REGULAR MEETING

LEVY COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

AUGUST 17, 2010

 

 

The Regular Meeting of the Board of Levy County Commissioners was held on August 17, 2010, at 9:00 AM in the Levy County Board ofCountyCommissionersmeeting room, with the following Commissioners present:

 

Chairperson Nancy Bell

Vice Chairperson Danny Stevens

Comm. Marsha Drew

Comm. Lilly Rooks

Comm.ChadJohnson

            Also present were:

Danny J. Shipp – Clerk of Court

CountyAttorney– Anne Bast Brown

CountyCoordinator– Fred Moody

Assistant to theCountyCoordinator– Dick Tummond

 

 

Chairperson Bell called the meeting to order at 9:01 AM.  Comm. Bell gave the invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

 

EXPENDITURES

 

Comm. Drew made a motion to approve the following expenditures presented for payment.  Second was made by Comm. Stevens and the MOTION CARRIES.

 

MINUTES

 

Approval of Minutes for the Regular Board Meeting held August 3, 2010.

Comm. Stevens made a motion to approve the minutes as presented.  Second was made by Comm. Rooks and the MOTION CARRIES.

 

 

ROAD DEPARTMENT BID OPENING

 

Bruce Greenlee,

A.     Road Department Materials.

 

Mr. Greenlee requested to open all of the bids in the Board office with Board staff present, as there were about 30 envelopes and the mail had not yet been delivered for today.  He will then bring the bid results to the next Board meeting.

The Board members agreed by consensus to hear the bid results at the next Board meeting.

 

 

ZONING

 

Rob Corbitt,

A.     Petition No. Ha.Va., Hardship Variance.

 

Atty. Brown swore in members of the audience wishing to speak for or against the Hardship Variance or the Special Exception.

Atty. Brown asked if there were any ex-parte communications by the Board members.

Mr. Corbitt presented Ha.Va., Hardship Variance to the Board for approval.  He explained the Hardship Variance is to allow a second dwelling in order for a family member to assist Edna Nute and help with her daily chores.  The dwelling to be moved onto the property is a FEMA trailer as explained by Christine Howard.

Comm. Stevens made a motion to approve the Hardship Variance as presented.  Second was made by Comm. Rooks and the MOTION CARRIES.

 

B.     Petition No. SE 2-10, Special Exception to allow aPrivateFamilyCemetery.

 

1. Comm. Johnson stated he had ex-parte communication with Judge Smith regarding the Special Exception to allow aPrivateCemetery as requested by Wade Bullock.

Mr. Corbitt presented to the Board Petition No. SE 2-10, Special Exception to allow aPrivateFamilyCemeteryas requested by Wade Bullock.

Jason Murphy of Croft Surveying speaks on behalf of the Bullock family and offers to answer any questions the Board members may have.

Comm. Stevens made a motion to approve the Special Exception, but rescinded as a public hearing had not been called for.

Comm. Bell called for public hearing.

Judge Smith spoke on behalf of the Bullock family in favor of the Special Exception.

Comm. Bell asked if anyone would like to speak against.  There were none.

Comm. Stevens made a motion to approve the Special Exception as presented.  Second was made by Comm. Rooks and the MOTION CARRIES.

 

 

LEVY COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT

 

Major Evan Sullivan

A.     Request for $38,000 in contingency money that was designated for the Sheriff’s Office.

 

Major Sullivan requested on behalf of Sheriff Smith approval of $38,000 in contingency money designated for the Sheriff’s Office to be used for Law Enforcement and Corrections.

Comm. Stevens made a motion to approve the request as presented.

After discussion, the motion dies for lack of a second.

 

Major Sullivan requested everyone keep Henry Sapp, a family member of his in their prayers as he was involved in a boating accident this past weekend inAlabama.  Major Sullivan then led the audience in a prayer for Mr. Sapp.

