--------- Welcome to Semino County Bocc meeting on January 27th, 2026. If you would make sure you silence your as I have something beeping as we speak. Silence your uh technology. That would be wonderful. And I am going to turn it
over to Pastor Bob Melhorn from Integrity Church. He is going to lead us in prayer and the initiation of the pledge. Thank you pastor. >> Good morning everyone. Let's pray. A holy one. What a gift it is to rise in
the morning and to be able to thank you for another day. And what a privilege it is to live in a land where we can elect leaders who guide us in the matters that affect our lives in so many different ways. We would pray for our our
commissioners today. We would pray for them that they would be mindful of the great responsibility the decisions they make affecting the lives of so many thousands of people. We would also ask for them the confidence knowing that you are with them to give them your wisdom,
your guidance, your strength. We ask your blessing upon the commissioners, their families, our county manager, upon all the employees of Semino County and upon all who are so blessed as to make Semino County their home. We pray in the
great name of Jesus Christ. Amen. >> Amen. I pledge 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, pastor, for your kind words. I'd like to give a shout out. We have two elected officials in the audience with us today. Commissioner Sarah Reese from city of Altoont and Mr. Anthony Armando from the city of Castlebury.
Thank you for joining us this morning. >> And there's apparently a cheering section up here for you. Uh we're going to move to awards and presentations. The first proclamation proclaiming 2026 the year of celebration
in honor of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America will be read by Commissioner Lockheart. Thank you. >> Um good morning everyone. And it is my distinct honor as a proud American and a daughter of the American Revolution to uh move the following proclamation of
the Semino County Board of County Commissioners proclaiming 2026 as a year of whereas July 4th, 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a defining moment in human history, which proclaimed America's independence from
Great Britain and King George III. an act that profoundly changed not only the course of America's history but the history of the entire world. And whereas the 14th and 15th British colonies of East Florida with its capital at St. Augustine and West Florida with its
capital at Pensacola were created in 1763 with the passage of the proclamation of 1763 by the British by the British crown and are often omitted from the traditional narrative. the American Revolution and Seminal County is located in what was known as East
Florida. And whereas the British crown ordered German surveyor and cgrapher John William Gerard De Brum to survey its holdings in East Florida upon its acquisition from the Spanish in 1763. And De Brum traveled along the St. John's River into what is now Seol
County and likely became one of the first Europeans to visit this area and in 1765 sub subsequently created a map known as the map of East Florida east of the 82nd degree of longitude from the meridian of London surveyed by William
Gerard de Brum surveyor general for the southern district of North America in two parts that represents the earliest known surveyed map of portions of what would become seminal county and whereas the British Crown granted land allotments to individuals such as Dr.
William Stork, Sir Alexander Grant, John Beersford, Captain Samuel Bington, Captain John Jervis, and William Henry Rickettts Esquire around Lake Grant, modern-day Lake Monroe, Lake Beersford, modern-day Lake Jessup, and the upper
lake, modern-day Lake Harney. And these people became some of the first surveyed land owners in what would become the cities of Winter Springs, Ovido, and the village of Geneva in Semino County, demonstrating Seminal County's ties to the 18th century in a way here to for
unknown. And whereas Seminal County, Florida joins communities across our state and nation in recognizing the importance of this milestone and in reaffirming our shared commitment to the ideals and values that continue to unite us as Americans. And whereas the year
2026 offers an opportunity for all Americans to reflect upon and celebrate the enduring principles of freedom, democracy, and self-governance that have guided our nation since its founding in 1776. And whereas the United States
semiquincentennial provides a historic occasion to honor the vision, courage, and sacrifices of the patriots who secured our independence, as well as the generations that have since worked to expand and protect the blessings of liberty for all. And whereas the Semino County Board of County Commissioners
encourages residents, schools, businesses, civic organizations, and cultural institutions to participate in activities and programs throughout the year that celebrate our nation's history. Honor those who have served to defend its principles, and inspire
future generations to uphold the promise of freedom and equality. Now therefore, be it proclaimed that we, the board, Semino County Board of County Commissioners, hereby designate the year 2026 as a year of celebration in honor of the 250th anniversary of the founding
of the United States of America with pride, gratitude, and unity adopted this 27th day of January, 2026. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> Opposed? Hearing none. Motion passes unanimously. I think we have Dr. Dr.
Deborah Bower here from the Semino County semi-quint quincentennial planning subcommittee chair that's with practicing uh to accept the to accept the award. Commissioners, if you'd like to join us on the floor for a picture as well, that would be fabulous.
All right. Yeah, I understand. As we are reassembling, I'll give a shout out to the chairman of our school board, Mr. Robin, Dr. Robin Dinger, who I did not see earlier, so I'm sorry that I left you out.
Uh we're going to move to our county investment advisor report. This is a little less fun than our proclamations, but we always look forward to this every month. So, welcome to the podium. >> Good morning. I have my correct glasses on today so I'll be able to see what I
actually put in front of you. Okay. Um obviously a lot of things going on. There is another FOMC meeting tomorrow. Um, which is the same position we were in the last time I was here in early December. There was a meeting right around the corner. The Fed is not expected to move. They're expected to
pause. Um, while they kind of assess things after cutting for three straight meetings, uh, the Supreme Court, this is very important, but the Supreme Court has not rendered a verdict yet on the constitutionality of the reciprocal tariffs, and that's going to be very impactful when it happens. uh thought that was going to happen in
December and then thought it was going to happen a couple weeks ago and and now it looks like um it's not really clear when that'll happen, but it could be at any time. The uh economy continues to to uh exceed expectations. Fourth quarter GDP growth is tracking right now at
5.4%. Which is pretty remarkable if you go back and look at where the economists believe fourth quarter growth would be before the quarter started. Um, but that growth is not producing jobs. And that's the great big butt. That's the thing that I think was was completely
unexpected. If we're really growing at 5.4% in the fourth quarter, we're actually losing jobs. And what the Fed does when it cuts rates is hoping to stimulate the economy and in doing so creating jobs. And there that that link
between growth and jobs seems to be severed. Uh inflationary pressure is is noisy, uneven. It is still above slightly above the Fed's target but frankly the where inflation is right now where it's expected to be shouldn't
prohibit the Fed from cutting. Uh again they would do that to support job growth but right now the economy is growing much faster than people thought it would be. A lot of Fed issues in play right now. The DOJ launched a cremoke probe on on chairman Fed Chairman Pal. Pal pushed
back real strong on that. Um there is the Supreme Court's hearing arguments on whether or not Trump can fire for cause. Uh Lisa Cook, although that causes the big question and then um the decision on the new Fed chairman has been delayed. We no longer think it's
going to be Hasset and I think that was a trial balloon that the market decided wasn't what the market wanted to see. Um so not really clear to me at all who the Fed chairman is going to be. feels a lot like a game show to where we're going to get a reveal on the last minute. Um, and
I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Unfortunately, when I wrote this a few days ago, the idea of a government shutdown at the end of the month was very, very unlikely. And now the idea of another government shutdown at the end of the month is is fairly likely. Um, and everything that
goes along with that. So, brace yourself. Um the only thing I can say related to the economy is that the um we were shut down for 43 days in the fourth quarter and that really didn't seem to impact growth at all. It was expected to shave a full percentage points off of
growth but we're tracking at 5.4%. Clearly that didn't happen. Uh this is GDP growth. Uh third quarter was 3.8% fourth quarter I'm sorry third quarter was 4.3%. Fourth quarter as I said is tracking even higher than that.
A lot of that has to do with with um tech spending, in particular AI spending. It's been unprecedented. Uh but then also, believe it or not, the consumer continues to be very very resilient, keeps on spending. Um I'm going to basically show you a couple
graphs here. I'm not going to go into any detail, but these are that's payroll growth. uh that's the B bureau of labor statistics payroll growth and you can clearly see that things have slowed down marketly over the second half of the year. Uh if you don't trust the BLS and
some people don't um then you look at the ADP payroll reports and that has been negative four of the last seven months. So it's consistent. They're losing jobs. Um this is inflation. Again, I'm not going to go into detail on that except
to say that on a year-over-year basis in December, core CPI was at 2.6%. That matched the lowest since April of 2021. A lot of CPI has to do with shelter costs and housing costs are coming down. So the expectation is that regardless of
where goods inflation is that that overall core inflation could continue to to move lower and and be favorable for Fed rate cuts again if the economy shows any sign of slowing down. I would think that if the Fed did cut rates in 2026,
the problem would be that in essence they'd stimulate inflation and they wouldn't necessarily create jobs because inherently AI is is uh is engineering that that basically
uh allows us to do more with technology and and by doing so you you do get rid of jobs. So um we'll see how that all develops. I think when the year began, most people believed or most economists or most hopeful people believe that AI would
allow us to to grow um without sacrificing the jobs. And I'm not really sure that's the case anymore. This is the two-year Treasury note yield over the course of last year. So, you can see that at the beginning of last year, we were quite a bit higher, quite a bit lower. Right now, it's been drifting up
just a little bit with the expectation the Fed may or may not cut uh certainly as much in 2026. I believe the Fed will cut two to three times. I think that um the idea now of them cutting more than that is probably greatly reduced. The
idea of cutting less than that will you're still going to see a lot of pressure from the administration for for several rate cuts. Uh investment options. I I try to put these up just as a reminder. The scratches represent the the previous
meetings. So, um, the overnight rates because the Fed cut in December are lower than they were, um, the rates from six months to three years really, depending on where it is on the curve, either higher or lower. For the most
part, we're kind of in a holding pattern. Um, looking at recent transactions, so the clerk's office managed to to term out some of the pool rates. So they're at the bottom of those recent transactions. Um that's basically
taking overnight pool rates into terms and terming them out. Locked in some nice close to 390s which I think are going to be nice to have uh into the summer months. Uh also termed out some some bank deposits into term bank
deposits. Um pretty much precautionary moves as much as anything else. I think really smart moves. And then the uh two purchases there of treasuries are what we had talked about at the previous meetings. So not a whole lot of upcoming maturities. There were no maturities in
January. That has to do with the fact that so much money is coming in there's no point in doing that. Uh there is one small uh maturity in February and one small maturity in in March. So that's not really an issue. The issue is that there was a lot of tax money that came
in. And the one thing that I want to note is that we got $70 million worth of purchases that are going to go out a little bit longer. And again, keep that idea of locking in to the extent that we can, but last year at this time we did
about 160 million and this time we're doing 70 million. And I just want you to know that the reason why is that it's not as clear what's likely to happen uh during the course of this year. Liquidity is more important. We found that out this summer um whenever we got
below 10% liquidity because so much had been invested. So my inclination is to or my recommendation is to keep more liquidity going into this year as a precaution. Uh there's still a lot of money now that's been pushed out into
2027 and 2028. So uh as much as anything else that's a hedge. It's not a bet. It's just a hedge. Um again our overnight rates are roughly 360ish, two-year roughly 360ish,
threeyear roughly 365. The portfolio is yielding 406 as of the end of the year. Uh with these recommendations, uh my calculation shows that it will still be above 4% still be above 4% in February. Um, I I guess the only thing
to kind of leave you on is the idea that we're going to have a lot more liquidity going into the year when we last year. And and as much as anything else, that was just our understanding of of the needs that we didn't understand as well as we had before.
So, coming back up here to the recommendations and asking for as usual help because I have a tendency to stumble through this. >> All right, I'll help you. Thank you, >> commissioners. Any questions? >> None.
>> I have one. Uh significant change in our liquidity and I just want to look to the county manager and say, does that feel like the right >> Okay. I just wanted to to validate that. And then the second notion is and I just
a a confirmation Scott the 4.03 3 for the portfolio that is after the liquidity play and should remain the same until we make another change. I just want to make sure you get that on the record. >> So that that 403 is my expect. Now
granted, we haven't bought these yet. Um right, that is my expectation of where the portfolio would be at the end of January. So at the end of this month after those security purchases have been made. I don't really know what's happening with the cash in and out. So there's going to be, you know, that
factor that I'm unaware of. Uh the one maturity in February, my expectation is by the time we get to the end of February, we're probably going to have a very similar yield to where we are now. >> Fabulous. Thank you, commissioners. I'll look for a motion. >> Motion to implement the recommendations
of our financial advisor based on the report submitted today and recommend uh the clerks implement the board's direction. >> Second. >> Second. >> All those in favor? I >> opposed hearing. None. Motion passes unanimously. Thank you so much for being here and thank you for your good work.
>> Thank you. Appreciate it. Good to see you. >> We're going to move to the consent agenda. This is a public participation opportunity. I do want to point out that public participation will also be taken after for the work session specifically.
So, uh, Mr. Dger, do we have any public participation request for the consent agenda? >> No, ma'am. We don't. Hearing that, uh, Attorney Kate Ltor, do you feel compelled to read the, uh, dissertation? >> Not unless the board wants me to. >> Madam Chair,
>> yes. >> Move to approve. >> Uh, hold on one second. I want to go to the county manager in case he has anything he'd like to pull. >> Uh, thank you, Madam Chair, but commissioners, no changes to the consent agenda. >> Look at that. Commissioner Zimbau, you are ahead of the game. Commissioners, do
you have anything? And now you're up. Motion to approve constitutional officers item number three and border county commission items 4 through 10 second. >> Any further discussion? All those in favor?
>> Opposed? Hearing none passes unanimously. We're now to item 11 which is the work session for the cultural arts funding programs and this will be presented by Ge Kuna, economic development and tourism director. Gee, welcome to the
podium. I do want to point out that if you do wish to speak publicly, we do need you to fill out a yellow form and turn it into the board clerk right here in the front. If you haven't done that, you will not be asked to speak. Thank you.
>> Thank you, commissioners. For the record, Gee Kuna, director Economic Development and Tourism. Prior to our uh presentation beginning, I just wanted to take a moment uh to thank all the departments uh in the past two months
that have contributed a lot of background information, a lot of effort uh to figure out the evolution that we've been on uh for the past couple years that we discussed. So across the board, thank you everyone. And one of
the themes um of today's presentation that I would like to clarify as there's been some misinformation out there. Uh the county has never um we work with both organizations and the commissioners. Uh the idea that Seino
County does not support the arts. Uh that is not the case that we've seen dating all the way back to the early 2000s and even uh '9s. So that is not something that any department um has been able to show during that time. So
right now we'll look at the evolution of what the arts program has been throughout the county. And our goal here today is to make sure that we provide some clarity on on processes to move
forward across not just our team but for all organizations and the community. So the agenda today and thank you for giving me that moment. Uh the agenda today will take a deep dive into uh the background and the budget. Uh this is
within the the past five or so years. We'll look at the points there and then I will ask the Wayne Dench Performing Arts Center to come up and speak as well. uh once they conclude I will ask the seminal cultural arts council to
come up and speak and then we will provide three possible options. Of course these are not the only options that could be discussed today. These are just three possible options regarding some of the themes that we've seen throughout the community and the
briefings. So the background will start on January 8th, 2019. Semino County executes an agreement with United Arts of Central Florida, Inc. in the amount of $137,000
and uh $137,282 as part of the FY209 budget. The reason we are starting there, that is the last indirect funding agreement uh for Wayne Dench Performing
Arts Center and Seminal Cultural Arts Council. In exhibit A of that agreement, Wayne Dench Performing Arts Center received $51,36 and Seminal Cultural Arts Council
received $46,998. Another point regarding that agreement is the multiplier of the Bureau of Economic and Business Research, Bieber as it's referred to uh was also in the
exhibit a establishing a precedent and a theme that you will see moving forward. Uh a point of clarity there, the United Arts Agreement did have a board representative in that agreement
appointed by Semino County. The current agreements that we have do not. So you'll see just some clarity on the uh confusion of a board appointment versus a staff liaison. That's there just as a resource for both organizations.
So then January 28, 2020, fiscal year 2020, the board passed a resolution establishing section 28.40 of the administrative code creating the seminal county arts and cultural grant
program in the amount of $39,939 that was decided back to that Bieber calculation. So in FY20 and we will see this at a later slide when we look at the budgets we go from United Arts to
now three different budgets. So now Wayne Dench Performing Arts Center has a 50,000 budget there. Seminal Cultural Arts Council has 50,000 and now we've created the Seino County Arts and C
culture grants program with an initial budget of 39,939. Then fast forward to October 10th, 2023, the board of county commissioners voted to move again as we discuss the evolution of this arts program and
evenly split the seminal county arts and cultural grant budget between Wayne Dench Performing Arts Center and Semino Cultural Arts Council. So in fiscal year 24, the October 10th, 2023 date falls
under fiscal year 2024. Wayne Dench already receiving the 50,000 now receives $23,063 from the uh removal of the seminal cultural uh grants program evenly split
between both programs. So then the evolution and you see the same occur for seminal cultural arts council. So that's where you see those two sub bullets there of 50,000 plus the 23,063
that is due to the Bieber calculation tied to uh population. Then on November 19th, 2024, the board executed an agreement renewal with the Wayne Dench Performing Arts Center in
the amount of 50,000 for program operations with Wayne Dench Performing Arts Center opting out of grants program funding. This is that 23,000 and change was not in that agreement. April 8th,
2025, the board executed an agreement with Seminal Cultural Arts Council in the amount of $73,483 with the grants program funding included. So that's the 50 plus the
23,000 there. Along with all this, there were uh program changes. These are some of the program changes that uh we're we're looking at from the overview. For the grants, United Arts administered the
grant funding program in FY209. Semino County Arts Program estab established in FY2020. Semino County Arts grants moved to Wayne Dench Performing Arts Center and Seinal
Cultural Arts Council in FY24. Seminal Cultural Arts Council administered grants the grants funding in FY24 and 25. Wayne Dench Performing Arts Center administered grants funding in
FY24. And service management, we had the arts program located under the parks and recreation department up until 2024. And then the 2024 year was the office of
strategic initiatives. And when it was brought into my department of economic development tourism in 2025, that's when we do like we do with all agreements, we assign a staff liaison
for each agreement that we have. So, a staff liaison and and two of our liaison are here today as a resource for any questions, any possible uh um uh uh quality oversight. We can say when you're at the board meeting, if they are
invited to the board meeting, they're not contractually obligated. So, we have some organizations that invite and some that don't. So uh for this first year of bringing this inhouse I can tell you uh as our benchmark year there is a lot of
lessons learned and this is definitely a work session of great value for our department on how to move forward. Now we'll go to the budget and uh Wayne Dench Performing Arts Center you're on deck.
So the budget as we discussed you have fiscal year 20 that's when we went from the indirect funding of fiscal year 19 with United Arts inhouse for FY20 and you see the three budgets there budgeted
amount 50,000 for Wayne Dench Performing Arts Center expended amount 50,000 seminal Cultural Arts Council budgeted amount 50 and then expended amount 50 and the first year of that expended amount for that Bieber calculation under
the arts culture grant 39,939. And then when you fast forward to fiscal year 24, that's when you see the major change that although the budget amount was 50,000 because the arts grant funding was move was split in half
evenly and moved that's when you're going to see that expended amount of $73,063. That's the 50,000 plus the 23,000 and change. You see that amount both at Wayne Dench Performing Arts Center and
Seminal Cultural Arts Council and you see uh on FY24 the budgeted amount of $46,126 but expended amount at zero as that program moved and was evenly split. And as we've discussed in FY25,
Wayne Dench Performing Arts Center expended the 50,000 as they chose not to pursue the grant funding and the seminal cultural arts council expended the 73,483. That increase again tied to the Bieber
calculation. So 50 plus Bieber that calculation tied to population and for FY26 the key point here upon the approved budget is $74,440.80
for Wayne Dench Performing Arts Center and Seminal Cultural Arts Council $74,440. But the key here as there was some misinformation on this. Not a dollar has been expended because there is not an
approved agreement for any expenditure. In order for any fund to be expended through our department, a quarterly report needs to be submitted with an invoice. So there is not a one check at the beginning of the year
concept. I've I've heard that one come through that I want to make sure there are quarterly reporting and as written in the agreement it is split as such. Now I'd like to ask uh Wayne Dench Performing Arts Center if they'd like to come up and discuss.
All right. Oh. All right. Just want to make sure Hi, I am Andrea Howard, the executive director of the Wayne Dage Performing Arts Center. >> Good morning. I'm Brian Casey, the treasurer for the Arts Center.
