Board of County Commissioners - Regular Meeting

accounting systems that happened after year end so that did result in quite a bit of a delay but we were able to ultimately pull the books together and they were and get them ready for audit and so we were able to issue our opinion on their financial statements the second finding is in regards to their physical inventory and reconciling that physical inventory to the fixed asset records where that didn't there was a lot of disposals during the year that were actually appeared to be disposed of in a prior year and so that reconciliation process just needs to be tightened up and then there were some funds in the inmate trust fund for the jail the inmates at the jail that have been sitting in their inmate trust account for a number of years and some of those inmates are now gone. And so they need to figure out what to do with that money. And then there is also a recommendation in here about the handling of the debit cards that are issued to inmates when they leave the jail, having a secondary review of those issuances. Right now, only one person handles that. Okay, and then the final finding is on the clerk's financial statements. He did have a kind of a system glitch in his accounting software, and there was an entry that was posted that threw out their do-tos and do-froms between his funds only on his books, and so we had to correct that, and they are working with the software vendor to resolve that issue, but it was not a material item at all. Next, we have some financial highlights on a countywide basis. So this includes the board, the sheriff, all the constitutional officers across the board, and last five years of revenue. So you can see there. Total revenues are now 60.6 million. That was up about 600,000 or 1% from the prior year. And this will fluctuate from year to year due to grant activity. You had more grant activity. And you see in the capital grants and contributions line in the prior year, those road grants kind of fluctuate from one year to the next. And that was a big year in 2024. Next, we have expenditures by function. And this is the way the governmental accounting standards require us to compile all this information on a county-wide basis. And you can see expenditures were actually down 1.1 million from the prior year, from 60.7 to 59.6. That was about a 1.78% decrease. And a lot of that is tied to those road grants. one year to the next and here's some selected financial information for various funds that you may be interested in the general fund had a good surplus in the current 2025 year and its reserve levels are very healthy right now or at that time at least they were It's been bolstered by ARPA funds and CARES funds that you've been able to use over the years on operational type items. The County Transportation Fund did have a loss during that time of just over a million dollars. The EMS fund has had a slight increase. Indigent surtax funds, an increase. And ending fund balance is just over $7 million. The library services fund does have a deficit in fund balance of $56,000. So we had to disclose that in the financial statements whenever you have a deficit in fund balance. So we've talked to Rose, and she's working on that in the budget process, getting that squared away. Okay, this slide presents the grant activity for the county during the fiscal year and there were 52 grants that you had activity on. 25 were federal grants and 27 were state. The total federal grants were over 5.2 million and state grants were about 5.2 million. So this is a lot of extra work that the accounting team is working on and doing a good job keeping track of all these different grants. Capital assets, you spent about $7.2 million during that time frame. Some of it was the Stevens School shelter renovations. There were some new vehicles being leased. Software subscriptions now are considered capital activity. And of course, the largest road projects were Hardaway Highway and Spooner Road. long-term debt activity during that fiscal year. Not a lot of new debt, it's just those leases and software agreements and tower renewals of the tower lease agreements. The net pension liabilities, the county's portion of that did decrease by about 5.2 million due to strong investment performance at FRS, the Florida Retirement System. You have no control over that. But you did pay down your regular outstanding bonds and notes by $2.8 million during the fiscal year. The gas tax and hospital bonds will be paid off in 2030. There were some subsequent events we disclosed in the financial statements. These are just items that occurred after 9-30-25 that were disclosed. You received some settlement proceeds through the county's insurance carrier related to Hurricane Michael. There was a refinancing of one of the the installment purchase agreements for some public works equipment. And of course, the Sheriff's Office experienced a cybersecurity event. They're still evaluating the cost, the total impact of that. These next several slides are required communications. They're in a separate letter that we issue. And these are just kind of standard communications. It tells you kind of how the audit went. We did have a couple of new accounting pronouncements we had to implement, GASB 101 and GASB 102. 101 is on compensated absences, and then 102 is on risk disclosures. There were none. These are some estimates in the financial statements that we have to disclose. They're not taking any aggressive positions in their estimations. So we were comfortable with these estimates. Let's see here. We have to disclose nowadays the audit adjustments and any uncorrected audit adjustments. Let's see here. There we go. Didn't press it hard enough. And so there were a couple of material audit adjustments there that we've listed out. These are kind of technical accounting matters. And then the ones we did not post are considered uncorrected misstatements. And these are the small equipment leases, like copiers and postage machines. And overall, the net impact was like $4,000. So we did not post that. hard enough here's some other required disclosures the only significant difficulty that we encountered was the delay of our audit as I mentioned related to the sheriff's audit and then finally we have a couple of accounting pronouncements that are on the horizon there we go The biggest one is GASB 103, which will add some, we were talking with Rose about this, will add some disclosure on the budget versus actual and the original budget versus final budget, having some disclosures about those significant variances will be in the financial statements during FY26. There's also some additional disclosure of capital asset information and then other clarifications on what should be a subsequent event. All right. Does anybody have any questions on any of that? Those were the highlights that we wanted to go over with you that's in this main report.

Any questions? Yes.

What makes us better? What in here makes us better?

What makes you improve? Well, getting the sheriff's financial statements closed out and ready for audit earlier. That would make this process go much, much smoother. I know that they had a cybersecurity event and they're working on getting that rectified and getting back on their systems back online. We did recommend that they move those systems to the cloud in terms of their accounting systems. They don't have the same problem. So hopefully that will come to fruition next year.

OK, that's the shares. But what makes us better? I mean, that delayed the audit, but it doesn't necessarily tell us what we need to do to improve our accounting.

As far as your accounting, we've gone through some of the accounting adjustments with the clerk's staff and kind of tried to show them exactly what the reasons for those adjustments are. And I think they're understanding how that all comes together now. We can provide any information we can. they need in order to help with those adjustments. We've talked to Rose about the compliance issues with the budget over expenditures. And she's fully aware of how that works. And these things kind of come in towards the end of the year. And you're rushing around to get these budget amendments approved before the 60-day deadline. So she's going to be.

Well, what you're saying is what you talked to her about. But tell me what you think about this. I think this is on page four, financial statements being materially mistaken had they not been corrected. What were they?

those were audit adjustments that we posted so um these were things like deferred revenues that should have been recognized into revenue that they had just not realized needed to be corrected like whenever they spent the arpa money they needed to recognize that revenue to match the expenditures that's that's one example okay there are things like that i have

I have asked you these questions before. So I always do ask them. Because we have to be better every year, the accounting. And we need to work together to be better. And you do these accountings for other organizations. Yes. So that's why I'm asking, what do we do to improve?

You've just got to have additional training in the accounting team. to better understand some of these more technical matters, I think that would be helpful.

That would help if the department heads were getting training too.

Yes.

Because that would negate the problems of having the physical done out in the field and the numbers to match.

Yes. Yeah, the physical inventory. Definitely. Absolutely.

OK. I'll look over it, and I'm sure I have some questions. We'll look over it first. But OK, thank you. Mr. James.

Mr. Chairman. Yes, Commissioner Green. So I did hear that there were some penalties for, I guess, some of the lateness or the over expenditures. Do we have the penalties amount or the consequences for these penalties or these findings?

As far as I'm aware, there have not been any penalties, and there are none, unless you begin to get further and further down the road. I'm hoping that the sheriff, as I mentioned, that the sheriff will get their books straightened out and be ready next year and the year you're in now. I said we're not in the same position. But if you were to have longer periods, like we're a couple months late here from the June 30 deadline. But it doesn't sound like that's going to cause a major issue. If you were to become many, many months late, even a year late, then you could be threatened with a reduction of state funding. And from what I understand, the clerk did receive some message from DOT, I believe, saying, hey, you need to get your audit in immediately and as soon as possible to avoid any potential ramifications. Thank you.

Question, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. On page 16, you had required communications, corrected misstatements. Usually you give a letter and say, you know in the letter you usually list what they are and i didn't know you're doing this in a presentation this time all that's been cleared up yes yes all these adjustments were posted yes these were adjusted okay correct okay

I just want to say that we spent some quality time today with him reviewing this report. And all in all, I'm pretty pleased with what I saw. Thank you for what I heard. Thank you.

And excuse me, Mr. Chairman, and may I say this? Yes. We must have what some improvements could be in order for us to get better because we're not doing the numbers. And we have to have that. Usually I spoke to someone today, just happened to speak to them today. But they do follow up on their audit. They do a follow up meeting. And that's how they do their corrections and find out what they need to do. I think that'll be a good idea. But thank you.

Thank you. Anyone else before we separate? Anyone else? We got a motion. You did.

I don't think it's public comment.

I'll second. Hold on a second. First of all, before we do that, do we have any public comments first? We're about to change to speak on this item before we decide to move forward and talk about it then. All right. So now do we have a motion on the floor?

Move approval.

Second. Motion is second. All in favor sign.

Aye.

Anyone oppose? All right, 5-0 vote. Thank you very much. All right, next we'll have this agenda. We have a motion on the floor for that.

May I ask a question right quick, Mr. Chairman? Yes. On number 7C, that's not a money item?

7C.

Mr. Chair, it's my understanding that 7C did have a fiscal impact, but the fiscal impact wasn't to the county. The county was acting as a pass-through agent for the Department of Transportation through the Sun Trail program, which you guys had previously approved.

We approved it, but if it's some money, then reimbursement? If it's not a reimbursement, then how's the pass-through? And it's fine. I mean, you can just put on a regular agenda. I mean, it's not going to be approved. No one's going to turn down any money.

But does it impact the general fund?

It didn't.

My understanding in reviewing it prior to today was that 7C had no impact on a general fund, and that essentially you guys were approving it for DOT to fund it because they were going to manage the central project.

No money's coming out of the bank.

It was my understanding. If Public Works has a different position, they're . My understanding was that you guys were acting as a pass-through approval, because they were going to do work within your incorporated areas.

OK, so there is under, it said fiscal impact. And then there's Department of Transportation. So we're approving the $659,000 for the trail. And none had to come out of the bank. This is just money going to go from FDOT to the county.

So again, I can't speak into detail to the financial transactions. I haven't been in contact. My review of it, because you guys had previously approved the Sun Trail agreement, and there was going to be no fiscal impact on the actual county's general fund. And so this wasn't like one of your normal grants where the county is bidding it out and doing all the work.

I'm just saying, if it's no money out of the bank, out of the county's coffers, it's fine. Then it wouldn't be under consent. It can be put on a regular and still approved.

Can I just move it to, can we just go ahead and just pull this item here and discuss it? Because the people in the community know what it is. I think it's a great thing. Yeah, it is. So we can have the county to discuss it.

And the Spanish Trail, same thing.

Good idea. Because it's something that, yeah. And so we can discuss it and vote on it tonight.

OK.

That way then people didn't know exactly.

Put it on the general?

This is a great item here. Yeah.

Put it on the general?

Yes.

11 what?

Or commission if you're comfortable. We had them come speak on it now. And so they can give a brief synopsis of what this item is about. Then people can hear it. Then we can just move.

Sure. I mean, as long as, if we're going to put a money item, like we said before, financials go in the general.

But it doesn't impact the general fund, though.

If we don't pay it out, we're good.

