Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening. Today is Tuesday, March 17, 2026 at 6:01 p.m. We are here for city council meeting. We'll have a call to order by Miss Latricia Wright. Roll call. Mayor Goodman. Mayor Goodman, are you here? I am here. Thank you. Council President Hines here. Vice President Cox here. Council member Jones here. Council member Martin here. Council member Rikio here. City Manager Sue Bodet here. Attorney Kristen Belaloo

here.

City Clerk Latricia Wright, I am here. And all other staff. Thank you. Council meeting procedures for members of the public. All cell phones are to be turned off when entering the council chambers. Once the audience has taken their seat and the meeting begins, there will be no talking between audience members during the course of the council meeting. If anyone continues to talk within the audience and is called down three times during the course of the meeting, on the third time, that person will be escorted out of the council meeting. The audience must be recognized by the president before being allowed to address the council. The member of the audience that is recognized will proceed to the podium. State their name for the benefit of the city clerk prior to offering comments on a given matter. The audience member will be limited to not more than 5 minutes to speak on speak based on the resolution 2020 2020-28. There will be no personal attacks made by any member in the audience towards any sitting member and no personal attacks made by any council member towards a member in of the audience. There will be no conversation between the members of the audience that has been recognized and any other member of the audience when speaking while at the podium. If an audience member wants to speak more than the allotted five minutes allowed, that person should make a request to city hall so that item can be placed on the agenda. We'll now have the opening prayer and pledge of allegiance to the flag by Mayor Charles Goodman. Join me. Lord, we come to you today a group of citizens, a group of people gathered together trying to do the best thing we can for

our cities. Lord, you know the danger in the world now, Lord, that we need your protection. There is bad things happening throughout the world and Lord we don't have any any community be protected by this and I ask you personally Lord that you would look over our police officers as they go through their daily work which has always been dangerous and now has gotten more so. I ask you to be with the fire department, all of the city employees, Lord, as each one of them work the best they can to keep our city running as smoothly as possible. I ask you to be with this council to give them wisdom where wisdom is needed, to give them strength to do the right thing as they see it. And I ask you to be with every member that has taken the time out of their life to be here tonight. in the interest of being part of what goes on in their city. I ask this in your name.

I pledge algiance 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. Okay. Item number one, additions, deletions, changes, and approval of the agenda. Madame President, I have a request from Planner Lord Jones asking if we could move her item number 5M to 5A. I'm okay with it. Anything from

a second. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor say I. I. I. All those opposed, nay. Motion passes. Five to zero. All right. Item number two is going to be public participation. This is your first opportunity to speak for 5 minutes on anything that is not on the agenda.

Hey, I'm Joel Penny. I live I'm Joel Penny. I live at 43 Northwest 4th Street. I just wanted to let everybody know I can actually see the difference in the quality of our employees. Like I don't see any more sitting around vehicles sitting and people working. So I just wanted y'all to know that. So thank you.

Thank you. Will there be anyone else? Miss BRight. Good evening. I'm Bessie Boight and I have a a few questions regarding Kis Williams Park. We've not seen a lot of u change out there. So, I'm just wanting to know if we can get an update because there's still some very urgent needs out there. We still need the pavilion. We still need the walking trail. We still need identified um dog run area. We've got dogs and kids and when they're not of the same family, there could be some conflict there. and we still need a safe egress from Highway 318 for those kids or those people who are trying to um get into the park for for whatever is going on out there. And the other issue is that we've been we've talked about um selling bricks to um create a memorial wall out there and we've talked about it, but we've not been able to do anything about it. So, I'm wondering if we can get some directions on that. I mean, it's going to take a while before the wall gets built, but I think it's a way to keep the community engaged, and I think it's really important that we do that. We communicate and keep the community engage in what's going on out there because we don't because we don't see nothing, we know that something's going on. But unless we're told what's going on, people tend to create in their minds. So, I'm here today to get an update or if I need to come back and meet with someone else at a later time to get more information, I'm certainly willing to do that. But I think there needs to be an update given to the community.

Thank you, Miss B. Right. Is Miss Jones here? She is. There she is. What is the memorial wall for? It is for we we're looking to honor um citizens of the community, veterans or senior members of the community, those members who were those people who were pillars of the community that we'd like to memorialize. That's been an ongoing conversation for the last seven years. Yeah. I haven't even heard I've never heard of that before. That's it's part of the land master plan. Okay. Yeah. All right. Yeah. And it was discussed when when the friends of Bise Williams Park was was a functioning

group. It was discussed at that time. I'd had conversations I think with Laura and with Dawn. It's something we'd like to get going. It's been seven years. I'm getting old. I want to buy my own brick and I want to be a memorial brick, you know. I want to be in honor of so Okay. Thank you, Miss Jones. Laura Jones, city planner. Um, I work on Cornelius Williams every day. We do have two grants out there. We have the DOS grants for about a half a million dollars, which includes the new parking lot, the egress off of 318, and some other improvements. And then we got the FRAP grant which will have the pavilion involved. Um we do have some issues with the county. We sent in paperwork to do a land use change and zoning change and they sent back some comments.

Um so that's going to be in by the end of the month. I hope that we can be on the county agenda for April and when we do we're going to let everybody know so that they can come and support us. We just need a a zoning change at this point. We don't need the land use change. So, we've we've got dug deep enough into their comp plan to say that we can do this. It's industrial zoning, which is kind of odd. Um, but we're going to make it work. And Walt is also here. He has the plans done. And yes, the wall is part of the plan. It's over in the western most corner, right, Walt? For that memorial wall? Yeah, there's like a little walking trail around it. So, all those things are happening. It's happening slowly and it's happening slowly for me, too. But we definitely work on it all the time. And if I could just say one more thing while I'm up here, I was going to do public participation as the CRA director. I just wanted everybody to know that we've got our dog. He's out in the hall if anybody wants to see him. He will be put up at the Veterans Memorial. His name is my hero, my friend. He was customuilt out in I think Indiana. It that took three and a half years to get here, but uh we have him. He was also a donation from the chamber that started way back when the memorial was first started. So, we got him done. The CRA is very happy to see him and you can visit him right here. We do want to have a naming for him. So, if anybody wants to start thinking about that, we'll have a naming competition. Thank you.

Well, it all I don't know if this is for you or for Walt. So, related to Swift Mud, all that stuff is taken care of. There's no hold up. There's no hold up there. Now we just have to get the permitting or the um the zoning done. The permitting's done for Swift Mud. Okay. And sorry, one more question. Once is that right? Once um the Levy County approves the zoning change, how quickly do we expect to see ground to break? What else is sort of on the to-do list? We when we are on the docket and the county staff has said that everything is okay and we can get on their meeting, we're going to start bidding it out because we believe that they are going to make the zoning change.

Um and then we'll start bidding it out. That'll take, you know, a month or two to get I don't think you're going to see any progress until the fall. Okay. Okay. How long did it take you to get on sucket to get on docket? Hopefully, if everything goes well this start How long did it take? or you we're not there yet. So, we're still waiting to get on the docket. Yeah, the staff is still reviewing comments. Okay. Um for the zoning change. Gotcha. But I have talked to the Department of State and they are fine. They our money is still there. I still update them and I just talked to her the other day about asking her if she needed some paperwork and she said that everything's still fine. So, it's in the bank. Okay. Thanks. Thank you. Can we get a copy of the master plan? Oh, yeah. Or even the summary thereof. Maybe a map.

You want a drawing? I do. Yeah. That would be wonderful. Um, Walt, could you send them the drawing? Yeah, they'll he'll send it. Thank you so much. You're welcome. One we can read. We'll send it to Latricia. Oh, yeah. Yeah, we'll send it to Latricia and then she can send it out to every Perfect. Thank you. That's all for real. Thanks, Mr. Eckert.

Thank you. Thank you. You serve one hardworking citizen.

My name is Jim Ecker 225. Um, good evening, mayor, uh, council members, residents. My name is Timothy Ecker. I'm here tonight as a concerned citizen asking for clarity of accountability and transparency regarding the city's city's parking lot project and related decisions. I want to take a moment to thank Sue and Robert for providing me the answers requested last meeting. I respectfully request answers to several others, but I want to tell you thank you. Um, I'd like number one, I'd like to know who conducted the survey on parking lot 12, who was originally responsible for completing that work. Two, since the project has began many years ago, why didn't we request new plans, estimations, surveys, etc. before moving forward with the job? Where were the checks and balances to ensure that we approve that we approve the continued work? Is JB Pro involved in this project? And if so, what spe what specific role do they play? More broadly, what what city projects are they currently involved in? I would like to clarify on other pro I would like clarification on project leadership. Who's the designated project manager for for this effort? This question has been raised multiple times and uh and a clear answer is important for accountability. Additionally, we the residents would like to be better understand the financial oversight of this project and others like it has been stated that cost has significantly exceeded the initial expectations since the job began years ago. Can the city clarify current budget status? What

led to the overages and who and who and who is responsible for managing those additional costs related to that? Why were the funds specifically appropriated? 34,000 re reallocated from the manhole repair project near the police department parking lot 12. What was the what was the justification for that? and also have concerns regarding um potential conflicts of interest. Can the city confirm whether any individuals involved in this project are receiving compensation from both the CRA and the city of Wilston? If so, what safeguards are in place to ensure transparency and ethical compliance? In addition, I would like clarification on the role of all parties involved, including what responsibilities individuals such as Laura Jones has held in relation to this project. Beyond this single project, I believe it's important to look at the broader picture. How many city projects in recent years have gone over budget? What has been the total financial impact on the residents of Wilston? And how could they be avoided? or like also to formally request a records request related to the CRA including employee compensation and itemized payroll. Some so residents can better understand how the public funds are being allocated. Ultimate ultimately this is about trust. Residents deserve to know how decisions are made, how funds are spent, and who is accountable when these projects do not go plan. I'm here not I'm here simply to I'm not here to simply criticize. I'm here to ask for transparency, clear communication, and responsible steward stewardship of taxpayer dollars moving forward. Thank you for your time and consideration. Timothy Ecker, concerned citizen. Thank you.

Thank you. Um Miss Sue. Yes, ma'am. Did you guys address any of these questions that are being currently asked? Um, no. I believe these are all new questions. So, I will do what I did last time. I will get with um Laura and Walt and get these questions answered and make sure that I reach back out to Mr. Eert and um address all of his questions. Okay. Thank you. And are we making sure that we are putting these the answers to the questions um in format as well and made public record for other staff cuz I do see that some of the questions are the same. Okay.

So, we just need to make sure that we're not Yes. venting the will. Yes. Okay. Um do we have any other comments from anyone else? Yes, sir. You can come forward. Yes, sir. Kirsten, did you have anything? No. I mean, I'm I'm happy to get with um Sue and we can we can work out the additional answers. I think that there's there's more context to each of these. I think that there's probably some misunderstanding here. Okay. Thank you. Is he on the agenda? Okay. Huh.

Some of them are so broad it's hard to answer. Okay. But they'll work on that for you. Mr. Eard, is there anyone else? Mr. P, he said he's on the agenda. Oh, he is. You're right. He is. You're right. Yeah. Okay. Do that. But it's going to be lower rate. All right. So, now we will do consent agenda. I move the consent agenda which consists of the March 3rd minutes. A second. Have a motion and a second. All those in favor say I. I.

I.

All those oppose, nay. Alexa, you're I. Motion passes five to zero. All right. So, now we'll do staff updates. We'll start with city manager Subday. Thank you, Madam President. I have quite a few for you tonight, so I apologize. It's might be a little lengthy. Um, wanted to go back and remind the council about the $500,000 EDA grant that we applied for um for the airport. Um, we have yet to hear back about that grant. However, um I was contacted by Rusty Skinner of Career Source Citrus, uh Levy Marian about the fact that they had to expend their funds by June 30th. He was very concerned that we weren't going to have enough time to do the um the workforce study. So what we ended up doing was NFDP, uh, North Florida Economic Development Partnership, issued an RFP to solicit proposals for the workforce capacity and industry study for the airport as well as a 45m radius around the airport. Um, they issued it on Saturday, March 7th. It is due back on Friday, March 20th. It's a very tight deadline because of again us having to get this done pretty quickly. Um, we are still being considered for the $500,000 EDA grant, but um, just with everything going on in DC right now, they just they didn't want to take a a chance of losing that those funds. So, um, as soon as we hear back about the EDA EDA grant, there is, as you recall, there is a matching component. That's what this 80,000 from Career Source was going to be for, but Jeff Henry from NFDP has assured me that he has another way to get those matching funds for us. So, we just went ahead and told them to issue this RFP. We had an option of doing either the city doing it or NFPDP doing it. They can do it a lot faster than we can. There's no way we would have issued this in a couple of days like they did. So,

um so hopefully we'll um have some people that actually bid on that and we can get that workforce study started. Uh, second good news. Uh, Southwest Florida Water Management District, Swift Mud recommended that the city of Willist be awarded $104,100 to complete the FEMA updates for the city of Willist Wershed in Levy County. This is a thing that Walt's been talking to you about for the last couple months. So, this project will update the flood plan models, um, including new developments, prepare and submit the FEMA application, draft new flood plane maps, and draft the new flood insurance rate map panels. revised flood insurance information will be submitted to FEMA for the wershed. So that's good news. We were hoping for that. Um last Tuesday I attended a workshop with the city clerk and our utilities director. It was called opportunity zones 2.0. What you need to know about this once in a decade economic development tool. It was in Live Oak. Um it's a little complicated. I'll give you the shortened version that as I know it because I've now been to three different workshops on it. So this program starts whenever a um investor has capital gains from stocks or commercial real estate, cryptocurrency, anything they could get a commercial um sorry a a capital gain from. They have to invest that money in 180 days. So these opportunity zones are areas and this is throughout the entire country that are identified by governors and then certified by the treasury. In 2026, there were 84,414 tracks throughout the entire country and 5,160 in Florida. So, basically, these are tracks that the governor has said are prime for economic development in in the state. Um, on April 2nd, we have a meeting scheduled with this gentleman named Victor Leota. He runs a company called Location Design Group, and they're going to be discussing the Williston Regional Airport, which was selected as an eligible tract. We just

found this out today. We're very excited. It is track number 9706. So very excited about the fact that it got nominated for um the opportunity zone 2.0. Subsequently, I had a meeting yesterday with Carla Brzoto. She's an assistant professor in urbanism at the school of architecture at UF and she's putting together a panel of municipalities to attend a workshop on May 7th and May 8th. And the focus is on opportunity zones, interestingly enough. So, these just keep coming up. Um, the city of Willist has been chosen to participate in this workshop and they're requesting that the city be represented by the mayor and the city manager. So, if you are available on May 7th and May 8th, I would love you to join me and we can discuss more about the opportunity zones and again about the Wilston airport. So, very good news about that. Um, this morning I received a call from Glenn Lewis. He lives at 305 Northeast First Street, um, which is behind kids and company academy. and he called to commend the utility crew who was responsible for clearing the roads and picking up the debris from the storm yesterday. So, that was very exciting to get some good news um from a citizen. And then uh last but not least, I attended the Levy County 2050 plan update workshop number six this morning. It was on infrastructure, transportation, and input. Um please make sure you reach out to the county and give that to them because they will hopefully have their new plan updated by the end of the year. I have other things, but they're on the agenda. So, thank you very much. Thank you. Um, next we will have staff updates. We'll start with our city attorney. I'll have a lot to say later tonight, but nothing right now.

Okay, Miss Kim. This week has been a very busy week for HR. We hired 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 We've hired eight people this week. Um Jer Gerald Coker, IT Tech, Aaron's new assistant. Uh Chansy Moonreef is dispatch. I'm going to butcher this poor lady's name, but Morgan Vanessco, uh dispatch. Alex Living Good, admin assistant for Fiverr. Uh Charles Garcia, our new inmate supervisor, Brooke Doyle, our new meter reader, uh Tip Mazelle IVth, our road our new road tech, and then this yesterday, uh the part-time animal control officer, Isaiah Gorman, started.

Nice job.