>> We just wanted to offer a uh our gratitude for how much you all have supported the Wayne Dench Performing Arts Center over the years. We are greatly appreciative. We have been able to do so much with these funds and especially in cases of implementing our educational programs such as this year
we'll be implementing our field trips which will introduce the arts to the younger generation so we're not forgotten. Uh but we've been able to do so much including our summer camps which have been extremely successful where we've been able to offer scholarships to some of the schools within seinal county
such as Midway and um Mui and so many others. Uh we've also been able to implement our paid intern programs to some of the high schools and some of the students who've been able to do such fantastic jobs in the marketing area and so much more. I could just go down the
list, but I just wanted to offer a a thank you and I I as well just want to give a quick thank you. Um we have many partners that we work with at the theater and Simol County is one of those major partners. All support is
appreciated and we uh hope for continued support. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, >> Brian Casey. Now I'd like to ask Oh, sorry about that. Now I'd like to ask Seminal Cultural Arts Council if they'd like to come up and present.
Good morning chairman, commissioners. I am Anthony Aramandia. I am the president of seminal cultural arts council. Um board members, you can raise your hand as well. Also would like to introduce our executive director, Dr. Deborah Bower. And if I can please have my
treasurer as well, Steve Nelson. Good morning again, commissioners. My name is Dr. Deborah Bower. I'm the executive director of the Seminal Cultural Arts Council. Very happy to say I am celebrating my first anniversary on the job. So, I'm very happy to be here today to answer questions and provide
any information that you may require regarding the operations of SCAC over the last year. We are blessed to have a wonderful legacy of 31 years of partnership with the BCC. We look forward to continuing that and hope that
we can continue to build on that long-standing, very productive, very successful relationship. Good morning. Steve Nelson. Um, I'm the treasur for SCAC and I'll just reflect back on everything Deborah said and say thank you very much for the continued
support. >> Thank you. >> All right. And for the record, the uh bulleted uh points were discussion with uh Wayne Dench Performing Arts Center and uh Seminal Cultural Arts Council as
possible programs and points of emphasis that they would like to discuss. Now, moving on in our agenda. >> So, >> yes. >> Can you go back to the slide? >> Yes. >> Was that supposed to be discussed in the
presentations? I I believe we're going to present the possible options and then open for discussion, but at any point if you'd like to discuss, we can. >> No, not our discussion, but the presentations that we just saw, which were full of gratitude and we appreciate
that and and >> both organizations were asked to speak on their budget. >> On their budget. Okay. Thank you. So, uh, be prepared for budget questions because we were expecting a budget presentation just in the for the record
category. So, be on call. Thank you. Keep going. >> So, as our last slide here, um, these were and I'm sorry for the uh small font there. These were again uh three
possible options where uh our team were looking for a direction on which option the board may want to pursue or it may be an option that is not listed on here. Um option one and I'll read it just
because it's small and not everyone can see at this point. Option one, Wayne Dench Performing Arts Center and Seminal Cultural Arts Council for the FY 26 year
2025 2026 in the amount of 50,000 each as in previous years. These agreements would not include the grants uh program funding or scope of service for those organizations.
Option two, Wayne Dench Performing Arts Center and Seminal Cultural Arts Council for fiscal year 26 in the amount of $74,440.80. That's the approved budget. Uh these
agreements would include grants, program funding, and the scope of service. And then option three, Wayne Dench Performing Arts Center and Seminal Cultural Arts Council for fiscal year
2026 in the amount of 50,000 each. This agreement does not include the grants program funding or scope of service, but Semino County will implement a program supporting the arts with the remaining
$48,88160. That is all for the presentation. >> Commissioners, I'm going to open this up for questions. >> Yes. So, the reason we're here and the reason
we're having this conversation at all is because we were looking at whether the grants funding portion, which the board of county commissioners administrated internally, our staff gave out that $40,000 and change directly to grant
recipients for several years. When we looked at whether or not the new arrangement of having of giving that money to the two organizations and having them give out the grants as subreipients, whether or not that was working the way we intended, just like
we do any other uh agreement with a nonprofit, we periodically look at how those agreements are are fleshing out. In in looking at the agreement with Seminal Cultural Arts Council, there was it's a it's a signed written agreement.
Um there is a very specific intent that that the funding that was for grants from this board was supposed to go to grants. In looking at the budget that was provided to us by Seinal Cultural Arts Council, that number didn't match
the agreement. It was significantly less. So when we see that the funds that the organization says they're going to spend on the agreement that we agreed on don't match it because it's taxpayer dollars and not our personal piggy bank.
It is it is our responsibility to make sure that the agreement is being followed. That's why we're here. Just so we're clear. Not because Semol County hates the arts, not because we want to cut arts funding, but because we have a fiduciary responsibility to make sure the money we give is spent in the way
it's intended. So the first budget that we were provided by the seminal cultural arts council, which I'm assuming is accurate, was a P&L for 2425 that went from October 24 to October to September 2025. When we asked for additional
clarification, we were provided an addition a completely different type of budget form layout that didn't provide the actual. So, it's completely useless. So, I was hoping that today we were going to have the budget presented that actually showed the budget versus actual so we could make a determination of how the funds have been spent.
>> Is that does that exist? And can that be presented? So, >> so do you have a P&L for years prior to 2425 because that's what we asked for. >> Could you please bring that up?
>> And while he's walking up, I would uh I'll give my perspective on what was submitted. We have five years worth of data here of submitted budgets and and I would offer a healthy alternative thought to the value of the budget that doesn't show the actual is that the
intention is shown and the intention is still low. So I'll throw that out there as uh also a cause for concern that you may want to address. Um, one of the key things here is if you
look at the top BCC quarterly contract, there's the 73,000. I'm just rounding some numbers off if that's okay. >> That's fine. >> If you look at the actual, it only shows 55 was spent. The big
offset is when we run a P&L, it's actual cash that has come. it's actual checks that have been um cashed. So, when we run the P&L, we did the grants and we I think we we gave almost $28,000 in
grants. The reason that that number is low is because we did the grant recipients and we did the grant presentations at the end of our fiscal year. That's why that number is lower. >> Okay. Could you go to page two of three of that budget? >> I'm sorry. Could you please go to page
two of three of that budget? >> Okay. Yep. There you've got it. You've got it circled for me. >> Okay. >> So, you budgeted that you were going to give out $20,000 in grants, but you gave out in the fiscal year 135. So, you're
saying sometime between October of 2025 and whenever the checks were cashed >> is is an additional amount, >> right? And I can tell you the total number of uh grants given out I think was about almost $28,000.
Okay. And so the request was for prior years as well. We asked for this for 23 24 22 23. We asked for prior years so so that we could see a uh the history of of the years. >> And that's that's my mistake. I was
under the impression that for some reason we only you only wanted the budget. I didn't run the P&L for all the previous years to show budget versus actual. I can do that. >> Okay. >> And that was my fault. I misunderstood what was being asked. >> Okay.
>> I want to make sure I I understand. A P&L does not help me at all look at the finances. Uh a cash flow statement would be very helpful. And I think that's what you pretty much have here. Um, I'm not looking for the arts to be profitable. Uh, I'm not looking for
where their losses may or may not be, but a cash flow statement will tell me the whole scenario, what I need to understand. And gee, have we not received a good portion of what I would call a cash flow statement >> that was provided to the commission?
So if uh what you're describing, sir, is this um without the actual column. Yes, that was received by both Wayne Dench Performing Arts Center and Seminal County Arts Council and um uh emailed.
>> This is nothing different than what we already have. >> I first time I saw this, sir. So, so just for clar for clarification, commissioner, for clarification sake, the budget side of that is what we received. The actual expenditures which is in a cash accounting methodology is
what I heard from you is new. This is not a statement of cash though. >> This this is simply what what was expended in that time frame on a cash basis. Is that accurate? Correct. >> Yes, ma'am. and and so
without seeing prior years what should have happened in this year would have been the tail for the prior year that's missing from here should be in there. So in that 13,500 I would presume it would include checks
that would have cashed for the prior year's grants that were delayed past your fiscal year. That would be a statement of cash accounting and we don't have that. >> Okay, I can I can run those. >> Yeah, >> I can run those. >> But because the grants this is not the
first year this grant system was in play and the amounts were pretty consistent, we should see the expenditures assuming timing is close >> flowing through the system. >> Okay, >> so I can go back and run getting to
Jay's question. I can go back and run a cash flow analysis if that's what you're asking >> and it should carry forward at the end of the year to the next year so you could track all those finances. >> I can do that. Not at the moment, but I can do that. >> Sure.
>> Yeah. Easy to do. >> Thank you. >> Are there other questions from other commissioners? >> I Oh, I not for Mr. Nelson. >> Mr. Nelson, you can be seated. Did you have a question for someone else? dead. Um,
>> for the time period that the county administered the grant funding, I'll I'll call it direct grants versus sub versus this model that we're in now is a subreient type of grant. And we we manage and monitor subreient grants in a variety of ways ac throughout this
county. Um during the time that the county managed the grants the uh 20 through 20 fourish, right? Almost four years.
>> Is is there a way for us to get a rundown of of the dollar amount that was utilized for Seminal County Public Schools grants versus I would call them community grants? Uh yes, I would connect with our
director of parks and recreation, uh Rick. Uh I do not foresee that being an issue, Rick. Would that be an issue? Um sorry to put you on the spot here. >> Yeah. >> Good morning. Uh for the record, uh
Richard Dur, director of parks recreation, formerly leisure services. So So um we do have an expenditure. We gone through uh the system and pulled those out uh based on the actuals that were given uh during that amount of time regarding the breakdown between the
different recipients and whether or not they were connected with a program or they were with the school district whatever it's we just have the data the pure data at this point and we haven't delineated between the two. >> Okay. The reason I asked is because our agreement with SCAC specifies $5,000 for
art and public specifies that of the 20 some thou 30 some odd thousand dollars that we're providing them, 5,000 is supposed to be used for art and public places and the remainder is supposed to be used for subreient grants. And so I've noticed it's noticeable that the
majority of um communication we've been receiving concerned about u any change in the way these funds are delivered is from our our seminal county public schools. And so I it prompted me to ask what has changed with arts funding in
seminal county public schools because when I was on the school board we budgeted for arts in our schools and the seminal county public schools foundation gave a s considerable amount of funding to the arts. So I was concerned that maybe something that a a paradigm had
shifted um in the universe that now there is this um in um uh what's the word I'm looking for expectation that it's the seminal county board of county commissioners who's
responsible for funding grants and art programming in our schools which I think is wonderful. I think it's great. Arts in our schools is fabulous. That's why when I was a school board member, I always voted to fund it. However, I I'm just c the reason why I'm asking is because that concerned me and what I
found um Mr. Kuna was kind enough to reach out. Uh arts funding in the schools has remained level since 2022. So, the school district has not cut funding. Um so, I this is an they have an opportunity to apply through grant
for grants through the Semol County Foundation for Public Schools. the chairman of the school board is here. So, I'm just I would like to have and I'm sure we will hear during public comment an explanation of why there is the perception that these funds are for school for public schools because I
would imagine that we have homeschooling families and families who send their children to charter schools and private schools that would also like to have access to um arts funding from their tax dollars, not just via the public
schools. Not that they shouldn't have it, but that it would be an additional. So, just so you can kind of know where my brain is and why I was trying to understand the p the panic. >> Okay. >> And I don't know if this helps at all, but the during the time that the county
was uh implementing the grants program, the direct grants program to use the terminology from today, um each of these was for and was provided to a separate nonprofit. So, we dealt with directly uh nonprofits which may or may not have
offered programs within the school or a part of a school program, but they were all separately run nonprofits with their own individual LLC's and so forth. So, >> understood. Okay, great. Thank you, >> Commissioner Zimbau. >> I'm not sure whether this is going to be a gee question and maybe multiple
people's need to respond to this. Um, one of my question was how much is the school board actually funding the arts? Um so at this point um we do not have a
direct we can uh receive a direct number from the school board. Um, right now I I would I would say it's hearsay. Um, what we want we'll hold that out. >> We'll connect. Yeah, we'll we'll get a a direct funding. But, uh, for clarity,
um, the foundation does not fund this program. Sure. Has not funded this program either. >> Yeah. >> But the arts in general, >> but define this program. Uh so when I say that I'm just saying the um
>> seminal uh county arts culture grant program there were has never been funding or partnership funding coming in outside funding. Yes. >> What about any of the cities? >> Uh are you aware of any of the city funding? >> I would say not not that we are aware of
uh any outside funding from the cities >> to us. to us. Yes. To the to be specific >> to the seminal county arts culture grant. >> Has anybody ever thought about collaborating with both the school board and cities and understanding the grant program could be grown to a point that
may be more effective for our community? >> Uh that we have not explored currently. >> Okay. What was the funding prior to 2019? I noticed we cut it off at 2020 there. >> Perfect. And as I recall being on this
this board and one of the reasons we cut that is the money we were giving was being spent in a different county. >> Yeah. >> Regionally because it was a regionally regional uh operator that was handling the money at that point.
>> So in fiscal year 2018 it was $137,282. >> And at one time, wasn't it growing almost close to $200,000 at some point prior to that? >> More than that. Uh yes, dating all the way back to uh fiscal year 2006,
the funding um that we're seeing here did eclipse 200,000 >> and then the and then the crash happened in 78 >> and it was Yes. And then there was no funding for fiscal year 7 8 and 9 nor 10 even though there was a budgeted amount
of 120,000 but there is zero expended. So has anybody run the calculation on the Bieber had we continued to fund the arts at the level we were before the great depression which we are now almost 20 years past uh what those
numbers would be in today's dollars. >> Uh I can take a look at that sir and uh follow up with that calculation of what our population would have to be through Bieber. >> Great. Thank you. That's all I have for now. Commissioner Zenbower, the number I
was given for the foundation was $120,000 that the foundation gives to arts in their >> schools. I I just I just think if we're trying to serve the community as a whole, it would be wise that we
collaborate with our community partners. And if we can make those dollars go much further if we could possibly find a method to do that to collaborate may be beneficial in the in the long run. Any comments, Commissioner Delari or Commissioner Constantine?
>> Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, just a little more background. Gee, >> yes. >> Uh, some of the organizations that we talked about that we used to be a part of called United Arts and can you expound on that and uh what the dollar figure was that this board gave to
United Arts and how it was distributed and can a little more history about when we actually stopped being uh a part of United Arts because that's really where this all started from. So, uh, during our deep dive going all the way back, um, into the early 2000s
through, uh, our, uh, budget amount, an expended amount, we have 2005 being one of the earliest times. We also have an agreement based on an event uh, with United Arts dating back to, I believe it
was 1993 of 2005. we have an expended amount of 180,745. Then 2006 is when we discuss that amount being above $200,000. That is $315,50025.
And then during the time of the recession, there is not an a budgeted or expended amount in 2007 89 and then fiscal year 10. There is a budgeted amount of 120,000 but there is
not an expended amount. And then after 2011 12 13 14 15 16 17 1819 it was a fluctuation of as low as $126,819
and as high as $137,282. Thank you, >> Commissioner Constantine. >> Nothing. >> Nothing to say. I want to bring us back to today's conversation and uh prior to public comment just bring up some of the concerns that I have.
Um, one of the major concerns that I heard that I did not realize until today's presentation was that we're expending public dollars and one of the organizations invites us to a meeting and the other doesn't. that's not acceptable. So, that needs to be fixed. Whichever of you that is. Um, from my
perspective, collaborating countywide on this, I think, is what we're attempting to do. I think arts programs in the cities, our arts programs in the cities that are probably more profound than what we're doing. And
attempting to roll that up might actually cause that to be diluted and the local focus to be changed. So, I I don't necessarily um want to go down that path. I don't I'll just say it out loud. I don't like when Tallahassee does
it to us. I don't want to do it to the city. So, um by my recollection, we ended up with this new distribution model. I'm going to use the dirty word, four-letter word, tuba.
>> Do you all remember the conversation about the tuba? It was very early in my tenure. I was going to bring that up later. >> And we were purchasing a specific tuba for a specific school. And we have a former school board member and a former chair told twice of the foundation. And
we know that there are funds for those that are expended at the local level through the school district. And it was the same group coming back year of year after year. And that didn't feel right. So we moved this to a new methodology. Um, and it seems like we're back at
that. But I just want to do some math. And this is where I get really stuck. And that is, and this is for SEAC, I have a little document up here called budget snippets. And it is handwritten in pink, which is never a good sign when I'm handwriting in pink. But if I look
at the grants from the year 2021 to the year 2425, the total expenditure is $53,000. This isn't a cash flow problem because th this is one year was eight, one year was 10, one year was 10, one
year was 12, one year was 13. That is taken precisely out of the document that we were given. And it's not an expenditure, it's a budget, which comes back to my comment about the intention through the budget was only to spend this much yet the award seemed to be
higher. our intentions were different than the execution at least from the documents. So, as we're going through public comment, I I would um offer this thought that we do want to support the arts. What I think is happening is that
we expect the funds that we're giving to be expended in the arts in the grants in the fashion that we think they were supposed to be expended and we're struggling to understand that through the documents were given. And that doesn't necessarily mean that it's not happening, but with what we have, we
can't prove it. And it's tax dollar money and proving it is a a requirement. So with that, hearing nothing further for from the commission. Well, >> I spoke too soon. Commissioner Zower. >> Um, and this may be for SCAC, whoever wants
to respond. Was some of that funding used for salaries? Deborah Bower, executive director, SCAC. Yes. Part of our operating budget that has gone back many, many years, $50,000 has been a part of our operating budget.
Salary for the executive director has been a part of that for I can't even tell you how many of the 31 years. I think I can provide some other clarity though that I'd like to offer in regards to the grant and the budget. >> Before you go there, you've answered my
question. Um, can you run the operation otherwise? >> No. >> Without an executive director or some other way? I mean, I understand most are are volunteers, >> correct? >> Which we're very grateful for in this community,
>> but can you run the organization without having somebody who's ultimately responsible to run it that has to draw payroll? >> No. And here's the answer why. We are a primary volunteer-based organization. Just in 2025, and again, I can only
speak to how long I have been executive director since January of 2025. In the last year, I began tracking our volunteer hours. We have a volunteer base of about 50 regular volunteers that input over 2,000 hours of service to a
value of about $28,000 last year. I am the only employee. We downsized. Previously, SCAC had had an executive director and a program assistant because of the difficulty of everything that has gone up when it comes to minimum wage,
when it comes to insurance requirements, everything that you can imagine that you all have talked about before. It was not we were not able to keep that second position. And so in effect, I am the person who does everything from executive direct to fund raise to I even
took to save money. We canceled a previous vendor contract that we had with an IT company and so I am the IT person for SCAC. So if we do not have an executive director doing all of that and let's just say theoretically we have
great volunteers, many of which are here today. Let's say we had volunteers willing to take that over. At the end of the day, what it takes to run a council that is not advisory in its primary capacity, we have operational
responsibilities that for example, one of the biggest things that we have to maintain is when we're administering not just one but two grant programs which we have been doing since 2024. You know, I I look at October 10th, 2020 23 as both a good day and bad day for
SEAC because we weren't even here when you all decided to gift us with the additional grant the responsibility of the grant funding. We didn't ask for it, but when you offered us the opportunity because and I I took the liberty because there was a quote that really stuck with
me that day and it said United Arts Day in our United Arts Days, the seminal cultural arts and Wayne Dench had their finger on the pulse of the arts community and were the people who were doing exactly what we've identified as being the evalue evaluation criteria for grants. They
already have the staff and the volunteers and the process in place. And so we decided to rise up to meet that need that you as commissioners said you needed us to fulfill. So in effect, even though we were already through in 2024
because our grant cycle runs from summer to fall, which and that has subsequently been changed because I realized we were not working as effectively as we needed to when it came to funds that are budgeted, need to be expended, and need
to be cashed out in the same year fiscal year they're they're put. And that has been a change that has been made but we couldn't do it fast enough for when the money was given in fiscal year 2425 or uh 2526. We have had this ability to go out do
what you've asked us to do and there are responsibilities that come with that that I'm sure you all if you were running a business wouldn't want to trust a volunteer necessarily. Not that there aren't nice people out there, but when it comes to compliance, when it comes to reporting, when it comes to the
legal responsibility for upkeeping the very grant program that you all said on October 10th, 2023 was spending too many staff hours on small dollar grants. All of that is something that our volunteers are not capable of doing. So if we do
not have someone in the driver's seat that is aware of how these things go, then no, we're going to have to close. And so I think that's where at the end of the day when there's this question of what can SCAC do going forward, if there's not an executive director, you
will probably see it flounder for a few months and then it will close because the ship needs a captain. >> Thank you. >> Yes. So I don't want to conflate two different things which I think is
happening um because we go from you gave us grant money that we didn't really ask for. We were operating prior to that. You gave us grant money and with that comes responsibility. We're not really sure we wanted that. Like maybe it's a gift we didn't want. I you know we all
get those. um going back to the relationship that we had prior of giving you the 50,000 as Wayne Dench has done which is like thanks but no thanks for the grant funding we'll keep the 50,000 trying to understand why that would cause you to
close if we just bring those grant funds back inhouse because they weren't meant to fund operational overhead they were meant to be distributed as grants so I'm having a hard time matching if we because no one's ever talked about touching the
$50,000 uh principle. We're talking about the grant funding. So, how does removing the grant funding or putting more um um oversight on the grant funding cause you to close?
