REGULAR MEETING
LEVY COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
JANUARY 19, 2016
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Levy County Commissioners was held on January 19, 2016 at 9:00 A.M. in the Levy County Board of County Commissioners meeting room with the following Commissioners present:
Chairman John Meeks
Comm. Rock Meeks
Comm. Danny Stevens
Comm. Lilly Rooks
Comm. Mike Joyner
Also present were:
County Attorney – Anne Bast Brown
County Coordinator – Fred Moody
Danny J. Shipp – Clerk of Court
Chairman John Meeks called the Meeting to order at 9:03 A.M. Comm. Joyner gave the invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
EXPENDITURES
Comm. Stevens made a motion to approve the following expenditures presented for payment. Second was made by Comm. Rock Meeks and the MOTION CARRIES.
| CHECK NUMBER | 122320-122422 |
| FUND | AMOUNT |
| GENERAL REVENUE | 49,649.83 |
| ROAD | 42,676.12 |
| PAL LIBRARY | 1,508.74 |
| TRANSPORTATION | 13,885.16 |
| COURT FACILITIES | 15.00 |
| EMS | 26,995.03 |
| FIRE | 59,356.70 |
| TOURIST DEVELOPMENT | 4,252.24 |
| UTILITIES | 1,389.97 |
| IMPACT FEES – PARKS | 3,799.36 |
| LANDFILL | 17,608.97 |
| TOTAL | $ 221,137.12 |
MINUTES
The minutes for the Regular Board meetings held on November 3, 2015, November 17, 2015 and December 8, 2015 were presented for Board approval.
Comm. Stevens made a motion to approve the minutes for the Regular Board Meeting held on November 3, 2015 as presented. Second was made by Comm. Rock Meeks and the MOTION CARRIES.
Comm. Stevens made a motion to approve the minutes for the Regular Board Meeting held on November 17, 2015 as presented. Second was made by Comm. Joyner and the MOTION CARRIES.
Comm. Rock Meeks made a motion to approve the minutes for the Regular Board Meeting held on December 8, 2015 with changes as presented. Second was made by Comm. Rooks and the MOTION CARRIES.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Dana Sheffield announced today is Primary Day in Fanning Springs to fill the vacant City Council seat.
Terry Witt asked if the hiring freeze in effect before the end of the fiscal year was still being upheld.
Comm. John Meeks and Fred Moody responded as of the new fiscal year, the hiring freeze had been lifted somewhat and elaborated on what the Board had agreed to do regarding replacement hiring for essential positions left vacant upon departure of an employee.
Linda Cooper requested the Board’s definition of “essential”.
A response and explanation was given by Comm. John Meeks.
Questions regarding position qualifications were asked by Kay Gaither. Mr. Moody gave a response and explanation to the question.
NATURE COAST BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
David Pieklik
Presentation by Dr. Desai on proposed Assisted Living Facility in Chiefland. – TABLED –
LEVY COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Sheriff, Bobby McCallum
Request the Board accept and approve the 2016 FDLE Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant by: (1) reviewing and approving the grant award, (2) approving and signing the Certificate of Acceptance of Subgrant Award, (3) approving and signing the Certification and Conflict of Interest. Upon approval of this award the use of grant funds in the amount of $34,540 will supplement the partial salary of one investigator for the Levy Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force 24.
Sheriff McCallum requested the Board accept and approve the 2016 FDLE Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant in the amount of $34,540 which will supplement the partial salary of one investigator within the Levy Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force 24.
Comm. Joyner made a motion to accept and approve the 2016 FDLE Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant as requested. Second was made by Comm. Rock Meeks and the MOTION CARRIES.
LEVY COUNTY TRANSIT
Connie Conley, General Manager
Request approval of the Board for the Service Agreement with Suwannee Valley Economic Council to provide trips to the meal sites in Chiefland and Williston during the period of January-December, 2016.
Mrs. Conley requested Board approval for the Service Agreement with the Suwannee Valley Economic Council to provide trips to the meal sites in Chiefland and Williston during the period of January-December, 2016 in the amount of $12,474.70.
Comm. Stevens made a motion to approve the Service Agreement with the Suwannee Valley Economic Council as requested. Second was made by Comm. Rock Meeks and the MOTION CARRIES.
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
David Knowles, Director
Requesting the Board to ratify submission of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) to include authorization for Director David Knowles to sign the application and certifications.
Chief Knowles requested ratification by the Board for the submission of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) to include authorization for Director David Knowles to sign the application and certifications. The application requests funding for exhaust removal systems for all units in the LCDPS fleet as well as four (4) complete sets of extrication equipment. This is a 95/5 matching grant and the County’s proposed obligation is $19,200.
Comm. Stevens made a motion to ratify the submission of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant including authorization for Director David Knowles to sign the application and certifications as requested. Second was made by Comm. Joyner and the MOTION CARRIES.
ROAD DEPARTMENT
Casey Duquette
Request Board approval for Resolution 2016-003 accepting temporary construction easement from Mr. Bobby J. Wilder and Mrs. Margaret Wilder.
Mr. Duquette requested Board approval of Resolution 2016-003 accepting a temporary construction easement from Mr. Bobby J. Wilder and Mrs. Margaret Wilder.
Comm. Stevens made a motion to approve Resolution 2016-003 as requested. Second was made by Comm. Rock Meeks and the MOTION CARRIES.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Ron Grant asked for clarification on the Board’s policy on “non-agenda items”.
Atty. Brown responded and explained the Board’s policy and stated it had not changed since 2013 when the Board adopted a policy which included non-agenda items allowing them to be heard by motion from the Board.
Terry Witt asked if there was a reason for the short agenda’s lately.
Comm. John Meeks answered he knew of no reason for the shorter length of the agenda’s.
Comments were also made by Renate Cannon.
Scott Lipman of Williston announced there will be a Public Records Request meeting/training session given by Joel Chandler, January 28th at the Williston Methodist Church fellowship hall at 9:00 A.M. This is open to the public.
COMMISSIONERS’ REPORTS
Comm. Joyner stated he will be meeting with Senator Dean on Friday to discuss funding for the replacement of the elevators in the courthouse.
Comm. Rooks made a motion to appoint Toni Collins to the Board of Adjustments for District 4.
Questions were asked regarding this position not being advertised by Lou Jones, Linda Cooper and Terry Witt.
Comments were made by Toni Collins and Renate Cannon.
Second was made by Comm. Rock Meeks and the MOTION CARRIES.
Comm. Stevens requested a correction be made to the October 6th minutes regarding the appointment of Linda Jane Cramer.
Comm. Stevens invited everyone to attend a free concert by the gospel group “The Neeland’s” coming up on January 31st at the Williston Church of God at 6:00 P.M.
Comm. John Meeks stated the Tourist Development Council meeting is scheduled for the 1st Thursday of the month. He presented the 2016 Paddling.net calendar and noted Levy County has been featured for the 3rd year.
Comm. John Meeks stated he will be attending Tourism Day in Tallahassee later today. February 3rd is 4-H Day at the Capitol.
Comm. John Meeks stated Pure Water Wilderness has disbanded.
Comm. John Meeks announced Albert Fuller will be retiring as the Ag. Extension Agent effective at the end of January.
Fred Moody announced the County and the International Association of Firefighters, the Levy County Professional Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians Local will hold union negotiations on January 20th and again on February 4th at 11:00 A.M. at the Department of Public Safety.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION, THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT 10:01 A.M.
ATTEST: BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
LEVY COUNTY, FL
________________________________________ ________________________________________
Clerk of Court, Danny J. Shipp Chairman, John Meeks