Welcome. Welcome everybody. All right. Anyone else from staff? All right. Good afternoon, good evening. I wanted to give you an update on Edmonds. So, everything that was in progress as far as the last council meeting, the only thing that has been resolved is the consolidation of our billing. So, instead of seeing a line for each individual tax that goes along with each individual service, it will be consolidated like it used to be. It will say electric and then your charge. That will include all of your taxes and all the fees. So, it won't be all itemized out. And for our customers that have multiple meters, like our large customers like Wilston Peanut and the high school, it won't say other charges anymore. It will actually say what those charges are because it was so long because they had so many meters that it would say other charges, which obviously is concerning. Um, but as far as everything else, we're still in the process of verifying if everything with the meters worked. I was actually back there uploading them as we as we speak. They're putting them in the system. So, um, I would know by Thursday if everything that we have done actually made a difference as far as all the meters go. Other than that, we're just working chugging right along. We have two gentlemen from Edmonds that will be here Wednesday to help with our permitting and planning and zoning to help them get their modules up and running. When I return from vacation next week, um they we are going to start get everybody to sign the agreement for the tablets for our work orders and expedite those and everybody will be able to use those instead of paper copies. Now they'll have be able to work off the tablets for their work orders.

Okay. Thank you. questions. Does this mean that we will get our electric bills before they're due? So, that is something Sue and I are actually working on. um she reached out to some more m municipalities and some towns to see where they get their printing done at because we do realize that since we went to Edmonds and started with this new printing company that nothing is getting to our citizens on time and we we recognize that and we know that the printing company says it's not them. USPS is telling us that it's not them either. So to eliminate and say who it is, we are looking at finding another printing company. Yes, sir.

Yes, sir. Question. Yes, sir. If you would explain to everybody here how this actually works with the billing, how you send it out on the 27th and so forth. So, if you can explain that to everybody.

So, I we pull everybody's meters in. We do the rechecks. We know there have been a few that have been not coming over correctly and we apologize for that. We're again still trying to fix all of this data. Um I verify the bills. We send them over to our printing company who is BMS at this moment. Um I upload a file to them. They receive the file. Then I have to go into their system again and approve the file and I have to put my initials and it automatically puts the date and time. And from that point, it's supposed to print at their facility. And last month, it they're the approval that I initialed apparently never went through on their side. So, they tried to say that it did not come through till after the 27th, which is why the bills were late. Um, so again, that's why we're looking for other printing companies at this time.

Okay. So, next question. Yes, sir. At what point are we going to make a decision? Either they get get the stuff fixed like we bought or we cut them loose. As far as whom? Edmmonds or both Edmmonds and this other company?

Well, Edmonds is working with us diligently to get everything resolved. We we've um like I said, we have two of the gentlemen coming in on Wednesday to help with our planning and permitting department. Um, every time I reach out now, they don't have a problem responding pretty quickly as far as my problems and the billing issues have went. I think we've pretty much hopefully got them resolved. Um, now the printing is a completely different company. They have nothing. They're not as affiliated with Edmonds in any way. Um, I know it's a contract that Miss Selena signed when she was here. Um, but we we've decided we're looking other way. We we're not concerned with the contract. We'll just be out of it.

Because it is rather bothersome maybe. Absolutely. When cuz I was out in the hallway that day with you, talked to Miss Wise and how many people were coming in whose bills were late. Yep. They have not received them or a series of a bunch of other things.

Yes, sir. We understand that them not getting them on time is absolutely a problem, but we do have other ways for customers to retrieve their bills. They can call up here. Customer service is always here to answer the questions and concerns as always. And then we you can access them online and that is on the top of your bill next to your account number. There's also a PIN number on your bill and anyone can access their bill online with those two things. View their current bill and or pay it. But you have a lot of elderly people who are not computer savvy. Yes, sir. And you know that's uh we can't use that as an excuse. Well, they could go online and do that. Yes.

So, and that's why we're looking for another printing company to try to resolve this issue. We we have reached out um reached out to our old printing company, TC Delivers. Um, I'm waiting to send them when I return to send them a data file of our current billing software or or how it presents to them and they're going to let me know if they can take back over our contract. So, you're on vacation and you came here? Yes, sir. Crazy woman.

My question is with the tablets for the work orders, will they have one at the front desk? Will the ladies have one at the front desk? No, they'll still enter them on the computer. And the gentlemen and ladies out in the field will be able to access everything that they're sending to them, but the ladies at the front desk can put put them in on their computers. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Yes, sir. One other question. Since we're talking on the billing. Yes, sir. Um, Mr. Pston, he got bumped down later in the into the agenda. Can we just go ahead since we're talking about this and let him come up and talk since this is updates? No.

Okay. Just doing updates at the moment. Okay. I'll stay till Mr. Kingston so we kind of can answer any questions he may have. Thank you. Anybody? All right. Miss BJ can wait till participation.

That's what they're working on. They're trying to decide which way to go. He just wants to know why we can't go back to just the one piece of paper that they used to have. But they're they're looking into that one sheet of paper. What about when you say my bill? My bill was one sheet of paper.

Oh, they're working on it. Madam President, can I just say one thing? So that's one of the options that we're considering. So, we have the company that um Megan just mentioned, our old company. We have two other companies that are used by the city of Gainesville and the city of Newberry. And then we're also talking about the possibility of bringing it back inhouse, printing it here and mailing it. It would probably be the fastest option, but of course, it's going to cost us paper and toner and humans and you know, we have to weigh all those things. I mean, that's literally what we're doing right now is trying to weigh the different costs, but that is one of the options on the table as well as to bring it back in house. Yes. Yes, BJ.

No, you're actually on the agenda. We have to wait until you get we your agenda item. Yes, ma'am. Good evening everyone. Just wanted to remind everyone we have our Lucky Paws event coming up this weekend and we're excited. We have a bounce house for the kids. Um we have gift raffles and we have a 50/50. Um, so we're just excited and want to remind everybody about our event. Remind me the hours again, if you will. It starts at noon. Noon. 12. So we're just kind of pick up your barbecue. Yes. 11 is pick up your barbecue. 11. So we're starting food pickup at 11:00 and then the pre-orders at 11. Yeah, it would be. Don't forget the food. 21st. Saturday. Saturday. Yes. Thank you.

Thank you. Yes, sir. Miss Danny.

Yes. Uh today, Williston Fire along with the American Red Cross uh broke up into five teams and went through northeast East Willist and went to probably 60 homes out of the 60 homes. Uh 14 were serviced to put in smoke alarms and we felt that, you know, that was that was a good number, you know, for the time of day and everything that we're there. So, we we spent a lot of time. Appreciate the Red Cross providing the smoke detectors and team members and the the fire department that was there, all our guys that showed up to to do it. So, it's

Thank you, sir. Mr. Aaron.

Good evening all. We have made a substantial amount of progress since last council meeting. Um the GIS data we were waiting to get from Lights Set, we got that from them. Um I got that over to Fibersmith software company. They were able to import that in and so far it looks really good. Everything seems to be flowing like it should. Um we're still working on the splice matrixes, which is the actual connections of all the fiber and the splitters and how everything's connected. We got that information this week and I got that over to them and they're looking into it and said it looks pretty good so far. first. So, they're going to work on getting that in. Um hopefully, I'm going to say hopefully by the end of the week, they might have that ready. So, that's that is quite a bit of progress on that side. Um all the access points that we've got on hand for the uh short-term RV spots, uh 56 we have on hand out of 90, we've got those uh put in the system inventory. Um I think the others should arrive tomorrow of the 34 or whatever is left of that. Um that gives us roughly 80 for the park and having 10 for spares if something dies or quits. We got spare parts. Um basic setup and the configuration of the workflows and the purchase portal where the those customers would go in and purchase their access in the short term. That's been rough drafted and tested and it's working pretty well. Um, still got a little little bit of more fine tuning on that to do. Um, we've got it down to the point that it's going to be individual for each of those sites. So, when they get the prompt in the portal, they don't have to do anything except click the button and it says, "You're you're at this spot. What do you want to buy?" So, they don't have to even know what lot number they're on. So, that's that's a big plus.

Um, because it was going to be a little convoluted when they started. They're like, "You can't do this for people. they're they're you know they they might not know what lot number they're in or they type the wrong number you know so we got that worked out too. um see the uh captive portal which is that process. Um, we've got that built out and it it's functioning like it should. And like I said, it first grabs them and says, "Hey, you're here." Like you I mean, how many you stayed in a hotel before and you can log in. You open your browser and it says you got to log in to continue. Same thing, same principle. That's what that is. So, we've got that working like it should. Um, the adrens, the routers, and the fiber optic cabling. Um, we've all got that relocated out of the conx and storage sheds and other places where everything was. All that's been moved up to the annex building. Um, see where I'm at here. The annex building, I was going to say chief, but the pseudo chief over there, um, it has an alarm system already. So, that's in place and it does function. We just need to get an account set up with AD ADT for monitoring. Um the uh we have a routing issue right now with our internet that's feeding Williston fiber that I've been fighting for about two weeks off and on. Um it's kind of reared its ugly head 3 days ago and I've been here for almost 48 straight hours trying to fix it. So they're close. They are where they have the issue, but I don't have a resolution yet. So they're working on it. Um, and it it just boils down to that some websites you can't get to. One of them happens to be ours for whatever stupid reason. We can't get to woolisonfl.org on the network. No rhyme, no reason. It just randomly stops working for some sites and others and then it'll work for a little while and then it stops working. So, it's it's somewhere in the grand mix of how this

stuff all communicates that something's not flowing like it should. And the problem with a big company like that in telecom, you have to convince them it's their problem. you, you and I have faced that one before. So, um the contractors and the fibertex doing the drops to home some homes last week had a couple of encounters with some mad residents. Um turns out some of them were not even legitimately complaining cuz they were just the renter, but they raised such a stink and raised a fuss and cussed everybody out up and down the street. And it turns out that the actual owner of the property registered it for fiber.

And uh what I've told them to do is if you show up to do an install and something happens like that, just roll your stuff up and walk away. We're not forcing anybody to anything. So um we still got some equipment that we don't have here on hand. I found out last week kind of last minute that I have to have a server to run that mosaic software that we talked about that communicates with the adrans and between fibersmith and didn't know didn't know I needed a server until last week. So we've got that ordered. They haven't shipped yet. So I don't even really know when they're going to show up. Soon as possible, I hope. I did indicate to them I needed it as quick as I could get it. Um, Fibertex have gotten a good uh handhold on placing the a fiber connection that is on our existing fiber that we put in a couple years ago to feed the sewer plant. We had spare fibers in it. So, they've been out splicing that to go from city hall out to that fiber and it runs half of it's going north to the sewer plant, half of it's going across the street to the PD. Um, what that'll do for us is it'll help us get the Cow Link customers off that are on that direction and be able to feed the two that we're going to have left in CLE. We'll still be able to feed them wirelessly like we're doing Cow Link. They'll still be on Willist Fiber, but they're just going to get their connection through the Wi-Fi until we can figure out what we're going to do in CLE if we do anything at all. Um, it'll also eliminate our wireless link that we have between city hall and the PD. And that might be part of our problem with Edmonds dropping off is we we may be losing some packets on that wireless link. So, we're trying to get it switched over to fiber. And that's that's about it. Any questions?

Any questions from Keep on Keeping on. That's fast enough. Yeah. Perfect. Any other updates from staff? Any other updates from staff? Anything from the council? Mr. Cox, if you haven't been out to Country Lane Estates at night, you should ride out there. Their street lights that they put up are really nice. Not overpowering. It's just the right amount of light for the neighborhood. So, speaking of lunch,

I'll talk to you afterwards. No, I seen you looking over here. Just a real quick update uh with with with excuse me, with what Mr. Mike said. Um, we do have to do some adjustments on the lights out in Country Lane estates. Some of the houses are lit up on the front side of the house and not on the roadway. Um, we're just trying to find the the right time and stay within our means and budget to to get the men out there in the evenings to to do that work because it'll it'll have to be after dark to to get a good idea how to shine those lights. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Anything from you, sir?

Yes, ma'am. I did not hear the city manager mention this. If you did, I apologize. Whistling Duck. It is a solar event. They're doing a ribbon cutting ceremony and I believe it is tomorrow at 10:00 in the morning. Uh I have a six passenger vehicle. There are three of us that are now going and you are more than welcome, which leaves room for two more people. They said that if you can carpool because parking will be limited. So, anybody that would like to go to their ribbon cutting ceremony tomorrow morning, if you would get with the city manager or the city clerk, they know we have I have two open spaces. You can go yourself. You can ride your bicycle. I don't care. But I'm offering two other places. Okay, that's one. The other thing before you move on, what time are you leaving from where

Latricia? It we're supposed to be there at 10:00, right? And it's about 12 minutes away. So, we would leave here by 9:30 from here. From here from city hall. I would like to ride with you, please, sir. You will be one now. I have one spot open. She's she's counted. So, we have one more spot if anybody would like to right now speak up. Can you tell them about the dress attire real quick? Are you aware? You got Yes. You got to wear hard soul. You got to wear hard sold shoes, long pants, and uh

for some reason they they actually address the length of the sleeves. I guess they don't want you to wear a tank top. You got to wear clothes with the sleeve in it. I will say you have to be pre-registered and those who have pre-registered have received that same email. I've received it. Me too. I just didn't know it was Yeah, it's it's it's a rather bizarre dress attire, I thought, but nonetheless, that's what it is. Okay. And it's going to be freezing, so we're going to need a car coat. All right. Okay. Thank you. Did you The other thing

is to do with the utility department and the police department. My department with the police has been given several vehicles due to the diligence of my chief and the utility department has need of one of those vehicles because they have a vehicle that does not work. So, I'm telling you, I'm not asking you. I'm telling you the plan is that the police department is going to give the utility department one of those vehicles and the utility department is going to give us the broken down old vehicle and we are going to sell it to the be best we can and that way the utility department will have a more a vehicle that is able to do the job that it needs to do. So unless I hear some big objections from the council, I'm letting you know that's what's about to happen. Uh the last thing is about the hospital. Is everybody aware of the tax lean on that hospital? And this is a this is a question I'm going to direct to the attorney. She I can see she's looking at me up inside of her eyes. What happens if that hospital doesn't sell? Eventually the fines on it accumulate to the point that the municipalities take the hospital. Is there any other option? I mean, if if you owe a million dollars in taxes, what happens to that hospital?

So, the way that a tax certificate sale works is that if someone owes their taxes and they don't pay them, um you can as an independent third party purchase a a tax certificate. If you purchase and hold that tax certificate, the owner of the property can choose to pay you back. it's at a certain level of interest and then they've paid off their taxes. Alternatively, for long enough or you have enough of them, etc. And I'd have to look back to exactly how much you would need to to owe or how long you need to hold. But then the certificate owner would have the opportunity to put in a bid for what it is that they owe or that they are owed from the property. So, say you hold a certificate for $50,000 worth of property taxes. You've paid $50,000 of someone's property taxes. when it inevitably goes up for tax sale, then you put in $50,000 and you don't have to pay anything. You're just you already have a $50,000 bid.

I understand all that. Has there been any certificate buyers for that hospital? Yes, sir. Um before you answer, is that part of one of our agendas? If it is, oh, let us I want clarification on the on the disposal of the hospital because the way I saw it was sooner or later that hospital is going to get more be fines and tax write offs than its value and it's got to go someplace. Okay. Thank you. And can you address that um Miss Belaloo during

Yeah, absolutely. Time. Thank you. Anything else? Nothing. All right, that concludes our staff updates. So now at this time we will go to item number M that has been moved to item number A which is an open public hearing. It is also a quasi judicial hearing

and is quasi judicial. So the first step is we will swear in anyone who uh intends to testify on this matter. Um so anyone who intends to talk regarding the special exception um SE 2026-01 uh please stand raise your right hand to be sworn. All right. And I'll get your names for the record. S ci.

All right. Do you all swear or affirm that the testimony you give today will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? You are duly sworn. All right, Madam President. The next item uh is exparte communications. Just as a reminder, an exparte communication is any communication or correspondence that any member of the council has had regarding this project outside of a public meeting to include site visits, correspondences with the owners, emails, phone calls, etc. that have to do with this particular that have to do with this application. Yes.

I sorry. I was uh approached by the ABC manager in charge of their licensing uh and he brought their issue to my attention. I've not spoken with the owners but only the ABC manager. Okay. And when you say he brought the issue to your attention just like very generally that they're applying for a special exception. Yeah. that the deadline had expired for the licensing and he asked that I reach out to the city to see if there was any steps that the city could offer for them to not offer but could what steps they needed to take in order to deal with that from the city's end.

Okay. And do you feel that any of the information from that communication will affect your decision tonight? Okay. Anyone else? Right. I'm seeing four headshakes, so I'm going to take that as four nos.

