Tuesday, August 5th, 2025, 6 pm, Willis City Council Chamber. We're going to call to order. We'll have the roll call by city clerk Patricia Wright. Mayor Goodman, >> President Hines >> here, >> Vice President Cox
>> here. >> Council member Jones >> here. >> Council member Martin >> here. >> Council member Rio >> here. >> City Manager Sue Bodet >> here. City Attorney Kristen Belaloo >> here.
>> City Clerk Latricia Wright. I am here. And all other staff. >> Thank you. >> We will have opening prayer and pledge of allegiance to the flag Mayor Charles Goodman. Join me if you choose.
Lord, we're gathered here tonight, a family, a city, individuals, all with our own problems, our own thoughts, and our own prayers.
Lord, I would like you to please keep our police officers in your ever watchful eye. Lord, as I watch the news, I see most terrible ways that police officers been
being killed and treated. So I ask you to play a a protective hedge around Lord and also Lord I would just like you to bless each and every person who has come here tonight
who has taken the very difficult time out of their own schedules because they care which direction the city goes. And I ask you to give us all wisdom and to help us to understand one another.
ask this in your name. 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 very much. Item number one, additions, deletions, changes, and approval of the agenda. >> Seeing none, I move approval of the agenda. >> A second. >> I have a first and a second. I move to
vote. All those in favor say I. I. >> All those opposed say nay. Motion passes 5 to zero. Item number two, presentation of years of service award. HR director Kim Troy.
for your dedication. also need to present a certificate of appreciation to John Salamir. Thank you for your dedication and contributing to the city of Williston's success over the
last 15 years who is currently on duty. Certificate of appreciation to EMTT Schultz. Thank you for your dedication and contributing to the city of Wilson's success over the last 15 years. Certificate of appreciation to Daniel
Smith. Thank you for your dedication and contributing to the city of Willist success over the last 15 years. Certificate of appreciation to Brentsteagle. Thank you for your dedication in contributing to the city of Willist success over the last 15
years who is also on duty. Certificate of appreciation to Daniel Wallace. Thank you for your dedication and contributing to the city of Willist success over the last 15 years.
[Applause] [Applause] Item number three, public participation, 5 minutes. This is your first of two opportunities to address the council at this time. Anyone in the audience can come to the
podium and speak for five minutes on any topic other than what is on the agenda. Please state your name and residence. Just as a reminder, the council does not have to comment. >> Here we go. My name is Glenn. I have to be here.
Uh you guys had a grand put up nice across the street roof over hangs there. Now somebody done done it came off the street and hit one of them and knocked it out of place. This is right by those plates. It's been there for months. Why
hasn't it been fixed? Anybody? >> Are you done with your comment? Because once we we >> I like an answer my comment >> once we give an answer then your time will be up. So make sure that everything that you want to say is set. >> Okay. Thank you.
>> Correct. Yes sir. >> Uh question is also to um IT people. >> Um I've noticed that the stringers and cable has come up. My question is uh how are you planning to route it from the
poles to the house? Will that be a fiber connection or would that be copper or what? Also, what is the status on the getting parking lot done behind these buildings on the street? Thank you.
>> Anyone on the council would like to address? >> Madam President, I can answer the first question. Um we worked with our insurance um company regarding the issue across the street. Um the individual came off the road and caused some damage. Um we received a partial payment
from our insurance company but it did not cover all of the cost and we are working on additional avenues to um recoup that cost. >> Okay. Thank you. Anyone else? Anyone can make
>> Oh, I'm sorry. All right, we got you want me to repeat that, sir? >> Yeah. >> Okay, I'll repeat it. Answering the question too. We have about 160,000 ft of support cable has been installed as
of last Friday and about 30,000 ft of fiber has been installed and we will be following the power. So, ever how you get power to your home or your business, that's how you'll get the fiber and it will be fiber all the way to the inside. >> Thank you, Mr. Mills. Miss Jones,
>> thank you. I would like to answer the third question. The parking lot is scheduled to be completed early December. We're really hoping to stay on that target so that we can be done for Christmas. >> Thank you. You're welcome. >> Anyone else in the audience would like to speak?
Hi, my name is Carol in London. I live at 8:15 Southwest Street. I'm going to I'm sorry. I wanted to ask about my road again. I know I've been to the city meeting a couple times. Um, we talked
about the street. The road's in really bad shape again. I know because of the rain, but there just really has not been anything done to that road. I mean, the last time I came to a city meeting, we discussed the road and maybe some lime rock was brought out, but the
road's in really bad shape again and rainy seasons here and I understand that. That's street that needs to be maintained. It has, you know, just big wash up big holes in it. Also, I asked about the trees being trimmed. They did come and trim some trees, but in front
of my house, there's a tree limb and the wire goes right through it. Now, last year when we had the storm, when we were out of power back there for a few days, that limb could have been taken down and I asked for the limb to be taken down when they come to remove the limb off of
my fence, but they said it was on private property. It is on private property, but the limb is over the road and they ran the wire right back the exact same place. So when we have Yeah. If the thing breaks, I mean, why couldn't I don't understand why the limb
couldn't have just been taken down when the opportunity was there when there were no power lines. So I'm just curious about my road mainly. >> Thank you.
Anyone on staff like to respond? Yes, Miss Jones. >> So, does the tree stand on your property area? you will please state your address one more time. >> And why don't you come to the mic for us again, please? >> Yeah. So we can pick it up on the mic. >> It's Mr. Cowboys.
>> Yeah. Southwest. I'm right beside. So say it one more time. 815 Southwest 4th Street. Anyone else at this time? Public participation. >> Hello, this is Hartley. I live at 131
Northeast Third Street. I'm here to address violence. Can y'all hear me? >> I want to know why my every >> Can I get your name again? I'm sorry I didn't hear you. >> Hardly. >> Thank you. >> Got my address.
>> Um to address my electric bill that continually for the last six months or longer has continually every single month gone up. Last month it was $434 which was insane. This month is $550.
I do not do anything different to my house. Never have. Everything is continually the same and every single month it goes up. I want to know why. Nobody can afford this. I know people that are older, elderly people that live
by themselves in town who I spoke to last month when I was paying my bill. She's paying over $500. She don't do nothing. She's a single person living in town at her house. This has got to change. I cannot pay this every month. Nobody can. I don't
know where it's going to. I don't know whose pocket it's going into. I don't know what's going on with finances in this town, but something's got to change because if it goes up again next month. I don't know what's going to happen. But we need to address this now. And I know
there's a lot of people talking about this. Nobody can afford it anymore. I don't know what else to say. It's ridiculous. Nothing in my home changed. Nothing. I've even cut down on the AC.
went up $120. I need an explanation. >> Thank you for bringing to attention. Has anyone miss Jones? You look you want to say something. Has anybody checked your consumption?
Have you actually called it? >> Well, that's that's the problem right there. >> It's a whole lot hotter. runs constantly. >> We have to compare consumption and if you want to give them your name that could pull your last three or four
months worth of bill see if the consumption has changed. That's what I'm saying and just look at more than one just to see how it moves. >> Okay. Thank you. Anyone else in the public for participation?
Hi, my name is J Lewis and I live at 305 Northeast right here company. Um, my one concern that is bothering me a little bit was the rental of the
property that is now on that corner is for sale and some people are renting it to make it into a food truck park and I have concerns with that, especially with it being right by the
school. Um, the school's posted signs of this says, "Please don't park here. Please don't use the garbage dumpster to put their trash in. Um, you know, there's a little bit of concern with that. Um I did make a post
that um with the way the school systems are and that being a school that does cater to um older children after school and so on. Um bringing in maybe some other unwanted publicity to the area
right there with a lot of children and we do have a lot more kids moved into the neighborhood that is um riding around. And one comment was made from one of the truck people there that they didn't have much traffic at all. It was only the
people that came to see them that's posted on their Facebook page. Um I know you have this beautiful park. I don't know if it's because the fees I haven't asked about that for renting a
space at Heritage Park right here where the traffic would be great. More parking. There's a big issue. somebody comes in with a work truck and trailer trying park right there on that corner. You also have the fire hydrant that's
right there on that corner. Um the L-shaped property on this end there's actually um I think it's utilities of some sort that's right there also because behind the doctor's office and the dentist right there.
My suggestion is I don't know what the funding is for the city but living there since 2013 that property has been used for parking every one of your festivals all of the
school carryons on and all the celebrations um your all the parades and things that has always come up I've been there since 2013 that has been used for a lot parking. Is
there any way with it being up for sale, there's a way to acquire that and make it into something more substantial for parking to provide the services for the peanut festival and all the other kind of services? The school uses it an awful
lot for parking. The dental um offices, a lot of them are parking in back because they're taking up spaces for patients to park. So, that's being used for parking. The church right across the street also
is using it for parking. And I think as far as the community, it would be utilized greatly as parking space for them to be able to um for everybody to be able to use it for that. Um that is my only concern. And we do
since we do have so many more kids coming into the community riding their bicycles and their scooters. I'm sorry I'm a teacher. I'm still doing afterare at Wiston Elementary even though I'm somewhat retired at 71.
Uh my concern too is predators, unwanted uh visitation of people might be coming right into that little area in that corner. Um and we do have like I said the elementary kids are there um after care as well as right now for camp. A
lot of them are there all day. So, it's just some of my own personal concerns for for that being as a being used as a food truck park. Um, that's it. But, thank you. >> Thank you for bringing that to our
attention. Does anybody have anything to say? >> Yes, she's not. >> Hi. >> You want to address that? I know you've looked into it. >> Um, there's a couple things going on with that. It is private property, so the city doesn't have a whole lot of rights.
The original um plans to have a a park uh has told them they had a whole lot they had to do to be able to do that, including uh parking, ADA, accessibility, um power, and the property owner is not interested in any of that. He did leave me a voicemail the other day that said
that they were going to allow them to use this for the month of August because they've already leased it, but it's causing too many issues and he's planning on shutting it down for September. So, if you can hold out for August, um since the city doesn't have a whole lot. However, I did tell the complaint um the complaintant that if it
was too noisy or if there was too much traffic to let us know and the police would be able to do something about that. So, you're very welcome. >> Thank you, Miss John. >> And I would just comment that we also had concerns. That's why we came to her as code enforcement and planning in
order to see what she can do to help us with that. Um yeah, like you were mentioning about a little park or using it in an area like that. Um there is quite a a lot of I know with the children coming in like
a little wayside park. Um I know that parking would be more beneficial. >> Miss Jane. >> Miss Jane. >> Yes. >> Sorry to interrupt you, but your five minutes are up. But we'll have another session at the end. >> No, I just wanted to say what she had brought up about that. It was a good idea, too.
>> Thank you. >> Can I just ask you've already addressed the food truck issue on another property in town and cannot control regarding? >> Yeah, I mean, I can I can get specifics,
but generally speaking, there is state statute that does preclude a lot of what we're able to regulate. So we we have to regulate in a way that is similar to um other businesses and not specific to food trucks. >> Thank you.
>> Any other public participation? My name is Dionki. 1045 Southeast A Street. I have a question. Who supplies the power to Williston? Is it Duke?
Who I know we don't produce our own power >> part of an electric. >> Okay. What when they give you folks when you pay a bill for that is everything included in that? My
question is this electric adjustment. What exactly is that? Can you ask >> if you want me to sit back down? I'll sit back down until somebody can help. >> No, we want you to go ahead and ask all the questions that you have. We'll write them down and we'll answer them.
>> Is that it? Okay, just stay there. Does anybody have >> It's a cost adjustment for the amount of the fuel. It is a pass through. They charge us and it pass through to our electric consumer. So what do we pay then to this electric company then if
that's not included into the bill that comes to Willis >> to what? To the you mean the company we buy power from? >> Yes ma'am. it goes to them as well because it's the fuel they're using to generate the power and if the right and if the fuel goes up past a certain
amount the public service >> so I notice when the power bill goes up your fuel adjustment goes up >> and it's the public service commission that allows them to do that >> and they pass it on to us and we pass it on to regulated based on whatever your
bill is Sure. >> We do not add to what we do. >> We just pass whatever they charge us on to our customers. >> Yes, sir. I understand that. But what
>> what I'm asking is I'm sure you get a bill like I get a bill from Willist >> and that is not included in the bill that they charge you originally. This is added on top of what we already paid.
only if the fuel cost goes over a certain price it's Mr. Barber help me will Mr. Mr. So, so this practice that that you're experiencing uh that all util all electric utilities do it the standard
practice across the board. >> Thank you. >> Is there anyone else? >> Make one more comment about the electric as we're talking about it. If we had stayed with Duke instead of moving to the Floramunis Electric Association, our bills would I think it was over like a
three-year period, it was like $1.5 million more that they theirs went up so high that that's why we changed to the Florida Municipal Electric. >> Is there anyone else? If there is none, we will move on to
item number four, the consent agenda, council minutes from July 15, 2025. >> Do I have a motion? >> Make a motion we approve the consent agenda. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. Any
discussion? Move to vote. All those in favor say I. I. >> All those who oppose say nay. Motion passes 5. Item number five updates staff and board and council updates. City manager su
David. >> Thank you very much. All right. Just a couple of things. Um, just want to let everybody know that uh, Latricia, Kim, and I attended the Swany River League of Cities Ethics training in Cross City last Wednesday. Um, if you have a chance to go next year, I highly recommend it.
Laura Gambino is the um, person who does the training. I've been involved in it for the last three years and she's really excellent. She gives a lot of like real world examples, so it's not so boring. I think it's going to be really boring. Um, second, wanted to update everybody on open enrollment. We had to
change the dates. um there was some issues with the county. So the open enrollment dates are now August 27th and August 28th. I think they originally 11th and 12th. So those are um later in the month. Uh want to remind everybody about Saturday, August 9th. Again, the hurricane emergency leadership and
preparedness program, community outreach, and fundraiser by Central Florida Community Action Agency. If you haven't seen it on Facebook, uh there's going to be a dunking booth, which the chief is very excited about. So, it's the battle of the cheese, chief rolls
versus Caesar key. Um, the dunk food starts at 10 and I think it's $5 for three tries. So, I told them I'll be there at 10. >> Yeah. Please feel free to come out. >> Where is this located? Here. >> Uh, Heritage Park. Yeah. And um last but not least, I wanted to mention something
and kind of see if we can maybe get some consensus on you may recall last last year 24 um the city of Wilson passed resolution number 2024-34. This was where um you approved the interlocal agreement for animal control services between the city of Wilson and
the town of Bronson. Um just to let you know uh I spoke with Amanda Huber. She is the new town manager effective yesterday for the town of Bronson. And uh she reminded me that the term the initial term expired January 1st of 2025. So it expired early this year. Um
and it says for subsequent terms thereafter the agreement shall be revised as needed due to financial budget needs for a term of 12 months unless a party desiring to terminate the same has written um has sent a written notification to the other party no less than 30 days prior. We do need to give
them 30 days if we decide not to renew it. Um I will tell you that Laura and I had a conversation about it the other day. We our our animal shelter is full. It continues to be full all the time. Unfortunately, we're not um adopting out the animals as quickly as we would like.
So, I'm just trying to get some um consensus on the council as to what you would like to do. if you would like to renew this contract or have it continue to be renewed or if we want to terminate it just based on the fact that we don't really have the two kennels that we were originally um promising process
that's all >> Miss Jones >> yes sir >> we have your input as to what would your recommend recommendation be >> well it is it is a little bit of income But when we talk about it, it's pretty we're pretty much breaking even. There's
a lot of times we go out to Bronson and we don't do we don't pick up a dog or a cat, but we do have to do animal control services. Um either a bite or something like that. Um it's really taken up a lot more time than we thought it would. A couple years
ago, we would help Bronson once in a while and we went out there maybe once every two or three months. Now I'm going out there a couple times a month and um we don't have the two kennels anymore. Their kennels are full with Bronson dogs.
