[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:05]
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING TO ORDER. OCTOBER THE 1ST. TIME IS 9 A.M. YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER MOORE. YES, MA'AM.
COMMISSIONER DOZIER. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER CARROLL. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER PIECE. YES, MA'AM. CHAIRMAN. HAM. YES MA'AM. THIS MORNING, OUR INVOCATION WILL BE LED BY PASTOR TONY T'S BEAR CREEK. YES SIR. AND OUR PLEDGE WILL BE, COMMISSIONER PEASE, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND? GOOD MORNING. IF YOU WOULD BOW YOUR HEADS IN REVERENCE WITH ME, PLEASE. FATHER GOD, IN HEAVEN, I COME BEFORE YOU WITH A HUMBLE HEART TODAY. LORD, JUST THANKING YOU FOR THE DAY THAT YOU'VE BLESSED US WITH GOD. THE GRACE AND THE MERCY AND THE LOVE. FATHER, WE ALL CAN ENCOUNTER TODAY BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR US. LORD, I THANK YOU FOR THIS GROUP OF MEN AND WOMEN, LORD, THAT YOU HAVE SET ABOVE US, OVER US, GOD, TO LEAD US, TO GUIDE US, LORD, TO PROTECT US.
GOD LEAD US INTO THE FUTURE. LORD, I PRAY BLESSINGS OVER THEM. I PRAY TODAY, LORD, YOU BLESS OUR TIME TOGETHER AS WE COME TOGETHER AS LEADERS AND CITIZENS. LORD, TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT IMPACT THE FUTURE OF OUR GREAT COUNTY LORD. AND I PRAY GOD THAT EVERYTHING WE SAY AND DO BRINGS YOU HONOR. AND LORD, I PRAY THAT YOU GIVE US WISDOM. FATHER, AND I ASK ALL THIS IN THE NAME OF JESUS, THE STRONG SON OF GOD. AMEN. AMEN I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE ANY ADDITIONS OR
[APPROVAL OF AGENDA (Additions or Deletions)]
DELETIONS? YES, SIR. MR. CHAIRMAN, I'VE HAD A REQUEST TO MOVE ITEM NUMBER FOUR FROM CONSENT TO REGULAR FOR FOUR. ANYTHING ELSE? NO, SIR. OKAY. CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA? MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND, HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL, COMMISSIONER CARROLL. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER MOORE. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER DOZIER. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER PIECE. YES. CHAIRMAN. HAM. YES, MA'AM, WE HAVE NO PRESENTATIONS THIS MORNING. PUBLIC COMMENT. THIS IS OPEN. THE FLOOR IS OPEN TO ANY ITEM ON THE AGENDA. IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO ANY ITEM ON THE AGENDA. ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE FLOOR AND[CONSENT AGENDA]
GO INTO CONSENT. MISTER MICA. YES, SIR. MISTER CHAIRMAN AND COMMISSIONERS. GOOD MORNING. ON YOUR CONSENT AGENDA TODAY UNDER THE CLERK'S OFFICE. ITEM ONE, REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES. AND CHECK REGISTER STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS. THE BOARD ACKNOWLEDGED RECEIPT OF THE REPORTS UNDER THE BUDGET OFFICE. ITEM TWO FY 2024 BUDGET AMENDMENT. STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS TO BOARD ADOPT A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2324 BUDGET. ITEM THREE SPECIAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TRUST FUND. STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS. THE BOARD APPROVED THE SHERIFF'S REQUEST FOR EXPENDITURE OF MONIES FROM THE SPECIAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TRUST FUND UNDER COLLABORATIVE SERVICES ITEM FOUR, ARTIFICIAL REEF CONSTRUCTION PROJECT AWARD THAT ITEM HAS BEEN MOVED TO REGULAR ITEM FIVE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE CONTRACT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA. STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS. THE BOARD APPROVED THE NEW MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, PROVIDING FOR COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICES, AND AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN TO SIGN THE NEW CONTRACT. ITEM SIX FDOT SERVICE DEVELOPMENT GRANT AMENDMENT. STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS. THE BOARD APPROVED THE ATTACHED RESOLUTION. AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN TO SIGN AND EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT FOR AN EXTENSION, AND ALLOW THE REMAINING UNOBLIGATED FUNDING TO BE ADDED TO THE FDOT SERVICE DEVELOPMENT GRANT. G TWO S 76. ITEM SEVEN 2425 SHIRLEY CONROY RURAL AREA CAPITAL ASSISTANCE GRANT. STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS. THE BOARD APPROVED THE ATTACHED RESOLUTION. AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN TO SIGN AND EXECUTE THE REQUEST FOR GRANT FUNDING FOR THE SHIRLEY CONROY RURAL AREA CAPITAL ASSISTANCE GRANT AGREEMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $64,048 UNDER COUNTY ATTORNEY ITEM EIGHT SALE OF EASEMENT TO OP VENTURES, LLC. STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS. THE BOARD APPROVED THE SALE OF COUNTY ABANDONED EASEMENTS TO OP VENTURES, LLC. ITEM NINE EXTENSION OF 2024 ASSESSMENT RULE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BOARD REVIEW AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE 24 AD VALOREM PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT RULE. ITEM TEN RATIFY DECLARATION OF LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR HURRICANE HELENE. STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS THE BOARD RATIFY THE BAY COUNTY DECLARATION OF STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR INVEST 97 L OR HURRICANE HELENE, SIGNED BY BY CHAIRMAN HAND ON SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2024. COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE ITEM 11 MEXICO BEACH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL APPOINTMENT CONFIRMATION STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS. THE BOARD REVIEW THE LETTER SUBMITTED BY THE MEXICO BEACH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AND APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF MISS GLORIA SANCHEZ FOR A TERM SET TO EXPIRE SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025. ITEM 12 BAY DEFENSE ALLIANCE LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR DEFENSE REINVESTMENT GRANT. STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS. THE BOARD APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN TO SIGN LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR BAY DEFENSE ALLIANCE TO ACCOMPANY THE DEFENSE REINVESTMENT GRANT APPLICATION UNDER EMERGENCY SERVICES. ITEM 13 EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND ASSISTANCE GRANT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS. THE BOARD AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN SIGN THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PREPAREDNESS AND ASSISTANCE GRANT, AND AUTHORIZE STAFF TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUESTED SCOPE OF WORK. CHAIRMAN, THAT IS YOUR CONSENT AGENDA THIS MORNING. AND STAFF RESPECTFULLY REQUEST A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. MOTION TO MOVE CONSENT. SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER DOZIER. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER CARROLL. YES, MA'AM.[00:05:01]
