Good evening. Today is Tuesday, July 7, 2026 at 6:02 p.m. We're going to call this meeting to order. Miss Wright, can I get a roll call, please?
Mayor Goodman, >> I'm here. >> Council President Hines >> here. >> Vice President Jones >> here. >> Council member Cox >> here. >> Council member Martin >> here. >> Council member Church >> here.
>> Intram city manager Wright, I'm here. Attorney Kirsten Belaloo >> here. >> And all other staff here. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. At this time, we have the opening prayer and the pledge of allegiance to the flag by Mayor Charles Goodman.
>> Test. Thank you, Madame President. Join me if you choose. Lord, we come to to you tonight, a gathering of your people. And Lord, I just ask you to be with each one of these people who have taken the time out
of their life to attend the government, which is the only way that a government can be of the people and by the people. And Lord, I ask you to be with our police department as they go out there and try to protect us and they serve our
community. And I ask you to be with the fire department who risk their lives trying to service our community. And Lord, I ask you to be with this council to help them to see what they need to do
and what they want to do and help them to and guide them to have the wisdom that you will grant them. And Lord, I know that we have as people are imperfect.
And if not for your guidance, we would make a mess of everything. So I thank you for your guidance and I thank you for guiding these counselors and I thank you for guiding the people of Willist which are a fine place to
live. And Lord, I ask you to be with our military and the politicians that run this country to help lead and guide them in everything they do. I ask this in your name. Amen. >> Amen.
>> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you very much.
Item item number one, additions, deletions, changes, and approval of the agenda. Madame pres That's right. Madame President, I need to add under item one, add employee of the
month. And for item 5H, we need to table that, please. It's asked to be tabled. And also item I >> did you you said five? >> Mhm. Was that
>> 5 H? >> A N. >> I thought she said 8 H. >> 5H as in Harry. >> The ordinance under public hearing table that
and item 5 I. We're going to remove that from the agenda. Additions to the agenda that have been requested are to add employee of the month underneath underneath item number one
to remove item number H under public participation is going to be tabled and then item number I um is also going to be removed at this time. >> Can I get a Oh, yes ma'am. >> I would like to make a request if possible.
>> I would like to remove item J. um from the agenda and I would like to explain my reasonings and have it tabled to a further meeting. >> Item what now? >> J the final item on the on the agenda >> and if I may >> I would like to explain why I would like
this table to another meeting. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Can can we not go to it and talk about it there? >> Nope. I'm sorry. >> Okay. We'll delay it here. >> No direction. Well, let me preface this by saying that this is not about Mr. Bvard at all. Um,
this is not about Miss Latricia or Miss Jones who spoke to Miss Bvard, Mr. Bvard and brought this onto the agenda, but this is about a bigger picture of how we do make big decisions like this. Um, no direction was given to any council
member or staff member to go out and recruit or negotiate or prepare a contract for an interim city manager. This council has not gotten together and discussed any of the key important
decisions that we need to make before going out and seeking a full-term city manager or a long-term interim city manager. We haven't discussed whether we want a long-term interim city manager or a short-term interim city manager. We haven't discussed whether we should
actually look for a long-term city manager, not interim city manager. We haven't discussed the direction that we would like to ask that city manager to go or what their salary should be. We haven't discussed whether Latricia should stay on as interim city manager if she's willing. We have not as a
council discussed any of that because these issues were not discussed in the full council. It now appears that this contract was negotiated by one council member and and I'm not singling out Miss Jones, but just because it's on it's on the agenda with her name attached to it.
This could >> not true. >> It is on the agenda with with her name attached to it and and it this could be any of us. Like I said, I'm I'm talking about big picture here. Um, and it was negotiated by by what appears to be one council member without the
input of any other council members. That's not a good look. Those optics are pretty bad. Um, it creates the appearance of backdoor negotiations, which we don't need to have here at the city of Willist. Um, on two separate occasions,
the mayor and I have both asked for a special meeting to be called to discuss the issues that I just mentioned. We have not had a special meeting. Nobody else on the council has come together. It takes three of us to request a special meeting. Despite that,
a contract has now been put on this agenda for council action. And again, the optics aren't good. It suggests, and I'm not saying this is the intent by any stretch, but the appearances that that special meeting where we would have discussed this and
come to a consensus about the direction that we thought we should go for this city regarding our city manager, it appears now that that meeting has been avoided so that a preferred candidate can be brought and selected without full council discussion.
Not only that, but this contract and this item was added to the agenda very last minute. An agenda that was posted to at least to me at 7:30 on Saturday night on a holiday weekend. To the best of my knowledge, and maybe somebody can
confirm this, it's never been put on the public website. So, regarding public trust, no resident was able to reach anybody at the city hall yesterday to ask any questions. I wasn't able to reach anybody at the city hall yesterday to ask any questions. And
the first time I knew about this was on the agenda that was sent 7:30 Saturday night holiday weekend, city hall closed on Monday. That's not how we earn the public's trust. The timing creates the impression that this process was
designed to avoid the difficult questions about who should be our next city manager. And again, those are not good optics. Lastly, now unfortunately there is the appearance of and again I'm going to clarify the appearance of a
conflict of interest because now there is a negotiated contract negotiated by a council member or a staff member and there is a pay raise, a significant pay raise, a $24,000 pay raise from the last city manager. Now, my understanding
is some of those numbers have changed, but the contract that was put in this agenda for us to read over and approve or not approve had a $24,000 increase in salary from our last city manager, that's our last city manager, not Mr. Bvard, but a $24,000 difference in terms
of our budget. So, at this point in time, if if our the next city manager acts in any way, shape, or form that appears to favor the council person who put it on the agenda and brought it to us, and again, I'm not saying this is Joan personally, but it
could be any of us that did this, that acted this way, put this on the contract, put this contract on the agenda, and then our future city manager then does anything that appears to be in favor of Mrs. Jones opinions or her position, then how do we not say that
that isn't a conflict of interest, that that is not quidd proquo, that that is not favoritism? It's just again not a good look. And I know that there was absolutely no ill intent about the way this was was handled. I think in fact the opposite. I think this was all done
with people's best in they were trying to do what was in the best interest of the city. My objection is the way that this was gone about and I I think that we owe it to the residents to do this better. I think that we should not do this in such a way that exposes to the
city to questions about impropriy and backdoor deals. And I really think that we need to have a special meeting and we need to come to a consensus as a council about the direction that we would like to head regarding our interim city manager. And I am more than happy to discuss Mr. Bvard or this the increase
in salary or another person or what we want to do. I'm happy to discuss it. We have not had that conversation yet. We need to have that. We need to have a special meeting. We need to do this so the residents can hear a consensus from us and know that we are heading in the right the direction that all of us want
to go so we don't end up with a what happened where we have a city manager a city manager a city manager a city manager. So respectfully, I would like to remove this and table it until we have had that opportunity to have that conversation.
>> Question ready. >> How because this is a full-blown discussion. It's trying to be and it's at the end of our meeting. >> That's why I asked her to make >> So um should we
move forward? Should we What is your recommendation as we haven't even gotten into our meeting discuss something. >> So at the I I think and I at the beginning I'm not sure if I caught was that a motion and then an explanation of
your motion. You have a motion on the floor. So if there is a second to that motion then the second would be heard and then there would be discussion on that. It is a a change to the agenda. So that would be appropriate at this time. Okay. um to to move forward with.
>> Okay. So, we have a motion. Do I have a second? >> I second. >> We have a motion and a second. >> I move to vote. >> Oh, wait a minute. What about discussion? Okay. Okay. Let's have a discussion of all this stuff. >> I don't think she was really accusing. >> Oh, yes, she was. >> But, okay.
>> I heard it. If it had been So, so Miss Jones, we'll start with you. We're going to start at the very beginning and how this contract became on how this item became on this contract. That's all I asked for >> was it the item, not the contract.
>> Don't I didn't see the contract till you did >> on Saturday night. >> Right. >> I saw the change when I got here today. I was called to the mayor's office. I got a phone call from the mayor. Uh, I want to say maybe Monday of last, not
last week, the week before, not this past week, the week before, the mayor told me that he was very upset with the city council essentially that we were not doing our job essentially. Correct me if I'm wrong, and that he was going
to take some action of his own and wanted me to know about it and that he was going to. And after discussion with the mayor and I I was also aware that he'd had a lengthy discussion with Miss Wright before he called me. Um I asked
him if he would wait until tonight so that we could discuss his concerns and take some action that would essentially make him feel better about what was happening. So that's why this is here
because he essentially gave me and us essentially an ultimatum. I don't know if that's a too strong a word to use. Um I think it was pretty much that. Um he had some actions he wanted us to take and he wanted us to take them
yesterday and he gave me until today to get them before you because obviously I can't do anything. I'm one vote. I can't do anything without you and I can't discuss it with you unless I'm here. So, the next council
meeting is tonight. I asked him if he would please hold up with his concerns and give me time to put something before you. My intention, I went straight after talking to him to Latricia to the city man inter city manager asked her to put it on the agenda so that we could
discuss it at that so we could discuss how we were going to proceed with coming up with a new city manager immediately, which is essentially what he wanted us to do. He wants he he
believes um and help me if I'm wrong. He believes me he believes that we are uh taking advantage of and burdening both our interim city manager and our consulting chief of chief of police who's acting to
help her. And I in talking with Latricia she does she does feel burdened at this point. she believes that it's more than she could do um and do her other job as she wants to
do it. So what I asked her to do, I I went to her, I asked her to put it on the agenda under my name, didn't say anything about a contract. I also went to Kim. I asked
him to get me a copy of what we paid the last city manager because I didn't know exactly what the dollar amount was. And that was all I did. I did have some further conversations. I don't believe I had a fant conversation with the mayor, but I did have a further
conversation with Miss Latricia uh in the fact that the mayor wanted us to act as soon as possible to take the burden off of both of them. so that we could go forward. We did discuss the fact that Mr. Devard could
do that very easily that he could simply walk back in and have knowledge of the projects that were going on of the staff of things that were here and he would have ab he wouldn't need any training and we know who he is and what he is.
He's not a blind option that we have that we don't know what they're going to do. And with the mayor's insistence that we proceed and we proceed quickly, it was all about finding someone who
could take it over and take it over now. Not after we had a workshop, not after we did this, not after we did that. But it has always been the intent to have the workshop. Miss Latricia has a date that she's ready to give us for that workshop so that we could have
discussions so we could post the job so that we could post the qualifications. That's another thing I asked Kim to give me was the qualifications so that we could look at what the qualifications were so we would be ready to post it because we can't post it until we agree
with the what the qualifications are. So my and what the mayor said was, "You know how to proceed with this. I know you know how to proceed with this." So I tried to do the best I could do and bringing it before you with some
information that you could act upon. Now when the agenda came out, I saw the agenda. I saw the contract that you saw as well. I had some issues with the contract when I saw it. I had two or three issues. I had issues with the
amount of the original, and you haven't even seen those things. I had a the original retirement amount. I had issues with the original vacation time. I had issues with the original salary. Um, and
tonight, not me because I haven't talked to him about these items, and you can confirm it with both of them if you'd like to. those things as you see and I've actually gone through it and circled some things that are different now than
they were the last time I saw it which was from this the Saturday agenda and it was my intention to present it to you to see if you were willing to relieve them of what Miss Latricia of being the interim city manager and place
it in Terry's very capable hands until we could proceed and have plenty of time to do what we need to do which is post it first workshop it to see what it is we want to offer who and what we want the qualifications to be then to post it
then to actually find accept applications of course and then interview people I mean that's not a quick process and I can tell you the mayor is not going to sit there for another three months or four months and wait for us to do those things
and I don't think Miss Latricia is either. I think she's ready to be relieved and and that's all I got to say about it, I guess, unless you have questions and I'll be glad to answer them. >> Mr. Cox,
>> I agree a lot with what Deborah said. I think it's a smart move for us to bring Mr. Bard in because he does know a system, our employees. We have the budget coming up
this way here. We can get he can get us through the budget and um everything else as far as so we can proceed to fire sorry to find somebody.
We have to get it right. And it's I've been through sitting to hire a manager and it takes a while. It's just not like your typical retail manager. Employee comes in, you interview them. Well, next person comes
in, interview them, and they're all like our interviews. In some cases, it's different. My question is, you said you had a spe you asked about a special meeting. I never heard of a special meeting being
planned. >> No, exactly. That was my point. At the last June meeting, I requested publicly if we could schedule a special meeting to discuss the direction that we want to go regarding either interim, short-term, interim, long-term, or hiring a city
manager that would be here for an extended period, you know, lengthy, hopefully more than that. So, yeah, I did in public request that we have a special weed schedule a special meeting, but again, three people have to agree to do that
>> and nobody else did. Well, I still favor the idea of Mr. Bvard. Like I said, he knows the employees. He has all that. He can help us to find a manager. Um,
you know, so but I agree a lot with what Mr. De said was I asked when I thought about it. I thought it was a good idea from the beginning to do that. I've even talked to some residents of well, customers who have
asked how things were going with it and I've told them I said, "Well, this is, you know, something that we're toying with. They liked it." He's great with our citizens. If they come in and have a complaint, he can sit down, talk with
them. >> I agree 100%. But >> this will just get us By doing that, it will help us get through the budget and then look at
doing the uh uh get us through the budget and then what we need to put together for start hiring because I will tell you I am not impressed with what we have to hire with
for a city manager. not not impressed with the questions that we ask and things like that. So, we've got to start in my opinion and my recommendation is we have to start from the beginning and restructure that whole
thing. We don't need to have a thing on our neck on our shoulders telling us we need to have this or I'm going to do this. We don't need that. The original agreement
with Mike coming in, Chief Rolls coming in was to be here for a while so we could get things calmed down, stuff like that. Three weeks later, four weeks later, we had to boycott that because the mayor
wanted it, police chief roles back over there. All right, so now we come back to something else. Round three. About three weeks later, he's got to go back. He wants Mike back over there. This will solve all of our
issues for right now. Why we are working towards doing >> anything else, Miss Sh? >> Thank you. Um, first I just wanted to say I totally respect wanting to make sure that this issue be discussed right
away. It was my understanding as well at the last June meeting that we had requested and I thought that that was all that was needed to get one on the books was one of us to request we need to go ahead and set this meeting in place so we can get started on our portion of getting a new city manager.
