April 10, 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.

 

     Commissioner Music made a motion to approve the minutes from March 27, 2007 Regular Session. Commissioner Williams offered a second. The motion passed unanimously.

 

     Commissioner King made a motion to approve the Satisfaction of Mortgage on Kenneth & Melissa Brannon in the amount of $5,500.00 and Mark E. & Crystal A. Lumpkin in the amount of $5,000.00 with Commissioner Music offering a second. The motion passed unanimously.

(Satisfaction of Mortgages)

 

     Commissioner Music made a motion to approve paying mileage expenses in the amount of $917.96 for the three County Administrator applicants that will be interviewed. Commissioner Williams offered a second. The motion passed unanimously.

 

     Pursuant to Public Notice, sealed bids were opened for four bush hogs. The bids were as follows:

            SunSouth – Dothan                  $14,081.12      each     $56,324.48      total

            SunSouth – Samson                 $11,250.00      each     $45,000.00      total

            Northside New Holland          $10,864.50      each     $43,458.00      total

            Northside New Holland          $10,106.00      each     $40,424.00      total

            J.D. Swearingen Equipment    $10,386.00      each     $41,544.00      total

Commissioner Music made a motion to accept the bid from J.D. Swearingen for the total amount of $41,544.00. Commissioner Williams offered a second. The motion passed unanimously.

(Bids)

 

     The Board discussed financing quotes received to purchase the bush hogs and an excavator. The quotes are as follows:

            SunTrust Leasing         4.81%

            BancorpSouth              4.39%

            Hancock Bank             3.90%

Commissioner King made a motion to approve Hancock Bank for 3.90% with Commissioner Music offering a second. The motion passed unanimously.

(Quotes)

 

     Amy Loflin, Project Management Specialist, requested for the following employees to work at the Holmes County Kids Fishing Derby to be held on April 28, 2007 and receive comp time: John Hagans, Al Vetzel, Ann Payne, and Amy Loflin. Commissioner King made a motion to approve the comp time with Commissioner Music offering a second. The motion passed unanimously.

 

          Jeff Brown, Brown, Burdine, & Associates gave an update regarding the Holmes County landfill. Mr. Brown stated there were small areas with limited amounts of iron present which the Department of Environmental Protection will need to review for the proper way to handle. Commissioner King made a motion to authorize Brown, Burdine & Associates to proceed with a limited risk assessment to be presented to the Department of Environmental Protection for their recommendation. Commissioner Music offered a second. The motion passed unanimously.

 

          Commissioner Merchant made a motion to proceed with the request for qualifications and specifications for proposals for financing, design, construction, operation and management of a 500 bed privately owned detention facility. Commissioner Music offered a second. The motion passed unanimously.

 

     Amy Loflin, Project Management Specialist, requested the Board get her a list of their recommendations for projects to be submitted to the Small County Road Assistance Program and the Small County Outreach Program for funding.

 

     John Hagans, Projects Manager, requested for the Board to consider hiring an Inmate Detail Supervisor that would take a non DOC supervisor course to be able to obtain a crew of inmates on a daily basis for work to be done in Holmes County. Mr. Hagans stated he would also take this course. Commissioner King made a motion to approve this position starting at $10.05 per hour with Commissioner Music offering a second. Commissioner Williams and Commissioner Merchant voted no with Commissioner King, Commissioner Music and Chairman Thomas voting yes. The motion passed.

 

     Commissioner King made a motion to approve the Emergency Operations Center Sub-grant Agreement in the amount of $710,104.00 for the construction of the new EOC with Commissioner Music offering a second. The motion passed unanimously.

(Agreement)

 

     Commissioner King made a motion to authorize Chairman Thomas to sign a notice to proceed with Hatch Mott MacDonald for the new Emergency Operations Center with Commissioner Music offering a second. The motion passed unanimously.