COMMISSIONER MOORE. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER PIECE. YES, MA'AM. CHAIRMAN. HAMM. YES, MA'AM.[Collaborative Services]
ALRIGHTY. NEXT. WE'LL GO INTO REGULAR AGENDA. WE'LL START WITH NUMBER FOUR. ARTIFICIAL REEF CONSTRUCTION PROJECT AWARD. YES. MR. CHAIRMAN, I'D ASK FOR THIS. THIS ITEM TO BE PULLED FROM CONSENT TO REGULAR. AND I'D ASKED, SCOTT JACKSON FROM OUR EXTENSION OFFICE IS GOING TO SPEAK TO IT AND JUST GIVE US SOME INFORMATION. I BELIEVE THIS IS A VERY POSITIVE MOVE. AND JUST WANTED TO, TO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT IT. SO SCOTT, CHANTELLE AND WITH ME TODAY IS ALSO CHANTEL WEBBER, OUR COASTAL RESOURCES COORDINATOR FOR BAY COUNTY. WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC, ACTION HERE. I DO WANT TO NOTE THERE WAS A TYPO IN THE AGENDA AT THE TOP. IT SAYS WEEKS MARINE, AND IT SHOULD BE WALTER MARINE. AND THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS, IT TALKS ABOUT WALTER MARINE. SO I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. I SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT THAT A LITTLE EARLIER. ALL RIGHT. OKAY WELL, I JUST WANTED TO, ASK AND DISCUSS THE FACT THAT THIS IS A COULD YOU TALK TO US ABOUT. THIS IS A CONSTRUCTION AND DEPLOYMENT OPERATION. IS THAT IS THAT CORRECT? YES. WALTER. MARINE WILL, CONSTRUCT THE, SUPER REEFS ON THEIR PROPERTY AND THEN ACTUALLY DEPLOY THOSE IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT TRIPS OUT INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO AT 30 DIFFERENT SITES IN LARS B SO THAT WILL BE IN FEDERAL WATERS, PRETTY FAR OUT, USUALLY USED BY LARGER BOATS. AND FOR OUR CHARTER FISHERMEN. SO 30 BRAND NEW SUPER REEFS ARE GOING TO BE DEPLOYED AND IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. AND IT'S AND YOU SPOKE TO A NUMBER OF FISHERMEN IN THE AREA TO PICK THOSE AREAS. IS THAT CORRECT? YES. AND SHANTEL, DID YOU WANT TO TELL THEM A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW WE CAME UP WITH THOSE SITES? OH, SURE. SO I ACTUALLY WORKED WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS TO DO THE MAPPING. SINCE I MANAGE THE CARTOGRAPHY FOR THE COUNTY, BUT I HAD A LARGE HAND IN IT AND HELPING US ESTABLISH THESE FISHING SITES, AND THEY'RE LAID OUT IN A CHECKERBOARD PATTERN. SO FOR THOSE WHO GO OUT TO THE LARS B SITE REGULARLY, YOU'VE GOT SOME REEFS THAT ARE MORE NORTHERLY, BUT THEN IT GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE SOUTHERN PORTION, SO THAT ENTIRE TRIANGLE IS COVERED, THEY'RE SPACED OUT APPROXIMATELY A MILE APART DOWN THE WESTERN BORDER. AND THEN DEPENDING ON THE MID LENGTHS, IT MIGHT BE 2 TO 3 MILES THEREAFTER. BUT IT'S GOING TO HELP KIND OF DISPEL ANY SORT OF MORTALITY SINK THAT MIGHT FORM. THAT WAY. THE SITES ARE INDEPENDENT AND THERE'S A, YOU KNOW, THE RELIEF FOR EACH SITE IS GREATER THAN THAN SOMETHING IN STATE WATERS. AND BECAUSE THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE JUST BECAUSE WE SAY THEY'RE ALL SUPER REEFS, SOME OF THEM WILL ACTUALLY HAVE STRUCTURES THAT GO UP INTO THE WATER COLUMN TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF FISH THAT WE SEE. THE DIFFERENT CREATE A DIVERSITY OF SPECIES THAT WE WOULD SEE. AND SO WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING OUT THERE. SO IF IT'S NOT SNAPPER SEASON, YOU STILL HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO GO FISHING FOR WHAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE TO YOU. AND WE ALSO WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FISHERMEN WERE GETTING THE MOST OUT OF THESE REEFS. SO ALL OF THEM, REGARDLESS OF THE AMBERJACK POLL, HAVE THE ECODISC NESTED INSIDE JUST FOR MORE COMPLEXITY. YEAH, I THINK AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW OUR ARTIFICIAL REEF SYSTEM THROUGHOUT THE AREA, IT THIS IS THIS IS A VERY POSITIVE MOVE. WE APPRECIATE THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE PUTTING ALL THIS TOGETHER. WE KNOW IT'S A LONG PROCESS TO DO THE PERMITTING AND DO ALL OF THE, THE OTHER JUMP THROUGH ALL THE OTHER HOOPS THAT ARE REQUIRED. THIS IS GOING TO BENEFIT THE DIVERS IN THE AREA AS WELL AS THE FISHERMEN. IS THAT YOU TALK ABOUT THAT. THESE SITES ARE PRIMARILY FOR THE FISHING COMMUNITY, PRIMARILY FISHING. OKAY, TECHNICAL DIVERS CAN REACH THE REEFS, BUT THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE ON A TRIMIX GAS. IT'S. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THE SITES FOR RECREATIONAL DIVERS. OKAY, BUT WE KEEP ALL THE TOURNAMENT. YEAH, YEAH, WE KEEP ALL. SORRY, WE KEEP ALL USER GROUPS IN MIND AS WE GO THROUGH. YOU'LL SEE THAT WE TRY TO TOUCH EVERYBODY WE KNOW SOMETIMES WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB BECAUSE WE HEAR FROM EVERYONE. SO IT'S EXCITING TO HAVE THIS AS PART OF OUR PACKAGE THAT WE OFFER BAY COUNTY, BOTH OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR PEOPLE THAT COME HERE TO, TO VISIT US AND USE A CHARTER FISHING OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE.WELL, I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU ALL HAVE DONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE HAD ONE QUESTION? I THINK I'D SEND OUT SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE 15 MILLION THAT WAS GIVEN TO MONROE COUNTY. AND I WAS WONDERING IF YOU ALL HAVE SOME AVENUES OF TRYING TO GET SOME OF THAT TYPE BIG GRANT MONEY AND MAYBE YOU COULD EXPAND ON THAT A LITTLE BIT. SO EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT YOU'RE HOW YOU'RE WORKING TOWARDS GETTING THESE. I MEAN, THIS IS, BIG FOR MONROE COUNTY.
THEY HADN'T BUILT ANY REEFS IN A LONG TIME, BUT IT'S A PRETTY, PRETTY GOOD CHUNK OF CHANGE. AND
[00:10:04]
