Road Safety Task Force meeting. Today is July 24th. It is 300 PM. Um we do have um one of our board members, um Sandy Edwards. We're going to call her real quick and get her on the line so she can follow the meeting.
Let's see if we can get her involved. Come on. Okay, while we're figuring that out, let's stand for the invocation and pledge of allegiance. Dear heavenly father, thank you for this day. Thank you for bringing us all together to help us move Putnham County
forward and in a good direction trying to work with our safety task force and trying to improve the roads in Putnham County. We love you and we thank you for all the blessings you have given us every day. Amen.
I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Hello.
>> Hey, Miss Sandy. Um, this is Hey, we're gonna turn you down, I think, just a little bit. All right, say something now. >> Yes, I can hear you fine. Okay, tell me when you want me on the mute. >> Okay. Um, so we are just getting started. We've um given the pledge of
allegiance and um we are moving into our safe state road safety task force meeting. Um, basically today's the point of today's meeting will be for each um person on the committee to give their input as to what they would like to see
moving forward um to the board of county commissioners for them to work with either law enforcement, DOT or other state officials on. But before we do that, we do um have a little bit of housekeeping um approval of the ME meeting minutes from June 19th.
So moved by um Mr. Larry. Do we have a second? Second. Um, all in favor say I. I. All right. Um, with that we'll go into we have a presentation before we get started from the sheriff's department with S sergeant Higin Bothotham. Sandy, you won't be able to
see it, but he has some news to share with us. >> Does it go up there? >> It's supposed to. There it goes. >> Very nice. Um, so my name is Jacob Hagen Motham. I'm a supervisor or sergeant at the
sheriff's office. I'm a Putnham County resident, born and raised. And, uh, let's get into it. So, countywide, uh, the reason why I'm up here doing this is I was named as the, uh, supervisor for that new, newly
created traffic unit that the sheriff's office just created. U and countywide we've had uh three social media posts during the month of July, two traffic unit operations July 3rd and July 18th.
And there was a statewide campaign operation southern slowdown uh that we participated in last week since January 1st. Uh the traffic unit is comprised of eight people, seven uh seven deputies and one supervisor. Uh so
since January 1, as you can see right here, this these are the results of the traffic unit uh and everything that we've contributed since January 1st. As you can see, we've had 17 DUI and over 1500 traffic stops only resulting
in 698 citations and 518 warnings. Yeah. Would you compare this to be a little bit more increased um what you were doing prior to forming your new um unit? >> Yes, ma'am. I would. Um and so later in
the PowerPoint, we'll we'll get into the agency as a whole. Um but to answer your question uh and since and historically speaking, this is an increase. >> Okay. So, operation southern slowdown, which was July 14th through July 19th last
week, resulted in 242 traffic stops from the agency, uh, resulted in 155 warnings and 87 citations. During that week, we had five DUI arrests and three other traffic related arrests such as driving on suspended, reckless driving, or
anything of that nature. The traffic unit operations that we had on July 3rd and July 18th resulted in 117 traffic stops, 69 warnings, 48 citations, two DUI arrest, one pursuit, and one traffic
crash investigation uh resulting in an arrest. It was a hit-and- run crash. Uh distracted driving. So, we deal with uh distracted driving a lot. Uh this is a deputy sheriff's car that just got hit literally last week. Uh during an operation while on a traffic stop,
Deputy Bryant was rearended by a distracted driver. Uh Florida Highway Patrol responded and worked the crash and driver was cited for failure to move over. Um we we deal with this all the time. Florida has the move over law. Uh and as a result of that, uh we encourage
people to either move over the entire lane, slow down their speed when they're passing by. Unfortunately, in this aspect, the driver failed to do that, was distracted. Uh, however, our deputy wasn't injured as a result of it, and it worked itself out. >> Just feel free to >> Jacob, can I ask a question?
>> Yes, sir. >> Do distracted driving. So, if you you see somebody driving down the road doing texting on their phone or something, do you stop them? That's a >> Yes, sir. Absolutely. That that is a traffic violation, texting and driving. U But there's many forms of distracted
driving, right? Uh and so basically encompassed in all that uh text and driving is encompassed in that, but it's also uh maybe they're on the phone, maybe they're in in a deep thought and just not paying attention to the roadway. Uh there's many forms that distract people from driving. So uh we
combat that with obvious traffic violations that we may see uh and handle it as such. >> Okay. Thank you. So, since January 1st, uh, the sheriff's office has conducted 8,758 traffic stops, traffic crashes, and
DUIs. Of that number, 7,849 were traffic stops, 858 were vehicle crashes, and 51 uh were DUIs. This is how we're clearing uh majority of our traffic stops or crashes or DUIs.
As you can see, uh the letter N at the bottom uh it stands for a written warning. Uh in that aspect, what we what we do with there uh say I pull somebody over uh and I just want they they get a warning. However, I want it to be documented. Uh we have 3,784. The reason
why sometimes you want those documented is if it's a reoccurring offense. That way deputies down the road or whoever down the road can see it as such and be like and say, "Okay, cool. They've already received a warning for this now. They haven't learned. We have to go to the next step." Um W stands for verbal
warning. So we've done 2388. And we're actually working right now to try to combat that. Um because verbal warnings, a written warning and a verbal warning is the exact same thing. However, there's no documentation of it. So we can't see it if we do a subsequent stop or anything of that nature. Uh M
stands for uh citations and we've issued 961 of that 7,000 number that you saw. Uh I stands for basically written a report uh documented on an incident report or anything of that nature whether it's a DUI, a traffic crash or
anything that requires an actual police report. uh HP P and and O that's just supporting uh dispositions is basically something other than the citation, the warning or the incident report was written. This is the overview of the uh county uh
in the red those are all traffic crashes that we have responded to and orange is uh traffic stops where we've conducted that. So, as you can see, we are really focused on the areas that we're seeing. Uh, and then if you compare this to
Signal 4 Analytics, which is where we get a lot of our our data from as far as like what areas we're going to hold in operation and so forth, um, we're heavily patrolling these areas uh to try and get motorists to slow down and just mitigate the traffic crashes that we have.
State Road 100, 683 traffic stops, 56 vehicle crashes, and one DUI uh since January 1st. And then same thing, this is the map of State Road 100 showing vehicle crashes
and traffic stops. Um just again, as you can see, we're preventing them just by mere presence, but we're also by enforcement. Now I'll open the floor for any questions. >> All right. Are there any questions? Yes. Go ahead. >> So the um um Department of Highway and
Safety and Motor Vehicles, Dave Kerner, the the director, he um you know had the troopers working extra here. Is that still occurring or they kind of backed off? >> Uh yes sir, we still have troopers here. uh and they're working um and uh we actually have an upcoming joint
operation with them uh for traffic related in August. So they are here. They're still working. Um and it may be slacked off a little bit compared to how it was when it first started. >> U but again I mean we all have a lot of stuff going on. So but we do have a joint operation coming up and they are
still showing a heavy presence. >> Good. >> And so the numbers you reported was specific to the sheriff's office. Did it pick up the FHP or the city? No. Okay. So, I know for a fact that the city worked with you on the southern slowdown and so did did FHP as well. >> Yes, ma'am. FHP as a whole entity
participated in it. Uh I don't have their stats uh from Putnham County. Um but yes, Plyipedia also participated in it as well. >> Yeah. So, so those numbers really are probably even higher if we were able to include their numbers as well. >> Yes, ma'am.
