REGULAR MEETING
LEVY COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
January 20, 1998
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Levy County Commissioners was held on January 20, 1998 at 9:00 a.m. in the Levy County Board of County Commissioners’ meeting room, with the following Commissioners present:
Chairman Don Foley
Comm. Wilbur Dean
Comm. Sammy Yearty
Comm. Frank Davis
Also present were:
County Attorney Gregory V. Beauchamp
Clerk of Court Douglas M. McKoy
Administrative Assistant William C. Cobb
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.. The invocation was given by Mr. Skip Hammell followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
EXPENDITURES
The following expenditures were presented for payment. Comm. Dean moved to approve the expenditures presented for payment. Comm. Davis seconded and the MOTION CARRIED.
FUND AMOUNT
CHECK NUMBERS: 11329-11552 (VOIDS 11330;11538 )
GENERAL FUND $243,060.89
ROAD & BRIDGE FUND 47,698.13
LOCAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE 54,942.00
PERMANENT MOSQUITO CONTROL 15,145.00
FINE & FORFEITURE FUND 632.46
COURT FACILITIES FUND 161.00
LANDFILL & RECYCLING 9,335.47
FLORIDA POWER GRANT FUND 264.37
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE 13,391.25
LOCAL LAW ENF BLOCK GRANT 2,405.54
SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION 8,666.40
UTILITIES FUND 63.55
TOTAL $401,542.78
BIDS
Ms. Heather Alexander, Board Secretary opened the bids received for Property and Casualty insurance coverage. The bids received were as follows:
Arthur J. Gallagher - Property $21,182.00
Automobile $9,211.00
Contractors Equipment $5,187.00
Florida League of Cities - General Liability $25,259.00
Automobile $6,224.00
Property & Allied Lines $8,563.00
Chairman Foley asked Mr. Billy Cobb, Board Secretary Ms. Heather Alexander or Ms. Jacqueline Martin to serve on the committee he chairs to review the bids and to make a recommendation to the board.
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
Mr. Bill Beddow said the EMT’s have completed the tuberculosis tests as required by state statute and no problems were encountered.
Mr. Beddow said he wanted to commend the Road Department on the assistance provided recently with a hydraulic oil spill.
ROAD DEPARTMENT
Mr. Skip Hammell said he had reviewed the dedicated easements on S.W. 77th Place located in Coastal Oaks Subdivision. Mr. Hammell said the road does not follow the easements and probably descriptive easements have now been acquired. Mr. Hammell said the easement is not dedicated to the public for right-of-way. Mr. Hammell said that past maintenance has apparently been done on assumption. Mr. Greg Beauchamp said if an emergency situation existed the minimum amount of work could be justified but normal maintenance is not allowable if the road has not been dedicated to the public.
Comm Yearty moved to have a deed drafted for landowners to dedicate the right of way to the public and no maintenance will be done on S.W. 77th until the landowners provide the deeded right of way. Comm. Davis seconded and the MOTION CARRIED.
Comm. Dean recommended the Road Department develop a procedure to be used in the future for dedicated right of ways to the public which are not county maintained.
Mr. Skip Hammell presented the following for maintenance on a one time basis:
N.E. 108 Street, University Oaks, 50' dedicated right of way, 500' long, will require 2 flat beds of rock.
Comm. Dean moved to approve maintenance on a one time basis. Comm. Davis seconded and the MOTION CARRIED.
S.E. 70th Street, Ocala Highlands West, 1 mile long, dedicated right of way, 12 loads rock and grade.
Comm. Yearty moved to approve the maintenance on a one time basis. Comm. Dean seconded and the MOTION CARRIED.
Comm. Dean asked Mr. Hammell about the Ocala Highlands Subdivision on dedicating the right of way to CR 64. Comm. Dean said it was his understanding the two landowners wanted the current road closed and they would dedicate the right of way. Mr. Hammell is to draft a description of the plans for the road.
LIBRARY
Mrs. Julia Sieg, Director at Central Florida Regional Library said Marion County is now the governing board. Mrs. Sieg said Marion County is preparing long range plans to be submitted to the State since their assumption as the governing board from the City of Ocala. Mrs. Sieg said local representatives to the governing board are Ms. Marlee Ashford, Chiefland; Ms. Tonie Collins, Williston and two (2) one day workshops discussing community needs.
Mrs. Julia Sieg said she had heard that the county was considering separating from Central Florida Regional Library and wanted it understood the governing board was concerned and did not want this to occur. Comm. Yearty said it had not been considered by the Board and the cost to do so could not be absorbed by the county.
