Board of County Commissioners - Regular Meeting

So she had an incident, so she's unable to make it. But I told her we won't. She's 100 years old, so whenever she can get here, we'll just get her here. She wants to receive it in public.

That's what I think time frame were there. My understanding is what they're saying is for payroll and for it to go out that we need to make a decision on what we're going to do. Mr. Green?

Thank you. I was under that impression as well. So when the decision becomes to where we were just going to go ahead and stick with what we have opposed to doing the bid, Mr. Interim.

And this is the recommendation. And do we know when we can move forward with even Kazumi? We can start now. Even if we select going forward, we need to go ahead and start for the next cycle so that we can be prepared, opposed to waiting until the last minute.

OK. No, making a decision tonight. I know that we're making a decision based on what we see, but I'm saying going forward with the other bidding out, just chopping around, let's not wait until this time. The next go around is what I'm saying.

Commissioner Green, are you making both of those in the form of a motion?

If I need to, absolutely. So I move that we go ahead and start shopping around or bidding out for health insurance rates. For next year? For next year, yes.

Yes. Well, that was going to be my question.

Call it a question. Call it a question about next year. It has nothing to do with this one. No.

Yeah, but. The commissioner made a motion for next year, and I second it. Oh, for next year.

Yes, you were asking the same question I was asking. I know that they normally start. All the insurance companies are looking at October 1 to have the deadlines. But I'm more impressed that you came to the microphone. I thought we couldn't speak to employees, Mr. Administrator. I have several other questions that I would like to ask, but not about that. I would like to ask about that bid process. But I'm in favor of us moving this forward. OK. I move approval.

Once we vote on it, we finish. Oh, I'm fine with that. No, no, I'm fine with that. Go ahead.

OK, so my question is not about anything on there. I just want to, because I have a comment at the end that would require HR to be present. So I was hoping that you were going to be here until the end. That's all. If not, somebody from HR. But I do have some questions.

To approve the one that we already have.

No, because we didn't state what it was.

Yes. Since we are going to be, we're going to have to approve it now because you're going to have to have more equipment if you're going to have a new company. You're going to have to have new installation of equipment. It's got to be compatible to whoever you're corresponding with. So we'll do a Motorola. Then again, the cities would have to have it. Police departments would have to have it. Sheriff's department and all those. So it's going to take a minute. It'll take a minute to do all that.

Well, I didn't have a problem with that. I'm just saying it takes a minute to do that work and get that research done. And we've been through this, I think, if I remember. It's been twice that I don't remember. But it doesn't hurt to go through it and look at it and see.

So I see that it is a three-year term. Do we have an option, like if we were to actually begin the process of purchasing whatever necessary equipment we have, we need, or to actually prepare to try to make a transition, let's say that we began doing that, are we able to? Is this an agreement that we're able to terminate prior to the three years, or are we stuck in it for the three years?

Yes. Thank you. I'm from the day of that we could not communicate among the different groups. So we had ambulances that were going in the wrong direction. We had fire trucks that were not going in the right direction. We had cities couldn't communicate. They couldn't communicate in law enforcement because they had different systems. We're going to have to, I think, try to keep this. But I would like to, Mr. Attorney, if you let us know that, you know, That clause is not in there, and then that's something that may have been able to be discussed before tonight. But before, we had other bidders,

Right, you're not going to get any money from that.

Yeah, I know that's around the Gulf, but the technology, uh section may be able to do something if we're looking at you looking at doing a uh lobbyist a federal lobbyist again i hate we lost that one because that one had a lot of pool but um if we could get if you're going to get a you're going to get a lobbyist pick up a lobbyist anyway uh you may be able to get something out of technology and stay away from those power points what do you call them Data centers. Stay away from those. But there has to be some money out there for technology. But if we can look at it. Thank you.

Of course. Because you're not going to be able to talk to anybody.

commission so i guess i ran radio system for almost 20 years and motorola is like uh sole proprietor number one and it's it's very difficult to go away from them because they're the standard they really are and that maintenance contract has paid its due for several times. Yes, sir. And it looks high, but there's been several times they've had to go spend a lot of money in the middle of the night when we went down. And so in saying that, we are fixing to go to a whole different digital platform in the very near future to where you'll be able to visually see things on your radio. Yes, sir. where

Oh, yeah. We're the one that did everything for them.

And my thing is if I'm going to give them $700,000, I'd like to see them. Yeah. I mean, it's not like it's a 20. And to where we can have the conversation, I'm hoping, Mr. Administrator, that in the morning we have a conversation with the sheriff and communications to figure out, are we taking the route that them, the fire departments and EMS and the city, are they all good that we're going down the same path? Is there a problem? And is this something that we can table for two weeks?

