February 13, 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.

Wendell Dinkins led the prayer and pledge.

Pursuant to Public Notice, a public hearing was held to consider the adoption of Ordinance 07-01 which will increase the Communications Services Tax Rate from .20% to 1.84%. There was no discussion from the public.

Commissioner Music made a motion to approve Ordinance 07-01 with Commissioner Williams offering a second. The motion passed unanimously.

(Ordinance 07-01)

Commissioner King made a motion to approve the minutes from January 30, 2007, Regular Session with Commissioner Music offering a second. The motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner King made a motion to approve Resolution 07-01 for the Holmes County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. Commissioner Music offered a second. The motion passed unanimously.

(Resolution 07-01)

Commissioner Music made a motion to approve the Girl Scout Week Proclamation with Commissioner King offering a second. The motion passed unanimously.

(Proclamation)

Chairman Thomas read a letter to the Keith Cabin Foundation from Otis Corbin, Jr., Property Appraiser, stating the Board of County Commissioners would need to adopt an ordinance to allow any classifications or exemptions for historic property. Commissioner King made a motion to table this with Commissioner Music offering a second. The motion passed unanimously.

Pursuant to Public Notice, sealed bids were opened for communications equipment to be installed at the Prosperity tower site. The bids were as follows:

Communications International, Inc. $63,577.40

Ward Bell Communications, Inc. $51,580.00

First Communications $47,110.00

Commissioner King made a motion to table the bids until they could be looked at in detail. Commissioner Music offered a second. The motion passed unanimously.

(Bids)

Commissioner King made a motion to table the Advanced Fire Protection Services Agreement for the fire alarm inspection until they can clarify exactly what services will be covered. Commissioner Merchant offered a second. The motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Music made a motion to approve Mr. Karl Barbee to fill a vacancy on the Advisory Board for the Holmes County Public Library with Commissioner Merchant offering a second. The motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner King made a motion to approve the 12.50 Surcharge Committee requests for one handheld radio in the amount of $395.00 for Commissioner Williams and one mobile radio in the amount of $582.00 for Chairman Thomas. Commissioner Merchant offered a second. The motion passed unanimously.

(Request)

Commissioner King made a motion to approve the request from Wanda Stafford and Tiffany Majors, Emergency Management, to attend the 2007 Governor’s Hurricane Conference to be held in Ft. Lauderdale on May 14-18, 2007. Registration fees are $175.00 each and the hotel fees are $488.00 which are both included in the Emergency Management budget. Commissioner Music offered a second. The motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Music made a motion to let each department head use their budgeted money for travel expenses without bringing it before the Board for approval, and just to require them to notify the Board of the travel dates. Commissioner King offered a second. The motion passed unanimously.

Kathy Ahlen, WFRPC, gave a yearly SHIP Program presentation. The services that are provided include: substantial rehabilitation, moderate rehabilitation, emergency repair, and first time homebuyer assistance.

Commissioner Williams made a motion to approve hiring William Collins in District 4 in a temporary FEMA position with Commissioner King offering a second. The motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Merchant stated he had received several complaints on the litter problem in Holmes County. The Board agreed to get Al Vetzel, Litter Control, to discuss this with the Board and see what steps can be taken.

Wilburn Baker, Ambulance Director, addressed the Board regarding a grant for 90% state and 10% county or 75% state and 25% county grant which would enable them to buy another ambulance or chassis for an existing truck. Mr. Baker also stated if the county could not come up with their 10% or 25% that the grant could be declined. Commissioner Music made a motion to allow the Chairman to sign for the grants to be submitted. Commissioner Merchant offered a second. The motion passed unanimously.

Wilburn Baker, Ambulance Director, gave an update on the mold problem at the Westville Ambulance Station. There are upgrades that need to be done before it can be occupied again. The cost is not known at this time and the City of Westville has submitted a claim to their insurance company. Ambulance personnel are happy with the current arrangements of the travel trailer. The Board agreed to let the City of Westville contact the insurance company and will go from there.