 

 

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

 

COUNTY COORDINATOR

 

Fred Moody,CountyCoordinator

A.     Discussion of Recovery Zone Economic Development Bonds.

 

Mr. Moody spoke to the Board regarding a request made by the Florida Association of Counties of pooling the unused recovery bond zone allocations at the State level for use by other local governments.

Pat O’Neal spoke to the Board and stated the funds would be too small to be used for bonds.

Comm. Bell stated she would like to return the unused recovery bond zone allocations to the State along with a letter stating we have a need for hospital funding and funding for the college and if any of these funds can be reimbursed, we would like to be included in any of the counties needing the funds regardless of population.

Comm. Rooks made a motion to send a letter from the Board office addressing the waiver back to FAC identifying our concerns for the hospital and college and would like for these bonds to be redirected for these two projects.

Second was made by Comm. Drew and the MOTION CARRIES.

 

 

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES

 

Trish Seibold, Director

A.     Request Board to give authority to Fred Moody,CountyCoordinator, to sign title work for new Emergency Medical Services mobile home.

 

Ms. Seibold requested the Board give authority to Fred Moody,CountyCoordinatorto sign title work for the new Emergency Medical Services mobile home.

Comm. Drew made a motion to allow Mr. Moody to sign title work for the newEMSmobile home.  Second was made by Comm. Rooks and the MOTION CARRIES.

 

 

LEVY COUNTY TRANSIT

 

Desiree Painter, General Manager

A.     Request approval of the 2010/2011 agreement betweenLevyCountyandCreeksideChristianSchoolfor the provision of trips.

 

Ms. Painter requested approval of the 2010/2011 agreement betweenLevyCountyandCreeksideChristianSchoolfor the provision of trips.

Comm. Rooks made a motion to approve the agreement as presented by Ms. Painter.  Second was made by Comm. Drew and the MOTION CARRIES.

 

B.     Request approval of the 2010/2011 agreement betweenLevyCountyandNatureCoastMiddle Schoolfor the provision of trips.

 

Ms. Painter requested approval of the 2010/2011 agreement betweenLevyCountyandNatureCoastMiddle Schoolfor the provision of trips.

Comm. Rooks made a motion to approve the agreement as presented by Ms. Painter.  Second was made by Comm. Drew and the MOTION CARRIES.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PARKS AND RECREATION

 

Matt Weldon, Director

A.     Request approval of application for State-owned Submerged Lands Authorization Package Number 8.

 

Mr. Weldon requested Board approval of the application for State-owned Submerged Lands Authorization Package Number 8.

Comm. Rooks made a motion to approve the application as presented by Mr. Weldon.  Second was made by Comm. Stevens and the MOTION CARRIES.

 

 

ROAD DEPARTMENT

 

Bruce Greeenlee, Administrative Superintendent

A.     Update on speed humps.                – TABLED-

 

 

SHIP

 

Dick Tummond, SHIP Director

A.  Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Application Update.

 

Mr. Tummond gave a CDBG Application update.  He stated Levy county will not be in the fundable range for this year.  He stated there will be another application cycle closing in November andLevyCountycould re-apply.

 

 

NON-AGENDA ITEM – VAB

 

Comm. Drew made a motion to hear a non-agenda item.  Second was made by Comm. Johnson and the MOTION CARRIES.

 

Mr. Moody presented information to the Board regarding VAB representatives on behalf of Mr. Shipp.  He stated the Board needed to select two members for the VAB Board and one alternate.

Comm. Stevens made a motion to select himself and Comm. Johnson to serve as representatives for the VAB Board with Comm. Drew serving as an alternate and to select Ivan Chubb to serve as the homeowner representative.  Second was made by Comm. Drew and the MOTION CARRIES.

 

 

COMMISSIONER REPORTS

 

Comm. Rooks

A.     Adopt Resolution 2010-47 encouraging the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC) to consider county home rule authority in rules relating to captive wildlife, and requesting the FWCC and Legislature work with counties to address conflicts.

