[0:00]

[13:14] All right.

[13:15] Good morning.

[13:16] I am sorry so much to keep you waiting.

[13:18] And hopefully you all won't be too warm today.

[13:20] They are doing everything they can about the air conditioners

[13:23] and the power issues.

[13:24] So we apologize also for the dim lighting,

[13:26] but I've been made aware that everybody at home can see us.

[13:30] So we're thankful, obviously, for those of you folks

[13:33] that are here.

[13:34] But we're also thankful for our faithful attendees

[13:36] online that aren't able to be here,

[13:38] but that depend on the live stream

[13:40] to be able to get their information.

[13:41] So in Santa Rosa County, we are very fortunate to start

[13:45] every meeting with prayer.

[13:48] And then we go to pledge.

[13:49] And I'd like to ask pastor Owens,

[13:52] he's with the replicate church if he would lead us

[13:54] in prayer because that would be far

[13:57] better than hearing one of us.

[13:58] And then afterwards, I'll ask Commissioner Wright

[14:01] if he'll lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

[14:03] So good morning, Pastor.

[14:05] If y'all will just rise.

[14:06] Good morning.

[14:07] Thank you guys.

[14:08] Heavenly Father, we come to you this morning,

[14:10] Lord, and just acknowledging your sovereignty and your grace,

[14:13] Lord, that we're all breathing this morning

[14:16] because you deemed us worthy to take breath today, Lord.

[14:19] And I just pray that you would be with us in this meeting,

[14:21] Lord, that your Holy Spirit would just

[14:23] guide the conversation, Lord, and just help us to have

[14:25] the best interest of Santa Rosa County in mind, Lord,

[14:28] that you would guide these leaders,

[14:29] you would guide those in public office, Lord,

[14:31] and they would just make the best decisions possible.

[14:34] God you would just give them the wisdom and discernment to do so.

[14:37] And God, we just surrender this time to

[14:38] and we just pray these things in your son.

[14:40] Jesus's name.

[14:40] Amen Amen.

[14:42] Amen please join me in the Pledge.

[14:45] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America

[14:50] and to the Republic for which it stands.

[14:53] One nation under God, indivisible,

[14:56] with liberty and justice for all.

[14:59] Thank you.

[15:01] I know Commissioner rights, right.

[15:04] When commissioner rice.

[15:05] When he says that it's definitely

[15:07] better when we have more folks here to join us in the Pledge.

[15:11] So again, appreciate y'all being here.

[15:14] As we move down for agenda approval,

[15:16] I'm going to ask my fellow commissioners,

[15:18] I'll start to my right with Commissioner Smith.

[15:20] Is there any modifications to today's

[15:23] agenda that need to be made.

[15:26] No, sir.

[15:27] Commissioner eddington?

[15:28] No, sir.

[15:29] Commissioner Calkins.

[15:30] No Mr. chair and Commissioner.

[15:32] No changes.

[15:33] All right.

[15:34] Brad or Tom, are you all good.

[15:36] Any add-ons or changes.

[15:37] Seeing none.

[15:38] All right.

[15:38] We'll move forward as presented.

[15:40] There's no minutes for approval.

[15:42] And first we've got up here the public hearing

[15:47] for establishment of the MSRB for street lighting services.

[15:51] This is a request from Bay Ridge Park first edition

[15:54] and Emmeline gardens subdivisions.

[15:58] Do we have any representatives from those

[16:00] that are here today that maybe to speak for the group.

[16:03] All right.

[16:04] Do we have anyone in opposition to those street lighting.

[16:09] All right.

[16:10] And the District Commissioner on this would be it's mine

[16:15] and I have no concerns.

[16:16] OK So then we will.

[16:19] You want to make a motion to approve.

[16:21] Yeah, I'd move to approve the establishment of MSRB

[16:25] for street lighting services for Bay Ridge Park.

[16:27] First edition, Emily gardens, subdivisions with no objection.

[16:31] All right.

[16:32] Hearing no objection, those are approved.

[16:34] And next is approval of Amendment

[16:39] to ordinance 20 2013, which establishes nature

[16:42] Cove street lighting msvu.

[16:45] And it's got a corrected boundary map of the subdivision,

[16:48] including all parcels receiving direct benefit

[16:51] from existing MSP.

[16:53] Do we have anyone here to speak about that.

[16:55] MSRB for lighting at nature's Cove.

[16:59] All right, hearing none.

[17:00] District commissioner.

[17:02] In that case, I'll make a motion to approve without objection.

[17:07] Hearing no objection, that item is approved.

[17:09] Thank you.

[17:10] All right.

[17:11] Next, we go to a public forum and again is just a couple

[17:16] of housekeeping reminders.

[17:18] It's always good for us to check as well.

[17:20] Just please make sure if you have a cell phone or any kind

[17:24] of electronic device, if you will, just please put that

[17:27] on vibrate or silent just so that we

[17:29] don't accidentally disturb a speaker while they're up.

[17:32] And then if you have something in particular that's

[17:37] on the agenda that you're here to speak about,

[17:39] it may be a little more pertinent to wait

[17:41] until that moment to speak on it,

[17:43] but you're more than welcome to come up during the public forum

[17:46] section, if you will.

[17:47] All right, we're going to start here with the sign in list.

[17:51] We've got Pauline Grimes.

[17:53]

[18:05] I don't know.

[18:05] Where's the light.

[18:08] It's on.

[18:09] ?

[18:11] it's on.

[18:12] It's on for you there.

[18:13] It's right below the screen.

[18:14] But it's on.

[18:15]

[18:18] I'm here on behalf of the animals.

[18:21] God made them to enjoy.

[18:23] And the view the builders investors are destroying that.

[18:26] Whoever come up with the law to build the houses up.

[18:30] I beg you to stop.

[18:32] I'm down there in Avalon beach, 5387 Santa Cruz Boulevard.

[18:36] My neighbor's building a shed.

[18:38] He had to bring in dirt.

[18:40] The rain we had a few weeks ago.

[18:42] It flooded.

[18:43] And guess what.

[18:44] It flooded the other day.

[18:45] We had that 30 minute, he said.

[18:47] They got to stop building the houses up.

[18:49] They put the two on Glade and it never

[18:52] flooded back there until they built those houses up.

[18:55] I met someone from South Florida,

[18:58] moved here because of the building nightmare down there.

[19:00] I said, well, welcome to the club,

[19:02] he said, they cram it down our throats.

[19:04] And we can't say a word I read in the daily bread.

[19:07] Centuries ago.

[19:08] Church leaders in Ethiopia insist

[19:11] that watching over the trees is part of the obedience to God

[19:14] as stewards of his creation.

[19:17] It was 40% Now it's 4% Clearing the land.

[19:21] A man on the news saying one day there will

[19:23] be no land for the animals.

[19:25] Once the wildlife is gone, it's not coming back.

[19:28] They are going to deeper in the woods.

[19:31] But that's why.

[19:33] Because they keep driving them out like the Sharks

[19:37] attack this their habitat.

[19:39] And we need to be careful when we go into the water,

[19:41] like the woods, the deer, the Bears, that's their habitat.

[19:44] We are destroying that, my neighbor said.

[19:47] I hope they don't clear Furlong.

[19:48] That's next to me.

[19:49] There's a stream that runs there and the animals love it.

[19:52] I talked to a surveyor.

[19:54] They said four houses to an acre.

[19:57] I called the Health department and they

[19:59] need to put the septic up because of the tanks and the.

[20:05] And he said, I don't understand why they're

[20:07] building the houses up, though.

[20:09] I got a call from Santa Rosa and we had all that rain.

[20:11] Few weeks I was in a flood zone.

[20:13] Never had that.

[20:15] If they build all the houses on Furlong.

[20:19] Four to an acre.

[20:20] That's 3 and 1/2 acres.

[20:22] Guess where I'm going to be.

[20:23] Down here.

[20:24] And I will flood.

[20:25] I never got that call because of all the houses built.

[20:29] I beg, please build a house.

[20:32] Leave some land for the animals, please.

[20:35] If not, you're saying you don't care.

[20:37] Action! speak.

[20:38] The trees help the wind.

[20:40] They soak up the water.

[20:43] They are putting a light at Del Monte and Avalon.

[20:46] When the lady called, she said, Thank

[20:48] you for being very concerned.

[20:50] It will be a while, but we will put a light

[20:53] at Avalon and Del Monte.

[20:55] My husband said one day back in the 60s.

[20:59] Now mankind is going to destroy himself

[21:02] and money will rule their lives.

[21:04] And I would not be in their shoes

[21:06] for all the money in the world.

[21:08]

[21:11] Thank you, Ms Grimes.

[21:13] All right.

[21:14] Next, we've got Cynthia Smith.

[21:15]

[21:20] Cynthia Smith pace.

[21:22] I just want to praise the art department.

[21:24] Jared Lowe.

[21:26] I give you credit.

[21:27] I'm now into the system and it's a blessing.

[21:30] Thank you all for everything.

[21:31]

[21:34] Woo hoo.

[21:36] Thank you, Ms Smith.

[21:37] Shari Chapman.

[21:38]

[21:50] Sherri Chapman peerage.

[21:52] There's two things that I'd like to speak on.

[21:54] First of all is on the connector road.

[21:57] The speed limit is 35 miles an hour.

[22:00] No one goes 35.

[22:03] And why with one subdivision, do we have a cut through road

[22:08] to slow traffic down.

[22:12] I'd like to recommend that it be put up to 45

[22:15] until there's a problem.

[22:17] I know you can't go over 45 because are sidewalks,

[22:20] but there's no reason for that to maintain.

[22:23] And who maintains the grass and cutting and all

[22:29] that on the connector road.

[22:31] Because that connector road gets done twice before anything else

[22:35] gets done around the County.

[22:38] So the favoritism, I'm not sure exactly why

[22:42] that's the most favorite road.

[22:45] Mr Parker, I wanted to bring something up at the last meeting

[22:50] down in Navarre.

[22:51] I had said something about you trying to help Mr. Griswold out,

[22:55] who was a person that was giving you.

[22:58] I called it a fund.

[23:00] You called it an event.

[23:02] I think it was splitting hairs either way,

[23:06] because it did in some way politically benefit you

[23:10] to have a community fish fry.

[23:15] There was no remark on there saying

[23:18] no funding or no donations will be allowed or taken

[23:23] or anything to that sort.

[23:25] So the public that I asked out of 40 people, everybody

[23:30] confirmed that it was.

[23:33] In some way a political benefit, and they would consider

[23:36] it a political fish fry.

[23:39] And the thing that the reason that I brought that up

[23:42] is because this gentleman came before the board

[23:46] wanting to make a smaller hole by digging out dirt.

[23:51] This was back out in out in tamaqua.

[23:54] Well, I don't know who came up with that.

[23:58] Every time I dig a hole, it makes a hole bigger

[24:00] when I take more dirt out.

[24:02] These people need to get their land fixed

[24:05] or they want to get it fixed now that they've

[24:07] made money off of it.

[24:09] So is what we need to do is stay out of their private business

[24:12] and stop trying to fix their past mistakes to take more

[24:17] dirt out as the residents around it said in their piece of life.

[24:24] So we need to tell them this is a problem.

[24:27] Your family created.

[24:30] This is a family.

[24:31] You've got to this is a problem.

[24:32] You've got to fix.

[24:33] It's not up to the County to make

[24:35] special regulations to fix because we might

[24:39] need red dirt to build homes.

[24:41] Now, let's face it, that's what a lot of it's about.

[24:44] These people that live around there first before they

[24:50] wanted to start making this big pit.

[24:53] So we need to just absolutely step away from that.

[24:57] Thank you, Ms Chapman.

[24:59] And Thank you to the hundreds of people

[25:01] that have helped me on my re-election campaign so far.

[25:04] You all can remember that this is an important primary election

[25:07] coming up on August.

[25:09] Jennie Weber.

[25:10]

[25:18] Good morning.

[25:18] Jennie Weber, environmental advocate

[25:22] and Santa Rosa County voter.

[25:24] I understand what I'm about to say

[25:26] is more of a staff level issue and I'll be glad to fix that up.

[25:31] But I wanted to just put my just put

[25:34] my concerns on public record.

[25:37] The County issued a co a certificate of occupancy

[25:41] to keep Santa Rosa beautiful, and that

[25:44] was done without any stormwater protection plan.

[25:49] Not even one engineered, not one submitted, and certainly not

[25:53] anything that was implemented.

[25:55] So I'd like to know how and why that co was issued

[25:59] prior to that being done.

[26:01] That's according to our code.

[26:04] Also, it was waved in front of the city council

[26:07] because the code was issued, you probably seen it in the news

[26:11] that they were given an extension, 65

[26:14] day extension for that program.

[26:16] And that co was issued the day before the council

[26:21] even voted on this issue.

[26:24] So it kind of looked like an endorsement from the County

[26:28] that, hey, they already have this co

[26:31] so if the County doesn't care, why should you

[26:33] and that vote was only four to 3.

[26:36] So I wonder if one or two of those votes

[26:38] might have been swayed by having that co in front of their face.

[26:43] Obviously, I think that you should revoke the co

[26:46] at this time until the stormwater protection

[26:49] plan is fully implemented and that they

[26:52] comply with the whole code.

[26:55] But I'd like to follow up with staff.

[26:57] And I just don't know who that would be so I can get some more

[27:01] information on the how and the why and how they

[27:06] were able to circumvent this.

[27:07] So I did put in a public records request

[27:11] to see how the conversation went and who was involved.

[27:16] So if someone would please contact me.

[27:21] Mr Baker Thank you.

[27:22] Thank you, Ms Weber.

[27:23] And if you will, just for double assurance after you

[27:27] exit the boardroom today, if you'll go to our office

[27:29] and give grab either Ashley or Tom and make sure

[27:32] they have your contact information.

[27:34] And that way we can have a second check to make sure

[27:37] they're able to get with you.

[27:38] Yes, sir.

[27:39] I'm on speed dial.

[27:41] OK, we have Jasmine Johnson.

[27:46]

[27:55] Good morning.

[27:56] My name is Jasmine Johnson.

[27:58] Navarre, Florida.

[28:00] Commissioner Eddington's district.

[28:01] Here to talk about Avenue today.

[28:04] So first, I want to say Thank you

[28:06] to staff the board for the time last week discussing the issue.

[28:12] The reason I am here today is to ask if the board will direct

[28:18] staff to come up with a permanent resolution for avenida

[28:22] de sole outside of FEMA funding.

[28:24]

[28:27] That's why I'm here.

[28:31] OK you're done for the second.

[28:35] OK all right.

[28:37] Let me finish through public forum

[28:39] and then we'll address that.

[28:40] OK Chris curb.

[28:43]

[28:53] Come on.

[28:53] Good morning, Chris.

[28:54] Curb flood defenders panhandle last Friday.

[29:01] Went to the Northwest Florida Regional Resilience Seminar

[29:07] and the keynote speaker was Wes Brooks,

[29:12] the state resilience officer for the state of Florida.

[29:14]

[29:16] Y'all had some few folks from Santa Rosa County staff that was

[29:21] there at the meeting and a lot of different speakers talking

[29:26] about different funding.

[29:28] And that came out through the Senate

[29:32] Bill 1954, which was in 2021.

[29:36] I've spoken about that up here several times.

[29:38] Just a resiliency grant funding.

[29:41] I think Santa Rosa County has gotten some of that grant

[29:44] funding on a few different projects,

[29:49] like to encourage you all to pursue more of those FDEP

[29:53] resilient grants funding.

[29:55] I know you think you're working on a vulnerability assessment

[29:59] right now under that grant program.

[30:02] Escambia County is too.

[30:05] You might be able to do some of these projects

[30:09] like Williams Creek basin study or Navarre second edition,

[30:15] where the Johnsons live at, and maybe restore some

[30:19] of the drainage in that area.

[30:21] So they won't they don't have as much

[30:23] flooding in that neighborhood.

[30:27] It's a good funding source.

[30:30] Of course.

[30:30] It requires 50% match funding, and most of your grants

[30:35] have match funding and which comes up to your budget today.

[30:42] I think you all have that at 1:00.

[30:44] I hope you all put enough money aside for these projects

[30:48] for grant funding.

[30:49]

[31:00] You got Matt Posner.

[31:01] He spoke at the Northwest Florida Regional

[31:03] Resilience Seminar, too, with the perdido Bay estuary program.

[31:09] And you've been doing working on that for six years.

[31:11] There's a $50 million grant from NOAA that is in the works.

[31:19] I think it's going to provide some drainage projects

[31:22] and study for pine Creek in Santa Rosa County.

[31:25] That's good.

[31:27] Something I always hear when we're talking about these grants

[31:31] is you've got to have skin in the game.

[31:34] I believe that you have to get started somewhere.

[31:40] And doing drainage projects, drainage studies,

[31:44] that's how you start doing it.

[31:46] And you get your list together, your plan together,

[31:49] all your project needs.

[31:52] Williams Creek should be on your budget, I think, in my opinion.

[31:56] But just one last note.

[32:00] I asked Escambia County a few weeks

[32:03] ago about how many projects, how much money they got in budget,

[32:07] and they got $106 million in grant

[32:09] funding going on right now.

[32:11] So a lot of money that don't even include their restore.

[32:15] Thank you, Mr Hur.

[32:16] 18.5 million of it is buyouts.

[32:19] Yes, sir.

[32:20] Thank you.

[32:22] All right.

[32:22] I don't have anybody else who signed up

[32:24] on this general public forum section.

[32:27] Is there anybody else that was here to speak on a non agenda

[32:29] item before we move forward.

[32:32] All right.

[32:34] And let me ask real quick just for planning purposes,

[32:37] is Commissioner Eddington, is Mr Calvin Sullivan, is he here.

[32:42] No, sir.

[32:43] He just.

[32:44] OK no, sir.

[32:44] He's at work.

[32:45] I was going to bump it above number two if he was here.

[32:48] But either way, we'll be fine.

[32:50] Thank you.

[32:51] All right.

[32:51] That takes us to Commissioner item number one.

[32:54] I'm going to turn it over to Commissioner Smith.

[32:56] And Thank you for the pictures in the backup.

[32:58] It's always great to be able to see the amazing stuff they're

[33:01] doing.

[33:01] So take it away.

[33:03] Well, no Thanks to me, that was our wonderful PIO,

[33:07] Sarah Whitfield.

[33:09] She did that.

[33:09] And I appreciate the job she did on this.

[33:12] But Yes, a lot of you guys know how much

[33:16] and how excited trash pickup makes me.

[33:22] It just warms my heart.

[33:24] And we have a church in East Middleton

[33:27] that I'm proud to say is they're the greatest

[33:32] example of the local church.

[33:34] And I don't want to go off on my local church tangent,

[33:37] but pastor Jared Owens of replicate church in East

[33:45] Middleton he has done a great job as far

[33:50] as rallying the people of his church to come together

[33:57] to do good in the community.

[33:58] And one of the things that I want to highlight

[34:00] is the trash pickup.

[34:01] And Yes, and you'll see by Sarah's display here,

[34:07] this is a trash pickup.

[34:08] This is the second trash pickup they've done.

[34:10] I participated in the first one.

[34:13] But a lot of times we like to do these trash

[34:15] pickups before it gets too hot.

[34:18] Now, it's blazing hot.

[34:20] I know it's going to be the hardest time of the year for us

[34:22] to try to get people to get out and do trash pickups unless

[34:25] it's 4:00 in the morning.

[34:27] But if you see the amount of outpouring and the work

[34:30] that this church has done, and it's not only that,

[34:36] it's the community service they do as far as the food giveaways,

[34:42] the just bringing the community together.

[34:45] And I love East Milton and I know Pastor Jared.

[34:49] He loves East Milton and this is the kind of stuff

[34:52] that it just makes me proud.

[34:55] One of the things I used to say when I'd get up to that podium

[34:58] and gripe at this board was Kerry Smith East Milton

[35:03] because there is such a pride in East Milton

[35:05] and what we do over there.

[35:07] And I just wanted to point out pastor Jared's his dedication

[35:13] to the community, and his church's

[35:15] dedication to this community.

[35:17] And I love them dearly.

[35:19] And pastor, if you and Mike would walk up

[35:22] to give us a little bit of your time,

[35:26] I know you're a public speaker.

[35:27] Maybe we can get Mike to say something, too.

[35:29] But just like to this was something that's

[35:35] been on my heart for a while is OK,

[35:39] you've got local government giving

[35:41] you some recognition, but.

[35:44] This is the stuff I would love to see

[35:48] other churches in the community Follow suit with you.

[35:51] And I just I just love the fact that you guys have stepped

[35:54] up and done what you've done.

