss Wilkinson. Great. [applause] [applause]
>> I don't think that's a wise idea her having that. [laughter] [laughter] >> Come on up now. I'd like to invite any of the other veterans in the audience to come forward too if you'd like to be included in the picture. >> Tony, >> we get some more guys on this side. All
right. You can stay right there. >> You guys are good. I'll hide that. >> Appreciate you. >> All right. We try. >> Good. Good. Glad.
>> Put that thing down. >> Yeah, she needs a >> box. Put it away. Thank you. We really appreciate it. Next, we have a world interact week. So, if we can have our fellow Rotarians in
Interact, please come forward. Are you gonna say something after I say something? >> Okay. >> All right. We have a little bit of people coming together. >> What a beautiful group of people. Today I'm here to present the Putham County
Proclamation number 2025-095, World Interact Week, November 3rd through 9th of 2025. Whereas Rotary International is a global network of service clubs whose members dedicate their skills, talents, and resources to
meeting the needs of communities across the world. And whereas Interact, a Rotary sponsored program, empowers young people aged 12 through 18 to engage in meaningful community service, develop leadership abilities, and gain a deeper
understanding of global issues, fostering a sense of citizenship and responsibility. And whereas the term interact is derived from the combination of international and action embodying the spirit of young individuals who are committed to making a difference locally
and globally. And whereas the Rotary Club of Palaca proudly sponsors the Interact Club of Palaca Junior Senior High School. The Rotary Club of Crescent City sponsors the Interact Club of Crescent City Junior Senior High School. The Rotary Club of Interlarkin and Lake
Lakes area sponsors the interact the Interact Club of Interlarkin St. John [laughter] Junior Senior High School and the Palaca Sunrise Rotary Club sponsors sponsors the Interact Club of Qi Roberts Junior Senior High School and has consistently provided a platform for
community-minded students to serve their community, build leadership skills, and inspire others. And whereas World Interact Week is celebrated each year during the week of November 5th to recognize the invaluable contributions made by Interact clubs to their
communities and encourage others to engage in acts of service and leadership. And whereas this year, World Interact Week will be observed from Monday, November 3rd, 2025 to Sunday, November 9th, 2025. This week serves as an opportunity to express our gratitude
for the work and dedication for the interactors of Palaca Junior Senior High, Crescent City Junior Senior High, Interlarkens Senior Junior Senior High, and Qi Roberts Junior Senior High School. The Putham County Board of County Commissioners extends its sincere
thanks to the Rotary Clubs of Putnham County for their ongoing support and leadership in sponsoring the Interact Clubs and enabling the youth of our community to grow as leaders and compassionate global citizens. Now therefore be it proclaimed that the board of county commissioners of Putnham
County, Florida does hereby recognize Rotary International and the Rotary Clubs of Palaca, Crescent City, Interlarkin and Lakes area and Palaca Sunrise for their contributions to Putnham County during World Interact Week and encourage all citizens to join
in recognizing the interactors of Putnham County high schools for their contributions and to express appreciation to the Rotary Clubs in Putnham County for their enduring ing commitment to empowering our youth and approving our community. Done, ordered, and adopted this 28th day of October
2025. I move that this proclamation be approved. >> Second. >> We have a second. Any discussion? All in favor say I. I. >> I. >> Congratulations. [applause] >> Yeah. So, so before we take a picture, we'll say a few words. Um,
we'll get there, Mr. Thompson. I promise. And we'll allow whoever wants to speak to speak. Um, I can tell you from being a Rotarian that I see firsthand, I was originally in the Sunrise Rotary Club and we started getting the Qi Roberts School started and then um in the Palaca Club, uh, Miss
Sevette Jones has worked diligently for the Pala High School and I know the other organizations have have as well. And uh these young people are everywhere in our community doing a host of community service. Just this weekend um I took was able to take my grandchildren
down to the riverfront the Pala uh river center and there were interactors down there who were providing assistance. And it's not uncommon for any of us in this community to go to an event where there's not an interactor there who is giving of their time and talents to help
the community. So I will just say thank you. I know you guys get asked to do a lot and when you can you step up and uh these are our future leaders y'all. These are our future leaders. So, thank you. With that, I'll have have Missette come up and say a few words.
>> Good morning. So, I just want to recognize some of the um the individuals that help with our interact clubs. So from the Crescent City Rotary Club, we have President Bill Pickkins and then we have the interact advisor sponsor
Maryanne Bradic. Um and with them is Aaron Delaney. She's a fellow Rotarian and she is the um teacher the faculty sponsor for Crescent City Junior Senior High Interactors with um the Sun Palaka
Sunrise Rotary Club. We have President um Doug Thompson and then we also have Linda Bazar who's president-elect and she's also the interact sponsor for um QR Roberts. We have from Interlockan and Lakes area um Rotary Club President Rick
Haynes um representing their club. They have a brand new interact club at Interlockan Junior Senior High School. So they're just getting started. And then here with Palaca Junior Senior High School, um um I am the one of the faculty, not faculty adviserss, I'm one of the Rotary adviserss and then we have
our faculty advisors, Sonia Workheiser and Michelle Parnell. And [clears throat] so I just wanted to say thank you to all the adviserss and all the Rotarians that help with these young people. Um, and I want to let our president of our Interact Club and the
others from the other club can say something if they like, but our president is Maria Herring, and she wanted to say a few words. >> Hi, good morning. Um, I just want to start off by saying thank you for allowing us to come here and, you know, be a part of this. It's a really big
event for us. Um, I do want to start off by, you know, giving my I don't want to call them members. I really want to call them my family because we always show up and show out for each other. Rather it's for the community, rather it's for just, you know, just being friends to each
other, we always tend to show up and show out. Um, every community service event we have, we always push push our members, our family to our biggest ability. We always put our best foot forward and we can't do that without Miss Sonia, Miss
Parnell, and each and every one of us standing here. And I also want to, you know, just give a big thanks to be able to be up here and speak to every individual up here. Um, and I don't want to just give, you know, the sunshine to my interacctors. I also want to give a
sunshine to every interacctor up here because at the end of the day, we all we all put our best foot forward to be able to help out the community and, you know, show our light to what we can do. And like Miss Evette said that we are
sorry we did the >> Yes. Future leader. Sorry my brain went my brain went numb. Like everyone here is a future leader and I just I'm just so proud of everybody here. even though I didn't like, you know, don't see the
other other interactors, I just know they always put their best foot forward just from seeing my family do their best. And I also just, you know, want to say thank you again. >> All right, good job. [applause] >> Good morning, commissioners.
>> Good morning. [snorts] My name is Aubrey Richardson and I am have the honor of serving as the vice president for the Palaca Junior Senior High School Interact Club. On behalf of our club, thank you for this pro proclamation recognizing World Interact Week. Interact provides
students in our small rural town with something incredibly valuable, the chance to serve. For many of us, these volunteer opportunities not only help us earn our service hours for college applications and scholarships, but also teach responsibility, leadership, and
the importance of giving back here at home. This is one of our busiest seasons. Over the past few weeks, our members have volunteered at fall festivals and events across multiple local elementary schools and youth programs. We show up wherever we're
needed because in our small town like Putnham County, these acts of service truly make a difference. Interact shows students that you don't have to be grown, wealthy, or in a position of power to change your community. [snorts] You just have to be willing to serve.
Thank you again for recognizing the weak our students are doing and for supporting service and leadership in the youth of Putnham County. Thank you. >> Thank you. [applause] Madam Chair, thank you so much for allowing me an opportunity. We look at
you and you're looking at us. So, let me tell you a little bit about us. Every commissioner here is a graduate of Putnham County School. Okay? Walt and I graduated Palaka High School. Miss Wilkinson did too. Commissioner Alexander did. Commissioner Newbold
graduated Crescent City High School. Okay. So, this is years ago. So we were the I was the second graduating class out of the new high school back then. And you were the No, you were >> I was the first class to go 9 through 12. >> That's right. First class. So yeah. So
you look at us like we're leaders, but we do look at you as leaders. I joined Rotary back in 2011. I have my Rotary tie on. Okay. I joined Palaka Sunrise because I wanted I was busy. I was volunteering in the community, but I
wanted to be part of something bigger than myself. That's the key word, bigger than yourself. Okay? You can do something on your own, but when you join all this force together, think of the things that you can do. When we join all of our clubs together and help out each
other's clubs, we do phenomenal work. And all that money stays in the community and goes right back into scholarships. I am a past district governor assistant. I'm a past chairman of our Rotary Club in Enark in the Lakes area. Rotary has taught me more about
life than anything I can think of. And my friend Danny Hempill, who recently passed away, said he was a Rotarian before he knew what Rotary was. Okay? He donated lots of money, lots of time. But it's the time when you're in the concession stand. It's the time when
you're out there cooking for Swine and Wine. It's the time when you're busting tables at Wild Game Fast. It's those times that bring camaraderie. Yeah, we disagree. There's no doubt. There's we're all human beings, but at the end of the day, we're all on the same field
playing the same game for the same cause. And that's the importance of it. So don't look at us as leaders because y'all are going to be sitting here one day because we're products of Putnham County and you're products of Putnham County. And you might not see yourself here. I bag groceries in this shopping
center with pantry pride as a 15year-old boy. Went off and had a wonderful insurance career in the town of Enarkin and now I'm back in the same plaza that I started my basically professional career at. So, thank you all for what
you do. God bless you and remember, be part of something bigger than yourself. Thank you. Thank you, M. Oh, don't tell him that. >> It's It's cancer awareness. >> Cancer awareness.
>> Thank you. >> If you can't see the camera, the camera can't see you. >> That's right. >> These two beside me don't have that problem. All >> [laughter] >> right, pay attention. fair. Fine. All right.
>> Really? All right, that ain't no fun. Sir [applause] Romeo, Romeo's interact back. >> I was I was one. >> Sure.
jacket. >> All right, moving on into the meeting. uh Episcopal Children's Services Quarterly Presentation, Britley Spangler. I know that's a hard act to follow, but >> I know it's it's amazing to be in a room
full of so many young future leaders. >> It is absolutely >> And will I be able to Let's see. for PowerPoint. Sorry. >> Is it on your jump? >> No, I didn't bring a jump track.