If you guys are going to, if you want discussion on it, it'd be my recommendation that you pull it out of the consent, because it would no longer be a consent item. Or you can pull it for discussion and move it from 7C into item 8. If you want to pull it for discussion for them to talk about it, you can pull it into item 8. Or you can make it 11. Yeah. Right at the beginning. H. Because right now you have it as 7C. Yeah, sure. So you have two options.

I move that 7C be moved to 11H.

What about 8? I think she's made a motion. Her motion has to get a second or die for like a second.

Die.

All right. Motion. OK. No, it's OK. I mean, I second it. I second it. Oh, I'm sorry.

If it's the location, it's fine. Put it anywhere you want.

I just, yeah. I mean, I think the community knows exactly what it's all about.

OK. Let's just say 11H. I don't think it's going to be a long night.

OK, cool.

OK, that's my motion.

11H. All right, great. We got a motion to second. All in favor sign.

Aye.

Aye. Anyone opposed? All right, 5-0 vote. All right, wonderful. So let's go with now a consent item. We have a motion to approve.

Move approval.

OK, motion to move, approve. Second. All right. A motion to second. All in favor sign. Aye. All right. So it's 5-0 vote. Next item pulled for discussion. I guess we just talked about that. Nine citizens requested to be heard on non-agenda items. Three minutes. The Gadsden County... Board of County Commissioners welcomes and encourages public participation at all meetings of the board. Citizens are free to speak for up to three minutes on non-agenda items. Public comments and participation are also encouraged for items on the agenda. Additionally, if you are unable to attend a meeting in person, comments from the public can also be submitted via email to citizens to be heard at gastoncountyfl.gov. Again, citizens to be heard at gastoncountyfl.gov until noon on the date of the meeting. Comments submitted after the deadline but prior to the meeting be added to the official records, but the Gaston County Board of County Commission cannot guarantee that commissioners and staff will have adequate time to review comments prior to the meeting. Citizens are further encouraged to participate on the county website at www.gastoncountyfl.gov. Again, www.gastoncountyfl.gov. All right, so do we have any public comments here? We don't have any public comments. Now we have someone, we have one public comment here. I'm just putting the record here. For Gaston County Commissioners, student safety, missing person in local research initiative. Members of the Gadsden County Board of County Commissioner, please place this proposal before the board and circulate it to commissioners and appropriate county staff. I am asking Gadsden County to support a student-centered local research and safety initiative involving our schools, colleges, law enforcement, media, historian, and community members. Student will investigate, not simply be handled conclusion about. Guest encounter history and present day condition. Topic can include missing person case and their last known location. The unresolved 1973 disappearance of Isley Buddy McCollum and his 12-year-old grandson. linear historically newspaper and maps population change school desegregation and enrollment public public records or history and community safety students should be challenged to find facts charts records interviews maps and connections that that were not supplied to them then i guess that's one proposal here I asked the county to help connect this initiative with Gaston County Schools, FDLE, the Gaston County Sheriff's Office, Quincy Police, Florida DOE, local colleges, and appropriate youth safety organization, Ronald David Jones, Quincy, Gaston County, Florida. All right, so that's the only one I have now for public comments. I don't think I have anything else. So next, we don't have any public hearings. General business, 11-8.

Thanks, Chairman. 11-8. Gadsden County Public Works Department has five enterprise lease vehicles. and one county-owned vehicle in Enterprise Maintenance Agreement. Staff is seeking Board approval to return four of the five vehicles and cancel the maintenance agreement for the county-owned vehicle to reduce their annual contracted expenditures. Staff identified vehicles that were not sold or traded that can be utilized for daily operations. With the elimination of these contracted items, Public Works can reduce contracted costs by $62,000 annually.

All right. Any questions? I have a question. Commissioner Holt and Commissioner Green.

What equipment that we have out there, excuse me, that's needed that we couldn't do maintenance on? Because if we get rid of equipment, what equipment do we have that's needed and daily needed, daily, that we can't do maintenance on that we would have to get maintenance done on? Because if we trade back to Enterprise, that's fine. But if we're going to cut back, what equipment are they needing out there that they need that would have to be worked on? And if it's fair trade or if it's Because if it's just vehicles, then that's fine. But I'm saying I want that other look. I know. I know what he said. But I was just saying, at this time, I would like for those others to be looked at.

Very well.

Because I looked at two out there, and they were not doing too well outside the road the other day. But thank you.

Yeah, these are vehicles. Yes, vehicles.

Commissioner Green. They are vehicles, so I guess my question or concern would have been, is it an equal or is it really a savings overall? I hear the $62,000, but will we pay for that in the long run with maintenance and other fees and other costs from the equipment or the vehicles that... we will be utilizing going forward? I mean, I hear the 62,000, but at the same time, is there a need or is there not a need for these vehicles?

I think in its request, Commissioner, he said he'd identified other vehicles that he could use for daily operations.

Yeah, I saw that, but I guess that's the area of expertise. I just hope that in the long run that it does not come back. But the other vehicles that are older vehicles, I hope they don't come back and cost us more money having to do repairs on them. Thank you.

All right, great. Any other questions? Move approval. All right, we have a motion to approve. I do have a second. Second. Motion to approve in a second. All in favor sign. Anyone oppose? No. All right. 3-2. Let's vote.

11B. 11B is primarily a project extension for the public safety complex. They extend the agreement out to August 31, 2028 for completion.

MOVE APPROVAL, BUT I DO HAVE A QUESTION.

SECOND. OKAY, WELL, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND WITH A QUESTION. COMMISSIONER GREEN, THEN COMMISSIONER SIMPKINS, THEN COMMISSIONER HOLDEN.

Did we ever, I know we voted the last meeting on the necessary paperwork for the prefabrication of the Joe Adams Public Safety Complex. Did we ever get that appropriate paperwork submitted over to AJAX? Because last I checked, it had not been.

Mr. Turner? Yeah, I can confirm that Ajax and all the appropriate parties, including on the county and the sheriff's side, received the document signed by the administrator approving the pre-construction agreement this board approved.

All right. Thank you. Because a few days ago, it wasn't. And I did ask, and I haven't gotten the answer back from anyone. So thank you.

All right. Commissioner Simpkins?

A couple of things. One, I'm looking at this and it says approval of the 80% design. What is our, almost a year ago now, I thought that we should have been at 100% design on this. One. And number two, now that we have gotten that is over there, do we have a time frame from Ajax as to when they will have their GMP?

Mr. Chair? Yes. I can answer the second half, which is that Ajax is now engaged to pre-construction services, but Ajax will not be able to have a hard GMP to the county until Ajax bids it out to its subs, which they have to do under the agreements that we've signed with the state. And so I don't think at this time it's possible for the county And again, I'll take a pause speaking for Ajax to give us a GMP because they haven't hard bid to their subs yet. I think to the second question, to the extent you're interested, Mr. Chair, I do see CRA has a representative here. And so to the extent they can give us a hard time, a hard date on when we'll have 100%, I think they'll be best to speak to that, Mr. Chair. Okay.

Follow up to the attorney, please. OK, what is the, based on the?

You want him to answer your first question first, Ciara?

Are you OK? After he finished, and then Ciara can. As it relates to the, what is the deadline? Like, what's the time frame that the GM, that Ajax has to have this bidded out? Like, how long does it have to be out?

And so I guess, once Ajax. Is it 30 days or? So it's different requirements. OK. And so once. What, 60?

It's about 45 to 60 days after .

So yeah, there's different grants. So this is a bucket of grants. I believe last time I checked, there was at least three, maybe four. I think the sheriff got a fourth last year, at the end of last year, for under $1 million, which brought the number up to four grants, is my understanding. But overall, it's my understanding that once Ajax puts this out, they will have to put it out on the street, the term that's used, which means they will have to publish it and put the bid out for a minimum of 30 days, which is their minimum. Once Ajax gets those bids back, they will, of course, do the diligence to make sure they're good bids. And then they will be required to submit to us their GMP. And because this is an open book CMAR, they will have to also submit to us all of the bids they received. And so for every bid they sent out for each sub, which is going to be a major project, we'll also have to get all of that modeling. But Ajax, they can begin with their internal partners, which is the purpose of the pre-construction that Commissioner Green and Commissioner Wood wanted. They can begin with their internal partners to estimate the potential cost for the items to see whether or not the cost modeling that... CRA has done is accurate. CRA is doing their own cost modeling as they build it out. They're contracted to cost model it to ensure that what they build or what they design can be built.

Mr. Attorney, I appreciate all of that. But I'm looking at dates right now. I need to know. And I guess I need you all to find out from Ajax. Now that they have this signed documents that they've been requesting, when can we expect for them to have their GMP so that we can vote on it? That's what I need to know. And Mr. Chair, if Mr. Bryant could, I would appreciate it.

Yeah. Also, too, for all the smart people that are listening, GMP simply stands for Guarantee Maximum Price. So you can go ahead.

Mr. Baptiste, I couldn't have said it any better. You hit the nail on the head. And just so you know, Ajax has already, even though they were waiting on the pre-construction contract to be signed, they were already moving, having discussions, getting things lined up. So it's not like they're starting from scratch. I believe it was sent to them Thursday or Friday of last week. I can't speak. I just talked to Ajax this morning about it. In regards to the rest of the documents, We have a meeting with the Sheriff's Office this Thursday to finalize. There are a few last minute, not last minute, but a few items that we need some clarification on, specifically dealing with security, their security of how they want the public safety, what they want, their camera locations, stuff like that. Once we have that, information from them this Thursday. If everything goes according to plan, we will have everything finished up four weeks from this Thursday.

So four weeks from this Thursday. That would be October? 12th, I believe. OK. OK. I'm going to put that on my calendar now, because of that. Absolutely. OK. OK. OK. Thank you. Yes, ma'am.

Thank you. Ma'am, Mr. Chairman. Yes. I was going to say then everything will be ready for the sub-bid, right?

yes yeah so ajax is already preparing the bid packages right they're going to be sending sending out and so it'll just be a function of when everything's done they're pulling out those packages and putting everything in to go out right to go out and then they they'll be it and then they come back in yes after the number of days so that that just want to let you know that's not going to be a ready set go they got to send them out they had to get them back There was some discussion. So Civil is more, they're ahead because there was some talk with the sheriff about wanting to maybe possibly do an early release package with Civil. We're going to have conversation with Ajax to see if that would, since we're only four weeks behind getting everything done, if that will be, if there's any benefit to that. But that might be, since Civil is farther along, we can release that, bid that ahead of everything else. And then you'll have a... It'll be an amendment. It'll be a second amendment, because the first amendment would be the GMP that they exhibit, the first GMP. And then we would just submit an exhibit B for the second part for the rest of the building. But as of right now, if everything this Thursday goes, we get all the answers we need from the sheriff's office, we're looking at about a four-week turnaround to get everything done. That's on your end. Yes, ma'am, that was.

OK, that's with CRI. Mr. Chair, so with your expertise, OK, because you all have worked on quite a few projects in Gaston County building for us.

Yes, ma'am.

Right. With your expertise, with them having this information, about how long do you think it will take? I know you're not speaking for Ajax, but just with your expertise.