Four. Um, at this time, if there are any uh additional materials outside of what is in the agenda packet already for the council's review that anyone would like the council to consider uh during this hearing, please provide saying to the clerk at this time. All right, seeing none, the first item will be uh the staff presentation. Good evening, council. Laura Jones, uh planning and zoning department. Um we've seen the special exception um before, but since we have a new council, I just wanted to give you a quick uh presentation on what a special exception is and then what the details of this particular one is. So the application is SE2026-01. It's a special exception to allow for liquor sales. It's on parcel 0558400 0 0 0558 0 0 1 0 05586 00 0 0 and 0558 0 0 0. The addresses are 20 28 34 and 36 East Noble Avenue, also known as Spurs Chop House. So, what is a special exception? These are zoning terms uh for a land use that isn't automatically permitted in a zone, but can be allowed if specific predetermined conditions are met, ensuring it promotes public welfare by controlling its location, size, and impact, often requiring a public hearing for approval. And that's why we're here tonight. So, this particular special exception in commercial is in section 60 335. The following are special exceptions in the commercial um general areas. And then if

you go down to in the land development code, it'll say commercial intensive C commercial general. And then this is actually the center city. We have a different um it's called the business central. It's a different kind of zoning, but it goes back to commercial general. So, it's complicated to find in the zoning um land development code, but specifically it says package store for sale of alcoholic beverages, bar, tavern, or cocktail lounge. So, they're all in there together. I just gave you some more information on the next page about where these um places can go. We know that they can't go within 300 ft of a church or a school. We've been through that a couple of times. And then we have some definitions. Our land development code definitely needs to be updated and we're going to work on that in 2027 after some of these bills expire that we can actually update our land development code and our comp plan is finished. But alcoholic beverages mean distilled spirits and all beverages containing 1/ half of 1% or more of alcohol by volume. I also gave you the definitions of church and child care facilities just in case you were curious. I gave you definitions of establishment and dealing with alcoholic beverages, which means any business or establishment licensed by the state for the sale or service of alcoholic beverages and includes the term licensed premises as defined in state statutes. I gave you a couple other ones that talk about what a restaurant is, what a vendor is. There are a couple limitations. Even if you do allow the special exception, doesn't mean that they can just carve launch, do whatever they want. There are still rules in the land development code. In section 6-3, there's hours. Section 6-4, we talk about no sale on the 25th of December. And then section 6.5, inspections to determine violations, revocation, and suspensions of license. That's usually from the

state. We try not to regulate anything like that since it is a state license. This is just a zoning requirement. So, um, chapter 6 talks again about alcoholic beverages. I have some maps for you on the next page, Latricia, if you want to go to the map so that everybody knows what we're talking about. We're sitting here at city hall. And across the street in block 12, the property is not the one on the corner, which is the old bank, but it's the four properties next to it that Spurs has purchased. It used to be an old antique store. Does everybody know what we're talking about? The next one is the central business zoning. Um, and that's just a requirement for me to give you guys what their zoning is. and then your surrounding areas 300 feet. We have no churches and no schools. So, our staff findings are that the petition has met the required criteria. The planning commission did not recommend approval. In fact, they said that it would be okay if it was a cocktail bar, but they did not like the package store idea. Um, I do have the property owners here to explain what's really going on if you guys want to hear it from them. Um, but as far as a special exception from your planning department, it does meet all the requirements. Do you have any questions from me about the zoning or planning of this? Yes, Meredith.

I would like to know why the planning committee felt that the package store would not be desirable specifically that if you go into the store and you buy liquor and you walk to the park and drink it, they thought that that was untored for our city. It was what? They didn't like that for our city. Un, you know, unattractive. Someone could go into the package store, buy alcohol, and walk to the park. Yes, sir. And if somebody goes into 7-Eleven and buys beer and walks to the park, it's different. No, sir. I did not argue. Okay.

I just I just wrote down the recommendations. Um also, it is illegal to drink alcohol in our parks. So, um we did talk to the police chief about it and they do regulate our parks. So, it should not be a major issue, but that was their um their issue. And did they draw any line between this package store and the package store on the top of the hill that Big O was there any clarification about the difference in approach to both of those businesses? Um, Councilwoman Martin, I did not bring up any other package stores in town. I just let them give their recommendation. Oh, thank you. I'm sorry.

No, that's okay. I was just curious. Yeah, Miss Jones, turn your mic on. Uh, my questions are probably more for them. Um, in what type of alcohol license do they have? Yes, because there are lots of different kinds. If President Hines wants them to come up and talk, um, that would be fine with me. Okay. You have no more questions about planning and zoning? Not right now anyway. They may. Maybe. We we reserved the right to back up.

Hello everybody. Uh Donald Ch here. Uh many of you know us already because we've been trying to get this put together for years now. Uh I wish I had never told you we were going to start it until uh recently, but here we are. Um but as as you mentioned the other day or earlier that uh we let our liquor license go to a term where they may take it from us. And this is a private license which has um the a package license connected to it. Um this came from the shrimp landing in English. That's who we bought it from and they had a package store. So that's the only reason that we own the package part of it is cuz it came with the license. So we actually had no intention of using the package, but it's just part of the of the license itself. Um uh and of course it's full beer, wine, and liquor. Uh our intention is to have it in the restaurant as a cocktails and you know for the bar. Uh if any of you have ever been to like a Marks or Ambers you know they have the bar inside the steakhouse and it's

very nice to to sit have a drink like Applebee's you know what or sit there and eat. Excuse me Mr. Kisher real quick. Can you pull the mic up so that we can hear you a little bit better? Little tall. Okay. Hi. You don't have to do that. Um, thank you.

But anyway, that that is the that's the design of the of the of the business plan is to have a nice restaurant. If you want to leave and go to a separate area of the bar, you could or you could go to, you know, have a cocktail brought to your table. Um, we had a bar for over 10 years in Ocala. Uh, we had a a big billiard room and a very nice place, family oriented. And our our goal is to have the same thing here. We're not going to have the old Willards, although I wasn't here when old the old Willards was around. Uh we're not going to have riff raft and you know, people drinking outside. I It's We're going to be a responsible place. Um unfortunately though for the license itself because of I'm not going to blame Laura, but the the parking lot has hindered us quite a bit in terms of finishing that project. uh and our ignorance in owning a license without it being established in a actual location. Um we're on the verge of losing that license that we paid for. So the city is allow or we're trying to get the city to allow us to build a liquor store. This is this is what we're looking for today, which we don't plan on keeping, but it's going to be cheap. We put a bathroom in. We put a couple of shelves. We have a liquor store until we get the restaurant done and then it will convert to the bar restaurant. So I know that kind of threw a loop in because a lot of you didn't know exactly what you were we were here.

So you have multiple types of license. You have license for a package store. You have license for on premises consumption. They're they're virtually the same license. Yes. Okay. Well, I mean some are some and some Well, some of them have a package. So you have a combination license. combination. It does both, right? Okay. For on premises, not just for beer and wine, but for hard liquor, which is a different license than just beer and wine. And also for package. For package. Exactly.

Okay. Um I I will say that I have absolutely no problem with a restaurant that serves u a cocktail or beer and wine. Uh which I know you're not ready for yet. And it's probably why you're interested in doing the other so you won't lose slices. That's correct. Um, I would not like the package store in like when you mentioned the embers. There is no package store inside of Embers. There is a wonderful bar and restaurant. That is correct. Um, but there's not a package store. So, that is my only drawback I can tell you. Again, it's temporary. It literally I mean once we get the We have to We have to have a location for that license. If we don't have a location for the license, we lose the license

and then it all goes Yeah. did I did do some research and saw that you had to have so many days open and that sort of thing in order to keep we actually got an extension and then screwed that up. So yeah, we're at the final days because they only allow so many per county. Correct. And if you don't use it, they want you to give it up. So somebody else can use it. I did do some research on that. So I I think that answers my question for right now. I may have some more in a minute. Nobody else. My biggest question is I hear your intentions but a lot of people have good intentions.

Your intentions are not to maintain that package store but to convert it to a bar to accompany the restaurant and then at that point to quit selling bottled alcohol for removal from the premises at that package store. That's correct. That that is your intention. Well, we've spent $400,000 in intentions. I understand. I just I just want to be help everyone get clarity. And so that's while that's your intention. Yeah.

Is there any way that you can set a time frame for the council to help them to say, "Okay, he's not going to get the package store. We've allowed it. Now he'll just keep a package store forever." because in fact that's what you could do and I think that would be the only thing that might and I'm not speaking for them but might cause them to resist.

Yeah. And I think that's why they didn't recommend us with the last um hearing that we had is that very thing that I may just you know it and I have to be honest if I'm making a million dollars a week I'm keeping it. But I think we all know that with that broken parking lot right now and the time frame it's going to take to get that started, we're probably not even going to have customers, you know, just they're going to have to have a sign door that says open. Yeah. You're going to have to have a band or something. I've been waiting for it to open for a year. Exactly. Well, if you don't let us do this, we were not going to have a band. So, um, any other questions? Only for Kirsten. Are there any legal ramifications for the ask?

There's always legal ramifications of everything that you do and don't do as it turns out. Um just because he said this is why he's warning, he's really not going to do what he what is required in a sense and we are

you are not required to provide the special exception. The only reasons, let me phrase it like this, the only reasons to grant or deny the special exception are the reasons laid out in your code regarding public nuisance and good for the health and safety and all the other factors that are laid out in the code that Laura laid out for you. So those are your considerations. Certainly that can factor in as as a sort of soft factor into one of those different categories, but it's not something that is dispositive one way or the other for you all. doesn't have to be unless you choose it to be. Okay. Thank you. Got a question. So,

so when you start when do you plan to start the restaurant? If you get the package lounge, you know, store going.

What everybody doesn't know is we already have all the restaurant equipment. We already have the drawings. We already have uh the bar equipment. We already have everything that we need to start building. Uh, in fact, we hired a project management company to come in and start. We're going to be pulling permits pretty quickly. Uh, but we're just in the final few days that if we don't do something, we actually had to spend more money to create a set of plans for a liquor store with some shelves in it just so we could, you know, get that get that moving. Uh, but we're already well under our under way to getting that the restaurant going. If you were to, if I was to take you over there now, you'd walk in one building that has all the restaurant equipment. Um, we've already got booths, tables. I mean, we're we're set. We just can't do anything.

Thank you. Any further discussion? Uhhuh. So, for Laura and uh Miss Kirstston, uh we could give him a special a special exception with a stipulation uh saying that he could have a package store for one year. I don't think you can do that. Can you Where is it? you. Okay. Thank you. I I couldn't tell where the book came from.

You can you can grant with conditions on the special exception. So special exceptions just generally speaking just a 10,000 foot view are different than variances, right? Variance runs with the land. So when you grant a variance, everyone who owns the land in the future forever has that variance. The special exception runs with the applicant. And the special exception is specific to just those things that are in that category of special exception which they've asked for. So it's package stores and the bar restaurant concept would be included in that same special exception um situation. So you can provide conditions that are tied to the factors laid out in your code. A lot of the time conditions include um ensuring sufficient parking spaces or um setting limitations um on uh hours or or things like that. Uh so you can make those uh conditions. I've I've not had anyone ever try to do a time limitation on a special exception. Um I will say that you can do just about anything with the consent of the owner. Um, so if we are in agreement on a certain condition, then then that's perfectly acceptable.

Okay. I just want to caution um putting extreme limitations on a downtown business. Um, if you want to put a time restraint of them on them of some sort, I would make it lenient. Um, you never know what's going to happen. We could have another one of those storms tomorrow and it could rip his roof off. and now you've told him he can't keep his special exception when he's, you know, because he's trying to fix his roof. You know, things can happen. So, I wouldn't give him a 6 month or one year. I would be a little bit more lenient. A year goes by fast.

I honestly don't think that downtown is the proper place for a package store. Block lot 12. I don't believe that's the proper place for a package store. Um, I did not know the reason planning and zoning said no, but I tend to agree that on premises consumption and walking out the door with it are two totally different things. I realize they're not always. Sometimes they do both, but there's usually a separate entrance. And you may be doing that. Not really sure. I did see the extra plan with the package store in it with the shelving and that the other plan did not have it in it. Um, so that's just kind of where I'm where I'm going. I temporarily so you don't lose that license, but I wouldn't want it to be there for any great length of time.

Well, the good news is we agree with you. Yeah, we all agree, but that I I am the um business development person as well. And if he is making a million dollars a month, I would hate to shut him down because we didn't like it down. if he's doing a great business. I just want you to be cautious about that. That's all. Miss Merida, I sorry strongly disagree with Deborah. Um I think that it is a perfectly acceptable place. I don't know why it would be any different than up on the hill where Big O is which has equal proximity to a park um and to the John Henry Park. John Henry Park. Yeah. And because it's not on premises consumption, that's makes the difference.

But it doesn't No. They can't drink in the package store, right? They can't, right? Yeah. You drink it next door if they keep it. They can they That's my point. But then that's already a bar. That's their bar and restaurant. They're already going to have a bar, right?

Yeah. Ultimately, and I I I will say that I I have been to a lot of very nice downtowns that have exactly what he's describing, which is a bar and a restaurant with a package store. Sometimes it's, you know, fine wine, sometimes it's a mix of whatever where people can drink. they like the wine, they go next door and they take a bottle of it home. And it in my personal experience, it's it's never caused an issue before. And I don't know why we would discriminate between the top of the hill and in this area, which we do want to revitalize. So, you know, I just beg to differ with Deborah's assessment of the situation. So mainly you're just going to use it to keep the license and then once the restaurant's built, you're basically going to pull that the package store away.

We're going to be continuing construction on the restaurant while the liquor store is open. I don't again I don't foresee us making any money there because people are not going to park at Melany's and walk down and you know when they can just go to the top of the hill and pull right up to the front door. Right. So you'll just once the restaurant's completed then the package store will kind of Exactly. Then we'll have a temporary bar in in the restaurant and then the liquor store itself will change into the actual bar which may take another year. Who knows how long that will take, but at least and that's why you'll see that we are utilizing all three buildings for the the license so that way things can just move right down into the restaurant. Okay.

And I get it. I think Miss De's looking at location, not necessarily that it's just a package bar. Um but can let me say that one more thing. You know, we are trying to revitalize downtown. We bought those buildings because the the promise of having that parking lot done and we want, you know, people to be able to park, come in and enjoy not just our restaurant, our bar, you know, maybe we do a small pool hall there. Maybe there's other businesses. I know that you have family that are doing other things there. I mean, we want we want I look at Elatchua, Okala, Gainesville, and I'm disgusted that there's highway rides right in front of it, but it is what it is. So the only thing that we can do is wrap it around the back and utilize those buildings for a nice downtown area where people can actually go and have a a nice dinner outside of of sisters and other places that are coming. So I I know I agree with you Deborah about the liquor store. I don't want the liquor store, but to keep the license and to keep Spurs alive, I have to do it. So that's why we're here.

Understood. Yeah. So you don't have a problem with the stipulation of time? I personally don't. I agree with her. You know, things do happen. So if you were to give me a stipulation, I would rather be at least two years. You know what I mean? To give me something. Thank you. That's what I keep been raising my hand for. Okay. But Mr. Mayor, stop talking out of turn, please. Mr. Mayor. Thank you, Madame President. What timeline would you find reasonable that you could live with in the stipulation that some members of the council have asked if you could deal with?

I would think a two-year timeline would would be sufficient for us. And hope we do it in 6 months or one year. Okay. And and that's a fair ask. You know, that's what we're here for, to ask questions and, you know, try to make sure that we're doing what's appropriate for the city. Okay. Anyone else? The public. We have to vote first, don't we? So, you'll have anything else from the applicant? Nothing else that you want to present?

Okay. All right. Then it would be time for public comment. Then the applicant and staff will have an opportunity to rebuttal. So we don't vote first and then have them do it. Not yet. All right. Um public please. Joby. Uh with them having a special exceptions or whatever yall you talking to the mic? Whatever y'all talking about. I know what if he this is for Kirstson. So, what if they did a special assessment on it and say that for 6 months he ends up selling it, that special assessment will go away. Correct. It won't go on to correct.

It won't go on to So, there's no sense there's no sense even putting a special exception on it. Period. I mean, he could resell it and then it's just washed away and it is what it is, right? The special exception is for him, right? But if he resold it within 6 months, the special assessment gone. gone. So there's no point I even having a special decision. They would have to come back. But there is that's the process. Yeah, they would have to come back and get special decision. Um, anyone else? Mr. Fuller.

