September 8, 2009

Tentative Budget Hearing

Bonifay, Florida

The Holmes County Board of Commissioners met in a Special Session on the above date with the following members present: Commissioner Ron Monk, Commissioner Kenneth Williams, Commissioner Jim King, Commissioner Phillip Music, and Commissioner Monty Merchant, Chairman of the Board.

Alice Vickers, Deputy Clerk, was present and kept the minutes.

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

Chairman Merchant stated that the rolled-back rate is 9.4172 and the percentage increase in the proposed millage over the rolled-back rate is .88%. He also advised that the proposed millage was set at 9.5 mills in order to balance the General and Transportation Trust funds. The public was given an opportunity to speak with the following responding:

Mr. Oliver Reichert

Commissioner Music offered a motion to set the tentative millage at 9.5. Commissioner Williams offered a second. The motion passed unanimously.

Ms. Ann Payne, Recycling employee, reported to the Board that of the ninety-seven (97) customers on the cardboard route only twenty (20) had committed to pay a $30 monthly charge, twenty-two (22) definitely would not pay, with the others not contacting her back. She also advised that most who had agreed were in Geneva and that no local businesses had agreed to pay the charge. The Board discussed that once customers begin to accumulate cardboard and have to pay increased disposal fees, more customers may be willing to pay this fee. The Board agreed to the following:

1 - to approve the fee schedule for accepting electronic components such as computers and televisions since the storage building was complete - ( Fee Schedule)

2 - to charge Holmes County businesses $20 per month for a weekly cardboard pickup and $30 per month for all others

3 – to add $7,200 annual revenue from charges for the cardboard route to the $77,200 budget for a total budget of $84,400

4 - to create a temporary driver position for a six month trial period to pick up cardboard from paying customers with the driver working four (4) eight (8) hour days per week, the Board will evaluate the cost effectiveness at the end of six (6) months

5 – to set the fees for waste tires at $100 per ton, $2.50 for regular tires, and $7.00 for semi tires

6 - to charge all agencies for waste tires except County departments, including the State Prison unless the tires were picked up by the Work Squads from the County right-of-way

7 – to continue holding the annual Hazardous Amnesty Day at a cost of approximately $2,500 and to discontinue accepting tires during this event

8 – to evaluate the cardboard route and to only pick up out of the County when cost effective

9 – to discontinue cardboard pickup as of September 11^th for those who have not agreed to pay the fee, to pick up the “pens”, and to clean up the area before leaving

10 – to close at 4:00 p.m. on Friday since Ms. Payne will be working alone and supervising the inmate crew through her lunch hour

11 – to discontinue accepting glass

Mr. Cody Taylor, Clerk, advised that a contract had been received from Dr. Yunis and from Doctor’s Memorial for inmate medical services and asked the Board to consider this at their next meeting.

Commissioner Music offered a motion to adopt the tentative budget with Commissioner Monk offering a second. The motion passed unanimously.

Chairman Merchant announced that the final budget hearing would be held on Monday, September 21, 2009 at 5:01 p.m.

Commissioner Williams advised that the new Mo-Trims would be delivered by the end of the month.

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

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Clerk Chairman