--------- Thank you for that. >> Thank you for being here today. It is Tuesday, January 13th, and we will call the meeting to order for the Putnham County Board of County Commissioners. We will lead with the invocation by Pastor Ricky Bobby from Trinity Baptist Church and followed by the pledge of allegiance
by Commissioner Palisier. Please rise if you're able to do so. First off, I want I want to thank you for the opportunity to be able to do this. The Bible tells us that in uh let no one seek his own, but each one
another's well-being. And I believe that's why we're here today. So will you join me in prayer? Our most gracious and heavenly father, we pause at the beginning of this meeting of this new year to give thanks. Thanks for this community. Thanks for the privilege of public service. And thanks for the men
and the women who have answered the call to lead. We're grateful for the opportunity to work for the common good. And father, I ask for wisdom and discern discernment uh in this coming years, our commissioners and staff as they face complex decisions
and competing needs. Father, grant them clarity of mind and fairness fairness of judgment and courage to do what do what's right even when it's difficult. Lord, may justice and integrity guide their every discussion, every decision. Help our leaders to remember those who
are most vulnerable among us and to steward resources wisely, to act with compassion and humility. Grant unity and mutual respect around this table today. Even in disagreement, may may there be civility and cooperation and a shared
commitment to the well-being of our county and its citizens. Lord, we pray for our employees, our departments, our first responders, and all who serve this community daily. Father, give them strength to their effort and peace to their families. And finally, Father, I
ask for your guidance and your blessing as we undertake the the work before us today. May our actions reflect service, responsibility, and hope for the future of this county. For it's in the precious name of Jesus that I pray. >> Amen.
for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. >> Before us today, we have the approval of the minutes from the BOCC regular meeting dated December 9th, 2025.
>> Madam Chair, move approval. >> Second. >> Motion second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. >> All right. With that, we will recess the BOCC meeting and convene the port authority meeting. Um, approval of minutes. >> Madam Chair, I move approval of the two
sets of M minutes November 11th and December 9th of 2025. >> Second. >> Right. We have a motion second. Any discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. I. >> All right. Public comment on port authority items only. Anybody here that's from the public and we'll have
general items. We do have the um the agendas in the back along with comment cards. You're welcome to fill them out so we can be prepared. Um public comment on port authority items. All right. Um moving into the administrative HVAC
system for the jail. Is somebody doing a presentation on this or it is is what it is? >> Um I I'm certainly happy to walk you through it. Okay. Um the jail HVAC systems are failing currently. They are they are non-functioning. However, thankfully, um it's cool outside. So, we
do have heat in the jail. We just right now don't have a lot of cold air. So, um we certainly need to take advantage of this weather to uh get those systems back up and running. We've had uh our jail leadership is with us today. Um and they've reviewed and and looked at the proposal that's being proposed. They
actually helped us generate the proposal to ensure the systems were all going to be um functioning at the end of the day. and uh it is their recommendation to move forward with this particular proposal that is before you today. >> Okay. I have some questions. Is anybody else before me?
>> Um so in looking at the proposal under I guess it would be page one of five for them and 21 in our packet. Um it there's no heat. Is that is that correct? Do these include heat or do they not? >> Well, heat the heating system is independent of the cooling system.
>> Okay, that's what I needed to know. And how old are our current is our current system? >> As old as the jail is >> 10 years. >> So these four units are the life expectancy is 10 years. Is that
>> No, ma'am. There was some problems with the initial systems that were um installed. Um they were undized. the compressors of these the they're missing some components and certainly I have experts that are welcome to jump in and
help me because I am no HVAC expert but essentially the systems that were put in in the in the beginning were put in as a value adjustment trying to uh reduce costs and after 10 years um basically we have stressed those machines to a point of failure and they are not working. So,
um, it's a situation where we probably should have put different machines in in the beginning, but we tried very, uh, to be very fiscally responsible and do with what we had and they did not work out. >> Okay. So, a couple more questions. Um, is there a tradein value? How does this
get surplused? >> The machines are are failing. So, there's no trade for the for the HVAC machines that are there. >> So, the contractor just gets them. We sell them. Well, we hope that they take them and dispose of them. That's what is
included in this cost. Otherwise, that would be a cost of disposal to us as well. >> Okay. And then I my next question would be is temporary cooling needed during this time. >> Not as long as we act on this now because we have the cooler weathers and
um we have air flow, right? So, I want to make sure that we don't paint a picture that's not accurate. Um it is climate controlled in there right now today. But if it were June and we were experiencing June heat, um it would not be climate controlled and we would have to do a temporary measure.
>> All right, Commissioner Alexander, you're recognized. >> I just want to speak to a couple of the uh points that you touched on. Um as a former mechanical contractor with a competing entity to train, which was Johnson Controls.
Typically the contractor would retain the the old equipment but with that being said there is an intrinsic scrap value for it. Um and it's dependent upon the units whether they are copper coiled or aluminum coiled and if the contractor
would agree to remove the refrigerant because that requires a license to handle that and dispose of it. So that may have been the trade-off that we encountered there. Um, as far as the units being undersized, I think now and maybe later during today's
meeting, I want to avoid uh paying for the sins of our fathers as the term is. So, um, when we're considering some of the other items on the agenda, let's do it right the first time so we're not spending another half a million dollars 10 years down the road when we could have gotten it, you know, 15 or 20 years
out of this these units as mechanical equipment or some of the amendments we we make because they weren't the right amendments and we did it as a knee-jerk reaction or as a a temporary cost savings. It's always my intention to make the best decisions long term.
All right, Commissioner Paliser, you're recognized. >> Miss Young, I don't know if you're the proper one to ask, but is this really the units that probably should have been put in since day one if we funding have been there for? >> Yes, these are the units that should have been specked from day one. Again, um on day one, hindsight's always 2020,
right? So, I won't tell you that anyone did anything irresponsibly. Um we were trying everything we could to furnish that jail and build it within the the budget that was allocated at that time. And so this was an area where we truly tried, they truly tried. Obviously, none of us were here 10 years ago. Um, a
value engineering um option that we thought could be sustainable. Unfortunately, knowing now it is not. And so, yes, these are properly sized for the area, for the facility, for its needs. >> Thank you. >> And I see that this has a 5year uh
warranty with it. What is the life expectancy? >> We hope 20 years. Commissioner Alexander. >> Well, I think we've made great strides with uh employing our own engineer who
can be an advocate for the county and he can see through some of the um smoke and mirrors that may be presented by some of these contractors. So, I look forward to having Scott when we do uh move forward with some of these upcoming projects that he can be our advocate and
our advocate for the county so that the right decisions aren't made impartially. So, >> all right. Are there any other questions? >> All right. Is there a motion on the floor? >> Madam Chair, I'd like to move this item resolution 2026-001 for approval.
>> Second. >> Have a motion to second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any oppose? Like sign. Motion carries unanimously. Um I believe there's a quick video that we'd like to share at this time.
>> Yes, ma'am. Madam Chair, if we could, Mr. Sullivan, would you uh please uh approach the podium? As you know, u commissioners, last week was a uh a big day for Putnham County in the in the in our port authority board and our port of Putinham. Uh there was two uh massive
30,000 pound bridge girders that went through our port from Veraritoss Steel to uh to the Shans Bridge project down in Green Co Springs. So uh Mr. Sullivan and I went out there, Mr. Sullivan's been doing yman's work on this. He's done a phenomenal job with managing the
port out there. Uh this was a multi- agency project between Putnham County, Veraratas Steel, FDOT. Uh it was a just an opportunity to showcase what we able to do out of that
port. And so, uh Mr. Sullivan, if you would, if you would take it over, show the video and and and please any comments would be your main. >> Sure. Uh, one other partner was Superior Construction who was doing the work for FDOT over at the Shance Bridge. Um, first off, I'm going to show you a video
that uh, please forgive the videography. I am not a videographer. Uh, did the best with an iPhone, but Miss Bardi did a fantastic job editing it together and putting some cool music to it. Uh, but this will demonstrate to you uh, the potential long-term of this port and
what we have here. Uh granted we are a bit cautious at this time with the fact that we do not have a new bulkhead yet. So we got to be careful what we're doing and docking and all that. And we worked for a superior mob marine was the one doing the navigation and uh our
engineers uh in house and uh also was Burns McDonald assisted us with you know all the logistics to make sure that no u mater no structure was damaged. Sorry. Um and actually this was a good exercise to find out that our structure might be
a little more sound than we thought in the past. So without further ado uh let's take a look at the video. And if you look on Uh as you can see uh what the video showed you was uh the process going from
Veritas all the way to uh loading that 30 ton uh section bridge section onto the barge. Uh the video is a lot shorter. The process took about 30 to 45 minutes. uh two of those items are loaded and uh this morning FDOT
uh posted some pictures of them working on that bridge with those sections which were built here in Putham County. So we put a quick little presentation for you. So, if you look at your monitors again As you can see, there's some very
exciting times going on at the port and this also demonstrates that you know we'll be operational as soon as that bulkhead is up even before the core starts dredging the channel we desire. So I just want to show you that that we are just a few hopefully months
dollars permitting uh to be open for business. So I just want to show you all that. So I will answer any questions if you have any. >> Commissioner Harvey you're recognized. >> Thank you Madam Chair. Sam, thank you and thank you for all
your hard work. Thanks to Mr. Suggs for the hard work and the foresight of this port. Thank you to our rep representative Bobby Payne and work tirelessly trying to get us on the ports council and we did. This isn't a joke.
This is real. This is an economic engine for Putinham County to move goods and services up and down the river. And it it really thrilled my heart to ride by there the other day when this was going on. There were so many people. I didn't want to walk down there. It was just way
too much going on and I didn't want to be in the way. But to see that are happening at our port even before our port's ready, 100% ready, and we're using it like this, it just really thrills my heart to see what the future of Putnham County is. And for the
audience, Putnham County has the most inland port and that's important to move goods and services. You see what's happening now. Just imagine what's going to happen in the future when the Shansbridge is high enough to let boats go through. No one really realizes that
it's it was kept low for a reason. It was economics for Klay County and and Duval County, but no more will that happen. And now we're going to get a piece of the pie. And years ago, the river was the the moving channel to move
goods and services, and it will be again. And Sam, I I really want to thank you. I I know this kind of was handed to you. You're not a ports guy. You never were. You were special projects guy, and this is special project, but you've really taken this on. and all of our
staff and our federal lobbyists and everybody. You know, we've been to DC. We've we've we beat the drum up there about our port and it's finally starting to happen. And it just it just makes my heart very good. And you know what you don't realize, people don't realize is
it was going to be shut down another weekend. Doesn't have to be shut down now. Everything got done, the contractor got done quick and with the parts that they were. And I I think we should go get a sticker and put the Putinham County emblem on those parts that were
made in Putnham County. Um that's just maybe we'll do that one evening, you know. But uh and by the way, I love your hat and if you'll order some more for all of us, I will pay personally for those hats out of my personal pocket. Um so everybody on staff and and our board
gets a hat. I'd be glad to do that for >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Uh Mr. Sags, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam Chair. Just want to say that uh I want to give kudos also to Peter Wlette who with the Black Daily News who came out and did a marvelous uh story on
this this project uh last week out at the bargeport and a lot of things in the article needs to be reiterated here today because a lot of folks may not be uh as up to date as we like for them to be on what's going on out there. you know, the fact that uh we started this
about seven years ago uh as just a uh a brainstorming event here at the office uh with our federal lobbyist Josh Gabaton who put a a team of folks together from every department you could think of in the state of Florida, you know, from EDA to uh FDOT transportation
and and the Florida ports council folks. It was a great meeting and that's where this this idea got kicked off at. And then you got to fast forward it a couple years to representative Bobby Payne and Senator Keith Perry who went to bat for Putnham County and got us a seat on the Florida ports council through
legislation. Uh that opened up a tremendous amount of doors for us to be able to push this project further. Uh then you got Mike Rubin who is the Florida ports council president who's been down here several times looking at the project stood in here and gave an update with our our consultants Burns
McDonald. Uh so this has had a lot of of of support. uh to to get us to where we are today. And the what's not going to get lost in this conversation is the support that you five in the previous
five have have given to this project. Uh I believe it was Mr. Peliser who told me one time it takes money to make money and I can appreciate that. Uh you five approved the fact that we applied for a uh port infrastructure development grant, a $10 million grant with a 50%
match and uh you folks approved that and so you see the fruits of your labor uh out there today uh see the fruits of Sam's labor and I can appreciate what he's done out there and the fact that our our stakeholders there are toss steel and you know the work that they're
doing out there uh Victoria Marine with their with their boat building business out there and everybody else that this is going to be able to touch the gypsum company right down the road who put a $250 million improvement, you know, into their business. All this is going to benefit all of those folks and and the
citizens of Putham County when this is done. So, uh I just want to say again, thank you for allowing us to do this. Thank you, Sam, for what you've done. Thank all of our regional partners, our local partners, uh for all that they've done to keep this thing moving forward. And I can't wait to see what the next
three to five years holds once that bridge project is completed. So, thank you, Madam Chair. >> Thank you, Mr. Suggs, for your comments. Commissioner New Bulger, you're recognized. >> Sam, thank you for your work on the project. You know, special projects encompasses a lot, and this is a this is a big one.
Um, not to put you on the spot, but you alluded to to um the start of the bulkhead um I guess you'd call it replacement. What is a kind of a realistic expectation when they might start? >> Well, um it's a question of money. Uh as Mr. Sug just mentioned the port
infrastructure development grant uh which we applied for where we have a 33% match. Well, we're still waiting on the outcome of that. Um and uh we we we I'm keeping glued to US DO's website every day to see if there's any updates. Uh
that is going to determine when we can get started. >> They do need those funds. >> Do they have a regular schedule that they do those grant awards? Well, um DC shutting down just put all that uh uh off schedule, so we do not know. >> Okay. Thank you.
>> In in the past, we would have already known by now. >> Commissioner Palis, you're recognized. >> Um just to take it a bit further from what my colleagues said here and echo their comments. Um when I sat here before u I don't remember the year, probably 2014, somewhere in that
neighborhood, the then current owner of St. John ship building on the river uh told me um I asked him how bad was this Shan's bridge hampering his uh work and he told me said I've turned down at least a hundred naval contracts and
which would result in he said between two and 300 jobs and they're good paying jobs on that waterfront. So the value that this is going to bring to Putham County is immeasurable. I mean it's it's you just need to wait and see what's going to happen when this thing gets going. It's you're going to see big big
big boats and of course the Navy people call them ships, but uh you're going to see big ones coming under our bridge heading south going down to the shipyards to be to worked on. It's it's going to be huge economically for our county. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Thank you. Um I just echo everything
that's been said. Good job. Thank you. Um next we have up um I'd like to ask Alex Sharp to come forward regarding the Liberty Tree project. Uh since this is on Port Authority property, we need to do this under port authority business.
So in your package or not maybe in your packet but in your um box inbox, you have two photos. One of what was originally requested and what is currently being requested. >> Good morning everyone. >> Good morning.
>> Appreciate you taking us. Now, uh, Alex Sharp, uh, member of the Plaque Sunrise Rotary, uh, member of the Sons of the American Revolution. I have Doug Thompson with me, president of Sunrise Rotary. And Shelley, I'm going to butcher your last name. >> Shelley Shanker.
>> There you go. She is also a member of the Sunrise Rotary and she is the president of the >> Arts and Science. >> Yes. So, yes, there there is there are two. The first uh what we submitted to you was in uh anticipation of getting the pavilions and that was the original
emphasis of remember there's four different clubs that are doing this and uh the murals were designed to be the military insignia. Um at certain meetings it evolved that this was too much of a um
bureaucratic mess to get through. each military branch requires a permit for each of their military insignas and they all have different processes and so there was no way we were going to get through that. Um members that are on that board uh came up with a different
rendition and that is why you have two in front of you. There was no uh there was no intent to be uh deceitful or or shift uh shift things around. uh we just it was just too much of a a task to get each one of these military branches in
time for the upcoming uh 28th Liberty Tree celebration. So, uh we come to you hat in hand to see if we can uh go forward with this. The pavilions are permitted. Thank you very much. We do appreciate that, sir. And uh they will
be built within the next couple of weeks. And we'd like to have something on that blank wall. Um there was some questions about maintenance of it. Um this is going to be something that's maintained by the clubs. Uh there'll be no burden on the county. Um if it does
become in disarray, I know how things tend to weather over the time. I was one of the people that put that coat of paint on the back of that wall some seven or eight years ago. I'll be more than happy to put another coat of paint on it so that we have a fresh clean looking wall and we don't have anything
that brings disrespect to the uh to the county. >> So there's no contract to sign, there's no there's no >> Oh, absolutely. This is not associated with the mural society of Palaca. I'm not not speaking ill of them, but there
this is just going to be a simple mural for people to enjoy. We don't require any maintenance contract. any maintenance is done will be coordinated with staff. Um, and like I said, if it becomes a point that we can't maintain
it to a an artistic representation of what we want there, uh, just like we retire a flag, we would retire this mural. >> Okay. Thank you, Commissioner Harvey. You're recognized for questions. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. So, Mr. Sharp. So, basically, I guess you're just
looking for a wave in support to do that on the on the wall, right? That is correct, sir. And that Shelley is the one that came up with that rendition. So, if you have any questions on the design, I brought her in. >> I think it tells the story and that's what you wanted to do. >> Yes. >> So, you have my support. Thank you very
much. >> Well, which one's realistic? Is this is I mean, you're not doing a graphic. You're doing an actual painting. So, is it going to look like this at the bottom or is it going to look like this one in the middle? >> So, the the one at the bottom is the the drawing that puts it all together. The
one at the top shows you the actual um graphic elements that would be put on together. >> So, it will look closer to this one. >> It will. Yes. >> Okay. All right. Commissioner Alexander, you're recognized. >> You guys can't hear me with the microphone, much less if I don't turn it
on. That's for Mr. Peliser. Um Michelle, are so is there a cost incing curve with this? Are you painting it pro bono? >> I'm painting uh the arts alliance is uh pro is providing the labor and the
design for free and I've been told that there's somebody is seeking some money for the actual paint. >> We appreciate that. Thank you for partnering with the community and doing that. >> Just to be clear, um this there's
nothing on here from the Civil War time. Okay, that there's nothing I I write that up because I want to make sure >> those are Revolutionary soldiers. And if if my history teacher, Mr. Roberts, was accurate, Native Americans did fight with us during the Revolutionary War. And that is a Native American there with
him. Those are Revolutionary soldiers. >> And that's a I would assume Betsy Ross or somebody in that. >> I would hope it's Betsy Ross that designed the American flag. >> Okay. Or something like that. >> Yes. >> Some historical woman. >> A historical woman. Exactly. The idea of the silhouettes is we don't
really have to identify too much about them. >> Okay. I just >> therefore no controversy. >> There you go. All right. So that's been presented. Is there what's the pleasure of the board? >> I as will. >> All right. >> Absolutely. >> 100%. >> All right. Sounds like you've got your
approval. Thank you. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, staff. >> Thank you. Uh February 28th and is when we're going to have the ceremony there. There should be a representation of George Washington's tent. We might have a fly over where I have a military band and everyone's invited.
>> Good. Thank you. >> All right. Very good. >> Thank you. >> Are there any other discussions from the Port Authority Board? >> All right. With that, we'll close the uh Port Authority and reconvene the board of county commissioners. Starting with
presentation uh Wendy Muselene and then I'd like to move up and follow that with Lorie Parker. before we start with economic development so our staff can get busy.
>> Good morning. >> Good morning, Wendy. >> Dr. Mussolini, >> can we see uh Yopon tea shipping out through the port? >> Absolutely. We can see, but I know that how much tea he would have to create. >> How much tea did we need? So, yeah, that's a little bit of history, right?
uh the citrus industry used to ship through that uh port through our river and till we had uh the citrus industry kind of bottom out. And I'm going to be talking more about that at Rotary. Actually, Brian's coming with me, but we
have something new going on in Putham County. I just want to make sure y'all are aware of uh we produce really one of the only native teas grown in this country. is uh the yopon holly is the
only native caffeinated plant. This was harvested in the wild for years and years and years. And now in Putham County, we have a vision because of Brian and part of the Yopon brothers to
actually bring native tea to Putham County. Um it was a citrus industry, Eagle's Nest. And uh I just want you to hear what he's been doing with this. It was basically in shambles and now it's really been restored and open to the
community. So, I'm going to turn it over to Brian. I'm going to bring y'all a box of tea so you can take a look at it. You can have bag if you want. He brought this for y'all. Go ahead, Brian. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, Wendy. Good morning, commissioners, for inviting me to share
what we're doing here in Putham County. Um, as Wendy alluded to, we grow a crop that's native to the state of Florida and about 11 states across the southeast US. And, uh, what makes yopan really special besides being native to this area is that it's the only caffeine
containing plant species indigenous to the entire continent. So, I know it's in your cup if you're drinking tea or coffee or anything caffeinated. Uh, the likelihood is that it's imported or synthetic. And yopan represents the only domestic source of caffeine. Uh and if
we're just talking about tea, the American tea industry, uh 160 million American households consume a tea product every single day. Uh and we're importing 99% of that material on average 7,000 miles to get here. So what
we've tried to bring back is this indigenous heritage product that has always been here. It's been consumed by human beings in Florida for 8,000 years, but for the last century or so, it's really faded away. Um, it didn't
completely go away. But with sort of the exit of citrus and all the challenges that are occurring broadly across the entire agricultural spectrum, we saw a opportunity to bring it back and to create value with an indigenous crop starting here in Putham County. And what
drew us to the area actually is the agricultural heritage of Putnham County. Uh we were attracted to this little farm down in Crescent City called Eagle's Nest, which is the oldest probably organic operation in the state. It's been there since 1900. It's been
certified organic since 1990. That was the first year you could be certified organic. And we're going to be carrying that tradition forward. Um another thing that we're doing is what's called regenerative organic practices. We uh just recently were certified by the
regenerate organic commission. We're one of only two farms in the entire state of Florida that has that designation. So the federal government is just investing $700 million into regenerative agriculture and we're on the forefront of that right here. So where does it go?
Hopefully somewhere good. Uh we're looking to really grow this industry. We're looking to take you with us and uh really appreciate the opportunity to be here. So thank you so much. >> Thank you, Brian. I did look on your website at at your uh website and found out some information, some of which you
just spoke about, but I was very impressed. I will say that and I was like, why haven't I been drinking this? So, uh, Commissioner, so but I will be now. >> Where is it? Tell them where they can buy it. >> Well, that product's brand new. Uh, we just released it. It's just launched in every Whole Foods market in the state of
Florida, which about four 41 locations. Um, but our products broadly are sold in about 3,000 retailers across the US today. Um, and about with Whole Foods. >> That product right there is in Whole Foods. Yeah, there's 41 Whole Foods stores in the state. Every one of them >> chai
>> and the chai and the lavender coconut. We have three flavors in that store. So, >> I'm excited. >> Commissioner Newold, you're recognized. >> Thank you for taking a chance on Putnham County. Um, I followed you for a while and was was surprised and pleased, you
know, when I heard you were making the move and um, and Brian's right, that little grove in Crescent City has been an organic grove. There were innovative people there before Brian. U, they were the first real champions of organic citrus in Florida. And, um, it was sad
to see it that grove uh, kind of flounder with the citrus industry. and Brian picking that uh the mantle up of innovation. Um it's it's it's nice to see. So, thanks for taking that that chance. And I've heard, you know, great things from people in the community
about tours to to your farm and um we're proud to have you. Thank you. >> Do highlight your >> Yeah, thanks. Thanks for bringing that up because I totally forgot um that we are also an aggurism operation. Um the Grove is really old and it's been there 126 years. Lucky for us, all of the
structures remain original to the site. So, the old packing house and the farmhouse are original. We've restored those structures. Yeah. Just had a birthday party. >> We can uh we can comfortably house about 200 people. >> Very good. Very nice. Commissioner
Alexander, you're recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Hey, Brian. Welcome. Um glad glad to see you. Glad that you're here. Um it's very exciting. And I was going to ask if we could come and visit the uh the farm, but it sounds like it's an open invitation. Can you uh
explain a little bit more about the regenerative regenerative agriculture? It's kind of interesting to me. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, it is a sort of an emerging and and Wendy might have some thoughts on this too, but >> organic, we have been certified organic since 2017. And if I had to explain it
in a nutshell, organic just means you don't leave the land worse than the way you found it. Regenerative really takes it a step further and means you leave the land better than it was when you found it. So, we're adding, you know,
nutrients to the soil. We're nurturing the microbiome that's naturally present in the soil. We're using a native cover crop to fix nitrogen. We're not using any uh non-organic pesticides or fertilizers or anything like that. that. So there's no nutrient pollution going into Crescent Lake. There's no pollution
latent in the soil and we're leaving it better than it was when we got there. Um there's other layers to regenerative organic certification like how much we pay our workers. So it's a requirement of the certification that we pay a living wage to all of our employees and
that is benchmarked to MIT's living wage calculator. So whatever the living wage is here in Putnham County, we pay at least that much to all of our employees and we have employees all over the United States and we have to meet the benchmark wherever it is that they live. >> Very interesting. Yeah, it's nice to
hear um that you guys are able to create a sustainable agricultural operation without the pesticides because the runoff is a big concern to me. I spend a lot of time on the river and the health of the river is definitely in question now. So good to hear.
>> Thank you, sir. All right, Commissioner Pelis, you're recognized. >> Very briefly, love the packaging in Cresant City, Florida written on there. That really makes me proud. Um, just a hint for Miss Morgan. I think it'd be a great place to host a chamber after hours and uh, but thank you. We're glad
you're here and appreciate you. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you for your presentation. Right. >> Next, we have up uh, Lori Parker for the employee of the month. Good morning. >> Good morning, y'all. Um, we received a
number of nominations from county staff and the employee of the month is awarded to Howard Hodgeges. Howard is with general services and um JT's here to >> Oh, okay. Here's Tim. >> Tim
Howard's been a benefit to our department. If something happens after hours, I can call him and bring him in if I need to. Uh he's pretty knowledgeable in his field and it's good to have him. >> Yep. >> And JT just put him on the spot. >> I saw that. So, he didn't know what he was saying. >> You got to learn how to roll in this business.
>> Uhuh. So, we really appreciate Howard and everything he does in general services. Um and just like the rest of the crew, always got a smile on his face, ready to get to work. um they're actually glad that you pushed them up because they're ready to get out of here. So that's that's the kind of guys that you want to have on your staff
anyway. So uh Howard, thank you for everything you do. Appreciate the smile on your face every day, buddy. >> Yeah. >> And I'll just say real quick that um I've known Howard for a number of years. He does have a wonderful work ethic and he he is a very positive person. So and all of you guys, every time I see you, you're working hard and like JT said,
there's always a smile on your face and and we appreciate that. We appreciate everything you do. we know you have a large uh inventory to take care of and um so we appreciate all the hard work you guys do but thank you Howard and congratulations Me too.
Two. Thank you. Moving into tourist development council quarterly report. Good morning, commissioners. >> Good morning, Kimberly. >> I have a presentation here that we'll get going.
Um just want to give you the update for um tourism from July 2025 to December 2025. Um so that you have those two quarters and um everything that's been happening in tourism and um we'll just jump right
in. Want to give you some this is the good news report. The tourism department should be your good news department. And so um want to tell you that um we had a a very successful um last six months of 2025 with events.
Um we worked very closely with some upcoming events. The National Tractor Pullers Association is bringing the Grand National Southern Swing uh tractor pole to Putnham County. Um there they'll
be um here in March of 20 March 20th through the 21st. and um they had we worked with them on the group sales side to bring them uh to connect them with hotels and um overnight accommodations
and and help them plug into the community. They are using local um vendors um to to get the track prepared for their event. Um so we worked with them on that on that side. We also are working with the Southern Outlaw
Dragboat Association. um their event is in April and we're again plugging them into the community to get everything that they need to have a successful event. Um the invitation nil is an event that um plans to take place in May. And
again, those those are these are new events that are coming to our community that just need to be plugged in. And we serve kind of as Putnham Countyy's concierge for those types of events. um the event success in October. There were
tons of every weekend there were multiple events happening throughout the county. Um that's just e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e economic drivers um bringing new people here, >> people that have have just haven't visited in a while. >> Um and um of course bringing new people
here. Um and in December there were more than 30 events in Putnham County throughout celebrating the holiday and um getting ready for for Christmas and the new year. So um we were just really excited. We did have some collaborative
efforts um with with all of those events. Um influencers, we we h had influencers in the market. Uh Misty Wells filmed two episodes in Putnham County um in October. She went on a gator hunt with God's Country
Outfitters. Um that episode began airing in Canada um in January. So, we're hoping to see some some success in the Canadian market, which is a little tough for Florida right now. So, we're hoping to to be a a a shining star in that
Canadian market um with that episode and and that marketing effort. Um and then the other episodes that were filmed um showcased the river. Um we did she did um some fish some night bow fishing as well as um a kayak trip um with the bat
with uh at sunset in downtown Palaca with um the bats coming out from underneath the bridge. Um Smalltown USA um Visit Florida and um food with the fellas were just all um they were all influencers that just
wanted to say good stuff about our community. Some of those were for free. We didn't even have to pay for it. And so, um, anytime that somebody can will talk about our community, um, and inviting people here is is a great partnership.
Community engagement. We had a lot of, um, workshops and education and collaborative meetings throughout that last half of the year. A TDC event grant workshop. We explained the grant process um and how to be successful with that
grant from the application all the way to the reimbursement process. And um we also did an event marketing workshop kind of coached um those event planners how to market their event successfully
um primarily in the digital space um which may be new for some of those local event planners. um leadership Putinham Tourism Day. We actually took um the leadership Putinham class of 17 young professionals in in the community um to
Yoponti and and to their farm um in Crescent City and saw the event venue. Um they talked to us about basically about every just shared their story. Um so yes, we are working with them and we're really excited about the things
that they're doing. We're talking about partnering um or pairing having restaurants pair their tea with some of their menu items and and using it from a product perspective that way too. Um also um there was a dece December events
collaborative. All those events that were happening in December, we pulled everybody together and tried to encourage working together from a marketing perspective. They're all targeting and they're sharing the same story. let's work together and stretch those dollars
>> so that um they can be more successful. Um digital sign, we are constantly updating that digital sign in front of our office to promote those events. Um branding stakeholder focus groups. We've um hired um with your approval the um
firm Chandler Thinks um to do our brand our tourism branding. um they came in the market and we h they did um really close to 50 interviews and and met with um stakeholders um in October and um they'll be coming
in January with a report on their research because they've done some additional research. Um and then we've got um we had four TDC meetings in that six-month period. Um, so we we were busy engaging um the community. Um, from a
marketing and product development standpoint, those Misty Wells videos did air on Discovery Channel, um, Wild TV, and there's there's um, at least 17 other networks um, globally that they're
they're um, airing. um branding and and strategic plan, like I said, that's underway. Um and the final presentation for that will be in March or April. So, we'll come to you with with the final of that. Um video storytelling. Um you
approved that project earlier this year. Um video storytelling, we are um getting ready to unveil our first episode. Um and it'll focus on fish camps. What is what what's your fish camp experience? we can really own that space. In
Florida, we have more fish camps than any other destination. And so, let's really own that and tell that story. We have a wide array of experiences that can be at those fish camps. Um, and it's, you know,
I think people will be pleasantly surprised. We see the variety of experiences that they can have. Um, so, um, that's coming out. And then um we've got um another filming coming up in February um and we'll focus on um
culinary and um and arts for some future video stories. Um Visit Florida, we worked with them on a opportunity uh rural areas of opportunity video. um Florida, their Florida Days campaign. Um they partnered with um Margaritavville
and Jimmy Buffett's um estate and they're they wrote a special song called Live More Florida. And so that campaign hit um in October and we now have a video that's featured in um that's ex
that's that's showcases a lot of Florida, but then there's a special section that's just about Putinham County in that. So we'll share that with you all when we when we get ready to air that. And then um we've got RFPs that are distributed um for the advertising
agency and website development. Um we sent that out to more than I think 30 companies. Um proposals came in. We have a scoring committee um for each um project um made of um a TDC member um two
chamber or chamber board members and some independent um people from the community as well as chamber staff. So those meetings, the scoring committee meetings will take place in January and February and we'll come back to you with um those findings and those
recommendations. And then um that's all I have, but I do want to give you a preview of what's coming. There's a lot happening the first quarter um coming soon. We've got the the um ZFest, Florida ZFest, which
is a the Nissan Zcar that that car show is happening the same weekend as the Aelia Festival. So, there will be a lot going on that weekend. Um we've got the Mammoth March that is at Dun Creek in the end of January. Um we've got the um
Palaca Bluegrass Festival in February and um not to mention the Boston Blueberry Festival and that tractor pole in March. Lots of great things happening. >> Exciting times. Thank you for your presentation. Commissioner Peliser, you're recognized.
>> Um how did you come up with the date of March 21st 20 and 21st for the tracker poll? >> So that was a date change. They had originally given us dates that were before the opening of the fair. That's my comment. >> I know. Um they they had to change dates
um due to some things on their end and I didn't know about it until they had already said those. Um we did talk about it before they they said it um and they are actually working with their association. They've had conversations and they're working together um to do some marketing and to do some different
things. So they're working together. I think tractor pull thing is going to be very exciting and you're they're going to draw a big crowd but I hate to see two competing >> so I think that that we need to it's it's really hard sir when when there are multiple events that's why we try to
collaborate and find ways for everybody to win so that everyone can be successful and so we are really working hard with both of those entities to make sure that that's the case >> right thank you >> thank you Commissioner Alexander, you're
recognized. >> Hey, Kimberly. >> Hello. >> Good morning. I just sent you a text as a reminder. Um, great work, great presentation. I'm very excited about the videos that you guys had made and uh
sent a reminder to you and Laura, if you could send us links to those because I haven't seen any. I would love to watch those and share those and maybe Miss Laura could get those and put them on our BOCC site. But fantastic job. I'm very excited about that and kind of have
a different opinion than um my fellow commissioner down there. I I think it's kind of exciting to have concurrent events, especially because I think the target audience for the tractor pool is not isolated to Putnham County, but we'll have that nostalgic feel of a
small town fair in conjunction with an event that's drawing visitors from out of county, out of state, and they get to see some of the the old school FL. I'm I'm hopeful. >> Yes, sir. And if I may, um, so let me
talk to Thank you for the for the support. um the events we're we we are working really hard to help everyone be on the same page and um when markets align we it just is better and then when markets
are different that that can be better too because then we get we draw different people in. So we're working hard just to make sure that everyone collaborates and is aware. Um, we're also getting to the point where there's event saturation and there's too many
things happening at once. So, we're also trying to manage that too and trying to to guide people to other other times depending on what's happening in the county. >> A great position to be in, isn't it? >> It is. It is. >> Um, the other thing related to the
videos, so we are establishing a tourism playlist on the YouTube channel. So once we start to get in a a a regular schedule for these videos, it'll be easier for us to to get that information out to you. Um we are establishing a we
um we purchased the URL Floridaishamp.com so that we can own that space. Um so there will be a special um we're building that site now. Um and then so we'll we we've got a whole strategy with
how we're going to to um send out the the videos. Um but the Missy Wells videos, we'll I'll gladly share that with you all. >> Now is the uh the NIL event uh has had to settle now or is it still
>> So um I know that he they are going through permitting. >> So we they are we have secured it as far as if if >> Yes. So they they want to be here. we want them here and so it's just a matter of going through the process and then having their event. >> That's very exciting. Can you share with
the audience and those in cyber world um what schools might be involved in that event and how important that is? >> Sure. Um in the invitation nil it's nil stands for name image likeness and so um collegiate athletics has changed. It's
no longer about scholarships. It's about how much can we pay you to to use your name, image and likeness to promote the school, to promote um products and and different things. So um universities are
raising private funds to pay athletes and this event is a fishing tournament to raise funds for that effort. So, we are talking um the event organizer um is talking with um FSU, U University of
Florida, Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Georgia Tech. Um I think there's two more um that I that I've forgotten, but they're they're major. >> You named the University of Florida. I did. >> The rest of them really don't matter.
