Council - Regular Meeting

Prayer and pledge of allegiance  to the flag mayor Charles Goodman. Join me if you choose. Lord, we gather here  today a community trying to do the business   that you have laid up on our shoulders. Lord,  I ask you to be with each one of these council   members to give them insight and the ability  to make the decision that they feel is best   for our community. And Lord, I ask you once  again to be with our police department. Lord,   you know, but sometimes we forget. Police  officers nearby have been shot. It is a very   dangerous thing and they put their lives  on the line for our community every day.   And we just ask you to place a hedge of  protection around them to guard them and   to give them discernment that will keep them  healthy. Ask this in your name. Amen. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United  States of America and to the republic for which   it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with  liberty and justice for all. Thank you very much. We'll have presentation of certificate  of appreciation to Alex Rodriguez. Item number one. Oh, I skipped the whole item.  My bad. I'm sorry. I apologize. Additions,  

deletions, changes, and approval of the agenda. A second. We have a motion and a  second. All ends in favor say I.   I. I. All those oppos say nay. Motion  passes 4 to zero. Item number two,   presentation of certificate of  appreciation to Alex Rodriguez. Madam President, before Kim gets  up to give the award to Alex,   uh, I wanted to play the voicemail that I  received that precipitated this certificate of   appreciation, and I know Alex is going to be all  embarrassed, but we all need to hear it, Alex. So, it's Jamie over at the quilt shop. Um,  I'm calling you to tell you that this guy   that you guys hired, Alex Rodriguez,  I don't know where you got him from,   but you need 10 more just like him. He is a  gem. So, they had a little problem today and   he called me right back. He's trying to  help me and I just really appreciate how   courteous he was and how professional he was  and I just wanted to let you know that. So,   I'll talk to you soon. I hope to see you soon.  Um, well, we're that's basically it. But, so that   was from um Jamie over at the Colt shop across  the street. So, I'll let Kim take it from here. Congratulations.

All right. Now, we'll have public participation.  This is the first of two times that you will   have to speak on anything that is not  on the agenda. You have five minutes. Yeah. I'm Tim Edgar, 225. Um, last year I asked  for uh uh I asked for a Rick's request on the   leaking water for like 5 years and um understand  it cost quite a bit of money for me to get it,   but could I get like a a quote uh of what  it would cost me for all the the leaks and   um and how many gallons it that Wilson lost from  the leaks? uh from the old pipes if if I could for   the last 5 years. And the reason why I ask that is  because if uh we're losing that much water we were   before we got Alex in there to help fix the deal  now Donald's gone and things are looking better.   Um how much money did Willist lose because we had  bad we had a bad supervisor. Um cuz I don't think   the supervisor that was here, Donald, had our  best interest for the for the taxpayers in town   here or the city of Wilson in general. Um I know  we got a lot of issues. It's not just water, but   um I I'm concerned for Wilson's u well-being  because this property tax goes away and other   things go with it because other things are going  to come with it like um several jobs being laid   off from the county and the cities and not just  here but everywhere. And I'm not no sure. I'm not  

sure it shouldn't be good for it. And uh and get  things back to where it's a common sense approach   to fix this town. And I I I wish Wilson would get  together with the county commissioner. I was over   at the GOP meeting last night and I br I mentioned  something about it uh about Wilson and Bronson and   uh get with the county commissioners and everybody  and the municipalities and and have a a meeting   and let the public know about um certain options  they can do or what they going to have to do to   make things go because I understand we got to have  certain like the fire department, EMS MS service,   all that's going to still be be needed. But  if Will if Wilson and the county around here,   they should set precedents to try to head this  off at the pass, uh like some kind of sales tax.   20 cent ain't going to be it. Everybody will flood  out of this state. If it's 10% 10 cent sales tax,   that's all God asked for. And uh and Charlie had  this off at the pass. maybe put something on the   fuel so so we can still make things happen here.  Uh I I I don't I don't know. But I don't foresee   the future being very good around here in this  county or or Florida if things don't get done   because 20 20 cent tax or 30 cent tax, people  will flood out of here quicker than they came. So,   I hope people can get together and try to fix this  in a common sense way. Wilson needs some common   sense. Um, desperately. And I know we got some  good people here, but uh it's going to take some   courage to to step up and and and and do the odd  thing and and and get this thing fixed. It's no  

it's no quick it's no quick it's no quick fix but  doing nothing about something is the worst thing   can happen. It is how I'm I'm seeing this from  a common sense approach about things because um   out here in the real world work ain't just being  there's not a whole bunch of work out here. Not   like y'all think it is. It ain't all peaches and  green. It's a little more difficult out here. But   when you work for the public and you don't get to  see what's going on, this thing is going to crash   if something don't happen. Just just my opinion.  Thank you. Thank you. Is there anyone else? I just want to know what's the  update on the old Peso building   that we tore down. Is there any on the  old Peso building that up on the hill?   That's all. I just was wondering  if there's any update or anything. Oh, no. Okay. I'd like to encourage you  to use your microphones, please. Sorry. You're not the only  ones, so I'm not picking on you. Robert Langan, 500 Northwest Fest Avenue. When are  we going to get these damn water bills utility to   be straightened out? My daughter was telling me  the other day there's notice or this last cycle   there was notice that they were wrong on the web  or I didn't get into it. But every time I turn   around I'm hearing either her or somebody in  here complaining about water bills not being   accurate having to be redone. Y'all going to  change some find somebody else to do it or   you going to hold them accountable and you just  That's just a comment. You all can figure it out.   President Hines, can I address that? Yes. Okay.  So, um I think I talked about this at the last  

meeting, but we actually had a person here from  Edmonds last Thursday to train the staff because   there were some things that didn't necessarily  get transferred from one um account manager to   another. And uh we've given them a list of  about 12 things that needed to be addressed.   one of which um was actually brought up by  councelor Jones that if you got your bill   over the web and you got your bill in the mail,  they did not look the same. So, we actually just   addressed that last f last Thursday when they were  here. So, um they're actually coming to a council   meeting. I think I said it was the second council  meeting in February. Um the people from Edmonds   are actually going to be here to answer questions  from the council and then we're actually going to   do a training for the the residents as well. So,  we are work we're actively working on it and worst   case scenario if we have to we will definitely get  legal involved. that's how they they finally came   to us is because we threatened to to sue them  basically. So, we are definitely holding their   their feet to the fire. Um, but it's going to  take us a little while to get through, you know,   what we need to, but we are actively working on,  like I said, they were here all day on Thursday   with us. Of course. Yes. I had gave the city  manager a challenge to have an answers December   1st. We're a little behind, but we're either going  to get this straightened out or we're going to go   with something else because I get I hear it from  residents. I hear it from my wife when she gets it   the bill and it's the same thing that everybody  else is doing. So, this was supposed to be a   better program and not comment. Yes, Miss Jones.  Okay. Sorry. Um, what happened this last time was   the Edmonds program did not pick up the payments.  It It had the bill from last month and it had the   bill from this month. So, it looked like it was  doubled and but it did not post the payment. We   did and it took it away on our side, but the bill  when it was printed, if you look really quick,  

