1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:29,680 Who is here with us on this evening for this, I'm swearing in. I like to call it a affirmation for myself. That's my personal choice of word. So good to see all of you that are here in support of this ceremony on this evening. And also, I've already asked class pastor Clifford Hill. If you'll give the invocation, and I'm putting that out there because we're having the changing of the hands, possibly, as a relates to chairman and vice chairman, if whomever that chair and vice chair is, 2 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:35,840 I would like for them to honor Pastor Hill as of doing our prayer for this evening. 3 00:00:36,480 --> 00:00:46,140 All right, so we are going to go straight into our ceremony, and we're going to be in the hand of our honor of a judge, and we'll follow your instructions, Judge. 4 00:00:46,820 --> 00:00:49,810 All right, get in there. 5 00:00:53,610 --> 00:00:54,170 That's fine. 6 00:00:54,990 --> 00:00:59,190 Oh, you can, no, no, no, where's, Mr. Young is not here? 7 00:00:59,190 --> 00:01:01,630 Okay, we got you. 8 00:01:03,370 --> 00:01:12,190 We'll do the new commissioner, and then I'll go because I think he's wearing his daughter to get here, so we'll go with Commissioner, 9 00:01:14,370 --> 00:01:14,670 all right. 10 00:01:19,460 --> 00:01:27,700 Okay, so I'll go first, because Commissioner Henson is wearing his daughter, and I think Commissioner Wood is waiting on his wife, 11 00:01:33,990 --> 00:01:34,210 all right. 12 00:01:34,210 --> 00:01:51,030 All right, so, so, Judge, you're on a, you're on a, so what we'll do, because they're still waiting on people to come, we'll go ahead and do the invocation, and then hopefully the commission of what wife will be here in the daughter of commission enhance on to be here. 13 00:01:51,430 --> 00:01:54,410 All right, so pass the clip for the view, come at this time, please, and thank you. 14 00:01:54,410 --> 00:01:55,230 For 15 00:02:00,860 --> 00:02:02,480 the great day in the Lord, let us pray. 16 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:05,940 My hope is built on nothing less 17 00:02:05,940 --> 00:02:07,600 but Jesus' blood and His righteousness. 18 00:02:07,780 --> 00:02:09,820 I dare not to change the sweetest thing 19 00:02:09,820 --> 00:02:11,840 but hold on to His holy name. 20 00:02:12,380 --> 00:02:14,100 Almighty wise and eternal God, 21 00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:16,460 we come now in the name of Jesus 22 00:02:16,460 --> 00:02:18,160 to lift up your holy name. 23 00:02:18,660 --> 00:02:21,320 God, we come now asking that your Holy Spirit 24 00:02:21,320 --> 00:02:24,340 will come and speak with us and be with us 25 00:02:24,340 --> 00:02:26,360 as we go through this agenda 26 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:27,920 at this county commission of meeting. 27 00:02:27,920 --> 00:02:33,340 God, we thank you for all of the things that you have done for us and we praise you for being 28 00:02:33,340 --> 00:02:39,000 God all by yourself. Lord, we just ask now that you will give us a loving heart, a loving mind 29 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:45,680 and a loving spirit that we may conduct this meeting in decent and in order. We ask a blessing on 30 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:51,680 each and everyone that is here present today. We pray for healing for families right now in the name of 31 00:02:51,680 --> 00:03:00,300 Jesus. So God guide us, lead us and protect us. God, we thank you for the new elected officers and that you will cover them as they go through this 32 00:03:00,300 --> 00:03:19,840 teacher's journey. For every member of Gaston County, their families, their officers and the leaders, we ask now that you will bless them, Lord. So God, we thank you in advance for what you're getting ready to do in Gaston County. So we love you. We magnify you. We glorify you. It is in Jesus name. We pray. Amen. And thank God. 33 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:25,880 Amen. Amen. Thank you, Pastor of the St. Hebron Air and Mead Church. Thank you. We're going to stand for the pledge. 34 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:42,140 Our pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which expands one nation under God, individual, with liberty and justice for all. 35 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:50,300 Thank you. And as I stated, we will go ahead and move forward because we all are here. The officials are here, so we'll move forward. 36 00:03:51,700 --> 00:03:57,320 So commission sorry about the car you commission the judge if you're come forth at this time and we'll follow your instructions 37 00:03:57,320 --> 00:04:00,680 I go first sure cuz they still waiting 38 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:02,800 Commissioner Green 39 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:05,100 Absolutely 40 00:04:21,710 --> 00:04:24,430 my mother and my son if they're calm and 41 00:04:38,350 --> 00:04:40,190 I do have other family members that are here as well 42 00:04:40,190 --> 00:04:43,330 So if you all are just stand with me family members just stand 43 00:04:44,710 --> 00:04:46,290 Diana to my mom's sister my 44 00:04:48,110 --> 00:04:50,430 And my brother and my niece, I see them as well. 45 00:04:52,750 --> 00:04:53,150 Okay. 46 00:05:01,390 --> 00:05:31,370 Would you please place your left hand on the Bible and raise your right hand and then repeat after me? Sure. Thank you. Absolutely. Okay. I, in state, your name. I, Renterias Green, do solemnly swear our firm, do solemnly affirm that I will support, that I will support, protect, protect and defend and defend the Constitution and government and government of the United States and of the state of Florida and of the state of 47 00:05:31,370 --> 00:05:39,130 of Florida that I am duly qualified to hold office under the Constitution, under the 48 00:05:39,130 --> 00:05:45,690 Constitution of the state and that I will well and that I will well and faithfully perform 49 00:05:45,690 --> 00:05:53,570 and faithfully perform the duties, the duties of County Commissioner, on which I am about 50 00:05:53,570 --> 00:05:58,770 to enter, in which I am about to enter. So help me God. So help me God. 51 00:05:58,770 --> 00:06:00,270 Congratulations, Commissioner. 52 00:06:00,390 --> 00:06:00,930 Thank you. 53 00:06:03,790 --> 00:06:04,230 Thank 54 00:06:12,970 --> 00:06:13,410 you. 55 00:06:13,410 --> 00:06:13,470 Thank you. 56 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:15,840 Power. 57 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:18,480 How 58 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:39,560 do I do a good commission? 59 00:06:39,740 --> 00:06:40,320 How are you doing? 60 00:06:41,420 --> 00:06:41,640 Good. 61 00:06:44,220 --> 00:06:47,300 You're going to call up the family members. 62 00:06:47,420 --> 00:06:48,340 Who do you want to get the job? 63 00:06:49,060 --> 00:06:49,240 Yes. 64 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:50,180 I'm not sure. 65 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:50,900 Here. 66 00:06:51,500 --> 00:06:52,400 What do you want to do? 67 00:06:53,440 --> 00:06:55,380 You want to get started? 68 00:06:55,620 --> 00:06:55,760 Here? 69 00:06:56,360 --> 00:06:57,160 Yeah, that's right. 70 00:06:57,440 --> 00:06:57,980 We're early. 71 00:06:58,380 --> 00:06:59,140 There she is. 72 00:06:59,220 --> 00:06:59,580 She's here. 73 00:06:59,580 --> 00:06:59,580 here. 74 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:07,440 No, she didn't just walk in, she's here. No, she's been here, she was here when I got 75 00:07:07,440 --> 00:07:08,860 here. No, wait in the door. 76 00:07:11,740 --> 00:07:12,080 You 77 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:17,320 don't want to 78 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:31,360 keep your old weight in, so we would do 79 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:33,380 five minute recess, I guess. 80 00:07:36,100 --> 00:07:37,440 We do 81 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:44,020 apologize for the inconvenience. 82 00:07:44,020 --> 00:07:44,460 Yeah, 83 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:52,300 Joe's a little taller than I am so 84 00:08:11,220 --> 00:08:12,840 Yeah, class and night so 85 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:15,620 She was able to stay out here in a way 86 00:08:16,140 --> 00:08:16,620 Living 87 00:08:31,590 --> 00:08:32,210 farther than 88 00:08:41,430 --> 00:08:44,590 I know I'm holding hands that way 89 00:08:52,280 --> 00:08:54,120 I think we can sing a song, shall we? 90 00:10:47,950 --> 00:10:55,090 How long? Because I don't want us to have to wait again. Okay. All right. Thank you. Um, Commissioner Wood. 91 00:10:57,500 --> 00:10:58,540 His wife is here. 92 00:11:19,910 --> 00:11:40,250 State your name. Do solemnly swear our affirm. Do solemnly swear our firm that I will support that I will support protect and defend the Constitution and government and government of the United States and the state of Florida and the state of Florida. 93 00:11:40,870 --> 00:12:09,570 That I am duly qualified to hold office under the Constitution, under the Constitution, of the state, of the state, and that I will well and out of will, well and faithfully, will and faithfully, perform the duties, the duties of the office, of the office, of county commissioner, of county commissioner, on which I am now, about to enter, I am about to enter. 94 00:12:09,570 --> 00:12:10,770 so help me God. 95 00:12:10,850 --> 00:12:11,930 So help me God. 96 00:12:12,810 --> 00:12:13,830 Congratulations, commissioners. 97 00:12:15,090 --> 00:12:15,670 All 98 00:12:21,840 --> 00:12:22,420 right. 99 00:12:22,840 --> 00:12:23,800 All right. 100 00:12:25,100 --> 00:12:26,040 Commissioner Hanson is coming. 101 00:12:27,220 --> 00:12:28,500 She said it. 102 00:12:30,560 --> 00:12:31,600 His wife is here. 103 00:12:34,810 --> 00:12:35,610 OK, they come out the back. 104 00:12:36,150 --> 00:12:36,150 I 105 00:13:15,190 --> 00:13:17,470 ordered it to stop raining. 106 00:13:17,790 --> 00:13:22,130 So we'll see how long it takes before it follows my court order. 107 00:13:52,100 --> 00:13:53,400 It's my beautiful daughter. 108 00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:54,260 I'll give her a hand. 109 00:13:57,890 --> 00:14:00,030 Now I'm going to say, you know how to tell you. 110 00:14:00,290 --> 00:14:01,590 You don't want to go out to this. 111 00:14:01,670 --> 00:14:01,990 Where are you? 112 00:14:02,610 --> 00:14:03,630 There's something I'm talking about. 113 00:14:04,810 --> 00:14:07,190 You got to love the kids, but you got to love the kids. 114 00:14:14,780 --> 00:14:17,080 And then you place your left hand on the Bible. 115 00:14:17,460 --> 00:14:17,980 OK, also. 116 00:14:18,360 --> 00:14:19,520 Raise your right hand. 117 00:14:19,560 --> 00:14:20,140 Here we go. 118 00:14:20,460 --> 00:14:22,040 Then repeat after me. 119 00:14:22,900 --> 00:14:24,280 I instate your name. 120 00:14:24,420 --> 00:14:26,320 I, Eric, of Hanson. 121 00:14:26,880 --> 00:14:28,920 Do solemnly swear or affirm? 122 00:14:29,160 --> 00:14:31,160 Do solemnly swear or affirm? 123 00:14:31,160 --> 00:14:40,360 that I will support that I will support protect and defend the Constitution and 124 00:14:40,360 --> 00:14:49,060 government and government of the United States and of the state of Florida that I am 125 00:14:49,060 --> 00:14:59,580 do la qualifier to hold office under the Constitution of the state of the state and 126 00:14:59,580 --> 00:14:59,800 That 127 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:25,440 I will, and that I will, well and faithfully, perform, the duties, the duties of the office, of county commissioner, on which I am now about to enter, so help me, God, so help me, God. Congratulations, commissioner. 128 00:15:38,390 --> 00:15:38,830 All 129 00:15:49,710 --> 00:15:51,730 right, thank you again, Judge Garner. 130 00:15:52,010 --> 00:15:54,710 We appreciate your services that you offer to this county. 131 00:15:55,150 --> 00:15:55,730 Thank you so much. 132 00:15:55,770 --> 00:15:56,790 Can we give our judge a hand? 133 00:15:56,910 --> 00:15:57,330 Thank you. 134 00:15:57,690 --> 00:15:58,810 Thank you so much. 135 00:16:00,490 --> 00:16:05,610 All right, so let me officially call this meeting back to order again. 136 00:16:06,250 --> 00:16:10,630 And saying that, we're at the part of what we're getting ready to exchange 137 00:16:10,630 --> 00:16:14,770 That means the hand of the leadership on the board as it relates to the chair and device chair. 138 00:16:15,410 --> 00:16:22,390 But before we do that, let me say to my colleagues that I'm thankful for the opportunity to have served this last year as your chairman. 139 00:16:22,850 --> 00:16:28,230 Actually been privileged to serve twice in the four years that I've been elected and serve this vice chair as well. 140 00:16:28,350 --> 00:16:32,370 So thank you all so much for the opportunity to serve you on this level. 141 00:16:32,790 --> 00:16:39,370 So with that being said, I will officially open up the floor to my fellow commissioners to make. 142 00:16:40,790 --> 00:16:50,250 I was told to follow, all right, so I'm going to officially open up the nomination or can you let me finish? 143 00:16:50,530 --> 00:16:52,410 Okay, thank you. 144 00:16:52,410 --> 00:16:59,250 I officially open up the floor for nomination for a chairman and we're going to see Commissioner Holt hand. 145 00:16:59,530 --> 00:17:00,130 So Commissioner Holt? 146 00:17:00,430 --> 00:17:02,170 Okay, I'd nominate Commissioner Henson. 147 00:17:02,670 --> 00:17:04,490 All right, Commissioner Henson, is there a second? 148 00:17:04,690 --> 00:17:05,310 I started it. 149 00:17:05,450 --> 00:17:07,930 All right, so is there another nomination? 150 00:17:08,930 --> 00:17:09,630 All right. 151 00:17:09,630 --> 00:17:12,830 All right, not hearing any, I guess we'll call the question. 152 00:17:13,210 --> 00:17:16,390 All in favor of commission, the Henson being the chair, please vote by saying aye. 153 00:17:16,730 --> 00:17:17,050 All right. 154 00:17:17,390 --> 00:17:18,630 Back pass, four to one. 155 00:17:19,110 --> 00:17:19,690 Next, please. 156 00:17:20,470 --> 00:17:21,630 Oh, sorry, commission, Henson. 157 00:17:22,190 --> 00:17:22,450 Give it up. 158 00:17:35,780 --> 00:17:36,760 Thank you very much, sir. 159 00:17:55,370 --> 00:17:57,490 First, I want to thank the fellow commissioners for 160 00:17:58,770 --> 00:18:00,050 interested me in the big chairman. 161 00:18:00,910 --> 00:18:05,210 So much, now I'm going to open the floor for the vice chairman. 162 00:18:05,950 --> 00:18:08,850 And now I'm going to eliminate my Commissioner Green. 163 00:18:10,070 --> 00:18:11,650 I'll take it. 164 00:18:11,690 --> 00:18:16,050 We have an nomination for Commissioner Green and we have a second. 165 00:18:16,630 --> 00:18:18,030 Anyone else want to make an nomination? 166 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:22,360 Okay. 167 00:18:22,980 --> 00:18:27,180 For Commissioner Green, all in favor, could be screened to I and one of polls. 168 00:18:28,800 --> 00:18:29,340 Okay. 169 00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:29,900 Fable vote. 170 00:18:31,340 --> 00:18:31,640 Okay. 171 00:18:39,560 --> 00:18:39,900 All right. 172 00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:41,860 Congratulations, Commissioner Green. 173 00:18:42,140 --> 00:18:42,680 Likewise, sir. 174 00:18:43,600 --> 00:18:43,940 All right. 175 00:18:48,520 --> 00:18:49,360 Mr. 176 00:18:51,640 --> 00:18:56,480 Chairman, commissioners, we have a request to add the public hearing. 177 00:18:57,180 --> 00:19:08,760 The approval of resolution 2024-028 general and grant budget amendments for fiscal year 2024 as item 10a. 178 00:19:15,110 --> 00:19:22,610 Okay, we're going to add a member to agenda for 10A, all in favor. 179 00:19:22,790 --> 00:19:25,110 I mean, first of all, we need a motion for it to have a motion on the floor. 180 00:19:25,510 --> 00:19:26,010 Move the program. 181 00:19:26,510 --> 00:19:26,910 Seconded. 182 00:19:27,090 --> 00:19:28,230 Okay, we have a motion in second. 183 00:19:28,510 --> 00:19:29,270 All in favor, sir? 184 00:19:29,690 --> 00:19:30,210 Uh-huh. 185 00:19:30,370 --> 00:19:31,170 You want to pose? 186 00:19:32,030 --> 00:19:32,450 The name? 187 00:19:33,630 --> 00:19:35,050 Okay, five will vote when. 188 00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:37,660 Okay. 189 00:19:38,780 --> 00:19:41,320 Okay, we have a number five with the approval of the agenda. 190 00:19:43,330 --> 00:19:44,070 Move the program. 191 00:19:44,870 --> 00:19:45,890 Okay, do you have a second? 192 00:19:46,450 --> 00:19:48,430 a lot of making a amendment to the agenda. 193 00:19:48,690 --> 00:19:49,730 Make a amendment to the agenda. 194 00:19:51,810 --> 00:19:51,970 Okay. 195 00:19:53,470 --> 00:19:53,910 Okay. 196 00:19:53,990 --> 00:19:54,850 Do we have a second person? 197 00:19:56,310 --> 00:19:57,590 I'll second it. 198 00:19:57,930 --> 00:19:58,130 Okay. 199 00:19:58,290 --> 00:19:58,510 The amendment. 200 00:19:58,830 --> 00:19:59,490 Second with a question. 201 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:18,820 My amendment would be that we have an external entity come in and look at the allegations that are going on. I understand that there is an internal that's going on currently, but I believe we should have an external, okay, because I think that clarity and transparency is important. 202 00:20:22,060 --> 00:20:32,280 So we're going to add that we'll add it to the agenda. I like to add it to the agenda, so people in the crowd can talk about it. 203 00:20:32,980 --> 00:20:38,000 Okay, we can put a general business for 12, I mean, 12-8. 204 00:20:38,040 --> 00:20:39,340 11-C, Mr. Chairwoman. 205 00:20:40,320 --> 00:20:43,560 11-C, okay, great, 11-C. 206 00:20:54,290 --> 00:20:56,530 The other one, I'd like to make a second one. 207 00:21:01,270 --> 00:21:05,590 Okay, yes, we can vote on this right now, I guess, we can get this out of the way. 208 00:21:06,450 --> 00:21:13,890 Okay, we want to add 11-C, external investigation, external investigation of the county. 209 00:21:14,770 --> 00:21:17,150 We have a motion, we have a motion, would you have a second? 210 00:21:19,710 --> 00:21:21,170 I'll second it, but I have a question. 211 00:21:21,310 --> 00:21:22,250 She has a second with a question. 212 00:21:22,830 --> 00:21:28,790 Yes, so do we want to, that one, that one would be for discussion so we can decide on 213 00:21:28,790 --> 00:21:28,950 it. 214 00:21:28,990 --> 00:21:31,070 So that was just the only thing for discussion. 215 00:21:31,390 --> 00:21:31,610 Correct. 216 00:21:32,010 --> 00:21:32,130 Okay. 217 00:21:32,690 --> 00:21:33,150 That's it. 218 00:21:34,130 --> 00:21:34,490 Okay. 219 00:21:35,590 --> 00:21:38,770 Okay, we got a motion, a second, all in favor, sir. 220 00:21:39,170 --> 00:21:39,350 Aye. 221 00:21:39,350 --> 00:21:44,730 And when I pose, five will vote, we'll add 11 to the agenda. 222 00:21:45,830 --> 00:21:46,690 11 to see, I'm sorry. 223 00:21:48,290 --> 00:21:50,150 The next one, I'll commission with. 224 00:21:50,970 --> 00:22:01,750 Yeah, I would like to, I have two new employees and I would like to talk about their contracts and so I can get updated and you can tell me where we are and what the status is. 225 00:22:04,430 --> 00:22:09,890 I mean, yes, sir, you're in the law, you're in the attorney. 226 00:22:11,330 --> 00:22:14,330 Oh, okay, so you want to add that to the agenda? 227 00:22:14,930 --> 00:22:15,270 Yes, sir. 228 00:22:15,970 --> 00:22:16,310 Yes, sir. 229 00:22:16,590 --> 00:22:20,230 Are we adding that to the agenda, or should we wait for comments at the end of the meeting? 230 00:22:21,170 --> 00:22:26,570 I mean, that you can have the, if you want to have it at the end of the meeting, or just 231 00:22:26,570 --> 00:22:27,610 doing your comment time. 232 00:22:27,770 --> 00:22:27,870 Yes. 233 00:22:27,870 --> 00:22:28,910 But if a question she may have. 234 00:22:29,690 --> 00:22:30,010 Okay. 235 00:22:30,010 --> 00:22:32,050 All right, thank you all right 236 00:22:34,060 --> 00:22:36,240 anything else I'm 237 00:22:38,360 --> 00:22:42,300 not sure to call you the more commissioner major would it doesn't matter. Okay, great 238 00:22:43,480 --> 00:22:46,640 I answered to a lot of things. Okay, Commissioner Wood 239 00:22:46,640 --> 00:22:49,320 Are you have anything else commission? 240 00:22:50,620 --> 00:22:54,200 When add no sir. It's right. All right, great job 241 00:22:55,320 --> 00:22:56,860 Okay, we need to prove the 242 00:23:00,920 --> 00:23:04,120 Okay, first of all we need to prove the agenda as a minister 243 00:23:07,960 --> 00:23:12,200 We have a motion and a second, all in favor, aye? 244 00:23:12,580 --> 00:23:12,880 Aye. 245 00:23:13,340 --> 00:23:16,000 And one of the polls, OK, 5-0 vote. 246 00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:20,780 So the next is the number 6, award, presentation, and appearance. 247 00:23:21,620 --> 00:23:22,940 Over there, over there. 248 00:23:23,540 --> 00:23:24,640 OK, my bear. 249 00:23:26,020 --> 00:23:27,860 OK, number 7, consent agenda. 250 00:23:29,960 --> 00:23:30,760 No, for approval. 251 00:23:30,980 --> 00:23:31,260 Second. 252 00:23:32,120 --> 00:23:32,580 Okay. 253 00:23:33,040 --> 00:23:35,380 We got a motion, a second. 254 00:23:35,700 --> 00:23:36,340 All in favor sign? 255 00:23:36,740 --> 00:23:36,900 No. 256 00:23:40,680 --> 00:23:41,140 Okay. 257 00:23:41,220 --> 00:23:41,260 No. 258 00:23:41,340 --> 00:23:41,540 Item 8. 259 00:23:42,180 --> 00:23:42,920 Item 4. 260 00:23:44,020 --> 00:23:45,380 Item 4 for discussion, huh? 261 00:23:46,680 --> 00:23:46,820 No. 262 00:23:46,860 --> 00:23:47,300 No, I don't know. 263 00:23:47,380 --> 00:23:47,600 Okay. 264 00:23:47,680 --> 00:23:47,840 Great. 265 00:23:48,840 --> 00:23:49,100 All right. 266 00:23:49,460 --> 00:23:53,740 Number 9, citizen, we're questioned to be heard on non-agentive items. 267 00:23:54,820 --> 00:23:55,060 Okay. 268 00:23:55,140 --> 00:23:55,600 Great job. 269 00:23:59,070 --> 00:24:04,050 The guessing candidate, board of kind of commissioners, welcome and encourages public participation 270 00:24:04,050 --> 00:24:06,490 in all meetings of the board. 271 00:24:07,150 --> 00:24:12,790 Citizens are free to speak for up to three minutes on non-agenda items. 272 00:24:13,450 --> 00:24:18,910 Public comments and participation are also encouraged for items on the agenda. 273 00:24:19,530 --> 00:24:23,770 Additionally, if you are unable to attend a meeting in person, 274 00:24:24,610 --> 00:24:30,710 comments on the public can also be submitted via email to one word. 275 00:24:30,710 --> 00:24:45,630 Citizens to be heard at Gaston County, LL.gov, again, citizens to be heard at Gaston County, LL.gov, until noon, on the date of the official records. 276 00:24:46,330 --> 00:24:54,070 But the county cannot guarantee that commissioners and staff will have adequate time to review comments prior to the meeting. 277 00:24:54,070 --> 00:24:59,730 Citizens are farther encouraged to participate on the county website. 278 00:25:12,300 --> 00:25:28,960 All right. So now we have cars on the table here. We have some speaker appears for them. I'll pray that everybody has a chance to sign this. If you want to come up with a speech, first speaker is writing more. 279 00:25:28,960 --> 00:25:29,040 More? 280 00:25:29,860 --> 00:25:32,320 Um, right in the more key company to speak. 281 00:25:33,340 --> 00:25:35,140 It's a reference to the county management. 282 00:25:43,360 --> 00:25:44,200 Good afternoon. 283 00:25:44,680 --> 00:25:45,780 My name is Rodney Moore. 284 00:25:45,780 --> 00:25:49,080 My address is 1404 St. Heavon Road. 285 00:25:49,900 --> 00:25:57,260 I'm a big Dallas Cowboy fan and Jerry Jones promised us for the last 23 years that we're 286 00:25:57,260 --> 00:25:59,100 going to get back to the Super Bowl and win it. 287 00:25:59,900 --> 00:26:01,900 You stuck with Dak Prescott. 288 00:26:02,820 --> 00:26:03,980 We haven't gotten there. 289 00:26:05,960 --> 00:26:14,080 The late, great Senator Thomas said, if you're a county administrator or a city manager, you got a baby count to three. 290 00:26:15,660 --> 00:26:18,420 From Mr. Dixon has been able to count to three for about four years. 291 00:26:20,630 --> 00:26:25,070 He's had the football team for four years and we haven't gotten to the Super Bowl yet. 292 00:26:27,660 --> 00:26:38,160 He has an employee that's out of control, travels to George all the time, is involved with some vehicles that were sold that you guys knew what he said, that you guys knew he didn't know anything about. 293 00:26:38,160 --> 00:26:38,220 Well, 294 00:26:40,320 --> 00:26:46,240 also shops have been broken down at the kind of road and bridge on several occasions. 295 00:26:47,360 --> 00:26:53,280 And on one occasion, they used the county vehicle to haul the materials off. 296 00:26:54,040 --> 00:26:57,160 Nobody in jail, nobody held accountable. 297 00:26:58,940 --> 00:27:06,180 They said the lawn wasn't set, the first time, the second time, the third time, that's on his watch. 298 00:27:08,020 --> 00:27:24,040 1.304 million dollars spent on county administration cars, whatever happened to a pool car car that can get whoever needs a drive from one point to another with some air, and maybe some heat while purchase $60,000 cars on his watch. 299 00:27:25,840 --> 00:27:30,920 Howling his friends and others, one point some million dollars in administrative salaries, 300 00:27:31,580 --> 00:27:35,260 while the guys and gals who are then the elements in the heat and then the coal, 301 00:27:36,020 --> 00:27:43,060 mosquitoes and fighting off traffic, pretty much tell them you look at have a job under his watch. 302 00:27:44,520 --> 00:27:48,560 This goes on and on and on, no economic development. 303 00:27:49,080 --> 00:27:53,080 As far as I can understand, he has not bought few guys anything to look into. 304 00:27:54,040 --> 00:27:58,840 to help bring this county where it needs to be, and some people right here in this room, 305 00:27:59,320 --> 00:28:03,820 or have parents or grandparents who, these tackers have gone up, and 306 00:28:03,820 --> 00:28:10,360 I know for a fact there are people who are complaining that, how are we going to pay these taxes on his watch? 307 00:28:12,020 --> 00:28:18,060 It's time for a change, Mr. Dexon needs to go, I don't know the city manager. 308 00:28:18,900 --> 00:28:21,080 I'm sorry, I've talked about him so much. 309 00:28:21,080 --> 00:28:28,180 the county manager, county attorney, I'll get it right in a second, $62,000 in a month and a half. 310 00:28:29,300 --> 00:28:31,680 No, sir, no, ma'am, we can't afford that. 311 00:28:32,300 --> 00:28:38,740 At the rate that shall be paying the county attorney, half a million dollars. 312 00:28:39,860 --> 00:28:47,120 Obviously, he bills you guys from the time he gets in the shower at home until he gets here, until he gets back home and get back in the shower. 313 00:28:48,720 --> 00:28:49,900 Commissioners, we can't afford that. 314 00:28:54,560 --> 00:29:00,660 MacArthur's lawn service, while they're writing checks to vendors to pay for 315 00:29:00,660 --> 00:29:05,820 a county business on his watch, there's something going on, like I've said on these videos. 316 00:29:06,860 --> 00:29:13,120 He knows about it, it's chief of staff is involved in stuff that every time things come up, 317 00:29:13,240 --> 00:29:17,740 even next door, those two buildings over there with Mr. Huttley's building, with the rent and the light bill. 318 00:29:18,560 --> 00:29:23,460 Three names come up, the city manager's name, Mr. Dixon's name, and Mr. Hayes. 319 00:29:24,420 --> 00:29:29,060 And I would hate to see us in the same shape where the city's headed. 320 00:29:29,500 --> 00:29:35,000 When I tell y'all hold on, help is on the way, it's on the way, and it's not going to 321 00:29:35,000 --> 00:29:35,860 be good for some people. 322 00:29:37,100 --> 00:29:39,660 Don't be complicit at what's going on. 323 00:29:41,240 --> 00:29:46,280 It's time for a change, and I know certain commissioners like to use a race car, this is not 324 00:29:46,280 --> 00:29:46,900 a bot color. 325 00:29:47,120 --> 00:29:49,200 It's a bot green, like I've said before. 326 00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:55,260 or when people have the determine what they're going to pay their taxes, pay their insurance, 327 00:29:55,740 --> 00:29:58,440 or by medication some of these folks, they shouldn't have to do that. 328 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:05,840 If y'all want to know, Commissioner Holt and them went to Mississippi, economic development. 329 00:30:06,720 --> 00:30:12,940 My advice would be, get in a car, go 15 miles to famous, they'll show y'all what needs to be done. 330 00:30:14,260 --> 00:30:18,360 Go 25 miles west to Maryanna, they'll show you what needs to be done. 331 00:30:20,060 --> 00:30:23,580 Jerry Jones hasn't delivered and neither has Mr. Dixon. 332 00:30:24,100 --> 00:30:26,940 Mr. Dixon and the county attorney need to go. 333 00:30:27,520 --> 00:30:27,900 Thank you. 334 00:30:27,900 --> 00:30:28,500 All 335 00:30:34,840 --> 00:30:35,100 right. 336 00:30:36,340 --> 00:30:40,040 Now, Dr. Tracy Starworth, 337 00:30:42,170 --> 00:30:46,570 he was to speak on the Columbus, Mississippi trip. 338 00:30:49,620 --> 00:30:51,620 Good evening, everybody, and your perspective places. 339 00:30:51,740 --> 00:30:52,440 How are you this morning? 340 00:30:52,620 --> 00:30:53,040 I mean, evening. 341 00:30:53,300 --> 00:30:53,460 Good. 342 00:30:54,120 --> 00:30:54,440 All right. 343 00:30:56,040 --> 00:30:56,840 Long nap today. 344 00:30:57,980 --> 00:30:58,460 I'm 345 00:31:02,620 --> 00:31:03,820 going to read this if you don't mind. 346 00:31:04,200 --> 00:31:05,080 I want to pit my thoughts. 347 00:31:05,220 --> 00:31:05,980 Make sure I stay focused. 348 00:31:07,060 --> 00:31:10,600 First of all, my address is PO Box 1339, Quincy, Florida. 349 00:31:11,680 --> 00:31:12,960 I love Gaston County. 350 00:31:12,960 --> 00:31:17,300 I serve Gaston County, me and my wife feed like 250 people weekly. 351 00:31:17,940 --> 00:31:22,400 We see people in the trenches, we bring people to our farms, 352 00:31:24,850 --> 00:31:25,890 talk a little about God. 353 00:31:28,340 --> 00:31:34,660 We get their hands in the dirt, and we envision where they want to be out in the future. 354 00:31:35,560 --> 00:31:36,520 So that is my mission. 355 00:31:37,960 --> 00:31:43,640 I have the privilege of participating in a transformative trip to Columbus, Mississippi, under the leadership 356 00:31:43,640 --> 00:31:48,460 of county manager Ed Dixon and economic development director T.J. Lewis. 357 00:31:49,170 --> 00:31:52,920 This experience was profoundly important to me as a planning commissioner. 358 00:31:52,920 --> 00:31:58,720 It provided valuable insight and a clearer vision to make major decisions that will benefit 359 00:31:59,240 --> 00:32:00,000 Gaston County. 360 00:32:00,600 --> 00:32:06,960 However, I must express my disappointment in the lack of representation from our elected officials 361 00:32:06,960 --> 00:32:08,100 in the surrounding county. 362 00:32:08,800 --> 00:32:13,620 While I don't know their reasons for not attending, I want to remind them of 363 00:32:13,620 --> 00:32:18,800 of the responsibility they assume when they chose to run for office and 364 00:32:18,800 --> 00:32:22,340 the trust place in them by the citizens who voted them in. 365 00:32:23,520 --> 00:32:29,080 Opportunities like this trip offers critical perspectives that can inspire meaningful 366 00:32:29,080 --> 00:32:33,480 change for our county and such occasions should not be missed. 367 00:32:34,040 --> 00:32:39,880 Columbus, Mississippi with a population of 23,035, according to the 23, 368 00:32:39,880 --> 00:32:49,180 in 2023, Google Check, is outperforming Gatson County with which has a population of 43,833. 369 00:32:49,620 --> 00:32:55,440 Despite their smaller size, they have achieved remarkable progress by bridging gaps and 370 00:32:55,440 --> 00:32:59,080 fostering collaborations for the greater good of the community. 371 00:32:59,850 --> 00:33:01,000 Was it easy for them? 372 00:33:01,700 --> 00:33:02,840 Absolutely not. 373 00:33:03,560 --> 00:33:10,360 But what made their success or reality was their shared commitment to a common goal, 374 00:33:10,360 --> 00:33:15,900 making Columbus, Mississippi a better place for its residents, which we are not all the 375 00:33:15,900 --> 00:33:19,940 way there in my opinion, but we can by choosing to. 376 00:33:21,700 --> 00:33:28,160 As I conclude, I pose this question to all of us, when will we come together with the 377 00:33:28,160 --> 00:33:31,060 unified purpose to make Gasson County great? 378 00:33:32,000 --> 00:33:37,740 The time is now, let's seize the opportunity to work together for a brighter future. 379 00:33:37,740 --> 00:33:42,300 Now, when we entered into Columbus, Mississippi, I was happy. 380 00:33:42,400 --> 00:33:45,600 I was like a little kid when I got my first happy meal. 381 00:33:45,980 --> 00:33:46,700 I was happy. 382 00:33:47,280 --> 00:33:47,940 You know why? 383 00:33:48,080 --> 00:33:54,420 Because we went to Packard Industries, I don't know if it's industry, but 384 00:33:54,420 --> 00:33:56,060 Packard who makes the Peter Bill. 385 00:33:57,140 --> 00:34:02,720 And I saw African-American women working, making good pay. 386 00:34:03,180 --> 00:34:05,240 But I saw other people working as well. 387 00:34:05,240 --> 00:34:10,400 And what I saw was when we, I can't remember his name, he's the economic development. 388 00:34:10,800 --> 00:34:11,800 Joe Max Higgins. 389 00:34:11,900 --> 00:34:12,520 Okay, Max Higgins. 390 00:34:13,860 --> 00:34:17,560 He came with a plan and everybody got on board. 391 00:34:18,000 --> 00:34:20,640 As I indicated, it wasn't easy, no, it was not easy. 392 00:34:21,740 --> 00:34:25,420 But it was about Columbus, Mississippi growing. 393 00:34:26,340 --> 00:34:30,380 And now they got a place where they can send people to commit a university to go to school 394 00:34:30,380 --> 00:34:32,220 for two years to get trained. 395 00:34:32,220 --> 00:34:37,620 if a new industry comes in, they'll train these people so they'll be ready for the organization. 396 00:34:38,220 --> 00:34:39,400 So it won't be no problem. 397 00:34:40,300 --> 00:34:46,380 And that's what I see what Ed Dixon is doing and TJ, they're trying to bring something 398 00:34:46,380 --> 00:34:49,020 here better for Gaston County. 399 00:34:50,640 --> 00:34:53,740 We're ranked 67 out of 67 out of school systems. 400 00:34:54,160 --> 00:34:58,320 We didn't see any representations from the school board with respect. 401 00:34:58,320 --> 00:34:59,980 We have 402 00:35:00,000 --> 00:35:26,200 We have to be willing to get past our own biases and set our own emotions to the side and say, what are we going to do for gas and county? Because this is 20, 20, 40, 1950, 80, 1960, things are progressing. What are we going to do for our youth? I'll tell you personally as I land. If we don't have a job for our kids, it's going to be a wall, wall, west, like up north and different places. Thank you. Thank you. 403 00:35:28,330 --> 00:35:29,610 And I'm waiting for the phone call. 404 00:35:29,610 --> 00:35:37,030 All right question you want to talk to this educate me sure sure so I was getting 405 00:35:37,030 --> 00:35:42,210 interested in what he was talking about sir do I have the ability to yield him minutes 406 00:35:43,230 --> 00:35:49,070 now the board has to thank you yes all 407 00:35:51,470 --> 00:35:54,270 right here we go so you want you know you got 408 00:35:54,270 --> 00:35:59,270 the question for me yeah I have a question come on come on it's okay we all found 409 00:35:59,270 --> 00:36:02,190 But I know we time try to get it. 410 00:36:02,310 --> 00:36:02,770 Yeah, I know. 411 00:36:05,310 --> 00:36:07,530 First, don't talk to him a little bit about it. 412 00:36:07,750 --> 00:36:08,010 Okay. 413 00:36:08,130 --> 00:36:08,650 About a guy. 414 00:36:08,930 --> 00:36:10,870 Talk to him a lot about it when they come. 415 00:36:11,230 --> 00:36:11,310 Yeah. 416 00:36:11,810 --> 00:36:12,910 I mean, what's your idea here? 417 00:36:13,010 --> 00:36:14,010 I mean, your idea, a guy. 418 00:36:14,650 --> 00:36:18,070 I mean, tell me what you think we need to do to do, 419 00:36:18,390 --> 00:36:21,190 to take what you went and did and put it in the practice. 420 00:36:22,150 --> 00:36:24,110 Well, what I did was, um, 421 00:36:25,190 --> 00:36:26,510 I thought it came us in the community. 422 00:36:27,170 --> 00:36:28,550 I started talking to people. 423 00:36:29,150 --> 00:36:32,030 I would see people in the grocery store, I would see people on 7th Street. 424 00:36:32,130 --> 00:36:33,550 Everybody, hey, come in, let me talk to you for a minute. 