>> So, Miss But see, those are visitors. Yes. Yes. >> And that would be held at the riverfront. >> It would be >> okay. >> Are you good, Commissioner? >> I'm good. I'm good. Thank you. Thank you very much, Kimberly. >> Thank you. >> Commissioner New Bulgar recognized. >> Yeah. Thanks for the great report. Um
and like you guys said, it is unfortunate to have, you know, competition with the fair. But, you know, those things happen and you can moan about it or you can do like you guys have done and going to make it something positive. You put that in Sam's lap, she'll make something positive out of it. So that that is
exciting. It is, you know, we all know that we shine in outdoor activities. We have a a plethora of outdoor assets and we always talk about, you know, that's our thing. Well, it's coming home to roofs now and you guys are making that happen. I'd like to see those things coming here. That outdoor activity. I'd
love to see them in district one. That that's that's wonderful. >> Listen, you get all the pavement and everything else. So you you're set. So anyway, um, congratulations. You know, the these events, they're they're they're fishing based, they're outdoor based, they're culturally appropriate.
It's it's y'all are hitting the hitting the nail on the head. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> So So Miss Morgan, what I would like to say to you is um what's happened in the last six months for me as a commissioner and as a citizen in the community, I feel like this is a breath of fresh air.
And the reason I feel that way is because we went we have grown so much in our tourist development and what we're doing and what we're putting out and that's making that's going to we're going to have a big return on our investment for that and I am um excited
about everything you guys are doing and the collaboration. And I know you're putting in a lot of hours to make these things happen. But the you hit the nail on the head too when you talked about all the different groups instead of working against each other but collaborating together and that's very very important and I would I just want to say I'm proud of you you guys and the
chamber for taking that approach. Um Commissioner Harvey you're recognized. >> Thank you Madam Chair and I'd like to say year ago we were in Tallahassee worried about tourist development and what was going to take place. Legislators were looking at Metro tourist development and they were
flushed with money thinking that that was the way it was all through Florida. And that's not the way it is through Florida. >> Tourist development comes from bed tax. It's not the it's not the people that live here. It's the people that visit here. And that visit here invest in more
people visiting here. So let's be clear about that. So when we tell the story to our legislators, we tell the story of a whole different Orlando or Miami or Tampa. We tell the story of rural Florida. We tell the tractor story. We
tell the fair happening at the same time. That's what we tell the story about. And um that's a good story to tell because the more people that come and visit, they like it here. Some people go, "Man, I'd like to live here." Well, you can. There's opportunities
abound. Um or you can just continue to come back and visit with us. One or the other. But you know, we have to stick up for rural Florida. And we're totally different than the metro areas. So when we do that, we tell these great stories. And I appreciate all the efforts that
you have done and uh moving tourist development into that next realm. And I'm looking forward to the future of tourist development here in Putham County. Thank you very much. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Kimberly, for your presentation. Next, we have up the economic development department of the
Putnham County Chamber for your quarterly year-end presentation. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. >> Uh Sarah Maxwell, vice president for economic development for the Putham County Chamber. Thank you very much for having me. Um I'm just going to give you
uh some highlights of activities from July through December um of 2025. Uh new and existing business development. We're currently working with nine clients that are interested in either locating or expanding here um in Putnham County. Of those nine clients, three are
confidential attraction leads from Florida Commerce, Jax USA or FPL. Five are organic traction leads and one is a local existing industry continue uh contemplating expanding operations here in Putham County. These represent
collectively 682 jobs uh new jobs, 150 retained jobs and over $1 billion in capital investment to the county if they all come to fruition. Uh we also reviewed an additional 14 RFPs. However, Putinham County was not able to respond
to those due to various things, meaning um there wasn't the the infrastructure. We didn't have the acreage or the building that they were looking for. One of those various reasons. We have uh completed 32 retention and expansion visits year to date. One of these
engagements is expected to result in an expansion project, and we're actively supporting that company through all of the next steps. In 2025, we had six projects announced or actively under construction. Georgia Pacific with 83 million in capital investment and 20 new
jobs. Legosi Motorsports Complex 300 million in capital investment and 100 new jobs. Tricircle Pavers 12 million capital investment and 10 to 20 new jobs. FPL battery storage plant 200 million in
capital investment and two to three new jobs. Stern and Industries, 39 million in capital investment and 80 new jobs. So, collectively, that's $634 million in investment and 223 permanent full-time
jobs. Other projects that we wanted to mention under construction, Georgia Pacific, FPL battery storage, and Certainted, which many of you attended the ribbon cutting for that that project. A couple of other related agency activities. We're still
maintaining the working relationships with our regional economic development partners and our state economic development partners and representing Putnham County and at many of those regional and state statewide meetings. We represented Putnham County at rural
counties day this year and that's happening again coming up next week and the FEDC annual conference as well as the Florida Rural Economic Development Summit that just happened last month. We are continuing to represent Putnham County at the Jax USA regional partner
and business development committee meetings and we're continuing to support our local SBDC in support of local small rural businesses. A few other activity highlights in December we hosted the final PCEDC quarterly invested lunch
investor lunchon of 2025. Many of you were there. We had our retail strategies consultants there that gave us a little bit of a peak behind the curtain on how retailers decide their their newest location or expansion. Hopefully that was helpful in understanding what's
going on here in Putham County. We also delivered the inaugural workforce development summit in November drawing more than 60 participants over at the CL OverTorf Auditorium. We we intend to continue to do that on an annual basis.
And last but not least, uh, last week, Northeast Florida Regional Council annual awards. We were able to receive the economic development excellence award for Northeast Regional Council and many of you were there as well attending
that meeting. So, we were really excited. Um, let's see. Moving forward, I just wanted to make you all aware that we will be implementing upgraded ED reporting and metrics tracking. So, it will no longer be the format that you
see. I'll have an accompanying presentation for our public as well. Um, we'll launch a comprehensive over overhaul of our reporting and metric tracking systems. It will expand our data collection to include include key project pipeline indicators, insights
from commercial permits issued here in Putham County, newly available industrial and commercial square footage, absorptions rates, site readiness prog progress, workforce particip participation trends, unemployment rates, and infrastructure
dollars leverage. Our goal is to develop a easyto- read dashboard that allows users to track important economic indicators over time, providing a clear and consistent view of Putnham Countyy's growth or momentum. And we'll also begin monitoring a broader set of quality of
life indicators, including population growth or decline, median household income trends, and new community investments. And that is the end of my report. >> Commissioner Harvey, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam Chair. Sarah, thank you
so much for this report. Um, sitting here thinking back to 2014, I asked if these reports could be made to us. And why would we do that? Well, our citizens need to know what's going on in this county. And they need, and I
don't care about names. I just need to know that somebody's keeping an eye on the ball that there's five people looking at us. Four people might come, three people said no. Whatever the case may be, but at least they're looking at us and that's what we that's what we should be
enjoying and our citizens need to know that when we invest in in the chamber and we invest in economic development, there should be a rate of return on that. Sar also want to say yesterday at our Putham County Development Authority, which our honorable Matt Reynolds here
serves as chair on that and Commissioner Wilkinson, Madame Chair also serves on that board. uh move moved some things forward yesterday. So keep an eye on what's going to come out of the development authority which was the statutorial um authority based back in 1960
something. So a lot of good things are happening here in Putham County. I believe all the stars are aligning properly for us. Um I do believe people have found us but now we've got to be able to to make that work for us in in a positive direction. And uh you know, I
was talking about shovel ready yesterday and uh when I first came on the board, I went to all these regional meetings and you got to be shovel ready. We didn't have enough money in the bank to be shovel ready. And I don't mean that awful. We You pay a sheriff's deputy or
you pay EMT versus putting pipe in the ground in hopes that they come. I know what I'm going to do. I'm going to pay the people that are working to protect our citizens. But I'm all about putting money in the bank. and when we need to be ready for a project to come in, then
we'll be ready for that project to come in. So, I appreciate all the hard work. I appreciate the new dashboard that's coming. I'm looking forward to that and I want our citizens to know that the investment we make is going to pay dividends into the future. So, thank you and thank you, Madam Chair.
>> Thank you. Um, so, um, Sarah, you touched on a couple things that I think are very, very important. Unemployment rates. I saw recently an article that came out regarding the state of Florida has increased unemployment rates. I would love to see what Putinham's compared to the state average because I
don't believe we're there. There was a report less than a year ago that said that we were one of the fastest growing counties with job increases in in the state of Florida. So, I would love to see where we actually fall in comparison to the state unemployment rate. And then
you mentioned uh median household income and we all know when we have all been working diligently together as stakeholders and leaders in the community to realizing that we have to increase the median household income for our residents. And that's what's a
gamecher for our residents because when you're the lowest then you're going to always stay at the low at the at the at the end. And so having 223 permanent full-time jobs that's huge. That's huge for our community and the fact that you guys are continuing to move the ball
forward and work on that. We really appreciate that. Um and that's the kind of information we need to have so that when we're out talking to our constituents that they they understand that there is a whole front of people, a whole group of people is truly wanting to increase the median household income
for our residents here in Putham County. And again, I think that's just a big game changer for the county. So, thank you for your presentation and um if you got some unemployment rates or median income household, how that compares, if we've increased what what we've done over the last year, I would love to see
that next time. >> Yep. And I can send that to all of you as soon as I get back. I actually have that in my office. >> All right. Very good. Thank you. Are there any other questions? All right. Go ahead. I'm sorry, Commissioner Nebold, you're recognized. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Um you mentioned great
report. Thank you so much. It's it's great information. and it's very positive and tells us what direction we're going. You mentioned 14 review projects that that we couldn't just pull here for one reason or another. Um in that development council meeting
yesterday, development authority meeting yesterday, we were um that's okay. That's okay. Um, we're interested to know what some of those issues are that um, that those
team that got away, what did they need? I realize some of those we may never be able to achieve, but you know, if we in that development authority are aware of those things, we might be able to start focusing on them for future lands. >> Of course. Yeah. And I think that what
we um we know that there's a a new era in your development authority that you all are looking at potentially hiring a full-time or part-time director and we're really excited to re-engage at that point and understand where the goals will align and how we can help
help everybody get to the same place. I can tell you that at least four of those simply had energy needs that our providers were not able to meet. And so, you know, sometimes they're they're really out there and insurmountable and
sometimes they're things that we could probably fix rather easily. >> Very good. >> Yeah. If we could even before that re-engagement, if we could get just a little summary or maybe you at our next meeting to just a little insight into what a few of those things were, that would be >> of course. >> Thank you. >> Right. Thank you. Thank you for having
me. Yes. Go ahead, >> Madam Chair. I apologize, Commissioner B. I I completely lost it when I was mentioning who was on that, but yes, you were very instrumental yesterday. So, appreciate it. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. With that, uh board, we'll
take a quick fivem minute recess. All right, let's reconvene this meeting and we are going into our planning and development public hearing. First up is reszone re25-00000012 KNC properties.
>> Thank you, Madam Chair. For the record, Michael Graves, Planning and Development Services. This is once again re 250012. Uh the applicant KNC Properties LLC is requesting a zoning map amendment from residential 2 R2 to commercial 4
commercial intensive C4 on 3.23 23 acres located at an unassigned location on the north side of Philips Road in Palaca to allow for the development of a towing facility and mechanical work facility. Uh surrounding zonings include residential 2 with additional uh
commercial retail C2 and commercial intensive C4 on the south side of Philips Derry Road. The subject site has a future land use designation of urban service US. The parcel has approximately 190 ft of access from Philips Derry Road. And according to the National
Wetlands layer uh and the uh FEMA flood zone layer on the GIS reference map, the lands do not appear to contain wetlands and is located within FEMA flood zone X, not a special flood hazard area. Uh 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 compatible with the C4 zoning district. Here you can see an aerial view of the property. And here you can see a zoomed out view as requested by the planning commission.
Here you can see a future land use view of the property. And once again a zoomed out view of that. And here you can see the zoning. And once more a zoomed out view. Uh staff recommended denial of the
request to amend the zoning map from residential 2 to commercial intensive. St. staff finds that the proposed resoning is not consistent with the goals, objectives, and policies of the adopted comprehensive plan and does not meet the location requirements of the commercial intensive C4 zoning district
provided in the land development code and comprehensive plan. At their November 12th, 2025 meeting, the Putham County uh planning commission unanimously recommended approval of the same. Uh do we have any questions? Before we go into questions, um I'd like at this
time for anybody on the BOCC to uh state whether they've had any exparte uh communication or whether they have a conflict of interest starting with Commissioner Alexander. >> I have spoken with Mr. Brown >> regarding the property. It will not influence my decision.
>> Okay. >> Commissioner Newol, >> I've had none. >> Commissioner Pelier, >> I've had none. >> Commissioner Harvey, >> I've had none. All right. And I am going to out an abundance of c of caution declare a conflict of interest simply
because Mr. Brown and my husband do a lot of business together. So, um I'm going to step out of this. >> Does that allow that? >> Is that allowed? I don't know. I mean I I >> I don't think it is just because you do >> I don't think you have a financial
benefit in it. >> I don't I don't know. So that's a question. So our conversation offline was that there's the potential for her husband to receive a financial benefit that may be perceived to be tied to the vote and it was because of that that I agree that there's a conflict.
>> Just as perception because Mr. Brown also owns a St. John's auto body towing. Is that correct? You have a >> Sure. Come on up. I want to make sure this is clarified before we move forward. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Do you own St. John's Auto Body Towing?
Yes, ma'am. >> Yes. And you do business with my husband? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> Okay. Thank you. You'll come back. I'll get you to come back in a minute. >> Yes, ma'am. >> All right. So, with that, I'm going to declare confict conflict of interest. Uh, Commissioner Harvey, you recognized for questions. >> Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you
for being so thorough on that. That's very refreshing. Um, question I have concerning staff. Staff denied it. Planning board approved it. And basically the question was that when I read in my packet uh Mr. Morris
questioned the reason for staff recommendation to deny. I guess he's the vice chair of the planning commission from what I was reading. Um and your response was they didn't have another direct access if they have one more road. Would that have changed your
opinion? >> It certainly would have helped the opinion. uh it would have been more in compliant with the uh comprehensive plan and land development code uh locationational requirements. There's always going to be the uh uh uh incompatibility
uh concerns as you can see from the zoning map that is surrounded on most sides by active residential sites after all and C4 is a very intensive uh commercial zoning district. Uh ultimately if they had the secondary
access, it would have fell more in compliance with the comprehensive plan and land development code and staff would have been uh almost wanting to say neutral if possible, but since staff are not allowed to, we probably would have uh aired more on the side of approval
just because it would be more in compliance than it currently is. >> All right. So, correct me if I'm wrong. Over the years, we've seen a lot of uh commercial activity along this corridor. um more than I've seen in my lifetime along that. So I I guess I'm just having
a hard time understanding why, you know, I mean I I realize that a lot of things are residential and then roads come through and expansion comes through and then commercial comes. Um but I just for life of me, I see this corridor as a
commercial corridor now with residential still being stuck there. If you look at 207 going through East Palaca, you know, there's residential there where probably commercial needs to be at and will be at one day when these residential units
sell out. So, I guess I'm just having a hard time with that, but I'll get to that when we get to the vote. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Commissioner Alexander, you're recognized. >> Yes, ma'am. I I I just want to understand um I know we we have
declined a number of the uh C4 designations along the 207 corridor due to the intensity and what the development uh could be in that area because of concerns regarding I mean
that you can go as far as a chemical depot at that point once it's a C4 designation. Correct. Uh correct. For the bulk storage of toxic materials, you do require a special use permit on top of that. However, uh but with just C4 zoning, you could do everything from
mobile home sales to truck stop and everything in between. Uh there are quite some heavy polluting and noise making uh facilities that can be done on C4. >> Okay. Um um may I ask the applicant to come forward?
>> Well, yeah. Here we usually have to staff questioning. >> I'm sorry. I I just Okay, go ahead. >> I apologize. I um >> And is there a reason that you chose to go with the uh C4 versus the C3? Would it not accommodate your needs as a C3
designation? Did it not allow for the towyard or >> looking into it? I want to look into a little bit more. But C4 was just because of the fact that we do have commercial trucks coming in on ours >> which is a Phillips area road has a commercial compound there that runs
semi-truckss and trailers out of it. That's the reason we wanted to go C4 potential for doing any more mechanical or anything that we wanted to do for growth. >> Okay. Um, and with that being said, question for staff. As a C3 designation, would they still be allowed to do
similar work, mechanical and stuff like that under that C3 designation or do they have to accelerate it to the C4? >> In C3, they are allowed to store and uh do basic repair on heavy equipment including semi-truckss. It's just auto body that requires a C4 zoning district.
>> Okay. So, we're looking at maybe potentially is auto body down the road or Okay. So, >> I have no desire for that. >> I think you probably had enough of that already. Gotcha. Gotcha. I'm just I want to understand um I don't the single entrance makes sense to me as a security
stance from a security stance from a a toward repo yard. Um I was just trying to get wrap my head around why we went with a C4 versus a C3 on that if it would accommodate your needs. Yes. >> And being I know it's we're going commercial in that corridor now, but
there's still some residential area close to it. So, That that was my area of concern. >> Sorry, it was a two-part question. Okay. Get both of them out of the way. >> Are you done with questions for staff? >> Yes. >> Uh Mr. Grimes, you're recognized.
>> We would have to do a little research on it, but it appears Orange Avenue, which is touches the back of the property, could potentially be an exit because it's appears on the GIS map and only is it has looks like a portion of a easement. So, if it ever really did become a problem for secondary access,
it looks like Orange Avenue could come into the back of the parcel. We just had to do a little research on whether we own that portion of property >> and that it's never been vacated. >> That it's never been vacated. Correct. >> We don't know that at this point. >> I don't, but I just wanted to point out that I think there is a potential for secondary access there and also off of
um uh appears to be West Oak maybe. Um, so I mean I don't know that if um he would be potentially I think there is options if he needed an additional exit. Also off on West Oak
also appears to go into the property which is just an undeveloped portion of a roadway. >> All right, Commissioner Palis here, you're recognized for questions for the staff. >> Um, currently he just wants to access it off Philips Dairy. Is that correct?
>> That's correct. Uh, in fact, uh, attempting to access it through the residential neighborhoods, uh, on the rear, as Mr. Grimes had pointed out, would be potential down the road, uh, would be even less in compliance with the land development code. So, accessing it straight from Phillips area with no
other access point is technically more in compliance than if they were to try and access from other points. >> I'm familiar with that area right there very well. And there's already commercial and industrial buildings and work being done along that area. Correct. >> Yes, sir. Everything on the south side of uh Philips Derry Road is in the
commercial or industrial zoning district. That's the red and purple you're seeing on the map. Now, uh earlier last year, we uh did a reszone for the property south and slightly over to the west there uh to go from C2 to C4 as well.
>> Um if it's in my packet, I does it list the hours of operation? >> Uh no, sir. >> Mr. Brown, can you elaborate on that? Typical business hours are 9 to5, but I am a 24-hour day, 7 day week business. So,
>> but you would >> as far as coming in in the middle of the night, I'm not going to lie to this board. I have brought in a piece that was there. >> Sure. >> Just to see if any of my neighbors would notice and it was around about 10:30 at night. >> Nobody noticed. But, >> but typically typically you're not going
to be running air 3:00 a.m. in the I'm not going to run any kind of any kind of equipment like that at during after five o'clock. After five o'clock, it's strictly go a wreck at, you know, Palman and Krill. >> Bring it in, drop it, and walk away from it. >> Understand? >> Thank you. Thank you, staff.
>> Um, I did a a uh not particular this property, but all of them. I noticed that we we went through this period where we were talking about everything had to go to DRC before it went before it came to the planning and before it came to us. Did these all go to some kind of DRC for review or how are we handling that
differently speaking? >> Uh so that was for the case of plan unit developments which are in the code required to go to DRC before the planning commission. When it comes to reszones and map amendments, those are nowhere in the land development code required to go to DRC first. >> Uh some cases do go to DRC. We have
another reszone that is in the works that you will be seeing in a few months for right on the corner of Philips Derry Road there. uh where they had gone through DRC for a preliminary and we informed them that their desired development would not uh be compatible with their current zoning district. >> So in I know I'm getting way ahead of
myself, but in that case, why did they were were they told to go in front of DRC ahead of time? >> We allow the applicants to decide where they want to go first. Uh sometimes they decide they want to go to DRC first. Sometimes they decide they want to go to the reszone first. >> But to your point, it wasn't required unless it's a PUD.
>> Correct. Uh generally they'll go with whatever is the most expensive option just because if it's not going to pass at one point they'll go with then they know they can't go forward at all kind of deal. >> Expensive option. >> Oh the DRC review is $200. A reszone is
750. >> I gotcha. Okay. All right. Um with that um are there any other comments or questions for the for the pre presenter? All right. Here seeing none we'll go into uh is there anyone here would like to speak? This is a public hearing.
Anybody who would like to speak on behalf of um the applicant. Mr. Brown, did you have anything else you wanted to say? I know you've got filled out a speaker card. Did you have anything else you wanted to add? >> Sure. >> I don't know how we would see it, but
>> I hand it to you. Um as far as doing the applicant card, I I just did that to see if y'all had any questions, right? you know, I mean, >> are are you open to looking at um the C3 designation with a special use? >> So, just like any typical person coming
up here, I don't have the full background of all these things and knowing what they represent and what they do. I knew that C4 was going to accommodate me. I'm not looking to put anything toxic on it. I actually took a lot of toxic out of it. Um that property had been derelict for many years and it had been a dumping site. Um I took a
giant leap of faith along with my family to to do something with this piece of property. not not to endanger it or do anything worse. Um, I have no problem in looking at that as long as it accommodates a future use for my son, which would be a mechanic shop. We're not trying to jump into light duty.
We're just doing diesel mechanic work. He currently serves United States Marine Corps, and that's my future plan between them and running the business. Well, I I appreciate your willingness to take a risk, you know, expand, make business for for your your family, have them
continue to live here in Putham County. Um, >> if that C3 would work with a special use, it would make things easier all the way around and probably I feel like it would accommodate your needs, but that would need to be >> confirmed.
My biggest reason for even picking that p that piece of property is knowing what was around me in a towing business. Looking the across the street and seeing a a trucking company that that's bread and butter to me. You know, you break down, I'm right there beside you. >> Um I looked at that. I looked at areas.
I talked to all the the neighbors before I even got started. You know, I told them what my plan was. Everybody was excited. You >> know, I think the logic is is sound. >> Absolutely. >> When we see this kind of thing come before us, it can make sense. So, but just that uh I think that would be helpful to us all if if that works for
you. >> Yes, sir. >> Commissioner Harvey, you're recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um I got a question for legal. Should we begin negotiating C4C3 special use or should we just be hearing this at
it at what the applicant has asked us to do? because the zoning runs with the land for perpetuity at this point. But I don't know if we're I don't mind negotiating, but I don't know if that's something we should be doing at this point. >> You know, so you have a lot of
discretion as to how you handle a particular application. Um I interpret what the questions are coming from the commission that you're um kind of voicing what your tolerances are as it relates to the compatibility of the surrounding community. So you can talk
to an applicant about kind of what you think is compatible in that area. Now it then you can't have contract zoning. You can't have conditional zoning. So what you can do is um if the applicant doesn't wish to to amend their application, which again would bring us
back to another public hearing because we have a notice that says we're looking at C4 today. Um but if they're not willing to do that and wish to go forward, then that is something you take into account when you cast your vote. But the problem I'm seeing here is if
let's just say that we negotiate to a C3, but it still have the applicant still has to get a special use permit that doesn't come from us at that point. It goes back to the planning department for that or the plan the planning
commission. Correct. >> I don't believe it comes to us. If I may, >> unless it's appealed, >> uh, special use permits for of this nature would be most likely handled administratively by the administrative deviation committee. Uh, the only
special use permits that generally go to the zoning board of adjustment these days are for cell towers and borrow areas, which are required by the land development code to go to them. Well, I guess my concern is here we are talking about different zoning, but and maybe I
don't want to lead the client on thinking that if we go to C3 that it's an automatic special use permit that would come along with that because it still has to go through the deviation committee. Am I hearing that correctly? >> Uh depending on what they're wanting
ultimately to get that special use permit for. Yes. Uh a lot of the same the stuff that they're wanting if not all of it is still available in C3 by Wright. Uh it's just when you get into the equipment uh the heavy equipment uh repair for auto body that you would need
like the permit for. >> So he doesn't need a special use permit unless he's doing auto body work. So everything that he wants to do will conform with a C3 special. It doesn't need any type of special use permit. >> Off the top of my head, I believe that to be correct. Yes, sir. >> Correct. Thank you, Commissioner. How
are you doing? >> All right. Does anybody else have any uh questions? I Mr. Young, you're recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um I just spoke with my client considering what has just been brought up by the commission. My client would like to consider the take a
look at the C3 option. Uh something we had discussed in the past. I won't tell you it's it's brand new, but uh I think he's reconsidering that. So, I don't know what the proper procedure might be, but if we could table this or continue it to use some some terminology from the
courtroom, uh, then I could get with your folks on staff and see what we could do about addressing what's been brought up. >> All right. Does anybody want to comment on plannings? >> I I do. >> I have a question for legal. Go ahead.
So, you know, as as I'm as we go down this path, you know, when we have an occurrence like this where we have a solution that's amicable to both parties, could we make that decision now or do he does he have to go back through the entire application process?
>> Well, it's it's not the entire application application process because you have to remember a lot of the precursor of what leads up to your consideration is leg work that's done by staff and your appointed boards and committees. Um, but with the amendment, if They're asking to amend the application and then defer to a later
time and date. You're It's not that you have an amicable agreement between the parties, but your public has a right. That's why we have a public hearing. They have a right to be heard. So, the public has been told that we're considering C4 today. Now, whether somebody shows up or not up to your constituents, um but when you change
what's what's being proposed in the application to a C3, they still have that right to come forward. >> Gotcha. Okay. That's what I wanted to clarify because it was going to a less intensive use. >> So, >> but it's still a change. >> It is it is a change obviously. So, the
the public does have a right. But >> I mean, as you figured out from me by now, I like to see the process of government sped along. So, Mr. Brown is not encumbered for, you know, another two weeks or whatever it takes to get back before the board. I know he's eager to get started with his business. And if there was a way that we could move it
forward quickly, I thought it was my duty to ask because I'm the one that presented the question regarding the C4. >> I agree. And not to try to sway the commission one way or another, but as uh as objectively as we can look at it, the distinctions between C3 and C4
are really minimal. Okay. >> Um if so, there are actually some more protections in C4. Mr. R was talking about trip counts and things like that. So, um I don't know. I don't know that one provides any protection to the surrounding area that
the other does not. >> Okay. Thank you, Rich. Very >> commissioner Paliser, you're recognized. >> I'm all about simplifying thing. I don't want to hold this man up from doing business. What he's going to do there meets with what's going on around in that area. Uh I think uh Mr. Young may
have the right idea. Change the wording of the what that you need that fits us to keep put you in business. I that's my two cents on that idea. Um the the legal part of it worked that out somewhere
else, but let's get that done so we can get this man in business. We don't need to be holding him up on red tape. >> Thank you. >> Do you have any other comments or questions? >> I do not. If if the commission is willing to table this, we're willing to go back to staff and see if we can get it worked up. >> Let me just make sure we have no other public comment.
>> Thank you. Is there anyone here from the public who would like to speak regarding reszone KNC properties ordinance 2026-00001? All right, seeing none, it comes back to the board. >> What is your pleasure? Madam Chair, like to make a motion that
we table this until uh uh the client can get back with staff and come up with something that um the verbiage and the zoning meets his needs versus what we have right now. >> We have a motion on the floor to table it. >> I'll second that. >> Second. Is there uh now we're into
debate. Commissioner Harvey, you're recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I I don't see us needing to table this at all today. Nobody from the public showed up to voice their concern. Uh we've heard from our legal staff that the there's protections in C4 that are also in C3.
Uh we can go ahead today since no one's here. Um and I don't mean that no one's here. If somebody really had an objection, they would be here and they would be saying something. So maybe maybe if we really want to put this man in business, we we go ahead and vote for
a C4 and move this thing ahead today. Thank you, Madam Chair. So, just to clarify, you're recommending going against what our county attorney said would be in our best interest in protecting this board. Okay.
Okay. Commissioner Alexander. And there was opposition. If you read the memo, there was opposition at the planning commission. There was about four citizens, four or five citizens. >> You're recognized. >> I'm good. >> You're good. >> Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. I want to do anything we can to support local
businesses and get them in moving and get this process move forward, but I want to do it the right way to protect the surrounding neighbors. Uh I don't think that Mr. Brown has a an issue with that based on the comments that I've seen. So if we're going to do it, let's do it the right way. Again, I made a
comment earlier about paying for the sins of our fathers. So if we're going to make a decision, let's make the right one. Longstanding. >> So the motion on the floor is the table. We have a second. Are there any other discussions? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any oppose? Like sign.
>> All right. Motion carries to table. That was the motion on the floor. All right. Going into reszone 25-000013. Good morning, commissioners. For the record, Ethan Thompson, uh, Planning and Development Services, presenting
ReZ25-000013. Uh, Putham County is requesting a zoning map amendment from industrial light to public use light on a 1.83 83 acre parcel which is located at 125 West McCormack Road uh in East Palaca to allow for greater development on the
property. Uh playground equipment will not need permits to install, but a map amendment will be required before the parcel can be eligible for building permits for other amenities. Uh adjacent and surrounding zonings include industrial and residential. The subject site has a future land use designation
of industrial. Uh the parcel has approximately 293 feet of access from West McCormack Road and approximately 270 feet of access from South Maryland Avenue. According to the NWI wetlands layer and the FEMA flood zone layer on the GIS reference map, uh the land does
not appear to contain any wetlands and is located within FEMA flood zone X, which is not a special flood flood hazard area. Should the applicant's request be approved, the applicant will then be subject to review by the uh DRC before obtaining any permits for
development on this property that will be compatible with the P1 zoning district. Here is an aerial of the property. Here is is actually the zoning map um
and the future land use as well as the flood zone. Staff recommends approval of the request to amend the zoning map from industrial light to public use light. Staff finds that the proposed resoning is consistent with the goals, objectives, and policies
of the adopted comprehensive plan and meets the locational requirements of the public use light zoning district provided in the land development code. Uh at the November 12th, 2025 meeting, the planning commission recommended unanimous approval of the same. Are
there any questions for staff? >> Any questions from staff? All right, seeing none. I guess we're the applicant. You're the the staff and the applicant. Who's the applicant? >> Uh the applicant is Putnham County.
>> Is there any exparte communication or conflict of interest? >> I was wondering why I asked that question, but okay. >> I think it's a requirement. >> It's required. Okay. All right. Is there anybody from the public who would like to speak regarding this resoning?
All right. Seeing none, back to the board for >> Madame Chair, I move approval of ordinance number 2026-00002, amending ordinance 2020 24-12, an ordinance of Putnham County, state of Florida, amending the official zoning
map for Putham County Incorporated, article two of the Putham County Land Development Code, Ordinance number 2024-12, reszoning 1.83 83 plus or minus acres from industrial light to public use light providing for severability
infective bait case number reg000013 Putnham County have a motion on the floor >> second >> there's a second any debate any questions or comments right seeing none all in favor say I >> I any oppose like sign motion carries
unanimously all right next we have reszone 25-000014 Curls Property LLC. All right. Uh, one more time for the record, Ethan Thompson, Planning and Development Services, uh, presenting REZ25-000014. Uh Curls Property LLC is requesting a
zoning map amendment from commercial two residential estate and commercial three to commercial 3 on a 2.52 acre parcel located at 149 South Highway 17 in East Palaca to allow for contiguous commercial development. Um adjacent and
surrounding zonings include commercial, residential, and public use. Uh the subject site has a future land use designation of commercial and urban service. Uh, the parcel has approximately 330 ft of access on South Highway 17 and approximately 206 feet of
access on Walton Road. According to the NWI wetlands layer and the FEMA flood zone layer on the GIS reference map, the lands do not appear to contain wetlands and is located within flood zone X, which is not a special hazard area. Should the applicant's request be approved, the applicant will then be
subject to review by the DRC before obtaining any permits for development on the property compatible with the C3 zoning district. Here is an aerial of the property. Here is uh the future land use map,
the zoning map uh and the flood zone. Staff recommends approval of the request to amend the zoning map from commercial 2 uh residential estate and commercial 3 to commercial 3. Staff finds that the proposed reszoning is consistent with the goals, objectives, and policies of
the adopted comprehensive plan and meets the location requirements of the commercial 3 zoning district provided in the land development code. At the November 12, 2025 meeting, the planning commission recommended unanimous approval of the same. Are there any questions for staff? Before we move into
questions, does anyone need to um declare conflict or has there been any exparte communication starting with Commissioner Alexander? >> I have none. >> Commissioner New? >> I have none. >> Commissioner Palisier? >> I've had none. >> Commissioner Harvey, >> I have none. >> I've had none and no conflict. All
right. Um going into questions, questions for staff. Uh I have one on the I noticed it has split zoning. Uh was that because it was two legal parcels or has it always been one one parcel? Uh it it was previously two parcels, but the split was actually uh
vertically between the C3 and the residential and C2. Um that was combined after the the application was submitted. Um but these the split zoning has always been >> on a parcel. >> You gota Okay. All right. Is there any
other questions for staff? All right. This is a public hearing. Is there anybody who wishes to speak um in favor or against reszone 25-000014? I see no one come to the podium. Back to the board. >> I'd move for approval of reszone
reg000014. >> Second. >> Have a motion, a second. I believe you have to read it by title. I don't know if that hit the title, but it's a a map requested map amendment from 2.52 acres from commercial C2 residential and
residential and commercial C3 to commercial C3. So that whole page is that >> got the whole thing. >> Yep. Rolls. >> Okay. an ordinance of Putnham County uh
state of Florida amending the official zoning map for Putnham County incorporated into article two of the Putnham County Land Development Code Ordinance 2024-12 reszoning it's 1.86 86 acres from commercial C2
residential RE and commercial C3 to commercial C3 providing for severability and effective date case number REZ25 dash 00000014 Putnham County >> have a motion on the floor
>> is there second have a second >> any further discussion or comments or questions all in favor say I >> any opposed like Motion carries unanimously. Right. Going into agenda items. Um this
includes um in your in your um agenda items seven and eight, consent and new business, public comment on agenda items. This portion of the agenda is designed to allow citizens an opportunity to bring matters to the attention of the board. It is not reasonable to expect that the board will
engage in debate or deliberation about 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 communally placed at the meeting room entrance that should be submitted prior to the meeting to the deputy clerk who sits to the right of the podium. Are
there any comment cards on consent or new business items? All right. Uh consent agenda items. Uh any commissioners wishing to pull anything starting with Commissioner Harvey? >> I have none. >> Commissioner Alexander. >> Yes, ma'am. I'd like to pull uh item E,
Chamber of Commerce Tourist Development Council event grant recommendation. >> All right. Commissioner Newold, >> I have nothing to pull. >> Commissioner Paliser, >> I have none. >> All right. I will pull um item B as a boy and I will also pull item H.