the first couple of days that it was on the web,  it you did not see the payment posted. It didn't   give credit. So made it look like it was 350 last  month and 350 this month. It came out $700 cuz it   didn't show the 350 payment in between. If you  looked at on our side, it was there. But if you   if you and it got corrected, they found it really  quick. Um Megan found it really quick and she was   able to have them recalculate it. It wasn't even  a recalculation. It was almost a reprint. And by   the time people went back um to look at it, it was  correct. And what most people were worried about   is that the draft that automatically comes out of  the bank, they were all worried that it was going   to take that double payment out of the bank. But  it she sends it a command to the bank for them   to take it and she knew not to send it because  she knew it. She saw that it was wrong. She had   already seen it when I did. People started  complaining to me and that's what we found.   So that's probably what your daughter saw. Sorry.  That being said with explanations, but the city   manager is working on it and I think she pretty  much has it under control. You can go to the mic.   Since we're talking about the light bill and  everything and we've already got someone that   comes up and, you know, gets numbers and sends  it off somewhere else. Uh why don't we just go   back to doing our bills ourself like and mellowing  them out back? We didn't do it oursel before. It   was just a different program. Why can't we go back  to that old program? I mean, it was just more cuz   we paid We've got about $180,000 invested in this  particular program. Thousands of dollars for the   new program. So, they're doing the due diligence.  they are working with the company and and if  

not we're probably going to sue them. Give them  time to do the things that they need to do. Yes,   ma'am. Hi. Uh Shannana Church, 590 Northwest  Fourth Place. Um I just had a quick question. Uh   that's a question that a lot of people have been  asking. A lot of people have been going online   trying to find answers and there's just a lot of  circulation of information and misinformation. And   like you said, there were people that were very  worried that the autodraft would take the wrong   amount. Um or that, you know, they say bills are  released what on the 10th and then you have 2 to   5 days to submit your payment. But then there's  a lot of people saying they're not getting their   printed bills or even their bill available online  for quite some time. So my biggest question is why   aren't we having any of that information posted on  either a video or a quick flyer on social media?   somewhere where everybody can see it instead  of it being resident telling resident or hoping   that someone's going to watch the video or be able  to come to one of our meetings here to find that   out. Somebody would you like to address that?  Somebody did put it on. I don't know who did. Yeah, that that part that it didn't go into  use, please. And and maybe just to Sorry,   can I jump in? Maybe just a suggestion um just  because Facebook sometimes the feed disappears   that we could do a repost every now and then  like um you can sort of pin a post. I'm not   the Facebook expert but I'm sure somebody at  the top you can pin important post to the top   so that if it's something like that people could  see it. And for people who don't utilize social   media maybe if there's a spot on the website  where we can just put like a little blurb   you know we're experiencing this. if you're  seeing a discrepancy or if there's a concern,   give us a call. So people aren't just sending in  a ton of money and not knowing what's going on   because a they're either not on social medias or  b they just have no idea and they don't really get  

out of the house much and don't talk to other  residents. It would it I think it would help   when it comes to possible misinformation being  spread and just everybody being on the same page,   especially if we're trying to now that we are made  a lot of changes in house and we're hoping to see   a lot of good things coming up. um bringing people  a little bit more together. Information is key. No   information makes people weary and then the trust  goes out the window. So I think if residents were   able to see that a little bit more, even if it's  just a little 30 second video clip or something,   I think it would tremendously help and maybe um  cut down on the amount of calls that you guys   are probably receiving. Thank you. Thank  you. I will say that the printed bill was   correct. Excuse the printed bill was correct  and the Yes, sir. What? Could you speak into   the microphone if you're going to speak, please?  I was saying the printed bill was correct. It was   if you went really quick and looked online, it  was wrong and Megan caught it right away. Um,   and re actually the Facebook post was that she  had re reposted them online to go back and look. Anybody else? Anyone else from the audience? If not, we'll move on to the consent agenda.  Council minutes from January 6, 2026. I make a motion we approve the consent agenda.  I second. Have a motion and a second. Any   discussion? All those in favor say I. I. All  those opposed say nay. Motion passes four to zero. Update staff and board and council. We'll start  with city manager subet. Thank you very much.  

Okay. Couple of updates and I'm actually going to  have Hector from um performance services give you   guys an update on fiber. But um I'm going to take  a little bit of wind out of the mayor's sales here   um and talk about Habitat for Humanity because it  was a very cool day. So back on Friday the 9th uh   the mayor and Latricia and I actually met with  um Justin Leech and Nadia Miller from Habitat   for Humanity of the Nature Coast and um spent  about a half a day with them. They took us to   their restore in Inessous. That's where they  resell um goods that are donated to them which   was pretty cool. they would love to put a store  here in Willist and then took us to one of their   model homes in Denellan and um we spent quite a  bit of time there. Uh the model home was a four   bedroomedroom two-b onecar garage that they say  appraises for about $230,000 and with grants of   course lots of grants the average homeowner pays  between $600 and $900 a month for rent I mean for   their mortgage. Um, so Habitat's very interested  in coming into Levy County here specifically in   um in Willist. And if anybody knows anything about  for Habitat, years ago, Habitat's sort of model   was they would come in and just do one house, you  know, one at a time. And now they've really opted   to do entire developments, um, which is what they  would like to do here in in Willist if they could   find the the property, cheap enough property. Um  so you know we spent some time at lunch talking   about some potential um sites that we recommended.  Um they are definitely looking into some of those.   If anybody has any ideas they are certainly  open. Um we even recently the mayor met with   um Nadia to look at um office space because  they do need an office if they're going to   relocate here in um Ley County and uh they  were looking at a space in Bronson that they   think may have fallen through. So um they may be  interested in setting up a um an office here. So,   thank you. I'm excited about it, especially from  the standpoint of, you know, I've sat on the Levy  

County affordable housing committee for several  years now, and there is no affordable housing. Um,   so this would be great. These are really  these are really nice houses. Um, and I mean,   I honestly said it's I mean, I have a it was a  brand new house when I bought it 5 years ago,   and it was very similar to my brand new house that  was built by Dr. Horton. I mean, the only thing   that's different is I have a two-car garage. They  have one and I have granite throughout my house   and they have for micica. Other than that, it's  literally like my house. It would be like a LAR. I   mean, these are these are really nice houses. And  they said the reason that they went to this model   years ago is because if they had just a one-off,  sometimes that house could fall into disrepair and   the people around them would complain about it.  But if they have, you know, an entire development,   odds are the people are going to keep that house  up. So, I I was very um excited about it and I   know Latricia and the mayor were too. So, we're  really hoping that they that they can somehow   come into to Wilson. Like I said, if they can  find property that's cheap enough. They're not   looking to spend millions of dollars on a piece of  property. They can't afford that. So, that was a   very um a very good visit with them. Um second, I  wanted to address something that um I think Joby   mentioned or maybe Tim mentioned about I think  Tim did about the property taxes. So, this time of   year, I spend lots of um my time on webinars with  Florida League of Cities talking about upcoming   legislation. I've been sending the updates to the  council. Um, property taxes is probably first and   foremost on everybody's mind right now and what's  going to happen if you know they do go away. So,   Kristen actually recommended, I think it was last  week, different municipalities getting together,   municipalities that FS Walker represents. So, like  High Springs and Menopi and, you know, Archer,   different municipalities, and get us all together  to try to come up with some sort of game plan um,   as to what we would do if the property taxes  do go away. Um, I'd like to include Chief Lind.   I was actually just telling Latricia today that  Chief has way more in adv taxes than we do here   in Wilston because of their commercial properties.  So, they would be very very affected. I'd love to  

