[0:00]

[18:19] But if you want to turn to your neighbor and say,

[18:21] you look good this morning, you know, so we appreciate

[18:25] you coming to be with us.

[18:27] I think we've got pastor Nathan Brown with us today,

[18:29] and he is from Pine terrace Baptist church.

[18:32] I'll brag on them.

[18:33] That's where I was baptized.

[18:34] We appreciate you, pastor brown, for being here.

[18:36] Would you mind coming up and leading us in a word of prayer?

[18:39] And then after that, I'll ask Commissioner Calkins

[18:42] to lead us in the Pledge.

[18:43] Whenever you get up there, just hit that button and that light

[18:45] will turn green.

[18:46] Pastor, Thank you.

[18:49] Let us pray.

[18:52] Most gracious, heavenly father, Thank you for this new day.

[18:55] Grateful that every new day is a gift from you

[18:59] with your new morning mercies.

[19:01] And we're grateful for that.

[19:02] Thank you for seeing us through the storms yesterday.

[19:05] We pray for any and all who might

[19:06] have been touched and affected by those winds and the water.

[19:10] So we pray, blessing and help their father.

[19:12] Thank you for this group of folks

[19:15] who have given themselves to serve the people of this area.

[19:19] And we pray, father, you give them the wisdom of Solomon

[19:22] as they try to make wise decisions.

[19:25] Pray god, you give them the courage of someone

[19:28] like a Daniel who would stand Lord on conviction.

[19:32] And I pray you give them god, a compassionate heart of service,

[19:36] of selfless service that was reflected in the life and work

[19:41] of our Lord Jesus Christ, who came not

[19:44] to be served, but to serve and to give

[19:46] his life a ransom for many.

[19:48] So, lord, would you do that?

[19:49] We are thankful and we are prayerful and hopeful

[19:52] because you live and you reign and pray this in Jesus' name.

[19:56] Amen Amen.

[19:57] Amen please face the American flag.

[20:02] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America

[20:07] and to the Republic for which it stands.

[20:09] One nation under god, indivisible,

[20:12] with liberty and justice for all.

[20:16] Thank you very much, pastor.

[20:19] Yes, sir.

[20:20]

[20:24] Notice the pastor was not comfortable facing us,

[20:28] which any pastor is going to want to face

[20:31] the crowd as he's praying.

[20:34] I bet if we started passing the offering bucket,

[20:37] he'll turn this way.

[20:38] So we might start doing that.

[20:40] It it wouldn't hurt.

[20:42] I, I encourage you all one day about paying your tithes

[20:45] and giving you offering.

[20:46] He will definitely press down, shake it

[20:48] together and run it over more than your storehouses can

[20:51] receive.

[20:53] All right.

[20:55] Any fellow commissioners have any issues with the agenda,

[20:58] or are you all good with approving

[20:59] the agenda as presented?

[21:02] Mr chairman, we do need to move item 32 reference

[21:06] the old Woodbine road to the regular agenda

[21:09] so we can discuss that.

[21:10]

[21:13] All right, Mr chair, I wanted to address.

[21:17] I was down in Apalachicola yesterday for the triumph

[21:21] meeting, and I wanted to give an update on that too,

[21:23] as well for agenda item.

[21:26] Thank you very much.

[21:27] Anything else going on?

[21:30] Going twice.

[21:30] All right.

[21:32] Well, we'll do that under commissioner items.

[21:35] Commissioner Smith.

[21:36] Yes, sir.

[21:38] And then we will pull number 32 to the regular agenda.

[21:43] Mr chairman?

[21:44] Yes, sir.

[21:45] If I can just reserve just a few minutes

[21:46] and commissioner, just to make comment on a couple of items.

[21:49] But that's it.

[21:50] All right.

[21:50]

[21:53] Yes, sir.

[21:54] I'd like to just make a comment after the consent agenda passes.

[21:59] All right.

[22:00] Around that time after the consent.

[22:02]

[22:05] All right.

[22:07] We're going to start off today, I think.

[22:09] Do we have some folks from lifequest, Florida, here?

[22:12] Don't have my glasses on.

[22:13] All right.

[22:14] That's fantastic.

[22:15] Do y'all want to come up real quick?

[22:16] And I'm going to feel very honored

[22:20] and privileged to be able to read this proclamation today.

[22:23] And so if you'll bear with me just a second

[22:25] as we get through this, this is a County

[22:28] on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners

[22:30] and Santa Rosa County.

[22:32] This proclamation states whereas National Donate Life Month was

[22:37] instituted by Donate Life America and its members in 2003

[22:41] and grew from the federally proclaimed National Organ and

[22:44] tissue donation Awareness Week.

[22:47] And whereas, National Donate Life Month

[22:49] is a time when donation and transplantation communities

[22:53] concentrate its efforts on educating Americans

[22:56] about the critical shortage of donated organs and tissue

[23:00] and other life saving gifts, as well

[23:02] as acknowledging the importance of documenting

[23:05] one's donation decision.

[23:08] Whereas more than 100,000 patients are on the National

[23:11] waiting list for organ transplants,

[23:13] of which 5,000 are listed as transplant centers in Florida.

[23:18] And whereas, in 2023, more than 46,000 patients

[23:22] received life saving organ transplants in the United

[23:24] states, with more than 3,000 of those occurring

[23:28] in the state of Florida.

[23:29] And whereas, on January 2024, according to the United network

[23:34] of organ sharing, 1026 patients are listed at the Mayo

[23:39] clinic, Jacksonville, Florida.

[23:41] And a 156 are listed at ascensionpress.com/sunday

[23:44] Sacred Heart in Pensacola.

[23:47] Approximately 20 people die each day awaiting life

[23:50] saving organ transplants and one organ donor can save the lives

[23:54] of up to eight people.

[23:56] And one tissue donor can save up to 75 people

[23:59] through skin, bone and cornea donation.

[24:03] Now, therefore, be it resolved.

[24:04] The board of County Commissioners of Santa Rosa

[24:06] county, Florida, does hereby proclaim the month of April 2024

[24:10] as National Donate Life month, and the board

[24:13] encourages all of our citizens to support Florida's campaign

[24:17] to save lives and of the importance of designating one's

[24:21] wishes to be an organ, tissue and eye

[24:24] donor by joining the registry at Donate Life florida.org.

[24:29] Passed and adopted this 11th day of April.

[24:32] And real quick I want to say two things.

[24:36] This is amazing that how God had this today on the agenda

[24:41] because I just had dinner with some gentlemen last night

[24:43] and one of them son had received a heart transplant less

[24:46] than a year ago up in Atlanta.

[24:49] And so that's an amazing story to hear about.

[24:53] And the fact that I really want to give kudos to Stan Nichols,

[24:58] who many as our Santa Rosa County tax collector

[25:01] since his time that he's taken office,

[25:03] he has really fervently worked towards increasing the amount

[25:07] of people that sign up and register

[25:09] when they get their driver's license

[25:11] to be on that organ donor list.

[25:13] And I know he's very proud of that.

[25:14] And so we just want to say Thank you to him,

[25:16] but I'll turn it over.

[25:17] If you have anything you'd like to say today,

[25:20] just hit that button on the microphone.

[25:24] It turned green.

[25:26] Thank you very much.

[25:28] My name is Tammy Ward.

[25:29] I used to live in Santa Rosa County.

[25:32] I know a few of you personally through leadership and whatnot.

[25:37] I represent lifequest organ recovery services,

[25:40] and today I am proud to say that lifenet

[25:43] the tissue organization is represented,

[25:46] as well as Lions for the cornea.

[25:48] We also have Santa Rosa Medical Center representatives here

[25:53] as they support us and as well as

[25:56] an heart and kidney recipient and a kidney

[26:00] and liver recipient.

[26:02] The two lady and gentleman sitting right over there, they

[26:07] advocate for us and they know what it's like to be in need,

[26:13] but also the generosity of someone

[26:16] to give the gift of life.

[26:18] So I really appreciate this proclamation

[26:21] today and Thank you so much.

[26:23] And that's a.

[26:24]

[26:31] It's a miracle that to have that ability and technology,

[26:35] we're going to if my fellow board members don't mind

[26:37] and the folks that came with you today,

[26:39] we're going to come down there and we'll get a picture.

[26:40] How about that?

[26:41]

[28:37] You'll have a great day.

[28:38] Thank you for all of y'all here for being with us for that.

[28:42] That's if that's not a miracle to be

[28:45] able to take a heart from somebody

[28:47] and give it to another man so that he has

[28:49] the chance to live another day.

[28:51] I mean, that's amazing.

[28:53] All right.

[28:54] We are going to do a presentation later on,

[28:56] but we're waiting for a few folks

[28:58] to join us to be able to do that.

[29:00] So we're going to pass that second presentation

[29:02] that you see on the agenda.

[29:04] And then the third item that was on the agenda

[29:07] about the presentation from the Partners that will

[29:10] be rescheduled until April 25.

[29:12] The flights had got canceled due to the severe weather

[29:15] that came through yesterday.

[29:17] And we I got to pick on him in a positive way.

[29:22] We've got Tom Lloyd happens to be sitting with us in the back.

[29:26] All of you probably know him now from being on the news

[29:28] yesterday.

[29:29] But we appreciate Tom and we appreciate Brittany

[29:32] and that you saw earlier up here taking a picture and Sarah

[29:35] and her team and Andrew and Michael and Brad

[29:38] and so many that I can't name for being out there.

[29:41] They were ready to go for when the storm came through

[29:45] and to be able to deploy as quickly

[29:46] as possible after that storm yesterday and go out there.

[29:49] And our fire departments were absolutely

[29:52] amazing, especially all over the North side of the County.

[29:55] Some of the fire Chiefs I talked with, they were able to get out

[29:57] there quickly, make sure roads were cleared

[29:59] and make sure they could assist people where they could.

[30:02] And Thank the Lord.

[30:03] We haven't had any reports of any major injuries or anything.

[30:07] So roofs can be fixed, sheds can be fixed,

[30:10] but lives can't be replaced.

[30:11] So we're appreciative for that.

[30:13] And Tom, Thank you for coordinating that.

[30:15] From our emergency response side,

[30:19] we've got a public hearing about the Florida building code,

[30:23] but we're going to come back to that just so we can move

[30:25] through some of these other items

[30:27] that we've got folks here for.

[30:30] So we're going to go to presentation now.

[30:33] If y'all are good with that and we're going to go

[30:34] ahead and do the presentation by the Soil

[30:37] Conservation department.

[30:38] And I noticed we've got some of our advocates

[30:42] for the farming community with us today.

[30:44] And we've got Trent Matthews here.

[30:46] And so we appreciate all you guys being here.

[30:48] And we've even got the mayor of Jay in the front row.

[30:51] So I just want to recognize him.

[30:52] Thank you, mayor Owens, for being here.

[30:54] So I'm going to turn it over to you now.

[30:57] Well, Mr Chairman and fellow board members and residents

[31:00] of Santa Rosa county, it's a great privilege

[31:02] to be here today.

[31:03] My name is Levi Blackmon.

[31:04] I'm a conservation program coordinator

[31:06] for Santa Rosa County soil conservation department.

[31:08] And we just was approached with providing some information.

[31:13] We all know that knowledge is power.

[31:16] I'm reminded in God's word in Proverbs 11;14 that where there

[31:20] is no counsel, the people fall.

[31:22] But in the multitude of counselors, there is safety.

[31:24] So today, as we gather together, I

[31:27] just wanted to present some facts

[31:29] here for Santa Rosa County.

[31:32] Soil conservation is a huge impact on Santa Rosa county,

[31:36] especially speaking with agricultural land.

[31:38] As many know, we're not making new land.

[31:41] It's when it's gone, it's gone.

[31:44] And with the agricultural land and the impacts it has,

[31:48] we have a finite resource that creates non-renewable resources

[31:52] for Santa Rosa County with those non-renewable resources

[31:56] or the renewable resources.

[31:58] I mean, is livestock crops and timber.

[32:00] And with that, Santa Rosa County has approximately 16.5%

[32:06] of prime farm land that is in active row crop production.

[32:10] That's pretty significant when you think about 16,

[32:13] 16.5% of 100% of land that is available that we are utilizing

[32:18] in our row crop production of that, that's

[32:22] 7.9% of all County lands.

[32:26] That's in row crop production.

[32:28] And we definitely see that we could

[32:31] have a very potential problems in the near future.

[32:34] And we're here today to try to present

[32:37] some solutions to those problems that could appear very soon.

[32:41] So with that, I think it's very important

[32:43] that we start with the knowledge that we're giving.

[32:47] I'm often reminded of that, that where do

[32:51] we find the truth these days?

[32:52] That seems to be a great loss in our culture and where we're at.

[32:57] And so that's why I've been afforded the opportunity

[32:59] for the past month, if you will, to be

[33:02] able to present true facts to the residents

[33:05] of Santa Rosa County.

[33:06] And as well, the board here today.

[33:08] If you was to move to Santa Rosa county,

[33:10] whether you are moving because you love the beaches

[33:14] or you're moving because you're in the military,

[33:17] if you was to type in Santa Rosa County economics,

[33:21] this is here what you would be presented with.

[33:24] There's some great misconceptions

[33:25] right now that is presented before the residents

[33:28] of Santa Rosa County.

[33:28] And and here's just a few.

[33:30] If I was to look at the importance

[33:32] of agricultural impact, I would want to see what the.

[33:35] These are involved and the area that it impacts

[33:38] within our County to make a conscious decision if that's

[33:41] something worth fighting for.

[33:43] So here we look and we see as you look through,

[33:45] you know, you can type it in on a web page,

[33:47] you can pull up the information, the agricultural industry

[33:50] in Santa Rosa County and what's being reported, 25 businesses.

