[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[11:38] All right, can we begin with Commissioner Murphy leading us in the pledge?
[11:59] All
[12:02] right, do we have any additions, corrections or deletions?
[12:10] All right, yeah, I'm going to call the first item for the agenda first.
[12:16] All right, sorry.
[12:18] I'll approve.
[12:19] You're going to get through this.
[12:20] I'll get the motion in a second.
[12:24] Any objection hearing?
[12:25] No motion carries.
[12:27] All right, now you can.
[12:29] Sorry.
[12:31] I didn't be one on page two.
[12:33] A public hearing to consider amendments to ordinance number 26-2020, amended mass ordinance
[12:39] adopt August 19 2020, and ordinance number 27-2020, bar risk front closures, alcohol sales
[12:47] ban, extended following, lots of many seasons as adopted August 19 2020, and response to
[12:54] COVID-19 pandemic. So these two items are on just as periodic to check back
[13:00] to see if we need to make any changes. I don't have any recommendations to the mask ordinance right now.
[13:07] I would note that the bar restaurant closure ordinance technically laps last night at 11 o'clock.
[13:14] So the question is, do we want to go back and revive it or leave it lapsed?
[13:23] Mr. Coldire. Thank you. I would like for us to let it laps and light up the fact that our numbers
[13:30] have decreased and in light of the fact that we're here today to have a budget hearing where
[13:36] we're going to be taxing our citizens and our businesses. I feel like if there's any way we
[13:41] can let our businesses stay open in extra few hours, we should do that. So I would make a motion
[13:48] if you need a motion to let the curfew laps. Ironically, since it laps by operational all last night,
[13:57] No actions needed if you want to leave it laps. The only thing you would need a motion for is if there was an intent to revive it.
[14:07] Well, that I stand down.
[14:11] Madam Mayor.
[14:13] Yes, Commissioner Cates.
[14:14] Yes, I would also like to let the laps I agree with Commissioner Coldarn.
[14:23] Anyone else?
[14:26] I guess I have a slightly different perspective given that school just started and we just came off of a
[14:32] Labor Day weekend and
[14:38] hearing that knowing the bars aren't open anyway, and that's the
[14:43] governors order, and that the reason that we instituted this was because, essentially,
[14:48] restaurants where we're coming to Pacto bars after midnight, and, you know, now the
[14:53] restaurants can remain open till midnight.
[15:00] I'm convinced that it's time for us to do it yet. I understand that yes, our infection rates seem to have fallen.
[15:08] But I'm not hearing from our health department that this is the time to make those kinds of changes, tweaks perhaps.
[15:16] But I maybe all consider this a tweak.
[15:21] But I feel like the reason that our numbers have lapsed was because of the action we've taken.
[15:26] And so why should we take our product gas right now?
[15:31] I agree.
[15:33] You know, I have, I've asked for a fast to take a look at some of our sales numbers, our
[15:39] sales tax numbers that late in the evening, I'm not sure how, and it's going to be tough
[15:46] to get those.
[15:47] I can tell you that I was looking at our hotel today numbers and yeah, our occupancy
[15:55] is down. What was interesting to me for the keys is that our ADR is however up by about an average
[16:01] of 10 bucks a night for room. And the softness that we're seeing is not unique to the keys.
[16:11] It's everything.
[16:15] So I guess Commissioner Murphy would, or Commissioner Rice, you haven't
[16:21] weighed in here. Commissioner Murphy, do you want it? Would you make a motion, would you want to
[16:25] make a motion to continue to help a hall sales between midnight and 7 a.m.
[16:32] Well make that motion yet.
[16:33] So is your motion just the alcohol sales or the restaurant closure as well?
[16:39] I think both.
[16:40] I don't think it's time to loosen up on anything.
[16:47] Commissioner Rice is not your silent.
[16:49] I guess I will second that.
[16:51] Or
[16:53] want to call the roll please, Pam.
[16:57] Mayer, just to be clear, are you going to also provide a sunset date for that?
[17:03] Yeah, I think we should look at it again. Let's say, and let's see, we have September 16th.
[17:10] It's just a week away.
[17:12] When's our next meeting after that?
[17:20] October 21st.
[17:23] 21st.
[17:24] Can I say something?
[17:28] I just asked the commission to let this sunset because these businesses are struggling.
[17:35] Business is very slow that it's not going to be that busy there, but every little bit helps when you're closed down.
[17:43] If we go back 20 days with our infection rates, there's only 102 infections in all of Monroe County with 79,000 people.
[17:54] So I think we flattened the curve, that's what we were supposed to do.
[17:59] We had one infection rate today, single digits for the last couple of weeks.
[18:04] I just asked that you, please let these people operate their businesses as a minimum, as it is, they're just struggling to survive.
[18:11] So that's what I ask.
[18:12] Commissioner Kates, I just, do you have any information about how much business a restaurant does between midnight and 7am?
[18:20] I don't have that, but I know that a lot of them, that's when they do their business,
[18:24] people work late, they get off at 12 o'clock, then they're on their way home, they want
[18:29] to stop and get something to eat, there's a lot of people that work those hours and then
[18:33] that's their afternoon late, it may seem strange to us, but for a lot of people that is their
[18:39] life style, so I don't think they should be punished if she causes their work late at night.