 

Comm. Rooks presented and made a motion for the Board to approve Resolution 2010-47 encouraging the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC) to consider county home rule authority in rules relating to captive wildlife, and requesting the FWCC and Legislature work with counties to address conflicts.  Second was made by Comm. Johnson and the MOTION CARRIES.

 

Comm. Johnson

A.     Guardian ad Litem Space Allocation.

 

Comm. Johnson spoke to the Board regarding the Guardian ad Litem space allocation.  After researching the other locations mentioned at a prior meeting, the recommendation for office space is for the Chiefland location owned by Hudson Properties.

Paige Brookins of Hudson Properties was in attendance at the meeting and answered questions from Board members.

Comm. Drew made a motion to approve the lease one year at a time.

Comm. Drew rescinds her motion after Atty. Brown advised the Lease Agreement would need to be reviewed by her office.

After discussion, the Board agreed to work with Mrs. Brookins to enter into a one year Lease Agreement upon Atty. Brown’s review.

 

Comm. Johnson

Comm. Johnson let everyone know there will be a Casino Night fundraiser by the Williston Junior Women’s Club for the March of Dimes.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:32 A.M.

The meeting reconvened at 1:30 P.M.

 

 

BUDGET WORKSHOP

 

Board ofCountyCommissionersrevised budget summary presented by the Clerk to the Board.

 

Sheila Rees presented the revised budget summary for the Board and stated changes were made to the Road Department Budget per their request.  Budgeted salaries from employees who had left the Road Department were moved to other line items.

The Fire Department budget was reverted back to this year’s contract amount.

The only adjustment forEMSwas for insurance and retirement.

Cuts were made in several departments with the General Revenue funds which will place roughly $500,000 in Reserve.

The budget is now balanced with approximately $4 million from Reserve.

Mrs. Rees stated the more the departments can cut, more money can be brought forward to Reserve for future use.

 

 

LEVY COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

 

Sheriff Smith stated he removed $265,000 from the most recent budget request, which leaves the current budget request at $11,022,084.

Comm. Drew stated she would like the sheriff to take last year’s budget and reduce it by 5%.

Comm. Bell states the Sheriff’s reduction in the budget request is less than ¼ of 1% and she would like to see it reduced more.

 

Major Sullivan stated the Sheriff’s Department had purchased 6 new cars for their K9 officers with one time stimulus money in the amount of $180,000.  He stated they needed to hire new dispatchers, but did not due to not having enough money in current budget.

 

Mrs. Cannon asked which services the Sheriff’s Office will no longer render with the current proposed budget.  Major Sullivan answered there will be no Swat Team, Dive Team, CERT Team in the jail, and no Marine Team.  The Sheriff stated services will have to be cut.

 

Major Sullivan referred to the 5% cut to their budget and stated this would amount to $552,477.70.  He then compared the Sheriff Departments insurance plan expense and the Board of County Commissioner’s insurance plan justifying the raise given to the Sheriff’s Department employees given back in May of this year.

 

Comm. Bell asks Mr. Moody to explain the history of the insurance plan and how we got to where we are.

Mr. Moody explainedLevyCountyis in a pool with several other counties and municipalities.  Years ago the county would go out for bids on insurance each year.  High loss ratios resulted in insurance companies not wanting to offer quotes.  At this time, the Sheriff’s office was still on the same plan as the Board.  The Board checked with the company they were pooled in with already providing property and casualty insurance, Blue Cross, Blue Shield.  They invitedLevyCountyin even with the high loss ratio and the Board has stayed with this company ever since.  Even though the plan offered by the Board for its employees has a much less deductible than offered by the Sheriff’s Department for its employees now, it was beneficial for everyone at that time due to the age group of Sheriff’s Department employees even though they were in a high-risk category.

