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Recording in progress.

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Yeah, we're about to start. I gave the thumbs up, so we're about to go. There we go. Good morning, everyone. Welcome to this September 23, 2025 Lake County Board of County Commissioners meeting. And we appreciate your attendance today. We will start our meeting as we traditionally do with an invocation, which we do. We ask pastors and leaders and

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the community of faith to join us for these invocations and so we put an advertisement out and if you

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have a pastor or someone who has never done this who might want to participate please pass that

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on to them because we welcome that participation. This morning we have Pastor Reverend James Mori of

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the Union Congregational Church and he will give our invocation and then we'll remain standing and we

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we will have our pledge of allegiance.

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Let us pray.

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Creator and sustain of all life, in whose image and likeness,

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we are all created, and whose holy breath gives life

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to all of us.

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We lift the members of this commission to you this morning.

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Give them wisdom and understanding in their decisions

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that they may make

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those decisions for all in our community,

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that we may flourish and experience the abundance

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of your life and grace, help them to be mindful of your cherished children under their care who

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experience the challenges and struggles in life. Bless our commissioners and their families who

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support them, their staff and all who enabled them to perform their duties. Watch over our first

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responders, our firefighters, our law enforcement officers, and keep them safe as they serve our

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communities and embrace their families who in faith and love send them to their

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task to keep all of us safe. May we all be mindful of our connectedness as your

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children and we may we ever strive to lift each other in ways that realize your

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kingdom of love for all in your blessed name we pray. Amen.

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I pledge allegiance to

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I'll

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call on Jennifer Barker, our county manager for an agenda update.

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Yes, good morning, Madam Chair, commissioners.

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First, we have added tab 28 as an addendum since the agenda was first published.

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And we're asking that that be included with the consent agenda.

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Tab 9 has had an updated easement document added to the agenda item.

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And I'm requesting that we pull tab 11 and move that to the Board of County

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commissioners meeting scheduled for October 28th. And finally, I'm asking that we move

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tab two, which is recognizing for each week to immediately follow the recognition of

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the emergency dispatchers here today.

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Okay.

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All right. I'm noting those changes. We will move on to our special recognition of

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of the Pride in America poster contest winners,

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and I'm going to call on Mr. Powers

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with the Historical Museum to make our presentations.

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Good morning, commissioners.

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I hope I have some health and commissioner parks too.

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Welcome down.

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Okay, you come down.

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The Lake County Historical Society and Museum

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over the summer, we decided to sponsor an art contest

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just for kind of a test run to see how it was received and it was received really well.

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We worked with elementary through fifth grade, had three categories, and we asked the students

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to express their pride in America with art.

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And we have the three winners here.

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We're hoping to really expand this because next year is the 250th anniversary of the country.

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and we probably need you guys to help us. That's going to be a pretty big

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project. So with that the three winners that we have and let Mr. Parks present

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them. We have Sadie Chatton. We have Brecklin Young and we have Noah Hurst and

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their artwork is here.

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Commissioner Parks, before you get started, can you explain a

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a little bit about what Pride in America is and how we even got started with this because it was your idea and I think it's fantastic.

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Well, thank you, Commissioner. I would be happy to talk about Pride in America.

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Thank you very much. This is something that we do. We've done for, I don't know, Commissioner, maybe three or four years.

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Now, we are the only county that does this that we know of in all of America.

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We celebrate all that's good about America throughout the month of July.

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And so as Ray has indicated, this is one of the activities that we did this year.

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There's lectures and some things that we do.

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We do the Liberty Tree that all the commissioners this year,

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really every year have participated in, planning Liberty Trees at a school in the north part of the county, a school in the south part of the county.

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And again, the point is, is that we're trying to celebrate all that's good about our country, and

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also kind of pass that on to the next generation as well.

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So thank you very much, always appreciate the opportunity to do that.

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And this commission, your support, your support, I know, Commissioner,

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you go to all the liberty tree events and everything, so I really appreciate that.

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And it's great that we have a good turnout for this today, actually.

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So just happy to be a part of this, thank you.

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Okay, so I guess we'll let you come up with.

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Yes, so Sadie Chatton?

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Let's give her a hand.

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It's fantastic, y'all.

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Recklin Young?

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No, it hurts.

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We will make sure that Noah gets this.

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Yes.

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We know that's pretty good though.

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Yeah.

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Beautiful.

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And next year is going to be the bigger, 250 years old.

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So this will be a big event.

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I think we had 60 participants this year.

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60 participants?

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That's great.

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Now, if I'm not mistaken, these were also displayed in the Historical Dissociety in the Museum for about three weeks, correct?

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So if you hadn't had an opportunity to see them next year, we'll make an announcement early because some of these things were absolutely fantastic.

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And we're not allowed to participate in so the commissioners.

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Guys,

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thank you very, very much for allowing us to get these kids in here.

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Yeah, thank you Historical Society for taking this on, and we look forward to next year because as indicated, it's going to be huge with the 250th anniversary of our country.

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As Barney would say, really big, so.

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Thank you.

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Thank you, Ray.

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Are we going to take the poster down?

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The easel.

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Can you help us?

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All right, next on our agenda, very special event, I'm going to call on Chief Kilberry, Public Safety Director.

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He's going to make some introductions and explain what our next presentation is about.

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Thank you, Commissioner.

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My name is David Kilberry, I'm the Public Safety Director, and it is my honor to introduce the president of Lake County Fire Chiefs Association for our recent Insurance Services Office.

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this ISO evaluation that was conducted.

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And for those in the room, you have a rare treat.

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The team behind me in dark blue are the voices

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behind the phone on all 9-1-1.

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So they are truly

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our first responders.

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They're the first ones they get notified of your emergencies

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to contact the teams that respond out.

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So with that, I will introduce Chief Kevin Carroll of the Groland Fire Department, who currently serves as the president of Lake County Fire Chiefs Association.

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Chief Carroll.

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Madam Chair, commissioners, Ms. Barker, and everybody on the DSC this morning.

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Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity because it's not about me and the city of Groveland or anybody else.

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We're here to recognize and celebrate these amazing Lake County 911 dispatchers who, as you know,

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are in an office about a block from here.

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They sit in a very dark room all day with just the glow of computers.

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But what they do for this community, they're often very much forgotten.

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As Chief Kilberry said, they are really the first responders.

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They are the ones that have the first interaction with the community.

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God forbid there's an emergency.

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And it's because of them that we get all the information, the heads up information that we need while responding or even on the scene.

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I mean, they're the ones calling for additional resources when we request or ask for them, cannot thank you or thank them enough.

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Before I start though, I just want to let you know that the relationship that we have with Lake County Fire Rescue and

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all the municipal fire departments around Lake County is absolutely astonishing.

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That's the reason and the purpose of Lake County Fire Chiefs.

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All of us to get together, come up with best practices, how we can work better together, how we resolve issues before they even need to get to you, folks. And we all do a very good job of that. And I'll only be the president for the next few months in chief. Well, there'll be a new chief coming in. But I do appreciate the opportunity to be here today. And let me get to the meet and state us here because it's extremely important. So I'd like to give you just a little bit of a high level view. This is a 60,000 foot view about ISO. Some of you may be aware.

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but also for our members in the community.

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ISO really looks at four main areas.

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They come about every five years and they evaluate, you know, the 40,000 plus fire

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department store out, you know, the United States, and they give them a score.

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That score is called the public protection classification rating.

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Why is that so important?

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Well, the numbers go from one to ten, one being the best ten being the worst, if you will.

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And what that does is that helps your both commercial and residential liability insurance

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companies determine what your rates will be.

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It has a direct effect on the wallet of the people in the community.

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So it's important for all of us to strive to get the best score possible.

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Sometimes it's not easy, depending on your resources, depending on your community

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makeup, more rural or more urban, but we all do the best we can to support each

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other and try to get the best scores possible.

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We could not have achieved anybody in Lake County.

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Many of us were re-evaluated this year, I believe Lake County Chief Kilberry is next year, correct?

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So this was five years since we were done.

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We were just on this past April, just got our score, which will go into effect November 1st.

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And we did improve.

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We improved in part because of the emergency 911 dispatchers.

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So let me tell you a little bit about the ISO, again, from that high level view.

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They look at four main areas, community risk reduction.

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The water system's capability, very important.

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We don't have water to fight fires.

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You know, how are we getting it there through the hydrant system?

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Are we bringing it via tankers or so on and so forth?

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The fire department overall health that has to do with personnel and training, how well we're keeping up on those things.

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And what we're here to talk about today is the emergency communications, vitally important.

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So there's three areas of emergency communications that they really look at.

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The first one is emergency reporting, and this area evaluates the ability to receive and process those calls for 911 that come in and how well they achieve and they do that.

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The second area is the telecommunicators themselves.

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This item is the number of available telecommunicators, how well they answer the calls and transfer and processing, dispatch protocols and telecommunicator training.

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How well are these people trained? That's evaluated also.

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Also, and then dispatch circuits.

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This is the available dispatch circuits and transmitting of alarms, types of circuits

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available, monitoring for the system integrity, and emergency power supply, which this facility

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has a backup power supply.

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Insane that.

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Let me tell you where the folks behind me write not only compared to their peers here in

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the state, but nationally, and what their overall score was.

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So, the first area, emergency reporting, the amongst their peers and state group was 2.14 and nationally all the way up to 2.5.

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So, you have that range at 2.14 to 2.5. With the highest score of being a 3, our Lake County emergency dispatchers earned a 3 in that area.

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The highest level,

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when it comes to the telecommunicators themselves, amongst their peers, state and nation wide, that range is between 2.69 and 3.2.

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two, three, with the highest score being a four, they received a four.

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For dispatch circuits, again amongst their peers and state group, it ranges between 1.79 and

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nationally 2.29, and with the highest score being a three, they earned a three.

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So in the end, Adelaide County emergency dispatchers who you know serve all the municipal fire departments and as well as La County,

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they earned the total 10 out of 10 points.

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We could not do what we do without these folks.

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Again, as I stated, often we're the ones who are out amongst the people,

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we're out amongst the community, so we're the ones that are often recognized.

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And these folks, Chief Stevens and her telecommunicators here are often forgotten and

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lost throughout that process.

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So I'm so glad to be here as President of the Lake County Fire Chief Association to

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recognize these folks and thank you for the opportunity to do that.

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And I believe Chief Azale, Claremont Fire Chief, has a few words to say.

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Good morning.

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I'm David Azale, the Fire Chief of the City of Claremont, also the Vice President of the Lake County Fire Chiefs Association.

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And I just want to reiterate what Chief Carol shared with how well the Dispatching Center did.

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One thing that's really important with this in addition to the fact that the insurance savings for

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the community is the fact that you're having an external validator come in and

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look at the operations within the emergency communication system.

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And they're basically saying that you're doing everything correctly with what you're doing.

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And I just want to just offer my thanks, that would not happen without the support of this commission, and we appreciate everything you're doing.

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And I can tell you, in our case, had they been with the national average or even the state average, we'd have been an entire classification lower.

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So it made the difference between us being where we are and where we would have been otherwise.

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So that's probably true of just about every agency in Lake County.

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It's helping that getting that perfect score helps push everybody over that cliff in a good

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way.

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So I just want to say thank you.

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We appreciate the support and we look forward to seeing a perfect score on the next

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round.

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Thank you.

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Thank you so much.

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We'll give them a chance to head back to work.

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We need them to head back to work.

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I'll remind everybody right now if you've got your phone on.

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And if you could silence it, just in case you haven't thought about that yet this morning.

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It makes for much better decorum in our meetings if we can keep the phones silenced.

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We're now going to move to tab two, which is a presentation of proclamation.

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Declaring October 5th through 11th, 2025 is national 4-H week in late county, so I need a motion.

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All in favor say aye.

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All right, and I will present that, let's see, where is Dallas?

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Here we go, Dallas, you're right in front of me.

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If you will come up to the podium and whereas

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the Florida 4-H program has been positively impacting children's lives since 1909 and has celebrated over 100 years of service.

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Its mission is to create a supportive environmental environment where diverse youth and adults may reach their fullest potential.

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And whereas 4-H is an organization open to all children, 5 through 18 years of age, 4-H reaches over 6 million youth nationwide with Florida having over 230,000 youth members and over 8,000 adult volunteers, and with the Lake County 4-H program boasting over 1,890 club members, and over 140 volunteers with over 6,600 youths participating in school enrichment programs.

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And whereas the Lake County Forage Program is part of the Institute of Food and

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Agricultural Services, IFIS, at the University of Florida, and is a program where young people learn by doing through programs such as the Lake County Fair, traditional 4-H clubs and

221
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4-H after school programs.

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4-H members also participate in projects such as science and technology, consumer education,

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Horticulture, aerospace, entomology, public speaking, and animal sciences to develop leadership, citizenship, and other life skills.

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And whereas 4-H members working with educational learned by doing projects put into practice new skills and

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sciences, they strive to make the best better, the motto of 4-H.

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And whereas 4-H provides a unique opportunity for young people to develop life skills through hands-on learning experiences, including educational workshops,

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Project work, presentation experiences, camps, conferences, before and after school programs and other events at local county district, state, national and international levels, and whereas Lake County encourages the people of this community to take the opportunity to become more aware of this special program and to join us in recognizing the unique partnership between our county and our university system.

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Now, therefore, the Board of County Commissioners of Lake County, Florida proclaimed the week of October 5th through 11th, 2025

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National 4-H week here in Lake County, Florida

230
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First and foremost, I thank you guys for your continued support, Lake County Commissioners.

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Without your support, this would not be possible. Studies show that 4-H's are 4 times more likely to give back to their community

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And they are two times more likely to make healthier lifestyle choices.

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The kids that we've reached this year over 8,000 youth, those are our future leaders.

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And we are helping make the best better as stated by our motto.

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And without your support, as well as the heartbeat of the 4H program, which is our volunteers, this would not be possible.

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So I just really want to thank some of our 4H volunteers in the room as well as you guys for your continued support.

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00:25:29,360 --> 00:25:30,100
Thank you.

238
00:26:33,930 --> 00:26:34,290
All right.

239
00:26:34,370 --> 00:26:37,510
We're going to move back to our ARPA update.

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Then our minutes approval.

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00:26:38,730 --> 00:26:43,230
We'll have citizen comment and then we'll move into the agenda, the rest of the agenda.

242
00:26:55,450 --> 00:26:56,710
Good morning, commissioners.

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00:26:57,170 --> 00:27:00,450
My presentation won't be as exciting as the previous ones, but that's okay.

244
00:27:00,470 --> 00:27:01,050
We'll make it through it.

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00:27:01,450 --> 00:27:04,830
For the record, Sean Boetay, Grant's Program Manager, Parks and Water Resources.

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00:27:05,390 --> 00:27:08,090
Here to provide an update, an American Rescue Plan update.

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00:27:09,190 --> 00:27:12,550
This will include brief background information, two updates and

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conclude with requested action.

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00:27:16,650 --> 00:27:23,570
During the May 20th, 2025 meeting, the balance of $1,557,308 from the town of Montverde

250
00:27:23,570 --> 00:27:29,330
projects was reallocated for a new water main line to service the future veterans transitional housing project.

251
00:27:31,670 --> 00:27:36,930
Since that time, a covert or equalizer pipe that runs under Tammy Drive within the Venetian Village community

252
00:27:36,930 --> 00:27:40,190
began to fail, leading to serious public safety concerns.

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This resulted in public works having to utilize existing storm water funds, earmarked for the Lake Amos flood mitigation project at a cost of $280,000, $595,000, and staff is requesting to reimburse the storm water fund.

254
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Here is an area of the neighborhood and the exact location of the covert for your reference.

255
00:28:06,010 --> 00:28:12,190
As a result of this emergency work, staff recommends using available funds from the water service line portion that was allocated in May.

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00:28:12,190 --> 00:28:22,130
This will leave a balance of $1,276,713 from the utility portion alone and will not impact the fund set aside for the building construction.

257
00:28:23,430 --> 00:28:28,310
Further, staff is also recommending to add and accompanying sanitary sewer line to the scope of work.

258
00:28:29,230 --> 00:28:36,910
Lastly, as a reminder, since we are now past the obligation deadline, excess funds can be reclassified or reallocated to another qualifying project.

259
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The replacing and resizing of culverts does qualify under the infrastructure expenditure category.

260
00:28:44,880 --> 00:28:49,500
Here is the most up-to-date project list, which includes the new Tammy Drive project if approved.

261
00:28:53,450 --> 00:28:59,350
And in conclusion, requested action is to approve the Reallocation of Funds within the project list as presented.

262
00:29:00,510 --> 00:29:02,450
All right, any questions for Sean?

263
00:29:03,470 --> 00:29:05,270
Do we have a motion to make those changes?

264
00:29:05,630 --> 00:29:06,090
Move to approve.

265
00:29:06,810 --> 00:29:07,010
Thank you.

266
00:29:07,570 --> 00:29:08,730
All right, all in favor say aye.

267
00:29:08,730 --> 00:29:08,810
Aye.

268
00:29:09,670 --> 00:29:10,070
Any opposed?

269
00:29:10,530 --> 00:29:11,670
That passes 5-0.

270
00:29:12,010 --> 00:29:14,350
Moving then to thank you, Sean, appreciate that.

271
00:29:14,470 --> 00:29:17,650
Minutes approval, Mr. Cuny, our clerk of courts.

272
00:29:17,970 --> 00:29:21,570
Good morning, Madam Chairwoman, and I have two sets of minutes for the Commission's approval.

273
00:29:22,090 --> 00:29:22,590
Move approved.

274
00:29:22,990 --> 00:29:23,170
Thank you.

275
00:29:23,690 --> 00:29:24,730
All in favor say aye.

276
00:29:25,090 --> 00:29:25,270
Aye.

277
00:29:25,910 --> 00:29:26,210
Any opposed?

278
00:29:26,790 --> 00:29:29,030
All right, moving then to citizen question comment period.

279
00:29:29,130 --> 00:29:36,590
We have a lot of comment cards that apply to two other items later in the agenda.

280
00:29:36,590 --> 00:29:39,270
Actually, I think three items later in the agenda.

281
00:29:39,450 --> 00:29:46,370
So the cards that we're going to call on now are the ones that are not items on the agenda.

282
00:29:46,830 --> 00:29:55,470
And I will also ask that anyone that is online, you can press the star nine button to virtually raise your hands.

283
00:29:55,950 --> 00:29:59,970
If you want to participate, you'll need to click the star nine button.

284
00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:29,620
The raise hand button to let us know that you wish to speak. I'll start with the cards. If I could just real quick. So because it's so many people, so many items, so many cards and everybody's pretty busy here. A lot of working class people here in like county, who have jobs like myself. Can we allow people who cannot stay three, four, five, six hours to maybe speak at the beginning on the item? I know it's a little unorthodox, but not everybody can be here for six hours, right? I mean, probably a lot of people here who want to speak on one of the three items.

285
00:30:29,620 --> 00:30:31,820
but literally can't stay five hours.

286
00:30:32,100 --> 00:30:34,320
So I don't think we're going to be here five hours.

287
00:30:34,480 --> 00:30:36,420
Okay, but we're going to be here many hours, I think.

288
00:30:36,620 --> 00:30:38,720
So I'd rather than be able to speak a little bit earlier.

289
00:30:38,780 --> 00:30:40,300
Are you guys okay with that, I mean?

290
00:30:40,640 --> 00:30:42,920
Well, the problem is, I think that we can,

291
00:30:43,240 --> 00:30:45,600
we might be able to move up some cards when we get

292
00:30:45,600 --> 00:30:49,220
to those items, if people will give preference to those

293
00:30:49,220 --> 00:30:53,000
that need to get on their way, but we've already got

294
00:30:53,000 --> 00:30:56,480
just on our regular citizen comment cards.

295
00:30:56,480 --> 00:31:02,780
Yes, we have one, two, three, four, five, six, and do we have anyone online?

296
00:31:03,440 --> 00:31:09,280
And okay, and we don't know yet whether those three are for items later or for just regular comment.

297
00:31:09,640 --> 00:31:14,540
Okay, yeah, so that's, if that's three minutes apiece, we're going to, yeah.

298
00:31:15,200 --> 00:31:20,360
Okay, but if we get into substantive discussion on items in the middle, or even later in the agenda,

299
00:31:20,660 --> 00:31:23,280
wouldn't that put off the comments on the later items to even further?

300
00:31:23,620 --> 00:31:24,360
I mean, I just feel like.

301
00:31:24,360 --> 00:31:26,980
What I'll do let's just go through these cards.

302
00:31:27,140 --> 00:31:41,040
I'll take a look at the rest of the agenda to see if there are items that are going to be time consuming that maybe we'll take those items and push them later in the agenda and then take these that we have citizen participation on and move those up and that might be the way to handle it.

303
00:31:41,340 --> 00:31:42,020
Okay, all right.

304
00:31:43,020 --> 00:31:45,620
So I'm going to start with Lee Borersk.

305
00:31:45,620 --> 00:31:54,160
This is regarding crosswalk and I'm reading the comment and has to do with the 44 B bypass and useless an area that I drive every day.

306
00:31:54,520 --> 00:31:58,200
So I'm happy to see that you're here commenting on this issue.

307
00:31:58,480 --> 00:32:00,220
Yes, I had come on about a year ago.

308
00:32:00,480 --> 00:32:07,540
Unfortunately, I've not followed up as often as I should, but the area I think everybody is hopefully aware at Orange Avenue and

309
00:32:07,540 --> 00:32:22,020
used this for the 44 B cut off is that goes and they had that new development there. Bright water, maybe I can't remember the name of it. And then they have Tony's pizza, the new 711 and this sit go or the circle K.

310
00:32:23,300 --> 00:32:29,220
Use just won't finish the sidewalk from the end of the school zone.

311
00:32:29,980 --> 00:32:37,020
that is off of bates. The end of the sidewalk needs to be finished somehow from there to the end is what I'm being told by the county and

312
00:32:37,760 --> 00:32:42,980
the city is telling me that the county is supposed to be doing that so I know it's a joint effort

313
00:32:42,980 --> 00:32:48,880
I just need to know how to get forward so that we can get this done because the city County City Manager keeps saying that it's the county

314
00:32:49,320 --> 00:32:56,740
I understand you guys have to actually put in the crosswalk, but you can't do that until you have a sidewalk to go to so how do we solve this

315
00:32:56,740 --> 00:33:01,600
We now have a beautiful new community with this wonderful beautiful crosswalk that goes right in in front of it

316
00:33:01,600 --> 00:33:04,100
But any kids walking home from their middle school

317
00:33:04,780 --> 00:33:06,120
games that live on the

318
00:33:07,420 --> 00:33:13,580
West side of Orange Avenue have to on our south side of Orange Avenue have to cross that over there

319
00:33:13,580 --> 00:33:15,640
Right, it's completely dependent on traffic

320
00:33:15,640 --> 00:33:18,920
No way for them to stop the traffic. I've had children in my neighborhood

321
00:33:19,800 --> 00:33:26,320
I live off of Washington. I've had children in my neighborhood come back me because they've stood there up to 45 minutes after practice at night

322
00:33:26,320 --> 00:33:27,740
trying to just get across that street.

323
00:33:29,400 --> 00:33:32,160
I met with the City of Eustace Police Chief yesterday,

324
00:33:32,480 --> 00:33:35,060
and he was again told that it was a county problem,

325
00:33:35,280 --> 00:33:37,400
so I need help figuring out how do we get together

326
00:33:37,400 --> 00:33:38,800
with Eustace and get this solved.

327
00:33:39,400 --> 00:33:39,860
Thank you.

328
00:33:41,060 --> 00:33:42,740
And I don't know if Jeff is here.

329
00:33:42,980 --> 00:33:45,600
Jeff, if you could come talk about this particular issue

330
00:33:45,600 --> 00:33:48,940
or even meet with Lee outside to tell her about where we're at,

331
00:33:49,140 --> 00:33:51,040
it's something we've been working on, and they said

332
00:33:51,040 --> 00:33:53,420
that it's all taken care of, but then I was told it was a deal.

333
00:33:53,460 --> 00:33:55,900
Well, it's complicated because there's right away

334
00:33:55,900 --> 00:34:01,040
that we don't have, that we would have to purchase or use them in a domain to acquire.

335
00:34:02,000 --> 00:34:07,980
We've had even when we did the flashing light at bates and the bypass, that was really

336
00:34:07,980 --> 00:34:11,240
difficult because we had property owners on the corners that didn't want to participate

337
00:34:11,240 --> 00:34:12,820
and allow the county have right away.

338
00:34:13,180 --> 00:34:17,000
So it gets very complicated when you don't actually have the right away to put the sidewalks

339
00:34:17,000 --> 00:34:17,120
in.

340
00:34:17,640 --> 00:34:21,420
I have like knowledge for the who owns those properties, can I get those?

341
00:34:21,480 --> 00:34:23,960
It's all on the property appraisers website.

342
00:34:23,960 --> 00:34:27,060
I'm just trying to so I might be able to go and beg and plead with them

343
00:34:28,320 --> 00:34:37,260
But Jeff airheart our engineer County engineer public works director can step outside with you and update you on where we're at as

344
00:34:37,260 --> 00:34:42,460
Far as trying to get that connection made. Okay. All right

345
00:34:43,180 --> 00:34:45,980
Our next one is Dan Mathis

346
00:34:47,560 --> 00:34:52,940
This is regarding commissioner parks report is this and I'm not sure Dan

347
00:34:53,960 --> 00:34:54,520
over here. Yes.

348
00:34:57,880 --> 00:35:01,020
Oh, do you get down to that? Yeah, that's about Hartwood Marsh Road and

349
00:35:01,020 --> 00:35:04,760
a continuation of the discussion survey knows is a continuation of the discussion that

350
00:35:04,760 --> 00:35:10,300
we had a month ago about, well, a project that was just mentioned and Hartwood Marsh,

351
00:35:10,440 --> 00:35:17,080
so that's up on my agenda a little bit later. And Vincent is here. So, are you willing

352
00:35:17,080 --> 00:35:22,680
to stay through the meeting until we get to that discussion about Hartwood Marsh? I go ahead,

353
00:35:22,680 --> 00:35:26,720
Why don't you come on up and do your comment on Hartwood Marsh?

354
00:35:43,830 --> 00:35:45,610
Good morning commissioners, thank you.

355
00:35:46,830 --> 00:35:49,390
Commissioner Chairman, can't be on for let me speak early.

356
00:35:49,570 --> 00:35:51,250
I do have other appointments later on.

357
00:35:52,470 --> 00:35:54,550
My name is Vincent Nemick, I live in Clamont.

358
00:35:55,850 --> 00:35:59,370
I guess three out of five councilmen know exactly who I am.

359
00:35:59,850 --> 00:36:01,750
I've been coming here for the past eight years,

360
00:36:02,270 --> 00:36:04,450
competing in about the same project called with Marsh.

361
00:36:05,330 --> 00:36:07,870
Okay, from Commissioner Smith, can't be on.

362
00:36:08,450 --> 00:36:10,730
Commission of Parks, Anthony Santini.

363
00:36:11,170 --> 00:36:13,710
I know through your reputation of being a Republican.

364
00:36:14,450 --> 00:36:16,470
And Mr. Tim Morris, hello, how are you, sir?

365
00:36:17,250 --> 00:36:18,890
You probably saw me here when I was fighting

366
00:36:18,890 --> 00:36:20,590
for the crosswalk along Harwood Marsh,

367
00:36:20,650 --> 00:36:22,910
and I thank you again for granting effort

368
00:36:22,910 --> 00:36:24,970
as public safety reasons for our children.

369
00:36:25,990 --> 00:36:27,990
Okay, I'd like to show you just a little diagram.

370
00:36:29,210 --> 00:36:30,110
If I may,

371
00:36:33,020 --> 00:36:34,360
like day you go perfect.

372
00:36:35,020 --> 00:36:38,140
On the top you'll see 2007, that's the top.

373
00:36:38,820 --> 00:36:47,160
picture on the top. That in 2007 we were approved to have hot with marsh widened. As you can

374
00:36:47,160 --> 00:36:53,000
notice you could see all the other properties around it. One, two, three and they're just

375
00:36:53,000 --> 00:37:00,280
developing this. This is vacant, vacant, this whole vacant. If you scroll down the 2025, it's

376
00:37:00,280 --> 00:37:07,420
all occupied by our developers. Some of it we had an annex from Lee County. Okay. The reason

377
00:37:07,420 --> 00:37:12,960
why I'm showing you this is because it's just Clamont is growing and growing and growing.

378
00:37:13,000 --> 00:37:20,520
Hartwood Marsh happens to be a main vein into Clamont. I know that some of you have taken

379
00:37:20,520 --> 00:37:30,280
Hartwood Marsh, okay. This was in 2020 when we were told that it was going to be starting

380
00:37:30,280 --> 00:37:37,600
the project in 2022. Then it got pushed back to 2024. Then it got pushed back to

381
00:37:38,520 --> 00:37:45,740
2026. Guess what? We're up to 2028. So somebody kept kicking the can over and over and over.

382
00:37:46,200 --> 00:37:50,320
All right. I know it can't be my count. My commission is up here because you've been listening

383
00:37:50,320 --> 00:37:54,900
to everything the citizens of heart with marsh wanted and we've been working hard to get

384
00:37:54,900 --> 00:38:03,140
Okay, as you can see, we're developing more along Lake County with the 331 homes that's been developed.

385
00:38:03,780 --> 00:38:13,120
The 60, 661 homes by the Lake County side, and that's not including all these other ones that are being were built.

386
00:38:14,000 --> 00:38:21,600
Okay, this is just to show you an aerial map of the traffic along Hotwood Marsh.

387
00:38:21,600 --> 00:38:28,840
from all the way from 27 to all the way to the 90 degree turn on Hartwood March.

388
00:38:29,460 --> 00:38:36,020
This is taken a photograph from my vehicle coming home off of 27.

389
00:38:36,600 --> 00:38:39,540
This serves a public safety matter.

390
00:38:40,260 --> 00:38:44,620
All right, we have a fire station located right on the top of that hill.

391
00:38:45,380 --> 00:38:50,460
So if they are, geez, if they have to get to the emergency, it's going to shorten time.

392
00:38:50,560 --> 00:38:58,940
I'm sorry, I only have three minutes, but what I'm asking you to do is be a little lenient if you can, if you have to take a vote later on.

393
00:38:59,060 --> 00:39:07,440
We've been asking for this project to be pushed through, help us out, support us as we support you when it comes to election time.

394
00:39:07,940 --> 00:39:09,260
God bless and have a good day.

395
00:39:09,260 --> 00:39:38,700
All right, thank you and I'm going to ask Commissioner Parks do you want to do you want to talk about Hartwood Marsh now or can you I mean we can wait but I'll just say in short what I'm proposing later on again it's a continuation of the discussion that we had a couple of months two months ago, I believe when we were talking about transportation, there's a way to start construction as I understand it in the summer of 2026 we could start this coming summer and combination with impact fees that are collected and DOT money.

396
00:39:39,260 --> 00:39:45,680
The DOT money, just lack of better way to describe it, it's as frustrating for us as it is, I'm sure for everybody in the audience.

397
00:39:46,220 --> 00:39:56,940
We'll only be paid out yearly starting in 28 to 29 to 30, I may be an additional year, but the point is is that we can get that money.

398
00:39:57,620 --> 00:40:05,860
But obviously contractors like to be paid right now to build the road, so what's build the road if we need to do a short-term loan,

399
00:40:05,860 --> 00:40:10,040
That will last within two to, that would be paid out within two to three years.

400
00:40:10,720 --> 00:40:14,420
Or in two to three years, when we get the money from DOT, I think we could do that.

401
00:40:14,920 --> 00:40:17,020
And I think it would time value of money.

402
00:40:17,460 --> 00:40:22,400
I know there's always concern about interest on loans like that, but time value of money and

403
00:40:22,400 --> 00:40:29,060
the increasing cost of construction, asphalt alone is now 300% more than what it was four or five years ago.

404
00:40:29,660 --> 00:40:34,760
So if we keep waiting and putting it off, waiting for the DOT money, the pay as you go approach, which is very

405
00:40:36,080 --> 00:40:37,640
financially prudent, physically prudent.

406
00:40:38,140 --> 00:40:43,040
In this case, I think it'll be more physically prudent to go ahead and do that now up front.

407
00:40:43,540 --> 00:40:46,900
And then just get the construction going this summer in 2026.

408
00:40:47,640 --> 00:40:49,300
I appreciate that commission of parks.

409
00:40:50,000 --> 00:40:52,120
I also, listen, we're all involved.

410
00:40:52,380 --> 00:40:55,600
I happen to be the advocate in the spokesperson for a halt with March in my area.

411
00:40:56,100 --> 00:40:59,700
That's why I joined the MPO committee and I have been asking and asking.

412
00:41:00,920 --> 00:41:03,120
And it's not that we're following on deaf ears.

413
00:41:03,120 --> 00:41:06,520
is it's, I know how economics work.

414
00:41:07,380 --> 00:41:08,800
I also know how politics works.

415
00:41:09,540 --> 00:41:11,960
But as you saw in the photos I showed you,

416
00:41:12,020 --> 00:41:13,600
we were approved in 2007.

417
00:41:14,360 --> 00:41:17,100
I know you're pushing hard for this Mr. Commissioner,

418
00:41:17,260 --> 00:41:19,500
John Paulx, Commissioner Campion.

419
00:41:19,720 --> 00:41:22,160
I know you're tired to see my face talking about this,

420
00:41:22,320 --> 00:41:24,420
and also you, Commissioner Smith.

421
00:41:25,300 --> 00:41:27,900
All right, Anthony Sabatini, if you could please help us out

422
00:41:27,900 --> 00:41:29,380
on this one, I would appreciate it,

423
00:41:29,380 --> 00:41:31,580
and so would the residents of Claremont,

424
00:41:32,020 --> 00:41:33,260
you two are commissioners.

425
00:41:33,360 --> 00:41:34,660
Thank you for letting me speak

426
00:41:34,660 --> 00:41:36,100
and have a little more additional time.

427
00:41:36,340 --> 00:41:37,060
Thank you, Vincent.

428
00:41:37,860 --> 00:41:39,900
All right, I'm Joe Fomassi,

429
00:41:40,820 --> 00:41:43,220
and then after Joe is Richard Johnson.

430
00:41:49,880 --> 00:41:51,160
Commissioners, good morning.

431
00:41:51,580 --> 00:41:54,880
I'm here to talk about wellness way.

432
00:41:55,520 --> 00:41:59,180
There's a water workshop going to put on by the Claremont

433
00:41:59,760 --> 00:42:01,320
to talk about reclaimed water,

434
00:42:05,000 --> 00:42:06,880
I'm hoping that commission

435
00:42:06,880 --> 00:42:08,500
and commission parks can come

436
00:42:08,500 --> 00:42:10,000
down with St. John's water

437
00:42:10,000 --> 00:42:12,220
and encourage them to do a policy

438
00:42:12,220 --> 00:42:15,340
change and expand their operation,

439
00:42:15,980 --> 00:42:17,020
which will help the wellness

440
00:42:17,020 --> 00:42:18,920
way and all of Claremont.

441
00:42:19,420 --> 00:42:21,900
Also, the ponds that are located

442
00:42:21,900 --> 00:42:23,300
inside, they call them

443
00:42:23,300 --> 00:42:24,840
infiltration ponds inside

444
00:42:24,840 --> 00:42:26,840
of Lake County, they're run

445
00:42:26,840 --> 00:42:27,560
by Orange County.

446
00:42:28,140 --> 00:42:29,140
If we could make enough

447
00:42:29,140 --> 00:42:30,620
reclaimed water, we could

448
00:42:30,620 --> 00:42:36,780
actually put water back into the aquifer to recharge it, which I think would be beneficial

449
00:42:36,780 --> 00:42:43,480
for the city of Claremont and Lake County, that we're moving to a more economical and

450
00:42:43,480 --> 00:42:48,900
also environmental change, but I need you guys to come down here and help be part of this

451
00:42:48,900 --> 00:42:55,840
park workshop, because also St. John's offers up to 50% grant money to help support those

452
00:42:55,840 --> 00:42:56,540
kind of projects.

453
00:42:56,540 --> 00:43:03,360
And we're going to need your help to convince them to give the city 50%, which would probably make them more driven to do it.

454
00:43:04,300 --> 00:43:06,800
So your support Mr. Stavitini

455
00:43:08,120 --> 00:43:13,430
Need you to be there Commissioner Parks. All right, thank you. Thank you.

456
00:43:14,120 --> 00:43:17,300
All right, Richard Johnson and

457
00:43:18,380 --> 00:43:19,540
then after

458
00:43:19,540 --> 00:43:23,960
Chair, Richard Johnson is Jason Graham.

459
00:43:27,470 --> 00:43:29,030
Good morning, my name is Richard Johnson.

460
00:43:29,530 --> 00:43:35,530
I purchased a home in 2013 at 14345 County Road, 455 in Claremont.

461
00:43:36,370 --> 00:43:39,490
We have 11 acre farm that we run.

462
00:43:40,330 --> 00:43:45,210
And in the past, the first five years of the property, our horses and cows were fine.

463
00:43:45,210 --> 00:43:53,370
and then in 2018 we found out a resident at 1-4-227 County Route 455 which is

464
00:43:53,370 --> 00:43:57,150
this south of us has purchased the property and started filling in the

465
00:43:57,150 --> 00:44:04,470
wetlands. We contacted DEP and Lake County. We had Lake County go in and fixed

466
00:44:04,470 --> 00:44:08,370
where he had taken the drainage and raised it the flood the area so we can

467
00:44:08,370 --> 00:44:14,570
flow to boat and we got that fixed and he started flooding filling in the area with

468
00:44:14,570 --> 00:44:21,370
1,000 torque loads of dirt and I know Lake County has nothing to do with DEP but Lake

469
00:44:21,370 --> 00:44:28,290
County issued them a permit for grading of the property and then that grading permit

470
00:44:28,290 --> 00:44:35,750
is states that he is not allowed to impede the natural water runoff from surrounding

471
00:44:35,750 --> 00:44:40,510
properties which is myself. So we've had to shut down the farm because of the

472
00:44:40,510 --> 00:44:47,510
hoof, hoof, foot rot on the horses and cattle. So and recently we had

473
00:44:47,510 --> 00:44:51,390
purchased the 10 acres that's in between us which has nothing on it. The only

474
00:44:51,390 --> 00:44:55,910
reason we purchased this property so nobody can further build on it and cause

475
00:44:55,910 --> 00:44:59,970
our property to flood. Last year when we had that hurricane we had

476
00:45:00,000 --> 00:45:29,980
We had to run a two-inch pump up into a neighborhood in front of us to keep the water out of our house. So I'm just asking for Lake County to help me to get this water around to go into the, the Army Corps engineers built a moat system around it due to the, the, the, the, there was a dump site, power chemical. They put a moat system, saw that water could go out the lake.

477
00:45:29,980 --> 00:45:35,840
a proper but now that that original owner had filled in some of that moat system that water

478
00:45:35,840 --> 00:45:42,140
can't go it has to raise so high to flow over the existing wetlands to get into the moat

479
00:45:42,140 --> 00:45:48,940
system to exit our land just stays flooded and like right now when I leave here I'm going

480
00:45:48,940 --> 00:45:55,940
back home to mo probably three acres by weedwacker just to get my property moat.

481
00:45:56,480 --> 00:46:13,560
I don't know what else to do on this, it's something needs to be done just to alleviate the water off my property so I don't lose whatever investment I got now into two properties because I borrowed off my 401k to buy this property, this other 10 acres or nobody would develop on it.

482
00:46:14,140 --> 00:46:22,840
So I'm just looking for a little help to figure out how to get this water to move off so we all can have actually a better property values.

483
00:46:23,480 --> 00:46:24,120
Thank you.

484
00:46:24,140 --> 00:46:26,440
You know, is there a DEP case on it?

485
00:46:26,700 --> 00:46:29,240
The D case, yes, and they close it.

486
00:46:29,340 --> 00:46:34,660
I opened up another one because I found out in mowing the back part of this property

487
00:46:35,240 --> 00:46:40,460
for the owners that just sold, this has been sold twice in nine months.

488
00:46:41,700 --> 00:46:44,140
So they could get back here and see the new dumping.

489
00:46:44,320 --> 00:46:50,060
The person that owned it prior that developed it, he must have been working into a construction

490
00:46:50,060 --> 00:46:57,080
companies dumped concrete pavers piping all in the wetlands all around it so

491
00:46:57,080 --> 00:47:00,940
now the water can't flow it will flow but it has to get so high to get around

492
00:47:00,940 --> 00:47:05,040
all this debris and every time somebody comes out and looks at it they say

493
00:47:05,040 --> 00:47:10,460
well the original owner said this was all here prior to him buying it which is a

494
00:47:10,860 --> 00:47:14,780
like as if you look on Lake County's website they're real pictures you can see

495
00:47:14,780 --> 00:47:19,480
the property from 2005 to now where's all trees it's low and all of a sudden he

496
00:47:19,480 --> 00:47:25,740
comes in, you see him cut the trees, the dirt starts piling, and just a thousand loads.

497
00:47:26,020 --> 00:47:32,700
So if you go at the road that was there at ground level, now it's six and a half feet tall

498
00:47:32,700 --> 00:47:34,040
from my new property.

499
00:47:34,480 --> 00:47:36,260
So there's no way for the water to go around it.

500
00:47:38,340 --> 00:47:38,740
Recommendation.

501
00:47:39,060 --> 00:47:44,400
So I've got staff coming down to meet you in the rotunda to get some more information and

502
00:47:44,400 --> 00:47:45,780
to see what we can do to assist.

503
00:47:45,780 --> 00:47:49,380
So if you'd like to step out to the Rotunda, they'll be happy to help.

504
00:47:49,700 --> 00:47:50,120
Thank you so much.

505
00:47:50,140 --> 00:47:51,840
Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

506
00:47:52,900 --> 00:47:54,860
All right, Jason Graham.

507
00:48:02,890 --> 00:48:04,310
Good morning commissioners.

508
00:48:05,490 --> 00:48:07,630
I introduce myself, I'm Jason Graham.

509
00:48:08,170 --> 00:48:12,830
I am the president of the professional firefighters of Lake County, local 3990.

510
00:48:13,470 --> 00:48:15,110
And I promise I'll keep this very brief.

511
00:48:15,970 --> 00:48:22,270
I just wanted to thank each of you guys for prioritizing our department and

512
00:48:22,270 --> 00:48:27,250
investing and its employees. The raises that you're going to approve today, they're going

513
00:48:27,250 --> 00:48:31,810
to make a real difference for the firefighters, the EMS workers, and their families. And it

514
00:48:31,810 --> 00:48:40,610
shows that you recognize the difficult and vital work that we do every day. We've seen

515
00:48:40,610 --> 00:48:45,430
a lot of really positive changes the last several months. The morale in the field has improved,

516
00:48:45,990 --> 00:49:00,430
and we've seen a noticeable increase in retention and recruitment, and I believe that the step that you're going to take today is going to only build on that momentum, and it's going to carry us even further forward.

517
00:49:00,950 --> 00:49:11,910
So I truly appreciate your support and your commitment not only to strengthening our department, but also to prioritizing the safety of the community that we serve, so thank you.

518
00:49:11,910 --> 00:49:16,370
Thank you. Thank you appreciate you appreciate you being here today and certainly

519
00:49:16,370 --> 00:49:23,910
appreciate those comments. Yeah. Thank you. All right online we'll take our

520
00:49:23,910 --> 00:49:28,550
online callers and we just want to make sure we'll see if they get into content

521
00:49:28,550 --> 00:49:34,050
that's later in the meeting I'll let them know. Cynthia Doyle please unmute your line

522
00:49:34,050 --> 00:49:35,070
and state your name for the record.

523
00:49:38,060 --> 00:49:44,280
Yes hello my name is Cynthia Doyle and my

524
00:49:44,280 --> 00:49:48,740
My comment is about naming the road for time.

525
00:49:49,660 --> 00:49:53,640
We're going to, we're taking that up later in the meeting after we get through the rest

526
00:49:53,640 --> 00:49:54,180
of our agenda.

527
00:49:54,180 --> 00:49:55,580
It's a little bit further down.

528
00:49:56,360 --> 00:49:59,380
So if you could hold on, I have one other comment.

529
00:49:59,940 --> 00:50:00,140
Okay.

530
00:50:00,340 --> 00:50:03,700
A non, another type comment that's not on the agenda.

531
00:50:05,060 --> 00:50:05,580
Exactly.

532
00:50:07,260 --> 00:50:10,940
My comment is about Anthony Sabatini.

533
00:50:11,460 --> 00:50:12,180
Thank you.

534
00:50:12,660 --> 00:50:14,940
I believe he should not be sitting up there.

535
00:50:15,780 --> 00:50:19,560
I think you, Mr. Sabatine, are serving at what?

536
00:50:20,540 --> 00:50:24,680
You guys, we don't do clapping in our meetings even when,

537
00:50:25,240 --> 00:50:26,780
I mean, we just don't do clapping in our meetings.

538
00:50:27,000 --> 00:50:28,860
So if we start doing clapping in our meetings,

539
00:50:29,860 --> 00:50:32,180
we'll have to ask anyone that's doing that to leave.

540
00:50:33,680 --> 00:50:37,100
And I'm going to let you say your piece,

541
00:50:37,100 --> 00:50:43,560
but our goal is to maintain the quorum at our meetings and to not saying any

542
00:50:43,560 --> 00:50:50,480
bad words. I'm just making a comment about Anthony Sabatini's comment. If he's

543
00:50:50,480 --> 00:50:55,200
allowed the comment, I should be allowed to counter his comment.

544
00:50:57,340 --> 00:50:57,940
May I continue?

545
00:50:59,900 --> 00:51:04,820
What's that? Yeah, I don't know if this is it sounds like this is about tab 24.

546
00:51:05,800 --> 00:51:13,760
No, it's not. It's about a comment he made publicly on Facebook. All right. Well,

547
00:51:13,800 --> 00:51:23,780
citizen comment, you're allowed to speak. Okay. I find you, Mr. Savitini, a terrible example

548
00:51:23,780 --> 00:51:30,440
of someone in public service. You have been divisive and you also make horrible calls for violence

549
00:51:30,440 --> 00:51:34,460
against those who you should be representing.

550
00:51:35,060 --> 00:51:36,400
You really should be ashamed.

551
00:51:36,640 --> 00:51:39,480
Real men are not bullies, so we know what category

552
00:51:39,480 --> 00:51:40,420
you fall into.

553
00:51:42,930 --> 00:51:47,560
You grabbed about Ilhan Omar, defaming Charlie Kirk.

554
00:51:48,480 --> 00:51:51,520
But in the same post, you wrote that Cory Mills,

555
00:51:51,520 --> 00:51:56,700
who defended Ilhan Omar and she is a Republican.

556
00:51:56,700 --> 00:52:01,100
You said he is an American last piece of trash.

557
00:52:02,000 --> 00:52:03,860
I find that extremely defamatory.

558
00:52:04,600 --> 00:52:09,800
You call for the death penalty for both the accused murderer of Charlie Kirk and his partner.

559
00:52:10,520 --> 00:52:14,460
His partner who is cooperating with police is transgender.

560
00:52:15,480 --> 00:52:18,140
So he should die because he is transgender.

561
00:52:18,800 --> 00:52:25,440
You also said to hang Charlie Kirk's murderer, murderers body in front of the White House for 90 days.

562
00:52:26,300 --> 00:52:29,260
Your fantasies are not welcome here in Lake County.

563
00:52:29,960 --> 00:52:35,120
Mr. Sabatini, Lake County doesn't need no skinking ignorant bullies on our commission.

564
00:52:35,720 --> 00:52:36,200
Thank you.

565
00:52:37,180 --> 00:52:37,400
All right.

566
00:52:37,920 --> 00:52:38,180
All right.

567
00:52:38,440 --> 00:52:39,540
Next caller.

568
00:52:41,460 --> 00:52:44,020
Terry, please unmute your line and state your name for the record.

569
00:52:46,310 --> 00:52:46,470
Hi.

570
00:52:46,690 --> 00:52:47,910
My name is Terry Lewis.

571
00:52:47,910 --> 00:52:48,970
I'm from Claremont.

572
00:52:50,950 --> 00:52:54,010
My comment is about the renaming of the road.

573
00:52:54,010 --> 00:52:58,110
So I think I raised my hand to early to early.

574
00:52:58,430 --> 00:52:59,870
Okay, just stay online.

575
00:53:00,170 --> 00:53:01,170
Thank you, Terry.

576
00:53:01,350 --> 00:53:01,490
Okay.

577
00:53:02,350 --> 00:53:03,910
And we have a third caller now.

578
00:53:04,130 --> 00:53:04,930
Okay, so that's it.

579
00:53:05,470 --> 00:53:12,050
All right, moving then to our clerk of court's consent agenda, Mr. CUNY.

580
00:53:12,430 --> 00:53:13,770
Good morning, commissioners.

581
00:53:13,770 --> 00:53:16,750
Again, I have 11 items in my consent agenda for your approval.

582
00:53:17,270 --> 00:53:17,890
So move.

583
00:53:18,350 --> 00:53:20,490
All right, all in favor say aye.

584
00:53:20,830 --> 00:53:21,210
Aye.

585
00:53:21,470 --> 00:53:21,790
Any opposed?

586
00:53:21,790 --> 00:53:35,770
Those passes 5-0 consent agenda tabs 4 through 20 with the elimination of 11 and the addition of 28.

587
00:53:40,310 --> 00:53:41,570
All right, do we have a motion?

588
00:53:41,750 --> 00:53:42,570
Make a motion to approve.

589
00:53:43,490 --> 00:53:43,670
Second.

590
00:53:44,230 --> 00:53:45,150
All in favor say aye.

591
00:53:45,570 --> 00:53:45,870
Aye.

592
00:53:46,190 --> 00:53:46,550
Any opposed?

593
00:53:47,130 --> 00:53:47,450
All right.

594
00:53:47,790 --> 00:53:51,630
Those items on the consent agenda pass and

595
00:53:51,630 --> 00:53:56,090
And now we're moving into our public hearings.

596
00:53:57,890 --> 00:54:00,590
Our first public hearing is tab 21.

597
00:54:00,890 --> 00:54:03,350
I'll call on Jeff Earhart.

598
00:54:04,270 --> 00:54:09,410
This is with regard to a resolution to vacate to drainage ditch right away easements.

599
00:54:10,770 --> 00:54:14,230
The closest municipality is the Claremont municipality.

600
00:54:19,490 --> 00:54:21,110
Morning, Jeff Earhart, engineering director.

601
00:54:21,110 --> 00:54:34,130
This is related to a vacation on a subdivision that's down on south of 474, down in the four corners area related by the Park Square Enterprises and I'm designed by McIntosh and Associates.

602
00:54:34,970 --> 00:54:40,150
It is down the four corners area. It's on the south side of 474, it's in Commission District 1.

603
00:54:41,070 --> 00:54:49,510
It involves a vacation of two drainage easements. You can see the one small one on the left and the longer one on the right, a little more closer up in the area.

604
00:54:50,050 --> 00:54:54,750
You can also see those that the one on the one on the smaller one is going to be totally vacated.

605
00:54:54,870 --> 00:55:01,130
The one on the right is going to be replaced with another easement that's going to be associated with the development that's coming through.

606
00:55:02,150 --> 00:55:05,490
So with that, there was no objections to it.

607
00:55:05,570 --> 00:55:12,370
There was initially, do you have an objection because I thought their easement was going to be vacated but that is not the case that's going to go into remain.

608
00:55:12,590 --> 00:55:15,350
So there was no objections and public work says no objections.

609
00:55:15,350 --> 00:55:16,870
So open the back to public hearing.

610
00:55:21,280 --> 00:55:30,740
Okay. All right. It's a public hearing. I don't see any speaker cards on tab 21 on this vacation. If you meant to fill one out, please raise your hand.

611
00:55:32,020 --> 00:55:37,760
All right. Otherwise, I'll bring it back to the board for a motion to approve. Second.

612
00:55:38,540 --> 00:55:44,820
All right. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? That passes 5-0. Moving now to tab 22.

613
00:55:47,310 --> 00:55:51,110
Okay, this will be an ordinance of the Board of County Commissioners of Lake County, Florida,

614
00:55:51,330 --> 00:55:55,770
amending section 14-11-00, Lake County Code, appendix C, lane development regulations, entitled

615
00:55:55,770 --> 00:56:00,150
minor lot splits and family density exceptions, adjusting the requirements of the family density

616
00:56:00,150 --> 00:56:05,570
exception, reinstating the agricultural lot split process, amending section 14-07-02, entitled

617
00:56:05,570 --> 00:56:09,490
planning required, providing for severability, providing for inclusion of the code, providing

618
00:56:09,490 --> 00:56:12,030
for filing with Department of State, and providing for an effective date.

619
00:56:12,030 --> 00:56:20,530
You choose to approve this today will become ordinance 2025-45 and I would request that you approve it with the suggested changes that were included in your packet

620
00:56:21,430 --> 00:56:24,990
Okay, all right. We have two cards. Do we have anyone online on this item?

621
00:56:25,770 --> 00:56:30,590
No, okay. All right. The first card is Raleigh Rollerson and

622
00:56:32,800 --> 00:56:34,500
the second card is Cindy Newton

623
00:56:35,220 --> 00:56:37,320
Just so you know you're in the batters box

624
00:56:43,230 --> 00:56:49,190
Good morning, madam chair commissioners. I'm Raleigh Rollerson. I'm here on to speak on behalf of Fortiform Bureau

625
00:56:49,330 --> 00:56:53,550
consideration. Forta Farm Bureau is the state's largest nonprofit general

626
00:56:53,550 --> 00:57:00,370
ag organization. We represent more than 133,000 member families and over 300 ag

627
00:57:00,370 --> 00:57:06,710
commodities in the state with 2371 of those member families residing right here

628
00:57:06,710 --> 00:57:09,870
in Lake County. Protecting private property rights and ensuring

629
00:57:09,870 --> 00:57:14,750
fortiformers and ranchers are and continue to be economically viable or top

630
00:57:14,750 --> 00:57:19,130
priorities for Forta Farm Bureau. As many of you know, ag faces a variety of

631
00:57:19,130 --> 00:57:22,010
unique challenges which can lead to devastating losses.

632
00:57:22,670 --> 00:57:23,610
During tough years,

633
00:57:24,270 --> 00:57:26,750
agro-wise on their most valued asset, their land,

634
00:57:27,250 --> 00:57:29,530
to help them survive during those difficult times.

635
00:57:30,750 --> 00:57:32,430
Farmers and ranchers across the state

636
00:57:32,430 --> 00:57:35,110
need the value of that property to remain high

637
00:57:35,110 --> 00:57:37,810
in the event that they need to borrow against that value

638
00:57:37,810 --> 00:57:41,190
as collateral for reasons such as to cash flow,

639
00:57:41,410 --> 00:57:44,130
planning a new crop, buying fertilizer,

640
00:57:44,670 --> 00:57:45,970
feed and seed for the next year,

641
00:57:46,630 --> 00:57:48,770
or to buy additional acres to expand their current

642
00:57:48,770 --> 00:57:54,890
an operation. Restricting their ability to split ag lots or parcels into smaller lots reduces

643
00:57:54,890 --> 00:58:00,270
the value of that land and diminishes their private property rights. For these reasons,

644
00:58:00,610 --> 00:58:06,630
retaining the ability to break ag properties into smaller agricultural parcels is necessary

645
00:58:06,630 --> 00:58:11,810
to ensure agriculture remains viable in sustainable and late county and throughout the state.

646
00:58:11,810 --> 00:58:24,950
We appreciate Lake County's efforts to reinstate Section 14-0013 entitled Ag Lot splits of the Land Development Regulations that was repealed last August, 2024, and we urge you to approve this ordinance.