Um, I also respect trying to, you know, hurry up and and get one, but at the same time, I share the same concerns that Meredith does when it comes to appearing like we're skipping steps, appearing like we're not on the same on the same board, council and mayor alike.
Now, to reference a November, I believe 6, 2024 meeting, we were in the same position before when Terry was retiring. We were looking at the same issue, what we can and what we cannot offer. It was before um we've had a chance to review budget everything and it was handled
very differently from reviewing the information from that meeting. Mr. Cox had said that if we go and hire another city interim right this moment, it skips the steps of the new council members being able to be a part of a hiring process of a city council of a city
manager. I would be not offered that opportunity in this round. And I and I also recall that Darkness had brought up the fact that if we just hire someone right out the gate instead of following our normal process, then it also skips the opportunity to find a potential
perfect candidate that's out there. I'm not even sure how many people have already submitted their resume for this upcoming position. Now, it was also my understanding that ever since Sue departed, the process of hiring a new city manager started started right away
with Latricia and with Chief Rolls. They both came in together. They worked together on restructuring, figuring out all of our issues, figuring out how we can fix them, and then moving forward. And it was very positive moving forward. But I also understand the mayor's concern. He wanted to make sure that his
chief was brought back and that his payment that was whatever was discussed because I'm unaware of that as well. Um that it not come from the police budget that it come from the city budget because he was performing city duties. That was something else we never got a chance to discuss was was there written
contract for Latricia's term or for Chief Ro's term whenever they both stepped into that position. So, I never looked at it like it was a burden to our city clerk and our chief because they were willing and wanting to do this together. And even after our chief went
back to being full-time police chief, he still offered his consulting services. So, again, Miss Latricia Wright is still not doing it by herself. So, we already put things in motion to work together. It was my understanding we were in the process of receiving a date for our
meeting so we can follow our normal process. Show the residents and show the city we're we're not doing the good old boy system. We're not doing backdoor deals. We're not speaking when we're not here. We're following a process. We're wanting to make sure we get it right this time. So, we're not right back here
such as we were November 2024 because we were discussing the exact same things. And it's nothing to do with Mr. prov like like you said he has familiarities and it would be very beneficial but at the same time we don't want to just skip steps or appearing to skip steps so with
that in mind that's why I voted to also table follow our normal process review all the information with Terry in mind and go from there because what we've been doing for the past few months is working it is working and people are
excited not just city employees not just city administration, not just council members, but also residents. They are happy. They are finally reaching out with positive stories and excited to see what we're going to bring to the table. And I want to give them that. I feel like if we just jumped to a quick
decision now, it would get us a quick fix, but in a year's term from now, when this contract is up, we're right back here. We're right back here again. And that concerns me. So that that's my say. Continue. >> Thank you, Miss Jones. um it still
doesn't fix the immediate problem and it's simply a matter of changing one interim city manager to another interim city manager. And if you want it to say up to one year, it can certainly say that, but it's going to take three or four
months at the minimum to find somebody. And I'm hearing I'm not I'm not just hearing it from the mayor. I'm hearing it from Latricia. She doesn't want to do this anymore. >> I mean, she will tell you.
>> She's the one who put this together, not me. I mean, I know you think it was me, but it was not. >> I don't I just believe that we should follow the process that we've already set into motion with that information in mind. >> It takes months, >> and we haven't reviewed the budget come November. So, who knows what we can
offer somebody? If you would vote not to table this and let me present the contract, you will see that the amount is half of what it started out that you read in the packet because it's it's been reconsidered and he's the one who reconsidered it.
>> He's being very fair with us. >> I do understand that and I appreciate that. >> He's he's doing us a favor not because he wants to necessarily make himself vulnerable to all of this. he wants to help us and it's simply
going from one interim city manager to another interim city manager until we find the person we want. I do respect that and that's that's the other concern as well in how many months we've had how many different interim city managers and how that will make us appear to look as
if we may not be taking it serious or we may not be trying to find someone who's actually going to last longer than a few months. >> All right, I give up. It's the mayor's Latricia. So, we're going to let Miss Latricia speak. >> Okay. This all came about because I have
voiced my concern to each and every one of you that being in city manager and plus still being city clerk because no one wants to step into the clerk's position at this present time because they said it's too much work for little
pay. And so I myself, because I love the city so much, I am drowning. I do not want to see what Mike and the previous ones have done go to waste. I don't want to see us fall
by the wayside. I always tell you guys, I am very proud of this city and I want them I want Willis to be known worldwide, not for anything bad, but for the good. And right now I am drowning. And I've mentioned this before that I need help and I cannot do this on my own
and I would not be in this position and watch this city go down trying to do two jobs knowing that I cannot do it. So I reached out to Terry. Mr. Deborah did not. I reached out to Terry and I put that contract and maybe I should not have. I now I realize I should not have
put that contract on the agenda because I wanted y'all to go ahead and discuss about getting an interim city manager and I thought Terry would be the best because he did a very good job while he was city manager. And I figured if he would, you know, if you guys would go ahead and review it and talk about it
and agree upon getting Terry back as interim city manager, we could go ahead and present him with a contract because we already have it. Then I wouldn't have to be sitting over here worrying about if I'm going to get this right, get that right, or did I miss something on this? Did I miss something on the on the city
clerk part? Am I am I doing what I need to be doing to make this place a better place? >> Thank you, Miss Wright. Mayor, did you have something or can we move forward? >> Can you speak
fairly quickly, please? >> Thank you. What did you say? >> Can you speak >> after this long tail? Now you want to tell me to cut it short. >> It is a long tail. >> It's not going to happen. >> It is. Okay. You don't have to have an attitude. Okay. I just question. Thank you, sir.
>> You asked me to keep it short and I'm telling you, Madame President, it's not going to happen. >> And that's fine. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Just watch tones. >> Okay. This came about
I think councelor Jones is correct because I went and made the decision that I could not see this council acting.
I had asked this council that I would call a special meeting and as I have told other people, it was like a graveyard. Not one council member spoke up. Oh, that's a good idea. Nobody said
anything. So, that fell aside. Next thing I hear, the city clerk tries to have a workshop. I don't know what the what happened to that workshop but clearly it never happened. So I had tried talking during the
meetings. I had tried to convince the council that they needed to do. Does anybody in this chamber know when our past full city manager was actually
fired? A date. >> Yes. Yes, Kim. >> February. April April. >> Jack, >> April 7th.
>> Thank you, Kim. That was April 7th. April, May, June, July. That's four months. That's not a couple of weeks as councelor Cox tried to display it. I have waited four months for this
council. And at this time I went to the proper authorities and I said okay just tell me has the job even been posted. In the past when I asked that question they said oh no we have to wait because the
city is a mess and we don't want a new manager to come in when the city is a mess. And I said that's what a manager does. He comes in and fixes things. you you're not going to get a pristine environment for a manager. The manager
manages. That is what his job is. So I have in my opinion, Madame President, I have been very patient. And when I decided that I was going to write,
I called a TV 20 reporter and that TV20 reporter said, "That's fine, but you need to send this to TV20 so all reporters get it." Before I did that, I wanted to at least
because I believe in fair and honest, I wanted at least to talk to a council member. all these other members have full-time jobs. The vice president gets off around noon or a little after. So, I
called her and I said, "Look, you're the only council pre. I'm ready to mail this, email this right now because I have watched the clerk deteriorate. I have watched the chief of police attempting to do
what I considered impossible and then the attorney tells him he's got to resign from my police department in order to help the city. It was ridiculous.
It was doable if this council had simply posted the job. I offered to have schedule a meeting so they could discuss it and simply post the job.
As of four months have passed, nobody has posted the job. Nobody on this council because they can't talk to each other outside of a meeting. Nobody on this council can even discuss it. And
when offered the opportunity, nobody I understand counselor Meredith that you felt gee where is everybody? Welcome to my club.
>> Okay. So I am not and it was inferred to me that if I do this it will hurt the city and to that I answered this will not injure the city. This will injure the council and the council has been
derelct and doing their job. They have done they've they've come up with every excuse in the world. They should had plenty of time. In four months, you could have had 15 conversations, but
nobody did. And I agree with councelor Martin that frankly I happen to know Mr. Peard and I happen to know that he is an honorable man and I happen to know all of the
things that everybody would say about him and I have no problem with him being the city manager. I have a problem with process and the process once again
just like when we fired when you the council fired the former city manager that was done not on the agenda not a discussion on announcements. You started talking and the next thing I
know you're telling her she's fired. Wow. Wow. That is not the way to conduct business in a city. In my humble opinion, I kept it to myself. I said
nothing. But now it has become such a problem that I felt compelled. And the only reason I was going to TV20 was I felt there was no other way that I could get this council to do its charter
responsibility, which is to post an ad for a city manager and begin the process. I'm not I'm not saying you got to post it and hire him next week. Con Councelor Jones, you implied that I said
I wanted it. Now, what I was very clear in that letter was, I want to see the council doing its job. I want to see a manager post in the website where other managers could see it and then you would
have an opportunity to look at other managers. You've had four months. You've done nothing. So, I did. Some might call it threat. I did not. I felt that the only way since I had been
rebuffed every time I brought it up, the only way I could get this council to set up was to notify the press of what I saw going on and let people decide for themselves. My opinion is
those two people sitting over there have been exemplary. my opinion, Mr. Bvard would be a great city manager, but there is a process and we can't just drop it because oh, the mayor wants it
done right now. That's it's not my fault you haven't done nothing for four months. I have nothing else to say. Thank you, Madam President, for giving me an opportunity. >> Any further discussion?
Let me just add on. I have a letter here from um the chief of police. It says, "This letter is to inform the mayor, the council, that as of today, July 7th, I will be removing myself from
the duties of assisting the interim city manager on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I would like to thank the council and the mayor for the opportunity and the trust in me to help in this role. The experience I gained in this short time will help me be a better chief of
police. But I must give the police department my full attention to ensure the department continues to move forward in the right direction. Chief Mike Rose and I just want to say like him, I also want to see the city move in the right direction.
Any further discussion? >> I just want to had the opportunity to present this contract to the council for you to make a decision on a contract, not on an agenda that whether we changed
an agenda item on the agenda. >> And if we Sorry, >> go ahead. If we advertise and people go online and they look, well, let me look at their council meetings and see how they are and they
see this. We ain't going to get anybody. It looks better if we're together. It's a It's a simple thing. didn't realize that this was going to be a big guffle
with doing it. This is to get it going the proc start the process of moving forward. We can still have the special meetings, but it's to start moving forward.
>> And the point is too that we cannot post anything without a job description. And we haven't decided on that job description. That's something we need to do. >> That that is exactly my point, Miss Jones. That that is the point that I think was missed is that is exactly my
point. We are not in consensus at this point in time. So, we are not together to Mr. Cox's point. And I agree. We should be on the p same page. That is why I'm asking not to table this in order to post the job description, but to table this so we can have a special
meeting and decide, do we want an interim city manager, short-term, or long-term? Do we want to look at hiring an a city manager? And you know, all of the things I'm not going to go through it again. Everybody's heard it. I would just I am available tomorrow night for a
special meeting and I would be happy to discuss Mr. Bvard at that point in time as interim city manager. But first we have to decide the direction that we want this city to go as a full council. Not one person, not the mayor, not the
mayor is advising one person. As a full council, we need to decide the direction that we want to go with the city and then we review the candidates and our options and move forward. I also think Mr. Bvard is incredibly honorable and I got along fabulously with him and I
would love to consider him once we've determined the direction we want the city to go and once we're all on the same page about the direction that we're going or as close to as we possibly can. This this is not healthy and this did it came about because we skipped the process and we didn't take the right
steps. >> Thank you. All right. So, we have a motion and we have a second. >> Miss Jones, we have a motion and we have a second. Are we ready to vote? >> Do they get to on the adoption of the agenda is considered a ministerial act
and does not require public comment. >> Okay, that's what I thought. >> You can speak when at public participation on it if you like. We have a motion and we have a second. I move to
vote. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> This is for >> the table. >> The table. >> This is on the the adoption of the agenda with that edit. Just to clarify, the motion was adopt the agenda removing
that >> item >> from the agenda. >> Okay. >> And and all the other edits I that we had talked about. Correct. Is that your motion? >> Adding employee of the month and Okay. Yes. So it's it's adoption of the agenda
with the edits proposed by Latricia and the edit proposed uh by council member B Martin. >> So we have a motion to adopt the agenda with the changes that have been discussed. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. All those opposed say nay.
