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Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=_tkcYWwddoU
Video-2: youtube.com/watch?v=BZHYXFRGZas

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--------- Okay. Good morning. Today is Tuesday, July 14th. It is 9:00 a.m. and we will call this meeting to order. We will begin with our invocation by um Ted Stackpole followed by the pledge of allegiance by J. Jr. Newold. Please uh silence your

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phone. Stand if you're able to do so. Bow your heads with me, please. Heavenly Father, we recognize today you are the creator of all worlds and that you are the one who established this government. And today in this moment, we recognize our own

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weaknesses. And we understand, God, a need for your wisdom. And I just ask today that everything that is said and done in this place will be done for your glory and for the benefit of the 74,000 residents that live in this beautiful Putnham

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County. Lord, we thank you for your goodness, your blessings to us. And today we say to you be all glory, honor, and power. In Jesus name I pray. Amen. >> Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the

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republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. All right. Moving into the approval of the minutes. Madam Chair, I move approval of the minutes stated in our packet forward the regular meeting June

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9th 2026. >> Second. >> Have a motion second. Any any concerns or questions? All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> All right. I'm going to take a point of privilege and before we move into the port authority meeting, I'm going to ask for Miss Parker to come forward to do the employee of the month presentations.

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Right. Bless you. God bless you. >> Allergies. >> At least I didn't sneeze in your direction. Right. >> Morning. >> Good morning. >> I have two um employee of the months that we are

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recognizing today. The first one is Stephen Alers. He works for public works and JT is going to say a few things about him, but you're awarded the employee of the month. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Uh Steven's a great guy to work with. Uh definitely one of the individuals you

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want representing you and the county. Uh upstanding citizen. Uh does everything in in an honest day's work. Uh he has an uncanny ability to see something on the road that needs fixed and one of you may call me about it and then I'll call him and he's already got it fixed. Uh, so I

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appreciate that. Uh, helping helping all of us look good in public works. He did not want to be here today. He does not like this kind of stuff. He'd rather be on the road. So, I appreciate that as well, Stephen. So, thank you very much for all the work that you do for the county. >> Thank you. We appreciate you.

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>> He don't want you don't want to speak. >> No, he does want a picture. Okay. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. No, you get Yeah, you get to be in the middle. >> Sorry, Jr.

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>> You're good. >> All right. On three. One, two, three. And again. One more. Um, next we're going to recognize the employee of the month for April and that would be Britney Long. If she and any

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staff members want to come up, Britney works for animal control. So, as you see, she's got a number of staff members who are in support of this. >> Yay. We couldn't bring them today. Gator wouldn't approve it. Um, I'm not as

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wonderful as JT, so I had to I wrote something last night about Britney. Britney has been a dedicated, valued, and trusted member of Putnham County Animal Services for nearly five years. That alone get should get a hand raised, a clap from everybody. Yes.

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contributing across multiple roles including animal control officer, kennel technician, dispatcher, and currently dispatch supervisor. Her diverse experience provides her with comprehensive understanding of the entire animal process. She leads our social media efforts, creating engaging

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dog of the day features and adoption posts that successfully connect shelter pets with adoptive families. She also coordinates post for found and lost animals, helping reunite pets with our owners and reducing the amount of time animals spend in our shelter.

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Additionally, Britney has played a key role in establishing and maintaining our partnership with the University of Florida Veterary Community Outreach Program. Through her coordination, this collaboration ensures timely veterary care, helping animals become healthy, adoption ready, and placed into

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permanent homes more efficiently. Britney's dedication, creativity, and commitment to animal welfare have made a significant impact on our department and the community, making her highly deserving of this employee of the month recognition. Thank you, Britney. Thank

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you Britney. Congratulations. Y'all want to come up for a picture? >> Time for a picture. Everybody on three. One, two, three. And again. One more.

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>> Yay. All right, with that we will recess our board of county commission meeting and convene our port authority meeting. Approval of the minutes. >> Madam chair, I move approval of the port authority meeting June 9th, 2026. >> Second. >> All in favor say I.

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>> I. >> All right. Moving into public comment on port authority items. Those are any public comment on port authority items. We will have an opportunity later to discuss consent agenda items and miscellaneous items. All right. Seeing

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no public comment, we have lease extension. Um I believe Mr. Commander, you have a little bit of an update on that. >> Yes, Madam Chair. So, for the commission's benefit, I was contacted by legal counsel for the tenant on items 3C and 3D and was asked if we could uh

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withdraw those from today's agenda and bring them back at the next agenda just so we can have some additional discussion. >> All right. Um I welcome that discussion. So, no problem. Is anybody have an issue with that? >> No.

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>> All right. We'll withdraw that item. All right. All right. Is there any general discussion on port authority items? All right. Seeing none, we will uh close the port authority and reconvene

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uh the BOCC. Um Heart of Putnham is has asked to move their item to the next meeting in July. So that brings up Nancy Russo with SMA Healthcare. And while she's making her way up, uh what we are doing, uh

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commissioners, just so you'll know and make sure that the public understands, we're asking for the nonprofits and uh the providers that that receive money from the county to come for us, come before us and explain where the county dollars are going, how they're spending

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them, and what the um what the benefit is as we go through a very tough year in in our budget cycle. Uh we just want to know where everything's going. So for full transparency and also of course um for accountability and then I will I do

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want to say we will not be making any decisions today on these budget items particularly as we go through our budget. We will be but we want our commission and our and our constituency to hear about it. >> So welcome. >> Well thank you so very much for having us. We're grateful to be here and for

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the audience with you this morning. For the record my name is Salvatore Geni. Please call me Tori. and uh we're with SMA Healthcare. I've got Nancy Russo with me and we're at 330 Karkin Drive. So, what we've prepared for you is a summary of all of our services here in

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Putham County over the past fiscal year. Uh to be completely transparent, this data is missing about the last week of our fiscal year. That was because of the deadline to submit the information. Uh we are putting together our annual impact report that should be done in

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about um I'd say about two months or so, probably by the end of August. and that's going to have the full picture. We don't think it's going to vary much from this at all. Uh so what you can see um the very first page we've got the money that Putinham County gives us directly and through property in kind.

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That is of course the two buildings over at 330 K Larkin Drive uh for a total of $390,000 per fiscal year. Um and then down below we have the three primary services that Putham County's dollars go directly to. That's our drug court program, therapy

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and psychiatric services. Um, you can see that um, you know, we we really do rely on your money and your property in kind and we would not be able to function here in Putham County without the contributions that the county makes. We do, if you look at the revenue

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amounts, the total revenue amounts and the total expenses, um, we do run in the red here in Putham County. Um, and that underscores how important your contribution is to us. We're able to do that because as a nonprofit, we draw

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money from our entire sixcount area. And, uh, you know, we use that money to spread it out to make sure that we can deliver exceptional services regardless of the area, uh, regardless of the number of citizens served, regardless of the tax base and what the counties are able to offer. So, we're not going to let uh, any of that get in the way of us

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offering exceptional services. And you know, I hope that this uh first page here really underscores we could not do this without the county's support. Uh on the second page, we have a breakdown of all of the other services that we provide here in Putinham uh and the

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funding sources for those. U on the very bottom of this page, you've got uh the number of Putnham County citizens that were served outside the county last fiscal year. So, we had a total of 246 Putnham citizens served in county. Uh, a

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total of 142 that we served outside of the county for a total of 2,188 uh, Putnham County citizens served. So, we're very proud of that number and again could not do that without your support. The third page um, is a summary of all

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of the grants that we've been able to secure again with your assistance uh, over the years. So, this goes all the way back to 2018 with the criminal adjustment reinvestment grants, um the opioid response planning grant, Matt implementation, so on so forth for a

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total of over $10 million secured um through through grants and funding that we've brought into the county as well. Um so, pretty quick uh summary there and we'll just open it up to questions if y'all have any questions for us.

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>> All right, I guess I'll start. Um uh you mentioned forensic case management uh 37 one service one citizen served 372 number services provided. What does that mean? >> So Nancy can kind of give you an idea of

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all the different services that go into that. >> Okay. We have a case manager specifically for forensza case manager. It's part-time for our community because there's not a great need. But what they do is they assist with um the state hospital any forensic cases in the state

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hospital. So every time they make contact with that person whether it be directly or a collateral dose counts as services for that person. So that's where why that number over the year is escal seems escalated but all of those services are provided throughout that

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year for that the one person that we have been able to serve. >> All right. I think I understand that. So, um, another question, um, on the, um, that the active grants, I noticed you mentioned the ne neonatal grant. Is

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that in Putham County or is that no longer in Putham County? >> It will be ending at the end of August. We have attempted to secure another grant to at least continue primary care and to implement a pharmacy. Um we are waiting to be um notified of the award

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which would probably be mid August to start September 1st. So that would allow us without a break. If we do not get that grant, we would have to close our primary care services >> in Putinham. >> Okay. So you are operating in Patnham through the end of August for this program. >> Yes.

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>> Okay. Okay. Um and what is a youth and family tree grant? I don't know what that is. that was funded um through to us through SAMA and that allows for counselors to go out into the community and meet with the people where they are

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and we um serve ages 12 to 25 for substance use. We can do some co-occurring but it was primarily a substance use funded grant. >> Okay. So it's not necessarily mental health. I know there they sometimes cross lines but okay. Um, and then

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assisted outpatient therapy is I if you'll just explain that. >> Sure. I'm gonna let Tori explain that because he's the um expert on all things assisted outpatient. >> I guess I guess I have been kned with this knowledge now. So, here we go. So,

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assisted outpatient therapy. So, you know, we've have individuals that we serve in our crisis programs uh for inpatient stabilization for psychiatric illnesses. Um, and we strive to make sure those individuals get the care that they need, especially um that they're

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lined up with the after care they need to not go back into crisis services. Um, we we try to make sure that folks are with us once on an impatient basis, but because of the nature of many chronic illnesses, just like regular, you know, health chronic illnesses, folks are

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going to wind up in the hospital more than once. So the individuals that we serve that typically have these severe and persistent mental illnesses, things like schizophrenia, schizopeeffective disorder, bipolar effective disorder, um they often come to us under a Baker Act

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because they're not able to see the need for the care that that is going to get them back on track. When they leave, there's nothing to compel them to continue with their afterare. So within a few weeks, they'll stop taking the medication. they will not follow back up

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uh with the appointments that we've scheduled for them or even the care coordination services we put in place and that revolving door begins to spin. So the assisted outpatient treatment program uses the Baker Act to actually adjudicate those outpatient services. So

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it's a court order for the person to go to their outpatient treatment. And that really has been a missing piece uh here in Florida for a very long time. And we're very hopeful um that this program, it's just starting up now, over time is going to greatly reduce the recidivism

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that we see into the acute inpatient psychiatric level of care. >> And and I don't want to assume this, I'm going to ask it. These are all services provided in Putham County or do they have to leave the county? >> Oh, these are all provided here in county. Yes. Yes. >> For the outpatient portion. >> Yeah, for outpatient. Yeah. Thank you

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for clarifying that. So if the individual does um you know violate that court order and does not go to the outpatient therapy, they would be then transported via the sheriff to the crisis center down in in Valuchia County.

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>> Okay. And then uh one other question on when you said um residential women and men's residential 29 children's residential five those are residents of Putinham that are being because we obviously don't have housing here in Putinham except for the recidivism

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program that just started. Um that's where they're being transported to your other location. >> Uh yes. Yes ma'am. Absolutely. So um the women's residential is warm women assisting recovering mothers in Benell. Um that program has been around for a very long time. Fantastic program. We've

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got 75 beds for women, 25 beds for their children up to age five. We work to reunify uh women and their children. If the if the mother has lost their their children due to drug charges, we work towards that reunification. We also work to develop job skills and, you know,

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basically get folks the skills they need to get back into the community and work when they're when they graduate. Um, for men it's Dand Men's Residential Treatment that's down on Stone Street in Dand. And we've got 50, I'm sorry. >> I'm sorry. It's on Stone Street in Dand. Okay.

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>> And, uh, we've got 50 beds there for men. Similar type of program where we work to get folks reintegrated with the community. >> Okay. I I know Commissioner Harvey, you have a you have a comment, but just real quick. And then your the recidivism program that's that's been created and that we've worked with and had the

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ribbon cutting for. uh what is the what is the rate out there as far as occupancy right now? >> So right now we we have 2/3 of the beds filled currently. We have 10 of the 15 beds filled. I think all in all we've probably had 12 folks come in like 12 folks come in. So a few folks have not been able to make it through and had to

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go back you know and be incarcerated. Um out of the folks that have come in out of those 12 75% of them are Putinham County citizens. Um we look forward to being able to track data for you on this. It's kind of early right now. we've only had these these 12 folks

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total um 10 of whom are still with us. So over time we're going to be able to compile data about the outcomes for that program. But uh from what Nancy has shared with me, it's going well. Uh things are starting to kind of hum along when it comes to getting the folks from the jails uh and into the program. So

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>> Okay. So uh one other question. You guys have a kitchen out there. So how how is it that they get their food? How does that work? Currently, um, we are working with the chef in at the warm program in Benell and they're creating the meals

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there and transporting them to us. Um, it was um, I guess realized after we had put everything in place that because we don't have enough storage there, the amount of food we would need to purchase to get it at a a good rate, we don't

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have the storage for that. So, in the meantime, Warm is going to be um cooking our meals. Um if we get to the point where funding becomes recurring, then we could invest in putting more storage out there to be able to do that.

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>> Okay. All right. Commissioner Harvey, you're recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. And I just want to thank y'all SMA for all the years and and the transparency that has taken place back many, many years ago. So my my question for you is this. What can we

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do? Do you need letters of support for these grants that help Putnham County? That's number one question. >> Uh yes, absolutely. In fact, I was just talking to Nancy. She just got back from vacation, so I'm getting her caught up. We're working on a new grant. Uh we're we're constantly constantly applying for

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grants. Uh there's a new one that we're applying for. It's a mental health awareness training grant. Um so we would love your support. that basically would allow us to bring all kinds of mental health training to the county uh to law enforcement here in the county to public safety here in the county. And um

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there's going to be kind of a quick turnaround time on this. We have to get the application into SAMA by the end of the month. But your support uh for for that grant and the many more that will apply for I'm pretty sure in short order uh would be greatly appreciated. Definitely.

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>> All right. Thank you. and and I can't speak for everybody, but I'm sure that, you know, if you bring it to our administration, we can move that up the ladder pretty easily based on your track record and the work that you've done. >> The other thing I want to ask you is this. You know, you mentioned the building that we have and that that

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helps you secure grants, but when you sit around at night and you go, I think this program would solve a lot of problems in Putnham County, what would that program be and what would you need to fund that program?

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>> Wow, that's a great question. >> I know. I'm sorry. I I didn't mean to put you on the spot. >> You got me daydreaming now, which is fine. I think we have to have a vision, right, of what we want to see for the county. I mean, I think um this rec recetivism program, I think it's a wonderful start. I think being able to expand that out would be phenomenal. Uh

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Nancy, what are your thoughts? You've been here for a bit. Well, I know our our dream with the consortium, which I also lead, has been, you know, to have everything the other counties have as well, like an integrated um uh s ISU,

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integrated stabilization unit, so that, you know, no matter if it's Baker Act or Marchman Act, they can take a bed on that unit and be able to um, you know, not have to leave the county for that. Unfortunately, we've been told over time

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that there's not um enough volume to pay for the program. So, that's why it hasn't been really that much of a push, but it would definitely, you know, make uh the services in the county more robust. >> So, let me follow up on that real quick

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and then I'll end. I've been noticing um more and more and I'm not sure they're homeless, but they're sure look like they're homeless people that um roam the streets of West Putnham and the roads and they have animals with them. And one gentleman

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just screams at this animal all day long walking his dog up and down the road. I'm sure he's not mentally right. I'm sure of that. How can we intercept that? And you know, cuz I thought about the dog. I thought, poor dog, right? He's

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get screamed at. He doesn't even know what he's supposed to be doing and he's being screamed at. And then you think about the poor man who's locked inside of his head and and needs help. Both of them need help. So, how can we partner to get that person? We have animal

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control. That that that's an easy one right there. But I think we need to be mindful because I see more and more homeless people with pets and things in that nature. Then maybe that's good for them. But the poor pet doesn't have a

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clue what's going on. Do you know? >> Maybe mobile crisis. >> But that's children's home. But yeah, >> I think you know um mobile crisis definitely can be of great help in situations like this. And I think honestly this ties back to mental health awareness training. Um, I've been doing

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trainings with law enforcement across our sixcount footprint for a very long time since I started with the company and as as our footprint grew and grew and grew. And there is a hesitancy by law enforcement to put somebody under the Baker Act if the individual is not a direct threat to themselves or others.

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And the way that that term direct threat is interpreted would be that I'm trying to hurt myself or hurt somebody else. what we've seen and what we try to impart to our partners in law enforcement is that that type of psychosis, the fact that as you said um

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this individual is locked inside his head and it sounds like it's a pretty dark and scary place, that is a psychiatric emergency and that does meet the criteria to utilize the Baker Act to get that individual stabilized. So, a large part of that is mental health

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awareness training. I do believe I do believe if we um are able to up our game when it comes to delivering that type of training that can shift the opinions of the individuals in law enforcement. And when they see somebody in that situation, it goes past the very

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rudimentary criteria of he's doesn't want to kill himself or somebody else. He's not trying to burn anything down, right? and it moves into this is a psychiatric emergency and under the baker act I can use that tool to to get him into custody into protective custody

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and get that person the help that they need. Um so and I understand you know we we live in a state uh that really places a high value on civil liberties. I've spoken to many officers and deputies over the years and they don't want to infringe on that and I get that. I totally get that. But, you know, to your

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point, that person is in some great psychological pain and he's taking it out on an animal, right? So, we know that he needs help and that Baker Act is the tool to get that person the help they need and to get that dog out of that situation. >> Well, I want to say thank you for all

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the years and appreciate everything you've done and the transparency. Madam Chair, that ends my comments. Thank you. >> Thank you. I just have one other question. Um, when somebody leaves the program, what happens? I mean, do is there a followup? it. How does that happen? I know it's a a hard question, but

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>> for residential, they will definitely have follow-ups for that um because we do want to track that recidivism and make sure that they're being successful in everything we've put in place in the program. As far as like outpatient and things like that, you know, we do have

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them sign when they come into the program. Are they willing to um be followed up with? And you know, some people say no, some people say yes. So, we do our best, but >> yeah, life changes. I get it. >> Yeah. >> All right. Are there any other questions for the presenter?

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>> All right. Do y'all have any admin side? >> All right. Thank you. We appreciate the presentation and update. >> Thank you so very much. >> Thank you. Next up, we have Meridian Health. >> What? No. Good morning. Thank you. I'm a little

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bit taller. >> Let me just pull up this report. Thank you so much for having me this morning. I I brought extra copies of our report, but I'm not sure if you already have. >> It's in our packet. Great. >> But you know what? If you want to share it, you're welcome to leave it up there, and then if some of one of the citizens

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just on the >> Sure. counter. One of the citizens want to take it or >> Absolutely. I'd love to do that. I'll do that as I go. Uh let me just get this going. Okay. Okay. Good morning, everyone. Thank you so much, commissioners, for

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having me here this morning to uh present our annual report. Uh, I know we're here to talk about the funding request, but also to give you some information on the services we've provided specifically here in Putnham and to Putnham County residents over the past fiscal year.

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A little bit of background information, although I know I've come before you before. Um, I'm Lauren Cohen, the president and CEO of Meridian. Um, but talking about our long-standing history serving the community since 1971, providing services across North Central

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Florida in S serving 14 counties. Um, also a little bit of our values and our mission and what we are specifically working to do um, across our service region, but specifically also here in Putham County. um our values, hope,

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empathy accountability resilience and teamwork. Okay. Um there is an overview of all of the services and continuum of care that we provide. Um offering a comprehensive continuum designed to meet the needs of

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children, adults, and families. Um we span education and outreach, integrated treatment, supportive services. So offering everything from inpatient, residential outpatient medication assisted treatment, um and various

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outpatient supportive services. Little bit of information on our telealth services. Over the past year, our teleahalth services have increased. So for the past fiscal year ending June 30th, 2026, we provided 454 Putham

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County residents a total of 3,456 teleaalth services across the year, which was um a marked increase from the previous fiscal year. Uh tellahalth permits individuals, as you know, to receive uh faster services, removing barriers like transportation or um the

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available time for appointments uh making engagement more likely. who we're serving um here in Putinham. This is a breakdown of some of the demographics. Understanding the demographics of the individuals we're

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serving helps us to um create tailored services that are culturally informed and um aware of the specific needs. The vast majority of those we're serving are the young to middle-aged individuals.

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what uh clients oh are saying some of the presentation graphics look like they're different. Um this year uh for the first time we created client feedback kiosks in each of our sites that allowed us to pull specific client

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satisfaction for each site. So instead of looking at a global uh across our 14 counties, what clients are saying, we can now tailor it specifically to each location and each county. Um so this client satisfaction is not just across

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all of Meridian. It is specific to our location right up the street on Krill Avenue. Um and this is what we found for the year. Likelihood that individuals would recommend Meridian is 8.7 out of 10. Um overall satisfaction is 4.5 out

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of five. Um, so we're we're looking to continue to bring that up, of course, uh, but for the first time we can identify pockets and opportunities specific to counties. So, we're very excited about that. Um, across the organization though, looking at our

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outcomes, um, what individuals are reporting is an overall improved functioning and a reduction of symptoms. 79% of adults and 80% of children reported that. Um, as you know, if people aren't feeling like they're getting better, engagement in treatment

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often declines. Um, so if people are seeing the results and seeing improvement and a reduction of those symptoms, they're more likely to continue to participate in care. The services we provided specifically to Putham County residents across the last

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fiscal year. Um, you can see the the breakdown here of acute care, which is our inpatient facility. Now, that is located in Gainesville. Um but these are the numbers for the Putham County residents served out of that location. Outpatient medication assisted treatment

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and psychiatric care are here in Putham County. Uh residential is also our our residential facility in in Gainesville and um and Lake City for the kids. Over the last year, we also opened a short-term residential treatment

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facility. Now, it is located in Gainesville, but we do serve individuals from Putnham County there. It is specifically for kids who need a longer term uh period of care outside of crisis stabilization. So, as you know, crisis stabilization is designed to be very

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shortterm and mitigate any immediate crisis for the kids who are a danger to themselves or others. Um, our short-term residential treatment program is designed to be an extension of that and kids can stay up to 90 days. there is an education component so they continue to

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participate in virtual learning so we don't see gaps in that education and skill set. Um and family involvement is a critical component to families or guardians. Uh that program can also be used as a diversion from a statewide inpatient program. We want to keep kids

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as close to their homes and communities as possible and continue to involve their families and guardians and uh loved ones in that care. So we're really excited about that. there's only two in the state and we have opened one of them. So, we're looking forward to continue to serving those those

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children. Uh for the information related to our services and payer mix, um for the last year, the majority of clients we're seeing are at or below the federal poverty guidelines. Specifically for the Putinham County residents we've served,

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it's 89.8% 8% are at or below the federal poverty guidelines. Um, of the services the last year, uh, 50% 56% have been, uh, paid for with indigent care funding from the state and the county.

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Uh, 24% were covered by Medicaid. 26% do have some form of insurance, but that insurance only covers a small percentage of the services that they need and receive. So, as you know, Meridian is required to generate match funds for our state and

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federal funding. Um, our expected fiscal year 27 local match has increased. Um, so as the demand for behavioral health services increases and the population continues to grow, uh, we are requesting a 2% increase to our funding this year,

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bringing our request to 56,100. Um, this helps also support our expanded services through our central receiving facility which follows individuals after their episode of care in a crisis center. That is the the overall annual report

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and information for this past year. I'm happy to answer any questions all questions that you you may have. >> All right, we'll begin with Commissioner Nol. >> It's nice to see the telealth product being utilized. What do you attribute that dramatic increase in activity there

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to? >> That's a great question. I think people are becoming much more aware of the benefits of tellaalth and we see not only transportation barriers, but um we've heard reports specifically in children's services from parents saying

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that previously they had to leave work, drive to pick up their kids, take them to the appointment, drive to drop off the kids, and return home. So, it was pretty much almost a whole day missed. Uh now I've heard some families that say they participate in teleaalth in uh close libraries or or parking lots or

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areas they can they can mitigate that time off and outside of losing an entire day. Um I also think that we've heard as we build up infrastructure and connectivity those things have improved so the visits are more successful. Uh we've implemented some new products

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related to how we're delivering that teleaalth. So I think there's less challenges in accessing those appointments and the stability of the connection which we saw had previously been a barrier. So individuals said you know I'm just going to go go into the office but we've heard um a marked

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improvement in that connectivity and accessibility. So I think that's also certainly a contributing factor. >> All right I have a couple questions um on your programs. Uh you mentioned primary care. Is that only in Gainesville? We offer primary care in

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Lake City and Gainesville. >> Lake City and Gainesville. And you are rece you have seen patients from Putinham for your primary care or >> we we have it's it is very limited. I will say that it is um and that's why it's not on the reported number because

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the volume is is >> Yeah. And I would hope that we could coordinate with Ride Solutions whenever there's an somebody who needs to get to a primary care facility. I know there's some options here in Putinham, but if for some reason they can't get in, I would hope that we could work that out. And then you also have housing. That's

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the housing that you referred to in your other slides, but do you take patients from Putinham? >> We do other areas. >> We do. We have um a program specifically that does outreach and I think I've come before you before and and done a presentation or information specifically

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on that program. It's a grant-f funed program. uh treatment for individuals experiencing homelessness is the program. We have outreach coordinators and staff who come two to four times a week out here specifically in Putham County to do that education, outreach

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and connection um to connect to various housing programs. Um so certainly some of those are in Gainesville, but our outreach coordinators help connect um here in Putnham and do outreach on the ground, boots on the ground out here. Um but sometimes there are resources there

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that we connect individuals >> and I've actually heard good things about that recently. So homeless recovery services that's part of what you were just referring to. Okay. And then um when you talk about service utilization um for the teleaalth is that mental and is

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it related to just mental or is it mental and substance abuse and is it primary? Because I'm going to tell you I've had a tellahalth conference for primary care too. So >> yeah, >> I mean what is it? What all is that? >> Specifically, uh mental health and substance use. We are working to expand our primary care offerings in the

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teleahalth space. Uh right now we do it with patients who are already connected and have been opened in person um for a limited amount of things as you can imagine the same as as you and I do. Um so those numbers are specifically mental health and substance use treatment um outpatient and psychiatric services.

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>> All right. And then I'm going to get into your funding requirements a little bit. Uh, when you say $2.6 million that the state funds you, I just want to make sure I understand and all our citizens understand that's for all six counties. Is that correct? >> It's for all more than six. It's for all 14 counties. Yes.

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>> All 14 counties. Thank you. >> That's not specifically our our >> So there's no specific allocation when the state gives you money that says this many dollars is for platinum. >> No, it's it's done a we break it out by a percentage of uh and and population size. So there's, you know, a suggested

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methodology to that, but it is not broken out um in that way. >> So your 2% increase is based on what number? >> The the growing number of services and the growing population. >> Okay. Um and so >> and the increasing cost of care. Sorry.

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That Yeah, we have that same problem here as Yes. Yes. I I can imagine. >> So the facility on Crow Avenue is where you're located. Yes. For Patm. So is that leased or owned? >> That is owned. >> It's owned by Meridian. Is that where your state appropriations went for um

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for the substant use facility? Is that where that happened in 2022? >> Yeah. Uh yes. Well, >> yes. >> Yes. >> Back in 2022. I wasn't in my position then. So, I had to >> Sorry, I had to go back and >> I remember it. I remember it because I was at the legislature at the time. So,

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I just wanted to make sure that's the facility that got Yes. Okay. >> All right. With that, uh, Commissioner Harvey you >> if I could add, that is also, um, we were awarded the the license for the opioid treatment program. Yes. Um, specifically for Putnham County in that facility. That's where that allocation

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went to. >> Very good. All right. Thank you, Commissioner Harvey. You're recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you for being here today and appreciate the presentation. What I just want to ask this. Can you break down the demographics a little bit better? Maybe

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the next time. >> Sure. What I'd like to see is West Putinham, Middle Putham, South Putnham. >> Okay. >> You know, um to see because logistics are a problem and I know that uh we have a commissioner working on transportation issues right now, but um I just want to

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see if lo like if you do more tellaalth in the south end because people can't travel west end maybe you have a different subset of problems. What are those problems and what can we help solve those problems with? Is it transportation? Is it internet? is that you know it could be a host of different

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things and I just want to see what those demographics when your client is from the west end or you know what I'm saying. So >> we we've got zip code information and some of that would that work if we could classify >> you need to send something to Julian. I would say the same thing for SMA because

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I think it's the same. So, if uh I can run some of that and and send it to Miss Young and see if that kind of provides a little more um details on that breakdown in the areas. >> Good. Okay. Good. Thank you. >> Just make some notes. >> Commissioner Alexander, you're recognized.

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>> Thank you too for bringing that up. I think that uh that information may be helpful uh down the road. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Um with that, is there any other questions for Miss Lauren? All right. Thank you for your presentation >> so much.

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>> All right, one more and then we'll take a brief break. Episcopal Children's Services. Britney, we've heard from you before. You are welcome to speed through this because we have seen it and it's printed and in our package, but um

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absolutely. Okay. Um basically the Well, first of all, my name is Britney Spangler with Episcopal Children's Services. Thank you for having me here today. Um I'll just go through the numbers really quickly.

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>> Um we had uh and this is for fiscal year 2526 from July 1st through um June 30th. So we had an average of 764 Putnham County children serve through the school

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readiness program which 561 of those were based off of the income and work requirements. And um the average cost of care for an annual care um for the children in Puthton County this year that was served, which is birth through 13, was $5,2945.

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We sent out 295 funding notifications to Putnham County Children and Families, which 170 of those um resulted in brand new enrollments. Um we still have 29 child care programs that are contracted to serve school readiness with 10 of those being family childcare homes. um

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446 children participated in VPK with 23 childcare programs offering uh the VPK program including the school district and uh we had 1,767 uh contacts for information from families seeking information on

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education, financial assistance, community resources, and so forth. So, um I did want to ask again this year um for your support with $5,000 for your 2627 budget, which is what we asked last year, and we were graciously approved

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for. Um in the PowerPoint, there's also the breakdown of how that money uh the requirements, how um it's what's required from the state, and then how it is matched. I've also provided in the PowerPoint um the different programs we

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were able to receive match funds for this year for Putnham County specifically and all of those funds were uh direct services. None of it was spent for admin costs. Um, I did also include

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uh this time we just recently did a survey to the families receiving services and there is an option for comments um if anything a family wanted to say and I just shared three different um comments that three families from Putham County wrote. One of them um was

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this has helped me so much being a single mother. I'm forever grateful for this assistance. The second one is it helped me very much and I wouldn't be able to work without the help of child care. And the last one is I very much appreciate the service they gave me. Without the help for child

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care, it would be hard for me to work as a grandparent raising my guil grandchildren suddenly. I'm so grateful that I get the help needed um through them. So this is a direct impact of the investment that you >> Yes, ma'am. It is. Commissioner Harvey, you're recognized.

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>> Thank you, Madam Chair. I know I've got a lot of comments, but it's just really praise. Um, I love I love the fact that we spend $5,000 to get a 78,333 matching in federal funds. >> Take that deal any day. Yes.

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>> All day long. I would take I love buy one get one freeze at the grocery store, but this is even better than that, right? >> And it serves the population that really needs it. So, our $5,000 investment brings back a lot. when you look at the city of PLA putting in the same 5,000

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bringing in the the same um speaks a lot of volume of what you can do with a little bit of money. Exactly. So, thank you very much and thank you Madam Chair. >> Commissioner Newell, you're recognized. >> Of these 29 child care programs, 10 of them are family child care homes.