647
00:58:25,430 --> 00:58:32,090
We are especially thankful to County Attorney Melanie Marsh for her willingness to work to address our concerns. Thank you.

648
00:58:33,010 --> 00:58:33,990
Thank you.

649
00:58:33,990 --> 00:58:35,070
Cindy Newton.

650
00:58:39,900 --> 00:58:41,900
Good morning, Cindy Newton District 4.

651
00:58:44,240 --> 00:58:46,360
I'm requesting that a

652
00:58:46,360 --> 00:58:54,480
reference to the Wild and Scenic River Act of 2000 Florida Statute 369.30570,

653
00:58:55,360 --> 00:59:00,180
which requires the parcels that land adjacent to the Bekiver River system not

654
00:59:00,180 --> 00:59:05,880
be subdivided in a way that interferes with the environmental protection as part

655
00:59:05,880 --> 00:59:13,260
of the lot split regulation. In late clarity, this includes the Blackwater Creek, which is 17.9

656
00:59:13,260 --> 00:59:23,500
miles from the Wacover River to Lake Norris. I believe that including this in this particular

657
00:59:23,500 --> 00:59:29,840
regulation will help ensure it's brought to the attention not only of staff as they do administrative

658
00:59:29,840 --> 00:59:39,640
of approvals but also for applicants as they're looking at whether or not this would pertain to them.

659
00:59:40,560 --> 00:59:44,800
And it may even save staff some time in the process, so thank you for your time.

660
00:59:46,000 --> 00:59:46,500
Thank you.

661
00:59:52,970 --> 00:59:59,450
Melanie, just a question on what type of River Protection Act and how it affects lot splits.

662
01:00:00,000 --> 01:00:29,980
Are the density requirements still intact? For minor lot splits, yes, they still have to comply with the underlying density of the future land use. For family density exceptions, the only exclusion is the green swap. So in the Wokiva area, they could theoretically still do a family density exception. So long as it is a minimum of one acre upland. And that has to stay in the family. Is that 10 year? Correct.

663
01:00:29,980 --> 01:00:34,220
a direct it has to stay in the family for 10 years, and as part of approving this ordinance,

664
01:00:34,600 --> 01:00:40,200
they would no longer be able to get that family density exception with an agricultural classification.

665
01:00:40,640 --> 01:00:43,480
They would have to actually build a house within one year.

666
01:00:44,140 --> 01:00:54,500
Okay, all right, I think that creates a legitimate limitation so they're not just dividing lots and then waiting time and then selling.

667
01:00:54,500 --> 01:00:57,800
They literally would have to build a home for a family member.

668
01:00:58,300 --> 01:00:58,660
Okay.

669
01:00:58,920 --> 01:01:04,360
Yeah, I was going to say, I think my question is the other thing, but it's the Wild and Scenic River Act that was referenced.

670
01:01:04,460 --> 01:01:11,500
That's probably that part of it was aimed at subdivisions for larger subdivisions than a lot split.

671
01:01:12,220 --> 01:01:14,420
I would assume so, but I haven't looked at that act.

672
01:01:14,560 --> 01:01:19,040
We can certainly go back and look at it, and if we fill in other amendments necessary, we can bring that forward.

673
01:01:19,220 --> 01:01:25,480
I mean, there's still going to have to adhere to the comp plan with the exception of this change within the LDRs as well.

674
01:01:25,480 --> 01:01:30,580
Correct, the only time they would have a density exception is if they do the family density split.

675
01:01:31,140 --> 01:01:39,300
Yeah, and the Wild and Seaning Act, if you think about it, it covers seminal and lake with the river running through our two counties.

676
01:01:39,960 --> 01:01:44,460
And on the seminal side, you have a lot of subdivisions that existed a long time ago.

677
01:01:44,880 --> 01:01:54,640
And on the lake county side, there's very little, we don't have a way, there can be no subdivisions in that area, under our comp plan.

678
01:01:54,640 --> 01:02:00,740
And the only thing that you could do would be if you owned family property you could divide it for a family member.

679
01:02:01,780 --> 01:02:07,340
You can't even use a, you can't use a minor lot split to make something smaller than what the allowable density.

680
01:02:07,500 --> 01:02:11,520
And around the river, I think it's 1 to 40, yeah, 1 unit to 40 acres.

681
01:02:11,780 --> 01:02:14,600
So I mean, we've got a lot of protection there.

682
01:02:14,840 --> 01:02:17,220
So I think that we've, I think that we've got it covered.

683
01:02:20,320 --> 01:02:21,400
Okay, any other comments?

684
01:02:22,040 --> 01:02:23,580
No, there were no speakers.

685
01:02:25,120 --> 01:02:27,020
All right, all in favor say aye.

686
01:02:27,340 --> 01:02:27,740
Aye.

687
01:02:28,020 --> 01:02:28,400
Any opposed?

688
01:02:28,840 --> 01:02:29,840
That passes 5-0.

689
01:02:30,160 --> 01:02:33,620
And Madam Chairman, just to clarify for the record that did include the proposed changes.

690
01:02:34,160 --> 01:02:39,320
Can you just clarify on your motion that included any changes that were listed in our packet?

691
01:02:39,800 --> 01:02:40,280
That's correct.

692
01:02:40,540 --> 01:02:41,460
Thank you.

693
01:02:42,160 --> 01:02:42,900
All right.

694
01:02:43,220 --> 01:02:47,520
Moving now to tab 23.

695
01:02:48,140 --> 01:02:49,680
I'll call on Jordan.

696
01:02:49,680 --> 01:02:51,220
then, the challenger.

697
01:02:51,980 --> 01:02:55,160
I'm chairman if I can read the title first and then we can have the presentation.

698
01:02:55,740 --> 01:02:58,640
So this will be an ordinance of the Board of County Commissioners of Lake County, Florida,

699
01:02:58,900 --> 01:03:02,120
providing for the levy of a 5 cent local option fuel tax in Lake County,

700
01:03:02,580 --> 01:03:05,440
providing that the imposition shall be effective for a period of 10 years,

701
01:03:05,580 --> 01:03:09,500
beginning January 1st of 26, providing for administration of the fuel tax,

702
01:03:09,700 --> 01:03:12,820
providing for the fuel tax proceeds to be distributed among Lake County and

703
01:03:12,820 --> 01:03:15,880
municipalities, providing for notification to the state of Florida,

704
01:03:16,100 --> 01:03:18,600
Department of Revenue, providing for amendments to Lake County Code,

705
01:03:18,600 --> 01:03:27,740
Chapter 13, Article 2 entitled Gas Taxes, providing for inclusion in the code, providing for severability, providing for conflict, cause, providing for filing with Department of State, and providing for an effective date.

706
01:03:28,140 --> 01:03:34,540
If you choose to approve this today, I've become Ornus 2025-46, and as a reminder, a supermajority vote is required.

707
01:03:39,420 --> 01:03:42,320
Very good, good morning, commissioners, Madam Chair.

708
01:03:43,100 --> 01:03:46,200
For the record, Jordan Salinger, Public Works, Operations Director.

709
01:03:47,400 --> 01:03:52,720
So the purpose of today's presentation is to provide some additional information for

710
01:03:52,720 --> 01:03:57,680
board consideration of the adoption and execution of an ordinance providing for the

711
01:03:57,680 --> 01:04:03,500
levy of a 5 cent local option fuel tax to be effective January 1st of 2026.

712
01:04:06,160 --> 01:04:10,500
So this presentation looks similar to last month's presentation, but today we'll specifically

713
01:04:10,500 --> 01:04:14,780
discuss gas tax a bit more and what it specifically means for resurfacing.

714
01:04:14,780 --> 01:04:20,680
and then we'll open it up for a board discussion and direction.

715
01:04:22,460 --> 01:04:24,800
So we're going to talk about funding sources.

716
01:04:25,860 --> 01:04:29,120
And so to talk about the funding sources, we need to talk about the funding need.

717
01:04:29,640 --> 01:04:34,080
So with respect to funding, we have to look at the three buckets that we need.

718
01:04:34,240 --> 01:04:36,420
We have three separate buckets that need to be filled.

719
01:04:37,060 --> 01:04:40,640
So we have operations and maintenance, which is our everyday maintenance.

720
01:04:40,860 --> 01:04:45,700
These are the potholes, the shoulder drop-offs, the roadside mowing, the tree trimming,

721
01:04:45,700 --> 01:04:49,720
sign, signals, striping, and preventative road maintenance.

722
01:04:50,460 --> 01:04:52,360
Then we have capacity projects.

723
01:04:52,760 --> 01:04:56,080
Capacity projects are development related.

724
01:04:56,280 --> 01:04:57,180
They're the new roads.

725
01:04:57,480 --> 01:04:59,980
They're increasing capacity, they're widening roads,

726
01:05:00,340 --> 01:05:02,880
they're intersection improvements, and they're safety upgrades.

727
01:05:03,640 --> 01:05:05,060
And then we have resurfacing.

728
01:05:05,620 --> 01:05:09,380
Resurfacing is the repaving of our existing roads.

729
01:05:10,380 --> 01:05:15,400
So we'll discuss how each of these buckets gets filled because there's rules,

730
01:05:15,400 --> 01:05:18,080
right, that we have to follow with each of these funding sources.

731
01:05:19,060 --> 01:05:20,820
So first we'll talk about impact fees.

732
01:05:21,500 --> 01:05:24,740
Impact fees are a non-tax source of funding.

733
01:05:25,480 --> 01:05:28,360
So there are one time charges that are assessed on new developments.

734
01:05:28,380 --> 01:05:31,660
This is residential, commercial, industrial projects.

735
01:05:32,380 --> 01:05:37,580
The fees are paid for by developers to offset their impacts to our roadway network.

736
01:05:38,580 --> 01:05:41,480
So growth should pay for growth, and that's the intent.

737
01:05:42,320 --> 01:05:46,760
These fees can only be used in their designated impact fee districts.

738
01:05:47,260 --> 01:05:52,640
So you can't take fees from one area and use it for say resurfacing on the other side of the county.

739
01:05:52,860 --> 01:05:53,760
It doesn't work that way.

740
01:05:54,540 --> 01:06:01,240
So there's two important things to note with impact fees, that this revenue source can only be used for capacity projects.

741
01:06:01,800 --> 01:06:03,920
And it can't be used for maintenance activities.

742
01:06:05,120 --> 01:06:11,300
And then also these impact the increases to these fees, they have to follow very strict rules.

743
01:06:11,300 --> 01:06:18,580
There's caps and there's phased increases that occur, you know, in cycles every four years per state statute.

744
01:06:19,160 --> 01:06:27,280
So the next opportunity to increase the impact fees for the West District is October of 27th, and all other districts were already

745
01:06:27,280 --> 01:06:31,220
levying the max impact fees possible within their cycles.

746
01:06:31,680 --> 01:06:34,720
And the next increase would be January of 28th.

747
01:06:37,550 --> 01:06:40,670
And then we have sales tax, which this is a consumer's tax.

748
01:06:40,670 --> 01:06:44,230
So it's a 1% tax on goods sold in Lake County.

749
01:06:44,930 --> 01:06:47,810
Sales tax is used for lots of purposes county-wide.

750
01:06:48,090 --> 01:06:52,490
It's split by thirds between the school board, the municipalities, and the BCC.

751
01:06:53,430 --> 01:06:58,050
Approximately 17% of the BCC share is distributed to public works.

752
01:06:59,070 --> 01:07:02,690
What's important to note about sales tax is that it's similar to impact fees,

753
01:07:03,070 --> 01:07:07,030
in that this revenue source also cannot be used for maintenance activities.

754
01:07:07,030 --> 01:07:10,890
It can only be used for capital expenses and for public works.

755
01:07:11,270 --> 01:07:13,470
That means resurfacing and capacity projects.

756
01:07:16,940 --> 01:07:20,080
And then here we have the gas tax pennies summarized.

757
01:07:20,260 --> 01:07:24,520
I think this is a little easier than explaining the pennies individually.

758
01:07:25,120 --> 01:07:28,540
So there are three pennies that our state imposed and

759
01:07:28,540 --> 01:07:30,340
we collect 100% of those pennies.

760
01:07:30,860 --> 01:07:33,700
There are a total of seven local pennies.

761
01:07:34,600 --> 01:07:38,180
One of those pennies applies to gasoline and diesel.

762
01:07:38,180 --> 01:07:41,220
And we only collect 50% of that penny.

763
01:07:41,560 --> 01:07:46,020
The remaining six pennies are split with the municipalities where we get about two thirds,

764
01:07:46,340 --> 01:07:47,840
and then the other third goes to the cities.

765
01:07:49,160 --> 01:07:51,760
So gas tax in general is public works,

766
01:07:51,880 --> 01:07:54,040
main source of funding for maintenance and operations.

767
01:07:54,700 --> 01:07:57,400
So this is what funds your everyday road maintenance and

768
01:07:57,400 --> 01:07:59,800
the administrative roles that support that maintenance.

769
01:08:00,740 --> 01:08:06,280
And in red, you can see here that there is an additional five pennies that have not been implemented.

770
01:08:06,280 --> 01:08:16,840
This tax has been available since 1993, that's 32 years, and the majority of Florida counties already levy this tax, especially in Central and South Florida.

771
01:08:22,350 --> 01:08:24,170
So here we have a few other funding sources.

772
01:08:24,870 --> 01:08:32,770
We have MSTU, which is a property tax line item that is levied against homeowners with an unincorporated lake county based on the approved military.

773
01:08:33,390 --> 01:08:36,590
This revenue is then shared between stormwater parks and roads.

774
01:08:37,310 --> 01:08:43,050
Then we have general property tax, which is levied across all properties within Lake County.

775
01:08:43,570 --> 01:08:48,430
So it's a larger pool than the MSTU, and it's also based on an approved military.

776
01:08:49,610 --> 01:08:56,550
Because there's simply not enough gas tax to fund resurfacing, we have to supplement with MSTU and the general property tax.

777
01:08:57,770 --> 01:08:59,370
And then lastly, we have service fees.

778
01:08:59,830 --> 01:09:05,690
Service fees are charged for services provided for development activities such as plan review and site inspection.

779
01:09:05,690 --> 01:09:08,850
Again, we want that growth to pay for growth.

780
01:09:09,310 --> 01:09:13,630
So this revenue pays for the public work staff that's performing these services so

781
01:09:13,630 --> 01:09:17,970
that the gas tax is preserved for its intended use, which is our roadway infrastructure.

782
01:09:19,570 --> 01:09:23,430
And then I'd like to note that there is one other funding source that's not shown,

783
01:09:23,530 --> 01:09:26,390
which is the MSBUs for new subdivisions.

784
01:09:26,910 --> 01:09:33,430
So recently implemented all new subdivision residents pay into their own MSBUs for

785
01:09:33,430 --> 01:09:35,030
that subdivision specifically.

786
01:09:35,030 --> 01:09:40,890
So this ensures that maintenance of that new subdivision is also not a drain on the gas tax.

787
01:09:41,890 --> 01:09:48,730
So not only are developers paying for impact fees, but new subdivisions are essentially paying their own maintenance long term as well.

788
01:09:53,120 --> 01:09:57,340
So this is what the compilation of these funding sources looks like for fiscal year 26.

789
01:09:58,260 --> 01:10:01,560
On the left, you can see the stack dollars associated with each category.

790
01:10:01,940 --> 01:10:04,240
It totals about 37.5 million.

791
01:10:04,240 --> 01:10:09,540
So, these funding sources are assigned to those three buckets that we discuss, the capacity,

792
01:10:09,780 --> 01:10:11,940
the resurfacing, the maintenance and operations.

793
01:10:13,200 --> 01:10:16,540
So on the right is a pie chart that gives a little bit of a different visual.

794
01:10:17,200 --> 01:10:24,420
Capacity projects are funded with impact fees and sales tax, and it takes up about 37% of

795
01:10:24,420 --> 01:10:26,280
our 37.5 million.

796
01:10:26,960 --> 01:10:30,140
Operations and maintenance takes up about 43%.

797
01:10:30,140 --> 01:10:33,720
And that includes gas tax and service fees.

798
01:10:34,280 --> 01:10:41,860
And then we have resurfacing, which is a compilation of multiple funding sources because gas tax can't support it at this time.

799
01:10:42,320 --> 01:10:46,340
So right now resurfacing is made up of sales tax, MSTU, and general funds.

800
01:10:47,340 --> 01:10:52,380
So the majority of resurfacing right now is funded through a property tax mechanism.

801
01:10:57,330 --> 01:11:01,770
So we know population is growing and like most of Florida we're going to continue to grow.

802
01:11:01,770 --> 01:11:07,490
Now, population has doubled in the last 25 years, and it's going to increase another 35

803
01:11:08,010 --> 01:11:11,850
percent over the next 25 years based on a medium growth scenario.

804
01:11:12,950 --> 01:11:18,570
So in theory, as population increases, there's more gas consumption and more pennies are

805
01:11:18,570 --> 01:11:19,990
going into those maintenance buckets.

806
01:11:20,710 --> 01:11:22,410
But there's a few complicating factors.

807
01:11:22,910 --> 01:11:28,290
Because while we are collecting pennies for more people, fuel efficiency reduces the number

808
01:11:28,290 --> 01:11:33,390
of pennies, and then the value of those pennies are impacted by inflation and increased

809
01:11:33,390 --> 01:11:34,170
construction costs.

810
01:11:36,770 --> 01:11:40,730
As this chart clearly illustrates, the rate of increase in construction

811
01:11:40,730 --> 01:11:46,890
costs has significantly outpaced the National Consumer Price Index or inflation. This trend

812
01:11:46,890 --> 01:11:52,470
directly diminishes our purchasing power. So when it comes to resurfacing, the cost has

813
01:11:52,470 --> 01:11:57,830
increased significantly, severely impacting the number of miles we are able to resurface

814
01:11:57,830 --> 01:11:59,370
with those same pennies.

815
01:12:02,380 --> 01:12:03,700
And then during this time frame,

816
01:12:04,180 --> 01:12:07,840
the users of the road have increased by nearly 105%,

817
01:12:07,840 --> 01:12:11,640
but the gas tax is only increased by less than 36%.

818
01:12:11,960 --> 01:12:14,380
And you might say it's because of electric vehicles.

819
01:12:15,280 --> 01:12:18,260
However, electric vehicles only make up about 2%

820
01:12:18,260 --> 01:12:20,120
of late counties registered vehicles

821
01:12:20,120 --> 01:12:22,960
and then the hybrids only make up another 4%.

822
01:12:22,960 --> 01:12:25,880
So that really doesn't explain that huge gap.

823
01:12:27,840 --> 01:12:33,500
So when you factor in fuel efficiency, though, more people are working remotely, so there's,

824
01:12:33,600 --> 01:12:39,120
you know, less driving in general and the electric vehicles than it starts to add up and make sense.

825
01:12:39,880 --> 01:12:44,080
None of us are really contributing as many pennies to the pot as we used to.

826
01:12:47,790 --> 01:12:48,410
Now we're going to look

827
01:12:48,410 --> 01:12:54,810
specifically at our resurfacing needs. This chart shows the annual miles of Lake County roads that have

828
01:12:54,810 --> 01:13:00,590
been resurfaced since 2014 and as you can see the miles fluctuate because there really isn't

829
01:13:00,590 --> 01:13:06,710
a consistent funding source from year to year. You see that the miles jump in 21 and 22 because

830
01:13:06,710 --> 01:13:11,570
we had a resurfacing loan that came to fruition during that time but then immediately after that

831
01:13:11,570 --> 01:13:17,750
the miles plummet again. So in more recent years additional funding has been allocated to resurfacing

832
01:13:17,750 --> 01:13:22,990
so you see the resurfacing miles start to climb but it's difficult to get back to pre-COVID

833
01:13:22,990 --> 01:13:25,870
miles since the cost of construction really never came down.

834
01:13:28,810 --> 01:13:33,370
This is what our roads look like going back to 2018.

835
01:13:33,730 --> 01:13:34,630
These are the road ratings.

836
01:13:35,170 --> 01:13:38,230
Green signifies good roads that are rated seven or better.

837
01:13:38,750 --> 01:13:44,310
A yellow is our danger zone where this is where the roads start to rapidly deteriorate.

838
01:13:44,830 --> 01:13:47,150
And then red is simply where we don't want to be.

839
01:13:47,290 --> 01:13:50,170
These are roads that are in a critical state of repair.

840
01:13:51,310 --> 01:13:55,790
So, as you can see, over eight years, the needle really hasn't moved much.

841
01:13:56,430 --> 01:13:58,230
We're barely treading water there.

842
01:13:58,910 --> 01:14:02,890
The concerning part is you see that the yellow is starting to trend higher,

843
01:14:03,210 --> 01:14:08,890
which means that roads are going to deteriorate quicker than we can empty that red bucket.

844
01:14:11,940 --> 01:14:15,100
So, here's a closer look at where we are present day.

845
01:14:15,660 --> 01:14:18,320
Resurfacing is tied closely to maintenance.

846
01:14:18,840 --> 01:14:21,760
When resurfacing is deferred, the cost of maintenance increases.

847
01:14:21,760 --> 01:14:32,580
Both due to economic factors such as inflation, but also the fact that rebuilding a road from the base-up is four times as expensive as preventive maintenance.

848
01:14:34,830 --> 01:14:39,950
We currently have a $90 million deficit in our critical resurfacing need.

849
01:14:41,430 --> 01:14:46,010
So it's kind of like not changing the oil in your car.

850
01:14:46,730 --> 01:14:49,490
You eventually have to replace your whole engine.

851
01:14:49,490 --> 01:14:56,350
So, if with regular oil changes and preventative maintenance, you can get 200 to 300,000 miles out of your vehicle.

852
01:14:56,650 --> 01:14:59,910
But if you never change the oil, you might experience...

853
01:15:00,000 --> 01:15:24,460
Critical engine failure at just 50,000 miles. And the roads are exactly the same way. We're not really able to maintain them because we're more reactive. We have to focus on the roads in these red buckets that are in a state of failure. But if we were to transition eventually, if we got rid of our red bucket and we transition to preventative maintenance, then we would end up saving taxpayers a lot more money in the long run.

854
01:15:28,760 --> 01:15:32,220
So when we're talking about our red critical roads,

855
01:15:32,220 --> 01:15:35,740
What exactly are we talking about, which roads?

856
01:15:36,300 --> 01:15:41,180
So it's completely understandable for our residents to not want to be taxed for new development.

857
01:15:41,460 --> 01:15:49,620
So it's important to differentiate the impacts from development versus just our existing aging infrastructure.

858
01:15:50,480 --> 01:15:56,940
So here's a jigsaw puzzle of Lake County, and every road depicted here are the red roads.

859
01:15:57,160 --> 01:16:00,620
So we broke them up into two categories just so you can visualize a little easier.

860
01:16:00,620 --> 01:16:04,820
the collector roads are in darker red, and the local roads are in orange.

861
01:16:05,480 --> 01:16:11,980
So as you can see, there are significantly more local roads that make up our critical road category.

862
01:16:12,680 --> 01:16:19,100
80%, 80% of that $90 million deficit are local roads.

863
01:16:19,600 --> 01:16:22,300
That means those are roads within neighborhoods.

864
01:16:22,880 --> 01:16:29,840
Our Lake County residents in the older neighborhoods with the older roads would be the biggest benefactors of

865
01:16:29,840 --> 01:16:37,400
the 5 cents gas tax. So our department averages well over 100 complaints a month and the vast

866
01:16:37,400 --> 01:16:43,100
majority of those complaints are pothole and shoulder work complaints and delaying the resurfacing

867
01:16:43,100 --> 01:16:51,140
will just continue to increase these complaints. So here's a closer look at an example of what one of

868
01:16:51,140 --> 01:16:59,780
these, you know, red category roads are. So in District 1, here we have Catherine Circle in the

869
01:16:59,780 --> 01:17:00,860
Developed in the 90s.

870
01:17:03,420 --> 01:17:05,380
Here's an example from District 2.

871
01:17:05,920 --> 01:17:10,340
Adam Court in Montverde Hills, this is a neighborhood again from the 80s.

872
01:17:14,780 --> 01:17:20,680
District 3, Dora Wood Drive, this is a neighborhood from the 80s.

873
01:17:24,150 --> 01:17:29,970
District 4, C-Greyp Avenue and Royal Trails, homes here were built in the 80s, 90s, and

874
01:17:29,970 --> 01:17:33,490
there are some newer homes today, but these are not new county roads.

875
01:17:36,460 --> 01:17:39,940
And then District 5, this is Leesburg Boulevard in Fruitland Park area.

876
01:17:39,940 --> 01:17:46,940
These homes were built in the 70s and 80s and a few in later years, but as you can see these are not new developments and

877
01:17:47,740 --> 01:17:52,540
new developments typically are not increasing the traffic within the local neighborhoods.

878
01:17:53,380 --> 01:17:55,460
So these roads that are being left behind

879
01:17:55,460 --> 01:18:02,880
due to the lack of funding and it's in it's the resurfacing of these roads that would be paid for by the five-cent gas tax.

880
01:18:07,770 --> 01:18:11,110
So here's a snapshot of the resurfacing funding for the last few years.

881
01:18:11,110 --> 01:18:16,570
The county recognizes that road deterioration is an issue, so we've been trying to dedicate

882
01:18:16,570 --> 01:18:19,110
more funds to resurfacing in more recent years.

883
01:18:19,630 --> 01:18:28,210
Fiscal year 24, we were up to $5.1 million, $25.8.1 million, and fiscal year 26, $7.5 million.

884
01:18:28,450 --> 01:18:30,450
And we're hoping that that trend will continue.

885
01:18:32,600 --> 01:18:39,460
If we can maintain an $8 million annual budget for resurfacing, this is what our tenure outlook

886
01:18:39,460 --> 01:18:40,300
could look like.

887
01:18:40,300 --> 01:19:00,180
It's definitely better than where we are now, but it doesn't get us out of the red, and it doesn't significantly reduce our yellow categories, and the yellow category and preventing the green from entering the yellow category is where we would be saving the most significant amount of money with preventative maintenance and extending the life of those roads.

888
01:19:00,180 --> 01:19:01,300
So

889
01:19:03,540 --> 01:19:09,160
should the 5 cent gas tax be implemented, we could achieve a $12 million annual resurfacing budget.

890
01:19:09,740 --> 01:19:19,800
The goal of gas tax is to place the least amount of burden possible on the Lake County residents by sharing that burden amongst the users of the road as a consumer tax.

891
01:19:20,460 --> 01:19:24,900
The 5 cent tax applies to everyone traveling through Lake County that stops for gas.

892
01:19:24,900 --> 01:19:31,100
It's a much bigger pool of contributors than the general property tax in MSTU, which

893
01:19:31,100 --> 01:19:34,360
is what is currently funding the majority of resurfacing efforts right now.

894
01:19:35,480 --> 01:19:41,800
So I believe that over time, if we can get ourselves out of the red zone, that we may be able to transition away from general fund for

895
01:19:41,800 --> 01:19:46,860
resurfacing purposes, which is a much larger burden on residents than gas tax would be.

896
01:19:50,570 --> 01:19:54,170
And here's a glimpse of what a 12 million budget could look like for us.

897
01:19:54,170 --> 01:20:00,270
You can see that we've gotten completely out of the red, and we have significantly reduced our yellow danger zone.

898
01:20:00,710 --> 01:20:05,410
So in this scenario, we would transition to a proactive preventative maintenance approach.

899
01:20:05,770 --> 01:20:08,010
And that's where we would see significant savings over time.

900
01:20:12,380 --> 01:20:17,340
So now we'll look at precisely what the 5 cent local option means for us.

901
01:20:19,000 --> 01:20:20,720
So here's a snapshot of Florida.

902
01:20:21,420 --> 01:20:27,360
At a Florida 67 counties, 39 out of 67 already levies some portion of the additional 5 cents.

903
01:20:27,360 --> 01:20:33,340
that's 58 percent of the state right now. 35 counties already levy the full five cents.

904
01:20:33,940 --> 01:20:38,600
So Seminole counties highlighted in yellow because they are the most recent county to have

905
01:20:38,600 --> 01:20:44,100
levy this option and they did that last month at their August meeting with a majority board vote.

906
01:20:47,970 --> 01:20:54,010
Now this graph is super interesting because it shows how we compare to our immediate neighbors

907
01:20:54,010 --> 01:20:59,530
with respect to the gallons of gas sold versus the revenue that everyone's receiving.

908
01:20:59,530 --> 01:21:04,970
And the counties are organized from largest population to smallest for reference.

909
01:21:05,550 --> 01:21:10,150
And Seminole's revenue here is highlighted in orange because it's an estimated amount

910
01:21:10,150 --> 01:21:14,190
for when their 5 cents is implemented just so we have a better comparison.

911
01:21:15,610 --> 01:21:17,510
So there are two outliers here.

912
01:21:18,710 --> 01:21:21,410
And each of them have not implemented the 5 cents.

913
01:21:21,710 --> 01:21:24,410
And that is Orange County and Sumter County.

914
01:21:24,410 --> 01:21:29,370
So Orange County, they're both unique because they have much different funding sources than we do.

915
01:21:29,750 --> 01:21:35,450
So Orange County receives nearly five times the amount of sales tax as we do, because they have amusement parks, right?

916
01:21:35,950 --> 01:21:37,770
In Sumter County, they have the villages.

917
01:21:38,170 --> 01:21:44,870
So they have their community development districts, and they're responsible for roads, sidewalks, water sewer drainage, etc.

918
01:21:45,390 --> 01:21:49,350
The homeowners are responsible for paying into special assessment bonds, right?

919
01:21:49,630 --> 01:21:51,090
That helps pay for their infrastructure.

920
01:21:51,710 --> 01:21:58,390
Some of these bonds are average $50,000 that can be paid all at once or monthly over time.

921
01:21:58,810 --> 01:22:03,050
But that's a substantial revenue source for their infrastructure that we simply don't have here.

922
01:22:08,510 --> 01:22:18,870
In all other cases, all of our neighbors are collecting significantly more revenue from gas tax than us because they're simply charging more pennies per gallon.

923
01:22:18,870 --> 01:22:28,190
So, Oceola and Marion are most similar to us in population, and both of them nearly have doubled the revenue that we do.

924
01:22:32,210 --> 01:22:34,970
All right, so this is a look at the average gas prices.

925
01:22:35,170 --> 01:22:38,290
And here's a snapshot that we used in last presentation from last month.

926
01:22:38,890 --> 01:22:47,510
The graphic on the left shows how many pennies each county has implemented, including the state imposed and the locally imposed that total a maximum of 12 pennies.

927
01:22:47,510 --> 01:22:53,810
We kept seminal here at seven pennies because they haven't quite implemented it yet, it's

928
01:22:53,810 --> 01:22:54,710
not yet effective.

929
01:22:55,370 --> 01:23:00,750
So on the right, it shows the average gas prices, red and darker oranges being the highest

930
01:23:00,750 --> 01:23:01,970
average gas prices.

931
01:23:05,230 --> 01:23:09,550
So if we look at Bradford, Bradford levies, the full 12 cents, yet they have the lowest gas

932
01:23:09,550 --> 01:23:10,470
prices in the region.

933
01:23:12,130 --> 01:23:18,350
Orange County, they levied less gas tax than us at only six cents, yet they're five cents

934
01:23:18,350 --> 01:23:19,070
higher than us.

935
01:23:22,160 --> 01:23:26,940
We have Sumter County. They levy the same gas tax rate as us, and yet

936
01:23:26,940 --> 01:23:28,960
their gas prices were 4 cents higher.

937
01:23:31,330 --> 01:23:34,430
Hernando, they levy the full 12 cents, and they have

938
01:23:34,430 --> 01:23:40,650
the same average prices as us. And then we have these neighbors here where there's two

939
01:23:40,650 --> 01:23:45,410
counties with the highest gas prices in the region, yet one levy is only 6 cents, and

940
01:23:45,410 --> 01:23:48,790
the other levy is 11 cents, so they're kind of on opposite ends of the spectrum.

941
01:23:54,430 --> 01:23:54,990
And then

942
01:23:54,990 --> 01:24:01,850
present day. This was just a matter of days ago. So this looks a lot different than the last map

943
01:24:01,850 --> 01:24:08,450
that we just looked at. And this is only a one month time frame. So you can see that just in one

944
01:24:08,450 --> 01:24:15,050
month there's huge regional fluctuations in gas prices. So you can look at all these examples

945
01:24:15,050 --> 01:24:21,670
again, but you have a bunch of examples that tell the same story. Gilchrist was one of the highest

946
01:24:21,670 --> 01:24:27,930
This price, now it's the lowest, Putnam, lower average gas prices, but they levy the full 12 cents.

947
01:24:28,150 --> 01:24:34,130
Alachua, same gas price, they have the full 12 cents, St. John's, slightly higher gas prices.

948
01:24:34,470 --> 01:24:39,590
And they levy less tax than us, Polk, close to being the same as us.

949
01:24:39,850 --> 01:24:42,890
They have the full 12 cents, and the list goes on.

950
01:24:43,110 --> 01:24:49,510
But Sumter, last month Sumter was higher than us this month, they're significantly lower.

951
01:24:49,510 --> 01:24:54,050
So it's not that we've, you know, levied any taxes since then.

952
01:24:54,650 --> 01:24:57,990
So this tells me that the gas prices are really a moving target and there may be

953
01:24:57,990 --> 01:25:03,050
little to no direct correlation with the taxes that are levied on the back end.

954
01:25:06,740 --> 01:25:08,500
So why is there so much fluctuation?

955
01:25:09,220 --> 01:25:13,880
The price you see at the pump is a direct result of several overlapping cost factors.

956
01:25:14,440 --> 01:25:20,160
So while taxes do play a role, distribution of marketing, refining, crude oil cost,

957
01:25:20,160 --> 01:25:26,240
All combined make up a significantly larger portion of influence factors that drive cost.

958
01:25:27,160 --> 01:25:33,120
Additionally, the five cents would only be a portion of that 17% you see in this picture.

959
01:25:34,020 --> 01:25:42,560
So that 17% includes other state and federal taxes, so that five cents is very just a small drop in the bucket compared to all the other cost factors.

960
01:25:45,310 --> 01:25:48,230
And then here's a look at the fuel prices at the state level.

961
01:25:48,230 --> 01:25:54,110
So, over a one-year period, there is a 36-cent difference between the highest and lowest gas prices.

962
01:25:54,670 --> 01:25:58,550
This is driven by, again, economic factors that don't relate to gas taxes.

963
01:25:58,990 --> 01:26:03,050
Because the taxes don't fluctuate like this from year to year, and certainly not month to month.

964
01:26:03,570 --> 01:26:09,650
So, the average weekly fluctuation is about 6 cents per week, and a higher month to month shift of about 8 cents.

965
01:26:13,360 --> 01:26:19,440
Right, so, this is a look at the gas consumption by residents versus visitors.

966
01:26:19,440 --> 01:26:25,880
So per visit lake, we get close to a million visitors a year, but that's from known sponsored events.

967
01:26:26,320 --> 01:26:30,720
So this doesn't account for private events, or commuters, or anything like that.

968
01:26:30,860 --> 01:26:34,760
So we believe that the actual number of visitors is significantly higher than that.

969
01:26:36,120 --> 01:26:42,900
In 24, there was 176 million gallons of gas sold, a regular gas sold, not diesel.

970
01:26:43,460 --> 01:26:49,020
So to determine how much is attributable to visitors, we had to do some reverse engineering here.

971
01:26:49,020 --> 01:26:50,420
and I use two methods.

972
01:26:51,220 --> 01:26:53,980
So the first, based on the specific county demographics,

973
01:26:54,100 --> 01:26:58,280
we calculated the average number of miles driven by age group

974
01:26:58,280 --> 01:26:59,960
and average fuel economy.

975
01:27:00,520 --> 01:27:03,900
So if every resident of driving age

976
01:27:03,900 --> 01:27:06,380
drove the average annual number of miles,

977
01:27:06,780 --> 01:27:10,000
then they make up 85% of the gas sold.

978
01:27:10,660 --> 01:27:12,460
And of course, this is an overestimation

979
01:27:12,460 --> 01:27:15,360
because we know that some residents don't drive

980
01:27:15,360 --> 01:27:16,900
or don't have vehicles of their own.

981
01:27:16,900 --> 01:27:23,720
And then the second method uses the actual number of registered late county passenger vehicles

982
01:27:23,720 --> 01:27:30,360
and trucks. And again, assumes that every one driving is driving the average number of miles,

983
01:27:30,840 --> 01:27:39,220
and we came up with 78%. So therefore, anywhere between 15 and 22% of gas tax revenue is from

984
01:27:39,220 --> 01:27:44,360
non-residents. And I think both of these calculations could be a bit on the conservative side,

985
01:27:44,360 --> 01:27:49,380
And fuel sales attributable to visitors could potentially be much higher than that.

986
01:27:52,830 --> 01:27:57,810
And then finally, while there is plenty of evidence that shows little to no correlation

987
01:27:57,810 --> 01:28:03,370
between the fuel prices and the five cent tax, specifically, we can evaluate what this

988
01:28:03,370 --> 01:28:08,810
would look like if the five cents did directly increase the price of gas.

989
01:28:09,550 --> 01:28:15,910
So assuming your tank is completely empty, these are the potential impacts of the average size

990
01:28:15,910 --> 01:28:23,670
gas tanks in each vehicle category when you fill up all the way. So for Sedans, 70 cents

991
01:28:23,670 --> 01:28:30,050
for an SUV, $1.05 and for a good-sized truck, $1.55.

992
01:28:32,340 --> 01:28:36,140
However, when you consider the average

993
01:28:36,140 --> 01:28:46,280
size tank, miles, and fuel economy, the annual average impacts for Sedans is $23.10, $31.50

994
01:28:46,280 --> 01:28:56,420
for SUVs and $40.30 for trucks and that is assuming average gas consumption, average miles driven.

995
01:28:57,100 --> 01:29:05,060
And this is also making the big assumption that the five cents will directly increase the price of gas at the same rate.

996
01:29:09,120 --> 01:29:16,640
So the five cent local option fuel tax, it can be authorized by majority plus one board vote or a county wide referendum.

997
01:29:17,380 --> 01:29:23,560
However, it must be levied before October 1st to be effective January 1st, if we went with the board vote.

998
01:29:24,560 --> 01:29:29,380
Proceeds from this task would not only benefit late county, but

999
01:29:29,380 --> 01:29:36,000
it would also benefit our municipal partners that also struggle with transportation expenses just as we do.

1000
01:29:39,630 --> 01:29:42,630
So now I'll hand it back to the board for discussion and direction.

1001
01:29:42,970 --> 01:29:47,750
I hope that the revised presentation answered most of the questions you all would have.

1002
01:29:47,750 --> 01:29:51,050
But if you have any additional, I'm happy to try to answer them for you.

1003
01:29:51,490 --> 01:29:52,610
I had a quick question.

1004
01:29:53,110 --> 01:29:59,810
We were always told at MPO meetings that the state gas taxes are indexed for inflation.

1005
01:30:00,000 --> 01:30:30,490
But municipal and county gas taxes are not. So they just are flat. For instance, if it was like sales tax and it's a percentage, then it would increase with inflation. But these are just a penny. It's a penny, no matter what the gas price does, we still get a penny. And those pennies just don't total as much as they used to. And that is an issue legislatively together. Yeah, there's a lot of legislative issues.

1006
01:30:30,490 --> 01:30:44,400
And I think that's one of the things that needs to be focused on as well, is that we're not getting a whole lot of help from the legislature when it comes to taking care of roads in our county.

1007
01:30:47,320 --> 01:30:56,780
Okay, all right, moving along then, we have, we've read the ordinance, we've had our presentation, any questions before we go through speaker cards.

1008
01:30:57,920 --> 01:31:17,840
We have a lot of speaker cards and we always ask whenever we have a lot of speaker cards if you feel so inclined that someone has already said what you intend to say you could get up and you could ask that you know you just be recognized as supporting what someone has already said or that you're an agreement with the prior speaker.

1009
01:31:17,840 --> 01:31:20,320
So I can't just say one more thing on that.

1010
01:31:20,560 --> 01:31:26,360
Yeah, so one practice that's very popular until I see in the State Capitol is exactly what Commissioner Campion just said.

1011
01:31:26,660 --> 01:31:30,200
Which is somebody comes up, they make a really substantive argument.

1012
01:31:30,800 --> 01:31:33,420
Usually the person comes behind them, they did a great job.

1013
01:31:33,420 --> 01:31:38,320
They say, I waive in support or I waive in opposition, meaning they waive their comments.

1014
01:31:38,500 --> 01:31:40,600
But it's very emphatic, it's very effective.

1015
01:31:41,160 --> 01:31:43,780
And it's just not popular in other places other than our State Capitol.

1016
01:31:44,000 --> 01:31:46,020
So I hope people will maybe adopt it.

1017
01:31:46,020 --> 01:31:47,920
But, you know, it works very well.

1018
01:31:48,040 --> 01:31:49,580
It's not like we're trying to reduce anyone's time,

1019
01:31:49,580 --> 01:31:53,160
but obviously it's popular in some places,

1020
01:31:53,380 --> 01:31:53,840
not other stuff.

1021
01:31:53,980 --> 01:31:54,760
That's all I have to say about that.

1022
01:31:54,780 --> 01:31:56,180
Yeah, and a lot of people will do that.

1023
01:31:56,300 --> 01:31:57,220
We've seen that happen here.

1024
01:31:57,560 --> 01:32:00,620
So we'll just ask that you would consider doing that today

1025
01:32:01,160 --> 01:32:02,680
because we have a lot of cards to go through.

1026
01:32:03,580 --> 01:32:06,000
All right, I'm going to start with them just in the order

1027
01:32:06,000 --> 01:32:07,240
that they were handed to me.

1028
01:32:08,920 --> 01:32:10,840
David Miles and

1029
01:32:22,970 --> 01:32:24,730
Igor Emory will be next.

1030
01:32:36,700 --> 01:32:41,020
I'm sorry for the frog in my voice, but I would like to read a letter.

1031
01:32:41,560 --> 01:32:48,740
I am one of the council members from the town of Howie Nails and our town manager at

1032
01:32:48,740 --> 01:32:55,120
the direction of the town council sent this letter to the board on the 15th of September,

1033
01:32:55,340 --> 01:32:58,420
and I'd like to read it into the record if I could please.

1034
01:32:58,420 --> 01:33:07,020
The town council, the town of Howie and the Hills, supports the BCC's adoption of the

1035
01:33:07,020 --> 01:33:12,400
local option gas tax, L-O-G-T, by supermajority vote.

1036
01:33:13,340 --> 01:33:23,320
Lake County is facing a documented 710 million transportation infrastructure deficit, which

1037
01:33:23,320 --> 01:33:29,460
Each place is a growing strain on our ability to maintain safe and reliable roads.

1038
01:33:30,140 --> 01:33:37,340
Without new revenue, critical projects ranging from routine resurfacing and bridge maintenance

1039
01:33:37,340 --> 01:33:42,980
to major capacity improvements will continue to fall further behind.

1040
01:33:43,800 --> 01:33:51,540
This shortfall directly affects the quality of life for residents and the economic fatality

1041
01:33:51,540 --> 01:34:00,260
of the county as a whole. The LOGT is an established tool under Florida law and is already

1042
01:34:00,260 --> 01:34:06,060
in use in full or in part by a majority of the counties across the state.

1043
01:34:06,580 --> 01:34:13,520
Because it applies to both residents and visitors, it distributes the burden more fairly

1044
01:34:13,520 --> 01:34:21,080
than property or sales tax along, ensuring that those who use our roads help contribute

1045
01:34:21,080 --> 01:34:29,060
to their upkeep. The projected revenue would provide a stable recurring source of funding

1046
01:34:29,420 --> 01:34:37,820
that can be planned against responsibly rather than relying on short term or uncertain funding

1047
01:34:37,820 --> 01:34:45,880
streams. Further delay or placing the matter on referendum risks of outcome that fails to address

1048
01:34:45,880 --> 01:34:53,020
the problem at all, leaving municipalities and residents to contend with worsening traffic,

1049
01:34:53,720 --> 01:34:58,780
deteriorating pavement conditions, and escalating repair costs in the future.

1050
01:34:59,740 --> 01:35:07,440
The need is clear. The tool is available and the responsibility now rests with the board to ensure

1051
01:35:07,440 --> 01:35:14,260
that Lake County has the means to keep its transportation system safe and functional.

1052
01:35:14,260 --> 01:35:20,360
the town respectfully urges the board to act without delay and adopt the

1053
01:35:20,360 --> 01:35:27,180
LGT by supermajority vote. And I might add two points. I've lived in Florida

1054
01:35:27,180 --> 01:35:34,560
for 35 years. I've spent 12 years in Palm Beach County in the 1990s when they

1055
01:35:34,560 --> 01:35:43,660
enacted this tax while I was there. And in addition to that, we in that

1056
01:35:43,660 --> 01:35:52,360
that have exactly the same problem you do with our town roads, and we get to pay about two blocks worth a year.

1057
01:35:53,020 --> 01:35:59,360
So we're looking forward to your passing this extra funding source.

1058
01:35:59,640 --> 01:36:00,120
Thank you.

1059
01:36:02,400 --> 01:36:04,500
You were in then, Dan Mathis?

1060
01:36:06,100 --> 01:36:09,640
Commissioners, Igor Henry, for the record, I live in the district four.

1061
01:36:09,640 --> 01:36:15,620
In my hesitate to say, 30 years before the Commission advocating for transportation issues,

1062
01:36:16,020 --> 01:36:18,480
we have talked many times about funding.

1063
01:36:19,120 --> 01:36:24,200
There needs to be more attention from this commission on funding going forward.

1064
01:36:24,360 --> 01:36:25,900
This cannot be the only solution.

1065
01:36:26,560 --> 01:36:31,420
But I come forward this morning to speak in favor of adopting this gas tax.

1066
01:36:32,360 --> 01:36:38,940
As you know in the planning that you guys have seen and the long range transportation plan is currently being looked at,

1067
01:36:38,940 --> 01:36:46,240
But we have long term substantial issues brought about by the growth we've seen and you apparently continue to expect.

1068
01:36:46,600 --> 01:36:53,740
So please adopt this and all other methods that come before you, please fix our roads, thank you.

1069
01:36:54,140 --> 01:36:56,800
Dan Mathis and then Sandy Moore.

1070
01:36:59,950 --> 01:37:03,830
Good evening commissioners, Dan Mathis with the City of Claremont, Deputy City Manager.

1071
01:37:04,150 --> 01:37:07,490
Our city manager, unfortunately it was not able to be here today, he fell ill.

1072
01:37:07,490 --> 01:37:16,090
But I am here to tell you on behalf of himself and myself that we are very much in favor of this gas tax, and we hope you do pass it.

1073
01:37:16,630 --> 01:37:17,230
So thank you.

1074
01:37:18,030 --> 01:37:18,550
Sandy.

1075
01:37:19,010 --> 01:37:20,630
And then Glenn Spurlock.

1076
01:37:22,390 --> 01:37:23,150
Good morning.

1077
01:37:23,570 --> 01:37:24,510
My name is Sandy Moore.

1078
01:37:24,610 --> 01:37:27,790
I'm the president and CEO of the Leesburg area Chamber of Commerce.

1079
01:37:28,490 --> 01:37:31,510
On behalf of our board and members, member businesses.

1080
01:37:31,710 --> 01:37:35,890
I'm here to voice strong support for adopting the 5% local gas.

1081
01:37:35,890 --> 01:37:38,190
tax tax option.

1082
01:37:38,840 --> 01:37:41,210
Lake County has grown faster than anyone expected.

1083
01:37:42,110 --> 01:37:45,570
As you know from the presentation, so I'm going to skip all of that.

1084
01:37:46,350 --> 01:37:52,170
But unlike our peer counties, Lake County has not used the diversified funding strategies

1085
01:37:52,700 --> 01:37:55,930
to keep up our roads safe and economy strong.

1086
01:37:56,610 --> 01:38:02,690
Those counties combine local gas taxes, sales, surface tax, mobility fees, and grants to

1087
01:38:02,690 --> 01:38:03,950
build sustainable funding.

1088
01:38:03,950 --> 01:38:09,850
We had to rely on bonds just to pave roads and it's not sustainable.

1089
01:38:10,470 --> 01:38:15,470
As business leaders, we know that good roads are good business, work force mobility,

1090
01:38:16,150 --> 01:38:21,130
freight reliability, and quality of life all depend on solid infrastructure.

1091
01:38:21,870 --> 01:38:29,370
The five cent gas tax is a fair, un-based by a solution and ensures everyone who drives

1092
01:38:29,370 --> 01:38:33,850
Lives on our roads, including visitors, helps pay to maintain them.

1093
01:38:34,110 --> 01:38:39,070
Along with dedicating at least 8% of the general fund, general revenues to transportation,

1094
01:38:39,430 --> 01:38:42,690
this will show that Lake County is serious about investing in our future.

1095
01:38:43,350 --> 01:38:46,350
Doing nothing will only make the problem worse and more expensive.

1096
01:38:47,070 --> 01:38:56,050
On behalf of the Leesburg Area Chamber of Commerce, we urge you to adopt the 5 cent local gas tax and move Lake County forward.

1097
01:38:56,410 --> 01:38:56,710
Thank you.

1098
01:38:56,710 --> 01:39:04,410
Thank you, so Glenn Spurlock was next, but I see by dormant here, but you're after Glenn.

1099
01:39:04,750 --> 01:39:06,410
So if you wanted to stay up, okay.

1100
01:39:07,590 --> 01:39:08,510
Good morning.

1101
01:39:08,790 --> 01:39:11,410
I'm Glenn Spurlock and I live in Lake County, obviously.

1102
01:39:12,350 --> 01:39:17,250
He's actually a great job of explaining why there's a need for an additional revenue source.

1103
01:39:18,430 --> 01:39:27,370
My question for today is it's called a fuel tax on the agenda, but we talked about gas.

1104
01:39:27,370 --> 01:39:34,510
we talked about fuel, we talked about gas, so is it a gasoline-only tax, doesn't include diesel?

1105
01:39:35,350 --> 01:39:40,650
Okay, if that's the case, how is that fair and equitable across the board for all road users?

1106
01:39:41,470 --> 01:39:46,710
Diesel vehicles, especially larger trucks, way more, they do more damage to the roads and the

1107
01:39:46,710 --> 01:39:52,410
infrastructure requiring the tax to be levied, but we're not including them in this particular tax.

1108
01:39:52,410 --> 01:39:52,510
Next.

1109
01:39:54,050 --> 01:40:00,450
Second issue is electric vehicles now represent 2 percent of the vehicles on our road.

1110
01:40:01,830 --> 01:40:04,370
Electric vehicles do not use liquid fuel.

1111
01:40:05,110 --> 01:40:10,810
How are we gaining the revenue required for their use and the damage they do to our infrastructure?

1112
01:40:12,050 --> 01:40:14,410
Those are my two questions just looking for clarification.

1113
01:40:15,130 --> 01:40:15,430
Thank you.

1114
01:40:15,710 --> 01:40:17,750
And I can at least answer the one on the diesel.

1115
01:40:17,770 --> 01:40:18,390
It's not diesel.

1116
01:40:18,810 --> 01:40:19,450
It's only gasoline.

1117
01:40:20,590 --> 01:40:27,370
And that percentage is, I think we calculated based on what we think are late county electric vehicle owners.

1118
01:40:27,370 --> 01:40:31,110
We don't really know people coming from other places, but that was our best guess.

1119
01:40:31,810 --> 01:40:37,490
So, I spoke with our local delegation today and

1120
01:40:37,490 --> 01:40:48,930
they are looking to bring something in Tallahassee to address the electric cars, possibly by adding a fee onto the registration.

1121
01:40:48,930 --> 01:40:52,890
that's in the county, so they are going to try to address it.

1122
01:40:53,030 --> 01:40:55,270
Because they use the roads just like everybody else.

1123
01:40:55,890 --> 01:40:58,950
We heard that last week at the Florida Association of Countings as well.

1124
01:40:59,530 --> 01:41:01,710
And the statute doesn't allow us for the diesel.

1125
01:41:02,050 --> 01:41:04,790
I mean, obviously they tax that differently.

1126
01:41:05,350 --> 01:41:06,970
Right, I was just going to clarify that.

1127
01:41:07,190 --> 01:41:11,710
This tax can only be levied in the manner in which the state allows us to leviate.

1128
01:41:11,970 --> 01:41:14,850
And this tax does not include diesel per state law.

1129
01:41:14,850 --> 01:41:21,810
They collect the taxes on diesel to another statute, another method, right?

1130
01:41:22,410 --> 01:41:25,150
All right, but dormant and then David Colby.

1131
01:41:25,870 --> 01:41:31,110
I am glad, the white aluminum and windows worked there for 46 years.

1132
01:41:31,450 --> 01:41:34,470
We put 20 vehicles on the road every day.

1133
01:41:34,910 --> 01:41:41,710
I'm happy to pay the extra gas tax, safer roads, more efficiency, quicker to job sites,

1134
01:41:42,230 --> 01:41:43,770
sales people working more efficiently.

1135
01:41:47,110 --> 01:41:57,030
I believe that all of you are highly professional people who have been voted into your positions because of your ability to make tough decisions.

1136
01:41:58,010 --> 01:42:01,590
And I think this is a decision that doesn't need to go to referendum.

1137
01:42:01,990 --> 01:42:12,370
We need a supermajority today so we can move forward with this tax that's going to make it a better life for every citizen including all your constituents.

1138
01:42:13,870 --> 01:42:18,210
So please vote yes on the gas tax today.

1139
01:42:18,490 --> 01:42:19,010
Thank you.

1140
01:42:19,990 --> 01:42:22,770
After David and Adam Edgerton?

1141
01:42:23,570 --> 01:42:26,430
David Colby, the presidency of the South Lake Chamber of Commerce.

1142
01:42:27,150 --> 01:42:29,410
And on behalf of my nearly 1000 business members,

1143
01:42:29,550 --> 01:42:31,410
I would also like to in support this ordinance.

1144
01:42:32,010 --> 01:42:33,670
We think it is very necessary.

1145
01:42:34,070 --> 01:42:38,430
Our quality of life as well as our economic prosperity is directly linked to our roads.

1146
01:42:38,430 --> 01:42:41,690
and we feel that this needs to move forward at this time.

1147
01:42:42,450 --> 01:42:46,190
Nobody likes attacks, residents don't like attacks, businesses sure don't like attacks.

1148
01:42:46,190 --> 01:42:51,950
But in this case, we think it is very necessary to move this forward, and we appreciate all of your support.

1149
01:42:52,190 --> 01:42:55,910
So thank you for your time, thanks for your service to our community, we appreciate you.

1150
01:42:56,550 --> 01:42:59,230
Thank you, Adam and then, Andy Price.

1151
01:43:00,110 --> 01:43:02,790
Madam Chairman, board, thank you guys today.

1152
01:43:03,390 --> 01:43:06,790
Thank you, all our staffers, Jordan, for putting on.

1153
01:43:08,430 --> 01:43:17,430
other pertinent statistics that we need to review here, and it does pay me as a conservative to say that I would like to pay additional taxes.

1154
01:43:18,310 --> 01:43:22,850
But I would also like to not sit in traffic indefinitely.

1155
01:43:24,410 --> 01:43:27,990
I do have to agree with the previous gentleman who discussed the electric tax.

1156
01:43:28,190 --> 01:43:33,450
There are multiple different ways in approximately 28 different states that collect taxes on electric vehicles.

1157
01:43:33,450 --> 01:43:37,890
It's certainly as an owner of one, I believe it is the right thing to do.

1158
01:43:38,470 --> 01:43:47,390
The last time this came in front of the Board of County Commissioners was the 2018, it was pulled over the Parkland shootings correctly.

1159
01:43:48,050 --> 01:43:56,750
So that being said, if we do not do this as a supermajority today, it will be another year at least minimum.