[33:54] This is what's being reported, 8.5, $7 million

[33:59] in sales and 98 employees.

[34:01] And I thought that would be just amazing being in an agriculture

[34:06] community myself and knowing that these numbers are this

[34:10] isn't even close to being right.

[34:12] I mean, I think how, you know, the Lord

[34:14] works in miraculous ways.

[34:16] And I think about today we had several inches of rain

[34:18] last night.

[34:18] And oftentimes our farmers can't come

[34:21] and be representative to meetings like we have today.

[34:24] But I look at that and see that's a great picture

[34:27] that they were able to be here today from the rain.

[34:29] But I mean, when you look at the farmers we have here today

[34:32] and you see 98 employees, I mean,

[34:33] that's a small representation.

[34:35] But we have I mean, you know, we're not far

[34:37] from that number here today.

[34:38] And when you think about that and you

[34:41] look at what the true numbers actually are,

[34:43] we can look here on the slide that's been created, if it'll

[34:47] work with me, let's see here.

[34:50] Maybe I need to do it right here at the computer.

[34:52] That'll work.

[34:53] So we pulled some research from the University of Florida,

[34:56] ifas, which is the Institute of Food and Agricultural science,

[34:59] and they run many numbers across Santa Rosa County

[35:03] to determine how many jobs are truly related to agriculture

[35:07] within Santa Rosa County.

[35:09] And they ran this in 2021.

[35:11] That's the closest year I could find this information.

[35:13] And you can see 9526 jobs.

[35:17] That's a far catch from 98 employees, wouldn't you say?

[35:22] 9526 and I will even bring to our attention

[35:26] when you look at the information that the County gathers

[35:30] from Applied Geographic solutions in 2023,

[35:33] there was 45,467 jobs in Santa Rosa county, Florida.

[35:38] When you take this, it's not hard to figure out

[35:41] that one fifth of the County is influenced by agriculture

[35:45] when it comes to the relationship there of jobs.

[35:48] So as I looked at that, I thought,

[35:49] wow, that's pretty remarkable.

[35:50] You know, when you look over there

[35:52] and you think about 98 employees and then also you go and you

[35:56] look at the farms, you know, 25 businesses,

[35:59] when University of Florida and the National agricultural

[36:03] statistics survey service in 2022,

[36:05] they run a detailed survey every five years.

[36:08] It goes all across many people's homes

[36:11] that have agricultural lands, whether it's timber,

[36:13] land, ag land, pasture land.

[36:16] And they have to fill out a survey.

[36:17] Well, in 2022, there were 732 credited farms within Santa Rosa

[36:21] county, Florida.

[36:22] Now, when you think about that, compared to 25 farms,

[36:26] there's a significant difference.

[36:27] And also when you look at the impact in this County

[36:31] when it comes to monies, that's what really shocked me,

[36:34] because everyone knows in the big picture in the state

[36:38] of Florida that tourism and agriculture often rotate

[36:43] on greatest income revenues within the state of Florida

[36:45] depending on disaster years.

[36:47] Right and I think that's so important.

[36:49] We recognize greater than $90 million on an annual basis.

[36:54] I did a mean annual data.

[36:56] I basically did the numbers every year

[36:59] for the past 10 years, we have an average

[37:02] of at least $90 million.

[37:05] Now, you may say, well, Levi, these numbers are generalized,

[37:08] you know, and most people probably think they are.

[37:11] But I've had a great amount of time

[37:13] over the past weeks and months or a couple of months

[37:15] to look into this.

[37:17] And one of the things that I found

[37:18] was the University of Florida office teams up every year

[37:22] with the Farm Service agency, the Natural Resource

[37:25] Conservation service, as well as local buying

[37:28] points where products are sold for agricultural commodities.

[37:31] And what they do is they determine the amount of tons

[37:34] per acre that's brought in.

[37:36] They determine the value of agriculture

[37:39] in row crop in the County.

[37:40] And you may say, well, how is that so accurate?

[37:42] Well, friend, we have farmers here today

[37:44] and they go to the Farm Service agency

[37:46] and they have to report the crops

[37:48] that they produce every year.

[37:49] They have to put on these crops insurance in case

[37:53] bad events take place.

[37:54] We within pennies peanut production in Santa Rosa county,

[37:58] we know within, you know, hundreds

[38:00] of dollars of cotton production in Santa Rosa County.

[38:03] So when you see greater than $90 million,

[38:06] this here is determined on the facts of what we know is coming

[38:09] out of Santa Rosa County based on what

[38:11] people report in this County.

[38:13] It's also like if you was going to look at some property

[38:17] and you pulled up the Santa Rosa County property appraiser

[38:19] we're going we're going to collect the money

[38:21] to benefit the county, right?

[38:23] But by doing that, the property appraiser

[38:24] has to get very precise.

[38:27] So on some of the things I'm about to show you,

[38:29] I took from our GIS department in Santa Rosa County

[38:33] and I pulled the raw data and some shape files,

[38:35] and I input them into a pro and created some maps

[38:40] to present some data for us.

[38:42] So just don't miss this to this.

[38:45] 90 million per year of an annual income

[38:48] does not include state Timberland revenue.

[38:52] Most people understand that we have 170,000 acres of state

[38:56] land Blackwater River State Forest

[38:57] in Santa Rosa county, Florida.

[38:59] You would think, wow, that's a lot of revenue.

[39:00] These numbers does not include that revenue today.

[39:03] Here we have with us a resource administrator from the Florida

[39:06] forest service, Mr Eric Howell, that I contacted personally

[39:09] to get the numbers of what they have

[39:12] accrued on the State Forest.

[39:13] And what I did is I took those numbers

[39:15] and I subtracted it from the tonnage of our local timber

[39:18] industry buying points to determine

[39:20] the true numbers that we have.

[39:21] So this is not generalized.

[39:23] This is pretty accurate.

[39:24] But what I can tell you is that not included in the 90 million

[39:28] annual revenue of agriculture is our.

[39:33] Whole industry with timber are Chip and saw industry

[39:38] with timber and also are Sol.

[39:40] Timber industry and timber.

[39:42] That's three classifications of timber

[39:44] that is not included here.

[39:46] That's why it is clear that we are approaching

[39:50] $1 billion industry within the past decade in agriculture

[39:54] in Santa Rosa county, Florida.

[39:56] That's a far stretch from 8.47 million per year.

[40:00] Wouldn't you say?

[40:02] We look here at the next slide and we kind of

[40:05] see some geographical location of private agricultural lands?

[40:10] I think it's very important that we include what can benefit

[40:13] Santa Rosa County residents.

[40:14] We all know that state land is controlled

[40:17] by the state of Florida.

[40:18] I used to work for the State of Florida as a lifeguard,

[40:21] and I worked out there at cruel lake,

[40:23] and I can recall when moneys were taken in.

[40:25] These moneys go into a pot of money in Tallahassee

[40:28] and they distribute it out to where

[40:29] they want to distribute it.

[40:31] So local money has a great impact on us.

[40:34] We can see the wide area, the wide area

[40:37] was pulled from the property appraiser

[40:38] map of agricultural lands in Santa Rosa county,

[40:41] and you can see there in the Allentown area, berrydale area,

[40:45] schmukler and J. Where the row crop land has a great impact.

[40:51] Also, we see the numbers 63,000 acres, give or take some acres

[40:56] is crop and grazing land.

[40:58] I bring to your attention.

[40:59] I passed out a pamphlet that shows

[41:01] approximately 51,000 acres are in active row crop production.

[41:05] So you'll see a difference there than 63,000

[41:09] because row crop production, we to the acre through the Farm

[41:12] Service agency, total land mass, 2230 3,000 acres

[41:18] is the influence we have as private citizens

[41:21] on Santa Rosa county, Florida.

[41:24] That is 36% If you look at the numbers, 10%,

[41:28] which is row crop and grazing and 26%

[41:31] that is private forestry land.

[41:34] I just made a generalized number for 64% other.

[41:37] That includes a lot of different attributes there.

[41:40] The next slide, we have just focuses on the picture

[41:44] there for row crop and grazing land, 63,000 acres.

[41:48] I just wanted us all to have an image there.

[41:50] And the importance of that, you see, as we fragment farmland,

[41:54] it makes it more difficult to farm land.

[41:57] I know that there's a couple of different agricultural producers

[41:59] that still try to farm near pace high school.

[42:02] Everybody knows where that's at.

[42:03] But what most people don't know is that these farmers have

[42:06] to travel at 1 AM in the morning to get

[42:08] equipment to this site because of the road

[42:10] on chumuckla highway.

[42:12] So as land starts getting fragmented,

[42:14] it creates a deficit for our farming community.

[42:17] Also with this, we have another map here,

[42:20] and this just shows generalized major land uses within Santa

[42:23] Rosa county, Florida.

[42:24] Now, mind you, this was all pulled from the GIS department.

[42:28] And for 2024, you can see the numbers here.

[42:32] We have, you know, 18% is considered

[42:35] developed or vacant land.

[42:36] Right?

[42:37] that was the land use that was identified as it

[42:40] we see 36% There is considered state or federal land.

[42:44] There is a little disclaimer here.

[42:45] 10% is kind of, you know, marked out there

[42:49] when you look along Escambia river and Yellow River

[42:51] and Blackwater river, there's some areas there that are river

[42:54] Marsh that and some of those areas,

[42:56] water Management District actually manages that area.

[43:00] So that's going to be the area that was not included there.

[43:02] So when you look at this, it kind of

[43:03] gives you a big scope picture of the importance of agriculture.

[43:08] So if I move into Santa Rosa County and as we all know,

[43:11] the majority of decisions made in Santa Rosa County

[43:14] by the residents of the County are

[43:16] going to occur in high population areas

[43:18] pace, Milton, navarre, midway in Gulf Breeze.

[43:22] Now, I bring to your conclusion they're

[43:24] not driving by this resource every single day.

[43:28] They don't know anything about it

[43:29] in a big picture in a lot of ways.

[43:31] So we got to get the facts to them.

[43:33] And the truth council of the people

[43:35] that are in the industry to show the importance

[43:38] of our agricultural lands.

[43:41] You'll notice here sustainable agriculture that

[43:43] takes place in this County.

[43:44] This is a 20 year average.

[43:47] A line graph showing the money value of agricultural

[43:51] in Santa Rosa County.

[43:52] As I mentioned earlier, a $900 million

[43:53] industry in the previous decade, at least,

[43:56] that we know that to be accurate, without a doubt.

[43:59] You'll notice on this map that in 2021, when we had probably

[44:02] some of the greatest overflows of impact from COVID 19

[44:05] that we were at around $100 million

[44:08] of an industry with the exception of Timberland.

[44:12] OK that is row crop and grazing only.

[44:15] That's pretty remarkable.

[44:17] So in times of disaster, there is a great influx

[44:20] and still steady wins the race as we all know it.

[44:24] We know here that the AG industry

[44:26] proves to be very valuable.

[44:28] One thing that was not mentioned earlier,

[44:30] is of the 9527 of those that are involved in agriculture

[44:35] within this county, friend those are people that don't cross

[44:38] the river, that don't live in mobile homes or not

[44:42] mobile homes, but in campers with,

[44:43] whether it be in construction or working from out of town

[44:46] on right of way work.

[44:47] These are people that live in Santa Rosa County that

[44:50] buy in Santa Rosa County and that most likely

[44:52] die in Santa Rosa County.

[44:54] That is a great impact.

[44:56] So here as we continue, we have options for ag land protection.

[45:00] Now, friend, we're not here today

[45:01] to sway this board or the residents of this County

[45:04] in any one direction.

[45:06] We're here today to present simply the facts of what we

[45:09] know is working, what we know is available on the common market.

[45:12] The first thing is the one that we need to really look

[45:15] at Levy County tax dollars.

[45:17] That that that's one thing we're going to discuss here

[45:19] in a moment, whether it be in a line

[45:21] item budget or a referendum.

[45:23] We also have easements, which is a voluntary program,

[45:27] very important.

[45:28] We understand that there are several different programs that

[45:31] are being funneled through the state of Florida locally

[45:33] and on a regional level, whether it be through the US Navy.

[45:37] We have a representative here today that's involved with that.

[45:40] Also we have the rural and family land protection

[45:43] that has invested more money into protection of rural lands

[45:47] in the state of Florida than the National level has done.

[45:50] It's pretty remarkable when you look

[45:52] at it, regional conservation partnership program as well.

[45:55] That's followed by USDA.

[45:56] NRCS we have a representative for here today for that as well.

[45:59] And then also we have transfer development rights.

[46:02] And that's something that often is misunderstood,

[46:05] but it's a voluntary program.

[46:07] It's something that we need to understand

[46:08] is incentive based, based on what the land owner would like

[46:12] to have happen with their land.

[46:14] And just to discuss a few of these things,

[46:16] the first one is acquire County dollars.

[46:18] There is no way possible to get into the fold

[46:23] with the federal government and the state government

[46:25] without the County bringing something to the table.

[46:27] It's very evident the state program

[46:30] through the rural and family lands,

[46:31] they have a ranking process.

[46:33] The usda, through the Natural Resource Conservation service,

[46:36] they have a ranking process within these ranking processes.

[46:39] They require 50/50 matches and it is very difficult for us

[46:43] to Levy that without the help of the board

[46:45] and residents of the County to see

[46:47] the importance of agriculture impacts in our County.

[46:50] So with that, the acquiring of County dollars,

[46:52] it could be facilitated through a line item budget, if you will.

[46:56] It could be facilitated through a referendum.

[46:59] One important note about a referendum where in Florida

[47:03] a referendum has been brought before the residents

[47:06] of the County on ballot.

[47:07] It has been majority passed when it comes

[47:10] to conservation in Florida.