It's on 248 as well. Yeah, it's October 1.

You got one meeting. So would I be remiss if we tabled this to the next meeting to get the players in the room?

If they can't come. I mean, I don't know, but yes.

I don't want them to feel like we want to get rid of them. We ain't trying to get rid of them. We're just trying to get the race. And I think that's the conversation with them. It's like, help us understand. And what we say, does the math math?

Something along those lines. I move we table this. Wonderful, wonderful. We table this next month.

With what? Excuse me, Mr. Chairman. Table it with what, Kimbrough? What should we be asking for?

OK, but you're talking about incorporating them over into a new contract with Motorola. OK, but that wasn't stated, because he's saying a new contract. And we had already been talking about possibly looking at some others. And we need to clarify that. The other thing is, if we're going to do this, And we're going to look at it, then it may, even if they would, we go ahead and approve it with that stipulation. The other thing is if they can send us some information on where they're looking at going in the future. Because if there's a short turnaround, we need to know some information on that technology and how it would affect us in six cities and the fire and the police and the sh

Yeah, but I was about to say that that really doesn't make sense for them, not with that many children.

Say, because you include those children into your numbers.

No, we didn't take the vote. We made a motion. We didn't take the vote.

Well, I don't know how well they're known, but I just know that there were two that bid it for. There's only two?

OK, but how well are they known? Three. It was three. I'm sorry. Mr. Chair?

OK, but I was just asking, and I What's the record look like overall for the company itself? Because if we're looking at some of these contracts of going after some funding in certain areas, what would be their record in those areas? On the federal level, if you're looking at, let's just say, on economic development and look at 267, how is their record in going out for infrastructure monies? What's their record on some of the things that we've been talking about getting done? And I'm not saying that you have to answer that. I'm just saying when you're comparing the three companies, they could

So you're talking about the rental fees. Is that a hard building or is that a park?

So I'm going to steal from Commissioner Holt. There's a lot of money. I mean, I'm just sitting here and I'm thinking about, you know, Sawdust Park, Bonny Hill Park, my two parks. That's a lot of money for somebody to have an outside Now, if it's the will of the board, I would like to change and differentiate between the two. I think that we're pushing our parks away from the formality of people using them for family reunions and things of that nature. And it's not like you're going into Stevens School or Chattahoochee or the Senior Center.

Man, I will yield to you. Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

I think the only rebuttal I would have to you on that is if it's merely a $50, it gives that person the right to, because you'll have people that will call and just get the park. And so if you give $50, that is not unreasonable to me. And then the buildings.

That's just my humble opinion. And to segue into the building, I understand the $750, but I don't agree with it. Yeah, and my thing is I think that the security deposit should be much higher and where you know that you're going to have to pay if you tear up our nice buildings. And so when I look at these seniors who use that senior center, it almost pushes them out. And so if you had somebody who's an active member and they're having an event there, we have basically said, you're going to pay $375 or $750. Just thought.

Thank you. Commissioner Green. Thank you. And that was definitely one of my concerns as well. But I think that that's when you have that application process. And then that's when those exceptions should be made, especially if it's an active member of the senior citizen service. Because you do know that oftentimes they're going to celebrate those milestone birthdays, like 80, 75, 95, 100. And I can't see a chart, especially if they're there weekly. So those are discretions that the management manager would probably have to take in consideration as it relates to our senior citizens who are activ

As it relates to the, when we're talking about the parks, I don't think that you know, we should actually charge for the park itself. Now, where there are pavilions and those pavilions are being used and they will be utilized and they're reserved and you want it specifically for yourself, then I think that there needs to be a fee. And that's not unusual for counties to charge for for you to reserve a pavilion. Now, if you just go out there and use the pavilion, then you're just using the pavilion. But if you want to guarantee that that is available to you and your whoever is handling it, then

And although I understand the half and the full, we still need to give some time leeways, because you still have people, they're past 4 o'clock, and they say, well, that's a half day, or past 5 o'clock, because that's a half day. So I think that it do still need to be some time Yeah, so hours. And even though you may go over, give or take, we're not going to be, especially if there's nothing that's going on, I don't see y'all saying, oh, you got 30 minutes. You know, you can extend it for an hour or so, but just some time frames.