That's okay. >> Did you bring it up? >> If not, I'll just talk off some slides that I brought. >> No, usually >> it is on the board agenda packet. Your presentation is in there if somebody were to pull up the board presentation. But >> if I can just give some numbers if it
helps. >> Whatever you want to do. >> Sorry. Usually they're given to >> That's okay. That's okay. So, first of all, good morning. Uh, thank you for having me here. This is our quarterly presentation for Episcopal Children Services. Uh, we're also known as ECS
for Kids. And just as a reminder, um, we are a nonprofit that's dedicated to helping underserved children in Northeast and Central Florida succeed in school and beyond. We provide essential support and guidance to families seeking high quality care and education. And
>> if you pull that uh mic up a little bit closer to you. Thank you. There you go. >> Is that better? Yes, sir. Yes. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Uh and this is our 59th year of service. >> Uh the services that we offer in Putnham County um are through the Early Learning
Coalition of North Florida as their contractor and uh through the Department of um excuse me, Division of Early Learning um through the Department of Education. And that's the school readiness program, voluntary pre kindergarten, and childcare resource and
referral. So the school readiness program, it's a financial assistance program for families needing assistance paying for child care. And it's through the ages of birth up through the age of 13. And this program helps families become financially self-sufficient. And it
prepares children um to start kindergarten ready to learn. It helps families afford quality early learning services, keeps parents in the workforce and participating in their educational and training activities, helps families become financially independent, and provides parents
information about child development and family well-being. The voluntary pre kindergarten program, which is also known as VPK, is a free program for four-year-olds in the state of Florida. And this also helps children become prepared for kindergarten, have
better school attendance rates, develop lifelong social skills, they're more likely to advance to the next grade, and more likely to graduate high school. The childcare resource and referral program is a free program to any family.
um they do not have to be receiving services through us and basically can help families um either find child care or other community needs um such as like food banks or assistance with paying for their bills or anything like that. And
again, it's free for anyone. So, I got to put my glasses on here for the numbers. So, for our quarterly update, I just wanted to share some numbers with you. And uh this is our first quarter for fiscal year 2526 uh January through September. On average
in the school readiness program we served 704 children with 516 of these being from the economically disadvantaged which is um the parents are working or going to school. We sent out 87 funding
notifications to children and families in Putham County. We have 29 child care programs that are contracted to serve the school readiness program with 10 of those being family childcare homes. We have 431 children currently
participating in the VPK program so far this year with 23 programs including uh the Penman County School District serving these children. And we had 259 childcare resource and referral contacts so far on consumer education, financial
assistance, community resources, and childcare listings. Some of the new information that's come out. Um, starting in July 1st, the state has changed it to where the maximum um, percentage of a family's income for
their required co-ayments has gone down from 10% to 6%. So that's less that the families have to pay. Um, which the next one is more exciting. Um, starting on October 1st, the state changed the
income threshold to enter into the school readiness program. Previously, it was 150% of the federal poverty level and this has changed to 55% of the state median income. >> Wow. >> So, this allows more families to qualify
for services. To give you an example, a household household size of four could previously make up to $48,225. Now, that same CA family can make up to 56,685, which is a difference of $8,460. So, if you know of anybody who is
needing financial assistance with childare, please tell them to check out our website, go on our weight list. They may qualify. And also, lastly, I just wanted to thank you for supporting our program. Again, we were awarded another $5,000 to help
families. So, I just wanted to share our cons our sincere thank you and that is all. Do you have any questions? >> Yeah. Are there any questions? >> Well, Britney, um I I'll just say thank you for what your organization is doing in the community. Um we want we want families to work. Um but they can't
always afford it, right? And with child care. And so these kind of programs makes a huge difference in our community. Um, and we also know that early uh reading and early um child development, having them in in some kind of a classroom setting early on in their in their children early on makes a
difference in their graduation rates. Just some of the things you stated today and and their success in the future. So, we appreciate the program that you have. Um, we're glad that we can be a partner with your organization. >> Absolutely. >> Commissioner Alexander, you're recognized. >> Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Good morning, Britney.
>> Good morning. Hey, during the course of your presentation, was it my understanding that your uh program targets those families that are that are working and trying or in school? >> Yes. >> So, these are the people we want to reward with this type of benefit. >> Okay, that's I'm learning about all the
different programs we support and that was a question I had. This this sounds very very good. So the funding that you actually provide to us that goes strictly to the pot of families um who go through our weight list that have to be working or going to school a minimum of 20 hours a week. There is other
services. We also support families though that um are currently active with DCF or um are homeless or domestic violence situation. Those are families that come in through referrals through our community partners but continue to continue services once those cases are
closed. They have to be following the working or going to school. >> So, your focus is lifting those people up that are trying to do better for themselves. >> Absolutely. >> That's great. Thank you. >> No problem. Thank you. >> Thank you. Are there any other questions for Britney? Thank you, Britney, for your time and coming forward and giving us this update. I think it's important
when we do contribute um that we get these kind of feedback so that our citizens know. >> Absolutely. Thank you. Have a great day. >> All right. Moving into Lorie Parker, human resources employee of the quarter. [snorts]
>> Good morning. >> Good morning. Uh for employee of the quarter, we recognize three employees for employee of the month. And the winner of the award for employee of the quarter is Justin Bridges. Justin's with
public works. And he's a great employee as you know all of the employee of the months are, but it was a tough selection. But Justin is worthy of this. And um Jr. >> Sean's gonna speak. >> Good morning, Sean. >> Good morning.
So Justin and I worked together for a lot of years. This is much deserved. Um he's he's hardworking. He's versatile. He just you he's a go-to person. So I I thank you very much for what you >> Commissioner Alexander. >> Good morning, guys. I don't know if the
rest of the commissioners have had the pleasure of working with Justin, but uh every time that I've been involved with a project with him, it has been above and beyond what I've asked him to do. Um this to me is welld deserved. I don't work with everybody every day, but I
know the caliber of work that this guy does. And u Thanks, man. >> Thank you, Justin. Um Mr. Grimes, you're recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, as as you know, we try to pull off multiple projects all the time. Um, and there's a
few people in this agency that I can reach out to at any given moment and get, "Yeah, we can do it." And I reach out to JT, Sean, and of course, Justin's the one that ends up actually out there doing the the the the pieces and parts of it. But, um, you're never going to find another one like Justin. Justin is
multi-talented. I mean, it's from running water lines and pipes because he's got the underground certification to do it at the animal services to get the fire line sprinklers ran up to the point of contact for the building to tearing down him and his crews. Um, every good leader's got to have a good crew behind him. Um, and his crew behind
him, I mean, they went out to the um to the uh Triangle Park and they removed all the fences out in front of the contractors. So, not only do they pull off their normal tasks, but they step in at any given moment and do everything we ask them to do. So, uh, from my position, Justin, I can't thank you
enough. Um, if I pick up the telephone and call him if it's 7:00 in the morning, he goes, "What do you need?" And I was like, you know, so, um, but this is a very welldeserved um recognition of Justin and his team. Uh, but thank you for everything you do and look forward to a very long, bright
future. [applause] >> You guys are welcome to come up and get a picture. Well, while we're doing that, Justin, one of the things that sticks out for me is is the fact that you're you are a problem solver and uh that's what we want. We need people who are willing to
to get things done. So, thank you. You guys can get up on that step back. Can some of you guys some of you guys come down here too? Can we get one more person? >> And can we the middle squish in a little bit more? Get real. Get friendly.
Act like you like each other. >> Julian All right. Congratulations. All right, we'll give it a few minutes for the room to clear out. We'll be moving into our planning and development public hearing. All right, we'll move into planning and
development public hearing. >> Good morning, commissioners. For the record, Zachary Baker, Planning and Development Services. Uh, the first case today is zoning map amendment case re25-00000010. The [clears throat] applicant, Kevin Fischer, is requesting a zoning map
amendment from commercial retail, commercial intensive, and residential 2 to commercial retail for 1.9 acres located [clears throat and cough] among 158 to 164 State Road 207 in East
Palaca to allow the development of contractor office space. Surrounding zonings include planned unit development, residential 2, and retail commercial. The subject site has a future land use designation of commercial and approximately 450 ft of
road frontage on State Road 207. According to the National Wetlands Index wetland layer and FEMA flood zone layer on the GIS reference map, the lands do not appear to contain jurisdictional wetlands and it is located within the flood zone X designation.
[clears throat and cough] Should the applicant's request be approved, the applicant will then be subject to review by the development review committee before obtaining any permits for development on this property, which would be compatible with the commercial 2 zoning district. Staff have also recommended the combination of
these properties and the performance of a de facto lot split to separate out that portion of land on the west side of State Road 207 as it is insufficient in size for development due to the location of Old Cherry Lane. Here
[snorts] you can see an aerial view of the all of the lands that are subject to this application. And if you'll note that on the west side of 207 along uh Old Cherry Lane, there are two small tracks of land that are part of this
application. And these two pieces of land will be relevant for the discussion we will have in just a moment. Again, an aerial of the property. Here's the future land use designation showing a mixture of urban service and
commercial. Here we have the current zoning. So it was staff's recommendation to approve the zoning map amendment from C2, C4, and R2 to C2. staff finds that the proposed resoning is consistent with
the goals, objectives, and policies of the comprehensive plan and meets the locationational requirements of the C2 zoning district provided in the land development code and comp plan. At their September 10th meeting, the planning commission unanimously recommended denial on the grounds of not desiring to
reszone uh to occur on the west side of State Road 207 due to potential incompatibility with existing residential development. uh staff a after that meeting staff contact contacted the applicant and requested he provide us with a legal
description of only the lands on the east side of the road. The applicant is in the audience today. I'm not sure if he's been able to secure that legal description. Um if so, then that would remedy the planning commission's um concerns. If not, uh, the applicant may
withdraw his application at any time or the board could table until he has the legal description for only the lands on the east side. And with that, I can take any questions. >> Are there any questions for the presenter? Commissioner Harvey, you're recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Zach, you're
you're saying the legal description [clears throat] needs to be for the property on the east side of 207, not the west side of 207. >> Yes, sir. So when we do a a map amendment, we require a legal description because that's what actually changes. And the simplest way to do that is to provide the deeds, which have the
legal descriptions on them. Um, which is what the applicant had done. Staff didn't think that the the lands on the west side of 207 were that great of a concern because they're actually so small that you really couldn't fit any development on them anyways. Um, however, the planning commission was
concerned about allowing for that commercial zoning to encroach onto the residential uses, which they're currently all non-conforming as it is because of the future land use designation. Um, so it was kind of in in staff size kind of a moot point, not a great concern. However, planning
commission did bring it up. Um, so yes, sir, to answer your question, [clears throat] his new legal description should only capture the lands on the east side of the road. um and which in which case depending on how the outcome of the meeting is um only
the east side would be reszoned. >> Thank you. >> Commissioner Alexander, you're recognized. >> So, Zach, those properties on the west side, are they just deed over or carved out of this or what happens to those? >> So, it it would really be at the um the
desire of the applicant. we wouldn't have any sort of requirements for them. Ultimately, when 207 went through there, um the the taking of that ride ofway kind of split two platted lots from a very old subdivision. Uh and this is
just a a hangover, if you will. Um so we we see this all over the county. And um typically the the method of resolution is to have the property owner essentially uh get a legal description for only the lands on the the west side
of the road and then re-record them to themselves or to another entity and that'll break those tracks off of the parcels across. >> Make sense? >> So these are lots and blocks versus meets and bounds. Um the lots and blocks won't work for a legal description. Oh
yeah, the lots and blocks would work. The only concern of the planning commission was that those lots extended on the opposite side of the road. >> I gotcha. Uh Mr. Fischer, uh you're here as the applicant. You're recognized. >> Yes, ma'am. >> You pull that mic up and say whatever it
is you'd like to say. >> I'm waiting on the survey or I should have the legal description today or tomorrow at the latest. And that's uh I'm doing exactly what they asked me to do, separate the pieces >> on the other side of the road.