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Explain that one to me. So um legally operating childare programs can be anything from um a family childare home which is someone who operates a business of child care in their home. Um depending on the size of the house and what they are licensed for it determines

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the number of children that they can serve and also um DCF department of children and families regulates um the ratios. So if they have infants or older children um depending on the mix of ages, how many children they could

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actually serve. So um you don't actually have to have a child care center um to be able to offer these assistance and programs. You can do it straight from your home. And we try to recruit people who maybe um are grandparents or maybe just had a baby, doesn't want to go back

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to work, but they could baby um bring a business into their home. Those sorts of things. So, we do work with the Department of Children and Families and anytime that there is a brand new program um opening in any of our six counties, we reach out to those programs directly to make sure they're aware of

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the two different programs that we offer. Actually, three different with childcare resource and referral and we um explain to them the benefits if they were contracted to serve these programs. >> So, um I'll just add a couple comments. I'm very impressed with our return on

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investment first of all and I appreciate those kind of numbers because I think that's of utmost importance that we when we're spending taxpayers dollars that we understand where those talk taxpayers dollars are going. Um when you talk about VPK 446 children participated is

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that capacity for you guys or what is that? Um well it depends on the programs how many people want to offer it because every program that we work with our private businesses um school districts included um but it depends on one how many um classrooms that they want to

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offer um what they have capacity for in their program and then um because it's very specific to the ages. we kind of see from year to year like this year getting ready going into the next year. The number of applications that we've already seen coming through outweighs what we've had this past year. So, it's

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just really kind of matters of how many children actually qualify based on age and then the programs that offer it that are contracted, what their capacity is in their program to fill those classrooms. Well, we know that early learning, early childhood learning is essential for for not only those

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children but for our community as a whole and how we end up at the end of the when when all the test scores and everything else comes comes back. It all starts with the early learning. So, I commend you guys for doing that and working with the different schools and and that kind of thing. But I would So,

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do you feel like that all this children in Putham County who want VPK can get it? >> Yes. Okay. >> All right. >> That's for sure. >> For school readiness, I will say um we do have a wait list right now and we are working through the weight list. So school readiness, you might have more

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families that are in need and that's the financial assistance and again that's birth through 13. So it's not just those getting ready and preparing for school, but those are also in school that may need the afterchool care as well. >> Yeah. Yeah. Very important. All right. Very good. Are there any other questions

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for the presenter? Thank you so much for what you're doing. We appreciate it. >> Have a great day. Thank you. >> All right. With that, again, I we are not making decisions today on funding. That's something that'll happen during our budget time, but we're going to take a quick recess and then go into the planning and development.

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Yeah, I have to do public comment. >> All right, we will reconvene our meeting going into the planning and development public hearing. We'll hear um presentation first and then we will be taking public comment since it's a public hearing. Thank you, Madam Chair. For the record,

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Michael Graves, Planning and Development Services. This is the second meeting for case re 260000004. Uh, as a reminder, the applicant, Julian C. Wood Revocable Living Trust is requesting a zoning map amendment from plan unit development to residential

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estate on 22 1/2 acres located at 229 East River Road and 131 Oak Haven Lane and an adjoining un uh unassigned location in East Palaca to allow for the development of a single family residence. Surrounding zonings include plan unit development and residential

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estate. The subject site has a future land use designation of urban reserve and the lands have approximately 1,079 ft of frontage on East River Road. And according to the National Wetlands layer and the FEMA flood zone layer on the GIS reference map, the lands do appear to

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contain wetlands and is located in FEMA flood zone X500 and AE. FEMA flood zone AE is a special flood hazard area. Should the applicant's request be approved, the applicant will then be eligible for obtaining all building permits and site work permits compatible

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with the RE zoning district. Here you can see the uh aerial overview of the property outlined in purple. Here you can see the future land use category. The zoning staff has recommended approval of the request to amend the zoning map from

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planning a development to residential estate. staff finds that the proposed resoning is consistent with the goals, objectives, and policies of the adopted comprehensive plan and meets the location requirements of the residential estate re zoning district provided in the land development code and comprehensive plan. At the May 13th,

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2026 uh planning commission meeting, the Putnham County Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of the subject request. Are there any questions? >> Are there any questions for the presenter? Right. This is our second reading. Is there anyone in the public who would like to make comment? Please

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come forward. All right, one more time. Is there any public comment on this item? >> All right, seeing none, it comes back to the board. Madam Chair, I'd like to move approval of ordinance number 2026-011 amending ordinance 20 number 25-12, an

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ordinance of the county of Putnham, state of Florida, amending the official zoning map for Putinham County incorporated into article 2 of the Putnham County Land Development Code ordinance 2025-12 reszoning 22.5 plus or minus acres from plan unit development putt to

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residential estates re providing for civility effective date case number rec 260000004 Julian C Wood Revocable Living Trust second. >> We have a motion and second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I.

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>> I. >> I. Motion carries. Thank you. Moving into public hearing item ordinance amending section 29 of the Putnham County Code. Um who is taking this presentation on? >> That would be me, Madam Chair.

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>> Okay. Um should I have some folks in the audience that wanted to speak on behalf of this? Okay. >> Should we allow them to speak? >> Absolutely. >> Okay. >> All right. Um those of you that are interested in speaking in favor or against the ordinance uh regarding the Dun Creek No Zone, I ask you to come

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forward please. >> Sorry. Okay. >> Car Sam Carr, 108 Riverside Drive, Satsuma, Florida. Um I'm in right there on the river right near uh the Dun Creek area where this uh um

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the wake zone is proposed. Um, I suggested this probably 12 years ago after attending a uh a function at the Dungeons Creek State Park where uh we had paddlers, we had boat pontoon boat tours, we had um a whole lot of people

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there at this uh at this junction where the uh the thing is. And there was u also a uh a bass tournament that weekend and u the bass boats were in a big hurry to get to Lake Crescent. And so uh uh we

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had several instances where uh just the speed of the boats created safety issues for for those of us that were participating on the river in other ways. And so um that was um that was the first warning that I had that something needed to be done at that particular

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corner of Dun Creek because it's so narrow. It's the most narrow part of Dun Creek. A whole nine miles of it. This is the most narrow part and it's a is a it's greater than 90 degree turn there. So um and there's also a sandbar right in the middle of that. So at low tide,

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you know, it's it's it's an issue. And um um you know I I checked it out and worked with the Duns Creek State Park to think about that at the time and I was told that it was hopeless. So I'm really h proud of Joshua for taking this on and

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u and bringing it to the public's uh safety issue that it that it actually is. I don't think it'll be in in position to uh to anyone traveling on Dungeons Creek, but we'll all feel a lot safer. Also, as Dungeons Creek State Park gets developed, the very one of the

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very next things that will happen is that we will provide dockage for uh the public to Dungeons Creek State Park. Currently, you can't park your boat of Dungeons Creek State Park, which is ludicrous, and it has been ludicrous for as long as it's been a Dungeons Creek

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State Park. And um so the the actual uh dockage that they will be putting in there eventually. It's part of the management plan for Dun Creek State Park will be uh will be included in this uh no no area as well. So um it's a safety

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issue. It's one that's uh that's that is necessary. Somebody's going to get killed there one day if we continue to allow 50 mph boats coming past that particular park. Okay. That's my point. >> Sam, I got a question for you. How many events is there a year at that at this

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facility on the water? How many events? >> Uh Joy Mitchell is not here with us. She's the the leader of all that good stuff. But it's almost monthly that we have camping andor trail projects out there on the river. >> But I mean, as far as the kayakers, you

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mentioned the kayakers and the safetiness on the water. How many of those are those all part of th those events? >> Usually, yes. Okay. Yes. when we have the major events out there, usually there is there is kayak involved with it. Uh back when I was involved, we were

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doing exclusive kayak uh trips out there and uh and all but uh we don't have uh that that isn't being done right now. >> Okay. All right. Commissioner Har, you have a question? >> Um after the comments.

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>> All right. Thank you. Thank you, Sam. Rob Matson, uh 121 Palm Trail, East Palaca, Florida. Uh earlier this year, uh Commissioner Alexander appointed me to a seat on the um Waterways and Trails Commission, but I'm not here representing per se the the committee,

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but I I support the adoption of this no- wake ordinance. I've I've been out to the kayak launch at um Dun Creek State Park. It is a ADA compliant kayak launch. Uh one of the few that I'm aware of. Uh and as Sam said, it is a a public

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safety issue. So So this no wake zone uh sort of bracketing that uh paddlecraft launch will be a huge uh contributor to public safety. >> Thank you. Anyone else? >> Good morning. Uh Larry Fleman, 204 Perry

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Street in Pomona Park. I've been a member of the Friends of Dons Creek State Park for several years. Uh today I'm here as a member of the board of directors for friends. Uh anyone familiar with the park knows

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the dangers of the hairpin turn of the creek and as it moves through the park. Boers frequently travel through the area at 40 to 50 miles an hour. Uh this poses a potential danger to oncoming vessels and

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creates waves that erode the park banks uh on the creek and creates hazardous situation on the floating dock and handicapped uh kayak launch located there. Dun Creek State Park is a is managed by

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the Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Recreation and Parks, a unit management plan. On February 15, 2019, the acquisition and restoration council recommended approval of the plan. The

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Division of State Lands under Office of Environmental Services approved the plan. They recommend that as visitation increases in the park, a no wake zone be be established. The park will work with

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uh FWC and locate author um local authorities to investigate the feasibility of setting up a no wake zone in the in the park that area. um

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an ADA compliant park and a dock, excuse me, dock and uh kayak launch have since been installed. This is very susceptible to wake from the Boers.

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The friends are, excuse me, the friends are received approval for at least 10 years now to conduct var various

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paddle board events in the area. The park is open to the public 365 days a year and wave action by Boers adversely meets the stability of the

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dock and the kayak launch for handicap personnel people um and also people that are viewing the beauty of that area. Thanks to the efforts of Commissioner Alexander, renewed interest from the public and

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voters alike are endorsing a no wake zone in this area of the park. Please endorse the ordinance. Any questions? Thank you all.

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>> Who's up next? That's >> Garcia 200 Perry Street, Pomona Park, Florida. >> I'm a District 4 uh representative for the waterways and trails and have been on the dock at Dun Street State Park as

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voters come flying through. Um, and I have to tell you it is very dangerous cuz it's a nice beautiful curve on it and so people are not watching from one side to the other side as they coming together and you see almost crashes um

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all the time I've been there. So I mean you just have to be careful and I appreciate the time to speak. Thank you. >> All right, anybody else? All right, Commissioner Alexander, you're uh welcome to present make your presentation. Do you want to speak before then?

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>> No. >> Okay, >> I'll wait. >> Four minutes here. Just got that one. Okay, good deal. Can you hear me? Okay, Madam Chair. >> Yes, I can. Thank you.

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>> Want to make sure on this one. Um, >> yeah. >> Josh Alexander, county commissioner for the record. >> Uh, today we want to talk about the uh the ordinance that's been proposed for Dun Creek State Park. As most of you guys know, I spend probably 10 to 15

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hours a week as an average on the river. I've traversed this waterway since I was probably 12 years old. Um maybe even before that. Uh back then we knew it as the goat farm because there were a ton of goats that were u that lived over

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there and were farmed. And that that facility has transitioned now to Dun Creek State Park. >> I consider Dun Creek State Park one of our greatest underutilized resources in Putnham County. and we have a continued growth in Putnham County as far as

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housing and development and we're going to continue to see traffic along that waterway. Uh I've seen many close calls there myself, may have been involved in one or two of those myself. Um and the goal overall is to prevent

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any accidents from happening. We can wait and be reactive or we can make a move now and be proactive to protect our citizens. Typically I say our greatest resource in Putnham County are our waterways but truly our greatest resource um are our citizens and it's

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our duty to protect them. Um I did some research when I was proposed looking at this. As most of you guys know I I'm not a kayaker. I'm not a paddle boarder. Uh that requires way too much energy for me. if it doesn't have a motor on it, I don't want to be on it.

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So, it it's not strictly to benefit the kayakers, it's to protect the community. And I took a stance and interviewed those in the powerboat community as well. And the resounding response that I've gotten from the interviews that I've done is is there is a recognized danger there um from the guys in the bass boat, the performance boat

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community. And um their their greatest concern was whether or not this would lead to additional no zones being haphazardly placed wherever it was convenient to administration at that time because we're not going to be here

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forever. Um and and after giving that some thought um and my involvement with Dun Creek State Park, I recognized that that is the only ADA compliant kayak launch in Putnham County. So, when Rich and I were, excuse

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me, um, Mr. Commando and I were drafting this ordinance, we wanted it to be specific to reference that kayak launch. And that wanted to be one of the driving factors in this ordinance. So, that it was done in correlation with that. And you can't

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just put a no wakeake zone anywhere you want to without some other driving factor. So, that was my goal. Um, what have we done here? If you take a look at the photos that are scrolling through, you can see both sides of that turn

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right off the dock. Um, a boat running through there at 50 60 mph encounters a kayak on the back side of that, it's not going to be good for anybody. Or if they encounter another power boat or try to take a defensive maneuver, they're going to end

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up in the shore. Um, here's your ADA compliant kayak launch. As you can see, there is nowhere to tie a boat up, and that's by design. This dock was not designed for uh mooring. That is part of the plan that will be coming, and that is going to further

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exacerbate this problem once the new dock is installed as we move forward with the management plan. Another view down the ramp to the um ADA launch. I think that's about all I've got on there. But

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>> can you tell me the distance on that one? If you go back to that one photo of uh basically where the end of from shore to shore during right in a turn, how much would you how how wide would you say that is? >> I have the GPS coordinates. I don't

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remember the exact length and footage, but we tried to minimize the impact on the boat traffic there. So basically they'll come off of a plane and they can round the corner and get back once they have a clear sight of a path of sight. >> But I mean is it 100 feet? Is it 300 feet? Is I mean I I don't want to guess

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but I have an idea in my head but >> yeah I think it's probably 250 ft 300 feet. >> Okay. >> Yeah. We tried to keep it as small as we could not to impede traffic through the >> but the proposal is from short to shore. Correct. >> Short to shore but limited in duration.

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>> Okay. All right. >> Yes. All right. Um, Commissioner Harvey, are you wanting to ask questions? >> Yes. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Commissioner Alexander, for this. I'm gonna act like we're in the legislator for this good bill. I'm going to be up on this bill today. One big >> and I encourage my colleagues to be up

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on this. But the question I have for you today sir >> is I think you've already answered it. You know, the unintended consequences and sometimes what the public perceives. This is only designed for this one area on Dungeons Creek right there at the

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Dungeons Creek State Park. And it's only designed there because of the handicap launch. So no nothing else, no other lakes, no other parts of the river, no other navigational will be affected only this area by this ordinance. Is that correct? >> Correct. That is exactly how we crafted

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it. >> Well, thank you, Commissioner Alexander. And I'm up on this bill today. >> I'm up on this bill today. >> All right. >> All right. where Commissioner Peliser, you're recognized. >> Um, I'm not the mariner that Commissioner Alexander is, but I probably was there before he was. >> You may have been there before. Um, but

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anyhow, I definitely see that this is a safety factor and we certainly should move forward and support this. And if you're looking for a motion, I can give it to you now. >> I know we're still in we're having questions. >> Well, I'd like to reserve that, right? >> Absolutely. Commissioner New Bulgar recognized.

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>> You got it. I really do appreciate Commissioner Alexander's passion for this project. You know, it's kind of a testament to um you know, we're we're not commissioners that sit in our own districts. You know, he gets he he travels the waterways from one end

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to the other. Um and I I appreciate his passion for the the project. You know, this this may open a little bit of a can of worms. We will have ADA compliant um launches in other parts of the county in the future. So, um, you know, I but I do feel it's a worthwhile can of worms to

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open. Um, this is a dangerous corner. It's narrow. It is extremely steep. It's in a remote location. If somebody gets hurt there, it's it's not like they're right out in front of uh, you know, the bridge in Palaca. You know, it's going to be a time getting to them. So, I feel

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like it's a it's a worthy can to open and I appreciate your you championing the the project. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. All right. Um, is there a a motion? >> Madam Chair, I think this has a second reading, does it not?

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>> Yeah. I didn't realize that when I >> got the cart in front of the horse, but >> somebody's going to make a I mean, are you making a motion that would go to the second? >> Yes, ma'am. Let's move forward with this to to a second reading. Absolutely. >> Second. >> All right. And we're in discussion. So, I have some questions. Um,

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>> Madam Chair, point of clarification. The next meeting would be do you want the next meeting on the 28th at 9:00 because that's going to be specific to the motion. >> That's the question. Do we have to state the date and time of the next meeting?

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>> Yes. >> Give that to us. >> Have to go >> at the next available board of county commissioner meeting. >> Pardon me. >> No. August 11th. >> All right. >> To meet the requirements. Okay. >> Is that what your motion says? >> Well, it will. I didn't know if there was more discussion or not.

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>> I I'm going to have discussion. Yeah. >> Go ahead. >> All right. Um, so questions. Um, did this go to the parks and reccks committee? No, ma'am. It has not. I didn't know that was a requirement. >> I'm not saying it's required. It's a question. It's fine. How many How many

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kayak accidents has there been? >> Thank none that I'm aware of. >> There's not been any. How many boat versus boat accidents have there been? >> None that I'm aware of yet. >> You're right. There hasn't been any. So, I I have a there's only been single boat

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accidents. So, I have some concerns um with I always have concerns when we're putting on restrictions, right? When we're creating something and adding more restrictions and and I >> I don't I hope that if there's a concern

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by the voters that they come up with the the motorboers, they would come to the next meeting and let us hear their concerns because while you can say you've sat there and spoke to people and I believe you um I would like to hear from that community as well. I have a concern that, you know,

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are we impeding um our bass tournaments. I mean, we work really really hard to not do that to to make sure that when they come, I mean, they're a huge economic driver. And it's not that I'm against it, but maybe there's a way to work around where we're not having

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competing things happening, right? I mean, we've talked about that on other And is there an area that we could just simply rope off and say this area is for the kayakers? I mean, I don't know. I just I have concerns about those things.

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>> Oh, yeah. Those are all valid questions, Madam Chair. And and as usual, um I expect you to question everything. That's what you do. And we and I respect you for that. >> Um and and again, addressing the bass tournaments, um the majority of the bass tournaments that take place, whether

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they have an idle zone from the boat ramp to the actual body of water, typically they're going to be less of a duration than this is. Um I can't think of many bass tournaments that aren't encumbered by some type of noake zone. Here in Putham County, we don't have that. That's right.

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>> Other than this one area. Um >> you know, with the recent recent activities um regarding some boating related accidents. Um it it just it further emphasized and

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drove home the point that that we needed to consider this. I I've personally been on the river and seen multiple fatalities and it if I can do something that would prevent that and if it's cost somebody

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five minutes, I'm I'm going to fight for that. >> Yeah, I don't I I get that and I I'm I'm I'm only asking questions that I feel like our citizens really need to to hear. And um Rich, does this go into Florida

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statute 327.46? Is that what this is? Is this these or would these changes be um in in compliance with statute 327.46? >> Let me pull it up.

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>> Because I don't believe the county has an unlimited authority to regulate vessel speeds on the river. Um, so my other question would be does this require a coordinated approval by the Florida Wildlife for by FWC? >> Yes ma'am. The conversation I had with

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FWC said that we had to approve the ordinance first and bring that to them. >> So that would go so after it would went through our process that would go through their process >> because my first step was going to FW FWC to see if that was under their purview but it was not. They said it has to be a county ordinance first and then

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that would be brought to them. >> Yeah. and and and I again I we're making a a permanent change, right? So this goes on their books and which yeah, I know another commissioner can change it later on down the road, but we're making something that's implementable 247. It's

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not like it goes, oh, we're only going to do this when the kayakers are having an event. What this ordinance does, which is is which is why I'm a little hesitant, is it's forever. So whether a kayaker boat's out there or not, they have to slow down in this area of the

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river right? >> And so so I'm I have what happens whenever the next kayak group comes along and they put another ADA compliant launch then does that does this set precedence and everywhere along the St. John's River? I mean, you mentioned it. You you thought of this already.

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Everywhere they set a ADA compliance up, are they going to come back and say, "Well, we we expected because you've already done it once. We expect you to do it again. Definitely a valid question. >> No, I think what the biggest thing >> definitely, but my my thing is with that being said,

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>> if you do have a handicap ADA compliant boat launch and you have someone that is handicapped, is that not a good idea to en enhance their safety by putting that there? >> How many when you you you frequently go down to the sandbar

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>> everywhere? >> All right. How many no wake zones do you go through? >> Zero. >> Okay. When you go down to uh Silver Glenn, how many do you go through? >> There's one into the bridge. There's one at Salt Springs. >> Mhm. >> Okay.

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>> And everything from Aster south at the mouth of the river there for about 10 miles is I think it's 10 miles maybe four miles is no wake, >> right? >> And we don't we don't want that. And that's what we tied it into. >> Now, now what I will say is a very valid

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argument is the hairpin turn. That's this right there. That is that is to me, I mean, I can almost get there. I went out there just yesterday and looked at it and it is a a good it's a good turn when you're coming around on a boat. Um,

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but the width of that river right there is is also pretty wide. And I I often think about like when you're in the Akawa River, there's areas that are much narrower and much and there's a lot of hair pin turns when you're going through the Aqua Waja River and there's no no

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wake zones in those. >> Oh yeah. >> So I was using that as a comparison trying to figure out you know like that area is pretty dangerous too. >> It is but that's a different vessel. Um you have different drafts in Akawa. Some places are only you know a foot, foot and a half, two feet. So it doesn't

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allow the passage of large vessels that we're referring to here. Sometimes during the um choice for tots runs for instance, you have 40footers that are capable of running in excess of 100 miles an hour traveling down that stretch of Dun's Creek. >> Um not saying they go that fast through there, but the capability exists and

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those boats are typically a 12T beam. So that does create some issues there. And when we're talking about a boat and the performance of the boat and the steering, a boat doesn't steer like a car. So, if you strike a wave, you have the potential for it to dart one way or

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the other. It's not like you're running a smooth curve uh in a Corvette. It's a completely different animal. And if there's an additional weight that's driven there uh while you're passing through and you have two passing boats, it >> I mean, you certainly can get bigger vessels in that area. I I get your

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point. Um Mr. Mr. Commando, I I was asking you about 327.46 particularly, there are sections in there that talk about 2C if it's less than 75 ft in width and then there's I mean there's some width requirements. So,

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>> right. So, looking at 327.466 subsection 1B1A, it appears to fit that criteria. If it's approved by this commission, then it's submitted to the commission and they will review it to determine whether or not there is competent substantial evidence to protect the public.

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>> Okay? >> So within I think it's 30 days after we submit the ordinance application to them or the request to them, then they will ask us for additional evidence to support the request and then within 90 days they'll make a determination. >> Yeah. And so that's that's where I was

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having the concern that there's been no history of boating accidents. Not saying we shouldn't be proactive. I'm not saying that. No. But there has been no history of boating accident. There's been no evidence of boating accident reports. Uh we don't have a vessel

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traffic count. There hasn't been a um navigational study. So could they come back and say we I mean I don't know what what what evidence are we going to give them that says that this is going to be necessary? >> That I don't know. >> Okay. Do you have any thoughts?

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>> Yeah. Well, I mean, >> I guess you just want to go down the road and see where it leads us. >> Well, >> you can look at a light socket, too, and know that you don't stick your fingers in there because it's going to kill you. >> True. >> So, that that's my stance on that. But, I'm potentially I could see us looking at other um no zones in other districts

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>> that may resemble this and we could reference those potentially. Um, but look, if you I would I would hope that the FWC and governing body would recognize the need here based on the

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proposed expansion, the ADA ramp, and the visibility issues. >> Yeah, the turn is really the I think that I think you have more weight if you're go to in the in the turn more than you do and maybe even the flow of

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the river. I don't know. But it's a pretty right I mean it pushes through right there. Swift right there. I mean I I I just wanted to bring these things out publicly and have this discussion because I again I'm not trying to beat you up but I mean I these are legitimate questions that I think that the public

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needs to understand and that we need to get answered. And um but good job in your presentation. I don't I don't have any issues with that. I just I just trying to truly understand the need. Um, and you know, do we really want to go down this road?

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>> No, no, I get it. And you know, at the end of the day, you're you and I both agree. We do not like additional restrictions placed on us by government. I think that is a consensus across this board. >> But we all have our strong suits and we all

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recognize different needs within our community. Um me personally, it's not a matter of if, it's when, especially if we continue to see growth there. Um with the additional dockage, the additional

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usage, and the additional growth of our population. So if again, like I said before, I would rather be proactive on this than reactive. >> Okay. All right. Commissioner Harvey, you're recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, again, thank you for the comments and Madam Chair, I

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think you bring up some good points. Um, started off none of us really want to see more restrictions or who's going to enforce those restrictions, but I will say I think after today when it hits Apply Daily News tomorrow and hits

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Facebook, we'll find out who's for and against that, right? >> Very quickly. Um, we'll know really quickly on that and we'll know the misunderstandings that are out there and we'll be able to head that off. >> I would like to say I think we could do a lot with sign and I don't know if we

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have any say so once it leaves this chamber and goes to Tallahassee. Um, but maybe no weight zone due to handicap uh launch for kayaks. I mean, if if I saw that, it doesn't take another sign

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to tell me to slow down. I would automatically want to slow down some. I also want to say this is other parts of the river. You're probably not going to have this same situation due to the width of the river. So you probably

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wouldn't have a kayak launching down in Georgetown, you know, off of soft launch that would be affected by this type of a hairpin curve. So I think when we look at that, you know, what what does it open the door for others? Everything we

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do opens the door for other things. But I think a a relatively cautious board would understand location, location, location is everything. And I think if we can build a sign that says this is why we're doing this for handicap

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launches. Please slow down. And Commissioner Alexander, one thing that really struck me and I saw you get emotional. Five minutes will save a life. Maybe maybe we haven't had any issues, but if you weren't on the river on July 4th and

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you didn't see the amount of boat traffic that was out there, it's tremendous. And thank God that people are using our natural resources, but what's five more minutes to slow down just a little bit to save your life or somebody else's life. We do it on our

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roads all the time. If we can do it on this area to protect the handicap, and I would hate to see somebody who's handicapped trying to enjoy natural resources and they're swamped by a boat going by there. Come on, that just doesn't make common sense. So, I

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understand all the concerns and we'll know that. But again, this is the first reading. We'll know more by August 11th. At the second one, who's in the audience, who's contacted us, and what the concerns are. So, this is just in my opinion, sending it up, seeing what goes

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and what comes back as the final product. So, thank you, Madam Chair. >> All right, Commissioner Peler, you're recognized. Um, Madam Chair, I appreciate your due diligence and research there on um what's in the code book there in

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Tallahassee. Um, I do appreciate that. I I do realize the value of the bass tournaments and how much they bring to us and and we we advertise and that's one of our selling points here in Putham County. Commissioner Harvey, you make very valid points also um about um the

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ADA and and I honestly think that once the ADA accessibility of this ramp is probably going to enhance the amount of usage there and you make a great point about signage and maybe this, you know, will be a something that will could

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could be done. Um I'm I'm not about restricting anybody any more than absolutely have to, but it's a it's a safety issue to me. That's a just straight out and out. It's a safety issue cuz when somebody is severely hurt

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or paralyzed or possibly killed, that's off the chain and that's just that's unacceptable. So, um, like I said, that is a hairpin curve. I've been on it before. I know exactly what you're talking about. Um I still think it has very valid point of of why we should uh

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pursue this further and it could be a signage issue that maybe that takes care of it. Um but um somebody's life is just not worth the risk. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. >> All right. So you made a motion. >> Are you making a motion or what are we

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doing here? >> Already had a motion in a second. Is there any other comments and we're clear on our motion? Madam Chair, I think the motion does need to come back to say August 11th, 2026 at a time that the the presenter or the motioner made it.

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>> Yeah, >> that works. >> All right, >> second. >> Um, >> we think we >> 9:00 9:00 a.m. >> All right. Any other discussion? All right. All in favor of moving it to the next reading say I. >> I. I. >> I. >> Motion carries unanimously.

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>> All right. Public comment on agenda items. This portion of the agenda is designed to allow citizens an opportunity to bring matters to the attention of the board. It is not reasonable to expect that the board will engage in debate or deliberation about matters on which the board has received no prior information as part of the

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agenda. Please limit your time to three minutes. Public comment cards are conveniently placed at the meeting room entrance and should be submitted prior to the meeting to the deputy clerk who sits to the right of the podium. Madame clerk, do we have any blue cards on

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consent agenda items or new business on new business? Okay, that I'm going to put that under miscellaneous since we've already had that presentation. Um, any other any other items? Okay, we will have an

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opportunity for miscellaneous items. All right, going into consent agenda. Is there any commissioners wishing to pull anything from the consent? >> Starting with Commissioner Harvey. >> Madam Chair, I have none. >> Commissioner Alexander. >> Madam Chair, I have none.

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>> Commissioner Newold. >> Nothing. >> Commissioner Pelisir. >> I have none. >> And I have none. >> Madam Chair, I move approval of the consent agenda items A, B, C, D, and E. >> Second. >> All right. We have a motion on the floor and a second. Any further discussion or

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comments? All in favor say I. >> I. >> All right. Motion carries. Going into new business, public works, acceptance of multiple rideway deeds, resolution 2026-051. >> Uh the first one on your agenda is for receiving multiple rideaways during lot splits. We try to do this uh anytime we

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get a lot split if the rideway on that road is not uniform. So we're just trying to make the rideway uniform in case we need to do any future improvements. common practice for what we do. >> So these are particular to the ones we've already received applications for and receive their lot splits,

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>> right? And so if we don't have a uniform rightway, then on the for that particular lot, when they do a lot split, we request uh for them to deed us the rightway. >> So this is a clean up. >> Yeah, it's really just clean up for the rideway. >> All right, Commissioner Harvey, you're recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to

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say thank you for doing that. That's, you know, future boards down the road are going to really be appreciative of this. >> So, I want you to know I appreciate you doing this. >> Thank you, Marie Chase. She does a great job. >> I know your staff, obviously. Thank you. >> All right. Any other comments?

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All right. What's the pleasure of the board? >> Madam Chair, I move approval of resolution 2026-051. >> Second. >> Have a motion second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Like sign. Did you say I,

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Commissioner? >> I did. >> You did. >> I'm sorry. I didn't hear you. Okay. Motion carries. >> Public link works uh Milicanin Road drainage easements. >> Uh these are for the North Button drainage project that's currently taking place. We needed uh six different drainage easements. These are just the

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first of the six that are coming before you. uh so that we can put in the cross cover culverts uh as commissioner Wilkersonson knows so that we can prevent the flooding of Milickin Road and get that water to flow correctly to Mason Branch instead of sheet flowing across Mil. >> Right. Right. So I don't I just want to

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make sure everybody uh is aware that this was something this project has been something that's the county's been working on for two years two three years >> over at least three >> actually it might have been one of last one of the last appropriations we had received through Bobby Payne's office. So, it's been four years since we've

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actually had the appropriation >> in on the books, but um this is a there's a multiple >> things that are happening out in that area um on Palmeta Bluff on Milikin Road and this is part of that project that is

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being overseen by a engineering firm. >> Correct. >> Okay. All right. Uh Commissioner Harvey, you're recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I don't mean to be hogging the microphone, but this has been going on since probably even since I got here and talking about the flooding out there. Just want to

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congratulate you on on and your staff of getting these these easements. Um and there's more to come. >> Yes. >> So, do you see any other problems of getting all this water eventually to the river where it's trying to go? >> No. But um the easements are giving us

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200 f feet onto the property to clear that out um as an basically an outfall coming from the cross culbert to prevent the sheet uh flooding that's been occurring on Milican because we're reestablishing the swailes on both sides of the road as well so that we can funnel it to the cross culberts, get it

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there. Uh the land owners that have come in and talked to us have been very appreciative. Um there uh Mr. Williams was in last week. He's tired of seeing his pines underwater. He knows that this is going to help prevent that and get the water to Mason Branch sooner. So, >> well, this has been a long time coming

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and a lot of commissioners have worked on this and and legislators as you just heard of and just glad that you know we're moving this forward as a board and getting this cleaned up and thanks to Commissioner Wilkinson for keeping the eye on the ball on these things and and your staff too. So, I appreciate that

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very much. So, thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Thank you. Are there any other questions for the presenter or comments or concerns? All right. Is there a motion on the floor? >> Madam Chair, I move that we approve resolution number 2026-052. >> Second. >> We have a motion second. Any other

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comments or questions? All in favor say I. >> I. >> All right. Motion carries. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Uh going into public comment on miscellaneous items. I've already read this paragraph. I'm not reading it again. >> Thank you, ma'am. >> Sounds like a teacher, right? I know.