Mrs. Sieg presented a copy of the executed interlocal agreement with Central Florida Regional Library.
ORDINANCES
Mr. Rob Corbitt said the public hearing for the Junk and Debris Ordinance is now scheduled for February 17, 1998. Mr. Corbitt said a misprint in the advertising required it to be rescheduled and readvertise.
LANDFILL
Mrs. Donna Conquest asked for authorization to advertise for bids for the leachate hauling contract. Mrs. Conquest said the contracts would be expiring soon.
Comm. Yearty moved to allow Chairman Foley to sign the invitation to bid. Comm. Davis seconded and the MOTION CARRIED.
ROAD CLOSING
Mr. Greg Beauchamp read a resolution requesting a vacating of road by James and Pat Willis of Williston for:
That certain portion of Pine Street lying adjacent to and east of Lot 7, Block "C" of Eleston’s Addition To Williston, as recorded in Plat Book 3, Page 5 of the Public Records of Levy County, Florida. Said lands situate, lying and being in Levy County, Florida.
Mr. Skip Hammell said a portion of the road had previously been vacated. Comm. Yearty moved to adopt the resolution and scheduling the public hearing for February 17, 1998. Comm. Davis seconded and the MOTION CARRIED.
TAX COLLECTOR
Mr. Greg Beauchamp read the list of lands available which were not sold at a recent Tax Deed Sale. Mr. Beauchamp said the lands were now available for purchase by the County. Mr. Beauchamp said all properties are from the Diversified Land Development.
Comm. Yearty moved to place the list of lands for sale. Comm. Davis seconded and the MOTION CARRIED.
UTILITIES
Mr. Greg Beauchamp said the committee had met with Mr. Frank Woodard and his attorney to discuss University Oaks Water System. Mr. Beauchamp said contact had been made with the Public Service Commission (PSC) and depending on his complying with requests made by the county consideration would be made for him to retain his receivership. Mr. Beauchamp said the county would have to go to circuit court to request a new receivership be appointed if the conditions are not met.
Mr. Greg Beauchamp said the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is requiring certain improvements at the Manatee Utilities including replacement of tanks. Mr. Beauchamp said authorization is needed to allow Comm. Davis and his committee to proceed with ordering the tanks to meet the requirements and to proceed with installation. Mr. Beauchamp said the county engineer has reviewed the recommendations and DEP has agreed to allow the county to change the water system without a permit if the engineer has designed the system. Comm. Yearty moved to allow acceptance of the low bid on the water tanks and to allow installation to proceed. Comm. Dean seconded and the MOTION CARRIED.
CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS
Mr. Billy Cobb said the State had requested payment for fire fighting in the county for $13,824.18. Mr. Douglas McKoy, Clerk of Court, said this payment had been made in the past and there is a contract for the service.
Comm. Yearty moved to pay in accordance to the contract upon clarification by Mr. McKoy and to sign the agreement. Comm. Davis seconded and the MOTION CARRIED.
ANIMAL CONTROL
Mr. Billy Cobb said the Town of Bronson has requested an interlocal agreement for Animal Control. Mr. Cobb said the Town of Bronson would take the animals they pick up to the county facility and would be billed monthly for the services received from the county. Comm. Dean moved to approve an interlocal agreement. Comm. Davis seconded and the MOTION CARRIED.
UTILITIES
Mr. Billy Cobb said Telecomm Network, Inc. has asked for an agreement to audit the telephone bills for the county. Mr. Cobb said they would audit all bills and if any refunds were due they would be paid 30 percent of the amount collected. Mr. Cobb said there would not be any charges if there were no overpayments collected. Comm. Davis moved to enter into the agreement. Comm. Yearty seconded and the MOTION CARRIED.
TAX COLLECTOR
Mr. Billy Cobb presented the following Certificate of Correction of Non-Ad Valorem Assessment Roll:
Karl D. Dean, one acre lot, no mobile home on the property, septic tank and well, no resident on the property.
Comm. Davis moved to approve the Certificate of Correction. Comm. Dean seconded and the MOTION CARRIED.
Jeffrey Byrant, 1014 NE 3rd Avenue, Williston, no electric or water connections on property, mobile home unlivable.
Comm. Davis moved to approve the Certificate of Correction. Comm. Dean seconded and the MOTION CARRIED.
