Board of Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Are there any additions or deletions staff? Yes, sir. There is one addition corrected [snorts] amendment number two, Swany Valley communication tower. Yep. Mr. Kirby will present. [snorts] Uh there are several deletions. We would like to delete items um 8 9 10 11 and 12. I think that was those are the economic development. [snorts] Okay. [clears throat] Okay. At this point in time, uh, I would ask for an approval of the agenda as presented. [snorts] Motion approved.

Got a motion. Second. Got a second. All in favor say I. I. All oppose. Okay. And, uh, we have a presentation, a request for a historical marker at Springville Community Center. Uh, Miss Lala, I hope I'm right. Leela [snorts] Williams. Okay, Miss Williams, please come forward. [sighs and gasps] Good evening. Good evening. Good evening.

And thank you all so much for having me. Uh, my name is Leela Williams and I was born and raised out in Springfield and I went to school out there and a lot of people come out and visit but they don't realize that at one time there was a school there when we have our reunions and stuff and I'd be sitting there thinking uh these people don't realize that there was a school here at one time and so when I thought about the good idea of having a historic marker put out there because I volunteer at the historic museum them and I thought it was a good idea to have a historic mark put out there, but it has to be approved by the county. So, that's why I'm here. And also, there's another something else I'm concerned about, but it's not on the agenda. Is it okay if I bring it up to the chair?

Is it your time? Also about the cemeteries out there. A lot of those cemeteries out there don't have a name. And when somebody die, they don't have a name or have an address and people don't know how to get there. So we have to put balloons and signs out on the road so people know where to come. So I was just wondering if we can have signs put out at these different cemeteries and one of them is Swany Valley Cemetery and one of them is St. St. Matthews Cemetery. I I know of those two. Yeah, I think we can rate that. Yeah, we can definitely do that. We had some done. I had one done. I can't remember the name of it now, but I had one done out that way not too long ago for for somebody.

It was just about visiting and not being buried there if you weren't supposed to be. It was all kind of stuff we did. But we got a lot of those how to do those. There's some I think Mr. Kirby's making some notes down there for you too. There. Okay. Thank you. Okay. So, is that it, Miss Williams, at this point? Okay. So, uh she's got the presentation to the board. Joel, is this uh this is not an action item, but if you had any questions for Miss Williams or if you wanted to discuss what you'd like to do in terms of consensus, I think this resting it does. I talked to Miss Williams. She called me about it. I have no problem with that. We do what we need to do to make sure we have this stuff documented and uh done the right way. So, I have no problem doing that whatsoever.

Yeah. Yeah. Has a lot of history out there. I was able to visit a graveyard when I spoke to Mr. Williams a year or so ago. There's a lot of history out there. A lot of history. probably got a better education there at these schools now. [laughter] And Miss Williams, with respect to those graveyards, if we can determine if they're privately owned or publicly held, there's there's lots of different options for the county within statute. Uh we just need to work through those on staff side. So, I think Mr. Kirby's made note of them. We'll get together an action plan to see how much or how little we can do for you. But there's a lot of mechanisms in statute. Okay.

Okay. Miss Williams, does uh you got any contact information where uh Kevin can get a hold of you or if you don't mind, would you just give your contact name number to the clerk down here and then uh this way we'll have make sure we got a way to contact you and I mean I know where you live but anyway Kevin can get a hold of you. Right. Okay. Thank you for your time coming forward. We look forward to helping you. Did y'all have a chance to look over the um application? Mhm. You didn't. So, you ought to be getting in touch with me. [clears throat and laughter] We gonna get It's happening faster than you thought it would. You thought you going to have to be going to sell this show, did

Thank you. Okay. Uh, got a presentation on the D and BAPs. Diana,

good evening everyone. But I wanted to provide an update on the D and the septic system program. Um, previously it was going to be transferred. Right now we currently have an inter agency agreement between D and DO. So it's under DA D rule, but DOH still provides a work of um septic systems of doing permitting and um and things of that sort. And so they did not receive uh legislation in order to continue um transferring the program. Columbia County was going to be in phase two in August um and we were held at a standstill and now the latest information is that we are not transferring um as of this time. So now we're proceeding as though how it is. I think they're going to extend the inter agency agreement between both uh agencies so that DO continues doing the work for D. I can't speak about the panhandle that's already been transferred to D for the septic program. So they're still trying to figure that out in Tallahassee. But the other big update that I wanted to give you was that um the House Bill 1379 with the Santa Fe River Basin BAP um the changes are going to go to effect on January 5th. And what that means is that all new systems will be required with the uh ENR, which is the enhanced nutrient nitrogen reduction systems on all lot sizes in the priority focus area, which is the PFA basically. So it doesn't matter the percentage of their property that's in that area on the map. They if they build a new system, if they apply for a new permit, then they're gonna have to get one of those ENR systems.

What about repairs? Not repairs, just new systems right now. That's fair. Wow. I think they're slowly edging, but right now it's just new systems, but any% limit or anything. Any new system, any lot size, anything in the BMAP area have two maps. It's in the BMAP area. not outside that PFA. It still follows the same rule of I [clears throat] apologize I didn't introduce this is Dustin Jones. He is now the supervisor over the septic program here in Columbia County. Okay.

Sally's still here though. [laughter] Sally's still the EH director. He's just over the specific program of septic. Okay. Any uh more questions? All right. Thank you. All right. Thank you. I'm sure you get a lot of calls about this right now. Oh, we are. Wait until January the 7th. Yeah, [laughter] get some. We're gonna have you on speed dial. [laughter] Uh Mr. Scott Stewart, if you would come forth and uh give us a update on the crossing, which will kind of play hand inand with uh our first public hearing.

Uh Scott Stewart with Cornerstone Crossing. A little update down there on Highway 47. Um, we've got the contractor, Jimmy Boon, has ordered a lot of the structures, including the sept tank structure. We're just waiting for the final uh details of his submittals to be approved by the city for all the um technical parts of the lift station. So, that's tracking very well. He's also ordered all the um sewer pipes and those kind of things. So, that's in queue and working working great. Um the water, sewer, and gas has all been brought under the road, all been put in. It's all been tested. It's all pressurized. Um the city worked with the contractors to tweak the the final location and redid it just a little bit. So it's it's u in line with where they want to be for the list station. So that's all tracking very well. Um so we're we're happy all those things. The city has had their two meetings which you probably know about for your approval um on the annexation which is part of why we're here tonight for the final annexation. Um we've also had a great conversation with Publix again. Um it's not done deal but it's it's another great step forward with that. So that continues to move forward and I won't say it's done till it's done but it's it's keeps moving very strong direction. So we had a great call them two weeks ago. Um it's part of what we want trying to get done as I'm down there but uh it's moving very moving ahead. We like where it's going. We appreciate your support and it's just all thumbs up as far as I'm concerned.

Any questions for me about anything? Uh no. I think there's a lot of people on the south end the 47 really ready to see something happen. So yeah, I think it's we're getting very close too. So yeah. Um so we we still don't have a commitment from publics at all. The word at all isn't correct, but we have a um I want to be a little careful because they don't like it when I say too much. So they're they called and they said they got some levels of approval for certain things that they want to do. And um it was a very positive call, but um I don't have a contract that says we're done. So So at this point, why don't we have a contract? No, I don't have a contract. So, but at this point, why don't we have one?

Oh, they said two weeks ago, we'll get back to you in two weeks. They're doing their due diligence. [clears throat] That's been a story. They're keeping for a while now. [laughter] They're keeping Scott at suspense. Well, they're keeping the county at just Scott. They're keeping the county at suspense. A lot of people ready for that public to come. If they're not coming, we need to go a different route. That's That's your opinion, but I know what's happening. So, I appreciate your your thoughts. Let us know what's happening. What's that? Let us know what's happening. tells you what I can tell you. I'll tell you quick. It's good news. Thank you a lot, Scott. Okay. Uh Mr. Foreman, I think tighten up.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. First item for public hearing this evening. As you indicated, it goes hand in hand with the Cornerstone Crossing uh development. This is ordinance number 2025-23. If this ordinance is adopted, it will authorize the chair to sign uh an interlocal service boundary agreement between the city of Lake City and Columbia County. This is the satellite annexation at 47 and 75 that we've been discussing for several months now. Uh there lots of moving parts involved. I think we've hashed them all out several times over. However, happy to retread anything that uh any of the commissioners might have comment about or if anything comes up during public hearing. Uh with that, Mr. Chair, I'd ask you to open public hearing on ordinance number 2025-23.

Okay. With uh that being said, I open public hearing on ordinance number 2025-23. Is there anybody here present to speak for or against this project? Not seeing none, I declare the public hearing close. Uh what's the wishes of the board? Any comments? I'll make a motion we approve 2025-2. Second. Got a motion to approve ordinance number 2025-23. All in favor say I. All oppose. All right. [clears throat] Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Okay. Mr. Seth Lane, his first public appearance. You got to put me on the spot like that.

Yeah. Let's see if we can work this. Wait for it. There it goes. I go past it. Oh, there it is. There we go. There you go.

All right. So, first up, good evening. All right. We have ordinance number 202524 stemming from zoning application Z250901 by Brian Pitman, agent for Hudson Family Trust, uh asking for a zoning change of the identified parcel from residential single family to residential multif family. Uh, this was approved by a resolution from the planning and zoning board. Um, this is in district five. I I learned that I I should have included that when I was doing the agenda item for it, so I apologize for that. Took note on that. That won't happen again. So, um, that's what that entails.