>> So, Commissioner, I would say first of all, we don't have any trouble continuing to do what you are asking us to do. The contract is there to protect you. It's to protect the taxpayer dollars. It's there to protect SCAC. We have at least again I cannot speak
before my tenure in 2025 but in the past year we have made good faith efforts to comply with everything that you all have asked us to meet in the contract. That is why we actually because of our fundraising efforts were able to award
slightly more than was required for grants. And so where does the the conflation of the grant where where is the I think if I'm understanding you correctly but please correct me if I'm wrong where is the connection between the grants and our operating budget it's
the executive director and so if you don't have one the other won't work at least from SEAC's side if you take if you if you if we have the grant funding that is a part of the responsibility of the it's not the sole responsibility but
it's a part of the responsibility ility of the executive director. So if you are to remove the operating budget which goes towards payroll if because I know that had been mentioned to us. >> Let let me make sure we're really clear because I've seen a lot of misinformation about this conversation
um in my email which has been a result of some social media posts >> that are wholly inaccurate. We are not talking about touching your base budget of $50,000. We are talking about relieved to hear that. Well, I we said it. You were here in the room when we
said it at the last board meeting. So, um we there's probably some repair work to do relationally, I would imagine, between the two organizations and Miss Bower. And so, I think Miss Bower the has the floor. I think what we have to
understand is if the if the um added burden of managing the grants is causing you to take time away from your responsibilities of fundraising which would then help you be able to do more work and give out more money. Maybe that's something the board needs to
consider. It wasn't one of the options on the table necessarily, but I think we have all options on the table at this point. So, okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> All right, I think we're to the point of going to public comment. I'll ask County Attorney Lour to read the requirements
of public comment. And uh what I am going to do is ask you to line up so that we're moving this along rather quickly. These rules will apply to this work session and the any public comment on the other two work sessions as well.
Florida law provides that members of the public shall be given a reasonable opportunity to be heard on propositions before the board of county commissioners except when the board is acting in an emergency or ministerial matter matters or conducting a meeting exempt from the requirements of the sunshine law.
Individuals shall be permitted three minutes each for public comment or six minutes when the individual is an official representative of a formal association or group. The chairman may modify the maximum time for public comment at her sole discretion when appropriate. Public comments on quasa
judicial or other public hearing items will occur during the board's consideration of those items this afternoon and public comments on pending procurement matters or on non-aggenda items shall not be permitted at this time. Members of the public desiring to make public comment must fill out a speaker form and present the form to
staff and forms are available in the lobby. Madam Chair, >> thank you. Mgerer, how many speakers do we have for this topic? >> 13 speakers. >> 13 speakers. And who are the first three? Bill Hyde, James Breninger, and Terresa Cruz. >> If you three would line up, that would
be fabulous. And I'll give a little bit of the rules of the road. We are going to allow you three minutes each. We are not looking for redundant conversation. So, I do ask that you don't repeat what someone else has said. And that helps us to make this a more meaningful
conversation. It is very difficult to listen to the same thing over and over again and weed through what new fact came to the table. So, please do focus on the new things so that we can take everything into consideration that you wish us to do. Um, so, Mr. Hyde, you are
first stop. Thank you, commissioners. Um, my name is Bill Hyde. I live at 2379 Oddley Street in Ovido. Well, I guess I'm the one that kicked the hornets's nest. And, uh, I didn't
intend to speak today, but I wanted to make sure that everybody could actually see me and hear. um what my perspective really is and what it was. I want to roll back to the last meeting. Um it's very important that that the last meeting where I kicked the hornets's
nest um only arts council was being discussed at that time. It was not the performing arts center. Um but uh in the meantime um member of the performing arts center reached out to me um talking
about uh you know their funding and uh had a very meaningful meeting and um I actually decided after that meeting that I would actually buy some tickets to the um upcoming Kev Kellaway Blues Brothers um Oh yeah. No,
>> before he leaves. >> Yeah. No, it for real. I I pro I keep my promises. So that's not where where my the comments about me or whatever come from. It comes strictly from what I read on the agenda um regarding the arts uh
the arts council. So you let me read the agendas. I try to get the background and what I read was is that there is x amount of thousands of dollars budgeted for the arts council and there's x amount that was uh was going to be
allocated for salaries. So my con my thing is I just don't see where a group that has a budget that size needs a full uh essentially a
part-time commission or part-time um county salary to run. Um, I'm pretty familiar with a couple of 501c3 and nonprofits that have budgets that are larger than the arts council
and are run by entirely by volunteers. They do all kinds of community work. They do they get their stuff done and they don't have uh a paid staff of any kind. So that's what brings the question
to me is really does the arts council need a paid professional with the size of the budget that it's had. That's that's my that's my only thing. I didn't didn't know all these details about the convoluted history and of budgets and
stuff. But you know what? I'm really glad to hear the commission getting into the details because it is my tax money. Um, I'm probably the only one in this room other than the commission and staff that went to every budget and mill hearing and I listened to you guys and
you said you couldn't cut anything. When I picked on something I thought you might be able to cut, man, made the newspapers. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, Mr. Hyde. Next. And if you would state your name and address for the record.
>> My name is Terresa Cruz. I reside at 5626 Winterbrook Way. That's in Winter Park, Florida 32792. As vice president of the Sterling Park PTA, I represent our families, teachers, and students. The arts are not a luxury. They are not expendable. They are a foundational part of a complete
education. Arts program support engagement, emotional regulation, communication, and critical thinking skills every child needs regardless of their future paths. At a recent meeting, I heard someone say, "The arts don't pay the bills, and they don't put food on the table." That statement ignores
reality. The homes we live in were imagined before they were built. The clothes we wear were designed before they were sewn. The books we read, the music we stream, and the movies we watch all employ people whose livelihoods depend on creativity. The arts already pay the bills they always have. From a
schoolwide perspective, defunding the arts does not save money. It shifts cost into disengagement, behavioral issues, and students who feel disconnected from school. Defunding the arts does not strengthen education. It narrows it. I'm a mom of four incredible kids. Each wired
differently and each needing creativity in their own way. My oldest Izzy is a junior in college who grew up buried in books. Reading shaped how she thinks, questions, and understands the world. My daughter Gabby, a sixth grader at Tuscilla, listens to the artistes and creators she trusts sometimes more than
any authority figure. My son Owen is a second grader at Sterling Park. He comes alive performing Michael Jackson's Famous Billy Jean, where confidence replaces fear. And then there is Ally, a fourth I'm going to read this because this gets emotional. A fourth grader at
Sterling Park. Ally is my most reserved child. She doesn't make friends easily, not because she doesn't want connection, but because she feels things deeply, and it takes time learning to trust the world around her. She puts enormous pressure on herself to get everything right every time. Drawing is where that
pressure lifts. It's where there's no single right answer, no test to pass, just expression. It's how she communicates. When words fall short, it's where she feels safe, confident, and understood. When you defund the arts, children like Ally don't just lose the class, they lose their voice, they
lose their safe place. They lose the one space where they feel capable and accepted exactly as they are. When we cut the arts, we are not trimming a budget. We are deciding whose children matter. We are telling the quiet child to be quieter, the creative child to fit into a smaller box, and the struggling
child the way they cope with the world is expendable. As a PTA leader, I will always fight for what strengthens our school. As a mother, I will not be silent by programs that keep children connected, grounded, and hopeful are treated as optional. This decision will echo far beyond a spreadsheet, and the
cost of everything. The cost of getting it wrong is one we will all share. Thank you. >> Thank you. I um I got it. Uh I just want to point out that number one we you please be seated. We we are not the school board.
Uh we do not have authority over the school board's budget and uh I will defend the school board in that they do everything they possibly can to have the AAA experience and one of those A's is arts. I will also say that as Commissioner Lockhart said this is not a
question of us figuring out how to defund the arts. It is actually in fact a question of us how figuring out how to fund the arts appropriately so that every single dollar that we fund goes to arts and that's where we are. So I I really
for public comment purposes want to make sure that you understand that this isn't about defunding the arts. It's about funding the arts and making sure that the representation of dollars that end up in the hands of someone that's actually going to do something with it
in the arts is more likely than it going into an administrative cost. With that, I'll ask you to for your name for the record. >> I'm James Breninger. I'm a teacher at Ovito High School. I've been overjoyed to be a seminal county teacher since 1997. Uh I actually was
>> We are overjoyed to have you as an overjoy. Let me just say that. Um early in my career at Lake Hal um we had a really rainy day and so everyone had to eat inside the cafeteria and the principal was standing near where I was standing and he said take a minute and look around. He said this is our actual
demographic at our school. He said if you look at your classroom the demographic should match. He said if it doesn't you have work to do because if the arts are for everybody then we should be seeing all races. We should be seeing all achievement levels. um students who can't afford to pay to go
on the district field trip or or whatever we're doing should have a space, autistic students should have a space and so on. And um that was the most Don Smith had ever said to me before after um but it stuck with me and I I remember that with everything that I do when I was asked to serve on Seminal
Cultural Arts Council's um grant board. I've kept that in mind as I look through the grant proposals and it did come up with the schools getting money sometimes from these grants. I got a foundation grant this year at Ovito for we're doing a departmental project on the Great
Gatsby. That money is still there. When we look at uh grant propositions, one of them this year, this is anecdotal, but it was from Lake How who are working without an auditorium for two years. Um it's being rebuilt. You can't make money as a theater teacher selling tickets if you don't
have a space to sell them. So for them to be able to have a big arts event this year, it did take some special funding. And I thought that was a really good reason to say yes on that one. Um there is city funding, there's schoolboard funding. I was looking at the ones where things are going to fall through the
cracks. Um not to go through everyone that we approved this year, but there are really cool um like there's the blues one letting elementary school kids experience music from a different culture basically. Um, anything that we could do to make sure those uh, cracks
are being filled in so that kind of everyone in the cafeteria is being represented, I think is so important. I don't know much about the budgeting and, you know, the charts and stuff like that. I do know that the process that we used to go through all of those grant proposals this year that I've been on it
um, was very thoughtful and um, I think that the work that's being represented there, it might not get funded any other way if we uh, if we're not doing it. So, thank you for the chance to speak today. It is club picture day ovito. I'm going to get back to Thank you.
>> Very important. All right. Next speaker, please call three. >> Marcia Drosski, Katherine Fabian, and Shelby Maddox. >> Name and address for the record, please. >> Marshia Drosski, 3995 Campfire Way in Castlebury. Thank you for this
opportunity. And uh the last time I spoke to you guys, it was about Deer Park and uh going for that. I like to speak about things that really impact human beings. And I I thank you for promoting the arts and doing what you're
doing. And I thank all the people here that are with the arts. I remember Castleberry when I first came, we only had an art house and the art the sculpture garden, everything there is just beautiful. But I have a quote,
living with art makes life better. And it's scientifically proven that it actually enhances our life. And you can look it up. And it's not only the consuming of art, the galleries, the museums. It's also the practicing of
art. I'm a 25 year retired art teacher. I also taught in Crealdi School of Art. I'm also a practicing artist since the year 2000. Um, I have rent, I have my supplies. So, it's very hard for a
budget and I really I really honor these people that are doing that. Um, you know, children, they need art. Humans need art. I mean, we see the cave paintings in Indonesia, 67,800
years old, Spain, France, and children need it. I mean, I see my niece, she's drawing on her body with magic markers, and thank God they're not Sharpies. So, I just want to impact that. I know you're doing I know you have to deal
with budgets, but just keep remember how much we need that in humanity because the stress levels now are really high and art takes away cortisol in our brain and we really need to have it. So,
whatever you can do when you're looking at those budgets, I I really encourage you to do that and thank you so much again. >> Thank you for your comments. Next, >> good morning. My name is Katherine Fabian. I live at 7615 Village Green
Drive, Winter Park, Florida 32792. First, I'd like to thank you all for your past and current uh support of the arts in Simol County. Uh, professionally I worked for the Orlando Ballet for almost 17 years and we are a past recipient of Seminal County Arts funding when we had uh we still do have
programming um in the community here in Seminal County. So I thank you for that support. As someone who's devoted my career to the arts, I've witnessed firsthand how organizations like the Seminal County Arts Council, sorry, the Seminal Cultural Arts Council and the organizations it supports can transform lives and strengthen communities. When I
read the Orlando Sentinel article yesterday in which a fellow resident claimed that the arts provide no tangible benefits to Seminal County residents, I felt the need to respond. Not just as an artist, but as someone who knows the evidence. That claim is false. The arts aren't merely entertainment. When a community invests
in the arts, there's they become an essential infrastructure that delivers concrete economic, educational, and social returns to our county. Economically, the arts are a significant driver for Simol County. Cultural organizations and events attract visitors who spend money at our restaurants, hotels, and retail stores,
generating tax revenue. A vibrant art scene also makes us more attractive to businesses and skilled workers who value cultural amenities in the communities in which they reside. As an arts administrator, I can attest that this field provides meaningful career opportunities and sustains working artists, educators, technicians, administrators, and countless others.
The creative economy is real and it thrives when communities invest in it. Educationally, arts programs in schools, after schools, in the community uh develop the critical thinking, creativity, resiliency, and problem solving skills that are essential for today's workforce. Students engaged in
the arts perform better academically and develop greater confidence. The Arts Council's programs reach thousands of youth annually, providing experiences many families couldn't otherwise afford. As the parent of an SCPS middle school saxoponist and an elementary school-aged
dancer, I see this impact in my home daily. The arts give my children tools for self-expression, confidence to take risks, and ability to work collaboratively, skills that will serve them throughout their lives. For our community, the arts bring people together across differences of age,
background, and perspective. The f they foster social cohesion and civic engagement, provide positive outlets for youth, enriching activities for seniors, and create spaces where neighbors become friends, and build community pride. In an increasingly fragmented world, the arts create the irreplaceable shared
experiences that bind us together. The Siminal Cultural Arts Council effectively leverages public investment, partnering with numerous organizations and volunteers to maximize impact across our county. Supporting the Arts Council is an investment in economic vitality, educational excellence, and community
strength, making Simol County a more desirable place to live, work, and raise families. Thank you. >> Thank you. As the next speaker comes up, uh Mr. Drager, can you call the next three, please? >> Kimberly McHugh, Sally Morgan, and Harold Morgan.
>> Thank you. Name and address for the record. >> Good morning. My name is Shelby Maddox. I'm at 627 Magnolia Drive in Mland, Semino County, Mland. Hello, my name is Shelby Maddox. I am the K through2 visual arts specialist for Semino County Public Schools. I've been in this role
only a year now, and prior to that, I was a middle school art teacher. Visual arts play a crucial role in our public school setting, offering students a unique avenue for self-expression, creativity, and critical thinking. Through engaging in visual arts, students develop essential life skills
such as problem solving, collaboration, and resiliency. Visual arts education can boost academic performance by improving focus, motivation, and cognitive abilities. By nurturing creativity and innovation, visual arts courses prepare students to
navigate and contribute to an increasingly complex and visuallyoriented world. I first met Dr. Bower soon after she joined SCAC. And from the start, she was eager to learn how SCAC could support arts education in Simino County schools. At the beginning
of the school year, SCAC provided every teacher with a supply kit brimming with specialty supplies that teacher don't always have available for students such as gel pens, metallic paints, uh unique glazes, but also there were the everyday items like pencils, pens, and permanent
markers. The things that teachers never have enough of. At one of our middle schools, the art teacher let students use the metallic and shimmery paints to create a collaborative art project. The teacher was so grateful for the supplies that she received because they elevated the finished piece and they helped it
stand out. These are supplies that students and teachers don't always have access to. If you're active in the Central Florida Arts community, then you're aware that the annual Melan Arts Festival was cancelled this year. This past year, this show was instrumental in providing a platform to showcase our
high school students talents, especially for our 3D artists. With the new Florida Seal of Fine Arts, a distinction on students high school diplomas, it was imperative that we replace this opportunity and provided an event to recognize our students and help them meet the requirements for the seal. SCAC
stepped in to make sure that students didn't lose that opportunity. In October, the city of Castleberry hosted the first Semino County student art showcase at Lake Conquered Park. This event benefited greatly by the contributions of SCAC. Not only did they
provide awards and certificates for all of our students, they were instrumental in securing the location and making the event a success. As you know, building a strong partnership takes time. In a few short months I've been working with SEAC, two things are true. Students have had access to more supplies, and had it
not been for SEAC, they may have had one less chance to exhibit their work and earn the seal of fine arts on their diploma. I look forward to continuing to fostering our relationship with our community partners to support future artists and leaders in our community. >> Thank you.
Next name and address for the record, please. >> Madam Chair, if I could just momentarily. So, since the chairman of the school board is here and so many of these comments relate to funding arts in schools, I would highly recommend that
those of you who have interest in arts in public schools reach out to your school board and your superintendent. We are not them. Thank you. >> Cameron McHugh, 2520 Dakota Trail from
Park, Florida. Um, I want to know that I hear you. I hear that you that the arts matter to the board members and I appreciate that. Um I am the president of Lake High School uh PTSA. That's the parent teacher student association. We
are not for we are not forprofit 401c3. We do not receive funding from Simol County Public Schools. We are not a able to apply for grants through the foundation. The $5,000 funding that was that we got from the Siminal Culture
Arts Council allowed us to to host our winter art festival, which included, yes, it had student performances, student artwork, but it also was a free public event open to the community where we had over a thousand attendees. These were neighbors, these
were homeschool kids. It was open to anybody and everyone. Um, and it the event was wellreceived and it was a fun day for all. And you know in the world we live in with the strife and stress and anxiety, art is something that
crosses political boundaries and um religion whatever you know the conflicts we have as society. Everybody want loves art um music and the joy it brings. Um I am concerned about the um the continued
talk about you know that um a lot of the emails you got were from school members. A lot of them were from PTSA members and I just want to make that point very clear that PTSA does not get any funding from Simone County Public Schools. We do
a lot of our own fundraising, but a lot of the events we put on a school are because of grant funding and support such as that what we got from SCIC. And without that type of funding, these events would not take place. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. >> Good morning, commissioners. I'm Sally
Morgan. I've lived in Simino County 37 happy years, and I appreciate the service that you give our wonderful county. Let's just take the alphabet. A art. Art is beauty. Art is creative and
community building. Art develops our senses. E art enliven, empowers, encourages, enriches. It gives us enlightenment and it exposes our souls.
F. Art's fun. G. Art is good for our heart and it fills our heart with hope. I art Art is imaginative and inclusive. J. Art is joyful
and kind. It kindles us. Art is love and it lingers in our memories and mind and it is even good and a necessity for all of our mental health. Art is a mirror. It helps us see
ourselves in art gives us new ways to see things and art needs our support. And I want to thank the people in this room and you too. We need to work together and I
think all of us are working for the good of our community. Art needs our support. That's why I'm here and I think that's why all of us are here. Let's give ourselves a round of applause. O offers us opportunity for all our
citizens. Art does that. P art takes practice. It's powerful. It gives us perspective and a time to pause and a time to ponder. Art. Well, Q. Art's aquintical jewel to
me. The apex of our existence. We are born to create. R. Art is renewing. It teaches resiliency. S strengthens our skill building and
stimulates our intellect. It's soul stirring. Why do we give standing ovations and awards and ribbons and trophies? T art teaches us togetherness and is therapeutic.