invite them to the table, but it is something  that we're we're actively talking about. Um,   we're going to be going up to Tallahassee in  two weeks. Two weeks. Um, we get invited up   there every year to talk to our legislators. So,  we'll be meeting hopefully with Senator Mlan and   um Representative Johnson about some of the,  you know, upcoming legislation, how it would   affect us. Um, Councelor Martin and I sat on  a committee up in um Orlando a few months ago,   specifically about the transfer from our um  utility fund to our general fund that we're very   passionate about. And then, um something called  extr territorial search charges where if you live   outside of city limits and we're providing  service, you know, being able to charge more   for that. So there's definitely things that we've  all, you know, got sort of a vested interest in,   but obviously property taxes first and foremost.  So we will be working on some sort of a game plan   um on that. So um and like I said, we're  definitely still working on Edmonds. I mean,   we apologize. I mean, I I agree with you. I  hate this system as much as everybody else.   I especially hate how much money it costs. It  was so much money to have so many problems. Um,   but like I said, I Megan and I are on them all  the time to make sure that they're getting these   fixes that we need done. And every if you guys  have some, just please keep bring them to me if   you're not seeing any changes on your end. We  want to make sure that the send, you know, the   system makes sense for everybody. So, um, Hector  is here. Thank you very much. So, I'm going to,   um, let Hector get up and give an update on, um,  our fiber project through performance services. Thank you. Uh good evening uh madame president,  vice president, council, city manager and staff.   Hector Samari with performance services. Uh thanks  for having me here tonight. Good to see everybody   again. Um let me start with what you already know.  We're behind schedule and I think everybody knows   that. But what I want to say is that you know a  lot of a lot of excuses and I'm going to say that   excuses. I could tell you about the logistics,  the equipment that we ordered that didn't arrive  

properly, fed up permits, design changes and  so on. I can go on with the the excuses, but at   the end of the day, what really is happening,  it's it's our fault. And by our fault, I mean   our company and my fault for not making sure that  this stuff was done properly early on. So, we're   behind, not because of our subs, and certainly  not because of your staff. It's on us for not   having done um I guess uh you know, as they say,  you measure twice, we cut once, and we should have   done more more work up front. So, we're behind.  Um, and I um get getting a lot of internal call   attention internal to our company to make sure  that we're tracking this and getting done as   quickly as we can. Working with your staff as  often as I have to. Um, weekly, sometimes a little   more often to to get this thing get any issues  resolved. Um, I promise to I've made a promise to   Sue that I would be here at every council meeting  now to provide this update. So, I'm going to give   you a quick update. you should have this in front  of you. Um, and it's uh um it's very brief, but   if there's something you want to see or hear at  the next council meeting, u I'm happy to do that.   One thing that's missing from this this brief is  I intended to have a map of the nine geographic   areas that the city has broken out broken into  for the project. I don't I didn't have that. It's   it's far more complicated to get these uh nine  geographic areas laid out than I expected because   we're working with TMZ files and it's just uh  Google Earth. Anyway, it's just a little more but   I'll have it for your next meeting. So, these nine  areas are very very clear. So this just tells you   on the very first slide here at the bottom that  in what we've done to date about about 30 about 33   miles have been installed on both underground and  aerial, but we still have another about 11 miles   of work to do for both aerial and underground. So  we've done a lot, but there's still a lot to be  

done. This slide um is uh the top the green areas  the these are the nine areas and and they're not   listed in any particular order. If you look at  the uh the left side the f what does FDA stand   for FDA thank you should have known that but you  see 1.8 1.9 1.6 these are the geographic areas and   I listed them out of order to show which areas  are being done first. 1.8 8 is the RV resort. So that's the that's where we are. And if you  want to know where these geographic areas are,   I can um and Andy is here to help me with that to  define those areas. But you can see in the green   areas that the first two of the nine areas  are going to be done this week, meaning the   infrastructure will be complete. The next two,  1.6 and 1.3, will be done by within 10 days of   that. That's within the next two weeks you'll have  four of the of the nine areas complete and then we   you'll see that the from there on it it gets into  the late later parts of February early March. Uh   some of those are going to be dependent on when  we get the FDOT approvals and permits but we'll   continue to monitor and track those those dates  and to the extent that we can and this is where it   gets difficult. We're going to try to move those  forward if we can. Uh but right now we and I hate   saying this but we're trying to be a little bit  conservative conservative on those dates but those   are the dates that we're going to uh I want to  hold ourselves to uh and try to improve on those   dates as we move forward. So four of the of the  nine areas within the next two weeks two of them   this week uh and so those will be ready for those  will be complete on the infrastructure side. And   that's the updates that I have for you. Again  if there's anything that you want added or if   you have any questions I'll try to answer them  now. But if you want them to be a part of the   of the count your next council report, please  you can just pass information to Sue specific  

to what you want want to hear and I'll be sure  to incorporate it. Open to questions. Mr. Mayor,   thank you, Madam President. Hector, I was riding  around as I sometimes do and uh stopped and asked   people if they were working on the fiber and they  all said, "Yes, we are." The people I asked. And   uh on Northwest 4th Avenue, there was a crew that  was pulling drops, if you will. Uh, I didn't look   at them, but they were they were there working on  fiber because I asked them and I said, "So, are   you putting fiber in for everyone in Willist?" And  they said, "No, we have a contract for only 500   houses and that's all we're doing at this stage."  And the people that pre-registered are getting in.   And I said, "Well, you know, Mr. Barber. I asked  him about that pre-registering and if they were   going to pull fiber to my house and he said, "Of  course they're going to pull fiber to the mayor's   house." Well, they're not. And I don't care  because when the city got into this fiber stuff,   first thing they did was cut my internet and  I had to call Comcast and Comcast said, "Well,   Williston is in the internet business now. Tell  them to fix it. We don't know when we'll get   there." So, I was put into the position in order  to keep internet, I had to go to to uh mobile,   T-Mobile and get internet through T-Mobile and pay  for it separately there. And I am just not pleased  

would be a correct way to say it. I think you you  got here in your second page. I believe it is.   You say 200. Is this complete? Does that is that  how many drops are in? Is that what that means?   Andrew, I need you to come up here. Yes, Andrew.  I need you to come up here, too. Yeah. I I wasn't   clear on what those numbers meant when I received  this spreadsheet, but let me be given numbers. It   would be nice to know what those numbers mean. I I  completely agree, mayor, but let me before you go,   let me clarify one point. We are providing  fiber to and Aaron, you can correct me,   about 1,700 to 2,000 homes. It's going to be  to majority of the city, if not all the city,   maybe some outside the city. So, we're we're that.  But the drops that we were contracted to put in   500 of them about 500 of them and the city and  the city is prepped for about another 200 after   that and then the city is going to put the rest  of them in. Right, Mr. Aaron? And so the others   that have not pre-registered will be on the hind  and they will get drops in at the city's pleasure   and they are not part of this package. And once  again, I find this very poorly orchestrated and   at least I thank you for taking responsibility  for it. But my question is very simple. They are only putting 500 in. And this number  Andy this where it says complete tell me this   is not drops. Yes sir. It is because the  number I when I look at this uh complete   210 236 24 we're now at 500 and there's a  whole page of another several hundred after  

that. Are you only putting 500 in or are you  putting the numbers on this piece of paper? 1.8 8 and 1.9 are the are Willist crossings and  the con our contract we we provided a drop to   every site in Willist Crossing which was 450 some  odd so may I ask does that mean Williston crossing   is one or is it one is a different one right so  how does this number on this complete add up to   500 is my question it's a simple question  so 1.8 1.9 make up hold on 1.8 1.9 make up   resort. So 1.8 and 1.9 those first two make up  the resort which is about 400 to 450 drops. So   that's what you're seeing in that number 210 to  236 is about 450 drops at Williston crossings. Did that is I'm sorry. Did that answer my  question? Do you feel that answered my question?   Mayor, are you saying that we omit  1.8 and 1.9 then add the rest of   these numbers up and it will come to  500? Why? Because 28 here that would   be the total that we're responsible for.  Yes sir. That these are broken down by pre   uh pre-signs the 53 84 56 44 per area. But  we were responsible for 500. Yeah. 428. Well,   if we're doing 500, why would we do I have  828? Where's the other 328 coming from? Say   that again. If we're responsible for 500 drugs,  why is this showing 828? Because that's not all   that that this number here doesn't equal 500. Let  me get you an update at the next meeting, mayor,  