Okay. And uh number two, I think what you're alluding to, Seth, which is ordinance, just for clarification, unless you're reading something different, me, isn't that 2025-25? Yes, sir. Yes. Got first time. We'll we'll give you that. All right. I appreciate it.

Okay. Okay. At this time, I uh declare the public hearing open. Is there anybody here to speak for or against ordinance number 2025-25? Not seeing none. I clear the public hearing closed. Uh this Seth said this is in my uh district. We've been working on it quite a while. Uh this is the deal if y'all remember on Hudson Road down there that we uh worked a deal out with the homeowner. we where we actually acquired some real estate to pave a road there in my district that uh I paid for out of the uh my local paving uh ability. So, uh I'll make the motion to approve 2025-25.

Second.

Got a motion and a second. Any further questions? All in favor say I. I. All oppose. All right. Okay. I just want to clarify that what I wrote 202524 was the zoning change ordinance. 2525 is the future land use map uh change and that is going from again that's from Brian Pitman. is coming from CPA250901 and that is to change the future land use classification from residential very low density which permits one dwelling unit per acre to residential moderate density uh which is less than or equal to four dwelling units per acre on the same parcel of land and I just want to make note that this is historically traditional with the surrounding areas u as you can see on the map there are other uh multif family units along 47 seven there as well. So, nothing out of character with the the surrounding land.

Okay. Okay. I'll uh declare the I'll open the public hearing for ordinance number 2025-24. Anybody here to speak for or against? Seeing none, I'll declare the public hearing closed. Uh I'll make the motion again for to pass ordinance number 2025-24. Second. Got a motion and a second. All in favor say I. I. All motion to approve the consent agenda. Thank you, Seth. You did pretty good there, sir. I appreciate it. Okay, got a motion to approve the consent agenda. Got a second, Mr. Ford. All in favor say I. I. Motion to adopt.

You got a motion to adopt. Got a second. All in favor say I. All oppose. Okay, Kyle. He been out of his neck brace for a month now. He's trying to make us feel sorry for Listen, take it easy on me now. I'm injured. So, you know, [laughter]

he been looking up at them pretty walls in that building where he was I would say a joke about being married, but my wife is listening, so I don't want to be in this thing for six more weeks. So [laughter] So, hey, good evening, commissioners. Uh back in November, we we came to you with a proposal to uh buy the TD Bank building, which is located at I think 160 Main uh Boulevard uh as a location for our office. Um you uh told me to go ahead and continue researching the purchase of this building. So, this is why we're here today to uh for step two uh of this process. I mean, the the bank building, it solves a lot of our issues. It increases parking. Uh allows for expansion of our office. Um it's ground floor so ADA customers will be able to get into the building easier. So this building solve a lot of our our issues. Um and so we're requesting today to move to step two of this process. This is a threestep process. Um, step two, you have in your packet um an agreement or the you're voting today to uh approve um $850,000 for the purchase of the building. 800,000 is the purchase price of the building and we're estimating $50,000 for closing cost and the inspections. We're not buying the building today. I want make sure we're understand that. All we're doing is agreeing to $850,000 with our due diligence. We We are not taking possession of that building tomorrow. We're not cutting a check today. All you're doing today is voting for me to move into the next step of my due diligence. I know there's some concerns uh about parking at the facility. Um, we have in your packet there's a letter from an engineer that

says that lot will support 65 parking spots. There's 41 spots there now that will give us additional parking. Um, I need 23 for my current employees. Like I said earlier, I'm I'm building the lot and the building for future growth. So 25 is what I need at least 40 customer spots at the at the place. We have 35 to 38 currently at the at the courthouse now which we share with the courthouse annex courthouse and all of downtown. So the way the engineer drew it up, it should support 65 parking spots. We had a uh I got to read it. Make sure I get the right name. An underground utility contractor and paving company come out and quote us for building the parking lot and they quote us at $125,000 with fill. So the parking lot with the paving and the engineer is going to be about $150,000. Um so that's one quote we have for you. Now if we don't want to go that option, we have another option which is in your packet. Also the city has given us permission to do uh internal curb cuts in the parking lot which is opens up the grassy lot where we can park my eight additional employees. Um so that they given us permission to do that. They approved us to park on the grass. um just like we do at several other county buildings, you know, parking on the grass. So, if we don't want to go the option of building parking lot, we have the option to park in grass, which will be perfectly fine. I'll park in the grass, you know, if I have to. Um if we want to go parking in the grass for now and build a parking lot later, we have we have options available for you to uh today. I know another concern in talking to me was we don't know the final buildout call and that that's correct. Today I could not give you the final buildout cost of the building, but this is why we need the approval today to move to the second phase because then we

can get into the building, have it inspected, have an architect design it out, and we're going to come back to you for the final step around January 15th or the 1st of February with the final cost of building the building and and ret retrofitting it and remodeling it. So, but I can't give you those numbers until you approve this tonight. for me to get into the building. So, I mean, I know some of you wanted to know the final cost of the building. I can't get that to you today, but we have 30 days and we're not going to close. We're not going to sign the agreement till typically around the 1st of January. We have 30 days to go through that building. We can cancel it at any time without any penalty. There's nobody will be held harmless. We go in, we do our final inspections, and the AC breaks, we don't like it, we can cancel. We do the parking lot and we come out to you and give you the final cost and it's too much money. Y'all don't want to spend it. We can cancel it and nobody's hurt. So, we're not buying the building today. Just want to make sure everybody understand that all we're doing is moving to the sec we're moving to the second phase where I can get into the building and do my due diligence. They're not going to let me go in and start digging holes to test the dirt or look at the AC until we have our have this contract signed and get into the due diligence period. So that's what we're asking for uh today. And I know I see you have questions already. I can tell.

Mr. Can I address just it'll probably help you guys with some of your questions. Yeah.

Um so the tax collector is unique among constitutional officers. He's authorized by statute to own real estate. None of the others are. Okay. And it's because of the nature of his customer serviceoriented business. What And it took me a minute to unpack it, but I did figure out what what Kyle's really doing here. If you guys remember the Sweetwater deal, right, for the for the housing and you made commitments, if these things happen, we will fund this amount. If these things happen, we will fund this amount. What the tax collector is really looking for today is a funding commitment because that's what he needs to move to the next level. He's looking for $50,000 to put into his budget basically so he can go out and procure professional services and have the property evaluated. He's got an engineer lined up. That's where I think a lot of us and myself included were breaking down like how are you getting around procurement? Well, it's his procurement, not our procurement. You're only doing money in this deal. The county will not own this building. The county will not operate this building. It'll be owned by the tax collector. He'll be responsible for funding it. The proposal that I've looked at from Elatchua County, what Elatchua County did, there was some property owned by the state of Florida that the tax collector wanted to fix up. It was it was a funding arrangement, right? I don't have the money as the tax collector. the county does have the funds just like Sweetwater came and asked you, will you commit to funding this amount of money if I commit to paying you back over time this way? That's where we are right now. So, you're kind of in that resolution phase where you were with Sweetwater. Do you feel comfortable enough about the project to commit that if things go according to plan, you'll fund it, or do you not feel that level of confidence? You'll have to do a separate uh interlocal agreement for the funding where you'll lay out the terms. My understanding of from talking with Kyle is he wants to take his year-end money for the next several years and promise it back to refund this money. Um, am I right about correct?

Um, but I mean I'll be the first one to admit I was very confused by this like how are we going to buy this building? You know, you're not you're never going to own this building. He wants you to give him the money so he can buy it. And that's why the um letter of intent is signed by the tax collector. That's why the purchase and sale agreement would be signed by the tax collector. You're only the bank in this deal. Does that make sense? So, who maintains it after the fact? It's it's going to belong to Kyle. So, I mean, he can work with us. He can work with us to figure out how to get it maintained, but at the end of the day, you either fund the maintenance or you which you can do you like you have an interlocal. Yeah.

But it's his building, right? It's his dirt. His name's on the title. So, uh well, not his name. Columbia County tax. Yeah. not my personal name, but um which is how Simol County did it. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. So, it's it's just peculiar. Normally, you would own the dirt, therefore you would maintain the dirt. Just like with community centers, sheriff's office, everything, jail. This is just very different. Yeah. The sum sum county with the current Simo County task, not the one that's in jail, um did this did this deal. Uh and the the building's in his name, but it's a county got him in jail.

No, it's not. Yeah, it's a it's a county asset owned and maintained by the county, but it's in his name. I'll put the building in your name if we need to. I that's not a problem to me. Um, but like I said, tonight all we're asking for is just the vote to move to this due diligence period. And I can't I can't get in the building. I can't start drilling holes for the dirt. We have um the local uh Mike Sol lined up for the 1 of January to start digging holes to test the dirt. We have our computer company lined up to go in, start testing the uh catfi cables. We, you know, we have a bank inspector lined up to come in who inspects first federal banks. They're going to come in, inspect the building. So, but I can't do any of that until we get the person sell agreement at least voted on. Rob, you have a question?