I'M JUST WONDERING HOW YOU ALL GO ABOUT TRYING TO GET THAT. DO YOU WANT ME TO START OR DO YOU WANT TO START? I THINK I THINK WE SHOULDN'T LUMP OURSELVES IN WITH MONROE COUNTY BECAUSE THEY'RE ENTIRELY UNIQUE. YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE FLORIDA KEYS, WHICH IS A NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY. WE DON'T HAVE THAT HERE. THERE ARE THERE'S A LOT OF CONTENTION RIGHT NOW IN MONROE COUNTY, A BIG PART OF THE FUNDING THAT WAS BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION IS TO HELP GET THEIR ARTIFICIAL REEF PROGRAM OFF THE GROUND, FOR, FOR OBVIOUS REASONS, THOSE THAT SUPPORT NATURAL REEFS DO NOT WANT ARTIFICIAL REEFS IN THE REGION. AND SO I CAN UNDERSTAND YOUR PERSPECTIVE, BUT IT DOESN'T RELATE TO WHAT WE'RE DOING BECAUSE THERE'S UNCONSOLIDATED SAND BOTTOM HERE IN THE NORTH. SO WE DON'T HAVE THESE NATURAL OUTCROPPINGS THE SAME WAY AS SOUTH FLORIDA. WE ARE MORE STRATEGIC IN PUTTING ARTIFICIAL REEF MATERIALS OUT JUST BECAUSE IT'S ADDING HABITAT TO AN AREA WHERE IT'S TYPICALLY BARREN. SO IF WE WERE TO APPLY, I WOULD SAY TRIUMPH FUNDS ARE A GREAT POT TO STRIVE TOWARDS. AND I'M NOT SPECIFICALLY SAYING THAT WE'RE BUILDING THE SAME TYPE OF REEFS AND WHAT WAY THAT THEY ARE DIFFERENT, BUT I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF WE WERE GOING AFTER THAT TYPE OF GRANT MONEY FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE, OR WE ARE AND WE'RE LOOKING AND IF NOT, CAN WE HELP IN ANY WAY? SURE. AND I WOULD SAY THE COMMISSION, SOME OF THAT EXTRA MONEY, THAT WAS ALL. YEAH. WE APPRECIATE YOUR HELP AND WE NEED YOUR HELP AND WE'LL HAVE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FUTURE. WE'VE GOT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE PUTTING ON THE AGENDA FOR NEXT TIME, AND WE CAN SPEAK MORE TOWARD WHAT SOME OF THE REGIONAL EFFORTS MIGHT LOOK LIKE TO GET SOME OF THOSE LARGER PARTS OF THE MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THROUGH SOME OF THE RETIRED MILITARY VESSELS THAT ARE AVAILABLE, IT IS A COMPLEX PROCESS THAT, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE, LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP AT BOTH THE FEDERAL STATE AND ALSO AT YOUR LEVEL, YOU KNOW, THE, YOU CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE BECAUSE OF YOUR TIES TO, TO BAY COUNTY AND SUPPORTING THESE TYPES OF ACTIONS TO HELP US GET THROUGH SOME OF THE HURDLES AND GET THROUGH SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO THAT HAVE BEEN SET UP, BUT SO FAR HAVEN'T BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE IN PROVIDING THESE TYPES OF SHIPS. AND THESE TYPES OF RESOURCES TO BAY COUNTY AND SO, YES. AND IT'S IN THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. IT MAY NOT BE $15 MILLION, BUT IT'S IN THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE POTENTIALLY AVAILABLE. AND WE KNOW THAT WE CAN WORK WELL TOGETHER ACROSS, REGIONS LIKE WE DID WITH THE DEEP STEM AND PARTNERING WITH OKALOOSA AND WALTON COUNTIES. BUT WE WANT TO BRING THESE THINGS BACK TO BAY COUNTY. AND SO, THROUGH THESE EFFORTS, WE CAN DO THAT WITH YOUR HELP. AND THERE'S A HUGE COALITION OF JUST REGULAR RECREATIONAL FISHERMEN THAT I KNOW WOULD LOVE TO SEND LETTERS, GET BEHIND IF YOU COULD JUST POINT THEM, YOU KNOW, IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. SO I WOULD LOVE TO TRY TO HELP YOU ALL TRY TO GET AS MUCH MONEY AS POSSIBLE FOR. YEAH WE HAVE USED THOSE. WE HAVE USED THOSE LETTERS OF SUPPORT AND SPEAKING TO SOME OF OUR LEGISLATIVE LEADERS. AND IN WASHINGTON, YOU KNOW, NOT ASKING FOR MONEY AT THIS POINT, BUT ASKING FOR HELP IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING US THE A FAIR SHAKE WHEN WE COME TO, TO MEET WITH DOT AND OTHER PLACES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR WORK. WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL. THANK YOU. LASTLY, TWO, I'D LIKE TO COMMEND YOU GUYS ON WHAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE. I KNOW WE'VE CAME LEAPS AND BOUNDS IN THE LAST YEARS WITH OUR ARTIFICIAL REEF PROGRAM. THAT WAS SOMETHING I WAS VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT WHEN I FIRST CAME ON BOARD, AND I'VE HELPED AS BEST I COULD TO PUSH AND MAKE THOSE PHONE CALLS AND STUFF THAT YOU HAD MENTIONED BEFORE, AND BEING ABLE TO SPREAD THIS OUT BETWEEN LARS AND SARS, LIKE YOU SAID, WE'RE WE'RE WE'RE WE'RE TRYING TO APPEASE DIFFERENT GROUPS OF, OF PEOPLE, COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN, RECREATIONAL FISHERMEN, THE DAY TRIPPERS THAT COME DOWN AND PULL THEIR BOAT WITH THEM, ALL THOSE KIND OF THINGS. AND, AND AS BILL MENTIONED, THE TIME FACTOR, THIS TAKES A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TIME AS, WE CAN AS I'VE LEARNED, PERMITS CAN BE A YEAR, MAYBE TWO. AND THEN SO YOU SPEND ALL THIS TIME AND PERMITTING AND THEN THE PHASE OF DEPLOYMENT COMES AFTER THAT. AND SO IT COMES IN CYCLES. SO IT'S, AND WE'RE IN THE DEPLOYMENT CYCLE RIGHT NOW. SO THE FRUITS OF THE LABOR FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW, JUST TO TRY TO, I GUESS, EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE HOW THIS HAPPENS. AND IT DOESN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES LIKE THIS, SOME AGENCIES CAN BE VERY TOUCHY AND HARD TO DEAL WITH.AND SOMETIMES THERE'S A LACK OF COMMON SENSE, BUT ANYWAY, I DO APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE, TO PUSH THIS ALONG AND, AND WE GOT WE CONTINUE TO JUST YOU KNOW, CONTINUE THE PATH
[00:15:08]
WE'RE DOING. WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB WITH IT. WE'RE JUST WE'RE MILES AHEAD OF WHERE WE WERE FIVE, SIX, SEVEN YEARS AGO. WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? NO. ALL RIGHT. CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE? MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. COMMISSIONER DOZIER. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER CARROLL. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER MOORE. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER PIECE. YES.CHAIRMAN. HAND. YES MA'AM. ALL RIGHT. NEXT. WE'LL GO INTO NUMBER 14. THE CRA INTERLOCAL
[County Manager’s Office]
AGREEMENT. YES, SIR. MR. CHAIRMAN, STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS. THE BOARD APPROVED THE CRA INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN BAY COUNTY AND THE CITY OF PANAMA CITY BEACH, JUST TO POINT OUT A COUPLE OF BULLET POINTS ON THIS AGREEMENT. THIS AGREEMENT WOULD SET THE TAX INCREMENT FUNDING LIMIT, THE WAY THAT THAT RATE IS CALCULATED AT THE OLD MILLAGE RATE OF 4.362 MILLS, THE TIF IN ANY GIVEN YEAR WOULD BE CAPPED AT $30 MILLION. AND ONCE IT REACHES THAT $30 MILLION, IT WOULD BE SUBJECT TO A 1% INCREASE EVERY YEAR. AFTER THAT, THE TIF IS OVER THE 30 MILLION, THE TIF MAY BE SPENT FOR ANY PURPOSE CONSISTENT WITH STATE LAW, THE AGREEMENT ESTABLISHES A WORKING GROUP AT THE STAFF LEVEL FOR CITY AND COUNTY STAFF TO GET TOGETHER AND WORK THROUGH ANY ISSUES. THERE MAY OR MAY NOT BE WITH THE CRA, PRIOR TO THAT, HAVING TO ENTER INTO THE CONFLICT RESOLUTION PROCESS UNDER STATE STATUTE, THE CITY WOULD PREPARE A NEAR TERM WORK PLAN EACH YEAR. WE'VE ALREADY THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE SINCE OH FIVE, BUT THAT PLAN WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE COUNTY, WHICH SERVES TO COMPLY WITH NEW STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS UNDER CRA STATUTES. THE TERM OF THE AGREEMENT IS NINE YEARS. IT AUTOMATICALLY RENEWS AND IN THE EVENT EITHER PARTY WANTS TO TERMINATE THAT AGREEMENT, WE WOULD HAVE 180 DAYS TO WORK TO PUT A TERMINATION PLAN TOGETHER, SOMETHING ELSE TO NOTE THAT THE CRA CONTINUES TO GROW AT THE RATE THAT THE MODEL PROJECTS. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE AVOIDANCE OF ALMOST 2.7 BILLION. THAT'S WITH AB2 POINT $7 BILLION IN TAX REVENUE, BEING COLLECTED FROM THE PUBLIC. SO YOU KNOW, SET UP FOR THOSE FUNDS TO, FOR FUTURE COMMISSIONS TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH THOSE FUNDS, CUTTING TAXES, NOT COLLECTING THEM, AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. SO CERTAINLY APPRECIATE DREW WHITMAN AND HIS TEAM, HOLLY WHITE, THE CITY STAFF, MR. DAVIS OUT THERE, THEIR ATTORNEY WORKING WITH US, THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING. TO FOR YOU TODAY FOR COMMENT AND CONSIDERATION. AND STAFF WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU APPROVE IT AND AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT. OKAY COMMENTS. YEAH, ROBERT, JUST A FEW. THIS HAS DEFINITELY BEEN, A WORK IN PROGRESS, DEFINITELY WANT TO THANK DREW AND HOLLY AND ALL THEIR TEAM, THEIR ATTORNEYS, OUR ATTORNEYS, OUR STAFF, EVERYONE THAT HAS TOUCHED THIS, THERE WERE SOME PUSH AND PULL, BUT I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS THIS IS GREAT FOR PANAMA CITY BEACH. THIS IS GREAT FOR BAY COUNTY. THIS IS GOING TO HELP, TO HELP SUPPORT EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE TO PROVIDE TO THE BEACH. SO ALL IN ALL, THIS IS A BETTER AGREEMENT THAN WHAT'S CURRENTLY IN PLACE. AND I'M GLAD IT CAME TO FRUITION. THANK YOU.OKAY CERTAINLY. I CERTAINLY AGREE WITH THAT, THIS IS, THIS AGREEMENT WILL BENEFIT BAY COUNTY AS WELL AS PANAMA CITY BEACH AND CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE, ALL THE WORK THAT'S GONE INTO IT. THIS IS THIS IS THE END OF AN EFFORT THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME. PANAMA CITY BEACH IS, THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE CONTINUING TO WORK ON THE ROADS OUT THERE WITH THIS AGREEMENT, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THAT AND COMPLETE THEIR PROJECTS AND, WE'RE JUST WE'RE GLAD THAT WE'RE ABLE TO MOVE IN THIS DIRECTION AND COME TO A GOOD AGREEMENT WITH PANAMA CITY BEACH. EVERYBODY WILL BE BENEFITED FROM THIS, I KNOW WE BEFORE I GOT ON, I KNOW SOME OF Y'ALL WERE HERE IN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY WORKED ON SOMETHING RIGHT AFTER HURRICANE MICHAEL TO TRY TO WORK ON IT. I'M GLAD AND AGAIN, APPRECIATE, CITY STAFF AND COUNTY STAFF FOR WORKING TOGETHER TO GET THIS ADDRESSED, ONE OF THE KEYS FOR ME WAS THAT WE PUT A CAP IN THERE. THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD WOULD ALLOW US TO KNOW AND QUANTIFY WORKING WITH MIRANDA AND HER GROUP. JUST ASKING THEM QUESTIONS OF GETTING COMFORTABLE WITH IT FROM THAT STANDPOINT OF KNOWING, KIND OF QUANTIFYING FOR US ON THE COUNTY SIDE THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES WE NEED TO DO WHILE ALSO MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS THAT THE CITY NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO COMPLETE WHAT THIS WAS BEGUN FOR, I, YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS THE BEST OF A SITUATION THAT, YOU KNOW, 20, 30 YEARS AGO, WHAT WAS IT, 22,003? SO 20 YEARS AGO NOW, 21, YOU KNOW, OF WHAT GOT
[00:20:05]
PUT INTO PLACE, I'M APPRECIATIVE OF EVERYBODY JUST I KNOW SOME NERVES GOT FRAYED THERE FROM TIME TO TIME, BUT I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY STAYING LEANING INTO IT AND GETTING US TO THIS POINT WHERE THE CITY HAS VOTED ON IT, AND NOW WE'RE VOTING ON IT TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS PUT THIS TO BED FOR A WHILE AND BE ABLE TO GIVE SOME CONSISTENCY TO BOTH PARTIES, KNOWING WHAT THEY'VE GOT GOING FORWARD, JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, HAD TO GO UP ON THE MILLAGE RATE. WE PROMISED THAT WE WERE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON, EFFORTS TO KEEP THIS MILLAGE RATE LOW AND NOT TO HAVE TO RAISE IT AGAIN. AND THIS WAS ONE OF THE THINGS WE PROMISED. AND WE HAVE, I CERTAINLY HAVE FRAYED SOME NERVES, I'M SURE, BUT I THINK WITH EVERYONE'S EFFORT, MIRANDA CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR DOING 900 SPREADSHEETS FOR ME AND SHOWING ME EVERY, EVERY KIND OF WAY THERE WAS TO TRY TO GET THIS DONE AND APPRECIATE ALL THE INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS WITH EVERYBODY AT THE BEACH. I KNOW THAT NO ONE REALLY THOROUGHLY UNDERSTOOD WHAT WHAT WE COULD DO IF WE IF WE WERE ABLE TO GET THIS CORRECTED. BUT THE BEACH IS STILL GOING TO HAVE OVER $1 BILLION TO DO THEIR ROADS. AND THE ROADS. NOT ONE PROJECT WAS TAKEN OFF OF THE OF THE LIST, AND THEY'RE GETTING THE MAINTENANCE TO KEEP THE ROADS UP AND TO KEEP EVERYTHING, IN TIP TOP SHAPE AT THE BEACH, WHICH IS WHAT WE ALL WANTED. BUT WE ARE ALSO GOING TO BE ABLE TO SAVE THAT $2.7 BILLION. TO USE TOWARD PUBLIC SAFETY. AND, AND EVENTUALLY GETTING THE MILLAGE RATE DOWN. I BELIEVE, IN, IN THE FUTURE. SO, WE PROMISED THAT WE WERE GOING TO STAY AFTER IT. AND I BELIEVE THAT WE WE'VE DONE THAT TODAY. AND I'M SO PROUD OF EVERYBODY UP HERE AND PROUD OF EVERYBODY AT THE BEACH FOR PUTTING UP WITH ME. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL EVERYBODY GETTING IT DONE. YEAH. I JUST WANT TO ECHO A LOT OF THE SAME COMMENTS. I KNOW GOOD AND WELL, I HAD SOME NERVES, SO BUT THERE WAS NO IFS, ANDS OR BUTS ABOUT THAT ONE, BUT WE ACCOMPLISHED, AS A GROUP, SOMETHING I'VE BEEN WANTING TO DO EVER SINCE I STEPPED ON THIS BOARD WAS TO, SOMEHOW CAP THE CRA TO HAVE IT WHERE WE CAN FORECAST IT. AS DOUG SAID, WE IT WAS A, A VERY FLUID MOVING TARGET THAT WE HAD TO DEAL WITH. AND DOING THIS, IS VERY GOOD. AND I WHOLEHEARTEDLY COMMEND THE BEACH THERE. THE CITY OF THE CITY STAFF, THE CITY OFFICIALS FOR BEING ABLE TO COME TOGETHER WITH THE SAME MINDSET THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO HAVE IN THE PAST, THIS IS, INCREDIBLY HUGE FOR BAY COUNTY. WHETHER YOU REALIZE THIS OR NOT, THIS IS GENERATIONAL TYPES OF CHANGES THAT WE ARE MAKING TO OUR COMMUNITY, LONG AFTER WE'RE GONE, THERE'S THIS TYPE OF THESE TYPE OF THINGS, WE HAVE SET IN PLACE TODAY, AND AS BOB MENTIONED, WE'RE WE'RE LOOKING AT 2.7 BILLION WITH A B BILLION DOLLARS TO THE TO THE, THE, THE, CRA SUNSETS. THIS IS GOING TO BE THE LARGEST TAX SAVINGS IN THE HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY. AND IT'S UP TO THE FUTURE BOARDS, YOU KNOW, CAN YOU KEEP IT? CAN YOU KEEP IT THIS WAY. BECAUSE THE FUTURE BOARDS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THIS AGREEMENT GOING. BUT IT WAS OUR INTENT, AND MY INTENT AND STAFF'S THAT THIS $2.7 BILLION NEVER GETS INTO THE HANDS OF GOVERNMENT. IT STAYS IN YOUR POCKET. THAT'S WHERE IT BELONGS. SO I THINK WE HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB ON THIS. I KNOW MISS MIRANDA HAS BEEN, I TO PINGED ON HER FOR, NUMBERS AND, SPREADSHEETS AND KIND OF THE WAY IT WAS KIND OF FUN. AND IN MY, IN MY NERDY WAY OF DOING IT, I'M KIND OF I'M NOT AS A SPREADSHEET AS MUCH AS ROBERT, BUT, I DON'T KNOW OF ANYBODY UP HERE. THAT'S MORE THAN ROBERT. OF COURSE, I'M NOT AN ENGINEER EITHER, BUT ANYWAY, IT'S THIS IS JUST. THIS IS HUGE. I AM SO I'M SO PROUD OF THIS MOMENT, THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO THIS, AND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY IS JUST UNFATHOMABLE. THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP OFF OF GOVERNMENT BUDGET, WITH THAT, I HAVE NOTHING ELSE.[00:25:06]