>> Nay. >> Motion passes. Three to two. All right. So, the next thing we'll have is employee of the month by Kim Troy. Good evening.
>> Good evening. >> For employee of the month, I kind of want to give a uh backstory for this individual. This individual used to be an inmate in inmate supervisor and kind of unseen unheard.
He interviewed for a position. He was offered a position. It was not what he actually wanted what he originally interviewed for but he went ahead and he took it. Since he has become part of the water department, there has been nothing
but praise about this individual. Um, everybody says he's doing excellent. When you walk by, if your hands are full, he will he asks you if you need help. He has truly shown who he really is. He's no longer unseen, unheard. He I
mean, he shows up every day. He says good morning. He is uh he is an awesome employee now that we have kind of peeled back the onion layers on him. uh he is one of our he's turned out to be one of our
greatest employees in my personal opinion and um I am the one who nominated him due to Friday I had another fellow employee come to my office and mentioned that this employee had their hands full and people were
walking by other employees and this employee is the only one who stopped and asked the individual if they would like some help. So, with all of that being said, our employee of the month for July is going to be Devon Hinden.
>> No, you don't want to speak. >> Oh, man. >> Congratulations. Cam >> thank you. >> All right, we're going to start with public participation. This will be your first of two um times that you will have
in order to speak on anything that is not on the agenda. >> And Madame President, just to clarify for the members of the public because the item that we were just discussing is no longer on the agenda. This is an appropriate time to comment on that to
to clarify for the members of the public. >> Thank you. You will have five minutes to speak. Please state your name and where you're from. from this excellent example how the governor works and makes you proud see that and
you should applaud yourself for it. I will tell you the questions about uh you know me as being the city manager. I appreciate all the accolorable mention. >> Thank you, sir. The honorable mention and all that stuff and it's it's good to
hear. I enjoyed my time here. Um, but I just want to make sure that you know that y'all understand that, you know, the intentions was you to come here and help out and and that's all it was. And so, um, you know, I I will I will and I'm going to leave because, you know, I
don't want to be just impolite and leave and then y'all think that I'm mad or something like that. I'm not. But I'm just gonna go home early. Um, but I will I will say this is that the one thing that I heard um that Mr. Fuller said and I strongly recommend this that when
y'all go to look for a city manager um and not an interim, a full-time one or or whatever you end up with, you really have to look at that salary and price it up there um to where you're going to attract a qualified candidate.
And it's not going to be cheap. Okay. Um the salary obviously that we're requesting was the same thing Chief Rolls was being paid was no more, no less when he was doing the job. Um but but I will leave you with this. Um like I said, the comment that that I heard
Mr. Fuller hit home when I heard it. We recommended it last time. um and we chose a different path and and I would strongly encourage all when you do decide what you want to do, give that a lot of consideration so you will attract
a candidate here that wants to be here for five or six years. Um one of your best men you got here is sitting over there in that chair. Um and he's done an excellent job both at police department and he would do an excellent job here as a city manager. And I understand that's
not his route. Um, but you know, you need to look for the qualities of people like him when you go look for your next person with the right amount of money and and get the right person this time, you know. Um, and that that's really all
I have. And I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity, Mr. Mayor. Thank you for the comments that you made made and and like I said, this is government. We do it every day. And uh so you know, don't have any hard feelings. You know, be proud that you're here and you can do it. So, thank you.
And I'm going to leave. >> Thank you, Terry. >> Is there anyone else? >> My name is Dan Kaufman. I reside at uh 32 Northwest 4th Street. I'm still having trouble with the last thing which was on the bottom of the
agenda which was to table a conversation which then turned in from a conversation into another almost half an hour to 45 minutes of bickering over who's right, who's wrong, and what has happened. I
have to agree with the mayor 100% on this one. I mean, this thing is this thing is nothing more than been kicking the kicking the can down the road for as long as I've been here. And I've been coming to these meetings now just under a year. I pay attention. I watch what you do. I have my good comments. I have
my questions. But this thing here, I'm still trying to figure out how you took a motion to approve something when the whole thing was whether it was to be tabled or not. not to put a process forward. This is
the mistakes that all of us public get so irritated about. You said that they were not they were allowed to do that. Okay, that's fine and dandy. But the thing of it is the protocol and I haven't seen the protocols really being done. As a matter of fact, I
haven't even seen them change the the information board in the front of the building. There's still stuff on there from April. I mean, when you stop and think about this, where does the public fall into this? I'm looking at an agenda and on the
agenda, it didn't start at the top. It got hung up on the last item. And now we went to another item, which we still haven't even got. So, I'm looking at probably another two hours to sit here for you to get through this agenda, maybe even longer, which tonight,
unfortunately, I don't have the time. probably in your best interest. This is just kicking the can down the road. Mr. Rose, when he came in, I was here for that. He was the one to sit there and told you all, "I'll I'll do this,
but I'm going back. I want to go back to my department." Then all of a sudden, the next meeting, which was two weeks later, we're talking about him. Um, oh, well, we're going to keep him. Then I saw him come out of his chair and in his
hat go spin around twice because he wasn't going to have that. We've done the same thing to Miss Wright. He steps down, wants to go back. They honored it. He went back. She ended up stepping up for interrum and and and I
have to say the man is absolutely right. This thing has been going and going and going and going. Even your previous actual manager, city manager, you fired her. But the thing of it is is all the signs was there that you needed to
probably change her before you ever got around to it, which was months and months after maybe the third vacation to another foreign country or another island. I mean, you know what happened to all that time where you can't have a meeting, you can't get the council
together to have a special meeting and have the special meetings has turned out that would be nothing more than if you really want to know the truth, backdoor conversations and closed door conversations because they have to happen during a business week and you can't seems like you can't discuss
anything without violating the sunshine. And if you don't have these meeting, you don't schedule these meeting, you don't advertise these meetings, and you don't fix any put anything on a bulletin board out there. Bottom line is it's not working. And with that said, there's probably a half a dozen other things
that I' I'd like to get into, but it looks like Well, Ollie, here's another fine mess you got us into. Thank you. >> I'm Joel Penny. Uh I live at 43 Northwest 4th Street. So before we even hired the manager from Bronson, we had a
little issue with uh the city council giving directions to staff and everything else. Uh I'm going to go be with her on her question. I mean like why is one person making decisions for
the city of Willist? >> Councelor Martin. Council Markson, I agree with her, but I want to know why is one person making decisions for the city of Willist? >> Who's making >> I'm sorry. Um, council, it is Miss
Jones. This is his time to speak. Let him speak, please. >> Every time we've had anytime we've had any issue, there has always been something has to do with Miss Deborah Jones in it. She's always put her two cents into something. And I'm not
attacking her. I'm just telling the truth. Uh I really like to see something done to her, reprimanded or something because uh I don't really appreciate how she just makes decisions like this is her
business or his or her job. It's not. It's everybody's job. Y'all have to make a decision together. I mean, like even when y'all fired the city manager, there was no protocol, no measures or anything. Even when y'all
hiring Mr. Terry, he does a good job. I've known him for a long time, but there's no protocol. And you keep saying that we're going to fix everything. And every time we get a city manager, it gets handed down to another city manager, to another city
manager, to another city manager, to another city manager. I think the issue is is We need to all be together. I mean, and not one person make the decision. >> And I really think y'all need to bring up and recommended her because I don't
think she anyone else. >> Oh, Miss Jones, you can make a comment. put something on the >> Mr. Penny, >> your your time is now up, sir. >> Actually, my time is still going. I have I've only like
>> I had three three and a half minutes. >> All right. >> Robert Lang, 500 Northwest Fifth Avenue. And I'm going to say good, bad, or otherwise. And I agree with the mayor. I was in this meeting two weeks ago. Council members were wanting to put this
motion to find somebody new off till after the budget in November. Miss Martin and Shana wanted to do it right now. Start looking. It was voted down. You all look like a real dog and
pony show. I have seen, let me tell you, I have seen hometown cooking in different towns. I saw a committee meeting commissioners meeting go in with three votes for a new fire chief. They went behind closed doors came back out table it next week had a se another
meeting somebody wasn't even on the agenda was elected unanimously. You all have got to clean your act up and I put it on the board in general. I'm not going to single anybody out, but we all know that there was a motion last week, two weeks ago, not to pro not follow up
on this till after the budget and into November. >> I make a comment. >> You may. >> Thank you for all your comments and that's what we're trying to do. And as you know, as a council board, there are
going to be different people with different perspectives and different opinions on things. And that's why we're here together. That that's our job. We're not always going to agree and we're not always going to look like unison, but that is a part of the process. And we are trying to get better. I know I'm very new to this. So,
in my intention is that that way we we learn how we can work better together using the time that we have available, which are these meetings. learned the process that I now know that we need three people in order to request a special meeting and request that right away. I do have a full-time job and children and everything, but I put this
at top priority. I myself and I'm sure the rest of the council members would agree if someone says, "Hey, let's meet tomorrow," we will all be here because it is very important to us and we do appreciate the comments. Thank you. Any other comments?
>> Okay. >> How's it going? I'm Matt Williams. I live at 48 Northeast First Avenue. Give everyone in here a breath of fresh air. I'm not going to talk about any of that stuff. Um the new parking lot's fantastic. It looks great. The problem is is the
initial plans had the dumpsters. And I know Chief Rolls and I had a lot of conversations about this. I was spoken actually my mother spoke with the mayor. Um, whoever decided to put it there. I don't know if she had already gotten fired or not, but we need to re re we need to
move that. Um, I just had a newborn baby. She's right here. Um, for one, safety. There a lot of people come by there all the time dumping stuff in there. I don't I work a lot and I don't want my wife at home alone at night with someone coming by. Not to mention that
they can't even get a truck into it to to do it. And not to mention every time that they've there the three dumpsters over there now, every time they dump them, all that garbage goes into my front yard. And then I have my wife yelling at me ask me why I put the garbage there, right? So I would prefer
if we could make something to where we can move that because it's very simple. There's plenty of room to do it. Whoever came up with this plan, again, I don't know if they got fired already or not, but they need to. Um, the mayor requested us to be the squeaky wheel. Um, and I'm going to be a squeaky wheel.
I'm going to come to all these meetings until that dumpster get moved. So, I know there's plenty of space out there to do it. It's beautiful. It's really needed. I'm I'm glad they did it. Um, but we need to rethink about how we did that because it's one, I don't want to look at it from my front
couch. I can see it. I'm not trying to look at that. And two, more importantly, is the safety of my family. Um, so again, if we could have someone look into that and move those dumpsters, I would very much so appreciate it. And I will be here every single day, every
meeting until they get. So I'll move them too if you want. I really will. Give me a slight them boys will be gone. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else? >> My name is Perry Greenspan
and I live at 562 Southeast Third Street. I don't know how this goes or how important it should be to come here. I don't think what I'm bringing should come here. But this is where I was told
to come. And it's in reference to code enforcement, dog catcher, what what whatever you want to call uh what my problems are. And it has to do with animals.
Uh there's so many people in this town that don't respect the animal laws. Now, I have an animal, whether it's a dog or a chicken or whatever it is, it
shouldn't matter. Uh, if I had a horse and I live here in town, I would think that someone here would have a problem with me having a horse on my half a acre of land.
I deal with roosters, not just one across the street. Everybody has roosters. I deal with a dog that's loose all the time from a neighbor. Now, I've called code enforcement about it. I've met with
code enforcement about it at least five or six or seven times. I've called the police multiple times. And and I I don't even know if this is the venue it should come to, but the
last week when I called the dispatcher, they suggested that I bring it here in front of the city council, he said code enforcement, very nice woman,
doesn't have the ability or the uh isn't authorized to do uh fines or anything. She can't even write a citation. And I was just amazed to hear that. >> So, we have someone in code enforcement
that sees problems going on. What they told me at the police station was her hands are tied. So, if you can't get a sent citation sent to somebody and you can't bust somebody's stones and give them fines,
there's one thing that motivates at least me and that's money. If I got a citation for something, let's say a horse in my yard, I wouldn't just ignore it. I mean, eventually I'd have to pay now.
I've pointed out some stuff that's been built on to my neighbor's house that doesn't need code at all. It's styrofoam. It's a room made of
styrofoam. And I pointed that out to to the uh uh code enforcement woman and she said she would look it up and see what the what how that has to go with permits and all
that stuff. Um and broken down fence, you know, we're coming into hurricane season. It I don't think it's okay for people to have stuff that can just blow all over the neighborhood. But I guess this is how
they do it in Willist. I came from Miami and and and I I I know it's a junkyard down there, but if you call code enforcement about stuff that's going to fly around during hurricane season, they're going to do something about it.
Any other thing about comparison comparing Williston to let's say Miami, there's no comparison. We live in such a great town. in my opinion. Otherwise, I wouldn't go here. I came here because Williston's the best place I've ever
been. And I've been everywhere. All over the United States, all over the country. This is it. We got it going on. But it would be nice if code enforcement could write a citation instead of I'll
give the woman a call about the dog. Now, this dog thing has been going on for over a year. >> Nothing's been done. I mean, the dog still runs. The lady I can't I can't even discuss it with her because we're
going to end up in a in a problem. >> Thank you for coming and sharing. Um, your time is up. Um, Chief, do you have anything any comment? If you'll come see me, we can talk about it because I have no idea what you're
talking about. I haven't heard anything about it. So, you'll come see me, we can we can try to work something out. >> Yeah, we do have fines. And I just got back over there to the police department. So, come back and see me and we'll we'll get
>> Thank you. Anyone else? >> Okay. Consent agenda will be on the next agenda. Now we'll have updates from staff.