I Albert Fuller from Williston. I do think there is an inherent difference between BNO and this this location unless he's able to provide a drive-thru because BNO has a drive-thru which doesn't demand parking and there is a limitation on the parking out there and so a restaurant and a a package store may not fit and so there is a reason why there may need to be a limitation put on it so that the two may not be able to operate simultaneously. And that would that would then just say that once the once the restaurant closes and once the restaurant opens, the package store may need to close anyway.

That's what I Thank you. Anything further from I'll just comment that at least that'll be the only thing open at night for now and and he can have the whole parking lot unless something else opens at night. What happened? He'll be the only store open at night that's in the park in the block 12 area. So the parking lot's empty except for him. Any other discussion? Daytime may be a little different. Any further discussion? If there's nothing else from the public, the applicant and staff have an opportunity to rebut.

I was just going to say that um you know, from the very beginning of us talking about opening spurs, people wanted to be able to eat a little bit later at night. So, we plan on being open a little bit later for at least the restaurant side so people could actually have a dinner coming back from Gainesville or wherever the hell they come from. So, past 10:00. Yes. Past 11. At least till it be midnight maybe midnight hot dogs. Maybe anything. That's one. I mean I I always say I'm like why do people close so early? People want to because we go to bed early. We don't. You do. I'm not. Okay. Anything else from you, Miss Jen?

Yeah. I just wanted in closing um as your LDR administrator just remember that it does meet the criteria and as your business development manager um we need it. So think very um think about that two years a little bit. If you're going to make a motion, I would extend it as long as you possibly can because again, we don't know what's going to happen with businesses or um with buildings, especially of that age. I would just hate for them to run out of that two years because of something that has to do with the building or the parking lot. Does that stipulation have to be in this particular special exception though?

If that's what you're asking for, I'll write a resolution. Come back and it can be an agenda. It can be consent agenda for the resolution, but it would be a contract between city council and the property owner. Part of the motion, Mr. Cox, did you have something else? No.

Okay. So you would need to two things. One, when you make the motion to approve, if there are any conditions, i.e. two years, I would make sure that that's in the motion when it's made. And then the second thing is you can also allow for another special exception to be applied for at the end of that as as part of your condition if that's what you choose. Right? If if at the end of the two years you want them to have the ability to reapply, um you can provide that You don't have to. I'm just I just heard that as a concern. Yeah. Can we get a motion?

Well, you have another question.

No, I I mean I guess there's just the discussion at this point between us about what the motion would be, like what number of years we would put on it. And it's a lot to ask them to invest with no guarantee that in two years that the special exception would be renewed and on the off chance that they find some some issues or parking lot or we have a hurricane or whatever it is that slows this down. We want to ask a business owner who's invested in coming in and putting a business in that to have the faith that after they make all of that investment in two years, if something has delayed the process, they may not receive a second special exception from us because they would have to come to a vote. And I think that's a lot to ask of a business owner to make that level of investment with not without a certain number of years of, you know, as Laura said, two years. I mean, how long have you they've been working on it? I mean, two years have gone by in the blink of an eye and just don't know. I would be more comfortable with three years.

Okay. Well, he was asked the question and he said two years. Thank you. I was thinking 18. I was going to meet you halfway. I make a motion we approve special exemp special exception application SC 2026-01 with no time limitation. We have a motion. Do we have a second?

No second. Motion D. I'll do it. I second it. I just You late. You too late. I said motion. Can he Can I Can I let him? Yes. Okay. So, we have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed? Nay.

Nay. Motion passes 3 to two. ALL RIGHT. SO, our public hearing is now closed. So, now we will go with item B, discussion with possible action. City utility bills. Utility bills being received late. Business owner Carl Pinkston. Young Carl Pinkston. I live at 912 Northwest 7th Street. Been here a long, long time. Probably more than anybody in this room has been here in this town. I It's been discussed. I received my bill the 10th. It was due that day. I came down here 11. They told me about the mail situation. Are we going to even though the the bills are mailed out on the 26th or the 27th going through the mails today that we go through? Are we going to be able to get the the little lady that has a fixed income her have her money back in by the 10th? Well, why is the 10th so so much expressed on this? Why don't we make it the 15th where that little lady that that's had that don't know what a right bill is going to be anyway. I have got thousands of dollar light bills at my business a couple months ago. I got a $6,000 light bill at my business out there. Unreal for this town. Unreal for this town. But we paid it. We paid it. But this little lady that that lives on a fixed income, she might need a few days to look at this bill that that she's getting and not make it on the 10th. Be so designated on the 10th. I used to get my bill a long time ago on the 26th. I could almost go home on the 26th of the month and there my bill was and I had to attempt to pay it.

A long time that went on and now we can't get them done. We start doing them on the 27th. It goes somewhere probably third or fourth they get mailed back to us and then we've got to and then back get back to you and then we mail them to us and then we get the mail back to you and it's a day or two late like I did a couple months ago. I had about three or four days before my light bill was due and I got a late charge because my bill was late getting to the city hall. I totally agree, Mr. Pston. We all agree. We all agree. Why? Why not be due on the 10th?

Nobody did the timer. If we going to uh if if that's our services, if you're giving our people here in town is so bad with the mail, why don't we make it do on these on agenda and give some people more time? I know this past month they did make them do on the 12th instead of the 10th. One month, one month. Yeah.

One month. One, two days. One time, two days. And I didn't know it. I didn't know it, but I didn't know I would be late when I mailed it about three or four days to you before time. And then the mail held it up for some reason. And then I got bill to late charge which I paid. I paid I paid a $6,000 bill you give me at the mini storage a couple of months ago. I paid it. It's an unfair bill for a poor guy in Wilston trying to make a living. We pay it. And I think the people of Wilston need to be taking consideration about the 10th of the month being a deadline. Why don't we spend it to the 15th? Give a little lady a few more days to get her little money together. Yeah, that's all I've got to say to you.

Okay, if you'll just stay there for a second, Mr. Kingston, Miss Megan, I'm going let Miss Megan respond to you. So, as far as I'm aware, I've lived in and around Williston my entire life. Every time uh a customer opens an account with the city of Willist, it specifically says on your paperwork when you signed up for your account, you're basically signing a contract. And it does say that all bills are due by the 10th. So that that's just that's the contract that everyone signed. So everyone knows if you read it does say that all bills are due on the 10th. But you have to get it to know what it is. At that time I was getting on the 26th of the

cor correct. I know that you have to get it to know what it is. But it also says that it's due by the 10th on the contract that you sign when you sign your utility account. Now Miss Miss Sue and I have and and Mr. Rob here. We did push it out this month and I we didn't apply late fees for four or five days till after. Um and we did so the last couple of months because of the issue with everybody getting their bills.

City fathers, y'all y'all can change it. Make it the 15th. Well, why do we have to have it on the mail service we have today? E even if we change it to the 15th and there's issues with the mail and you receiving the bill, it's going to be the same complaint on the 15th that you didn't get it at the 15th. Can't we shouldn't keep moving dates um because we should get people that know how to do the job that is able to do it. It can be done in the time frame we have. Is not it's not

well they're they're actually working on it. they move to somebody different. That person is not working out. So now they're looking at going back to where we were before with somebody else who could potentially do it the way they need to do it. They're even talking about bringing it back in house. So they're working on it. They're talking about it, but that's just like, and I I don't mean to be rude about it, but that's just like if you have any other bill with anybody else and there's a date a due date, you pay that due date whether or not you get the bill or not because you know that it's due. I have no bill coming to my house is due in 3 days from the time I got the letter. 3 days from the time

I've opened up a couple couple of days before mine was due. I'm just saying I'm just being the devil's advocate at this point, but I'm just saying we all know that the bill is due and if you haven't received it, then call. But when they find that there is an issue, I'm old. I can't I'm young and I I understand I can't either. Sometimes the office doesn't but I don't. We all have to own um the responsibility in it. and we are owning some responsibility by saying, "Okay, it's being late and we're working on trying to do something different so that this doesn't happen." When do you expect under the new program, when do you expect the customer to receive the bill? Miss Megan,

under the new program we're going under, when do you expect the customer to receive the bill in the mail? We are looking into multiple different uh companies to print our bill. I think Miss Sue and Mr. Rob and I decided that this month particularly we will be cook we will be printing them inhouse to send out ourselves and then we will go from there to a new printing company and please keep in mind that sometimes the the US postal service is also the delay in this and we don't have control over the postal service unfortunately Mr. here.

Thank you, Madam President. I just want to point out that I had been a victim of the same thing. And like the president said, I knew my bill was during the 10th. I didn't know how to pay it because I didn't know what it was. So, I walked into city hall on the 10th and I said, "I need to pay my bill, but I don't know what it is." and they gave me the amount and I wrote them a check. It's not that difficult. It's it's not something that you want to have to do continuously, but if you what the president said is absolutely clear. You have a bill. It's June the 10th. If you haven't received it, find out why. And simply go come to this city hall. And the girls within 5 minutes had my bill. I was prepared to pay whatever it was and it was over. It was inconvenient but sometimes there are inconvenience. Thank you,

Madam President. Can I say something? Yes, ma'am.

Thank you. Um, first and foremost, I want to take some responsibility here, Mr. Kingston because the city had been given a recommendation by our finance director to utilize some funds from our um rate stabilization fund, which is basically a, for lack of a better word, a savings account to help our residents with their high utility bills that we knew were coming because of the gas prices. It took us a few days. We there was multiple of us that consulted on this and we went through several bills to see how it would affect if we used this rate stabilization fund. If we did not use it, people's bills would have been as high as 35% more. So, it was a decision that I did not take very lightly. It took me a day or two to make that decision. So, that's the reason the bills went out on the 27th rather than on the 25th when Megan originally said they were going to go out. So, part of that is my fault, but I wanted to be very diligent about how I was utilizing taxpayers funds. So that's the first thing I want to be very clear about and the fact that we may need to dip into this rate stabilization fund again this month because gas prices as you know are even worse now than they were a month ago for what you're recommending that isn't our code we have that in our you know our municipal code that says the bills are due on the 10th and we assess late fees on such and such date and cut offs and such and such date. So what we would need to do and I will discuss this with Rob and Megan is we will need to start reading the meters earlier to try and get these bills out earlier in the month and we will definitely discuss that tomorrow. You know we can't we have to wait until obviously cut offs are done and you know there's a certain time frame that we can't even start meter reading but once all that's done we can see if maybe we can push that up a little further to try and again get the bills out a little closer. Right.

I think that's a great idea and we can certainly look at doing that. But I I I want to be clear that, you know, we we are working with the ma the postmaster. We met with Mr. Ortiz last week. Um he knew it was a problem because of course we are pointing the finger at the post office and so he knew it was a problem because people are going right to him. So, I don't want to put all the blame on the postmaster because again, some of it was the decision that we made to use the rate stabilization fund. And I won't say that bringing the bills inhouse is going to be an absolute fix all because as you probably know, when you mail something out of Willist, it goes to Jacksonville and comes back. And the reason for that, and this is getting a little in the weeds, but it's for something called informed delivery, which some of our residents may have, where you get a email that shows you what your bills are coming in the mail that day. That cannot be done here in Willist, it has to be done in Jacksonville. So, that's the reason that even if you mail something to your neighbor, it's going to go to Jacksonville and come back. That's still going to take probably a week to do. So, there's a lot of things we have to do to take, you know, into consideration here. But again, it is something that we are working on. Again, we met with the postmaster. We've been meeting, Rob and Megan and I, we are diligently working on getting this solution because it's not acceptable to get your bill the day that it's due. We 100% agree with you.

Okay. So, I have a thing. Anything else, Miss Pinkston? No, ma'am. Did you have something in this box?

So, since we've got it as a problem, we know it. We got to deal with it. So, I'm going to say this is not going to be popular. There are people who go to a lot of meetings. city manager. Um, she goes Rob, which I don't understand why you would go to so many, but you for the next two weeks till the next council, you work hand in hand with Megan to get it done. Nope. Don't go to any meetings. Come back with the solution so we can give residents because this it's it's gone on too long. I hear it. I paid just like everybody else. But I hear it from a lot more family members and it's it's sorry it's not fair. We got to own I think a little more responsibility because we're coming to the dinner table late. We should have been doing this couple months two or three months back.

You want to go ahead, Mr. Mayor. Vice President Cox, I hope you're not telling the city manager that she can't go to the ribbon cutting ceremony 12 miles away. She can go to that tomorrow. Thank you. Yes, ma'am.

You can. Yes. I just wanted to state that I believe a key element to the main concern is not just that we can't get our information as far as like what we have to pay that day or what we have to pay that month before the actual due date, but the fact that we have no idea what what bracket of bill we're going to be facing, whether it's going to be $150 or $800 because we don't have a rate stabilization that applies to everyone's bills every month to kind of keep it within in a certain wheelhouse. So if you have lower months, you pay a little bit more. So that way your average bill is around $300, for example. On your higher months, it would take away from that and kind of help to level that out. The rate stabilization fund is great to have, but if it's something we're not utilizing all the time, then for the residents, we have no idea what our bill is going to be and the panic sets in when we receive our bill, let's say on the 10th, it's due on the 10th, and we know if we don't have it within 2 days, there's a panic, there's a freakout mode. If it's a $100 or $2 $300, it's not that big of a deal. But if it's $800, how can you find that within two days? That's I believe where a big portion of that panic sets in. We don't know what our bill is. We don't know when we'll receive our bill and we have no idea what range it's going to actually be. So every month for myself, I'm freaking out saying, I hope I have what it's going to be this month. But if it was something a little bit more averaged from utilizing the rate stabilization, I think it would help to ease some of that concern as well as all the other efforts that are being placed to be able to get those bills out at a more reasonable time frame. I think if we are able to at least discuss that with the residents that we're looking at that from all angles and we're actually going to be able to apply that, I think that'll even help with the annexation.

That's the biggest concern is what's going on with our bill. You have no idea. you don't know when you're going to receive it and you have very short amount of time to actually get it in. It makes it very hard for people. So, let me ask you when prior to all of this happening, when did you typically get your bill? Uh, I would say 8 months ago. It used to be before the beginning of the month or around the beginning of the month. So, you had a little bit of time. before the beginning of the month around the beginning of the month. not received your bill then I would usually go online try to figure out what's going on be an opportunity to say okay I haven't received my bill but I know our online was also having wait a day and then right say hey I haven't received my bill but another point tell me what my bill is

what's brought up is not every household in Wilson has those opportunities for my elderly family members they don't they call me they're like hey can you look online can you see what's going on can you call because it's a little bit harder for them to be able to do so and if that's the case then that it makes it even that much harder for them to receive the notifications that are usually posted on Facebook or somewhere along those lines. They don't see that because they don't they don't utilize the internet. And I get it. I understand. I'm just saying there's a part for everybody to play. It's not just, you know, one one way. Everybody has to own Yeah. what's going on. So, we have to own it from our different perspectives. Of course. Of course. It all plays a role in the overall issue that is the the monthly bills.

Yeah. Mr. I would say if you give them an email, whether it's your business email or your personal email, they will email it to you before the end of the month, right? Every month. Like there are some that's what we've done. Some citizens that we could be late enough have electricity mini storage. So we sure to get it in Amanda make sure she gets Well, I have my I have my house I have my personal email on my home. I have my personal email on my business. I get both of those before the end of the month by email. At the church where I work, we have five bills and I get all five of them before the end of the month. Right. And I print them and I pay the bill.

I did not know that was an option. Yes, sir. So, make sure you give those two ladies at the front your email and they I want to give you my They will send it to you. Forget it. It's the best way to do it right now. Anything else? Cuz if it's wrong and they do some adjustment, they will send you a new bill, right? They will send you a second one. Mr. Pink, any Thank you. Mr. Pinkston, anything else from you, sir? No, I just came to talk to the little lady like me that 86 years have not emailed. I don't have an email address. I don't have all this stuff emailed at my home. At my office, the girls run it for me. At my home, I don't. So, just consider the little lady that don't know what, like they said, don't know what the light bill is going to be. Right. Thank you for coming.

Okay. The city. Thank you, Mr. Pson. I I would say that um Mr. Lang sorry Mr. L go ahead. I would just say we got to be careful about we talk about the rate stabilization. Yeah. So a monthly that's something we can't use every day a monthly thing. That's only when bills would go up absolutely necessary. So, we got to be very careful in saying, you know, we're doing it this month, we might have to do it next month because people will get in a habit of it and then when we do need it to help people, we won't have it. So, we got to be very careful.

