Board of County Commissioners - Regular Meeting

If everybody would find their seats, please.

Please

check your cell phones, any other electronic devices you may have. Silence those, put them on airplane mode, whatever it takes so we're not disturbing speakers in the presentation today. Welcome. Today is Tuesday, 10/14/2025. This is the Seminole County Board of County Commission meetings, approximately 01:30PM. We will start with the invocation and pledge of allegiance. Pastor Troy Peoples from the First Baptist Church of Chuliota is here to lead us, and I will ask, commissioner Constantine to lead us in the pledge of allegiance. Please stand. Let's go to lord in prayer.

Almighty and gracious god, we come before you today with grateful hearts for the privilege of living and serving in this community. We thank you for the beauty of this country, for the people who call it home, for and those who labor each day to make it a better place for all. Lord, I pray today that you would grant wisdom and discernment and unity to these commissioners and all who participate in this meeting. May their discussions be guided by fairness, compassion, a spirit of cooperation. Help them to make decisions that promote justice, strengthen families, protect the vulnerable, preserve the blessings we all share.

Remind us that public service is a sacred trust, that every choice made here affects the lives of neighbors and generations to come. Lord, we ask that you bless this gathering and let peace and integrity guide every word and every action. It's in the precious name of your son, Jesus, that we pray. Amen. Amen.

Being the month that this is breast awareness, let's remember all the women that have ensured that we have a country, the great mothers of our country. I pledge allegiance

to the flag of The United States Of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you, commissioner, and thank you, pastor Peebles. We're going to first go into our awards and proclamations, And what we're going to do today is we will work our way through these proclamations. We will read each and every one of those. When we're completed, we will come down the floor and get photos with me and all of you that desire to take photos and receive your proclamation, and we would invite you afterwards to make a statement at the lectern. So with that said, we're gonna move to the Trulyuda Baptist resolution, and I will read that one into the record.

Resolution of the Seminole County Board of County Commissioners honoring the First Baptist Church of Chuliada on their one hundred and fiftieth anniversary. Whereas soon after the close of the civil war, a number of families from Whiteville, North Carolina, seeking new opportunities in spiritual fellowship, journeyed to Florida, arriving by boat in Melonville, modern day Sanford, then traveling by oxen and carts to settle Northeast of Lake Pickett. And whereas on 01/08/1875, these pioneer families formally organized what was then known as Harmony Baptist Church, becoming what now is First Baptist Church of Chuliota. And whereas the church's earliest worship services were held in November 1874 in the home of W. C.

Jacobs led by Reverend R. W. Lawton and George Gendez before the formal founding in January. And whereas the original church building was a log structure located approximately one mile east of Chiliota near Lake Pickett, and in 1883, meetings were moved to a schoolhouse near the southern part of Chiliota. And in 1888, a newer church building was constructed and dedicated at what is now its present location on Lake Mills Road, whereas the Sunday School Ministry was established in 11/10/2009 or 1889, reflecting the church's early commitment to Christian education.

Whereas over the decades, the church has grown, adapted, and expanded, including construction of a concrete sanctuary building dedicated in 1956 and the addition of an education wing in 1961, always maintained a presence of worship, service, and fellowship in Chuliota. And whereas for one hundred and fifty years, the First Baptist Church of Chuliota has been more than just a building, it has been a source of spiritual guidance, a community anchor, and a gathering place in times of joy and challenge. And whereas the church's heritage is woven into the history of Chuliota and Seminole County, shaping lives and inspiring ongoing generations of faithful service. Now therefore be it resolved that we, the Board of County Commissioners of Seminole County, Florida, do hereby congratulate the First Baptist Church of Chuliota on their one hundred and fiftieth anniversary adopted this October 2025. Second.

Motion second. Any further discussion? Seeing none. All those in favor? Aye. Passes unanimously. Thank you all very much. The next proclamation will be proclaiming October 2025 Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Seminole County. This will be read by commissioner Her. Commissioner?

Chairman and board members, I read the following proclamation of the Seminole County Board of County Commissioners proclaiming October 2025 as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Seminole County, Florida. Whereas breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women in The United States and one of the leading causes of cancer related deaths, And whereas in Seminole County, Florida, the age adjusted incidence rate for female breast cancer, all stages, is approximately one hundred and thirty seven point five cases per one hundred thousand women. And the number of new breast cancer cases in Seminole County averages about four zero eight per year over recent reporting periods. And whereas the Florida state age adjusted incidence rate for female breast cancer all stages is about one hundred and twenty six point seven cases per 100,000, reflecting Seminole County's rate for cases of all stages is above the state average. Whereas early detection through regular screening such as mammograms, clinical breast exams, and awareness of breast health can significantly reduce morbidity and mortality.

And whereas the Florida Department of Health in Seminole County, through its Florida Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, provides free or low cost screenings, diagnostic services, and education to eligible residents, ensuring that financial barriers do not prevent access to life saving care. And whereas there are numerous organizations, health care providers, volunteers, and advocates in Seminole County who work tirelessly to support breast cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and those at risk, offering emotional education, educational, and financial assistance. And whereas Breast Cancer Awareness Month serves as an annual reminder of the importance of community education about risk factors, healthy lifestyles, heredity, symptom awareness, and access to advances in treatment. And whereas promoting breast cancer awareness, increasing screening and early detection, ensuring equitable access to health care services, and supporting research into better treatments are essential to reducing the burden of disease in Seminole County and beyond. Now therefore be it proclaimed that we, the Board of County Commissioners of Seminole County, Florida, do hereby proclaim October 2025 as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Seminole County, Florida, adopted this October 2025.

Second. Motion second. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor. Aye. Passes unanimously. Fantastic. Thank you all very much.

Chairman? Chairman? Yes. I actually would like to point out that the Seminole County rate for early stage identification being higher is a great statistic. A higher statistic on early stage means that there are a lot of local employers, this being one of them, that have leaned in hard to make sure that screenings happen for their employees. We see a lot more stage one identifications and fewer stage fours, which means that people are staying alive, we're curing it early, and we're saving. So I will tell you that that is a great statistic, although when I read it, it sounded horrible even in my head and I stumbled on it. So I wanted to point it out. So good work here.

Thank you, commissioner. Next up will be our animal services proclamation. Mister Alan Harris will be here. This will be read by commissioner Lockhart.

Fellow commissioners, I'd like to move the following proclamation of the Seminole County Board of County commissioners proclaiming October 2025 as National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month in Seminole County. Whereas every October, communities across The United States observe national adopt a shelter dog month to raise awareness of the countless dogs in shelters and rescues awaiting loving permanent homes. And whereas millions of dogs enter shelters each year, many of whom are victims of neglect, abandonment, or circumstances beyond their control, and adoption provides them with a second chance at life. And whereas adopting a shelter dog not only saves that animal's life, but also opens space for other animals in need, helping shelters continue their vital work. And whereas shelter and rescue organizations, along with their dedicated staff and volunteers, provide critical care, rehabilitation, and placement services for homeless animals throughout Seminole County.

And whereas Seminole County Animal Services provides compassionate care and shelter for thousands of homeless, abandoned, and surrendered animals annually while working tirelessly to re reunite lost pets with their families and to place adoptable animals into safe, loving homes. And whereas, the staff and volunteers of Seminole County Animal Services partner with rescues, fosters, and community organizations to promote adoption, responsible pet ownership, and the importance of spaying and neutering to reduce pet overpopulation. And whereas adopting a shelter dog brings joy, companionship, and health benefits to families and individuals while also strengthening the bond between people and animals. Now, therefore, be it proclaimed that we, the board of county commissioners of Seminole County, Florida, do hereby proclaim October 2025 as national adopt a shelter dog month, adopted this October 2025.

Second. And second. Any further discussions? Seeing none. All those in favor, aye. Aye. Passes unanimously. Thank you very much, commissioner Lockhart. Next up, we will have the proclamation proclaiming 10/12/2025 National Farmers Day in Seminole County, and commissioner Lee Constantine will read this. Commissioner?

Thank you very much, mister chairman, and I will move the proclamation of the Seminole County Board of County commissioners proclaiming 10/12/2025 as National Farmers Day in Seminole County. Whereas National Farmers Day celebrated annually on October 12 honors the dedication, preserve perseverance, and invaluable distributions, contributions of farmers across The United States who provide food, fiber, and resources essential to our daily lives, and whereas agriculture has historically played a vital role in Seminole County's development and continues to contribute to the community's economy, heritage, and quality of life, and whereas Seminole County farmers work tireless tirelessly to cultivate crops, raise livestock, and steward the land with practices that promote sustainability, conservation, and resilience in the face of economic and environmental challenges, and whereas local farms and agricultural enterprises strengthen food security, support small businesses, and provide fresh, healthy produce to residents throughout through farmers markets, community supported agricultural programs, and direct to consumer sales, and whereas farming is a profession of commitment and sacrifice requiring long hours, skill, and innovation, and it remains essential to the health, prosperity, and security of Seminole County and the nation as a whole, and whereas National Farmers Day provides an opportunity for residents of Seminole County to express gratitude for the men and women who devote their lives to cultivating the land and ensuring that future generations can enjoy the fruit fruits of their labor.

Now, therefore, be it proclaimed that we, the board of county commissioners of Seminole County, Florida, do hereby proclaim 10/12/2025 as National Farmers Day in Seminole County. Second.

Motion is second. Any further discussion? Seeing none. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed, like sign. Carries unanimously. Congratulations.

Thank you.

Our next item is a presentation for Artist of the Year by mister Alton Williams and assisted by doctor Deborah Bauer.

Chairman commissioners, my name is Anthony Armandia. I am the president of Seminole Cultural Arts Council. We are before you today to introduce to you the award winner for 2025 Artist of the Year. At this time, I wish to introduce you as well to our new Executive Director, Doctor. Deborah Bauer, who will be speaking more on this topic. Deborah?

Good afternoon, Chair and Commissioners. We want to thank you for the opportunity to share something truly spectacular with you. You may recall that over thirty one years ago, a number of wiser gentlemen and ladies got together and in their wisdom decided to form for the benefit of arts and culture here in Seminole County, the Seminole Cultural Arts Council. Through all of those years, we are getting ready today to recognize the twenty first individual to be named Seminole County's Artist of the Year. To tell you a little bit about the gentleman who we've selected, I found it difficult to know where to start.

Alton is someone who I'd first met almost ten years ago and it was a very hot day, not that all days in Florida aren't hot, but he was sweating, he was at the Evergreen Cemetery in Casselberry and he was standing over a tombstone trying to pull weeds and clean up. And I had come out to ask him a question and he said, Hold on, I'm trying to take care of this. Give me just a moment. So I sat there and I looked around and found myself in a very beautiful, peaceful place that differed very much from when Alton and his merry band of volunteers had first started to work there. Can you advance the next slide, please?