>> Miss Wright, do you have anything? As some of you all might know, uh the parking lot behind block 12 is now open. It's not completed, but it is open and it looks really nice. Um,
if you get a chance to stop by and look at it, please do. There's still a little bit more work that needs to be done, but it's there for everybody, anyone to park. Uh, my second thing that I want to give an update is I met with Miss Shannon Williams last week and she
did a very good job of letting the city know what was out there for grants that are available. And I want to give her an opportunity to speak and let us know, let the council know what we spoke about. I don't know if some of you all might remember her. We hired her back in
February. I think it was February. >> Everybody, um, Shannon Williams with Gateway Grant Writing and Administration. And Miss Leticia did call me and she punted some work to me. She had enough going on and she was trying to remember everything. And so
she asked me to come in and start um handling the grants and making sure that they had updates on everything that was available for the town. Um I got to meet several people in and out of that meeting, some department heads. We talked about um historical grant. It's historical grant season. We may miss it
because they're due on the 10th, but um we do have some projects that we're thinking about. We're thinking about restoring the the uh historic school. So, um, and I understand there's a company that wants to come in. So, we need to sit down and kind of talk with them and also talk with the attorney
about how we can how we can can do that together for them. Historical grants also have a match. So, we need to think about that. Um, you can request up to like a million dollars, but they require 25% match, but if you're a ready
community, only 25% of that 25% needs to be in cash. So you can do some in kind wiggling there. We talked about the library, their library roof possibly needing some replacement. The library grant is open also until the 10th. We may be able to
get that one in by Friday if we had some permission or guidance from the board to move forward with that uh grant opportunity. We talked about utilities. We talked about um needing to find funding for implementing the AMI metering system. I got I learned all
about what that was. So, um a great great uh utility um I forget his name that I met on on Tuesday uh Tuesday. He was awesome. He taught me all about that. Um we talked about maybe also looking for some funding to continue the septic to sewer conversion
projects and um finding some affordable housing or rehab programs uh for the citizens. So, I'm on that as well. Uh we talked about having maybe a monthly grant meeting coming down meeting with whoever wants to talk about what citizens are bringing to you. Then I can
do an update have it in the agenda so it's public record on what we talked about in our grant meetings. Any any questions for me? >> Where did you come from? >> She born and raised Lake City, Florida. I am seventh generation Columbia County.
So, I've always um been invested in helping the rural towns, not wanting to go to Jacksonville or anything like that. I think my biggest client might be Orange Park, but I I feel like we need such we need quality service in small towns and we need people who understand
that we want to stay small, but we want good stuff. So that that's my goal when I'm when I'm working with towns is to make sure that we're getting that same quality that the the bigger cities are getting and we are still keeping our feel because like people come here and they live they live here and they want
to be in the rural areas, you know, but they still want services. They still want a a YMCA or a pool or something, you know. So that's my job to bring what we need without bringing too many people if that makes sense. >> I have noticed this from the Florida
League of Mayors. come on the board of directors. The facts are that the larger communities get a lot more than the smaller communities because they have the ability to go after them that the smaller communities just frankly don't
have. I wish you the best and I hope my hopes are raised already. >> Thank you. Yeah, I I'm at max capacity on who I'm accepting as clients because I like to do a quality job for the ones that I don't need 200 clients. I just need 10 good clients that are willing to answer my emails and and work with me
and that's that's what I do. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Good to see you again, >> Chief Rose. Oh, Miss Wright, were you done? >> And just uh I just want to tell everybody I want to say thank you to
everyone that participated in our Fourth of July with July 3rd event. Even though we got rained out, I thank everyone for coming out, cutting watermelons, mcinging, and doing whatever they did,
whatever part you took in it. I appreciate I appreciate you very much. Uh, and I think the fireworks, even though it was raining, I think the fireworks were great. So, thank you to everyone. >> Uh, as Miss Wright said in reference to the fireworks, uh,
As reported, we had no issues as far as crowd control or traffic. Uh everything seemed to uh flow well. Uh thanks to all the agencies that came over and helped us out. We can't do it without them. Uh so, you know, when you when they do
something, you got to give it back. So, we were sent out to a bunch of different cities to assist them with their fireworks show and everything went well. Uh Major Fortney is retiring as of July
17th. He'll be retired after 25 plus years of dedicated service to the city of Wilson and the Wilson Police Department. We will miss him. Uh and he will always be welcome to the police department whenever whenever he
wants to come over and hang out. So kudos to Major Courtney. He's currently in retirement and we are happy to see him go off and enjoy. So he will be missing. Uh as you know for fireworks we got rained out. Uh
some of my officers that worked that worked the fireworks show that night uh after it was over and they were soaking wet, they still had to return to work. So me and my great mind on Saturday was
at the uh Habitat R restore store in Ocala. One of the head uh persons at that Habitat of Humanity uh is one of my reserve officers.
I walk in and there's two units of lockers. I said, "Wow, it would be nice if I could buy these lockers for the PD, put them in the PD and have these available
for our officers. So when they go out and they get rain, they have extra pair of shoes and uniform or shirt such as Sunday, we had officers get involved in an altercation and they have body all over their clothes, have anything to
change." So I said it'd be great to have these lockers. So, after speaking to management, uh, tomorrow morning at 9:00, Habitat of Humanity Restore is going to deliver those lockers to the police
department as a donation to our offices. So, it just it goes to show I mean I'm so touched by these things when they happen because it just goes to show that our reach is beyond the city limits lines of
Willis. They're in Ocala. They're in Gainesville. They're in all parts of the state. We get stuff donated from cities that are miles away here, hundreds of miles away
here that that sends us stuff to help us, you know, provide the good stuff to our officers. And it's just heartwarming to know that Willist Will has that much respect
around the state of Florida that people invest in us and and it it should say a lot for us as a city and a lot for us as uh our community. Even though we got our faults and we got our problems, we're
still Willis strong. So, uh, I appreciate Habitat Humanity donating those lockers to our guys and girls. We're going to get them set up tomorrow. We're going to do a photo op. The mayor is going to help me come over and install them. The mayor
going to come over and help me install them. So, once we get them installed, uh, we will we will put some pictures out. So, that's all I have. Thank you. >> That's it. All right. Any other staff? >> All right. We're going to start with
council. But before I allow before I let anybody speak. Um, so Miss Latricia, how long does it take and how much time do you have to give public notice to have a special
typically if it's if it's an emergency? Sorry, I'm gonna answer on your behalf. Uh, I'm Latricia for a few minutes. uh the uh minimum is 24 hours. The more notice you provide, the more it's considered to be reasonable. The only
requirement is that notice be reasonable and it will depend upon the circumstances. So the more notice you give, the better, but no less than 24 hours would recommend. >> Okay. Thanks. So,
I want everybody on the council to think about date so that before we end this meeting, we will have a date in mind and set in order to have our special meeting for Mr. Trish. I heard you. I really, really did. Um, so we're going to get
that meeting set and I know we did plan to have a meeting. You were trying to work it out, but then you also had other things that fell on your plate as well. So, let's take care of that tonight and have that meeting and then we will in
that meeting we'll talk about all those things we need to talk about related to the application for the contract that was on the table tonight and move forward from that. >> Okay. What I was gonna Okay,
what I was going to say is on my update, I forgot to let you all know what date I had chose. >> So, if everybody could look at their calendars and see if July 22nd will work or do you want to meet before then? and
we make it discuss at the end if you want. >> Okay, we'll discuss it at the end. >> So, everybody, you'll look at your calendar for a date within the next week. That would be great. Anyone else on the council have
anything? Do you have something? Um, first of all, I want to thank Patricia, Chief Ross, all the city workers, everybody who made Fourth of July
success. Um, it's not done by just one or two people. And this year, you know, we battled the heat and everything. So, but everybody in there
made it happen. Um, float. Great job on the float, but it needs an overall lot of soft wood, but it's a lot of soft fun, simple, and fast. I just wanted to give um well, of course, thanks. That
was amazing. Both parades, both cities. It was really nice. We got a lot of really good feedback. I know that while I was handing out watermelon, there was so many families that were saying, "We really appreciate you guys going above and beyond to do this, just this for the families. I mean, battling the heat, not
having to spend extra money, having that available right there, and seeing our faces, it was really nice to see that. I wouldn't say reminded me, but it kind of rekindled that fire of why I wanted to do this in the first place is to help the very people that we were seeing that day. And I just wanted to say thank you
to everyone who played a role in that. And a special thank you to Megan for also jumping in and helping out with the float and the coordination with everything. And um you know, go team because we we survived the heat and we were able to still put on the fireworks
even though it was pouring raining and everything went perfect. consider >> before we before we move on, I would like to say thanks to all the donors who donated water, food uh that kept these
guys and girls hydrated while they were out in that heat. Thanks to my administrative assistant Sabrina, she had the food prepared for us. Her and her mom Vicki did a great job. Uh, and it was just an awesome awesome time. So,
I I didn't want to go by without thanking those vendors for contributing to this event because without them, it would cost us a fortune to provide food and drinks for all these officers that come from different cities to assist us.
So, I just want to put that out there. completely ran out. >> Mr. Mayor, you have anything? >> Yes. >> Thank you, Madam President. Just a couple of things. Uh I'll try to be brief. I uh
>> Yes, ma'am. >> Thank you, ma'am. Uh for the council members that did not have access to this letter, since the cat is out of the bag, I will be giving a copy of the letter to
the city clerk and I'm sure if she is willing, she will put it in your mailboxes and you can read it. I just was trying to do the right thing and I was asked to delay it and I didn't want
to spread it around until this meeting. Now, I am still prepared to send that and so I will give the city clerk a copy of it and she can distribute it to all the
other council members. Thank you. >> Right. Nothing else. We will move forward. Item number five, new business. Item number eight, discussion with possible action. Board of Commercial Rule Infrastructure Fund RF grant Jeff
Hendry, executive director, Florida Institute of >> Evening. How are y'all? >> Good. >> Good. >> Um, my name is Jeff Hendry. I'm here in my capacity as the executive director for the North Florida Economic Development Partnership. And that's a
consortium of 15 rural counties in North Central Florida. And our mission is pretty simple. Uh we like to recruit business and industry for targeted industries into the region into the rural counties. Of course, Levby County is part of that as is all the municipalities within the county
including Williston. So, uh we do a lot of marketing visibility nationally and internationally for companies and trying to bring them and target them to come in. Um, but we also do a lot of technical assistance. And what I mean by that is we do a lot of grant writing as
well, or we facilitate grant writers to work on your behalf. Um, we come in and work with councils on certain things um, if they have a need. So, um, I'm here tonight to really seek your approval for um, a grant to be able to submit be
submitted from the city of Willist. Requires y'all to be the applicant as a local government um, for a rural infrastructure fund grant. Um there's no matching requirement to it. So it's just a clean submitt. Um but I want to give you a little bit of background as to to
really and I think what we really do y'all justice. You you've got a tremendous amount of momentum right now at your re regional airport. Okay. I want to just share with y'all. I work with 15 rural counties. Actually I work with 31 rural counties around the state. in this capacity 15, you've probably got
one of the top three to four literal assets in the entire rural community in in the state of Florida in terms of the ability to recruit business and industry to come into that airport. It's one of the most uh under capitalized and that's not a criticism, that's just a fact. Uh
I've been working really closely with Benton for probably the last two years um looking at trying to do a lot of evaluation associated with that airport. Um we've got a number of funding opportunities that we've been able to already secure. We um just recently
completed and I'll get to Latricia tomorrow morning so she can forward out to you a workforce study capacity as well as target industry study for that specific to that airport in terms of um what what kind of workforce is here to support business and industry at that
airport. what are really the target industries that are a good match for that particular airport in terms of the 45 mile radius and just you know this would affect your local workforce but it also looks at a 45 mile drive radius because at the end of the day that's how
that's typically what a measure is in terms of people's willingness to commute for work back and forth. I tell people all the time, usually that's closer to about an hour and 15, hour and a half for rural community. But at the end of the day, that's how we kind of measured it because we're looking at pursuing
other dollars on your behalf or in cooperation with y'all at the FAA, at Florida Commerce. This grant would basically be for between 2.5 and $3 million to improve the wastewater capacity out at the airport or what
services the airport. And the reason why that's important, you have some good adequate capacity right now, but when you go in to start recruiting aviation type businesses, precision manufacturing, which are two of the really basic uh target uh targeted
industries we'll be looking at for the airport. Um you know, there's going to be a need for improved wastewater capacity, and it won't just benefit the airport. Um it will be kind of a a cumulative impact on the city of Willist's wastewater capacity. And I will just share with you that is um
that's across the board in all the rural communities we serve. That is the probably the biggest barrier to economic development in the entire region is wastewater capacity. Water is not necessarily an issue. Portable water um you know electricity and uh all all the other type of telecommunications.