[35:56] Thank you, Commissioner Smith.

[35:57] Well when we planted the church we

[35:59] got the God's given two commands,

[36:01] love, God, love people.

[36:03] And we committed to being a church

[36:05] that if we closed up our shop tomorrow,

[36:06] people would notice we wouldn't be the building where

[36:09] people say a year from now.

[36:11] There used to be a church there because there's a for sale sign.

[36:13] And so part of the way we've decided to love people

[36:15] is love our city.

[36:16] We want to be rooted in East Milton.

[36:18] We've had opportunities to get buildings and other spaces

[36:20] and I said, no, we want to be in East Milton,

[36:22] we want to love East Milton and just fill that gap

[36:25] wherever there's a need.

[36:26] So right now we're about to do a special needs

[36:30] karate camp for kids that don't normally get invited to stuff.

[36:32] And so we're looking to always fill those gaps.

[36:35] Kyle Holly has been a great asset to us

[36:37] and helping us fill in those gaps in the community out there.

[36:40] And so we're just looking forward to more opportunities.

[36:42] And Mike is our youth pastor.

[36:45] His wife leads our kids ministry.

[36:46] And so we're excited for anybody who wants to come check us out

[36:48] in East Milton and the lovely pole barn at the agriplex

[36:52] out there.

[36:52] So love to see you guys out there, but Thank

[36:54] you, Commissioner Smith.

[36:57] Well, I want to point out didn't get

[36:58] to bring too much of your flock to this event

[37:01] because everybody's got a job.

[37:03] Yes, sir.

[37:04] Even one of the guys that Will Gordon Taylor is my neighbor.

[37:08] He lives across the canal from me

[37:10] and couldn't even get him to go because he

[37:12] had too much going on.

[37:13] Everybody has to work.

[37:14] Yes, sir.

[37:16] I appreciate it, Commissioner.

[37:17] Thank you.

[37:17] And Yeah, who's I mean, who's the gentleman

[37:24] Is this associate pastor here.

[37:26] No, that's a youth leader.

[37:28] All right, I got you.

[37:29] What I wanted to do is though, is we want to do a presentation

[37:32] and get a picture.

[37:33] So don't go.

[37:33] Yeah, don't get too far.

[37:34] Listen, there is no more noble cause than I hear telling

[37:38] people about the gospel.

[37:39] So we do.

[37:39] Amen Amen.

[37:41] I'm glad he's got that because we were going to get

[37:42] y'all to come up here and we'll take

[37:43] a picture in front of the seal.

[37:45] All right.

[37:46] If you would come on up.

[37:47] We'll get these chairs out of the way.

[37:48]

[37:57] He passed sweat money, a World War I war tax.

[38:06]

[38:50] I love highlighting the good things.

[38:54] The good things.

[38:55] This is the good stuff.

[38:56]

[39:01] Let's compliment and Commissioner

[39:03] Eddington on his tie.

[39:05] There I said it looked like Auburn colors.

[39:08] We almost had a fistfight up here.

[39:09] He reminded me.

[39:10] I forgot this was a Tennessee Vols fella, but it looks great.

[39:15] I thought it was Florida chairman.

[39:17] Go ahead.

[39:18] If you'd like.

[39:19] The Tennessee color.

[39:20] The lady right there in the orange.

[39:22] Yeah, the fourth row back.

[39:24] That's Tennessee orange.

[39:26] All right.

[39:26]

[39:30] I think y'all are more famous now than anything for that new

[39:33] country song you got with the girl singing about her

[39:37] going to the Tennessee game.

[39:39] All right.

[39:41] That Thank you, Commissioner Smith,

[39:43] for making sure we were able to all learn about the good things

[39:46] they're doing.

[39:47] Next, we're going to go to item number two.

[39:50] Commissioner Calkins.

[39:51] I'll turn it over to you.

[39:52] And then we do.

[39:54] I'll let you go and then we'll call the agenda speakers up.

[40:00] OK Thank you, Mr Chair.

[40:02] I'm sure most of you all had an opportunity

[40:04] to read the resolution.

[40:06] I'd like to since we got some comments on this,

[40:09] I'd like to invite the speakers to start out

[40:12] and then I can go about reading the resolution.

[40:15] And we'll.

[40:17] Yeah, you could call them and then we'll call them all up

[40:21] and then I'll go into reading the resolution

[40:24] and board discussion.

[40:27] Yeah, you all are welcome to come up and speak on this.

[40:30] We'll read the resolution.

[40:33] I was going to wait until they finished.

[40:35] All right.

[40:36] I thought would be all right.

[40:37] We'll per commissioner Calkins request.

[40:40] We'll go ahead and I'll call the agenda speaker

[40:42] turn your mic off for me.

[40:43] We don't get an echo.

[40:45] I'll call the agenda speakers, folks, that have signed up,

[40:48] so I'll start in order.

[40:49] Ms grace McCaffrey.

[40:51]

[40:55] Yeah, that's fine.

[40:56] Yeah, absolutely.

[40:57] And the.

[40:58]

[41:03] Hey, and and I think I actually forgot earlier today

[41:05] and I some of the people that came up.

[41:08] Sorry Can you give me just a moment, if you will,

[41:12] and I apologize.

[41:15] I had told Mr Johnson we would direct his issue,

[41:19] if you'll give me just a second because I

[41:20] know that him and his family and fellow servicemen are here.

[41:25] I apologize.

[41:25] I'm glad I caught you, if you all will.

[41:27] Just because I think we might have lengthy discussion.

[41:31] Mr Johnson, as you all I think every commissioner

[41:33] had an opportunity to.

[41:34] To meet with him and his neighbors.

[41:36] Is that correct.

[41:37] Just by kind of a head nod.

[41:38] And I know this is in Commissioner

[41:40] Eddington's district.

[41:42] And so I will definitely ask you,

[41:44] but I will tell you that I fully support, if we could give staff

[41:51] direction to between now and the next set of meeting,

[41:55] allow staff.

[41:56] I know there's some questions and information that we did not

[42:00] have when I met with them, but if we could allow staff to work

[42:03] towards as a resolution to this problem to try to help

[42:07] these families out, I will I'll definitely

[42:10] say it is some unique circumstances is why that.

[42:15] But that's where I'm at.

[42:17] Commissioner Eddington, I know this is in your district,

[42:19] but I know they're here today asking us

[42:21] if we'll look at asking staff to move

[42:24] forward to working with them on some issue on this.

[42:26] And I just wanted to give them some.

[42:32] Go ahead.

[42:33] Yes, sir.

[42:33] I don't mind going with the staff looking at stuff,

[42:37] but no, my feelings.

[42:40] I do feel sorry for the people.

[42:43] We need to look at something that we

[42:44] can help drainage and stuff like that

[42:46] for these people in the future.

[42:49] But buying these houses out right now,

[42:52] I wouldn't go with that.

[42:54]

[42:56] I think I should go back to the real estate people is they

[43:00] should enclose all this, let these people

[43:02] know if it floods and stuff.

[43:04] But I'm willing to work with the staff and let them look at it

[43:07] and see what we can do to help these people.

[43:10] And there were some creative ideas

[43:13] that we were able to come up with when we met that I will

[43:17] absolutely share more with staff online

[43:18] and I hope that you all would too.

[43:20] And some of the things we looked at that could become much

[43:23] more economically feasible is if we're

[43:26] able to work with those mortgage companies on maybe

[43:29] a tremendous reduction.

[43:31] Obviously, the values have been diminished.

[43:33] And if we could work with that rather than say, the purchase

[43:36] price that they had paid for it, there

[43:38] might be some opportunities where we could help them

[43:40] and it'd be a lot less pain point.

[43:42] But at the end of the day, I know both of these gentlemen

[43:45] are looking at potentially they could

[43:47] be deployed at any moment with our Special Operations group.

[43:51] And quite frankly, I want to try to do

[43:53] anything that would be prudent and responsible that we can.

[43:57] So if the rest of the board is comfortable with that direction,

[44:01] that Commissioner Eddington and I think,

[44:03] have both voiced that we could allow staff to engage with them

[44:07] and work as expeditiously as possible.

[44:10] And I know I can pledge with you,

[44:12] I'll make myself available to staff or to you on any questions

[44:16] and we will try to come up with something.

[44:19] And so I think it seems like the board's pretty

[44:22] solid on that direction to staff and Brad Mr Chairman,

[44:26] we'll work on that.

[44:27] I would say let's just set that to bring something

[44:30] back to the board at the July 22 meeting that'll give us a little

[44:33] more time to pull all the data and compare it

[44:36] to other counties, et cetera.

[44:38] And we'll make sure that at least once a week,

[44:41] we're giving you an update.

[44:42] I mean, it is going to be a little complex,

[44:44] but hopefully that'll at least give a little guidance there.

[44:49] And so we're trying to get to it.

[44:50] And again, Thank you, gentlemen, for your service.

[44:53] And the wives, I know they really

[44:54] have a harder job than you keeping the home front

[44:56] while you are gone.

[44:57] So thank you, ladies, as well.

[44:59] OK miss McCaffrey, if you want to come forward

[45:03] and again, I apologize for that little pause there,

[45:07] but I wanted to make sure these gentlemen were

[45:08] able to in case they needed to get to work today

[45:11] would to do that if you.

[45:13] And just tell you, this is what I reminded of earlier to you.

[45:18] Anybody that wants to speak today, just when you come up,

[45:21] try to remember.

[45:22] In case I forget to remind you, just give us your name

[45:25] at the beginning of when you're speaking

[45:27] and then what area you're from.

[45:29] It's fine.

[45:29] You don't have to give us an exact address.

[45:31] It could be Milton pavements or whatever.

[45:34] And that way when they take minutes to record the meeting,

[45:36] we'll just have that.

[45:37] So good morning.

[45:38] Thank you for being here.

[45:39] And if you'll just give us that.

[45:40] Good morning.

[45:41] Absolutely may I quickly ask why we're going out of procedure

[45:47] for this, why you're wanting us to speak

[45:51] before the it's resolution is that commissioners item.

[45:55] OK So basically what I wanted to do

[45:58] is did you all read the resolution online.

[46:00] Yes and I. Assume most of the fellow board members

[46:04] read the resolution online.

[46:05] I wanted to hear all y'all's opinion

[46:09] and then so I can come back and address

[46:11] any concerns that you have.

[46:13] That's why I wanted to let you all speak first.

[46:15] And so if you read the resolution already,

[46:18] there's no sense in reading it first

[46:20] and then coming back later.

[46:22] I just I want to hear from you all first as long as you've read

[46:25] it and then I can read it, I want to make sure

[46:28] we're not getting set up for more political theater, sir.

[46:33] My name is Grace Resendez McCaffrey.

[46:35] I've been publishing I'm sorry.

[46:37] I'm from Escambia County.

[46:38] I live in Escambia County.

[46:40] I've been publishing local news in Spanish and English

[46:43] since 2005 and founded the Hispanic Resource Center,

[46:47] serving people from 21 Spanish speaking countries in Northwest

[46:50] Florida and South Alabama.

[46:53] Though we're growing and thriving,

[46:55] progress takes a step backward when

[46:57] political stunts use immigration or rather

[46:59] immigrants as a platform.

[47:01] These measures affect everyone that

[47:03] benefit from industries such as hospitality,

[47:06] construction, agriculture.

[47:09] That's pretty much, everyone.

[47:11] I'm here today to ask you to stop the immigration resolution

[47:14] published by Mr corkins and to introduce

[47:18] some people that the proposed resolution affects most.

[47:23] Immigration is a complex system.

[47:26] Policies are constantly changing,

[47:28] as are immigrant statuses.

[47:30] Even immigrants that enter the country

[47:32] legally can lose their immigration status

[47:34] by simply missing an appointment,

[47:36] a requirement that is hindered by transportation

[47:39] and financial issues.

[47:41] We do not have immigration check in facilities in Northwest

[47:45] Florida as undocumented immigrant statuses change,

[47:49] they become students.

[47:50] Business owners, teachers, doctors, lawyers and even

[47:54] military serve in our military.

[47:57] There are such former undocumented immigrants

[48:00] in this room with us today.

[48:02] Immigrants are also victimized by violence against Latinos

[48:07] is not uncommon, especially when provoked by fear and hatred.

[48:12] I'm haunted by the 2019 mass shooting at a Walmart store

[48:16] in my neighborhood in Texas.

[48:19] One of my classmates wrote me this weekend.

[48:22] It's no secret that the monster that walked into Walmart

[48:25] that August morning had hatred towards Mexicans and immigrants,

[48:30] fueled by rhetoric people he'd never met.

[48:34]

[48:38] We might think that something like this

[48:39] could never happen here, but it has.

[48:41] In 2019, Benny Danny Baker warned his Miramar Beach

[48:46] neighbors to get immigrants out of their homes

[48:49] as he was about to begin the revolution, as he said.

[48:53] He then shot into a townhouse of 20 college students

[48:56] from Bolivia and Chile while celebrating their youth.

[49:00] Four were injured.

[49:02] Two were killed.

[49:03] Baker did not care what country they came from.

[49:06] He did not ask their immigration status.

[49:08] He only knew that they spoke Spanish.

[49:10] Francisco cofré lost his girlfriend that day,

[49:15] an eye hearing in one ear and had a bullet lodged in his neck.

[49:21] I spent the following weeks assisting his father,

[49:24] apologizing that my community failed to take care of his son.

[49:28]

[49:31] If ever there were a true public safety concern related

[49:34] to the Hispanic and/or immigrant community,

[49:36] I trust that Sheriff Johnson would reach out to us so that we

[49:39] can work on things together, just as we do with emergency

[49:41] management because that's what effective community

[49:44] leaders do failures in immigration reform

[49:47] are frustrating.

[49:49] This is a global issue affecting borders around the world.

[49:54] And I plead you to not complicate

[49:56] an already difficult situation.

[49:58] Thank you.

[49:59] Thank you, Ms McCaffrey.

[50:02] All right, Esmeralda, I'm going to let you tell

[50:07] me how you pronounce your last name

[50:09] just so I don't get it wrong.

[50:10] Good morning.

[50:11] Good morning.

[50:12] Esmeralda Aguilar Quiroz.

[50:14] OK Thank you.

[50:17] I am a resident of the Santa Rosa County

[50:19] and homeowners in the Santa Rosa area.

[50:22] I am originally from Houston, Texas.

[50:25] I graduated high school in San Antonio, Texas.

[50:28] Family of five beautiful children and married

[50:31] to an amazing, hardworking husband

[50:33] named Juan Ramon Quiroz Ramirez.

[50:37] That is originally from arandas, Jalisco, Mexico.

[50:41] I came here today.

[50:42] I asked to please not pass a resolution

[50:44] that make immigrants unwelcome to the Santa Rosa County.

[50:48] I came here not to fight, but for peace.

[50:51] Once I heard Santa Rosa, Commissioner James Calkins said

[50:54] that alleles are not welcomed is not only

[50:56] going to make undocumented people unwelcome,

[50:59] it made me unwelcomed.

[51:02] I am a proud United States citizen,

[51:04] but I don't forget where my roots come from.

[51:07] My mother is originally from Houston, Texas,

[51:09] and my father is from San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

[51:13] It makes me so unwelcomed.

[51:14] And not only that, my children.

[51:17] What would I do if the resolution passes.

[51:19] Would they see us differently or would they treat us differently.

[51:23] Would they treat my kids differently at school.

[51:25] Because how we look.

[51:27] Will we be able to speak Spanish without somebody

[51:30] saying, get out of our country.

[51:31] You are not welcomed.

[51:33] My husband, Ramon, is undocumented.

[51:36] He was brought as a child by his parents.

[51:38] Now as an adult and father, he continues to try

[51:41] to fix his immigration status.

[51:43] In this process, we became victims of someone

[51:46] who took advantage of our desire to get my husband's

[51:48] documents in order.

[51:49] We were scammed out of more than $25,000.

[51:53] The process has been difficult, but

[51:56] learning that my husband got approved for his I-130

[51:58] gave us hope.

[52:00] Thanks to the newspaper and the community where Ms grace does

[52:03] to bring us together, I learned of the Ramirez Raza Law Group

[52:06] and ended up getting an appointment three years ago

[52:08] with Aida Ramirez and my husband,

[52:11] Ramon could finally do his legal process through Aida.

[52:14] We are hopeful that the most recent immigration law passed

[52:17] last week will finally end our journey

[52:20] and allow our family to share the same nationality.

[52:23] My family and I ask for patience and appreciate respect

[52:28] for all of us that we can live in peace

[52:30] in the Santa Rosa County.

[52:32] Thank you for your time.

[52:33] Yes, ma'am.

[52:34] Thank you for your comments.

[52:37] Is there anybody else.

[52:39] And I'm asking because I've got a couple of other names,

[52:41] but is there anybody else that's already

[52:43] standing here that was wanting to speak that had signed up.

[52:46] OK go ahead and just give me your name

[52:47] and I'll check you off.

[52:48] Did you sign up.

[52:49] I did.

[52:50] OK my name is Lucia Trejo and I live in Escambia County.

[52:56] I was invited by Grace.

[52:59] I want to let you guys know a little bit about me.

[53:04] I am a recipient of DACA.

[53:07] I came here in 1999.

[53:09] I graduated in North Carolina.

[53:12] After I graduated, I got my legal status,

[53:16] but not because I was legal.

[53:18] I was still targeted because of my color of my skin.

[53:23] I was not welcomed to a lot of places because I spoke Spanish.

[53:29] It was very hard for me to learn English.

[53:32] And I hope one day we can all stand up there and take

[53:39] a picture like day celebrating or work

[53:42] or hard work of my community.

[53:44] That is, I've never seen that recognized.

[53:47] And I've seen a lot of my people fainting,

[53:52] getting heat, strokes and everything.

[53:53] And nobody recognizes that and sorry, I get very emotional.

[54:04] When my mother died, I wasn't able to go back home and give

[54:10] her a burial because of my legal status

[54:13] when I got my legal status.

[54:16] Honestly, it was very sad for me because it came too late.

[54:21] So the laws change every day and a lot of people

[54:26] come over here to give a better life back.

[54:30] Their home countries.

[54:31] Most of them don't make it up here,

[54:35] and I feel that a lot of people live here and with this law,

[54:42] they have nowhere to go or they don't

[54:45] have the funds to move out.

[54:47] A lot of people have buy their houses here

[54:50] and everything and they everything is here.

[54:53] So he forces them to leave.

[54:55] And I really hope Mr Hawking's to rethink

[55:01] what you've presented.

[55:03] Thank you.

[55:06] Thank you for your comments.

[55:09] Anybody else wanted to speak.

[55:12] And just so I can check off.

[55:13] Did you sign the sheet.

[55:14] Yes, I did.

[55:15] Good morning.

[55:16] Good morning, staff.

[55:17] My name is Caridad Galvan Jones.

[55:20] I'm a resident of Santa Rosa County since 2009.

[55:24] I'm a business owner, but I'm also a court interpreter

[55:28] for the First Circuit, where I extend the assistance

[55:34] of language for people like my parents

[55:39] that did not know the language when

[55:41] they were in front of anyone, a judge or a doctor or anyone.

[55:48] I'm here today to ask the panel, as well as Mr Calkins,

[55:53] to reconsider this proposal.

[55:57] Not everyone that looks like me should be dressed in orange

[56:04] or be booked in the Santa Rosa County Jail.

[56:08] Not anyone that looks like me should be a target

[56:13] for young people to say.

[56:17] As I was said at one time, go back home while I'm picking

[56:22] up my mail at the mailbox.

[56:24] That's not fair.

[56:26] I was born here.

[56:27] I was fortunate enough to be born here in the United

[56:30] States, the land of the free.

[56:32] Remember where we have constitutional rights.

[56:36] Well, I asked Mr Culkin, I direct myself to you

[56:39] because you are the person that brought up this agenda

[56:44] to reconsider these stories and to reconsider where we are from

[56:52] and what is the true calling of our agenda here.

[56:56] I've had young people come up to me on a street light

[57:02] with a certain flag that we all in a rusty old red truck

[57:08] telling me to go back home.

[57:12] It's not fair.

[57:13] It's not fair to none of us.

[57:15] Where is home.

[57:17] Where are all from.

[57:18] A different place.

[57:20] We're all from different countries.

[57:23] Our ancestors.

[57:25] Why is it that we are as a Hispanic,

[57:29] targeted to be left out to be go home.

[57:36] As you heard the stories of my friends here.

[57:40] Everyone is entitled to a chance, even those

[57:44] that I interpret for in the First Circuit dressed in orange

[57:49] because they made a mistake just like a Caucasian brother

[57:53] or a Black brother.

[57:55] They have a right.

