November 19, 2007

Special Session

Bonifay, Florida

The Holmes County Board of Commissioners 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.

Alice Vickers, Deputy Clerk, was present.

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

Pursuant to Public Notice, the Board held a Supplemental Budget Hearing for the 2006-07 fiscal year. The Supplemental Budget was to transfer General Fund revenue received for Ambulance tower insurance reimbursement to the Commissioners’ Trust Fund-Traffic Surcharge account. Commissioner King offered a motion to adopt the Supplemental Budget with Commissioner Music offering a second. The motion passed unanimously.

(Supplemental Budget)

The Board discussed Budget Amendment #5. This amendment was for year end department line item transfers. Commissioner Williams offered a motion to approve Budget Amendment #5 with Commissioner Music offering a second. The motion passed unanimously.

(Budget Amendment #5)

Administrator Wood discussed increasing the wages of the Recycling Coordinator, the Recycling Technician, and the Litter Control Officer. He stated that the budget requests for these departments had included a $1.00 per hour increase for the Coordinator and the Technician and a $2.00 per hour increase for the Litter Control Officer. He also advised that the Board had not specifically voted to give these budgeted increases and had only authorized the 3% which had been given to all employees. Commissioner Music offered a motion to authorize the following increases, retroactive to October 1, 2007:

Recycling Coordinator $ .70 per hour

Recycling Technician $ .49 per hour

Litter Control Officer $1.48 per hour

Commissioner King offered a second. The motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner King asked that the Board consider increasing the hourly rate of the Recycling Technician to the same rate as a Road Maintenance Technician - $10.35. He explained that this was a “truck driving” position which was very similar to the duties of a Road Maintenance Technician. Commissioner King offered a motion to approve this change with Commissioner Music offering a second. The motion passed unanimously. The Board agreed that this change would be effective immediately and would not be retroactive to October 1.

Administrator Wood asked the Board to consider a $.50 per hour increase for Tink

Brown, Building Department Secretary. He advised that she would be attending the software training soon. Commissioner King offered a motion to approve this increase with Commissioner Music offering a second. The motion passed unanimously.

Administrator Wood informed the Board that the County Attorney felt it was a conflict for Hubert Hendrix, Shop Foreman, to serve on the Planning Commission. The Board requested that the Attorney put this in writing and then action would be taken.

Chairman Thomas and Administrator Wood gave an update on the Florida Association of Counties meeting that they had recently attended. Discussion included the constitutional amendment which would be on the January ballot and a legislative revenue offset for fiscally constrained counties who would lose revenue if the amendment passes.

The Board discussed the fire assessment fee for fire protection services. Chairman Thomas advised that this item would be a “straw” ballot for the 01/29/08 election.

The Board discussed developing a “rain day” policy for the Road Department. Commissioner Williams advised that the daily payroll for the Road Department was approximately $5,500 and that if the employees went home because of rain, they should not be paid unless using leave time. Administrator Wood advised that each foreman should have a list of rainy day projects for employees to do or to send them to another district where it was not raining. He also advised that it would be an appropriate time for the Shop to perform maintenance on the equipment since it would not be used during the rain. Commissioner Merchant offered a motion for Administrator Wood to prepare a policy and to put this item on the agenda for the next meeting. Commissioner Music offered a second. The motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Music offered a motion to adjourn with Commissioner Merchant offering a second. The motion passed unanimously.

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Clerk Chairman