[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] 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]