 

Comm. Rooks referred to the handout given to the Board office regarding the employees and their pay for June salaries.  Discussion followed regarding payroll for Dispatchers and Comp Time.  After review, Comm. Rooks pointed out how two new dispatchers could be hired on.

Comm. Drew stated she would like for the Board to be included in meetings between the Sheriff and the municipalities to discuss dispatching.  Sheriff Smith stated he would notify the Board of the next meeting.  Comm. Drew then requested a radio from the Sheriff’s Department for a short time to listen as she had done this recently with the EMS Department.  Major Sullivan stated he would check with the State to make sure this was allowable and get back to her.  Donna Capps invited any of the Board members to sit in the Dispatch area for a time to see what they do.

 

Comm. Rooks stated to the Sheriff she was trying to set a meeting up with an individual who has some funding available for help in Dispatch to put people in the workforce and would like for the Sheriff and Major Sullivan to be a part of it.  She stated this would not come out of the Sheriff’s budget but Sheriff Smith would have full control over the work by these people.

 

Sheriff Smith spoke about housing Federal Inmates and the costs incurred.  He stated the money received from this goes directly to the Board and while the Sheriff’s Department is out the expense of transporting and housing these inmates they do not get any of this money back.

 

Comm. Rooks stated the Board was told when the new jail was being built, the money received from housing the Federal Inmates would go to offset the bond issue the Board took out to build the jail.   Sheriff Smith stated as a follow up he had made a promise to the taxpayers to do his very best to offset the cost of the new building to them and this has been done.  Major Sheffield stated the amount generated by housing federal inmates is about $180,000.  Sheriff Smith stated it is costing his budget to provide this service and stated if he could be reimbursed just the amount for the officers to transport these inmates, it would help greatly.  Comm. Stevens stated he had requested these figures from the Sheriff’s Department back at the beginning of the year and has not seen them yet.

 

Comm. Bell asked again for the Sheriff to work with the Board to lower his budget.

Sheriff Smith stated if he has to make cuts, he will, but if an emergency comes up during the year, he will have to come before the Board to ask for funds.

 

The meeting recessed at 2:38 P.M.

The meeting reconvened at 2:47 P.M.

 

Mr. Moody spoke regarding insurance on the Inmate Medical expense as arrest for some individuals is access to health care.  This comment comes from speaking with theCountyManagerinAlachuaCountyas they are dealing with the same issue.  Mr. Moody stated the Sheriff’s Department is currently budgeted at $200,000 for inmate medical care.  They had to come before the Board for a $150,000 amendment earlier this year.  Mr. Moody stated he had checked with Hunt Insurance, an insurance company which insures most of the correctional facilities inFlorida. Of the three options given, the one which seemed as though it may work out the best offers $250,000 coverage per inmate with $10,000 deductible at a cost of $64,443 per year.

 

Comm. Rooks stated she would like to see two letters drafted, one to the National Association of Counties and copied to all of our Federal Representatives and another sent to the Florida Association of Counties and copies sent to our Legislative Delegation and the Small County Coalition expressing concerns of the County for unnecessary medical procedures done by hospitals as well as incorrect billing regarding inmate care.

 

Comm. Drew made a motion to sign up for the inmate medical as stated by Mr. Moody from Hunt Insurance for $64,443.  Second was made by Comm. Johnson and the MOTION CARRIES.

 

Mr. Moody stated he would contact Hunt insurance in an effort to get the policy to take effect on October 1, 2010.

 

 

ANIMAL SERVICES

David Weatherford spoke to the Board and stated he could have to come before the Board to request additional funds at some point during the upcoming year with the budget as it is now.

He also stated the salaries had been cut due to one employee retiring and one resigning while the number of calls has not changed.  He asked the Board if he could add back one employee to help with the work load.  Lena Hooker spoke to the Board and explained items in the Animal Services budget.