[57:57] Mr Cochran, to be heard in court.

[58:00] And I am their voice when they speak to our honorable judges.

[58:04] And I ask you to be a here to adhere to our voices.

[58:11] And to reconsider this can of worms

[58:13] that you're trying to open because it's affecting everyone,

[58:18] not only alleles, as you call it, but also the alleles,

[58:23] the people that are from here, the people that

[58:26] have status in this country.

[58:29] We are being judged by the color of our skins and our last names.

[58:34] And I need you to take a step back

[58:37] and look at this very carefully before you sign off on this.

[58:42] I Thank you.

[58:43] Thank you, Ms Jones.

[58:45] All right, sir.

[58:48] Anybody else that wish to speak on this.

[58:51] Do you want to speak.

[58:52] Yes, go ahead.

[58:55] My name is Teodoro aqua.

[58:58] I've been here for resident for 29 years in Pensacola.

[59:02] Thank God I've never been arrested.

[59:03] I have no problems at all.

[59:05] But like we said we also trust in God.

[59:11] We believe in God.

[59:14] We suffer like everybody else, but we suffer the most.

[59:19] It seems like we are not welcome.

[59:23] We have so much on our backs, but we still believe in God.

[59:32] We do the hard work and we are not wanted.

[59:38] Only people that own business, they understand the people

[59:44] that works, the people that hardly ever go to the doctor,

[59:52] regardless whether they have money or not.

[59:58] But my other thing is in the future days, I would like to.

[1:00:05]

[1:00:08] Like you guys I mean, we have a preacher here this morning,

[1:00:13] and I'm glad that this happens.

[1:00:15] It's all about relating to God, right.

[1:00:19] I believe.

[1:00:22] But in the future days, I would like to hear or see

[1:00:27] a preacher, a pastor, a priest to step up and see for those who

[1:00:40] came recently or like this lady, she was born here

[1:00:48] and she's still discriminated.

[1:00:49]

[1:00:53] How often do you see a priest or a preacher

[1:00:56] talking about this issue that we're dealing with right now.

[1:01:02] Not much.

[1:01:04] We go outside, we clean the streets,

[1:01:06] we get credits and get awards.

[1:01:10] But I haven't seen much.

[1:01:12] And I don't want to offend nobody.

[1:01:14]

[1:01:17] God brought me to this point and this that I'm wearing.

[1:01:22] It's not today.

[1:01:24] I wear it on a daily basis.

[1:01:27] I'm not impressing anybody.

[1:01:31] I just like to have this new law or whatever

[1:01:39] it is to be modified to deal with the heart of God

[1:01:45] before you do anything with it.

[1:01:48] I mean, Thank you, sir.

[1:01:49] Thank you.

[1:01:50] Thank you.

[1:01:51] All right.

[1:01:53] I want to do a closing remark.

[1:01:54] Yes, ma'am.

[1:01:57] My name is Alma.

[1:01:58] I live here in Santa Rosa County.

[1:01:59] And pace our stories.

[1:02:02] Those of us of undocumented individuals,

[1:02:04] of perseverance and dedication can inspire others and highlight

[1:02:08] the diverse fabric of American society,

[1:02:11] showing that anyone, regardless of their origins,

[1:02:14] can make a meaningful impact.

[1:02:17] The written portion of your proposal, Mr Caulkins, it's.

[1:02:22] It's well said, but you end in a bad note

[1:02:25] after hearing all of the stories of everybody

[1:02:27] that has come up today.

[1:02:29] I hope you take everything into consideration.

[1:02:31] And how you're opening the possibility of profiling anyone

[1:02:37] that has our skin color and that has last names

[1:02:42] that are of Hispanic origin.

[1:02:45] That's it.

[1:02:47] Thank you, ma'am.

[1:02:49] All right.

[1:02:50] I'm going to go to our next speaker.

[1:02:52] I do want to explain to you the handouts

[1:02:54] that I placed at your seats.

[1:02:57] They are copies of the newspaper that

[1:03:00] show work that we do with Santa Rosa County, as well

[1:03:04] as public safety and celebrate education with our families

[1:03:10] in the community.

[1:03:12] There's also a Spanish language disaster guide that we've been

[1:03:15] publishing for several years.

[1:03:17] My background is working in emergency management

[1:03:20] with originally with American Red Cross

[1:03:22] work for Escambia County as well.

[1:03:24] And I dedicate my every day in helping

[1:03:28] this community stay safe.

[1:03:31] That's why we're here.

[1:03:32] That last the print out there is a photo of Francisco Crawford

[1:03:37] that I spoke about that had the bullet go through his eye

[1:03:41] and hit his ear and lodged in his neck.

[1:03:45] He's been back to visit to heal himself emotionally.

[1:03:53] The article was the only one I could find.

[1:03:55] That was from an English publication, English language

[1:04:00] publication, available online.

[1:04:02] So you can see what happened there.

[1:04:05] But it was a devastating situation.

[1:04:08] Thank you.

[1:04:08] And I will say, your reputation precedes you.

[1:04:12] And so I know that there are a tremendous amount of people

[1:04:15] that you'll never meet personally that are extremely

[1:04:17] thankful, especially for the information

[1:04:21] that you want to put out.

[1:04:23] And so we really appreciate what you do on that.

[1:04:25] Yes, ma'am.

[1:04:25]

[1:04:29] All right.

[1:04:30] I've got a mystery.

[1:04:31] Chapman also on the list for this item.

[1:04:33]

[1:04:39] Sherri Chapman, Pea Ridge.

[1:04:43] What?

[1:04:43] I saw this resolution.

[1:04:47] I was stunned.

[1:04:49] First of all, preaching from the diocese

[1:04:52] about no, about less government, less government.

[1:04:56] Do this is more government.

[1:04:59] This is just the opposite.

[1:05:01] And because it's a campaign time and there's not really anything

[1:05:06] that you can stand out with.

[1:05:10] We have two of you running on this platform

[1:05:14] right here saying that you're going

[1:05:17] to work on illegal all this.

[1:05:21] Read your campaign mail outs.

[1:05:23] They're ridiculous.

[1:05:24]

[1:05:27] Our governor put forth SB 1718 to guide municipalities and

[1:05:35] cities on how to handle things.

[1:05:39] It's not to go out and look at somebody and decide.

[1:05:47] It's clear guidelines.

[1:05:50] It puts it on hospitals.

[1:05:51] They can't refuse care.

[1:05:54] So this is not one that chastises alleles

[1:06:01] that the government made.

[1:06:02] This does this is crazy to say on a campaign card

[1:06:09] that you're going to fix illegal immigration.

[1:06:13] The only thing that we can do as a County

[1:06:18] is let the Sheriff handle it.

[1:06:21] If there is an infraction on the law, then he will handle it.

[1:06:25] But we don't go out to job sites.

[1:06:28] We don't go out hunting for people

[1:06:30] and saying, hey, are you illegal.

[1:06:33] This promotes people to be hateful.

[1:06:37] All these things, when I read some of them,

[1:06:40] I just absolutely could not believe

[1:06:42] I was in the United States of America and Santa Rosa County.

[1:06:45]

[1:06:50] Santa Rosa County does not welcome illegal aliens.

[1:06:55]

[1:06:58] Mr Calkins, I believe your wife came from Russia.

[1:07:05] I'm glad that she had the money back

[1:07:08] in her and political influence to get

[1:07:12] in and be a citizen faster than people

[1:07:15] that have been here 20 years.

[1:07:17] So you think about that.

[1:07:21] Thank you for your comments.

[1:07:25] I don't have any other folks signed up

[1:07:27] to speak on this agenda item.

[1:07:29] Was there anybody else that wanted to speak

[1:07:31] on this particular agenda item.

[1:07:33]

[1:07:41] Jerry Cooley.

[1:07:42] Milton, Florida.

[1:07:43]

[1:07:45] I doubt if anybody is in favor of illegal immigration,

[1:07:50] but let me help you since you seem to be struggling, James.

[1:07:55] We have a Sheriff's department.

[1:07:57] That's their job.

[1:07:59] Ice that's their job.

[1:08:03] This resolution reminds me of the signs that we have up all

[1:08:06] over the place that says fined for littering.

[1:08:11] If people are going to break the law,

[1:08:13] this resolution is not going to stop them from doing it.

[1:08:16] And I've been silent on some of your actions,

[1:08:22] but I'm not going to be silent on this one.

[1:08:25] Everyone knows what this is.

[1:08:29] This is rhetoric.

[1:08:31] This is dog whistle stuff.

[1:08:34] The board of County Commissioners, your job

[1:08:37] is to fund the Sheriff's Department, which you've done.

[1:08:41] Your job is to have conversations with the Sheriff's

[1:08:44] Department periodically to encourage

[1:08:47] them to make sure they're getting that job done.

[1:08:52] You should have already had that conversation with them,

[1:08:57] to be quite honest.

[1:08:59] I have a list that shows that there's

[1:09:02] at least a handful of folks that have been arrested by ICE.

[1:09:06] So the system is working.

[1:09:10] Everybody sees this for what it is.

[1:09:14] And I'm going to say it today.

[1:09:18] Three of you need to say no to this.

[1:09:23] Three of you need to push this to the side.

[1:09:26] We have a good Sheriff.

[1:09:28] He has a marvelous staff, and they're keeping us safe.

[1:09:33]

[1:09:37] I need three of you to say no to this.

[1:09:39] Thank you.

[1:09:39]

[1:09:44] All right.

[1:09:44] Is there any other speakers on this agenda item.

[1:09:48] All right.

[1:09:48] Seeing none, I'll go back to Commissioner Collins.

[1:09:51] Thank you, Mr Chairman.

[1:09:52] I appreciate all the public input on it.

[1:09:54] And I want you all to know that this is something

[1:09:59] that I worked really hard on.

[1:10:00] I worked with our County attorney and he helped.

[1:10:06] I also.

[1:10:08] The Sheriff was brought up.

[1:10:10] I talked to the Sheriff about this

[1:10:13] and whether he would support this resolution.

[1:10:16] Well, he told me he fully supports this resolution.

[1:10:23] Illegal immigration is a serious problem in Santa Rosa County

[1:10:29] and the United States of America.

[1:10:32] And for a speaker to come up here and say everything's

[1:10:35] OK, that we don't have a problem is totally wrong.

[1:10:42] We have a major problem in this country

[1:10:44] right now with illegal immigration,

[1:10:46] with crimes being committed by illegal immigrants and people

[1:10:51] not following the law.

[1:10:53] It's a serious problem.

[1:10:55] And we need to do what we can as commissioners to help

[1:10:59] stop it with what we can do.

[1:11:01]

[1:11:04] I put forth a resolution that's very, very simple.

[1:11:10] And basically, I'm going to read it.

[1:11:14] And I want to make something clear.

[1:11:15] This resolution in no way affects or says

[1:11:20] anything about legal immigrants, about folks who follow the law.

[1:11:25] It specifically says it in here.

[1:11:26] What this resolution addresses is illegal aliens,

[1:11:30] illegal immigration.

[1:11:32] That's what we at Santa Rosa County commissioners

[1:11:35] need to say.

[1:11:36] Unacceptable if you break the law,

[1:11:39] it should never be acceptable to break the law

[1:11:41] anywhere in the United States.

[1:11:43] We have a nation of laws.

[1:11:47] So I'm going to read the resolution right here.

[1:11:51] A resolution declaring that Santa Rosa County, Florida, does

[1:11:55] not welcome illegal aliens.

[1:11:58] Whereas Santa Rosa County welcomes

[1:12:01] and honors legal immigrants.

[1:12:04] And whereas, legal immigration is

[1:12:07] vital to the economic, technological and strategic

[1:12:11] strength of our country.

[1:12:12] And whereas, Santa Rosa County is committed

[1:12:16] to supporting lawful immigration and providing opportunities

[1:12:19] for legal immigrants who contribute

[1:12:22] positively to our community.

[1:12:24] And whereas, currently the federal government

[1:12:27] is intentionally violating asylum laws and spending

[1:12:31] billions of dollars in taxpayer funds

[1:12:33] to admit illegal immigrants, many who are serious criminals.

[1:12:38] And whereas the safety and security of the citizens

[1:12:42] of Santa Rosa County is of utmost importance

[1:12:45] and illegal immigration poses significant challenges

[1:12:49] to public safety, public health, and the economic well-being

[1:12:53] of our community.

[1:12:54] And whereas the rule of law must be

[1:12:57] upheld to ensure the fair and just

[1:13:00] treatment of all individuals.

[1:13:03] Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Board

[1:13:05] of County Commissioners of Santa Rosa County, Florida.

[1:13:08] Section 1 Santa Rosa County does not welcome illegal aliens

[1:13:12] and stands in support of federal and state laws

[1:13:16] designed to prevent illegal immigration.

[1:13:18] Section 2.

[1:13:19] Santa Rosa County will cooperate fully with federal and state

[1:13:23] authorities to enforce immigration laws

[1:13:26] and ensure illegal immigration is not tolerated

[1:13:29] within our jurisdiction.

[1:13:31] Section 3.

[1:13:32] The board of County Commissioners

[1:13:33] encourages all residents to respect the rule of law

[1:13:37] and support lawful immigration processes.

[1:13:41] Folks, that is the resolution clear as day.

[1:13:45] It's about illegal immigration.

[1:13:48] And it also says that we support legal immigrants and our country

[1:13:54] was founded on immigration.

[1:13:56] We are all immigrants, we acknowledge,

[1:13:58] but we have the rule of law that we need to stand in support of.

[1:14:03] And this is a major issue in Santa Rosa County,

[1:14:08] and we need a show.

[1:14:11] Our citizens.

[1:14:13] We need to show the country that we're taking a stand.

[1:14:17] It's kind of like having a no trespassing

[1:14:19] sign in front of your house.

[1:14:22] Yeah, people can still cross the line.

[1:14:25] They can still violate that.

[1:14:27] But at least we're putting a no trespassing

[1:14:29] sign for all illegal activity in Santa Rosa County.

[1:14:32] That's what this is about.

[1:14:34] And this will have an effect.

[1:14:35] And again, Sheriff Bob Johnson told me

[1:14:39] that I'm allowed to say that he fully

[1:14:40] supports this at this meeting.

[1:14:42] So I'm prepared to make a motion unless there's any questions.

[1:14:50]

[1:14:53] Any questions or comments by any fellow board members.

[1:14:55] Commissioner Wright.

[1:14:57] Thank you, Mr Chairman.

[1:15:00] May I ask Commissioner Calkins a questions for a simple answer

[1:15:02] and then I'll move on to some comments.

[1:15:04]

[1:15:07] James my question will be why this.

[1:15:12] And as a follow up, why not create

[1:15:15] a resolution for everything that is possibly illegal out there.

[1:15:19] Board of County Commissioners resolution against shoplifting.

[1:15:23] Resolution against drinking and driving.

[1:15:26] A simple question, and I'd like to hear your response

[1:15:29] and then I'll follow up with some comments.

[1:15:33] Thank you.

[1:15:34] This was an issue addressed to me by Citizens.

[1:15:37] It was.

[1:15:38] It was a problem.

[1:15:39] I got a message probably about three weeks ago

[1:15:45] that there was this was going out on social media

[1:15:48] and it was a message.

[1:15:50] I'm going to read the message.

[1:15:51] It says approximately 120 what looked like illegal aliens,

[1:15:54] military age men without families

[1:15:56] dropped off by a bus at Love's on I-10 in Bagdad, Florida,

[1:16:00] right by Milton last night.

[1:16:02] So I got this message and me as a County commissioner.

[1:16:07] What can I do about that.

[1:16:09] We can.

[1:16:10] We can only do so much.

[1:16:13] But at least we can put out a message saying that no, no, no.

[1:16:16] Illegal aliens are not welcome in Santa Rosa County.

[1:16:19] That is where it could have an effect.

[1:16:21] Maybe they'll skip Santa Rosa County because they heard

[1:16:24] that we don't support this.

[1:16:26] So that's the way it could help.

[1:16:28] This issue is about.

[1:16:31] Illegal immigration.

[1:16:32] And I also want to say this isn't something

[1:16:35] that just came up now.

[1:16:37] I have fought in 2002 1,000, around 2010,

[1:16:43] I went to the legislators, spoke up in favor of e-verify.

[1:16:46] And you know what the legislator did.

[1:16:48] They voted it down.

[1:16:49] OK I went up to the legislator and spoke

[1:16:52] in front of the legislator saying

[1:16:55] we need to go against college tuition for illegal immigrants.

[1:16:59] What the legislator did.

[1:17:00] They voted for college tuition for illegal immigrants.

[1:17:04] OK I went to the legislator and spoke

[1:17:06] out against driver's licenses for illegal immigrants.

[1:17:09] What they did.

[1:17:10] They voted for driver's license for illegal immigrants.

[1:17:12] And there was one vote that voted against it, one vote.

[1:17:15] That was Matt Gaetz.

[1:17:17] And his dad, Don Gaetz.

[1:17:19] And what is that.

[1:17:21] So Thank.

[1:17:23] I'm so thankful for President Trump.

[1:17:25] I'm thankful for Governor Ron DeSantis

[1:17:27] because if we didn't have them because later on down the line,

[1:17:31] they started getting tough on illegal immigration.

[1:17:34] They started e-verify, finally became law, the sanctuary city.

[1:17:39] Let me to interrupt you, but you still

[1:17:41] didn't answer the question.

[1:17:44] I mean, that was I mean, that was magnificent.

[1:17:47] I get it.

[1:17:48] You dropped lots of names and went on and on and on.

[1:17:51] And I'm sorry for everyone, but this

[1:17:52] is going to be a long meeting, all because of this one issue.

[1:17:56] But I'm going to give you a lesson in leadership.

[1:18:00] So you did not answer the question why

[1:18:05] this and not every other thing.

[1:18:07] OK, I know why.

[1:18:09] OK because you didn't answer.

[1:18:10] So you obviously don't have an answer.

[1:18:11] I know why the answer is because you don't care.

[1:18:15] You don't care about all of these things.

[1:18:17] This is simply a political stunt.

[1:18:19] I'm sick and tired of it.

[1:18:20] This Good Lord knows that when bad things happen,

[1:18:30] things in life that I think are negative,

[1:18:32] I always try to view them as an opportunity.

[1:18:34] And that's exactly what this is.

[1:18:35] This is an opportunity.

[1:18:37] I am done.

[1:18:38] And just so everyone is prepared in the media and out there

[1:18:41] in the public, when the attacks start coming at me, when you

[1:18:44] start seeing mail pieces, advertisements in digital form

[1:18:47] and on television come from his grandmother's pack,

[1:18:51] you'll know why.

[1:18:53] But you're right, it is politics, James.

[1:18:56] It is politics.

[1:18:57] And I'm sick of it.

[1:18:59] As someone who comes from Irish heritage

[1:19:01] and knows what the Irish people dealt

[1:19:03] with in this country and the discrimination that happened,

[1:19:06] that's a problem.

[1:19:08] It's a problem for the Hispanics.

[1:19:09] It's a problem for Blacks.

[1:19:11] It's a problem for Asians, a problem for everybody.

[1:19:13] And this business about I talked to the Sheriff

[1:19:15] and the Sheriff 100% supports this.

[1:19:17] I'm telling you, folks, someone is lying or not

[1:19:20] being fully honest, because I've spoken with the Sheriff to

[1:19:24] and they are the Sheriff told me he thought

[1:19:26] this was a harebrained idea.

[1:19:27]

[1:19:30] And the Sheriff's department does

[1:19:32] not enforce immigration law.

[1:19:36] Ice does.

[1:19:37] And the feds do.

[1:19:39] What the Sheriff's Department can enforce

[1:19:42] is human trafficking.

[1:19:46] In any number of other issues out there.

[1:19:49] Now, as a commissioner who has worked closely

[1:19:51] with the Sheriff's Department on human trafficking issues,

[1:19:55] that, Yes, does have to deal with illegal immigration,

[1:19:59] it also has to do with people being

[1:20:01] trafficked for other parts of the world

[1:20:04] and sold into the sex slave.

[1:20:08] But there's a difference in actually working with people,

[1:20:11] building relationships and trying to accomplish something

[1:20:14] rather than put some resolution together to try to gain

[1:20:18] votes and get attention.

[1:20:20] From day one, you've done this time and time and time again,

[1:20:24] you've brought something forward to create chaos,

[1:20:27] to get some name recognition and put this board, whether it be

[1:20:30] these five here, the four of us or the four that were here

[1:20:34] before, in a tough position to try to leverage us

[1:20:38] and to try to make us vote for something so we don't look bad.

[1:20:41] We don't look like we're not American.

[1:20:43] We don't look like we're not patriotic.