Yeah. Yeah. Um, I told you my concerns. I just want to make sure that when we go in this thing, we're got open eyes and we know Yeah. pretty much how much it's going to cost because there have been times that that's happened and we didn't know. Absolutely. I'm, you know, I'm not going to put me or you y'all, the board of tang, in a bad situation. We're, that's what the 30 days gives us tense to do. I'm gonna come back to you. Yeah. You know, if we get the end of the 30 days and we don't have stuff done, we walk away. Well, and the other thing, you know, like we said, probably one of my biggest complaints, and I'm sure the other commissioners do, when it's time to pay taxes and go to that courthouse, there's nowhere to park. They just didn't. I had a guy come in today said he drove around five times trying to find somewhere to park. I had I have four people in the building, so everybody else was taking up the parking spots doing something. So,

you have to ride drop your wife off and ride around waiting. So, that's right. Which ain't a bad idea, but it it's I know that it's one of the biggest complaints I get. Well, and and like I said, that's why make sure we're going to come back to you a third time with the final cost of the building. We're like I said, we're not buying it today. All I need is approval to like Joel said the 850 to move to the next step. I come back in 30 days and I present you with the final price and you go, "That's too much money." We're done. We walk away. Or, you know, I don't like the color paint there. I can cancel for any reason in that 30-day window and we're not out. You know, we're on the hook. We haven't lost anything. But I can't do that until I get past this first hurdle.

So, when did your 30 days start? When we signed the purchase sale agreement, which we, you know, we have it, we have it. I think we're still working it through with the lender. I think we're going to send it to Joel eventually for he him and the TD Bank lawyer. We haven't signed it yet. We expect to sign it. If you vote tonight to do it, we're going to vote hopefully sign it at the first of the year. Well, my thinking is if you do this 30 days very quickly here, you're right in the middle of where ain't nobody going to do nothing. So, I know you said you had something planned for January the 1st or whatever it is.

Pretty quick in January. Yeah, we don't have exact date yet, but pretty quick. And I I personally would like to I mean we've kind of got into a situation with another building here we've already bought. Absolutely. And I want to make sure we don't get in this situation again. Correct. Because we don't know and I know you got to get this to get started to go look at all these things. And I won't I won't the roof on that thing. I won't I don't know if I've ever put another roof on it or not. You know, that's one deal. There's a big deal that's going to affect your building. Correct. Which is what we're going to do in that 30-day window and bring back to you.

So, I mean, we're not going to blindly just, you know, buy the building and hope it's hope it's good. We're going to do our research, bring it back to you for the final approval, and then yes or no from that point. And I'm sure that you will have an architect or somebody to look at all the aspects out there on DOT right away. Yes. whatever's there. What ain't what's not there. Yes, we already got a call in to get coming and mark all the utilities and everything else. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, if they've got something there, I there's a reason there's not paving out there already and I don't know what that reason is. I don't know. Anyway, that's something we need to look at. That's all stuff we're going to do in that in our time. Yes, sir.

And I'm sure call the county staff, you know, Kirby or some of his people can help you, too. You know, there'll be questions you want to ask that Well, I mean, Kevin's already been very helpful. I'll be honest with him. He's called me with several ideas and things I had to think about. So, um, yeah, the county has been very helpful so far in this process. Absolutely.

Well, uh, you know, myself and Kyle, we've had and I visited the building with Kyle and the realtor the other day, it's uh, as I told him then, uh, the structure is a great deal for $850,000 in my opinion. Uh, the the parking is a big deal. Uh, as I told Kyle today, I I would uh if I was the banker, I would and I had to say I would don't I couldn't support the the uh the dirt parking lot there. Uh I did see a report. I ain't going to say it's a report. It was just a summary, I guess. Yeah, that's why reached out. Absolutely. Very very qualified individual.

Uh but uh you know, he in his report he stated some stuff. Uh kind of goes along what Mr. Phillip just said. you know, there's some DAT drainage and what have you. I don't know what that means in the big world of design, but uh but just just for clarification on your 30 days, we're uh you're saying that you'll be able Kyle to bring back you feel like a cost of what your total renovation would be. Uh you got people lined up for that. Yes, sir. what the a real parking lot would cost with because I can I mean I can get you a written contract a written quote on the contract on on the parking lot. I don't have that in the packet but no I understand that but not that that

sure I don't know who give you that I don't know who gave you that price but I don't think nobody that builds parking lots would commit to that number without seeing a set of plans. Uh that was Mr. Peeler his company irregard I mean I know what he did but my point is is that I my hangup is that the design would have to be made for somebody to give you a legitimate of course I'm talking in your world now but a legitimate cost on the parking lot because uh like I said you know you you uh I like your numbers if if I was getting a deal but I say it's going to be a million8 when it's all said and done

well that's that's why we bring it back to you and it is because of this thing that we just we just I made bad vote on right down the street. But but that's the thing, Commissioner Murphy. If it is a million8, we bring it back to them, we walk away and nobody's harmed. No, if you can produce all them numbers in that time. Absolutely. Yeah. As I say, I mean that that's what we're asking for today is is just a vote like uh Joel was saying to move forward with our next with next step. I can't I can't start the next step until you vote to approve this tonight. And and and the 170, is that right, Kyle? I mean, you talked about that you uh were in a position to get back. We allocated this year. You currently have about 175,000 set down right now. $50,000 would come where Kyle can move forward.

If we go and and the inspections fail and we don't like anything, we'll take that all the cost for the inspections out of that 175 and then we walk away. So, like I said, the c the county should not be out any money if we back out of this deal. But simply here tonight to ask for your approval for me to move on to the next step. And then we're going to come back hopefully by the 15th of January and maybe the first meeting in February which still will be in our 30 days and you give you the final numbers of everything and then we'll go from there. I mean that's that's you know where we're at. And Mr. Chair, the way I would the way I would contemplate your final approval would be sort of the same way Lo County did. That's when you would see the interlocal agreement. That's where you would have all the terms memorialized. Correct.

So you would lock everything. So this when when Kyle says from our perspective it will happen very quickly. It'll either happen or it won't. Kyle will have a construction project on his hands, but you guys will be done. [clears throat] Okay. Any more questions? Any questions? Uh let's see here. So, uh what do we uh I guess we need to take action. I uh what's the wishes of the board, you know, to go forth and commit the $50,000, correct? 850 850 with conditions that it passes the inspections. So remember with the um Sweetwater project,

it was assuming that you approve that final interlocal, you're okay with funding the 850. You're you're [clears throat] basically blessing the price. If you don't end up approving the interlocal, you're only going to be out of your out of pocket, which what you just discussed. So, Kyle, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you want approval to proceed uh with acquisition at $800,000 with $50,000 towards inspections and closing costs. Correct. That's absolutely right. And if everything's not like we want it to be, we can back out. We walk out. Absolutely. Like, I'm not going to put you or me in that in that situation. So, all right. Okay. Got the motion. I'll make the motion as Joel stated.

Second. motion and a second. No further questions. All in favor say I. I. All oppose. Thank y'all. Hey, thank y'all. Good luck. Thank you. I'mma hire you after you're done. Don't walk around. You make you make this world happen that quick. You good. Mr. Kirby.

Good evening, [clears throat] Mr. Chairman, members of the board. The first item [laughter] is down in Ellisfield. This is your FDOT wastewater interconnect. This will allow you put a lift station at our current plant and put it over to the DOT wastewater plant. This will enable you to the capacity of another 50 g,000 gallons giving you a total of 100,000 gallons to accommodate the growth. This was discussed at the utility authority meeting and it was asked to be uh put off one more meeting because of the special meeting on the 5th. We have since then met with a lot of folks and what we've learned is the only option for the capacity is this the 240day contract. We do need to move forward. We got a little cushion but not a lot on time. You had seven bids. Your low bid come in at 57870843. I'm requesting a motion to award bid number 202513 to advance project solutions for total bid amount 5787843 and to approve the agreement.

So move. Okay. Got a motion to approve agreement. Second.

Got a second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. I. All oppose. And uh Kevin uh before we get off of that topic there, I would like to uh you know because we're all hearing all these numbers. I'm dealing on another project right now personally that you know increases after the first of the year. Can we move diligently to get this thing awarded out to the contractor, whoever that was, to where they can get their materials ordered because I mean in the discussion that I was in with Shannon today, I just so happened to go to his office. Perfect timing. Uh, you know, this is uh we've got a an agreement with the B&B project for December 27. Correct.

Ask again, please. The B&B project comes on that. That's what this continues. December 27th of 26. 26. Okay. I'm sorry. They they plan to open their doors. I spoke with the owners of B&B at February 1 of 27, but they would like to turn on, you know, get all the water tested, what we basically got a year.

That's right. And then as the uh engineer, not speaking for him, but there was an engineer on that call today that was uh you know, he said it was totally, you know, because there were some other options that we all heard, myself, Mr. Ford, you Krauss was there uh that I hadn't heard before that kind of got our interest up uh when we was at this meeting the other day. And uh but he he plainly stated it was impossible to get this done. the time frame won't work for those options. But, uh, going forth with that, go ahead. You had

Yeah, I was I was going to say to back what we're talking about up is we got increases in materials quite a bit this month is going to begin in I think it was April. Everything's going up a lot money in April. So you're I know we're trying to get all this locked in to where everybody will have the same price for the other stuff.