Oh, I've got the clicker. Yay. Alton Williams, what do you need to know about him? Alton, I could tell you that Alton was born at Winter Park Memorial Hospital. He was born a twin.

I could tell you that he grew up here in Seminole County, a proud student of Rosenwald Elementary in Altamonte Springs, or that he graduated from Lyman High School and later attended Seminole State what was at the time Seminole Community College, now Seminole State College to study business. I could tell you that for almost forty years he has been involved in history, cultural preservation, and being a writer, in addition to all of the very activism that he does. He published his first book, Sand Pine's History in a Shoebox, in 2021, which has become one of the definitive works for African American history in Southwestern Seminole County and the county itself. But probably one of his most significant contributions has been his help to establish the Evergreen Cemetery Trust, of which he is currently chair and treasurer, and for every week, almost every Tuesday, he's out there, if not for many other days in between, to care for the memorials and the graves that are out there. He is also most recently, I'm happy to say, founder of the Bonner House Museum History of Historical Facts, which he opened after many years of working to privately fundraise.

The museum opened last year on Juneteenth, where many of you were able to join him and myself in that celebration, and he continues to work with his most recent goal being the establishment of a new research library, which is actually on the grounds of the Evergreen Cemetery. It's one of the fun facts that we actually do have a research library and a museum inside a cemetery in Seminole County. Not many people can say that. And it's very special in addition to all these other things that I've shared with you because it was designed in a style of something called a Florida shotgun house, which is what the workers of the ferneries in Casselberry and Altamont, African American individuals who used to be those workers would live in those shotgun houses. And so when Alden was a young boy, it was said that you could have the door open and the shot would go from the front

of the door out the back

and the snap of a finger, and that's how the name got its that's how the house got its name. He is currently working on a new book about the history of Altamonte Springs and he lives in Altamonte. I think Alden said it himself when he said that he wanted the Bonner House Museum not to just be a museum. He wanted it someplace to be where elementary school children could come and do their book reports, have field trips, and learn about history that was almost lost. Because as Alden has often said, sometimes people have not been kind throughout history, and we do a disservice to all of those who have gone before us if we don't remember the good with the bad.

So, to give you an idea, Alton continues to be, you know, for more than almost four decades of cultural preservation, we chose him, the board of the Seminole Cultural Arts Council chose him as 2025 Artist of the Year and we know that he will continue to represent Seminole County proud for all of the many wonderful things that he has done. So without further ado, I'd like to go ahead and recognize Alden Williams as 2025 Artist of the Year.

Thank you. Wow. And I like flowers.

So it's amazing.

My Welcome, mister Williams. And please feel free to have a few words. Sure.

Grace and mercy.

Amen.

That's what brought me here today, and you all as well. I say God took something negative and made it positive. So if at any time you all wish to come and take a look at the museum I won't stand here long. Take a look at the museum, we do give us a call, we can bring you to the museum by appointments only. And I am that was a lot.

I am so proud to represent that cemetery and the city of Casselberry in Seminole County. And I've worked on several boards with this county community block grant board and so forth and so on. And so I accept this with great pride and love. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you for your leadership and your advocacy, sir.

Okay. You're welcome. Thank you.

And commissioner Armadillo, my apologies for not recognizing you earlier, but from Castleberry, we are welcome to have you here today. Thank you. Thank you. It's beautiful. All right. I'm going to call out. We're going to come down and get our pictures with all the individuals that desire to. From the Trulyota Baptist, we have pastor people and all the deacons that are attending as well. Breast cancer awareness, we've got our firefighters with us, as well as Paula Rodriguez, Director of Operations, Center Florida Breast Cancer Foundation. Alan Harris has brought some puppies as our special guest.

And on Farmers Day, we have Joe Saucer, Clay Archie, Kim McCune, also from the Farm Bureau, and the Yarborough family, JW and Bo. Please come down, and we'll get you all queued up. Alright. We're gonna ask each of you to come to the lectern and say a few words if you'd like. We'll start with pastor Peebles from the Baptist Church.

It's always dangerous when you ask a pastor to come and say a few words. Amen.

But I

promise I'll keep it concise.

Although I will tell you, we could use a lot more of it these days.

On behalf of the First Baptist Church of Tulio family, we just wanna say thank you for your recognition today, and I will make sure that this is posted for all the church members to see. And we thank you for your commitment to our church and to the faith community.

Amen. Keep up the good work. Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Next, I'll ask miss Paula Rodriguez to come forward, the Director of Operations Center Florida Breast Cancer Foundation.

Good afternoon, Chairman and Commissioners, and thank you for having us join you today. We really appreciate it. The Florida Breast Cancer Foundation was founded by three women in Miami in 1993 and our mission is we are dedicated to ending breast cancer through research, education and advocacy. Some of our main programs are we offer grants each year to innovative research to discover effective ways to diagnose, treat, and possibly cure breast cancer. We also give grants to direct service for other organizations who provide direct services residents.

We have an end breast cancer specialty license plate. We're the only nonprofit organization with a license plate in Florida. We have a pickups for breast cancer program, which is a way that you can donate your slightly used household goods and clothing. And those funds help us support our mission. We have a virtual statewide support group for fighters and survivors, and we have a mass program, which is mammograms after Sunday service. It's a mobile mammogram unit that goes out to places of worship and other community events that offer mammograms to women. We do have a big five k annual race this Saturday, actually in the Oviedo Mall parking lot if anyone wants to join us. And again, we thank you for for having us here.

Thank you very much. And thank you to our firefighter support of this initiative. So very important to the health of women in our community. Yes, Commissioner Lockhart.

Just to point out, I don't want men to feel like they need to be left out of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but there are a fair number of men who are actually diagnosed breast cancer. It is rare. My brother is actually one of those survivors. And so if you all would keep in mind, as gentlemen, it's not just a women's disease. So thank you.

Yeah, thank you. Next we have Mr. Allen Harris with our animal control. And where are those dogs? Are letting them go already?

They're being adopted right now, hopefully Perfect. In the

I don't know Being delivered to your home as we speak.

Yeah, almost claimed that.

Well, we have Constantine who already signed staff assistant was signing the adoption papers out there. We want to thank you all on behalf of the Seminole County Animal Services staff and volunteers. We have amazing volunteers that give so much time to adoptions, our dogs, our cats in the shelter, even our pigs. Tricia got another picture this morning of a pig that came in that is potty trained, sits, shakes paws. So but this is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month.

During this month, it is $5 adoptions, so if you'd like to adopt an animal from us, it's $5 adopt, don't shop, please. Our shelters are all over capacity, so we really need your help. Thank you.

Very good. Thank you.

Chairman?

Yes. Commissioner Her?

I'd just like to point out that mister Yarborough's face at the trained pig was priceless. Just priceless.

Can't believe it.

Can't believe it.

Alan, if if it will help the initiative if it will help the initiative, I will put $500 forward to help those people with the adoption if you can get those adopted.

Well, you. Yes. That's wonderful.

Thank you very great

Help everybody out.

Call everybody out. Thank you. That's awesome. Thank you.

We got to adopt a pig.

All right. Next is our Farmers Day proclamation recipients, and this will be Kim McEwen from the Florida Farm Bureau to say a few words. She jetted? That leaves, let's see, Yarboroughs or Holmes? Oh, here she is.

She was adopting the pig. Oh, are you adopting the pig?

Yeah. Just pull that right down any way you need to get it there.

Well, I want to thank Jay Zambauer for coming to our annual meeting. Had this this past Saturday. You know,

we're very proud of the

work that Seminole County Farm Bureau is doing. These last few years we've had a mission to really increase agriculture education in our schools and we've gone we've made great strides in that. So, just so that everyone's aware, Oviedo High School now has a Roots to Research program that is funding biotechnology research for agriculture in both industry. And we announced at our annual meeting that Simpler County Farm Bureau is now providing a special award for the Simpler County Science Fair that's called Innovation in Agriculture where we'll be awarding a thousand dollar scholarship for the high school winner and a $500 award for the middle school winner. So, we give out teacher mini grants to both local PTAs and teachers.

We've given out in the last four years probably $20,000 in scholarships to students. So, you know, as our footprint in agricultural land decreases in Seminole County, it's imperative that our education on the importance of agriculture is really, you know, incorporated into our public schools. Thank you for the recognition. We really appreciate it.

Thank you. You. Thank very much. You know, it's soon lost on us, especially some of the the younger generation where our food and substance comes from. You know, I get a kick out of talking to some of my grandchildren, grandchildren's friends who tell you, it comes from Publix.

It comes from somewhere else before it ever gets to Publix, believe me. But, you know, on that event, I will tell you I was really impressed. There was a young lady that had received scholarships that actually, at a very young age, has now applied for a patent and is marketing for citrus canker and greening that is now in, I think it was two or three or four groves now being utilized. And this young lady is how old?

She's 17.

17 years old. Doctor. Amazing. Absolutely amazing. So, good work. Thank you all very much. We'll give you a few moments. You're welcome to stick around for the rest of the venue. If you want some real brain damage, hang out with us. If you want some entertainment, hang out with us.

But if you need to get on with your day, we understand. And thank you all very much for being here, congratulations. We'll take a little two minute break. All right, everybody good? All good?

I can feel.

All right, we'll move forward with the rest of our agenda. Next up is our consent agenda. I will remind everyone if you've come in since we started, please make sure your phones or electronic devices are silenced. I will first go to the county manager to see if there are any revisions to the consent agenda.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Commissioners. Yes, I have two changes under the county manager's consent agenda. Item number eighteen and nineteen I'd like to pull, and I'll bring those back at a later date.

Okay.

And that's all I have.

County managers pulling eighteen and nineteen. Any commissioner desire to pull any individual item? 25. 25 for separate consideration? Okay.

Okay. Let's go to the county attorney for the rules of public participation on the consent agenda.

Good afternoon. Florida law provides that members of the public shall be given a reasonable opportunity to be heard on propositions before the Board of County Commissioners except when the board is acting on emergency or ministerial matters or conducting a meeting exempt from the requirements of the Sunshine Law. Individuals shall be permitted three minutes each for public comment or six minutes when the individual is an official representative of a formal association or group. The chairman may modify the maximum time for public comment at his sole discretion when appropriate. Public comments on quasi judicial or other public hearing items will occur during the board's consideration of those items later this afternoon.

Public comments on pending procurement matters or on non agenda items shall not be permitted at this time. Members of the public desiring to make public comment must fill out a speaker form and present the form to staff. Forms are available in the lobby. Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Ms. Latour. We will go to public input and comment. Who do we have, if anyone, to speak on any of the consent agenda items?