425 00:36:33,930 --> 00:36:39,350 I would even take some people out to eat, just to ask them, how did you get to where you are right now? 426 00:36:40,030 --> 00:36:40,990 Thank you so much. 427 00:36:41,750 --> 00:36:44,270 I got to do this this close that I'm about to send to a rehab. 428 00:36:45,230 --> 00:36:51,910 His mama died, no other family, no resources that he couldn't think of. 429 00:36:52,570 --> 00:36:54,610 And then he got hooked on some other stuff. 430 00:36:56,170 --> 00:37:03,890 There are a lot of things out here that could be done, but the real question is this, are we willing to meet the people where they are? 431 00:37:06,060 --> 00:37:12,020 That's what we got to do. We got to be willing to meet the people where they are. We got to be able to have town hall meetings. 432 00:37:12,800 --> 00:37:21,740 And I know that you guys are doing town hall meetings, but you got to go out there just like you campaign. You got to knock on them doors. Hey, I need you to participate in this town hall meeting. 433 00:37:21,740 --> 00:37:23,240 I need your input. 434 00:37:24,060 --> 00:37:28,300 How can I help you so that we can help Gaston County be better and be great? 435 00:37:29,840 --> 00:37:33,020 There's so many, I mean, there's a mirror to things that we can talk about. 436 00:37:33,320 --> 00:37:35,400 But overall, we got to be willing to have discussions. 437 00:37:36,100 --> 00:37:38,420 We got to be willing to have a conversation. 438 00:37:38,900 --> 00:37:42,300 One of the key things with my son, my son gets mad, he gets angry. 439 00:37:42,580 --> 00:37:48,180 And I tell him that he has to set aside his thoughts, his behaviors, his attitude, and 440 00:37:48,180 --> 00:37:50,520 calm down, take a deep breath, and let's just talk. 441 00:37:50,520 --> 00:37:54,660 Well, that's the only way that we're going to be able to change. 442 00:37:55,660 --> 00:37:57,860 I'm just being honest and being transparent. 443 00:37:58,160 --> 00:37:59,880 And the other thing I would say is with respect. 444 00:38:04,030 --> 00:38:10,370 When there's a lot of commotion that's going on in different places, social media, et cetera, corporations don't want to come here. 445 00:38:10,870 --> 00:38:12,270 They don't want to come in the mess. 446 00:38:13,270 --> 00:38:14,490 I just say that with respect. 447 00:38:15,130 --> 00:38:16,850 I'm just being honest because let me flip this. 448 00:38:16,850 --> 00:38:23,230 Would you move to a neighborhood that's drug-infested, gun play? 449 00:38:23,470 --> 00:38:25,850 I'm just throwing it out because they're having a different place and no, you wouldn't. 450 00:38:26,750 --> 00:38:28,450 You would choose somewhere else to go. 451 00:38:29,250 --> 00:38:32,830 I'm just saying that we got to be willing to have a conversation. 452 00:38:33,570 --> 00:38:39,670 The Bible clearly states, if you have an alt with your brother, you go to him, you talk to them. 453 00:38:40,070 --> 00:38:41,450 That's how I live my life. 454 00:38:41,970 --> 00:38:42,990 I got a problem with anybody. 455 00:38:44,070 --> 00:38:45,570 No one can tell you anything about me. 456 00:38:45,570 --> 00:38:50,330 I'm going to come to you, we just need to start having more realistic conversations. 457 00:38:50,610 --> 00:38:56,190 I think that if we have a realistic conversation, I think that we can move past a lot of this stuff and do further. 458 00:38:56,350 --> 00:39:06,920 But I will say this as I leave, I understand what the county commission is going through when I sat there and 459 00:39:06,920 --> 00:39:08,340 listen to the economic development. 460 00:39:08,660 --> 00:39:11,000 It's hard to get people together. 461 00:39:11,640 --> 00:39:19,080 I coach part one of football, it's hard to get them kids to get them plays down, but we got to do a practice over and over and over and over. 462 00:39:19,580 --> 00:39:24,320 But I understand your job a little bit, I don't want it, but I understand, because it's hard. 463 00:39:25,700 --> 00:39:29,120 It's hard, but if we have a team like they got a team, 464 00:39:32,170 --> 00:39:35,730 they're making it happen, and lastly, I know I'm jumping a little bit because I'm decided. 465 00:39:35,730 --> 00:39:42,910 But they have something that's coming up, that they're already set up in place to hire 3,000 people, if I'm not mistaken. 466 00:39:43,410 --> 00:39:48,470 3,000 people, what if we can hire 3,000 people here in Gaston County? 467 00:39:49,410 --> 00:39:53,470 We could stabilize the economy a little bit, we could stop crime a little bit. 468 00:40:00,000 --> 00:40:26,780 I think I want to see Gaston County thrive and be the place to be. That's why I moved here to Gaston County. I could have moved anywhere else. But I chose to move to Gaston County. Why? Because my great-granddad, he lived here and had a tobacco farm. And he worked with FAMU. So to me, that's legacy for me. And so I just want to continue his efforts to help the community. But thank you for staying some time. 469 00:40:26,780 --> 00:40:31,400 So you're telling me re-entry recovery and jobs and cohesiveness 470 00:40:32,000 --> 00:40:35,860 Is that that the just what you said? Yeah, we need that but 471 00:40:36,880 --> 00:40:41,740 Can I just approach the doctor to illustration real quick? You you can talk to me later because I know they're busy 472 00:40:41,740 --> 00:40:45,660 But I'm always welcome to no, I just want to show you something real quick. This is what we have to do 473 00:40:49,240 --> 00:40:54,460 Brother we always been good. We got to be willing to go and risk together and communicate and talk with people 474 00:40:55,060 --> 00:40:57,200 Can't just talk to people across on social media? 475 00:40:58,220 --> 00:41:03,100 You got to meet the people where they are, you can't be afraid to re-engage or engage, I'm sorry, engage. 476 00:41:03,620 --> 00:41:05,100 You got to meet the people where they are. 477 00:41:06,540 --> 00:41:07,900 Thank you, thank you. 478 00:41:08,480 --> 00:41:09,420 Thank you very much. 479 00:41:10,300 --> 00:41:12,240 Our next is our daughter, Thomas. 480 00:41:18,440 --> 00:41:29,080 She also want to talk to talk about her Columbia trip to as well, Columbia, Mississippi trip. 481 00:41:29,080 --> 00:41:37,660 Weat my name is Dorothy Marie Fag Thomas. I live at 586 Shiloh Road in 482 00:41:37,660 --> 00:41:42,580 Quincy, Florida. 3, 2, 3, 5, 1. We don't 483 00:41:45,690 --> 00:41:52,610 want tomorrow brings in a world where 484 00:41:52,610 --> 00:42:10,090 few hearts survive. All we have is here right now in our lives, hoping to find the 485 00:42:10,090 --> 00:42:24,830 road is alone. There are mountains in our way. But we climb a 486 00:42:24,830 --> 00:42:36,930 step every day. Lord, lift us up where we belong. I stand here 487 00:42:36,930 --> 00:42:46,410 today because I sit on the morning and see many times here, I will be 72 years old. 488 00:42:48,590 --> 00:42:50,910 I am a former educator, 489 00:42:54,250 --> 00:43:01,250 I am a citizen and definitely I don't appreciate night sitting 490 00:43:01,250 --> 00:43:06,250 here and seeing people going back and forth trying to put each other down with something they 491 00:43:06,250 --> 00:43:07,990 could have settled before they got here. 492 00:43:07,990 --> 00:43:08,830 I 493 00:43:10,880 --> 00:43:16,660 don't stand scary about a job, another of those other things. 494 00:43:18,000 --> 00:43:21,860 I just want to see grown-ups, act like grown-ups. 495 00:43:22,400 --> 00:43:25,780 And I stand as a senior citizen tonight. 496 00:43:26,600 --> 00:43:29,600 I've heard enough of the name calling. 497 00:43:30,620 --> 00:43:34,200 My word of God says that if I can't judge people, 498 00:43:35,260 --> 00:43:38,940 he's the only one perfect and he's the only judge. 499 00:43:39,420 --> 00:43:44,160 He also tells me in the word that if I have something against someone, go to that person. 500 00:43:44,960 --> 00:43:50,080 If I can't get it done with that person, I go two or three more people, and then I go to the top. 501 00:43:51,600 --> 00:43:58,880 But I never, you'll never find me scandalizing anyone because I'm not perfect. 502 00:43:59,900 --> 00:44:06,260 I'm standing about the trip tonight, but I just had to let you know God is not pleased with some of the stuff you're doing in Gaston County. 503 00:44:06,260 --> 00:44:14,000 and I have about 1,200 people, 12, yeah, 12 something on my Facebook and they like to ask me, 504 00:44:15,500 --> 00:44:21,100 mother, Thomas, that's what they call me. Why do you, a lie, I don't lie to nothing. 505 00:44:22,120 --> 00:44:29,180 Why do you sit there and talk about one another like you do and carry on in the business of the town 506 00:44:29,180 --> 00:44:33,020 when we should have been getting people out to vote, we were talking about trash. 507 00:44:34,140 --> 00:44:38,380 There's no secret about the board because everything is recorded. 508 00:44:39,160 --> 00:44:42,060 I don't need anybody to go to the courthouse for me. 509 00:44:42,500 --> 00:44:43,560 I can go for myself. 510 00:44:44,300 --> 00:44:47,300 I don't need anybody to put in the thing on land for me. 511 00:44:48,000 --> 00:44:49,420 I can read for myself. 512 00:44:50,480 --> 00:44:53,820 And I feel like this, if you can't say something good about somebody, 513 00:44:54,080 --> 00:44:57,240 you know, we always bring up the worst things about someone. 514 00:44:57,700 --> 00:44:59,580 But we never tell the good that they do. 515 00:45:00,000 --> 00:45:27,160 I be with these people a whole lot, but I wanted to know I went to the trip and I know my time is up. You can't ask me to sit. I am an educator. So what was so fabulous about that trip is that there were eighth graders going to a computer college university. And they will be trained to get jobs, not little jobs like Mike Dungeons and I don't put Mike Dungeons down at all. And I'm talking to the crowd because we came for a show tonight. 516 00:45:29,000 --> 00:45:32,980 But God says, no, show, no show tonight. 517 00:45:33,540 --> 00:45:35,220 We came to do the business of the town. 518 00:45:35,660 --> 00:45:36,820 We know what you said. 519 00:45:37,020 --> 00:45:38,080 We read your text. 520 00:45:38,260 --> 00:45:39,380 We've seen your things. 521 00:45:40,440 --> 00:45:42,560 A lot of boys are handling it. 522 00:45:43,360 --> 00:45:48,650 I have been here many years looking at seeing what people are doing, 523 00:45:48,730 --> 00:45:50,910 but I'm so disappointed with Gaston County. 524 00:45:51,330 --> 00:45:57,230 Citizens going out of land when we got 82% of people who are voting 525 00:45:57,230 --> 00:46:00,610 And others can be voted, but we aren't out there trying to get people to vote. 526 00:46:00,790 --> 00:46:04,110 We aren't there trying to scandalize names and talk about salaries. 527 00:46:05,470 --> 00:46:10,530 You want to know my salary, I tell it to you myself, y'all stop acting like you're acting. 528 00:46:10,810 --> 00:46:15,930 Stop doing what you're doing, black on black, but the trip was very educational. 529 00:46:16,430 --> 00:46:17,670 It was high-end job. 530 00:46:18,410 --> 00:46:23,290 Yes, I could go to Bainbridge and I head to my seat, but Bainbridge don't have the jobs that 531 00:46:23,290 --> 00:46:24,370 I want them to have. 532 00:46:24,370 --> 00:46:31,010 And I talked to my cousin who lives in Bangalore, but the jobs we saw were by people houses. 533 00:46:31,590 --> 00:46:34,550 The jobs we saw were draw people to the western county. 534 00:46:35,350 --> 00:46:38,950 So, all that other stuff, y'all meet down on the corner with it. 535 00:46:39,170 --> 00:46:40,410 Let's do the business of the town. 536 00:46:40,770 --> 00:46:41,910 Thank you very much. 537 00:46:44,360 --> 00:46:45,860 All right, thank you very much. 538 00:46:46,380 --> 00:46:51,300 That's one of my favorite songs, I must tell you that me, my sister's singing the song all the time. 539 00:46:51,420 --> 00:46:54,480 I can sing a lick, but one of my sisters is back there now. 540 00:46:54,480 --> 00:46:56,740 She also just saying what went into as well. 541 00:46:58,260 --> 00:47:09,160 Next, we have Mr. Michael K. Brown, he want to talk about the county, Michael Brown. 542 00:47:12,550 --> 00:47:15,750 Good afternoon, good evening, commissioners, attorney. 543 00:47:16,330 --> 00:47:21,050 My name is Michael Brown, I've decided at 588 Charles Brown Road, Friendship Area, 544 00:47:21,950 --> 00:47:25,050 Commission of Hope is my commissioner. 545 00:47:25,990 --> 00:47:32,010 I reached out to a few of you, some of you I was able to get contact with, some of you I wasn't, I appreciate you taking my call. 546 00:47:32,910 --> 00:47:35,730 And I do come somewhat waving the white flag. 547 00:47:36,390 --> 00:47:38,590 I've been living in Gaston County all my life. 548 00:47:38,990 --> 00:47:40,730 And I'm very proud of Gaston County. 549 00:47:41,110 --> 00:47:43,010 I really love this place, it's a beautiful town. 550 00:47:44,210 --> 00:47:48,210 I'm concerned about some of the things that we have going on in this town, because I love this town. 551 00:47:50,010 --> 00:47:56,590 And thank you for, when you get off of Pat Thomas, there's a sign that home was the 552 00:47:56,590 --> 00:47:58,750 most valuable player, Dexter Jackson. 553 00:47:59,410 --> 00:48:03,970 We live 22 miles from two of the greatest university, one of them being Florida State University, 554 00:48:04,210 --> 00:48:08,390 and one of the biggest and best HBCU, not Southern-Rong Green. 555 00:48:10,410 --> 00:48:16,550 Right here from Gaston County, we had a head football coach from Quincy, right here from 556 00:48:16,550 --> 00:48:17,130 this town. 557 00:48:17,130 --> 00:48:22,550 One of the best bands in the lands of Marching 100, we have a drum major right here from Quincy. 558 00:48:23,310 --> 00:48:26,110 We have FBI agents that's right here from Quincy. 559 00:48:26,970 --> 00:48:29,530 Now, I represent the gassing kind of soil and water board. 560 00:48:29,670 --> 00:48:33,370 Some of you don't even know what that is, but I'm the chairman of the board there, just like you the chairman. 561 00:48:33,870 --> 00:48:35,450 So I went to Gainesville last week. 562 00:48:35,570 --> 00:48:36,190 I meet people. 563 00:48:36,650 --> 00:48:38,970 Now, all I'm saying and I'm kind of encouraging you. 564 00:48:39,050 --> 00:48:43,990 I want to see things change for what we have going on in this town. 565 00:48:43,990 --> 00:48:47,310 I want us to be known for things like the sign with Dexter Jackson. 566 00:48:47,770 --> 00:48:53,890 I won't CBS coming to us every day like the doctor said that people he walking up the 567 00:48:53,890 --> 00:48:58,010 people should be coming here saying, man, you know, we want to use most unique towns 568 00:48:58,010 --> 00:48:59,830 problem in the state of Florida. 569 00:48:59,850 --> 00:49:05,250 I'm going to tell the United States, but what we have, how we set up here, seeing anyone 570 00:49:05,250 --> 00:49:05,990 should be breaking down. 571 00:49:06,070 --> 00:49:06,810 How y'all do it? 572 00:49:06,850 --> 00:49:08,290 Our school should be doing good. 573 00:49:08,730 --> 00:49:09,790 Crime rates should be down. 574 00:49:09,790 --> 00:49:14,050 We got these signs that mirror over there on product that you all have on that wall there 575 00:49:14,050 --> 00:49:18,890 So all I'm saying my elected officials some of you were just sworn in 576 00:49:18,890 --> 00:49:26,730 If you this will keep your humble if you ever keep the people read to your heart and always know that you're working for the people 577 00:49:26,730 --> 00:49:28,850 You won't have no kind of problems 578 00:49:28,850 --> 00:49:34,010 Not about you district one two three four five. That's not what it's about 579 00:49:34,010 --> 00:49:38,770 But if you keep the people at your heart that's from the sheriff that's for the school director 580 00:49:38,770 --> 00:49:44,110 that's for the chairman of the board, that's for the city commissioner, the county commissioner. 581 00:49:44,650 --> 00:49:46,830 I graduated from school in 1987. 582 00:49:47,450 --> 00:49:52,210 I used to become rent down town and go over there to a place called Quality Shop and buy my school clothes. 583 00:49:52,610 --> 00:49:54,470 I could go rent down here and get a half cut. 584 00:49:54,910 --> 00:49:58,650 I could go buy me a suit out of pay our jeans from a place called Witties. 585 00:49:59,250 --> 00:49:59,970 You know, if you want to- 586 00:50:04,120 --> 00:50:29,740 I want to encourage you all to let's get right. You know the stuff echoing. We ain't got time for this. We shouldn't even be having these meetings. Some of the stuff going on. I'm ashamed. I'm ashamed. And I love this town. I don't want us known for when I go smoke what y'all doing over there. Got this going on, that going on. So I humble it. Asking each and every one of you to look into yourself and represent the people not about us and this and that. 587 00:50:29,740 --> 00:50:31,080 Okay, thank you very much. 588 00:50:31,460 --> 00:50:32,100 Thank you. 589 00:50:32,420 --> 00:50:33,020 Mr. Chairman. 590 00:50:34,000 --> 00:50:34,660 Mr. Chairman. 591 00:50:34,860 --> 00:50:35,540 Mr. Brown. 592 00:50:35,840 --> 00:50:36,140 Yes, sir. 593 00:50:37,380 --> 00:50:37,780 Commissioner. 594 00:50:38,120 --> 00:50:38,340 Sure. 595 00:50:38,440 --> 00:50:41,560 Before you call your next person, if you kind of keep... 596 00:50:41,560 --> 00:50:44,720 Well, if I can say this, we'll ask if you don't make any comments 597 00:50:44,720 --> 00:50:47,100 doing the person that's speaking, if you'll be just kind, 598 00:50:47,160 --> 00:50:49,560 and just keep your arms and arms. 599 00:50:49,760 --> 00:50:50,520 Yes, that's right. 600 00:50:50,880 --> 00:50:51,260 To yourselves. 601 00:50:51,480 --> 00:50:51,740 Thank you. 602 00:50:55,740 --> 00:50:58,520 And thank you, Ms. Brown, for those encouraging words. 603 00:50:58,960 --> 00:51:00,720 And yes, I was one of those guys that you called. 604 00:51:00,720 --> 00:51:05,820 And I apologize, I was so tied up, but normally it's your phone call all the time. 605 00:51:06,580 --> 00:51:12,580 But I apologize this time, I probably answered two or three phone calls in the last 40 dollars. 606 00:51:13,500 --> 00:51:14,700 I was just that tied up now. 607 00:51:18,260 --> 00:51:27,860 Now we'll have Mr. Derek Elyse, talking about it's an other gen item, number nine, I guess. 608 00:51:27,860 --> 00:51:28,040 Yes. 609 00:51:32,080 --> 00:51:32,700 Good evening. 610 00:51:33,280 --> 00:51:33,800 Good evening. 611 00:51:34,100 --> 00:51:37,500 And congratulations to all of you who were recently sworn in. 612 00:51:38,280 --> 00:51:41,520 Derek Elias, 233 Chiefs for Avenue, Quincy. 613 00:51:44,060 --> 00:51:47,440 If we always agree, we will never change. 614 00:51:48,860 --> 00:51:53,460 If we always agree, we will never grow. 615 00:51:54,500 --> 00:52:00,920 There's no expectation that you all are going to be one monolithic board having the same 616 00:52:00,920 --> 00:52:01,240 thoughts. 617 00:52:01,940 --> 00:52:14,120 We as citizens are going to disagree with you as well, but as some of you just took and some of you all previously took, you took an oath of office and you swore to uphold some things. 618 00:52:14,680 --> 00:52:21,300 As citizens, we're here to say to you we want you to uphold those things to make sure that this county progresses. 619 00:52:21,940 --> 00:52:25,280 I've heard this evening some things about trips for development. 620 00:52:25,520 --> 00:52:28,040 Those trips for development are fine. 621 00:52:28,040 --> 00:52:36,260 If you all ever go back or come back and put some of those things into action, I can't 622 00:52:36,260 --> 00:52:40,660 think of one thing that has resulted in some of these expensive trips. 623 00:52:40,660 --> 00:52:43,140 They seem to be more like vacations. 624 00:52:43,920 --> 00:52:48,620 Now you all make somewhere in the neighborhood of $45,000 a year, but I don't think you all 625 00:52:48,620 --> 00:52:49,260 pay for those trips. 626 00:52:49,260 --> 00:52:51,980 I think we as taxpayers pay for those trips. 627 00:52:52,380 --> 00:52:55,900 I want to encourage you when you're going on these so-called economic development trips 628 00:52:55,900 --> 00:52:56,560 and other trips. 629 00:52:56,560 --> 00:53:01,080 Pay for the amount you're $45,000 salaries and not from the backs of citizens. 630 00:53:01,500 --> 00:53:07,000 And then we'll see if you all continue to go on these trips, and we'll also see if you all will come back and 631 00:53:07,000 --> 00:53:16,820 ever implement any of these things, because I certainly, for one, would be interested in seeing from this particular trip that people have been talking about when it's something going to be implemented. 632 00:53:17,300 --> 00:53:22,620 I would also wonder if that place that you all visited, and you're talking about how progressive they are. 633 00:53:22,620 --> 00:53:27,040 I wonder if their county administrator makes $140,000 a year. 634 00:53:27,300 --> 00:53:31,240 I heard you all several speakers mention the Bible, 635 00:53:31,500 --> 00:53:34,760 but also in the Bible somewhere in the book of Luke. 636 00:53:35,260 --> 00:53:38,240 It talks about to whom much is given, much is required. 637 00:53:39,800 --> 00:53:43,480 If we're giving a county administrator $140,000 a year, 638 00:53:43,980 --> 00:53:48,640 I expect a whole lot, a whole lot, a lot more than what I've seen. 639 00:53:49,320 --> 00:53:50,360 That's a whole lot. 640 00:53:50,360 --> 00:53:58,240 But not too long ago, the board entered into a contract with a new attorney. 641 00:53:58,680 --> 00:54:02,420 I came before you and I stood right here and I said to the attorney, oh, money is not 642 00:54:02,420 --> 00:54:02,880 good money. 643 00:54:03,380 --> 00:54:08,760 I said then that what was being done was not properly and order they done is my grandma 644 00:54:08,760 --> 00:54:12,340 Jay-Z-Bill used to say it's got to be done properly in order. 645 00:54:12,460 --> 00:54:16,120 It was legal and he reminded us that it was legal but it was not proper. 646 00:54:16,120 --> 00:54:24,100 you had a commission coming in and it was not properly done and you all ended into an extensive 647 00:54:24,100 --> 00:54:29,100 contract unnecessarily and I think at some point in time you all are going to have to go back 648 00:54:29,100 --> 00:54:34,140 and address that. Another thing I brought up is that when I look at the agenda, it's read 649 00:54:34,140 --> 00:54:39,140 that you all as commissioners ever have anything on the agenda. It's always the consent agenda 650 00:54:39,140 --> 00:54:44,900 and then whatever the administrator wants to talk about. I would like for you all to actually 651 00:54:44,900 --> 00:54:50,480 agenda some things for you all to talk about on our behalf and not just wait on 652 00:54:50,480 --> 00:54:54,960 the administrator to establish the agenda. Yes I'm pretty sure everything 653 00:54:54,960 --> 00:54:59,340 points to the fact that the administrator prepares the agenda but you all are 654 00:54:59,340 --> 00:54:59,780 responsible 655 00:55:00,000 --> 00:55:17,480 So for telling him what you want on the agenda and we can get away from the consent agenda and the kind administrator's agenda, and you all get back to your agenda. Thank you very much. Thank you. All right, so all right. 656 00:55:27,550 --> 00:55:32,010 Our next we have a number ten public hearings, 657 00:55:34,340 --> 00:55:44,880 but Mr. Administrator, but before we say this, I want to make sure we're in line with our ordinance. 658 00:55:46,840 --> 00:55:54,020 I didn't call you about that, we did, I said, by having, we received this within the last 659 00:55:54,020 --> 00:55:54,740 year for days. 660 00:55:55,120 --> 00:56:00,680 And I thought that the citizens got to have at least a week, not public hearings now. 661 00:56:02,960 --> 00:56:03,920 All right. 662 00:56:04,360 --> 00:56:08,800 You did call me and we talked about this issue, and if you recall, at the last meeting, 663 00:56:08,800 --> 00:56:16,220 you made a comment about whether a budget amendment should be a general business or public hearing. 664 00:56:16,680 --> 00:56:23,380 And so I reviewed the statute and discussed it with staff and basically the way it works is, 665 00:56:23,520 --> 00:56:28,720 you have three exceptions or five exceptions under the statute where you can do a budget amendment 666 00:56:28,720 --> 00:56:35,120 under general business, as long as it doesn't add or subtract from the budget that was approved by 667 00:56:35,120 --> 00:56:40,660 the board. So this item is under public hearing because this is an addition based on some additional 668 00:56:40,660 --> 00:56:45,880 grants that will be provided to the board. So it's under general business. Also, I confirmed 669 00:56:46,400 --> 00:56:50,620 because I had the same concern that you did as to whether the notice was done properly. 670 00:56:51,380 --> 00:56:56,780 Notice has to be two to five days prior to. And I mean, Sarah's can come in, but I believe it was 671 00:56:56,780 --> 00:57:02,280 five days prior to the hearing. So it can apply with the statue. To the public here, right? Public 672 00:57:07,980 --> 00:57:15,240 I don't know if it's a local newspaper, the Democrat, but Ms. Harris can come in and talk 673 00:57:15,240 --> 00:57:15,780 about that. 674 00:57:16,880 --> 00:57:17,840 Uh-huh. 675 00:57:20,270 --> 00:57:20,810 Todd's Democrat. 676 00:57:21,290 --> 00:57:21,570 Okay. 677 00:57:22,490 --> 00:57:25,870 And it's, it's, it's five days or two to five days. 678 00:57:26,290 --> 00:57:27,170 That's for Republicans. 679 00:57:27,470 --> 00:57:27,670 Correct. 680 00:57:27,670 --> 00:57:27,790 Correct. 681 00:57:28,970 --> 00:57:35,110 I know a regular meeting, I know a regular meeting two to five days, but I thought that public hearings had to be about seven, I wasn't sure at all. 682 00:57:36,450 --> 00:57:39,010 We looked at the statute with suitify days. 683 00:57:39,410 --> 00:57:41,950 And correct me, Sarah, it was two to five days, right? 684 00:57:42,170 --> 00:57:42,930 To be notified, right? 685 00:57:43,810 --> 00:57:44,370 I'm just curious. 686 00:57:44,990 --> 00:57:49,110 I took the hard your comments from the last meeting. 687 00:57:49,210 --> 00:57:49,410 Okay. 688 00:57:49,710 --> 00:57:55,890 And verified that it should be, this particular budget amendment should be a public hearing, not general business. 689 00:57:55,890 --> 00:58:02,310 But in the future, there may be meetings, excuse me, amendments that may be under general 690 00:58:03,510 --> 00:58:06,130 business because they will meet the statutory criteria. 691 00:58:07,850 --> 00:58:13,550 And the reason why this is such, not, they don't give me, it's been a heartburns because it 692 00:58:13,550 --> 00:58:18,290 doesn't affect the budget, these. I think Ms. Harris and she'll come and talk to you about it, 693 00:58:18,430 --> 00:58:22,670 can give you more detail about that. But from a legal standpoint, it's legally 694 00:58:24,710 --> 00:58:26,110 That's the effect of the budget, though. 695 00:58:26,830 --> 00:58:29,450 I believe that's some additions to the budget for understanding correctly. 696 00:58:29,690 --> 00:58:31,230 Some grant funds that are going to be added. 697 00:58:32,010 --> 00:58:35,210 But again, Ms. Harris can come in and provide additional information about that. 698 00:58:36,870 --> 00:58:40,730 Okay, Ms. Harris, we feel like you're going to sign them up. 699 00:58:47,480 --> 00:58:50,060 Well, I tell you, we can just wait it out. 700 00:58:50,760 --> 00:58:56,860 It's okay, we can go and get it started with, yes, we'll let the minister go ahead and 701 00:58:58,380 --> 00:58:59,540 Mr. Chairman, 702 00:59:02,560 --> 00:59:21,600 this item is presented for Board Approval, just a resolution 2024-3038 for authorization from the administrator and the finance director to complete and execute all budget amendments necessary to maintain a balanced budget. 703 00:59:21,600 --> 00:59:31,540 The attached items are to adjust budgets for various funds and projects or to adjust budgets due to a change in the grants or the general funds. 704 00:59:32,180 --> 00:59:43,340 The attached budgets amendments listed on the administrative are required to be advertised as they relate to internal fund transfers, donations are grants. 705 00:59:44,420 --> 00:59:49,900 The recommendation is to approve resolution 2024-038, Mr. Chairman. 706 00:59:53,130 --> 00:59:56,630 Okay, all right, we have a motion, I mean, we have recommendation to have a motion. 707 00:59:56,750 --> 00:59:59,550 On the first of all, we have to get the audience to talk about it first because. 708 01:00:00,000 --> 01:00:05,060 We got a public hearing. Normally, before the board talks, we got to have the audience. 709 01:00:07,120 --> 01:00:16,160 Do you all wish anyone in audience wish to speak on this agenda item here? They just had a lot of works there. Yes, okay, cool. 710 01:00:19,380 --> 01:00:30,520 Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If you could just briefly just let us know exactly what it is that you're all attempting to do. That was certainly help. Thank you. Mr. Cannon, Mr. King. Mr. Chairman, this is the general will. 711 01:00:32,500 --> 01:01:00,400 There's a lap grant to build the sidewalk on Adam Street from what we know as the old jail, all the way up to the school district to add a sidewalk, and I think to widen that road a little bit for a million, $46,000 there's a budget amendment to set up the grant for the Sheriff's Deputy Salaries. 712 01:01:00,400 --> 01:01:09,920 In the amount of $657,000 in change, there are library donations approximately $6,000. 713 01:01:10,700 --> 01:01:17,820 There's also an emergency preparedness assistance grant for $119,000 additional. 714 01:01:18,640 --> 01:01:26,480 There's a budget fund to set up to purchase new ambulances, debt service in the amount of $368,000. 715 01:01:27,320 --> 01:01:36,480 And there's a transfer from fund one in the amount of $374,000, Mr. Chairman. 716 01:01:39,020 --> 01:01:39,180 All right, 717 01:01:43,230 --> 01:01:44,430 Commissioner Simkins. 718 01:01:45,250 --> 01:01:54,470 Mr. Administrator, just for the public's knowledge, could you kind of smell fund one and then fund one forty two, so get them. 719 01:01:54,470 --> 01:02:06,030 Because this is the set up the fund, Jan correct, for the ambulances to set up the fund to move the money for the new ambulances. 720 01:02:06,750 --> 01:02:11,310 We are on a schedule to purchase new ambulances, as you know, there was a time we weren't actually 721 01:02:12,030 --> 01:02:17,990 ran out of ambulances because two of them were wrecked and then we had mechanical difficulties with others. 722 01:02:18,230 --> 01:02:22,810 So now we're on a schedule to replace those ambulances on a regular basis. 723 01:02:22,810 --> 01:02:25,110 and this sets up the fund. 724 01:02:27,570 --> 01:02:28,690 That's the last one? 725 01:02:28,910 --> 01:02:29,670 That's the last one. 726 01:02:31,450 --> 01:02:35,730 Is this the last meeting that we're allowed to do this for the budget? 727 01:02:36,450 --> 01:02:39,670 No, sir, we may, Mr. Chairman, I'm sorry, I don't know. 728 01:02:39,690 --> 01:02:44,090 Yes, sir, good, but you may approve the budget as money comes in. 729 01:02:45,250 --> 01:02:51,910 A lot of these are new monies and or changes to the budget and you may do it every meeting. 730 01:02:56,080 --> 01:03:01,740 I'm not sure your budget will I first speak to as well? 731 01:03:02,820 --> 01:03:03,560 There's a question. 732 01:03:05,560 --> 01:03:08,720 I think she's coming to do clarification on. 733 01:03:12,720 --> 01:03:13,760 You still got a flow of commission. 734 01:03:14,380 --> 01:03:17,660 No, I think she knows what I'm, yeah, she's about to address it. 735 01:03:17,880 --> 01:03:18,240 Yeah, right. 736 01:03:18,820 --> 01:03:24,760 The budget amendment before you, this is the last meeting that we can approve these. 737 01:03:24,760 --> 01:03:28,120 but you will have budget amendment, put it on down a little bit more. 738 01:03:29,720 --> 01:03:35,820 But you will have budget amendments that come to the floor throughout the year that you will have to prove it. 739 01:03:35,980 --> 01:03:41,000 This particular one is for fiscal year 2024, and they have to close out. 740 01:03:41,380 --> 01:03:45,160 This is really coming from the clerk's office, the finance director. 741 01:03:56,030 --> 01:03:57,110 Who's, I'll go there. 742 01:03:57,550 --> 01:04:02,690 No, I was about to say that normally these are online, so you can pull them up. 743 01:04:02,690 --> 01:04:05,270 You can just go to gas and count it to the website. 744 01:04:06,130 --> 01:04:13,710 Commission and all of this stuff is on lines that you can click on it, if there's anything you need to want to preview ahead of time, any of these items. 745 01:04:13,890 --> 01:04:18,810 Also the commissioners, the procedure has been since I've been here, that you call it. 746 01:04:18,850 --> 01:04:22,550 You sit down with the administrator no matter who that is, or maybe. 747 01:04:23,150 --> 01:04:30,810 And you sit down with that individual, you go over as a county commissioner, you go over the budget, I mean the items with them on the agenda. 748 01:04:30,810 --> 01:04:36,130 So that way, if you have questions that will give them the staff an opportunity to bring 749 01:04:36,130 --> 01:04:41,670 back some answers to you, but for the citizens, you can pull these up online, you can click 750 01:04:41,670 --> 01:04:42,730 on them and look at it. 751 01:04:43,110 --> 01:04:46,630 At the budget, you'll see just what we have in this book, okay? 752 01:04:47,030 --> 01:04:47,490 Thank you. 753 01:04:48,130 --> 01:04:48,950 Thank you very much. 754 01:04:49,390 --> 01:04:55,050 Also, too, if we can, let Ms. Thomas say earlier, we're going to be very careful how we speak, 755 01:04:55,650 --> 01:04:59,150 because we are all citizens, we are all grown, we got family members and audience. 756 01:04:59,150 --> 01:04:59,970 I'll see you guys next time. 757 01:05:00,000 --> 01:05:29,560 Let's try not to throw in your windows out because now we're going to happen to someone else going to say, I got to say, because you have the right to say something because you don't want your constituent to say anything. So we can't, let's try to, because when I was a chairman, we had quick meetings, leave it or not, of all people saying it, right? But because, really, that's what I'm talking about, because I understand that I appreciate everything. You say, where everybody who talked earlier, I evaluate everything everybody said. 758 01:05:29,560 --> 01:05:33,000 I don't have no offense with anything, because you have to respect everybody. 759 01:05:33,140 --> 01:05:35,700 Everybody come from a different level, you have to still respect them. 760 01:05:35,840 --> 01:05:40,560 So on this board, let's not throw in you windows at people, let's be positive. 761 01:05:44,300 --> 01:05:47,940 And so we can move forward and we can love each other. 762 01:05:48,960 --> 01:05:52,560 Mr. Green, I know you, you wish to say the thing for- 763 01:05:52,560 --> 01:05:53,940 You're fine, Kerry, I want to thank you. 764 01:05:54,080 --> 01:05:55,320 Yes, sir, and I thank you, too, as well. 765 01:05:55,740 --> 01:05:56,980 Do we have a motion on this floor? 766 01:05:56,980 --> 01:05:57,800 Move the program. 767 01:05:58,280 --> 01:05:58,540 Second. 768 01:05:58,840 --> 01:05:59,840 The motion is second. 769 01:06:00,220 --> 01:06:00,840 All the papers are. 770 01:06:01,560 --> 01:06:01,760 Aye. 771 01:06:02,400 --> 01:06:03,300 And one oppose. 772 01:06:04,400 --> 01:06:04,760 All right. 773 01:06:04,980 --> 01:06:05,340 It's approved. 774 01:06:07,380 --> 01:06:08,560 Thank you very much. 775 01:06:09,020 --> 01:06:10,820 Mr. Chairman, we had general business. 776 01:06:11,000 --> 01:06:12,240 General business, nothing they wrote. 777 01:06:12,600 --> 01:06:13,680 Item 11A. 778 01:06:13,840 --> 01:06:14,240 Yes, sir. 779 01:06:14,720 --> 01:06:14,900 Oh. 780 01:06:16,600 --> 01:06:22,080 We're returning the motion on the love, the first one, I missed it. 781 01:06:22,420 --> 01:06:23,020 We're not there yet. 782 01:06:23,240 --> 01:06:23,700 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 783 01:06:23,780 --> 01:06:24,320 We're not there yet. 784 01:06:25,900 --> 01:06:26,580 Mr. Chairman. 785 01:06:26,580 --> 01:06:32,380 The board seeks approval to renew, this item seeks your approval. 786 01:06:32,540 --> 01:06:37,300 I'm sorry to renew the silent waste franchise agreement with WastePro and 787 01:06:37,300 --> 01:06:44,800 authorize the chairman to sign it on December 1, 2009. 788 01:06:44,800 --> 01:06:49,880 The board awarded a five year franchise agreement to WastePro of Florida for 789 01:06:49,880 --> 01:06:52,600 collection and disposal of waste within Gaston County. 790 01:06:52,600 --> 01:06:56,460 The agreement was approved after the competitive bid was solicited. 791 01:06:56,800 --> 01:07:04,060 The five year term of the agreement was from January 1, 2010, through December 31, 2014. 792 01:07:04,720 --> 01:07:10,360 The agreement has had an automatic or renewal clause for five year periods. 