[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:05]
MORNING CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER FOR OUR REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING FOR OCTOBER 15TH, 2024.
IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER DOZIER. HERE. COMMISSIONER CARROLL. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER PIECE. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER HAMM. MA'AM. CHAIRMAN. MOORE. YES, MA'AM. ALL RIGHT. AND WE'LL HAVE PASTOR JOSHUA GAY WITH HIGH PRAISE WORSHIP ON THE INVOCATION. AND THEN AFTERWARDS, MR. JOHN, DEACONS WILL VETERAN SERVICES ON THE PLEDGE. LET'S PRAY THIS MORNING. FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY THAT YOU HAVE SO WONDERFULLY GIVEN US. WE THANK YOU FOR OUR WONDERFUL COUNTY AND THE BLESSINGS THAT YOU HAVE BESTOWED UPON US. WE ASK TODAY FOR YOUR WISDOM AND GRACE IN THIS MEETING. WE THANK YOU THAT YOUR PEACE WILL EVEN BE IN THIS PLACE TODAY. WE THANK YOU FOR EVERY L THAT YOU WOULD BLESS THEM AND BLESS THEIR FAMILIES. WE THANK YOU FOR GIVING THIS BOARD WISDOM LIKE SOLOMON, TO LEAD OUR COUNTY INTO SUCCESS AND BLESSING. WE THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM THIS MORNING. WE SPEAK GRACE AND BLESSING OVER THEIR LIVES. WE ASK ALL THESE THINGS IN THE NAME ABOVE EVERY OTHER. THE NAME OF JESUS, 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. IF I COULD GET DOUG COOK TO COME FORWARD, PLEASE. OKAY. SORRY, ROOKIE MISTAKE. HOLD ON
[APPROVAL OF AGENDA (Additions or Deletions)]
ONE SECOND, DOUG. RIGHT THERE. ALL RIGHT. CAN GET APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. MOTION TO APPROVE.SECOND. MR. CHAIRMAN, IF I COULD, I'VE HAD A REQUEST TO MOVE ITEM TWO FROM CONSENT TO REGULAR. ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, CAN I GET AN APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA? MOTION TO APPROVE.
SECOND MOTION. MULTIPLE SECONDS. IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL COMMISSIONER DOZIER. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER CARROLL. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER PIECE. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER HAMM.
MA'AM. CHAIRMAN. MOORE. YES, MA'AM. ALL RIGHT, DOUG, NOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THE
[PRESENTATIONS]
PRESENTATIONS. IF YOU WOULD COME FORWARD. ALL RIGHT. THESE ARE WONDERFUL AWARDS. WE GET TO PRESENT TO EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME WORKING FOR THE CITIZENS OF BAY COUNTY. BUT 20 YEARS AGO, ON OCTOBER 11TH, MR. DOUG COOK WAS HIRED AS A HEATING, VENTILATION, AIR CONDITIONING TECHNICIAN WITHIN THE FACILITIES MAINTENANCE DIVISION. THROUGHOUT THE PAST 20 YEARS, DOUG HAS PROVEN TO BE AN INVALUABLE ASSET TO THE COUNTY THROUGH HIS EXPERTISE, HARD WORK, AND DEDICATION, DOUG HAS BECOME A KEY FIGURE IN ENSURING COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND THEIR PATRONS ARE AFFORDED A COMFORTABLE WORKING ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH TO CONDUCT THEIR DAILY BUSINESS WITH THE UTMOST APPRECIATION FOR HIS SERVICE, WE WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE DOUG FOR 20 YEARS OF FAITHFUL SERVICE TO BAY COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND THE CITIZENS OF BAY COUNTY. IF Y'ALL WOULD JUST HELP ME GIVE HIM A LITTLE APPRECIATION. THANK YOU.NEXT, IF WE COULD HAVE RAVEN HOLLOWAY COME FORWARD FOR INDEPENDENCE FOR THE BLIND OF WEST FLORIDA. COMMISSIONER PETE IS GOING TO MAKE A PRESENTATION. NICE TO HAVE YOU. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. WHITE CANE SAFETY DAY, WHEREAS IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THERE ARE MORE THAN 50,000 LEGALLY BLIND INDIVIDUALS IN NORTHWEST FLORIDA. AND WHEREAS THE INDEPENDENCE FOR THE BLIND OF WEST FLORIDA IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT SERVES TEN COUNTIES IN NORTHWEST FLORIDA AND IS COMMITTED TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED CITIZENS. AND WHEREAS MANY BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED INDIVIDUALS USE A WHITE CANE AS A TOOL FOR MOBILITY AND TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE INDEPENDENCE, THE WHITE CANE IS SEEN AS A SYMBOL FOR THE BLIND AND THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED CITIZEN IN OUR SOCIETY. AND WHEREAS NATIONAL WHITE CANE SAFETY DAY IS OCTOBER 15TH, 2024, A DAY OF SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE FOR BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED CITIZENS, BECAUSE IT REPRESENTS A DECLARATION OF FREEDOM AND ALSO SIGNIFIES A COMMITMENT BY THE
[00:05:02]
SIGHTED COMMUNITY TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO BASIC SERVICES FOR BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED INDIVIDUALS. AND WHEREAS BAY COUNTY RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING ALL ITS CITIZENS SAFE AND TO HELP ACHIEVE THIS GOAL, THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DIVISION OF BLIND SERVICES AND INDEPENDENT FOR THE BLIND INVITE ALL CITIZENS TO PARTICIPATE IN WHITE CANE SAFETY DAY. NOW, THEREFORE, IT BE PROCLAMATION BAY COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OFFICIALLY PROCLAIMS OCTOBER 15TH, 2024 AS WHITE CANE SAFETY DAY. YES. FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME HERE AND ALLOWING ME TO BE A PART OF YOUR MEETING. WE SERVE OUR OFFICE IS LOCATED IN ESCAMBIA, BUT WE SERVE JUST AS MANY PEOPLE IN BAY COUNTY AS WE DO IN ESCAMBIA.THOSE ARE OUR TWO LARGEST COUNTIES WHERE WE SERVE, AND WE HAVE INSTRUCTORS OUT HERE IN YOUR CITIZENS HOMES EVERY DAY HELPING THEM BECOME INDEPENDENT. SO THANK YOU. FOR.
NEXT, WE HAVE COMMISSIONER DOZIER PRESENTING TO. IF WE COULD GET MIKE LOZANO TO COME DOWN. AND FRIENDS.