[47:12] Just to give a few examples, from 2020 to 2022,

[47:15] we have Alachua county, Brevard county, Indian river, manatee,

[47:19] Nassau and Polk counties.

[47:21] All of these counties presented referendums

[47:23] before their residents and they all passed with a majority.

[47:26] As we look at that and recognize that we

[47:29] see the need in these areas that are

[47:31] heavy when it comes to influx.

[47:33] And I'm not about, you know, discouraging people

[47:37] to move to Santa Rosa County for in,

[47:39] I believe it's a very great County

[47:40] and we have a lot to offer.

[47:41] And we should allow people to move into our County.

[47:43] But I do see that we do have acquiring County

[47:46] dollars as at the forefront.

[47:48] This is something that is a definite need that's

[47:50] going to be required, I believe, if we are

[47:53] to counterbalance with the state and federal funds

[47:55] on projects like easements.

[47:58] So as we look at that, we get to the easement program.

[48:02] And there's some pros and cons here.

[48:04] One of the biggest cons on an easement program

[48:06] is it takes time.

[48:08] You know, patience is that one thing that people just don't

[48:11] often have a lot of, right?

[48:13] This here takes a lot of time to implement.

[48:15] And oftentimes working with the United States Department

[48:18] of agriculture that time is necessary

[48:21] to establish a working program.

[48:23] But yet here it also requires match money.

[48:27] It's going to have to be built off of someone's dollar.

[48:30] Pros of that, though, is it protects

[48:32] valuable agricultural lands and not necessarily just

[48:36] agricultural lands, but other lands

[48:38] of interest that need easements, whether it.

[48:40] Be natural resource related or not.

[48:43] With that, we have a program that's really local, that is

[48:47] through the United States Department of Navy.

[48:49] It's called the Ripa program, which

[48:52] is the readiness environmental program integration.

[48:54] And this is something here locally that we have people

[48:57] working in this program locally that we could work

[49:00] and collaborate together with, especially with Whiting field

[49:04] being a heart of our County.

[49:05] And as I think about that, that's

[49:07] a very good program that we've been in discussion with.

[49:10] We have a representative here today.

[49:11] If you need to speak or they need to speak on that.

[49:14] But also with that, we look at these programs as the protection

[49:20] voluntarily.

[49:22] The last thing anybody should do is come to me as a resident

[49:26] and tell me what I'm going to do with my land.

[49:28] So if we can voluntarily enter into something

[49:30] that's available that's offered, I see

[49:32] it as a win-win for the County.

[49:34] I see it as a win-win for all aspects.

[49:36] We find not just easements, but we also

[49:39] look at transfer of development rights

[49:40] with a transfer of development.

[49:42] Right? it often sounds good and looks good.

[49:45] And we can really explain it well.

[49:46] You can notice the graph here that it shows landowner a,

[49:50] he's defined as ascending person.

[49:54] They send their development rights over here to landowner b,

[49:57] which receives them as we think about a transfer of development.

[50:00] Right it's important because it has to have hard decisions

[50:04] made by those in leadership.

[50:06] Leadership of our County has to determine where the County plans

[50:10] in the future to make development

[50:13] and establish infrastructure and to create

[50:14] utilities for this County.

[50:16] And by doing that, it works hand in hand

[50:18] with our agricultural community because there's

[50:21] a great need there.

[50:22] We see this here as based on a determining market

[50:25] for development rights can be the rise and fall of this.

[50:28] This isn't something that in some cases,

[50:30] people decide to do in a whole County or countywide,

[50:33] but in localized areas.

[50:35] When we think about the interest here within Santa Rosa county,

[50:39] just to piggyback onto the easement section in the usda,

[50:43] NRCS office located in jay, Florida, in Santa Rosa county,

[50:47] there has been a press release through the state,

[50:49] through the rural and family land protection.

[50:51] So they do a press release in our office.

[50:54] We don't go out and do a great press release.

[50:56] We really just word by mouth.

[50:58] And we have 24 landowners that show up 10,000 acres

[51:04] that put an application in.

[51:06] You see here today that there's obviously

[51:09] show some of those farmers.

[51:11] I think that's important because we see the interest is there.

[51:15] We recognize here that this transfer of development.

[51:18] Right is something that is not that we're going

[51:20] to get off the ground today.

[51:22] This is a program that has to be developed, developed,

[51:25] thought through something that the County would need to look

[51:28] into more in detail to understand what works

[51:30] and what does not work.

[51:32] We find here that within this there is procedures

[51:35] that have to be established.

[51:36] There is credits that have to be given to whichever landowner

[51:38] and who it's going to.

[51:40] Obviously, developers have to be involved

[51:42] with the decision making.

[51:43] If they're going to even want to be a part of this.

[51:45] But I want you to look, there is Florida

[51:46] programs that are successful.

[51:48] If you notice here, there is Alachua county, which

[51:51] is where Gainesville is at.

[51:52] They have a successful TDR program.

[51:54] You also notice Lee County there where

[51:56] the greater Fort Myers area is.

[51:58] They have a successful TDR program.

[52:01] But here is just an example.

[52:03] This is not a silver bullet.

[52:05] Just doing a referendum ain't going to solve it.

[52:08] Just doing an easement program.

[52:10] It's not going to solve it.

[52:11] Just doing transfer development rights.

[52:13] This is not going to solve all of the issues in one.

[52:17] It's going to be a coupled approach coming to the table,

[52:20] wanting to be a peacemaker with all of those interested in Santa

[52:24] Rosa county, whether it be agriculture,

[52:27] whether it be development, tourism, whatever it be,

[52:30] we have to work together.

[52:31] So we look here and we see some pros and cons.

[52:34] We've kind of mentioned some of them, obviously voluntary.

[52:37] A private market controls this within a system.

[52:41] The federal government, the state government and the County

[52:44] government is not coming to me at my house

[52:46] and telling me what I will and will not do with my land.

[52:49] That is why it's such a great selling point, because when

[52:52] the leadership makes decisions based on those that

[52:55] are interested putting applications in it

[52:57] would be easy to create sending areas.

[53:00] And then the hard decision is where is it going?

[53:03] That would be the hardest.

[53:04] And that's a con any time.

[53:06] If you was to come to me and tell me, Mr Levi,

[53:09] I know you live in McClellan, but we're

[53:10] going to come and build the biggest waste facility

[53:13] right beside your house in.

[53:14] McClellan you know what?

[53:15] Levi don't want that.

[53:16] That's a hard decision.

[53:18] We don't discredit that.

[53:20] But we do understand that we have

[53:23] to have infrastructure in our County to establish residents.

[53:27] We do understand that.

[53:28] So that's a hard decision that has to be made.

[53:31] By us all.

[53:32] We look here and we think about this.

[53:34] This is just one example of things that are available.

[53:38] Here's the reference page.

[53:40] Where we gathered all of our data.

[53:42] I believe it's very important.

[53:44] We know this information is not generalized.

[53:47] This came across my desk when I came to Santa Rosa county,

[53:50] and I spent hours locating these people,

[53:53] finding these buying points, calling them and determining

[53:55] what the true answers are.

[53:59] Thank you for your time.

[53:59]

[54:09] Levi, Thanks for coming and giving the presentation.

[54:12] I it's always great to hear Levi speak.

[54:14] If you don't get fired up when Levi gets a presentation,

[54:17] you just ain't getting fired up.

[54:19] And I'll make a quick comment and then

[54:21] we'll go over to the District Commissioner

[54:23] that represents the lion's share of the row crop stuff.

[54:27] But, you know, I want to highlight two big things that he

[54:33] said because it can't it really can't

[54:35] be echoed enough, like you said, to fight those misconceptions.

[54:38] If you listen to what he talked about as

[54:41] far as land that is actively under conservation

[54:45] programs in Santa Rosa county, it's tremendous.

[54:47] When you couple the private land with the state

[54:50] owned land, nearly 70%, 70% is a huge number.

[54:56] I mean, you don't hear that talked about of land

[54:59] in our County right now is currently under conservation

[55:02] programs, either via agriculture or silviculture with Timberland.

[55:06] And so that's tremendous.

[55:07] And it's nice to and refreshing to hear

[55:10] that because sometimes you'll hear that, you know,

[55:13] hey, it's all disappeared.

[55:14] But that's a lion's share, nearly 3/4.

[55:18] But I will tell you this.

[55:21] The comprehensive approach that the farming community has taken

[55:26] to understanding the issues of protecting those lands

[55:32] and also supporting what you heard him say today,

[55:36] the agriculture community, through I know, meetings I've

[55:38] had them and I'm sure meetings that every commissioner has had

[55:40] and staff is they understand what you just said.

[55:44] You know what, we're proud to be American

[55:45] and we're proud that if Americans

[55:47] want to move here and live in our community, then

[55:49] they're welcome.

[55:50] But how do we address that while conserving land?

[55:52] And like you talked about, tough decisions,

[55:54] but the farmers understand that obviously you

[55:56] got to allow density in areas that aren't farmland to make it

[56:00] happen so that you can preserve that

[56:02] and still welcome our American neighbors.

[56:04] I mean, I think as a Christian, that's kind of what

[56:06] we're supposed to do, you know?

[56:08] But I will say before I turn it over, just so you guys know,

[56:12] and today obviously is not the decision point,

[56:17] but it is an absolute great springboard

[56:19] to jump off into which direction that we're heading.

[56:23] And so I'm encouraged and excited to hear comments

[56:25] from fellow commissioners.

[56:26] But just so you all know, and I'll get it out of the way.

[56:28] And so I can finish talking.

[56:30] I really like through my conversations, especially

[56:33] with Trent and Ryan and some of these other guys,

[56:36] I kind of like that what I'm going to call

[56:38] a multi pronged approach.

[56:40] I told these gentlemen, and I'll say it today,

[56:43] I, I fully support committing $2 million

[56:46] even in the next fiscal year to land conservation

[56:49] to match with those grant programs from the funds

[56:52] that the Navy is willing to provide,

[56:54] as well as USDA and federal funds.

[56:57] And and that's something that I know that we can absolutely

[57:00] do responsibly within our fiscal budget

[57:04] that we have that won't make a hiccup to any operations

[57:09] or pay raises or any things we're doing next year.

[57:11] But also.

[57:14] I absolutely want to continue to learn more about the transfer

[57:18] development rights.

[57:18] I've been fortunate that Trent had provided

[57:21] that information to me, and you probably said it better than me.

[57:24] It's a very complex issue with challenges,

[57:27] and so I just want to make sure that I

[57:29] get my arms fully around that as far as when

[57:32] our board makes a decision.

[57:33] But I think probably looking at that multi prong approach

[57:36] and having the opportunity to talk with some of the people

[57:38] in the farming community, you know,

[57:40] it was clear to me that y'all are just like

[57:43] folks down here in the city.

[57:44] You get 10 people in the same room

[57:45] and you're going to get some different ideas.

[57:47] And so some really like the idea of, you know,

[57:50] not getting the government involved at all

[57:51] and doing the transfer development rights.

[57:53] And some really like the idea of, hey,

[57:55] you know, Trent's already had I can't even remember how many

[57:58] applications.

[57:59] I think he said around 10,000 acres worth of land

[58:01] that people have said, we're willing to voluntarily go

[58:03] into an easement program if we can

[58:05] assist with that grant funding.

[58:07] So I just sharing that with you gentlemen as far as those are

[58:10] my thoughts and encouraged to hear from the rest of the board

[58:13] and as we start moving forward with this,

[58:15] so I'll turn it over to Commissioner Calkins

[58:17] because he definitely represents the district

[58:20] with the lion's share that you gentlemen have property in.

[58:23] So commissioner Calkins Thank you,

[58:24] Mr chairman, and Thank you so much,

[58:26] Levi, for your presentation.

[58:28] It was an honor to meet with the group about all this.

[58:31] And right now.

[58:34] Farming is one of the most important industries in Santa

[58:38] Rosa County and our country.

[58:40] If you don't have farmers, you don't eat.

[58:42] It is very important.

[58:43] And we have a disaster that is heading for us right now.

[58:47] And I'm talking to some farmers, Mr Jenkins, and learned a lot.

[58:52] I'm not a farmer, but I'm going to listen to the farmers

[58:55] to know what to do.

[58:57] We are running out of farmland and we

[59:00] are if we run out of farmland, we're all in trouble.

[59:03] Food prices go up.

[59:04] People can't afford groceries, so we

[59:08] need to work together to do everything

[59:09] we can to protect our farmland.

[59:13] And what you all are proposing is a good first step.

[59:17] And I'm going to tell you, I appreciate,

[59:18] Mr chairman, throwing out a number of $2 million

[59:22] because that helps me.

[59:25] I fully will support that.

[59:26] And that will also get help us to get

[59:29] grants and get more money from the feds and everybody else.

[59:33] And and y'all said when we were meeting this is not basically

[59:40] the landowner has a right.

[59:43] They're not forced they have a right to join this

[59:46] and it will help with protect our farmland.

[59:50] I mean and we have prime soils in Santa Rosa County.

[59:54] And when you build houses on these primetime soils,

[59:57] those soils, it it's going to hurt our farming industry.

[1:00:01] So we got to make sure that we protect

[1:00:03] the land with the prime soils.

[1:00:05] And we also now development should be allowed on areas

[1:00:09] that aren't good for farming.

[1:00:11] And you know, I've seen the maps and I

[1:00:13] think that's the direction we need to go in Santa Rosa County.

[1:00:17] But you all have my word.

[1:00:19] I'm going to do everything I can as the district three

[1:00:21] commissioner, as the one with the most farmland in this County

[1:00:24] to help protect and promote our farming industry.

[1:00:29] Because like I said, again, if we don't have farmers,

[1:00:32] we don't eat, our kids don't eat in America is in trouble.