Awesome. Thank you. Thank you,

Robert Langan, 500 Northwest Fifth Avenue. Um, I agree with Vice President Cox. Guys, I've been hearing this damn stuff for 6, 8, 10 months about building It's time for y'all get off the damn fence post and make a decision. People and the mayor's right people can come in here, but not everybody can make it in here. They got travel issues. They got disabilities. They can't not everybody in town can come up here to city hall desk and ask them. And not everybody, I'm willing to bet a nickel or two um that not everybody in town has internet and computer access. Sure.

Y'all are making a mountain out of a mold. He'll just make a decision and get it on. If the people aren't doing it, I know Sue is working hard on I I know Robert's working hard on it. I've talked to him. This has come up in past on other subjects, but you as a board just need to make a decision. Either change a company, bring it in house, give it to another company. And guys, it doesn't take six months to make this kind of a decision. It's just lack of attention to the specific problem that's being kicked down the football field. Thank you. Except we don't make that decision.

Thank you, sir. Miss Wright, I'm not trying to make an excuse, but we don't know that the bills are late until someone calls us and let us know. So we are unaware as well that the bills are being late to the customers. The city limits. I said because none of you live in the city limits and you don't get a bill. No, but uh even if the customers, you know, Yeah. they have to call us and let us know that, hey, we didn't receive our bill. And then we speak to each other and talk with Sue and say, hey, you know, the customers haven't received their bill. And then that's when Megan and Sue get together and have me put something out on Facebook. Yeah. But until someone calls in, we don't know

that they're late. Okay. All right. Thank you. So, we're actively working on that. All right. So, we'll move on to item the next item. Discussion with possible action update on Willist Fiber. He Hector Sam Mario with performance services. But Hector's not here. Hector's not here. Okay. NGR Mike McCann, performance services project manager. Okay. Hi.

Um right now we're uh our primary focus is finishing up the drops uh in the city um that are going to the customers. Um we've been issued or we were issued uh 865, but as Aaron said, we had two that kind of dropped off that list. So we have 863 which means by contract we're required to do 950. So we have 87 more customers that uh we need to do drops for at some point. Um we have now completed all of the drops that we can complete. We have 12 left and of those 12 we've got four that are being held up because we haven't gotten the permits approved. Um, we've got four that are a commercial property where I think it's an apartment where someone has said, "Yeah, I want fiber, but we've got to get approval from the uh apartment complex before we can install there." Um, so there's 12 of them that have issues like that that that we have to work through before we can finalize those installations. Um, we're also doing testing and we've now got testing done in seven of the nine zones. Um, we're finishing up the last two zones and then we'll go back and finish the uh few that we found where we've got trouble. Um, I think they said right now with the seven that we've got, uh, we've got about 10 locations where we need to investigate what the problem is. Um, so we've got troubleshooting to do in about 10 locations there. Um, don't know how many we'll get in the last two zones, but it hasn't been substantial u for any of the zones. Um the other big item is the permits and we have uh submitted for information from 811 engineering locate to get information on the utilities that are possibly in the

area. Um previously we didn't uh put all the information in the permits and that was part of the reason they were getting rejected. So, we're getting the information from 811 to tell us who might be in the area, and we're just going to broadcast uh notifications to everybody that we're uh essentially doing work in the area and to let them know uh that we're there. Um we expect to have that that was done. Actually, the city did that and we're expecting to have that information anytime. I believe it was done on Thursday um of last week. So, we should be hearing uh tomorrow at the latest uh Thursday, I think. I can't remember how many hours or how many you know that they have to respond, but it should be in the next day or so. Um, so as soon as that we get that information, it'll take us um about a day or two to finish up the permit drawings and then we'll uh get with FDOT and we're the plan was that we will do a team's meeting with them, do a visual review of the permits prior to resubmitting them just to make sure everything's good and then sending those into them. Uh so we are um feel like we're very close but uh you know we're uh we're still still working. Um the other big thing that will be coming up is we've got to figure out what to do with the 87 remaining uh drops that we owe you and how we're going to fill those out. whether they wait, you know, as as more customers come in and come back and do those or how, you know, you guys want to handle that. So, um, the one caveat to that is once we would kind of leave, we would need five or so to be able to come back

just so that we had a day's worth of work to complete. So that would be the only thing is we might not be able to come back if somebody calls that next day to come back and do an installation. So okay thank you. Any discussion from council

question on the permit resubmission are you going to help them and be part of that team's meeting with FDOT? I will be, but I'm not going to make any uh indications that I have a significant knowledge that would help them other than just I was in the meeting with FDOT the last time. So, I have an idea of what is required uh or what FDOT is wanting to see on the drawings. So, we are making sure that we we get that information. We also did get some additional information from Aaron um for some uh utilities that you guys have that we didn't uh we weren't told that existed. So, we've been able to incorporate all of that in. So, there'll be a lot more information that is shown because we you know were able to get that information uh from Aaron. I I know there's been a previous team's meeting with the subcontractor to do those permits and the subcontractors were not following through like they should have and that's why we that's one of the reasons we don't still have them. Um I just think it's important that somebody from performance services take part in that meeting uh so that they can be on top of it and know that it's getting done. Yep.

Because we're about tired of waiting in all honesty. We are Anyone else? Miss Meredith, we have a question. Um, last time Hector said that we were very close, in fact, I think he said within the week or so. It's been two weeks. So, my question is, how close are we to getting customers actually hooked up?

Well, that's difficult because it's a combination of us having our portion done and Aaron having his portion done. So, um, you know, technically we have customers that can be hooked up and I think he has a few customers hooked up where he's testing things. So, you know, technically we we can hook some customers up. We just can't hook all that that have asked the city, you know, the 685 that have asked the city to hook up. Yeah,

there actually were a lot more than that that that asked originally, but some of them were in East Willist and some are out southwest of the airport and they're not within the uh city limits and the footprint of the system uh that we were able to install. So from your end um how far are like how far are you from having everything that you need to have done so that our customers can be hooked up.

So the last pie it once we get the permits we have about a week's worth of work to complete all of that permit uh work because there's only I think eight locations. Um two of them are aerial. I think the rest are are underground uh installations. So, we have about a week's worth of work. So, within two weeks of having that permit approved, we should be have the system ready to go. Okay. Now, we will could still have some of these 12 uh drops that aren't resolved because again, we've got to get property owner to,

you know, give us authorization. And you know, we had two, like I say, this week uh or last week where they said they wanted it installed, but then you know, the tenant went right. And last week, sorry, last council, uh, Hector said that the the FOT permits were not holding up anything other than the expansion, Williston Highlands. And what was the other I asked very specifically, were the FOT permits holding up? They were are Our installation team went through and looked and there were about 20 addresses. Okay. That that that those two locations kept from basically uh functioning. Okay.

So four of them are where we've got these drops that we can't finish because of purpose. So ballpark you have 600 and and almost 800 customers who are capable of being from your end from the contractor's end are capable of being hooked up at this time. Yes, we now we have we're finishing testing. So, some of those have not been tested, okay, in two of the zones. And then there's about 10 that are showing issues when we did the initial testing. So, we've got to go back and check the connections on those 10. Right. Okay. So, yeah, I I would guess there's, you know, you've got those 10. Yeah. Plus the 12,

you know, right? So, and plus the 20 that we can't hook up until the permits are done. So, fantastic. And I I understand probably right around 800, right? Ballpark number. I just wanted to understand what your portion what percentage of your portion was done. And so, at this point now, we're just waiting for the Williston City crew to start actually hooking up customers. Correct. Okay. Waiting on that server thing Erin City's got to have. Yep. So, what's left is for Aaron to connect to the 400 that you have,

right? And I guess we do have some information. We've given him the splice matrix, which I think was the last piece he needed, but that splice matrix as we go through and finish the testing could be altered in those two locations or it could be altered on those 10 that we're we have we're troubleshooting. is we may have to move connections within the to different uh strands of light. So those could alter. So we may have to get him uh some adjustments to that that he would correct in his fiber smmith software. So how long does testing usually take?

We should be done by the end of this week in those two zones. It's relatively quick. Then we'll have probably another week to getting the troubleshooting completed. Any other questions from anybody? Mr. L. Miss Ling Ling.

Robert Langan 500 Northwest Fifth Avenue. Just a quick question. Last year I was told for this internet to come into our subdivision CL we had to have 65% of the people signed up for it. Now signs are y'all have put sign I got no problem with signs but there are signs now posted in the subdivision advertising this. It's probably going to be a question come Thursday night meeting this week. Is that still a fact or will you run three all the way to the end of the street and bypass everybody else? Because I was told they had that 65%. I've never heard that. Yeah. Those signs, Mr. Aaron. Where's Aaron?

You mean the yellow signs, Mr. Yeah, those yellow signs. They're not ours. They're not ours. I I didn't Okay. Whoever Whoever they are, they're AT&T is what it is. Yeah, somebody needs to take them down. They're onal signs. They need to come down. Okay. So, they're not No, these are little nice little yards yard signs stuck in the yard. Yep. Are they yellow that say internet with a 200 number? I haven't paid that much attention cuz I'm going to drive over. I have eight on my street and they're not us. Okay. No, but I need I need some clarification on that from somebody. Preferably before Thursday night. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Rob.

I'll get that information for you, Robert, and get back with you. Okay. Appreciate it. Mr. Mike, I've got a couple questions for you. So, I received an email from you, sir, stating that there had been some permits uh submitted to FDOT. Is that correct? No. Um the the email that I sent said that the plan was to basically get the permits done and depending on how quickly we got the information back, we were thinking we wouldn't be able to update all the drawings with the information we had. Um but because it's taken a little longer than what we thought uh we actually got on.

So what what exactly is the delay this time? were waiting for that utility information that they where they so once you submit your 811 tickets that that information comes to you within 48 hours it's been 2 weeks we have not gotten you guys submitted that uh last week I think it was on Thursday and we have not gotten we actually submitted it the we went with you two weeks ago tomorrow so two weeks ago Thursday we submitted that information to 811 you should have received that information from either Aaron, myself, or the 811 tickets that you're attached to. We have not gotten any update. Christie said it today. She got it. Okay.

She updated it today. They asked if there was any utility information with it for existing utilities and there is. So, at what point, who are you notifying? What utilities are you notifying? Because there's there's very few other than us in this area. In most of the areas, it will be the city of Wilson. That's the only utility in the area. So, basically, here we are two weeks later and we're still at square one. Yes. Yeah. Unacceptable, sir. Thank you.

Any other questions? Any questions from the public? No, but I say we all feel the same way. And I know you're trying, but we got to do something. Mr. Howard has to stand up. If you'll come to the mic. Sure. Is it in regard to this? Yes, it is. Okay.

John Howard be on the chocolate station. um concerns about the internet is it affects my business. Erin's been wonderful, but enough is enough with this craziness of going on. I agree. Whoever just spoke, this needs to be in every contract going forward. It's just a recommendation. There's a penalty clause. She can put it in at any point. they don't live up to their duties, they don't get paid or there's a penalty for not completing the job at a certain time. It has to be in every contract. Every contract that this city does going forward this I hate to use this word. It's an abortion. It's been promised and promised and promised. There's no accountability. He could say anything like whoever spoke over who spoke. Thank you. There's no accountability. He's going to come back two weeks from now, the other guy doesn't show up, right hand doesn't talk to the left. It It's It's ridiculous. And as a business owner in town, then being promised that we're going to get internet and I have a direct line to Aaron because my cash register doesn't work. I can't do anything. I've called Mike a thousand times since we've made an investment here and and there's no answers. There's none. And listening to this guy, no offense, but what what's his guarantee in anything? I I don't hear. And if we have 800 people, why aren't we starting it up and practicing trying it? See if it works. I know Erin needs some stuff and he needs some stuff, but put the pedal down on him. Say something. do something. Not that it's okay that we go another two

weeks or whatever length of time and he comes back and says, "Yeah, we're still waiting on this and this." They're all excuses. Stop with the excuses. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Madame President, I will I'm sorry. I will just note that we have uh communicated um with Hector that they will be paying our unrealized profits um on a monthly basis which I think is about $18,000 a month. So they there are penalties that are are currently uh in place and they are aware that they will be uh responsible for those. Thank you Mr. Ed.

Yes, I'm Tim. Um 225. I want to thank you and Mr. Hector for coming up here and taking a look at man. He did. Cuz I'm going to tell you right now, boss man, that man right there is a man who made it a buckle of the parking lot has not been held accountable. So if you're going to hold the feet to the fire, hold all of his feet to the fire. Okay.

Yes, Mr. Cop. So, we're getting we're getting money from performance and then what are we doing with that money? Are we setting it in an account or are we going to be setting it in an account that's strictly for paying internet bills?

My expectation is that we will So, it gets a little bit complicated financially, but sort of like your other funds, you have a a fiber fund, right? separate from your other ones and that will go into it's as if we would have been paid $18,000 from our customers that we should have had hooked up at this point. Um we'll just receive that from performance services that will be placed into that account and it'll be used for fiber purposes. So it's not going to just be it doesn't just go into the general fund. No. Okay. Can we start utilizing it to start paying on our bill our loan or is our loan our loan is not yet due? Not until Okay. Just asking. Absolutely. Good questions. Important to keep in mind. Good question.

Just to note, it it is actually $54,000 and $18,000 a month after that because the original 54,000 was from money that was supposed to be made during construction. Gotcha. Thank you. Any other questions? All right. Thank you, sir. Appreciate it.

Thank you. Okay. Discussion with possible action. City taxes due on old hospital business owner John Howard. Okay. John Howard. Um we own the chocolate station. We've made an investment into the town. Um, most of you don't know me, so I'm going to introduce myself and first before I even begin. Thank you. I know it's a thankless job to be in this position. So, I want to thank you for your service and everything else before I begin. Uh, my background, I'm not associated with this company. See, I've blocked it. Uh so this is from a private uh entity uh that we will form and try to take care of this is of a hospital uh called regional general hospital. I knew of the owner uh this Jose Perez and he was he's in federal prison as we all know today but I knew him in South Florida and he was corrupt down there and he was corrupt up here and what's unique he said he didn't realize who I was but he actually interviewed me to be the CEO of that hospital which I never would be because when I walked into it it was already beyond anything I've ever seen as a hospital but going forward I think the goal would be what can we do with that facility? Um, I've been in the medical field since 1978. I've owned my own business. I own the largest clinical laboratory in South Florida in Puerto Rico for 28 years. My background,

masters in hospital administration, and I'm licensed in hematology, chemistry, microbiology, all those allergies that you always hated, I'm licensed in it. I have a unique situation because I have physicians not at my beck and call but as partners and what we would like to propose is um and Latricia has been great. I have to say that too. She's been keeping me posted. I've been looking at this possibility for over a year since we've been out here and Mike also. It's been great. So, what we would like to propose is the hospital has to come down and anybody that's going to bid for that hospital that thinks they're going to resurrect it, it's a it's a major mistake. Uh, it's never going to happen. So, our proposal would be to take over the property, but healthc care out here, it doesn't exist. So what we would propose is a full diagnostic imaging portion of it, a full laboratory and then physicians managing this. Can't be a trauma center, but it'll be kind of in between an acute center, medical offices and stuff like that. So it'll be across the board uh servicing from 7:00 in the morning till 11:00 at night. That's the bulk of the emergencies we see. Um, as I want to put on the record, I don't represent HCA. I don't represent UF Health. This is a private group of guys looking at this possibility to offer health care out here and not auction off the property to somebody that's not going to develop something healthcare out here. It's desperately needed. Um, we'll know all the numbers and everything else. So, as an independent

group, what we're going to try to do, propose, we should say, is that we work out a taxation situation where we can pay off some of that tax money. The other thing I multiple hats uh when I was in South Florida, I also was partnered with um ex Medicare hearing officer and we started a company and we did overutilization cases and we negotiated out when any physician had a problem. We went to Medicare to the to the provider and we negotiated terms. I've tried to reach out to the attorney that's we'll say in charge of the property right now and um he he just doesn't offer a lot of information. So, but I know what I'm capable of doing. Um so, we can negotiate whatever Medicare payments are due. I've done it for over 30 years. Uh my last one was with the United Healthc Care for a group in South Florida. They had $4.1 million as an overdue case. I flew into Minnesota, negotiated the deal. They were going to pull his license. He kept his license. I reduced it down to 1.7 million and also got a payout term which was acceptable by both parties. I'm not saying I can do the exact same thing here because I don't have a lot of the information. There's missing pieces of what the attorney has told me. It doesn't make sense. But going forward, we would like to if there is an auction coming up, hold that off. Let us come back with a proposal with drawings and things that we can do to offer to the community. Us personally, we've made the investment into Williston. Number two, we live in Anthony. We drive back and forth to Anthony. We've been looking at

property out here. We want to come out here. We see the growth potential and there's no healthcare and we would love to be that provider not associated with HCA or UF or anybody like that. If we did that then we have to put their name on the building and that's the only way they'll accept trauma patients and so to go that route is not economical for all of us. So the idea was to form the group, come in, offer the services, and we'll deal with the the backing of money and everything else. Um, so the goal tonight was to propose the fact that we have the expertise, I have the physicians, I have all the middle managements, the PAs, the ARMPs, everybody's on board to come out here because we we know there's a need out here. Um, we take those trailers, just to give you a quickie overview, move those trailers off site. Um, and then build those everything down it and we'll pay for all of that. Um, basically, um, try to hold up this auction because a I don't know if anybody's going to pay the million-doll bid offer, beginning bid. Um, and number two, you don't have any guarantees of what they're going to put in there. I'm here to tell you that what we're going to do or if we give we're given the opportunity, not pie in the sky, not something 3 years from now, um, we'll have something together and propose it and it'll benefit the whole community and we want to live here. So, I very close to healthcare. So, I'd like to offer that here. So, Anyway, I'm open to any questions or concerns or you may have

How long do you need to get your bids together? And well, I think if we can I think the auction is scheduled for April 13th. I'm not sure about that. So, the first step would be it doesn't make sense for us to do go through all that if you were planning to bid it out. Number one, it's not our option. I know it's the county. It's the county. Sorry. Yes, I've called the county multiple times, but haven't gotten through to them. Uh, left messages. No return calls either. I can help you with that. Okay.