THIS MORNING WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE AND READ A PROCLAMATION FOR VIETNAM VETERANS WEEK. AND GENTLEMEN, WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY. AND WE JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. VIETNAM VETERANS WEEK WHEREAS ON NOVEMBER THE 11TH, 2024, ALSO KNOWN AS VETERANS DAY, THE BAY COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ALONG WITH THE BAY COUNTY VETERANS COUNCIL, WILL CO-SPONSOR AN ANNUAL VETERANS DAY PARADE AND WREATH LAYING CEREMONY AT THE BAY COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER. AND WHEREAS THE BAY COUNTY VETERANS COUNCIL, IN COOPERATION WITH THE CITY OF CALLAWAY, FLORIDA, WILL BE PRESENTING A VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL WALL, THE WALL THAT HEALS THE WALL THAT HONORS THE 58,281 SERVICE MEMBERS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES, AND ALL THOSE WHO SERVED DEFENDING OUR COUNTRY DURING THE VIETNAM WAR. AND WHEREAS THE WALL THAT HEALS WILL BE ON DISPLAY FOR VIEWING STARTING WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER THE 13TH, 2024 AT 2 P.M. THROUGH SUNDAY, NOVEMBER THE 17TH, 2024 AT 2 P.M. LOCATED AT THE CALLAWAY SPORTS COMPLEX, 24 HOURS EACH DAY. AND WHEREAS, OBSERVANCE OF THE OF A WEEK HONORING EVERYONE WHO SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES DURING THE WAR IN VIETNAM IS OF GREAT SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPORTANCE, AND TO SET ASIDE A WEEK FOR REFLECTION UPON THEIR SACRIFICE AND ON THE LOSSES AND SACRIFICES ENDURED BY THEIR FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES. AND NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED, THE BAY COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OFFICIALLY PROCLAIMS NOVEMBER THE 11TH, 2024 THROUGH NOVEMBER 17TH, 2024 AS VIETNAM VETERANS WEEK AND HAS BEEN SIGNED BY ALL FIVE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU.
BUT IT SEEMS LIKE YOU KNOW, WE DO.
ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT. AND THIS IS FOR ANY ITEM ON OUR AGENDA SPECIFICALLY
[00:10:01]
RELATED TO CONSENT THAT WE DO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING LATER. IF YOU'RE HERE FOR THAT, YOU CAN SPEAK TO THAT AT THAT TIME. BUT IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE MOVE ON, MISTER MANAGER, THE CONSENT AGENDA. YES, SIR. MR. CHAIRMAN[CONSENT AGENDA]
AND COMMISSIONERS, GOOD MORNING. ON YOUR CONSENT AGENDA TODAY UNDER THE CLERK OF COURTS. ITEM ONE. REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES. STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS. THE BOARD ACKNOWLEDGED RECEIPT OF THE REPORTS UNDER COLLABORATIVE SERVICES. ITEM TWO, UNDERWATER MILITARY HERITAGE TRAIL, NORTHWEST FLORIDA REGIONAL RESOLUTION. THAT'S THE ITEM THAT WE MOVE TO REGULAR AGENDA UNDER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ITEM THREE. TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE COMPATIBLE USE PLAN AGREEMENTS STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS. THE BOARD APPROVED A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR THE TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE COMPATIBLE USE PLAN IMPLEMENTATION WITH THE CITY OF CALLAWAY AND THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD UNDER COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE. ITEM FOUR TOM P HANEY TECHNICAL COLLEGE.LETTER OF SUPPORT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS. THE BOARD APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN TO SIGN A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR TOM P HANEY TECHNICAL COLLEGE TO ACCOMPANY THEIR PROPOSED TRIUMPH GRANT APPLICATION UNDER GENERAL SERVICES ITEM FIVE, LEACHATE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, CONTRACT 20 460. STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS. THE BOARD APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN TO EXECUTE A ONE YEAR CONTRACT SUBJECT TO THREE ADDITIONAL ONE YEAR RENEWALS WITH JOYNER, INC. FOR DELIVERY TO PANAMA CITY BEACH AND CARVER WATER TECHNOLOGY FOR DELIVERY TO BAY LINE DRIVE FOR ITB 2460. LEACHATE SERVICES FOR STEELE FIELD LANDFILL. ITEM SIX. BAY COUNTY COURTHOUSE, FIRST AND SECOND FLOOR RENOVATION PROJECT.
CHANGE ORDER. STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS. THE BOARD APPROVE CHANGE ORDER IN THE AMOUNT OF $277,732.48 TO GAGE GOLD CONSTRUCTION, DBA BGN CONTRACTORS, FOR UNFORESEEN ADDITIONAL WORK AND ADDITIONAL GENERAL CONDITIONS REQUIREMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BAY COUNTY COURTHOUSE. FIRST AND SECOND FLOOR RENOVATION PROJECT. INVITATION TO BID 20 3-25 AND AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT AND MAKE ANY NECESSARY MODIFICATIONS AS APPROVED BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY UNDER IT AND GIS DEPARTMENT. ITEM SEVEN DISPOSAL OF SURPLUS COMPUTER EQUIPMENT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS. THE BOARD APPROVED THE DISPOSAL OF SURPLUS EQUIPMENT BY OFFERING THE EQUIPMENT TO CHARITABLE AND OR EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS APPROVED BY THE COUNTY MANAGER OR DESIGNEE, BEFORE LISTING THE EQUIPMENT FOR SALE AT AUCTION UNDER PUBLIC WORKS ITEM EIGHT. BARRETT'S PARK BARRETT'S PARK EASEMENT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
THE BOARD ACCEPT AND APPROVE GRANTING EASEMENTS TO D R HORTON, INC. AND BARRETT'S PARK PLANTATION COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, INC. AND AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN TO SIGN THE EASEMENT CONVEYANCE INSTRUMENT AND RECORD IT WITH THE CLERK OF COURT. ITEM NINE LAKE MERRILL.
PHASE TWO PLAT APPROVAL STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS. THE BOARD APPROVED THE FINAL PLAT FOR LAKE MARYVILLE. PHASE TWO SUBDIVISION AUTHORIZE THE CLERK TO RECORD THE PERFORMANCE BOND UNDER THE TDC. ITEM TEN TDC PUBLIC SAFETY FUNDS STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS. THE BOARD AUTHORIZED REIMBURSEMENT TO THE BAY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE CITY OF PANAMA CITY BEACH THROUGH THE DISBURSEMENT OF TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX FUNDS FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY EXPENDITURES RELATING TO INCREASED TOURISM ON PANAMA CITY BEACH. ITEM 11 VISIT PANAMA CITY BEACH. VISIT PANAMA CITY BEACH. IRONMAN GULF COAST GRANT AUTHORIZATION. STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS. THE BOARD AUTHORIZED THE USE OF COUNTY ROADS RIGHTS OF WAY ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2ND, 2024 FOR THE VISIT PANAMA CITY BEACH IRONMAN GULF COAST TRIATHLON. MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT'S YOUR CONSENT AGENDA THIS MORNING, AND STAFF RESPECTFULLY REQUEST A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND.