Okay. And then uh [clears throat] and also, you know, it was it was a it was probably the best utility meeting I I attended because we learned a lot of information I think everybody could say relevant to that. But this ball is moving pretty fast and there's a lot of a lot of decisions fixing out to be made and you know we got a couple commissioners uh great commissioners from Swany County that's really put a lot of work into this thing that it opened their eyes and of course it opened up my eyes on a lot of situations too and uh I and I brought it up at the meeting the other day myself and Mr. Ford represent Columbia County and uh then we got at large correct Rocky and then uh Mr. Dicks, Steven Dixs, and then uh but board, I I I really think it's time because there's going to be some very very crucial decisions made in the next 12 months. And my concern was, as I stated the other day at the meeting, that us as commissioners, you know, we make decisions upon other things that drive this this horse, I guess you'd say. And and this utility, we all decided at an early time that we need to develop a unbiased utility, if you want to say, to uh uh to make good decisions and hopefully go forth for the whole community. and and uh try to grow this thing. So, with that being said, I guess what I'm trying to say is that simply I think it's time because even if these appointees do not sit on that board immediately, we need to go we need to get the track record started because there's a lot of information just to ask a volunteer to come sit on a, you know, a planning and zoning board. There's there's going to be millions upon millions of dollars worth of decisions made in the next upcoming years relevant

to utilities in North Florida. And and you know, it was said Mr. White uh a friend and fellow commissioner from Swany County, you know, we might ought to get these some of these problems worked out before you bring these people on. Uh my opinion is simply that I think these people need to come on where we can start working with I mean me as a commissioner not speaking commissioner Ford but I know good and well he's a driver behind this thing. we're all going to be at these meetings and uh but it's it's it's putting I feel like personally it's putting [clears throat] myself as a commissioner in a very unique position and I'd like to go forth and get some qualified people do an RFQ I guess you'd call it or whatever and uh and start advertising to try to spark the interest and see what what kind of we have a hard time getting volunteers anyway but this is a very very unique board uh because they're going to have to do their homework work and become utility knowledgeable, if you want to say. Uh Shannon and Shannon's uh Shannon uh is our executive director and uh sooner than later. We already got the RFQS out, I think, for engineers and what have you. So, we're going to be bringing qualified guidance onto this utility in the early first quarter. uh repair uh companies uh that's going to do the uh and we're also uh uh operational companies that uh because the cost right now how we're maintaining these plants uh according to the research is is extreme. We're wasting money and so doing a good job on that but uh I just uh I just wanted to share that with the board because it was in conversation and I think Mr. Hollandsworth, you were at the meeting for a good portion of it there. But we learned a lot of stuff. I like I said, there was a it was a very informational meeting for myself and uh sure Mr. Ford

got some input because you know he's been the driving force behind this thing for early on. It's we got a lot of big decisions to make going to affect taxpayers for a long time in the very near future. And that's just a I guess we a consensus is what my input is simply. Well, I I just say I think the goal all the time was to have an independent board on this. Um, you know, we have 12 meet we have basically 12 meets a year. So, uh, I would I would think we try to make that our goal by the end of this year to have a board in place, you know,

because like I say, we have 12 meets a year. By the time you try to get qualified people and you look at them and you start um you start trying to figure out which ones you think would be the best qualified and the board votes on it, it's going to take a little time to get that together. And uh I think I think by the end of this year, we'll have this thing really organized and moving pretty good at that time, too. And like Commissioner Weiss said at the meeting, we got to get all this stuff worked out before we can before we can just throw it on somebody like that. And uh I I would I agree with you completely. Uh our our goal all the time was to get an independent board and uh I think I think we should make that goal for the end of this year to have it in place and them and them on on on uh you know them in place making decisions. And and that's exactly what I'm saying to my point is that but

it's uh I just look at it a lot more in depth than not that the planning and zoning board is not a very important board but boards such as that TDC you know we've all been through economic development that uh uh this is going to have to be a committed uh I I did a little bit of research into the Klay County everybody keeps going back to Klay County because that is probably the they are very well organized

very And uh so it's a good one to kind of get your track record off and talking to a couple members over there. Uh it's uh it's tough, you know, I I just don't I guess my point is government is real good about hurry up and wait later on. So my point is is that I think we need to start playing the field to see is there interest out there and then if there's not interest out there we we need to come up with a plan to how do we how do we spark interest I guess what I'm saying because as I said there you know the conversation me and Shannon was involved in today that I just happened up on uh the taxpayers of North Florida it's County is going to be spending money in Columbia County for a long time and Columbia County going to be spending money over there, but we get the our balls rolling fast. Theirs ain't rolling too quick and it's uh there's going to be issues in the I just say, you know, I mean, because I'm not talking about spending 25 million bucks here. We're talking about millions 50 and up easy, real quick. And uh so it's just uh I just wanted to share that with the board and get y'all's feelings.

Mr. [clears throat] Chair, with the board's approval, we can start advertising. Okay. Go ahead, Mr. I feel like it's like Rocky said and then whenever we do it, but it's not going to be a easy transition because you sit in one of them meetings and although they've only had a few meetings, I feel like the people when they do get appointed are going to have to sit in those meetings for a few months just to figure out what's going on. There's no way one man can sit there and go, "This is what's happening. We're still trying to figure out everything."

Right. Right. So it would be an educational thing that they might not sit on you might appoint them next month but even if you appointed them next month I believe it'd be six five or six months absolutely you know so I I do agree that it the hurry up and wait doesn't need to happen if we're going to do it we're going to do it and we get people in there and find out what's going to happen and what's not going to happen because it is a very it will be a board that somebody has to be committed to but once like Rocky said it's once a month and there's a lot of people that are highly educated ated people that know how to do this stuff and people that are just got good common sense. That's what we need on there. So,

you [clears throat] just need to take your time to try to get a qualified group of people to pick out of. So, I'm just saying the advertisement probably needs to be two at least two or three months.

Yeah, it needs to be more. Just talking to other board members in the clay count in the clay deal. I would simply say that I think it would Shannon should probably make a trip over there and see okay how do y'all go about reaching out to get qualified people you know on a board such as this and you know because uh [snorts] most people in the room here you know they haven't been privy to the the good information me and you've learned over the years here on the Klay County deal. So, you know, we we try to set our goals besign a behind a successful operation. And that's what I'm saying. Put a put a plan together. Uh Shannon's the executive director. And then uh please report back. We got a I I don't expect that. We got a special call meeting on the 5th, I believe, Shannon. Correct. And then uh so that would I would assume that would need to be a task that maybe you can pull on yourself. Uh and then uh get back with uh Mr. Krauss and then uh you know colle come back to this board put RFP together we'll have some discussion about it RFQ I'm sorry and uh and go forth and just like Robbie said just feel f feel the build a system out there see who's interested what have you and then uh because we may get surprised there may not be nobody interested and we really going to have to back up the punt then and uh so

chairman yes sir did you want Shannon to kind of go over some of the options we're looking at to solve solve some of the issues we're having at Ellisville and what Swany County is having at their plants. Also,

Mr. Ford, I was just fixing to after I said my little piece before Kevin went on to the Rome Island thing, I was going to bring Shannon up that and just for the uh public's information, Shannon Roberts, come forth if you don't mind, Shannon. Shannon's the executive director of North Florida Water Utility and he's also a resident of Swany County. So, we're going to try to let him get home before midnight tonight. But the [laughter] uh but I think that that would be because we had Shannon way down here with the utility update at the very end of the meeting. So we're going to try to show them a little bit of common decency. So thank you Shannon.

Sure. Thank thank you Mr. Murphy. Um board members, it's great to be here. Uh in terms of some of the options, I will get to those in just a second, but I did want to come back to the request that Mr. uh Kirby was making for the approval of uh that contractor to move. you know, I am 100% behind it. We got to go dog go. And um time is of the essence and and I know he understands that. He'll do everything he can. Likewise, I've got a grant. I'm hoping to get the grant agreement for additional funding that is going to complement the work that Mr. Kirby was talking about. There's another piece up on the north end of the sewer plant that needs to fall in and we've got money to do that. and I'm chomping at the bit to get that grant agreement so I can jump into the same procurement frenzy to try and get this work going with the goal to be ready for busy be as soon as we can. You know, well, we all want to be ready before they're ready. All right. Now, the other thing you wanted me to talk about, Mr. forward some of the options around

fixing the the problems that we talked about in the paper with the plant at Ellisfield and Swany County is having the same issues that they're planting not in depth that we went through the other thing right [laughter] not question I just want to highlight some of the options we're looking at people start walking out of here on membranes [laughter] and stuff yeah talk about sewage

so both counties are having compliance issues for different reasons. Swani is not under consent order yet. Uh they could be. We We'll see how that opens. Columbia County is, but before anyone clutches their pearls over consent orders. Yes. Is it serious? Does it happen more than you think? It absolutely does. Compliance is a difficult thing. Things change. Uh [clears throat] technology changes, the requirements change, and you got to keep up with it. So with regard to the Columbia County side, we've engaged with a set of engineers, uh, Arcadus, uh, we've got Mr. Krauss, uh, Chad Williams, Robert Demang, uh, myself, and a group of engineers from Arcadus, and we've been exploring options to understand a couple of things. Number one, is there a way to get a a cost-effective solution in that could double the capacity of the plant and have that done before Busybe gets here? That's one of the options we were looking at. We found out today it's a great idea, but there's not enough time to do it. So, that cancels one of the options we were looking at. It would have been great if that could be done, but our team feels like we can't put busy be at risk, which puts all the more emphasis on the grants that we have and the work we have to get done. One of the other things that we're looking at is installing or retrofitting the Ellisville wastewater plant with uh membrane um types of components. Those are advanced weightness weight advanced wastewater treatment components. It's membrane biological reactive components that you put in. What that does for you is it will help um bring you into compliance. It will drop your total nitrogen. It won't get it down to where it needs to because there's some extra

stuff that has to be included in the retrofit. But what we're hoping is, and we heard from the engineers say that will double the capacity plant.