James and Georgiana Wolschleger, Bronson Heights, eight (8) improved lots, four (4) lots with mobile homes which are inhabitable, rental property, mobile homes should be removed from the property due to condition.
Comm. Dean moved to table this request to further investigate the request. Comm. Davis seconded and the MOTION CARRIED.
SHIP
Mrs. Carol McQueen presented four (4) Deferred Payment Loan Agreements as follows:
Leonard E. And Lisa M. Whiteman, Lot 2 and portion of Lot 1, Epperson Heights, Blk 2, Williston, $10,125.00.
Comm. Davis moved to approve the Deferred Payment Loan Agreement. Comm. Dean seconded and the MOTION CARRIED.
Joseph Robert Vause, III, Fox Run, Lot 23, $15,000.00.
Comm. Davis moved to approve the Deferred Payment Loan Agreement. Comm. Dean seconded and the MOTION CARRIED.
John M. and Joyce Gibson, Lots 10,12 and 13 & South ½ of Lot 8, Block 29, Chiefland.
Comm. Dean moved to approve the Deferred Payment Loan Agreement. Comm. Davis seconded and the MOTION CARRIED.
Eloise M. Sims, Lot 15, Blk 5 Green Highland Park Subdivision, Section 30, Township 12S, Range 18E.
Comm. Dean moved to approve the Deferred Payment Loan Agreement. Comm. Davis seconded and the MOTION CARRIED.
Comm. Yearty asked about the Deferred Payment Loan Agreements. Mrs. McQueen said the current procedure is the loan is deferred for ten (10) years at 10 percent per year. Mrs. McQueen said the Board could change the procedure to allow the monies to be expended for more clients. Mrs. McQueen said all monies are almost expended for this year.
GRANTS
Mrs. Carol McQueen said the Citizens Advisory Task Force (CATF) had met and discussed certain roads within the county to consider applying for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). Mrs. McQueen said the second public hearing will be scheduled in March to provide the recommendations from the CATF.
Mrs. McQueen said on the grant application you may not use in-kind services and requested authorization to use $150,000.00 for labor and materials. Mrs. McQueen said this was used on the letter of intent submitted to the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) last year. Comm. Dean moved to approve $150,000.00 and authorize Chairman Foley to sign the letter of intent to be submitted with the grant application. Comm. Davis seconded and the MOTION CARRIED.
INSURANCE
Mr. Jim Hicks, Executive Director with Public Risk Management said a representative is needed to serve on the Board. Mr. Hicks said an alternate also should be appointed to allow representation at all Board meetings. Mr. Hicks said the corporate agreement also needed to be executed at this time. Mr. Hicks said Public Risk Management was formed to decrease costs for public entities and the county presently has the Workers’ Compensation coverage with them. Comm. Yearty moved to authorize Chairman Foley to sign the agreement. Comm. Dean seconded and the MOTION CARRIED.
ROADS, COUNTY
Comm. Yearty said Kitty Lane Drive and Fish Drive have been on the priority list for paving and he was requesting it to be removed and it would be added to the list for roads to be paved on the application submitted for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). Comm. Yearty asked to have the County Line Road placed on the priority paving list as a replacement.
Comm. Yearty moved to resurface the milling and add 3/4 mile to the project on the County Line Road. Comm. Dean seconded and the MOTION CARRIED..
BOARDS
Comm. Dean said the Withlacoochee Planning Council for overall development in the region has requested a submission of names to serve on economic boards in the region.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Mr. Osburn Barker said the contract from Rockustic Systems, Inc. needed to be approved for work on the Emergency Operations building for $9,952.80. Mr. Barker said quotes had been obtained from several contractors. Comm. Dean moved to approve the contract. Comm. Davis seconded and the MOTION CARRIED.
COMMISSIONERS
Chairman Foley said the Nature Coast Greenways Trail committee had met and plans to open the trail on April 4 or 5, 1998. Chairman Foley said he wanted to confirm the agreement that the county would do some grading and furnish a dump truck to haul off debris. Comm. Yearty moved to allow the Road Department to provide services at Chairman Foley’s direction. Comm. Dean seconded and the MOTION CARRIED.
Mrs. Carol McQueen said the Department of Transportation (DOT) is working on releasing funds for the greenway and Dixie County has received ISTEA funds for the project. Chairman Foley said turnpike authorities have agreed to release funds for the greenway in the amount of $485,000.00 for this fiscal year.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS THE MEETING ADJOURNED.
Don Foley, Board Chairman
ATTEST:
Douglas M. McKoy, Clerk of Court