Could you give me an estimate of when... A completed GMP to the board for approval? I think the 30 days to bid and then... Depending on the scope, again, if we break it out, I'm sorry, if we break it out and do two separate GMPs, there will be less in the first and more in the second. I would say 30 days to bid and then probably another, I'd give you 15 after they get all their bids back because they've already started. That's the beauty of a CMAR. They know the market. They know where things are at. They can go ahead and start penciling in what they think things are going to come in at. And so it's not like they're starting from scratch when they do get their bids in. So when they get the bids in, it's just changing numbers in their GMP. So I would say 15 days after they get bids back, you should hopefully have somewhere around 15 days. They should be able to have a GMP to the board.

OK. All right. Thank you. Mr. Chair? Yeah. So I just want to confirm. So when we, for timeline purposes, the 100% plan still has to go to the state and be approved.

Yes, sir.

So we can't be, Ajax is going to issue a contingent GMP Because until the plans are approved by the state, they're not final plans that can be bid on necessarily. We can assume that they're going to share them. But I guess my question, just so I know when I'm working with the administrator, is that assuming, and I imagine the ShareFronts building built the most so that Thursday will work well. So you're saying by October? 15th is your date?

No, he said October 12th. I had 12th. It was four weeks from Thursday. I might have had it.

So by October 12th, you guys anticipate having your 100% set of plans submitted to the state.

Yes, sir. But please note, those things can run congruent because while they are bidding the project, you're going to have questions that come in from subs. Hey, what do you mean here? And so we will be issuing addendums addressing those comments. So the state will be looking at it at the same time we're bidding it. or Ajax is bidding it, and then any questions that the state has for us that they want incorporated in the documents, they'll be rolled right in with any other addendum that we have to issue to the sub. So the bidding and the approval from the state typically run, they don't run, it's not linear. They can run at the same time.

That's all I have. All right. Sounds pretty good. Thank you all very much. Thank you. Thank you very much. All right, any other questions? All right, do we have a motion?

We had a motion and a second already.

Oh, OK. A motion and a second. All in favor sign. Aye. Anyone opposed? All right, five will vote. Next, we have 11C.

11C, Mr. Chairman. This item is presented to the Board of County Commissioners for discussion on a status update regarding the county's consideration of the potential acquisition and adoption of Woodbury Road into the county road system. The item provides the board with a summary of the actions taken to date, the history of the request, and the status of the process for the board's discussion and direction regarding next steps. OK.

All right, any questions?

Mr. Chairman?

Yes, Commissioner Holt.

Sure. Mr. Steele? Mr. Administrator?

Mr. Steele, you may come up.

As you know, that this item, those of you that have been here a while, has been on the agenda. And then for months, we weren't on the agenda. Now we're able to get back on the agenda. This item is the first thing I worked on back in 01, 02. First thing. And the holdup on this has been that the citizens in the beginning were not willing to give up the land for the road. Then it was to acquire the land. Several of them would not sign off. So then would not sign off. They did. The ones that lived there were willing to sign off, but they did not own the property. So they were tenants on the property. That got to be a problem. Then more recently, we worked on getting them to just deed the part of the road, not their property, just whatever was on the road. If it passed by there, they signed off on a sample deed. And that was the previous administrator and the previous attorney that went through those two things. Now, what we're trying to do right now, hopefully, is get the board to agree to adopt as the two that were done on one of the previous agendas. uh woodbury road had been waiting out there for years and mr murray and several others were going to come up here today and i told mr murray i got him to calm down let us have the discussion and see what we could get going now on the um the we would have to have uh agreed to adopt it tentatively on getting those agreements uh signed off now we can do a petition i asked mr steele to do a petition we were doing one before they had one before those documents were upstairs and then they were at the public works at one time where they are now they cannot find them and that is not the citizens out their fault changing staff, changing government, and all that. Somehow, some of those were misplaced. Now we're looking at, right now, 26 out of the 30, I think, Mr. Steele.

So the previous administrator sent 20, I think, 24 letters out. However, some of those appear to be to the people that were living on the land at the time, not the actual property owners.

Right. Right. There were tenants on the property. Correct. So now it's going to be to get those to sign off on the road itself, not their property, not in their yard, but just on the road. And so one of the hangups has been this. If a staff member or a governmental person goes out and says, we need you to sign off to get this road done, you're stepping over on the taking of land. Either one of them could say, I was forced to, or I was asked to, and I was afraid not to sign off. Then you get into the legal side of that. So what happens? I'm thinking that will work out a lot better because the majority of them have already to get the others to just sign off and do the simple deed. It's a simple deed. It's not a deed of getting footage off of your property. It's simple in that it's just a road itself. And Mr. Steele, you may be able to explain it a little bit better if I'm not explaining it correctly. And also a petition. That way you have both documents. Because the other 20, how many, 24?

Correct.

Had already signed a simple deed that a previous attorney had done. Yes, I'm sorry.

Let me correct that. No, a draft deed was started to be prepared.

Right.

I don't necessarily know if that was ever sent out. We just have that in the filed as a draft deed.

For those 20 some people?

Correct.

Because there were some signatures on some forms before.

I have no copies of any signatures of any.

That's the problem that we're having with this. They were up there in the office where, I think, it wasn't Ms. Dance. It was the office up there right at the end of the hallway, right there where your assistant is, Mr. James. The office of Mr. Hayes had it at one time, that office right there. And that was where, and I called him. And I asked him. He said that he had turned the documents over. They were still in that office when he left. So that's where we are in this situation.

And there was also surveys done, right? The county did pay for a survey to be done. That is correct.

So then, and the county's been doing what they need to do as far as that goes. But what we really need right now is for permission for them to go ahead and do the petition as the other roads have done and do that and be through with it.

I have a question. Go ahead.

Go ahead.

When you're saying permission, because unless we, what is our... Because when we're saying the other rolls were done, the citizens handled those petitions themselves, not the staff. Right. And then once the citizens finished, then they submitted their paperwork. Is that correct? That's correct.

That's exactly what I'm talking about.

OK. All right, so, OK, because you keep saying, like, I am under the impression that I guess I'm understanding. Oh, OK. OK. OK, because it seems like you're saying .

No, no, no, no. And before this was even recognized, I was able to dig up this old law that said we could go out and take private roads. This is years ago. And the first one was done was Quail Roost. road over at the farms and a quail roost was done uh they would have to pay the county for that road to be done and they did they had them paid their money up front and that made a difference we could pay but we could take the road and that's what we did there was another one i want to say

Baroneau? Is Baroneau Road over in Havana?

That process was the same, but the problem came in is that the county paid for a lot of work on that road themselves. That was different from what we had approved, and that was a difference there. That's how we found that old law that says we could do this. So that's where we're at now. So you're going to get calls. And I think the other Mr. Murray came down. He wanted to know what's going on. Not Mr. Murray that came. I think it was his nephew or someone that came. So I want to know. And they want to know if they do their petition as they were doing before, would they be allowed to be accepted by the county as other roles have done? That's what they want.

I mean, I know the answer. The answer is that once they go through the process, then I mean, that's what I tell my constituents. It's what y'all brought to our attention. Once they go through the process, then they bring it to the public works.

Just do the petition and bring it.

They send it to public works. Once they send the public works, public works got to look for them. They can fill out. Once they send the public works, the public works will bring it to the board. And the board got to approve it based on that deal. But they got to complete. But not the person who owns the house now, the home. The person who owns the land. Because you own the house. You own a.

It could be a mobile home.

It could be a mobile home unit. And yet, you don't own the land. The only person who can sign it off is the people who own the piece of property.

Now, if I may, Mr. Chairman, say this. They had a petition already. And I've seen the petition. Now, where it is, I don't know, because it was at the county.

All fairness, if we got the same public work director.

No, no, no. No, no, no. No, no, no. I'm not saying it was at the county down there. It was down there at one time, and I saw a copy of it up here. But they had their petition done. Now, if all of them were signed, I don't know. But there were quite a few that were signed off on that petition.

We had the same problem in Havana. What I just told them to do, because they didn't know what was going on. I just told them, I said, it don't take but one day to walk around through the community. Remember Curtis, remember that happened? I told them, walk through the community. Take one day. Just take a second of your time. a couple hours out of the day. And just walk through your community, whoever owned that piece of property, get them to sign it. Then bring it back to Public Works. Then we can be able to put a first look over it. Once they see that it's OK, then they'll bring it to the Board of County Commission and we just approve it. Yeah. But I walk through my constituents and let them know. And I call them back and say, have y'all done this process yet? So they will know that we are strongly supporting what they got going on, as long as it's legal, right?

Yeah.

And you got to have at least 100% of the people Correct.

To the land.

Who own the land got to do that.

Right.

Now, you know, commas, you got to have, what, 75%, right? To help speed bumps. 75%, I think.

You don't do speed bumps.

OK, may I, Mr.

Chair? 75%. But they're going to say that they did a petition already. That's what I'm saying. It's OK. No, I understand. But I'm just saying, the only problem they had were the ones that were out of town. I think.

Let them go ahead. I'll tell you what. Just tell them to call the county administrator or a public works department. They can call the public works department tomorrow. Tell them to give them a form. Sign it. Everybody down that road, sign it. Who own that piece of own land next to the road that you're trying to use.

Right. And they've done that. I told them that again today. So I just wanted to bring this before the board so they'll know. that we are not trying to hide anything from them, that we are sending that back out. They can go ahead and get started on it.

Well, as long as they start a process, I think the board definitely will approve it once they bring it to us.

I know one thing that in the past, there was something that they had asked residents to bring it up to standard.

That was all in that law. It had to be.

And I can tell you that that road is bad. Awful. And it's not just taking one. It's going to take one that it's going to take some money to bring the level of that road up. Because one end of the road is pretty good, but the end on the east side can get terrible because it's low line.

Yes, and so I'll just go through the process just a little bit. The initial step would be that they do the petition. Once they do the petition, the administrator will send staff out to evaluate the road. Last time I brought an engineer just to get a better understanding because that's not my expertise. Then we'll bring all that information to you. let you all make a decision whether you want to consider the petition. So there's an initial public hearing where you consider the petition. You're not adopting at that point. You're just considering that maybe you'll adopt it in the future. From that point, then the residents, assuming you say, yes, we want to consider this, then the residents will have the opportunity to go back and do any engineering, bring the road up to standard, do any surveys, legal title opinions.

OK, but may I say this, Mr. Chairman?

One second, let me make sure the commissioner will. So the reason why I say that is because if I remember years back, part of it was having to raise the road. And then where does the water go? And so when you go out there, the water goes down into the road, which is part of the problem. But when you pick the road up, the water may go down. That's why I think it's something that the engineer, because it is only about 20 houses down there. Is that the?

That's on that road, but it's another road too.

But it's one end of it is. really bad. And it would help them greatly to do it.

OK.

I was down to a point. Commissioner Holt.