1160
01:43:57,310 --> 01:44:03,190
That puts us eight or nine years from the last time we discussed that, just using some general numbers.

1161
01:44:03,190 --> 01:44:07,930
That's about 50 to 60 million dollars in road resurfacing that has put us behind.

1162
01:44:08,390 --> 01:44:10,790
We're approximately 90 million behind.

1163
01:44:11,990 --> 01:44:14,630
So to me, I think it's a no-brainer.

1164
01:44:14,790 --> 01:44:24,730
This is our most equitable, it's the only tax besides beds and heads that we're going to get to help us with outsiders helping paying in.

1165
01:44:24,950 --> 01:44:28,290
So with that being said, I think it's our lowest hanging fruit.

1166
01:44:28,530 --> 01:44:30,650
It is the easiest one for us to adopt.

1167
01:44:30,650 --> 01:44:37,570
we get to tax other people's citizens and that's that's all I have to say thank

1168
01:44:37,570 --> 01:44:45,390
you guys please vote yes today. Andy and then Janet no act. Hi I'm Andy

1169
01:44:45,390 --> 01:44:49,630
Price the resident of Lake County. I will wave most of my comments a lot of my

1170
01:44:49,630 --> 01:44:53,330
statistics will be redundant to the proposal that we saw at the beginning but I

1171
01:44:53,330 --> 01:44:57,330
just want to say I am in full support of the gas tax. My time in Lake County the

1172
01:44:57,330 --> 01:44:59,830
The biggest complaint we hear is growth and road.

1173
01:45:00,000 --> 01:45:05,000
And I think this is obviously the fastest and quickest way for us to address this problem. Thank you.

1174
01:45:07,620 --> 01:45:32,600
And Janet and then after Janet Cindy Newton. Good morning, commissioners. Madam Chair. Thank you so much for listening to all of us today. I'm here on behalf of the Home Builders Association of Lake and Sumter Counties. We have well over 200 members of our association and in the state of Florida over 9,000. And we all believe that this is the correct way

1175
01:45:32,600 --> 01:45:35,720
to fix this problem that we have.

1176
01:45:36,240 --> 01:45:39,700
I know for most of us who drive these roads every day,

1177
01:45:40,180 --> 01:45:42,680
we experience those long traffic lines.

1178
01:45:42,680 --> 01:45:45,580
If you've ever been on Highway 27,

1179
01:45:46,400 --> 01:45:49,840
going and trying to get into Leesburg,

1180
01:45:50,480 --> 01:45:52,740
you can get hung up there at the McDonald's.

1181
01:45:53,740 --> 01:45:54,760
So quite interesting.

1182
01:45:55,120 --> 01:45:58,540
So we are asking you today to please vote

1183
01:45:58,540 --> 01:46:02,020
for those five-cent tax, which we think will really help.

1184
01:46:02,020 --> 01:46:05,920
and let's do the right thing for all of our citizens of Lake County.

1185
01:46:06,300 --> 01:46:08,840
I thank you so very much for your support.

1186
01:46:10,440 --> 01:46:15,140
Cindy Newton, and then Jimi Nuswammer.

1187
01:46:23,510 --> 01:46:25,110
Jimi Nuswammer from Groveland.

1188
01:46:25,430 --> 01:46:26,790
I'm here on behalf of Lake 100,

1189
01:46:26,970 --> 01:46:32,370
a coalition of businesses and community leaders committed to the Lake County's long-term prosperity and economic development.

1190
01:46:32,930 --> 01:46:39,330
We're asking you to approve the 5% local user fee instead of sending it to referendum.

1191
01:46:39,330 --> 01:46:39,450
them.

1192
01:46:40,590 --> 01:46:42,770
I almost skip all of the statistics.

1193
01:46:43,150 --> 01:46:44,470
They gave me a nice list of statistics.

1194
01:46:44,750 --> 01:46:47,210
Your staff did a wonderful job of pointing out to it

1195
01:46:47,210 --> 01:46:48,930
and making it pretty clear the need

1196
01:46:48,930 --> 01:46:50,170
and where it needs to come from.

1197
01:46:50,870 --> 01:46:54,430
The 5% user fee is a consumption-based fee

1198
01:46:54,430 --> 01:46:58,910
that is the fairest funding mechanism dedicated to the repairs

1199
01:46:58,910 --> 01:46:59,950
of the existing roads.

1200
01:47:01,910 --> 01:47:04,870
Again, more statistics about the other counties that do it to maintain

1201
01:47:04,870 --> 01:47:06,450
our roads in the situations we're in.

1202
01:47:06,450 --> 01:47:11,590
But sending this decision to a referendum delays the action at least another year, if not

1203
01:47:11,590 --> 01:47:12,410
another decade.

1204
01:47:13,370 --> 01:47:18,510
The results of the, this results only for a few, excuse me, the results only further

1205
01:47:18,510 --> 01:47:23,830
deteriorates our roads, rising repair costs and greater frustration for our citizens.

1206
01:47:24,330 --> 01:47:29,950
We understand that leadership is making tough decisions and for sound policy.

1207
01:47:31,870 --> 01:47:38,490
I think, on behalf of Lake 100, we urge you to vote in favor of this user fee.

1208
01:47:38,990 --> 01:47:41,970
Now, we'll jump into Jimmy Nusponna, tax payer.

1209
01:47:43,110 --> 01:47:44,150
I live in Groban.

1210
01:47:44,470 --> 01:47:47,890
If any of you hit on Highway 50, you know the problems with the traffic.

1211
01:47:48,130 --> 01:47:49,590
However, the roads are deteriorating.

1212
01:47:50,110 --> 01:47:51,990
A user fee is the best way to do it.

1213
01:47:52,370 --> 01:47:57,170
My 88-year-old father that sits at home doesn't need to pay more taxes on his property to

1214
01:47:57,170 --> 01:47:59,030
pay for the road that I use in everybody else.

1215
01:47:59,030 --> 01:48:03,950
The second thing I want to bring up real quick is that we need the roads for my business.

1216
01:48:04,250 --> 01:48:07,030
I'm a business owner, you guys all know that, and I need to move.

1217
01:48:07,390 --> 01:48:11,090
But more importantly, the guys that you recognize that are standing back in the back of the room

1218
01:48:11,090 --> 01:48:17,830
need these roads in good condition to get to your family member when they need their services.

1219
01:48:18,570 --> 01:48:23,730
I mean, the bottom line is they need to, your family member has a heart attack, you want them to get there.

1220
01:48:24,150 --> 01:48:26,090
The roads aren't there, they're not getting there.

1221
01:48:26,090 --> 01:48:29,870
This is a user fee, the best way to put it out there.

1222
01:48:30,390 --> 01:48:38,110
Let's let the people that use it, whether they're passing through, or those business men, every business association here are staying up and saying, do the right thing.

1223
01:48:38,950 --> 01:48:41,590
Pass this, don't kick it down the road, don't send it to referendum.

1224
01:48:42,170 --> 01:48:46,090
Let's get this done so that our people can have the services that they need.

1225
01:48:46,770 --> 01:48:47,170
Thank you.

1226
01:49:04,070 --> 01:49:08,450
Good morning chair, commissioners appreciate everybody's time today.

1227
01:49:08,670 --> 01:49:09,430
My name is Shane Gerwig.

1228
01:49:09,670 --> 01:49:12,390
I reside in South Lake County.

1229
01:49:12,610 --> 01:49:16,670
I've lived in South Lake County as a homeowner for the last 20 years or so.

1230
01:49:17,730 --> 01:49:25,230
First and foremost, I can appreciate the fiscal responsibility that this group helps the citizens of Lake County out with.

1231
01:49:25,730 --> 01:49:30,110
Generally speaking, you all really watch out for the taxpayer's dollar.

1232
01:49:30,310 --> 01:49:32,430
You want to be able to spend it well and we appreciate that.

1233
01:49:32,430 --> 01:49:37,490
But just like Mr. Nussbaum is speaking a little bit about earlier, this isn't a tax.

1234
01:49:37,750 --> 01:49:42,250
This is actually a fee on the services that we receive and that we use.

1235
01:49:42,970 --> 01:49:48,650
There's no other options, there's no other options out there that really dials it into this directory.

1236
01:49:48,850 --> 01:50:01,910
So from what I can tell from what staff presented a little bit ago, we're looking at 20 to 25% of this particular fee actually being paid by folks other than living in Lake County.

1237
01:50:01,910 --> 01:50:10,010
I have looked at different reports by different commissioners and different papers by different commissioners and looked over things.

1238
01:50:10,550 --> 01:50:21,790
I didn't see a proposition or an example or an idea of where we would actually have 25 to 25% of this fee being covered by folks that don't live here.

1239
01:50:21,790 --> 01:50:26,410
So I really believe that this is a good option, a good alternative.

1240
01:50:28,070 --> 01:50:33,570
I appreciate that the willingness to not add additional taxes to the citizens of Lake County.

1241
01:50:33,750 --> 01:50:37,870
However, this is not a tax, this is a fee for using a service that's out there.

1242
01:50:38,410 --> 01:50:44,610
I would definitely encourage you and urge you to support this as a super majority.

1243
01:50:45,070 --> 01:50:47,490
And let's go ahead and start with the funding in January.

1244
01:50:47,670 --> 01:50:47,930
Thank you.

1245
01:50:53,380 --> 01:51:01,220
Cheryl Pevlaka from Maniola, thank you commissioners for allowing me to voice my opinion, but most importantly, thank you for reading my emails.

1246
01:51:01,220 --> 01:51:06,200
I sent each of you one after the last meeting, and you all responded, and you all gave me some good input.

1247
01:51:06,960 --> 01:51:15,600
And it was reflected in the presentation today, which was much better than what was originally on the website, so thank you to the young lady who presented that.

1248
01:51:15,600 --> 01:51:20,200
However, I am still opposed to the five-cent gas tax.

1249
01:51:20,540 --> 01:51:21,300
And here's why.

1250
01:51:21,820 --> 01:51:26,840
The homeowners' builders' association and affordable housing impact statement.

1251
01:51:27,060 --> 01:51:34,520
Both of them referred to this tax will be used for road improvement projects, capital projects.

1252
01:51:34,740 --> 01:51:35,820
That is not the case.

1253
01:51:36,280 --> 01:51:43,640
We're not adding or expanding the road, like the young lady said, for highway 19 there,

1254
01:51:43,640 --> 01:51:47,440
are going off into 561 or highway 27.

1255
01:51:47,840 --> 01:51:50,320
This is for resurfacing only.

1256
01:51:50,540 --> 01:51:51,900
That's my understanding.

1257
01:51:52,500 --> 01:51:56,060
I also believe that a lot of the reason

1258
01:51:56,060 --> 01:51:57,900
why resurfacing hasn't been done

1259
01:51:57,900 --> 01:52:00,220
has been lack of a real project plan.

1260
01:52:00,600 --> 01:52:03,400
The first time I saw something in red

1261
01:52:03,400 --> 01:52:05,540
was when the young lady presented today.

1262
01:52:05,980 --> 01:52:08,480
If we know what roads are in critical use,

1263
01:52:08,800 --> 01:52:11,500
let's prioritize them, let's explain

1264
01:52:11,500 --> 01:52:13,280
how much money it's going to be.

1265
01:52:13,840 --> 01:52:16,760
We are putting $7.5 million this year.

1266
01:52:17,220 --> 01:52:19,720
She said we'd like, we will get $12 million

1267
01:52:19,720 --> 01:52:23,320
from the 5% gas tax a year.

1268
01:52:24,180 --> 01:52:27,980
And only 15% to 22% is from visitors.

1269
01:52:28,340 --> 01:52:29,620
So it will burden us.

1270
01:52:29,620 --> 01:52:32,400
It will burden those that are driving to work

1271
01:52:32,400 --> 01:52:36,520
that have to take their car to get to work

1272
01:52:36,520 --> 01:52:37,940
in the low-income category.

1273
01:52:37,940 --> 01:52:42,500
I believe we can gradually implement tax ascent at a time.

1274
01:52:42,740 --> 01:52:47,200
Why not start out with two cents and see how well we do against those roads?

1275
01:52:47,900 --> 01:52:51,880
Why don't we, I disagree with the 2% ratio of electric cars.

1276
01:52:52,020 --> 01:52:58,860
Just driving here today, I saw more Tesla's than I did regular cars and more hybrid cars.

1277
01:52:58,860 --> 01:53:07,440
So I do think we need to address our legislature and voice our opinions about electric vehicle

1278
01:53:07,440 --> 01:53:13,140
tax as well as the Department of Transportation not being a penny for penny as Chairman said

1279
01:53:13,140 --> 01:53:16,680
it needs to be addressed as looking at inflation.

1280
01:53:17,260 --> 01:53:18,860
So those were some of my ideas.

1281
01:53:19,580 --> 01:53:27,200
I think that I will support whatever this board does and I agree that a user fee is a good

1282
01:53:27,200 --> 01:53:32,780
way to go about it. But I do think we shouldn't jump to five cents. Thank you very much for your time.

1283
01:53:37,040 --> 01:53:41,280
Anyone online? Cassandra Brown, please unmute your line and state your name for the record.

1284
01:53:45,090 --> 01:53:46,450
I am Cassandra Brown.

1285
01:53:50,130 --> 01:53:51,010
Can you hear me?

1286
01:53:53,800 --> 01:53:58,880
Hello. Good morning. Is this for the gas tax discussion?

1287
01:54:02,720 --> 01:54:06,380
No, my apologies. This is for tap 24, please.

1288
01:54:06,980 --> 01:54:10,760
Okay, yeah, we're not, we're not there yet, all right,

1289
01:54:15,410 --> 01:54:17,890
no more callers, excuse me.

1290
01:54:18,610 --> 01:54:21,790
All right, so here we're back, we've got all of our speaker cards.

1291
01:54:22,210 --> 01:54:27,770
I wanted to clarify something, I think Cheryl just said, this particular tax would raise

1292
01:54:27,770 --> 01:54:34,070
4 million for the county and 3 million would then be distributed among the cities, okay.

1293
01:54:34,210 --> 01:54:40,190
So when we talked about 12 million in the presentation, that was the effect of adding 4 more to what

1294
01:54:40,190 --> 01:54:44,830
But we're already allocating from the general fund that would then total 12 million a year.

1295
01:54:45,210 --> 01:54:45,310
Correct.

1296
01:54:46,330 --> 01:54:46,530
All right.

1297
01:54:46,670 --> 01:54:47,610
Just wanted to clarify that.

1298
01:54:48,510 --> 01:54:49,170
All right.

1299
01:54:50,070 --> 01:54:51,130
For board discussion.

1300
01:54:52,410 --> 01:54:54,250
You guys want to start in order?

1301
01:54:54,470 --> 01:54:56,170
Anybody want to just jump right in?

1302
01:54:58,090 --> 01:54:58,950
I'll go start.

1303
01:54:59,230 --> 01:55:01,670
I'd be more than happy to start.

1304
01:55:03,170 --> 01:55:08,570
I've said this in the past that this has been an ongoing situation.

1305
01:55:08,570 --> 01:55:15,550
and since I've been on commission and we've started doing things to help out.

1306
01:55:15,710 --> 01:55:26,190
One of the things that we have done was the MSTU, which is a tax on property in the places

1307
01:55:26,190 --> 01:55:33,840
where individuals, neighborhoods, where they use their roads solely themselves, and I don't

1308
01:55:33,840 --> 01:55:44,260
is fair for all of the property owners of Lake County to pay solely the burden that is used throughout the county.

1309
01:55:44,780 --> 01:55:56,680
As Mr. Mouse Burmer said, this is a user fee, someone that drives 18 miles a day should not have to pay to

1310
01:55:56,680 --> 01:56:02,000
the same price as someone that drives 200 miles a day on our late county roads.

1311
01:56:03,080 --> 01:56:15,980
I believe that this is a fair consumption tax, or user fee, it addresses not only some

1312
01:56:15,980 --> 01:56:21,840
of our deteriorating interior roads, but it also does safety if I'm not correct, if we

1313
01:56:21,840 --> 01:56:26,420
We can do some safety improvement projects with this sidewalks.

1314
01:56:26,500 --> 01:56:37,840
We've heard about sidewalks, and what it also does, we have implemented extraordinary

1315
01:56:37,840 --> 01:56:44,320
circumstances two years ago, which raised the impact fees to the highest maximum amount

1316
01:56:44,320 --> 01:56:47,860
that we could raise them on our builders.

1317
01:56:48,500 --> 01:56:52,980
and we can't move that for four years now, we're two years into it, we've got two years left,

1318
01:56:53,840 --> 01:56:59,380
so in another two years we can look at it again, but we can't do anything for two years on impact fees.

1319
01:56:59,920 --> 01:57:12,060
No matter what anybody says, we have to abide by that now, as far as resurfacing and new construction.

1320
01:57:12,060 --> 01:57:17,740
And if we add this tax, this user fee to the pot,

1321
01:57:18,020 --> 01:57:20,620
then we're using some of our capital money

1322
01:57:20,620 --> 01:57:24,120
on resurfacing, maybe we can move all of our capital money

1323
01:57:24,880 --> 01:57:27,680
from resurfacing back to just capital.

1324
01:57:29,140 --> 01:57:33,140
And utilize this user fee for our resurfacing.

1325
01:57:33,760 --> 01:57:36,400
I think this is a fair way to do it.

1326
01:57:36,760 --> 01:57:38,280
I'm in full support of it.

1327
01:57:38,940 --> 01:57:43,520
A lot of the businesses here are in support of it, it's good for our economy.

1328
01:57:44,260 --> 01:57:48,660
It doesn't put the full burden on the citizens of Lake County solely.

1329
01:57:49,140 --> 01:57:53,400
It puts the burden on people who use our roads, so I'm in full support of it.

1330
01:57:56,210 --> 01:58:05,130
Well, I know Jennifer's probably tired of coming down to my office and explaining why we can't get more money out of the budget to do roads.

1331
01:58:05,130 --> 01:58:14,870
but I came in in November thinking that there was a pot of money out there that we could move it around, move it around, move it around.

1332
01:58:15,050 --> 01:58:17,290
That's not the case, it really isn't.

1333
01:58:17,910 --> 01:58:22,670
The budget is lean, we do a good job of managing the budget.

1334
01:58:24,230 --> 01:58:25,610
This is a user fee.

1335
01:58:26,250 --> 01:58:28,030
I don't have an issue with it at all.

1336
01:58:29,210 --> 01:58:40,950
I've got like Jimmy, I've got 10 trucks a day, I run, and it's just as easy and just as cheap to fuel in a county that's got the 5 cent on it as it is in some per county.

1337
01:58:41,190 --> 01:58:43,350
So I don't have an issue with it at all.

1338
01:58:44,430 --> 01:58:51,490
I think it's time that we need to do something and it's going directly to what we need to have done, which is the roads.

1339
01:58:52,890 --> 01:58:54,430
I'm in full favor of it.

1340
01:59:00,170 --> 01:59:05,130
First of all, I appreciate everybody coming today, really being a part of this process.

1341
01:59:06,350 --> 01:59:13,850
Like many that have expressed probably all of us in the room really, nobody nor am I passionate

1342
01:59:13,850 --> 01:59:18,790
about a user fee or a tax, but I'm very passionate about making the right decision.

1343
01:59:19,630 --> 01:59:26,130
As has been said, you put us up here, we serve you, and we do this to make tough decisions.

1344
01:59:26,390 --> 01:59:29,690
I know what things that we do today, there's going to be some people not going to be happy

1345
01:59:29,690 --> 01:59:31,670
with me or other people on the board.

1346
01:59:32,510 --> 01:59:38,790
But this is something, you know, I've done a lot of research on, we've talked about it

1347
01:59:38,790 --> 01:59:45,030
now for years, but in particularly this past year, doing a lot of research on this, and

1348
01:59:45,550 --> 01:59:47,450
I do think it's the right decision to do.

1349
01:59:47,450 --> 01:59:53,390
I think there's a lot of questions that have been addressed and let me just

1350
01:59:53,390 --> 01:59:57,390
start by saying not to forget to say to Jordan that was an incredible

1351
01:59:57,390 --> 01:59:59,870
presentation. So Jordan.

1352
02:00:00,000 --> 02:00:28,640
Thank you so much. You will probably all be happy when I say it literally, her presentation has cut like 15 minutes off of what I was going to say because I'm just going to reference, I'm just going to reference the everybody clap. I'm going to reference her when I'm asked about why I made this vote. I'm going to reference a large part her presentation, but also to the business men and women that are out there today that are giving up a lot of time and money to be here.

1353
02:00:28,640 --> 02:00:34,580
I mean, some of them, I'm happy you're here, I'm surprised you're here, and you're speaking in support of this.

1354
02:00:34,700 --> 02:00:39,500
So that certainly weighs a lot on me as well, and it weighs into my decision.

1355
02:00:39,960 --> 02:00:43,900
Yeah, I think it's time that we do this by a supermajority vote.

1356
02:00:44,240 --> 02:00:45,920
Majority vote, it's not perfect.

1357
02:00:46,480 --> 02:00:48,300
There's problems that are still out there with this.

1358
02:00:48,640 --> 02:00:56,460
This is a first step and a few things that the commission I think has to do in the future here to get caught up with our roads.

1359
02:00:57,460 --> 02:01:02,820
We'll talk about general fund and everything when we get into the budget processes coming year.

1360
02:01:02,960 --> 02:01:10,500
And what we can do out of that and work with the cities with better joint planning agreements to have road funding agreements put in place before development occurs.

1361
02:01:11,220 --> 02:01:20,340
But this will free up more money for resurfacing projects, many of which were shown in the pictures direct impact on all of you immediately.

1362
02:01:21,280 --> 02:01:25,360
So I am in support of it, I think it's time we do it.

1363
02:01:25,360 --> 02:01:30,180
But I think it's incumbent upon us, it shows good leadership, it's tough, but it does show good leadership.

1364
02:01:30,360 --> 02:01:35,940
And I know that we've had some discussion on this, and I know that it requires a supermajority vote.

1365
02:01:36,000 --> 02:01:43,800
And there was questions from Commissioner Campion, Commissioner Sabatini as well, we need a fourth vote for this.

1366
02:01:44,920 --> 02:01:51,540
So I will put something out for you for a question, knowing how serious this is and

1367
02:01:51,540 --> 02:01:57,240
what I think and trying to be solutions oriented to get this done.

1368
02:01:58,100 --> 02:02:03,880
So if we're worried about rightfully so, about user fees and taxes and things like that,

1369
02:02:03,980 --> 02:02:08,480
which I think is good, and I appreciate the comments about us being fiscally prudent.

1370
02:02:09,080 --> 02:02:12,440
We are with the exception of Sumter County, not explaining why this is true.

1371
02:02:12,620 --> 02:02:16,840
We are the lowest, have the lowest military of all the counties around us, and we've done

1372
02:02:16,840 --> 02:02:18,560
a good job of budgeting to keep it that way.

1373
02:02:19,580 --> 02:02:26,440
I have a proposal that I will put out, if this gets us the fourth vote, where tonight we lower the

1374
02:02:26,440 --> 02:02:34,380
millage rate, and that's a whole discussion, and you know what our discussion about having the concerns over reserve,

1375
02:02:35,100 --> 02:02:38,260
and the impact on the lowering in millage rate is on reserve.

1376
02:02:39,060 --> 02:02:43,560
And there's a wonderful graph that Jennifer has that she will show us tonight,

1377
02:02:43,560 --> 02:03:01,540
right where our millage rate is kept at a curve like this, but the expenditures that we all have to constitutionally support go up like this and that gap keeps widening every year and there's no ability as I think we can cut another half a million out of the budget.

1378
02:03:01,540 --> 02:03:06,620
So yeah, to get right to it, let's cut a half a million out of it tonight.

1379
02:03:08,840 --> 02:03:19,200
And for the statute, 336.025 allows, in a case where we might need the gas tax, if we enact it today.

1380
02:03:20,340 --> 02:03:31,520
This statute, 336.025 would allow us to use out of reserves the gas tax to address a concern that might come up with roads related during the storm.

1381
02:03:31,520 --> 02:03:33,580
or some kind of a washout?

1382
02:03:33,980 --> 02:03:36,700
Yeah, so that addresses, that would address our concern.

1383
02:03:36,840 --> 02:03:38,940
I know you're concerned about, about reserves.

1384
02:03:38,940 --> 02:03:39,060
Right, right.

1385
02:03:40,060 --> 02:03:40,600
About reserve.

1386
02:03:41,140 --> 02:03:42,220
Exactly, exactly.

1387
02:03:42,700 --> 02:03:47,240
And I'm glad you brought that up because I didn't bring this up.

1388
02:03:47,480 --> 02:03:53,140
As my hope that once we get our roads taken care, we can continue a bit lower the impact

1389
02:03:53,140 --> 02:03:56,280
on our citizens every day through their property fees.

1390
02:03:56,880 --> 02:04:00,780
Yeah, and so this proposal then, I mean, if you think about it,

1391
02:04:03,760 --> 02:04:12,100
You're going to gain the revenue over the next 10 years, or however long this is enacted for, for resurfacing, which frees up more money from other sources.

1392
02:04:12,960 --> 02:04:17,640
And I don't believe the state is going to help us anymore than what they are going to do, what they've done this past year.

1393
02:04:18,280 --> 02:04:27,100
Despite them saying they have money in reserve, projections show at the state that will actually be in a deficit in two years, it's amazing in Florida.

1394
02:04:27,960 --> 02:04:34,460
So, I think that is, I think we have to put more skin in the game, so we're able to do that with this proposal.

1395
02:04:34,680 --> 02:04:40,300
We're able to show the residents that we're trying to be sensitive property taxes as well, take it very serious.

1396
02:04:40,660 --> 02:04:48,980
But then we do have a reserve, the ability to use the gas tax in a reserve situation, an emergency situation, according to this statute.

1397
02:04:49,820 --> 02:04:56,260
And I just think it's a good solution, I'm hoping one or both of those with questions will.

1398
02:04:56,700 --> 02:05:01,580
We'll do that, but I understand both sides of this as well.

1399
02:05:01,880 --> 02:05:02,480
I'll say that too.

1400
02:05:02,540 --> 02:05:06,400
I appreciate that suggestion or offer, Commissioner 17i.

1401
02:05:06,620 --> 02:05:13,160
Just first I want to follow up on, yeah, tonight I'll be making a motion or second in somebody else's motion to reduce the millage by another half million.

1402
02:05:13,340 --> 02:05:16,880
So I think that's a great idea and we've already cleared that it's not going to have a direct effect on roads.

1403
02:05:17,140 --> 02:05:25,180
So I'm opposed to this, I'm opposed to new taxes, especially taxes that are regressive that her working class people, more people who work every single day,

1404
02:05:25,180 --> 02:05:27,580
9 to 5, that's my definition of working class.

1405
02:05:28,380 --> 02:05:30,740
And so I'll be voting now, but I appreciate the conversation.

1406
02:05:31,700 --> 02:05:33,700
So a couple thoughts from my standpoint.

1407
02:05:34,140 --> 02:05:40,080
I think one of the best things that this board has done is put the MS to you in place for

1408
02:05:40,080 --> 02:05:45,520
any new subdivisions that come through county approval so that a new subdivision,

1409
02:05:45,760 --> 02:05:51,900
actually within their subdivision, they capture the funding to be able to resurface the roads inside their subdivision.

1410
02:05:51,900 --> 02:05:54,660
So I think that's been a super positive thing.

1411
02:05:55,400 --> 02:06:01,220
I feel like the slides that showed the pictures of the roads that are degrading and

1412
02:06:01,220 --> 02:06:05,200
indicated, I think, a most of them, they were subdivisions built around the 80s.

1413
02:06:05,520 --> 02:06:13,620
Is an extremely compelling reason why the voters of Lake County would probably vote in favor of a referendum to do this.

1414
02:06:13,960 --> 02:06:18,620
If we showed that the money was going 80% apparently based on the presentation,

1415
02:06:18,620 --> 02:06:23,000
would go to neighborhood roads, they would go to neighborhood roads.

1416
02:06:23,560 --> 02:06:33,800
They wouldn't, this fee or tax, wouldn't change whether you wait in line at, you know, 44 B, and Donnelly.

1417
02:06:34,660 --> 02:06:36,520
It's not going to change that at all.

1418
02:06:36,880 --> 02:06:45,420
This is strictly for resurfacing, 80% of it will go to resurfacing subdivision roads, most of which were built in the 70s, 80s.

1419
02:06:46,160 --> 02:06:52,640
So, I guess, from my standpoint, I feel like this is something that voters would support,

1420
02:06:52,760 --> 02:06:56,660
especially if you showed them that your neighborhoods are going to get resurfaced.

1421
02:06:56,860 --> 02:06:59,660
The roads in your neighborhoods are going to get resurfaced.

1422
02:07:01,060 --> 02:07:07,200
I don't agree that it's fair, and I guess everybody sort of agrees that it's not fair, because

1423
02:07:07,200 --> 02:07:12,460
electric vehicles aren't paying it, diesel isn't paying it, diesel are the, you know,

1424
02:07:12,460 --> 02:07:17,520
know, we know that a lot of the roads in my district are torn up because of large trucks.

1425
02:07:18,100 --> 02:07:18,820
And they're important.

1426
02:07:18,880 --> 02:07:19,520
I mean, it's commerce.

1427
02:07:19,820 --> 02:07:20,460
They need to be there.

1428
02:07:20,540 --> 02:07:21,120
They're doing work.

1429
02:07:21,920 --> 02:07:24,600
But it doesn't seem, that doesn't seem fair.

1430
02:07:26,860 --> 02:07:33,500
I do think that, and I appreciate the comments about, you know, your elected make-hard decisions.

1431
02:07:34,100 --> 02:07:38,820
You got to stand up, be a leader, do what's hard, and sometimes, yeah, I mean, some of

1432
02:07:38,820 --> 02:07:42,260
One of the things that we have to make decisions about are very difficult because we do make

1433
02:07:42,260 --> 02:07:44,200
half the room happy, half the room mad.

1434
02:07:46,480 --> 02:07:48,900
Rarely, never do you make everyone happy, right?

1435
02:07:49,540 --> 02:07:53,560
And I appreciate the fact that so many people from the business community are here today supporting

1436
02:07:53,560 --> 02:07:58,060
this and I appreciate you all getting together and deciding, yeah, this is good for business.

1437
02:07:58,260 --> 02:07:58,860
Let's do this.

1438
02:08:00,160 --> 02:08:04,780
I just, from my standpoint, I never ran on a platform of raising taxes.

1439
02:08:05,420 --> 02:08:05,640
Never.

1440
02:08:06,080 --> 02:08:07,100
That's never anything.

1441
02:08:07,300 --> 02:08:08,360
I ever told people.

1442
02:08:08,360 --> 02:08:12,540
I would do as a county commissioner, you know, laterally make a decision to raise their taxes.

1443
02:08:13,300 --> 02:08:18,660
And when there have been times when we've had to make tough decisions with regard to milled rates and so forth,

1444
02:08:18,980 --> 02:08:21,580
and my goal has always been to keep the taxes as low as possible.

1445
02:08:21,760 --> 02:08:25,340
I get that this falls into that category of kind of being like a user fee.

1446
02:08:26,100 --> 02:08:30,660
But again, I think that we could sell it to the residents of Lake County to support this in a referendum.

1447
02:08:30,860 --> 02:08:32,160
And so I would go that route.

1448
02:08:32,600 --> 02:08:37,600
I would ask the voters to support this if this is what they want us to do in order to resurface roads and

1449
02:08:37,600 --> 02:08:42,100
make it really clear. This is not going to build new roads. That's not what this is for.

1450
02:08:42,220 --> 02:08:47,120
It's strictly for resurfacing. And so we could take that to the voters and see if they would support that.

1451
02:08:47,540 --> 02:08:48,200
But I'm not.

1452
02:08:48,420 --> 02:08:52,600
What happens if they don't? What's your answer if they don't? If they vote it down?

1453
02:08:52,860 --> 02:08:59,240
We will continue to do what we've been doing, which is using a combination of our MST.

1454
02:08:59,720 --> 02:09:00,860
Can I jump in though?

1455
02:09:00,960 --> 02:09:05,220
Wait a minute. Wait a minute. We had issues when people were yelling and doing things.

1456
02:09:05,220 --> 02:09:10,340
I mean, we don't do that, so let's like, I don't think that's appropriate for people to be.

1457
02:09:11,780 --> 02:09:17,660
There's 38 counties that the county commission have made the decision to do that.

1458
02:09:18,000 --> 02:09:20,520
And maybe those commissioners went out and ran on that platform.

1459
02:09:21,000 --> 02:09:24,860
And maybe that is part of what was, you know, in the community support for it.

1460
02:09:25,060 --> 02:09:31,540
So it doesn't look like we're going to have, I want to go ahead and call the vote and see where everybody stands now and

1461
02:09:31,540 --> 02:09:33,220
and not put it on a referendum.

1462
02:09:33,440 --> 02:09:34,600
Maybe we'll bring it back in a year.

1463
02:09:35,560 --> 02:09:38,500
And political environment changes or something?

1464
02:09:38,880 --> 02:09:40,240
Yeah, and I would second that.

1465
02:09:40,840 --> 02:09:41,820
And I mean, I have discussions,

1466
02:09:41,820 --> 02:09:44,860
I respectfully totally disagree that it would not help people

1467
02:09:44,860 --> 02:09:48,700
that are waiting in traffic at 44B and a hammock rich road

1468
02:09:48,700 --> 02:09:50,100
and all these other roads,

1469
02:09:50,420 --> 02:09:52,280
because that was clearly discussed.

1470
02:09:53,140 --> 02:09:57,560
This we are using what money we have now for resurfacing.

1471
02:09:57,740 --> 02:10:00,740
It's going to free up money for projects for us

1472
02:10:00,740 --> 02:10:03,860
to be able to use more out of general fund for capacity projects.

1473
02:10:04,340 --> 02:10:07,120
The state is not going to do anything different.

1474
02:10:07,280 --> 02:10:12,100
We are going to be in the same frustrating scenario at MPO meetings saying,

1475
02:10:12,300 --> 02:10:16,100
why is my project that's been on the LOPP been there for 10 years, and

1476
02:10:16,100 --> 02:10:19,520
it's not even funded, whether they're going to say because you haven't put money in the game.

1477
02:10:19,880 --> 02:10:21,200
It's not cost feasible.

1478
02:10:21,680 --> 02:10:24,460
This is a first step to get us to be cost feasible.

1479
02:10:24,540 --> 02:10:29,280
It has a totally direct impact on how these other capacity projects.

1480
02:10:29,280 --> 02:10:31,600
is just doing something that we should have done.

1481
02:10:32,440 --> 02:10:35,420
I was not, I didn't run on trying to raise taxes either,

1482
02:10:35,540 --> 02:10:36,540
not on the thing any of us did.

1483
02:10:37,020 --> 02:10:39,180
But I also ran on trying to be fiscally conservative,

1484
02:10:39,820 --> 02:10:41,980
and knowing that these roads that are going to be five

1485
02:10:41,980 --> 02:10:45,840
and go to fours, it's going to cost them 10 times more.

1486
02:10:46,600 --> 02:10:49,660
Let's just say four times more than it would be

1487
02:10:49,660 --> 02:10:50,980
to actually resurface it.

1488
02:10:51,100 --> 02:10:53,760
So I'm not going to, I don't want to put them in a situation

1489
02:10:54,420 --> 02:10:57,200
or myself where these roads, where I,

1490
02:10:57,200 --> 02:11:00,620
I mean, in my neighborhood, I'm seeing line-based, rock-based coming up right now.

1491
02:11:00,780 --> 02:11:04,820
And I know, I just know enough to know that that's expensive to fix that road.

1492
02:11:04,900 --> 02:11:06,660
It's no longer just a simple resurfacing.

1493
02:11:07,420 --> 02:11:17,760
And I just don't want to put them in that position, us in that position of repaving roads with new base where it's more costly as well.

1494
02:11:18,020 --> 02:11:19,760
So, I mean, I understand it.

1495
02:11:19,800 --> 02:11:22,440
I understand you're concerned about that.

1496
02:11:22,680 --> 02:11:25,820
I don't understand it, but okay.

1497
02:11:25,820 --> 02:11:29,200
I'm curious, Anthony, what is your answer?

1498
02:11:30,120 --> 02:11:39,060
Well, first of all, let me ask you this, if you put it on a referendum in the voters of Lake County, say, no, you're okay with trying to jam it down their throats anyways?

1499
02:11:39,440 --> 02:11:40,440
Absolutely, really.

1500
02:11:41,160 --> 02:11:41,580
Absolutely.

1501
02:11:41,740 --> 02:11:42,760
I'm a little surprised by that.

1502
02:11:43,160 --> 02:11:49,480
I know that the voters of both Lake County and the state of Florida have both either embraced or rejected taxes.

1503
02:11:49,660 --> 02:11:52,740
So my question is, how are we going to fix the roads?

1504
02:11:52,980 --> 02:11:54,120
How would you fix the roads now?

1505
02:11:54,120 --> 02:11:58,240
You know, your definition of fixing the roses is very different from mine.

1506
02:11:58,580 --> 02:12:00,980
And I'm not on the crawl, I'm not on the firing line here.

1507
02:12:01,080 --> 02:12:03,540
You've called the question, I think Kirby is seconded, so let's have a vote.

1508
02:12:04,720 --> 02:12:08,820
Well, we do have a first and seconded, but I've fully supported it.

1509
02:12:08,820 --> 02:12:13,180
Yeah, yeah, and I think that's the question, this is part of a, part of a plan.

1510
02:12:13,560 --> 02:12:17,540
You know, it's so here's a, here's a couple of things that I think we've already had the debate.

1511
02:12:17,920 --> 02:12:19,340
I'd rather just see the vote get recorded.

1512
02:12:20,940 --> 02:12:31,980
So here's a couple of things, diesel pay is about 60 cents more gallon currently today than gasoline.

1513
02:12:32,360 --> 02:12:36,060
Another thing that came up was do we have a list of roads?

1514
02:12:36,400 --> 02:12:41,840
Well, we've got eight pages of roads that are fours of fives and need to be read on.

1515
02:12:41,840 --> 02:12:49,460
The third thing that's come up is we know up here that we use a lot of our capital money

1516
02:12:49,460 --> 02:12:53,840
to resurface roads because everybody's complaining about roads.

1517
02:12:55,250 --> 02:13:00,760
If we have this user fee, now I didn't run on raising taxes, I'm a full conservative,

1518
02:13:01,100 --> 02:13:03,460
I want to keep taxes as low as possible.

1519
02:13:03,960 --> 02:13:09,420
However, I'm a fan of heads and beds because that's visitors paying for some of our marketing

1520
02:13:09,420 --> 02:13:12,300
in some of our infrastructure to bring in visitors.

1521
02:13:12,720 --> 02:13:16,480
I'm a fan of this because it's not solely on the backs

1522
02:13:16,480 --> 02:13:17,900
of Lake County citizens.

1523
02:13:18,480 --> 02:13:22,120
There's no other way to do this, other than putting it,

1524
02:13:22,160 --> 02:13:25,700
solely 100% on the back of Lake County citizens

1525
02:13:26,340 --> 02:13:28,060
other than this fee.

1526
02:13:28,600 --> 02:13:35,100
And I'm not an in favor of making my aunt who drives three miles

1527
02:13:35,100 --> 02:13:43,620
a week, pay the same as somebody who owns 10 trucks that drives a thousand miles a week,

1528
02:13:44,260 --> 02:13:52,040
pay the same amount. It's just not right. So we have a couple of choices. We can either put

1529
02:13:52,040 --> 02:14:00,920
it 100% on the backs of the Lake County citizens, or we can do the proper thing and have everybody

1530
02:14:00,920 --> 02:14:08,460
who uses those roads and fills up their gas, pay their amount that should be paid.

1531
02:14:09,480 --> 02:14:11,160
We have roads that are listed.

1532
02:14:11,720 --> 02:14:15,740
We know that we use capital money on resurfacing currently today.

1533
02:14:15,740 --> 02:14:22,540
We can transfer that back to capital to help 44 to help Hartwood Mars to help all these

1534
02:14:22,540 --> 02:14:24,920
roads that have capital needs.

1535
02:14:25,660 --> 02:14:33,820
We have already charged the developers, the highest we possibly can, for another two years.

1536
02:14:33,820 --> 02:14:36,180
We can't charge them anymore even if we wanted to.

1537
02:14:36,240 --> 02:14:37,460
We can, it's against the law.

1538
02:14:38,240 --> 02:14:40,040
So we have to wait two years on that.

1539
02:14:40,620 --> 02:14:42,420
So this is the only option we have.

1540
02:14:42,540 --> 02:14:48,920
We either have a user fee or put it solely back on the taxes of the citizens of Lake County.

1541
02:14:49,120 --> 02:14:50,400
I'm not willing to do that.

1542
02:14:51,000 --> 02:14:57,300
So since we're having a debate though, I do want to point out the fact that we do resurface roads with sales tax money and

1543
02:14:57,300 --> 02:14:59,840
and sales tax money, one-third of the sales tax money.

1544
02:15:00,000 --> 02:15:29,000
Homes from people who are buying goods in Lake County, so it's not 100% that our other sources are only property taxes. We do use sales tax. But when you want to free up sales tax for capacity projects. Yeah, no, it's, I mean, it's always a juggling act. I mean, everybody in this room, I'm sure our home budgets, we always wish we had a little bit more. We always have things we wish we could do more. We have needs, not wants, but needs that we need more money for.

1545
02:15:29,000 --> 02:15:50,040
We're always juggling, and that's part of what we do, and I think that's part of what I think a lot of what people in Lake County expect us to do, is to understand that we can't do everything, we can't, we have to work with what we have, and they expect us to be physically conservative.

1546
02:15:53,140 --> 02:16:01,720
We can't, we don't do that, we would be here all day long, at night, but another thing

1547
02:16:01,720 --> 02:16:06,320
I want to point out is I want to keep coming back to this 80% of these roads are in subdivisions.

1548
02:16:06,900 --> 02:16:12,800
We're not talking about our major collector roads and arterial roads, we're talking about

1549
02:16:12,800 --> 02:16:17,060
the fact that I do think that people would support it if they knew that we were going to be

1550
02:16:17,060 --> 02:16:21,040
be working on getting neighborhood roads resurfaced.

1551
02:16:21,340 --> 02:16:24,000
And that's what this really, the majority of this tax would go to.

1552
02:16:24,440 --> 02:16:25,980
But I would say, I'm sorry.

1553
02:16:26,120 --> 02:16:26,540
Just a minute.

1554
02:16:27,260 --> 02:16:32,240
On the other issue with regard to the legislature, I really think that we should push the

1555
02:16:32,240 --> 02:16:41,360
legislature on allowing us to use tourism tax hotel taxes that come in from people staying in Lake County to pay for road needs.

1556
02:16:41,600 --> 02:16:46,020
And I think that should be across the board in the state of Florida, considering that we are a tourism economy.

1557
02:16:46,020 --> 02:16:50,460
that would make so much sense to allow roads throughout the state of Florida to be

1558
02:16:51,140 --> 02:16:54,020
either maintained or built using hotel taxes.

1559
02:16:54,160 --> 02:16:55,260
So I think it's something important.

1560
02:16:55,720 --> 02:16:59,380
I do think legislative issues, I think we have to keep putting the pressure on

1561
02:16:59,860 --> 02:17:01,520
for additional legislative sources.

1562
02:17:01,880 --> 02:17:04,220
But we've got a motion, we've got a second.

1563
02:17:04,620 --> 02:17:06,040
We know where everybody's going to vote.

1564
02:17:06,640 --> 02:17:08,320
Well, we've got more comments, too.

1565
02:17:08,560 --> 02:17:12,120
Yeah, just a little more, I'm just a few more.

1566
02:17:12,580 --> 02:17:14,280
I mean, really, really.

1567
02:17:14,280 --> 02:17:17,060
No, I think this is important to have it on the record.

1568
02:17:17,440 --> 02:17:20,720
Who are you trying to persuade on the five-person board at this point?

1569
02:17:20,880 --> 02:17:22,180
I'm trying to persuade one of you two.

1570
02:17:22,340 --> 02:17:22,540
Okay.

1571
02:17:22,840 --> 02:17:24,060
Well, I'm not persuading.

1572
02:17:24,100 --> 02:17:24,660
I'm just...

1573
02:17:25,300 --> 02:17:26,200
I get that.

1574
02:17:26,340 --> 02:17:26,540
I understand.

1575
02:17:26,600 --> 02:17:28,380
And by the way, respectfully, they did a good job.

1576
02:17:28,640 --> 02:17:31,080
I mean, listen, there's things you're radically opposed to.

1577
02:17:31,200 --> 02:17:32,260
There's things you're opposed to.

1578
02:17:32,400 --> 02:17:33,160
They opposed to this.

1579
02:17:33,280 --> 02:17:34,060
Not radically opposed.

1580
02:17:34,240 --> 02:17:34,620
I'm opposed.

1581
02:17:35,340 --> 02:17:37,340
But that said, they've made their arguments.

1582
02:17:37,480 --> 02:17:38,300
You've made your arguments.

1583
02:17:38,460 --> 02:17:41,320
I'm just a little curious why we wanted to all further.

1584
02:17:41,320 --> 02:17:47,040
I'm just trying to make it clear then I guess being maybe it is being repetitive that again

1585
02:17:47,640 --> 02:17:51,940
So everybody understands that yeah that you're seeing the 80% of the local roads

1586
02:17:51,940 --> 02:17:57,080
But we don't use who use general fund and sales tax right now for resurfacing

1587
02:17:57,080 --> 02:18:04,500
So if this is approved the resurfacing frees up money for other capacity projects. I mean, I don't I don't understand I

1588
02:18:05,120 --> 02:18:07,140
just don't understand an argument, but

1589
02:18:07,140 --> 02:18:19,860
But yeah, and again, about being physically conservative, I just I think that's a point that these are we're supposed to manage these roads and their liabilities.

1590
02:18:20,800 --> 02:18:36,040
I'm not going to let something at my house go where I could be doing routine maintenance and the reference was made where it's going to cost me and my family something because of my responsibility ten times the amount.

1591
02:18:36,040 --> 02:18:38,300
So I just don't want to be in that position.

1592
02:18:39,000 --> 02:19:01,220
Again, it's tough, I offered a solution, I thought maybe to offset that a little bit with the general fund military to that it could be palatable to do that, meaning that you can literally from this statute use monies from gas tax for reserve occasions, disasters.

1593
02:19:01,680 --> 02:19:11,980
And, you know, that being that we are concerned about our reserve and what we do with the mojo rate effect that here's a solution for that, so make it points.

1594
02:19:13,020 --> 02:19:20,900
All right, so we've got a motion. We've got a second. Did you have any more comments or discussion?

1595
02:19:21,800 --> 02:19:24,800
We just implore you to vote for approval.

1596
02:19:26,020 --> 02:19:31,260
And again, I'm going to, I'm going to, I mean, I think I've said all I can say is it's not something I'm going to support.

1597
02:19:31,520 --> 02:19:33,540
I think the voters of Lake County might support it.

1598
02:19:33,640 --> 02:19:37,600
I would certainly go to bat and try to put that out there and see if we can get that support.

1599
02:19:38,860 --> 02:19:43,960
But I, I'm not going to vote in favor of adding a new tax in Lake County right now.

1600
02:19:44,040 --> 02:19:45,600
I don't think it's the right time to do that.

1601
02:19:46,300 --> 02:19:52,040
I think that everybody is, you know, it's tough as it is with the property taxes.

1602
02:19:52,040 --> 02:19:56,400
but it's, we all have a lot of expenses and I'm just not, I'm not going to go there.

1603
02:19:57,680 --> 02:20:01,780
So if we have an opportunity to approve this unlawored property tax, as you forgot?

1604
02:20:02,760 --> 02:20:04,980
I'm in favor of lowering property tax, that's what it might.

1605
02:20:05,160 --> 02:20:07,880
That's what it's worth to put up.

1606
02:20:08,100 --> 02:20:10,120
I hope you'll still stand with that tonight, so.

1607
02:20:10,820 --> 02:20:16,740
Well, there's no way to use this, I won't because you can't, where our reserves are already down.

1608
02:20:17,220 --> 02:20:20,320
I mean, what, this provides a tool, I mean, you would-

1609
02:20:20,320 --> 02:20:24,420
You know, when we took out the clone a couple years ago to do resurfacing,

1610
02:20:24,880 --> 02:20:32,260
we couldn't even use the entire amount that we had because it was impossible to get enough contractors to get the work done.

1611
02:20:32,740 --> 02:20:38,820
So if you raised $12 million a year, there's no guarantee you're going to be able to actually do your resurfacing of $12 million here.

1612
02:20:39,120 --> 02:20:44,580
So I think it's a practical reality.

1613
02:20:45,400 --> 02:20:47,180
It's a practical reality.

1614
02:20:47,180 --> 02:20:51,900
I mean, that's like saying, we have the money now, but nobody's going to come and resurface our roads.

1615
02:20:52,080 --> 02:20:56,820
I mean, you still collect the money, and actually, if you have more that you're using,

1616
02:20:57,140 --> 02:20:59,200
you're actually going to draw contractors those in the business.

1617
02:20:59,900 --> 02:21:03,080
Well, the whole argument is you're going to get this much done over this much time,

1618
02:21:03,080 --> 02:21:08,280
but if you can't actually get that much done, then why would you collect any more than you absolutely could use?

1619
02:21:08,500 --> 02:21:08,760
That's what it is.

1620
02:21:08,920 --> 02:21:12,680
I mean, we all have our reasons, and I don't think that it needs to be,

1621
02:21:12,680 --> 02:21:19,200
I don't think that it needs to be what it, you know, kind of feels like it's getting a little personal here.

1622
02:21:19,560 --> 02:21:20,900
Everybody's got their convictions.

1623
02:21:21,180 --> 02:21:23,440
Everybody's made great, everybody's got their convictions.

1624
02:21:23,840 --> 02:21:29,860
We've stated our convictions, people know where we stand, and there we go, all in favor.

1625
02:21:30,280 --> 02:21:37,100
I just want to make one more statement, it's just not for county roads, it's also for city roads as well, because cities get part of this funding.

1626
02:21:38,000 --> 02:21:38,820
That's just-

1627
02:21:38,820 --> 02:21:40,020
We have a motion, we have a second.

1628
02:21:40,480 --> 02:21:46,200
The motion is to go forward with the 5 cent additional gas tax.

1629
02:21:46,420 --> 02:21:47,360
All in favor say aye.

1630
02:21:47,620 --> 02:21:49,200
All opposed say aye.

1631
02:21:50,380 --> 02:21:54,060
All right, we're going to take a, it's 20 after 11.

1632
02:21:54,300 --> 02:21:58,580
We're going to come back in at 11.30, and then we'll pick up our next item.

1633
02:21:58,800 --> 02:22:00,260
And I do want to move up.

1634
02:22:00,440 --> 02:22:02,540
The tab 23 is a short item.

1635
02:22:02,560 --> 02:22:07,820
It's the Okahamka Community Center, so I want to move that up so we can talk about that first.

1636
02:22:12,720 --> 02:22:14,400
Release valve.

1637
02:36:21,490 --> 02:36:30,890
Back in session, and we're going to pick up on tab 25, which I believe should be a relatively short presentation, although I have several speaker cards.

1638
02:36:49,870 --> 02:36:50,390
I'm assuming that

1639
02:36:51,490 --> 02:36:57,730
point with regard to the funding sources and progress of the Okahamka Community Center.

1640
02:36:59,190 --> 02:37:02,930
Good afternoon. Good morning, Madam Chair and commissioners.

1641
02:37:03,270 --> 02:37:07,950
For the record, Marie Abdelkreme, Director of Housing and Community Services, here for the

1642
02:37:07,950 --> 02:37:13,850
presentation for discussion and direction on the Okahamka historic Rosenwald School Restoration

1643
02:37:13,850 --> 02:37:15,210
and Community Club Project.

1644
02:37:19,120 --> 02:37:21,640
So this project came to the attention of housing and community

1645
02:37:21,640 --> 02:37:29,780
services initially back in May of 2022 for an application for the construction of the community building.

1646
02:37:30,220 --> 02:37:36,640
The initial project cost was over half a million dollars, and at the time the county could not fund that project.

1647
02:37:37,000 --> 02:37:50,660
So we met with all of the community club members, and they then submitted a second application for the fiscal year 2324 community development block grant, which outlined three phases of the project.

1648
02:37:51,640 --> 02:37:55,180
The first was a Structural Stabilization of Historic School Building.

1649
02:37:55,580 --> 02:37:58,800
The second was the Historic Restoration of the Original School Building,

1650
02:37:59,040 --> 02:38:03,200
and the third was Construction of a New Community Building with ADA Compliant

1651
02:38:03,200 --> 02:38:03,720
Restrooms.

1652
02:38:05,020 --> 02:38:08,320
The application noted funding that was committed from other sources,

1653
02:38:08,320 --> 02:38:12,900
which included the State of Florida, African American Cultural Historical Grant,

1654
02:38:13,200 --> 02:38:19,500
as well as the National Trust Grant, in the amount of $599,890 combined.

1655
02:38:19,500 --> 02:38:20,680
For

1656
02:38:23,330 --> 02:38:35,330
the second application, the original budget request for the CDBG funding was in the amount of $287,310, which was the amount needed to fully complete the project at that time.

1657
02:38:36,030 --> 02:38:41,170
And you'll see the construction acquisition project line item budget form which is attached onto this slide.

1658
02:38:41,170 --> 02:38:42,110
To

1659
02:38:44,770 --> 02:38:51,130
date, the State Bureau of Historic Preservation reports that have the $499,890 awarded through

1660
02:38:51,130 --> 02:38:58,430
the state grant, $124,972 has been expended, and they are reviewing a reimbursement request

1661
02:38:58,430 --> 02:39:06,250
for $249,945. The state was not aware of the additional $100,000 National Trust Grant award,

1662
02:39:06,330 --> 02:39:10,730
and at this time we were not able to receive information on the available balance of that

1663
02:39:10,730 --> 02:39:11,010
award.

1664
02:39:14,590 --> 02:39:18,130
So if a timeline here, if you'd like to just take a few minutes to review and

1665
02:39:18,130 --> 02:39:24,330
I can summarize while you're doing that, we did receive, we did have an annual public

1666
02:39:24,330 --> 02:39:29,130
hearing for the funding through the Department of Housing and Community Services which the applicants

1667
02:39:29,130 --> 02:39:37,510
participated in, and then we received the second application in May of 2023. In November, we

1668
02:39:37,510 --> 02:39:42,210
hold a mandatory workshop for applicants that are being awarded funding so that they can

1669
02:39:42,210 --> 02:39:48,730
understand that this is a reimbursement fund grant and also so that they can review and

1670
02:39:48,730 --> 02:39:51,370
understand their reporting requirements as part of that grant.

1671
02:39:53,030 --> 02:39:58,970
Again, initially the application included three phases, but prior to the execution of that subrecipient agreement,

1672
02:39:59,490 --> 02:40:03,810
the applicant condensed the project to two phases upon the direction of their architect.

1673
02:40:04,370 --> 02:40:11,250
And then the county entered into a subrecipient agreement with a project completion date initially of August 13th of 2025.

1674
02:40:12,210 --> 02:40:16,650
The mortgage was recorded as required by the county for projects involved in real property

1675
02:40:20,090 --> 02:40:26,050
Here you'll see a timeline which mainly contains the information through the planning and zoning office and

1676
02:40:28,760 --> 02:40:34,920
Again, the project began in April, 2024 the staff comments were submitted by May, 2024

1677
02:40:35,460 --> 02:40:41,120
The applicant then changed the architects and staff and met with new architects in July of 2024

1678
02:40:41,860 --> 02:40:52,320
The applicant submitted a new pre-submitted plan proposing substantial changes in January of 2025, and a new site plan was submitted at the end of July of 2025.