[18:48] And Mayor, I would just add that, I don't think that the crowd that would be utilizing
[18:55] the restaurants at night or the same crowd that are going to be going to grade school and
[19:00] the morning or sending their children off to school in the morning.
[19:03] So I don't think it's the same mix.
[19:06] So again, that's another reason why I feel it's, this isn't so much that we're changing
[19:13] any of our rules as much as we're tweaking and relaxing one that we put into place originally
[19:20] for many seasons because we were afraid of all of the people from other places coming here.
[19:27] This is definitely our slow season. So I just feel like we've got to let our businesses get back
[19:34] normal. I agree. I hear what you're saying. I would just say that I think it's, I personally
[19:43] know, people in the service industry who have kids who would be working those late nights
[19:51] and potentially coming into contact with the people who are caring and I mean schools are
[19:59] going to be back in session in person next week in our public schools and you know I feel
[20:06] like we need to let that happen and since around the world when schools have started to
[20:15] get back into session we've seen an uptick in cases I would be I'm reluctant for us to
[20:26] we're about to have in class in person session for schools, knowing that many of the kids,
[20:33] their parents are working in those service industries. So they are getting up and sending them
[20:38] a school next day. So we have a motion and a second. Yeah, we, if there's public input, we need to
[20:46] have any. And I'm not sure if Gabe's request that people acknowledge they want to speak was heard.
[20:54] I don't know if he was muted or not.
[20:56] So, Gabe, do you want to do your spiel about public input again?
[21:00] Absolutely, we can.
[21:01] We're happy you can join us tonight for our board meeting.
[21:04] And as a friendly reminder, we've had a format change in tonight's meeting.
[21:07] While you may see chats from the host or the panel,
[21:10] a 10D chat has been disabled.
[21:12] The form of participation available to attendees is the raised hand feature.
[21:16] Or, you can also, if you're a participant by telephone,
[21:19] raise your hand by using star 9 to toggle your hand up and down.
[21:23] Participants wishing to address the board on a specific item should use that raised hand feature to indicate their desire to speak while the item is being read
[21:31] When the clerk is finished reading the item the last person to have raised their hand will be the last speaker each speaker will receive one turn of three minutes to speak or five minutes to speak as a representative of an organization and
[21:42] Additional time can be committed at the board's discretion. Thank you again for your attendance today
[21:49] Bob, before we ask for public input, do we have any opportunity to have any close sessions
[21:58] earlier than October 21st?
[22:01] We may, I'm not prepared to discuss that tonight, because I haven't looked at everybody's
[22:07] calendar, but yeah, sometime between September 16th and October 21st, I was thinking of holding
[22:13] of scheduling a live meeting so we could hold our close sessions.
[22:19] We've got seven of them that are pending out there.
[22:22] And then some of my need to hold sooner rather than later.
[22:26] Some of them can wait but the others can't.
[22:28] And I guess I'm asking that and I'm going to ask Commissioner Murphy.
[22:35] I'm asking that because perhaps we could revisit this like two weeks after schools open
[22:42] like around September 28th or the first week in October instead instead of waiting till the 21st.
[22:49] And I don't know if Mr. Murphy has any feelings about changing, amending her.
[22:56] No, no, Heather, I'm fine with the lending it.
[23:00] It wouldn't hurt my feelings if we went back to this every two weeks. We don't have meetings that often, but if we did.
[23:08] because things change with the counts drastically in two weeks, depending on what's going on in the county.
[23:18] I'm sorry, but I just don't think it's time to start loosening the rains just yet.
[23:25] I would ask that if you're going to, if this does pass, if we keep it at least two weeks out so that we can do the adequate public noticing of the public hearing,
[23:34] which requires 10 days of publication and went to the hearing.
[23:38] So, especially since there won't be clearly there won't be a super majority in favor
[23:45] of this if it passes.
[23:48] So, you need a super majority to wave those advertising requirements for public notice on a
[23:53] public hearing for hearing for an ordinance.
[23:56] So, September 28th would be two weeks after schools are in session.
[24:04] So if we wanted to shoot for like a special meeting sometime that week?
[24:10] Yeah, that would work for me.
[24:14] I don't know about the mission emergency.
[24:16] It would work for me.
[24:17] I would prefer to wait the whole month, but if it suits everybody to wait for two weeks.
[24:22] Well, she'll be shooting for October first.
[24:25] Is that easier or September first?
[24:27] Yeah.
[24:27] If you make the motion to extend it to revive it and extend it to October first, then we can
[24:34] Senate date certain on the 16th when we're everybody has their calendar and we can figure
[24:40] out the best date to hold that.
[24:43] Will you amend your motion?
[24:46] Yes.
[24:47] Okay.
[24:47] And I'll amend my second.
[24:50] So the motion is to sustain the closures we already had until October 1st.
[24:59] Is there any public comment?
[25:01] There is one person with their handrails telephone participants, six, nine, six,
[25:10] six.
[25:10] Okay, telephone participants.
[25:12] This is your name and where you live.
[25:17] You're on mute.
[25:18] Five, four, one.
[25:20] There you go.
[25:24] Can you hear me now?
[25:25] Yes, we can.
[25:28] My name is Ashley and we own a restaurant in bar in P.S.
[25:31] And we just wanted to reach out because we've watched these every time live and we're really, like,
[25:40] Commissioner Kate said, we're in the most time of the year.