>> All right. Um yeah, I don't know. I don't know. give warnings. >> Do I know? >> Go ahead, Terry. >> Highway patrol, they don't give warnings. >> Um, >> please don't think I'm coldarted, but why are we giving so many warnings on 100 when there I mean, I'm sorry. I'm
one that has been hit head on and still suffering from the crash. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Why are we not writing more citations? Because in my view, that's the only way anybody's going to learn on Highway 100. >> Yes, ma'am. I appreciate the question. Uh quite frankly, the answer to it, uh somebody's behavior when we get them
stopped and we're up there talking to them, uh they come off very remorseful. Uh majority of the time they think the speed limit's 70 m hour, uh you know, and so forth like that. So, it's a bit confusing for them or just confusion on their part and a warning seems to be
sufficing it. I can name on I mean maybe less than 10 times where I'm pulling people over on State Road 100 and they have previous traffic stops on 100 100. It's indicating to us because that's not happening that the warnings are working. >> Okay. >> Um and and I mean it's not our mission
uh to be issue punitive, you know, cost and everything associated with that with every traffic stop. However, I mean there's it escalates. So if the warnings aren't working then yes or punitive. Here you go. learn your lesson and so forth. But from what we're seeing, the
warnings are working and for the ones that aren't or we're having like time and time again violations of it. Yes, ma'am. Citations are there. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yes, ma'am. >> And so some of the you definitely have seen an increase as well in when you're
when you're when you're stopping these people, you're seeing other problems that they've had. You because I see you picked up on a hit and run that actually occurred out in that area as well, didn't it? >> Yes, ma'am. So, uh, that happened, the crash happened during an operation. Um, and so it's kind of my opinion of it.
Um, I want I want us to develop a need for a full-time unit. Uh, because traffic is something I'm very interested in, especially for our county. Um, so by showing a need for it, we handled that hit-and- run investigation, fully investigated, ended up resulting in an arrest, and it it worked out beautiful.
Um, and so using that mindset, I mean, we're able, we're pulling people over and we're seeing all kinds of history with them. We're getting drugs off the street sometimes. And you never know what you're going to have when you walk up to a car on a traffic stop. I mean, they're they're so random,
>> right? And I know shopping people sometimes necessarily isn't popular, right? Okay. I mean, people don't like to get stopped, but it's a necessary for our community because as this as this group has learned, um, including the sheriff's office is the statistics and
and the numbers. And I mean, I think we were all blown away when we started receiving the data as to Putinham County. Some of it there was some anomalies and some of it wasn't quite reported correctly um because it took snippets out of certain time frames. And and I and I don't disagree. I mean,
after I got into it, I understood. I mean even DOT said that they said you just took a snippet out of this but if you took it overall there's the numbers a little bit different but still they were large numbers and then to see the amount of DUIs um and one of the questions that I had asked under sheriff
um was about the DUI stops and he explained to me you know you have to advertise those are not as fruitful truly pulling people over with just a traffic stop and a vi you know with some kind of a they didn't turn their blinker on they were speeding whatever >> that ends end up being more fruitful
sometimes than setting up a DUI. And if you want to speak to that under sheriff, that would be fine. I just um I am very appreciative from this group and I think all of y'all are of them of how it's already increased and and what we're seeing in the community. It's definitely
making a difference. I mean, the goal I think for everybody is to lessen the fatalities for sure and just accidents overall. And it's we knew when we started this that this wasn't just going to be, oh, this is just road safety as far as the physical, you know, we need
more stop signs, we need better speed limit signs, we need whatever it is. I mean, we'll get to that, but at the same time, a huge part of this was also enforcement. So, I want to say thank you guys for listening and really stepping up. Um, under Sheriff Blunt, thank you. Um, I know that I'm sure we all feel
that way that we are very appreciative and Highway 100 isn't the only problem. It just seems to be the biggest problem. And I think it was Miss Ryan's husband last time that was talking about the speed limit out there. And he's not wrong because when you have a section that says 60 miles an hour, you're going
to go 65 70. You know, you are. That's just the way it is. And and so you know that's but at the same time it's hard to want to go too low on that because then that and I know you've seen that too is that if you and you probably had people texting and calling you saying what
about the slow people on 100? >> Oh yeah. >> They're causing problems too because they do and then people when the people are going 45 on 100 or 50 the traffic backs up and people start going around them. >> They start passing them and no passing >> and then we have a dangerous situation. Yep. Yep. Go ahead. Do you all give
tickets for doing is there a minimum speed limit? >> Yes. Yes, sir. To answer your question, there's a statute. It's called impeding the flow of traffic. >> Uh so when somebody's going such a slower speed than the actual speed limit that they're impeding the flow of normal traffic, then that's an issue.