Thank you. And you're correct. Excuse me, on that. On the road itself, As we had this discussion several times, the road can be built up in the center. It must drain off to the sides. And we had that discussion before. They said, just scrape it, scrape it. I said, scrape it. It's not going to do any good if it's flat. It has to drain somewhere. And we've done that before with two locations. And you put in water ditches or swells, what they call swells, down that road, and the water will sit in and then it'll evaporate. But they're almost like little ponds inside the road. If you go over there by where Bud Jones' property is, they put in swells there. And that's why they did not have to have a holding pond, because they did it on both sides of the road. That's why the ditches look bigger. But that can be done. The other thing to do is, first of all, get the petition again. And they're going to have a fit, but let's get that again. And then make sure that we follow the same process, because that's what we had to do with Quail Roots and Baroneau Road. If we changed a little bit, One to the other, it's going to be you discriminating against us. And so I told them, it's not that. It's not that. That's not what we want to do. We just want to make sure that your road gets taken care of. The other thing is, Mr. James, is from a certain point in that road coming out on the south side, I got an easement from the company in Jacksonville to cross their property to get out to U.S. 90. And so I don't know if that would affect anything. But I don't think it will. Because I was able to get that company and let them come out there in front of where Bradwell's is. It used to come all the way down to Stone's, where Stone's is, the car dealership. And it came out right there. So I was able to get that company to go ahead and give us an easement to let them straight out. But anyway, I asked the engineer before. And I said, can you look at it and see? And then give us an evaluation and everything, just like any other road. But OK, that's what I was asking about, Mr. Jones.

Also, too, for County Administrator to go, just for public assumption, I just want to make sure that everybody knows that once we changed our policy there, Commissioner Wood, now by us taking over the role, that doesn't mean that we are want to pave the road.

Right.

Just taking over the road. There's no instant pavement. And we're going to make sure that, you know, before it rains, you all know how it did back in the days. Before it started raining, a day or two before it rained, we'd come down and straighten the road.

Make it real muddy and everything.

Yeah. But, you know, we try to make sure before it's raining, whatever. At the same time, we, you know, if we have funding, we probably start off with rocks first, whatever, to get it, you know,

Well, if we just get in that.

First of all, we just want to approve it first and get engineered. Right.

There you go. Just get it approved.

And then we can scrape it and do all the great things so they can. Because I was there after I left the Monroe game. I went to Monroe football game last week. That Friday, I went to church over there and past appreciation service. And I mean, I was scared half to death. It was raining. So I had to drive different areas just to get to the church. Right. And so the road need help and support. But again, all fairness, it's not saying we're going to pay the road.

No, just take it over the maintenance.

It's just that we're going to take over the road, maintain the road, so they can be able to go in and out.

OK.

I appreciate it. So can we call the question? Yeah. Can we get all the information out? You have something to say first? We'll call the question? That's right. Go ahead. Well, maybe we'll call the question on the discussion. But go ahead. I'm sorry.

I want to make sure we're clear.

Yeah.

And so if I'm clear now, because I heard Ms. Hope say that she's been working on this from 2001. Did you say that, Ms. Hope?

I started this before I got on the commission.

Okay.

And the problem was there was no law.

So make sure I'm clear. So the problem is they did petitions, Justin, but they didn't get the landowners. Is that right? They just... Some of them. Some of them. So that's where it broke down. I read your timeline.

Based on board records, I couldn't find anything that was brought up to the board prior to 2016. And there was never a public hearing regarding a petition. The ordinance was amended in 2021. Yeah, twice. But there was never a public hearing. That portion never changed. So it at least never got that far, whether an administrator decided it wasn't ripe for bringing to the board or what the situation was. But we do not have a copy of the petitions. And I know that there have been properties purchased since 2016 that were not included in the petition. Very well.

Yeah, Mr. Chairman.

Yes, ma'am.

Yeah, the road has been brought up over the years several times. Now, the only thing is, is that I even sent out letters to those property owners that did not live here. And I don't know if any of that's in your records. But we sent those out so we could say, would y'all please sign all, you know, we didn't say.

That was where all Presnell was here.

Presnell did it. McKinnon did it. So I don't know where those records are, but they all did it.

Yeah.

But thank you.

That was 2016, though.

Mm-hmm.

That was 2016.

We did some other stuff, and there's nothing showing up.

Well, I think that we're excited. I'm excited about it that we're holding this conversation. And hopefully we can get this moving. Yeah, we're going to move it forward. So that road will definitely be rescued in some kind of way. And I'm excited about it. OK. Thank you, Commissioner.

Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Thiel. Thank you, Mr. Thiel. You have anything to say to Mr. Turner? No, sir.

Oh, yeah. And the engineer, he needs to look at it.

That's the most important thing. I think you need to bring the engineer down first, though. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. All right. You know, it'd be great one day if we can hire some engineer on site to sometimes consider, because we'll probably save some money throughout the county, probably, if we can afford them. Something to think about, though. Yeah. That's something. I say that out loud, so hopefully everybody will think about that. All right. So, all right. So now we're going. That's a great discussion, too, as well. Now, 11D.

11D, Ms. Chairman of the Board, this agenda item seeks Board authorization to issue a written notice of non-renewal and termination of the flock safety agreement with Flock Group, Inc. for the Gadsden County Sheriff's Office effective upon expiration of the current renewal term, which is October 2026.

Yeah, I mean I was working as well. Commissioner hope in commission green question is he going to replace with another company or did he say anything because we have some safety areas we kind of want some cameras at.

Well, but I'm going to indicate to me that he wanted to place. I mean I think he made a statement that he was not interested.

It doesn't have to be these can but I'm just saying if he's going to put something out there.

Well, you know, DOT banned them.

Right.

Highway, so.

I was just thinking.

Is there another question, Commissioner? That's it. Commissioner Green.

Very similar question. I also was aware, I'm sure we all were aware of the ban, but I didn't know if there was any other solutions that had any conversations that any of you have heard of as it relates to replacing those. I know Commissioner Wood is still kind of key in on public safety stuff with this experience and expertise and connections. So I wasn't sure if there was any other objectives or options in conversation in the future because there were pros as well as, I guess, more cons than pros, but there was some pros to having those cameras. So have anybody heard of anything conversationalized?

Commissioner, Miss, did anyone have any comments on that? Or staff? Anybody have answers? I don't have any answers.

But I was wondering, because I know a couple of crimes that they had done, solved. They used camera footage and stuff like that. So if there's a need for them, is there a grant? Or were they going to put something back? Or what? That's what I was wondering about.

This is a very similar question that we just don't have those answers yet.

There are some heartburns, I think, throughout the state.

Yeah, not that kind, but I'm just saying so.

I'm talking about the state and different counties throughout the Sheriff's Department. There's some safety concerns within the flock cameras, from my understanding. Right. Privacy concerns. Yeah, privacy concerns. So I'm not sure whether or not It's a juice worth the squeeze. That's why a lot of sheriffs just move them. Michael's on that a little bit. But it's good to have this conversation. Yeah. Because we want to make sure public safety is number one. I wanted to share for the Guest County Board of County Commissioners, Commissioner Woods or whatever, we normally listen to what he got to say when it comes down to things like this because we understand that he worked in that capacity. Everybody got the expertise on his board, and we make sure we listen carefully. from the board who have expertise more than anyone else. So anyone else? Mr. Commissioner, what do you have to say?

So I spent many years as a law enforcement bureau chief in Gaston County. And one of the toughest things was sitting with that mom after her child had been a victim in a violent crime. And you sat there, and you waited, and you waited, and you prayed that something would break, that they would get some kind of satisfaction. And when this tool came out, I was so excited. And currently, I mean, it's like three or four homicides over the last couple of years that these cameras have helped solve. All of your districts have had major crimes to where camera have been solved. the two violent murders at the interstate, Ethan Pritchard, your FSU ball player, St. Hebron. And I tell you this, and this is going to be the question of this. When little four-year-old Susie gets kidnapped, and we're all sitting around wanting to know what you do, We have taken one of the most vital items that we have to secure safety.

That's what I'm saying.

We have taken it out of play. And I think what's going to happen is once one happens and the moms start questioning, why don't you have them? It's going to be a problem. When that terrorist is coming, the terrorist thing's coming, guys. And when it does, you're going to say, you know what, them cameras may have prevented it or even caught the people. Because one thing I know about criminals, especially those that are violent to children, they go until you catch them. And that's what those cameras have done for us. So the problem becomes police officers. And the fact that quite often they're using them for reasons that they should not use them for. It's nothing new. The David system we had, they put checks and balances in place. So my suggestion is I would ask state leaders to revisit this and don't kill this piece of investigative tool that you have. Fix the problem. With the David system, when them officers started getting fired and going to jail, guess what happened? They quit abusing it. And so I hear what is being said across the state. I also worry there's so many high-ranking constitutional officers are talking about that it might be unconstitutional. And so how many of these cases now are we going to have to bring back? I would ask these people to be careful. And I hope that any state leader, I know they're probably not listening to old Major Wood here in Gaston County, but I'm hoping they revisit this decision. I hope they fix it. That's all I have to say. Well, Commissioner Holt? Thank you.

That's why I asked what are they going to replace him with, because I know they captured a young man over not far from Gretna, and that's how they caught him.

Yes.

And he had already killed someone and was on the run. So how do you, what are you going to replace him with?

There's not enough officers.

Well, even if there were, you'd work them to death, you know, and they're not going to be able to see 360 degrees in places where you need them. So it may infringe upon your constitutional rights, but if somebody gets murdered, their constitutional rights are taken away.

I don't think it does, personally. You're in plain view. You're not in your own house. Within your car, you are. But on the public highways, you're not.

Well, I don't think it's a good idea.

Anyway, let's go. Commissioner Green? Unfortunately, I guess we have to move with it. And there's nothing we really can do about not supporting it. Unfortunately, there is no solution of replacing it at this point. But it's one of those things that we pretty much have to move forward with it. But thank you.

Yeah, I think that we just need to learn more about, learn more into it. And just too many, like I said, state leaders and law enforcement officers have some heartburns about it. And so hopefully we can have a discussion at FIKE and find out how we can come up with a solution for this. All right, so do you have a motion? Is this for information?

No. Mr. Chair? Yes, sir. We need a motion. Without a motion, this agreement is set to renew on October 1. You guys, a bill of $77,000 plus is not going to become due.

Well, I would make the motion that we approve this agenda to approve a termination of flock cameras within the county.

I'll second.

We have a motion to second. All in favor sign.

Aye.

Anyone oppose?

No.

All right. For one vote. All right. And hopefully we can get some other, like you said, other alternatives. Because safety is a safety concern.

All right. 11E. 11E. This agenda item seeks board approval of a negotiated contract and GMP with tip-top construction for the Havana Medical Center.

All right. No approval. No approval. Second. OK. We have a motion and a second to approve the contract and guarantee maximum price GMP with tip-top construction for Havana Medical Center. All right?

They're going to have telehealth.

And we have, yes, telehealth. That's the one at telehealth. Yeah. And all in favor sign. Aye. Anyone opposed? All right, 5-0 vote. Next, all right, next we have 11-elf.

Move approval. GI House door.

Second. Second with a double second. Motion and second to approve 11-elf and a second, all in favor sign. Aye. Anyone oppose? Well, he's calling that much money for a door? Mm-hmm. A good goo with a goo. It's pretty complex. That's almost a quarter of a million dollars, ain't it? I'm in the wrong business.

And they're letting him walk out the door. I've had that happen down there.

Wow. OK, all in favor side, right? Yes. Anyone oppose? All right, 5-0 vote. We got to spin that one. 11G.

This agenda item seeks board approval to issue the notice of intent to award and the notice of award and to negotiate the contract with Cook Brothers Inc. Proposed for ITB for the old courthouse renovation, phase two.