SO IF SOMEONE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION, I'LL MAKE A MOTION. ALL RIGHT. SECOND, HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER PIECE. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER MOORE. YES, MA'AM.COMMISSIONER DOZIER. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER. CAROL. YES, MA'AM. CHAIRMAN. HAM YES, MA'AM. ALL
[Public Works]
RIGHT. NEXT, I HAVE SOME PUBLIC WORKS ITEMS. GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN. JUST REAL QUICK. I'M GOING TO RECUSE FROM ALL THREE OF THESE ITEMS. TWO OF THEM, I DON'T MY BUSINESS DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THEM. BUT WE DO WORK FOR THE APPLICANT. AND THE LAST ONE, WE WORKED ON THAT PROJECT, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. SO JUST ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION. I'M GOING TO ABSTAIN FROM THESE THREE ITEMS. OKAY ALL RIGHT, KEITH, FLOOR'S ALL YOURS, SIR. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MISS BRIDGET PRECISE OF THE SAINT JOE COMPANY IS REQUESTING FINAL APPROVAL FOR THE PLAT OF WARD CREEK. PHASE TWO A, THE SUBDIVISION HAS 121 RESIDENTIAL LOTS WITH 0.71 MILES OF PRIVATE ROADWAY. THE STORMWATER FACILITIES, DRAINAGE, UTILITY EASEMENTS, AND COMMON AREAS WILL REMAIN PRIVATE. THE DEVELOPMENT WAS REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE PLANNING AND ZONING ON AUGUST 29TH, 2003. THE SUBDIVISION PLAT IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF CHAPTER 177 .071 OF FLORIDA STATUTES AND BAY COUNTY REGULATIONS. THE DEVELOPER HAS PROVIDED A PERFORMANCE BOND FOR THE PRIVATE ROAD DRAINAGE, WATER AND SEWER IMPROVEMENTS. THE REQUESTED MOTION IS A APPROVE THE FINAL PLAT FOR WARD CREEK PHASE TWO A AND B AUTHORIZED STAFF TO RECORD THE DEVELOPMENT PERFORMANCE BOND WITH THE CLERK OF COURT. ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS FOR KEITH? ALL RIGHT. GOOD DEAL. SECOND AND A SECOND. PLEASE. CALL THE ROLL COMMISSIONER.PEACE. YES. COMMISSIONER MOORE. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER DOZIER. YES, MA'AM. CHAIRMAN. HAM. YES, MA'AM. AND COMMISSIONER CARROLL STAYS AT NUMBER 16, WARD CREEK, PHASE TWO. B PLAT APPROVAL. YES, SIR, MISS BRIDGET PRECISE OF SAINT JOE COMPANY IS ALSO REQUESTING FINAL APPROVAL FOR PLAT OF WARD CREEK. PHASE TWO B THE SUBDIVISION HAS 104 RESIDENTIAL LOTS WITH 0.62 MILES OF PRIVATE ROADWAY. THE STORMWATER FACILITIES, DRAINAGE, UTILITY EASEMENTS AND COMMON AREAS ARE ALSO PRIVATE. THE DEVELOPMENT WAS REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE PLANNING AND ZONING ON AUGUST 29TH, 2003. THE SUBDIVISION PLAT IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH REQUIREMENTS OF CHAPTER 177 .071 OF FLORIDA STATUTES AND BAY COUNTY REGULATIONS. THE DEVELOPER HAS PROVIDED A PERFORMANCE BOND FOR THE PRIVATE ROAD, DRAINAGE, WATER AND SEWER IMPROVEMENTS.
THE REQUESTED MOTION IS A APPROVE. THE FINAL PLAT FOR WARD CREEK PHASE TWO B AND BE AUTHORIZED STAFF TO RECORD THE DEVELOPMENT, DEVELOPMENT PERFORMANCE BOND WITH THE CLERK OF COURT. ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS ONE? NO. NO MOTION. SECOND. A MOTION AND A SECOND. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER MOORE. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER DOZIER. YES, MA'AM.
COMMISSIONER. PEACE. YES, MA'AM. CHAIRMAN. HAM. YES, MA'AM. AND COMMISSIONER CARROLL ABSTAINS.
ALL RIGHT. WE'LL GO INTO NUMBER 17. ALLISON, POINT PLAT APPROVAL. THANK YOU. SIR AND FINALLY, BARBARA DARBY IS REQUESTING FINAL APPROVAL FOR THE PLAT OF ALLISON POINT. THE SUBDIVISION CONSISTS OF NINE RESIDENTIAL LOTS ON EXISTING DEDICATED PUBLIC ROADWAYS. THAT WOULD BE LAIRD STREET AND ALLISON AVENUE. THE DRAINAGE EASEMENTS UTILITY EASEMENT ON ALICE AVENUE AND STORMWATER FACILITY ARE ALL PRIVATE. THE DEVELOPMENT WAS REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE PLANNING AND ZONING ON NOVEMBER 9TH, 2021. THE SUBDIVISION PLAT IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH REQUIREMENTS OF CHAPTER 177.01 OF FLORIDA STATUTE AND BAY COUNTY REGULATIONS. THE REQUESTED MOTION IS BOARD APPROVED. THE FINAL PLAT FOR THE ALLISON POINTE. ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS ONE? NOPE. I'M GOOD TO. MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. I'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. COMMISSIONER DOZIER. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER PIECE. YES, COMMISSIONER. MOORE. YES, MA'AM. CHAIRMAN. HAMM. YES, MA'AM. AND COMMISSIONER CARROLL ABSTAINS.
[PUBLIC HEARING]
ALL RIGHT. EXCUSE ME, NEXT, WE'RE GOING TO PUBLIC HEARING. NOW, THE FLOOR WILL BE OPEN TO ANY ITEM THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK OF, WHETHER YOU THINK BAY COUNTY HAS JURISDICTION OVER IT OR NOT. WE'LL BE GLAD TO LISTEN TO YOU. DOES ANYBODY LIKE TO SPEAK? YES YEAH. IF YOU CAN NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS SHANTEL WEBBER. MY ADDRESS IS TWO, THREE, FIVE, FIVE. FOXWORTH DRIVE, PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA. AND I WANTED TO ANSWER COMMISSIONER P'S QUESTION ABOUT FINDING MORE FUNDING. WHEN SCOTT AND I WERE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF GETTING PHASE ONE OF THE SEWER PROJECT COMPLETE, IT CAME TO THE ATTENTION OF BAY COUNTY PURCHASING, WHICH DON BANKS HELPED WITH IN WAY OF MAKING SURE THAT OUR VENDOR HAD TO GET A SURETY BOND, A PERFORMANCE BOND. ARTIFICIAL REEFS HAVE BEEN RECLASSIFIED AS A PUBLIC WORK, AND SO IT APPLIES WHEN YOU GET STATE FUNDED PROJECTS, SPECIFICALLY NERDY. AND MY THOUGHT IS IN THE FUTURE[00:30:07]
WHEN WE APPLY FOR GRANTS AND WE'RE ABLE TO USE THESE FUNDS THAT HAVE TRICKLED DOWN FROM THE BP OIL SPILL, WHY COULDN'T WE REALLOCATE SOME MONEY OUT OF PUBLIC WORKS TO SUPPORT AND LEVERAGE OUR ARTIFICIAL REEFS IN THE FUTURE? AND THAT'S JUST A THOUGHT. IT'S FLORIDA STATUTE 255 .05 IF YOU'D LIKE TO TAKE A LOOK. .05. AND THAT WAS IT. I APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANYBODY ELSE? NO. OKAY. SEEING NONE, WE'LL, WE'LL CLOSE THE FLOOR. COUNTY ATTORNEY'S[COUNTY MANAGER REPORT]
