July 31, 2007

Regular Session

Bonifay, Florida

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, County Administrator, was present.

Angie Jonas, Deputy Clerk, was present and kept the minutes.

Chairman Thomas opened the meeting and led the prayer and pledge.

Pursuant to Public Notice, the Board held a public hearing to consider the adoption of the large scale land use amendment for the Department of Transportation (DOT) site of approximately twenty eight acres located in Ponce de Leon. Previously, the land had been zoned for recreational use. In order for the DOT to utilize this site as needed, a large scale amendment to the Comprehensive plan had to be done. Commissioner King offered a motion to adopt the large scale land usage for this site. Commissioner Merchant offered a second. The motion passed unanimously.

(Ordinance 07-06)

The Board discussed the Large Scale Land Use Change for a 21 acre parcel located on Scott Road. Currently the property is zoned as Agricultural, and the amendment would change the zoning to Low Density Residential. Mr. Robert Gilmore spoke on behalf of his father Mr. Houston Gilmore who is the landowner to the south of the development. He discussed his concerns regarding the privacy rights of landowners in the areas surrounding the development. He also asked about the process for approving the final plat plan. Mr. Greg Wood, County Administrator, advised that another public hearing would be held before final adoption and these issues could be addressed at that time. Commissioner Music made a motion to approve the transmission of the amendment to DCA for approval. Commissioner Merchant seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Music offered a motion to close the public hearing. Commissioner Merchant seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

(Letter from Planning Commission to BOCC)

Mrs. Helen Hunt Rigdon, Representative from Congressman Miller's Office of District I, presented U.S. Congressional Awards to Clerk of Courts Mr. Cody Taylor and Commissioner Thomas for their exemplary service to Holmes County.

Chairman Thomas advised the public that anyone wishing to speak must fill out a card and he recessed the meeting for five minutes to allow time for this.

The meeting was reconvened.

Commissioner Williams offered a motion to approve the following consent items:

June 12, 2007 Special Session Minutes

July 10, 2007 Special Session Minutes

Local Option Gas Tax Inter-local Agreement

Solid Waste Franchise Agreements for N.W. Sanitation, Household Disposal

Service and Family Refuse

Hazards Analysis Grant-Emergency Management

Department of Juvenile Justice Interagency Agreement

Tax Collector's Recapitulation

Commissioner Merchant seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Chairman Thomas congratulated The Holmes County Dixie Youth Baseball Team for their recent state championship and eligibility for competition at the Youth World Series to be held in Virginia. Team Coaches Russ and Wilson expressed their feelings of pride for the boys' accomplishments. Commissioner Merchant made a motion to contribute $1500.00 from contingencies. Commissioner Williams seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Chairman Thomas read the proposed lease agreement between the Town of Westville and the County for the location of the Westville Ambulance mobile home. The Board also discussed the list of items needed to set up the mobile home. Commissioner Music made a motion to proceed with the ten year lease of the property and move forward with the installation of the mobile home septic, water, air conditioning, and skirting. Commissioner Merchant seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

(Set up costs, lease agreement)

The Board discussed setting the proposed millage rate. Commissioner King stated that the current rate is 9.75 and that he would like to help the people by lowering the millage at least .25. Commissioner King made a motion to set the proposed millage at 9.50. Chairman Thomas advised the Board that the proposed rate set during this meeting would be the highest rate that could be considered for this year. Commissioner Williams seconded the motion. Commissioner Music voted no; with all others voting yes. The motion passed.

The Board discussed setting dates and times for the upcoming Budget Hearings. Commissioner Williams made a motion to set Monday, September 10, 2007at 5:01 p.m. for the Tentative Budget Hearing. Commissioner Music seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Commissioner King made a motion to set Monday, September 24, 2007 at 5:01 p.m. as the Final Budget Hearing. Commissioner Music seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Thomas asked Administrator Wood for an update on the County Incentive Grant Program Submittal requests. Mr. Wood advised that no requests have been submitted.

The Board discussed the Equal Employment Opportunity Plan (EEOP). Chairman Thomas stated that this plan must be updated every two years in order to meet the criteria for the Sheriff’s JAG Grant application. Administrator Wood advised the Board that the Labor Attorney and other involved parties had reviewed necessary information and noted no changes were necessary. Commissioner King made a motion to allow the EEOP to be renewed so the application could be completed. Commissioner Music seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

(EEO Plan)

Mr. Wood asked the Board to consider allowing him to move forward with the Small County Technical Assistance Services Grant Program Application. He discussed the benefits of this service. He explained that the services would benefit the Board in amending the Comprehensive Plan for the future. He noted that if there were more foresight in the Comprehensive Plan, the process of developing land would be clearer for both citizens and the Board, thus eliminating future issues. County Commissioner King made a motion to proceed with the application. Commissioner Williams seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

(Application)

Mr. Wood informed the Board that he had received three applications for the County Attorney position. He asked the Board to rank two applicants as their top choices for this position from the following attorneys:

Leah Brook $500 retainer, $100 per hour

Brandon Young $500 retainer, $150 per hour

Sheila Engum $800 retainer, $100 per hour

He also advised that he would continue to negotiate the hourly rate. Commissioner King offered a motion to rank Brandon Young as first choice. The motion died for lack of a second. Commissioner Williams made a motion to accept Mr. Brandon Young as the first choice and Mrs. Leah Brook as the second choice. Commissioner Music seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Wood advised that he had received a letter from the City of Bonifay stating that due to requirements set forth by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, water meters at the County jail and courthouse needed to be replaced. Commissioner King stated that the jail meter was relatively new. Mr. Wood said that he would follow up on this matter.