Question. I have a question.

Go ahead. You know, I was still stuck on the last agenda item. Don't worry about the door. You don't get no money back from that door. All right. Commissioner Holt, then Commissioner Simpkins.

Could y'all please tell me what they're going to fix on the courthouse now? Because over the years, we've had several different courthouse renovations.

Yeah. When I first got here, we had one.

And the paint's still peeling on this side of the courthouse. And now we've done some stuff, I know, before inside the courthouse. But what are some things that are going to be done, Mr. James?

Well, it's a window replacement, seal steps, landings, clean the flooring, the roof, all that's listed.

Paint it. That means they're going to take that stuff down and they're going to paint it and make it look better.

Yeah.

All right. Sold.

There's no problem with the restrooms and everything. We did that one time.

So we're going to make sure that they're in the thresholds, on point, what you're saying to us. It's going to be, the number's going to be within what the numbers here, right? Absolutely. So we can't approve no more, no higher than that, unless you've got to come back to the board. Right. All right. Commissioner Holt, I'm sorry. That's OK. I'll do it.

A few sentences. Well, that was going to be my question, because I see the bids are where you're at. We were awarded the $500, and with what we contributed at $625, and looking at the bids, they're both over that. So are we negotiating down for what we have?

I do want to send the bid back out again.

Well, Mr. Chair, I think that we sent this out as a ITB at the direction of the state. But I can assure this board that to the extent the board authorizes me and the negotiation team to negotiate it, we will not accept a number that is more than the county's match. The county already has a match per the grant that we will ensure that we bring a recommendation back to this board, which it'd have to come back for your approval, that doesn't exceed the grant match, which I believe is $125,000. $125,000? Yeah. OK. And if we can't do that, then we might have to do exactly what you're saying, put it back out to bid. Yeah. But I anticipate that we'll be able to do it under the match.

All right.

Good.

Commissioner Woods.

Just a comment for Cook Brothers. They're moving on my facility, and I'm hoping they move as fast

Thank you. I know he probably listened to this conversation now. I know because he's been calling me all week, and I haven't returned his phone call yet. But Tip Top Construction, they're moving to Havana Library. I see a lot of buildings being built, too, as well. So they're moving. I think they're going to beat Cook Brothers before. Mr. Chair, I told them that I love a little competition.

So let's see what they can do.

Hey, the Cook brothers had a four or five month head start on them. And how tip-top construction during that, they out there now, even in the rain, look like making sure this thing works. So if they finish before that, Major, you're going to be interested. I had to throw that out there for you. But you're no cook. I still love you.

We do the courthouse. We do it there.

Yeah. We do have a motion on the floor for the courthouse. As we digress, I guess. A second. A motion and a second. But give the flexibility for the staff to look at it. And bring it back to the board if it don't work, right? All right. All in favor sign. Anyone oppose? All right, five will vote. 11H. 11H. Oh, seven. Yeah, 11 is 11H, right? 11H. That's 7C.

Yep.

Yeah. Ms. Jane? OK, thank you very much. It's a Sun Trail Design Supplemental Agreement. I'll ask Mrs. Keisha, or who you like. Keisha, come up and talk about it and answer questions if need be. Ms. Perkins, thank you.

Good evening. So this is just a supplemental agreement to extend the time. It actually expires October the 31st. And the reason we're extending it is because it's at DOT for comments. Once they come back, we have to do comments. So you have a two-week window to do comments. And so that we don't get an issue of it expiring before we get everything done, we just went ahead and extended it. So it's an extension to December 31st, but that does not mean that we're going to take that loan. The 100% have already been submitted, and we're just waiting for the comment period. So it's no fiscal impact. It's the same amount of money that was originally approved, and the same money is on the supplement as well.

I do too. I'll second that question. Tell the people what this is about.

That's what we're on.

The Sun Trail? Yeah, the Sun Trail.

So it's a multi-use trail that's going to go from Iron Bridge to Quincy as well. Ideas for it to connect from one end of Florida to the other.

It's actually coming from Iron Bridge in Havana.

To Quincy.

And when you get there, Kent Road and make a left. That's on 12. Then go all through Quincy.

Up to Chattahoochee.

Until you touch Chattahoochee. So that way we can help people on the ride their bikes. Right. So they get a chance to ride their bikes.

And walking, too.

Right. Yeah, and walking.

The other thing I want to ask is, did you hear anything about the Spanish Trail that they say is coming? It's almost the same route.

Haven't heard anything about that.

OK. That was out of the place up in Chattahoochee at the Arsenal. They're the ones that started that conversation. Them coming this way, and coming through Gretna, and coming through Quincy. So I'm hoping that'll happen also, because there's supposed to be some money in there. But this is no money out of the bank. That's the only reason I asked about it being moved. If there's definitely no money coming out of the general fund, we're good. OK. That's it, Mr. Chairman.

I move approval. It's a great thing for Gadsden County. Appreciate it. Thank you all so much, though. All right. We have a motion to approve. Do we have a second? I second it. All in favor sign.

Aye.

Anyone oppose? All right. Five will vote. Next, I guess, I think it's the clerk, right? Next, clerk of court? No comments. OK, great. Next, interim county attorney? No comments, Mr. Chair. All right. Next, interim county administrative.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. It's a great night. It's always a great night when we can move forward on one of these major projects. That's number three of six. Hold on. Yeah, it's a great night. We're appreciative of the board approving the project for the medical center. It's a multi-purpose community facility. It's going to be great for the town of Havana. It provides health care and medical services, including telehealth, education and training, as well as work and workforce activities. So we tentatively scheduled the groundbreaking for October 1 at 11 o'clock. We'll be getting back with the board on that. So we're excited. We're moving forward with that as we speak. So we appreciate everybody, and we look forward to seeing the entire town of Havana out there on October 1st for the groundbreaking.

Good job.

Right. So that brings us to, you know, we got a number of projects. That's number three of six. Now, it brings us to another project, an EMS project. As you know, we've encountered some obstacles in securing a deed to the property on Joe Adams Road. I think you probably, all the board members, are aware of the challenges that we've encountered. As a result of this challenge, other options have surfaced as a new home for EMS. One of those options that has surfaced involves a building downtown. A building that's right next to Hart is a large building that was once a bank. And I think it was a funeral home and et cetera. It's a 7,000 square foot plus building that Commerce and their officials have seen it. And they basically have said that if this is what the board wants to do, they would be in favor renovating and purchasing and renovating that property. However, all of our challenges dealing with these buildings at this point sent around timeline. So what they basically said to me on a Zoom call was that, In order to do that, if that's an option the board wants to take, we need to present them a comprehensive timeline by Friday noon that says that they can see and say that we could get that done. So that's where we are. So what I'm asking tonight is that This board to give me and our staff some direction on how they might want to proceed, given what I've told you. Now, you know where we are in our history, so I'm giving you the update on it so you can tell me where you are.

Question. Yes, sir. What is, because it's not in front of me at the moment, what would be the cost, the dollar amount, what other options do we have I know that there is some land on Strong Road again that we own. Have we taken those other land options into consideration as well? Not that I'm opposed of this. This would be great. I'm just asking for as much detail as you possibly have. And have we considered other land properties that we own? And one of the reasons I did say Strong Road is because you still, you're not far from the emergency center that we have. The senior facilities still have the same accessibility. I'm just trying to see, have that been taken into consideration as well.

Well, what we've done is I've instructed the staff to go ahead and do the phase one site assessments for all those properties to get started in case we had to utilize our properties. But what I'm looking for tonight is, given the challenges we've had trying to move to Joe Adams Road, I need to get some direction on how you might want to proceed. Or do you want to do a renovation, a purchase and renovation? I just need to get some clarity for you so we'll know how to operate.

Well, you just gave us one option and want us to make a decision from one option.

No, no, no. Let's be clear. I'm just giving you what we entertain. Right, right, right. OK, we began trying to use Joe Adams' road property. And I guess you understand what obstacles we've encountered on that. So we're forced to do other things, and we're preparing to do other things. But at this point, I just need to know what that other thing might be from the board.

Sure. So let me state again, I think that that would be a great option to consider. that that that facility or that property next to hardy's that i'm very well familiar with but i of course i don't know how much land it is i know the building but i don't see much land opportunity where that building is um so i think that it needs to be a little bit more information given to us and my suggestion again as i just suggested would be to try to utilize um land that we may already own or have a few other options to consider but thank you

Thank you. I'm going to, and I've been requesting for us to move forward. And I appreciate that we're starting on the environmental studies. Hopefully we'll have those on our properties, and I think in future. purchases that's something that should be done prior to even purchasing property um but at any rate um i i know that there has been private discussions with between the administrators um the city manager and the county administrator as it relates to the property on joe adams um i don't know that i have not seen and i might be wrong but i have not seen where the count the city commissioners have been forced to state claim yay or nay on whether they were going to um whether they would give us the deed for the property and based on the funders and the information that we submitted That's what they saw was a paper that stated that they were going to give us that deed. And of course, we all know that that has not happened. But we have depended on the city manager making that decision and the county administrator. But the city commissioners, I have not heard a vote On the on that. From that die is as it relates to that. I'm always in the what is in the best interest for Gaston County and that's how move. And what I am going to suggest is that we give the all attorney mission to go over to the city. with that letter that was signed by it was their city manager at the time um and there were some of those board members sitting on that board and let them make a decision now when they make this decision we are already moving forward with the um with the environmental studies. And we continue to move forward with the environmental studies on our property. And if we're looking at this additional property, then we continue to move forward with that. And we prepare as if we would not be receiving that deed. But I would like to make sure that the city commissioners have said no. So we continue to move forward. We don't stop. But we continue to move forward with whatever has to be done looking into this additional option so that we have those options and taking a look at the timetable so that we are able to present that to the funders But again, I would like for the attorney to go over to their meeting and to bring this to the forefront. Because we've spent $300,000 on that property over there. So I would like for that to happen before we just say no. Because the Boys and Girls Club, we went over there, they told us no. They have not said, I haven't heard it. Maybe I missed the meeting. But I have not seen it. So I would like for them to say no, yes or no.

Is that the form of a motion?

I make a motion.

Yeah.

Yeah, before we get into that, commissioners, can't we just sit down with the city of Quincy? I mean, we can do that. We're supposed to be the big brothers and sisters in the county. That's why they have the county commissions to work a lot of times between the city and the state, city and federal government. That's why they ask us to sign on everything from sidewalks to everything else when cities are doing that. Now, all we have to do is have a meeting. They can tell us, no, it's not going to hurt our feelings one bit. But the bottom line is, we're going to have agreements with the city anyway. You're going to have agreements with them. You've got animal control. You're going to have garbage or whatever. You're going to have agreements with them. And we can't exclude any city at all from what we're doing. Sit down and let's have a meeting with them. It doesn't matter. We can send whoever. But it's our job to work with them. It really is. And so just work with them and say, hey, look, we know we had these things done in the past. But we're through with that. Are you willing to work with us on this property? And if you're not, then that's fine. Then we move on. You continue to do the research, because we've got to do that research on those properties anyway. But I think it would be better, in fact, with all the cities, not just the city of Quincy. In 07, I had a meeting with each one of them. We had meetings. We went to their cities. We didn't wait for them to come up here. So that's something that can be done. Because they're going to have agreements. We're going to have to work with the cities. You're going to have to work with them no matter what happens. If we don't like someone, I went to Chattahoochee. I didn't even know who was on the city commission in Chattahoochee. I only knew two people during that time. But then you learn these other people, and they have needs and wants and stuff just like we do. So I think that this board needs to sit down with that board and say, look, we need to work out whatever we need to work out so we can get along. And we can go for money. If the city of Quincy right now write a CDBG at $750,000, and we can match it at $750,000, then you end up with $1.5 million on that project. It could be paving roads. It could be doing any project. But you can combine the two. And you get more bang for your buck. But that's all I'm saying. I think it would be better that we sit down with them. They tell us yea or nay. And keep moving.

