REGULAR MEETING
LEVY COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
MARCH 7, 2017
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Levy County Commissioners was held on March 7, 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 9:00 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 | 126654-126792 |
| FUND | AMOUNT |
| GENERAL REVENUE | 1,501,555.91 |
| ROAD | 50,733.28 |
| SHIP | 18,972.00 |
| MOSQUITO CONTROL | 4,850.00 |
| COURT TECH/CRIM PREV | 8,423.61 |
| TRANSPORTATION | 882.01 |
| 911 | 13,563.83 |
| COURT FACILITIES | 48.00 |
| EMS | 19,466.70 |
| FIRE | 2,248.94 |
| TOURIST DEVELOPMENT | 2,015.29 |
| UTILITIES | 659.53 |
| ADD COURT COSTS | 1,687.37 |
| CAPITAL PROJECTS | 60.00 |
| LANDFILL | 5,573.71 |
| TOTAL | $ 1,630,740.18 |
| EFT PAYMENT | $ 14,720.75 |
MINUTES
The minutes for the Regular Board meetings held on December 20, 2016 and January 3, 2017 were presented for Board approval.
Comm. Joyner made a motion to approve the minutes for the Regular Board meeting held on December 20, 2016 as presented. Second was made by Comm. Rock Meeks and the MOTION CARRIES.
Comm. Joyner made a motion to approve the minutes for the Regular Board meeting held on January 3, 2017 as presented. Second was made by Comm. Brooks and the MOTION CARRIES.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Sallie Ann Collins spoke of Mr. and Mrs. Gaither and the health issues with their service dog, Miss Honey.
COUNTY COORDINATOR
Wilbur Dean requested Board approval and signature of the Chairman for the letter of support for the distribution of funds by the JAGS grant for the following projects within Levy County:
City of Williston, Police Dept. PD Equipment Grant $13,697
City of Chiefland, Police Dept. PD Equipment Grant $10,000
City of Cedar Key, Police Dept. PD Equipment Grant $10,000
Comm. Rooks made a motion to approve the signature of the Chairman on the letter of support as presented. Second was made by Comm. Brooks and the MOTION CARRIES.
SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS
Tammy Jones requested the Chairman’s signature for matching funds for the Federal Election Activities Grant. (HAVA-Help America Vote Act Funds) The matching money has already been approved in this current budget and is available for use. The Federal Election Activities Funds are used for voter education and poll worker training. The State provides $6,371.50 if the county matches 15%, which is $955.72.
Comm. Rock Meeks made a motion to approve the Chairman’s signature on the Federal Election Activities Grant as requested. Second was made by Comm. Joyner and the MOTION CARRIES.
NATURE COAST BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
David Pieklik
Presentation of regular activities and accomplishments reports from January – March, 2017.
Members of the audience who spoke were: Drinda Merritt and Toni Collins.
HARDISONINK.COM
Jeff M. Hardison, Owner
Sunny Baynard, Attorney representing Mr. Hardison spoke to the Board regarding a request Mr. Hardison had previously made on the February 21, 2017 meeting regarding advertising of the Levy County Delinquent Tax Notices.
Questions were asked by audience member, Linda Cooper and answers were given by Atty. Brown.
Comm. Rooks made a motion to Table this item to allow Atty. Brown time to review the request made by Atty. Baynard. Second was made by Comm. Joyner and the MOTION CARRIES.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
COUNTY COORDINATOR
Wilbur Dean
- Mr. Dean Requested Board approval and Chairman’s signature on a letter approving Levy County Solid Waste to waive dumping fees for Cedar Key Trash Tour which will be held on March 25, 2017.
Comm. Rooks made a motion to approve the Chairman’s signature on the letter waiving dumping fees for the Cedar Key Trash Tour as requested. Second was made by Comm. Rock Meeks and the MOTION CARRIES.
- Mr. Dean requested Board approval and signature of Resolution 2017-008 requesting the protection of the historical Suwannee River in North Florida.
Comments were made by audience member, Toni Collins.
Comm. Joyner made a motion to approve Resolution 2017-008 as presented. Second was made by Comm. Brooks and the MOTION CARRIES.
- Mr. Dean requested direction from the Board concerning agriculture hook-ups with 911 Addressing. Mr. Dean stated Duke Energy requires a 911 Address and Central Florida Electric Coop. does not as they use a different tracking system for their electric hook-ups.
After Discussion, it was agreed to have Mr. Dean communicate with CFEC in an effort to ensure there are 911 addresses for each electrical hook-up.
- Mr. Dean requested Board approval of Resolution 2017-009 opposing House Bill 17.
Comm. John Meeks read the title of the Resolution into public record.
Comm. Rooks made a motion to approve Resolution 2017-009 as presented. Second was made by Comm. Rock Meeks and the MOTION CARRIES.
