August 9, 2007

Special Session & Workshop

Bonifay, Florida

The Holmes County Board of Commissioner met in a Special 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 called the meeting to order.

Commissioner King made a motion to pay the DEP storage tank violation fine of $7000.00. Commissioner Music seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Greg Wood, County Administrator, advised the Board that there was an urgent need to get the communication tower in the Vortex Springs area "up and running". He presented the Board with a letter from Mrs. Wanda Stafford of the $12.50 Surcharge Committee. The letter listed the items that the $12.50 Surcharge Committee voted unanimously to recommend for payment which included the following: tower setup, replacement batteries, mobile radios, surge protectors, programming fees and licensing costs. Commissioner King made a motion to approve the disbursement of funds to cover above mentioned costs. Commissioner Music seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

(Letter)

Mr. Wood asked the Board for recommendations for nominations for the Building Review Board by next meeting.

Commissioner King added to the Administrator items. He informed the Board that he had hired a temporary person to fill the Road Maintenance Technician vacancy left by Willie Sewell's recent promotion at the Road Department.

Mr. Wood gave a brief overview of his and Chairman Thomas' recent tour of an Emerald Companies' detention facility in El Paso, Texas. He noted that the facility was well run and was very cost efficient. He advised that if a facility is located here, we could work with them to cut food service and medical cost for our County Jail. He informed the Board that a proposal would be forthcoming within two weeks. Chairman Thomas stated that this would provide between 140 and 200 jobs depending on the number of beds approved.

Chairman Thomas asked Administrator Wood for an update regarding County Attorney negotiations with Attorney Brandon Young and reminded the Board of the urgency of hiring an attorney. Commissioner Music made a motion to allow Mr. Wood to prepare a contract and offer the position of County Attorney to Brandon Young. Commissioner King seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Administrator Wood advised that the Board could hire Mr. Young at the next meeting if he accepted the offer.

Mr. Wood updated the Board about the possibility of the Heath Department offering "on site" health services to the Road Department employees. He stressed the necessity of blood pressure checks with the excessive heat index lately.

Chairman Thomas recessed the meeting.

Chairman Thomas opened the Fire Assessment Workshop.

Mr. Jason Bucholz of the Government Services Group, Incorporated made a presentation regarding fire special assessment. In his presentation, Jason also highlighted services that Government Services Group was able to offer Holmes County. Some topics covered in the presentation were as follow: assessment vs. taxes, and methodologies for setting up such. He also clarified that an assessment could not be used to fund emergency medical services because this would not benefit “property” which was a requirement for this type of assessment.

The following volunteer fire department members spoke on behalf of the fire assessment:

Charles Corcoran Shay McCormick

J. R. Brookshire Caleb Church

Isaac Best Scott Prescott

Landis Messer

Chairman Thomas advised that there are several time sensitive deadlines to be met before the assessment could be implemented. He also asked Mr. Wood to gather information regarding exemptions. Commissioner Merchant stated that additional public meetings in other areas of the county would be a favorable idea.

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

______________________________ ________________________________

Clerk Chairman