(Notice to Proceed)

 

     Wanda Stafford, Emergency Management, gave an update on the Emergency Operations Center Project. Ms. Stafford stated there was a concern for locating the center on Hwy 90 due to limited site access in case of a train derailment. She also stated there was a tract of land located just east of Hwy 79 that could also be accessed by Hwy 177 which is owned by P.T. Timber  Fund Three LLC. Commissioner Merchant made a motion to offer $1,500 per acre for a total of ten acres with Commissioner King offering a second. The motion passed unanimously.

 

     Kathy Ahlen, West Florida Regional Planning Council, presented the Board with the SHIP Local Housing Assistance Plan. Ms. Ahlen went over the recommendations from both the SHIP Advisory Committee and WFRPC staff. Perry Jackson, USDA, discussed his concerns with the Board. The Board set a special session to be held on April 18, 2007 at 9:00 am with both the staff and committee to go over the recommendations before making their decision.

(Plan)

 

     Commissioner Williams made a motion to place Rusty Williams in the vacant position on the Planning Commission in District 4 with Commissioner Music offering a second. The motion passed unanimously.

 

     Commissioner Merchant made a motion to lower the rental fees for the New Hope Volunteer Fire Department to $50.00 per day with no waivers and $25.00 to be refunded if the building is cleaned afterwards. Wilburn Baker will be responsible for checking to see if the cleaning was done properly before the $25.00 is refunded. Commissioner King offered a second. The motion passed unanimously.

 

     Commissioner Merchant made a motion to replace Jimmy Peterson on the Prosperity Park Committee with Jeremy Roland. Commissioner Williams offered a second. The motion passed unanimously.

 

     Commissioner Music stated that Tri-County Community Council had requested placing a fuel tank at the road yard for their use. The Board tabled this issue until a representative from Tri-County Community Council could be present to explain in further detail.

 

     Commissioner Music stated the pump at Wright’s Creek Park was broken and the restrooms were out of order. The Board agreed to get prices on repairing or replacing the pump before a decision was made.

 

     Jim McCusker, area resident, discussed the state legislature cuts.

 

     Mary Coleman, Tri-County Realty, presented the Board with a listing for the Gritney Mall and stated the Board might be interested in this purchase for county use. No action was taken.

 

     Commissioner King made a motion to renew the contract with Hatch Mott MacDonald for Engineering Services for Holmes County for an additional two years. Commissioner Merchant offered a second. The motion passed unanimously.

     The Board recessed for one hour.

 

     The Board reconvened.

 

     Commissioner King made a motion to tear down the restrooms located at the Wright’s Creek Park. The motion died for lack of a second. Chairman Thomas asked the Board to bring recommendations for the problem to the next Board meeting.

 

     Joel Paul, Tri-County Community Council, discussed the Emergency Repair program with the Board. Commissioner King stated he had concerns relating to contractors not doing the repairs needed up to standards. Mr. Paul agreed to go with Commissioner King to a residence that had received repairs to see the condition of the home.

 

     Joel Paul, Tri-County Community Council, also discussed their request for a fuel tank to be placed at the road yard for their use. Mr. Paul stated that due to the County using mostly diesel fuel that it would not be feasible to proceed with his request since their fleet uses unleaded gas.

 

     Commissioner King made a motion to rescind the motion made earlier to pay for the travel expenses for the applicants coming for the County Administrator position interviews. Commissioner Merchant offered a second. Commissioner King, Commissioner Williams, Commissioner Merchant and Commissioner Music voted yes with Chairman Thomas voting no. The motion passed.

 

     Dr. Beverly Helms discussed with the Board appropriate interview questions for the applicants that will be interviewed for the County Administrator position. Dr. Helms also informed the Board that there were questions that were illegal to ask during the interview. The Board agreed to rank the candidates and make a decision immediately following the interviews. They also authorized Chairman Thomas to negotiate with the top ranked regarding salary, auto allowance, moving expenses and other questions that may be asked.

 

     There being no further business, the meeting stood adjourned.

 

 

 

 

 

 

_____________________________                                    __________________________

Cody Taylor, Clerk                                                               Raymon Thomas, Chairman