[1:00:36] So we absolutely and I'm so thankful that you all care

[1:00:41] and that you all are being proactive.

[1:00:43] And it's a huge help to this, this whole board.

[1:00:47] You all have my 100% support anytime

[1:00:51] my door is open at all times.

[1:00:53] Any farmer, anybody want to meet with me,

[1:00:57] my calendar is wide open for everybody wanting to meet

[1:00:59] and I need to hear ideas and we'll put them up on the agenda.

[1:01:03] We'll get this done.

[1:01:04] I want to tell you another thing that I'm working on

[1:01:07] after that meeting is tangible tax for personal property

[1:01:13] for the farmers.

[1:01:13] It is absolutely wrong that farmers

[1:01:16] have to pay a tangible personal property tax in this County.

[1:01:20] I went to the County attorney, find out can we get rid of it?

[1:01:22] Because I wanted to put that on the agenda.

[1:01:24] He told me, no, the state handles that.

[1:01:27] But what I want to do as a board, get a letter,

[1:01:31] get meet with our state representative,

[1:01:33] our we're going to have probably a really good Senator

[1:01:35] coming around, meet with him and get a bill

[1:01:40] that gets rid of the tangible, tangible personal property

[1:01:45] tax for all our farmers.

[1:01:48] And I can tell you, I believe the state will vote for that.

[1:01:51] And so that's something we could start with now

[1:01:54] and that will truly keep money in our farmers pocket.

[1:01:58] So that's what I want to bring up.

[1:02:01] Thank you so much, commissioner.

[1:02:04] Commissioner Wright.

[1:02:05] Thank you, Mr Chairman.

[1:02:07] Thank you for the presentation today.

[1:02:10] Those of you who listen to me for the last couple of years,

[1:02:13] you know, you know that I like to use the term balance.

[1:02:16] And clearly I'm not an anti-growth person.

[1:02:18] I believe in the right to pursue happiness.

[1:02:23] I appreciate the presentation partially

[1:02:25] because you talked about the fact

[1:02:26] that agriculture is always fighting with tourism

[1:02:31] for the number one revenue source in the state of Florida,

[1:02:35] driving the economy and people forget about that.

[1:02:36] Everyone in the United States thinks about Florida

[1:02:38] and they don't think about agriculture, you know,

[1:02:40] unless you're in that industry, right?

[1:02:42] Everyone thinks about Disney World and beaches.

[1:02:45] So I'm glad you brought that up to help, you know,

[1:02:47] dispel that myth.

[1:02:49]

[1:02:52] Trent, I think it was almost three years ago

[1:02:54] that you and I got together and I came to you

[1:02:56] and I said, I know I'm the guy from Gulf breeze,

[1:02:57] but I got an idea I want to talk to you about how do

[1:03:00] we preserve farmlands, right?

[1:03:02] Knowing that growth was coming.

[1:03:04] We've seen what happened for several decades,

[1:03:06] and we have to figure out a way forward

[1:03:08] to make sure we allow for that growth,

[1:03:10] because we can't build a wall around Santa Rosa County

[1:03:12] and say, you don't get to come here.

[1:03:13] Right it goes back to that right to pursue happiness.

[1:03:15] But we had to find the balance because once that farmland is

[1:03:18] gone, we ain't getting it back.

[1:03:21] So, you know, one of the things we talked about at the time

[1:03:24] is how do we do something from an accounting standpoint and.

[1:03:28]

[1:03:31] I'm not big on just, you know, knee jerk reactions

[1:03:34] and just coming up with a solution really quick.

[1:03:36] We really need to do some due diligence

[1:03:37] to figure out what tools we have in the toolbox

[1:03:39] to get something done.

[1:03:40] You've spent a lot of time, you and an entire team,

[1:03:43] you guys have all worked together on this.

[1:03:45] Try to figure out, come back to the board and say, hey, here's

[1:03:47] the options that we see that are out there.

[1:03:49] I, like Commissioner Parker, agree

[1:03:52] the a multi-pronged approach.

[1:03:55] There's no one size fits all answer on this one.

[1:03:57] I think the County has to put some skin in the game.

[1:03:59] We need to set aside some funding for this.

[1:04:01] I think development rights is a good opportunity.

[1:04:04] All of these programs we need to utilize everything

[1:04:06] we can not to steal your thunder.

[1:04:10] But I saw somebody at public forum

[1:04:12] when I watched the meeting from Monday,

[1:04:14] came up and made comment on something

[1:04:16] that's tied directly to this.

[1:04:18] I've been working with.

[1:04:19] There's a joint partnership with Escambia County and Santa Rosa

[1:04:21] County and a couple organizations, Pensacola,

[1:04:24] perdido Bay estuary program to work

[1:04:26] with 1,000 friends of Florida.

[1:04:27] It's been going on for a few months now.

[1:04:29] I briefed staff a little bit on it about a month ago

[1:04:32] when they came out with a preliminary report.

[1:04:34] They'll be coming out with a final report

[1:04:36] and there's going to be an event April 23 at 5:00 PM West Florida

[1:04:40] public library in downtown Pensacola at 239

[1:04:43] North Spring Street.

[1:04:44] They put a study together with UW and University of Florida

[1:04:48] specifically to talk about what opportunities for growth

[1:04:53] there are from a standpoint of housing

[1:04:56] and how do we protect prime farmland areas

[1:04:59] and conservation like this.

[1:05:00] And ultimately, it goes back to their findings,

[1:05:03] basically talk about density, how we need to find ways to find

[1:05:06] a, the appropriate areas for growth to happen,

[1:05:09] how we increase density in those areas

[1:05:11] and how we preserve these farms.

[1:05:14] And this other delicate soils and delicate areas

[1:05:19] of the community and how we protect our waterways.

[1:05:23] So it goes hand in hand, right.

[1:05:25] And I think it's important that we remember that protecting land

[1:05:29] appropriately, protecting land and allowing development,

[1:05:33] those things go hand in hand.

[1:05:35] They're not partisan issues.

[1:05:36] They're community issues.

[1:05:37] Right and we can all agree that we want clean water, clean air,

[1:05:41] and we want to have food.

[1:05:42] Right and we want to have clothing to wear.

[1:05:45] So I appreciate the board members

[1:05:47] being willing to look at setting aside some money in the future.

[1:05:51] And I look forward to a lot of future conversations.

[1:05:53] But Thank you to everyone that worked so hard on this.

[1:05:54] Appreciate it.

[1:05:56] Thank you, commissioner.

[1:05:57] Commissioner Smith.

[1:05:58] Yeah Thank you for that great presentation

[1:06:00] and I really enjoyed talking to you guys

[1:06:02] on, on the personal note, getting

[1:06:05] an education on this program.

[1:06:07] I got to can't help but commend you guys for the work

[1:06:10] that you're doing to preserve this wonderful way of life

[1:06:16] that this country was built on.

[1:06:18] And, you know, sometimes sometimes

[1:06:21] I've credited myself to say.

[1:06:24] I call out things when I see them.

[1:06:28] You know, we get some people up here

[1:06:30] sometimes that are professing to protect farmlands.

[1:06:34] And I don't see them here today.

[1:06:36] And these are the things that this is the work.

[1:06:38] This is the hard work that I like to see.

[1:06:41] And, you know, it's common sense,

[1:06:45] but it's still got a lot of work that needs to go forward.

[1:06:48] And you got my support on this.

[1:06:51] Thank you.

[1:06:52] Thank you, gentlemen.

[1:06:53] And I know I know there's going to be some happy folks out here

[1:06:56] to hear because I wouldn't sure about the water,

[1:07:01] but it sounds like it's amazing.

[1:07:04] I wish we had time to tell all the citizens they can take

[1:07:07] that $2 million of County money and turn

[1:07:09] that into it could be close to $10 million

[1:07:12] in grant opportunities.

[1:07:13] So that's exciting.

[1:07:14] And I'm so proud just to be a small part

[1:07:18] of this board implementing programs

[1:07:20] that do ensure smart growth.

[1:07:22] So that we are working with our citizens and our landowners

[1:07:25] and our farmers.

[1:07:26] And Levi, again, I can't tip my hat enough to today

[1:07:29] for being the representative for these folks here,

[1:07:32] and we appreciate it.

[1:07:34] And I am extremely encouraged that as we work

[1:07:37] through these next few months, I think

[1:07:40] we'll be able to shore some stuff up and at least give

[1:07:42] you all some direction.

[1:07:43] But clearly, obviously, as far as these other programs,

[1:07:47] we'll have to.

[1:07:48] But it sounds like in Trent, you circle back with me

[1:07:52] and Brad as far as what we need to do to shore up with you,

[1:07:56] the commitment so that you can start working

[1:07:58] on those grant applications and opportunities to help the folks.

[1:08:01] And again, Thank you all so much.

[1:08:03] Well, Thank you, Mr Chairman and fellow board members

[1:08:06] and also residents, Santa Rosa county,

[1:08:07] for having the time for us today.

[1:08:09] All right.

[1:08:10]

[1:08:17] Well, this is the people watching at home

[1:08:20] and we're thankful to our audience

[1:08:22] and we're thankful to have the opportunity.

[1:08:24] People at home or at work that can't make it

[1:08:27] here get to watch these important issues.

[1:08:28] But the people watching at home didn't

[1:08:30] get to see the yellow wave that came into the room.

[1:08:34] And so, you know, it's pretty cool.

[1:08:35] Now we've got the cats in the House

[1:08:37] and some of our local celebrities.

[1:08:40] And lord, I don't think there's nobody

[1:08:42] more famous in this County than Brent lane over there.

[1:08:45] But we're thankful.

[1:08:49] We are so thankful.

[1:08:50] And before I turn it over for the Hawks family and honestly,

[1:08:54] we're thankful to have, you know, Kevin with us for awanas

[1:08:58] and and so many representatives from the Santa Rosa kids house.

[1:09:02] And so this is an exciting time.

[1:09:04] And as soon as we're having these,

[1:09:07] we're going to let the audience clear out for just a second.

[1:09:09] Farmers got to get back to work.

[1:09:11] Yeah, absolutely.

[1:09:12] Because as commissioner Calkins said,

[1:09:14] we can't eat without farmers.

[1:09:16] And Lord knows I like to eat at least twice a day.

[1:09:18] So see y'all later.

[1:09:20] Be careful on your way back home.

[1:09:23] And then I'm going to turn it over to Commissioner.

[1:09:25] Right he's got he's going to fill folks in more about why

[1:09:29] they get to see I'm going to call it the yellow wave

[1:09:31] here today with cat country.

[1:09:33] And just such an amazing opportunity.

[1:09:35] And I appreciate Commissioner right.

[1:09:36] Being the one to spearhead this presentation today.

[1:09:40] And Thank you all for coming.

[1:09:41] Thank you, Mr Chairman.

[1:09:42] Yeah folks from cat country 98.7 FM

[1:09:45] will be presenting a check to Santa Rosa kids house today.

[1:09:48] But I think we're a little behind on this one

[1:09:52] from a timing standpoint to celebrate the length of time

[1:09:58] that cat country has been a station in our region

[1:10:01] and has been an integral part of our community,

[1:10:04] but just wanted to present a proclamation to them.

[1:10:07] And Thanks for all they've done for many decades now.

[1:10:11] Whereas in 1987, dairy Dave and Mary housing

[1:10:14] applied to the Federal Communications Commission

[1:10:16] to construct a new radio station in Pensacola in 2003,

[1:10:20] construction was completed on a new 100,000 Watt 942 foot tower

[1:10:25] on 40 acres West of muskogee, and an FCC license was issued.

[1:10:30] The new FM radio station wic, ct, now known

[1:10:36] as cat country 98.7, was built to serve

[1:10:38] the greater Pensacola area.

[1:10:40] Wic made its debut as Christmas radio 98.7 in November of 2003

[1:10:46] and switched to pre-recorded country music

[1:10:48] on December 26th, 2003.

[1:10:51] Live broadcasting started in January 2004

[1:10:54] with on air personality Cindy Anderson, Kevin

[1:10:57] King, Charlie Crabb and Denver.

[1:10:59] Leonard wect was the first radio station

[1:11:02] in Florida to broadcast in high quality digital HD radio.

[1:11:07] Wect cat country 98.7 is a standout

[1:11:10] among broadcasting companies.

[1:11:12] It's family owned and operated by Dave and Mary Hocking

[1:11:15] and cat country 98.7 is constantly

[1:11:18] giving back to our community.

[1:11:19] In November 2023, cat country hosted its ninth miracle

[1:11:24] on Palafox to raise over $17,000 to support families in need

[1:11:28] with Christmas wishes throughout the United Way of West Florida.

[1:11:32] In August 2023, cat country organized and broadcast

[1:11:36] with TV partner WJR, the fifth annual cat Country Cares

[1:11:39] for kids radiothon and raised over $219,000

[1:11:43] to benefit the Studer family Children's Hospital.

[1:11:47] And in 2023, cat country 98.7 aired

[1:11:50] more than 10,000 public service announcements for

[1:11:53] non-profit events and causes.

[1:11:55] Its on air personalities broadcasted or emceed

[1:11:58] dozens of events to help organizations like the Big

[1:12:01] Brothers Big Sisters gala, men who cook for PACE center

[1:12:05] for girls, Pensacola fireworks on the 4th of July,

[1:12:09] the USO and leadership, Pensacola, just to name a few.

[1:12:13] And cat country 98.7 is one of the most

[1:12:16] recognized brands in Pensacola.

[1:12:18] Wect is the only Broadcasting Company with four pace

[1:12:22] awards presented to its leaders by the greater

[1:12:24] Pensacola chamber.