No speakers, sir.

No speakers? Then let's go to closing the public input, and we will go to looking for a motion. Mr.

Chairman, I will move the approval of the consent agenda, item number six, from the constitutional officers and the county manager's consent agenda seven through 34, with the exception of eighteen, nineteen, and 25.

Okay. Second. Motion and second. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed like sign? Seeing none, passes unanimously. And commissioner Konstine, you wanted item 25, separate consideration.

Please Yes,

am not opposed specifically to this, issue. I did, however, vote against the rezoning of this particular project, and to remain consistent, I will vote against the final plat. Okay.

Chairman?

Yes. Commissioner Her.

Move to approve item 25. Second.

Motion is second. All those in favor, aye.

Aye.

Opposed? Like sign? Aye. Three to one passes. Thank you very much.

Next item, we will move to our regular agenda items. Item number 35, kickoff of the 2050 mobility transportation plan. This is going to be presented by John Slott, public works director, and Joe LaFosso, professional engineer. Gentlemen.

Thank you, mister chairman, commissioners, county manager. We're here today to present and ask for authorization to kick off the 2050 mobility and transportation plan. We're also here and supported by our consulting partner Jacobs, and Didier Menard is here in attendance to also support this initiative. At this time, I will turn it over to Joe Lofaso to walk us through the presentation.

Mr. Lofaso, the floor is yours, sir. And by the way, thank you for the cookies whoever made these. Taste like Tricia Johnson made them. Thank you. We're just hold on one second. Are we pulling up the presentation?

We are, sir.

You want a cookie?

I have some.

They really are fantastic.

They are good.

Okay. Now I got to try.

There's probably enough that if each of us

I'm scared.

I'm looking at everyone. I'm like, we're talking about how great these cookies taste. And everyone out there is like, yeah, great.

Easy. Easy. I'm stingy with my cookies.

I need to share.

Next time bite size, Tricia, we pass them out like communion wafers. Well, right? Since we recognized the church this morning. Well Alright.

Yeah. You should really order order a bake sale competition.

Okay, guys. Yeah.

We'll have that to the list.

We're great.

I'll add that

to the Hey, Lefaso.

You better hurry up because we are gonna go off the rails fast.

Taylor, do

you need more time?

We are off the rails.

There it goes. Alright. Here we go.

Thank you, mister chairman. Thank you, fellow commissioners. My name is Joseph Lafaso with Seminole County Public Works, and I'm here to present the 2050 mobility transportation plan kickoff. The purpose of this presentation is to request board approval for initiation of the 2050 mobility and transportation plan. Today's agenda will be project background, current status, scope, goals, benefits, next steps, and requested action.

The background is that this is project has begun as the twenty forty five transportation mobility plan in May 2022. It is a $1,100,000 planning project and it had the following objectives of collecting traffic and socioeconomic data, modeling existing and future roadway network traffic conditions, and providing a needs list for future transportation infrastructure improvement. The twenty forty five TMP final draft was completed and a public meeting was held in April 2025. This project was developed in close coordination with our regional partners such as the Florida Department of Transportation, Florida Turnpike, Central Florida Expressway, and Metro Plan Orlando. The current status is the 2,045 was slated for the board approval in April 2025.

However, we discovered several issues. The 2,045 TMP was built on rapidly aging data, could which put it out of sync with Metro Plan Orlando's 2,050 MTP. This would limit its effectiveness and its use for policy investment and infrastructure decisions. This would also potentially risk misalignment of transportation priorities and insufficient reflection of the ever evolving community needs, and inadequate consideration of regional growth dynamics. The proposed solution to this will be the completion of the 2,050 MTP for Seminole County.

This will allow for the greatest opportunity for regional alignment and growth integration and continued collaboration with all of our regional partners. In addition, it'll allow us to incorporate the latest traffic and intersection analytics as well as the use the latest data automation techniques such as Seminole County probe data. Thus, the project scope is to reorganize the 2,045 TMP into the 2050 mobility and transportation plan. This is a $533,000 planning project update to extend the planning horizon to the year 2050 to update to a 2030 existing plus committed traffic forecast model network to update the crash data and travel time and delay data so as to revise the priority project list. This will allow us to achieve the goals of synchronizing with Metro Plan Orlando's twenty fifty MTP for regional consistency to implement the goals and objectives of the transportation element of the Seminole County comprehensive plan to inform the mobility fee study and land development code amendments to guide the county's transportation system investment decisions through 2050, and to provide emphasis on equitable resilient mobility choices for all users.

The benefits would be a modern actionable framework to guide the county's transportation investments through 2050, ensure alignment with regional and state partners, and position Seminole County to respond effectively to emerging mobility trends, economic developments, and infrastructure needs. Our next steps will be to return in January 2026 to give an update on the 2050 MTP. Then in the February March 2026 time frame, we have an opportunity for a public meeting on this project. Then in April 2026, we're going to return to present the final draft and request the BCC approval of the 2,050 MTP. Our requested action at this time is the board approve and authorize the chairman to execute the budget amendment request for contract amendment for the funding of the 2050 mobility and transportation plan.

At this point, I would like to thank the board for its time and we are prepared for any questions.

Very good. Thank you, Mr. Fossil. Any inquiries from the board at this time? I just have

if you

have none, but it looks like the county manager may have some words.

Yes, just one thing. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And what we are also going to use this study for when we come back to you at the beginning of the calendar year is to prioritize the fourth gen transportation projects. We already have a list established however, we want to compare these to ensure that if the commission wants to bump a project or two. So, we will have both of these come back to you at the beginning of the year so you can prioritize the projects.

Great. And I would surmise that this also is going to have some input into our mobility fee update.

That is correct.

Correct. Okay. Great. Which I understand staff has been working on, and so we'll see that shortly thereafter as this gets kicked off. Great. Thank you very much. Anybody Commissioner

Her? Go ahead.

First, I just wanted to say that was an amazing presentation on material. Like I don't know how you got through that that fast and it appears as though you memorized it. That was amazing. Like amazing.

Indeed.

Yeah. I mean, we could have been all off the rails with this and you did a fabulous job.

That's right. Very good. Thank you all very much. Is there anybody here from the public that has any comment on this?

No, sir.

Thank you very much. We'll close any input from the public. I will go to board action for direction.

Chairman, I'm happy to move to approve and authorize the chairman execute the budget amendment request for contract amendment for the funding of the 2050 Mobility and Transportation Plan.

Second. Thank you. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Like sign? Carries unanimous. Keep up the good work. Thank you all very much for your time.

Thanks, Chairman.

Good stuff. All right, next we're going to move into our public hearing agenda. I will move for proof of publication, please.

So moved. Second.

Motion's second. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed, like sign. Seeing none, it's unanimous. I'll start with commissioner Her, work our way across. Ex parte disclosures, please.

I'm handing it in in paper form. K. As soon as I locate it.

Mine has been submitted electronically through the clerk's office. So is mine. Ditto. Okay. So all have been submitted. If you can hand this down to the clerk and commissioners. Please.

Thank you. Thank you.

Alright. We will go to the county attorney, Ms. Kate Latour, for the role of engagement from the public on these items.

Thank you, Chairman. While the Board welcomes comments from all persons with an interest in these proceedings, Florida law requires that the Board's decision in quasi judicial actions be supported by competent substantial evidence presented to the Board during the hearings on the application. Competent substantial evidence is such evidence as a reasonable mind would accept as adequate to support a conclusion. There must be a factual basis in the record to support opinion testimony from both expert and nonexpert witnesses. Persons presenting testimony may rely on factual information that they present, information presented by county staff, information the applicant presented, or on factual information included in the county staff report to support their testimony.

All persons who present written materials to the board for consideration must ensure that a copy of such materials is provided to the clerk for inclusion in the board's record of proceedings and official minutes. Mr. Chairman?

Thank you very much. Alright. We will start with item number 36. If you're here to speak on this item, make sure you get a form filled out and bring it up to the clerk here. Make sure that Dominique receives that so we can efficiently get through this process. Our staff is going give a presentation, then we will go to the applicant, and if the applicant desires to give a presentation, we will give them a few minutes to do so. We will then go to public comment. We will go rebuttal to the applicant if necessary, and then we'll move for board action. Ms. Apgar, you're up.

Good afternoon. Caitlin Apgar, Planning and Development Services. The applicant is requesting the approval for a small scale future land use map amendment from quasi public to suburban estates for a proposed single family development on approximately 2.6 acres located on the West Side of Markham Woods Road, South of Markham Road. The subject property has a future land use designation of public quasi public and a zoning classification of A1 agriculture. The intent of the existing public quasi public future land use is to provide appropriate locations for public uses such as schools, cemeteries, safety facilities, and transportation facilities.

Residential uses are not permitted. The applicant proposes to develop the site as a single family residence, which warrants the need for the proposed amendment. The subject property is currently vacant. This property is adjacent to single family residences on the north, east, and south. This property is also located next to an existing historical cemetery on the West side.

Due to the historical cemetery being located directly adjacent to the site, staff conducted research to validate that the subject site was not previously utilized or registered as a cemetery. The applicant provided a ground penetrating radar report that was performed on 09/30/2024. The applicant also contacted the appropriate state agencies and nonprofit and historical entities. These correspondences, as well as the ground penetrating radar report, are included in the agenda package for review. There was no conclusive evidence verifying that this site was historically used as a cemetery based on information and reports provided by the applicant as well as internal staff research.

The site is located within Seminole County's utility service area and will be required to connect to public utilities for water and reclaim water. Sanitary sewer connection is not readily available to the subject property. Therefore, the site may utilize a septic system for wastewater. The property proposes access onto Markham Woods Road, which is classified as an urban major collector. Markham Woods Road is currently operating at a level of service b.

There is an existing sidewalk along Markham Woods Road. The A1 zoning classification requires a minimum lot size of one acre with a minimum lot width of 150 feet at building line. The permitted uses include single family residences and is consistent with the proposed future land use of suburban estates. The suburban estates future land use is consistent with the proposed use of the property as a single family dwelling and the Wekiva River Protection Area. Per the Seminole County comprehensive plan future land use objective 1.6, standards of review, land use amendments are evaluated using the criteria as depicted on the slide above.

