[Music] pray we thank you now Lord for this hour we thank you for this opportunity to call on thy holy name and to call Father for the service we thank you for the citizens that have come to support family and Lord it is I desire serve us to do the right thing for uses and do right before God and man we ask your lesson now as we go through this program we thank you Lord for your goodness and your mercy again we ask your blessing as we go from this day forward then bless all of these under the we the blessing name might stand in the these blessings and all other blessing we ask in Jesus name I pray amen amen of the United States of America to the for stands Nation God indivisible withy andice for all like to welcome everyone for our meeting this Monday December 4th 2023 6 p.m. we have a conference line set up number there is 1 917 91022 access code is 32347 this is not a tollfree number you may be subject to long distance charges according to your long distance plan when the chairperson opens the meeting for public comment please follow the blow instruction if you wish to speak please I'll Starfy the moderator will unmute your line with your turn to speak and notify you by announcing the last four digits of your telephone number please announce your name and address and you'll be allow to speak three minut any person wishing to address the board regarding an agenda item will be given three minutes for comment a comment may only speak one time for each agend that said we'll move to number three do everyone have to notice that we would remove item number 10 yes motion to approve theed agenda have a motion and a second to approve our revised agenda all in favor next Awards recognition from before the board to present the 2023 citizens of the Year award to Gary and Norma Holden in appreciation of their many years of service to the citizens of T County I'll turn it over to thank you Mr chair you know we sit here meeting after meeting and year after year but tonight's event is one of the proudest moments in my 13 years as being a county commissioner sometimes you just know when something is the right thing to do and tonight we are doing just that but I was thinking about what I would say the first thing I thought about was where do I begin there's so much to say so I was thinking do I begin with these are extraordinary people who were raised by extraordinary parents or these are God-fearing people who put Jesus first or these are the most caring and unselfish people you will ever meet or they are always there when needed or they started the sh Grove Volunteer Fire Department over 30 years ago and have left their dinner table or got out of over 40 over 40 now we don't want to miss that so over 40 years that they left their dinner table they got up in the middle of the night to go to a to fight a fire or to help with a wreck or tend someone in are crosses and they are still doing that to this day or they might be just a little bit crazy or or that Nora is someone who will pray with you in in a heartbeat and she always assures you that God has a plan and that things will be better better or that they exemplify what it means to be the best community volunteers neighbors citizens friends and family and I'll tell you this list could go on and on I could say a lot more but I'm just very proud of this moment that we can recognize Norma and Gary but at this time what I would like to do is I would like to read a letter to the editor that was written by my friend moris steam he wrote this letter on September the 10th of this year it says Dear editor often during times of crisis in communities leaders emerge from within those communities who bring calm healing relief and solutions to tragedy and disaster that caused the crisis of the morning of August the 30th 2023 in our small community of Shady Grove in the northern sector of Taylor County Florida hundreds of people stepped forward to lend a helping hand to their neighbors in NE when hurricane Adelia a category 3 hurricane slammed head on into our County and Community it was indeed a miraculous event to witness but leadership in the names of Norma and Gary Holden sit at the very top for the past two weeks they personally organized and led the relief efforts in the Shady Grove Lake bir Pleasant Grove ero boy sermons Mosley Hall and I communities and beyond their efforts have touched so many people they coordinated and organized hot meals served at the community center and the incredible supply of disaster relief items that kept flowing in and organized the hot showers at a local market parking lot Norma personally cooked hot meals in her home to serve those in need and she and Gary visited people in their homes checking they left no stone unturned and their personal relief efforts to ensure everyone was safe and taken care of we have known the Holdens all of our lives and Norma and Gary are not new names in our community we knew their parents they lived directly across from the volunteer fire department in Shady Grove and have been in charge of this daily operations he says for the past 38 years but correct 38 it's 38 38 they singlehandedly kept the Fire Department open through the years when closure seemed to be the only option Norma and Gary have a true servant's heart that was certainly evident during the greatest crisis in our community in most of our lifetimes they are the Angels God placed in our community for this particular event it is without hesitation we recommend and nominate Norma and Gary Holden as Taylor County citizens of the year for 2023 sincerely Mars and judie steam Shady gr [Music] residents [Music] [Applause] anyone from the board I will say you know this a little closer to me being family growing up other kids you know we family functions those radios the radio go off I watch them that normally leave many family functions to go to a a a fire or whatever it might have