Mr. Wood reminded the Board that he had removed Mrs. Wanda Stafford, Emergency Management Director, from the SHIP Committee thus creating a vacancy. He stated that Joel Paul, Tri-County Community Council Director had suggested his employee Ms. Carol Edwards as a candidate for this position. Ms. Edwards currently works with the SHIP Emergency Repairs Program. Commissioner King made a motion to name Ms. Carol Edwards to the SHIP Committee. Commissioner Music seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Wood asked the Board to adopt the 2007 Department of Transportation (DOT) standards manual or "purple book" as the road standard for Holmes County in order to be in compliance with State regulations. Commissioner Music made a motion to accept the 2007 manual as the new regulation regarding Holmes County roads. Commissioner Merchant seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Wood updated the Board on the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Holmes County Landfill site assessment findings. Currently, water tests conducted on wells at the landfill site have concluded that there are high levels of iron present. The concern of the FDEP was that the iron would contaminate the wetland area waters as well and proposed a cleanup. He advised that the FDEP is requiring our consultant Mr. Jeff Brown, Hydrologist of Brown, Burdines and Associates, LLC do further testing and submit findings by the deadline of August 17, 2007. Mr. Wood stated that Mr. Brown sent him a memo concluding that the test site findings were not supportive of the necessity for full site clean up measures and proposed that the best action for the County would be to address the review by FDEP by including a copy of the report done by his firm. Mr. Brown said in his memo should the FDEP find the results of his report unsatisfactory, he then would propose a meeting to include FDEP, Administrator Wood, at least on Board member and members of Brown, Burdine and Associates, LLC.

(FDEP letter, FDEP memo, Brown Memo)

Mr. Wood presented the Board with a letter form Opportunity Florida and asked members to consider whether or not to continue participation in the Opportunity Florida organization. Commissioner King made a motion to pay the membership dues and to rename Mr. Tom Jenkins as the Board’s representative. Commissioner Music seconded the motion. The motion passed with Commissioner Merchant voting no and all others voting yes.

Mr. Wood updated the Board on the Sun Lake Development Amendment. He stated that they are making every effort to complete the amendment to accommodate the investors to this project.

Mr. Wood updated the Board regarding the County Mosquito Control program. He stated that he will be the temporary Director of this program and will be attending mosquito control classes. He said as the Director that it will be necessary to conduct sampling throughout the County in order to monitor the effectiveness of the current schedule. He also noted plans of working with the 4-H program to raise "mosquito fish".

Mr. Wood advised the Board regarding the Debris Control contract required by FEMA. He asked to Board to submit some recommendations to him regarding possible disposal sites. He stated that is would be logical for Holmes County to "piggyback" on the contract for debris control for Lynn Haven. Commissioner King made a motion to allow Administrator Wood to move forward with the "piggyback" with Lynn Haven for debris removal by Ashbritt Company. Commissioner Music seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Wood asked the Board to set a date for an Executive Session to discuss union negotiations. He informed the Board that he would be heading the meeting rather than the labor attorney who would now serve in a “review only” capacity. The Board agreed to meet on Thursday, August 9, 2007, 4:30 p.m.

Chairman Thomas advised that Ms. Camille Tharpe of the Government Services Group had to exit the meeting due to another engagement and would not be speaking on Fire Special Assessments.

Mr. Wood asked the Board for a date for the Surplus Sale and permission to dispose of County equipment at the surplus sale. He also asked if it would be permissible to dispose of some items via a salvage company. Chairman Thomas asked Mr. Wood to check the ordinance requirements for disposal of such items, as he believed that the items had to go through the auction. No action was taken.

Mr. Wood asked the Board to consider moving Willie Sewell of District 1 to the Foreman position. Commissioner King advised that Mr. Sewell had been filling in as Road Foreman since before Christmas with no pay increase. Commissioner King made a motion to change Mr. Sewell to heavy equipment operator. Commissioner Music seconded the motion. Chairman Thomas reiterated that the motion was to promote Mr. Sewell to Foreman with the benefits. The vote passed unanimously.

Chairman Thomas discussed the County’s Comprehensive Plan and the Amendment adopted by Ordinance 06-13. He assured citizens that this amendment does not prevent individuals from subdividing their property among relatives. Hilton T. Meadows presented his petition for rejection and remand of this amendment and read it into the record. He asked the Board to acknowledge receipt of the petition with no reply from the Board. He voiced his concern regarding provisions of the Comprehensive Plan in reference to land development.

(Petition)

The following citizens spoke against the amendment and in favor of Mr. Meadows’ petition:

Mr. Carl Gillman Mr. David K. Harrison

Mr. Ronald Deckert Ms. Kimberly Shinkman

Ms. Faye Bowman asked for assistance with paving Rum Road.

Mr. Bob Jones updated the Board on the status of the Rum Road project. He said the design was 98% done and that the project manual was completed already. He was hopeful that the project would move forward and noted bids could be accepted as early as September 1, 2007. He also stated that the Fire Department Building should be started this month. Commissioner King asked for an update on the well. Mr. Jones stated that the contract had been signed and that the well should be started around the same time as the building project is started.

Commissioner Music made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Merchant seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

_________________________ _________________________

Clerk Chairman