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>> I know a motto, >> right? Um, Miss Reyes, your subject matter is SMA Meridian Reyes, PO Box 253, Boswick. Thank you. Um, I just have some comments. Some of you know, some of you don't know that I

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am the self-appointed homeless community liaison for the county. >> Advocacy. Is that what it is? Advocacy. Advocate. >> Yeah. Slash advocate. Um, Sheriff Delo has graciously allowed me to go in the jail when one of the homeless people get

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arrested for me to provide them the services that we have in the county. SMA and Meridian have been instrumental in helping me to get them from the jail into their program and into housing. Um,

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with SMA, it's a little bit different because of their restrictions. So, they can't take everybody. Um, with Meridian, it's open. The only the only um block that I have with Meridian is a TB test,

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which I'm trying to work with the health department to get that resolved. Sorry, it might take a little bit more than >> You're fine. >> Um, so what I want to ask the commissioners for SMA, if they're running in the red, why isn't St. John's

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County also providing we put Putham County citizens are providing a lot of money and a lot of resource to SMA. They're bringing in inmates from St. John's County and St. John's County is not providing a dime to any of it. So,

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as a constituent, I have a problem with that. Even though I work with them, I have a problem with that because if they had five people from St. John's County, those five people would get the exact same service that Putnham County people are getting, but they're not contributing to the care, to the

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programs, to the services. >> That's SMA. Meridian. Meridian, I do transportation to Gainesville. I transport when there's no other transport available. >> On your own dime? >> On my own dime. Oh, yeah. I forgot to

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say I'm self-funded. Um, so with Meridian it's a little bit easier. I can take them to e CSU or I can take them to the bridge house if they have a bed. They service a lot of

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counties. So getting people from Putnham County there and in a bed and in the program sometimes it's a challenge. Um, they have graciously I have an a a direct communication with

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them. We have a new peer specialist here that is amazing because he was part of the homeless community here in Putham County and he got hired by Meridian and he's doing an amazing job with Meridian. I would like to see maybe funding

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increase to level out SMA and Meridian um to cover additional services and maybe one of the buildings that you guys talk about all the time that are surplus maybe offering a building to Meridian

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like we do for SMA so that we can have a crisis unit here so that we can have beds here and we don't have to travel to Gainesville and we can make that process easier for all of us. Those are my comments.

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>> Okay. So, I will say on the SMA, I think the from my understanding when we did that grant opening was that the reason they take people from St. John's had to do with a grant. I don't know when that grant ends, if it was a requirement in that grant. I do get your point and I

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don't disagree with you, but I do believe that my understanding had to. So, we got to get clarity on that because I think you're you're you've touched on something that's very important to the citizens in Putinham, which is if we're paying for everything, why is it not only just Putnham County

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people? So, I don't disagree with you on that. Um, but we can get some clarity on on that on that concern. >> Okay. >> Are there any questions? >> Was that St. John's or Valuchia? You mentioned >> St. John's. >> Okay. >> They're going to the jail in St. Yeah, for the recidivism program, but I think it had to do with a grant, but we can

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find out on that and get more more clarity. And um >> and on transportation, I mean, I would like to see a I mean, we I appreciate what you're doing, but we shouldn't have to have private citizens transporting. We shouldn't we have to we should figure that out. So, I don't know what that

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looks like. I mean, we've got we've got ride solutions we spend money with. We got a sheriff's office. We've got I mean I I'd like to figure that out. I don't know what that is, but I don't know how to get there. That's not a lowhanging fruit with an easy answer, but it

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doesn't mean we can't dis we can't have further discussion on that topic. All right. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Ben Smith. >> Thank you for the opportunity to get here. I'd like to take Excuse me. My name is Ben Smith. My address is 105

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Hires Road, Georgetown, Florida 32139. >> Yes, sir. >> Mr. Newull, thank you very much for participating in the Fourth of July event we had in WA. The citizens love to see you out and do whatever, you know, to to get your name out there and let them know that you're accessible.

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Um, let me get to where I started. Oh, well, another thing I wanted to say. The squeaky wheel must get the oil. I'm glad to see that public works Milligan Road drainage easement is moving forward and doing some things and that's where my concerns are today. But it is not

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Milikin Road, it is Hires Road 309. Um, let's see here. I'm here to follow up on last month's meeting about drainage along 309 uh County Road 309 between Koski Road and Lunker Lodge Road. specifically the

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termination of the 48in box culvert on the west side of County Road 309. The property that intersects the culvert has recently been surveyed and shows no drainage easements across the area and that at this point is the only way for

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that water to get to the river. And it's been blocked now because the gentleman who's bought the property rightfully has blocked that water from going through his property. there was no easement for it to go through there to begin with. So now in the event we have some more water

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and we have reached just about saturation level now in our area. The ponds are beginning to fill up. I think it's only a matter of days if not a week or so before we start seeing water come underneath at that 48 inch box cover and

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create some severe problems. I heard someone mention he mentioned the sheet water flow across the roads that exist. When the water gets to the point where it is coming under that 48 in culvert it's sheet water across Hire's road and

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it's seeking its level. Um let me get back on track with where I'm at. Um the at the last meeting Mr. Grimes had stated that he would look into it and that is you know our plans available.

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Um, we also had some questions about elevations and right after the last meeting aired, one of the neighbors went right on when he found out County Road 309 was actually first a state road, he went online and found two or three

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places where he could get information on the state road plans that were submitted to the county and they probably do exist. So, you know, I'm just wanting to find out if we have any more information about the, you know, the the plans

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because I was told that they do not exist. Uh, when I first asked for copies of them, they sent me copies of a road that was designed in or the plans were designed in 1968 and it's not the

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existing road that exists now. Uh, it didn't show the elevations that are there. Uh, and that did come from public works, but they did not appear. Um, apparently is that my time is expired. >> Well, I had much more to go on, but I I I do want to just see if we can find out

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some answers to, you know, the questions from the last meeting. Thank you guys very much. >> Thank you. >> All right, moving forward. Uh, Jessica Finch. if you'll state your name and address for the record. >> Good morning, um, chair and commission.

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My name is Jessica Finch. My address is 235 Marine Center Drive and that's in Marineland, Florida. And I am coming here today on behalf of the St. John's Riverkeeper. and I wanted just to discuss some um issues about data

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centers. So, I've been following some of the local comments on Facebook and and seeing some of the back and forth and the St. John's Rivereper has been involved uh recently in discussions and advoc advocacy related to proposed data

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center development and it is the core mission of the St. John's Rivereper to defend the St. John's River, which is um one of our greatest attributes in this county, other than of course um our residents. Um we want to advocate for its

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protection, ensure the river's water and tributaries remain drinkable, swimmable, and fishable for everyone both now and in the future. Um the St. John's Rivereper is highly concerned about data centers in the St. John's River wershed.

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Um, we have the whole 310 mile uh area that we are concerned with. And that is not just the 310 mile river, but there's additional thousands and thousands of acreage that surrounds the river that is part of our district. Um, it is well

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documented that data centers place significant bur burdens on water resources, energy, and local ecosystems. Um, one specific item that we're concerned about is water consumption. Data centers

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use servers operating 247 to perform analytics and run complex algorithms that are now used in almost every internet search, business function, cloud storage, and key public infrastructure. The continual running of these servers

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generates intense heat and requires the use of millions of gallons of water via cooling towers and liquid cooling systems. While evaporative cooling systems are more efficient than air conditioning, most of the water use is consumed during the evaporative process,

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which means it doesn't return to the groundwater. Um, we know that we've been under a drought here recently, um, extended drought. Thankfully, we've had some relief from that, but um we know the effects of the drought. Um a consumed

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um a single large data center can consume up to 5 million gallons of water per day. This is equivalent to the same daily use of 15,000 homes. Um in warm states like Florida, cooling demand becomes even greater because the outside

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air contributes to machine heat. Um, you can know that if you could stand out beside your air conditioning and you can feel the hot air coming from outside of the uh AC unit. Um, I've got a whole page, a whole document

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of the St. John's River uh Riverkeepers position on this. I'd like to share it with you all be via email because I only I know I only have three minutes, but I just wanted to go over some of the key points. Um, I don't have enough time to go over everything. While the use of the

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closed loose system, cooling systems are direct to chip liquids. Cooling systems require a much smaller amount of water. They can significantly increase electricity demand. Energy consumption, environmental impacts, noise pollution, and storm water and flood hazards are

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also concerns. Also, lack of transparency. So I'll close this um with we believe that communities deserve the opportunity to fully evaluate the potential impacts of data centers on water use, wastewater

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discharge, energy demand, wetlands, wildlife habitat resilience, and long-term community planning before development decisions are made. This requires complete transparency between governmental authorities, permitting agencies, and the public.

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Creating a moratorum will allow you, the commissioners, a chance to be in the driver's seat, determining the path forward rather than have it directed to you. Thank you so much. >> I have a question for you. >> Sure. >> Are you getting paid to be here? >> Am I getting paid? I get paid as a as a

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uh consultant for the St. John's Rivereper. So, whatever I do um in regards to St. John's Rivereper work, I do get paid for. >> Okay. Thank you. >> You're welcome. It doesn't it doesn't uh it doesn't adversely or I mean you get

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paid to be there. I get paid to be here. So I'm on one side and my concern is the river. >> I understand >> as it should be every one of you's concern up there. >> I just think it's a fair question. >> It's fair. >> Madam chair. >> Yes.

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>> I do want to say I do think that's a fair question. And when you go to Tallahassee and you fill out the speaker form, you have to put down whether you're paid lobbyist or not, you know, and I think it's fair to to note that. So, thank you, Mr. Michael Woodard. Woodward, excuse me, Michael,

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please state your name and address for the record. Michael Woodward, 517 South Francis Street, Interlock in Florida. And I am not being paid to be here. >> Thank you, sir. And you're a resident of Putnham County. >> Uh for uh 50ome years now.

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>> Yes, sir. The only serious objection I've heard so far to ab adopting a one-year moratorum on data centers, something another uh something a number of other Florida counties have already done or are in the

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process of doing, is that it might run a foul of last year's Senate Bill 180s prohibition on adopting more restrictive or burdensome land use regulations. By the way, I apologize for the roughness in my voice. I had a really

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bad uh respiratory illness back in May and it haven't quite haven't quite gotten over the damage yet. >> Yes, sir. >> But this year's Senate Bill 484 specifically gives local governments the

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authority to regulate data centers and tells them to use that authority. SB484 says that because of the quoteun unique planning infrastructure and compatibility considerations end quote that data centers present quote the

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legislature intends that such considerations shall shall be addressed end quote by local governments adopting comprehensive planning and land development regulations. Even if these two laws were being read

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as somehow in conflict with one another, then the most recent and specific one will trump the older and more general one. Even if SB80 had limited your authority to adopt regulations or a moratorum,

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SB484 has given that authority back to you as far as data centers are concerned. But, you know, all of this analysis may not really be necessary because by its own terms, SB180's limitations are not

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now currently in force. Not here, not anywhere in Florida. SB80 codified as section 252.422 of the Florida statutes reads in part as follows.

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quote, "For one year after a hurricane makes landfall, an impacted local government may not propose or adopt." End quote. Then it goes into the list of uh the various categories of prohibited regulations.

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Moreover, to be considered an impacted local government that could be subject to SB180's limitations under the right circumstances, a county would also have to be within 100 miles of the hurricane's track and be listed as a federal disaster in a federal disaster

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declaration. So remember, has to be within one year of a hurricane and it has to be a county that's in a federal disaster declaration because it was in 100 miles of the hurricane's

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track. You know, a few days ago, I found myself trying to remember the names of some of the hurricanes we had last year, but my aging memory failed me. But what I had forgotten was not the names of the hurricanes. What I've forgotten was the fact that we hadn't had any.

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It turns out that in all of 2025, not one hurricane made landfall anywhere in Florida. Tropical storms don't count. Neither do hurricanes that throw us some weather on their way past going up to North Carolina. Uh, a landfall means

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when the center of the eye of the hurricane actually makes contact with our shore. The last hurricane to do that, the last hurricane to make a landfall in Florida was Milton, uh, which on the 9th of October of 2024

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made landfall on Siesta Key near Sarasota. That was 21 months ago. So, because at this point, no hurricane has made landfall in Florida for well over a year, SB180s limitations on land use regulation are not now in force anywhere in this state. And they cannot come into

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force anywhere in this state until we get another hurricane somewhere. And even then, it will be only for the counties that meet the other criteria of being affected counties, being within the 100 miles, being part of a disaster declaration.

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So, back to data centers. Right now, Putnham County has no regulations that come close to adequately addressing the unique impacts of data centers, including but not limited to the enormous demands that they place on electrical and water resources.

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A one-year moratorum at this time would ensure that Putnham County's residents and businesses are protected from data centers impacts until such time as we have developed and put in place adequate permanent regulations.

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If the board has questions for me, I will gladly try to address them. >> I don't think so at this time. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, commissioners. >> All right. Um, Avette Reyes, your backup for another subject matter. I'm going to

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give you two bites of the apple today. >> Evette Reyes, PO Box 253 Boswick. This is my animal control hat. I haven't been up here in a while for animal control, but I do have some points that I need to bring up. Um,

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we have certified animal control officers now. And this is not against the the the team because y'all know I love the team and I would never say anything bad about them, but we have animal control officers that are certified. Now, we have a statute um

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title 46 828 spot 27 local animal control or cruelty ordinances penalty that allows animal control officers who are certified to go on private property and issue citations. We have a huge problem especially in

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Interlockan. Sorry, Larry. Um, with stray animals and people who are not being responsible. Why is it that our ACOs who are now certified not allowed to proceed with

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the citation issues? It's $500, right, for a citation. We go out there three, four times, leave a notice, and nothing gets done, and we're just going on the wheel around and around. Um, I know in

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the past we didn't have certified ACOs, but now we do. We spent a lot of money on it. I have what I've been doing is for the complaints that are on Facebook, I've been requesting the public information. So, I have the data and going to the same place three times,

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leaving a notice within, I don't know, 3 months is just a waste of resources and time for everybody. So, is that something that the county is looking into doing? I know ordinances are getting rewritten, but the statute says

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that they can do it now. For 12 years, I've been listening to ordinances are getting rewritten. Ordinances are getting rewritten. Finally, we're getting there. I know JR is working on it with the Animal Welfare League, but

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we have the statute that we can use to protect the county employee. So, that's just my concern with animal control and I have it all written here. I didn't want to read it, but yeah, it's it's 828

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spot 27 subsection one, two, and four. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. Any other comments? Any other public comments? Come on. Come on forward.

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Hello. Um, my name is Ethan Bradley. I am a resident of Putnham County. I've lived here all my life. So, um, good morning commissioners. Thank you for having me here. Um, >> can you just give your address real quick? >> 110 Carlos Court, Palaka, Florida, 32177. >> Thank you. >> So, I am also not paid to be here and I'm also here to speak about data

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centers. So, a single hypers scale data center pulls as much electricity as a city of 150,000 people around the clock. Grid operators are already warning of multi-gawatt shortfalls within two years. Florida rate payers have watched their bills climb 42 to 82% since 2020 across Duke, Tiko, and FPL. The

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legislature did pass a law this year requiring data centers to cover their own infrastructure cost instead of billing that to the rest of us, but it hasn't been tested anywhere yet, and we don't know how these increased and electricity demands will increase our bills. And Putnham County shouldn't be

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the ones testing them. There's also a real risk for brownout. For me, where I live, I have it happen all the time. anytime it rains or anything like that, even when it's hot, sometimes the power goes out, you know, and this is the kind of things that we are putting ourselves at risk for if we allow these data centers to come into our community. And

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then there's the other issue that has been brought up several times about um the the water issue. And even some of the things that use these what they call closed loop systems still require a consumptive use permit during their financing process because they need um

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they need this because they need even a genuine closed loop reclaimed water system needs a groundwater hookup as backup for when treatment plants goes down for maintenance or summer demand outstrips what we reclaimed water can cover. State district decides if it's feasible and statutes never define

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feasibility. That's a loophole. That's a big loophole and that could be used against us as well. Data center expansion should be one of the last decisions we make, not one of the first. Before we hand our grid capacity, our aquifer, and our tax base, we need and to answer a more basic question. What do we actually want AI to be used for? The

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technology runs on. >> So, and yeah, that's what I'm here to talk about. I'm sorry I've never talked before in front of anybody. I just got a little bit nervous. >> You're doing fine. Just take a deep breath. You're doing fine. >> You're doing fine. >> Yes, ma'am. Thank you. So that that's that's really what I'm here to talk

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about. And one of my big concerns again is that consumptive use permit that's required. We've heard a lot of people talk about the closed loop systems that seem to alleviate that. That's that's what's been claimed before, but it does not alleviate that. Even when they have to charge these systems, when these

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systems when the the treatment goes down for maintenance, anytime like that, they have to consistently have access to water. So they have to have those consumptive use permits. And that's just a concern of itself. you know, these things concern, as the um water keeper lady mentioned, so much water and any

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time that they're just draining our aquifer, that's that's a danger to all of us. We've seen what's happened in places like the villages where they've used so much water that sink holes have become a major issue. You know, they have whole businesses dedicated to foundation, you know, and stuff like that because of that. And that that's

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just something Putinham County does not need. We talk about you know Putinham County every time you come into here it's Putinham County is outdoor friendly you know and that's what we want to keep you know everybody it it's good to expand I don't have any problem with moving forward with developing but we need to think about how we want to move forward how we want to develop you know

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we have to stay I think consistent with that you know outdoor beautiful kind of thing and data centers do not stay consistent with that so thank you >> thank you for your comments yes ma'am right any other public comments come on forward

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Please state your name and address for the record. >> My name is Ammani Klein. Um I'm PO Box 455, Satsumo, Florida 32189. I've lived in Putnham County since August 2000. And I'm proud to call Putnham County

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home. And I enjoy the outdoor recreation that we have. I hike. camp and I've been very blessed to see so many bald eagles, uh, barn, bred owls, and just see so much wildlife here. And I believe in

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protecting it as best as possible. And I always believe it's our civic duty to do as much as possible to research um, any any poss, you know, everything that's going on. and I've been able to help people, you know,

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camp here, hike here, backpack here. Um, I'm part of a group called Girls Hike Florida. And so, Putin County is home. And to me, I just data centers are just not the thing. We are outdoor recreation. We are outdoor friendly. I

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mean, you guys talk about the bass tournament, that's that that brings in so many people. And to me, it's just it's it's scary to think about something like that being brought here because that would affect our wildlife, the natural resources that we we call home.

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Every one of us here has been able to see the beauty of Putnham County to whether we fish, whether we bike, whether we camp or we backpack, we have so many natural beauties here and it just doesn't it's just not on point for Putnham County to have something like

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that. It doesn't define us. It doesn't represent who we are. And so I just want you to consider, you know, looking into a one-year morrarium for the county so we can do more research. Thank you. >> Ma'am, you gave a you say you're a

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resident of Putnham County, but you gave a Jacksonville address. >> No, I said PO Box 455, Satsuma, Florida 32189. >> I'm sorry, my mistake. I swear you said Jacksonville. No, I >> had a bad hearing. >> No, I've been here since August of 2000. Okay. >> Thank you.

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>> Glad to have you. >> Thank you. >> All right. Anybody else? >> All right. Back to the board for commissioner committee updates. Do we have any commissioner committee updates? Starting with Commissioner I'll start with Commissioner Harvey.

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>> I knew you were going to do that. >> I'm just starting on your end today. >> I have none, Madam Chair. Thank you, >> Commissioner Alexander. >> Yeah. Yeah. I've got some updates. Um >> Awesome. Where's he at? Sam, please stand up. >> Sam.

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>> Yes, sir. >> It's not that bad. Um, I just want to give him the show of appreciation to Sam Sullivan. Uh, we were successful in securing a BIP grant for the construction of the Dun Creek State or

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Duns Creek boat ramp. um >> Southside >> Southside we um we didn't have all of the information that we needed, but we did get letters of support from the sheriff, the fire department, couple other folks, letter of support from the uh commission. Thank you guys very much.

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Um so we did get a good amount of money. Um we have some other funds that staff and I are looking at to potentially shift over there as well as our appropriations that are coming up. So I may be knocking on some of y'all's door a little bit. Um, but I did want to congratulate Mr. Sullivan and thank him very much for that.

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>> Just make sure you do it publicly. >> Congratulations publicly and I'll ask you guys publicly down the road. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you guys. >> Comm Commissioner Newald. >> Um, just one quickie update. Um, I was volunteered to be a alternate on the

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canvasing board. Yes. There is a meeting today which Mr. Commissioner Palier will be attending. um it conflicts with our budget workshop but you know rather than um anyway we had to take precedent and I'll skip that that meeting um be here

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for the budget workshop. I really don't have any other anything else in regards to committee updates. >> Yeah. And so that's the that's their logic and accuracy test. So just so you'll know Julianne does and she has to go through lots of calendars. She has to get in line with municipalities. she has

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to get in line with school districts to make sure there's not a conflict because we can't have public meetings on a public budget at the same time another public entity can. So, she's had to clear lots of calendars. So, um the the fact that she didn't know about the this

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one, it wasn't anything other than she's already got to check so many other calendars. So, it is unfortunate that one of you will have to go there and I it would be Commissioner Palisier, but I just want to say for transparency there wasn't any anything other than that.

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>> It's part of the process. I mean, it's >> part of the process and there's lots of people. >> Yep. These calendars are full. Our our activity calendars are full. It's that's part of the part of the deal. >> Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Thank you for that. Um, Commissioner Posier. Um, as Commissioner Newol said, um, I'm the

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primary um, member on that board, so I do have to attend. Um, but uh, I did speak to Mr. Overurf and he said that he didn't see anything in the future that we would be have conflicting uh, schedule crashes so to speak. >> Uh, however, I will be this evening

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calling on Mr. Suggs to give me an update of what transpired in the >> you might you might not be as our meeting might be this meeting here could potentially be longer. So you might end up finishing coming over. I don't know. >> I agree. >> It could be a longer meeting.

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>> He says we're two and a half three hours this afternoon. >> Okay. All right. Well, there's that. >> Okay. >> Any other than that, I have nothing. >> All right. Um I don't have anything um other than we have a affordable housing advisory committee this week. Meeting is

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Julian. Do you have that off the top of your head? Wednesday at 10 in this boardroom. Um >> pop one more thing. This isn't it's not necessarily a committee but just miss Reyes did bring up her her on the kind of that

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>> yeah deficit and enforcement today after this meeting. there's a lunch meeting with 11 community partners that will be working our first get together on that revamp of animal enforcement activities. So congratulations.

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This is a I don't know. It is not um but we'll I'll update you on, you know, where we're going and and there will be more of that in the future. So, >> more meetings in the future. >> All right. Um so, uh that's it for commissioner committee updates. We're going into appointments starting since

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I've started with you all day. Commissioner Harvey, you're up. >> Thank you. Thank you, ma'am. I have no appointments. >> All right, Commissioner Alexander. >> Yes, ma'am. Thank you. I would like to reappoint Miss Renee Huff to the fair authority. >> All right.

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>> I missed that at the last meeting, so I want to make sure we got that taken care of. >> All right. Very good. Commissioner Newbald. >> Um I have one in process. Lisa King is in the process of returning her um paperwork for the District 1 animal

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services advisory committee. So I hope by uh next meeting we'll have some progress there. >> So that's not at large you're talking about. That's a district appointment or are you referring to an atlarge position?

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>> I believe it's my district one. >> Okay, that's a question. >> You're welcome to appoint someone. We can wait for the paperwork for a while. >> Okay. Well, I I would like to appoint her. Um, but her paperwork is not in yet. I don't think she's official until

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she gets that done. Unless I'm mistaken. >> We'll we'll take care of it. >> Thank you. >> All right, Commissioner Palisier. >> Yes, ma'am. I have one uh to the zoning board of adjustment, Miss Rebecca Krebs

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>> with a C or K >> uh K R E BS, I believe, is the way they spell it. >> All right. That is a district appointment. Yes, ma'am. >> And they have to reside in your respective district. >> The address they gave me is in my district. >> All right. Thank you.

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Um All right. And then um I do believe I will have a parks and wreck um an appointment. I'll have to probably bring it up the next meeting because I haven't really confirmed that yet. So I do think I will be filling my district to seat on

455
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parks and wrecks. Um it is important as we go through um that we do try to fill some of these spots. Um a couple of the committees have not been able to do anything because they haven't had quorum. So either we want these or we

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don't want them. And if we want our advisory boards to continue, then we got to make sure. And I know we've just talked about it and it's not always easy. But I will put this out publicly. If you want to resi, if you want to help out on a board, then reach out to your commissioner and let us know that you have an interest in serving on one of

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these boards. They're in in our agenda packet. Um they're ongoing. So, we we do need this is an opportunity for citizens of Putham County to um to weigh in and give us their you know, it's an these are advisory boards and they're really

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important to our to our board in making decisions. So, as we move forward, >> please feel free to let a commissioner know if you're interested in serving on something. uh clerk of court cannot be here today. So we'll go into uh county attorney commando.

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>> Thank you madam chair. I actually need to ask the board to reconsider the motion um that set the second public hearing on the no wake zone. It appears that the advertisement did go out so it's already scheduled for July 28th. So if there could be a motion reconsider

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just to amend the date the time would stay the same. So, I want to make sure I understand the advertising already says July 28th. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Just because that's the next available meeting. >> Yes. >> Gotcha. Okay. >> So, we need to just change it to July 28th. Is that correct? >> Yes.

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>> I make that motion to change the second reading to July 28th at 9:00 a.m. >> I'll confirm the second. >> I thought I'm sorry. I thought you were the second. Did I miss that? >> No. >> Yeah, it is. You're the second. Okay. All right. All in favor say I. >> I. Motion carries as amended. All right.

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Anything else? >> Just to let you know that I'm going to miss the next meeting, but I'll be in touch in advance of the meeting with you all in case you have any legal questions. Uh we're just going to see my wife's grandmother who's 96 years old. >> Good deal. >> Good deal. >> Right. >> My husband had a grandmother live to be

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104. >> And she had over a hundred Wilkinson grandb babies. I'm just saying. So Wilkinsons are well represented. Um, County Administrator Suggs. >> Uh, yes, ma'am. I I'm going to uh defer to admin deputy administrator Grimes

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first. He's got a comment he needs to talk about. >> Okay. Thank you. >> So, moving forward with our fairgrounds project. Um, when we did our original phase, well, when we did our original building, it came in with electrical to run the conduit and the ground mount transformer and all is a three-phase to

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the building, which usually is covered by the power company if you have a demand. Well, with this building with it being unfinished in a first phase doesn't have a demand for return on investment for the power company. So, we're having going to have to upfront pay for the the P pad mount transformer,

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the conduits and all through FPNL and have it buried. And we're looking at about I think it's going to be around a total we got the $35,000 hard cost from FPNL for just the wire and the padmount transformer. and we're at about 15,000 to install trench and install the uh 5-

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in conduit. So, I need direction from the board, a wave of support to move the money, need to some kind of action to bring it forward because we will not have power in the building without it. >> All right, Commissioner Harvey. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. So, Mr. Grimes,

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what I'm hearing is probably around 46 to $47,000 to bring this. So 50,000 would bring this thing in. >> Yes, sir. We would have power the the permanent power to the building at that point uh for this. But >> so could we fund it? We're going to need

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a funding source. So do we fund it out of general fund reserves or better place plan because it is a long-term project. So which one would you prefer >> at this point? General fund reserves. >> Okay. >> All right. Commissioner Alexander, you recognized.

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>> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, just wanted to ask if um, typically that the the power company, as you stated, would f would fund this due to their ROI. >> Does does the option exist as the project progresses

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for FPL to reimburse us for some of those funds once the demand is there to give them a proper return time on their investment? >> I have not heard of such, but I have also have not asked the question, right? So, I mean, I could go back and ask. I mean, this is just something that's come up that we got to we got to move it forward one way or the other so we can

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direct the contractors on the way to go. >> Right. Right. Yeah. I just wanted to see if that option existed before we set something in finality that we couldn't address later. At this point, >> I I'll ask the question before we do it. I was just trying to get it moved forward for today so we can get them moving on the rest of the project. But I can try to find out if if they'll do any

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reimbursements. >> Okay. Thank you, >> Mr. Harvey. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. One last question, Mr. Grimes. Uh we've had some power issues at the fairgrounds. Um is this going to be able to help in the future power situations out there?

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>> We're working through that power issues on a separate note. This cuz this building is actually three-phase power, all the rest of that singlephase power. We're working through their engineering folks to see. I'm not an electrical guy at all. Um just trying to figure out if we can move any of that power from this to the uh existing issues at the

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fairgrounds. Uh that is a question we're asking our electricians now if they can use any of the available power from this next power pull in there for a portion of the fairgrounds. >> Okay. Thank you. >> All right. What's the pleasure of the board? >> Madam Chair, I move that forward that the board approves 50,000 up to $50,000

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for the electricity at the new building at the fairgrounds coming out of general fund reserves. >> Second. >> We have a motion to second. So general discussion I know is and I appreciate the transparency but this isn't something that Mr. Suggs could have authorized

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>> in most cases. Yes. However, this has been a project that the board has taken over um because it exceeded the appropriations. So we've had to come back to the board on multiple additional allocations for dollars to get us to the end of this first phase.

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>> No, I I'm glad it did. I just wanted to make sure I understand the process. Under a normal circumstance, this would be under his threshold. >> All right. Thank you. We have a motion and second. Is there any further comments or questions? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Motion carries. Was there any nays?

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Okay. Um. All right. Anything else, Mr. Grimes? >> That was it. Thank you, ma'am. >> Administrator Suggs. >> Uh, no, ma'am. I think we'll uh we'll hold comment till after our workshops afternoon. If there's anything then then I'll I'll bring it up then. But I don't think I have anything now.