MOTION AND MULTIPLE SECONDS. IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL COMMISSIONER CARROLL. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER DOZIER. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER. PEACE. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER HAMM. MA'AM.
CHAIRMAN. MOORE. YES, MA'AM. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL GO BACK ON NOW ON REGULAR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO,
[Collaborative Services]
UNDERWATER MILITARY HERITAGE TRAIL, NORTHWEST FLORIDA REGIONAL RESOLUTION. YES, SIR.MR. CHAIRMAN, UNDER THIS ITEM STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS, THE BOARD APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN TO SIGN THE RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF REGIONAL UNDERWATER MILITARY HERITAGE TRAIL IN COLLABORATION WITH NORTHWEST FLORIDA COASTAL RESOURCES PROGRAMS, MILITARY REPRESENTATIVES AND VETERANS SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS TO HONOR OUR MILITARY COMMUNITIES AND THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED. STAFF IS AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. YES. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. I'D ASK FOR THIS ONE TO BE PULLED PRIMARILY TO JUST DRAW ATTENTION TO IT. I THINK IT'S A GREAT EFFORT. AND OUR THE EXTENSION OFFICE IS DOING A GOOD JOB PUTTING THIS TOGETHER AND A LOT OF WORK BEHIND IT. AND I JUST WANTED TO ASK IF YOU WOULD SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT IT AND KIND OF EXPLAIN TO US IN A MINUTE OR TWO WHAT IS WHAT WE'RE WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON HERE. SURE.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS. I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE JANUARY 22ND AND CONCEIVED THIS IDEA IN FEBRUARY OF 2022. THE ONE THING THAT I'VE NOTICED IN BAY COUNTY IS THAT WE HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF LARGE, PERMITTED ARTIFICIAL REEF SITES, BUT AS A WHOLE, IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, WE DON'T HAVE A MUCH GRANDER SITE TO HONOR OUR VETERANS. AND SO, AS YOUR COASTAL RESOURCES COORDINATOR, I FELT THAT IT WAS HIGHLY SIGNIFICANT GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SOME OF THE LARGEST MILITARY INSTALLATIONS IN THE COUNTRY HERE IN THE PANHANDLE, THAT WE HONOR THEM THROUGH THIS ENDEAVOR. AND SO I PRESENT TO YOU THE UNDERWATER MILITARY HERITAGE TRAIL THROUGH THIS RESOLUTION, EACH COUNTY FROM ESCAMBIA, SANTA ROSA,
[00:15:02]
OKALOOSA, WALTON BAY, WE ARE ALL IN A PARTNERSHIP NOW. EACH OF US HAVE SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS TO OUR BOARDS FOR APPROVAL TO DO A COLLABORATIVE REGIONAL PROJECT. EACH COUNTY DOES INTEND TO DO ITS OWN UNIQUE SITE BASED UPON ITS OWN MILITARY HERITAGE. FOR BAY COUNTY, I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A NINE SQUARE NAUTICAL MILE SITE, WHICH IS OVER 6600 ACRES, TO HONOR OUR MILITARY, VETERANS AND A NUMBER OF WAYS, ONE OF THEM BEING THROUGH THE ACQUISITION OF MARAD VESSEL, WHICH WE ARE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW. I HAD MY SECOND MEETING WITH MARAD LAST THURSDAY, SO WE ARE LOOKING TO ADD TO THE SHIPWRECK TRAIL IN OUR OWN WAY. NORTHWEST FLORIDA ALREADY HAS THE PANHANDLE SHIPWRECK TRAIL, BUT WE ARE GOING TO CREATE A MILITARY SHIPWRECK TRAIL. SO WE ARE AT AN ADVANTAGE. HAVING A PASS BAY COUNTY, OKALOOSA AND ESCAMBIA WILL TRY AND LEVERAGE VESSELS TO HAVE THIS SHIPWRECK TRAIL. AND THEN FOR BAY COUNTY'S UNIQUE PROJECT, I'VE DEVELOPED SOMETHING CALLED THE BAY COUNTY LEGACY MEMORIAL REEF BECAUSE, AS WE KNOW, ESPECIALLY WITH THE PROCLAMATIONS THAT WERE JUST MADE WHEN A VETERAN PASSES ON, THE ONE THING THAT THEY WANT TO BE REMEMBERED BY IS THEIR LEGACY. SO THAT'S WHAT THIS SITE WILL BE USED FOR. I'D ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT WITH THE PROJECT, WE HAVE GRETCHEN TEODORO HERE WITH WARRIOR MEMORIAL REEFS. THEY ARE 1 OR 1 OF OUR PARTNERING NONPROFITS.AND IF SHE HAS ANYTHING TO SAY IN SUPPORT OF THIS, I'M SURE THERE WILL BE A POINT. IF YOU'VE GOT QUESTIONS FOR THEM, FOR THOSE QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED. BUT WE ARE PROUD. WE ARE GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL FOR YOU TO SUPPORT US IN THIS MASSIVE ENDEAVOR. THANK YOU. AS I WAS READING THIS BOARD MEMO, JUST I WANTED TO BRING THIS TO LIGHT BECAUSE I THINK THIS EFFORT IS STANDS OUT. AND AS IN THE FUTURE, AS SHIPS ARE DECOMMISSIONED AND WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE THEM TO PUT THIS TRAIL TOGETHER, IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT FOR OUR DIVING COMMUNITY, OUR FISHING COMMUNITY, AND JUST TOURIST AND LOCAL RESIDENTS ALL TOGETHER.
AND SO I JUST WANTED TO APPLAUD THE EFFORTS, AND I KNOW WE HAVE GREAT THINGS COMING WITH, WITH IN THE FUTURE WITH THIS THROUGH THIS EFFORT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M THRILLED. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WITH THAT, I'LL UNLESS ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
SECOND. MOTION. AND A SECOND IF YOU WOULD PLEASE CALL THE ROLL COMMISSIONER DOZIER. YES, MA'AM.