U unifies and broadens our understanding. V art takes valiant effort. It's visual, visceral. It causes us to feel. Wise and wonderful,
wonderful. It widens our horizons. X is an exacting science. Y art is yours, mine, and ours, and zestful. Let's keep that zest in our wonderful, thriving
Simol County. Thank you. >> Well done. That was amazing. I'm going to admit, so we're going to call the next three, but I'm going to admit that you freaked me out a little bit that you were going to go through 26 letters. So, hats off to you. Well done. >> Hold on, sir. We're going to call the
next three just so we can keep the line line moving. >> Lady >> Chelsea Smith, Steven Summers, and Steven Young. >> There you go. You're up. >> I'm Harold Morgan, 526 East Highland Street, and I can't improve on what my wife did. >> You You should have You should have gone
before her, my friend. >> There's a good >> Thank you. >> Hello. Good morning, commissioners. Good morning, everyone. My name is Chelsea Smith. I'm at 581 Queens Mary Circle in Castlebury, Florida, and I support the Seol County Culture Arts Funding.
My name is Chelsea Smith. I was born and raised in Semol County, and I am a proud graduate of our public schools and universities, Sterling Park Elementary, South Seminal Middle School, and Lake Howell High School as a Dory Russell Scholar. I later graduated from Siml
State College and the University of Central Florida with a degree in fine art. Since 2017, I've been a SEML County business owner running a successful fine art business, Artbychelsea.com LLC. My work has received regional and national recognition, including Bezos
show at the Sanford St. John's River Festival of the Arts, Lake Mary Heathrow Festival of the Arts, and Orlando Fiesta in the Park. I was also the post artist for the Mount Door Festival of the Arts and Duneden Art Harvest. I was featured on NPR story corps and
I've taught master classes at Stson University as a part of the Rembrandt exhibition featured on News13 with Alison Walker. I am here today as a real example of the return on investment from SEAC and Simone County student
investment. It makes sound fiscal sense. I respectfully ask for your consideration of full funding for SEAC in 2026. SEAC has a proven track record of developing students into working
creative professionals who contribute to our local economy and community. I am only one of many who have benefited from the support and continued investment ensures Simol County remains a place where creative talent can grow,
stay, and succeed. Thank you for your time and support. >> Smith, what is your medium? >> I do copper plate edgings. >> Wonderful. >> Look forward to it at the next one. >> Thank you. Thank you so much. >> Now, I'd be wildly impressed if you sing
this. >> I don't think I have a song prepared today, but sorry. Um, thank you. I'm Steven Summers. I live at 101 East Marx Street in Orlando, Florida, 3283. So I live down the road in Orlando. Thank you for letting me come in today. Um but I have worked for
31 uh years at Seminal State College. So my professional life has been in uh Semino County. Um so good morning chair her commissioners and guests. Um I have a lot of remarks that I'm not going to say because so many of the previous speakers have eloquently said what I
might have said. I do want to just comment a little bit about the seminal cultural arts council and the unique place that that organization has in our county because it is a countywide uh organization. It looks things at
things in a holistic way. Um and we have many wonderful programs in our individual cities, but the county is amazing. And I just want to say Seinal County has a vibrant arts scene. Uh the mission of seminal cultural arts council is to advocate for amplify and
financially support arts programming across the county. That is exactly what it does. Um SCAC grants facilitate programming that otherwise could not or might not happen and those are sometimes in those gaps that that different programs might fall through.
It also elevates the arts specifically in Semino County by naming our semino county artist of the year uh and through its annual heart of the arts award presented at the annual fundraiser the taste of the arts gala a week from Saturday everyone. So mark your
calendar. Um, this wonderful event brings the community together, provides a showcase for our artists and performers, and on a personal note has become a cherished opportunity for students from my employer, Seminal State, to perform, support their community, uh, and gain real world
experience. And the previous speaker mentioned a little bit about that important work of Seminal Cultural Arts Council. We all know that young people engaged in the arts perform better academically. they have higher attendance rates, but adults um that remain connected to the
arts throughout their lives, whether as participants in the arts or as patrons, feel more connected to their communities, uh less isolated uh and live happier and healthier lives. Um the seminal Cultural Arts Council is not a big operation. It has one part-time
administrator and a volunteer board like me. Uh it operates on a very modest budget. Uh but that investment that you make in our community and that means the whole county um through its grants through the grants SEAC administers supporting our kids, our high school and
college students, musicians, actors, dancer, all of it. It brings so much back uh more back in return. It means a lot to be able to say that we were able to do this because we were supported by our county. So for these reasons, I do very humbly ask that you continue funding this important or organization,
Seminal Cultural Arts Council, as you have for these many years. Thank you. >> Thank you. Dominique, would you name the next three? >> Thank you so much. >> The final speaker is Lily and Carol. >> Awesome. Bring it all home for us, sir. >> I'll do behind you. I'm sorry.
>> Oh, well, she come close to bringing it home for us. I'll >> I'll do my best. I'm Steven Young. I'm at I'm at 118 Calabri Springs Cove in Sanford, Florida. Good morning, commissioners. Before we talk about art, I want to talk briefly about impact.
>> This year alone, 662 students from 36 elementary, middle, and high schools across Simino County participated in the national PTA reflections program. 391 works advanced to the county level recognition and 81 of those moved on to
the state level, placing Simol County among the strongest art participants in Florida. Last year, one out of every three state winners came from our county. Those numbers matter because behind every number is a student who found their voice. My name is Steven
Young, president of Semino County Council PTA, and I'm honored to speak today on behalf of the Semino County Council PTA. At National PTA, we believe that arts, music, literature, dance, drama, and visual arts are not extras. They are central to learning. When the arts are integrated into education,
students gain confidence, develop critical thinking skills, and discover where they belong. We see this through the National PTA Reflections Program, a nationwide initiative that uses film, photography, visual art, music, dance, and literature to help preK through 12
students express ideas that matter to them. This year's theme is I belong by emphasizing interpretation over technical skill. The program elevates student voice and invites participation from students who might otherwise go unheard. I'm here today because Siminal
County PTA is a proud grant recipient of funding from the Seminal Cultural Arts Council. Again, an organization this commission has faithfully supported. Seminal Cultural Arts Council funding doesn't just support art programs in theory. It directly supports students, families, and schools right here in
Simino County. The arts are clearly alive in Simol County. Our request is that you continue your history of support for the Seminal Cultural Arts Council so that nonprofit community organ organizations like ours can continue to thrive with financial
resources needed uh to create impact. We're putting our grant money to use an evening on March 4th this year. We will be bringing our county's young artists and their proud families together at the SEC PTA Reflections Awards Celebration.
Each of you are invited to join us at Lyman High School auditorium at 6:30 p.m. to see our students shine in the spotlight. The students artwork will be displayed in the lobby and you'll also be treated to student performances on stage. The return on this county
investment isn't abstract. It's visible in every student who crosses that stage knowing that they belong because their community chose to support the arts. We hope to see you there and thank you commissioners for your continued support. Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Good evening. Good to Good morning. My name is Lillian Castlebury Carroll. I stay uh my house is at 171 Quail Pond Circle in Castlebury and I'm here to speak in favor of the one question that
hasn't been addressed is why fund her Dr. Bowers executive position and not replace it with somebody who's a volunteer. I was just putting a few things
together. And what I know about her is I think you started out the meeting with the 250th anniversary. That was a project that Deborah Bower
was deeply is deeply involved with. There's also been a historic u Simino County Museum and the historic group. She's deep in that historic Castleberry.
She founded that. There's the U Archaeological Society and the Arts Council. You take this woman out of Simol County or out of Central Florida and we're all going to
lose a little bit and in some places a lot more. She is a dynamo. I mean, for anybody to do this and work as hard as she does for the Arts Council
and not give up any of the other forces that she's a part of, that's incredible. And she's paired with Anthony. I've known Anthony for probably 20
years, if not more. Deborah for six. They are a dynamite team. He works her like crazy because he told me that. I said, "Oh, you know, let's just get together and have some dinner." Oh, no. Deborah's over here. I've got
her over there. She's got to go to this meeting. She's going to that one. And she does it. And that's just because that's who Deborah is. she when she gets her teeth into something as deeply as she is to to benefit this arts council,
you know, you have a chance to keep this team together and not just fraction it out. You said, "Oh, she she does so many things and if something comes out, she fills that gap."
How many volunteers will tell you that? Thank you. Thank you. I'll just say for the record, this is not necessarily about asking Dr. Bower to leave Seminal County. I just since that got said, that may end up in the paper someday. So, we appreciate
everything you do for all of us and all the roles that you fill. Uh we are just fulfilling our fiscal responsibility. Commissioners, I'll open I'll close public hearing. Uh Gee is coming up ready and poised to answer questions.
Unless you have something to say before the questions. Gee, do you >> Oh, no. >> All right. Thank you, >> commissioners. >> Yes, commissioners. >> I do have questions maybe for GE, but probably for the county manager >> in this whole review getting to where we
are today. How many departments in the county were involved in doing a dive and review on this? >> G. >> Yeah, I would say no less than about four or five at least. How many hours do you believe we have in this review?
>> Staff hours. >> Too many to count most likely, but uh >> I mean I think I heard one employee tell me they've got 50 plus just on the back end of this thing and maybe 50 on the front end. >> Could be. Yes. A lot. And I think that some of the confusion
and I want to make sure I understand for gee for the public's input or or benefit. We've heard people say don't defund the arts. I've heard from us we're not defunding
the arts. Yet the questions before us are exactly that. The three options are exactly that because we started this meeting saying these are three options or whatever the commission may want to do and whatever the commission may want
to do would include not funding any of the three options >> and I don't think that's the intent of this commission not to fund um the arts. So what was the nexus for having these
three options with the 50,000 >> and not just what the argument has been which is the grant portions. >> I if you want I can answer that. >> So when when GE and I were working on
this presentation we're like let's put some possible options and solutions out to the board so we could just do everything status quo. what we have been doing. We can maintain the 50,000 per organization for their operational needs as we have been doing for the past 20
plus years. Um or we could take the you're right, the grant program is really the issue of the of the day, >> right? >> Uh to Commissioner Lockhart's point, we're not looking to, you know, we weren't we're not looking to cut anything. You know, the the 50,000 to each organization for operational, you
know, keep doing that. What do we do with the 40 plus thousand that we wanted to directly impact the arts in the in in the community and not go to operational? That's that's because it never had before. The the the 40 plus thousand was
direct grants to nonprofit organizations. So, we were just thinking of we were just brainstorming of every top possible option that that we could. >> And my question on that point would be if you're going to have operations, who's going to operate it?
operate the or the organization >> the operation itself. >> Oh, >> it takes people. Right. >> Right. >> Yeah. Okay. Um that's all I have for staff right now. I'm sure I'll have some some interaction with my fellow commissioners as we move along.
>> Thank you, >> Mr. Constantine. >> Thank you very much. And again, I um enjoyed the the conversation from all the citizens and I appreciate it and I've really and I've also enjoyed the uh comments of my
fellow commissioners and um I especially like that Commissioner Herve remembered the tuba um because that is why we started all this quite frankly. Um, it was a question of myself and some others when
we looked at what our staff had presented to us. Was this really meeting the needs of the whole the whole county? And nothing against what I can't remember the and I don't
want to bring up what school it was, but giving an $8,000 tuba two years in a row was not my idea of getting out totally to the arts and maybe that was something that uh should be left to the school board if they felt that was a good idea.
I wanted our, you know, our arts grants to hit the whole community. And I really appreciate the background because I do recall that there was a ground swell, if you
will, from the arts community in Semino County that they wanted to do it themselves and not United Arts because they didn't feel that we were being given the proper identification and truly looking at what we can do here
in the county for our citizens, not just students, because we've got a number of different ways we can raise money. And one of them, you know, both raising money and giving money, and the county should be looking at that and should be
giving money uh where they feel it's necessary when it comes to arts. I truly believe and and and Commissioner Zimbau, I really appreciate the fact that you brought up the staff hours because I think we probably overspent just in the staff hours what we're
giving to the arts this year and have in the past years. And I think that that is one of the reasons we looked for the outside opportunity, people connected to the community, people that aren't have their first
responsibility is whether it be to the parks and recreation or to tourism and economic development or wherever else. And I want to make sure that everybody again for the third, fourth, fifth time that we are not
taking any money away or I it is not my intent and I hope it's not any intent. I don't think it is take any money away from the arts that we have been given but how and what mechanism we divide the grant money. I think that's where we're talking about not the 50,000 and the
50,000. So to me it sounds more like this has been a communications problem as most problems are that uh you know we there has not been a great deal of communications with
the grants that are going and potentially um the seminal county arts. Uh and I don't want to blame anyone. It's a function many times of even internal
uh departments don't talk to each other let alone an outside group working with us. Now the executive director has been there one year. Um before that you know we had a long-term executive director who had did an incredible job and um she
decided to retire. I certainly and we cannot talk about what has happened in the past I think without the context of there has been a change. So in my opinion I see no reason at this point um
that we put the ownorous or the burden on you know the arts council and saying you haven't done this the way we want. I think it's partly our problem and partly their problem in far as the communications. I am more than happy,
more than happy to give the arts council and the new board and the new director the opportunity and the time to correct, help correct along with us the communications problem and the um and
and the uh funding or the grants pro uh grants concern. So, as one person, I think what we need to what I would want to do or see is that we give that money to them to show us that they can, you
know, give out the grants and give them the the one year build communications between the uh the county and the departments involved and the arts council to ensure that we have the input also to help bring forth the um grants
that are needed throughout the academy. >> Thank you. Any other comments? >> Yes. >> I'll go next. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh looking at the the contract, it clearly it states
on page 8 of 20 that the budget shown showing the allocated allowable cost under the agreement and has agreed to abide by the cost allocations in the budget. However, the allowed cost under this budget line item can fluctuate
depending upon the actual cost. And then it clearly talks about the operating expense of 50,000, grants of 18,483 and arts and public spaces is 5,000. Uh, and I guess we're all talking about the the 23,000
uh,000, which is the grants and the arts and public places. It clearly states here that they're allowed to fluctuate it and they've done that. Uh if we want to nail that down and be a little more specific, that's on us to do that in the
agreement because they're following the agreement. Is that correct? County attorney, not county manager, county attorney. >> Yes, commissioner. I see that provision in the contract and allows them to fluctuate. There's ability. If you really want to do that, then it needs to be in the agreement. They're following
the agreement from what I can tell and you know I think we all support the arts and I'm and I'm going to compliment us in getting into the details. I think it's a good thing that we get into the details uh because transparency is the key and I think that
uh we all want to see more arts in public places and more art grants going out there but due to limited dollars it's very difficult to do that. So I think the intent to actually put the spotlight on this is a good thing and it's on us uh to move forward but it actually talks
about how they can fluctuate it and it's important that we have someone there and that there is an administrative cost uh to administrate this stuff and so that's actually needs to be accounted for uh and for us to save money by not
having actual staff time dedicated to this because as we has talked about it from the other commissioners. Uh we do have a habit of putting a lot of staff time behind all of this and it's actually costing more to administrator than the dollars are going out publicly
and so I'm glad that we actually have someone to do that. That's the end of my comments. >> Thank you, >> Commissioner Lombard. Um, I saw that provision in the contract as well and I maybe it's a matter of interpretation because I imagine the fluctuation being between grants and
arts and public places, not that the grants would go toward administrative. >> I can I can accept your point and it's valid. >> So, we do need to clarify and make sure that any fluctuation needs to be within the the the grant
amount. Um, a couple of things. Um, just based on some of the comments that were made, public comment, as far as I'm concerned, Seminal Cultural Arts Council is its own private 501c3.
They can operate however they choose within the bounds of the law of the state of Florida. They can pay their executive director as much as they want. If they want to fund raise for it, however they want to rate, they they can pay their executive director six figures. I don't care.
What my concern is are the grant funds that we have said need to be spent on grants. We contract with that organization to do it. We are actually the ones who does the um license plate funds from the state of Florida. The reason SCAC gets those that $9,000 a
year is because this board designated them as the recipient of those funds. It's the board of county commissioners responsibility to designate the recipient of those state dollars. So this board has shown support of SEAC for years just through that designation
alone. So I while I feel like it could look like we're majoring in the minors uh because of the dollar amounts that we're talking about, I think it is critical that if we're going to be paying attention to the small things, we'll pay attention to the large things. And um I think it's a good it's been a good exercise for all of us to
understand how this funds are being spent. I am still um not clear and I know Mr. Nelson says he's going to get us the the cash flow budget to actual for the last few years so we can better
understand the arts and public places um dollar amount for 2425 in your budget is listed as zero budgeted for 5,000 but zero. So I don't know where that went that if that went into grants. I I don't know. So we're going to I my questions are are not done in terms of the
finances of how the dollars are being spent. Um, I do think that there is a question and I think Dr. Bower pointed it out. You know, we we didn't ask them if they wanted the additional money. So, maybe we ought to go back and have that conversation at a staff level as well.
>> Um, and and determine that if that's the way the best way to go. Um there have been other suggestions made that if we choose not to do like just as the the theater has decided they don't want to administer grants if that those dollars are coming back to the county are there
other programs that the county can institute that would be um for the whole county as commissioner um Constantine mentioned that would be more uh holistic big umbrella uh type
activities. Um, I also think there's another way that we could manage the grants if SCAC wants to do it. We we could have them go through the process of I love Mr. Breninger's comments about how thorough they were and the way that they um looked at
things that were unique. I that was very very helpful. Um, when the county had our program for cultural grants, arts and cultural grants, there were very specific uh criteria that were established for what those grants were
supposed to be. I don't know what SEAC's grant criteria is. Maybe that's something we need to look at as well. um if they're going to be administering the funds for these grants. Um perhaps we SEAC volunteer team continues to look at the grants that are applied
for and then they submit their winners to the county finance and county finance pays them directly. That way we know exactly how much has gone toward grants. Um there I think there are all sorts of different ways that we can accomplish what it is that we're hoping to accomplish. Um, and I think Commissioner
Constantine made a very important point is that both SCAC and the county, it is incumbent on us to clarify the misinformation that has um, permeated the community that this board is attempting to defund the arts. Um, it is just wholly untrue. Um, so I don't know
that in terms of direction of moving forward, I still have every desire to allocate the same dollar amount to arts in Semino County. It is the methodology and the mechanism for the grant dollars that I think is still up for debate.
>> Thank you, Commissioner Zimbau. And then we're going to wrap this up. >> So, there's a couple things I want to make sure and and I think I've heard. At first, I look at these as yes, these are private entities, but when Semino
County government gives them their $50,000, that gives them some legitimacy to go out and raise their their private funds and private donors because they're doing something. The government has stood behind them. Um, and it just makes that
so much easier for them to raise money. I'm not going to speak for um Wayne Dench uh the theater, but I suspect the reason they don't want the money for the grants is because they probably don't have anybody sophisticated or have the
time to do it. And I would tell you if this county uses an employee to manage these grants, we're going to spend every bit of that. >> That's not been suggested. >> Is that is that about right? You're right. It has not been suggested. >> Not what was suggested.