[1:12:25] And during the past 20 years, cat country

[1:12:28] has received the Country Music Association station of the year

[1:12:31] twice.

[1:12:31] The Academy of country music station of the year five times.

[1:12:35] The National Association of Broadcasters

[1:12:37] friend in need award three times and the National Association

[1:12:40] of Broadcasters crystal award three times.

[1:12:43] Now, therefore, be resolved that the Board of County

[1:12:45] Commissioners of Santa Rosa county, Florida, hereby

[1:12:48] recognizes wect cat country 98.7 for their 20 years of service

[1:12:53] to Santa Rosa County and Northwest Florida.

[1:12:56] Passed and adopted by the Board of County Commissioners

[1:12:58] this 11th day of April 2024 and will be signed

[1:13:00] by our chairman, Sam Parker.

[1:13:03] Thank you so much, Dave and Mary and your entire team

[1:13:05] over the years, both your team members today and your team

[1:13:08] members over the many years for everything

[1:13:11] you've done for this community.

[1:13:13] You know, a lot of times people think of Pensacola

[1:13:16] and Santa Rosa County.

[1:13:17] I think it's a station in Pensacola.

[1:13:19] But you've been integrated in this community for many years.

[1:13:23] And you've done so much to help nonprofit groups

[1:13:26] and help the citizens here to work with one as at the events

[1:13:30] you do in Spring Jam and just want to say Thank you

[1:13:33] and we appreciate what you do.

[1:13:36] Any other comments from the board?

[1:13:37] Do you want to have them come up and speak?

[1:13:39]

[1:13:43] Yeah Mary.

[1:13:45] Or if anyone would like to come up and speak at the microphone,

[1:13:48] then we could get a picture.

[1:13:50] When you left him at the house or.

[1:13:52] No, he's actually in Las Vegas at the National

[1:13:54] Association of Broadcasters.

[1:13:56] Well, come on up to the microphone.

[1:13:57] We know how much you like to speak on the microphone.

[1:13:59] So hit the button at the base right there.

[1:14:02] We're going to put Miss Mary on the spot.

[1:14:04] So what I said was that Dave is at the National Association

[1:14:06] of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas

[1:14:09] because he's on that board.

[1:14:10] So he's promoting radio throughout the United States.

[1:14:16] Come on, Brent, listen, on.

[1:14:18] On behalf of our radio station, it has been 20 wonderful years.

[1:14:21] And Dave and Mary have taught our staff

[1:14:24] that success through service is the way to be an integral part

[1:14:27] of our community.

[1:14:28] And that was something that both Dave and Mary said

[1:14:30] from the beginning was if you're going to work here,

[1:14:32] we're going to work within our community.

[1:14:34] And it is proven to be the greatest joy of my life

[1:14:37] professionally to be able to come here and serve.

[1:14:39] And so we stand before you today to say

[1:14:41] thank you for the proclamation.

[1:14:43] And it has been 20 fantastic years.

[1:14:45] And Dave and Mary don't get enough credit

[1:14:47] for setting up and literally helping us all

[1:14:51] live our dream on the radio.

[1:14:52] So thank you for the opportunity to be before you today.

[1:14:55] And what I will add is that we are doing as well as we are

[1:14:59] because we have dedicated people like Brent lane and Mel

[1:15:03] and all of our people are dedicated

[1:15:05] servants to our community.

[1:15:06] So we're very blessed.

[1:15:08] We can't even name all the celebrities.

[1:15:10] I think David Wayne and all the we've got so many people

[1:15:14] out here in the audience.

[1:15:15] That's fantastic.

[1:15:16] Well, I will.

[1:15:17] Brent, I'm going to I'm going to shift gears

[1:15:19] and put it on you because you're the professional emcee, I think.

[1:15:23] Do you want to tell folks what we've got going

[1:15:25] on with the kids house today?

[1:15:26] And we can do that.

[1:15:28] But I do want to invite all of our team members to come up here

[1:15:30] and before we shift into that.

[1:15:35] Commissioner right.

[1:15:36] You want to go down with the cat country team

[1:15:38] and get a picture with the proclamation or.

[1:15:40] Yes OK.

[1:15:41] All right.

[1:15:42] So this is going to be proclamation photo.

[1:15:44] So we'll get me and Mel on the cat and Kevin and the rest

[1:15:47] of our team in yellow.

[1:15:48] And then we'll do the kids house.

[1:15:51]

[1:15:53] Little more yellow.

[1:15:55]

[1:15:59] How are you?

[1:16:00] Thank you so much.

[1:16:01]

[1:16:09] Definitely hear about those kat-tun's.

[1:16:11]

[1:16:20] OK so I just want to.

[1:16:25]

[1:17:19] Now, Brent, I'm just almost like the song Jesus, take the wheel.

[1:17:25] I'm just going to turn it over to you.

[1:17:27] And between you and Kevin and all the Champions

[1:17:31] behind the scenes, why don't you why don't you

[1:17:34] tell everybody what's going on with why we're here as far as.

[1:17:38]

[1:17:50] How about that for the folks at home?

[1:17:54] I've never.

[1:17:55] Yes, I he needs an engineer to be doing it right.

[1:18:00] We just got off the air.

[1:18:02] This is pretty great.

[1:18:03] First of all, we do want to say thank you for the opportunity

[1:18:07] to come before you today.

[1:18:08] I'm Brent.

[1:18:09] This is Mel and it is Spring Jam started in 2018.

[1:18:13] And you mentioned in that proclamation the service

[1:18:16] to America award.

[1:18:17] One of those awards was for the 2018

[1:18:19] Spring Jam was the show we kind of created from the ground up.

[1:18:23] We called Wendell and said, hey, we want to do something cool

[1:18:25] for the kids house with awanas.

[1:18:27] And they went, OK, what do we need to do?

[1:18:32] And they came out and for the last

[1:18:35] it's been five years, although it feels like 10 Thanks

[1:18:38] to COVID.

[1:18:39] So we have had the most wonderful

[1:18:41] opportunity to share in this.

[1:18:43] And I know, Kevin, your team produced a video.

[1:18:45] And if we can throw it up on the screen, if you guys have that,

[1:18:48] we'll take a look at this year's Spring Jam.

[1:18:50]

[1:19:07] New stage, by the way.

[1:19:08]

[1:19:18] Perfect as our first time seeing it too.

[1:20:46] It was awesome, you guys.

[1:20:47] That was awesome.

[1:20:48] That was awesome.

[1:20:49]

[1:20:52] So here we are with the fifth annual

[1:20:55] and ultimately we're excited to have kids and George Birge

[1:21:01] and Parmalee come out.

[1:21:02] It was the show that cost the most money we have ever spent

[1:21:06] in terms of doing it together.

[1:21:07] And it's a partnership I definitely

[1:21:09] want to recognize Penn air.

[1:21:10] Thank you, Mike.

[1:21:11] And your whole team at Penn air did

[1:21:12] an amazing job of making this facilitating

[1:21:14] this to be able to happen.

[1:21:17] And because of that, I think the cat has a check that we

[1:21:21] want to present for 28,300.

[1:21:27] $7 and I know you guys probably know, but for the folks

[1:21:37] at home that don't know what the Santa Rosa kid's

[1:21:39] house does for our community, I think

[1:21:41] Wendell should take a minute.

[1:21:44] Thank you, Brent.

[1:21:45] This is this is amazing.

[1:21:47] And another amazing year for what Spring Jam does

[1:21:53] for the Santa Rosa kid's house.

[1:21:55] Similarly Mary Brent.

[1:21:57] Mel, Kevin, miss Marie, everybody involved.

[1:22:03] Unless you've been a part of it, unless you

[1:22:05] come there and see how much effort and how much hard work

[1:22:09] goes into this.

[1:22:10] And, you know, the good thing about it

[1:22:12] is because ladies like this love kids like we do

[1:22:17] and they realize that they've been mistreated.

[1:22:21] We could not do.

[1:22:23] We've we've got a great board.

[1:22:25] A lot of our board members are here today.

[1:22:27] Our executive director could not be here.

[1:22:28] She's ill, but we could not do this

[1:22:31] without people like Miss Mary and her radio

[1:22:35] station, Brent, everybody.

[1:22:38] Over the past five years, they've given us checks.

[1:22:42] Each year that's added up to over $100,000, folks.

[1:22:48] Now, that pays for therapy.

[1:22:51] That pays for victims advocates, that

[1:22:53] pays helps to keep the lights on right down to everything

[1:22:58] that we do.

[1:22:59] And of course, pen air has come on board with us.

[1:23:03] We can't say Thank you enough for them for their support.

[1:23:07] And it's just amazing.

[1:23:10] And really the part that the kids house plays on this,

[1:23:15] as opposed to most of our fundraisers, are minimal.

[1:23:19] They'd say show up at a certain time.

[1:23:22] Help us do a little bit before the show.

[1:23:25] I get to come out on the stage and with the other board members

[1:23:29] and say a few words to everybody that's there to see the shows

[1:23:33] and spent their money.

[1:23:34] But at the end of the day, we do very little

[1:23:37] and they give us checks.

[1:23:39] And it's been more than this.

[1:23:41] This is a great year, but it's at

[1:23:43] sometimes it's been over $30,000,

[1:23:46] so we can't say Thank you all enough.

[1:23:49] I mean, they without this radio station,

[1:23:52] all of Northwest Florida and especially

[1:23:55] Escambia and Santa Rosa county, would

[1:23:57] not be what they are today.

[1:23:58] And we mean that.

[1:24:00] And we love kids.

[1:24:01] Y'all love kids.

[1:24:03] And we're going to keep trying.

[1:24:04] We're going to keep working with them.

[1:24:05] And as long as they'll let us tag along

[1:24:08] and give us a check for this once a year,

[1:24:11] we're going to be there.

[1:24:12] So so Thank you all.

[1:24:15] We love you all.

[1:24:16] We love you.

[1:24:17]

[1:24:20] And Brent, before I go back to you, you know, you've heard me

[1:24:24] and a couple people mentioned Kevin rudetsky and his team

[1:24:27] at wanas.

[1:24:28] Look, I tag on to what you said.

[1:24:31] It's hard to make sure you don't leave

[1:24:33] people out to say Thank you.

[1:24:34] But I mean, out there.

[1:24:36] I was out there a week or two before this, and I mean,

[1:24:38] his team was working diligently to make sure.

[1:24:41] I mean, that is a partnership with our County

[1:24:44] that him and his team have that I don't

[1:24:46] ever want to take for granted.

[1:24:47] And we appreciate what you do for us every day

[1:24:50] as far as the economy, but we appreciate you being a venue

[1:24:54] that these folks can count on to do this.

[1:24:56] And since Mike from Penn airs over there hiding,

[1:24:59] I'll say I don't know the name of the new color.

[1:25:02] I've been a pen member since I was 16.

[1:25:04] That was my first ever checking account down here when

[1:25:07] you had the one on dogwood.

[1:25:08] I don't know the new color if it's.

[1:25:09] It's a Berry Berry.

[1:25:12] But I'll say after today you could go back and say hey,

[1:25:15] we might be going to cat country yellow.

[1:25:17] So Yeah.

[1:25:19] Well actually one of our colors is butter.

[1:25:21] It's an accent color.

[1:25:22] OK all right.

[1:25:23] Yeah so no Thank you all.

[1:25:26] As a member, I'll say Thank you to Panera for helping

[1:25:29] out with this burden.

[1:25:30] So this is exciting.

[1:25:32] Brent, I'll turn it back over to you.

[1:25:33] You tell us if you want us to come down there, we will.

[1:25:36] Or whatever.

[1:25:37] I like having Brent run.

[1:25:38] Why don't you just start coming to every commission

[1:25:40] master of ceremonies for the Board of County commissioners?

[1:25:42] I love it.

[1:25:42] I like to put that on.

[1:25:44] I also.

[1:25:44] I do want to take one more second to just say Thank you,

[1:25:46] that Kevin and your whole team.

[1:25:47] You guys, this is how the meeting went in 2018.

[1:25:51] Hey, we should do a show for the kids house and Kevin goes,

[1:25:53] we'll do all the logistics like and that's about how that went.

[1:25:56] And then we just started adding artists to it.

[1:25:58] And you guys, we have never had anybody in Nashville not

[1:26:00] go we want to go back there.

[1:26:02] So that's what it's like at is in Santa Rosa County.

[1:26:05] So thank you very much.

[1:26:06] So with that.

[1:26:07] Yes would you guys please come down?

[1:26:10] Mike, I kind of envision you holding this with the Big Ten

[1:26:14] logo and we'll head over here.

[1:26:16]

[1:26:22] OK, go ahead.

[1:26:26]

[1:26:33] You're the Masters.

[1:26:35] Yeah for what it's worth, by the way,

[1:28:06] this year's total now brings us up to $126,000

[1:28:10] for the Santa Rosa kid's house.

[1:28:11] So Yay.

[1:28:13]

[1:28:27] It's a good day.

[1:28:29] Yes, sir.

[1:28:32] All right.

[1:28:33] Let me make sure I don't got so much

[1:28:35] chicken scratch on my paper.

[1:28:36] Let me make sure I didn't miss anything here.

[1:28:39] Let's see.

[1:28:40] God OK, we got.

[1:28:43] Let's go ahead.

[1:28:44] Because I don't think it'll take too long.

[1:28:46] And I saw we've got tambourine and some other folks

[1:28:49] that were here earlier.

[1:28:51] They may have got mixed in with the crowd

[1:28:52] about the public hearing to consider adoption

[1:28:55] for the Florida building code.

[1:28:56] Local administrative amendments.

[1:28:59] I don't have any speakers signed up.

[1:29:02] There you go.

[1:29:03] I thought I lost you.

[1:29:04] I looked.

[1:29:04] I knew you were there.

