August 28, 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.

Attorney Brandon Young and Mr. Greg Wood, County Administrator, were present.

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

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

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

August 9, 2007 Executive Session, Special Session & Workshop Minutes

August 14, 2007 Regular Session Minutes

Lease Agreement-Pittman Volunteer Fire Department

Florida Department of Juvenile Justice Interagency Agreement

Budget Amendment-Jail

Certification for Implementation of Regulatory Reform Activities Required by SHIP

Miscellaneous Appropriations Agreement-Holmes Council on Aging

State Touring Program Grant No. 08-3770-Library

Commissioner King seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Chairman Thomas opened the sealed bids for inmate healthcare services. The following submissions were made:

Northwest Florida Community Hospital $105,000 annually

Doctor's Memorial Hospital No bid

Commissioner King made a motion to award the bid to Northwest Florida Community Hospital. Commissioner Music seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

(Bids, Contract)

The Board discussed nominations for the Value Adjustment Board (VAB). Commissioner King made a motion to elect Commissioner Thomas as the Chairman of the VAB, with Commissioners Merchant & Williams as Board members. Chairman Thomas stated that the Chairman of the Board could not serve on the VAB. The motion died for lack of a second. Commissioner King offered a motion to appoint Commissioner Williams, Merchant and Music, with Commissioner Music acting as Chairman. Commissioner Music made a motion to set the VAB meeting date and time for Thursday, October 11, 2007 at 8 a.m. Commissioner King seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Williams advised the Board that he had replaced the faded stop sign at the intersection of Highway 173 and Highway 160.

Mr. Greg Wood, County Administrator, asked the Board to allow him to research a more secure locking mechanism for the Road Department. He advised that the current lock and key system was not the best method for securing County properties and suggested a “high-end” combination lock with the combination changing every ninety days. Commissioner Williams made a motion to allow Mr. Wood to gather pricing information for the combination locks. Commissioner King seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Wood asked the Board for authorization to amend the current "Sick Leave Policy" of County employees. He asked the Board to consider allowing sick leave to be used for illness of immediate family members. He clarified that “immediate” would be defined as anyone who could be claimed on an employee’s W-2 such as a spouse, child or invalid relative such as an elderly parent. Commissioner King made a motion to allow Mr. Wood to amend the current policy to allow sick time to be taken for illness of immediate family members or invalid parents. Commissioner Music seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Wood postponed his "Department Head Status" agenda item until the next meeting.

Mr. Wood asked the Board to authorize him to approve employee work travel requests as their departmental budgets allow, rather than to require each request be approved by the Board of Commissioners. The Board agreed.

Mr. Wood asked the Board to allow him to file the paperwork with the Florida Department of Transportation and West Florida Regional Planning Council to change the classification of Highway 79 from the County line to the Bonifay City limits. The classification would change from "rural undeveloped" status to "rural developed" status in order to accommodate upcoming increase in traffic flow on this road due to the construction of the new hospital facility and other area developments. Commissioner King made a motion to allow Mr. Wood to move forward with the application. Commissioner Merchant seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Wood advised the Board that the interviews for the full time Building Department Secretary had been completed. He stated that Mr. Roger Williams, Building Inspector, had recommended Mrs. Tink Brown for the position. Commissioner Music made a motion to hire Mrs. Tink Brown as the full time secretary for the Building Department and to give her a $.25 per hour raise. Commissioner King seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Wood presented the Board with a quote from Tommy's Auto Glass to replace the windows in the Tax Collector/Property Appraiser's Office located in the "old bank building". After much discussion, the item was tabled for a later date.

Mr. Wood asked the Board to consider whether to advertise for a new County Auditor or to retain the current County Auditor. Commissioner King made a motion to keep the same auditor. Commissioner Merchant seconded the motion. Chairman Thomas advised that no action had to be taken if no changes were being made. Commissioner King withdrew his motion, with Commissioner Merchant withdrawing his second.

Mr. Wood asked the Board for a budget workshop to be scheduled. Commissioner Williams made a motion to hold a workshop on Thursday August 30, 2007 at 1:00 p.m. Commissioner Music seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Wood informed the Board that he had recently attended a meeting with the West Florida Regional Planning Council regarding the Capital Improvement Element of the Comprehensive Plan. He advised the Board of the upcoming restrictions regarding submissions for large and small scale amendments.

Mr. Wood updated the Board regarding erosion control and the "Stream Crossing Grants". He informed the Board that the Department of Environmental Protection was looking for a status on the erosion control issue. Chairman Thomas asked Mr. Wood to consult with the "Three Rivers” engineers concerning this issue.

Mr. Wood updated the Board regarding State budget cuts to begin in mid September. Mr. Wood advised the Board that due to these cuts, funding would not be available at this time for the Bookmobile. He asked Susan Harris to amend her Library budget to reflect this change. Mr. Wood advised the Board that proposed State budget cuts are slated to occur in other areas such as Medicaid funding and road projects as well.

Mr. Morrie Norwood of Office Depot made a presentation concerning office supply spending. Mr. Norwood stressed that Office Depot's program would offer the County greater savings over a long period of time as well as a 21% pricing discount on most items. No action was taken.

Mr. Wood asked the Board to allow him to include five "at large" members for the SHIP committee instead of the two alternates and three “at large” members previously discussed. This would allow one "at large" member per district. The Board agreed.

Hilton T. Meadows, read a memorandum from Mr. Richard Gilmore and himself regarding recent proposed future land use amendments.

(Letter)

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

______________________________ ________________________________

Clerk Chairman