uh may i mr chairman because i want to encourage people to use use the private vendors too as well that's what the commission yes i think it'll be if we look at look at the hours and then do a cleanup fee i think that'll make a lot different if you do for eight hours for 500 four hours for 250 cleanup fee will be 100 to 250. And that way, because they got to come back and clean up. I mean, they got to come back. You got your housekeeping people having to come back in. So why not have it based on that? If 500 for eight hours, 250 for four hours. But either way, the staff has to go in. And so th

500 plus they got to come back in so i've said maybe 100 200 250 decide on that amount that does another thing also they're going to have we need to have liability insurance in that so that needs to be covered because if somebody gets hurt they're going to look right at the county so those are some things we need to look at if they're going to reserve the place the other thing about it is with parks Yeah, that should be a little fee. Because if my family's taking up the park, then the other people are not able to go and do maybe everything they want to do. They may be able to come to my family

No, so I'm in agreeance to... You didn't make it a form of a motion.

I was going to say $250 for the staffing. To come in and clean up? Yeah, $200. Is that what you're saying?

OK, now if the staff comes in and they come in and do the cleanup, do you want the money that's paid for a deposit to use the building? Will the staffing come out of that? Because I don't think it should. No. OK, so then I put down 100, start no less than 100 for them to come in. Now, the other thing is strange is that we have staff to go out and do the setup. That means they come and do chairs, tents, and all that. When they do, even inside the building, they come and do setup. And that's work. That's not just come and stand there waiting for you to use the building. They got to do those chai

Well, then that'll be only one person if it's four hours, if it takes them four hours to do it.

Yeah, but that's what I'm saying. I don't mind it. I'm just saying we need to have the accurate numbers. Because they're out there on Saturdays, they're out on Friday nights, they're doing all of that.

Last question, Commissioner Hogue. Is this in addition to the rent of fees? No, no, no. That's your total? Well, the cleanup is always separate. Well, no, the $500. You go back to the $500. For eight hours. So you're scratching what the suggested $750 was. Right.

I thought that was too much. I said it was too much in the beginning. OK.

So I do totally agree with this area. And being in some of that business and prior facilities, that is a little steep, honestly. But I do know that we do have- $40 a ticket?

Well, the reason I'm saying this. Yeah, it's about $750.

And I apologize for the interruption. No, but you're right. The going rate now for if you use a couple of facilities that are here that I know of are about $750. But these are more. And Havana Lake, the 912. Well, that's what I'm saying. Minimum 750 or more. But at the same time, these are what these people do for a living. This is a business for them. This is not necessarily a business for us. This is facilities that belong to our entire county, all of our citizens. So we shouldn't be competitive. with those people who do it for a living, we should make it as accessible as we can, but also st

But thank you. I want to finish right quick. if we could set it on the cleanup and set up and we can settle on that now you can always come back and revisit this this whole process that way you only have to increase or decrease or whatever you want to do you think the setup fee at 150 or 200 200 set up that'd be the cleanup set up and everything which was yeah so i'm gonna clear part of it up and make a motion uh

For the Parks Pavilion, I make a motion that we rent them for $50 with a $100 deposit. Can I get a second?

I'll second it, but I got a question. I'm just saying second. I just want to clear up one part. Commissioner, the only reason we didn't discuss liability. Now, when you do a contract, now remember, we agreed for them to have those events that you have no liability insurance once you put it in black and white. You're liable.

Right. I understand that. But what I'm saying, though, is we're in a public meeting. We have to let them know that they have to have that liability insurance. I really think the park should be $100. Because you're still talking about them having to come set up. Are we going to move that same set up fee over at the park, too? Because you got to put up tents. You got to put up chairs.

Yeah, but we have been doing both. So if we're saying just for that, then that makes sense. If we're going to stick to that, then that makes sense. But if we're not going to stick to it, then people are saying, you let so-and-so use the tents, but you didn't let us use them. Them heads out there going just like this because they know we're going to be in trouble with that.

No. We keep tabling this. We need to move. We have a motion and a second.

Yeah, you still have a motion and a second at 50.

I said $50 and $100 security, and you asked me to amend it to $50.

And that's just for pavilion. That's for parks.

That's for parks. Just for the pavilion. Just for the pavilion. Pavilions, yes. Not the park. The park is public and open.

No, no, no. I wasn't saying just for the pavilion. But I get what you're saying.

If you want to have a pavilion, $50 and it's $100. And the policy says they have to have the insurance. Okay.

I move that we have $500 for eight hours, $250 for four hours, and the same $200, $250 for the cleanup.

Yeah. $500 for eight hours, $250 for four. And that was $250 for a deposit, in either case. In the second case, that'll be a whole thing.