1679
02:40:54,040 --> 02:40:59,020
Staff comments were returned to the applicant in early September of 2025.

1680
02:41:02,140 --> 02:41:13,580
So key points regarding that timeline is that, again, the project began in April of 2024 and the applicant is still not in compliance with the site plan requirements as of September of 2025.

1681
02:41:27,300 --> 02:41:33,640
I'm going to go back just a little bit. In January of 2025, the applicant submitted another priest in middle to planning and zoning.

1682
02:41:34,220 --> 02:41:39,020
And again, staff comments, a staff comment letter was provided to the applicant.

1683
02:41:39,360 --> 02:41:44,640
I believe that the site plan was still pending review.

1684
02:41:49,450 --> 02:41:54,050
In May, the Office of Housing and Community Services received a request made by the applicant

1685
02:41:54,050 --> 02:41:59,910
for the county to pay the awarded CDBG funding to the applicant up front instead of on a reimbursement

1686
02:41:59,910 --> 02:42:03,110
basis as the grant is required to do.

1687
02:42:03,650 --> 02:42:08,170
at that time the applicant had mentioned that currently they did not have

1688
02:42:08,170 --> 02:42:14,790
available funding to pay the contractor. In July of 2025 a full resubmittle of

1689
02:42:14,790 --> 02:42:19,150
an updated application site plan and deeds were sent to development applications

1690
02:42:19,690 --> 02:42:24,190
instead of the assigned case manager. The correct project number name was not

1691
02:42:24,190 --> 02:42:29,190
referenced. I believe it was called the Virgil D. Hawkins Community Center. It was

1692
02:42:29,190 --> 02:42:33,050
was then forwarded to P and Z case manager in the planning and zoning department.

1693
02:42:33,550 --> 02:42:39,130
It was reviewed for sufficiency and taken into the number you see listed here.

1694
02:42:39,390 --> 02:42:41,910
And the project was kept open as a courtesy to the applicant.

1695
02:42:43,710 --> 02:42:48,950
This past August, a meeting was conducted with the applicant, the Office of Housing and Community Services,

1696
02:42:49,330 --> 02:42:55,090
the County Attorney's Office, and the CDBG consultant to discuss project expenditures and timeliness,

1697
02:42:55,090 --> 02:43:00,810
which resulted in the applicant advising that benefactors are available to assist with cost overages.

1698
02:43:05,660 --> 02:43:09,620
In September, a staff comment letter was sent to the applicant again by the Planning and

1699
02:43:09,620 --> 02:43:13,840
Zoning Department and a recent middle was requested to be required.

1700
02:43:15,560 --> 02:43:20,040
Again, in September, public media outreach by applicant to solicit additional funding

1701
02:43:20,600 --> 02:43:26,560
led to a meeting with the applicant, Planning and Zoning, the county attorney's office in the Department of Housing and

1702
02:43:26,560 --> 02:43:29,220
community services to discuss next steps on the project.

1703
02:43:33,820 --> 02:43:38,500
Planning and zoning had confirmed, had received confirmation that the applicant received

1704
02:43:38,500 --> 02:43:42,200
the most recent staff comment letter and provided clarification to the applicant.

1705
02:43:42,840 --> 02:43:50,040
That Mr. D. Miko is listed as a primary contact on the application and also in September and

1706
02:43:50,040 --> 02:43:54,160
actually to date the renovation of the historic school building has not received a certificate

1707
02:43:54,160 --> 02:43:54,960
of occupancy.

1708
02:43:55,200 --> 02:43:59,340
The project still has several rough inspections to complete as well as all of the final

1709
02:43:59,340 --> 02:43:59,780
inspection.

1710
02:44:02,210 --> 02:44:07,150
So in conclusion, the county facilitated multi-departmental reviews of the applicants

1711
02:44:07,150 --> 02:44:12,250
request to allow for input from the county attorney's office building services planning and

1712
02:44:12,250 --> 02:44:16,910
zoning and housing and community services office. The applicant has requested the county to enter

1713
02:44:16,910 --> 02:44:22,690
into a contract with the lowest bidding contractor although this bid is higher than the CDBG award.

1714
02:44:23,490 --> 02:44:28,530
A contractor has not been selected to date but there may be some changes to that.

1715
02:44:28,530 --> 02:44:40,660
The county suggested to the applicant that this award be rescinded and the applicant can apply for the next funding cycle, which will be in the spring of next year, although there is no guarantee for an award.

1716
02:44:42,060 --> 02:44:47,080
HUD does have specific performance measures related to timely expenditures of grant funding.

1717
02:44:47,640 --> 02:44:58,400
The grantees are not exhibiting timely expenditure of grant allocations, jeopardizing all future funding for the county, as well as affecting any current phase of CDBG funded projects.

1718
02:44:58,400 --> 02:44:59,960
this this car

1719
02:45:00,000 --> 02:45:11,640
On track, the second contract that we entered into should end December of 2025. This project has been flagged and had system due to zero funding haven't been drawn down to date.

1720
02:45:14,150 --> 02:45:31,870
The options that we discussed during our last meeting with the applicant was available state grants, whether historic or legislative or reducing the project scope to construct restroom facilities to serve the historic structure. The community center could be a future phase with successful fundraising.

1721
02:45:31,870 --> 02:45:37,370
using efforts as well and I will hand it back to the commissioners for any

1722
02:45:37,370 --> 02:45:40,550
questions or comments and direction.

1723
02:45:44,690 --> 02:45:46,850
All right we have speaker cards. The first

1724
02:45:46,850 --> 02:45:52,690
one is Bobby Rhodes and then we have Malcolm Jones. Bobby would you like to talk

1725
02:45:52,690 --> 02:45:53,470
first?

1726
02:45:56,050 --> 02:45:59,770
Hi my name is Bobby Rhodes I'm the president eco-construction group on the

1727
02:45:59,770 --> 02:46:04,070
contractor that is assisting them with phase one. Thank you very much for your

1728
02:46:04,070 --> 02:46:16,010
time commissioners and I want to speak on kind of two behalf one as a contractor but more importantly one as a person as an individual that has been involved with the Okahomka community.

1729
02:46:17,190 --> 02:46:29,430
This has been going on with them for I think five years now and the amount of just care effort and commitment I've seen from this group is really been just an awesome thing to be a part of.

1730
02:46:29,430 --> 02:46:37,650
I'm honored to be involved with this project, and any support would be greatly appreciated

1731
02:46:37,650 --> 02:46:39,350
to the system in any way possible.

1732
02:46:39,690 --> 02:46:39,930
Thank you.

1733
02:46:44,210 --> 02:46:46,790
And after Malcolm is Charles Fields.

1734
02:46:48,890 --> 02:46:49,990
Good morning Malcolm Jones.

1735
02:46:50,510 --> 02:46:55,150
I'm the principal architect of my architecture and design, and I was the architect brought

1736
02:46:55,150 --> 02:46:57,890
in place of the previous two, helped with phase two.

1737
02:46:58,490 --> 02:47:02,810
I serve along with the partnership of a little diversified architecture, which is a very

1738
02:47:02,810 --> 02:47:07,750
reputable architectural farming in the state of Florida. We have come together to support

1739
02:47:07,750 --> 02:47:13,510
the Oklahoma Community Club as much as we possibly can by reducing our fees greatly

1740
02:47:13,510 --> 02:47:18,770
in order to support this project. We've spent a lot of time coming to know these individuals

1741
02:47:18,770 --> 02:47:26,310
and have echo by these sentiment in just growing an affinity for the work they're trying

1742
02:47:26,310 --> 02:47:32,910
to do and we're prepared and willing to make, take any measures and make adjustments to

1743
02:47:32,910 --> 02:47:38,370
the plans to come up with alternative solutions to reduce the current cost of construction

1744
02:47:38,370 --> 02:47:44,430
and if that requires more pro bono efforts, we'll do just that and so if any possibility

1745
02:47:44,430 --> 02:47:49,790
of further support to come out of the county, I would hopefully definitely encourage that.

1746
02:47:49,990 --> 02:47:50,290
Thank you.

1747
02:47:50,290 --> 02:47:55,030
Thank you Charles and then Barbara and they saw in

1748
02:48:00,880 --> 02:48:02,500
good morning commissioners

1749
02:48:04,040 --> 02:48:10,380
We're at a crossroad and I've been before you all the number of times as well as other members of our organization and

1750
02:48:11,480 --> 02:48:16,840
I won't be labored at the point in terms of our obvious support to complete this project

1751
02:48:17,620 --> 02:48:18,180
but

1752
02:48:18,780 --> 02:48:21,440
This could this community project represents

1753
02:48:22,060 --> 02:48:24,820
another crossroad is a cross road that

1754
02:48:24,820 --> 02:48:33,320
that intersects three significant individuals that really don't get enough credit for uniting

1755
02:48:33,320 --> 02:48:37,820
the community, uniting America during the 1900s.

1756
02:48:37,940 --> 02:48:44,680
Those individuals would be Julius Rosenwald, Booker T. Washington, and Virgil Donnell Hawkins.

1757
02:48:45,820 --> 02:48:51,740
We all know their significance and their contributions because those three gentlemen literally changed

1758
02:48:51,740 --> 02:48:57,700
America for the better by enhancing educational opportunities for those individuals who

1759
02:48:57,700 --> 02:49:04,060
are otherwise not have that educational opportunity and it is an act of perpetuity that

1760
02:49:04,060 --> 02:49:05,960
continues from generation to generation.

1761
02:49:07,340 --> 02:49:11,540
The most important thing right now with this crossroad is that we're at another crossroad

1762
02:49:11,540 --> 02:49:21,460
a financial crossroad and we have a plan that I think, well first of all we have a plan

1763
02:49:21,460 --> 02:49:29,160
that other board members will present to you today that in my view is very compelling

1764
02:49:29,680 --> 02:49:33,500
and towards leading a pathway how we can get this project done.

1765
02:49:34,420 --> 02:49:38,740
On September the 9th I spoke briefly before you all and indicated during that time we're

1766
02:49:38,740 --> 02:49:39,800
right there at the finish line.

1767
02:49:40,640 --> 02:49:46,060
We've been messing with this thing for a long time and we need to try to get this thing pushed

1768
02:49:46,060 --> 02:49:51,280
across that finish line at this point and I think some of the changes that have been proposed

1769
02:49:51,280 --> 02:49:57,140
Those might help us at least go a long way into accomplishing that particular mission for us.

1770
02:49:57,820 --> 02:49:58,940
Phil, it's all I have to say.

1771
02:49:59,380 --> 02:50:00,080
All right, thank you.

1772
02:50:00,920 --> 02:50:02,560
And then Barbara Bruth,

1773
02:50:04,900 --> 02:50:08,080
and I'm sorry, I'd realize now you have this specific order because

1774
02:50:08,080 --> 02:50:10,780
you knew how you wanted this done, so I think I'm on track now.

1775
02:50:10,940 --> 02:50:11,320
You're good.

1776
02:50:11,520 --> 02:50:11,880
That's fine.

1777
02:50:12,300 --> 02:50:13,260
Good morning, commissioners.

1778
02:50:13,420 --> 02:50:14,120
Thank you very much.

1779
02:50:14,360 --> 02:50:20,980
We very much appreciate the time for you to take with this and put us on the agenda.

1780
02:50:20,980 --> 02:50:23,220
We are very grateful for that.

1781
02:50:24,240 --> 02:50:27,600
We have many members and supporters here today.

1782
02:50:28,400 --> 02:50:34,340
Can you raise your hands and the folks that are here in support of our project today?

1783
02:50:35,000 --> 02:50:43,780
I have to echo when I became involved with this project I was overwhelmed with who these

1784
02:50:43,780 --> 02:50:49,240
people are and their values and the significance of this project.

1785
02:50:49,240 --> 02:50:52,560
So today, we're here to request your help.

1786
02:50:53,060 --> 02:50:56,400
We have three points for you to consider today.

1787
02:50:57,500 --> 02:51:03,340
We request Lake County Public Money to complete the Virgil-Darnell Hawkins Community Center.

1788
02:51:03,780 --> 02:51:09,160
We believe our community center meets the qualifications of a clear public purpose.

1789
02:51:10,000 --> 02:51:15,060
Counties often use their spending powers to support local services.

1790
02:51:15,060 --> 02:51:25,140
Funding for community centers is usually permissible, as these centers typically provide services to the greater community.

1791
02:51:25,900 --> 02:51:31,380
The Hawkins Community Center will provide services to residents, local school groups, and tourists.

1792
02:51:32,260 --> 02:51:36,600
Economically, this is an important and significant project.

1793
02:51:38,280 --> 02:51:43,800
Clarification is needed in writing on the CDBG grant distribution of funds.

1794
02:51:43,800 --> 02:51:49,420
Additionally, extension is necessary to complete the Hawkins Center.

1795
02:51:50,620 --> 02:51:57,280
Number three, please consider the major site plan requirements that have increased the cost.

1796
02:51:57,700 --> 02:52:10,000
Specifically, parking, fire truck access, retention pond, and the berm that separates the surrounding homes from the community center, where they have had long term access to the property.

1797
02:52:10,000 --> 02:52:15,900
This is due to being a commercial property in the middle of a residential area.

1798
02:52:17,000 --> 02:52:23,040
We plan to answer all your questions that you may have today, and we look forward to your partnership.

1799
02:52:23,420 --> 02:52:23,800
Thank you.

1800
02:52:25,120 --> 02:52:31,200
And Danny Watson, and then after Danny is to Demiko.

1801
02:52:36,020 --> 02:52:37,340
Good morning, kind of commissioners.

1802
02:52:38,060 --> 02:52:41,760
Before I go home with my message, I just want to commend the kind of board for

1803
02:52:41,760 --> 02:52:50,360
on in the 4-H Club this morning, both for my boy raised up in the 4-H and it turned out

1804
02:52:50,360 --> 02:52:51,300
to be real good gentlemen.

1805
02:52:52,060 --> 02:52:54,880
One is a doctor, and one is a graphic designs.

1806
02:52:55,960 --> 02:52:57,260
Okay, my name is Dan and Watson.

1807
02:52:58,380 --> 02:53:00,000
I was born and raised in Claremont.

1808
02:53:00,120 --> 02:53:08,200
I heard a lot about Claremont this morning in the 1950s, so I've seen a lot of changes around

1809
02:53:08,200 --> 02:53:08,520
here.

1810
02:53:09,160 --> 02:53:16,580
I attended Lincoln Park High School, first grade through 11th grade, in which I go home

1811
02:53:16,580 --> 02:53:21,200
every once in a while and I see that the school is still standing and the name also

1812
02:53:21,200 --> 02:53:25,080
have been changed about the Lincoln Park, so I commend you on that, thank you.

1813
02:53:27,900 --> 02:53:30,040
I'm a part of history of Lake County.

1814
02:53:30,660 --> 02:53:37,600
I'm one of the students that in segregation time was integrating the schools during the

1815
02:53:37,600 --> 02:53:40,620
I'm one of the students that had to make a change

1816
02:53:40,620 --> 02:53:42,880
from going to one school to another.

1817
02:53:43,940 --> 02:53:46,340
And I'm also a veteran of the military.

1818
02:53:46,700 --> 02:53:49,000
I went in the military right out of high school,

1819
02:53:49,520 --> 02:53:51,660
and I started one, two, a duty in Vietnam.

1820
02:53:53,340 --> 02:53:54,520
When I come from Vietnam,

1821
02:53:55,000 --> 02:53:58,740
I really love and married my wife from Oklahoma.

1822
02:53:59,940 --> 02:54:04,060
So that's how I got involved with the Oklahoma community center.

1823
02:54:05,080 --> 02:54:09,900
When I first moved there, you know, it was just a building being used for community service.

1824
02:54:11,960 --> 02:54:20,180
Then we renovated and we made a senior citizen side out of it, then we turned it into a

1825
02:54:20,180 --> 02:54:21,180
mill on wheelsite.

1826
02:54:21,660 --> 02:54:28,740
And then it said idle for a while until the law sent us one angel, which was Chip Namingo.

1827
02:54:29,420 --> 02:54:33,760
He was looking for artifacts, so he wanted to use the community center ground to look for

1828
02:54:33,760 --> 02:54:39,740
artifacts on the ground, but that he looked up, he saw an artifact on top of the ground

1829
02:54:39,740 --> 02:54:44,060
which was the old school. And so we've been working on that, working on this situation

1830
02:54:44,060 --> 02:54:50,160
for a long time. A lot of the members who wanted to see this happen are all dead and

1831
02:54:50,160 --> 02:54:57,530
gone. Now I'm about the last man standing. So I'm pleading with the county to fill our

1832
02:54:57,530 --> 02:55:03,030
our hearts for what we are going through to try to make this project successful.

1833
02:55:04,510 --> 02:55:11,050
And we thank y'all for your unabided attention, and we hope y'all make a right decision on what we need to do to move forward.

1834
02:55:11,590 --> 02:55:11,950
Thank you.

1835
02:55:11,970 --> 02:55:14,230
Thank you, appreciate that, appreciate your service, sir.

1836
02:55:15,770 --> 02:55:16,650
Chip, Demiko.

1837
02:55:21,740 --> 02:55:22,940
To me, every time.

1838
02:55:24,900 --> 02:55:29,420
I'm Chip Demiko, I am a retired law enforcement officer from New York State.

1839
02:55:30,180 --> 02:55:38,280
I spent 20 years wearing the badge and following the footsteps of my father who was 25 years on the job.

1840
02:55:39,180 --> 02:55:46,240
I learned how municipalities function and develop a deep respect for responsibility of the public leadership like all you have.

1841
02:55:47,380 --> 02:55:53,540
Commissioners, I was raised to help and protect the elderly and those who can't protect themselves.

1842
02:55:54,140 --> 02:56:06,540
To speak for those who have no voice, and to give people a hand up, not a hand out, because a hand up will help them for life, a hand out only fosters continued dependence.

1843
02:56:07,580 --> 02:56:17,600
There will be those that say what we are asking for tonight is a hand out, including some right here in this chamber, the community club is trying to give a hand up.

1844
02:56:19,120 --> 02:56:22,260
Okahunkka needs a lot of things to raise it out of the Lake County's dark

1845
02:56:22,260 --> 02:56:28,320
shadows. They have no municipal water or sewer, they have dirt roads in places

1846
02:56:28,320 --> 02:56:33,380
where fire trucks still can't get to in certain homes. I'm sure of that. They

1847
02:56:33,380 --> 02:56:38,300
there are many elderly people, many who don't have air conditioning or a safe

1848
02:56:38,300 --> 02:56:43,060
place to go in a storm. Beyond basic trash collection there are really no

1849
02:56:43,060 --> 02:56:47,580
municipal buildings or services to support them. What Okahunkka and

1850
02:56:47,580 --> 02:56:52,160
Lake County do have is a national landmark. They have the Restored

1851
02:56:52,160 --> 02:56:59,920
Oklahoma Rosenwald School, 98% restart. Coming soon. Because this historic

1852
02:56:59,920 --> 02:57:05,000
school needs the community center, the historical significance of the

1853
02:57:05,000 --> 02:57:10,400
Rosenwald School is immense. Since 1938, Rosenwald funds schools and the

1854
02:57:10,400 --> 02:57:15,140
story behind them is probably the greatest American story that no one has ever

1855
02:57:15,140 --> 02:57:25,440
heard of. A private citizen developing a program and helping fund the building of 5,357 schools

1856
02:57:25,440 --> 02:57:26,540
and related structures.

1857
02:57:29,970 --> 02:57:33,650
That's a long time and that's a lot of schools. Over the 20-year

1858
02:57:33,650 --> 02:57:43,350
period, he did this in 15 southern states prior to 1938. Today, 85 years after the Rosenwald

1859
02:57:43,350 --> 02:57:50,230
program ended, there are only around 4,000 accredited universities in this country.

1860
02:57:53,700 --> 02:57:56,720
This is not a fake news.

1861
02:57:57,260 --> 02:57:58,280
This is real history.

1862
02:57:59,000 --> 02:58:02,120
It's right here in Lake County in Okahanka.

1863
02:58:04,570 --> 02:58:09,140
The people that live in and around Okahanka are Lake County residents who need a hand up.

1864
02:58:09,140 --> 02:58:15,480
Help them have a place to exist, to learn, to teach, to talk to visitors about the rich

1865
02:58:15,480 --> 02:58:23,860
history of Okhanka, Lake County, Julius Rosenwald, Booker T. Washington, and Virgil Hawking,

1866
02:58:24,240 --> 02:58:25,800
Okhanka's own citizen.

1867
02:58:29,210 --> 02:58:30,440
I am a transplant here.

1868
02:58:31,540 --> 02:58:32,980
I am doing my best to help.

1869
02:58:34,200 --> 02:58:35,340
You are Lake County.

1870
02:58:36,020 --> 02:58:37,300
You are Okhanka stewards.

1871
02:58:38,260 --> 02:58:46,140
Please cut through the red tape, extend deadlines, and help us bring this worthy project to completion.

1872
02:58:46,760 --> 02:58:50,260
It benefits everybody in Lake County, thank you.

1873
02:58:50,660 --> 02:58:53,940
And I'd like to respond if I may.

1874
02:58:54,760 --> 02:59:02,300
Yes, I mean, I think the key is if you're offering up like a path of maybe a particular recommendation.

1875
02:59:02,300 --> 02:59:03,160
Um,

1876
02:59:05,300 --> 02:59:14,080
Barb Nason recommended what are our community club is hoping that you will do.

1877
02:59:15,700 --> 02:59:24,680
Extend our deadline on the CDBG grant because most of that is nothing that we can do about

1878
02:59:24,680 --> 02:59:26,480
our own self.

1879
02:59:26,620 --> 02:59:28,800
It's always delayed, delayed, delayed.

1880
02:59:29,500 --> 02:59:30,600
You have to bid.

1881
02:59:30,740 --> 02:59:31,600
You have to put it out.

1882
02:59:31,600 --> 02:59:38,160
I have to send the things through the state and the state does know about the National Trust grant

1883
02:59:39,360 --> 02:59:46,100
They also know about the other grants that we've gotten small grants for like the interior and stuff

1884
02:59:47,360 --> 02:59:54,840
I have records all over the place back there. If you need me to look them up, I'll find them. I have a big box back there

1885
02:59:56,700 --> 02:59:59,980
We've had many delays right here

1886
03:00:00,000 --> 03:00:02,500
Here with just the county staff,

1887
03:00:04,750 --> 03:00:25,670
she mentioned meetings. Some of those meetings were three or four weeks called for three or four weeks later. We have a new architect, our original architect. I had to let go because he dragged his feet so long that it was costing our funding.

1888
03:00:29,610 --> 03:00:34,470
We can't as a group move any faster than what the people around us are doing.

1889
03:00:35,770 --> 03:00:44,250
18 months to build, to restore a community center or to restore the school and build a community center, that's impossible.

1890
03:00:45,430 --> 03:00:46,370
I mean, it's just impossible.

1891
03:00:47,510 --> 03:00:50,350
I've had the state grant since 2021.

1892
03:00:54,660 --> 03:00:57,200
It's at the time it was enough to do both.

1893
03:00:57,200 --> 03:01:04,980
We didn't, we didn't ask for COVID, we didn't ask for building expenses to go up 600% like he just said.

1894
03:01:05,700 --> 03:01:09,460
I mean, every step we got more money, the cost went up.

1895
03:01:10,300 --> 03:01:13,060
And it's just going to keep climbing like your road problem.

1896
03:01:14,300 --> 03:01:19,860
We can't raise the money fast enough to jump that hurdle.

1897
03:01:19,860 --> 03:01:26,620
Okay. I understand. Okay. Appreciate it, Chip. And we've got two other cards. And Joe

1898
03:01:26,620 --> 03:01:36,520
Brannum and Rae Alphraza White. If you're speaking in favor, let us know if you want to.

1899
03:01:38,180 --> 03:01:38,580
Okay.

1900
03:01:42,300 --> 03:01:52,960
Hi. I'm Joe Brannum from Okahubka. Okahubka became my hometown in 1940 when I moved

1901
03:01:52,960 --> 03:02:00,840
moved here from Washington, D.C. as an eight-year-old Yankee.

1902
03:02:02,020 --> 03:02:09,540
I was the first Yankee that had ever been in the Okahubka Consolidated School, which

1903
03:02:09,540 --> 03:02:10,600
was the White School.

1904
03:02:11,720 --> 03:02:14,180
And I didn't understand what a Yankee was.

1905
03:02:14,180 --> 03:02:24,060
I wasn't at all aware of the War of Northern Aggression, as it was called here, and I

1906
03:02:24,060 --> 03:02:25,840
didn't understand segregation.

1907
03:02:27,440 --> 03:02:37,040
I lucky luckily I have bug springs at my front yard, and it was the local fishing and swimming

1908
03:02:37,040 --> 03:02:44,120
whole. And when the white kids weren't there swimming with me, I was pleased to have

1909
03:02:44,120 --> 03:02:50,960
friends in the black community. I didn't understand why they didn't come to the white school.

1910
03:02:51,260 --> 03:03:00,320
Of course, I knew now, but the thing that that issue has struck me all my life and I have

1911
03:03:00,320 --> 03:03:09,560
been concerned about developing a understanding of the importance of Okahumka.

1912
03:03:10,240 --> 03:03:19,760
The block students went to the Rosenwald School that it was founded strictly by public

1913
03:03:19,760 --> 03:03:29,640
support, rather than state support, and it was a change in the life of the young people

1914
03:03:29,640 --> 03:03:35,360
in young black people in Okahomka, many of them succeeded.

1915
03:03:36,100 --> 03:03:46,700
You just met some of them when as a retired FBI agent, and others are very, have prospered

1916
03:03:46,700 --> 03:03:50,880
and done very well because of the Rosenwald School.

1917
03:03:51,400 --> 03:03:56,800
It's been a goal of mine for a long time to restore that school.

1918
03:03:56,800 --> 03:04:07,860
I, my family used it as the community center during the time when people went for meals

1919
03:04:07,860 --> 03:04:08,680
on wheels.

1920
03:04:09,680 --> 03:04:17,940
The building fell into disrepair and people like Daddy Watson who just spoke to you, did

1921
03:04:17,940 --> 03:04:22,420
a great job of building it back into a community building.

1922
03:04:22,420 --> 03:04:33,240
It deteriorated and our efforts to get money for it didn't work until Chip Tomeco arrived

1923
03:04:33,820 --> 03:04:39,180
from New York to get us a nice grant.

1924
03:04:39,740 --> 03:04:49,600
The school itself is almost completed now, and I think it's very important that it become

1925
03:04:49,600 --> 03:04:57,820
a museum to explain to people that don't understand how serious segregation was in this part of the world.

1926
03:05:03,010 --> 03:05:06,350
Forgive me for pausing an old age.

1927
03:05:07,230 --> 03:05:08,250
You're doing great.

1928
03:05:08,270 --> 03:05:09,910
The words a little bit.

1929
03:05:10,610 --> 03:05:16,450
But the school did a great job.

1930
03:05:16,450 --> 03:05:23,850
and when Chip showed up and got us the grant to get it repaired, it's now pretty well done,

1931
03:05:24,890 --> 03:05:33,610
but what we need is a community building to go with it to serve as an entranceway to the school.

1932
03:05:34,530 --> 03:05:43,490
Now Chip from New York got us a grant for a whole lot and he has devoted 24, 7 hours

1933
03:05:44,790 --> 03:05:54,250
All his time here, he's only been here a few years, but he took this job on and did a marvelous job and we're so proud of him.

1934
03:05:54,930 --> 03:06:11,710
But what we need is help in getting the community building so that the community will be here despite the fact that the villages is just about to surround us.

1935
03:06:11,710 --> 03:06:23,250
I hope that this museum will be an attraction to the people in the villages and the center

1936
03:06:23,250 --> 03:06:28,730
so that this really important old community doesn't disappear.

1937
03:06:30,970 --> 03:06:37,530
Incidentally, Okahubka is the oldest community in this part of Central Florida.

1938
03:06:37,530 --> 03:06:48,650
It was founded in 1911, 1913, when Florida was still a Spanish colony.

1939
03:06:50,030 --> 03:06:59,050
It was a chief village for the Seven Old Indians, and therefore it was an important place.

1940
03:06:59,050 --> 03:07:11,150
It was the home of Mekanope. Mekanope was an owner of 160 African slaves. They were

1941
03:07:11,150 --> 03:07:21,550
removed to Arizona in the trail of tears. And the black people that went with them are

1942
03:07:21,550 --> 03:07:37,800
buried in places like Bracketville, Texas, the ones that remain, the people are their descendants.

1943
03:07:38,880 --> 03:07:45,780
They deserve a museum to recognize the importance of this community. Thank you.

1944
03:07:46,080 --> 03:07:47,580
Thank you. We appreciate that.

1945
03:07:55,610 --> 03:07:56,690
And Ray, yes.

1946
03:07:58,250 --> 03:08:01,470
Good afternoon, my name is Ray Elfassal White.

1947
03:08:01,710 --> 03:08:07,170
I'm a private citizen who's here to express my support for the present, for the preservation

1948
03:08:07,170 --> 03:08:11,750
of this very important piece of history in Oklahoma, Florida, located in Lake County.

1949
03:08:12,610 --> 03:08:17,470
I'm of the Jewish faith, and interestingly today is Rosh Hashanah, the first day of the

1950
03:08:17,470 --> 03:08:22,550
Jewish New Year, meaning the head of the year and a time to make efforts to make the world

1951
03:08:22,550 --> 03:08:27,210
a better place, which is also known in Hebrew as T. Connellum.

1952
03:08:28,090 --> 03:08:32,390
Julius Rosenwald, a Jewish man, demonstrated the true meaning of T. Connellum.

1953
03:08:33,290 --> 03:08:37,330
He was the CEO of Sears and Robuck in case anybody in this room besides me is old enough

1954
03:08:37,330 --> 03:08:42,150
to remember that, and the catalog that came out every year that you flipped through the

1955
03:08:42,150 --> 03:08:46,910
pages and lovingly wished you could have all those things or maybe used it as a booster

1956
03:08:46,910 --> 03:08:48,570
seat, like we did in my house.

1957
03:08:50,490 --> 03:08:55,110
He and Mr. Booker T. Washington, a man of color, born to an enslaved mother who became

1958
03:08:55,110 --> 03:09:01,690
one of America's first foremost African-American leaders in the late 19th century and early

1959
03:09:01,690 --> 03:09:06,630
20th century to form a partnership to build the Rose and Walt schools.

1960
03:09:07,590 --> 03:09:13,530
These were schools offered to give children who otherwise would not have an education

1961
03:09:13,530 --> 03:09:14,430
in the south.

1962
03:09:14,710 --> 03:09:16,290
You've heard the background of that.

1963
03:09:17,310 --> 03:09:26,090
The school in a, the Roswell School in Oklahoma is only one of a handful of schools still standing that this group is diligently seeking to restore and preserve.

1964
03:09:26,950 --> 03:09:29,050
And your continued partnership is desperately needed.

1965
03:09:30,450 --> 03:09:34,170
In Lake County here, the Oklahoma School serves thousands of students.

1966
03:09:34,650 --> 03:09:43,650
And I'll reference my Jewish faith here again and talk about very briefly that in the Jewish community we've worked very diligently to preserve Holocaust history.

1967
03:09:43,650 --> 03:09:47,850
and much of that involves getting oral histories from survivors.

1968
03:09:48,830 --> 03:09:53,330
And here we are today with very few survivors still alive here with us.

1969
03:09:54,070 --> 03:09:59,330
And like that, similarly here in Okohamka, you have very few students still alive

1970
03:09:59,330 --> 03:10:02,150
who were part of the Rosewell School.

1971
03:10:02,630 --> 03:10:07,710
I think it's critical that you preserve their histories while we can,

1972
03:10:07,970 --> 03:10:12,510
while we can have them here to tell us what they experienced.

1973
03:10:12,510 --> 03:10:16,030
And I'm asking for your continued participation and support.

1974
03:10:16,270 --> 03:10:16,650
Thank you.

1975
03:10:16,950 --> 03:10:17,430
Thank you.

1976
03:10:17,770 --> 03:10:18,370
Appreciate that.

1977
03:10:19,010 --> 03:10:27,250
Okay, so, Maria, if you want to help us understand if it's an extension that we would grant,

1978
03:10:27,250 --> 03:10:32,770
if I think a request was made, the public dollars was that different than CDBG dollars,

1979
03:10:33,010 --> 03:10:39,270
was that the difference between the total amount needed and to finish the project.

1980
03:10:39,270 --> 03:10:48,630
So the total amount that's needed I believe is significantly more than what has been awarded and I believe that there are still some items that are outstanding with the Planning and Zoning Department.

1981
03:10:49,330 --> 03:10:52,970
The Director of Planning and Zoning is here if you have any specific questions for him.

1982
03:10:53,530 --> 03:11:00,390
I think they'd have to overcome those obstacles before we could reach out to our HUD representative to see about an extension.

1983
03:11:00,990 --> 03:11:11,570
That would be, that would come from the county as the applicant for an extension versus what you talked about in your presentation, something about reapplying.

1984
03:11:11,730 --> 03:11:15,890
This would be, try to keep this, this particular application alive.

1985
03:11:16,110 --> 03:11:19,710
Yes, to keep this allocation alive, we would reach out to HUD.

1986
03:11:20,170 --> 03:11:28,530
If there was an instance where they needed additional funding, we had requested that they then reapply for funding in the spring when we reopen the application.

1987
03:11:28,530 --> 03:11:33,890
Normally projects that are close to half a million dollars, we do in a phased approach.

1988
03:11:34,250 --> 03:11:36,810
That way it doesn't affect the county's funding with other projects.

1989
03:11:37,770 --> 03:11:41,630
So there's an opportunity for them to apply again in the spring as well.

1990
03:11:42,470 --> 03:11:46,990
You had mentioned before the possibility of doing something like a bathroom facility so

1991
03:11:46,990 --> 03:11:51,490
that it could be used for the museum and then you do the next phase to complete the community building.

1992
03:11:51,710 --> 03:11:55,450
Is that something that you thought was the discussion that we had, yes, in our last meeting.

1993
03:11:55,450 --> 03:12:01,790
But again, I think that there's an obstacle with where they're at currently in what's needed in planning and zoning.

1994
03:12:03,330 --> 03:12:07,410
And what's needed in planning and zoning are site plan related issues.

1995
03:12:08,230 --> 03:12:15,490
Is that just trying to get this narrow down as much as we can to understand what we would take to get it across the finish line.

1996
03:12:24,340 --> 03:12:27,980
Good afternoon for the record Mike Fitzgerald, the office of planning and zoning director.

1997
03:12:29,080 --> 03:12:33,300
Yes, Maria is correct that there are still outstanding items for

1998
03:12:33,300 --> 03:12:38,800
the review of the site plan for the community center, and I'll say that the planning and zoning staff

1999
03:12:40,640 --> 03:12:46,320
appreciates and respects the heartfelt interest the community has for this project and the value that

2000
03:12:46,320 --> 03:12:53,400
they hold on it. Nevertheless, the staff must take an objective approach and reviewing the site plan

2001
03:12:54,020 --> 03:13:00,360
for its compliance with Lake County regulations. So we have a staff comment letter that

2002
03:13:00,360 --> 03:13:05,820
The engineer has in his possession that lists, I won't bore you with the details.

2003
03:13:06,600 --> 03:13:13,620
The planning and zoning department has 11 comments that are outstanding for the site plan to be in compliance with our regulations.

2004
03:13:14,400 --> 03:13:18,200
Landscaping review is still outstanding, we have not received a landscaping plan.

2005
03:13:18,800 --> 03:13:23,780
The public works department has 10 comments that have gone unanswered.

2006
03:13:23,780 --> 03:13:31,160
And these all relate to parking, stormwater, ADA accessibility, impervious service area,

2007
03:13:31,360 --> 03:13:37,240
all the same stuff that we would review and approve on any other project that we would

2008
03:13:37,240 --> 03:13:38,760
have for us.

2009
03:13:40,920 --> 03:13:45,820
The capacity and conference letter for any impact fees associated with it.

2010
03:13:46,440 --> 03:13:50,980
Additional informational comments, environmental review, public works, informational comments,

2011
03:13:50,980 --> 03:14:05,240
building services, informational comments, and it's by understanding that the building permit for the museum portion is still underway and has not received a CO as of yet.

2012
03:14:05,900 --> 03:14:11,860
But it's like we might be getting close to that, we might be close to the CO based on what was said today.

2013
03:14:14,800 --> 03:14:22,060
So, issues like landscaping requirements and like paved parking, I mean is that something

2014
03:14:22,060 --> 03:14:27,360
like that we could they could use grass parking, are there ways that we could lower the site

2015
03:14:27,360 --> 03:14:28,460
development cost?

2016
03:14:29,260 --> 03:14:32,480
I mean, I understand stormwater becomes an issue because if you build a new structure, you

2017
03:14:32,480 --> 03:14:35,380
got to have a room, a place for the stormwater run off to go.

2018
03:14:35,380 --> 03:14:48,080
But if you, as anyone considered using grass parking as opposed to, and there's our code absolutely required to be paved, and is that something that we could waive, or they'd be interested in doing?

2019
03:14:49,120 --> 03:14:58,880
We can look at this as creatively as possible, but we still need the engineer to submit the plan for us to review.

2020
03:14:58,880 --> 03:14:59,820
For example,

2021
03:15:00,000 --> 03:15:06,380
The landscaping plan is still absent from our review. And as you can see from the timeline

2022
03:15:06,380 --> 03:15:11,060
that was before you, this has been going on since April of 24, and we have yet to have

2023
03:15:11,540 --> 03:15:14,080
a complete package before us that we can approve.

2024
03:15:16,860 --> 03:15:19,920
Yeah, maybe you could help us with the landscape issue or.

2025
03:15:20,040 --> 03:15:26,060
So it's quite a bit, and this is more so speaking of timeline and just loss of time. So this

2026
03:15:26,060 --> 03:15:34,220
This is my first time submitting with Lane County and my understanding was that you guys have a digital permit portal available.

2027
03:15:34,560 --> 03:15:37,060
And so I originally went through the building portal.

2028
03:15:37,340 --> 03:15:47,000
I received a note back saying that I need to go submit a site plan amendment application, which we did the initial site plan review as the pre-app stated when we saw the timeline.

2029
03:15:47,580 --> 03:15:55,600
So I went into the zoning portal and then I tried to submit there and then I received another note as saying you need to do the actual document.

2030
03:15:55,600 --> 03:15:56,780
in an email at all.

2031
03:15:57,400 --> 03:16:00,740
And so then I coordinated with the Oklahoma Community Club,

2032
03:16:00,960 --> 03:16:02,580
got all the necessary documents.

2033
03:16:03,000 --> 03:16:05,260
Now my understanding that was just simply for the site plan

2034
03:16:05,260 --> 03:16:10,460
and amendment review, I did fail to include the landscape plan

2035
03:16:10,460 --> 03:16:12,040
in that initial submittal.

2036
03:16:12,640 --> 03:16:14,420
However, that was in July.

2037
03:16:15,120 --> 03:16:17,240
I never received any sort of confirmation

2038
03:16:17,240 --> 03:16:21,640
of receipt of our submission of our packet, which typically,

2039
03:16:21,880 --> 03:16:23,740
I would assume I would get something

2040
03:16:23,740 --> 03:16:24,880
like dealing with other municipalities.

2041
03:16:24,880 --> 03:16:28,240
as I've at least said, you know, I got an automatic message.

2042
03:16:29,000 --> 03:16:31,480
So I called quite a bit trying to get a hold

2043
03:16:31,480 --> 03:16:32,800
of the planning and zoning department.

2044
03:16:33,080 --> 03:16:35,060
And every time I got either got voicemail,

2045
03:16:35,480 --> 03:16:36,760
actually every time I got voicemail,

2046
03:16:36,760 --> 03:16:37,700
or I didn't get a voicemail,

2047
03:16:37,700 --> 03:16:39,040
it just rained for a very long time.

2048
03:16:39,980 --> 03:16:41,620
One day, I finally got a hold of somebody

2049
03:16:41,620 --> 03:16:42,600
in the building department.

2050
03:16:42,800 --> 03:16:43,840
And I can't remember the woman's name,

2051
03:16:43,860 --> 03:16:44,580
but she was very helpful.

2052
03:16:45,200 --> 03:16:47,680
And she was able to go over to the planning and zoning department.

2053
03:16:48,000 --> 03:16:50,540
And then that's when I was told that, oh, it's in review.

2054
03:16:51,240 --> 03:16:52,860
And you would be getting some comments

2055
03:16:52,860 --> 03:16:57,400
within the next week or so, and that's when we actually end up getting a response in September.

2056
03:16:57,640 --> 03:17:02,940
So, mind you got it in in July, and then we got the litany of her comments in September.

2057
03:17:04,620 --> 03:17:08,520
But not only was it site plan comments, but it looks like it went through every department,

2058
03:17:09,160 --> 03:17:12,840
which also didn't further confuse me, because my understanding was just for

2059
03:17:12,840 --> 03:17:17,100
was a site plan amendment review, because I would have submitted all the drawings at the same time

2060
03:17:17,100 --> 03:17:21,320
if I were to know it was going to every department. So, that may be on my naïve and understanding how

2061
03:17:21,320 --> 03:17:27,520
of late county operates, but it was a little bit difficult just to kind of figure out the proper steps for it.

2062
03:17:27,860 --> 03:17:33,120
And then also just not to hear back anything in July, and I had to wait to September to get the list of counties just hit.

2063
03:17:33,500 --> 03:17:36,380
It makes it difficult to move forward in a quick pace.

2064
03:17:37,560 --> 03:17:38,500
Okay, all right.

2065
03:17:38,780 --> 03:17:41,300
Any, you've got a comment or a statement?

2066
03:17:41,320 --> 03:17:45,600
I have just a question, yeah, and you sort of touched on it.

2067
03:17:45,600 --> 03:17:55,680
What can we do as a board to waive the burn requirement for landscaping seems pretty excessive could add to the cost?

2068
03:17:55,980 --> 03:17:56,740
I know you-

2069
03:17:56,740 --> 03:18:03,540
And I wonder whether they'd be satisfied to use grass parking or at least something like that.

2070
03:18:04,400 --> 03:18:07,180
And then I also wonder about this whole concurrency thing.

2071
03:18:07,340 --> 03:18:12,520
It just seems I know that you've got to look at every application, like every other application.

2072
03:18:12,520 --> 03:18:16,000
But seriously, I mean, it's like concurrency.

2073
03:18:16,460 --> 03:18:21,160
I mean, it's a community building of people that are in the community going to a building in their community.

2074
03:18:21,700 --> 03:18:28,720
I find, I mean, we ought to be able to help get through these kind of things, I feel like.

2075
03:18:28,740 --> 03:18:30,300
Madam Chairman, I can jump in on that.

2076
03:18:30,780 --> 03:18:36,640
So as far as the landscaping in the parking, the code allows the staff and might correct me if I'm wrong.

2077
03:18:36,640 --> 03:18:43,980
but they can do up to like a 25% variance administratively on landscaping, parking they cannot.

2078
03:18:44,480 --> 03:18:49,120
So if they want more than 25% on landscaping or they want significant parking

2079
03:18:49,120 --> 03:18:53,440
variances, they have to apply for a variance which goes before the board of adjustment.

2080
03:18:54,320 --> 03:19:00,040
That process is, from the time you submit it to the time you get in front of the board is three to four months.

2081
03:19:00,380 --> 03:19:02,840
Could it be expedited by the staff potentially?

2082
03:19:03,580 --> 03:19:17,260
As far as the storm water, as you know, with all of the flooding issues we've had in the county, I'm not sure that the Board of Adjustment would approve any type of storm water variants, but they could certainly apply for that.

2083
03:19:17,800 --> 03:19:23,480
And the key with the variants is they have to show that they're meeting the intent of the code in another way.

2084
03:19:24,000 --> 03:19:29,620
So there's some other way to do the storm water or the parking or whatever they would put that in their application.

2085
03:19:32,980 --> 03:19:37,920
Madam Chair, we did have some residents online who would wish to speak on this too.

2086
03:19:38,140 --> 03:19:39,280
One other quick question, too.

2087
03:19:40,180 --> 03:19:41,500
I've got a question on mine.

2088
03:19:42,840 --> 03:19:47,760
What was the cost difference between what they got versus now what it's going to take?

2089
03:19:48,040 --> 03:19:49,540
So I can jump in on that.

2090
03:19:49,620 --> 03:19:53,220
The information that's been provided, I believe Commissioner Campion, obtained the information.

2091
03:19:53,640 --> 03:20:00,300
Their bids were coming in between 900,000 and 1.1 million just for the community center.

2092
03:20:00,300 --> 03:20:06,040
Are funding right now is at about, I think, 283, 287,000.

2093
03:20:06,180 --> 03:20:10,880
Not sure what they would have left over from completing the renovation of the historic structure.

2094
03:20:11,180 --> 03:20:17,280
So you're looking, I'm assuming, about 7, Mr. DeMico's giving me fingers are there.

2095
03:20:22,440 --> 03:20:23,640
That you need.

2096
03:20:28,140 --> 03:20:36,180
One other quick thing along, so if there's some commitment from the county to make up some delta on that,

2097
03:20:36,180 --> 03:20:42,340
Is it, it's going to come from general fund or it's going to come from, can it come from tourist development tax?

2098
03:20:42,480 --> 03:20:44,580
It cannot come from tourist development tax.

2099
03:20:44,660 --> 03:20:46,040
Even for a museum.

2100
03:20:46,760 --> 03:20:53,760
You would have to do a study to show that this museum was going to bring in X percent of tourists and

2101
03:20:53,760 --> 03:20:57,440
then you could do a percentage allocation out of that.

2102
03:20:58,120 --> 03:21:01,800
We've done that on other projects, not museum related, but other projects and

2103
03:21:01,800 --> 03:21:06,200
And typically those studies don't come in showing a very high percentage of tourism use.

2104
03:21:06,300 --> 03:21:13,500
This may be different because it is a historic structure, but we would have to, we'd have to have a study to decide what percentage of tourism tax you could use for that.

2105
03:21:14,420 --> 03:21:19,840
But it does sound like you could get cost significantly lower with reduction of some of the site plan requirements.

2106
03:21:20,360 --> 03:21:20,540
Okay.

2107
03:21:20,600 --> 03:21:24,220
Well, I'm a little, maybe I'm a little confused on some things.

2108
03:21:24,220 --> 03:21:28,980
When this was first brought to us four years ago, and Maria, maybe you could help me out.

2109
03:21:28,980 --> 03:21:36,480
Was this was just for the historical refurbishing of the actual school, correct?

2110
03:21:37,020 --> 03:21:39,960
It was for the, yes, the restructuring of the school.

2111
03:21:40,140 --> 03:21:42,400
The school, so when did this community center come about?

2112
03:21:43,020 --> 03:21:47,820
It was combined, it was in three separate phases, but that was initially spoken,

2113
03:21:49,180 --> 03:21:51,400
initially listed as part of the application.

2114
03:21:51,800 --> 03:21:55,720
We reviewed the application, it was for over a half a million dollars initially at that time.

2115
03:21:55,720 --> 03:22:19,020
And we because it didn't have any additional funding tied, and we're always looking for in our applications some additional source of funding to carry these projects through so that they're not, you know, with costs increases left without being able to complete the project, we were not able to fund it at that time due to the amount and no additional funding.

2116
03:22:19,020 --> 03:22:37,820
So they reapplied again for the 23-24 cycle and did have those additional sources of funding through the two additional grants that they had received and for that reason, the amount then was reduced to the 287 I believe or 284

2117
03:22:39,420 --> 03:22:41,080
that we were able to award.

2118
03:22:41,500 --> 03:22:46,020
And just for clarification, because the project has started,

2119
03:22:46,500 --> 03:22:50,040
this wouldn't be considered a phased project approach.

2120
03:22:50,360 --> 03:22:53,440
So what we awarded in this specific funding,

2121
03:22:53,980 --> 03:22:56,360
if they've started the project which they have,

2122
03:22:57,300 --> 03:23:02,660
we wouldn't be able to award additional funding for the completion of the project.

2123
03:23:03,060 --> 03:23:05,420
We would have to look back at the application and

2124
03:23:05,420 --> 03:23:11,580
And look at the scope to ensure that everything was completed under that scope before we could address

2125
03:23:12,500 --> 03:23:15,860
awarding any additional funding for a second phase of the project.

2126
03:23:16,880 --> 03:23:28,280
So I have absolutely zero problem with fixing up historical Rosenwald building in a way that was originally presented to me by Chris.

2127
03:23:28,880 --> 03:23:31,040
You presented just to school to me.

2128
03:23:32,500 --> 03:23:35,600
And so I was in favor of preserving history.

2129
03:23:35,620 --> 03:23:38,100
However, when we start talking community centers,

2130
03:23:38,100 --> 03:23:40,760
I believe there's one in nine and four corners

2131
03:23:40,760 --> 03:23:42,080
that needs this community center,

2132
03:23:42,340 --> 03:23:44,100
a bathroom park needs a community center.

2133
03:23:44,620 --> 03:23:48,200
And we're talking to a quick math over $600,000.

2134
03:23:53,390 --> 03:23:55,850
And Madam Chairman, just to clarify as well,

2135
03:23:56,150 --> 03:23:58,330
with the variances and Maria correct me again,

2136
03:23:58,350 --> 03:23:59,630
if I'm not stating this correctly.

2137
03:23:59,630 --> 03:24:04,830
But if they get variances, I believe CDBG rules are going to require them to re-bid.

2138
03:24:05,010 --> 03:24:08,310
It's not a matter of negotiating with who they currently have.

2139
03:24:08,530 --> 03:24:11,070
They have to believe start that bidding process over again.

2140
03:24:11,770 --> 03:24:21,210
It's this whole CDBG process that makes it so much more complicated than if it was just a grass roots.

2141
03:24:22,550 --> 03:24:28,670
But when you've got the CDBG involved, it's like you can't do anything differently without getting them to authorize it.

2142
03:24:28,670 --> 03:24:31,650
And does it this affect all of our grants?

2143
03:24:32,010 --> 03:24:34,030
It affects the county's funding, yes.

2144
03:24:34,330 --> 03:24:41,470
So whenever a project is not within its time frame, it will be flagged in the HUD system, the IDIS system.

2145
03:24:41,990 --> 03:24:46,230
And currently it is flagged because it was due to be closed the end of December of this year.

2146
03:24:46,670 --> 03:24:50,570
And no funding has been reimbursed or expended.

2147
03:24:52,010 --> 03:24:55,910
So that would continue until the project is completed.

2148
03:24:55,910 --> 03:25:00,710
keeping in mind then that HUD during our review, we'll look at those projects that are flaged

2149
03:25:01,490 --> 03:25:05,910
because it does determine whether or not the county is doing a good job or being a good steward of the funding.

2150
03:25:06,630 --> 03:25:09,970
Okay, Chip, do you have something really helpful to add?

2151
03:25:15,830 --> 03:25:16,190
I did not.

2152
03:25:16,490 --> 03:25:21,160
It's asked for 287,000, because that's what we got.

2153
03:25:28,680 --> 03:25:31,300
So just to clarify, so

2154
03:25:33,510 --> 03:25:34,570
it was on that application.

2155
03:25:35,330 --> 03:25:38,150
Right, but just to clarify, the over a million dollars

2156
03:25:38,150 --> 03:25:43,850
I think was a reference to the BIDs, Maria, didn't say anything about them asking for a million dollars.

2157
03:25:45,470 --> 03:25:48,710
Yeah, the application was for over half a million dollars.

2158
03:25:48,870 --> 03:25:54,510
The first application that was denied was for over 500, close to $600,000 I believe.

2159
03:25:54,590 --> 03:25:56,330
Okay, so here's a thought.

2160
03:25:56,590 --> 03:26:06,870
Okay, as much as I think we all would want to do variances to help lower site plan cost, it sounds like if we do that, even if we could give all the variances possible.

2161
03:26:06,870 --> 03:26:18,350
It would affect the CDBG grant itself, so just getting an extension isn't going to, unless we stay the course and build it the way that, you know, per code, no variances.

2162
03:26:20,270 --> 03:26:26,570
Then that would be the only chance we could keep this application current application alive.

2163
03:26:27,150 --> 03:26:33,950
One other possibility would be you do something like you reapply.

2164
03:26:33,950 --> 03:26:41,470
We make it, we get the variances, we get the price down as low as we can, then we reapply for the CDBG grant.

2165
03:26:41,990 --> 03:26:46,590
Yes, and it would have to be for a different scope of the project because the project has already started.

2166
03:26:46,730 --> 03:26:50,230
So an environmental review would have to be conducted for that new scope.

2167
03:26:51,590 --> 03:27:00,250
Okay, so if they were to do, for example, the bathrooms is part of the facility upgrades and use this funding source.

2168
03:27:00,250 --> 03:27:05,090
We'd have to start the process again, but they would use this award for that specific

2169
03:27:05,710 --> 03:27:07,370
bathroom facilities, for example.

2170
03:27:07,810 --> 03:27:12,770
And then in the spring reapply for whatever the new scope would be on that facility.

2171
03:27:13,230 --> 03:27:13,410
Okay.

2172
03:27:13,970 --> 03:27:14,510
All right.

2173
03:27:14,930 --> 03:27:16,290
Last comment.

2174
03:27:21,430 --> 03:27:21,590
Yep.

2175
03:27:26,800 --> 03:27:35,200
One thing the planning and zoning seems to be not following is the Secretary of the Interior's

2176
03:27:35,200 --> 03:27:39,020
uh... guidelines on the treatment of historical properties

2177
03:27:40,060 --> 03:27:42,380
uh... they allow for specific

2178
03:27:43,800 --> 03:27:49,240
guidance and changes to be made to keep the historical reference of the

2179
03:27:49,240 --> 03:27:50,540
property and the building

2180
03:27:51,180 --> 03:27:53,300
this was a schoolhouse it was all school yard

2181
03:27:54,080 --> 03:27:56,280
it's all it was the school the school yard

2182
03:27:57,020 --> 03:27:59,180
it's going to have to have this huge landscape berm

2183
03:27:59,180 --> 03:28:03,200
it's going to have a big hole in the ground where for rainwater that doesn't

2184
03:28:03,200 --> 03:28:06,460
It doesn't exist there. It drains away as it is. It never floods.

2185
03:28:08,820 --> 03:28:19,760
But I think what you're hearing is that we're amenable to like waivers that would address like a berm that really shouldn't be there or if the storm water issue, it's not about the old school house.

2186
03:28:20,380 --> 03:28:23,780
It's about building a new structure than you have to have a place to put runoff.

2187
03:28:24,180 --> 03:28:29,800
If you don't have parking as grass parking, then arguably the storm water area goes down in size.

2188
03:28:29,800 --> 03:28:57,960
So, we're just trying to figure out how to get from point A to point B, and in the interest of time and everybody else's time, I would ask if maybe your group that came today and anybody that wants to be there, myself, Maria, County Attorney County Manager, let's set a meeting this week and all get together and try to come up with how we can get from point A to point B because it is very complicated with the CDBG side of it.

2189
03:28:57,960 --> 03:29:09,720
And while the National Trust Grant or the State Grant, that might allow a certain amount of leeway if CDBG doesn't give the same leeway, then we can't use that to our benefit.

2190
03:29:10,700 --> 03:29:14,880
So I think it would be smart, because we're not going to figure this out here.

2191
03:29:15,040 --> 03:29:15,560
I understand.

2192
03:29:15,780 --> 03:29:20,440
But I think you hear that you've got a lot of support for trying to get this across the finish line.

2193
03:29:20,440 --> 03:29:21,720
I appreciate that.

2194
03:29:21,920 --> 03:29:28,920
There is something in our contract, the CDBG contract that says that the monies can be extended.

2195
03:29:29,120 --> 03:29:37,240
If they were in our hands, if the money was in our hands, they've got a mortgage on our property and the money isn't in our hands.