>> Item H. >> H. >> Madam chair, I move approval. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> On J. >> Yes. Um just the there was a typo there as the agenda item accurately reflects
the total purchase price is 204671 and 19 cents. >> That's on item G. >> J as in Julian. >> That's what J goes for my house. >> Give that number again. Said J. >> Yeah, that too.
>> What's that number again? Madam >> 204671 and 19 cents. It's accurately reflected inside of your agenda packet. I just want to make sure we have clarification before you take your vote. >> Thank you. I wrote I wrote it wrong back in my package. Thank you. >> Yes.
>> 20467119. >> Yes. >> Is the total price for item J as in Julianne? >> Madam Chair, I'd like to move approval of items A, B, C. >> Not B. >> No. A, C, D, F, G, I, and J as amended or corrected.
>> All right. >> Second. >> All right. We have a motion, a second. Any other discussion or comments? All right. All in favor say I. I. >> Any likewise? All right. Motion carries. So on item B um the ship administrative affordable housing. I sit on that board.
I just had one um question uh and clarity I'd like to get um on that. So one of our incentives was the public land inventory on item J. existing strategy make available to the
public uh via request or web listing the established inventory of locally owned public land suitable for affordable housing. Have we done that yet? >> Yes, ma'am. >> And where can that be found at? >> It's on our main web page. So if you look into that stipulation um that's
requirement that we make all vacant owned public lands available and that we've done an an that is suitable that we've done an analysis to ensure that one they're suitable for and that they would be vacant. Um as you all know um
this board made a determination that we don't hold on to land any longer. So those lands that are there are stipulated, you know, restricted, obviously not available for surplus. Anything that is available for surplus or that we review and can be made available, we bring to you immediately
as staff. >> So there so to that point, there isn't any there's a list, but it has zero parcels on it. >> There's a list. It's required as as the requirement goes, I have to list every vacant piece of property that we own.
Then there's an availability and whether or not it's suitable for affordable housing. So there's a list of multiple parcels because we own multiple vacant parcels for drainage or right of way or a multitude of reasons. They all have to be listed to be compliant and then
there's a suitability or you know an assessment there indicating that they're not uh available for the affordable housing. >> So at this time we don't have any available. >> You do not. >> Okay. I just wanted to clarify that. All right, with that, that was my only
question on item B. With that, I move approval of uh the state housing initiative partnership affordable housing incentive strategies report by the affordable housing advisory committee. >> Second. >> Wait a minute. I back up. I'm the chair. I can't make the motion.
>> Madam Chair, I move approval of item B. >> Second. >> Have a motion and a second. All in favor say I. I. >> Any oppose? Like sign. Thank you. All right. Commissioner Alexander, you're on item E. Yes, ma'am. I just wanted to touch base on this and um kind of
understand where we're at on this. Um I like where we're going with everything uh regarding what Kimberly presented earlier. Um everything looks good to me and I'm very and my question is I don't want people to to take this the wrong
way because um I thoroughly enjoy the uh farmers market downtown. I've been there three times. Uh, one time I went by myself. It wasn't very expensive. One time I went just as a show of support. And the third time I took my wife and it was quite expensive because I got to
spend some quality time with Harrington Cattle Company. I think it's a boon for downtown. And um, you know, I think it is a symbiotic relationship with the businesses down there. Um we it seems to be successful,
but I question some of the um some of the things that I question with it in general. Uh we're we're coming back and asking for an additional $10,000. >> Who is we? >> Uh Visit Palatka.
>> Okay. >> And it's my understanding that Visit Palatka is is not a charity. It is a for-profit organization. So, we gave them an initial $6,400 to to kickstart them. Basically, I I I see this as seed money, and we do this on
numerous occasions, and it's it's been, from what I understand, successful. Um, is it am I correct to assume that you guys are filling the majority of the booths that you have, the slots that we have? So, so speaking on behalf of the
TDC, I want to make sure that everyone knows that these grants are reimburseable. >> So, we we haven't um it's it's not a grant in the traditional sense where where they people get the money up front. These are reimburseable grants
that um they have to show expenses for marketing and things that are approved through the the tourist development >> statute. I understand that um >> fully. >> Okay. Okay. Um so the the Zip Paleka
came to um the TDC and the TDC is just making that recommendation. There's a process that we go through. There were several things that we discussed at the TDC meeting. >> Um we they they have sold out of the majority of their um their booth space.
They have um the the response has been um overwhelming not only from the visitation standpoint but from the business and and even downtown merchants. Um so that are not affiliated with the market. They're
their businesses located downtown. >> Absolutely. I like I said I I enjoyed it thoroughly going down there. It feels like Oldtown Platka. I think it's great. My the my heartburn is is not with the event itself. It's with the the the
business plan. You know how many widgets you had to sell. You know that we had that the you're not paying rent. You don't have that overhead. You know what your costs are going to be because they're 100% in your control.
And you made a request for 6,400. >> So So let let me bring um um Gabrielle Gun. visit Palaca up to the to the podium to answer those specific questions. We do um ask a lot of these questions at the TDC. So, um and and
they are the ones that are bringing this recommendation. >> So, and while we're doing that, I would u urge my colleagues to get page 162 and 163 in your packet for this. It has the numbers. It shows expenses on one sheet and income on the other. um their total
um expenses if you add up the 85,000 and the 29130 comes to 104,130 they've had $47,200 in income which nets 56,930.
So even after removing the TDC grant, the privately invested interest um they are out four even after the 106,400 from the TDC grants that they've asked for they are out $40,530
according to their reporting. So go ahead um Gabrielle with your um whatever information you could share with us today. >> Thank you so much. Um, I prepared some documentation in preparation if this item were to be pulled. Um, so you have
received a one pager. Not yet. And here is a presentation regarding the black farmers market. So we just wanted to remind you all that the farmers market is on the first and third Saturday from September to May
with one event happening in December. Um, it is open to the public. We have I previously came to you regarding a survey that we sent out to our vendors with a four and a half star review. Um and an average of 70 vendors at each
market. We have an average of 1,700 attendees at the >> Do you have something you wanted to pull up electronically? >> Oh yeah, I'm looking at it. >> Okay. We're not seeing that. it. >> Thank you so much. >> Give us just a minute.
>> Yes, ma'am. Thank you, Mr. Richie. >> Yes, ma'am. As if this isn't stressful enough, right? There we go. >> Okay, >> there we go. Thank you. All right. >> Technology can be finicky. Um, so I'll go back to the slide that I was just discussing.
>> Okay. >> Um, that's just a quick review. The goal is for us to support our local businesses, not just our vendor booths, but our downtown merchants. It has a it's driving economic impact in
Putnham County with also increasing visitors and visibility. Uh this is a quick overview of our marketing advertising over the last uh few months since we've started. We've had um radio ads that have equaled
12,50 listeners and that we launched that this past January for our first event. So for one event we've had 12,000 listeners on the radio. We have 2,000 subscribers to our newsletter. We have newsletters that go
out to neighboring counties that include a 14,44 average net circulation. And since we started in September, we've had over 540,000 impressions across the three different social media platforms that we utilize.
The entertainment element that we are requesting additional funding can go to is being requested to go towards elements such as live music, yard games, face painting, live demonstrations, and character meet and greets. You can see in some of these pictures that we've
already tried to start incorporating these things at the request of our vendors and attendees. We also talked about having market themes and you can see over the next few months for until May and for the start
of September because that that grant goes until the month of September, we've included different types of themes that we would like our funding to go towards. And then we asked our downtown merchants to give us a quote about how the economic impact for they are businesses
downtown on market days. Um these are all really great uh uh supporting uh quotes from our merchants. We are very grateful for the support that we have downtown along with our vendors. Um, we did have a few vendors when talking to
them that were upset that we only had one event in December because they were really looking forward to that final event in December to kind of close out that um year in uh revenue. And so at this time I am willing to answer any questions that you might have. >> Okay. So I'll give Mr. Commissioner
Alexander I'll give you the floor back in just a second. um when you speak about your listeners, your subscribers, and your circulation impressions, that's how you spent that's how you will be spending the 6,400 that was um already given in a grant from TDC. >> Yes, ma'am. And those funds have been
allocated um for each market for the remainder of this fiscal year. >> Okay. And then the 10,000 that's requested in this grant cycle is for it looks like the upcoming market themes and you have 11 on there. >> Yes, ma'am. Uh, so at $10,000 11 events,
themes, I mean, you're looking at less than $1,000 to pay for um those like Elsa and Anna and uh Anna and FrostyFest and all of that. And I saw the Grinch was very popular during Christmas. >> Yes, ma'am. Not just for the children, but for the adults as well. And do you
uh believe that when you have these uh additional themes on your market that you generate more um customers, more walkers, more people coming to visit? >> We believe. So we have had we did have a really big increase um in December
because we had a collaboration between three different entities to play into that theme. if it were uh the our cookie company that had specific cookies for that. We had a hot cocoa stand that was um the theme of the Grinch. So, we
really try to play into that and kind of expand that not just on our platforms, but for our uh supporting collaborating um entities as well. So, >> and so that's no cost to the citizen if you're able to get the grant. These are things that you're offering to the citizens to bring more down.
>> Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. All right, Commissioner Alexander. How much did the Grinch cost you? >> Um, I'll have to go back and look. >> You want to volunteer to be the Grinch? >> I could be at this point. I think I fit the costume. >> Well, we'd we'd love to have you in
December, >> but it was my understanding it was around 100 bucks. >> Yeah, that didn't cover the cost. It was um we we asked for an inind um it didn't cover his gas, his travel, um anything like that. It was it was five five hours
for him to be there. um he was giving us a break because we didn't have that in our budget to do so. And so with um moving around of of funds, we were able to cover that cost. >> Okay. Well, it just it it feels it feels like to me that if if you need
additional funding to get additional visitors there, I would rather you approach the vendors that are there because it's my understanding that you have a backlog of vendors that want to attend this event. Correct. That's correct. >> Okay. Are you using all your available
real estate? >> Um, at this time we are not. We um c we cap our categories to four entities per category because we don't want an over influx of 20 sourdough people. And so we really want to be conscientious that
each vendor has the opportunity to maximize on that event. with the people that would like to be there. We have the availability to expand to the entire parking lot, but we don't utilize that currently. We want to we try to leave a
full lane for handicap accessible. We have our parking lot that is mainly for in vendors that have food trucks and equipment that isn't going on the grass. And so we have the capability to expand.
Um, but it depends on the um schedule of our vendors and where they've already committed, who's on our wait list and who can fill those spots when we have cancellations. >> I mean, you've got your schedule laid out for the next year. >> Not our schedule, the vendor schedule, >> right? But you have a backlog of people.
So, you know, I mean, it really boils down to you have available real estate, you have vendors wanting to come in, so you have opportunities to capitalize on that on additional revenue. I mean, it's really easy to come back to us and ask for $10,000. But that's like, you know,
ABC business downtown. Oh, we're having a rough month. Let's go to the TDC and say, "We messed up on our business plan and didn't charge enough for our booth, so maybe they'll give us some more money to carry us through till we figure it out." >> I don't think that was the intention of when we came to you with our business model. We were very transparent about
>> I I get it. I get that. But, you know, now that we made the initial commitment, but we we we left off at $10,000 of our 60 $16,000 400 request. >> We didn't leave it off. It was in our budget. It was the first page of the
application did not include the one in front of the six. And so, the recommendation was either to not request additional funds or to come back like I am today. >> It says here it was left off. the one in front of the number on the
initial application, but it was in the budget. >> So, well, go ahead. >> Yeah. So, we made an error to the tune of $10,000. >> That's correct. >> Okay.
And every funding request that we've gotten in here, um, the model has been to provide 50% of the request. So, you're requesting 10,000. Typically, we go back at 50% of that as
has been the case on the NIL tractor pull. >> Yes. >> And we have a recommendation to f fully fund yours. So, I I just I have some heartburn with that. I feel like we're picking winners and losers using taxpayers dollars
downtown. >> You guys have you don't pay any rent. You have no overhead other than minimal and minimal bathrooms and some marketing dollars that you fully control. >> So I mean it's it's real easy to succeed
if you know you can come back and get more money from us. >> So what happens in six months when you need more money? >> The intention of these grants is to help with seed funding. We are a new event and this is our first time doing this model. So we're trying to learn what
works, what doesn't work, how we >> sounds like it's working, but the the pricing structure is incorrect because you have full you have I've been down there. It's packed. It's a great thing. >> But at some point, you know, we have to cut the core. You need they need to be self-sufficient,
>> right? But we have >> that's my thing. So what are the what are the options as far as increasing your fees to your vendors? Well, when we initially came to you all with our presentation, we gave our word on the prices because you specifically bought brought up that item in my initial
presentation. And so we I was very transparent that this is what we would keep for this season. We if we increase the cost for this next season, um we didn't want to in the rest of this season to cover those costs. We didn't want to do that because we'd already
given our word. So if this next season in order to cover those costs so we don't come back to you guys this next fiscal year like many other organizations do then we won't request those funds. >> Yeah. >> But we are a new entity. Visit Palcoa
was officially um an organization this past year and so we we are learning. >> I understand that. But, you know, should we um should we pay for your vacation or should you know, we could take that $10,000 and bring in two other events
for the TDC that might be more successful. You guys are success. So, I would prefer to see some tweaking on the funding, the utilization of space. Um, you know, and if you're parking down Reed Street there, that provides additional um visibility for
those vis businesses on the sidewalk because they've got to walk right by them. Right now, they're parking in the parking lot. they walk to the courthouse. >> Correct. >> So, I think it would be I think it would be very beneficial to do that. That's my take on it. >> Right.
Are you are you done on the floor? >> I'm done. >> Um Miss U Morgan, can you uh respond to a couple of these um con concerns? So um >> from the TDC's viewpoint, >> from the TDC's perspective, um new
events um are new product to market and sell, new experiences to um to attract new visitors. Um, I will um I I do also want you to keep in mind too that um starting in February there is a major
streetscape project that's going on um in downtown and it will be under downtown will be under construction for a year. The farmers market is a natural draw that will continue to help publicize that downtown is open for
business. So keep that in mind too. Um with this decision um those are those are just the TDC is your committee to make these recommendations. They spend a lot of time going through um these
applications um and and asking the the applicants um specific questions. um they um after those distance in the public meetings that they do have um they make these recommendations to you
and um so the and >> they're they're your committee >> and while you're here uh this particular allocation is out of what fund >> the um category B which is arts and culture >> arts and c cultural arts which um
usually tends to have um so each if if you want to explain how the money is divided into the different funds and how they're limited. >> Sure. Per um county ordinance, um category A is for special events and festivals and sporting tournaments. Um
and that allocation is 15% of the TDC budget. >> Okay. >> Um 10% of the budget goes to category B which is cotal arts. And they have different um parameters of what those dollars can be spent.
um spent on. And so um there's that that's what the grant application um allows. So >> So if an applic $20,000 in advertising expenditures, they can't get that out of category B.
>> They can if um if they're they're an arts and culture um entity where where the the main the primary difference is entertainment, >> right? So, in this case, um, they've added an entertainment. >> They didn't have that originally. >> They were they've always been a category
B. >> Always been a category B. And so, not B. A. Is it B? They're asking for B now. No, we're asking for >> I believe it's it's category. >> It's all category B. Okay. So, um, they
added this to their marketing basically. Okay. All right. I am actually again after you review the numbers of their budget on page 162 and 163 your packet even after the grant money you've got a
private organization that's invested over $40,000 that they're going to be that's they're not getting I mean they don't have that money I don't have any reason to believe I think you have a private investor who is wanting to see downtown flourish and
they're investing in downtown and even after this allocation they're out $40,000, $530 according to their budget that's on here. So, I don't know how that's not a great return on your investment. I don't know how you don't consider that. And again, the TDC
fully vetted this. I would I would recommend um Commissioner Alexander uh you this is the second time you brought up the TDC and having concerns about the things that are coming in front of you. Please come to the next meeting and watch and listen because I think that you would be surprised and um pleasantly
surprised to see some questions that we ask and what we go through to get to this point on here. And and again, I'll remind you that you're the commissioner on this board who said we should be listening to our citizens and our advisory boards. And so with that, I
mean, I sometimes I think you guys put me in this seat, so I can't make uh motions. I'm just gonna say that. So, um I fully support and um and recommend this. Commissioner Alexander, you're recognized. >> You know that. So, so the thing is,
yeah, yeah, we've got we've got a company making an investment in downtown Palatka. Um, but we've also got a company that's directly competing with other businesses downtown and we're subsidizing that.
I understand getting a startup business going, but so they've got $40,000 in an investment. How much money did any of us have in our business when we started it? I didn't come to the TDC and ask for money. And when I had troubles in my business, I don't come to the TDC and
ask for money. And when I make a $10,000 mistake because I forgot to put a one on an application, I don't say it was an accident. I need more money. I say, you know what, that was my fault. So that, you know, that's where I'm at. At what point do we cut it off and say
that the business model needs to be changed or do they just keep coming back and asking for money because it's it's a feel-good thing? I I absolutely love the concept. you. We everybody in here loves the idea of that, but at some point it needs to be self-sufficient. If not now,
when >> they they've literally been in business doing this this event for a few months. >> We had 17 events scheduled initially. We got 12 11 left. So that's about six, eight months. They had a business plan.
It was a fixed cost of zero rent, zero rent, which that again is another sticking point in my crawl because, you know, they're paying nothing for those grounds and that's a subsidy that that's overlooked. If you had to rent that property, what would that cost?
>> They probably wouldn't be there. >> Well, a couple thousand dollars a weekend. If you had to rent that in a typical space, um why why are we looking at debating whether or not we give them money? Why don't we look at other issues as far as increasing the cost? Um, have you have
you I'm sure I mean Gabby, you're very good at your job. Have you done research as far as what St. Augustine's charging their vendors for their market? >> Um, I don't have those numbers in front of me, but >> Commissioner,
>> we are the cheapest around. >> Huh. >> We are We are the cheapest around. >> So, there's potentially room for improvement, >> right? Yes. >> Okay. And I I understand you trying to hold true to your word, but also it's a business decision. I would have preferred to talk to you about today about, you know, how can can we increase
the cost to the vendors um to subsidize this to help us and cover some of our costs instead of coming back and asking for another grant from us. >> Um >> and I think what sets us apart is that we're the only entity that's putting on 17 events per season. And so, you know,
that comes as we grow. We understand that it if we have the opportunity to increase our cost to our vendors and they seem amanable to it then we most certainly will next season but not this season. So that's why we're asking for additional funds this season. We're also
asking because it is in the budget that you do have those funds in the category B budget and we were the only applicant for this cycle. We we knew we know we have the money in the budget. Just because you have the
money doesn't mean you have to spend it. >> I understand. >> Right. And so it's my job when I was elected to make sure that we that I was a steward of the county's monies. I think it's a great thing. I want to continue it. Do I want to continue to fund it? I
mean, we could pay any marketing company to come in here and run a free show on free property. >> Okay. But we've chosen we've chosen to we've chosen to invest in you. So I would prefer that we discuss other things. But if that's what you want to do, that's fine. >> What do you mean?
>> We don't we you don't have a permit event process for renting your facility downtown. There is no ordinance for that there. There were no discussions of fees initially for this space. If that's something that we need to have, then that's a that's something that we need
to consider as we move forward. But that was never proposed until now. >> I understand that. But if we've got vendors downtown that are competing with other vendors because, you know, it's it's a beautiful thing. We've got a lot of vendors that are happy with it. But I have also had other vendors come to or other mark, excuse me, other tenants in
the area come to me with concerns regarding, you know, we pay overhead, we pay insurance, we pay garbage fees, we pay this, we pay that, and uh they don't have those incumbrances, and they're still not turning a profit. Well, I'd love to speak to those merchants because everyone that we've spoken to had
nothing but positive things. If you'd love to elaborate on that, I'd be more than happy to further that conversation. >> Absolutely. Absolutely. I'll be happy to share that information with you later this week. >> Okay. >> Are you done? >> I'm done.
>> Commissioner Palis, you're recognized. >> Madam Chair, um and Miss Morgan and >> put your mic on. Okay. >> I got it on. Thank you. >> I couldn't hear you. >> All right. Well, um, this is one of the things that I've definitely seen. I've, unlike
Commissioner A, I've not had a chance to go down there, but I would like to. I've passed by there twice on those certain Saturdays, and it amazed me at the turnout of folks you have down there. This is one of the things that y'all have promoted that I think definitely is working. There's 11 uh, businesses downtown that say they're see we're
seeing a direct impact from it. So, I think there's more than just the vendors and the TDC is benefiting from this. So, I'm um I think I can certainly make a motion to recommend to to fund that because I I I'm seeing results of it and when something is is
proof in the pudding, as they say, I'm I'm for it. Absolutely. >> All right. We have a motion on the floor. >> Second. >> We have a second. We're in debate. Go ahead. >> Well, I had exparte communication with um Mr. Jeremy Alexander outside of this
venue. Um, it won't affect my vote in any way. >> Okay. All right. We have a motion, a second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any oppose? Like sign. >> I. >> All right. Motion carries four to one. Thank you. All right. Moving on to item um H, procurement. I just had a couple
questions on this item um real quick. So on this um surplus property, we have nine uh vehicles that we have shown as trade in. And so I saw in the in the um next item where we're purchasing a few
vehicles. One of these I have to assume that that one of those is a trade in. So how does this process work? And is there a reason why we choose to trade in versus sell to like on gov deals or whatever because or whatever it's called? because I you I want to make
sure we're getting the most for our funds. >> Yeah, great question. And als and and just for clarification, um the initial request was to trade in multiple vehicles. This form um should have been updated but was not because we made a last minute adjustment after doing another analysis of the value of some of
those vehicles. So you'll see on that second or on the next item that you've already approved as part of your consent agenda, only two vehicles have actually been traded in at this time. We're going to do an value assessment and determine whether or not we think we would yield more money on gov deals um or we would
on a next purchase that would come from the division for which the asset was purchased. >> So what's in front of us today is mostly that we are approving um the surplus not necessarily >> that's correct. So, so the so the venue
of disposition is left for staff to make a value adjustment um analysis for today is simply saying that we've reviewed all of these and they do need to be deemed surplus um so that we can begin that process of removing them from our fixed
assets inventory schedule and then begin the process of evaluation. So, so we would see them um whenever you're purchasing vehicles as a trade in on allowance on the invoice as you bring in more um purchases or >> if it is if that is the disposition
venue that would that and triggers to come before the board. Otherwise, you may see it on gov deals. You may see it as part of you know a normal operation that we would do. >> And who on our staff keeps up with this? >> Uh that falls to myself and Nicole as the fixed asset specialist. Okay.
>> I just want to make sure obviously there's been some, you know, public um review of how different entities handle vehicles. So, I just want to make sure that we have a good process in place that >> So, that is true not just of vehicles, but of all assets throughout the county.
We do inventory once a year. Um, we make routine analysis as to what uh asset we may have that no longer it fits our need or a public purpose. And then we bring to you via this form um permission for us to declare it surplus. And then we we
uh we make a determination as to what's going to yield the best value back to the county. >> And we follow that that asset all the way to the end. >> We sure do. and that those numbers are tracked um in the appropriate fund for which the asset was purchased out of fixed assets. Um so we have multiple
reports and and venues for which we validate that process. >> Okay. I just wanted to clarify that. I think it's important um for this board to understand the process that we have in place and the measures that we have in place. Um with that I'm good with um item H. >> Madam Chair, I move approval of item H.
>> Second. >> All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Like sign. And then um I know we approved um I I just have one question on um item C, the ark. Uh we did that. There was a state appropriation. Do we know how much
is left for the pool improvement? Do we know that? >> Not at this time. They're still um doing some analysis on that appropriation which was granted to the ARC. >> Okay. >> Um it is not an appropriation of the counties. So we do not have
administrative oversight over that appropriation or the funding or the project. >> All right. Again, good information for us and the public. All right. Going into new business, item A, indigent burial fee schedule discussion. >> I think that's back to me. Uh,
commissioner directed staff to gather some information as we review and look at the um indigent burial fees and processes that go along with it. Um you can see there there's some historic data 23 24 25 books are not officially closed
but on average um over the last three years we average about 36 burials per year. Um this is just the burial part. So this doesn't count good transport. It doesn't count indigent medical care. We're just talking cadaavver I mean we're just talking burial at this point.
Um we currently in fiscal year 25 and 26 we have six active contractors. The way the process works um is it's a voluntary process. Um the the those who are licensed in this venue are able to tell us yes they want to participate or no
they don't and then we kind of do a rotation or a roundroin process by which we um engage their services. the um we sent out a message to counties with similar populations from us but also
counties in our surrounding market because we know that plays a a a pivotal part. Um you'll see there the the varying fee schedules that are included and with that I will take questions or
uh receive the guidance from the board. >> Okay. Um before I move on to my colleagues, um so you're saying the cadaavver transport is separately funded. >> That's correct. Separately build and funded. >> Okay. All right. Um I know Commissioner Harvey, you're
>> you're next, but can I ask to please to let's hear from Commissioner Paliser? I think he has something he wants to >> Madam Chair, due to my part-time employment uh in this business, I will not be de uh in >> in the discussion or the vote. >> All right. Thank you. He's declaring a
conflict of interest. Thank you, Commissioner Harvey. You're recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, reading over this, it appears that we we are pretty low uh on this. And just kind of doing the rough math on it because I think we should be very mindful of the dignity of
of the engine burial. U there has to be some dignity there and a lot of dignity there. And also our providers need to be able to uh not go broke doing this. So when you when you look at and I just kind of did the rough math. If you went
up to $750 per indigent fee um and if you have an average of 36 that's a that is a direct correlation on our bottom line to about $9,000 a year. Um, so I think we can easily
handle an uptick of some sort um 750 $800 um to be in line with some of the surrounding counties. Um you know, if you look at St. John's and Valuchia, there were nowhere near that. And then
Elasha County, I guess you got to weigh the person prior to figuring out how much you're going to get. Um you know, I don't want to be doing that. I'd rather have a flat fee. So I think somewhere in my in my estimation $750 $800 is not
going to break the bank of Putinham County and it's going to give a u it's going to treat our indigent with a proper uh burial that they need and it's also going to make our providers u to be not whole. I'm sure they're not going to
be whole no matter what, but they're going to be better. They're not going to go in the hole as much or maybe at all. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Thank you. I was also going to you were that's where I did I did the math. Um the average comes out to 750 and the
median is somewhere between 700 and 800. So I was at 750 in my mind as well. Commissioner Alexander, you're recognized. >> I'm just going to I was just going to echo the points of Mr. Harvey. I agree that um even at 750, I still think based on the presentation that was made at the
last um discussion regarding this issue that it's not going to be a profit profitableility item for them. They're still going to lose money, but um in my my opinion, they do this out of the goodness of their heart and a service to the community. And I feel like they do deserve an uptick to, you know, at least
ease that burden on their on their businesses. >> So 750 gives them a 50% increase. So, um, is there a recommendation? >> Would you like to make a motion, Mr. Harvey? >> Madam Chair, I'd like to move that we move this item to a $750
engine and burial fee um for this fiscal year that we're currently in. >> All right. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion second. Discussion on the floor. I do have a question. Do uh do we currently have a policy in place? I see that, and I'm not proposing one. And I
just see that we used um an example of Swany County Board of County Commissioners as a as an example. Um so do we have something like that in place on paper? >> We do not. Um again, the board asked staff to review uh to see and a multitude of other counties. We asked
12. They do not either. Um and I'm going to recommend that we maintain our current process. Okay. um that's in place, which is simply that the the the licensed funeral um agency is responsible for the validation. They send us a bill. They make sure
everything's in within line. Um the only sidebar I'm going to have is that Commissioner Harvey, your motion was for this fiscal year. Can you clarify? Are we re-evaluating this annually or are you is it from today forward that is
your motion to set the fee? No, my motion is for this fiscal year and then it would go back into budget talks for 2627. >> So just a temporary amount of time you'd like to make that adjustment and then re-evaluate.
>> Well, it could stay that way from now on if we don't change it during the budget process. So it's going to stay at 750 if we don't change the, you know, but during budget somebody might >> All I'm asking is for clarification. So your motion would be to set the rate 750
>> going for this fiscal year and going forward. >> I say going forward until later revisited by this board. >> Exactly. >> Okay. All right. We have a motion on the floor in a second. Any further discussion? >> All in favor say I. >> I.
>> Motion carries. Are you good, Miss Julian? >> Yes, ma'am. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Um next we have public works acceptance of portion of Ivy Road. Um I see your come forward, Mr. Stout. >> This is a picture of Ivy Road uh in the
San Monteo area at the end of the road. It's a class 3 private road >> where the entire road is >> correct. >> Okay. >> We have some of the rightway deeds um for more just over half of the properties,
but not all of the properties. Um, I know that the residents in that area would like that road to eventually become a county road. Right now, it's a class three private. Therefore, we don't do any maintenance on it because we don't have the rightway deeds on all of the properties. >> Okay. Um,
so I have some questions. Um, we have lots of class 3 roads that we own more than 50% of. Um, I believe we have I think I asked you to look at how many miles of class 3 roads we have. >> Yes, ma'am. 365 miles of class 3 roads. >> 365. And how long is this road? How far
is this road? >> I want to say 310 of a mile. >> 310 of a mile. So um >> I think.3 point4. >> If if if is in this recommendation, if we accept the rightway, are we saying that we would
then in turn turn it into a different class? >> No, ma'am. No, that would have to be a completely different agenda item and we would have to have all of the rightway on the entire road for every single uh parcel that's on that road. And then it would have to come to the board for
acceptance as a county as a class two or class one road. And before that does it, the county ordinance says that the road has to meet all of our land development code um requirements before the county would take over maintenance. That being 66 ft of rideway, minimum of 11t lanes,
proper drainage, the whole nine yards, and that would have to be brought up to standard by the residents on >> and that would come back before the board. >> Correct. >> All right, Commissioner Harvey, you're recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Mr. Ch, you've answered a few questions I have, but what's driving this train um to get this
road into the county system? because like you said, at the end of the day, there's still an onusance on the on the land owners to build that road up and to bring it up into some type of better classification process. So, they're still going to have
my concern is the fact that we're going to go out there and say we're going to we're going to move this. We're going to accept the rightaways, but we're not giving you anything in return unless you do something else. And I I don't want an expectation out there that's unmet. Um, so it driven by the
residents on the road that would like to see it become a class uh two uh for at least maintenance. Um, anything past the general maintenance, I'm not sure what they would want. >> Could they not go ahead and do some repairs now on that road before we we do this?