or I'll try to email you. Thank you, Hector.  That's all the questions I have. Thank you,   mayor. Does anyone else have any questions? So,  Hector, what he's saying is that 828 if we take   out the 210 and the 236, that's only 382, not  500. That's all we have in pre-ign. Yes. I thought   I said it fairly clearly. You talking about for  pre-registrations at all. We have more than that. Our last update is what we're working on. Madame  President, what I'm saying is that the numbers   given to the this council are not accurate. That's  it in a nutshell. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Were you done, Miss? No other questions, Mr. Cox.  Get there. We'll have 900 and some odd. We don't   have the I just want to come. Yeah. Again, I my  apologies. I I got these numbers. Um it just I   need to better understand them. And so I I don't  have my project manager here. You he was he's out   of town. So, the the list we've been working  off, which are the non shaded columns here,   that's all we have on the list so far. We  we we periodically get an updated list from   Aaron. We haven't gotten that list lately. Okay.  We've been we've been working on these. Let me   just stop there. I have to give you president.  May I Mr. Cox is next. Yeah. I would just like   to say that your guys, hats off to them.  Sunday it was miserable raining cold and   they were out there just working away. I'll  let them know getting those um cone looking   things getting them out there and they were  just working away. Thank you. Thank you. Y Miss Vered or I'm sorry, Miss Jones. Yeah,  I wanted to say didn't you say that the RB  

crossings was an addendum? It was added after the  initial. So, is it an addition to the 500? Yes,   ma'am. Okay. So, there's part of your your  problem right there. If it's 500 plus the 446   at the RB crossings, that does make a little bit  of difference in the number. I need to go back and   clarify those numbers. I I I apologize because  I I understood that we're installing 500 and   the city was installing a few more. Where this  828 comes from, it's I'm confused by that. So,   I just need to figure that out. And I apologize  for not, you know, having that that ready for you   tonight. having that that ready for you tonight.  Miss Meredith, Miss Meredith, um, can I just   clarify to originally I um, can I just clarify  to originally I know that the the engineering   plan we know that the the engineering plan we were  going to be able to have fiber to were going to be   able to have fiber to certain areas as they were  completed. certain areas as they were completed. And I apologize for not, you know, But my understanding and I just want to make sure  that I understand this correctly is that when um   that engineering plan was was redesigned because  of maybe a different subcontractor or something   along those lines that now we we are waiting for  every bit of fiber to be installed before we can   turn on fiber at individual houses. We're not  going to be able to and I don't mean every single   house but all of the ones that have pre-registered  and requested it. We have to get the loop complete   basically. Is am I accurate? Uh no. Each of these  areas, for example, 1.8 at the top of that list,   uh you'll be able to as soon as we're  done testing and lighting it all all up,   which is at the end of this week, the next  couple days, it'll be available that that   network infrastructure will be available for you  to to move forward with. That's great. Okay. Thank   you. Our our initial our initial plan was to  activate as we went. some supply chain issues   with the manufacturer of the actual equipment that  pushes the the lasers that push the light out. Um  

it's just a it's a common thing that happens.  I have several projects going on and they're   they're all in the same boat. So So my sorry  my understanding uh from what you just said,   Hector, is that the green the green boxes will  actually have fiber at their homes turned on,   ready to go relatively soon. And then the white  ones obviously later, but we will be able to turn   on the completed turn on fiber. I know turn on  um turn on fiber at the homes and RV and such   earlier than the the like 1.1 drop and 1.4 drop  as as we turn them up. Yes, you'll be able to not   on. Got it. All right. Thank you. I'd like let me  let me add to that a little bit that what they're   discussing is the infrastructure outside what they  call outside plant. This is the wires the fibers   that's taking the internet to people's homes or  businesses what have you. We still have work to do   on the inside setting up all the software in the  back that manages it, the equipment, the routers,   all this stuff that's in here. Um the good news  is we've got most of the hardware done at this   point. Um, we had a few issues with our supplier  and or the provider of the internet getting some   network issues resolved and some settings changed,  but we got all that resolved here today. So, we   should be good to go. The software is coming next  and soon as we get that set up and it's ready,   yes. Then we can start putting those people on.  So, can you Sorry. Can you give me a ballpark?   I cannot not until it's turned on. I'm I'm I'm  through giving days cuz this thing has bit me   since October. I'm not saying that anymore. So, as  soon as it's done, that's We're back to having no   idea. Yes. Well, no. I have an idea. It's going to  be fairly quickly, but I I'm not going to tell you   it's going to be by Friday. I won't tell you next  Friday. I won't tell you the end of the month.   I don't know until I actually can turn it on and  show you then know that it works and everything's  

set up and working and tested. Then I'll tell you  that's when we have it. And I'm not trying to be   mean about it. I just don't know myself. Can you  tell me what is left? specifically what's left   to be done. We need to get the software set  up communicating with the hardware. Okay. So,   one step we're one step away. We are literally  one step away at this point. Great. Thank   you. But you're not going to wait until all the  drops are in related to the software, right? No,   that's that's it's it's two separate animals.  It's just we have to have that up and working   before we can get the software communicating with  the equipment. Once it's all set up to communicate   with equipment, everything's working like it  should, then we can go start knocking on doors and   hooking people up. Okay. And and that being said,  I want the general public, everybody to understand   this is not an instant process. It takes time to  get the technician out, get the equipment set up,   get the installation done. If you have a  pre-rop done, that's going to make it faster.   That's why we contracted with them to do these 500  additional drops was to make our installations go   faster. And people are just going to have to be  patient and wait their turn. We can only do them   so fast. Even even it's turned up and ready. It's  still going to take time to get the installations   done. Okay. Mr. Mayor, did you have something  else? I do, but councelor Jones was asking for   the floor. I believe she said you were first.  So, go ahead. She saw you before she saw me. I would just like to clarify what our IT director  has so eloquently stated. These drops mean  

nothing. After these drops are finally in, then  it is up to the city to provide the hookup between   the two. And I don't know how many people city  managers budette do we have on it at this time?   Two. So we have two people to hook all of these  up. It October. That sounds like fantasy to me.   I don't think it'll be done by October and I have  not been surprised at anything that has happened   up to this point. But understand that these people  are not hooking up internet to our homes. These   are people are providing it out at the road and  in a circle and then the city of Willist with   our two employees will be hooking them up to your  homes. So, as the IT manager so eloquently said,   be very patient. That's all I have to say. I'll  say nothing else on this matter. Thank you. Okay.   Miss Jones will be the last person to comment on.  It's very simple. Go ahead. Um, it was just that   the people that did pre-register have or soon will  have the drop the box on the back of their house.   Um, and I don't think we can put it there unless  they do register. I mean, we can't just go put   things on people's houses if they don't register.  No, that's correct. All the boxes are going to   those folks that have pre-registered, right? So,  that's why everybody doesn't have it yet. The   people that have registered or pre-registered  are the ones with the boxes. I know mine's on   the back of my house and I'm eagerly waiting, but  and I am lucky enough to be a cow link person, so   maybe I'll be one of the first. I was going to say  you didn't pre-register. Yeah, I I am a cow link  