So that right there tells me that is a lot of bang for the buck. So instead of building multiple trains to get to a 100,000, the retrofits themselves will take each 25,000 gallon train and convert it to 50 and increase the treating capacity. So, you're generating uh tests that are compliant. That is a huge deal. Um we don't have costs for it yet. We're hoping to get those maybe by next week, but that's one option to consider. And then I think the uh engineers themselves have their own option with some of the they have a design they want to put forward. It also includes MBR or that membrane technology as well. So, there are kind of two different looks at it. One is from the engineer. They have their own idea of what MBR would look like. The other one is there's two vendors that do it and we can go either way. All of those options I believe would result in improving the capacity of the plant, improving the treatment quality of what happens there. Those are wonderful [clears throat] and and there again, Swany County has the same issue we have right now with a plant they have that's already too small. So, this would benefit them also. They they want to look at the same thing. So

So I have a call with D. Robert and I have a call with D next week. Is it

first week of January? Well, there we go. And we're going to be talking about what we've learned with Ellisville because the plants are very similar. We're going to be talking about what we've learned with Ellisville and our approaches with Ellisville. when we talked to DP about the Swany plant to start setting the stage to take a very similar approach to Swany. I think they're going to need the same things. So that I mean that's the benefit of it. Yes, it's a [laughter] problem, but what we're learning from it is we're able to use it and amplify it and and put it to work in other places, too. And uh Shannon, I talked to you briefly about this, but once we get this plan in place and we present it to D, this buys us two years to make some of these to get some of these uh issues resolved.

Yes, sir. and and that's one of the main reasons we couldn't use these MBRs to help um help fix the capacity of the plant and address those issues before BusyB. It's not enough time. There's not enough runway to land that plane. But so we'll do we'll put in all the work that we've got in flight now. will do all that work and at the same time we're taking a parallel track to work on let's map out what's going to happen at the Ellisville plant to come into compliance and to fix those capacity issues as well and we've got a longer time frame with D. So, the two work together. We'll be doing them both at the same time.

But as Arcadus Engineering stated today, they're going to have a summary tomorrow. Yes, sir. To the utility and uh they will be having a follow-up call, Zoom call, I think you said, Tuesday. Yes, sir. to kind of discuss and so because that's what the board uh the utility board desired the other day is that you know Arcadus to bring back some of these remedies [clears throat] go forth and when everybody can make a that's where the decision is going to be made the timelines are going to be you know come up after engineering design takes place that's when the checks are going to start getting ready

yes sir we'll get that we'll share it with anybody who would like a copy of it I know uh Mr. Murphy and I talked, I'll have a copy for him. I can print them off. Mr. Krauss will also receive a copy at the same time. We're happy to hand them out. Um, I think from a board engagement perspective, just having folks look through that and get it summarized for you so you understand what your options are to go forward because DP is going to expect the report that's coming out to uh, you know, call a course of action and this board needs to make sure they're comfortable with that and and understand what's in there and then it'll be submitted and discussed with them. I'm sure they're going to have questions about what's proposed in that. It's not like we'll just email it to them and it's done. It'll go in, there'll be discussions and we want to know what they think about it. We want to know do they agree with it, you know, we want to know um what what issues might they have with this. We, you know, we want to get all that sorted out as quickly as we can and we want to be intentional about what we're doing so we remain responsive and engaged with them and I think that'll that'll do good things.

All right. Thank Thanks, Shannon. Thanks, Shannon. Very welcome. Have a safe trip. Thank you. Oh, I'm not going. Okay. I've changed my mind. I'm going to stay the whole You sure that You sure that truck [laughter] You sure that truck you got will make it Clay County? No. No. He's coming. He's wondering. No water. [laughter] That wasn't friendly, was it? [laughter]

Okay. Um, the next item is twofolded. So, basically, we've got to restore the bank down at Rum Island. There's a large live oak tree right next to bank that we got to work on. And some of their opinion would just saw the tree down. I personally don't think that's a reason why. Um, it's a nice tree. It's the only tree down there. And for the last part of it, I'm sure that the funding available based on the methodology we'll have to use to restore the bank will run over a little more because it's just a different methodology. We're going to try our best to keep it within budget, but if not, that's what your capital project fund is for to shore up those kind of projects. So, we just kind of want to be transparent with the public. I'm requesting use methodology on the rum island bank restoration to leave the live oak tree in place.

So move chairman if we I'll second. Uh I just want to tell you you know as good as I do we're going to catch the devil if we take that TREE OUT. [laughter] Let me let me you got an engineer looked at it right or somebody. Yes sir. You know and I'll just say something at my house at the river. I I I messed around and a guy told me to stack some blocks around the roots of the tree like to stop the sand and when it floods it it's amazing how that sand will go in there and stay under that tree. It's crazy. Engineers know how to do it. I don't know. But that is the methodology. We're going to put some boulders or whatnot and the face get through it. Well, there's a way we can save the tree. Might cost a little money, but I think it's well worth it.

And a flood actually helps it brings that sand in. So, pretty cool. Okay. Uh got a motion and a second. All in favor say I. I. All oppose.

Okay. The next item is road signage. As you all are aware, we do own and operate a sign shop. So they have changed the standards moving forward for signs. Basically bigger, bigger letters, bigger everything. When you go bigger, there's a lot going with going bigger. When everything changes and of course cost change. What really prompted this, in my opinion, was got the phone calls coming. It's my understanding they're going to remove and replace it down on the 41 South FTO job. They put a sign up for a church that was bigger than it's supposed to be. They're going to remove it, put it right, but no doubt about it on new construction projects, they are going with bigger signs, bigger letters, the whole nine yards. So, here's my recommendation. Several folks have called me, including a couple county commissioners. We have a pretty large inventory of signs in our shop today. When we go and deplete those resources, we'll restock with the bigger stuff and we will simply as a sign needs to be replaced, we'll eventually just convert. We've got over 1,400 signs in this county coordinator in place today. So I guess I'm requesting a motion to say as needed once our current inventory is depleted we will merge to the larger size signs and letters. That's my motion.

Chairman if I may for Mr. Kirby I was so somebody went down Bley Road the other night basically took out every sign stop signing. So, I got with Joe about it, told him, you know, these signs are gone. And uh I was talking to him and he was telling me that we're having a bad issue with the mowers taking out signs. Have you addressed that? Oh, sure. We do all the time. Yeah, sure. I mean, I know he's I know we got a contract. He's But you know, they he might need to be responsible for some of these things. Oh, he is. He is. He has people. Okay. You know, I mean, you know, I don't know if y'all ever run a batwing mower. You throw a young kid on backwing.

I mean, I know how easy it is. I took [laughter] I took out several fence post with my mowers. So, that is my motion. Yep. Is to replace second. Got a motion and a second. All in favor say I. I. All oppose.

Okay. My final walk on item is the Swan Valley Communication Tower. Our side of things did a good job getting out the bid. [cough] multiple reasons to bid come in. There were some errors on the bidder's part. So to ensure we got plenty of time, no cost, no harm. They have agreed to as long as we got all the procurement all done by the uh June, I'm sorry, January 31, I'm sorry, June 30 is June 30 of 2027, it has to be done if you approve this uh amendment. So I'm requesting a motion to approve the amendment for the extension to June 30, 2026. And that will get you your procurement, your contractor to be done by June 30 of 2027.

This is for the tower. This is the construction of the Swany Valley. I'll make a motion we uh we uh do a amendment to second. Got a motion to the amendment number two, Swany Valley Tower. Got a second. All in favor say I. I. All

thank you, gentlemen. Good evening. I'll try and be fairly brief. Uh the first thing is position description update. Right now you have a position that's a telecommunication specialist. Let's face it, that technology has long since been gone in that job description. Doesn't really cover what that position does. That position right now is doing events, is doing handling of cash, is handling permits for Rum Island and other things. And so we have a revision of the job description to reflect the current duties assigned to that position. It does mean that it would be a change in the uh pay grade from 105 to 114 which means the minimum of the pay grade would be I believe 50,62460.

I'll make a motion we approve reclassification to education at event special. You got a motion second. But you said a minimum. That's a maximum. Maximum. Okay. Okay. And just for the record, but I I got hit with this question here this afternoon. Uh this person in this place today is not going from 385 to 50,000. No. Okay. It's about, if I understood it correctly, roughly a little over a $5,000 year range, right? Okay. Okay.

And again, this position description isn't reflective of the individual that's doing the job. It's of the job that you're wanting to have done. the requirements of that job. Cool. Okay. All right. Got a motion in a second. All in favor say I. I. All oppose. Okay.

The next one's relatively simple. The request for a certificate of public convenience and necessity. The city of Lake City is requesting a copcn. They're planning to expand their ALS ability on their fire trucks. Uh they need to get a license from the state. Get a license from the state. They have to have a copcn from Columbia County. and you have no regulations uh regarding limitations on issuing COPC. I move we approve resolution number 2025 R54. Second. Got a motion in a second. If there's discussion, all in favor say I. All opposed.

The next one is the fire consolidation and structural analysis study. So we finally got the workshop. It is not. It is now January 20th, 2026. 5:00 PM in this room will be the workshop on joint city county workshop fire consolidation study. So go ahead. I'm sorry. No, go ahead. I was just going to say do do we want to wait till the workshop for this before we approve this or do we want to I mean I would like to know more.

