REGULAR MEETING
LEVY COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
JANUARY 7, 2014
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Levy County Commissioners was held on January 7, 2014 at 9:00 AM in the Levy County Board of County Commissioners meeting room, with the following Commissioners present:
Chairman Ryan Bell
Comm. Mike Joyner
Comm. Danny Stevens
Comm. Chad Johnson
Also present were:
County Attorney – Anne Bast Brown
County Coordinator – Fred Moody
Clerk of Court – Danny Shipp
Comm. Bell called the Meeting to order at 9:00 A.M. Comm. Joyner gave the invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
EXPENDITURES
Comm. Stevens made a motion to approve the following expenditures presented for payment. Second was made by Comm. Johnson and the MOTION CARRIES.
| CHECK NUMBER |
114011-114183 |
| FUND |
AMOUNT |
| GENERAL REVENUE |
1,620,873.85 |
| ROAD |
139,153.23 |
| SHIP |
39,042.00 |
| PAL LIBRARY |
17,436.62 |
| TRANSPORTATION |
37,047.25 |
| 911 |
11,082.25 |
| COURT FACILITIES |
26.10 |
| PROGRESS ENERGY |
261.74 |
| EMS |
86,936.16 |
| FIRE |
16,097.93 |
| TOURIST DEVELOPMENT |
975.36 |
| CDBG |
15,939.20 |
| UTILITIES |
402.71 |
| ADD COURT COSTS |
578.34 |
| CAPITAL PROJECTS |
15,397.00 |
| LANDFILL |
15,776.29 |
| TOTAL | $ 2,017,026.03 |
PUBLIC HEARING
Bill Hammond, Development Department Director
Hardship Variance 5-13: Andrew and Sherri Brice, petitioning the Board for a Hardship Variance to allow a second dwelling in order to care for her dad, Russell Boggess, Jr. and uncle, Delbert Freemen Bogess, on a parcel of land located in Steeplechase Farms, Lot 14, Block B, in Section 2, Township 14S, Range 17E, in Levy County. Said parcel contains 5 acres more or less and is located in an “ARR” Agriculture/Rural Residential zone. Situs Address: 2230 SE 114th Avenue, Morriston, FL 32668.
Atty. Brown administered swearing in procedures for those in the audience wishing to speak for or against the Hardship Variance presented.
Comm. Bell asked if the Commissioners had any ex parte communication with the petitioners. There were none.
Mr. Hammond requested Board approval of Hardship Variance 5-13 on behalf of Andrew and Sherri Brice.
Comm. Bell asked if anyone in the audience wished to speak for or against the petition as stated.
Those who spoke in against the petition are listed below:
Alex Reese Jill Howser
Bill Rice Diane Bair
Linda Evans Beth Reesleman
Diane Kootman
Those who spoke for the petition are listed below:
Callie Fields
Sherri Brice
Comm. Bell closed the floor to public comments.
Comm. Joyner made a motion to approve Hardship Variance 5-13 as presented. Second was made by Comm. Stevens and the MOTION CARRIES.
SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS
Tammy Jones, Supervisor of Elections
Request approval of Agreement with Dominion Voting. The voting system Agreement needs final approval for delivery of equipment.
Mrs. Jones requested Board approval of the Agreement with Dominion Voting for the purchase of new voting software and equipment.
Comm. Stevens made a motion to approve the Agreement with Dominion Voting as requested. Second was made by Comm. Joyner and the MOTION CARRIES.
JORDAN AND ASSOCIATES
Ronald Vanzant, President
President of monthly progress report on the county’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program.
Mr.Vanzant presented a monthly progress report to the Board of the county’s Community Development Block Grant Program. He stated there were two (2) outstanding projects, the Tarafa project being the largest at this time. GSG had been given the authority to move forward and began the required field tests on December 16th. As of December 20th all of the required drilling and physical assessments of the on-site soils had been completed. Models are currently being run on option 2 and Mr. Vanzant stated he was expecting a phone call sometime today or by the end of this week with their tentative approval of work.