>> Um and so yes, I hear for left lane violations when you know people do the way scales and it's constant. So um there's a whole slew of traffic violations. I mean the traffic statue book is like that thick. So um there's
statues out there for everything. U but yeah we hear we hear it all. >> So I know um there was some stuff on social media recently about this new unit. You want to talk specifically about that? I mean you >> Absolutely. Absolutely. Uh so the new unit was formed uh effectively like July
1. Uh it's comprised of eight people like I said, seven deputies and one supervisor. Um we're all doing it on a kind of a part-time basis right now. What I mean by that is our full-time job as deputy sheriff's ranges. Uh I like for instance, I'm a patrol supervisor,
but we have people who are civil deputies, administrative deputies, uh other patrol deputies. Um so our that's our full-time job and we're doing this on the side. Um majority of the people on the traffic unit are actually from here, uh born and raised because again,
they care. they've they've had friends and family members affected by these traffic crashes just like I have, just like probably all of us. Um, and so you with that, the unit was comprised. Um, and the selection of who was on it and stuff, it not only from a uh a
professional basis, but also a fiscal. We don't want somebody to come out here to spend taxpayer dollars uh that are just going to sit underneath a tree and not be productive and pull cars over. So just using that mindset, we also selected key individuals to that actually contribute to the unit. Um
we've had two operations so far. Uh we have another operation coming up, a joint operation with uh Florida Highway Patrol. Um and the vision of the unit is to one day become full-time. Um get everybody on the unit breath test operator certified. uh and actually like
show like, hey, motor certified because while I'm never going to get on a motorcycle, uh we we have people who who love that and really want that. And so it's my job as a supervisor to figure out how how can we make that happen? Um and so yeah, the unit is going great. We
got a great group of guys um that the whole thought process behind it is isn't to go out and give out a thousand tickets, right? Uh we set up our first operation kind of 30 minutes before we had a briefing is what we call it and we generated like a percentage like hey how
many traffic crashes do we want to reduce for the county and we came up with all these numbers that way at the end of the year we could look at it and see hey do we meet our goals and so forth >> right I know people tend to think that there's some quota there's not a quota what you're talking about is goals in
reducing fatalities and crashes in our county has nothing to do with quotas there's not even such a thing is there's There's not even such a thing. No, I didn't think so. >> Um, >> has there been any any thoughts about approaching the uh judicial system, specifically the county judges and magistrates to educate them on the
dangers of the crashes and fatalities so that when you have uh an operation like southern uh what was it called? Southern slow down. Slow down. slow down is that basically you can make a mark on the citation and that when it comes before them in the court that they don't withhold points because what happens a
lot of times if they get an attorney they have this ticket clinic out of Dubo out of Orange County different places they come and they withhold the points absolutely >> and again too there should be consequences associated with that particularly if it's a a selective enforcement detail it's there for a reason state road 100 I don't see any
need to withhold points for any ticket on 100 that's just my personal opinion professional I Uh but I don't know if you guys have approached them or not. Again, they have that discretion. That's going to be their final decision. But again, maybe just educate them and say, "Hey, this is what we're trying to do. This is the reason why." So when it
comes before you, you know why we wrote this ticket, right? So on our uh laptops when we're completing citations, we have the ability to type in notes right there. Uh and so during campaigns of such nature, uh we can type in Operation Southern Slowdown. That way when the court copy goes to the judge if if it
needs to go that far magistrate uh they can see that hey it's was during this campaign uh now the ma magistrates and the judges like you said they have the final say. So so they ultimately get it. However what I've seen majority of time when I'm going to traffic court is the attorney will come up and say like hey
do you mind withholding adjudication and they do that because it's it's easy. Majority of the time, uh, people are like, "Yeah, you know, whatever." And and it saves from the actual like the quoteunquote trial, traffic court trial. Uh, however, in situations when somebody
has citation and warning and citation and citation and citation, there's no need to withhold points. Like, what is it going to take? Higher insurance, okay, I guess. But other I mean, ultimately, they're going to have the final say. So, uh, we haven't had conversations with them, but it is
already notated on the traffic citations itself. >> I do believe they are elected. >> Yeah, >> I believe so. All right. Do we have any other questions for the presenter or any comments that anybody would like to make? >> Yes, sir. Go ahead, J.R.
>> Jared, Sergeant Hick, thought your presentation was great. Um, >> I thought it was, too. I would like to commend you guys because you took a a part-time unit and I don't see your numbers in front of me, but I think you yourself did almost a thousand traffic stops. Um, I mean, it was it was pretty
intense. I mean, as long as I mean, I don't know how many of these are on or you did 192, which is still a lot for an individual officer, right? I mean, if you did that every day, that's still a significant amount. I mean, that's three a day every day, right? So, that's that's pretty good if you're only doing it part-time. So, and this is I'd like
to tell your guys that they all did great, right? I mean, it's it's all enforcement, right? Everything every call we get in here is enforcement, right? You know, our roads tore up. Why? Because people are doing donuts. Why? Because it's enforcement. Uh so, as it as as it only is you guys are stopping doing this, it's going to help us on the
county side of it, too. Keep better roadways, keep keep the roads better in shape, you know, and keep them safer. Um, I' I'd had put put Chief back on the spot, but I'm not sure that we've ran a lot more. The the high injury accidents
have got to have a significant reduction since you guys have started this. And that's the key, right? Is getting it down. Are we going to stop every auto accident? No, because we're distracted. But I think as you if you look countywide since you guys have really started taking enforcement actions of how much reduction there is in bodily
injury, I think that would be a great slide is is is giving yourself a metric. So how how far have we reduced bodily injury, not necessarily deaths, but severe injury because a lot of these things, you know, is is we don't get the severe severity of injury report back to you guys or even to our rescue crews
some followup to figure out, you know, what was the final disposition of the patient, right? Did they did they get there? Did they get released quick with no injuries, right? when they left us, they were hurt terribly. Um, but maybe they got there and they did all their diagnostic tests and found out it wasn't quite so bad and as it was in the moment, but I think you did a great job
and I think there's a lot of great information in there to to start. >> Yes, sir. Thank you. >> Sorry. Yes. Again, thank you for uh presenting uh to hit on a couple points of questions. Um, reference to the warnings, voluntary compliance is really where the sheriff's office is going. So
if we can achieve the goal in dropping through voluntary compliance and education, that's our goal. Uh we utilize multiple systems that give us uh statistical data as far as the individual from our local uh uh data sheet to state as well as United States where we get uh we can see where they've
been stopped or cited prior to. So we utilize that data as far as if you've got somebody that's never been stopped in 20 years and they're going 15 over, everybody deserves a warning. However, we utilize that system in effort to progressively go forward. So that's kind of on that. um the DUI uh conversation
and questions. Uh we are currently working as you see what he mentioned with getting all of the officers that are associated with the traffic unit certified in that. It's pretty uh it's a pretty intense investigation. So uh you get a little bit of training in the academy. However, further education is really key in order to make those cases
stick that each one of those cases for those who aren't uh aware generally take four to six hours once you stop initiated to the time you actually are completed and submit very intense detailed presentation. Um and in reference to the the county judges so he
may not see that uh I have personally worked with the previous magistrate and then when it went back to the judge and now we're actually getting ready to turn back over to another magistrate. So uh judges were doing pretty good. um hoping the new magistrate will actually continue that process of actually having some accountability and utilizing a
little um a little more discretion when it comes to actually enforcement of points and everything else because that's when that's when it starts really getting in somebody's pocketbooks when their insurance goes up points are there and unfortunately that's the reality but we are going back to a magistrate at this point. >> Very good.
Sergeant Higotham, you did a great job on your presentation by the way. Thank you for that. Are there any other comments or questions for the presenter? All right, moving on. Um, we'll going into um, and this is just not to be so formal, but
just good discussion um, regarding what you would like to see the county make improvements on the county, the state um, to help improve the traffic and the accidents that are occurring in in the county. So, um, Mr. I'm going to start
with you since you're all the way at the end if that's okay and then and and we're going to work on a list and then see where we go. >> Um so first off, I would um I was greatly relieved and I appreciate the the newspaper article this morning
talking about what y'all are doing and I think that's going to be the biggest thing that we can do. So I appreciate um the sheriff's department putting that in place. Um, as far as kind of next steps for um, for us as a county, I'm all in
favor of education as far as educating the people in our community as about the the importance of not being distracted, the importance of slowing down and following the rules. I appreciate what the uh, what sheriff's
department as far as voluntary compliance. Let's remind everybody the right way to work. We'll never quite work you guys out of a job, but wouldn't that be a nice place where we would need? But I think that's that's my big suggestion.