Yeah. Personally, Rocky, I I say yeah, but go ahead and finish up real quick. No, I mean Okay. Okay. Yeah, that's really the board's decision if you want to commit money now or if you want to wait until you find out what the commitment is. The RFPs, one is going to be reissued. So, they're going to go out and readvertise and the other one I don't believe has been awarded. Yeah. So, you really don't know what the cost is. We're estimating it. The the fire consolidation study feasibility at 779. That's a number I understand that they've got now. But the other the other one the structural analysis study uh that they've sent it back out to bid,

right? They only received one they only received one bid. So they're gonna go out. So are we? No, I don't think the boat needs a, you know, we're not gonna we're having a workshop on this on the 20th and then at that time, but workshop Joel, what do we got to do to u at that workshop on the 20th? Can what do we got to do to be able to vote on that set? Instead of calling it as a workshop, you can call it as a special meeting. Chairman, yes. Would it be possible to have Jeff come up and talk just kind of explain this to us and and get his recommendation on this at this time? Yeah, he did it a couple weeks ago, but yeah, that's fine.

I know, but I I'm just saying this. Uh, so I know we're having a workshop. I just want to hear what he has. So, if you do it as a work joint workshop, either board would be able to vote. The city's going to follow the workshop immediately with the city council meeting here. You'll actually be he meeting here. Um and you would then follow it up I think that following Thursday with your uh regular county commission because at a previous meeting this board we agreed once the numbers come out we didn't vote on nothing. We waited we the consensus was that we would support 50% of the bill. Right.

Correct. Yeah. But you wanted to know what the number was before you committed. Yes. So I guess if to not dirty up muddy up the waters, I would simply say that I guess we could ask for a vote that if we decide to go forth on the 20th collectively, would this board commit to the half of the 77 936? That' be a prop proper just just on the feasibility stuff. If that's what the board wants, you could. Okay. Go ahead, Jeff. Yeah. I just want to hear what we getting with this study cuz I'm here we got to do two studies or two.

Well, right now neither one of them has been that that dollar amount was what had come back from the RFQ or RFP, I'm sorry. U I sat in with the with it on that. Uh there were several companies put in RFPs. They were all reviewed. That is the one that was uh picked out by the committee but not awarded. Correct.

Has not been awarded. It was at one point it was going to be on the city agenda. It was pulled. I don't know why. Uh it has never been addressed and never has been awarded at all. The other one has not [clears throat] there was only one company even applied. Uh so it far as my knowledge is never been reviewed. They want to take it back out to bid and all again. So tonight there is really no true dollar amount for you to commit to.

But what do we get with this study here? The first study is supposed to be whether it is financially feasible to do. Basically, uh it is supposed to look at at what you're wanting on both sides. Uh what the city would like to see on their point, what what the county would like to see on their side and all of that together. And then this company see if that is financially feasible, if it's going to raise the amount of money that's going to be required to do it, how you would require how you would get the money. uh and just basically work out all the money side of things.

So So Jeff, with this study, we'll know if we're going to save the constituents money or cost the money with this study here with with that f the one that's the 70 that's looking at the 77,000 range one. That one that's that's what I care about. about all that other that's because if if that one's going to show that you're going to cost the constituents money and all or have to raise what it's going to cost them to even keep the same service I I wouldn't think you would want to do it. So that workshop you we can go into a lot more detail about all this, but you have to figure out exactly what is wanted first. You know, you can't just say we're going to throw them together because

the the last time I was up there, I told you there's a lot of things you've got to look at. Retirements, pays personnel, union, you there's there's there's just so much to it that is such an unknown right now to try to commit a dollar amount. I I think you're premature trying to do that. So, chairman, what you suggested, I would I would support. Okay. Basically, we vote now that if this dollar amount and we we we would support find paying half of it.

Totally agree. Uh well, I'll make the motion that uh we will commit if the city does to their part half of the 77936 for the feasibility consolidation study only. not inclusive of the structural analysis study. Second. Got a motion and a second. Any further questions? All in favor say I. I. All. Thank you, Jeff. Thank you, Jeff. You explained it very well. Thank you.

Okay, David, we uh 8 9 10 11 and 12. Uh Joel beat me to the punch, but me and Joel had a conversation this afternoon, but I was going to ask the same question and my uh research of trying to get me. We [snorts] got a lot of questions on these uh and Joel's going to be dealing with them along with economic development and uh we uh it's kind of brought up a lot of questions. So uh we'll be dealing with that. Joel be with the contracts looking at that and come back at a later.

Yes sir. It because of my circumstances I wasn't able to give them a necessary level review and when I was reviewing them today that it would have been too much to go through to try to hash them out tonight. So it's easier to let me look at them with Jennifer. we'll get them squared up and we'll bring them back and then uh when you do reach out if [clears throat] somehow or another I'd like for each to maybe reach out to the commissioner and get a I'm definitely got a lot of questions on three of them and so uh I'm I'm more than willing once that point to come sit down with whoever and get to that point but the uh but right now we I just wanted to make that clear that there was a reason why we was doing this. just wasn't, you know, half halfhazard. Okay, David.

So, the next one is the annual maintenance contract for Bell Power Store. Uh, basically, it got missed in the budget. Uh, you need to have annual maintenance because these are your servers. And so, we're asking for $45,210 to renew the annual maintenance. I move we approve the m annual maintenance contract for the Dell Power Store. Second. Got a motion and a second. All in favor say I. I. All opposed. The next one is the community center grants. Quite simply, um, at the last meeting, I think it was the last one, maybe the one before that, the commission talked about, you know, some of our community centers are 20, 25, 30 years old, right?

May need renovations. You said something about we should go out for grants. As you know, your policy is we don't go out looking for grants and applying for grants without authorization from the board. So, we're really looking for do you want us to go out, look for grants, get the grants. We have that authority and then bring it back to you and say here's a grant we think we can get. This would be the match. So, it wouldn't be a just blanket coverage, but it would be authorization for us to go ahead and proceed. Chairman.

Yes, sir. So David, so so Jennifer and I went to Sebring this morning or I went last night actually, but I come and we got awarded $4 million to harden our our shelters, our rescue, our emergency shelters. Now, most of our a lot of our emergency shelters are are rest our community centers. me. So, can we use that money too for for I mean, what can I don't know exactly what we can use that for as far as but I know our shelters most of our shelters are community centers. Can't we put generators at our at our community centers and stuff like that with this money or Well, you've already received a grant for a ton of generators.

If you remember, you authorized us to apply for a grant that included a match because it's a $250,000 match for the generator. Yeah. And then it also included the hardening money for some of the shelters so that you know maybe we could add showers. We can make them more legitimately shelters because right now they're community centers. They have one shower. They're not winrated. There's just a lot of reasons they're not great shelters. So yes, the short answer is yes. Yeah. But it won't cover all community. But but I don't apply for other grants too. I mean, you know, I I think it's a good idea to apply for grants. I I know grants can be dangerous because you get a grant, you need to spend money, but let's just spend what we got we'll get, you know, instead of spending it more.

And my next question would be, can we use any of that money for match money on the other grants? We have to see what the grant terms are when we uh get the grant agreement from the state. Right now, the governor announced it. He announced a lot of money today for county. Next step is the agency that go gets it, which would be the Department of Commerce, which we have a very good relationship with. uh will issue us a grant agreement and then that grant agreement gives us the details of how we can use the money when we can use the money time. So until I see the grant agreement from commerce, it's really hard to guarantee you anything. I I know there was some talk earlier that some of this money can be used for match money. So you know

Well, that's what I think. I think part of it is 250 match for the generators. Yeah. So, and once the grant, as you said, the grants get here, we read the, you know, the detail to them. We can decide as to how, you know, because this is going to be a long draw out grant getting bathrooms designed and showers and one thing or another. So, it's uh it's going to be a pretty good uh it's going to be a pretty good task. So, we have to approve. We are definitely grateful the governor gave us the money. Mhm. Yeah. Well, this is this is definitely needed. I know in district one alone, we have several that need to be remodeled big time. So, um I'll make a motion we approve the community center grants. Uh second for you to go out and get that. Got a motion in a second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. I. All

oppose. One of my recommendations with this also is that we start talking about what is it renovation of the community centers mean? What is it you're looking for? That makes it a lot easier to apply for a grant if we know what it is we want rather than seek the grant and then try and figure out what we want. Well, each commissioner has got one in their district. I guess they could just go through. I I wouldn't think there'd be a whole lot of repairs on Bethlehem right yet. [laughter] Paint ain't dried on that one. Similar. The Fort Wayne's in pretty good shape. I don't think

I think it makes sense that uh you know the centers in each one's district. Uh I don't have one in mind at this point in time but you know just simply meet with the operators and kind of get their input and keep them included because their input is very very important right and that then gives us an idea of what like Kevin was saying about other things you know that way you can come up with a plan right and then you know exactly what the cost is that you're going to be asking versus just throwing out a number and kind of guessing. Great. I look forward to that. The last one I have is the utility updates. I think we covered that. I think you've done much of that. You got any more input on it? Nothing.