>> So, are you wishing to um to hold off until you get those legal descriptions? >> Uh does that what pushes out another month? I'm okay with that. >> It's a I mean, it's a joint decision I guess we can make. Um Commissioner
Alexander, >> there it goes. You guys can hear me again, right? >> Yep. >> All right. So something like this, Rich, could we do like a conditional approval that we approve it based on him providing us the legal description within a certain time frame so we don't tie up another month of a constituent's
time or another visit up here. >> Normally commissions don't do that because what happens is um hypothetically if the condition isn't met, you could end up in limbo not being able to do anything with the property. So, it's easier to have it clear so that you have a development order or a
decision that comes out of what you're reviewing that that's concrete as to what the abilities are. >> Okay. The reason for my question was to streamline the process and save the constituent time and the commission time and planning time. So, all right. Thank you, >> Commissioner Nol.
>> Sir, do do you have a a time certain? Do you have a precedent? >> Not really. >> Okay. Not really. >> Yeah. I I appreciate um Commissioner Alexander's way around there, but um you know, given given the legal ramifications, if if you're okay, I'd prefer just to table
this and and run forward next month. >> Okay. I've been waiting >> Sure. >> for probably two or three months for the surveyors. I've been watching my phone all morning. >> Well, they are notoriously slow. >> All right. Is there a motion on the
floor? I move to table this um get the re 2500 >> um >> ordinance >> is it so will we do that but uh we haven't seen the other one is that going to be for both >> no just one >> all right >> second
>> we have a motion second any further discussion all in favor say I >> motion carries we'll table that our next meeting's November 18th Can I ask one question? >> Absolutely. >> Do I have to be I'll be out of state on the Do I have to be just submit it? And
>> I mean, so far we haven't had any concerns that I could tell, but um >> Okay. >> Is there anyone else in the public who would wants wants to speak on this item? We just made a motion. >> Well, the motion has to be for date certain. And so, >> wait a minute. We go back up. Do we have
any other anyone in the public who wishes to speak? All right. Now, go ahead. >> So, that motion had to have a a time date certain, which would be our next meeting, which is what? >> November 18th. >> November 18th. Thank you. >> At 9 o'clock. >> At 9:00. >> Yeah. I second that.
>> All right. We have a motion second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. >> All right. That item's been tabled. Right. Now, we'll go into reason 25-000011. >> Thank you, madam. [clears throat] Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, so same applicant
on this reason. uh request in this case they are requesting an amendment from C2 and R2 C2 R2 and plan unit development to commercial general C3 on 2.01 acres located at uh 138 through 142 state road
207 in East Palaca to allow the development of a used car sales facility. Surrounding zonings include planned unit development and residential 2. The subject site has a future land use designation of commercial. Parcel has approximately 500 ft of access from
State Road 207. According to the NWI wetlands layer and FEMA flood zone layer on the GIS reference map, the lands do not appear to contain jurisdictional wetlands and are located within FEMA flood zone X designation. Should the applicant's request be approved, the applicant will then be
subject to review by the development review committee before obtaining any permits for additional development on the property compatible with the C3 district. Alternatively, he would be able to combine these and as the applicant has expressed desire to do and or resell these properties in part or in
whole. Regardless, any development will will be required uh to have a DRC review. Here we can see the aerial of the other lands. the future land use designation
zoning designations. Staff recommends approval of the request to amend the zoning map to commercial general C3. Staff finds the proposed reszone is consistent with the goals, objectives, and policies of the comprehensive plan and meets the location requirements of the commercial general zoning district provided in the
land development code and comprehensive plan. In their September 10th planning comm planning commission meeting, the planning commission unanimously recommended approval of the same. I'll take any questions. >> Are there any questions? Commissioner Harvey, you're recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. So, Zach, I've
been working with Mr. Fiser for a few years now on this. This will make all of his properties consistent, correct? >> Uh, for for these parcels covered under this application. >> So, on the east side of 207, everything will be consistent from McCormack Road all the way north a little bit. Um it
would be consistent in the area outlined here, right? >> Um and it'll make consistent the three different designations that he's currently have would be one C3. [clears throat] >> Yeah. Thank you. >> All right. Are there any other questions for the presenter? Mr. Fischer, you have anything you would like to add?
>> No. >> All right. Is there anybody in the public who'd like to speak? >> Anybody in the public who'd like to speak on this item? All right. Coming back to the board. Madam Chair, I move approval of the reszone re 25-000011 Kevin Fischer ordinance 2025-031.
>> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. I. Motion carries unanimously. Thank you, Mr. Fischer. >> Thank you. >> All right. Moving into agenda items. This portion of the agenda is designed
to allow citizens an opportunity to bring matters to the attention of the board. It is not reasonable to expect that the board will engage in debate or deliberation about matters on which the board has received no prior information as part of the agenda. Please limit your time to three minutes. Public comment cards are conveniently placed at the
meeting room entrance and should be submitted prior to the meeting to the deputy clerk who sits to the right of the podium. All right. Thank you. So, this will include uh consent agenda items and new business. Uh Mr. Couno would like to speak. Uh James, if you'll
come up and give your uh state your name and address for the record. Good morning, commissioners. James Cooney, 569 West Hillsboro Avenue for home. Um, I just wanted to come up and uh, see the agenda item was presented today and the package that you all uh,
and staff put together. Um, this has been a long a long road for this boat ramp uh, and a gym in West Putham. So, you know, I personally on the behalf of the Georgia Lake community and myself would like to express uh, thanks especially Commissioner Harvey and
county staff for the work that y'all put into trying to get this. And I know we're still in the process. Um, but I think that this would be a great asset to uh West Putnham in our area, not only for fishing for the young and old, but
for the fire departments, um, and Florida Florida Forestry Service for file fire suppression for wildland fires and etc. Um, the [clears throat] community does want to keep the boat ramp pretty much as is. Um, we are willing, uh, the only thing we're really
asking for is to keep the level of maintenance that we have now, which really isn't all that much with parks and wreck, but it it's it's good. Um, keep law enforcement present and and enforcing the regulations. And that's why we need to get this under the county's u jurisdiction so that way law
enforcement can do their job. Um, the only thing that we would like to see is maybe some signage put in place by parks and wreck with the hours of sunrise to sunset and some rules, some general rules that uh to keep people from destroying the property. Um, and
and we're also maybe seeking if the if the county is willing to enter into a memorandum of understanding with parks and recck service to help provide maintenance. Uh I sign off as the fire chief out there for uh community service hours uh for personnel in the county
here so I can use them uh for maintenance. Uh the community also can do cleanup days and things like that. Uh matter of fact, I got a young man that's going to be out there this week uh pressure washing the graffiti off the barricades out there. Um, so we can
assist uh and also assist by getting grants to help maintain and improve the property uh in the future working through parks and wreck uh and confirm with them to approve everything that we're asking for which is not a lot. I mean I'd like to see it as a good little
community park out there uh at the most um with you know keeping it quiet. Uh last couple days I've been sitting on my deck out there and it's been so quiet and peaceful it's unbelievable. Um, but that's the only access we have to the lake right now and that keeps FWC
maintaining our lake um and residents able to get in and out out of that lake. So, one of the best spec spec fishing places in West Putham. So, I encourage y'all to um purchase this property and work with the landowner to uh meet
whatever agreement y'all come up with. Uh, and the community is more than willing to assist in anything as possible. So, I just want to say thank you all again. And this has been a long time. I've been working on trying to get this boat ramp secured with the start of
Mr. Ed Taylor in 2011, and it's been 14 years now. So, it'd be nice to get this done. Again, thank y'all very much. And I encourage y'all to please purchase this boat ramp. >> Mr. Ky, I have a question. So, so you're proposing that we shut the boat ramp
down at nighttime. >> Yes, ma'am. We don't do that with any other boat ramp in Putnham County. >> I believe Parks and Wreck has boat ramps that they have sunrise to sunset. >> Is that true? >> No, ma'am. Um we do not. And um
on that topic at this particular location, should the county purchase it in order to mitigate county liability, which is something we would have to do, the um structure that is there that's currently serving as some sort of gate would have to be removed. the um
distance between the two poles are far too narrow. We would end up with a multitude of liability claims. Um and so just remember when the county begins to own something, we have to do a minimum to mitigate those liability things that are out there like that. So some work
would have to be done to completely remove that and open the access up. Our parks and Rex ordinance stipulates that our parks are open sunrise to sunset um if there's not ample lighting. However, the boat ramps we can't necessarily close because if somebody's on the water just after dark, they have to be able to
come back and get their boat um and do those types of things. So, the the boat ramps traditionally, well, no, none of your boat ramps in the county have any sort of um physical barrier closing them at any time. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you.
>> And and if I might add to that, I mean, I'm not necessarily saying close the gate at night. What I am saying is people loitering around there after hours. That's the problem we have. Launching and launching and recovering a boat after hours is not the issue. It's people loitering at 2 3 4 5:00 in the
morning. And and if we have some rules up there, that's what I'm saying. If parks and wreck can come up with that, then we can law enforcement can enforce that. But right now, that's the problem. It's not the launching and, you know, recovery after hours. It's the kids that
are out there partying at the end of Bon Road that show up at 2 or 3:00 in the morning doing donuts in the middle of the in the middle of the night. So, and if the county needs to, I have no problem with trying to get people to remove that gate. That's not a problem. It is it is a liability and it is small.
>> Well, I I I what I would say is is if the county purchases it, while we're willing to work with you, you need to understand that this is would be county profit. >> Oh, yes, ma'am. I totally agree. Okay. I mean, and that's why I say theou thing with parks and wreck and we working with them, you know, they tell us we can't do
it, I'm fine with that. It's just, you know, we're willing to help. That's all I'm saying. >> Yeah, I understand. I just think, you know, policing is left up to the sheriff's office. >> That's why I'm trying to [laughter] >> Okay. Thank you. >> That's the only reason why I'm getting under it. >> Okay. Commissioner Alexander. >> Yeah, that was my only comment to you before you left. when once it becomes
public property, um you will experience the same complaints that I receive from the multiple boat ramps in my district. People do like to go down there after dark and hang out and um you know, if they're not doing anything nefarious,
it's a public ramp. So, all right. Um any anybody else wishing to speak on consent agenda items or new business? [clears throat] All right. Moving into consent agenda items. Anybody wishing to to pull anything? Starting with
Commissioner Palisier. >> Um item B. >> B is in boy. >> Um yes, ma'am. We we're still in new business. Correct. >> Uh we're under uh push a button, please. Your your microphone >> under consent.