person, so maybe I will be. Now, that being said,  since this is updates um and we're taking up a lot   of time, maybe we can put the next on the agenda,  this next update on the agenda. That way we know   and it's and then that gives this the public an  opportunity to ask questions as well. Right. One   last comment. This is what I wanted to focus on  for today was a date the for the infrastructure   to be completed and available. I'll make sure that  I get uh prepped and um uh just get uh briefed on   what the drop numbers are because again I'm still  confused by those drop numbers but I didn't care   about them coming in here. I should have I wasn't  uh expecting questions on drops but I'll be ready   for that next time. And if you can't get the maps,  if you could just tell us which area is which,   that would be nice. I'll I'll get you the map of  the areas. You'll have this to compare it and I'll   get that to you. I'm going to try to get that to  you this week. Again, it's just a more complicated   map than I anticipated. Okay. Thank you. Thank  you, Miss Bet. Do you have anything else?   I just want to clarify because Erin's kind  of said this to me 50 times now. So hopefully   I can speak eloquently about it, but kind of  think of this as three steps. We have to do the   infrastructure outside laying the fiber, right?  Then Aaron has to do all of the inside stuff here,   the software billing and all of the sort of  internal computer things. Then we have to   go and install it at the actual house. So it's  three steps. So we're still finishing step one.   Aeron's working on step two. Then we're going to  go to the houses and do step three. So we three   three steps. Did I get that right? Okay, good. So,  we're working on it, but I want to make sure that   everybody, you know, has the updates because  we are getting as many calls as you guys are  

getting. We're getting just as many calls on our  end asking when it's going to be here. So, I'm   about to stop answering the phone. All right. And  I I will send you guys a copy of the simplified   map that outlines those areas ahead of time.  just so you'll know it. Thank you. All right. Um, Miss Derek, city attorney Derek, do you have  anything? Nothing from me. Um, Miss Wright,   Chief Rolls, any updates? Yes, maybe. Maybe some  good news. Thank you, Aaron, for getting my body   cameras up and running today. The new body cameras  we ordered are now uh being issued out. So,   thank you Aaron for getting that done. Well, it  only took three phone calls with your people to   get that done, but you know, we got it done. Okay.  Well, I I appreciate it. Thank you. Um I think I   spoke to each and every one of you about a citizen  group that I was putting together to review some   policies. Uh just to give you an update on it, uh  it's going very well. Uh the first meeting went   off very good without a hitch. The team seems to  be very excited about the pro about the project   and I'm super excited to see what they come up  with. I think their first meeting is this Thursday   at 700 p.m. over in the community room. If  anybody wants to stop in and just say hi to them   uh this Thursday at 7 in the community room. If  anybody wants to stop in and say hi to them and   uh thank them for uh having a vest vested  interest in uh something of a matter of   policies and procedures on such dangerous topics  such as vehicle pursuits, vehicle police pursuits,   and the use of the pit maneuver is the two  policies that they're reviewing. uh as you  

know those are probably two of the most highly um  dangerous things that we probably do in this job.   So unfortunately the world is coming to the point  that people don't want to stop anymore when you   get behind them. So that's what initiates these  pursuits and I'm honored to have this team working   on those policies to help us come up with the best  policy that we can that will protect our officers   as well as protect the city from liability as much  as possible. But in the job of law enforcement,   it's full of liability. But if we can streamline  it and cut down as much as we can, uh I'm all for   it. So thanks to that group for stepping up.  That's all I have. Thank you. Chief Steagle. Mr. Bon. Yes, ma'am. Just wanted to let everybody  know that the um airport staff has been working   on updating the um airport website. Um so, if you  would um feel free to go take a look at it. We've   gotten a a pretty good firing solution on most  of it accomplished already. Uh, but if there any   if there's anything that the council would like  to see u added to it, feel free to, you know,   shoot me an email or text and I'll see what we  can make happen. What's it under? Is it Willist   Pick 60 or Willist Municipal Airport? It's It's  the same website. Um, same address as before. So,   I mean, you could just Google Willist Airport,  Florida. Don't go to North Dakota because,   you know, that's not the right one. No, no,  no. Um, that happens way more often than you   think. Uhhuh. U, yeah. If you just Google it, um  it'll bring it bring it right up and it'll say,   you know, Will Regional Airport, Florida,  and click that one. Um we tried to make it   a little more mobile browser friendly than the  last website was because a lot more people are   searching on their phones. Um and you know,  we we added a bunch of good stuff to it. So,  

just feel free to hop on there, take a look, and  anything you guys might want to add, let us know. have a question. Yes, ma'am. Um, this is not  the same as the page on the city website,   correct? This is separate than the city  website. Yeah. So, if you if you go to   the airports tab on the city's website, it will  actually direct you to our web page. Oh, that's   what I'm looking at. Great. Thanks. Yeah. So, you  should you should see like when you bring it up,   it should have our our logo and now it'll have  like a you know, sunrise with a bunch of older   airplanes sitting on it. So, um, yeah, there  should be a link for on the city's website   to direct you to ours, but if not, I can  work with staff to make that happen. Okay. Anyone else? Miss Kim, first update  is um, Miss Latricia's evaluations. And then the second update is uh we're going  to start introducing new staff members. So   over at PD for dispatcher, we have Julian  Figuro. Uh we Robert or Rob Kian is now   the utility director. Alex Rodriguez is his  sidekick, the assistant utility director. Um   Kurt Williams is now a lineman. A uh Cody is  the lineman B. Um then we've done a lot of   uh shifting around promoting internally.  And then we have Antonio Fasen,   I think is how you say his last  name. He's in streets and parks.   He is um I can't remember if he's a if he's  labeled as a road tech or a park technician,  

but he's in streets and parks. And that is all  the moving around and all the new employees. Council President, may I just for  one second? Sure. Uh tomorrow is   my administrative assistant's last day. She  is uh moving to the Ocala Police Department   uh for a different position and closer to  home. So, tomorrow is her last day. Uh so,   we will miss her and uh we appreciate  everything that she's done for the police   department as well as the great city of  Willist. Thank you. Utility director, you have anything for us?  Yes, ma'am. Good evening,   council. Thank you. I'd like to update  a little bit on Is that working? Sorry. So, we've met with a few of the council  members identifying and pointing out some   problems that we found, Alex and I, throughout  the city. Um, we will continue to meet with   the additional council members to update them  with the uh the problems that we've identified,   the changes that we'd like to make. Uh, so I  will be getting with Miss after the council   meeting to set up a date and time with her. Um,  we're moving along, making progress. It's about   it for now. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Rob.  Anyone else? No. All right, Mr. Cox. Yes. I keep hearing different things  about block 12, the sidewalks,  

the canopy, stuff like that.  What is actually going on? How much time do we have here? Pass this to him.  That tells him what's going on. But you can't   pass it. Uh that that is not within the sunshine  that I already cannot hide things. It's an open   meeting. I can pass it to him. You can read it  out loud so everybody can see it. Counselor, if   they wanted me to, I would. Why are you yelling at  me? Madame counsel, that was not a yell. Okay. So,   Mr. Nichols and the podium. Okay. Walt nickel with  white Pierce. Let me give you an update. And what   happened is we city right like Peters the previous  engineer that designed that the original site on   that was under the understanding that the property  was owned from the parking lot all the way up   to the buildings. And so the original design a  redesign that we did once the pesos property came   in always had that intent. And so um basically the  parking lot was going to be constructed to about   12 to 15 ft from the the building faces and then  there was a sidewalk and then there was a utility   space green space between the sidewalk and the  buildings. That was not the case in some areas.   So the sidewalks that are constructed now are  on the people's property and there's six owners   that are affected by that. And so once that  became um brought to the attention of the city,   the CRA met. Uh we met uh Laura Jones has been  coordinating with with the CRA of what to do.   We had a couple options. We came in well what  we pause the construction. What can we do? We  