>> I know you're out you're out on 100 and on QR Roberts daily. Um have you already seen started to see a big difference out in that area? >> Uh immediately we saw an improvement um back in the spring uh over the summertime. It's it's just generally
different. My traveling patterns are different out there. I haven't been able to notice as much, but I look forward to start the school year in three weeks and see how that can continue to be pres
something simply by awareness. It's it's already helped and um we weren't sure where this was going to go when we started it. We threw it out there and you guys have all volunteered and stepped up and it's just trying to figure out what is it we can do and to
your point a huge part of that is going to be the awareness and education that exactly the other thing I've been traffic being common knowledge to open an interstate 15 miles north of us very soon.
>> So I'm afraid that if we don't as a committee and a board petition the state and the governor or whoever to make sure we've got state law enforcement just like Mr. Mr. Hickin said it's voluntary at this time. They have other duties.
Um, and crime rate doesn't stop because they're doing traffic. Um, but I'm afraid we're going to lose the little bit of FHP support we have in the county now once that interstate in Klay County opens up if we don't do something as a
board recommendation to the state to see what we can do about keeping them here, whether it's money or for them or however that looks. But that's that's my uh recommendation as we petition the state to keep FHP or get more FHP in the county to help the sheriff's office with
their campaign. >> Okay. I think that's I think that's good discussion to have. We're going to be leading going into our legislative delegation in September. So, we certainly can add that to the list when we speak to our local um delegation to say, "Hey, FHP's been here more um but
we want them to continue to be here and just because we're getting actually because we are getting an interstate next to our county. Um we're going to see more more traffic. We're going to see more people passing through our county and we need we need that extra enforcement. It can't all be on the local level. So that's that's a great
idea. I think we can do that by certainly when we talk about um what we want as a as a board and as the county commissions. I'm sure that you know that would be something they would want as well, but I can't speak on them but
makes sense to me. So, thank you. Um, Mr. Coats, what you got? >> Madam Chairman, I've got a couple things. First off is that um I think the task force that the letter would come from you to send the letter to the
sheriff's office, FHP, Palaka PD, and just encourage them for collaboration. It seems that that's already in works. >> Uh but again, we've talked about it, I think, every meeting that we've been here. And again, just to reinforce that uh to to everyone involved, also to send
a uh a letter to the school board uh to to try to inject some more safety initiatives in the school. I know that Mr. Theobola talked about that that there are some resources through FDOT that'll provide for free. Uh and again, I know there was you and I have had some conversation about the community traffic
safety teams. Some think that that's not worthy, but they provide free information, free materials, and free things for schools and different things that it' be a great resource to use as well. And then uh I'll say it again and I know I'm the probably the only person
on here is that uh to for the school board to consider shuttering Qi Roberts because the dangers involved of the staff, the faculty and the students driving State Road 100 daily and again to reduce the the potential uh risk for them to get involved in an accident
andor serious injuries or fatalities. And then lastly uh to continue our meetings uh No less than a quarterly meeting and maybe twice a year or something of that of that nature. >> Okay. Yeah. I hadn't thought about that. I was sort of thinking we was going to
wrap it up, but your your suggestion on that is that we just meet once a quarter or either twice a year just to just to keep our finger on the pulse, so to speak. >> Correct. Thank you. >> All right, Mr. Larry.
>> Thank you, Madam Chairman. Um we were all celebrating uh after the legislative session the the bill that was passed that required um driver's education um until we found out that it was it didn't include actual driver uh
driving experience or or you know education. So basically what that is is is it's just a you know they go into a classroom or you know it's all paper related. They never get behind the wheel. And I think that, you know,
without that, we're we're missing the the whole point of of what driver education's about. There's got to be an experience. I mean, um, obviously, uh, you can't just take a test and know how to drive. And um and so what I in our
board the school board meeting earlier um there was a consensus of the board that that we look at um putting either resolution or recommendation or make make it one of our legislative initiatives to to do a glitch bill or or
either amend the bill that was passed this year to have to add the actual driving component to uh the education course on driver education course and so um I was you know very surprised that
wasn't part of it and most all of us here I think there might be some younger here um you know we we did a half a semester of driver's education and um and um you know mine was Mr. OC Henderson from over on the north side and he had a barbecue place little
barbecue stand and that was really good we get to drive by there and get some barbecue but um it it really is something that uh uh is needed this day and time because of all the different things, the distractions and the cell phones and you know all of the
components of what go into distracted driving. Um I believe you know our younger adults in many cases uh experience that more. >> Oh yeah. >> And um and so that that's that's my priority. Um and uh whether or not it's
a you know, presented to the legislative delegation or not. I'm going to I'm going to try to work with Dave Ker, who's an old friend of mine, a former legislator, and see if we can't, you know, see if the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles will will in their legislative packet, you know,
would include that. >> Well, they probably, my guess would be it was probably because if they said it, then, you know, the school districts would ask for funding for that and they don't necessarily want to. Are they leaving it up to the locals? I mean the school district could still even though it's not requirement in
statute that you guys could still offer a course with which includes driving. >> We we don't do any of that anymore do we Joe? I mean except for maybe in the summer. >> Yeah. So >> yeah, we and we'll we'll be looking at
that too from the standpoint of of cost and you know it's u it's also very difficult to find those those instructors or teachers that you know want to do that um and also that you know have the certifications I guess to
do those. Um the the second thing and and and I'll Mr. Buckles asked me to, you know, to present this to the committee and uh is a the traffic signal at Highway 17 and Palmetto Bluff Road. And this goes back from the school district standpoint to
uh 2013 when um it was the the school board and the superintendent in 2013 sent a letter to the state to our the then legislative delegation um and to their um I guess to the department of uh
highway safety and motor vehicle you know requesting with backup information you know the need for traffic signal at that intersection. And um I heard today there's some development that's on the planning board I guess or somewhere in that area.
>> I haven't seen it. >> Anyway, that that's what they were saying. So if that was the case, you know, we could you could put that in the DRC that they had to pay for a traffic signal as part of their concurrency requirements. >> I don't think it was a matter of of the
funding as much as it was when I got elected. Of course, I heard from the constituents in that area and they told me the same thing and I'm out in that area a lot and Julianne lives out in that area and and it certainly seems like there needs to be a flash uh there's a flashing light there but there
want an actual uh uh signal light red you know red to stop and go and that kind of thing. And there's been accidents even recently um people coming out that Dollar General has just made it even harder because you're coming in out at an angle. Um, oh, Joe, you live out
there, too. Um, but but what I got was, "Well, we haven't we there's not enough traffic there," is what I got. And I said, "Well," and you got to have to have so many count traffic is what DOT told me. And I said, "Well, when's the last time that traffic study has been done?" And they said, "10 years ago."