>> Being a class 3 private, they can do any of the repairs they want at any time. I'm just concerned that the fact is we're going to take all these acceptance and then all of a sudden we're going to have everybody in the neighborhood here demanding something on the road and we're going to say, "But you knew ahead of time." But they're not going to hear
that ahead of time. They're going to hear that after the fact that I pay taxes and I, you know, you see all the property taxes we pay on this road and we demand something to be taken care of. >> Right. >> That's all. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Thank you. Uh Mr. Grimes, you're recognized. >> Yeah. I I just wanted to point out the
fact that and Mr. Stout can absolutely correct me if I'm wrong. Do we have all of the Ivy Road is so >> we we've played this before. Um very familiar road is Barden State Circle where we went out and we got about 80% and West Bannerville Road. We've got a portion all but then right so the
expectation is is once we start gathering these that we're going to do I think to Commissioner Harvey's point we're going to do something with them. Um, so we've had the residents of both of those two particular roads standing at that D or that that podium there saying, "What are you guys going to do?" Right? So this I just think until you
got them all, you were on a very slippery slope of how many of them do we accept? I mean, how many how many private citizens do we go out and start gathering their property? Because truly they're giving us their property and then they're giving us their property with nothing in return. So I just wanted to bring that up as a part of the thing
is we don't have everybody on Ivy Road willing to give this. So, we don't have everybody or even if we do, we need to have a process to bring it back to you guys because right now we're looking at 365 miles of road. I did ask one of the supervisors how many miles of road they have to maintain currently. Um, and
they're at 350 miles of class one roadway and 84 miles of dirt road, which was I think it was 320 and paved. And it's taking 14 people um in order to do that. So, the more of these you bring in, you're talking 365 miles. you're talking about another 15 employees of a
fund that you guys already transferred at least $2 million in um every year before we ever start an engine. So, just wanted to keep let you guys just kind of understand some of those points. >> Very good points. Uh thank you, Commissioner Alexander. You're recognized. >> I appreciate you guys doing the research
on that after our discussion at uh pre-commission meeting. Um I I echo Mr. Harvey's comments. Um, you know, once you open that door and those floodgates, you have one, I mean, you really have one option. Um, we're going, we would
have to increase taxes or find some other way to fund the maintenance on these roads. Um, we are a fiscally constrained county. We are in the throws of the possible loss of property tax revenue. Um, so we have to be very careful because if
we set a precedent where we're accepting these deeds and then you know they have an expectation as Mr. Grimes said what I would like to see so that we aren't and and commissions to follow us
don't make decisions based on the winds of change or how we're feeling that day. Would it be comprehensible to draft exact criteria that these roads must conform to beyond just meeting our standards, but we have to have 90% or
100% of the rightway in that area. And um obviously you'll get the signed um I guess they'll be on board if they sign over their property, but 100% of the buyin from the neighbors and put the burden back on the constituent before we take it in. But I want you I would like
to see something repeatable, documented, so it takes the guesswork out of it. Not just, you know, well, I feel like, you know, this way, that way. It's it's kind of like a recipe. It's great the first time, but if you can't duplicate it and you don't write it down, it may not be as good the second time. It
>> it is currently in our ordinance that it has to meet county standards before it's ever accepted into county maintenance. Um, and I met with a resident out there with Commissioner Pelier and we described that to them that they would have to bring it up. Um, and to have a
100% is what needs to happen before we do anything. We have a I can't think of the name off the top of my head. I'll have to get with Justin. I'm pretty sure we already have a road >> that we maintain. We pick the blade up and go across private property and maintain beyond that. And it's just one
of those >> Well, you know, that's the thing. They bought these people bought on a dirt road expecting it to be a dirt road and at what point do are your rights any greater than my rights you know they there might be some that choose that they don't want it changed and they
bought it with that in mind. So uh I think there needs to be something that we can conform to and it has to conform to that before it has to be a judgment call for us based on you know opinion that day. So I mean is that something we could accommodate? So, if I'm if I'm understanding correctly just from what
I'm hearing, maybe it would be better before I ever bring anything to the board that it is 100% of the parcels on the road before I ever have a conversation with anybody about accepting rightway deeds. My >> well, we're still we're still very
dangerous there because I'm with you there. Citizens, I'm saying there's certain certain criteria that wouldn't be the only requirement, but there needs to be other requirements. I don't want to see, you know, one guy might own a single singular property a mile and a half down a road and deeds the entire
rideway to us. No, we don't have we don't have the resources to do that on every opportunity. So, there has to be certain criteria that we could craft so that it is feasible to do it without engaging all 363 miles of dirt road in Putnham County because we just we can't
do that. >> Commissioner New, you're recognized. >> Yeah. Um, I'm going to be the first guy in line. I think this is a bad can of worms to open. I've got a nice big long private road driveway that is probably meets county standard and I would love you guys to come maintain it for me for
the rest of my life. Um, anyway, I think this does open up a can of worms and for the time being I would recommend we leave class three roads alone. I think we're making great strides and in our dirt to pave program. Um, I can see us
developing a plan over time to improve class two roads to a a great extent. And, you know, once we make big inroads in in that world, maybe we look, you know, a little deeper.
>> But I think until that time comes, I think we should leave it well enough. >> Understood. >> Thank you for your comments. Um, I'm glad that you mentioned Barton Estate Circle because I can tell you if this goes forward, Ed Kill be he we he'll probably come before the meeting ends and say he wants his road done as well.
>> He's going to leave the Kuana's lunch table. I guarantee. >> I guarantee you. Uh, uh, Commissioner Harvey, you're recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. So, talking about steps to go forward and from what I'm hearing from my colleagues on the board, maybe these
roads need to be brought up to standard. all the things need to be done before you come before us with that in mind. That's how I would feel. I in the sake of time I will tell you my first episode with this was on Boots Road north of
Grandon. Everybody was for it. We all met at the last lady's house. We had cookies. We had pie. We had coffee. We had punch. And one guy who started the conversation says, "You mean I can't ride my four-wheeler on a county maintained road?" No. if you do this
today, you can't. And they started ripping them up. And the people that really needed the road done were in tears in the back of the back of the road. So, this is a slippery slope. It's a dangerous slope. And truly, we have plenty of dirt roads to take care of.
Unless there's a mechanism for them to bring that up to speed before they come here, I don't think I'm interested in hearing it. So, thank you, Madam Chair. >> Commissioner Palis, you're recognized. >> Um, I I agree with my colleagues. I see u here that we have four people that have not signed or on this piece of
property. Um I think we should establish a pretty strict criteria of what it meets. So it's real cut and dry as to what will and won't fly. Although consider this um my one three two and four colleagues. Um
there's areas in this county and you can probably tell tell us where they are that our motorgrade driver might have to run 30 minutes to get to a road that's a quarter mile long or less just to grade it. Those are the type in my opinion you need to eliminate to bring in a more
concise circle of uh grading roads that makes him more efficient, gets ground more often than having to send him on to Timbuktu to to go grade a road that you know quarter mile or less long. So that I think there's some some you got to
have some give and take in the whole deal in my opinion. But I do think we should establish a set of rules that 100% uh right away and whatever else that you've seen that you think we need to to do that. That way we got a cut and dry
process to show the people and they know what they got to do to possibly get in that line. >> Yes, sir. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Okay. So, there's a couple things that that you just mentioned. Um, I do I try to do that in my district if it's a class one or class two road whenever we're looking at moving roads from dirt
to pave. That's one of the things that I consider very high as to, you know, does it make sense to go ahead and pave these two roads and now all of a sudden the greater doesn't have to go down there and just a a grade a quarter of a mile road if we can pave it and then it's off the list and now the greater doesn't
have to go to that area at all. And I think that's as you're looking at your dirt to pave every year. That's one of the things that each commissioner should be and hopefully is looking at. So, but this is a bigger issue because when you say uh 100% rightway,
that's not that that's different than you want to take class three roads and turn them in now a class one or two, that's two different conversations. Just because you own 100% of the road, it's still class three road. But then what happens when you own 100% of the road is
the citizens have an expectation of the county completely owns the road. So to me they are related but at the same time we have a mechanism of how we take in these rightways but we we have to decide
as a board we're not taking in class three roads or if we are you can't randomly select it because the guy sits next to you at your social club. That's not how it works. And I'm not saying that's what happened here. I have no idea what what what how we got to this point. But my point is simple is we have
to be equitable and fair to everybody and how do you pick and choose? Um and so we have not had a discussion at this board regarding taking class three roads. That's what Mr. Gravis was just alluding to and saying, "Hey, if you do this this millions and millions of
dollars and so um what's in force in front of us today is simply taking a right away and you got and you this came before us because a commissioner spoke to a citizen and they want to give up their right away." Okay. All right. Commission Commissioner Alexander, you're recognized.
>> That's exactly what I'm talking about. I I I don't I want it to be equitable. I want there to be a firm process set in place. these are the requirements but with that there has to be some give and take. Um if that's the expectation set
or that's the that's what's set as the standard and the and the constituent and those residents of that road achieve that then they are going to have the expectation that they are going to get approved. So we have to be very critical, not
critical, strategic, whatever, whatever word you choose to use, but it it has to be worthwhile to make that investment in the road and assume that liability of that road. So I just want to caution us when we do move forward with this
process, which I think we need to do, um that we think long and hard about how we structure it before we are our hand is forced and we have to accept it if they conform. So we cover every detail. >> Madam chair, can
>> Yes, please. I got Mr. >> Yep. Because we spoke about 100% ownership and how do we determine, right? And then who gets to weigh in on the fact of who gets theirs and who doesn't? >> Yep. >> Because I think the very familiar thing, and I'm going to use Mr. Newbold's example, he owns 100% of Forest Grove
Road or whatever travels down to his office. He owns 100% of it. It's at county standard. who determines whether we accept that road or not and got back to a point that was made from the DAS earlier. We're going to pick and choose and that is not fair um across any board
and then all of a sudden these people do go out there because there's a lot of class 3 roadways 365 miles of them. How do we determine and that's going to be a I don't know that there is a determining factor when the person bought that piece of property. They bought it on a private road. And that
should be the expectation. If you wanted to live on a county class one paved roadway, maybe you should have potentially bought on a county class one paved roadway. Um, and then for the backside of this, for the county to have to step up with taxpayer dollars and pay to fix somebody's private roadway that they're just tired of maintaining, I I
don't know how we come up with that process. And it's going to take somebody a lot smarter than me because at some level, we're going to pick and choose, and that's not fair. >> All right. Um, we have front of us an item to accept a rideway. What's the pleasure of the board?
>> Madam Chair, I'd move that we u do not accept the portion of Ivy Road. >> All right, we have we have a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> All right. Is there any further comments? >> All right. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Like sign. All right. Thank you. Sounds like we have a lot more
discussion on this subject matter. >> Absolutely. Uh moving forward to public works acceptance of rideaway guardrail. >> This is for uh the section of guardrail at the intersection of Moody and Silver Lake Drive that was removed during our
guardrail project to replace what was removed. Uh part of that fell across um Mr. Bernie's property and so we had to get that piece to reinstall the on private property. Uh everything's been signed, sealed, and delivered as far as that's concerned. And we have the change
order to the company pending approval from today. >> All right. Thank you. Are there any questions for uh Mr. Stout? Right. What's the pleasure of the board? >> Madam Chair, I move approval of resolution 2020-004. >> Second. >> Have a motion and second. Any questions or comments? All right. All in favor say
I. >> I. >> All right. Moving into item D. This one is to vacate the county owned portion of Fidian Club Road. Mr. Stout. Uh we've been working with them to get this road vacated. Uh the company has bought every parcel except for one on Flirting Club
Road um and has worked with that land owner to create them a separate and a new driveway to get onto their property. Uh and that person does not have a problem with the vacate. Um and we are more than willing to work with the applicant on getting everything done
>> as long as we don't a month from now we're not get somebody coming up here saying that they've been locked out of the road. >> No. Today is just for you guys to approve the >> approved to go to >> approve to go to your public hearing. >> All right. Yeah. >> So today we're approving to request to advertise. It was the pleasure of the board.
>> Madam Chair, I move approval to the next board the next board meeting that we have for a public hearing. >> Request to advertise and a second nine o'clock. I'm sorry. >> Is there any questions or comment? Are we clear on Are we good on your end, Mr. Grimes? We're good. We're good. Thank
you. Thank you. Um All right. All in favor say I. >> I. All oppose like sign. All right. Uh public comment time. This is public comment on miscellaneous items. Portion of the agenda is designed. >> Um actually before we start this, let's
take a quick recess. All right, we will reconvene the meeting. Um, I'm going to do a point of privilege real quick. Um, before we go into public comment, I see uh supervisor elections. Um, Mr. Overturf is here. If you can come to the podium real quick
and uh state your reason for being here. It'll just be a few minutes. >> Oh, sorry. I guess I wasn't very friendly. I'm sorry. You know, I get focused on business. >> You get me in trouble with the public. >> It's okay. Go ahead. >> Uh, real quick, she and I had had a
discussion a few days ago and she said, "You all were getting ready to today to do your committee assignments." And I said, 'Well, you know, we're in election year, so there's another assignment that we need u as far as going forward for the August and November elections, and that's the members of the canvasing
board. State statute says that the chief judge of our circuit will appoint a county judge and an alternate. So, that will be up to the judge. You all have the opportunity to appoint a member of your board. the statute says it's it
should be the chairman unless the chairman of course is not able to do that you know whether it's reelection or involvement in a campaign of somebody's and then we'll also need an alternate uh also so uh chairman Wilkinson had done
this before and county administrator Suggs was the alternate last time and I think we had a great time together last year or a year and a half ago now was the busy time because it was three major elections whereas this coming year will be just the primary in August and the
November general election. >> Madam Chair, I don't think the administrator had a great time. That's not what I heard, but >> he he was fine. He was fine. >> He told me he did. >> Oh, did he? Okay. Well, fine. >> We have public waiting. So, um, thank you for bringing this. You're right. I
will not be able to be on the canvasing board since I, um, do have an office to make this year hopefully. And so, uh, we will do that. We will have this discussion. I just wanted you to come forward because I didn't want to hold you up. Um, we will have this discussion when we talk about our committee
assignments in a little bit, but I did want you to come forward. So, we again, we weren't holding you up. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> All right. Are there any questions for supervisor of elections before we um let him leave? >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Back into public comment. 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 mo matters on which the board has received no prior information as part of the agenda. Please limit your time to three minutes. Uh public comment cards
are conveniently placed in the meeting room entrance and should be submitted prior to the meeting to the deputy clerk who sits to the right of the podium. So uh we do have multiple uh cards on the same subject matter today and so I would ask that the board members um do not
debate until after everyone has given their presentation so that it is fair. Um Victor uh Castillo had to leave and uh I have passed out his letter um to you. It dated January 5th. It looks like this. Um, all all members of this board
have received in a copy and the and it will be entered in as correspondence into the minutes and we've all read it. So, um, or can take a few minutes to read it, but I'm not going to read that into the record because we have it physically and it will go into the record. All right, moving on. Miss
Myers, Linda Myers, you're recognized. Hey, Linda. >> Hello. Well, I have to say, uh, if you give me a minute of privilege, how much fun has this been for me? I have been out of office 20 years this year, out of county commission. I know Earl
Ballinger, oh, he's gone. He said, "No, it can't be that long." And since then, multiple boards have come and gone. and uh sitting here today, it's exciting to hear everything that's happening. So, I know you have to be just ecstatic about
being part of it. And as to the um Veritas Steel, how proud were we all when we saw it on the news for God's sakes. So, how exciting. Just a personal privilege. And also I I heard my neighbor, Commissioner Alexander, make a
comment about should write the recipes down because the second time may may not be so good. So he comes to dinner every once in a while. I'm not so sure he wasn't talking about our house. Except I know he loves my husband's cooking. Well, good. Is it still
morning? >> No. Oh, good afternoon to Madam Chairman, uh, commissioners, uh, clerk of courts, Matt Reynolds, admin, and the and the team that's here from Putham County staff. Um, as you know, my husband and I, Vernon, prior mayor of
Palaca, have been active as with what I'm going to call friends of the Aquawaha. Officially, I'm a member of the great Florida Riverway Trust, whose mission is to support the natural flow of the Akawa. I think last April I um we had an
opinion piece Vernon and I in the Pali Daily News and at that point our call to action then was and is now was for our community to tackle this difficult issue with honest dialogue. There was much information as you know on the internet and also word of mouth
which lacks a basis in reality. We all need to work together to have clear and accurate information to dispel any and all rumors and you all know they're flying everywhere. I specifically has been asked on a number of times having been a prior
commissioner people think that I know everything you all know and that 20 years lots have changed. So, one of the ones I've been asked specifically was, "Are there ethical questions involved with county commissioners voting on the Rodman issue when they are affiliated
with organizations dedicated to preserving the Rodman Dam?" I've indicated in my opinion, a sitting commissioner would more than likely have asked their attorney or someone of official profession on the issue of is there a conflict of interest or not? And I noticed we had two conflict of
interest discussions today. So, I'm sure that each of us knows to look for professional advice on that. I did ask Commissioner Harvey if he would mind touching on this subject because he was brought up specifically um either I don't know if you do back and forth, but at when you have your
opportunity for comments at the end of the meeting and that would be appreciated. I know you no longer serve as a director. However, I believe you're still listed on the Sunbiz as a couple of different >> opportunities with that specific organization.
as well have been asked about proclamations and resolutions that are passed by the board involving policy or statement of of public policy or public statement for Putnham County on behalf of your citizens. And I've been asked,
does that have to be on the agenda? And I quite honestly said in my eight years, we never had that question asked. It was never an issue. However, I know that perhaps um the board attorney, Mr. Commando, could respond during his comments. Is that a requirement? And if
perhaps it's not, but the information out there is that it is. And so, if we can get that rumor settled one way or the other, that would be helpful to make sure we get accurate information. Oh, one more thing real quick and I think I have something to pass out. And
that was that mo we Chip Liel Bernie Myers and I had the opportunity to speak with all most of you last year on these issues about the Aquaha and Mr. Harvey, Commissioner Harvey, we haven't had that chance yet. We look forward to it. I know we have some calendar issues, but
the new bill is there and I have a just a quick run through I'm going to leave to pass out to you on the different points of the new bill. It is significantly different from last year because it took into account things that Commissioner Pelisier, Commissioner Wilkinson, Commissioner Alexander,
Commissioner Bolt all added to those conversations. So, I'd like I invite you to please review this and of course the whole bill. You guys know what the numbers are 891 and 1066. And I thank you for the opportunity and one of us will call you in the next couple of weeks to just get a feel for how do you
feel about the new bill? Does it need some tweaking? And uh with that, thank you for the opportunity to be here. And again, great job. Great job. Thanks for what you're doing. >> All right. Next, we have Sharon Chad Chadwick.
>> Please state your name and address for the record. >> Um, happy new year. >> Happy new year. This >> is a new new year. Um Karen Chadwick 179 West Strickland Road, Interlockan. Um so I'm just going to read my comments so I don't uh read them quickly so I
don't forget anything. Uh I have my captain's license and I run a charter service called Northstar Charters. I would like to invite all of you to come out to Kenwood and see the potential of the area and bring your family and friends. Um here's a map I'll leave with
her. Excuse me. um of the area showing the historical significances and my card is included. If you want to go out, I'll be happy to take you just make a date. Um a lot of people are going out there now.
So, lots of people are fishing now and many um long lens photographers are going out. Uh plus kayakers and of course the fishing guides. Marion and catfish spring boils are visible and we can get to both during the draw down. During the UF economic study, the
greenway manager gave the researchers the visitor counts which show increasing visitation during the draw downs and that that keeps going up which you can see if you go out there. Um I live right by Kenwood like 5 minutes from there. So I've been watching it since 1990.
There's a YouTube video of Donnie Adams, which uh some of you, I think, know, describing Marian Blue Springs, um back before when the dam was in place, and he talks about all the manatees that came out there. Um all the fish that would
circle in the pool in um Blue Springs. Um that's pretty much right across from the Kenwood ramp. Um so that video um I can send that to you or you can look it up Karen Chadwick YouTube. has I have a whole like 14 interviews with people
that uh knew either lost pretty to the barge canal project or knew the area before the dam came in. As far as water supply, I'd like to mention the 2005 St. John River Waterman District 136 page report Akawaha River allocation
study that found more water be available from the river system under the restoration management plan than would be available if the reservoir was retained and would be much more expensive to transport and clean than other sources
right now. Um so the evaporation is where a lot of the water's lost right now. You can see the vast muck because it's a draw down um buildup in the kin area caused by the dam. I can't imagine sticking a pipe in there and sucking up that muck to use for drinking water. A
lot of herbicides are used on the reservoir. A free flowing river would not require require such extensive herbicide use. As a matter of fact, the draw downs implemented to lessen muck buildup and manage aquatic vegetation without using chemicals.
Also, FWC studies show much more fish diversity downstream of the dam. If you go to the U fishing Rodman Dam Facebook page, you can see the um fish stacked up against the dam on GoPro underwater
photos. Um pages 151 and 152 of the current Marjorie Harris car management plan describes the approved restoration plan and states if funds are made available and permits are issued is the intent of the FD to undertake the
restoration. Page 152 describes the 11 steps for restoring. I support this state plan. It's been the plan for a long time, decades, and the current bills for restoration that have been filed during the current legislation. While I'm local, I res I recognize
Margie Harris Car Greenway is a state park and all Florida Greenway residents should have a say. And I would uh like to note that the Safe Rodman president for this last 10 years has had a Gilchrist County address, further illustrating my point that all Florida
residents should have a voice in this issue. I'm running out of breath. Right now, cyber seedlings are sprouting up. Um I have seen them from Eureka to the draw down shoreline um of Deep Creek which is a historic Bartram site number
31 on the Putinham uh trail Bartum trail site uh website. Every draw down they come up and when the water comes back up they all drown. I urge you to support the current bills and restoration to enhance the health of the system, the historic significance and economic
advantages. Also, the lock um has been closed all year to boat traffic and um I really don't think that's done much economic damage. And I have p pictures of uh Miriam Blue Springs from before the dam.
This was a painting that a local did of what it used to look like. Um now it's you can see the boils of catfish and um Blue Springs, but they never have a chance to clear out all the way. Here's Catfish Spring. Uh this is one picture I took of Blue Springs a couple years ago
during the draw down where you could actually see the bottom. And this is a 1997 um Greenway plan. >> Chadwick, I need you to wrap up. >> Okay. For um the the plans already exist for increased recreational u activities
in the area. Okay. Thanks. I'll leave these maps over here. >> Thank you. All right. Next up, we have um Steve Miller. Good afternoon, commission. Uh, my name is Steve Miller and yes, I do live in Gilchrist County. I resided in Putham
County for several years. Um, family still owns some property here and there's high potential that I'll be back here. Um I again I am speaking on behalf of save Rodman and the interests of not only Putinham County but the rest of the
state. There are a lot of things that are involved about this and the politicization is is uh challenging. The uh one of the things that um is bothersome is again this is all
sponsored by out of county politicians. Um it's obvious that they have to go that route because local politicians know the value of Rodman and what it can do and what it does for Putnham County. Um all you got to do is look at the lakes of West Putham County and you
understand the value of having water in the aquifer. Having water that sustains surficial aquifers sustains the Florida aquifer is important. um all the uh projections of benefits seem to be and
it's nice that Miss Meyers uh brought up exaggerations of realities. Um there's a lot of ambiguous language. I hear a lot of could, should, may. I don't hear any definitive uh words that define how the St. John's
River is going to benefit from the removal of of Rodman. It works as a filter as you're all aware. I brought, you know, the same commission last year. Uh, a lot of facts. Um, here's some of the stuff that are that that you hear
all the time. The hazard rating of the dam. It's a high hazard. There are over 17,000 high hazard dams across the United States. Has nothing to do with structural integrity. But the first thing the opponents did was ran out and threw the fear factor. Oh, the dam's
going to fail. Everybody's going to die. That's not the case. this the dam is in good structural condition. Um the cost to the taxpayers of the state of Florida, you're looking probably minimum $370 million
and potentially double that depending on what to get into when you start dealing with the residual. Uh uh the muck deposits that have accumulated there are from upstream. So are we better off intercepting it and or letting it go
into the St. Jones River. Um, it's pretty obvious to me what would be the better the better of the two options. Um, the manatees regularly use Rodman. The vegetation is not suffering the way
it is in the St. John's River. In fact, this year we pretty much had a uh an illgrass um growth that was beyond anything we'd seen in the past. I know I'm running low on time, so there's a couple other things that I need to get in.
Riverkeeper in December wrote a letter concerning the failed basin management action plan for the St. John's River and particularly highlighted the area between Georgetown and Waka as being pa green soup. Um
that's exactly where these new nutrient loads are going to go right into the St. John's River. Are we really looking to further deteriorate? Every time I've asked what's the plan for mitigation, they say it's manageable. Well, what's the management plan? Because you've
already got a compromised river. And this is the riverkeeper's own words that the that the BMAP has failed. So unless there's something that's going to happen to bring up the water quality before you start dumping these increased nutrient loads, the increased uh
turbidity and everything that goes with it, you should have a plan in place that should be commutable to everybody. And and I I don't hear one. I hear we're going to tear it out. We're gonna maybe have this ecoourism. We're going to maybe have better water quality. We're
going to maybe have better flow. The studies don't meet out that you're going to get any new flow to the St. John's River. So, um in in in all, I wish you guys would do the same thing that you did last year and reach out to the state
and say we're not willing to compromise the water we know for speculation on what potentially could come down the road. Not without definitive proof ahead of time. All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. Uh before we move on, is there anybody else in the public who
would like to speak? >> Thank you, Mr. uh Dallas. Please come forward. Y'all, I know it's cold outside, but it got to be so cold in here. My goodness. By the time we get on it, the meeting will be over. >> Mr. Dallas, how are you?
>> I'm doing fine. >> Good. Go ahead. >> My name is Antoine Dallas and um I'm gonna try to make this quick as possible. Um the last time I came for you guys, it was um pay a debt that I had to pay because I
was in the wrong. Um but it was February the second. um Rebuild Florida came out to um start demolitioning my house to rebuild my house >> and everything had to be caught up, electric, water, you know, everything.
And um I found out that I had to pay uh $3,000 um to public works because I thought I was a plumber, but I'm not. And um I
tied in and got fined. I went and paid it. As soon as I finished paying it, I came to you guys and I paid what I owed here. Also, but I told the young lady at the time that um
I was going to need a suspension on it because my house was about to be demolished and rebuilt. And um she said, "Okay." And um yesterday I got a a text message from the head
contractor of Rebuilt Florida Mason. He said he was trying to get the final inspection done yesterday with the plumbing. He said, "But it got a lock on it." I said, "Well, it's supposed to have a lock on it." I said, he said, I said, I got to make a phone call so they
could unlock it and you can get the inspection done. And um I went out and the young lady told me that I owed $1,700 for sewage. >> Now, is this the young lady at Publics
you were talking about? Okay. >> But it's not the same young same young lady that I dealt with before. >> Okay. the young lady I dealt with before, she had been there a long time and I knew and I knew her, but
I said, "How could I owe 7 $1,700 and the water the um the water and sew sewage hadn't been owned and a new house is being built hadn't been occupied or anything."
and she said, "Well, you're going to have to talk to my boss tomorrow." And I went in this morning and he wasn't here. Uh he wasn't there, Mr. Stout. And um so I decided to come here and um speak to
someone about it because I don't think that's fair that I should have to pay $1,700 and I wasn't even there and no water sewage was being used. I haven't even >> How long has it been? It's been shut off is what you're saying? >> Yes, ma'am. >> How do you know how many months it's
been shut off? >> A year, two years, six months? >> No, ma'am. Um, since the date I came in and um paid you guys. I think >> like you said that was February. >> February 2nd. Because they they started
the demolition after I paid everything up. Once I got everything paid up, that's when they were able to start the demolition process. >> Sounds like there's some details that need to be worked out. If you could get
Mr. Suggs, did you want to handle this or have him work with Mr. Stout first or how do you want to handle it? >> That's fine, Madam Chair. I'll take a look into it because this is the first that I've heard about it was right here this morning. So, I'll get with Mr. Grimes and Mr. out and we'll see where
we're at and we'll reach out and have a conversation with the uh with the citizen. >> If one of y'all will give him one of your business cards so he can um get back with you. I don't know if Mr. Stout, do you have your business card with you? >> All right. >> We got one right here. Madam Chair, >> we'll give you your um business card and
then um go from there. And somebody from the county will get in contact with you and if there's I don't know. I can't make any promises, but um I think they'll look into it and see what happened. >> All right. Well, the young lady said it was a piece of paper that I needed to sign that wasn't given to me to sign.
>> I understand. Sometimes things happen. So, if they can if there's a a resolution to it, I can assure you our team will do their best to try to make it. >> Okay. Do you know how long it'll be? >> No, sir. You'll have to work with them directly and then we'll see. And then if you don't have a resolution by the next board meeting, then come back. But I
think that that you probably will get get your questions answered. >> Okay. Because the the head contractor of Rebuild Florida. They're done with the house and they just Yes, sir. Waiting on this. >> I understand your issue. Yes, sir. Um it's just not something that we as a board because we don't have the
paperwork. We don't have the details, but staff will get if you get with them, they'll get with you and y'all work it out. Thank you for coming forward, Mr. Dallas. Is there anybody else in the public who would like to speak? All right, seeing none, we'll um close the public comment section and come back
to the board. Um, so a couple questions, um, since they've been asked. I think that, um, Mr. Commander, if you want to weigh in, I know that the or Mr. Commissioner Harvey, either one regarding the, um,
proposed discussion about conflict with say Rodman and Commissioner Harvey. Well, normally you don't have conflict discussions on the record, but um to simplify it, just because you support a position doesn't create a conflict. So the legal definition of conflict is if
it would endure to your financial or pecuniary gain, which from my many conversations with Commissioner Harvey, I'm not aware that that's the case. >> Okay. All right. That was fair. But I know >> if I may clarify. >> Yes, please. back in when I first got
appointed um I took over from Chip Liyel of Save Rodman. So Chip was the big the big proponent. Um he asked me to take that over uh since I was a proponent of Save Rodman. I did that. There was an ethics complaint filed I think from
someone in this audience uh to the ethics board. The ethics board came back with a ruling. I think it was back in 2015 that said I could not be an officer and a commissioner. I couldn't be an officer of say Rodman and a commissioner. I am not an officer of say
Rodman. I am the executive director non- voting member of that. I'm not even so I don't I don't have a vote and I cleared that with the ethics commission and they blessed that unless somebody wants to file another ethics commission thing.
Knock yourself out. But I find it kind of funny today that we're not talking about the health of the river. We're talking about Larry Harvey's position as Save Rodman. And um and believe me, when it comes to 21 billion gallons of fresh water 19 ft above sea level, when it
comes to fresh water in West Putinham, where wells don't go dry, this commissioner is all for that. So, thank you very much, Madam Chair. >> Thank you. And then, um again, I guess another question that was raised today was during our last year's cycle and I
believe um we did take an action item. It was brought up in the public and we had advertised we were having a public meeting. We didn't know that subject matter was going to come up. It did and then we took a position on it. Do you have anything to add to that regarding our um you know does it have to be on the
agenda item as as for us to take an action I guess was what the question is. >> So generally yes something has to be on an agenda to take an official action but that was taking a position. I mean it wasn't something that you were deciding on behalf of the county. It was taking
an um advocacy position just like in the same way all travel to Tallahassee and you will talk to legislators and when you talk to legislators about things that you think because your constituents elected you to decide what's best for the county, there are things that are going to most likely come up in those
conversations that are not ones that you discussed here or voted on. So, it it's akin to that um type of advocacy. >> All right. Thank you, Commissioner Alexander. You're recognized for comments. So, with that being said, Rich, if we as
a commission chose to take a position, we don't have to bring it on the put it on the agenda at all. And if we wanted to make that position known and pin the an identical letter support this year, we can do that. >> I mean, you should anytime you do take a vote on something, you should have it on an agenda.
>> Okay. Um, but when you take advocacy positions, especially ones that are long-standing positions of this board, um, I don't think the public's unaware of kind of what her feelings are. >> Okay. >> That you don't want the public to first not have the opportunity to come and be
heard. >> Um, and two, you don't want the public to ever believe or think that you may be making a decision that um, they didn't know about. And I I didn't interpret that situation to be the case. Very good advice. Thank you. That's why we That's
why we love you. Thanks. Keep us out of trouble. >> All right. Um, are there any other comments? All right. Um, we will go into appointments. Are there any appointments?
Um, >> I have none, mad. >> Thank you, Commissioner. Um, Newold, >> I have none. >> Commissioner Alexander. Commissioner Pelier. >> Uh on the Better Place Plan Oversight Committee, uh Timothy Williams wishes to
be reappointed. >> Okay. >> I'd like that. >> Okay. >> And I'm going to work on a fishing fund because I just found out something I didn't know about that. >> Okay. >> And I'm very much looking for a library board member. So, if we have anybody in district 5 that would like to serve, give me a call.
>> Okay. All right. And I have no appointments. I would ask that you let me um and I think I've mentioned this before at the dis affordable housing advisory committee that I chair that has to be the right fit. There's a there's some specific um things that have to be met for that person and so I just ask
that you'll let me um work on filling that position. I know it has been open for a while but we have had a quorum. We've had no issues with that board. Um but once I find the right fit for that board that meets the criteria as outlined in the um affordable housing
then I will um bring a person forward. So with that we'll go to comments. Clerk of court. >> Thank you Madam Chair and commissioners. Good afternoon. Um just two quick items. Um team court training kicked off last night. We have another training Thursday
night. So, um, we are getting ramped up for the kickoff of that later this year, getting all of the kids ready for that. Uh, the other thing is the construction that we've got going on in um our customer service building. Um, some
delays um in regards to the call it the furniture, it's really the cubicle, it's the office equipment um as well as um some final touches from the contractor. So, we're looking at probably March for that. But, um, all else has gone well.
It's going to look really good when we're done. So, very, very proud of it and very happy with staff, especially Julie for helping us out with that. So, that's all I have. Thank you. >> All right. Very good. Thank you. Um, moving on to uh, county attorney. I did ask um, Mr. Commando to just sort of
give us um, some things if if there's something he thinks we need to be paying attention to. Some bills in Tallahassee. Of course, we all are watching the proposed tax uh discussions regarding homesteaded property, but you know, if you just want to touch on a couple
things, I would appreciate it. >> Yes, madam chair. So, thank you for the opportunity to kind of bring some legislation as actually as we're speaking legislation legislative session kicked off. Um there was the joint session at 11 o'clock today. Um as of
right now, we're tracking and thank you to Mr. Sullivan. He also is tracking some legislation as part of his position. Uh there are approximately 61 Senate bills and 72 House bills. So as we go through those one by one. I'm just kidding. Um the biggest one is really
the property tax issue. So and I'll tell you don't spend time writing this down. I will give you my notes uh later on if you want them. There's House Bill 205, House Bills 2011, 203, 207, 209, 211, 213, and Senate Bill 270 that look at
everything from reducing the uh homestead exemption for people over 65 to eliminating non-school property tax for homestead individuals, um the valuation of homestead property, uh property insurance relief, as well as
limitations on property assessments. So those things I am confident are going to receive a good amount of debate through the legislative session over the next 60 days. Another thing you may want to pay attention to is House Bill 149. Currently there's not a Senate companion, but this is the second time
that we're seeing the issue of maximum millage rates um being addressed by the legislature which obviously will affect uh local government's home rule authority. Next on my list is House Bill 27 is term limits for board members of county
commissioners and district um school boards. This is a joint resolution bill by Representative Hulcom. Um I think for some of the bigger counties, I understand why they have more people that are interested in serving in elected office, but that may be something you want to talk to your
legislators about. In next on my list is actually one we've talked about today. So last week what was filed was Senate Bill 1066 and House Bill 981. That is one you probably do want to write down. That is the one that deals with Rodman Dam. So it is a different um kind of
phased requirement uh looks at deed providing a plan to provide partial and then ultimately full restoration. Um even though Senator Broer is the one that introduced that bill, the house bill, House Bill 981 and the companion is by Representative Wyman Dougen. So
being that he is a local representative from Jacksonville, you may want to actually try to schedule a meeting, speak with him. Next would be House Bill SE 97 as well as Senate Bill 324 on transportation concurrency. Um they talk about level of service.
Again, this is another aspect that has the risk of the roading home rule. Next is House Bill 103 and Senate Bill 650, which addresses the ability of uh local governments to impose local business taxes. That's by Representative Botana
of Southwest Florida. Um there's also another bill that's similar by um Senator Trunau from Senate Bill 122 that also addresses local business taxes. Uh one of the bigger things by Representative McFarland that's being
filed is in House Bill 145 and the companion to Senate Bill 1366 is lawsuits against government. So, we've known that um we're protected by sovereign immunity, but we also have what is called the tort bill cap. So, anytime that a local government, municipality gets sued, it's capped. It
has been at about $200,000. So, they're looking at increasing the cap to that to $600,000 really just based on inflation, which will affect the number of lawsuits that come to us because it's greater amount of money. Therefore, um there's greater recoveries. The thing that is the most
concerning about the way I read this bill being structured right now is that it also would allow um governments to settle above the cap without having to submit a claims bill. In my opinion, if you have the ability to settle above the cap, you might as well not have a cap.
