SPECIAL MEETING
LEVY COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
July 10, 2001
The Special Meeting of the Board of Levy County Commissioners was held on July 10, 2001 at 1:00 p.m. in the Levy County Board of County Commissioners’ meeting room, with the following Commissioners present:
Vice-Chairman Don Foley
Comm. Tony Parker
Comm. Lilly Rooks
Comm. Danny Stevens
Also present were:
County Attorney Gregory V. Beauchamp
Clerk of Court Danny J. Shipp
County Administrator George A. Lambka
Mr. George Lambka explained the special meeting was convened to discuss a Communications Services Tax Resolution and contracting for auctioneer services for disposal of surplus equipment.
Vice-Chairman Foley called the meeting to order.
Mr. C. W. Gilbert called for a point or order and questioned the need for an emergency meeting.
RESOLUTIONS
Comm. Rooks explained notice of the resolution was received from the Association of Counties and action must be taken by July 16, 2001. Comm. Rooks said if the resolution was adopted a Communications Service Tax could be implemented at a rate of 0.24 percent or if the resolution was not adopted the state could assess a rate of 1.84 percent. Comm. Rooks reported the tax would affect the unincorporated areas and would be assessed on various communication billings. Comm. Rooks said it was not clear if this was additional tax or a replacement of permitting fees.
Comm. Stevens said it appears the tax would replace franchise fees and currently there are no franchise fees assessed in the unincorporated area.
Mr. Ron Grant said he had problems with an assessment of a service fee from Alachua county for his cell phone number and had to request Alltel to remove it from his billing and was concerned this would create a problem of dual taxation by Alachua and Levy counties with the implementation of a Communications Service Tax.
Mr. Greg Beauchamp reported he had contacted Mr. Bob McKee with the Association of Counties for clarification of this resolution and it appears the unincorporated areas would be assessed a percentage on their communication billings and it would be described as a Local Government Charge. Mr. Beauchamp explained it is a complicated process and recommended additional review prior to any action.
Comm. Rooks expressed concern of an additional tax being implemented and if the resolution was not adopted at a lower percentage rate the consequence of the state enacting a higher tax rate. Comm. Rooks said the law would be enacted on October 1, 2001 and communication companies would no longer pay franchise fees.
Mr. Beauchamp clarified the consensus of the Board if upon further clarification of the proposed resolution that no action would be taken if there was not a loss of funding from other sources. Mr. Beauchamp confirmed that affirmative action would be taken at the tentative special meeting scheduled for Friday, July 13, 2001 at 2:00 p.m., if failure to adopt the resolution prior to July 16, 2001 caused an increase tax or some other penalty that affected funding. Mr. Beauchamp said he would provide his findings on the proposed Communication Services Tax prior to the meeting.
EQUIPMENT
Mr. Lambka said there is surplus equipment that needs to be disposed of from the various departments and recommended holding an auction with a professional auctioneer. Mr. Lambka explained he had contacted Mr. Ralph Fetherolf and Mr. Bill Elrod and recommended contracting with Mr. Bill Elrod who had handled surplus equipment auctions for local and state governments. Mr. Lambka advised that an inspection of the surplus equipment at the Road Department was projected to raise from $35,000.00 to $65,000.00 and all the departments had surplus equipment to be disposed of. Mr. Lambka explained Mr. Elrod would provide his services at 15 percent of the first $500.00, and 10 percent thereafter, provide advertising throughout the southeast and recommended the auction be held on August 4th or August 7th so it would not to conflict with other equipment auctions in the state.
Mr. Lambka said Mr. Tommy Dean was an employee at the Road Department, who previously was paid to handle the auctions and was concerned with a conflict of interest with a county employee handling the auction.
Mr. Danny Shipp explained he had investigated Mr. Elrod’s procedure of placing the proceeds in escrow, disbursing payment within 10 to 14 days and had no objection to the process.
Mr. Fred Shaw said it appeared the discussion of an auction for surplus equipment was an agenda item and should be discussed at a regular meeting.
Mr. Lambka explained dates for an auction were limited and disposal of the surplus equipment would make a clean inventory for the end of the fiscal year.
Comm. Stevens recommended the item be placed on the agenda for discussion at the next regular meeting.
PARKS AND RECREATION
Ms. Cerise Smith representing the Tri-County All Stars team, "16 and under" requested support for the team to travel to North Carolina for the Regional Tournaments. Ms. Smith said the team needs assistance with transportation, housing and any assistance would be appreciated.
Vice-Chairman Foley explained the request was not advertised for discussion and no action could be taken and advised Ms. Smith to address the matter at the July 17th meeting.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS THE MEETING ADJOURNED.
Don Foley, Board Vice-Chairman
ATTEST:
Danny J. Shipp, Clerk of Court