Comm. Rooks made a motion to add back to the salary line item enough for one new employee.  Second was made by Comm. Stevens and the votes were as follows:

 

YES                                         NO

Comm. Stevens                        Comm.Bell

Comm. Rooks                          Comm. Drew

Comm. Johnson

 

The MOTION DOES NOT CARRY.

 

 

CLERK OF COURT

 

Danny Shipp stated his budget was cut an additional $5,000 from the last budget meeting although his total budget request is up due to reduced revenue from recordings, as this is a fee office.  Sheila Rees gave an explanation to the Board as to how the revenues have been drastically cut.

The Commissioners asked if Mr. Shipp could look at his budget and see if there is any way it can be further reduced.

 

 

SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS

 

Comm. Bell stated Mrs. Asbell was asked to come back to the Board with a reduced budget and she was not present.

Comm. Drew made a motion to reduce the Supervisor of Election’s budget by 5% using last year’s amount.  Second was made by Comm. Johnson and the votes were as follows:

 

YES                                         NO

Comm. Drew                           Comm. Stevens

Comm. Johnson                        Comm. Rooks

Comm. Bell

 

The MOTION DOES NOT CARRY.

 

 

CONSTRUCTION/MAINTENANCE

 

Mr. Moody explains the Maintenance Department is requesting approval to purchase a new 30 hp gas, 60” mower from Suwannee River Kubota as per quotes received from local vendors.  They had been mowing in places where Transportation used to mow and has been billing the Road Department for the mowing.  Discussion followed as to who is to be billed for the mowing.

Comm. Drew made a motion to deny the purchase of a new mower for the Construction/Maintenance Department.  Second was made by Comm. Johnson and the MOTION CARRIES.

 

 

COUNTY AGENT

 

Albert Fuller could not be present and Mrs. Rees stated further cuts were made to their budget and she had not heard back from his office yet.  Mrs. Rees had asked the office if it was necessary to have so many volunteers, as the background checks are expensive.

 

 

DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

 

Rob Corbitt stated his Other Salaries and Wages is one area which cannot be reduced.  He proposed to hold quarterly meetings for the Licensing Board and for the Board of Adjustments to meet three times a year.  He also has one employee which will not be replaced, reducing his budget further.

Comm. Johnson made a motion to change the meetings line item in the Development Department’s budget to $3,500 to accommodate the meetings Mr. Corbitt had spoken of.  Second was made by Comm. Rooks and the MOTION CARRIES.

 

 

 

 

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

 

Mr. Moody requested on behalf of Mark Johnson to purchase a new vehicle to replace his current vehicle.  Mr. Johnson had contacted the Division of Emergency Management.  They responded and stated they had reviewed his request and approved the expenditure of a 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe in the amount of $33,400 on a State bid for Emergency Management use.  Any future trade in or resale funds received related to the new vehicle are applied toward the EMPA base grant contract expenditures.

Comm. Drew stated she did not approve of any new vehicle purchases at the end of the year.  Discussion followed as to the impact of purchasing of a new vehicle and the use of grant funds.

Comm. Stevens made a motion to approve the purchase of a new vehicle as requested by Emergency Management.  Second was made by Comm. Rooks and the votes were as follows:

 

YES                             NO

Comm. Stevens            Comm. Drew

Comm. Rooks              Comm. Bell

Comm. Johnson

 

The MOTION CARRIES.

 

 

EMS

 

Trish Seibold stated theEMSbudget had been cut in addition to what had been presented at the last budget meeting and they would be willing to go with the new budget amount of $4,137,965.  If they run short during the year, they will have to request for additional funds from the Board, as they will have re-certifications to be done this fiscal year.

Comm. Drew stated she was not in favor of replacing so many ambulances at once, as there will be two more purchased this year in addition to what had just been replaced.  She would prefer the purchase of one ambulance each year and rotating out the older ones.

Comm. Rooks stated she would like to get the two new units as soon as possible as the existing ambulances require constant costly repairs.