I have to, I'm sorry. Thank you. I have to totally agree because I feel like there's so many other projects and so many things that we need to consider working on. And we do need to solidify, rectify some of the issues that we have as boards and so that we can all kind of get on the same page with the same vision. And I don't want to keep... I want to be clear on how I say it. I want to make sure that we don't continue to go back and forth or tit for tat. I don't know what the issue is over there, the issue is over here, but we do need to come. And I totally agree with Commissioner Simpkins on having something formally given to us saying that we're not getting or they're not interested because I think I've heard it as well, but nothing formally has been given to us. But I would love for us to sit down and have another one of those dialogues where we talk about the plans and the future of city and county government going forward so that everybody can be on the same page. But thank you.

Yeah, I spoke to the county administrator last week about that, how we can bring everybody in, everything else. Once we get that plan together, we can do that. I'll let y'all know. the next meeting about what the plan is so we can all be on the same page. And I think we need to fellowship first and laugh some kind of way. We need to laugh a little bit, smile a little bit before we start talking about business. And then we can start going to the business, because I want to meet with every, like you said, I think we did a couple of years ago, we met with every city. in Gaston County, city, town, and Gaston County. We went directly to their locations. But first, I think we need to break bread first. Eat, fellowship, have a good time. Don't talk about business and stuff. Just get to know each other. And so that's what I talked to him about last week, is people that eat together, smile together. That way we can get some things accomplished that way. All right.

So then I need clarity, because we're on a time frame. So I need to listen. I put my name out there, and I'm going to tell you. Let me just be frank. I put my name out there, and I said that we will be breaking ground before they go into session on these projects. And that's what I want to happen, and that's what I expect to happen. So what I need, now if this meeting can happen and that's fine, we can sit and we can kumbaya, but right now I need to know whether or not they are going to, and I've been speaking with, I actually have been reaching out with the Olive Branch, not in no big meeting, but having those conversations, right, to how can we work together and partner together, because that's how we'll make Gaston County stronger. Okay. But in the meantime, right now, we have to move forward on this project. We're already behind on another one because we were kind of waiting. We've been given deadlines. My name will not be on anything that says that we've lost because we have been sitting around and not moving the way that we need to move. So I need to know. We want to kumbaya. We kumbaya next week so that we can go ahead, because it has to be. It can't be down the road. We can continue to work on the other things with our environmental studies and taking a look at the other building. But we also need to go ahead and move forward with this. So if we're going to kumbaya, then we need to send out an email tomorrow and ask them can they kumbaya next week sometime.

I mean, the reason why I said, believe it or not, kumbaya is not a bad thing.

I'm not saying that. And I'm not saying, I agree with you, with us coming together. But what I'm saying is when we're on a, we're on a, and Commissioner, with all fairness, I have requested for us to do, I've wanted us to come together and do a retreat with all of the municipalities. But right now we don't. But we can't, that's something we got to do. We can't do that.

next week. Commissioner, but you have so much. You have so much. Honestly, I don't like to put our business in the street, because I think we've got a great boy here. But at the same time, there's some friction. that history of friction that going on, especially talking about the Boys and Girls Club, other things, it's kind of, people kind of feel uncomfortable a little bit, right? So some kind of way, I believe, I come from a holiness church, and we eat every Sunday. People got to wait for that. But when you eat together, trust me, though, when that stress hit, people come back to your church and fellowship some more. Fellowship, bring that conversation. And that's what I'm just saying. Maybe we can bring everybody in, have a big... and just enjoy yourself. It's like you say, it can be in two weeks, right? It can be in two weeks. Give them enough time, like we talked about last week. Give them enough time. Then we can have all the cities. Havana can be a part of it. Because Havana folks probably don't know who Midway folks is. Or Midway probably don't know who Chattahoochee. So now everybody get a chance to enjoy themselves. They'll know then that we are human just like they are human. And food can, I mean, that's stripped you enough. I'm not a preacher nowhere near. Strips, that's strips. If we eat together, I guarantee some great things will happen. And then, commission, we have our meeting, right? Then we have the meeting. Then we can go and do our strategic plan from that point. You got me? Yeah, Mr.

Chair. Mr. Chair, we three. You got me. Three weeks out right now. We three weeks out right now. And they go in the session. When do they go in session? He trying to meet. He trying to meet on my. No, when they go to committee. Forget session. Because they don't make their decisions during committee.

But the thing is that. February. But the thing is that Cory Simon, from my understanding, Senator Simon, Gallifrey, we need to let them know, can we make it that day so they have to change it. From my understand is on December 18, right? They want to meet with everybody together. So we should have a plan together before December 18. So all these meetings prior to December 18. No, Commissioner. I don't want a plan. I want dirt.

You understand? I want dirt in the ground. I want them to be able to see where we have all of these. We have our projects. Because that's what they want to hear. They don't want to hear about our plans.

All we have to do is meet with the city of Quinn. That's what we're going to do. And solve the problem there. And we'll know where to move on.

Turn the mic on. I'm sorry.

I was saying all we have to do is right quick, meet with the city of Quincy. Contact the manager and everybody. Let's go ahead and meet right quick. Let's look at other buildings and stuff at the same time, and let's keep moving.

Because they've got a timeline for this building. Everything's got to be... We're going to lose the whole country. And again, we're speaking as if we're not in front of things, right? Right now, we are making moves. But if you listen to the outside looking in, it look like we are dysfunctional. We ain't got ourselves together. Nothing ain't moving. But reality is that Chattahoochee is being built right now. Reality is Havana is seeing two projects. We might do a groundbreaking. over there in Havana right now. We saw two projects, third project in Havana. But what I'm saying, Commissioner, God blessed us because the state's saying, based on what you told me, the state said, hey, we have everything together by Friday, right?

A comprehensive timeline.

A comprehensive timeline by Friday. And then we can move forward in this project, because we only got one year from that date right there. September 30, 2027. To make it work. So when you're looking at, when you're looking at, When you're looking at land, you got to look at any of your preservations. You got to look at all of this stuff going on. So you're talking about, you're looking like natural dirt there. We're talking about, that's a six-month process. Because you're talking about reservation, do they have railroads come through in the past, all that historical piece there. But we're talking about a building that you can refurbish already inside the city limits.

So commissioner, I don't mean to cut you off, but what I'm saying is, and I hadn't disagreed with you on the building, but what I'm saying is we need to move, one, from my understanding, we sent paperwork over saying that we had property that we were going to build on Joe Adams and we had an agreement, right? What I'm saying is that needs to be, they need to see Well, the county is not dysfunctional, right? The city said yes or they said no, right? We need to hear that from the city commissioners. So what I'm hearing is the board is saying that we want to sit instead of the commissioners, attorney going over, we would like to hold a meeting with them. OK? So it sounds like, and maybe we can eat. You know, you kind of be happy while you eating. And so we eat, and we talk about this, and let them make the decision while we sitting there and eating.

No, I don't want to make people lose focus on the seriousness that we got going on here. It's not lose and focus, Miss. Commissioner, we're talking about apples and peanuts right now, right? Where I'm coming from, what you're talking about, you're talking about the projects, right? You're talking about the projects. I was saying big plans of how we can have a better, because I started out with a better relationship. It wasn't talking about the projects. But that's not what Commissioner was talking about. I know. Commissioner Hope was talking about the projects. She was talking about relationships. You were talking about the projects. But you were talking about relationships. Right. But you were talking about relationships itself. Right. Right. That's what I'm talking about, relationships. That's what I was talking about, relationships.

OK, so I'm going. I'm calling. So I'm making a motion that the attorney go over to the meeting then. So we can do a relationship. So then my motion is going to be that we give and I I want to give the attorney permission to go over to their meeting next Tuesday. And we can still schedule a relationship meeting.

But all fairness, if you don't have your act together by Friday, that whole project is over with. Y'all got where I'm coming from? So the project is over with if everything get together by Friday. So you don't have time.

Be clear on the project. Be clear on the project.

Well, hear me out then. Hear me out. And like I said, this is something that we And people listen to everything we're talking about. So we've got to be very careful. Because of what's going on with the city, what happened with the city of Quincy and all, and now we're trying to expedite the process faster. We don't want to put our business out in the street. I think that right now we are in a position is we don't have to go to that position, that place right there. We can go across the street. We can move it to the area where the Boys and Girls Club was right there. We can build it right there. It doesn't matter where you're going. As long as we build it quicker and faster, get the project the way. Because right now, let me be quiet. I'm going to let y'all talk. I apologize, Commissioner Simpkins.

I apologize, Commissioner Simpkins. Mr. Chair, I think that the clerk has recorded that a motion has been made on the floor. Either the motion needs a second or it needs to die for lack of a second in the minutes.

Comment.

Yes. I guess the motion should die for lack of a second in the minutes.

I thought it got second. But my thing was, to me, the motion wasn't clear enough as to what we were asking him to do when he goes to the meeting. And we put that in the form of your motion.

But I have a question right quick. Why are we waiting to go to a meeting? Is this just a matter of contacting the city and see, Mr. Administrator, and see if we can schedule a meeting? I mean, why would we wait until next week or something? And that way the attorney, even if he does it, I don't care who does it. But isn't it natural just to schedule a meeting, see if they're willing to sit down with us and schedule a meeting, contact them, pick up the phone, write a memo?

That might be the motion that you make.

I don't know. So I'll structure my motion. We, if the, given the administrator mission to contact the city of quick Quincy. I see those underneath to schedule a meeting.

So it's possible that they can soon as they can meet.

And he can get there unable. Being permission for the. See it for our attorney to go over to their commissioners meeting on next Tuesday to. request for the EMS, the property on Joe Adams Road, to be added to their agenda for discussion.

Sure. I mean, let's do whatever we need to do.

Second.

You can send somebody here.

Can't you send somebody to come sit in with me?

OK. We got a motion to second. All in favor sign. Aye. Anyone opposed? All right. So we're going to send staff over there so they can talk.

I just request. Yeah, I mean, go ahead and call tomorrow. Yeah. Oh, yeah. See if they can hold their commissioner and see what they can meet. We can meet. Yeah. We're ready.

All right.

We're on the administrator's comment.

Yes. I'm finished. So what about, what are we going to do before Friday? Are we giving permission to his request was what, though? Are we giving him permission or we want to say no on his decision? He's supposed to move forward. No, he's supposed to move. I'm talking about for the building.

He's supposed to move forward.

He'll move forward with that.

