September 11, 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.

Mr. Brandon Young, County Attorney, was present.

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

Chairman Thomas opened the meeting and led the pledge.

Mr. Dinkins led the prayer.

Pursuant to public notice, the Board held a Public Hearing regarding the land use amendment for the Department of Transportation (DOT) Operations Center, which is to be located in Ponce de Leon. Due to textual errors and omissions, the ordinance 07-06 needed to be rescinded in order to accommodate the submission of 07-09 which would include the land use change for the site for the new DOT building. Commissioner King made a motion rescind ordinance 07-06. Commissioner Merchant seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Commissioner King made a motion to close the public hearing regarding future land use.

Commissioner Music seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Williams made a motion to adopt Ordinance 07-09. Commissioner Merchant seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Commissioner King made a motion to close the public hearing. Commissioner Music seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Music made a motion to approve the following consent items with a correction being made on the Health Department contract to read "Holmes County" rather than "Bay County":

August 28, 2007 Regular Session Minutes

August 28, 2007 Executive Session Minutes

August 30, 2007 Budget Workshop Minutes

August 30, 2007 Special Session Minutes

Release of Lien-Loretta Sheetz

Amended Inter-local Agreement for Medical Examiner

Health Department Contract

Resolution 07-07 Health Department Fee Schedule

Wireless 911 Grant

Commissioner Merchant seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Chairman Thomas informed the Board that Mr. Orren Smith of the Panhandle Public Library Cooperative System (PPLCS) administrative board had submitted his resignation. Commissioner King made a motion to accept Mr. Smith's resignation. Commissioner Music seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Chairman Thomas read a letter from Ms. Susan Harris of the Holmes County Public Library, recommending Ms. Barbara Belford to fill the vacancy created by this resignation. Commissioner King made a motion to allow Ms. Barbara Belford to fill the PPLCS administrative board vacancy. Commissioner Music seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Ms. Holley Segers, County Health Department Administrator presented the "Think Pink" campaign and information regarding local health related issues. She highlighted some of the programs that are currently being offered by the Health Department in conjunction with Kiwanis and the Tri-County Council. Cardiovascular Health Awareness, Abstinence programs, and upcoming Breast Cancer screenings were some of the topics Ms. Segers covered.

Mr. Greg Wood, County Administrator, advised the Board that he had finished his proposed revision of the “Sick Leave” policy. He stated that the new revision would allow County employees to utilize their earned sick time to take care of immediate family members and any dependants. Previously, dependants had been defined as anyone an employee would claim on a W-2. Additionally, any employee leave for sick time that requires more than three shifts of work to be missed will require medical documentation. Commissioner King made a motion to adopt the new policy. Commissioner Music seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

(Revised Sick Policy)

Mr. Wood advised the Board that the Ambulance Department needs house number signs to be clearly visible at each residence in order for timely service to be administered in emergency situations. He stated that it might be a possibility to utilize funds from the 911 Department budget in order to offer signs to residents at a reduced cost. He also addressed the topic of street sign theft stating that because sign replacement is very costly, he would like to look into installing cameras in areas where road signs are notoriously stolen. He also stated that he would like to look into imposing stiffer penalties for sign removal by vandals. Chairman Thomas advised that there was only a policy regarding street sign removal and that no ordinance was in place to date. Attorney Brandon Young stated that he would assist Mr. Wood in developing the ordinances and penalty guidelines regarding house number and road signs.

Mr. Wood informed the Board that the County Fair dates this year are September 19-22, 2007. He stated that a new company will be providing midway facilities.

Mr. Wood advised the Board that the Extension Service is in need of three replacement computers. Mr. Shep Eubanks of the Extension Service presented the three quotes for new lap top computers as follow:

Dell 3,937.80

Gateway 5037.00

Hewlett Packard 6,873.00

He stated that he had a surplus of salary funds and asked for a budget amendment to facilitate the purchase of the computers. Commissioner King made a motion to authorize a budget amendment to allow for the purchase of three new laptop computers. Commissioner Music seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

(Letter, Quotes)

Mr. Wood asked the Board if they wished to move forward with the quote from Tommy's Glass to replace the windows in the Tax Collector's building. Commissioner King made a motion to allow Tommy's Auto Glass to replace the windows. Commissioner Merchant seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

(Quote)

Mr. Wood asked the Board to allow him to impose a spending deadline of September 14, 2007. He stated that he would like to have authorization to put a freeze on departmental spending to allow for the close of the fiscal year. He asked that any extraordinary circumstances for spending would need to be cleared by him directly. Commissioner Williams made a motion to allow Mr. Wood to impose a spending freeze effective September 14, 2007. Commissioner Merchant seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Wood informed the Board that there is a need for better inmate work crew coordination. He asked the Board to allow him to meet with the new prison warden to facilitate County needs. The Board agreed.

The agenda item regarding the Holmes County Housing Partnership Committee was postpones until a later date as the representative was not able to attend.

Commissioner King made a motion to hold public forums regarding land use issues. Commissioner Music seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

The following citizens spoke regarding land use issues:

Mr. James Martin Mr. Alford Williams

Mr. David Harrison Mr. Felton Miller

Mr. Hilton T. Meadows Mr. Robert Ward

Mr. Hilton T. Meadows, citizen, asked the Board to consider withdrawing the current Comprehensive Plan Amendment so that it could be revised and resubmitted. He then served the Board with a Chapter 119 petition to request all documentation regarding the Comprehensive Plan Amendment.

(Petition, Letter)

Mr. Ronnie Taylor and Mr. Mike Mathis of the Department of Forestry presented the Annual Report. They sited the hot summer weather and beetle infestations as the causes for poor forestry conditions. Mr. Taylor stated that the cost of their services to the County would not be increased this year.

Commissioner Merchant updated the Board to let them know that the Westville Ambulance station is obtaining quotes for a storage shed for their site.

Commissioner Merchant asked the Board to allow him to use approximately one hundred loads of milled asphalt at the new park facility located in Prosperity and also at Pittman Fire Station. Commissioner Music made a motion to allow Commissioner Merchant to use the milled asphalt at the park in Prosperity as well as at Pittman Fire Department. Commissioner Williams seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner King made a motion to withdraw the latest text change amendment to the Comprehensive Plan. The section of the amendment regarding the Sun Lake Development would not be withdrawn. Commissioner Music seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Hilton Meadows withdrew his Chapter 119 petition.

The Board discussed how to generate more community participation in the BOCC meetings. Mr. James Martin stated "There is a need for a system of communication here so that we're informed of when we're going to have a meeting. If we have a phone list, I'd like to be put on it." Chairman Thomas asked that Mr. Martin help to make phone calls to keep residents involved. Chairman Thomas stated that if Mr. Martin would like to participate in the phone list system, then the County would make sure that he would be contacted when meetings were scheduled. Commissioner Music made a motion to put Mr. James Martin's comments in the minutes. Commissioner Merchant seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner King made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Merchant seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned.

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Clerk Chairman