In summation, the surrounding character of the area has become developed over time consistent with the suburban estate's future land use. This request meets all of the standards of review as depicted, and further analysis can be found in your agenda package. The proposed amendment to suburban estates is compliant with the Wekiva River Protection Area in the county's comprehensive plan by meeting the intent of flu policies 2.2.5, 2.3.3, and 2.3.8. There are no wetlands on the site per estimates from the National Wetland Inventory Maps, and any development on the subject property will be subject to the maximum impervious surface ratio of 60% due to being in the aquifer recharge overlay. This request is compliant with the one dwelling unit per net buildable acre density, and the intent is to amend the land use to suburban estates for the purpose of building a single family home, which is consistent with the Wekiva River Protection Area.

In compliance with the Seminole County Land Development Code section 30.49 community meeting procedure, the applicant conducted a community meeting on 03/03/2025. Details of community meeting have been provided in the agenda package. The Planning and Zoning Commission met on 08/06/2025, and voted unanimously to recommend the Board of County Commissioners adopt the proposed ordinance. The minutes of the meeting are also provided in the agenda package. Staff requests the Board of County Commissioners adopt the proposed ordinance enacting a small scale future land use map amendment from quasi public to suburban estates for proposed single family dwelling on approximately 2.6 acres located on the West Side of Markham Woods Road, South Of Markham Road.

I'll stand by for any questions.

Thank you very much. Any inquiries with staff at this juncture? Seeing none, Mr. Groot, do you care to make a presentation or statement to the board? If so, please come forward.

Good

afternoon, mister chair, members of the county commission. Good to see you this afternoon. First of all, I'm Lonnie Group, attorney from Daytona Beach Shores representing mister and missus Nick Nicolich, who I think I are traveling to see there's a child who's they're supposed to be here. I think I forgot that they were traveling just because one of their children is going to medical school, so I think I forgot that. Otherwise, they'd be here.

Really appreciate having worked with staff, having worked here starting on when I got out of the JAGCOR in 1985. One thing that has been truly consistent, in my judgment, is that you had a great planning staff in 1985, you still do, and county commissioners read their agenda packets. And and they did mostly in 1985. There isn't an exact No. There but I know that I digress.

I know that I I know that unlike some governmental bodies, you guys really are thorough. And so I have put a lot of material in the agenda packet, and I know you've read it, and I rely upon that. Aside from that, I'm ready to answer any questions, but I really am glad this meeting is filmed because as the father of seven daughters, there are cookies in this room, and I have not stolen one, fangigled my way to get one, or whatever, and that is historically proven today.

I offer Now you're getting

I offer Oh, don't ruin me. I'm on a roll. But I'm really, I'm any questions that you might have, I'm glad to Any answer

inquiries for Mr. Groot? Seeing none. Mr. Groot, thank

you very much. And since you're representing the applicant, just a request. I think we have adopted the minimum state standards as far as septic tanks go, and therefore, I believe that if it was an acre or less, you would be required to do the advanced septic tank because it's over an acre. Unfortunately, you're not required to do it. I would appreciate very much because you're in the protection area and you are near wetlands and you are near the river that you will put in an advanced septic tank into this property.

I've already talked to them about that, and I will follow-up again, I promise you.

Thank you, Lonnie. Anything else? Hearing none? Okay. To make yourself comfortable, we'll call you up for rebuttal if necessary. Madam Clerk, do we have anybody here from the public to speak on this item?

Yes, sir. And the first speaker has requested to show a video clip that was sent to all of your offices, if you would like.

Yes. I think that's a four and a half, five minute?

Doctor. Joseph: Yes, sir.

Doctor. Joseph: Okay. Are they represented by an HO is he represented HOA or single individual homeowner?

Doctor. Single individual.

Doctor. Okay. Well, we'll give them some latitude. Typically, allow three minutes. If we want to go ahead and get that keyed up, let's get it playing. And if an individual would come up and give us his name and address for the record. Good afternoon. Good afternoon, sir. Your name and address, please. My name

is Bill Platt. I live at 1719 Cedarstone Court. Great. I've been living at Lake Mary since 1988.

Very And

the the video is four and a half minutes, but my wife and Ernie, my neighbor, they donated that three minutes, so that's six minutes.

Well, we don't that's fine. We don't take donations, except for our animal adoption center. But that said, if desire to speak, they'll need to fill out one of these forms. Have they already done that, Dominique?

Yes, sir.

Okay. We'll call them appropriately as is due. So you're going to dedicate your time to the video is that our understanding?

Doctor. Well, they dedicated their time to the video. I have three minutes I would Joseph: like to

go for it.

Doctor. Thank you.

Doctor. Run it.

Doctor. Well, living here in Central Florida, we see all the signs of modern growth every single day. But most of us have no idea about the history sometimes right under our feet. Now one of our News six viewers reached out to us about a part of Seminole County that has been disappearing through the decades. News six reporter Catherine Silver explores Markham Woods.

It's been here for a long time.

It's a piece of Seminole County's history that's buried. It's really hidden.

Oh, yes. It's deep in here.

Stories passed on with few records that hold true answers.

There's some markets that Mr. General G. Nelson, 1959. John Stanton, 1937.

Bill Clack only knew about it because he recently discovered part of it is just beyond his property. How many people do you think don't even realize this exists?

I think most of the people don't even know.

Not far from Markham Woods Road lies what was known as Piney Ridge Cemetery. This was a burial ground for the black community that developed lumber and turpentine here in the early twentieth century when the town of Markham existed. What we do know about its history, we found at the museum in Seminole County. Answers here aren't buried in the ground, but in cabinets and files, Reminders of a reality years ago.

Where we're located is right in here. That's where Markham, like the community, is going to be centered. It's West Paola. Because it was close to the railway. Yeah. It was close to the railway and also to the river.

Bennett Lloyd is the museum coordinator.

All of this is Wilson Cypress, and you have little pockets of it, t e Wilson.

These companies really owned everything, and the laborers who we see buried at Piney Ridge are the ones who did all the work. Yes.

And it was grueling work.

At what point did the town of Markham disappear?

Really, by the time we see it here in the forties and fifties, it was only on paper.

Today, it's only known as a ghost town.

They would move the whole town and they would drop it on another little plot of land nearby and they would do the same thing for that land.

And the cycle continued, where there would have been a church, a community.

Here it was Oak Grove Missionary Baptist. That was here until 1928 when it burnt down.

There is now mostly pine trees.

There are dozens of these cemeteries scattered around the county, some of which have been lost to development already, we're working on trying to figure out what parking lots they're under.

The only peek into the past at Piney Ridge are metal markers. Some rusted or unreadable. Many were wooden and disintegrated through the decades. Do we have any way of knowing how many people could be buried here?

I've seen estimates from '25 to '75, but those estimates are also older. A lot of the families, they'll still have pots here.

What we see here today is a cemetery that is small but still in use. It's what Klatt found just beyond the tree line. This collection of apparent graves that made him wonder just how much bigger this burial site could be.

It could be that, you know, it's poor individuals who still wanted to be close to the cemetery but didn't really have the money to purchase plots. There's really no way of knowing who's buried here and where unless there's, you know, some kind of archaeology done.

Sincere proposal, future land use designation amendment.

The owners of a nearby property have plans to build a home on their land. This letter is from a law firm. They paid for a ground penetrating radar report that was limited by the terrain but found no graves.

There was some concern that a cemetery was located on the property. Evidence proves to the contrary.

Klatt says he just wants people to remember what happened long ago, what's been lost along the way, and to keep telling the story. You reached out to us because you believe this is a story worth telling.

Yes. For us, to capture the essence of Markham Woods, it would be very important to restore this cemetery and also make it a historical site.

Because here, there is no story without the people who made Marco. In Seminole County, Catherine Silver, getting results, News six.

Just fascinating. It really is.

Actually, the story years ago, I think it was the Oakland Cemetery, and it's primarily African American. And had it not been for the people in that community saying, there are graves back here. They were trying to widen and put part of the Turnpike over in that area. So, I'm so glad that they are.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay,

Since I don't bring cookies, let me read this statement. Before we proceed, would like to ask any commissioner has relationship with any of the involved parties that should be disclosed for the record? No? Okay. Ginger's comment at the end of the channel six report clearly indicates that she is counting on us to preserve and not bulldoze the abandoned cemetery.

In 2019, the University of Florida conducted a survey for Florida cemeteries, and this Missionary Baptist cemetery did appear on their list at the parcel in question. Looks like this cemetery was sold to Price Estates LLC on 05/16/2022 thousand '16 for only a $145,000. What a great deal. 2.6 acres of prime real estate, land right across the street from Alkeecher Elementary School, now appraised by the county over $337,000. Mister Platt? But who would buy

a Mister Platt, we're going ask you to keep it on the topic of why we're here today.

Okay.

Specific to this property, not the price of the property. Problem. None of those things really matter in our decision making process.

No problem. Let's move on. But who would like who would buy a cemetery as a real estate investment? What type of investor would do this? Would any of you buy a property known to be a cemetery to build your house? I don't see anybody

Mister Platt, I'm gonna ask you one more time. Keep it on topic to the subject property.

Okay. Now, let's go to the topic. Like, the lawyer indicated, competent Mister Platt go

ahead. I've been very gracious so far with your time, so I'm going to ask you to expedite it and try to stay on point, please.

Yeah. Let's take a look at the details of limitations encountered on the ground penetrating report. As your lawyer mentioned, competent substantial evidence. Surface obstructions, not enough area to perform scans, area not accessible to be scanned, overgrown vegetation, and the last limitation they listed was other. As an engineer with a master degree at UCF, I acknowledge that this GPR cannot confirm a 100% that the grave is not present.

The dielectric properties of utilities remain constant over time, but the dielectric properties of a burial change with the state of the composition affecting the clarity of the signal. The company that performed the GPR is known actively tracing conductive pipes, pipes, tracer wires, passively detecting power utilities, but not for locating buried bodies as indicated by Patricia Myers, historic cemetery program supervisor in our phone conversation. I never imagined that after living in this property for more than seventeen years, retired, and being a cancer survivor, I would be here trying to prevail to prevent a real estate developer and his powerful influential lawyer from bulldozing a cemetery adjacent to our backyards to make

a

profit. Imagine if the contractors for the applicant begin the construction and start on earth gravesites, the site work would become to a halt and the property now becomes the main subject of national TV, especially after the Sanford versus Trevor Martin case that our communities experienced. Please help our community prevent this from happening in our backyard.

Thank you. Next speaker, please.

Next is John Spolsky.

Mister Spolsky. And welcome. It's been quite some time since we saw you in our chambers.

How lucky are you?

Good afternoon. Much of what I was going to speak about has been covered already as far as in the presentation by the county and mister Klatt. First of all, John Spolsky, 1 36th North High Street, Lake Mary. This property, Missionary Baptist Cemetery, was given to them back in 1946 by the owner as far as use as a church and or cemetery. Then in 2016, it was sold in a tax deed excuse me, 02/2012.