[1:20:45] And the precious.

[1:20:46]

[1:20:50] There is no doubt that America is a melting pot.

[1:20:53] Look, you're not going to find anyone

[1:20:56] in this room that thinks Yeah, it's

[1:20:57] a great idea to break the law.

[1:21:00] Breaking the law is a good idea.

[1:21:01] We approve illegal immigration.

[1:21:04] No one thinks that's a great idea.

[1:21:09] Not one of us.

[1:21:10] So on that, we agree.

[1:21:13] Illegal immigration is probably not a good thing.

[1:21:17] But immigration is a very, very, very complicated

[1:21:26] and bureaucratic thing.

[1:21:29] We just from the County level here.

[1:21:31] How difficult it is to handle issues,

[1:21:35] how difficult it is to just build a house, build a road,

[1:21:39] create a park.

[1:21:41] It's sausage making and it's bureaucratic

[1:21:45] and it takes way too long.

[1:21:47] I think we can agree on that.

[1:21:50] And every level of government you go up,

[1:21:52] it gets worse and worse and worse.

[1:21:56] And one of the reasons immigration

[1:21:58] is so complicated is because of people on both sides that

[1:22:03] use this ridiculous rhetoric and not a damn one of them

[1:22:06] actually wants to solve a problem.

[1:22:09] It's the same kind of stuff that happens in this boardroom.

[1:22:12] It's the same kind of stuff that happens

[1:22:13] in Tallahassee and every other level of government.

[1:22:16]

[1:22:19] And I stepped up a few years ago to try to solve some problems.

[1:22:24] Staff knows this.

[1:22:25] I think most of the people know this.

[1:22:26] The people that disagree with my decisions I think still

[1:22:29] can understand that I'm just trying to solve a problem.

[1:22:32] And that's what I'm hoping all five of us are trying to do.

[1:22:35] But in my experience.

[1:22:39] I haven't seen a situation where you've actually

[1:22:41] tried to solve a problem and there's not a problem you're

[1:22:43] trying to solve with this.

[1:22:44]

[1:22:46] This is just an effort to divide people, to create discontent,

[1:22:49] to create hate, and to label people.

[1:22:52] And you and you disguised it as well.

[1:22:55] We're for we're for illegal immigration

[1:22:57] and it's for the safety and security of the citizens.

[1:22:59] And it's all empty words.

[1:23:01]

[1:23:04] And on a morning like today where there's a traffic fatality

[1:23:08] on Highway 98 in Okaloosa County,

[1:23:12] that is severely disrupting the mission of Hurlburt Field,

[1:23:17] Eglin Air Force base, and the lives

[1:23:19] of numerous thousands of Santa Rosa County citizens

[1:23:22] trying to get to work.

[1:23:23]

[1:23:26] And we have issues like that and whether

[1:23:29] or not we can try to do some kind of bypass road.

[1:23:33] To help the nation's security.

[1:23:35] The safety of our citizens, the safety of our citizens

[1:23:38] is in this safety and security of the citizens of Santa Rosa

[1:23:40] County is of utmost importance.

[1:23:44] Challenges to public safety, public health,

[1:23:46] economic well-being of our community.

[1:23:48] The same lines could be tied to the traffic issue on Highway 98

[1:23:53] going to Hurlburt Field.

[1:23:55] Our nation's security is part of that.

[1:23:57] We have two people in this audience

[1:23:59] that are part of the Special Operations community.

[1:24:02] It drives me crazy that we're not

[1:24:04] working on something like that.

[1:24:06] If you would put 5% of the effort

[1:24:10] that you put into this kind of stuff

[1:24:12] into actually doing the work, building a relationship.

[1:24:16] Talking to these people, working with FDOT,

[1:24:18] working with the Air Force, working with anyone

[1:24:22] to try to solve something.

[1:24:24] We'd be in a much better place today.

[1:24:28] So you and your people can say whatever they want about me.

[1:24:33] I welcome the attacks.

[1:24:35] My wife is prepared for it.

[1:24:36] My family is prepared for it.

[1:24:38] You can make up all the lies you want, including the stuff you've

[1:24:41] done, the candidates you've put in the race against me,

[1:24:44] all this stuff.

[1:24:45] You're the one that made this political.

[1:24:47] And this is not about me, but this

[1:24:50] is about doing the right thing and shutting this kind of crap

[1:24:53] down.

[1:24:53] And I'm voting no.

[1:24:54] Even if I'm 4 to 1, I don't care.

[1:24:56] This is wrong.

[1:24:58] And I'm absolutely against illegal immigration.

[1:25:03] Any other crime, anything that's wrong out there.

[1:25:06] But this is empty.

[1:25:08] This is absolutely empty.

[1:25:09]

[1:25:13] And when you actually work to do something to solve a problem,

[1:25:16] I'll help you out.

[1:25:18] Mr Chairman.

[1:25:20] You're going to have a chance to talk.

[1:25:21] I want to thank you.

[1:25:24] All right.

[1:25:26] I would like to say that every one of us

[1:25:29] included, ran as a conservative Republican.

[1:25:34] You actually put on your mailout that you support

[1:25:37] gun rights when you ran.

[1:25:38] You put out that you support gun rights.

[1:25:40] And then on the first item I put on the agenda

[1:25:43] when I got elected was to support constitutional carry.

[1:25:48] And you know what you said.

[1:25:49] You said, we don't have anything to do with this.

[1:25:52] It's never going to pass.

[1:25:53] It's never going to do.

[1:25:54] You just objected it.

[1:25:58] And guess what.

[1:26:02] We were the first County to support that.

[1:26:05] Send it to the Senate President, send it to the speaker.

[1:26:08] And guess what.

[1:26:09] The governor of our state of Florida

[1:26:11] signed into law constitutional carry.

[1:26:17] So what we do at a County level does have an effect,

[1:26:20] but it takes leaders to step out and show

[1:26:22] we need we mean business.

[1:26:25] You used you ran as a conservative.

[1:26:29] You're no conservative, Colton, right.

[1:26:31] You are a full blown rhino liberal.

[1:26:34] And its actions, you're against a common sense led resolution.

[1:26:40] I can guarantee you 75% of Santa Rosa County residents

[1:26:44] would vote for this guaranteed.

[1:26:48] And I can tell you that this will

[1:26:50] be a big issue because it shows it shows

[1:26:54] who stands against illegal.

[1:26:57] There are folks in Washington.

[1:26:59] There are local level people that don't want to do anything

[1:27:02] about illegal immigration.

[1:27:04] They want to do absolutely nothing.

[1:27:06] They want to sit there while illegal immigrants come

[1:27:08] across the border, kill people.

[1:27:12] There is murders by illegal immigrants.

[1:27:14] That girl in Georgia.

[1:27:18] We are the people are losing their lives

[1:27:21] over illegal immigrants.

[1:27:22] And you know why that's happening.

[1:27:24] Because there are people that run as Republicans

[1:27:27] that don't take a stand.

[1:27:28] There's another commissioner, Kerry Smith,

[1:27:30] who actually replaced a good Republican,

[1:27:33] replace a good Republican and put a Democrat on a board.

[1:27:37] And you voted for it.

[1:27:38] Colton right.

[1:27:39] We have pure and full blown rhinos up here that vote

[1:27:44] with the Democrat agenda that are for that are against gun

[1:27:48] rights, that are against.

[1:27:52] They sit there and say, they're there.

[1:27:54] They're against illegal immigration,

[1:27:56] yet they won't even vote for an item that basically says.

[1:28:03] That Santa Rosa County does not welcome illegal aliens.

[1:28:06] Well, sir, that means you welcome illegal aliens.

[1:28:09] That's what that means.

[1:28:10] You said it.

[1:28:12] So that's the message that's going to get out there.

[1:28:18] Folks I ran as a conservative.

[1:28:21] I'm still a conservative.

[1:28:22] I didn't change when I got elected.

[1:28:24] And I've been fighting for conservative values.

[1:28:26] I've been fighting to make sure that this board is

[1:28:30] not hijacked and taken over by liberal Democrats.

[1:28:33] Folks, we're close.

[1:28:35] We're about.

[1:28:36] We're about one vote away from this board

[1:28:39] having a liberal majority.

[1:28:42] And these are the kind of things that are so simple.

[1:28:49] Easy easy to pass.

[1:28:52] And all I can do.

[1:28:54] I'm one commissioner.

[1:28:55] I have one vote.

[1:28:56] I hope the rest of the board.

[1:28:59] I hope we can get this passed and and I'll respect whatever

[1:29:05] the will of the board because.

[1:29:06] But the people will know.

[1:29:07] The people will know how we stand on this issue.

[1:29:09] It's very important.

[1:29:10] It's one of the top issues.

[1:29:12] So commissioner, one last thing.

[1:29:19] The people know where I stand because I support

[1:29:21] the Sheriff's Department.

[1:29:24] Time and time again.

[1:29:25] I've been part of funding the Sheriff's Department.

[1:29:29] Happy to do so.

[1:29:30] Their budget has increased and we've

[1:29:32] given them proper pay and the proper tools to do their job.

[1:29:35] If you talk about gun rights, there's

[1:29:37] my concealed carry permit.

[1:29:39] There's my lifetime NRA membership.

[1:29:42] Anytime you want to go shooting, come with me.

[1:29:46] We can have a little contest if you want.

[1:29:48] If it's going to turn into a game,

[1:29:50] we can talk about who has more guns, who has more ammunition.

[1:29:52] This is ridiculous.

[1:29:54] You objected.

[1:29:54] This is ridiculous because the County does not control it.

[1:30:00] What we control is the Sheriff's budget.

[1:30:03] It's simple.

[1:30:04] This is simple civics.

[1:30:07] It's civics.

[1:30:10] Now what my incoming freshman daughter could not do

[1:30:15] is school you on the game of politics.

[1:30:19] That's a fact.

[1:30:21] Because she's disgusted by what she sees at 14 years old.

[1:30:26] But what she can do is she can school you

[1:30:29] on civics and the separations of government

[1:30:33] and the different branches, whether it

[1:30:35] be at the federal level or the local level.

[1:30:38] And the fact is you and this board,

[1:30:41] we should be focused on an ordinance

[1:30:44] that makes a difference.

[1:30:46] The land development code where it

[1:30:47] makes a difference, investing in recreation,

[1:30:50] investing in infrastructure.

[1:30:52] That's our job.

[1:30:54] That is our job where we get involved in federal issues

[1:31:00] is when we start talking about how does our County help.

[1:31:05] Support our local military bases from an infrastructure

[1:31:09] standpoint, from a funding standpoint.

[1:31:11] How do we support our veterans.

[1:31:13] It's what this board can actually to do that, though.

[1:31:18] Not put useless words on a sheet of paper.

[1:31:21] And that's why I know you're going to use

[1:31:22] this to attack everybody.

[1:31:23] I'm a rhino.

[1:31:24] You like to say that stuff all the time.

[1:31:26] I'm a proud Reagan Republican.

[1:31:28] And you can.

[1:31:30] This is ridiculous.

[1:31:31] This doesn't even need to be partisan.

[1:31:33] But do not question my Second Amendment bona fides.

[1:31:38] You objected the constitutional carry.

[1:31:40] So that's actions speak louder than words.

[1:31:42] Commissioner Parker, are we going

[1:31:44] to be able to discuss this or is this going

[1:31:46] to be a back and forth between.

[1:31:48] I think Commissioner Wright is finished.

[1:31:50] I just wanted to allow him to get

[1:31:52] through his train of thought.

[1:31:53] Go ahead, Commissioner Smith.

[1:31:55] I want to do this.

[1:31:56] And don't touch your little button there,

[1:31:59] James, but well, it's not your turn.

[1:32:04] I know you don't know the rules and how

[1:32:06] to operate a proper meeting.

[1:32:09] And it's just obvious even more.

[1:32:11] You came out attacking me, and you can shut up.

[1:32:15] I'll tell you to shut up from here.

[1:32:17]

[1:32:19] I can't tell you politely.

[1:32:23] I mean, get it, dude, and turn your microphone off.

[1:32:27] You should be polite.

[1:32:28] I'm trying to be.

[1:32:30] But you can't.

[1:32:30] You can't keep your mouth shut.

[1:32:33] And it's just embarrassing.

[1:32:35] I've had enough of it.

[1:32:37] I think this board's had enough of it.

[1:32:39] We've had our fill of you doing these little stunts.

[1:32:42] Congratulations you.

[1:32:44] You succeeded in your little stunt of.

[1:32:47] Hey, if they go against it, I'm going to make

[1:32:49] it look them against me.

[1:32:51] I'm the only true conservative on this board.

[1:32:53] You are far from being the true conservative on this board.

[1:32:57] You have no clue of how to even govern anything you don't know.

[1:33:01] You don't even know what your job is, sir.

[1:33:04] And I say that with the I'm not saying that as a Gotcha.

[1:33:09] I'm saying that as an embarrassing fact.

[1:33:14] It's embarrassing.

[1:33:17] What you do and do not know.

[1:33:20] And to do these kinds of things, it just blows me away.

[1:33:25] And then all of a sudden you're going to come out and start

[1:33:27] talking about me appointing a Democrat to a board,

[1:33:33] the Marine advisory board.

[1:33:35] That's when we have repairs done on boat ramps.

[1:33:39] It's nothing more than that.

[1:33:42] I did not.

[1:33:42] Shut up.

[1:33:43]

[1:33:47] I'm sorry.

[1:33:48] I can't.

[1:33:49] It's like talking to a child.

[1:33:53] You replaced a Republican and put a Democrat,

[1:33:56] and the man you replace is an honorable man.

[1:33:59] I don't care what they were.

[1:34:00]

[1:34:04] The guy didn't show up to the meetings.

[1:34:06] I replaced him with a marine biologist.

[1:34:08] I didn't ask for her party affiliation.

[1:34:10] I didn't care.

[1:34:12] These are not the kid grief guy.

[1:34:14] Lee, man, you are just insufferable.

[1:34:18] I can't.

[1:34:19] I don't know what else to do because you

[1:34:22] can't keep your finger off your microphone.

[1:34:24] You've got to start interjecting.

[1:34:25] You've got to start your debate Follow the rules.

[1:34:29] I know you want to aspire to get to Florida

[1:34:32] and do get in the legislature.

[1:34:35] They'll boot you right out on your butt.

[1:34:36] You start doing that stuff.

[1:34:38] So let me give you a little lesson on that.

[1:34:39] So some of the things that you're proposing.

[1:34:46] They're ridiculous.

[1:34:48] And when you brought up the point with the 120

[1:34:53] legal immigrants that were at the Love's truck stop, for one,

[1:34:58] looked into this.

[1:34:59] For one had a state representative, the Sheriff's

[1:35:04] Department and some citizens that

[1:35:06] brought this to my attention in the conference room.

[1:35:09] And we ascertained that these were

[1:35:11] people coming in on an h-1a or an h-2a visa

[1:35:15] just coming through town.

[1:35:19] But you're going to use it as a spark.

[1:35:22] We're getting invaded.

[1:35:24] They were stopping to use the restroom on their way

[1:35:27] to South Florida.

[1:35:30] So these are the things that are just when you come up

[1:35:34] and you start shooting from the hip.

[1:35:36] I did do the work.

[1:35:37] I did hear the complaints and I did set up the meetings.

[1:35:43] So when we have these discussions,

[1:35:47] this is really doing work.

[1:35:49] Tom was on vacation last week.

[1:35:55] I don't know if he even answered the phone

[1:35:57] and but I'm probably pretty sure he just

[1:35:58] kept legally out of trouble.

[1:36:01] He didn't do he didn't do any more than that.

[1:36:05] And for you to say that the Sheriff's

[1:36:07] Office fully endorses this.

[1:36:09] He just didn't see a problem.

[1:36:11] Would you sink in his ship.

[1:36:14] You're just doing what you do.

[1:36:15] James, this is your seventh resolution in 3 and 1/2 years.

[1:36:21] I've got them all up here.

[1:36:23] Here Your predecessor of 20 years.

[1:36:26] I guarantee you he doesn't have seven resolutions

[1:36:29] because he knew how to govern.

[1:36:32] He knew how to direct policy to help his district.

[1:36:36] He knew how to be a County commissioner.

[1:36:39] Then why did he not get elected.

[1:36:40]

[1:36:43] How do you know.

[1:36:44]

[1:36:49] Again, James.

[1:36:51] Again, James.

[1:36:52] You just keep showing people.

[1:36:55] Your inability to follow directions.

[1:36:58] The simplest direction.

[1:37:01] How can you just.

[1:37:03] I'm telling you.

[1:37:04] I'm telling you right out of the gate.

[1:37:06] And then have you checked with the HbA1c as to what you're

[1:37:10] trying to accomplish here.

[1:37:13] Good grief.

[1:37:14] No, you can answer them in a block.

[1:37:17] OK I'll let you answer them in a block,

[1:37:19] but you won't answer them anyway.

[1:37:22] You'll skirt around and you'll start preaching.

[1:37:24] Trump I'll tell you where I was January 6.

[1:37:27] Where were you.

[1:37:27] So you want to listen, man.

[1:37:29] Sam seriously, can you say what it is.

[1:37:32]

[1:37:35] So you want me to ask the HbA1c, the home

[1:37:37] builders association, what they thought about this immigration.

[1:37:41] I can tell you they don't support it.

[1:37:43] I could tell you a lot of folks that take American jobs

[1:37:45] and hire illegal immigrants aren't going to support this.

[1:37:48] But you want to ask the hba?

[1:37:50] I'll tell you what.

[1:37:50] I'm going to take a restroom break.

[1:37:52] And when you guys are ready to vote,

[1:37:53] I've said all I'm going to say.

[1:37:55] I'm not going to partake with this little Monkey Business,

[1:37:58] of how he runs a meeting.

[1:38:01] And by the way, this is the guy that's

[1:38:02] going to be our chairman in July because he's the vice chair.

[1:38:07] Is this the kind of crap we're going to deal with.

[1:38:10] I'm telling you, I'm taking a restroom break.

[1:38:12] When you guys are ready to vote, I'll come back to you.

[1:38:18] Commissioner Eddington.

[1:38:21] Mr Ryan, I want to thank you for what you said about 98

[1:38:26] working with the military and stuff.

[1:38:28] I have worked with Eglin, Herbert about the connector

[1:38:33] ever since I've been on this board,

[1:38:35] still working with these people.

[1:38:38] I'm not against these people coming in as long

[1:38:41] as they come in legal.

[1:38:42] That's the right thing to a matter of fact,

[1:38:45] I got two in my house every day taking care of my grandson.

[1:38:49] They are doing the right thing.

[1:38:50] They are applied for American citizenship.

[1:38:54] They're doing the paperwork.

[1:38:55] They're doing great.

[1:38:57] I have a problem with that.

[1:38:58] No, I do not.

[1:39:00] I'd do anything for these two ladies today.

[1:39:05] And I have done some stuff for one of them.

[1:39:07] Last week.

[1:39:08] She needed some help.

[1:39:10] I was there.

[1:39:12] I took my truck and we moved a lady.

[1:39:15] That's what it should be.

[1:39:18] I don't look at color, race, nothing.

[1:39:22] I have got friends from ever all over this United States

[1:39:27] and out of this country.

[1:39:28] I've got some friends.

[1:39:30] Would I turn on them.

[1:39:31] No and I don't think they would turn on me.

[1:39:34] You talk about the Democrats.

[1:39:36] As I've told you before, my parents were Democrats.

[1:39:39] I voted Democrat the first time.

[1:39:41] I am a Republican now.

[1:39:43] My dad got mad at me, didn't speak to me for a long time.

[1:39:46] But we got he got over it.

[1:39:48] We got good people on every side.

[1:39:52] We got bad people.

[1:39:54] We just got to work together and quit talking about it.

[1:39:56] We want to not let this one come into this state.

[1:40:00] We don't want these here, this County.

[1:40:03] We should be letting the state and federal people handle

[1:40:07] that stuff, not the County.

[1:40:09] That's state and federal.

[1:40:11] I read all of it.

[1:40:13] Believe me, I've read it.

[1:40:15] James, me and you friends, I like everybody on this board.

[1:40:18] But I will not vote for that because we.

[1:40:23] You don't know who's the bad ones coming in.

[1:40:27] Well, you don't know if they might be illegal,

[1:40:31] but they might be here trying to get citizenship.

[1:40:34] We don't James.

[1:40:35] We really don't know because you've

[1:40:39] got to give them a change.

[1:40:41] They are some bad people, believe

[1:40:42] me, coming across that border.

[1:40:44] No doubt about it.

[1:40:46] Drug addicts, drug pushers, people

[1:40:49] getting kids doing stuff they shouldn't be doing with kids.