Comm. Bell is in favor of getting into a gradual rotation of the ambulance fleet, but for now the two new ambulances are needed.

Comm. Rooks made a motion to keep theEMSbudget as is, including the funding for the two new ambulances.  Second was made by Comm. Stevens.

Comm. Johnson proposed to keep the funding for one ambulance in theEMSbudget and wait until next year to purchase the second one.

Comm. Stevens asked Ms. Seibold if she would be willing to purchase one ambulance at the beginning of the new fiscal year and one later in the year and Ms. Seibold agreed.

Comm. Bell called for a vote and they were as follows:

 

YES                             NO

Comm. Rooks                          Comm. Bell

Comm. Stevens                       Comm. Drew

Comm. Johnson

 

The MOTION DOES NOT CARRY.

 

Comm. Johnson made a motion to allow for the purchase one ambulance within the proposedEMSbudget.  Second was made by Comm. Stevens and the votes were as follows:

 

YES                             NO

Comm. Stevens                        Comm. Drew

Comm. Rooks

Comm. Bell

Comm. Johnson

 

The MOTION CARRIES.

 

Comm. Rooks wished to go on record she feels it is a mistake to not purchase two ambulances at this time as she was in favor of the purchase of both.

 

The following Departments budgets were discussed and department representatives stated they had made reductions and were willing to work with their given budgets:

 

Fire

Landfill

LevyCountyTransit

Mosquito Control

Veterans

Water/SHIP

Parks

Planning

Soil Conservation

Road Department

Tourist Development

 

 

LEGAL

 

Atty. Brown stated she has some items of office equipment which will need to be purchased at some point during the year.  If additional funds are needed during the year, she will make a request from the Board.

Comm. Drew made a motion to reduce the line item for professional services-attorneys to $50,000.  Second was made by Comm. Johnson and the MOTION CARRIES.

 

 

LIBRARY

 

Mrs. Rees stated the Library only asks the Board to pay for actual salaries which is $250,315.

 

The Board discussed reducing the following Agency budgets by 5%:

 

Central Florida Community Action Agency

NatureCoastBusiness Development/EZDA

Meridian Health Care

 

Comm. Rooks made a motion to leave the LARC budget at $40,392.  Second was made by Comm. Stevens and the MOTION CARRIES.

 

Comm. Drew made a motion to reduce the budget for the Nature Coast Business Development/EZDA of $42,000 by 5%, add back the rent amount.  Second was made by Comm. Johnson and the votes were as follows:

 

YES                             NO

Comm. Rooks              Comm. Stevens

Comm. Bell

Comm. Drew

Comm. Johnson

 

The MOTION CARRIES.

 

Comm. Drew made a motion to reduce the budgets for Central Florida Community Action Agency and Meridian Health Care by 5%.  Second was made by Comm. Stevens and the MOTION CARRIES.

 

Comm. Drew made a motion to reduce the budgets for the Public Defender, State Attorney by 5%.  Second was made by Comm. Johnson and the MOTION CARRIES.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comm. Drew made a motion to reduce the budget for Recreation funds currently at $12,000 by 5%.  Second was made by Comm. Johnson.  The votes were cast as follows:

 

YES                             NO

Comm. Bell                  Comm. Stevens

Comm. Drew               Comm. Rooks

Comm. Johnson

 

The MOTION CARRIES.

 

The Board agreed to schedule the next Budget Workshop on September 7^th at 1:00 P.M. and a Communications Workshop following afterwards.  The final hearing for the Rate Resolutions will be on the same day at 6:30 P.M.

 

 

THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION, THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT 5:19 P.M.

 

 

ATTEST:                                                                                             BOARD OFCOUNTYCOMMISSIONERS

LEVY COUNTY,FL

 

 

____________________________________                                    ____________________________________

Clerk of Court, Danny J. Shipp                                                 Chairperson, Nancy Bell

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