And I said, "Well, how often can you get them done?" And they said, "Every 10 years." And I said, "I got it sitting in my office right now. You got anybody's welcome to look at it." I said, "Well, I then let's do one. Let's get one done now." So, one of the first things we did was when I got elected is I asked for that traffic study to get done and it
came back and now it's two years old. Um, but there wasn't enough traffic. So, um, >> so are they just looking at AM and PM peak hour traffic? >> They I I I I think they're looking at 24hour traffic, but there is some. Now to uh chief's point is once that
interstate gets open right 10 miles from there not even 10 miles probably um that's can certainly increase that traffic count but since it's not 10 years old the question has to be asked can we go ahead and get another traffic study once that interstate maybe that's a special circumstances that would then
allow us to ask for a traffic update traffic study update but you know DOT doesn't necessarily do things just because we think they need them even though we're suggest it and I and I would still stand behind that. Um, but that's where I got with it was they told
me and gave me the data that showed there wasn't enough traffic for that warranted a light right there. I think we will see in the future, but I don't know how far out that will be, but we can keep pushing. >> We certainly can keep pushing. >> I told him I'd bring it up to the committee and and uh, you know, we could
talk about it, but I guess they're going to do um some road work out there and two 8 million project. >> Yes. So that road pomemetto bluff road is due to be um uh resurfaced. There's also a drainage project going on. So the drainage project will go on first.
>> That's county uh with the state appropriation. So once that uh drainage project which most mostly will be cleaning out the ditches and culverts on palmetto bluff road. Once that's complete then they will be resurfacing palmetto bluff road >> um and w and widen it when there's when
there's room. I don't know that there's a lot of room there. That's that's another issue on that road. But um certainly a traffic light is, you know, could be discussed and we can continue pushing for it. But I do know that the current traffic study I have in my office, which is now two years old, did
not give us the numbers that that DOT needed to make it happen. >> Well, I can and let me just, you know, as somebody that was involved with the what's called the outer beltway, the interstate that they're put in there, involved going back to 1993 when I was planning director in Klay County, um
that specifically is designed as beltway to take traffic going east to 95 through uh either Jacksonville or or um 295 through the Buckman to to relieve that traffic and and then vice versa going
the other way. I do think it'll be a while I mean several years until we see a real impact from from that you know the outer beltway. I mean eventually the traffic will developments will start moving down 17 um and you know we we'll
see it but I think It's going to be some time. So, but but if we can use that as a you know some leverage with DOT then >> at least to get it in a plan. I mean I think that's what you as you know it's got to get in the fiveyear plan and >> right >> maybe it could be five years from now
that they we asked for it now and they put it in their plan for five years from now. And our um the last thing I'll say is the um our public information officer, I'm I'm gonna get her and the DOT gentleman that was here our last meeting.
>> Hampton was the Yeah. >> the PIO um to come up with a something that we can use on our our website and our YouTube, you know, to be able to, you know, people can go online and kids can go online and see the videos and,
you know, have that information. Um hopefully that would be utilized and and then the signs that they have, the yard signs. I think we should make every alcohol establishment on this anywhere on borders state road
to put one of those signs up in their in their bar. So, um anyway, that's all I have. >> And they do have those campaigns that that that I'm sure that your PIO officer can get with with Hampton on and and help share that in the on the educational side with the students. And
you know, they also talked in our last meeting that they have that geocaching and that they will be >> messaging certain populations and demographics, some educational pieces. U Miss Sandy, are you still there? >> Sandy? >> Yes, I am. Sorry, I got to figure my
phone out. Can you hear me? >> Yeah. Would you like to go with your um with your items? Well, I I'm all for the uh on FA FHP being more involved because you know how it is. You pay attention and you drop
your eyes and you know what's going to happen. It'll just go away and this will start all over again. So, if we need to look at specialized funding for that or whatever needs to happen, I really feel like that should be a presence that's there for a long time. And then of
course the expansion of 100 either adding lanes or or making a fourlane. I know it'd be horrible for the people that lived out there, but it's only going to grow in traffic. So anyway, and I also like the sign idea with showing
the speed limits. So >> the sign ID on what? Want me to say that again? >> The sign the where you put the signs out there that showed what how fast you were going. >> Yeah. >> Oh, yeah. >> The digital Yeah. You want digital signs
on your particular 2100? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> I I just see people react to that quite a bit when I'm on the road and I travel a lot. >> Okay. So on the expansion, you're saying the
passing zones or passing areas if they couldn't fool lane what we've talked about before. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. Just making sure I understand that. All right. Is that what you got? >> And then and then the um the speed
limit. I mean the thing that shows what speed you're going and the attent further or continued attention by the FH FHP or Putnham County to 100. >> Okay. All right. I got it. You How do you feel
about having continued uh meetings even if it's just twice a year? >> I've got a lot of feedback. Could you repeat that? >> Yeah. I said, "What are your what are your thoughts on having continuing meetings, even if it's just a couple times a year?" >> I I'd be glad to do it. I I don't know
if it needs to be as frequent as monthly, but I think it once you lift your eyes, you start having a problem again. So, >> okay, got it. All right. Very good. Thank you for that. All right. I'm going to start at your
end with Mr. Suggs. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, you know, when we started this, we were talking about a very specific uh area. We're talking about 100. We had a lot of conversation from the sheriff's office
as well as our public safety uh representatives about the inability to do certain things on Highway 100. First of all, I want to say uh commend uh Sergeant Higal for the for the information here today because as what
you're seeing is an unintended consequence. You know, it's it's a direct correlation from what this committee is doing and what we are set up for as to what's happening now countywide, which I think is a tremendous um activity for for what we're trying to accomplish. So, I took
my my goal went back to uh what our original uh conversation and intent was when we set the the committee up, which was looking at ways that we could expand, do different things uh in some of our more dangerous areas, State Road 100 being
one of them, and other state roads as well. So, one of the things I'd like for us to consider is working with DOT when they start doing their designs and their scopes for uh for what for working on the roadways. They've got plenty of rideway. We've already determined that
on Highway 100 for sure. Uh, so I would like for them to start looking at ways to include uh some type of uh rideway for public safety vehicles, our our fire rescue folks, our ambulances to be able to get to the scene when we have an
issue. Uh, for our law enforcement, whether it be our local sheriff's office, uh, our municipalities, our highway patrol, being able to have room to pull folks over and do traffic stops and do them safely. So, I'd like to uh that would be my suggestion as one of
the things that we move forward from our committee is to liaison with our uh DOT folks on the uh design and layout and scopes of the roads for which they're they're doing so we could try to put some of those those concerns that we
have in there to uh for life safety issues with our public safety and law enforcement folks being able to to do their job. >> All right. Very good. Um, anything else? >> No, ma'am. I I agree with just about
everything that's been said here. You know, I'm I'm gonna piggyback on uh Mr. Liry's comments. I I I can't imagine why we have any legislation that talks about driver's education without any actual driver's education. And me and the young lady here were talking about it when we
took it in school. You know, that is that was really your first opportunity to get behind the wheel in an experienced driver in an actual uh area where you're whether it be highway, interstate, it doesn't matter. That's
your first opportunity to really get some true training. And uh I think Mr. Liry nailed it. If if we can get a glitch bill written, I think that's something we all should get behind and and support that. That's it, Madam Chair. Thank you. >> Yeah. Very good. And I think that that
the the um the point to that is, you know, we all for some for some students it might be their only time that they actually get behind a wheel where people who we tend to think in the rural areas, you know, you get to ride on the golf cart or ride
the truck down to the end of the driveway to put the trash out or so you get a little bit of experience in the yard or maybe um close your ears, sheriff, but under sheriff, but maybe down a dirt road, right? But um that does happen in in the county. It does.