[1:40:53] I got a grandson in a wheelchair.

[1:40:55] That And these ladies takes care of my grandson

[1:40:59] like you wouldn't believe.

[1:41:01] They are not from the United States,

[1:41:03] but they want to be because it's a better

[1:41:05] place to be because that's what it's a free country here.

[1:41:11] And we are giving them the right to come here and live

[1:41:14] a good life in the United States, here in Santa Rosa,

[1:41:18] everywhere.

[1:41:19] But James, please don't push it.

[1:41:21] Let's hold off and let the state and the federal people do this.

[1:41:24] Please, sir.

[1:41:25]

[1:41:31] All right, Commissioner.

[1:41:33] Thank you.

[1:41:34] Thank you, Mr Chairman.

[1:41:35]

[1:41:37] I said it and I said it again.

[1:41:40] I believe this is what the people of Santa Rosa County

[1:41:43] want.

[1:41:45] This is a clear, absolute 100% majority of Santa Rosa counties

[1:41:52] wants this.

[1:41:54] A resolution declaring that Santa Rosa County, Florida, does

[1:41:58] not welcome illegal aliens.

[1:42:00]

[1:42:03] It's plain as day.

[1:42:06] Think about.

[1:42:07] It's clear.

[1:42:09] And what I would like to say is it's time to take a vote,

[1:42:14] I can tell you.

[1:42:16] The citizens will know about this resolution, what it says.

[1:42:20] The citizens will know how we vote.

[1:42:23] And I think it will be a very important issue.

[1:42:27] So I absolutely want to show the citizens of Santa Rosa County

[1:42:30] that Santa Rosa County cares and that they truly.

[1:42:36] Are against illegal immigration, but we

[1:42:40] also support legal immigration.

[1:42:43] So I'm going to make a motion to approve asking for a second.

[1:42:48] Yeah Thank you.

[1:42:51] I know I've lost a little weight recently, guys,

[1:42:54] but I'm still sitting here.

[1:42:55] I still like the opportunity to speak as one of five.

[1:43:01] First of all, I'll try to keep my train of thought

[1:43:03] here from the bottom of my heart.

[1:43:06] I want to Thank Commissioner Eddington and Commissioner

[1:43:08] Colton, obviously.

[1:43:10] Commissioner Wright.

[1:43:11] I'm sorry, I actually wrote ray and Colton,

[1:43:13] but I'm trying to be respectful here.

[1:43:14] Commissioner Eddington and Commissioner Wright

[1:43:16] for your work on Highway 98.

[1:43:18] As you all have mentioned, that in our thoughts and prayers

[1:43:20] are with those families that have suffered that tragedy.

[1:43:24] We also are extremely thankful for the work that the men

[1:43:28] and women of our United States Air Force,

[1:43:30] specifically Hurlburt Field and Eglin and the leadership, as

[1:43:33] well as our state delegation and Congressman Matt

[1:43:39] Gaetz and meetings that I know myself

[1:43:41] and Commissioner Wright have attended about the highway 98

[1:43:44] alternate route.

[1:43:45] So I do appreciate you all stepping on that,

[1:43:48] touching on that, and I appreciate

[1:43:49] your hard work on that.

[1:43:52] And I also want to make a comment because this is actually

[1:43:56] an issue that early on in the year that I had

[1:44:01] kind of solidified a train of thought

[1:44:03] after gathering information that nobody's

[1:44:06] really touched on today.

[1:44:08] I want to say unequivocally I'm thankful for the instrumental

[1:44:11] role that hundreds of thousands, if not millions of immigrants

[1:44:18] play in our country's economy.

[1:44:20] And especially when you talk about Florida

[1:44:23] and our construction and our agriculture industries.

[1:44:27] And that really cannot be overstated, especially if folks,

[1:44:34] that are working in the citrus industries or other

[1:44:40] agriculture things, or especially

[1:44:43] in the construction industry.

[1:44:45] I'm going to give you a little perspective of I

[1:44:48] think I probably share some cross thoughts of all five

[1:44:54] of you gentlemen on the board.

[1:44:56] I absolutely agree.

[1:44:58] And I think everybody on this board and in the audience

[1:45:01] would agree with the fact that drug overdoses and deaths are

[1:45:09] at an alarming rate throughout the country,

[1:45:10] especially here in Florida.

[1:45:12] I mean, you've got rapes and murders of young girls

[1:45:15] that you're hearing about on the National news,

[1:45:17] which seems to be at an unprecedented rate

[1:45:19] in the past few months.

[1:45:21] And, of course, I mean, we're going off of reports that we've

[1:45:24] heard that it is unfortunately seems to be violent crime,

[1:45:30] especially towards younger females

[1:45:32] being highlighted at an alarming rate that's

[1:45:36] occurring from folks that have come across the border

[1:45:39] illegally.

[1:45:40] But I will lay blame at where I see blame 100%

[1:45:46] And that's at the feet of President Joe Biden.

[1:45:50] Quite frankly, President Biden went in office

[1:45:53] and he repealed executive orders.

[1:45:55] And he had no problem doing that, things

[1:45:57] that were securing the border.

[1:45:59] And I've got a good friend of mine right now.

[1:46:02] He's a Santa Rosa County resident

[1:46:04] and he's a Florida Highway patrolman.

[1:46:06] And he's over at the border right now.

[1:46:10] And I've been able to talk with him on the phone

[1:46:12] as he's been over there in Texas.

[1:46:14] And he shared things that really solidified

[1:46:18] a lot of what I've speculated from watching the news.

[1:46:23] But you never really know until you're either there

[1:46:26] or talk with somebody that's there.

[1:46:28] And even state representative Michelle Salzman

[1:46:30] that recently took a trip down there and the difficult,

[1:46:36] the difficult thread to weave about this issue

[1:46:39] that Commissioner Caulkins has brought up

[1:46:42] and that we're all hearing about on the news every day

[1:46:44] is the fact that it is a tough issue to think.

[1:46:51] Do you vilify the folks coming across the border

[1:46:59] and call them a criminal in circumstances

[1:47:02] where you have federal government, law enforcement

[1:47:07] employees waving them to come placing them in line,

[1:47:13] putting them on air conditioned buses,

[1:47:16] driving them to processing centers,

[1:47:18] asking them where they want to go,

[1:47:20] and then providing them with bus tickets or in some cases

[1:47:23] plane tickets and dispersing them throughout the country.

[1:47:27] I've shared with my wife this is something where I said months

[1:47:29] ago, I actually had prayed.

[1:47:31] I said, God, please soften my heart

[1:47:33] and help me not to feel bitter or angered.

[1:47:36] Towards people that are doing that

[1:47:37] because again, as I will say, that blame

[1:47:39] is on President Joe Biden.

[1:47:41] It's one thing when you scale a wall or tunnel under a barrier

[1:47:49] or try to evade law enforcement.

[1:47:52] But when you have federal law enforcement and this

[1:47:56] is from talking with my friend that's in Texas right now.

[1:47:59] When you have federal law enforcement officers waving

[1:48:02] people across the border and you think someone's

[1:48:07] trying to get to a place where they can provide

[1:48:11] better for their family.

[1:48:12] How do you criminalize that.

[1:48:14] How do you even find fault in that.

[1:48:17] I know that if I thought there was a better opportunity for me

[1:48:21] and my children and my wife, somewhere, I 100%

[1:48:26] would do things that I could to improve that.

[1:48:29] And the fact of the matter is, it's kind of like speeding.

[1:48:34] Somebody mentioned the speed limit earlier.

[1:48:38] If you have a speed limit of 35 and you drive down the road

[1:48:43] and you see a deputy part there and you say,

[1:48:45] hey, speed limit is 35, but is it OK if I go 45.

[1:48:50] And the deputy says, absolutely, it's OK, you can go 45.

[1:48:54] I know the speed limit says 35, but you can go 45

[1:48:57] and you drive 45.

[1:48:59] Does that make you a criminal or are you following what

[1:49:01] the law enforcement told you.

[1:49:02] And I think that is where it becomes

[1:49:06] a difficult situation to navigate because quite frankly.

[1:49:11] And I think our Florida Highway patrolman,

[1:49:14] I think our Texas National Guard,

[1:49:15] I think our governor for trying to support Greg Abbott in this,

[1:49:21] it's not happening where they're at,

[1:49:22] but they can't control federal law enforcement.

[1:49:24] And again, that's where I say it.

[1:49:26] I place the blame solely at the feet of our current president,

[1:49:29] Joe Biden.

[1:49:30] I do not condone illegal immigration.

[1:49:34] And I don't condone the federal government

[1:49:36] not only ignoring the immigration laws,

[1:49:39] but actively undermining them.

[1:49:43] And that is where I see the problem

[1:49:45] more so than the majority of folks that are coming across

[1:49:51] that probably I think we could accurately say

[1:49:53] don't necessarily engage in criminal behavior, especially

[1:49:57] violent criminal behavior.

[1:49:59] But I will say that.

[1:50:03] You can't.

[1:50:05] You cannot ignore the fact that even right here in Santa Rosa

[1:50:09] County, as of last week, we have had a significant rise

[1:50:18] of the number of drug related overdoses

[1:50:21] and Meth that's happening with this fentanyl.

[1:50:23] And it's been directly linked.

[1:50:24] I mean, even here at a local level,

[1:50:27] through cooperation with federal agencies,

[1:50:29] it's been directly linked to fentanyl and other drugs

[1:50:33] coming across the Southern border.

[1:50:35] And so Yes, it is a major issue.

[1:50:38] Just like Commissioner right said what.

[1:50:42] I'm proud of the fact that in eight years,

[1:50:44] every year we've been able to increase

[1:50:45] our Sheriff's budgets to where he can combat

[1:50:47] crime and provide safety.

[1:50:49] But even especially today, we're going to have a budget hearing

[1:50:52] to where the proposal is going to be to fund almost

[1:50:55] another $9.5 million to our Sheriff's Office

[1:50:58] so that he can have the budget to not only have the personnel,

[1:51:03] but the equipment that he needs to help

[1:51:05] fight the mess happening.

[1:51:07] And even if you talk with the Sheriff,

[1:51:10] things like the human trafficking are extremely hard.

[1:51:14] But you've heard Commissioner right.

[1:51:16] For years has actually he's been an advocate against that.

[1:51:19] He's even talked about some of these, stay open all night

[1:51:24] massage parlors and different things.

[1:51:26] So I have zero doubt that the men on this board

[1:51:30] share the heart of wanting to stop this.

[1:51:32] And I know when I was a Sheriff's deputy,

[1:51:35] it wasn't happening near at the volume that it's happening now.

[1:51:38] But it definitely created a problem

[1:51:40] when you would deal with folks and they

[1:51:43] would have whatever fabricated ID that they put together.

[1:51:47] And you have no way of acknowledging who this person

[1:51:51] is you're dealing with.

[1:51:52] I can personally say I have arrested

[1:51:54] people that bonded out of jail.

[1:51:58] And then the next day when the IFUs hit came back

[1:52:02] on their fingerprints, they were wanted for violent crimes

[1:52:04] in other states.

[1:52:06] But we didn't know that at the time.

[1:52:08] And we had no way to prove who they were.

[1:52:09] I mean, it is lunacy in the United States of America,

[1:52:14] arguably the most technologically advanced country

[1:52:17] in the world, that as a citizen that's born here to do almost

[1:52:24] anything, you've got to provide as an adult documentation,

[1:52:27] a birth certificate to get a driver's license and Social

[1:52:30] Security number and sign up for selective service

[1:52:33] and all these other things.

[1:52:35] But the federal government under the current president,

[1:52:40] can have people walk across the border

[1:52:42] and tell you whatever name and identity

[1:52:44] that they want to assume, then without any documentation

[1:52:48] to know if that's true, they can go in here right now.

[1:52:51] And Thank you to our governor and our state delegation that's

[1:52:55] working with the Florida Sheriffs Association

[1:52:57] to try to end the loophole that for me, born right here in Santa

[1:53:02] Rosa County 40 years ago, to go get a tag for a vehicle

[1:53:07] that I purchased, I've got to provide not only my driver's

[1:53:09] license, but I have to provide proof of insurance,

[1:53:12] and that's to protect all the motorists on the road.

[1:53:16] But yet you can have someone waved across the border.

[1:53:20] They go to a processing center, get a passport

[1:53:23] and whatever name that they decide to assume because there's

[1:53:26] no birth certificate required like there are

[1:53:28] for naturally born citizens.

[1:53:31] And then they can come out here and get a tag to a vehicle

[1:53:33] and go out here and drive.

[1:53:34] It's happening right here in Santa Rosa County.

[1:53:36] I think the Sheriff's Office said as of last week,

[1:53:39] if I remember right, at least 100 cases or more

[1:53:42] of out here driving without a license,

[1:53:45] I hear getting in wrecks.

[1:53:47] And then our citizens are victimized

[1:53:49] because they didn't have insurance,

[1:53:51] but it wasn't required.

[1:53:52] It's not the tax collector's fault.

[1:53:54] It's a breakdown in state law.

[1:53:57] My last point, and I'll say this, I really again,

[1:54:02] I think I know all you gentlemen enough to know that I

[1:54:04] share thoughts with you all.

[1:54:07] And I will.

[1:54:09] This is the moment where I'll say

[1:54:11] I'm going to try to lean into maybe a little bit of longevity

[1:54:16] and on the board and collegiate to.

[1:54:18]

[1:54:22] With these comments.

[1:54:23] I know the board has passed ceremonial resolutions

[1:54:26] in the past and I 100% support sending a strong message

[1:54:34] to President Joe Biden and the elected officials in Washington,

[1:54:37] DC, that says this cannot continue.

[1:54:42] This is breaking the back of our country.

[1:54:44] It's breaking the back of the resources.

[1:54:48] And we're talking about law enforcement.

[1:54:49] But folks, let's not forget, if you haven't traveled

[1:54:53] to any major Metropolitan area recently,

[1:54:56] you can ask a friend who has or turn on the news.

[1:54:58] These cities are being overwhelmed.

[1:55:02] It's not a Republican or Democrat issue anymore.

[1:55:05] It's the fact that you're having thousands of people

[1:55:08] show up in the Metropolitan areas with 0

[1:55:12] means to support themselves and depending on local governments

[1:55:17] to take care of them.

[1:55:19] The fact is Florida right now, I think,

[1:55:22] is number two in the whole country.

[1:55:25] As far as a state that's suffering from this.

[1:55:27] We are seeing things here locally.

[1:55:30] And I know every one of you gentlemen have probably

[1:55:32] had an opportunity to talk with the Sheriff's Office

[1:55:34] or at least listen to interviews that chief TIFF have done

[1:55:37] did last week.

[1:55:39] It is a problem right here in Santa Rosa County.

[1:55:41] But in an attempt to try to unify this board as well

[1:55:47] as place blame directly, where I feel like blame

[1:55:50] should be placed.

[1:55:52] I would because I don't like to see a divided board.

[1:55:56] I don't like to see men that I character wise on this board

[1:56:01] possibly put into a put into a category

[1:56:05] that I don't think maybe accurately identifies them.

[1:56:08] But I do think that the citizens it's kind of like I've got

[1:56:12] a guy right now in my district, we're

[1:56:13] trying to work with him, getting his internet back

[1:56:16] up after this storm from AT&T, and he

[1:56:18] knows it's not my wheelhouse.

[1:56:20] He says, I know there's nothing you can do,

[1:56:23] but I know you have a stronger voice than I have.

[1:56:26] Can you please help work on this.

[1:56:27] And I'll say, even the folks at FPL,

[1:56:30] because of those connections and that opportunity

[1:56:34] I have to serve as an elected leader.

[1:56:36] We definitely got quicker results from him than for him

[1:56:40] than he was getting himself.

[1:56:41] So in that effort to try to help, what I have,

[1:56:44] undoubtedly I know that every man on this board, I

[1:56:48] know that probably every person in this audience

[1:56:50] and the overwhelming majority of people in the community

[1:56:53] understand that it's a problem.

[1:56:55] I would propose that we could do a slight modification of

[1:56:58] the language to the resolution.

[1:57:00] And I've and I've made a few minor critiques

[1:57:04] that I think after hearing the robust comments that I make

[1:57:07] would make sense.

[1:57:09] And then hopefully we could pass it and join other elected

[1:57:13] officials all throughout this country that have already called

[1:57:16] for President Joe Biden to secure the Southern border,

[1:57:19] stop illegal immigration that's leading

[1:57:21] to the rise in violent crime and drug deaths in our country,

[1:57:24] and quite frankly, negatively affecting us right

[1:57:27] here in the state of Florida.

[1:57:28] And I think it goes back to as I say,

[1:57:31] those ceremonial resolutions, which we have passed

[1:57:33] a lot of meaningful ones.

[1:57:35] Even when I was on the board with Commissioner Salter,

[1:57:39] Commissioner Hawkins predecessor made

[1:57:40] me think of that because sometimes it's just

[1:57:43] to send that message of, hey, I know this may not

[1:57:46] be directly in my wheelhouse.

[1:57:48] It is in our wheelhouse, obviously,

[1:57:49] to approve the Sheriff's proposed budget,

[1:57:51] a 9 and 1/2 million dollar increase later today.

[1:57:54] But if nothing else, to join with the many,

[1:57:59] many other local and state elected leaders

[1:58:03] throughout this entire country that are calling for Washington

[1:58:07] to do something to stop this.

[1:58:09] And they 100% can do something to stop this.

[1:58:13] My suggestion of trying to unify the board and send that signal

[1:58:17] would be, I think if we made the modification of wording.

[1:58:20] Commissioner Calkins, if you would consider where it to where

[1:58:24] it could read a resolution declaring that Santa Rosa

[1:58:27] County, Florida, does not support illegal immigration

[1:58:32] because again, the tough part, and I understand

[1:58:36] might give me a second to finish.

[1:58:38] I understand the hearts of what you're saying.

[1:58:41] There's undoubtedly we have people here right now in Santa

[1:58:44] Rosa County that are contributing

[1:58:46] to our economy every day and that aren't committing crime,

[1:58:48] but they're not here through the legal Avenue.

[1:58:52] But I can tell you, through being around construction sites.

[1:58:56] These men will share the same stories that I

[1:58:58] just told you about my friend.

[1:59:00] That's a highway patrolman that in their mind,

[1:59:03] it wasn't even really criminal in their mind.

[1:59:05] It was the federal government inviting them in.

[1:59:08] I mean, they transported them here

[1:59:10] on behalf of the tax dollars.

[1:59:12] But I think if that language clarifies that we don't support

[1:59:17] illegal immigration, and then if we modified section 1 to say

[1:59:20] Santa Rosa County does not support illegal immigration,

[1:59:25] the rest of the wording would be fine.

[1:59:28] It's really it's changing the name of welcome to support.

[1:59:31] But I think that words do have meaning.

[1:59:34] And I think that I know sometimes I get long winded,

[1:59:37] but I'm really trying to make a stand for.

[1:59:41] Like I said, I don't want to see any of my fellow board members

[1:59:44] try to be compartmentalized into something

[1:59:46] that I know they those are not that's not

[1:59:49] how I characterize these fine gentlemen that I serve beside.

[1:59:52] And we could add a section number 4 after Section 3

[1:59:56] to some effect.

[1:59:57] But the notes I took as I listened to you gentlemen just

[2:00:00] said, the Board of County Commissioners

[2:00:03] encourages President Biden to use all available options

[2:00:07] to immediately secure the Southern border

[2:00:10] and stop facilitating the relocation of illegal immigrants

[2:00:14] throughout the United States of America.

[2:00:16] Because I think that is something we can all agree on,

[2:00:18] is that's the last thing that we want ourselves

[2:00:21] or our children as they won doubtedly

[2:00:24] have to tackle the rising debt.

[2:00:26] To think that we're paying to transport folks

[2:00:29] to cities that are begging for help if you

[2:00:33] haven't seen it on the news.

[2:00:34] But that would be my suggestion.

[2:00:36] I believe in that intent that I describe.

[2:00:41] I believe I think that every you've already

[2:00:43] heard these gentlemen and how they feel.

[2:00:45] We've heard from citizens.

[2:00:47] And I think everybody in this room,

[2:00:49] probably even the folks that spoke, would say,

[2:00:51] Yes, we don't agree with criminals

[2:00:56] and we don't but we don't agree with what President

[2:00:59] Biden is allowing to happen.

[2:01:01] That is at the root of that.

[2:01:03] And instead of doing anything that could disparage

[2:01:08] and otherwise, fantastic, hardworking person

[2:01:14] that's right here in our community.

[2:01:17] And that's why I shared that robust background

[2:01:20] because like I said, I've got a friend out there on the border.