[25:43] And we are most certainly struggling.
[25:46] Before this curfew was put in place, we were able to get by and we were paying the bills.
[25:51] But since then has stopped, we understand the concern and that,
[26:01] you know,
[26:01] But we understand the concerns and we were one of the ones trying to do it right we hired security
[26:05] We put all measures in to make sure that social distancing was happening in masks were happening and then one other thing
[26:12] I wanted to say that you know you mentioned that kids are going back to school and I understand that and there are service industry workers that have children
[26:19] But there are also
[26:21] Hospital workers and police force and everyone else has come into contact with people every day that are doing the same thing that have children going back to school
[26:30] So why are only servants and district people being punished for this for these children going back to school?
[26:37] Well, I appreciate your comment.
[26:41] Thank you very much.
[26:42] And this is a very difficult thing,
[26:47] but what prompted this in this first place was information
[26:52] through the health department that we were seeing spread late at night when people have been
[26:59] And they're inhibitions start to slack and our less likely to socialize and that's when it seems to have spread and that's why I was started.
[27:14] And I would also just remind everybody that the prohibition that's far being open is not local funding that's paid.
[27:24] And I appreciate the work that you all are doing and be responsible of your establishment.
[27:33] The only thing I'll say and add to that is that we are serving primarily local after that time.
[27:38] And what we're seeing truly before the 12 o'clock group view are even people are just on a mission at this point to get drunk or faster and earlier.
[27:45] It doesn't stop people from mowing their inhibitions just because we say it's midnight or nine o'clock or eight o'clock.
[27:51] they're just going to go out and do what they do, you know, we're just having trouble controlling
[27:56] them now more than at nine than at midnight or two, which we were happy to do as long
[28:02] as that meant we could serve our community and our locals.
[28:05] Okay.
[28:05] Well, thank you very much.
[28:06] We appreciate your input.
[28:08] I would just simply add that what we've done seems to be doing, what we've asked that
[28:12] to do, and it seems to be having the appropriate response, which is lowering our impression
[28:18] rate.
[28:20] So, Pam, will you call the roll please?
[28:24] Ms. Mia, I'm not sure if I want to speak.
[28:27] You don't mean it.
[28:31] I didn't invite that way, so, what are you doing that to me, Kate?
[28:38] The truth is, we don't have a clue as to why our numbers are better.
[28:45] And in great possibility, this is a seasonal issue, like many viruses are
[28:53] And we'll see a resurgence of it as we get closer to flu season, but we do have two variables that we're talking about changing at approximately the same time.
[29:09] Kids are going back to school. I think we're all there prehensive about what that could mean.
[29:15] We hope it won't, but we all know what it could mean.
[29:23] When we add to that, eliminating this restriction, we're really adding two variables at one time.
[29:35] That does concern me a little bit.
[29:37] But I think the primary thing is no matter what we do, we've got to be ready to pivot very quickly
[29:45] because if things start picking up and we start getting bad news, we're going to have to reinstate things that we believe we're working and we hope are working.
[30:00] I would love to believe that our numbers are down because of all the precautions that people have been asked to take.
[30:10] And in my heart, I believe that's made some difference, I really do.
[30:15] But I also know most people don't get flu in the middle of the summertime.
[30:21] So we really don't know, we're still just as much as ever.
[30:26] doing the best things we know how to do. And I think if we get indicators that we need to do,
[30:34] we need to change, then we need to be ready to do it quickly. And I would encourage us to think
[30:41] that if we needed a special meeting, we could all be that inconvenience if necessary to do that.
[30:50] Thank you, I'll just say that yeah, people don't tend to get the flu at this time of year, but I can tell you that parents start getting sick when kids start going back to school.
[31:05] So, Pam, we have a motion in the second.
[31:09] Ms. Nian, Commissioner Cates.
[31:12] Ms. Nian, Commissioner Colburn.
[31:14] No. Commissioner Murphy.
[31:17] Yes. Commissioner Rice.
[31:20] No.
[31:22] Others. Yes.
[31:26] Can you take the fingers crossed, folks?
[31:28] Yep.
[31:31] All right, next item, please, Pam.
[31:33] Do you need to address the mask ordinance as well?
[31:40] Unless anybody has any desires for changes, I have none to recommend at this time.
[31:47] If no one has any desires to change, we can go on to the next item.
[31:53] Silence, go on to the next item.
[31:55] Okay, so that has also been said.
[31:57] Okay.
[31:57] No, no, no, no.
[31:59] The mask still in place.
[32:00] It's just the, the mask ordinance still in place.
[32:05] Okay, thank you, Bob.
[32:07] Item C1 that on page 3 approval of Second Amendment to the task order of CPHE for the
[32:14] American County Sheriff's Office Administration Building and below evaluation and repair
[32:18] project in the amount of 33,680 dollars, the second amendment and instruction and administration
[32:25] services.
[32:26] Move approval.
[32:28] Second,
[32:31] any public comment or any comment from staff?
[32:35] Do you know speakers in the public or their hands raised?
[32:39] Any objection?
[32:41] Motion carries.
[32:44] Next item is D1 County Administrator's budget updates.
[32:51] I go back to new commissioners and everybody out there.
[32:56] Last week, we gave you a 22 page presentation on both the operating budget and the Apple
[33:04] budget.