Um but at the same time, they're usually have their learner's permit and you're teaching them. You know, I know out we have several dirt roads out in our area that I'm sure a lot of kids grew up on learning how to drive. I know I did. And but there are so many in our community
that don't necessarily have that option. And so it is the only time that they actually get out and um can get behind a wheel and have that experience. So I I agree with that. Good conversation, Miss Terry. >> Um, yes, I agree with a lot that every
>> mic on. Yep. Just pull it closer to you. >> There you go. Okay. >> I don't want you to hear me, Se. >> Um, but my main concern is re-education, like Joe said, and everybody, I grew up on 100. I've lived on 100 for 50 years.
The motto out there is anything goes. you can drive however you want to drive because until recently it was not enfor there was not a lot of law enforcement presence out there and we've got to change that mindset
because I mean even when we're doing like you say the speed limit 60 we set the cruise control on 64 and we've got seven or eight cars backed up behind us just dying to go around all at one time.
Yes, ma'am. And until we re-educate that 100 is not the place to play and it's not because it is a thoroughare. I don't know if everybody's aware from Gainesville to the beach during the summertime, we see more college students going to and from the
beach and then once they hit 207, the traffic just almost diminishes because they've headed to St. to St. Augustine or Crescent Beach, >> right? And um but I would like to thank the sheriff's department and FHP for stepping up. They've really made you
have made a difference. And the reason I asked about the um giving the warnings and and stuff. The gentleman that hit me, he was young. He was distracted. He was playing on his cell phone. And while I was in the hospital, my husband did a
background check on him. He's 22 years old and had at least three um reckless driving, driving with no insurance. He was driving that day with no insurance. >> Yeah. >> So, that that's kind of why I'm a little
stronger about we've got to do something about these repeat offenders. I know we can't stop them. >> You can take your their license away and they're still going to drive >> day, >> every day. Every day, all day. I think there ought to be a greater penalty for
that where they have to do, you know, 60 days or 90 days in jail or whatever. I mean, I guess you you fill up the jail too quick, wouldn't you? >> We take people to jail daily uh still with suspended driver's license. You know, the state bond now is $150.
>> Oh, wow. >> That's the state bond for driving $150. So, it's >> again, you can fill it up, but it's also very, very easy to get out, >> right? Oh, yeah. But how could you get it changed when a serious injury is involved? Because I know personally I was in the hospital for a month
and had six surgeries. >> Well, I think a lot of it is uh anything that you want to work with um on getting harsher punishment, you have to work with legislation in order to increase those. Um however, that pendulum swings left and right. As we've seen right now, we have a lot of things
that it's gone exactly the opposite direction as far as the harshness of the punishment. So, I think it's going to take time. Um, and again, you've still, as you mentioned, the guy that you that uh that you was in the crash with, he already had three reckless. He already had the points. Uh, sometimes that just there's doesn't help it. So, uh, I think
we can still find a happy medium, but it it would be to work with legislation to get those uh, laws enhanced and enhanced. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> All right. That's your that's your item. You're good. Okay. >> All right. Miss Miss Ryan. >> Yes, ma'am. There you go. Um,
my family's life changed on February 25th at about 7 o'clock in the morning due to a reckless driver on an inadequate roadway, Highway 100. I thank you so much for law enforcement
for stepping up. It makes my heart so happy to hear that the accidents have decreased and the presence of y'all has made a difference and we appreciate that so much. I think that um
education really is a key to helping these people understand the laws, the rules. A lot of them I don't think they they honestly don't care. They there's a double line. They pass. they do whatever. The young
man that hit my daughter was driving on a suspended license. Um he had no insurance. Um his car was pitiful uh to begin with. So he he just he shouldn't have been driving.
But to my recommendation other than the education would be to have at least some passing lane on Highway 100 or the other two-lane highways in Putnham County. I did read an article that there was uh
earmarked five years for $220 million for Putnham County and $3.5 million for bike lane or bike path improvements. And I I'm glad the people are going to
get to ride their bikes, but I would rather that that money go to road safety. Um, and also I know that they are beautifying Highway 20 with all those beautiful trees and um, irrigation
and all of that and it is pretty, but I think that the money could be way better spent on these roads that are inadequate for the amount of traffic and um, the lives that it cost. not only just in
death but just the traum trauma of just thinking about driving on a road where people are just they don't care. So I do thank this board. It has been incredible to be able to see an improvement and um that maybe that accident that changed
our life can change the lives in Putnham County and that there will be better days ahead. >> Thank you, Miss Ryan. I really appreciate that. Um, under sheriff, before we get on to you, I want to ask you a question that came up today
regarding um the flashing lights. I know you're the county and state road 100 is a state road. Is there an ability to take one of those flashing lights that we have that's a mobile unit to put out there or we have to get with FHP or the state? Do we have that? Don't we have a
I've seen them before because I you guys put them in front of Buzz one time. So, I'm going to go back to where I came from and say it, you know, you're going 45 and a 35. >> Yeah. I don't know the right word. Speed sensor. >> Yeah. Do we have Can we do that on a state road?