[2:01:22] And I just there's no other way I to look at it.

[2:01:25] So I don't know if you would entertain

[2:01:28] making those few modifications.

[2:01:30] I think it sends the same message.

[2:01:32] I think it sends actually a stronger message

[2:01:34] because if we put that in there, we could 100% send this

[2:01:39] to our federal elected leaders.

[2:01:42] I know that Senator Scott, from listening to him,

[2:01:46] I think would be glad to take this

[2:01:48] in his office and Congressman Gaetz,

[2:01:50] and we could send it 100% to the White House

[2:01:55] because again, it's one of those where if we can join

[2:01:58] with other elected officials around the country,

[2:02:01] we can become that echo chamber that maybe is loud enough

[2:02:04] that either he'll fix it or that the folks will

[2:02:06] turn out in November and we'll have

[2:02:07] a change in the White House.

[2:02:08] But that would be my suggestion.

[2:02:10] Commissioner chairman commissioner Parker.

[2:02:13] Well, wait a minute.

[2:02:14] I mean, let me get Commissioner Smith.

[2:02:17] Commissioner Smith, I appreciate your attempt to do this,

[2:02:22] but I'm going to tell you right now,

[2:02:23] there's no way I'm for any of this

[2:02:25] because this is a half assed.

[2:02:27] And I'm sorry.

[2:02:28] I'm going to have to get my wife hitting

[2:02:29] me on the head for saying that.

[2:02:31] But this is a half cocked.

[2:02:33]

[2:02:35] Resolution put together prior to a mail out.

[2:02:39] And this is all it is.

[2:02:41] I'm going to call it out for what

[2:02:43] it is I'm against how Joe Biden's

[2:02:46] handling this 100% We all are.

[2:02:49] But for him to get up here and start his shouting and stuff,

[2:02:52] what he's done.

[2:02:53] No, I say we throw this out.

[2:02:55] Go to the next item.

[2:02:56]

[2:02:59] Share this, I. Let me get Commissioner right.

[2:03:03] Mr Chairman, I circle back since it's your resolution.

[2:03:05] So I appreciate your attempt to try to make sure

[2:03:11] that I and others don't get painted into a corner

[2:03:14] by some folks.

[2:03:17] I think that damage is already done,

[2:03:18] and I already know that ship is coming

[2:03:20] and those attacks are on their way.

[2:03:23] They were on their way before today.

[2:03:25]

[2:03:30] The facts say otherwise, James.

[2:03:32] So what I would 100% support is if you want to work with staff,

[2:03:43] Mr Chairman, to draft a letter and then bring that back

[2:03:48] to the board for us to all sign in unison in solidarity,

[2:03:55] that we think that the president, Joe Biden,

[2:03:58] has done a terrible job and we think

[2:04:01] there are numerous improvements that can be made.

[2:04:03] I will 100% support that and I'll be glad to sign that.

[2:04:10] I just can't be part of this stunt.

[2:04:15] And that's just what it is.

[2:04:17] It's not about what the resolution says.

[2:04:20] It's not.

[2:04:20] I just I can't be comfortable just tweaking it

[2:04:22] because all this is an effort for one person

[2:04:27] to try to make themselves look good

[2:04:29] and to try to make others look bad.

[2:04:33] And he's trying to pigeonhole you into a bad spot.

[2:04:36] He's done it to Commissioner Eddington, to Commissioner Smith

[2:04:38] and to me.

[2:04:39] And it's also an effect to pigeonhole staff.

[2:04:43]

[2:04:45] And we've seen what happens in the past

[2:04:48] when people feel bullied into doing something they know based

[2:04:53] on the history of what's happened for many years,

[2:04:56] that if they don't go along with certain things,

[2:04:59] that they will be stabbed in the back.

[2:05:01] There will be a line of people at the podium

[2:05:04] to demand their firing and their resignation.

[2:05:08] Facebook will go crazy.

[2:05:09]

[2:05:12] I wish this board had a more collegiate and professional

[2:05:16] way of doing things.

[2:05:18] And I think generally speaking, we try to do that.

[2:05:23] But time and time again, there are efforts to disrupt

[2:05:28] that and create the chaos.

[2:05:31] And I will not be part of the chaos any longer.

[2:05:34] I cannot do it.

[2:05:36] It's not good for me.

[2:05:37] It's not good for the staff.

[2:05:39] It's not good for everybody else here.

[2:05:41] And it's darn sure not good for them.

[2:05:44] I absolutely support a letter and I will make a motion to.

[2:05:49]

[2:05:53] Did I hear a second.

[2:05:54] OK, go ahead, Mr Chairman.

[2:05:58] Let commissioner Collins speak.

[2:05:59] And I know Commissioner Eddington wants to speak.

[2:06:02] I don't think we need to rush to cut

[2:06:04] another one off at this point.

[2:06:06] Got to raise your hand.

[2:06:07] All right.

[2:06:07] So I'm.

[2:06:08] I'm just one vote here.

[2:06:11] But I'm willing to work with the rest of the board.

[2:06:16] And I actually commend Mr Chairman for actually.

[2:06:22] For actually trying to adjust and make this to where some

[2:06:28] of you all may jump on board.

[2:06:30] But there is a clear ideological difference between all

[2:06:38] of us board members.

[2:06:39] There is a clear as day ideology.

[2:06:42] There are some board members here that are to the left.

[2:06:46] And there are some board members that are to the right.

[2:06:49] And it's clear as day because the resolution, the resolution

[2:06:53] speaks for itself.

[2:06:55] It's very simple.

[2:06:57] You vote Yes or you vote no.

[2:06:59] Now, what.

[2:07:00] Chairman Parker did was actually try to make it to where

[2:07:06] we could work together.

[2:07:09] He's a lot more polite maybe than I

[2:07:11] am with some of these things.

[2:07:13] But that's why we all have to work together and.

[2:07:16]

[2:07:18] So I'm going to say that I will.

[2:07:22] I will.

[2:07:23] I had a motion on the floor and I

[2:07:27] will amend my motion to add what Commissioner Parker

[2:07:32] has put in the resolution.

[2:07:36] I think that he really tried.

[2:07:39] To win over another board member.

[2:07:43] And this is your opportunity.

[2:07:46] I do think this needs to be voted on.

[2:07:48] And it is the board's opportunity

[2:07:51] right now to show that they stand

[2:07:55] against illegal immigration.

[2:07:57] So what Commissioner Parker put on here a resolution declaring.

[2:08:02] The Santa Rosa County, Florida, does not

[2:08:06] support illegal immigration.

[2:08:09] It's very simple.

[2:08:11] It's very and to Commissioner Addington.

[2:08:15] Respectfully, Commissioner Addington.

[2:08:17] It's kind of what I think Commissioner Parker probably

[2:08:20] listened to your verbiage and it's

[2:08:23] kind of what you were saying when you were saying

[2:08:26] your speech on this issue.

[2:08:28] It kind of fit in line with that.

[2:08:30]

[2:08:33] I think that this is good and we could

[2:08:37] this is what the citizens want.

[2:08:39] This is truly what the citizens want.

[2:08:41] And I think what Commissioner Parker did was he

[2:08:46] added another section here on.

[2:08:50] President Biden to use all available options to immediately

[2:08:54] secure the Southern border and stop facilitating

[2:08:56] the relocation of illegal immigrants

[2:08:58] throughout the United States of America.

[2:08:59] This is called working together.

[2:09:02] This is called trying.

[2:09:03] To uphold the will of the people.

[2:09:07] So I highly recommend.

[2:09:09] My motion stands as amended.

[2:09:13] Asking for a second.

[2:09:15] And then we and then we move to discussion.

[2:09:19] But I highly believe that we need to show the public that.

[2:09:25] This is something that we care about

[2:09:28] and the public cares about.

[2:09:30] So I knew you were looking to speak a second ago.

[2:09:34] Did you have a comment.

[2:09:37] It puts us in a hardship between all of us.

[2:09:41] I think we should not vote for that right now.

[2:09:45] Like Mr Wright said, I just work with the staff.

[2:09:48] Let's get the right words put in there because I

[2:09:52] do not feel like all these people is bad people

[2:09:57] and they are not bad.

[2:09:58] We got there's a bunch of good ones.

[2:10:01] And I believe we can work with some of this stuff.

[2:10:04] We just got to really sit down with the staff

[2:10:07] and try to word this stuff correctly and not

[2:10:11] make it look bad on all of us.

[2:10:14] Not going with you or we do go with you,

[2:10:18] but we want to do the right thing.

[2:10:20] Let's all sit down and think about this, how we

[2:10:23] really want to word this stuff.

[2:10:24]

[2:10:26] I'll just say this.

[2:10:29] I passed that.

[2:10:31] You can see the changes.

[2:10:34] I can't say anything else that I haven't spoken

[2:10:36] already from the heart on this.

[2:10:38] But I will say.

[2:10:41] As a Santa Rosa County resident and elected official.

[2:10:45] I do.

[2:10:48] I do not want to.

[2:10:49] The reason I tried to write something

[2:10:51] to build some alliance, something that there

[2:10:55] was some palatability towards.

[2:10:57] And I. 100% sympathize with comments that were made and.

[2:11:04] I don't want to send the message either that

[2:11:07] Santa Rosa County couldn't.

[2:11:10] It's almost like we're standing on the train

[2:11:12] track at this moment.

[2:11:13] And that's probably not a good analogy.

[2:11:16] But if it's been put in front of us, I don't want it

[2:11:20] to go down as, hey, we didn't.

[2:11:25] The message of Santa Rosa County didn't support this, I think.

[2:11:30] I acknowledge the heartfelt feelings

[2:11:33] that have been stated today.

[2:11:35] And there's undoubtedly extreme political tension

[2:11:40] between members of this board.

[2:11:43] And that's why I've tried to navigate a thread that I thought

[2:11:46] would be graceful and accurate.

[2:11:50] I hate to send the message to Santa Rosa County

[2:11:53] now that this is in our laps that.

[2:11:57] This is not so I guess, Commissioner.

[2:12:01] I'm kind of asking you because look,

[2:12:05] I'm your I'm your I'm commissioner

[2:12:07] right's biggest advocate.

[2:12:07] I'm going to give me a button that says commissioner

[2:12:09] rights number one fan.

[2:12:12] He's been an extremely levelheaded.

[2:12:16] Commissioner on the board.

[2:12:17] And I understand everything you said.

[2:12:19] I think that.

[2:12:20] I think that.

[2:12:22] I understand what you're saying.

[2:12:26] I'm just.

[2:12:27] That's one thing I'm looking at.

[2:12:29] I don't know if you would consider looking at this

[2:12:31] or I heard what you said.

[2:12:32] I just kind of hate the message not only here locally, but even

[2:12:37] to our leaders to be that Santa Rosa County couldn't come

[2:12:42] to an agreement on this issue.

[2:12:44] Now that it's in front of us.

[2:12:45] Well, Mr. chairman, what I did not hear

[2:12:47] is I did not hear a second.

[2:12:48] So if I may just make a couple comments.

[2:12:51] I didn't hear a second.

[2:12:52]

[2:12:57] What I'm just.

[2:12:59] Are you talking about for discussion.

[2:13:00] He's just wanting to.

[2:13:01] I just can't.

[2:13:02] I can't handle this.

[2:13:03] This talking off the mic like a child.

[2:13:06] It just.

[2:13:07] It's on and on and on and on and on.

[2:13:09] And this is what I'm getting at.

[2:13:12] Obviously, tensions are high, and I'm

[2:13:15] a little fired up this morning.

[2:13:17] More than normal.

[2:13:19] But it's because it's cheap talk.

[2:13:27] You have made an effort, Mr Chairman,

[2:13:30] to try to provide a solution.

[2:13:32] And I 100% understand and support your efforts.

[2:13:36]

[2:13:39] Please, James, if you can't shut your mouth.

[2:13:43] Just go ahead and key the mic.

[2:13:44] Every time you're going to say something, just go ahead.

[2:13:48] You might as well.

[2:13:48]

[2:13:56] So I can appreciate Commissioner Calkins

[2:14:03] comments about working together and finding a solution.

[2:14:08] I heard him.

[2:14:11] But what I believe in my heart is there empty words.

[2:14:16] And the reason I say that it goes back to my comments

[2:14:19] earlier is things like this get laid in our lap

[2:14:24] time and time and time again.

[2:14:26] And if there was really an effort

[2:14:28] to do something productive and try to work

[2:14:31] together and find a solution.

[2:14:36] And that would have been done with staff

[2:14:38] and worked by communicating through staff

[2:14:41] to commissioners to try to find a solution

[2:14:44] and then bring it to the board.

[2:14:47] Not throw something out on a Thursday afternoon.

[2:14:50] Here's the agenda that's published and put

[2:14:52] everyone on their heels.

[2:14:55] And then have everyone spend all weekend going geez,

[2:14:58] I wonder what's going to happen Monday.

[2:14:59] It's going to be chaos in the boardroom.

[2:15:01] We have a two page agenda, two pages of actual County business,

[2:15:08] but a commissioner item on the front,

[2:15:09] it's going to dominate the whole day.

[2:15:11] It's going to dominate the news cycle.

[2:15:13] It's going to dominate Facebook.

[2:15:14] And it's only done.

[2:15:17] For that one individual's benefit.

[2:15:19] It's not done for the benefit of anyone in this audience,

[2:15:22] not done for the benefit of anyone watching,

[2:15:24] not a single center as a County citizen.

[2:15:27] It's not done for anyone's benefit,

[2:15:28] and his political desires and the hunger for power.

[2:15:35] And I'm just over it.

[2:15:36] If I don't get elected, God be God, whatever.

[2:15:40] I've got more character and integrity.

[2:15:43] Then this kind of stuff.

[2:15:45] I just.

[2:15:45] I can't do it.

[2:15:46] I've told you time and time again

[2:15:48] that you keep pushing too far and you're not a man of Honor.

[2:15:52] And that's a fact.

[2:15:54] And, Mr Chairman, I'm sorry for having to go that route,

[2:15:56] but that's the position that we keep getting put in.

[2:16:00] And if we continue to allow it like we've done

[2:16:02] for the last 3 and 1/2 years, it's going

[2:16:04] to continue to happen.

[2:16:05] And I'm not going to be bullied anymore.

[2:16:10] And once again, I absolutely appreciate your attempt,

[2:16:16] but because I think that's what a chairman is supposed to do

[2:16:20] is try to guide the meeting and try to bring everyone to a place

[2:16:24] to get something done.

[2:16:25] And as someone who has consistently

[2:16:28] tried to solve a problem and bring people together

[2:16:30] to do so and understand compromise, what he's

[2:16:35] done to us today is not an effort to solve anything,

[2:16:38] not an effort to compromise, not an effort

[2:16:41] to work together, regardless of what he says

[2:16:44] now after the proposed changes.

[2:16:46] So I hope I'm not putting the position

[2:16:47] and three other people on this board

[2:16:49] aren't put in a position where they're

[2:16:51] forced to take a vote on this.

[2:16:52] What I would prefer to see happen is that this gets tabled,

[2:16:56] a letter comes back via staff and the chairman

[2:16:59] and the commissioner that wants it.

[2:17:01] Everyone can review it before it's put on the agenda.

[2:17:04] And we could all be proud to sign

[2:17:05] something that goes to President Biden in the White House.

[2:17:10] Thank you.

[2:17:10] And with that, I'll take what it is.

[2:17:12] If we got to go to a vote, so be it.

[2:17:13] What is the difference.

[2:17:14] You're saying that this is political,

[2:17:16] so what is the difference with what you're trying to do.

[2:17:20] It's the same thing.

[2:17:21] It just I mean, this is a clear resolution.

[2:17:25] You're saying this is all political theater.

[2:17:27] That's what you're saying.

[2:17:30] Well, then what you're doing is the same thing.

[2:17:32] So Yeah.

[2:17:35] Please hold on a minute.

[2:17:37] What I think is going on here, I'm going to say it.

[2:17:40] What I think is going on here.

[2:17:42] And this was a comment that was made earlier

[2:17:44] by Commissioner Kerry Smith.

[2:17:47] Commissioner Kerry Smith asked me

[2:17:49] if I asked the homebuilders association

[2:17:54] if this was OK to do.

[2:17:56] He asked me that earlier, I'm supposed

[2:17:58] to get their permission.

[2:18:01] Well, as you all there are tons of folks

[2:18:05] that are hiring illegal aliens at the expense of hard

[2:18:09] working American taxpayers.

[2:18:12] And what I think is going on here, the majority of this board

[2:18:16] is freaked out right now.

[2:18:18] They don't want to make the homebuilders upset.

[2:18:21] And that is exactly that is exactly what's going on.

[2:18:26] And he was a member of the homebuilders association and

[2:18:28] a sitting realtor, by the way.

[2:18:30] So, listen, I'm here to do what the people want

[2:18:34] and the people want the people want a resolution to basically

[2:18:40] say that Santa Rosa County, Florida, does

[2:18:43] not welcome illegal aliens.

[2:18:45] And what we got.

[2:18:49] We got a majority of this board saying that they

[2:18:52] welcome illegal aliens.

[2:18:54] That's what's going on here.

[2:18:55] That's why they don't want to vote

[2:18:57] for this because the truth is.

[2:19:00] The truth is.

[2:19:02] The truth is, what is the truth.

[2:19:06] What is the truth.

[2:19:07] The truth is this is the same board that voted to replace

[2:19:12] a Republican with a Democrat.

[2:19:14] This is the same board that voted for that.

[2:19:17] So I'm going to say it loud and clear.

[2:19:20] I didn't.

[2:19:21] I did not.

[2:19:24] I did not get elected to sit there and make my fellow board

[2:19:36] members appease.

[2:19:38] I believe this commissioner.

[2:19:40] I'm proud of Mr. chairman here.

[2:19:43] He's actually trying to make an effort of doing something

[2:19:48] and make this go through.

[2:19:50] And James, the thing is that two commissioners.

[2:19:55] Miss Chapman, I'm going to say this because you all have made

[2:19:58] a pure mockery out of this.

[2:20:00] Two commissioners have mail outs that have this subject on it.

[2:20:04] Get a vote and get rid of this subject.

[2:20:07] Well, I can tell you, there was the Santa Rosa County Democratic

[2:20:14] Party, the Santa Rosa County Democratic Party put out

[2:20:17] a they are fully against this.

[2:20:20] They are fully against this resolution.

[2:20:23] So I would like to say that, Commissioner, let me

[2:20:27] just as a conservative Republican,

[2:20:31] as a conservative Republican, I'd like to make a motion.

[2:20:35] Give me just a second.

[2:20:35] Listen, folks, I know these commissioners have had,

[2:20:40] including myself, extremely long dialogue.

[2:20:43] That's because we're a Republic that's

[2:20:47] been elected to make decisions.

[2:20:48] And I do my best, as you've heard fellow commissioners even

[2:20:52] ask Commissioner Calkins about being respectful and not

[2:20:56] interrupting folks.

[2:20:57] So I'll say again, as I've said before, if we could please

[2:21:01] all act to treat each other the way we want to be treated

[2:21:05] are not outbursts and yelling.

[2:21:06] I try not to do that, even if I disagree with what

[2:21:09] you say at the podium.

[2:21:10] I'll let you finish your thoughts.

[2:21:11] And I see I'm asking if we could please maintain civility

[2:21:15] so that we can show folks that, hey, we do know how to act

[2:21:18] in a board room and we don't try to vilify one person

[2:21:21] for acting wrong or whatever.

[2:21:23] So go ahead, Commissioner.

[2:21:24] All right.

[2:21:25] I'm going to I'm going to finish.

[2:21:26] I'm going to finish my I'm going to finish what I'm OK.

[2:21:31] I'm going to make a I'm going to make a motion.

[2:21:34] OK with the amended resolution.

[2:21:39] And I'm going to read it right now.

[2:21:41] A resolution declaring, I'm sorry.

[2:21:44] I just was going to ask one question.

[2:21:46] If beforehand listen, if it comes to a vote,

[2:21:49] obviously on the language that I wrote,

[2:21:50] I'm fully going to support it.

[2:21:52] I mean, I've been abundantly clear on the way I feel, but.

[2:21:56] I'm just asking for consideration before a motion.

[2:21:58] And again, it is unfortunate.

[2:22:01] I'm sitting here as the most tenured member

[2:22:04] to see the board fractured.

[2:22:08] I would like to send a loud I'd love to send

[2:22:12] a unanimous message of support.

[2:22:15] So I'm just floating that as far as if there is something

[2:22:18] you would entertain to if it comes to a vote on the wording

[2:22:21] I put clearly, I'm going to say, Yes, I understand

[2:22:24] all the personalities and the unfortunate that of causing this

[2:22:31] divide.