Um that exposes us to significant liability in what our insurance would have to cover as well as how we would have to defend to defend cases. In next up is Senate Bill 208 and House Bill 399 which deals with streamlining
of land use and development regulations. Um it focuses on removing categories and essentially would want to have land use regulations that are uniform throughout the state. Again, not every of all of the 67 counties are identical. I would view that as an encroachment on home
rule authority. Um there are similar bills by um Representative Abbott in House Bill 217 and 218 dealing with land use regulations. Um the big one that I think you may want to talk about is our talk when you're over in Tallahassee is
Senate Bill 250 with the companion bill House Bill 723 which is called rural communities. So this is one of the priorities of Senate President Albrittain. It has been uh introduced by Senator Simon as well and it's
co-sponsored by Senator Bradley and it strengthens support for rural communities. Um but just like we looked at um the bills that stopped us from updating our comp plan, I would say just be cautious to watch what any of those amendments look like going forward.
Probably the greatest erosion of home rule authority is coming in at House Bill 299 and Senate Bill 354, which you'll hear called um it's it's done by Representative Melo about blue ribbon projects. So, if there is a project that has 10,000 contiguous acres, which does
sound like a lot of property, essentially they get to bypass the land use and zoning regulation from any county. Now, although not many counties around are going to have one individual land owner, I could foresee a future where you're going to see a lot of smaller local groups kind of co-op and
group together so that they don't have to actually come through our land use process and then some of the things that will pop up all over the county will be out of our control. >> And and just real quick on that on that bill, um even if some of that property was wetlands, there's not an exception. >> That's that's included as part of the
10,000. If you had, for example, I don't know, seven or 8 thousand acres of wetlands and then you just had a couple acre a couple thousand of usable acres, >> you could bypass any local >> bypass the entire Yeah. Okay. >> Thank you. Next up is Senate Bill 332
and House Bill 655 introduced by Senator Bradley that would allow government entities including us to meet privately um to discuss certain property rights claims similar to our executive sessions or shade shade meetings. Um the another
one coming up that's kind of tenant to what we talked about earlier today was Senate Bill 454 and House Bill 607. Um this talks about tourist development tax. So, some of the discussions that we had last year are back up. Um, there's a couple that don't have House companions
dealing with force development tax. I'll address in a second. Um, Senate Bill 552 with House Bill 1277 and 1275 are prohibitions introduced by um, uh,
Senators Bernard and Yarborough on prohibiting advorum taxes on tangible personal property. I don't know what the financial impact is for us, but I imagine that that will have some significant loss to us. Senator Harold
introduced Senate Bill 576 with House Bill Companion 1085 on local government's use of cy or requirements to maintain cyber security. Um even though on its face I think that's probably a good plan, there will be costs that come along with that
protection type program. Um, Senate Bill 588 and House Bill 105 from Senator Mlan deals with local government enforcement actions which would prohibit us from um, enforcing something that's deemed arbitrary or unreasonable by the court.
Um, any enforcement action essentially that would pertain to our code enforcement process. Senator Mlan also introduced through Senate Bill 686 and House Bill 689 the agricultural enclaves bill which would authorize undeveloped farmland to apply
and automatically receive an an agricultural enclave certification under specific conditions that would streamline and really eliminate our local government review for permitting and development. Next would be House Bills 101 and House
Bills 1329, which have the companions of Senate bills 1134 and 1566, which would prohibit local governments from engaging in funding anything DEI. I don't think we have that problem, but just to know that that's out there. Um
there's a a House Bill 1125 which talks about um requiring a public referendum for local governments to increase salaries um for the governing body. So anytime no matter what happens with cost of living
increases, anytime a local government would want to increase their salaries, that would have to be put on the ballot. Um, House Bill 1143 and Senate Bill 948 um, also deals with land development regulations which would seek to streamline local government land
development regulations to allow smaller residential lots and expedited approval process. Um, as I mentioned before, there are the two other bills by repres I'm sorry, Senator Smith that don't have House Companions, but right now it's Senate Bill 456 and 458 that deal with
tourist development tax. So, even though it doesn't have the House Bill Companions, you may want to take a look at those because sometimes they do get um strike all amendments that get folded into other legislation that does tend to be moved. Um, fortunately, one of the House
resolutions on the property taxes has been removed. I do have this as a total list. If you have questions, I am happy to help you track down kind of what the current status of the bill is. Um, if you have any questions, I'm here to provide those as well. >> No, I would just remind staff and and
and um commissioners and people in the public that you can you can track bills. There's a way to go in and there's a bill tracking mechanism on both the House side and the Senate side. So, you put your um pull up the bill that you want to track, put your information in, and then every time it's referred to a
committee or there's another stop in the process, it will let you know. You'll get an email. They still have that. >> They do. And if you have any hesitation or how to use that, I am happy to help you. I can email >> And you're going to use a copy of your notes on these as well.
>> Thank you, Rich. >> So, um are there any questions? I know and this is the time right now, you know, everything's really fluid up in Tallahassee and and generally speaking, you know, 150 probably 150 200 bills get get approved a year. That's probably the
average >> roughly 10% and generally around 3,000 bills get filed. >> Um and um so it's still very fluid, a lot of things going on, but again those some of those bills would have significant impact to us. There was a
bill last year that said, and I'm paraphrasing terribly, um something about that we couldn't u make our land development codes tighter for our um >> right, that's there's a glitch bill to deal with that this year.
>> That's what I was going to ask. >> Um but uh honestly, the glitch bill seems worse to me. So, and and the reason I say that is because it right now it currently sunsets in um October 1st of 2027. But the problem with the glitch bill is the glitch bill then narrows the counties that would be
affected. Right now the entire state, all 67 counties are affected, >> but when it narrows it down, even though that would seem to be a good thing, we're still in the group, so it doesn't really matter for us. >> Yeah. Okay. Are there any questions? >> All right. I appreciate you doing that uh very much, sir. Um
>> my pleasure. >> And then we're going to go is Do you have any other updates you want to give us? All right. Thank you for doing that. I know that's a lot and we're late in the day, but um we got to know what we're dealing with. Uh county administrator um if you'll flip-flop and let's since we just had the discussion
on the legislation and talk about the tax exemption legislation first and then the committee assignment second. >> Yes, ma'am. I was going to ask if you'd like to do that based on what Mr. Commander just gave us. So, uh you know, this was a requested addition uh to the agenda by our chair. So, uh, there's
some information that's been passed out as the DAS. Um, Miss Young has put some information together. So, uh, we'll let Miss Young, um, give us some updates as far as, uh, concerns with budget and moving forward. And if there's any questions from the commission.
>> Yeah. So, thank you for doing that, um, Miss Young. So, for you, you have two handouts. One of them is from the Florida Association of Counties Legislative Tracker. That's public record. Um and then you have the budget breakdown that will be entered into public record. Thank you. Um Miss John.
>> Yeah, thank you. So I would like to start uh with the what is the FAC legislation tracker revenue impact analysis which is those sheets that are look like the columns the long columns um if you will for just a second. So before session began, um we we were
aware of potentially eight um different initiatives that could impact our ability to uh generate revenue either in a value um restriction and or a taxing restriction. Um, so really the important
part for me as we go into session, as as um Rich just mentioned, we just we started session today and before session even started, what we saw was um the one that is titled HJR209
was already amended. And so instead of a $100,000 a adjustment, it made a $200,000 per partial adjustment, which obviously makes a material impact on the amount of revenue loss we would see. You can add an additional four plus million dollars
to our revenue losses if that goes through. So as we all know about the way session moves, it's very volatile in what we are going to see come out of these. So these are initial projections. They are by no means going to be ending
math. But you can tell that any um any one of these or what we believe is probably more accurate, some combination of these is going to have a very material um impact on what we see in dollars coming into the county. Um there
is no conversation at this by legislators or the bills as to how funding is going to be made whole. Um I believe the best information I have is the intent this year is to determine how we're going to cut and then in future
years we'll determine how we're going to make that pothole again. That is very scary for me in my role. Um because without having a plan in place as to how we're going to pay the bills essentially, then we don't know what we're going to have to to essentially do
without when we come down to budgets. Um, I will take specific questions on these revenue projections, but I think the the important thing to remember is these are projections and any tweak to any one of these bills is going to have
a material impact what we see um on what happens when we come in. >> Uh, thank you. Um, go ahead, Mr. SGS. >> Yes, ma'am. Madam Chair, uh again just want to say uh this is uh very much a uh
a great idea to go ahead and put this on the end of today as we're going through uh the iterations or multiple iterations of what it may look like coming out of session. Uh so again, Miss Young is absolutely correct and I I applaud her for the uh research that's been done
today, but we don't know where we're headed with this yet, >> right? you know, uh, so as your county administrator, what I would say is we all need to be mindful of that and as we move forward, as we start creating and crafting our budgets moving forward, we
we really need to be careful with what we don't the unknowns. And so uh so I think having this conversation today is very uh um appropriate for moving forward because they know we'll be creating budgets here very very shortly and so we need to be paying close
attention to what comes out of the uh of session in Tallahassee this year. >> Thank you. Um I know that um we also had reached out to Mr. Davis and we appreciate his input. Basically he said that um you know preliminary review of
the proposals that are on uh FAC sheet um he thinks are reasonable accord like all of us we know it's very fluid. He does uh go on to talk about um 205 and 209 as to the fiscal he actually believes particularly 209 is um could be
in in his estimate as much as $4.2 million higher than the amount reported by FAC. He also says they don't have enough information on HJR 205 because they don't have the uh records for people age 65 and older. So, they're not
able to determine that one. But um the point is as we go forward and we're talking about our projects, you know, we could potentially have as much FAC saying as much as $16 million effect on our budget. Um and um that that's
significant. And then when we talk about our budget breakdown, um, as we all know, uh, the majority of our funds do not come to the BOCC, but they come to our constitutional officers. Um, with the majority being the sheriff's office. I mean, they are the, um, public safety
arm of the of the of our government. So, he um, in Miss Young's breakdown, she shows that. >> So, if you want me to go through that as well, >> you'll just talk through that. >> Um, yeah. So, that the the FAC thing is looking forward. Obviously the budget breakdown is the second set of packet
that you have. This is this is actual numbers. This is an actual snapshot of how your budget gets allocated from last year. And so when we talk about the budget and we think about numbers, when you heard that you passed a 317 million budget, that sounds like we have plenty
of money um that we maybe could absorb some impact to. But when you get down to the fundamentals of those 317 million, 118 million of that is your general fund. The rest is restricted funds, enterprise funds, trust funds, passroughs, grants, things that you
truly have no um power over, frankly, to to discretionarily assign for one of your county services. Now, when we talk about $118 million to the general fund, 16.6 Six of that is again pass through
funding things that we have no ability to mandate or regulate. Um another 15.7 gets set aside in general fund reserves. That is to ensure that when essential services are needed in times of disasters, in times of economic issues
that we can sustain basic functions of county governments. And then that leaves us with $85.7 million of really discretionary budget um or what the state looks at as discretionary. But then as you're going to see as we we talk a little bit further and I'm going to go through it quickly because I know
it's been a long day, but even of that $85 million, there's a large portion of that that isn't truly at your discretion. The state tells you you are going to find the medical examiner's office and we are going to find the medical examiner's office. Um and so
before we go into those expenses, let's talk about those revenue source generation. Of that 85.7 million, 64.8 is ad valorum. That's what we're talking about being impacted. So when you think about what percent of your budget's
going to be impacted, it's a huge portion of that budget that you have. Um now when we look at those mandatory expenses from the general revenue, the first thing that we look at the biggest and largest pot of that money is funding
those constitutional offices for which again the state says you are going to fund. Um 36 million funds the sheriff's office, 2.2 million funds the tax collector's office. And while you may not think about the appropriation to the tax collector's office, the state
statute mandates that you pay 3% of the revenue generation and there's a there is a tiered uh tiered revenue generation there back to the tax collector because she's a feebased office. Not only do we pay for the board of county commissioners, but there's a state statute that says we pay for the revenue
generation of the school board. So we're paying the tax collectors portion of the school millage as well. And so when we really look at that in the scheme of what we have to fund, you get no choices there. Um the property appraiser funds uh $3.2 million, supervisor of election
at 1.4 and the clerk of court at 2.7. Other legally mandated payments um that really total just over $5 million, five and a half. your medical examiner's office, your judicial support system. We fund guardian adum, the state's attorney's office, the public defender,
court administration, your judicial complexes, um human services, indigent burial, um indigent medical care, Medicaid payments, all of those things that we have to fund. cadaavver transport. Um then you have your CRA and
your payment in lie of taxes programs that we pay to the city of Palatka and the city of Crescent City. So at the end of the day, what's really left for you guys to make decisions about equals $27 million and the breakdown of that by
division is on that second piece of paper. So, you can see when we start talking about um a $16 million hit to the budget, we will cease to be able to fund county services as we know them today. We can shut down multiple departments and still not cover that
type of impact. Um so, I am not traditionally one to tell you the sky is falling and the sky is not falling. But I am one to tell you this is not a year where we as community leaders can sit idly back and not advocate for uh the essential services
that we do provide in Putnham County. We are not a community that provides services above and beyond those essential services. And we don't have areas that we can um do without in order to maintain those things that we do provide that state statute says your
county governments are going to provide. Um, so I believe your legislators are starting to hear um from people in your position, our elected officials and our community leaders. Um, and I believe that they are hearing that this is important. But I need all of us to
understand just how important it is as we go to Tallahassee in the coming weeks and meet with all of our legislators um so that they do not forget that that this is something that that really is going to have a dayto-day impact on the citizens that we serve. >> Very good. Um, Commissioner Harvey,
you're recognized and I have some questions. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, real quick, and I won't go into a lot of detail, but Julian, under the the revenue source generation under Advalarmor tax, I kind of did math on the back of a napkin one
day and um, basically it appeared to me that 60 61% of the advalorum is paid by our businesses. I'd like to see that number broke down because that's something I told Representative Overdorf when I was able to be in the room with
Florida Association of Counties was when you start looking at this, you know, you got your big and we know I'm not going to name who they are in this county, but if they ever decided to pick up and go, talk about the impact that would happen to Putnham County would be tremendous.
So when you got say even if it's 50% of the advant is paid by businesses that that puts us in a strain right there. And when when do those businesses say I've had enough. I can't I can't do this anymore. We've all been in business. We
all understand there's a time you have to go I can't generate any more revenue. I've got to cut expenses. Where do I go? Or do I go to a neighboring county that doesn't have that burden to me? I don't know that answer, but I'd like to see
that broken down just a little bit on that part. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Sure. And your um numbers are close. The statewide average is about a 3070 split, and I think the last report we showed are are pretty much in there. Um but you bring up a great point, right, that the
the pendulum has to swing somewhere. And so, um and that's not going to be true for just Putinham County. It's going to be true for everyone. And so if that burden to generate the revenue to provide those essential services swings from those homesteaded properties, the
only place it has to go is to the commercial industry, the business properties. Um and so in a community like ours where we strive very hard to make the economic conditions very favorable to our businesses um we're going to have to weigh all of those
things u very very you know with with high importance. >> So I'll add to that. You know in Rich's presentation he was saying there was a bill up there that discussed TPP. We saw last year how just one company made a
difference in our TPP revenue and then how we had to deal with that. >> That was one company. >> Currently, there's a a manufacturing um um I believe it's public record on the other side of East Palaca that's being built and every bit of that is TPP
funding and so will be TPP taxed. I'm sorry I said that wrong. It's our would be our income to that. So if if there's a bill and it says now we're also going to get rid of TPP or reduce it, whatever the discussion is, that's a double negative. So it it truly is. And then
even though I've heard discussions from the governor saying, well, for fiscally constrained counties, we'll we'll make them whole. Julian, you and I discussed, well, that sounds great on the that sounds great, right? Publicly, that sounds great. But the reality is he's only in office this year, and so what happens the following year? So, you get
made whole one year, but then it doesn't allow to uh you Julianne's comments to me were, you know, where's the cost increase because you're still your gas goes up, your electricity cost goes up, your insurance rates are going up. So, all the things that we don't have a
choice in are going to go up. And so, that's why we try to budget fiscally to cover all of these things. So even though he's saying we can make a fiscally constrained county whole, it doesn't give any allowance for an increase of cost. And I'm not saying salaries, I'm not saying any of that,
but actual true cost. >> Sure. I mean the init again, initially um the conversations were they were going to make sure we were revenue neutral. >> That is that is only um going to be valuable if we're expense neutral and
that won't happen. Um the legislature sets the rates for FRS. So if if you take nothing other than FRS, um they're going to make us revenue neutral in theory, but then they're going to turn around and hand us a higher bill in FRS
rates. Um and and F FRS is just one of many things that are mandated to us that have cost escalations in them. Every single year we've seen it. Um so again um I certainly don't want to be
I I don't want anybody to panic today but I do want to emphasize the importance of where we go and the complexities of where we go. This is not a very simple process and advocating one position um is going to be dangerous and
it's going to be I'm going to warn us against it. Right? I don't want to advocate against just one of these. I want to advocate for a holistic approach that truly um takes care of the complex complexities of what we are going to see on both sides of that budget ledger. Uh
because it is dangerous. >> Yeah, I appreciate the conversation. I know it's late in the day. We're all hungry. We're all tired and we got a bill a a meeting at 3:00. So, but I do appreciate the discussion because we will be in Tallahassee next week and so we always as um representatives for our
for our counties need to have a a good understanding and so I appreciate the time you guys Mr. Suggs and Julianne have taken to do this and Mr. Davis. Um is there any further comments or questions regarding this subject? All right, moving on. Mr. Mr. Suggs, um I
ask you to give committee um assignments uh discussion and so he has passed out a county commissioner appointments. >> Well, it's close to it. I think Commissioner Harvey had a change. Um >> probably not.
>> Mr. Harvey, you had a change. >> Actually, in addition, um thinking of it, under mine, number seven would be the Putin County Development Authority. >> Development. Some of y'all are serving on that too. >> CDA. Okay. >> And we don't have to do anything with
this today necessarily. Yes. Go ahead. >> I have I think we ought to Mr. Overturf is in the room have that discussion right now about the Camine. >> Sure. >> And and I think and and if it's a if it's copacetic with the board,
>> I think our vice chair should be our our appointee. Commissioner Palisier should be running the canvasing board this year since he's not up for election. >> I will accept that and I look forward to it. I've served on it before and very much enjoyed that. I had a had a really
good time. Very learning experience. >> All right. And um do we have a commissioner that wants to be an alternate? >> I'll be the alternate. Okay. >> All right. >> Good. >> Way to step up. All right. >> You good with that, Mr. Turf? >> All right. That's Do we need to vote on
that? Okay. >> Yeah. Let's I'll make a motion that we appoint Vice Chair Walton Palisier to the canvasing board and the alternate would be Commissioner J.R. Newolt. >> Second. >> All right. There's a motion on the
floor. Second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. I. Motion carries unanimously. So, two I'll just state real quick um two boards that I would want to um remove myself from and please don't get offended. um as I'd really um
the Putham County Development Authority, I would like for another commissioner to pick that one up for me and the value adjustment board are the two committees that I would like to um get off of and let another commissioner uh serve on that.
>> What was your first one? >> The value adjustment board. >> No, that one your first one. >> Pton County Development Authority. >> Madam Chair, >> they're currently served by >> Are those done by ordinances though? And I think they are. >> So you're saying that I don't know that the chair has to be on it. Is that what
you're saying? The chair has to be on those boards. >> Is that when you say >> I do think that there's something either ordinance or it's a recommendation from prior board if you remember? >> Um but I think we need to check into that. >> Yeah, if we can just check into that. We'll get back on the next. But those
are the two that I was I've got 11 committees that I serve on and I really don't want 11 committees. Um, so I really would like to share this. Um, and I think we have a board that's willing to. I don't think it's a matter of of people not wanting to serve.
>> I will pick up the development authority for you >> if we can. All right. We'll have that. >> That's legal. >> Yeah, we'll have that discussion at the next meeting if somebody can look those up and we'll talk about that the next meeting. >> Yeah, I definitely need to share the load because you have a a huge >> I'm sorry, L. What?
>> It doesn't say development authority. We I think I asked you this, didn't I already? Or we had somebody. Okay. So, it just says three county commissioners. All right. So, the Putnham County Development Authority is already served by Harvey and um New Bold. >> I'll I'll take your place.
>> All right. Somebody make a motion. >> I make a motion that we put uh Vice Chair Palace on the Putin County Development Authority. >> Is there a second? >> Second. All in favor say I. I.
>> I. >> All right. Motion carries. And then if somebody will just check on the value adjustment board. >> Madam chair, if we're going to go down in order. >> Okay. I'll be the next person. >> Yeah. That you want to get off of. I think this is >> I would like if somebody would like to be part of the Northeast Florida
Regional Council. I've done it as a governor's appointment. I've done it as a board member from this board. Um and I've been back and I've been president of it. But it is something that it's a regional board. if someone would take their my place. It doesn't it wouldn't bother me a bit if that would take so
you don't have to make that decision today. You can think about it. Um I would I would like to look at some new blood up there on that. >> Okay. Thank you for that, >> madam chair. The the value adjustment board could be anyone voted on by the board. Doesn't have to be >> Thank you for looking that up. >> What was that?
>> He said the value adjustment board could be anybody voted by the board. >> Okay. >> The county commissioner voted by the board. Does anybody want to serve on the value adjustment? >> Well, I like serving on that. >> So, you're already on it. >> I'm already on it. So, requires two commissioners. >> Two commissioners.
>> I'll take the opening if that's okay with the rest of you guys. >> Madam Chair, I move that Commissioner Alexander gets serves on the value adjustment board. >> All right. >> And we have a second. All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> All right. And does anybody And you don't have Mr. Harvey said you didn't have to make this right now, but is
there another commissioner who would consider Northeast Florida Regional Council? I'll continue to serve on it. I' I'd consider it. I'd like to have some more discussion as to what it what it involves and entails. If you have timely meeting, >> why don't you get with I'll have Miss Payne get with you. Yeah. And then at the next meeting, if you want to do that
then would that be okay? >> Absolutely. I don't want to obligate myself to something that I can't perform. >> It's a monthly meeting. It's monthly. >> You might have a conflict with your other board meeting. You have a it might be the same day that you have um your waterways and trails or something. Okay. >> But we'll see. That's another thing
you'll have to look at. >> Thank you. Okay. >> Thank you. Thank you. All right. I appreciate that conversation. U Mr. Suggs, do you have any other comments? >> Yes, ma'am. Just a couple. And I I will be very brief because of the hour. Uh just wanted to let everybody know that
um I'll be attending the uh Northeast Florida Regional Council leadership classes. Uh this once a month. So, I'll be doing that. I've got a a requirement for a 40-hour continuing ed every year for my uh uh certification for uh ICMA.
So, I've elected to do those classes this year. So, hopefully we'll be able to bring some information back. Also want to let the board know that in February the course will actually be held here in Putham County. So, as I get more information, I would like to invite some folks to come and and participate
the uh welcoming of the of the group. So, we'll do that. And the last thing that I have honestly is just personal. Um, as we saw here today, there's a lot of conversation about a lot of different projects, whether it be public works, whether it be budget. You know, we put
the we put the folks together that we have here. Um, and I I'm I'm very proud of them. And for Mr. Grimes and Miss Young to be able to sit up here and answer some very difficult honest questions for you five tells you the
quality of individuals that we have serving in these roles and uh and that they uh they do their job extremely well and as the county administrator for all our staff that's out here today every time you ask somebody a question they'll give you an answer and for you five that's the most important thing that we
can do for our citizens and I didn't want that to be lost here today because Well, we're four hours in and we had a lot of tough conversations today and there's a lot of good good responses back from your staff. So, thank you very much for that opportunity. >> All right. Um, Commissioner Alexander,
your lights on, but you're going to be going into commissioner comments. Are you good? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um, going into commissioner comments. We'll start with you, Commissioner Alexander. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I um I thoroughly enjoyed the spirited
conversation today and it it's great um to have these debates. It, you know, it opens things up, allows the public to hear what we're thinking and what we've got going on. Um I echo Miss Holmes Young's concerns with the budget taxes.
I mean, the property tax removal. It is it is it's terrifying. I mean, we all understand that we need we need relief, but at the same token, it shouldn't be used as a political ploy. So, it it's hard to
get behind something if you don't tell me what comes next. It sounds great up front, but you're dangling that carrot, but you haven't tell told me how I'm going to eat. You know, it looks great, but uh you know, nothing in life comes easy, and there's a cost for everything.
Nothing is free. So, um that's my concern on that. on a on a brighter note and uh as bright as it can be, I want to ask for you guys support on something. So, I I took the final dollars of my
discretionary funds last year. And as as always, you guys know I'm concerned with getting the bang for the buck and getting something that will benefit the community as a whole. Two years ago, we lost a young lady by the name of Bailey Hullbrook to a random lightning strike
um hunting with her father and I was speaking with Miss Young and you know as always we don't know everything and we look for good opportunities and she said you know you and I have both been involved with Babe Ruth and sports and most of the facilities that we travel to
have a lightning warning system where it actually detects lightning within a certain range and then it sounds an alarm to let the children and the players, the parents know that lightning is in the vicinity and you are in danger. I said, "Well, can we get that
system for for our community?" She said, "Yeah." So, that that system has been installed and it's been in place for a couple of weeks, but before I made the announcement and shared it with the public, I wanted to get you guys support in dedicating that system in the name of
Miss Bailey Hullbrook. So, what I would like to ask for is either a motion or a wave of support. I'm not sure how we proceed, but it is a public facility and I think that I need the support of the entire committee commission before we do that.
>> Miss Young, you're recognized. >> So, just um a little point of clarity there. Um, this system is covering our entire complex at the really the priority for that system being placed there first is that, you
know, we have a splash pad there. Kids and water and storms don't mix. Um, so at our pool facility, it's always staffed by recreation staff, which makes sure that kids are out of danger when a lightning is detected by our weather apps within a certain radius. However,
that splash pad is open um without lifeguards or without staffing. And so, not only will it protect those um softball areas, but pickle ball, volleyball, soccer, splash pad, and that playground. And so, that system um although we would love to have them at
all of our parks, um that system is really escalated to the priority based on the multitude of user groups that we have in that one area. So, we wanted to again get the most bang for our buck and protect the most people that we could. So, that's what why the decision was made to put it there. >> Okay.
>> What would you call it? >> And how would it look? I mean, you're just putting a sign on a pole or what are you doing? Yeah, we're just >> Yeah, we're just going to have a plaque there probably at the um concession stand where it can't be damaged. Maybe on the back wall or something of you know I think Miss Miss Young has some
placement ideas but I want to protect it but it is a plaque dedicating it to the memory of of Bailey. >> I think it needs to be bigger than a plaque. So as part of the system um there are some general guidance for the public who attend that says you know the
the when the system is active you need to seek shel safe shelter some general protocols. So we have um we have held those signs they came straight from the manufacturer for the determination as to how the board would
like to proceed. Of course, we can um put near or on those signs that give the guidance, hey, if because the the the way the system indicates is the when danger is detected, it will sound a horn, but then the strobe continues to
strobe until it's safe. So essentially, we want everybody to understand what's happening if they hear something or they see that strobe. And so thoseformational signs will be posted near each of those plate assets, i.e. the soccer fields, the pickle ball courts, the volleyball
courts, the the playground, the splash pad. And if the board would like to move forward in this particular um with this action, we would essentially put a note at the top or the bottom of that sign that this was honoring Miss Homebrook. >> Okay. I just have one real quick
question. How do they know the difference between that and a tornado? Because when I was growing up, if a horn was blaring and there was some some kind of something, we thought it was a tornado. Well, I'd like you to seek safe shelter if there's a tornado as well. So, I'm assuming the horn would sound if
there was a tornado or if there was lightning. And I need you to seek safe shelter no matter why that horn is sounding. >> Commissioner Palis, you're recognized. >> I thoroughly 100% support that, Commissioner Alexander. And I would like
to look into in my discretionary money placing one in West Putnham at that park. Um, I think that's named after the >> Mary Wisham. >> Yeah, Mary Wisham. I'd like to see about if I could do that maybe in my next year's description. >> So, let's talk a little bit more. I don't currently have a user group at Mary Wisham. I do have one at South
Putham and at Francis in the world of of priorities and in Melrose, >> all good places. >> So, in the in the world of priorities, I'd like to begin with our most populated parks, the ones that have routine users there day in and day out. >> I I would say maybe the one that's most
you or second most used under Theob behind Theob, something like that. whatever the need is the most. >> That'd be wonderful. >> All right, Commissioner Newbel, you're recognized. >> Well, I'm not sure if if the South Putnham unit is the next most used, but >> it would not be.
>> Yeah, whichever one it is, I'm I'd be willing to share him, you know, with that as a project. >> Um, I'd like to recognize Commissioner Alexander's thought on this. Um it's it's kind of strange for some, you know, a piece of
equipment to to recognize someone like this. Um Josh, Commissioner Alexander went to the family. They had discussions about it. I mean, this is pretty sensitive, but I think it having that recognition will honor the young lady
and the family, but it raises that piece of equipment to a different level. I mean, those kids are going to see those lights flashing and, you know, h, you know, but when the story is out in the community about the death of a young lady with a lightning strike, that
that's a whole different deal. So, thank you for for recognizing that and and coordinating that with the family. It's outstanding. Thank you. >> All right. So, can everybody just wave in support to Commissioner Alexander? All right. What else you got, Commissioner Alexander?
>> That's it. Thank you guys. >> Okay. All right. Thank you, Commissioner Harvey. You're recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, I do want to go to the podium in just a moment, but if you don't mind, but um, Jerry, you want to meet me? >> Okay, here we go.
>> We got a little presentation we want to do. >> Surprise, surprise. >> While he's doing that, along those lines, we've been contacted by Dr. Jeff Smith out in Melrose about doing something for Laura Albbrook. Some of
you might remember that name. She was very instrumental in getting Melrose Park um started up for the kids out there. So, with your permission, I'd like to talk to staff about some wording. We're not going to rename I don't want to rename the park, but I would like to at least honor Laura
Albbrook with a sign of her dedication and hard work. So, if you don't mind, I would like that to get that support. >> I would support that. >> Absolutely. >> Absolutely. The other thing I want to talk to you about real quick is something really um goosebumps that's going to happen to
me in February. Um I travel up to Washington DC for the National Association of Counties and my role as Florida as a second VP of the Florida Association of Counties. I learned a few weeks ago that on Sunday the 21st at
1:15, I am part of four executives that are going to lay a wreath on the tomb of the unknown soldier. Um, it's moving to me that I'll be thinking about Putinham County and the veterans that we lost while be doing that. Um, so I'm very
excited about that and I'm very humbled to be able to move up into that role and to do that because I don't think Putnham County has ever had anybody moving up in the role of second VP and on to first VP and onto president of the Florida
Association of Counties. So, thank you for allowing me that time to do that. We will have pictures brought back. Uh, but believe me, I'll be thinking about Putnham County. And on a more note, so go ahead J.R. and Julianne taught me out of Moore. So why don't you go ahead and
start Julian. >> So um on the same front um most of you know that in Putham County we had a young athlete die of cardiac arrest on the field. something. One of the provisions or one of the the nationally
recognized um movements is to make sure that we have access quick access to care where we have those athletes. Last year we had over,200 participants in our parks and recreation programs that we run not to count the user groups. Um and
so in speaking I talked to Commissioner Harvey initially I said look um this is what some of our other parks and reccks are doing. We haven't been able to do it because of budget constraints. Um but and he said, "I I'll do it. I I'll step up and I'll do it." And he didn't just do it for a couple of parks. He's done
it for all of our sports complexes that have a tangible building. And so now we we started installing the first of them last yesterday. What will happen is if we end up with an an emergency at one of those parks inside this device, you'll approach it. You'll call 911. There'll
be a code on it. It'll give you the code to the door. There will be an AED device and a Narcan device inside of it so that you can immediately administer those life-saving measures. Um, you don't normally think about Narcan being needed in our county parks. Uh, we do our best
to keep them clean, but frankly, the the honest truth is sometimes things get thrown down and little people pick them up because they're curious. And the last thing that we want to see um is a poor outcome. And so, Commissioner Harvey has funded 10 of these um that are spread
out or will be spread out when they all get in and installed from South Putham to West Putnham to Melrose. Um and so I'm really excited about it because it gives us um an opportunity to make sure that we can as much as possible prevent
a tragedy that could be prevented. >> Thank you, Commissioner Harvey. Go ahead. >> So maybe some of the process stuff. So there is a code to the box, right, to open the lock. So it's just not sitting out there for somebody to vandalize and take with them. So what the constituent or the person would do is dial 911.