COMMISSIONER. PEACE. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER CARROLL. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER HAMM. YES, MA'AM. CHAIRMAN. MOORE. YES, MA'AM. ALL RIGHT. THAT TAKES US NOTHING ON REGULAR AGENDA, BUT
[Community Development]
WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING. THIS IS ITEM 12, KATO ROAD AND EAST 43RD STREET. SMALL SCALE AMENDMENT AND ZONE CHANGE. REVISION. THIS IS QUASI JUDICIAL HEARING. THOSE WISHING TO SPEAK, PLEASE STAND AND BE SWORN IN. SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT THE EVIDENCE YOU'RE ABOUT TO GIVE WILL BE THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH. I DO THANK YOU. THE NEXT PART, A DISCLOSURES IN THIS MATTER. I JUST SPOKE WITH THE REAL ESTATE AGENT AND THE LADY THAT IS GOING TO START THE DAY CARE FOR ME WITH THE SITE. I'VE SPOKEN WITH BOTH THE APPLICANT AND THE REAL ESTATE AGENTS REPRESENTING THE SELLER. FAMILIAR WITH THE SITE. SPOKEN WITH THE APPLICANT, MADE WITH THE SITE, AND I'VE SPOKEN WITH THE APPLICANT. CHAIRMAN, I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE SITE. I'VE SPOKEN WITH THE APPLICANT AND THE REAL ESTATE REPRESENTATIVES.THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. ON JULY 16TH, 2024, THE BOARD APPROVED A REQUEST TO CHANGE THE FUTURE LAND USE AND ZONING DESIGNATION OF PARCEL OF LAND LOCATED AT THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF KATO ROAD AND EAST 43RD STREET, FROM AG AGRICULTURE TO NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL AND THE ZONING WAS CHANGED FROM AG ONE TO C1 NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL. AS A CONDITION OF APPROVAL FOR EACH REQUEST, THE BOARD MANDATED THAT A DAYCARE FACILITY BE THE ONLY USE PERMITTED ON THE PROPERTY. THE APPLICANT IS NOW REQUESTING THE BOARD REVISE THIS CONDITION OF APPROVAL ON SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2024, THE BAY COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION CONDUCTED A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER REQUESTS FROM THE APPLICANT TO REVISE THESE CONDITIONS AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC HEARING. THE PLANNING COMMISSION VOTED TO RECOMMEND THE CONDITIONS BE REVISED TO PROHIBIT GAS STATION AND CONVENIENCE STORE USES ONLY. STAFF AGREES WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND RECOMMENDS THE BOARD CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING, APPROVE THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, AND ADOPT THE ATTACHED ORDINANCES. STAFF HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR REVISION. REQUEST TO DATE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. SO DO
[00:20:03]
WE JUST REFRESH OUR MEMORIES ON WHAT ALL CAN GO IN THERE BESIDES THE GAS STATION AND THE CONVENIENCE STORE? IF THAT'S WHAT WE CHOSE TO REMOVE? YES, MA'AM.WHILE HE'S LOOKING THAT UP, I JUST WANT TO MAKE COMMENT THAT I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH OUR STAFF AND THEY THEY LOOKED IT UP AND VERIFIED THAT ONE OF THE OPTIONS IS A LIQUOR STORE. IT COULD GO THERE, BUT WE HAVE IN OUR ORDINANCES, WE HAVE A PROVISION WHERE YOU CANNOT PUT A LIQUOR STORE WITHIN 1000FT OF A CHURCH, AND THERE'S A CHURCH RIGHT NEAR THERE. SO A LIQUOR STORE, I BELIEVE, AND STAFF CAN CORRECT ME. I BELIEVE A LIQUOR STORE WOULD BE OFF THE OFF. THE OPTIONS. THAT IS CORRECT. IF YOU LOOK AT THIS PROPERTY SHADED IN BLUE RIGHT HERE AT THIS CORNER, THAT IS A SMALL COMMUNITY CHURC. THERE IS A IN SECTION 3.2 OF OUR BAY COUNTY LAND CODE STATES THAT LIQUOR STORES CANNOT BE LOCATED WITHIN 1000FT OF ANY EXISTING CHURCHES OR SCHOOLS. SO WHILE THAT LIQUOR STORES ARE LISTED AS AN ALLOWABLE USE BECAUSE OF THAT ORDINANCE, THAT WOULD NOT BE PERMITTED, BUT THE OTHER USES THAT WOULD BE PERMITTED. RETAIL CENTERS LESS THAN 30,000FTâ– !S.
CONVENIENCE STORES, GAS STATIONS, FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS INCLUDING ACCESSORY ON PREMISE CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE, DRUGSTORES AND PHARMACIES, LAUNDROMATS AND DAYCARES, DAYCARE CENTERS, FLORIST AND FLOWER SHOPS, NOVELTY AND CLOTHING SHOPS. AUTO PARTS STORES, PACKAGE STORES WITH CONSUMPTION ON PREMISE OR OFF PREMISE BED AND BREAKFAST INNS, AS DEFINED BY STATE STATUTE, FINANCE AND INSURANCE ESTABLISHMENTS. FOOD AND BEVERAGE STORES. AND THEN THERE'S OTHER APPROPRIATE USES AS DETERMINED ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. THOSE CAR WASH FALL IN THERE ANYWHERE. CAR WASH IS NOT LISTED. NO, MA'AM. CAR WASH OR CHANGE? AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR. ALL THOSE WOULD TAKE A C3. I BELIEVE THAT'S THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY, OKAY. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS IS YOU AND I HAD DISCUSSED THE GAS STATION AND THE C STORES FOR TRAFFIC COUNTS WERE ONE AND TWO. AND WHAT WAS NUMBER THREE AGAIN? SO AS FAR AS WHAT TYPES OF USES WOULD GENERATE THE MOST PM TRAFFIC GENERATION TRIPS, YOU'RE LOOKING AT CONVENIENCE STORES AND GASOLINE STATIONS AS ONE AND TWO ON THAT LIST, AS THE HIGHEST. THE NEXT WOULD BE FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS, WHICH WOULD BE AN ALLOWABLE USE IN C1. THAT'S WHAT ONE THING I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT. YOU COULD PUT A MCDONALD'S THERE OR BURGER KING OR WHATEVER. CORRECT. UNDER C1, THAT WOULD BE AN ALLOWABLE USE. YES. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF BEFORE APPLICANT COMES FORWARD OR ANYBODY ELSE? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WITH THE APPLICANT LIKE TO COME FORWARD. HI. MY NAME IS GEORGE ANN ATKINSON. I'M THE OWNER OF J COLA JACKSON COUNTY LEARNING ACADEMY IN MARIANNA, FLORIDA. AND WE I'M THE ONE TRYING TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTY. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING MY CALLS. AND WE'RE JUST, YOU KNOW, REALLY HOPING THAT WE CAN MAKE THIS WORK. AND AGAIN, WE'RE UP AGAINST THE BANK AND WHAT THEY WOULD DO AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, MY INTEREST TOO. SO BUT RIGHT NOW THE BANK IS THE BIGGEST CONCERN. AND THEY HAVE AGREED TO TAKE OUT THE TWO THINGS THAT WE MENTIONED AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THE LENDING.