2196
03:29:37,440 --> 03:29:48,480
The CDBG program is a reimbursement program and typically during our workshops, we emphasize that so that all of the applicants understand that you're supposed to pay the cost up front.

2197
03:29:48,480 --> 03:29:50,740
And then the CDBG grant will reimburse you.

2198
03:29:51,080 --> 03:29:53,880
So that's where that rub is, you know, unless.

2199
03:29:54,900 --> 03:29:55,460
Yeah.

2200
03:29:56,660 --> 03:29:58,480
Okay, all right, all right.

2201
03:30:00,270 --> 03:30:27,850
Yeah, the only other, you know, and you can't, if from a reimbursement standpoint, it's a county can't say, okay, we're going to pay for it. Then we're going to turn around and get ourselves reimbursed by CDBG. No, what we, when we met with them at our last meeting, we had discussed payment to the contractor directly, right, as the costs were incurred. So we can do that, pay the contractor directly. Okay, all right, so that could be a potential solution.

2202
03:30:27,850 --> 03:30:36,190
and but as far as doing waivers, like it's a side plan changed, you're saying that the CDBG application would change?

2203
03:30:37,110 --> 03:30:43,770
Yes, we'd have to look at the scope of the initial application to ensure that it matches and meets the what was submitted to HUD.

2204
03:30:44,290 --> 03:30:48,730
Every application or project is then submitted to HUD so that they understand where the funding is going.

2205
03:30:49,190 --> 03:30:57,610
Yeah, I'm just wondering though what was submitted to HUD didn't go in such great detail that it showed where retention pond was or where landscaping was that that would give us some leeway.

2206
03:30:57,610 --> 03:30:57,950
Okay.

2207
03:30:57,950 --> 03:30:58,250
Okay.

2208
03:31:00,030 --> 03:31:00,850
All right.

2209
03:31:01,270 --> 03:31:01,510
Okay.

2210
03:31:01,930 --> 03:31:02,450
Thank you everybody.

2211
03:31:03,250 --> 03:31:05,610
We're going to, our goal is, it's Tuesday.

2212
03:31:06,150 --> 03:31:09,910
Let's see if we can have a meeting by the end of the week if we can get everybody together.

2213
03:31:11,170 --> 03:31:12,450
And then we'll go from there.

2214
03:31:12,710 --> 03:31:14,190
Thank you for all your time and support.

2215
03:31:14,650 --> 03:31:20,130
And I think you've heard from all of us that we, oh, we do have people on the phone.

2216
03:31:20,230 --> 03:31:22,390
Do the people on the phone want to weigh in?

2217
03:31:22,630 --> 03:31:23,630
I'm going to give you the option.

2218
03:31:23,630 --> 03:31:27,530
And Cassandra Brown, please unmute your line and state your name for the record.

2219
03:31:28,610 --> 03:31:29,890
Thank you so much.

2220
03:31:29,930 --> 03:31:31,050
Good morning, commissioners.

2221
03:31:31,290 --> 03:31:35,790
I thank you all for being in agreeance to continue this project.

2222
03:31:35,970 --> 03:31:41,450
I do want to say that I am actually the niece of Virgil Hawkins from Lake County.

2223
03:31:41,950 --> 03:31:44,550
And it's through his hard work and dedication.

2224
03:31:44,750 --> 03:31:50,210
I am a proud graduate of FAMU Law School because of the work that he did.

2225
03:31:50,210 --> 03:31:56,430
and as far as getting black people admitted to law school, so I really do appreciate the

2226
03:31:56,430 --> 03:32:03,150
fact that you are willing to do whatever it takes to make sure that this project goes

2227
03:32:03,150 --> 03:32:09,130
for it has served our community well for many years, and so any red tape and those things

2228
03:32:09,130 --> 03:32:15,190
that we can try to get over, we appreciate your efforts here. Thank you so much.

2229
03:32:15,190 --> 03:32:17,970
Thank you. Is there another caller?

2230
03:32:19,090 --> 03:32:20,490
No. Okay. All right. Thank you.

2231
03:32:20,710 --> 03:32:23,210
Okay. So this will conclude this, this item,

2232
03:32:23,410 --> 03:32:25,930
and we'll move now to our next item.

2233
03:32:27,310 --> 03:32:29,630
Thank you all. Again, appreciate it.

2234
03:32:32,560 --> 03:32:33,260
Let's see.

2235
03:32:34,520 --> 03:32:37,320
We're going backwards now to

2236
03:32:40,740 --> 03:32:41,400
24.

2237
03:32:41,740 --> 03:32:42,380
Okay. All right.

2238
03:32:42,580 --> 03:32:44,540
And I have a whole lot of cards here.

2239
03:32:44,780 --> 03:32:47,820
So let's give everybody a chance to clear the room here.

2240
03:32:51,620 --> 03:32:55,740
But just to be clear on this item, I think we should, I'll make the motion.

2241
03:32:55,740 --> 03:32:58,720
I think we have a discussion, then we hear the cards.

2242
03:32:58,740 --> 03:33:05,280
I don't think it's good to start with an enormous amount of comments before the board even discusses the item.

2243
03:33:05,660 --> 03:33:07,440
Is that how, we go back and forth, though we handle.

2244
03:33:07,440 --> 03:33:12,360
Yeah, now it's hard to watch the right way to go, but-

2245
03:33:12,360 --> 03:33:16,640
Yeah, I mean, obviously, I think everybody can agree something as simple as good as this.

2246
03:33:16,640 --> 03:33:29,080
It's totally deserves to have board discussion, comment, motion, before there's a public comment because the public comment, if it's-

2247
03:33:29,080 --> 03:33:37,900
I don't necessarily disagree that it doesn't hurt to have some, it doesn't hurt to have a board discussion.

2248
03:33:38,340 --> 03:33:45,220
And then call for comment because it does the frame the issue from the standpoint of the board of county commissioners.

2249
03:33:46,940 --> 03:33:54,060
So we have a lot of cards and what we're going to do is we're going to open up

2250
03:33:54,060 --> 03:33:59,840
We're going to open up discussion by the board first and then we're going to call on speaker cards

2251
03:34:01,520 --> 03:34:06,480
But I did I did in preparation for for this

2252
03:34:07,240 --> 03:34:15,200
Agenda item I I did have something I sort of wanted to preface a discussion with that I think is important because I think that

2253
03:34:15,200 --> 03:34:15,300
But

2254
03:34:18,300 --> 03:34:23,500
it's important to say a few things first.

2255
03:34:26,090 --> 03:34:33,480
There's a phenomenon in American partisan politics that has become the norm.

2256
03:34:34,020 --> 03:34:37,300
And that is essentially, at least it feels like the norm.

2257
03:34:37,800 --> 03:34:44,120
If one side characterizes someone else on the other side as one of the really bad labels,

2258
03:34:44,740 --> 03:34:47,380
they call them a racist, a misogynist, a bigot.

2259
03:34:47,380 --> 03:34:54,240
something like that than anyone who tries to have a discussion about that person or to

2260
03:34:54,730 --> 03:34:57,840
bring honor to a person, then they're labeled.

2261
03:34:59,660 --> 03:35:05,540
And even worse, you know, this idea that if you even have a discussion, then you're being

2262
03:35:05,540 --> 03:35:13,180
divisive and it's a really effective way to shut down a dialogue by saying if you even

2263
03:35:13,180 --> 03:35:15,640
talk about this, how could you even talk about such a thing?

2264
03:35:15,640 --> 03:35:21,160
And I just want to lay the groundwork with that that we should be able to talk about these things.

2265
03:35:21,680 --> 03:35:28,820
And we should be able to talk about them calmly, and we should be able to express our feelings and our positions.

2266
03:35:29,880 --> 03:35:37,400
And it shouldn't be that we're not allowed to have a discussion because if we even have such a discussion then therefore we're doing something divisive, okay.

2267
03:35:37,980 --> 03:35:42,300
So I just wanted to sort of lay the groundwork with that.

2268
03:35:42,700 --> 03:35:46,900
So, yeah, if I could since it's my motion resolution.

2269
03:35:48,160 --> 03:35:53,900
Yeah, and I think it is really important that we don't, we've set up before in our board meetings, we do not clap.

2270
03:35:54,740 --> 03:36:03,520
If we have clapping, we're going to ask you to stop and if you don't stop then you have to leave because we just, we don't, we don't, this is not like a rally.

2271
03:36:05,500 --> 03:36:10,860
So you Commissioner Savitini brought this up, so I'm going to turn it over to him.

2272
03:36:11,060 --> 03:36:11,680
Thank you very much.

2273
03:36:11,880 --> 03:36:17,200
So as you all very well know, something very horrible and tragic happened in this country two weeks ago.

2274
03:36:17,760 --> 03:36:24,880
Arguably one of the most famous and respected members of my generation, Charlie Kirk, who's one of the greatest Americans who's ever lived.

2275
03:36:25,660 --> 03:36:32,480
And is already just within hours of his death, been announced as a recipient.

2276
03:36:32,480 --> 03:36:38,120
And soon to be recipient of the presidential medal of freedom, something that only 680 Americans have ever gotten.

2277
03:36:38,560 --> 03:36:44,420
I think it's only appropriate that he deserves national recognition at the state, local and national level.

2278
03:36:45,320 --> 03:36:50,660
And so he has, if you don't know, and a lot of people don't know who he is, if they're much older, and

2279
03:36:50,660 --> 03:36:57,560
they're not involved with sort of civic life at a younger generation, the largest youth leader, I'll just leave it at that.

2280
03:36:57,560 --> 03:37:04,340
Largest youth leader, I would say in the history of the country, certainly the largest

2281
03:37:04,340 --> 03:37:11,100
amount of, he's led the largest civic revival of any American in the last 50 years

2282
03:37:11,100 --> 03:37:13,340
without any comparison.

2283
03:37:13,860 --> 03:37:21,780
He's registered more voters to vote in American politics than anybody in the last 50 years.

2284
03:37:22,500 --> 03:37:26,380
And these are, of course, the qualifications of why Donald Trump has awarded him already

2285
03:37:26,380 --> 03:37:27,700
the presidential medal of freedom.

2286
03:37:28,480 --> 03:37:33,340
1,200 high school chapters of the turning point USA, 900 at the college level.

2287
03:37:34,220 --> 03:37:37,960
He's somebody I knew pretty personally, I spent quite a bit of time with him.

2288
03:37:38,660 --> 03:37:46,040
And so I don't think that any normal sane person, whatever, speak out against naming

2289
03:37:46,040 --> 03:37:51,200
a significant road after somebody as great as Charlie Kirk, it's not even a debate.

2290
03:37:51,200 --> 03:37:57,980
If the debate is which road, I'm obviously more than happy.

2291
03:37:58,100 --> 03:38:00,860
We have thousands and thousands of roads in Lake County.

2292
03:38:01,360 --> 03:38:04,460
And I think a debate about geography in which road is obviously a healthy one.

2293
03:38:04,920 --> 03:38:10,620
But I think it's very sinister that we received through our emails, the five of us,

2294
03:38:10,740 --> 03:38:17,340
because we were copying most of them, emails from a coordinated, radical left political

2295
03:38:17,340 --> 03:38:24,640
campaign, who sought to defame this young man who has slain down based on his political

2296
03:38:24,640 --> 03:38:30,060
views, mercilessly killed, assassinated, leaving two children behind, literally days and

2297
03:38:30,060 --> 03:38:30,980
weeks after he was killed.

2298
03:38:31,180 --> 03:38:35,420
And I think it's, I just have to say, because today should be a positive day of remembering

2299
03:38:35,420 --> 03:38:42,420
somebody great, somebody who just on Sunday had, I think, what's now recorded as the largest

2300
03:38:42,420 --> 03:38:48,340
The largest funeral, largest memorial gathering in the history of the country had 90,000 people there,

2301
03:38:48,420 --> 03:38:51,340
20,000 in a nearby stadium, 20 million watching.

2302
03:38:51,840 --> 03:38:52,960
It's only appropriate.

2303
03:38:53,200 --> 03:38:58,440
So the question of what road we name after Charlie Kirk, obviously, I think there's going to be some more discussion on that.

2304
03:38:58,900 --> 03:39:00,040
I chose a prominent road.

2305
03:39:00,080 --> 03:39:04,600
I chose a prominent road that many people in Central Florida know well and

2306
03:39:04,600 --> 03:39:05,360
travel every day.

2307
03:39:05,380 --> 03:39:11,860
And the reason why is because Charlie was at one point a Floridian had an enormous effect over Florida.

2308
03:39:11,860 --> 03:39:17,280
and started dozens of not hundreds of college chapters of turning point, even some here,

2309
03:39:17,480 --> 03:39:20,720
right here in Lake County at the high school level, and changed the lives of countless

2310
03:39:20,720 --> 03:39:25,940
Americans. On top of that, additionally, he's one of the greatest evangelical

2311
03:39:25,940 --> 03:39:30,280
Christians of his time, brought more people to Christ, and led a larger spiritual

2312
03:39:30,280 --> 03:39:35,100
revival than anybody. Again, I can't, I mean, I mean this sincerely, I'm not trying

2313
03:39:35,100 --> 03:39:41,840
to be sensational. I can't see how anyone would have-

2314
03:39:41,840 --> 03:39:43,780
But we don't do this.

2315
03:39:44,140 --> 03:39:49,540
And if you're going to blurt stuff out and you're going to carry on like this, I'm going

2316
03:39:49,540 --> 03:39:50,500
to have to ask you to go.

2317
03:39:51,340 --> 03:39:55,620
If you wanted to sit here and listen, and then you have a chance, you can say what you

2318
03:39:55,620 --> 03:39:56,180
want to say.

2319
03:39:56,840 --> 03:40:00,480
But this isn't the way that things are supposed to work.

2320
03:40:02,800 --> 03:40:08,680
Again, it has to be said how a person could be opposed to naming a road for somebody

2321
03:40:08,680 --> 03:40:12,980
of such national significance, one of the less than 700 people in the history of the country

2322
03:40:12,980 --> 03:40:16,620
to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, it's announced that it's coming in the following

2323
03:40:16,620 --> 03:40:22,800
days is beyond me, especially when you have thousands and thousands of unnamed roads in

2324
03:40:22,800 --> 03:40:24,260
this county and throughout the state of Florida.

2325
03:40:25,240 --> 03:40:31,440
He was a great American, he was a great Christian, he was a great leader, obviously he's more than

2326
03:40:31,440 --> 03:40:37,440
deserving of this honor and I'm hoping every county steps up and I'm hoping every city

2327
03:40:37,440 --> 03:40:41,140
steps up to name some place or road after Charlie Kirk.

2328
03:40:41,320 --> 03:40:45,600
He truly was, in my opinion, the greatest member of our generation thus far.

2329
03:40:46,000 --> 03:40:51,840
An absolute American hero whose life will never be forgotten and whose message

2330
03:40:51,840 --> 03:40:54,980
will never be cut down because of political violence from the radical left.

2331
03:40:55,860 --> 03:40:59,540
And that is just absolutely disturbing that anyone could be opposed.

2332
03:40:59,680 --> 03:41:02,640
With that said, I would move to approve this resolution.

2333
03:41:05,160 --> 03:41:08,140
We have a motion to approve a resolution.

2334
03:41:08,580 --> 03:41:11,260
We don't have a road though designated.

2335
03:41:11,840 --> 03:41:12,520
Wellness way.

2336
03:41:13,820 --> 03:41:14,080
Okay.

2337
03:41:14,520 --> 03:41:17,960
And if somebody wants a different road and they want a second for discussion, more than

2338
03:41:17,960 --> 03:41:19,040
happy to have that conversation.

2339
03:41:19,640 --> 03:41:23,840
Madam Chairman, if I can just clarify, the road's not actually going to be renamed.

2340
03:41:24,160 --> 03:41:27,320
It will remain wellness way for addressing and title purposes.

2341
03:41:27,780 --> 03:41:31,740
This would be a memorial designation, which is like the brown signs that you see on the

2342
03:41:31,740 --> 03:41:32,800
side of some of our roads.

2343
03:41:33,040 --> 03:41:33,240
Okay.

2344
03:41:34,660 --> 03:41:36,760
I'll second for the discussion.

2345
03:41:37,120 --> 03:41:41,220
The Scofield Road, though, is that would be preferable.

2346
03:41:41,700 --> 03:41:43,300
Well, yeah, happy to have the discussion.

2347
03:41:43,500 --> 03:41:44,300
I like both roads.

2348
03:41:44,480 --> 03:41:49,640
Obviously, I choose the more prominent road because I think it's more important as a road.

2349
03:41:49,700 --> 03:41:53,940
I think it'll get more eyeballs people from around the state who can look and

2350
03:41:53,940 --> 03:41:58,880
see that this is a county that stands up to embrace and honor great Americans who

2351
03:41:58,880 --> 03:42:00,960
were slain down mercilessly.

2352
03:42:00,960 --> 03:42:08,300
And just more people, more eyeballs, more attention, more people realizing that this is the right thing to do.

2353
03:42:09,200 --> 03:42:10,080
And that's what we do.

2354
03:42:10,440 --> 03:42:12,020
That's what we do here in Lake County.

2355
03:42:12,260 --> 03:42:13,740
We're a statewide leader.

2356
03:42:13,980 --> 03:42:20,800
This is a county that loves American ideals, American patriotism, and embraces it, pushes it at the forefront,

2357
03:42:21,120 --> 03:42:28,580
and never backs down, never backs down despite allowed angry minority that's willing to mock a dead person

2358
03:42:28,580 --> 03:42:30,640
and literally days and weeks after they die.

2359
03:42:31,760 --> 03:42:33,940
And so obviously, I think this is very appropriate.

2360
03:42:36,340 --> 03:42:36,740
All right.

2361
03:42:38,960 --> 03:42:40,300
We have a lot of speaker cards.

2362
03:42:44,520 --> 03:42:46,820
And me personally, I would have done this,

2363
03:42:47,200 --> 03:42:48,360
handled this differently.

2364
03:42:51,440 --> 03:42:55,520
I'll probably get people saying nasty things about me.

2365
03:42:55,980 --> 03:42:59,400
But I've been following Charlie Kirk for a really long time.

2366
03:42:59,400 --> 03:43:01,360
When he was 18, he came on the scene.

2367
03:43:01,360 --> 03:43:06,500
and his big focus was talking about American exceptionalism

2368
03:43:06,500 --> 03:43:07,820
and what makes America great.

2369
03:43:08,400 --> 03:43:11,260
And what he did was he went out on college campuses

2370
03:43:11,260 --> 03:43:14,100
and he debated young people.

2371
03:43:14,560 --> 03:43:17,660
And he actually tried to instill in them an appreciation

2372
03:43:17,660 --> 03:43:19,900
for all of the good things about America.

2373
03:43:20,300 --> 03:43:22,140
He didn't pretend that we didn't have blemishes.

2374
03:43:22,320 --> 03:43:24,600
He didn't pretend that we didn't have problems in our history.

2375
03:43:25,080 --> 03:43:27,480
But he focused on the fact,

2376
03:43:27,480 --> 03:43:29,540
See, and I'm going to keep talking.

2377
03:43:30,120 --> 03:43:33,240
I'll just keep talking because I have a right to talk,

2378
03:43:33,400 --> 03:43:34,720
just like you have a right to talk.

2379
03:43:35,420 --> 03:43:39,640
And I feel that this is important and it needs to be said.

2380
03:43:41,180 --> 03:43:45,280
His approach to working with young people on campuses,

2381
03:43:45,740 --> 03:43:48,360
high school and college was really important.

2382
03:43:48,840 --> 03:43:51,600
My kids were about that age when this was happening.

2383
03:43:51,960 --> 03:43:55,080
And so I watched the impact that he had on young people.

2384
03:43:55,080 --> 03:44:02,000
And now since, and I think it's really important to note that at that time our textbooks,

2385
03:44:02,340 --> 03:44:07,160
our professors, our teachers, were really trying to make people feel bad about being

2386
03:44:07,160 --> 03:44:07,640
Americans.

2387
03:44:07,820 --> 03:44:10,820
They were trying to make you feel bad about America.

2388
03:44:11,460 --> 03:44:15,880
And this was that pushback to that movement that was going on in our country.

2389
03:44:16,160 --> 03:44:20,300
So I could appreciate it from the standpoint that this was going on when the kid was 18 years

2390
03:44:20,300 --> 03:44:20,780
old.

2391
03:44:21,200 --> 03:44:22,880
And here he is 31.

2392
03:44:22,880 --> 03:44:32,420
And one of the things that he did all throughout this time was he would go on college campuses and he would face to face meet people that looked at things differently than him.

2393
03:44:33,220 --> 03:44:41,160
And they would get into it, you know, and they would have it was almost like a secratic method where they would ask questions back and forth.

2394
03:44:41,160 --> 03:44:50,920
And it's really fascinating because it forced people to think about why they believe what they believe, how they got to the place where they believed it.

2395
03:44:50,920 --> 03:44:53,660
and whether they could stand that belief system up with reason.

2396
03:44:54,380 --> 03:44:57,700
And this is very important, and this is part of being an American,

2397
03:44:57,960 --> 03:44:59,820
is open dialogue and

2398
03:45:00,000 --> 03:45:29,800
I'm actually analyzing why we feel how we feel and what we believe. So when I started to, and then jump ahead to, and now he did get into podcast and stuff like that. And I've read some of the stuff that's been out there. And I did cringe at times because I knew things could be pulled out of context. And I knew they would be and they have been. And there are memes all over Facebook. There are memes all over social media. They completely, completely pull out of context things that this man said.

2399
03:45:29,800 --> 03:45:37,860
And so, and it's really disheartening to watch what has happened on social media because

2400
03:45:37,860 --> 03:45:42,420
it's been, it's, it's, it's too planned.

2401
03:45:42,780 --> 03:45:46,200
I mean, it's like the information that's been put out there, the memes that have been put

2402
03:45:46,200 --> 03:45:56,080
out there just to incite, you know, hatred and anger after a man had just been shot because

2403
03:45:56,080 --> 03:45:58,520
he was speaking on a college campus.

2404
03:45:58,520 --> 03:46:05,420
How can anybody think that it's okay that an American was on a college campus speaking

2405
03:46:05,420 --> 03:46:09,080
about the issues of the day, and he was shot?

2406
03:46:09,860 --> 03:46:13,180
And then we all started to see what was happening on social media.

2407
03:46:13,300 --> 03:46:17,220
People were actually saying things like, you know, just terrible ugly things.

2408
03:46:18,660 --> 03:46:23,100
So, you know, me personally, I probably would have waited six months and said, okay, let's

2409
03:46:23,100 --> 03:46:27,100
talk about, let's talk about, you know, should we name a road?

2410
03:46:27,340 --> 03:46:28,040
Should we do a memorial?

2411
03:46:28,040 --> 03:46:29,040
Should we do something?

2412
03:46:29,280 --> 03:46:34,100
I mean, I've seen a statute that somebody put together that was actually young people

2413
03:46:34,100 --> 03:46:35,720
sitting at a table talking.

2414
03:46:36,920 --> 03:46:43,040
There are ways to honor people, and while apparently some of you in the room and some

2415
03:46:43,040 --> 03:46:47,520
people that have written emails to us disagree that he should be honored, I am one that believes

2416
03:46:47,520 --> 03:46:49,440
that somebody like that should be honored.

2417
03:46:50,020 --> 03:46:56,280
And the fact that you talk about policies that you may believe are racial policies that

2418
03:46:56,280 --> 03:47:00,420
are actually somehow make someone racist because they bring up a topic.

2419
03:47:01,320 --> 03:47:02,260
This is America.

2420
03:47:02,600 --> 03:47:04,360
You should be able to talk about policies.

2421
03:47:04,540 --> 03:47:11,380
How do we get better as Americans if we cannot talk about what's wrong with policies that

2422
03:47:11,380 --> 03:47:15,560
we have in place, that we may have had in place for a really long time, that need to be discussed?

2423
03:47:16,040 --> 03:47:21,200
Or how do you talk about some of the issues that are impacting us nationwide?

2424
03:47:23,180 --> 03:47:27,040
And then, you know, I do want to mention the fact that he was of devout Christian.

2425
03:47:27,740 --> 03:47:35,560
And some of what, in some of what he was able to do was actually inspire people to become

2426
03:47:35,560 --> 03:47:37,520
more connected to their religion.

2427
03:47:39,060 --> 03:47:46,060
So I, you know, I'm not, I'm going to, I'm going to do what we have to do, which is open

2428
03:47:46,060 --> 03:47:53,520
up the podium and you can get up and you can say what you want to say, but it blows my

2429
03:47:53,520 --> 03:47:59,620
mind that I could say that a man is a devout Christian and then somebody who also considers

2430
03:47:59,620 --> 03:48:05,880
himself a Christian, shakes their head as if they get to make that judgment.

2431
03:48:06,280 --> 03:48:07,120
That blows my mind.

2432
03:48:07,320 --> 03:48:15,020
But that being said, I think that there are a lot of people in this county who want to honor

2433
03:48:15,020 --> 03:48:23,080
What this man did, what he stood for, what he was able to do by having dialogue with young people.

2434
03:48:23,560 --> 03:48:25,900
And I think there are a lot of people that want to honor him.

2435
03:48:26,320 --> 03:48:30,060
And I know that there are people obviously here and that don't.

2436
03:48:30,400 --> 03:48:37,240
But it shouldn't be that one group gets to say, no, we're not gonna do this.

2437
03:48:37,540 --> 03:48:44,280
And we then ignore the many, many people who want to see this young man honored.

2438
03:48:45,200 --> 03:48:50,380
So I think that that's that's kind of where I'm coming from, Commissioner Smith.

2439
03:48:51,100 --> 03:48:58,720
Thank you, Chairwoman, I am like you, I think I'd have done this 100% completely different.

2440
03:48:59,140 --> 03:49:04,840
I wouldn't have waited a little bit to me when this first came out, it seemed like more of a knee-jerk reaction.

2441
03:49:05,600 --> 03:49:09,260
But thank goodness there was weeks involved in this.

2442
03:49:10,800 --> 03:49:18,860
Charlie Kirk was a devout Christian, most of all. He spoke the Word of God every time he

2443
03:49:19,480 --> 03:49:31,620
spoke about anything and he was as truthful as someone can be. I was just upset that some

2444
03:49:31,620 --> 03:49:38,760
of the emails that we have received. First of all, there are four emails and they take

2445
03:49:38,760 --> 03:49:45,260
his words so far out of context that it's not even recognizable, which is absolutely

2446
03:49:45,260 --> 03:49:53,040
despicable to my opinion. If people would listen to the entire conversation instead of taking

2447
03:49:53,040 --> 03:49:59,980
what they hear from somebody else off a Facebook or Twitter or Instagram or whatever, and

2448
03:49:59,980 --> 03:50:06,240
own research, you would see this guy was a true Christian just trying to help America.

2449
03:50:06,760 --> 03:50:08,040
That's all he was doing.

2450
03:50:09,440 --> 03:50:14,040
So that's all I have to say, but I would have done this as you said a little bit differently.

2451
03:50:19,730 --> 03:50:23,310
I first saw this coming to us.

2452
03:50:24,690 --> 03:50:30,230
It was a reaction and I don't think that we need to react, we should act.

2453
03:50:30,230 --> 03:50:37,230
so I agree that we should have waited to see the flavor of what needs to be done instead of

2454
03:50:37,690 --> 03:50:44,870
reacting to what happened. It was a tragedy, okay? Just absolutely tragedy. The other thing is

2455
03:50:45,950 --> 03:50:52,670
I don't think from this bias we need to be doing political things. I don't want to do a Republican

2456
03:50:52,670 --> 03:51:00,850
or Democrat thing, you know, we need to do what's best for everybody. So that's my take on it.

2457
03:51:01,330 --> 03:51:09,170
I mean, you look at Martin Luther King died the 1st of April 1968. The first road was named

2458
03:51:09,170 --> 03:51:15,200
the same month in Chicago after Martin Luther King. And there's over a thousand Martin Luther King

2459
03:51:15,200 --> 03:51:19,200
roads, 37 in Florida. So I see both sides.

2460
03:51:19,640 --> 03:51:23,660
Well, right. And Martin Luther King, he was a Democrat and he was a partisan. So was

2461
03:51:23,660 --> 03:51:28,020
Ronald Reagan. He was a Republican and he was a partisan. So the fact that someone's

2462
03:51:28,020 --> 03:51:33,840
a partisan doesn't disqualify them from being a great American or being honored by a community

2463
03:51:33,840 --> 03:51:38,420
to say, hey, this guy was doing some really important work. And to me, the most important things

2464
03:51:38,420 --> 03:51:44,320
that he did was he talked about the greatness of America. And despite all of the problems,

2465
03:51:44,320 --> 03:51:50,920
It's the greatest country in the world the greatest system of government in the world are there things we can fix?

2466
03:51:51,160 --> 03:51:57,880
Yes, but we can't fix them if we can't talk about them in a civil manner and to me that's what he stood for and then

2467
03:51:57,880 --> 03:52:01,920
His outreach as a Christian wanting to spread

2468
03:52:02,760 --> 03:52:03,860
the gospel

2469
03:52:04,880 --> 03:52:09,880
He he was able to inspire people who hadn't been to church

2470
03:52:10,480 --> 03:52:17,020
for years. He was able to touch hearts in ways that no one has done in this country,

2471
03:52:17,240 --> 03:52:22,500
probably since Billy Graham started his big evangelical movement. So, I mean, there

2472
03:52:22,500 --> 03:52:28,060
are a lot of really beautiful things that have come out of his life, but I see him as someone

2473
03:52:28,060 --> 03:52:37,580
who really most importantly stood for the First Amendment. And that is a right that we have

2474
03:52:37,580 --> 03:52:44,940
Americans and the idea that we would try to not even have a discussion here today because

2475
03:52:44,940 --> 03:52:46,900
we're afraid that someone's going to be offended.

2476
03:52:47,500 --> 03:52:52,480
I mean, that's like two deaths, you know, with the assassination and then let's shut down

2477
03:52:52,480 --> 03:52:52,960
his legacy.

2478
03:52:53,540 --> 03:52:56,860
Now let's talk about his legacy and let's talk about what he really stood for.

2479
03:52:57,400 --> 03:53:02,320
And as Commissioner Smith said, if you look at the whole context, you see that some of these

2480
03:53:02,320 --> 03:53:07,500
difficult issues, while he might have gotten a little rough at times and I guarantee you

2481
03:53:07,500 --> 03:53:11,240
If he could go back and he could fix a few of the things that he said, he probably would,

2482
03:53:11,700 --> 03:53:17,400
but he was delving into issues, issues that are important issues, issues that we can

2483
03:53:17,400 --> 03:53:23,760
all agree that we might disagree about, but we should not shut down public dialogue.

2484
03:53:23,940 --> 03:53:28,040
And to me, that's what he stood for, and I think that he's worthy of being honored.

2485
03:53:31,000 --> 03:53:31,200
All right.

2486
03:53:32,500 --> 03:53:33,380
You ready?

2487
03:53:33,920 --> 03:53:34,080
Yeah.

2488
03:53:34,540 --> 03:53:34,820
Okay.

2489
03:53:34,820 --> 03:53:35,700
All right.

2490
03:53:35,740 --> 03:53:35,980
All right.

2491
03:53:37,580 --> 03:53:41,380
Jacqueline Arnt, and then Janet Mailer.

2492
03:53:49,970 --> 03:53:51,990
Before I begin, my name is Jacqueline Arnt.

2493
03:53:52,250 --> 03:53:59,070
I'm a live in Mount Dora, and Lachanatoba, since this is also a Jewish country, not only

2494
03:53:59,070 --> 03:53:59,970
a Christian country.

2495
03:54:01,230 --> 03:54:07,770
I'd like to express serious concerns about Commissioner Sabatini's proposal to name a road in wellness

2496
03:54:07,770 --> 03:54:08,730
way after Charlie Kirk.

2497
03:54:08,730 --> 03:54:15,330
It will set up a troubling precedent and contradicts the principles that should guide our community's approach to public honors.

2498
03:54:15,910 --> 03:54:19,010
First, consider the divisive nature of this choice.

2499
03:54:19,610 --> 03:54:22,570
Road names should unite our community, not divide it.

2500
03:54:22,970 --> 03:54:30,270
Charlotte Kirk is polarizing political figure, whose rhetoric frequently inflammatory and exclusionary.

2501
03:54:30,570 --> 03:54:37,610
But public infrastructure should reflect shared values and broad community consensus, not partisan politics.

2502
03:54:37,610 --> 03:54:42,910
When we name streets after controversial figures, we risk alienating significant portions

2503
03:54:42,910 --> 03:54:46,490
of our citizenry who use these roads daily.

2504
03:54:47,330 --> 03:54:50,250
Second, we must consider the standards for such honors.

2505
03:54:50,670 --> 03:54:56,570
Traditionally, communities name roads after individuals who have made direct, positive contributions

2506
03:54:56,570 --> 03:54:58,170
to the local area.

2507
03:54:58,650 --> 03:55:05,650
Long-time residents, civic leaders, veterans, educators, those who serve the specific community.

2508
03:55:06,090 --> 03:55:06,850
So what does-

2509
03:55:06,850 --> 03:55:10,390
If you left out national leaders, please don't misrepresent the ordinance.

2510
03:55:10,530 --> 03:55:11,470
I do have the floor.

2511
03:55:12,630 --> 03:55:15,830
You purposely, you purposely left out the ordinance.

2512
03:55:16,490 --> 03:55:18,770
Do you not misread the ordinance?

2513
03:55:19,390 --> 03:55:21,910
The connection does Charlie Cook have to lay county.

2514
03:55:22,130 --> 03:55:26,290
What local contributions were at this permanent recognition?

2515
03:55:26,790 --> 03:55:29,170
Third, this sets a concerning precedent.

2516
03:55:29,570 --> 03:55:34,030
If we approach approved political figure namings without clear criteria,

2517
03:55:34,030 --> 03:55:38,370
We opened the door to endless partisan battles over our public spaces.

2518
03:55:38,830 --> 03:55:45,130
Every election cycle could bring new demands to rename roads after favored political personalities.

2519
03:55:45,650 --> 03:55:50,030
Our infrastructure would become a revolving door of political messaging rather than

2520
03:55:50,030 --> 03:55:52,010
a stable community assets.

2521
03:55:52,330 --> 03:55:55,350
And then finally, consider the irony of the location.

2522
03:55:55,870 --> 03:56:00,170
Wellness ways to just health, community, well-being, healing,

2523
03:56:00,170 --> 03:56:06,110
associating and with a divisive political figure fundamentally contradicts the peaceful

2524
03:56:06,110 --> 03:56:10,090
therapeutic connotations and name currently evokes.

2525
03:56:10,570 --> 03:56:16,330
They count and deserve leadership that brings us together, not initiatives that create

2526
03:56:16,330 --> 03:56:17,730
unnecessary division.

2527
03:56:18,450 --> 03:56:24,070
I'm sure there are many worthy local heroes, teachers, first responders, veterans, community

2528
03:56:24,070 --> 03:56:30,150
many volunteers who would be more appropriate and less controversial choices for such

2529
03:56:30,150 --> 03:56:37,070
honors. I respectfully request that you vote against this proposal and work toward

2530
03:56:37,070 --> 03:56:43,330
naming policies that truly serve all local county residents. Thank you.

2531
03:56:43,950 --> 03:56:51,670
Okay. All right. I've already said it like 100 times a day. No clapping please. All right.

2532
03:56:51,670 --> 03:57:00,190
Janet Mauler is next if I could German just real quick. Can we please come up with a board or a board policy right here that if somebody is

2533
03:57:00,990 --> 03:57:07,010
Disrupting the meeting more than twice that they are removed by our deputies because at this point

2534
03:57:07,010 --> 03:57:13,010
This is just out of control. I've been here up here for a year if this was tell a hazy. Let me tell you this was the state capital

2535
03:57:13,530 --> 03:57:14,330
One time

2536
03:57:14,870 --> 03:57:18,490
One time you interrupt the meeting you'd be escorted out one time

2537
03:57:19,150 --> 03:57:20,970
you cannot stop

2538
03:57:25,100 --> 03:57:29,380
it please all right we're going to have a discussion everyone has a chance to talk

2539
03:57:29,980 --> 03:57:33,540
all right use your time at the podium to say what you want to say

2540
03:57:34,480 --> 03:57:38,560
I'm going to use my time at the podium and I'm going to ask that I not be interrupted

2541
03:57:38,560 --> 03:57:40,620
just as we did not interrupt you

2542
03:57:41,780 --> 03:57:44,960
my name is Janet Maher and I am a native of Florida

2543
03:57:45,460 --> 03:57:50,880
I am new to this area this is my very first meeting and I'm telling you and I am in total shock

2544
03:57:50,880 --> 03:57:58,220
I would like to share a thought about the proposal to name a street after Charlie Kirk.

2545
03:57:59,680 --> 03:58:02,200
Street names are permanent markers in our communities.

2546
03:58:03,100 --> 03:58:07,600
They become part of our maps, our addresses, our children's sense of place.

2547
03:58:08,340 --> 03:58:13,560
And because of that, we need to take great care before attaching a public honor to anyone individual.

2548
03:58:14,860 --> 03:58:19,600
Mr. Kirk is a figure who inspires very strong feelings, both positive and negative.

2549
03:58:20,360 --> 03:58:26,400
Some seeing him as a leader, while others view his words and actions as deeply devices.

2550
03:58:27,400 --> 03:58:30,320
This division itself has reason enough for us to take pause.

2551
03:58:31,900 --> 03:58:34,180
A street name should unite, not divide.

2552
03:58:35,220 --> 03:58:38,580
It should represent values the whole community can take pride in,

2553
03:58:39,000 --> 03:58:44,380
like service, compassion, contributions, and uplift everyone.

2554
03:58:45,440 --> 03:58:51,860
There's no urgency here. Our cities will always have streets but we only get one chance

2555
03:58:51,860 --> 03:58:58,400
to name them well. Time will give us perspective and perspective will help us choose a name

2556
03:58:58,400 --> 03:59:05,480
that reflects unity, shared history and the best of who we are. So my request is simple.

2557
03:59:06,140 --> 03:59:14,880
Let's not rush. Let's slow down, take a breath, and readjust, read, address this after

2558
03:59:14,880 --> 03:59:20,660
our tense climate has settled and our heads are more clear. Let's honor people who bring

2559
03:59:20,660 --> 03:59:26,860
us together, who let's make every street name when the future generations can walk down

2560
03:59:26,860 --> 03:59:29,000
and pride. Thank you.

2561
03:59:29,000 --> 03:59:36,100
Thank you. All right, Jim, Maury, and then CJA plan chat.

2562
03:59:41,760 --> 03:59:43,000
Jim, just Jim gone.

2563
03:59:45,340 --> 03:59:45,480
Okay.

2564
03:59:48,410 --> 03:59:52,490
Good afternoon commissioners, fellow citizens and members of the community.

2565
03:59:53,770 --> 03:59:59,970
I'd like to first preface this by asking all the citizens here to review this video.

2566
04:00:00,000 --> 04:00:03,180
So, and recognize tyranny whenever you see it,

2567
04:00:06,410 --> 04:00:11,470
elections, they have consequences. My name is

2568
04:00:11,470 --> 04:00:17,950
C.J. Blanc said I'm a resident, homeowner, business owner in Lake County, and I am the

2569
04:00:17,950 --> 04:00:24,170
chairman of the constitutional party of Lake County. I preface my statement with this,

2570
04:00:24,490 --> 04:00:31,010
I've met Charlie Kirk, and I presented at the turning point event a few years ago. I personally

2571
04:00:31,010 --> 04:00:35,870
I certainly feel that some of the statements made about him are a tremendous disservice.

2572
04:00:37,270 --> 04:00:41,870
However, my statements are not about Mr. Kirk, his belief so is political views.

2573
04:00:42,450 --> 04:00:45,350
It's about the actions of our commissioners and our county.

2574
04:00:46,550 --> 04:00:50,890
I stand today to remind each of you you are not elected to serve personal interests,

2575
04:00:51,430 --> 04:00:53,030
special favors or outside agendas.

2576
04:00:53,730 --> 04:00:57,270
You were chosen by the people of Lake County to safeguard our resources,

2577
04:00:57,270 --> 04:01:03,950
represent our values and prioritize the welfare of those who live, work, and raise families here.

2578
04:01:04,710 --> 04:01:07,930
The responsibilities of a county commissioner are not ceremonial.

2579
04:01:08,090 --> 04:01:10,330
They are rooted in governance and stewardship.

2580
04:01:11,270 --> 04:01:16,250
Commissioners are entrusted to ensure a fair taxation, infrastructure maintenance,

2581
04:01:16,830 --> 04:01:21,370
prudent budgeting, and protection of the rights and freedoms of the people who elected you.

2582
04:01:22,150 --> 04:01:26,590
Every vote you cash should reflect the needs of late county residents, not outsiders,

2583
04:01:26,590 --> 04:01:31,490
not lobbyists, not individuals who hold no state in our community.

2584
04:01:32,230 --> 04:01:36,290
The special recognition for individuals who do not reside in Lake County may appear

2585
04:01:36,290 --> 04:01:40,330
harmless like a symbolic nod or a street renamed.

2586
04:01:40,970 --> 04:01:44,610
But symbolism in government carries weight and it sets precedence.

2587
04:01:45,170 --> 04:01:50,810
When a commission extends honors to a non-resident it risks three dangerous outcomes, erosion of

2588
04:01:50,810 --> 04:01:55,150
trust, dilution of identity and gateway to favoritism and influence.

2589
04:01:55,150 --> 04:01:59,290
residents. Recognition should be reserved for the men and women who invest their time,

2590
04:01:59,470 --> 04:02:05,030
labor, and love in Lake County. Every county, like every family, has its own culture,

2591
04:02:05,530 --> 04:02:11,230
its own struggles and its own victories. By elevating outsiders, we risk diluting the

2592
04:02:11,230 --> 04:02:18,050
very identity of Lake County. Our recognitions should tell our story, not someone else's.

2593
04:02:19,110 --> 04:02:24,130
Today, it's a street renamed. Tomorrow, it could be preferential treatment, political

2594
04:02:24,750 --> 04:02:28,490
or resources diverted from Lake County residents to outside interest.

2595
04:02:28,990 --> 04:02:35,290
And once the door of recognition is open to non-residents, it can be walked through by those with money, power, or political motives.

2596
04:02:36,050 --> 04:02:39,310
Commissioners, the people of Lake County demand your loyalty.

2597
04:02:40,370 --> 04:02:45,870
That loyalty must be demonstrated not just in budgets and ordinances but in the very symbols and

2598
04:02:45,870 --> 04:02:47,990
recognitions you issue in the name of the county.

2599
04:02:47,990 --> 04:02:55,930
To one of those who do not live here who have not contributed here and who are not accountable here is to betray the trust of your constituents.

2600
04:02:56,490 --> 04:03:06,690
Instead, I ask that you lift up our teachers, veterans, farmers, small business owners, first responders, community volunteers that are the true heartbeat of Lake County.

2601
04:03:07,290 --> 04:03:08,010
Thank you.

2602
04:03:08,710 --> 04:03:14,110
In closing, I urge the commission to remember your oath, your duty, and who you serve.

2603
04:03:14,110 --> 04:03:18,290
of Lake County's voice belongs to the people of Lake County, and no one else.

2604
04:03:18,610 --> 04:03:20,450
In God for freedom, thank you.

2605
04:03:21,030 --> 04:03:25,790
Ron, okay, come on, Ron, Mr. Van Syke?

2606
04:03:44,340 --> 04:03:51,240
I guess this afternoon, good afternoon, Mr. Sevitini, I want to commend you for bringing this forward.

2607
04:03:51,540 --> 04:03:52,880
I don't know that I agree with it.

2608
04:03:53,440 --> 04:04:00,260
I want to say a few things about it, you know, obviously you're, you're definitely a strong right Republican.

2609
04:04:00,260 --> 04:04:03,040
And I am independent now.

2610
04:04:03,180 --> 04:04:04,580
I've been Democrat, Republican.

2611
04:04:05,120 --> 04:04:07,300
I don't really fit in either party very well.

2612
04:04:07,500 --> 04:04:10,000
I am socially more liberal.

2613
04:04:10,440 --> 04:04:12,040
I am fiscally conservative.

2614
04:04:12,860 --> 04:04:16,020
So I fall in that more independent area.

2615
04:04:17,480 --> 04:04:22,660
As far as this country goes, my ninth-grade grandfather

2616
04:04:22,660 --> 04:04:26,360
arrived here in 1632-ish, roughly.

2617
04:04:26,700 --> 04:04:28,300
What is now known as Battery Park.

2618
04:04:28,980 --> 04:04:35,620
It was one of the first 500 people, West Indies, a company that came down to what is now

2619
04:04:35,620 --> 04:04:37,300
lower Manhattan, New York.

2620
04:04:39,590 --> 04:04:44,270
My seventh and sixth grade grandfathers grew up in Pennsylvania.

2621
04:04:45,330 --> 04:04:49,370
Then we moved from Pennsylvania to Iowa to Colorado.

2622
04:04:50,490 --> 04:04:56,530
My third grade grandfather or fourth, I lose track, we're not on the numbers, but grandfather

2623
04:04:56,530 --> 04:05:04,130
settled in California. I grew up in Colorado. I lived there for 52 years before I

2624
04:05:04,130 --> 04:05:12,970
moved down here. Why I came here to Central Florida was to learn. I grew up in a

2625
04:05:12,970 --> 04:05:18,390
county that was totally white and Hispanic. We had no African Americans in our

2626
04:05:18,390 --> 04:05:24,750
county. We may have had a few maybe maybe a hundred Asian people in our

2627
04:05:24,750 --> 04:05:44,830
County. County is about 12,000 people in Colorado. So I had a very narrow view of the world and came here to learn about diversity and to learn about people that were different from me and where I grew up.

2628
04:05:44,830 --> 04:05:48,770
And I commend Charlie Kirk.

2629
04:05:49,170 --> 04:05:54,190
I've never heard of him until he, unfortunately, was assassinated, shows my generation age.

2630
04:05:54,350 --> 04:05:56,070
I don't pay attention to the internet.

2631
04:05:57,550 --> 04:06:04,940
But this fella is somewhere between the extreme or a left and extreme right of what you hear

2632
04:06:04,940 --> 04:06:06,120
on the media and things.

2633
04:06:07,540 --> 04:06:09,120
I am open for debate.

2634
04:06:09,240 --> 04:06:09,800
I love debate.

2635
04:06:09,980 --> 04:06:10,940
Healthy debate is good.

2636
04:06:10,940 --> 04:06:18,740
But extremism and fueling fire and agitation is not healthy.

2637
04:06:20,000 --> 04:06:25,980
So I would say that I'm against naming this road for this individual.

2638
04:06:26,600 --> 04:06:40,360
Maybe in a year or two when emotions are settled in the country and things come back and look at it with a more wise perspective of his real impact on the country.

2639
04:06:40,360 --> 04:06:43,700
and see if it makes sense to move forward in that direction.

2640
04:06:44,400 --> 04:06:48,780
But I think right now, the emotional state of the country, we need to just wait and pause on it.

2641
04:06:48,920 --> 04:06:53,060
So I would say push it down the road.

2642
04:06:53,660 --> 04:06:53,940
Oh wow.

2643
04:06:54,500 --> 04:06:55,180
Thank you very much.

2644
04:06:55,480 --> 04:06:55,720
Thank you.

2645
04:06:56,460 --> 04:06:56,980
Good luck.

2646
04:06:57,720 --> 04:06:58,120
All right.

2647
04:06:58,300 --> 04:06:59,740
The next card is Gavin Brown.

2648
04:07:00,200 --> 04:07:01,200
And what are the odds of this?

2649
04:07:01,360 --> 04:07:02,960
The card after that is Gavin Rollins.

2650
04:07:03,360 --> 04:07:05,240
So two Gavin's.

2651
04:07:14,260 --> 04:07:17,100
To think growing up, we couldn't even find a keychain with our name on it.

2652
04:07:17,100 --> 04:07:22,960
I would like to thank the commission for allowing us residents to be here today and have

2653
04:07:22,960 --> 04:07:24,100
a say on this matter.

2654
04:07:24,700 --> 04:07:29,420
I think and I hope we can all agree that hearing out the voices of all the people is what

2655
04:07:29,420 --> 04:07:31,800
the bedrock of this great nation is all about.

2656
04:07:32,540 --> 04:07:37,360
I do take a little, and at one comment though, I do like fact checking, Martin Luther King

2657
04:07:37,360 --> 04:07:39,520
Jr. was not a Democrat or a Republican.

2658
04:07:40,000 --> 04:07:45,420
He was just a great American leader who worked to not divide us to unite us.

2659
04:07:46,400 --> 04:07:51,200
Let me just start off by saying that I believe what happened in Charlie Kirk was truly appalling.

2660
04:07:51,640 --> 04:07:56,900
I hope we can all agree that political extremist violence from either side is not the answer

2661
04:07:56,900 --> 04:08:02,360
to political disagreements nor reflect the American values representing our freedoms of

2662
04:08:02,360 --> 04:08:07,200
expression and free speech with regards to our God-given constitutional rights.

2663
04:08:07,800 --> 04:08:13,060
I feel terribly for the Kirk family, just as I did for the family of Minnesota State Senator

2664
04:08:13,060 --> 04:08:18,280
Melissa Hortman and her husband, who were fatally shot inside of their home by an extremist

2665
04:08:18,280 --> 04:08:19,180
gunman in June.

2666
04:08:19,880 --> 04:08:24,160
Both of these cases were equally as tragic and both should be remembered as such.

2667
04:08:24,780 --> 04:08:29,780
These types of incidents, while higher in profile, sadly have become the norm in today's

2668
04:08:29,780 --> 04:08:31,100
politically heated society.

2669
04:08:31,700 --> 04:08:35,140
Both of these could have been preventable with better understanding of common sense gun

2670
04:08:35,140 --> 04:08:40,300
control laws, which do have broad appeal across the political spectrum when discussed in such

2671
04:08:40,300 --> 04:08:40,660
a manner.

2672
04:08:40,660 --> 04:08:44,340
I am sick and tired of hearing thoughts and prayers and deeply concerned.

2673
04:08:44,860 --> 04:08:46,920
When you pray, move your feet.

2674
04:08:47,440 --> 04:08:51,920
Is an African proverb popularized by civil rights leader John Lewis, meaning

2675
04:08:51,920 --> 04:08:54,740
that prayer is not complete without corresponding action?

2676
04:08:55,440 --> 04:08:58,160
What we should be doing is trying to stop these senseless political

2677
04:08:58,160 --> 04:09:03,700
acts of extremist violence and hate from continuing happening daily in our schools' places

2678
04:09:03,700 --> 04:09:05,640
of worship and public places.

2679
04:09:05,640 --> 04:09:11,120
These deaths are as equally as tragic, but sometimes get forgotten the next day.

2680
04:09:11,700 --> 04:09:16,680
So I'm here today because I believe that we should be focusing this memorial

2681
04:09:16,680 --> 04:09:19,320
for something more focused toward Lake County and its residents.

2682
04:09:20,000 --> 04:09:25,080
Charlie Kirk already has plenty of other areas around the country already planned for such,

2683
04:09:25,340 --> 04:09:30,100
which included a prime time television, televised national memorial ceremony.

2684
04:09:30,660 --> 04:09:34,920
Why don't we take this moment to be more localized with our county resources

2685
04:09:34,920 --> 04:09:39,080
in history, and put up a memorial to show what makes Lake County great again.

2686
04:09:39,720 --> 04:09:44,080
This is why I propose we focus our time and energy with this proposal to instead honor

2687
04:09:44,080 --> 04:09:48,480
a truly beloved fallen hero who was killed in the line of duty and who called Lake County

2688
04:09:48,480 --> 04:09:48,820
home.

2689
04:09:49,280 --> 04:09:54,940
That person is Lake County deputy Bradley Michael Link, who was also a U.S. Army Reserve veteran.

2690
04:09:55,500 --> 04:09:59,400
He had served with the Lake County Sheriff's Office for four and a half years and had previously

2691
04:09:59,400 --> 04:10:01,860
served with the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

2692
04:10:01,860 --> 04:10:07,280
Just like Kirk and Hortman, he left behind a loving family, community, and fellow comrades

2693
04:10:07,280 --> 04:10:09,520
who still mourn his loss to this day.

2694
04:10:10,040 --> 04:10:14,660
Deputy Kirk died while honorably serving this county in the line of duty and should

2695
04:10:14,660 --> 04:10:18,100
add just as much attention and praise from this commission and community.

2696
04:10:18,540 --> 04:10:22,660
Wouldn't it be more suitable and ideal to have a memorial to honor someone who fought to

2697
04:10:22,660 --> 04:10:23,840
serve and protect us?

2698
04:10:24,380 --> 04:10:28,180
Have a true actual late county resident who was a brave American hero.

2699
04:10:28,600 --> 04:10:30,600
I hope you believe as I do in supporting the new.

2700
04:10:30,600 --> 04:10:37,300
We have three minutes and I and our local law enforcement and let me just tell you this in these dark

2701
04:10:37,300 --> 04:10:42,760
DeSopian times let's remember deputy link and let's look at are we at three minutes

2702
04:10:42,760 --> 04:10:46,220
You night and not divide us and that includes you mr. Sabah

2703
04:10:46,220 --> 04:10:52,500
How dare you use that deputies name for your petty bullshit political argument. I'll dare you all right

2704
04:10:52,500 --> 04:11:00,580
I'll dare you all right. I'm disgusting. You're a disgusting person. I'll dare you

2705
04:11:01,660 --> 04:11:03,060
Unbelievable, man.

2706
04:11:03,660 --> 04:11:05,760
All right, all right, I got it.

2707
04:11:07,900 --> 04:11:10,540
All right, this is ridiculous.

2708
04:11:12,300 --> 04:11:13,660
All right,

2709
04:11:16,480 --> 04:11:19,160
no, everybody's to blame for that one.

2710
04:11:22,050 --> 04:11:25,350
All right, let's go to the next speaker.

2711
04:11:27,410 --> 04:11:32,610
Gavin Rollins, and I agree that deputy link should be memorialized.

2712
04:11:32,610 --> 04:11:37,170
I think the Marine Unit out at Hickory Point Park would be a great place for that.

2713
04:11:37,310 --> 04:11:43,630
I know he loved the water and that was a part of his career and service and I attended his memorial.

2714
04:11:43,890 --> 04:11:46,810
And I definitely, wholeheartedly agree that he should be memorialized.

2715
04:11:47,070 --> 04:11:48,290
I don't think it's an either war.

2716
04:11:48,490 --> 04:11:54,170
I think we can hold up and lift up people who have had an impact on our community.

2717
04:11:54,170 --> 04:12:01,310
And I think there's this misconception that just because Charlie Kirk was not a late county resident that he did not have an impact in late county.

2718
04:12:01,910 --> 04:12:11,110
At, I attended a visual recognizing his life where we peacefully sang and remembered and talked about the impact he had.

2719
04:12:11,350 --> 04:12:14,930
And I looked around and there were students from all across Lake County there.

2720
04:12:15,430 --> 04:12:24,730
And I remember one particular parent posting on Facebook how she didn't really even know who Charlie Kirk was until one day she noticed a difference in the lives of her son.

2721
04:12:24,730 --> 04:12:54,710
She looked in her son's friend, she looked around and her son was dressing better and wanting to be more respectful and wanting to honor his parents and things like that and those were some of the things that Charlie Kirk talked about honoring your parents having civil discourse stepping up he called the men specifically of our country to step up to the plate and be men and one of the things that I think is so tragic about all this has gotten lost in such emotion is the reason Charlie Kirk was on college campuses and the reason that when people

2722
04:12:54,710 --> 04:12:57,330
People would come and ask him, why are you on college campuses?