REPORT. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. OKAY. COUNTY MANAGER. YES, SIR. MR. CHAIRMAN, JUST BRIEFLY, I'D LIKE TO EXTEND A JOB WELL DONE TO CHIEF LINDY WIRTH AND HIS STAFF FOR RECENT ACTIVATION AT THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER, AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF SENIOR STAFF THAT MAKE UP THE INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM. FOLKS LIKE KEITH BRYANT. VALERIE SALLE AND HER TEAM, AND MIRANDA AND DON MURRAY, WHO WERE ALL THERE. YOU KNOW, WISHED THE BEST FOR THOSE FOLKS AROUND US THAT GOT IMPACTED. WE HAVE SEVERAL OF OUR PERSONNEL WHO HAVE BEEN ASKED TO RESPOND INTO OTHER PARTS OF FLORIDA TO ASSIST, AND WE STAND READY TO. OFFER, BUT THEY DID. THEY DID A GREAT JOB. AND, IT'S ALWAYS IT'S NICE TO SEE THING WORK AND PEOPLE WORK TOGETHER. AND WHILE THINGS ARE NEVER PERFECT, THE STAFF CONTINUES TO DO A GREAT JOB. GOOD DEAL. YES. ALL RIGHT. INTO COMMISSIONER[CHAIRMAN & COMMISSIONER COMMENTS]
COMMENTS, I GUESS WE'LL START WITH LADIES FIRST THIS MORNING. I'D LIKE TO ANYTHING TO SAY, JUST WANTED TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE OLD PATHS. I, BILL DOZIER HAS SPEARHEADED THIS FOR A LONG TIME AND HAS DONE A SUPERIOR JOB TRYING TO GET THIS THING PUSHED ALONG. I FEEL LIKE, I WOULD LOVE TO GET, SOMEONE TO COME UP AND DO A COMPLETE, YOU KNOW, PROCESS OF TELLING US WHERE WE ARE SO THAT EVERYONE CAN FIND OUT. I GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS, AS I'M SURE YOU DO, ABOUT WANTING TO KNOW IF THE THING HAS STALLED, IF IT'S, YOU KNOW, ARE WE REALLY BEHIND IT? THERE'S ALL OF THE COMMISSION REALLY WANT IT, OR ARE WE PUSHING EVERYBODY WE CAN PUSH? I THINK ONE OF THE MAIN QUESTIONS I GET IS, WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH BUILDING THE JETTIES? AND I HONESTLY CAN'T TELL THEM I'M NOT, BUT I SHOULD BE ABLE TO TELL THEM. WHY CAN'T WE PUT THE JETTIES? THE EXAMPLE THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME. IF THE JETTIES ARE SO BAD, THEN MAYBE WE SHOULD TAKE THE ONES UP THAT WE HAVE. AND SO THAT WAS SORT OF FRIGHTENING TO EVEN HEAR THAT SUGGESTION. BUT I ASKED THE SAME QUESTION. WHAT? YOU KNOW, WE'RE WE'RE CONCERNED WITH THE JETTY CLOSING BACK IN AND THE, THE MONETARY PROBLEMS. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE BY KEEPING IT DREDGED OUT. AND, YOU KNOW, LONG TERM MAINTENANCE ON IT, NOT TO MENTION THE COST OF GETTING IT BUILT TO BEGIN WITH. BUT WHY CAN'T WE PUT THE JETTIES? AND I THINK THAT WE NEED, PUT IN A SITUATION WITH SOMEBODY THAT CAN REALLY EXPLAIN THAT OTHER THAN JUST SAYING, WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A FRIENDLY TO SOMETHING. I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT IS. OF COURSE IT'S GOING TO MOVE SAND AROUND A LITTLE BIT, BUT THAT'S WHAT OUR JETTY DOES NOW. AND IT DOESN'T, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME AND IT STAYED OPEN. AND IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT IT STAYED OPEN.AND I THINK THAT IF WE DON'T PUSH, HARD IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND GIVE OUR STAFF MAYBE MORE OF OUR, OUR BACKBONE, THEN THE THING COULD FALL TO THE WAYSIDE. I THINK THAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT US, NOT GETTING IN FRONT OF THE RIGHT PEOPLE. I'M NOT SURE WHO THEY ARE, STATE OR FEDERAL, BUT I THINK THAT WE NEED TO GATHER, THE SOLDIERS ON THIS. I THINK THAT BAY IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE GET THAT BAY WASHED OUT AND CLEANED OUT AND CONTINUOUSLY, TAKEN CARE OF. AND WE NEED TO FIND OUT. WE NEED TO GET TO THE REAL ROOT PROBLEM OF WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE JETTIES, AND THEN TRY TO SEE IF WE CAN SOLVE THAT PROBLEM, WHATEVER IT IS. SO, I JUST THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STAYING ON TOP OF IT, BILL. AND YOU PROBABLY HAVE SOMETHING MAYBE YOU COULD ADD TO THIS CONVERSATION. I KNOW YOU KNOW A LOT MORE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON THAN I DO. I'M COMING AT THE TAIL END, BUT, THAT'S JUST MY THOUGHTS AFTER I HAD THE MEETING, YOU KNOW, ABOUT WHAT'S
[00:35:03]
GOING ON WITH THE PAST. YES, SIR. JUST A FEW THINGS, CITIZENS ACADEMY, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF SPEAKING THERE YESTERDAY. WE HAVE ALMOST 20 CITIZENS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP. WE HAVE SOME OF THE AUDIENCE THAT HAVE PARTICIPATED IN IT BEFORE, BUT IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ALL ABOUT BAY COUNTY. ALL THE DEPARTMENTS, STAFF, ALL THE DIFFERENT HEADS COME AND SPEAK.SO PLEASURE GETTING TO SPEAK TO THOSE THAT ARE PART OF THE PROGRAM, I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ECHO MR. MICHAEL'S SENTIMENTS FOR THE EOC WHEN WE WERE ALL EVERYBODY THAT'S UP HERE WAS AT THAT EOC AND BAY COUNTY WAS PREPARED. I MEAN, WE WERE WE WERE READY FOR WHATEVER WAS COMING OUR WAY. YOU COULD TELL BY THE PERSONNEL THAT WAS THERE. WE HAD HEALTH DEPARTMENT WAS THERE, TDC WAS THERE. ALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS, THE SHERIFF, ALL THE CITIES, MUNICIPALITIES, SCHOOLS, EVERYBODY THAT YOU CAN THINK OF, OUR STATE REP, OUR STATE SENATOR, OUR U.S.
CONGRESSMAN, OUR U.S. SENATOR, I MEAN, EVERYBODY THAT YOU COULD THINK OF THAT NEEDED TO BE AT THAT EOC. WAS THERE. EVERYBODY WAS IN THEIR PLACE. IT WAS JUST A WELL ORCHESTRATED MACHINE AND JUST GRATEFUL FOR, I GUESS GRATEFUL THAT WE WERE PREPARED FOR IT. WE'VE BEEN THROUGH IT.
SO BUT IT WAS AMAZING TO SEE. AND ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN I MEAN, NO ONE WAS GETTING ANXIOUS. IT WAS JUST EVERYBODY DOING THEIR PART AND JUST GRATEFUL TO BE PART OF THAT. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT WERE THERE AND, AND READY TO KEEP BAY COUNTY PROTECTED. AND, AS WE STILL WANT TO SEND SENTIMENTS TO ALL THOSE THAT ARE SUFFERING, WE'VE BEEN THERE AND ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN DO, WHETHER IT'S SENDING MONEY OR SUPPLIES OR CHAINSAWS OR WHATEVER, THEY ALL NEED OUR HELP. SO LET'S NOT FORGET THEM. THANK YOU SIR. OKAY PLEASURE.
OKAY, I HAVE A FEW ITEMS. FIRST OFF, WE HAVE THE FAIR IN TOWN, I BELIEVE IT KICKS OFF TONIGHT.
THE BAY COUNTY FAIR IS BACK IN THE NORMAL PLACE THERE ON SHERMAN AVENUE AND. AND 15TH STREET OR HIGHWAY 98. AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY BEING ABLE TO GO OUT AND ENJOY THE FAIR, I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT OCTOBER THE 8TH, AT HIGHLAND PARK BAPTIST CHURCH.
THERE IS A MEN'S GAME DINNER. WE CALL IT THE WILD BEAST FEAST AND ALL MEN IN BAY COUNTY AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES ARE CERTAINLY WELCOME TO COME. IT IS OCTOBER THE 8TH STARTS AT 5:00 WITH A CAR SHOW. 6:00 WE EAT DINNER AND AT 7:00 WE WILL GO INSIDE TO HEAR THE TO HEAR A SPEAKER. A GENTLEMAN FROM DUCK DYNASTY IS GOING TO COME AND SPEAK TO US. SO THAT'S GOING TO BE A LOT, OF LOT OF FUN. AND, ALSO WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE, THE STORM WE JUST WENT THROUGH.
WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE TO THAT. THE STORM DID NOT COME AND DO ANY DAMAGE TO BAY COUNTY, BUT FOR THOSE THAT WERE IN THE PATH OF THE STORM, MY PRAYERS GO OUT TO THEM. AND AS AS COMMISSIONER CARROLL SAID THAT YOU KNOW, THERE'S AREAS THAT WE CAN HELP THE AFFECTED AREAS IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP THEM, LET'S AS A COMMUNITY, IT'S GOOD TO REACH OUT AND HELP THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED AND NOT JUST THOSE ON THE COAST, BUT ALSO THE COMMUNITIES NORTH OF US THAT, YOU KNOW, I'VE SEEN ON TV THE DEVASTATION THAT'S GONE ON THER. AND THEY'RE NOT USED TO THIS. WE ARE WE'RE PREPARED FOR IT. WE MAKE ADJUSTMENTS ACCORDINGLY. BUT WHEN SOMETHING CATASTROPHIC HITS THOSE AREAS, THEY'RE THEY'RE CAUGHT. YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THEY'RE CAUGHT OFF GUARD. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE AFFECTED AREAS. SO MY PRAYERS GO OUT TO THEM AND JUST ASK IF THERE'S ANY, ANY OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU HAVE TO HELP THEM. PLEASE DO SO. THE OLD PASS. HOW MUCH TIME DO WE HAVE? I KNOW THE OLD PASS. LET ME TOUCH ON THAT. AND THEN I'LL.
I'LL STOP. BUT WE HAVE BEEN PUSHING ON THE OLD PASS FOR QUITE SOME TIME. FOR YEARS, THIS GROUP UP HERE, THE GROUP THAT WAS IN PLACE BEFORE THIS GROUP AND OTHERS, AND I HAVE BEEN GIVEN MUCH ADVICE ON HOW TO HANDLE IT, AND, I WAS TOLD IN THE PAST THAT THE WAY YOU GET IT DONE IS YOU GO AND YOU JUMP UP ON THE DESK AND START STOMPING AND HITTING YOUR HANDS ON THE DESK AND THEY'LL REACT TO THAT. WELL, I DON'T THINK THAT'S QUITE THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT IN TALLAHASSEE. SO WE'VE WE'VE WE HAVE DONE ALL THAT WE CAN DO MOVING FORWARD WITH TRYING TO GET THE OLD PASS OPENED AND THAT WE'RE IN THE STUDY PERIOD. WE'RE COMING UP TO THE END OF THE STUDY PERIOD. THAT WAS THAT, DEP REQUIRES COMING UP TO THE END OF THAT PHASE. AND SO THE NEXT
[00:40:07]
PHASE THAT WE'LL ENTER INTO WILL BE THE PERMIT PHASE, SO WE DO HAVE A WE DO HAVE A CONTRACTOR THAT IS, THAT WILL BE WORKING THAT HAS BEEN DOING THE STUDY AND WILL BE ALSO WORKING TOWARDS ACQUIRING THE PERMITS, I HAVE BEEN THE INFORMATION THAT I'VE RECEIVED AND I WANT TO COMMEND OUR STAFF. OUR STAFF HAS STAYED ON THIS AS WELL, OUR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT AND THOSE, AND EVERYBODY INVOLVED HAS STAYED ON THIS SUBJECT AND TRIED THEIR BEST TO MOVE THIS FORWARD. AND THERE'S NOT A LOT WE CAN DO WHILE IT'S IN THE STUDY STAGE. BUT I WANT TO COMMEND OUR STAFF FOR STAYING ON TOP OF IT AND PUSHING IT FORWARD. SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT I'VE RECEIVED BACK, HAS BEEN THAT, THAT WITHOUT GETTING INTO THE WEEDS TOO MUCH RIGHT NOW, SOME OF THE INFORMATION I'VE RECEIVED BACK HAS BEEN THAT WE HAVE TWO AREAS THAT WE HAVE TO PERMIT. WE GO THROUGH THE STATE, WE PERMIT THROUGH THE STATE, AND THEN WE PERMIT THROUGH THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS, THE FEDERAL AND THE STATE. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT BOTH ENTITIES ARE NOT IN FAVOR OF THIS, IT'S AN UPHILL BATTLE. WE CONTINUE TO CLIMB UPHILL THE BEST WE CAN. AND THE PART OF THE EXPLANATION OF WHY THE CORPS IS SO MUCH AGAINST IT IS THAT THAT THE HYDRAULICS, THEY'RE AFRAID THAT IF WE OPEN THE OLD PASS, IT'S GOING TO CHANGE THE HYDRAULICS IN THE BASE SYSTEM, AND IT WILL CAUSE PROBLEMS IN THE SAINT ANDREWS PASS. IT WILL. AND SO THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR DREDGING OUT THE SAINT ANDREWS PASS, RIGHT NOW ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS. AND SO THAT IS A CHALLENGE THAT THEY WOULD, WOULD RATHER NOT SEE US OPEN THE OLD PASS. THAT'S WHAT'S BEEN TOLD TO ME. AND SO, BUT AS WE ENTER INTO THE PERMIT STAGE, WE WILL HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND WITH THE STATE, WITH THE DEP, THE BEACHES AND SHORES ARM OF DEP. WE'LL HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS ONCE AGAIN, AS WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST. AND SO AND ASKING FOR THE PERMIT AND SHOWING THE RESULTS FROM THE STUDY, I BELIEVE THIS COMMUNITY IS, FIRMLY BEHIND WANTING TO GET THIS OPENED AS WE ARE UP HERE. WE'VE ALL WORKED VERY HARD ON IT, AND SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK HARD ON IT. AND SO I WILL I'M GOING TO I'LL BE DOING SOME HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS THROUGHOUT THIS NEXT WEEK OR TWO. AND AT THE NEXT MEETING I'LL HAVE A LOT MORE OR SOME MORE INFORMATION FOR YOU. AND TO TELL YOU EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE, WE'LL PIN IT DOWN. AND IF, MISTER COUNTY MANAGER, IF IT'S POSSIBLE, I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE TIME. IF WE COULD POSSIBLY LOOK AT TRYING TO PUT SOME TYPE OF A PRESENTATION TOGETHER, FROM OUR CONSULTANT, BEFORE NOVEMBER THE 5TH, OR MAYBE ON NOVEMBER THE 5TH. OR HOWEVER WE CAN DO IT. I'D LIKE TO SEE IT BEFORE I LEAVE. JUST A PRESENTATION. AND, THAT WAY WE CAN. WE CAN COMMENT AND I KNOW THAT THOSE THAT COME IN BEHIND US, THERE'S TWO SEATS THAT WILL BE CHANGING UP HERE, AND I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH BOTH THE GENTLEMEN THAT WILL BE COMING IN THESE SEATS. AND I BELIEVE THEY'RE BOTH HAVE THE SAME DESIRE THAT WE THAT THAT THAT, COMMISSIONER HAMM AND I HAVE TO OPEN THE OLD PASS. SO I BELIEVE THE EFFORT WILL CONTINUE FORWARD. AND I'LL HAVE MORE INFORMATION FOR YOU AT THE NEXT MEETING. SOME OF THE INFORMATION MAY BE PHONE NUMBERS THAT WE ALL NEED TO REACH OUT AND CALL, BUT THERE WILL BE INFORMATION BECAUSE WE'VE PUT $1 MILLION INTO THIS, $1 MILLION THAT COULD HAVE GONE TO ROADS, THAT COULD HAVE GONE TO MANY OTHER PLACES.WE BUT WE PUT IT INTO WHERE WE ARE SO WE CAN'T DROP IT. OKAY WE CANNOT DROP THIS EFFORT. WE'RE GOING TO KEEP IT UP. WHETHER IT'S FROM A CITIZENS POINT OF VIEW OR WHETHER IT'S FROM THE COMMISSION'S POINT OF VIEW. THAT'S IT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SIR. IT HAS BEEN A LONG PATH, NO DOUBT. AND BUT YEAH, I'M ON. I'M. I'M ALL IN FAVOR OF IT TO KEEP THAT. KEEP THAT PUSH GOING WHETHER THEY LIKE IT OR NOT. RIGHT ALL RIGHT, YES. I JUST, I GUESS TO WITH THE. OH, I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER MOORE. HE'S BEEN SO QUIET TODAY. WELL, I WAS GOING TO STAY QUIET. THERE'S NO WAY I'M FOLLOWING BILL. SO YOU GO AHEAD. NO, I IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, AS IT RELATES TO