Now, that deposit, is that inclusive of employees, or that's separate?

Well, all you do is take the $800, $500 divided by eight and add on two hours.

If they go over two hours, wouldn't you just charge the two-hour rate?

I understand what you're saying. If you want to go ahead and charge them $500, charge them $500. But they're only getting two more hours. That's fine.

That's my understanding. It would be anything an hour would be half a day. And then anything over half a day would be a full day.

OK, let's just do that and get it to go. If you go over half a day, it's going to be $500, yeah. Yeah. OK. $250. That'll be up to them. That's why it's up to them. They can stop it when they get ready.

OK. And then the $250 is just the deposit, or is that for the employee and the?

Well, I said $250 deposit. If you do $250 deposit, that's going to cover four hours anyway. And if you do that, it's not refundable. What I wanted to know is, do you want a second $250 just for the deposit, for the cleanup?

Clarity to when you came up with this policy. Did you look at neighboring parks and facilities and

And as well as the buildings, the facilities that they may have that people use for events, you looked at those rates?

And again, the reason why I'm asking is, as I've already stated, I'm concerned that this is not a moneymaker. We do want our buildings to be used. But these buildings belong to us and the citizens and everybody that are here. So I'm not trying to charge these astronomical amounts for these facilities. Because I think right now we were charging, if memory serves me, and I could be wrong, what were we charging for the Senior Simon Scott Building?

Now we're back to the $500, $250 in the cleanup.

OK. Set up. It's cured here. Are you going to put that senior caveat member in there, as Commissioner Green asked? I think we can just allow them. We can just keep that.

Why don't we just go ahead and solve this problem right quick and let them come back with their own senior citizen center?

Well, no, it needs to be. I thought we had that discretion. Yeah, it's already in this contract. It's discretion, and that's going to be determined by us.

Right, so we're good on the $500 and the $250. The discussion was on the set up and clean up.

Mr. Chairman. Yes, ma'am. That's with the notification to the commissioners. So that discrepancy can be kind of funny.

Because that way, if there's any problems with the public, first thing they're going to do is call a commissioner. They're going to say, why did you charge me A and charge somebody else B? So that's going to be the problem. So we don't need to get into that.

Yeah, that's why they're in the trouble to end. But what I'm saying is this. We need to make sure that we don't have these problems because I had somebody, I can tell you, I'm looking at them right now, they already called me five times a day. So I don't want to be bothered. And I'm sure when I leave here, you're not going to want to be bothered with it. But just so they are notified before the event. I mean, it's just a quick email or whatever. That way we'll all know. I mean, they'll all know. Okay? But that's, I'm in my motion to include that.

OK, this dies on the second. I want to say it dies. Can you restate it? I mean, I ain't saying there's been a lot of.

OK. Is there any verbal objections to the motion?

I'm just still stuck on the, I know somebody said 750. Somebody said it should be more than that. I'm still an advocate for about $400 and $200. But I know. I see your reaction. But I just wanted to make sure that it's accessible for our citizens. Because again, this is not a business for us. But thank you.

And I just want to be clear. I'm actually checking with another municipality that has a facility. And this is actually less than what they what that municipality charges. So I think $500 is, yes, we're making it accessible. And these facilities do belong to the citizens. But I think that the citizens want to make sure that we are able to maintain these facilities as well. So I believe that with what the going rates are for rental facilities, that $500 is not. And we are making it available so that there needs to be some type of exception. then that we are able to do that. So based on whatever,

So I'll go back to communication. I mean, we've had some communication problems here lately. And I say this publicly, that regardless of where somebody falls here or there as commissioner, they deserve the right to hear each and everything. And I'd like to start off with, Mr. Chair, I've asked, I would like to see you meet with all the constitutionals And even the city, this Amendment 3. And so you get an idea of a larger of what this thing is going to be.

The only other thing is with the new lobbyist, I'm hoping that he'll meet with each commissioner and take priorities and that we have the ability to understand what's going on and that we get regular communications about things that are happening. And I will yield. I'm done. OK, good.