2723
04:12:57,650 --> 04:13:00,930
He said, because when discourse ends, violence begins.

2724
04:13:02,250 --> 04:13:07,350
And he was cut down violently trying to have civil discourse.

2725
04:13:08,130 --> 04:13:12,390
And that certainly, whether you agree or disagree with everything Charlie Kirk said,

2726
04:13:12,530 --> 04:13:16,450
I happen to know him, he was a friend, he was an honorable man,

2727
04:13:16,550 --> 04:13:19,570
I agree with a lot of what he said, not everything, but most of what he said.

2728
04:13:19,910 --> 04:13:23,330
But whether you agree or disagree, agree with the idea of what this name

2729
04:13:23,330 --> 04:13:27,170
being road stands for, which is the idea that we have to have discourse.

2730
04:13:27,430 --> 04:13:33,090
We have to discuss with people we don't agree with, and that's how we do things as Americans, not violence.

2731
04:13:33,290 --> 04:13:36,590
And I encourage you to name this road after him, and honor Deputy Link.

2732
04:13:37,130 --> 04:13:37,790
Thank you.

2733
04:13:38,210 --> 04:13:44,310
Trisha Nicholson, and then Danielle Olivani.

2734
04:13:51,540 --> 04:13:51,900
Good morning.

2735
04:13:52,480 --> 04:13:55,820
Thank you for letting me speak today.

2736
04:13:55,820 --> 04:14:06,860
Okay, I want to respectfully urge this body to reconsider the proposal of renaming or honoring wellness way after Charlie Kirk.

2737
04:14:07,600 --> 04:14:14,440
When we name our streets, we are not only giving directions, we are making a statement about who we honor and what values we uphold as a community.

2738
04:14:15,300 --> 04:14:20,300
Mr. Kirk is a national political figure best known as the founder of Turning Point USA.

2739
04:14:20,300 --> 04:14:25,580
day, while some may admire his work, his record is deeply polarizing.

2740
04:14:26,640 --> 04:14:31,700
According to the anti-defamation league, Turning Point USA has repeatedly promoted divisive

2741
04:14:31,700 --> 04:14:38,760
content, including rhetoric targeting LGBTQIA individuals, communities of color, and immigrants.

2742
04:14:39,460 --> 04:14:45,120
The Southern Poverty Law Center has reported on Mr. Kirk's dismissal of systemic racism

2743
04:14:45,120 --> 04:14:51,040
racism as a myth, and his labeling of diversity initiatives as poison.

2744
04:14:51,960 --> 04:14:59,660
Major outlets as the Associated Press and the Orlando Sentinel have documented his opposition to protections for

2745
04:14:59,660 --> 04:14:59,880
returns.

2746
04:15:00,000 --> 04:15:28,140
Justice gender youth and his spreading of election-related misinformation. These positions do not foster unity. They create division and leave many of in our community feeling excluded. If we're renaming things, we should honor people who built this county with courage, service, and inclusivity. Fortunately, we have remarkable local figures whose legacy of service embody those values.

2747
04:15:28,140 --> 04:15:33,960
Virgil Hawkins, a late-county native who spent nearly 30 years fighting to

2748
04:15:33,960 --> 04:15:38,800
desegregate Florida's law schools, paving the way for future black law

2749
04:15:38,800 --> 04:15:45,620
students. Clara, head, Teague, an early citrus pioneer and civic leader who

2750
04:15:45,620 --> 04:15:51,460
shaped our economy and community life. Henry Holcomb Duncan, he introduced the

2751
04:15:51,460 --> 04:15:57,840
bill to create Lake County in 1887 and served as the first clerk of courts.

2752
04:15:58,840 --> 04:16:08,420
Gayle L. Ash, the first woman, to be named mayor of Claremont, and is recognized for her contributions to the quality of life in Lake County.

2753
04:16:09,840 --> 04:16:12,940
Any of these women, the 40 women on that wall,

2754
04:16:15,380 --> 04:16:16,780
would be better option.

2755
04:16:17,580 --> 04:16:25,780
And if it is to honor gun violence, victims like Charlie Kirk, why not use names that have been impacted here locally?

2756
04:16:25,780 --> 04:16:31,240
We could say Parkland Avenue or Pulse Boulevard.

2757
04:16:31,860 --> 04:16:39,000
I respectfully ask that the commission to honor one of these local heroes or locations

2758
04:16:39,000 --> 04:16:43,500
rather than a national figure whose career has been defined by controversy.

2759
04:16:43,980 --> 04:16:44,720
Thank you for your time.

2760
04:16:45,180 --> 04:16:45,340
Thank you.

2761
04:16:49,320 --> 04:16:53,160
Marilyn or and then Susan Polanco.

2762
04:17:10,760 --> 04:17:13,000
Good afternoon commissioners.

2763
04:17:13,000 --> 04:17:23,020
My name is Susan Palanco, and I am a retiree and homeowner residing in Lake County for twenty plus years.

2764
04:17:23,840 --> 04:17:30,200
I am a very patriotic, adult child of two World War Two veterans.

2765
04:17:30,940 --> 04:17:37,300
My father flew sixty plus bombing missions, earning the distinguished flying cross.

2766
04:17:37,300 --> 04:17:45,760
us, both I and my parents stand for the America of Yesteryear, where differences are tolerated

2767
04:17:45,760 --> 04:17:54,280
and respected, where people are not disrespected, illegally dealt with, or discriminated against

2768
04:17:54,280 --> 04:18:02,360
because of the race, creed, sex, sexual preference, religion, nationality, or ethnicity.

2769
04:18:02,360 --> 04:18:10,100
I am so very sorry for the death of Charlie Kirk, but the problem I have in affirming his

2770
04:18:10,100 --> 04:18:19,960
life is that he simply did not affirm the life or have empathy for the lives of all Americans.

2771
04:18:20,540 --> 04:18:24,040
And I notice Mr. Sabatini carefully left the room.

2772
04:18:24,040 --> 04:18:31,520
His speeches were full of bigotry, intolerance, exclusion, and stereotyping.

2773
04:18:31,820 --> 04:18:40,040
For example, on January 23rd, 2024, on the Charlie Kirk show, he definitely said, if

2774
04:18:40,040 --> 04:18:47,980
I see a black pilot, I am going to be like this, I hope he's really qualified, that cannot

2775
04:18:47,980 --> 04:18:49,900
be taken out of context.

2776
04:18:49,900 --> 04:19:00,980
In 2025 he said, America has freedom of religion, but in reality large dedicated Islamic areas

2777
04:19:00,980 --> 04:19:03,220
are a threat to America.

2778
04:19:03,900 --> 04:19:08,340
He also advocated for the actual stoning of gays.

2779
04:19:09,060 --> 04:19:16,300
And I simply don't support the renaming of a road for someone who didn't respect and value

2780
04:19:16,300 --> 04:19:22,420
the rights of all Americans, not just those who supported his beliefs.

2781
04:19:22,900 --> 04:19:30,860
And I know I can vouch for my deceased veteran parents in not being in favor of the renaming

2782
04:19:30,860 --> 04:19:32,040
of this road.

2783
04:19:32,400 --> 04:19:40,100
So I ask you, commissioners, to please rethink the renaming of any road after Charlie Kirk.

2784
04:19:40,580 --> 04:19:41,920
Thank you very much.

2785
04:19:41,920 --> 04:19:42,780
Good

2786
04:19:53,780 --> 04:20:01,480
afternoon. My name is Marilyn Orr. I oppose the name of the road and

2787
04:20:01,480 --> 04:20:06,940
Lake County for Charlie Kurt. I read Salvatini statement when he said the

2788
04:20:06,940 --> 04:20:13,780
dedication is meant to honor the life of a great American. Charlie Kurt is not a

2789
04:20:13,780 --> 04:20:22,780
great American. He spoke racism, bigotry, and divisiveness. He spoke to all

2790
04:20:22,780 --> 04:20:28,360
white colleges. He never went to a black college and had a word or advice to any of them.

2791
04:20:29,400 --> 04:20:37,620
He didn't go to Florida and M, FSU, University of Florida, because they didn't want them on campus.

2792
04:20:38,800 --> 04:20:47,500
He spoke violence and separation, not a peace, not a harmony. He was not Christlike, Christ spoke

2793
04:20:47,500 --> 04:20:55,860
of love and kindness. This man didn't. Christ never bullet. This man did. No one's life

2794
04:20:55,860 --> 04:21:02,960
should be taken away by a student like his was. And that was wrong. But Kurt spoke of living

2795
04:21:02,960 --> 04:21:11,280
by the gun and dying by the gun. At the same time he was shot, children were shot. And no one is

2796
04:21:11,280 --> 04:21:12,500
name on the street after them.

2797
04:21:13,860 --> 04:21:16,920
A Minnesota congressman and her husband was shot

2798
04:21:17,320 --> 04:21:19,300
and no one is name on the street after them.

2799
04:21:20,820 --> 04:21:24,620
So I posed the name of a road in Lake County,

2800
04:21:24,680 --> 04:21:27,080
a place that I have lived all my life.

2801
04:21:27,260 --> 04:21:28,460
I grew up in Lake County.

2802
04:21:29,140 --> 04:21:30,900
I went away to college, came back.

2803
04:21:31,060 --> 04:21:34,060
I'm here in Lake County, I taught in schools in Lake County.

2804
04:21:34,600 --> 04:21:39,160
I will not, not ever be able to look at a science

2805
04:21:39,160 --> 04:21:44,500
and Charlie Kirk. That's not what I was brought to Lake County to be.

2806
04:21:48,280 --> 04:21:50,380
Jim McTeeke and then

2807
04:21:50,380 --> 04:21:51,600
May Hazelton.

2808
04:21:58,080 --> 04:22:01,760
So Jim, if not, Jim McTeeke.

2809
04:22:08,200 --> 04:22:09,400
I'm Jim McTeeke.

2810
04:22:09,660 --> 04:22:18,300
McTeeke. Long and I, Harji McTeeke. MCT-I-G-U-E. Anyway, I can see I'm not preaching the choir

2811
04:22:18,300 --> 04:22:30,120
area. Anyway, Simone Biles, the great American gymnast, the greatest American gymnast ever,

2812
04:22:32,140 --> 04:22:39,760
and she had a problem with mental illness, and she has made fun of by a certain somebody.

2813
04:22:40,700 --> 04:22:46,260
There is no empathy. The empathy is not a work in our language. I believe empathy is a

2814
04:22:46,260 --> 04:22:48,240
working on language. It should be used.

2815
04:22:59,580 --> 04:23:08,970
And then in 1933 they had a change of power in Germany,

2816
04:23:09,610 --> 04:23:17,510
and they had a white supremacist take power, and that didn't go too well for everybody,

2817
04:23:17,510 --> 04:23:18,090
body forever,

2818
04:23:21,400 --> 04:23:31,020
they had a constitution, they had a Supreme Court, but that didn't matter.

2819
04:23:31,520 --> 04:23:33,100
The guy got to do whatever he wanted to do.

2820
04:23:34,660 --> 04:23:43,060
So we had another American hero, go over there in 1936, maybe you heard of him, Jesse Owens,

2821
04:23:43,060 --> 04:23:50,660
J.C. Owens, James Cleveland Owens went over there and got his gold medals. So what happened

2822
04:23:50,660 --> 04:23:56,160
over there, they were not pretty happy with that because they just wanted the great white

2823
04:23:56,160 --> 04:24:06,360
people to winning all the time. The great area of nation. So what happened after that? Normandy.

2824
04:24:07,240 --> 04:24:14,040
I had family there. They went over there. Many of us had family go over to Germany and

2825
04:24:14,040 --> 04:24:21,680
fight there. Some came home, some didn't. And we defeated, defeated that fascist nation,

2826
04:24:22,200 --> 04:24:23,100
the Aryan nation.

2827
04:24:30,120 --> 04:24:34,600
And then we had, we didn't do it fast enough because

2828
04:24:37,260 --> 04:24:38,280
there

2829
04:24:44,330 --> 04:24:44,850
was a Jewish

2830
04:24:44,850 --> 04:24:53,530
girl the road of diary and she didn't make it she got sent to a death camp and I

2831
04:24:53,530 --> 04:25:01,770
would rather see her on a memorial than some people that did some good things

2832
04:25:01,770 --> 04:25:09,150
did some bad things but that's how things are and I would vote for somebody

2833
04:25:09,150 --> 04:25:14,830
else getting awards then somebody that was good and bad sometimes really bad

2834
04:25:14,830 --> 04:25:15,930
that's sometimes really good,

2835
04:25:16,210 --> 04:25:17,970
some people like them, some people don't,

2836
04:25:18,670 --> 04:25:21,230
but that's not the person to memorialize.

2837
04:25:21,470 --> 04:25:23,050
I pick somebody else, thank you.

2838
04:25:28,540 --> 04:25:30,860
Good morning, good afternoon commissioners

2839
04:25:30,860 --> 04:25:31,860
and Madame Chair.

2840
04:25:33,600 --> 04:25:36,600
As a Christian, I did not have to grapple

2841
04:25:36,600 --> 04:25:39,380
with how to respond to the murder of Charlie Kirk.

2842
04:25:40,400 --> 04:25:42,540
Like the majority of black people I know

2843
04:25:42,540 --> 04:25:45,020
in every single one that I have talked to,

2844
04:25:45,020 --> 04:25:48,900
in and out of this county, in and out of this state.

2845
04:25:49,700 --> 04:25:51,620
I will continue to speak out,

2846
04:25:51,720 --> 04:25:54,000
continuing to violence and declaring

2847
04:25:54,560 --> 04:25:56,540
Kirk's murder was unjustified.

2848
04:25:57,500 --> 04:26:00,860
All acts of violence are horrible and must be condemned.

2849
04:26:01,820 --> 04:26:06,100
However, I have to balance sympathy with the truth.

2850
04:26:06,820 --> 04:26:10,300
I have listened to Charlie Kirk's podcast

2851
04:26:10,700 --> 04:26:12,420
from beginning to end.

2852
04:26:12,420 --> 04:26:18,600
He mocked and dismissed diversity, equity, and inclusion programs as anti-white.

2853
04:26:19,300 --> 04:26:23,840
He denounced the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as a huge mistake.

2854
04:26:24,560 --> 04:26:31,140
He even reversed his initial praise on Martin Luther King, Jr., calling him awful and

2855
04:26:31,140 --> 04:26:34,040
a mythological anti-racist creation.

2856
04:26:34,960 --> 04:26:42,520
Recent statements in reports from 2023, 2024, and 2025 indicated that he continued to

2857
04:26:42,520 --> 04:26:45,920
express views about blacks that have been widely condemned.

2858
04:26:46,880 --> 04:26:53,480
He created a professor watch list for faculty he accused of spreading propaganda.

2859
04:26:54,600 --> 04:26:58,700
Based on document information, there's no evidence that Charlie Kirk changed his views

2860
04:26:58,700 --> 04:27:02,940
on the least among us that Jesus preached about.

2861
04:27:03,840 --> 04:27:06,900
This is the moral and Christian ground I stand on.

2862
04:27:07,380 --> 04:27:10,860
My faith in God allows me to have sympathy for Him,

2863
04:27:11,600 --> 04:27:14,420
but it demands that I tell the truth.

2864
04:27:15,760 --> 04:27:18,280
Historically, the United States has seen youth movements

2865
04:27:18,280 --> 04:27:22,340
of larger scale and impact than the one created by Kirk.

2866
04:27:23,120 --> 04:27:26,640
These include the civil rights movement of the 50s and 60s,

2867
04:27:26,640 --> 04:27:34,500
The anti-vietnam war movement of the 1960s and 70s, the March for Our Lives in 2018.

2868
04:27:35,180 --> 04:27:40,760
The historical scale and societal impact of these three movements are considered to be

2869
04:27:40,760 --> 04:27:46,060
measurably larger in terms of participants, scope, and lasting change.

2870
04:27:46,880 --> 04:27:53,980
Finally, a central part of Kirk's work with the Turning Point USA was to go to college

2871
04:27:53,980 --> 04:28:00,560
and engage in debates, often under the banner of, prove me wrong.

2872
04:28:01,920 --> 04:28:05,680
Prove us wrong today that he did not use racial and hateful language.

2873
04:28:06,520 --> 04:28:12,240
Prove us wrong today that he did not perfect language that was not nonviolent in character.

2874
04:28:12,940 --> 04:28:18,660
Prove us wrong that we just miss the context of some of the things he said.

2875
04:28:18,660 --> 04:28:25,880
in. Prove us wrong that though it is left up to God to judge him, Kirk's own words prove

2876
04:28:25,880 --> 04:28:32,680
that he would not have been the thirteenth disciple. In his view, the first amendment protects

2877
04:28:32,680 --> 04:28:38,360
solid speech. And I agree with Charlie Kirk's view. Don't thank you.

2878
04:28:38,360 --> 04:28:46,520
So, Michael Watkins and then Susan Warren, Suzanne.

2879
04:28:49,020 --> 04:28:50,340
My legs don't got stiff.

2880
04:28:51,640 --> 04:28:53,000
Oh, good

2881
04:28:55,720 --> 04:28:56,160
afternoon.

2882
04:28:58,200 --> 04:29:02,120
I've been a pastor in Lake County for over 30 years.

2883
04:29:03,460 --> 04:29:08,860
And I have attended many of these kind of commissioners meetings,

2884
04:29:10,460 --> 04:29:15,920
leading in prayer. I've had to come and speak against some things. I didn't agree with.

2885
04:29:16,480 --> 04:29:26,440
I spoke four things that I did agree with. But I have never got on Facebook or in people's

2886
04:29:26,440 --> 04:29:34,640
faith, disrespected them, the way that I hear things being said by our sitting commissioner

2887
04:29:34,640 --> 04:29:41,120
or Mississippi. You know, I've learned this. You are to respect people if you

2888
04:29:41,120 --> 04:29:49,040
won't respect. It's not a one-way street. If you show respect, people are

2889
04:29:49,040 --> 04:29:55,880
give respect. We can disagree, but you'll still respect each others, calling

2890
04:29:55,880 --> 04:29:58,620
and people's scumbags, cursing.

2891
04:30:00,000 --> 04:30:01,120
Why do we do that?

2892
04:30:03,210 --> 04:30:11,730
I don't understand it, but I will say this. I am against in every form of fashion

2893
04:30:12,250 --> 04:30:20,330
any type of violence against anybody. I would not support a group or a people who would hurt someone.

2894
04:30:21,190 --> 04:30:27,710
This man had a wife and kids. I did not agree with everything he said, but this was hard for me.

2895
04:30:27,710 --> 04:30:33,370
There's a lot of things I did agree when he talked about Jesus being the Savior, and

2896
04:30:33,370 --> 04:30:38,030
that family values meant something, and that dialogue is important.

2897
04:30:38,570 --> 04:30:39,730
I agree with that.

2898
04:30:40,990 --> 04:30:42,770
I share it every Sunday.

2899
04:30:43,910 --> 04:30:49,550
I believe in the fact that God sent His Son to die for us.

2900
04:30:50,410 --> 04:30:51,150
I believe in that.

2901
04:30:51,250 --> 04:30:54,570
I know my life was changed when I accepted the Lord.

2902
04:30:54,570 --> 04:31:01,780
but there's some things he said that is troublesome and it ain't taken out of

2903
04:31:01,780 --> 04:31:06,080
context it's taken right from his mouth where he said he was unpowered or jerk

2904
04:31:06,080 --> 04:31:15,340
about it the Bible says this about our miles in James chapter 3 verse 9 through

2905
04:31:15,340 --> 04:31:23,700
10 with it we bless our God and Father and with it we curse me who have been

2906
04:31:23,700 --> 04:31:30,920
And may in the simmitude of God, out of the same mouth, proceed blessings and cursing.

2907
04:31:31,740 --> 04:31:36,900
James says, my brothers, things are not to be so.

2908
04:31:37,200 --> 04:31:38,580
These things are not to be so.

2909
04:31:39,680 --> 04:31:46,740
One of the things that really troubled me that he said, he said this about black women as

2910
04:31:47,280 --> 04:31:51,420
a husband of a black woman, as a son of a black woman.

2911
04:31:51,420 --> 04:31:59,560
as a father of black girls. He said about black women you don't have a brain

2912
04:31:59,560 --> 04:32:05,600
processing power to otherwise be taken really seriously. You are taken white

2913
04:32:05,600 --> 04:32:12,780
people jobs. He said it and I just challenged all of us. Let's make excuses for

2914
04:32:12,780 --> 04:32:21,300
people. If they said it, they said it. I guess I got to ask the question, do we

2915
04:32:21,300 --> 04:32:27,020
think that that's okay or will we stand against it? God bless you all.

2916
04:32:27,320 --> 04:32:30,820
Suzanne Warren and then Lisa Venatez.

2917
04:32:37,940 --> 04:32:43,740
Hi thanks so much for the opportunity to share my views

2918
04:32:43,740 --> 04:32:52,220
in opposition of this memorial. Listen you've heard a lot of great things said from a lot of people

2919
04:32:52,220 --> 04:32:54,780
that oppose this and I appreciate that.

2920
04:32:54,960 --> 04:32:57,420
I'm not going to beat a dead horse, so to speak.

2921
04:32:57,860 --> 04:33:01,240
I do feel very strongly, along with a lot of them,

2922
04:33:01,540 --> 04:33:06,260
that this is not who we want Lake County to represent.

2923
04:33:08,500 --> 04:33:10,620
I feel like he was very divisive.

2924
04:33:11,000 --> 04:33:12,320
I mean, I have a daughter who is gay.

2925
04:33:12,620 --> 04:33:15,440
I drive down that road almost every day as does my family.

2926
04:33:15,720 --> 04:33:18,120
And I would hate for her to see that and feel less than.

2927
04:33:18,500 --> 04:33:21,120
Or my black next-door neighbor who feels less than.

2928
04:33:21,120 --> 04:33:29,500
because of his words. So, again, I ask you kindly to please oppose this. Thank you.

2929
04:33:30,480 --> 04:33:44,120
Thank you. Lisa, Minotiz, and then Mary Ness. There's not Lisa here with this. Then Mary Ness.

2930
04:33:46,100 --> 04:33:49,020
If Mary's not here, then Sheila.

2931
04:33:50,680 --> 04:33:51,280
Here's me.

2932
04:33:51,760 --> 04:33:51,960
Sheila.

2933
04:33:54,140 --> 04:33:54,620
Ramos.

2934
04:33:55,260 --> 04:33:56,780
This man, Sheila, Raymos.

2935
04:33:58,320 --> 04:33:59,260
Here we go.

2936
04:34:01,270 --> 04:34:03,430
So I just moved here to Lake County.

2937
04:34:04,770 --> 04:34:06,150
From Ethaca, New York.

2938
04:34:07,790 --> 04:34:09,630
We don't go through this kind of stuff,

2939
04:34:09,850 --> 04:34:11,550
because black, white, yellow, green, purple.

2940
04:34:11,990 --> 04:34:12,890
We all live each other.

2941
04:34:13,050 --> 04:34:15,410
We all hold each other's hands in combat.

2942
04:34:16,550 --> 04:34:26,310
this is new to me, this whole cultural thing is all new to me, okay? I know about Mr. Charlie

2943
04:34:26,310 --> 04:34:34,270
Kirk because I do watch the internet, I listen to his podcast, you know, he's neither good

2944
04:34:34,270 --> 04:34:40,010
or bad but he's not my favorite dude, okay? My role is something,

2945
04:34:43,040 --> 04:34:44,820
oh yeah, I reject his

2946
04:34:44,820 --> 04:34:49,720
proposal because it sends the wrong message to people of color in our communities.

2947
04:34:51,860 --> 04:34:59,320
This disgusting initiative to commemorate a man who made millions spewing hate against

2948
04:34:59,320 --> 04:35:06,400
anyone that did not look like him or believe in his antiquated ideologies will make Lake

2949
04:35:06,400 --> 04:35:12,780
County an unsafe space for long-term residents of different cultural backgrounds.

2950
04:35:12,780 --> 04:35:20,420
If the county feels like a memorating someone, it should be a local hero.

2951
04:35:21,400 --> 04:35:25,980
It shouldn't be someone that isn't from here, that has done nothing for us.

2952
04:35:26,500 --> 04:35:28,740
You know, that means nothing to this community.

2953
04:35:29,400 --> 04:35:31,680
It should be someone from here.

2954
04:35:33,300 --> 04:35:35,780
And I also want to say, I agree with everything.

2955
04:35:36,280 --> 04:35:39,220
All the other people here are opposing this proposal, have said.

2956
04:35:39,620 --> 04:35:40,140
Thank you.

2957
04:35:41,240 --> 04:35:42,120
Thank you.

2958
04:35:42,120 --> 04:35:44,060
Donna Farnsworth.

2959
04:35:50,510 --> 04:35:55,870
Hello I pretty much agree with everybody. I would just like you

2960
04:35:55,870 --> 04:36:02,330
to hold off and think about it a couple of years and see how Charlie Kirk sits

2961
04:36:02,330 --> 04:36:13,030
in history and then name the Lord. Vivian Mitchell and then Joe Fomazi.

2962
04:36:16,520 --> 04:36:16,980
Vivian

2963
04:36:16,980 --> 04:36:17,980
Okay.

2964
04:36:39,950 --> 04:36:45,570
My name is Vivian Mitchell. I'm 82 years old. I was born and raised in

2965
04:36:45,570 --> 04:36:54,430
Houston, Florida. I'm here to speak today on the opposition of a man that has

2966
04:36:54,430 --> 04:37:02,570
done absolutely nothing to represent me. I don't come over here often. When I come

2967
04:37:02,570 --> 04:37:09,670
I come over here, I come over here because I'm concerned, I'm concerned that this board

2968
04:37:10,460 --> 04:37:15,670
want to recognize a man that said the Civil Rights Act was a mistake.

2969
04:37:16,650 --> 04:37:18,030
Can you believe that?

2970
04:37:19,050 --> 04:37:19,550
A mistake.

2971
04:37:20,700 --> 04:37:30,050
I don't have any respectful man that would make derogatory remarks against great women such

2972
04:37:30,050 --> 04:37:37,830
Jazz, Mrs. Michelle Obama, Mrs. Sheila Jackson, Lee, who I'm related to,

2973
04:37:39,650 --> 04:37:47,410
House Supreme Court Justice, these women, jewelry, these women have done

2974
04:37:47,410 --> 04:37:55,410
everything to represent us. There are many, many, many great lake

2975
04:37:55,410 --> 04:37:59,650
countyans that we get on and I'll tell you this,

2976
04:38:00,970 --> 04:38:02,150
Chalukurk, A1 of them.

2977
04:38:02,910 --> 04:38:04,090
Thank you very much.

2978
04:38:05,030 --> 04:38:09,390
Joe Fomassi, and then Choice Edwards.

2979
04:38:15,700 --> 04:38:16,700
Good afternoon, commission.

2980
04:38:18,460 --> 04:38:20,380
My name is Joe Fomassi, and I live in the wellness

2981
04:38:20,380 --> 04:38:20,800
area.

2982
04:38:22,020 --> 04:38:26,640
I'm here to speak that I appreciate the sentiment

2983
04:38:27,040 --> 04:38:30,700
to try to honor someone that lost their life

2984
04:38:30,700 --> 04:38:31,200
to violence.

2985
04:38:32,880 --> 04:38:39,180
I'd like to point out to the folks behind me that you may be disagree with this individual,

2986
04:38:39,620 --> 04:38:45,980
but can we agree that this spirit that this is brought forward, of trying to bring both

2987
04:38:45,980 --> 04:38:50,380
sides together to be able to shake hands, say that they still love each other, even though

2988
04:38:50,380 --> 04:38:51,380
they disagreed.

2989
04:38:52,880 --> 04:39:00,460
If you can't understand that, I would like to point you to the widow's speech where

2990
04:39:00,460 --> 04:39:07,220
where she gave grace and love and forgiveness to the person that took the life of her husband,

2991
04:39:08,000 --> 04:39:10,140
the father of her children.

2992
04:39:11,480 --> 04:39:17,880
So today in this sentiment, why can't we say can we come together and say we might disagree,

2993
04:39:19,300 --> 04:39:26,240
but that we can do it without being disrespectful or rude or violent to each other.

2994
04:39:27,140 --> 04:39:30,420
So why can't we show a little grace ourselves?

2995
04:39:32,540 --> 04:39:34,640
He stood for to me.

2996
04:39:35,220 --> 04:39:40,400
He stood for love of God, love of family, and love of country.

2997
04:39:42,200 --> 04:39:46,140
And now that's more people are being brave.

2998
04:39:46,480 --> 04:39:47,320
I can come up here.

2999
04:39:47,820 --> 04:39:51,480
I might be outnumbered today with the people that disagree with me.

3000
04:39:51,820 --> 04:39:57,360
But I can still get up here and speak with the courage to say it, regardless of what

3001
04:39:57,360 --> 04:40:04,220
they think. So, can we call this sentiment today? That's what the spirit of this is. It's

3002
04:40:04,220 --> 04:40:09,260
not about the man's life. It's about what it's stood for. I've tried to bring both sides

3003
04:40:09,260 --> 04:40:14,460
together. Charlie Kirk, when Ham and Mike, to these people, and give them their 15 minutes.

3004
04:40:15,280 --> 04:40:22,060
So can we do the same? Or do we have to keep going down this road? You're not showing any

3005
04:40:22,060 --> 04:40:27,820
respect by coming up here and saying that you can say you can disagree with him, but you

3006
04:40:27,820 --> 04:40:31,760
don't have to be hateful, you don't have to make comments and we need to give each other

3007
04:40:31,760 --> 04:40:33,840
the same respect. Thank you.

3008
04:40:35,460 --> 04:40:39,260
Choice Edwards and then Jesse Clements.

3009
04:40:44,300 --> 04:40:47,800
Madam Chairwoman and members of the County Council.

3010
04:40:48,840 --> 04:40:53,400
I empathize with Charlie Kirk's family, with all in my heart.

3011
04:40:53,400 --> 04:40:54,320
I

3012
04:40:56,500 --> 04:41:05,160
am a 80, I'm going to my 84th year on planet Earth and in my 24th year in late

3013
04:41:05,160 --> 04:41:15,120
county. I am a registered no party affiliated voter for decades. During the 60s the

3014
04:41:15,120 --> 04:41:22,740
major civil rights initiative I did have a guts of a John Lewis but I still

3015
04:41:22,740 --> 04:41:32,000
participated. I decided to become an elected official so I was successfully elected to both my

3016
04:41:32,000 --> 04:41:38,660
school board and my state legislature. Carly Kirk said the civil rights law was a mistake.

3017
04:41:39,840 --> 04:41:47,620
What do you think? Does modern Christianity teach hate? Should constitutionally

3018
04:41:47,620 --> 04:41:55,780
protected, though it may be, should we teach hate it. Malcolm X, I do not

3019
04:41:55,780 --> 04:42:02,080
memorialize why I don't think it was appropriate because Malcolm X taught hate.

3020
04:42:03,460 --> 04:42:12,500
I deify Elhaj Malik Al Shabez because he, the farmer Malcolm X, like Jesus of Nazareth,

3021
04:42:12,500 --> 04:42:23,240
taught love. If Kirk taught love, I would approve of such, but he did not. Do you

3022
04:42:23,240 --> 04:42:31,380
want to perpetuate hate or love? Kirk believed in freedom, the freedom to hate,

3023
04:42:32,840 --> 04:42:41,020
and like Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart and our paraphrasing said, referring

3024
04:42:41,020 --> 04:42:50,240
to photography. I know it when I hear it and when I see it. We need no memorials to hate, be it

3025
04:42:50,240 --> 04:42:59,780
Malcolm X, the Confederacy, Willis McCall, Black Nationalists, White Nationalists, the KKK

3026
04:43:00,600 --> 04:43:08,420
or Charlie Kurt. Madam Chairman, perhaps this is one that you might want to have a referendum on.

3027
04:43:08,420 --> 04:43:09,620
I thank you.

3028
04:43:15,240 --> 04:43:29,860
Jesse Clemens and I just want everyone to know it's really hard to sit here and hear certain things said because I've spent hours going back and watching some of these podcasts and I had been on the internet and seen so much garbage right after he had been shot.

3029
04:43:30,580 --> 04:43:39,160
And so some of the stuff I'm hearing repeated today lines with stuff that I saw that I went back in fact checked for example the Civil Rights Act.

3030
04:43:39,800 --> 04:43:46,180
When he talked about the Civil Rights Act of 1964, what he said specifically was how it

3031
04:43:46,180 --> 04:43:51,080
is being applied today, it's gone outside of its original tent.

3032
04:43:51,460 --> 04:43:56,960
He 100% agreed with the purpose and intent of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

3033
04:43:57,400 --> 04:43:58,780
He says it very clearly.

3034
04:43:59,620 --> 04:44:05,060
And I will take as much time as you want on another day and another venue to walk through some

3035
04:44:05,060 --> 04:44:09,120
of these things because he never said that he was against the original purpose and

3036
04:44:09,120 --> 04:44:12,980
intent of the Civil Rights Act. So I think that that's really important because

3037
04:44:12,980 --> 04:44:16,800
some of my black friends that are here today, I just want you to know that I wouldn't

3038
04:44:16,800 --> 04:44:22,780
support a guy that didn't support what that original intent was about, okay?

3039
04:44:23,320 --> 04:44:32,120
So I just feel like it's really important to state that and you know what he said,

3040
04:44:32,120 --> 04:44:38,460
He said there were three reasons, and I'm not going to go into them, but one of them primary reasons.

3041
04:44:38,780 --> 04:44:41,580
He said that the Civil Rights Act was being misapplied.

3042
04:44:42,140 --> 04:44:49,340
It was being used to say that you couldn't require voter ID in 2025, in the year 2025, to vote.

3043
04:44:49,680 --> 04:44:51,900
We all know everyone has a voter ID.

3044
04:44:52,260 --> 04:44:55,180
This is an important discussion that our country needs to have.

3045
04:44:55,600 --> 04:44:59,600
Should we really, well, come on, you're going to have to be removed.

3046
04:44:59,600 --> 04:44:59,960
you can.

3047
04:45:00,000 --> 04:45:14,000
You can't yell things. You just can't yell things. If you're going to talk, you have to fill out a speaker card. Okay, when we're going to get there, but if you keep yelling from the back of the room, we're going to have to have you go.

3048
04:45:16,290 --> 04:45:29,550
So I just felt like that particular fact needed to be addressed because he was not that that's not what he stood for. What he stood for was having a debate about whether we should allow, we should require voter ID today.

3049
04:45:29,550 --> 04:45:38,590
Okay, so that's a perfect excuse me, okay we're getting really close to having people removed.

3050
04:45:42,220 --> 04:45:46,100
You have your chance, you can come up and say whatever things you want to say and we've

3051
04:45:46,100 --> 04:45:52,680
heard a lot of things that have been mis-truths, but I wanted to correct, okay, all right, what's

3052
04:45:52,680 --> 04:45:52,780
that?

3053
04:45:53,560 --> 04:45:58,980
Well, I mean, look, all right, I really don't want to have a spectacle of somebody being

3054
04:45:58,980 --> 04:46:03,920
remove from from from here or you do you have a speaker card okay when you get

3055
04:46:03,920 --> 04:46:07,660
there you can talk if you're going to yell anymore then I'm going to have you

3056
04:46:07,660 --> 04:46:10,740
removed if you're going to yell anymore from your seat you're going to be

3057
04:46:10,740 --> 04:46:13,060
removed okay all

3058
04:46:17,770 --> 04:46:21,630
right so we're going to move on we're going to move on to

3059
04:46:21,630 --> 04:46:22,950
Jesse Clements

3060
04:46:33,540 --> 04:46:38,460
Ronnie merchants and Rivera good

3061
04:46:43,900 --> 04:46:45,020
morning commissioners how you doing

3062
04:46:45,020 --> 04:46:49,340
today my name is Ronnie Merchantson Rivera I'm a Democrat Mrs. St.

3063
04:46:50,380 --> 04:46:52,160
I live right down the block of me office, don't worry.

3064
04:46:53,180 --> 04:46:56,520
And I'm also running for U.S. Congress here in Florida six this year, okay?

3065
04:46:57,280 --> 04:46:59,320
And I'm currently a law enforcement officer.

3066
04:47:00,160 --> 04:47:01,580
I served, I live in my community.

3067
04:47:02,160 --> 04:47:04,900
I live and I work here in our community.

3068
04:47:05,560 --> 04:47:13,180
And I'm here to stand before you today that I pose this thing that he brought to you because it's sad.

3069
04:47:13,660 --> 04:47:16,300
But let me be clear, my opposition is not about politics.

3070
04:47:16,300 --> 04:47:22,640
This is about common sense, is about respect for our community and of observing what a memorial is supposed to mean.

3071
04:47:23,500 --> 04:47:25,580
See, Charlie Kirk has no connection to our county.

3072
04:47:26,160 --> 04:47:30,280
He has no family here, no roots here, no record of giving back here.

3073
04:47:30,480 --> 04:47:34,040
He never lived here, never worked here, and he never served here.

3074
04:47:34,680 --> 04:47:40,500
And many people in this community only know his name because of the tragic accident or killing that happened last week.

3075
04:47:41,660 --> 04:47:50,620
not because of anything positive that happened in Lake County, and at the same time I want to be clear that none of us condoned gun violence, that into his life.

3076
04:47:51,040 --> 04:47:59,160
We all agree that that kind of act has no place in our country and our county, but condemning the violence does not mean elevate in his legacy.

3077
04:47:59,840 --> 04:48:04,060
It does not mean giving him a permanent place of honor in a county he didn't serve.

3078
04:48:04,060 --> 04:48:10,220
And contrast that with our true heros, our deputies, our police officers who never came home,

3079
04:48:10,560 --> 04:48:14,660
the firefighters who run into burden buildings, the veterans who wear the uniform,

3080
04:48:15,120 --> 04:48:18,700
and the teachers and neighbors who give decades servants our children, our community,

3081
04:48:18,900 --> 04:48:22,300
and the families, those are the people who deserve a memorial in Lake County.

3082
04:48:22,900 --> 04:48:27,360
And just last year, and I can say this because I work with him, so yell at me.

3083
04:48:27,880 --> 04:48:32,440
Just last year, this community came together to honor a deputy that was killed in Lake County.

3084
04:48:32,440 --> 04:48:35,000
and I'm going to say his name, Massachusetts Deputy Link,

3085
04:48:35,420 --> 04:48:37,100
who was ambushed and killed in a lot of duty,

3086
04:48:37,760 --> 04:48:38,800
that's who deserve it.

3087
04:48:38,900 --> 04:48:40,760
And guess what, he got one in the highway 27

3088
04:48:40,760 --> 04:48:43,520
because when he did was, he served this community.

3089
04:48:44,000 --> 04:48:45,600
He sacrificed here in this community.

3090
04:48:46,020 --> 04:48:47,700
His family is a part of this community

3091
04:48:47,700 --> 04:48:49,820
and that's what a memorial should mean.

3092
04:48:50,180 --> 04:48:51,040
You want to go beyond that?

3093
04:48:51,280 --> 04:48:52,680
It's because you're saying he don't live here?

3094
04:48:52,940 --> 04:48:54,320
Well, let's go beyond that.

3095
04:48:54,560 --> 04:48:56,580
Just a few days ago, four U.S. military people

3096
04:48:56,580 --> 04:48:58,340
was killed in a helicopter crash.

3097
04:48:58,760 --> 04:49:00,100
Three police officers were shot and killed

3098
04:49:00,100 --> 04:49:01,620
in Pennsylvania while protecting a community.

3099
04:49:01,620 --> 04:49:04,140
but I don't see you proposing a roadway for them.

3100
04:49:04,600 --> 04:49:06,440
Okay, if you give this honor to everybody,

3101
04:49:06,700 --> 04:49:08,440
the meaning of such honor will be diminished.

3102
04:49:08,980 --> 04:49:11,260
It would decimate the values that memorials

3103
04:49:11,260 --> 04:49:12,580
were truly meant to preserve.

3104
04:49:13,620 --> 04:49:15,760
And with that, I'm going to say I oppose.

3105
04:49:16,520 --> 04:49:17,360
Thank you.

3106
04:49:17,600 --> 04:49:21,060
Cynthia Ramsey and then Lauren Salter.

3107
04:49:25,630 --> 04:49:27,330
Good afternoon commissioners.

3108
04:49:27,550 --> 04:49:30,370
My name is Cynthia Ramsey and I really appreciate

3109
04:49:30,370 --> 04:49:31,530
the opportunity to speak.

3110
04:49:32,370 --> 04:49:35,070
I come before you today as a late county resident

3111
04:49:35,070 --> 04:49:38,950
who cares deeply about the values and unity of our community.

3112
04:49:39,790 --> 04:49:44,950
For that reason, I respectfully urge you to table Commissioner Sabatini's proposal

3113
04:49:45,650 --> 04:49:47,910
to establish a memorial for Mr. Kirk.

3114
04:49:49,330 --> 04:49:55,790
Several of you have already said you would have waited, recognizing that this is not the right time.

3115
04:49:57,190 --> 04:49:59,630
Public memorials are powerful symbols.

3116
04:49:59,630 --> 04:50:06,690
Ideally, these memorials should bring together the people in our community across backgrounds,

3117
04:50:06,810 --> 04:50:16,090
across beliefs, as the comments today show, as a comments today show, establishing this

3118
04:50:16,090 --> 04:50:20,790
memorial at this point in time, risk deepening divisions rather than bringing us together.

3119
04:50:21,990 --> 04:50:27,470
As many of you have acknowledged, Mr. Kirk's work has generated passionate and sometimes

3120
04:50:27,470 --> 04:50:32,690
It was vicious and spiteful responses on both side of the political spectrum right here in Lake County.

3121
04:50:33,330 --> 04:50:39,250
In fact, when I attempted to engage in a civil discussion on a Lake County social media site,

3122
04:50:39,690 --> 04:50:47,050
probably not something anyone wants to do too often, complete strangers viewed profanities at me and

3123
04:50:47,050 --> 04:50:48,830
told me I needed to leave Lake County.

3124
04:50:49,730 --> 04:50:55,110
I simply asked what the county criteria was to establish memorials and

3125
04:50:55,110 --> 04:50:59,550
And if this would impact prioritization of any county needs, that's where we are.

3126
04:51:01,490 --> 04:51:07,950
I hope we can agree, all of us here today, that memorials in public space should bring

3127
04:51:07,950 --> 04:51:14,470
us together, including minority voices to the table to feel represented and heard.

3128
04:51:15,150 --> 04:51:20,270
They need to represent our shared values, inspire common purpose and strengthen our community.

3129
04:51:21,650 --> 04:51:26,390
I also asked the board to reflect on how this proposal would set a precedent of using public

3130
04:51:26,390 --> 04:51:29,950
resources to elevate political personalities.

3131
04:51:30,410 --> 04:51:33,890
It puts us on a slippery slope that has potential to further divide us.

3132
04:51:34,690 --> 04:51:41,910
What message does it send that we are not here or we haven't already, within weeks, of the

3133
04:51:41,910 --> 04:51:47,870
unfortunate assassination of Melissa Hartman, already put a memorial in place?

3134
04:51:49,090 --> 04:51:53,550
It has become a political issue, and that's not what our county needs.

3135
04:51:55,130 --> 04:52:07,670
The timing of this proposal and how it could impact on the community of our country and our county calls to mind the Confederate memorials pushed and established during periods of great division and anger in our history.

3136
04:52:08,310 --> 04:52:11,270
Those memorials continue to divide us into this day.

3137
04:52:12,030 --> 04:52:14,590
Tabling this proposal does not reject anyone.

3138
04:52:14,930 --> 04:52:22,350
We're simply saying, let's take time to listen to each other and be thoughtful about how we want to strengthen our community for future generations.

3139
04:52:23,330 --> 04:52:33,110
You taking this small but very brave act has great potential to be a catalyst to help us all take a step back and do our part to understand each other.

3140
04:52:33,750 --> 04:52:40,390
That in itself would be an incredible tribute to Mr. Kirk, far beyond a sign in the road. Thank you.

3141
04:52:40,390 --> 04:52:46,630
So Lauren Salter and then Wilson Parker.

3142
04:52:50,980 --> 04:52:55,820
Good afternoon commissioners, my name is Lauren Salter and I am a concerned citizen of

3143
04:52:55,820 --> 04:52:56,420
Lake County.

3144
04:52:57,480 --> 04:52:59,280
I want to start by addressing a few things.

3145
04:52:59,420 --> 04:53:02,040
Almost everyone here who spoke before me spoke the truth.

3146
04:53:02,480 --> 04:53:07,500
Almost everyone here spoke the truth and we're very direct and clear and so I don't want

3147
04:53:07,500 --> 04:53:09,040
to go over everything that they've already said.

3148
04:53:09,040 --> 04:53:14,140
but I do want to say a few words on two things, Christianity and context.

3149
04:53:14,820 --> 04:53:20,360
I've heard a few of you mention that Charlie Kirk being a devout Christian is

3150
04:53:20,360 --> 04:53:24,980
what enables him to have a memorial made after him and that the words that

3151
04:53:24,980 --> 04:53:30,480
fellow my fellow Lake County citizens have said that he himself is on record

3152
04:53:30,480 --> 04:53:32,880
saying are out of context.

3153
04:53:33,580 --> 04:53:36,220
So I want to give you some context from the Bible.

3154
04:53:37,220 --> 04:53:43,680
James won 26 states that anyone who considers themselves religious but does not control their

3155
04:53:43,680 --> 04:53:49,740
tongue, they deceive their own heart and have a worthless religion.

3156
04:53:50,500 --> 04:53:55,920
Any person who keeps a reign on their tongue doesn't have to run after every statement

3157
04:53:55,920 --> 04:53:59,980
that is repeated from what they've said and say that's out of context, that's out of context.

3158
04:53:59,980 --> 04:54:05,760
that's out of context. Clearly Mr. Kirk did not have a reign on his tongue and I would argue his

3159
04:54:05,760 --> 04:54:10,940
religion is therefore worthless. So let's count that out for why we're giving him a memorial.

3160
04:54:12,280 --> 04:54:20,200
Secondly, this goes beyond left versus right. As a staunch liberal, I shudder to think that Charlie

3161
04:54:20,200 --> 04:54:27,200
Kirk would receive a memorial highway in Florida before someone like the honorable Senator John McCain.

3162
04:54:27,200 --> 04:54:37,080
who fully fits the criteria for memorial based on LCC 69 and I and I think many

3163
04:54:37,080 --> 04:54:40,480
others here would argue that someone despite whether we agreed with him

3164
04:54:40,480 --> 04:54:46,960
politically or not who served his country with genuine bravery genuine honor genuine

3165
04:54:46,960 --> 04:54:54,640
dignity and dedication could justify Charlie Kirk a divisive shock-jock

3166
04:54:54,640 --> 04:55:01,200
like podcaster receiving a memorial before a decorated veteran, a survivor, and prisoner

3167
04:55:01,200 --> 04:55:07,140
of war, an actual already receiving recipient of the Presidential Medal of Honor and a

3168
04:55:07,140 --> 04:55:08,820
respect to the United States Senator.

3169
04:55:10,500 --> 04:55:15,140
So let's be honest to the commissioner who proposed this, whose name I won't speak because

3170
04:55:15,140 --> 04:55:17,360
I know he likes all the attention that he can get, good or bad.

3171
04:55:18,080 --> 04:55:19,660
Let's be honest about what this is about.

3172
04:55:20,200 --> 04:55:23,560
It's not about honor, it's not about dignity, it's not about devout Christians.

3173
04:55:24,100 --> 04:55:28,420
It's about you trying to poke at people, trying to prod at people, trying to remind people

3174
04:55:28,420 --> 04:55:31,360
that you disagree with how much you dislike them.

3175
04:55:31,480 --> 04:55:33,300
I would say hate, but I don't know your heart.

3176
04:55:34,740 --> 04:55:36,160
Let's be honest about that.

3177
04:55:36,420 --> 04:55:43,040
That we're wasting government time, citizens time, resources for a man who preached nothing

3178
04:55:43,040 --> 04:55:43,720
but hate.

3179
04:55:45,400 --> 04:55:47,460
This cycle is never going to end.

3180
04:55:47,840 --> 04:55:48,980
You get this memorial up.

3181
04:55:49,220 --> 04:55:50,020
It'll be something else.

3182
04:55:50,140 --> 04:55:51,240
I promise you, Commissioner.

3183
04:55:51,240 --> 04:55:55,320
This is not the way to go about it, make the right choice.

3184
04:55:58,420 --> 04:56:05,800
Wilson Parker, and then Julie Keane, or Kenny.

3185
04:56:10,440 --> 04:56:11,920
The name is Wilson Parker.

3186
04:56:13,940 --> 04:56:18,460
So we're saying it's a roadside memorial, roadside memorial markers may be permitted to

3187
04:56:18,460 --> 04:56:23,380
commemorate those who have died as a result of a vehicle related accident on a county road

3188
04:56:23,380 --> 04:56:30,020
located within the unincorporated area. Now, did Charlie Kirk die in a car accident in

3189
04:56:30,020 --> 04:56:36,900
Florida? Because I'm confused as to how that would make this official. I mean, I'm really

3190
04:56:36,900 --> 04:56:43,560
just confused. And then just furthermore, the guy is completely deplorable. He spreads

3191
04:56:43,560 --> 04:56:51,520
white, nationalist propaganda, he hates those that are not like him. Yeah, what happened

3192
04:56:51,520 --> 04:56:56,940
him is discussing, but like why in the fuck would we propagate and put up someone like

3193
04:56:56,940 --> 04:57:04,080
that that just shows divisive divisiveness? Why would we do that? What sense does that

3194
04:57:04,080 --> 04:57:12,340
make? Sabotini, he's a joke. He's like your little child. He can't take any criticism.

3195
04:57:12,580 --> 04:57:16,860
He removes people's comments from Facebook. He blocks him if they do not line up with him.

3196
04:57:16,860 --> 04:57:18,500
He's absolutely a child.

3197
04:57:19,080 --> 04:57:25,440
I will make it my life's mission to make sure that he will not be a district won't representative or any district representative

3198
04:57:28,140 --> 04:57:31,980
Like that's all my time. Y'all are a joke if this really goes through

3199
04:57:33,640 --> 04:57:35,000
Julie is it Kenny?

3200
04:57:39,080 --> 04:57:46,380
Hi, thank you for your time. I love that we want to honor local people. I think that's really important and I think it's powerful

3201
04:57:47,240 --> 04:57:53,700
But to oppose honoring a national leader, because they were national, then we should stop

3202
04:57:53,700 --> 04:57:55,140
honoring Martin Luther King,

3203
04:57:57,380 --> 04:58:01,380
we should stop honoring George Washington, and we should stop

3204
04:58:01,380 --> 04:58:05,240
honoring Abraham Lincoln, because they were national, and they were not local.

3205
04:58:06,200 --> 04:58:08,800
You see, national means that they've influenced all of us.

3206
04:58:09,440 --> 04:58:15,040
It doesn't mean that they lived here, and so today we're talking about, do we honor somebody

3207
04:58:15,040 --> 04:58:17,120
for what they did and for who they were.

3208
04:58:18,460 --> 04:58:23,060
You see, my story is in 2022 during the pandemonium,

3209
04:58:23,620 --> 04:58:26,480
I had a 19 and a 21-year-old, both daughters.

3210
04:58:27,120 --> 04:58:29,560
And they said, you know what, we're locked up.

3211
04:58:30,300 --> 04:58:32,160
We're going to speak about our faith

3212
04:58:32,720 --> 04:58:34,480
and we're going to speak about our country

3213
04:58:34,480 --> 04:58:36,940
because a lot of the things that are taught in our history classes

3214
04:58:36,940 --> 04:58:38,260
aren't actually accurate.

3215
04:58:38,760 --> 04:58:40,580
So they started a social media account

3216
04:58:40,580 --> 04:58:49,200
Unfortunately, the thing blew up and the result of that was the people who came against

3217
04:58:49,200 --> 04:58:54,120
them, people who mock things like this, they threatened to kill my daughters.

3218
04:58:54,980 --> 04:58:59,920
We had to hide in a room because the police said these are credible threats.

3219
04:59:00,240 --> 04:59:03,720
They were global, they were national and they had our address.

3220
04:59:03,720 --> 04:59:12,120
They canceled my daughters, they canceled my parents, random, found them, canceled my brother,

3221
04:59:13,220 --> 04:59:17,420
and they said we're going to come and kill you, and then they described it.

3222
04:59:18,380 --> 04:59:19,340
So we had to hide.

3223
04:59:21,570 --> 04:59:26,290
In that time, they had to change their names. So on their social media

3224
04:59:26,290 --> 04:59:31,170
account, they were known for other names besides their real names. And unfortunately, people thought

3225
04:59:31,170 --> 04:59:36,150
that was their names. They lost 80% of their friends because the friends believed lies

3226
04:59:36,150 --> 04:59:40,850
instead of discovering for themselves what the real truth was. They were kicked out

3227
04:59:40,850 --> 04:59:44,610
of their church. It was a mega church and the church said to them, you cannot stand

3228
04:59:44,610 --> 04:59:49,790
up for Jesus and politics. What would people say when they came in and knew that you had

3229
04:59:49,790 --> 04:59:54,330
a social media account that spoke something like this so they were asked to leave the church?

3230
04:59:55,210 --> 04:59:59,050
But you know who didn't ignore them, who didn't push them out, was Charlie Kirk.

3231
05:00:00,000 --> 05:00:28,320
He found them. He heard about them, and he said, I want you. You guys know what that does for a young adult who said you're valuable? So he took them under his wings, and he taught them how to have good discussion. My girls were a little rogue. So he taught them how to have good discussion. He invited him to his TPUSA events. And at those events, I had to go with them because they were bombarded because they were very well known, speaking on CNN Fox News.

3232
05:00:29,040 --> 05:00:38,240
the BBC, God TV, speaking at the in Washington DC, very well known. So I had to go

3233
05:00:38,240 --> 05:00:42,020
and I had to protect them. And when I did, I learned some things. I learned that

3234
05:00:42,020 --> 05:00:46,160
there was an event where thousands, tens of thousands young men were coming

3235
05:00:46,160 --> 05:00:49,160
together, young women were coming together, dressed in suits, dressed in

3236
05:00:49,160 --> 05:00:54,760
professional clothing, learning to be good citizens. I learned that and I saw

3237
05:00:54,760 --> 05:01:00,540
them change lives and teach faith, family, and country, and that should be respected.

3238
05:01:01,980 --> 05:01:07,140
Rita Lewis and then Reginald Greene is

3239
05:01:11,880 --> 05:01:16,620
Rita here, yeah Rita, a Reginald Greene,

3240
05:01:27,940 --> 05:01:29,220
a Reginald.

3241
05:01:39,640 --> 05:01:42,100
Good afternoon, commissioners.

3242
05:01:46,770 --> 05:01:53,270
I simply want to say this leadership matters. We talked earlier

3243
05:01:53,270 --> 05:02:00,590
about leadership. Leadership also leads to legacy. What will be your legacy.

3244
05:02:02,970 --> 05:02:03,490
You've got to

3245
05:02:03,490 --> 05:02:10,150
consider that every time you make a decision and if your legacy is going to be on the right

3246
05:02:10,150 --> 05:02:13,710
side of history, a referendum,

3247
05:02:16,720 --> 05:02:21,840
an opportunity to let history define what happens matters here

3248
05:02:21,840 --> 05:02:31,620
today. I think that a knee jerk reaction to what has happened. Nobody here wants to

3249
05:02:31,620 --> 05:02:42,280
see any violence would even condone any violence going along with any violence. We always believe

3250
05:02:42,280 --> 05:02:51,240
that somebody has a voice in these United States. To have that voice means a lot and what

3251
05:02:51,240 --> 05:02:55,140
what it means is which holds you guys as leaders.