Okay? So the process will be at the sheriff's office. We'll let them know that there's these boxes at the sites and when they dial 911, the operator can tell them what the code is to the box, right? So >> we make sure and test that before Yeah, we >> I'll just open this one for you. It's there. >> No, I mean testing calling 91 and
somebody actually gets a code >> 100%. And I mean we'll even get it to our responders so they'll know. So, I mean, they can even remind them. But the other thing is it's not just the box, right? It's the equipment in the box. I think Commissioner Harvey has purchased as well >> is the AEDs to go with it. So, um, which
is a great thing, um, Miss Young pointed out, you know, our we can sometimes have an exposure unintentionally at a park, right? And it happened, it's happened here recently in the community where somebody touched something. We had one of our officers touch a potential fentanyl exposure. Can happen at any given moment. So, the Narcan will be in
the boxes as well. and it's through Chief Hitchcock has worked with um our community paramedics and they've received grants. So, we do get the Narcan at no cost to the county um and we're able to refill it. So, these are different things. This is probably one of the ones I think has the most potential the most impact because at any
given moment we've had um like Miss Young pointed out the the the children that had um passed away while in sporting events or thereafter. Um, but we also have the pro the program that the school's running where the kids can get the preliminary EKGs, right? So, all
those programs are very, very important, but it's as simple as getting hit in the chest, you know, a ball. I mean, any of that stuff could happen. So, um it really limits our exposures inside of our parks to where you know, but as we can get the word out to the people that they're there, um hopefully it'll in we can do some training maybe with the user
groups with our community paramedic programs to do CPR and AED training so that this the coaches would know maybe it's part of the um annual updates we can do um as part of our um services that we offer. So, but this is a great initiative. >> I have a question. Are these also in our
um community uh centers? this time we have not funded those. We we do not have funding allocated or enough at this time for those >> we can have that discussion. I would probably be willing to do that out of my discretion area. >> I do like the lock box idea because it keeps from because I mean as people come
in and out it just makes sense so you can call 911. There'll be instructions on the box and assign. >> I think adding them to the community centers would be beneficial as well. So thank you. >> The more we can have out there the better we are. >> Yes sir. >> Yes. >> Yes. Absolutely. Yes. when if you were to dial 911, you could get dispatched a
location, but um is actually some of the pickle ball folks had asked for them, too. So, I mean, this is a this is a great initiative to um and we we hung one yesterday by the pickle ball courts at um Theabold, >> the concession stand um in the central part of the park and then we're going to put one at the soccer complex across the
street. We did install the one at um Interlock and Mary Wisham yesterday along with I call it Interlock and Lake Estates, but it's the other ones the platinum >> the the one north of Interlock and Melrose as well. Right. So, we just kept one today. We'll put this one on the soccer field and Commissioner Harvey's
um we'll put the rest of them at the rest of locations when they come in. >> Okay. Very good. Thank you. Um once Commissioner um Harvey gets back to seat um we can discuss anything else you have. >> I'm good. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> All right. Commissioner Newold, you're recognized. I don't have anything nearly
as serious or or uh if we've ever got a an AC unit that is is not undersized as the one for this room. I am freezing my >> Let me tell you, I got a >> I can take my coat off. >> We could send a duck from here to the
jail and help them out a bunch. >> Yeah, I think we need to to recalibrate the thermostat. Anyway, I don't have anything other than that and thank you all for your updates. >> All right. Uh, Commissioner um, Pelis, you're recognized. >> That guy. That guy.
>> I got you. >> That's what I've been known as lately. Um, I have a laundry list, but in the interest of hunger, I'm going to skip a bunch of it. Um, the only one thing I want to hit on is our letter to the property owner in California regarding
Fort Gates Ferry. >> Okay. I want to see that move on up to the front burner unless uh we promised to have a workshop with Mr. Roberts about Fort Gates and I'd like to go ahead and get organize that and Mr. Roberts at Fort Gates. He he remember he
requested a workshop and we told him we would I'd like to see that brought to fruition but somewhere in here once we get our letter because if if this lady gives us a thumbs down it's a moot point. So and I will our next meeting be prepared. I have a a good list. >> Have a list. Well, I do know that um we
also talked about scheduling a workshop for the IT VA move and so um we can definitely uh maybe I can get a couple dates and send them to um Mr. Suggs and Mr. Suggs can then send out some dates once I come
up with two or three four then you could send them out and then we can come up with a workshop date. But we did have that um discussion as a board that we would have a workshop. I haven't scheduled it yet. Um, I will I know we're all hungry and and I'm not asking for a position, but I will say a couple
things today about the discussion on Rodman and some of the research I've done and um to I understand that there's a report that says this is a a high hazard. Um, however, I do know that a few years ago $1.4 4 million was spent
with the D to remove a lot of the the debris and stuff like that. On that 94 dams in Florida are on also on the high hazards list. It's disappointing when there's only discussion about one of
those dams. Burl lock and dam is also stateowned and is on the Aqua Waha River and is considered high risk but yet nobody's discussing that. Orange Lake Weir is a significant risk and it's stateowned and it's in Elatchua County.
Harris Bayou Inlet Structure is in Lake County, the county that the senator who's proposing this bill and it's considered high-risisk. Again, it's not being discussed to be removed. Sunny Hill structure E1, Marian County, high-risisk. Sunny Hill structure CD one
high- risk in Marian County. So, um, lots of lots of conversation that needs to be had about how this is how we move this going forward. Um, I'm very concerned about the economic impact it this um, report would have this
restoration, this partial res restoration because that's all it is is it's a partial um, the Aqua River 74 miles long. This is just a few miles. But in its own report, the Aquawaha River Restoration Science and Economic
Reports specifically says that Putnham County would have a five-year negative economic impact. five years of negative economic impact says additionally private costs associated with restoration include reduced property
value and water and I'm reading from the report property value and water access for approximately 16 individual private land owners abuing the Rodman reservoir and reduce or altered fishing opportunities for recreational charter and subsistence
fishermen resulting from loss of the reservoir and spillway fisheries. And as you go through this report, and if you haven't, I would suggest you do so. Um, there's lots of things in here that talk about the economic impact, and I'm glad they did this study. Says the net
economic benefits of Akawaja River restoration are negative during the first five years, page six. It also says it doesn't become neutral until year 10. And so my concerns particularly are
there are there the people that are making a living off of this fishery and while we say well yeah it's going to be better. How do we how do we take the guy that's selling bait? How do we take the guy that's and or girl that's selling
tires, trucks, boats, all of those things? How do we take that and make them whole? if we're go if we know that for five years we're going to have a negative impact and so economically and so I'm really concerned about the economic impact especially knowing what
we're going through in the next few years um with what we just discussed in our budget and so it's a big concern about for me I I am you that is my biggest thing on this is if you're going to talk about high risk then talk about the other dams that are high risk and if
you're going to talk about a negative impact How do you make it whole? And so that's I'd like to have more discussion on that with some legislators in Tallahassee. Commissioner Alexander, you're recognized. >> Well, funny you should mention that. I wasn't going to really expound on any of
these concerns because as most of you know, as you've heard at the end of these meetings, I get pretty hungry. But, uh, this is something that that I have a lot of concerns with. Um, I spend a lot of time on on the phone, on the computer, doing research and as as I've
looked around and then I have constituents as well. Um, but we're building two reservoirs in South Florida, South Central Florida. One of which is one of which is a 10,500 acre reservoir. Another is a 10,000 acre
reservoir. Billions of dollars being spent in an effort to renourish the aquifer. We're spending 1 billion. I say we we it is we. It's taxpayer dollars. There is $1 billion dollar that was just
dedicated in the first Florida program which is a work is in conjunction with JA and the St. John's River Water Management District. If you don't know who the St. John's water management district is, those are the people that have been tasked with overseeing our
watershed in North Florida. They felt it essential to donate or dedicate $600 million in an effort to work with JA's $400 million
to pump water to Bradford County into settling ponds in an effort to renourish our aquafer. We have $170 million in the Black Creek project where we're taking and pumping water from Keystone
High or from Black Creek to Keystone Heights to renourish their lakes and replenish the aquafer. Um, I don't look at it from the standpoint of fisher, you know, I'm very sentimental. I grew up on Aquaha. I' I've been fishing there since I was
probably three or four years old with my grandfather, Jim Holt. a fish um reservoir. I know it. I'm out there. I'm on the river probably as much as anybody in this room except for maybe the captain there. So, I have a passion for the water. But the reality is
we're going to sacrifice a a reservoir that we're dumping almost 1.2 billion dollars in. And we will essentially be negating the effect of that $1.2 2 billion dollar of
taxpayer funds that are dedicated to renourishing the aquifer, you know, and it's going to take $370 million to restore it. It makes zero sense to me. I get calls
from constituents on the eastern side of our county. Man, I got to put a $20,000 reverse osmosis system in because I have salt intrusion into my water. >> And you know why that happens? It's because we pump the aquifer dry and it's not naturally renourishing.
Um it it it just I I I can't comprehend it. >> I want to say I want to say two other things real quick. I agree with what your your sentiments are. Um and when we talk about the age of the Kurpatre Dam. Um the Mosbuff lock and dam was built in
1924 was rebuilt again in 69. It is 56 years old. the burrow lock and dam both of these who which sit on the Okawaha River is 68 years old. So I just the the whole
sentiment about it's about to fall over is not doesn't sit well with me because I just don't think it's true. And um and you know at the same time to your point Florida's spending billions statewide to construct reservoirs to store and treat
nutrient laden water using aquatic vegetation a natural filtration system that Rodman already provides. And this is a quote that was out of the Bassmaster magazine. Um it's absurd to tear down one of the few existing systems that actually works. Further,
they said Rodman sits 19 feet above sea level and holds 21 billion gallons of fresh water. The St. John's Water Management District has identified it as a future alternative water supply capable of bringing and delivering up to 30 million gallons a day to offset
aquafer damage caused by the sea level rise and saltwater tr intrusion. Rodman already meets the criteria for both resiliency and water security, two of the state's highest infrastructure priorities. So I I'm not asking for us to take a position on it, but I have to
tell you that um when I read these kind of things, things have to make sense for me and and removing it doesn't make sense economically to me. It doesn't whenever it their own report says that we're going to have five years of a negative impact. So um that's my position. I'm stating it publicly. Um
that's where I'm at. And so >> there's just one more thing that I, you know, every decision I make up here, every decision, I look at those my three kids and I ask
myself, is this the best decision for them? Because I, you know, maybe I got 20 years left. Um, if I'd have taken a little bit better care of myself, maybe 25, but potentially 10. But they're going to be here for a while. And I try to make every decision based on what's
going to be best for them and my grandkids. And water security is a huge issue. It's a huge issue. If we're going to devote $370 million into tearing down something that we we know we're going to need in the future, why don't we spend that money somewhere else? So, that
would be my position on that. And secondly, Senator Brod has accepted an invitation to speak with me while we're in Tallahassee. And I was going to go a little alone, but I think that it speaks volumes
if we speak with one voice. And I would like to invite my fellow commissioners to join me in that conversation because I want to know the true driving force on why a senator from South Florida is getting involved in politics in an area
that he wasn't elected to represent. % Part: 2
joint uh meeting between the Putham County Board of County Commissioners and the city of Palaca. Today is Tuesday, January 13th. It is 3 PM. We'll call this meeting to order and we'll um do the invocation by Reverend Carl Flag, a
former mayor and also former county commissioner and the followed by the pledge of allegiance by Mayor Kareah. If you're stand if you can stand if you're able to do so. >> Good afternoon. Let us pray. Almighty and everlasting God, it's once more
again that we bow our heads and humble our hearts before you. For Lord God, you are sovereign. You're worthy of all praise and all honor and all glory. We pause now to say thank you. Thank you for this day. Thank you Lord for our city, our county, our state and nation
and heavenly father even our world. Lord we pray specifically today for our administrators, our legislators, their staff, and those who heavenly father whose hearts are in the right place to improve and enhance the quality of living for all of our citizens. For
Lord, you've brought us through both thick and thin, ups and downs, situations and circumstances. And we give you praise, Lord, in the midst of it all. Give us, Lord, the spirit of wisdom, knowledge, understanding, discernment, strength, and courage. Help us to operate in humility, integrity,
simplicity, compassion, guidance. Lord, give these leaders the insight and the oversight that they need. Heavenly Father, when they deliberate and when they must decide upon so many important issues for our community, bless us and refresh us. Renew us and restore us.
Give us grace for the race and peace for the pathway, joy for this tedious journey. And Lord God, in the midst of it all, in spite of it all, and through it all, we will give you praise and glory and honor. It's in Christ's name we pray. Amen. >> Amen. Amen. Please join us in the pledge
of >> allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
>> Thank you. Thank you, Reverend Fra. I appreciate that. So before we move into our meeting, I'll just do a little housekeeping things. Um in for in front of each of you today, there is you have a button. Um it's
right it's the blue button. If you light it up, it actually coincides with your name up here. And what we do at the county commission is um it helps keep us in order. It keeps us from interrupting each other. And it will go in the order in which you push the button. It's not
like Jeopardy, though. So you know, you're not winning a prize. However, um so if you keep putting your pushing your button, you go to the bottom. So if your button's lit, know that you're in line to speak. So that's the way that'll work. So um also, um if you need a
restroom facility, it's right here behind the dis obviously. Um you're welcome to get up at your at your leisure if you need to. So um today's an exciting day in Putham County. We are um glad to host this joint meeting and uh so I want to
welcome the mayor, the city commissioners, city staff and everyone here this afternoon and on behalf of the Putham County Commissioners, we thank you for joining us. We truly do value your partnership and as the county seat and heart of put of our community, Palaca's success is important to all of
Putnham County and meetings like this will give us a chance to talk openly, work through shared priorities and continue moving our community forward together. While we may serve in different roles, we are certainly united in our commitment to the people we represent. So, thank you again for being
here. I look forward to a productive discussion today and I'll turn it over to the mayor and then what I'll do is I'll call on each uh commissioner if you want to say something you're welcome to do so. So go ahead. Um Mayor Kareah thank you. >> Thank you Chia Wilkinson. Um I'm excited
about this opportunity. Our communities are on the is on the cusp of change and growth and to ensure that change and growth happens in a positive way we do need to work together. Um this meeting will provide an opportunity to foster improved communication and collaboration to better serve all our constituents. Um
as the county seat the way the county seat goes so so does the county and vice versa. So we are excited to be here. Thank you. >> Okay. And just remember when you're speaking to pull your mic up towards you if you will and there's a button at the bottom to make sure it's on. Turn it on and off as you need to.
>> Um yep, she's turned it off. And it this isn't I mean it's formal but it's a little informal too so you guys don't stress too much. Um Commissioner Pelis you're recognized. >> Madam Chair, I think there'll be enough said with all the bodies that are up here that I will defer my comments to a
later time. >> Okay. Commissioner Harvey, would you like to say something? >> Just a pleasure to be here. Thank you you and our chair and our mayor putting this together and our staff. Look forward to a productive conversation. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you, Commissioner
Campbell. >> Just grateful for the opportunity to be here and I echo the sentiments exactly of the mayor. >> Thank you, Commissioner Alexander. >> I want to welcome everyone here today. I see you've um equipped me with twin microphones because typically you say
you can't hear me. So hopefully this will make it a little bit better. But I'm very excited about the collaboration between the city and the county as the uh the city falls within my district. So I I really look forward to working with you guys and I think that we can make
great headway for our our citizens and our constituents in our area. Thank you guys for being here. >> Commissioner Jones, you're recognized. Madame Chair, Mayor, I want to thank you guys for creating this opportunity for us to work together and I'm looking forward for uh more opportunities as as
we all are and I thank you guys. >> Thank you. Thank you, sir. Commissioner Newold. >> Well, same all around. I I appreciate the opportunity to be together. Um it's nice to have these two inter uh blocking communities around the table speaking with each other. And I'm sure this is
just the first of of a number of meetings to come and our relationship will only get better. >> Yes. Thank you, Commissioner Davis. >> Good afternoon, everyone. As everyone has um spoken already, I'm very excited to be here. One of the things I was
looking for when I was elected uh city commissioner is working with our county commissioners. Um we are definitely interconnected and interdependent. As the county goes, as the city goes, so we all go. So, I am looking forward to us all going
up and being better. Thank you. >> Very good. Thank you. Um, County, uh, Administrator Suggs, would you like to introduce your team? And then I'll do the same with the city. >> You have a mic over there. Do you have it?
And you guys do, too. >> Thank you. >> Testing. >> Yep. There you go. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh it's great to be here. This is uh as one of few that's been through this exercise before. It's look I'm excited about the opportunity
for our our collaborative efforts between a city and the county. I think we can do a lot of good things together. And as far as introductions, hello, I'm Terry. I'm the county administrator. Uh to my immediate right here is Mr. Richard Commando. Rich Commando, he's our county attorney. Julianne Young,
deputy administrator of administration. And Mr. J.R. Grimes, who's over all of operations, deputy county administrator. Thank you. And for official recordkeeping, we have the clerk of courts here today as well, Miss Cardi. >> Yes. Hi. Uh, first of all, good afternoon to everyone. I'm really
thrilled to be here. The city is very pleased to have the opportunity to work with the county and view this as our first step. Yes. Um the my my wellqualified staff that is here, our
city attorney, Miss West, uh also our planning department, Mr. Lorenzo Agamo. Uh I believe police chief is here, Shaw, and assistant chief Nukem and also fire chief. Thank you, Taylor. And um we're
just Is there someone else? Assistant Chief uh Bradford. He's also here. So, thank you for us all being here today. Thank you. >> Thank you. And before we get started, I do want to uh welcome Tyler Nolan. He's here from the Northeast Florida Regional
Council. So, thank you for being here. And we also have the Putham County Chamber Executive Director Laura Pavas here as well. Um Commissioner Bourne, just so you'll know, when you get ready to speak, push that button and then you'll be in order. Did you did uh did
you want to have an opening comment? >> Uh no, I just just happy that we'll be able to just reconvene our meetings we've had in the years past. So just looking forward to this um uh uh cooperation between the city and the county. >> Yes, sir. Thank you. And I also want to
recognize Samantha. Um she's here with uh State Representative Judson SAP's office. So thank you for being here. So the first item and these aren't necessarily action items. A lot of this stuff is going to be just discussion so that we can understand I think uh from
where each municipality is coming from the county that and just have a good open open discussion and the only when the mayor and I sat down to try to figure out what we were going to talk about. Um we brought up impact fees because I know there were the countyy's new to impact fees. We just adopted
impact fees six months ago, something like that. Um, the city's been doing impact fees for a while and I know there's been uh some discussion as to how do we do we need an agreement? How do we move forward? Is there issues that that the city seeing regarding the
county's impact fees? And is there issues the county is seeing regarding uh city impact fees? And that includes several several things. And so um I don't have a draft agreement for everybody to look at. It's just true general discussion. Um, if there's
anybody who wants to start, I don't know, um, Miss West, I know whenever we were doing, um, impact fees, you and I had some one-on-one discussions and, um, I think you even suggested, you know, maybe the county needs to have an agreement, but we've not really gotten
that far. But other than discussions, if do you have any thoughts and I know uh, your council's here, but what you know, what the concerns are from the city's perspective on impact fees? >> Sure. Sorry. And I can also defer to the mayor who we've talked about this issue,
but there there were some um concerns about your recently adopted impact fee ordinance and that it included uh government buildings and assessment of impact fees for uh development within the city's jurisdiction. And so maybe if we could uh figure out how that's going
to work moving forward so it doesn't hamper any sort of economic growth within the city's jurisdiction. Um, and then also I know that you had concerns about the transportation impact fees. A lot of our developments that we're uh approving left and right uh do abut
county roadways and so how are we going to aortion that in a way that is equitable and also demonstrates a rational nexus with the development. >> All right. Thank you. Um go ahead, Miss Miss Korea. Mayor Korea. Attorney West kind of already um kind of give gave all
of our discussion which was those two main points regarding the impact fees from the city's perspective and from the counties because Cher Wilkinson and I also talked about these. So I think those were the two things that rose to the top um and that we had the most concern about and thought perhaps it was
time for for staff to basically sit down and try to help us draft an impact fee agreement if that's the will of everyone. and and this might end up growing into a lot much bigger um discussion. So I did bring up the road particular the transportation fee the
city um and I said it publicly at a meeting particularly and I kept keep using the same example so I'll stick with what I've done um at the intersection of Ziggler and uh St. John's Avenue. So the the city has taken in I think there's four developments
right there and has charged impact fees for four really large developments and as we but the and they charge transportation which they're allowed to. There's nothing nothing nefarious in anybody's discussions here. It's just simply trying to figure out how we're
moving forward. Um the city um in um collected those transportation fees but they don't have that road. they did not take that road into their uh maintenance or into their um infrastructure. So basically everything at that
intersection is annexed into the city except for the roads. And um that was my concern because if you guys are ch charging transportation fees for and I'm again I'll use this as my example because it's the one I that's the most active right now. Um then how do you
plan on what would you do with those transportation fees? you collected if the city if the county is the the road person, the road entity. >> Okay. >> All right. So, um I see Commissioner Harvey. I'll um speak to Mr. Commissioner Harvey. You're recognized.
>> Thank you, Madam Chair. I guess help me understand transportation fees are currently being collected from the city of Palaca on a road that they don't own. Is that what I'm hearing? The correction would
be that uh the city of Palaca we are collecting the impact fees for transportation but for the project itself. However, the roads are owned by the county. So we are
collecting it. Uh we are holding it and um that's where we are right now. >> So help me understand why would you collect something a fee on something you don't own? That's what I don't under >> and I think that's part of what we're having why we're having this discussion. >> That's part of this discussion.
>> This is the reason for these particularly these two topics in regard to the impact fee for this discussion. Um we initiated the impact fee in May of 2023. >> Mayor, I hate to tell you I can't hear you unless you talk into that. >> I've got to get taller. >> There you go. >> Um we initiated the impact fees in May
of 2023. So we've been collecting this for a while. So, I think now that the county is on board and has their own impact fees, we have to figure out the best route possible for both all of us um to make sure we are collecting those
imp impact fees rightfully and we're not crossing over and also duplicating efforts. So, I think this is the whole point of the discussion is to >> Well, I get that, but I guess the point is you've been collecting for two years going on three. And how many how many
impact fees have you collected on roads that you don't border or don't own? >> I don't obviously have the data on that, but first of all, up until recently, we haven't had major projects or development requests. That's only been in Okay. What would you say, um, Mr.
Agamo? In the last year or two, >> year and a half. >> Year and a half, maybe. So it's not like we've been collecting this money and and keeping it in a little account. >> No, I get that. I get that. I'm just starting to conver. Uh I don't think we're going to solve it here, but I think these were the main
points as well as um the fact that when somebody a developer invests in the city and wants to develop something in the city, they're paying um a levied impact fees for future governmental structures. Um whether the
you know or not that governmental structure, when is that going to happen? So these are things we just need some clarification on. It's not that we're saying they're wrong or right. We just need to give this out. >> I would say agree with that. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Commissioner Borm, you're recognized.
>> Uh thank you, Madam Chair. I think it'll be an easy, uh fix or what have you. I mean, again, it's very new, uh to the city to be able to collect those fees since the last 18 months. And so um if they were collected in an area which u we should not be collecting it would be
my suggestion to put those fees where um they are properly maintained and that would be with the um with the county. So that would be my suggestion. >> Commissioner New recognized. >> Do you have your button lit? Oh that was
your phone. Okay. Is there anybody else um on the panel that would like to speak to this issue? Commissioner Alexander. >> So I'm assuming you guys are tracking each one of these impact fees, the transportation fees that are coming in so that when we do establish a criteria of how we're going to distribute those
funds, you can distribute them equitably based on the criteria we develop at a later date. So I'm I'm to understand that money won't be held in an account until such time. >> Yes. Uh that is correct. By by statute, we are required to have a separate trust
account for every impact fee that we collect. There are six separate impact fee categories that the city collects on and each has its own separate trust account. And yes, of course, we track for every development >> and I assume that same is true of the county. That is a requirement.
>> Correct. Uh, Commissioner Davis, you're recognized. >> Thank you. So, I like speaking with plain language so everyone can understand and make sure we're all on the same page. I will admit here that I am the um newest
commissioner on the city commission. So, we talked about impact fee assessment and then we talked about transport impact fees and I think we've gone back and forth. We tal I heard a couple of concerns from the city from um attorney west regarding the some of the concerns
of the city and so what I am asking is if we can talk about the items in chunks instead of back and forth. I believe one of the first concerns and mayor um career please
correct me was the impact to the city um and concern about there being some erosion of growth in the city. So as it relates to that >> what was the word you used? >> I'm sorry not erosion but potential impact Oh okay
>> impact to growth in the city now that the county has impact fees the city has impact fees. So, can you please marry that for me and make sure I'm understanding? >> So, are you asking just a point of clarification, are you saying are you asking is there more than just these two
instances in general that we're talking about? >> That's correct. >> Okay. >> I think at this time that's the two instances that came to light or rose to the top as far as area of concern. I again I think we would have to go through um the impact fee
categories that both city and county have to see if there's anything further but again those were the two that rose to the top >> and a lot of this will probably go into further you know with our next conversation about the the boundary and how we you know how we move forward
jointly together um on that um Commissioner Harvey you're recognized. >> Thank you Madam Chair. So, so not to beat this horse to death, but impact fees can be collected on roads that lead to your developments, right?
So, it doesn't have to be me necessarily the county road in front of your proposed development. Is that correct? Anybody can >> that correct? >> Yes. >> No. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> All right.
That answers my question. Thank you, Madam. >> Okay. So, um, Miss Young, would you like to have would you like to weigh in um on this as far as is this is this an accounting nightmare? Like, can we ever figure this out or is
do we just I mean, what's our what's your thoughts on this from a finance standpoint and also uh from the planning department standpoint for the county? Is this something that's is there a formula for this or this is what's your thoughts?
>> So um okay so big picture let's talk impact fees. An impact fee um is enacted by the legislative bodies for the areas for which we feel like additional development has an adverse impact on
your current citizens. So, the impact fees the cities decided to um impose and the impact fees the counties decided to impose, they go to speak to in these two instances, the two that y'all have picked to to talk about today,
government buildings and transportation. Anytime a development comes in that triggers an impact fee anywhere inside the jurisdiction of the authority that passed the impact, the impact is generated. So that could be on Second
Street or it could be at Ziegler. The the transportation dollars then need to support expansion, right? Because impact fees are not used for maintenance. Impact fees are used for additional capacity of the systems for which
they're supporting. So essentially albeit we are talking about a road in front of Zagler that development is going to have impact on the jurisdictions's thorough affairs all through the city just like the county impact fees do. Um and vice versa all
and and remember that an impact fee that the city imposes the county cannot impose. Right? So, where we talk about a transportation fee, if it's a city parcel, they would pay a city transportation fee. They would not pay a
county transportation impact fee. >> The reason the county has a general government fee on city development is because the city didn't have a general government buildings impact. We do. However, remember the county is also
responsible for facilities that support the city infrastructure, the libraries, the jail, animal services. The city doesn't pay anything into those joint and shared facilities. And so essentially, the additional capacity by new development is offsetting the
additional capacity that's going to be needed on those government buildings >> and all constitutional offices as well. A multitude of offices, right? I mean those were just a few easy examples that as we talk through when we talk about accounting nightmares
it's very restrictive as to how we track these funds to begin with then to put additional restrictions by two governing bodies as to where and how these funds are going to be spent. It's going to get very
difficult not just in operation but in accounting. And what we essentially are going to then do is hamstring each other, I believe, instead of help fostering a a a mutual solution that works. >> All right. Thank you for those comments. Does anybody in the city want to um have
any discussion further beyond that? Okay. Um Commissioner Alexander, you're recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, I want to remind everybody that we have the added benefit as that our attorney uh works
from multiple different counties and municipalities. And I'm hoping that we can lean heavily on him to glean the best practices u from other counties so that we're not reinventing the wheel here. Um, I'm hoping that you've had experiences where we have overlap
similar to this. happy to do that, but just remember I use Putnham County as the example for those other counties. >> Well, and it might be that that that we're beating this horse up over something that's nominal. I mean, this
county has just started collecting fees and the city I mean, I can't imagine that the governmental facilities fees that you've collected are large. Is that a large number? Do we have any idea? I'm just hoping that we can lean on Mr. Commando to
avoid some pitfalls that may he may have seen other counties encounter as as they came into their own with these impact fees because there's no reason to do that if we already have the knowledge on staff. You know, we can avoid a lot of that. I'm hoping >> we can and commissioner, you know, so
just like when we establish our impact fees and every every local government that does, there's a methodology that goes into place that kind of accounts for those things. So at some point where like Miss Young said, you don't want to be you don't want to be in a position where you're double assessing for the same type infrastructure improvement.
And I think that we're clear of that. Um I think we need to just open communication and work back and forth as far as kind of what the needs are. And then at that point, we can um use the mobilization of each of our services respectfully in the most efficient way possible.
Can we I'd like uh our planning director to just explain how we're collecting our impact fees the methodology very briefly. >> Okay. Thank you. >> If I may. >> Absolutely. So far since uh the BA return has been
lifted and we've been collecting impact fees, the total amount that we collected is about $500,000 of which about 200 and something belongs to transportation fees. The big development that you've been referring mayor um Ziggler and St. John's we
haven't collected. We haven't collected any money yet. >> Okay. >> We have invoice but we have not collected money. So uh and just to clarify also that uh the impact the need infrastructure to
that has to be made because of the impact of the project is based on the level of service. So we have adapted level of service and then if you don't meet that level of service and require an improvement then that's when you use the impact fees the transportation fees
to fund those improvement but it's based on the level of service and the city has level of service for transportation and I believe the county does as well. >> So so >> the main the main thing is to determine how to measure the impact of that development is going to have on St.
Johns on Seagler and other roads. It might be a mile down the street that is still have an impact. It might necessitate a little improvement, a turning lane or something >> and that then is funded through the impact fees. >> So if we had an um a need in the future
that that all of a sudden that road needs to be fourlaned versus two-lane, then that would be something the county and the city >> we this county can come back and say, "Hey, you guys have been it can you contribute to this is what you're >> and it had to be based on the capacity.
So if you have a capacity let's say 35,000 trips daily trips and then you have a development that triggers to and that's your level of service D or or C >> and then it triggers you know let's say 2,000 more trips and then your level of
service going to fall below the adapted one then improvement are going to be needed to to maintain that level of service >> and that's when we fund you know through the impact fees. >> Well I can tell you every person up here realizes that St. John's Avenue is our I mean, this is always the subject of
discussion, right? I mean, for both boards, it's always St. John's Avenue. So, um, good information. Thank you for that. Are you saying 200,000's already been collected >> for? Yeah. For transportation, about 200. >> Just over 200,000. >> Okay. I just want to make sure. >> But that is the reason that we have this
item as a discussion uh because what we need is really an agreement on transportation. How are we going to be looking at this in the future? because it's not just city roads and county roads. We also have state roads that are going to get impacted by development in
the county or in the city. >> Right. Right. Well, and and and Commissioner Harvey, I know you got your your button lit. Um just in that area there's a school right down the road and it's been something it's a it's a charter school but it's been something that's been an issue this brought it been brought up to the county commission
several times that they have some safety needs in that area um for you know um should they have been built when they probably got to school there probably but now we're here and they have some safety concerns but I I feel like and I
don't have any data sets to to say this but I feel like as we get more residents, especially right there at that intersection. More people will be going past that school and we will have a bigger safety concern than what we already have. So, I think that that's further discussion. Commissioner Harvey, you're recognized.
>> Thank you, Madam Chair. I got a couple questions. Seeing that the conversations around St. John's Avenue and we can all realize the problems there and the money can only use for expansion, not maintenance. So, I I get that. But
can the city could the city spend money on something you don't own? And that's the question I have. If you don't own St. John's Avenue where we want to expand or need to expand, can you do that legally with
your impact fees that you collected on development that was tied to that road? So, I I'll also defer to your attorney, but in my experience, yes, that you can have an interlocal agreement where we agree, for example, if the impact is
going to be on your county road as a result of a development that's within our jurisdiction, we can reach a mutual agreement to pay the county for the expense involved with adding a turn lane, for example, or a stoplight or whatever it would take to uh offset that
impact. And I agree with Miss West. And I think the the correlary to that is just remember that the statute requires you to complete a business impact statement whenever you're expending those types of dollars. And also you have to make sure that when you take a vote, you're actually uh doing so to
expend dollars in a that's a benefit to your public to the public that you serve >> that you serve. Also, I'd like to add that those impact fees has to they have to be expended within eight years. So,
we have eight years from the time of collection of the funds to get that expended. >> Okay. My second question is you mentioned that these developments haven't paid any impact fees yet. When do you collect your impact fees? At the
time of certificate of occupancy or time of per permit? Right. Before the CO is issued, they have to pay the impact fees. >> Ours is a little >> We can only I'm sorry. We can only invoice a developer uh once the build on
permit has been issued by the county. >> Okay. But we we collect our impact fees at the time of permit. >> Well, not according to the statute. They have up to the time of CO to to pay the fees. >> Yeah. Permitted. >> That's what we approved in our impact
fee. with the state. >> Okay. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. >> All right. Um before I go on to Commissioner Pelisier, um well, go ahead. I'll just go on to Commissioner Palier. Go ahead. >> Okay. Um it's I think it's very good
we're having this conversation about this particular area right now because um I know that one of those developments is 248 town homes. I don't know exactly what how many people can live in a town home, but that's one development I know for sure that's going up out there down
St. John's um this the college there I mean there's just going to be a tremendous amount of traffic and then the hospital um if you've been out there and watched it's it's it's it's very busy and this is something that's going to have to be addressed sooner than later. Um, and I would say, you know, we
certainly want to go as far as the funds will take us, but it I think it needs to go at least to the to the hospital road, uh, Ziggler, um, to to take care of the need that's going to be in that area. And it's going to be going out further, uh, to the west, just beyond Ziggler is another subdivision going in of homes.
And, uh, then there's more development. I see land being cleared out there all the time. The, uh, county, um, industrial park is out there. So, um, we might better be thinking about that for the future, uh, sooner than later. As I said, thank you, Madam Chair. I >> I just have one question, uh, for the
city staff, if you don't mind. Um, do you guys do traffic studies or require traffic studies before the, um, before the development's gone in so we can have a measurement of what that impact will be? >> Yeah. In the case of this particular project that the commissioner is talking
about, it's the McGlor Mcllorico townhouse. It's 248 units town houses. When they come for the building permit, they haven't applied for the building permit to the county yet. But the moment they apply, one of the requirement that we have is
that they're going to have to provide a full traffic study to determine the impact. >> Okay. >> How far it's going to go and what kind of improvement are going to be needed. At that point that we're going to have to have some sort of agreement with the county how we're going to spend that money. >> But they're not there yet.
Okay. Is there any other comments or or discussion regarding this issue from anybody at the dis? >> Sounds like um mayor we've got um we don't know really. I mean what are your thoughts on this? >> Um I think we've had a good discussion
and dialogue and I think it from what I've gleaned from this discussion is that we do have to sit down or ask um staff to help us and sit down and come up with some particularly some type of agreement uh transportation seems to be the biggest concern um or those funds.
So I think it is time to draft that agreement and start talking about it at least before we even draft it. But I think we need to move forward with that direction. And um for the county uh have we collected any uh governmental I know there was one business that went
downtown government facilities um and speaking with Zach it sound like it was nominal but I don't know what that number is. Do we know what that number is? Are we talking hundreds of dollars? Are we talking hundreds of thousands of dollars? You don't have the number. Okay, that's no problem. Okay. I know Zach just said,
"Zack, do you happen to know the number if you don't mind?" This is our uh planning director, Zack Baker, for the record because that's the way he always says it. He He comes to the podium and says, "Zack Baker, for the record. I'm sorry. I stole your thunder."
>> You did steal my thunder. And for the record, >> um, we did not collect an impact fee for that property that you and I were discussing, and it's a little more than nominal. I pulled the impact fee schedule. >> Okay. Um, depending on any type of use,
the uh transportation, I'm sorry, the general government buildings impact fee ranges from $29 per,000 square feet for a mini warehouse up to $9,275
for a fast food restaurant with drive-thru. That's per thousand square feet. >> Per thousand square feet. And so the one that I asked you about, and I'll just say what it is. It's the filling station downtown. We did not collect anything on that. >> No, ma'am. The filling station downtown,
uh, that would have been $5,175 per thousand square foot. I have with me a copy of the permit record for that. Uh, the total fees collected for that building permit were 3,770.