[33:05] You asked us to look at the capital budget more carefully.
[33:10] The second meeting of three will have another meeting next week.
[33:14] So we figured we'd just concentrate on the capital budget this time around.
[33:19] So we've assembled a team that has basically runs the capital project that has everything
[33:24] to do with our project and we put a presentation together that I think will enhance the discussion.
[33:33] And so with that, I'm going to turn it over to Tina and she is going to do the presentation.
[33:47] Okay. Good evening, commissioners. So we're trying to get right into a discussion about the
[34:02] revenues. And so we spoke about this last week, but for those people that may not have heard,
[34:09] you'll see up there in the top. There's a box and it has Monroe County, the OCC,
[34:18] involved. So these are the state estimates that they could out for the revenue. We will collect
[34:25] in this infrastructure sales tax. And as you can see in mold, the estimate for Monroe County
[34:34] B.O.C.C. next year is about $19.4 million. And if you look over on the left, there's the
[34:45] history of the infrastructure sales tax revenue. So down towards the bottom there, you'll see
[34:52] little yellow box, and you'll see that same $19.04 million there in
[35:00] 21 that estimate comes from the state. And then you'll see in 2020
[35:06] rate above that and it's highlighted in blue, that is OMD's estimate of
[35:12] what we will get for 2020 this year, the current in revenue. So if you look
[35:20] above it, in 19, we got 29, no, I'm sorry, 23.6 million.
[35:28] So the difference between that is $4 million in 20 and $4 million in 21.
[35:37] So you can see here that we start the fiscal year 21, $8 million less
[35:45] less than our normal years.
[35:50] The important thing for everybody to see here is that once we get through 21, this budget assumes
[36:01] a complete recurrent.
[36:04] It's that's up to 23.8 million and then in the out years 23, 24, 25, there's a very modest 2% per year increase.
[36:19] So the really important thing here for you to know is we will have to continue to watch this revenue and make adjustments later.
[36:29] So it's really hurting us in a position where we could have to amend all the out years again and lower them if we do not feel that the revenues are going to bounce us right back.
[36:45] I just like you to keep that in mind when we start looking at adding things to the plan and what we should really be doing now is finishing up our major projects, finishing up for example the marathon library.
[37:04] the P.K. courthouse in jail.
[37:09] And so we really have to watch any additions we make to the budget.
[37:17] So here we are. We're going to focus now on our three of four that infrastructure sales tax that we just looked at.
[37:26] And the commission said, OK, so are there projects we could delay or push out?
[37:34] So we look at our projects as they are, and we don't have any kind of contractual obligation.
[37:44] So OMB here, we've come up with their in-gray.
[37:49] What we think we could push out if that was the commission's tie.
[37:55] And those items that we feel really could push out.
[38:00] If you wanted us to add up to four million dollars, so your entire 21 budget is the 11.4.
[38:11] We've got almost 11 million in debt service, and then we have some other commitments
[38:20] transfers grant management that have already been applied.
[38:25] So we can go ahead and move on.
[38:27] This is the 102 portion, so the road we were discussing would either be funded from gas taxes, the 102 fund, or infrastructure sales tax,
[38:42] Rio for fun, we just looked at and the one or two fun is at full capacity of projects right now.
[38:53] Judy Clark has gone over these and they're here based on her, you know, professional opinion on what the priorities are.
[39:03] and you know Judy has stated to us that public safety or
[39:09] good repairs are you know at the top of her priority list so we'll go on here.
[39:16] Wait, come back up a second. Yes, um the so when I see like sustainability
[39:24] roads and twin lake sand subdivision these figures only represent that portion of
[39:31] projects that would be funded by 102, or the total cost of those projects, because I thought
[39:38] we were looking at like, 12 or 13 million for twin-laced and sands together.
[39:46] Yes, you are correct.
[39:47] So that's funding we kind of had in place there to get us to the point we're at now, planning
[39:54] and engineering.
[39:55] We've also applied for grants for those projects.
[39:58] you would have some match out there, so we just try to keep it alive, but based on our
[40:08] economic condition and where we're at, I mean, there is no surplus funding. So, and
[40:17] besides that, we need to talk about how we prioritize the projects. And I can do a better
[40:23] job at this every year I need to just let you know what's out there on the table.
[40:29] I think it'll give you a better idea of what staff goes through when we try and pick what
[40:35] we fund first and also may have for others, you know, things come up throughout the years
[40:42] from all the deferred maintenance we've done.
[40:44] We have, you know, elevators that break down or air conditioning units and so we then have
[40:51] trying and find a way to fit those in. So I'm going to pledge to you that I'm going to work on
[40:57] that every year. I'm going to go ahead and let you know all the work that we couldn't fit into
[41:03] the plan. So let's go to the question page and this is where we kind of talk about it and I'm going
[41:10] to show you know how do we prioritize all of this work that we have out there. And this is the list of
[41:18] of that work. So we have a, in our Jackson Square complex, we have a port house there, and it
[41:25] needs some work on the brick, because it leaks, constantly leaks. And so if we don't keep
[41:34] up with that, that in turn causes other damage, you know, water is very damaging. So, you know,
[41:40] you're looking at a million dollars for that. The chiller over there at Jackson Square needs to
[41:47] located that's 3.7 million dollars. We've got a communication tower that needs relocation,
[41:55] you know, one and a quarter million dollars. So that's so building. We've had a lot of issues
[42:01] deferred replacing the air conditioner here in this building. The health department director
[42:08] Mr. Eidings made it clear. This AC cannot fail. He has hundreds of thousands of dollars of
[42:15] vaccines and medications downstairs, that needs to be replaced.