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>> Okay. So, I I want to bring up something and I'm going to not going to wait until commissioner comments. Um, we have some good news. The county did receive a uh grant from the e-commerce for economic development. I believe it's

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over $2 million to um for water expansion along 309C for economic development. We just received that news this week. Last week is very very fresh. >> That is correct. It was a very quick turnaround and and we can also again if

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while we're on that subject uh thank Mr. Sam Sullivan again for jumping on that. That was a lastm minute opportunity that came to us and so uh we're very fortunate in being able to get that process and get that approval. So, in order for us to move forward, um we have

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to work with the city on this uh water expansion, which includes a master meter and um everybody involved needs to understand the benefit to both the city and the county through economic development. Not

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only would we potentially have a large um employer and taxpayer in the county, those the people that come to that facility would be frequenting restaurants and hotels and utilizing the water that the city could sell. Um I say

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that to say that um in full transparency I want the this board to understand the steps that are being taken place which is staff has met with um city commissioners staff has met with city employees and um county

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administrator has sent an email requesting a uh to actually to be placed on the next meeting for the city and basically I don't have I don't think I printed it out But basically, um, maybe I have it in here. Um, we basically were

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told their plates's full. They have a lot going on and they're not going to be able to get us on the agenda on July 23rd. Unfortunately, the city only has one meeting a month during the summer

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months. They call that their summer schedule. So, they have one meeting in June instead of two. They have one meeting in July instead of two. and they have one meeting in August instead of two. Um, and therefore that puts us in a little bit of a

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quandry because we need to let ecommerce know if we're moving forward with this project. We are have some deadlines. I'm disappointed that the city could not get us on the agenda as we requested. Um, I know that we have had also had

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discussions with the possibility of having a joint meeting with them. So, uh, Mr. Administrator Shugs, do you want to weigh in on any of my comments so so far? >> Uh, sure, Madam Chair. We have reached out. We've done the very things that that you've described and and there is a

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request that that came through from uh, city commissioner that we possibly hold another joint meeting and this could be part of that discussion. The unfortunate thing is that we were under a tight timeline for uh for moving this project forward. You know, it's one of those

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things that, you know, you have a lot of staff that jumps through a lot of hoops. You had uh Mr. Grimes who was helping with the layout. You have Mr. Nolles and Pilot Wars helping design this thing. You have Mr. Sullivan, Miss Young, myself, all of us got this thing knocked out and uh and can and turned into uh to

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the state and we were able to get the grant. Now, we're sitting in a a timeline situation where we can't get an answer back to moving forward. Uh it would be my suggestion that that we try our best to get on an agenda or just go

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ahead and hold a a joint meeting to have this discussion, but it would also be my recommendation that we continue moving forward with the design of this project. >> Yes, sir. I agree. And I just wanted this to be obviously we can't talk about this until we have a meeting like this

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and so I wanted uh this commission to understand where this project is and what um what the issues are. Commissioner Alexander, you're recognized for discussion. >> Well, as you said, this is a we can't talk about this isn't and this is the first that I've heard of of of this

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grant and I want to commend our staff for working so diligently to get that done in the time frame that was allowed. Um, does the option exist for the city to hold a special meeting or a special

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session so that we can get this taken care of for our constituents? >> Yeah, they do. Um, so in full transparency, I um had a conversation with one city commissioner >> who was seemed in favor of moving forward. Um, but I don't know that they

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have I think, you know, you got a new city manager and that new city manager is learning a lot and I I get that. Um, and then I uh spoke to another city commissioner who really just felt like their plate was full right now with it

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having a new newer city manager. And then I left a message for the mayor yesterday and have not received a phone call back. >> Okay. Um the statement the plate is full. Um what what exactly is required of the

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city to allow us to move forward with this project? Just an interlocal agreement, a wave of support or a vote? I mean, what what do we need from them to move forward? >> Um I mean, I don't know the the legality of that, but I would we just need to know if they're interested in moving

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forward at this point. I mean, we don't we're not ready for prime time, but we do have to have the discussion publicly. And if listen, if they don't if they don't want to participate, they don't want to participate and then we know how to deal with it. But if they do, they do. And I think it would be beneficial if they did. And that the only point

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that we're trying to do is get in front of the city commission to say, "Hey, these are the benefits of it." And if they ended up tableing it to the next meeting, they did, but we need an opportunity for discussion. >> Yes, I I I agree. And I I I don't that's when I was asking exactly what the requirements were, if they were

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burdensome or was it simply just a vote to say, "Yeah, this sounds like a great project. Let's move forward and get the money." Cuz I I can't think that anybody would want to not receive a grant money that would help us move our community forward. So, I I think maybe we need to paint a clearer picture of what's

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required so maybe they can get on board. We can get it knocked out and move on. I mean, if it's a two-minute discussion at the city commission, do y'all want to get on board? Let's do it. I don't see why we couldn't add that. >> Oh, we might just be all filling out blue cards come July 23rd. >> Okay. Thank you. I just want to get some

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clarity. Thank you for your efforts. >> Commissioner Harvey, you're recognized. >> Well, Madam Chair, my pen is ready and I've already pushed the button on it, so I'm ready to go fill out that blue card. What's our time limit here? I mean, what's our what's our deadline that we need to get back to Department of

506
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Commerce and let them know that? Because I'll sit down there on July 23rd. I don't mind, but I need to know that deadline. >> We're not We I can't answer that definitively because we don't have our funding agreement in place yet, but they are going to expect an answer as soon as

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we get that funding agreement back because it's going to be continually moving that thing forward. >> Well, you know, I'm going to say this, our plate's full sometimes, too. And but opportunities come along that we need to jump on. And I don't mean any disparity facts against the the city of Pala,

508
02:30:28.319 --> 02:30:45.680
>> and that's not what this intention is, >> right? But I I do want to say I mean we we all got plates that are full some days but you make room especially for dessert right you get you get extra room for dessert and this feels like dessert because this is something that's come our way and um Sam worked very hard and

509
02:30:45.680 --> 02:31:02.800
staff did and um we can always make room for that. So, um I think we should all if we have to be down there on 20 July 23rd. >> And I think the re the particular reason I brought it up was yes, we got told no that we can get on the agenda, but secondly, the next

510
02:31:02.800 --> 02:31:18.800
meeting, it's not like there's another meeting at the beginning of August. It pushes us all the way to the end of August for the meeting. Now, we can decide to to ask for a joint meeting. And I know um Mr. Administrator Suggs has asked has sent back an email and

511
02:31:18.800 --> 02:31:35.280
said, "Hey, we would be glad to meet with with Miss Curry, the the new city manager, the mayor, myself, and uh him, Mr. Suggs, that we can sit down and create an agenda. Again, I know she's newer. This is she's just been there a couple weeks. Um, and we have not gotten

512
02:31:35.280 --> 02:31:51.760
a a time frame on that either. So, I would be happy if we're if there if if we can't get some traction on or an answer on July 23rd, if we want to have the joint meeting that it could happen before August, end of August because that's my concern is it we're in the

513
02:31:51.760 --> 02:32:06.800
middle are we even in the middle of August? I mean of July. So, we got we got 45 days before we get another and it might not be 45 on the calendar, but it's a long time before there's another meeting with the city. So them pushing it back to the end of August to me is

514
02:32:06.800 --> 02:32:23.280
very disappointing. So what's what how would we like to resp how would we like to move forward? Just are we saying that we're just going to show up at the July 23rd meeting and see if we can get a few minutes of speaker time? >> Commissioner Alexander.

515
02:32:23.280 --> 02:32:39.359
Well, I I would like to see um staff make a second attempt and you know, maybe provide paint a clearer picture of the amount of time or investment that's going to be needed and give them the opportunity to get on board with this because I don't I really honestly think that they'll get on board. They may just

516
02:32:39.359 --> 02:32:55.520
not have understood the the lift and the how heavy the lift was, but something as trivial as that >> I I can't see why they wouldn't wouldn't agree to help everybody, >> right? And and we did just get this information. So, I do agree that's probably a good plan, Mr. if you'll reach back out and say, "Listen, if we

517
02:32:55.520 --> 02:33:11.200
can't get on the July 23rd meeting, let's get a definitive time for a joint meeting and get time to have an agenda because we really don't want to wait." My whole thing is I don't want to wait till the end of August. Commissioner Harvey, you're recognized. >> Madam Chair, I think that's good good

518
02:33:11.200 --> 02:33:26.960
advice right there, but I also think a letter from this board jointly, you know, requesting us to be on the July 23rd. We've had a public meeting. we have an opportunity and um I think a letter from this board to the city of PLA would be beneficial.

519
02:33:26.960 --> 02:33:43.200
>> Okay. All right. >> I think that's a great idea. >> You think that's a great idea? All right. We'll work on that, Mr. Suggs. We're going to work on a a a letter apparently um from the the board. You got this?

520
02:33:43.200 --> 02:33:58.960
>> Yes, ma'am. Who would you like to sign that letter? Madam Madam Chair? >> Uh I guess I'll sign it. Yeah, I'll sign it. >> We'll get you one drafted. >> Thank you. All right. Um, where were we at? We commend. That was that county administrator. Um, anything else, county

521
02:33:58.960 --> 02:34:15.520
administrator? >> No, ma'am. I'm I think I got enough for right now. So, I appreciate it, though. >> You mean your plates's full? >> Wow. >> Well, according to Commissioner Harvey, I got room for dessert. >> I'm so glad. Commissioner comments. Um,

522
02:34:15.520 --> 02:34:33.120
starting with uh, Commissioner Harvey. >> Well, don't you always have room for dessert? >> I It's a great comment. I mean, I don't disagree. >> All right. Well, thank you, Madam Chair, and and I want to say what a great uh, Fourth of July we've had around the county. Um, it was wonderful opportunity

523
02:34:33.120 --> 02:34:48.479
to be out in Enarkin again. It was my second year of retirement uh, from doing it for 40 years. Um, I tried to get the the town of Enlarkin to move their July 4th to December. They wouldn't do it for the heat, but uh truly it was a great

524
02:34:48.479 --> 02:35:06.880
time to be out there and be a part of July 4th celebration. Um, and then move into, uh, Palaca to see the fireworks and to watch the bridge lighting. And I was extremely ecstatic about the um the

525
02:35:06.880 --> 02:35:22.720
opportunity to see that and to be part of the the plunging of the the whatever they call it the Yeah. whatever. But we uh we turn the lights on and uh it's really going to showcase the county. I

526
02:35:22.720 --> 02:35:38.479
know there's people out there that are upset about funding and the unknowns and surely that's always been a concern, but you know, you buy a new car sometimes and you don't know what the you know the cost of it, but you don't know the continued cost sometimes. So, we'll get

527
02:35:38.479 --> 02:35:53.760
to that. And uh but right now it's lighting up our community, the bridge lights are. And a lot of a lot of kudos go to our madame chairwoman who kept moving this ball forward. Commissioner Alexander who kept going with this. Uh

528
02:35:53.760 --> 02:36:10.560
our previous board, the three of us, Commissioner uh Wilkinson, myself and Commissioner Adamsac that actually voted to move this forward. Um, so I understand and I understood the other two that didn't want to the the concerns

529
02:36:10.560 --> 02:36:25.760
that they have, but truly that night people were in awe of that lighting. And uh, my mother-in-law and I and my wife were out the other night. Believe it or not, 9:30 at night, I know, I know from over there at the leftand side of the

530
02:36:25.760 --> 02:36:42.319
podium. They're amazed at that. But we actually stopped and looked at the lights and my 93-year-old mother-in-law said, "Isn't this a prime example of what Putinham County should be showcasing?" >> Yes. >> And I said, "Yes." Here's a lady who was born in the orange groves of Manville

531
02:36:42.319 --> 02:36:58.560
who saw her father was actually the pay master for telegraph poles. So imagine what she's seen in her life and now she sees red, white, and blue on the bridge and she thought it was phenomenal. So, I just want to share that with you and I want to share kudos to everybody

532
02:36:58.560 --> 02:37:14.000
including John Browning who who kept moving this forward and again I said this not too long ago. You go to Tallahassee with John Browning and doors open up that you didn't even think there was a door there and they ask you what do you need and they're there to help

533
02:37:14.000 --> 02:37:30.479
you and John brings back a lot for Putham County. So, a lot of kudos to John and and just really for our staff and then we'll see going forward we'll see the cost. We'll make decisions based on that. Uh but you can't imagine that LED lights are going to cost that much

534
02:37:30.479 --> 02:37:46.160
money. Just don't see that happening. Um I see we'll see savings and we're going to see tourists uh coming back to Putham County more and more over that. So, I just want to thank you for that all the board and let them know how much I appreciate everybody's help on that. And

535
02:37:46.160 --> 02:38:01.680
then uh Madame Chair got me involved in Bread of Life the other day because their um steers and their hogs were the ones that were donated came back from the processor last week. And um I thought to myself, you know what? I'll

536
02:38:01.680 --> 02:38:16.640
take 12 cases of these home and cook them. Not realizing how much 12 cases of pork butt and shoulders and knuckles and how much work that was. So we cooked all day Sunday, all night Sunday night and

537
02:38:16.640 --> 02:38:31.840
delivered a good product to them for uh meals on yesterday at Bread of Life. And I will tell you, you know, I've been involved with Bread of Life, hit and miss. there, you know, back and forth. But truly to walk into that facility

538
02:38:31.840 --> 02:38:48.560
yesterday with meat that was prepared for the for dinner that day >> and see the blessing and the people that are sitting outside waiting to be fed >> does your heart well. >> Yeah, >> it really does your heart well. >> And u to see what a shoestring budget

539
02:38:48.560 --> 02:39:04.160
they run on and the amount of people they feed um does your heart well. So, I would encourage you, anybody that watches, anybody that's in that finds a need to want to feed homeless people or people that are just in need, go down

540
02:39:04.160 --> 02:39:19.600
there to Bread of Life and volunteer and they would love to have you down there and and they'll they'll put you to work because I saw a bunch of people yesterday. I even saw two students from the local school that are needing scholarship hours for volunteers and I

541
02:39:19.600 --> 02:39:34.800
thought, how how moving is that? uh that'll never leave them as they go in through life that they help feed somebody one day. So, Madam Chair, thank you. Those are my comments and I appreciate the opportunity. >> All right. Thank you, Commissioner Harvey, and thank you for that. I um I

542
02:39:34.800 --> 02:39:50.000
app I I can't imagine how many how much meat that was, but it was a lot and and it it'll last for a long time. And so that Thank you for doing that. Commissioner Alexander, you're recognized. >> Well, thank you, Madam Chair. I really

543
02:39:50.000 --> 02:40:06.720
appreciate that. Um, you know, first off, a lot of people think that, uh, you know, there's some kind of ulterior motive and you guys are up there doing this and doing that, but since I've come on the commission, I've watched the passion that

544
02:40:06.720 --> 02:40:24.000
these commissioners have for our community. Um, you don't get paid for it. You don't get paid to go out there to bread life. You don't get paid to put a, you know, 24 hours into cooking meals, Larry. um Walt, you don't get paid to go over there and park cars and collect it. Um JR, the stuff that you do

545
02:40:24.000 --> 02:40:40.880
with the schools, those are those are above and beyond what we've been, you know, tasked to do. And it's it's for a passion for this county and I appreciate that. I want to thank you guys for that. That that's pretty that's pretty special cuz a lot of times people don't understand what goes on behind it behind the scenes. You know, I get a call the

546
02:40:40.880 --> 02:40:56.080
other night from um Misty Blevens at Corkell. She's like, "Well, what's going on with the water? We got no water." I called M. I called J.R. Grimes. He's out there till 10 or 11 at night working on it. And then we go and look at a site yesterday about 6 o'clock. I said, "Man, you headed to the house. Michelle got

547
02:40:56.080 --> 02:41:11.840
dinner ready for you?" "Oh, no. No. I've got to go out to the radio station in Tower in Boston. We've got issues out there." So, there's a lot of things that go on behind the scenes. And, you know, sometimes if it does a heart good to bring that to the public's awareness just to know what it what it's actually

548
02:41:11.840 --> 02:41:28.800
going on behind the scenes and what you don't see. Um, with that being said, that, you know, that's my uplifting thing for the day. There there's a lot goes on that you people aren't aware of. Um, the lights on the bridge, that was a fantastic scene for Putnham County. Uh, it it highlights our downtown area. It

549
02:41:28.800 --> 02:41:45.359
makes it more vibrant. Uh, when you're out there on that water, it it it just changes the whole whole landscape. So, I think it's going to enhance our downtown. It's going to dramatically um increase business and and provide a venue for later events that will look

550
02:41:45.359 --> 02:42:02.000
great for our community. Um so John Browning was instrumental in that. Commissioner Wilkinson, thank you again. Uh Mr. Harvey, thank you. And Paul Adamsac, wherever he's at today, thank you Paul Adamsac. Um

551
02:42:02.000 --> 02:42:18.800
thirdly, my list of things that we accomplished last week um were the new pickle ball courts that were opened on Friday at uh Jerry Beenball Park in East Paladka. Every one of my commissioners came out there. Staff came out there and I think that is a key component of a

552
02:42:18.800 --> 02:42:35.120
functional commission. You come out and you support each other. You may not 100% agree with everything that we do, but you come out and support your commissioners. And I think that provides strength to our beliefs and provides a stronger Putinham County and stronger

553
02:42:35.120 --> 02:42:50.560
leadership. So, thank you guys for coming out there. Uh, thank our community for coming out. I think it was a it was a fantastic fantastic celebration. Julianne, Jr., Mr. Suggs, thank you guys too. Staff helped put that together. It turned out

554
02:42:50.560 --> 02:43:06.399
phenomenally. Uh we had some vendors actually luxury land luxury landscaping that they donated the landscaping around there. Um the the barn was done locally. Uh so the concrete was done locally. So we try to use local vendors when we can.

555
02:43:06.399 --> 02:43:22.560
Uh and then there's there's one more thing I want to talk about. When we discuss these data centers, we have I get calls every day. Well, you guys are working on data center. you guys are doing this, you guys are your

556
02:43:22.560 --> 02:43:38.800
staff's doing this. Well, no. I we have we don't have any idea about some of the things that may or may not be going on and people assume that because we don't disclose things or say we don't know that we've got stuff

557
02:43:38.800 --> 02:43:52.240
going on behind closed doors and we've signed an NDA or something like that. Number one, an NDA is not valid for a public elected official. you can request do a public requ records

558
02:43:52.240 --> 02:44:11.040
request that will supersede any NDA and get the correspondence regarding that issue. So I want to put some of those fears at rest. Additionally, when we talk about these things, we may not know as commissioners

559
02:44:11.040 --> 02:44:26.399
individually what's going on uh in permitting, building, and zoning with staff and and what conversations they've had without requesting that because it's it's not in their purview to come and report every

560
02:44:26.399 --> 02:44:43.680
conversation to a commissioner. So after giving this some thought, you know, our goal is to protect the community, but also to allow the community to have transparency and have a voice in what occurs in our community.

561
02:44:43.680 --> 02:44:59.920
So, falling short of placing a moratorum, which may or may not be legally defensible at this point in time, um I do want our community to understand what's going on and have the information at hand that has presented

562
02:44:59.920 --> 02:45:17.160
by those that are interested in potentially locating a data center in our community. So, typically when you do a zoning or ordinance change, it takes multiple readings. But what I would like to propose today is a policy change.

563
02:45:17.200 --> 02:45:32.800
This would be an effort to support the perception or to negate the perception that there are closed door meetings going on behind the scenes that we're taking part in. Um what I want to do is provide transparency.

564
02:45:32.800 --> 02:45:48.960
Um this will give our our constituents transparency to actually know who's looking and courting our community or who's you know who's been here looking around. Um, what I would like to see and at least get some input and feedback from you guys is that any discussions that

565
02:45:48.960 --> 02:46:05.120
are had with staff or administration regarding the location of a data center in Putnham County be divulged and disseminated via an email to the county administrator who can then share that information

566
02:46:05.120 --> 02:46:23.279
with us as commissioners individually to prevent violation of the sunshine law, but also So to publish that information so we'll know those folks that are looking in our community and trying to bring those data centers here. >> Not just the location any

567
02:46:23.279 --> 02:46:40.160
>> Yes. any excuse. Yes. Rich and I spoke about that any information location interest or otherwise regarding a data center that is shared with our staff or our administration

568
02:46:40.160 --> 02:46:55.840
be shared to the commission within 72 hours. >> Okay. Uh, Commissioner Harvey, you recognized. >> Thank you, Commissioner Alexander. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, so what I'm hearing you say, and correct me if I'm

569
02:46:55.840 --> 02:47:13.040
wrong, somebody from the public comes in and wants to site a data center or even have a conversation to one of our staff members planning zoning building official staff of administrative staff. Um, that would be reported directly to

570
02:47:13.040 --> 02:47:29.600
Mr. Suggs immediately. >> Correct. >> With Yes, sir. >> And then then Mr. Suggs has a window of opportunity whatever 72 hours or or earlier that he would report it individually to us in writing so the transparency would be

571
02:47:29.600 --> 02:47:45.200
there. >> Yes sir. >> Through so the public could see that coming to us. Is that what I'm hearing? >> Yes sir. It is to prevent >> I fully support that and I really appreciate that. Um, I mean, we've got we we've all been briefed on the fact that, you know, a moratorum might not be

572
02:47:45.200 --> 02:48:00.960
in the best interest of Putinham County, but our public is demanding something and they're wanting something. And I think this is a a good first step because we've had what, four people today come up here, talk about data centers that are not existent in the

573
02:48:00.960 --> 02:48:17.760
county. And we've all said from our seat that we didn't fight this hard for natural resources to be taken away from it. We've all now are we I'm not going to put words on everybody's mouth, but this commissioner feels very strongly that I didn't I fought very hard for the

574
02:48:17.760 --> 02:48:34.080
water as other ones did to have it taken away. I'm not interested in that. And um and plus what I've learned is data centers require more energy. So you just don't get a data center, you have to have a energy producer that goes along

575
02:48:34.080 --> 02:48:48.720
with that. There's a lot more complicated than that. So I appreciate what you're saying. I think that adds a layer of transparency. I support that. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Commissioner Nibbo, you're recognized. >> Can I get a little clarification from

576
02:48:48.720 --> 02:49:06.479
Mr. Commando in regards to his opinion on the legality or where we might be in hot water if we were to step into a moratorum? I see many counties have have have bitten that off. Um, I'd be cautious to say many.

577
02:49:06.479 --> 02:49:23.520
There have been a handful of counties that have uh, well, there's a small number of counties that have imposed an outright ban. >> Yep. >> Um, fairly confident that with property rights that's illegal. >> Um, as there are a larger but still more

578
02:49:23.520 --> 02:49:39.439
than a handful of counties that have imposed moratoriums. Um that is something I'm working with actually all four counties that I represent as far as trying to figure out the correct path forward that would allow for the imposition of a moratorum um that does not violate I appreciate

579
02:49:39.439 --> 02:49:54.640
Mr. Woodward's kind of thoughts on the idea but there's at the Florida Association of County Attorneys we had a very strong conversation about there's a direct conflict with Senate Bill 180 and Senate Bill 484. So given that, um, we're trying to thread the needle as far

580
02:49:54.640 --> 02:50:12.720
as finding a way that doesn't create a liability situation where a property owner comes to sue the county, but we want to make sure that the county is protected as well. >> Okay. And I I do I guess I shouldn't run into my comments, but >> you can do my comments. Okay. Um, I I do

581
02:50:12.720 --> 02:50:28.479
appreciate um Commissioner Alexander's attempt to thread the needle. Um, and I appreciate you trying to keep us on sound uh legal legal footing, but um I would very much like us to move in that

582
02:50:28.479 --> 02:50:47.920
direction of of I don't know that I should propose it today, but I really do want us to move toward >> We are we are moving in that and what Commissioner Alexander just proposed is separate from that issue. So >> I I would like us to move towards that to towards a moratorum. Um, I will let

583
02:50:47.920 --> 02:51:03.920
me throw a couple other things in real quick. I'll get some fluff out of the way and then I'll return to this. Um, since I'm in comments. Um, I was able to go to Waca and and um participate in an unconventional Fourth of July celebration. I mean, WA is they are

584
02:51:03.920 --> 02:51:23.760
unique. Um, I attended a 85 G cart Fourth of July parade which was the craziest thing ever. and a heck of a lot of fun. Well, I just kind of got it going on out there. So, thank you guys. Um, our entire commission and

585
02:51:23.760 --> 02:51:38.960
Commissioner Suggs attended the Florida Association of Counties meeting and in that time there are a lot of lot of counties that all all their commissioners don't go. We've got great representation and the things I picked up from that meeting a lot of talk about

586
02:51:38.960 --> 02:51:55.600
the constitutional amendment that will be affecting could possibly be affecting all of our budgets. a lot of good information learned a lot of uh a lot of networking done in that space and the other big topic of the day was that of data centers and the one thing I

587
02:51:55.600 --> 02:52:10.640
learned in that space is that we don't know much um there is a lot of information out there that is you know popular because it's it's flashy and and

588
02:52:10.640 --> 02:52:29.120
much of which is not true. So, my big takeaway was that we really do need time to get our land development code in uh in order to appropriately protect our county and our constituents. Um there

589
02:52:29.120 --> 02:52:45.359
are already, you know, there are hund over 110 data centers in Northeast Florida and um you know, they're not all mega centers. Um data centers, you know, are Yes, sir. So, so again, data and facts are are important. I'd be very

590
02:52:45.359 --> 02:53:01.040
careful. So, what qualifies as a data center can be the size of a 10x10 room that has some switches in it. >> Absolutely. And when you look at and Erin Brachovich, famous uh environmentalist, has a map and when you

591
02:53:01.040 --> 02:53:16.399
and she has a map of all of the data centers in the United States. There are only two largecale data centers in the state of Florida with a third being proposed which are down near DInnesota County. They're not near us. So just so we're clear, there's there are no

592
02:53:16.399 --> 02:53:31.760
large-scale data centers near us. >> Absolutely. And and a data center um can be as small as a a little room in a hospital can be a data center. Um there are many data centers that are I would

593
02:53:31.760 --> 02:53:48.960
not want to propose anything that would uh slow down economic development for standard business. I've seen I think Bay County recently enacted a moratorum that was 6 months and anything greater than a 5 megawatt data center and I that's the

594
02:53:48.960 --> 02:54:07.120
direction I would like us to go. I don't want to if our hospital needed to come up with a more robust data center or our junior college, I don't want to to keep that from happening. But um I think in order to keep our community um properly

595
02:54:07.120 --> 02:54:24.640
protected, we need to develop code properly and I think such a a moratorum would allow us to achieve that. I don't I don't I don't want to sit here and tell you that I am pro or for you know pro or

596
02:54:24.640 --> 02:54:41.359
against data centers but it's prudent for us to create the space necessary >> and that's kind of the approach that Nassau County has taken is that they're going to spend some time listening to presentations and gathering data to make an informed decision. um they're not

597
02:54:41.359 --> 02:54:56.880
talking about changing code at this point and I think part of the reason why they're doing that without talking to them is that uh it runs a foul of Senate Bill 180. Um so I've heard the will of the commission. I don't think there's any disagreement among the five of y'all

598
02:54:56.880 --> 02:55:12.240
and that is the direction that we're we're working towards right now. the Bay the Bay County moratorum even for six months. You know, just remember at any point in the future at the if a commission decides that they have enough information, you can always resend a

599
02:55:12.240 --> 02:55:29.439
moratorum. So whether you make it for 6 months or 12s really doesn't kind of change the functionality of what your intentions are. >> No, I I understand and I look at that from both ways. Um you know the our constituency would love to see a one or two or you know a longer mortorium but

600
02:55:29.439 --> 02:55:44.560
in my mind if you make it a shorter a a shorter window and you know your intent in that space is to craft your code to make you a safer place so to speak. um getting that done in a shorter time

601
02:55:44.560 --> 02:56:01.760
frame to me makes a little more sense um because they can always be lengthened, they can always be shortened, but um I'm gonna stop short of just requesting one knowing that you're moving us forward in that space and that you know it's on my

602
02:56:01.760 --> 02:56:17.840
mind and it's going to come up as as soon as we can uh legally do it. And you know, so your input's valuable and important, and I've listened to all all of you, and um I think some of the county governments are looking at the one-year moratorum because part of

603
02:56:17.840 --> 02:56:35.600
Senate Bill 44 does require the legislature through Opaga to do some factf finding of their own, and they're going to have a report that's due out just less than a year from now in June. So, >> well, Florida is in a much better space than some other states. Um, you know,

604
02:56:35.600 --> 02:56:51.920
the recent legislation passed really puts this ball in our court where in some other states things happen, you know, without that local, you know, approval. Um, >> and it puts the infrastructure expansion capacity needs on the person who would

605
02:56:51.920 --> 02:57:07.840
>> propose it. So, that's a big deal. >> There was a public comment that said that that's going to increase the utility bills of all the people within that system. And, uh, as a result of the current legislation, that's no longer true. Well, in speaking with other commissioners, I found out just how far kind of we are behind in this space. I I

606
02:57:07.840 --> 02:57:21.840
spoke to a commissioner who had traveled to Ldens County, Virginia, and visited well, not quite 30, almost 30 data centers and spoken to people on the ground and spoken to county officials and um there's a lot to learn in the

607
02:57:21.840 --> 02:57:41.120
space and um I'd like to to just capture a little time to be able to make informed decisions in the future. That's all I have. >> That's all your comments. >> That's all my comments. >> Uh, going back to Commissioner Alexander. >> Thank you, Commissioner. You know,

608
02:57:41.120 --> 02:57:57.520
you've always got a way of sitting back and being very reserved and studying the details. And again, we all bring our own uh unique aspects to this commission. But, and that's kind of the point of what I was looking at here with this policy change. A policy change we can enact today.

609
02:57:57.520 --> 02:58:14.479
Um, a moratorum is going to take a couple of readings, a couple of this, couple of that. Um, and this is just an initial opportunity to make sure that we as a commissioner are informed and guarantee that we know what's going on so we can make an informed decision down the road and we're not caught off guard.

610
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That is the goal of of my proposal. >> Um, any other comments on this subject matter real quick? So I would ask can can we I I hear what you're saying attorney but what about a temporary moratorum? Can we do that? Can we do a

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temporary moratorum on a new data center application while staff has time to pres prepare? We at this point we have we don't have anything in our comp land plan. We have nothing in our land development code that gives directions.

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And the last thing that this commissioner wants to see is a developer coming in and giving us what they want to do in our land development code. It this should be us driving the train on this. And so can we at least ask for a temporary moratorum while staff prepares

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or while there's more research being done for a zoning amendment and a future longer term moratorium or is a moratorium a moratorium period? Legally moratorium is legally a moratorium. So they're all temporary. Um but the >> can't be a shorter I mean there isn't

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anything quicker that can happen. >> No, you still have to go through the stat this the processes prescribed in statute as to how you put a moratorium in place. >> So whether it's for one month or 12 months, it's the same the same process. >> So we'll have to go through that

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process. Now there is no classification or category within our comprehensive plan or our zoning zoning categories that would allow for a hypers scale or large scale data center. So even if an application was rushed in, it doesn't

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fit one of our categories, it would come back to you for I would imagine extensive public comment and consideration. And without that you would make um decisions, findings and a vote based on what's presented to you. So, nobody's rushing in to slip one in.

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Um, it would still come back to you even under the current scheme of our code. >> Question, but >> isn't that just part of the crux of the problem? Because we have nothing in our code. Those applicants come to us and say, "You have nothing. Therefore, I by

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default can do this." >> So, and this is this is the dog chasing it sail. So and that's the problem with Senate Bill 180 is Senate Bill 180 until June 30th of 2028 depending on whether or not we have another name storm indicates that we are not permitted

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there's mortorium language that's one year from the name storm now I that moratorum is really on reconstruction and rebuilding I don't think it applies to this situation but there's the next paragraph after that that talks about counties and municipalities are not allowed to to change their land

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development code or their zoning regul regulations, land development, uh, comprehensive plan, which would be more burdensome or restrictive than their current code. That's the problem we run into right this second. So, and that's the conflict between Senate Bill 180 and Senate Bill 44.

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>> So, it's your opinion that because we I mean that the name storm only applies to portion of that Senate bill or to that to that statute. >> Yes. Yeah. So, it was the the bill Senate Bill 180 amended the emergency operations statute. In fact, there are a

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number of things in that bill that require us to have expedited permitting procedures. It requires us to have frequently asked questions on our website and things like that. So, there are a number of different aspects. So when you look at again there's the there's a mortorium section that deals with the name storms but then there's

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also and I don't I would hope this wasn't intentional but as an unintended consequence of the way the legislation was written there's a another section of it that talks about not being able to change your code and it's not tied to the storms it only deals with the sunset of the bill. I would like for you to

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email that to us, please. This particular portion of that statue that you're referring to, because if we're going to hang our hat on that, I need to understand it. >> Well, and that's where some of the concept with the moratorum is to do data collection. >> Correct. >> Because data collection is not code or

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proposed code changes, which again is part of the problem with Senate Bill 180. It says you cannot even propose changes that are more burdensome or restrictive. But I'm happy to send you them. Well, I mean, in this case, it's non-existent. We don't have a code that says or a plan or a map or I mean,

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nothing in our We have nothing. So, I agree with Commissioner Newol that the concern is that they're going to come in and like I said, I don't want them writing it. That should be on us. >> It it will be there's not a scenario where they would be the ones to write

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it. >> What What is the downside of the moratorum? I mean, is is there impending legal peril for us as a county? >> Yeah, that's what all 67 counties and 400 plus municipalities are looking at right now.

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>> And and and what is that? What what's the the possible we get a suit from an applicant that would say what? >> I I can't predict the future. I don't know. >> I'm sorry. >> I mean, I candidly I I am kind of hoping that if somebody gets sued, it's not us

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first. It's somebody that has financial resources to actually take on that type of litigation. >> Does it qualify for sovereign immunity? >> Sovereign immunity is a separate concept for planning, not implementation. So when you're talking about a moratorum,

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you're dealing with implementation. So there's some protection in the planning, but then that doesn't completely absolve uh local government from uh alleged liability. Okay.

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>> So, so what's the plan besides besides what um Commissioner Alexander brought forward? What's the next plan? >> I would say the plan is to make sure that there's transparency. I think that that's separate from >> it is >> any potential data gathering or coaching. >> I think we all agree on that. Okay. We're all agreeing on that part. Okay.

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>> And then I I think the second step is moving towards moratorum that would allow for data collection. And and since you're not here at the next meeting, what is >> I'll have it done even if I'm not here. >> Okay. Did you hear that? >> Okay. >> All right.

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>> Thank you. >> Yes. >> Um we still have the item on the table that Commissioner Alexander has broughten forward. >> I think we just got a wave of support, but if you want something more formal, we can do that. >> I think so. >> Okay. >> You have a motion. Madam Chair, I move

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approval to Commissioner Alexander's recommendation of policy change considering data center information that passed on to the board. >> Can I second that? I'll second that. >> I mean, it was your motion, but originally, but is that what you're I

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want to make sure we're clear. So to be clear, any conversations regarding staff or administration >> of Putnham County, >> right, >> in any capacity around a data center should be

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referred to Mr. Suggs within 72 hours to dis be disseminated to the five sitting commissioners so that we are aware of all activities regarding data centers in Putnham County when our constituents call and ask that. I would also like to seeing those emails that were composed

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shared to our website so that everything is transparent and the our community can see who is actively looking at data centers if our in our community if they are. >> That was my motion. >> Thank you, >> Mr. SGS. You're recognized.

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>> Thank you. Just just for further clarification, I just want to make sure uh with the 72-hour window and the communicate that's going to be uh coming to the county administrator that that communication will come via a written email to the county administrator for me

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to be able to forward out correct and not be a translation of conversations that I was not privy to. >> Yes, sir. I And we had that discussion um on Monday. Thank you for bringing that that back up and clarifying it that way. There's no miscommunication. It

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comes directly from the horse's mouth, for lack of a better word, and you're sharing that information. >> And I will certainly uh uh take that communicate that comes into my office, and we'll certainly forward that within the 72-hour window. >> Thank you. >> All right, we have a motion on the floor in a second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I.