Broadband has really been expanded to a great deal in our region. Uh natural gas um that's another thing that we'll be looking at as we go forward. But right now, this single grant is not going to fix all your problems, okay, for wastewater. And when I say problems, it's really about looking to the future
about what kind of companies we could recruit to come into the airport to generate high wage good jobs out there. And and I want to reemphasize what I said earlier. Um, what you have in that regional airport is a gem. It is not something that just shows up out of the
sky anywhere. It's, as I said, it's one of our top three or four in the entire region. So we focused a lot with Benton over the last couple of years. Um we finally were able to secure some special funding from Florida Department of Commerce through Career Source and then
the regional career source Citrus Levy Marian funded this project. So, I'll send you it's really the it's the draft final report that I'll get to Latricia to get sent out to y'all so y'all can read a lot of the um the information that's in there about what's validating
the types of jobs that we can attract out at that um airport. Um we've also um been very successful in uh getting a economic development administration grant which is a federal grant um and which y'all approved uh a couple of year
or a year and a half ago for us to submit on your behalf. Um right now as the federal government operates at the speed of Methusela sometimes um we're looking at about a f another $500,000 grant to look at a complete evaluation of all the the uh properties and sites
that are out there, identify um infrastructure gaps where they make so that that's documented so we can go after additional money. Again, the the bottom line is we're trying to make that that airport property and properties uh as site ready and as competitive as it
can be because we really feel like we're in a great position to be able to go out and recruit business and industry. I'll close by saying that um again the EDA money, the workforce study that we've just done, and a lot of this a lot of references to this is stacking dollars
and we're leveraging each of these grants to go after additional grants. There might be a matching requirement at the federal level at times and we can utilize some of these grants towards that match if it's state funded. Can't put federal dollars to federal dollars to match, but you can use state federal
state money to match in many cases. And so we're just trying to leverage every bit we can here. A lot of great interest. We've already had a number of companies talking to us. Um, but again, it's our job to go out and and make that
airport as competitive as it can be from an infrastructure standpoint, from a workforce standpoint. We've worked with all the institutions like the College of Central Florida, um, the Maran Technical College down in Ocala, which is starting an aviation mechanic program down there,
which will be huge. We're looking at the Wuchi Technical College down in Citrus County. We're also working obviously with UF and some others um from a from a high level engineering standpoint to be able to to demonstrate that you do have the workforce within a 45 mile radius to
support a lot of the industries that we're going after. Uh aviation is is in a huge trajectory, no pun intended, in terms of um its potential to generate really great jobs out here. I don't want to embarrass him, but I will tell you you got a treasure in Ben. And I ain't
here to to give him, you know, kudos for the sake of it. I work with a lot of airport directors around the state, many of them general aviation, municipally based and own. Um, you got a Jim and him and we've really appreciated working with him. And I'll close um hopefully
that you guys will be encouraged to apply for this. And I want to make one other reference, but you know, we we um were able to coordinate a tour of the highest levels of Florida Commerce to come down. And I mean the deputy secretary who's the chief administrative officer, the secretary of department of
business and professional regulation and a number of other high level state people. And when I walked out of that tour and I I know Councilwoman Martin and the mayor were there and Chief Rolls were there um you know for them to greet them out of the at the new newly
constructed or recently constructed FBO out there. They were blown away. They said they could not believe that there's roughly between 12 to,500 buildable developable acres. Um, two powerful runways from almost a 7,000 to almost a
5,000. And you just need to know that those are really benchmarks in terms of the ability to land virtually any size plane. So, I can tell you two of the biggest targets we'll be going after when we get these sites. This doesn't happen overnight. This is a process. Uh you talked a little bit about that
tonight. This is a process that we're going to set that airport up for tremendous growth in the right way on the right with the right industries. Uh my maintenance and repair and overhaul company that might be able to locate out there that can service planes. You're
looking at anywhere from 100 to 250 jobs of really highly skilled wage jobs out there. And then you start looking at the drone manufacturing and drone testing type industries. Um, and the reason why that's attractive, um, is because you've got in these rural, a lot of these rural
airports, you've got uncongested airspace. And so your ability to test those kinds of drones, the the ability to land any size plane, and then that leads to the manufacturing side of it. So there is a method to this madness. Um, we've sequentially really started
studying that airport, generating these documents. It helps us write additional grants. and uh my friend over there uh you know this rural infrastructure grant u has a life or a cycle due on July 13th. So I can appreciate you know the
rapid response but we're well positioned to be able to get this grant submitted or to give it to the city so that they can get it submitted um if we can get your approval tonight. So I'll be glad to answer any questions you might have and uh I hope you hear my passion. I I
uh this airport doesn't come around every day. Um, and it's was one of the true gems in this region. I think be a great job creator. >> Oh, I'm sorry. One other thing I wanted to also give Walden opportunity. Um, we
had some conversations with his engineering firm as well as um people from our team. Um and there is uh you know there was a question about if we applied for this rural infrastructure fund and and the city ended up applying
for another rural infrastructure fund for a completely separate category planning is what Walt's going to be talking about I think at least a portion um in my view with our team um those are two separate categories and they're not going to be competitive in one and taken
away from the other my humble opinion been my experience for the last years. Um I do think um you know the other thing is Will's airport and Will in general have a lot of momentum going. So I would
pursue that I would encourage y'all definitely have to have your you know sign off in order to thank you Mr. Henry Walt Nickel with Ray Pierce. Yeah we had some overlapping competing type uh grant applications and
discussions happening here uh for this riff grant. Um we had done some emails when the riff grant opened up here just a couple weeks ago um um inquiring whether we wanted to submit again for the city. So, back in September, and I
think you got a little bit of a memo that I put together that overlaps with this. Really, this just happened recently, but last September, we applied for a rural infrastructure fund grant for the your downtown main street plan that JB Pro did. Um, one of the
components of that was the South Main Street needing storm water improvements and upgrades so that can move forward. And last year we applied for that grant um for the design planning grant. Um the city did not get that grant um unfortunately, but you sometimes have to
apply several times. And so we when this opened up again, we sent some emails inquiring, hey, would you like us to reapply for the RIFF grant for the South Main Street project? Um and then I returned from vacation Wednesday. Got a call from Benton and and Mr. Henry. We
had a a brief meeting and actually a quick meeting but that day probably about two hours uh talking about this grant that they were going after for the airport. Uh my concern was that we would be because city would be competing with themselves. Um
this grant program does have a is a strong if you have economic you know benefits to the city both of these projects have strong benefits. the the downtown corridor improving that your vision for that would is would be a tremendous asset economic benefit to the
city. the airport expansion, tremendous economic to the city. And so in our discussions, we were afraid, are we competing? And do we need direction from council to go after one, either the downtown, the airport, or both? And in
our meeting on Wednesday, we kind of thought it might compete, but Jeff is saying he believes that we can apply for both. The the grant that he want to do for the airport is is really an implementation. It's going to be both design and construction.
Whereas here we're asking for planning. It's just the design. Um and you're you're pretty confident that it wouldn't compete with one another. >> Okay. >> If you'll come back to the mic. >> So the reason they differentiate within
the rural infrastructure fund, they have three categories actually. They have feasibility, planning and study. And that I think that's where Walt's grant would come in. And then they have construction, literal construction of infrastructure, design, engineering, design and construction. So
um therefore you see, you know, obviously construction um dollars are a lot higher. They limit the the planning dollars to 300,000. the construction dollars aren't really limited. Although you're talking about $27 million to go
throughout 31 rural counties in the whole state of Florida. when you do the math, it doesn't, you know, it doesn't it's not a whole lot, but at the end of the day, um, you know, we think our sweet spot for this, and quite frankly, some conversations I've had with some
folks that were blown away at the airport, we think our sweet spot could be, no guarantees, but could be about 2.5 to three million to get this wastewater project um, started and constructed. And as I said before, um
whether we get the RIFF grant awarded or not at the state, we're going to open when that Florida jobs growth grant program opens up probably in the next month or two, we're going to be putting in an additional grant presuming you guys would enable us to do that to again
go after more infrastructure dollars for additional wastewater capacity as well as some may maybe maybe looking at natural gas and looking at some road paving out there. So anyways, that's kind of where we're at. >> So with that, we, you know, given what
we presented, we were asking, you know, your approval. I don't think it needs a resolution or a vote the to resubmit the rift grant for the South Main Street project. So deadline is, as you said, July 13th. The time is of the essence here. Um, we can do that. And then if
you also agreed to do for the airport, we would have to be doing some assistance. We worked out what the project would be. And again, this was done very quickly last week. Um, most likely we're looking at like a regional lift station at the airport that would
service the airport. Um, the next item on your agenda is going to also be tied to this, and I'll address that a little bit later on the next item, but a a regional lift station that can handle the airport in that area. It would have to then have a force main that would
either discharge to West Noble Avenue or possibly directly to the Fugat list station. But that's what we would need to do before as we put this grant together to put pricing and and some concept plans together here in the next week. That is what we think is the best
way for you can to support the growth at the airport. Um so it's pretty quick decision. We don't need to have that finalized with us, but we want to make sure you're asking for the right amount of money to support what the the grant request and what we're going to do. So,
given what what um has been presented today, we >> do agree we can apply for both of these and not hurt yourself and not compete against each other. >> Okay. >> Any discussion from anyone? >> Mr. Mayor separate.
>> I just had a question. >> Walt, have you studied the capacity of our sewer system because bringing all this extra? It is something we have struggled. I know you've enhanced it and you've done a num number of things. Are
we uh getting into a position where the we outgrow the capacity and have to have a whole new sewer system? That is why I don't know exactly where we would tie to whether to the existing gravity at Noble or would it have to go all the way to
Fugate. And then item B on our discussion the Springs grant. I will also talk about capacity. >> Capacity. Thank you. That's my concern. >> We have kind of overlapping but separate separate items. >> Capacity is a concern.
>> So we need two motions. One for Jeff and one for >> well. However, >> we really just want your approval to apply for these grants by the deadline and and doing two of them. >> Yeah. Two independent >> applications. Miss,
>> uh, typically we have some kind of motion if we're going to approve a submittal um rather than just the preparation. So, if we we can have one motion that encompasses both. If you want to approve both, that's acceptable. Any other discussion? Anybody else?
>> I make a motion that we approve submitt of the Florida Commerce Rural Infrastructure Fund grant. >> I have a motion and a second. Any further discussion from the council? Any discussion from
the public? See none move to vote. All those in favor say I. >> All those opposed say n. Motion passes 5. >> Appreciate and we'll keep you updated on where we are. >> Thank you. >> All right. Item number B, discussion
with possible action reapply for the FD spring restoration grant and in areas two and three septic sewer and wastewater treatment plant upgrade. Walt nickers right Pierce.
Okay. Um so last year again September we applied we applied I think for eight different grants um u for various things within the city and u several of the grants we applied for were the FD Springs restoration grant. Uh we applied
for three projects. We applied for septic to sewer area one which was in the northeast quadrant of of the city. uh septic to sewer area two and three which was up here just north northwood uh subdivision area uh to do septic to
sewer uh projects on that and then we applied for an upgrade to the wastewater treatment plant because of these septic to sewer plants because we would be out of capacity. Um, our calculation showed we could do the area one septic to sewer with the current capacity that you have,
you had sufficient capacity for that, but any other areas that we were going to add to that, we would need a sub substantial upgrade to the wastewater treatment plant. Now, there's a lot of grant programs out there through DP for wastewater plants, but they typically
don't pay for expansion of your plant when as you're growing, they're expecting your growth to pay for that. So, that becomes a little bit difficult to find grants for you to upgrade your wastewater treatment plant. However, we are doing the septic to sewer grants
because of what they call the BMAT, basin management action plan that Willist is under, Levy Countyy's under. You're all part of the Rainbow Springs BMAP and that BMAP requires mandates all the communities within there to have certain amounts of nitrogen reduction
that goes into the groundwater at the the aquifers and city of Willist, you have a mandate by 2028 that you need to be reducing um 5,579 pounds a year that currently goes into the aquifer and then that that number
increases more in 2033 and 203 38. That's why we applied for the area one septic to sewer. That's your probably the best way to you for you to meet these goals. And we told that to DP that's why they they you did get the
grant for the area one to the design the septic to sewer because we we have to meet these numbers. That's the best way to do it. We want to reapply now for areas two and three and ask for the wastewater treatment plan again. So, we just going to continue to ask. We got
the first one of the three. Let's ask again. And and it's really you you need to show that you're one you're trying to find and trying to meet your mandate numbers and it's a good opportunity. I think you have a good chance. Um whether we'll get two backtobacks or we have to
wait a year, it might be, but we we do need to apply. So, we're recommending that we reapply what we did um with the with the request the area two and three was a little bit of a bigger ask for the planning dollars. Give us the opportunity to maybe tweak that and
maybe ask for just a little bit less if that's going to improve our chances. But I think we should pretty much submit what we did last time um for more septic to sewer and then also submit we have to ask for the wastewater treatment plant uh upgrades too that that go hand in
hand with all this. So we do want to do that. It's going to increase our capacity. So that is one request we'd like you to do. We want we want to submit areas two and three and the wastewater treatment plant. Um there's been third project that we're recommending
that we consider is there's been discussions internally with staff for over a year now as we looked at the BMAP. Um but I don't think it's been officially presented to council in any way. But um Levy County has similar
they're in the BMAP program. They have to meet these same types of requirements for for nitrogen reduction. they have a very difficult time in doing that because they don't have wastewater treatment plants, they don't have utilities. Um, and so that's going to be
really hard to to to do that. But we've looked at, you know, the Highlands area, Wilson Highlands, that is out of the city. Um, if Levy County could do a septic to sewer program out there, they could be a big chunk to meeting their
BMAP goals and mandates and requirements. the city could be the provide the sanitary sewer service to that. It It's logical. It It makes sense. I've had off discussions back when Sue was here and staff about it.