So I think that we maybe should I I suggest cancel it. I make a motion that we cancel our agreement with the animal shelter. >> Have a motion.
Motion in a second. >> All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. All those oppos I'll bring a resolution to your next meeting. >> All right. Next we'll have our attorney Kirsten.
>> All right. So I have two um two items updates for you. Um and I need sort of your guidance on both of them. The first is I'm going to update you on the investigation. We have five full days of
interviews. Um 30 something employees have signed up for interviews for your internal investigation. That is more than our independent investigator um has seen in a while. Um but it indicates that you all got the word out like you wanted. Um I know that your direction to
us was to make sure that as many people have the opportunity to participate as possible. So, the good news is that's what's happening. The bad news is that that's more costly than we anticipated it being. We did not account for five full days of interviews. Um, so our
request to you is that we have an increase of an additional not to exceed $10,000. Um, the $15,000 that you previously have approved will pretty much be completely eaten up by the interview process. And then there's a report and documentation
review that comes after that. So, I believe the additional $10,000 will cover everything. Um, but I sort of want your your feedback to me that that's a okay >> and all you need is a consensus. >> I'm good with it. We made a, you know,
we made a statement that we were going to investigate. We want to get things to turn for the best. So, I'm good with it, >> Madame President. >> Is it Did I just hear you say that we
spent $25,000? >> Thank you. >> No, $15,000 you basically will have spent by the end of the five days of the interviews. We've calculated the the fees across those days. After the interview process, there'll be document review and then a
report will be created. The additional $10,000 is to proceed with that portion of the investigation. >> Isn't 15 and 1025? >> Yes, sir. You haven't spent 25, but you are >> No, but that's what we're putting out. >> Yes.
>> Thank you. >> All right. I think I have my marching orders on that. >> Yes. So, our second item um is I have a question for you on sort of what your
intent is on your capacity ordinance. Your ordinance, I think, can barely be read in more than one way by different reasonable minds. and I wanted your feedback to me on how you want us to
enforce your capacity fee ordinance. So, your ordinance says that if someone if there is a property that is required to hook up under a specific section of Florida statute and that Florida statute
is if you're an existing property and we run sewer or water past your home, we give you a year's notice that you have to hook up and then you hook up. If we require someone under that statute
to connect to our sewer, then we have a specific exemption for that in our ordinance. There are properties that we ran sewer past
somewhere between the best guess we can get is 1956 and 2013. Um there's a couple years in there. Um but
obviously I wasn't here, Sue wasn't here. most of your utility department wasn't here for most of those years. Um, so we don't know why some of those properties would not have been hooked up to your sewer or water, but they are
not. There are also properties, for instance, the hotels are here. Um, and this is what sort of brought this instance to light. There are properties that the sewer was run past the property
for whatever reason from 1956 to 2013. No one provided the requirement notice to hook up or we don't have documentation of it. The property wasn't hooked up but would have been required to had proper notice been provided. Since then, they've been paying base
rate and usage fees. Most of your property owners do. If that is the situation that there's no documentation of notice being provided when the store was run past their property and they've been paying their base rate and their usage fees
for a period of time I I don't know but for some period of time is it the intent of this council that we consider that situation when we're requiring ing them to hook up to sewer now based on renovations or
improvements to the property. An exemption from your capacity fee requirement. I'm seeing two knots. I'm seeing three knots, four knots, and a blank stap.
Okay. Based on that specific exemption, that's how we want to read it. If if it's if it's based on, and I want to be really clear, essentially what I'm going to call an administrative error or lack of documentation or whatever it is for why they wouldn't have been required to hook up under that specific statute. So,
we're not adding an exemption. I'm just asking you if it would have been required and for whatever reason it didn't happen, we're requiring it now. Is that how you want me to interpret your ordinance that that would still be an exemption? >> Yeah. >> Okay. I'm seeing five knots. So, I feel
clear. >> Yes. >> Thank you, >> Madam President. Can I ask you a question? >> Yes, sir. >> Do we have any idea that there was even a requirement in 1956 to look it up? Thank you so much for asking because
your city attorney >> decided to spend some time looking into that issue and this ordinance, this state law was adopted somewhere between
>> 1950 and 1954 was the original requirement. So it would have been required for that period of time. Okay. I try miss right. Any other staff?
None. >> Okay, we will move forward council. >> Comment. Um, I attended a utilities 101 class that was held here at the city hall that was provided by F
MPA, sorry, Alphu, um, which is the Florida Municipal Power Agency Association. Um, and for the first time, I learned about the adjustment costs and fees. Um, I didn't I had never paid attention to the fact that it changed
and it was very informative and I'm going to see if we can maybe get another course set up. That one happened to be in the middle today. See if I can get one that's set up maybe towards the end of business hours so people can come after work. I learned a lot um about utilities and costs and how we get our
power and and how prices are set. And hopefully maybe we can even have somebody help us um figure out how to read the new bills better as well. So anyway, I'm gonna pursue that because I I'm right I'm only a few weeks ahead of you in figuring out what that number meant. So
all the RFP I was out of town on August 1. It wasn't there. So I I did not get that done out. I will get it done out by this Friday. Mayor, you have anything?
>> I do. >> I do not. >> Thank you. >> All right. Item number six, new business. Discussion with possible action. City of Willist fisc year 2024 audit review.
Helen Painter with Pervis Gr. >> Good evening. Thank you. So, Madame President, city council members and mayor, Helen Painter with Pervis Grain Company, and uh with me is your audit supervisor, Lauren Brown, and uh we're here to present the September 30th, 2024
audit report, which is in your uh board package. So, um each year, uh local governments are required to have an annual financial audit report. uh for the year ending September 30th. Uh we performed our
audit field work beginning in April and it was finally issued in June. Uh we work with your outsource finance director Steven Bloom of um Inframark. He was not able to be here this evening. So you have an outsource CFO.
This year you implemented a new u accounting software system and it uh you know whenever you um implement a new system there was quite a bit of difficulty getting the reports that we needed out of the system. We found no major material errors anything like
that. I think that subsequent to year end you implemented the new utility billing system. We audited the old billing system and we found no issues with that other than the new gas rates were not implemented uh timely. There was a lag there. So um we brought that
to their attention. But I think that um that was realized with the back and forth with that. But our purpose is to express an opinion on the financial statements. Uh and so management is responsible for the financial statements. They provide us with everything and all the backup
information. And what we do is we audit the financials and we give an opinion and uh our opinion is an unmodified clean opinion that we believe these financial statements are fairly stated in all material respects. We also um are
required to um review the compliance of your grant. you have over $4 million in federal and state grants, primarily at the airport with all the construction there that's reimbured by the grant money to hopefully generate um new economies of scale with your airport
with fuel sales and rentals such like that. And your airport fund seems to be doing well as it continues to grow. Uh we do uh have a management letter comment uh and a recommendation that you start building up your reserves. We've talked about it in past years that you
know the city is is operating with very little reserves and that's so important in Florida with um uh the hurricanes that come through that can deplete your reserves and it takes a long time to receive money back from FEMA. Uh so that was one of our recommendations and we
did point out the delay in being able to finalize the audit with uh the system problems with the account with the new software. uh we were able to meet at length with your new city manager um of uh you know other smaller issues that have been in
place for a while and um so we spent a good bit of time couple hours going through that to hopefully get the city up to speed on some of the issues that are affecting the city at this particular time but you know you have a very good outsource CFO um the
accounting records were in good shape they were a little bit delayed but we found no material errors in your financial statements. So, we're uh happy to answer any questions that you might have about the audit and the results of the audit. I would just say, and I say this most
every year, um as complicated as the audit is, you make it sound easy. U you really do. and reading reading the documents as you put them together and in the audit. One of the best places that I refer back to constantly is the
information on the pension funds. >> Yes, >> you lay it all out exactly what everything is and it's wonderful to see it all in one place and your audit always does that for me. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else?
Yes sir. You'll come to the mic. [Music] >> How much reserve are you talking that we need? >> You don't mind me asking?
best practices by government accounting uh standards is 25% of your expenditures. So to keep it simple math, if you had a million dollars budgeted, so everything starts with your budget. If you have a million
dollars that you expect to spend, you should have at least 250,000 in reserves. And so it's 25% of your estimated expenditures going forward. so that if there's any unforeseen expenses that come about um that you have
something to uh cover those expenses and uh so I think now in your general fund for the year ending September 30th you're at about 6 or 7% um I don't know where you're at today but I know that for your budget for the 2526 year that uh in your budget is
going to be a line item for budgeted reserves so it's like it's an expense so you're expecting this expense and you have the revenue venue to cover it, but you're going to be able to keep that revenue to build up those reserves. So, you're not really having to write a check for it. It gets it's a savings
plan that explains it like that. So, yes, it >> does. >> It's for it's it's for recording. So, >> can we give him the microphone, please? Can somebody hand them the microphone?
So, how much in deficit are we for this reserve right now? You don't mind me asking. I mean, she's telling me six telling us five to 6%. You need 25%. And where does that come from? Do our taxes go up more?
We don't have that information for you right now, but we do have a budget workshop that's coming up Tuesday of next week at 6 PM if you'd like to join us. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Anything else from the council?
>> No question. >> Thank you, ma'am. All right. So item number B or B discussion with possible action CPI increase for solid waste and recycling with GFL city manager. >> Did you have something else?
>> Did you want to have a motion to approve that question? >> Do we need >> Okay. Can I get a motion to Yeah, I'll have >> I make a motion that we approve the 2024 audit.
Second. >> I have a motion and a second. >> We'll move to vote. All those in favor say I. >> I. All those oppos say nay. Motion passes 5.
>> Thank you. >> All right. So, Miss Sue, >> thank you, Madam President. Okay. I'm just going to go ahead and read the um the letter from Kevin Smith. He's the general manager for GFL. GFL is pleased to be the solid waste and recycling service provider for the city of Wiston
and I'm amazed that a year has already gone by as this has been a challenging year for all Americans in our industry. I hope GFL is exceeding collection expectations for residents, commercial entities, city commission and staff. In section 10.2 of our agreement, adjustment to rates, contractors shall adjust the residential and commercial
rates relative to the CPI for water, sewer, and trash effective October 1st of 2025. The calculation been performed and the adjusted percentage change this year is 3.75%. The calculation for fiscal year 2425 is 3.75 times the current residential and
commercial rates. The residential rate, sorry, the residential per home rate will reflect an increase of 55 per home per month for an adjusted rate of $15.24 per home per month. Commercial rates have also been adjusted to reflect the 3.75% and shown in the commercial
pricing matrix. All rate adjustments will go into effect on October 1st of 2025 and this would be a straight pass through to the residents. Madam President, I will note that the contract that we have with GFL and the contract that most water and waste and
basically every every company that provides any utility service um does have a CPI increase. This is in accordance with the contract that we have. So it's it's more of them informing us that this will be happening and less us approving it. >> Thank you.
And I would comment that the whole it's 55 cents for a homeowner. >> I don't have 55 cents now. I'm just letting you know that that's what that's what the amount amounts to. >> Correct. Thank you. >> Anyone else? So,
>> Mr. Barber, >> I would recommend that the council have the attorney review the contract. Believe the contract addresses where that CPI is calculated from. Madam Chairman, I believe it's the Bureau of Labor Statistics and we're doing the same thing for our utilities according
to ordinance and I don't know that that is 3.75. So I would just ask that the council will ask the attorney to verify that that's actually the number. We're getting rates of 2.7 to 3.2. So it may not be a lot of money, but if the contract says it's based on the Bureau
of Labor Statistics, they shouldn't be charging us more than what the agreed upon rate. >> Thank you, Mr. Barber. We can triple check the calculations. Absolutely. Not a problem. >> Thank you, Miss Beloo. >> All right, sounds good. So, we're good
with that one. So, we're going to go to item number C and attorney Kirsten Lou will do C and D cover. All right, Madame President, this is resolution 2025-72, a resolution of the city council of the
city of Willistston approving a proposed replat for map of Willist, map of Oak Villa, parcel 05843-0000-00 located at 512 Southeast Fifth Street, Williston, Florida 32696. This and the next item are both quasi
judicial um matters. So, if anyone intends to speak on either item C or D, um, please stand and I will swear everyone in all the same time. Anyone else?
>> Okay. Do you swear or the testimony you give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing about the truth? >> I do. Okay. >> All right. Now, I will ask the council and I'll ask this for both of these items. First, for this one, has anyone
on the council had any exparte communications with anyone regarding this matter? An expparte communication as a reminder is any communication that is outside of a public meeting regarding the matter at hand. >> None. >> Okay. Five. No.
All right. If anyone wishes to provide any documents or materials that are pertinent to this matter um that are not already included in the agenda packet, please provide them to the city clerk now. There's no additional materials.
>> Okay. And I will turn it over for staff presentation. >> Thank you, Miss Beloo. Uh this is a replat of Oak Villa. Replat of lots one, two, three, and four. Block 12 from
Angel Rodriguez and Adelia Cardosa. They are the property owners and Mr. Steven McMillan, the surveyor is the agent. The parcel number is 0584300 0 with a mailing address of 512 Southeast
Fifth Street, Willis, Florida 32696. The parcel itself is one, right? It's 0.5 5 acres. What does that mean? >> The parcel is 0.55 acres and they have, as you guys can see, remember we talked about those old plats from the 50s. See
the yellow lines? Those are your old plats. The reason this is a replat instead of just a split is because they're not going to use those exact old yellow lines. The old yellow lines won't work for what they want to do. They have a house on there already. So, they're
going to split them into not two equal parts, but two a little bit less than equal at 0241 acres and 0 or 305 acres.
They both meet code. Um, they're both big enough for another house or for them to cut off and sell. So, the planning and zoning commission saw this already and they recommend approval of this replat. That's not me. >> If there's nothing else from staff, now
would be time for the applicant's presentation if the applicant is here. I don't think the applicant is >> okay. Um, do you have any rebuttal to your own presentation? >> No, ma'am. >> Madame President, now would be uh the
appropriate time for any public comment. >> Being none, it is to the council for deliberation and vote. >> Can I get a motion? I make a motion we approve resolution 2025-72
and 2025-73. >> Let's just do one at a time. >> Okay, that's the first one. >> I'll second the motion on 202572. >> Any discussion? Any discussion from the public?
No discussion for the public. Okay, I move to vote. All those in favor say I. >> I. All those who oppose say nay they. Motion passes 5 to zero. >> Thank you, Madam President.
>> I move approval of resolution 2025-73. >> Second. And for the record, I'll just read that resolution. A resolution of the city council of the city of Willist approving a proposed replap for a map of Williston, map of Okamic, lot six, parcel number 04308-0000-00
located at 842 Northwest 2nd Avenue, Williston, Florida 32696 um for each of the council members. And I apologize for sort of going out of order. I know that we've got a motion a second, but has anyone had any exparte communications on this item?
>> Okay. >> Uh I'm sorry. One second. >> Thank you. >> All right. Now would be the appropriate time for staff presentation if there is one. >> Do you want a staff presentation?