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>> I. Motion carries. >> All right. Um Commissioner Commissioner Harvey, you're recognized. I >> I failed to mention something at my at my comments, and if you'll just avail me just for a moment. Uh kudos to Mr. Suggs for being elected to the board of

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directors of the Florida Association of County Managers at the last meeting and I forgot to mention that. So kudos to you for being on the board of county managers. >> Thank you, sir. And and Madam Chair, if I take a privilege, I'll give one back. Uh you >> want to play pickle ball? Congrat

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congratulations to our very own Commissioner Harvey as well uh for his his appointment to the I think it's first vice president of the Florida Association of Counties. I know that's been a uh I believe it's been a two-year process at this point. And so, uh, the

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the overwhelming support, uh, Commissioner Harvey received last year at the conference, uh, uh, having the privilege of sitting on the, uh, uh, committee to oversee the vote, and I appreciate that opportunity to do that. I can't think of anyone more deserving

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and as hard as working as Commissioner Harvey to represent the five of you and all of us up in Tallahassee on the Association of County. So, congratulations to you as well, Commissioner Harvey. >> Thank you, sir. Thank you. All right, Commissioner Newald, are you done? >> Yes, ma'am. I am. >> All right, Commissioner Pelister, you're

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recognized. >> I know, right? That's what happens when you're vice chair. You got to wait till the end. >> That's it. That's it. Um, like I said, the the data center thing, I think, Commissioner Alexander's spot on with the with that. We should be

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aware of it. Uh, I can't tell you how many functions that I've been to and I get just bombarded. Is there a data center coming to here or to there or wherever? No, no, no, there's not. I don't know of anything. So, I think the transparency there is a wonderful thing.

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Um, change gears back to um the U vote of before my time to put the lighting on the bridge. Had I been here, you would have got the fourth vote. >> Thank you, sir. >> Um, >> well, actually, you would had Paul. Well, I understand. You get the gesture.

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>> Yes, I do. Um, to be clear for for those that don't understand, when the state approaches you with something like this, and this happened to me during my first term, the U handrail that was put on the bridge, over the bridge, I had so many negative calls. Why are they spending that money there? When the state funds

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something like that, they don't tell you, here's x amount of dollars, we want to see you put it on the bridge. That's where it's going. That's right. >> You don't get it. It goes to another county. And that's the same thing that happened with with the bridge lighting and the handrail over the bridge. If they don't spend it here, they're going

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to spend it somewhere else. So, I'd rather see it spent here in Putinham to enhance our bridge. And as being designated by Commissioner Alexander as the most patriotic commissioner on the board, I am uh very excited that

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I'm very excited that is going to stay red, white, and blue. U my favorite colors. Um, but I wanted to make that uh make you very clear on that. Um, I always like to throw a little something good in there and Sarah, I'm glad you stayed today to hear this. Have

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something from the PLA Daily. This is one of my favorite parts of the paper to read, but just to show you how far things have come in Putham County. In 1885, the Placo News called for attention to the problem of cows being allowed to run at large on the street, causing profanity on the part of male

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citizens and ladies forced to take the middle of the road on account of the sidewalks being monopolized by the cows. So, we have made a lot of progress here in Putton County. So, >> it's called profanity. Is that what you're Okay, good. >> I just got to ask it. >> Were you Were you in or were you and Larry here for that?

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>> No, I'm sorry I wasn't. Sorry, I wasn't. >> All right, I got to keep this going. Let's go. Come on. profanity on the street. >> What else you got, Commissioner? >> That's it. That's it. I just wanted to share that. But um anyhow, >> that was good. I'm >> You deserve a clap for that.

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>> All right. Um moving on. Thank you, sir. Uh a couple things. Um great job to uh Commissioner Alexander on the East Palaca uh Jed Beanball Park. I'm sorry, Jerry Beanball Park. Um it was very fitting for that family. That family's

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been here for generations and Mr. foren Ball was a pillar of the community and to see it go from being a donation to what it is today, it's something that I'm I'm proud of and I'm proud of you for spearheading it. Um and I know that that community is going to be better off

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in that in that area. So, thank you. Um I believe um Mr. Grimes, you want to talk about our fire station ribbon ribbon cutting? >> Yes, sure. Um sorry. Um, we're going to, um, the fire

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station, we got the state appropriation back whenever, uh, Representative Payne was there. Uh, we're going to open July the 20th at 10:00 a.m., which will be next Monday. Um, so invited all commissioners to to join us for that. So, um, it'll be at 8 1481 Baden Pow

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Road, which is um, a joint project that we undertook with the Boy Scouts of America. Um, so the station is now completed. Uh, we got one last little thing we got to address. uh and we'll have full clearance. So, um we'll be looking forward to everybody on uh next Monday at 10 a.m.

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>> Thank you. And so, uh Laura, you'll put something out on that on social media. Um and then I wanted to say thank you to Commissioner Newold who attended a ribbon cutting ceremony or went to a new school opening down in Crescent City. So, thank you for attending that on our

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behalf. Do you I mean, it's beautiful school. >> It's a beautiful school. It's coming together. Um, I had I had a someone who was not, you know, overly pleased with with the bond, you know, comment to me about, you know, that that school probably, you know,

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fall down way ahead of time, you know, new construction and all that jazz. I think you could drop a bomb on that place and it would stand solid. It is a it is a a well-built, welloughtout school. Um, it's going to be just a great asset to South Buttonham.

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>> And those schools, I think what people don't understand too is those schools are have a huge safety component to them. They are hardened. They have bulletproof glass in them. Is that correct? >> They do around the the the administr administration office space. >> Shelters. Yep.

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>> You can't look in a window anywhere in the building. It's reflective glass. It's there's well thoughtout um you know, safety plans. um just bathrooms in many of the classrooms. It's uh that's

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just such a fantastic upgrade. So, I it's um nicely done. >> All right. Um, with that I I just wanted to mention those couple things and uh remind everybody we have a budget workshop today at two o'clock in this

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room and uh we will be uh discussing our budget which is going to be interesting as we move forward in the new year with some of the restrictions and some of the new um uh statutes that have been put in place and bills that have been put in place by the Florida legislature. So uh we will

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have that discussion at 2 o'clock today. So with that um is there anything else to come before the board? This meeting is adjourned.

Part: 2

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This is afternoon. It is 2 o'clock on Tuesday, July 14th, and this is our special workshop uh where we will call the meeting to order and we will start with our invocation uh by Commissioner Harvey and I'll lead the pledge of allegiance. Please stand if you're able to do so.

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>> Let us bow our heads. Gracious heavenly father, we thank you for today. We thank you for this rain that we're getting. Father, we pray Lord that no accidents happen today, no damage of property. And Father, we thank you that every day we can make an investment in people's lives here in Putnham County. Father, we've

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moved Putham County so far ahead in the past few years and we don't want to let off the pedal now. Father, we want to continue the momentum that we're getting and today's the first day of budget meetings. And Father, we just ask that you be there with us. Give us direct guidance directly from your throne room.

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Give us wisdom, Father, and direct all of our thoughts, all of our actions, and all of our words today, Father. And we give you praise, honor, and glory in Jesus name. Amen. >> Amen. Thank you. Please join me in the pledge. >> I aliance to the flag of the United

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States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. You may be seated. So, I know on our agenda, we've got com public comment on agenda items, but before we

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do that, I would really like for our um deputy administrator to go through and give her presentation first and then we can then open the floor up for further discussion. We will certainly take public comment and we'll welcome that. But I'd like to hear because I want

7
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everybody before they make comments to truly be informed of what's going on as much as we know of as of today. So, um, with that, I'll let you let you lead us into your presentation. >> We'll have a lot of conversation. I'm gonna give you a lot of information.

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>> Is your mic on? >> Are y'all hearing her? >> I know, but we just want clarity. >> Okay, clarity. Can you hear? >> There you go. Thank you. >> Welcome. >> Thank you. Okay. A lot of information today. Today is going to be a little bit

9
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different than our prior budget years because we do have some external impacts that are happening. Um please do stop and ask questions where we need clarity. We can always circle back around. Um but but this is really data heavy and so

10
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where we don't aren't all on the same page, please stop and let's ask some questions. So um this is our first workshop when we talk about the the uh fisc year 27 budget development. Um we're going to start in talking about some legislative impacts that have just

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passed or are on the front of passing. The first of course being uh property tax reform which is House Bill HJR1F and Senate Bill 4F. Um the House bill if approved what we know today we know it

12
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as the property tax reform. Um 60% of the voters are going to vote on it in November. And if approved, the law goes into effect be becoming effective January 1, 2027. It would increase homestead exemptions. It would raise the homestead exemption on non-school

13
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property taxes levied setting it at $150,000 and 27 and 250 and 28. Um non-homesteaded assessment caps would be um annually initiated on non-homestead real property. It would change that cap

14
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from a 10% to a 5% lessening the amount. It will constitutionally restrict how counties and municipalities spend their advorum dollars. Based on the Florida Department of Revenues revenue estimating conference, the general fund

15
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impact to Putnham County is estimated to be a loss of $15.7 million of reoccurring revenue. So throughout the state, what we're going to see in Putham County is going to experience a little bit higher impacts simply because our

16
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homesteaded one, we have more homesteaded properties and two, our homesteaded property average value is less than uh most of our surrounding counties. Um and so what you're seeing is on year one, we're going to take a bigger impact in raising that cap of 150

17
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than what you will see in St. John's where the average homesteaded cost of a home may be half a million dollars. >> Do we know um so you said it was okay to interrupt so is it >> go right ahead. >> Do we know what the 250 impact would be or is that further in your slide? >> So based on their revenue estimation con

18
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um conference there's not a large difference between the 150 and the 250. We go from like 15.7 million to 16.2. Um, again, our hit is truly going to be primarily in that first year. >> Okay. >> Um, putting that into perspective, $15.7

19
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million is about 25% of your generated reoccurring revenue. So, um, think that a quarter of your budget is now going to be lost in that property reform bill. Um, additionally, Senate Bill 4F just

20
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has some additional provisions on what we're going to call max millillage, how we treat the roll back, and what uh votes going to be required to um sustain a raise above that roll back rate. So, Florida Associated Counties put out this statement, and I thought it was was

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pretty um pretty indicative of where we're going to be. And there's a lot of conversation as what the cut means, what it doesn't mean. I'm I'm not here for the political um arguments. However, what it does mean it's going to be the single largest source of funding is

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going to be cut for your communities um with no current plan in place to replace it. And so, counties are still going to be required to deliver core services. In counties where their budgets consist of initiatives that are not considered core services, then maybe they have

23
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opportunities to reduce those down and just deliver core services. In a fiscally constrained county like Putinham, we've historically only provided core services. And so we're going to be looking at a substantial cut and still trying to maintain service levels to something that our citizens

24
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have grown to expect in those core areas. Additionally, House Bill 1329 was passed. It requires um budgets requires tenative budgets to be posted at least 5 days before the hearings, which is

25
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increased from two. Our current cycle is that you can post in your newspaper from 2 to 5 days um before you move forward. This is going to be 5 days. That doesn't sound like a big impact all in and of itself except for in our community when

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the Palaki Daily News only runs on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday. It's going to reduce the number of days that we can have budget hearings. Um, and that's going to be true for all of us that have to arrange our budget hearings on non-conlicting dates. So, um,

27
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statewide the rule is the school board gets to pick first and then the counties and then the municipalities. So, it's very possible that we may see some shift in budget hearing dates as we move forward. It's also going to mandate that tenative and adopted tenative and final budgets be posted in a downloaded

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format. Um, and that local governments must conduct a public budget reduction workshop before adoption of the final budget and identifying strategies to reduce spending by 10% without affecting essential services. um and publish those

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results on a recording online. The bill is also going to require quarterly employee compensation reports and annual budget development calendars to be posted online. It will also enhance transparency um with budget amendments uh requiring extended retention rates

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and that they're posted online. In addition, so the bill was signed in June. It becomes effective in January. It will not affect our budget development cycle for the current budget. However, it will affect the operation of 27 by January 1 27. We'll

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be need to be prepared to post those required reports both in employee compensation as well as the quarterly spends. Um our the current thought process in my peers GFOA, the government financial association of officers. Um

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this extends to your constitutional offices because they are funded through the ad valorum tax process. And so um we will need to ensure each of our constitutional offices are also prepared um to meet these standards on a quarterly basis with the reports and the

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transparency that's being expected. >> All right, Julian, we're going to stop for just a second. Commissioner Harvey has a question or comment. Sure. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. [clears throat] the um this transparency and accountability act on the third bullet point. What are they looking at there?

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Budget reduction workshop. They picked out a number like to the roll back rate. Do they pick out a funding level of 2019? Do we have a blue ribbon committee maybe that's set up that analyzes how to reduce the budget? What what's the parameters we're going to be working at?

35
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The only parameter in the statute to date is that you have to have a budget workshop where your end result is a net reduction in 10%. >> Over last year's adopted budget. It's not the roll back rate from this year. >> Correct. Um, and so where you cut that

36
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10%, how you cut that 10%, you don't have to adopt the 10% cut, but you do have to go through the exercise in a public forum for which we say, "Okay, here's our tenative. Here would be a budget reduction workshop. Here's what services would look like if we reduced

37
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the budget by 10% or here's what the impacts would be." And then the board has to make some sort of cognizant decision as to how we're going to move forward. >> Yeah. I just don't like the fact that we're going to be scaring our departments. We're going to be scaring our core services. We're going to run

38
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people off by doing that. Uh I'm not in favor of any of that. But I mean, we got to deal with what we got to deal with. But I think it just scares scares the public and it scares our our workers that EMS, fire, sheriff. I mean, these people are going to be going, "Well, is

39
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my job going to be cut? Maybe I need to find another job." And then we start losing people that we work so dagum hard to build up. So keep in mind it's not going to affect this year. It's going to affect next year. Um and as we begin to talk about next year reform is going to

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have much more impact than this budget reduction workshop I believe. And and for clarity, all constitutionals will have to do that or will they do you vision that they'll come in front of us and we'll do it collaboratively or do you think that each one will you know um

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a constitutional can come and sit here and have his I mean but if there's only one of those so right so I see [music] property appraiser here he who's he going to come and talk to if he has a workshop is he g is it us by himself and he just puts out >> it's just us it doesn't extend to the

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constitutional requirement >> yeah I believe the reporting requirements extend to the constitutionals but the overall budget workshop would be they're just a portion of us right >> how can we say a 10% reduction if we can't reduce them by 10%.

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>> You could in that budget workshop you could say okay each constitutional and the board here's what it would look like if everybody reduces it by 10%. Um right that could be the exercise that's engaged upon. >> Will we have their detailed budget by that time? That'll be something that the

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board will have to direct and ask for um through the course of the implication of this new law. The detailed budgets are going to have to be online right effective January 1 in that first quarter. So by January, February, March, April, your board and all of your

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constitutional officers, if they comply with the law, are going to have a detailed budget online that's downloadable that um is summarized by division and also includes compensation reports. Again, remember this law was

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just signed in June and I expect there to be quite a bit of clarification that comes out over the next few months. However, this is where we are today. >> All right. Thank you for that clarity. >> Okay, I added that to the list. >> Well, Siri also is appreciative of the clarity.

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>> Right. [snorts] >> Um, House Bill 7031E. The So, just to set the pace here, just so we all are on the same page, the school district is currently managing a voter approved $300 million construction

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bond that's supposed to be used for new schools, upgrading technology, enhancing safety. The district has just pulled its final million-dollar tron. The current guidance as we stand today is that the school district pays for the revenue

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commission collections related to that bond. In the special session, House Bill 7031E amended that to stipulate that the board of county commissioners is now uh statutoily required to pay the

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commissions collected on all school millages both non-voted and voted. Um so today we have been obligated to pay the non-voted debt which after distribution 11 just so everybody knows of a a full year is 12 distributions. So we're

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pretty close. or 112th or 11th of the 111 12th of the way. We've paid $87,200,000 um for the school district's nonvoted millillage revenue commission

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collection. Now, next year, um, fiscal year 27, I'm going to have to pay all of the non-voted, I say I, the board, um, as well as the voted school bond, which will be an estimated an additional $400,000

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that will come directly off the board's revenue and paid to the tax collector for her efforts in collecting the school bond. in that provision in that in that um House bill that passed, it did grant the

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tax collector the ability to wave the commission authorized in the paragraph specific to this particular voted bond. Um so I did reach out to Miss Brenda uh Bridges and um she advised that no, the tax collector will not wave the

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commission on the voted debt millage. um that fees and commissions are the mechanism by which her office is budgeted and operates and that she cannot wave that. Um so that will be a passalong expense to the board of county commissioners.

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But in all reality um she's a feebased organization. The tax collector, I don't want to say she gives back money to the board of county commissioners general fund at the end of the year surplus if you will. So it could be a wash out or

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it could be it might not be a negative 400,000. It could be but we won't see an increase back to our bottom line. That's the problem. >> So it will absolutely be a negative impact on the front. Remember give backs are done in the end.

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>> So of this year um or of last year she there was only onethird of the bond that was drawn at that time. So she was only collecting revenues on a third. Um the the commission collection was approximately

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$160,000 and she gave back 14 to the school board. So certainly um a large portion of that those dollars is not given back. >> Okay. Good. >> Since she's feebased, does that mean that some of these rules don't apply to

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her as far as um um um compensation reports and detailed budget or is that question still up in the air? That's questions for somebody with a JD behind their name. Gotcha. Okay. House Bill 967, the lesser of the bills

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that are going to impact us this year. Um, this stipulates that every single division that we have that has a financial transaction associated with it has to be available to take electronic payment. So the infrastructure needed to sustain credit card terminals and debit

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card terminals and online payments now have to be purchased and implemented in those systems maintained um by u uh quickly um by January 1st. So that will mean animal control, library services, public works, anyone who takes a fee for

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any um county service will now not be allowed to only take cash or check. They will have to have a provision to take an electronic form of payment >> which is going to cost us another few percent. >> Yes, sir.

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>> Oh, the hits just keep coming, don't they? >> I'm here for the good news today. >> I'm telling you. >> Okay. Um, somebody's got to bring it to you. [sighs] >> Still with me? >> Yep. We're still good. I think I don't see anything. >> So, let's talk about fiscal year 27. Um,

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our property values from the property appraiser have come in. You'll see that your final fiscal year 26 assessed value was about 7.7 billion and we're going to start 27 at about 8.1517

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billion. So, we did see a growth of about 6.2% in those values, which is great news. Um, the scenario on this screen assumes that we retain the same millage rate. we do have to account for the impact to certainties economic

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development grant. So, uh currently fiscal year 27's um value from the property appraiser associated with the project is about $256 million. of that, assuming that they meet all of the

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conditions of the economic development grant, then they would be entitled to about $1.3 million of that revenue to be returned to them through that economic development agreement. Um, we will then see about $2.7 million overall in growth

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and net revenues for your general fund revenues. Now, your state of Florida has not released our revenue estimates yet, although I do expect historic trends are going to continue. We're going to see very small incremental growth in some of our like BPP surplus sales tax dollars.

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We're going to see um negative trends continue in your gas taxes and your communications taxes. >> And why is that? >> Do we know just >> So, there's a lot of theories. Um, the gas tax, the gas tax premise is when gas

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prices rise, you traditionally see less commission because it's not a percent, it's a flat. And so although you paid more at the pump, traditionally people will cut out non-necessary trips and will will buy less gas. I got

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>> same things happening in the communications tax. Some of those some of our new um methods of communication are not applicable to those taxes. And so what you see is an emergence of decreasing revenues generated by those two venues.

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>> Commissioner Harvey, you recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um Julianne, additional 2.7 million. That's kind of a misnomer. Correct. If we stay on the if we stay on the current funding mechanism that we do [music] for our

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constitutionals, they're going to see a rise in their revenues. So it's not >> we're going to talk about that in just a minute, >> but it's not. So our general fund is not going to see 2.7 million if we stay with those levels. >> So your general fund is going to start with a $2.7 million growth and then I

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promise over the next few slides we're going to get right into what you're saying. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Other questions before we move on? So just big picture um when we look at your ad valorum dollar for every dollar that the county collects think about it

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in the form of a dollar 53 cents off the top goes to support and sustain the Putham County Sheriff's Office operations 5 cents sustains the property appraiser 4 cents the clerk of court 2 cents the supervisor of elections and 36

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cents remains for all remaining board functions >> and out out of that 36% is our fire and EMS >> is your EMS, not your fire. You have a fire fund that that contributes towards the fire expenses.

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>> Okay. >> What are some other typical items in that 36%? Oh, he just >> So, when we look at that 36% and what the board is charged, those functions that have to be sustained, we look at things like the county medical

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examiner's office, statemandated, the judicial system, the state's attorney's office, the public defender, court admin, courthouse support, human services, your Medicaid and your HCR payments, your CRAAS, pilot programs, um commission payments to the tax collector, supporting the county

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commission as a department, County Attorney Administration, Budget Office, Information Technology, Human Resources, Building and Grounds, Purchasing, Veteran Services, Building Departments, Planning and Zoning, Codes Enforcement, Animal Services, Emergency Management, Mosquito Control, Emergency Medical Services, Drainage, Parks and

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Recreation, Library Services, the A Extension Office, and covering any fund deficiencies for which we have historically for our county has been in the transportation and utilities department. So a where does debt service fall under

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that? >> Well, thankfully our general fund doesn't have any debt service um due to the great um financial advocacy of our board. We do have debt service on our utilities. Uh our wastewater and water

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um fund does have debt. However, the BPP is pledged for that debt. And so that debt comes out of BPP >> and the jail >> also comes out of BPP. >> Okay. >> Yes. But the problem is that BPP is going to run out in a few years and

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unless the voters approve it, it all comes back to general fund. >> That's correct. So our audit finding a few years ago, more than a few years ago now, time passes, um was that your BPP is scheduled to run out unless renewed. And so actually what we're having to do

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is make double payments. we make one payment for the debt and we put one payment in essentially a reserves account that's reserved for future debt payments. Um, and that's that's kind of how we solidified the audit finding. Now, I'm going to tell you, even those

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dollars that are in the reserve are not going to sustain debt payments through the life of the debt that we already have on the water and wastewater plants >> and the jail. >> Including the jail. >> Including the jail. Um the hope is that obviously the water and wastewater

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divisions become self- sustaining and that they can cover their debt. But that we we do not we have not seen that day yet. >> But we do have additional capacity with water and wastewater to support moving in that direction without f further

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investment. >> We have additional capacity in water. Um this board has already um allocated the dollars to extend capacity in wastewater. So we're actively working through the process of the wastewater expansion which will expand capacity um

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substantially. But of course then obviously that brought another debt that we're going to have to repay at some point. >> Right. Right. Gotcha. >> Still with me? >> Yep. Do we do you want to wait?

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>> Um okay. So let's begin talking about the constitutional officer appropriations. So there are I was requested to put together two scenarios. The first scenario assumes our historic percent distribution of the net revenues only reducing it by the economic development

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incentive. Um and so essentially what we do is take and look at the constitutional office the percent of advalorum that it was allocated the year prior and then we apply that percent to the new growth and um that would become

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the fiscical year 27 appropriation. Now as part of the statuto requirements we also prior to this distribution simply because of timing. So if you will when I say that the statute requires the constitutional offices to submit to me a budget request by June 1st that is also

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the time for which the property appraisers certified values come in. So those forever overlap. So understanding that the the constitutionals did not have the certified values when they make their requests what you have is um in the far left column the where we started

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in fiscal year 26 that was their allocated budget. the percent of the budget there is next the percent scenario of additional funding they would receive under the percent basis um which then leads you to what fiscal year

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27 total appropriation would be and then the next column is what they requested blindly right remember that um and then of course the last column is the net difference in what the requested appropriation and the proposed under the

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percent calculation would That bottom scenario assumes that the constitutional officers only receive an additional increase equitable to make their staff raises possible. So for each

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of your constitutional offices when asked this question um they all defaulted to a 3% request for COLA with the exception of the sheriff's office. they have a little bit of a hybrid um proposed cola in their their scenario as

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we stand. Um and so what you'll see there is if we were to increase the scenario by the staff increase only. So meaning we took personnel cost only the the growth in personnel you would see the different appropriations there fiscal year 27 and then again the same

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versus what their initial requested was and of course the net difference is going to be a little bit greater than uh where we started. So Julianne, you mind Madam Chair? >> So we've already gotten the budgets from

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the sheriff's office is what I'm hearing and they're requesting 1.158 million more. >> No, they're requesting >> No, sir. They're I'm sorry. >> Um they're requesting almost 2 million more. >> Okay.

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>> And from us. Now, of course, that doesn't count their other revenue generating sources that are outside of us. Okay. >> Hold this up for just a second. >> Yep. >> Take time. >> So So technically right now, if

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everything stays the same on the top half, even with the sheriff's department requests, they're going to be $931,000 short. Is that >> of their request? >> Right. Is that right? >> So, under scenario two,

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>> no, up top, >> up top, under scenario one, um if we did the historic breakdown of um percents, they're what we would be allocating them according to the percent basis would be a net negative $931,000

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um based on their ask. And I'll go ahead and tell you where the second portion came from because I went to Julianne and said, "Hey, what if we all just hold the line?" Like, can we just hold the line and not make any decisions as far as Well, we'll have to make decisions, but can what [music] you

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know what if we give everybody the same budget they had last year and except for they get a 3% cola and then we have to sit down and go over through our line items and go through the workshop and go through our line item budget and say what we can what we can do and what we

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can't do. think it's prudent to go through that exercise rather than waiting till January. But again, it's going to be up to the voters to decide what we do um and and whether this tax reform passes or not. But that's why she ran this these numbers was because I had

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said that that was at my request. >> That's a smart request. >> Thanks. All right, I'm good. So some reoccurring external expenses um that we're seeing um for which we have

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no no oversight over. So the medical examiner's office uh increase for 27 um is up to a total of 82800,000. Um that's about a 3 to 5% operationally.

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What we do need to be prepared for is that in fiscal year 28 we expect the impact of the office expansion project for which um they're undergoing. So the medical examiner's office is shared by Putnham, St. John's and Flaggler.

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Historically we run about 25 to 30% utilization which means we pay about 25 to 30% utilization of the total bill. So essentially what happens is every year during budget season we get a reconciliation of utilization by the

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three counties and then based on your percent utilization then your allocation for the following year is equal to that percent. Um so they have currently a planned office expansion [music] to add on about a uh 400

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4600 square ft of additional space which will become their new lab. [snorts] an additional 1300 square foot of a Sallyport and then to renovate about 3,300 square foot and their estimated cost of construction is $1,000 a square

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foot. Um they they are proposing an amorization schedule. Um tenatively that amorization schedule looks like a 20year um cycle on the building and a 10-year cycle on the equipment. Um, in

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some respects, we don't have a lot of >> vote, >> voice or vote on on these particular caveats. Um, we have met, administration has met with St. John's County and expressed our concern as to the uncertainty of where the future lies and

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how we go about this project. Um, however, um, St. John's County has agreed at this time to front the money. We're just not really sure what the amorization or the payback schedule would look like or the contingencies to that.

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>> Okay. Medicare, Medicaid, HC, our indigent care. Um, we're going to see about a 3.7% increase in that cost come state straight from the state of Florida. Um, they tell us that you will pay it or

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they will deduct your state revenues. So, we we have to pay it. Um, Motorola fiscal year 27, we're going to see about a million dollars just under that new reoccurring expense that's going to be required every year for tech upgrades and maintenance. Now, it is important to

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remember that Motorola covers all of our first responder networks. So, that's the Putnham County Sheriff's Office. That's the um system that the the municipal police departments run off, of course, your fire rescue divisions. Um so that

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to keep that system up and operational, we're going to see uh reoccurring dollars need to be allocated at this point forward. >> I have a question. >> Yeah, me too. >> You want you go first. >> That 946 or whatever it is, I don't my

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glasses. Um there it is. Is that shared amongst the sheriff's off sheriff's office or municipalities, EMS, or is that footed solely by the county? It's footed solely by the county. You sustaining your public safety radio system has always been footed solely by

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the county. And none of those partners have ever been um obligated to pay it. In short, because if I ask them to pay it, they're going to ask me for the money to pay it so that they can pay me the money I've asked them for. >> I see where you're going with that,

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Commissioner. And and I'm struggling with this one too because I think municipalities collect their own share of taxes. I mean, I have a building in the city and I have to pay and I'm not picking on the city of Palaka today even though it feels like it to some people.

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Um [laughter] they collect tax revenue, >> fire fees >> and fire fees and all of these other things. So, I mean it and I don't know if it's even worth the exercise and if the I know what's the juice is worth the squeeze. Is that what they're saying

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>> to look at out of this number how many of these are funded for city police or city services? Um like paca police department. I mean if it's if it's minimal but but basically they can say we need a radio and they get a radio and

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>> we don't buy their radio. Okay. This is to sustain sustain the system. Um >> so you couldn't proportionally it'd be hard to proportionally share that because you what would you do? It's the same. >> You could I mean sure >> you got user licenses and user number of users that you have that

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>> but I just wanted to clarify this was not to buy a radio for the black that they buy their own radio. >> Okay. >> Um but this is the software upgrades and the maintenance on the system itself. No, I think that's a discussion we will have.

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>> I agree. I mean, at this point in time when we're looking at cutting services um for, you know, our [music] our needs, um we need some help from those guys that we support. So, we're going to have to work together on that. >> As we discussed, um the $400,000

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that will be additional schoolboard revenue collection. And the asterk there is um that that number could go up if their non-voted millillage increases this year. Um so we are uncertain at this time what that's going to look like. Your CRA payments are going to

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increase by about $100,000 and then liability and property insurance premiums which again we pay for all constitutionals and the board um always see a increase and but we do not have those premiums back. So, back to Commissioner Harvey's question in the very beginning when we talk about this

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magic $2.7 million. Um, on this one screen, we probably could say, well, that money is all gone at this point, right? Between your constitutionals, certainly between your constitutionals and the dollars for which just these um six items are going to impose of new

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expenses that are not currently have anything to do with one of your board functions or your board. >> You probably add another one called health insurance. you know, >> so >> we don't know what that's going to do, right? >> We don't um now, knock on wood,

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currently um we have not we have used reserves but not reoccurring dollars in the past to sustain our difference and what's needed in health insurance and what we have. So, the good news there. Um so

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the 2 point that's a 3.7% of the 2.7 for the Medicaid. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. All right. And the TIFF money, the CRA money, that's a that's a pass through. I mean, we don't have the option to take that money right? >> No, you don't. >> Okay. All right. Well,

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>> you don't have an option on pretty much any of these. >> Yeah, we have no choice, but we only have um one voice on that board as well. >> Yeah, I get that, too. Okay. >> Okay. Um BOC expense factors. Um

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obviously every year we at this time and looking through budget submissions, we don't have anything that's out of the nor out of the ordinary new programs or services that any division is asking to be funded. So all we really truly have is the normal contractual service adjust adjustments that we see on goods and

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services. Obviously they're budgeting for a little higher fuel cost. medical supplies always have a little bit of an increase. Those things in that manner. Um, WastePro has already requested their contractual CPI increase, which you'll see come through your solid waste

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adjustment fee. Um, and then obviously we're going to see an increase in general fund supplements to transportation and utility funds in part due to just the fact that those costs of goods specific to the transportation fund um, are mostly fuel or petroleum

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based. And so you're seeing a higher cost there happening. Um and then of course we are proposing a staff cola of 3%. The schedule of each fund is by itself on the the right side there. So

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if you'll see the row label that's the fund. So they're all itemized with um some of them having their unique funding sources. But of course there's a small impact um all the way to all funds and then the net impact at the bottom for all employees to have that 3% cola there at the bottom.