IF WE CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN TODA. SO ANY QUESTIONS? I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER. HERE, PUT HIS GLASSES ON. THIS. I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING WITHOUT THEM. SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK FROM THE LAST MEETING, I MEAN, AND FROM OUR CONVERSATIONS THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT THE APPROPRIATE LOCATION. THERE IS A CONVENIENCE STORE JUST DOWN THE STREET AT THE INTERSECTION THERE. SO, YES, ANYTHING TO TRY TO HELP ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION. BUT I THINK IT'S A GREAT LOCATION FOR A DAYCARE. SO OKAY. WISH YOU ALL THE LUCK IN THERE. THANK YOU. I AGREE CLAIRE, I AGREE TOMMY,
[00:25:01]
ANYTHING. NO NO NO I THINK IT'S I THINK IT'S A GOOD A GOOD LOCATION FOR A DAYCARE AS WELL.I'VE SEEN THESE SCHOOLS. OKAY. AND AS IT RELATES TO THE FAST FOOD, THAT'S MY ONE QUESTION IS BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THAT BIG YELLOW AND ALL THIS, I MEAN, THAT'S A LOT OF RESIDENTIAL AND DIFFERENT THINGS. AND I KNOW THE BANK KIND OF PRE-APPROVED AND SAID THEY'RE OKAY WITH THOSE TWO. DO YOU THINK THAT A FAST FOOD RESTRICTION WOULD CAUSE ANY HEARTBURN FOR THEM? I MEAN, I'M NOT SURE YOU KNOW, THAT MEANS TIME TO HAVE TO GO BACK TO THEM. I'M NOT SURE IF I'D HAVE TO COME BACK IN FRONT OF YOU GUYS AGAIN. SO I YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT THEY APPROVE THOSE THE OTHER TWO, MR. CHAIRMAN, I GOT ONE LAST QUESTION. DO YOU DO YOU PLAN TO BUILD SO IT'S A LARGE TRACK.
OBVIOUSLY YOU DON'T NEED ALL THAT PROPERTY. DO YOU PLAN TO BUILD ON THE EAST SIDE OR WEST SIDE? WE HAVE NOT YOU KNOW, WE HAVE NO REAL PLANS DRAWN. I HAVEN'T GOT WITH THE ARCHITECT YET, YOU KNOW, SO I DON'T I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BUILD AT THIS POINT. I WOULD I WAS JUST GOING TO, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THIS, IN MY EXPERIENCE, MOST FAST FOOD PLACES, IF THEY'RE GOING TO INVEST THAT MUCH MONEY INTO A LOCATION, THEY'RE GOING TO BE ON A MAIN CORRIDOR SOMEWHERE. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE BACK IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. SO I, I KNOW IT'S A POSSIBILITY, BUT I'M TRULY NOT CONCERNED ABOUT A FAST FOOD PLACE GOING THERE. OKAY. AGREED. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR ANY ANYBODY ELSE IN THE CROWD? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF OR NO. ALL RIGHT. WELL, WITH THAT I GUESS.
THANK YOU. MA'AM, YOU MAY HAVE A SEAT. THANK YOU. CAN I GET A MOTION OR A SECOND? I'LL MOTION SECOND. ALL RIGHT. MOTION AND A SECOND. WITH THE CONDITIONS OF NO CONVENIENCE STORE AND GASOLINE. OKAY. WITH NO C STORE AND NO GASOLINE. ALL RIGHT. IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL COMMISSIONER. PEACE. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER DOZIER. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER. CARROLL. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER HAMM. CHAIRMAN. MOORE. YES, MA'AM. ALL RIGHT. AND THAT WE NOW GO TO
[PUBLIC COMMENT (Open to any issue)]
PUBLIC COMMENT THIS IS FOR ANYTHING THAT THE CITIZENS MAY THINK THAT WE HAVE AUTHORITY OVER WHETHER WE DO OR NOT. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO? YES, SIR. PLEASE STEP FORWARD AND NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. CLIFFORD. GREED, 6412 KEMP FLOWERS ROAD, YOUNGSTOWN. FIRST, I WANT TO COMMENT AND SAY REALLY COOL ON THE AWARDS THAT WERE GIVEN AND THE UNDERWATER TRAIL FOR AND THE VETERANS DAY. THAT'S GREAT. THE VIETNAM THIS IS NOT PLANNED TO BE A FOLLOW UP, BUT IT'S CLOSE TO IT IN 2020, THE BAY COUNTY COMMISSION VOTED TO MAKE BAY COUNTY A SECOND AMENDMENT SANCTUARY. AND I'M SURE WE'RE ALL PLEASED WITH THIS. BUT THAT ORDINANCE DOESN'T REALLY OR THAT RESOLUTION DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH ANYMORE, CONSIDERING WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE SECOND AMENDMENT SANCTUARY ORDINANCE DOES NOT GO FAR ENOUGH. WE NEED TO PROTECT ALL OF OUR GOD GIVEN RIGHTS THAT ARE ENUMERATED IN THE FIRST TEN AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION, ALSO CALLED THE BILL OF RIGHTS.ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK AT THE BILL OF RIGHTS IS THAT THESE ARE RESTRICTIONS ON GOVERNMENT. IT IS A LIST OF RIGHTS THAT THE GOVERNMENT CANNOT TAKE AWAY. AS I'M SURE YOU KNOW, THE BILL OF RIGHTS DOES NOT GRANT US OUR RIGHTS. THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE STATES THAT MEN ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR WITH CERTAIN INALIENABLE RIGHTS. AND TO SECURE THESE RIGHTS, GOVERNMENTS ARE INSTITUTED, INSTITUTED AMONG MEN, DERIVING THEIR JUST POWERS FROM THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNMENT. SO GOVERNMENTS ARE CREATED TO SECURE AND PROTECT OUR RIGHTS, NOT TO TAKE THEM AWAY. THEREFORE, I'D LIKE TO ANNOUNCE I'M PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THERE IS A GROUNDSWELL OF SUPPORT IN LOCAL PATRIOTIC ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE POISED TO DRAFT A BILL OF RIGHTS SANCTUARY ORDINANCE FOR BAY COUNTY. I KNOW WE HAVE TO WORK WITH YOU WITH THAT. SO WE INTEND TO GET AHOLD OF YOU AND DO SO. I HOPE YOU WILL ALL AGREE THAT, CONSIDERING THE POLITICAL DIRECTION THAT OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SEEMS TO BE HEADED, BAY COUNTY RESIDENTS NEED TO PUT THEIR FOOT DOWN AND STOP FEDERAL OVERREACH. AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT I HAVE FOR YOU THIS MORNING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? YES, MA'AM.
YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS GRETCHEN THEODORO. MY
[00:30:05]
ADDRESS IS 311 BAYSHORE DRIVE IN PANAMA CITY BEACH. I AM THE VICE PRESIDENT OF WARRIOR MEMORIAL REEFS FOUNDATION, A VETERAN NONPROFIT. 501 C3. AND WHAT WE DO IS WE TAKE THE CREMATED REMAINS OF VETERANS. FIRST LINE RESPONDERS, AND K-9 SERVICE ANIMALS AND WE PUT THEM IN AN ARTIFICIAL REEF, AND WE WERE PUTTING THEM DOWN INTO THE OCEAN HERE ON THE GULF. WE WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH MAN IN THE SEA MUSEUM ON SOME MEMORIALS, AND WE'RE PUTTING WE JUST PUT THE MILITARY DIVER MEMORIAL DOWN IN APRIL. YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN THAT ON THE NEWS. WE ARE IN WE ARE, WE ARE IN SUPPORT OF THIS MILITARY HERITAGE TRAIL. LIKE YOU CAN'T BELIEVE. I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL THING. I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE BRING GREAT REVENUE AND NOT JUST THROUGH DIVING BUT THROUGH FISHING IN THIS AREA. AND THE WATER IS SO CLEAR YOU CAN SEE THEM FROM THE HELICOPTERS. AND SO I HOPE EVERYONE'S REALLY SUPPORTIVE ON ON THIS IN THE COUNTY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE.COUNTY ATTORNEY'S REPORT. REPORT. MR. CHAIRMAN. COUNTY MANAGER'S REPORT. NOTHING FROM
[CHAIRMAN & COMMISSIONER COMMENTS]
STAFF, MR. CHAIRMAN. ALL RIGHT. CHAIRMAN AND COMMISSIONER, COMMENTS. GO TO THE VOICE BOX TO MY RIGHT, COMMISSIONER HAMM. NOTHING FOR ME. IF EVERYBODY ENJOYS THE REST OF THEIR WEEK, ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER DOZIER. YES, I JUST WANTED TO SAY NOVEMBER THE 5TH. AT OUR NEXT MEETING, WE WILL HAVE A SHORT PRESENTATION FROM THE CONSULTANT ON THE OLD PASS, THE EFFORTS THAT ARE GOING FORWARD TO OPEN THE OLD PASS. WE'LL HAVE THE CONSULTANT HERE TO TALK TO US, ANSWER QUESTIONS AND KIND OF TELL US WHERE WE ARE AT THIS POINT IN TIME. AND WHAT DIRECTION WE'RE HEADED IN. SO I WANT TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT. AND THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER THINGS I'D LIKE TO SAY. BUT I HAVE ONE MORE MEETING AND I'LL SAY THEM THEN. COMMISSIONER PIECE, JUST WANTED TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT TO KEEP THEIR HEARTS OPEN FOR THE NORTH CAROLINA VICTIMS OF THE STORM AND THE FLORIDA VICTIMS, THEY'RE STILL WORKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE DISASTER. FLORIDA, AS I UNDERSTAND IT TODAY, MAY HAVE ALL THE POWER BACK ON. SO IT'S PRETTY UNBELIEVABLE WHAT THEY CAN PULL OFF AFTER A DISASTER OF THIS NATURE. AND NORTH CAROLINA IS STILL STRUGGLING WITH GETTING SOME POWER BACK AND GETTING THEIR SELVES BACK TOGETHER. SO JUST THINK ABOUT THEM. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CARROLL. YES, SIR. JUST A FEW THINGS. ONE, TO REMIND EVERYONE THREE WEEKS TO THE ELECTION, GO GET EDUCATED. MAKE SURE YOU'RE VOTING FOR THE RIGHT PERSON. THERE'S LOTS OF AMENDMENTS. READ THOSE AMENDMENTS. THERE ARE COMMERCIALS RUNNING FOR AND AGAINST. EDUCATE YOURSELF. MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS. I KNOW THERE ARE SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE DOING CLASSES OR EDUCATIONAL GET TOGETHERS TO WHERE THEY CAN BREAK DOWN THE AMENDMENTS AND JUST READ THOSE. THOSE ARE IMPORTANT. THE OTHER ONE THAT'S HUGE ON THERE IS THE HALF CENT SURTAX. THAT HALF CENT SURTAX ALLOWS US TO PAVE OUR ROADS, FIX DRAINAGE, ADD SIDEWALKS. WE HAVE A TREMENDOUSLY LONG LIST OF PROJECTS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY GET ACCOMPLISHED IN THE PAST EIGHT YEARS. SO THAT HALF CENT WE NEED TO CONTINUE, THAT IT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO KEEP UP WITH OUR INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS. SO I WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO MAKE SURE YOU SUPPORT THAT TOMORROW.MY YOUNGEST TURNED 16, SO YOU'VE ALL BEEN WARNED THAT WE'VE GOT A NEW DRIVER ON THE ROAD TOMORROW.
AND LASTLY, WE WENT TO SEE MY OLDEST IN COLLEGE THIS PAST WEEKEND. WENT TO THE FOOTBALL GAME ON SATURDAY. BEEN A LONG DAY, HALF TIME. THEY'RE LOSING 13 TO 3. NO WIN IN SIGHT.
EVERYONE'S IMPATIENT, READY TO GO. SO WE LEFT. WENT TO THE HOTEL ROOM. NEXT MORNING I WAKE UP, GET AN EMAIL, SAID THE EAGLES WON AND I THOUGHT, WELL, THEY MUST HAVE WON IN VOLLEYBALL BECAUSE IT WASN'T THE GAME I WAS WATCHING. LO AND BEHOLD, THEY COME BACK, THEY WIN. IT'S 2423.
BUT THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS BE PATIENT, DON'T BE IN A HURRY. ENJOY EVERY DAY. WE NEVER KNOW THE GIFT THAT'S GOING TO GIVE TO US. SO ENJOY YOUR DAY. THANK YO, THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE CHRIS FOX ON OUR STAFF. HE HAS BEEN NAMED AS A FINALIST FOR THE AWARD IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR CATEGORY. AND JUST CONGRATULATIONS TO HIM FOR THAT. AND THEN WANTED TO COMMENT ON THIS HANEY RESOLUTION LETTER OF SUPPORT AND JUST WHAT'S BEING DONE THERE. I HAVE THE
[00:35:05]
OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF HANEY AND WHAT THEY DO. IT'S A WONDERFUL THING JUST BEING ABLE TO GET MORE TRADESPEOPLE OUT AND BEING ABLE TO DO THIS WORK WITH SERVICE MEMBERS AND OTHERS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THIS, THAT'S WONDERFUL. BOB, IF WE COULD ON THE IRON MAN, IF WE COULD GET THOSE VARIABLE MESSAGE BOARDS OUT EARLY ON THE COURSE AREAS.SO EVERYBODY THAT IS IN THE AFFECTED AREAS WILL SEE THOSE SIGNS SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.
WE'LL STILL GET OUR PHONE CALLS, I KNOW, BUT AT LEAST WE CAN TRY TO FOREWARN THEM AS BEST WE CAN.