>> I'm not but I'm not saying that was suggested. I'm just pointing out the facts. >> Okay. Thank you. >> But I also heard and I did hear Commissioner Herd. Did you not say you want 100% to go towards the program and not for salaries? >> I want 100% of the grant money the OE
award to be used for grants. And I think that's a reasonable expectation. There's $50,000 and then there's grant money. And does that grant include funding for someone to operate those operations? >> It's not because there's a separate bucket. >> So you don't want salary to go towards
that. I had that right. Correct. >> Commissioner Zimbau, there are two buckets of funds that are going to this organization. $50,000 for operational expenses and there's a separate bucket for grants. >> Understood. >> Spend the 50 as you may. I struggle with
that, but spend the 50 as you may. And the grants need to be operationalized for grants and reported back to us in a way. So you've asked the question, I'm going to answer it with with beyond what you may have expected. I truly do
believe that this entire problem. I'm not going to call it a miscommunication. It is a problem. It is shared in that we as a county government, let's own this from the fact that this is bounced around from the
department to department and God bless you, Gee, you have it. >> Yay. >> Our our department's happy to uh be the home for the I want to make sure that's out there. But but let's just take our responsibility for that and say that we
on our side have not held accountability to the standard that it should be. At the point that the original question in this original meeting got asked, those answers should have flowed from the lips of both the executive director and our
staff manager. And the executive director was there for a year. Difficult pulling together the financials, etc., etc. We couldn't do that. And so I don't think anybody up here is suggesting that we now get in the grants business of
figuring out which young artist gets to display their visual arts at some festival. We we get paid way too much to do that. There's pensions involved when you pay us to do something. Don't want to do that. >> But we do have to hold the money that we give out that is not ours, that is
taxpayer dollars, to a standard that is above reproach. and we weren't there. And that's what I think we have to work through. I would suggest to you all for consideration that we split this up.
All of these options look like they are either or. I believe that what I've heard is that there's no question on the $50,000 for Wayne Dench. That could perhaps be a motion. There is no question on the $50,000 funding for
the arts council. That could be a separate motion. And then we figure out what we do with this little bucket of grants that's caused so much havoc because the contract from my perspective needs to be tightened up. I think there's work to be done on that.
And then I think there needs to be sample reports that are included in that contract that make it very clear what you need to do because it right now it's quite unfair that you may or may not know what we expect. And so there's work on our part. That would be my suggestion
for moving forward. I would also state that there are multiple organizations in this community that could administer these grants. And so when there's talk of alternatives, I don't necessarily think there's the thought that we're going to
bring it in house and I think Dr. Bower brought up a very good point. We never asked and should that be the answer is that this isn't in what you really want to do and it's too costly that we seek other alternatives. I also think that what we've learned is
from our from the community and the community has learned from us that's been very valuable is that we should not take any of this for granted. We have a responsibility to the taxpayers to make sure that we're doing the right things. The fact that it took so long for staff to pull together in four departments,
that's on us. That is on us. And I will point out dashboards would fix this. >> Okay. So, >> just point that out. So, >> so I'm looking for a path forward, not continued conversation if possible. >> Well, I'm not I still have need to have
some conversation if that's not a problem. >> Nope, not a problem. >> Not a problem with with y'all. >> Um, so I think what I'm hearing is you want 100% of the grants to go. So, if salary came out of the 50,000, that doesn't bother you give you any heartburn.
>> Correct. Okay. >> All along. >> That that's been the position all along. Commissioners, >> I just want to make I just want to make sure that was position all along. >> Okay. So, I just want to point out finally so G doesn't have to run the numbers. I had the numbers run on what what the
funding was before and when it was almost $180,000 in 2006 or 2007, whatever that date was. That'd be $280,000 in today's money. and we're funded at 100,000 plus 48
>> 86160 >> uh in grants. So just just for a reference where we are today going historically >> uh where we're at. So you know I'm ready to move forward. I
think we spent enough time on this. Um, I think to Commissioner Constantine's point, we spent way more staff time on this than what the money we're talking about. Uh, but it should be tightened up. I I think there's a lot of onus on us. That's been said and I think we're
going to have to rely on the county attorney's office to to tighten up because I've read the contract. Nothing precludes from charging a salary to the grant monies. So there it's not a contractual breach. Uh, but if that's what we don't
want, then that needs to be spelled completely on the contract. No question. That's all I have. >> Thank you. >> So, I think what missed inclusion in the contract was the conversation that this board had when we made the decision to
divide the funds up to the two organizations for grants. This board was very adamant the funds were only to be used for grants. And Commissioner Constantine even made a point during that meeting to um to make it even clearer and and I think Commissioner Delari and I were like, "Oh, you know,
we'll they know it's for grants, they'll spend it on grants. Shame on us um for not making sure that the intent the the intensity of the intent did not make it into the contract. So, um that that certainly is is an opportunity to
improve for sure. But yeah, if you go back and and watch the video or or read the minutes, it's very clear what the intent was of the board. >> So, commissioners, is it your desire to Yes. >> I will attempt to make a motion. >> Thank you.
>> So, I will move that um that we concur with the 50,000 going to Wayne Dench, the 50,000 going to the seminal cultural arts council. >> Second. >> And >> is that one motion? >> I'm going to try and combine it. I'm going to try to combine them all. Um,
and that the remaining money of the uh for the grants be going to the seminal uh uh cultural arts council with the caveat that the county attorney. Um but
no money in that goes to salary and the county attorney uh tries to tighten up not tries tightens up the um the contract so that it is very clear. >> Second. >> Can I ask for clarification on the motion? >> I'll try.
>> Well, when when you say the remaining funds for grants, are you talking about the bundled amount of 40,000 or are you talking about the original 50% of the 40,000, the 23? >> I am talking about the total amount. Yeah, >> because where else was the other amount going to go? We would be cutting the
arts. >> Can you define the number of the total amount? >> $48,88160. Yes, >> that's right. >> So, what just devil's advocate, what if the theater comes back under new leadership, new direction, and they say, "Well, we would like to have access to
grants. We'd love to do that now for theater programming because we want to do whatever." And I think that would be very good to talk about in the next budget session because right now this is this budget session and they have decided they did not want to. So this year and that's all we're talking about this fiscal year that money will be
going to the seminal arts council seminal courts arts council. >> So we have a first and a second. Further questions. >> All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. Motion passes. The contract is coming
back to us though, so that like that was the intent, but the the devil's in the details, >> right? We'll we'll bring it back. >> Taking a break. >> Uh I would prefer not to go to a break if possible if anyone I I understand. Uh
>> we're going to move on to the next item. >> Yeah. Utilities master plan. Yeah. >> Johnny boy, better hurry. All right. I have been assured by Commissioner Delari that who we will he will be back
forth with. So, if you'd like to start, please feel free to go. >> All right. Thank you very much. Uh and good morning, chairman and commissioners. Uh I am Johnny Edwards, the utilities director. Joining me today is Steve Riley of Jacobs Engineering to
present uh our um utilities master plan work session number five, our capital improvement plan. Um our agenda for today um very briefly the the purpose um then we're going to go into the a review
of prior uh master plan work sessions that before we talk about our proposed capital improvement plans uh and the next steps and then turn it over to the BCC for discussion. Uh the purpose very briefly uh just to present our recommendations for the
utilities uh capital improvement plans. Um going back to look at the previous work sessions and again we think this is important because these are the uh the foundational building blocks of the capital improvement plans. Um and the first work session we had a kickoff meeting and talked about demand
projections, demands for water usage uh and wastewater flow. Uh we also talked a little bit about the holistic water policy and the benefits of water conservation. In the second work session, uh we looked at the water supply and conservation in
a little bit more detail. Talked about our uh various water supply wells, uh the Central Florida Water Initiative, uh and their rules, um and the Simino County uh plan for compliance with those rules.
In the third work session, uh we looked at the treatment plants and transmission mains in a little more detail. Uh talking about um the fact that the utility is maturing. We're no longer in a phase of high growth. Um
looking out in in the future. uh not an apparent need for big water treatment plant capacity expansions, but the wastewater treatment plants, the water reclamation facilities uh would likely need uh additional capacity and the RNR focus at the water plants is on ozone
and SCADA systems. In the fourth, our previous work session, uh we looked in a little bit more detail uh getting assessments, the results of assessments on specific uh facilities uh within our utility. The Greenwood Lakes Water Reclamation Facility, infiltration and
inflow uh study, our advanced water treatment plants, those are the three of five water plants that have ozone uh at the plants, and then our surface water treatment plant at Yankee Lake. Um, so that is a very brief summary of our prior work sessions. And with that, um,
want to get into the proposed capital improvement plan and I'll turn it over to Steve. Thank you, Johnny. Uh, Steve Riley, project manager with Jacobs Engineering located in Orlando. Uh, the CIP represents the culmination of a
multi-year process, a master planning process where we look at the utility needs over the next 20 years. We first establish what are the level of service requirements of the utility. What are the customer expectations and what are the regulatory requirements. We look at
the projected capacity demands of your portable water, your wastewater, and your reclaimed water systems over that 20-year period and determine whether the current infrastructure can meet those future needs. And then we also look at anticipated changes in regulations in
the future and what the utility might need to do to comply with those. Other elements include renewal and replacement which is a major component of the CIP. Your utility is sort of entering a mature phase we'll call it. And over the
next 20 years renewal and replacement needs are going to outweigh capacity stresses on the system. We also look at your obligations and your interlocal agreements because they have significant funding requirements such as your participation in the city
of Orlando iron bridge water reclamation facility and the snock water system in the southeast area and any obligations you have for utility relocation work within road rights of way. And then we also look if there are any technological
upgrades worthy of investing in the future, things such as water advanced metering infrastructure. You can see up here on the pie chart, uh the total over the 20-year period is about $855 million. Those are in current
dollars. Um starting at the top there on the systemwide projects, that's some funding for master planning and program management services. SCADA uh is a large RNR need because of the need to replace uh that type of equipment as technology
advances. Developer agreements include infrastructure improvements to serve developments like the such as the Reagan Center. wastewater collection. Uh there's a large component of that for uh testing of pipelines especially
wastewater sewer type pipelines uh for testing and uh repair to reduce infiltration and inflow wastewater pump stations. You have over 350 pump stations and the budget there is largely related to renewal and
replacement. Water distribution includes uh capacity improvements in pipelines and also investment in water advanced metering infrastructure. Reclaim water. That budget there includes expansion of the reclaim water
system in your northwest and southeast areas as outlined in the holistic water policy so that customers can get off use of highquality fresh groundwater to water their lawns and instead use a readily available reclaim water for that
purpose. uh water treatment plants. There's funding in there for some improvements to the Yankee Lake surface water treatment plant and more advanced treatment at the Markham Regional Facility. Water reclamation includes some uh
urgent needs at your Greenwood Lakes water reclamation facility and later in later years expansion of the Yankee Lake facility. utility relocations is moving utilities to accommodate roadway work
and the alternative water supply budget. Again, uh as outlined in the holistic water policy, there's a large need there for investment in water conservation measures uh to reduce water usage by the county and as required by all Central
Florida utilities to comply with the Central Florida Water Initiative. Next, Johnny. Um, renewal and replacement is over half of the CIP. Um, and you can see see here
what some of the main categories are. The largest one is the wastewater pump stations. You own and operate over 350 of those. Um the plan is to uh touch each one of those on a 20-year cycle,
meaning about 15 to 20 need to be dealt with every year. And there is a backlog in that area, but a plan is in place to catch up on that. >> All right. Thank you very much, Steve. Um, I wanted to uh just present a time plot of the proposed 20-year CIP budget.
Um, and and across the top uh there is the uh we tried to smooth out u the line a little bit, but there is a backlog as Steve mentioned of some work uh that needs to happen in the near term and then you'll see the line kind of um subsides after time. Um the average
there as Steve mentioned um over 20 years is $855 million. That's a little over $40 million a year on average. Uh the red line on this chart shows our recent history uh about four years. Our average CIP budget for um for the
utility has been about $29 million. Uh so that's an increase in in the budget uh need. But we did some benchmarking uh of comparing our CIP per customer uh budget to some other mixed utilities. Mixed meaning water and wastewater. Um
and 29 million a year is a little bit low. Um again that average of just over 40 million kind of puts us on the lower end of of a range uh that we see at other utilities. Um you know and and again with being on the
lower end of that range not being in a period of high growth is is understandable but we normalize that to compare you know the CIP spend per customer. Um on the lefth hand side of the chart, I just uh want to call out I have a little triangle here there. That's the uh approved FY26 budget. Um
the line up top is our proposed, and I'll get to that in a little bit, but it relates to a state award of funding for the Greenwood Lakes uh wastewater treatment plant project. Um I wanted to and I'll do this very
briefly. Uh just um redivide um maybe a couple different divisions on the proposed CIP. Um Steve had a couple different pie charts. I wanted to look at our our larger projects and I divide these up into programs and projects if
you will. These are uh capital maintenance programs where we're budgeting basically uh every year to keep the lights on, if you will. um just what what monies do we need to invest primarily in RNR to keep our facilities operating in good condition and and as Steve mentioned pump stations uh we have
350 of them uh that's what keeps the sewage moving if one of them doesn't work we hear about it very quickly uh it's it's a problem um yeah so we have staff that inspect and maintain these facilities but uh the RNR program is is major overhauls of these stations uh
water treatment plants uh RNR you know very important uh Steve talked about these. Um, number three, program management. Um, this is a team of consultants to help us uh get the utility on track and and really work through some of that backlog we saw at the front end of that time plot of the
CIP budget. Uh, water reclamation facilities, RNR. Uh, and then number five, as Steve mentioned, we have obligations to the uh, Iron Bridge Wastewater Treatment Facility. We own 21% of the capacity there and we help fund the RNR projects uh for that
facility to make sure that that infrastructure remains in good working condition. Um and then the columns here I provided the total 20-year budget uh along with the 5-year projected CIP uh with the FY26
um detailed out in the various columns and at the bottom the the total of all programs. There are about 30 programs uh in the CIP. And moving on to projects, these are our top five uh largest projects um in the CIP of about 55
projects in there. Again, Greenwood Lakes, you heard me talk about that in the prior work session, concerns with class one reliability, the headworks. Uh the good news uh for this facility is that we applied for state assistance on funding this needed project. Uh they
announced awards in uh or a priority list in November. Um the bottom line on that is that we were recommended uh for a $19.167 million award that is an SRF loan. Half of which is forgivable. So $9.5 million
uh is forgivable. The other half uh 9.5 million is can be repaid to the state over 20 years at 0% interest. So those are fantastic loan terms. Um but again this is a this is a needed project. Um, I do plan on coming back in a couple
months with a budget amendment request primarily as a result of that state award. Um, number two, uh, Yankee Lake, our water reclamation facility. This is wastewater at Yankee Lake. U, the demand, uh, flow projections show that, uh, within about 5 years, we're going to
need to expand the capacity at that facility. Um, number three on the list, uh, the surface water plant at Y Inky Lake, which was, um, created years ago to augment our reclaim system. And as Steve mentioned, reclaim is important, uh, to reduce our reliance on the upper
floor and aquifer and portable water for irrigation. Um, we need more reliable uh, reclaimed water. So, work done on that plant to make sure that our reclaimed augmentation is reliable. Uh, number four, Lockwood Boulevard area. Um, I think all the commissioners
recollect some issues we had with an uh pretty deep uh gravity uh main buckling underneath Lockwood Boulevard a few years ago. Uh, we know there's some additional work that needs to be done in the area. So, we have an assessment ongoing uh and we're planning on improving the sewer so we don't
experience those types of issues again. Um, number five, um, Orange Boulevard, uh, in conjunction with public works, when they make, uh, road and storm improvements in Orange Boulevard, uh, we will want to get in there in conjunction with them to, uh, relocate and improve
water and sewer mains and install a reclaim main along that corridor uh, so that we can provide reclaimed water to neighborhoods that are already plumbed for reclaim, but we don't have an mechanism at this point to get reclaim to those neighborhoods. Um, and again, I
just want to point out with $850 million over 20 years, um, you know, this is this is a large CIP, um, you know, with that we put together with the best information that we have at this time. Change management is important. We know things are going to change over 20
years. Um, you know, we get new information, there's new regulations, new environmental conditions, uh, new business conditions to which we have to respond. Um, you know, so the the success of the CIP program uh is our managing those changes and bringing back
to the board every year as as we request the following year's budget. You know, if there are changes um that we have to this plan, uh we'll make note of those to the board uh tell you why we're recommending changes um you know, the reasons for the changes um so that you
know everybody knows um you know why we're recommending changes. Um with that uh the next steps talked about the four previous work sessions um today's capital improvement plan uh the total list we have in a
draft form you should be receiving within the next several weeks in the draft text uh of the master plan um in March we plan to come back and present uh the final master plan along with the holistic water policy and as I mentioned previously a budget amendment request um
for to present to the board. So with that, that concludes our presentation today. Um more of an update perhaps than a than a work session, but we um wanted to present to the board uh in advance of our bringing the final master plan in
March. So that concludes our pres presentation. >> Thank you very much. Thank you both. Uh commissioners, any comments? >> We had a great briefing and >> great briefing. We know the nuts and bolts are there. Now we've got to get
fill in the blanks. >> Thank you. It's the pipes and drains, right? >> Madam Chair, if I may. >> Yes, sir. >> Uh and I had to step out for a minute, but uh I just want to make sure not today, but in the future. I know there's some contracts, agreements, and commitments that need to be reviewed.
I'm not looking for them to be totally reviewed and updated, but somehow an outline so that in the overall master plan that we're aware of what needs to be done as we move forward. Yes, sir. Okay. >> You look forward to your next steps. It's exciting that we're actually
starting to move things out of uh >> planning stage. >> The planning stage is you I think I'm getting coached on using nice language here. So, I I appreciate that you read my mind. I was thinking of the pipeline perhaps being clogged
>> as we're talking about sewers out of the constipated state and into the natural state of univers. That's where I was going. There it was. >> I think it's exciting. >> Oh, yeah. >> Uh it's taken a lot of work. You've done a a heck of a lift on this from where we
started. So, we we all very much appreciate you and and certainly our consultants. Thank you. >> Thank you. There's a lot of teamwork that went into it. Appreciate that. >> With with that, I'm going to get in trouble when I get home. I already know it. >> Uh with that, I think there's been a
suggestion that we move the next item to the afternoon. >> Uh Madam Chair. Yes. So, there's two things. Um, it's probably about a 20 minute uh discussion uh update for the last basin study. We can definitely put that first thing at the start this afternoon or if you wouldn't want to continue. It's totally up to the
pleasure of the board. >> He says this afternoon, I say plow through. >> Yeah, I'm a plow through. So, gentlemen, what is what is your wish? >> I could go this afternoon. >> So, we're two and two. Commissioner plow through plow through it.
>> But can but on that subject >> plowing through >> plow through >> plowing through >> subject >> I I don't know and this has happened before but when we have a very very very short meeting in the afternoon
is there ever been any thought that we could just plow through >> yes and complete >> that will be happening in February >> and complete the whole Thank you. And if I if I may on that, it's it's just the advertising requirement. So if we want to do that, we can definitely do that. >> Yeah. If we thought it was a good idea,
we could always fix the advert. >> Yes. Thank you. >> Did you ever >> All right, here comes the plow team. >> Take care. >> Leading up the plow team. For the record, John director of public works. Um we are here to finalize all 13
basin studies with this last group. Um we are joined also by our consultant uh Mark and the team from Geocentech have been very uh very helpful in this particular uh study as well as multiple other studies. So we appreciate them joining us today. So with that I'm going
to turn it over to uh our chief uh design engineer Mr. Joe Levaso to go through the presentation. >> Thank you sir. >> Madam chairman, fellow commissioners, I am Joseph Lasso, chief design engineer for seminal county public works. Uh this is a basin study update for the big
little Waka and Yankee Lake basins. Uh the purpose of this presentation is to provide an update on so this basin studies collectively known as the Wakiva wershed management plan. Uh our agenda today is basin study overview, basin studies timeline. Waka wershed management plan update next steps and
requested action. There are 16 basin seminal county. A drainage basin is also known as a watershed. Uh we've been studying these you know they're important boundaries of land where all the streams and rainfall drain into a single common body of water. Uh this is reason we study these
is because they are all part of a overall program. Um so we have a basin study which then produces project concepts. Those are then input into the master storm water plan. Those become prioritized projects as part of our work program and then we move on to designing and constructing those projects to improve flooding and water quality in
semol county. things we look for here are level of service um and how each of the the wersheds responds as a level of service in regards to each of the designed storm events um that is then computed into once we have those projects identified we then
design you know get enough information about them so we can compute a score for each of them based on this rubric uh today so we have uh 13 out of 16 basins that are studied today we are looking at the basins on the far left in blue.