The permit was issued January of 2025 >> on the county side was 3,000. >> Yes, ma'am. The permit was issued January of 2025, 5 months prior to the adoption of our impact fees. We did not have impact fees at that time. >> And then the 3,000 was for what?
>> The 3000 was I have a breakdown. Do you want me to go through the itemization or just >> Is there a general name or something? What's it called? No. So the commercial building permit fee was 23.89 and3. >> So these were fees. It wasn't necessarily an impact fee. >> No, it was not an impact fee.
>> Okay. That was all I needed. No. So there was no impact fees charged to that building from the county. >> No, ma'am. >> Okay. >> All right. Thank you. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Commissioner Campbell, you're recognized. >> Sorry about that. I just want to make
sure because we have had a healthy discussion and as we proceed I know we begin to talk about things when they're hot but when they're no longer hot or we walk out these doors >> can we come up with some kind of timeline or some kind of time frame that this remains at the forefront of our
conversations because we are not going backwards we're going ahead and like you said these things may impact throughout the city so I want to make sure that as we leave here that we give clear direction not only to the city staff but as well as the county staff of how we would like to proceed forward because
ultimately the decisions are going to fall back on the respective commissions. >> All right. Do you have um and when you say that I mean I could tell that Julian was very concerned about the how do you make the math work, right? I uh so we
got we want us to all be realistic about as well. Yes, sir. >> Absolutely. I just want to make sure that if we can come up with a >> simply a simple time frame or timeline to where we revisit this issue and that we just not let it be allowed to linger.
>> Yes, sir. So, and and I don't know if that goes back to the county and city administrators or managers to have a discussion as to is there's something that we I mean do you have any thoughts on this, Mr. Suggs as to how we can resolve this issue or
move forward with this. >> Yes, ma'am. Thank you. I think it would be probably gerine for uh city manager Card and myself to sit down and maybe maybe bring our respective staff in that to have some discussions to move this idea or this uh situation forward and bring back to both our respective
boards. >> So, you're either going to come back with, oh, we have something, we've worked out something and here's the details or we can't come to a consensus. Yeah, I I think I think that's basically it. Yes, ma'am. That's exactly. I think we need to sit down with the uh with both sides and and the folks that have the Germaine experience on both of that
in the impact P world and have a conversation. We can include Miss West as well as Mr. Commando and and our our deputy administrator and staff like Mr. Baker in the cities as well and we'll come back with >> You think we can do that in a three-month time frame or 90 days? Is
that reasonable? >> Sure, we could. Absolutely we can. >> Okay. Um, Miss Cardi. Yes, ma'am. >> Uh, Miss Young, did you have anything to add to the conversation >> and I and I know I've been calling on you, but you're our finance person, so I
want to make sure that and over the planning department for the county. >> For clarity, why while I guess we're all in the same room, can can you what is the end goal of both of these boards that were we're that administration and staff is trying to come to a consensus on?
>> Okay. All right. Um, mayor, do you want to start with that? >> Um, I think at least what I heard and understood was that in regards to the transportation impact fee that we come to some agreement so in the future, say for example, there is a need to expand St. John's Avenue that we have an
agreement that allows the city to share some funds to make that happen. Um, we don't have those things in place so we can collaborate. And I think that is what I heard out of this conversation was the hope that we could come up with some sort of agreement to to that end. Thank you.
>> All right. Is everybody on this board? Is there any concerns about that? Commissioner Harvey, you're recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. What concerns me in this conversation is the expansion and not maintenance. So, let's just stay on St. John's Avenue for a minute.
>> Sure. and the city has went in there and I don't blame you allowed these housing units to pop up. But that puts a strain on our road the county. I don't know how you'd fourlane St.
John's Avenue from Ziggler to the college. Maybe it's just turning lanes or maybe it's a >> but I guess that's the qu and then we got a time frame of eight years what I heard today >> in order to expend the funds >> to expend the funds. Now I don't know if
that applies on our side >> that's federal that's Florida state of Florida regulation. >> Okay. So, so I guess we're kind of almost behind the eightball here if you ask me that we've got these housing
places in place. We can't use the money for maintenance. So, even if we even if you had 200,000 and wanted to fix St. John's Avenue, all the bumps that are in there still, um, we can't use it for that. So, we'd have to use it for some
expansion. We got we got six years now or seven years whatever the case may be eight years from the time you it doesn't matter the time but I think I think we need to not only have a plan of how we
spend the money but how do we expand when we spend the money I think that's the big thing >> you mean expanding the what what the needs are in in that area for expansion like how do you determine what are those needs >> well We all know what those needs are
fixing to be. When you when you dump 500 more cars on St. John's Avenue every given day to and fro back and forth, we know what that's fixing to do to that. That that's a given. So, I think what we need to do is not only have a plan of
how to spend the money, no, have a plan to spend the money and how do we plan to partner together to spend that money. That's my point >> and and I can agree with that. I also think we we've been using St. John's as an example. There are other other
locations in the city and county that haven't been developed yet. So, we've got to start somewhere. And I think we have to plan for the future. Um people are going to keep investing in Putinham County and Paka. We hope they do, but we also want to make that a positive
something positive come out of that. We don't want it to be we don't want it to be for I'm sorry, St. John's County for lack of better description. We don't want it to blow up like St. John's County and not have everything in place. So, it's time for us to set th those things in motion now so in the future we
can collaborate and we can make sure that whatever development is going to happen that we're just discussing it together and that we have a plan to address those transportation needs in the future. >> Okay. All right. Does that help with the direction? >> It does. Madam Chair, what I'll do as
county minister, I will look at our calendars here on our side and reach out within the next couple of days to Miss Cardi and her staff and we'll start looking at our calendars about how we can get this thing back to you quicker. >> And we weren't picking on St. John's Avenue. It's just that that is there is
a lot of development going on right now there and so that just happened to be, you know, it was a good conversation to have since it was at because there's so much development going on in that area and we're glad for it. We're all glad for it, I'm sure. All right. Okay. Is there anything else to discuss uh from the dis or any commissioners on? Yes, go
ahead, Commissioner Harvey. You're recognized. >> You know, thank you very much. And and also when we talk about where the developments taking place, we also have to look at our business park. I think Commissioner Palaceir even mentioned going west if you will um out of that
area. So I think we need to be mindful of how we can grow, where we can grow, and what we can use the money to grow with. that that's all the only point I was making there, but it could be anywhere. It could be all over the city of Placa. Could be anywhere that we talk about. Uh but that's the hot area right
now. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Commissioner Bor, you're recognized. >> Yes. Thanks, Madam Chair. But when we when we talk about impact fees, impact fees also um not only just roads, but we got police, fire, EMS, we got um schools
and storm water. uh all of those different areas also benefit from the the impact fees or what have you. So I just throw that on for the record. >> Yeah, I um appreciate that. I actually went through and sort of because it'll lead into our next discussion about you
know what we talk about going forward and what we talk you know when I started thinking well what is it that the county provides and so um to the city which is a jail and I just went through this road I sc literally scratched it down before
we started dispatch 911 communications emergency operations center sheriff's office supervisor of elections facility um libraries that were within the city boundaries. Um we which we have um supervisor of elections of course serves
all municipal boundaries and we have precincts in all of the different areas. They handle city elections, county elections, doesn't matter. Uh clerk courts, courthouse, landfill, animal control, veteran service, parks and wrecks. Um we have some parks I believe
that are also within the city boundary. Um so there's a whole, you know, tax collector's office both in Crescent City, same thing. Um, so when we talk about government facilities, we do share government facilities even though the
county might be the lead on those buildings. Um, they're certainly utilized by all citizens within the county which include the the citizens of the city. So I think that's where you were going, Commissioner Borum a little bit except you were is that where you were going because it affects all of
those things as well. >> Um, that's correct. I would still just stay on the uh impact um fee side of the house. But then when you talk about the municipal um service boundaries uh you know you also have um road not you know
the roads we still have a lot of unimproved roads in the enclave areas of of the city. Uh then we we got our um code enforcement. How you know we we have adjacent um properties or whatever you know some some are uh right next
door to each other across the street you know city county uh and how we do the code enforcement as well in addition to there's other things. So, I think we need to look at all of those different things and how it, you know, affects how the city um impose uh the code
enforcement as it relates to how the county does its code enforcement. And I I think there's another way we can kind of have some conversations around those things. >> I think you and I jumped ahead a little bit. Sorry about that. >> It just kind of >> it just sort of it all rolls together a little bit. But anyway, I do think we've
had our impact discussion before we move on to the next session and we've given staff a 90-day time frame to get back with us. And if we decide at the end of this meeting that this has been uh fruitful and we want to have another meeting again, we certainly will be glad to do that. Um so now we'll go into our
municipal boundary service agreement unless there's anybody who wants to add to the impact fee discussion. All right. Um just real quick if I could have I've asked county staff to pull up a map so then when we discuss things um we have the city um overlaid on the county
boundary if you can pull that up. And she's this is Brooke. She works in our IT department. She doesn't want to publicly speak but um this is our city boundary within the county. Um and she can zoom out or zoom in at at your will.
We have different layers in here. Um, and so as we move forward in discussion, just ask her as when it's your turn to speak, you know, what area you want her to zoom in on or give her some clarity and she'll be glad to do that. I thought this would be helpful in our discussion.
So, yes, go ahead. >> Um, so what I'm seeing here is the dark gray. Is that the >> Oh, yes. I'm sorry. Yes, the gray area um overlaid on the lighter color beige or whatever silver is the city um jurisdiction.
>> So why did the city jump over other areas to get to one area? >> I I >> we're going to discuss that. >> Not the city um but we're going to discuss how that evolved to where it is now with all these enclaves. Um >> well with that, Mayor, would you like to
go forward or >> actually I'm gonna turn to the folks that have the most knowledge about the interlocal your question? >> Yes, mayor. Thank you. >> Okay. Um I'm going to ask attorney West and Mr. Agamo to talk the interlocal service boundary agreement in particular
these enclaves within the city limits and how we got there. Well, um, in terms of how we got here, uh, it's a process, uh, under Florida statute, that's what they have to do if they are, uh, immediately contiguous to existing, uh, city property. So, that
that is a Florida statute, um, option for them. But as a result, over decades and decades of voluntary annexations here and there, what you have is a very tortured, gerrymandered um jurisdiction
boundary for the city uh that is chock full of enclaves that uh has caused issues for both the county and the city in terms of rendering services. Everything from police and fire, though they cooperate very well. Um but that is
why we are here today. Um I have taken a stab at drafting a interlocal service boundary agreement. It has placeholders for many of the topics that um Chair Wilkinson mentioned. You can include those in this agreement or that can be
in a separate agreement. But I think the primary uh gist of uh what you're hoping to accomplish here is the annexation process and Are we going to continue to require uh property owners to
voluntarily annex into the city simply to utilize our water and sewer services or are we going to opt for potentially a a search charge fee um for those property owners? So, that is a a topic for all of you to discuss. Did you want
to add anything? >> Commissioner Harvey, you're recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. You do realize I knew the answer to the question before I asked it. I just wanted to start the conversation. Um, >> so why would why would why would even
the city want to jump over all that? >> Why wouldn't you just want to charge the search charge for water and sewer for the things that they need and and gain a little revenue without without creating all that? You know, what was it two years ago? the legislators were looking
at having municipalities clean up their boundaries because they were so disjointed, if you will. Uh, and I know last time I was chairman, we had a meeting that was the same topic we talked about was was these still the
same boundaries. It's the municipalities that keep changing those boundaries. So, I guess my question is I think that's a discussion that the commissioners need to have, the council people at the city of Palaca, is do you want to keep doing
this or do you want to just if somebody wants water and sewer, do you want to just charge them a little bit more for the product that they want? I don't know that answer, but thank you, Madam Chair. >> I think Commissioner Davis, do you have your button pushed? Commissioner Davis, is your button
pushed? Okay. All right. Um, yeah. And before we get started, I do want to just remind um, everybody on here, and the mayor and I actually talked about this. Um, when we look at the 10 of us coming together today, please keep in mind that only
three of you had ever been in a joint meeting before and the rest of us haven't. And so, be be kind and patient with us all. We are um I know Commissioner Harvey, you might have been in a joint meeting before and a couple city commissioners, but the majority, seven of us have not been in a joint
meeting. So, this is a new conversation for us as a joint meeting to to have a joint uh body. And so, I appreciate your um conversation, but I do think that we just have to remember that seven of us are fairly new, including myself. So, with that, uh Commissioner Borum, you're
recognized. >> Thank you. Thanks chair chair chambers. Well, the I think the question is when we talk about the um annexing and so it's voluntary annexation. It's not I don't think
anything that the city is doing. We would like to square off the boundaries if we if we could. But what what happens when we don't do that? Even if the um even if the residents just stayed with uh getting um obtaining water um sewer,
then you still have the roads, the unimproved roads that um we have quite a few unimproved still in the city. We also have um police and fire EMS that also have to respond um to those uh
areas. And so it's more than just water and sewer. It's those other things too because if you have somebody who need to have a a fire put out uh then a lot of times they don't know what um you can
have a house again adjacent one city one county and uh time be of essence for for life and life health and safety. So when they have those instances in that regard, who who responds? And I think we've had a number of instances like that. And I think we had poor data
before. So I think those are the kind of things that we really need to be looking at and thinking about how we can work together better to be able to provide those services to the people that we serve. >> So um Commissioner Nibold, are you recognized? Or that's Annie. Go ahead.
Commissioner Davis. One of the things I'd like to say about um and this is Can you guys hear me? Yes, ma'am. You're recognized. Um thank you. But to um Commissioner Harvey's point, I
wish it was just black and white and so easy because if it was, we would not be having the discussion. One of the reasons I think we haven't already just made one decision over another is because the challenge is actually balancing the growth avenues versus the cost. And I believe we need to really
take a look on the city side is to determine what's best for us. It's it's not just a I think or I should. There are pros and cons to each approach. And we need to look at our overall plan, understand how we're impacted, how it
impacts our first responders and our services, and look at it and come with a comprehensive plan. And I think at that point we can make the best decision whether it is or not. But I think we have to look at this comprehensively. Um
and and again it's just not an easy decision as choices are being made by voluntary annexation understanding that impact versus someone staying in the county but use city services. You know we do lose some autonomy. We do lose
some other resources um and revenue. So, I think we just have to look at it as a whole to make a um an informed decision what's best not just for our cities, our county, our see and our county, but also what's best for the um the person or the
homeowner. >> Thank you. Um >> or business owner. >> You uh Commissioner Alexander, you'll be just just give me a second. Um Brooke, if I could have you pull up the county roads and I know you'll probably have to zoom in. We had the county roads overlaid on this uh map and hopefully
you'll be able to see it. You'll probably have to zoom in to Yeah. Okay. So, the green indicates um the county what we believe to be the county ownership of roads is correct in your database um and what we have in our records. So, when we look at the city um
those are you know we were we were talking a little bit earlier about the transportation. And this is a great example of roads that are um in the city that touch both, right? They touch the city and the county, roads that go through whatever happened over the years has already happened. Um but when we
talk about unimproved roads to Commissioner Boram's point is can you give me an example of what a road that you're talking about and that you know for sure it is county >> u right in front of my house. >> Okay. What's that road? baits and P and
P power POW borders it and you also have um got the uh Hampton. So those three uh M said on baits and so on the pile side unimproved on the bait side is basically
unimproved then you got Hampton where is unimproved and you have also there are some other things I think we just need to look at the uh overall >> so the reason I'm asking that question is are those considered private roads or do you know what class they are in initially I don't think they was all private at
the time I think you just vacated Um, >> we did the one close to the school and the church. >> Right. You just vacated that one. But again, I think but that's just my my area, but then there's other areas throughout. I think we need to have some additional conversations around as it
relates to >> Well, to your point, you brought up unimprovement unimproved roads in the city. The county has we had this discussion today at our boardroom. um any class three roads or four roads, we're not we have not taken a position at anywhere within the county that we're
going to take those roads into our maintenance system. And so if it's a private road, it's a private road. Whether it's in the city of Pala, the city of Crescent City, doesn't matter. We're not taking it into our maintenance system because we don't have the funds to handle that. Um Commission, I see your hand. Uh Mr. Grimes,
give me just a second. I know you've got I know you're >> if we're just speaking about just baits, right? That's the That's the topic at hand. >> No, that was just that was just an example. But there's others other areas that are similar to that that are are unimproved
within the city of Pala, not the city boundaries. >> So to your point, debates is what a private road. >> It is a portion of it. The paved is a county class one road. >> The paved portion >> most of it, some of it is a county class 2 road and some of it is a county class 4 road.
>> Okay. Okay. So, you have a mixture of improved, unimproved, just like the commissioner speaking of. So, you have several different elements in there which we probably don't own right away to. It's probably a private road, private easement. It just happens to be named a road. >> Yeah. So, I my only point in responding to you, Commissioner Borum, was uh when
we talked about if there's a class one road that's in the city and it's a class one road and we haven't been maintaining it properly, let us know because we can move it from a dirt to pave and we can we can do that. any of us city commission I mean any of us county commissioners can work on that but if
it's a class three it won't matter this agreement won't matter this agreement won't make a hill of beans because we have not made and that's a terrible term but uh it it won't it just won't make a difference because the county has not taken on the position again regardless of where it's at to take on private
roads to change those unimproved roads to an improved road so that that was the only point I was going to make on that and then how we serve our citizens I think um I haven't heard as a county commissioner that we've had citizens not
being served properly. So um regarding because there's a boundary line um and I know Mr. Grimes works very closely with um the city and the county work very closely together and we haven't had issues I don't believe. >> Well,
>> if you want to answer that and then we can move on. I know we've got some >> we have to go just to digress just a little bit. Please >> probably need to understand how today when you actually pick up the phone and dial 911 how it works. Yes. Right. >> So years ago there was a jurisdictional boundary line and Commissioner Bor is
exactly correct. That was one of the first things I worked on when I left over here because I the one that fielded the phone call when I worked for the city of Pla Fire Department goes why did you not come to my house today? Well because you weren't in the county. So it was the way we were all dispatched 10
years ago. Today we're all dispatched at the same time. So that element doesn't happen anymore, right? Because whenever you dispatch your city fire units, I still had to send a county ambulance with them, right? So we are doing EMS transport for the city of Palaca. Same
with fire. Fire hits today inside the city of Pala, I'm sending them. I think it's three engines, a supervisor, two rescues. You guys, if we have a fire right there in the I'm going to call it the greater Palaca area. Your guys are sending your fire trucks. So, it's been a very harmonious relationship for the past several years, and that one has
kind of selfworked itself out in my opinion. >> All right. Thank you. So, that was Okay. So, now we go on uh to Commissioner Alexander, you're recognized. >> Yes, ma'am. We're experiencing some diff uh technical difficulties down here. So, in the spirit of collaboration,
Mr. Jones >> Oh, thank you. >> Yeah. >> Okay. I don't know why. And I got Annie down here who thinks she's I keep calling on her and she haven't pushed her button at all. So I thought I had all this worked out for >> I see why you put me down here. >> I know.
>> I see why. I see why. But anyway, I think you guys really covered what I was going to say. And to the point of Mr. Grimes, he just hit it. I was going to go back to the collaboration for the city and county with emergency services. Uh as long as I could remember, uh if
the city needed the county, the county came, the county need the city, the city came. you know, to put it in writing. I guess it's a formality. However, it's a seamless process and it's it's you don't have to even think, especially when you're talking about EMS and saving
lives. So, that haven't happened. Um, going to the point of Commissioner Harvey, uh, when we have and I'm I'm you spot on with what I've been actually concerned with. when we leave
unorporated areas to go out for an example the 309 and make that city limits or annex that into the city. It doesn't make a lot of sense when we have areas like Baileyville that's right next to the
city contiguous right by Jenkins Middle School that's the county but it's in the heart of the city. U those are the things I asked about. Let's work on those things that uh we could probably do a campaign of from sew from septic to
sewer because those people have septic tanks so that they're right close to the city and I'm quite sure they would entertain uh getting off of uh septic system and getting on to water sewer water and sewer by the city. um whether
it's voluntary or not, the annexation should happen. And we're I mean this is we're talking about uh you live next door to someone that has city water. And I could be honest with you, I know of some residents in that area. I've been
told that they have tapped into the system themselves. So, we should at least try to recapture those funds that we could have been getting the the funding versus them stealing it. You know, they taking out the water. So, I think we be looking those opportunities, Mr. Harvey. So, I
agree with you. Another area I want to uh point out, Rolling Hills as well. You could be in one same street in Rolling Hills. Half of the street is city, the other half is county, same street. Those are the things uh projects I would
like to see us work on collaboratively and say well okay uh we could give this up for uh the sake of having services that we know that are covered by the city or covered by the county. You won't
have to guess. When I was on the campaign trail the way we determine what city and county is by the green garbage can some of them are picked up by waste pro. some of the garbage is picked up by waste pro half of the city I mean half of that area is picked up by the city of
lack of sanitation so I seen this in um the boundary agreement uh some of the things in here I agree with there's a lot that I don't agree with and this is being blunt uh at this time and I think that when you guys do sit down and
discuss let's have honest talks and be candid on what we feel would be double tax for people in the city because that's that's the biggest problem and why folks don't want to uh annex in because they're
being double tax. If I lived in the county and I didn't have to worry about a septic tank or going bad or something like that, I probably would give second thoughts to it as well because all the conversations I had is about double taxation. So that should be considered
when you guys have administrators have to sit down and consider that as a deterrent and we don't want to deter people. Maybe we charge a uh more premium rate for the services and you'll
have more corporation and we actually uh I think would be able to accomplish the goal that we're talking about about squaring these boundaries around. Thirdly, and this is it lastly, um if we're gonna
I think small project like that, and I I say it's small, it seemed to be small to me because we know the area we identify those areas. Um if we could work on those prior to going out with the large annexations,
um I think we could be successful soon. I said it last name, but I had a lot to say and and this wouldn't work. But Commissioner Harvey, uh, St. John's Avenue, let's go back to that project. When we did the resurfacing project, I know half of it was city responsibility,
half was county responsibility. And we found a way and we worked together on this, and I'm proud of that. Um, where we was kind of had an impass on some of that the work that we said, hey, the city's not responsible, the county is not responsible. But we worked through it. And if we work through that, we can
work through anything. We can make this stuff happen. And uh I am so glad that I got the opportunity to speak on it. It's a lot of stuff that I just said, but uh I think everybody here had a valid point of what we're trying to do.
It's not it's not very it's not excuse me, tongue tied down. It's uh it's doable. There's some work that we have to put into it. I think if we give it to the hands of our administrators, if they bring it back,
like you said, in the 90-day period, just keep the open mind. Let's not come in with a mind that it's going to be one way or the other. I think open-mindedness is going to help us get through this. That's all I want to say. >> I I appreciate that. I don't see any
buttons up right now. So, um, I'll comment on a couple things and maybe it's because I'm, you know, only in I'm just starting my fourth year and we haven't had meetings like this before, but I do agree with Commissioner Harvey's comments though, you know,
those pieces and and I'll just refer them the the lighter ones within the gray ones, right? Um, that are not within the city. The county didn't create that. So, are we are we proposing that we're going to make those properties and forcing them to become
city? Is that what we're saying? >> No, ma'am. I I said let's give them opportunity to get city services um at a discounted rate or a premium rate to to square off the boundaries. I think that we're going to have to do something. I
mean, Dubal County actually had a campaign from water to sewer. I don't know how they actually done it. I mean that's something that legal could look into. Uh >> grants I mean that's something we could look into sir. >> You guys could absolutely apply for them
if you got if you're willing to put the infrastructure there. >> Right. So in some of those areas like the Baylorville area I think you guys had already put some infrastructure in and we actually have water in that area. We like that's that's what Commissioner
Harvey was talking about. We actually uh we we're we're we're uh skipping over areas and putting services in. So I guarantee you there's like for example, we skipped the entire Baileyville area from 19th Street in the city. >> Can you can you pull up Baileyville?
Would you walk her through where Baileyville is? >> And Baileyville. If you go on North 19th Street in the city of Palao, >> where Philip Sterry Road is? >> Nope. It's Well, it's that it's that area. is include that area. But >> just scroll down.
>> Jenkins Middle School, >> old Highway 17. >> Little bit further out. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> 20th Street. Where you see 20th Street? >> Yes, sir. >> 20th Street on back where you see Cedar Oak Harris Pine. >> All that is considered Baileyville area.
>> Okay. >> In that area, a lot of those residents already get city water. So, I guess they either voluntarily annexed in and others probably voluntarily tapped in.
That's just the truth. I asked about that when I first uh was elected. How could we do a audit and find out? And I was told that' be tough to do, of course. But um there there are people
getting city water that is not paying for city water already out there. But however, there are folk that are getting it that they'll pay for it. Now how they get it cuz behind where you can see tolls road that's where in Jacksonville um highway 17 that's where Beck the
dealership is which gets city services. >> So the infrastructure is out there. Brooke >> pull that down a little bit please. down. >> Okay. >> You can skip the Come on. You can skip the the the water meter. So, yes. Yes,
ma'am. So, Highway 17 and then you could go West Pine Street. That's across and and that's an area as well. That's the county of course, but from there to Highway 19, which we have some places in on
Highway 19 is deemed city as well. So that's what Commissioner Harvey is talking about. We leapfrog areas that's contiguous is close to the city, the heart of the city, and then we provide services to areas uh that's not really contiguous, but it's been made
contiguous, but based upon us annexing the way we have been annexing. I'm not pointing a finger on who's right or wrong the way we've been annexed in the past, but that's what has happened. And so to correct it, how do we correct it? That's my question. How do we correct it? Are we going to work on the plan?
That's my question to our staff. They don't have anything really to do with the city. But a collaboration would be what you guys are giving up if you allow them annexing the city. >> Well, but okay. Are are you done? >> Yes. >> I mean, we're not stopping them from
annexing into the city. I mean that that's my whole I'm again I'm a little confused because the county isn't stopping anybody in that area from annexing into the city. I do think and I apologize that we didn't put overlay a boundary for city water and sewer. That
probably would have been another good layer. This is a learning process for all of us. Um I think that would have been good good layer. So your point is in this particular area we're using as an example of people that are obviously tapping in and might not have authority
but so do you don't offer water and sewer to anybody who's not annex into the city at this time. Is that correct? Is that a correct statement? >> No. >> Okay. >> Go ahead. >> Go ahead. >> Okay. Mary, you want to answer? >> No, I'm saying you go ahead, please.
>> Okay. We we offer water to other entities that are not annexed in and they are charged a sir charge. >> Okay. So So how is that determined? >> I think that was it. >> So that how is that so that's determined
by the city commission if you're going to offer somebody I mean is that each one of those come to the board or is it a staff decision? I mean, how do you determine which citizen has the ability to water and sewer without indexation and which business doesn't? >> Right? So, if it's a non-ontiguous
parcel, they can pay a a premium sir charge of 25% that they have to sign off on a pre-anaxation agreement that uh basically they commit to annexing into the city as soon as their property does become contiguous with city
jurisdiction. >> Okay. And you mentioned Florida statute earlier. Um you're saying that um that the reason you're that is required by Florida statute.
>> No, not that that is not what is required by Florida statutes. >> Okay. But the um voluntary annex into the city to utilize water and sewer is required by Florida Florida statute. Am I saying that wrong? I'm trying to understand this. Yes, I mean the references to the Florida statutes were
when we were talking about impact fees um under >> No, we had that discussion since we've been talking about this subject m you guys mentioned Florida statutes over there. I just want to make sure I understand what the Florida statutes are requiring for annexation. >> Annexation has to be voluntary in the in this case. I think it's the voluntary
piece is the key word. >> So are you saying that involuntary annexation is illegal? >> No, there's a different there's a different process. If you do involuntary annexation, you basically have to get a certain percentage of the property owners within that area to sign on to
it. It it's just a different process from a voluntary annexation. >> Okay. And so an agreement and I know this agreement and I appreciate you making this this is just an a sample that you gave us and it was a starting point for us just so everybody understands. The city wasn't saying this is the Bible, go forth and conquer. They
were simply saying we got to have a starting point. Miss West took it upon herself and I appreciate that to draft something um and say, "Hey, we got to have a starting point." Did you I think you handed the mic to Mr. Lorenzo. Did he want to speak? >> I wanted him to clarify. >> Okay.
>> Yeah, please do on annexation because that's not something we have to deal with at the county. >> Madam Chair, >> yes. >> So because I represent municipalities as well. So there are two paths towards annexation. There is voluntary annexation and then the interlocal services boundary agreement is the second path in the step towards
annexation. >> Bingo. Okay. >> You so what you asked was can there be involuntary annexation and the answer to that yes >> but it has to be through the mechanism of what's been proposed not but this through an interlocal service boundary agreement. >> That's been my experience of probably
most efficient way to do it so that people are put on notice there's public hearings that are involved things like that. Did you have something? That >> that was it. You know, just a different process for involuntary and extension. >> Okay. Thank you for clarifying that. >> 50% of the property owner or registered
voters of that area. >> Okay. Thank you. And I'm sorry that I you had to educate me. I just this isn't something that I've I've dealt with. Commissioner Harvey, you're recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. So, let me get this straight. If if I'm outside the
city of Palaka and I want water and sewer, then I pay a 25% up charge, but the understanding and I I missed that part with understanding in so many years I annex in to the city of PLA. Is that
what I heard from Miss West? you you would have to sign a pre-anaxation agreement. So your property eventually does become contiguous with the city at that point. You would voluntarily annex it.
>> Okay. So if I'm way out in Francis and I have and the city never comes out, I never have to worry about it at that point. >> Right. The the city probably wouldn't extend services that far because it wouldn't make sense from the property owner perspective. they have to pay for
the infrastructure to get the pipes out there. It probably would not make fiscal sense for the property owner to incur that cost. >> But it might make sense if I have a big development that I want to do and I want to I don't mind paying the 25%. I just don't want to pay double taxation. It
might be better for me to do that that way and and buy and lay the pipe and be done with it. Yeah. And the answer to that would be if it's never contiguous, they would never have to annex in. >> There there are other factors uh and
speaking out of turn here from a public works perspective, but there has to be sufficient capacity. Um there has to be a sufficient airflow uh to make sure that the water can get all the way to wherever the property is. Uh so there
there are other considerations. Brooke, can you zoom out so that we can see the whole thing all the way out to the 309 seat? Okay. Thank you. Um, Commissioner Alexander, you're recognized. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Jones. >> You hit it.
>> I'm glad y'all are sharing. See, this is We're already off to a good start. >> Ma, >> Madam Chair, you on the right track, so please proceed, please. >> You putting You're putting it back on me. I see how this is going. I I'm just trying to understand how we
we got here. Um I I see the city's um issue um with the enclaves, but then I you continue to accept properties into annexation. And if I were you, I would do the same
thing. Um, however, if we drew a square around this gray area, what I'm hearing is that the gray area got to the line that's all inside the square that as soon as somebody on the outside of the square but is continuous,
needed water and sewer, they would then become annex into the city. So, I don't know at what time. I mean, how does it do you ever end the boundary or does the boundary just I mean, we're already out into Francis. I mean, I I just don't
understand. And then I will say this on a personal note. I have three properties in the city and y'all don't come after me after I say this from codes. I'm saying y'all don't come and stand on my doorstep. I have three three properties
within the city. Alliguous. Um, most of you know where my business is. It's next to Capitol City uh bank near the intersection 1920. There's three tax parcels there that we've um three separate tax parcels. Two of them are annexed into the city and one isn't. I
have no reason because the one's just a vacant piece of land. I haven't developed it at any point. Um, I have no reason to want to annex it into the city. I I don't need water and sewer at this time. I think maybe in the future if I ever do then obviously that's a discussion I'd have to have at the city.
But I think there's lots of people like and I remember Mess Messor's Tackle. People who grew up in this community remember Ta Messers's Tackle next to Walmart. Messers Tackle was the little old bake store and he particularly stayed out of the city because he didn't
want to pay the double taxation and um that benefited him and now it's a quick lube and it's probably back into the city now. But he profited tremendously because he didn't have the and I'm not speaking out of turn. I'm just trying to have an
honest conversation. He benefited tremendously because the city had restrictions on alcohol sales. Everybody in the city knew they just go to Messor's Tackle and buy their alcohol Sunday before one o'clock. I mean, that was one of his biggest days in sales.
and and so I I get where you guys are coming from, but I don't know how the county is supposed to help with this issue. I'm really I want to help. I just don't know how we can help. Honest conversation. Anybody else? Um I just I think per the discussion
voluntary annexation versus an interlocal service boundary agreement the whole point of it was that for these enclaves for example these people already are clearly not voluntarily annexing into the city for services. So
to help them it would require this am I correct Mr. Agamo it would require some type of interlocal service boundary agreement to give them that upcharge and give them those services within those enclaves. Am I correct?
>> Yeah, that is right. >> So I think that's what this discussion has come about is to try to you know bring these enclaves get them the services um but yet they won't be required at this point in time to voluntarily annex in. And when you're
referring to services, what services are referring to water and sewer? So, um, yes, please. >> So, if we're talking strictly water and sewer, which that's the biggest topic here, >> how is it done today in Roland Hills?
Because Roland Hills today has water and sewer for both county and city residents. Um, it is not available in Baileyville. It should be. I I agree with Commissioner Jones 100%. Have you guys ever ran the infrastructure through there for people to tie on to for uh for
>> the 25% increase? >> 25% increase to get the grant for set to sewer to do these things. You can apply for grants. You just haven't ever done it. So, you can form your utility district. You already have a utility authority because it's called the plaque of gas authority. You guys can already do this. You can go into Byville right
now and start running water and sewer county uh rideaway use permit. Go to digging, right? You can absolutely do it. People have to tie to it. No, they don't. But you can put it out there. The statute says you can't issue a septic permit again if the if at the sewer sitting in front of your house. So
people at that point wouldn't be able to get a septic tank. They'd have to hook your city system. But you had to put the opportunity out there for people. Today the opportunity doesn't lie out there for people to hook into it. You guys did it. Tommy Lane Avenue in the county. You ran water down there for two people
because they want they wanted off well water. They wanted city water. They got it. So it has been done. How's it today? I mean that's really the question is because when somebody really wants it, they get it and you can charge them a connection fee and your impact fees for city water and wastewater
>> and and you cannot sewer grant though you cannot charge your impact fees because of state grant given to you. So they are exempt from your impact fees to your to your systems. And my only point of bringing up what I did earlier about my property and the messers and all that
was because from my perspective as an elected official, I'm not going to be willing to enter into any agreement that's going to force anybody to annex who doesn't want to. So that's where I'm
at. So does anybody else have something they'd like to say? Commissioner Harvey, you're recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. So, how was the legislators a few years ago going to force municipalities to clean up the boundaries if it wasn't going to
be for force annexation? And I think that's a fair question to ask. And then I think we need to have the really really really tough question or answers to this question is instead of how do we incentivize people
to clean up these boundaries with the help of the municipality? How do we go into Can you make that a little bit larger? How do we go into some of these areas that are that are white here and and
Weaver Road, for example, or Stillwell Avenue and say, you know, why don't we take all that in? And we got a lot of green roads here, county roads. And why do we have county roads inside the city
proper? Why don't y'all take those roads over? you know, got some roads out in Anock and Lake Estates that was done with a taxing unit 50 years ago. We just resurfaced it a few years. So roads, you know, in some areas probably never going
to see a resurfacing in our lifetime. But why do we own St. John's Avenue when technically it's in I mean why don't we start having those tough tough discussions North Palm Weaver Melon and say you know what guys you can
see this is y'all's road give it to you what what do we do there I mean I think that's where we really got to put the the rubber to the road and have the tough discussion about where we're at because yeah it worked well was St.