Y'all still move forward with that. We can't stop. Yeah, we're going to move forward with the option. With the option, yeah.

We still exploring that option.

Okay, okay.

And other options. Right. Yeah, yeah. But it's...

And make sure that everything's complete by Friday, though. I knew. I knew. All options. All options. All right. So anything else? All right. Commissioner, who's next? Appreciate you. Sheriff of Gadsden County Board of County Commissioner, Commissioner Sean Woods.

Six minutes. Yes, sir. I'm going to do four.

That dug it fresh there, didn't it?

Yep. So the city of Quincy, we got $8 million. Almost $8 million is just in limbo. I think we had to have the conversation. It's almost the fact that we don't want to have a conversation. And I'm glad to hear that all the commissioners are in tune of having a good conversation. It hasn't always been that way, OK? citizens of gaston county and especially quincy is about to lose out on eight million dollars brand new building because we caught up yeah we have a project that it could be inclusive of quincy or gretna that could bring hundreds and hundreds of million dollars and we can't sit down and talk we wrote him an 18 million dollar grant It got put in the trash, I guess. I don't know. Yeah, so we are not moving forward. And for me, it's either we have a better relationship or we have no relationship. And sometimes you just got to get a divorce. And I'm not opposed to either. But I don't want us to keep continually having these problems publicly. It is not beneficial to our people. And in saying that, I'm hoping that calmer minds will prevail. And it's the only thing that's going to make us successful. Because, I mean, we really have a couple projects. And it's either going to go to Commissioner Green or go to mine. Or if we can't get along, then it's going to probably do like the rest of them and go to Tallahassee or somewhere else. Because we can't get out our own daggum way. That's it.

That's true. All right, next, Commissioner Ron Terry's Green.

Thank you. And I'm not going to go down that road, but I do. I'm not going to be redundant, but I do concur with the conversations as of in relation to having a better relationship with city of Quincy and all our municipalities. But let me start with, I want to go back to our last meeting, a couple of things in the last meeting that I did ask for. One of the things is I did ask, I know I can't, well, I should be able to tell the administrator what to do as a boss, but I did ask and plead that there were no more layoffs until we saw a plan or we saw the list and lo and behold, there was a layoff a couple of days later. Um, and I still don't know where that has been solidified or what was the purpose. And I'm just going to say this because I said it in an open meeting and I did not, I guess my question is cause I don't want to assume and I want to stop assuming. But I want to know if there's any other commissioners that were aware of these changes that were taking place before they happened. Because that administrator can tell us what's going on. He can tell us his plans and he can tell us what he's thinking. And I would like to know before I hear it in the streets that this is what I'm getting ready to do. That is not day-to-day operation. That is not me saying, no, you can't do that. I just want to know, but I am just, I'm felt to believe that there are some who know and I just don't know because I feel like if there were others who were saying, hey, can we not do this until we get a plan or until we know what's going on? I don't think that it would happen in this magnitude. So my question is to the board members, are any of you aware beforehand of these changes that are being made as it relates to our staff and our employees. And I would love to have an answer. It's either yes or no.

Now, let me just say something real quick. When up until now, I never had, none of them never, I don't think none of them ever came out and told me what they about to do. And I never suggested whatever happened.

Commissioner, that's fine. Again, that was a simple no.

No, it's OK. I'm answering your question, right? But I'm saying for me personally, I'm just saying for me personally.

OK, pause my time.

Yes, for me personally, I don't know. If something happened the last couple of days, I don't know what happened the last couple of days. I don't know what transpired or whatever. So I don't get into that. Like I said, for our personnel up until now, because that's how you stretch yourself out, get into. For me, personally, I don't get into that, unless the staff call me up. I had a staff call me up probably in 2000, And 18, right? And there was a disarray. We met at Pizza Hut. She wanted to meet me there. We talked, whatever. I listened to what she had to say. And it had some concerns. And I did address those concerns. She's still here today. But other than that, I don't too much get into it. I don't, I don't, I try to get into it. As I, from my understanding, I don't get into it. I'm going to answer no. That's why I don't get no gray hair too much, I guess.

And I guess my reason, again, for asking is because, again, I try to put myself in the shoes of whomever before I address issues or things of that nature. Had I been in the shoes, once again, of the administrator, the interim administrator, I would have listened to the board member or respected that board member's request openly that, hey, let me have a talk with him, let him know why I'm getting ready to do this. So I just kind of felt... under my, you know, my own, myself, that maybe others were aware and they knew and they were okay with it. And because nobody is asking him to stop the brakes or the pump, you know, to pause, this is why he's moving forward. That is my purpose for asking that question. It's neither here or there as it relates to who's not here anymore. But I'm going to ask again. And I guess, I want to be honest with you. I have citizens now who are calling me or saying, you know, it seems like your voice doesn't even matter on that board anymore. Which, Sometimes I do feel that way as well, but I'm going to continue to speak and I'll continue to do what it is that I'm supposed to do as a board member. My next question, I guess, would be as it relates to the scheduling of the grads. I think I've asked for a schedule and I think we've gotten off because, and I peruse my district quite often and that back road of, and I'm talking to the administrator now, the back road of um oh god highbridge road in the mont peregrine area old Federal Road up in that part going back towards Pat Summers Parkway, it is horrible. Now, you do have some people that are taking the option of more than on grass, but when I'm hearing that we're getting off schedule or we're continuing to be in the same area over and over again, and I just want to make sure that all of our citizens matter. Not just one particular district, not two districts, not three districts, all five areas matter. So I want to make sure that we can stay on track on the schedule. I don't know if Mr. Curtis can give us an update. I am very aware that there are some equipment that has been out of service, and hopefully we are getting those things fixed. or we need to have a request coming back before the board if we need more money or they need more money. I don't know, but I just know that it does not look good in District 5 as of right now. So I don't know if he can chime in on that, Mr. Administrator, give some explanation to what's going on, or you want the public works to come and give some explanation to what's going on. But I do want to make sure that we are getting some grass service in District 5s.

We will. Duly noted.

OK. For the attorney ordinance on selling property, I think we talked about that. I'm not sure where we are on that. Can you give a quick update?

Yes, I'm working on it. I think there were a couple of statutory changes that I was trying to incorporate so that we wouldn't have to revisit it. I'm hopeful that as soon as we get through this budget season and all of that, that we can tackle that in your first or second meeting of October, Mr. Vice Chair.

Okay. And my last thing is I actually made a motion in the last meeting. Again, that's what makes me feel like my voice is not valid. I made a motion in the last meeting as it relates to where are we or can we have a workshop with the workshop date so that we can have permanent leadership in this county via county administrator and our legal services. Did not ask that we make a vote. You know, now I ask that we started the process. So I guess to, again, I know that I have no authority and probably won't be granted the authority to speak to HR. So I asked the county interim administrator, where are we as of solidifying a workshop date? Are there chairmen? I'll talk to my colleague, the chairman.

Yes, sir.

Where are we as it relates to solidifying a workshop so that we can make sure that all of us are on the same page? Yes. No, we won't take a vote, but we are having a conversation. HR can simply come back, bring the things that we already talked about. If we need to make some changes, we should be able to do those things. But we need to have something in place so that we can go from interim to permanent. sooner than later. It may be at the end of the year, maybe at the top of the year. That's fine with me. Where is the process? Where is the workshop? Mr. Chairman, how can we handle that?

Yes, sir. That's something I talked to the county administrator about that last week, too, as well, because that's something that we discussed. Now, for me personally, and I told him this right here, I said, we got to keep this thing rolling. But right now, what's important in my mind right now is the budget. And once we get the budget out of the way, hopefully in October, we can start the process moving. Sometime in October, sometime in October.

And I'm fine with that.

But the thing is that we got to make sure that we got a lot of serious things going on right now. We got the budget. It's something that we facing within the next couple of weeks right now. I want to keep that focus in front of us.

Thank you. And knowing that, we know when the budget is due. So we still can say we can go ahead and plan a workshop for October, and I'm just throwing out a date, October the 23rd or November 2nd. I want a date. It's simple. Just a date. And it can be after budget. Where is the date?

I make sure you get it, Commissioner.

I will look forward to that before the next meeting. Those are my comments for tonight. Thank you all so much.

All right, next, I think, Commissioner Green. All right, next, 15C, Commissioner Alonzo Simpkins, District 2.

Thank you. I want to first start out by thanking the administrator and staff for assisting with the Lake 38 event, which is co-sponsored by the Tourist Development Council. But thank you to the staff, the participants, the participants and visitors, all spoke well and appreciated the hospitality. I think Gaston County probably think we roll out the carpet more than they go to i've forgotten how many different countries and then they're down in central florida but the type the way that we roll out the red carpet they don't receive that anywhere else and they're very appreciative of it um so again thank you all it was a um Great event, and it looks like each year the number of individuals, attendees, not just the participants, but attendees increase. So I think as the word gets out, you will have even more participants. I think we need, and this might be on the tourist development, but we need a listing of... When visitors are coming in of the places that we have available to stay at our restaurants and all of that stuff, we need that available to them.

Commissioner Simpkins, on point with that. Mr. Chairman, I'm glad you mentioned the tourist development because I did have a, and that's great. So who are we even contacting or reaching out to now as it relates to the tourist development? Because there were some, a project I think is the Bass Tournament that's coming up. They always try to pre-plan and one of the individuals who represent that reached out to me because We know that we no longer have TJ. We no longer have Laurel. And both of those individuals are very key with projects as it relates to TDC. So I'm asking the interim administrator, who are they to reach out to? What's the plan as it relates going forward with Tourist Development Council? Thank you, Commissioner Simpkins, for making me remember that.

Thank you, Commissioner. You need to, at this point, we're working with Mrs. Cathy Johnson is our tourist, is handling tourist development.

Oh, wow. Good to know. Thank you.

Secondly, I'm trying to read my writing. I want to, and I have to say this because I know comments are kind of stated, and it's not the first time that they've been stated. And I know what people are throwing off at. But I'm just up front, and I'm going to say what I want to say and make it known. Now, as it relates to this public works, I think that as a board, we need to figure out what's going on so that you don't have to keep asking and making assumptions that only one district's lawn is getting mowed. um there is a problem as a whole as it relates to the scheduling and i did i had there was an event going on and you had people coming from all over the world and it looked it looked a hot mess and i wanted that role clear now that's that's just one But in other areas in the district, the lawn needs to be cut. So it's not just District 5 where the lawn needs to be cut. It's District 2 also. And that one call does not prevent lawn being cut or the roads being cut. throughout the month in these other areas. So I think we just need to address and see what the issue is overall, and we not just put off and say, oh, well, it's just happening at only one Every citizen in Gaston County is important. Every area in Gaston County is important. And that's the way that we need to move. We represent a particular area. They put us in office, but we represent Gaston County. When we go somewhere, we represent Gaston County. And so it's important for me, it's the entire county, not just my area. So Mr. Administrator, it seems like it's an ongoing issue. And so we need to find out what the issue is. Because since I've been on this board, I've asked for us to take a look at contracting, because maybe that was the issue with the cutting. Okay, so we need to look to see what is the issue with the cutting. And if equipment is being... We need to find out why the equipment is being... Is it a malfunction with the equipment, or is it... something with the person or operator. What's the problem? So those are things that we need to take a look at, because we can't keep spending a million dollars on equipment. We can't continue to buy every year or every other year buying tractors. And I feel bad for whoever that was. I seen that little tractor. That tractor look like it's from 1950 or 1940 that was out there. So I know they was hot. So I don't know where those new tractors that we purchased, where they are. But those are things that we need to take a look at. We need to address. Duly noted. And the schedules, whatever that schedule is, we don't need schedules just because it look good. Whatever's on that schedule. So when Commissioner Green is asking about his district and they over in District 2, then you're able to say, well, this is when this was supposed to be cut.