793 01:07:11,360 --> 01:07:21,940 On November 18, this agreement was renewed for another five years, and through December 2019, the agreement was subsequently renewed. 794 01:07:23,160 --> 01:07:27,840 for another five years ending December 31st, 2024. 795 01:07:28,840 --> 01:07:39,520 We have met with WastePro over the last six months and talked about this, this agreement. 796 01:07:40,420 --> 01:07:46,040 The county has been receiving a 10% franchise fee from WastePro. 797 01:07:47,000 --> 01:07:49,460 This renewal has additional terms and conditions. 798 01:07:50,580 --> 01:07:58,920 Waste Pro has agreed to provide curbs out assistance in greater dimension to the senior citizens that cannot bring there. 799 01:07:59,560 --> 01:08:09,940 Waste containers to the curb, additionally Waste Pro will notify the county if there is a change of schedule and will discuss the changes with the county prior to implementation. 800 01:08:10,660 --> 01:08:28,820 This agreement speaks to a 7% increase over the next five years, as Wastepro has demonstrated that the CPI has not kept up with the growth of the automatic grower in the contract, has not kept up and they are experiencing increased cost. 801 01:08:29,520 --> 01:08:35,280 3.5% for the first year and 3.5% for the second year. 802 01:08:36,320 --> 01:08:46,160 Lastly, Waste Pro has agreed to create a bigger presence in our county as we spoke to them. 803 01:08:47,000 --> 01:08:57,880 One of the things that commissioners recall is we had some problems with commercial entities receiving adequate service on a timely basis. 804 01:08:58,580 --> 01:09:01,380 We've discussed that in depth with Waste Crow. 805 01:09:02,140 --> 01:09:04,560 They were having staff and shortages themselves. 806 01:09:04,560 --> 01:09:07,780 That was right after COVID and so on. 807 01:09:07,800 --> 01:09:14,180 And we've discussed that long and a long way with them 808 01:09:14,840 --> 01:09:19,080 to make sure that we did not experience those kinds of things again. 809 01:09:19,080 --> 01:09:22,020 And if we did, if they were experiencing those things 810 01:09:22,020 --> 01:09:26,220 that we would be notified in order to deal with residents 811 01:09:26,220 --> 01:09:32,140 and their commercial vendors who will call us and not necessarily waste pro. 812 01:09:32,760 --> 01:09:39,520 So we have this before you, the attorney was involved in this, trying to help bring it home. 813 01:09:40,620 --> 01:09:44,840 And so if he has any comments to make, Mr. Chairman, see what we recognize. 814 01:09:45,040 --> 01:09:54,440 Mr. Chair and commissioners, there are a couple other things that we added, the way this agreement, this is a franchise agreement. 815 01:09:54,440 --> 01:09:59,520 and so basically WagePro has an exclusive contract for providing. 816 01:10:00,000 --> 01:10:13,940 A waste collection services for the county. As the administrator stated, this agreement has been in place since 2010, and it's written every five years. We had an automatic renewal provision in the agreement. 817 01:10:30,020 --> 01:10:40,540 franchise agreement to be active at the end of each five year period, there has to be ability to have discussions about what's relevant as a relation to the agreement. 818 01:10:41,180 --> 01:10:54,620 So we agreed to eliminate the automatic renewal provision for the waste pro agreement and it will terminate at the end of each five year period subject to renewal, which will allow both sides to negotiate out terms. 819 01:10:54,620 --> 01:11:03,860 We had a provision that also stated that if we were to get to the end of the term, and for some reason that it was not negotiated out, 820 01:11:04,420 --> 01:11:14,520 Wachepro agreed that the agreement does not terminate, but we have 180 days to complete any negotiations for the next renewal if it's so desired. 821 01:11:15,260 --> 01:11:17,720 So those are some additional provisions that we put in. 822 01:11:25,280 --> 01:11:32,680 I wanted to ask, and I have forgotten his name just that fast, was Mr. 823 01:11:34,790 --> 01:11:35,310 Children. 824 01:11:35,550 --> 01:11:36,650 Mr. Children. 825 01:11:39,620 --> 01:11:41,960 A couple questions for you, please. 826 01:11:42,740 --> 01:11:43,300 Yes, sir. 827 01:11:50,970 --> 01:11:51,410 All right. 828 01:11:51,610 --> 01:11:53,270 That's your name and address for the record, too. 829 01:11:53,270 --> 01:11:56,630 Boyd, children, 1536, fine tip. 830 01:12:03,620 --> 01:12:17,940 Looking at the B and doing a comparison when they're taking a look at Lear Counties, B and Gaston, could you tell us why the difference in? 831 01:12:18,680 --> 01:12:21,780 Services really geared towards density. 832 01:12:22,380 --> 01:12:34,840 When you have an environment like the city of Tallahassee where you have more density it's a it's a stop start stop start stop start you can get more work done per hour which reduces the rate that we have to require. 833 01:12:35,780 --> 01:12:43,620 Then the rate jumps from Tallahassee's rate to Leon County's rate because it's a little more spread out even though it still has considerable density. 834 01:12:44,120 --> 01:12:49,440 We move out into the more rural communities and then that density is not there anymore. 835 01:12:49,440 --> 01:12:56,280 There are times where we can drive a mile before we get to the next home, to service, or 836 01:12:56,280 --> 01:12:58,500 the next commercial business to service. 837 01:12:59,000 --> 01:13:01,100 So it's a matter of density and travel time. 838 01:13:01,800 --> 01:13:01,920 Okay. 839 01:13:02,640 --> 01:13:07,500 And for our citizens, when we're talking about, no, we have the percentage here. 840 01:13:07,560 --> 01:13:09,940 But what does that look like for them? 841 01:13:10,520 --> 01:13:11,680 So that's an additional. 842 01:13:12,180 --> 01:13:18,400 So what you're looking at, because it's broken up into two different rate increases. 843 01:13:18,400 --> 01:13:23,920 is you're looking at approximately $0.89 for the first increase. 844 01:13:24,900 --> 01:13:25,340 Okay. 845 01:13:25,840 --> 01:13:26,540 Did you say $0.89? 846 01:13:26,540 --> 01:13:27,100 I'm sorry. 847 01:13:27,720 --> 01:13:29,460 I believe that's $0.89 here. 848 01:13:30,040 --> 01:13:30,400 I wasn't. 849 01:13:31,340 --> 01:13:36,160 I think it's $1.77, if I remember correctly, for the first increase. 850 01:13:37,280 --> 01:13:45,980 When you include the CPI, but what we're talking about, I believe, is the 3.5 is $0.89. 851 01:13:46,660 --> 01:13:46,840 Okay. 852 01:13:48,160 --> 01:13:51,500 Okay, so with the CPI, we'll be looking at the dollar in. 853 01:13:51,980 --> 01:13:56,940 Yeah, at the CPI, we don't know where the CPI will land yet. 854 01:13:58,160 --> 01:14:10,900 The way the contract reads, it's the trailing 12 and you draw an average from the 12 trailing 12 on the CPI, so we won't have that number until the end of the year. 855 01:14:11,700 --> 01:14:11,920 Okay. 856 01:14:11,920 --> 01:14:19,400 Now, right now, it's at about 2.52%, it could go up or it could go down, but not significantly. 857 01:14:21,340 --> 01:14:29,220 And I'm going to ask again, I see it says at least, which is good, 858 01:14:32,220 --> 01:14:35,760 a corporate presence in the county to support county activities. 859 01:14:36,400 --> 01:14:43,300 With at least 15, I'm going to ask again, at least 20. 860 01:14:43,300 --> 01:14:52,080 And I don't have that authority, but you ask the question, I'll bring it to the correct people. 861 01:14:52,640 --> 01:14:54,380 I appreciate that. 862 01:14:54,640 --> 01:14:55,080 Yes, ma'am. 863 01:14:55,280 --> 01:14:55,460 All right. 864 01:14:55,680 --> 01:14:56,220 Thank you. 865 01:14:56,760 --> 01:14:57,520 Commissioner Green. 866 01:14:58,080 --> 01:14:58,620 Thank you. 867 01:14:58,620 --> 01:14:59,840 I gotta start looking to turn left. 868 01:15:00,000 --> 01:15:29,300 Yes, right. It's okay. I apologize. No problem. You find. My question was going to actually be about the incentives as well as a relates to giving back to the community. And I think that is something that we need to place emphasis on a lot of our vendors and contractors with the county. But my question is, how many other options? I know it's very limited people who does, who do this, but how many other bids were there or were there any other interested companies that were 869 01:15:29,300 --> 01:15:35,540 available or that will serve as this county, Mr. Dixon. 870 01:15:35,880 --> 01:15:36,820 Yes, yes, sir. 871 01:15:37,180 --> 01:15:38,200 Yes, appreciate it. 872 01:15:38,200 --> 01:15:38,460 Thank you. 873 01:15:38,620 --> 01:15:38,720 Sorry. 874 01:15:40,040 --> 01:15:48,140 Commissioner, we looked at going for RFP or an invitation to be it. 875 01:15:48,610 --> 01:15:55,840 We monitored for the last year the Leon County situation and a couple other situations around. 876 01:15:55,840 --> 01:16:05,200 Now, the Leon County situation, which we all know is a much more prosperous market than ours came in. 877 01:16:06,180 --> 01:16:11,620 I think $7 more than they did in waste flows of low bidder. 878 01:16:12,120 --> 01:16:15,640 Everyone else were many, many dollars ahead. 879 01:16:17,220 --> 01:16:21,800 And they entered, as they went through their process, 880 01:16:21,800 --> 01:16:26,620 because they realized that their contract was probably the best contract that they were 881 01:16:26,620 --> 01:16:34,720 going to get understanding this is a multi-million dollar operation and that if the next closest 882 01:16:34,720 --> 01:16:37,120 bids were at least ten dollars more. 883 01:16:38,360 --> 01:16:46,040 And so we felt that gave us an opportunity to go and negotiate as opposed to going out to 884 01:16:46,040 --> 01:16:46,360 be it. 885 01:16:46,360 --> 01:16:54,540 We had a rollover, but we think we were able to get in as cheaply as we possibly could have hope to. 886 01:16:54,920 --> 01:16:58,580 I think we on county experience a 15% increase. 887 01:16:59,580 --> 01:17:04,780 So we were monitoring folk around us, and we thought this was the best opportunity. 888 01:17:05,980 --> 01:17:06,280 Sure. 889 01:17:07,320 --> 01:17:07,580 Yes, sir. 890 01:17:08,000 --> 01:17:14,640 If I can add on what the administrator said, we did do some verification on what the increases were. 891 01:17:14,640 --> 01:17:20,620 If this contract was put out to bid and I was hearing from 15% to 20%. 892 01:17:21,380 --> 01:17:26,500 Even with that, the request was 7% for One Year and 893 01:17:26,500 --> 01:17:31,020 we were able to, to an illustrator now able to negotiate out 3.5 for 894 01:17:31,020 --> 01:17:37,820 the first year and then 3.5 for the second year, so we didn't do a 7% increase in One Year. 895 01:17:41,780 --> 01:17:42,780 Which day requests? 896 01:17:47,940 --> 01:17:51,920 Mr. Chair, what is the address of your business? 897 01:17:53,950 --> 01:17:55,970 Mr. Chair, you come up here, I'm sorry about that. 898 01:17:57,050 --> 01:18:00,890 Is that 264 Commerce Lane, Midway? 899 01:18:02,610 --> 01:18:04,490 So you're a gas and county business? 900 01:18:04,830 --> 01:18:05,410 Yes, sir, we are. 901 01:18:05,830 --> 01:18:07,390 You know what I like the most about y'all? 902 01:18:07,690 --> 01:18:08,330 What's that, sir? 903 01:18:08,590 --> 01:18:12,270 Every time the truck rides by, somebody hollers, hey, major wood. 904 01:18:13,690 --> 01:18:17,090 And what it tells me is there's a lot of our locals. 905 01:18:17,090 --> 01:18:18,710 the work for y'all. 906 01:18:20,370 --> 01:18:25,490 Gatson County probably supports us from the employees standpoint by about 60%. 907 01:18:25,960 --> 01:18:27,350 Keep up that good work. 908 01:18:28,170 --> 01:18:35,010 And also we have a program where we meet with local law enforcement directions. 909 01:18:35,830 --> 01:18:42,510 And if there's an opportunity for second chance citizen that needs a job, they can start on our trucks. 910 01:18:42,510 --> 01:18:47,970 They have to be certain criteria, but we're proud of that fact. 911 01:18:48,230 --> 01:18:49,750 Colonel Barclay is sitting in the back. 912 01:18:50,790 --> 01:18:55,330 And so, when you leave, if y'all can, he may already know our folks. 913 01:18:55,570 --> 01:18:58,750 Keep giving us jobs, thank you, sir. 914 01:18:59,350 --> 01:19:00,950 I wanted to have a question for you. 915 01:19:01,070 --> 01:19:03,130 Yes, Commissioner Hope, then turn after that. 916 01:19:03,350 --> 01:19:04,410 Okay, thank you. 917 01:19:04,930 --> 01:19:07,350 Do you guys, do you need large item pickups? 918 01:19:08,310 --> 01:19:10,670 Well, you're referring to bulk item pickups. 919 01:19:10,670 --> 01:19:27,250 There is a bulk item pick-up provision in the contract, I believe it's once a month, and you'd have to call that end, and we would come out and pick it up, that bulk item could consist of anything from white goods to, you know, couch chairs, stuff like that for an injury. 920 01:19:27,250 --> 01:19:34,190 So the citizen would have to have, have you already picking up their, do they have to be a sign on? 921 01:19:34,730 --> 01:19:39,450 They would have to be, it would have to have service already yes. 922 01:19:39,750 --> 01:19:41,530 Okay, all right, thank you. 923 01:19:41,730 --> 01:19:42,170 Yes, ma'am. 924 01:19:42,770 --> 01:19:48,890 Mr. Chair and commissioners, there was one amendment that we needed to make to the agreement. 925 01:19:49,810 --> 01:19:56,230 Mr. Children and I were trying to, when we look at this contract to figure out what the county would 926 01:19:56,230 --> 01:19:59,810 the need over the five year period and talk with them. 927 01:20:00,000 --> 01:20:29,880 We did put in the helping hands, which allows the elderly citizens to get free service. And so we got that in. We also added Section 5.5, which is a premium collection services, so individuals could pay for that. But we wanted to negotiate out terms on that, but we couldn't get the terms negotiated out. So we need to delete that item, Section 5.5. So when you get your motion, we ask that you approve the 928 01:20:29,880 --> 01:20:38,820 the agreement with the exclusion of Section 5.5, and also authorize any modification based on script news errors. 929 01:20:40,820 --> 01:20:45,160 Also, too, before we get into that, it's not even good. 930 01:20:47,600 --> 01:20:51,480 Yeah, those those was two concerns that I had and I talked to attorney about that. 931 01:20:51,620 --> 01:20:58,360 I'm glad he said he was able to negotiate with the role side assistance because he had a lot of seniors calling me about that. 932 01:20:58,360 --> 01:21:00,360 I'm glad I was able to look into that. 933 01:21:01,780 --> 01:21:08,980 Also, another one was the bucket, Adam Pickup, yes, with Commissioner Ho state earlier. 934 01:21:10,260 --> 01:21:14,740 Do y'all pick up certain things because I was told that y'all are going to pick up one or two things. 935 01:21:15,200 --> 01:21:21,680 You see, we've got a set of things, you've got a bed out there, it has a dresser, a drawer, and a stool or whatever. 936 01:21:22,120 --> 01:21:25,900 Y'all are going to come pick up one thing, and that's still a part of the print, right? 937 01:21:26,600 --> 01:21:44,740 It's based on volume now what we try to do because if we're running once a month and you have several homes out there that may need service, we can't pick up a whole house move out and then take away from the service from everyone else down the road. 938 01:21:44,740 --> 01:21:50,120 So we have to be just, you know, discriminant, whatever the word is, and what we pick up. 939 01:21:50,620 --> 01:21:58,500 So if we look at what we've got going for that week, and there are several homes that have bulk pick up, 940 01:21:59,680 --> 01:22:02,780 if we follow the rules of the contract, it's a very small amount. 941 01:22:03,100 --> 01:22:06,240 Typically we'll pick up two to three times that amount, we pick up. 942 01:22:06,500 --> 01:22:12,620 But if it's an extreme amount, we can only pick up what we can in order to serve us to look at the customer down the road. 943 01:22:13,420 --> 01:22:19,220 because that was that was some of what people had hard burns where could they they made a phone call they got 944 01:22:19,220 --> 01:22:25,780 the great kids to put everything outside not maybe a couch and I'm dead in the stew and 945 01:22:26,480 --> 01:22:33,180 they just came pick up one item and so I think that that's that was that was some of the concerns that 946 01:22:33,180 --> 01:22:39,740 we had and I think that that part we need to address that to as well before we sign it for five years 947 01:22:39,740 --> 01:22:44,500 something because we are a rural area and we are aging community and we're just trying 948 01:22:44,500 --> 01:22:48,040 that's those are two concerns I'm glad we create the one that we go and talk to 949 01:22:48,640 --> 01:22:52,780 well addressed to senior citizens if they need someone to pick up their stuff y'all 950 01:22:52,780 --> 01:22:56,720 glad y'all address that issue I really appreciate matter fair I got a I'm going to disclose I 951 01:22:56,720 --> 01:23:02,100 had a great relationship with each protee I mean like you said you're you're a staff major 952 01:23:02,840 --> 01:23:08,080 their staff is impeccable I gave him some peaking I got a peek on to you I gave him a whole 953 01:23:08,080 --> 01:23:10,180 People think, well, I go to Strawberry Fests, 954 01:23:10,280 --> 01:23:13,040 I bring Strawberry and Jaws, some great people. 955 01:23:13,400 --> 01:23:17,120 So I have a great relationship with everybody, including your vice president. 956 01:23:17,860 --> 01:23:21,360 Yes, thank you, as everyone on this board knows. 957 01:23:21,960 --> 01:23:27,120 I'm in favor of people taking their stuff to the dump, because it makes your property look real bad. 958 01:23:27,680 --> 01:23:34,220 Put those items right there and they sit, and it almost devalues your property by having people come by. 959 01:23:34,220 --> 01:23:39,580 And so if you can, take that to the dump and that way it wouldn't be a problem. 960 01:23:39,920 --> 01:23:44,840 We have that enough for seniors, I'm happy about that because they do need help with 961 01:23:44,840 --> 01:23:45,160 that. 962 01:23:45,320 --> 01:23:49,220 When I just think if we're younger and we're out working and we're doing those things 963 01:23:49,220 --> 01:23:51,900 that we can go and take care of some of that. 964 01:23:52,280 --> 01:23:56,520 So if the gentleman has to pick up something for the senior citizen, you got 15 other houses 965 01:23:56,520 --> 01:24:01,460 where they're able to take this stuff to the land field, take it and don't leave them 966 01:24:01,460 --> 01:24:08,240 fun of your house in order for animals to be all on it and also for the rain on it and things 967 01:24:08,240 --> 01:24:14,440 like that that happen, devalues your property. But thank you so much. And I think it's a very 968 01:24:14,440 --> 01:24:21,660 good idea because you've negotiated in some good items when we look through it. And I think we 969 01:24:21,660 --> 01:24:28,240 should go ahead and improve it with those increases. I mean, and with the numbers that we have, 970 01:24:28,240 --> 01:24:31,240 I've got a number's good, but all right, thank you. 971 01:24:31,460 --> 01:24:34,320 Commissioner, I will let you know right now 972 01:24:34,320 --> 01:24:38,320 that I'll put it on my agenda to speak with our senior vice 973 01:24:38,320 --> 01:24:41,400 president about the bulk issues that you're experiencing. 974 01:24:42,520 --> 01:24:45,240 And I will address that internally. 975 01:24:45,720 --> 01:24:48,440 That's a decision that we can make locally. 976 01:24:49,100 --> 01:24:49,180 Right. 977 01:24:49,420 --> 01:24:53,340 So that's just seeing since the elder didn't have the answer. 978 01:24:53,640 --> 01:24:55,240 You know, it's going to help him as much as you can. 979 01:24:55,360 --> 01:24:56,860 The reason I brought that up though, 980 01:24:56,860 --> 01:24:59,600 I did not bring it up for everybody to leave the stuff out by the road. 981 01:25:00,000 --> 01:25:29,560 That's what I'm saying. If it's a need, then they need to do it, but we don't need even, we're picking up now. Some people just put stuff out their own. They leave it there for weeks and stuff like that. And it's unheard of. We're trying to encourage businesses to come. And I give you a good example. I'm going to stop talking on this. I brought two business people down. I was trying to talk to the school board about St. John School. There were two businesses that were looking for storage. And we discussed that, but the school board decided to sell it to an individual. 982 01:25:29,560 --> 01:25:36,200 to a church. They thought it was great for their businesses, but then they noticed some 983 01:25:36,200 --> 01:25:40,940 things about highway on 2 CC 7. And one of them asked me, he said, why is that stuff 984 01:25:40,940 --> 01:25:46,720 about a road? And I told him, he said, well, that shouldn't be. That doesn't look good 985 01:25:46,720 --> 01:25:51,520 for the county, because you got to think for a beautification, but you have a mattress 986 01:25:51,520 --> 01:25:56,840 out by the highway. And I told him, I said, yeah, tell me what you really think, because that's 987 01:25:56,840 --> 01:26:02,300 That's what he was doing, and it makes sense to see what people on the outside think about us when they're looking at. 988 01:26:02,860 --> 01:26:04,500 But that was the reason I asked, thank you. 989 01:26:04,740 --> 01:26:05,500 Yes, ma'am. 990 01:26:08,660 --> 01:26:10,420 Mr. Green, thank you. 991 01:26:11,120 --> 01:26:22,600 I don't think that the conversation that was just had it had any reflection on the services provided from waste for, I think, is more the program that we have as it relates to the book. 992 01:26:26,980 --> 01:26:28,900 I think that's the only way to 993 01:26:28,900 --> 01:26:30,840 identify that issue is not only what 994 01:26:30,840 --> 01:26:32,520 happens is people will call to say 995 01:26:32,520 --> 01:26:34,240 especially in my district that they 996 01:26:34,240 --> 01:26:36,300 have certain items out there and 997 01:26:36,300 --> 01:26:37,420 I will just make the call to 998 01:26:37,420 --> 01:26:38,660 management and they'll make the 999 01:26:38,660 --> 01:26:39,460 call to make sure that those 1000 01:26:39,460 --> 01:26:40,780 items are going to get picked up 1001 01:26:40,780 --> 01:26:42,240 during that week of book. 1002 01:26:42,420 --> 01:26:44,340 Bokey out and pick up so I don't 1003 01:26:44,340 --> 01:26:46,140 think that that conversation was 1004 01:26:46,140 --> 01:26:47,940 really referring to the statements 1005 01:26:47,940 --> 01:26:49,720 was referring to the ways for 1006 01:26:49,720 --> 01:26:51,720 a country although it's good to know 1007 01:26:51,720 --> 01:26:54,480 that you are offering that services per month. 1008 01:26:55,520 --> 01:26:57,120 So, and maybe I missed that. 1009 01:26:57,300 --> 01:26:59,060 How can they car you or the day 1010 01:26:59,060 --> 01:27:00,260 that you're gonna set aside? 1011 01:27:01,320 --> 01:27:03,160 And once a month, I don't have that. 1012 01:27:03,160 --> 01:27:04,100 I don't have that. 1013 01:27:04,180 --> 01:27:05,440 It will be good to get that schedule 1014 01:27:05,440 --> 01:27:07,680 so that we can inform our citizens 1015 01:27:07,680 --> 01:27:09,620 and the process and the way 1016 01:27:09,620 --> 01:27:11,460 that you're going to do that program. 1017 01:27:11,460 --> 01:27:15,520 So, we'll know how to go with it. 1018 01:27:15,820 --> 01:27:16,220 Thank you. 1019 01:27:16,480 --> 01:27:18,240 We'll get that to the county administrator. 1020 01:27:20,140 --> 01:27:22,940 Yes, before we get into them, just clarify something quick. 1021 01:27:23,560 --> 01:27:29,280 My statement was going directly to waste product by the bulk of items, all fairness. 1022 01:27:30,000 --> 01:27:33,160 Because you know, a lot of them live, someone live in the city, I know they've got different 1023 01:27:33,160 --> 01:27:38,240 contracts, but I always tell them that if your city may be, I have a different contract 1024 01:27:38,240 --> 01:27:38,840 in the county. 1025 01:27:39,120 --> 01:27:43,960 So, but my statement is what do you guys, but again, you guys always been accessible for 1026 01:27:43,960 --> 01:27:50,360 me in the community, also for the employee just in PEP, but to as well. 1027 01:27:51,520 --> 01:27:54,060 Commissioner Simpkins, are you an echo? 1028 01:27:54,080 --> 01:27:55,040 Oh, you can. 1029 01:27:55,060 --> 01:27:55,200 Yeah. 1030 01:27:55,580 --> 01:27:55,840 Same thing. 1031 01:27:56,240 --> 01:27:56,380 Okay. 1032 01:27:57,020 --> 01:27:57,940 Thank you again. 1033 01:27:58,360 --> 01:27:58,720 Thank you, sir. 1034 01:28:00,140 --> 01:28:02,120 Now, do we have a motion on the floor now? 1035 01:28:02,140 --> 01:28:02,600 Move approval. 1036 01:28:02,840 --> 01:28:03,440 Governor, aye. 1037 01:28:03,840 --> 01:28:04,840 With the exception. 1038 01:28:05,240 --> 01:28:06,100 With the amendments. 1039 01:28:06,620 --> 01:28:13,800 Yeah, I was going to say, move approval with the deletion of Section 5.5 and authorize 1040 01:28:14,780 --> 01:28:16,860 any exception for a script of the years. 1041 01:28:19,190 --> 01:28:20,090 All right, I'll second that. 1042 01:28:21,470 --> 01:28:24,990 Okay, we've got a motion in second, all in favor say aye. 1043 01:28:25,070 --> 01:28:25,350 Aye. 1044 01:28:25,710 --> 01:28:29,270 With all those corrections, and one of the polls said nay. 1045 01:28:29,870 --> 01:28:31,030 All right, five will vote. 1046 01:28:31,850 --> 01:28:37,930 All right, so here we are now with the approval of the city of Gritnell. 1047 01:28:38,450 --> 01:28:42,470 Loves, Travis Sino, Mr. Dixon. 1048 01:28:42,470 --> 01:28:48,650 Mr. Chairman, this item seeks your approval, seeks 1049 01:28:57,130 --> 01:29:15,390 your approval of an interlocal agreement for the ownership transfer of an unimproved roadway known as Clifford Johnson Road, owned by Gaston County and execution of a proposed right-of-way deed in unimproved, excuse me, roadway to the city of Gretna. 1050 01:29:15,390 --> 01:29:21,530 As you all know, the city came before the board requesting this agreement. 1051 01:29:21,530 --> 01:29:28,190 We've had extensive conversation with the city, and moving toward this, we've even had a survey done. 1052 01:29:28,810 --> 01:29:32,070 And it is now before you for approval. 1053 01:29:32,570 --> 01:29:34,770 If the attorney has anything else, Mr. Chairman. 1054 01:29:36,920 --> 01:29:42,480 Mr. Chair, Chair and commissioners, administrative is correct. 1055 01:29:42,480 --> 01:29:53,200 We had extensive conversations with the city of Gretner, I see Mr. Nose in the audience and he and I discussed this and I believe that he's in concurrence with what we've done here. 1056 01:29:53,980 --> 01:29:58,160 So are there any questions from the city of Gretner? I think he's here to answer any questions. 1057 01:29:58,160 --> 01:29:59,120 Yeah. 1058 01:29:59,120 --> 01:29:59,320 Yeah. 1059 01:30:00,780 --> 01:30:17,380 Yes, I want to, I'm sorry, I was going to go and put it in. Yeah, it's not a, I was going to go and put it in a motion for approval, because all they needed was a letter. And one technical change. Go ahead, sorry. 1060 01:30:17,380 --> 01:30:17,440 Okay. 1061 01:30:21,560 --> 01:30:22,700 Yes, Mr. President. 1062 01:30:22,960 --> 01:30:23,420 The floor is yours. 1063 01:30:23,900 --> 01:30:24,740 Good evening, everyone. 1064 01:30:25,200 --> 01:30:27,660 There was no city attorney for the city of Gretna. 1065 01:30:28,040 --> 01:30:28,300 Yes, sir. 1066 01:30:28,520 --> 01:30:32,100 There was one timeline in the agreement. 1067 01:30:32,520 --> 01:30:39,280 It was a 15-day period within which the county could approve, put all signatures together 1068 01:30:39,280 --> 01:30:41,600 to approve the interlocal agreement. 1069 01:30:41,960 --> 01:30:46,160 We're requesting that that timeline be reduced to 48 hours. 1070 01:30:47,080 --> 01:30:49,840 If everybody's an agreement with what we're doing here, 1071 01:30:50,320 --> 01:30:55,620 you know, reason why we should have to wait another 15 days to get this document executed. 1072 01:30:57,630 --> 01:30:58,970 Mr. Chair. 1073 01:30:59,290 --> 01:30:59,410 Mr. President. 1074 01:30:59,410 --> 01:30:59,570 Yes, sir. 1075 01:30:59,930 --> 01:31:00,230 Mr. President. 1076 01:31:00,790 --> 01:31:02,030 And I'm glad he brought that. 1077 01:31:02,170 --> 01:31:04,650 We're waiting on the final legal description. 1078 01:31:06,110 --> 01:31:13,030 Just to be clear, I want to personally thank the board for allowing us to get the survey done. 1079 01:31:13,030 --> 01:31:21,990 And we not done the survey, we would have taken a foot of land, a foot of land from a private landowner. 1080 01:31:22,370 --> 01:31:28,390 We were at a clouded title, and we've had a potential lawsuit coming back before the board at some unknown time. 1081 01:31:28,730 --> 01:31:29,950 And maybe the city of Redna. 1082 01:31:30,690 --> 01:31:35,150 So, I'm totally in agreement with expert darkness as quickly as possible. 1083 01:31:35,530 --> 01:31:40,370 We need to survey back, which we don't have, so you can't get the legal description, so you can't file anything. 1084 01:31:41,090 --> 01:31:47,030 And I'm not of the opinion that I would want to put any restrictions on the commission in that regard. 1085 01:31:47,530 --> 01:31:55,610 So I would say that we keep the 15 days, but Mr. Knows, as I've called you regularly, so we could get this worked out. 1086 01:31:55,970 --> 01:31:57,270 I'll make that same commitment. 1087 01:31:57,650 --> 01:32:02,130 We'll try to do it as expeditiously as possible and not do it within 15 days. 1088 01:32:02,130 --> 01:32:07,990 But we've got to get the legal description back, which you also assured me that the legal description would be here by tonight. 1089 01:32:08,910 --> 01:32:14,210 And you assured me that the legal description that you gave me was accurate and it wasn't was to my knowledge 1090 01:32:14,210 --> 01:32:19,890 I'm not a lawyer the point is that we need to make sure we do it right sir and that's what I'd like to do 1091 01:32:19,890 --> 01:32:27,530 So I'm committing let me ask the further question when will the survey be available as I mentioned to you and I talked to you 1092 01:32:27,530 --> 01:32:29,130 It was our goal to have it tonight 1093 01:32:30,010 --> 01:32:34,070 It is to be done correctly. It has to be signed and sealed as you know 1094 01:32:34,810 --> 01:32:37,630 So we expect to have it in the next day or so 1095 01:32:37,990 --> 01:32:45,530 And so once we get that, my commitment to the board is that we'll go forward and get this expedited for the City of Greteness. 1096 01:32:45,630 --> 01:32:54,650 I've mentioned before we're not here to oppose the City of Greteness economic development, but as I've said to the board before, it's important that we get it done correctly. 1097 01:32:55,250 --> 01:33:06,890 So as soon as we get that survey, what Mr. Nose and I had worked out was that I would give him that document, he would put it in for the legal description, which he's already framed, which is an exhibit here. 1098 01:33:06,890 --> 01:33:11,810 And then he will have that and he'll get it back to me as a deed and then we can record it. 1099 01:33:12,010 --> 01:33:15,710 So with all due respect, that is an attachment to a deed. 1100 01:33:15,970 --> 01:33:19,890 The deed can still be executed, subject to that attached document. 1101 01:33:20,330 --> 01:33:26,390 That document being attached to it, as can be the local agreement in a local agreement. 1102 01:33:27,050 --> 01:33:32,890 There's no reason not to go ahead and sign off on the document with the understanding that 1103 01:33:32,890 --> 01:33:37,950 that the legal description will be subsequently added to it. 1104 01:33:38,190 --> 01:33:41,870 Mr. Chair, this is about an execution issue. 1105 01:33:42,150 --> 01:33:42,650 Let's turn it on. 1106 01:33:42,990 --> 01:33:44,170 Not about a survey issue. 1107 01:33:44,490 --> 01:33:55,750 I want to say, really, I appreciate the conversation because the information that's what I'll have a problem with, but I want to speak, just wait until the end of the finish, then you go back and respond because you want to make sure it's not like a tight mold. 1108 01:33:56,170 --> 01:34:01,670 What you're saying is there's some valuable information that's coming to us, so I just want to tell you. 1109 01:34:01,670 --> 01:34:06,170 We're good for you, but we've got to represent our clients. 1110 01:34:06,170 --> 01:34:06,570 Yes, sir. 1111 01:34:06,810 --> 01:34:07,390 I understand it. 1112 01:34:07,410 --> 01:34:08,770 You know, two lawyers get together. 1113 01:34:09,010 --> 01:34:10,550 It's going to be kind of interesting sometimes. 1114 01:34:11,590 --> 01:34:12,030 You too. 1115 01:34:12,170 --> 01:34:18,030 I just, I stay out of your way, but y'all, you guys keep on, you keep on, let me, let me just 1116 01:34:18,030 --> 01:34:22,850 say this again, I keep saying that I'm committed to getting it done as quickly as possible. 1117 01:34:22,850 --> 01:34:23,990 There will be no delay. 1118 01:34:24,530 --> 01:34:28,390 We need to get all the documents in order and then execute all the documents one time. 1119 01:34:28,390 --> 01:34:29,950 That's the proper way to do it. 1120 01:34:29,950 --> 01:34:36,390 And so we get the survey back tomorrow, just like I've called you regularly, and you have to agree that I've called you regularly. 1121 01:34:36,770 --> 01:34:50,430 Oh yeah, right, and then I will send that document to you as soon as I get it, and then we'll get it everything ready, and we need a vote to approve these chairman's authorization to sign the document, and once we get all the documents together. 1122 01:34:51,710 --> 01:34:56,570 As I've mentioned to each of you individually, you follow the path that we put in place. 1123 01:34:56,850 --> 01:34:59,970 There's no knocks on the doors, five years, ten years down the road. 1124 01:35:00,000 --> 01:35:16,340 roll. We get things done in proper form and proper order. And that's what we're going to do here. And so we got the legal description done properly. So there's no issues there. Now we just need a couple of days. Maybe maybe tomorrow, just to button it up and get it done properly. And that's my recommendation to the board. 1125 01:35:29,560 --> 01:35:29,960 Okay. 1126 01:35:30,000 --> 01:35:36,380 I'm going to come back once you get that survey completed, so I mean, I'm legally, can we go ahead and make that approval? 1127 01:35:38,710 --> 01:35:39,150 Chair. 1128 01:35:39,610 --> 01:35:40,030 Yes, sir. 1129 01:35:40,350 --> 01:35:40,430 Okay. 1130 01:35:40,670 --> 01:35:43,630 The answer is yes, if I wasn't clear, that's my recommendation. 1131 01:35:44,210 --> 01:35:50,910 The legal description, Mr. Nose and I agree, as a minor issue, as it relates to the approval of the interlocal agreement. 1132 01:35:51,430 --> 01:35:56,930 You approve the interlocal agreement that authorizes the transfer, we need to attach the legal description. 1133 01:35:57,350 --> 01:36:00,290 Once we get all of that, it's presented to the Chair for signature. 1134 01:36:00,290 --> 01:36:13,410 So the motion is to approve the chair to sign the interlocal agreement upon all the documents being in place, and then you don't have to come back for a second review by the board. 1135 01:36:14,150 --> 01:36:18,950 Thank you, and I understand that, but I just wanted to be clarified even more as we move forward with this item. 1136 01:36:19,130 --> 01:36:19,390 Thank you. 1137 01:36:20,070 --> 01:36:20,510 Yes, sir. 1138 01:36:20,510 --> 01:36:30,990 Okay, one right, quick, one repeat, Mr. Attorney, with the approval of a signed legal agreement with the legal description. 1139 01:36:31,810 --> 01:36:49,790 Once we, the motion is that the board will approve that the transfer of the Clifford Johnson road via interlocal agreement and authorized the chairman to sign the interlocal agreement upon a legal description being attached to the interlocal agreement. 1140 01:36:49,790 --> 01:36:50,570 Okay. 1141 01:36:50,570 --> 01:36:50,890 Okay. 1142 01:36:51,490 --> 01:36:58,010 Commissioner Simpke, you have a quick question with the legal description. 1143 01:36:58,150 --> 01:37:06,430 Is that something that we're waiting for them to give to us or is that something that 1144 01:37:06,430 --> 01:37:10,750 we, with the survey, that's our survey. 1145 01:37:10,870 --> 01:37:13,550 We're waiting for the legal description from our surveyor. 1146 01:37:13,890 --> 01:37:14,810 Chair, yes, sir. 1147 01:37:15,210 --> 01:37:19,650 Commissioner, what Mr. Knows and I agreed to is that he drafted up the legal description. 1148 01:37:19,650 --> 01:37:23,930 So we had it framed, excuse me, the deeds that we had it framed. 1149 01:37:24,650 --> 01:37:27,970 And then we're just going to get the surveys legal description. 1150 01:37:28,370 --> 01:37:31,830 And when we get that, he's going to serve that in that and once we got that, we're done. 1151 01:37:31,890 --> 01:37:32,730 Right, I understand. 1152 01:37:33,030 --> 01:37:37,550 My question is, who is going to provide this legal description? 