can either get an easement for that back part of  the property. We could ask if we can they donate   that back bit of property and it's about 7 ft um  roughly on both that we would need to acquire.   Um and so the city has been in contact with  the the each property owner and talking. Um   at the latest of that there are there's one who  doesn't want to do anything. No easement, no   um no budging at all and we've looked at that just  as of this evening. We could suspend the work on   that property and continue on keep the sidewalk.  There's one other spot they don't want to donate   or sell property um but they would entertain an  easement and that would work and uh Kirsten has   indicated that that would be a possibility. So  right now we're on a pause. We look like we can   maybe just not do a sidewalk near the arcade. We  can do a reroute of it and it would still possibly   work and actually open some green space up in  front of the arcade. Um the other one, as long   as they're willing to give an easement, we can get  the right language for that to happen. So, we've   put the project on hold. We've asked um Wilks  Construction to to pause while we figure that   out. And there was just a meeting this evening  ahead of this with the CRA. Um we don't have   actual direction, but I think we know we're going  with if they're willing to, you know, give the   back part of their property up. they get access to  the building, they get the parking lot, they get   all this the stuff that that we've always intended  to provide. And that appears to be the way. And if   there is that one hold out up at the north end,  we've got an alternate where we could reroute the   sidewalk. So that's the status of what's going on.  So this was done by who was the mistake made by?   Well, I mean it was originally say originally  Burell Engineering designed the parking lot for  

that and they had the sidewalk in the parking  lot a certain distance in the building once and   we right Pierce was was tasked with taking their  design and this was about a year and a half ago   roughly taking the Bell design and putting out  for bid again and administered construction. So,   we took their design, we put it out for bid. We  got uh Wilks site prep was uh the only bidder, but   they had a reasonable bid. Um literally within I  think that same week that we opened the bids, the   Pesos property came available or looked like it  was going to be available in two corners. So, that   opened up where we could do a better design and  the city then asked us if we would take the Brell   design and accommodate the the Pesos property  and do that. And we did. and we designed it,   but we used the same setbacks from the building  for the parking lot and the sidewalk as was in   that original design. Um, it's my understanding  the city always thought that they had that control   on that, but in reality they did not. So, that's  what we're remedying right now. So, it was an   error that was originally done. We went with that  same understanding, held the same setback from the   building with the new design, but unfortunately  the city did not have control over that. So,   so I think back about what our accountant said  earlier this year was we have no wiggle room for   money for crazy things. Yeah. What's what might  this end up costing us? Yeah, there there's some   delays when you put a construction project on hold  and I'm trying to get those numbers from Wilks   right now. We're talking with them. What happens  if this is delayed for 1 month, two months or   three months? Getting the uh purchase and legal or  andor easements um can be a fairly quick process.  

Steve McMillan has to write the legal descriptions  for that. Um, Kirsten has said the actual work is   is really only a couple weeks to get that done  once she has the legal descriptions. Um, I mean,   we're looking at probably a month delay  and there are some cost. If we do that,   there really isn't. The design stays as is,  but there is a delay. I mean, there just is.   And we're trying to get those numbers right now.  Okay. But the the uh sidewalks and such, hopefully   we don't have to bust any up and move them. What  we have right now, we probably shouldn't. what we   discussed literally right before this meeting um  the discussions that were coming the CRA didn't   vote or act on one or the other but the direction  that we're going as of five 550 is that I think we   can keep with the design that is if and the people  um Laura uh Deborah Jones has spoken with everyone   out there and pretty much they're in most are in  favor of doing what they're doing they understand   the whole benefit um so we're not looking at  a whole relight right now a whole redesign.   We looked at if we had to if we had to come out we  did some sketches and designs and came up with two   plans. We did that a week week and a half ago.  Doesn't look like we have to do that though. So   it's really taking what we have and just clearing  up the ownership where the sidewalk is at. Right.   So okay. So we're hoping it's minimal.  Okay. Thank you. Any other questions? I do,   but I'll save a couple for the next round towards  the end. For the end. Yeah. Okay, Miss Jones, he   explained it really well. Um, at the CRA meeting,  not the one we just had, but the one before,   which was their regularly scheduled meeting, he  did give us some basic cost estimates of what it   would cost to tear up all the sidewalks and put  them on our property. Yeah. Um, and that was bad.  

Yeah. Um, it it was between 75,000. And also the  electric would have to be moved if that was the   case if we didn't have to get easements and we  didn't even know what that would cost because   the padmounted transformers are there as well. Uh  so that's when we decided to go talk to them all. Okay. Miss Meredith, do you have anything? Rob's  got something going on here. Just wanted to update   you on the the pad mount transformers are not  there. It's the the actual secondary pedestals.   So, okay. They're two different things. The pad  mount is the big trans is the big thing that's   over near the park. Yes, ma'am. And the smaller  ones are the pedestals. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. So, you say you're done. Thank you. Okay.  Thank you. Did you have any updates? Uh,   hold up. Hold up. Sorry. So, when it's time for  participation again, if you will. All right. But   this is updates. This is not conversation. So,  if you'll hold it until public participation,   please. Yes, sir. I mean, yes, ma'am. I  just want to ask the chief if he knows who   the people are that are at the hospital  property. I'm seeing people around the   building and doing things and I don't know who  they are. And if I had had somebody with me,   I would have stopped and asked them who they  were. Uh do is it during the day during the   daylight hours? It was daylight hours. Yes.  I call the cops. Yeah. Uh code enforcement   has been working with the attorney firm that has  the property. Uh and that's why you see so much   being done like the windows are being bordered,  the grass has been cut, the hedges are trimmed,   trees are trimmed up. Um looks great. Yeah. And  they've, if I remember correctly, they have that   company now on a monthly rotation. They come and  keep the place clean. Uh if the window is broke,   we call they come, they board it up. That's what  they were doing when I saw them, I believe on  

Friday, it was. Yes. So that's that's a company  that was hired through the attorney firm to to   uh because of Christy getting talking to them and  working with them that they started cleaning the   place up and people have told me it looks the best  it's looked in 10 years. I know. Really? So that's   true. One other thing about the hospital. Um I  don't you know we we told you at one point that   we were we had taken the uh tax collector and the  property appraisers through the building and that   we had sent pictures to the department of revenue.  They were going to try to reduce some of the back   taxes that were still owed. There's one company  that's bought all the back taxes except the most   recent ones which is the like 23 24 25 and they  own all the ones like from 219 20 21 22. Um and   so they're trying to get them all so that they  can sell the building. The the receiver has now   said that he will let the building go for the  cost of the back taxes, which is like $1.2 $2   million for all of them together. Uh, and I heard  today that they um, not today, but the last week,   the end of last week, that the state department  of revenue had agreed to reduce the tax lean on   their the back taxes. So, it will make it less  for them to buy it on the steps at the auction.   I asked her to let us know when they decided to  sell it just so we would be aware. Thank you. Miss   May, do you have anything? Mr. Mayor, do you have  anything? Any updates? Yes, just a few things.

the council sometime back when uh Miss  Nancy Wineer made a proposal before you and   uh she is heading an organization called  Just Serve. Uh today I received these signs that are from that organization and I have them  in my office. I am not going to be the one to   decide where to put them. I will leave it to the  city manager and she can ask the council if she   feels the need. But uh we do we have agreed to  be just serve city and so the the organization   has sent us some things so that we can advertise  that that's the kind of city we want to be. And so   I will be giving this box to the city manager and  she can distribute them as she sees fit. I did ask   uh a city employee if they would get with  somebody and find out where we could post   one of these smaller ones here in the city hall  someplace. And where that ends up happening,   I will not know until it happens. Thank  you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. All right,   we will move on to new business. Resolution  2026-03, a resolution of the city council   of the city of Wilson, Florida, approving  entering into an agreement with the Federal   Highway Administration to develop an action place  under the staff streets for all funding programs,   author authorizing appropriate parties to  execute such agreement on behalf of the city  