They were in favor of of looking into this. I've had discussions with Levy County Marie Ellen about this. Unofficial just, hey, these are ideas of something we can help. Um Marilyn's going to bring it to the the board of commissioners to talk about this about
doing some type of joint agreement and joint application with the city of Willist. And I want to present that to you that I highly recommend that you have these discussions with Levy County. The benefit to Levy County is they get their BMAP requirements. The benefit to
Williston is you pick up users and revenue for your san system. Um, and because you're working in a regional project, you could do a joint application for septic to sewer and the increases that we need to the to the uh
treatment system to the conveyance system to get the sewage to to your treatment plant applying for a joint uh uh application a grant for this. Uh, so we really highly recommend that. Now, this grant program, the deadline for
this is September 1st, so we have some time. The Highlands project, this is more of a long range strategic type thing. If you don't apply for it this year because there's a lot of moving parts here and agreements you need to do. I it might be too early to
do that, but I think you need to start this discussion and investigate it and then next year definitely you'd be in position. I mean, it's still going to be possible to do it this year, but you've got to work with Levy County. They've got to talk about it and agree. You have to talk about agree. There's a lot of
discussions that need to happen. Um, but we want to kind of help you facilitate this and we I think we can do that. I think it's it would be good for Williston. It would be good for Levy County. Of course, there there's always pros and cons with all that, but we need to investigate all that. So, that's a
third project. Um, if it's possible, I I'm not asking that we submit now, but I'm asking for you to have the discussions with Levy County and whether you appoint a certain person to do that or you have staff do that. Um, I don't
really know how you would want to do that. Write Pierce can assist. We we know your system. We know your your utilities. Um, we can assist in those discussions with you, you know, when you need us to do, but we really just want to advise you that this is something It would be it would benefit both
parties to do that and and I think it might be beneficial. >> Mr. Mayor, >> I noticed in your presentation that you're focusing on areas that have higher density >> and more people.
>> Yeah. So we have currently have a almost 10 acre parcel that is in the county but it is one person. Is there any there's no gain for that one person on 10 acres not to add to the nitrogen
in our system. When we do these applications, FT has a some formulas and calculations that we need to do to show that you're for the amount you can get removed for the cost to service that area. And that's why we focused on the
areas we're focusing because they are denser. You're the numbers are going to be better. You're going to have a better chance. If we were to add a single user at 10 acres, it would dilute the number. >> Thank you very much. >> Yeah. So, but we do want to get the most
bang for the buck in any way we can. Um, so >> Okay. >> So, you think at the Highlands they would >> try to bring it back to the city? >> Yes. >> Not build their own package plant. >> It's not that
>> far away. If you look at at >> larger cities, you know, you don't have wastewater treatment plants every four miles away. comes in the back of the airport in there somewhere >> which which now brings three different moving parts >> right
>> and and and some other things together when we look at what the the sewer service that we would like to increase for the airport the highlands is just across the way. So as we size that lift station >> in the next week or two we got to do some calculations and costs and things
like that we may want to consider that as oversizing that now a lot of houses out there. >> There's a lot of houses. So, that could tie in. So, you're asking for a RIFF grant to improve, you know, the airport sewer system. We're asking for a springs
grant that could also help that. So, you're you're asking money from two different pots and two different sources that really are going to help the same general region and and have the same benefit. So, these all tie together. They're independent. They're two
different grants, but I think we need to consider it. I mean, I'm not asking you today to consider where you want it to provide service to the Highlands. This needs a lot of discussion, but as we have this opportunity now, and we're not designing it in a week, but we're at
least asking for the money and trying to to establish the right amount of money for this grant. Keep that in mind that it could also benefit the Highlands at the same time. So this is all moving together. Unfortunately, your grant is due in a week. That's
faster. This one we have it's a reoccurring grant. We have until September or even maybe next year, but it is I think it's very very important. Um it's a benefit for both, you know.
So summary, we we'd like to your approval to resubmit areas two and three septic to sewer that we we submitted last year. resubmit that resubmit the wastewater treatment plant upgrades um for that and then ask you to consider
considered discussions with Levy County for the highlands. >> I would make a motion that we reapply for the Florida DB Springs Restoration Grant in areas two and three for septic to sewer and the wastewater treatment plant upgrade. >> A second.
>> Have a motion and a second. Any discussion from the council? Any discussion from the public? Yes, ma'am. If you'll come to the mic and I was concerned about how far out is the sewer that's going to go out in the
northeast section. Mr. Walt, you want to ask that? >> Did you you heard the question? >> You did the area. So, um, it's basically from 9inth Street, you have the Ninth
Street lift station. Those areas from the railroad tracks to 9inth Street, those are sewered are there now. But from east of Ninth Street, so 10th west to your city limit, east to your city limits, that area. and then north
to the city limits um would be is in the septic to sewer area. So that right now is all on septic systems there. So we would be designing and constructing all new sanitary sewers. Um the ninth street lift station has already been oversized.
The wet well we're supposed to be going to hopefully bid on that one very very soon. Um but that's already been sized in anticipation of of sewing that whole area. um it would need new pumps and things like that, but uh the wet well itself is already sized for expansion on
that. And we are also looking there's been some discussions immediately north outside the city limits about possible development. We would want to make sure that we're sizing things accordingly for that. But the new swords are basically from I think believe 10th 10th street
>> east. Yeah. It's about park and the softball f. So you have to wait to public participation for that one. Thank you. Okay.
All right. So uh we have a motion and a second. Move to vote. All those in favor say I. >> I. I. >> All those opposed say nay. Motion passes five to zero. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> The last thing was if we are interested in pursuing the correctly >> thought he said he wanted us to think about it. >> Mr. Walt, did you did you want us to give you an answer tonight about the
last part, >> the Highlands portion >> with the Highland or you because you're saying September just >> Yeah. think about it. >> Advising you to have the discussions to start it. Uh you know, Mary Ellen mentioned she's presenting it to the the board of county commissioners. They may
say absolutely not. We're not even interested. But I think having the discussion whether you appoint somebody or you make you know whether it be staff or a member of council works with Levy County I'm just we're advising you about it right now. >> Okay. >> Um if it's possible to submit a grant
before September then we'll have this discussion before that whether we want to do that or not. >> It might be optimistic but it could it could happen. So >> Okay. Thank you. Y >> all right. Item number C discussion with possible action.
Budget calendar fiscal year 2027 financial director Steven Bloom. Is Stephen on the line? You got him? >> Yeah, I got him on the line. He can't get on the system, so I told him I would have him speak through the microphone. >> Stephen, you there?
>> Uh, yes I am. Uh, good afternoon. Um, I have a very quick agenda item here. Um, as you know, we are starting budget season and I have put together a preliminary uh calendar for you uh with
all of the key dates um including the um first uh budget workshop, a couple other you know just kind of tenative dates in there for some uh other workshops as well as if you
notice the two September highlighted items in yellow are your first and second uh public hearing. Just as a reminder, um you cannot have a public hearing on the same date as the county
or the school board. That's why you'll notice that I have uh noted their dates as well on on this calendar. And and again, the the first key one is the 27th. That's when you'll get your first uh workshop. Um, and really after that,
you can, you know, kind of adjust your workshops based on what you'd like to see. But I I always like to put together kind of the preliminary road map. Uh, so you can kind of see all the key dates. Uh, we also will be sprinkling in there,
uh, your assessment um, hearing dates as well. um which uh you know the you have a different party that handles that, but that's also going to be an important part of the process. But again, I just wanted to roll this out here and and kind of get some
feedback and and go from there. >> Thank you. >> Those dates work for me. Does anybody else have any issues with the dates? >> I was going to say how you did it. My calendar is so crazy. But you pick dates I can actually. >> Mr. Cox,
>> I'll just have to ask. Tuesdays and Thursdays are my best, but this is a Monday, so I'll just >> Shann Meredith 27th July 26.
Okay. So, it sounds like those dates work so far, Stephen. >> Okay. >> Anything else? >> Anything else, Stephen? >> Nothing else at this point. >> Like, when are we going to get it?
Um well so far just so everyone knows all the all the manage department managers have their templates and have it for a little while. I'm going to be kind of you know gathering them all up tomorrow. I'll put together a preliminary and once a city manager
reviews it and approves it then we can release it. So hopefully tenative uh no later than next week, the end of next week. >> Awesome. Thank you. >> Any other questions? >> Okay. >> All right.
>> Thank you. Sounds good. >> Thank you. >> All right. Item number D, resolution 2026-40, a resolution of the city council of the city of Willist, Florida, approving the 2027 interlocal municipal election agreement renewal between the city of
Willist and the Levy County Supervisor of election, authorizing the appropriate parties to sign document require documents required to execute such agreements on behalf of the city of Willist and providing an effective date and discussion with possible action on
runoff dates for 2027. Levy County Supervisor of Elections, Miss Tammy Jones. >> Hey, good evening. Um, I know we didn't have the opportunity to um, help with your election this year as you none was needed, but we are offering our services
again for 2027 as you can see. So, it's just simply just renewing it. The one you did for 26, just moving forward with that same agreement. Except for these date changes. >> What's that? >> The date changes. >> Um, that's a separate item of
discussion, right, Latricia? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Not listed separately. >> The the resolution itself doesn't change. just the it's just the um agreement for the interlocal and then
also part of the agenda item but not the resolution is the discussion regarding the dates. >> Okay. >> I move approval of resolution 2026 sport-40. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. Any further discussion?
Any discussion from the public? Seeing none, I move to vote. All those in favor say I. >> I. All those opposed say nay. Motion passes five to zero. So now we'll discuss the possible dates
for runoff. Okay. Um yes, I'm proposing a revision to the Wilson runoff date. It isn't often a city has a runoff. However, if a runoff was to be held after beginning to do the city elections, I realized the time frame is
not doable. So um in our um in the ordinance number 20257- 756 which was changed in the election um code section 20-8 absentee ballots
um the city the city clerk or the Levy County Super elections at the request of the city clerk will be responsible for administering the absentee voting process as set forth in Florida statutes 101.62. 62. So, if you scroll down all the way to
the last page, you'll kind of see I did a little timeline that shows um what it would look like if we had a May 25th election. Yes. Next year instead of a May 4th runoff election.
If go down a little bit more like to the last page if possible. >> I think it's page one. I think it's page 16, please. That's where >> so you can see if the election is April 6,
we have to mail ballots out 45 days before an election for military and civilian overseas voters. So, we're still cutting it close giving us that sevenweek time frame. Um, so I started realizing this after I started doing the elections. You know,
we agreed to do the general election, but what if more than two people run the charter states there needs to be a runoff. So, we actually almost had a runoff in English where they English where they had if they have a tie vote, their charter says we have an election in two weeks. And I was like, there is
no way we can do an election in two weeks. So, I started looking at all the cities and I was like, these none of these are doable to be honest. this. I mean, back in the day when these runoffs were declared um and the cities made these decisions, some of these statutes weren't as specific um the deadlines to
mail ballots and all that. So, really for our office to turn around an election, we need that seven weeks to get ballot printing, you know, the equipment ready, the pole worker training again. So, all the things that are needed and this is really just probably not going to happen where you have a runoff very much. I mean, it's
hard enough to get people to want to run to have an election, let alone have more than two people run in one seat. It's the only time this is going to occur. So, the only thing that would would need to be done um if you look at section of the law 100.3605
per 2 and maybe um the city attorney can address this. I believe it can be changed through ordinance and the reason why is if you look at paragraph two, I think it's on page up one page. Yeah, I think >> it'll be on page two of my stuff, but I'm not sure what page. So, if you go up
to page 13 of You're on 15 now. Just go a down a little bit to the next page. Uh up a little bit. You see where it says relevant um relevant statutory reference. So statute
100.3605 says, and I have it in highlighted in yellow, a municipality may by ordinance change qualifying in election dates provided the transition of office is addressed and the changes do not conflict with the Florida election code. So I'm not an attorney, but I think we can change the runoff
election date because it doesn't specify what election date it's considering there. Um, just so we can comply with Florida statutes 101.62, which is the vote by mail statute. Um, and I know you're probably concerned like, "Oh my goodness, we're gonna drag this thing
out longer and it's going to take longer for people to take office." Um, so right now it says the mayor and the council shall assume office the second Tuesday in May. We could add to that and say, um,
keep that keep that there. But if the election for mayor or any council seat results in a runoff or the elected individual is unable to be sworn in at the time specified, he or she shall take the oath of office and commence his or her duties at the next regular council meeting after becoming eligible and able
to do so. So the for the people that are elected in the general election on April 6, they would still take office the second Tuesday of May like you do now. The only people that would the only seats that would be affected, which is rare, would be anybody that would go to
a runoff. So they would take their their their seat would be delayed a little bit um to take office. Yes. >> Runoffs don't occur if any candidate gets the majority of the votes. Is that accurate? >> Yes. Yes.