>> I couldn't hear you. We're under consent and new business. >> No, I'm still had my mind on the boat wrap issue. >> It's okay. You're pushing. >> It's on. >> It's not working. Okay. >> Hello. Hello. >> Okay. New business B. >> No, I No, I'm sorry. >> Consent agenda items.
>> No, nothing in consent agenda number. >> All right. Thank you. Now I can hear you. Commissioner Alexander, >> I have none. >> Commissioner Newold? >> Nothing to pull. >> Commissioner Harvey, >> I have nothing. >> I have nothing. All right. >> Chair, I move approval of consent agenda items A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K,
L, and M. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. All in favor? I >> I. Thank you. All right, moving into new business. Uh, Georgia's boat lake boat ramp. >> Is there a presenter for this or just?
>> Um, I think I am for parks and recreation. So, um, at the desire of the board, we um have looked into the potential purchase by the county of the property. Um, keeping in mind before the appraisal was complete, there was a tenatively offered price and that price
is different than what the sales price is today after the return of the um, appraisal. So, your agenda item has a reference price. We just need to make sure we're all talking on the same thing. As previously discussed just a few minutes ago, should the county purchase it, there are some minimum
required maintenance items that need to be taken care of to mitigate some liability to avoid um, some liability claims that the county would likely incur from a riskmanagement standpoint. >> Um I I let me just say real quick that um I'm going to choose to abstain from
voting just simply because um the representative of this property and I have our license in the same office even though I have no financial gain nor does anybody in my family. I don't want the appearance that I would be um biased. So therefore I will abstain from voting.
Commissioner Harvey, you're recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I do want to encourage my fellow board members. This has been a long, long process to get to where we're at today. Um, it's been all over the table, but I think we're coming in on a landing. The appraisal came back
at basically what we're going to pay for the boat ramp. We have numerous boat ramps out in West Putnham and the estates. Um, we have actually three out there not far from around Lake Grandon, Lake Ida, and Bowl Green. We have
countless numbers of lake access lots uh that are just um soft launches, if you will, um for some of the lakes that we inherited from Lee Lee. Well, I forget it. Don't worry. It's the people who sold the property
out there, Lehi Acres many years ago, and Commissioner Durer secured those. So, this is probably going to be our most northern boat ramp that we have, but I think it's one of the most necessary ones that we do have because it does have the the dry hydrant system
in there where the fire department can go and pull water out. There are um plenty of available lots out there for development. There's plenty of people that live out there. It's going to cause some problems. There's no doubt. Uh people are going to run their boats at
night and their boats will be out there. But you know this board and the previous board has been very um sensitive to the fact that outdoor recreation we have seen boat ramps u start popping up and I think that's a good thing that we're actually getting our citizens out there
to enjoy nature [snorts] and this is going to be one of the ones. So I would encourage our board members um the price is 400,000. that'll come out a better place I assume if we decide to do it and um you know let's go ahead and let's
make our county a little bit better. So thank you Madam Chair. >> Uh point of clarity before I pull on before I discuss uh 350 is what's in the agenda packet. >> That's what I was saying. The sales agreement in there is 400. The agenda packet was written um on the prior
tenative agreement when the appraisal came back. The sales contract came in at the last minute. We sent the agenda out at with the um sellers asking price as of as where we stand today. >> Commissioner Palis, you're recognized. >> Um I'm I'm on course now. I was Mr.
Couno came up and started talking about the boat ramp and I got all my focus on that and then you backpedalled on me. But u anyhow, uh I think this is a great thing. Um this one of the more unique opportunities in that the county would be purchasing um 8.40 40 acres, which is
probably one of our larger boat ramps around. Excellent parking um maneuverability for people parking boats and and getting loaded and unloaded. And um I like Commissioner Harvey do applaud and and do support the purchase of this property.
>> Thank you, >> Commissioner Alexander, you're recognized. Well, I guess everybody here knows I'm a large proponent of outdoor recreation, boating, and such, but uh as far as the price increasing from the initial offering, correct me if I'm wrong, but
the initial sale price was for a smaller >> 350 >> amount of land and we went back and asked to buy the entire portion and he changed it to the 400 and added an additional acreage amount. So the initial was an offer of a lesser amount
of land. He came back to us and wanted to include the acreage um and then the cost came back to us as well. >> Right. So just so the public knows, this guy didn't get an appraisal back and jack the price up by 50 grand. He actually included additional acreage that the county is going to be able to
work with and the community is going to be benefiting from. So that was my only sticking point on that and I got some clarity on it. Um, you know, we did we live in a capitalist society. Yes. Everybody's here to make money, but that was not this guy. He gave us additional property with the incre increase in price. Correct.
>> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Thank you, >> Commissioner Palisier. >> Um, when we got the increase of the added parcel to the deal, um, was that looked through with, um, any kind of environmental problems
there, possibility, anything? because that was so strange to me that u at the same price he upped our acreage and I just was put me on edge a little bit and I'm be sure that there's nothing there that doesn't meet the eye.
>> So to be fair um that offer came through commissioner Harvey who has really been the liaison between the seller and the county and to date we did obtain an appraisal as the board directed. We did not um engage any environmental studies. So, Commissioner Harvey may be able to
lend more information there. >> Um just, you know, it just put me on where somebody doubling the amount of acreage at the same price. >> I know that the seller's agent is also here and may be able to speak to the intent. I truly am unaware. Um before we
before we go there, um looking at the exhibit to the purchase and sale agreement on uh page 247 of your packet, that map, that legal
map um that's being used as the purchase and sale does not match the appraised uh map. So, if you look at the appraisal, it has one map, one um and this does not match it. There would be another 300 ft to the north. So, those two
configurations aren't equal. So, I would say um that you need to if if you're moving forward, uh that that needs to match. If you're basing the appraisal off of the purchase price or the purchase price off the appraisal, then those two configurations need to match
and equal the same acreage. Mr. Spalding, I see you're in the audience. Do you want to come speak? >> Thank you, Madam Chair, commissioners. Mark Spalding, 3400 C Avenue. Um, yes, appreciate the opportunity to speak. There's I've not seen a map that the
appraiser provided, so I'm not sure what that is. I provided a map highlighted in yellow with a proposed offer. To me, the biggest difference is the amount of feet on the lake that is coming with the property uh from the original offer at
the 350 price and now there's been additional footage on the lake added. And so that's where the value is. Uh it's not maybe where the acres are. So, without seeing that map that y'all are referencing and or looking at, I don't
really know what to say. Um, don't have an exact on ground survey of this property yet. And also, you'll note we have to have a lot split, but um, so I don't know where the acreage is going to end up, but to me, the important part is down on the water.
So, um just looking at what you've got on your uh as an attachment to your purchase and sale agreement and what the map is with the appraisal, it is um consistent. The difference is to the north. Um where you have 600 feet from
the road going south, the appraiser has 300 feet. So, other than that, it looks like it's the same map. There's an additional 300 ft. Um, my only point is is if you're basing your purchase and sale agreement price on uh 8.4 acres and
the 8.4 acres is shown in the appraisal, then that map should should equal what's on your purchase and sell agreement. >> Understand that. But yeah, I don't know what the seller will say, but uh I think we'll probably make it work somehow.
>> Does everybody see what I'm saying? >> Yes. Y. >> Thank you. >> All right. Uh, Commissioner Harvey, you're recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. So, Rich, if the board goes ahead today, where do where do we stand? Do we say basically this is
sales contingent on 400,000 with with the concerns that Commissioner Wilkinson has and a lot split and a survey. Is that what we're going to be looking at or >> I don't think so. I think you're essentially just making a counter offer. So you can make an offer on an amount
and what property you're looking to purchase. >> Okay. >> But again, again, I would caution you to agree on the purchase and sale agreement because it is not the same configuration. It's not the same map. There's 300 feet
times uh 300 >> that is missing. >> Which of these maps is consistent with the 8.4 acres? >> So if you look at on your PDF file, there's page 250 >> and then there's also 247 and you can
see the difference between the boundaries of both. >> So, so what I'm hearing basically is as long as we follow the purchase and sale agreement, we should know that >> the amount with the appraisal is >> of the appraisal
>> is what the $400,000 is based on. >> All right, good. So you're essentially making a counter offer to what's written in the purchase and sale agreement >> with the with that configuration. >> Correct. Correct. With the appraisers >> with the appraisal map and not the purchase.
>> And in fairness, if Mr. Spalding didn't see that um they saw something or they wouldn't have come back with $400,000. >> Okay. >> I can't make a motion. >> I can. Madam Chair, I move that we have make a offer to purchase this property,
the 100 George's Lake Boat Ramp Road for 400,000 using the map that's in the appraisal report and not the purchase and sale report. Um, and that's about it there. >> All right, I have a motion on the floor. Is there a second? >> Yeah, I'll second that. That makes sense
the way that you you spelled that out. So, it has to align with the the appraisal report, not that's that's there. So that would be our counter offer. >> All right. Any other questions or comments? Right. All in favor say I.