Um this process began in 2019 and now we are pleased to finally bring the base and study component of this to a conclusion today. Um again just as an overall you know through 2019 between 2019 2025 we've held public meetings we've gathered all the data we've
created the models and now today January 27th 2026 we're here for the final of the three presentations on the basin studies specific to this one the Wakiva wershed management plan again it's the three basins in blue they it consists of big
Wakiva little wakiva and Yankee Lake uh that's a total of 56.2 2 square miles. These three basins act as a single unit. So they're grouped together in this fashion to reflect that. Um the cities of Lake Mary, Longwood, Alton Springs, and Castleberry each have components
that are within these three basins. Uh we have a total of 13 project concepts and then there are eight additional water quality BMP area recommendations. So eight additional projects on top of those 13 um that are present. And that was a specific ask due to this uh
ecological sensitivity of the Wakiva basin in particular. Uh there are a total of 2,89 subbasins 440 of which are closed. The this uh wershed management plan was brought to us by geocintcheant
and again as an overview of their general scope. They were tasked with developing a hydraulic and hydraologic model, floodation mapping, flooding assessment, water quality assessment, deficiency identification, project scoring recommendations, and then that's again going to give us that improvement project prioritization and evaluate
conceptual capital improvement projects to alleviate flooding and improve water quality in this area of the county. The results presented in our typical three slide format. We have the extent FEMA firm maps showing 10.3 square miles of flood plane within these three basins.
Uh these are currently used for flood insurance. They are from 2007 but based on data from the 1990s. So our now proposed delineated 100-year flood plane inundation map based on the results of our own modeling. We're showing 11.2 square miles of flood
plane. This is using the latest available data. And then this is going to give us an 8.7% roughly increase in the area within the flood planes in these three basins. Um we have a breakdown by parcel, by building and by total area on the bottom left in the
table between the two slides. Then finally we have our proposed flood improvement projects. Uh here the order is the order. So again number one is number one priority and just on down. Um this basin study uh does have three
projects of the top 15 that are already in progress. Um and then in addition that's number 17 at the bottom uh that project Markham at Lake Markham was already in progress as this basin study was being conducted. So even though the
that didn't make that top cut off, you know, of that 15 ranking, they we did not want to imply that that project should be halted or cancelled because of the fact that it didn't make the top 15 since it was already in progress. So it is included on here and it is in the
recommendations of the study to conclude that project. Uh finally again as I said previously there are also additional eight water quality projects that were asked on top of those uh flood abatement ones because of the ecological sensitivity. Um these
are going to help us address those total maximum daily loads in this wakiva basin because again the um the issues with the water quality here. Um so that was a specific ask for this particular basin study. Um next steps we have the provide
the models for development review for best use uh available information and then submit final approved studies for FEMA for review and their firm map updates. Um overall we've now concluded this is the third and final batch of basin studies and then we will take those now
that we're going to have the final ones delivered to us after this meeting. We will now use those to finalize the storm water master plan for the in the first half of this year. And now our requested action is board approval for acceptance into service of the Wakiva watershed management plan as recommended by staff.
>> Thank you for your presentation, Commissioner. Uh Commissioner Constantine was ready to leave. Well, I was just going to say we, you know, all of our wersheds are extremely important, but this one because the impact it has on the
remainder as well as is is quite important and and therefore thank you very much for this um uh for this presentation and the hard work and I will move board approval for acceptance into the service of the WA waterershed management plan as recommended by staff.
>> Second. Before we go to discussion, I just want to point out that sometimes I listen to webinars after the fact so I can play them in 1.5 or 2.0 speed and Joe, you do that when we need you to do that. So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you for just hustling it up. I
know it's not easy. Uh discussion commissioners, >> just one question. Uh what are we doing on the lowars? >> So, the um FEMA is in progress of updating the farm maps. We have provided them as we said the data that we have collected. Um they are reviewing the
data now. So they have a team led by their consultant AECOM a very large engineering firm for that effect. >> Um and they have promised us again this was as of earlier this month that they will give us a formal response uh as to how they will treat that data in
February. Now that statement was made by them prior to any horrible rumors about potential federal government shutdown. Um but assuming it holds next month they will give us a formal written response as to their intent for what they will do
with the data we presented to them. So does that mean they may or may not be notifying parcel owners or is that going to just fall by the side or are we going to take that on to notify our citizens? >> And that sorry if I may just question that came up before I know when we
talked about before we are going we are going to make sure we'll make sure that the par owners are notified. If they're not notified through FEMA we'll make sure that that's notified through the county. I know that was a big concern for you for the board. Any further discussion?
>> All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. Passes unanimously. Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> Y >> All right, commissioners. We'll see you back here. Meeting adjourned until 1:30. The >> dog only had to wait 10 extra minutes.
Hey, hey, hey. Part: 2
[music] [music] [music] [music] Heat. Heat. [music] [music] [music] >> [music] >> live. Welcome to the 1:30 session. And by the way, we thank God for that, all of us.
So, we're going to reconvene the meeting and we are going to start off with a bang with Miss Christina Brandolini celebrating our employees milestones. >> Good afternoon, chairman and commissioners. Christina Brandolini, human resources director. This afternoon, we have the pleasure of
recognizing several employees for their service to Seminal County. Elvis Santana, program manager with community services, will lead us off recognizing Josie Delgado, project manager 1, with 20 years of service.
Good afternoon. Good afternoon. I'm Santana, program manager, community services. I'm here on behalf of Allison Dal. Um, Josie Degado has proudly served Sino County with dedication and professional professionalism since November of 2005.
Beginning her career as a senior staff assistant in housing, she quickly demonstrated reliability, attention to detail, including her service as office supervisor before serving in multiple roles supporting housing and commun
community development. Over the years, Josie's have held positions including customer service specialists, project coordinator, consistently contributing to program efficiency, customer service excellence, and project coordination.
In August of 21, she advanced to become a project manager where she continues to provide valuable expertise and support. Jos's longstanding commitment, dedication, and institutional knowledge has made a lasting impression on Simino
County, her co-workers, and the residents that we all serve. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. [applause] >> And real quick, and Madam Chairman, we'll after we do all these, we'll do pictures uh right afterwards. Alan Harris, emergency management
director, has a few employees that he will be recognizing. First, we have Amber Oor, animal services officer with 20 years. And for the record, Alan Harris, director of emergency management, animal services division. Um, really an honor
to uh recognize two individuals in our animal services division today. Arguably probably one of the most challenging positions in local government, I may be biased, is the the position of an animal control officer. There are there are times that when we respond out to calls
that no matter what you do, someone is upset. Either the dog is barking or you just told someone to quiet down their dog. Either way, one of those individuals is normally upset. Amber has seen all types of calls. She's
been on hoarding cases, animal cruelty, bites, aggressive and dangerous dogs. And it's not all doom and gloom. Amber has also done those heartwarming things like a lost dog returned to a family or
an injured dog on the side or cat on the side of the road, taken back to our shelter, treated, and then seen adopted to a family. So, I just want to thank you, Amber, for your 20 years of service to the residents of Simol County. And I'm not talking about the two-legged
ones. I'm talking about the four-legged ones. Thank you for your service to Simol County. [applause] [applause] The second individual is part of our leadership team. Denise Sims has worked with for us for uh 25 years. Uh Denise
is our front office manager. Uh also a very challenging position. She sees lots of things up at that front desk at the customer service area. Uh, one of the times I I'll give you a we were standing up at the customer service and we see
all types of things. A dog being surrendered and we always ask the individual, why are you surrendering the dog? Did it bite? Was it aggressive? And the response was, I got new furniture and the dog doesn't match the furniture color. So we see all kinds of things
like that and we still have to provide excellent customer service to those individuals and she and her even though we're going to shoot them. >> We do, right? Darren always talks about customer service, right? Um and she does
and she and the the folks up at the the front desk do provide incredible customer service even in the most challenging times. Denise has worked every position at animal services. kennel worker started at the animal control field office. So, she started at
the animal control officer uh came back into the uh kennel, worked uh in the vette area in the medical suite, uh worked up at customer service, has supported fosters, and now uh leads our front office customer service as well as
managing all of our finance. So Denise, also thank you so much for what you do for all of us in animal services, keeping us going straight and uh the money good and um doing all the right things for the budget, but also the residents and I'm talking about the four-legged ones uh that are in our
shelter. So thank you. >> Thank you. [applause] >> Chief Matt Kinley will be recognizing fire department employees. We will start with Anthony Bulman, lieutenant with 20 years. >> Try to be efficient. Uh for the record, Matt Kinley, fire chief s county fire
department. Uh Lieutenant Anthony Bowman, 20 years of service, is a graduate of Lake Mary High School, class of 2001. He attended both EMT and fire standards at Seinal State College, and is currently finally enrolled in the paramedic program as well. Lieutenant Bowman has received many awards over his
tenure, including Lieutenant of the Year, Distinguished Service Medal. He is a founding member of the SE firefighter combat challenge team, the peer fitness team lead, peer support team, Bshift lead, and current president of the Seminal County Firefighters Benevolent Association. Lieutenant Bowman works at
station 11 on Bshift serving the Alamont Springs area. Lieutenant Bowman is married to his wife Stephanie, celebrated 20 years of marriage in July of 2025. They have three children together, Aubrey, Braden, and Charlotte. And also a fine pass through station 34 C shift where many greats have come
from. [laughter] [applause] He's got great hair. [snorts and laughter] Uh, next we have Lieutenant Kevin Sims. Uh, Lieutenant Sims began his fire service career with the Winter Springs Fire Department and became a Sim County Firefighter Lieutenant [snorts]
as part of the 2008 consolidation. He's a US Marine Corps veteran. Lieutenant Sims has been a company officer for 22 years. Lots of children that he's uh he's mentored. He currently serves as a department's accreditation compliance officer as well as the honor guard coordinator and a member of the
department's drone team. Congratulations, [applause] Rick Durr, parks and recreation direct director, will be recognizing Sher Williams, program manager with 20 years. >> Sorry, I didn't mean to sneak up on you. So, it's my pleasure to present the 20-y
year anniversary for Sher Williams, uh, who's we've worked together since I arrived here at the at the county. So, I really appreciate this this honor. Um, first off, Sherry comes to came to the county 20 years ago after some uh time with the Florida Park Service in the St. John's River Water Management District
with a with a biology degree and an emphasis in marine studies. Now, the first 14 years at the county, she worked as a natural lands biologist. Um, and she stayed active in the profession. So, co she was a co-founder of the couplet fern chapter of the Florida native plant society here in Simol County who
continues to volunteer at the nature center to this day. She was a recipient of the first women and wildlife award from the wildlife society's Florida chapter. She has served uh on the statewide Florida invasive species council, six years as a board member, three years as an officer and two years
as chair. And in her spare time, no uh she also presents at leadership seinal and has led educational hikes as leadership seinal for eight years now. The last six years here at the county, she's been special projects program manager and managing the seminal forever program, which means she was also our
liaison with the state during the Yarborough partial acquisition through Florida Forever. And she secured the grant funding for the Spring Hammock Boardwalk and Trails project that was recently completed. And a fun fact, if you ever get a chance to visit her in her office, you will see that she is a
huge fan of the movie Jaws and may have the single greatest uh uh exhibit that you could possibly find um pay paying homage to that movie. So, thank you for your service, Sherry. [applause] >> Johnny Edwards, utilities director, will recognize Janet Ripley, lead
distribution technician with 20 years. All right. Good afternoon. Johnny Edwards, utilities director. Uh here to recognize Janet Ripley for 20 years of service. Uh Janet began her career with Semino County in environmental services in
October of 2005. Um not surprising um as a a scale house attendant for the solid waste system. Not surprising that in the wake of the '04 hurricane, solid waste needed help um with employees and Janet helped fill that need. Uh over the years, over the
uh 20 years since, she's moved over to the utility side to be a meter reader, uh distribution technician, and now a lead uh distribution technician. In the words of her co-workers, uh the descriptors for Janet, um she demonstrates a strong work ethic,
reliable uh commitment to excellence. She is a dependable team member who takes pride in her work and has a positive impact on both the team and the organization. And I know from personal experience I see Janet towards the uh beginning and end of every day and she says good morning with a smile, good
afternoon with a smile. It's a pleasure to be around. Um outside of work, uh Janet is happily married with two dogs that keep her very busy. She's a avid bowler and a huge Miami uh football fan. Sorry for your luck last week. [laughter] Um, and and I was going to
make a joke about being a a ginger, but you kind of changed your hair color, so I it looks nice. But, >> [laughter] >> um, anyway, uh, Janet, thank you for 20 years of service and being one of the many reasons it's a pleasure to work at Simol County. Thank you. [applause]
Deputy County Manager Trisha Johnson will close out the recognition with someone who you all may or may not know, Tim J, director of the office of management and budget with 20 years. >> What? [laughter]
And he looks great. I have the privilege of recognizing someone who has quietly, steadily, and enthusiastically shaped the financial backbone of Seminal County government for 20 years. Our budget director, Tim J. Tim joined Seminal County in October
2005 as a contract analyst in purchasing and contracts. From those early days, he showed he had a rare combination of technical skill, strategic thinking, and genuine commitment to public service. Several promotions followed. He moved through the procurement ranks into the
budget arena, becoming our budget division manager in 2015. Then in 2023, Darren promoted Tim to director of office of management and budget. [snorts] If you know Tim, you know two things are true. First, no one loves Semino County's fiscal health more than
Tim Jets. And second, if there's a pivot table involved, Tim has already run it three ways and colorcoded all of the results. I always just sit back and watch the spreadsheet sorcery. He is our advorum avenger, the flag bearer of
fiscal fiscal fitness and the steady hand who makes the numbers make sense. What you may not know, however, is that Tim's original training ground was at Carll where he decorated cakes, [laughter] which makes perfect sense because for 20
years, he has taken complex layers, balanced and measured everything perfectly and somehow made the finished product look effortless. Tim, thank you for two dedic decades of dedication, leadership, and fiscal stewardship. You make Seino County stronger, more
responsible, and better prepared for our future. >> [applause] [applause] >> That concludes our presentation for today. So, um if you don't mind joining us, we'll take pictures. Um but thank you all for your service. >> [music]
>> Yeah, [music] down. [music] >> [music] >> Hello. [music] You are Yeah. [music] [music] Down.
>> [music] [music] [music] >> Hello. [music] Down. [music] Where are you? [music] Heat. Heat. [music]
Heat. Heat. N. >> [music] [music] >> Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. [music] [music] >> [music] [music] >> Got it. I like it. >> Okay, now next.
>> Oh, man. >> Oh, come on, man. >> Well, I think that's actually the best part of our meetings. >> It is. >> And anytime we get to do this, that's a fabulous opportunity. >> That and the veterans. I I I would agree with you. So, now we're going to move on to the public hearing portion of the
agenda. Uh proof of publications, please. >> I'll move for >> We have a motion and a second. All those in favor? >> I passes unanimously. >> Uh there's no need to ask for exparte since we have legislative hearings only.
We'll move on to item number 15, public hearing for the ordinance for the rolling hills. >> And madam chairman, before u Mr. Dur gets started, so we're going to be talking about both 15 and 16, uh you'll
just make two separate uh motions at the end. So just to let the board know. >> Good afternoon, commissioners. Uh my name is Rick Dur for the record. uh parks and recreation department director and it is my pleasure to be before you today to talk about the next steps on
rolling hills. So again, we've got two agenda items. We've uh sort of reorganized the order on this because I think it'll be a little bit easier to follow the bouncing ball here and connect all the dots. So the first thing we're going to get started with is going over the uh an overview on the guaranteed maximum price or GMP. I'll
try to keep the acronyms to a minimum. Um, we'll then move into the budget amendment request or the BAR summary. We'll then I'll to then turn it over to NASA who will then talk talk you through the uh groundwater ordinance as well as the execution of the final version of
the declaration of restrictive covenant. I almost wish that did have an acronym. That was a long phrase to say. So, we'll start with the GMP. um how do you present what's happened over the last four years uh and the various changes that we've we've been through together with the community as well. So I went
back to the original master plan back in October 2021 and the item that was approved at that particular time was the passive park program with these 11 items listed on it. Now granted, some of these are fairly general and speaking and I'll I'll mention those as we go through it,
but probably and it's number 11 on the bottom of that list is really number one in our hearts, which is the FCT grant requirements. And that process right there is something that NASA will be talking about and the uh the tie between the FCT grant, the Jedapoint site and
this particular site moving forward. So back in 2022 once we had the the uh all go from the BCC um we had hired GI to be our design consultant for the for the park. We also had the roadway projects which were then launched as well as the
utilities project and the redesign uh of certain utilities within the neighborhood moving forward. In 2024 after a lot of discussion with the with the neighborhood and in various public meetings um we had some changes that were made. Um, number one is that we originally had a playground in the mix.
Uh, that happened between 2021 and 2024. It was first relocated and then it was removed to a future phase. That is still in a future phase. To be clear, we had storm water and roadway improvements and developments that were done and revisions that were made to those plans as we moved along in that. and we had a
further refined coordination between all of the projects and pulling those together into one knitted together program for both the community as well as uh the BCC to consider. Earlier this year, we had the selection of collage as our Seymar um as our as our contractor,
if you will. Um we had another public meeting in September 25th of last year to give them an update on and they got to meet collage in the during the process. Then we had two quick submittals right around the holidays. the 90% guaranteed maximum price submitt that was the first official package that
we received back from collage. We had refinements that were then made in November and what we're bringing to you is a further refinement of those of those two submitts bringing that forward. So overall the overall guaranteed maximum price I feel like a game show host and survey says
without going over the nearest dollar we at 20,360,000 $360 $224,000. I should have never gone down that road. Um but it generally falls into these three buckets. We've got the park side of things that includes the trail and I'll show you that in just a moment. We've got the roadway improvements that includes North
Street and then the utilities that will be within that particular corridor. um which is being funded through the utility fund um isn't just for relocation but it's for also upgrading those facilities. So we're improving the level of service and the future of level service along that corridor as well. Dig
once that's the philosophy. Overall we asked collage that while they were reaching out uh to various subcontractors throughout the community the ones that they have signed up within the GMP 71% of all of all of the biders on this project are seminal county
businesses. So the majority of this project is staying here in Semino County. Good. So the overall schedule and if you were at the public meeting back in September, we've modified this slightly to include today's date. Um the other major elements within the within the uh
schedule that everybody would like to know is when do we get started? It'll get started as soon as we have a contract. And then uh collage will begin to mobilize and then we will begin to coordinate a groundbreaking effort out at the site like we promised the uh the neighborhood as well. Park construction
would last till about um March of 2027. The roadway is going to take longer to finish. That goes into 2027 as well. And looking at final completion date in and around August of next year. So in the park project, it includes the four mile
trail loop. And one thing I wanted to highlight with all of this is that one of the things as we were looking at evaluating this project and how it moved and continued to change in scope throughout the last several years is before collage got involved, we we staked out, if you will, six different
areas within the park and within the design project to try to isolate those costs knowing that construction values continue to increase. So with a mind on the on the final budget, let's isolate those costs. Then we've got some ideas of some things to maybe evaluate when
this when we're ready to to to cross the finish line and go into construction. [clears throat] So the roadway project as originally was envisioned included the three roadway projects. Um Raymond and Palm Springs were two parts of that. Right now this contract focuses on North
Street. Um, so everything along North Street, reconstruction of the roadway, new sidewalks, new connections into the park, a roundabout to deal with traffic calming and a really bizarrely located intersection uh at that part in and out of the neighborhood and all of that is
included within this project and that includes the utilities along that corridor as well. So this very difficult to read slide u with all the information on it. The top six items on that list are the six different areas we asked um the contractor to isolate within the budget
for further evaluation. As we received the the uh bids back working with collage we were able to eliminate three of those for future discussion. And again all of these things they are already designed. Um you as you know originally this was anticipated to be a
standard construction build. um designed and build, excuse me, bid. Uh and then we shifted gears into a Seymar delivery program. So we still have the designs for those to be looked at at a future date if desired. So three of the areas we were able to identify as being
redundant to some degree or we could give up as well as a number of other value engineering items to total about $4.2 million worth of dedu pulled out of the original GMP as we received it. So, what is before you at the $20
million mark includes everything on the left, which is essentially the entire design program that the board approved back in 2021. So, everything from a four mile paved trail that loops through the entire project, associated landscape and earthwork, the uh it will be fully ADA
accessible. We have smaller pavilions, a peer overlook at Lake Janette, secondary pathways that are part of the FCT grant requirements. We have parking in several different areas, including the existing area and reducing the number of overall parking spaces there. Additional street canopy, gateways, and signage. And then
finally, the FCT grant requirements to make sure we're in compliance with the state. This also includes the complete reconstruction of North Street along with the traffic calming. The storm water improvements will be handled within the park. So, those are part of the permitted plans at this point. new
crosswalks on Palm Springs as well as underground utilities relocation and upgrades to improve the level of service and capacity moving forward. So the associated BAR doesn't necessarily go AA we still had some additional costs we needed to make sure we had in there partially that was
including the our design engineers to be able to uh visit the site during construction and give us our notes as well as certification of the project going forward as guaranteed maximum price means that is the cap which we're working with collage on the consultant
fees in this case another acronym NTE not to exceed this will be an hourly not to exceed program so if we don't need all those dollars, they will go back into the overall pot. Now, we still had additional funding remaining on various Rolling Hills budget items. Those have been pulled
into this particular project. That includes some dollars that we had left over within the design projects as well as utility funding for the utility piece. And that totals just north of $5 million. So, the the actual BAR request at this particular point is not for the
full 20 million. It recognizes the five million that we currently have in other account lines and then requests is an additional 15.5 million um to fund the remainder of the project. And now I'm going to hand it over to NSA to take us through items three and four.
