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, and Commissioner Raymon Thomas, Chairman of the Board.
Mr. Greg Wood,
Mr. Brandon Young,
Angie Jonas, Deputy Clerk, was present and kept the minutes.
Mr. Dinkins led the prayer.
Chairman Thomas opened the meeting with the pledge.
Pursuant to public notice, the Board held a first reading
for several ordinances. Chairman Thomas read the proposed Scott Road Ordinance
2007-12 also known as CPA 2008-01A, which would amend volume three of the year
2010 Comprehensive Plan. This proposed ordinance, if adopted, would change the
future land use category from agricultural use to low density residential use
for a 21.213 +/- acre parcel of property located on
(Draft Ordinance 2007-12)
Chairman Thomas read the proposed Mezzaluna Springs Ordinance 2007-13 also known as CPA 2008-01B, which would amend volume three of the year 2010 Comprehensive Plan. This proposed ordinance, if adopted, would change the future land use category from agricultural use to planned unit development allowing for a density of two dwelling units per acre for a 160.46 +/- acre parcel of property located on Highway 181.
(Draft Ordinance 2007-13)
Chairman Thomas read the proposed Crossroads Text Ordinance 2007-14 also known as CPA 2008-01C, which would amend volume two of the year 2010 Comprehensive Plan. This proposed ordinance, if adopted, would add street frontage footage requirements and driveway requirements as per the Florida Department of Transportation standards.
(Draft Ordinance 2007-14)
Chairman Thomas asked that the Board members review the proposed Junk and Dangerous Animal Ordinances and bring their recommendations to the next meeting. The Board agreed.
Commissioner Williams made a motion to approve the following consent items with revisions to the April 29, 2008 meeting minutes changing the word “dirt” to “milled asphalt” on page four and changes on page three of the May 2, 2008 meeting minutes adding the word “estimated” and the phrase “the official quote from Mr. Wells was forthcoming”:
Anniversary date request-Sherry Fitzpatrick
Notice of intent to withdraw & Resolution-PRM Group Health Trust Pool
Commissioner King seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Chairman Thomas opened the sealed bids for the CR 177A project. The following bids were submitted for consideration:
APAC-Southeast 2,823,936.40
Bullard Excavating 2,549,731.86
C.W. Roberts 2,608,524.68
Tindle Enterprises 2,570,010.36
Commissioner King made a motion for Administrator Wood and the Engineer to review the bids to be sure that the bids are within specifications and bring the bids back to the Special Session to be scheduled for next Tuesday. Commissioner Music seconded the motion.
(Bid Sheet)
The Board discussed the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
Administrator Wood stated that the County needs a consistent policy in regard
to the FMLA. Attorney Young stated that currently the Board does not have any
policy in place that states that an employee must take the FMLA for extended
absence from their position. He clarified that the FMLA is a provision that
would “hold” an employee’s position for a period of twelve weeks after all of
the employee’s leave time had been exhausted; however, an employee must request
to take the FMLA. He stated that the County could not “force” anyone to take
the FMLA. He explained that once leave time is exhausted, the Board would not
be responsible for paying in the majority of the cost for the employee’s
insurance. Chairman Thomas asked that Administrator Wood revise the
The Board discussed the equipment needs of the Road Department. Administrator Wood stated that Mr. Hubert Hendrix, Shop Foreman, had reviewed the needs of each District and had submitted the following equipment purchase recommendations: four chainsaws, five pole saws, five weed eaters, two lawn mowers. Administrator Wood stated that one mower had been purchased already, so one less mower needed to be purchased. Mr. Hendrix recommended purchasing diesel lawn mowers as they have outlasted the gasoline mowers previously purchased. He stated that several of the items could be purchased at a lower price if bought in quantity. Commissioner Williams made a motion for Mr. Hendrix to find the lowest price for equipment, and to purchase the equipment with funds being moved from contingencies to the inmate equipment fund. Commissioner Music seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
(needs list)
The Board discussed the “Employee of the Month” award program for Board employees. No action was taken on this item.
(Employee of the month document)
The Board discussed Pay Request #3 for the Rum Road Project for Bullard Construction in the amount of $211,439.97, which is contingent upon the receipt of funds from the Department of Community Affairs (DCA). Commissioner Merchant stated that he had met with Mr. Bob Jones, Grant Administrator, and Administrator Wood regarding this project. He asked the Board to allow him to spend the remaining $62,000.00 in grant funds for improvements. Commissioner Music made a motion to pay the $211,439.97 to Bullard Excavating. Commissioner Merchant seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Williams made a motion to allow Commissioner Merchant to negotiate with the engineer and other involved parties to spend the remaining funds on the north side of the bridge. Commissioner King seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
(Letter)
The Board discussed the grader bids that had been opened at a prior meeting. Chairman Thomas stated that because of budget constraints, he would like to wait until the projection figures for 2008-2009 or even 2009-2010 to come from the Legislature before making the grader purchases. Commissioner King made a motion to table this item until budget figures come in. Commissioner Music seconded the motion. The motion passed, with Commissioner Williams voting no and all others voting yes.
Administrator Wood stated that his contract is up for renewal. He stated that the new contract included a three percent annual raise and asked the Board to consider changing his severance from three months to six months. Commissioner King stated that he would like to see the Administrator’s annual report published in the local newspaper. Commissioner Williams made a motion to approve the contract as written with the exception of the severance staying at ninety days rather than increasing to one hundred and twenty days. Commissioner Music seconded the motion. The motion passed, with Commissioner King voting no and all others voting yes.
Commissioner Merchant asked whether the scheduling for
The Board discussed parks and cemetery maintenance.
Chairman Thomas stated that a
The Board discussed securing the mowing equipment used by the inmates. Commissioner Williams stated that his yard gate can be secured and that one trailer can be backed into the shed at the yard. Citizens speaking regarding this topic:
Mr. Wayne Powell
No action was taken on this item.
Chairman Thomas stated that he had not received any
information from Mr. Nigel Wells of F & W Construction regarding the
bridges. He asked the Board whether to allow Mr. Wells to do the borings at the
bridge sites in order to determine what type of pilings would be needed at the
bridge sites. Attorney Young clarified that the County has not made any
contract with Mr. Wells for the work on the bridges. Chairman Thomas stated
that the work would have to be bid before anything could be done, and that Mr.
Wells is just going to do an estimate. He also stated that unless we contracted
Mr. Wells to do the work for the projects, there would be no charge for the
borings. Commissioner King made a motion to “do the borings” to test for piling
at
Chairman Thomas stated that the Agri-tourism Workshop has
been set for
Chairman Thomas updated the Board regarding the Farmers’ Market. He stated that the Farm Bureau and Mr. Shep Eubanks of the Extension office would like to help with re-opening the market. He asked the Board whether to allow farmers to rent spaces to sell their goods at no charge for the first year. Commissioner King made a motion to allow the Farm Bureau to proceed with the market. Commissioner Music seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Chairman Thomas updated the Board regarding the
Commissioner Music made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Merchant seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
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Clerk Chairman