>> We can. Um and we we have one. Uh they're they're fairly expensive. Uh I think they're roughly around $60,000 to purchase one of those trailers. Yes. Really? Yes, they are. They uh for a high end where you actually can track the data, come back and actually see how many vehicles have passed, the speeds and everything else, they are very
expensive unfortunately. But we have one >> they're solar. >> They are. Yeah. Um so we have one we had two. One of them was actually taken out by a semi that veered off the road and uh took it out and we're still fighting with insurance uh in reference to try to to get that replaced and repaired. However, um we do have that um we do
have the ability unfortunately again trying to find the time, man, energy and manpower to move it periodically, but we do have one and we are as part of the uh traffic unit part time as well as some other things that >> and I'm sure you probably get requests for it all over the county. And so, you know, you people want it in their area
and then it gets moved and then somebody says, "Well, wait, I wanted it in my area." >> We utilize it a lot for uh just to be completely honest, uh when we get a neighborhood that has a speeding complaint. everybody's neighborhood, everybody's traveling 100 miles an hour. Um, and unfortunately, we can't have deputies everywhere at all times. So, we can we take it to that area and then we
can actually see is there a problem in this area or because you know most people say 100 miles an hour and it sometimes is really >> 40 or 50, >> you know. So, um, so we utilize it for that purpose to see where there's a problem as well as education during that time, but we can actually then pull that data off and then actually research how
many vehicles pass through. makes sense to put it in more residential areas and because you guys are obviously already out on Highway 100. I was just wondering about So, thank you for that information. >> Yeah. So, now it's your turn. >> So, I'm going to uh I'm going to echo everybody else's uh recommendation for
the education. Education is really huge. I think it's uh even as of late since uh this last stop we did, we had a young female driver that as soon as law enforcement got behind, she froze up and stopped in the middle of the roadway. Literally didn't wait to pull off. We see that regularly. Um, and I think like
we we're talking about getting education back in the schools where we teach them proper driving etiquette. Uh, not just in a book where you take a multiple cho uh, choice question at the end of a survey and get your license. Uh, there's there's you can't can't compare to actually getting out there in the seat and having somebody critique you and ride with you and teach you. That's you
just you can't replace that through reading a book or watching a video. So, education education education in the schools with our with our youth. Um, education also for the citizens. We're actually with the sheriff's office. I have tasked our PIO with utilizing the information that DOT provided us. We're going to see a lot more social media
posts utilizing that information. Um, we're also going to see a lot more um of our videos and our operations that are that are posted on multiple different uh social media sites. Again, trying to educate. Um, it will help some. It's not going to stop all. And then finally, with the enforcement, we're going to have a continued effort with our traffic
unit. Uh, I've asked them to do a minimal of two operations a month. Uh, if we can do more, we we will be doing doing more. Again, it's a part-time unit. we have to schedule it, but we're looking for at least two or more operations a month. And the second is the the continued uh relationship with
DOT. Uh as Miss Ryan just spoke about, they they've issued the amount of money they're going to spend over the next five years. They've also asked for our input on some of these improvements. I think we continue to work with them as far as uh even the smallest of um improvements or alterations from their
original plans to the passing lanes to the additional lights. Um those small things do help. Um we may not be able to get a fourlane immediately. However, if we can work with them as they're doing these projects to get some things tweaked uh that better suit us. I think that's the the key. So education and
continued uh working relationship with DOT. We've seen already that within just a couple weeks they had a representative here showing stats. So they they are somewhat listening. Um let's see how much they will listen and cooperate and work with us as well. Yeah, they actually have been really pretty really pretty really pretty really pretty really pretty really pretty really pretty really pretty really pretty really pretty really pretty really
pretty good um in communicating with me and um they watched every meeting that we've had they attended this one but the other one or two we had before that they definitely I mean they that's why they reached out and said we we've got some things we're working on we want to share with you so they you know they paid
attention to everything we said at the meetings and of course there's some things that hey we're already working on we want to come and tell you that and then um some things is like I don't know about for landing because that's a that's long term and that's lots of money. Well, it might be, but it doesn't mean we're not going to continue to push
and ask for it um to get in the plan. I mean, what it you know, to get in that long-term plan. So, >> yeah, it's absolutely long term. If if the the state or the federal government came up with hundred billion dollars today and said move forward, I mean, you're talking several years of planning, engineering before you even get into land acquisition. I mean, we're
talking this is a 10-year project at minimal if they had the money today uh set aside for for DOT for 100. It's not going to fix it anytime soon, >> right? >> Um it's absolutely a goal and we should continue to push forward with it, but the small things that we can get, especially with the reservicing next
year. >> Yeah. >> Getting those uh offsets, I mean, there's so many areas that I think that they can work with us as well as uh we can see the the benefit. So, >> right. So, uh, one of the things that I've always wanted and will continue to push for on Highway 100, we have some
improvements at Barton Road and 100. And, you know, um, FDOT told us last time that that has, um, they felt like there was, I think the number they used was 61% less accidents in that area. But when you're coming from the floor home area, if you need to turn in to Bard
Road, I it's just it's you need, you know, I guess that would be Highway 100 going east, there needs to be a turn lane. I I've always thought that and I'll continue to push. That's one of the things on my idea of a of list of things. We've talked about some really good things today. Um that we're going
to make a consolidated list and present it to the county commission. But in the meantime, I see some people in the audience and it is now time for public comment. We would love to hear from you guys. So, if anybody wants to come up and speak, um I don't know, do we have any public comment cards? Is there anybody who wants to speak? You're
welcome to come to the podium. just state your name and address and then um >> that's okay. You're fine. That's why this is not that big of a I mean we're it's a big it's a big committee but we um we're not that real formal. >> I have two Oh, Evet Reyes, PO Box 253,
Boswick. >> Thank you. >> Um I have two questions. One for Sergeant on that screen with the deputies. I noticed that Thomas had 200. What area is that?
Thomas here. However, he's also on our streets as well as a traffic unit. So, his traffic stops are also related. >> Okay. Thank you. That number was like wow. Um and then the second thing, thank you for advocating for education because
I think that is the biggest issue that we have here is doing a test doesn't necessarily correlate with real life driving. But I do have a question. Um Brenda Bridges announced there's a new
six-h hour course that's coming out August as of effective August 1st. Is there a way that we can correlate that six hour course with the driving education so that it pairs because I
don't know about you guys but me learning from a book and actually doing it are two different things. I can't learn from a book I have to do it. So is there a way to maybe correlate that because it's for ages 14 and a half to 17.
>> Do you know about that? >> She posted it on the tax collector. >> Do you know anything about that? Um, as the parent of a 15-year-old, >> okay, there we go. >> Um, I I I do know that there are some further requirements, but the um the
course is very similar to I mean, it's an online sit there, clicky click, and and go through the the thing. Um, I couldn't agree more. Um, I I had the opportunity to ride in a Whimo. I don't know if anybody's familiar with this. There are robot cars. Um, and so you get
in instead of an Uber driver, you have a robot. And that's probably the best example I can give to people to understand the difference between being able to pass a driving test and being able to be a good driver is that it went 35 miles an hour, but because that was
it was a 35 zone, but there was a speed bump and it didn't care. trip was still going 35 or you know it it decided it was going to change the lane and there was a spot and so it changed the lane and um there's there's no way to teach a computer and there's certainly no way to
teach a student on a screen those little um nuances of how to drive you mentioned driving etiquette because that's what that is. It's not law it's driving etiquette and um and I agree completely. The trouble is is that the state's not going to fund it. Um, and until the
state uh wants to give schools the money because it's not just a matter of getting a car, it's going to be a matter of getting a car, getting a surface to drive on and practice on, getting the insurance required uh to have kids drive on it, go getting uh the insurance required to have kids leave campus in
those vehicles. I mean, it's it's going to cost money. So, it's not something that we can just unilaterally do as a school district um because it's the right thing to do. um and the state just does not like to fund things that are uh
specifically I don't know in my opinion really good ideas for education. So that's that's kind of where I sit on that. >> Yes sir. >> When uh we stopped doing the half semester driver's education >> as a requirement. I can guarantee you it
was before 1994 because I never took it and I got my driver's license then. So I mean we're talking in the 80s or 90s. My sister never took driver's ed. She got her her driver's license in 1990. So that that just tells you how far back
it goes. >> Well, I learned I learned on the dirt roads. >> That's Thank you. Yeah. Well, once my kids got their license, I would take them down Bon Road because Barn Road's so narrow and there's no shoulders. I'd say run off the road so they could learn how to run off the road and get back on
the pavement properly. I mean truly I would say take your take your tire and and run it down the side and see what it feels like to pull it back in and do it without freaking out and do it without slamming on the brakes and you know and all those things. So because if you can drive those narrow roads you're doing
something especially when you got two big trucks passing each other. Um all right, anything else? Do we have any other comments? Um Mr. Suggs? Uh yeah, just one just a thought and uh we have it coming up so I didn't know if maybe it would be the right venue or not, but
uh maybe we need to have some folks talk at the legislative delegation days that are coming up. >> Oh yeah, like a representative from >> Absolutely. Go ahead and get on the agenda as you know the safety task force and and not as the BOCC or or somebody but just as a task force and have some
representation there and have some conversations with our elected officials that will be here on that day. Yeah, that's not a bad idea because I'm already going to be there on behalf of the county. You're going to be there, I assume, on behalf of the school district. So, that's not a bad idea that we could have an independent person there um on off of this group that would
be willing to stand up and say because there are a couple things here that are more um state related that we talked about. Um yeah, anybody want to do that? Anybody want to volunteer? Brett will do it. Okay. All right. So Brett, I do think the one
thing I would say to you is I do think you're probably the only one who wants to get rid of Qi, Robert. So I don't know that you have the support of this board for that. >> I was going to ask to make sure when he does speak to them that make sure he leaves that piece out. >> Yeah, that's what I was going to say. I was going to say I don't know. I mean, I could take a formal vote if it would
make you feel better. But I get your point. I do get your point, but I I don't know that that's just where I'm at. But would you like me to take a vote on that or >> No, go right ahead. The only thing that I that I will say is that if I had the opportunity to save a life and to do it
and not to do it, I don't know if I can live it myself. >> I understand your point. I do understand your point, but I one of the things that that we did talk about previously is it's not really and it could be a student one day. I'm not saying, but it really hasn't been your student drivers that have been in the accidents, has it?