>> I. I. >> Right. Motion carries. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. Public works request to uh vacate portions of Holly Avenue. This is just to formally request a
public hearing at the next board meeting. Uh this is down off of county at 315 south near the Kinwood boat ramp, a section of property that uh has an alleyway through it and Holly Avenue that are completely undeveloped. No need for the county to have them. We're good with the moving forward with the um
hearing. >> All right. So, this is just request to advertise. >> Yes, ma'am. >> All right. Any questions or comments? Madam Chair, I move that we move this to November 18th at 9:00. >> Second. >> All right. All in favor say I. I. >> I. All right. With that, we'll take a
quick recess. this meeting. We go into public comment or appointments. I'm going to take a point of privilege and bring up my commissioner comments regarding uh the discussion of the relocation of the IT department. I see Mr. Richie is still is
still here. So um basically uh gentlemen I realized after I made some comments at the last meeting that in all fairness you guys hadn't had the discussion but this board particularly has not had the discussion about the IT department being
moved and um so I appreciate u Mr. Suggs helping me uh get there and understanding. We had discussed it a couple times at uh the pre when we had a different board members, but we never did take a vote or ask anything
particularly of the um admin team to move forward. So, I wanted to bring this up because um it's one of the things I've wanted to see happen since I've been elected is that the IT department um get relocated. And it's a bigger ass
than generally speaking it's a bigger ass than oh you're just moving some people and some and desk. And so um that's why we're here today. And um you know when I go back and I think about the departments and the conditions that
our staff works in. The worst conditions by far is the animal services, but we are fixing that and that'll they'll be in a new building and they will be better off pretty soon. Uh the second department would have been the sanitation department. They were in a
modular home that was following falling around them, but that's been remedied and they're being um they've already been moved to a very nice office. And I would say the third department, and this is my opinion, would be the IT department. When you go down to uh
they're currently located above the tax collector's office. When you go down there and you walk around, you'll see stains on the carpet. You'll see um areas of the ceiling that has leaked. Um you will see one office when you go to
the front. Nobody's currently in it, but when you go to the front of that uh one room, the floor is actually soft in there. Um the hallways are narrow. It's hard for staff um moving equipment up and down those stairs. We had an issue
um a small issue with a with one of our staff members who was carrying something up and down the stairs and uh and had a little a little workers comp claim. And so and then you have the cyber security concerns because there's three doors
entering the building. Two of them do stay locked, but one of the doors, one of the hallways that I went down and went down the stairs, it literally comes out in the middle of the tax collector's office. And those doors, from what I'm understanding, have to be left open for safety reasons. So, it's not unusual
when I spoke to some of the staff members for somebody from downstairs to take a tour of the upstairs just to show off the nice uh ceiling that's up there and some of the historical value of the building. And so what I'd like to see
done going forward is while we have looked at the veteran services and moving them to the suite next to them and building that out. Um Commissioner Palisier was the one who brought up, you know, we need to be we need this is a government complex. We need to have our
governmental uh workers here. And I couldn't agree with him more. Um so what I'd like to do is propose that we look at the I believe it is sweet um James, what was it? sweet 550 550 and possibly 600 and let them take a look at that,
see if they can move their staff. They have about 11 or 12 staff members. Um I've been in that suite. Um it would work for them and they have been working on uh systematically trying to move most of their big equipment, most of their
servers over to the EOC. And I've been in that room as well and it's very secure. Um, I don't know if in the future all of it could be moved there or a portion, but either way, um, I think it would makes it just makes it more sense. Um, and it's more effective and
more efficient if we have our IT department here close to us. Um, we spent a lot of money and don't even realize it because I had an issue with my phone. You have to call and get, you know, call the help desk. Well, they can't physically fix it from where they're at. So, they have to get in a
they have to go down the stairs, get in a car, drive over here for literally a 10-second fix, then get in the car, and drive back. And so, it would make sense. Now, I know they have to go to other departments um that are not in this location, but it puts them in a little
bit more centrally located spot. They're um more um you know, safer as far as workers comp claims. They're not hauling equipment up and down stairs. um I believe their security would be um safer. And so what I'd like for the
support of this board is to please uh ask staff and join me in asking staff to go out and get a price to to see what it would cost to build out that um 550 department. So I see several people have their lights lit and I appreciate that.
Um starting with Commissioner Harvey. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. You know, you're you're exactly right. We sit here sometimes and we talk about things, but we never bring that plane in for a landing. No fault of anybody's, but it's time to bring these in. Couple years ago, we entertained Mr. Suggs and I
entertained and I think Julianne was there and JR, but we entertained a company who wanted to come partner with us and and it was mentioned, it was mentioned at that at that meeting about moving over there, but nothing really concrete. Nothing ever really happened about it. I've always said and I've been
saying it a lot lately is it's time to reinvest in oursel. We have all these facilities around us that are just sitting there idle. And we have, you're right, we had deplorable conditions around the county that were rectifying. But it is time. It's time for us to be
professional. It's time for us to bring our our goodness back to our [snorts] area. It's time to build what they need to be built, not just what we want to build. uh to make it secure, to make it more functional, to save money. You know, it's going to take a little bit of money, but we have a little money that
we can do that with. Uh but I support you wholeheartedly that, you know, it needs to be moved in veteran services right now. We heard the presentation this morning. So, if we can start looking at those two things and you've got my support, then I'm on board with with those items being moved forward
today. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Thank you. Commissioner New, you're recognized. I would differ with your list a little bit. I think uh I think uh parks and wrecks in a shambbled that space, but that's a subject for
another day. Um I agree wholeheartedly with the idea of of of relocating it. um just for a a myriad of reasons, but I would rather than only looking at that sweet 550, I' I'd like you to open up
that idea of of looking at the space we have here, this campus, so to speak, and finding the best space for it that works logistically um and just be open to what is the best
space here at this location. That's >> so so let me just add to that. So, the reason why um I believe that they've already done that. Um the reason why they suggested a sweet 550 is because it has a loading uh dock on the back of it,
which would be very essential for them. It has a um >> what was that? >> It almost got killed on that loading dock. >> Um anyway, it does have the ability to move equipment and it also has a side door if they chose to use it. that whether it would still be a rollup door
or not, but it would be easier to uh move um you know equipment, monitors, that kind of stuff. That's why they looked at that was because of the was the loading ramp. >> Well, if you wouldn't mind if we could keep our minds open to >> special issues that that space may have
and and um if if there other space at this location that makes more sense at the end of the analysis, [snorts] I'd like to just keep our options open. So anyway, I'm I'm all for it. I just I don't want to be pigeonholed into one specific space if there's a better space
available and that may be the best space. >> Yeah, that was just their suggestion after looking at um looking at I believe they looked at the whole area here. Uh Mr. Richie, do you want to comment on that? I I don't mean to put you on the spot, but have you looked at the other areas that's here at the governmental
complex? I don't mean to put you on the spot, but yet here I am. >> I'm never put on the spot. Uh, chair lady. >> Very good answer. >> Nevertheless, I we have looked and we've looked at some areas behind this very room. We've looked at areas all along this uh on the government complex for
sure. What would fit our need? Uh, and then we've it's been also asked of us as well to see um our county is growing. We have we're the department that has the data that looks at it. I look at it quite frequently through 911 uh lens for
sure. Uh there's when we've was asked to see what we needed for sure uh because that's that's the where to start. And then uh not I wouldn't say wants but projected needs uh for staffing uh for be it 911 or help desk techs like I said
we are growing exponentially in our county and uh so what was presented and submitted to both administration and and the board uh you know accounted for that as well but yes we've looked at multiple different areas uh within this complex for sure.
>> Okay. And there was a you you the reason why you had suggested or talked to me about 550 was it because of the loading dock? >> It was it was uh it because we do every year uh we have a replacement uh cycle for all of our machines many servers uh
servers not every year but uh when they do come in they come in some very large crates or very large uh packaging you know. So, uh, but yes, that was the primary one of the primary reasons was because of the loading dock in the back, >> right? >> That would allow for, you know, much easier transport
>> hardware. >> All right. Um, and then, um, there was a leak above the server room about what, four months ago? >> Something like that. Yes, ma'am. >> And, uh, that caused some concern, but we think we fixed that. >> Yes, for sure. Uh it was if it was a tile over it would have hit some of our
core infrastructure and we would have been uh for lack of a better term dead in the water until we could spin up uh our uh [snorts] backup uh location uh to run services. But uh but yes, we were fortunate that it was fortunate that it was a tile over the way that was has
been remedied. >> And then how how much equipment do you think was in that server room valuewise? Is it a million dollars? >> Easy. >> Okay. All right. And then if we were able to move staff for now, then you could incrementally
start moving server how you would how you would want. >> Sure. We've already began to move uh some of the production and critical infrastructure for the county for services. Uh we do we have a maintenance window every month. Uh and in that maintenance window uh we we try to take
a look at what we can move uh from that particular data center to our backup location. uh our backup is trying we've in a position to change our backup location to our primary because it's fortified uh from the elements and things of that nature a little more than uh where we are at now but uh yes we try
to move as much as we can there's some things we cannot at the moment uh because it it takes a tremendous amount of configuration and logistical planning to do that uh but we are we are in discussions internally within IT uh at the senior management level of IT to figure out how to get those services
moved >> so could you you could truly move your people and then incrementally later move the rest of the server as as you seen fit. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. All right. I think that was a concern that we would have to move everything at once, but we don't necessarily have to do that.
>> No, ma'am. >> All right. Uh, Commissioner New Bulger still on the floor. Um earlier at an earlier meeting we had talked about the building that I think sits I'm going to call it north of the supervisor elections office is a separate building that was I think a
bank at one time that is in terrible disrepair. Um, it it may be worth thinking about just raising that building and putting up a new building similar to some of the others that we have like something like animal services, something that stands on its
own that has it by itself secure. Um, you could you could put in I mean, we know what it costs for those buildings. I mean, we've done them and you could customize those slightly and have have them in a safe, secure, customized
space. um it would be centrally located to to this space. And uh anyway, just a thought as we get into that building, the balance of this building. Um I think we're going to we're going to come into electrical issues. I mean, they're all
going to have to be overcome over time, but that one's going to be a a difficult one to parse out and and develop into new space. I think if you wanted to be quick and compact and and new,
a standalone building on this site may may be a good alternative. >> All right. All right. Um, Commissioner Alexander, you're recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, based on your, for lack of a better term, passion at the last meeting, I took the
initiative to visit our ID IT department. And um the first thing that struck me when I walked in the door, being a former um environmental control guy, air conditioning guy, was a stench of mold and rot.
I would not work in there. I would not want my friends or my children to work in there. You don't know if you've you've destroyed the mold, but it's always present once it's there. Um the mitigation was not doesn't appear to be successful
in there based on the smell and the risk to our people and our equipment needs to be mitigated. We have other issues additionally in our in our structures within the system for our people but our
people are our greatest resource. Um you know I I look at that issue and then you know as JR said uh we want to retain our our people, we our quality people and you know if you look at parks and wrecks I haven't had played softball in 25 20
years and when I played softball 20 years ago those buildings down there at the bowl were terrible. So, you know, we have a number of issues that need to be addressed, but I think that from a safety standpoint between lifting equipment, taking them up the stairs, uh
the mold, uh the issues with the drainage on our equipment, I think that is the most immediate concern and it needs to be addressed as soon as possible. Additionally, with a little bit of a construction background, um again, J.R. hit on another topic.
Sometimes when we look at rehabbing some of these buildings, um, sometimes the cost exceeds what we could potentially build a new custom fit building for you guys. We obviously all want it centrally located at this location. >> But if we can build them a brand new
building out there where the feed and seed place was or where the federal savings bank was, I think that that would be be an idea, too. um that that could be customtailored to your needs and provide the security that you need and built at a ground level or with some
type of lift in the back to mitigate loading of the the equipment. So, I would like to express my desire to 100% move it and get the people out of there and we'll get the equipment out as time progresses.
but look at both rehabbing one of the buildings or building something custom within this block that will address your needs for now and in the future. >> So, >> thank you. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Commissioner Palis, you're recognized. >> Um
I too took a tour of um I had a meeting with the tax collector and while I was there I said, "Show me the place." So, we took a tour and I agree again with Commissioner Alexander. It's it's not good. I I didn't like those people, what they were sitting in and dealing with.