1153 01:37:37,830 --> 01:37:38,290 The surveyer. 1154 01:37:38,550 --> 01:37:40,270 Okay, so do we have a time? 1155 01:37:40,670 --> 01:37:41,650 The county's surveyer. 1156 01:37:41,790 --> 01:37:43,070 Okay, that's my question. 1157 01:37:43,530 --> 01:37:50,840 So we should have the survey from our county surveyer. 1158 01:37:53,160 --> 01:38:01,060 within, by the end of this week, we should, we should, and again, let me finish. 1159 01:38:01,640 --> 01:38:07,140 And the reason I'm saying that is because we, and I know I wanted us to make sure that 1160 01:38:07,140 --> 01:38:13,500 we did our due diligence, but at the same time, I do not want us to continue to hold up, 1161 01:38:14,000 --> 01:38:19,520 or we may not be holding up, but I don't want us to drag, drag, drag, if we're able to find 1162 01:38:19,520 --> 01:38:37,540 And now when our survey is going to be able to provide that information, we can give them a call and find out when they're going to provide that information, because I don't want us to wait this 15 day because we have the 15 days, we wait the 15 days. 1163 01:38:37,800 --> 01:38:46,960 We're talking about another two weeks, so if you are expecting it tonight, then we should have it by the end of the week. 1164 01:38:55,040 --> 01:39:01,680 I don't know that the city has a recourse against the board, but to the extent that something 1165 01:39:01,680 --> 01:39:08,680 happens outside of the control of the board with the serve there, then I don't want to 1166 01:39:08,680 --> 01:39:10,520 know what recourse they have. 1167 01:39:10,760 --> 01:39:12,440 I know that we should be able to get it done. 1168 01:39:12,440 --> 01:39:15,780 And we should have had it today, I asked the surveyer to get it today. 1169 01:39:16,160 --> 01:39:22,620 They dropped other jobs to get the survey done early because it needed to be done. 1170 01:39:22,800 --> 01:39:26,440 We wanted to get it in proper form with legal description done. 1171 01:39:26,940 --> 01:39:32,580 But I don't control the surveyer, he's committed to me that he would have had it today, but he didn't. 1172 01:39:32,680 --> 01:39:37,120 So I can only assume because of his word quality that he's making sure he does it right. 1173 01:39:37,120 --> 01:39:51,220 So, I've committed to Mr. Knows that as soon as I get it, as I've discussed everything with him regularly, that I will get it to him, and if you authorize the chair to sign it, it could be tomorrow. 1174 01:39:51,920 --> 01:39:59,440 But that's a different issue as whether you would bind yourself with a shorter time period if something outside of the control of the commission would occur. 1175 01:40:00,000 --> 01:40:28,920 And that's all I'm saying. It's not that we're going to wait 15 days. We just don't put unnecessary restrictions on the board that if something outside of the control of the board would occur. So, again, my commitment to the board is that as soon as I get it, as I've done with everything else with Mr. Nose, I return, I turn it over fairly quickly. If I remember correctly, you sent me the interlocal agreement and I got it back to you the next day. That's correct. Right. So we're not. There's no. 1176 01:40:28,920 --> 01:40:33,940 So to the extent there may be a suggestion that there's any delays happening from the commission side. 1177 01:40:34,080 --> 01:40:38,500 There's not happening, we're actually moving very exponentially to get this down from Mr. Noes. 1178 01:40:38,800 --> 01:40:42,200 I have two parenthetical comments I'd like to make if you don't mind. 1179 01:40:42,400 --> 01:40:43,760 It does me for one second. 1180 01:40:43,940 --> 01:40:44,240 Yes sir. 1181 01:40:44,860 --> 01:40:51,720 Our problem has been, and our frustration has been, that this has taken three months to get done. 1182 01:40:52,340 --> 01:40:57,860 And then really it's a roadway project as everyone knows, maybe the citizens don't. 1183 01:40:57,860 --> 01:41:04,660 But this is just the project itself is on hold and Mr. 1184 01:41:05,320 --> 01:41:09,160 stalwart, I believe it is, this is a $28 million project. 1185 01:41:10,220 --> 01:41:17,300 So there are things going on in this county, it's in your district sir, so welcome aboard, this is our gift to you. 1186 01:41:18,460 --> 01:41:20,420 Didn't give it to me huh, but I had it. 1187 01:41:22,520 --> 01:41:25,760 It's a gift to everyone please, you're correct. 1188 01:41:26,260 --> 01:41:34,900 But my point is, we're just, you know, these people are waiting in Oklahoma to come and start turning dirt. 1189 01:41:35,640 --> 01:41:38,420 And we're talking about economic development and everything in it tonight. 1190 01:41:38,820 --> 01:41:42,280 We're talking about economic development in Gaston County and we need this, that the other. 1191 01:41:42,980 --> 01:41:45,320 There is economic development that is going on. 1192 01:41:45,660 --> 01:41:48,640 This is the largest project that I'm aware of at this point. 1193 01:41:49,040 --> 01:41:50,240 So we need to get it going. 1194 01:41:50,980 --> 01:41:52,240 We're ready to turn dirt. 1195 01:41:52,240 --> 01:41:52,820 er... 1196 01:41:52,820 --> 01:41:56,080 I'm the chair now. 1197 01:41:58,620 --> 01:42:02,260 Man you've been alone. 1198 01:42:02,640 --> 01:42:05,080 Down on the way. 1199 01:42:05,080 --> 01:42:14,460 Or is there any responsibility to be a lawyer or a student? 1200 01:42:14,460 --> 01:42:16,220 Well, that's definitely fuert. 1201 01:42:17,620 --> 01:42:26,300 I think that's a lot of back and forth, and in the spirit of compromise, Mr. Knows, let's say ten days so we can move this agenda ahead. 1202 01:42:26,580 --> 01:42:27,960 Absolutely, we have it done. 1203 01:42:28,540 --> 01:42:31,200 This is the third month, you said. 1204 01:42:31,400 --> 01:42:32,600 Unexceptible or acceptable. 1205 01:42:33,020 --> 01:42:39,740 Unexceptible. That's why I ask for a two-day lead time instead of a 15-day lead time. 1206 01:42:42,100 --> 01:42:43,740 Well, we can't give you what you don't have. 1207 01:42:43,960 --> 01:42:48,940 The thing is that I'm just curious, all fairness, I'm just trying to figure things out. 1208 01:42:50,160 --> 01:42:51,840 We've been knowing about this for a while, right? 1209 01:42:52,380 --> 01:42:52,500 No. 1210 01:42:52,760 --> 01:42:52,820 No. 1211 01:42:53,180 --> 01:43:00,040 I know I got a phone call this weekend, so somebody had no something that it was here that 1212 01:43:00,040 --> 01:43:00,820 we were doing this. 1213 01:43:00,980 --> 01:43:01,960 We had this conversation. 1214 01:43:02,480 --> 01:43:04,200 Oh, sorry to fire, sorry to somebody like that. 1215 01:43:04,200 --> 01:43:12,160 So if we knew about it Friday, why can't we get started Friday or get started Monday and trying to get the 1216 01:43:12,160 --> 01:43:16,740 probably trying to be fair by job be fair with everybody I understand we need 1217 01:43:17,620 --> 01:43:22,420 People understand the difference between urgency and sense of urgency this urgent right here 1218 01:43:22,920 --> 01:43:29,400 So I think that because you because you only got a certain time frame right here. It was a certain time frame to 1219 01:43:29,400 --> 01:43:33,480 because if someone don't call me, change their mind, any given day. 1220 01:43:34,060 --> 01:43:39,500 Some can happen, but at the same time now, I must respect the attorney's guidance 1221 01:43:39,500 --> 01:43:44,380 because we don't want to be stuck in a acquired marb, because we've registered too quick 1222 01:43:44,380 --> 01:43:50,260 and then, like you say, there's so much stuff that you find like a foot into a private property, 1223 01:43:50,700 --> 01:43:51,300 things like that. 1224 01:43:51,660 --> 01:43:52,900 That's why I got to respect you. 1225 01:43:53,520 --> 01:43:58,160 I got to give you the floor to make sure because he is our attorney and you've got to list 1226 01:43:58,160 --> 01:44:02,760 But at the same time, we're going to have an urgency on this matter, though, to make sure we get it quick in swallowing. 1227 01:44:04,340 --> 01:44:15,120 Now, I'm sorry, now, Mr. Chair, you want to say a thing for me to make you want to, for like, at this point, my sense of it is it should be done inside of ten days. 1228 01:44:15,120 --> 01:44:25,140 It should be done inside of two days, but I don't, you know, commissioners, and I hate to go back down memory lane, but just so you understand, understand. 1229 01:44:25,140 --> 01:44:29,840 And I mean, I represented Governor State of Florida, I was a General Counselor of the Florida Department of Transportation. 1230 01:44:30,720 --> 01:44:40,380 And no situation of I ever advised a board or an entity, a government entity, to put pressure on themselves when they can't control the outcome. 1231 01:44:41,120 --> 01:44:45,880 So in this case, my recommendation is, and apparently Mr. Nose is not in agreement. 1232 01:44:46,200 --> 01:44:51,320 We'll cut it from 15 days to 10 days, but my commitment has been from the outset. 1233 01:44:51,320 --> 01:44:59,660 And I have worked with Mr. Knows throughout this to get it done sooner than that, but not put pressure on the board if because you don't control the serve there. 1234 01:45:00,000 --> 01:45:29,980 He could have someone in his family that gets ill. He may have an emergency trip out of town, something totally outside of our control, and then we have a time frame by which we said we would do something, which we can't commit, we can't complete. So, cut it from 10 days, 15 days to 10, I'm comfortable with the day to get it done in that time frame. I'm hoping it gets it tomorrow. But I can't recommend to you that you would actually put pressure on yourselves to complete a task when you don't control the hour. 1235 01:45:29,980 --> 01:45:30,220 Okay. 1236 01:45:31,440 --> 01:45:36,160 But let me let you make your motion, Gary. 1237 01:45:36,440 --> 01:45:36,880 Who are we? 1238 01:45:37,700 --> 01:45:38,960 So I just like to make a comment. 1239 01:45:39,480 --> 01:45:40,540 I want to make a motion. 1240 01:45:40,920 --> 01:45:41,100 Okay. 1241 01:45:41,400 --> 01:45:42,260 Go ahead, meet you. 1242 01:45:42,480 --> 01:45:43,800 And I just like to make a comment. 1243 01:45:44,000 --> 01:45:44,460 You're sitting here. 1244 01:45:44,540 --> 01:45:46,160 I mean, it is my district. 1245 01:45:46,900 --> 01:45:47,980 I'm very thankful. 1246 01:45:50,880 --> 01:45:53,540 My part of it is, is I got out of the way. 1247 01:45:54,700 --> 01:45:57,940 Talking to the commissioners in the city of Gretna 1248 01:45:57,940 --> 01:46:04,620 and your manager, I thought it was a great project for the city of Gretna, hats off to you. 1249 01:46:05,180 --> 01:46:08,300 I don't know if any of my commissioners are in here, I see a couple. 1250 01:46:09,120 --> 01:46:17,360 I thought you did very good, 28 million, 50 jobs, a couple hundred thousand dollars return 1251 01:46:17,960 --> 01:46:20,780 to the community every year from taxes, as my understanding. 1252 01:46:20,780 --> 01:46:30,420 Whether we have stone watered or not, it is the perception, and perception is reality. 1253 01:46:31,720 --> 01:46:35,260 And for us, this is the same thing that we were talking about, Dr. Stahlworth, about 1254 01:46:35,260 --> 01:46:36,080 working together. 1255 01:46:37,300 --> 01:46:41,740 We have got to get to where we allow other people to be successful. 1256 01:46:43,460 --> 01:46:49,900 And I did what Reverend Bush, one of my favorite people of all time, says sometimes major, you 1257 01:46:49,900 --> 01:46:53,060 to get out of the way for other people to be successful. 1258 01:46:53,760 --> 01:46:55,900 I had absolutely nothing to do with this, 1259 01:46:56,060 --> 01:46:58,160 and that's not what you hear politicians say, 1260 01:46:58,820 --> 01:46:59,980 but I didn't. 1261 01:47:00,940 --> 01:47:03,580 And I feel that the timeframe, 1262 01:47:04,120 --> 01:47:06,620 and I get what the lawyer is saying, 1263 01:47:07,160 --> 01:47:11,080 but we're at a point to where it has to be expeditiously. 1264 01:47:12,920 --> 01:47:15,140 And we have to move this forward. 1265 01:47:15,800 --> 01:47:17,260 And I would like to see that timeframe 1266 01:47:17,260 --> 01:47:25,420 even further down if we can, and if we can't, then we do amend it, and the manager does 1267 01:47:25,420 --> 01:47:27,260 what he needs to do to bring it back. 1268 01:47:28,100 --> 01:47:33,080 Everyone of us understand that, but you got a man that's putting 28 million dollars in 1269 01:47:33,080 --> 01:47:35,820 my district, 50 jobs. 1270 01:47:37,000 --> 01:47:39,000 And this is what we talk about, economic development. 1271 01:47:39,180 --> 01:47:43,720 We just spend all this money that we got to under, but this guy's coming to us. 1272 01:47:44,500 --> 01:47:52,440 And so if we cut that days and we cut it down to three to five days, is that a problem? 1273 01:47:52,580 --> 01:47:53,640 Mr. Knows, is that acceptable? 1274 01:47:53,840 --> 01:47:53,920 No, sir. 1275 01:47:54,120 --> 01:47:54,600 That would be fine. 1276 01:47:54,800 --> 01:48:02,920 Do you feel like to threaten anyone in here that's official, is that out of line to you? 1277 01:48:03,160 --> 01:48:04,180 I think that would be fine. 1278 01:48:05,060 --> 01:48:09,180 You know, with all due respect, this is just, Laurie is going back and forth. 1279 01:48:09,280 --> 01:48:09,440 Okay. 1280 01:48:09,440 --> 01:48:11,940 We're going to have time to go back and forth, because we're going to have to go forward. 1281 01:48:12,420 --> 01:48:12,880 We need to move. 1282 01:48:13,220 --> 01:48:14,440 It helps when you speak English. 1283 01:48:15,900 --> 01:48:17,320 It helps when you'll speak English. 1284 01:48:19,140 --> 01:48:21,400 Mr. Chairman, may I make a motion please? 1285 01:48:21,680 --> 01:48:22,160 Yes, but- 1286 01:48:22,160 --> 01:48:25,320 Okay, well, I would like to move past, fail, or whatever. 1287 01:48:25,620 --> 01:48:25,740 Yes. 1288 01:48:25,900 --> 01:48:31,620 I would like to move that we approve the interlocal agreement and execution of the right-of-way 1289 01:48:31,620 --> 01:48:37,640 these conveying the ownership of Clifford Johnson Road to the city of Gretna and authorize 1290 01:48:37,640 --> 01:48:43,080 the chairman to sign Mr. Attorney, anything else? 1291 01:48:43,260 --> 01:48:44,000 I want to serve it. 1292 01:48:44,180 --> 01:48:44,800 What's the survey? 1293 01:48:45,020 --> 01:48:45,200 Right. 1294 01:48:45,360 --> 01:48:46,300 And we have a legal description. 1295 01:48:46,820 --> 01:48:47,800 And we have a legal description. 1296 01:48:48,500 --> 01:48:49,400 And that's my motion. 1297 01:48:49,640 --> 01:48:51,120 Without having to come back to the board. 1298 01:48:51,220 --> 01:48:52,880 We don't ever want to come back to the board. 1299 01:48:53,220 --> 01:48:53,460 All right. 1300 01:48:53,660 --> 01:48:54,560 I'll second that. 1301 01:48:55,040 --> 01:48:56,520 What is the time on that? 1302 01:48:57,360 --> 01:48:58,060 Here's the thing. 1303 01:48:58,660 --> 01:48:59,240 Let's go. 1304 01:48:59,240 --> 01:49:04,100 But he asked him for a time, but we can't give a time when you don't know when he's going to have the survey completed. 1305 01:49:04,880 --> 01:49:09,180 Again, I'm sorry, but this is so unnecessarily complicated. 1306 01:49:09,780 --> 01:49:14,700 When we all know that he's made it very clear, it's up to the survey when we get the survey. 1307 01:49:15,100 --> 01:49:17,820 If it comes tomorrow, it gets executed tomorrow. 1308 01:49:18,100 --> 01:49:20,400 If it takes 10 days, that's when you get it. 1309 01:49:20,660 --> 01:49:21,520 We don't have. 1310 01:49:22,160 --> 01:49:23,700 So we need to carry the motion. 1311 01:49:24,400 --> 01:49:26,280 As was stated, I'm second in that motion. 1312 01:49:26,800 --> 01:49:27,740 Thank you. 1313 01:49:28,800 --> 01:49:31,760 No, not at all, but I'm just ready to move. 1314 01:49:32,080 --> 01:49:32,560 Here we go. 1315 01:49:33,060 --> 01:49:40,360 So we got a motion in a second on the floor, and now we have discussion about commission. 1316 01:49:40,480 --> 01:49:46,800 Just quickly, what I'm going to request is, since we're not, we're stating we don't know the time. 1317 01:49:47,180 --> 01:49:50,960 What I'm going to request Mr. Attorney is, if we can have the commissioners, 1318 01:49:50,960 --> 01:49:59,920 If you can email the surveyor and if you can send us, you can see us on that email with them giving us a time frame. 1319 01:50:00,000 --> 01:50:29,980 I mean, when that legal description will be available, that's what I would like to have. Chair, if I could suggest it's probably better not to involve this survey on emails from the commissioners, but I think it's appropriate for the administrator of myself to convey back to you what they responded as to what the time I would be, if you're okay with that. I don't understand why I can't receive an email from this committee. 1320 01:50:29,980 --> 01:50:36,540 survey. So if you can, if you can, it means to come to you directly and you send me the email, 1321 01:50:36,740 --> 01:50:43,680 then that's fine. But I'd like to see it in writing. And Mr. Chairman, just, we have asked the 1322 01:50:43,680 --> 01:50:49,880 surveyer to drop jobs to complete this job because we gave him our word that this will be on the 1323 01:50:49,880 --> 01:50:58,920 agenda tonight. It is on the agenda before you as we stated. There has not been any complications 1324 01:50:58,920 --> 01:51:04,280 to right now, we will continue to move expeditiously and get this done. 1325 01:51:04,740 --> 01:51:10,960 If it's not done in two days, you will hear from me as to what it is the surveyer says. 1326 01:51:11,580 --> 01:51:13,280 We expect that it will be done. 1327 01:51:15,410 --> 01:51:15,610 Okay. 1328 01:51:16,130 --> 01:51:16,430 Thank you. 1329 01:51:16,430 --> 01:51:19,290 I'll wait for the email from the surveyer so we can go through it. 1330 01:51:19,550 --> 01:51:20,690 Thank you all very much. 1331 01:51:21,070 --> 01:51:21,530 I'll thank you. 1332 01:51:21,590 --> 01:51:22,150 Thank you. 1333 01:51:22,150 --> 01:51:22,270 No. 1334 01:51:23,230 --> 01:51:23,890 Do it. 1335 01:51:24,570 --> 01:51:25,030 Okay. 1336 01:51:25,530 --> 01:51:25,850 Okay. 1337 01:51:25,850 --> 01:51:26,410 We have a motion. 1338 01:51:26,570 --> 01:51:26,930 Second. 1339 01:51:28,090 --> 01:51:29,070 All the papers are. 1340 01:51:29,070 --> 01:51:31,130 I and one of polls. 1341 01:51:31,410 --> 01:51:32,950 All right, five will vote. 1342 01:51:33,130 --> 01:51:33,830 I'll write it. 1343 01:51:37,220 --> 01:51:37,520 Okay. 1344 01:51:38,100 --> 01:51:39,260 Oh, he said auction. 1345 01:51:39,640 --> 01:51:39,880 Okay. 1346 01:51:40,540 --> 01:51:41,040 All right. 1347 01:51:41,840 --> 01:51:42,460 All right. 1348 01:51:45,270 --> 01:51:45,410 Okay. 1349 01:51:45,570 --> 01:51:46,370 I'm lab and see. 1350 01:51:48,640 --> 01:51:49,140 Okay. 1351 01:51:50,420 --> 01:51:55,540 I'm lab and see the discussion of Adam of the investigation of the auction. 1352 01:51:56,180 --> 01:51:56,880 I'm going to give it to the image. 1353 01:51:57,500 --> 01:51:58,180 Mr. Kennedy. 1354 01:51:59,540 --> 01:52:01,080 I didn't realize you were the auction. 1355 01:52:01,900 --> 01:52:03,480 Or just in general. 1356 01:52:03,740 --> 01:52:04,100 In general. 1357 01:52:07,040 --> 01:52:09,700 I'm going to address the elephant in the room. 1358 01:52:10,340 --> 01:52:15,200 I think listening to the speakers, we have all heard that there's a lot of things that 1359 01:52:15,200 --> 01:52:17,340 are going on that people have concern about. 1360 01:52:17,880 --> 01:52:21,820 I can tell you on the campaign trail, it was something that I heard often. 1361 01:52:23,000 --> 01:52:28,580 And so I would like, because I know how difficult it is as being someone that was over internals, 1362 01:52:29,200 --> 01:52:30,820 being someone who's had to do them. 1363 01:52:30,820 --> 01:52:34,480 And when you're talking about people that are in charge, 1364 01:52:35,160 --> 01:52:39,720 those people that are in positions to have the authority to deal with the people doing the investigation, 1365 01:52:40,640 --> 01:52:50,000 I think we need to ask outside to look at this and determine if there is any illegal activity and what's going on. 1366 01:52:50,640 --> 01:52:57,920 And then it will answer the question, what are we doing? Are we transparent? And that's my thought. 1367 01:53:12,600 --> 01:53:24,320 I do think that we need to give opportunity for to find out what it is that the internal investigation is going to find out the findings. 1368 01:53:24,320 --> 01:53:29,600 We have to give opportunity for that process, and I do believe that after that process is done, 1369 01:53:30,180 --> 01:53:32,760 that the appropriate actions will be taken. 1370 01:53:33,260 --> 01:53:40,980 And based on what is found, if needed to go to another step by all means, I support going 1371 01:53:40,980 --> 01:53:45,460 to the next step, if it requires the next step. 1372 01:53:45,840 --> 01:53:50,140 But in the process that will be in, I almost feel like we're not given opportunity for those 1373 01:53:50,140 --> 01:53:58,200 those who are conditioned or those who are, who service or work in that department in an area to do their jobs or to do their diligence. 1374 01:53:58,840 --> 01:54:05,360 So I want to make sure that we are extending that opportunity, but hopefully that we will have some results sooner than later. 1375 01:54:05,840 --> 01:54:10,880 I was actually hoping that that part of the process could have been done before the meeting tonight. 1376 01:54:10,880 --> 01:54:26,620 And I guess that we're having that conversation that if I can ask HR, you know, to come to the mic, you know, asking them, asking them administrator for permission to just ask HR a question about the process. 1377 01:54:26,960 --> 01:54:38,000 And I will advise that we don't have a hole for a conversation about this because it can in return become a very detailed legal matter that we want to make sure that we're careful for how we trade. 1378 01:54:38,000 --> 01:54:42,720 But I just want, I just have a simple question from the HR director if allow. 1379 01:54:43,000 --> 01:54:43,440 Mr. Turner. 1380 01:54:44,180 --> 01:54:45,260 Good evening, Mr. Dixon. 1381 01:54:45,660 --> 01:54:56,280 Board and commissioners, one of the first things that I looked at was whether or not this investigation was exempt under Chapter 119 as being a public record and it is exempt. 1382 01:54:56,460 --> 01:54:59,940 So I just want to say that when you ask questions of the HR. 1383 01:55:00,340 --> 01:55:27,640 Person that you keep a more general, so it doesn't compromise the investigation. One thing that is clear in this investigation, I've been watching it is that you have documentation. And there are a lot of different types of investigations commissioner, you know, as a former prosecutor, I've been involved in them as general counsels involved with them. When you have documentation, the only question is whether you got all the documentation or not as opposed to as opposed to just statements from individuals. 1384 01:55:27,640 --> 01:55:48,500 So this is a transaction that involves documentation and I think that the HR person again without getting into much detail is involved in collecting all of the documents and the documents tell the stories and the documents either cooperate or don't cooperate the statements that are made but the documents don't change. 1385 01:55:49,020 --> 01:55:51,880 So the documents will be accurate about what actually happens. 1386 01:55:51,880 --> 01:56:07,680 And so to the extent that there are questions that are generated based on what the documents provide, I think it would be appropriate for some external review, but the documents are going to be the controlling review or what occurred in this and this matter, I think at this point. 1387 01:56:09,420 --> 01:56:11,120 Commissioner Green has answered the question. 1388 01:56:11,240 --> 01:56:14,440 No, I asked, well, that wasn't a question for him to answer for me. 1389 01:56:14,600 --> 01:56:19,300 I was asking for permission to ask my simple question to my HR director. 1390 01:56:19,460 --> 01:56:21,220 Sure, sure, all of the HR director. 1391 01:56:32,410 --> 01:56:33,570 All right, thank you. 1392 01:56:33,950 --> 01:56:34,870 How are you doing, Dr. Burrell? 1393 01:56:35,030 --> 01:56:35,530 How are you? 1394 01:56:35,750 --> 01:56:36,550 Good, simple question. 1395 01:56:36,790 --> 01:56:36,950 Sure. 1396 01:56:37,270 --> 01:56:43,870 And the simple question is, do you have a timeline on when your part of this investigation will be finished? 1397 01:56:43,870 --> 01:56:53,730 I'm hoping by the end of the week, but I know the timeline, but we're at the process that 1398 01:56:53,730 --> 01:57:03,830 we're ready for to do a final review of the, to analyze the documentation. 1399 01:57:04,930 --> 01:57:12,130 So definitely by, when people say the end of the week, I never or give a few days, I like 1400 01:57:12,130 --> 01:57:17,290 to give abstentions because as it's been stated, anything can transpire throughout this process. 1401 01:57:17,650 --> 01:57:20,450 So I want to make sure that we're being fair and let you're doing your job. 1402 01:57:20,530 --> 01:57:25,350 And I just wanted it to be known that you are working as hard as you can to be as accurate 1403 01:57:25,350 --> 01:57:27,470 as you can with the information that you're going to present. 1404 01:57:27,790 --> 01:57:30,430 So thank you for Mr. Administrative for allowing me to ask that question. 1405 01:57:30,610 --> 01:57:31,230 Thank you, Dr. Brown. 1406 01:57:31,290 --> 01:57:31,490 Yes. 1407 01:57:32,790 --> 01:57:33,110 Thank you. 1408 01:57:33,490 --> 01:57:34,450 Thank you. 1409 01:57:34,590 --> 01:57:35,450 Mrs. HR. 1410 01:57:36,470 --> 01:57:37,190 Commissioner Wolves. 1411 01:57:38,170 --> 01:57:43,610 So, as a former state attorney, do you think that these people that are getting interviewed 1412 01:57:44,350 --> 01:57:50,470 in a internal investigation, that there's the possibility that they can incriminate themselves 1413 01:57:50,470 --> 01:57:51,270 in their statements? 1414 01:57:52,550 --> 01:57:55,650 Do you think that or is this just a fact-finding? 1415 01:57:56,230 --> 01:57:57,590 Are they going to interview people? 1416 01:57:58,610 --> 01:58:01,050 Again, we're going to be very generic right now. 1417 01:58:01,350 --> 01:58:03,210 The answer is yes, they're going to interview people. 1418 01:58:03,210 --> 01:58:08,710 So the best example I can give you is how you would do an FBI background check. 1419 01:58:08,970 --> 01:58:14,570 You have questions that you're asking the visuals, and as you know, they may bring up other names. 1420 01:58:15,010 --> 01:58:17,770 And then that leads to additional interviews that will occur. 1421 01:58:21,180 --> 01:58:24,160 Commissioner Simpkins, thank you, Commissioner Wolves. 1422 01:58:25,840 --> 01:58:27,940 Thank you, Commissioner Hanson. 1423 01:58:27,940 --> 01:58:37,200 And I'm going to agree with Commissioner Wood and the reason why when this initially came 1424 01:58:37,200 --> 01:58:46,260 for in our previous meeting and then we kind of missed, nothing comes on the agenda. 1425 01:58:46,880 --> 01:58:52,620 Well, I guess I need to ask who approves the agenda, Mr. Administrator, before it comes 1426 01:58:52,620 --> 01:58:53,220 to us. 1427 01:58:54,240 --> 01:58:55,360 Approves the agenda. 1428 01:58:55,420 --> 01:58:55,540 Right. 1429 01:58:55,540 --> 01:58:58,240 Who reviews the agenda to see what's on the agenda? 1430 01:58:58,780 --> 01:59:02,400 Staff in the chair, I mean, usually it's a review the agenda. 1431 01:59:03,080 --> 01:59:06,300 Because that made it to the board, right? 1432 01:59:07,240 --> 01:59:17,200 So with that making it to the board, I do believe that there needs to be an external investigation. 1433 01:59:19,980 --> 01:59:22,620 Because this is something that the 1434 01:59:24,950 --> 01:59:27,890 administrator approves the agenda. 1435 01:59:27,890 --> 01:59:33,700 And because it made it to us, there was some awareness. 1436 01:59:34,440 --> 01:59:37,600 So I believe there needs to be an external. 1437 01:59:39,340 --> 01:59:44,020 And that puts, and what happens is, we can try to be, 1438 01:59:44,720 --> 01:59:49,200 we can, you know, say that everything is done and no one will be. 1439 01:59:49,640 --> 01:59:53,260 No one is job scared or no one. 1440 01:59:53,400 --> 01:59:55,140 You know, people will speak freely. 1441 01:59:56,040 --> 01:59:57,200 Let's be realistic. 1442 01:59:58,040 --> 01:59:59,980 and I think if we 1443 02:00:00,000 --> 02:00:31,240 We have it done externally. Then this is going to calm down some of the things, some of the concerns that the citizens have that I have. I believe an external investigation would do that. And that's what we need to, we need to move ourselves from this. 1444 02:00:33,360 --> 02:00:38,080 And even our employees from this, and it needs to be done externally. 1445 02:00:38,920 --> 02:00:39,480 Commissioner. 1446 02:00:39,780 --> 02:00:39,940 Thank you. 1447 02:00:40,520 --> 02:00:41,900 Oh, Dean, Commissioner Green. 1448 02:00:42,140 --> 02:00:42,560 And I apologize. 1449 02:00:43,040 --> 02:00:43,820 I mean, Commissioner Green. 1450 02:00:44,740 --> 02:00:45,300 Okay. 1451 02:00:46,320 --> 02:00:47,200 Thank you. 1452 02:00:47,780 --> 02:00:51,740 Ladies and gentlemen, this does not mean you can't do an external anyway. 1453 02:00:52,500 --> 02:00:58,020 If you don't agree with what the results, or even if you want one and you agree with the 1454 02:00:58,020 --> 02:01:01,300 results, you still can have an external investigation. 1455 02:01:01,300 --> 02:01:08,740 so that's not even the point. I think the point of this is to allow the people that need to do their job to do their job. 1456 02:01:10,160 --> 02:01:14,400 We can't say someone is guilty because I picked them out. 1457 02:01:15,100 --> 02:01:24,420 Okay. All we can do is look at evidence. Now once that's looked at and you do not agree, have extra investigation anyway. 1458 02:01:24,420 --> 02:01:33,300 is very simple to do that. My concern with this is to make sure that we do not stumble 1459 02:01:33,300 --> 02:01:38,860 when it comes to people's rights, when it comes to the rights of the citizens or a government. 1460 02:01:40,520 --> 02:01:46,900 If you are said to have done something, then we go through the process. I always tell the administrator, 1461 02:01:46,900 --> 02:01:50,060 And every administrator I've ever worked with since 02. 1462 02:01:50,960 --> 02:01:54,060 To please follow policy and procedure. 1463 02:01:54,980 --> 02:01:56,460 Do what we need to do. 1464 02:01:57,160 --> 02:01:59,300 The first thing I do is call attorneys. 1465 02:02:00,220 --> 02:02:03,440 And say the attorneys, this is what I want to know. 1466 02:02:03,840 --> 02:02:04,800 What's going on? 1467 02:02:05,120 --> 02:02:06,680 Tell me exactly what's happening. 1468 02:02:07,940 --> 02:02:12,620 Do not, and I always tell them this, when you tell me something, you tell all the other commissioners. 1469 02:02:12,620 --> 02:02:18,400 Mr. Decident tell you that when I say tell me what you tell me tell everyone else the same thing 1470 02:02:19,060 --> 02:02:20,760 Make sure that they're aware 1471 02:02:21,460 --> 02:02:27,500 And so what we're doing is we are becoming all of us are becoming prosecutors and 1472 02:02:28,600 --> 02:02:30,060 We're prosecuting people 1473 02:02:30,060 --> 02:02:37,660 Give them the policy and procedure. Do your investigation turn around if you want an external investigation do that, too 1474 02:02:38,380 --> 02:02:41,640 Because that's what that's what you want and that's that's your right 1475 02:02:42,620 --> 02:02:46,020 But I don't think that we should jump to any conclusions. 1476 02:02:46,660 --> 02:02:49,580 I didn't like some things, and I won't tell you I did. 1477 02:02:50,420 --> 02:02:54,200 But I do say let the process work itself out. 1478 02:02:54,980 --> 02:02:56,820 And then ask for whatever you want. 1479 02:03:00,630 --> 02:03:01,570 You finished the commission? 1480 02:03:01,690 --> 02:03:01,990 Yes, sir. 1481 02:03:02,810 --> 02:03:05,970 Uh, HR, I got a question for you again. 1482 02:03:06,430 --> 02:03:08,170 Do you realize you're acknowledging me after her too? 1483 02:03:08,190 --> 02:03:08,790 I don't have a nose. 1484 02:03:09,270 --> 02:03:09,950 You already did. 1485 02:03:10,130 --> 02:03:11,390 No, by law, I don't want to do that. 1486 02:03:11,770 --> 02:03:12,470 She's a staff. 1487 02:03:12,850 --> 02:03:13,530 I can talk to her. 1488 02:03:13,570 --> 02:03:14,610 I'm just saying by law, now. 1489 02:03:14,610 --> 02:03:16,030 First of all, that's not what I said. 1490 02:03:16,250 --> 02:03:17,970 Oh, I think trying to acknowledge the kind of ministry, 1491 02:03:18,090 --> 02:03:19,830 I'm just saying in general, I just want to acknowledge her, 1492 02:03:20,010 --> 02:03:21,330 real quick, just a quick question. 1493 02:03:21,730 --> 02:03:22,970 Dan, we go back to commissioning green. 1494 02:03:22,970 --> 02:03:23,390 I apologize. 1495 02:03:24,130 --> 02:03:24,450 That's right. 1496 02:03:24,890 --> 02:03:27,410 Because I know this is, I just want to make sure 1497 02:03:27,410 --> 02:03:28,330 we do everything right away. 1498 02:03:28,750 --> 02:03:30,750 Because this may help your question out a little bit. 1499 02:03:31,270 --> 02:03:35,450 Do we have a policy on, on donor investigation as well? 1500 02:03:35,690 --> 02:03:36,590 Do we have a policy for that? 1501 02:03:36,810 --> 02:03:39,050 We've created some procedures. 1502 02:03:39,310 --> 02:03:40,610 So y'all creating a policy now? 1503 02:03:40,790 --> 02:03:43,770 No, it's, it, it exists now. 1504 02:03:43,770 --> 02:03:47,930 So we've got the policy now, okay, great, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. 1505 02:03:47,930 --> 02:03:49,010 Pandor to proceed now. 1506 02:03:49,370 --> 02:03:51,710 What, comments agreed, did, did, did, did, commissioner, oh. 1507 02:03:51,930 --> 02:03:54,770 Well, it cannot, it's, it's a little, okay. 1508 02:03:54,830 --> 02:04:00,330 You said you're creating it, or you've created it since this has since you've been in this investigation. 1509 02:04:01,310 --> 02:04:07,090 Or was this a policy that was already in place prior to prior to the investigation? 1510 02:04:07,090 --> 02:04:13,690 I created standards of procedures in terms of how we would go forward with the investigation 1511 02:04:13,690 --> 02:04:18,850 so that it would be transparent in terms of what to be expected. 1512 02:04:20,820 --> 02:04:26,790 So this is something that was already a part of the county policy, or once this came 1513 02:04:26,790 --> 02:04:31,410 about then before you went into the investigation, you created the policy. 1514 02:04:31,410 --> 02:04:39,030 I wouldn't consider it as a policy per se, standards of procedures, meaning in terms 1515 02:04:39,030 --> 02:04:44,230 of how, like, departmental procedures for investigations. 1516 02:04:45,270 --> 02:04:49,610 Okay, so that was created, and I'm just trying to understand, so that was created. 1517 02:04:51,950 --> 02:04:56,010 Once you knew that you were going to have to do an investigation and then you created 1518 02:04:56,010 --> 02:04:59,970 that those standards are you're saying that, that was... 1519 02:05:04,020 --> 02:05:15,920 No, it wasn't months, but I realized that there were no standards of procedures in place, so I created those. 1520 02:05:16,460 --> 02:05:23,420 Okay. Thank you. Thank you very much. Now, Commissioner Greenfers, didn't Commissioner Woods or how you would like to? 1521 02:05:23,420 --> 02:05:31,420 No, I just wanted to be clear that I am too in favor of an external investigation when it gets to that point. 1522 02:05:31,940 --> 02:05:42,980 Only thing that I'm saying is allow HR to do their due diligence and present us whatever it is that they have and we can go to the next step. 1523 02:05:43,820 --> 02:05:46,920 There's going to be several steps to this. I'm very sure. 1524 02:05:47,860 --> 02:05:51,340 We have to allow the process to initiate. 1525 02:05:51,340 --> 02:05:59,380 But what what gives me heartburn and I like you said speak with elephant room the last guy did that he got fire on spot 1526 02:06:00,800 --> 02:06:04,300 It's be realistic and I'm looking right at him right now. I ain't calling my name 1527 02:06:04,300 --> 02:06:08,100 But last guy did that he gave us some information 1528 02:06:09,160 --> 02:06:13,580 Turn it say do not never fight about it. What up? What up? What up? All right? Don't really get it comes to the board 1529 02:06:14,280 --> 02:06:17,620 Soon left the meeting that guy got fired the same day 1530 02:06:18,100 --> 02:06:23,000 So who will be a fool to, I mean, go out and mention in, because I don't want to do that because 1531 02:06:23,000 --> 02:06:28,060 I'm a one, you put the people at risk of losing the job, I'm all friends, people don't 1532 02:06:28,060 --> 02:06:28,940 need to lose the job in the house. 