>> Thank you, Rick. Na Borer, deputy county attorney. So, um, staff and I have been working diligently, um, on the requirements from FD to close out the rolling former rolling hills golf cart course site
um, after the mitigation is all complete. So, we're at the point now where all the mitigation is complete as you know. And the last two items that FD is requiring are two things. One is an ordinance and this ordinance is necessary because we have five
properties that are not located on the golf course property. They're referred [clears throat] to as the non-source properties where FD has determined that there may have been or may be um some spreading of the contamination from the
golf course. Those properties are shown here on this map. There's five properties. Um they're within the blue area just north of you see the golf course to the south. Those five property owners have been notified about this ordinance and about
the restrictions that are being placed on these properties and we have to do it through ordinance because obviously we don't own the property so we can't do it through a restrictive covenant. So the ordinance before you is the Rolling Hills groundwater monitoring ordinance. It applies only to the legal description
of those five properties and it includes what is required from FD if these property owners are going to engage in one of the following activities. So they'll need pre-approval from FD for any monitoring wells or
groundwater wells. Um they'll need submitt of a site plan for any dewatering activities and for any installation of any storm water facilities. So basically anything that will dig down that could get down into
the groundwater would need to be reviewed by FD first before they moved forward. The county would also review these two seemingly but FDOT FD requires that they that the um property owners come to them.
And as I said those property owners were noticed um in person by Christian and Swinson and Mr. Durr. and they also have received multiple mailings about this notice was also provided to the um St.
John's River Water Management District, any incumbrance holders on the property, mortgage holders on the properties. Um we've sent out um a lot of letters. Uh the next item is the restrictive
covenant that the county has to put on our own property. So, this is for the former Rolling Hills Golf Course area that's been affected. It only um affects our property and it's much the same as the ordinance. It includes the same
types of restrictions on us as on the non-source property owners except for in addition there are sorrel engineering controls and compliance with the engineering control and maintenance plan that we have approved with FD. We also,
if you remember, this property was reszoned to PLI, public lands institutional, and so it must remain in that zoning district, and it cannot be subdivided without FD approval. So this portion of the restriction we have
finalized with FT but they will not give me the instructions on how to um have that executed and what we need for execution until this ordinance is passed. So um what we are asking for in
the motion and I'll and I'll move to that and I'll kind of jump ahead a little bit but the motion will there'll be one motion that we need to approve the GMP and the B that Mr. Dur discussed and the other motion will be to approve the rolling hills groundwater monitoring
monitoring district ordinance and to um authorize the chairman to execute the final version of the declaration which the final version of the declaration as I see it now and as I've heard from FT's
general um attorney is that it this is the essentially the final version. and they have no further comments, but we I'd like you to give we'd like you to give the chairman the ability to execute the declaration along with any other instruments that FD may require. And
those other instruments are like a resolution. They may want a formal resolution like FDOT requires when we approve agreements, something like that. Um, and I'm asking for this in the interest of time because we really want
to get this done fast. And as soon as the timing for the notice letters runs out, which is in about two about 20 days from now, at that point, if there's no comments back from any of the people that we sent letters to, then this will
be processed forward. So, in the interest of time, that is why the motion is crafted in the way that it is. And that's the end of my presentation. If anyone has questions, I'm happy to answer them. >> Questions from the board? >> I have a question. >> Commissioner Zimbau,
>> what ex what exposure, if any, do we have to these five property owners? >> Um, I don't know at this time what I don't think that there's been any um >> well, I'll just put it this way. They've been on notice that this has occurred
for a long time now, right? um we haven't had any, you know, thing come from them. Um I don't know as far as a statute of limitations on any potential claims. I I would have to go back and
look at when they were advised of it, the period of time that has passed, you know, and hopefully with the restrictions that we're putting on there and their knowledge of it, if they do decide to drill a well or do any of the things that are listed there, that
they'll go through this process first and there will be no exposure cuz there will be no damages. So, so if the groundwater monitoring would happen to show that [clears throat] there's some issue on
one of those properties, what's the remedy? >> Well, the remedy would be that the county would have to take the actions necessary to try to protect that property owner from any may come out of it. I mean, I don't know like from a um
engineering standpoint what that would involved and but I can get you that answer if you'd like me to. >> My my concern because I'm I've actually was on the receiving end of one of these with groundwater monitoring is if my ground becomes contaminated
because of this, I can't sell the property. And I would suspect these five property owners will be in the same situation or could sell it to either the county
or at at tremendously discounted price with the knowledge conveyed that there's some kind of issue with the property. >> Well, the issues the potential issue with the property and and I don't know that we have a full idea of what that issue is. We just know that there's a
potential for this this to be the potential plume area. Sure. >> Um, so I don't know that we can say I know we can say absolutely that there's an issue there. Um, if there if in the future it comes out that there may be I mean everything in the public record and
everything that the county has done has been upfront and open. >> Sure. >> So um, >> no understood. What I'm trying to figure out is is there future exposure if the plume does occur on those properties? I got to believe there's future exposure potentially.
>> Yeah. Okay, that's okay. That's all I have. Thank you, >> Commissioner Constantine. >> Thank you. But I just wanted to get it clear. This anything that is it is on their property or has or it potentially could be on this property is caused not
by the county but by the years and years of u whatever happened on on the property that we mitigated on our property before we even started this process. >> Right.
>> Okay. Yeah. I would also add to that as a former resident of this neighborhood, I've owned two homes in that neighborhood, lived there for 20 plus years, that we were all very well advised of it >> and advised to put water treatment within our own homes, etc. It was you
were told about it at the point that you bought the property. That >> is correct. >> Any other questions? Hearing none, uh, we have a public comment opportunity. Do we have any speakers forms? >> No, ma'am. Is there anyone in the audience that wishes to speak? I could
have sworn I saw somebody with a yellow form in their hand. >> A gentleman's ready. >> You have a form >> for public comment at the end. Chairman, >> public comment at the end. Thank you. All right. We'll hold for that. All right. Hearing nothing further. I'll
look to a motion. This is Commissioner Constantine and Commissioner Lockhart's. >> Two motions. It [clears throat] is It is I was getting there. It is Commissioner Constantine and Commissioner Lockhart's district. And isn't it convenient that there's one motion for each of you? >> Yes, [laughter]
>> that's where I was going. >> Okay. Well, that's nice and that's very nice of you to say. But we will guarantee we will move the approval of a motion to guaranteed for the guaranteed maximum price and the budget amendment request as submitted.
>> Second. >> Any discussion? All those in favor? I opposed hearing. None passes unanimously. I'll look for a second motion. >> Motion to approve the rolling hills groundwater monitoring district ordinance and authorize the chairman to execute the final version of the declaration of restricted covenants and
any other instruments required by FT for closure of this matter. >> Second. >> Any further discussion? All those in favor? >> I opposed. Hearing none opposed. Motion passes unanimously. Congratulations. And I will point out that the document
action form from this for this item originated in 2019. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Wow. >> Yeah, I'm aware. >> Wow. >> Yeah. I' I'd say I lost hair over this project, but we all know that's a lie. >> And all the citizens are aware.
>> Crazy. Thank you all. >> That is crazy. All right. Well, we've come to the county attorney's report. >> Chairman, I have no report today. >> That's awesome. County Manager report. >> Uh, no report, Madam Chairman. >> That's amazing. District, you're going
to start with Commissioner Constantine. >> Wow, that happened so fast. I wasn't ready. Everybody, >> I can move on. >> Here we go. Um, just wanted to report that we had the Semino County Tourist Development Council meeting uh at uh
Semino State College at Heathrow. Um and uh at that point they um elected chairman, vice chairman, but also we went through uh with um uh our adviserss uh and consultants um just looking at
what to do with the complex, the indoor sports complex. Um all of you I think have also talked to them. Um so uh it was a very productive meeting and there was a lot of great ideas that came out
from that meeting with the various individuals. Um, I I I did want to tell everybody that the Florida Association of Counties had their legislative day this past week and both Commissioner Her and Commissioner Lockheart were there
also and there was um some good, some bad as we always have up in the legislature. Usually in the past, in the last number of years, it's been bad. But um you know, there is there are some things moving along when it comes
to the uh property tax, which uh right now it's at a stalemate, quite frankly. And um that blue ribbon um bill doesn't look like it's going anywhere because former President Pasadoma has just
declared it u well, she said, "I don't even know how to fix it. It's so bad." and that was her quote and she's the rules chairman. So even though it passed the committee, it's got to go to her committee. And I can assure you that in rules committee, if she doesn't want it to go forward, it won't go forward. And
um there was a number of other things, but I did want to point out and I'm not going to say anything about it because we really don't know the implications of it, but last night an amendment was put in to a House Bill 399 which basically says notwithstanding any
provision of a county charter, the executive method of the transmitt and adoption of an amendment to the future land use element of a comprehensive plan must be affirmative vote of the majority of the members. mbers of the governing body present at the hearing. Now, talking with Nissa and
Trisha, as well as I received it, I said, we really don't know exactly what that means, and I'm not going to comment anymore. >> Isn't that what we already do? >> No, we have a super majority in some. >> Oh, we That's right. We have that little >> Yeah.
>> in the charter. In the charter. Got it. >> That 83% of our citizens voted in favor of. Got it. And among other things, um, on since we had it today, on the 7th of this month, the Seino Cultural Arts Council taste of
the arts will be held at the Longwood Community uh, building. Um, the Seino County annual awards for a shift is also going to be at the community building. And [snorts] uh Semino County Chamber is
going to have their business expo to uh the tomorrow at 3:00 at Lake Mary Event Center and the leadership seinal summit will be held um on January 30th from 7:30 to 3:00 at the rink of Northland.
In addition to that, Commissioner Lockheart, happy 40th birthday. >> Oh, thank you. >> You're welcome. [clears throat] >> Huh. I'll take it. Talk about questionable math. [laughter] >> Let you say that, not me.
>> I'd be accused. >> I need to see those reports. >> Is that it, Commissioner Con? >> All right. District 4, Commissioner Lockart. >> Well, thank you very much for the happy birthday wishes. I am thrilled [clears throat] to make be on this earth one more year and be serving with y'all.
It's great. Um, the Scottish Highland Games were held last weekend. Was it just last weekend, the weekend before last? Recently, um had a couple weed jams. That's why I don't remember whether it was this last weekend or the weekend before last. Uh it was great to see uh so many community
leaders and elected officials out there. The organization is doing a fantastic job of uh bringing people from all over the region, all over the state, all over the country. Um, we I know are still working with our tourism team to uh try and get the data that we need from that
group to know the true economic impact of holding hosting that event in our county. We love having them here. Um, [snorts] it it's just a remarkably fun time. It is the largest cultural
gathering uh of in any one place in the southeast. Um it's pretty phenomenal and and glad to be able to host it in Winter Springs and they did um the city of Winter Springs is an excellent executor of events like that at um at Central
Winds Park. It's just it's the perfect location. They do a great job. So shout out to the employees, [snorts] the staff at Winter Springs for for making that happen. um aerospace and aviation day uh seminal state college and um partners u out at
the airport wonderful opportunity for workforce development and people to know about that industry that is that is booming um about to boom in in our county um so I want to provide you all just a a quick links update um and I'll I don't
know if Christian is here um at some point I may I may phone a and for details on on this update about links. Um, [clears throat] we've had a couple of interactions and actually Darren I think has spoken with uh Tiffany Hawkins most recently and could probably provide
even more detailed information, but as we start to widow winnow down these routes and the bus stops and the paraphernalia that is around the county that needs to be removed. We were notified and I think
you all were sent the same document um that um Lynx was contemplating charging us a significant uh six figures to remove those items. Um there's also been discussion about re
calculating coming up with a new formula for the funding model um for links that would right now I think the estimate is charge an additional $ 1.5 million to Semino County. There's no additional services for that. It's just a way to
make the math uh basing the formula on criteria that changes the math that makes us have to pay more. I believe it's going to be based more on on the access links paratransit numbers as opposed to the fixed route. So if you'll recall, one of the reasons we went down this path of minimizing our fixed routes
was because we said we can't continue to afford your services. They said the way to do that is to eliminate some of your fixed routes. We did. So now we're it feels as though we're playing a little bit of uh hide the ball, move the ball, change the ball,
>> whack-a-ole, >> whack-a-ole. Um and um it's kind it's unfortunate. So I know our team is still working on that and and we're in contact with links to make sure that we understand exactly what the rationale is. Uh Tim J at the last finance
committee meeting voted against he was the sole person to vote against uh that um reallocation of funding or the changing of the formula. Um, of course, um, given the dynamics and the setup of
those committees, Semino County is always going to be on the losing end of a vote to not charge ourselves more. Um, the other counties are always going to vote to charge Seminal County more. So, there's really no way for us to um really advocate and assert ourselves in
in this um environment. So, it's a little frustrating, but I I'll I just wanted you to know that that's what's happening right now. nothing has happened, but that is the dynamic that we're living in. >> If you'd like, [clears throat] I could add on to this the recent uh information
about the removal of the uh bus shelters, the trash cans, the pole signs. It was reported that it was a bill to us. Over 600,000 was a bill to us. Actually, they said it's it's not. However, we are continue to work with
link staff. I did have a conversation with Miss Hawkins last last Friday. U M Mr. Swinson was with me when I had that conversation with her. I just needed to get some clarification. Are they asking us to pay that? She she she doesn't know. Um we said that we would assist
and help with our staff to take out some of the pole signs and things where the cost is coming in to be more uh I guess more cost would be the shelters uh of removing those because there is a still a life to those shelters. They may be able to use those elsewhere. Um, and so
that is to be determined on how much additional that we'll have to pay. So I got from that conversation, Mr. Swinson got it too, there's probably a bill coming to us at some point. Um, but we have offered our assistance to help taking out some of the the structures with our staff. So we're going to be
coordinating with that. So Mr. Switzen is working with their staff now. So as soon as uh we get that information, I'll ensure that it gets back uh to the board of actually what else that they're going to require us. I did ask Miss Hawkins is that just to be clear for my standpoint
and for our board because I said I have to report it back to our board. So if a county or city discontinues routes, it is our responsibility, meaning the city or county, to remove those shelters. She referred to an agreement that I believe she said expired back in October of
2023. I'm not for sure. We're we're working on that. Um, but apparently there is some agreement that we're going to uh I asked if she could provide it to us so then I could provide it to the board. So more so I know it's clear as mud, but more information to come, but we are working with their staff very
well on this. So we just don't have a clear answer of actually what our exposure will actually be for cost at this point. May >> I'll start with Mr. Constantine. Um, all that said, and you know,
I think what Commissioner Lockard has said, I think I'm concerned about this certainly, but even with all that, would it not be prudent to not rush in and start taking these things down when, you know, we
haven't finished? This is with all it's a success, but it's still, you know, we're still it's a study. We're still adding the numbers. We're still going to do [clears throat] all this stuff. And to me, it doesn't make sense that we
might want to add a route or take off it. It just doesn't make any sense to rush in and start pulling things out until we know exactly what we're doing. >> Now, if that is a direction, we need to know that. So, so the so the issue is >> spoke about that.
>> So, the issue is is that as Commissioner Lock and we bought it's it's the ex, you know, they're responsible for those bus stops. So, it's going to be, you know, garbage cans are going to be filled. They're not going to be emptied. It could be people uh u >> I'm thinking the shelters, you know,
maybe vandalizing those issues. So, it's a risk issue as well. So I mean if we're if and now that wasn't my understanding and if we're looking to to see possibly if these routes would come back I need to know to know that because we've given them direction that those need to be re
re well well they're them we've discontinued those routes so they need to do what they need with those uh the bus shelters and so forth. So um >> okay let me clip right I don't think we're going to do that. I'm just saying it seems awful rush to jump in to start
doing this. Now, you know the things that gbage cans and stuff, I understand that, but you know, when you're talking about those bus shelters, as you said, they're they're pretty mel they're pretty formidable. >> Yeah. And and and you know,
it just seems to me that you would take a little bit of time before you start rushing in and doing things like that. That's all I was thinking. From their point of view, they would want to >> Yeah. >> Commissioner Zenower, >> I'm okay if you take them out. Let's have a Let's have a BCC workday. I got a
big tractor. [laughter] >> Our firefighters have all kinds of things that cut and bend and move things. Um, you know, >> just joking for the record. We realize there's still life in them. They're usable. we uh I can't imagine we will return to uh the bus service that we
once had but my my inquiry is more and this was something that I looked at >> okay >> my first budget session with links I would like our staff to look at the paratransit cost and let's let's look at what our options are I mean I think the
numbers that I received back in 2019 or 20 I think I calculated we could do it with three vehicles and four employees for the amount of paratransit work we were we were doing uh at least then
I mean if if we're going to take a bite out of this thing let's let's start taking bites is my opinion but >> I think it's fair to send the message back that if if we're going to play whack-a-ole we're going to play whack-a-ole back so it would be
obviously you can vote with your feet It would we would have to at that point go to market and see whether we were getting a fair value for the money for that service. It's unfortunate that they would make that happen. But that's the reality. I I agree with you.
Commissioner Delari, do you have anything to add? >> I'd just like to add I was going to go the same direction. Uh Commissioner Zimba is going. Uh at some point we need to be looking at paratransit and even other issues that are out there. And I look forward to staff bringing back not
just a timeline, but suggestions of what are the next steps. And I'm not going to use the word wackaole, but if they want to >> deal and let's figure out where we need to go. >> And and that was my ask. Is it okay that staff look into that to at least be
proactive and understand it? I've had I've had similar conversations with staff because I anticipated we've all anticipated this happening and so let's just cut to the quick and let staff talk to links and figure out oh we are going to work well in the sandbox are we going
to cut the cut the line >> I think it'll be interesting to see over the course of the next several months as um access links riders see their costs increase because there there is an automatic um escalator when the total
number of fixed route mileage was reduced that initiated triggered I'm looking at Christian for confirmation that I'm saying being saying saying this accurately triggered an increase in the access links fees or triggered a decrease in the amount of grant funding
that um supplemented those fairs whichever way that was I I think some of those people will transition to scout naturally the the riders who will have significant need for complex complex medical transport will still need a
service like access links that we will probably I I'm completely on board with going ahead and um seeing what's out there in the market and and what that may look like what our options other options may be >> commissioner I find it interesting how you've made the suggestion of relooking at the formula for the past couple years
you've gotten nowhere until now >> so I commend you for actually moving the needle >> well thank you thank you um it was interesting the um you know Mayor Deming ings at a meeting back in the fall at a
links meeting. Um his comment was perhaps we need to look at the structural organization of links basically if semol county is going to be making this massive change and if they're not going to really be um a part of this group hug with us then maybe we
need to look at whether and I interpreted that to be his his questioning whether or not Seminal County should participate in links um and and I think it's a very valid question um and I think we we perhaps ought to look at that as well if if you you know, if we're if we're not going to
be 100% partners, does it make sense to be 10% partners? I don't know. But I think his his comments may have been construed by staff to mean well, I don't know. I I don't want to I don't know. But my understanding is is that um you
know links staff it took some some kind of commentary that was made from some other member jurisdictions of links that seol county needs that we need to relook at how seminal county participates and that has morphed into this change in uh formula formulation for for funding. So,
um, keeping that on all of your radar because this surely will be an item that will be coming before us at some point in the >> budget >> in the during the budget process for sure. >> Um, also just to let you know, uh, Mayor Dyer has been elected the chairman of
Lynx and Sunrail and the Expressway Authority this year. >> Wow, it's a lot. >> It is. I wish him well. >> His hands full. >> He does. Um, tomorrow I am going to be serving on
a panel for the foundation for seminal county public schools talking about the future of education. Um, along with Geek Kuna and some other, uh, members of the community. Looking forward to that. And, um, Commissioner [clears throat] Constantine talked about the business expo. Um, a lot of great things going
on. Everyone, try and stay warm. Bring your pets inside and your plants. Um, it's going to be a really, really, really cold weekend. So, um, and be safe with your space heaters and however you plan on keeping your house warm. So, thank you.