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>> And and just so everybody knows the state of Florida did a 2.8. >> That's correct. >> So it's we're not if this were to go forward, it's nothing more than what the state's already providing to their own um employees. >> Nope. And very important for our

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employees. um we've done great work in trying to keep them competitive and I can't advocate enough to continue to try to keep them competitive where we can. So um believe that to be a vital importance. >> So let's talk about the fire fund. Um

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some things that we need to remember about the fire fund is tax reform is going to impact them equally. Um about 25% of their reoccurring operating revenue is going to be lost. Now, for them, that doesn't sound like a lot because it's 1.75 million. But when you

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think about that's a quarter of their revenue generation, that's a lot. Um, what we're also going to have to compete with is we were awarded the safer grant. 26 was our first year. And so, that grant is a step grant, meaning 26 they

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they covered about 75%. 27 they're going to cover about 75% and then 28 when we see the implications of tax reform we're also going to see that stairst step step way down and they're only going to cover 35%. The safer grant

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is what um allowed us to onboard those 12 um additional fire rescue staff members last year to keep up with our services growing demand. It's very important. And so while we're going to have decreasing revenues, we already know we're going to have increasing personnel costs just by that safer grant

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stepping down. Um some other things to really be aware of in the fire fund is that in 25 um we had a total of about 17544 17,544 calls for service in 25. in 26

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where we are today, we're trending to end the year at 19,658. Um, so that's an additional over 2,000 calls for service yearover-year. And that increased pressure and demand on the system is going to trickle down

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to people and equipment and systems and all of the things. Um the fire fund in in respect to capital their operational revenues already do not sufficiently cover the capital needed. So we're taking from the fire fund savings

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account or from the general fund in past years to purchase the necessary capital to keep those engines and fire apparatuses on the road. Um and so this is going to be compounding reform is going to compound this fund's deficiency when we really look at sustainability of

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the fire fund. Additionally, um, in 2025, House Bill 929 was amended the state statute to read, um, that they're encouraging firefighter employers, that'd be us, to implement work schedules that do not require firefighter employees normal schedule

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shift to exceed 42 hours per work week. While the state legislature put that really cool word in there that says encouraged, um most what we deal with in our industry is while we can sit here and say we can't afford it, the people around us are finding ways to embrace it

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and incorporate it, which increases the pressure and demand on our people as well as administration to try to come up with funding and mechanisms by which we too can work towards achieving this 42-hour work life balance schedule for

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our fire rescue personnel. Um, so in in doing so, you know, the the current methodology, if you will, around the state, and I've talked to my counterparts as to how do you get there? How do we get from where I am today to where you are? And they have cooler

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money than I do, but the mechanisms is all the same, right? Um so the prescribed right now best theory is to adopt a D shift and and rotate into a 2472 schedule. Um in order to do so the the main thing that you have to have is

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additional personnel. Now obviously that doesn't always happen overnight. Some surrounding counties around us have implemented Kelly days to start building in your D-shift because it kind of alternates who gets that schedule. Um, but long and short, as we talk about the future of the fire fund and and what

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needs to be funded, we need to make sure we at least understand the environment that's in front of us and and the threats and opportunities that exist for our service. >> All right, Commissioner Harvey, you're recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Couple things,

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Julianne. Years ago, we had firefighters standing here really worried about their general health because we were working them way too much. They were working way too much overtime and um they were making money, but they weren't they weren't having a quality of life.

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>> Yeah. >> So, this 42-hour work week and and I don't I'm not opposed to it. I think it's wonderful if we can do it. Um that's going to reduce some of their overtime out. Some of them are

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struggling now. So, when you keep trying to and we all I mean, I was a business owner. I hated overtime. I I thought it was it was bad. But in fire service, some people are just you have to stay over. You have to do the job. Hurricane's coming. Everybody all hands

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on deck. I get that. So, it's going to really hurt some people tremendously just to think that that's going to happen. Now, they might have a side job that they do on the side, but that's that's their private business, not mine. when when we look at the millage rate and and I should know this and I did

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know it at one time. Um we can go up to what two mills on that. Yeah. And the reason we kept it down was because when we raise our millillage up we can put a municipality over the 10 mills and by law we can't do that right or

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something like that. Um, >> true except for none of your municipalities are currently participating in the fire assessment, >> right? Interlockan doesn't participate city >> and Crescent City doesn't participa has it has its own. >> So, with that in mind, um, you know, we

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could raise up to two. But, but here's the problem I'm having. It's the same pair of pants. We're just taking out of different pockets is what we're fixing to start doing. And if we raise our millage up, which probably we should be doing, but we had this talk years ago

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about, well, if we did that, Interlockan will be over the 10 mills. Well, the property tax reform said something to the effect of we can go up to 10 mills, remember? And then before you come begging to the legislators for help. So,

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we very well might see an a need for us to raise our fire assessment, our fire fund millillage up to make sure that our firefighters are well taken care of here and the capital that they need. So, as bad as we hate to raise taxes,

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is this a tax or is this a fee for service? That's going to be a question to the, you know, but I think it's very important when you dial 911, you want them to come. There's no doubt. And um and we all, you know, I probably haven't dialed 911 in years that I I can recall,

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but I want you to be able to. I want my neighbor to be able to, you know, and I want to be able to when I need to do it. So >> So, um mill raising the millillage on the fire side is certainly an option and a solution today, but remember that reform is going to impact the ability

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for it to generate that increased millage to generate revenue today. it still will generate more revenue, right? But you're going to it's going to be on your nonhomesteaded properties and your commercial properties that are going to end up um with that, which which is a mechanism for sure.

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>> And you know, my concern I'm I'm off topic, so I'm going to get off for just a second. When when does our businesses when do our Georgia Pacific when do our LFAR when does these companies say we can't pay anymore? We're already paying 62% of our Avalor taxes. Our major

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businesses are we're just not going to do it anymore and they're going to pick up and go. And then what are we going to look like at that point? It's going to be a very delicate dance is what I'm trying to say here. We got to we got to be very very careful in this. And but

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our our first responders deserve to be taken care of. No doubt about it. Thank you. >> Three. >> Um so I'll I'll comment. Um, so the your very first portion of this is tax reform impact would be a revenue loss of 1.75

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million. So what I would probably like to see is this should this should has been is from my understanding a self-sufficient fund. Correct. >> Outside of it does not sustain its own capital. >> Okay.

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>> Okay. So as we move forward, what would we need to make it to be continue to continue to to sustain itself as we go through this exercise of a a loss of revenue of 1.75 million and

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then the 684. So that's one thing is I need to know what that number is whenever you whenever as we go forward. And then second, um, when we talk about the additional calls and the 12 positions that we took in,

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did the 12 positions cover the additional calls or did the 12 positions come in after we've estimated? I mean, what's the what's the time frame on that? You see what I'm asking you? >> I do. So, let's talk about 12 positions, right? So, when we all sit here and talk about 12 positions, we seem like there's

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12 people showing up every day. Okay? So, the first thing we got to do is we got to divide that by three. So that 12 really produced four people a day, right? So we added an additional ambulance on this past year and then we added a firet truck that's going to start July 20th. Um so there as much as

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we want to say we made a big move right in the right direction, we're still behind because um when we had eight ambulances and we were running out, we was like, well man, we put the ninth ambulance on. We're going to make great progress, right? Well, all we did is put on a ninth Amazon, golly, we need a 10th one, right? Because it truly has where

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it's coming from. We're working on that now. We have we sat back there today and goes, where is this extra volume coming from? So, I actually asked um Mr. Richie in GIS to start coming up with some kind of map of hey, events are happening here. What's going on in this particular area? because we

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don't know right what's driving where we had 46 calls a day before now you're producing somewhere around 55 calls a day doesn't seem like a lot but when your transport times two hours by the time you get from Crescent City to Palka gets your patient offloaded to the ER the paramedic gets to write the ticket

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gets back gets back into the respective zone two more calls have happened you you you've shifted a unit from town to try to go cover so as we talked about it has got to increase enough around us in order for the calls. So, I mean, an easy number, you know, you look at it now and

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you go, "Okay, you ran 17,500 calls last year with with, let's just say at that point, 8 nine ambulances." That means they can they can run roughly about 1,500 calls per unit per year is what they're running now. And we're running out, right? So, what we have to do is when we hit those thresholds like 1500

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calls, we probably need to look at adding an additional ambulance. The problem is we're running the same county that we had. The first ambulance we added was this year since when I don't know when rescue 14 went on probably in the mid 2010ish range I'm going to say.

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So we went 10 years without adding one. So we've added all of those additional calls without adding those units. Right. And and I get it. It was hard governing through those times because there was no money to be had. However, we have to start trying to make up some of that ground that we lost back then because and it's a bad time to be trying to make

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up ground, guys. Listen, I totally understand where we are, but we we have to have the conversation, right? I mean, so our citizens expect when they dial 911 to have a unit there within a respectable amount of time. It's not like our brothers, you know, we we can't say, "Well, we'll catch them in a few minutes," right? Or we can delay a call

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30, 45 minutes. We can't do it. I mean, when somebody dials 911 because they're not breathing, they're having a cardiac event or whatever, >> we have to get a unit to them. We can't delay it. I can't go to a a cut later. I mean, we got to send now, we can prioritize and get maybe divert a unit, but we still got to send coverage. So,

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what we have to understand is as these numbers increase and the call volume goes up, we have to take the numbers up with them. So, um to answer your question shortly, no, we didn't really add anything on. Only thing we did was added two units to help narrow down some

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coverage, some gaps, right? because you had a gap coming from floor home to Johnson to interlock and there's a big gap in between and that's where you add that unit in right so we spent a lot of time sending a unit from east palaca on 207 every time there would be two calls in the south Putham county that unit was

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having to pick up from east palaca run to Crescent city or Pomona Park simma for coverage so we added the additional unit in the south end to try to help keep that truck somewhere in its respective zone but today I mean we had units from um floor home answering calls in Georgetown. So, I mean that once the

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unit when we're all sitting at home, it's really easy, right? But as the day goes by, it gets geographically hard to keep those units and I think I mean it's really easy in town because they come up here and are able to drop patients off at the hospital, get cleared and get back, but I mean when you start talking

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about your very far outline areas, it's very very difficult. >> Yes, sir. Commissioner Alexander, you're recognized. >> Yeah, I agree with um with what Mr. Grimes has to say. You know, my f my family works in uh geriatric healthcare

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and their load has increased as as our population increases and the retirees continue to migrate to Florida. I think it's it's a problem across the entire state and uh we're going to continue to play catch-up. It's it's you know, we're

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not seeing an influx of 20some workers. We're seeing an influx of 60 65 year old retirees who require additional healthcare and additional transportation. And that's just kind of the nature of the beast and we have to figure out how to support our fire and EMS staff so that we can support our

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community. >> Commissioner Harvey, you recognized. So over the years, it appears to me now the things that we tried to do by buying equipment out of BPP money uh for fire safety, we probably should have kept it

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in the fire fund and just and saw the >> so >> because I always want to do a profit little profit [music] center and what we're seeing now is we're buying things outside of the fire fund to help the fire fund stay at a

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artificial low of 1.1 mil. So, let me not take away from anything this board in the past has done because we went through years where we didn't have two pennies to make through, okay? And so, [music] part of what we did was was fiscally

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responsible. We looked at all of our available options and we did the best we could with them. >> Um, and and we did great work with that, right? We we got the necessary equipment. Was it everything the division needed or wanted? No, but we

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certainly have sustained their operations even with respect to the the personnel side of it. Um, we've done great things. It's I don't ever want to take away from what you all have done and allocated. Um, but in the same respects at the pace at which the demand

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on the service is growing. >> Sure. >> And the external factors of the service and recognizing what's best for the industry. Right. Some of that some of that legislation is essentially recognizing what the best practice is or

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believe to be for the industry in their work life balance in what they're seeing in um aftermath. Right. We we and so essentially we did great thing we have done great things as a collective board and a team to get fire service where it

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is. But we're going we should not neglect to continue to take the steps to try to write that ship and put it into something that is that is a great outcome for the fire rescue service. And there are still some needs on the table. That's that's essentially what I can

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tell you. And so um I don't want you to feel like what we're saying to you is we shouldn't have put it in BPP. We should. BP exists for quality of life issues and certainly fire rescue equipment is a quality of life issue. >> But if it was a business, you know,

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think of it as a business in my mind and here we are charging the consumer out there, our taxpayers, but yet we're taking from this to buy this equipment when we're not really showing the true numbers of what it really costs us to do business. Kind of like our garbage, you

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know, we know what garbage costs. We divide it by 33,000. End of story. This is what it cost. And I think that you're right. We did we did things to help out, but at the end of the day right now, we are looking at we're not looking at the true numbers of where we should be

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looking at. And not saying I wanted to increase fire fun fire millage on our taxpayers. I'm not saying that. So I think we did the right thing. It's just a matter of now we got some really hard choices coming up to fund the good men and women of fire service. Thank you. >> Absolutely.

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>> Commissioner Alexander, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm I'm just trying to understand and wrap my head around some of these things. Mr. Grimes, when when we talk about the call outs, um are all of these emergency calls or

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sometimes are these due to our residents or constituents lacking reliable transportation but needing transportation, more physical care, >> still transport them if they call 911 even though it isn't an efficient or proper use of our our fire service.

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The reason I'm asking is it's difficult for some folks in our community to get transportation to where they need to go for a doctor's appointment or a doctor's visit if they're sick. And it's just as easy for them to dial 911 as it is per se to find some alternative means of transportation.

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>> Well, for from my position, it's hard for me to tell you what's an emergency in your world versus what's an emergency in mine. Right? So, when somebody picks up that phone and calls 911, it's an emergency to them, right? I've been to places that dialed 911 for a a pediatric with a temperature that

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had a Cadillac Escalade sitting in the front yard, right? Because they needed a moment in their, excuse me, in their life where they needed somebody that had higher level of care than what they did or they thought they could get to the hospital. So, a lot of times our folks go out there, maybe to them it's not an emergency, right? But they work in it

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every day, but it's an emergency to the person that picked up the phone to call, right? And so whether it's reliable transportation, I'd really truly have to go back to the folks on the street and ask is it really are we picking up people that don't have a vehicle? I don't think it really is. I think maybe it's just a mechanism. Sometimes maybe there's a false sense of security out

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there. If you dial 911, you're the first one to get seen at the ER, right? Well, that's always been a plague, right? Maybe not necessarily true. These guys will tell you they probably get to the hospital and they say put them in, you know, wait or fasttrack was what it used to be called or and kind of in a staging area waiting on a doctor to get to them.

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But I can't answer the question of whether it's reliable transportation. I mean, I think people understand that there's an ambulance out there. They're going to come get them and they'll take them and they'll be able to treat them and get better level of care than what somebody could do by just driving their person to the hospital. I mean, because our folks do have a very unique set of

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skills, right? I mean, they have the ability to fix things in the back of their trucks or diagnose things and get them to an appropriate facility that we may not have as a general person sitting at home, right? So they can detect if they're having a heart attack or maybe potentially having a stroke or they have diabetes problems and they may transport

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them, you know, they may make a decision in route to take them to a appropriate medical facility, right? Which takes them out of the county for another two hours, but it did the best for the citizens. So to to to put it down to one thing of transportation, I don't know. I mean, I really I mean, we'd have to ask, but I don't know that we even track

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those demographics, right? We just track, you know, the different call volumes. I mean, that's what we're working on now is trying to pull some information off the back side of their reporting going, "Hey, what are we going to?" And right, we're going to pull it from dispatch codes and say, "Is it falls? Is it is it is it medical emergencies? Is it cardiac related? What

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is it?" Right? So, maybe it's a program we can launch some of it down. We did that through our community paramedic program. I mean, if we didn't implement programs like that to try to help the citizens, >> where would that number be today? Right? Because, >> right, >> that's that's the reason I asked the question. You know, it's not it's not

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about today's decision. And it's about, you know, longterm down the road finding maybe an alternative solution to supplement this or maybe, you know, curtail some of these calls that could have gone a different direction. But no, definitely not discounting the fact that if you're calling 911, it's because you

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don't know what's going on and it doesn't matter what it costs, you want the best care for your family member at that point in time. But I'm just wondering if there was an influx of or an opportunity that some of those transports might go a different direction so that we could offset some of the qual the care givers going to a

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more pertinent uh call. >> Yeah. I I mean and >> so I just didn't know what the occurrence was of that. >> I don't know. I mean I'd really go back and try to do some research and figure out if if it was a ride problem, but I don't know that that mostly is because you know >> I really don't know the answer to that

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particular question. So, I mean, we could we could absolutely try to find out. Cool. >> Madam Chair. >> Yes. Go ahead, >> Mr. Grimes. In that number of 2,114 additional calls over the year, [music] how much can you I'm sure we're tracking

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our community parame medicine program. So, how many of those calls are inside that number? >> There's probably a few, but a lot of times a community paramedic will attach back to a run that they've already ran on a 911 call. Like, if they're doing a follow-up, they may attach theirel to the type call. I don't see the community

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paramedics really pulling a great big bunch of control numbers. Chief back could correct me if I'm wrong on that. I don't think they're pulling a bunch of control numbers. So, if we really did pull a control number for your community paramedic, that number would be higher. >> Okay. >> Um because as the visits are going out and seeing or whatever, just doing follow-up checkups. We're not

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necessarily pulling a control number or writing a ticket for that, right? These are actually 911 calls where our 911 system went and saw a patient, fire, um car wreck, whatever. Right? So, even if you looked at your community paramedic, I can get you community paramedic data. That's one of the reasons why we're you

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guys approved it a couple months back was to go to a new reporting software because they were one of the only ones that had a community paramedic module inside of it. Right. So, right now we're having to basically old school mic or Excel spreadsheet keeping track of um community paramedic work until the

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new program gets launched, which I think Miss Hannah could probably tell me because she sitting in the audience today. Uh it's coming soon because she's been our liaison trying to get that put together. So, um, then we'll be able to really track community parame medicine a lot better. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. That's a great discussion. I

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was hoping somebody would go there. All right. [snorts] >> Transportation fund. >> Um, operational expenses related to the function of public works. So this is the our transportation fund is what covers the personnel and the people behind your

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mowing, your grading, your ditch maintenance, um your true projects and functions out there. Um in 26 the fund efficiency was negative $2.3 million of which about $470,000 was capital equipment for the public

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works division. Um my projection for 27 is that there going to be about $2.4 $4 million deficit uh plus any necessary capital equipment that is needed. One of the decision matrix that we have to make for public works this year is the graders that we leased 5 years ago are

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going to come up. We're going to have two options. We're either going to buy them out. The buyout number is 630,000 or we're going to choose to lease them again for about 300,000 a year over the course of 5 years. And in five years we don't own them. So, we're back into the

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same perpetual um every year there's a required payment on them. I do believe that if we were to um go to a capital buy pro process of buying them out that we may get more than five years of use

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on those graders and speaking with Mr. Grimes. So, although the upfront investment may be more, you may not have an obligatory annual payment on them to perpetual eternity. Um gas tax revenues is another way that we fund some

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transportation activities. However, as we talked about, we're seeing incremental decreases in those reoccurring gas taxes. So, the road and drainage project funds um is a capital one where we do that's where your second local option gas tax is received and we do the resurfacing activities out of

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that fund as well as the BPP which is a capital fund. Um and in in historic we have allocated about 60 to 65% of the reoccurring revenues to either dirt to pave or reservicing activities. Now the only anomaly was that last year this

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board chose um to take a pause on the new dollars going into dirt to pave resurfacing and we took care of some other board initiatives um because a couple of things we had some builtup money uh in those dirt to pave and resurfacing dollars. We couldn't spend them as fast as they were coming in. Um

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and so this year we'll need to make some tough decisions as to how we're going to allocate remembering that your BPP um has to be capital in nature and it does have the debt payments that we've already discussed here. So um we have

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the jail and the water wastewater plants and then of course based on the audit findings we have to acrue a future payment for when that BPP plan ceases to exist unless revoted in. So, as we as we move forward with this is discussion

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regarding um the uh greater equipment, it it's hard to make a decision when I don't know what the condition of those graders are. Like what do we how I know you mentioned you thought they would last five years but I mean have we been are they like been maintained and

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they're top of the line and everything's great on them or we buy them and neck which and I know there's no crystal ball and you don't have a crystal ball and I don't have a magic wand so let's just say that right now but um and it's hard to make that decision. It's like buying

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a used car, right? And so is the transmission about to go out? I don't know. >> I crunch numbers. I'm going to turn that over to him. >> When you got any I know it's hard. It is absolutely hard, but as we're sitting here today and we're talking about tax reform and tough decisions, right? I would rather say, you know what, we'll

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make it through and we'll figure it out. And if I got to go turn wrenches on a greater, I will. Okay. But we're talking $335,000 a year of reoccurring value for a road graater. Or I'm going to sit here and tell somebody they're not going to have a job for 30 same 335,000. I'm going to

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work on a road graater. Right. So, their grow graders today is okay. We've had some like m minor cosmetic things where we've hit a limb and broke some mirrors and stuff off, but other than that, we really haven't truly had any problems. So, I mean, you sit there and look, I mean, and where the board was to versus where the board is today, they couldn't

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afford all those road graders back then, and the fleet had got down to a point, you know, where you had to do this. Well, today we may be in a little different position where we go, okay, maybe we can cut out $335,000 a year of of operating expenses and go, can we buy one every other year? Like kind of like

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we do with an ambulance. We don't lease ambulances. We buy them and then we run them and then we put them on a capital replacement cycle. That's why capital replacement cycles are important, right? Don't deviate too far from it, you know, because that way we know, hey, in two years, you're going to get another road grader and it's going to go to interlocking and it's going to grade

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roads for the next 10 years. And then while you're replacing the other additional five, we have six today. So, as you put those on a capital schedule, maybe they do last. Maybe you lease three and buy three, right? I mean, that's the kind of where we need to talk because will they last five more years?

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Sure, we'll make them get through five more years. But are they going to last five more years without you buying any? No. I mean, if if if that's the conversation we're going to have, are we not going to buy any and just hope these last five more years and then in in five years from now we're stuck with a fleet of war out do or sorry road graders? I

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mean, and we're going to have to sit here and look at trying to buy six of them at two probably at that time $2 million for sixth graders. That's not wise either. But if we work together and put a implementation plan in and say, "Hey, we're going to buy six." And I mean, they're pretty decent machines still. We can get through. We buy one

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this year and we buy one next year and we buy one then half of our fleets new. We got some reserve units. So when one does go down it needs to come in for maintenance because today if one goes down, >> you're just not grading, right? We don't have a backup unit sitting over there waiting for for you know so that the roads are going to get neglected because

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we don't have a backup unit in the fleet to grade roads with. Right? So, like last year you guys bought an additional mowing tractor because when we broke down in mowing season, it was wise to have another tractor that you could go hook to and it can be working as a seventh tractor, but you're never missing >> long term for a citizen, right? So, that

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would be another thing I'd highly suggest is putting it in a capital purchase plan of going, hey, we're going to buy one every every year, every other year, whatever it is. And that way, if we do have to go through a year and go, oh, guys, it's just not there. We got other decisions we have to make. And that's what those options are on the

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table because when we get to a where we run such a percentage of payroll, right, because we're trying to do our core services and take care of our people, our operations sometime are a less percentage and when you got to make a big cut, you know, you're looking at your people, and I don't like being in that position.

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>> Yes, sir. Commissioner Alexander, >> thank you, Mr. Um, so we're looking at approximately $300,000 to buy out what we've got on the lease right now. Well, I think I think the 630 for all six units. That would buy out all six greater units, right?

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>> And they're all similar age. >> They are. Yes, sir. >> Okay. And then we would start staggering those and try attempting to phase them out of them. And you know, I I'm not sure if everybody knows, but um public works has been pretty strategic with what they're doing, too, as far as trying to focus some of our dirt to pave

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dollars in areas where they don't have to send the graders out to great distances within the community and they try and locate them in a smaller concentrated area, thereby reducing wear and tear and travel on those. So, I think we're kind of headed in the same in the right direction on that. I think

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I mean we when we talked about it and I don't want to take this too far out of out but we have two greater south I think it's two west two central you know for the most part every day >> but we did such a phenomenal job last year and in my opinion I mean it's all of us worked together to get there is

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when we did our re road reservicing projects last year we actually took the recycled millings that were a byproduct guys were saving 1% off of a contract the last time we bidded out that way we're saving 1% by not capturing our milling We captured the millings off the

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reservicing project we put through and in and district one alone and it was heavy because down there and we all know that but district one right district one >> but we also resurfaced about 8 miles of roads. It's like 7.6 miles of roads that

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we took a byproduct and converted into a drivable surface and we put an emulsifier on them and really have really fixed some roads right and we're going to do more. So, I think we're about one year away from potentially be able to say there's >> we can go to one grader down south and

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maybe we could tra take that third grader and shift it further out >> to where it's making a bigger distance and I'm going to say it in district four because he has such a so many dirt roads that maybe we can get the grading frequency better there, right? As we're

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doing these projects, it's forethought of all of us sitting around going, "How can we make this better?" Right? And the beautiful part about it is when we lay those millings down, they're laid at a 6-in base and ready to go. So, at any given moment, we can go in there, we can put a cap back on top of them with a get

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a paver to come in. So, the base is already built for future dirt to pave, right? So, and I think these roads that we're doing and these residential streets with the millons with the emulsifier on them are going to last many years and we won't have to touch them. We might go touch up the emulsifier or go fix the pothole here and there, but that's okay. But those

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are byproducts of a re of a really aggressive resurfacing list of roads that needed to be done anyway. >> Commissioner Newer recognized. >> I know last year was a bit of an anomaly, but what traditionally have we been um paying out in dirt to pave each year?

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>> How much? >> Yeah. >> That's back to numbers >> more or less >> about what we're paying out in dirt to pave. >> Yeah. Traditionally, >> about >> about $5 million. >> Five million. Mhm. >> Yep. I mean I >> out of your dirt to pave out of your BPP. I'm sorry.

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>> I tell you, we we just have started with this experiment. But I mean, when we get in tight times, I'd be really open to cutting that dirt to pave. We could knock it out for a few years and and just work our resurfacing with this milling program and and save quite a bit

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for a limited period of time. I'm not saying don't ever do dirt to pave again, but while we're in a, you know, a financial crunch, I mean, that's a real option because it's a tremendous improvement from a dirt road to a improved surface road, >> right? >> Anyway, just a thought >> and and we've and we've talked about

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that for a long time was dirt improved surface to pavement, right? Make it a cycle where we're in front of them building out improved surface roads and last year was the first year we had opportunity to implement it. Dirt to pave is a great thing. It really is. is and I mean there's a lot of roads in this county that still need to be done.

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I mean there's not a doubt but if we're making progress through I mean truly it was a byproduct, right? And I mean I we don't can't remember what the number was. I'd have to ask Mr. Stout. We did several off miles off of County Road 315 when we did the the reservicing in West Putnham. Um and we'll do some more when

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we do Palmetto Bluff. I mean, and these are all, >> if you think about it, these were all state funded projects that we got the >> that we got the millings back from that we're putting on our county roads that are doing a great job. I mean, and it was um I think we made a lot of progress in that in that neighbor in in those

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over the last few years. I think we got more to do. >> Commissioner Harvey, you recognized >> my people. >> Oh my. Here we go. [laughter] >> No, in all reality, guys, let me let me let me say this. We wouldn't be sitting here talking had two public works

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directors prior to the one we got now. Would have paid attention to these millings. I first got here, I said, "Guys, these companies are taking our millings and making money on us. Trust me, we're not rebidding this out." And they wouldn't

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believe me. You can't put millings down. You can't come back and rework them. You can't pave over them. There was all these reasons we couldn't until finally we got the right people in the right seats who said yeah we can do that. We'd have been far far ahead and if we what

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our millings we found on the contract was less than what 5% of the bid or something >> 1% >> 1% was stupid number and I knew we were getting hosed on it but nobody paid attention to that. I brought that to the attention of them. I I do want to caution though when we talk about West

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Putinham and the grading schedules out there. Over 200 miles of dirt roads are outside the county maintenance system. >> They're done by MSBU. These people pay a fee to to do their own roads. I paid the

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fee. I paid a fee to pave my road. County didn't pave my road. We all paid $215 for 15 years. I say that because there's an importance there that when I was president of the homeowners association and Kevin Derser was here as

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a commissioner, we had a pilot project to do that. $25,000. We didn't expect the county to pick up and leave us. We thought we were going to augment the system. Didn't happen that way. They left. They took their graders and left and said, "You're on your own now." So,

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we're maintaining those miles and pe that's why they get done almost every month, not every one of them. And then the conversation when I got here was, well, we're not going to let you pave a dirt road inside of an MSBU

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unless the whole MSBU gets done. Got 95 miles of an MSBU road. West Putnham, how do you pave 95 miles at one time? You can't do it. There's no way unless you charge the citizens and have a big bond

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rate. So, this was reality back then. And now I get I get I don't want to say I get tore up on the media and and social media. Roads, roads, roads. I got over

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300 miles of dirt roads in my district alone and 200 miles under contract with private contractors who do it. and I get one mile a year of pave. Now, last year, this board was very generous and we were

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able to pave Union all the way from Mariners's Lake, which was an MSBU road, back over to Lake View and give those people in the West Putnham MSBU at least one road that they can get all the way through. But that's the reality. >> We got the biggest platted undeveloped

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lots in the state of Florida. And you know, for West Putnham, yeah, you moved on a dirt road. You You should have known better. We all moved on a dirt road. But you don't realize the living on the dirt road till you move on the dirt road. Some people want their dirt road. Believe me, you saw

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social media all the time. People are tearing dirt roads up. They get out here on the weekends and tear them up. Think it's fun. But we have to live out there and we have to have fire trucks and we have to have ambulance. And those ambulances get stuck on those dirt roads. So, if we can get much pavement

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to try to connect, and that's what I've been doing. We've been saying, "Okay, where are the problem roads?" Right, Mr. Stout? What are the problems? Where can we connect this road to that road? How can we maybe get the school buses to use this road if we pave it instead of going off and knocking down these road? That's

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the reality. I don't I'm I don't mean I didn't mean my people. It's not that part. It's It's passionate to me because it's important. There was no way that you're ever going to pave 95 miles of an MSBU district before anything else gets

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done because the argument I made was this. Those people are paying sales tax, but yet they can't compete for this money. And that was the way it was going on. It's not the way it's happening today. Thank God for that in this board.

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But I'm going tell you, years ago had these have whatever took place. I don't know what happened with public works officials, but I tell you it's not happening today. And we're finally finding new ways to get problems [music] done. And I applaud y'all for doing that

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because truly we can go now like we did on 315, moving those millings while they were working and putting them in areas to to reduce that. We're moving more people out of those areas than we've ever moved before. So there there's my two cents worth. Sorry, Julian.

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>> You're fine. >> Are you done with this slide? >> Yes, ma'am. If y'all are. >> Okay, we're going to take a quick I don't mean to be so whatever, but we're going to take a quick a quick break. >> I got a little passionate on that one. >> You did.

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>> The truth though. Such a fun meeting. We got to but we got to keep going. We're not done. [snorts] >> Well, that last comment, you need your space apparently. Go ahead. Yep. >> It's all good.

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You're not. >> You died. >> Well, we might not. >> Was that It was that speech you gave, Commissioner. [gasps] >> When you get to Capital, it has got to have a problem. [laughter]

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>> Yeah, >> they need new batteries. >> Maybe. Maybe you can go ahead and speak loudly, I guess, and then we'll just go from there. Or >> Well, they can't pick her up on the >> Oh, you won't pick her up on the >> recording. >> Recording. >> Touche.

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>> Yeah, >> they dropped the mic on that one. >> Yep. Okay. Uh, capital improvement projects. Our capital investments um are traditionally funded by all of our funds through the use of reserves or what we

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refer to in in our world as savings accounts. Um, as we're not fiscally sufficient to cover the capital investments needed on a reoccurring basis. The only exception to that is our solid waste uh fund traditionally covers theirs through their operations.

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Um our divisions have submitted their normal capital requests. We're still reviewing them and going through each of one of them, but this is an opportunity to talk about some of the board or general uh priority projects of those that we've talked about recently. um is

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your veteran services and information technology building renovations estimate uh going to need about 1.5 million. We have the fairgrounds expo hall that's still outstanding and estimate to complete it about 7 million. Now we have applied for an FDAX grant. We won't know

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where that stands until probably middle of no year next year, sorry. Um ERP system, my estimate for your total all-in cost is going to be about 5 million. Of course, the legislature just funded about 900 of that. Um, and so we

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have a nutanic server that we need to be aware of if not this year, in the coming years. This is our virtual environment. So, in my world, the cloud, and I'm not your IT person. That's why they broke the microphone so they could come help me. Um, so we can sustain the the

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equipment for about two years if we pay a fee of about $200,000 per year. But at the end of that two years, the hardware is going to be completely obsolete and end of life and not supported. And so um

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whether we budget that now or we look at that in two years at some point we're going to have about a million million2 expenditure that needs to be made. The virtual environment does support every one of your constitutional offices as well as the board. So another project

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where we're talking about general impact much larger larger than just your board functions. Then of course we need some board direction on your capital investment initiatives. the BOCC discretionary dollars. Are we funding them? To what level are we funding them?

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Better place plan. Again, historically, we've kind of broken them out into dirt pave and resurfacing, taking a large percent of that BPP. Um, does the board have some guidance as to how we treat better place going forward into 27?