And um I I definitely I'm going to beat the drum a little harder. We got to get out of there. We definitely got to get out of there. I'm trusting you. Uh this is your field of expertise to guide us in the right direction of of what work best works for the county. Looking forward to growth, places to put more IT
folk that you know, as we grow along. um for your expertise there. Um I have more to talk about with my meeting with the tax collector, but I'm going to wait till commissioner comments for that. But that's what drew me down there to see what I saw. And while I was
there, I just took the >> e ticket ride, I guess you might say, and saw everything. But it's it's it's deplorable. It really is. And we got we have got to get out of there. So, um, like I say, I trust, uh, your judgment to
put us in the right place to to that we can grow with, but I would like to see us, we may get a better deal. >> Um, if we combine the VA expansion with the same contractor, we could get a better deal and put put it all >> put them both out for bit at the same time.
>> At the same time, >> yeah, because you're what you're if you were to take the existing buildings and have them build out, I would agree with that. I was thinking the same thing. >> Yeah, that I think that's going to be a better way if we put those two together and uh knock two out of the park at one time. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> All right, Commissioner Harvey, you're
recognized. Thank you. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I think what you heard today is got a consensus of everybody on board. Um we got different ideas of maybe standalone [snorts] versus already in house. Um but that's something staff can bring back to us and
um can start working on. So today, I think what we try to bring this plane in for a landing is to say to staff, um, we need some options brought to us and look at what we can do. I'm not too fond of being out by oursel because of it. Just
my personal opinion, I think maybe what we recently saw with the building here, what happened, um, I think that that we could be almost like a red flag being out there. So, I think we'd probably be better inside, but I'm open to all suggestions. I think we need to look at
everything. We definitely have the room here for it and it's time to invest in ourselves. So, um, Madam Chair, I think that you've got a consensus to go forward. >> All right. Thank you. I appreciate that. Um, Mr. Grimes, you're recognized. I just would like to say that when we if
we do push forward both of them in the same building at the same time, if the worth value of that project exceeds 50% of the worth value of the complex, you're going to have to bring the whole entire complex up to code and clean it, including the empty space in between this space here. Everything will have to
be brought up to current code the minute we go over 50% remodel down there. So, and it's and it's all dollar value, right? So if you put high dollar equipment, high dollar value, and it brings the value of that up, when it hits 50%, you're going to do the whole entire complex. >> So when you say equipment, you're
referring to his his equipment, >> the buildout cost. So the high security, the high everything. You put it all inside this building and that exceeds the value of whatever this building today is appraised at. When you hit 50%, you're going to do the whole entire building, including electrical, mechanical, plumbing, everything's going
to be brought up to current fire code. Everything's going to be all done at one time. So, so that'll be a decision that we'll have to make as a board once we get those quotes back. >> Yes. And I'd like to just address the loading dock. That portion of the building needs to come off anyway. So, that loading docks been rendered useless. Uh because uh back whenever
this building was re-roofed, the board at the time, not you guys, decided not to re-roof that. The roof inside that portion of the building is completely collapsed and separating from the building. >> Are you referring to the piece that's closest to the road where the rollup door is, or are you referring to the back of the building? the back of the building inside the fence where the
loading dock is where that where it used to be an old cooler probably back in Commissioner Harvey's day. That's also where the electrical switch gear is. Um the last time I talked to anybody about the electrical switch gear. We're looking at a half million dollars to change that electrical switch gear alone. Um now that was back during COVID when you couldn't get them, they may
have come down now, but that that switch gear in here is extremely expensive and that's going to have to be changed when we do those. This thing is was never designed as an office building. It was designed as a grocery store. So, it's got a humongous set of electrical back there that's got to be upgraded and renovated at at that time. I just want
to give you guys a little caution as we're moving forward. So, you have all the information because I don't think you have all of it. >> But the concrete slab itself is good, right? >> The concrete. Yeah. Well, it's separating from the building. I mean, if that's the concrete's still good, but there's a gap between the concrete and the building and the roof's collapsed on top of all your electrical equipment
back there. So, all that stuff needs as we're doing this. All that stuff needs to be done. >> All right. Commissioner Paliser, you're recognized. >> To be sure I understand you, Mr. Grimes. If we did just the VA, that's and
so-called the dust settles on it, then we could go do the it and long as you break it up in smaller increments, uh, it it doesn't trigger that threshold. >> I think you're going to trigger it when you start doing it. So, when we just got to be prepared to do all of it at one
time. That's that's what I'm just that's what I'm trying to caution. The minute we start peacemealing and stacking and all that stuff, I mean, because now that we're talking about it here, if we that we have already have plans to do that, the building department's going to go, "Nope, you're going to have to do it all because that's the way that their rules are written, right? So, you could do get
away with if we just were doing veterans, right? Because that's that." But now we've made plans to incorporate it into it. So, now as it's on the air, it's all stacked as one project. So, they're going to look at it as one great big project and what it's going to take to renovate the whole space. Well, we we
really haven't made that decision. What we've asked is that you guys go and get quotes and come back to us. >> Am I missing something? >> Well, we need How much how much space do you want to use? What's the plan? I mean, we brought them. >> So, so I do do believe that um both of
those departments have I think you we we received in our package the one for VA uh for the veteran services and then I think that Mr. Um uh I think that the IT department has already done given us a drawing a
rendering of sweet 550. >> Yes, ma'am. Madam Chair, we have received some information. Uh staff would like the opportunity to sit down with the IT folks and Mr. Rich and go through that rendering as a uh a needs assessment so that we'll get the right
square footage that we need uh for the uh for relocation. uh staff is really looking for some opportunity from or direction from you folks today. Uh just so we can go back out and kind of do what we did with the last project, which is look and see if the the uh the suites
here are that are available will benefit us to move forward with that or if the cost would be more beneficial to do a standalone facility. >> Yeah, I think that's what we're asking. Okay. I think we can go from there. And is that enough direction for us? >> Absolutely. I I want options of both, right? because I think you're going to
find you you may be more economically friendly to to just build a standalone building versus because all the plumbing in this one is all in the back. I don't even think there's plumbing in the 550 or the 600 as far >> as >> there's two bathrooms back there. >> Is there two bathrooms in the back? >> Yeah, there's two bathroom. They're
actually also ADA compliant. >> Okay. >> So, Madam Chair, if I can if if you allow me. So what we'll do then is staff will uh go ahead and convene some meetings with it and look at some of the facilities that are currently here and then come back uh in uh in a few weeks
with conceptuals of of what we think might be a route that you five might want to move forward with. Will it be a uh a facility here or a standalone? >> Yes, sir. Uh Commissioner Alexander, you're recognized. >> Yes, ma'am. Um Mr. Commando,
so I overheard you and Mr. Grimes discussing so at we cannot stage the development of this facility uh individually and not cross the threshold at 50% or is that as a
facilitywide when we do 50% of renovations or 50% of the value of the building and renovations whether it be peacemeal or seniorly that we have to update the the entire facility. So what we were talking about is there's
substantial improvement or substantial uh renovation thresholds and generally those thresholds are cumulative and the reason why is honestly we use them for most of our residential homeowners. So uh the example we were just talking about is you can't just take one room in
your house and then just remodel one room in your house until you remodel all the rooms in your house and you get to 100% and you not trip that threshold. So breaking it up, you can break it up for um for your financial reasons as far as what the county is able to afford, but that doesn't stop you from tripping the
threshold at some point. So [snorts] at that point, those portions of the facility that are not up to code, if we reach that threshold, we have to bring every
existing portion of the facility up to code, even those that were developed under a different code, are they grandfathered in or do we have to >> They're not They're not grandfathered. And so once you trip the substantial improvement or substantial remodel threshold, um, generally the the terms that I've read is that the structure has
to be brought up to code. So that would be the whole building. >> So that would be everything in here and everything out there. >> So is that why we haven't done anything with this building? >> That I don't know the answer to. >> All right. Commissioner Harvey, you recognized. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you, Madam Chair. you know, um, again, we don't know what we don't know at this point. So, we're hearing that we could be substantially modifying and cumulative and all that, but there's a value on this building already there.
There's already a price, so we don't know that. I guess my question is, and I heard Mr. Suggs say he would try to bring something back in a couple weeks. I think that's a little fast. I do I heard you say that. Did you say >> I said in a few weeks, but that's okay.
We'll work hard to get those two weeks. >> I I just [laughter] don't want you to be tied down to November. And you know when when really if we get something by December, I would be happy with that. I just didn't want you to think that you I mean I'm speaking for myself, but it's a
lot of work right now. It it it is. And we know what we've went through multiple iterations with the one that we currently are dealing with. We hadn't even brought that back yet. So, uh, you know, I I think the, uh, uh, the ideal, uh, situation solution would be we've
got direction now what it is that we're looking for. Give us the time to to go out and and bring back some, uh, some valuable options to you folks to look at to make sure that we're we're following the uh, directive of the board at that point, then we can then we can engage further. >> You know, I appreciate that and that's
why I brought that up because I didn't want you to feel under the gun to bring it back immediately when we weren't prepared for it. But we don't know what we don't know and we need to know what we need to know. And u so I'll just leave it like that. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> We're gonna call those Harveyisms. Is that what you call them? These little
sayings. >> We have a book. >> We have a book. Well, Commissioner Paliser should have He's only been here back a year and he's got some good ones. Commissioner Paliser, you recognized >> the whoopdedes. Um, I've always said that we need to utilize
this entire building and I want my colleagues and staff to to realize that. I I think that's really the goal we're all interested in. We've got 20,000 square ft of nothing and to be able to expand and do what we want to do. We may
have to address the issue of whatever it is to fix the entire thing so that we've got something to move forward to. what that's going to cost. I got no clue. But I know it's expensive. I can guarantee you that. But I think we need to know that because we've got a commodity we can't sell. We can't do anything with if
we don't do the upgrades to to make it safe and codes and whatever else that has got to meet. So that might be the first thing we do is just bring bite the bullet with the entire cost of what it's going to take to bring this whole facility into code and then we can make
our expansions. But um and I'm in Commissioner comments. I've got more ideas about Mr. Harvey's Pantry Pride building. >> Commissioner Alexander, you're recognized. >> Mr. Suggs? >> Uh yes, Madam Chair. Just just
>> Is your mic on? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Uh just for clarification, uh what we'll work on on as far as staff is conceptual. We won't be able to bring you back anything, any design, any engineering, any of those things. We'll bring back conceptual ideas for for you
five to be able to look at and and review and then then have questions on. >> Okay. All right. I think we're there. All right. Thank you. That was um one of my comments. So, we'll go on into 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. You would think I could read this in my sleep, but I still have to look. Um, is there anyone who would like to speak? Do you have any cards? U, Mr. Larry, did you want to speak? I've seen you here a couple meetings. Okay. All
right, going into appointments. Do we have any appointments? Starting with Commissioner Alexander. >> I need to reappoint uh Charles Smith to the contractor's review board. I talked to him the other day. He's good to go on that. Um
>> that's CD, right? Not senior. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. >> Yes, ma'am. >> And uh I need to reach out to a couple of others of reappointments. >> What was that? >> I need to reach out to a couple of the others on reappoint. So, that's the only one I have. The contractor's board is done by
discipline. So you guys have to vote on that. It's not a district appointee. >> All right. So that's an atlarge appointment. You make a motion for that. >> Yes. I make a motion that we reappoint Charles CD Smith as our roofing contractor representative on the
contractor's review board. >> Second. >> All right. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor say I. >> All right. Any other appointments? Commissioner Alexander? >> No, ma'am. Commissioner Newold, >> I'd like to make a I'd like to make a motion to reappoint Joy Lee to the
Waterways and Trails Committee. >> Yeah. Oh, somebody second. >> I will second. All right, we have a motion to second. Any discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. I. >> Motion carries. >> That's all I have today. >> All right. Commissioner Pelicir,
>> I have none. >> All right. >> I have none. >> Commissioner Harvey and I have none. All right. All right. Um, Matt Reynolds, Kirk Reynolds, I'm sorry. >> Good morning, ma'am. Good morning, commissioners. Um, speaking of buildings, I'll update y'all on ours.