>> So two things have to happen. You have to have more than two people in the seat. And I think it happened in Wilson. I'm pretty sure maybe your seat. >> Yeah. >> So if there's three people running, if somebody gets the majority, then there is no runoff. So
>> with with the for example sitting council person whose seat is being replaced by the people in the election, would they then have to remain or be allowed to remain in that seat or would they vacate that seat on May 2nd
and then >> empty however you all want to do it. >> Yeah. Uh, I mean, this is just verbiage I came up, but you are true. It is correct because the new person taking the seat, so Cedar Key, um, I looked at theirs. I don't know if I have a copy of theirs with me, but theirs doesn't go
theirs doesn't give a specific date you take office. It just says when you when you win the election, you would take office. They don't have like the second Tuesday in May. Um, so that is kind of a weird thing because you have these people winning on this date and then these one or two seats. I'm sure it's
across the board in any city that it's an issue when you have a runoff and you have a set date to take office. So, I don't really know what y'all want would want to do in this case or even if you want to do the runoff election extended. I just wouldn't feel comfortable doing an election where I can't follow the
law. So, >> we're all looking at you. >> There were a couple of questions there that I think I can probably provide some clarity on. First of all, I agree this change can be done via ordinance. It's what we did the last time we changed our election dates. Florida laws explicitly provides for that kind of change for
exactly these reasons is that if you had to go to a special referendum vote every time you needed to change your election dates, they would be a nightmare. Um, so that's that's the first question. Second question is agreed. um as to it's sort
of whatever you all uh believe is appropriate for your city. So you could say that uh in the event that there's a runoff election then the seat remains filled with the existing individual until there is a resolution. um you
could adopt a a change that um I'm trying to make sure that we don't go too far field because we don't want to change a ton of things about our ordinance and our charter. Um but we can certainly shop the language u to make
sure that there's no issues. Ultimately, we're really not talking about an extended period of time. So, even if you all decided that the seat would remain vacant, you're talking about maybe one or two meetings that the the seat would remain vacant. It's probably the safest option so that we're not changing too
much about your charter um in an ordinance because we we sort of want to limit that as much as humanly possible. Um but I can absolutely look into different language that you all uh might be interested in if you give me a sense of where you're leaning.
say let them stay till they are replaced. >> Okay, >> I would agree. >> Okay, I can I can work on something that looks like that >> and I I would be happy to come back, you know, if you have any questions or, you know, I'm sure me and Miss Latricia talk
all the time, so we can discuss, too. So, I appreciate your consideration because we just want to make sure we're doing it right, you know, and luckily we haven't run into a situation where we had to have a runoff, which would squeeze us into a situation where we couldn't meet the deadlines. So, thank you for your consideration.
>> Thank you for coming. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. Have a good night. >> So, so do you want to vote on the resolution now? >> Yes, we would vote on the resolution. Absolutely. >> Yeah. And then just come back with the language for change. >> I'll come back with the language for the additional change. >> All right. So, >> so it's going to be the same the same
resolution. >> No. So, the resolution that you have in front of you is for the interlocal agreement for um the supervisor of elections to run our elections. Right. >> The discussion that we just had is do you also want me to bring back it was brought up, hey, I'm agreeing to help
you run your elections. I can't do it the way that you're talking. >> It's not a resolution. >> Right. Ex. >> That's what we're voting on. But it's not a resolution. Okay. You're voting on the resolution, right? Unless we've already done that. >> We voted on the resolution already. >> Yeah, we did. >> Okay. We already voted.
>> Okay. You confused me. That's why I'm like, wait, is it going to be the same resolution? >> I just didn't know if we needed another one, >> not told you. >> It'll be an ordinance that will come back for that language, right? The the resolution is only on the inter. >> Okay. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you so much.
>> Yes, ma'am. All right. Item E, resolution 2026-41, a resolution of the city count of a resolution of the city of Willist, Florida, related to the provision of fire services facilities and programs in the city of Willist, Florida,
establishing the estimated assessment rate for fire service assessment for the fiscal year beginning October 1st, 2026. directing the preparation of an assessment role, authorizing a public hearing and re and directing the provision of a notice thereof providing
an effective date. Fire Chief Lamar Steagle. >> Yes, ma'am. What you have here before you tonight's resolution for the fire assessment. If you'll look, we actually have two there. You you council instructed us to bring back two resolutions at two different numbers.
The first one was rated out at a 40% of the 100% assessment that would put a rate per dwelling unit at $216 per house. Um the other resolution and I'm going to go ahead and talk about it. I
guess I can do that. Um on number 42 put was at uh 37.20% that brings the per dwelling rate at $200 per home. Both of those are increases over what we currently assess.
What is the address? >> Currently, we're assessing at $159 per unit. >> So, what is the increase? >> Um, >> $57. >> Yes, sir. >> Thank you, mathematician. Wherever you were, >> it was me. >> All right. Thank you.
>> Yes, sir. >> Questions, statements. This is what you asked for. And to clarify, if I may, Dareness, >> you may. >> Um, if to clarify, this is the top end of what we would actually charge as a tax.
>> That is correct. If we decided to adopt $216, um, as we go through the budget process and we decided to reduce that, we can. >> Thank you. >> That would be the top. That would be as high as we could go. That's not saying we're going to do that.
>> That's just as high as we could go. And what was the ceiling that would break even, per se? Was it 20? Was it 30? >> Um I'm sorry. Say >> was it 30% that we talked about originally
>> that we were saying >> 37%. >> It was 37%. >> Yes, ma'am. That That's if everything went the direction we wanted it to go. I'm sorry. I'm sitting here. I'm stand halfway standing. My chair is steady going down here. Uh >> oh. I've been fighting this chair the whole meeting. Uh >> oh.
>> Yeah, that's why I >> feel like I'm shrinking. >> Neither are you. >> Any questions for Oh, sorry. >> I just wanted to clarify. So, just to reiterate, you would only adopt either 41 or 42. >> Correct.
>> So, how do how do we handle that from a motion perspective? Do we have do we have to start with 41 that we don't adopt it? >> Choose one >> or we just choose Yeah. >> Yeah. I would say choose the one that you want to adopt. >> If we Yeah. If we choose the one that we want to adopt, then I would just have us
do a a motion to deny whatever other If you decide that you don't want to do 41 because it comes first a motion not to approve and then we can move on to the next one. >> Discussion. >> I just had a question. Um, did we ever hear back from the decision on the
county of what they're able to reimburse? >> I I will have that information. Um, I believe it is the 21st as what what potential increase we're looking at. Um, that the last meeting it was a 7%
increase which was like right at $30,000 from the county. >> Okay. just to make sure that my understanding is correct because I know that at the last meeting it was discussed that I believe 70% of our calls are usually for the county. >> That that is correct. >> So I wanted to make sure that the county
was offering their due diligence of paying for a majority of those services so we're not just having to explain to our residents we're going to ask you to pay for services that are majority offered to the county. Just to make sure my >> No, you're you're absolutely right. And
um the uh the county in the last meeting and I'm just telling giving you information. I think I've covered some of it already. County in the last meeting stated that they wanted to make sure that um we were we could do it cheaper than they could, you know, to give everybody a good deal. And I said,
I would love to take what you call it cost the county to run a fire call because that the county would then owe us $1.2 million. >> Exactly. and they, you know, obviously they they didn't want to discuss that m very much longer. So, you know, we went
back to negotiating out and every city, every municipality is currently in negotiations with the county. >> Okay. >> Um, I will say that I was approached by the municipal the other cities and asked to represent them as a group. Um, and I
that's that's a big ask. So when we come to the budget once you get that decision from the >> that will definitely reflect yes that would play into it. I mean you know the the my my advice obviously is going to be to adopt higher and go lower.
>> That's my advice. You guys do what you want to do. We're going to do our best to make whatever your decision is to make it work out. But you know in in putting it into a safe perspective we don't know where we're going to be in a year. And um Miss Church made a a great
comment about in the last meeting and I know that she hates talking about raising money in any shape, form or fashion, but she made a great comment. She said in the past and like in using utilities as an example, we kicked the can down the road for many years and
then we got hit with one giant increase and we don't want to go back down that path again. So >> I appreciate that because I wanted to make sure my understanding was correct and I appreciate the clarification that the number that we're discussing now is the highest that we'll
go and then after we get the information back from the county and after we've had a chance to review the budget, we can figure out if we're going to be there or any of the lower areas. Um I I believe that that clarification needed to be not just for us but also for the residents. They fully understand exactly what we're
looking at. That >> that is you're 100% correct. >> Thank you. Can I get a motion on either resolution? Let's start with the one that we're not going to accept. >> Do we know which one that is yet?
>> I mean, I can tell you where I stand. >> Make a motion. We'll see. I guess. >> Okay. Well, I I make a motion that we approve resolution 2026-42. I'm doing this right. >> I have a motion. Do I have a second?
which is the lower. >> Oh, I apologize. >> I know that's the lower >> I I got confused. >> I started to say if you're going to stick with that, I'm going to second it. >> No, thank you. >> I know. I was kind. No, I I resend. Sorry. Thank you.
Looking out for me. Um, >> yeah. So, can I >> reiterate? Sorry. I make a motion that we approve resolution 2026-41. Apologies. >> Have a motion. Do I have a second? >> That's the highest one. Yep. I have a
motion and a second. Any discussion from the council? Any discussion from the public? Seeing none, I move to vote. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. All those opposed say nay. Nay.
>> Motion passes three to two. >> Can I get a motion? Do >> a motion on resolution 2026-42. >> We We can't adopt that one at this point because you already adopted the other one. So, just move on. But can we just so we don't have to vote on it?
>> Even though it's an eight. Okay. >> All right. So, we will go with resolution 2026-43. Resolution of the city council of the city of Willist, Florida, authorizing the submission of an application of the department of state
small matching grant for historical preservation and providing an effective date city planner Laura Laura Jones. >> Good evening, council. >> Hi, good morning. >> Not quite. >> Not quite. >> Feels like it. We've been here a little bit.
>> It will. Yeah. So, the uh we were talking earlier with Miss Williams about the Department of State Division of Historical Resources grant that is due on July 10th. Um JB Pro has already put together one for a historical
plan. It's not a historical survey, but a historical plan. Um so, we can and I have the resolution here. So, we can go ahead and adopt that or we can discuss more with Miss Williams about another one of these that we would rather put in for So tell us about yours.
>> So this historical plan it's it's not it's this is where you will have an implementation plans for when you actually get your study done. You decide where your historical areas are. You decide what you're going to do with them, how you're going to implement that.
We decided to skip the study because the CRA is very interested in funding the study next year if they have the money in their budget. This isn't going to come about until 2028 probably. So, um, we figured we had a little bit of time
for the CRA to go ahead and do a study, but this is independent from a study. You don't need to have this plan to have you don't have to have a study to have this plan. So, it is a ma small matching grant, but we're ready community, so the match will be waved. This $50,000 grant.
>> Question. >> Go ahead. Question. So is it like the establishment of a historical districts? >> It's the it's how to establish the historical districts. >> How to Okay. So this like the policies and procedures. Yes. Of how to proceed with that. >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. >> So that when we do get that study done
whether it's this year or next year that it the study doesn't just sit on the on the um in the bookshelf. So the study can actually be implemented. This is you know Miss Christine Dalton was here a couple weeks ago talking about historical surveys. She's an historical expert. She's going to be heading up
this grant for the city of Williston probably. You guys have to um send it out to bid or whatever, but she's one of the people that we we would probably ask to bid on that. >> She's at the joint meeting. >> Yes. Miss Christine Dalton. >> So when you say historical district, it
has to be in the same location, same general area. >> No. >> Related for the grant or >> No, no, this is just a plan for what we're going to do. So So let's take a step back. So, the city of Williston has directed us, council has directed us to start to preserve our historical
um resources, right? Buildings, places, people, whatever we have going on here. Well, we can't do that without a plan. We can't do it without a study. And then usually with the plan and the study, you'll have a district. And there can be multiple districts. The whole city could be a district. It could be a district of
like industrial areas down where the peanuts are by the by the um railroad tracks. And then uh the banks, you know, how we have the banks here, you know, it could be different kinds of districts. Um so that's what the plan's going to work on, how to implement the study and
then the districts and then what you're going to do with that information. And like I said, this isn't probably going to come about till about 2027 because by the time you put it in, then they ward it, then they have their budget next year to see if they fund it.
So then we'll probably see it sometime next year around the end of budget season, fall of 2027, and then you'll see it in 2028. >> Any other questions? >> But there are other opportunities. I don't want Miss Williams opportunities
to go um because she because she she was discussing other opportunities for the same grant. So I you want to come up and talk because we're all here for the good of the city. So, I haven't talked with him about it. >> He's already done a ton of work on this
and I think it's important that we just move forward with what you've done already. And the plan is always important to go ahead and implement because when we're applying for the million-dollar grants, they don't want to know that we just pulled something out of the hat. They want to know that we had a plan and we had so you because
they see people come back without a plan needing phase one money, phase two money, phase three money because there was no plan. So, I think it's important that we do take this step moving forward. Of course, I I'm here to support any of the other historical um projects that we have, but I think this
is um very important that we move forward with this. And like you said, it's there's no match and it's only going to benefit us in the future. They've already done what the competency plan and everything. >> Well, we're still working on the comp plan that'll be done at the end of um >> all this kind of builds together.