[2:22:31] I'm just I'm floating that if there's a way that we could have

[2:22:35] the board be through a unanimous Yes on whatever we call it,

[2:22:40] a letter of resolution, I personally

[2:22:43] see no problem with it with the amended language

[2:22:46] that I explained.

[2:22:47] But I'm just that's going to be my last plea.

[2:22:50] If there's something the board could

[2:22:51] do to unify, whether that's today or the label date.

[2:22:55] But I mean, I've been extremely lengthy with my dialogue

[2:23:00] and I mean, I'm unwavering in my thoughts about Yes,

[2:23:04] this is a crisis.

[2:23:05] This is a public health nuisance.

[2:23:09] But again, that was my last plea, Commissioner Caulkins

[2:23:12] and then I won't cut you off.

[2:23:14] OK what I would like to.

[2:23:15] Yeah, Mr Chairman, you are in control of this board.

[2:23:21] These people out here need to be quiet when y'all are speaking.

[2:23:24] But when they speak, we need to be quiet and listen.

[2:23:27] But you are in control.

[2:23:29] And you need to control all of us up here.

[2:23:31] Please step up and tell us if we're in the.

[2:23:35] Be quiet, please, sir, I'm going to have you all sign waivers

[2:23:39] that let me slap somebody in the mouth

[2:23:40] because I don't really know what else to do

[2:23:42] sometimes when but go ahead.

[2:23:45] All right.

[2:23:45] I'm trying to be as polite as possible.

[2:23:47] All right.

[2:23:48] I think Mr Chairman, is doing a good job.

[2:23:50] I just want to say that.

[2:23:51] And I think it's a heated issue.

[2:23:55] It shouldn't be a heated issue.

[2:23:57] It shouldn't it should have been.

[2:23:59] I'm sure the citizens of Santa Rosa County

[2:24:02] are going to be shocked that this was actually a heated issue

[2:24:04] with the most we live in the most

[2:24:06] conservative County in Florida.

[2:24:09] And the fact that we have opposition

[2:24:11] to saying that illegal aliens aren't welcome in Santa

[2:24:14] Rosa County is stunning.

[2:24:18] So what I'm going to do is I'm going to read off

[2:24:24] the resolution with the amended language that Mr Chairman added.

[2:24:29] And then if this passes, it would be great.

[2:24:32] If it doesn't, that's on everybody that votes against it.

[2:24:35] They got to live with the citizens.

[2:24:37] Fine and then we could and then we can.

[2:24:40] Then we can do a motion to do the other things.

[2:24:45] But I'm going to start off with this.

[2:24:49] OK a resolution declaring that Santa Rosa County, Florida, does

[2:24:54] not support illegal immigration, whereas Santa

[2:24:58] Rosa County welcomes and honors legal immigrants.

[2:25:01] And whereas, legal immigration is

[2:25:03] vital to the economic, technological and strategic

[2:25:06] strength of our County.

[2:25:08] And whereas, Santa Rosa County is committed

[2:25:10] to supporting lawful immigration and providing opportunities

[2:25:14] for legal immigrants who contribute

[2:25:16] positively to our community.

[2:25:18] And whereas, currently the federal government

[2:25:21] is intentionally violating asylum laws and spending

[2:25:24] billions of dollars in taxpayer funds

[2:25:26] to admit illegal immigrants, many who are serious criminals.

[2:25:30] And whereas the safety and security of the citizens

[2:25:34] of Santa Rosa County is of utmost importance

[2:25:37] and illegal immigration poses significant challenges

[2:25:40] to public safety, public health, and the economic well-being

[2:25:44] of our community.

[2:25:45] And whereas the rule of law must be

[2:25:48] upheld to ensure the fair and just

[2:25:51] treatment of all individuals.

[2:25:53] Now, therefore be it resolved by the Board of County

[2:25:56] Commissioners of Santa Rosa County,

[2:25:58] Section 1 Santa Rosa County does not support illegal immigration

[2:26:03] and stands in support of federal and state laws

[2:26:07] designed to prevent illegal immigration.

[2:26:09] Section 2.

[2:26:10] Santa Rosa County will cooperate fully with federal and state

[2:26:14] authorities to enforce immigration laws

[2:26:16] and ensure illegal immigration is not tolerated

[2:26:19] within our jurisdiction.

[2:26:21] Section 3 the Board of County Commissioners

[2:26:24] encourages all residents to respect the rule of law

[2:26:27] and support lawful immigration process.

[2:26:31] Section 4 the Board of County Commissioners

[2:26:34] encourages President Biden to use all available options

[2:26:38] to immediately secure the Southern border

[2:26:40] and stop facilitating the relocation of illegal immigrants

[2:26:45] throughout the United States of America.

[2:26:48] This motion is amended, and I make

[2:26:52] a motion to approve this resolution asking for a second.

[2:26:58] I'm in.

[2:26:59] I'll second it because I drafted language

[2:27:01] and that you were willing to read into there.

[2:27:03] So we've got a motion and a second if for nobody else's.

[2:27:08] Can I speak on something just real quick.

[2:27:11] No, ma'am, not at this point.

[2:27:12] We're going to call a vote and then

[2:27:13] we're going to allow everybody's bladder

[2:27:15] to take a break for 10 minutes.

[2:27:17] All right.

[2:27:18] So we've got a motion and a second

[2:27:21] to pass the resolution on, reflecting the amended language

[2:27:24] that was just read into it.

[2:27:26] And I've got a written staff here

[2:27:27] that I mean, a written copy that I'll provide

[2:27:30] to staff after the meeting.

[2:27:31] All those in favor of that motion

[2:27:33] signify by raising your right hand.

[2:27:35] All those opposed like sign.

[2:27:38] All right, the motion fails.

[2:27:41] OK that's chair.

[2:27:42] Can I. Can I table it What say it again.

[2:27:47] Am I able to.

[2:27:48] Can I make a motion to.

[2:27:50] To table the.

[2:27:51] No, no, it's.

[2:27:52] We are.

[2:27:53] It already got voted down, Commissioner.

[2:27:55] Mr Chairman.

[2:27:56] Yes, sir.

[2:27:57] If you would like to revisit the topic with staff

[2:28:00] and have staff communicate with the commissioners,

[2:28:04] I think we've given some pretty clear

[2:28:07] direction how we feel about President

[2:28:10] Biden and his policies.

[2:28:12] And I think that's something that if this board

[2:28:14] wants to take up at a later date,

[2:28:15] I think we'd be happy to do so.

[2:28:18] Thank you.

[2:28:19] And as much as I would love to never broach

[2:28:24] the semantics that we've had today,

[2:28:26] I do believe in what I said.

[2:28:27] And so I appreciate Commissioner, right.

[2:28:29] As you said, because I still think

[2:28:30] sending a strong and unified message about the issue

[2:28:34] could potentially be supportive.

[2:28:37] All right.

[2:28:38] With that, let's grab this last commissioner item

[2:28:42] so at least we can say we finished a section and then

[2:28:45] and then we'll take a restroom break.

[2:28:46] Commissioner Eddington wanted to appoint

[2:28:48] a new zoning board member.

[2:28:51] Commissioner eddington?

[2:28:52] Yes, sir.

[2:28:53] Mr Grimes had to step down because of his new job.

[2:28:57] And I got a gentleman lives in.

[2:29:00] Holly lived there all his life.

[2:29:03] Gene Sullivan, or a long time resident, lived there.

[2:29:08] His parents was the first one ever opened up the gas station,

[2:29:11] a little store in Holly, and I think he'd be a good person

[2:29:14] for the zoning board.

[2:29:16] He started out as an electrician for a contractor.

[2:29:20] Now he's a supervisor for that contractor

[2:29:23] at herbertville and Egeland.

[2:29:25] And I appreciate if you all approve this without objection.

[2:29:29] And I just want to tell you, Thank you

[2:29:31] for finding a fella to do it.

[2:29:33] And from the bottom of my heart, just as I've said,

[2:29:36] almost every one of you gentlemen

[2:29:37] have served on boards of capacity, some of you multiple.

[2:29:41] Thank you to Mr Sullivan.

[2:29:43] I look forward to meeting you.

[2:29:44] But Mr Sullivan, Thank you for your willingness to serve.

[2:29:47] So thank you, Ray.

[2:29:48] I don't see any opposition, so I think

[2:29:50] you made a motion without objection to approve that,

[2:29:53] if I heard you right.

[2:29:53] So there's no objection that passes.

[2:29:56] He's are now our new zoning board member.

[2:29:58] And then before we go to the consent agenda,

[2:30:01] the phone says it's 10:55.

[2:30:03] So how about we come back at 11:05 or 11.

[2:30:06] 11, 10.

[2:30:07] Y'all want 10 minutes or 15.

[2:30:08] All right.

[2:30:09] 11:05 we'll be good 10 minute break.

[2:30:12] All right.

[2:30:13]

[2:35:13] Test 1, 2.

[2:35:14] Testing 1, 2.

[2:35:15]

[2:35:23] Test one to test.

[2:35:24]

[2:36:43] Now so.

[2:40:55] All right.

[2:40:57] Thank you.

[2:40:58] Thank you for everybody that was able to make it

[2:41:03] through the break and stay with us.

[2:41:05] So hopefully true to normal fashion

[2:41:09] will pass millions of dollars of important infrastructure work,

[2:41:12] probably in just a matter of minutes here.

[2:41:14] All right.

[2:41:15] First is we have the consent agenda.

[2:41:18] Are there any questions or concerns

[2:41:22] that need to be discussed further on the two

[2:41:24] items on the consent agenda.

[2:41:25]

[2:41:28] All right.

[2:41:28] I'm seeing none, so I'll make a motion

[2:41:30] to approve both of these items without objection.

[2:41:35] Hearing none, they're approved.

[2:41:37] And again, just Thank you to triumph.

[2:41:40] And Thank you for this ranchettes project

[2:41:43] that's in your district, right, commissioner?

[2:41:45] Yes, sir.

[2:41:46] Mr $3 million drainage project.

[2:41:48] And I told my wife, I said we can

[2:41:50] pass millions of dollars in important stuff

[2:41:52] without discussion.

[2:41:53] So thank you for your work with those folks

[2:41:55] down there, Commissioner.

[2:41:56] Thank you, Mr Chairman.

[2:41:57] And just a reminder, that was started under Commissioner

[2:41:59] Richards when he was at the helm here,

[2:42:01] and that's staff and everyone has worked a long time on that.

[2:42:04] I just realized something.

[2:42:06] If you don't mind, just giving people a reminder in case

[2:42:08] they are watching at home that today

[2:42:10] is our only meeting this week.

[2:42:12] Yes, sir.

[2:42:12] And it's not just a committee meeting No Yes, you're right.

[2:42:15] And I appreciate it.

[2:42:16] And that probably only exasperates sometimes

[2:42:19] coming to a conclusion.

[2:42:21] But Yes, we canceled the Thursday meeting

[2:42:23] because several gentlemen have to travel

[2:42:26] to represent the County.

[2:42:27] So it's obviously always best when we

[2:42:30] can try to have a full board.

[2:42:31] So we canceled Thursday's.

[2:42:32] So today will be the committee and the regular all in one

[2:42:35] or technically we titled The regular and then in case I

[2:42:38] forget at the end, we will reconvene at 1:00 today right

[2:42:41] here for a budget hearing.

[2:42:43] I don't anticipate that will be extremely lengthy,

[2:42:45] but I'm really excited about it.

[2:42:47] And then we'll have the 5 o'clock meeting tonight.

[2:42:49] So don't drive all the way to Navarre,

[2:42:52] the zoning board meeting.

[2:42:54] So you need to stay around Milton.

[2:42:56] So what we're telling you.

[2:42:57] All right.

[2:42:59] So next on the regular agenda under Services

[2:43:02] and community relations report, there are nine items.

[2:43:09] Are there any that need to have further discussion

[2:43:12] or questions answered.

[2:43:13] I'll give you all a minute to look over that because I

[2:43:15] know this is both.

[2:43:17] And as you all look at that, I will say Sarah can Thank you

[2:43:23] and congratulations on.

[2:43:24] It's exciting to see about the opportunity

[2:43:28] to partner with some folks to further educate.

[2:43:30] So that was very interesting to see and we appreciate that.

[2:43:34] Any questions or comments, commissioner?

[2:43:36] Yeah Item number two East mental water request.

[2:43:39] Yes, I'm glad you brought that up

[2:43:42] because we do have a gentleman that has been extremely patient.

[2:43:46] So before we get to that one just

[2:43:48] are there any other ones just so we can mark it and Thank you.

[2:43:53] I forgot to mark my agenda.

[2:43:54] I was going to say we needed to speak on that.

[2:43:57] But Mr Chairman, I was just going to give everyone a heads

[2:43:59] up that DEP water supply grant program

[2:44:03] has been extended to July 15, so we

[2:44:05] might have some additional applicants

[2:44:06] in the first meeting in July.

[2:44:09] OK can I get some clarification on that.

[2:44:13] Do you remember what we were talking about earlier.

[2:44:15] Is that the same situation with DEP that you were talking

[2:44:20] was ending that entire all programs

[2:44:23] within that particular method of submission or extended?

[2:44:29] There's multiple there's six or seven of them grants

[2:44:31] that are extended from June 30, July 15,

[2:44:34] and that falls under it.

[2:44:35] It does.

[2:44:35] And we are getting that application.

[2:44:38] OK Thank you.

[2:44:38] Thank you.

[2:44:39] And the last thing I'll say on that

[2:44:41] is very thankful this is going to be fantastic

[2:44:45] not only for our potable water providers from drinking water,

[2:44:48] obviously, but I'm excited.

[2:44:50] I'll give credit where credit is due.

[2:44:51] Brad Baker was he was the brainchild, even if he doesn't

[2:44:55] think so he was the one that planted the Nugget that talked

[2:44:58] about the need for more fire hydrants

[2:45:03] out there in the rural areas and that conversation and some trips

[2:45:06] to Tallahassee and collaboration with Senator Broxson and folks

[2:45:12] have led to these great applications that we see.

[2:45:15] So, Brad, I'm going to give you all the credit on that.

[2:45:17] It took there was a lot of horses pulling the wagon.

[2:45:21] But I'll say that untied untied the bridle there

[2:45:25] and let them go.

[2:45:26] So we appreciate you, Brad, and your expertise on that.

[2:45:28] So we'll go ahead and pass with the exception of number two,

[2:45:31] that we're about to have a discussion

[2:45:33] on budget items 1 through 9:00, except number two.

[2:45:37] We'll go ahead.

[2:45:38] I'll make a motion to approve those.

[2:45:40] Without objection, hearing none, those are approved.

[2:45:43] And then we've got Cleo here with the East

[2:45:48] Milton water system.

[2:45:49] And I know I'd say I'll probably save you a step.

[2:45:54] I think most people are aware of what they're asking for.

[2:45:58] I know we had broached on a previous meeting.

[2:46:00] I appreciate you being here to answer any questions

[2:46:04] that the board may have.

[2:46:06] I will share with you before I turn it over to any questions.

[2:46:09] The extent of my knowledge.

[2:46:11] We had an opportunity to meet last week and sort

[2:46:17] of through creative brainstorming,

[2:46:19] I will say we came up with an idea

[2:46:23] to bring forward to the Board today

[2:46:25] and really the board action after I give you the idea that I

[2:46:29] told him we probably would be looking for is to give staff

[2:46:32] direction to work on this.

[2:46:35] But clearly they need another well capacity.

[2:46:38] They're not looking to build a tower.

[2:46:40] They need another well, and they do need a bigger office complex.

[2:46:43] Even share with me about some of the troubles

[2:46:45] that are having with staffing places

[2:46:48] and in even record storage.

[2:46:50] We obviously have the challenge of limited industrial property.

[2:46:56] And I appreciate we have Shannon here as well,

[2:46:58] that in case he wanted to chime in on it,

[2:47:00] but there's a map in the backup.

[2:47:03] I online.

[2:47:04] I'm not sure if it's in your paper backup agendas,

[2:47:08] but what we had come up with is that initial parcel

[2:47:12] as you enter the industrial part, we got to looking at it.

[2:47:15] And since we realized that Randy mountain road was going

[2:47:17] to be vacated anyway because we've already had that decision

[2:47:21] made with FPL, there's no reason why if the board said,

[2:47:28] hey, we could allow them to have it,

[2:47:29] I told him I would support allowing them to have

[2:47:31] that Southern portion that includes the road

[2:47:34] and the property all the way to the railroad

[2:47:36] tracks, because originally their proposal,

[2:47:38] they had talked about when they came in front of the board

[2:47:40] a while back and you all probably been contacted by Kyle

[2:47:43] Holley was to not have that portion,

[2:47:46] but frankly, it would be unusable if it was separated.

[2:47:49] So I think what we came up with was ballpark

[2:47:52] if the board supported it and they would survey it

[2:47:55] out to roughly 9 to 10 acres.

[2:47:58] And I think that what you'll see there leaves a section

[2:48:02] that's a roughly 3 and 1/2 to four

[2:48:04] acres that they wouldn't touch.

[2:48:06] And my thought process and again, I'm

[2:48:08] just sharing this is just one just me thinking of this

[2:48:12] but ran by them.

[2:48:13] It would give them the land that he

[2:48:16] said would be sufficient for what they want to do.

[2:48:19] But I told him that it would at least

[2:48:21] allow me to maintain a parcel.

[2:48:23] We've got some of our industrial parcels out there in the park

[2:48:27] and our partners that are actually we've

[2:48:30] got a couple that are on one acre parcels,

[2:48:32] but we've got a couple of our small manufacturing companies

[2:48:34] that are on two acre parcels.

[2:48:36] So I felt like that would still leave about a 3 and 1/2 to four

[2:48:39] acre parcel that Shannon and the folks with economic development

[2:48:43] could still try to bring in somebody that would be a proper

[2:48:48] fit for the industrial park but be

[2:48:50] able to fit on that footprint.

[2:48:52] And quite frankly, this is just one of those

[2:48:54] where I know it's challenging.

[2:48:55] I don't like giving away industrial property

[2:48:57] and I say giving away selling it or whatever for non industry.

[2:49:01] But Mr Cleo does drive a pretty good argument

[2:49:05] when he says that they do have to supply the water for all

[2:49:08] of our industrial parks.

[2:49:10] And so this was an idea that I told

[2:49:13] him I would be willing to at least

[2:49:15] float out there to the board.

[2:49:17] I mean, I know this is an obviously

[2:49:20] commissioner Smith's district.

[2:49:22] I didn't want it to seem like that.

[2:49:23] This was just when I had had the opportunity to met with him,

[2:49:25] I said, this is something I would support

[2:49:27] and you could come to the board and see what they say.

[2:49:30] And then I told him the ultimate goal, if the board supported it,

[2:49:34] is just to allow staff then to work those

[2:49:37] what the details would be in it.

[2:49:39] But that's where I'm at on it.

[2:49:41] Gentlemen commissioner Smith, it's your district

[2:49:44] or anybody that has thoughts.

[2:49:46] I know he's here to answer questions

[2:49:48] and we've got Shannon and his folks.

[2:49:50] But that's me.

[2:49:52] That's it.

[2:49:52] That's all I got.

[2:49:54] OK well, Thank you.

[2:49:55] Thank you, Chairman.

[2:49:57] Where I stand on it, it is a valuable piece

[2:50:01] of industrial property.

[2:50:03] And the only way that I would even halfway consider it

[2:50:08] is if we were to if it's an exchange on market value.

[2:50:13] Now we have it at 115,000 per Paul Salter's market opinion.

[2:50:20] But that was six months ago.

[2:50:22] It could be more now.

[2:50:24] So the only way I'm even looking at it,

[2:50:28] I mean, maybe it's not even the best fit.

[2:50:30] Even if they were to pony up the 115

[2:50:34] or be willing to look at a new appraisal.

[2:50:37] But that's where I'm at with that one

[2:50:42] because that's we're at a point right now where

[2:50:48] industrial land in that park and I

[2:50:50] mean I'm even battling with Shannon as far as.

[2:50:54] Identifying something of a need that I'm looking at

[2:50:58] and I'm not able to find it.

[2:51:00] So for us to put as far as an office need I see clear.

[2:51:08] You got a y'all got a location up

[2:51:10] there off of 87 and South Lynn.

[2:51:12] That's a great location for an office.

[2:51:15] I mean, that's a perfect location to put an office.

[2:51:20] It's on a main road.

[2:51:21] It's got a lot of access points as far as an office goes.

[2:51:25] I mean, as far as another.