been when that radio went off that family function it got quiet it really wasn't for them to hear cuz everybody else wanted to hear what was going on too so a lot of times you know a lot of family they probably hung around a little bit longer so whenever they got back hey what happened what went on so you know not you know not only you know with the you know Volunteer Fire during the stor you know I recognize you know they have been you know a big County support system in other areas not you know churches and just different events you know well deserved well deserved well deserved H so this time let do get down if everybody else anything did any of the citizens you know anyone here they want to get up anything they want to say come on y any come on just stand up where you I just want to say that they are the best neighbors ever then and Mr H wonderful people I would like to say it it's just this is so humbling y there's so many other people that deserve this that um it's been an honor to serve such a great community and um um firefighting I I can't even begin to tell you once you're in it it's in your blood you don't get out of it so I guess when I'm 80 I'm going to be running that fire truck my U I fought fire right alongside my 91 year old daddy that's right we fought Fire by ourselves sometimes still got his gloves yeah yeah we started with a garden hose on our 100 gallon truck but um we're honored and thank you'all so much and we blessed thank you you know Norma I expected Jesus and I'm surprised she didn't say I don't deserve this am very surprised you didn't say that but you y'all are the most deserving and I wish every had a g and a Norma holding and H you did a good job raising these children yes he did anyone else I just want to say when Dawn and I moved to Shady Grove or lake bir about 38 40 years ago they were very very welcoming and and made us feel at home immediately and I remember Dawn was a volunteer and our boy were little boys at the time and he get up the mid night and go help and um and they started it and we were so thankful for that and have they've helped so many people and I know that Norma has literally responded and gone to fire by herself it just blows my mind she's such a courageous woman and I appreciate so much all of your family because all everyone of you good people and you're wonderful thank you for doing so much for our community any I would just like to take this opportunity to thank the commission for recognizing this family that does so much for the community not just in hurricanes but on a day in day out basis thank you guys thank you I'll say I and there's no way to say it real quick but I'm going to do it real quick um it's hard to give Cliff Notes on something years but um they've always been the best example of um of what to be and once again our grandparents that the the groundwork and pretty awesome aunts and uncles back here too um we could have really filled this place so but we tried not but um from from the early age that was um a highlight for my brother and I um my sister come along a lot later but um those 3:00 3:00 a.m. phone call Beats when they take off our adrenaline would start just running crazy and our job my brother and my job was to run across the street and open the doors and get the fire truck and you don't realize it until you're my age Looking Back Now when you watch your parents drive away in the fire truck and the lights and siren we didn't care if they were going to get a cat out of the tree please run lights and siren all the way take the whole town up this is awesome and um grandma would always come over and sit up with us until they came home and sometimes it would be you know the next morning because they fought fire all night but anyway it was always a a great Testament to see them serve the community um but as soon as the when the hurricane hit um I belong to them so they're my priority even though I love the community that I come from my first thing was to get down there because these two people was not going to eat and sleep until they took care of y'all the community so my husband and I said they don't care about power they don't care about food they this one just goes into beast mode and so we brought the generator to their house and we kept it oiled up and kept food going at their house because she and he would not rest while um there was needs in the community so um for that you have to know it was just day and night um of them on the phone and trying to but I was I worked to farm show the a Expo in mry Georgia this year and customer come up to me that knew him and said let me tell you about the very hold them well that could go either [Music] way Lord what my daddy done now and he said I'm going tell you what the morning after the storm all my family was out there we were cutting trees clearing the roadways to get to the house and he said and here comes a truck down the driveway and we said Lord can't nobody get down this driveway who is that and he was maneuvering around all the trees and he said lo and behold it was your daddy and he showed up with a dozen donuts want to feed us and he said I said well Gary there's trees all over your house too what you bringing us donuts for but he said my mama cried when he left and said you know they got a mess over there at their house and they coming over here with donuts and coffee at our house and she said that's something and so that resonated it was Donuts that's all it was was Donuts but it just it was it mattered it mattered in that moment that that Donuts was a Ministry that morning when everything just felt hopeless and that's what they are to me too they've always been a light in a dark world and Tau us to to be that same way so I'm grateful and thankful for the community for y'all to love on them like this and to show them their appreciation that you're showing them I'm partial but I I am I