>> Thank you, Commissioner Delari. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I'll make it brief. Uh, first I want to thank the city of Winter Springs for their uh, Scottish Highland Games as Commissioner Lockhart mentioned. Uh, the county fire department was there and they were quite busy during the day on various issues. So, uh, uh, Chief Kinley, uh, your staff
was doing a phenomenal job as well as, uh, Mr. Gray uh with MLK on the past Monday. I'd like to thank the citizens in action as well as the city of Ovido for the fine job they did putting on the parade in the Ovito area. And then as we just talked about a little bit about
Scout and uh uh the TR Microtransit. I want to thank uh Christian as well as Chris Patton for presenting to the community alliance uh group. a lot of the 501c3s they presented to and they had a lot of good questions, a lot of great presentation and I think it was
very well received and I think there'll be a lot more uh uh involvement from their perspective now with this uh new transit system they had questions about. So well done. Just want to let you know the feedback that I've gotten >> my report. >> Commissioner Zimbau,
>> thank you. I appreciate my fellow commissioners taking a few off my list for me. Uh January 27th today is International Holocaust Day. It's also National Chocolate Day without arsonic [laughter] day.
>> National Geographic Day as well. >> Wow. Um on 122 I spoke at the League of Woman voters uh related to the impacts of the loss of adorum tax if that were to occur and if uh the citizens if it
actually made it to the ballot and the citizens would uh decide they didn't want that and I appreciate staff support on all the details and background work and uh Tim's uh presentation that he had previously used was very helpful. Um,
Saturday, February 7th at 10:00 a.m. Um, at the Ovito's American Legion, Post 243 is hosting the four chaplain memorial. For those that aren't aware of that, that is the sinking of the US ship uh, Dorchester by the German submarine in
1943. In addition to that, we same February 4th through February 8th is the winter carnival at the Ovido Mall. Uh, it'll be Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Uh you can find the information on the internet on the
actual times of being open. Also on February 7th is something for the kids uh it's called where creativity meets kidreneurs uh where the kids can come together with their arts and craft and have an opportunity to put a sale price to them
and sell to the general public. That'll be at the Ovido Mall also from 11:00 a.m. to 400 p.m. Saturday, February 7th. Uh outside of that, uh want to inquire and let everybody know
House Bill 103, Senate Bill 650, which is the business tax receipts, which I've been asking that we consider doing away with uh last year when I made that inquiry. And we're always quick to say home rule.
Maybe we should be making a a move before the legislature makes a move on this business tax receipt item. At least get it get it in front of us or we can just let them handle the home rule. Um we can take the victory lap or they can take the victory lap.
>> And real quick, if I could just on that note, it is uh we're we're going to bring that to the next uh commission meeting. So that will be on our agenda. >> Okay. >> Good. And then finally, it's not a very good picture. I know some of you may have it in your districts. I'm sure you do, but in my district, it sort of
sticks out like a sore thumb because it's so obvious because we don't have the development that we have, which are these loss of family members in a car accident, roadside memorials, which I understand it, I get it 100%. But one,
you might have football memorabilia with a big cross with somebody's jersey on it and all kinds of other things that are close proximity to the roadway. Other jurisdictions around the state including the city of Ovido have developed what they call lollipop signs which are
a round sign. I think most of us have seen them. DOT uses a similar thing. Is that something I would like staff to look into the possibility that we consider doing something or have a process for people to apply to do that instead of having this because then what
happens like in my district some of it gets blown away and then we trash complaints about stuff blown away. Then we got people out there that got to mow around it, clean it up and people just keep bringing stuff to it. So, I'd like to support my fellow commissioners to at
least ask staff to look into that process if it can be done. What are the costs? How would you do it? U I don't want to spend a whole lot of time on it and we probably just pick up from the other municipalities what they're doing may be helpful. commissioners.
>> So, is it the intent that the lollipop would replace the paraphernalia or would the paraphernalia surround the lollipop >> replace have the paraphernalia gone? And I think some some jurisdictions allow like by example some
flowers, but they don't allow like a bicycle that they used to ride or a Harley-Davidson sign next to it or whatever it might be. I'd be curious to look at another juris another jurisdiction's >> language. [clears throat] Okay. >> I would as well.
>> Okay. >> Thank you. >> I will tell you it is a a big problem in Valuchia County. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Well, it seems >> they're massive and people are standing on the side of the roads in very dangerous places doing things at these and so we're probably headed in that direction,
>> right? In the rural area, it sticks out like a sore thumb because there's there's no stores or anything a lot of places. Yeah. >> Just it's there. So, thank you all very much for that support. Um, I appreciate sincerely. That's all I have, Madam Chair. >> All right. Well, I took a part in the Highland Games as well in the form of a
whiskey tasting. [laughter] And I learned that I don't like it. I don't care how expensive it may be or how old it may be. It is not my thing. >> Oh, what it tastes like. Right. >> Yeah. I now do know what it tastes like. [laughter]
So, next year I may take part in something different. Uh on the 14th I did participate in the PBS meeting which was a discussion around why Semino County wins and it was a discussion why but with BNY Melon and
their relocation here and some of the things that were considered as they were moving and Gee was instrumental in pulling that together. PBIS is working with him on some other items as well. Darren and I did meet with the city [clears throat] of Sanford to discuss
the JPA that has officially expired. Um, and work is being done on that and regular meetings have been established to move it along. On the 16th, I did send a letter you were all copied to the constitutional officers around the expectations with
regard to the upcoming budget session with the notion that last year we did hear that it was somewhat of a surprise where we were and I'd like that for there to be no surprises. So, we're at least opening communications early on in that discussion. I did enter or uh
attend the mayors and managers meeting, my first mayors and managers meeting. We did have to leave early because we were headed to Tallahassee with a a dinner date that we had to make. Uh but just wanted to let you know that I'm going to pick up where Commissioner Zower left off with the four chaplain's
presentation to be done by the Ovido Memorial um post uh American Legion. They are also planning on doing a larger project with that to have it represented in Seminal County. I think Darren will be socializing that with all of you.
This is not going to be a cost to us as their intention, but it we will be involved in the process to get it into the right place within the county. So, be on the lookout for that. And it's Commander Laurel Ross that is heading that up. Uh I you all know I was in Tallahassee.
Um we did have uh three very productive meetings in with our team that were about 15 minutes each. Trisha then I think it was Trisha went to the fourth meeting which was five minutes. So we met with the entire well four-fifths of
the of the delegation. Um and it good work done. I I'll stop there. I truly do believe that we need to be lobbying when they are in town. 15 minutes is not enough. I think we all do
that. I just want to point that out that because I did say that and announced the times that that's not the only effort that we're making. Trisha did an outstanding job at at along with Southern at navigating the the field for us, making sure that we got in the right
places and is continuing to do an outstanding job at monitoring all the things that are happening. I do have an additional data request at the risk at the risk of I don't want to bring this back up. I don't want to have a discussion about it, but I do [laughter] want to just I do want to
tell you that I am going this is a disclosure issue. I do want to tell you that I think with regard to the um arts council, what what we asked for we got. So there's a literal interpretation of what we asked for. What I would like to
see next is a list of all grants awarded and I would be happy to go back three, four, five years as long as they can give us the data. the amount, the receiving organization, the date it was awarded.
I don't even necessarily know that I need the date of the check, but it would be interesting to see that. I I'm negotiable on that and the grant purposes slashoutcomes. I think had we had all of that, we could have abbreviated the conversation and I think it will be helpful as we're walking
through what we need to put in this contract. So, here I'll pass that down to the county manager. He's writing feverishly. I >> got Thanks. Um, and I was going to announce National Chocolate Cake Day because that is near and dear to my heart, but I won't. [laughter]
And that does conclude. Yes. Um, related to I don't know if it's a chairman's appointment or a board appointment, but I was appointed to the juvenile justice advisory board and it conflicts with both the links and Sunrail meetings. It's the same day of
the month, third Saturday, what or third Thursday, whatever it is. So, I don't know. Again, I didn't look to see if it was a chairman or board appointment, but I will need someone to replace. We got to change that. We need somebody else. >> What day is it for you? >> I think it's the third Thursday. It's
whatever links in Sunreil are happy to do it. >> We have a volunteer >> either that or I did it last year. I'm happy to keep going. Whatever youall figure out. >> I don't know who the appointment is either. I think Commissioner Delari was first. We'll spread the wealth. How about that?
>> Okay. Thank you. Maybe we should vote on that in case it is a board appointment. Let's all I'll I'll >> make the motion. >> Motion from Bob Delari to go into the juvenile [clears throat] justice >> board. Second. >> All those in favor? >> I opposed. Passes unanimously. >> The other thing that I forgot, forgive
me. Um but Commissioner her reminded me when she was talking about the our conversations in Tallahassee. Um, one of the things that came from those conversations with our delegation is we found that it is entirely likely that the CFO did not receive the letter that
we sent back in October, November. >> Um, multiple attempts to follow up led us to we, you know, the cat ate my homework kind of the dog ate my homework kind of thing. And at first I was like, "Yeah, okay, sure, whatever." Um but I I
think they really did not receive the letter. It did not get to the right um person in that organization. So I would just ask if we could re either reissue that letter through uh certified mail and and email to the um to the chief of
staff and the CFO. I don't know if we want to just reissue the same letter send a different letter, whatever it is. But I think >> probably if you think they didn't get I'd send all the letters, just copies of them anyway. >> Is is that >> we have it all. That was going to be my question. There were multiple letters. I
would love to reissue them all if the board is okay with that because >> that >> Yes, Commissioner Constantine. >> Speaking of property tax, I just wanted to get tell you a little bit about an exercise of some of our fellow commission uh fellow counties.
>> Can we hold that thought for just a minute while we decide on the letters? >> Oh, I'm sorry. These letters were related to the clerk, not to property taxes. It was to the clerk's audit and Yeah. >> All right. Mhm. >> Yes. >> So, if it's the wish of the board to reissue the letters, how about we work
together, county manager, county attorney, and I work together to assimilate all of them, do all the checking, and we'll send them. What I'm hearing is you want them checked. So, certified return receipt and electronically. So, we'll take that on. I'm sorry, Commissioner Constantine, you're on.
>> I thought we had Well, actually, is anybody going back to Tallahassee anytime soon? [snorts] >> I'll be going by there in two weeks. I'm happy to hand deliver them. Try to get to the CFO. >> You're you're still going to be delivering them to a random person. I
personally like the idea of tracking it so that we know where it went. We know how to follow up from that point >> maybe. And if you want to drop it off too, go right ahead. [laughter] >> Commissioner Constantine. >> Thank you. So some of our count fellow
counties in lie of what's happening with the pro with the um property tax um taking from the the worst case scenario of what they originally talked about and eliminating it over the course of time to some of the more
um I'm not going to call them reasonable but other proposals that are being presented right now they um they're going through in before the budget um process going through their own process of what
would happen legitimately if this was to go away and it has had and they've done it publicly and it has made quite an impact on the residents in some of these counties when they did then I'll just
give you example of one but what I'm saying is is in that situation remember this is going to have to be voted on from the people So we cannot lobby but I think it would be incumbent upon us that we showed the
constituents what would really happen. I'll give you an example for just Wakulla after they went through this. Wakulla County said if this happened we would close and they weren't trying to they weren't trying to be you know like a you know let's scare the they were
doing legitimate here's the money we have left. We'd have to close all the parks, all the libraries, all the park activities that are part of that. A large percentage of the roadway improvement
and close your ears, Allan, animal control. And that's they said that and and that had when they showed that to the citizens, the city, you [laughter] know, I I don't have to tell you what happened with what the citizens said. That's
hitting somebody in the gut. >> Every single person in the in the in the community in the gut. >> Well, >> Commissioner Lockhart, >> I think we this county went through a similar
exercise in 2007 2008, >> right? I wasn't here. I'm sorry. >> I know. No, no, no. I'm I'm not I'm confirming what you're saying because you you really don't know until you sit down and look at the numbers with people sitting around the table
what you would do. It's it is a it's an honest to god gut check of the priorities of of the budget and and how far it whittleles down and how quickly you get down to the very bare bones of
delivering services and and it's not to your point commissioner Constantine it's not alarmism it's reality there's either money to pay for stuff or there isn't money to pay for stuff and and I I I heard that some of the counties were
doing that exercise. They were sitting down and actually going ahead kind of like you do for emergency planning. Like you prepare for hurricane season, you have your exercises. Would it make sense to do a similar type of budget exercise uh coming up here,
you know, maybe more toward the beginning of the process and adding that to to the plan? I don't know. >> Mr. Zimbabwe. Well, the good news is, and I would support that if it's what majority board wants to do, the good news is our staff's already run the
numbers. Um, and I would tell you, at least my experience on the two groups that I've spoken to about this, >> um, they get it. >> Yeah. they they understand that that 15 or 17% that remains
is all the services that we provide. And when you start asking them which one of these would you prefer to cut? I mean, I'm sure each one of you are like me. I've not got an email or a phone call of any citizen wanting us to
cut any service any. I mean, there's some some that want some more service, but >> they may want to cut one, but not the others. >> But I I've not had people reach out to me and say, >> "Stop fixing the potholes. Stop fixing the sidewalks. We don't want parks and
recreation. Close the libraries except for two days a week." I've heard none of that. Um, so I if you all want to take that exercise, I'm happy. Well, as just to say as I know the staff has already started running those things and I think
it's I think it's you know a legitimate exercise for us to sit there and fully explain you know because we in in total transparency what we do and what this would involve. Now I think that when
finally also we know what goes on the ballot if anything I think we would need to do that also but I really believe that right now it would it actually almost like >> and many of you know have talked about this or we have seen this zerobased
budgeting >> also basically before we start our exercise for the legis for our budget this year do this exercise and show zero base budgeting. This is what would be. So that that would just be a thought
that I um that I think I no no no new ideas. It's just that some of these other counties are showing a real impact with their citizens about what this would happen. >> So I would I would agree with the process. I would add to it though that it should be a balanced approach and
that is that because there is discussion of other funding sources that would be generated through the state such as an increased sales tax that we we run that math. What does the sales tax have to be to make us whole because I think people would be surprised by that and and
that's the an open discussion. And I don't I don't think we can only show one side of it, but um and maybe there's iterations of that. >> Along that line of thinking, I think it would be interesting to find out from Tim JS or whomever. Um that sales tax
would get washed through Tallahassee first. A significant portion of it would be used for the counties that are fiscally constrained and then we would get a portion of it back, which wouldn't be the full amount that we give. But so I don't know how we would know what that dollar amount would be that we would
get. But I believe I I understand what you're saying. >> So that that was the terminology of iterations of that. There would have to be iterations of not only the amount of the percentage of the tax, but there would have to be a handicapping of if we were a donor county. We're a donor
county with the school district. We're very well aware of how that works. And it's painful, but there's no We would more than likely end up being a donor county based on our geography. We don't have shoreline and our density. >> It's simple math.
>> Both of what you say, both of you make excellent points. And I will just add to another thing. We don't really know in the sales tax because anybody 50 miles to another state can drive up there and get their refrigerator or whatever else
they want to get if they wanted to do it in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, whatever. And that has cannot take in. One of the things that I found out when I was up in Tallahassee that I think we all suspect, but it was put into plain language to
me, the reason you haven't seen a plan from the executive is because what they're realizing is it would bankrupt the state to take property tax from us would bankrupt the state. And so they
haven't figured out how to do it. Now I think like others are trying to find exit ramps. They're trying to find exit ramps off of this. And we and the latest version is they'll come up with some homestead >> additional homestead
>> to put up on the thing when as I said even way back when I was in the legislature you want to fix property tax eliminate all homestead all save our homes everything and have a true valuation of the home and 80% of the
people would be reduced taxes and 20% would pay more. It's the 20% that they don't want to pay more that they're concerned about. >> All right. Well, are we good? We have direction. Do you have direction? >> Yes, ma'am. And I just want to remind
the board. So, on March 10th is our first budget public hearing where Mr. Johnson will come as well as Mr. J. And I think we could keep this uh Bob rolling is talking about it as well. >> Good discussion. We have come to the public comment portion of the program.
One speaker. Mr. Chairman Ron Lightheart. >> I'm sorry to have to waken woke you up back there. >> Ron Leto [clears throat] 1036 whining circle Amy. That's a different language. You'll have
to figure out which one it is. >> Can you Can you repeat that? I >> was it. Okay. I would know that one. >> I picked on you about Hurricane Amy last time, so therefore I'm making up for that. >> Oh, thank you.
>> Duo language Google. Somebody Google that one. [laughter] >> Okay. Uh since I don't have much time here, so uh you know, I was here of course during the millillage hearing. Um I have to be honest, I didn't like some of the inputs that came afterwards. So
um that evening. So, um, now I have to admit I didn't like my 3 minutes of free speech either. So, we're on the same foothold there. But, you know, as you know, I I made comments about pensions and look, I I know it's not going to
change over here, but as you know, the the uh the police chief sheriff um you know, responded to it too afterwards. I I'm not going to argue with that. That's that's that's his right, whatever. Right. But here's my the part I didn't like. He made some huge political
statements here on in these chambers. You think that's wise when you have a employee retention problem? I don't think that was wise. We all know it's very very very polarized out there. So, so that's my comment there. And I I
did reach out to him several times. He so far he's been too busy, but you know, which is fine. I'm okay with that. So, but I'm not going to keep chasing him either. So, uh, another comment, uh, Mr. Bob Delari, we we actually talked many years ago, and I think the last time I
saw you in a talk, we had a little talk. I've seen you other times, and I think you've forgotten who I was, but, I was the one that shot down your Happy Meal analysis many years ago here at Semolo County. So, but you made some comments about cost.
We're doing everything at cost. you know, versus the private sector where we do it for profit. So, I work with government a lot for the last 35 years. So, but I'm going to strongly disagree with that comment because as an example,
NASA nonprofit, right? To launch one pound of steel into orbit, $70,000. SpaceX for profit, one pound of steel,
$2,500. Okay, it's an extreme, but to me that makes doesn't make sense. I'll be more than happy to discuss that with you. I only have 15 seconds over here. I've lived I've lived in West Africa, North Africa, and Europe. I'm an immigrant,
and I'm despised as to what's going with ICE. I despise this entity. I know my time is up, but I'm really nervous about what's going to take place over here because, as you know, ICE is on our back door. So, um I would like to talk more about it, but my time is up because I
can share a story where I'm a legal resident here in the United States. I became a US citizen. And if uh in simple terms, again, I don't have the time, but um I did everything right. no criminal
record of any kind, you name it. But the bottom line is if I became a US citizen during this Trump era and ICE was involved, I could have been deported. >> Thank you, sir. >> We're doing everything right. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> All right. I think that brings our meeting to a conclusion. Meeting adjourned. >> [music]