Comm. Rooks requested Mr. Dean fax a copy of the Resolution to the office of Chris Doolin.
PARKS AND RECREATION
Matt Weldon, Director requested Board approval for work performed on Mosquito Control chemical storage tank leak by AAG Environmental in the amount of $4,850.00.
Comm. Joyner made a motion to approve the expenditure for work done on a Mosquito Control chemical storage tank for AAG Environmental as requested. Second was made by Comm. Rooks and the MOTION CARRIES.
SHIP
Shenley Neely, Planning Director requested Board approval of a Deferred Payment Loan Agreement for Andred Gongora Alfara and Brandi Strickland for the purchase of an existing housing unit in the amount of $18,972 in Fanning Springs, Florida.
Comm. Rock Meeks made a motion to approve the Deferred Payment Loan Agreement as requested. Second was made by Comm. Brooks and the MOTION CARRIES.
ROAD DEPARTMENT
- Alice LaLonde, Office Manager requested Board approval for the yearly Blanket Utility New Buried Service Drops Permit with CenturyLink-Florida.
Comm. Rock Meeks made a motion to approve the yearly Blanket Utility New Buried Service Drops Permit with CenturyLink-Florida as requested. Second was made by Comm. Brooks and the MOTION CARRIES.
Comm. Joyner commended the Road Department for their completion of the Humpback Bridge re-construction in Yankeetown.
- Mrs. LaLonde requested the Board conduct a Public Hearing and adopt Resolution 2017-004 approving or denying the petition to vacate, abandon, and close a portion of SE 128th Terrace, located in Morgan Farms, as requested by petitioner, Dawn Piecura.
Members of the audience who spoke regarding the petition were:
For Against
Dawn Piecura Charles Bataglia Paul Shaver
Robert Klumsky Robert Jordan Deanna Donovan
Comm. Joyner made a motion to approve Resolution 2017-004 approving the petition to close a portion of SE 128th Terrace as requested. The motion dies for lack of a second.
- Request approval of bulldozer repairs. – TABLED –
- Request permission to contract Passero Associates, LLC to fix the damages to George T. Lewis Airport, Cedar Key, FL from Hurricane Hermine. – TABLED –
CLERK OF COURT
Jared Blanton, Finance Director presented a Budget update to the Board.
Atty. Brown provided information to the Board regarding the implementation of a gas tax which was spoken of by Mr. Blanton.
Connie Conley reported to the Board of some 5311 reimbursement Grant money which is due to the Transit Department from the State which should eliminate the deficit in this department.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Dawn Piecura asked what the Board was planning to do about the trash and condition of the road in which the closure was no approved earlier.
Comm. Rooks asked Casey Duquette to have this road included in the schedule of road clean-up done by the Inmate Crew managed by Ms. Jenkins at the Road Department.
Sallie Ann Collins reported the construction of a road in Steeple Chase Farms appears to be starting soon as there has been equipment moved to the area.
Atty. Brown informed the Board a new date had been set for an Executive Session which will be on March 21st at 11:00 A.M. in Hearing Room B concerning the American Atheists case.
COMMISSIONERS’ REPORTS
Comm. Rooks called Casey Duquette to the podium to give an update on the Dock Street construction and road closure. He stated there will be a portion of Dock Street closed to the public for safety reasons for the duration of the construction.
Comm. Rooks stated the Cedar Key Arts Festival is scheduled for April 8th & 9th and the Dock Street construction is expected to be completed before this date.
Comm. Rooks also reported the Cedar Key Library is scheduled to re-opened tomorrow.
Comm. Brooks reported he had attended a Shoreline Visioning Workshop in Cedar Key held by UF IFAS. Comm. Brooks stated he will be speaking at the Williston Rotary meeting this Thursday and the Williston Police and Fire banquet will be this Friday evening.
Comm. Brooks stated the Clean-up day previously scheduled had to be postponed and will now be on March 25th if anyone is interested in helping out.
Comm. John Meeks stated he had attended the Railroads and Riverboats event hosted by the Levy County Historical Society and reported is was very informative and entertaining.
Comm. John Meeks announced the Suwannee River Fair begins on March 9th and runs through the 19th. The Levy County Fair begins on March 30th and will run through April 2nd.
The dates for the Chiefland Farmer’s Market are March 11th and March 25th. March 25th is also the date for the South Levy Marketplace in Yankeetown.
Comm. John Meeks reported he had recently attended the National Association of Counties Conference in Washington D.C. representing Levy County and Florida.
Comm. John Meeks reported of a recently attended Economic and Workforce Development Steering Sub-Committee meeting.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION, THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT 12:06 P.M.
ATTEST: BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
LEVY COUNTY, FL
________________________________________ ________________________________________
Clerk of Court, Danny J. Shipp Chairman, John Meeks