[1:29:05] So Yes.

[1:29:06] Good morning.

[1:29:07] Tell the fine folks at home who you are and what you do for us.

[1:29:10] So they know.

[1:29:11] Good morning, tambrey Lee with Santa Rosa

[1:29:13] County building department.

[1:29:14] I serve as your building official.

[1:29:16] And if you'd like, I'll just jump into a quick synopsis

[1:29:19] of what this is about for you.

[1:29:21] This is a process that we go through every three years

[1:29:24] when the Florida building code gets

[1:29:25] readopted To the new code cycle, we adopt the local amendments.

[1:29:30] This is basically chapter 1 out of the Florida building code

[1:29:32] that gives us our scope and administrative authorities.

[1:29:36] And then any exceptions that we choose to utilize in our County.

[1:29:40] For the most part, nothing has changed

[1:29:42] other than some Scrivener notes that changed in the code

[1:29:44] that we worked in.

[1:29:46] And then our wind maps were the biggest change this year,

[1:29:50] where the majority of the County is now in the 160 mile per hour

[1:29:55] wind zone for a risk category two,

[1:29:57] which is your typical building residential structure.

[1:30:00] So we made some modifications in there.

[1:30:02] We're utilizing a GIS tool now that we're

[1:30:06] adopting into the ordinance.

[1:30:07] It's a link.

[1:30:08] It mirrors what Escambia County is doing.

[1:30:10] Excuse me, it's much more site specific.

[1:30:13] So that developer can Zoom in on that site

[1:30:16] and get a more interpolated wind load.

[1:30:18] So that should help them with that.

[1:30:20] So far we've had some minor trouble in the beginning

[1:30:22] of the year when we first moved to that,

[1:30:24] but the state has worked that out for us.

[1:30:28] This ordinance also brought in some new language that

[1:30:31] from the milestone inspections after the collapse

[1:30:34] of the building in South Florida a few years ago,

[1:30:36] legislated adopted legislation, adopted

[1:30:39] a milestone inspection process for cooperative

[1:30:43] commercial buildings.

[1:30:44] And this is pulling that language into that.

[1:30:47] So it's state statute coming into our local ordinance.

[1:30:51] And then it just cleaned up some other language

[1:30:53] throughout that helps us with our fire protection system,

[1:30:56] expediting permits.

[1:30:57] So it's a pretty straightforward document.

[1:31:00] If you have any questions, I'll be glad to answer.

[1:31:03] Somebody have any questions?

[1:31:05] I'm just going to touch on one thing you said.

[1:31:07] For the people that don't have to deal with construction

[1:31:10] every day, the new upgraded wind load requirement,

[1:31:13] it is a huge deal.

[1:31:14] It is.

[1:31:15] You know, it's the unfortunate side

[1:31:18] is it does continue to drive up the cost of housing.

[1:31:21] It's pretty significant.

[1:31:22] You know, some rough estimates I've heard are around $3,000

[1:31:26] for a smaller starter home that it increases the cost because

[1:31:29] of the thicker or alternative material, you know,

[1:31:32] for your decking on your roof.

[1:31:33] However, however, the silver lining

[1:31:36] is this is an effort by the Florida building commission,

[1:31:39] and we're proud to be a part of it,

[1:31:41] to make those homes safer for families.

[1:31:43] Now they're going to be meeting those wind load requirements as

[1:31:45] far North as almost a chumuckla as folks that used to

[1:31:48] were down by the Coast.

[1:31:49] So it is exciting to know and especially coming off

[1:31:51] of the event that I mentioned earlier, where we had the wind

[1:31:54] burst right there in the middle of my district,

[1:31:56] to know that you and your team of inspectors

[1:31:59] are going to continue to work hard to make sure

[1:32:01] that when people do have housing here, that it's safe

[1:32:04] and that's a place that they can go and refuge.

[1:32:06] And we appreciate what you and your team do so very, very much.

[1:32:11] Thank you.

[1:32:11] We appreciate your support.

[1:32:13] I don't see any questions or comments.

[1:32:15] I don't have anybody signed up to speak on this.

[1:32:17] So unless I'm missing something and nobody's jumping out

[1:32:20] of their chair, I will make a motion without objection

[1:32:23] to adopt the ordinance, which reflects the amendments that

[1:32:26] were discussed.

[1:32:28] Hearing no objection, the ordinance is adopted.

[1:32:31] Thank you.

[1:32:31] Yes, ma'am.

[1:32:32] You have a great day.

[1:32:34] All right.

[1:32:35] That concludes that.

[1:32:36] Now we will go to our public forum portion.

[1:32:40] And I've got my sign up sheet here.

[1:32:42] We are so pleased to have Ms. Pauline Grimes with us

[1:32:45] here today.

[1:32:46] So, Ms. Grimes, if you will, lead us off

[1:32:49] on the public forum section.

[1:32:51] And just as a reminder, real quick before you get started,

[1:32:54] Ms. Grimes is a reminder to anybody that's going

[1:32:57] to come up and speak today.

[1:32:59] Just when you get there, please make

[1:33:01] sure that green light like you see right here is turned on.

[1:33:03] So that the folks watching can get your name and town

[1:33:06] you live in.

[1:33:07] And and just please, I forgot to do this earlier.

[1:33:10] If anybody's got a cell phone or beeper, please make sure they're

[1:33:13] on solid or vibrate so that we don't

[1:33:15] interrupt our speakers while they're up

[1:33:16] here in their train of thought.

[1:33:17] So good morning, Ms. Grimes Pauline Grimes I live at 5003 87

[1:33:22] Santa Cruz mill in Avalon beach, and I'm here

[1:33:25] on behalf of the animals again.

[1:33:27] I was talking to a lady who works for the city.

[1:33:30] I was telling her about how the houses are built up on dirt.

[1:33:34] I said leave some land for the animals and build a house.

[1:33:39] She said, they can do that.

[1:33:41] They just don't want to because of the money.

[1:33:43] She said, you can't replace wildlife once it is gone.

[1:33:49] It's being crammed down our throats to get

[1:33:51] a subdivision where I live.

[1:33:53] I went to pay my water bill before I got the bill.

[1:33:56] Well, I need an account number.

[1:33:59] So I called them and said, what is going on?

[1:34:02] And she said, we are so stressed out of all

[1:34:05] the houses they are hooking up.

[1:34:07] And she said, we have to come up with a new plan.

[1:34:11] And so she gave me the number to the account number, new one.

[1:34:16] All the building needs to stop.

[1:34:18] I can see building, but just leave some land in between.

[1:34:24] It's like a dam running wild.

[1:34:26] I called about getting a light at Del Monte and Avalon.

[1:34:31] I told her it was a nightmare of traffic.

[1:34:34] She said it would take about 90 days.

[1:34:37] She said, Thank you so much for being concerned

[1:34:41] and my neighbor wants to know where the retention pond is

[1:34:44] going, if all these houses are going to be built.

[1:34:47] You know, the trees help.

[1:34:48] The wind.

[1:34:49] They soak up the water.

[1:34:51] When it rains, the houses close to the ground

[1:34:54] will flood because of what the builders are doing,

[1:34:57] raising the houses they build.

[1:34:59] You will have to live with that.

[1:35:01] My neighbor believes everything is slowing down.

[1:35:04] I don't know.

[1:35:05] I pray that it is.

[1:35:07] Say you need to have a six figure income now to even

[1:35:11] build a house in Florida.

[1:35:14] Ecclesiastes 317.

[1:35:17] In due season, God will judge everything

[1:35:19] man does both good or bad.

[1:35:22]

[1:35:27] Thank you, ma'am, for your comments.

[1:35:30] We're we're going to go to Mrs. Cherie Chapman.

[1:35:34] I want to know where the.

[1:35:35]

[1:35:42] Sherri Chapman, Pea Ridge there.

[1:35:45] For a minute, I thought we were going to hear the Hallelujah

[1:35:47] chorus, but it is election time, so it's

[1:35:51] amazing how the tide changes whenever

[1:35:54] everybody's politicking.

[1:35:57] I would like to remind those that you guys have voted

[1:36:01] to rezone land up in what's considered

[1:36:05] the country or agriculture land, so please

[1:36:08] take responsibility for that.

[1:36:11] Even when the citizens came up in Groves

[1:36:13] begging you not to rezone agriculture to commercial,

[1:36:18] y'all did.

[1:36:19] So I want you to think real hard of what you're

[1:36:22] going to do from this point on, because

[1:36:24] from what you've done to this point has not

[1:36:27] supported what you just said.

[1:36:30] I, I would like to say that I am very

[1:36:35] pleased that the impact fee is going to be started whenever

[1:36:41] the new tax is started.

[1:36:44] There has been people that have reached out and touched

[1:36:47] and said, well, we're not for that.

[1:36:50] So I have asked them to please do happy signs along the roads

[1:36:54] that they are satisfied with.

[1:36:56] So that the County knows what roads don't need fixing.

[1:36:59] Being the majority of people think and feel when they're

[1:37:03] sitting in traffic that these we need help

[1:37:06] and it's going to take us as well as the builders.

[1:37:10] As I said before, in 1970, paid an impact fee

[1:37:16] to buy a house in this County.

[1:37:19] We paid our fair share.

[1:37:20] Then we pay our ad valorem tax.

[1:37:22] We paid them every time since, and we have more than one house.

[1:37:28] So I understand what people say when they say how

[1:37:31] are we going to beat the bills?

[1:37:33] Well, we don't rent any of those houses out,

[1:37:37] so I don't want people to think that I'm

[1:37:39] up here saying it because I get money for the houses

[1:37:42] that we have.

[1:37:43] I don't and I don't intend to.

[1:37:46] But the thing I want to make is that it is important for all

[1:37:50] of us to look at what's happening when you have a sales

[1:37:54] tax that is put in place, every person that

[1:37:57] comes into this County will help pay that.

[1:38:01] My hope is that there will be a time that farmers do

[1:38:04] not pay ad valorem tax at all.

[1:38:07] I know agriculture is less, but every little bit

[1:38:11] helps when you have a farmer that doesn't have a good year.

[1:38:15] I would like for some point in this County

[1:38:19] that we get to have greatly reduced ad valorem tax.

[1:38:23] But the way that we are set up now,

[1:38:26] it's not going to happen anytime soon

[1:38:28] and we need to get our roads fixed.

[1:38:31] We need to get our infrastructure going

[1:38:33] and the builders can help with the areas

[1:38:36] that they impact, such as 182.

[1:38:40] There's building like crazy out there.

[1:38:42] Think of how much money would help the infrastructure on 182

[1:38:47] if there was impact fees.

[1:38:49] Thank you so much for your comments.

[1:38:51] Sherman Gomez.

[1:38:52]

[1:38:55] And then after Sherman gets through, it'll be George Odum.

[1:38:58]

[1:39:01] How are y'all doing?

[1:39:02] Sherman Gomez, East Milton live off of Andes basin.

[1:39:08] I'm here to talk about the illicit discharge

[1:39:10] that's been going in to Andes basin for over four years now.

[1:39:16] Back in August 28th, 2022, Bob Cole was still here.

[1:39:22] Y'all seen me for the first time come

[1:39:24] up in here raising Cain about the clay

[1:39:27] going in from airway Oaks.

[1:39:30] Prior to me coming in here, my first videos and pictures

[1:39:37] of the clay going into Andes basin

[1:39:39] started on August 28th, 2020.

[1:39:44] It took a year and a half or so of me complaining to code

[1:39:48] enforcement DEP EPA, everybody I could possibly think of

[1:39:53] to stop the clay from going into Andy's

[1:39:55] basin because of airway Oaks.

[1:40:00] That's when y'all seen me finally

[1:40:02] up here talking to Bob Cole.

[1:40:07] After that time, nothing has really

[1:40:11] gotten done to stop the clay.

[1:40:12] It's steadily going.

[1:40:14] It's been a disgrace watching it go in there.

[1:40:17] August 28th, 2022, I made Bob Cole in the County

[1:40:23] up here aware that Revere was failing.

[1:40:27] Also that was almost over two years ago.

[1:40:32] Nothing has been done to stop the clay

[1:40:35] from going into Annie's basin.

[1:40:37] I stopped it by getting channel 3

[1:40:39] News and getting y'all's attention and then

[1:40:41] making something happen.

[1:40:43] But in that whole time period from airway oaks,

[1:40:45] that's a four year problem.

[1:40:47] And then Riviera started.

[1:40:49] That's been over two years.

[1:40:51] Nothing and nobody has taken me seriously.

[1:40:55] I come to these County commissioners

[1:40:56] meeting and I learn from y'all.

[1:40:58] I heard one of y'all say, I wish y'all would quit

[1:41:00] complaining and come up with a strategy

[1:41:02] and a plan to stop a solution.

[1:41:05] So I did.

[1:41:06] I started taking videos and pictures all the way back

[1:41:09] to 2020 is when I first started because I realized the County

[1:41:13] wasn't doing nothing.

[1:41:14] Code enforcement wasn't acting enough,

[1:41:16] the clay was still going into the basin.

[1:41:18] So I made videos after videos.

[1:41:21] I got four years of videos.

[1:41:22] It's a very valuable that an important that the County goes

[1:41:26] back and watches the failures because it's

[1:41:29] very easy to see who's at fault or.

[1:41:32]

[1:41:36] You got the County and you got developers.

[1:41:38] When you watch my videos, it's plain to see who's at fault. OK?

[1:41:42] and the land development code has to change.

[1:41:46] Nobody has done anything significant to address

[1:41:50] the issues going on at Riviera.

[1:41:53] The basin is destroyed and it is now

[1:41:58] that you are in the spotlight.

[1:41:59] I'm not trying to beat nobody up,

[1:42:01] but now that you're in the spotlight,

[1:42:02] it's time things are getting tried to get something done.