Thank you so much. And thank you for clarification, Mr. Interim Manager. Again, that was recommendations, not implications that have already been made. So I'm hoping that, as I stated since you brought it up, as I stated yesterday, that we are not actual practicing, that we are looking at what can possibly happen. Opposed to the actuality of making it happen Pat Thomas Park Improvement, I had a brief conversation with you miss interim, but there are some things that probably can be done now that a minimum Without having to apply for certain grants, so I would love to have maybe a walk or throu

I appreciate it. Lastly, commissioners, we are still going on about a year with interim county administrator as well as an interim county attorney. And the reason why I asked for HR to stay is because, and I understand they had to go and do some things as it relates to the vote that we just made, which is fine. But I do, I don't want to keep talking about, I'm making comments as it relates to we need to move at least with the advertising piece of it. I think that it was a lesson learned for me that I would rather wait until whoever's incoming. But the process does need to start. We've already

Recently, there has been, I know of a couple of incidents where trees have fallen and actually on vehicles as they were riding. Those trees that's hanging over the highways and on Attlepuglies Highway, some on Milligan Road. I'm not sure if post plant has been, if those trees. But we have to, I don't know if we need to, if one of those bucket truck needs to be rented, or whatever needs to be done. But we need to take care of all of those trees and limbs that's over the highway. And that's it. That's all that I have tonight.

OK, I didn't have anything. I thought he went before me. Yes. Commissioner Wood, OK. I'm so busy. OK, Mr. Administrator, give me an update on Stephen's school and that grant, please. I know you don't have anything on it, but I need to know where is it?

Okay, because I spoke with the person that was at the CRA, and they said they had not spoken with anyone from the county to bring that. Okay, let me finish. Okay, so you may have since then or before then. But what I need is an update. The citizens want an update, and we're looking at that on that funding. Where is it? On the $4.7 million. And you have a grant writer, so please present that to them, and they will be able to look into that. Because from what I was told by Congressman Lawson, he said you can use a match. Instead of funding, it didn't have to be money. So that we need to know abo

For the agenda? For them to be on the agenda?

No, sir. That does not, you do not require a deed to be on the agenda. Okay. I asked you to put on the agenda. It's about the fifth time I've asked you. Well, more than that, because you've been here a year. So yeah, I'm going to ask it almost every month or every other month. They're waiting. I'm waiting.

Yes, sir. We've done a motion before, but I move that we put Woodbury Road on the agenda on the next meeting.

And that's with all of the detailed information provided, sir. And notify Mr. Murray now that they are to be here. The other thing is, and let me ask, I have to ask Curtis. When Curtis, I'm going to ask you when you're not looking. What's the name of that road out there by the farms? Polster. Okay. See, I told you he could tell me some stuff. There are some details on that road I don't even know, Mr. James. That's why I need to ask the questions from him. You mind if I ask him? OK. I love this. Curtis, you can come up now, darling. Because see, don't turn that clock around. Turn it back around that way. Turn it back around. I want to see it. You can turn it to her if she want it. He gave me an opportunity. I'm not talking to you. I'm talking to him.

I know it, but turn it back that way. I want to see it. OK, because you don't bother the chairman when he is. I'm going to pick it on you, Mr. Chairman. I like you. I'm just mad at him right now because he turned that clock to me. Mr. Young, could you please tell us what's wrong with Post and Road so they will understand the urgency of why those people were up here the other night?

Right. OK, now, that's the reason that I said bring the department heads up here. They know the history on this stuff. OK, that road also slants. It has a slant to one side because there's not enough room on both sides to pave and for ditches. So that's the problem with that. But now, Mr. Attorney, what does the law say on providing the easement? Because if you have to provide an easement, there's certain things that you have to do as a property owner when you provide that easement.

That's yours. That's your time right there. But go ahead. No, no, no. I still have some questions for Curtis. That's just, I have a question for him. Because this is my time anyway. But no, I need to ask him a question about, let me say, I need to ask him a question about this, Mr. Administrator.

Yeah, you know, Curtis, you can't speak. I'm sorry. I forgot you can't speak. Okay, now, I have to, I just have to manage these other things. But the reason I wanted y'all to hear this is because there's some maintenance. Can you do one minute, Commissioner? Yeah, there's some maintenance on an easement that a property owner has to do. That's the law. Some easements. So if we're going to, ever since we have to go and maintain the road, whatever they were doing may be something that the property owner may have to also do. And that's less cost to the county. That's what I was trying to bring up.

And that's Post and Road, too, Mr. James. Oh, my agenda. Put them on the agenda.

Mr. Chairman, I don't want you to hit the gavel, because I do have one more thing I need to do. You want to say something real quick? That would be great if you allow. Yes? All right. Real quick, because Commissioner Wood, you reminded me that I probably should do it in this format. I would like to make a motion that we have a workshop on hiring the permanent attorney and manager with HR. That's my motion.

We need to have a workshop on the process. Are we going to do this soon? I want to make sure. So I just want to put it in the form of a motion. OK.