Um, there is someone who holds five years of the tax certificates at the moment. And I am aware of at least five groups, if I count yours, who are planning to bid. Okay. Some of them are healthcare, some of them are not. I would much rather it be healthcare. Um, obviously, um, I don't know if you're aware, I worked there for 30 years. Um, I left before it got into the shape it's in. I'm happy to say, cuz I, and going in there now makes me cry. Absolutely. Um, but I work with a lot of people to this day that work and started there.

Yes. Um, I was just going to say the Medicare payments, as long as you have a different provider number, they do not go with the property. That's a good thing right there. The receiver has also agreed that he will give it up. The receiver attorney in Orlando has said that he will give it up for the price of the tax bills. He doesn't want anything extra at this point. He's ready to get rid of it. Okay. So that he won't have to pay them. That's what it amounts to. Or he knows he's getting ready to lose it. Right. So he's willing to give it up for that. I am aware of that.

Um have you been in it lately? Uh, I was uh in it about two and a half years ago. I walked the whole thing and it was already not in. You should see it now. Yes. I h I happen to be taking someone tomorrow. If you're interested, we can talk after. Um could probably join us. Okay. Um do you know what time or two? Yeah. Unfortunately, I'm still involved at the hospital, so yeah, I wouldn't be able to make it tomorrow, but um I don't think I need to really see it if it's in worse condition than when I did see it. Yes.

I I truly believed it's got to be bulldozed down. Yeah. Some of these people that I've taken through, some of them have actually been uh had had demolition contractors. They came back the second or third time with with a demolition contractor, three of them, so they could get bids. So they're serious, too. Sure. And and we we have an idea of what it's going to cost to we just, you know, guesstimate, right,

between two and $300,000 just to bulldoze it down and cart it away and god knows what we'll find underneath it or whatever. So we've budgeted that amount as well. So I know it cost 450,000 to take down the high school, just to give you an idea. I don't know what it cost to take down the the hotel, but that's 26,000 square ft a building. So, Mr. Cox, did you have something? This is back. Okay. Anyone else? The landing.

The helipath. Yes. Would y'all plan to keep that?

Yes. So here the the the concern is is that um there's no trauma out here whatsoever. So one of the things that we've all talked about is that I'm talking to all ER physicians. These are all board certified. They can handle anything. And one of the things is is we need to be able to airlift somebody out of here. So the helipath would definitely stay. No doubt because if we get a trauma patient in we can stabilize that patient, fly them out and make an arrangement for them to accept that patient. It may not go to Gainesville. It may go to Orland uh Ocala, but that's okay, too. It just uh we we definitely is in the plans to keep the helipath because it's needed out here.

I'll also say those two modular buildings. Meredith was next. Um I I just want to say I think everybody would love to see a healthc care facility here. However, um given the time, is there anything that we can do at this point for Mr. Howard? If not, should this conversation continue after he have managed to sort out the tax situation? I mean, we can brainstorm and it's wonderful and I love your vision, but if there's nothing we can do tonight, I think we're my personal feeling is we'd be best to circle back to this after you've worked with the county to see what we can do to help you. Yeah, I don't think there's any stay in it all. Yeah,

I think it's too late. We do not have the jurisdiction to do that. Madam President, can I just say something

quickly? Um, Mayor Goodman asked me to follow up with the Levy County tax collector today knowing that you are on the agenda and as everybody has said, we do not have the ability as the city to wave the city taxes which are $17,71 $771.74. However, she did want you to know in the event that anybody who's curious about this that um Jason Listler, our property appraiser, actually reduced the value of the property by quite a bit. Um, so the taxes that the council has in front of them right now are substantially less than they were a few months ago, right? But again, we do not have the ability to to do anything with this. She also wanted to make sure you understood that the the opening bid of the 1,41,000, etc., etc., etc., that has to be paid in addition to all of these taxes. This is not inclusive of that 1,ion41,000. So you're actually looking at 1, I don't know, 2 million or so.

We had budgeted 1.5 million. Okay. So, we we kind of knew the numbers um from all our all of us trying to get information. Uh the county has not been forthright with us, unfortunately. Uh so, but we're willing to take on that responsibility. I mean, we're making a huge commitment. I'm talking about the physicians and the nurses and the lab staff and, you know, radiology. I mean, this is a huge commitment uh to make. Um and I hate to just and and I know you don't have anything, but you may have a little bit of say that go to the county and say, "Listen, you know, I know you want to develop Willist. We get that. That's why we came here cuz we're seeing the development, but the bottom line is we need something medical. it you to have that property that 7 acres just to go to be another strip mall or another package store that you know we already have two now going on. I mean it just it's not logical. I I know you may not have anything to do and I'm coming late to the table but I only found out about the auction just a few days ago. Um so anyway, if there's nothing you can do then we'll just have to wait and see. unfortunately and I hope that they do put something medical. But

thank you. I appreciate your time. Mr. Jones, any way you can help him to get in touch with somebody from the county who will call back? I have all their cell numbers. Yes. And and I did take the property appraiser and the tax collector through there. It's probably been 3 or 4 months ago. And I showed them that it was blighted. And we did write a letter to the Department of Revenue, the Florida Department of Revenue, and that's how we got the taxes reduced because as a blighted property, they did forgive part of them. Um, and that that helped to whoever might want it. That's why the number is different than what this will show. Can he follow up with you at the meeting? Uh, you can follow up with me afterwards. I can give you phone number. Sure. I appreciate it.

And you can use my name when you call them. So Okay. Thank you everybody. Thank you. All right. Resolution 2026-15, a resolution of the city council of the city of Willist, Florida, approving the directive, confirmation, and amending amend addendum between Florida Gas Utility and the city of of Willist authorizing appropriate parties to execute such directive confirmation and addendum on behalf of the city of Willist and providing an effective date. Kate Hall, FGU city attorney Kirsten Belaloo.

Hello everyone.

Hi. Hello. I'm uh Katie's not uh able to make it tonight, so I'm here tonight. My name is Steve Praau. I am the finance manager at Florida Gas Utility. I'm here this evening with Robert Graves. He is the member service manager at uh Florida Gas Utility. And I'd like to thank all of you very much for allowing us to come here and speak with you tonight about this new discounted natural gas supply. uh deal that we have here. Uh during this presentation, if you have any questions at all, please feel free to stop me at any time. I have no problem answering any questions that you may have. Uh and I will make this nice and quick for you. Um I'm going begin this presentation. I'm going to talk a little bit about who Florida Gas Utility is. I will then talk about uh discounted gas supply transactions and the discounted supply transactions that the city of Williston's currently uh involved in. And then uh I'm going to finish up by talking about the new uh discounted gas transaction that we're offering and give our recommendation uh for the city of Liston.

Excuse me, Steve. Yes. Whenever you want me to go to the next slide, just tell me next, please, sir.

Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't even notice I was up there. Thank you very much. So, again, we are Florida Gas Utility. We were formed in 1989 as a notfor-profit municipal joint action agency. We're kind of like a co-op in that our members uh govern us. We currently have 27 members across the state of Florida and Williston has been a member since uh 1993. We specialize in gas supply and capacity management for our members. Uh and we are one of the largest shippers on Florida gas transmission pipeline system is referred to as [ __ ] and they are the pipeline that supplies most of the natural gas for the state of Florida. Okay. Yes. I'm sorry the next slide. Thank you very much. So discounted natural gas supply is achieved through a prepaid transaction. Uh this is uh this is uh achieved by an issuance of bonds that creates a discount that we're able to pass on to our members. This does not require a prepayment by the city of Williston or by Florida Gas Utility. Um then these deals, they require about a 30-year commitment, but I'll talk a little bit later about an exit clause that you have in this deal. So you don't have to be in it for 30 years if you do not need the gas. Real estate is currently in five uh of these transactions and uh this is an opportunity for the city to get into a six transaction. Can you please go to the next slide? Thank you. So, this slide right here, this shows the discounted savings and the five deals that you're currently in. If you look over on the far uh left side, these are the uh five deals that you're in. The uh next column shows you the discounts that you achieved through these deals. So, you have between 29 and 50 cents for each of these deals. And then if you go over to the far right column, this shows the discounts that you've achieved since the inception of these deals, which is about 60 a little over $65,000. And this slide right here represents one

fiscal year. So this is from uh this is f fiscal year 2025. So it's from October 1st, 2024 through 9:30, 2025. If you see on the second to uh last column there, you during this fiscal year, you save $21,58 just on being in these five deals right here. This additional deal will save you an additional approximately $5,400 for any given fiscal year. Thank you very much. Uh for this me deal we recommend that you have uh you do 35 34 decadrms through the winter months and 27 through the summer months. This is recommended. This is because currently based on the amount of gas that you currently used and then the kind amount of gas that you have already in the uh existing deals. This is what you have available left to use. So this is what we recommend that you uh have for this deal right here. Uh it says that you have a 50 cent discount, but we actually closed on this deal the other day and it's actually a 56 cent discount. So you're actually going to save longer more money than you had uh than we had anticipated here. Uh periodically this deal will repric uh the you'll be locked in at the 56 cents for a minimum 5 years or up to seven years and at which point this deal will repric. And if the reprice is less than 56 cent and it's lower than a price that you are not comfortable with, you can actually get out the deal at this time. Also, there are other ways you can get out of this deal. If you have a permanent sessation of uh use of natural gas, let's say you want to go to another energy source and you don't want to use natural gas, you can get out of this deal and you are not penalized and you do not have to pay anything else going forward. Also, let's say if you have a permanent reduction in the use of natural gas, if you have like a large utility or I mean like a large industrial, let's say, and they use a certain amount of natural gas and they

decide that they're going to switch to another form of energy or if they just go out of business and you don't need this natural gas any further, you can actually get out of the deal, you can get out of the the part of the deal that goes to them. So, you uh get out scotfree. You don't have to pay any more money going forward. So, those are ways that you can get out of the deal. So you're not actually uh bound all 30 years. So what we recommend is that you guys sign the uh authorized execution of the directive that we have uh applied uh offered you I guess. And uh if you have any questions at this time, please let me know and I'd be more than happy to answer anything. No any questions?

It's a win-win deal. Okay, great. Well, that sounds great. So, thank you very much again. Uh, talk to you guys later. Thank you. Bye. Make a motion. Sure. I make a motion that we approve I got my glasses resolution 2026-15. Have a motion. Do I get a second? Second. Have a motion and a second. Any further discussion from the public? Any from the council? Seeing none, move to vote. All those in favor say I. I. I. All those opposed say nay. Motion passes 5 to zero.

Resolution 2026-17. Thank you, gentlemen. Thanks. A resolution of the city council of the city of Willist, Florida, approving the interlocal agreement for maintenance responsibilities between the city of Williston and Levy County authorizing appropriate parties to sign any documents required to execute such agreement on behalf of the city of Willist and providing an effective day attorney Kristen Blue.

So I will allow your staff to present a little bit more on this, but this is the interlogal agreement. I know that we've discussed uh this project uh a little bit in the past. Um but I'm happy to answer any questions regarding uh what our responsibilities are under the maintenance uh agreement. Uh what the county's responsibilities are. Um but I'll sort of leave it to staff to give you a more full rundown. Madam President. Yes, ma'am.

All right. I just want to let you know that this morning Walt and I attended the Levy County Board of County Commissioners meeting and the county commission did approve this interlocal agreement. So assuming that you guys approve it tonight, then we would be able to submit the application for this. But again, this is for the resurfacing of Airport Road. And just for some um context here, it's resurfacing 2600 linear feet that is currently maintained by the county and 2,300 linear feet that's currently maintained by the city. But again, they did approve it. So, if it's approved by you as well, then we're good to submit uh the application by next week. Any discussion by the council? No questions. And how how is this going to be paid for to do the paving?

This is the F.S.O.P.O.P. grant small county outreach program 100% paid if we get the grant. Okay. I move approval of resolution 2026-17. A second. Got a motion and a second. Any further discussion from the public? Seeing none, vote to vote. All those in favor say I. All those opposed say nay. Motion passes. Five to zero. We're going to at this time at 8:29 take a 15-minute break. Oh, thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Well, thank you. Thank you. Bye. Thanks for coming.

I have a stale peanut some place, too. You're welcome. Help yourself. Yeah, I'm actually I heard one of them about two is I don't know I just heard she's like dripping milk but um so she said she removed 65 but I just sent an email supervisor advising that there were signs in

email like I said on Northwest Northwest second I counted eight between here and my house she removed 65 today where I don't know where she moved it from but I heard the number on the radio telephone calls which is illegal yeahhere

All right, we're going to reconvene the city council meeting at 8:45 p.m. We're going to go to the next resolution. Resolution 2026-18, a resolution of the city council of the city of Willis, Florida, amending the building department fee schedule attached as exhibit A providing for conflict and providing an effective date. City manager Boo Boo. Thank you, Madam President. do.

This is um the resolution last we talked at the last council meeting about the fact that Safe Build was taking the 3% um CPI and this is the resolution um basically adopting that and passing that 3% on to um on the fee schedule to the residents. Do I have a motion? Approval of resolution 2025 2026-18. Second. Have a motion and a second. Any discussion from the public? Any discussion from the council? Seeing none, I move to vote. All those in favor say I.

I. Those that oppose say nay. Motion passes 4 to zero. Resolution 2026-19, a resolution of the city council of the city of Willist, Florida, establishing authorization for the city of Willist to move forward with the purchase of materials for gas line extensions into the Williston airport and contractor for and contract for labor and installation for the new gate station and providing an effective date assistant utility director Alex Rodriguez. So, this is $20,000 for us to bore under FGT's line and the set of the stations. We have to bore 10 ft under to cross over so we can finish our job.

[ __ ] like what he was talking about earlier. He's FGU. Okay. That they're with. [ __ ] is the main distribution for our pipeline system who we receive our gas from. Okay. So, they're high pressure and we're technically low pressure. Gotcha. Can I get this is to the crematorium for the crematorium and for um Monteray votes and for Monterey. Very good. Yes, sir. Can I get a motion? I move resolution 2026-9. Can I get a second? A second.

I have a motion and a second. Any discussion from the public? Any discussion from the council? I was going to say staff. Any discussion from the council? Seeing none, I move to vote. All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed say nay. Motion passes 4 to zero. Resolution 2026-20, a resolution of the city council of the city of Willist, Florida, approving and entering into a maintenance agreement between the city of Willist Enterprise Holding Incorporated regarding the Williston airport regional airport authorizing the city council president to execute the agreement and providing an effective date airport manager Bentonsteagle.