Tax deed sale, and then it was flipped to the I think it's pronounced Nicole family from I apologize. So they had their attorney contact, adjoining property owners of which I am one, and some of the obvious concerns were you was utilizing this property to build a single family house. Their attorney tried to appease us at the meeting by talking about this ground penetrating radar survey service. And that's one of the main points of contention that I have because they did not meet the burden of proof. If you look in there as far as when it talks about the scope, all of the obstacles they had that they could not get around.

And then in one area where it was clear, if you look down further, they talk about finding something that is of a major concern to them. So to sit there and tell the the staff that GPR has been performed, that's a fallacy because all of those items in there that they talk about the obstructions and what have you. In order to do a thorough GPR, the property has to be clear and you can't have more than six inches of grass for them to run their equipment over in order to determine, you know, what's underneath there. Additionally, the owners of the cemetery next door to it, I've talked to them and I don't even know, commissioner Her, I know that they sent an email to you and it was late if you had even had a chance to read it. They talked about several people whose names are on headstones there, that they have no record of that person being buried there.

And what their thought is is that that person was actually buried on the adjoining piece of property. And since they couldn't pinpoint the location in order to memorialize that person's passing, they went ahead and put a headstone within the confines of their fenced in area. So I would hate to see construction take place, and then all of a sudden you start unearthing caskets, human remains, and what have you. And then the county is embroiled in a in a rural fiasco with the job being shut down, contractors, subcontractors, subcontractors, you you know, know, looking for payment for loss of productivity, etcetera. So until they can sit there and tell the the county that there's absolutely no grave sites on there, This report does not meet the burden of proof.

Thank you. Question, and you're speaking to the church or the cemetery operators about the headstones that you mentioned that they believe they might have been placed there just to memorialize the passing and they believe they'll be over the property. Did they do any ground penetrating radar or anything to determine if there's anything below those headstones?

No. And that's a great point, commissioner. When I was talking to Leroy Johnson, he said they wish that they had the money to where they could sit there and say and have that type of

of

a performance done to verify if there are. But they told me, mister Johnson, that they have no record of a burial taking place there, but yet they have several headstones there, and that's what has raised their concerns

Sure.

Is that that person may actually be on the adjoining piece of property.

Okay. And I understand that's an assumption. Right. So so I will forward to commissioner Her's office, there is a grant program at the state of Florida that the owners of the cemetery, the church associate can apply for to help with that identification, which would probably be helpful if it's a financial situation.

Okay.

So, I'll pass that to Commissioner Her's office, so you can reach out to them and maybe that'll be helpful to the church. So, thank you very much. Appreciate your input.

Thank you for your time.

Next person, please.

The final speaker is Christopher Thurp.

Thurp?

Yes, sir.

Mister Thurp? Thurp? Thurp? Alright. Welcome, sirs. My

name is Christopher Thorpe, 1713 Cedarstone Court. I'm Lot 3. If you look through your things in my property, it butts up to the Northeast corner. I'm gonna be real quick. There's nobody more that wants to be able to do what you wanna do with your property without government interference than me. But that ground penetrating radar report is very, very inconclusive. We just want the we we don't care if they build their house there. Just let's do it smart in the common sense way. If the property's gotta be cleared before they can build a house, let's clear the property and then do a ground penetrating report and find out if there are bodies there before we start digging and desecrating graves. That's that's all we're looking for.

We we we're not against them building their house. We just wanna do it the smart common sense way. Thanks.

Question real quick. You say you abut this property? I abut this property, yes, And do you abut the ones that currently have headstones on them?

No, do not abut the

one that has headstones on them. I abut this property on the Northeast Corner.

Okay. Great. Thank you. Any other public input?

No, sir.

Okay. We'll close public input and we'll go to rebuttal. Is mister Groot, do you desire to make a rebuttal?

Just very briefly, and I really I do promise understand why the speakers are speaking and but that what is being said is true for any piece of property in Seminole County or any other of the other 66 counties of the state. You can't. It's violation of law in chapters eight seventy two to if you if you find a gravesite to continue to construct. There's things you have to do. That's true with the the subject property now if it was developed for the uses that are allowed, and I won't necessarily go through them, but there's a bunch of uses that are allowed now, as a if it was public, quasi public, that the same statutes would apply.

So the Piney Grove Cemetery is a treasure. No doubt about that. That video was correct. I've walked the property. I don't hopefully I didn't trespass, but I walked the property. There's an area for military graves black folks who served in the military during times when they couldn't eat at the downtown drugstore. There's a little baby area that I guess there's certain areas that different that was traditional for churches to bury different folks in. Sunset, sunrise, south of the church, north of the church. It's a treasure. There's no doubt about that.

But when development occurs, and it can only be one house, the builder will comply with state law, and if there's any graves that are located, it'll stop just like the convenience store development at the corner of, what is it, Banana Lake Road, Orange Avenue, on the entrance to Heathrow, that entrance on the Southwest Quadrant, that was going to be I don't know if anybody remembers this that was going to be a convenience store. Well, they found some graves there. There's nothing there now because of that that occurrence. My clients know they're bound by state law. I've filed the documents, I filed the summary that the state puts in on its website about what happens when you find a grave in our application file, so we know that.

But, there are private property rights that are these clients are entitled to. The the property appraiser, one last thing, in 2012, changed the tax exempt status of the property because the property appraiser determined that the property had not been used as a church or a cemetery and changed it, and it became taxable. And unfortunately, the entity which I can't find that was Markham Missionary Baptist Church Markham, didn't know that, and and the property was sold. After the property appraiser determined it was not being used as a church or cemetery. That's all I've got.

But if there's any questions, please let me know.

Thank you. Any questions for mister Krug? Commissioner Constantine?

Thank you. Mister Krug, then what you're saying is as as far as preliminary development, you believe that everything has been done according to the law and needs to be done from okay. When you say a disruption of and I'm asking for my own personal

Yes, sir.

Destruction of a grave site, you talking about just where the layout of the home will be or the entire 2.6 acre property?

If just the worst thing that ever happened on the road projects that I was involved in for Seminole County was to find a grave or an underground petroleum storage tank. That stopped the road project right there. So any any development, this this relates to the subdivision that's some of these folks live in. Any development, whether it's a shed, or a swimming pool, or whatever, and whatever occurs on my client's property, if they locate a grave, they have to stop. If they locate human remains, they can't move them.

They have to call the appropriate authorities to address the situation. So whatever development, not just the footprint of the house, the driveway, a swimming pool, a patio, whatever, state law says stop.

Including the septic tank, commissioner.

Including the septic tank.

The heavy duty,

except Which which may which may take a bigger footprint of your request.

It doesn't, sir.

Chairman Including the drain field.

Chairman, I can I can add to that he does? If I if I may.

So that's where I was going.

I don't have questions for for Lani, but I do have questions for our lawyer.

Yeah. So the process is that if you sorry, Naysa Borker, deputy county attorney for the record. If the process is if human remains are found, excavated through anything, if they're found, law enforcement needs to be contacted immediately. Law enforcement comes out and contacts the medical examiner. The medical examiner then starts their investigation.

They have certain time periods under the Florida statutes to determine whether or not the medical examiner believes that the person has passed away within the past seventy five years. If it was before that, then it goes to the state archaeological society and then it's transferred to the state and the state investigates and does a report. If not, then it stays with the medical examiner and they do their investigation and their report. So that's just generally I can get into more specifics on what happens if human remains are found. I'll also note that in our comp plan, if there is an area of concern, for example, on this property where the ground penetrating radar report showed that there was an area of concern on the driveway, then the county can say, hey, this area has got to remain, you know, undeveloped, right?

It can remain as an access point, but no development can occur over this area of concern. That can be limited also.

Thank you very much. That's the same briefing I got from y'all last week, so thank you. Commissioner Lockhart.

In terms of access, is there a state law or something that allows who the Island Lake Cemetery Association to allow burials on property that it doesn't appear that they have legal access to? It appears to be landlocked.

You're talking about the Piney Grove Cemetery that exists there now? Correct.

So what what I had and I was refreshing my memory because when we had talked about it before, it I was trying to figure out if there were so many recent burials there, it doesn't look like there is legal access or maybe there's an easement or something that's recorded. I'm just wondering how are these owners going to have to provide access through their driveway for those, it looks like a flag lot for folks to be able to access the cemetery behind them.

So I don't know if there's an easement that's existing now to access that property or where it's located. We did not do the research of that. I can tell you that there is state law surrounding cemeteries that requires access to that cemetery. I did research on this, but it was a few years ago. So I'm not exactly 100% sure what it is. But does under state law, there there needs to be access. Whether or not there's access existing, I don't know. Maybe mister Groot, did you do a title opinion on this property?

No. Didn't. Actually, commissioner Lockhart, I had the same question and and that's why access when the house is built is gonna have to be on the flag unless there's some resolution of the very issue that you raised, which I never projected it to the cemetery, but that is an interesting question there. Yeah.

Well, and it appears from public records that the Cemetery Association has only recreated itself quite recently. It was first established, it looks like, in 2013. Thank you. So at least under its current name and the current caretakers. So this is extremely curious to me.

I find it very fascinating. I'm I am a historical cemetery buff, and I make my husband drag me around the country going to historical cemeteries looking for ancestors. I am that weird person. So this it is not I will just say it is not uncommon to have burials not be recorded in historic cemeteries. Very, very common to the point that I would even question whether or not some of the adjacent properties might have had burials on them as well for the for the neighbors who have concerns.

So but just for for our attorneys' perspective, from the county's point of view, whether or not that ground penetrating radar was sufficient or eliminated all doubt or left doubt on the table, how does that impact our decision making today? Can you tell us legally from the standpoint of what it is that we're here to review today and what is before us with the information that we have? How would that change or impact our decision in any way?

I'll let Nisa take it. Sure. I'm happy to answer that. So we the county has to look at comp plan amendments through the criteria that's listed in the comp plan. And Caitlin had a slide that went over that.

And we look at the character of the surrounding area, public utilities and facilities availability, whether the site can comply with flood plain regulations and wetlands, whether the property will adhere to other special provisions of the law. And what that means is, in this case, the Wekiva special protections that we have on this site, which it will. It will actually be consistent with that at one dwelling unit on the property and whether it's compatible with development, you know, in the area generally, which it is because there's single family residents in the area. There is a comprehensive plan policy that addresses archaeological resources. That policy says that we have to require a survey, which we've done.

It says you have to keep things if there's any areas of concern, you have to keep those in open space areas, as I talked about. And so, we've checked those boxes. Now, you know, it doesn't talk about like do we have to go get our own or something like that. We've it's my opinion that the county's taken all necessary steps, what we're required to do under the comp plan, and it's your job to review this application as the criteria goes. And one of and and we've we've met the they've met the criteria for those purposes. Alright.