[42:19] We've got the Rockland Key Public Works.
[42:23] We've heard from Mr. Strickland, Director Strickland,
[42:28] that we have to move that from our Key West Fairport.
[42:33] We have, for the jail, backup generators that need to be that's a million.
[42:39] And then there are other items that aren't as high
[42:43] on the priority list but we know they're coming. So we have, for example, the latent
[42:48] fire solution, 5 million, the sugar low fire station, 5 million. And this list goes on and on
[42:55] and on of what we're dealing with and how do we prioritize these projects? So let's go to the next slide.
[43:06] parks. So big speech. I know we've been struggling with that. Now if we can delay this
[43:14] is the road project the top on our list. If you ask staff that answer would most likely
[43:23] be no. But of course this is a policy decision that only you can make. Big points,
[43:29] Honeyhole, we've had an impact on that aside.
[43:33] I can see us postponing, you know,
[43:36] Higgs Beach v. here because frankly at this point,
[43:39] it would be probably, you know, early as would be 2022,
[43:42] before we'd be ready to invest that money,
[43:44] but we were only talking about a million dollars
[43:46] for the first year investment anyway.
[43:49] So, yes ma'am, yes, thank you for that.
[43:52] Rally's waterfront park, you know,
[43:55] We've had this on the books for many years now and, you know, do we want to delay that or
[44:04] how do what do we want to do? We can't forget our number one responsibility is public safety.
[44:12] And so we'd have to defer these fire trucks and ambulances. When in reality, we should be automatically
[44:20] budget and fire and ambulance replacement.
[44:24] From the start, you know, it's a very importantly and it's become part of our core service that we provide.
[44:33] And fire stations, you just heard about the fire stations we know those are in the pipelines.
[44:46] So you just said that we need to prioritize these and have it.
[44:51] Are you saying that we don't have in the budget right now on going replace or not going replacement plan for fire trucks and ammunition?
[45:00] Once we do not automatically make that a priority. We work with fire, rescue, and when we can fit it in, we do. But we are not in the position of just that being an automatic. We have to take a look at it every year.
[45:22] So, you know, it's, do we defer that again so that we can fit another expense in?
[45:29] But instead should just automatically every year you know you need to put X amount in the bank for ongoing replacement plans.
[45:42] That doesn't always work out because we have other projects that become a priority.
[45:48] So, you know, again, I'm going to say I'm going to do a better job and I'm going to let you guys see everything and make a choice to prioritize.
[45:58] is because we can't always fit it in. We may have another capital project that, you know,
[46:06] commission this commission votes on at once and therefore we can't fit a fire in ambulance
[46:11] in automatically every year. And we try to fit it into the capital plan whenever we can
[46:19] And because the other place for it is an ample warm taxing plan, and what we hear is your
[46:27] constituents at you, reach roll back, reach roll back.
[46:31] You cannot reach roll back while funding this weekend.
[46:36] And cost are going up.
[46:39] You have to, in order to reach roll back, you got to cut your costs.
[46:43] So, this is one of those areas where we try to alternate ears if you do what we can.
[46:50] Can't meet rollback if you don't raise taxes in the fire fund.
[46:56] So, we have to alternate ears in the capital plan as the money is available.
[47:03] I hope that answered your question.
[47:08] Yes, sir.
[47:09] It does answer the question for Maine,
[47:15] it's a budgeting question, but it's also a false
[47:19] awful question, at least in certain areas.
[47:24] And one of the things I would feel remiss, if I didn't mention, is that we have in
[47:30] promise are right now approximately nine million dollars worth of helicopters providing
[47:37] that service. Last year, I believe we had somewhere around a billion dollars in the black.
[47:48] In other words, it earned about a million dollars more of their cost.
[47:54] We are not doing anything
[47:56] and maybe we don't want to in this plan, but it should be realized that an argument could be made
[48:06] for taking part of the profit from tromester every year.
[48:12] First, we'll be taking part of it this year because we're not making money so far this year,
[48:19] I believe. But when it comes sound to buy a new helicopter, chances are even the use helicopters
[48:28] in the condition that we have obtained these would be 3 million that may be 4 or 4 and
[48:36] a half. We could be building a fund so that that doesn't come as a significant budget
[48:44] blow in the particular year that a helicopter has to be replaced.
[48:51] You are absolutely correct, missionarized, and you know better than anybody, you know, how the helicopter program works.
[49:01] You started it, you started it, I did a special presentation for you, and you kicked this off.
[49:10] So, you're absolutely correct.
[49:13] My issue is that as the costs for everything else
[49:18] in the sheriffs fund goes up automatically,
[49:22] and this isn't a dig, it just is a reality.
[49:27] We use those profits so that we can get to roll back.
[49:31] And the problem is we have to get our mindset,
[49:37] I believe we have to get our mindset into that swing of understanding as costs go up.
[49:48] The revenue has to go up or we can't run the program.
[49:53] So in the case, it makes a profit.
[49:57] But the jail doesn't make a profit and the sheriff doesn't make a profit.