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>> Commissioner Harvey, you recognized. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um Julianne on the on the fairgrounds expo hall. It's safe to say that we kind of um started off with one building and it kind of morphed into more a bigger

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building or or something to that effect and then we were asked to split that up as far as funding cycles and we were not successful in getting funding. Is that correct? So, I wasn't with the county when the

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initial um request was made. However, in reading the grant document, the building size is today exactly what was requested on day one. So, I don't believe your building project morphed, right? >> Um I do believe that a couple of factors

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happened. One, um over the past five, I mean, I've been with the county seven years coming on eight. So over those years, think about your cost escalations in construction where we thought we were going to have, you know, a building that we could get for a couple of million

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dollars has now with today's prices escalated into something that that we can't touch for a couple million dollars. So when we received the first allocation of dollars from FDAX, um now originally the guidance, my understanding from FDAX was apply for

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phase one, then you'll continue to get phase dollars. Now, FDAX is saying the opposite. Don't apply for phase dollars. Apply for everything and get a total project. And so, again, over the course of just probably, you know, shifts in

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FDAX leadership and their perspective and state money and how it's treated and looked upon. Um, what we have is essentially uh a phase one of a building that we believed at that time we were going to be eligible for phase 2, three, four, five funding. And now we're being

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told, hey, you need to ask for it all at once. And it's either going to be there or it's not. And you can ask again if you want to, of course. But in the meantime, we are going to in the next probably 90 days be at the end of where these dollars are going to take us. And

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then that building uh project will be on hold until future funding is identified. >> Yep. >> Well, I think it's important for the public to know this wasn't something that we just decided to build without the money. We had promises that were made and that we felt very confident to

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move ahead of. I do feel like we're going to build the building. It's just going to be a matter of how do we fund it [music] and how do we recoup the taxpayer money on the building once we start using it. So, I think it's going to I think it's great for our community. Don't get me wrong, we need a big bigger

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facility. Um the fairgrounds expo hall is well the current one is constantly being used. So, I think there's a lot of potential and opportunity here. I just don't want the public to see, well, you started a project that you don't have the money for. No, we started a project

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that we had promises for and then we followed those promises and they delivered. They they weren't going to be deliverable at that point. So, and that happens sometimes in government and change of administration or change in theory, but we'll go back and we'll

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repunt. I'm sure we'll finish this building. I I have no doubt that somehow we'll finish it and then we'll have to recoup our funds back to our taxpayers somehow. So, thank you, Madam Chair. >> What is the square footage of this building? Do you know, Mr. Grimes? I know you've been working on it.

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>> 176 roughly 17,600. >> Okay. Well, there'll be lots of opportunities. I I do agree with you. I think there'll be opportunities for funding and and then after that the sky will be the limit of what we could do with it. >> That's right.

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>> Okay. Here's where you guys get to set your priorities. Yeah. >> Oh, you're waiting on something from us. [laughter] >> So, I've given a lot of information. Now is the interactive part of the meeting where you guys are going to have to make some tough decisions.

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>> Okay. Well, there's a couple things. Um, so the only thing we have left are the three uh initiatives that we're going to do in July. But in order to get to that, I have to hear from you guys on some decisions at this point. >> Okay. So, I'm going to I'll probably

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be the unpopular one. I've been doing that role lately. Um, discretionary funds. Um, we while we have done great things with them, I think that we're going to have to reel that in. And that's just one of one of the things that I think is going to have to be cut

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as we go through the budget year. This is just me. I can only be one person. Um we allow ourselves $250,000 and while we have done wonderful great projects for with them, I don't know that they become the core core things that where we spend the

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money on. So we have made great strides in making improvements at the dog, at our animal services, at um parks and wrecks. But as we go into this budget year, I think that we're going to have to hold the line on that's one of the things that we should probably reduce.

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Um what that number looks like. I mean, um I don't know. You can save a million dollars if you just got us all down to $50,000 a year. Nobody's going to want to hear that because everybody up here's got their own projects that they're working on and their own things and priorities. But at the end of the day,

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I'd rather cut our discretionary funds than I would rather than than start cutting positions. And I'm not saying that's what we're going to do, but I think it's a discussion that we have to have. So that's where that's my first comment. >> Madam Chair, can we talk about that? >> Sure. Go ahead. >> Because you know, I thought about that the other night.

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>> Mr. Harvey, you're recognized. >> You know, that is a lowhanging fruit. The problem with discretionary fund is a lot of departments uh benefited from that. parks and wreck, fire, EMS, um, lot of lot of departments, you know, fairground control. So, it wasn't just

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money that we spent willy-nilly. It was >> I agree with that. >> And I'm not saying you don't. I I'm just saying that, you know, these were needs that came to us. Um, you know, Mr. Grimes would bring a need for a fire system, you know, drones or whatever the

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case may be, and we were able to fund that, and some of us were able to pull our monies together to make things happen like that. So things that we didn't budget for um we were it's a fast track and I I think but it is a it is a fund that I do believe that if you're

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looking at lowhanging fruit that can go away. It's just you know it's going to hurt some other departments that have things that they need immediately and um but they can always come back to us at that point. Well, I think and and I I'll I'll call on you just a second, uh,

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Commissioner. Um, you know, as we go for forward, we have to prioritize our spending on services that are considered core >> core government. I really feel like that and not that those things weren't needed and didn't help our community. At the end of the day, when we start setting

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the priorities, just as a slide says, I think that's the one thing that we can we we can work on. Uh, Commissioner Alexander, >> both good points, my fellow commissioners. um you know it it the the benefit of the discretionary funds it

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provides us some agility to take quick action to support those entities that fall under our purview. Um again we have all taken a portion of our discretionary funds and contributed those to priorities of our fellow commissioners that may or may not have been priorities to us.

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>> They all went to capital projects. Let me just say that we don't have I want to say I'm sorry to interrupt you and I don't normally do that but we don't have >> Hold on. Hold Do I have the floor? >> I know you do. We don't have event money. We're not spending money on events. We're spending money on capital improvements >> 100%. And that's and that is the

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guidelines that are laid out for those um for those dollars. So, um yeah, I mean, like you said, those aren't spent willy-nilly. Um we bought uh thermal cameras, we've bought safety items, uh speed signs, we bought the

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things that would benefit our community. uh the defiills for EMS. Um none of these things do do anything other than try and help the community and we put a lot of thought into them individually. Yes, we are all

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going to have to make sacrifices as our budgets are trimmed. I am not discounting that at all. And I I I think that um I don't want to lose the flexibility and the ability to act quickly to help our community, but I I I agree with you that

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we could see some reduction in those to help offset that because we're all going to have to suffer. We're all going to lose something and it's not by our choice. It's been mandated by the state. >> Can I add just a little commentary here? >> Yes, ma'am. um

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we'll make some difficult decisions, but remember your discretionary dollars come out of general fund reserves. So they have no impact on my reoccurring tenative budget that needs to be set to be to be frank, >> right? It's not as if we completely eliminated it. We could fund another

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department. I can't because those are reoccurring costs. Um the discretionary dollars have always been funded from your general fund reserves just like a one-time capital purchase is. So, as you're having the conversation, just make sure you're weighing it with the

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impact, your return, right? What What are you losing? What's the juice in the squeeze? >> That's right. That's right. Thank you for that input. >> Thank you. So, um also, um if we can just I I got out of order here and we went right into commissioner comments

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and you're not through with quite through with your with your presentation, but I do feel like this is a good time to take p public comment. >> Okay. Um, so I'd like to take public comment because as we're we're going to be making decisions, we need to hear from our constituency and people in the office.

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>> Yeah. >> Before we go there, if you don't mind. >> Sure. >> I I just need some help on the bottom slide here. So I guess at the next July meeting, we're going to set the maximum millage rate. >> So I'll I'll I'll go through the next >> public needs to know at the time. Mhm.

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>> So, um, your July initiatives is that we need to set the tenative and the final budget hearing. So, we'll follow our traditional schedule, which will be September 8th for your tenative and September 22nd for your final, both at 50:05. Um, in July at that meeting, the

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last meeting, we must establish our max millage rate. That doesn't mean we can't go less than for a final adopted rate. It means we can't go above a max millage rate. And then of course we have to adopt a tenative balanced budget. That

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balanced budget, I've said it a hundred times, right? We can talk about priorities. We can talk about initiatives. We can have a balanced budget in July. We can throw it all in the trash can on August 1 and start over and approve a different balanced budget on September. We just have to

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demonstrate that we have the ability to balance a budget by the end of July. And then lastly, um, we need to not ignore the potential implications of reform that is on the forefront. And at the end

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of the day, as I said when we opened for Putham County, essentially, I believe all of our departments are core services. We don't have divisions that are events, right? Um, and so we either need to determine

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if we're going to reduce services and if so, um, which services the board believes are of less importance to the constituents. If we're not going to reduce services, then we have to find alternative mechanisms to fund those

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services. Now, that can be in our user fees. That can be in additional discretionary sales tax or taxes. backly new assessments nonvaluebased um that you know there's a there's a lot of different mechanisms that said many

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of them require a substantial amount of work they cannot be implemented overnight and so it's important that we not wait too long in order to be prepared for whatever alternative sources that we're going to attempt um to use to supplement the funding in

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order to sustain services. Okay. >> Now, I'll go back to >> All right. With that, is there anyone in the audience would like to speak? Please come forward. >> Good afternoon. >> Hey, Tom.

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>> This is new for me to um show up with a sympathetic ear. Um, man, this is not something you've asked for and we're all going to feel it. Uh, I would strongly encourage you. This has

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been incredibly informing uh informative but also very confusing. >> Yeah. uh few people have the luxury that you have to have the support to ask the questions to go over and for people to make a decision

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that uh of such gravity uh even though you didn't ask for this the burden is yours and I would encourage you to uh go all the way with it as the state has mandated that you do a 10%

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um pseudo budget you know, when you're talking one and a half times more than that, it's it's kind of deceiving. Um, and again, this isn't what you've asked to do. It's what they're asking you to do. Uh, the 20 I just did, you had a slide that showed

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the dollar bill and that you're all the money you're talking about, you have 47% of the budget that you're looking to take 15.7 million out of, >> right? Well, that total was, if I did the math right, $30,500.

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You're talking about taking half of that. Um, of course there's going to be user fees. Uh, of course there's going to be people laid off. Um, this is ugly. And

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if ever there was a time people needed to be together, it is now. No one's advocating. Believe me, I want a tax break. Nothing I'd like better. Uh, but I sure want to know whether or not my quality of life is going to go down as much as I perceive it is. And the only

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way we're going to get that answer is if you guys put it out there. And yeah, you'll get blamed of looking what you're doing. And I think everybody will stand up. It's not you. It's a matter of being mandated. It's about home rule. Something I've heard talk a lot. Never

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has there been an assault on home rule than what the legislature is trying to promote right now. And and um really in this time of divisive politics, this is a time that everybody we set that aside. This is people in Putnham County, regardless of

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your party, um we're going to give it up. So, the only way anybody's going to know that straight up before they vote is whether or not you put it out there. So, I'm asking you, I'm encouraging you. And

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um and I sure as hell don't envy you. Uh but that's the job right now. So, um I had a lot of other stuff I wanted to say and all, but it's all getting covered in here. uh but whether or not it gets disseminated and these timelines the way

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they are I think they're absolutely deliberate so it's not disseminated in a time when people can understand. So I'm asking you as a citizen please do whatever you can to show the gravity of this in the simplest way and the best way to do that during this process is I

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believe is a side by side. Having been a constitutional officer during the '08 fiscal crisis, I got to tell you, it was horrible not to have a choice to know whether or not you were going to be able to uh keep people employed. Of course, you don't want I don't want to be part

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of creating a panic. Um, I'm undecided on how I'm going to vote on this, but right now I know good decisions are not made with partial information. And it's a very unfortunate that this has been done uh that you're going to

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have to accept the responsibility for what's I, you know, I don't understand why the why the state would do it in this way other than um consolidation. And I think they clearly want uh which means, you know,

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we talk about in terms of well maybe a a Pomona Park or Crescent City or Interlock and maybe maybe they would not exist. I think we ought to look bigger. Maybe ought to look at our counties. When you talk about things relatively, we're smaller counties. Are we just going to be forced because fiscally

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constrained counties or counties that have done things that u have put in a bad way? Are we all a sudden going to be forced? We're not putting them. What do we just become an extension of St. John's? I don't know. But I think when you think this through, when you talk about these cuts and we're not able, if

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our governing body is not able to put out a uh reality check on what this is, I think we're just waiting for things to happen to us. So, I really do appreciate your efforts. I think it's um

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I can't believe that uh the people we send to Tallahassee would put so little thought before they put us in a position, you particularly in a position. And I hope we all keep this in mind as we go forward and um

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think about those things we lobby for and and uh maybe maybe this will be the thing that'll end some political divide because we're all I don't care what party you're on, you're going to feel this one. So thank you very much. I appreciate your time and if there's, you

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know, and I do mean this with all sincerity, if there's anything I can offer and and mistakes I know I had made, uh, Commissioner Harvey's, uh, I agree with you. I don't think we anybody wants to create a panic, but I'm going

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to tell you the panic's going to come afterwards if people don't understand what it is going into it. and and that'll be a place I assure you it'll be a lot more difficult than this one is that you're in right now. So anyway, um

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best of luck to you. There's something I can do and and I look forward to participating and I'm going to be pushing. I'm going to be asking just for me to decide how to vote. I want to know where is it coming from or if we are I mean if our whole model changes that

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every recreational activity we do uh you have to pay for well I want to know that and I I and I'm sure you'll do everything you can to make that happen. Thank you again. I appreciate >> you times a charm. Thank you. Me personally,

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I'm not voting for this. I don't agree with it. I don't envy any of you guys. I've been here 12 years and I have watched this commission truly bring this county forward immensely. You guys have done and ladies

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have done a fantastic job with our money. I just want to put that out there despite what everybody else is saying because they're not involved and they're just keyboard warriors. I want to [music] keep my law enforcement, firefighters, EMS, animal services,

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county staff, veteran services, and libraries. I don't think we should cut any of it because we all I I personally I don't use the veterans except for my homeless people, but personally, I use everything else. And I want to keep that. I want to

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be able to call 911 and have somebody respond. I want a firefighter to come if I need it. And on another note, Mr. Stout is doing a fabulous job in public works. I just have to put that out there. I was looking at some old emails from public

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works and I was thinking about all of this these cuts and of course public works is one of the departments that is probably at the top of the list, but they're doing a fabulous job. So, let's keep them there. I'm not in favor of paying WistaPro an increase. Everybody

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knows how I feel about WastePro and it's public. I'm not in favor of that. And the city should also pay their respective portion of the services that the county provides. Thank you. >> Thank you. Is there anybody else who wishes to

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speak? Come on up, Monica. [snorts] >> Was not expecting to speak today. >> It's okay. You don't have to expect. This is We're trying to We're trying to get something accomplished. So, thank you. So with his property tax relief definitely scares scares everyone. Um us in fire rescue even though we're one of

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those protected core services it is going to trickle down and affect us. It's going to affect our ability to grow provide services needed for the community get new firefighters. Looking at our budget the fire and EMS budget are are separate. They're two different budgets. Uh fiscal year 26 the fire

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budget was 10.74 million. The MSTU at 1.1 mills brought in 7.12 million which is a 3.6 62 million deficit. That [music] money comes out of, like you said, the the fire savings account or the general fund. EMS is 13.36 million our operating cost for this year, and

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that comes completely out of the general fund. That's $24.1 million total. Um, I would like to see a fire and EMS special assessment to fund fire rescue services. By doing that and eliminating the fire

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MSTU, replacing the fire MSTU with that, that could bring a jet a net relief from the general fund of about 17 million. And if we're looking at the first year, the what 15.1 million deficit on >> seven in general fund. >> Okay, that would definitely go a long way into helping bridge that gap and

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ensure that your fire and EMS services are fully funded. Um there's also other assessments that are based on property value or or property benefit. Um you can do assessments on storm water wastewater roads and bridges and you're seeing other counties implementing that now. Um

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Wakulla County I believe um they've implemented it. There's a couple other counties I can't remember the name off the top of my head but it's definitely something that other city and county governments are looking at to fund [music] um those core services to help take that pressure off and and leave money for everybody else without having

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to cut parks and wreck and libraries and you know and and the like. So, I just ask that you guys take that in consideration if nothing else for fire rescue um to make sure that we're fun and continue providing good service to our citizens. >> Thank you. I think there's a comment or question by Commissioner Harvey.

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>> Thank you. Thank you. Um you're not wrong there. I agree. And I speaking to a high ranking legislator. I won't mention his name, but um they realize they're going to have to put tools back in our pockets to do the work that we're a political subdivision of the state of

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Florida. We're hand in hand. We do the things they don't want to do. So, they're going to have to give us the tools and and maybe that's the fees to to make everything whole or the essential services whole because you're right, it's going to it's going to hit

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everybody. And uh if we can do that, but then again, it's hard to preach tax relief when now some people aren't paying anything today and you go to an MSTU system and they're fixing to pay or an MSBU system and now

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they're fixing to pay an amount of money. I'm not going to throw it out there what that could be, but you're we got 33,000 assessments. So, you can do the math of what this is going I've done it for years. Um, so I do believe we're going to see a shift in some of that as

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we go forward if this thing passes the way and I'm not so sure it's going to pass because there's a lot more non-homesteaders in Florida than there are homesteaders, but we'll see how that goes. But u I'm with Mr. Towns and I haven't made my mind up yet either. We

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all want tax reform, but we want responsible tax reform. Correct. And that's the important part. And and again, like I said earlier today, I dial 911. I want you there. I I don't care about all this tax reform stuff. I I need somebody there. And what what are

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we going to put that number on the life at that point? We're not. So, I appreciate you coming up and saying what you're [music] saying, but they realize they're going to have to give us tools in the toolbox to make sure that we take care of our essential services. >> Great. Well, thank you guys. >> Thanks, Monica. Commissioner Neold,

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you're recognized. Did you have something for her? I apologize. No, I I did not. But I appreciate her comments and she kind of hit the nail on the head. Um and Commissioner Harvey used the word shift and that's that's really what this is. This is a big tax shift.

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Um there are counties out there um some of these big counties that seem to be much more washed than we are for sure. There's probably fat to cut. But I've had several people come to me and say, "Hey, I've I've looked at at the

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departments you guys have. I've looked at your budgets and and what are you guys going to do? Where are you going to cut the money?" >> And you know, we can I don't know, maybe I'm oversimplifying it, but we can, you know, ask our constituents, what do you

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want us to cut out? and we'll cut it out. But it's going to mean, you know, your rows graded less, your garbage picked up less, all these things, your lot, you know, less library services, maybe you don't have veteran services. I don't think there's anything that I

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mean, most of us ran on this quality of life thing. Man, these are the basics. And um but I'm going to speak it two out of two sides of my mouth because there is room for improvement in the way that that our homesteads are taxed. Um I really wish

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the state government would have figured it out instead of making us figure it out because I mean we're going to be able to, you know, we're going to have this loss in income and we're going to have to find ways to make it up if we want to keep the same level of service we have now. And I'm afraid that special

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assessment tool is going to be probably what we have to use and we'll have to be deliberate in that and and thoughtful. Um but it is it's going to it's going to change who's paying those taxes and um and it's going to it's going to hurt

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some people. So >> Yes, ma'am. >> If you'll allow me to make two comments. Um I not I know we don't necessarily engage in public comment but two points were brought up that I do want because this tax reform um is so new and there's

401
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so much unknown information. Um will you put my screen back up for me? Um two things in the amendments that went through towards the end the alleged protections for your public safety

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offices were removed. So there was some proposed language that essentially said you are not going to be able to fund those public safety offices less than a prior year. They gave two different scenarios of the year. Um and so that was removed. Obviously we all know that

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our public safety is important. However, when you look at the screen, they're going to load up just so that you have in your mind and speaking to what does it look like for me. If we're talking about $15.7 million from the general

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fund on average, now average meaning some are a little more and some are a little less. Each one of your true board of county commissioner function departments with the exception of emergency medical services on average take up about a million dollars in the

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budget. So we could unfund 16 of them or we can determine how we're going to offset the revenues or your public safety divisions are going to see some type of impact. there truly isn't

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another place in the dollars for it to make sense. >> Thank you. >> Well, and that's where I was at with this um as we go into the new budget year of not [music] of of not giving necessarily our

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percentage increase that we have given over the years before that because I I'll just say it the sheriff's office takes 53% of the entire adalorum budget. So, I understand. I mean, I need him to come in and have an honest conversation with

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us. I need him and the sheriff's office to sit down and let's go over their line item budget. Do I think that he's doing anything wrong? I don't know. I don't think he is. I don't have a reason to think it is he is, but at the same time, we're being asked to make decisions on his budget, >> but we don't have the details of his

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budget. I don't know if he's got 300 employees. I don't know if he's got 600. I don't know that the state is ever going to impose that rule on any constitutional. I will tell you that in meetings with state leaders, um their expectation is that we're going to

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have to tell the constitutionals to go to the gym is what I was told um too. And the gym isn't fun. Again, what I was told by a state leader, right? And so, um, essentially, although it's not necessarily I don't believe they're ever

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going to say you can dictate how the funds are used, um, I believe that the the state guidance currently is understanding that each one of those constitutionals as well as the board is going to see implication from it. So, so that's where I was at and in and

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this year and I that that's why my comment of holding the line given the 3% cola and let's see and where this thing whether it passes in November or not. That's where my thought process was going on that. I mean, it's hard to give the sheriff's office their $2 million

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extra that they requested because then now that becomes the new the new number and so I'm fine with them getting the I don't have choice. they can get their 53%. Or whatever it is the dollar-wise. I guess I shouldn't use a percentage. The dollar, whatever the dollar is,

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that's what it is for this year coming up with their in addition to their 3% cola. The 3% cola that we talked about was they gave us that number or did you come up with that number? I calculated that based on their total personnel cost from last year to this year and checked

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with their budget officer um who told me a 3 to 7% was included in their personnel numbers based on and they they like I said that in the beginning they have a tier um for their colas. Now everybody else's is a all the rest of

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the constitutional offices was a cola. The only one who did not include a cola in their initial request was the clerk. So, I asked them for a number specific, and that's the number they gave me that would cover a 3% cola for their staff. >> So, they would still be getting $34

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million. That's where I'm at with that. And while you're here, go to that other slide that showed certainted on it. So, I'm going to open this can up a little bit. Uh, Commission Commissioner, I'm telling you, um, Mr. Commando, this net

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impact from certaintied. U what I would like to see is that each board member gets her copy of that agreement because and then I need you to evaluate that agreement. I need you to see if number one, they've met the deadlines that they that they needed to to receive that

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credit or check. It's actually a check, right? We we write them a check. >> Yes, ma'am. >> I need to know did they did they meet the deadlines? Did they meet the criteria that's in the agreement? And I want us to all take a look at that. Um there is some concern that they have or

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that they are and I know Clay's here and if you want to talk about this you can. If you don't you don't that's fine. Um but there was some discussion early on as to whether or not they met the obligation of their contract which was to not be in litigation with the county.

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And they are in litigation with with the property appraisers office. That's still the county. So, if they're arguing the methodology or the amount that's being charged or I'm sorry, not charged, but assessed, then how is it I mean, I feel like we're doing the same thing that

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happened with GP. So, how is it that they get we're going to cut them back a check for $1.3 million. I need this really looked at. >> Have we already sent them the rebate? >> No, sir. >> Okay. because I need to I need somebody

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because at the end of the day if they're in litigation with the property appraiser are they they're not. Okay. Thank you for verifying that. But if there's >> they're not. He's saying not. He's saying no. Are they arguing the methodology? >> Okay. Well, I'll just shut up. But I was

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getting on my box. I just wanted to make sure that that they are um in compiance with the contract. I do want you to look at >> You want me to check the deadlines? >> Yep. and check the deadlines, >> make sure they're following their obligations >> and they're following through their their obligations and we ask them for a

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certain amount of of job growth. Can how can we verify that? I remember that was a big discussion whenever we negotiated it. But at the end of the day, we've got some new commissioners that weren't here at that time. And I think that they need to understand even if it's not particular to this contract, but going

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forward when we get asked as a board to give incentives, it's a long-term it's a long-term, you know, this is for five years. So, we never when this when we were when this was being discussed, we never thought, "Oh my gosh, we're going

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to have a property tax reform and we're not going to be able to I mean, we we didn't know what we were going to get into and now we're having to deal with it. It's fine. We've already made an obligation, but I just want to make sure that they fulfilled their portion of the contract and the obligation in the

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contract. I'm I'm tired." [laughter] Commissioner Harvey. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, I think along those same lines, maybe we should ask our attorney to also look at

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what Mr. Townsen just basically said. The rules changed. We had nothing to do with that. And would they be willing to I mean, they got to take a haircut, too, if we got to take a haircut. We made a we made a deal based on what we thought

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thought the future would look like, but it might not be that future anymore. And if that be the case, then everybody needs to be in the same pool here at this point. And my point is simply, we can't sustain this. We can't do what

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you've asked us, the agreement that we made with you based on this because property values are not doing what they did. The legislators stepped in and and cut the legs out from underneath us at certain times. So, could we possibly revisit that? And I think that's

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something that we need to look at when we look at the contract. What is our call back? What can we do to protect the citizens of Putnham County at that point? Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Thank you. All right. All right, board. What What else do you want to talk about?

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>> Yes. >> You know, I I have a question. So, I want to ask this. Last year, we were able to go to the roll back rate. all all the stars aligned everything. Let's take property tax reform off the

434
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table right now. Let's just deal with what we got to deal with and then we'll come back to that. Is there any way that you could see that we can go back to a roll back rate if property tax failed in November? If

435
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everything stays the way it is now, do you think that we could possibly stay with that roll back rate and give our citizens the benefit that we gave them last year? That's the I know that puts you in a you don't have a crystal ball and our chairwoman doesn't have a magic

436
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wand, but if that I was asked what do I want? What's my priority? I'd like to go see a roll back or at least some type of rate decrease if we could. So, I can crunch any number you want. >> You can. >> It's going to depend on what you're

437
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willing to cut. And so, that becomes the question. As we kind of go through this little exercise here, I'm telling you today that when I start the process, I've got $2.7 million of extra money to

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spend, before the constitutionals take the first dime, before the external factors take the first dime, before I pay a new school board debt, before I'm giving staff a cola, before I worry about contractual obligations. >> At the current millillage. at the

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current millillage. So if I cut that number, I still have to pay $1.3 million is certainted or at least obligated. I still have to pay the constitutional increase at whatever level y'all

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approve. I still have to pay an extra $400,000 to the tax collector for the schoolboard bond. I still have to pay for all of the other ancillary things that are additional costs this year that were not costs last year without additional revenue sources.

441
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>> So sure we can if we cut it somewhere else. >> So let's just not use the roll back and let's go to scenario number two with the cost of living only on there. Then what's our scenar what's our our outlook then look like as far as keeping the

442
02:04:19.520 --> 02:04:36.080
millage the same and can we fund everything right now the with the cost of living and keeping as the chairwoman said everything the same right now >> at the current millillage. >> Yes ma'am >> at the scenario two with your

443
02:04:36.080 --> 02:04:54.159
constitutionals. >> Correct. >> Yes. So there is some glimmer of hope here is what I'm trying to say. The sun's shining a little bit. >> There's always hope. >> Yeah. But I'm saying, you know, if keep the millas the same, every the 6.23

444
02:04:54.159 --> 02:05:11.760
increase in property values. Now we everybody holds the line. >> We will hold the line with >> colas. They get our employees get a 3%. We still have the outlining things that we got to take care of that we can take care of. And maybe we can take a big sigh of breath until we can figure out

445
02:05:11.760 --> 02:05:26.159
the next step at this point because you asked us what our priorities are. >> And and let me say to Yes. And remember, I don't have any state revenues at this time. >> Sure. >> So if all five of you look at me and say my priority is to cut the millage if we

446
02:05:26.159 --> 02:05:42.800
cut it by a hundredth of a point, then remember when we set a max millage in July, all we're saying is we're not going to go above this millage rate. We're not saying that we can't go below it. So, as those revenues come in and we shake out more hard expenses, it may be

447
02:05:42.800 --> 02:05:57.760
that I come back to you and say, "Hey, I've got a tenth of a point or I've got a hundth of a point." Um, it may not be that I get you to a roll back rate. Um, just given the external cost increases that I'm seeing, but there there's always an opportunity and we will always

448
02:05:57.760 --> 02:06:13.920
work towards doing everything we can for that front. Now, in that same arena, I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't tell you that I want to be cautious about how far we cut the millillage this year because Senate Bill 4F is going to

449
02:06:13.920 --> 02:06:31.199
take into impact next year along with potentially the implications of reform. So, my same millage rate is going to generate 25% less revenue and the implications of that bill are going to make it harder for me to raise the

450
02:06:31.199 --> 02:06:46.639
millage rate. So, I've got compounding forces coming in the future. And so, not that we shouldn't do everything we can every single year to be as financially responsible as we can, but we also would be irresponsible if we're not thinking about more than just tomorrow.

451
02:06:46.639 --> 02:07:03.760
>> And and my point is simply this. by the next meeting, we got to set a maximum millage rate. >> So, we don't have a whole lot of time to put together the worst scenario in the world that could happen after November. So, my point is we got a couple scenarios here. And I think the logical

452
02:07:03.760 --> 02:07:20.159
one would be everybody try to hold the line. >> Hold the line. >> Make sure our our employees have the cola that they they need, the living expense that they need, and then keep our millage pretty much the same. just go and then we can come with parallel

453
02:07:20.159 --> 02:07:35.599
budgets later down the road to say okay if this passes but we've got a deadline of two weeks that we've got to sit down here we don't have time to do all that there's not time to put all that worst case scenario the sky is falling >> so reform isn't going to isn't going to

454
02:07:35.599 --> 02:07:51.520
affect us this year >> the year we're developing right >> it's going to affect us next year and that's why I'm saying although we you know we can make adjustments to the millillage this year and probably we breathe easy. Um maybe not at roll back, but we can breathe easy if we make some

455
02:07:51.520 --> 02:08:07.199
small. We need to remember the implications that it's going to have on us next year. So, but you're absolutely right. By the next year, >> I just don't want we work too hard to keep our employees, our men and women, our first responders, we finally can get people up to a level right now that we

456
02:08:07.199 --> 02:08:22.639
weren't able to do many years ago. And now for them to have a mass exodus because they're scared to death that they're going to lose a job. I don't I don't I'm not into that scarness. I I really think at the end of the day, cooler heads will prevail and and we'll

457
02:08:22.639 --> 02:08:39.000
find we'll find a way through this navigation. But again, we are a political subdivision of the state of Florida. Let's not forget that. We're just not a county on our own. We are a political state subdivision of the state of Florida. Thank you, Madam Chair.

458
02:08:40.159 --> 02:08:55.599
Commissioner Alexander, you're recognized. >> I was reading. >> I knew you said you were getting tired earlier, but I didn't know if you were sleeping with your eyes open. >> Yeah. Yeah, I know. >> Yeah. No. Um, Miss Young, quick question. When we get um we we've got these developments that are coming in.

459
02:08:55.599 --> 02:09:12.480
They've broken ground. I see the dirt work down there at Alford Farms. Um what are we averaging per impact fee for each one of those houses? >> They're on water and sewer. So you're probably 14,000. >> Okay. And that's going to be >> to the respective budget to the

460
02:09:12.480 --> 02:09:28.800
respective buckets that are restricted for which you can spend those dollars on. >> Okay. So that's that's kind of where I was going with that question. You know, perhaps that'll give us some relief if we can maneuver some of the monies out of those bug budget buckets that are existing and be offset by some of those

461
02:09:28.800 --> 02:09:44.880
just to provide a small bit of a relief on that. So, so careful with that train of thought because impact fees have to fund expansion in service. Today's conversation is all centered around

462
02:09:44.880 --> 02:10:01.360
sustaining current service levels, >> but expansion in fire and EMS >> capital expansion. Yes. Okay. >> I cannot fund personnel out of an impact fee. um if we put on a another ambulance that we've never had before, not a

463
02:10:01.360 --> 02:10:17.119
replacement because we've got eight and we're or we've got nine and we're the ninth one needs to be replaced. The can't spin impact fees there. If we're saying, okay, we need 10, then yes, you could pay for that out of impact fees, but the humans that run that 10th

464
02:10:17.119 --> 02:10:33.599
ambulance cannot be paid out of impact fees. >> Understood. >> Okay. >> Understood. Thank you. Uh, one more question in this scenario. Um, when we ask our constitutionals and we'll take the sheriff's office off of the board and just talk about we've got

465
02:10:33.599 --> 02:10:48.400
the property appraiser, clerk of court, supervisor of elections. So, you've got 26 budget, their 3% cola, the scenario staff increased only the appropriation and their requested appropriation.

