REGULAR MEETING
LEVY COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
MARCH 21, 2017
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Levy County Commissioners was held on March 21, 2017 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. Matt Brooks
Comm. Lilly Rooks
Comm. Mike Joyner
Also present were:
County Attorney – Anne Bast Brown
County Coordinator – Wilbur Dean
Danny J. Shipp – Clerk of Court
Chairman John Meeks called the Meeting to order at 9:02 A.M. Comm. Rock Meeks gave the invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
EXPENDITURES
Comm. Rock Meeks made a motion to approve the following expenditures presented for payment. Second was made by Comm. Joyner and the MOTION CARRIES.
| CHECK NUMBER | 126793-126922 |
| FUND | AMOUNT |
| GENERAL REVENUE | 80,308.86 |
| ROAD | 121,509.48 |
| MOSQUITO CONTROL | 228.95 |
| TRANSPORTATION | 16,416.94 |
| COURT FACILITIES | 15.00 |
| EMS | 25,971.09 |
| FIRE | 65,322.93 |
| TOURIST DEVELOPMENT | 6,785.20 |
| UTILITIES | 414.98 |
| ADD COURT COSTS | 669.50 |
| IMPACT FEES – PARKS | 1,559.50 |
| IMPACT FEES – RD DIST II | 456,279.50 |
| LANDFILL | 82,579.81 |
| TOTAL | $ 858,061.74 |
MINUTES
The minutes for the Regular Board meeting held on January 17, 2017 were presented for Board approval.
Comm. Brooks made a motion to approve the minutes from the Regular Board meeting held on January 17, 2017 as presented. Second was made by Comm. Rock Meeks and the MOTION CARRIES.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Amanda Henderson, President of the Levy County Fair announced the Levy County Fair will begin on Thursday, March 30th with the opening ceremony at 6:00 P.M. The Fair will run through April 2nd. Ms. Henderson provided the Commissioners and elected officials with invitations to the Fair.
CITY OF CEDAR KEY
Heath Davis, Mayor requested approval from the Board and signature of the Chairman on a letter supporting the City of Cedar Key’s Annex onto County owned property. The City of Cedar Key would like to have this brought to the citizens for a vote. Mayor Davis stated the City of Cedar Key would like for the incorporated area to be more clearly defined.
Comm. Rooks expresses concerns of the Board of County Commissioners taking a position on City business and questioned how this would affect the City in the future with another CRA.
Mayor Davis stated the support of the annexation by the Board would not have an effect of the CRA within the City lines.
Comm. John Meeks questioned a portion of the report of the annexation which states there will be no guarantee the City provided fire services will continue if the annexation does not occur.
Mayor Davis assured the Commissioners he would never tell the Fire Department not to go outside the annexed area to provide Fire service to the citizens.
After discussion, Comm. Joyner made a motion to approve the Chairman’s signature on a letter of consent for the City of Cedar Key to seek annexation of county owned property as requested. Second was made by Comm. Brooks and the MOTION CARRIES. Comm. Rooks votes NO.
Members of the audience commenting on this item were: Dana Sheffield and Jeff Hardison.
LEVY COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
- Mike West, 911 Addressing requested signature of the Chairman on the Rural County Grant Application for GIS Refresh & Improvement. West stated this will update their current GIS files, correct discrepancies and synchronize data to improve accuracy and response time. No matching funds are required.
- Mr. West requested signature of the Chairman on the Rural County Grant Application for E911 System Maintenance, 2017-2018. Mr. West stated this Grant will cover yearly costs on the PSAP equipment and software. No matching funds are required.
Comm. Rooks made a motion to approve items A and B as presented. Second was made by Comm. Rock Meeks and the MOTION CARRIES.
CHAD MUNN
Mr. Munn requested improvements of the roads in Cedar Key Plantation.
The Commissioners stated there are many other residents on county maintained roads which are on a waiting list for paving or upgrades. The roads in Cedar Key Plantation have not been dedicated to the county and are not part of the County’s road maintenance system.
NON-AGENDA ITEM
Comm. Rock Meeks made a motion to hear a non-agenda item as requested by Comm. John Meeks. Second was made by Comm. Joyner and the MOTION CARRIES.
Wilbur Dean presented the Board with a check in the amount of $34,304.28 from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for distribution of the Goethe State Forest receipts for fiscal year 2015-2016 in the amount of $34,304.28.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
COUNTY COORDINATOR
- Wilbur Dean requested direction from the Board with moving forward on Gas Tax Ordinance using either Option 1; the ninth cent $193,000 or Options 2; ELM’s on one cent to 5 cents $903,000.
The Commissioners agreed by consensus to move forward with the Gas Tax Ordinance using the option of ELM’s on 5 cents.
Members of the audience who spoke regarding this item were: Dana Sheffield and Linda Cooper.
- Mr. Dean requested Board approval of Proclamation 2017-010, Levy County recognizes April, 2017 as “Water Conservation Month”.
Comm. Rooks made a motion to approve Proclamation 2017-010 as presented. Second was made by Comm. Joyner and the MOTION CARRIES.
- Mr. Dean informed the Board of the letter received from the City of Chiefland regarding voluntary annexation.
- Mr. Dean requested Board approval of the Agreement between Levy County and Nabors, Giblin & Nickerson for 2017-2018 Annual Assessments preparations.