[50:03] fact this year the share of lost $2 million of revenue that he had helped us keep taxes down.
[50:13] So if we don't raise revenue and expenditure keep coming home, we'll have the same scenario each year.
[50:23] But I think we're saying I understand that this is not the year to consider moving in that direction.
[50:32] the worst year we could choose to do that. However, it's not a bad concept in budgeting,
[50:41] and we may want to consider that next year or the year after, but we need an
[50:54] budget you're to make any moves in that direction. I will understand that. Thank you. Thank you,
[51:03] Commissioner Rice. It's an excellent point. I appreciate you bringing it up. Okay, so we covered
[51:11] that and then we work with Judy Clark and she helps to based on what kind of money we think we're
[51:23] And to have, she tries to give us what the priority projects are.
[51:31] And so these are some of the things out there that, you know, don't have funding.
[51:36] And a Harvard drive, a Tubby's Creek in the Skido Creek Bridge, 7 million hard sound
[51:43] bridge planning, 2 million of no name kid, no name key bridge repair.
[51:49] of a course twin lakes, which we know we've been hearing about sand subdivision, the still
[51:57] right point, and right now she's at this avenue, see on big cockpit to these are projects
[52:08] that we've been talking about that aren't funded.
[52:12] So on these, most of these projects, we have applied for grant funding wherever we can,
[52:18] And then we hope we can cover our portion of it.
[52:23] So I think, and then we get to, you know,
[52:26] so this is the question that we have to start thinking about working towards,
[52:31] I know you all talked about a special meeting.
[52:36] So how do we pay for all of these projects?
[52:39] The resilience, wanting to order the roads and the bridges,
[52:44] we can start thinking about what our options are.
[52:47] So we just threw some on here, here in the budget office, we've got the MSTU, MSBUs, you know, the non-adblower
[52:58] and special assessments, storm water utility, if you do, do we think about a storm water utility?
[53:08] Of course, there are general obligation bonds, go bonds are called, and so that's a debt service
[53:16] that we charged in the envelope, and it's a voted debt service, so that's something
[53:23] that's out there.
[53:24] And, of course, the toll on US-1, that Mayor, who remembers us, that we may want to
[53:35] do.
[53:37] We've got, uh, is there an additional sales tax or a changing of a sales tax that we may
[53:44] use to help us fund a comprehensive, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh,
[53:51] Growth Plan, um, uh, uh, uh, available Grants funds.
[53:55] We, uh, looking at every grant we have, and Ms. Hurley will give us a little update on the work that
[54:04] She's been involved, and then are there any kind of legislative appropriations if we come up with some kind of three-legged schools to an area as we did to get wastewater vote?
[54:21] And so, you know, one example that we just talked about create a stormwater utility.
[54:27] So, do we address all of the road elevation, all of the drainage, do we address, you know,
[54:34] stormwater run off into mere shore of waters?
[54:38] This is all kind of connected in my mind.
[54:44] And so we have, as discussed, Ms. Hurley, can you talk about the all of the grant awards
[54:53] we have?
[54:54] Grant projects.
[54:56] Sure.
[54:57] And I wanted to start out by saying we're a little bit lucky that Irma hit because it
[55:05] open a lot of potential grant opportunities for us. If you look at this chart, it's just a summary of the different programs that have been available to us.
[55:19] The light blue card projects are what's called C-V-V-D-R infrastructure repair.
[55:27] You'll see that E-A-5-4-3 grant in that program, rock, harbor, breakwater, tap-nair, breakwater,
[55:37] and fans, road, elevation.
[55:41] Those applications are complete, and we have upcoming meetings with the Department of
[55:47] economic opportunity, which, to us, is a really good sign.
[55:52] They want to go over the great applications with us.
[55:56] The next category is called CDBGNet.
[56:04] And that is for mitigation projects, which is very focused on what our commission has been working toward as far as building up our infrastructure more resiliently.
[56:18] We submitted the Tavenir Fire Station and the Jail on Sock Island into the Harden program.
[56:27] So that was like a sub-category of the mitigation funding.
[56:33] The next category that I'm going to talk about skip the yellow one.
[56:38] That's more of a planning effort.
[56:40] but the ones that are kind of a mustard brown at the bottom are
[56:47] mitigation projects, general infrastructure, and they're calling this round one.
[56:55] They anticipate there will be another round two and round three.
[57:00] But we have now gotten permission from the Board in August to submit five projects
[57:07] to the DEO for funding, SAM's subdivision is one of those, and we already talked about
[57:15] when up in the DR infrastructure program. So we'll actually have that in two parts.
[57:23] And the reason is the SAM subdivision meets the load of moderate income category.
[57:30] So that's a really important eligibility criteria.
[57:34] We try to make sure that we submit grants based on the Shrite Curious, so we will win them.
[57:42] The next projects that are being submitted is twin-lake.
[57:47] Still write, wrote elevation, and then the public works facility relocation away from the airport,
[57:56] and avenues see on big carpet.
[57:58] Those applications will all be submitted by September 14th, and of course we're hoping for
[58:07] the EO interest and then ranking. And then if you'll turn the page of Christina, this
[58:15] is more of a placeholder. This is where I already anticipated round two of the mitigation funding.
[58:23] funding, we will probably be able to submit any of those in the mustard brown color once
[58:30] there's five again in round two, and then rock harbor and the sea wall at West Martello.