Yes, ma'am. I know the council has seen this a few times um but we had a little bit of turnover on the enterprise side. um they didn't like what the last regional manager uh said and as far as language in the contract. We had to rework it a little bit. Um you know, Kirstston got involved with their attorney. Everything's copacetic now from what I understand. Theoretically, for now, theoretically. Okay. Um we're good with it and it will help bring enterp enterprise rental cars to the airport. So, so I can't find anything any different that there there's really not not of any great consequence. The the substantive differences are very minor. Okay. I know. I could find it.

I make Yeah. Motion. I make a motion that we approve resolution 2026. Have a motion. Second.

Have a second. Any further discussion? Anything from the public? Anything from the council? Seeing none, I move to vote. All those in favor say I. I. I..................... All. Those opposed say nay. Motion passes 4 to zero. Resolution 2026-21 a resolution of the city council of the city of Wilston, Florida. Approving and entering entering and entering into Yeah, that's what I'm Okay. So, let's try that again. A resolution of the city council of the city of Williston, Florida, approving and entering into an agreement to piggyback contract for tree trimming and related services, making certain findings in support thereof, authorizing city council president to execute the piggyback agreement, repealing all resolutions in conflict, and providing an effective date. Utility director Rob Gillan.

Good evening, council. So, we're coming to you tonight with the uh entering into this agreement ask for your request to piggyback off the city of Okala for a tree trimming service. Um using Davy tree trimming service to start a tree trimmer trimming program in the city of Willist to ent uh to trim the entire city. Uh a it would be a three-year trim. This is a one-year contract with them to enter into this a three-year trim.

Yes. So, what what that means is when they trim the lines, it would be equal up to three years. They would trim them one time far enough away from the lines that would last them for 3 years. Okay. Gotcha. Gotcha. And that's only around the power lines that they're going to be trimming the trees. Yes, ma'am. That is correct. All of our overhead distribution lines will be trimmed out completely. um which reduces your the trees falling, the limbs falling onto the lines, preventing power outages. Okay. As we seen yesterday, every outage yesterday was tree related. I know my outage was out for like 5 hours. Oh, who'd you call? Kitty, wrong person.

Sorry. I saw her say not yesterday. He's like, why don't you call? Okay, sounds good. Um, can I get a motion? Oh, yeah. I just have a question. Why the street repair is highlighted? Why is it zero? I know. Is that highlighted because there will be a number? There is no incar put in there or is it just highlighted because it's a zero? It's highlighted because it would be zero. Um, if we had to, we could shift monies around from other areas to put back, excuse me, put back in there, but currently is zero. Correct. Great. Thank you. These are the places you're going to take the money from in order to do the tree trimming. Yes, ma'am. That is correct.

And you're going to wipe out the street repair. Correct. Temporarily. Great question. So, do are you going to trim around yard lights as well? Do they affect any of like the power outage? Okay. No. So, the only thing we would be trimming around is lines. So from from the station out on uh 12 121 all the way through town, the entire our entire distribution system would be trimmed out completely. They would haul away they trim chip and haul away. Nice. And it would be two trucks, two chipper trucks, two chippers, and a dump truck.

Gotcha. Can I get a motion? No motion. I have a question, but I can make the motion. I move approval of resolution 2026-21. A second. I have a motion and a second. Further discussion from council. So, we have tree trimmers, right? We do not currently have a tree trimmer. Okay. We It has been posted. They're not They're vacant. We have positions, but they're vacant. Yes. So, you'll see there uh the tree trimmer, right? full year of 71,698. I can't see that far. I apologize. That's one of the two tree trimmers. Yes.

That and so we've advertised for one, but that's the salary from the other that we will be using. Yes. And we will not we're we're keeping that position. We're just not going to post it for the rest of the year, right? And possibly next year, but we want to keep that position. I know that was one question that people had asked me, people in the public to get our agenda. That was one question they asked me. Don't you have tree trimmers? And I said, "Yes, but I think they're vacant at the moment." I just wanted to confirm that. Yes, I think Miss Kim has something. Miss Troy, we've also put this out for advertisement since August or September. And yes, we've had applicants, not qualified applicants, not people that you trust with the Chinese.

And then the ones that are qualified. Uhuh. And then the ones that are qualified say we don't pay enough. Yeah. Uh my Let me see. The other question they asked me was where the money was coming from. I referred them to this page. Uh let me see what else they asked me. I think that's it. I just wanted to cover all bases because they may be online. What's the education of someone who is a tree trimmer? What's their education level? Uh, high school GED. It's not the education level that we're struggling with. It is the CDL um that they have to come with the what? The CDL that they have to

CDL CDL that Yeah, this one is it's a requirement of their job to come with it. Um, and then on top of that is line like line clearing is not the same as just trimming a tree in the park. Right. So that's what I'm asking. What's the education level that they have to have? Don't they have to go to school to do tree trimming or learn how to really? You have to train somebody, but we don't have the people to train people. Oh, that's crazy. Okay. It take a chainsaw to an electric line. I know there is no Wow. That's actually in the job description. I looked at it.

Yes. It's three plus years of line clearing because we don't have anybody to train the individuals that's qualified. Miss Meredith, keep in mind they're getting they're these men andor women are getting up next to 7200 volts, 14,400 and up to 500,000 volts. That's why I'm surprised that there is no with a chainsaw. So,

okay. my math skills aren't great, but if we employed a tree trimmer for three years, it's more than what we would pay Davey to come and do this, and we wouldn't have to own the equipment or deal with the insurance. So, is there a reason we would continue to try to get a trimmer on our staff as opposed to just hiring this out to somebody else who carries the burden of responsibility of owning and maintaining the equipment? I think that would be a great discussion in the future. Okay. Um, at this time we just need to worry about getting our trees trimmed for storm season.

But there are also trees that need to be trimmed that hang over into a road that doesn't actually deal with power lines and stuff, but those trees break and cause accidents. So, we probably need somebody that's going to trim trees on a regular basis. So, that is not as technical outside of the Yes. And and we we do have those people. And I I don't mean to say it that way, but we do have those individuals that can actually do that tree work. Okay. Um it's a little bit not as difficult to trim over a tree as opposed to trimming next to a power line. This would be like your parks and recreation people. Yes, ma'am. Okay. I guess. Okay. Mr. Eckert, you can come forward.

Yes. Um what about calling a local like uh Jason the tree musician? He's got a He's got a grapple saw. He's got the equipment to haul it off with. Uh he's got the UDP trailers. He's got the stump grinders. And that grapple saw reach reaches way up there. And he's got ample amounts of insurance. And he's very very very wellqualified in this too. And plus he's local for I don't know about the the line trimming, but it comes the other stuff. Yeah. And he's very reasonable. especially for a day rate. Just saying. Yes, sir. Mr. Killian.

So, I agree with you, Mr. Tim. Um, it would be great to have a local tree trimming company. I, as the utility director, can't take a chance and putting somebody that's not qualified up around andor in the power lines. That's uh I I I wouldn't want to subject the city or myself to that matter. Maybe if we get a three-year trim, we can get him to maintain it from then on. Agreed. Put, you know, put it out to bed for a local your people since it'll be away from the power lines. Yes, ma'am. They still have to be on a bucket truck and I think Jason has one.

We don't have that bucket our bucket truck anymore. Okay. I thought we did. Oh, okay. Cool. Any further discussion from the public or the council? Seeing none, I move to vote. All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed say nay. Motion passes 4 to zero. Resolution 2026-22, a resolution of the city council of the city of Wilston, Florida, affirming the importance of public education on property taxes and their connection to local services and providing an effective date. city attorney Kier Stimolo.

So, this is the resolution that we talked about at I believe it was the last meeting regarding um obviously educating the public on property taxes, etc. The regular session of Florida legislature is out. That doesn't mean that it won't be considered in a special session, but it was not passed in the regular session. Um, so we just want to make sure that we are, you know, educating our public. Like we just said, people get our agendas, people look at our resolutions, making sure that we are um reminding the public of the benefits of our property taxes, what they get for them, etc. um and having that as a priority for the city uh staff to uh make sure that we're taking whatever opportunities we can prior to this being placed on the ballot um to uh educate everyone regarding the the potential consequences of elimination of property taxes.

Awesome. Can I get a motion? Move approval of resolution 2026-22. I second. Have a motion and a second. Any discussion from the public? Any further discussion from the council? Seeing none, I move to vote. All those in favor say I.

I. All those opposed say nay. Motion passes 4 to zero. Resolution 2026-23, a resolution of the city council of the city of Willist, Florida, approving the mutual aid agreement for law enforcement services between the city of Willist and Levy County. Authorizing appropriate parties to sign any documents required to execute such agreement on behalf of the city of Williston and providing an effective date. Chief Mike Rose interim Owen Chief Owen I mean sorry not Chief Owens.

It's a 4-year between the Wilson Police Department. It's a 4-year between the Wilson Police Department and the Levy County Sheriff's Department. Um it outlines um what the responsibilities are between the two agencies and it's just a working agreement between the two agencies. It's something that we pretty much already do. Yeah. It's just on paper. It's just renewed every four years. I started to say, don't we have one already? Yeah. Yeah. It just expires and it has to be renewed every four years. Got it. All right. I make a motion we approve resolution 2026-24 23

23. Sorry. Second. I have a motion. I have a second. Any further discussion from the public? Any discussion from the council? Seeing none, I move to vote. All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed say nay. Motion passes four to zero. Resolution 2026-24, a resolution of city council of the city of Wilston, Florida, approving the retention of Napoleonic. Did I say that right? Three times. Scholik. Schulnick. Skolnick.

Skullnik. Okay. What um Attorney Belaloo said for the Can you read that one, ma'am? for P for PAS and other water contaminant claims on behalf of the city through partnership with the National Rural Water Association authorizing appropriate parties to execute such retainer agreement on behalf of the city of Williston and providing an effective date. So I'm sure everyone has heard of the ongoing PAS water contamination lawsuits etc. Um we did our preliminary uh testing. We have identified that we are potential claimants in those actions. Um, one of the main the next step is to get an attorney to represent us because you do not want to pay me the amount of money it will take for me to learn federal law regarding water contamination. Um, so thankfully um through your uh inclusion as a member of Florida Rural Water, uh they have negotiated with Napoli Scholmick to represent their members if you so choose to have them represent you. um their fee is nothing unless you get something and then they take 25% of whatever it is that we uh receive in a settlement. So

that's cheap. You mean that's actually somebody's name? Napoli Skolnick. It's actually two people's different names. Napoli one, Skolnick being the next. The name of the law firm. Um that's the name of the law firm. Exactly. Um so this is just a retainer agreement to allow them to basically do their thing. They'll ask our staff for what they need and we just sort of set it and forget it. They'll come back to us if they get us any money. Sounds good to me. What do you think? What's your honest professional opinion? Should we waste time with this? I do.

I I my thinking is that there's no downside to the city. It doesn't cost us anything unless we get something. And if we get something, then we can use that money in order to better our water qualifi our quality. Uh if we don't, then we'll we'll deal with it. But that's the situation where we are right now anyway. So it's really nothing nothing ventured, nothing gained. But you don't really even need to venture anything. Okay. I make a motion. Oh, are you ready? I make a motion that we approve resolution 2026-24. Second. Have a motion and a second. Anything from the public? Anything from the council? Seeing none, I move to vote. All those in favor say I. I.

All those opposed say nay. Motion passes 4 to zero. Okay. Discussion with possible action review and discussion of city clerk's 2024 2025 evaluation HR director Cam Troy. We probably should have just went ahead and did 2026 2027. Yeah, really. Good e good evening. Um through the slideshow, it's the evaluation. Uh Miss Wright describes her achievements for this year. Um she continued to improve the different events that the city has scheduled and implement.

I'd say we've read it already. Yes, I would agree. We don't need to read it again. No, we just need to kind of talk about what her scores are and where we want to go from there. If we skip to that summary score at the back and her and the goals maybe. What else do we need to look at?

So, Miss Wright scored an average score of 4.85, 85 which translates to exceeds job standards. And then we are asking for recommendations for increase. Her current salary is $75,000 a year. What?

So, you're going to move into Williston then, right? Yeah. And then her uh you said you wanted to discuss her goals, her current goals. What What's the recommended increase? What is your recommended increase? What is the recommended increase, Miss Latricia? No, there's there's there's nothing in HR that talks about increases. No, it's based on what the council approves. Uh it's not based on what the employees. It's it's part of it's completely separate from employees because it's part of the charter

officer. Yeah. For reference, a three a 3% which I think is what we did for all the other employees last year come back here would would be just for just for baseline uh $2,250 increase. So we need to know what we budgeted for. Was it 3%. Or was it more? Does anybody know? It's 3% across the board, but again you guys decide. But yes, in the budget it's 3%. Okay. So anywhere from 1 to 3% or 0 to 3%. For her increase. Miss Cox, your recommendation,

more than a dollar. So there I passed a buck to you. I'm last, Miss Martin. Um I I think we should I mean she's exceeded uh her job performance and I think we should give her the full 3% increase. I think at least the 3%.

Yeah. And in being in all seriousness, when just from my length of time that I've been on council, and seeing how she has gotten us in conferences, in meetings, whether we like them or not, um, but she's, I would like to think, has elevated the council people because we go to meetings, they know who, they know who Willist is. Yes, I do. So, we can go beyond the 3% even though it's not budgeted. Yes. Oh, okay. Sorry. Did not realize.

What classes? I said I said only if I get po a part of it cuz you have me in a whole lot of stuff that uh I'm not getting paid for. I want some of your money that that ain't paying a bill. It's not paying any bills. I want some of your money. And it is interesting when we do go to meetings that we talk to other municipalities who are in the same boat we we're in. if not worse. Oh, yeah. It's nice. I mean, it's it's always great to be there so that you can hear that we're all in the same boat. Yeah.

We're all We're all kind of looking for it. So, we have three. Three. Mr. Cox. Three. At least three. You said three. If you want more than three, say more than three. But she said three. And and I have to say and you say four. I didn't know that we could go beyond what was see I like the 4.85 myself budgeted. So we're I'm sorry forgive my ignorance but if if if we and this is unre unrelated but just to educate me if we do more than the 3% that was budgeted where does the additional money come from? Okay. At the end of the year.

Okay. Got it. Yeah. Our Fourth of July event has grown every year. Got more and more vendors that come out and free free vendors. I mean, they free for the people, right? And that's what's nice is she can pick up the phone and call. She's got her list of people who will donate money to help make Fourth of July a success. The difference between 3% increase and 5% increase is $1,500. So we do 4.85%. Seems great to me.

What's 4.85? 36 37. I'm good with 4.5. Okay, I'll settle with that. Okay. Okay. M C H 4.5. You know what? Can Can we vote? It's not even negotiating here. Where you at? Still at three. Nope. More than a dollar. So, no. I'll go with what Deborah and 4.5. Unanimous. 4.5. All right. We got a vote. Yeah. I just make sure we're unanimous before we vote because um

All right. Can I get a motion? I make a motion that we increase our city clerk's salary by 4.5% for the what is it the fiscal fiscal year 2025 2025 2026. Thank you. Pay it retroactive back October. Correct. which is when we were supposed to do this. Yeah, we have to retro. Well, some people were a little late to the table. I was a lot of late. I'm not a little. And listen, I I own it. Me, too. I'm not going to pay for it, but I own it. I second the motion if nobody did.

All right, we have a first and a second. Any discussion from the public? Any discussion from the staff? I mean, from I keep saying staff. Any discussion? Yes, Miss Troy. I just need to clarify for the P the PAF when I type it up. It's 4.5, correct? 4.5. Okay. No further discussion from the the council. Move to vote. All those in favor say I.

I. All those opposed say nay. Motion passes four to zero. Okay. Discussion with possible action 2026 CO compensation HR director Kim Troy. How would you like to proceed with this? Very brief. Only things that had issues from council.

Um those have been corrected. But can we just talk about it like at least talk about it so that public knows what the and what we changed or did. Uh the two there was only um one error that we corrected and then uh Meredith brought another one up to me which is corrected. And then the airport, I discussed the airport um job descriptions with Benton and he uh said that there is no um distance requirement for where they live because if there is uh a plane crash, it's not the airport employees that investigate it. Generally, if anything is an emergency, it's going to be first responders that take it, not airport employees. And if there is something like that, then they will contact Benton himself.

That's not why I would want them to be responsive, but it's already done. It has nothing to do with airplane. Sorry. Are you are you disc Are you talking about people that are on call or just in general? There's nobody on call at the airport.