AND THEN ONE OTHER ITEM I'D GONE OVER THIS WITH STAFF. IT WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT IN THE BUDGET IN TIME, BUT SOMETHING I WOULD ASK FOR US TO CONSIDER AS WE ALL KNOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT WITH SURTAX AND DIFFERENT THINGS. WE'VE GOT 180 MILES OF PUBLIC DIRT ROADS IN OUR IN OUR AREA, IN OUR COUNTY, I SHOULD SAY, AND I FEEL LIKE MOST OF IT IS ACTUALLY LOCATED IN MY DISTRICT.
AND WE TALKED TO THEM ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WORKING, WE'RE LETTING OUT PROJECTS, WE'RE REPAVING ROADS, RESURFACING ROADS AND DOING THOSE THINGS. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF GROWTH THAT'S COMING. THERE ARE A LOT MORE PEOPLE THAT LIVE ON THESE COUNTY ROADS. I KNOW THAT THE MONEY IS IN THE BUDGET, AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR US TO LOOK AT THE INITIAL COST OF GETTING EVERYTHING STARTED UP IS ABOUT $3 MILLION, WHICH WOULD BE TWO MILES OF PAVED ROADS. AND AS I SAID TO STAFF, WHEN THEY TALKED TO ME ABOUT IT, IT WOULD TAKE TWO MILES OF ROADS. I SAID, YEAH, BUT IF YOU'RE NOT IN THAT 180, THAT GETS THE TWO ROADS PAVED AND YOU'RE NOT IN THAT LOTTERY, YOU'RE STILL WAITING. AND SO I THINK IT WOULD BE BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR A LOT OF THESE CITIZENS THAT LIVE ON THESE DIRT ROADS FOR US TO BE GETTING AND SERVICING THEM AND GRADING THEM AND TOUCHING THEM AND MAINTENANCE THEM MORE FREQUENTLY. AND WE HAVE THE MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. AND MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE WAITED UNTIL I WASN'T SITTING IN THE CHAIRMAN'S SEAT TO ASK THIS, BUT I YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO PUT THIS IN AND AMEND OUR UPCOMING BUDGET TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THIS. I'VE COVERED WITH MIRANDA. WE'VE ALREADY DONE ALL OF OUR PROPER NOTICES AND EVERYTHING. SO WHILE I'M STILL GETTING THE LOOK FROM HER, I'M NOT IN THE SAME AMOUNT OF TROUBLE WITH HER AS I WOULD HAVE BEEN IF I TRIED TO DO THIS WHILE WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS. BUT I JUST WANT TO OPEN THIS UP REAL QUICK FOR DISCUSSION AND SEE IF WE CAN'T VOTE TO GET THIS ADDED AND GET THE CITIZENS THAT LIVE ON THESE DIRT ROADS A LITTLE BIT BETTER. QUALITY OF LIFE. DON'T EVERYBODY SPEAK AT ONCE, AND I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT IT DOES TO OUR BUDGET. WHERE IS IT COMING FROM? WHAT ARE WE NOT DOING THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING THIS FOR? AND I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT BREAKDOWN. I MEAN, I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND IT. I WAS I DROVE ON A DIRT ROAD YESTERDAY, PROSPER LANE, AND IT WAS A WASHBOARD LIKE IT REMINDED ME OF WHEN I GREW UP ON A DIRT ROAD IN SOUTHPORT. SO I COMPLETELY GET IT. I WOULD LOVE TO LOOK AT IT TO JUST. I'D LIKE TO SEE SOME MAINTENANCE WHERE THE MONEY'S COMING FROM. IF WE HOPEFULLY WE'RE GOING TO GET OUR HALF CENT SALES TAX PASSED. BUT SO IF I COULD, MR. CHAIRMAN, THIS WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR SURTAX. SO LET'S MAKE SURE WE CLEAR THAT UP RIGHT AWAY. ALL RIGHT. AND THE FUNDS WOULD COME FROM RESERVE UNLESS THERE IS SOME OTHER AREA OF THE BUDGET THAT THE BOARD WOULD BE LOOKING TO CUT. THAT SORT OF SCARY SINCE OUR RESERVES ARE NOT WHERE THEY NEED TO BE RIGHT NOW. SO STILL, I WOULD LOVE TO LOOK AT IT AND SEE WHERE WE ARE. AND MAYBE THERE'S A CHANCE OF DOING A PARTIAL NO CORRECTION ON SOME OF THIS, YOU KNOW, SPLIT IT UP. BUT COMING OUT OF RESERVES IS GOING TO BE HARD. I THINK. I THINK SEEING A FULL PICTURE OF OUR FOR THE REVENUE, HOW WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR IT, WHERE IT'S GOING TO COME FROM. AND ALSO I'D LIKE TO MAYBE A LITTLE HISTORY ON, YOU KNOW, WE USED TO GRADE ROADS ON A AT A CERTAIN LEVEL WE'VE ADJUSTED THAT. AND IF WE SEE A LITTLE HISTORY ON THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE ADJUSTED IT DOWN, WHEN WE HAD IT AT THE PEAK AND YOU KNOW, FULL PICTURE AND GO MAYBE ALSO AFTER THESE MAJOR STORMS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, DOUG, YOU AND I RODE OUT THERE ON SOME OF THOSE DIRT ROADS. AND I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. SO AFTER SOME OF THE MAJOR STORMS, WE NEED TO MAYBE LOOK AT DOING SOME ADDITIONAL GRADING. SO WE DO THAT CURRENTLY THE CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE IS ONCE EVERY THREE WEEKS, BARRING ANY TYPE OF WEATHER EVENT. AND THEN IT IS MORE FREQUENTLY WE DO THAT. SO THIS WOULD BE, AS I UNDERSTAND IT FROM MY CONVERSATIONS WITH COMMISSIONER MOORE, THIS WOULD BE INCREASING THE FREQUENCY OF WHAT I WOULD DEFINE AS ROUTINE MAINTENANCE.