am thankful too that um that they stepped up and that they continue to step up anyone else all right no one else we do [Music] [Music] have congratulations thank you so much thank you we appreciate a picture get family up here [Music] well camer First grab three two one all right any coming up [Music] congratulations bring across from [Music] Mr [Music] y ready I can see everybody three two one [Music] [Music] so we'll get out [Music] good the mail boox over now yes sir to Juris of the state federal loated now 259 mandatory for in law Equity that Ares out of by signing this agreement recipent that's y affirms that recipient considers the Second Judicial Circuit to be a fair and convenient for for any legal action or other proceeding of any kind designed to resolve such a dispute will not is initiate in any other form a legal action or other proceedings to which this provision applies and I wrote that in my letter to yall or to Randa it that makes sense I mean it's not it's not consistent you know either are you ain't and the on one page are saying that you can end up going to Federal Court which they say we don't have to so I would suggest that you pass this with the Proviso that they correct this on on their agreement in other words y'all and I don't like the stuff saying that you that you think that'll be fair that's just um cage on it but I'm not going to complain about that we need to get that R in other words that it's going to be you know we we always have to agree and second ciruit you know if you're going to get the the funds because they won't they won't budge on that but this time went too far by not their own agreement by not reading their own agreement we need make that motion with your correction I I can I I'll I'll tell you what to say you're hold on you're referring to item number eight yes yes so the we asked about a motion was to approve the consent item so do we need to extend the motion and then kind of focus on item number eight here generally do is you just remove eight of the consent items and the amendment say you approve the other five five six seven and n and and then go Motion approve cons yes right we have a motion and say get to approve all of our consent items except item number eight all in favor all right so we want to do with number eight now yeah yeah my suggestion to U Manda would be to contact them and say you know we we'll agree to uh section 29 but we're not age to that other one because it's in you follow let me know thank you approve based on your Su ation we have a second second all in favor all right number 10 was removed moov number 11 the board do hold a public hearing set for this day at 6:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as possible to discuss and receive public input for the construction of a sidewalk from Plantation Road to US Highway 19 agenda by m cops Gra hey everybody the funding cycle is currently open for the transportation alternative grant program we normally submit two applications each year last board meeting we discuss the possible projects that we would like to submit and one of the projects was a sidewalk on Plantation Road to us9 just need um come again and your approval to move forward all right thank this is a public heting we open this up to the public at this time anyone from the public have any comments on this construction this construction of the sidewalk on Plantation from di to Highway 19 anyone line all right no one from the public no one on the line close public hearing any item discussion on this from the board motion to approve it motion and to approve all in favor far the bo public hearing set for this dat at 6:15 or as soon thereafter as possible to discuss and receive public input for the construction of a sidewalk on West A Street from Miller to US Highway 19 agendered by M Cox gr this is also a transportation alternative the second project that was discussed it's a sidewalk from West Street for Miller Road to us9 we need to receive public input and I need your to move forward with Grant submission and we also need to determine which of the two projects if you approve this one would be your priority we we've got to designate which one would be our priority project got it uh thank you m there the public hearing we open it up to our public at this time anyone public have any comments on the sidewalk Construction on West Street from m road to Highway 19 anyone from on the line we close the public hearing any discussion from the board motion to approve I have a motion to approve we have a second second all in favor I she need to prioritize the two items so somebody want to make a put I'd like to see them together do you want to Prior yeah i' like to have that good it would be from southide Park to right there in front of good right it already it already goes from out the park from Park give people a lot of people use that walk and they all the way I make Circ motion all right we have we got a motion to uh make the number one item being the uh Plantation Road from Old Dixie Highway to 19 have a second all in favor all right thank you thank you 13 the board the holy public hearing set for this state at 6:20 p.m. or soon thereafter as possible to discuss and receive public input for the fdot shared us nonmotorized SunRail grant program for Taylor County Coastal Trail T along State Road 51 to Dark Island on County Road to 61 agenda by C we discussed this project last board meeting were um the funding Cycles currently open for the fund Trails it is a very quick turn around on the screen so we recommended last board meeting that we apply for the the planning and feasibility study phase of this project to be a to move forward and go back possibly next year for the actual construction dollars you asked us to confirm that it would not have an impact on the current Sun Sun Trail gr which is from Offa along 98 to us9 toel and Kenneth