The airport is the only department that has no residential requirement. I read the whole thing all over again. They're the only ones who don't say you have to live within a 30-minute response time. Um, I wish Benton hadn't called. Um, but he knows that's how I feel. Uh, and it's not just that. It's it's pilots that are calling that need fuel. And yes, we have regular fuel that they can drive up and get themselves uh the 100 low lead. But if they need jet fuel, somebody has to come give it to them. And yes, we have hours of service, but if they're in there or they're trapped or they they show up or they land because of a storm or whatever, they need somebody. I guess it's going to be him, but even he doesn't have a 30-minute response time.

So, they're landing without anybody being there. Oh, sure. All the time. They Yeah. Isn't that dangerous? That's Aren't we supposed to ask? We don't have a tower. No, we're we're calling uncontrolled airport. We don't have a tower. They can land anytime they want to day and we're not allowed. Okay. As long as we're not liable. Well, then if we do it that way, we're going to have said, we're going to have to start paying airport on call. They they have Well, they don't they don't have on call right now. They have because my husband worked there for over like almost 20 years and if he got called out, they he did get paid a certain amount of money and it was a 2-hour minimum. Yes. But we don't have an on call pay set for them. It's not budgeted or anything for for the airport.

So, they're not on call. That's what somebody they call them and they come. But if we put that requirement in there's it's in our handbook and the CBA. Not saying put it in there. I'm saying put a residential a response time if you want to call it a response time instead of a resident time. And I said that last time when Denton was here. So again, I'm not saying anything that I'm didn't say in front of him. So basically what she's saying, somebody needs to respond at in a reasonable time time frame. It can't always be benton cuz he's off living life too when he's off. So

and I'll let them live within 30 minutes. So it's not a big deal. I don't know why he's I just went off what the uh airport manager wanted. Should we table this one more fun time? Uh, no. The only thing we should table is the the one related to the airport. Yeah. Not everything. Yeah. Then the the So, the whole thing is going to be put on hold. Put that on hold. And

you could you could adopt what what I think Kim is trying to say is that you are either going to adopt your compensation plan or not adopt your compensation plan. You can't really adopt parts of it if we exclude some if we adopt and exclude some job descriptions. We're not going to have job descriptions for people that work here, which we need. So right now we haven't adopted one. So if you want we can adopt this one and then come back at the next meeting and make an amendment or you can not adopt it at all. And those are sort of the choice.

Also this has to be renewed in October once we whether we pass a cola or not. It has to come back every year per the HR manual plus it has to get adjusted for the uh minimum wage increase. And let me say on page 313, it says that this maintenance worker, crew worker is responsible for the main police building, two district offices, and one mall office. That's not us. I don't have that page. Yeah, I don't I don't It's page 213 of our packet. I've got 156 the max. What?

She emailed I had her email me. Let me see what number. It's page 96. It has two numbers on it. That's the other one. It's under the essential job functions. It said responsible overall maintenance of the main police building, two district offices, and a mall office. That would not be Williston. You said 96. 96 I've got is maintenance worker crew. Yes. And it's under the essential job functions. Okay. I don't know. I guess it's I don't know why it says police either. So because he does maintain things at the police department. This is Tom.

So he's in the police department, too. Sometimes. Yes. Sometimes he does. He's not supposed to be. Is he? Thought he was only doing it because somebody was sick. But we don't have two district offices and we don't have a mall. Okay. Okay, I can remember. That's why I'm saying it's not right. I'm not arguing over the police part so much as we don't have a mall and we don't have two district offices. So, that part needs to be changed somehow. I mean, just cuz we don't have them. You know what I'm saying?

Miss and see what else. A motion. There was something on 337 amendment or amendment. Miss Kim, you notating the Okay, Mr. Latricia. Yes, sir. Um, it's getting late. He can't remember. You handle all of our insurance claims.

Yes. Okay. I think on the thing where it says chain of command, I think the city clerk should also be listed on several of them because for instance, I'll use utilities. you know, if one of them guys get hurt or there's an accident or whatever, it's Latricia who's responsible for for handling that. So, I just looking this over. Um, I mean, they really don't have anything for her. I think I saw city clerk like twice, but you know, dealing since she does our insurance, she's a charter officer and all that, she should be in here more for that for that reason. Just just putting it and I won't I won't even mention the educational minimum requirements. Some of them are crazy.

Like what? Uh like the parks and recreation guys. A four-year degree in recreation, parks and natural resources, horicultures, forestry or criminal justice, parks administration or related field. And and it and it goes on to say or five years, but we would five years experience. Uh we I would never expect a four-year degree in those things. Not in Willist. It would be nice, but I don't think some of those are from other municipalities as well. I went and I compared a lot of things.

Yeah, I'm sure they are. Even Even the utility director, that one is crazy, too. Well, you guys want to pay like other municipalities, but you don't want the description like other municipalities. I don't want to pay like the other ones. Oh yeah, we do. If we have that in there, we will have to. That's for sure. Well, we're always

going we are we're always going by what another municipality is paying when we talk about pay rates and increasing pay. So, if we're going to do that, we need to I mean, it has to be the same across the board. We want to pay the money, but we don't want the qualifications. That makes no sense. I mean, I would love the qualification, but we're never going to find anybody with those qualifications is all I'm saying.

I don't think there's any way we will. And and I'm I'm not saying take it out, but I think it's unrealistic. It's not unrealistic because you found me. I have a masters in HR and I accepted the position. It's not unrealistic. I'm a prime example. Just take the time and find the right one, huh?

Yes, sir. My thing too is for the executive assistant with that. Um, I think her job needs to be spelled out a little bit better because I've got employees asking me what's her job title because she goes around and telling us what to do and things like that. Um, I don't even think Miss Wright tells employees what to do. If she says, "Hey, I want you to do something." They say, "Yes, ma'am." And they go and do that. But I think it just needs to be spelled out. She's, you know,

are you saying that the administrative assistant is acting as a supervisor? Well, like I said, I'm asking Yep. Employees are just wondering what her job title is, but didn't think I mean, in the ones we've had previously, Stacy and um the one before her, you know, they weren't telling people, employees, what to do or no, do this, don't do that. It's that that's not in her job description here that she would be a supervisor. So that is a management issue, not an issue with the compensation.

That's what I'm just saying is employees are trying to figure out what is her job. If she's an executive assistant, that's one thing. But to go in and be telling employees what to do if you read this, there's not really a clear, right? But that's not an issue with this compensation plan. That is an You're saying it's not specific. You're saying it's not. So if there if there's a if there's an issue of what is for instance I'm looking through here and I don't see anything that looks supervisory to me. I mean I'm just I'm glancing through like it's not listed but

so then so then that's that's all that we need to decide up here. Sue under the charter is responsible for ensuring that nobody is overstepping and everyone is performing their job functions. So that that's not something that is definitely something that needs to you know to the extent that it is occurring will be addressed by your city manager. But if there's if there's something in here that you that you have concerns with then then that would be of the purview of the council. Does that does that make sense? like the job description itself, purview of the council, execution of everyone's job descriptions and oversight that suit. Let me look one more time. I think the concern I have is in here. Okay. uh the executive administrative assistant uh while we're on that subject. It has Sue as the it has Sue as the only person that is over her and she even in the job description says that she also does things for Kim and for Latricia. So I think both of them need to be

the last time we tried to put somebody on there it was a no. What? What? What was a no? When I when I was taking over planning and zoning and permitting, y'all told me I couldn't do it. Huh? I didn't tell you any such thing. Yes, it happened on on the org chart. Let's Kim, let's let's take a quick 5 minute break at 9:28. I'm saying, Miss Devil, we will be back at 9:35. Let's just take a quick

Okay, we're going to resume now at 9:36 p.m. All right. I would, if I may, take say I apologize if I'm I think I misunderstood what we wanted to do here because I thought we were going to take the job description and go through it and see what changes needed to be made. So, because we didn't have

we didn't do that before. So, the discussion last time was that when she sent us out the new revised one that we would go through it, take a look at it. Any issues, we would let her know. Once we got here, we would only discuss the things that were seen as things that need to be changed. But she didn't get the things that we're talking about now. She didn't get in that information from anybody. Well, it's 200 pages. You have to read that one. Okay. And I didn't realize it was supposed to get down here. If that was in the if that was in the conversation, I missed that all together.

Did he do that? Yeah. Did everybody else understand it that way? I believe that was that was the conversation. So, if you see typos, you've got to tell her that you see them.

Okay. Typos are different. All right. So, let's figure out what it is that we want to change. Miss Sue is going to write it down. Those changes will be made. We can go ahead and vote with fix with the changes that need to be made if we agree to pass this. So, let's discuss the changes that we have that we need or want to change. Sue will document and then she will make those changes. In this particular one for the executive administrative assistant, I certainly didn't mean to upset her. That's okay.

In the very first paragraph, it says job functions and purpose uh that the administrative assistant is supports the city manager, the city clerk, and the HR director. I just think in the end when she's reporting to someone that in that chain of command, it should include the city manager, the city clerk, and the HR director. if if she's responsible for assisting them, they all have to be she has to be responsible to all of them. And you can put the other two and the city manager last obviously cuz they're the most over everybody, but in that very first sentence because she does assist all three of them. Patricia, if you'll go back to that job function for that at the very top. Yeah, right there it says that she assists and supports the city manager, the city clerk, and the HR director. All I'm saying is all three of them need to be in her chain of command.

Okay. Which way would you like them to be in the chain of command? Does it matter? They of course the city manager will be the highest. Be the highest. The others are equal. Okay. That's all I'm saying right now. All it says is the city manager. My recommendation would be HR, city clerk, and then city man. Doesn't really matter to me. I just think they all three need to be there if she's going to work with all three of them. Okay. What other changes do you guys see that we need? Just that other one about the mall and the only I think she those are the only two pages I wrote down.

Okay. Mr. Cox, do you have anything? um maintains privacy of confidential records um correspondent andor files to me that if a confidential files shouldn't have be in your fold city clerk and miss Kim I want to apologize if I upset you okay they had no intentions and I certainly didn't mean to either so I apologize as well if that's what it was I'm I'm trying to get you in the loop. All right, let's keep moving forward. What do you have, Mr. C? What are you wanting?

Well, no, I was just asking a question. Well, it was just maintain privacy and confidential records, correspondence, and or files. Which one are you looking at? Um, page 11. It is essential job functions about 3/4 of the way down. Which one is page 11? I if I can I it says maintains privacy of confidential records correspondence in her files. So it's not that she's maintaining the records that she would maintain the privacy of the records should she come into contact with them

through her job functions. I imagine it's possible that she would come into contact with confidential job confidential records especially working with HR city clerk and city manager. So the way that it's written is that she maintains the privacy of confidential records, correspondents, and or files. Um, i.e. she doesn't tell everybody about them. Um, the maintenance of your records of course rest with your city clerk. Okay. And then the chain chain of command would be adding the city clerk and what we talked about because she works with both of them. Yes, that's absolutely all I wrote down in the whole thing. Okay.

Anything else, Miss Cox? No. Miss Meredith, you have anything? Uh, no. Kim and I spoke um and I think we spoke about the airport and I had a couple of typos which are irrelevant. And then uh the only question I had for tonight which I didn't get a chance Kim to ask you about earlier today but on the paygrade scale um which is I think literally page two um the just wanting to make sure and I I think if I remember correctly that you told me that um the last time that so the difference between uh pay grade 11 and 12 like 12 is lower than 11 and but that's just because we have a an employee currently that's inside that brack I just want to make sure that's not a typo that that's intentional.

No, it was the same thing in the last one because of uh a job description that does fall. It doesn't meet the maximum doesn't meet one. Okay, perfect. So either way, I have to adjust either um the one on top or the one on the bottom. Okay. Just wanted to make sure. Yep. Thank you. That's it. Any other changes? Can I get a motion that includes the changes? I make a motion that we approve the city of Williston 2026 city of Williston compensation plan with the amended um notations and a couple of typos.

Can I get a second? Second. Any other discussion from the council? Just are we going to revisit the airport or not? Revisit what report? The residency requirement. The airport. Yes. Yeah. The airport. Okay. I just wanted to make sure that was still on the table. Any further discussion from you? No. I just thought that um Benton had said they like 45 minutes or something when when he spoke last. Yeah,

I remember him responding before that if he was in Gainesville or Okala that it would take him 45 minutes to come from there. But this is a residency requirement, right? Not a response time as such. It's written as a residency like where you live and that's what you wanted was a resident requirement.

Yeah. Okay. All right. We'll revisit that later. All right. So, I have anything from the public? All right. Seeing none, I move to vote. All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed say nay. Motion passes four to zero. All right. Number six, public participation. This is second time for you to speak on anything that was not or speak on anything that you would like. You have 5 minutes.

500 Northwest Avenue. I'm going to make mine short and sweet. I signed a contract with um Allseason Electric that Sue and Rob gave me to get the miss the underground condo they missed. The original developer didn't put it in. They'll be at here at the end of the week and or first part of next week. I've sent them the drawings. We're putting it in exactly per the drawings and the project specifications. So, we don't need any permits or anything. I will need the lights. They'll need them from them. And also I need a quote because we're talking about putting another light down to mailboxes. And then also the um and I'm looking at you because you're we have gone around at night. Rob has and spray painted on in front of each light pole where the sensor needs to be located properly. And he's going to be marking up. I've g him drawings too. So he's going to be marking them up so I can give it to you off so you can put in the truck and carry with you. So my short and sweet.

Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir. Anyone else from the public? Yeah, maker. Hey, uh uh somebody the other day at Hardies is asking if when when was it going to uh take down that old utility that had the meter? You was across from the high school. You know what I'm talking about? Straight from the Hardies. You can see where can hasn't been there in a long time. They just want to know when it was going to be taken out because it's not being used anymore. Is there anything in it? No, ma'am. I think it's the one that DOT used to that DOT had. Okay. Jonathan, you might Jonathan, Mr. Bishop, is that the one that used to have the DOT lighted up?

So, there's one right there and there's one down at the uh car the laundry mat. They both belong to DOT and they're on DOT rightways. So, if you want them removed, I can see what I can do. But, it's their property. Got nerd right away. But if you choose as a council to have me see if I can get them removed, I will. Might as well if they remove what's in them. They're empty at this time. Yeah. I know they quit paying us. Yes, ma'am. They took it off that list this year. They did. Yes, ma'am. That's fine. We appreciate that. So, do you So, is is the will of the council to have me to see to get them removed? Yes, sir. Okay.

Thank you, Mr. Bishop. Anyone else? Anything further from the council? Nothing. It's cold in here. Any announcement from staff? It's okay. It's going to be a short announcement. I just want to announce on Friday, March the 27th, the city of Willist along with the fire department and the police department will be having pictures with the Easter Bunny. A

and we will also be doing painting with the Easter Bunny. It starts at 5:00. It's from 5 to 7:00. So, if anyone has any little kids or be kids that would like to come out and take a picture with the Easter Bunny or paint, please come out and visit with us at Heritage Park. Can we do it a couple days earlier? No, unfortunately I've already advertised it. Oh, okay. Jeez. So, so just spread the word, please. Thank you.

Thank you, Miss Wright, Mr. Killian, Miss Troy, Mr. I'm sorry. Let me add one more. Also, Saturday, March the 21st at Williston Elementary, the Rotary Club will be having an Easter egg hunt for the kids. And also BG is having her event. She said don't forget her at the animal shelter. And do we have a date? Do we have a date for the Quinan Mitchell? Qua Mitchell is going to be May the 1st. May 1st. I knew it was coming out quick.

I don't have a time yet. I'm still collaborating with um the principal at the high school, but the function is going to start recognizing the basketball the young ladies basketball team. It's going to be that afternoon. It's going to start at the high school, the middle high school, and it will end up here at Heritage Park. But I will keep everybody a breast of what's going on. This will be a parade. So, put that on your calendar. Okay. Awesome. May 1st. May 1st. Okay. You said you had nothing.

I was just reminded of something. I apologize. Real quick, the um the fence over at the tennis court that's been long time troubled has been started by Mr. Bishop and his crew. They are working on working on that. It should be completed by the middle of next week. Thank you so much for that update. Yes, sir. Ma'am, anything from the council.

That's where Meredith is. What is it? Are you a sergeant? She's saying he's a detective. Sergeant, detective. Sergeant, detective, composur, do you have anything, sir? Okay. All right. I we're at a journment. I move for a journ. Second motion in a second. All those in favor say I. All those post say nay. Motion passes four to zero.