of Wiston and providing an effective  date. Walt Nichols, right Pierce. Okay. Walt Nickel with Right Pierce. Um, yeah,  this has been this grant has been in the making   for about two and a half years when we first  applied for this on behalf of the city. Um,   FHWA, Federal Highway Administration, has a a  program, their Safe Streets for All program,   and it comes in a two-part process. um you do  um prepare per their guidelines a safe streets   action plan, excuse me, whereas you follow their  steps where you look at a variety of things. You   look at accident data, um you know, speeding,  traffic violations, um all types of things that   affect transportation, whether it be vehicles,  pedestrians, multimodal types of operation.   And you go through their step process. you have  meetings with the community of where they feel,   you know, uh items need to be done with uh  with traffic and transportation and safety.   It's all geared on safety. You know, zero deaths  is what they're trying to do on all types of roads   uh state, federal, and local roadways. So, they  have money that they are are giving to communities   to do the action plan. And once an action plan  is done, then that opens you up what they call   the implementation phase. And so you then you  have money to implement the things that are   in the action plan, but you can't get that money  until you do the action plan. So they're funding   this. It's the the total project is 192,000.  The federal share of the grant is 153,600.   They call the recipient share 38,400. That's the  city share, but that is not necessarily a cash   um is our understanding. there. We're going to  have to have meetings with police, fire, um,  

and other city staff. The time involved in that  can be part of your city share. The research we're   hoping of accident data and getting paperwork  can be part of the city share. So, there's a   lot of that that we're going to try to maximize  all of that so it's not an out of pocket. But   this literally three two and a half years since  application. They you were selected over a year   ago and then a year and a half ago then nothing  happened. Um they didn't lose funding but they   changed language. There was a lot of different  things that had to be done in agreements. They   got put on pause and I've been working with the  representative probably for 6 months just getting   verbiage that had to be pulled out that that out  of their per their guidelines in in the scope.   And so that's been done. I mean that's been done  for months and they've been saying we're going to   be issuing agreements. Issuing agreements. Well  December 20th I think is it was end of December   they finally issued the agreements and not only  to Williston but I think there were 981 recipients   across the the country that received the this  these action plans. Again so you've got the grant   again. This opens it by participating with this,  it opens you up for the implementation dollars,   the real dollars if you need sidewalks or  signalized intersection crossings. I mean,   there's talk about here on Main Street that's  going to be part of crossing and and things like   that. Um there may be even some of the things  with the golf court ordinance. I can't predict   what the outcome of this is going to be, but one  of the problems that we had with the golf cart   or is we've got our segments, isolated segments  in the city. Crossing was being a problem. They   were going to be expensive. We talked with DOT.  There would be need signalized intersections. DOT   didn't have the money. If we can show that  that's a safety hazard and and doing that,   there may be implementation money to get to  that final step on the golf court ordinance.  

But that's just one example. But there may be  other pedestrian crossings specifically here in   the downtown corridor that could then get funding.  But you have to do this step first, the the uh the   action plan before you get to the implementation  phase. So that is this grant. Um if there's any   other questions u that I can answer for anybody.  Attorney Fos, do you have anything to add? It's   been reviewed. this uh resolution and everything  has been reviewed by our office and is approved.   Okay. Can I get a motion? Questions later. I  move we approve resolution 2026-03. I second. I have a motion. I second. Um any discussion  from the council? Mr. D. Who will be doing the   quarterly reports and analysis that's required? Um  we have I I have to go to whether when we applied   for this you also authorized us to do the work.  Um but it was so long ago and I thought before   this meeting I should have looked at that. If  you haven't I would have to come to you with a   proposal for us to mimic this scope to do this for  the grant. So we've done that in others. I I to be   honest I should have looked that up before I came  today and I didn't because this is sat for so long   but we I think at the time we got authorized to  apply for this grant we also gave you a proposal   for us to do that. So right Pierce would be  we would be the grant administrator and would   get paid out of the grant to do that out of the  grant to do that. So this pays for that work to   be happen but I may have to come back to you I  honestly I don't recall um with the time. Okay.   Thank you. And I do just because I said it two  weeks ago kind of unrelated. I told you two weeks   ago I would come here with three agreements. I'm  only here to this evening with one agreement. The  

reason is the documents they sent me. I thought  they were agreements for the vulnerability   assessment which is similar to this and the septic  to sewer for area 1. They were the pre-agreements   where they're asking for the contract information,  the insurance. Latrician's been working on getting   the insurance certificates W9. It was all  the pre-aggreement that they're asking. So,   we're working on that. Once that goes back to each  agency, they're going to be sending agreements,   the the official agreements, and I thought that's  what they had sent us a couple weeks ago, but it's   the pre. So, anyway, in case you wondering when  I said I'd come back to you with three and only   have one, that's the reason. The other ones are  still in process. Okay. Thank you. Miss Merrick,   do you have anything? Mr. Cox, anyone from  the public have any questions for Mr. Nichols?   None. Madam President, can I just address one  thing if you don't mind? Um, the mayor called   me the other day asking me a few questions  about why all of these grants recently seem   to be planning related. Um, we're not doing a lot  of work it seems like. And I had to explain to him   that that's the state right now is looking more  favorably upon grant applications that are making   something shovel ready. years ago, they would like  to just give us, you know, the grants and say,   "Go ahead and figure it out and do all the  planning, but now they really want these planning   grants done first so that they know everything's  ready to go when they actually give us the money   to do it." So, it seems like there's a lot of more  planning grants these days, but that's the reason   why that's the push from the state right now.  Yeah. And for example, the um septic to sewer,   which was the uh the springs grant program, we  applied for that two cycles ago for the whole   thing, the design and implementation. and  it was a big big chunk. Um, and we weren't   successful. We met with them again, asked what  do we need to do for the next application and   it's precisely that. Ask for a smaller chunk.  Once you get that first step, you're in the  

queue for for the bigger dollars. And that's  what this safe streets for all is doing. Gets   you that shows you you have the commitment. You've  outlined what the projects are. They're justified   because you've done in the report. Then you're  going to be there's more dollars on that. The   vulnerability assessment is the exact same thing.  We get that agreement. We're going to, you know,   pinpoint what are the projects, what are the  needs, what needs to be done. That gets approved   by D. Then you're in the list for now. How do you  implement that? And and that comes next. So we   are this round pretty much all the grants that we  asked for were that they were plan basically they   call them planning grants and that's what we did  and then we complete those then you're in line.   you're going to be in line for the actual the  big dollars of construction dollars once those   are complete. So, we have a question from the  public. Mr. Eard, if you'll step to the podium. Yes, maker 225. How much does this cost  the city for all these grants that really   don't do anything to better us when we  have water issues that probably cost   $50 million? Why don't we pursuing a grant  for all the water and the electric to come   up to par instead of all this little  this malarkey? And what do you what   do you charge the city if you don't mind  me asking? Mr. Eard, if you address me, as I presented a couple months ago as we were  working on these grants, there was a a slew of   grants that came up and open August, September,  and October. And we had a flurry of grants. I   think we applied for nine different grants because  these grants were only for implementation and   design. Right? Pierce did all of that at our cost.  No cost to the city on those endeavors. When we do   ask for grants that are construction dollars, we  typically work under our miscellaneous services  

and we get a task and we help you do that because  you are the primary beneficiary. When these were   just asking for the grants, we did not. We charged  you zero. We did all that on our own to help you.   We are going to benefit from that as engineers.  We are. So we felt that was not that was not   proper to do that. So we charge the city zero.  We did nothing. We did that all on our own. So   and now you're positioned the next step. So for  example, if we do on the safe streets for all the   results are done and you should have a signalized  intersection pedestrian crossing here across the   street. the design of that or that application,  we would probably have a fee to go with that,   but you would be in line to receive millions of  dollars for that. Um, in the nine or 10 grants   that we applied for here in past September, um,  there were several with that were focused on   Hurricane Helen and Milton damage. Unfortunately,  we didn't get those. Uh, we didn't have enough   sufficient damage. Cedar Key got I know there was  some questions on that. Well, how come Cedar Key?   They had more damage than Wilson. We could not  show, we could not justify that. They encouraged   us to apply. Um, we asked for there was over I  think $30 million in those project asks that we   did and they included water manes throughout the  city to harden the city. They included upgrades at   the at the at the towers. They included electrical  upgrades. They included uh generators for all your   lift stations. They include sanitary sewers. So  in that ask, we look broad across the whole city.   We work with city staff. We've worked with with  Sue. We've worked with everybody on that to come   up with these projects. That was just one grant.  We've applied for road projects through the RIFF   grant. That one unfortunately we didn't for Main  Street. We we didn't, but there's still another   one that were pending for the um uh for economic  development for your downtown that we're still   waiting on that is still favorable. Um, so we've  done we've won three out of the nine already and  