Thank you very much.

Mister Lockhart, don't feel too weird. I took one of my daughters to the cemetery to get names for a short story.

Ah, fun. Fun time.

Commissioner Heard.

Yeah. So the this is a, I think in Florida, a more unusual situation than certainly some of the parts of the country where you've been looking at grave sites and where I grew up. But the fact of the matter is that the county has done the work to determine what we could determine currently. The property owner has attempted to do the work to determine what they can determine. And state law and protections step in at the point that something is found.

And that's the next place that this goes. I've actually asked the question, so Nisa, I'd love for you to weigh in. I am under the impression that we cannot require them to do additional ground penetrating radar at this point. First of all, the land needs to be cleared in order to clear the objects that are in the way of the ground penetrating radar, so it's chicken and egg, and so that step has to be taken. We can ask that they do it, similar to the way Commissioner Constantine is asking for the best septic system, and we can put that in the motion. But to require it would also be problematic. Do I understand that correctly?

To be required as a condition of a comprehensive plan amendment to a future land use map amendment that we have here, yes, that's correct. We can't condition a future land use map amendment. That is a legislative matter. However, we can require them to be consistent with the comprehensive plan, and that says you have to provide a survey on properties that are in the archaeological resource areas that are not that don't have flood plain areas or wetland areas on their property, that additional surveys conducted by archaeological consultants or other qualified surveyors that verify the presence or absence of archaeological resources can be required.

And so we've done that? Well, I Is there something that we haven't done that we can do? Let me ask it a different way.

Oh, at this point, no.

Okay. Commissioners, with that, I'm prepared to make a motion.

Let's make sure Mr. Groot's done with rebuttal.

I'm through. Unless there's any questions?

Thank you.

No. Thank you very much. Sir, we're not recognizing you. Your time has been and gone. Thank you. Fine. Bring that up and give it to the clerk. 20 signatures of folks in the neighborhood that are against it, I think, a statement. Is that what it says?

Yes, sir.

Okay. Enter that into the record, if you would. Yep.

Yes, Commissioner

ma'am.

Based on staff's funding and the testimony and evidence received at the hearing, the Board of County Commissioners finds the request meets the identified portions of the comprehensive plan, and I ask that we I move that we adopt the ordinance enacting the small scale future land use map amendment from public quasi public to suburban estates.

Second. Motion second. Further discussion? I I will only say that I spent a lot of time looking at this. Mhmm.

I ask our historical commission to dig into this. Went all the way to the state of Florida. I supplied those documents to our planning division at a concerns that I had. I happened to own a piece of property with a actual civil war prisoner gravesite on it, actually several gravesites, and the federal law dictates that if that's the case and it is discovered and there is graves on the site, you have to provide reasonable access for folks to come to those grave sites. In my case, it's simply a 25 foot wide by about a 600 foot long easement for them to get to it.

I've owned the property twenty seven years and not a single person has ever come except for Daughters of the American Revolution, some others that come around once in a while and tidy things up you know,

show up at plan. Your doorstep every

now and then and

ring a bell.

I will be supporting this because I agree. The staff has done everything. The owner at this point has done everything. There are state laws that dictate, unfortunately, if there is a discovery, how that will handle. So with that said, I will call the question. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed, like sign? Seeing none, motion moves forward. Thank you all very much.

Next item up is item 37. Ms. Kathy will present this item.

Good afternoon. Kathy Hamill, Development Services. The applicant is requesting to construct an 1,123 square foot boat dock house and walkway at 975 Lakefront Lane. The boat dock house and walkway is located on Lake Brantley, in which the applicant's property has approximately 160 feet of lake frontage. Lake Brantley is approximately two eighty seven acres and has a mean depth of 12 feet.

The eleven twenty three square foot boat dock consists of six sixty six square feet of boathouse and slip, two twenty seven square feet of open deck, and two thirty square feet of walkway. Our code requires that boat docks that exceed 1,000 square feet must require board approval. The proposed criteria listed in Section 70.7 of the Seminole County Land Development Code in which they are providing a turbidity barrier during construction. They are meeting the setbacks from the adjacent properties. They have issuance of a general use permit by Florida Department Environmental Protection and not exceeding the 25% of the width of the water body so not to create any navigational hazards.

Staff is requesting the BCC approve the eleven twenty three square foot boat dock house and walkway at 975 Lakefront Lane. I would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Any questions for staff? Seeing none, thank you, Ms. Hanl. Stand by in case questions do arise. Hansen, anybody here to represent the Hansen's? And do you wish to make a presentation or speak to the Board?

We don't need to make one. I'm I'm one of the two owners.

Great. Have a seat. Enjoy the rest of your afternoon. Thank you very much. So I will anybody else from the public to speak on this item?

One speaker card, Jordan Major.

Was me. Okay.

No speakers. That's he's the same one.

We like things efficient. When somebody says they don't wanna talk, I'm like, yeah, you're good.

Oh, no. I mean, I'll I don't

need to talk. I don't know if there's anybody here for rebuttal.

Oh, you can I

am prepared to speak, but I don't need to speak if Okay?

If we're

gonna submit things for approval. But if there is for rebuttal, I'm prepared to speak if needed.

Okay. We'll give you a rebuttal chance if there if need be.

Okay.

Sure. Cool. Great. Mister chairman, I'll ask him a question. Sure. Since he's here.

Yes.

So from what I understand, the this is on the exact footprint of the previous one, you're just rebuilding it. Is that correct?

That is correct.

Okay. That's all.

Thank you. Stand by. Make yourself a couple towards the front in case we need you again. Certainly. Great. Thank you. Anybody else from the public?

No, sir.

Alright. Then we will close public comment, and we will move to board action. This is commissioner Constantine Yes.

District I'm prepared to move approval with the hope that this is the last one we ever see.

Alright. Looking for a second? Second. I got a motion to say any further discussion?

We just wanna let you know that's because we're writing new ordinances. It's It's just it's been so awful. I just because you were like, what? What's happening? It's because we're improving ourselves.

Yes. So you don't have to come before us.

We're trying to get more efficient. Hence my discussion with you a minute ago. That said, we'll call the question. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed, like sign? Seeing none, carries unanimous. Thank you all very

much. Doctor.

Hey, when somebody says they don't really need to talk, I'm all about it.

Wish you wouldn't

do the same.

Alright. Next up is going to be our county attorney's report. Madam county attorney, do you have anything to report to us?

One item, chairman. You'll recall a few weeks ago, the board contributed to a letter signed by the chairman that we sent to, specific members of the legislature regarding the county's concerns regarding senate bill one eighty.

Right.

That letter went out, you know, shortly after you all approved it. And just wanted to let you know that since then, there have been two separate lawsuits filed against various members of the cabinet. One was filed by Thousand Friends of Florida and a resident of Orange County. And then the second one was the lawsuit with multiple municipalities, also joined by Manatee County and Orange County. Both lawsuits are styled as a complaint for a declaratory action and injunctive relief, and they're challenging the constitutionality of Senate Bill 180 on a variety of grounds.

And if you're interested in discussing that further or if you would like a copy of the complaints, I'd be happy to send those to you. Otherwise, I just wanted to give you that update and let you know that we're going to be following both of these cases, and we'll keep you updated as appropriate.

Thank you. I would like a copy of the complaint to review. You

got it.

And just for full disclosure

Yes. All of you know that I am a member of the Thousand Friends of Florida board of directors. It's specifically on the complaints that actually were presented in Kate's presentation to us. It was a separate action that was already involved and was moving forward prior to us sending the letter.

Okay. Thank you. Any other inquiries on that? Seeing none, is that it?

That is all.

Great. Alright. County manager's report.

Thank you, mister chairman. Just a couple items. The first is mister Harris wanted me to mention to the board that the National Weather Service forecast, forecast that the Saint Johns River at Lake Kearny will reach minor flood stage, this weekend. We have looked at, the Mullet Lake Park, and we are looking to close that today. The the flooding has reached to the parking area, so we'll be monitoring that as well. And for the public's notice is that it's been I know it's been out. We do have self serve self serving sandbag location sites. One is at the Old Geneva Fire Station, and the other is at the City of Sanford Public Works facility. So just wanted

to put that out there. Great.

And as well, and I don't wanna steal Commissioner Lockhart's thought Andrea fits in her report, but Scout is officially launching tomorrow even though you've seen vehicles all throughout the county. They have been doing their training. They've actually are learning the county. A lot of them are local folks that are drivers. So but it officially launches tomorrow, October 15. That's all.

Fantastic. Any questions or comments on anything from the county manager? Commissioner Her.

I'll make a comment with regard to SCOUT. The logo is generating interest and generating questions, and, you know, what does SCOUT mean is the single greatest question that I'm getting, which is exactly what we wanted. So hats off to the team that developed it. It's working. Seminole County out. Which answers the question, do we leave the county?

Seminole County's outstanding. Anyway, okay. Commissioner Constantine, District 3, Commissioner reports. Thank you very much. Just a

couple of things. Number one, if you did not see all the both pre and post publicity, that Red Bull tandem roller coaster was amazing. I I I was there. They were they didn't expect the crowd. They got to have over 40,000 people. And and because they didn't expect it, there was a lot of traffic jams and everything that day. But those that were there, it was amazing. There were 30 teams of crazy bicycling, two tandem bicycles, and five folks actually made it through the roller coaster. So that was that was pretty

to the others?

All in the All in the brink.

All in the drink. And and I will I will also tell you that there was at least six, seven of our firefighters out there on paddleboards saving them Saving them. And whatever else was in the bicycles because there was a lot of different things on the one of them had, like, about 50 donuts and bagels, and all of them were being saved from the drink out there. And I remember Frank Frank Marks made the comment, said, I would I don't even let my people swim in that. So it was what it was.

A good morning. Seminole had a wonderful event on the second, and they highlighted Wekiva Island as part of a tourism type of thing, and I I wanna congratulate Guy and everybody else that was there and and pushing that. On the third, I had the opportunity to speak to the Barry University School of Law on a energy transitions and major workshop on energy transition research findings. Excuse me. And there was a a number of other speakers over the course of that day.

On the fourth, the German American Society had their wonderful Oktoberfest event. However, there was a lot of rain, unfortunately. But good news, they always have one at the end of the month. So October 25, they will be having another Oktoberfest, the second TAP as they call it. And I would suggest anybody that missed the first one that you would you're missing a good time if you don't make it to the next one.