Because >> I'll give you my staff report. I'd like to have it for the record um recorded if that's possible. I'll go as fast as I can. Um so this is Oak Re uh Hammock Replat of Lot 6. Mr. Edward and Miss Sally Holton are the property owners and
Mr. Steven McMillan is the agent. The parcel 043800 0 with a mailing address of 842 Northwest 2nd Avenue, Williston, Florida 32696.
This parcel consists of 1.34 acres and we have the same situation where our old flats are not going to make it to split this in half. So what Mr. McMillan has done is he has split it a little bit awkward which is why it's called a
replat. Um it don't can't read the flat so I'm not exactly sure. me go down to my middle. So just for your um planning pleasure,
the reason again that this is not just a split where they go to the county and they just split it is because of the flat itself. Do you have any questions? Tell me exactly where it is. Can you tell me where it is, Laura? I mean, I see the address, but there's
houses there. >> There is a house on it. >> How are they splitting it with a house on it? They're split. They're not quite splitting it in half. The other one had a house on it as well. So, the one lot is going to be 081 and
the other one's going to be 0.52. I know where the house is, too, but I don't know where >> it looks like they're splitting it about right here. >> I know where the house right along about here.
about that. My guess. >> So, right now they have 1.34 >> and they're gonna So, see that yellow line we talked about? >> That wouldn't be enough to put the new house. So, what they're doing is they're going past that. So, that it's a replat
because the other plat the other one it's been replotted before and those lines have been merged. So, that's why this isn't easy and it has to go through this public um comments. They may or may not build a house, Miss Jones. They may just split it and sell
the lot. >> Look at Mr. Fug. Say, "Mr. Fug, can you figure out where this is?" >> I know, but whose house is this? I'm trying to locate it. >> Sally and Edward Holton. That's who it says owns it.
Maybe she's wanting to know where exactly is it. >> It's right across from where? >> Then it's not Northwest Second Avenue. >> That's what's confusing me is it says that's the street I live on and I can't figure out where this is. That's why I'm
>> It's over on >> Mr. McMillan. >> Well, there he is. Steve McMillan late. I didn't get the memo. We were here tonight. I was at home watching the I saw my name. So,
uh, this is a What was the question? >> We're across the street's office or house. Sorry. Norm Pig's house is right across the street. >> Is the address correct? >> From 14th house. Where is it? I mean, is
it on Northwest Second Avenue? >> Yeah. >> All right. Tell me where going up. >> I don't. >> So, you just want to know for your knowledge or other people's knowledge?
>> I'm just asking because if that's the case, we could probably get that answer. I realize that you're not want to know where it is, too. >> Everyone knows where North's house is. He has Christmas. >> I do know where North's house is, but it's on the other side of the street.
>> It's across the street from North. >> So, the new house that was built there or is it the old bulock house? >> The old bullet house. >> It's not a new. >> Okay. It's the old bul house. >> All right. I'm just trying to figure out which house it is. >> Yeah.
>> And that's an odd shape on the left side. There was an odd shaped lot that came with when we re when we planted Okamik 20 some years ago for the bank. Um he picked up he bought that strip on the left side and then he had his house
and basically we're just moving that plot line towards his house leaving enough space for the building set back. So, it's the piece of land that's between 852, >> which would be Matthew >> Yeah, I can't say his last name.
>> So, it's that strip that runs straight through there. >> Yeah, that's about the line right there. >> Right there. >> That's as close as I can guess. So, Miss Laura. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Miss Jones, I'm sorry. >> Is there enough land in there to do whatever they need to do, whether they
put a house on it or something else? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Thank you. >> Anything else, Laura? >> No, ma'am. >> Does the applicant have a presentation? >> Thank you for having me. >> Thank you for being here. >> Yeah.
Uh any rebuttal? >> Uh now would be the appropriate time for any public comment to the extent that there is any. >> Um now it's to the council for deliberation of >> Can I get a motion? >> Can we do it again real quick? Do it again.
>> I move approval of resolution. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> First and second. Any discussion? >> If none, we move to vote. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> All those who oppose say nay. >> Motion carries 5.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. Item E, resolution 2025-80, a resolution of the city council of city of Willist for approving surplus of certain supplies at Willis animal shelter deemed unneeded by the shelter
staff approving a seal bid auction or other approved approved disposal procedures for said surplus supplies. Authorizing appropriate parties to sign any documents requiring to effectuate same on behalf of the city of Wilson and providing an effective date. City
planner Laura Jones and attorney. >> Thank you ma'am. I asked Kirsten to give me a hand. Um we have a lot of donations out at the animal shelter that we can't use. Um, and we have some legal rules on selling. So, we didn't want to do
anything un towards and we wanted to make sure that we it was it was okay with you if we sold some of these items. They're typically things like um dog beds or very fancy collars. Um, we have some baby carriages for small dogs and things
like that that are worth quite a bit of money, but we can't use them. So, we asked Kirsten if she could put this together so that we could maybe surplus things without coming to you every time we wanted to surplus. >> The idea behind the resolution is that your shelter staff, whether it's
carriages for dogs that they're not going to need or if it's food that's a specialty diet that any of the dogs aren't aren't eating at that time, your shelter manager is doing that on a day-to-day basis and will have a good idea of what you all need and what you all don't need. Um, so just providing
authority to that person to surplus it in accordance with your surplus policies, selling it the way that you all sell anything that we don't need so that we are not coming to you at special meetings so that we don't waste dog food.
>> Can I get a motion? >> I make a motion that we approve resolution 2025- second. motion in a second. Any discussion from the council? I would just say that I would
kind of like to know what you're getting rid of. I mean, we do that with everything else. Everything comes here before we do it. And even if it's after the fact, a list of what you sold after it was
sold. >> Yes, ma'am. We have an inventory of the animal shelter that Jason helps us with. Everything that the shelter owns um goes into that inventory. Now, he only does it once a year, but I can update it on a spreadsheet easily with the things that
are brought in. So, um do you want us to do everything we're brought in or just the things we want to sell? >> As far as I'm concerned, that's just want to sell. >> Okay. cuz sometimes we get kitty litter and and we use that. Um some dog food, we use that. Sometimes
toys, cookies, we'll we'll keep those things. Just the things that are our really big pit bulls can't use like really pretty little collars and stuff. >> Okay. Thank you. Anything from the public? If it is, if you'll come to the
podium, please. Nothing. All right. I'll move to vote. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> All those opposed say nay. Motion passes five to zero.
Item F, resolution 2025-81, a resolution of the city of city council of city of Wilson, Florida, authorizing the president of city council to execute contracts for 2025 to 2026 group health,
life, dental, vision, supplemental, and 457b plans for the city of Wilson and approving an effective date. HR director Kim Troy and city manager Su I'll take >> Okay. So, in your packet, you have the
um the actual rates that are provided by FMIT for the employee, employee plus spouse, employee plus children, and employee plus family. And as you'll recall, I think I mentioned at the last meeting that we were the only municipality that had a decrease in our um medical rates. Um I also gave you I
just provided this to you. It's not in your packet but I provided a sheet here that talks about the current rates. So you can kind of see um the the 5% decrease. So for instance uh the majority of our the overwhelming majority 60 of our employees are on uh
the United Healthcare Choice Plus plan three and we have 60 people that are currently in uh enrolled as a single person. Right now in the current budget year, we're paying $854.80 and it is now decreasing to $8126.
And we have one person that's on the same plan. It's the employee plus the spouse. Currently, we pay $1,837.80. And again, that's decreasing to $1,745.91. And you can see there's uh we have one
other employee on United Healthcare Choice Plus plan 14 and one person on United Healthcare Choice Plus 19. Um they just have different options. We provide the employees with three different options so they can take
whichever they choose. Um but again all of these rates are decreasing um about 5%. I need a motion. >> I make a motion to approve resolution 2025-81. >> Second. >> I second.
>> Any discussion? Sorry, it's okay. I'm your question asker tonight. Um, I have a question about the single versus employee spouse and employee family.
You said we we pay the 854, excuse me, 81206 is what we're going to pay for an employee, a single employee, correct? So when it comes to employee plus one or employee plus children, how much are we?
>> The whole amount. >> We're not paying. >> No, it is >> the only one that the city of Wilston contributes to is the single plan. There's no contribution to the um employee plus spouse and put not even
the cost of the employee. Yeah, I apologize. You're saying in terms of what we >> the city pays for I'm sorry I stand corrected. The city pays for the same portion the $812. >> Okay. So, we would subtract the $812 from the 1745
in order for them to know what they have to pay for the plus one or for the only question. Thank you very much. >> Any questions from the public? The only other question I would have, and they brought this up to us, is do you want us to continue offering the three different
plans just because again we only have one employee on the 14 plan and the 19 plan? >> It cost us anything to offer the three plans? >> Different deductibles. >> Yeah. I mean, based on the rates, I mean, you can see they're they're slightly lower to go to those other two
plans. >> Coverages >> coverages probably. It doesn't cost us anything and that's what they still want this time when they enroll. You're okay with offering all three. >> Okay. All right. Move to vote. All those in favor say I.
>> I. All those who oppose say n. Motion passes 5 to zero. Resolution 2025-83, a resolution of the city council of the city of Willist, Florida, approving the retainer letter
from Markx Gray and enter into an agreement between the city of Willist and Marks Gray related to upcoming arbitrations related to union employees grievances filed under collection bargaining agreement, authorizing the city council president to execute the
agreement and providing with the city attorney Pierce. >> Thank you, Madam President. This is a resolution and attached to the resolution, you'll see the um engagement letter put together by Mark Gray. To give you a little bit of of background,
Mark Gray is the council that you work with through your insurance from FMIT. Um, there are matters that we have worked with them on that are billable through insurance because we have coverage and matters that we've worked with them on that are not billable through insurance because we don't have coverage for those things. Uh, they
specialize in employment u matters such as um arbitrations and these kinds of things. Um you have under your collective bargaining agreement, union employees have a grievance process that they can go through. Um which involves um several different steps of escalating
um grievance uh resolution processes starting with their supervisors and moving up from there. Um once they get to step four, step four is a legally binding arbitration which essentially is a court hearing without the judge. Um so
the bi the process is binding on the parties and the um the processes can be quite lengthy to get ready for it. It's sort of like getting ready for a hearing and that kind of thing. So Mark's gray uh we do not have coverage for this process through our insurance company
Marks Grey has agreed to provide um services for the arbitration processes for you all. And this is the engagement letter to start them working on these. We currently have two um grievances that are moving to arbitration um right along
the same timeline as each other. So I'm happy to answer any questions. I get a motion. >> I make motion that we approve resolution 2025-3. I have a motion and a second. Any discussion?
>> No discussion from the council. >> I'm not aware of >> any discussion from the public. Seeing none, move to vote. All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed say nay.
Motion passes five to zero. Resolution 2025-84, a resolution of the city council of the city of Willis, Florida, approving the 2025 2026 holiday holiday schedule and providing an effective date HR director
Kim Joy. This is the holiday schedule for 25 uh to 26. It's the same holidays as um this current year uh just with different dates to match the calendar. >> Can I get a motion?
>> Move approval of resolution 2025-84. I second. >> We have a motion and a second. All any discussion from public or council? I move to vote. All those in favor say
I. I. >> All those opposed say nay. >> Motion passes five to zero. Item I, discussion with possible action creating a policy for certifications and PA. City councelor Meredith Martin.
>> I'll be brief. Um it's come to my attention that there have been possibly um some inconsistencies in the way that certifications and um uh raises that would go with certifications have been applied and
also the process for filling out um forms to get these raises for employees has in the past and and I mean long past I don't mean like last few months I mean over the course of many many years there have been a lot of inconsistencies Um just wanted to get this out all of
us. So sunshine um to make sure that we are all in agreement that maybe we need to create a policy that is consistent. Um just I don't know if any of you guys have read the collective bargaining agreement paragraph about certificates
and the accompanying raises but it's very vague. Um, and so I think also when we do our collective bargaining agreement the next time around that needs to be much much more >> and the documentation of forms when they
change the old need to be not be used again only the new and if anything done on the old then it will not be effective. And I would personally like to have a spreadsheet um from uh HR and city manager whoever compiled it going
back and looking at when certifications were um given to employees or when when I should rephrase that when cert when employees achieved their certifications took courses and got their certifications when their raised was in relation to
that certification date and I'd like that as far as is appropriate. And the last thing that I would personally like to ask for from the department heads is there's no list that I've seen of which certifications go with which department.
Um, so I would like to have a list look at that tells me which certification and maybe like just a brief explanation of why that certification is required for that department so that we know why the city is paying for raises. possibly um
budget season. So, we need to really think about math here because um it's it's um everybody deserves raise for for having certifications, but we just have to be careful that we don't have we don't go over budget without realizing
that we're going over budget. >> You are sorry. And madame president, if that's if that's the will of the council generally, we we also can um reach out to your union and see if that's something we have to make sure that we stay within the guidelines of your CBA
as it's created now. But if that's something that they are interested in having more clarity on sooner than our next goround, we can absolutely reach out to them if that's something that that we're all interested in. >> Very good. >> I know they're they're ready for it to be rectified.
drug way too long. And I honestly thought it was talked about it. >> What was that? We talked about >> we talked about the different lic. Yeah, I think I think it's clearer now
that we have because you can't take action at a workshop, >> right? That's why I thought it was supposed to be on this one. >> Better better understanding from you all. So just for some clarity, so we had a uh department head meeting last week and these were some of the ideas that we threw out and again we realized that
council would have to approve these and um we would have to go back to the CBA to you know to ratify all this. But getting a certificate would require at least a 40-hour course. So not a two-hour course or a 4-hour course. You'd have to at least be there for a week in order to actually qualify for a
certification that would, you know, solicit a dollar an hour raise. um no vaccinating of the PAFS for more than 90 days. Um then we also have talked about using multiple signatures on our PAS now. Um there were only two signatures
originally and we actually just in added another signature for the HR department to sign off and then send it over to Inframark um because we're finding that some of the PAFs were not actually sent to infroark. So, we've already actually done that. But really, the biggest issue is the 40 hours. And then, of course,
you know, whether or not that particular um course that they're going to, you know, it doesn't have to do with their job. I mean, we're not going to just give assuming we're not going to give somebody a raise if they're going for something that's completely unrelated to what we do here. >> So, those are kind of
>> right. So, those are kind of our two things. And like I said, obviously, we have to go back to the CDA, but we're just trying to get some input from the council as to whether or not you're on the same page. the department head. >> Correct. And everybody needs to be getting a raise. If they're all going to the same course, they all need to be getting raised in a timely fashion and
not one and then not the other. >> Um, also we should not be back dating anything. So, if they go to a class that you don't get the paperwork until XYZ, you can put that date on, but then document that they received it on this
date. But we can't back date. Yes, ma'am. I mean, yes, sir. >> Yes, sir. >> Thank you very much. I have a couple of things that been bothering me for a while. So, we're going to hopefully be able to talk at them without anybody
being upset. You have three officers. You have the city clerk. >> Does that have to do with this subject? >> Yes, it does. Okay. >> Will you let me finish? >> Thank you. Thank you. You have the city clerk.
You have the city manager who are constitutional officers, if you will. In the past, who do they do their PAS to? Who is responsible for signing
the PAS to the city manager and the city clerk? Madame President, >> Madame President would not know. Is there anybody >> I can say as president I find them after it was approved by the council >> and I will tell you that
>> there >> when I was on the council and I won't make any names but there is documentation which I got by heavy work of people signing their own PAFs or
having other people that are not authorized. So, I'm simply trying to clarify that those officers have to have the counsel. I don't care which one of you council you want to do it. I would assume the president, but uh it needs to
be clarified that they need to have the council approve their PAS and not each other. >> Thank you. I misunderstood your question. >> I I remember that situation. It was terrible.