[58:37] Those look like they might be eligible projects for round two, so we're following that criteria,
[58:44] meeting with the EOS staff and making sure that we're aware of the types of programs
[58:49] that are coming our way.
[58:51] And then not on this screen, but I thought I mentioned you, FEMA has initiated a new grant program.
[59:00] They've unveiled it, recently, most of the staff has attended webinars just to make sure we're up to date.
[59:07] And the name of that is called brick, the acronym, BRIC.
[59:13] It stands for building resilient infrastructure in communities.
[59:18] And it seems like FEMA is going to focus on using mitigation money for infrastructure,
[59:26] which in the past, the proactive FEMA programs haven't really done.
[59:34] So that we think is going to be a good opportunity for the county and that concludes my summary.
[59:43] Thank you, Kristi.
[59:47] So as we put all of this together and think about how we're going to build a, I guess, a program for this.
[1:00:00] We need to talk about all the elements for planning that staff has worked on and are putting together, so that we can address all the roads instead of, you know, one at a time and figure out how we can get this job accomplished.
[1:00:17] And so this is just a list of some of, you know, the elements of planning.
[1:00:23] Of course, everyone knows the Army Corps of Engineers report is being worked on.
[1:00:30] We have the green keys.
[1:00:31] Round to about the key.
[1:00:32] Green keys to the level rise.
[1:00:35] Vulnerability study done.
[1:00:37] Part of that is road elevation with the pavement study.
[1:00:43] It looks like that.
[1:00:47] Okay.
[1:00:47] And the drainage structures, it's critical facilities, like county facilities, fire stations, police stations, jails, and then she's working now on the county wide road abdaptation study, which will define which roads are prioritised that we need to prioritize, I'm sorry, I didn't say that right.
[1:01:16] So we'll define our rows and prioritize those rows, and you can see there that's due on March.
[1:01:27] And then, of course, we'll have to develop a funding plan or a way that the board can vote on making the funding available.
[1:01:37] And we covered some of those potential sources on the slide earlier, water quality report.
[1:01:46] GIS, overlay, I know they're doing some exciting things, overlaying the low-lying areas.
[1:01:55] So you can see it visually.
[1:01:58] And then, of course, we need a stormwater master plan included including a capital plan.
[1:02:03] So we can figure all this out and next we just paid some direction from the commission.
[1:02:12] We'd like to recommend a workshop and I know that you have the does I or for that.
[1:02:18] So unless you have any questions, county at the wrong, do you have any input there?
[1:02:27] No, I wonder if you take the screen down. Let's go back to see all of us.
[1:02:33] I think the bottom line is that we presented this budget now for a few months, made a few
[1:02:41] weeks to a budget as a dynamic process and changes every day, but nothing's significant.
[1:02:48] Certainly dropping major projects that have been in the works for years, for other new projects
[1:02:56] or other projects is not something we're recommending, but we recommend going with the project
[1:03:03] We'll do a presentation next week that includes the budget that we have both in operations and in capital.
[1:03:13] And then in November, we'll start talking about the potential funding sources to attack, you know,
[1:03:20] to have a billion dollar projects and see level rise adaptations that we have in the next 25 years.
[1:03:28] but right now we have a committee and it changes.
[1:03:31] So that's the bottom one.
[1:03:35] Okay.
[1:03:36] I just want to say that I'm glad that we're going ahead
[1:03:40] with a workshop in November.
[1:03:42] I think that we should start to use a word
[1:03:45] that's been thrown around a lot, cryo-artizing, potential
[1:03:49] funding mechanisms in terms of what's going to be
[1:03:52] the most expeditious and what's going to provide
[1:03:55] the most funding over time, and that doesn't mean that we make the decision in November,
[1:04:02] but it means that we have our suite of options prepared, and once we get that road adaptation
[1:04:09] study back, I think we'll have a better idea of what timeframe and costs are going to be.
[1:04:18] Then we can get some of those things made require referendum that we're going to have to get
[1:04:25] the elections are going to be, if that's how we're going to do it, and other things are
[1:04:30] going to require legislative lifts. We'll have to take a look at the landscape, you know,
[1:04:37] after November, in Tallahassee, and as well as in DC to see where we are. So I'm just unhappy
[1:04:46] that those are the things that we're talking about right now. And I just want to say, carry,
[1:04:51] You're so handsome tonight with that.
[1:04:53] Try and everything.
[1:04:54] It's like I hardly even recognized you for a second.
[1:04:59] Commissioners and the other comments
[1:05:00] before we ask for public input.
[1:05:08] Okay, do we have any public speakers?
[1:05:10] We do.
[1:05:11] We have one public speaker in Esther or so.
[1:05:15] All right.
[1:05:15] Let's go ahead.
[1:05:18] Good evening, commissioners.
[1:05:22] I'm kind of speechless right now.
[1:05:25] As I'm sure you can imagine, I'm very disappointed
[1:05:27] it to end at the start and to hear this conversation after the Constitution at the last
[1:05:31] meeting.
[1:05:33] Twin-late fans pilot projects is not a new capital project, this is something that has
[1:05:39] been in the works for six years now and that a lot of work has been done in a lot of money
[1:05:44] spent on getting us to the VR.