466
02:10:48.400 --> 02:11:04.639
Why would we under any scenario give them more than what they're requesting? I mean, we go back, I had the same conversation last year. We talk about we talk about percentage, but at the end of the day, it's our budget to give. So, if they're not

467
02:11:04.639 --> 02:11:20.880
asking for the full percentage, why do we give it to them? Both of these gives them in in clerk of courts scenario two gives them extra 142. In scenario one, it gives him an extra 89. I don't get why we do that. >> So the asterk there for the clerk of

468
02:11:20.880 --> 02:11:37.119
court is so that you know that he did not request he did not build in a cola into his original appropriation request. >> So is that the assumption on all of them? >> No, ma'am. Okay. the the rest of them

469
02:11:37.119 --> 02:11:53.199
built in a cola, but the but the clerk specifically in his request um did not build in any adjustment to staff wages. So, when we went back and said, "Okay, what would it be if we just paid for a cola?" The conversation with

470
02:11:53.199 --> 02:12:10.239
the clerk's office was, "Oh, we didn't we we didn't know that this was going to be entertained. We didn't build one in at all. If we're going to give staff a cola, it's going to be an extra 142." And so, that's essentially where it would be. Um to answer your question again past precedence has been that we

471
02:12:10.239 --> 02:12:27.119
have done a straight percent and that's your new allocation because remember again um we have >> we received those budgets before we received the assessments. And so it has been in some years that we've received a

472
02:12:27.119 --> 02:12:43.840
request and and we've allocated more money to them that was then allocate or utilized through the operations of their budget. board direction, whatever you want to do. Short story. >> Okay, Commissioner Harvey,

473
02:12:43.840 --> 02:12:59.599
when we first talked about using the percentagebased budget, I I go back to when I remember saying these numbers are going to change based on needs. Um the theory was that they were asking for the same basically as we

474
02:12:59.599 --> 02:13:16.960
grew the numbers were basically being the same but some years were that nominally were one might be higher than the other >> and I knew that those numbers should shift a little bit. >> Um we've never changed that formula but we probably should. And you're right, if

475
02:13:16.960 --> 02:13:33.679
they're asking for less and we're giving them more, that we're just going to get it back at the end and we're going to be back to 2014 when people stand up here with a big check and go, "Hey, I'm giving you back 800,000." Well, not necessarily. We overfunded and you cut

476
02:13:33.679 --> 02:13:48.719
some things and now you got some money back. And I'm not trying to dilute that conversation. No, >> I'm just trying to say let's be let's be mindful that those numbers probably should have changed a little bit based on needs and based on you know like take

477
02:13:48.719 --> 02:14:04.719
supervisor election. One year they might have three elections one year which makes that go up. Next next time they might only have two elections or one whatever the case may be to make that number go down. So that's what when I had that thought about percentagebased

478
02:14:04.719 --> 02:14:20.880
budgeting that's I knew those numbers would be fluid. So, thank you. >> Well, I I was the one who thought that scenario two is where we should go and I'm still there. But I while I do understand your comment on the clerk of court, I don't know why we would over

479
02:14:20.880 --> 02:14:37.679
give any constitutional more than what they're asking for. But again, you haven't have final numbers. I understand what your point is. Um so I'm I'm leaning on scenario two, which gives them um a 3% cola for staff. and then we hold

480
02:14:37.679 --> 02:14:53.920
the line and then if November rolls around and the reform isn't doesn't happen then we sit down and we go okay we got extra money let's talk about it can we do that >> of course >> okay because I remember when we had the scenario at the sheriff's office I mean

481
02:14:53.920 --> 02:15:11.679
he had gotten his money um the sheriff's office I shouldn't say he the sheriff's office got their money for their annual annual budget and then somewhere in the middle of the year they needed a $500,000 HVAC system. They didn't have it and then they had to

482
02:15:11.679 --> 02:15:27.599
come back to the board and say, "Hey, we got a problem." And we ended up funding that. That was that that was in addition to their budget. Was that not correct? >> That was this year. But remember, we pay for all Constitutionals's capital projects. >> Well, dag gum it. I'm just trying here.

483
02:15:27.599 --> 02:15:42.800
>> I know it's more fun news on my side. anytime they have a capital need um any of them not not one particular one >> okay >> um that has to come through us our building and grounds goes and does the maintenance on every building that a

484
02:15:42.800 --> 02:16:00.320
constitutional office occupies >> um and so those are the their budgets are truly designed by statute to cover office operations people and operations not overhead

485
02:16:00.320 --> 02:16:17.040
We pay the utility bills, we pay the electric bills, we pay the communication bills, we give them computers, we give them phones. Um, we, you know, we do all of the what you would call business overhead and they serve a function to

486
02:16:17.040 --> 02:16:38.240
the community. >> All right. Where are we going? [snorts] Is there a motion to hold the for the >> Are we going to do that today, Madam Chair? >> What's the What do we need to do today? >> We need to make some decisions today. So, the first since you guys are already here, um do you want your July tenative

487
02:16:38.240 --> 02:16:55.760
balance budget to assume scenario one or two? I'll break it down into lots of questions. How about that? >> That'd be great. >> Okay, >> we need some direction at this point. >> Okay, great. But you have to make a decision. >> That's it.

488
02:16:55.760 --> 02:17:12.479
>> All right, let's move forward with this. Um, I'll make a motion that we assume scenario two. Um, >> you don't have to make a motion. >> Yeah, just give me consensus. >> All right, let's move forward with uh scenario two. >> Everybody wants scenario two. >> Yeah, I think

489
02:17:12.479 --> 02:17:29.200
>> I don't have a choice, but >> and that'll be keeping the millage as close as we can. >> Well, that where that look, you're you're on it. So, I need a max millage rate for the general fund >> today. >> You want that today? >> I thought you said we had until >> I have to prepare you an agenda item for

490
02:17:29.200 --> 02:17:45.040
you to formally adopt it. >> I want to keep the millage rate where we're at today. >> I agree with that. >> Or both fire and general. >> For general, let's go one at a time. >> Yeah, I'm >> No problem. >> We're just not going to make that decision. Just >> So, this is for her figures. >> That's your initiative, right? Is that

491
02:17:45.040 --> 02:18:01.040
what you want to do? >> This is our our wish list. Okay. >> Okay. So, if we're going to keep the Millers the same, then I think we need to look at >> Somebody else take this. >> I'm sorry. >> Go ahead. [laughter] >> I got one down here.

492
02:18:01.040 --> 02:18:15.359
>> Okay. Good. >> Intention on Max Millage for fire. What is your intention? >> Okay. So, in my Madam Chair, if you >> Yeah. So, in my opinion, I really do think that u we need to start we've got

493
02:18:15.359 --> 02:18:32.000
the the four new pos the 12 positions, four people to fire to EMS. We need to be looking at and I and I hate to say this, but we need to fund it properly. >> So, we've been holding that 1.1 based on

494
02:18:32.000 --> 02:18:48.319
not putting municipalities over the 10%. and and property values increased, but truly with the town of Enelark pulling out, that was a big concern of throwing them over. Crescent City is out. Um, so

495
02:18:48.319 --> 02:19:03.760
I I think we need to come back with a and I don't know if we can do that today. I don't know if you're able to tell me 1.1's good or 1.4 is good. I don't >> I'm having the same issue. >> Good for what? >> To cover their expenses. >> To cover the expenses and the anticipated needs,

496
02:19:03.760 --> 02:19:21.280
>> right? that we know of today. >> So, I'm not sure I'm able to throw that number out to you, but we're And then we got to look at what the other municipalities are. Are we going to throw them over the 10 the 10 mil cap by doing a 1.2, 1.3, 1.4? I don't know the

497
02:19:21.280 --> 02:19:38.800
answer there. Does that make sense? So, do we have to do that today or just can you come back to us and say, "We hear you. We want you want to fund fire EMS >> bingo over there. >> Sorry. [laughter] >> I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

498
02:19:38.800 --> 02:19:54.399
>> It's my understanding that these are tentative numbers that you're going to bring back for us to vote on. It could be a thousand. It could be 100. It could be 0.2. But in in your in your best opinion on the fire, we're at what 1.2 now.1 >> 1.1. So, if we made the adjustment today

499
02:19:54.399 --> 02:20:11.760
to take it to even 1.5, that gives us an indicator of where we're going to be, how much money we're going to have, and then we can make that decision when you bring those numbers back to us. So, I mean, we're having a lot of discussions about preliminary stuff that we don't have an actual number on. So, let's just move forward with the number and move on.

500
02:20:11.760 --> 02:20:26.720
>> Okay, >> Mr. Grimes, I see you're you're you're >> So, I I can appreciate the talk about municipalities and whether they participate or they don't participate. Can I just tell you we got a service to run and I mean at the end of the day I really don't it doesn't matter to me

501
02:20:26.720 --> 02:20:42.560
what I do to somebody else's millage rate cap. I got to provide a service in the town of Waka. I got to provide a service in the town of Analakan. I got to provide a service in the city of Crescent City. We've got a service to provide. So I mean I I get that we don't worried about their their caps but at the end of the day we got a service we

502
02:20:42.560 --> 02:20:57.280
got to do. >> It's not about worrying about their cap. Statutoily we couldn't put them over. That was the whole problem when the first conversation arose. We couldn't put them over the cap, but that's statutoily. It's not it's not based on

503
02:20:57.280 --> 02:21:14.000
what we might need, too. But if we put them over the cap, then we violated their 10 mil cap. That was the problem statutoily. >> Sure. So, they should go and provide their own service. >> I get that. I do. But that's why that con that's why we've been able to keep

504
02:21:14.000 --> 02:21:32.399
that's why we've held it low. But that conversation needs to go away now. We need to take care of our fire EMS people immediately. >> So if that's the case, does that mean we have to back out our 8 seven? >> No, it doesn't affect that. So,

505
02:21:32.399 --> 02:21:48.399
>> if you'll allow, >> staff will bring you a recommended max millillage, but it sounds like the board would entertain hearing justified reasons for why that max millage may be higher than the current year. Is that fair? >> Yes, I would agree that's a fair statement.

506
02:21:48.399 --> 02:22:04.160
>> Great. Um >> when we talk dur question real quick on that commissioner no >> is is >> the special assessment process in this space or any other space is there how does that work if we

507
02:22:04.160 --> 02:22:20.399
decided we wanted to do that >> do do a special assessment >> yes the same way we've done it before so we end up engaging a consultant and the reason why is because a c a consultant has to gather all of the costs then determine detmine who the users of that

508
02:22:20.399 --> 02:22:37.760
cost are and then fairly aortion them according to that. There's a public hearing process that goes along with that and then you would adopt the assessment following the input from the public hearing. >> Okay. Just a question because I I I think it's something we're going to have to think about for the long run and

509
02:22:37.760 --> 02:22:54.560
maybe you skin the cat here with that. >> Sure. Um, as we build the July tenative budget, can the board give me some guidance on their priorities for BPP? Well,

510
02:22:54.560 --> 02:23:11.120
it's I'm not necessarily a fan of getting completely red of the dirt to pave. Um, and I'll just go ahead and put this out there because it's been um, I sat down with an MSBU group in my district and

511
02:23:11.120 --> 02:23:26.880
said, "Let's put together a five-year plan because I want to save you guys tax dollars because at the end of the day, at five years, we can continue to knock their little roads out in their district [music] and then in their MSBU and then they won't have an MSBU and then

512
02:23:26.880 --> 02:23:42.479
everything's done." and it saves them and it helps us because then we're not out there spending time and effort on it. And so we started that plan. So for us just to pull out and say we're not going to do dirt to pave, I got a problem in my district. I'm just telling

513
02:23:42.479 --> 02:23:58.800
you right now. So um I don't know that that's where I'm at with the dirt to pave particularly. I do understand the need for and I do agree with purchasing the lead the greater lease equipment. I I do what you're

514
02:23:58.800 --> 02:24:15.040
saying, Mr. Grimes, makes sense. And for me, everything has to make sense. So, I understand that and I'm good with what you had suggested on on doing the purchase, the buyout versus continuing to have a a annual fee. >> I'd like to bring back some other

515
02:24:15.040 --> 02:24:31.040
alternatives, okay, before your next meeting because I've actually spoke to some of the vendors and they may have a unique opportunity for us to move different directions, but we need to know whether we want to really own them or we want to lease them and where it may work out better for a scenario for us. But we'll absolutely do that by by your next meeting. >> Okay,

516
02:24:31.040 --> 02:24:46.080
>> Adam. >> Yes, Commissioner Harvey. >> And I'm in agreement to getting rid of dirt to pave in my area even though it's a mile a year. Um, and it's going to take 300 years to make that happen based on simple math.

517
02:24:46.080 --> 02:25:02.080
Those people deserve a road. They pay a sales tax and they also pay a fee to maintain their road. And I think it's unfair that we start the process and then pull the rug out from underneath them. I like what we're doing now. I like putting the millings down. I like

518
02:25:02.080 --> 02:25:17.920
the alternatives of that. Um but again, we're finally going to make a road, a hard road all the way through the biggest West Putnham MSBU that exists, 95 miles. And if we can't get fire

519
02:25:17.920 --> 02:25:34.000
trucks through there, if we can't get our school buses to use that, I have no other funding mechanism other than to tell the people, "Do what we did. Pay $215 a year for 15 years and buy your

520
02:25:34.000 --> 02:25:49.680
own road." That wasn't That's not fair. And it's not fair. So, I know I know I'm a county commissioner countywide, but I do represent West Putnham and I do represent those people that need a road

521
02:25:49.680 --> 02:26:10.319
and I I think the alternatives are great, but I don't want to get rid of our dirt to pave project. So, there >> anybody else? What What else do you have that you're specifically looking for? Was there consensus on discretionary

522
02:26:10.319 --> 02:26:26.319
commissioner funds? >> There was not consensus. There was discussion about it. Um I do think that it's something I I brought it up. I just that's where I'm at. Go ahead, Commissioner Alexander. >> Um when we're discussing these priorities um looking at our capital

523
02:26:26.319 --> 02:26:44.960
improvement projects, would would those come under this topic as well, Mrs. Young? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Um, I am a, you know, I know we've got tough times ahead, but I am a huge proponent of our veteran services and our IT

524
02:26:44.960 --> 02:27:01.760
building renovation. >> I went to it yesterday and I saw what was basically inverted acne on the roof because it was falling in due to a water leak in one of the ceiling tiles. There's mold on the floor. um that's not

525
02:27:01.760 --> 02:27:18.880
somewhere that I want to work. It's not somewhere I feel like they should work. Um additionally, um our veteran services bring in I think the last number I heard was probably around $60 million, $50 million to our community um each year,

526
02:27:18.880 --> 02:27:36.359
but I don't care if it's, you know, a $100 or $1,000. These folks have served our community uh our count our country um and they deserve better than what they're getting now. So, I think that that is truly a priority, those two items.

527
02:27:37.040 --> 02:27:53.359
>> And we're going to have an opportunity as well as we go forward to go through the line item budget and figure out what if there are other services we want to reduce or find alternative sources, that kind of thing. We're going to have that opportunity. This is not our first this

528
02:27:53.359 --> 02:28:10.399
is our first meeting, but it's not our final to have that bigger discussion. >> No, absolutely. Like I said, the tenative budget that we pass in July can be thrown out August 1st and we can create a different one. >> Okay. So

529
02:28:10.399 --> 02:28:27.200
you when we talked about discretionary funds, you said that they come out of reserves anyway. >> It does. >> Okay. >> Double table that conversation for today. >> Yes. Are there um actions that the board would like staff

530
02:28:27.200 --> 02:28:45.520
to begin taking in order to prepare for the potential reform implications? >> Commissioner Harvey. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. You know, since I've been a commissioner, I've had we really need to start looking at and I I

531
02:28:45.520 --> 02:28:59.760
referred to it earlier as profit centers, and they're not. They're just little, they're little county businesses, if you will, in my opinion. But for me, we need to look at permit and inspection

532
02:28:59.760 --> 02:29:16.880
because a lot of us are subsidizing water in certain areas. No one subsidizes my pumps when they run out. They don't. I don't build a permit, so why should I

533
02:29:16.880 --> 02:29:35.439
subsidize the permitting department? I've always said that maybe the fees need to be looked at where you hire a contractor and you get so many inspections and if the contractor can't do the job right, then there's more fees involved.

534
02:29:35.439 --> 02:29:52.479
I think we got to start looking at the cost of doing business but not on the backs of people who are not taking advantage of it. Naturally, libraries are going to you're going to see that people use libraries and recreation. But

535
02:29:52.479 --> 02:30:08.240
I'm talking about I'm talking about the the permits, the inspections, those user fees, utility fees. You know, you we want to get people off of wells or or actually wastewater,

536
02:30:08.240 --> 02:30:24.319
but you know, when we run pipe, there's there's a law. You got to hook into it. I know people don't like that, but they're getting quality water. They're not getting my lake water right now since I'm since the lakes are so bad in

537
02:30:24.319 --> 02:30:40.560
West Putinham. Our water smells. I mean, when aquifer goes down, it smells out west Putinham. So I think we got to start looking at does everybody need to subsidize somebody else's and I say no I say no I

538
02:30:40.560 --> 02:30:57.280
say no on permit I think we need to say how much does it cost for XYZ to build a house and this is what the permit cost get down to the real maybe this is going to make us have the real conversations about what it really costs to do

539
02:30:57.280 --> 02:31:14.160
business do I want to charge people a boat ramp fee along wants their boats. I hope not. God, I hope not. I hope we never get to that point, but we might one day. I don't know that answer. Um, but that's where I would like when that's number one bullet was utility

540
02:31:14.160 --> 02:31:31.920
storm water and uh and maybe one day we need to have that talk about storm water also, but right now I think the lowhanging fruit is the permit and the inspection um on the on that. So, that's my comments. Thank you, Madam Chair. All right, I'm going to um talk about

541
02:31:31.920 --> 02:31:48.160
something here um that I want and and I'm not asking the staff to look at this right now, but I think as we go into the if the tax reform happens in November, then I think that we have to look at uh doing

542
02:31:48.160 --> 02:32:04.800
something similar that that Leyon County did, which they implemented a hiring freeze. And what that did was that uh that created it reduced discretionary funding. Um they began to look at their

543
02:32:04.800 --> 02:32:21.040
organizational structure. And I'm not talking about just the BOCC. I'm talking about all all parties involved, all all constitutional. Leaving vacant utilities un positions unfilled. Delaying creation of new positions. requiring additional

544
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approval before hiring. Additionally, they also put on a travel freeze if it's not needed, if it's not for um for essential uh training or anything like that that and and it goes all the

545
02:32:36.640 --> 02:32:52.000
way down to tourism and economic development and all of those things. They all have to to to limit what they're doing as well. And so I think there if I'm just asking the commissioners when you have time to please look at the temporary hiring

546
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freeze that the Lyon County commissioners put in in position. And what it did was it allowed them not to lay anybody off. It allowed them not to um not to you know everything they were

547
02:33:07.840 --> 02:33:24.240
able to reduce their cost and still be able to move forward. So I think it's something not to scare anybody. I know nobody wants to have this conversation, but I think it's something we have to at least look at and have that conversation. Um, that way either you're not immediately eliminating any existing

548
02:33:24.240 --> 02:33:39.520
jobs. Again, this I'm saying this when we get to November. I'm not saying right now. I'm saying if November the tax reform passes, then I think absolutely we got to look at doing what Lyon County did, which was putting in a hiring increase. >> So, what you're saying is Lyon County

549
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created a uh potential solution. It was a stop gap >> based based on that. Okay. Gotcha. Gotcha. >> Yeah. Commissioner Harvey, you're recognized. >> Madam Chair, I appreciate the comment. I do think that I don't want to I don't

550
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know the right words to use here. I think our constitutional officers look at their their budgets every year and they look what the needs are. So, I'd probably stay out of their business and let them do that. But I do think uh we can look at our side of the house and

551
02:34:10.880 --> 02:34:27.280
set the example and if there's if there's something that they can do fine. But I I don't know if I want to drill down that far into their into their operations because I I do think they all run lean. And I think that >> that's the challenge here. >> Yeah.

552
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>> And we're all running lean. >> Yeah. We're all running lean. But we can only manage our home and I don't know if we can manage >> I don't disagree. I know what your point is and and and you're not wrong on that, but we we are a fiscally constrained county. Um there's no plan in place from the state legislature as to h

553
02:34:42.960 --> 02:34:58.240
legislation as to how they're going to help us. And that's fine. And so they've asked us to reduce things and we're going to have to take that that initiative. But they didn't they're not just asking the BOCC to do it. My point is that's what the legislators are wanting. They've said that in their

554
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house bills that Julianne mentioned today. They said they want they want this cut and they want all of this information, which is fine. It's all it's all public information. Put it out there and let and you're right. We shouldn't be in a position where we have to ask our constitutional officers these questions. This wasn't my directive.

555
02:35:14.880 --> 02:35:31.840
This was a directive from the state legislature that said, "Hey, you guys need to do this." So, I get what you're saying, but at the same time, we got praised, and I'm going to say it again. We got praised and we even played the video here that that on the House floor or the Senate floor where they said if

556
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all the counties were doing what these nine counties were doing, we wouldn't be passing this, you know, wanting this this tax reform and they named Putnham County. So, while we've sat here and done everything right, and I'm and and and done the best with what we could,

557
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um this is the position we're in and we're going to have to deal with it. And so if that if if it's the tough conversation that we got to have. And so I'm just saying look at it and that if if November rolls around and the it's up to the taxpayers. It's up to the citizens of this county and the state

558
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and if they choose to to want this then we have to deal with the implications of it and that includes some of the things we've talked about today. Those are my comments. What else do you have Miss Julianne? >> I'm at the end.

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Wow. Are there any other commissioner comments? Mr. Grimes, you have your light on. I'm gonna let you go. >> Well, I can remain silent. It's fine. I'm good. I just want to just just so everybody kind of knows operationally, you know, as we talked post November,

560
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and this is nothing today, but hiring freezes work in some areas, but in like our fire and EMS world, >> absolutely, you're right. >> We we we have to replace position for position. So, it absolutely would not be a cost savings in in that world, right? agree with you. >> Unless we're going to shut a unit down, which I I'll stand out front and

561
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>> we're not doing that. Right. So, just we're going to need some kind of exemptions in there for a >> That's exactly right. And that's what Leon >> We're going to pay 150% of replacing somebody today and we're going to work them to death. Which gets back to >> where Commissioner Harvey was earlier today. We don't want to go there. >> And that's why I said look at what Leon did because they did have those

562
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exemptions in their ordinance. >> They did. Okay. Very good. >> And I truly believe before we got to that point, we'd have much more conversation in this room with you five. >> All right. Commissioner Alex and we're going to go through commissioner comments starting with Commissioner Alexander. >> Yeah, let's just go ahead and get it done. Go ahead. >> Um, you know, the most unfortunate part

563
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about this is, you know, like you said, we've received accolades and our staff has received accolades for doing the right thing and being fiscally conservative. And unfortunately with us being a a small community and the majority of our homes falling below the threshold for that homestead exemption,

564
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it's a double standard and we're paying the price for it. And we ask these questions, our constituents, we ask these questions to our legislators. You know, we know the destination. We know where you want us to go. Provide us a

565
02:38:00.479 --> 02:38:15.120
map to get there. Tell us how we're going to do this. We've asked that for six months, a year, and nobody has been able to provide, well, we might do this, or not even a hypothesis of how we could potentially fund that. And you know, they're they're pulling the pin out of

566
02:38:15.120 --> 02:38:32.080
the grenade and handing a political pin out of the grenade and handing it to us and basically telling us to figure out how to make their plan work. And it's aggravating. It's frustrating because we've done the right thing. And I that it's it's very frustrating.

567
02:38:32.080 --> 02:38:47.600
Yes sir. >> Commissioner Newell, >> I don't have a whole lot to say other than what what I've I've had already. Um, we're going to find a way to get there. Um, whether it's, you know, special assessments or all

568
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these little creative odds odds and ends, but, you know, we will get the pulse of our constituents. We're going to find out what the priorities are, and we're going to um, you know, five years from now, we might look back and go, "Wow, you know, we're in a better place than we were." But it's going to be kind of tough getting there. And I appreciate

569
02:39:04.240 --> 02:39:20.640
all the the insight that we get from staff and fellow commissioners because I mean we'll be all right. But it it's not going to be any fun in the meantime. >> Yes, sir. >> Anyway, I that's it. >> Commissioner Harvey, do you have anything to add?

570
02:39:20.640 --> 02:39:36.560
>> Thank you, Madam Chair. And and I want to put a positive spin on this. I think this has been one of the healthiest budget talks that we've ever had starting out the gate. It's been the most lively. It's been the most thoughtful. It hasn't just been, okay, let's move forward and get it over with.

571
02:39:36.560 --> 02:39:52.319
Um, we have some real challenges, but we're a community that can face the challenges right? >> We're five strong people up here that can understand budgets. We have the greatest staff, and I think throughout any county government, I will put our staff up against any of them. I think

572
02:39:52.319 --> 02:40:09.359
we'll all come together at the end. I think that we'll see we'll see our constitutionals put their heads together and we'll come up with a budget this year and we'll keep our employees. We will not scare everybody to death and we'll move forward. And if property tax

573
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reform comes, then we've got to be honest with our legislators and say, "We're a political subdivision of the state of Florida. You've got to give us tools to take care of the services that you wanted." Remember, the governor had a carveout for us. He

574
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had a fund for us. It didn't happen. The legislators took that away from him. The governor didn't get what he asked for on this. So, he's not even campaigning for this thing. Um, so I do I think it's going to pass? I don't know. But, you

575
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know what? At the end of the day, we're all going to look at our our situation and vote based on what we want from local government. We know what we want. Go to Publix. Go to Walmart tonight. I guarantee you, go tonight. Somebody's

576
02:40:58.800 --> 02:41:15.120
going to stop you and say, "Fund my library. Fund EMS. I want another firet truck over here. Response time wasn't fast enough. I want this." They tell us what they want. We know what our constituents want. They want parks. They want >> they want things to happen.

577
02:41:15.120 --> 02:41:31.439
>> They want their garbage picked up. I mean, poor Jay gets called every day just about. Somebody paid for a service and they want that service. I don't blame them for that. So, we're from here. We're intelligent people. We've got the most dedicated, highest ranking

578
02:41:31.439 --> 02:41:48.960
staff I could ever imagine. And we're going to come out of this and we're going to be better for it. And I agree with you, Mr. New Bowl. We might look back in five years and go, "This was the best exercise. It was painful. Man, it hurt. I just took two Advil and two Tylenol, but we're going to get through

579
02:41:48.960 --> 02:42:05.520
this." And I have the best optimistic idea in the world that we're going to come out better than what we started at. And again, folks, I'm not trying to make this light. This has been the most lively budget discussion day one that I've ever sat in. And I love numbers and

580
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you know that. So, it's not all gloom and doom. We got to know where our baby's ugly at and we can clean it up and move forward at that point. So, Madam Chair, thank you for this conversation today. >> Thank you. And before we go to Commissioner Paliser, I do want to apologize. I did not state why he came

581
02:42:22.080 --> 02:42:36.960
in late or why he wasn't here earlier. He is our canvasing board member and there was a logic and accuracy test which was required for him to be there. um he is that's where he was and um so thank you commissioner for ending one

582
02:42:36.960 --> 02:42:53.200
meeting and coming to this and sorry you're catching it at the end. I'm sure you can go back and watch our conversation but do you have any comments at this time? >> I have a couple. Um for the record u logic was it logic logic and accuracy is

583
02:42:53.200 --> 02:43:10.640
perfect. >> So Larry, you're going to get a fair shake whatever it may be. Um, Mr. Commando, in the event that this thing passes and it's a train wreck and three quarters,

584
02:43:10.640 --> 02:43:34.399
what is there a method or a way to the voters or the people of Florida to put it back on track? I think there's probably many ideas of what'll come forward. Um, everything from subsequent elections. There's

585
02:43:34.399 --> 02:43:51.279
discussion of a special session through the legislature, which I imagine would solicit some public comment. Um, I don't know if you're looking for something specific but um, I think if it does pass, there's going to be a long road ahead of all local governments.

586
02:43:51.279 --> 02:44:07.640
I'm just wondering at a state level, is there anything that they would jump in and say, "Oh god, we didn't know it was going to be like this. We got to become we got to bring this back." That's what I'm asking, I guess, if that makes any sense.

587
02:44:07.840 --> 02:44:24.920
I mean, could they could they subsequently pass another joint resolution that takes a look at what the homestead exemption thresholds are? Guess they could. I don't see that as a realistic path, but I guess it's always a possibility.

588
02:44:25.040 --> 02:44:45.359
>> Thank you. Good as you can do, I guess, at this time. I I understand. Um I think we've all gone through personal budget crisis in our life uh at in our personal households. I know I have. and

589
02:44:45.359 --> 02:45:01.359
you just cut yourself short of whatever you really want to make it happen to get to to the goal you're looking for. And that may be just, you know, that's kind of a crazy blanket term, but that's the only way I can put it and is how I dealt

590
02:45:01.359 --> 02:45:18.080
with it myself on that level. Um, I'm like Larry and I'm like Mr. Newbolt down there. Um, we're going to get through it. It may not be pretty, but we're going to survive. Um

591
02:45:18.080 --> 02:45:34.640
it's it's the sky is not totally falling, but um I'm I'm not happy with it. Um I use the term the devil, you know, and this is the devil we know what we've got right now. Um and you know it everybody wants cuts. Who doesn't? Good

592
02:45:34.640 --> 02:45:50.160
lord. Yes. But you know where you are now. And I think in my personal opinion the the cuts are too drastic initially to he's not taking any baby steps. He's whacking it pretty

593
02:45:50.160 --> 02:46:07.520
hard uh for personal reasons I think. But um I uh I think we'll well I know we'll survive. We'll make it. We we we'll tighten that belt and we'll do whatever it takes to pull through [music] this and we will make it. We're a good team.

594
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We uh we look out for one another. All and I'm not talking about this board of five or this staff. I'm talking about all of Putnham County. >> I think all of Putnham County looks out for each other. Really, they do. And um I think we'll make it. Might not be

595
02:46:22.960 --> 02:46:38.720
pretty, but I think we will make it. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. [music] >> Thank you. Um this has been a good discussion. Um not easy, but certainly a good discussion. Um we brought up some very good points here. I would encourage everybody in this room and everybody

596
02:46:38.720 --> 02:46:55.760
listening um we have on our web page under uh transparency we look forward to the next one and hopefully [music] we'll have a little bit more more numbers and directions at that time. Is there anything else to come Oh, I'm sorry. Administrator Suggs, did you have

597
02:46:55.760 --> 02:47:14.640
anything you wanted to just talk about? >> Hit the wrong button. Uh it's been a long day, hasn't it? >> Yes, sir. uh don't want to hold us anymore. But I would like to say one thing. I'd like to thank the folks that showed up today to have conversation from the public, >> you know, because that's we haven't had a lot of that honestly in the last eight

598
02:47:14.640 --> 02:47:29.200
or nine years. But today we did, you know, and I thought their their comments were very much on point. And take the opportunity. I called her the other night and I'll say it again today. uh your union president Monica Weaver who's sitting here today. Miss Weaver did a

599
02:47:29.200 --> 02:47:47.359
great job on supporting U5 and and and what we've done as far as a staff on what we've done with the budget over the last several years. So, uh I think that word is out there. I really do. And for those that that don't know, I'm sure there'll be some more conversation about it. But, you know, when you when you

600
02:47:47.359 --> 02:48:04.160
have those folks out there that are going to bat for you and talking about how you've done it right, not only in Tallahassee, but locally, I think that's very important. and we'll make the right decisions. We always have. We always will. And and and the last thing I'll say is I appreciate you five allowing

601
02:48:04.160 --> 02:48:20.080
my staff to have those honest conversations on the record in the public with you. Sometimes they're very direct, >> very blunt, but what they're always is very honest. And I think you five appreciate that because you know where they're coming from. It's a matter of

602
02:48:20.080 --> 02:48:36.240
speaking from the heart and speaking the truth. And so we'll we'll get through this. We will. Uh but uh but I think November is going to hold a different set of cards for all of us. We don't know what that is yet. Uh we've met with our local state official uh last week. Don't know if I appreciated some of the

603
02:48:36.240 --> 02:48:53.040
comments, but you know what? We'll deal with it and uh we always do and I think you guys said it right. We're we're a little different here in P County. We support each other. Y >> so I appreciate Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Thank you. Um before I adjourn, I do have item seven is public comment on miscellaneous items. So since it's on

604
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the agenda and this is a public meeting, is there anybody who wishes to come and speak on miscellaneous items? All right, hearing none, we go to adjourn this meeting. Y'all have a good day.