>> Okay. [Music] >> President. >> Yes, sir. >> May I ask something to what city manager Sue stated earlier about the 40hour courses for certification? Mhm. >> Uh that has been a practice of mine for
quite some time now. But we're finding that some of these classes that they get certified in for like firearms instructor and DTAC instructor and stuff like that, some of them are not 40hour classes, but they're they're becoming certified instructors. So, I just wanted
to make sure we don't get locked in on the 40hour courses because that 40 hours don't apply to every situation for a certification in in a specialized area. And I'm sure Donald probably experiences the same thing with some of his certifications. So,
so for example, I'll agree with Chief. You have situations for water, for wastewater, for gas, for other things of that nature that the state mandates a specific amount of documented time in a position that you have hours in a log book or something of that degree, but
then you may have a course that is what we call a preparatory course and then you have to go off and take a statemandated test in order to receive that state license. That is, as chief mentioned, not always with 40 hours. So I think this is relevant to each job
description based on what they do, what they perform, and what the licensing requirements are through the state. So, I think Sue and I um were talking about this today where we were talking about it
last week is a form that department heads would fill out and submit it to the council of this is the course that they're going to take and how many hours that it is. So, we know what it is.
>> Yeah. I I they actually exist now. There's a form for prior approval of that particular course and it is also signed off by those same people that she just named. I've currently seen some of them that exist now for the men that are here based off.
>> So, it's just communication >> of letting us know that, hey, this one's 25 hours and this is it it doesn't go to 40 >> and it gets approved ahead of time before we pay for it and before they expect the dollar, >> right? so that we're all on the same
page before they even go. >> That is the that is currently in your policy now that has to be pre-approved by a supervisor in order to be eligible for >> raise. Okay. So, just to clarify, we have the policy. We have the form. Do we have these? I've not seen forms filled out.
We have forms out. >> We have some that are. Yes. >> Some, but not. Um it was kind of um I had a chronological folder I could tell you that I was looking at that one of the staff members gave me and that particular uh folder
it's there some of them and I because I stapled them together you know this is the class this is the uh the training this is the the license itself all of a sudden in the middle of that process over the course of about three
years that form showed up. So, it I think it became a new form somewhere along the line, but kind of halfway through the process that I was looking and I was looking at four or five different people's uh folders that had these in it. Uh, and they all
some had them. Some were better record keepers than others. Some said that they filled them out, but that they weren't in the folder, but they should be in their personnel file. Um, >> so maybe that's something that could be added because, you know, why not, right? One more thing. Oh yeah. I mean, it's a
prior approval and everybody's on the same page. I think it's a great idea. Just agree with Mr. Cox. >> I agree with Mr. Cox as well. >> Um, don't do that. Um, yeah. I I honestly I I really have
an issue with um having documentation um or a document that has items on it and then line through with somebody else line through and written out that is okay for somebody else to sign when that
was not the initial person that is responsible to sign. and then a document where the man the HR manager signs and supervisor and it's signed but then within days or
weeks or whatever it may be that other form shows up. So the forms are not consistent. So we need to make sure the forms consistent. No, no, nothing is lined through. nothing is written on the forms that's not supposed to. Um because it looks like you're coming back after
the fact and writing things in even though it may or may not be the case. That's what it appears to be and appearance is could be dangerous. Um, so we just need to do it a little bit better related to our
documentation, um, related to certification and PAFS and making sure that we, um, have everything in place where it's supposed to be. Miss Wright, uh, I just want to backtrack for a moment to what the mayor
said to make the record clear. What the mayor was talking about was prior to 2019. where the city manager was signing their own PAS. So, I just wanted to make that on record, have that on record. It was prior to 2019
>> and it was based upon the results of this the uh what do you call it now? the the the of their
performance evaluation. Thank you. the and he at that time he said well we had an informed evaluation. So I say since the evaluation said this
that means I can have the race because you guys evaluated me for that much and the contract said differently and the po only point I'm trying to make is that I would suggest that the council
make it very clear that the higherups answer to the council for their personal action report. That's all. >> Thank you. >> Just to add to that, I believe um if I remember the situation correctly, you can help me. Um I believe that it said that their raise had to be approved by
resolution of the city council. >> That is accurate. By a resolution of the city council who was meeting to discuss the pay raise >> and they didn't do that. >> Are we still talking about HR and city clerk?
>> City manager. >> City manager. Correct. >> Those two right there we're not talking about. So everyone >> that was confusing me. >> All right. >> City manager and city. >> City manager and city. Yeah. >> Yes. Okay.
>> Um Mr. Barb, if you can come back to the podium. I have a quick question. >> Please sir, about certifications so it's still on the same track. Tell me the process of um the the certification and the um
hands-on activities that have to go with it. Are they all in one or are they separate? >> So, each division is different. Your water wastewater collections and your gas are all going to be different. Electric's going to be different. Um, for example, gas, uh, we contract
through Energy WorldNet and the Energy World Net oversees the licensing procedure through the state of Florida that's recognized by the public service commission. >> There are roughly 93 to 99 sections that have individual videos, quizzes, and literature. Uh, those sections take
roughly between some modules are 15 minutes, some modules are 45 minutes. So, it takes probably someone at home 3 to nine months to get through all of those classes. Once those classes are done, there's a second part of it that
is called their OQ's. And their OQ's is where a master evaluator on staff who is certified as a master evaluator must then go through and verify those 93 to 99. Let's say it's on locating. they have to take the individual out to the
field and that individual has to demonstrate not only did they pass the quiz that they actually can perform the task associated. So as you can imagine that takes quite a time. Uh after the OQ's are signed off the master evaluator updates their file. Their file is
updated and sent to FGU who's our cooperative partner. They are listed as active licensed through energy worldnet and they become licensed. Um, some people have done the gas program in six months from date of hire. The average is between a year and a year and a half.
So, they have anywhere between 1,040 hours on the job all the way to 3,500 hours on the job that they have performed that test demonstrate to qualify for the license. Water wastewater collections, those are pretty
much mandated by the state of Florida. Florida has reciprocity with 36 states. So if I take my water license and I move to Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania recognizes it. Florida does not recognize anyone else's license in all 50 states. So it's
not true reciprocity. If someone comes with 20 years of wastewater experience with a double A license and water operation and wastewater operation from California, the first thing we ask them to do is to go back home. No, I'm just kidding. Uh the first thing that they
have to do is they have to go and retake all the Florida certifications. So we don't recognize them. Level three in distribution is mandated that they have 2,80 hours. That's one year. Level two is three years. That's 6,000 hours
before they can qualify for the license. Level one is five years over 10,000 hours have to be documented by a licensed individual. Um, if a licensed individual like myself signs off on the official state paperwork and we can't
prove through HR and other records that they have that time, my license will be stripped as well as them not receiving their license. So, it's very strict mandated policies. Um, there are supplemental things like the master evaluator program in gas. There are supplementals in water like your
backflow certification. Again, a state license that requires a two-week onboard training. most of that week, first week is at TRIO University of Florida. It's from 7 in the morning till 5 at night that you're there, including lunchtime.
So, these are heavily mandated programs um that are recognized throughout the state. And if many of our employees were to take those licenses to other places, I can speak for our divisions, um, they would be receiving credit as if they
were licensed in those things in other municipalities, other counties, and so on. Job descriptions that we've been working on, HR and myself have been updating. We've got all the water done. We're working on all the others. To Miss uh Martin's point, we are going through
on the job qualification section and we are no longer having a water technician advertised. We are advertising a water technician trainee. Then we're having a water technician level three, a water technician level two, and a water technician level one. And each of those
job descriptions now actually have every license at every stage, how much time is required that are listed in those minimum qualifications that have an explanation in the job description themselves. So, we've been working the last few months, HR and uh some of the
department heads to update all those job descriptions. You brought this up in the budget, I believe Miss Jones did as well about we had open positions. We don't assume that those are going to be a level one. We always start out at the trainee level at the lowest pay rate.
Now, if a candidate comes in that's highly qualified and they have the conditions for a level, let's say two, then if that was the choice of the hire, they would start in. But that has its own pay range. And it's based on that stacking of those licenses had they started from the beginning so that you
don't have compression when they come in that they're making more money than the people who have more qualifications and more time. address. >> Okay. So, the courses, hold >> if I could go >> just a second. So, the courses that they
take online, >> is there certificates that they get for those courses that they're taking online or is it that one certificate at the end of the course? master evaluator in the city, our administrative assistant
utilities goes on and verifies and can see everything that they've done on their online portal. Um, they it it's it's it shows to us. So, I can go on to anyone's profile that's on the gas side of things, whether they're in training or they have an active license. And by
the way, all those 93 to 99 sections have to be redone every two years in the gas. So, it's not something that's done one time. They get paid for it one time, but every two years they have to redemonstrate everything on the dollar. >> So, so there's no certification. Right.
Right. I want to know whether where the dollar comes in. Is >> the dollar comes in when there's total there's total completion when the OQ's are signed off and they are listed active on energy worldnet who operates as our licensing agent.
So they're getting raises anywhere from the very initial a year to up to all the way up to maybe three years. >> Every employee in public works is going to receive within six to nine months generally a raise $1 for getting a CDL if they do not have one when they come
to the city. That's going to be your first >> a CDL. >> A CDL. It is a requirement that everyone in public works have a CDL. >> Commercial driver's license. Uh-huh. >> It's your class B or your class A. >> I was just making sure I was hearing the right thing. >> Yes, ma'am. Um, so that's the first that
everyone in public works, whether they're in roads, parks, facilities, electric, gas, water, sewer, doesn't matter. That's the first that they have or if they get hired and they get an immediate dollar from the base because they have a CDO. Uh, the second one typically that linemen or groundman get
is their apprenticeship program. In gas, it's going to be their gas license. and water. It's going to be their distribution license. Um, all of those have six to 12 month mandated time limits that are part of those programs. Gas is through energy world net. Electric is through TVPA. That's the
Tennessee Valley uh power association. So, and that's that's recognized and was actually recommended by FMPA, one of the hardest programs. Uh Miss uh Sue was at Newberry for the original presentation of the power and their thoughts on TVPPA
is they don't do it because it's too hard. So it's a very high standard that that the electric is required to do and perform on. Um again parks, roads facilities, they're building those programs. Um, but mosquito control, uh,
MOT, your intermediate maintenance, traffic certification, all of those are mandated programs and our licenses through the state. Our inmate supervisors, they get that license to guard the inmates outside of the prison and that's done through the Department of Corrections. So those are
certifications that people within their classification that they receive, but again there has to be specific uh criteria in order for them to be awarded those. >> Okay, thank you. I have one more question, Donald. Sorry. Hopefully a
quick one. Would it make sense at all with some of the the certifications that maybe don't are not close and we're close to 40 hours, but we say if you get all five of these, then that would count towards like lumping them. Is that >> So, that is definitely a way of
approaching it. We haven't done that yet. Um, but there are a lot of folks on staff that have certifications that they never asked for a raise and we've never received a raise. So, um I mean there's security awareness training which allows some of us to shred documents or even
have access to CAD files. We don't get a raise for that. There are certifications having to do with collections that some people have and got a a dollar because they're in the collections department and others did not receive a raise because they're not in that department.
It doesn't make up let's say 80% of their function. And that's kind of the standard with the department heads with Mr. Bishop, Mr. Miller, Mr. Curry, we have a standard that let's say that you're in roads and your C has more to do with parks than typically you're
allowed to go get the education and the C, but it doesn't necessarily mean that it's going to lead to a raise because it's not a larger percentage of your position and your function. >> Okay. Thank you very much. Why are we allowing people to get certifications if it's not a part of
Okay. Yes, Mr. Mayor. Go right ahead. >> You know, I love your looks. Uh, >> hey, >> I wanted to point out something that most of you by now after you've listened
to Mr. Barber for 20 minutes explain the complexities of the Florida law, you will find that across the board. That holds true throughout the construction industry. Florida's license
is recognized in other states, but other states are not recognized in the state of Florida. So, it is it is a very complex situation as Mr. Barber is able to make a complex situation seem even
more complicated. But uh it it it is the point is that there is rigorous safeguards in the Florida staff to make sure that these people are properly vetted. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Anybody else on the council? Anyone in the public comments, questions? All right. If none >> that we thought already it's been a long time. >> This isn't going to require feedback
from you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> We're giving it to her. She's going to take it away and bring it back. >> Yes. >> All right. We'll move on. >> We can talk about it again. >> So we can talk about it again. Definitely. >> I just know how much you guys love it. I I wouldn't want to take any of that
away. >> I don't know about that. But all right. So item J >> discussion with possible action vacation payout city manager sate. >> Thank you madam president. Okay so I I
believe I forwarded all the um responses that I received from the eight individuals that received the vacation payout. Um, I asked them their preference if they wanted to cash their check or if they wanted to return their time. Um, I heard back from
four of the eight that I uh sent the email to and all four of those people were okay with cashing their check. By now, probably everybody's cashing their check. Um, so I do want to address obviously um, Mr. Courtney's concern that he brought to the council last um,
meeting. This is just my suggestion as to how to deal with this. Um based on again chief rolls's input from the last meeting you have in your packet on page 171 from our HR manual section 21 on annual leave and of course section B
says that annual leave credits are accured monthly on the basis of the schedule in paragraph A calculated from the first day of employment. The maximum number of annual leave hours to acrew shall be 288 hours. Acred annual leave in excess of 288 shall be set back to the maximum of 288 hours on January 1st
of each year. My thought is that we could add a line at the end of this that's just something to the effect of based on what you know the nature of the fact that the police department is 247 the maximum number of annual leave hours does not apply to the police department
>> fire >> I don't believe so because it's only Chief Seagull that's fulltime >> but I think we should come up with a number of hours that is allocated as a year's work for the police department, not just let them continue to grow. >> You certainly can. That was just my
suggestion because again, he was the only person that came back and had an issue with what happened. So, I'm just saying that we might want to make something specific to the police department that doesn't affect the rest of the staff based on the fact that the police department is 247. >> I don't think we should. We have to
because the hours he's talking about he would have used. He wouldn't have had any excess that you paid him out that he didn't want to be. Is that not saying one? We're talking about >> in the future. Are you going to let them keep growing? >> So, keep growing. >> Let them don't have a different number
than 288 in the future. That's what she's saying. >> Well, as of January 1st, it can't keep growing >> currently. currently >> as it is right now. >> Uh what I want to point out is that the uniqueness of the police department,
those of you that are not aware, which I would assume most of the council is and hopefully most of the audience, it is becoming more and more and more difficult to get new police officers in.