Uh working with Steve on stuff with the city. Everything's going great. Uh we got almost everything done with 4775. Um they're on the point where they're going to be doing the lift station next. Um but the pipes are under the road for water, sewer, and gas. You know, we have not heard back from the attorneys yet in terms of um moving forward on the sewer plant at the industrial park. We're working on the water lines at the industrial park together. Um what I can't give you is an update on Fort White because there is no update on Fort White. So, what I can tell you is Joel has worked with her attorney about coming back coming back with an agreement that says

when they're ready, I think he's reconsidering. We'll give the [laughter] key. I don't know. But that agreement's never been finalized and never been presented. So, technically, we're still under the original agreement. And so, we have if the board ever decides you want to get out from under it, you have to give them the notice for 12 months. Would you? [clears throat] Yeah. I mean, the best construction of what's happened so far is we've ostensibly given notice, right? And you're in your 12-month period. What we're trying to do is wave that 12-month period to allow them to, which is what they wanted. And so, we've indicated our receptiveness to that so long as they get up and running before we hand over the keys. We're status quo. And at this time, we don't know if they have an attorney.

We don't know what's going on. They have not made a decision on what they want to do with the water plant. They have not made a decision on how they're going to operate the water plant if they do take it back. So, literally, it's just a holding t. And the overriding concern that the county managers had, which I've shared and I think the board shares, is the continuity of service to the people of Fort White, which has been guaranteed. So, we're not going to allow for anything to happen that would interrupt that service. And it's not really costing us any money. No. Well, it's being operated by the utility authority. It's not costing us any money to operate. The uh will be forever most likely. Yep. That's unless you have a specific question on any utility project. That's pretty much it.

I'm not going to call it utility project because I brought it up for a little bit of discussion the other day at the utility meeting, but uh I'm going to call it housekeeping, I think, is the board says here a lot of times. Uh Shannon, I'm glad you hung around. Uh I know you uh didn't know board during the budget Shannon presented to us on I believe it was uh July or August 17th, we took $100,000 in our budget for the water utility for catastrophic or emergency repairs

and we earmarked it, put it on our budget, and upon them needing it, we would earmark it out. It be it came to my knowledge that when I was asked by the clerk's office, when did y'all change this? And then I looked into it and I approached David and uh approached Shannon and uh no, it was never brought back to this board that we're going to uh Shannon made a uh request. We presented a PO and we transferred $100,000 out of our budget that we voted on in this room. and unbeknown to this board $100,000 sitting in the North Florida Water Utility that should be sitting in ours because my quest is simply this. I don't think David has the authority to move $100,000 without consent of this board when it was voted upon. We accepted the budget in its full in it in entirety with the $100,000 earmark for them restrictions. Correct. Correct. So, I'm asking the board uh I don't know if we need this in an approval, but I would like to take it to a vote. And the reason I bring it up tonight is simply this. We do not have another meeting till January the 15th. Correct.

Correct. I'm pretty sure the North Florida Water Utility is due a $130,000 draw, we call it in between now and then. That is correct. I make the motion to send the draw to the North Florida Water Utility. Do whatever y'all guys in finance and the clerk needs to do, but that 100,000 needs to come back in our coffers. Swany County do what they want to with it. Because as a commissioner in Swany County says, I thought it was supposed to be done that way, too. He didn't know it. like I believe everybody on this board didn't know it, but uh so I just make that in the motion that we uh second got a motion and a second. Before we before we vote, I just I just want to say something now. I remember when all that was going on.

Mhm. And that money was for emergency repairs and stuff like that. Correct. And I remember this board saying at that time that you couldn't issue a contract with anybody to do emergency repairs. And I think it was Mr. Kirby said that unless that money was in their account to do that. No, budgeted. Huh? Budgeted. Dollars got to be budgeted. Stuto has got to be budgeted. Money does not have to be sitting in their account. We budgeted that. So, as long as it's budgeted. Okay. I'm I'm good. I just want to clarify. They can get that money in a a matter of days. I think that what Commissioner Ford said is what the confusion was. Mhm.

We were led to believe that they had to have it in order to issue the RFP to get the engineers to do the emergency repairs. If that's not the case, then we should I don't have a problem either way. I'm just We know they're going to get the money if they need it. We know that 100%. But the uh I guess the uh I think it was just confusion. What? So, we still have Yeah. more than 100,000 in our accounts that eventually would go to them. It's just in a different account. We just got to move it back. Yeah. And that was both both Swany and Columbia County put that money there for emergency repair.

That's right. Swany County earmarked 50,000. Right. And then in that conversation the other day during a utility meeting it was planning stated you know that uh uh one of the commissioners uh believe it was commissioner asked a balance asked Dick Pal the balance on a certain line item here and you know and so as Dick said that money you know we can distribute that money accordingly but the truth is that line item is $100,000 short. So next financial report, Dick will show that $100,000 shy. You see what I'm saying? So that transparency as this water utility continues to move on is a must. And uh so that's got muddied up, but I just wanted to

So what we can do is bring you back a budget amendment at [laughter] the next meeting that moves $100,000 from the one account into the emergency repair. We've got the money. Yeah. So the wrong account no Shannon needs to send the money back. It's in their account. The 100,000 is sitting in their account. We're not moving money inside of our account headed to North Florida. But what you had I just want to clarify. I believe what you had asked me to do was next time there's a draw shorted 100,000. Correct. So that means that 100,000 is in our account that we would just move into this account. Okay. Shortund,000. That's what I told you. It's an accounting thing. It's not

I'm not trying to change anything. It's just how you would handle it. Okay. Okay. I just want to make I'll just say what you're saying now and that's fine. But the uh you and the clerk can work that out, you know, and I'm sure the clerk's listening right now. So the uh So with that being said, okay, anything else for David. [clears throat] All right. Okay, David. Thank you. Thank you very much. Okay. Open public comments. [sighs]

Okay. Uh, David, post the rules of the quorum, please. Thank you. Yes, sir.

Sylvester warn um the address black community. All my dad brothers served, even my dad served. I have two siblings who are currently serving this nation and one of them being a doctor. My uncle just retired from DOC as a warden. My grandmother was the first black ALF ever opened in Lake City, Florida. My aunt Alice Cisa was a wellrespected spokeswoman and funeral home owner. My aunt Min Jay Neblack donated the property to the school system to build Neblack own. That's not even a fraction of my lineage. That said, I watched County Attorney Joel Foreman, who is a mandated reporter according to the Florida Bar, continues to allow the chair to commit First Amendment violations and commit viewpoint discrimination that was codified under the 1983 act. Also, County Attorney Joel Foreman continues to allow commissioners to violate the law under the sunshine in which commissioners cannot whisper to each other during public meetings. This is constant practice. I have pointed out many times to no avail. Now, for the highlight, the Parnell kid referred to Columbia County citizens as riffraff. Nobody said a word about this being a lack of the quorum on the dasis side. Why didn't any of you on the dasis say anything about those comments? An elected official can call county residents riff wrap, but I get removed from the meeting for using the word boy. Making make it make sense. I took each of your silence as a consent. You feel the same way about Columbia County residents. Last I checked, everyone was made in the image of God and nobody is riffraff.

The word riffraff is defined to mean other people are beneath you. I am self-made. I have more than all of you on the dices put together. And we can test that any day you want to. including excluding none of you. I think the most I think most of Columbia County residents I know will consider each of you up here a lot worse than riff raff after letting those comments slide last meeting. This is checks. This is chess, not checkers. Check. My next move on you is maker.

Thank you. Anybody else public comments? Yes, sir.

Mitch, thank you for seeing me. Um, I first I want to say merry Christmas and could you state your name for the clerk, please? Oh, sorry.

Sean Holgren. Sean Holgrren, 240 Northeast Lagona Drive, Lake City. U I appreciate everything that you guys have done this year. It's just been an extraordinary year with the growth of the utilities and all the things that are going on. And when you were talking about um needing uh board members, I wondered if you've reached out to the uh Swany Valley uh river, what is it? Swany Water Management District. uh they may have somebody that might, you know, be in might contribute to your board and might have something that uh might be beneficial.

I wrote to each of you this morning and I only wrote a few copies. If I may approach the day as I give you, [clears throat] [snorts] you're my commissioner. That's right. Sean, do the best you can. I'm trying to keep everybody three minutes. Don't want to be prejudicial. Thank you. Thank you. I got I got your So, um, basically

in the fall I met with I spoke before you and we've talked about the Colombia County maker space using the rear portion of the building um that you're now rehabbing for Career Source. And we have a workforce development program that we'd like to employ. and career sources behind it. And you've agreed or at least not disagreed to allow us the use of that garage space in the back which is unused and uncommitted. And so I've proposed a lease for the use of that space and I I just proposed it as a framework for your review. I I I know that January is not real because the time for the rehab is coming probably closer to February, but I would like the board to consider a [clears throat] lease for the maker space to use that space such that we can get the machinations moving that you can approve it after Mr. Foreman has had a chance to review that lease and make whatever modifications. So that's my request is that you allow Mr. Borman to draft a lease for us to just move in at no cost to the commission. Really, it's just us moving in and using it for workforce development purposes. Well, Sean, what I'll do personally commit to you that uh I will meet with Joel and talk about this and then also with staff because I know there's a couple things moving in the background. Yes.

Uh relevant to that space. Yes. But if there's uh what you're doing, uh I've heard some very positive things about it. Uh it's uh don't know if it's possible, but I'll commit to you. I'll do everything in my power to try to see if we can in some which way or another help accommodate you. And then uh I know you said you already been in contact working with the college indirectly, directly, whatever, however. We've been in communication with just about anybody that'll listen to us. And so, but uh the the commission has been kind to listen to us. And if we can get into that space, it'll allow us to teach people to get back into the career force and and get back into what we're doing is we're building a pipeline into Ako.