[00:45:08]
THE OLD PASS, I WOULD ADD ANOTHER ONE THAT THAT THE AIR FORCE, WHO HAS THE LAND AND IS GOT A SEAT AT THAT TABLE TO GO WITH THE EP AND WITH THE ARMY CORPS AND THE MONEY THAT WE SET ASIDE TO SPEND THAT, THEY SAID WE GOT TO DO, THEY ALL SAID WE HAVE TO DO THE STUDY. WE PUT THE MONEY UP TO DO THE STUDY TO BE ABLE TO GET THE ANSWERS TO BE ABLE TO GET THE KNOWLEDGE, TO BE ABLE TO GIVE FACTUAL ARGUMENTS BACK TO THEM AS TO WHETHER THIS CAN BE DONE OR NOT, IS SOMETHING AND IS WHERE WE ARE NOW. IT'S I HAD AN OLD BOSS THAT USED TO SAY THINGS IS THIS IS THE GOLDEN RULE. I HAVE THE GOLD. THESE ARE THE RULES. THIS IS THE GOLDEN RULE. THEY HAVE THE GOLD. THESE ARE THE RULES THEY'VE MADE. WE'RE FOLLOWING THEIR RULES TO BE ABLE TO GIVE OURSELVES, HOPEFULLY, THE ARGUMENTS TO BE ABLE TO JUSTIFY GETTING IT OPEN FOR THE CITIZENS. FROM THAT, WE CAN GO THAT FAR AND NO FARTHER RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO STAND ON. THAT'S WHAT WE HOPE THE STUDY PROVES, IS WE HAVE THE STUDY PROVES THAT YOU CAN OPEN THE PASS, AND THERE ARE WAYS TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS. THAT'S IN A WAY THAT WILL HELP. THE BAY WILL NOT AFFECT SAINT ANDREWS PASS AND THOSE OTHER THINGS, TO COME BACK TO THAT AND TO, TO THE SHIFT TO THE OTHER AND WHAT WE WENT THROUGH LAST WEEK, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALMOST SIX YEARS REMOVED FROM HURRICANE MICHAEL. IT WAS KIND OF SURREAL WALKING INTO AN ACTIVATED EOC AGAIN AND TO CHIEF THE SHERIFF FORD, THE FIRST RESPONDERS AND ALL THE LEADERS OF THE INCIDENT COMMAND TEAM, JUST THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR FAITHFULNESS TO OUR COMMUNITY AND WHAT YOU DO. YOU KNOW, I WAS TALKING WITH SOMEBODY AND THEY WERE TEXTING WITH THE COUNTY MANAGER OF TAYLOR COUNTY, WHO UNFORTUNATELY, IN THE LAST 13 MONTHS HAS GOTTEN HIT BY THREE HURRICANES. AND SHE MADE THE COMMENT TO HIM AND SAYS, I FEEL LIKE I'M BEING STALKED BY A TURTLE WITH THIS STORM. IT'S MOVING SO SLOW AND HAVING TO DEAL WITH ALL THESE THINGS, FROM FROM THE TIME OF WORKING IN THE EOC, WHAT I WOULD SAY TO ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO HELP MATERIAL THINGS RIGHT NOW, LIKE WATER IS GOOD, BUT ACTUALLY THE BEST THING TO BE ABLE TO GIVE RIGHT NOW IS VET WHO IT IS. BUT IF YOU CAN GIVE TO THE RIGHT CHARITIES IS CASH. THESE PEOPLE NEED MONEY THAT THESE CHARITIES CAN PUT THIS MONEY TO WORK IN THE BEST WAY AND CAN BE THE MOST RESPONSIBLE OF IN BEING ABLE TO ASSIST. I HAVE GOT A LOT OF FRIENDS THAT I WENT TO LAW SCHOOL WITH THAT ARE SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE WESTERN SIDE OF, OF NORTH CAROLINA AND IN PARTS OF SOUTH CAROLINA THAT HAVE BEEN HIT. AND I'VE NOT HEARD FROM ANY OF THEM ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON UP THERE, BUT IT'S NOT GOOD. WE YOU KNOW, WE EXPERIENCED A WIND EVENT. WE DIDN'T EXPERIENCE THE FLOODING. AND I'M THANKFUL THAT WE DID NOT HAVE TO EXPERIENCE THE FLOODING. BUT AGAIN, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND THE WORK THEY DID. AND BOB, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP THROUGH THIS TIME. AND WE'VE GOT A GOOD TEAM AND, JUST TO THE CITIZENS OF BAY COUNTY, THANK YOU ALL FOR RESPONDING. WELL, DURING THE STORM LAST WEEK, I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE CONCERNED REMEMBERING WHAT WAS GOING ON SIX YEARS AGO. I THOUGHT OVERALL, THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY HANDLED THIS VERY WELL OF ORDERLY PEOPLE GOING, YOU KNOW, I'M I'M GOING TO NEED TO LEAVE.AND SO THINGS WERE DONE IN THE RIGHT WAY. AND JUST, I'D ASK THAT WE CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE WE LOOK AT THINGS AS THEY ARE THERE, THINGS THAT WE COULD DO BETTER, ARE THERE THINGS WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO? AND AS WE REACH OUT TO THE OTHER COMMUNITIES, CAN WE BE LEARNING FROM THEM THINGS THAT THEY'VE EXPERIENCED AND EVERYTHING, SO WE CAN MAKE SURE TO IMPLEMENT THAT INTO US IN CASE, GOD FORBID, WE GET POPPED AGAIN. SO. BUT WITH THAT. THANK YOU, MISTER CHAIR. YES SIR. YEAH, JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS, I GUESS THE STORM STUFF IS ON MY MIND AS WELL FOR, BEING AT THE EOC, IT WAS A SURREAL KIND OF MOMENT TO WALK IN THE DOORS WITH. WITH ALL THAT GOING ON AGAIN, KIND OF MAKE YOUR EYE TWITCH A LITTLE MORE WHEN YOU, WHEN THEY HAVE TO DO THAT. BUT BUT YEAH, ALL THE JUST, YOU KNOW, OUR THOUGHTS GO OUT TO THOSE FOLKS BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN THERE, WE'VE DONE IT. AND WE'VE LIVED THROUGH THAT NIGHTMARE. AND, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW WHAT'S IN FRONT OF THEM RIGHT NOW, THEY THEY MIGHT NOT LIKE YOU SAID, BUILD THOSE FOLKS UP. THEY'RE NOT IN TUNE TO STORMS LIKE THIS. I THINK THE LAST FLOODING EVENT LIKE THAT'S BEEN OVER 100 YEARS IN THE CAROLINAS TO THIS MAGNITUDE. I MEAN, IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE.
BUT IT'S BEEN AN INCREDIBLY LONG TIME. SO, THE PEOPLE THAT GET COMPLACENT AND, BUT NONETHELESS, IT IS A LOT TO DEAL WITH. AND ONE THING I JUST TO ONE OF MY CHILDHOOD IDOLS, CHARLIE HUSTLE, PETE ROSE, PASSED AWAY. I SAW THAT THIS MORNING WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A MEMORY LANE FOR ME TO
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REMEMBER PETE ROSE. I ALWAYS THOUGHT HE WAS A VERY GOOD BASEBALL PLAYER. AND I THINK HE GOT, MAYBE HE WILL EVENTUALLY MAKE IT TO THE HALL OF FAME. NOW THAT HE'S POSTMORTEM, I HOPE HE* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.