Have you had student drivers? I know there was one pulling out of your out of your um school. >> Yes, ma'am. We we we actually had two um this was this has been four years ago now. Uh the same student turning left onto to go westbound on 100 in the same
exact spot. Um both times got hit in the same exact spot about a month and a half. >> This whole area, right? >> Yes. Pulling out of the parking lot. Same student, same spot. Um it was just I don't know if we can chalk it up to terrible, terrible luck. Um, but yeah, I mean the simple truth is is that uh
every day we're constantly balancing safety with with opportunities. We drove here even though we could have all been on a meeting on a Zoom call >> uh because we felt like it was more important to be here in person than um than sitting at our house where we're
much safer. Um but the the simple truth is is that um we take those risks and um and in the meantime, no, we we'll just keep on carrying on out at Qi Roberts and doing the best we can to to be as safe as we can. >> Yeah. And and be and to be honest, the thing with Qi really isn't the state.
There's a couple things on our list in our state and that wouldn't have been one of them anyway. >> I understand. And I talked to u belong to the Rotary Club. We had interviews for scholarships. Yeah. Uh back in May, we actually had I think it was three or four students from Qi Roberts. As we interviewed them at the end, I asked I
said, "This is totally separate than the scholarship." I said, "Uh, you go to Qi Roberts?" "Yeah." I said, "Is that road dangerous?" "Absolutely." "I think I'm going to get killed on it every day." And we actually had a faculty me, one of your staff members that got a scholarship. Uh we got done talking to her, asked her the same thing. I said,
"You travel that road every day. Is it a dangerous road?" I almost got killed today. Yes, it is dangerous. And so it's not just me, you know, it's other folks that's there. And again, too, it's about the reason the task force is here. It's not because the task force was proactive
that we saw something we could prevent. We're here because we're reacting to an event that occurred. If we can be proactive and prevent it, you know, we should, you know, take those steps. >> Yeah. And and I think that's what we're trying to do. Um I just don't think you got consensus on your vote.
>> That's right, >> Madam Chair. I think we're heading down the right path. If I could, I think you're right. The things that we need to talk about to our legislators are are the things that they can help us, you know, and and give us some assistance on. And I think education is absolutely
one of those things that they can help us with. Uh DOT is another one. And certainly the request for more FHP appear, you know, assistance is are three of the main things I think our legislators could help us with. But uh but it's I'm not I'm not driving this
train, but it's just thoughts that I think we need to narrow our focus of things I think we can get some assistance with. >> Yeah, I think that um well I'll go back and I'll work with Laura. She's taking notes on behalf of the county and we'll put a list together and then I can get with you Brett and let you know whenever Mr. Coats whenever the legislative I
know it's like September. Is it September 19th? >> I I think you're correct on that. I know it's in September, but I I'll verify >> around there, but we'll verify that with you. And then there'll be a few items on this list that we specifically talked about that has to do with the state. So, yeah, if you could go and represent us
on that, um, that would be great. Um, Miss Sandy, before we hang up, did you have anything else you want to speak about? >> No, I'm good. >> All right. Thank you. It sounds like we're going to continue to have a meeting. It just won't be as often. Um, but our next next task is is two things.
Uh, one, we'll create a list of what we talked about today um, as priorities from this board. Uh, we can, uh, consolidate that, send it out to everybody in the committee, make sure that everybody um, has that on their if there's anything that was not worded right or we need to change anything,
have some feedback, and then um, Laura, Miss Laura will head that up for us. Laura Bardi, you'll get an email from her and then we'll present that list to um, the BOCC, ask for their support on it. Some of those items will be um law enforcement and their continued um
endeavors of what they're doing and law enforcement and collaboration with other agencies such as FHP and the municipalities. Um thank you again to the sheriff's office and FHP for what you've already done and your and your continued um enforcement in in this. I
think that as a committee, we have accomplished something already. We've brought awareness to it and law enforcement's already active. uh DOT is doing some things already because of listening to this board and I think we'll continue to see more uh improvements as we move forward. Uh we
won't fix everybody's behavior. We won't a lot of it is um is is learned and then it's become a habit. You know, you turn on a road, next thing you know you're going 10 miles over and you forget that you're going 10 miles hour over. And so having the um law enforcement out in the
community reminding us to change that habit. I know for me I'm always putting on my um my uh speed what's it called? >> Cruise control. Thank you. Um my mind went blank for a second. My cruise control to help me because I tend to have a heavy foot. So um I'm trying to
do better myself personally. I'm trying to do better. Um so I know we all need to do better and um change those hab habits. Education in our community. education. Thank you um under sheriff also for the the public information part of it. I think that's huge too. When I
watched the video, was it yesterday you guys posted the video of stopping some of several people in the community? I thought, "Wow, this is going to people are going to remember this." And I saw some of the comments and and 99% of them were mostly good. I mean, that's the way it works on social media. You can't
control what everybody has to say, but for the most part, it was good. and um picking up um hey we had a DUI stop and and just you know all these things that need to happen in the community and the DUI statistics we definitely need to change in our community. Um with that is
there anybody else in the audience who would like to speak or come forward? You're welcome to do so. All right, I think we're adjourned. Like I said we'll we'll do this um we'll get this list together, send it out, and then then we'll get with Brett on the um with the request for the state. All right, with
that this meeting is adjourned. You got something? >> Okay. Thank you all for being here.