The Hammock project is considered complete. The only outstanding item is paying for the work done and getting Mrs. Hammock’s signature of completion.
Comm. Stevens asked if Mr. Vanzant would follow up with the Board office as soon as he was notified by GSG regarding the Tarafa project with a phone call and e-mail.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
COUNTY COORDINATOR
Fred Moody
- Present proposed Memorandum of Understanding between Board and Laborers International Union of North America Local 630 for consideration. The proposed Memorandum of Understanding will be for the October 1, 2013 to September 30, 2014 contract year.
Mr. Moody presented on behalf of Wayne Helsby the Memorandum of Understanding between the Board and the Laborers International Union of North America Local 630 for Board approval. The Memorandum of Understanding is for the October 1, 2013 to September 30, 2014 contract year and includes 2% salary increase to all bargaining unit employees, effective October 1, 2013. This will affect all Board employees with the exception of Public Safety as they have a separate union.
Comm. Stevens made a motion to approve the Memorandum of Understanding as presented. Second was made by Comm. Joyner and the MOTION CARRIES.
- Update and direction of the acquisition of Aqui property.
Mr. Moody gave an update and requested direction regarding the acquisition of the Aqui property adjacent to the courthouse building. A counter proposal was rejected by the Acqui’s. Due to the condition of the building and the work and money it would take to make it usable, Mr. Moody suggested the Board not make the purchase of the building.
The Commissioners agreed by consensus not to pursue the purchase of the Aqui property.
CORRESPONDENCE
Satori Days
On behalf of Commissioner John Meeks, request approval to appoint Mrs. Glenda Kirkland to the Withlacoochee Regional Planning Council as a Municipal Representative for Levy County.
Ms. Days requested on behalf of Comm. Meeks Board approval for the appointment of Mrs. Glenda Kirkland to the Withlacoochee Regional Planning Council as a Municipal Representative for Levy County.
Comm. Stevens made a motion to appoint Mrs. Glenda Kirkland to the Withlacoochee Regional Planning Council as requested. Second was made by Comm. Johnson and the MOTION CARRIES.
LEVY COUNTY TRANSIT
Connie Conley, General Manager
Request approval to submit FDOT grant applications for Section 5310, Capital for $116,000 at 10%; Section 5310, Operating for $400,000 at 50%; and Section 5311, Operating for $700,000 at 50%.
Mrs. Conley requested Board approval to submit the three (3) FDOT grant applications as listed below:
Section 5310 Capital in the amount of $116,000; a 10% matching grant to purchase a new bus, front end alignment machine and tire balancer; Resolution 2014-04
Section 5310 Operating in the amount of $400,000; a 50% matching grant; Resolution 2014-05
Section 5311 Operating in the amount of $700,000; a 50% matching grant; Resolution 2014-06
Comm. Stevens made and later rescinded a motion to approve Resolution 2014-04 for application of the Section 5310 Capital grant as presented.
Comm. Joyner made a motion to approve Resolutions 2014-04, 2014-05 and 2014-06 for applications of the Section 5310 Capital, Section 5310 Operating and Section 5311 Operating grants as requested. Second was made by Comm. Johnson and the MOTION CARRIES.
PUBLIC SAFETY
David Knowles, Director
- Request approval to purchase a high pressure oxygen booster to fill portable oxygen cylinders.
Mr. Knowles requested Board approval to purchase a high pressure oxygen booster to fill portable oxygen cylinders.
Comm. Stevens made a motion to approve the purchase of a high pressure oxygen booster as requested. Second was made by Comm. Joyner and the MOTION CARRIES.
- Request approval to apply for the Florida Forest Service Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant for the EMS Stations.
- Request approval to apply for the Florida Forest Service Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant for the Fire Stations.
Mr. Knowles requested Board approval of the Florida Forest Service Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant for the EMS Stations to replace communications equipment. This is a 50/50 grant and the amount to be paid by his department is $10,000.