[1:42:06] But it's too late.

[1:42:08] Why I say that, does a lot.

[1:42:10] Right next to the 3 that have been developed

[1:42:14] and destroyed and space.

[1:42:15] And so far, they're fixing to take down all

[1:42:17] those trees on that next lot.

[1:42:20] They're up right now.

[1:42:22] But nothing has changed in this four years

[1:42:24] to stop the clear cutting and the clay that's

[1:42:29] fixing to go into the basin once again because it

[1:42:31] is fixing to go into the basin.

[1:42:33] Once they clear that Thank you for nobody's done anything.

[1:42:36] Thank you, sir.

[1:42:37] I'm not going to get in a back and forth on this,

[1:42:39] but I've got things I want to talk about

[1:42:40] and I want to bring something up a little later.

[1:42:42] OK?

[1:42:43] Thank you, sir.

[1:42:44] The time time expired.

[1:42:45] All right.

[1:42:46] I hope you're going to stick around, Mr. Gomez.

[1:42:49] OK all right, George.

[1:42:54] George oldsmar, pace, Florida.

[1:42:57] I just got back from a wonderful trip.

[1:43:00] Going to see the eclipse in Texas all the way there

[1:43:04] and all the way back.

[1:43:06] I'm seeing huge flags, saw huge, gigantic flags

[1:43:11] in Texas with the Texas flag in one pole

[1:43:15] and the American flag on the other.

[1:43:18] One thing in common with every single one of them.

[1:43:22] They were on private property.

[1:43:24] All of them.

[1:43:27] Not one of them was on public property.

[1:43:31] I just want to bring that to your attention.

[1:43:33] Public money for public use, tourism dollars for tourism use.

[1:43:38] If somebody if a group of people want

[1:43:40] to get together and build a 1,000 foot flag, I don't care.

[1:43:44] They want to put up the money.

[1:43:46] I don't mind.

[1:43:48] Have a wonderful day.

[1:43:50] Thank you so much for your comments.

[1:43:52] Sir, anybody that didn't sign up that feels.

[1:43:54] Yes, I've got two hands.

[1:43:56]

[1:44:00] Anybody else just so I can take account for that.

[1:44:03] Or is it just the two hands that I saw?

[1:44:05] OK Thank you.

[1:44:05] Good morning.

[1:44:06] Good morning.

[1:44:08] Last week, the commission held public hearings

[1:44:10] to discuss topics of great importance to this community.

[1:44:14] Sorry Jennifer Mancini, resident of pace.

[1:44:17] I also represent the home Builders

[1:44:18] Association of West Florida.

[1:44:21] Those conversations have continued today, as they should.

[1:44:24] These are issues of dire importance to our community.

[1:44:27] Florida's impressive growth is irreversible

[1:44:30] and it will continue.

[1:44:32] I won't take time today to list all of the reasons people are

[1:44:36] moving to our great state, as I would

[1:44:37] think they are obvious to all of us in this room.

[1:44:40] But there is one major misconception

[1:44:42] among some people in this community

[1:44:43] about population growth.

[1:44:45] Vocal, anti-growth citizens point fingers at builders

[1:44:49] and make demands for a tax levied on new construction.

[1:44:52] Our industry is not creating growth.

[1:44:55] Our industry is responding to growth

[1:44:57] by providing supply of housing.

[1:45:00] The County works to attract new businesses.

[1:45:03] They bring well-paying jobs, high

[1:45:05] paying jobs and quality jobs to our area, as they should.

[1:45:08] This is key to the quality of life in our area.

[1:45:13] We support this.

[1:45:14] We absolutely, absolutely support these efforts.

[1:45:16] But the builders who build the much

[1:45:18] needed homes that come with the economic growth

[1:45:21] are taking the blame.

[1:45:23] New home buyers are targeted by proposed impact fee.

[1:45:27] An impact fee is a regressive tax,

[1:45:29] and it hurts the first time home buyer and lower to middle income

[1:45:32] families the most.

[1:45:34] The HBR strongly opposes any new impact fee.

[1:45:39] The local option sales tax was something we could support.

[1:45:42] It is fair and consumption based.

[1:45:45] We need to stop targeting and condemning

[1:45:48] the Homebuilding industry.

[1:45:50] We provide thousands of jobs in this community,

[1:45:52] but more importantly, we supply a place to call home

[1:45:55] for those living here now and for all

[1:45:58] those who will need safe and affordable

[1:46:00] housing in our future.

[1:46:01] Thank you.

[1:46:03] Thank you for your comments.

[1:46:04]

[1:46:07] Mayor Owens, Thank you for being here today.

[1:46:11] I'll introduce him as mayor.

[1:46:13] Sean Owens is the town of Jay.

[1:46:15] So we're thankful to have you there.

[1:46:17] You're the crown jewel of the North end of the County.

[1:46:18] I hear you.

[1:46:19] Thank you very much for the complement.

[1:46:22] I wanted to just touch base on the presentation

[1:46:25] that the agricultural community put together today.

[1:46:29] Obviously, the presentation was fantastic.

[1:46:32] Made a lot of great points.

[1:46:34] And one of the things that I wear two hats sometimes

[1:46:37] as the mayor of Jay and living in the North end

[1:46:40] of the community and also as a contractor.

[1:46:43] Those are battles that I face every day,

[1:46:45] determining what is most important for the North end

[1:46:49] of the County.

[1:46:50] Obviously, I personally have to make a living.

[1:46:53] You know, I'm not going to be a mass builder that's going

[1:46:57] to build thousands of homes.

[1:46:58] I'm going to build someone's daughters home or someone's

[1:47:01] sons homes as a custom home.

[1:47:03] But what I've realized, having these conversations with a lot

[1:47:07] of the commissioners here and also

[1:47:08] with the agricultural community, that the very most important

[1:47:12] thing that we have to look at in District 3

[1:47:14] is just the quality of life.

[1:47:17] We have the ability to once again get ahead of something

[1:47:21] that's coming our way.

[1:47:22] Just in the past two weeks, I have been contacted

[1:47:26] by national builders to purchase land in the city limits of Jay.

[1:47:31] Just one small little development would,

[1:47:34] in the next 24 months would increase the residents by 30%

[1:47:38] Now, that's not much right, meaning that we have

[1:47:40] a small town, but 30% is a lot.

[1:47:44] So when you know, as I think through this

[1:47:48] and as I've concentrated on what the most important thing is,

[1:47:51] is protecting those that agricultural land,

[1:47:54] and that's something that the County has to 100% get behind.

[1:47:58] I think it's immediate today that the County has to think

[1:48:01] about the future of the agricultural community,

[1:48:03] just like we do tourist development dollars.

[1:48:06] It has to be on the mindset of how we protect

[1:48:09] the agricultural community.

[1:48:10] I think there are a number of ways.

[1:48:12] I think that the presentation pretty

[1:48:14] much explained all those ways that can happen in the future.

[1:48:18] But I also think that there's opportunity for the County

[1:48:20] to do something now to determine the responsibility

[1:48:25] of our growth, which means how do we take zoning seriously when

[1:48:31] it comes to agricultural land?

[1:48:33] Is there infrastructure in place where it

[1:48:35] needs to be for us to develop?

[1:48:38] I think that's huge.

[1:48:39] Infrastructure is the most important thing.

[1:48:41] I think.

[1:48:42] Jay Florida has infrastructure, so I could

[1:48:44] see development in the area.

[1:48:46] But one thing that we have the ability

[1:48:49] to do right now through our land development code

[1:48:51] is to determine what we can do in the rural area.

[1:48:56] Prime examples are pud developments.

[1:48:59] Try taking 50% of that land.

[1:49:01] Looking at density and doing those things,

[1:49:02] I think that's an immediate impact on agricultural property.

[1:49:07] We we can slow some of that development

[1:49:11] down by looking at different things through the land

[1:49:13] development code as we work on different ideas

[1:49:18] through the agricultural community.

[1:49:19] So, you know, I'm of the opinion and I think it's very important

[1:49:22] that we truly, truly concentrate on what we're doing

[1:49:27] in the agricultural community.

[1:49:28] The commitment that you guys are willing to make

[1:49:30] immediately with the investment dollars is extremely important.

[1:49:34] But the state has already put a 10 year program in place.

[1:49:37] And I think as you think about the amount of money

[1:49:39] that you invest, that you do that as a 10 year commitment

[1:49:42] doesn't just need to be one year,

[1:49:44] it needs to be a long term commitment.

[1:49:46] And I ask you guys to really consider that.

[1:49:48] Thank you for the time.

[1:49:49] Yes, sir.

[1:49:50] Thank you, mayor, for coming and being

[1:49:53] the representative for that North end of the County today.

[1:49:56] All right.

[1:49:57] I didn't see anybody else raise their hand on last chance,

[1:50:00] anybody that needed to speak.

[1:50:01] We're going to bounce or I'm going

[1:50:05] to shift a couple things here, gentlemen, just so

[1:50:07] we can try to get through this.

[1:50:09] And that way, if comments get too long,

[1:50:11] I may have to step out because we've got some folks that

[1:50:14] are waiting to meet actually talking

[1:50:15] about economic development that are here waiting at the office

[1:50:20] so we could real quick go ahead and move the consent agenda.

[1:50:24] Minus item number 32, the engineering item.

[1:50:27] Is there any other issues on the consent agenda

[1:50:30] you all have a problem with moving other than 32?

[1:50:34] Commissioner Calkins yeah, I just I just wanted to say

[1:50:37] I just wanted to have a minute to talk

[1:50:39] about all the great things that are happening on the yeah,

[1:50:42] absolutely.

[1:50:43] I've got all three of y'all wrote down as far as talking

[1:50:47] on that, I'm just going to try to get the voting issues

[1:50:50] and that way I may have to step out

[1:50:51] because we've got several gentlemen

[1:50:52] that are here waiting on me.

[1:50:55] We'll go ahead and move the consent

[1:50:56] agenda without objection.

[1:50:58] Hearing none, the items moved.

[1:51:00] And then item number 32 under regular agenda, the woodbine,

[1:51:04] c.I. and construction services.

[1:51:06] Brad what in particular?

[1:51:08] Yeah, Mr chairman, we did get an appropriation for this the way

[1:51:12] the state does the appropriations,

[1:51:13] they run it through is our funnel point.

[1:51:16] So that means that we have to meet the dot specs.

[1:51:19] Dot does not allow anyone who does

[1:51:21] the design to do Ci services, so we'd like

[1:51:24] to remove that portion of it.

[1:51:25] We'll bring a recommendation for that project

[1:51:28] back at the next agenda.

[1:51:31] OK so you don't need any action today is what you're telling me?

[1:51:34] Well, we do need the approval of the contract administration

[1:51:38] not to exceed the 65,000.

[1:51:40] We'll just remove the Ci services portion for that.

[1:51:43] All right.

[1:51:43] And then you'll bring the other part at the next meeting.

[1:51:46] OK super short and sweet, super excited.

[1:51:50] People will start seeing Brad.

[1:51:51] It's next week, right?

[1:51:53] That they'll actually start seeing construction

[1:51:54] crews on the ground.

[1:51:55] So it has been a huge haul.

[1:51:58] It's taken seven years to get here,

[1:51:59] but we will finally have construction crews on the ground

[1:52:02] next week for Woodbine road.

[1:52:04] And like I said, it's been a years in the making.

[1:52:06] So I appreciate you gentlemen support on this issue.

[1:52:08] Brad and Rebecca, Thank you for working.

[1:52:10] If there's no other comments or recommend approving that item

[1:52:13] without objection, hearing no objection, that item is approved

[1:52:17] and then the meeting list is as published.

[1:52:20] No needs are changed to that.

[1:52:21] That's for public information.

[1:52:23] And then we will go I'm going to go in the order that y'all said,

[1:52:25] and hopefully if it don't get too long,

[1:52:28] I definitely want to be here.

[1:52:29] If not, I may have to come back and watch just

[1:52:30] because we've got a few people.

[1:52:32] So I know Commissioner Calkins wanted to speak on the consent

[1:52:34] agenda, and then I'll go to Commissioner

[1:52:36] Smith and Commissioner Reich.

[1:52:37] Go ahead, commissioner Collins.

[1:52:39] Thank you, Mr Chairman.

[1:52:41] I just wanted to let the public know

[1:52:43] and all the people that are watching what we did today,

[1:52:47] this was a great day for Santa Rosa County.

[1:52:52] We started out with rural internet expansion.

[1:52:55] Since 2021 has been our mission to get the North Santa Rosa

[1:53:00] County connected to the internet because while the denser cities,

[1:53:05] they don't have issues with internet

[1:53:07] and North Santa Rosa county, there

[1:53:08] is huge issues with internet.

[1:53:11] People do not have the connectivity that folks

[1:53:16] in Milton in Gulf Breeze have.

[1:53:18] And what we have done is we've worked with the governor,

[1:53:21] we have Kyle Holly that has worked

[1:53:24] his tail off on getting us grants

[1:53:27] and getting them approved.

[1:53:29] And just on this consent agenda, today, we got a tower to help

[1:53:34] improve 5G connectivity.

[1:53:37] This will help with emergency services.

[1:53:39] This will help with, you know, our farmers

[1:53:42] out there mowing the fields and be able to use their phone

[1:53:44] and all these things.

[1:53:47] So this is good use of taxpayer money.

[1:53:51] Also, the hospital and J. These are that hospital.

[1:53:56] Right there is a huge employer to the town of Jay.

[1:54:00] And I want to thank this board because we couldn't.

[1:54:04] This is a team effort.

[1:54:05] I want to thank Deborah Jenkins, Sarah Lefebvre.

[1:54:11] I listed a whole name, a bunch of names last week.