we're po poised to win one or two more um out of  this round and we watch grants. I sit in a grants   meeting every two weeks with our staff. We keep  up with that. We let the city know. I sometimes   Sue gets them and lets us me know and we keep keep  a breast of this because it's it is a way to fund   your projects. So thank you. We appreciate you  sir. Mr. All right. Thanks. Any other questions?   I move to vote. All those in favor say I. I. All  those opposed say nay. Motion passes 4 to zero. Resolution 2026-04. A resolution of the city  council of the city of Willist, Florida. approving   the scope of service letters with the purpose gray  for audits of the city of Williston as well as the   city of Willist community redevelopment agency  authorizing appropriate parties to sign any   document required to execute same and providing an  effective date city attorney Miss Voss. Thank you   madame council president. Um this is the agreement  to engage with purpose gray for the annual audit.   It is the same as last year's agreement. There  is an increase in price. Last year's agreement   was 62,500. This year's increase in price is  5,000. The scope of services. All um other   items have remained the same. Appropriate action  will be to u make a motion to approve and legal   has reviewed this and it's approved for legal  conformity. Thank you. Can I get a motion? Motion.   I make a motion we approve resolution 2026-04.  Second. I have a motion and a second. Any   discussion from the council? Any discussion  from the public? Seeing none, I move to vote.  

All those in favor say I. I. Those who oppose say  nay. Motion passes four to zero. At this time,   we will have the second public hearing where  you'll have 5 minutes to speak on anything   that was not on the agenda. Um, please state  your name, where you from? Yes, Tim 225. Um, is Wilson ever going to come up with a plan to  come up to to to get the water? Water's like gold,   you know? We got bad water in Florida,  everywhere else, too. But when are we   going to get up the code and try to get Willist  some water? As Do y'all ever go out to like East   Will and talk to these people here and ask  them about their water problems? You know,   most of them most of them can't even take a shower  because the water pressure is so bad because the   leaks in the ground are so bad out there. I mean,  I'm from here. I know a lot of people around here   and I don't see any effort from the city at  all to the embodiment of East Willist. I mean,   I really don't. The the the water's terrible. Um  I won't say a lot of that had to do with diamond,   but uh that's not all his fault either. It's been  a culmination of of years of neglect on purpose   created chaos. Um, and I and I believe their labor  grid needs to be better than what it is. Are y'all   ever going to have a general fund for both just  for those two issues? And and Wilson used to be   self-sufficient, but it's not normal. Something's  got to happen better than what's going on. Thank you, sir. Anyone else?

Okay, now we'll have announcements. Any  announcements from staff? Miss Latricia? Thursday, January the 22nd, I believe  it is. The chamber will be having bagels   and coffee at Heritage Park from 6:00  a.m. to 8:00 a.m. Yeah. All right. So,   if anybody's on their way to work, please stop  by and have coffee and bagels with the chamber   members. Crazy. You won't see me between  6:00 and 8. Sorry. Can I ask for a change   in time? Fine. Not really. Let's change  the time. All right. Any other staff, Miss Council members? Any updates? says Meredith.  Yeah, Miss Jones. I just want to say that those   of us that went to the MLK, Gayla had a wonderful  time. Nice. Um, we had good entertainment. We had   good food and we had good company. Awesome. And  we had a lovely MC down here. He did a great job. Didn't recognize him in his hat. Yeah. Mr. Cox, two things. been seeing  all over the news. This is America's 250th anniversary, celebration, birthday, whatever you  like to call it. Would love to see, and I know   money is tight, if we could find a little more  money to make Fourth of July that much better.   Other cities are doing it. You see it on the news,  you know that everybody's planning to do this.  

Um, so I guess that would come to Miss  Latricia for the 250th. What do you think? It's the will of the council. I think it's already  planned to make it bigger. We tal Yeah. Third   budget, we talked about that. We did put more  money in. So, we just need to make bigger plans.   Um, so what plans do you have? What  thoughts you have, Mr. Cox? Well,   I was talking to Miss Latrician. She gave  me a whole plethora of different things. Tell us about it. That's in the next meeting.  No, I do have something big planned for the   250th celebration. Um, I would like  to try to make it a all day event.   Starting at 11:00, I am working with the chamber  to make a make the 11:00 event very special.   That's not all day. Um I could use about $5,000  more if possible, but And you're going to start   at we gave you 9:00 in the morning. No, you  gave me You all gave me 32,000. Yes, we did.   Yes. and the um fireworks would take up all that  amount with the entertainment. All 32,000. Yes. You know, things are getting more expensive. We  won't say why, but a lot of us know why. Gotcha. So, I'm just looking to go big. Yes, ma'am. You  know that was ter in case you hadn't heard it.  

Yeah. You know fireworks aren't made here in  America. Some of them are not. That was from   China. They doubled everything. I guess we need to  start making fireworks. Just saying. It's a It's   a How many people in Spain were killed with  fireworks not long ago? The whole plant. Oh,   I know. A lot. In that same vein, I don't play  with fireworks. I watch them. I just play with   them. And I don't play with them either. I'm  scared of them. In that same vein, there is   a logo that America 250 logo. I would love to see  that on our on our website, on our Facebook page.   That will be hopefully on our website next week.  Terrific. JJ Fields is working on that. And we and   we also talked about the fact that we were we were  we talked about the fact between you and I that we   were going that we could contact every person  who had a festival of any kind the whole year   and ask them to use that as their theme. Yes.  Uh we've already had one. What do we have the   other day? Something. What do we have? Something  uh MLK could have had it. should have had it,   should have added it. And and that's because and  that's what made me realize that we had not talked   to anybody about it. Uh just including the logo,  okay, in Celebration of America, ask everybody   who has anything to use the chamber, the any  anybody who has a festival in the park, you know,   um we have the ability to go across the road, the  banner. We make a 200. We now have the permit. We   do. Yes. Thanks to Walt. Good deal, Walt. That  would be great for the parade. Look at you. That   was painful. Yes, it was. I bet it was. It It was  very painful. I hadn't heard that we got it. I   knew you applied for it, but I didn't know you got  it. Wow. It It took a while with all the different  

changes. Sounds like you have some things in the  works. Yes, I do. For the um logos like you were   saying for all the different people that are  having JJ feels is working on that as well.   Hey, that's because we talked about it. We  were in the same workshop together. So, that   just means we have to think about your budget.  We'll think about it or just ask them to do it.   The chamber and it's and Homestead Park. We need  to call everybody who does anything and ask them   to include it all over town. And any increases  for this year, we would just roll back to what   we did last year. Yeah. You know, any other  announcements? None. See none. How about you? I   have no announcements. Are the mayor? Mr. Mayor,  do you have an announcement? Madame President,   I have nothing. See, thank you, sir. Um, move. I  will adjourn it. Ready for adjourn. Got a motion.   Got a second. Any discussion? None. All those  in favor say I. I. All those opposed say nay. Oh gosh. Motion P motion P uh passes 4 to  4 to zero. Have a good night at 7:39 p.m.