SPECIAL MEETING

LEVY COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

December 12, 2002

 The Special Meeting of the Board of Levy County Commissioners was held on December 12, 2002 at 10:00 a.m. in the Levy County Board of County Commissioners' meeting room, with the following Commissioners present:

Chairman Tony Parker
Vice Chairman Danny Stevens
Comm. Sammy Yearty
Comm. Lilly Rooks
Comm.  Don Foley

 Also present were:

Clerk of Court Danny J. Shipp
Assistant County Administrator Fred Moody

 Chairman Parker called the special meeting and workshop to order at 10:00 a.m..

JAIL

Sheriff Smith said the van currently used to transport inmates can be used to transport inmates from the court house and medical appointments but will not meet the needs of transporting inmates to and from Bradford County where they are being housed.  Sheriff Smith said the purchase of a van was not placed in the budget for the 2002-2003 fiscal year and the budgeted funds are already obligated.

Major Bobby McCallum explained an Econoline cargo  van can been purchased at the state contract price for $16,971.00 and the van cell insert for $7,945.00 for a total of $24,916.00.

Sheriff Smith said a request was being made for the Board of County Commission to purchase the van since the purchase was not anticipated and the funds are not within the Sheriff's budget.

Comm. Bell moved to approve the purchase of the van to transport inmates and transfer the funds. Comm. Yearty seconded and the MOTION CARRIED.

VETERAN'S SERVICE OFFICER

Mr. Major Stroupe explained the review committee had three (3) applicants to present for consideration for the position of Veteran's Service Officer and background screening had begun.  Mr. Stroupe said all information may be obtained by the next regular meeting to establish a date to interview the applicants.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES

Mr. Fred Moody said the position of Emergency Medical Services Director was advertised with ten (10) applications being received with only five (5) meeting the qualifications.  Mr. Moody explained contact had been made with counties of similar population and it was being recommended to advertise the position again with a salary range of $32,032.00 to $44,158.00, based on qualifications, to see if there is additional response to the position.  Comm. Rooks moved to approve the salary recommendation and advertise for two (2) weeks for the position of Emergency Medical Services Director.  Comm. Stevens seconded and the MOTION CARRIED.

Mr. Moody said the City of Williston is prepared to dedicate sufficient land to house a permanent structure for a rescue station and accommodate parking, a two(2) bay, four (4) bedroom building including a retention pond.

Comm. Stevens explained the City of Williston wanted to retain the station within the city limits and future growth may present the need of another station in another area. Comm. Stevens declared a Conflict of Interest as he is an employee of the City of Williston.  Comm. Rooks moved to proceed with the agreement with the City of Williston for the site to construct the rescue station. Comm. Bell seconded and the MOTION CARRIED.

TAX ROLL

Mr. Moody said the master ordinance draft for amending the special assessments should be submitted for review shortly.

Mr. Moody said the Clerk, Mr. Danny Shipp and deputy clerks Mrs. Chanda Jordan and Mrs. Susan Haines assisted in auctioning the escheated lands and brought in approximately $14,000.00. Mr. Moody said under the old policy for the purchase of escheated lands it would have brought in $6,800.00.

COMMISSIONERS

Comm. Stevens advised he had been contacted with a request for the constitutional officers and the County Commissioners to participate in the Relay for Life in Williston.

Comm. Stevens explained the agenda allows non-agenda items that may need action prior to the next regular meeting and the information was not received until after the Wednesday cut-off.  Comm. Stevens said action on non-agenda items require an unanimous vote to hear the item and majority vote to approve action on the item.

BUILDING AND GROUNDS

Chairman Parker opened the workshop to review the proposed plans for the addition to the jail.

Mr. Steve Reeves presented the proposal for a new pod at the jail that will allow housing for 172 inmates including isolation cells, four (4) additional cells for medical treatment and double bunking. Mr. Reeves explained the estimated square footage for construction ranges from $120.00 to $180.00 a square foot.

Comm. Stevens said the waste water facility needs to be expanded to accommodate the expansion. Mr. Reeves said the county has a permit for the storm water facility.

Comm. Bell recommended requesting assistance from Mrs. Ginny Waite-Brown for possible federal assistance for the jail construction.

Captain Johnson said the U. S. Marshall's Office has financial assistance up to $250,000.00 available with the commitment of inmate housing space for twenty (20) years. Captain Johnson said that needs to be considered carefully as it may eliminate space needed for local inmates.

Mr. Reeve said the space needs for the additional constitutional officers will be reviewed and a proposal forthcoming.  Mr. Reeve explained he was requested to place the jail on a priority basis and report.

Mr. Danny Shipp said revenue for a bond issue needs to reviewed to determine what revenue would be committed for the bond issue.

Captain Johnson explained with the expansion we could house federal inmates which has previously generated revenue up to $250,000.00 annually.

Comm. Stevens recommended scheduling a workshop to discuss revenue sources at the regular meeting of December 17, 2002. 

THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS THE MEETING ADJOURNED.

                                                  
Tony Parker, Board Chairman

ATTEST:

                                                    
Danny J. Shipp, Clerk of Court