The renovation of the customer service building is going well. Um, I believe we expect it to be done within the next few months, hop by end of the year, but may not be able to make it. But at least um early next year, hopefully we'll we'll be completed with that and be back up
and and running in that building. So other than that, I don't have anything to to update the board on. Thank you. >> All right. >> County Attorney Commando. >> Nothing today, Madam Chair. Thank you. >> County Administrator,
>> I have nothing further, Madam Chair. >> All right. Does any of the deputies administrators have anything? All right. Going into Commissioner Alexander, >> I have nothing today. Thank you. >> You just don't want You're just ready to go. [laughter]
All right, Commissioner Palisier. >> Um, few things I want to talk about. Um, you know, I was real gung-ho about moving the U tax collector and property appraiser out here with us. I had a meeting with Miss Bridges, tax collector
the other day and um, she explained to me the operations of how they work and interact with with tax collector and the clerk of court and the proximity of those buildings. it was really convenient for the uh constituents to be able to go to and fro and s do business
in each place. And I understand that and that make I I didn't understand her day. So my eyes were open when I went in there. I wasn't um um hard-headed about it. Um that dynamics of downtown is going to change. We all know that it's coming. Uh
how fast it gets here, I don't know. But that that's going to have to change one day. But I've since pulled back with the idea of tax collector and property appraiser being out here because I just don't from after talking to her and we were going to have a group meeting with
um Mr. Reynolds and um uh Mr. Clay um about what works best um to to con take care of our constituents as best we can. Um, however, the Pantry Pride building I do
feel like is sitting there as a total waste of possible income. >> And after what Mr. Grimes told us about how the building would have to be brought up with, I guess, fire suppression and what have you, upgrades, that is something that's got to be done or we can't market that building,
period. And as I talked to Mr. Suggs the other day, we talked about what to do that bill. We don't know what to do to it other than make it complyable with whatever they say you got to do to it to to make it rentable. We've got something we can't rent. We absolutely can't do
that. We got 20,000 square feet. Um and you you never know of when you were to market that thing. Um somebody may come in there and say, "Hey, I just need two bathrooms and 400 square feet of office space." Okay, we build that for them and we work that out in the lease and then we we starting to get an income out of
that building versus just a big place over there collecting dust. So, I know everything doesn't happen overnight, regretfully, but I would like to see us make some movement on just a step the step in the right direction is cleaning
that place out. Absolutely. Just there's so many things in there that can go to scrap that they can get in uh at the scrapyard. There's just trash in there. I mean, just I'd like to see an empty building because there's nothing in there of any use that I can see of anybody. If there is, maybe we can find
another spot to put it. But, um, I would like to see a wave of support that we clean that place up. Just >> Well, I would support that as long as we're not paying for storage someplace else. >> No, absolutely not. No, no, no. We We've got quite a few properties here that that we can move things to. I've got a
list of those also. >> Okay. Um, Commissioner Alexander, you're recognized. Um, in regards to Commissioner Pelier's point, when Miss Holmes and I were meeting the other day, um, you said something about the, uh, funding that
we're going to get, um, for the new fees we enacted that could be used for expansion. So, is that something that we could use for expanding this building? So uh we spoke on impact fees in big
general terms right. So >> and you know it was general discussion so that yeah can you help out at all? >> So impact fees that are currently um generating revenue >> are to be used for expansion and services. We cannot use them to
maintain. We cannot use them to um offset what we're currently doing. So if it's something we're currently doing and we're currently operating, we couldn't use them to replace if we're doing expanded services, expansion in um so
very easy ways of looking at it. When we talk through the roads, and again, as I have said a multitude of times, impact fees are new. So each idea that comes forward for potential funding through impact fees, I'm going to want to cautiously get that vetted through legal and our consultant, just to be very
clear. But my very basic understanding as we are here today, um, for example, when we talk about a road, if it was currently a paved two-lane road and we went to make it a four-lane road, that's an expansion, right? Those four those additional lanes could pay because it's
not currently serving the citizens. So, yes, we do have general government impact fees um that could be utilized if we seek to expand services i.e. in this mechanism or in relative to today's
conversation um it I believe is a one for one we're not expanding services essentially but when we talk veteran services we may be able to offset the expansion in their area not what they're so i.e take the delta between what they're currently operating in versus
what they would be proposed to be operating in and some percent of that project potentially could be paid for. So where we aren't today serving a need again the whole metric comes back to it has to be capital and it has to be expansion. >> Okay. So that that that answer my
question. So if it's an expansion we can use >> potentially >> potentially again there's always I I've learned my conversations with you there's always a caveat until we verify it. >> Good. Good. [laughter] >> But you'll get me something in writing as always. Thank you. Okay. >> Commissioner Paliser you still have the
floor. >> Yes ma'am. Thank you. I want to finish up here. Um, y'all know I love to give those out of boys and in this case some out ofa girls. Um, had a lady call me up and she could not say enough nice things about this lady um over in public works
and how she bent over backward and just went the extra mile or two miles to to help out. And that lady is Miss Marie Chase. And um she I called JT the other day and I was unable to reach him because I wanted to
know how to approach her cuz I wanted to give her some glory and he wasn't there. So I just took the matter in my own hands and I called her direct and she was absolutely floored. She uh she I think she thought she was in trouble because because I just I identified
myself as Walton Pelisir and she said, "Oh, Commissioner Peliser." And I said, "Everything's fine. Everything's good. just take a chill. And uh I began to tell her what the lady said about her and and how much and I don't know the lady by face. I don't I'd love to meet her. I'm sure I have seen her, but I'm
I'm terrible with with names and faces. But that's the kind of thing that I love to tell about our people and doing the job and give those praise points um when they're due because that is just a that's just a good thing and um spread
that love. Um I think that does it for me, Madam Chair. Thank you. >> Commissioner New Bulge, you're recognized. >> I have a couple of things real quick. Um I don't know if probably a lot of people were not aware of the activity we had at Dun Creek State Park this um this last
weekend. They had more than 250 attendees at an orientering event. Um these were kids primarily junior ROC from all over the state really coming here to Putnham County to
do an a really unique activity in our state park. Um they had a a great event. The weather turned out well. It was well organized. Um at the end of it, their organizing body said, "Hey, this is a great location. We'd like to be back."
So, it's it's nice to see that space being well utilized and and gaining some traction. Um, my other piece, uh, since our last meeting, I attended, I guess last Tuesday, the schoolboard meeting, um, as
a representative of District 1. Um, brought them up to speed on my thoughts for the possible reuse of Miller Middle School property. um made them aware that I had a kind of a vision in mind, but if
if that were going to work, um the county would need to acquire that space at a uh sum that is much less than their listed price and just simply asked them if they were open to that conversation that I'd like to set up a workshop in
the future. and they were positive to the idea of of meeting and discussing possibilities for that space. So, I'm working through calendars with uh folk uh that are close to the blue ribbon
committee, folks that have some professional knowledge. And um I'll come back to you guys with a proposed workshop date between us and the Penum County school board members. >> So, you're wanting to do a workshop, a joint meeting with them?
>> Yes, ma'am. And in the meantime, I believe I had um administrator Suggs send out a um a copy of that blue ribbon report so everybody would have um have that. >> Thank you. That is all that I have. >> All right. All right. Commissioner
Harvey, you're recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. You know, um the add of boys and of girls and all that goes a long way. Years ago, we changed the culture here and it can show. I mean, it shows very positively that we have the right people
in the right seats on the right bus. Um, I would encourage you, I'm not saying what I do, but give our staff time to do the job that they're trying to do. Yesterday, I made a a request to public works about a road. Um, got a call back
that they were already on the road looking at the road. Um, so give them time to do their job because you'd be surprised that when the client when you do call the client back, the constituent, they go, "Yeah, public works has called me or so and so's already called me and they're working on
it. You look just as good that way. Trust me." So, um, we got a great staff and I've always said, you know, the the worst thing I can do is get in the way. So, let me get out of the way and let them do their job. And and like I said
years ago, we changed the culture and you can sure show it around here. I do want to say to the board, thank you for the carpet. It looks wonderful. This whole place looks really good. Um I mean it it just brightens it up a little bit.
We still got some more work to do, but I've always said investing in oursel and looking professional is, you know, we only get one shot at the first appearance. And when you do that, you know that people think think of you, but you can really come in here now and look
at this place and go, looks really good. It looked good before, don't get me wrong, but it looks better today. So, thank you all very much for that. Appreciate your support on the boat ramp. I know that was a heavy lift, but we're there and we'll move forward with that. And um you know, I look forward to
all the boat ramps and all the recreation possibilities that we have in Putnham County for our residents to be able to use and and those who don't live here will come and use our our facilities and maybe want to stay. And
how many times have you met somebody who's out of town and they go, "Man, this place is wonderful right here." and they come back and buy property and want to move here. So, that's what we're all about. And Commissioner Nubble, let me say this. I admire what I read in the
paper about that. Um, I have some thoughts, so I'm looking forward to to that workshop about that. But, you know, it all it all starts with a conversation in our business. And it starts with, you know, what can we do together? How can we move this thing forward? How can we
all benefit? How can the community benefit? That's what this business is about is a relationship. So, I appreciate each and every one of you and the job that you're doing, the relationships you're building, and the work that's coming back to this board is is impeccable. Thank you, Madam Chair.