immediately T at the the following day and it will not have a negative impact on that current project at all so there will be no negative impact very so we need public in and you're approval to move forward with this project and I also want to indicate on all three of these that we're discussing tonight there's no match or money required from the county good thank you all right so the public here up to the public any comments on this on the trail to yes my name is Michelle Curtis and uh I'm very supportive of this Trail I'd encourage the board to um approve it you know I what I've seen at the beaches is uh the current trails that are open are are used a lot people really really enjoy walking riding the bicycles and that kind of thing and it's it's just a great thing and I think a trail of this nature you you we might have you know bike races there one day or or running races there one day as part of our events and uh so I I very much supportive of this triail anyse all right no one else no one on the line we'll close the uh public hearing discuss from the board motion to approve motion and a second to approve this item all in favor right thank you mealie thank you so much Hospital 14 the board to consider approval of request for proposed improvements andh to Dr Memorial Hospital Emer room agenda by Lauren as Clarks as Clarks it's a long CEO Memorial Hospital got rid of the interim I told you I was scking around I appreciate the opportunity to come before you guys um and I before I start I just wanted to thank both Mo and Mara um and your continued support helping some Capital purchases we have a brand new oven thanks to you all everybody in the community is very happy about that as well as some enhanced patient monitoring equipment it's really going to help us Elevate our level of care so I know we've been working you guys hard and I really appreciate that the good news is we're not here to ask for money um I have my board chair pat Barber you here with me as well but we want to share with you an exciting opportunity that we have't asked your permission to make some improvements to your building the hospital um we're always looking for other funding sources um and always looking for Grants and other opportunities and for example we just recently installed a brand new CT machine over the entire project was about a million dollars and that was through Federal cars act money this machine is nicer than the one my former employer at tmh um and we just had someone come look at it that works at shans and said it's a nicer machine than the one that's at shans so this is going to allow us to do first class Imaging including cardiac CTS where we slow your heart rate down and take images of your heart in between beats um so that you can really diagnose some Advanced Diagnosis of what's going on in the heart people have to travel for this Imaging now now we be able to provide that locally um but this Grand opportunity is through the um Department of Health and there's some slides up there uh last year we're very thankful that the governor's budget finally funded the rural Hospital Capital Improvement Grant this has been a placeholder for these monies and the legislative budget for years but it's always set at a balance of zero and $10 million was put in last year and dmh because we are Rule and critical access we're receiving part of those funds so we wrote a uh brand application to do some improvements through emergency room if you've been in there recently you've known you can see that she's over 20 years old now and needs um so we um that's $23,600 that we received um the project goals include um creating at least one Behavior Health uh room that keeps patients safe many times we have patients who need to go um to an inpatient psychiatric unit and we need a room where we can keep them safe while we're holding them and getting them to that location there's very Advanced door knobs and fixtures and things where people cannot hurt themselves while we're holding them without a lot of staff we in need of that so we're going to make sure and provide those requir enhancements as well environmental factors that U may impact infection prevention there's some places where our floor is buckling paint's chipping we've got some repairs that need to happen on the balls um we want to make our ER more efficient by improving our patient throughput having some uh additional triage areas so people that they have lower Acuity issues can get in and out much quicker um and really help you know separate the patients that way and increasing our patient and staff safety and ultimately our patient and family satisfaction we know people um choose places that they feel are clean and safe and modern and um we've got we've got some improvements that need to happen so one of the things these I just brought a few examples I've got a very long document um with lots of pictures um but one of the things we're working on is the entryway there's tile around this non-slip St um pad that um we notice during the hurricane when it gets wet it's very very slippery we also secure those doors they did not the wind was so intense during the hurricane at one point we actually had our security person holding those doors shut so we need to make put some uh additional enhancements on those doors to make sure they stays shut the lobby we want to do some upgrades um that's not a very patient friendly receiving room we want to put a big registration desk where we can take vitals as soon as the patient walks in there's a place for them to sit we can receive them um get from behind the glass um still allow for some security measures make sure that it's a more welcoming environment and contend to patients much quicker um new flooring things like that um the next slide shows you in our triage area where patients first come before they're seen by a physician the floor is very dated there's a