[2:51:26] Well, I know you already have a well in the park,

[2:51:29] but I don't think we're having an issue with water supply

[2:51:32] for the industrial sector.

[2:51:35] That being said, we know that industrial

[2:51:37] really doesn't use as much water as the housing complex does.

[2:51:41] So I'm mad at I'm looking at it on the holistic point of view.

[2:51:49] I mean, I don't want to look at it

[2:51:50] and just say Yeah, I'm all for this because as I'm hesitating

[2:51:57] to say, I'd even be for it if they were willing to pay market

[2:52:01] value for it because it is a valuable piece of land

[2:52:05] and you are looking at the extension being through there

[2:52:08] eventually one day as well.

[2:52:10] And I appreciate before we go to anybody else, I just tell you,

[2:52:15] I honestly wasn't aware of even other options for the office.

[2:52:19] And I kind of voiced that the last time we talked about it.

[2:52:22] If the well is critical, I would totally support even if it winds

[2:52:27] up being a smaller footprint of having the well,

[2:52:30] but I don't know.

[2:52:32] It's a delicate thing.

[2:52:32] And so that's why I told him we'll bring it back.

[2:52:34] Do you want to speak.

[2:52:36] I don't know if anybody else has an immediate question.

[2:52:38] So if you will.

[2:52:39] Yeah just hit that button and you may want to pull

[2:52:41] it up to where it's closer.

[2:52:42] Just no, not that part.

[2:52:44] It's always so confusing that just grab it right there

[2:52:46] by that green microphone that.

[2:52:48] OK, grab it.

[2:52:49] Grab it right here.

[2:52:50] Look down, grab it.

[2:52:51] No, you see the green light.

[2:52:54] This one.

[2:52:54] Yes, sir.

[2:52:55] OK, just raise that up to where we can hear you better.

[2:52:58] There you go.

[2:52:58] That way.

[2:52:59] I just wanted to make sure we could hear you.

[2:53:00] Go ahead.

[2:53:01] OK how about that.

[2:53:03] OK I'm Cleo Heath.

[2:53:04] I'm from East Milton and I am in Mr Smith's district.

[2:53:09] I like Mr Smith and you all to know that 30 years ago, I tried

[2:53:15] to buy this piece of property.

[2:53:17] Then I'm trying to buy now.

[2:53:18] And they said it was too valuable.

[2:53:20] We got big plans for it.

[2:53:22] OK, so I bought the piece of property on South Airport Road.

[2:53:28] Now, as we speak, I have 3,000 and some houses in my district

[2:53:35] coming in my district.

[2:53:37] Now, besides the industrial stuff you all put on me.

[2:53:42] And if Mr Smith mentioned that the industrial don't use as much

[2:53:48] as the water as the residents, the industrial

[2:53:52] uses twice the amount of water that I use in the residence.

[2:53:56] We have prisons, we have two big prisons out there.

[2:54:00] We have the County jail.

[2:54:02] They're the biggest customers I have

[2:54:04] and they are in the industrial park.

[2:54:08] I have the boat company, the whole 9 yards.

[2:54:11] You sold, y'all agreed to sell a piece of property to the ice

[2:54:17] cream people in the new industrial

[2:54:19] park for $50,000 an acre in the new industrial park.

[2:54:25] OK, this piece of property I'm asking for.

[2:54:29] Here's the new 87 extension North.

[2:54:35] It takes it start from the top.

[2:54:39] It takes feet off of it to 95 to the railroad track.

[2:54:45] I'm still willing to buy it where the $115,000 come up with.

[2:54:51] I have no idea.

[2:54:53] They say somebody else appraised it.

[2:54:59] Everything you have sold anywhere around

[2:55:02] there is $39,000 an acre.

[2:55:05] It's a County record.

[2:55:07] I have proof of it right here.

[2:55:10] My customers bought that piece of property that you're using.

[2:55:16] My 9,200 customers bought that piece of property

[2:55:19] that I'm asking to pay for.

[2:55:24] I'll agree to pay for $50,000 an acre for it, but not 115.

[2:55:32] But if you want me to pay 115 for it,

[2:55:35] you vote on who votes for me to pay 115,000 or where

[2:55:43] you'll sell it to me or not.

[2:55:46] If you all have got any questions that I can answer,

[2:55:50] I'd like to clear something up.

[2:55:52] I know you all right.

[2:55:53] As far as jails because that's a residential, but.

[2:55:58] I want to clarify another thing.

[2:56:00] As far as selling other companies

[2:56:05] land at a discounted price is an incentive.

[2:56:10] It's basically an incentive to bring in these jobs.

[2:56:13] And there there's large job counts involved with that.

[2:56:17] So we don't have to incentivize a local water company

[2:56:23] to move to East Milton because you're here,

[2:56:27] you're already East.

[2:56:28] Milton water.

[2:56:29] You're not going to say, well, we're

[2:56:31] moving our Operation to Birmingham because somebody

[2:56:34] will fill your spot.

[2:56:36] So I'm just wanting to explain to you it's

[2:56:40] not about fairness or unfair.

[2:56:42] It's about getting the best job done for the citizens

[2:56:47] of the County and bringing in New jobs

[2:56:50] and bringing in those types of opportunities

[2:56:53] is where we're stewards for the citizens of the County.

[2:56:56] As far as you getting a new location in for an office,

[2:57:01] I don't think anybody would argue that office space would be

[2:57:04] best fitted just up the road on 87 and South Lynn

[2:57:08] because you've got a nice little area right there.

[2:57:11] That'd be that's a prime little piece of property.

[2:57:14] It as well as I do as far as what

[2:57:17] the future's going to bring.

[2:57:19] So that's where I'm at with that.

[2:57:21] OK let me answer some of your questions, Mr Smith.

[2:57:25] First thing is, I also hire employees

[2:57:29] that belongs to this County.

[2:57:32] The reason why we need this piece of property

[2:57:36] here is we need to put a well on it.

[2:57:39] You and the rest of the board.

[2:57:42] As of right now, I have 3,000 houses coming in my district

[2:57:47] plus all the industrial.

[2:57:50] You all putting in there.

[2:57:51] I can't supply water.

[2:57:54] No commissioner, no Hill builder.

[2:57:57] Nobody has come in East Milton and asked

[2:58:02] for water or a subdivision that I hadn't provided nobody.

[2:58:06]

[2:58:09] Now a bottling company.

[2:58:11] Everything coming in.

[2:58:13] I can handle the water.

[2:58:14] We did that by planning for the future.

[2:58:18] If we stay where we're at now, I don't get a new well,

[2:58:24] I don't have no property.

[2:58:26] I can't put a well down there where you're talking about.

[2:58:29] It bleeds off the Hickory Hamlet.

[2:58:31] Well, it's not there.

[2:58:32] My engineer tells me that is the best place for the well.

[2:58:38] So that's one of the things.

[2:58:40] And as far as the Office is not just the office,

[2:58:44] we'll have a warehouse behind it.

[2:58:47] If you go in my district in East Milton on South Airport Road,

[2:58:52] you will see my small building that my office is in.

[2:58:58] Behind that building, you will see a no portable building.

[2:59:01] That's where I have to keep all my EPA records,

[2:59:05] water management records and everything else.

[2:59:09] There's my office in the industrial part.

[2:59:15] Would have a warehouse in the back of it

[2:59:18] to house that and all of our records

[2:59:20] for water management and EPA and anybody else

[2:59:24] that wants to look at them.

[2:59:26] Every building in the industrial park has an office in it.

[2:59:32] Every one of them.

[2:59:34] So I don't see where a office is a problem in industrial park,

[2:59:40] which I will say again, my 9,200 customers

[2:59:46] bought that piece of property to start with their tax money.

[2:59:51] And I would like for you to consider selling it

[2:59:55] to the citizens of East Milton.

[2:59:58]

[3:00:02] Want just one more point.

[3:00:03] I just want for you to come and tell me

[3:00:08] you've got a problem with your water pressure

[3:00:10] and you're going to need this.

[3:00:12] Well, I just I would need to work off of a study.

[3:00:15] I'd have to work off of something saying,

[3:00:17] not just hearsay as far as what your engineer said,

[3:00:20] and this is the best place this is.

[3:00:24] I would rather you come up and give us

[3:00:26] something harder than that and just saying, well,

[3:00:29] this is what we need.

[3:00:30] And this is what we're going to need.

[3:00:31] What kind of hardness would you like, Mr Smith.

[3:00:33] Pardon what kind of hardness would you like.

[3:00:36] Hardness well, whatever you said,

[3:00:40] you want some hard information or something.

[3:00:45] Like, I'd like some better facts on it,

[3:00:48] rather than have to cut that microphone.

[3:00:50] We're going to be echoing.

[3:00:51] Just cut it when I'm talking.

[3:00:52] And then when you go to talk, there you go.

[3:00:56] What I'm saying is you coming up and saying your engineers

[3:00:59] say this is the best place that you could get the water.

[3:01:02] And I mean, I'd have to see something

[3:01:05] backing that up rather than just saying,

[3:01:11] I'd like to see it in back up.

[3:01:13] I'm just trying to say I'm not going to do this on the fly.

[3:01:17] This is something that I'm not going to do it on the fly.

[3:01:20] This is something we're going to study.

[3:01:22] Instead of saying Yeah, Cleo needs some land,

[3:01:26] let's go ahead and hand it to him.

[3:01:27] And it's just not that easy because it

[3:01:31] is a little more complicated and that because it's

[3:01:37] not an easy ask.

[3:01:39] I'm sure you have them.

[3:01:40]

[3:01:45] Mr Chairman, Mr Ryan did on the I'm

[3:01:49] looking at the diagram that's attached to the back up.

[3:01:52] So it's got a 10 point.

[3:01:53] 10.02 acres that's highlighted, but I don't see.

[3:01:57] Can you help me understand.

[3:01:59] You're talking about parsing the couple

[3:02:01] acres off of that 10 10 acres.

[3:02:04] That's highlighted.

[3:02:06] Yeah the.

[3:02:07] And are we talking what's to the Middle East.

[3:02:09] The proposal was if you look at the highlighted part,

[3:02:13] that's basically the square South of the retention pond.

[3:02:18] That is about roughly 9 to 10 acres.

[3:02:21]

[3:02:24] All right.

[3:02:25] There's a parcel highlighted and outlined in red,

[3:02:27] but then there's the parcel that's shaded.

[3:02:29] Yeah, the parcel that's shaded the map is inverted.

[3:02:32] It should be rotated 90 degrees to the left.

[3:02:34] But the partial that's shaded the light blue was what I had

[3:02:40] come up with as we were talking about, hey,

[3:02:43] if this met your needs, it would still give us about a 3 and 1/2

[3:02:46] to four acres over there with the road frontage

[3:02:50] beside the retention pond.

[3:02:51] I was just trying to again, be the Waymaker

[3:02:55] of what they needed, but also maintain

[3:02:57] some industrial property.

[3:02:59] And that was the best idea I could come up with.

[3:03:01] Yeah, I just wasn't sure because it didn't specify that

[3:03:05] on the drawing or on the map.

[3:03:07] I appreciate your efforts to try to provide some solution.

[3:03:12] I guess where I have some pause is I do have concern

[3:03:15] about value of land per acre.

[3:03:18] No doubt that the County has the ability

[3:03:20] to make adjustments to that based on the needs

[3:03:23] analysis of the community.

[3:03:24] Whether it be a water purveyor or whether it be the jobs

[3:03:28] that a business will bring in.

[3:03:30] We have the ability to take that into consideration.

[3:03:32] I think we certainly should.

[3:03:35] I will say that our industrial land is highly valuable

[3:03:39] and highly desirable right now.

[3:03:42] So I would have to have some evidence as well.

[3:03:46] And have to have some discussions.

[3:03:47] And, sir, I would just.

[3:03:51] Just my opinion.

[3:03:52] Rather than have this put on the board for discussion

[3:03:55] out in the open where we don't really know

[3:03:57] exactly all the reasons why.

[3:03:59] I would prefer that you come to me

[3:04:01] and have the conversation say, OK, this is what this is all

[3:04:04] of the reasons why we need it.

[3:04:05] So when I come into the board room,

[3:04:06] I have a little bit easier idea to say, hey guys,

[3:04:09] this is why I support it because I've

[3:04:11] been given all of the facts.

[3:04:13] Here's the study.

[3:04:14] So this is where our well needs to be.

[3:04:16] I have some concerns.

[3:04:18] I mean, there's some distances you have to be from a well

[3:04:20] for other development.

[3:04:21] And I wonder if that causes some problems.

[3:04:23] So until we really have all of the information,

[3:04:27] I don't necessarily think this is the best way

[3:04:29] to try to handle it right now.

[3:04:31] So I would just say I would invite you to come back, set

[3:04:33] an appointment with me and provide

[3:04:35] me a list of all your current locations that you have.

[3:04:38] Why your engineer says this is the ideal location

[3:04:41] versus another parcel, and then help

[3:04:44] me become more comfortable on trying

[3:04:46] to make a reasonable decision.

[3:04:48] I'd be glad to.

[3:04:49] Thank you, sir.

[3:04:50] And Mr Wright, I appreciate that.

[3:04:53] Honestly, I thought I was kind of the last one

[3:04:55] to the table as far as maybe those conversations.

[3:04:59] And so I may have speculated wrong, but because I knew it had

[3:05:03] come up a few months ago or something and Kyle Holly

[3:05:05] was working on it, but I fully understand that.

[3:05:09] So Cleo, it may be best then if just today it

[3:05:12] sounds like we take no action.

[3:05:16] But if within this week or next week or I

[3:05:19] mean really on the way out, if you'll go over there

[3:05:21] to our office and try to just get on the calendar for any

[3:05:25] of the commissioners that you haven't met with

[3:05:27] and sit down with them.

[3:05:29] And that way, maybe they have a little bit more

[3:05:33] robust conversation with you.

[3:05:35] I mean, I think there's no doubt everybody on this board

[3:05:39] wants to make sure that we work with you all in any way

[3:05:42] possible to make sure that you can provide water.

[3:05:47] It just sounds like they may not have

[3:05:49] had quite as much information and be able to make

[3:05:52] an important decision.

[3:05:53] So if you'll just go over there and try to get on the calendars

[3:05:56] to meet with these gentlemen and then

[3:05:58] we'll see as far as if this is something

[3:06:01] that we're able to bring back at the July meeting.

[3:06:03]

[3:06:06] I'll give her that.

[3:06:08] Yes, sir.

[3:06:09] I'm sorry about holding you up so long today.

[3:06:11] All right, sir.

[3:06:13] Sorry, Cleo.

[3:06:14] He had a quick comment.

[3:06:16] I'm sorry.

[3:06:16] That's OK.

[3:06:17] I will not be here the rest of the week.

[3:06:20] But if you go over to my office and get it set up next week,

[3:06:23] I'll be glad to meet with you.

[3:06:25] I didn't know what you was coming for.

[3:06:27] I know you was wanting some land and put a tower wale there.

[3:06:30] That's all I know about.

[3:06:32] When you ask for something like that,

[3:06:34] it wouldn't hurt to meet with all of us

[3:06:36] so we know more about what you really want.

[3:06:39] OK OK.

[3:06:40] Yes, sir.

[3:06:41] Thank you.

[3:06:42] All right.

[3:06:42] So we'll just take no action on item number two,

[3:06:45] and that takes us to operations and safety report.

[3:06:51] And as you gentlemen look over that, there are six items.

[3:06:55] And I'll give you all just a minute to let me know

[3:06:57] if there are any that need further discussion.

[3:07:01] I do know that if there are questions for Shannon

[3:07:05] and Bridget, they're here.

[3:07:07] I'll just highlight as you all continue to look

[3:07:10] at that for just a moment.

[3:07:11] I just want to say that I am very excited about item number

[3:07:15] 3, which is a turn lane construction there on McCullough

[3:07:19] highway at pace road.

[3:07:21] This is one of those things that again, has been many, many years

[3:07:26] of in the making.

[3:07:28] It will not only improve a very serious traffic impediment

[3:07:34] in the morning time when folks are taking their kids to school

[3:07:38] there at SS Dickson, but it will also should greatly improve

[3:07:42] drainage at that intersection.

[3:07:44] But this is just one of the things

[3:07:46] where I tell people a lot of times government

[3:07:47] will get it done.

[3:07:49] It's just not at the speed when folks call you about hey,

[3:07:53] I've got a problem, quite frankly, this is an issue that

[3:07:56] myself and staff, as far back as three public works directors

[3:08:02] ago worked on.

[3:08:03] So it's just it's a heavy lift.

[3:08:05] It seems small because we do bigger ones.

[3:08:08] But any time you talk about something that's

[3:08:09] almost $1 million I just I pretty I appreciate

[3:08:13] you guys supporting it.

[3:08:14] It is obviously this is a local thing for my district.

[3:08:18] It'll affect a lot of people.

[3:08:19] But I just hope that folks will understand about the patience.

[3:08:23] You it takes time to get plans and budget this much money.

[3:08:28] And Michael, thank you for I know you and Rebecca both

[3:08:31] and tangent because like you said this actually

[3:08:33] goes way back to even the days of Roger Blaylock

[3:08:37] working with me on this.

[3:08:38] But commissioner Smith.

[3:08:40] Yes and it's $762,000 for a turn lane.

[3:08:46] That's eye opening for the citizens for them

[3:08:49] to see that road construction is very high.

[3:08:55] 1.4 million for mine over there in East Milton at airport

[3:09:02] and highway 90 just for an upgrade to the intersection,

[3:09:07] $1.4 million.

[3:09:10] So when people think that the county has the money

[3:09:13] to go ahead and start jumping on these road projects,

[3:09:18] you better think again because it's a big lift

[3:09:22] to even get a turn lane done.

[3:09:25] So that's my point.

[3:09:27] I appreciate it and Thank you for your work

[3:09:31] being the champion for highway 90 out there

[3:09:34] through East Milton.

[3:09:35] And I can drive a dozer enough just to get it to move.

[3:09:39] I'll volunteer my services whenever

[3:09:41] you get them to give us the go ahead to four lane down there.

[3:09:44] So I'm just letting just floating that out there.

[3:09:47] I'm not going to bite.

[3:09:48] I'm not going to bite.

[3:09:49] Just let me sink in that you can.

[3:09:52] You can.

[3:09:53] You can take up my invitations to come over and work out.

[3:09:56] Now when you get that four lane fixed,

[3:09:58] I'll be able to get there.

[3:10:00] All right.

[3:10:01] Anybody that had any questions or comments,

[3:10:04] things that needed to be discussed on items 1 through 6.

[3:10:08] All right.

[3:10:08] Not seeing any, then we will move without objection

[3:10:11] to approve items 1 through 6 on operation and safety report.

[3:10:15] And again, lastly on the meeting list,

[3:10:17] I've actually covered the two today earlier

[3:10:21] and then the committee, the next committee

[3:10:24] meeting, normal Monday committee meeting will be on July 8.

[3:10:30] And so just remind you, gentlemen, that at 1:00,

[3:10:34] roughly an hour and a half, we will reconvene

[3:10:37] for budget workshop and miss Sabrina will

[3:10:41] be our guest speaker today.

[3:10:45] Our highlight our keynote speaker

[3:10:46] is what I was looking for.

[3:10:48] All right.

[3:10:48] Anything else for you all.

[3:10:49] Finally ready to adjourn?

[3:10:50] This one or two of you all got to broke your jacket off.

[3:10:52] I'm sweating over here like crazy with the ACL.

[3:10:55] All right.

[3:10:55] Thank you, Commissioner Caulkins.

[3:10:57] Thank you, Mr Chairman.

[3:10:59] I just want to make a comment that you're

[3:11:02] running a good meeting.

[3:11:03] You're doing a good job.

[3:11:04] And so I want to compliment you.

[3:11:07] I know it's not easy to be a chairman dealing with fights

[3:11:11] with the board and people yelling out in the audience

[3:11:14] and all of that.

[3:11:15] So to say it's easy, it's not easy.

[3:11:18] And a lot of folks, think they can do it better.

[3:11:21] But I would say I've been a chairman before when

[3:11:25] Bob Cole wasn't here and when Commissioner Parker wasn't here

[3:11:29] and Commissioner Wright was the chairman also.

[3:11:32] And it's not an easy job, but I believe

[3:11:35] that you're doing a good job.

[3:11:37] And I just want to compliment you, Mr Chair.

[3:11:40] Well, I'll take any compliment I can get.

[3:11:41] I appreciate it.

[3:11:42] All right.

[3:11:43] We're going to go ahead and convene the meeting

[3:11:44] and the meeting is adjourned.

[3:11:46] Thank you.

[3:11:47]

Regular Meeting

Agenda

Transcript