>> Thank you. Uh, a couple things that I have. Um, you know, I had to come back and talk to you about the IT department being moved and but it was a good reminder for me that, um, you know, we do have to come back to this board when we're spending resources. everything
needs to be done in the in the sunshine. And um I had just truly had not realized that we had not um taken a vote on it. And so why we we are this board, what I love about this board, I've often called us the the board of change. Uh we're
passionate about the things that we want to get done in our community. Each one of us, we just have picked up something that hey, we want to see grow and and and improve our community. and we're all working on different projects. But I just want to remind you that remember to
come back to the board and have the discussion so that staff has direction because it's not fair to staff if we're all back there giving them five different things to do. So just keep that in mind as we uh especially when it comes to the same area. So um just remember that having this um great
conversation at the dis and giving uh good direction to our board to our staff is what we need to do. And um also I want to say that Putinham Animal Services I have received an email from somebody and they just gave sang their
praises about how hard they work. Um they're not always in the best conditions. Of course they receive animals not in the best conditions and um I just want to give a shout out to our Putinham Animal Control Services um
staff because they're working and hard. They're doing the best they can with what they got and I'm so very proud of them and we do have um a light at the end of the tunnel and we are hopefully going to get them moved and in a building before the end of the year and
um I know I've said that another year but I'm not going to say it. I'm not going to say that in January. We're we are this close. Go ahead, Mr. Grimes. >> So just just so everybody's in the public as well is updated. So this week we've got the fire sprinklers are installed. They're supposed to be testing those with the fire marshall
probably tomorrow or the next day. Uh getting on his schedule for finaling those. The kennels are complete inside the buildings. Uh so that portion is done. Um the astro turf for the playyards for no better term is installed. Uh Lman's is there as of I was there at 7 o'clock this morning.
They were already putting up the tension wire and the top rail of the chain link fence. I did talk to Chase Fut from Lman this morning. The gates are there. So, they'll be putting the wire up in the gates on the playyards in the the turf area the rest of the remainder of this
week. Should be getting pavement today or tomorrow. Um, we had rain Monday. I think it was planned in on Monday, but it just rained and got the the base wet again. So, hopefully that's finished. Other than that, I think we're done. Um, I mean, I'm sure there's something else we've missed. I'm 100% positive we're
going to find something and then we'll get started. But we're I mean like you said, we're I'm thinking within a week we'll be complete with construction. So um other than maybe some fencing stuff that's still got to be done, but the canal lever entrance gates are supposed to be delivered today. Uh the openers I
think are inbound to us. Um I did talk to the vendor about those. So the the the automatic gate openers are inbound. Um so it's really wrapping up on the final detail of just getting everything knocked out. Miss Young did tell me I forgot and it never did cross my mind.
We just didn't do a good job at the lighting. So, we're going to put some lighting, exterior lighting up for nighttime because I never thought about, you know, when you think about going home. Uh, but we got to do some little bit of light, probably work on the outside to light the outside the facility. So, when the staff does come in in the evenings or late at night,
even this time of year at 6:00, I mean, it's starting to get dark. So, we're going to put some exterior lighting up on the building. That was just an oversight on our part, but we'll we'll get that hammered out this week and uh move it forward. But um the second cat condo, cat kennel is um established and
um it is there and built. So it is all finally wrapping up. >> So Miss Young, I I know you are a planner. You always are [snorts] planning things. So what um once you have your CEO, what is your plan? >> As soon as we have the building CO, we're going to go ahead and transition
some office and clerical staff into the building. um that will allow the us to finish up the exterior infrastructure being done, fencing, that type of stuff that has to be in place before we actually move the dog, if you will, operation over. Um, so we're waiting on
a few pieces of that puzzle, working through getting that building CO and then your dispatch and care intake staff will largely move over with a little bit of um kind of transient um movement as they also need to be out there where the
animals are too. So we'll have a little bit of a rotation going. So um we'll move as quickly as we get the approval to do so. >> All right. And I think speaking of that, it made me something just popped in my head. Um I feel like we need to get an update on that ARC um uh trailer that we
spent money on and um as far as you know, if Miss Jenny, if you don't mind reaching out to Miss Jenny and she could come and give us an update of, you know, when were they able to get it operational, how many have they done anything? Because I haven't seen it in the county other than in their area. Um,
and if and if ju if if it's just been logistical, then what's the plan for the next year coming up? So if if you'll ask her that, I think that's something that I think se probably several of us have been asked in the community. So I just want to make sure. Uh, Commissioner Nobel, you're recognized.
>> On the animal services building, is in that budget, is there anything that u aids with signage or if you don't know that place is there, you'll never know it's there. I mean, you got to weave in behind between you know, along the edge
of it feels like you're tiptoeing through somebody else's property to get to it. Actually, how is that flow going to work? And is there going to be signage that says, "Here we are." >> Yeah, we can. We have a sign shop. We can build any any sign. Um, and it just all depends. I mean, we can build our street sign. If we want to make it look
any different than a street sign, we probably need to talk about, you know, if it needs to be anything more elaborate than a street sign, but Mr. Jerry and his crews and JT over at the public workshop can build, you know, entrance to animal services or, you know, we can put something out on Highway 19 right there at the entrance to the sheriff's office. So, but we can
absolutely get some signage made. >> Yes, sir. >> All right. And with that, I'd also like to uh thank the Putham County Sheriff's Office. Um they have been moving forward with the sex offender ordinance that we had approved. Um I believe it's made it through the Palaca um municipality and
Crescent City. And um I have a niece who lives in Northport, city of Northport. She has actually presented it in front of the city of Northport and um reached out to the sheriff's office in Sarasota. And um it is that ordinance is actually
becoming um the poster child, if you will, or the or what other municipalities are looking at to create in their communities. And when she saw it, she's she's a mom of two kids and she was passionate about it. she brought it forward and so it might be moving
forward in other areas. It's it's the example that other municipalities and counties are using in the state. So that's something to be to be proud of. Uh Commissioner Palister, you're recognized. >> Uh yes, ma'am. I totally forgot. We spoke some time ago. um I guess maybe
our last meeting about the um taking care of the uh indigence um disposal of the bodies that um we've been doing for so many years at a very reduced rate. Uh Miss Young got me some numbers. Um I
want to say that we uh we went 2007. Is that right, Miss Young? When we moved from there to the rate that we have now. >> Yes, sir. October of 2007 was when the board last made an adjustment. >> Okay. [snorts] Just want y'all to be thinking about um
we currently pay $500 for the disposal of an indigent body. Um I think that many years we need to see some sort of an increase. Um [snorts] being my line of side work that I do, I will probably recuse myself from that vote. But, uh,
I've been contacted by a couple funeral homes and and they just, um, it's just not adequate to handle it once you, uh, you have to pick a body up, drop a body off, that type thing. Um, just wanted us be thinking about a number that we need to go up to. be
bringing that. >> Well, I think I think that's where I'm having my um heartburn is they need to come in front of us instead of us just I'm I'm challenged in my I feel like >> I can ask them. >> I I I mean here we you as a commissioner
are asking for an increase, but we don't have somebody in front of us saying they need an increase. So, while they might have spoke to you individually, it's like I feel like that that needs to to be more uh in in front of us. Uh, Commissioner Alexander, you're
recognized. >> Uh, I was going to talk about something else, but yeah. Um, yeah, I w I was contacted by uh Mary Lawson Brown and her group as well about raising the rates on that. And the way I looked at it was just another constituent possibly
calling me about a road and getting it fixed. But yeah, >> I agree with what you're saying. if they have a consensus among their group and it's something that we contract out, they should, you know, probably bring forward and just give us their argument, their side of it where these costs have increased this and that and they can all present together because I think we
share that responsibility amongst the funeral homes in the community and I'm sure that they have the data to document and it makes the decision easier when we do that. Um, >> you know, on other things, you know, roads and stuff, we're not looking say we're going to increase the price across the board and usually, you know, there's
a process for that. That's my only concern. So, I just want to make sure if one of the funeral homes or more than one wants to even write something, I think it would be um in our best interest to receive that from them. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. >> I know I know what your point is and I don't have an issue with it. I just
would like to see something tangible. >> Yeah. Give me give me some numbers. Makes the decision easier. Um, speaking of giving me some numbers, um, I received my information regarding the properties that the county owns and
talked to staff about that the other day in our meeting. A lot of it was parcel numbers and they're going to get back with us on physical addresses. uh some of us don't really use the GIS real well and it's kind of difficult for us to run around and look at them like that but addresses and maybe even a potential map
that overlays where they're at and I can see the adjacent properties to those and who owns those and what the potential benefit or detractor for the county retaining those properties would be nice. >> Okay. Um go back to Are you done? >> I'll go back to my I'll reclaim my time
over here. All right. [laughter] >> Um, I just wanted to remind everybody that this Friday in the parking lot, we have a partnership with the Department of Health for free or reduced mammograms. Um, it is on our websites on the county website. People can sign up and that is available for our community.
And then on a different note, I want to tell you something that I've become passionate about and that is I would love to see and not at taxpayers expense. I'm not proposing this, but I want to share with my fellow commissioners my vision. I would love to see a community Christmas tree be put in
the courthouse lawn. And so I'm going to make it a personal goal um coming into the new year that um to start doing some fundraising and um hopefully work with one of the organizations, one of the nonprofits who can sort of be the the
lead and I can push behind the scenes and and wherever I can. I think it would just be amazing to see a community Christmas tree on the courthouse lawns. Again, not asking for taxpayers dollars, but that we can and I hear that March is the right time to buy these type of
things. The only support we would need um would be maybe putting it up or something like that from staff, but we'll work on that once if I can get a tree bought. But um I would love to see a huge uh tree on the courthouse lawn. I think it needs some positivity in the downtown area and that's one of the
areas that we own. I did speak I didn't speak with but I sent a ma an email to the to the city to see what they're going to be doing in downtown Palaca. They will be uh lighting the clock. Uh they will not be putting up a tree underneath it. They will be putting
signs on the poles uh the little banners. That's what they shared with me. Um and making sure that the trees are lit from the riverfront down to 11th Street. So, I just wanted to see, you know, as we move forward in the years to come, when you go to other communities, it becomes a center point where
everybody wants to congregate around something. And I would love to see that Christmas tree. I would love to see Christmas carolers out there, you know, maybe something on the courthouse steps, you know, whatever. I just next year I'm going just telling you, I've got a bigger vision than what we have this
year. And so, I might be um asking you in your spare time to help me out with that project, but that is a personal goal that I'm making. So, I wanted to put that out there with that. Is there anything else to come before the board? >> I have one quick one. I should have hit it in my comments, but that's okay. >> Everybody's having a yard sale. The
Pomona Park uh That's right. City >> fathers are doing Everybody's having a yard sale. So, if you need to satisfy your yard sale, Jones, come down to Pomona. It is uh >> um is it two days, Larry? >> It's Saturday. Just Saturday. This
Saturday in Pomona Park. And uh it's it's a big to-do and it's a good time. So, come on down. >> There's plenty of things to do in Putham County. If you're not if you're can't find something, you're not looking. One of the things I will say real quick is the chamber um has taken on putting um
all the flyers and stuff um in the community. So, you can go to the chamber's event calendar and you will see a plethora of of um flyers and information for each day of the week or mostly for the each weekend. So, when I went to find something for my grandkids
to do this weekend, there were like five or six things on there. So, um, all the communities seem to be going to that center location, which I'm really happy about, and I want to thank the chamber for doing that. But it's easy to find out if there's if you don't have anything to do, there's plenty to do.
You just need to look for it. All right, with that, this meeting is adjourned.