lot of extra cabinets and Equipment there it's very cluttered again we want to make it much uh sleeker um and really improve some of the Aesthetics in that and then there's our patient rooms um there's a lot of Cabinetry in these rooms if you are over 6ot and you lay patient bed you were kicking the glass walls that are um the doors that are in those rooms we want to cut out a lot of this extra Cabinetry you can see in the picture the monitoring we want to wall mount all of our monitoring so you can you know work on a patient and get to them much better if we have a patient that codes in those Z room you can barely get a nurse and a doctor around that patient to do compressions and do the important work they need to do so we just really want to clean it up get everything up on the walls make more room so we can take better care of our patients the nurses station in the middle of the ER has definitely shown its age um that is a h of activity every day and every night um the cabinets again there's a lot of extra Cabinetry there a lot of wear and tear on that um again want to mount some equipment around there but just really making a more efficient work space for the staff you get four or five nurses back there and a doctor they're bumping into each other hitting cabinets and so we'll still maintain the Integrity of the nurses station but just make it a little sleeper and redo the part in the middle where you see the the uh the countertops are all and then like I mentioned with behavioral health safety this just shows you some examples of the type of bedding and door handles and things that are in a room where we need to keep a patient safe so with your approval we can move forward this is a this is one of those funding projects thankfully they want to get the money spent so they're willing to advance us 75% of the money so we can get to work on this um once if you approve then we'll take it forward to for healthare uh Administration for our plan for approval we'll bid the work and we'll complete the work we had an architect out last week to look at the space and luckily right now we haven't reopened the ICU yet so we'll be able to use those ICU patient rooms um as temporary ER beds while we're doing renovations whether we do it in two phases or do it all at once that's what we're looking at right now so hopefully we can do it very quickly and get the work done I also wanted to mention hopefully you saw in the paper on Friday for the great cover um our new medical director Dr kby Redfield he is a double boarded EMS and er physician which is a very rare find um he is now our medical director and he is really helping to elevate the quality of care in the ER now we want to get the environment to match that and we hope to have a grand reopening once all this work is done and really celebrate the work that we're doing in our emergency services so with that do off questions you said first something about woman that could slow the hard way down yes well you got pick it up if you need there's some great medicine that does that right for you yes sir it down we can get it right back up yes sir but it's actually I mean that's a very it's a very complicated procedure that we do we've engaged a really great Tech um and entic her to come work in Perry and um so we're excited about having our expertise because it's not something you do not anybody can that but that's a very good point very good all right we no other discussion from the board request motion to approve this item all in favor thank you very much public request 15 Jones to discuss Demolition and removal in certain areas and ISS I don't Jones I had a conversation with him maybe last week reach out to him to see if our conversation answerers his questions or administrator item 16 the board consider approval of letter support to Swan River Water Management District ad based upon um the wishes at the last meeting I drafted a letter um and I'm just asking if you wish to amend the letter or if the there are any changes that you wish to make I think the board indicated I know theard indicated you wish to send a letter does this meet your expectations or do you make any changes I'm good with Ian we have any have we it's just a formal request no you got problem motion to approve motion second to approve this it all in favor 17 can administrator to provide update on op settlement funding and request approval of Community Health Improvement plan Committee of the advisory committee for fund received as I'm sure you recall Mr Bishop previously upated the board that Taylor County has received an additional op lawsuit settlement amount of approximately $156,000 uh due to Taylor County's population the funding has been transmitted to the nwf health network they will serve as the County's Fiscal Agent and also provide technical assistance for the required implementation plans and reporting for all of the opiate settlement funds so we reive $156,000 we currently have approximately $199,000 we received this far we're still waiting on the settlement amount from Walmart and then there's a multi-year plan to receive these funds every year not the 156,000 but approximately $20,000 a year uh myself Lauren fa and Clark and T hobby recently participated in a conference call with nwf health network to discuss the process for extending These funds and learned that we must submit an implementation plan by January so that the funding is expended by June 30th the state's fiscal year end we must also submit an expenditure plan for the remaining fun funding later in the year uh the board had previously indicated that there should be an advisory committee to recommend a a spending plan for all of the opiate settlement funding so I would like to request that the tayor County Community Health Plan members serve as this committee as their representation would come from those agencies most impacted by the op crisis