Regular Session
The Holmes County Board of Commissioner met in a Regular Session on the above date with the following members present: Commissioner Kenneth Williams, Commissioner Monty Merchant, Commissioner Jim King, Commissioner Phillip Music, Commissioner Raymon Thomas, Chairman of the Board.
Mr. Greg Wood,
Mr. Brandon Young,
Angie Jonas, Deputy Clerk, was present and kept the minutes.
Chairman Thomas opened the meeting with the prayer and pledge.
Pursuant to public notice, the Board held a public hearing
to consider adopting Resolution 08-02. This resolution allowed for the abandonment
of the easement for Edward and Linda Jordan’s property that is located south of
Commissioner Merchant made a motion to approve the following consent item:
Commissioner King seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Chairman Thomas opened the sealed bids for the CR 81A improvement project. The following bids were submitted:
Baxter’s Asphalt $1,158,920.00
C.W. Roberts Contracting 787,545.00
APAC –Southeast 589,894.00
Panhandle Grading & Paving 742,061.50
Tindle Enterprise, Inc. 604,427.75
Bullard Excavating 589,803.91
Commissioner King made a motion for the engineer to review the bids and bring his recommendation back to the Board in a Special Session. Commissioner Music seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
The Board discussed the fire inspection service contract renewal with Advanced Fire Protection Services. Previously, this agenda item had been tabled in order to clarify the premium amount due. Chairman Thomas explained that this five year contract included inspections of the fire alarm system in the courthouse, which would be conducted once per year at the following costs:
Year Cost
2008 $240.00
2009 247.00
2010 254.00
2011 262.00
2012 270.00
He also stated that previously Advanced Fire protection had been conducting quarterly inspections and that qualified County employees would now be conducting the more frequent inspections. Administrator Wood clarified that an independent agency such as Advanced Fire Protection must conduct the yearly inspection service. Commissioner King made a motion to approve the fire inspection agreement. Commissioner Williams seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
(Contract)
Mr. Alan Gray of the West Florida Regional Planning Council presented information regarding the Public Schools Inter-local Agreement portion of the Comprehensive Plan. He explained that the Agreement clearly outlines the responsibilities that the County, towns of Westville Noma, Ponce de Leon, City of Bonifay and the School Board have to one another in regard to school service. He stated that this portion of the Comprehensive Plan was mandated by Senate Bill 360. He also stated that the exclusion of this portion from the Comprehensive Plan would cause the County to be ineligible for large scale amendments and would limit grant funds that would be available for projects. He clarified that each entity will sign the agreement and that the Chairman will sign at a later date. Commissioner Music made a motion to adopt the Public Schools Inter-local Agreement. Commissioner Merchant seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
(Draft of Inter-local Agreement)
The Board discussed the Bonifay Hunting and Fishing Club
lease. Chairman Thomas stated that the club would like to renew the lease for
the property. Commissioner King made a motion to extend or renew the lease
agreement for a period of twenty five years. Commissioner Merchant seconded the
motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Attorney Young stated that the lease/special use agreement dates would
be
(Special Use/Lease Agreement)
Chairman Thomas stated that the Tri-County Community Council had two surplus vans that they are offering to the County. Commissioner King made a motion to accept the two vans. Commissioner Williams seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Administrator Wood stated that he would like the Board to allow him to list surplus items on the govdeals.com website. Commissioner Williams made a motion to allow the Administrator to list the items on the website for a period of six months and that a revaluation should take place after that trial period. Commissioner Music seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Administrator Wood stated that he will have information regarding the dump truck discussion item at a later date.
Administrator Wood asked the Board to authorize the final payment for the Pittman Fire Station. Commissioner Music made a motion to authorize the payment. Commissioner Merchant seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
(Invoices)
Administrator Wood stated that the Tax Collector’s building is leaking. He asked the Board for authorization to send someone to try to find the cause of the leak. The Board agreed.
Administrator Wood stated that the Department of Transportation (DOT) would like to trade milling for dirt. The Board asked him to get more information regarding the trade. No action was taken on this item.
The Board discussed hiring someone to fill a vacancy in District One. Commissioner King stated his district is short handed and in need of another employee. Commissioner King made a motion to hire someone to fill the vacancy. Commissioner Music seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Administrator
Wood stated that with the passage of Amendment One, there is a need for another
budget workshop. The Board agreed to set the date for Wednesday, March 5th
at
The Board discussed dirt hauling practices. Commissioner Williams made a motion to change the dirt hauling policy by imposing a twenty load-per-year cap for loads of dirt that can be delivered to non-profit and church facilities. Commissioner Merchant seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
The Board discussed the rock hauling policy. Previously, citizens could purchase loads of rock for their driveways and the County would haul the rock to the destination. Administrator Wood clarified that citizens requesting rock hauling service could be placed on the agenda for Board approval. Commissioner Williams made a motion for the rock hauling policy to be ended with the exception of cases brought before the Board by a Commissioner or Road Foreman for approval. Commissioner Merchant seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Merchant asked whether it was allowable for Road Department employees to work on Fridays and Saturdays. Chairman Thomas stated that when the roads are in disrepair, then extra hours would be allowable. Administrator Wood asked that the hours be logged for possible reimbursement by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Chairman Thomas asked that photographs be taken of the storm damaged areas.
Commissioner Merchant asked the Board whether the County had a licensed beaver control person. Commissioner King stated that someone had been providing the service to the County. No action was taken on this item.
Commissioner Merchant stated that two concrete posts have been ordered to replace the pole that had been damaged at Highway 173 and Highway 2. He also stated that the extra pole would be stored for future use.
Commissioner King made a motion to hire Mr. Ashley Register as a Road Maintenance Technician for District One. Commissioner Music seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Music stated that had received a request for a driveway repair because an ambulance was unable to reach a citizen last week because of the driveway condition. Chairman Thomas stated that loads of dirt could be delivered so that the citizen could repair the driveway. The Board agreed.
Chairman Thomas stated that he would be attending the
Water Management District land acquisition public hearing on
The Chairman stated that he had attended a meeting with DOT whose subject matter was traffic light maintenance on highways and roads. He stated that currently the County is maintaining the lights that the DOT owns at a cost of $7,000.00-$8,000.00 per year. He stated that he would like to write a letter to the Legislative delegation so that this issue might be addressed in Legislative Session. Commissioner Williams made a motion to allow the Chairman to write a letter to Legislative delegation regarding maintenance of the lights. Commissioner King seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Chairman Thomas stated that he had recently attended the
Agri-Business Conference. He stated that
Chairman Thomas updated the Board regarding the Three Rivers Resource Conservation Development Council meeting that he and Administrator Wood had recently attended. He stated that the natural resources in the area could be used to promote Eco-Tourism to compliment the proposed Agri-Tourism ideas.
Administrator Wood updated the Board regarding a mosquito conference he had recently attended.
Administrator Wood updated the Board regarding the Arthropod Program. He stated that program had received $9,000.00 in state grant funding this quarter.
Commissioner Williams made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Music seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
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Clerk Chairman