1533 02:06:29,720 --> 02:06:35,680 So I prefer to do an extraordinary investigation so people will not know who is, who is working 1534 02:06:35,680 --> 02:06:41,380 to trust and come within, because now they put in people jobs at risk, not children, I'm 1535 02:06:41,380 --> 02:06:44,560 just saying in general, I don't want to put you at risk, I don't want to put no one at 1536 02:06:44,560 --> 02:06:44,840 risk. 1537 02:06:44,840 --> 02:06:46,420 because people don't want to lose a job on the house, 1538 02:06:46,900 --> 02:06:48,400 just because somebody can get rid of them, 1539 02:06:48,480 --> 02:06:49,080 all fairness. 1540 02:06:49,940 --> 02:06:52,680 So, we did that less than a few months ago. 1541 02:06:53,880 --> 02:06:55,200 Probably the beginning is, I'm not sure. 1542 02:06:55,940 --> 02:06:57,960 The guy said this, he got fired. 1543 02:06:59,400 --> 02:07:01,220 Cause he decided to talk in speed. 1544 02:07:02,060 --> 02:07:03,180 And so he got fired like that. 1545 02:07:03,280 --> 02:07:04,180 So, I don't want to put people, 1546 02:07:04,640 --> 02:07:07,000 life is too beautiful to begin fired on the house. 1547 02:07:07,300 --> 02:07:09,340 So, I don't think the boys should have no inter investigation. 1548 02:07:09,980 --> 02:07:11,620 I think they can do their own thing, 1549 02:07:11,880 --> 02:07:13,360 they can have the inter investigation they want to. 1550 02:07:13,760 --> 02:07:17,900 But I think that we should have an external investigation deal. 1551 02:07:17,980 --> 02:07:24,400 I personally trust them that it will not be, at least they can have some legal 1552 02:07:25,080 --> 02:07:27,100 ramifications because we put them in that position. 1553 02:07:27,640 --> 02:07:29,160 That's just my home of opinion. 1554 02:07:29,760 --> 02:07:30,840 I don't want to put them out like that. 1555 02:07:31,280 --> 02:07:32,620 Do we have a motion on the floor real quick? 1556 02:07:33,140 --> 02:07:33,660 Motion for one. 1557 02:07:33,660 --> 02:07:34,540 I have another comment. 1558 02:07:34,960 --> 02:07:37,660 Okay, another comment you can move forward from that point. 1559 02:07:38,020 --> 02:07:39,000 Yeah, no, ma'am. 1560 02:07:39,280 --> 02:07:42,660 I've had to stand there a lot of times and that's a very difficult place to be. 1561 02:07:42,660 --> 02:07:48,280 Actually, what I'm trying to say, it protects the employee. 1562 02:07:48,440 --> 02:07:51,940 That's what we're talking about because an employee may want to invoke their rights. 1563 02:07:52,700 --> 02:07:58,500 If an employee is in an internal, and that internal could lead them into criminal prosecution, 1564 02:07:59,300 --> 02:08:01,340 you're not being fair to the employee. 1565 02:08:01,940 --> 02:08:09,620 And I say that as upset as I am about the allegations, that employee still deserves the right to have 1566 02:08:09,620 --> 02:08:13,560 of those rights and vote if it's a criminal charge. 1567 02:08:14,300 --> 02:08:21,540 So I just want it to be clear that as a board to the public that we do not have a problem 1568 02:08:21,540 --> 02:08:25,340 that an outside law enforcement agency would look at this. 1569 02:08:25,720 --> 02:08:34,120 They may come back and say, hey, yeah, it might just be politics, or they may come back and 1570 02:08:34,120 --> 02:08:40,580 say no, this employee has committed a crime, and then they should move forward. 1571 02:08:41,740 --> 02:08:47,640 That's my take, and that would be my motion when people have stopped discussing it. 1572 02:08:47,960 --> 02:08:51,440 I mean, Major, I want to do that, I mean, echo something here real quick. 1573 02:08:52,640 --> 02:08:59,260 The question here to me, the question is, in order for them to adopt policy that affect the board, 1574 02:08:59,260 --> 02:09:04,020 Or doesn't the board got to approve that first, approve that policy before we come into law? 1575 02:09:04,940 --> 02:09:09,120 No, you can ask them out from the attorney perspective. 1576 02:09:09,620 --> 02:09:19,940 On time before they make this, because when you change policies, if I thought the board got to approve those policies when you change it. 1577 02:09:20,120 --> 02:09:21,880 So I'll just curious about that. 1578 02:09:22,160 --> 02:09:27,700 So if we did have a policy, did the board approve that policy and when did we approve it? 1579 02:09:27,700 --> 02:09:33,760 That's what I'm not saying in general, I'm from a commissional standpoint, Ms. Kennedy, turning it. 1580 02:09:36,600 --> 02:09:41,180 If I understand your question, your question is, is there a policy as related to the investigation? 1581 02:09:41,620 --> 02:09:41,920 Yes, sir. 1582 02:09:42,760 --> 02:09:44,700 I'd have to defer to Ms. Burrows on that. 1583 02:09:45,080 --> 02:09:49,320 Okay, then does the board get to prove that policy before that happens? 1584 02:09:49,900 --> 02:09:50,340 I'll just curious. 1585 02:09:50,620 --> 02:09:56,260 If we're going to make modifications with certain things, do we have to prove that policy before it coming to effect? 1586 02:09:56,480 --> 02:09:56,960 I'll just curious. 1587 02:09:56,960 --> 02:09:59,960 If it's a policy, you would have to approve it if she had... 1588 02:10:00,000 --> 02:10:29,980 As internal operating procedures, by which he conducts visits or investigations, I don't believe that would have to come before the board. So it's a question of which one it is. I would not. I want to talk Ms. Burrows on an idea. I want to be respectful on that situation. All fairness to you. Mr. Miss County Administrator, do we have a policy in place? If we do have a policy, the board approved that policy. But they said we have one. Everything else that we did the board approved that policy. I just curious about that. 1589 02:10:30,960 --> 02:10:39,940 Mr. Chairman, the HR director and the attorney got together and agreed on how to approach the investigation. 1590 02:10:40,680 --> 02:10:42,700 I think that is what she is talking about. 1591 02:10:43,700 --> 02:10:46,140 Yes, how to approach the investigation. 1592 02:10:47,160 --> 02:10:47,680 And may I? 1593 02:10:48,080 --> 02:10:48,380 Yes, sir. 1594 02:10:48,600 --> 02:10:58,470 Mr. Chairman, I've contacted local law enforcement and said we will come to you with a set of facts 1595 02:10:58,470 --> 02:11:07,530 When this investigation is over, once we finish, we need for you to prove if there is or is not. 1596 02:11:08,530 --> 02:11:16,370 What we hear in the streets and what the documentation may show could be something, could be nothing. 1597 02:11:16,790 --> 02:11:19,270 That's for the fight finding to happen. 1598 02:11:19,270 --> 02:11:31,270 We still need to gather those documents and present them, the attorney and HR writing will write the response, the final response. 1599 02:11:31,910 --> 02:11:47,010 And that information will be presented to whatever agencies, we've looked at doing our own audits as well because it is internal policy that we need to fix. 1600 02:11:47,010 --> 02:11:49,550 If there's something wrong, we know there's something wrong. 1601 02:11:50,230 --> 02:11:51,390 How do we fix it? 1602 02:11:51,430 --> 02:11:52,630 How do we go about it? 1603 02:11:53,270 --> 02:11:59,190 The question is, how does this situation relate and how do we deal with it? 1604 02:12:01,660 --> 02:12:05,620 Thank you, Mr. County Ministry of Commissioner Simpkins. 1605 02:12:07,180 --> 02:12:11,040 And I hope I'm not, Mr. Turner, you can tell me if I am. 1606 02:12:11,040 --> 02:12:22,240 My problem is there was board a policy was not followed as it relates to us, right? 1607 02:12:22,980 --> 02:12:28,720 The county administrator is doing his investigation for his employee, right? 1608 02:12:29,440 --> 02:12:38,580 There was a policy that was not followed as it relates to the board of county commissioners. 1609 02:12:39,480 --> 02:12:43,180 There's no investigation that needs to be held as it relates to that. 1610 02:12:43,520 --> 02:12:45,360 We already know the answer to that. 1611 02:12:46,280 --> 02:12:53,440 So we need to determine what we're going to do as it relates to that, like Mr. Administrator 1612 02:12:53,440 --> 02:12:55,220 and deal with his employees. 1613 02:12:57,100 --> 02:13:05,900 But then we need to deal because something came to this agenda, something took place and 1614 02:13:05,900 --> 02:13:07,380 And we did not approve it. 1615 02:13:07,520 --> 02:13:10,040 And we know that we did not approve it. 1616 02:13:11,650 --> 02:13:13,510 Chair, this is kind of interesting. 1617 02:13:13,910 --> 02:13:14,650 I'll turn it on. 1618 02:13:14,930 --> 02:13:18,730 Without getting into a lot of detail about what the investigation involves, 1619 02:13:19,330 --> 02:13:21,410 that question is a legitimate question. 1620 02:13:22,270 --> 02:13:24,690 The account administrator has recused himself. 1621 02:13:24,850 --> 02:13:31,510 He's not involved in a day-to-day review of any matters that are involved here under my advice to him. 1622 02:13:31,510 --> 02:13:37,010 So, Dr. Burles is not providing him any information about what has occurred. 1623 02:13:38,170 --> 02:13:41,610 I think I can disclose this without any compromising. 1624 02:13:41,770 --> 02:13:44,270 He's actually been interviewed about the process. 1625 02:13:44,950 --> 02:13:49,490 So, I would tell you that in my opinion, the investigation has been thorough. 1626 02:13:50,930 --> 02:13:57,510 And again, we're, so whether you stay internal or go external or not, he is not involved 1627 02:13:57,510 --> 02:14:06,830 in the direction of the investigation, so whatever the outcome is, it's not going to be based on the input on the county administrator. 1628 02:14:07,270 --> 02:14:07,750 Just so everybody. 1629 02:14:07,890 --> 02:14:09,010 Hello, Mr. Commissioner. 1630 02:14:09,390 --> 02:14:10,270 One second, one second, one second. 1631 02:14:12,850 --> 02:14:17,730 When does the county attorney represent the county administrator? 1632 02:14:20,910 --> 02:14:28,570 How can you tell himself that without the board making that decision to relate that to him? 1633 02:14:29,450 --> 02:14:30,610 I'm just trying to figure that out. 1634 02:14:30,710 --> 02:14:37,730 It's getting me to have the desk listen to that comment, because I never heard, because 1635 02:14:37,730 --> 02:14:38,610 you represent us. 1636 02:14:39,310 --> 02:14:40,410 You don't represent him. 1637 02:14:41,070 --> 02:14:46,410 You can't say that he is the one who got to be away from this thing, it's offensive to 1638 02:14:46,410 --> 02:14:53,850 me as a board member, to hear you say that Mr. County turning, when you can tell him when 1639 02:14:53,850 --> 02:14:56,730 something going on that the board can be complicit, right, 1640 02:14:58,870 --> 02:14:59,790 it's nervous. 1641 02:15:30,000 --> 02:15:59,800 Should the board say this is my recommendations to do this. Then the board can instruct you to do that to give him advice. You don't, I've been on several boards, like I said. This is the first time in America. The first time I've heard that you give him recommendations, and you work for us, and he work for us. You put the representative board, because if staff come together and sue the board, based on you getting recommendations and cover him, now we get a major 1642 02:15:59,800 --> 02:16:07,580 the mayor lawsuit with the county, because now you put the staff at risk, but you're trying to take the county administrator. 1643 02:16:07,900 --> 02:16:12,500 Based on, that's just perception, I see it's true, that just perception of what you just said just then. 1644 02:16:13,040 --> 02:16:14,740 So, can you tell me this is in this county? 1645 02:16:14,900 --> 02:16:15,420 I have a question. 1646 02:16:15,840 --> 02:16:17,260 No, I'm the chairman. 1647 02:16:17,480 --> 02:16:19,420 I know, no, no, no, 1648 02:16:21,980 --> 02:16:21,980 no, 1649 02:16:24,780 --> 02:16:28,640 no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, reason why I'm saying this, man, because people can lose jobs behind this. 1650 02:16:28,640 --> 02:16:33,200 I'm caring about the guy who finally got a job, worked for three years. 1651 02:16:33,940 --> 02:16:39,020 You know, he's making $15 an hour, he's trying to do his right, and he may have a question 1652 02:16:39,020 --> 02:16:39,340 whatever. 1653 02:16:39,860 --> 02:16:41,180 But he's not being protected. 1654 02:16:41,880 --> 02:16:49,400 But yet you tell him the kind of administrator without board approval to silence himself. 1655 02:16:50,540 --> 02:16:55,800 To me that's, I'm trying to be as fair with it, but it's kind of throwing me off the 1656 02:16:55,800 --> 02:16:56,720 wrong weight with that deal. 1657 02:16:58,180 --> 02:17:26,400 Can you explain how can you have the authority to maybe do to bypass the board and talk to him without board knowing anything about this is my first time but all fairness public disclosure is my first time in this conversation so can you can you please address that concern and I apologize being so emotion that's who I was a former head football coach so I'm not getting emotions I apologize for that so chair marriage fine. Yes sir. 1658 02:17:27,620 --> 02:17:32,340 First of all, there was never any intention to circumvent the board. 1659 02:17:33,860 --> 02:17:41,220 And there's not been any actions on my part that I consider to be protecting the county administrator. 1660 02:17:41,960 --> 02:17:43,540 Everything has been to the commentary. 1661 02:17:44,080 --> 02:17:49,060 What we've been involved in is trying to make sure the investigation wasn't compromised. 1662 02:17:49,060 --> 02:18:06,900 And so I have provided advice to miss barrels about what I thought would compromise the investigation, and since there was no clear understanding as to what the investigation would result in, I actually provided that advice today. 1663 02:18:07,700 --> 02:18:14,080 So there has been no attempt to circumvent the board, but this was a recent development that just occurred today. 1664 02:18:14,080 --> 02:18:16,240 But what my thinking is turning. 1665 02:18:18,720 --> 02:18:25,380 Why give, why, just, again, I don't have, I'm trying to figure this out. 1666 02:18:25,600 --> 02:18:33,220 Why give it to, why tell the kind of administrator, hey, we don't want you to see anything, but yeah, you go to the human resource director. 1667 02:18:34,240 --> 02:18:42,040 And, and, and, or human resource person go to the director, someone else, why you put the med risk, but you tell him the kind of administrator, he can't say nothing. 1668 02:18:42,040 --> 02:18:46,560 Why is that the case, I never heard, I'm just, that's not what happened, sir. 1669 02:18:46,940 --> 02:18:52,620 Well, you just said, just saying that you told him, he's, is now is under the, the direction 1670 02:18:52,620 --> 02:18:58,420 of, of the human resource, because you gave him, you told him that he can, again, I think 1671 02:18:58,420 --> 02:19:02,700 when you see the report, whether you go external or stay internal, it'll be clear. 1672 02:19:02,800 --> 02:19:05,880 These questions are actually being addressed in the action, the investigation itself. 1673 02:19:06,680 --> 02:19:11,480 And so every question that's been raised here is a part of what the investigation involves. 1674 02:19:11,480 --> 02:19:16,720 Well, that's great, I just had to ask that question. 1675 02:19:16,960 --> 02:19:23,880 I have a feeling what I want to need to have, but who's next, Mr. Dixon? 1676 02:19:26,460 --> 02:19:39,090 Let me make it very clear that the questions that were before the board were, was 1677 02:19:42,130 --> 02:19:46,290 their 1678 02:19:46,290 --> 02:19:51,630 We are initially, that they are initially looking at, county policy. 1679 02:19:52,110 --> 02:19:59,830 If county policy is leading to a violation of criminal law, then investigate. 1680 02:20:00,000 --> 02:20:24,080 Opposition will go that way. I have presented myself and said I'm available. I heard the words coming from and the insinuations. I'm smart enough to know, hey, put yourself out there. I'm out there. I was called for investigation for interview. I went and did my interview. The attorney did not direct me to quiet down a hush. That's not true. Appreciate that. 1681 02:20:25,900 --> 02:20:27,920 Commissioner Ho, sorry, Mr. Dick, you finished? 1682 02:20:28,200 --> 02:20:28,480 Yes, sir. 1683 02:20:28,700 --> 02:20:29,060 Thank you. 1684 02:20:29,540 --> 02:20:30,200 Yes, Commissioner. 1685 02:20:30,400 --> 02:20:30,800 Thank you. 1686 02:20:30,900 --> 02:20:34,620 I'm so happy that you recognized me and you are the chairman because we didn't have 1687 02:20:34,620 --> 02:20:35,360 anybody left. 1688 02:20:36,120 --> 02:20:36,420 Okay. 1689 02:20:36,600 --> 02:20:37,760 Now, let me say this. 1690 02:20:38,260 --> 02:20:38,660 Whoa. 1691 02:20:39,060 --> 02:20:39,460 Yeah. 1692 02:20:39,620 --> 02:20:40,640 And I mean just what I say. 1693 02:20:41,000 --> 02:20:41,120 Whoa. 1694 02:20:41,300 --> 02:20:41,700 Okay. 1695 02:20:41,780 --> 02:20:47,240 But now what I want to say is this, I agree with you doing an external audit if you, if that's 1696 02:20:47,240 --> 02:20:47,900 what you want to do. 1697 02:20:48,320 --> 02:20:49,660 I don't have any problem. 1698 02:20:53,260 --> 02:20:54,060 Excuse me. 1699 02:20:54,060 --> 02:20:55,840 We want to be listed to our commission hold speak. 1700 02:20:56,400 --> 02:20:56,880 Thank you very much. 1701 02:20:57,020 --> 02:20:57,880 Yes, I don't have any. 1702 02:20:57,940 --> 02:20:59,460 If you want to go ahead and make the motion, 1703 02:20:59,560 --> 02:21:01,060 like I said, I don't have any problem with it. 1704 02:21:01,360 --> 02:21:04,360 I'll talk to him to him, okay? 1705 02:21:05,040 --> 02:21:05,940 To the commissioner. 1706 02:21:06,280 --> 02:21:06,420 Yeah. 1707 02:21:06,880 --> 02:21:10,020 The reason I'm saying that is because he's the one that brought it up. 1708 02:21:10,360 --> 02:21:14,200 I do not have a problem with doing that, as I said before. 1709 02:21:14,620 --> 02:21:17,140 I just said, allow them to do their job. 1710 02:21:17,140 --> 02:21:20,300 But if you want to do that, then that's just a matter of a vote. 1711 02:21:20,300 --> 02:21:49,080 But what I wanted to say is this, I'm hoping that we continue to work together, and I would like for the person that hired any of those people not to be a part of the investigation, because if they're a part of the investigation, as Ms. Commissioner Woods knows, the person that may be involved in any kind of way, even if you just hired that person, you would like for them to step back so that way you can do the investigation, so that's not a problem. 1712 02:21:49,080 --> 02:21:56,480 What I really want to do is to say this, if we have had investigations before, so we 1713 02:21:56,480 --> 02:22:02,080 have plenty of policies in place, we've had everything from gas missing, and people 1714 02:22:02,080 --> 02:22:06,020 were getting gas, with other people's cards, we've had all that, we've had a couple of vehicles 1715 02:22:06,020 --> 02:22:06,480 missing. 1716 02:22:07,640 --> 02:22:10,540 You know, it's all kind of things have been going on over the years. 1717 02:22:11,820 --> 02:22:17,340 So now it's a thing of something that you need to fix, just like we have to fix those 1718 02:22:17,340 --> 02:22:18,180 things back then. 1719 02:22:18,800 --> 02:22:24,040 We had to fix them, put a computer on the gas pumps down there to keep people from getting 1720 02:22:24,040 --> 02:22:25,300 gas and they were supposed to get. 1721 02:22:26,020 --> 02:22:29,760 So there were several things that we did and you continuously do that, just like you 1722 02:22:29,760 --> 02:22:34,180 continuously clean your house because sooner or later something is going to happen. 1723 02:22:34,320 --> 02:22:34,960 So that's what you do. 1724 02:22:35,480 --> 02:22:37,500 As I said, I don't have a problem with doing it. 1725 02:22:38,040 --> 02:22:39,780 I just want to do a lot of them to do their job. 1726 02:22:39,920 --> 02:22:44,140 Mr. Larson used to do and look into situations with the county all the time when he was at 1727 02:22:44,140 --> 02:22:44,980 the office of Larson. 1728 02:22:45,520 --> 02:22:46,260 And that's what he did. 1729 02:22:47,040 --> 02:22:48,180 We have a problem with that. 1730 02:22:49,120 --> 02:22:52,100 So if whatever your motion is going to be, let's do it and keep moving. 1731 02:22:52,300 --> 02:22:53,200 Yes, and we will do that. 1732 02:22:53,340 --> 02:22:55,100 I'm talking to Mr. Woods. 1733 02:22:55,620 --> 02:22:56,440 I can't wait. 1734 02:22:56,920 --> 02:23:04,600 Mr. but thank you for your kind words, commissioner, commissioner of, commissioner of, commissioner of, commissioner of Woods, you have enough time. 1735 02:23:06,440 --> 02:23:11,060 So what I'm trying to say is, is I'm not talking policy. 1736 02:23:11,480 --> 02:23:12,980 Yes, I'm talking statutory. 1737 02:23:13,400 --> 02:23:14,100 Okay, my bad. 1738 02:23:14,100 --> 02:23:16,140 Okay, so I'm talking about criminal. 1739 02:23:16,360 --> 02:23:18,500 Some of these guys could face a criminal charge. 1740 02:23:19,320 --> 02:23:24,140 And even though our employee and we're upset with them, we still need to protect them. 1741 02:23:24,760 --> 02:23:26,040 That's my whole point. 1742 02:23:26,500 --> 02:23:31,020 And Mr. Administrator, which local law enforcement have you discussed this with? 1743 02:23:31,540 --> 02:23:32,060 Chair for the department. 1744 02:23:32,740 --> 02:23:33,500 The chair from self? 1745 02:23:34,000 --> 02:23:35,200 The Corporate. 1746 02:23:35,960 --> 02:23:36,320 The Colonel. 1747 02:23:37,320 --> 02:23:38,220 Okay, great. 1748 02:23:38,460 --> 02:23:38,800 Thank you. 1749 02:23:38,800 --> 02:23:53,940 But that is, my motion is, is that we would, as a board, ask the law enforcement authorities to come in and look at the situations that we have, are they illegal? 1750 02:23:55,480 --> 02:24:07,260 I think you should do that before you do the internal, because that guy, Mr. Attorney, who's answering to an internal, could in say something that would incriminate him. 1751 02:24:07,820 --> 02:24:24,280 That's truly not fair to the employee, and I know it takes longer, but in the end you have to take the manager out because he's the one that's going to make the, no, because it's the judge in the jury, he can't do the investigation and be the judge. 1752 02:24:25,260 --> 02:24:38,540 So, that is correct, but that is my motion that we ask for external law enforcement to see if there's been any Florida statues violated by county employees. 1753 02:24:41,180 --> 02:24:42,400 Mr. Chairman. 1754 02:24:42,480 --> 02:24:43,480 It's a motion, I'll second. 1755 02:24:45,040 --> 02:24:46,760 You know, extra investigation, right? 1756 02:24:47,140 --> 02:24:48,980 Law enforcement, not on policy. 1757 02:24:49,320 --> 02:24:51,340 I think Ms. Burles is on top of the policy. 1758 02:24:51,660 --> 02:24:54,760 We just need to have someone to see if we violated 1759 02:24:54,760 --> 02:24:55,460 Florida's statute. 1760 02:24:55,980 --> 02:24:58,780 I think that we're going to do that. 1761 02:24:59,080 --> 02:24:59,980 We don't need to do a little. 1762 02:25:00,000 --> 02:25:29,080 Local, the local officers and guests in Canada, we've got to go to higher than that. If, if, if, if you want to be up, because right now you want these everybody in there, you know, we want to make sure they have a non-bice thing. If we're going to do a list, do it the right way, don't, don't put the sheriff and his people in that, I think we need to go a little higher. He may opt out because of our relationship, but it would not be, it would not be the first time that we have investigated the county. 1763 02:25:29,940 --> 02:25:30,920 It wouldn't be the first. 1764 02:25:31,720 --> 02:25:37,780 Now he may in turn ask that it be F-D-L-E, F-B-I, or whomever. 1765 02:25:37,960 --> 02:25:38,140 Okay. 1766 02:25:38,620 --> 02:25:39,580 Because I want to put... 1767 02:25:39,580 --> 02:25:41,100 You know, we got relationships there. 1768 02:25:41,200 --> 02:25:41,900 So I didn't want to put people... 1769 02:25:41,900 --> 02:25:42,020 Sure. 1770 02:25:42,520 --> 02:25:44,760 People of relationships don't want that. 1771 02:25:47,200 --> 02:25:48,780 But again, let me say something else too. 1772 02:25:49,500 --> 02:25:51,220 When you're wrong, you're wrong, you're right, you're right, right? 1773 02:25:51,900 --> 02:25:54,940 I must say, I was high and disturbed. 1774 02:25:55,160 --> 02:25:56,580 Because we know we got kids looking to us. 1775 02:25:56,580 --> 02:26:01,900 but we as grown as we do something wrong, you got to go out and correct that. 1776 02:26:02,320 --> 02:26:03,880 Let me correct some of the attorneys just in. 1777 02:26:04,620 --> 02:26:06,740 What Major Wood just said just in, he makes sense. 1778 02:26:07,000 --> 02:26:10,100 He answered my question when I was asking. 1779 02:26:10,580 --> 02:26:14,840 I've never seen it before, the first time being a party situation. 1780 02:26:15,460 --> 02:26:19,460 And what Major Wood said, we got to take the county administrator out of the equation, right? 1781 02:26:20,160 --> 02:26:25,780 In order for him to be non-vice with the thing, so I want to put it out there so 1782 02:26:25,780 --> 02:26:28,320 So we can be up front, because they ain't trying to go out to anybody. 1783 02:26:28,740 --> 02:26:32,100 I just want to make sure I get the right information, because we got kids looking at things. 1784 02:26:32,240 --> 02:26:33,720 We want to make sure we do things the right way. 1785 02:26:34,320 --> 02:26:36,980 Major, that's all, you finished answering your question. 1786 02:26:36,980 --> 02:26:41,840 I made a motion, and I made a second, and a second, right? 1787 02:26:42,300 --> 02:26:47,460 Before we said it, we have a citizen audience we like to speak, Mr. Derrick, a lot. 1788 02:26:55,470 --> 02:26:58,590 I think Barclay is like this. 1789 02:26:59,050 --> 02:27:00,450 I just want to clarify something. 1790 02:27:01,110 --> 02:27:08,030 When Mr. Dickson called me and I gave him clear direction, I said, sound like you have some criminal overtures here. 1791 02:27:08,690 --> 02:27:14,470 It's like we were handled and employee at Sheriff's Office who is involved in a criminal investigation. 1792 02:27:15,150 --> 02:27:16,150 It's real simple. 1793 02:27:16,450 --> 02:27:17,170 You do two things. 1794 02:27:17,170 --> 02:27:19,090 You have two separate investigations. 1795 02:27:19,630 --> 02:27:27,230 You do an internal, you address policy violations, general order violations, and you do a criminal investigation. 1796 02:27:27,730 --> 02:27:42,570 Now, my recommendation was you can type FDLE, you separate them and you don't turn over anything from that administrative to that criminal because if you compel employees to give a statement, those statements are protected on the guarantee. 1797 02:27:42,570 --> 02:27:47,330 So, you can't use them in any criminal proceedings after that. 1798 02:27:47,550 --> 02:27:52,330 So, it's simple, it's a simple process with something like this when you have criminal 1799 02:27:52,330 --> 02:27:52,850 overtures. 1800 02:27:53,350 --> 02:27:58,170 You split it, you run your internal investigation, you run a criminal investigation. 1801 02:27:58,910 --> 02:28:02,470 Now, who you choose to do that criminal, that's up to this diocese here. 1802 02:28:03,290 --> 02:28:09,970 But my recommendation was contact FDLE to take the sheriff's office out of it because you 1803 02:28:09,970 --> 02:28:17,610 You are responsible for our budget, smart, and you haven't been good to us, so. 1804 02:28:17,650 --> 02:28:18,710 Yes, ma'am. 1805 02:28:18,850 --> 02:28:20,450 On that note, I have a seat. 1806 02:28:21,430 --> 02:28:22,870 Yeah, I want to get you in my mind, ma'am. 1807 02:28:24,110 --> 02:28:25,390 Yeah, I want to get my camera. 1808 02:28:25,650 --> 02:28:32,710 Next, again, please, Louis Voss, we want to be respectful again, Mr. Derek Lies. 1809 02:28:32,910 --> 02:28:33,710 Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 1810 02:28:34,510 --> 02:28:38,570 You all have covered a lot of stuff but you haven't made any grounds in my opinion because 1811 02:28:38,570 --> 02:28:44,630 Because as I said there, I'm listening because I heard when Commissioner Woods first came forward, he said, allegations. 1812 02:28:45,110 --> 02:28:55,290 You all are yet to actually identify what the specific allegations are that are currently being investigated or perhaps will be investigated. 1813 02:28:55,690 --> 02:29:00,330 So I think you all will need to identify specifically what it is that you're all investigating. 1814 02:29:00,750 --> 02:29:05,450 Because when I first listen, I'm thinking is it the allegations of the purchase of expensive vehicles? 1815 02:29:05,450 --> 02:29:10,170 Is it the allegation of the selling of the vehicles without proud knowledge? 1816 02:29:10,570 --> 02:29:13,150 Is it the allegation of firing of employees? 1817 02:29:14,230 --> 02:29:18,930 Is it the allegations of the subsequent lawsuits after firing employees? 1818 02:29:19,390 --> 02:29:25,090 Is it an investigation into a conflict of interest where staff are holding two positions at the same time? 1819 02:29:25,770 --> 02:29:29,730 And maybe it's stealing time, is that the allegation that might be investigated? 1820 02:29:30,810 --> 02:29:38,370 Is it the allegation of paying for utilities at another location that was not county on property? 1821 02:29:38,730 --> 02:29:41,790 So I think if you all are going to be fair to us listening out here specifically, 1822 02:29:42,470 --> 02:29:46,070 what is it that you all are going to, or somebody is going to be investigating? 1823 02:29:46,650 --> 02:29:51,230 Now I heard that there's an internal investigation and perhaps an external investigation is 1824 02:29:51,230 --> 02:29:52,250 emotional on the floor. 1825 02:29:52,750 --> 02:29:57,690 But it seems as though that that would be duplicitous because what you find in one you may not find 1826 02:29:57,690 --> 02:29:58,150 in the other. 1827 02:29:59,430 --> 02:29:59,970 I'm going to do that. 1828 02:30:00,000 --> 02:30:04,960 There are a lot of investigations. I have 40 years of HR experience. I've done this year in and year out. 1829 02:30:07,040 --> 02:30:30,780 It's tearing on insanity to have the HR director essentially investigate her boss asking her boss questions. What do you think is going to come out of that? That's not better. Her as you've been trying to say. It's not better. The county administrator is her boss. How can she really investigate her boss impartially and objectively? 1830 02:30:30,780 --> 02:30:31,960 That's going to be hard to do. 1831 02:30:32,480 --> 02:30:37,500 I tend to agree with the new commissioner, just take it outside, don't be duplicitous. 1832 02:30:37,780 --> 02:30:42,580 If it's an administrative thing, the administrator can handle his administrative, whatever it is 1833 02:30:42,580 --> 02:30:43,300 that he needs to handle. 1834 02:30:44,040 --> 02:30:48,540 Commissioners simply can mention the fact that you all have yet another issue that is the policy 1835 02:30:48,540 --> 02:30:53,960 violation, not to mention the criminal repercussions that may come out of this. 1836 02:30:55,600 --> 02:31:01,080 So likewise, you all mentioned policy because I wanted to know what that policy was, and 1837 02:31:01,080 --> 02:31:03,280 if you have voted on that thing, somebody brought that out. 1838 02:31:03,340 --> 02:31:05,280 I don't think that you all have such a policy. 1839 02:31:05,280 --> 02:31:09,120 You might have desperate procedures or some procedures you follow, but that's not going 1840 02:31:09,120 --> 02:31:14,940 to trump a form of policy that you have nor will it trump what Florida statue say if there's 1841 02:31:14,940 --> 02:31:16,140 some criminal things going on. 1842 02:31:16,360 --> 02:31:22,600 So I think you all would do yourselves a great service if you allowed an outside entity, 1843 02:31:23,340 --> 02:31:25,940 And I, again, agree with the Colonel, too. 1844 02:31:26,400 --> 02:31:30,620 Outside of the Sheriff's Office, because there is that interaction with you all. 1845 02:31:30,720 --> 02:31:36,780 You have to have somebody who's going to conduct an investigation without any partiality whatsoever. 1846 02:31:37,180 --> 02:31:41,660 So the administrator can be given a fair shot, his staff will be given a fair shot. 1847 02:31:42,040 --> 02:31:47,060 Other than that, you all are going to muddy this thing up, cloud it up, and it's going to be all for note. 1848 02:31:47,420 --> 02:31:48,040 Thank you so much. 1849 02:31:48,040 --> 02:32:00,540 I think I'm just trying to have a chair, and this is a public meeting, and what I'm about to say is cannot be disputed. 1850 02:32:01,820 --> 02:32:14,380 If you go from a investigation, non-criminal to allegations of criminal investigation, we have to say it's allegedly criminal behavior. 1851 02:32:14,380 --> 02:32:38,620 We cannot state that it's criminal, so on behalf of the board, I'm making the statement that there has been no statements from the board stating that any criminal activity has occurred, that it was allegedly criminal activity, so that there is no concern or anyone can say that the board had stated that there has actually been criminal activity occurring. 1852 02:32:38,620 --> 02:32:41,520 As we all know in the United States of America, 1853 02:32:41,700 --> 02:32:43,320 you're innocent and temporal and guilty. 1854 02:32:43,760 --> 02:32:45,560 So this statement is on the record, 1855 02:32:45,560 --> 02:32:48,760 so no one can say that this board stated 1856 02:32:48,760 --> 02:32:50,540 that there was actual criminal activity. 1857 02:32:51,440 --> 02:32:53,040 So whatever you want to do beyond that, 1858 02:32:53,040 --> 02:32:54,020 that one, that state. 1859 02:32:54,080 --> 02:32:55,760 Mr. Turner, I really thank you for that too, 1860 02:32:55,840 --> 02:32:57,400 as well, because you're a job to take the board. 1861 02:32:57,800 --> 02:32:59,380 I appreciate you staying there. 1862 02:33:01,880 --> 02:33:04,840 So we have a motion on the floor, right? 1863 02:33:05,400 --> 02:33:09,900 And now, the reason why we couldn't address that concern, 1864 02:33:11,080 --> 02:33:13,800 be specific because we want to make sure we protect. 1865 02:33:14,900 --> 02:33:18,420 You said we want to keep it, because you're still on the investigation, we didn't want to. 1866 02:33:19,260 --> 02:33:34,400 Well, you do have a recommendation and you might want to ask what, if he wants to consider it, you have a recommendation to conduct two investigation simultaneously and keep them separate from each other so that your administrative investigation can occur in the criminal investigation can occur. 1867 02:33:34,400 --> 02:33:37,380 And it was stated that that is a normal process. 1868 02:33:37,820 --> 02:33:40,500 Okay, so you might want to have a discussion about that with the board. 1869 02:33:42,520 --> 02:33:44,520 All right, well, we've got to call a question now. 1870 02:33:44,820 --> 02:33:49,620 So we got the motion in a second, all in favor saw it. 1871 02:33:50,680 --> 02:33:52,640 And we want to pose. 1872 02:33:53,460 --> 02:33:54,280 All right, five of vote. 1873 02:33:57,300 --> 02:34:01,260 All right, next item 12, Mr. Chairman. 1874 02:34:01,620 --> 02:34:02,540 Item 12? 1875 02:34:03,020 --> 02:34:03,460 I've got a quote. 1876 02:34:03,560 --> 02:34:03,900 I've got a quote. 1877 02:34:05,180 --> 02:34:06,340 No updates from clerk. 1878 02:34:06,340 --> 02:34:09,840 All right, number 13, the kind of attorney? 1879 02:34:15,980 --> 02:34:16,740 Microphone, please. 1880 02:34:17,860 --> 02:34:21,540 Thank you, commissions, I have a presentation to make. 1881 02:34:22,880 --> 02:34:26,520 As we've heard, there have been some concerns about the legal billing that has occurred. 1882 02:34:27,440 --> 02:34:31,840 And I've been keeping track of what I've done and why I've done it since I started here. 1883 02:34:32,860 --> 02:34:38,120 So I want to just take a time to tell you what's going on and give you some updates and tell you where we're going. 1884 02:34:41,180 --> 02:34:49,340 I'll be the first to admit that when I came on board, the billing that I'm seeing here is more than what I expected and anticipated. 1885 02:34:50,840 --> 02:34:58,520 And there are reasons why the first thing I can tell you, I've been practicing law for 43 years. 1886 02:34:58,520 --> 02:34:59,420 Uh, 1887 02:35:00,000 --> 02:35:29,260 In Commissioner Wood, I mentioned that I was a state attorney. When I went into the state attorney's office, I got a dual assignment. I had a full felony case load, and I had a juvenile case load. I went into the deputy general council for the business regulation. I managed five lawyers, and I had a case load. I went in to be the FDOT general council. It had an $8 billion budget, had some 20 lawyers working for me, and I had a case load. 1888 02:35:30,240 --> 02:35:36,160 In my 43 years of practicing law, I've never seen a backlog of cases like as I have right 1889 02:35:36,160 --> 02:35:42,120 now that I've been having to work on, it is absolutely unbelievable. 1890 02:35:43,560 --> 02:35:48,960 First of all, I have a marketing agreement that had been sitting out since February 1891 02:35:48,960 --> 02:35:54,560 of this year, and it should have been done before I got here, but it needed to be done so 1892 02:35:54,560 --> 02:35:55,980 I worked on the marketing agreement. 