>> Yeah. Can I just ask Miss Williams when we spoke about the historical grant? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Didn't you say there was two? >> This is one of the two. They have the special category grant that you can ask for up to a million dollars for that does have a M. It's very confusing to
name it because the small matching doesn't have a match, but they call it small matching. The special category is the larger one where you get that construction done and everything, engineering, construction, all that. So, if Miss Williams and I work together, we could probably get you
there. This is sort of like what Walt was talking about earlier. These are all different steps to get you somewhere. >> Um, if we went after the million-dollar grant, we may or may not win it because we don't have plan. You know, we don't know. We don't I mean, we could tell them something, but would we really get there? But this way, we get the plan, we
get the survey, we get the districts, then we go after the individual projects. And I would say what the other one that we were thinking about um it actually had to do with the gym at the old vocational school at Wilson Vocational
School. Uh because the new owners expressed interest in preserving that and the historical character of it because we told them that it was historical and that it was important to the community. Um so we that's why we
brought it up to Miss Williams to begin with. Yeah, we haven't actually on Friday. We won't be able to we won't be able to do it for this cycle, but it does give us a lot of time to work with them. It does work with the attorney, figure out what kind of interloical type agreements we might need because this is
uh city funding going to private business, you know. So, there's some my thought too was that they could pay the match, >> right? >> You know, if we got the grant, they could pay the match. That that was our thought when we discussed it earlier. have to give them some time to maybe
think about $250,000. So, yes, ma'am. >> Within the year, they should be able to say, "Yeah, we got it, or >> we need help." >> And they'll direction that you think that property owner wants to go in um for them to work for with an engineer, architect, and to get plans before they
put in for the grant or at least >> a concept >> because I'm not sure that we could do that by Friday. >> No, I don't. They're definitely not ready. That's what I'll say. I think we need to go with yours. >> Yeah. competitive grants. Every little category has a point, you know, points that we need to maximize on. Having a
concept is always, >> you know, very close to that, you know, shovel ready project that they're always looking for. >> And the rest of their project is not historical. It was just the gym. >> Oh, just the gym part. Okay. >> It was just it was just the gym. >> Because that's where the the history is.
>> So, if it pleases the council, we're ready to submit the um small matching grant for historical preservation plan. which will be I want to get in tomorrow if I could get it signed tonight because I don't I don't like waiting till the last minute with these computer
programs. I get really nervous because they don't always work at the last minute. I would move approval of resolution 2026-43 uh for submission of the um application for department of small state small
matching grant funds. >> Have a motion and a second. Any further discussion from the council? Any discussion from the public? Seeing none, I move to vote. All those in favor say I. >> I. All those opposed say nay. Motion passes five to zero.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. Item number six, public participation. This is the second time that you'll have to speak on anything. Please state your name and where you're from.
None. All right, seeing none, we will move on to item number seven, announcements. Any announcements from city clerk, inter manager, >> I guess we can talk about that July meeting.
>> We will announcement >> at the end. I mean when everybody gets back around. Oh, very. >> When I go through everybody again and get back to council, we'll we'll talk about it then.
So, you have nothing else. Mr. Ro, I mean, Chief Rose, Chief Steagle, Benton's good and Kim's gone. You're good. All right. All right. So, now we're back at the council. Anything from the council before we start talking about that date? have just
a quick thing um which is that some friends and my husband um were sorely disappointed because they went to play pickle ball the other night and the courts were full which is really great of people of people. Yeah, there were a bunch I believe Benton possibly it was the group of young people that came in and asked for it to be repainted
possibly. Um but yeah, they want more pickle ball courts, please. >> Nice. Okay, Miss Deborah, >> on that same note, I'm disappointed that they took the lights down. >> Who took them down? >> Cuz there were lights on that field on
those courts and people could play after dusk. And yes, somebody said that none of our parks are supposed to be open after dusk. >> I was going to ask, >> but they've had lights for 50 years. >> When they were tennis courts, they had lights. They recently took the lights
down. So, I would just I'm I'm very disappointed at that as well. >> Who took the lights down? Do we know who took the lights down? >> I assume the city took the lights down, but I don't know who who >> Yes. >> They're gone. >> They're gone. Let's put it that way.
>> And they told me they weren't planning to put them back up. >> Do y'all know anything about what Miss De's speaking about, Nate? >> As as old as those lights were, they probably couldn't find them anymore. >> Well, they just need to change fixtures. not take them down all together. >> Yeah, I can't speak for that part, but
you know that. >> So, what can we do to get the lights back up? Let's let's put it that way. I realize that's not on the agenda, but >> please think about it. >> Right now, I've got the locates in and all new poles should be there by the end
of next week. >> I'm so excited. >> And then the lights are been ordered and should be coming in soon. I just got to figure out how to get power back around all of them without overhead. Perfect. >> That's where I'm at with it. >> Thank you.
>> Nice to hear. >> Any other comments. Is it? >> Um, I have a question and I don't know who to address it at because I don't know where we are, but um on not the last meeting, but the last meeting that I was at, I asked about um the sidewalk
out by um the old middle school and we were trying to figure out who owned it and what we were doing with it because there had been a barrier there on the sidewalk blocking it. So who and no one
ever came back and gave me an answer. >> So at that meeting I was not in the position I am in at the moment but I can get you an answer for that by the next one. >> Okay. Do you know what area I'm talking about? >> Yes ma'am. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Sign still there?
>> I didn't write about it today. >> I didn't either. I haven't been there. >> Yeah. >> Supposed to be working on it. Thank you. All right. If nothing else, then >> I have something. >> Well, >> oh, I'm sorry.
>> She was like, "No, >> I know BJ's BJ's not here, but I wanted to tell y'all that that the Wilson Animal Shelter won the first place for the float." >> So, y'all, please give her kudos for that. She was so excited. >> Nice. Nice. >> Um, and
I have a few comments about the 4th of July that happened at the pavilion that I will discuss later with the city manager. Um, that happened when lightning struck the pavilion because it did because all the lights
went out. I don't know if y'all realize that or not. All the lights went out and all the sound equipment ran out. Um, and then probably 15 minutes later it came on. >> Was that during the storm? It was uh simultane simultaneously to Cody and
Kurt showing up to see if they could help us. It it miraculously came back on. Uh but by then the entire band had packed up their car and there was not even a microphone to make an announcement on. I
was not real happy with that. But >> well, it struck that pavilion. I have no doubt. It scared me to death. I can tell you. >> Yeah. And then it got better after that. So, that was good. Um, my only other I I have a question for Kirsten if that's okay.
>> Sure. >> Um, can you help me with the update on the block 12 peso properties? >> So, we have been obviously there's been a lot going on in block 12. Part of what
we have discovered is that through the process with block 12, it came to our attention that we might want to do an updated title search on those peso properties before we start our foreclosure just to make sure that there are no outstanding leans or fines or
mortgages or anything like that. Um, and so we just recently got those back. Um, they look relatively okay. there are one or two things that, you know, we may we may want to uh address differently, but we're in the process of drafting the complaints so that we can move forward
with the foreclosure process now that we feel more comfortable that we're not getting ourselves we're not biting off more than we can chew. >> That's wonderful because they are the whole end down here is completely dilapidated, right? And I would just say that the people that I know of that I've been talking to that were from the
hospitals. The only reason I was talking to them originally that were interested in those properties are no longer interested because of the shape they're in. So that's why I would like to proceed with that as soon as we can. >> Yeah. There there have been some discussions obviously throughout the
period of time that these have been in code enforcement that a developer may be interested. If that's the case, it certainly is cheaper for the city and faster for the city if Mr. Peso and a developer work together and then the property gets cleaned up. Um, unfortunately, that hasn't happened. A
couple of things have fallen through. So, we're we're moving forward with the foreclosure process now that we have those updated titles. >> This particular developer I was talking to was working with Mr. Peso. He No, he was not >> coming to us to see if he could get it from us, but he was working with Mr. Peso and has decided that it's not going
to work out. So dates >> I'd like to move forward with it because it's just getting worse by the minute. All right, that's all I have. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else, Mr. Mayor? All right, so now we will revert back to
the dates for the special session. Are there any dates of next week that anybody's available? Wait, >> are there any dates of this? >> About next Tuesday? >> Next Tuesday next is not good for me.
>> Not good for you. >> What about Friday? >> This Friday. >> This Friday. >> Friday works. >> Is anybody available this Friday? >> Friday works for me. Tuesday is the only day I'm not available. >> Okay. >> Friday the 10th.
>> Friday the 10th. This Friday. I'll just flag that I will be in a municipal attorney's conference, but feel free to have the meeting and I can be available via phone if you all need anything. >> Okay. Thank you. >> So, what would be an alternate date?
>> When will you be back? >> What time on Friday? >> I'd rather not do it on a Friday if we can't don't have to. >> Well, I'm usually off on Friday. So, I try to get days. I'm off. But what other >> We'll be gone Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and then we'll we'll be back starting next week. So, who said they
weren't available on Monday? >> You're not Monday. >> What about Wednesday? >> I'm not Tuesday either. >> Monday. >> Monday works for me. Just Tuesday doesn't. >> Monday works for you. Who? Who? Somebody said Monday does >> I don't think anybody said No, not that I heard. >> Monday's
>> are not good for Mike. >> Not good. >> So, Wednesday. >> Wednesday because I'm not available and she's not available. Um, can I jump in and ask? Um, we have a little flexibility on time. Would that make a difference for people? Later would
definitely be much better. I would be a lot more available. We could not be at six. >> What time you get off? >> 7. >> 7. So if we did 7:15, >> how about 7:30? >> I just >> microphones, please.
>> Are you Are you talking about Tuesday? >> Are you talking about Tuesday? >> What are you talking about? on Monday for Mike. >> Okay. >> Monday. What date? >> The 13th. >> Thank you. >> But I also It could be much more available other nights if it was later.
>> So I have more availability. >> Does anybody know Monday is CRA night? >> Yes, it is. >> I think it is. It's at 6 5:30 >> and we could just meet in a different room >> or they could meet in a different room. >> But they'll be done if we're doing it at 7. >> Yeah. If you started at seven, typically
your CR meeting, so don't go that long. >> That's good and you're going to be here anyway for C. >> We'll be here. >> That would be great. >> And just to clarify, this is a meeting that um there it's it's a requirement for us to have reasonable amount of time for the public to be aware so that way they can attend. Correct.
>> Yes. >> So they have almost >> So the timing would definitely help. Later works usually better for the residents so they don't have to also take time off from work. So I think that's a a huge plus. Um, as far as reasonable amount of time, I think us looking at what Monday as of right now, later in the evening, probably fitting
both those requirements. >> I would agree. >> Okay. >> Okay. So, what I'm hearing is Monday the 13th at 7:15. >> 700 p.m. I think he said. >> Yeah, 7 is fine. I'll just scoot out a little earlier. >> 7:15.
>> So, we're going to do 7:15. >> Okay. Uh, I won't be there for 7:00. That's fine. >> I changed it already. >> Okay. She She said 7:15. >> I will fix it back. >> Which is it? Which is it? >> 7 7:15. Miss Deborah. >> 7:15. So y'all can make sure everybody's
here. >> 7:15. >> Thank you. >> In the community room. >> Sure. I'm an early start. What? >> Well, you can if you have time.
So 7:15 the 13th. >> And just to clarify, we're wanting this to be a special meeting, not a work >> special meeting. >> Okay. >> And we need stuff from Kim. We need the old >> Is she still here?
>> No, but Latricia can tell her. We need the all the We need the old job description. What else do we need? Y'all tell her old job description. We need how much the old pay was. >> Correct. Starting and ending. Would that be helpful as well? just so we can >> I mean
>> she jotted it down before she left. >> Oh, thank you. We need info. >> And and the requirements. Did somebody say that and I missed it? >> Requirements are good. >> Okay. >> What requirements? And if the the the
previous notice that we used that we posted online for people, if we could have the previous one, that would help a lot because last time we talked about the city itself and you know, we described the city and what we were looking for
and then we posted the job description behind it. >> I think they've already got a couple applications. I know I handed one. >> I know they've got one because I got one. I think we all got it >> or at least most of us did. >> I don't know about a second one, but I do know about that one. >> Doesn't matter.
>> We just need to have a meeting >> because whatever applications we got are going to be included with the rest of them that we get. >> Exactly. >> And the one I got wasn't on an application. It was just a resume. So, um do we want to
look at um other agencies comp maybe possibly comparable to our size as to what they're paying >> I think so >> as well >> in order to have you know an incentive
>> for us us to you know >> so find quality >> so a survey like >> it's hard because we have so many services >> that they don't have, >> right? >> Like we have a police department, we have a fire department, we have an airport. No, nobody else does that's our
size. Very few. I mean, there might be somebody like maybe >> Brooksville's bigger, is bigger. >> Have to look at one that's >> a little bit larger than us, but have those same things. >> So, we'll have to take that into
consideration, too, is we have more than other municipalities. >> Yeah. >> So, the cities that are a little bigger, >> you will have to take that into effect. But I can tell you, watching Fox News out of Orlando,
>> there's a lot of cities that are hurt on city managers finding them >> in our area, there's a lot, too. Uh, PALA signed a it was a one-year agreement for somebody to be a temporary
manager, >> isn't it? Lake City that's had like two or three just very recently. So, we're not the only, >> right? So, just know that we're going to we're going to discuss that and then we're also going to discuss the other. >> Yeah. Whatever you think of that you
need to just let Latricia know, maybe they'll dig it up for us for the meeting. And just remember, uh, when you're looking at your cities, uh, we're unique because the police and fire falls under the mayor, not under the city manager. >> Good point. >> Yeah. Just the budget. >> Just the budget.
>> Manager. >> What's it? >> Very true. >> All right. >> Okay. >> Any more announcements? None. Number eight, adjournment. Can I get a motion? >> Wejourn.
>> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. Any discussion from the council? >> Any discussion from the public? Seeing none, we move to vote. All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed say nay. Motion passes 5 to zero. We are
adjourned at 8:52 p.m.