But I know a AAR, but you're retired and you uh most retired people go out and have fun. You're making a commitment to the public and I appreciate what you're doing. God bless you. Merry Christmas to you. Thank you. Merry Christmas. What what Mr. stronger is doing it. It's a great deal. I've heard nothing but positive result. We really need to kind of Yeah. help him out. I've heard nothing but positive results. So, that's that's that's that's a big deal. Big deal. Okay. Any other public comments? [sighs]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [snorts] Just going to fill you guys in on what happened in Fort [clears throat] Wife the other night. You haven't read the story. Everybody in Florida seems to have read it. There's a story on it. There is. Yeah. Some people got it wrong, but that one's right. That's not the issue. I don't know what's funny, Mr. Chairman, but always glad to amuse you. Yes, sir. You do it every day. Thank you.

So, Paul White now has no attorney. Paul White's attorney quit. He said at a meeting quit. Mr. Ford was there. It's on tape. It's on video. So, exactly how he's going to reconsider after he quit is that's kind of up in the air. I might also explain to you guys the problem of asking people to do things without a contract. The other issue that wasn't brought up at the meeting is the town attorney of Fort White or the ex-town attorney is Fort White has no contract and it's kind of hard to work for a municipality without a contract. So that should be a warning to everybody in this county that hires people that if you hire somebody, they need to have a contract. The biggest problem with him not having a contract was Florida's statutes require him and every contract, as Mr. Foreman will tell you, to have those paragraphs about the public records laws. And if you don't have a contract, then you're not in compliance with the laws of Florida. So, it doesn't seem that he will be going back there. I'm not exactly sure how we would reconsider. So there are severe issues in Fort White right now. So that's an update. And the other thing is about the instant incident that we all found out about a meeting or two ago about Mr. Kirby wrecking a county sorry Mr. Kirby having an accident with a county vehicle. I put in a public records request for whatever reports you're doing. There was a lot of talk a meeting or so ago about the value of Mr. Kirby to this county.

Everybody needs to follow the rules. So, I'm waiting to get the report to see what we've got that everybody should be on notice that either everybody follows the rules in this county or nobody follows the rules. So, I'm I'm I'm looking forward to that and I will follow up on that in the future. And other than that, I would like to wish you guys a safe and happy holiday season and a merry Christmas. Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Thank you. Anybody else? Well, merry Christmas. I appreciate the efforts everybody's made tonight. Wish everybody a merry merry Christmas. You going to do commissioner comment? Yes. Yes.

I was just trying to get around to I wanted to thank Stu for [laughter] I wanted to I didn't want to make Stu feel left out, so I wanted to make sure I thanked him for the Stu Law lecture. and it's a very very informative. Thank you. But go ahead, Commissioner Collins.

Go ahead. I'll let you go first. I'm just going to give y'all a like like I said earlier, uh Jennifer and I went to Sebring today to the airport. The governor handed out quite a bit of money. Uh he uh he gave Columbia County a community development block grant for disaster recovery infrastructure repair program, $4 million upgrade. I guess David will have to find out exactly what we can spend his $4 million on. Um he also out of So he had 17 million for rural infrastructure fund which is the Rift grant. We got 2 million for the mega industrial park for the rail spur out there. Um, Secret I I just want to say Secretary Kelly with all the with all the economic development directors in the room, Secretary Kelly called out Jennifer for her great work at the for all her projects, especially at the industrial park. Um he uh he commented that the job creation and the capital investment opportunities created by this funding largely influenced the governor's decision to award this grant. And Jennifer had worked diligently on this grant trying to make sure everybody was aware of it. And uh like I say, she got a she got called out with a special shout out for her work at the meeting today. And uh I thought that was pretty special. I was proud to be sitting by her with all these with everybody in the room. She's the only one got shout out from Secretary Kelly. Uh, additionally, the city of Lake City received $1,788,415 to replace a hanger that sustained significant hurricane damage out at the airport. So, uh, all in all, you know, we got we got close to $8 million in

Columbia County today. And, uh, we need to send you down there more often. Y'all go on back down there.

Yeah. [laughter] So, I say it was uh, it was worth the trip. And uh it was uh I I tell you one thing I want to find out though, the city of Arcadia, the lady was sitting right next to me and Jennifer and uh they have a 60s something year old sewer plant in the city of Arcadia. They received $14 million to redo that sewer plant today, city of Arcadia. Now, I did question some people at while we were there is was sewer plants and stuff like that available for this grant, but I guess what I was told I you it had to have you had to prove it had sustained damage from the hurricane [snorts] and we couldn't prove that. We didn't get enough winter damage. So, uh, anyway, but I did find out there might be some other money for utilities projects that we might could apply for. So, I'll be getting with Shannon about that [clears throat] later. So, but, uh, all in all, it was a good trip and, uh, like I say, I felt pretty special when he called out out of all the people that was in that room. So, uh, that was that was pretty good.

I got the call yesterday from Jennifer. I didn't realize that commerce called me prior to that where I was at pretty noisy but uh sorry I wasn't made up and make the trip but the uh I'm glad we had representation there very appreciative for the money and we'll be looking forward to see what the guidelines of the grant is and uh we'll be reading it very closely Mr. Uh guys, I'm glad that uh board I'm glad we have the rules of the core up here and displayed. I think it was needed. Um

you know, there was there's a little bit of slack. I guess the the riff raff comment that was not directed at a whole genre of people or any certain uh classification of person that was directed at uh one particular constituent. That was it. Um so hope nobody else is is offended by that. Uh so if anybody is, I do apologize for that, but I was directed at only one particular constituent. Um, this is our board meeting to conduct county business. We cannot have the interruptions in county business while we're here. Um, this needs to be a meeting and needs to stay a meeting. Therefore, I'm glad the rules are posted. And just so everybody's aware, these rules apply to the board members, too. So, we can go against these rules and we can also be removed from the room as well. So, they're not just at any one particular person. These rules are for everybody, including board members and the audience. Um, just so we're clear on that, everybody understands that going forward in 2026, I'd love to see the meeting similar to how we have it now. No interruptions. It ran pretty decently, I believe. And I think that's how it should go going forward. We conduct a lot of business up here. And not having interruptions and the distractions is definitely a great thing. We have no distraction and it it messes with your mind. time we try to make a decision that's going to affect not only us but everybody. Um, so I'm glad that we have the rules up here and make sure that everybody has a clear understanding. I like to see them here every time we have a meeting in the beginning and before comments come up. That way this can always be addressed and there's no issues whatsoever hopefully. Um, last but not least, I got to thank our our county observer, our blogger for uh the website post last week. Man, it was great. It was great. I received a lot of love and support from the community. Thank you, bud. That's it,

Robbie. Um, merry Christmas to everybody. I'm gonna miss seeing y'all next Thursday. [laughter] And y'all ain't gonna miss me. I promise. I'd like to tell everybody merry Christmas. Also, [snorts] merry Christmas. Happy New Year. Well, the uh and I appreciate it. And uh Kevin, I appreciate them remarks and we're going to continue as long as I'm chair to try to do the the quorum and I'm I pointed out earlier. I'm glad you reiterated the uh you know, it's our responsibility also to carry ourselves and I know our frustrations get carried away sometimes. We do and I know I'm guilty of it. But the uh well, we're human so it's going to happen.

That's it. That's it. But, uh, one thing, uh, you know, the city took a strong move this week to, uh, alleviate some issues prior to a meeting starting after they get over with, what have you. Uh, I'll be meeting with Joel and, uh, seeing what our parameters and responsibilities are and, uh, what we can do and, uh, hopefully we won't need to do nothing. So, uh, with that being said, just want to wish everybody a happy Christmas, merry Christmas, new year. We won't be here for the new year, but be safe there. And if you travel, be very, very careful. And uh let's drop my gift off up there at the office. Thank you. Well, you through. Yes, sir.

I guess it's my time. Well, thank you. Huh? That's why I say thank.

Okay. Well, I I don't have a whole lot to say other than uh I just appreciate our governor shipping all this money up here to go in my district anyway. And I appreciate all the assistance from our county to be able to get that. And glad that Mr. Ford went down and took care of that today. And uh would just like to thank everybody here for being listening to all of what we have to say up here every meeting. I know it gets boring sometimes, but we still have to listen and do what we got to do. And that being said, I appreciate everybody would wish everybody a merry Christmas and a happy new year. And I would like to wish David Krauss a happy birthday to D. [laughter]

Thank you. [applause]

Uh yeah, I want to express my gratitude to everybody who's supported my family the last couple weeks. Um and I really, you know, you You go through Thanksgiving a few weeks back, you don't think about it. I want to express my gratitude to every single person who works in this county. Um I went on 10, 11, 12 years doing this. The progress that's been made by this board and by this staff and these personnel is tremendous. I think 10 years from now, people are going to look back on tonight and realize what y'all did at Cornerstone Crossing was a tremendous step forward for economic development. Thank Jennifer for everything she does. I love hearing that report from Rocky and just really I'm just filled with gratitude right now and so thank you all. Merry Christmas. Happy New Year. Look forward to next year.

Thank you. Thank you all, Mr. Curry. Merry Christmas. Farewell. [laughter] Okay, we're Thank you. Happy birthday, man. Thank you. Yeah.