and also the community health needs plan that was updated last year identified substance abuse and rehabilitation services as a priority this committee could take up the matter in December and then I would plan to bring to plan a plan back to the board the first meeting in January if the board approves also commissioner Fel has already volunteered to serve on this committee um as the board represent so if the board approves my suggestion to um to actually allow this committee to serve in this role we can move forward pretty quickly and bring the plan back to the board the first meeting in January can administrator to discuss informational items I just wanted to remind theard that December 12th um next week there is a joint workshop with the Taylor County school district and the board of County Commissioners to further discuss districting and then on the 19th there is a short board meeting um to approve invoices and I think we have to receive one B back that was already advertised so I just I just want to you know just say that it's my understanding that um when we meet with in a joint workshop with the school board that um you know we have our we'll have our tentative plan by then and it's my understanding that if if they agree with that that's fine if they don't then they have the option to draw their own districts that they do not have to be the same as ours I believe that's accurate yes yeah just clarify yes 19 comments and concerns from the public for non anyone can you update us on what's going on sure um You probably heard this already so this um I won't come to the podium because there's only really two two pieces of information and that is um several parties have express interest in discussing the potential purchase of the pul plant uh they like to discuss it with Georgia Pacific uh and Georgia Pacific has not let the state know that they're preparing a package that they will give out to all of the interested parties probably within the month of December that's really all I know information I just want to say thank you to this board for what we did tonight in terms of recognizing the Holdings it definitely was right thing to do and as I said it just makes your heart feel good um thank [Music] you'all about I told that that I count and we so what we have in the budget for this is the funding for the design and then we'll see what the cost of that is and what what that entails and then we would ask the board for the funding to actually resurface the parking lot you know this was been going on for years I thought that we I thought we decided to to move with this a long long time ago I think it's it just we just had an opportunity to to finish it but I will try to make just time constraints and demands on our staff that I'll I'll see if I can prioritize it yeah it needed to be a priority because there's hes out there and people walk out there it seems to be dangerous and also we a long time ago we also talked about lotting more lotting out there and we also talked about improving the handicap space so the lighting was improved and all over out there where all the trees used to be well not so the lighting was proved within the parking lot I we did not add additional lighting where the trees are is if that's what you're referring to well we had talked about it several times years ago Jim you may remember about you know when they have events out there and people are walking all out there to the cars and there holes out there and stps and at that time there was they now that it's cleared up there's not as many trees out there the lighting at parking lot is improved it's a lot better if you ride through there you can't see I mean on the back side we're talking about maybe one day ping that back street back there and then we need there a lot parking on the back so we get that parking loot we really don't need put no more light right there I would thinki is step in you know they fix the Hol in the par it's a lot better but it need the whole thing need to be reor yeah and I agree with that been a priority I was just wondering about if we have adequate lighting and I know we hand spes and um you know there need to be improvements to that I can attest to that but all in all it's in a lot better shape right now A you know work out real good with the festival and everything we didn't really have no issues everybody got I don't think anybody got hurt there I yeah say we right at the point County right now at level water issue if we to get 10 12 in right now floating no more rain right now we are for you know be a lot of get fled if we we get R people probably really had settle in on everybody yet today [Music] fo you know it's not forting rain anymore this week but it seems like to me I remember the last time I could rain stopped in some areas the water just kept coming in somewhere what it is everything stops up with all these tree TOs and everything so it's not going to leave here in a hurry this time all these hway FR Creek Wood Creek all of them got down it's be out hospit down look at that where wild crosses Road like that you get up there crosses Road like and H way cross the bridge down on Pucket Road he looks South down the creek just like so the flow is going to be slowed down all that stuff get out take a year so you know out is what it is you all right we a motion to line [Music] muted see next [Music] year [Music] you mad about that you ain't mad about well I'd say I'd probably be peaceful if you can that could be a child you doing okay good good okay well that's probably fair I I don't say that's a bad concept it makes for a bit less of a conflict if you have those kind of common [Laughter] threads well I understand some of that turnover is a little more challenging than other but that that you know gets addressed yes ma'am come on along here you just kind of understand those things coming and going I would tell you