1893 02:35:55,980 --> 02:36:01,780 Now, you would have thought that the marketing agreement would have been in close to complete form, 1894 02:36:01,780 --> 02:36:04,980 but it was practically not done at all. 1895 02:36:05,040 --> 02:36:07,040 So I had to start from scratch to get that done. 1896 02:36:08,120 --> 02:36:11,600 Then, as you noticed tonight, we had a waste pro agreement. 1897 02:36:12,180 --> 02:36:18,680 If that agreement had not been done, you have no garbage collection services for the county. 1898 02:36:19,380 --> 02:36:23,480 So this agreement terminates on December 31st of 2024. 1899 02:36:24,300 --> 02:36:52,340 So, they administrative charge me with going forward, and doing negotiations to get this done, I'm happy that we got some good results for the county, but this was a backlog that should have been done before I got here, and you can see where I'm going here, if these items had been done before I got here, then my buildings would have been lower, but because this work was pending and had to be done for the benefit of the county, my buildings were higher. 1900 02:36:53,060 --> 02:37:02,020 I still have a $3,618,000 agreement that I have to work out for the county for the Boards and Girls Club. 1901 02:37:02,520 --> 02:37:10,220 This item has been pending before I got here, and I haven't been able to get to it because of the work that had to be done before I got to this item. 1902 02:37:11,560 --> 02:37:16,620 I had to work on a county health department fuel agreements that had been pending and got that done. 1903 02:37:16,620 --> 02:37:30,460 We then had a graphic designs contract that had been pending since February, that should have been done before I got here, and this is the theme that is going on over and over and over again, and there's only one result. 1904 02:37:30,980 --> 02:37:35,560 If this work had been done before I got here, then my billings would have been lower. 1905 02:37:35,940 --> 02:37:39,000 But because the work wasn't done, there was no choice. 1906 02:37:39,000 --> 02:37:46,720 I can't not let the county be properly represented legally and have these bills, these buildings, or contracts expire. 1907 02:37:47,820 --> 02:37:53,580 Right now, I've had to go in on the public safety complex that is outstanding. 1908 02:37:54,260 --> 02:38:01,220 We've had a successful lobbying effort for $16,900 and 1909 02:38:02,280 --> 02:38:07,220 we were not able to get the professional services contract out. 1910 02:38:07,220 --> 02:38:22,700 It's been pending since I think March, and that's nine months, February's 10 months, and I've got into that, and I've got that approval, just coming back on the agenda on December 19th, and that agreement should have been done before I got here. 1911 02:38:25,830 --> 02:38:33,650 I just finished up and you approved on the last meeting the auditing services contract. That contract had expired. 1912 02:38:34,310 --> 02:38:42,290 So had I not gotten that one approved, you're not going to be in compliance with state government because you don't have an auditing service in place. 1913 02:38:47,300 --> 02:39:05,300 Regarding economic development, there is an RFP that I have to review that looks at development of the Pat Thomas Land for lease or sale, which is a major economic boost for the county, but I haven't been able to get to it based on all the other backlog work that I have to work on. 1914 02:39:05,300 --> 02:39:09,360 It's my goal to get that one done toward the end of this month. 1915 02:39:10,540 --> 02:39:17,980 There is a grant award for the Tata Huchi Library expansion to construct a telehealth career center. 1916 02:39:18,700 --> 02:39:23,940 And I don't think I've worked on that one yet either, so that's another one that has to be worked on. 1917 02:39:24,780 --> 02:39:32,580 Now you have these items that haven't been done, the ordinances need to be updated. 1918 02:39:32,580 --> 02:39:39,080 right now, if you go into the municode and pull up the ordinances for Lyon for 1919 02:39:39,080 --> 02:39:45,620 Gaston County, and you go to TVC, it's section three, but the numbering for 1920 02:39:45,620 --> 02:39:51,240 TVC is two point this, two point that, two point the other. If you look at the 1921 02:39:51,240 --> 02:39:55,140 ordinances generally, the concern that you all have raised about policies and 1922 02:39:55,140 --> 02:39:59,560 procedures and ordinances, almost all of the ordinances in the county are out of 1923 02:39:59,560 --> 02:39:59,780 day. 1924 02:40:00,590 --> 02:40:05,110 And they need to be updated and hasn't been done. 1925 02:40:09,210 --> 02:40:30,570 Now, the other part is, and this is an awkward conversation for me. Any lawyer that's been in business for a long time at some point doesn't have a client anymore. And when they don't have that client, they orderly transfer files from where they are to the new attorney on board. I have yet to have a 1926 02:40:30,570 --> 02:40:33,110 meeting with the previous county attorney. 1927 02:40:34,290 --> 02:40:39,410 I called him up to have a meeting to talk about what fouls he had and his response to me 1928 02:40:39,410 --> 02:40:43,330 was that if I need something, let him know. 1929 02:40:44,010 --> 02:40:48,770 Now just so you understand on the surface, that sounds perfectly normal, but this is a 1930 02:40:48,770 --> 02:40:55,230 crisis management approach to doing legal work because when I figure out that something's 1931 02:40:55,230 --> 02:40:57,850 a problem, it's a crisis. 1932 02:40:58,330 --> 02:41:11,090 He was supposed to do a hand-off to me and give me all the cases so that I can figure out where we are, give me a status update, and then I can then make an orderly decision about how to handle the workload for the county. 1933 02:41:11,550 --> 02:41:22,990 But since I've gotten nothing from him practically, and Mr. Pittman by the way has tried to assist me in this, and he gave me his files, but it was inadequate for me to be able to understand where we were. 1934 02:41:22,990 --> 02:41:31,550 So I'm in the process of having to rebuild every single legal matter that I'm doing to represent the county. 1935 02:41:31,970 --> 02:41:34,290 So that result in higher billing. 1936 02:41:37,410 --> 02:41:38,690 I have to tell you, 1937 02:41:42,300 --> 02:41:45,480 when I just went through all the different entities that I represented. 1938 02:41:47,100 --> 02:41:53,020 And all of my experience, I have never, ever had a public records lawsuit. 1939 02:41:53,020 --> 02:41:58,840 I can't get into the details of this, but I've never had a public records lawsuit. 1940 02:41:59,600 --> 02:42:03,740 Gatson County right now has a public records lawsuit. 1941 02:42:04,300 --> 02:42:08,320 And it's not because the board has said that they don't want to provide records. 1942 02:42:08,940 --> 02:42:16,360 It's because that it wasn't handled in a way that prevented the lawsuit from occurring without pointing fingers more specifically. 1943 02:42:17,220 --> 02:42:30,300 And so, I have, I'm involved in a hearing that's going to occur in January with a very reputable law firm after the Fin the county on a public records lawsuit. 1944 02:42:30,780 --> 02:42:33,940 I hope you let that sink in, it's a public records lawsuit. 1945 02:42:34,200 --> 02:42:36,200 We'll require to turn over public records. 1946 02:42:36,600 --> 02:42:39,020 You don't have public record lawsuits. 1947 02:42:40,020 --> 02:42:49,840 So in the first time in my life, I'm involved in a public records lawsuit and I have no cooperation from the prior attorney helping me understand what's going on with the lawsuit. 1948 02:42:50,740 --> 02:42:52,960 So of course it's going to result in higher billing. 1949 02:42:57,560 --> 02:43:01,880 I'll tell you a couple more things and then I'm done because there's more, but I'm just be done with this. 1950 02:43:02,700 --> 02:43:08,440 I brief you all as you know, every meeting before you come here so you can be discussed policy and not legal issues. 1951 02:43:08,440 --> 02:43:11,900 I have never billed for conversations with you. 1952 02:43:12,360 --> 02:43:20,680 Because you should have the right to talk to me freely and not have sticker shock at the end of the conversation when you see your bills at the end of that. 1953 02:43:21,020 --> 02:43:24,000 So I have never billed for conversations with you and no real line. 1954 02:43:24,420 --> 02:43:34,220 The only time I will ever bill is if we're involved in, for instance, this public records hearing and you've got to testify and I've got to prep you for that, then I would actually have to bill for that. 1955 02:43:34,220 --> 02:43:40,580 But the other thing you need to be aware of is I don't bill when I talk to the county administrator about what's going on in the county. 1956 02:43:40,980 --> 02:43:44,460 I bill for what advances the legal matters for the county. 1957 02:43:45,600 --> 02:43:48,620 So there's some cleanup that has to be done in this county. 1958 02:43:50,360 --> 02:43:53,860 It's not of my makeup, but it has to be done. 1959 02:43:54,060 --> 02:43:57,440 If I weren't here today at some point, it's going to have to be cleaned up. 1960 02:43:57,880 --> 02:44:01,280 The county's legal work is not improper for it. 1961 02:44:01,280 --> 02:44:04,220 So, I just want to put that on the record for the commission. 1962 02:44:08,000 --> 02:44:09,900 Ms. Commissioner, Simpkins? 1963 02:44:11,560 --> 02:44:13,860 Mr. Attorney. 1964 02:44:14,560 --> 02:44:14,940 Attorney. 1965 02:44:18,280 --> 02:44:23,080 The contracts, and there might be a question for the administrator. 1966 02:44:23,920 --> 02:44:30,020 Were those contracts or these contracts provided to the previous attorney, they just were not 1967 02:44:30,020 --> 02:44:30,580 completed? 1968 02:44:34,460 --> 02:44:45,820 If you could send me those emails where you send all of those emails of those contracts that we're sending so that I can take a look at those. 1969 02:44:47,980 --> 02:44:58,280 And with you just bringing that, that's a conversation and that's not on you but that's a conversation that should have been had. 1970 02:44:58,280 --> 02:44:59,880 We 1971 02:45:00,000 --> 02:45:15,740 The previous attorney was sitting here as it related to contracts, not being completed. So, if I could get all those emails, that would be, that would be great. 1972 02:45:36,150 --> 02:45:37,430 Commissioner, do you hear what I said? 1973 02:45:37,610 --> 02:45:42,170 Do you want a special meet Monday that we can just, you know, because we just have a quick 1974 02:45:42,170 --> 02:45:45,910 meet too, so just for about six, it's okay, okay, cool. 1975 02:45:46,410 --> 02:45:47,790 Mr. Commissioner, hold. 1976 02:45:48,150 --> 02:45:48,330 Yes. 1977 02:45:48,570 --> 02:45:48,910 Thank you. 1978 02:45:49,850 --> 02:45:54,730 As I said before on this item, and I don't know if you were here, Commissioner. 1979 02:45:56,450 --> 02:46:02,910 Seconds, once before I brought in a stack of papers this high, and I said these are some 1980 02:46:02,910 --> 02:46:09,890 concerns that we have with that and that I gave each of the commissioners here a copy 1981 02:46:09,890 --> 02:46:16,810 of that because I was monitoring a lot of these things and that's why I said for 1982 02:46:18,990 --> 02:46:20,370 this 1983 02:46:20,370 --> 02:46:27,690 particular job you have you align more with the state than you are with the cities and 1984 02:46:27,690 --> 02:46:33,010 what you what we have to do we have a lot of contracts we have a housing that for road 1985 02:46:33,010 --> 02:46:39,330 bridge, engineering and all of that. And so what I was saying is, can we just get them 1986 02:46:39,330 --> 02:46:45,810 caught up? And this is previously. So this has been going on for every bit of two years. 1987 02:46:46,810 --> 02:46:51,390 So what I'm saying, I'm not not questioning anything. So I'm just telling you a little bit about 1988 02:46:51,390 --> 02:46:58,550 what went on. I call Mr. Pittman. I talked with Mr. Pittman several times. Okay. So this was not 1989 02:46:58,550 --> 02:47:05,190 That's something where we had to think about this, but the actuals had to be taken and that's 1990 02:47:05,190 --> 02:47:10,130 why they were taken at the end of last year, when people started saying, you made these 1991 02:47:10,130 --> 02:47:15,310 changes, you did this, you did that, it wasn't that automatic, because this stuff had already 1992 02:47:16,030 --> 02:47:16,550 happened. 1993 02:47:16,970 --> 02:47:23,010 Then we had to go out and go after some other legal, I mean some legal team. 1994 02:47:23,910 --> 02:47:34,370 It wasn't, as I said to Mr. Wood, what I came here in 02, the two people that were here 1995 02:47:34,370 --> 02:47:38,490 in those positions, I wanted to make sure that I worked with them long enough so I could 1996 02:47:38,490 --> 02:47:43,750 find out what was going on, and that's what I did, and that's what you always do. 1997 02:47:44,110 --> 02:47:48,590 You learn the system before you get in there and do the things that you think you need to 1998 02:47:48,590 --> 02:47:49,050 be done. 1999 02:47:49,490 --> 02:47:51,170 But see those contracts will not wait. 2000 02:47:51,170 --> 02:47:56,650 When you mention that about the public service out there building, that money, that's $12 million. 2001 02:47:57,970 --> 02:48:01,790 Another one of those, that's I don't enjoy, I'm sorry, that's $12 million. 2002 02:48:02,510 --> 02:48:06,250 The one at Stephen School was 4.6 million. 2003 02:48:06,650 --> 02:48:08,590 The other part was 1.7 million. 2004 02:48:08,970 --> 02:48:12,510 Then you have the other that are coming up, that are 4 million and something. 2005 02:48:12,910 --> 02:48:15,110 You got housing and I serve on a hack. 2006 02:48:15,810 --> 02:48:17,490 I serve on that committee with nine counties. 2007 02:48:18,090 --> 02:48:26,050 And if we don't have that stuff in place in time, we do not get to housing when you see us renovating houses and all that. 2008 02:48:26,490 --> 02:48:31,370 So all of those contracts, even though they're coming from the federal government, they have to be approved. 2009 02:48:31,590 --> 02:48:34,670 They have to be shaped by your attorney, and all of this has to be done. 2010 02:48:35,230 --> 02:48:36,630 So it's not like weather. 2011 02:48:38,920 --> 02:48:40,740 It has to be done. That's our job. 2012 02:48:41,260 --> 02:48:43,240 So it's not a lack of dislike. 2013 02:48:43,240 --> 02:48:47,740 Why, is can you get the product out there in time to get in order to get the money? 2014 02:48:48,140 --> 02:48:55,660 We had to get two extensions on Stephen's school because it was slow walked. 2015 02:48:56,960 --> 02:49:01,220 So those are the things that you lose money and then there were a couple of other things 2016 02:49:01,220 --> 02:49:06,640 that we did not get funding for that we may have been able to get funding for and I still 2017 02:49:06,640 --> 02:49:07,720 say the same thing. 2018 02:49:08,400 --> 02:49:12,840 Even if we had a grant right or right in the grants, you have attorneys checking that to make 2019 02:49:12,840 --> 02:49:15,440 sure that we're getting what we're supposed to get. 2020 02:49:16,080 --> 02:49:22,780 So it's not a thing of being upset or not upset or like a dislike, it's a matter of just 2021 02:49:22,780 --> 02:49:23,800 getting the word done. 2022 02:49:24,660 --> 02:49:27,220 And that's it, Mr. Chairman, thank you. 2023 02:49:27,480 --> 02:49:27,900 Yes, ma'am. 2024 02:49:28,120 --> 02:49:29,120 Commissioner Green. 2025 02:49:29,120 --> 02:49:29,440 Yes, sir. 2026 02:49:30,740 --> 02:49:31,200 Commissioner Green. 2027 02:49:31,520 --> 02:49:31,840 Thank you. 2028 02:49:32,180 --> 02:49:39,640 Again, I just want to make sure that we are being very respectful and not that we're not 2029 02:49:39,640 --> 02:49:59,980 I've been transparent, but I think the attorney for giving his analysis but at the same time it's almost that individual of that firm is not here for representation of the commissioner asks for documentation and think so that she can do some due diligence on those contracts, and I'm just saying that the hope that we can kind of end the 2030 02:50:00,000 --> 02:50:06,680 There's peace of the conversation only because of the fact that the individual or that firm is not here being able to represent themselves. Thank you. 2031 02:50:30,000 --> 02:50:37,300 that hey, the kind of attorneys not bringing these things up front to us, so we won't miss these certain projects. 2032 02:50:37,860 --> 02:50:40,480 That's a question that I guess one may pose. 2033 02:50:41,460 --> 02:50:46,780 So that's a good question, Commissioner Williams, whoever asked that question early. 2034 02:50:47,780 --> 02:50:49,580 Anyone else who got next? 2035 02:50:51,060 --> 02:50:53,100 So the attorney, anyone else having the question for the attorney? 2036 02:50:54,860 --> 02:50:57,220 All right, so we have- 2037 02:51:01,820 --> 02:51:08,200 Mr. Chairman, may I please address some issues that have come up. 2038 02:51:10,630 --> 02:51:19,960 The attorney, let me be very frank, I have addressed both chairmen's over the last two 2039 02:51:19,960 --> 02:51:22,280 years about the attorney. 2040 02:51:23,920 --> 02:51:26,840 And say it, we're not getting these things. 2041 02:51:28,220 --> 02:51:36,240 There's been many nights where you all chastised me and said that attorney worked for you, and you made that very clear. 2042 02:51:37,240 --> 02:51:43,460 So it's not my job to question the attorney, that's your job, and you made it very clear to me that it was your job. 2043 02:51:44,720 --> 02:51:48,940 When I brought you issues, they were not, they were not accepted. 2044 02:51:50,240 --> 02:51:50,720 Now, 2045 02:51:52,900 --> 02:51:58,500 there were many nights when commissioners asked me, why was TJ preparing this package? 2046 02:51:58,660 --> 02:52:02,860 Why was Ms. Kielo preparing this package? 2047 02:52:03,240 --> 02:52:05,540 We couldn't get their attorney to prepare it. 2048 02:52:05,780 --> 02:52:06,760 Again, I'm going to ask. 2049 02:52:07,200 --> 02:52:09,340 I'm going to ask that we don't do this. 2050 02:52:09,460 --> 02:52:09,720 I'm just. 2051 02:52:09,900 --> 02:52:10,160 Mr. Chairman. 2052 02:52:10,560 --> 02:52:11,700 I'll put all fairness. 2053 02:52:12,000 --> 02:52:13,360 I got to be talking to the bus. 2054 02:52:13,820 --> 02:52:18,960 I know it sound fair though, but we got to let him speak because we just made the chairman's 2055 02:52:18,960 --> 02:52:19,260 own view. 2056 02:52:19,640 --> 02:52:20,100 I respect it. 2057 02:52:20,100 --> 02:52:28,960 So no matter how I may agree with Mr. Dixon, we've got to listen to him because it was, you know, the come seats went after him. 2058 02:52:29,200 --> 02:52:29,720 It's all fairness. 2059 02:52:30,080 --> 02:52:41,080 Mr. Chairman, you're literally saying that the administrator has to do the attorney's job, contracts by their very nature are the attorney. 2060 02:52:42,640 --> 02:52:47,840 And if we present them to them in phone calls, emails, however, and my staff is here. 2061 02:52:48,560 --> 02:52:53,920 They will tell you how often we presented things and had timelines and so on and so forth. 2062 02:52:54,820 --> 02:53:03,940 This is not new, this is not too new to this body, this is not new to me and certainly should not be to anybody. 2063 02:53:06,100 --> 02:53:13,000 So to that point, I'll put a pin in that, you had people stand tonight and 2064 02:53:13,000 --> 02:53:17,880 And it offered you political expediency when it comes to some things. 2065 02:53:19,300 --> 02:53:24,120 I was invited to this job and accepted it wholeheartedly, wholeheartedly. 2066 02:53:25,660 --> 02:53:29,420 I accepted it based on what you all offered. 2067 02:53:30,760 --> 02:53:33,760 You offered me a salary of $105,000. 2068 02:53:35,060 --> 02:53:39,260 That same salary was turned down by Mr. Elias two or three times. 2069 02:53:39,560 --> 02:53:42,680 It wasn't enough, but it's still called it. 2070 02:53:42,680 --> 02:53:49,200 Mr. Chairman, he called my name in the public meeting, and I'm addressing the issues that he addressed. 2071 02:53:49,300 --> 02:53:51,180 Okay, let me just issue, I'm going to get with that. 2072 02:53:51,300 --> 02:53:51,580 I agree. 2073 02:53:52,740 --> 02:54:00,740 He called my name, I accepted the salary that he would not accept, because it was too little money. 2074 02:54:03,680 --> 02:54:08,700 I came and did the job, when I got to this county, the county was millions of dollars in debt. 2075 02:54:08,700 --> 02:54:12,180 could find nobody to work here, nobody. 2076 02:54:12,700 --> 02:54:16,660 Nobody wanted to be a part of the Board of County Commissioners. 2077 02:54:18,160 --> 02:54:24,660 No vendors, vendors had publicly stood at that things that will never work with the Board of County Commissioners again. 2078 02:54:25,280 --> 02:54:33,160 I accepted the challenge, I accepted the challenge, but I asked the Board for some understanding. 2079 02:54:33,160 --> 02:54:38,100 Nothing, no gotchas, this is going to be a hard job. 2080 02:54:39,820 --> 02:54:45,120 So if every night you come into the meeting and to attack staff and whether or not we're 2081 02:54:45,120 --> 02:54:47,740 perfect, you know we're not perfect. 2082 02:54:49,060 --> 02:54:51,120 You know the people we bring here are not perfect. 2083 02:54:51,800 --> 02:54:56,140 But if you come and attack us, then how are we going to perform? 2084 02:54:56,940 --> 02:54:59,680 I asked the board and the board agreed. 2085 02:55:00,000 --> 02:55:12,020 No gotchas. That we will do things together, that we will attempt to move this county together, all of us, all the board. And the board agreed to that. First thing, 2086 02:55:14,800 --> 02:55:30,960 secondly, but before I go there, let me say, after three years of doing this job, the board met with my contract end that I'd never asked for a pay increase, a pay adjustment. The top employees made as much money as the board, 2087 02:55:30,960 --> 02:55:59,020 as the administrator because I negotiated the salaries and you couldn't get anybody to come here for cheap why because people got fired from here quickly all the way down the line and no one would come here so I went out looking for people to come here and we found people good people to come here and work after three years the board met and approved a salary increase. 2088 02:55:59,020 --> 02:56:07,260 And then only because when they looked around every city manager of every city and guess and count and make more than the county administrator. 2089 02:56:08,810 --> 02:56:11,400 Some of those managers have five or ten employees. 2090 02:56:12,650 --> 02:56:20,740 This county administrator has nearly 300 employees and a $60 million budget then. 2091 02:56:22,630 --> 02:56:24,150 I accepted the challenge. 2092 02:56:24,530 --> 02:56:27,770 They gave me a raise to $140,000. 2093 02:56:27,770 --> 02:56:35,370 dollars. It sounds like a lot, but in comparison, it's not. It's probably still the lowest 2094 02:56:35,370 --> 02:56:45,410 paid county administrator in this area. I accepted the challenge, did the job, so it's 2095 02:56:45,410 --> 02:56:50,910 easy to stand on the sideline and throw bricks when you didn't accept the challenge. 2096 02:56:59,340 --> 02:57:00,060 But 2097 02:57:00,060 --> 02:57:02,420 make decisions based on political expediency. 2098 02:57:03,280 --> 02:57:09,560 This is a hard job any day, any day, that people I work with are good people. 2099 02:57:09,980 --> 02:57:15,500 They don't deserve to come and be blasted every night for the work that they are doing. 2100 02:57:18,710 --> 02:57:19,690 Secondly, let me say, 2101 02:57:23,450 --> 02:57:28,690 I asked the board not for a county car, for a car allowance. 2102 02:57:28,690 --> 02:57:31,970 that allow us to $600 a month for 2103 02:57:34,050 --> 02:57:40,370 the courthouse pruner and for those folks who like to play on Facebook. 2104 02:57:41,610 --> 02:57:44,430 The county did not buy me an $80,000 car. 2105 02:57:44,890 --> 02:57:45,890 I bought me a car. 2106 02:57:46,750 --> 02:57:51,310 The county pays $600 and for those of you who drive, that ain't gas money. 2107 02:57:51,750 --> 02:57:52,070 A month, 2108 02:57:54,560 --> 02:57:58,100 because I didn't want to be involved in this kind of foolishness right here. 2109 02:57:58,100 --> 02:58:04,820 where people are following people, people are peeping behind the curtain, we want to got you. 2110 02:58:05,920 --> 02:58:15,740 And I was very clear, I stood right there at that podium and they said, why don't you want to count the cards because I'm going to make the left into the liquor store, some nights. 2111 02:58:17,100 --> 02:58:22,060 And on Sunday, Derrick and Lyes can find me at Joanne's and he knew it. 2112 02:58:22,920 --> 02:58:24,740 And I don't want to be in a county car. 2113 02:58:24,740 --> 02:58:26,800 I don't want to disrespect this body. 2114 02:58:27,140 --> 02:58:30,220 I would never do anything to disrespect this body. 2115 02:58:30,300 --> 02:58:38,060 I came to this job with my eyes open, open, and we have done nothing but work. 2116 02:58:38,520 --> 02:58:41,920 You want to know $140,000, that's good money. 2117 02:58:42,120 --> 02:58:44,700 Don't misunderstand me, that's good money. 2118 02:58:45,620 --> 02:58:50,560 But let me be very clear, I'm clear about what it is that we have accomplished. 2119 02:58:50,560 --> 02:59:00,860 Because I was doing things before I got here, major work will tell you that he and I were in New York times together. 2120 02:59:01,540 --> 02:59:06,760 Because I had 60 inmates, you talk about economic development, 60 inmates coming from that jail, 2121 02:59:06,960 --> 02:59:15,120 every day going to Florida State Hospital, learning trades for years and coming out being productive citizens. 2122 02:59:17,070 --> 02:59:18,870 If I'm lying, he's sitting right there, 2123 02:59:21,640 --> 02:59:35,680 many before another example, that new bus that we see right in here, that was the last job four years ago, and I kept my hand on it for four years, until it got the gas and county. 2124 02:59:37,180 --> 02:59:44,780 That quarter of a million dollar bus that's now going to service all of gas and county health care needs. 2125 02:59:44,780 --> 02:59:46,500 So I was doing things before I got here. 2126 02:59:46,900 --> 02:59:48,420 I enjoy it coming to the county. 2127 02:59:48,800 --> 02:59:51,520 Since I've been here, let me make it clear. 2128 02:59:53,770 --> 02:59:57,590 We have $50 million in new buildings going up right now. 2129 02:59:58,870 --> 02:59:59,750 $50 million. 2130 02:59:59,750 --> 02:59:59,970 and off. 2131 03:00:01,460 --> 03:00:11,140 New sheriff's office, new economic, I mean emergency operation building, new emergency services building, new shelters. 2132 03:00:11,700 --> 03:00:19,940 We have new buildings going up everywhere. I created a legislative process that invited folk to the table. 2133 03:00:20,500 --> 03:00:25,660 Ask the board to pay an attorney, to pay a lobbyist, and to pay a federal lobbyist. 2134 03:00:26,840 --> 03:00:34,640 And we've not yet not been funded in millions of dollars every year coming out of the legislative session. 2135 03:00:35,200 --> 03:00:36,740 I'm not ashamed of that. 2136 03:00:37,020 --> 03:00:40,200 I brought people here that would not work anywhere else. 2137 03:00:41,080 --> 03:00:43,740 The latest person we hired came from the governor's office. 2138 03:00:45,830 --> 03:00:48,030 They was chief of budget at the governor's office. 2139 03:00:48,490 --> 03:00:52,050 Do I know them absolutely just like I know Derek and Lyson riding them on? 2140 03:00:52,830 --> 03:01:01,050 I helped him get a job to asking, he'll tell you, he knows me, and knows me well. 2141 03:01:02,410 --> 03:01:04,310 But there are some things I don't do, I don't steal. 2142 03:01:05,510 --> 03:01:11,150 I've got no reason to never have, because when you learn to be poor it's all right, you know you ain't going to die. 2143 03:01:14,070 --> 03:01:22,150 So let me be very clear, you may, because I'm a public official, say what you will on Facebook. 2144 03:01:23,490 --> 03:01:30,730 You may say what you will, but those of you who want to turn it into some form of truth are looking for something. 2145 03:01:32,940 --> 03:01:38,640 If something happened with these vehicles, I can promise you, I'm going to be the first one to find out, I'm going to be the first one to deal with it. 2146 03:01:40,080 --> 03:01:43,320 Because I make it clear that everybody who works with me, that is not what we do. 2147 03:01:45,100 --> 03:01:48,740 My integrity means more to me than anything else. 2148 03:01:50,040 --> 03:01:57,020 I've invited lobbyists to come join us, I've asked lobbyists to join us who we didn't pay to work for this county. 2149 03:02:00,080 --> 03:02:01,880 We've recruited people from all over. 2150 03:02:02,200 --> 03:02:07,020 When we didn't have ambulances in this county, you don't even know we didn't have ambulances. 2151 03:02:07,520 --> 03:02:18,440 I got up with the Palm Beach County, met with a friend, a friend since we want to talk about friends, who sent us two ambulances to help this county out. 2152 03:02:18,440 --> 03:02:19,280 So, 2153 03:02:28,400 --> 03:02:30,000 let me close in saying this, 2154 03:02:32,020 --> 03:02:35,960 the first salaries commissioners that you all approve was not mine. 2155 03:02:37,060 --> 03:02:41,020 We came to you and asked you to give the employees of bonus cost. 2156 03:02:41,020 --> 03:02:43,560 We had employees making $10 and fall to send an out. 2157 03:02:45,510 --> 03:02:49,750 We had employees who've been with us 20 years making $12 and fall to send an out. 2158 03:02:51,070 --> 03:02:57,750 And I came to you and said, give them a bonus, and I think that first bonus was $2,000 you all approved. 2159 03:02:57,750 --> 03:03:00,610 the second bonus I think was $1,500. 2160 03:03:01,690 --> 03:03:05,770 And then we came back to you and said, we have a compensation study. 2161 03:03:07,210 --> 03:03:13,470 Those same employees that were making $10 an hour, now make $19 and $20 an hour. 2162 03:03:15,360 --> 03:03:19,380 Nobody at the county qualifies for food stamps, that might not be important to you. 2163 03:03:19,900 --> 03:03:20,900 That's important to me. 2164 03:03:22,140 --> 03:03:27,000 As I recall, there's not an employee that makes less than $31,000 now walking through the door. 2165 03:03:27,000 --> 03:03:32,060 Now, you may not think that's something to be proud of because you are dirty, filthy rich. 2166 03:03:33,200 --> 03:03:39,400 But for folk working in this county, the county ought to be a place to come, change your 2167 03:03:39,400 --> 03:03:42,560 life, move your life, and we've done that. 2168 03:03:43,640 --> 03:03:45,920 I'm not ashamed of that. 2169 03:03:47,400 --> 03:03:51,200 I'm not ashamed of trying to move this county forward. 2170 03:03:51,600 --> 03:03:52,620 That was my job. 2171 03:03:52,620 --> 03:03:56,800 And just as you gave me the opportunity, if you choose to give it to someone else, 2172 03:03:57,140 --> 03:03:59,820 that has been the board's call, every Tuesday night. 2173 03:04:01,880 --> 03:04:02,880 Every Tuesday night. 2174 03:04:03,540 --> 03:04:07,040 But don't do that, do anything because of political expedience. 2175 03:04:07,040 --> 03:04:13,380 And because somebody who's never done anything for anybody is standing up, click in views. 2176 03:04:17,640 --> 03:04:22,520 If that's how you want to make policy, then you probably do need somebody else because it's never going to work. 2177 03:04:22,520 --> 03:04:28,040 We invite professionals to this county to work. 2178 03:04:29,260 --> 03:04:34,400 They've come because they found integrity and promise here. 2179 03:04:36,020 --> 03:04:41,760 I'd admire sitting here on Tuesday night taking whatever bullets that you all have for me, none whatsoever. 2180 03:04:42,480 --> 03:04:48,160 And none on this table can tell me that I've not helped them in every way possible. 2181 03:04:48,740 --> 03:04:51,980 None, we have, that's our job. 2182 03:04:51,980 --> 03:04:54,500 We intended to do it and we did it well 2183 03:04:55,860 --> 03:04:59,440 When there was COVID I ran a group that did the testing 2184 03:05:00,430 --> 03:05:05,470 Any immunization? I didn't see writing them more directly lies. 2185 03:05:10,580 --> 03:05:13,340 So please, this is not the beginning of my work. 2186 03:05:15,620 --> 03:05:36,720 Please don't let folk who try to lead you by misleading you. Have your time. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, thank you, Mr. Kindman. I just wanted him to, you know, somebody says something. It's just, it's just good for them to 2187 03:05:36,720 --> 03:05:37,940 to clarify stuff. 2188 03:05:40,380 --> 03:05:44,600 Next, we have, I'm so used to calling the district one, that's me. 2189 03:05:45,640 --> 03:05:48,240 So now we have commissioners, 2190 03:05:53,240 --> 03:05:55,940 district, Mr. Chairman, two, yes. 2191 03:05:56,560 --> 03:05:58,240 I apologize, I know I took some time. 2192 03:05:58,960 --> 03:06:02,500 It's okay, but we do allow me to address one or two issues, really quickly. 2193 03:06:04,640 --> 03:06:05,240 You, sir? 2194 03:06:05,560 --> 03:06:06,720 Yes, sir, yes, I go ahead. 2195 03:06:06,720 --> 03:06:11,420 There was a mention about the electric bill next door, 2196 03:06:13,910 --> 03:06:15,210 while it is in the Board of 2197 03:06:15,210 --> 03:06:20,350 County Commissioners' name, that bill is being paid by the clerk's office. 2198 03:06:21,090 --> 03:06:23,270 It's been paid by the clerk's office. 2199 03:06:25,090 --> 03:06:30,730 The board had nothing to do with the continual payment of that, absolutely nothing. 2200 03:06:32,110 --> 03:06:35,910 I don't know why they won't say that, they know it's true. 2201 03:06:37,490 --> 03:06:41,230 But that's an issue with other, you'll see I'm well more ready. 2202 03:06:41,250 --> 03:06:42,050 One more, Mr. Chairman. 2203 03:06:42,470 --> 03:06:46,750 Okay, I just want to make sure we're in a little quicker because we want to make sure we move forward. 2204 03:06:47,490 --> 03:06:54,850 And, you know, they drop these words about cars, but we say we want to talk about the cars. 2205 03:06:55,170 --> 03:06:56,830 No, no, no, no, I'm talking about the lease program. 2206 03:06:57,750 --> 03:06:58,830 Don't worry about this, Mr. Chairman. 2207 03:06:59,110 --> 03:07:02,470 No, I want to, Mr. Chairman, I just want to say this one thing, 10 seconds. 2208 03:07:02,670 --> 03:07:03,110 Yeah, 10 seconds. 2209 03:07:03,110 --> 03:07:11,830 The board met January 16th, February 6th, June 11th, July 1st, July 1st, to talk about the lease program in this room. 2210 03:07:12,750 --> 03:07:15,510 You know, it was in this room, directly liars. 2211 03:07:18,210 --> 03:07:20,970 So there's no get-quick scheme going on. 2212 03:07:21,430 --> 03:07:25,210 We were spending $700,000 on cars a year. 2213 03:07:25,710 --> 03:07:27,170 Let me make sure that number. 2214 03:07:27,810 --> 03:07:34,950 250 plus 350, that's about $600,000 or $700,000 between fixing cars. 2215 03:07:34,950 --> 03:07:36,130 and buying new cars. 2216 03:07:36,850 --> 03:07:40,910 We're now spending $350,000 and that's on just a few cars. 2217 03:07:41,530 --> 03:07:48,190 We're now spending $350,000, $300,000 less on leasing 30 cars. 2218 03:07:49,130 --> 03:07:50,210 That's what we're doing. 2219 03:07:50,350 --> 03:07:52,750 If you come out here to this parking lot at any time, 2220 03:07:52,950 --> 03:07:58,190 a majority of the cars you saw out there didn't run, didn't take anybody anywhere. 2221 03:07:59,310 --> 03:08:03,110 If you look at the vans, the citizens are right, the senior citizens are right and 2222 03:08:03,110 --> 03:08:03,990 and they're broken down. 2223 03:08:04,490 --> 03:08:08,030 The county's responsible for providing cars to a lot of people. 2224 03:08:08,950 --> 03:08:13,330 And as you know, you cannot no longer take a car to a shade tree mechanic. 2225 03:08:13,930 --> 03:08:15,170 You have to take it back. 2226 03:08:16,310 --> 03:08:24,530 So we made a decision to recommend to the board that we move into this new type thing of leasing. 2227 03:08:25,490 --> 03:08:28,570 Sheriff doesn't, two or three cities do it. 2228 03:08:28,950 --> 03:08:30,050 It is nothing new. 2229 03:08:31,570 --> 03:08:32,670 It is nothing new. 2230 03:08:32,670 --> 03:08:36,230 And we are saving the county hundreds of thousands of dollars. 2231 03:08:36,670 --> 03:08:38,770 Now, do people disagree with that? 2232 03:08:38,870 --> 03:08:40,410 Yes, but it was voted on by the board. 2233 03:08:40,770 --> 03:08:42,090 It's not Ed Dixon's plan. 2234 03:08:43,070 --> 03:08:45,970 The compensation study was not Ed Dixon's plan. 2235 03:08:46,090 --> 03:08:47,910 Ed Dixon didn't approve anything. 2236 03:08:48,870 --> 03:08:49,950 Let's make it very clear. 2237 03:08:50,170 --> 03:08:53,310 So when you want to do your little thing, let's make it very clear. 2238 03:08:53,750 --> 03:08:55,790 That the things I did came before the board. 2239 03:08:56,230 --> 03:08:57,150 Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 2240 03:08:57,410 --> 03:08:58,630 Thank you, thank you. 2241 03:08:58,630 --> 03:09:03,070 You are now next, Commissioner of District 2, Commissioner Simkins. 