Yeah. Well, it's on point to Commissioner Simpkins real quick. It's something to consider. I think we save a lot of money. We make a lot of money. I remember when I was on the school board, no, before I got on the school board, they hired somebody that was an inventory specialist. And what they do, they go out and, like you said, they label everything that we have. They go back and find out, okay, we said we bought a tractor. So where that tractor located, right? They said we bought a computer and maintenance and this, that, and the other. So they go out and... labor everything, that's their job. And also, too, that person also can be a police officer, right? So you got two in one. You got a police officer on campus that we hired, a sworn in police officer, who also doing the inventory as well. That's what we did at the school board. And I think you can have two in one. Because if you're paying that person whatever you're paying them, you're going to The investment is greater than what you're going to pay him, because you want to keep more equipment. Because I remember years ago, Commissioner, about three or four years ago, four or five years before you got here, I think, we purchased about, what, 10 zero turns. I'm not sure. Before Curtis, I don't think he was hit on that time, Curtis. But I'm not sure. We probably still got him. Somebody was saying, oh, we could use him because they are residential zero turn. So where are the 10 and 15 zero turns located? I'm just using them for example now.

Right.

And so, but that's a true story. But I'm just saying, now that's true. But I'm just saying in general, by inventory especially, when we do stuff like that, now we've got somebody going in every department in public works, with housing, with everybody across the board. That's their job. That's a full-time job. And trust me, we can save millions of dollars just by having that person. That's a good point you made. Well, next is we have . Oh, and on point, when she said she finished, on point, too, as well, instead of hiring a contractor to us, we'll just say an option now. Instead of hiring a contractor, we also can hire a OPS. Because the guys that do roles, guys who've just, I hate to say it, been in jail forever, right? Them guys not use zero return. You don't trade them anything. You may have guys, that's where you jumpstart the community, give some reentry part of it. Guys come out of reentry, you got something for them to do. That can be something that we can hire them, because they know how to. You want to teach them how to use a loan service. Got me? And so they already got the experience, and they can go out and do things that help strengthen our community, get those guys back working, give them a three-month contract for OPS. That's just an idea. I'm not saying what we can't do. That's just an idea. All right, next, Commissioner Holt.

Thank you.

Can you turn your mic on, please? Sorry.

Thank you. I need to ask Ms. Raynick a question. OK. Hello there. Hey. There was some funds that were left over from doing telehealth money. Did we have some for Quincy? Did we have any money left over? Because we were doing telehealth in Havana, telehealth in Chattahoochee, and we were supposed to do something in Quincy Library. Quincy Library? Yeah, that was some other funding. There was a project for Quincy Library that was moved to Havana. Why was it moved? I mean, see, that's a problem that we're having. The people in Quincy are waiting on telehealth to be able to go and do their thing.

Might need to move mine, because don't know nobody go there.

Well, that'll be fine. We can pick them blocks up. But it's too late now. OK, how much was left out of those two? How much should have been?

The original Commerce project that was identified for the Quincy Library was $2 million. $2 million. OK. And then Commerce agreed to move that property and to move that funding to Havana. OK. Wow.

But then Commerce didn't tell us that they weren't going to do telehealth over here.

On point, when you say over here, be clear on where they're moving from.

It was supposed to have the telehealth at the Quincy Library.

Right. And can you give clarity who gave the authority or the authorization for it to be moved?

She's saying that the Commerce did, but he's telling her to sit down so when she can't answer the question about the $2 million. Oh, wow.

You're asking about $2 million of telehealth, Commissioner?

Hold on, hold on.

We've got an attorney counseling question.

I didn't ask him. I don't want to know. I want to talk to him. Not right now. Now, maybe later.

But that's not her. That's not her.

No, no, no. I'm good. I'm good. I need to ask him something, and I don't want to put him on the spot. So I want to just wait, and I can call him and ask him. There's no problem about that. I need some more information on that, that $2 million. And who said, and why, and all that. But the reason I ask that is because, and a young lady brought it up to me when I was at the Waffle House over in Midway, that what happened. And I told her I didn't know. And so she sent me a text. And so that's what I'm saying. What happened with telehealth there? Now, I'll do a little bit more research, because I didn't know. I didn't know. I couldn't answer her, because I didn't know.

Wow.

The org chart for employees, where is that chart at we asked for, Mr. Administrator?

We're still working on it.

But we know the people are here. We know the positions. So no, no, no, no, no, no, no. We got to have that. We got to have that. I would like to get that as soon as possible, not later. Because like I said during the budget workshop, when you cut people, and then that's fine if that's what you're going to do. But if we cut in the budget, what services do we cut? See, that's what we haven't been answered. And that's in the regular budget, not in a summed down, zero-based budget that you're going to need if that property tax passes. And I just had a debate with a guy at the Waffle House trying to convince him not to vote for it yesterday. We were there yesterday. And so I need to see an org chart as soon as possible on the next meeting. Do I need a motion for that, commissioners?

I already made one. We didn't get it.

You didn't get it? Okay, that's right. We did vote on it before. We voted on that before, though. Mr. Chairman, I move that the administrator give us an old chart on the next meeting.

Second. That's my motion. Okay, we have a motion and a second. All in favor sign.

Aye.

Anyone oppose?

Okay, so the next meeting we should have an oil chart. Okay, now we also voted on, and Mr. Horne came and asked for, you can't, I got a whole lot of stuff. Okay, but anyway, Mr. Horne asked for a cutting schedule, a striping schedule, a road maintenance schedule, and a paving schedule. We've not received any of those, and he's been up here months ago. So when can we get those schedules, Mr. Administrator? He called me this morning and reminded me. So that way we could answer all those questions, Commissioner Simpkins, because from what I was told, they're over in District 2.

Well, I have. I received.

No, no, no. Not that day. On point. On point. On point.

No, on point. On point. I received a mowing schedule, right? Because I received one. Let me go back to July when y'all said, because everybody keeps saying they're over in District 1, District 2. So let me help you out. I received the mowing schedule because I asked for one because the grass was so high. So I asked for one. And based on the schedule, right, we were in August. But the schedule said that this stuff was supposed to be mowed in July. OK, so the schedule is obviously not being. So maybe they was over in District 4. Maybe they were. I'm not sure. But based on the schedule, it was not.

If I may finish, though, we don't have a schedule. That's what we need.

That we've asked for as well.

So we've asked for it. We didn't get it. You got one. We didn't get one. And the citizens didn't get one. Because that's what they all said about it. Because they cannot get one. OK. I must say, attorney, got to ask you this right quick. The properties that we have that do not sell, that's on the tax roll, that do not sell, is it possible for those families, you can look at any legal way, that those families could possibly buy that property from us before it goes out to auction again? Because if it didn't sell, it's still sitting there. And if you can look at that, now you have the answer, because you're going to take up my time.

Your time is up. I am evaluating that issue about whether or not there's a mechanism for us to allow people whose family members own the associated property to have a first right of refusal. So that's something we're evaluating. Once I bring a policy recommendation, it will include analysis on that.

Right, that way they can keep it in the family, right? Now, as for TJ being fired, Mr. Administrator? Well, you fired TJ that morning. We don't want to call you. No, no, no. I'm going to finish. Brownfield, people were sitting up there that day waiting on him for a meeting. So I don't care what anyone says. You fire somebody, and we got outside people sitting here waiting on them. And they're asking for him. That's not your option. I don't care what anyone says. That's not your option to make the county look worse. And I will bring this back up, and I'm sure you'll probably see it on Facebook and everywhere else, because that doesn't make any sense. There's a $500,000 contract sitting out there to evaluate the brownfields. And then we're embarrassed because they're not there. They're looking for him. Called by his name.

Commissioner, can you do 30 seconds?

Sure. I'm going to try to make it quick. I am so upset with that. We've had administrators that came in here and gave us what they thought we should cut by positions, not by names. We have had some that took advice from some commissioners and cut them. So we've had it done both ways. But to fire someone when you got outside people that can bring in money and had been working on that for over a year, it's not fair to the employee. It's not fair to the business. It's not fair to the county. For that right there, you should be removed from that seat. And that's my motion. I move that we replace the administrator. And I'm going to move it every time I get in this seat. It won't be that long, but I'll be standing at the podium doing the same thing.

We have a motion and a second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. One opposed. All right.

Well, that's all.

Two, three vote for motion to die.

No, it didn't approve.

All right. So let me just say this. I got something to say real quick because of, I really want to say this. There's so much stuff going on. There's so many people.

And that meeting did happen.

As we know, a lot of folks passing away closely, that close to us. Not only that, we've got other issues, people getting sick, everything else. We've got to start. The reason why I say we've got to start fellowshipping, I'm not saying that as a joke. It's good to fellowship so we can learn each other sometime and start speaking love into each other. That's just my humble opinion. I just believe it's easier to, my grandma always said, you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. That's why I smile. That's why I try to help. Many people out, even people who sometimes do me wrong, I still try to give them a hand and still show love to them. But when we come home, into a presence already stressed out, already tied up, and nobody can change us, I think that it's kind of hard to for somebody to receive your message a little bit. Because they feel as though that you won't be able to give in to them. You won't listen to anything they got to say. But I just want to say this, man. Just start loving each other. and love each other, and love each other. We go to church every Sunday. And still, once we leave church, we got hate in our heart. Just love. Love cures everything. Love cures everything. You got anything else to say? Yeah, sure, absolutely. I'm about to end it up, and once you finish, then I can go ahead and hit the motion.

I just want to say, you know, since people are looking, the Brownfield grant is still moving forward. Of course. That's no problem. We're moving forward. Now, in terms of administrative decisions, in terms of staff decisions, that's purely an administrative problem. It's not a board. Boards do policy and budget. That's what they do. And so I think where we get crossed up is we've got people trying to cross lanes. But let's say this right here. We came and had a budget workshop. We looked at our budget. We said we're a million dollars in the hole, right? You look and say, you said, well, you know, we're a million dollars in the hole. 1.6. 1.6 in the hole. So you're looking to me to try to give you a balanced budget that you can work with. So if you're looking to me to do that, nobody said, well, hey, we got some magic money that we can give you to get us out of the hole, so and so forth. So quite naturally, if you don't have the resources and you've got a storm coming, you've got all this money that you're going to lose, whatever, How can you function with less money and more people than you had a few years ago? You can't do that. So you know, if you're trying, if this is an administrative decision. No, it's not. It's an administrative decision.

Not for directors. Not for directors.

So what I'm saying to you to understand is, I don't have any, I don't get any great joy out of cutting Peter Gallagher. After to make the budget, it's just the reality of the situation. It's happening throughout the state. It is what it is.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

But we do not. Meeting adjourned.

Directors come before this board.

Thank you very much.