And sometimes the police officers have a choice between not being there to enforce the law or doing overtime. They don't want to do it. They have no choice. So we have a unique situation within the police department. And the
unique situation is I'll those of you that are not aware of it, the sheriff of Putnham County was a little bit upset because ICE offered sent each one of his officers a letter offering them $50,000
bonus to join their organization. This is just indicative of what the situation is within the police community. is in here. >> Uh they're they're each one of them is going back and forth trying to get the
best officer and we can't offer everything. Some of the more >> lucrative >> more Yeah. richer cities can offer. If you if you do the research, which I know my chief has
done, you do the research all around us. Our officers are paid less than almost everybody. And so when we get a new officer, we want to keep them if we can. But if we don't get one, although I will
commend the chief and going out and being extra attentive to get officers to come and check us out. >> But if we don't have new officers, there's no choice here. I mean, we can't
not have police on the streets. Uh, so the officers in our police department are not trying to gain the system adding a bunch of hours. Yes, Councelor Jones, I agree. There has to be a limit. Uh,
but but just bear in mind that one shoe doesn't not fit all. That's what I would ask you to do. >> Thank you, Mayor. And >> Chief Rose, >> was there something you wanted to say? >> No, I was >> No, I thought I was listening to the
mayor before and the mayor is actually right. Um, and if you look around, I know we talk about we're not in competition with different agencies and different counties and different things, but we are because we all draw from the same pool. Uh, I've been trying to hire
a police officer now for quite some time. Uh, and they walk in the door and say, "What do you pay, Chief?" and I tell them and they walk out the door and they don't come back. Uh because these other areas around us are so they're advancing and uh we're going to either
pay now or pay later because the gap keeps getting wider and wider and wider. Uh which makes the the pool of recruiting people harder. So the mayor he hit it right on the head exactly what I was going to say. He gave a perfect example of uh I've lost one officer to
um border patrol, you know, with uh some outrageous sign on bonus uh that I know I can't compete with. $50,000 sign on bonus for ICE is more than my guys making a whole year. So, I mean, it's uh
it's it's just becoming competitive out there. We just got to stay somewhere in the close proximity of everybody else in order to maintain good quality officers. And that's what it's all about. >> And the chief and the chief was uh I'm
sorry, the mayor was correct. It's Butam County, >> but it's the whole >> It's county, >> right? >> But it's the whole state of Florida >> that is being impact. I mean, when you look at Grady Jud who gets on there and does his little breakfast morning uh
talks about their criminals. I mean, they're bashing it because they're taking their officers and they they you said to pay very well. >> Oh, yeah. is >> I think the pays around I think it's a $50 $50,000 sign on bonus and what I was
told is it pays roughly around $125,000 a year. >> Yeah, that's right. >> Okay. So, um what's the limit you guys want to go with start out with end with?
We can do we can we can put a limit in place now and if it needs to be adjusted we can adjust it up or down. Um, you know, you got to remember the police department, everybody in the city works on 1080, >> right? >> They work 80 hours. >> Yeah. >> The police department before we can get
overtime, we got to work 86 hours, >> right? >> So, uh, so we can put a number there, high or low, and we can always adjust it. We can take like a yearly study and see where we're at, and then if that number is too high, we can bring it
down, or if it's too low, we can bump it up. I think it's a it's a trial basis. I think it's a trial basis and we just do the research and do the study on and see where we're at. >> I think we're probably one of the only police departments that work got to work
86 hours before they get over time. >> So this is the HR manual policy, right? >> There's there's a there's a state labor >> that says you can do it. There's a labor Yeah. standard that says you can do it. And I think we're probably one of the
only ones that's probably doing it. >> So in instead of putting a line, can we just do an addendum, a page addendum or >> so so we can this is >> in the event that because >> well we don't want to keep changing the policy every other year or every year.
We do. We do a lot. >> I know. Sis, >> but what I'm what I'm saying is that's a that's that's like in the positive. It's not terribly challenging, right? >> And I would I would start based off that
86 hours even times 40 or whatever and come up with whatever that is in here. 45. >> I'll give you a number. Let's just start off at 350 and then we can work our way down or work our way up. >> So, how is that going to work with the
system that cap cuts you off at at 288? >> Selena, can you answer that? So, you would have to set up a separate um like line item in the payroll software for police vacation, so to speak. And you would cap that at
whatever you want to cap it at. And then as of January 1st, when payroll does their year year end stuff, it's going to knock it back down to either 288 or 350 if you guys choose that. Um,
>> and Chief, I know you know this, but we don't want to keep our officers and our city workers right up there at the neckline. >> So, one step over and suddenly we have a crisis, the good good managers will be
trying to reduce the extra hours that their people have got to be at. If they have to be, it's one thing, but you don't want to just say, "Oh, it's 350, so who wants to get to 350 first?" No, the idea is to give a cushion, not to
give permission to go that high. >> Yeah. And we will do and we're doing it now. It's just that we're short on manpower and we haven't added police officers to the police force and I don't know when. I mean, as far as exceeding the the limit, the total number we have
now of 13, we haven't added anybody. So, when somebody leaves or somebody gets sick or somebody goes on vacation, you know, we're all filling the gap, you know, I mean, filling in, I'm filling in, major for filling in, we're all filling in because we want to try to
keep the time down and we don't want to spend a whole lot of overtime money. So, but it gets to the point where like Major Fortune when he has to fill in, you know, his hours are already skyrocketed. So, I mean, but he's got to fill in, he's got to cover shift because I may have covered the ship the night
before. So, uh it just just one of those things that we will do what we can to keep the time down, but it's it's getting hard because we can't hire nobody. Uh hopefully if things go well this budget year we'll be able to have some people have a lot of interest but
uh right now it's just not there. This may >> I make a suggestion um that we address this a year from now not a year from like I don't want to be up close again January and employees and
finding out that we're moving that far that number. for that to happen earlier. Yeah, earlier in the year >> I could not understand that. Would you say it louder? >> Yes. Um I would like to have uh the
revisit to the number of hours that like if we let's say we set it at 350 and then chief suggested that we kind of study and see if we need to move it one way or the other that we have that um we look at it in August approximately of next year so that we don't push the
employees up against the end of the year having to use their days up or finding that we've moved that bar and they couldn't plan for that. I recommend August the 17th, my birthday. >> Now, how about we do it June um of next
year? June. June. That way you still give a good Yeah. Yeah. Away from budget. >> You know before budget about it, >> right? So, just to let you know, I I've actually started now when I get the reports from Stephen, I'm actually
sending them to the people who are at or over their their time to remind them to take their time off. That's a great idea. >> They're getting reminded I don't know whatever that is monthly whenever I get them from Stephen. So, >> so other than Stephen who's keeping track of time, >> we get a report of uh the time. They
send us a report out that shows everybody's time. >> Yeah. and and we I'm like I said we're trying to get that time down but we just don't have any. >> No, I mean not just you just period. Yeah. >> Okay. So management it goes to >> So I I just want to add it is on your
the employees paychecks. Every bi-weekly we get paid it is on there what your balance is. Um you can also access an employee portal to gain that information as well. >> Thanks. Thanks. >> Okay. So, I think I have clear direction
from you all. This is going to come back. So, you don't need to vote on anything now. This will need to come back as an amendment to your HR policy. Um, thank you. >> And I would like some time to just vet make sure that we're in compliance with all 57 levels. >> Clear is the right word.
>> I just I understand the goal, I think, and I'm pretty sure I can get us to the goal. >> Okay. >> I just want to add one thing. We're we're talking police officers, not dispatchers, >> right? Just police officers. Okay.
>> So, I I hate to bring this up, but what are we doing with Mr. Fort in terms of his hours? >> He sent you an email that by the end of the year, his hours will be down. >> Okay. So, we're going to So, he didn't cash his check. We're going to allow him
to keep the hours. That's that is what my understanding you all need to vote on is to allow >> your your vote. He wants to >> Can you um Kirsten's talking? >> I'm sorry. >> Sorry.
>> Kirsten's talking. I think that what I'm trying to clarify is for that particular item, what we discussed at the last meeting, we were going to bring to this meeting because we wanted to make sure all the employees had notice. That is your voting item tonight to give us
direction on do you want employees to have the choice because we didn't make that vote at the last meeting because not all the employees had an opportunity to weigh in. So that's all I need from you is do you want employees to have choice of check or use it by the end of the year or do you want them to just
have to retain their checks? >> And if I may ask are you you are talking about this year only, right? >> This year only. >> I thought that we had said we would let him do either or. >> I thought we voted on
>> I thought we voted on it. >> I think what we had discussed at the last meeting was that you all We wanted to give the option for people to attend a meeting where it was noticed that that would be on the agenda and they'd had an opportunity to be heard on whether or
not they wanted to have that option. So that that I believe is [Music] >> go back and look at the minutes. Uh our >> what I have is motion to amend vote to see if employees that are over the 22
allotted vacation time would like to would like a payout or their hours by council member Martin second by vice president Cox. Motion carried three to two. >> That's correct. So what you voted on was to open up the option and now your vote
is are we you wanted to have an opportunity to see how many people were going to want their hours, how many were going to want their checks. And now is when you say okay, now that we've heard from everyone, which is what your vote was, to hear from everyone, come back and tell us yes, we approve of the decisions these people have made to keep
their check or do their hours. >> And I asked the same question I asked a minute ago that I never quite got it answered for. Is was it a separate check or was it in their payroll check? >> It was a separate check. So, they need to return the check they received if he wants to do that.
>> Yeah. But we need to make that part of the motion, I would think. >> Yes. >> Reason I'm asking the question. >> So, so what's going >> Yes. >> Was it a check or was it a direct deposit? >> I thought it was a direct deposit, but I'm not >> I I don't think it was a check. I think
it direct deposit. Okay. So, so we would need to go back through payroll and remove the taxes and all that stuff out of his pay. Correct. >> Yeah. His reverse. Okay. >> And are and do you want That's another question. Do we want them to pay the
money to us or are you going to a next check it out of this next check? What do you plan to do? >> He's going to give it back. So, I think we can let them handle that from from there. How he gets it back to him and we move on. So, can we get him to do that?
>> If he does choose to return it, just have him come see me and we'll figure that part out. We can more than likely they will avoid it out of the payroll system. So, his taxes and stuff will be adjusted and then usually when it's a payroll check, they'll just they'll um
write a check back to the city. >> That's what is usually what we do. >> Thank you. >> All right, we need a motion, please. I make a motion that we approve the um options that the employees have
chosen regarding whether they keep the check payout for their vacation hours or whether they return that money and take the vacation hours instead. >> Got a motion and a second. Any further discussion? >> Yes. Um, I'm sorry. Meredith, could you
do that one more time, please? >> I'll make sure I get it correct. >> I make a motion that we approve the decisions that the employees have made regarding whether they want a check or they want a payout for their vacation days.
>> They be asked to return the money if they >> and that they return the money if they have already received the check. You have your motion and second. >> Okay. All right. No further discussion, any discussion from the public.
If none, we move to vote. All those in favor say I. I. >> I. All those opposed say nay. >> Motion carries. 5 to zero. Madam President, can I back up for just one second on a different topic before this? No, sir. >> I just want to know, are we putting the
350 in effect now for the vacation hours or no? >> No, not now. >> I would say for this year, when you start asking, >> when are you going to start it? >> When are we going to start? >> October 1st, January.
>> She's supposed to bring that back to us in a resolution, right? >> Yeah. it the amendment to the HR manual will come before you all and then you can tell me at that time when you want that amendment to become effective >> and the rollover is as of January, right?
>> The rollover would continue to be as of January just for the sanity of everyone involved. >> That would make sense. >> You're welcome. All right. So item K, discussion with possible action, administrative assistant position, city
manager. Thank you, Madam President. All right, I handed you a sheet tonight that looks like this that was uh provided by Christie. And just for clarification, um, everything on here that has a blue
bracket, so for instance, the very first section that says daily, monthly, this would be each administrative administrative assistant would handle for their own departments. Um, the red would be for the new administrative assistant. That's on page
two. You can see the electric um, department. So on so forth. And then on the very last page, it kind of breaks down the new administrative assistant would work on work orders, the electric department, streets and parks, storm
water, and fiber. Christy would continue to work on gas, water, and sewer. And I've got Jonathan and Christie both here to speak to this position in depth. >> So say again, say again what the new person will be working on. >> Yep. The new person's going to work on
in terms of departments. They would work on electric, streets and parks, storm water and fiber. And Christy would be gas, water, and sewer. They would both handle things like time sheets, travel locates,
personnel files, that sort of thing. But basically trying to break half and half as much as possible. >> So the person would take the bulk of the work. >> Well, I wouldn't say the bulk, but fiber of course is what's unknown right now because of course started fiber yet. Um
but again I want Christie to and to kind of speak on this whole Christie right >> so far as the work order load far as the work load uh if you look at Christiey's workload far as the gas water and sewer ports those are getting worked on
multiple times a week every week for the whole entire year the electric is the same to a certain degree uh but when the fiber comes in that's going to be where the bulk load of the electric or the second administrator will come into play. Uh keep in mind if you go through the pamphlet all these all these uh
different reports are done weekly to compile at the end of the year for a final report at the end of the year. Um so like I say when one goes on vacation one's out sick the other one will be able to to fill in. So when one goes off for a week you're not two to three weeks
behind. Uh all in. >> Are we open for discussions? >> We are open for discussion. >> All right. I know what I'm going to say is probably not going to be popular, but got an email, which I think rest council
did, that our Queen and its own has put in her notice. My focus for the next week and a half is to convince her to stay. >> Laura, >> well, it it does because we're this is a
different position. We're gonna have to or you do six eight things now. >> Yeah, she does a lot. >> So, I'm not saying that we don't totally
walk away from this, but she we need to get her another person to where she's only doing three things instead of six. So, >> we need planning. Yeah,
>> she I told her cuz I've been texting her every day trying to guilt her. Came by see her today, tried to guilt her. Told her I'd be back Thursday. Um, planning and zoning, CRA and grants.
She's very good at writing grants from what I hear. I'm not saying we walk away from this one here. She's going to be hard to replace. And if we have to get another person
to help facilitate that she's going to stay here and we don't have to go looking, we can come back in 8 to 10 weeks. bring this back and look at iron another position
but right now I'm sorry my my focus would be >> may I ask the question >> you may sir >> do you have any reason you think that you can be convinced today
>> I'm giving it my best >> not >> I think so Okay. Thank you, >> Mr. Bishop. >> So, I got a really weird out of the box proposition. I love the headshake. Uh,
so me and Cox to be open and transparent. Me and Mr. Cox had a conversation about this. So, what about possibly thinking about taking the position I'm asking for and doing split duty to show concept, proof of concept that both positions are needed and possibly moving forward in the future.