The also, just a couple of things also coming up. The, October 16, the Florida Trust board is meeting. Our board of trustees is meeting. On the twenty second, the Statewide Council of Opioid Abatement is also meeting. And on the twenty fourth, even though it's been a really, really tough year for Lyman High School's football team, they're gonna be a homecoming.

And homecoming is tradition, and it's great. So we're just hoping that that will be something wonderful for that school, which has really had a tough time this year in in in their football program. I will tell you that I was able to go to the Serbian Community Fest this past weekend, and I was I've been before, but as you know, they came before us because they were expanding it. I will tell you that was, and all the community fest that we all go to, that was second to none. It was just wonderful.

The people were fantastic. The food was wonderful, and, and the church was beautiful. So, just wanna let you know that that comes up every October. That was just a great event this past weekend. The air show is coming up, which I'll let commissioner Zimbauer, I guess, speak on, and the Pathway to Cares soup bowl, which goes and helps, the homeless here in Seminole County, will be once again this Saturday at the path at, Saint Mary Magdalene Church. And with that, commissioner, I I'm done.

Very good. Commissioner Lockhart, District 4.

So you never steal my thunder talking about scout. The more all of us talk about scout, the better. Because as much as I think we have exhausted all of the opportunities to talk about scout, I still run into people who are like, what are you talking about? What is that? What is it? Never heard of that. So you can never communicate too much, especially with a new initiative. I had an opportunity this morning to be with the Fox thirty five news team. We did a live with the vehicles out there, and, it was a quick two minute opportunity to talk about Scout. But the more we do it, the better.

And I think our friends in the media are enjoying it too because it's something new for them to talk about as well. Things I believe are going quite well. So I had an opportunity to speak on the barbershop conversation. Mr. Bentley and Mr. Simpson and Mr. Hampton and mister Green have put together the barbershop conversation. And and I know several of of you, if not all of you, have been invited to to participate as well. The idea was for me to come and have an opportunity to share information about Scout. And I realized there were a lot of elephants in the room that evening.

We had just had a visit from our state CFO and some other conversations that were taking place. And so I said, you know what? Let's go ahead and talk about there's nothing off the table. Ask me what what let's talk about what's out there. We talked about Rosenwald.

We talked about millage. We talked about utility tax and gas tax, and and it was just a really, really good conversation. And of course, people can message through on Facebook and make comments and ask questions. And so I think continuing the transparency and being accessible to those in our community who we are accountable to is so critical when there is when there's confusion. So that was an awesome opportunity.

Appreciate those gentlemen immensely. I'll let commissioner Her talk about the ROM event. It was fantastic. Rescue outreach mission. Then also in in the spirit of transparency and accessibility, spoke with the East Seminole Republican club at the black hammock black hammock fish camp last week was fantastic.

Thank you, chairman Zembawer, for joining me, and mister Gray and mister Jex also were in attendance. Talked about scout. See, just think I talk about scout everywhere. How can all everybody not know about scout? And then also talked about what's going on with our budget and the perception that is out there right now that there is definitely another side to that coin and I'm sure we'll talk about that some more maybe later or in another environment.

But again, great opportunity for people to ask questions and we marinate in this stuff. We as commissioners and staff and residents who attend our meetings regularly. But most people go about their daily lives and they are living them and they are not paying attention to the to all of the minor details of things that happen here. And so it is not it shouldn't surprise us when there's confusion and when people can be easily taken advantage of by being given

Dishonest information?

Information that isn't entirely accurate. It's easy to have happen. So appreciate that group very much having the dialogue and the opportunity. I think we all learned some things that evening and look forward to being able to go back and have a follow-up. Base Camp Children's Fundraiser, I think Commissioner Her probably is also going to talk about that.

But the Golden Nutcracker, is a fundraiser for children's cancer, families that are experiencing that. Those of you who remember Alice Weinberg who worked with the property appraiser David Johnson for years, that is her passion project and her late husband Jim Weinberg, she's continuing that and we were able to go and be a part of that and had a good time. The other event that I attended this last week or two weeks ago, they're starting to run together, was private business associates of Seminole. I am not a member, but as an elected official, they invite us as guests, and it was a great presentation. Shout out to the sheriff's team and to Manny Guarch, his, legal counsel talking about open carry and what that means for businesses and entities in Seminole County and how that will be approached.

Our county attorney Kate Latour was there as well, and it was kind of fun to watch Manny and Kate interact a little bit because as we all know, lawyers have differing opinions on different things at different times. And it sweet. It was a fun interaction to just see how they complemented one another their perspective on things. Definitely something that our local businesses and we as government are going to be pivoting and figuring out a new normal with that. And that is all I have.

Thank you, Commissioner Lockhart. Commissioner Her, District 5.

So I'll pick up where you left off on that not repeat anything. I think the most remarkable thing from the PBIS discussion was the fact that there was a collaboration and a collaborative spirit between the sheriff's attorney's office and our attorney's office that is remarkably different from what it's been in the past and remarkably improved. And that was noticeable in the room and so worth mentioning. The Base Camp event was indeed fantastic, and I'll give a shout out to Hyland. Hyland did sponsor the table, and we got Florida Blue to match the table, and so we think they did really well that night.

The Rescue Outreach Mission Gratitude in Action Luncheon, this is their big public fundraiser every year. It was the most highly attended, And interestingly enough, there were about 28, 29 tables of 10 in the room, and that's about the number of people that we anticipate housing in the next year. So it was remarkable to ask everyone to stand up and look around and say, this is about how many people will not only forget how many we put in a bed with food in their bellies at night. These are the folks that we're going to move into housing. So the outcome was good.

The staff did an amazing job. They've come such a long way. And I'll give a shout out to the Towers Award winner. It was our own Chief Lisa Spriggs for all of the work that she did on the financials to get them from where they were prior to my time on this board to where they are today. I

loved the new location and the new format.

We agree.

It was fantastic.

We agree.

It was well, well done.

Thank you. I'll give them that feedback. I've given them that feedback. We're thinking the same. I also did a tour of the Supervisor of Elections Office recently.

If you have not done that, it's worth doing. I think there's invitations out to everyone. There's been a significant amount of work on a fairly shoestring budget, including donations from the Sanford Mall at the point that they closed, and lots of trucks, and it's changed the entire storage dynamic there because of the shelving they were able to secure, but also a lot of work on streamlining the actual counting process so that things aren't moving around the way they were moving around. So worth seeing, I would encourage you all to go. On a bigger and much more expensive note that was for the hides in the back so on a bigger and much more expensive note, it's not falling short on us that this is happening.

The CFX Board did vote to advance the four seventeen extension to Orlando Sanford Airport with the idea that there are partnerships required. Darren and Michelle, so the two CEOs of the organizations, are going to work together to build a plan to look for those partnerships so that progress can happen. So that was the putting the period at the end of that sentence and starting the new stage of that process. And then lastly, at this CFX meeting, they did their landscape management program strategic plan presentation. And I know there's least one commissioner up here that's just going to love the document that's been sent to your inbox today.

So there's no need for us to duplicate work. It's already been shared with our team, but this is the document that I thought might be helpful. And their consultant is Dick's Height, our own little Seminole County. They're not little, but they're a Seminole County based business. And that is it.

Thank you, Commissioner Her. District 1 is absent. Commissioner Delari is on vacation, so we will go to my district. October 6 was a fundraiser CEO bill for Habitat of Humanity. We raised a great bunch of money even though it was raining most of the morning.

We actually came together and helped build another unit. I will tell you that some of the attendees that don't know me personally might have been a little surprised that I know how to work a saw and a drill and nail guns and those kind of things. It was a great event. It really was. We had a lot of CEOs from the local area as well as other counties surrounding that came in, donated and worked with us.

Great cause and good work there. Sanford Orlando International Airport Board Meeting, October 7. Happy to report record flight numbers for June and July. August is slightly down, but we intend to come into our busy season as things are moving forward there. A lot of good things happen at the airport.

There's UCF is coming to hopefully come to the airport. There's been a signature penned and inked to the agreements, so that's going to be a good start. There's other entities that are interested, but they are working also on long term leases, which is going to take some governmental action up at the federal level, and I understand that Robert Uzzi is here today with us, is helping spearhead that initiative to get our legislators to understand that the non airway properties that could be used for commercial are going to need more than for big investment, more than a fifty year lease term to get a return on their dollars. So, that's moving forward. Sharing center, of course, if you all saw the news, was awarded $342,865 from Big Nova Foundation to renovate the Oasis showers in the facility.

Big grand or big land there. I attended the Swana International event at the landfill this weekend. That was interesting, never knew it existed. As a matter of fact, when staff came to me and said, you know, we'd like you to go out to the landfill on Saturday. I said, I don't have any trash to take out there.

They said, no, no, no, we'd like you to open the ceremonies and Big boys play and I'm with like, what is this about? So it's about competition for solid waste employees, working bulldozers, track hoes, excavators, fixing trucks, fixing equipment, running through obstacle courses with the equipment, moving debris, how quick they could move it and get it back, and all this. Pretty neat. It was like the the US championship. There was teams from all over the country there.

I think some were a little taken aback that we have a lot of alligators and wild hogs and and other creatures that they may not see in Michigan and Colorado and places like that, but it was all good. And, of course, our beloved bald eagles, which are plentiful at the landfill. So, it was a great event. I had a little rain in the morning, but otherwise, it was they enjoyed the weather. Of course, it's National four H Week.

We talked about Governor's Resolution today, celebrated from October 5 to October 11. And the theme this year is Beyond Ready. It's delivered by our four H Cooperative Extension, a community of more than 100 public universities across the nation that provides experiences for young people to learn by doing. For more than one hundred years, four H has welcomed young people of all beliefs and backgrounds, giving kids a voice to express who they are and how they make their lives and communities better. Great function for young people.

Of course, the CFX Board meeting, I was very glad to see many folks from Seminole County there. I did speak on behalf of the Board as I was directed by this Board. And the Chamber of Commerce was there and spoke in favor, as well as the Sanford International Airport Board member, Mr. Frank Iapolo. So, that was a great attendance there.

Some other notifications. We've got some events over in the Oviedo Winter Springs area of of the county. We've got the chamber after five event, which is next month on the seventh from 05:30 to 7PM. We will have the Viva Oviedo event this weekend, the nineteenth, at the Oviedo Amphitheater And Cultural Center. And then we've got the Central Winds Music Picnic Festival, which is November 15, twelve to 5PM, and it'll be at Central Winds Park.

That's always a big big event for the people on that side of town. Kids are running around, all kinds of things for the kids and parents to do, so great outing. Alright. As I move to my chairman's report, my office shared with you all some documents, and I'll ask staff to hopefully bring one up on the overhead or this is a document related to the clerk of the courts. And for those who may be unable to see that, maybe you can blow that up just a little bit larger.