2242 03:09:03,590 --> 03:09:05,190 I apologize for the delay. 2243 03:09:08,720 --> 03:09:09,820 Thank you. 2244 03:09:12,580 --> 03:09:13,660 And I have a start off. 2245 03:09:19,310 --> 03:09:20,150 Commissioner, 2246 03:09:28,540 --> 03:09:36,300 you were very, that was very, very disrespectful earlier. 2247 03:09:37,120 --> 03:09:43,460 And I would have never, ever, disrespected you like that on the diets. 2248 03:09:46,100 --> 03:09:46,580 We 2249 03:09:52,240 --> 03:09:59,220 said a whole lot of things here tonight, we're dealing with a whole lot of things here in this county. 2250 03:10:01,100 --> 03:10:12,120 And when I decided to seek office, it wasn't to deal with this kind of stuff. It was to move 2251 03:10:12,120 --> 03:10:19,080 gas and county from being, from just being known as the majority black county, 2252 03:10:21,660 --> 03:10:22,000 but being 2253 03:10:22,000 --> 03:10:23,700 a county that 2254 03:10:26,520 --> 03:10:34,180 was making a difference that people wanted to come to, where we had growth 2255 03:10:34,180 --> 03:10:38,980 and development taking place. 2256 03:10:40,020 --> 03:10:43,000 In order for that to take place, 2257 03:10:44,380 --> 03:10:46,840 we are going to have to 2258 03:10:47,880 --> 03:10:50,840 put our personal 2259 03:10:52,820 --> 03:10:55,240 agendas to the side 2260 03:10:56,080 --> 03:10:57,460 and let it be about 2261 03:10:58,160 --> 03:11:00,160 gassing county. 2262 03:11:02,540 --> 03:11:04,060 There are a lot of things 2263 03:11:04,060 --> 03:11:09,760 that's out there, there are a lot of things that's being said, and I mean we can be upset. 2264 03:11:11,060 --> 03:11:16,680 People have the right to a lot of people don't know. 2265 03:11:17,720 --> 03:11:25,860 As the attorney said, we shouldn't have a public records lawsuit because citizens have 2266 03:11:25,860 --> 03:11:28,900 have the right to public information. 2267 03:11:31,260 --> 03:11:34,260 People also have a right to their opinion. 2268 03:11:39,970 --> 03:11:55,470 There are some things that as a commissioner, I feel that we could do better as a county. 2269 03:11:56,870 --> 03:11:57,450 And 2270 03:12:01,700 --> 03:12:13,220 there's some cost that we incurred and Ms. Administrator, I think that we beat up on the staff. 2271 03:12:14,140 --> 03:12:19,160 I don't think we beat up on the staff, and I might beat up on you, 2272 03:12:21,280 --> 03:12:27,240 but I don't beat up on your staff. 2273 03:12:27,940 --> 03:12:36,660 There may be questions that I ask as it relates to, because we are always talking about we need this position in that position. 2274 03:12:37,540 --> 03:12:46,680 And my question is, we don't have anybody in house that's capable of doing that particular work. 2275 03:12:47,780 --> 03:12:53,320 With the staff, and I stick on that with the staff, because we do have our administrative staff. 2276 03:12:53,320 --> 03:13:00,180 We have we quite a bit for administrative staff. So some things that we are outsourcing. We shouldn't have to 2277 03:13:02,280 --> 03:13:02,820 outsource 2278 03:13:03,530 --> 03:13:03,800 I 2279 03:13:08,360 --> 03:13:11,840 Had a whole lot of stuff. I don't want to say it 2280 03:13:12,940 --> 03:13:19,760 I'm going to I'm done. I want to say the wild game. I don't think we've had a means since the wild game 2281 03:13:20,360 --> 03:13:21,540 the wild game 2282 03:13:23,060 --> 03:13:23,600 there 2283 03:13:24,460 --> 03:13:25,000 were 2284 03:13:25,000 --> 03:13:32,280 It probably was over 1,000 people that went through there more more more 2285 03:13:33,400 --> 03:13:35,700 That is actually we talk about 2286 03:13:37,520 --> 03:13:38,140 tours 2287 03:13:39,680 --> 03:13:40,960 development, right 2288 03:13:42,480 --> 03:13:46,960 That's one that we actually don't take a look at 2289 03:13:48,160 --> 03:13:52,280 And those guys pretty much find that out of their pockets and 2290 03:13:53,200 --> 03:13:57,060 You have people coming from all over to 2291 03:13:58,640 --> 03:14:15,760 participate in that event, and so I say hats off to the organization of what is it across the tracks, hats off to across the tracks, for always putting on an awesome event. 2292 03:14:23,800 --> 03:14:33,380 I set with them a couple of the guys and talk to them about becoming part of our echo tourism package. 2293 03:14:33,680 --> 03:14:36,240 So you're absolutely correct, that is the most fantastic. 2294 03:14:41,420 --> 03:14:44,600 That's all right, that's all right here, thank you. 2295 03:14:48,370 --> 03:14:49,890 So, Mr. Woods, 2296 03:14:52,800 --> 03:14:53,740 thank you. 2297 03:14:56,520 --> 03:14:59,080 Well, a thing about politics and for this job. 2298 03:15:00,000 --> 03:15:08,580 I was in Mr. Bradwell's dad's church in Greensboro, and everybody came up and said, we entrust y'all, 2299 03:15:09,790 --> 03:15:11,220 but we don't trust y'all. 2300 03:15:13,540 --> 03:15:20,100 And everything that I have seen going here tonight echoes loudly. 2301 03:15:22,720 --> 03:15:32,050 When I ran, I ran to prove a point to Gaston County, I ran as a Democrat. 2302 03:15:33,650 --> 03:15:38,670 I knew good and well that they'd put somebody in the block to vote, and so they'd keep a 2303 03:15:38,670 --> 03:15:39,890 lot of white people from voting. 2304 03:15:41,010 --> 03:15:44,190 And I knew that it would be probably 70, 30, 80, 20. 2305 03:15:45,710 --> 03:15:46,510 But guess what? 2306 03:15:46,510 --> 03:15:54,110 But I have more confidence in black people than a lot of other people, because I have too 2307 03:15:54,110 --> 03:15:58,010 many friends and family that don't look like me. 2308 03:16:00,070 --> 03:16:06,650 And if we don't figure out how to work this out, to where we can all get along, we're 2309 03:16:06,650 --> 03:16:07,470 all going to fail. 2310 03:16:10,650 --> 03:16:17,650 And I am shaming the P patch, Pastor, I'm not afraid to stand when the Philistines come. 2311 03:16:19,810 --> 03:16:22,690 I'm not afraid to talk about the things they had to be talked about. 2312 03:16:22,890 --> 03:16:24,190 I'm going to stand on what's right. 2313 03:16:25,290 --> 03:16:29,850 And every church I went into, regardless of what color they were, they said, 2314 03:16:29,910 --> 03:16:32,230 Major Wood, we expect you to do right. 2315 03:16:34,800 --> 03:16:40,340 And I haven't been happy, and I'm going to tell you, I'm not going to say anything 2316 03:16:40,340 --> 03:16:44,580 about it about Mr. Dixon, I appreciate everything you just said. 2317 03:16:45,320 --> 03:16:49,900 But for me, I also think about my friends with integrity. 2318 03:16:51,060 --> 03:16:57,140 Those two guys I have known there for many, many years and I did not like what they went through. 2319 03:16:57,920 --> 03:16:59,220 I did not like it. 2320 03:17:00,120 --> 03:17:11,440 I did not like when through my years when there's a commission change that commissioners will wait on the new commissioner, Mr. Williams, before they appoint somebody. 2321 03:17:12,520 --> 03:17:14,200 I did not think that was right. 2322 03:17:14,200 --> 03:17:19,810 I express my concerns to other commissioners, they're my friends. 2323 03:17:20,650 --> 03:17:21,770 I didn't agree with them. 2324 03:17:22,110 --> 03:17:25,610 Everybody knows I'm very close to the Commissioner Green. 2325 03:17:27,550 --> 03:17:32,810 I did not like it, because when Mr. Williams came in, 2326 03:17:34,110 --> 03:17:41,490 they gave him a three year contract, which basically bound Major Wood from having a choice 2327 03:17:41,490 --> 03:17:48,690 who he would represent and in my opinion Mr. Williams I thank you sharp guy I 2328 03:17:48,690 --> 03:17:54,690 really do but I don't thank you my lawyer I thank you there lawyer and that's 2329 03:17:54,690 --> 03:18:00,370 just being if you could have waited another month a month I would have been 2330 03:18:00,370 --> 03:18:02,290 part of the process I 2331 03:18:04,660 --> 03:18:08,620 wanted to be part of putting the program back together but 2332 03:18:08,620 --> 03:18:14,820 But instead, they put the program together for me, and I did not like it. 2333 03:18:15,920 --> 03:18:21,620 The things that I've heard that are going on, not good. 2334 03:18:22,360 --> 03:18:28,020 We can be mad at whoever said it, but this is representing what the community is telling 2335 03:18:28,020 --> 03:18:28,460 people. 2336 03:18:29,040 --> 03:18:30,080 It's what I hear. 2337 03:18:31,600 --> 03:18:32,660 And it's a problem. 2338 03:18:34,400 --> 03:18:38,040 Everybody kind of wondering what old Major Wu was going to do when he got on the board. 2339 03:18:38,840 --> 03:18:42,020 And I'm going to do just what their old ladies in the church said because I'm rolling 2340 03:18:42,020 --> 03:18:45,140 with the church ladies guys y'all don't fool yourself. 2341 03:18:45,800 --> 03:18:49,940 If I can't stand in front of them church ladies and tell them what we're doing in this county, 2342 03:18:51,740 --> 03:18:52,880 I don't need to be here. 2343 03:18:53,180 --> 03:18:58,080 This while they voted for me, I ain't going to have a drinking party in the county paying 2344 03:18:58,080 --> 03:18:58,660 for it. 2345 03:18:58,860 --> 03:18:59,740 I'm not into it. 2346 03:18:59,740 --> 03:19:08,620 If you ain't got strollers, children, teenagers, adults, grown folks, and seniors, it's nothing 2347 03:19:08,620 --> 03:19:10,300 that we should be spending our money on. 2348 03:19:11,420 --> 03:19:17,360 And we have not spent our money on the faith base that my personal reflection and most 2349 03:19:17,360 --> 03:19:19,520 everybody on this diet is the same. 2350 03:19:21,950 --> 03:19:27,010 So not to be long-winded, I will tell you that I am not very happy. 2351 03:19:27,810 --> 03:19:28,590 I'm not. 2352 03:19:29,590 --> 03:19:34,970 I'm not happy with how we look, who's the blame? 2353 03:19:35,530 --> 03:19:36,910 There's always the question. 2354 03:19:38,250 --> 03:19:39,830 And right now we're fishing together. 2355 03:19:39,930 --> 03:19:40,770 The capital must hold. 2356 03:19:40,890 --> 03:19:42,950 It's you like to go and ask for a lot of money. 2357 03:19:43,310 --> 03:19:44,450 But we ain't spending the money. 2358 03:19:44,470 --> 03:19:45,530 They already don't give us. 2359 03:19:47,980 --> 03:19:50,120 And so here we are going to go over there and say, hey, 2360 03:19:50,380 --> 03:19:52,040 give us millions of dollars. 2361 03:19:55,540 --> 03:19:58,060 But we ain't spent what they don't give us. 2362 03:19:58,060 --> 03:19:59,980 The 2363 03:20:00,000 --> 03:20:05,180 They're not going to give us money if we don't spend them. Now, I know I'm a county commissioner, 2364 03:20:05,800 --> 03:20:10,040 but I'm going to tell you the number one priority in Gaston County. At this point, I don't 2365 03:20:10,040 --> 03:20:13,680 know if there's any of me here or not, is the schools. 2366 03:20:15,920 --> 03:20:17,480 This money that we spend, we have 2367 03:20:17,480 --> 03:20:22,780 to figure out a way. I know you were a school board member and I know Ms. Holt, you were a teacher. 2368 03:20:23,260 --> 03:20:29,280 We have to figure out a way to work without high school to make them successful. 2369 03:20:30,120 --> 03:20:34,560 This one that we have these parties that I don't agree with, if you tell me we're doing 2370 03:20:34,560 --> 03:20:37,280 things for the high school, I'm with you. 2371 03:20:38,220 --> 03:20:42,420 If you tell me we're going to do things for the same citizens, I'm with you. 2372 03:20:42,960 --> 03:20:46,400 But we're not having a clue about that in the field, it may just be with it. 2373 03:20:46,980 --> 03:20:48,320 I'm just telling you how we're up front. 2374 03:20:49,780 --> 03:20:59,560 So the last thing that I'm going to say is, I ain't happy, and that's all I got to say about that. 2375 03:21:03,220 --> 03:21:20,120 Major, thank you so, then I like that because we need to make sure that regardless of the differences that we have with school systems, whatever, there's still a lot of kids, and we need to make sure, we've been sent forever, we got funds that go directly to the school board. 2376 03:21:20,960 --> 03:21:28,300 that we change the policy so that those tickets go to the school board so they can use them as drivers education, everything else. 2377 03:21:28,560 --> 03:21:35,020 So, we need to do more as an individual to as well, and as a community, because they have a children. 2378 03:21:35,500 --> 03:21:45,240 I would challenge chair, vice chair, you all go have that conversation on our behalf, I definitely do that. 2379 03:21:45,240 --> 03:21:53,960 And Mr. Chairman, I just say we went to the legislature for the money for the school. 2380 03:21:54,940 --> 03:22:00,660 It was the board of county commissioners who went out there knocked on the doors on their lobbyist for the new school. 2381 03:22:01,380 --> 03:22:03,320 So we're not uninvolved. 2382 03:22:03,460 --> 03:22:09,060 All right, we always want to have the kids and also to share the department everybody else too as well. 2383 03:22:09,580 --> 03:22:12,340 That was a collective effort, I want to thank, like you said, 2384 03:22:12,340 --> 03:22:15,620 But sometimes they forget about the kind of commission, so everybody forget about us. 2385 03:22:16,100 --> 03:22:19,960 But I think you said that, I mean, it was a collective effort throughout the whole country. 2386 03:22:20,300 --> 03:22:23,920 But I would love to see the schools, we can make an development. 2387 03:22:24,500 --> 03:22:30,720 See, they can put that school in remote location so that we can be able to get some, 2388 03:22:30,760 --> 03:22:36,300 get some flow of traffic going there so everybody can make some money out of that deal. 2389 03:22:36,300 --> 03:22:42,700 That's how you grow the county by putting them in an area where everybody can be up from that school. 2390 03:22:43,700 --> 03:22:45,560 Commissioner Ho, your next. 2391 03:22:45,820 --> 03:22:46,340 Yes, thank 2392 03:22:48,550 --> 03:22:49,370 you so much. 2393 03:22:51,230 --> 03:22:58,570 There have been some very powerful things said today, and I think that when everyone's watching and 2394 03:22:58,570 --> 03:23:03,070 they say at the end of it are they trying to fix some things. 2395 03:23:03,690 --> 03:23:07,430 At the end of all of this, are we trying to fix something? 2396 03:23:07,950 --> 03:23:10,370 But there's a problem, how are we going to fix it? 2397 03:23:10,570 --> 03:23:13,550 The good thing is that we bring everything to the forefront. 2398 03:23:14,250 --> 03:23:17,610 So no matter what we say, it's been said, it's recorded. 2399 03:23:18,110 --> 03:23:20,650 So we all know that there are things that work on. 2400 03:23:21,390 --> 03:23:29,550 Several of them are, excuse me, we're looking at, as I said, 2401 03:23:29,670 --> 03:23:31,530 those contracts have to be out. 2402 03:23:32,430 --> 03:23:36,190 These months have to be spent in a timely manner. 2403 03:23:36,710 --> 03:23:42,390 The federal lobbyist are the ones that got the extension twice for us on the 4.6 million. 2404 03:23:43,510 --> 03:23:48,450 So these things have to be done and so if we're going to fix something but let me say this. 2405 03:23:49,050 --> 03:23:53,610 I want to address this to the people in here that say look at Bainbridge. 2406 03:23:54,530 --> 03:23:56,290 I have had five brothers to work up there. 2407 03:23:56,810 --> 03:23:57,490 I've been up there. 2408 03:23:57,810 --> 03:23:58,570 I'm from Georgia. 2409 03:23:59,790 --> 03:24:02,330 So I understand the methodology there. 2410 03:24:02,330 --> 03:24:04,410 are also in the school system. 2411 03:24:04,550 --> 03:24:06,470 You see the type of schools they build 2412 03:24:06,470 --> 03:24:07,550 and where they build them at, 2413 03:24:07,690 --> 03:24:09,570 totally different, mindsets different. 2414 03:24:10,550 --> 03:24:11,290 Mindset's different. 2415 03:24:11,890 --> 03:24:13,290 So when we're looking at that, 2416 03:24:13,450 --> 03:24:14,970 with the change, I will mindset. 2417 03:24:15,870 --> 03:24:18,050 And when you hear from these people 2418 03:24:18,050 --> 03:24:19,030 that went on that trip, 2419 03:24:19,210 --> 03:24:21,770 the reason they're so into this 2420 03:24:21,770 --> 03:24:23,850 is because if you look on your phone 2421 03:24:23,850 --> 03:24:25,830 and look up Joe Max Higgins, 2422 03:24:25,970 --> 03:24:28,010 Mr. Anthony Baker's not back there, 2423 03:24:28,230 --> 03:24:29,950 but he went the first time that we went. 2424 03:24:29,950 --> 03:24:39,290 You look him up and you see 60 minutes, and he will show you exactly what he had to do to get those three counties in line. 2425 03:24:40,290 --> 03:24:48,390 Now get this, they had to meet seven days a week, you had a half day off for Sunday in order to go to church. 2426 03:24:48,930 --> 03:24:56,310 Three county commissions, the city commissions, the school boards, economic development teams, and the chambers. 2427 03:24:57,490 --> 03:24:59,790 And they were raising so much sand up there you would have. 2428 03:25:00,000 --> 03:25:29,980 You would have thought it was World War III, but it took them seven days a week, half day off on Sunday for almost three months. He said we must change your mindset. They hired him out of Arkansas, paid him $600,000. You go to 60 minutes, you'll see what we're talking about. You do not need a college degree for these jobs. You do not need a college degree. 2429 03:25:29,980 --> 03:25:36,840 But if you see the tech that they're using, high tech, AI, robotics, they had all of it. 2430 03:25:37,240 --> 03:25:39,320 They recruit from the school system. 2431 03:25:40,700 --> 03:25:45,300 When we went out there and this Thomas said you could not, we could not visit on Thursday 2432 03:25:45,300 --> 03:25:48,760 was because they had about 3,000 eighth graders out there. 2433 03:25:50,160 --> 03:25:51,920 They start recruiting from middle school. 2434 03:25:52,560 --> 03:25:57,560 When the fresh companies they brought in, they were killing cows, slaughtering cows and 2435 03:25:57,560 --> 03:25:57,900 hogs. 2436 03:25:57,900 --> 03:26:01,800 on a plant, almost 2500 people got laid off when it closed. 2437 03:26:02,640 --> 03:26:06,980 Those three counties got the galley, can't say because we're black, we can't do it. 2438 03:26:07,560 --> 03:26:08,900 Columbus County's predominantly black. 2439 03:26:09,680 --> 03:26:13,160 To a surrounding county's word, not low income. 2440 03:26:13,420 --> 03:26:17,260 When you see this black lady on that's talking about, she was on welfare, not she owns 2441 03:26:17,260 --> 03:26:18,540 her own home and everything. 2442 03:26:19,620 --> 03:26:22,120 And they went from nothing to something. 2443 03:26:22,600 --> 03:26:24,880 So that's why we have to look at these things. 2444 03:26:25,200 --> 03:26:26,340 Now we can do labor jobs. 2445 03:26:27,220 --> 03:26:30,820 We can do labor jobs, it's not going to pay anything, but we can do it. 2446 03:26:31,360 --> 03:26:36,800 But when you see that, they bought 10,000 acres starting out of cross-row in the middle 2447 03:26:36,800 --> 03:26:37,340 of the woods. 2448 03:26:38,480 --> 03:26:43,520 And when the guy said, I need water, sewer, electricity, commission, the handsome, and 2449 03:26:43,520 --> 03:26:47,300 that infrastructure in there, and that was almost 20 years ago. 2450 03:26:48,360 --> 03:26:51,220 They cut the food, they did everything. 2451 03:26:51,220 --> 03:26:56,700 while color county went up there we went the first time I went Liberty County 2452 03:26:56,700 --> 03:27:00,440 Franklin County Jackson County all those counties we got on the bus and we 2453 03:27:00,440 --> 03:27:06,480 went north up to Mississippi and when you see the mindset is totally different 2454 03:27:06,480 --> 03:27:12,760 he told them if I bring in someone into this county for to bring their business 2455 03:27:12,760 --> 03:27:18,220 here we need a hairdresser to know what the county's plan is we need to 2456 03:27:18,220 --> 03:27:22,060 a hairdresser to know what it's gonna take to be helpful. 2457 03:27:22,460 --> 03:27:26,200 What if he brings someone in and they want a haircut? 2458 03:27:26,780 --> 03:27:29,120 He said, a barber needs to know, the grocery store. 2459 03:27:29,620 --> 03:27:31,380 But I'm gonna tell you this, this was something. 2460 03:27:32,300 --> 03:27:35,060 They went from killing cows to building toyotas. 2461 03:27:37,220 --> 03:27:38,580 And I asked them at what they called them, 2462 03:27:38,740 --> 03:27:40,420 during that time they called it community diversity. 2463 03:27:40,820 --> 03:27:42,460 They took the junior college and 2464 03:27:42,460 --> 03:27:46,500 changed it into a training facility for those businesses. 2465 03:27:47,060 --> 03:27:56,020 And I asked the instructor Dean there, I said, how did you, how did you train them from slaughterhouse to building cars? 2466 03:27:56,400 --> 03:27:59,340 He said, commission the whole, they didn't have to know how to build a car. 2467 03:27:59,960 --> 03:28:03,460 You said all they had to do was work their station, their car is going to come back. 2468 03:28:04,700 --> 03:28:14,700 You have people that are at pack car, that plan is so large, when you see it, three to one, three to four, three to one, I'm sorry, four people, three to one. 2469 03:28:15,500 --> 03:28:22,740 Black people and poor people, white people, and some expense, building cars, putting those 2470 03:28:22,740 --> 03:28:23,540 motors together. 2471 03:28:23,940 --> 03:28:26,400 Didn't have the robots in the department with the big robots. 2472 03:28:27,100 --> 03:28:30,180 You still only needed a high school diploma or a GED. 2473 03:28:32,120 --> 03:28:37,360 So all we're asking is give us an opportunity to get some of our people, some of those jobs. 2474 03:28:37,480 --> 03:28:38,340 That's all we're asking for. 2475 03:28:38,900 --> 03:28:44,000 Now, they have FedEx there, they have a steel mill there that's so large it takes five and 2476 03:28:44,000 --> 03:28:49,260 four and a half hours just to walk it. They're building an aluminum plant. The building by 2477 03:28:49,260 --> 03:28:58,440 South Sean is a quarter of a mile long. These are working people and they started from a cross 2478 03:28:58,440 --> 03:29:02,640 road and it gave them the devil because you know what he said they said. 2479 03:29:05,040 --> 03:29:06,120 He said I need an 2480 03:29:06,120 --> 03:29:12,100 airstrip beside that intersection and they said well why does he need an airstrip? He's 2481 03:29:12,100 --> 03:29:14,800 because the people I deal with, they do not drive, they fly. 2482 03:29:16,160 --> 03:29:18,180 See, his mindset was different. 2483 03:29:18,900 --> 03:29:22,260 But what we have is saying that, now you can get in a car, 2484 03:29:22,380 --> 03:29:23,580 you can go to a bandage, you go to work. 2485 03:29:24,640 --> 03:29:26,900 You can get in a car and catch a bus and go to a car. 2486 03:29:27,080 --> 03:29:28,580 We payin' for it. 2487 03:29:29,300 --> 03:29:31,080 The citizens payin' for that bus every day. 2488 03:29:31,840 --> 03:29:34,260 You can go to Amazon and go to work until I ask it. 2489 03:29:35,140 --> 03:29:38,760 But what you cannot do is bring those tech jobs here 2490 03:29:38,760 --> 03:29:40,540 unless you go after them. 2491 03:29:42,040 --> 03:29:43,420 So that's the difference. 2492 03:29:43,740 --> 03:29:46,620 If you're 17 years old and you graduate from high school, 2493 03:29:47,000 --> 03:29:48,640 the drug dealers pay better than we do. 2494 03:29:49,700 --> 03:29:50,500 They just do. 2495 03:29:52,440 --> 03:29:55,240 So you got teenagers out there trying to sell drugs 2496 03:29:55,240 --> 03:29:58,340 when we could be getting them into these training programs 2497 03:29:58,340 --> 03:29:59,960 and have them make them... 2498 03:30:00,000 --> 03:30:11,880 I want to be some living because the minimum wage would not get you a house. So that's how we're asking for. That's why we didn't take the trip because we want to spend the money. I don't like riding six hours on the bus. 2499 03:30:14,160 --> 03:30:30,860 It's not fun. But I tried this. I went 10 years ago. Guess what he told me when I walked in the door? What did he do? Miss Thomas? What did Joe Maizoo? Hey, Brian, that hug. Why? I told him, he said it's been 10 years. I said, we move a little slower and gas than counting. We should have been up there. 2500 03:30:31,800 --> 03:30:35,020 training, sending four and five people, but we didn't do it. 2501 03:30:35,760 --> 03:30:37,320 So now we have to do it. 2502 03:30:37,400 --> 03:30:38,400 That's all I'm asking for. 2503 03:30:38,920 --> 03:30:43,260 Give our kids an opportunity, so thank you much. 2504 03:30:43,860 --> 03:30:48,780 Thank you, Mr. County Commissioner Cream. 2505 03:30:49,360 --> 03:30:49,820 Thank you, sir. 2506 03:30:50,540 --> 03:30:52,480 All right, let me start off with a positive note. 2507 03:30:53,020 --> 03:30:57,380 Let's start off by saying congratulations to our mighty jaguars of gas and 2508 03:30:57,380 --> 03:31:01,580 and high for going to the next level of the playoffs. 2509 03:31:02,440 --> 03:31:05,360 So we definitely want to congratulate that, 2510 03:31:05,840 --> 03:31:08,100 and we want to not just congratulate it, 2511 03:31:08,100 --> 03:31:09,480 but to support it if we can. 2512 03:31:09,600 --> 03:31:11,540 I had the opportunity to go to the game on last week, 2513 03:31:11,900 --> 03:31:14,960 and it was a little cold, but I enjoy fellowship 2514 03:31:14,960 --> 03:31:16,720 and with our kids and encouraging them 2515 03:31:16,720 --> 03:31:18,340 and had the opportunity to even go on the field. 2516 03:31:18,900 --> 03:31:22,560 So seeing our faces, it does bring a sense of community 2517 03:31:23,220 --> 03:31:24,340 here for our county. 2518 03:31:24,340 --> 03:31:28,960 And I'm glad that you're talking about that trip or some of you made mention of that trip 2519 03:31:29,620 --> 03:31:34,720 Because I don't know why we continue to have the same issues from across the street. I don't get it 2520 03:31:34,720 --> 03:31:35,500 I'm sick of it 2521 03:31:36,020 --> 03:31:40,280 But we need to make an official motion so that they can pay the bill from that trip 2522 03:31:40,280 --> 03:31:47,780 So I like to make a motion that that bill is paid for the trip that we took that we already have approved of taking so I need to make that motion 2523 03:31:48,420 --> 03:31:50,200 I'll second. Thank you 2524 03:31:50,200 --> 03:31:55,780 The endboards, the endboards hadn't been paid to say that it hadn't properly came to the board for payment 2525 03:31:55,780 --> 03:32:00,840 So I just want to make sure that we properly get that endboards paid. I believe it's $7,800. 2526 03:32:01,740 --> 03:32:05,600 Okay, yes sir, but there's a bill that needs to be paid. 2527 03:32:05,660 --> 03:32:07,340 We have a motion to second all in favor, sir. 2528 03:32:07,680 --> 03:32:08,000 Aye. 2529 03:32:08,340 --> 03:32:09,060 You don't want to pose? 2530 03:32:09,860 --> 03:32:10,260 No. 2531 03:32:10,920 --> 03:32:13,560 I don't have it, so I'm not going to vote for what I don't know. 2532 03:32:13,800 --> 03:32:14,080 No problem. 2533 03:32:14,440 --> 03:32:19,580 Okay, I'll tell you what, what we would do then, we'll just hold out to get all the information 2534 03:32:19,580 --> 03:32:30,220 Okay, we got a motion to second, okay, against any parents anyway, but we got a motion to second, but it's, I guess you guys, we can go vote on if you want to. 2535 03:32:30,380 --> 03:32:31,040 We already voted. 2536 03:32:32,360 --> 03:32:34,340 You voted yes, it was so it's 31. 2537 03:32:34,720 --> 03:32:35,620 Okay, well, let's go. 2538 03:32:36,500 --> 03:32:37,020 Thank you. 2539 03:32:37,300 --> 03:32:37,680 Motion approved. 2540 03:32:38,400 --> 03:32:38,940 Thank you. 2541 03:32:40,640 --> 03:32:41,360 Thank you. 2542 03:32:42,140 --> 03:32:46,710 Okay, so, thank you. 2543 03:32:46,710 --> 03:33:15,110 Update on the Boys and Girls Club, and that may come from the attorney, I'm not sure, but we've been asking for some information for Boys and Girls Club, and we've been talking about funding spending money that has already been given to us on to make sure that we are moving as quick as we can, and the people can know that we're moving as quick as we can so that you can give some updates on that contract or what we're going as it relates to the Boys and Girls Club, and that can come from that administrator or the attorney, Mr. Chairman. 2544 03:33:16,470 --> 03:33:24,430 Mr. Chairman, as the attorney said, we're just waiting on that contract to get back. 2545 03:33:25,130 --> 03:33:29,210 We have been moving in the meantime with some other pieces but we need that to get back 2546 03:33:29,210 --> 03:33:29,690 to us. 2547 03:33:30,510 --> 03:33:30,710 Okay. 2548 03:33:31,990 --> 03:33:37,610 Just an additional clarification, I've had a conversation with the City Attorney and we've 2549 03:33:37,610 --> 03:33:44,450 agreed and this county administrator, we've agreed on concepts and now we're in the drafting 2550 03:33:45,550 --> 03:33:56,130 Thank you so much, and I've had a conversation with you as it relates to it, but I also had a few questions from people that were asking as well, so I wanted to make sure that that was publicly noted. 2551 03:33:56,810 --> 03:34:08,470 I also like to, I know that we're getting ready for the holidays, which is next Thursday, will be Thanksgiving, and I know that the governor has already granted, I think, the state wins the off. 2552 03:34:08,470 --> 03:34:16,590 So I would like to make a motion that we are granted grant a wins the off of the 27th of November for our employees as well 2553 03:34:17,350 --> 03:34:18,210 That's my motion 2554 03:34:21,350 --> 03:34:29,730 What about what about the public work center for everybody but what about let me just ask them just pose a question here because 2555 03:34:29,730 --> 03:34:32,410 No, sometimes we're gonna make sure I see the look and still look nice 2556 03:34:32,410 --> 03:34:35,930 You know doing hurricane season when when they go out doing this time 2557 03:34:35,930 --> 03:34:42,370 I'm just throwing some out, just an idea when they go out, if they choose to get overtime or whatever it is. 2558 03:34:42,790 --> 03:34:45,970 So they decide that they want to agree with that, then they can come out. 2559 03:34:46,290 --> 03:34:47,110 We keep a skeleton. 2560 03:34:47,330 --> 03:34:48,390 You got to work, yes sir. 2561 03:34:48,410 --> 03:34:49,990 Because you may get kind of messed up sometimes. 2562 03:34:50,090 --> 03:34:50,410 Yes sir. 2563 03:34:50,830 --> 03:34:55,170 We want to make sure to keep the kind of clean, but they just get paid extra pay for coming out there. 2564 03:34:55,630 --> 03:34:56,370 Yes sir, all right, cool. 2565 03:34:57,070 --> 03:34:59,930 All right, okay, we have motion to say. 2566 03:35:00,000 --> 03:35:17,860 Second, all the people, sir? And one of the polls? All right. We have five of both. Thank you. Finally, I would like to make sure that we're making the appropriate recognition for Mr. Dill Summerford, who is a tax collector for many years. 2567 03:35:20,120 --> 03:35:29,980 Well, we need to have some conversation on which direction, because what we want to do, and we don't have to do it tonight, but we also have Miss Shirley Green Knight, who we need to make sure 2568 03:35:29,980 --> 03:35:59,520 I'm sure that we're honoring at some point and I would also like to have conversation on the legalities and I'll talk to the attorney about it or the process of even possible against some buildings names change because these people have served for a long time in this county and they have served consistently and they have been honest in their serving hood in this county but I do want to make sure that we start giving that some attention real soon I believe that those jobs may take effect or changes officially in January so we have a 2569 03:35:59,520 --> 03:36:01,780 a little time for some conversation to have that. 2570 03:36:01,940 --> 03:36:02,940 So that's all I have for tonight. 2571 03:36:03,460 --> 03:36:04,980 Thank you again, welcome aboard. 2572 03:36:05,720 --> 03:36:06,440 Commissioner Wood. 2573 03:36:06,820 --> 03:36:08,260 Are you putting that in form of a motion? 2574 03:36:08,700 --> 03:36:12,100 Well, I want to have a discussion at a later time 2575 03:36:12,100 --> 03:36:14,260 on how, because I don't want it just to be a motion 2576 03:36:14,260 --> 03:36:15,920 or just something that we do. 2577 03:36:16,020 --> 03:36:17,240 These people have served for a long time. 2578 03:36:17,820 --> 03:36:19,780 And we did to make sure that they go down in history 2579 03:36:19,780 --> 03:36:21,360 as great servants of this county. 2580 03:36:22,320 --> 03:36:25,540 So we can definitely have a more detailed conversation. 2581 03:36:26,200 --> 03:36:28,440 Again, I want to make sure that I offer my congratulations 2582 03:36:28,440 --> 03:36:47,020 relations again to Major Wood who I am looking forward to continuing to work with even if there are disagreements it as well as it has always been on this board also congratulations to our new chairman of the board and I will discuss my reasons for my note but with him personally but thank you. 2583 03:36:47,020 --> 03:36:47,460 Okay. 2584 03:36:49,640 --> 03:36:51,280 I didn't realize you voted no. 2585 03:36:51,340 --> 03:36:51,600 I did. 2586 03:36:51,600 --> 03:36:51,640 I'm not a little bit scared. 2587 03:36:55,020 --> 03:36:55,980 Are we good, though? 2588 03:36:56,140 --> 03:36:56,400 We're good. 2589 03:36:56,500 --> 03:36:57,560 I'm not motivated, do you? 2590 03:36:58,900 --> 03:37:01,060 So I wrote a non-lubian, in a way, somebody else. 2591 03:37:01,120 --> 03:37:02,780 Yeah, I had to get you in the right quit. 2592 03:37:02,980 --> 03:37:03,720 Well, thank you, though. 2593 03:37:04,960 --> 03:37:06,100 For God's good, man. 2594 03:37:07,040 --> 03:37:08,200 Commissioner, you finished? 2595 03:37:08,640 --> 03:37:09,200 I'm done. Yes. 2596 03:37:09,440 --> 03:37:11,840 You know, sometime you got to be nice regardless. 2597 03:37:13,180 --> 03:37:15,600 You will, my grandmother always told me, 2598 03:37:15,660 --> 03:37:18,740 you could get more flies with honey than with vinegar. 2599 03:37:19,500 --> 03:37:24,160 And so I always try to be nice regardless, and through 2600 03:37:24,160 --> 03:37:29,560 precious situations, you still got to be nice. 2601 03:37:30,280 --> 03:37:31,780 You got something to go home and cry sometimes. 2602 03:37:31,880 --> 03:37:32,480 I'm a grown man. 2603 03:37:32,600 --> 03:37:33,400 I play at cry sometimes. 2604 03:37:33,640 --> 03:37:34,520 I'm happy we treat sometimes. 2605 03:37:35,120 --> 03:37:36,640 But you still got to treat people with kindness. 2606 03:37:37,580 --> 03:37:39,420 And because we're happy we represent kids. 2607 03:37:40,200 --> 03:37:43,220 These folks, probably look at these, look at this stuff, man. 2608 03:37:43,360 --> 03:37:44,200 They look at us. 2609 03:37:44,720 --> 03:37:47,060 They don't need to see us. 2610 03:37:50,890 --> 03:37:55,510 going out to each other, we got too much stuff going on with community, making the sheriff 2611 03:37:55,510 --> 03:38:00,810 and his deputies and colonels doing a difficult job, because they see us acting that way, 2612 03:38:00,910 --> 03:38:02,390 then they don't think they can do the same thing. 2613 03:38:06,570 --> 03:38:08,470 So, I kind of brushed things off. 2614 03:38:09,410 --> 03:38:14,190 I'm a quick, I'm a quick, he will commission a whole set early for some people. 2615 03:38:14,230 --> 03:38:16,070 They'll probably start crying a little tonight, right? 2616 03:38:16,070 --> 03:38:21,570 But for me personally, I was prepared for this moment. 2617 03:38:24,220 --> 03:38:26,740 I went through hell and back to the gas, take my bag. 2618 03:38:26,900 --> 03:38:30,300 I'm a coach, though, I was playing football at an infigene. 2619 03:38:30,580 --> 03:38:36,760 He said all the time, when I was younger, then God put me through so 2620 03:38:36,760 --> 03:38:39,420 many tests during that time to commission the whole. 2621 03:38:39,500 --> 03:38:43,680 So what people said, I tell kids all the time, you just can't worry about it. 2622 03:38:44,160 --> 03:38:46,280 You got a lot of kids, commit suicide, I mean. 2623 03:38:46,280 --> 03:38:53,600 Yeah, we got to be careful about Facebook bullying and going to send those in your windows and stuff because I you know 2624 03:38:53,600 --> 03:38:55,600 I had some challenges myself when I was young 2625 03:38:57,020 --> 03:39:02,140 But God blessed me he put me the opportunity to grow through that group and meet with great people 2626 03:39:02,140 --> 03:39:04,020 So I can overcome those things 2627 03:39:04,020 --> 03:39:08,320 That's why I love kids so much because I remember me when I was a little boy 2628 03:39:08,840 --> 03:39:13,260 So I moved a motion that we fired Mr. Dixon right now and 2629 03:39:13,260 --> 03:39:16,780 And move in a different direction. 2630 03:39:17,340 --> 03:39:18,460 Do I have a second on the floor? 2631 03:39:19,300 --> 03:39:19,660 Second. 2632 03:39:21,830 --> 03:39:23,290 Okay, we have a motion and a second. 