Comm. Rooks made a motion to approve the Agreement between Levy County and Nabors, Giblin & Nickerson for the 2017-2018 Annual Assessments preparations as requested. Second was made by Comm. Rock Meeks and the MOTION CARRIES.
ANIMAL SERVICES
David Weatherford, Director requested Board approval for the purchase of a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 in the amount of $31,387.25 by utilizing the Florida Sheriff’s Association bid. This would replace the truck he drives which has over 300,000 miles on it and is 12 years old.
Comm. Rooks made a motion to approve the purchase of a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 including the budget amendment as requested. Second was made by Comm. Joyner and the MOTION CARRIES. Comm. Rock Meeks voted NO.
Questions were asked by Linda Cooper concerning the storage of donated animal food which were answered by Mr. Weatherford.
LIBRARY
Jeanine Turner requested Board approval to appoint Jim Pasteraro to the PAL Governing Board.
Comm. Rooks made a motion to appoint Jim Pasteraro to the PAL Governing Board as requested. Second was made by Comm. Joyner and the MOTION CARRIES.
TRANSIT
- Connie Conley, Director requested Board approval of the revised Grant application for 2016 from two (2) busses to three (3). This is a 5339 Grant to be reimbursed at 100%.
Comm. Rock Meeks made a motion to approve the revised Grant application as requested. Second was made by Comm. Brooks and the MOTION CARRIES.
- Mrs. Conley requested Board approval for the update to the Levy County Transit Substance Abuse Policy, Zero Tolerance. Changes include footer and Board Chairman but there were no changes to the policy itself.
Comm. Rooks made a motion to approve the update to the Levy County Transit Substance Abuse Policy, Zero Tolerance as requested. Second was made by Comm. Brooks and the MOTION CARRIES.
PARKS AND RECREATION
- Matt Weldon, Director requested ratification of the Agreement with Florida Department of Health pertaining to Zika funding. This agreement has enable the department to invoice for Vector control and education measures due to the outbreak of the Zika virus. To date, $31,000 has been received with an expected $1,500 for recently invoiced education fees.
- Mr. Weldon requested Board approval of Resolution 2017-007 for final budget/fiscal year 2016-17 due to additional revenue from the Florida Department of Health in the amount of $32,500.
Comm. Rooks made a motion to approve ratification of the Agreement with Florida Department of Health and approval of Resolution 2017-007 as requested. Second was made by Comm. Rock Meeks and the MOTION CARRIES.
ROAD DEPARTMENT
Alice LaLonde, Office Manager requested Board approval to present quotes for bulldozer repair/parts. The two (2) quotes received from Ring Power total $34,507.42.
Comm. Rooks made a motion to approve the repairs to the bulldozer as presented. Second was made by Comm. Joyner and the MOTION CARRIES.
COUNTY ATTORNEY
Anne Bast Brown
11:00 A.M. Executive Session. – CANCELLED –
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Dana Sheffield spoke of the gas tax item concerning additional funding for the Road Department. He questioned if this additional amount could be used for all departments. Linda Cooper also spoke regarding the gas tax item.
There will be a water ski show in Fanning Springs on April 8th at 4:00 P.M. Admission to the State Park will be free for that afternoon. There will be a movie shown at the Park later that evening.
The following weekend is the Cross City Airport event from 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.
Sallie Ann Collins spoke of the I-75 expansion project.
Sheriff McCallum spoke to the Board of the large number of recent drug arrests made in Levy County which resulted from a lengthy investigation.
COMMISSIONERS’ REPORTS
Comm. Rooks expressed thanks to the Road Department for their quick and efficient work done on Dock Street.
Comm. Rooks spoke to the Board of a call from a citizen regarding dividing their land and issues they are now encountering in trying to get permits to build.
After discussion, Mr. Dean was directed to speak with Bill Hammond, Building and Zoning Director to schedule a Workshop to discuss and situations similar to this in an effort to come to a solution.
Comm. Rooks made a motion to approve the Chairman to sign a letter to the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners thanking them for their recent donations to the Cedar Key Library. Second was made by Comm. Joyner and the MOTION CARRIES.
Comm. Brooks reported of his attendance of a REDI Executive meeting which was held in Williston recently. (Rural Economic Development Initiative).
Comm. Brooks stated this Saturday will be the first “Team Up to Clean Up” initiative he has begun to get communities in his district involved in cleaning up the area roadways. They will meet up at the Williston City Hall at 2:00 P.M. before heading out to a pre-determined area.
Comm. Rock Meeks stated the CAAA Baseball Bash will be this weekend.
Comm. Rock Meeks reminded everyone the Suwannee River Fair Livestock Show and Sale will conduct its sale tomorrow and invited everyone to support the youth of the Tri-County area.
Comm. John Meeks congratulated Lee Williams for his new position as the County Procurement Director.
Comm. John Meeks announced the opening ceremonies for the Bronson Youth League will be this Saturday at 10:00 A.M. at the James H. Cobb Park.
Comm. John Meeks stated the offer made by Mr. Hardison for the link for the public to access the Delinquent Tax List through HardisonInk had been accepted.
Comm. John Meeks provided Legislative updates and spoke of HB 9 reporting it had passed. This is the House Bill which eliminates Enterprise Florida as well many other incentive programs for tourism based industry in Florida. The budget for Visit Florida was also drastically cut.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION, THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT 11:52 A.M.
ATTEST: BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
LEVY COUNTY, FL
________________________________________ ________________________________________
Clerk of Court, Danny J. Shipp Chairman, John Meeks