That way, both parties get a relief. I think if you did that, you could show proof of confident, proof of concept where they could both be needed or will be needed. Sorry. >> Yes. And I agree with with that. >> Can you explain to me a little bit more
what that will look like? there would be a manager over the all she's focused on is the three areas grants CRA
and um planning and zoning she's out of them >> planning >> not just planning >> those not here what is Good. Your assistant's doing planning and
zoning, right? I mean, you're doing planning, >> but she's actually I can't see you. I'm sorry. >> I'm sorry. >> Does Nikki >> Nikki is the secretary for that area, right? >> Yes, ma'am. I'm the community um development
>> director. And she does planning and filming. >> Uh Nikki's my assistant. So, there's two people. And then I also have permitting >> which is uh BJ and we have safe built and then I also have grants and I also
have the CRA and then I also have the animal shelter and I have code enforcement and animal care and control. And so I have >> three boards that I go to every month and then these two meetings every month
and I'm just not it's just a lot. >> So we need to get a somebody to take over the animal shelter and Laura not Laura needs to focus on what we need here. >> So
Mr. So What you are suggesting is that not that we take the person that we would have hired for this administrative assistant and have them do three different things like doing, but that we not do the
administrative assistance, but we take the money and hire somebody to manage the animal shelter and somebody to do post and somebody to do >> it would be one one person >> one person to do those things. >> Yes. Okay. I think I think we already
have money already. >> We have somebody who code enforcement. >> We do. We have somebody who does code enforcement animal control. Laura's over them, but we do have somebody who's >> But she she needs to be totally out of it. >> I I agree 100%. It's hard for her to be out of code
enforcement. >> May May I um your your animal control and code enforcement officer already exists and you're you're good there, right? um your animal shelter has money in the budget for a director or manager. Y
>> so you don't have to take this position away for that. >> Exactly. >> And then um so the fear that I'm going down and Mr. Cox, I appreciate you a lot. Very sweet. But the fear I'm I'm having is that Christiey's going to be in the same position that I'm in right now because she's taking now she's going
to take on Fiverr. Now she's going to take on something else. And she it's she's telling you now she can't do it. So listen to her cry for help now before it's too late. >> Erin, when when would we need to have somebody
>> uh is going to be kicked off? >> It's hard to say at this point. I can't really give you a timeline, a date. I can tell you right now we have broken our 600 pre-registrations. At this point, we are counting the 250 to 450 in the RV park, which was unplanned. Uh
we're having to adjust our whole plan at this point about acrewing IP addresses and such, but as soon as we're starting to put customers on, it's going to take off like wildfire and and we're going to have to have some help to manage the the customer calls, the setting up the
appointments for installations and and things like that. The the two guys I got, they're going to be in the field and doing installs. Um you >> when about would that be? Honestly, probably we're anticipating September,
end of September, October, sorry. And it's probably going to take a month or two to get the job description out and get the advertising out and get the interviews done. I mean, it takes time to get all that in place. So, if we wait till October, November to try it, we're
we're going to be behind the eightball. >> Okay. And let me just add that before I got this description of who was going to do what and what departments they were going to do, I was totally against this. But now that y'all have given me this and I could see what the plan actually
is and who would do what when, I'm all for it. >> Uh, you gave me a plan, I'm happy with it. Uh, so I'm okay with it. I think the division of duties is is wonderful. I think it will be very helpful to all of you. Um, and but I I know that doesn't
help. >> I did. Miss Sue showed me this today when I met with her this morning. >> And I'm not against the other one, but my focus I need we need to keep her. >> I know, but I think that's a totally
different budgeting item. >> True. So then we either >> So question. So, so why did we split it up the way we split it up on this administrative system like Miss Sue? Why did we split this up the
way we split it up? >> Again, I'm going to ask Jonathan and Chrissy to take that. I'm I was just the organizer. I did not put the plan together. >> So, with the way we get my glasses. So, the way we split it up, Chrissy's already proficient with reports on the gas, water, and sewer. So why re why why
re retrain that wheel? Uh the other stuff we can train I hate to use the word train I really do but we can educate and mature that new position into those new new reports easier than if we go with the water and electric or water >> not proficient on the others as well
>> Christie at this time. Absolutely. Yes ma'am. >> We're talking about the new person though. >> No I asked why did you split it up the way you split it up? because it'd be easier to have her do the harder reports that she's proficient with and already all these years of doing this.
[Music] >> Um, >> yeah, I kind of spoke a little bit. Um, so the blue is you >> and the red is the other person. >> No, ma'am. Both of us. >> No, ma'am. The blue is each each of us.
In other words, like if it's answering calls, uh travel, whatever, that assistant would take care of electric, streets and parks, all the divisions that are under her. So, she would do their time sheets, electric, uh streets
and parks, storm water, fiber. She would do all of their and all their their work orders, turn on, turn offs. uh she would do their time sheets, their travel, their locates, uh their billing and invoices and their personnel files. Whereas me, I would do gas, water, of
course, boil water notices and sewer. And I would do all of their time sheets, all of their travel, locates, billing, invoice, and personnel files. And uh the main reason that we split it the way we split it is because well, one of I I've already been trained all my
certifications are in gas and water. All your lure >> all your lure is already there. >> Yes, exactly. So all of my licens is already in the in those fields. So it was we thought it would be easier for the new person to learn. It's stuff that
I already know, but then I can help train them to do the electric reports and the and then she would take on the fiber which I know nothing about. So that would be a whole new thing and she could do the new thing instead of me. So why you both can't do fiber?
>> We will. We will. I mean, we're going to cross train, but I'm saying she's going to take it first. I'm going to train her on my stuff. She's going to train me on her stuff. So if she's gone, I can handle her side of the thing and my side. And if I'm gone, she can handle her side and my side. We're going to be
able to coexist, in other words. So, um, that's that's was just seemed to be the easiest way to do it. And of course, when you say it looks like the other person's getting the majority of the work, uh, one thing I need to point out to you, if you look on the very front page, it says the gas
report. And if you see it has, let's see, 10 15 different um, uh, >> modules. >> Uh, yeah. Um, each one of those is actually a report within the ma the yearly gas gas report. In other words,
gas report is not just like, okay, it's uh one little item and that's it. The gas report is each one of these reports all compiled together that the when we get our yearly uh um uh >> your audit, >> huh? >> It helps with the yearly audit.
>> Yeah. When we do our yearly report and they come in and they audit us, then that's these are everything that are included in that one report, that one full report. See what I'm saying? So, like I said, each one of those is actually a report on its own, but then
they're all compiled together to make one yearly report. >> Okay. >> So, um how are your reports generated? Do you do it by hand? Is it computer >> generated? It's it's a little bit of
both. Um and I did put a few little things in here to show. Okay. Like as an example, I'll go to the water report. It's called the PR report. Okay. In order to do that, I have to speak with the fire department. I have to get the what they've used at uh for fires. I had
the hydrants and whatever. I have to get all their usage. Uh then I have to get from the sewer uh the lift stations and sewer department, all the anytime they use the jet machine and they fill that big tank up to go out and jet lines and do whatever they do. I have to get that.
And then I have to get all of the water leaks that we've done for the year. And I have to go through where they filled out their reports when they go and do the leaks and then they calculate the water and then I have to calculate everything for from what they give me to make it for the year and then I have to
compile all of that. So some of it's on computer but a lot of it is strictly paperwork where I have to like gather this and gather you know from different the different people different uh workers. Yeah. I have to gather that all that information and then I compile the report.
One of the things that I had um talked to Miss Sue about on the bold water notice is instead of going door to door, we paid for text my gov. We should be utilizing that to communicate
>> then going door to door, >> you know, putting hangers up >> because, you know, we um How many people did you say we had signed up even though they're big part of outside of Willist? >> Yeah. But the probably the 90% of them
are not in the city. >> Okay. So then we need to make >> just because their address was Williston, they pulled them into the system. So there's a vast majority of them are not city residents. And if I'm not mistaken, this is kind of not my purview, but I don't think text. My gov
meets our criteria legally to do a bowl water notice. >> I would agree. >> I think we are required at this point to do the door hangers. >> Okay. Can we get confirmation on that? At best we have. We've already confirmed that. Yes, sir.
>> I don't know. whatever doesn't need that. >> I have a license in this if it matters. >> We are required to do boil water notices doortodoor at this time until we reach a certain level that's mandated or or allowable by the state where we can electronically notify. And unfortunately
this time we do not have enough people. So you'd be preventing a potential health risk to people and primarily the underserved communities. And those are the ones that I'm most concerned about, the ones that don't have access. We get Fiverr built and we get our enrollment
for utility bills updated and we get people's phone numbers and their emails and we make a campaign on that which I'd like to do. Then at that point we can go to the state and the state can issue us a letter stating you've met the requirements on our opinion with your
system to electronically notify and once they send you that letter you have um a leniency from any liability at that point. But without that letter and that finding from DP, we would be putting the city at risk if we did not make notifications door by door. I don't want
to do it either. But at this point, we we don't have AMI. We can't automatically shut off their water. We don't have any kind of throttling devices on water meters like a lot of big systems have. And we can't monitor the pressure house to house. So
the mandate for the law is 20 PSI, but unless you can verify on an AMI read that that house maintained 20 PSI, then you have to notify anyone with what you could perceive as being as part of that outage for a water loss. So if you guys
can decide to instruct staff to do whatever you would like, but I would not recommend that because I think it's going to get yourselves into a position where there's some liability. If you want to move forward with this motion would be appropriate.
>> Use the mic, please. >> I make a motion we approve the administrative assistant position. >> Second. >> Thank you. >> Any further discussion? from the council as of October 1st,
right? >> I think it's imperative that if we are launching fiber and we have a lot riding on a huge loan that we've taken out, we have somebody ready for customer service. There are going to be a lot of questions and we do not want to be looking like we don't know what we're
doing on day one. >> So, you got to edit that this year, but I would venture to guess that with unfilled positions, the funding would be there. >> Correct. >> Say that again. >> With unfilled positions in this budget
and unfilled hirings that we have not filled, there's money allocated that could pay for this >> without amending the budget. >> Any comment from the audience? get old.
>> Glenn Lewis, resident of Wilston. I am all for this. You're going to have a lot of hiccups as this new system goes in. You're going to have people calling saying, "How do I do this? How do I do that?" And you're going to need somebody
who can only answer those questions. take the burden off the other people. This is something new in this county, this city that needs to be done. Like, I mean, don't have a robot you call and say, "Hey, push a page." You know, one of
those things. You need a live person for somebody to call and say, "Hey, my fiber is out. I have a problem with something here. Can you help me out figure out how I do this? How do I get online?" Things like that. So, I'm totally for a second hire.
Anyone else in public? Aaron, how are you going to go about training somebody for the fiber system? Are there classes that can be taken? >> It would pretty much be on the job training, explaining how the system
works, how the steps would be. There would be a flowchart that typically any other ISP or any other service provider does where when someone calls with a problem, they would basically start on page one. What's your problem? You know, is it this? Yes or no? Try this. Have
you done this? You know, it's just steps they would have to go through to troubleshoot. They would have access to the system in the back end to check the customer's account. Biggest problem, they didn't pay their bill on time and they got marked down delinquent automatically and it slowed their speed down. So that's usually the first thing you check when someone calls about their
internet being slow, make sure their bills paid. So just procedural things that they would have to go through. >> And about how long do you think that would take to get somebody up to speed on that? >> It's who knows. It just depends on their level of experience and and if they've done any of that type work before and
their familiarity with understanding it. Um, the two technicians I've got now, they it's taken them a couple of weeks just to get the good basics of of troubleshooting and they pretty much got most of it down already. >> I would venture maybe 30 days tops.
>> 30 days. The reason I'm asking, I'm wondering if we should have the new person focus mainly on that first. >> I don't think I don't think it would be necessary. I don't think it would take that much time for them to learn it. So they can focus on that first before they
start diving into anything else related to >> it. Just I think you just play it and see how how how they need to share what I need to share because they've got to learn her stuff too. So it's going to be a lot for them to learn, >> right? But this is a new system, one that we're going to be having a lot of
troubleshooting with and things like that. So she can get more foundation. >> It again it's going to depend on the person's experience level. I mean you might hire someone that's >> in the background. Well, wouldn't you rather her to know the information than to
>> That's what I'm looking at and asking me uh about my opinion. The thing is is I don't have a problem. I mean, I will continue to do whatever I'm doing now if need be. But I would be trying to teach her as we go along. See what I mean? In other words,
just because she comes in whether it's next week or next month, I'm not going to say, "Okay, here." You know what I mean? There you go. I'm not going to do that. I'm gonna I'm gonna show her everything. And just so that you're aware, uh, since I've started this position, I think it's been about two and a half years now. Every year I do a
and it's kind of repetitive and I get it, but you know, it just it just seems to make it a little easier for me. So, I have binders in there for each year that are probably about this thick of my reporting that I do every year. And I literally have clear sleeves with a a
copy of the report that I submitted and then the how where the information that it came from. You see what I mean? So she can even learn a lot just by looking through my books because I have pretty much step by step. I have them all labeled as to what reports they are and
I would be mainly I would pull out and mainly you know let her focus on the electric side because that's going to be her most of her reports. I mean, other than that, it would be to deal with, you know, Fiverr and all that clientele and their bills and all that because we've already started paying bills for for the
loan, just so you know, we've already been processing, you know, stuff that they've already been doing and supplies that we've already been receiving. So, I've already been doing that that right now as we speak. And she would take over all of that. Yes. So the reason I was asking questions because the stuff she's
going to get from her is going to be a lot more detail and a lot more stuff versus yours. If she goes ahead and get that in the beginning, get it down two, three weeks a month, whatever it is it is, then she can focus still have that
background. >> I don't think it'll be a problem. We It's Yeah, she can focus on that first. It's it's whatever they want. But again, it's going to depend on the person's skill level and who they are. >> Okay. Well, I I gave you a thought. Um,
anything else for anybody? All right. I guess we need to one or two. >> I don't have Okay. I have where you've already voted >> just the motion and the second, right?
But did we do all in favor? Yeah. >> Let's just do it again just in case. >> Okay. Cuz I didn't think so. >> All right. Um all those in favor say I. >> I.
All those oppos say nay. We have 4 to one. Motion passes. All right. Public participation. This is your second opportunity to come before us. Please state your
name and where you're from. And have your pencils and papers ready. Have a list. First of all, when we have events here on the park, we need to have some type of signage for traffic control. We have these signs that light up saying, you
know, buckle up and all this and something says watch pedestrians, speed limit being enforced, or something like that. So, you got people crossing the street from that parking lot that somebody else was talking about. now,
>> huh? You have people crossing the street there and stuff and you can have people coming barreling down Main Street. They're not going to be watching for kids crossing and stuff. You need to have some type of signage saying, you know, event in progress, speed limited,
such and such. And it's enforced. This is for the safety of the public. they go and they sneak, you know, you can see Jay walking over this stuff all the time. You need some type of signage on both sides saying there's an event happening and
there's a speed limit. Um, another thing is golf cart crossings. We have it now. We go so far with a golf cart. But if you want to go from part A, point B, which happens to be across Main
Street, like TV, uh, Walgreens and stuff, you can't take a golf cart over there. >> I mean, you can go up to, you know, Hitchcock and Houston, right? But if you need to go get to, um, the bank or anything else on the other side, Main Street, you you can't go. You need some
type of crossing. Do that. Well, then get after them, please. Um, thank you to the public service guys. They are out there within almost hours, even minutes when something happened,
especially when electric. They are out there. They are. I mean, they do a tremendous job. I mean, I need the for them. >> Applause to them. They do a tremendous job to that. Another thing that we could
do is some other communities do this too. They get all the local vets together and have them volunteer their time. And what you do is a spayed and neuter clinic where everybody can bring their dog, their cats, feral cats and
stuff be spayed and muted to help our community here without the population and the charge be only for the materials. We'll volunteer their time, their assistance, but only you would pay for the materials that he to reimburse
them for the anesthetics, the raving shots, things like this. Other communities have done it and it's been very successful. Um, selective traffic control, especially at these four-way stop signs, especially
when the stop makes the turn. And the state um highway patrol states that you have to come to a full stop. No wheels turning and then make that turn. They're using
First Street as a thorough affair. Getting away from the traffic jam up here by Circle K and come right down that road and do not stop at that stop sign. Um, this is not probably not the only one that's happening. I also suggest
that if there is an officer there, he is not in plain sight. The reason for that is it's like a classroom. The teacher is there. The kids are little nice little kids. Soon as the teacher leaves, all heck breaks out. That's something that
suggest too that the vehicle usually unmarked. I call them black beauties because they're nice trucks, but have them so they can't see them. I mean, they fly through it. And I'm worried about you have the
church there, you got kids in company there and stuff. Don't worry about that. You have an accident, go right to the playground. My time's winding up. Thank you very much and you all have a good evening. >> Thank you. Anyone else?