[1:54:15] And and I'm so thankful to all of them.

[1:54:18] This was a team effort to get that done.

[1:54:23] We have done a lot for the town of Jay

[1:54:25] about I think we as a board in the last four years

[1:54:29] have basically gotten the town of Jay about a 1.5 million,

[1:54:33] 1.5, 25,000, all added up.

[1:54:36] That's not including all the roads and stuff outside of Jay

[1:54:39] that we've been working on.

[1:54:40] But if you compare it from, you know, 20 years before that,

[1:54:45] if you look at those numbers, I think

[1:54:48] we've done pretty good in the last four years

[1:54:50] for getting money for the town of Jay.

[1:54:52] Also, another thing that's not talked about is we

[1:54:58] and this is Trent Matthews.

[1:55:00] Thankful to him.

[1:55:01] Brad, we're getting millions of dollars.

[1:55:06] And it's in this agenda also to protect

[1:55:09] our farmland from erosion that has to do with the gullies.

[1:55:13] And so we're stopping the goalies

[1:55:17] from invading the farmland.

[1:55:20] And so that's another thing that is absolutely amazing.

[1:55:25] And so I like to bring these things up because a lot of folks

[1:55:28] don't know what we're all doing in the background.

[1:55:30] And how hard we work.

[1:55:32] We are all right here.

[1:55:33] I know every single one of you are full time commissioners.

[1:55:36] And so it's a lot of work.

[1:55:40] I know every one of you, every single commissioner

[1:55:42] here works day and night.

[1:55:44] And and it's not as easy as it looks,

[1:55:48] but I'm trying to get the message

[1:55:49] out on what we are doing today.

[1:55:54] Another item our industrial parks were there

[1:55:58] was years of unsuccess with our industrial park there,

[1:56:04] but we had a good economic guy, Shannon Ogletree.

[1:56:09] He has he has worked tirelessly to get us

[1:56:14] that industrial parks filled and there

[1:56:18] was opposition to getting land.

[1:56:20] This was a big controversial issue

[1:56:22] a long time ago about getting that land in Santa Rosa County.

[1:56:26] It was.

[1:56:27] And guess what?

[1:56:28] Because there were people that said it was a waste of money.

[1:56:31] Well, I'll tell you folks, that was not a waste of money

[1:56:35] because that's going to bring thousands of jobs in that area.

[1:56:40] And great news is we can say the name.

[1:56:44] I got to go down to Palm Beach County with Shannon Ogletree

[1:56:48] and meet with the folks with Cheney brothers.

[1:56:51] And what I saw impressed me on how our economics guy.

[1:56:57] Shannon ogletree, how he builds these relationships with people,

[1:57:02] how they love them.

[1:57:03] We we were up in the North.

[1:57:05] We were in New Jersey.

[1:57:07] And I seen him and how he's built these relationships

[1:57:11] with these business people.

[1:57:12] And we need to give him all the resources he needs.

[1:57:16] So he can help us get economic growth.

[1:57:20] And so we have an amazing team.

[1:57:22] Shannon Ogletree is a rock star, and we

[1:57:27] need to do everything we can to I can guarantee you

[1:57:30] they are trying to call him and bring him out of our County

[1:57:33] to get him another job in another County

[1:57:35] because he does such a great job.

[1:57:38] So we need to make sure that he's well taken care of

[1:57:41] and we don't lose him because this man knows what he's doing.

[1:57:44] So we got the industrial parks being filled up.

[1:57:49] We have so many great things.

[1:57:52] And I'm so proud of this board, proud of our chairman,

[1:57:55] proud of our staff.

[1:57:58] I'm proud of the community leaders like Mr. Jenkins.

[1:58:02] I mean, these are folks we need to listen

[1:58:04] to when they have a concern.

[1:58:07] We need to listen to our community.

[1:58:09] And we need to listen to all the people

[1:58:11] that are in these industries.

[1:58:13] And Thank you again.

[1:58:14] Thank you, gentlemen, for approving

[1:58:16] all these great things.

[1:58:17] And and also, I want to also mention that I didn't mention

[1:58:21] Woodbine road is getting tons of money being put in it.

[1:58:26] That was on this agenda that Commissioner

[1:58:28] Sam Parker, our chairman, has been beating the drums.

[1:58:32] And you know, there was someone made a comment a while back

[1:58:36] saying you know, the chairman was

[1:58:39] telling the employees or something,

[1:58:40] we need to get roads done.

[1:58:42] Well, good job, chairman.

[1:58:43] That's what we need.

[1:58:44] We need to get roads done and we need

[1:58:46] to get this done as quick as possible

[1:58:49] because people want to stop being stuck in traffic.

[1:58:54] So we are doing everything we can to help.

[1:58:58] People get from point A to point B faster.

[1:59:01] So keep telling the staff, let's get it done, commissioner.

[1:59:06] Mr Chairman.

[1:59:07] And and I will support that.

[1:59:09] And I and I believe the staff is doing

[1:59:11] the best job that they can.

[1:59:13] So Thank you, folks.

[1:59:16] Thank you, commissioner.

[1:59:18] Commissioner smith, I hung around

[1:59:20] because I wanted to hear the update about the triumph meeting

[1:59:22] and go ahead.

[1:59:25] Thank you, sir.

[1:59:26] Yeah yesterday I had the privilege of going down to.

[1:59:29]

[1:59:32] Apalachicola reef, beautiful area.

[1:59:35] It was great meeting.

[1:59:36] And, you know, Thank goodness we do

[1:59:39] have Shannon that's able to talk.

[1:59:41] But for some reason, I became locked jawed when I got up

[1:59:44] to that podium because, you know,

[1:59:46] it's do get sidetracked by the amount of work

[1:59:50] that these guys do and they do it in a civil manner

[1:59:53] and it's really well run meetings and, you know,

[1:59:56] there's no nonsense.

[1:59:58] And of course, I had half of the faculty of FSU there, too.

[2:00:00] So I'm sitting there practicing my public speaking

[2:00:03] with all of this going on.

[2:00:05] So and like I told Shannon, I reminded myself of the attorney

[2:00:08] on my cousin Vinny.

[2:00:10] I just got up there.

[2:00:12] But, but anyway, I want to thank the board as well

[2:00:16] for all of the work that they have

[2:00:19] done to help Santa Rosa County.

[2:00:22] And that's just part of it.

[2:00:24] And some of the things that we're able to know,

[2:00:29] Shannon, I don't want to embarrass you,

[2:00:31] but Shannon's got a good imagination

[2:00:33] on how we can do some certain projects

[2:00:35] and be able to get things done.

[2:00:37] And, you know, a lot of the things, like you said,

[2:00:39] are in my district and it's stuff

[2:00:42] that I'm really paying a large amount of attention to.

[2:00:45] But know, you can't help but just, you know, try up board

[2:00:53] exists because of an unfortunate situation.

[2:00:58] Hey that's called making lemonade out of bad lemons

[2:01:02] right there and and we're really working on the resources

[2:01:08] to get that going.

[2:01:10] And I want to thank everybody.

[2:01:12] But what I wanted to do also, I can just surmise everything

[2:01:15] I need to talk about quickly, you know,

[2:01:18] so you can be here for it.

[2:01:19] But and if anybody knows, I am quick.

[2:01:22] Some of the things that I heard during public forum.

[2:01:25] Mr Gomez I was out there yesterday on

[2:01:29] and I'm not addressing you so there's no back and forth.

[2:01:32] But I was out at Riviera and the work

[2:01:36] that was done to shore up that erosion was done beautifully.

[2:01:41] I took pictures, didn't see one speck

[2:01:44] of dirt going down that road.

[2:01:46] And so I want credit to be given when credit is due.

[2:01:50] This is some of the things that kind of irritates me when

[2:01:53] I see people, you know, Yeah.

[2:01:55] Watchdogs taking care of the community and getting things

[2:01:58] done.

[2:01:59] And no, this isn't a back and forth.

[2:02:01] I've given you your time to speak

[2:02:02] and I'm going to talk to these and I'm

[2:02:03] going to talk to all three of the things that we talked about.

[2:02:06] But one of the things that kind of

[2:02:08] upsets me that when we do these things,

[2:02:10] we make sure that we give credit where credit is due

[2:02:16] and you don't get you down credit.

[2:02:18]

[2:02:22] So that being said, one of the things that I did

[2:02:27] see out there at the airway oaks,

[2:02:30] there's some things that need to be addressed.

[2:02:32] So you need to be removed.

[2:02:34] He needs to be left out.

[2:02:35] He's already he didn't just let him sit.

[2:02:40] I'm not going.

[2:02:41] He's fine.

[2:02:41] He just so he can be here.

[2:02:43] He's not doing anything.

[2:02:44]

[2:02:47] You know, good grief.

[2:02:50] So I'm not trying to get in an argument with anybody.

[2:02:53] I just want to make sure everybody sees the things that

[2:02:56] are being done when we're sitting

[2:02:57] here yelling and saying things aren't being done by the County.

[2:03:00] I'm going to call it out.

[2:03:02] We have worked really hard to do the things

[2:03:05] and the staff is doing a wonderful job.

[2:03:08] Some of the things that we're doing,

[2:03:11] you know, I don't like to hear people yelling

[2:03:13] that it's not being done.

[2:03:14] And I saw some of the stuff on Facebook

[2:03:16] and people aren't paying attention to These things.

[2:03:18] And that's something that aggravates me.

[2:03:20] And I will call out things from every angle when I see it.

[2:03:24] Another thing that I've also noticed,

[2:03:26] you know, miss Mancini, when you came up,

[2:03:28] you said that you're still imposing impact fees.

[2:03:32] Well, that's unfortunate because I thought

[2:03:36] we've had an understanding that the hba,

[2:03:38] I've talked to a lot of people inside the hba,

[2:03:41] that is, for the amount of impact fees that we're doing.

[2:03:44] But it's really left to the voters right now.

[2:03:48] So for this to be constantly brought up to,

[2:03:51] I would just suggest you do your own ad campaign

[2:03:53] and make sure that you're yelling

[2:03:55] at the top of the rooftops to not have the local option

[2:03:58] sales tax and not have impact fees

[2:04:01] because they're tied together.

[2:04:02] It's very dangerous to do so.

[2:04:05] And John, I think, you know, one of the things I've seen at 30%

[2:04:10] is a huge thing to your budget.

[2:04:12] It is now might be a small number

[2:04:15] because of the population.

[2:04:16] But anything that we can do to help you out

[2:04:19] with that, that would be, you know, something

[2:04:21] that I could get on board with.

[2:04:24] But I want to thank everybody.

[2:04:26] And Mr Gomez, I just want to make sure you know that I'm not

[2:04:29] calling you out for anything.

[2:04:30] I just want you to understand, you

[2:04:32] can't call things out saying we're

[2:04:34] not doing things when we are.

[2:04:35] And Thank you.

[2:04:36] I'm calling the County out.

[2:04:38] That's all right.

[2:04:41] Hold on, hold on, hold.

[2:04:42] Four years of video.

[2:04:44] Hold on.

[2:04:45] We got to have everybody at the microphone.

[2:04:49] I'm here.

[2:04:50] Is everybody OK with me adjourning?

[2:04:53] Is there any other comments by anybody?

[2:04:56] Commissioner coffins.

[2:04:57] OK My bad.

[2:04:58] All right, commissioner and Commissioner.

[2:05:00] I'll be brief so we can.

[2:05:01] So we can get on.

[2:05:02] I just want to Thank my fellow board

[2:05:03] members for indulging me and giving me

[2:05:05] the opportunity to be absent.

[2:05:07] Monday, I was in Washington DC on behalf of the County

[2:05:11] and the region, the association of defense communities

[2:05:13] conference, advocating on the behalf

[2:05:17] of our military installations in the area

[2:05:19] and just trying to secure funding

[2:05:21] for significant improvements to those facilities.

[2:05:23] But I did want to bring up two quick things

[2:05:26] on the consent agenda.

[2:05:27] One, the J hospital on 5G service.

[2:05:30] I know mayor Owens has been advocating

[2:05:33] for some significant improvements

[2:05:34] to that hospital for quite some time.

[2:05:36] We've had numerous discussions.

[2:05:37] I'm glad to see we're finally getting that done.

[2:05:39] And two.

[2:05:42] Thank you to our attorney, Tom danheiser and city of Gulf

[2:05:45] Breeze Attorney Mary Jane bass.

[2:05:48] Item number 12 on Tibet drive reassignment of that easement.

[2:05:53] We had a less than desirable developer that created a problem

[2:05:58] there that for three years now we've tried to have negotiations

[2:06:04] to get something done.

[2:06:05] And he refused to come to the table

[2:06:07] and try to help the citizens on a problem that he created.

[2:06:10] So cities, attorney, counties, attorney, got together,

[2:06:13] found a solution.

[2:06:14] And I just wanted to say I Thank my fellow board

[2:06:17] members for approving that reassignment.

[2:06:19] And hopefully we'll have some construction being done on Tibet

[2:06:22] drive in the near future, because previously we

[2:06:25] had already set aside funding for design.

[2:06:26] That's already done.

[2:06:27] Rebecca and her staff has worked very hard on this

[2:06:30] and I'm glad to see we'll actually find

[2:06:32] a solution in the near future.

[2:06:33] So thank you.

[2:06:35] Thank you.

[2:06:36] Any other comments by fellow commissioners

[2:06:39] or is everybody everybody good?

[2:06:42] All right.

[2:06:43] I'm going to move that.

[2:06:45] We adjourn the meeting without objection.

[2:06:48] This this meeting is adjourned.

[2:06:50] Thank you, gentlemen, and Thank you, members of the public.

[2:06:53]

Regular Meeting

Agenda

Transcript