3252
05:02:56,100 --> 05:03:00,280
Now that means you have a responsibility to listen to us

3253
05:03:00,800 --> 05:03:04,000
and to do what your constituents would have you do.

3254
05:03:04,640 --> 05:03:07,480
Personal things and vendettas or whatever you have,

3255
05:03:07,840 --> 05:03:10,020
put those aside, you are a servant.

3256
05:03:10,800 --> 05:03:13,820
And if you're gonna be a servant, act like one.

3257
05:03:16,180 --> 05:03:21,040
Serve this community, serve in whatever capacity

3258
05:03:21,040 --> 05:03:22,200
that you were called to do.

3259
05:03:22,880 --> 05:03:25,040
Not personally, but serve.

3260
05:03:25,800 --> 05:03:29,640
That service should be simple enough to deal with truth.

3261
05:03:30,280 --> 05:03:33,720
I'm gonna say this, I could have came up and bashed them.

3262
05:03:34,020 --> 05:03:36,300
First of all, I'm against it and I'll let you know that.

3263
05:03:37,160 --> 05:03:39,960
But I want you to understand that sometimes,

3264
05:03:40,720 --> 05:03:42,400
we think there are three truths.

3265
05:03:43,300 --> 05:03:46,360
You think it's your truth, you think it's my truth,

3266
05:03:46,800 --> 05:03:49,300
and the only thing that matters is the truth.

3267
05:03:49,300 --> 05:03:52,580
and these truths is determined by God Almighty.

3268
05:03:54,360 --> 05:03:57,440
When that truth comes out, give it time.

3269
05:03:58,580 --> 05:04:01,020
Right now is not the time.

3270
05:04:04,080 --> 05:04:07,060
So consider being the leader that you would call it to be.

3271
05:04:08,320 --> 05:04:09,520
My vote is no.

3272
05:04:10,560 --> 05:04:13,140
What your vote should be, should represent.

3273
05:04:13,440 --> 05:04:15,200
Not what your personal opinion is.

3274
05:04:15,620 --> 05:04:18,140
It should represent what the people are.

3275
05:04:18,620 --> 05:04:20,280
And if you don't want to make that decision

3276
05:04:20,960 --> 05:04:26,440
put it to a referendum let the people decide what should be done and the

3277
05:04:26,440 --> 05:04:29,800
people will come out and then you can follow what the people says and if you

3278
05:04:29,800 --> 05:04:33,600
don't want to do that give it time to give yourself an opportunity to poll

3279
05:04:33,600 --> 05:04:38,880
and survey the people that you serve. I thank you for an opportunity to stand to

3280
05:04:38,880 --> 05:04:43,480
speak before you today. I didn't get into personality thing and if you want to

3281
05:04:43,480 --> 05:04:48,180
debate I'm open to debate three minutes won't do me anything. I'm a Baptist

3282
05:04:48,180 --> 05:04:50,700
just preaching three minutes won't do anything for me.

3283
05:04:51,220 --> 05:04:52,000
God bless you.

3284
05:04:53,200 --> 05:04:54,600
All right, thank you.

3285
05:04:54,660 --> 05:05:00,720
Autumn Jekonsky, Jekonsky, and then Cassie Murray.

3286
05:05:03,740 --> 05:05:06,900
Hi, I apologize for not knowing the proper etiquette

3287
05:05:06,900 --> 05:05:08,860
because I have never spoke at one of these before.

3288
05:05:09,900 --> 05:05:13,400
I do know a few of you and a few of you know my son.

3289
05:05:14,080 --> 05:05:18,080
My son very specifically asked me to thank

3290
05:05:18,920 --> 05:05:24,140
Commissioner Sabatini for making sure that everyone knew that this was actually going

3291
05:05:24,140 --> 05:05:31,820
to be spoken about today because of you, my son rode a letter. And that is what I want

3292
05:05:31,820 --> 05:05:38,880
to read. This is from a 16 year old. I hoped I would have, I hoped I would get to meet him

3293
05:05:38,880 --> 05:05:44,180
one day, but that the opportunity has been taken from me and millions of kids like me.

3294
05:05:44,180 --> 05:05:49,700
I don't know what Charlie Kirk meant to any of you, whether you agreed with him or not,

3295
05:05:50,080 --> 05:05:52,460
but let me explain to you what he meant to me.

3296
05:05:53,200 --> 05:05:56,220
When I was young, I was described as the smart kid.

3297
05:05:56,780 --> 05:05:59,360
I did very well in school and I was given a label.

3298
05:05:59,940 --> 05:06:01,220
I was told that I was gifted.

3299
05:06:02,040 --> 05:06:05,200
I started figuring out my place from a very young age.

3300
05:06:05,580 --> 05:06:07,940
I knew where my moral compass pointed.

3301
05:06:08,520 --> 05:06:13,580
What I wasn't told was that just by being me, my life was going to be more difficult.

3302
05:06:14,120 --> 05:06:17,900
I spoke about a lot of things that my peers didn't understand.

3303
05:06:18,520 --> 05:06:22,640
I found myself being friends with teachers and administrators because they would at least

3304
05:06:22,640 --> 05:06:23,460
laugh at my jokes.

3305
05:06:24,440 --> 05:06:27,320
Charlie spoke about things that people don't understand.

3306
05:06:28,000 --> 05:06:32,880
He made a pathway for a younger generation to ask questions and to be open-minded.

3307
05:06:33,380 --> 05:06:35,900
He gave us a voice and told us it was okay.

3308
05:06:36,540 --> 05:06:39,220
He gave me the courage to speak about what I believe.

3309
05:06:39,220 --> 05:06:43,820
I value what I learned from him the same as I value my education.

3310
05:06:44,340 --> 05:06:46,400
In two years I will be a voter.

3311
05:06:46,860 --> 05:06:49,440
In 12 years I will be coming back from college.

3312
05:06:50,060 --> 05:06:54,060
I will continue to grow as a leader because of the example of Charlie Kirk.

3313
05:06:54,760 --> 05:06:58,220
I have never driven down the road where you are considering the memorial.

3314
05:06:58,880 --> 05:07:03,240
But when I do come back home I hope I am able to drive the road and smile

3315
05:07:03,240 --> 05:07:06,240
when I remember the legacy that he left all of us.

3316
05:07:06,240 --> 05:07:11,580
His voice made an impact, and one day, I hope mine will as well.

3317
05:07:12,580 --> 05:07:14,620
That comes from a 16 year old.

3318
05:07:15,140 --> 05:07:20,120
You guys are all charged with being responsible for the people that sit in the room,

3319
05:07:20,260 --> 05:07:22,120
the ones that were here earlier that have left.

3320
05:07:23,260 --> 05:07:28,300
But what I think a lot of people don't realize is you guys are also responsible for

3321
05:07:28,300 --> 05:07:33,280
kids like my son, who in two years will be your voting force.

3322
05:07:33,280 --> 05:07:37,260
They will be the people that come back here to be your leaders.

3323
05:07:37,960 --> 05:07:40,460
They are the ones that are our future.

3324
05:07:41,520 --> 05:07:48,780
Charlie Kirk might not have been local, but to say that he did not affect us locally is absolutely incorrect.

3325
05:07:49,500 --> 05:07:52,300
Go to the local high schools and ask the kids.

3326
05:07:53,540 --> 05:07:55,960
He did affect people locally.

3327
05:07:56,700 --> 05:08:02,460
My son very specifically, who might not have been brought to God by Charlie Kirk,

3328
05:08:02,460 --> 05:08:07,620
but he was at least brought one step closer. Thank you guys.

3329
05:08:11,900 --> 05:08:17,940
Cassie Murray. I know I've got the Murray right.

3330
05:08:19,480 --> 05:08:23,440
Okay, Cara Groves and

3331
05:08:25,650 --> 05:08:26,710
then Greg Wilmore.

3332
05:08:33,690 --> 05:08:39,010
Good afternoon. So I already sent you an email last night and I thought, you know,

3333
05:08:39,070 --> 05:08:41,890
I could just stand behind the email and not come here in person.

3334
05:08:42,490 --> 05:08:47,470
But I decided, and I don't know if you remember, not Commissioner Sabatini, but we did go to law school together.

3335
05:08:48,110 --> 05:08:51,190
And as an attorney in this area, I will be back before you.

3336
05:08:51,430 --> 05:08:54,830
And so I am here to say, you know, I come in peace to some extent.

3337
05:08:54,830 --> 05:08:59,430
But I do want to at least speak in what I wrote in my email.

3338
05:08:59,670 --> 05:09:02,450
I know you put folks have read it, but for the rest of the folks here.

3339
05:09:03,650 --> 05:09:08,430
So I respectfully request as a member of Commission 4, District 4,

3340
05:09:08,430 --> 05:09:23,110
that the commission alternatively consider dedicating county funds to a debate program or similar community engagement activity which seeks to bring people from different walks of life together to discuss important issues.

3341
05:09:23,530 --> 05:09:33,950
The attempt to name a roadway after Mr. Kirk seems like a slap dash response to the current events that I think Mr. Kirk would agree is not well thought out or reflective of his work.

3342
05:09:33,950 --> 05:09:41,150
First, based on the documents attached to the agenda, I don't think LCC 69 is the appropriate provision for this.

3343
05:09:41,670 --> 05:09:45,870
LCC 69 is entitled naming county facilities and placement of memorials.

3344
05:09:46,110 --> 05:09:51,630
Now, I appreciate Attorney Marsh's clarification at the beginning of this, that this is not a renaming of a road.

3345
05:09:51,970 --> 05:09:57,210
But to the extent that any commissioners or anyone in the town is going to actually calling it the memorial highway,

3346
05:09:57,650 --> 05:10:02,750
I think it's a distinction without a difference here and that you would be required to go through the office of public safety.

3347
05:10:02,750 --> 05:10:05,090
as you would with any other road name change.

3348
05:10:05,490 --> 05:10:08,070
There are notice provisions that have to be reflected

3349
05:10:08,910 --> 05:10:12,150
in that process under section 18105.

3350
05:10:12,570 --> 05:10:15,030
Beyond that issue, if the commission is truly looking to honor

3351
05:10:15,030 --> 05:10:18,430
legacy of spree speech and debate, two Mr. Kirk's ideals.

3352
05:10:19,110 --> 05:10:21,270
It has the opportunity to a lot, county funds,

3353
05:10:21,610 --> 05:10:24,350
to a form for its adolescent and young adult population

3354
05:10:24,350 --> 05:10:27,310
using county funds or resources to name a road after him,

3355
05:10:27,690 --> 05:10:29,590
feels like the local government's attempt

3356
05:10:29,590 --> 05:10:34,490
to gain easy brownie points with the federal administration in a manner that I think because

3357
05:10:34,490 --> 05:10:38,550
it is an empty lip service effort that Mr. Kirk would disagree with. I was personally

3358
05:10:38,550 --> 05:10:42,870
not a fan of him, but I do not think that he deserves such a tragic and violent end.

3359
05:10:43,190 --> 05:10:47,190
We are at a time when the country could use more thoughtful local government officials

3360
05:10:47,190 --> 05:10:52,510
to deal with continued violence in our communities. As someone on the other end of the aisle,

3361
05:10:52,970 --> 05:10:58,070
please consider doing something that can be seen as further encouraging that discourse instead

3362
05:10:58,070 --> 05:11:01,690
of a blanket stamp on his ideology and all of it.

3363
05:11:02,110 --> 05:11:05,450
And I'm happy to be part of the discussion

3364
05:11:05,450 --> 05:11:08,070
of having the community and adolescents engage

3365
05:11:08,610 --> 05:11:10,450
because we both come from a great school

3366
05:11:10,450 --> 05:11:11,630
that encourages that.

3367
05:11:11,910 --> 05:11:13,150
So go Gators, thank you.

3368
05:11:13,770 --> 05:11:14,190
All right.

3369
05:11:15,390 --> 05:11:21,910
And I've heard LCC 16, is it reference?

3370
05:11:22,110 --> 05:11:24,030
But I don't think we have, that's in our code.

3371
05:11:25,730 --> 05:11:27,170
It's a board policy.

3372
05:11:27,170 --> 05:11:28,990
It was part of your agenda packet.

3373
05:11:29,710 --> 05:11:35,410
I know it's come up a couple times, people have cited the roadside memorial marker section, but that's not what we're doing this under.

3374
05:11:35,870 --> 05:11:40,130
This is under subsection C, which is statutes, plaques, memorials, and busts.

3375
05:11:40,430 --> 05:11:47,150
This says the county may erect or install permanent statutes, bust, plaques, or other memorials to honor and there are five categories.

3376
05:11:47,690 --> 05:11:55,290
One of which would be a person or group which has achieved significant recognition historically on the county, state, national or international level.

3377
05:11:55,290 --> 05:11:59,270
level. It allows it to be brought forward by the County Manager or any

3378
05:11:59,270 --> 05:12:02,690
County Commissioner. Commissioner Savitini brought this forward under that

3379
05:12:02,690 --> 05:12:07,770
section of your board policy. Okay, thank you for clarifying that. I think

3380
05:12:07,770 --> 05:12:13,490
that's helpful. Greg Wilmore and then Charles Boulonger.

3381
05:12:17,430 --> 05:12:18,270
Greg Wilmore.

3382
05:12:20,890 --> 05:12:21,410
Right,

3383
05:12:21,630 --> 05:12:23,670
Charles Boulonger.

3384
05:12:36,070 --> 05:12:39,290
Hello County board members. My name's Charlie. I'm a resident of

3385
05:12:39,290 --> 05:12:46,330
of Claremont. To be clear, Kirk did not deserve what happened to him. There's no room in America

3386
05:12:46,330 --> 05:12:51,570
for political violence or physical violence in hatred are not the only kinds of violence.

3387
05:12:52,390 --> 05:12:57,810
Kirk promoted violence through his words and naming a road in honor of this man is a slap in the face

3388
05:12:57,810 --> 05:13:06,110
to every other recipient of the same honor. Kirk was a divisive individual. He spread hatred,

3389
05:13:06,110 --> 05:13:12,850
racism, sexism, bigotry, homophobia, transphobia with every speech. You can call these engagements

3390
05:13:12,850 --> 05:13:17,930
debate, however in reality it was a professional debater relying on bad faith arguments and

3391
05:13:17,930 --> 05:13:23,810
logical fallacies to win his debates. Now whether you agree with those statements I just made

3392
05:13:24,290 --> 05:13:28,610
is irrelevant. Half the country or more holds the views that I hold.

3393
05:13:30,770 --> 05:13:32,850
We do not need to memorialize

3394
05:13:34,130 --> 05:13:40,230
If you want to honor him on private property, that is your choice and right to do so, and that is the appropriate venue to do so.

3395
05:13:41,430 --> 05:13:54,190
Honoring a man whose organization, Turning Point USA, was directly responsible for transporting the January 6th insurrectionists to the Capitol, is despicable and shows the moral character of the people who vote in favor of this.

3396
05:13:55,310 --> 05:14:01,170
In any sane world, Kirk would be alive and rotting in a federal prison for aiding and

3397
05:14:01,170 --> 05:14:05,610
abetting an assault on the United States Capitol and attempting to overthrow a democratically

3398
05:14:05,610 --> 05:14:06,850
held federal election.

3399
05:14:07,930 --> 05:14:11,410
I've also heard multiple members of this panel bring up religion.

3400
05:14:12,230 --> 05:14:15,490
Per the Constitution, religion has no place in the government.

3401
05:14:16,050 --> 05:14:18,970
The separation of church and state is sacroscent.

3402
05:14:19,710 --> 05:14:24,570
For those of you who are voicing religious opinions up here on this panel, you are in violation

3403
05:14:24,570 --> 05:14:26,770
of the separation of church and state.

3404
05:14:28,030 --> 05:14:33,590
If you want to compare him to MLK, MLK was a champion of human rights for all, and not

3405
05:14:33,590 --> 05:14:36,330
one trying to take them away from marginalized communities.

3406
05:14:37,630 --> 05:14:41,390
Any board member who votes for this motion, let me make it abundantly clear.

3407
05:14:41,950 --> 05:14:43,130
We will vote you out.

3408
05:14:45,790 --> 05:14:50,470
Bigotry, hatred and religion have no place in government or on our roads.

3409
05:14:51,430 --> 05:14:55,570
Those of you who bring this motion cannot even be bothered to listen, you spend the entire

3410
05:14:55,570 --> 05:14:59,130
time on your phone, probably posting hateful comments.

3411
05:15:00,430 --> 05:15:04,810
And you can't even be bothered to stay in the room for the duration of your own motion.

3412
05:15:11,390 --> 05:15:18,230
And when you are listening, you swear at your constituents, which is abhorrent. I yield the remainder of my time.

3413
05:15:20,110 --> 05:15:22,550
Jason Kelliman and then Jesse.

3414
05:15:24,730 --> 05:15:25,290
Okay,

3415
05:15:29,260 --> 05:15:30,620
hey guys doing today.

3416
05:15:30,800 --> 05:15:35,460
I'm a Lake County resident, I was born and raised in Pine Hills, Florida.

3417
05:15:36,320 --> 05:15:37,340
I live in a mixed household.

3418
05:15:39,480 --> 05:15:41,220
First and foremost I'm a Christian.

3419
05:15:42,560 --> 05:15:44,280
Thank you for the opportunity to speak today.

3420
05:15:45,200 --> 05:15:50,520
I'm in favor that we honor Charlie Kirk and the values of Christianity.

3421
05:15:50,520 --> 05:16:02,940
I believe that this dedication would serve not only as a recognition of leadership, but as a lasting symbol of the virtues that unite and uplift us.

3422
05:16:03,240 --> 05:16:15,020
Charlie Kirk in his life exemplified a commitment to civics, engagement, to free speech, and to mobilize the next generation towards responsibility and purpose.

3423
05:16:19,040 --> 05:16:20,320
I'm all for it guys.

3424
05:16:20,320 --> 05:16:22,140
thank you.

3425
05:16:27,940 --> 05:16:34,860
Good afternoon. My name is Jesse Clemens. I stand on the Reginald Green. I'm about this

3426
05:16:34,860 --> 05:16:39,880
minister. I come here today to say this.

3427
05:16:41,930 --> 05:16:46,090
The memorializing of a highway is reserved for first

3428
05:16:46,090 --> 05:16:58,010
responders, military, honorees, me being a Marine myself, also those of distinguished

3429
05:16:58,790 --> 05:17:01,490
representation of the United States of America.

3430
05:17:02,670 --> 05:17:07,050
There's nothing distinguished about what Charlie Kurt represented.

3431
05:17:08,310 --> 05:17:12,570
There's nothing distinguished about who he represented.

3432
05:17:12,570 --> 05:17:13,610
child

3433
05:17:15,620 --> 05:17:25,580
occurred has no place in Florida. Myself being an elderly, having a young

3434
05:17:25,580 --> 05:17:34,840
Caucasian friend, I stand on both sides of the fence but I don't stand with

3435
05:17:34,840 --> 05:17:35,900
Charlie Chris.

3436
05:17:38,780 --> 05:17:42,800
Mr. Smith, I don't expect you to vote for him being a district

3437
05:17:42,800 --> 05:17:44,500
Street. I'm from Houston.

3438
05:17:46,960 --> 05:17:51,440
Mr. Savitini, have you heard how for what went on here today?

3439
05:17:51,620 --> 05:17:53,180
You spent most of the time in the back.

3440
05:17:56,080 --> 05:17:59,520
If you got the name of road or highway or name

3441
05:17:59,520 --> 05:18:08,980
child like Chris or child like Kurt, go see Mr. Gilmo. He may have a road on his cow farm that

3442
05:18:08,980 --> 05:18:14,460
needs a name because we don't need it here in Lake County on public highway and I yield the

3443
05:18:14,460 --> 05:18:18,760
rest of my time. Do we have anyone online?

3444
05:18:21,210 --> 05:18:23,090
Cynthia Doyle, please unmute your line and

3445
05:18:23,090 --> 05:18:23,970
state your name for the record.

3446
05:18:27,970 --> 05:18:34,690
My name is Cynthia Doyle. I feel an honor like naming

3447
05:18:34,690 --> 05:18:39,450
a street should be for someone like John Lewis who fought with all his might for civil rights

3448
05:18:39,450 --> 05:18:46,390
and voting rights for all. Or if that's a bridge too far for you, I'm sure there are great men

3449
05:18:46,390 --> 05:18:48,090
and women who live in Lake County

3450
05:18:48,090 --> 05:18:49,930
and were involved in our community.

3451
05:18:50,550 --> 05:18:52,650
Don't we have a fallen hero,

3452
05:18:53,210 --> 05:18:55,690
a citizen who really fought for our country,

3453
05:18:56,330 --> 05:18:58,090
or maybe a beloved teacher?

3454
05:18:59,170 --> 05:19:02,710
Charlie Kirk only appealed to a certain segment

3455
05:19:02,710 --> 05:19:03,910
of our population.

3456
05:19:04,930 --> 05:19:08,650
Why should those who oppose what Charlie Kirk preached

3457
05:19:08,650 --> 05:19:11,210
have to wince and feel bad every time they drive

3458
05:19:11,210 --> 05:19:13,190
on that road if it's named after him?

3459
05:19:14,150 --> 05:19:18,150
Charlie Kirk was a celebrity podcaster for goodness' sakes.

3460
05:19:18,670 --> 05:19:22,070
He was a divider of many different segments of society.

3461
05:19:22,210 --> 05:19:26,590
He should not be put in the same status as someone who's done good for all of society.

3462
05:19:27,530 --> 05:19:30,930
I do not wish to minimize the tragedy of what happened.

3463
05:19:31,630 --> 05:19:36,910
I feel for his wife and kids and all who loved him, even you, Mr. Sabatini.

3464
05:19:37,750 --> 05:19:41,890
I have a special empathy as I have been personally affected

3465
05:19:41,890 --> 05:19:46,330
by some of those in our nation who love guns over people, including children.

3466
05:19:47,050 --> 05:19:52,630
My brother was assassinated by a man using a 9-millimeter Glock semi-automatic.

3467
05:19:53,270 --> 05:19:57,050
I believe we must try to stop all violence in our country.

3468
05:19:57,750 --> 05:20:01,230
Maybe we should make tougher gun laws instead of expanding gun laws

3469
05:20:01,230 --> 05:20:04,750
to allow people who are not well or mature enough to have a gun

3470
05:20:04,750 --> 05:20:07,330
with which to express their grievances.

3471
05:20:07,330 --> 05:20:13,290
If we name roads after every person who was a victim of senseless violence, we wouldn't

3472
05:20:13,290 --> 05:20:15,170
have enough roads to name.

3473
05:20:16,430 --> 05:20:22,350
Mr. Sabatini, you stated that few fought harder for our country than Charlie Kirk?

3474
05:20:23,170 --> 05:20:25,910
Pray back to the families of fallen veterans.

3475
05:20:26,730 --> 05:20:29,750
Wounded veterans or any of our veterans of war.

3476
05:20:30,370 --> 05:20:35,870
My father died as a result of exposure to agent orange after two stints in Vietnam.

3477
05:20:35,870 --> 05:20:41,630
I don't see a road named after him, and he actually fought for our country.

3478
05:20:42,630 --> 05:20:48,030
Mr. Sabatini, please look to your right and look to your left, but you won't,

3479
05:20:48,090 --> 05:20:50,290
because you're looking at your screen and ignoring me.

3480
05:20:51,030 --> 05:20:55,350
Look around the room, install this picture in your memory because soon,

3481
05:20:55,550 --> 05:21:00,070
not soon enough, but soon, you will never be looking out to the public

3482
05:21:00,070 --> 05:21:04,770
with whom you hold such disdain again from this dius.

3483
05:21:04,770 --> 05:21:07,970
We, the people, see you for what you really are.

3484
05:21:08,490 --> 05:21:10,550
We will be voting you out the door.

3485
05:21:11,150 --> 05:21:18,110
Those who hate a good half of society so deeply should never have a future in governance.

3486
05:21:19,070 --> 05:21:25,570
And Mr. Sabatini just so you know I am not a communist, I am not a fascist, I do not belong

3487
05:21:25,570 --> 05:21:26,950
to any political party.

3488
05:21:28,270 --> 05:21:34,010
I am just a citizen of Lake County Florida who is set up with the division in our society.

3489
05:21:34,010 --> 05:21:40,590
naming that road or any road after Charlie Kirk will only widen that divide and

3490
05:21:40,590 --> 05:21:49,010
I believe you know that. Thank you. David Cunningham. David Cunningham.

3491
05:21:53,000 --> 05:21:57,160
Yeah, your card was over here on the left side of my screen.

3492
05:21:57,160 --> 05:22:00,720
Whatever. Whatever. Let's move on here. Good afternoon.

3493
05:22:06,060 --> 05:22:10,140
Chairman Campeon and other commissioners to include you, Sabatini.

3494
05:22:11,600 --> 05:22:13,540
Thank you for the opportunity to speak.

3495
05:22:14,640 --> 05:22:16,820
I want to talk about two or three things here real quickly.

3496
05:22:17,300 --> 05:22:25,740
I'm 42 year resident of Lake County and I've been here long enough to have served in several positions.

3497
05:22:27,440 --> 05:22:29,580
Houston's High School, 1993,

3498
05:22:32,700 --> 05:22:38,060
we had a very unique program in which we were training

3499
05:22:38,740 --> 05:22:43,140
students to take over and medical professional all the way from the people that do the

3500
05:22:43,140 --> 05:22:45,300
Bay of Pans, hopefully to pre-May it.

3501
05:22:46,180 --> 05:22:50,960
And we had a very unique teacher, as a matter of fact it was only one certified to do this

3502
05:22:50,960 --> 05:22:51,800
in Central Florida.

3503
05:22:53,320 --> 05:22:56,280
And we had a real good program, felt real good about it.

3504
05:22:56,280 --> 05:23:04,140
I was a system principal at that time. This gentleman on some day, strange day, he was in the basement

3505
05:23:04,140 --> 05:23:12,280
of Houston's high school and the air condition was temperamental at best. He made the tragic mistake

3506
05:23:13,060 --> 05:23:18,800
and I'm a real person here, so I'm going to say what I'm going to say. He came up and he went

3507
05:23:18,800 --> 05:23:26,560
in the room and it was hot and he said audibly to students, wow I'm hotter than a pregnant

3508
05:23:26,560 --> 05:23:26,880
nigger.

3509
05:23:31,670 --> 05:23:35,610
The press will try to defend that but I'm going to talk about one guy, Jerry Cox.

3510
05:23:36,750 --> 05:23:42,910
Jerry Cox was assistant superintendent and he came over and while the press was trying

3511
05:23:42,910 --> 05:23:47,050
to defend the program and trust me the press was trying to defend the program out of the

3512
05:23:47,050 --> 05:23:51,770
fact that we had the only thing like that going to Central Florida and this guy was the only

3513
05:23:51,770 --> 05:24:00,430
a certified person to do it. But I distinctly remember Cox got angry enough. He pounded

3514
05:24:00,430 --> 05:24:05,370
the desk because the principal was trying to say that the teacher had made a mistake.

3515
05:24:06,610 --> 05:24:11,930
Cox counted the desk and some of that yield time can come to me and said, Jim, if it

3516
05:24:11,930 --> 05:24:15,790
wasn't in him, he couldn't come out of him. So if it wasn't in Charlie Kirk, he couldn't

3517
05:24:15,790 --> 05:24:22,490
have come out of him, moved decision number two. 1993 used this high school chili to try out.

3518
05:24:23,390 --> 05:24:28,990
Long story short, the pastor first bathed his church door that didn't make the chili

3519
05:24:28,990 --> 05:24:33,280
been squawed. A serious kind of thing.

3520
05:24:35,520 --> 05:24:40,440
When I got to school at 704, the pastor first bathed

3521
05:24:40,440 --> 05:24:45,760
was meeting with the principal director, meaning to come in there, and that got to be a real big

3522
05:24:45,760 --> 05:24:52,840
thing, bottom line, Tom Sanless, somebody you can name a road after, came to the school

3523
05:24:54,220 --> 05:24:59,820
and he said we had to make a decision and he went through the rotary thing and I'm going

3524
05:24:59,820 --> 05:25:07,360
to ask you if you all would do that. When making a decision I yield and just give me a

3525
05:25:07,360 --> 05:25:14,160
list after that. The basis of the decision ought to be made upon a full test criteria that

3526
05:25:14,160 --> 05:25:16,360
the road we use, is it the truth?

3527
05:25:19,330 --> 05:25:21,070
Is it fair to all concerned?

3528
05:25:22,530 --> 05:25:23,330
Three minutes.

3529
05:25:23,890 --> 05:25:27,690
Will it build goodwill and better friendships?

3530
05:25:30,300 --> 05:25:32,380
Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

3531
05:25:33,480 --> 05:25:35,600
If you will apply that in making this decision,

3532
05:25:35,760 --> 05:25:38,760
I think you will make a wise decision.

3533
05:25:38,960 --> 05:25:42,220
And on behalf of, as a former educator and a former

3534
05:25:42,220 --> 05:25:44,360
administrator at the United States High School,

3535
05:25:44,820 --> 05:25:46,160
that happened to be working up that

3536
05:25:46,160 --> 05:25:49,460
I want to give you a check back.

3537
05:25:50,580 --> 05:25:53,420
Your memory doesn't work because I was never there while you were there.

3538
05:25:54,500 --> 05:25:55,760
Anybody else online?

3539
05:25:56,180 --> 05:25:57,380
Okay, we've got some people online.

3540
05:25:58,120 --> 05:26:00,620
Cassandra Brown please unmute your line and state your name for the record.

3541
05:26:02,940 --> 05:26:11,140
Cassandra Brown and I am a Christian and I did not have violence in any form and about anyone's hands.

3542
05:26:11,840 --> 05:26:16,260
I am speaking to you today as sane as anyone sitting on that commission

3543
05:26:16,260 --> 05:26:23,640
and for Sabatini to suggest otherwise is disrespectful as a commissioner.

3544
05:26:24,780 --> 05:26:31,080
The chairwoman just got up and walked out, she's been there a while so maybe she has something to attend to.

3545
05:26:31,580 --> 05:26:43,140
But not once did she tell him that he would be removed from this meeting for yelling, cursing, and just all-out core behavior towards the constituents.

3546
05:26:43,140 --> 05:26:50,260
It was completely utterly disgusting, the way that he behaved on that commission today.

3547
05:26:50,620 --> 05:26:51,260
Not once.

3548
05:26:51,480 --> 05:26:55,600
All the threats went to the audience, to the people that voted you in there.

3549
05:26:55,980 --> 05:26:56,940
But none to him.

3550
05:26:57,060 --> 05:27:00,900
He was allowed to curse and call names, and that is horrific.

3551
05:27:01,720 --> 05:27:10,620
I am here today about the thing that he has put forward to memorialize a racist, homophobic,

3552
05:27:11,420 --> 05:27:11,940
xenophobic.

3553
05:27:11,940 --> 05:27:20,540
that actually made a comment that black women in government and media left brain processing power.

3554
05:27:20,880 --> 05:27:26,240
He also stated that gun deaths are worthy to maintain gun rights.

3555
05:27:26,720 --> 05:27:30,460
My uncle was a victim of gun violence.

3556
05:27:31,240 --> 05:27:36,260
His death was not worthy to maintain anybody's rights to carry guns.

3557
05:27:36,260 --> 05:27:45,300
I am a proud graduate of FAMU Long. I am a proud black woman, and I do have brain processing power.

3558
05:27:45,860 --> 05:27:55,620
So, for you to agree with these things and to go along with these things are a direct slap in my face as a late county resident.

3559
05:27:56,940 --> 05:28:02,700
As someone who has dedicated over a decade to civic engagement and community organizing,

3560
05:28:02,700 --> 05:28:11,400
I believe our public memorial should reflect our highest aspirations for unity, healing, and progress.

3561
05:28:11,980 --> 05:28:19,680
They should inspire future generations and bring our diverse community together, not divide us.

3562
05:28:20,220 --> 05:28:25,100
So before I go on forward with this vote, let's consider community input.

3563
05:28:25,100 --> 05:28:31,920
But have you all even spoken with your constituents to see how they feel about this?

3564
05:28:32,740 --> 05:28:39,420
We are the ones being most impacted, and it is not lost on me that not one non-white

3565
05:28:39,420 --> 05:28:47,320
person stood in that commission meeting today to vote for this thing that he has put for

3566
05:28:47,320 --> 05:28:47,580
it.

3567
05:28:47,580 --> 05:28:50,100
Secondly, consider our values.

3568
05:28:50,820 --> 05:28:59,240
Does this memorial align with late county's commitment to being welcoming and inclusive for all residents?

3569
05:28:59,940 --> 05:29:02,720
Next, we will consider the long-term impact.

3570
05:29:03,240 --> 05:29:11,360
What message does this send to our children, our families, and visitors about who we are as a community?

3571
05:29:11,360 --> 05:29:18,140
I want my black boys to know that they do have brain processing powers.

3572
05:29:18,760 --> 05:29:26,140
The relevance, what does this unallived person or his harmful beliefs have to do with

3573
05:29:26,140 --> 05:29:26,720
Lake County?

3574
05:29:27,400 --> 05:29:30,820
I've spent my career fighting for equity and justice.

3575
05:29:31,680 --> 05:29:37,060
This work has taught me that our public spaces and symbols matter deeply.

3576
05:29:37,060 --> 05:29:42,440
They shape how people feel about the longing in their own community.

3577
05:29:43,120 --> 05:29:48,100
Lake County has a complex history that we must acknowledge honestly.

3578
05:29:48,480 --> 05:29:51,760
All right, I've got to cut you off because the buzzer just went off.

3579
05:29:53,280 --> 05:29:56,940
And we do have a speaker system.

3580
05:29:56,940 --> 05:29:59,480
So everyone knows if we have to leave to use the restroom.

3581
05:30:00,000 --> 05:30:06,560
We actually can hear what is being said in the meeting just for your benefit to know that we do get to hear what's going on.

3582
05:30:08,600 --> 05:30:29,420
And I did ask Mr. Sabatini at some point if he needed to take a pause, just like I did ask other people to leave if they didn't stop out. So, so anybody else online. Terry Lewis, please unmute your line and say your name for the record. Hi, my name is Terry Lewis. I live in Claremont.

3583
05:30:32,180 --> 05:30:35,940
First of all, I just wanted to say I've never been to a board meeting.

3584
05:30:36,160 --> 05:30:44,340
This is my first one I've been watching since 9 a.m., and Mr. Sabatini, you are ridiculous.

3585
05:30:44,880 --> 05:30:46,880
You are unbecoming of your office.

3586
05:30:47,100 --> 05:30:47,960
You don't pay attention.

3587
05:30:48,480 --> 05:30:49,260
You look at your phone.

3588
05:30:49,920 --> 05:30:50,680
You're abusive.

3589
05:30:51,240 --> 05:30:52,000
You're bully.

3590
05:30:53,320 --> 05:30:59,440
I so hope you're not elected to get, when is your election, by the way, sir?

3591
05:30:59,900 --> 05:31:01,680
I'll be elected again, ma'am. Trust me.

3592
05:31:02,820 --> 05:31:04,280
When is your re-election?

3593
05:31:06,520 --> 05:31:07,660
When is your re-election?

3594
05:31:07,760 --> 05:31:08,800
It's not a Q&A.

3595
05:31:09,100 --> 05:31:09,460
All right, yeah.

3596
05:31:09,560 --> 05:31:10,180
We're not Q&A.

3597
05:31:10,420 --> 05:31:11,460
Just continue on.

3598
05:31:12,780 --> 05:31:12,960
Okay.

3599
05:31:13,540 --> 05:31:17,520
So I first heard about this remaining of the road, Charlie Kirk in the news.

3600
05:31:17,760 --> 05:31:21,440
So it's already a national thing.

3601
05:31:21,440 --> 05:31:25,800
and I've lived in a county before where we had representatives that did

3602
05:31:26,440 --> 05:31:30,340
embarrassing things and it really reflected poorly on the county.

3603
05:31:30,580 --> 05:31:32,260
And I really like this county.

3604
05:31:33,100 --> 05:31:37,500
And I just don't want it to go down that road.

3605
05:31:40,220 --> 05:31:42,300
It's a terrible tragedy what happened.

3606
05:31:42,780 --> 05:31:47,880
Nobody I know has taken any glee in this.

3607
05:31:47,880 --> 05:31:56,440
If anything, we, or people like me, we have, we mourn every death.

3608
05:31:57,100 --> 05:32:05,560
We are upset about, I beg for solutions, and there are not, or there are politicians

3609
05:32:05,560 --> 05:32:06,360
don't take them.

3610
05:32:06,920 --> 05:32:12,380
So I just want to say, it's horrible, it's horrible that somebody was killed for exercising

3611
05:32:12,380 --> 05:32:13,700
his first amendment rights.

3612
05:32:14,140 --> 05:32:15,100
Is he a good debater?

3613
05:32:15,380 --> 05:32:16,260
Absolutely not.

3614
05:32:16,260 --> 05:32:20,660
He, it's rigged, I feel bad for the kids that try to go against them.

3615
05:32:22,700 --> 05:32:25,140
He questions, he mocks.

3616
05:32:25,380 --> 05:32:26,720
It's not good.

3617
05:32:27,200 --> 05:32:28,180
Do I watch him all the time?

3618
05:32:28,700 --> 05:32:33,940
Because the first time I heard of him was when he wanted good patriots to raise money for

3619
05:32:35,700 --> 05:32:40,040
the man who took a hammer to Nancy Pelosi's husband.

3620
05:32:40,520 --> 05:32:42,120
So I think that's pretty horrible.

3621
05:32:43,260 --> 05:32:44,760
His words are divisive.

3622
05:32:44,760 --> 05:32:51,660
I know that Madame Chair, you have debated that.

3623
05:32:52,280 --> 05:32:57,800
I'd love to go down that road a lot more because a lot of people have repeated his words just today

3624
05:32:57,800 --> 05:33:00,460
and I don't know if it's gotten through to you.

3625
05:33:05,680 --> 05:33:08,100
And so anyway, I'm not a fan of this.

3626
05:33:10,080 --> 05:33:13,840
He doesn't espouse the Christian values that I grew up with.

3627
05:33:14,700 --> 05:33:19,720
And streets should not be named after people that have no connection to Florida.

3628
05:33:19,940 --> 05:33:26,300
They should be named after people at local heroes, as many people more eloquently have said

3629
05:33:26,900 --> 05:33:27,940
earlier today.

3630
05:33:28,600 --> 05:33:34,520
Or those with proven history of achievement, he's not really, to some people, he sounds great.

3631
05:33:34,520 --> 05:33:40,600
I also noticed I need to stop you because the buzzard has gone off.

3632
05:33:41,240 --> 05:33:46,520
Oh, shoot. Okay. Well, anyway, I'm very opposed to it. He's divisive.

3633
05:33:46,800 --> 05:33:48,760
He spreads false lies.

3634
05:33:51,040 --> 05:33:57,480
There's many people that have been killed and I haven't heard any of you propose to name things after them.

3635
05:33:58,480 --> 05:34:01,220
All right. Thank you. Anyone else online? Yes.

3636
05:34:01,860 --> 05:34:04,960
Cassandra G please unmute your line and state your name for the record.

3637
05:34:07,870 --> 05:34:13,650
Hi can you hear me? Yes you might want to speak up just a little. Oh sorry this

3638
05:34:13,650 --> 05:34:20,290
is my first time sorry. Good afternoon next missioners my name is Cassandra

3639
05:34:20,290 --> 05:34:27,470
Gress and I live in Claremont Lake County. I'm here to express my concern about

3640
05:34:27,470 --> 05:34:33,630
the proposal to place memorial signs honoring Charlie Kirk along a public

3641
05:34:33,630 --> 05:34:40,210
roadway in our county even though this isn't an official renaming placing honorary signage on

3642
05:34:40,210 --> 05:34:46,990
public property still sends a strong message about who we are as a community as a community who

3643
05:34:46,990 --> 05:34:53,350
we choose to elevate and celebrate and that message matters especially when the individual in question

3644
05:34:53,350 --> 05:35:01,650
has no meaningful connection to this county. Charlie Kirk is a national political figure and it was a

3645
05:35:01,650 --> 05:35:07,070
tragedy that he was killed in the manner that he was, but I just want to reiterate that

3646
05:35:07,070 --> 05:35:13,450
he is not a local leader. He did not live here, work here, volunteer here, or contribute in any

3647
05:35:13,450 --> 05:35:19,130
direct way to the betterment of our community. Honoring someone who has no ties to the area,

3648
05:35:19,610 --> 05:35:27,110
raises a fundamental question why him. More importantly, Mr. Kirk was widely known for making

3649
05:35:27,110 --> 05:35:33,350
divisive and inflammatory public statements. For example, he has repeatedly referred to public

3650
05:35:33,350 --> 05:35:40,250
schools as government indoctrination camps and has label teachers rumors contributing to a national

3651
05:35:40,250 --> 05:35:46,590
atmosphere of hostility towards educators. He has promoted conspiracy theories such as the racist

3652
05:35:46,590 --> 05:35:53,230
replacement theory, falsely claiming that immigration policies are designed to replace American citizen,

3653
05:35:53,230 --> 05:35:56,890
a theory that has been linked to acts of political violence.

3654
05:35:57,750 --> 05:36:03,570
After the January 6th insurrection, he praised the day as the most important day in American

3655
05:36:03,570 --> 05:36:10,610
history since 1776, though he later deleted the statement, the sentiment was clear.

3656
05:36:11,430 --> 05:36:17,170
This is not a neutral figure honoring him on a public signage, risk turning a shared community

3657
05:36:17,170 --> 05:36:22,550
space into a political statement, one that many residents may strongly disagree with as

3658
05:36:22,550 --> 05:36:29,590
you guys are hearing today. Public road should unite us, not divide us. I do believe that this is

3659
05:36:29,590 --> 05:36:40,050
coming from high emotions after a devastating loss. I don't minimize his contributions to society

3660
05:36:40,050 --> 05:36:46,610
although I do believe it had more negative than positive. I just want to note that there are countless

3661
05:36:46,610 --> 05:36:52,390
individuals including veterans, educators, community leaders right here in our county who have

3662
05:36:52,390 --> 05:36:54,650
dedicated their lives to serving others.

3663
05:36:55,250 --> 05:36:57,890
If we are to be putting out memorial signs,

3664
05:36:58,010 --> 05:36:59,690
those are the people that we should be honoring.

3665
05:37:00,250 --> 05:37:02,410
People who reflect our shared values,

3666
05:37:02,930 --> 05:37:05,610
our diversity and our commitment to each other.

3667
05:37:06,150 --> 05:37:09,410
So I respectfully ask that you reconsider this proposal.

3668
05:37:09,950 --> 05:37:12,710
Maybe even just tabling it when things are not so

3669
05:37:13,450 --> 05:37:14,370
emotionally high.

3670
05:37:14,830 --> 05:37:15,250
Thank you.

3671
05:37:18,200 --> 05:37:19,260
Anyone else online?

3672
05:37:29,900 --> 05:37:42,040
I would like to reject the proposal that we name a street after Charlie Kirk. I do give grace to incandolences to his family.

3673
05:37:42,040 --> 05:37:49,020
This is a political stunt to show the power of the Republican Party and we are Americans first.

3674
05:37:52,270 --> 05:37:55,190
I had no idea who this individual Charlie Kirk was.

3675
05:37:55,690 --> 05:38:04,370
I was away when this all took place, and upon returning I started to read up and listen to his speeches and debates.

3676
05:38:04,750 --> 05:38:08,070
Not just little memes, but actual speeches and debates.

3677
05:38:08,070 --> 05:38:14,410
It is really sad that we are putting someone on a pedestal with such views that are

3678
05:38:14,410 --> 05:38:15,110
un-American.

3679
05:38:16,030 --> 05:38:19,150
It's also twisting faith into his narrative.

3680
05:38:19,570 --> 05:38:24,710
And we are all of God's people, not chosen ones that he wants to choose.

3681
05:38:25,430 --> 05:38:27,870
Here are just a few disturbing remarks and beliefs.

3682
05:38:28,250 --> 05:38:33,810
And this was said, this was definitely said out of his lips, I saw the videos.

3683
05:38:33,810 --> 05:38:39,190
going after black people that they are only in position because of their color and

3684
05:38:39,190 --> 05:38:44,450
that they are not smart enough to be a pilot or a surgeon. Black politician stole

3685
05:38:44,450 --> 05:38:52,130
white people's spots. MLK was an awful person. George Floyd had it coming to him.

3686
05:38:53,070 --> 05:38:58,990
1964 Civil Rights Act was a huge mistake. He said that December 23 at the

3687
05:38:58,990 --> 05:39:05,350
America First Convention organized by Turning Point and he also repeated it in April 2024

3688
05:39:05,870 --> 05:39:14,510
on his podcast. Supporting KKK Muslims only come to America to destabilize Western civilizations.

3689
05:39:15,190 --> 05:39:21,770
In favor of the Nazi Great Replacement Theory, going after immigrants and all the less fortunate

3690
05:39:21,770 --> 05:39:28,090
in our country. Going after Jewish people or their industry that they are involved in,

3691
05:39:28,090 --> 05:39:34,710
The Palestinian people that they do not exist, gay people should be stoned.

3692
05:39:35,130 --> 05:39:37,850
You are allowed to love who you want in this country.

3693
05:39:38,330 --> 05:39:44,690
Do not yet let a young kid tell differently, especially to our college young students.

3694
05:39:45,310 --> 05:39:47,870
He showed such rudeness in his debates.

3695
05:39:48,430 --> 05:39:54,670
It scares me that he was going from college after college to use his ideology in teaching

3696
05:39:54,670 --> 05:39:56,030
the young of our country.

3697
05:39:56,030 --> 05:40:25,530
He was degrading women when they go to college that they should only be taking the Mrs. classes to find a husband and not learn a woman's natural places under their husband's control lies about the January 6 insurrection and the election conspiracy crap about COVID and vaccines protesting mask mandates I myself had COVID for 48 days and to see that he was saying that just just just floored me.

3698
05:40:25,530 --> 05:40:32,290
That guy that attacked Pelosi's husband should be freed from jail, be a hero and let him out.

3699
05:40:32,890 --> 05:40:36,090
Gun deaths are acceptable in order to have the second amendment.

3700
05:40:36,730 --> 05:40:39,130
Losing people along the way is not a problem.

3701
05:40:39,870 --> 05:40:42,530
Daughters should not be allowed to have birth control.

3702
05:40:42,850 --> 05:40:45,330
I'm going to have to cut you off because you hit your time.

3703
05:40:46,550 --> 05:40:47,910
Do we have another speaker?

3704
05:40:49,030 --> 05:40:52,690
The user labeled Smart, please unmute your line and state your name for the record.

3705
05:40:52,690 --> 05:40:56,250
Can we just see how many speakers we have left?

3706
05:40:56,470 --> 05:40:59,370
Can you tell from the computer how many?

3707
05:40:59,670 --> 05:41:00,410
Can you tell from the screen?

3708
05:41:01,370 --> 05:41:02,790
This should be the last one.

3709
05:41:02,890 --> 05:41:03,210
The last one.

3710
05:41:03,950 --> 05:41:04,590
Thank you.

3711
05:41:05,830 --> 05:41:08,830
I would just, I'm not going to speak on Jonathan Charlie,

3712
05:41:08,970 --> 05:41:10,990
if I don't have any opinion on one way or the other.

3713
05:41:11,490 --> 05:41:13,570
I would like to clarify Mr. Sabatini's proposal,

3714
05:41:13,570 --> 05:41:15,170
or as original, who made a proposal,

3715
05:41:15,510 --> 05:41:19,110
under LCCC69, which I find a little bit shocking

3716
05:41:19,110 --> 05:41:21,770
that the commissioners weren't aware of.

3717
05:41:21,770 --> 05:41:24,770
but needed a proposal to install a memorial,

3718
05:41:25,130 --> 05:41:27,590
whilst simultaneously saying that he was going to

3719
05:41:27,590 --> 05:41:29,590
re-need straight-true defeat.

3720
05:41:30,410 --> 05:41:32,290
We, the women sitting for the left of you,

3721
05:41:32,550 --> 05:41:36,310
Commissioner List, has modified his original proposal

3722
05:41:36,310 --> 05:41:38,970
two a couple times since the meeting has begun.

3723
05:41:39,690 --> 05:41:41,890
I'm wondering if there's any explanation for this.

3724
05:41:42,310 --> 05:41:43,630
At one point, one of the women for the left

3725
05:41:43,630 --> 05:41:46,430
very specifically stated that they were going to change it

3726
05:41:46,430 --> 05:41:48,030
to install me a unit-side memorial,

3727
05:41:48,490 --> 05:41:52,130
She needs further on to clarifying that she made the benign light signs.

3728
05:41:52,910 --> 05:41:56,310
After somebody got up and spoke, that's how we could be not qualified for that.

3729
05:41:56,610 --> 05:41:57,790
She then changed again.

3730
05:41:58,670 --> 05:41:59,590
So can we just please clear?

3731
05:41:59,850 --> 05:42:01,350
I'd like the actual proposal.

3732
05:42:01,510 --> 05:42:04,890
It is what Mr. Sabotein wants to install on one of this way.

3733
05:42:09,120 --> 05:42:10,020
Is that it?

3734
05:42:10,500 --> 05:42:10,660
All right.

3735
05:42:11,240 --> 05:42:12,220
Got it.

3736
05:42:13,380 --> 05:42:14,220
There's one more caller.

3737
05:42:15,580 --> 05:42:18,120
Clarissa Davis, please unmute your line and state your name for the record.

3738
05:42:23,460 --> 05:42:25,280
So there's no answer to the question obviously.

3739
05:42:25,280 --> 05:42:25,920
Yeah,

3740
05:42:29,400 --> 05:42:32,960
we're we don't do questions. Just comments.

3741
05:42:36,060 --> 05:42:38,800
Good afternoon. You also don't

3742
05:42:38,800 --> 05:42:41,100
modify proposals three separate times after the.

3743
05:42:48,030 --> 05:42:50,010
Clarissa Davis, please state your name for the record.

3744
05:42:50,850 --> 05:42:56,190
Sure. My name is Clarissa Davis and I am a resident of Lake County, Florida.

3745
05:42:56,790 --> 05:43:04,050
And I'm calling because I am membership chair of Tri-City NWA CP. And I would like to read

3746
05:43:04,050 --> 05:43:08,410
If I have the time and option, I think everyone, I think the commissioners in the chair.

3747
05:43:08,950 --> 05:43:13,910
I would like to read our letter from our president, Ms. Nadia Lewis.

3748
05:43:15,030 --> 05:43:21,350
The air commissioner, I am emailing you today in reference to tab number 24.

3749
05:43:22,190 --> 05:43:28,470
In the regular agenda with the proposal from Commissioner Sabatini, district number 1 to discuss

3750
05:43:28,470 --> 05:43:33,790
and receive direction on the installation of a permanent memorial or wellness

3751
05:43:33,790 --> 05:43:40,550
way from US 27 to the Orange County Line and memory of Charles James Kirk.

3752
05:43:41,230 --> 05:43:45,170
Charlie Kirk may be regarded by some individuals while others including

3753
05:43:45,170 --> 05:43:50,150
members of black and brown communities and Lake County Florida and throughout

3754
05:43:50,150 --> 05:43:55,810
the United States have a different opinion. Charlie Kirk's negative views and

3755
05:43:55,810 --> 05:44:02,330
comments on minorities, our professional skills, our abilities, and the civil rights movement

3756
05:44:02,330 --> 05:44:10,490
have been problematic and derogatory to black and brown people across the nation.

3757
05:44:11,050 --> 05:44:17,130
Charlie's consistent attack on diversity, equity, and inclusion along with his belief that

3758
05:44:17,130 --> 05:44:23,670
racism, didn't or doesn't really exist shows that he was not a man who stood for all people.

3759
05:44:23,670 --> 05:44:29,470
negative comments have been heard around the world and have gone against the

3760
05:44:29,470 --> 05:44:35,270
very things we've been fighting for here in America and worldwide which is

3761
05:44:35,270 --> 05:44:42,670
equality diversity and the pursuit to live in the American dream. The

3762
05:44:42,670 --> 05:44:48,710
taking of his life was wrong but it would be just as wrong to honor him knowing he

3763
05:44:48,710 --> 05:44:54,410
didn't stand for all people, but chose a few. Here in Lake County, I hope that

3764
05:44:54,410 --> 05:44:58,190
commission will stand for all the citizens, when making decisions that affect

3765
05:44:58,190 --> 05:44:59,970
us all. For these reasons

3766
05:45:00,000 --> 05:45:29,080
As I am asking you to please reconsider and vote no and rename it any street avenue boulevard highway or erecting any monument at the Charles Charlie James Kirk anywhere here in Lake County. By doing so, you will be honoring the citizens for all which you serve. Respectfully, DJ D Lewis, President, Tri-City Branch NAACP of Lake County, Florida and all its members. Thank you.

3767
05:45:34,170 --> 05:45:36,910
Okay. No more callers. Okay. All right.

3768
05:45:37,190 --> 05:45:41,570
I moved to approve the resolution named Wellnessway in Memorial Designation for Charlie Kirk.

3769
05:45:41,890 --> 05:45:46,950
Didn't we already have a motion in a second after a discussion and then we were in discussion and then we were taking.

3770
05:45:47,690 --> 05:45:51,370
Yeah, let me make a couple comments because I seconded it.

3771
05:45:51,590 --> 05:46:00,810
And I seconded it because this has been a huge event in the course of our history in the United States.

3772
05:46:00,810 --> 05:46:07,390
And I heard a lot of people from, you know, residents wanted to do something.

3773
05:46:09,710 --> 05:46:12,310
You know, I've heard, I've listened to everybody.

3774
05:46:12,970 --> 05:46:14,070
I've heard a lot.

3775
05:46:15,790 --> 05:46:23,850
You know, I knew, I'll confess, I knew Charlie Kirk-Sum, and would watch occasionally and listen a little bit here and there.

3776
05:46:24,710 --> 05:46:26,190
I watched for hours.

3777
05:46:27,750 --> 05:46:31,870
I'm not sure if I've seen everything, I don't know if I had that kind of time, but watch

3778
05:46:31,870 --> 05:46:32,350
for hours.

3779
05:46:32,470 --> 05:46:36,630
And I will say I never heard and suggest that somebody should be harmed.

3780
05:46:37,230 --> 05:46:38,270
I want to make that very clear.

3781
05:46:39,290 --> 05:46:44,210
I think he said some things that were certainly, you know, people aren't going to like.

3782
05:46:44,930 --> 05:46:45,910
I mean, I get it.

3783
05:46:47,310 --> 05:46:53,190
You know, I can point out podcasts and people on the other side that say things that I don't

3784
05:46:53,190 --> 05:46:53,410
like.

3785
05:46:54,510 --> 05:47:01,670
I certainly would never, ever wish this upon them and any person that's out there doing that right now.

3786
05:47:02,790 --> 05:47:11,950
So I second it because I think we could do something, I respect the comments about maybe it wasn't maybe we need a little bit of time.

3787
05:47:13,650 --> 05:47:16,850
I think there is something we can do, we can resolve to do that today.

3788
05:47:16,850 --> 05:47:23,990
I think the wording is going to be important, and I will say this, and I'm proud to profess

3789
05:47:23,990 --> 05:47:32,190
I am an imperfect Christian, but so I'm proud to say that first, but I'm also happy to

3790
05:47:32,190 --> 05:47:37,750
see that people were Christians were getting back in their Bible a little bit studying and

3791
05:47:37,750 --> 05:47:38,870
want to ask in questions.

3792
05:47:39,650 --> 05:47:41,310
I'm just saying that personally for me.

3793
05:47:41,590 --> 05:47:45,630
I hope that it doesn't, I mean, if it depends somebody, I'm allowed to stand up here and

3794
05:47:45,630 --> 05:47:51,290
say that for me personally, that is my personal experience. So, I don't saying that.