MADE THOSE CUTS BACK IN 040506 DURING THE RECESSION. WE USED TO GRADE ONCE A WEEK, TWICE A WEEK, OR, I'M SORRY, TWICE A MONTH. AND THEN SINCE THEN, WE'VE PRETTY MUCH BEEN AT LIKE ONCE
[00:40:02]
EVERY THREE WEEKS CONTEMPLATING IS THE REQUEST WE HAD TO LOOK AT. WAS MAYBE ROLLING THAT BACK TO TWO TIMES A MONTH. SO IS IT GOING TO TAKE AN ADDITIONAL GRADER, AN ADDITIONAL OPERATOR OF THE GRADER, AND YES, MA'AM, ALL OF THAT. AND HOW DOES THAT WEIGH OUT WITH PAVEMENT? YEAH.SO TO HONOR YOUR REQUEST, WE CAN DO IS WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION PUT TOGETHER. WE PUT THAT INFORMATION TOGETHER AT A REQUEST OF COMMISSIONER MOORE DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS. SO WE CAN GET THAT TO YOU AND ARTICULATE THAT TO YOU. WE CAN PUT THE HISTORY INFORMATION TOGETHER AND COME BACK, AND YOU CAN GIVE US DIRECTION ON WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO DO, BUT WE CAN PREPARE TO DO THAT. AND I BELIEVE ALL THAT GOES DIRECTLY TO TIGHTEN OUR BELT WHEN WE NEED TO TIGHTEN OUR BELT. IN THE PAST AND EFFORTS NOT TO RAISE THE MILLAGE RATE, FINDING AREAS THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD. BUT MAKE ADJUSTMENTS SO THE MILLAGE RATE IS NOT AFFECTED.
THOSE TYPE OF I REMEMBER THOSE DISCUSSIONS WHEN WE HAD THEM IN THE PAST, HOW ARE WE GOING TO TIGHTEN OUR BELT? HOW ARE WE GOING TO LIVE WITHIN OUR BUDGET, LIVE WITHIN OUR MEANS? AND SO JUST THINKING BACK IN THE PAST, SOME OF THE DISCUSSIONS WE HAD SOME YEARS BACK, THAT'S KIND OF WHERE ALL THIS EFFORT CAME FROM AND HOW WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY WITH IT. WE'RE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THEY WERE LITERALLY SOME PIPES THAT WERE WASHED OUT AND SOME ROAD, A COUPLE OF DRIVES. I THINK WERE IMPASSABLE WHEN WE, WHEN WE ROAD COURSE IT WAS AFTER, YOU KNOW, MAJOR EVENTS. SO I'M SURE ALL THAT'S BEEN SQUARED AWAY BY NOW. BUT THE KEY FOR ME IS, IS US HAVING THIS CONVERSATION UP HERE FROM THE STANDPOINT OF, YOU KNOW, WHEN OH FOUR, WHEN WE DID THIS AND WHERE OUR, OUR COUNT WAS OF CITIZENS LIVED IN THE COUNTY AND THE COMMUNITY UNTIL NOW. THERE'S A LOT MORE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THESE AREAS THAN THEY DID IN THE PAST. AND SO I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US TO BE FOCUSING ON THAT AS WELL. AND I DON'T DISAGREE WITH YOU. AND ONE OF THE THINGS, SHOULD Y'ALL CHOOSE TO ELECT ME AS CHAIR IN THIS NEXT ROUND, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH BOB AND MIRANDA ABOUT, THAT WE'LL BE BRINGING FORWARD IS A RESERVE POLICY TO START GROWING OUR RESERVE AND BE VERY FOCUSED AND DEDICATED ON THAT AS WELL.
SO THAT WILL BE COMING AS WELL AS PART OF THIS. BUT I DO THINK WE, WHATEVER THE VOTE MAY BE, I THINK THIS IS A CONVERSATION WE NEED TO HAVE BECAUSE I DON'T THINK MOST FOLKS REALIZE HOW MANY OF OUR CITIZENS LIVE OUT ON THESE DIRT ROADS NOW, AND HOW MANY FOLKS ARE OUT THERE AND THEY'RE DEALING WITH, AS YOU SAID, THE WASHBOARD ROADS AND THESE DIFFERENT THINGS, AND THERE'S MORE TRAFFIC GOING. SO MORE PEOPLE. SO IT'S AFFECTING THE ROADS MORE. SO THIS IS SOMETHING I FEEL THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT AGAIN, FROM A QUALITY OF LIFE PERSPECTIVE FOR THE CITIZENS THAT LIVE OUT THERE, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO THROUGH SURTAX, WE DO HAVE THE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO START PAVING THESE ROADS. BUT HOW DO WE HOW DO WE ADDRESS THIS? AND I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND TELL YOU, I'VE GOT CITIZENS THAT ARE BLOWING ME UP ABOUT THIS, AND I TELL THEM, THIS IS WHAT I WAS ABOUT TO PRESENT TO Y'ALL. AND I SAID, WELL, JUST PAVE MY ROAD.
SO IT'S A NO WIN SITUATION, BUT STILL, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT. AND LOOK AT HOW CAN WE HOW CAN WE ADDRESS THESE THINGS FOR THOSE CITIZENS THAT LIVE IN THOSE AREAS? AND I THINK THE CHANGES THAT WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE ALONG WITH THE BEACH ON THE CRA, ARE GOING TO HELP US IN, IN THINGS LIKE THIS. YOU KNOW, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT SAVING, SAVING MILLAGE AND ALL THAT. AND SO MAYBE MIRANDA CAN DIG BACK INTO THAT WHOLE SPREADSHEET AGAIN. I KNOW SHE'S EXCITED. I CAN SEE IT ON HER FACE. I AGREE, I THINK THAT NOBODY HAS A CRYSTAL BALL, BUT I BELIEVE WE'RE LOOKING AT GOOD DAYS AHEAD AND THROUGH SOME OF WHAT WE'VE COME THROUGH HAS BEEN PRETTY ROUGH FINANCIALLY, AND WE'VE MADE DECISIONS IN THE PAST THAT THAT THAT HAD TO KEEP OUR OUR SHIP AFLOAT IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. BUT WE IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE WE HAVE SOME GOOD DAYS AHEAD AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS AND LOOSEN UP A LITTLE BIT. AND I AGREE WITH, WITH COMMISSIONER MOORE THAT AS THE POPULATION GROWS, IT'S GROWING OUTWARDLY BECAUSE THE COST, THE LAND IS A LOT LESS, A LOT LESS EXPENSIVE. AND SO THE POPULATION IS SPREADING OUT MORE, MORE PEOPLE LIVING ON THE DIRT ROADS, MORE DEMAND ON THE DIRT ROADS. AND SO I 100% AGREE WITH THAT. AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING VERY WORTH LOOKING AT.
AND HAVING THAT DISCUSSION AND SEEING WHERE WE CAN MOVE FORWARD ON THAT. I THINK EVERYONE'S OPEN TO WASHBOARD ROADS WERE THE ORIGINAL SPEED BUMPS, RIGHT? YEAH. THAT'S RIGHT. AND SEEING NOTHING ELSE? NO. I'VE GOT SOME DIRT ROAD DISCUSSIONS I COULD THROW UP. I COULD THROW A BOMB OUT THERE REAL QUICK, BUT I WON'T DO IT. I'VE, I'VE PUT ALL KIND OF INFORMATION TOGETHER ON THAT. BUT I SEE YOUR HANDS ON THE GAVEL. I'LL JUST LET THAT GO
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.