Somewhere between there and the off screen version. So, I mean, we've all seen this before. We saw this during our budget process, and a lot of discussions went on. Basically what this shows, and in light of the CFO, mister Blaise Angolia, being here this past week, as many of you know, we were requested to share all of our documents with them in April, early May, which we did. In our anticipation with whatever work they did would have been collaborative, but they would have reached out to us and said, hey, we have a question about this, we have a question about that, can you answer this, can we answer that?

So I checked with staff and found out none of that ever happened, that we had no reach out for anybody to question us. What does this mean? What does that mean? Can you explain what this expense is? None of that happened. Instead, we had the CFO show up in Knock Knock Seminole County, I'm here. Which brings us to we know we've all reviewed this, we've been living this for well over a year. You know, this budget cycle, our staff is probably worn out by now because we asked them to start working on this a very long time ago, and we forced them to go back and work through it. We forced ourselves to go back and work for it. We've brought people from Florida State to do an AI run on this budget.

We've also brought people from the outside to make a run on this budget. So we've done everything that we think is reasonable and prudent to do that. But there is one area, first let me say, I don't disagree with Mr. Angolia's mission to make sure there's not waste, fraud, or abuse. I think all five of the commissioners that sit here agree with that as well. But we do expect collaboration. If there's something more eyes are better, if somebody sees something, tell us. Let's have that candid conversation. You know, if somebody thinks we have one employee too many in community services or, you know, whatever it might be, let's have that conversation and help us understand. We don't know everything.

But the one that sticks out in my mind was the simple fifth grade math equation that was done was basically take five years worth our total budgets, apply a CPI to it, which if you take a a page out of president Trump's book is CPI is what's it really worth? What does it really designate? It may or may not be a 100% accurate. Then we apply a population content to it, and we come out with a 28% number is what the CFO comes up with. And I don't disagree with those numbers.

If you take that equation, those numbers are accurate. But that's like taking somebody's tax return and looking at the front page and the back page, and you can answer what their income was in between and what their billing was and their write offs. Can't do it that way. It's the context. But one that really stuck out in my mind, which I was shocked because there's two budgets that the CFO has direct oversight on.

That is the county's tax collector and the clerk of the courts. Tax collectors actually has a state algorithm that must adhere to that budget. The clerks, not so much. But we look at this document, and what's so telling to me, we all know that, you know, the arms race for law enforcement and first responders, we're all aware of that. We've been living that for a few years.

We look at the growth in the budgets based on the CFO's analogy, 2019 up to 2025. And we would think that law enforcement and sheriff's budget, based on what we know, would be the highest. Well, we knew it wasn't that wasn't the case when we did our budget hearing. We had a lot of dialogue. The clerk's budget has grown 90%, more than any constitutional, more than any department in this county. 90% growth. We've asked questions. We get answers. Sometimes we don't get answers. We have bonuses given out, which we're told aren't bonuses.

And

yet, the one of two items that the state CFO has oversight on, this was never mentioned. A 90% egregious growth on a constitutional officer's budget was never mentioned by the CFO. In addition to that, the year prior, the previous c v CFO did send a letter of approximately six pages, which you all have, which outlines some accounting concerns. I can't tell you if the new CFO has seen this or whether he's reviewed this at all. At that time, it was the honorable Jimmy Petronas, who was the chief financial officer.

So I just went on a little practice run. We did talk about this to some extent. But if you bring up the next slide. So I sat with staff, and I ran some analogies. So if you start with the fiscal year clerk's adopted budget, was $3,000,230.540.

The fiscal '26 clerk's adopted budget is $6,000,137.08 61, a $2,907,000 growth over that period of time. That's a 90% growth. Again, not even our first responders and our sheriff's office have that kind of growth. The property appraiser, by example, his has grown 28%. Why did I choose the property appraiser as a nexus?

Both are pretty stagnant in what they do. There's been no state mandates. There's been no significant upheaval that requires them do a lot more work than they otherwise used to do, which is not true for some of the other constitutionals and and some of the other departments. I did a 4% to 5% increase workload because there was some cybersecurity that was necessary for the clerk to do that had to be enacted. So I gave the benefit of the doubt and benchmarked a 33.2% increase, which in my mind is a little more reasonable to allow a fiscal year twenty six clerk budget to be 4,304,438, which thereby reduces the budget by $1,000,833 and $42.03 423¢.

You'll see the two things underneath there, which is the increased workload, that's the GASB 87, which is a little bit more lease accounting that Takark has to do, and the cybersecurity improvements. So then I said, well, okay, you know, maybe maybe we're missing something. So I took it one step further, and the next highest, which we're not surprised about, is the sheriff's budget, which over that same time period has grown 53%. And again, we know why there's market pressures that have come to bear on that and it's their arms race for first responders. In fact, you can't hardly find anybody who wants to be a police officer anymore.

Even if we applied a 53% increase, that would set the clerk's budget at $4,000,933 and 204 $4,000,933,245 dollars, a reduction of $1,000,002.00 $4.06 16.

Now,

ironically, if we take the 90% increase, we know that Daclerc has filed suit against the taxpayers of this county demanding another million dollars. You know what another million dollars does to this budget growth over the same time period? That's a 110%. 110% growth in the clerk's budget. I also learned as I dug into this, if you recall back in 2023 during the budget session, we questioned the, I'll call them trust funds for whatever purposes that we're told we don't understand.

I think I have a pretty clear understanding now because I've spent close to three years talking to other clerks, talking to the state, and doing my due diligence, and staff's got them to speed on this. We were told then that one of those would be spent down to a million dollars by 2024. Guess what the balance is today? 4,000,900 and change, almost 5,000,000. So there are still two trust funds totaling almost $10,000,000.

The same as there was in 2023, the same as there is today. What I'm asking this board to do is take action to cut this budget to a reasonable amount. And I will say, we're being sued for a million dollars anyway. Sue us for 3,000,000. I am not okay with this budget.

And I let it go during the budget session hoping that the state CFO would have focused in on it, asked questions, and brought to everybody's attention. That at least has not happened so far. Whether we have that conversation today and take action or we wanna do it at a later date, I wanna bring this to each and every one of you so you have all the information that I have and ask for your input. Commissioner Lockhart, we'll work our way down the

I have questions, probably for for our attorney and our county manager and and team. First of is the 6 is the 5,000,000, to use round numbers, and you said 10,000,000 total in two trust funds?

Just shy of 10,000,000. Yes.

Are those accounted for in those budgets that are up on that screen?

No, ma'am. No.

No. So there is money that the clerk holds within his oversight that is not being transparently publicly disclosed to this board as a part of their budget?

Correct. Right. Now he did mention that during his budget work sessions about the trust funds.

Think we asked him and he answered. I'm not sure that he offered. I think there was a question.

All I can say is the county's checkbook is on the website. Any resident can go look at basically any transaction that the county does. I can't find anywhere on the Internet where the clerk identifies the $25,000,000 trust funds or, for that matter, any other information within his office, employee salaries, etcetera, etcetera.

Okay. So I just wanna make sure that I'm understanding that there there are funds that so even if the CFO had done the due diligence that we wish he had done, and if he had, if we had provided him all of the information for the constitutionals and and the percentages of of funds allocated, would those trust funds have appeared in what we provided the CFO or would that have been something that only the clerk could have provided?

Correct. Only the clerk could provide that information because we provided information that the Board of County Commissioners has jurisdiction over. And we fund out of the clerk's budget board support and finance. That's what our obligation is under the state statute. So, anything on the court side or the others is the state's responsibility.

Well, have Article V responsibility as well.

Correct. We do, yes.

But the source for a review for the oversight agency is from the oversight agencies to the agency being reviewed, not an outside agency that also funds. So we could submit things and say, hey, help. Maybe a second set of eyes would help here. But the source should be direct and would include audited financial statements, potentially audited by somebody other than the internal auditor that is in the reporting chain.

Right. Exactly. And so I think that's what I'm just trying to understand is that while we do not believe that our organization and the and and the the information that we provided was vetted appropriately by the CFO's office, it would not have been this information would not have been something that we would have given them to to waive a flip. Correct.

But Trust.

But it is this right. But it is the CFO's responsibility to oversee those all of those clerk's funds

Correct.

Including

Our

trust five trust funds

and Okay. Because I guess what I'm I'm I'm just trying to make sure that, you know, there's a this is so reminiscent of our currently incarcerated former tax collector situation where we had citizens thought we were responsible for certain things and had oversight when in fact we didn't. And we asked and asked and asked for the state to come in and look. And, you know, it I just wanna make sure we're very clear as we're talking about these very complicated topics that someone doesn't come back and say, well, if there was $10,000,000 in a trust fund and you didn't catch it, that's on you. I wanna make it very clear that this is not under the board's purview by state law.

That's right. That's right. Okay. And I'm not saying that the I'm not equating the that's a false equivalency. I'm not suggesting that someone else deserves to be in jail, but it just feels very reminiscent anyway. If if we were to take action as the chairman is suggesting that we contemplate and further reduce any constitutional officer's budget at this point in the process, what would that look like, and can we do that?

And to be clear, this portion of the budget is the BCC's portion that we do have control over, not the article five and all the other things that nuances that run-in there.

I just wanted to know, like, before you ask me, do you want to do something? I want to know Sure. Can we do it?

And it's under the board's jurisdiction for the dollars that you allocate that you have a 100% control over that you can increase, decrease. You know, you've seen throughout the year some constitutionals, even internal departments, our departments will come and ask for, you know, additional funds. Yes, we have control over the Board of County Commissioners' funds, the general fund, yes.

And historically, the clerk has come back for mid year BARs. Right. Increases. And, originally, they were not being counted.

Right.

If you all remember my first year up here struggling with the math, that percentage is not the percentage because the BAR was being added almost immediately after the beginning of the year, beginning of the fiscal year, and we were measuring off of the BAR plus the original budget for future increases. So that was always being left out. New documents don't do that, which is why it changed the trajectory, and it looks very different.

Well, and to your point exactly, the first time this came on my radar was the year of COVID. And I remember after COVID had been going for a while, the clerk came to me as the chair and said, I think I'm gonna have a problem with funding in our department because of COVID. We all get that. You know, the the court courts weren't collecting money, fines and penalties weren't having rational. Okay, Grant.

I've got it. What is it you think you need? And I think he asked for, I don't know, a $190,000 give or take at that point. I went to the Ninn County manager, explained it to him. We had a meeting and we determined that we would give him the $190,000 to fill that void and gap.

Guess what we got back at the end of the year? Just shy of a $190,000.