John's Avenue, but it couldn't it almost didn't work well. I mean, it really did. And and I'm really disappointed in St. John's Avenue from Ziggler to the college. Um, and not because the fault
of yours, but even years ago we first had this meeting and I was on the board. Um, you know, I offered I said, "Why don't we just move the water lines out of St. John's Avenue and quit digging up the road?" because I mean it was no more that we put pavement down and city of
Pla's water line would break and then we're digging up the road again, patching it all the time. So why don't we have those discussions one day? Why don't we encourage our staff to get together and go, why don't you take over some of these? You know, when State Road 20 got fourlaned out past Enelark and to
Hawthorne, they were going to do they um put some turnabouts out there off the road down towards the lake to the south. And one of our commissioners was really concerned about the state doing that and letting the county do the maintenance.
But as I explained to him, four cars use that road. that road will never see any type of resurfacing in our lifetime or my kids' lifetime. So, I think it's time to really start having the really really tough and it's only the city of Pala.
Don't don't we're we're I mean because that's our county hub. That's our city hub. That's where the main things are happening at. You know, we're not seeing that in other ends of the county like we we should maybe, but it's really city of
Palaca, county of Putnham. And I think now is the time, especially when you see nothing from Katherine Street, St. John's Avenue. I mean, when you see that, why are we why are we even having River Street? Did I see River Street as
part of the green? I mean, good god, anybody knows where that's that road's strictly in the city of Pa and why does the county deal with that? I mean, why don't why don't we just give it over to y'all? >> Okay. Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm sorry.
>> All right, >> Madam Chair. >> Uh, yes. >> So, through the chair to Commissioner Harvey, to answer your first question, like how did the legislature expect to address the compactness of municipalities? We're only talking about annexation, but please understand that
there's also a legal option with contraction or you hear people call deanexation. So there are sometimes where properties from mun municipality return to the county and that's what helps you draw those compact boundary lines. >> So is that in the case was which one of
you guys brought up Duvall? >> Yeah. And what was your what was your point on that? So I can understand I can follow you. >> That was for the uh sewer sewer and I mean water and um sewer services. They went I think someone over here said that
they they're familiar with it. Did you say that uh that there were grants there were grants issued that uh supported that campaign. So that's what we have in the Baileyville area. you know, have a lot of people on septic tanks and I
think uh Mr. Grimes said a lot of them have those hills in the front yard and so in their elderly people, people who've lived in those properties for some time when those septic tank start to fail, they're going to they're looking for >> sure >> uh solutions and sol one solution would
be city water and sewer. So at this point I I think being proactive saying how can we help our citizens that's a way and rather in city or the county what we doing is we're talking about helping people. I think that's all of our goal. And so this is this is a good
conversation. It's healthy. Rather, you know, it's going to say outs to someone and say they feel they're getting double tax, but we want to see can we help them on the front end with a grant that could help them transition from sewer to sept from septic to sewer and uh you know a
seamless process what so to speak. And I agree if we could get our administrators to get together and work on these particular projects um and that who would immediate immediately impact our constituents in a positive way. Um as
far as drawing these lines Mr. Grimes was just mentioning about the the college area. Well, how did we or commissioners legislators in the past annex in the in the past? It gota it has
to be a road map some kind of way where they say well this is going to be city it's going to be county rather it makes sense now I think it don't make sense now it makes sense to so that so that we can say no this is county or this is a city and we have domain over that sort
because when it come to fixing the roads what sense do it make and you could go out there now half of the road half of one road is paved and the other half is neglected >> I'm not saying city or county who's But half of half some of these roads are
paved smooth surface and the other half is not. So I I think we we deserve I mean the citizens deserve better and and it's it's our responsibility to make it happen. So >> we're having great discussions. So first of all, I want to say thank you for everybody who's who's joining in and
having good discussions. Um Commissioner Alexander, you're recognized. And then Mr. Harvey, you'll be next. M. Did you >> sure that one Commissioner Jones with Commission? >> No, this one was mine actually. >> Yeah. Yeah. But no, coming into this meeting today, I was a little
apprehensive about, you know, how it was going to go and and was it actually going to be of any benefit to to either to either group, but um I've I've been pleasantly surprised. Um you know, overall, I see that there will be some benefit to this meeting. Um I like what
we've learned from Commissioner Jones. uh comm you know the rest of our companions on the city commission. Um I would like to engage our attorney to you know because we're not going to meet again for potentially another 90 days and you guys know me I like to see things move along a little bit more
quickly. Um I would like to kind of get a handle on how we would abdicate some of these roads, figure out is that something a vote that would need to go before the city and before the county? Would there be the potential to possibly create a list of those before we came to our next meeting? you know, I don't want to see us sitting around for 60 or 90
days. We obviously agree that there's some issues and those issues that we can tackle. I'd like to tackle those as quickly as we can and then we can have another agenda at the following meeting. Um, have you guys considered any type of outreach program as far as those folks in Baileyville, like you said, that are on still on city water and city septic,
but you know, we deal with construction every day and the cost for a new septic tank is anywhere from 16 to $25,000. So, Yeah, it's going to be so it's going to be very expensive especially with the new inspection system and I think they will require annual inspections. You can
do it yourself if you certifi self-certify or you have to call somebody else and pay for a service. So, um I think that an educational campaign might be beneficial in those communities to maybe you might pick up three or four that would be interested in going ahead and joining the system if they have if
their system is failing now and that would encourage others to do the same. but just different ideas that we could collaborate on to close some of those gaps, get rid of some of these gray areas and eliminate um just things that should have never been or things that have happened uh out of neglect. But a
lot, it seems to me from what I hear from the city that a lot of this was voluntary annexation where you guys may or may not have control of that, but it was a voluntary annexation from the citizens. So if they want to do that then that's fine but we need to now
encourage those little enclaves and educate them as to what it's going to cost to stay status quo or they need to go ahead and move forward. And the beauty of this is I think that Mr. Grimes um gave you guys some education regarding the septic to sewer grants.
And I'm sure he would be glad to share any information that would help clean some of this up and help you guys navigate that process so you can utilize some of those funds to again help your citizens, which is what we're all here to do. So, >> so you you were talking to Mr. Commando.
>> I was I had to get that out. Then he'll >> give him a specific directive. >> Well, I I wanted to get some input from him. might be the first time I've ever heard that I'd like to involve legal to expedite anything. But >> is that that's kind of counterintuitive? You guys don't get
>> I mean there's uh honestly there's different avenues that at your disposal for both the city and the county as far as um you know you can conduct surveys, you can do town hall meetings. If you're trying to get community input as to what they'd like to see happen before you make a decision, that'll probably make
if there's a public hearing process that follows, that'll probably make that go a little bit smoother. So there are different kind of groundwork things that u that we can kind of put into place. >> Okay. Yeah. I would love to um learn from you on how we make that process move forward because we all agree I feel
sitting at this dice that there are roads that that aren't ours that are yours and vice versa. So how do we move that process forward to get that get that moving? One thing I I've got a couple commissioners I'll call on in just a second, but I would say that I do believe that the county commission
and the city commission truly has our citizens best interest in in mind. And as we move forward, if if there's an opportunity, you know, because we do have another subject matter to talk about as we move forward, if there's if you're applying for grants and there's an opportunity
where you can say, "Hey, can the county write us a letter of support?" Absolutely. Please bring that forward because this is a great, you know, is there a partnership that we form whenever like the some of the neighborhoods we're talking about that are owned partially by the county and
partially not part owned but within the county's boundary and within the city's boundary, but it would make sense that we partner on that grant or something. I think there's opportunities that we're now talking about and seeing. Um, of course with anything, um, you know, there has to be, uh, collaboration and
and direction. And so, while it's easy for us to sit up here and say, have our administrators get back with us, Commissioner Campbell hit the nail on the head earlier when he said, what's what's the directive? Like, what's the time frame and what's the directive? Because we can sit up here and talk
about all kind of things, which we have done. Um, but at the end of the day, what is the directive that we're giving our staff and what is the time frame that we're giving them to work in? And so that I think that's the challenge that our staff who are great on both sides, you know, it's it's not
reasonable to expect that they come back with something when we haven't given them direction that we're asking them to come back with. With that, Commissioner Harvey, you're recognized. >> Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. Brooke, can you pull up the Baileyville area again? And let me ask you this. I think it worked out there at the
bargeport, but let's just say that the city of Placa never wants to get into that white area again and you don't, but we do. We want to put water and sewer there. So, let's just say that we don't
want to pay the 25% up charge. So, we just have a master meter out there. I don't know what even if that's doable, but let's just say we want to provide all that white area from Carter Road, Reed Street, Old Jacksonville Road. We
want to provide water and sewer there. The county does. Couldn't we have an agreement with the city of Palaca to buy water and to have sewage capacity to um to put all that in? Because if you really look, the outfalls run out to the
river there. So it would it would really protect the river and we all know failing there's you know this area is different than where I live in West Putinham we have sandy soil you couldn't run a water hose all day and make a puddle in some areas so sewers work well
out there but some of these areas they don't work so well so if you're not interested in going in there why don't we go in there and then the other before I go off that point there are grants and we all know that. But years ago, I
helped the town of Enelarkin with municipal scrap program to redo their roads uh to turn dirt into pavement. And and I'm sure I'm not sure. I I I would have to check to see if the legislators
and DOT still have that program, but if they did, we could start taking some of these roads maybe and helping y'all support municipal scrap go to go ahead and say, you know, y'all take over Palm
Avenue, for example, and by the way, we this area just needs to be done and we'll help you with a with a grant for that. I mean, I think those are the questions that because in Bargeport, and correct me if I'm wrong, don't we have a master meter out there of some sort that
we get water? I don't think we get sewer, right? But we get we get both. >> Just water. So, and and that's we don't pay a 25% sir charge. I don't think >> but then we we charge our custody. Yeah. Okay. But but I think there's room here
that if you're But then again, let me say this. I don't want the county to go into an area and provide a service and then the city goes, "Well, we're going to go in there and take this area out and take that area out." I think we need to have specific boundaries where you
can't do that if we're going to provide services for them if you're not interested in going in there and doing it. Thank you. Thank you. >> This has definitely been full circle. Um, Mayor, um, Commissioner, you turned off your button. Did you still want to speak? >> No,
>> you're good. Okay. Um, yes. Yes. >> Just a little bit. Is it possible we have development review at our at our county if and you guys are always welcome to come. If we all as staff level attended your development review
committee meetings so that we know these things are coming, right? So if you knew that the county's got a project coming out off of Francis, right? And you go, "Oh, wait. We got water out there." Right? or so it would help us collaborate. So then when we would have known about the project on St. John's
Avenue where you got 200 as Commissioner Peliser said 281 town homes you know how the county found out about it when it came up then they started turning ground right so we didn't the county doesn't know that we're about to put 281 homes on St.
I didn't know it um until the McCory subdivision got abandoned at the county level. So, I think it'd be very wise for us to have our staff go to each other's DRC meetings because then we all can collaborate and know exactly what's happening at any given moment.
>> Look at you two sitting over there. Y'all got something to say? [Laughter] All right. So, I'm looking on both sides of the dis. Um, staff, is there anything staff wants to say on this subject matter? Um, the mayor, anybody wants to
weigh in before we move on to the next agenda? >> I don't want to weigh in particularly, but I again, did we give direction to staff? Again, we're back to the same bottom line, direction and timelines. And we didn't really >> because I don't know that we have a consensus from the 10 of us. I don't
know that the 10 >> need to say that. If we're not giving them any direction, we need to say that. >> I don't think we have have a consensus that says how we would resolve the the boundary. Um I think we have different viewpoints on that. We've many of us have expressed our different viewpoints,
but I don't think there's a majority, unless I'm missing something here. I don't think there's a majority that says yes, go and conquer and do this one thing. I mean, other than collaboration, u maybe attending some meetings together, work together on grants, those type of things. Now that we've had the discussion, I think staff can certainly
work on that and get and and that's not necessarily them getting back, but just having a better communication. We do get notified whenever there's um the city there. We had a little hiccup, but now we've got it worked out. Um, we were not getting notified just because they had some wrong names, but now we got the
right names on the list of when when there's a uh I believe so, Mr. Suggs, you get that call when they're having a zoning change and that kind of stuff and it affects the county. And Julianne from the planning department, I think Zach gets that. Do you get that? When the
city has a a zoning change when they're annexation, sorry, annexing in. Yeah, we're getting that notification. And um so I think we're communicating a little bit better, but um I would like to hear from Miss Young. action
when when we have a known development of some sort that both staff divisions need to have some collaboration on or at least need to have some some awareness of what's coming to the table. Um if
right a site plan review a preliminary or or high level DRC zoning is zoning is zoning and that's well and great but but I can reszone a property 18 times and not do anything with it. >> So so that's the ask from the city but what is the city's ask from the county
on that? >> In other words, is there a opportunity that you see where we could more informed for them? I I would like to say that you know one just one example. The other day we had a DRC came and wanted to do a repair shop right there at the
corner of 17 and the guess maybe the south entrance of Comfort Road. >> Yeah. >> And they go we got to put a well and septic over there. And I go why city and water run right there. And I mean this
was this person was saying this is because by the time because when our fire marshall hits it and he has to put hot fire water in there. You're talking hundreds of thousands of dollars this particular development whenever the water man sitting right in front of thing. That's why my thing was for the
city. Will you come to our DRC? Because when they is somebody across the table can say, "Hey, go talk to this person because as they're already here, they're already wanting to develop. They're looking for the path forward." And a lot of times we don't have that because the guy goes, "Wait a minute, the city guy couldn't do that." Well, so then we're
in a volley. So, it a lot be real helpful on our side if we did have a city representative there >> and we can accommodate that. We're more than helpful, you know, anxious to do that. Uh to have that exchange of information between the city and the
county, particularly related to development review. Of course, we welcome that. Um I'm asserting if planning director would like anything else. Okay. Hi. And and I think that uh No, go ahead. Is this Ullet? Ullet. Okay. Commissioner
Alexander. >> So So we're asking for direction. I mean, this would be a direction that we could give. I mean, we could take a vote on it, but So I would like to see one representative, one minority
representative at the majority DRC review committee. >> You're talking about city versus county. Is that what you're saying? You'd like a city at the county? >> Correct. >> Okay. or county at the city. >> Yes. Yes. So, I think that's >> you know that that's where we're going with this. So, I I would like to at least come out of this with something
positive and um I make a motion that we we do make that. >> Yeah, I think we're there. I don't know that we need a formal motion. I think we've agreed on that. But my my concern uh for the city and I think you guys have to go back to the table and have some conversation as to how you move forward with allowing people to have
city water and sewer without annexation or if that's a dead stop. No, you're not allowing it. Um, it sounds like you do have provisions for a 25% increase. So, I think that's the city's got to come back and have that conversation and and and
um, Miss Davis, was that what you were going to >> We're not really sidebarring. We're really in agreement with a lot of what we're hearing. But I do agree with you. there's an opportunity for the city to go back and address how we can um
overcome um deal with some of what we're talking about today. And then as we do those things that which we're responsible for and have control in, then we can see if there are outliers and opportunity for future um collaboration with the county.
>> So, I think we're mixing several things. Um, Commissioner Jones has laid it out very clearly and I think that's an opportunity that we should look at first determine how the city is going to proceed and address some of these issues
which we can do as a city and then for future see future opportunity. >> All right, Commissioner Newold, you're recognized. >> Oh, sorry. You're >> No. >> So, the buttons are sometimes they're not right. >> That's my button.
>> Oh, okay. Oh, it Yeah, it got to check that out. >> Okay. >> So, you mentioned about uh >> Commissioner Harvey mentioned about how could we go forward? Well, the Baylorville area as you said that is not
the city, that is the county. So, who area is that as far as commission? >> Okay. >> Leave it to me without looking it out. >> Great. So I I think along with what Commissioner Harvey uh proposed that we
get some type of services from the city where we could go uh go after the grants maybe collectively collaborative collectively we' get uh get the grant city county it's the county we're not trying to take that property or that but
if we could we would because let's let's let's the the the unsmoking thing here. Those are votes. Nobody want to say that. But those are votes in that area. Okay. So, commission, you don't want to give those
votes up, but you could be a hero right here by providing these people with water and sewer. We if we could provide them with water and sewer, and we all look good in the city. But collaboratively, we'll all look good because we're working for the the the
the citizens in the city of it happened to be within the city area, but that is a county. So, without making a motion to actually look into getting obtaining those grants and see could the city provide
infrastructure that we could give the water in sewer. Now, as you guys look, Jenkins Middle School right there, James A. Long, infrastructure is already there. Water line's already going through there. So, you can't tell me that that's the problem. That's not the
problem. It's the will. Do we really want to do it? Simple as that. So, do you guys want this population of people or do we want them? That's That's what Simple as that. That's what it's going to equate to at the end of the day. But we want to take
care of them. I tell you what, that's what Commissioner Jones want to do and I know you guys want to do it as well. So, it's a win-win. That's what I look at. So, can can we today you say we're not all don't have a consistent consensus on do we want to do that or not? I know
it's not on the agenda, but it's been on the back burner for a long time. And if we don't say we want to move forward, we probably won't move forward in in the future because this didn't just happen. Those schools been there for a long time to the point where they probably Jenkins
shut down then James alone will be shut down. So what happens to the folk that's out there? >> Yeah. What I was saying we didn't have consensus on was immunable boundary service agreement going forward. >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> Yeah. No, no, you're fine. So I mean that's that's what I was saying. It didn't sound like we had consensus for I
think there is a will entire I haven't heard anybody say no that they didn't want to see us look into a possibly uh grant opportunity for that area. take people into some kind of a public water and sewer. I think there's a great opportunity there. >> It can we get a wave in support that
everybody likes that idea? I mean, I don't know that it matters that it's I I think that what matters is how we um can jointly come together on that. And if it's the leads the charge because to your point, it's it's >> that's the color of the map, then that's what happens. So, um we'll explore that
opportunity. >> We support >> we support it. Exactly. All right. Um, with that, we've had a great discussion about municipal bound service agreement. Um, sorry it didn't necessarily go the way everybody wanted. Um, but we had great conversation. Is before we go on to legislative priorities. Anybody else
want to have a Are we all good? All right, moving on to legislative priorities. I know it's late in the day. Um, this came up, I believe, um, from a couple commissioners both on both sides of the, um, aisle that want to say, "Hey, as we move forward in the new
year, um, can we jointly go together for legislative priorities?" And this is a hard topic, even though you'd think it'd be the easiest one here. It and I only say it's hard is from the county's perspective because we support every municipality that takes their priorities
to the state level. And we don't want to be in competition. We want to be u cooperative and we want to see the city productive and the city's done a really good job actually in the past getting good legislative um appropriations as well as the county. We've seen some down
in Crescent City. So um Commissioner Jones, you were the one I think that uh really wanted to see this. So I'm going to call on you to uh just explain your position on this >> on the legislative priority. >> Yeah, you're the one who mentioned it.
>> Uh no I wasn't. Matter of fact, matter of fact, that was Jane West's uh she actually sent that out to us. So or camel may be able to do it, but that's not my clarity. It came from um some of the individuals that are in Tallahassee
as well as some of the lobbyists stating that we should be able to identify projects that would benefit both the city and the county and advocate for those in Tallahassee. I don't think it was a single one of us, but it that was direction that came from Tallahassee
that would be a better chance at us getting some of those funding if we come together and take priorities instead of the county having certain priorities and the city having certain priorities. if we can collaborate and jointly um come up with some priorities. Not saying it
has to be all three or five, but if we come up with projects that will benefit both the city and the county and take that as a collective unit versus individual. >> Sounded like we just talked about a good one >> going forward. Mayor also brought that up
>> um because we had when the legislators did come here they emphasized the fact that they wanted to see us provide some joint legislative priorities requisition requests rather and I think the most the one that is most obvious is
infrastructure right >> um that encompasses a need in the city and throughout the county so I think funding for that is a common need for all of us so that's just one example Okay. And I'm sorry I wasn't trying to misspeak on that um or call Mr. Any
Commissioner out on that. I was just trying to figure out how we who starts the conversation, I guess. So, um I don't see that as a problem. Um I think we've already all submitted our legislative priorities for this year. So, I don't think that we I mean, we support what the city has. I can tell
you that. Um but again, we support all of the municipalities and their priorities. And then I guess we I don't know about y'all, but we had to to sort of narrow ours down to just a couple and tell them what were number one and number two. But that's standard practice in Tallahassee every year. Um that's not
anything new. So without any other discussion, uh commissioner over at that end. >> Oh, that I got one too. So >> they've just got wires crossed over there. Um >> I got one after you're done. >> You got one over there. Okay. >> Sure. Thank you. You know, we're not going to redo our
priorities here, but it would be nice for us as the county to have a list of the of the Palaca's priorities. So, when we go up there, if we have the opportunity, we can at least give some verbal support to to yours as we're doing our thing. You know, we may not um
have a joint project, but we can at least speak in support of you guys and hopefully you of us, and that'll be at least a little step forward. >> Yeah, I don't disagree with that. Um, now, are we at this end of the Commissioner Alexander? This is not a inse a secretarial role from Mr. Jones.
Um I wanted to share with u our city commissioners today uh at our regular county commission we had a a very interesting discussion and presentation regarding the uh property taxes and what the potential impacts might be on our county. And I don't know if you guys
have taken a detailed look at the impact and what how it might affect the city, but um I wanted to at least offer Miss Holmes the opportunity to speak to that and what she might think or what she thinks may be the impact to the city as well because it's it could be very
detrimental to us as a county. >> I I don't think that Julianne can do that. I mean, I think they've come up with their own I mean, that's not fair to just pitch that at her and she hasn't been prepared. You can't speak. I mean, I don't I know what we spoke about today, but that was specific to the county. I think the city has done their
own analysis of how it's going to impact them. >> I'm sure they do. Um, I think to Commissioners Alexander's point, when we look at things that we can jointly advocate, it certainly um needs to be a unified voice and message between both the city and the county that the
implications of that of those eight at this point um bills that have the um intent to offset property taxes are going to be detrimental to both city and county. No. Um, at at you're right,
Chair Wilkinson, I can't speak to the actual numbers because I haven't run any projections on city numbers, but I can tell you that if it's detrimental to the county, I know it's going to be detrimental to the city, maybe even more so than it is to the county. And so certainly when we talk about having one voice in Tallahassee, that um ought to
rise to the top of everyone's list of things that we need to be advocating for together. >> Totally agree. Thank you. I apologize that that's misunderstood. Yes. Thank you. >> Everybody got it but me. Uh, Commissioner Warm, you're recognized. >> Thanks, Madam Chair. But again, talking about the legislative priorities and
different things when you're talking to the legislators, what what um we came back from the legislation um speaking that when you come for the priorities, make sure that you have some contributing dollars for those. And then again, we're not getting those dollars
that we used to get pre um um pre-COVID. Um those dollars are going away and most of the um dollars that they have now is um a million or less as it relates to um the projects because they've been u really tightening the the um budget
strings or what have you. So again, we whatever projects you have, you just need to make sure that you have funding to go along with it because they're not just going to fund 100% of most of your of your priorities. Thank you. Great comments. Uh, Commission, I mean, Mayor Korea, you're recognized. >> Yes.
>> Push. Thank you. >> Sorry. I think when we um added this, we were talking about next year's priorities, not this year. We know those are set for the county and for the other municipalities. So, certainly, we weren't suggesting we change them. It was just going forward. Also, the
chamber has ours as well as I think everybody else's as another um agency to advocate for us. And we do clearly have to work together to advocate in regard to the tax issue because it's certainly going to have a huge impact in the city. We've already Attorney West has already
shared that with us. So we do know that. >> All right, Commissioner Harvey and then we'll be going into public comment. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I think it's we need to be mindful of the fact that and I think I've been here quite a bit so I can tell you this. When Tallahassee is
going to make you whole, there's strings attached to that money. And if you can't accept the strings, you got a problem. And I think we need to be mindful of the fact that right now it's a lot of rhetoric. Words just flying around, but they're
going to do something one day. And when they come back and say, "We're going to make fiscally constrained counties whole for a certain amount of time." But the governor was quite clear. He can't keep it up forever. He's only going to be governor for one more year.
So, I think we got to be very careful about the camel's nose going under the tent because it could be detrimental to municipalities and counties when you've got somebody else paying the bills
telling you how to do it. >> And I'm going to leave it like that. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> All right. Um, with that be we're going to go into public comment unless anybody else has anything to say. All right, public comment. This portion of the agenda is designed to allow citizens an opportunity to bring matters to the
attention of the board. It is not reasonably 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. Madam clerk, do you have any cards? Is there anybody from the public who would like to speak? Um, chamber, did you have anything you wanted to add? All right. Um, I see Miss
Nancy Russo in the audience. Um, if you don't mind, I would like wouldn't would like for you to give a few minutes of an update of what's going on at SMA regarding two subject matters because I do think it affect affects both bodies. Um, and I was not planning this, but since I saw where I'm calling her, um,
one would be the the fact that you guys now have primary care at your facility. And then I want you to discuss the 15 bed facility. It's coming. >> Sure. We um, our primary care has been up and running. Um, we operate a couple just two days a week right now. Um, they
were our, um, utilization hasn't been that high. We're still working on our AA license. We have that, but now we have to connect all of the insuranceances to it. So, the few people we do have are all um indigent. So, we're looking at um
being able to serve the insured as well. So, we do both. >> Do you have an opportunity though as we move forward that you're going to be able to take uninsured patients? >> Yes. >> Okay. You don't know when that's going to be >> We can take them. We can take them now and under the grant it's free. the grant
will end September 1st and then they'll move to a sliding scale like our um behavioral health is. >> Okay. So, I think that's very fair uh for all everybody to know that we do have an opportunity to send people who don't have insurance out to primary care. Um and then uh for the 15 bed
facility, >> yes, we have finally set the open house. We were getting ready to send out invitations. ribbon cutting is February 9th at 4:00 and it's at 3:20 K Larkin and it is going to be a 15 bed residential facility focusing on
re-entry and partnerships with criminal justice whether it be people coming out of jail and going from jail to residential or working with the public defender in the state attorney's office for some sort of a diversion or step down or early release. you know, however
they can determine that to be and um it is open to both Putinham and St. John's County and um because we need to make sure the beds are full and to make sure that we have all 15 beds to be able to draw down the funding to continue the services. >> Was your grant did your grant say St.
John's County? >> Um yes, that's how we we wrote it in for our um legislative ask. Well, I I really hope that you service more Putinham County people. >> Yes, absolutely. >> Because I feel like the need here is
greater. Um do you So, were you already have you been taking applications and and so when you open it, you'll already have some residents? >> We have been sending out um bi-weekly reminders to all of the people who would be partnering with us and we have not
had anybody send any possible applicants yet. >> Okay. All right. Are there any questions for Miss Russo? I just thought that would be good information for both boards to have. February 9th at what time? >> Four o'clock. >> Four o'clock. >> Four o'clock. >> They just finalized the invite. I will get it sent out. I appreciate >> and everyone on this city and county are
invited. So, thank you. >> Yep. >> And then, uh, real quick, um, I, um, that's all I have for you, Miss Rouso. Thank you. Um, Tina, I'm going to call on you. So, come on up. just to give us a quick I want to tell the city, you know, one of the things I watch all city
meetings all the time and I I really appreciated the discussion you had with the provider at this past meeting um and hitting them with some hard questions because we as all of us sitting up here, we see lots of money coming in and it's like
how is it being spent? And so we don't know what to tell our citizens unless somebody's sharing that with us. And so the county has created a community parame medicine program. I've mentioned it before, but I want our city commissioners to understand because it we're accepting city residents as well. We're working with city residents. So if
you'll just explain um the best you can what the community paramed program does and how it serves our citizens. So the two main things the community parame medicine program does is we see opioid and mental health substance use issue
patients and then we also see what we call vulnerable adults, people that need inh home assessments that might not have a ramp for their house or they have an issue that getting to the doctor or things like that. Um but mainly what we do is we work with SMA with Nancy and
them on doing substance uh opioid and mental health uh referrals and we do that within the city of PLA. We have done patients within the city of PLA already. We started in January of last year. So that's available to city
citizens as well. And sometimes it could just be a regular citizen who has continued to have fall at home and you're working with them on their medicine or you're working with them on making sure they have the right resources so they don't continue to fall. >> Yes, ma'am. Anything or sometimes the
elderly population has difficulty with understanding what their doctor needs them to do. We they the community paramedics, we have three and they're assigned to a fire rescue shift. So, they work 24 hours just like the other crews do, but they're assigned to do only community parame medicine stuff that day.
>> And and they're and like she said, we have them on call 24 hours a day. Um, and it also fills the gap on the weekends at the hospital because what happens that we've saw with the opioid patients is they get out of the hospital and they're re-entering and re-entering and re-entering. Um and so there is the
ability um to issue medically assisted treatment if needed and only at the very if if absolutely needed over the weekend um to get them until they can get into a program. Is that correct? >> We do. We offer a core MAP program that if they're if it's a weekend or a
holiday where they can't get right into SMA, we do order a bupinorphin based >> um MAP program to get them through till we can get them in with SMA or Meridian or whoever we can get them in with. Yep. >> We work very closely with the um case workers at HCA Putnham as well. We have
a good working relation. >> Yeah. So, I think sometimes when we talk about, you know, we had some great discussion today, but as we move forward, there's a lot of things, you know, we know you guys can't watch all our meetings. We can't watch all your meetings, but sometimes just having the discussion of what services we provide
that that also provides us your citizens. Um, I think these are the kind of and I just happened I had no idea to do this but I saw Nancy in the audience and I saw Tina and I just called on them but um that's one of the things as we go forward any kind of information that you
have that you know um to share just just share it right I mean I think that's one of the things that is a priority of mine personally is to see how we get the resources to us as commissioners to share and then how the people on the um board how the people that are on the
streets get the get those resources resources as well. So, I just wanted to share that with you guys. So, thank you, Tina. Nobody has any questions. All right, with that, um, we have a speaker card. Nope, I'm not allowing it.
Miss Reyes, come on forward. You only get three minutes, sister. Nobody else is speaking so I can get >> I'll give you I'm sorry. >> But this is fabulous. Oh, Evette Reyes, PO Box 253, Bosway.
>> This is really a fantastic meeting. I just have to say, >> thank you. >> My comment, surprisingly so, is not about animal services because they're doing a fabulous job. Um, but I do want to ask, is the county
and the city collaborating on the homeless issue? That is something that's dear to my heart. I hate what's happened. I watched the meeting the other night and
it made me sad that people actually said the things that they said about the homeless. And I'm emotional again because it's very dear to me. I'm actually handing out sleeping bags out of my own pocket and the donations of my
friends to the homeless tomorrow. It's going to be 28 degrees and we don't have a place for them. We lost our cold weather shelter because, and I'm going to say it, people came in, took it over,
and messed it up. And you guys gave money to an organization that's not providing services. I haven't heard the county involved, but you're talking about collaboration. The homeless are in the city and they're in the county. And
I think you all need to come together and figure out a plan. I'm not asking you to build a shelter. I'm not asking you that. But we have to figure something out because the citizens are the ones that are dealing with it,
right? You have your businesses dealing with the homeless issue. The county has its own issues. So, can we kind of add that to the collaboration between both um organizations, between both dasis? That's all I'm asking.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. Um, Commissioner Davis Uh yes. Um Madame Chair, if you can respond. >> Miss Reyes, um I'd like to say first of all, thank you. I received your email
and I was supposed to call you this morning and I've been running ever since. Um and thank you for all you do to um support the unhoused community. Um it's really appreciative. I want to say yes, the city and county are
collaborating. I will say we do have a ways to go, but one of the things I've been working directly with Commissioner Wilkinson on is one understanding our resources. What realize and a lot of this is due to Commissioner Wilkinson's
um research is there there's more there are more resources in our county than we are aware of. One of the things I'm personally working with is identifying
how those resources are being used because it what we're finding is it sounds good. We're giving money. We have money but there are still so many who are not receiving services. So I do want to just respond with that. Um, I will
follow up with you because I would like to speak to you directly because you do have some um, boots on the ground knowledge and you see a lot more than we do and I would love to see how we can ensure that our resources are being properly used.
>> Thank you, Commissioner Davis. Mayor Coro, you're recognized. >> The city is also going to be having a workshop on addressing the folks that are unhomed and how to help them. And we certainly want to invite our partners in the county to join us. It'll be a
publiclyannounced meeting. So it'll be all under the sunshine. And we certainly want to invite everybody to participate in that workshop. And we are all in this together. We need to come up with solutions together. There's no right or wrong or one answer here. >> Thank you. Thank you, mayor. Um I would
I appreciate that. Glad to hear you guys are having a workshop. I do think that it's uh you know, we do need to have a holistic approach to this. um and welcome the opportunity to to for that meeting. Um plus if we had it here tonight, it's already 5:17, we'd be here
till three more hours. So, there's that part. Um anything else to come before the board? Is anybody um any commissioners that want to say anything before we close? Mayor, do you want to have any closing comments? >> I'll keep it very brief because I tend
to do that, but I think this was I I'm really went into this with some uncertainty and apprehension. I don't know if that's the right term, but I'm really pleased with um all of the discussion and the collaboration enthusiasm moving forward.
>> Thank you. Um I agree, mayor. And um again, we do want to be partners with you guys. We recognize that the city of Palaka is an intricral part of the county and um I'm excited about the future for both um the city and the county. So with this meeting is
adjourned. Thank you all for being here. Madam Chair, >> thank you guys.