Hi, my name is Jan Lewis and I live at 305 Northeast Street right here in Wilson. Um, what I had mentioned earlier about that parking lot area um with the traffic flow and all the functions and
everything. I know it's not your department uh department of transportation. Is there any way to Put a crossing walk light only by push push button. Not by traffic
lights, you know, changing so many minutes, but a push button crosswalk that could be utilized maybe even for um golf carts, could be utilized for children crossing,
for festival. A lot of the people who park there that need to get over into the event could be right on that corner, a temporary little push sign, you know, push the light and it will change the traffic light and then everybody could
be able to cross and use that. Um, that's just a suggestion that I have. >> Thank you. Anyone else? >> My name is Tim Macker, 225 Northwest. Um, I've been like looking at the
sunshine law for quite some time and I really think there's a whole lot of ethics violation violations in this whole apartment up here, including y'all and in here, too. So, that being said, um, when I called Tallahassee here not long
ago, they sent me some paperwork and stuff so I can fill out a complaint. I need everybody's emails, phone numbers, addresses, cuz I'm following them. one at a time till I catch that rat. As soon as I catch one rat, rest are going
down. So in 20 when I when I'm gonna come here and talk to get a hold of Mr. Trish or whatever I got to do, but y'all got 24 hours to get my info. >> Thank you. If you still need to talk, you need to get back up to the >> If you still want to talk, you need to
go over to the mic or not talk. >> Thank you. Have a good night. All right. Any announcements? >> Was there anybody else? I'm sorry. Was there somebody else? Hold. >> Huh? Yes, ma'am.
>> I just have one more concern. The house that next to me, the Herman London, Cowboy London, the house was sold a while back, but ever since the house was sold, the weeds are taller than the
house. I mean, no one whoever bought the house, they're not maintaining the yard. They're not keeping the The weeds are just taller than the house. And I don't think I think that could be like a safety thing for you know rats and snakes and and I don't feel safe. I mean
I look out I don't see anything but a bunch of tall bushes. >> I would just like for someone to find out why the people that bought it are mowing and maintain Laura that address.
I don't have to call the address. It's just right next door to my house. I don't think >> I know. I know where you live. So, >> I'll go next door. >> And city workers, they do a great job. Thank you.
>> Robert Lang, 500 Northwest Fifth Avenue here in Wilson. Uh, I know Laura and I talk constantly and I've talked to Deborah and I had a conversation a week a couple weeks ago and Kristen, when are y'all going to put
your foot down on these damn street lights in Country Lanes Estates? They're not there. Y'all got the bomb. Call the damn bond and hire somebody to put them in. Eastern uh Halloween's coming up again and that place is pitch
black. It's dangerous. >> I remind you that when somebody gets hit >> or hurt, >> it is absolutely atrocious. And we're this long and I know there's been a my understanding is there's been a letter sent. I've direct I've got our people
our HOA director down in Artemis. We've just got a proposal for a new attorney and I'm pursuing it with that attorney. But ultimately, you all are the ones that are going to have to put your foot down or else just give up on it and forget about it.
I mean, this is this is almost a lack of due diligence on your all's part to not enforce it. Now, I don't know. I know a lot of you some of you may not have been here when the agreements were signed and everything. There may not be a damn date on it, but at some point, you got to take it as a safety hazard to do
something with it. Thank you. Thank you. >> Anyone else? >> Hello. >> I just wanted to give clarification >> about uh all the raises and everything
on the search and whatnot. If it is going to be put on next agenda, >> if you can talk to the mic and talk louder, turn it towards you. >> A little bit louder. We just want to make sure we're on the agenda uh for the next council meeting >> for the certificates and whatnot.
>> So, sorry. >> Are you I didn't mean to interrupt you. >> Yep. >> Okay. The information I got from you all, we can't make any changes to the CBA without the approval of the union. So, what we can talk about at the next meeting is our
proposed change to the CBA to clarify the policy, but we can't we can't change it unilaterally. So, I could have language for you that would clarify, but we can't go in contrast to your written CDA.
>> I think he's asking about the races for the license >> that that they haven't got. >> Okay. I we talked about both of those topics at the same time. So are we talking about the changes moving forward? Are we talking about the changes going back?
>> Going back a question for I don't know s have time. >> So we have the exam scheduled for three weeks from yesterday. So it wouldn't be on the next council meeting. It would be on the one after that.
>> So we have to take the exam. >> Yes. Yes. >> Before we get the race, what about every other department that has her? >> Well, remember this was what we talked about. This was the exam that M theory was going to pro. >> If you do it for us, you have to do it for everybody.
>> Again, this was what we worked out with Mike McCclary. I've been talking to Jonathan and Mike about this. Several members of the council know about this. I mean, this was the decision that we decided on in order to make sure that the raise going forward was going to take effect and I actually had that put
into the budget, the revised budget from Stephen today. What we talked about for both of you, what we need to talk about is with the council was going back to the 2023 EFS that were not done. That's going to be on the council agenda. Yes.
>> Do you have certifications now? >> Yes. >> But they want you to take a test. Yes, >> they've already taken it. >> Why? Why are they taking a test for a test? They've already taken it in the past. >> This is
This is a This is going to be a long story, so I apologize. But there were questions about the the manner in which the um certifications or licenses were obtained
and the short time frame in between some of these exams and modules and and whatnot. So So they finished them a little quicker than expected. But I believe we expect >> and I think you said some people
depending on who they are and they may finish quicker than some and some may take a little bit longer. >> Correct. >> So why are we having them retake a test that they've already taken for the same certification >> to make sure that they know everything
that they >> did they pass the certification? >> Yes. Then why are we making them take another certification >> and they're doing it every day of of the week? >> That makes no sense whatsoever. >> I have something else to say.
>> Did they get the certification from >> TVPBA? Do you have an issue with the location that's giving out certifications? >> No, not at all. So if you have no issues with those that location, why are we making people who've already passed the
test take a test? Again, this was a conversation between myself, the HR director, Mike McCclary. We've been trying to come up with some sort of a resolution because this was something that has been handed to us that has been ongoing for years.
So this was a but we're talking about this specific test, correct? This was a this was our way to try to move forward with making sure that we could give them >> So why have them go to a school and get classes, take classes, get certified, and then are supposed to get a dollar
raise or whatever it may be, but then we don't trust the school that we send them to, and then we want to make a test for them to take. That doesn't seem right or fair. That makes no sense. There was a concern from TVPPA when we spoke to them
about how quick these modules were taken. >> But they took a test. >> They took the test. TBC whatever the name is TB PPPA. >> Correct. >> Even though they may have been concerned, they still gave them a
certification. >> Not understanding how quickly they were fasttracked. Yes. And we >> is there a law against how how fast it's taken? >> It's not a law. It's just >> is there a I'm I'm just ask I'm trying to
understand because to me it makes no sense. >> And let me say in talk in the curtain coding they have a very good explanation of why it was faster than it would have and it was still months. It wasn't like it was days or weeks. >> Uh it was because they do this every day. They were doing it without the
licenses because right not so much without the license but not without these particular licenses because Mike is the person who signs off of them >> as that master person that Donald was talking about earlier. When Donald signs off, they take a lab which is the
modules which is not the lab. the lab 40 >> the 40hour course is the module that they go to take the whole week to do but then they come home and they do the actual lab that is observed by their supervisor and signed off by their supervisor >> you do the module when you come back
>> well because they've been doing that for years and Mike has observed them doing it every day he didn't have to observe them doing it for two or three months >> did he sign off on >> he did >> uh two years ago >> what's the issue
I'm still wondering what problem is >> they they're looking for the money, >> right? But I'm I'm talking about the test right now. >> I can tell you >> I'm talking about the test. >> We went we >> thought about going to Mike McCclary. I can't say that name. Um because we were
trying to do a resolution, but the real only reason was to make administration feel better. I feel fine about it because I've looked at all of their their certifications >> and I have too >> and I've looked at their signatures by their department heads, by their
supervisors, by their city managers. They're signed by the city manager at the time, >> right? And they were never scanned into the payroll company to get them their Yeah. >> So, the first issue I see is that you're making somebody do something they've
already done and and you know, have been certified for. Um, the second thing is we're not paying them for that, >> but we did take >> Sorry to interrupt you guys, but did you
have something else? >> What y'all were saying earlier was TBPA was one of the hardest classes to take, but yet we're going to give another test after that, which is I don't know that just seems crazy. It's already hard enough. Why make it even harder for us?
The specific instance was we weren't made aware of the LA uh modules online until myself and another employee had started lab one, our first one. We learned there that we had online courses
that we had to take. This when Kirk was playing catchup and did his lab his module one and then a couple days later he did module two and then from that point on we understood and went through out the uh
apprenticeship in appropriate. That is the backstory of not having information and then playing catchup into the So, you guys still want to get on an agenda and have a conversation? >> I say we were stepping, but I'm I mean,
I'm just curious as to >> council member >> of the years that Kirk already served the city over and the department, he literally could have grandfathered. Mike could have grandfathered him. He chose the TVPA to do things so we can have it
on paper. But there are legitimate grandfathered in life that have not been through any schooling but own the job training. That's him right there. He kind of hurt himself by wanting to learn more, but he done served the city before
you and a lot of people here like he served here. Keeping y'all power on. Hurricane, hurricane, hurricane. Don't kick. Don't kick. just >> that's why it was easy to sign them off as quickly as it was because they're actually doing it every day and have
been >> miss I was just going to ask her her recommendation >> bring it back >> I have no familiarity with TVA at all or any of the processes required to get
certification. So I I can't tell you that I have a a recommendation there. To the extent that there is a concern, I mean, you know me when I always say there's liability associated with anything that you do, there's additional liability anytime that you're talking
about dangerous things like what these gentlemen do, which is electric and high voltage and all of those things. So if you're worried about it, I I we there's additional verifications that you can do. I mean,
if you if you want to, but I I really am not super familiar with this area. So, I I don't know that I can advise you on what the best path is moving forward on this because I just I just don't know. >> I would say Kirk and Cody are absolutely correct. make no other employee take a
test, go go out and take a course, get their certification or their lensure and come home and take another. >> Is it appropriate or not? >> Yeah. >> And again, the reason we were planning on doing this was because we wanted to
give you solid evidence that they knew what they were supposed to know. Again, for safety purposes, this is all about liability. so that when you were deciding on whether or not to go back and pay them back to 2023 that you have this information. If you feel comfortable, you can make that decision without it. We don't have to.
>> The the other thing that I'll just add is that I know that I've talked to probably every single one of you about we have concerns about documentation and we need to be better about documenting things. We have to make sure that we have this because we want to make sure
if something happens, god forbid, and I have something come across my desk that says, "Hey, we're being sued because something happened to alignment or something that alignment did cause injury to someone else." I want clear as clear as possible documentation and you all tell me what you're comfortable with
liability wise, what that looks like that we have taught all of our eyes and crossed all of our tees. So that that is from city attorney's perspective all that I'm worried about but if you ask me I would want everyone to take a test on
everything maybe every day maybe every like week that would be wonderful for me from my perspective I know that's not practical um but you all decide you know the level of risk that you're willing to tolerate city attorney how many bars did you take
>> can I ask Mr. Miller a question. >> Mr. Miller, >> are they qualified? >> Can they do? >> Yes. >> Yeah, they are. >> Oh, good. >> All right. Because I know I've come around seen you guys working and you're
constantly watching the guys make sure they do things correctly. >> Correct. >> So you're they're good to go. >> And you're not going to >> and you're not going to jeopardize >> no >> your license or anything by signing off
just because >> Yeah. >> Thank you, sir. >> Miss Meredith, >> I I have the same question, but I'm going to come at it from a different angle. Um, if you say yeah, if some somebody gets hurt because a mistake is made and we
end up in court and you say yes, is that gonna hold up just as well? >> And I'm here to say that talking to these fellas, they are the most safety conscious people I know. They're telling me they need to get this settled because
their brain is elsewhere. They need to get it settled so they can concentrate on what they need to do on their job because it is such a dangerous job and they have got to get this settled because it's on their mind. It's it's a
detriment to their family the fact that they haven't gotten what they worked so hard for over the past three years. Um and their theirs are the folders that I've looked at that are just immaculate. Especially Cody's Cody's He gives all
the credit to his wife and puts all the things together. All those pre-authorization training forms, they're in their folder. So, let me ask this question, Mr. Miller.
Why did you agree with the city manager and the HR I mean the director to have them I didn't really agree with that. Okay. I
just went along with it. I just I don't think it's already a hard enough course and these guys go for the week and then they get back and then they have to do the studying and then do take the test online. If it's already hard that other people
are not wanting, why are we even testing above and beyond? Have they made any mistakes out in the field that would warrant them having to take the test again? >> No.
>> Clarify. I think the reason just just so that there's no suggestion that this was done because they did anything wrong. The concern was solely as representative me was solely and that I understood was
solely that the test was not the tests were not taken in the order or the time that PBPA the governing body recommended and there may be reasons why it wasn't. But my concern was from a liability standpoint if employees even though they very much
deserve the raise if the test was taken not in the recommended order in some way does that expose us to liability and that is why I asked the question and why I think the test was possibly out there as just to cover us in case some place
down the road there is an incident. So I just want to put that out there that that was the reasoning behind I have that correct the reasoning behind why the idea of having the secondary open book 10 question these guys just so
that they can say hey we verify even though these tests were not taken in the order in which they were supposed to be taken or in the time frame that was recommended by DPA. If Mike tells me that if when we go to court agrees that Mike says it was fine,
they're good and that protects us, I'm okay with that. But I certainly don't want us exposed to liability because we didn't do our eyes and cross our tees. >> I definitely agree. I'm the reason I asked the question is because usually when people get retraining or have to
retest, it's because they've done something that warrant them to have to do that. So that's the reason I was asking that question. >> You know, last summer we had three hurricanes. You guys were in the thick of it. >> But that that's not you getting up and
saying that in court is not going to protect us from asking them. But we are asking >> I have absolute utmost faith in these guys. 100% they deserve the dollar raise. That is that is not not the question that's being argued is whether they deserve it or not. The question is,
should we have another test that protects us from any exposure to liability in the future? It is absolutely not related to whether they're qualified or deserve the raise. It is entirely a question of protecting us against future losses, which is very different than the question about
whether these guys deserve the raise and are good workers. They are 100%. I'll stand by that any day. But are we at all exposed to any liability by these tests not having been done in the order in which they were done? does everything. >> Always have liability for everything.
Always liability. >> If TVPPA is comfortable giving them the certificates and we'll stand by those certificates despite the fact that now if TVPA if we bring XYZ to their attention, it was done in this order, it
was done in this timeline and they say no certificates because we didn't know about that when we gave them to you, different story. So I don't know what their knowledge involvement whatever is >> but that makes more sense >> otherwise if TVPPA is willing to say we
see this information we're going to give in writing to the city that even with this information that we have these certificates still stand I'm I'm comfortable with that >> signed off by their supervisor as Amos said they've been doing it forever they
didn't have to go up there and get this at all they were already working for us. >> Sure. I I again to Meredith's point, I'm not I'm not making the point that anyone is >> not qualified or can't do X Y and Z. If the question to that you're posing to me is how do we reduce our liability as
much as possible? My answer to you is if TVPPA knows what we have discussed here about timelines and order and that kind of thing and they say we stand by these certificates these are still valid then that protects us as much as I think
anything we can do would would protect us >> and I think the order was fine. I don't think there's anything to do with the order. >> And on top of that, years of service, if if you was brought into a lawsuit, your years of service does account.
