January 9, 2007

Regular Session

Bonifay, Florida

The Holmes County Board of Commissioners met in a Regular Session on the above date with the following members present: Commissioner Kenneth Williams, Commissioner Phillip Music, Commissioner Monty Merchant, Commissioner Jim King and Commissioner Raymon Thomas, Chairman of the Board.

Sherry Fitzpatrick, Deputy Clerk, was present and kept the minutes.

Jerry Wright led the prayer and pledge.

Commissioner Williams made a motion to approve the John Clark Highway Resurfacing Project revisions to the contract bid made by Hatch Mott MacDonald after negotiating with APAC. The revisions bring the total base bid within the budget of the project. Commissioner Music offered a second. The motion passed unanimously.

(Revisions to Contract)

Commissioner King made a motion to approve the minutes from December 19, 2006, Regular Session and January 3, 2007, Special Session. Commissioner Music offered a second. The motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner King made a motion to approve the Litter Control Work Release Program insurance policy for the amount of $350.00 per year with Commissioner Music offering a second. The motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner King made a motion to approve the certificate regarding matching funds of $319.82 for the Voter Education Grant in Holmes County. Commissioner Music offered a second. The motion passed unanimously.

(Certificate)

Commissioner Music made a motion to reappoint the following members to the Holmes County Planning Commission Board: Jerry Wright, Chairman, Carlton Treadwell, Vice Chairman, and Richard Willsey, Board Member. Commissioner King offered a second. The motion passed unanimously.

Chairman Thomas asked the Board for permission to select a committee to review the applicants for County Administrator. Commissioner King made a motion to approve with Commissioner Music offering a second. The motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Merchant made a motion for the committee to narrow down the selection to three names for the Board to have a final review. Commissioner King offered a second. The motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner King made a motion to approve the request from Wanda Stafford to attend the 2007 Florida Emergency Preparedness Annual Conference in Daytona Beach, FL on January 30-February 2, 2007. The registration fees are $200.00 and the hotel fees are $375.00. Commissioner Music offered a second. The motion passed unanimously.

(Letter)

Commissioner King made a motion to approve the lease agreement with the New Hope Volunteer Fire and Rescue for their Assault 1 & 2 and Engine 4. Commissioner Williams offered a second. The motion passed unanimously.

(Lease Agreements)

Gary Deal, New Hope Volunteer Fire and Rescue, discussed the incident involving a stolen fire truck from their department. Mr. Deal stated extra security had been taken to ensure that the entrances were secured properly. Mr. Deal also requested for the Board to purchase an electrical kit and motor unit to install on one bay door to allow remote opening and closing so the EMS unit could exit quicker. Commissioner King made a motion to approve taking $758.31 from contingencies to purchase this kit. Commissioner Music offered a second. The motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner King and Commissioner Merchant both commended Mr. Deal for what is being done at the New Hope Volunteer Fire & Rescue.

Commissioner King made a motion to approve the lease agreement with the Pine Log Volunteer Fire Department for their 2006 F550 fire truck. Commissioner Music offered a second. The motion passed unanimously.

(Lease Agreement)

Commissioner Merchant made a motion to approve a warranty deed from Elton and Betty Stafford for 1 acre to be used for the Board to construct a Community Center Building on prior to January 1, 2011. If the building is not constructed by this date, the property shall revert back to the Staffords or their heirs. Commissioner Merchant made a motion to approve the warranty deed with Commissioner Music offering a second. Commissioner Merchant, Commissioner Music, Commissioner Williams and Chairman Thomas all voted yes with Commissioner King voting no. Commissioner King stated his reason for voting no was because it had been given in the past and taken back and now it was going back through the same process with a time limit. The motion passed.

(Warranty Deed)

Commissioner King stated a need for requiring the length of culverts to be 30 feet due to people running off the end and caving them in. Commissioner King made a motion to establish a policy change to require a minimum of 30 feet for all culverts and for all districts to enforce this policy. Commissioner Music offered a second. The motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner King made a motion to authorize Gerald Holley, Attorney, to find out what companies are putting lines down in the dirt roads. Commissioner King stated that no notification is being given and that springs are being cut into. Commissioner Music offered a second. The motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner King stated he would like Chairman Thomas to talk with Lt Taylor, HCI, to see if they could find out the problem with not getting enough work crews from the Holmes Correction Institute.

Commissioner Williams made a motion to get Gerald Holley, Attorney, to rewrite the ordinance on the Local Communications Services Tax for the Board to consider adopting. Commissioner Music offered a second. The motion passed unanimously.

Chairman Thomas stated several businesses in the area had inquired why Holmes County doesn’t require a county occupational license. The Board agreed for Chairman Thomas to check with other counties to see what their requirements were.

John Hagan, Projects Manager, gave updates on D.D. Eldridge Park, the Agriculture Center, and District 3 timber project.

Robert Brown, area citizen, made a public apology for getting into trouble in the last few months. Mr. Brown stated it would not happen again.

Dick Badst, area citizen, discussed why the County did not charge for dirt that was delivered to people for things other than driveways.

Jim McCusker, area citizen, asked the Board to consider rescinding their vote to waive the permit fees for the new hospital that is being built.

There being no further business, the meeting stood adjourned.

_____________________________ __________________________

Cody Taylor, Clerk Raymon Thomas, Chairman