2633 03:39:24,310 --> 03:39:25,530 I will have a discussion. 2634 03:39:28,970 --> 03:39:34,690 As I said before, when I got on the board, I didn't worry about who that administrator was nor the attorney. 2635 03:39:36,410 --> 03:39:40,630 And I said in that audience almost a year and watched. 2636 03:39:41,710 --> 03:39:44,370 So I did not have a problem with that. 2637 03:39:44,370 --> 03:39:50,070 because I knew once I got in the seat, I learned a seat and what the process was 2638 03:39:50,070 --> 03:39:59,650 in order to do things. So I do not feel that that's a good idea. I do not feel 2639 03:40:00,000 --> 03:40:29,060 Good idea. And there's a reason why. We need to look at how you're going to make any type of transition if you're going to do that. How would that transition transition look like? What would it look like? Another thing also is that we had a lot of problems before. With two or three of our administrators. And so it was nothing 2640 03:40:29,060 --> 03:40:38,260 that we could remedy. And that's why I have a problem with this going on, as I said before. 2641 03:40:38,900 --> 03:40:43,040 The last time we advertised, the young lady out of Atlanta should have had their job. 2642 03:40:43,640 --> 03:40:49,500 She should have been that administrator. The one from Doaton that was living in Lauderdale, 2643 03:40:49,860 --> 03:40:55,160 he was a second choice. They were the most qualified people for this job. But that boy would 2644 03:40:55,160 --> 03:41:06,320 not choose either one of the qualified people they did so what we did we went after some 2645 03:41:06,320 --> 03:41:12,400 of us Mr. Dixon because we did not we did not do what we should have done the first 2646 03:41:12,400 --> 03:41:20,280 time people chose their friend there's no friends in this Mr. Dixon to tell you I tell 2647 03:41:20,280 --> 03:41:21,420 tell him about himself. 2648 03:41:24,010 --> 03:41:28,950 Mr. James, you know I cuss, I don't care if I cuss. So the things 2649 03:41:28,950 --> 03:41:33,450 that I get on him about, I get on people about. And I want them to be frank with me and 2650 03:41:33,450 --> 03:41:41,610 tell me what they think about me. But what I am saying is this, you need to know what's 2651 03:41:41,610 --> 03:41:46,990 going on in the county. Come in and sit down and go through there. Don't listen to a commissioner. 2652 03:41:46,990 --> 03:41:54,330 don't listen to me. Come and sit down and go through and see what's going on because 2653 03:41:54,330 --> 03:41:59,350 we have commissioners right now that think they can call the housing department and tell 2654 03:41:59,350 --> 03:42:05,050 them to build someone's house and fix someone's house on state and federal money when that's 2655 03:42:05,050 --> 03:42:11,750 illegal. They do it almost every other week, but they've done it before and I tell people 2656 03:42:11,750 --> 03:42:17,570 all the time. And my aide can tell you the same thing I tell him. Do not do that because 2657 03:42:18,080 --> 03:42:23,090 this is illegal. You don't do that. We're not supposed to decide which person gets 2658 03:42:23,090 --> 03:42:30,270 something of which one does not. So I don't think we're doing bad. I do think that we 2659 03:42:30,270 --> 03:42:35,770 can use some improvements. Now I believe that. I believe that with my heart because I can 2660 03:42:35,770 --> 03:42:37,070 make some improvements myself. 2661 03:42:38,490 --> 03:42:40,690 But I do not believe that's a good decision 2662 03:42:40,690 --> 03:42:41,570 for this boy. 2663 03:42:42,710 --> 03:42:43,810 It's simply because of that. 2664 03:42:43,930 --> 03:42:45,210 When I hear people talking about parties, 2665 03:42:45,770 --> 03:42:47,250 that was your bicentennial. 2666 03:42:48,030 --> 03:42:50,750 That's why you were having all those activities last year. 2667 03:42:51,750 --> 03:42:54,070 I don't remember a party, but Leon County's 2668 03:42:54,070 --> 03:42:56,230 doing that right now because it's their bicentennial. 2669 03:42:57,210 --> 03:42:59,510 All the other counties will be doing the same thing, 2670 03:43:00,250 --> 03:43:02,310 simply because they want tourists to come. 2671 03:43:03,670 --> 03:43:07,330 They want people to come and visit their county because it's been money. 2672 03:43:08,390 --> 03:43:11,970 But as I said before, I do not believe that's a good idea. 2673 03:43:12,590 --> 03:43:17,710 Not because of friendship, because we have to keep the county running. 2674 03:43:20,090 --> 03:43:25,050 Not unintelligently, but you have to have a process in place. 2675 03:43:26,550 --> 03:43:28,850 That's what we need in place. 2676 03:43:29,470 --> 03:43:31,250 So I do not believe that's a good idea. 2677 03:43:31,250 --> 03:43:32,310 Yeah, thank you, Mr. Jim. 2678 03:43:32,810 --> 03:43:34,710 I thank you very much, Mr. Krueger. 2679 03:43:35,290 --> 03:43:40,350 Yes, thank you, and she pretty much stated the last thing that she stated is in reference to a process. 2680 03:43:41,230 --> 03:43:46,170 I do believe in that, and the two, especially one commission in particular, always talk about process. 2681 03:43:46,690 --> 03:43:52,810 And I would like for us to come up with the process and find out what the, whichever issues are. 2682 03:43:53,450 --> 03:43:57,410 And what's next, like if you make this call, what is next? 2683 03:43:58,090 --> 03:44:03,350 who's going to take this position come tomorrow, what's the plan? 2684 03:44:03,930 --> 03:44:07,310 I mean, and that's a question that needs to be answered tonight. 2685 03:44:07,790 --> 03:44:10,710 If for the ones who make the motion in seconded, what's the plan? 2686 03:44:11,050 --> 03:44:14,870 Like, I do believe in the next go around when the contract is up, 2687 03:44:15,030 --> 03:44:17,250 or six months prior to the contract being up, 2688 03:44:17,370 --> 03:44:20,830 I hope I don't even agree that we should publicly advertise the position. 2689 03:44:21,590 --> 03:44:23,870 And we should do a nationwide search. 2690 03:44:23,870 --> 03:44:31,330 We should have community input on it as it relates to the selection of a county administrator because again, we did not do that 2691 03:44:31,910 --> 03:44:37,610 prior to to to having Mr. Dixon and I think that Mr. Dixon should be given an opportunity to apply 2692 03:44:37,610 --> 03:44:44,790 whomever wants to apply should be given an opportunity to apply but changing hands all of the time 2693 03:44:44,790 --> 03:44:51,210 We're never going to get anywhere and it is so disheartening that we continue to just change hands 2694 03:44:51,210 --> 03:44:53,710 every time we see a new face on the board. 2695 03:44:54,150 --> 03:44:56,390 That's it, and we talk about growth, 2696 03:44:56,450 --> 03:44:57,330 we talk about development, 2697 03:44:57,590 --> 03:44:58,790 we're talking about moving forward. 2698 03:44:59,310 --> 03:44:59,730 And yeah. 2699 03:45:00,000 --> 03:45:29,440 I'm sorry, I just cannot passionately, and it has nothing to do with Mr. Dixon. I don't, you know, I don't know him on the level outside of this board. I just want things to be done the right and the best of our ability of it being done the right way. Come on, guys, we keep talking about moving forward. But then we're going to be stopped. Let's be realistic. And again, if there's a process in place, I'm going to hold her and support that process. I would love to have to see what else is out there. 2700 03:45:29,440 --> 03:45:33,440 as they're not nothing, no disrespect to him, but I would like to see what other opportunities 2701 03:45:33,440 --> 03:45:39,720 that we may have, that we did not look for it, we know prior to this, talking about 2702 03:45:39,720 --> 03:45:47,100 being fair, loving people, supporting people and having processes, let's just take that 2703 03:45:47,100 --> 03:45:51,900 into consideration and I already have an idea to where this is going, but I just want to 2704 03:45:51,900 --> 03:45:54,580 let that get that out of my spirit, so I'm done. 2705 03:45:58,440 --> 03:46:04,820 But you know what, just for sort of, so everyone will notice, 2706 03:46:08,340 --> 03:46:10,800 we, two months ago, before you got here, 2707 03:46:11,640 --> 03:46:16,680 let's do two months ago, maybe about four to five days ago, I'm not sure how many days go, 2708 03:46:16,740 --> 03:46:21,620 I can't get the second number, this board fired the attorney immediately. 2709 03:46:22,800 --> 03:46:25,740 In fact, just like that, they got rid of them. 2710 03:46:26,020 --> 03:46:28,260 So they did that. 2711 03:46:28,440 --> 03:46:30,160 I'm not trying to argue with the situation. 2712 03:46:30,600 --> 03:46:32,260 I don't have no personal things. 2713 03:46:32,440 --> 03:46:34,020 Sometimes it'd be a philosophical differences 2714 03:46:34,020 --> 03:46:35,580 or whatever it'd become, right? 2715 03:46:36,200 --> 03:46:38,800 I'm in the person, but my direct and his direct is not going 2716 03:46:38,800 --> 03:46:39,180 to direct ways. 2717 03:46:39,360 --> 03:46:41,340 I don't have to explain anything. 2718 03:46:41,840 --> 03:46:45,140 It's great for us not to explain to explain anything 2719 03:46:45,140 --> 03:46:48,020 because of situations that may occur. 2720 03:46:52,060 --> 03:46:56,700 I mean, I think the thing you said that kind of struck me the most is you said transition. 2721 03:46:58,120 --> 03:47:00,680 And that's what I said in mind I was not allowed to transition. 2722 03:47:01,740 --> 03:47:02,560 I did it for me. 2723 03:47:03,740 --> 03:47:04,800 There was none of this. 2724 03:47:05,600 --> 03:47:07,660 It was like this is what we're doing. 2725 03:47:08,940 --> 03:47:10,800 I felt like it put me out of place. 2726 03:47:12,260 --> 03:47:13,840 I would say we're headed a long time. 2727 03:47:14,840 --> 03:47:20,160 But the same lawyer that we're talking about is the same one that you introduced me to 2728 03:47:20,160 --> 03:47:27,000 and said, he's one of the sharpest young lawyers around, and you, him, and I, and Dr. Cooksy, 2729 03:47:27,360 --> 03:47:32,100 worked through COVID in a minority county that was a total disaster and we figured out 2730 03:47:32,100 --> 03:47:32,820 how to get it done. 2731 03:47:34,600 --> 03:47:41,990 But over the last few months, as we've really started looking at this, I told you I had 2732 03:47:41,990 --> 03:47:42,350 concern. 2733 03:47:43,190 --> 03:47:48,350 And I think you're good do I really do and I realize I am the third vote 2734 03:47:49,230 --> 03:47:54,130 And I wanted to say that publicly. I'm not afraid of it. I am going to speak my piece 2735 03:47:55,190 --> 03:47:59,290 And I am the third vote convention as much as I love y'all I'm telling you 2736 03:48:00,150 --> 03:48:03,070 But I will listen to whatever y'all can say to convince me 2737 03:48:05,040 --> 03:48:09,040 All right, we have okay. We got a motion one called a question real quick 2738 03:48:10,460 --> 03:48:14,460 she said called the question, she's on person here, so we have a vote on the question. 2739 03:48:14,900 --> 03:48:19,480 A commission that we have hands up still, you still have to recognize us. 2740 03:48:19,600 --> 03:48:22,460 Okay, go ahead, which one you guys want to speak. 2741 03:48:22,980 --> 03:48:24,280 All right, he's going to go pretty good. 2742 03:48:24,380 --> 03:48:27,220 No, no, no, no, I mean, I just want to bring clarity on the- 2743 03:48:27,220 --> 03:48:30,300 I'm just trying to move the meeting, that's all right, I know you ain't doing that. 2744 03:48:30,540 --> 03:48:37,260 All right, commission, now I've been where you are, my point is as it relates to the attorney process, 2745 03:48:37,260 --> 03:48:48,160 I just want that transparency to also be out there, that we know that that was a contract that was ended in February, that we was on a month to month contract. 2746 03:48:48,360 --> 03:48:56,720 We didn't just fire a firm, and it wasn't the attorney, it was a firm that did not, are you speaking to Mr. Knows? 2747 03:48:57,420 --> 03:48:58,220 I know. 2748 03:48:59,160 --> 03:48:59,380 Let me know. 2749 03:48:59,940 --> 03:49:00,280 Let me know. 2750 03:49:00,440 --> 03:49:00,580 Please. 2751 03:49:00,940 --> 03:49:07,740 Only because of the fact that it wasn't that it was a firm that did not reapply for the 2752 03:49:07,740 --> 03:49:08,020 job. 2753 03:49:08,760 --> 03:49:09,280 Let's be clear. 2754 03:49:09,380 --> 03:49:11,020 The people in front did not reapply for the job. 2755 03:49:13,040 --> 03:49:16,380 So in my opinion, we didn't fire the firm. 2756 03:49:17,000 --> 03:49:18,340 The firm did not reapply. 2757 03:49:18,520 --> 03:49:20,340 And I just wanted to bring that clarity. 2758 03:49:20,460 --> 03:49:20,820 That's all. 2759 03:49:20,980 --> 03:49:22,160 I mean, that's all I think. 2760 03:49:22,360 --> 03:49:23,040 I think we should. 2761 03:49:23,160 --> 03:49:24,200 Thank you. 2762 03:49:24,300 --> 03:49:25,000 Appreciate you, Commissioner. 2763 03:49:27,660 --> 03:49:34,760 Yes, you said clarify one thing on the attorney, that contract was already up and that happened 2764 03:49:34,760 --> 03:49:35,940 at the beginning of the year. 2765 03:49:36,600 --> 03:49:41,840 So that's what we did and that's why even in that transition period, there was plenty 2766 03:49:41,840 --> 03:49:48,820 of time to turn those contracts over the information over, to look at it, at least get some 2767 03:49:48,820 --> 03:49:54,320 some of those contracts done in the interim before we looked at anyone else. 2768 03:49:54,820 --> 03:49:59,980 As I said, when I spoke to the federal lobbyist and he said, you know, this... 2769 03:50:00,000 --> 03:50:28,840 This date's coming up on the congressman, former congressman now, only $4.6 million. They said that that has to be done. If not, you're going to lose the money. So I spoke with the federal lobbyist. I said, would you please see if you can save it. So those are the things that I look at. Waiting on, like I said, I'm going to you and I spoke. I said that these are some things that we need to look at. 2770 03:50:29,460 --> 03:50:41,120 But I cannot say that someone doesn't deserve to get some help and their neighborhood because we failed on a grant or on a contract. 2771 03:50:41,660 --> 03:50:55,140 I can't say that. That's why I call Mr. Pittman. And I said, Mr. Pittman, can you look at these things? Okay. So that's what I did. But what I wanted to say is this, if you have three votes, you're going to have your vote. 2772 03:50:55,140 --> 03:50:56,740 That's not the issue. 2773 03:50:57,260 --> 03:51:04,360 The issue with me is that even though Mr. Dixon and I have had several disagreements, 2774 03:51:06,200 --> 03:51:09,820 he did more than the last two administrators we had. 2775 03:51:10,560 --> 03:51:11,280 And that's true. 2776 03:51:12,560 --> 03:51:13,080 That's true. 2777 03:51:13,580 --> 03:51:14,540 I look at the evidence. 2778 03:51:15,220 --> 03:51:15,820 I'm a mathematician. 2779 03:51:15,820 --> 03:51:21,180 I'm going to look at what does the evidence say when we can get those employees to make 2780 03:51:21,180 --> 03:51:21,760 sure money. 2781 03:51:23,580 --> 03:51:27,080 They started figuring out how to get them a bonus, how do we get them some money? 2782 03:51:27,360 --> 03:51:28,240 What do we need to do? 2783 03:51:29,140 --> 03:51:34,180 We had to go back and get money for the deputies, because there was no money there, and 2784 03:51:34,180 --> 03:51:36,660 the government said, you're going to have to raise that salary. 2785 03:51:36,820 --> 03:51:41,220 We did that, but we had to make sure we had money to pay them after that year. 2786 03:51:42,520 --> 03:51:44,780 So there have been several things that we've done. 2787 03:51:45,260 --> 03:51:49,420 Some of them that we could have done better, but let me tell you this much. 2788 03:51:50,180 --> 03:51:54,340 It was a lot worse when I came. 2789 03:51:56,040 --> 03:52:00,220 It was a lot worse, but everyone seemed happy. 2790 03:52:00,340 --> 03:52:04,240 Can we have quiet, it's important, I'd like to hear what you say. 2791 03:52:04,740 --> 03:52:10,360 Oh, it's whoever talking, please give me some respect. 2792 03:52:10,980 --> 03:52:18,260 No, but the reason I'm saying that is because you had to know how things were going when 2793 03:52:18,260 --> 03:52:21,560 when you came in, we couldn't even get to the podium 2794 03:52:21,560 --> 03:52:24,380 and speak like you're doing now, okay? 2795 03:52:25,020 --> 03:52:26,620 You couldn't go up there and speak on issues, 2796 03:52:26,780 --> 03:52:28,860 got to say this is a board issue, they stopped you, 2797 03:52:28,860 --> 03:52:31,780 you couldn't speak, and so we had to try, 2798 03:52:31,900 --> 03:52:33,900 did you get work hard to get that change? 2799 03:52:34,960 --> 03:52:37,600 You could not come to this commission 2800 03:52:37,600 --> 03:52:40,460 and say I want to get this on the agenda, wouldn't happen. 2801 03:52:41,700 --> 03:52:43,640 And if you were new like, you're new, 2802 03:52:44,260 --> 03:52:47,020 they wouldn't even let you add anything to their agenda. 2803 03:52:48,360 --> 03:52:54,160 So when you're looking at those things and if you were like you say you've been to a lot of black churches 2804 03:52:54,700 --> 03:52:58,360 Those black communities couldn't get anything. It couldn't get roles paved 2805 03:52:58,900 --> 03:53:06,180 They couldn't get them it wasn't gonna happen and I had to go along with to Orlando and 2806 03:53:06,920 --> 03:53:13,500 And in a workshop and ask for bond money. How did we bond money? How do we get it kind of came back said we don't bond money 2807 03:53:14,640 --> 03:53:17,940 How do we pay even those neighborhoods where the people can't even get out? 2808 03:53:18,200 --> 03:53:19,640 It's so murder to go to work. 2809 03:53:20,720 --> 03:53:25,740 It had not been for Bill McGill on this board and Ed Dixon, 2810 03:53:25,980 --> 03:53:28,420 we would not, those neighborhoods still wouldn't have paid them. 2811 03:53:30,020 --> 03:53:32,420 So that's the kind of stuff that I'm talking about. 2812 03:53:33,300 --> 03:53:37,180 And to say that, okay, we're just going to do this and 2813 03:53:37,800 --> 03:53:41,640 certain people can be disrespectful and the others don't have to be, you know, 2814 03:53:41,640 --> 03:53:43,460 That doesn't make any sense. 2815 03:53:44,420 --> 03:53:47,620 It makes sense if the county is moving like it should. 2816 03:53:48,160 --> 03:53:53,800 And if it doesn't, then once you get the seat and sit down and go do these things and 2817 03:53:53,800 --> 03:53:54,800 see what's going on. 2818 03:53:55,380 --> 03:53:58,360 And then say, hey, look, we no longer need your services. 2819 03:53:58,680 --> 03:53:59,500 That's all I'm saying. 2820 03:53:59,900 --> 03:54:04,120 Even with Mr. Moore, he'll tell you I called him when all this stuff first happened. 2821 03:54:04,580 --> 03:54:04,960 That's me. 2822 03:54:05,360 --> 03:54:05,800 I'm a call. 2823 03:54:06,220 --> 03:54:09,720 Two different times in this meeting, I said, if you have any questions about gas and 2824 03:54:09,720 --> 03:54:18,180 or Commissioner, call 850-510-9162, same thing I put on Facebook because I don't want 2825 03:54:18,180 --> 03:54:23,120 to talk about you in public, I want to talk to you to your face or at least on the phone. 2826 03:54:24,820 --> 03:54:31,300 So that's why you'll see I don't ask about particulars, I say particulars, because we all do it. 2827 03:54:32,500 --> 03:54:37,740 But anyway, as I said, I know the things that we have accomplished and we would not have 2828 03:54:37,740 --> 03:54:40,980 But those things are accomplished if we had not had Mr. Dickson. 2829 03:54:41,300 --> 03:54:46,260 Now, Mr. Dickson did pretty good too, you know, on some of the things she was doing. 2830 03:54:47,260 --> 03:54:51,500 But if you did not have these people in place, we're part time commissioners. 2831 03:54:51,560 --> 03:54:52,820 We're not done here every day. 2832 03:54:53,560 --> 03:54:55,200 Somebody has to make this wheelchair turn. 2833 03:54:55,660 --> 03:54:59,900 But as I said before, if you have three votes, you know what you're going to do. 2834 03:55:00,000 --> 03:55:01,460 Let's do it. 2835 03:55:03,480 --> 03:55:28,840 Okay. So what's the what's the next like what plan do y'all have? Like I will tell you that as soon as as soon as as soon as we make the motion because there's no reason to talk about anything. No, we need to know what direction. When we get the direction, what's got this right here? They want to say the plan. We are most of them make the motion. The commission digs themselves. We got to move forward. It's almost 11 o'clock. 2836 03:55:30,640 --> 03:55:35,840 I'm just saying I let him talk throughout the whole time but not the board the board talking now 2837 03:55:35,840 --> 03:55:43,300 That's why I allow Mr. Dixon to speak earlier because I want him to talk about the he talked for a while about that 2838 03:55:43,300 --> 03:55:47,780 And I want to be fair about that. That's what I did before right now. It's the board now. I want to make sure the board 2839 03:55:49,320 --> 03:55:51,760 Okay, we have most on the floor 2840 03:55:52,560 --> 03:55:57,660 Most we got a motion to move forward with this right here 2841 03:55:58,860 --> 03:56:06,340 all in favor, so I want to pose a 3-2 vote to 2842 03:56:06,340 --> 03:56:11,960 determine the mistakes in the country and while we hear this is what I suggest, 2843 03:56:12,420 --> 03:56:16,240 I had an opportunity to talk to several people they didn't realize what I was talking about, 2844 03:56:16,240 --> 03:56:20,760 but this is what I was talking to about and one of the things that I was, 2845 03:56:20,980 --> 03:56:24,340 they didn't realize what I was talking to, I was talking to three or four people 2846 03:56:24,860 --> 03:56:29,580 And in general, because I heard Rommel is what was going on and really I started about a business. 2847 03:56:30,740 --> 03:56:44,040 No I do, I don't hang out, but I would like to now make the motion to reason bringing this guy to this guy to be the interim. 2848 03:56:44,700 --> 03:56:49,320 Because of his experience and a lot of different things in transportation. 2849 03:56:49,880 --> 03:56:56,880 work with the airport, work with the school system, work with a lot of different things that this person worked with. 2850 03:56:57,340 --> 03:57:05,240 I just like to make a motion to bring Roger Milton as kind of just the interim for about four or five months. 2851 03:57:05,980 --> 03:57:12,380 We can just have somebody just for right now, you can go with it or whoever you want to bring in. 2852 03:57:13,060 --> 03:57:14,520 That's an idea that I have. 2853 03:57:14,980 --> 03:57:19,540 We don't have to go with that motion, that's just ideal, then I'll prove the motion whoever y'all want to prove. 2854 03:57:19,720 --> 03:57:23,400 That's just my little idea, but we can go whatever y'all want to go with, from that point. 2855 03:57:23,480 --> 03:57:34,060 We just need some American to come from about three or four months until we find somebody else, who understand administrative things, that way then we can get the right person to come here and lead guests kind of forward. 2856 03:57:34,480 --> 03:57:35,400 Do y'all have anybody else on mind? 2857 03:57:36,560 --> 03:57:37,440 I have a comment. 2858 03:57:38,740 --> 03:57:41,260 We can make a motion for anyone coming up. 2859 03:57:41,280 --> 03:57:42,760 But I want to, I want to make a comment. 2860 03:57:43,920 --> 03:57:49,340 Okay, my coming is at least get someone that's a familiar with county government he is very familiar 2861 03:57:49,340 --> 03:57:55,540 I'm not county government. That's cool. That's different. No, he's no Roger's more than school Roger Roger was Roger 2862 03:57:57,020 --> 03:57:59,040 No, no, no, no, no, can't can I? 2863 03:57:59,100 --> 03:58:05,640 Can I hold on say that's not school? It's not school. This man's a business guy. This guy developed this guy's contract 2864 03:58:05,640 --> 03:58:07,100 This guy worked with 2865 03:58:08,200 --> 03:58:09,700 for almost 30 years. 2866 03:58:10,040 --> 03:58:13,460 Roger Milton, that's like he was making $130,000 there. 2867 03:58:13,540 --> 03:58:14,300 Yeah, traffic control. 2868 03:58:14,500 --> 03:58:16,720 Right, we need to pardon with their report 2869 03:58:16,720 --> 03:58:17,840 and make sure we get this. 2870 03:58:18,040 --> 03:58:19,800 I saw a far-fetched Jew there. 2871 03:58:20,140 --> 03:58:21,420 They're just my well-ficked. 2872 03:58:21,560 --> 03:58:22,320 I like to think big. 2873 03:58:22,740 --> 03:58:26,500 I like to think outside the box so we can 2874 03:58:26,900 --> 03:58:28,480 build this infrastructure straight. 2875 03:58:29,060 --> 03:58:30,020 Now that was just an idea. 2876 03:58:30,600 --> 03:58:31,200 Can we get quiet? 2877 03:58:31,640 --> 03:58:33,880 No, we have questions. 2878 03:58:33,880 --> 03:58:34,480 Can we get quiet? 2879 03:58:34,620 --> 03:58:34,860 I want to hear it. 2880 03:58:34,860 --> 03:58:35,680 Yeah, yeah, can we be quiet? 2881 03:58:35,840 --> 03:58:36,320 I want to hear it. 2882 03:58:36,500 --> 03:58:39,680 We can be quiet real quick so we can be able to move forward. 2883 03:58:40,220 --> 03:58:41,580 That was just an idea for me. 2884 03:58:41,780 --> 03:58:42,820 Somebody just may have another motion. 2885 03:58:43,160 --> 03:58:45,820 We got to pick a motion and flow for an interim person. 2886 03:58:46,560 --> 03:58:49,700 So, who do you want, Mr. Green? 2887 03:58:51,500 --> 03:58:52,520 You can pick a person. 2888 03:58:53,080 --> 03:58:58,140 No, I'm not about picking because I wasn't, again, I wasn't expecting. 2889 03:58:58,600 --> 03:59:01,300 Although I was hearing the rumbles in the community as well. 2890 03:59:01,300 --> 03:59:06,700 But I was definitely hoping that we would have another plan or another go through another process 2891 03:59:06,700 --> 03:59:13,540 But I do and no offense to Mr. Milton because I think much more than is a great guy by all means and I'm not even sure if you had 2892 03:59:13,540 --> 03:59:15,360 Conversation with him or not about this 2893 03:59:15,920 --> 03:59:18,720 But I if we hear I don't know 2894 03:59:19,180 --> 03:59:23,700 What how we get through this part from the legal piece of it from point A to point B to see a D 2895 03:59:23,700 --> 03:59:29,780 But I think that we should at least give opportunity for someone who have been here before and 2896 03:59:29,780 --> 03:59:35,880 And, um, I mean, this has caught me off guard, but I, I, I'm going to her to name call early 2897 03:59:35,880 --> 03:59:40,040 and then I'm, she's probably going to say no, but I will like to us to consider Ms. 2898 03:59:40,120 --> 03:59:46,260 D. Jackson for interim, I mean, just, interim, I'm just, I'm caught off guard with this. 2899 03:59:46,320 --> 03:59:48,400 I'm just trying to think of what, what, what do we go with this? 2900 03:59:48,580 --> 03:59:49,600 What do we do with this? 2901 03:59:49,820 --> 03:59:55,680 Because I just would like to have somebody that has been involved in this government at 2902 03:59:55,680 --> 03:59:56,320 some point. 2903 03:59:56,320 --> 03:59:59,280 So I am just lost, honestly. 2904 04:00:00,000 --> 04:00:28,960 Do you have a person? So my thought is it's not to be too quick to jump here. And where you find someone who is inside, it works here, that will get you through the next two weeks. So the two commissioners that voted a different way that they have the opportunity to vet somebody. I don't want to do anything to them that's not fair. And I think that whoever you have as a senior member, 2905 04:00:29,720 --> 04:00:38,240 that's in here, that you feel is capable, I think them until we have the next meeting and then we've had the names. 2906 04:00:38,420 --> 04:00:44,740 Now a person that probably, normally what we did last time, we brought in Mr. 2907 04:00:44,880 --> 04:00:47,680 Raul Pressnell, he was the public worst director, right? 2908 04:00:50,360 --> 04:00:55,100 And you know, you have a public director, whatever y'all want to do, you guys can, 2909 04:00:55,100 --> 04:01:01,340 I mean, we just need to pick an interim that can be able to sustain this until we get there. 2910 04:01:01,740 --> 04:01:02,160 Yeah. 2911 04:01:04,370 --> 04:01:05,130 Yes, ma'am. 2912 04:01:05,450 --> 04:01:11,030 I think Roosevelt Mars, we could hold down things for a couple of months. 2913 04:01:11,950 --> 04:01:19,770 Which are, whatever y'all want to go with, it's just that we need to have somebody on board that can hold on the phone for about three months. 2914 04:01:20,870 --> 04:01:21,530 That's emotional. 2915 04:01:22,230 --> 04:01:22,570 That's emotional. 2916 04:01:23,490 --> 04:01:24,970 No, that's not well-known. 2917 04:01:24,970 --> 04:01:31,370 Well, we need to go through, I'm sorry, just for the temporary, I thank you for your way. 2918 04:01:31,890 --> 04:01:38,910 Now, the reason why I think Roosevelt is a great person for one, the reason why what I was looking at somebody who 2919 04:01:38,910 --> 04:01:43,570 have administrative experience too is when Roosevelt got that he has all of that, what I'm just saying, 2920 04:01:43,810 --> 04:01:49,310 that's the reason why I was saying during that time, so we got to have someone who understands 2921 04:01:49,310 --> 04:01:50,410 legislatures too as well. 2922 04:01:50,410 --> 04:01:55,590 Let me say this. The reason I said Roosevelt, and I'm going to be very honest with you. 2923 04:01:55,850 --> 04:01:58,730 If you're going to do this, you need to go and start advertised. 2924 04:01:59,110 --> 04:01:59,650 He's an awesome guy. 2925 04:01:59,650 --> 04:02:05,350 Let me finish. Let go ahead and you need to start advertising because this position takes 2926 04:02:05,350 --> 04:02:11,090 time. Even if you're going to do something else later, but you need to go ahead and get 2927 04:02:11,090 --> 04:02:16,430 that advertisement out there. Because even if you say we're only going to do this for a month, 2928 04:02:16,430 --> 04:02:24,630 People do not change their jobs that quickly, and so they have to have an idea about this stuff. 2929 04:02:25,010 --> 04:02:28,970 The other thing is, as I said, he's on Roosevelt's already here. 2930 04:02:29,270 --> 04:02:35,130 He stepped in from Mr. Dixon a few times, so that's the only thing I can think of. 2931 04:02:35,330 --> 04:02:41,370 So we have Roosevelt, do we have another person, our commission's symptoms, you got to, I have my hand up. 2932 04:02:43,550 --> 04:03:11,250 I mean, I was just going to the time frame, if we were stating two weeks, 30 days, I think that it needs to be at least 90 days minimum so that we can do a due diligence on advertising and for the position so I just want to make sure that we give enough time for us to come back to have a workshop on the process and the things that go over our process. 2933 04:03:13,610 --> 04:03:18,430 We got to make sure it's just commuter symptoms first, then we'll come back. 2934 04:03:19,110 --> 04:03:21,530 Okay, thank you, Mr. Chair. 2935 04:03:21,730 --> 04:03:29,350 The reason I said the 30 days was because we know that it may take a while. 2936 04:03:29,650 --> 04:03:40,950 So, Mr. Morris, until we determine, until we can do a special meeting to the, 2937 04:03:40,950 --> 04:03:47,050 for us to come together and decide who we could have for a long-term 2938 04:03:47,050 --> 04:03:52,110 interim until we're able to get a permanent administrator. 2939 04:03:52,490 --> 04:03:56,250 So that was the reason I gave that time frame. 2940 04:03:58,610 --> 04:04:02,330 One other comment, one other suggestion. 2941 04:04:03,650 --> 04:04:06,990 The Florida Association of Counties provide range riders. 2942 04:04:06,990 --> 04:04:15,170 The range riders, the range riders are former administrators that now retired out and they 2943 04:04:15,170 --> 04:04:20,670 have a program that, and we've used that program before, so we could contact the Florida 2944 04:04:20,670 --> 04:04:25,930 Association of Counties in the morning and find out if they have anyone available. 2945 04:04:28,280 --> 04:04:29,460 And who's going to do that? 2946 04:04:30,560 --> 04:04:32,520 I guess we have to be rosy there. 2947 04:04:34,300 --> 04:04:44,940 I just want to make sure that there's direction given so we don't say what somebody do and it doesn't get done well 2948 04:04:44,940 --> 04:04:45,920 I move that we 2949 04:04:46,900 --> 04:04:49,160 We're roles are here right now right there 2950 04:04:49,160 --> 04:04:55,540 Roseville fully qualified. He's been a city manager everything else to as well. He has all this unbelievers 2951 04:04:55,540 --> 04:04:59,000 Yeah, he was a city manager back in the days. He else he else 2952 04:05:00,000 --> 04:05:27,620 We have nothing experienced in telling that a lot of folks don't have, so I- That's my motion. So we got a motion on the floor with- So for Roosevelt- We didn't- Okay, four. Clear it up. Get the time plan and- Okay. We're doing- Oh, we- We may take them a minute now to get a range rider, but right now I put in the motion for two months. We're going to give them some time if they get someone up until two months, if they get somebody before them. 2953 04:05:29,160 --> 04:05:30,300 And look at that candidate. 2954 04:05:30,960 --> 04:05:37,240 And also to how do we keep Roosevelt at the same pay now or how I know something won't 2955 04:05:37,240 --> 04:05:37,820 be fair. 2956 04:05:39,240 --> 04:05:43,480 We got to make sure we are just as paid to as well to have the other responsibility. 2957 04:05:46,240 --> 04:05:51,260 So I guess we're talking all the things are in on the polls. 2958 04:05:52,100 --> 04:05:52,760 All right. 2959 04:05:52,980 --> 04:05:54,420 All right. 2960 04:05:55,940 --> 04:05:56,700 So that's it. 2961 04:05:56,700 --> 04:05:58,580 Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, you say you won't have any. 2962 04:05:58,580 --> 04:05:59,940 Sorry, go ahead, go ahead, Ms. Cadamins, right? 2963 04:06:00,500 --> 04:06:05,600 Mr. Chairman, commissioners, let me thank you for the opportunity to serve you. 2964 04:06:06,220 --> 04:06:08,300 It truly has been my pleasure. 2965 04:06:09,320 --> 04:06:11,240 We did some great things together. 2966 04:06:12,240 --> 04:06:15,520 As you know, I'll go away, but I won't go far. 2967 04:06:16,680 --> 04:06:21,020 We've taken the budget from 50 million to almost 70 million. 2968 04:06:21,640 --> 04:06:25,960 So you're on your way, and it is a great job, whoever gets it. 2969 04:06:26,720 --> 04:06:30,660 We'll be doing a great thing to those folk who work with me 2970 04:06:31,320 --> 04:06:33,000 Y'all stay strong now 2971 04:06:34,380 --> 04:06:35,660 You're what I say 2972 04:06:36,300 --> 04:06:38,200 This is politics that happens 2973 04:06:39,100 --> 04:06:41,840 There were four there were there were 2974 04:06:42,940 --> 04:06:45,820 Seven administrators in ten years before I came 2975 04:06:46,420 --> 04:06:47,000 seven 2976 04:06:47,600 --> 04:06:50,060 In ten years it happens 2977 04:06:51,100 --> 04:06:54,560 They offered it to me they're often they'll offer it to someone else 2978 04:06:55,200 --> 04:06:55,700 Okay 2979 04:06:56,640 --> 04:07:02,020 Maybe they'll take their job as seriously as I did, hopefully they will, and this county will take another leap. 2980 04:07:02,220 --> 04:07:04,980 So, thank you commissioners for the opportunity to serve. 2981 04:07:05,480 --> 04:07:08,600 It truly has been my pleasure. 2982 04:07:09,400 --> 04:07:11,660 Okay, thank you Mr. County administrative for your service. 2983 04:07:12,240 --> 04:07:17,560 Also too, do you want to sketch another meeting to talk about the next process before we leave? 2984 04:07:17,820 --> 04:07:21,620 Because so everybody can be on the same page, the 2985 04:07:26,960 --> 04:07:29,560 way to next meeting, okay, meeting adjourned. 2986 04:07:34,510 --> 04:07:40,170 Don't get it. Don't get it twisted. Don't twist it up. Don't twist it up. 2987 04:07:43,510 --> 04:07:44,790 Yeah. Don't twist it up. 2988 04:07:46,750 --> 04:07:51,310 Mr. Chairman. Yeah. There's going to be a problem if I show up tomorrow and clean the desk out. 2989 04:07:51,790 --> 04:07:55,470 Oh you, yeah. Yeah. I'm cool. Okay. Get the person down. Thank you. 2990 04:07:55,570 --> 04:07:56,630 Bill and Chulis, nothing personal. 2991 04:07:59,690 --> 04:08:02,770 My pleasure. You're seeing me. Okay. 2992 04:08:02,770 --> 04:08:03,050 We'll be waiting for you, OK? 2993 04:08:03,230 --> 04:08:03,730 Yes, sir? 2994 04:08:04,110 --> 04:08:04,930 Permission to sign. 2995 04:08:05,530 --> 04:08:05,950 All right. 2996 04:08:06,530 --> 04:08:07,450 I'll land in line. 2997 04:08:07,630 --> 04:08:07,930 I know we're here. 2998 04:08:09,690 --> 04:08:10,430 Where are we? 2999 04:08:10,490 --> 04:08:11,090 That's how it is. 3000 04:08:11,550 --> 04:08:12,250 All right. 3001 04:08:12,590 --> 04:08:13,290 It's time. 3002 04:08:15,070 --> 04:08:16,030 Good job. 3003 04:08:16,410 --> 04:08:18,170 I'll be on the man I do. 3004 04:08:18,770 --> 04:08:20,910 I'll be on the man I do. 3005 04:08:21,910 --> 04:08:23,010 You have to get my child. 3006 04:08:24,230 --> 04:08:24,590 All right. 3007 04:08:25,230 --> 04:08:25,750 That way. 3008 04:08:26,010 --> 04:08:32,390 I'll be on the man I do.