The next item is a request to apply for the Florida Forest Service Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant for the Fire Stations to purchase a 500 gallon self-contained firefighting unit (skid unit) for the Morriston Fire Station, pagers for the Yankeetown Fire Station and a fire hose for the Fowlers Bluff and Rosewood Fire Stations. Mr. Knowles stated this is a 50/50 grant and the amount to be paid by his department is $27,449.
Comm. Johnson made a motion to approve the two grant applications for the Florida Forest Service Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant for the EMS Stations and Fire Stations as presented. Second was made by Comm. Joyner and the MOTION CARRIES.
Mr. Knowles thanked Casey Duquette, Bruce Greenlee and the Road Department for their help in moving the fire training structure from Dunnellon to the Public Safety Complex in Bronson.
Mr. Knowles reported to the Board they had received the FCC waiver for the narrowbanding communication system by the Federal Government for an additional 12 months.
ROAD DEPARTMENT
Bruce Greenlee, Administrative Road Superintendent
- Request approval of Resolution 2014-03 authorizing the execution of a Small County Road Assistance Agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation for the Resurfacing and Reconstruction of C40 East form US 19/US 98 to Marion County line in Levy County, project ID# 431633-1-58-01.
Mr. Greenlee requested Board approval of Resolution 2014-03 authorizing the execution of a Small County Road Assistance Agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation for the resurfacing and reconstruction of C40 E from US 98 to the Marion County line in Levy County. The total project cost will be $1,690,480.
Comm. Johnson made a motion to approve Resolution 2014-03 authorizing execution of the Small County Road Assistance Agreement as requested. Second was made by Comm. Joyner and the MOTION CARRIES.
- Present quote for CR 335 sidewalk construction. Pastor Carl Carnegie approached the Board on December 17, 2013 for assistance with the construction of a sidewalk to provide safe travel to and from Vision Christian Academy.
Mr. Greenlee provided quotes for sidewalk construction on CR 335 as requested by Pastor Carl Carnegie for the Vision Christian Academy. After consulting with the county engineer, Mr. Greenlee reported the county does not have right-of-way for construction of something of this nature. Mr. Greenlee advised Pastor Carnegie a State Grant for sidewalk construction which could be applied for.
The Board agreed by consensus to allow Mr. Greenlee to pursue a State Grant which could be used for this purpose.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Joe Wilkerson representing Dallas Roadway spoke to the Board regarding the use of a soil stabilization product. He stated the direct distributor in Florida is EJM Road Products, LLC. Mr. Wilkerson provided information about a two part chemical product which can be blended into the soil and used on roadways in the county resulting in maintenance free roads.
Pastor Johnnie Jones of the Fountain of Life church in Williston and President of the Ministerial Faith Alliance spoke to the Board informing them of their plans and inviting everyone to the “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Celebration Parade”. They are planning a parade and celebration on Saturday, January 18th in Williston. There will also be a Dr. Martin Luther King Scholarship Banquet at the Williston Middle School Cafetorium at 7:00 P.M. on the same day.
COMMISSIONERS’ REPORTS
Comm. Johnson thanked the Road Department for help with fill dirt at Chiefland High School.
Comm. Johnson stated the Levy County Educational Foundation Gala will be on Saturday, February 1st and encouraged anyone interested to contact himself or his wife for tickets.
Comm. Johnson also stated this Friday is the Florida Association of Counties strategy meeting and will have a report at the next meeting.
Comm. Joyner thanked Casey Duquette for removal of a tree at a cemetery as requested by a citizen asking if it could be removed.
Comm. Joyner thanked the Press for their information given in the newspapers to the public about the individuals taking advantage of citizens by promising work on driveways and not following through.
Comm. Bell informed the Board they will need to appoint a member to the RESTORE Act member as Mrs. Merritt had resigned.
Comm. Bell stated he would like to re-visit the water rate study issue sometime before they begin budget planning.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION, THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT 10:27 A.M.
ATTEST: BOARD OFCOUNTYCOMMISSIONERS
LEVY COUNTY,FL
____________________________________ ____________________________________
Clerk of Court, Danny J. Shipp Chairman, Ryan Bell