3795
05:47:51,450 --> 05:47:57,210
I don't think that the monument, if you will, should be... I don't think Charlie would

3796
05:47:57,210 --> 05:48:01,470
want this. It'd be something about some long detailed thing about his life and his

3797
05:48:01,470 --> 05:48:07,570
Christian faith. I can honestly say from what I've read and studied and listened to him

3798
05:48:07,570 --> 05:48:12,510
that he would want that. I do think there's a message for all of us, everything that I heard

3799
05:48:12,510 --> 05:48:16,050
from everybody in this room that could be displayed.

3800
05:48:16,990 --> 05:48:19,850
And I don't know what that is, and we're tired today.

3801
05:48:20,010 --> 05:48:22,850
Maybe we need time to think exactly what that would be.

3802
05:48:23,430 --> 05:48:28,910
But I think the message is that this is a county, we're standing up, we don't want political violence.

3803
05:48:29,290 --> 05:48:35,430
And I'm saying that for the Democrats that were murdered in Maryland or anybody.

3804
05:48:35,430 --> 05:48:41,750
I think we should, the statement should be, because the words will be important

3805
05:48:42,830 --> 05:48:47,910
that we would be condemning political violence and that we are promoting discussion.

3806
05:48:48,170 --> 05:48:51,310
I think, yeah, I think you're totally misconstruing what was proposed.

3807
05:48:51,510 --> 05:48:52,730
What's proposed is a road designation.

3808
05:48:53,670 --> 05:48:56,230
I would, I'm all about doing an additional memorial if you want.

3809
05:48:56,310 --> 05:48:58,810
We're not looking to do like just like a big black roadside thing.

3810
05:48:59,030 --> 05:49:01,950
I'm talking about like a road designation, very simple,

3811
05:49:01,950 --> 05:49:06,210
There's an issue we've done, dozens of not hundreds, non-controversial obviously.

3812
05:49:06,410 --> 05:49:12,150
And so where Commissioner Parks is going is that he wants, if this is to be done,

3813
05:49:12,150 --> 05:49:17,110
understanding that it has upset people in the community.

3814
05:49:17,450 --> 05:49:19,590
Some people in the community, just hear me out, all right?

3815
05:49:21,530 --> 05:49:27,550
And yet other people, who I've heard a lot from, who love the idea of memorializing this,

3816
05:49:27,550 --> 05:49:35,470
because they really feel awful about how this happened and they feel that it is a positive thing.

3817
05:49:35,790 --> 05:49:40,070
I think what Commissioner Parks is trying to do is come up with a way that we actually take this situation

3818
05:49:40,590 --> 05:49:49,750
and we mold a message that is a positive message and I think I like the idea of something like never,

3819
05:49:50,250 --> 05:49:53,930
because Charlie Kirk said something like, we should never stop talking, when we stop talking,

3820
05:49:53,930 --> 05:50:00,590
That's what leads to violence so something along those lines of not we should not stop talking

3821
05:50:00,590 --> 05:50:07,350
I'm just a little confused so you I definitely don't think we need a giant narrative editorial that goes into details of what he believes

3822
05:50:07,350 --> 05:50:14,430
And what we're in trying to like sub note and put footnotes on it the best way to honor a great person who is assessing gun down

3823
05:50:14,430 --> 05:50:21,630
Is the name something significant after him so just Charlie Kirk more memorial county road something like that simple

3824
05:50:21,630 --> 05:50:26,350
It's a simple honor sending a bunch of complex words

3825
05:50:26,350 --> 05:50:30,470
Never stop talking something like that. I mean, it's just the road

3826
05:50:30,470 --> 05:50:36,110
It was something that yeah, the number one thing the number one way to honor somebody is take something significant and

3827
05:50:36,110 --> 05:50:41,910
Rename it after them. We definitely don't need more detailed arguments and words and trying to like

3828
05:50:43,150 --> 05:50:48,430
contextualize you know, well this is technically only because of this one even just name something after him

3829
05:50:48,430 --> 05:50:54,610
And that's what the motions for, that's what's great now to be real, you know, to be real,

3830
05:50:54,610 --> 05:50:57,570
I think there might be a minor debate about, you know, certain roads.

3831
05:50:57,890 --> 05:51:02,910
If you have a certain road, you think is more appropriate, I'm all in, I'm all in 100%.

3832
05:51:02,910 --> 05:51:06,250
But just naming a road is the best way to go.

3833
05:51:06,350 --> 05:51:09,210
It's the total honor that this county can get behind.

3834
05:51:09,530 --> 05:51:14,510
In terms of an artifact with context and details that talk about his life and what the meaning

3835
05:51:14,510 --> 05:51:14,890
of it is.

3836
05:51:15,390 --> 05:51:16,950
I've already talked to people in the community.

3837
05:51:17,670 --> 05:51:45,750
some of which are here, about doing a small monument at Lake Sunter College because obviously he debated on campus and then you could have a little scroll that talked about elements of his life and what he brought to American discourse but that's not for us, that's not for the county, for the county, this is a proposal to name a road after Charlie Kirk, 99% of normal people who aren't political activists are going to support it because he was gunned down doing something that we all should respect, which is being engaged in civic debate.

3838
05:51:45,750 --> 05:51:55,230
He was killed because he spoke his heart and his mind and civic debate and that this motion is to name a road after Charlie Kirk

3839
05:51:55,230 --> 05:52:02,150
That's what it should be which road if there's differences about which road obviously more than happy to shift it to an adjacent road

3840
05:52:02,150 --> 05:52:07,790
But a county road named that for him is such a simple honor that doesn't need to be made more complex

3841
05:52:07,790 --> 05:52:14,110
It doesn't need to be sit here needlessly debated if there weren't political actors in the room who are literally

3842
05:52:14,750 --> 05:52:19,850
screaming, shooting middle fingers, this would be the most simple motion in the world.

3843
05:52:20,010 --> 05:52:25,150
The reason why we're here for six hours and 50 minutes is you have people who are full

3844
05:52:25,870 --> 05:52:28,930
of hate who are here, they hate Charlie Kirk.

3845
05:52:29,690 --> 05:52:35,870
99% of what they said would equally say about Donald Trump if he was killed in Butler, Pennsylvania.

3846
05:52:36,170 --> 05:52:41,730
The exact same words would have been said, if we try to name something after Trump if he

3847
05:52:41,730 --> 05:52:42,090
was killed.

3848
05:52:42,650 --> 05:52:46,930
It's a stick with common sense, Nambo Road after Charlie Kirk move on with the rest of this

3849
05:52:46,930 --> 05:52:50,890
important county agenda, including tonight's meeting, which is very shortly away, and let's

3850
05:52:50,890 --> 05:52:51,470
just, that's it.

3851
05:52:51,610 --> 05:52:53,250
Please don't be reactionary.

3852
05:52:53,310 --> 05:52:54,370
We talked about taking action.

3853
05:52:54,870 --> 05:52:57,710
Taking action is doing something good on or a good man.

3854
05:52:57,830 --> 05:53:02,190
Being reactionary is, oh, wow, there's 11 really left-wing political actors in the room.

3855
05:53:02,330 --> 05:53:05,810
Let's run a message that's very, very carefully worded.

3856
05:53:05,930 --> 05:53:06,030
No.

3857
05:53:06,610 --> 05:53:09,310
Nambo Road after Charlie Kirk, it's the right thing to do.

3858
05:53:09,310 --> 05:53:11,690
No one will criticize you who voted for you.

3859
05:53:11,770 --> 05:53:12,530
I'll put it that way.

3860
05:53:14,630 --> 05:53:18,870
Okay, all right, officer, we've got to stop this.

3861
05:53:19,090 --> 05:53:19,910
We've got to stop this.

3862
05:53:20,970 --> 05:53:24,590
And if the preference is show field road

3863
05:53:24,590 --> 05:53:26,970
from the beginning of wellness way in 27

3864
05:53:26,970 --> 05:53:28,570
to the orange county line, I'm fine with that.

3865
05:53:29,230 --> 05:53:30,710
Well, we're getting closer if you mentioned

3866
05:53:30,710 --> 05:53:32,110
scuttfield instead of wellness way,

3867
05:53:32,210 --> 05:53:34,230
knowing how much went into.

3868
05:53:34,850 --> 05:53:36,270
I love scuttfield road, I think it's great.

3869
05:53:36,390 --> 05:53:38,590
It's also a commuter road that is an entry point

3870
05:53:38,590 --> 05:53:39,870
for a lot of people who are discovering

3871
05:53:39,870 --> 05:53:44,790
the beauty and importance of County in who see very quickly our cultural values, which is

3872
05:53:44,790 --> 05:53:50,150
standing up for freedom and Americanism. So, with Sean's concern, I'm happy to amend it to

3873
05:53:50,150 --> 05:53:54,230
shift it to Scofield Road, which I also, I think, is in some ways could be better because it's such a

3874
05:53:54,230 --> 05:54:00,750
more, it's a truly beautiful scenic highway coming into the County. So, I would move to amend my

3875
05:54:00,750 --> 05:54:06,870
original motion for Scofield. Okay. I mean, the second is fine. But we're still in a discussion,

3876
05:54:06,870 --> 05:54:15,540
because I think we still have consternation here and I mean I feel like we took the internet

3877
05:54:15,540 --> 05:54:21,300
and everything really cruddy we saw on the internet and we see every day on the internet and we

3878
05:54:21,300 --> 05:54:25,900
just like brought it in here and like we're inside of it you know it's really horrible

3879
05:54:27,960 --> 05:54:33,360
and look I don't see how anybody can not say that the internet is disgusting at times

3880
05:54:33,360 --> 05:54:37,960
and I feel like a lot of all of that came in here and it goes both ways I mean there's

3881
05:54:37,960 --> 05:54:40,300
uglyness, going lots, both ways.

3882
05:54:41,100 --> 05:54:51,900
And I just hate that, and again, I, you know, I, I, what bothers me the most are my, my

3883
05:54:51,900 --> 05:54:57,100
black friends in Lake County because I feel like they believe that this was actually,

3884
05:54:57,420 --> 05:54:59,680
the Charlie Kirk was racist, and I don't think he was racist.

3885
05:55:00,020 --> 05:55:03,400
And I wouldn't vote in favor of this if I thought he was racist.

3886
05:55:03,400 --> 05:55:10,280
this. And I really firmly believe that, all right, are we going to have to have you

3887
05:55:10,280 --> 05:55:18,000
leave the meeting? Because I have the floor. And I'm going to say this. And if you're

3888
05:55:18,000 --> 05:55:22,400
going to burst out again, then I'm going to ask them to have you leave. I don't think

3889
05:55:22,400 --> 05:55:23,100
he was racist.

3890
05:55:26,110 --> 05:55:31,250
Charlie Kirk's organization and the guy shooting birds at me, okay, could

3891
05:55:31,250 --> 05:55:33,650
Could he please be escorted out?

3892
05:55:33,930 --> 05:55:36,070
This is crazy, crazy people.

3893
05:55:36,210 --> 05:55:36,750
See what I mean?

3894
05:55:37,010 --> 05:55:40,830
This is like, we're in the dark web and now it's just all right out here for us to see.

3895
05:55:47,840 --> 05:55:54,480
I think it's really unfair to characterize somebody as a racist because he wanted to debate

3896
05:55:54,480 --> 05:55:56,440
something like DEI.

3897
05:55:57,040 --> 05:55:58,880
It's okay to talk about it.

3898
05:55:59,140 --> 05:56:03,000
Maybe it's not the perfect way to go about having a policy.

3899
05:56:03,000 --> 05:56:10,780
When he talked about the Civil Rights Act and he talked about the fact that we needed to be able to show ID to vote in 2025.

3900
05:56:11,480 --> 05:56:14,020
That's important. These are important issues of the day.

3901
05:56:14,900 --> 05:56:21,620
He never said to hurt people who are gay. He never said to stone someone to death.

3902
05:56:22,040 --> 05:56:27,420
Never. Stephen King had to come out the author and actually retract that statement.

3903
05:56:27,420 --> 05:56:34,400
Okay. This is the ugly garbage that is out there and it's just not true. And you know what?

3904
05:56:34,680 --> 05:56:40,880
I get it. If you believe it's true, then I understand why you're so mad and why you don't want us to do this.

3905
05:56:40,980 --> 05:56:54,000
If you believe it's true. But it's not true. It's not true. For me, it's about being able to have open dialogue and open debate and he was doing that in mass numbers across this country.

3906
05:56:54,000 --> 05:56:57,780
And so a lot of people didn't know who he was and then they realized who he was once

3907
05:56:57,780 --> 05:56:58,280
this happened.

3908
05:56:58,700 --> 05:57:02,420
But those of us who followed him, we saw, and it was a massive effect he was having

3909
05:57:02,420 --> 05:57:05,380
on college campuses, he employed people who were gay.

3910
05:57:05,700 --> 05:57:07,700
He employed people who are black.

3911
05:57:08,100 --> 05:57:10,080
That is part of his organization.

3912
05:57:10,600 --> 05:57:15,080
He has chapters of people that are black Americans.

3913
05:57:15,860 --> 05:57:21,600
So this idea that he was racist, that he was, you know, a bigot, oh, and he was misogynistic

3914
05:57:21,600 --> 05:57:22,220
too, right?

3915
05:57:22,220 --> 05:57:27,480
right? Because he believed in traditional marriage. I mean, come on. I mean, you know,

3916
05:57:27,600 --> 05:57:32,000
it's like, this is ridiculous. There are people in Lake County that would like to honor

3917
05:57:32,000 --> 05:57:38,840
the fact that a man who spoke on college campuses, interacted with young people, was wanted

3918
05:57:38,840 --> 05:57:47,920
to encourage dialogue and make our country better. And he was gunned down. And they want to

3919
05:57:47,920 --> 05:58:17,040
have some sort of a recognition of that and he touched people in Lake County personally because either their kids were at college campuses where he spoke, spoke or they were engaged in the organization itself, they have a right to be heard too, those people in Lake County, and that's what they like to see is some sort of recognition and this is a way to do it, and I think it's perfectly fine, but I do like having, I wish we could have a message or something about don't ever stop talking,

3920
05:58:17,040 --> 05:58:19,120
Because that's really what this is about.

3921
05:58:20,800 --> 05:58:25,900
And that's kind of what's happened today is people have tried to shut us down from even having the discussion

3922
05:58:25,900 --> 05:58:31,960
because when I started this today, I said, you can't even talk about it because if you say the guy's racist,

3923
05:58:32,400 --> 05:58:38,120
well then we must be racist. If you say he's a bigger than we must be, that's just how you stop people from talking.

3924
05:58:38,540 --> 05:58:41,500
And that's gone on far too long in this country and we need to stop it.

3925
05:58:41,500 --> 05:58:49,380
And so out of principle, I just have to, I wish it was going on later, and I wish we could postpone it, but I don't want to ever go through this again.

3926
05:58:49,640 --> 05:58:56,820
So I say that we make a decision today and we go with Scofield Road, and we shape a very simple message about dialogue.

3927
05:58:57,040 --> 05:59:01,300
I don't want to limit the other commissioners comments, but I move to call the question, I believe we should.

3928
05:59:01,300 --> 05:59:01,900
You can't.

3929
05:59:02,580 --> 05:59:05,300
All right, anybody else want to say something?

3930
05:59:08,900 --> 05:59:32,280
I would prefer that that may be there be more discussion on the road, not the naming of the road, I agree that we shouldn't, we shouldn't name, not naming the road, naming the memorial, we have a lot of memorials up currently today that people from Claremont,

3931
05:59:32,280 --> 05:59:35,240
not drove by and probably never knew you drove by Michael T. A.

3932
05:59:35,500 --> 05:59:40,100
Can's memorial highway or a latent T. Baker memorial highway.

3933
05:59:40,600 --> 05:59:41,720
You ought to know that.

3934
05:59:42,660 --> 05:59:44,440
But you drove right past it.

3935
05:59:45,960 --> 05:59:50,280
So I'm thinking that maybe there should be not just any road.

3936
05:59:50,860 --> 05:59:52,000
It's not any road.

3937
05:59:52,160 --> 05:59:52,900
It's not any road.

3938
05:59:53,300 --> 05:59:55,340
It should be a major.

3939
05:59:55,560 --> 05:59:56,080
It should be.

3940
05:59:57,800 --> 05:59:58,360
Please.

3941
05:59:58,360 --> 05:59:59,980
it should be...

3942
06:00:00,000 --> 06:00:31,170
There may be a road that is significant for the people down there. So, I'm okay with approving the naming of a road. I just think that there needs to be more dialogue on what road. Yeah, can I just please, I talked to staff. Thank you for letting me finish my comment. Thank you. But please, just, I mean, maybe because we're rolling on assertions that were false, we're not focused on the things that matter. One thing that matters is this is my district.

3943
06:00:31,170 --> 06:00:37,550
So obviously I looked at almost every single prominent county road of my district from the bottom at 474 down a wellness way all the way.

3944
06:00:37,650 --> 06:00:44,630
I'm sorry from four corners all the way up to one this way and my ideal version was was well in this way.

3945
06:00:45,010 --> 06:00:52,490
My colleague who's right next door has a preference for a slightly different road, which I think is very slightly less prominent,

3946
06:00:52,630 --> 06:00:57,570
but probably much more beautiful in terms of its traditional like county sort of features.

3947
06:00:57,570 --> 06:00:58,930
I'm okay with that.

3948
06:00:59,010 --> 06:00:59,850
I see this as a compromise.

3949
06:00:59,850 --> 06:01:01,150
We're the two South Lake guys.

3950
06:01:01,370 --> 06:01:05,410
I would hope that the board will trust our judgment on that and support the motion.

3951
06:01:06,110 --> 06:01:07,870
It's not, it was not a hasty decision.

3952
06:01:08,390 --> 06:01:13,690
So are you not feeling good about Scofield because they did bring up going to Scofield?

3953
06:01:13,810 --> 06:01:15,750
No, no, I'm okay with whatever.

3954
06:01:16,650 --> 06:01:21,210
I just thought maybe there need to be more dialogue, but apparently y'all talked and

3955
06:01:21,210 --> 06:01:22,910
you've got the road figured out.

3956
06:01:22,910 --> 06:01:25,010
Yeah, he changed the motion to Scofield.

3957
06:01:25,170 --> 06:01:25,430
Okay.

3958
06:01:25,430 --> 06:01:31,950
Yeah, yeah, I'm, yes, well, because that road's, that road's open now, so that's the other part of it.

3959
06:01:33,770 --> 06:01:52,690
So again, I, you know, I didn't, I'm not suggesting, I didn't bring up the idea of having a message at the bottom because I mean, I appreciate everybody's input, but I mean, I genuinely thought there was something we could do to make a statement on that because I am concerned about political violence.

3960
06:01:52,690 --> 06:02:05,450
So, I mean, or the lack of discussion, you know, that happens on the internet with keyboard warriors, and I think we do as a nation have to have more face to face discussion.

3961
06:02:06,930 --> 06:02:09,770
I've preached that all over the place even before this happened.

3962
06:02:10,350 --> 06:02:16,570
So, that's why I was hoping maybe you could kind of incorporate a message like that, you know, at the bottom.

3963
06:02:16,570 --> 06:02:22,030
So it was, it's not, it's not like a move because somebody hates Charlie Kirk and

3964
06:02:22,030 --> 06:02:23,530
I'm trying to compromise or something.

3965
06:02:23,690 --> 06:02:27,370
It's those are genuine, these are genuine concerns of mine.

3966
06:02:27,890 --> 06:02:32,110
So, and I'm just thinking maybe it's an opportunity for that message.

3967
06:02:32,350 --> 06:02:36,290
I personally, as a person who uses a lot of words, I know that sometimes more words means

3968
06:02:36,290 --> 06:02:36,610
less.

3969
06:02:37,170 --> 06:02:41,110
And I think that the single most significant thing you can do to a person who is probably

3970
06:02:41,110 --> 06:02:44,890
the most well-known victim of political violence in, literally, decades in this country

3971
06:02:44,890 --> 06:02:48,730
is simply name something prominent, something beautiful after that person.

3972
06:02:48,930 --> 06:02:52,750
I don't think we need extra words, extra pros, layer non.

3973
06:02:52,790 --> 06:02:56,750
I just think it's the single most significant thing this board can do to say where

3974
06:02:56,750 --> 06:03:02,130
against political violence is that in the, as a way of pushing back against political

3975
06:03:02,130 --> 06:03:05,710
violence in the country, naming something prominent and beautiful in honor of that person.

3976
06:03:05,710 --> 06:03:06,070
That's it.

3977
06:03:06,130 --> 06:03:07,070
It's a very simple motion.

3978
06:03:07,110 --> 06:03:10,390
I think that's been made unnecessarily complex by partisan politics.

3979
06:03:10,390 --> 06:03:18,010
I, please, if I could just rephrase the motion, I move to name Scofield Road and Memorial Designation Highway.

3980
06:03:18,410 --> 06:03:19,850
I think the resolution is perfect.

3981
06:03:20,030 --> 06:03:21,230
I would move to pass the resolution.

3982
06:03:21,230 --> 06:03:28,350
The resolution just talks about the presidential medal freedom, which of course is now his greatest honor in a few of his accomplishments.

3983
06:03:36,450 --> 06:03:39,350
Okay, so would the accomplishments are in a resolution?

3984
06:03:39,470 --> 06:03:41,170
Oh, yeah, the resolution is part of one of the attachments.

3985
06:03:41,170 --> 06:03:46,910
I know there's a lot on the agenda, so probably, but it's a beautiful one-page resolution that talks about the presidential medal freedom.

3986
06:03:46,910 --> 06:03:48,750
his birth, his life, his death, his death.

3987
06:03:48,750 --> 06:03:50,470
Yes, he's recarifying for his son.

3988
06:03:50,630 --> 06:03:51,290
That's all the sign.

3989
06:04:00,820 --> 06:04:04,640
And for the sign, just a simple sign I think is what, obviously, I prefer.

3990
06:04:04,820 --> 06:04:09,100
I don't prefer a giant, you know, a bunch of words that are so word that somebody driving

3991
06:04:09,100 --> 06:04:11,740
can. In fact, it makes it less readable.

3992
06:04:23,820 --> 06:04:25,480
Chairman, can I speak?

3993
06:04:26,000 --> 06:04:29,840
No, we've closed it to public, to just the board.

3994
06:04:30,020 --> 06:04:32,020
I think with all the tests, we should have known each other.

3995
06:04:32,100 --> 06:04:32,360
No.

3996
06:04:32,660 --> 06:04:33,720
No, no, no, no, no, no.

3997
06:04:34,440 --> 06:04:36,220
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry,

3998
06:04:36,220 --> 06:04:38,860
All right, but we're done with public comment.

3999
06:04:40,400 --> 06:04:46,540
All right, so we had a modification of the motion and we were waiting for.

4000
06:04:47,840 --> 06:04:50,080
Yeah, I second that modification.

4001
06:04:50,540 --> 06:04:56,260
I mean, I still think, I mean, I know where he would,

4002
06:04:59,500 --> 06:05:02,480
I would hope there would be something else we could do for that message.

4003
06:05:02,580 --> 06:05:07,020
I like to do more, but this is the bare minimum, I think, it's happened to be one of the most significant things.

4004
06:05:11,020 --> 06:05:16,660
Since you say that you say less words are better, why don't you suggest?

4005
06:05:17,040 --> 06:05:18,340
Charles Kirk Memorial Highway.

4006
06:05:18,600 --> 06:05:20,000
It's just a plaque, plaque up there.

4007
06:05:20,180 --> 06:05:21,180
It's just a sign you'll see.

4008
06:05:21,340 --> 06:05:23,440
You'll see Scofield, it'll be some grass fields.

4009
06:05:23,500 --> 06:05:26,200
One of the most beautiful farms in the entire state of Florida is right there.

4010
06:05:26,540 --> 06:05:29,820
And it'll say, Charlie Kirk Memorial Highway, that's it.

4011
06:05:30,420 --> 06:05:32,620
It's all, I think simple is good, that's it.

4012
06:05:32,720 --> 06:05:33,980
That's all this is about, it's not.

4013
06:05:34,800 --> 06:05:37,880
Would you want to reference the resolution number on it?

4014
06:05:38,140 --> 06:05:38,680
Do we do that?

4015
06:05:38,680 --> 06:05:39,940
No, just a memorial home.

4016
06:05:41,920 --> 06:05:44,400
And people come in, I mean, you know, people are going to stop, they're going to think

4017
06:05:44,400 --> 06:05:45,020
pictures of it.

4018
06:05:45,020 --> 06:05:45,920
They're going to be moved by it.

4019
06:05:46,120 --> 06:05:49,820
We're going to inspire other cities and counties and states around the country to stand

4020
06:05:49,820 --> 06:05:51,260
up and honor this great man.

4021
06:05:51,340 --> 06:05:51,600
That's it.

4022
06:05:56,820 --> 06:05:57,660
So, all right.

4023
06:05:58,980 --> 06:06:05,560
From my standpoint, I guess I'll come up with my own wording, so if somebody says, what

4024
06:06:05,560 --> 06:06:06,460
does this mean to you?

4025
06:06:06,600 --> 06:06:07,640
I will say this is what it means.

4026
06:06:08,400 --> 06:06:11,800
I would prefer to have something like never stop talking.

4027
06:06:11,800 --> 06:06:28,780
because I do think that that's really what this is about, is that when you try to shut people up and you try to not have dialogue and you try to label people so they're not allowed to actually speak about policies, because you've labeled them, then that's a problem.

4028
06:06:30,140 --> 06:06:35,420
And I feel strongly about that. But anyway, so all in favor say aye.

4029
06:06:35,420 --> 06:06:38,800
I. I. I. Oh, yes. Commissioner

4030
06:06:38,800 --> 06:06:40,860
Parks on Scoffield with just the

4031
06:06:40,860 --> 06:06:42,220
naming, just the name, road

4032
06:06:42,220 --> 06:06:45,560
name. So all in favor say. I.

4033
06:06:45,840 --> 06:06:49,400
All right. Any opposed? Okay.

4034
06:06:49,600 --> 06:06:50,660
All right. So we're moving forth

4035
06:06:50,660 --> 06:06:52,880
with that. We have a couple more

4036
06:06:52,880 --> 06:06:55,620
things on our agenda. Um.

4037
06:07:18,190 --> 06:07:18,430
Okay.

4038
06:07:18,710 --> 06:07:21,870
Let's see flood insurance

4039
06:07:21,870 --> 06:07:22,510
coverage.

4040
06:07:25,380 --> 06:07:26,440
Jordan and Carl.

4041
06:07:34,600 --> 06:07:35,040
Good

4042
06:07:35,040 --> 06:07:36,260
afternoon Madam Chair. Good

4043
06:07:36,260 --> 06:07:44,340
afternoon commissioners. My name is Carl Bursa. I am the floodplain administrator for Lake County and the Public Works Operations Manager.

4044
06:07:45,160 --> 06:07:47,620
Oh, sorry, that's a little better.

4045
06:07:48,040 --> 06:07:48,580
Yeah, that's a little better.

4046
06:07:48,840 --> 06:07:48,960
Sorry.

4047
06:07:50,480 --> 06:07:55,100
So I'm here today to talk to you about Lake County's flood insurance assessment.

4048
06:07:56,280 --> 06:08:04,540
So our assessment is part of an annual assessment that is given to us by the CRRS program through ISO and FEMA.

4049
06:08:04,540 --> 06:08:23,260
letting us know what our flood insurance, the state of our flood insurance policies in the county are, how many there are, it's something that's vital for flood resilience and for us to make sure that we're paying close attention to when bad things happen, especially with the flooding situation, how we're able to bounce back from that.

4050
06:08:24,940 --> 06:08:30,360
So just really briefly, I'm going to be discussing the NFIP insurance program, the CRS program,

4051
06:08:30,540 --> 06:08:34,460
the benefits of flood insurance, and then our currently county assessment, and just a brief

4052
06:08:34,460 --> 06:08:35,280
discussion, hopefully.

4053
06:08:36,300 --> 06:08:41,600
So the NFIP, the National Flood Insurance Program, was established in 1968, and it does require

4054
06:08:41,600 --> 06:08:47,160
that participants have to follow federal floodplain management regulations, specifically with building

4055
06:08:47,160 --> 06:08:51,640
permitting with evacuation protocols, national hazard mitigation.

4056
06:08:52,360 --> 06:08:58,040
And there are flood insurance rate maps or firms are basically how we enforce this.

4057
06:08:58,380 --> 06:09:03,220
People who have property that is in the firms, they actually have to abide by those

4058
06:09:03,220 --> 06:09:05,100
higher standards and higher regulations.

4059
06:09:05,740 --> 06:09:12,040
Lake County joined the NFIP in 1982, and our last update has been a little bit now,

4060
06:09:13,300 --> 06:09:17,380
2012, from what I understand, I've spoke with the region about a week ago, and they said

4061
06:09:17,380 --> 06:09:22,600
that we are on the list for an update, but they would not give me any sort of idea on

4062
06:09:22,600 --> 06:09:24,360
when that might happen.

4063
06:09:26,220 --> 06:09:31,920
So again, the NFIP insurance is publicly available in all participating communities, so basically

4064
06:09:31,920 --> 06:09:37,300
because we participate and you have a property that's in a flood hazard area, you can get

4065
06:09:37,300 --> 06:09:37,980
flood insurance.

4066
06:09:37,980 --> 06:09:41,620
Also, even if you're not in a flood hazard area, if you're in the next flood zone,

4067
06:09:41,780 --> 06:09:44,480
you were more than welcome to buy insurance for your property.

4068
06:09:44,920 --> 06:09:48,060
As I were about to show you, we had a lot of folks who took advantage of that.

4069
06:09:48,660 --> 06:09:50,460
It does have to be purchased separately.

4070
06:09:50,640 --> 06:09:54,100
It is not part of your homeowner's insurance policy, and this is something that we do like

4071
06:09:54,100 --> 06:09:54,760
to point out.

4072
06:09:55,320 --> 06:10:00,120
Just because you have homeowner's coverage, it does not mean you have flood coverage 99.9

4073
06:10:00,120 --> 06:10:01,380
times out of the 100.

4074
06:10:02,960 --> 06:10:06,520
Our community rating system is something that we participate in.

4075
06:10:06,620 --> 06:10:11,060
It is a discount program that actually makes it so that folks can get discount on their

4076
06:10:11,060 --> 06:10:13,180
flood insurance based on the rating the community has.

4077
06:10:13,280 --> 06:10:15,200
We are currently sitting at a class seven rating.

4078
06:10:15,740 --> 06:10:20,060
We are completing our five year annual audit at the conclusion of that audit.

4079
06:10:20,160 --> 06:10:21,160
We will be rescored.

4080
06:10:21,540 --> 06:10:25,220
I am really hopeful that we will be able to improve at least one class.

4081
06:10:25,220 --> 06:10:31,000
If my if my efforts go don't go and notice I'm hoping for two, but that's me being optimistic

4082
06:10:31,760 --> 06:10:37,720
That would get us up to a 25% flood insurance discount for everybody who purchases flood insurance in Lake County

4083
06:10:37,720 --> 06:10:44,060
How much was that discount? It would go up to 25 if I can get us to a five right now a six is the is the

4084
06:10:44,620 --> 06:10:47,100
Six is the goal, but I'm like I'm I like to stretch

4085
06:10:47,100 --> 06:10:50,160
I like to like to reach for the stars with that one, but right now

4086
06:10:50,160 --> 06:10:53,320
We have a 15% discount as a class seven participating community

4087
06:10:53,320 --> 06:10:56,880
It would be a 20% if we get to a 6%, 25% if we get to a 5.

4088
06:10:57,220 --> 06:11:01,900
You can see here kind of a community map showing everybody who participates.

4089
06:11:02,960 --> 06:11:07,140
And then in Florida, there are 244 participating communities, and if you'll notice that the

4090
06:11:07,140 --> 06:11:12,880
lion's share of our communities are kind of hunkered around that 6, 7, and 5, 6, 7 area.

4091
06:11:13,420 --> 06:11:20,720
Florida building code has such a strong flood damage prevention section to it that basically

4092
06:11:20,720 --> 06:11:25,820
to get a class 7 rating. Pretty much all you have to do is participate in the Florida

4093
06:11:25,820 --> 06:11:29,420
Building Code. Make sure you're enforcing the Florida Building Code and make sure that

4094
06:11:29,420 --> 06:11:30,980
you're keeping track of the paperwork.

4095
06:11:33,370 --> 06:11:35,550
So general flood insurance information for Lake

4096
06:11:35,550 --> 06:11:41,370
County, there are 3,712 insurable properties inside of the special flood hazard area in Lake

4097
06:11:41,370 --> 06:11:45,930
County. That basically means that those are your principal structures, be they commercial

4098
06:11:45,930 --> 06:11:51,290
or residential. You don't get to ensure stuff like accessory structures, garages and such.

4099
06:11:51,710 --> 06:11:58,230
The number of policies and force you can see is 1353 in this is a 36.4% coverage.

4100
06:11:58,730 --> 06:12:00,710
We really like to see that get higher.

4101
06:12:01,350 --> 06:12:04,590
One of the most important things with NFIP based coverage.

4102
06:12:04,890 --> 06:12:09,510
If you own your home outright, if you don't have a mortgage on it, you're not required to carry flood insurance.

4103
06:12:10,110 --> 06:12:11,450
Is there flood plan administrator?

4104
06:12:11,790 --> 06:12:18,210
I'd like for you to reach out to your constituents and let them know that even if they own the home outright, it's always a good idea to have it.

4105
06:12:18,210 --> 06:12:20,330
better to have it, not need it, than need it, and not have it.

4106
06:12:21,970 --> 06:12:26,410
This is just kind of a breakdown of the different building types and

4107
06:12:26,410 --> 06:12:29,350
the different residency types, and how they're how they're insured.

4108
06:12:29,650 --> 06:12:32,010
How they're insured in the policies of force.

4109
06:12:32,310 --> 06:12:37,130
You can see the line share of our property that is insured is the single family residents.

4110
06:12:38,170 --> 06:12:41,130
Basically, taking up 90% of what we have out there.

4111
06:12:41,810 --> 06:12:46,850
There are a couple of duplexed duplexed to four plus buildings that are insured.

4112
06:12:46,850 --> 06:12:52,110
and literally a couple two, and that's something that we would like to kind of see that go up.

4113
06:12:54,960 --> 06:13:00,120
This is really great for me because this shows you where the different areas where we have flood

4114
06:13:00,120 --> 06:13:06,860
insurance are. The AH and AO zones, we actually don't have those on there. I have to put that on

4115
06:13:06,860 --> 06:13:10,020
there for the slide to get credit for it, so I just want to let you know. We actually don't have

4116
06:13:10,020 --> 06:13:15,340
those two zones in the county, but you can see we have a pretty solid contingent of the AE and

4117
06:13:15,340 --> 06:13:21,540
A zones there. But I'm really, I really like the fact that there are 721 ex-zone policies.

4118
06:13:22,000 --> 06:13:28,100
That's great because 25% of our claims for flood insurance or for flood damage during

4119
06:13:28,100 --> 06:13:32,420
Hurricane Milton came from outside the special flood hazard area. So this is something that

4120
06:13:32,420 --> 06:13:37,100
even if you're not in a flood zone, floods can still happen. Just, you know, floods don't

4121
06:13:37,100 --> 06:13:40,860
like to obey lines just because it's, you know, you're across the line saying, hey, I don't

4122
06:13:40,860 --> 06:13:43,700
flood insurance by my neighbor does, that's something to consider.

4123
06:13:44,900 --> 06:13:49,360
And again, the policies, we have that large number of ex-owned policies, and we've got

4124
06:13:49,360 --> 06:13:51,520
a decent spread of the policies across the zones.

4125
06:13:52,260 --> 06:13:58,580
I do think that the overall low number of policies, the 36.4%, I really would like to try

4126
06:13:58,580 --> 06:14:04,060
to reach out to folks and help them to pick that policy up, because it's an important thing

4127
06:14:04,060 --> 06:14:04,500
for us.

4128
06:14:04,940 --> 06:14:07,920
It helps shouting the long run and makes us more resilient.

4129
06:14:07,920 --> 06:14:12,660
And, of course, the low policy numbers for duplex, duplex, duplex, the four-plex units,

4130
06:14:12,840 --> 06:14:16,840
that kind of, that kind of surprised me, but I do think a lot of those are owned outright

4131
06:14:16,840 --> 06:14:18,340
by, and they're used for rentals.

4132
06:14:18,800 --> 06:14:25,000
So, so the recommendations from staff to help increase these numbers, obviously increasing

4133
06:14:25,000 --> 06:14:29,640
outreach, that's something that I'm working on personally, along with my staff, we're

4134
06:14:29,640 --> 06:14:31,680
doing what we can to make ourselves available.

4135
06:14:32,160 --> 06:14:35,880
If somebody wants to have us come and give a talk, we're more than welcome to,

4136
06:14:38,960 --> 06:14:39,160
we're more

4137
06:14:39,160 --> 06:14:42,020
If it's a flood insurance, talk about floodplain policies and regulations.

4138
06:14:42,900 --> 06:14:48,360
We do, like I said, we've been reaching out and doing the strong social media campaigns.

4139
06:14:48,980 --> 06:14:52,960
That's something that we, especially during hurricane season, we're being, we're, we're

4140
06:14:52,960 --> 06:14:56,600
we keep beating on that because right now, as I'm sure you know, we've got one storm spinning

4141
06:14:56,600 --> 06:14:59,960
not there. It's heading over to Ireland apparently, but we have two other areas of

4142
06:15:00,000 --> 06:15:29,020
There's an interest that are sitting there that may develop still, along with another thing down off the Central American peninsula that might be a problem. But that's something, you know, it's always, it's always something to consider this time of year. And finally, we do want to increase our efforts to improve our CRS rating. Class five is the most you can get to before the, there's a prerequisite for a class four that I'm going to be reaching out to try to move to. Class four is a really big jump, and that's something that, you know,

4143
06:15:29,020 --> 06:15:33,540
I want you to start talking about a 30% discount on your flood insurance that adds up real fast.

4144
06:15:35,260 --> 06:15:39,560
And then, so I'll throw it back to you folks for a discussion and questions if you have any.

4145
06:15:41,140 --> 06:15:44,280
Do we have to give you certain parking order?

4146
06:15:44,280 --> 06:15:47,840
No, this is just literally just literally you can tell me what you want.

4147
06:15:48,040 --> 06:15:48,440
This is for sure.

4148
06:15:48,440 --> 06:15:54,840
I didn't understand one of those comments so about how many claims or flooding situations happen

4149
06:15:54,840 --> 06:15:57,700
and outside of those that are in the-

4150
06:15:57,700 --> 06:15:58,780
In the special flood hazard area.

4151
06:15:58,780 --> 06:15:59,300
Yes, ma'am.

4152
06:15:59,480 --> 06:16:05,040
So we had 25% of the claims, through FEMA, we backtracked and got the data.

4153
06:16:05,120 --> 06:16:09,420
25% of the claims that people claimed for flood insurance.

4154
06:16:09,420 --> 06:16:13,120
They actually said, hey, I lost such and such during the flood.

4155
06:16:13,200 --> 06:16:16,140
I had my downstairs flooded, my house flooded, something happened.

4156
06:16:16,500 --> 06:16:22,540
25% of all the insurance claims, the flood insurance claims in Lake County were for areas outside the special flood hazard area.

4157
06:16:22,540 --> 06:16:25,140
Oh, yeah, like I said, floods don't,

4158
06:16:25,200 --> 06:16:27,020
is it because the zones aren't right, though?

4159
06:16:28,420 --> 06:16:30,620
So it's kind of a loaded question.

4160
06:16:31,040 --> 06:16:34,460
The zones have not been updated since 2012.

4161
06:16:34,740 --> 06:16:36,640
And I always, I'd like to point out to people,

4162
06:16:36,660 --> 06:16:38,100
technology has come so far.

4163
06:16:38,320 --> 06:16:40,480
Think about the cell phone you had in 2012,

4164
06:16:40,480 --> 06:16:42,560
what it looked like compared to what you have today

4165
06:16:42,560 --> 06:16:43,440
and the capabilities.

4166
06:16:44,020 --> 06:16:47,400
But then also beyond that, the development around here

4167
06:16:47,400 --> 06:16:50,100
and the way that the topography is changing

4168
06:16:50,100 --> 06:16:51,480
when people are going in and doing

4169
06:16:51,480 --> 06:16:55,160
the mass grade events, we've got to, we have to plan for stuff like that, we have to make sure

4170
06:16:55,160 --> 06:16:59,700
that we're paying attention to that. And that's something that is another thing that they're asking,

4171
06:16:59,780 --> 06:17:04,660
FEMA's asking us for more input on when people come in for lap, for map revisions and for mass

4172
06:17:04,660 --> 06:17:11,260
grade, for large scale subdivision planning. Okay. All right. Any questions? Yeah, I've got a question.

4173
06:17:11,400 --> 06:17:17,900
I'm just kind of curious. How does Lake County become a class seven? How do we become a class seven?

4174
06:17:17,900 --> 06:17:23,160
So we are a class seven because the previous floodplain administrator did her job very well

4175
06:17:23,160 --> 06:17:28,640
and we actually had, when Florida Building Code got adopted, you have to first adopt

4176
06:17:28,640 --> 06:17:32,900
Florida Building Code, which we do every, we adopt the Florida Building Code every time it's changed.

4177
06:17:33,260 --> 06:17:37,200
And then in addition to that, there are paperwork requirements that we have to abide by.

4178
06:17:37,900 --> 06:17:42,900
There are a lot of points that were left on the board, but again, she was a one-woman show and

4179
06:17:42,900 --> 06:17:47,360
she really did a really good job making sure that we were getting everything that we were able

4180
06:17:47,360 --> 06:17:52,240
to get to, but if you're only one person doing it, you don't have a lot of people helping

4181
06:17:52,240 --> 06:17:56,440
you. There's a lot of lift that goes in, there are a lot of documentation requirements,

4182
06:17:57,080 --> 06:18:01,240
and if you dig down into it, I think that there were some points we left on the board

4183
06:18:01,240 --> 06:18:02,880
last time and I'm looking to harvest those.

4184
06:18:03,620 --> 06:18:06,700
So, do you think we should be considered a class six or five?

4185
06:18:06,860 --> 06:18:11,100
I think, based on my discussions with the folks who ordered it us, that they think that

4186
06:18:11,100 --> 06:18:15,760
a class six is a very real possibility, and I personally think that with some of the

4187
06:18:15,760 --> 06:18:18,600
stuff that we've got going on, I'm going to reach for a five.

4188
06:18:18,740 --> 06:18:22,320
We might fall short this time, but I can remember all you got to do is say,

4189
06:18:22,420 --> 06:18:23,980
a aster and would be a class one.

4190
06:18:25,360 --> 06:18:28,320
If I could get, if I could get aster to a class one, that'd be awesome.

4191
06:18:28,460 --> 06:18:30,580
Class one is, a class one is great.

4192
06:18:30,740 --> 06:18:32,080
Class 10 is not so great.

4193
06:18:32,080 --> 06:18:35,680
And like getting the aster to a class one, that'd be actually don't think that we

4194
06:18:35,680 --> 06:18:39,140
might have one, I don't know, actually, I don't know, what about Emerald,

4195
06:18:39,140 --> 06:18:41,500
I don't know who we have as a class one, and Emerald likes.

4196
06:18:42,320 --> 06:18:48,020
will print road always floods trying to try to work with folks who are in flood

4197
06:18:48,020 --> 06:18:51,280
prone areas and trying to get them to understand the importance of having

4198
06:18:51,280 --> 06:18:55,180
flood insurance and then building resiliently and when you when they have

4199
06:18:55,180 --> 06:18:59,720
the opportunity when when when the structure's been removed having whatever goes

4200
06:18:59,720 --> 06:19:04,440
back there meet the code it's it's an important part of my job yeah okay is

4201
06:19:04,440 --> 06:19:10,860
there the member we had discussions about changing our ordinance yes ma'am and

4202
06:19:10,860 --> 06:19:14,960
And would that be an action that we could take that would help us with our grade?

4203
06:19:15,180 --> 06:19:21,460
That would, that would actually, the couple of things that we had proposed would've gotten us probably

4204
06:19:21,460 --> 06:19:25,440
between 25 and 30 more points getting us toward the next class.

4205
06:19:26,140 --> 06:19:33,040
Okay, well, we're still working on it and even if, I mean, we still have the option to of adopting despite Senate Bill 180,

4206
06:19:33,040 --> 06:19:38,120
and if we get challenged, we get challenged if we don't, and at least we've gotten it in motion.

4207
06:19:40,000 --> 06:19:58,060
Yeah, so I think that we should just keep plowing ahead on that okay all right. Well, thank you appreciate the presentation all right moving down to our reports the county attorney is we're is out of the room for a moment.

4208
06:19:58,060 --> 06:20:03,880
out briefly. But she can hear us. But she can hear us so.

4209
06:20:06,440 --> 06:20:09,160
County Manager. Just a reminder

4210
06:20:09,160 --> 06:20:14,900
that we do have our final budget hearing adoption tonight at 505 in these board chamber.

4211
06:20:14,960 --> 06:20:18,180
Okay. Commissioner Sabatini. No report. Thank you.

4212
06:20:18,600 --> 06:20:25,420
Commissioner Parks. Alright, so I had wanted to add, well I planned on bringing it up in my

4213
06:20:25,420 --> 06:20:30,300
report today about Hartwood Marsh Road, so we have the slides.

4214
06:20:31,500 --> 06:20:33,800
And we'll bring this discussion up for a different time.

4215
06:20:33,800 --> 06:20:38,440
I think we can, but maybe, is there a time issue on this?

4216
06:20:38,540 --> 06:20:43,940
Can we bring this up with the next, do you see any time issue if we actually just make it an agenda item?

4217
06:20:44,520 --> 06:20:46,400
Both, but I'll say that, so I'm sorry.

4218
06:20:47,240 --> 06:20:55,300
But to make this an agenda item along with the 44B discussion, because I just don't think we ever finished it when we were talking a month ago.

4219
06:20:55,300 --> 06:21:00,360
about transportation, so if we could add that to the future, maybe next meeting.

4220
06:21:00,560 --> 06:21:03,240
We can put it on the October 14th agenda.

4221
06:21:04,300 --> 06:21:05,540
Okay, that's our first meeting.

4222
06:21:05,760 --> 06:21:09,180
The first one's the PNZ, which is on the 7th.

4223
06:21:09,400 --> 06:21:14,220
I mean, I think it's fine as long as there's no time frames that are going to be blown by or

4224
06:21:14,220 --> 06:21:15,740
anything like that for funding or anything.

4225
06:21:16,320 --> 06:21:18,040
So why don't we just do that then?

4226
06:21:18,500 --> 06:21:19,360
Yeah, I'll say thank you.

4227
06:21:19,860 --> 06:21:21,700
Yeah, yeah, sure, you're welcome.

4228
06:21:22,080 --> 06:21:24,100
All right, okay, anything else on your report?

4229
06:21:24,700 --> 06:21:25,900
No, nothing else.

4230
06:21:26,200 --> 06:21:26,740
Mr. Smith?

4231
06:21:28,280 --> 06:21:29,800
No, Commissioner Morris?

4232
06:21:30,100 --> 06:21:30,420
No, ma'am.

4233
06:21:31,340 --> 06:21:32,180
Commissioner Campion?

4234
06:21:32,520 --> 06:21:32,840
No.

4235
06:21:33,060 --> 06:21:34,260
I had just one thing.

4236
06:21:34,420 --> 06:21:35,220
I skipped over it.

4237
06:21:35,600 --> 06:21:36,100
It depends.

4238
06:21:38,120 --> 06:21:40,160
I wish I could say it's a 10 second thing.

4239
06:21:40,280 --> 06:21:40,840
It's really not.

4240
06:21:41,140 --> 06:21:42,280
I at least want to make the motion.

4241
06:21:42,600 --> 06:21:44,140
I think there's been positions everyone

4242
06:21:44,140 --> 06:21:46,460
shipped it a little bit on the SB 180 thing.

4243
06:21:47,980 --> 06:21:49,200
I think we should join the lawsuit.

4244
06:21:49,480 --> 06:21:50,560
I know it's a huge topic.

4245
06:21:50,560 --> 06:21:52,300
It's the worst time ever to bring it up.

4246
06:21:52,300 --> 06:21:56,500
But I mean, do we not feel like we want to join the lawsuit?

4247
06:21:56,780 --> 06:21:57,760
I definitely do.

4248
06:21:58,320 --> 06:22:01,820
So I think that it's really smart, though, to let the other county spend the money.

4249
06:22:04,100 --> 06:22:11,340
And I think that we should focus our efforts on how they can fix that bill and push to get the bill fixed, right?

4250
06:22:11,700 --> 06:22:17,360
They have offered, they have offered to bring you up to Tallahassee to meet with Perez to say, what is wrong?

4251
06:22:17,680 --> 06:22:19,280
Well, they know what's wrong with it.

4252
06:22:19,280 --> 06:22:25,800
But at least it gives you a platform that you can go in and say this is affecting us in Lake County.

4253
06:22:26,000 --> 06:22:28,760
Right, no, I want it to be heard exactly how it's affecting us.

4254
06:22:28,800 --> 06:22:30,700
We just heard an example of how it's affecting us.

4255
06:22:30,900 --> 06:22:43,240
I mean, as far as being able to change floodplain rules, and I mean, I'm all I guess I feel like if we can get the benefit of a lawsuit happening,

4256
06:22:44,660 --> 06:22:47,140
then great, then we're not coming out of pocket for it.

4257
06:22:47,140 --> 06:22:59,020
But it also gives us a chance to point out the things that could be fixed, which I'm very skeptical about the fact that it would get fixed.

4258
06:22:59,620 --> 06:23:12,440
And that it would get fixed because I think all of us have probably had discussions and we understand a lot more about why this bill even happened to begin with.

4259
06:23:13,060 --> 06:23:17,700
I respect everyone's view, but for me, I really do see the political thing and the legal thing completely different.

4260
06:23:17,980 --> 06:23:20,760
I know it looks like, oh, if you try to join law, it looks like you're criticized.

4261
06:23:20,980 --> 06:23:22,280
I'm going to severe political ban.

4262
06:23:22,340 --> 06:23:24,600
No, I think that there's serious legal issues with it.

4263
06:23:24,640 --> 06:23:29,380
I don't think it's personally offensive to anyone to challenge it and say, hey, was this legally sufficient or not?

4264
06:23:29,980 --> 06:23:32,160
I don't think they really are interested in defending it legally.

4265
06:23:32,340 --> 06:23:33,960
They're going to do something on it.

4266
06:23:34,060 --> 06:23:37,220
But politically, I think they're a lot more dug in than they're showing.

4267
06:23:37,820 --> 06:23:42,660
So I do think we should be careful and smart about how we try to approach it politically.

4268
06:23:42,840 --> 06:23:46,800
Fact, Florida Association County is taking a very cautious intelligent, I think, approach.

4269
06:23:47,460 --> 06:23:51,300
But I just to meet none of that works towards the idea of whether you sue or not.

4270
06:23:51,420 --> 06:23:55,080
I think filing a lawsuit, which obviously isn't going to cost them much money to defend,

4271
06:23:55,980 --> 06:24:00,680
is something that it's not like a super offensive thing.

4272
06:24:00,800 --> 06:24:02,980
That's why I think we should join the lawsuit.

4273
06:24:03,740 --> 06:24:08,240
But for me, because I don't think it somehow, like, pulls away from the political side.

4274
06:24:08,380 --> 06:24:15,040
I mean, this is really just testing the legal sufficiency of a pretty, pretty important law, pretty significant law, and that's it.

4275
06:24:15,200 --> 06:24:18,440
So, I would, I mean, listen, I'm like going to make motion if it's a 4-1, but-

4276
06:24:18,440 --> 06:24:19,700
Well, it's not on the agenda, is it?

4277
06:24:20,000 --> 06:24:21,660
But it is something that doesn't require notice.

4278
06:24:22,180 --> 06:24:25,780
It's just a ministerial, and we can join a lawsuit right now, just without any notice.

4279
06:24:25,840 --> 06:24:29,040
But we had to have agenda items to conduct business.

4280
06:24:30,340 --> 06:24:32,160
Well, they want a resolution.

4281
06:24:32,900 --> 06:24:36,900
We have one prepared, I believe it's coming back the second meeting in October.

4282
06:24:37,240 --> 06:24:41,520
We could certainly move that up to the first regular meeting of October.

4283
06:24:41,780 --> 06:24:44,400
And just so you know, I talked to a state rep from Volusia.

4284
06:24:44,660 --> 06:24:46,900
I mean, he's like, hey, I think there's some good things about the bill.

4285
06:24:47,000 --> 06:24:49,080
But I don't mind you guys like suing.

4286
06:24:49,180 --> 06:24:52,360
I mean, obviously, some of 160 members of the legislature, they'll have different opinions on.

4287
06:24:52,500 --> 06:24:58,220
But like, a lot of them don't see legal challenges somehow a severe political attack.

4288
06:24:58,220 --> 06:25:01,020
I think it's a, I think there's some serious legal issues with the bill.

4289
06:25:01,160 --> 06:25:01,440
That's it.

4290
06:25:01,520 --> 06:25:05,220
That's why I support it, I mean, obviously, and I support FACS political approach on it.

4291
06:25:05,320 --> 06:25:07,540
Sorry to add this on Solay, the agenda.

4292
06:25:07,700 --> 06:25:10,880
It's just one of those things that keep falling through the, we bring it up at these meetings,

4293
06:25:11,020 --> 06:25:11,800
but we haven't really-

4294
06:25:11,800 --> 06:25:18,200
What if we took the position that it didn't, if it didn't get fixed this session that we would pursue?

4295
06:25:18,780 --> 06:25:23,000
Well, I think because it's not that many FACS involved in the case, I think they'll have a decision

4296
06:25:23,000 --> 06:25:26,060
on the case in the next six months anyways, before the session ends.

4297
06:25:27,220 --> 06:25:32,400
I mean, I heard that within the next month we're going to know pretty, it's going to be pretty clear

4298
06:25:32,400 --> 06:25:36,260
would they have some of their committee meetings.

4299
06:25:37,220 --> 06:25:41,160
Yeah, let them have the committee meetings and let's see what the actual discussion looks like.

4300
06:25:41,160 --> 06:25:41,560
Yeah, no.

4301
06:25:41,820 --> 06:25:48,920
If there's really seriousness behind these statements of we want to work on this, we want to fix it.

4302
06:25:49,140 --> 06:25:52,360
Sorry, sorry to add that late minute, it's just one of those things that we bring it up,

4303
06:25:52,360 --> 06:25:54,260
but I keep forgetting to formally put it on the agenda.

4304
06:25:54,460 --> 06:25:54,660
Thanks.

4305
06:25:54,660 --> 06:26:10,200
All right, so do you have a course or is it like words of wisdom or is it just is it going to make us laugh? We'll take either one day is a great day because today is national.

4306
06:26:14,520 --> 06:26:16,240
Let's see, hold on a second.

4307
06:26:16,440 --> 06:26:17,400
You know, you could just make it up.

4308
06:26:17,540 --> 06:26:20,280
No, no, no, I forgot the word.

4309
06:26:20,280 --> 06:26:30,000
It's a restless leg syndrome day, and I think everybody here has restless legs today.

4310
06:26:30,400 --> 06:26:36,860
So it's all stand up while we recess and come back down to 505, or it made us laugh too.

4311
06:26:37,340 --> 06:26:37,500
All right.

4312
06:26:37,800 --> 06:26:45,140
We have a thrilling budget meeting coming up that everybody should be here for.

4313
06:26:45,140 --> 06:26:45,600
All

4314
06:26:48,610 --> 06:26:53,830
right. We are recessed until we get back into session at 505.