And anything over four and a half years, you are already considered alignment n years. So, >> and to be clear, that's what Mike and Clear said when we talked about the fact that they were fasttracked. They did this four-year program in two years.
Mike said, well, in Kirk's case, you know, he'd been here for a time, it was seven years before he actually started TVPA. And he did explain that. Again, TVPPA had concerns. Let me be clear. They had concerns. That's the reason we went to Mike Mccclary and that's the reason we came up with this. But again,
their raises, Kurt's $8 an hour, Cody's $6 an hour is in the budget. You will see that in the revised budget. Again, this was just for me when I gave this to you guys to decide if you want to go back and pay them. And we're talking tens of thousands of dollars that I was
going to have an additional layer of, you know, okay, they passed this exam. And again, this was open book. Mike was the one that came up with these questions. This had nothing to do with me or Kim. This was just a suggestion that he said because we wanted to make sure that again all of our tees are, you
know, crossed and our eyes were got it. But if you don't want us to do the exam, we don't have to. We can put it on the next agenda for the back pay back to 2000. >> But with the concerns they had, were they willing to >> take their certificates away? >> They did not do that. >> So they had concerns, but they weren't
>> concerned enough to take their certificate. >> Correct. Correct. Correct. >> And it's not solely just us taking the test. We could easily pass it. Sure. It's applying it to everyone who has a certificate all across the board
everywhere within the city and not just solely focusing and targeting the electric department. >> Yeah, I think from from our discussions the concern was that TVPPA had concerns. Please know that if there are other
concerns from other agencies giving certificates, we want to hear about them and I want to reach out. because we we do need to make sure that all of our eyes and our dotted and tees are crossed across the board. >> I thought it was just said the city was concerned, not TVPA was concerned with
how we did it. >> I I think what was just said was that TVPPA had concerns. So if that's the case with any others, then they >> No, this was a discussion. >> There was nothing. And how long had they been out of the
course from taking it? Did they bring this to our attention? >> I saw. >> Can we hear from Jonathan? >> Yes, ma'am. So, I'm waiting from Katie Foster or Caitlyn Foster who is who's second for the training for TP TVPA to
clarify the language that me and Miss Sue have been talking about and I should have gotten it today but I'm hoping to get it tomorrow. >> Who is this? >> Caitlyn Foster over she's over the second over the training for TV PPV. I hate that acronym. >> Yeah, >> that one. Anyways, I was supposed to receive a email today explaining good or
bad, which over the phone we all think is going to be good, but uh I should have gotten it today. So, hope we get it tomorrow without clarifying 99% of this up. >> Okay. Can we see that as well? >> Soon as I get it. Yes, ma'am. >> Thank you, sir. >> Yes, ma'am. >> So, in this whole conversation with
TVPBA when I talked to them to get their um because I was putting together a spreadsheet to get their start dates and their end dates, somebody had it done. in one of the uh online modules, not the inhouse module. Somebody had it done in like 3 days. And the comments were, "Oh
well, that was extremely fast, faster than I have ever seen." And that caused concerns. So, I brought it up when I made this spreadsheet of the enrollment dates to the end dates. And I brought it up. We talked to I brought it up to Sue.
We talked to uh TBPA further about it. And then we talked to Mike McCclary. That's where the concerns came from was one of the modules was done in three days. >> Is is there proof of it? Because we go to classes and they take them each and every month. >> Yes. I >> all throughout three, four, five of
these classes. Each and everyone does it different a month, a week, they do it at their own pace. >> Yeah. She sent me your enrollment dates uh and I put together the spreadsheet based on the certification. So the date the certificate was issued. It was
within 3 days. And she also stated that she had concerns in her email. >> No, she didn't email. This was a phone conversation. >> Okay. So, >> that was the only thing that raised concerns. That's why I brought it to Sue's attention. >> We're going to stop now. You can put them on the agenda for the next agenda.
So, because this is going to be a conversation. You guys are okay with us putting on the agenda for next our next agenda? >> Yes, ma'am. We thank you for your time. >> Thank you. Any um other announcements? >> Hi,
>> my name is Stephanie Richardson. My address is 447 Northwest Second A. I'm the home that touches John Henry Park. Um I am seeking some clarification because I feel like my electric bill has increased even though some of my usages
have changed and there's been fees that have been added. And I just have a few questions and I don't know if you can address them or if you could just seek for clarification from the individuals that are in charge of these things. Um first of all, what changes or fees have
been added? Is that what's causing the electric bills to go up? Um if there's reductions in usage, why aren't we seeing that in our bill? And then um how are the residents expected to keep up with this?
I mean, I was here a couple years ago, I think, um, asking the same questions, and the bills have continued to go up. My bill this month is $800, and I wasn't home for a week. So,
I understand stuff's expensive, but we have little nitpicky fees that are showing up. We have a $24 credit card fee just to pay your bill online. It saves you time, energy. You don't have to pay people to take fees in
office. I don't I feel like it's getting nickeled and dime and it's not fair, you know. Um, like I said, I know things are expensive. Milk's $5 a gallon, you know, but this
is getting to be unreasonable. And I'm I know everyone is aware, you know, the word of mouth's on Facebook. I'm not alone. Like, and what concerns me is our community is growing. People come here for that small
town feel and reasonable cost of living and all of these things. And we have people moving in. I've seen people list their homes now because they don't want to live here because of the elevated cost to live here. And I don't know how that's going to support the growth of
our community if can't afford to live here. And I think I mentioned it a couple years ago. This cont this community is referred to as a title one title one community when it comes to academics. That means the majority of
the uh community is low income. So if my home is a moderately um income family and we're struggling, how is the rest of the community able to keep up with this?
And I know you don't have to answer me, but polite response. Appreciate it. >> Miss, >> I happen to have a bill in my hand. You got yours? >> I I was able to access what I could access. Okay. >> Well, all the public service taxes have
always been there. They're just broken out on this bill. So, you're seeing them because of our new software. They are something that is charged to us, not not something necessarily we're charging it if we pay it to someone else. >> The public service tax, the gross
receipt tax are the same. They used to be included and now you're seeing them. >> Um, what else is here? The uh electric adjustment fee that we talked about that earlier, I think before you got here. It's the cost adjustment. the company that actually produces the energy that
sells it to us, the fuel that they use to make the energy. So, in this case, most likely natural gas. >> Uh, used to be coal or nuclear, but in this particular case, it's most likely natural gas. Correct me if I'm wrong. Thank you very much. Um when that cost
of natural gas goes up, the public service commission allows them to pass that allows the company that makes the electricity that's them pass it through. And when they pass it through, we pass it through. So we're not keeping that money. It goes directly to them. Um what
else can I tell you? That's just about the same with the go with the gas cost adjustment. It's the same because it is natural gas. I don't know if you have gas at your house. >> Yeah. Um, other than that, it should be based on consumption. If you look at the bill,
it's now showing the word flat >> that was not there before. The flat is what the base rate is for having the service in your house. >> So now we're being charged a flat rate. >> We always were. >> So
>> we always were. >> Okay. >> It's just now showing up. Um, so it's a flat rate no matter how much I use. >> Uh, yeah. In order to have in order to have water in your house, in order to
have water service at your house, you're charged $2046. >> Okay. >> The rest of what you're charged is the next line, next column actually, that says usage >> and it gets added to the base rate. So the $2046
is charged to everybody, every residence >> just for having the water service. >> And the rest you get, is it 8,000 gallons, but that's on the sewer. You get exempted on the sewer. If you look at the sewer, that's where the big is.
>> So the residential sewer just for having the sewer service, it's $60.75 to every household. >> And then the ne and it's in this case, I didn't use I'm looking at my bill. I didn't use any more because we exempt
the first 8,000 gallons of water. >> So, did since you didn't use >> 5,000, then you lowered it. >> Since you didn't use any extra or more from the previous month, did your bill bill go down? >> The sewer or the water?
>> Your usage in one of those? >> I don't know because I'm not Well, I haven't. So for my for my bill um if it went down it should be it should have gone down. >> That's
>> the base rate stays the same. >> Okay. >> It's the usage it's the usage column that should change based on your consumption >> and that's for water as well. So you >> for water which and the sewers based on the amount of water that you use and the
electric and the gas. So, my water usage has gone down from 14,700 gallons >> to 12,000 gallons. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> But my bill only dropped $20. >> That's about right. Water is very cheap, believe it or not.
>> Okay. My electric bill. Okay. Um, you know, it's jumped $140 even though the kilowatts or whatever has gone up by 700. So, I mean,
>> y'all y'all correct me if I'm wrong, but the electricity has not gone up. >> Yeah. >> The electric >> rates, no rates. No cost adjustment has, but no rate, actual rate has changed since October of last year. >> That's right. For the electric,
>> right, the rate has stayed the same. The cost adjustment did go up a little bit. Um, but that's again passed through from work. No additional fees or anything that has been added. >> No. >> Yeah. The base was always there. It's just on the old in the old software. And
I can I can I can show you if you come meet with me. I will show you on a spreadsheet with it all broke out. Yeah. >> And I will come I'll pull one of your bills from the old software and I will show you on your waterline where you had your water charge if the base fee was in
there plus your consumption. And it was it was always in there. It just it in the new software it just breaks everything out. It's very transparent. Um where the fees and stuff were kind of combined in the old one. >> I appreciate
>> and if anybody wants to come meet with me, they're more than welcome to come. >> I know it doesn't help. >> Customer service. I mean >> Oh, it doesn't help. And I can tell you all my neighbors are are saying the same thing. >> A lot of >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I know. Um the electric everybody's consumption in a whole is
just increased just because of how hot it's been. So unfortunately everybody's has gone up just because of their function. >> Well, I appreciate your time. >> Okay. Thank you. >> So y'all know this is announcement, not >> I'm just going to be quick. >> Participation time. That was a little
while ago. >> Yes, I did. >> Never mind. I didn't announce. >> Thank you. >> You went straight to announcements. You were ready to go home. >> No, I said this is the second time >> a young man stood up. I know. Go ahead.
>> I'll take you up on I want to I have some questions about my bill as well. My electric bill, utility bill. >> I'm sorry. Can I get your name first? >> Oh, Hunter Fug. Um, >> his bill is terrible. I've looked at it. >> So, so, so if there is bad.
>> Yeah. Yeah. I got it. I based on that last conversation, I will have questions about the bill. Um just in general I guess I it's less about an explanation and maybe more about um
the longterm view of what I see uh happening with bills rising maybe if I and I just make a suggestion and you guys can take it however you want to just to look into this somehow. I understand you're saying hey it's we're just passing the costs on and there's
really nothing we can do. I would really suggest that you guys look into it. My bill this past month was $1,200. Um, and like I said, I'll get into the details with with an employ with with >> I think he's got >> the lady here.
>> Selena is her name >> and uh yeah, so just please if you >> Selena >> take that into uh your thoughts when you go forward with any kind of budgets or and I and I'll come to the the budget workshops. So maybe I can get a better understanding
of how these things work. But um yeah, $1,200. Thank you, >> Mr. Fug. >> And maybe if we can get another class that Miss Meredith went to, then you guys get >> Yeah, I don't I'm not I'm not going to throw out accusations and like some some
other folks did earlier what's going on. and this maybe I just need to understand how it's going better and >> but still >> it's a lot >> even if it is that way >> and 800 and a lot of these numbers I've seen >> or
Mr. Mr. What was your suggestion? What was your suggestion? >> Look at reducing the cost of utilities. >> Yeah, I don't know. I mean, like I said, I don't really understand uh you know, how much money is actually being brought
in and if that's if it's just covering the cost of operating operating the utilities or some of that money is being passed on to the general budget. I don't know any of that stuff. So obviously I need to learn those things uh to understand that better but you guys do. So if you'll look into that if there's
any way for utilities to temporarily permanently be reduced during the high times of the year then that's what I would like. >> Thank you. Anybody else? >> Hey ma'am. >> Call and put your email on file and
they'll send it to you. Tammy Lewis. >> I know I'm short. Sorry. Um, so I'm kind of piggybacking off of them. Um, mine is more of a suggestion. I came because I thought this was going to tell us about
the budget. I know it was an audit. I did not realize or maybe I don't know. I tried to get the budget from 23. I think that's the last one that's on the city website. I didn't see it for 24 or 25. I
don't know how much you guys pay for electric. I don't know how much you make off of electric, but is there possibly like Bronson gets it from somewhere else, but they still have city of Bronson. Cheap gets it from somewhere else, but they
still have city of Chief. So why does Willist have to have City of Willist Utilities? It seems like you guys only have six% in your budget and you need 25%. Maybe give up utilities because there's a lot of money in there. I mean,
I don't know how much you're making off of it. >> Any money at all if we gave up utilities, I can tell you. >> Well, I mean, that's what that's what I'm saying. I don't know how much you're making off of it because I can't read your budget. I don't know exactly what's coming in off of it, but I did read how much everybody gets paid off of all of
this stuff. So, and this is only from 23. So, I have no idea what's being paid right now to all of these things, but there's like a million dollars that gets paid out in all of these utilities, different things. Um, again, I have no
idea how much you pay for the utilities, how much you make off utilities, but something's got to give. I mean, this is ridiculous. I mean, in my neighborhood alone, someone literally just sold their property that they cleared because they
were going to build a house and now they can't afford utilities. They worked out the budget and said, "We were going to retire there, but we can't afford it." I mean, if I had not paid off my house, I would not be able to afford it. I mean, it's ridiculous. And I keep my air on
78, which I know everybody thinks is ridiculous, but I keep it on 78. And that's all the time. And my bill, I feel very badly, sorry, is like $462, which I think is ridiculous. Not $1,200,
>> but and I have a pool and I'm complaining about that because my normal bill is like 200 250. I think I spoke to you the other day. I don't even run my air. Nothing between October and April.
Nothing. And my bill is still $252. And that's with nothing going. So, city of Willist is a little crazy in my opinion. In my opinion, but again, like >> I would comment that the money
>> the the money that we make that's extra for the utilities we pay for streets, parks. >> I mean, fiber is going to be your >> police and fire. You are more than welcome to come to our budget here on >> I mean right now I'm working from
literally I was at work at 4:30 this morning >> and didn't get off till 5. >> We were here at midnight the last one and I got up at >> I mean I'm just saying that's every day. That's a long day for me. But >> that was like a 20our day for me. So I get it. >> Yeah. I mean I get it. >> Tuesday is it?
>> I get it. But this is five days a week for me. I just don't know that I could do that. >> Okay. Thank you. We record them online. Just look later. >> Yes, sir. >> Lang again something you all might consider and I
don't know you and you I power bit my utility bill last year was anywhere 12 to $1,600. I had and Terry worked with me to get some of it reduced because it was new subdivision.
I had the irrigation system separated so that you're you're running everything off your city water. You're paying sewer on what's going on your yard. I I don't know. But anyway, >> yeah, >> you might do a better job of promoting that that you know the it's $2,000 and I
guarantee I've already paid for that. I'm >> sure that money saved. So that's something you all might look at. >> Or even if you got a pool and you need to fill your pool up, same thing. >> Thank you. You know, you fill your polls. >> All right,
>> we're going to move on to a German. Is there anybody else that can't say anything? Okay, so we're going to go on to adjournment because we've done announcement. That's what we want. Announcements. Did
you have an announcement? >> She has an announcement. >> Yeah, that's what we were on. Announcements. I second Alexis motion that we adjourn. >> We have a first and a second. Move to vote. All those in favor say I. >> I. All those opposed? Nay.
Motion carry. 51 5 >> Oh, time is 9:25