Commissioner Williams commended Mr. Baker and his staff on passing a spot check by the state.

Commissioner King stated he had spoken with Sheriff Lee concerning some things that needed to be addressed with the 911 office. Sheriff Lee stated he could let one of his dispatchers assist Clint Erickson, 911 Department, with taking 911 applications and money for addresses. Sheriff Lee stated he would like for the money to go back into the program and not into salary. Commissioner King made a motion to allow Chairman Thomas to work with Sheriff Lee to set up a procedure for the dispatcher to assist. Commissioner Music offered a second. The motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Music stated he has 100 tons of fine rubber from tires that he would be willing to donate to the county. Amy Loflin, Project Management Specialist, stated she would like to contact some local contractors to see if they might want to purchase the rubber.

Chairman Thomas stated that the Life Management Center would like to use the Commissioner’s Meeting room every Thursday night from 6-9 pm from Feb. 15 – April 12. The Board agreed that the room does not need to be tied up for that length of time.

Clint Erickson, 911 Department, asked the Board for permission to apply for 3 grants. The first grant would be for a generator to run the 911 office. The second grant would be to send two dispatchers to a training conference in Miami. And the third grant would be to cover the maintenance fees for the 911 system. All three grants are non-matching for the county. Commissioner Music made a motion to approve the application for all three grants with Commissioner Williams offering a second. The motion passed unanimously.

Clint Erickson stated a grant from the past year for $15,000 still had $2,350 left to spend. He stated he would like to use it on maintenance for data management mostly located in the city. Mr. Erickson stated he would like to hire someone to do street analysis and review. The Board discussed problems in finding homes due to addresses not being marked. The Board asked Gerald Holley, Attorney, to look at the ordinance from Washington County that mandates people to mark their 911 address and let the Board consider it. Chairman Thomas stated he would like to talk to Mr. Erickson about the City of Bonifay problems before hiring someone to do it.

Benny Little, area resident, stated his concern for an old burned trailer located a few miles north on Hwy 177. Mr. Little asked if there were any ordinances requiring this to be cleaned up. Chairman Thomas stated the Board would have to check and see if there was an ordinance regarding this.

Amy Loflin, Project Management Specialist, asked the Board for permission to submit a grant to the DOT Highway Safety Grant Program to apply for funding to get wheel guards on bridges. Commissioner King made a motion to approve the submission of this grant with Commissioner Merchant offering a second. The motion passed unanimously.

Ms. Loflin also stated she also needed permission to submit a Countywide Emergency Communications Enhancement Project. This will be for the purchase of a NOAH weather transmitter to be placed on the Prosperity tower. Commissioner King made a motion to approve the submission of this grant with Commissioner Music offering a second. The motion passed unanimously.

Todd and Malia Flannery, area residents, addressed the Board concerning the Recreation Center. Their concern was what would happen with the building if the City of Bonifay does not keep running it. The Board stated they would need to research the deed and see if the county would be involved in this or not.

Wilburn Baker, Ambulance Director, discussed the replacement of the tower located next to Doctor’s Memorial Hospital that was recently destroyed in an accident involving a truck. The replacement cost is $45,627.14 and allowing for depreciation that leave an actual cash value of $34,632.91 that the insurance company would pay. Commissioner Music made a motion to allow Gerald Holley, Attorney, to send a certified letter requesting the $45,627.14 or file a lawsuit. Commissioner King offered a second. The motion passed unanimously. Dewey Crutchfield, Ward Bell, stated that the trucking company could use the fact that the guide wires were not visibly marked if the county decided to start a law suit. Commissioner King made a motion to rescind Commissioner Music’s motion to send a letter to the trucking company. Commissioner Merchant offered a second. The motion passed unanimously. Commissioner King made a motion to accept the offer of the actual cash value payment of $34,632.91 with Commissioner Merchant offering a second. The motion passed unanimously.

There being no further business, the meeting stood adjourned.

_____________________________ __________________________

Cody Taylor, Clerk Raymon Thomas, Chairman