[1:05:47] At your meeting last month, I'm sorry, not last month, that's the last meeting, it was
[1:05:51] commented that the city's accounting needs to fund and complete this pilot project so
[1:05:56] that the board can figure out what kind of technologies work and can be used at employee
[1:06:01] countywide.
[1:06:02] And I feel like now, once that board, last meeting or taking two steps back, I understand
[1:06:08] there's not enough money in your budget this year to fully fund the construction of the pilot
[1:06:14] projects.
[1:06:16] What I don't understand is it seems to me that this pilot project is now getting lumped together
[1:06:24] with the county wide analysis, and then funding, which you're looking at in March of 2021,
[1:06:30] and talking about prioritizing roads, and what I really would like to understand from the board
[1:06:35] is, is that what you're saying? Are you saying that this pilot project now, it'll longer
[1:06:39] exist the pilot project, and you're going to look at this project along with everything else in the county,
[1:06:45] and so we shouldn't even expect any kind of decision on funding until after the whole county wide analysis
[1:06:50] is done, and funding is determined county widened.
[1:06:54] This roof, so did you not see the list of where we have already applied for funding to
[1:07:00] these projects?
[1:07:02] I did see the list, but I also understand that it's highly unlikely we're going to get the
[1:07:07] grant that have been applied for, especially because Plin Lake is not considered a low-income
[1:07:13] moderate income neighborhood.
[1:07:15] So, you know, what I don't want to see is I'm living in this house suffering along with
[1:07:19] neighbors for years and years to come when we have no plan for together on how this is going
[1:07:26] to get funded. You know, at the end of the day, but not going to get funded now or soon or in
[1:07:31] three years or five years, I want to know what is going on with where I am living and making decisions
[1:07:37] that affect my life. And I understood that the county was funding the construction for this project.
[1:07:44] I also understand that the engineers you all hired came in at a number initially that then was
[1:07:51] is now eight hundred times or so higher than what they initially predicted. I don't
[1:07:55] have the length of me to not understand how that happens with an expert. Understand the county
[1:08:00] commissioners, this is your first time doing this kind of project, but I don't understand how your
[1:08:04] experts, you know, made such a drastic under estimation of what the cost would be.
[1:08:10] But like I said, I just want to know, are you putting us together with the whole county-wide projects?
[1:08:15] So we're not the pilot project, the learning project anymore, and this whole thing is getting delayed until who knows when.
[1:08:24] Thank you for your input.
[1:08:27] As I've said, we have already proceeded to try to find funding for those projects for those pilot projects.
[1:08:33] And in November, we're going to begin working on developing funding plans for those projects as well.
[1:08:41] all of our other projects. Judy, I don't know if you want to address any of the other
[1:08:46] comments that were made. I would add just briefly, in addition to the grants that Christine
[1:08:54] Hurley had gone through, the two pilot projects, the sand subdivision, and the twin-lake
[1:09:01] subdivision, we also applied for the FEMA HMGP grants, which is another funding source that comes
[1:09:10] There's a pot of money that comes after certain disasters in the state, and we've gone through,
[1:09:17] it has now gotten to a level where they've come back to us and asked for additional information.
[1:09:24] They haven't given us an award yet, but that's another attempt we've made to find funding.
[1:09:31] And that was specifically for the two pilot projects that have been designed.
[1:09:37] So, you know, we aren't, I wouldn't say that we're lumping it all together, but we are, you know, proceeding as, as best we can and as the numbers have shown, there are things that aren't funded this year.
[1:09:52] Mayor, could I add just a little bit to that?
[1:09:55] I think it's important to say that the HMGP program is not based on the income of the property owners,
[1:10:05] which makes it different from the CDBG and MIT.
[1:10:09] So I think that helps the twin lakes project.
[1:10:14] And then also, as
[1:10:24] the grant and funding sources become available, unfortunately, what happens is, and we as staff have to say, oh, is this project going to meet that criteria?
[1:10:39] And if, for example, when I showed you the first three projects we submitted, only the
[1:10:45] sand is was submitted because that one had a definite load of moderate requirement.
[1:10:51] So, when you get the next round of the program, we did submit twin lakes and others because
[1:10:58] a portion of the projects have to be loaded moderate, but not all.
[1:11:03] So there is a possibility, it all depends on how it shakes out on the end in scoring that Twin Lakes could be approved.
[1:11:13] And so we as staff have to structure the grants and apply for them based on the federal and state criteria we get otherwise we're submitting without, you know, knowing we're not going to be qualified.
[1:11:26] And I think that's a distinction that the public needs to hear.
[1:11:32] Thanks, Christine Roman.
[1:11:34] Looks like you're, are you about to say something to?
[1:11:37] Nope. Oh, that'll get it.
[1:11:41] Well, I just wanted to say, you know, for the public, that a lot of this planning
[1:11:47] has been severely affected for the county commissioners based on COVID.
[1:11:53] I mean, you know, we're looking at a 13 million dollar revenue loss just for the
[1:11:58] So the county commission doesn't have the flexibility that they would normally have.
[1:12:06] It's very uncertain.
[1:12:08] Roman has described it as a time of uncertainty and I, you know,
[1:12:14] couldn't be more accurate, really.
[1:12:17] Madam Mayor, I come at Mr. Kates.
[1:12:20] Yes.
[1:12:21] I'd like to ask if we could commit to these projects that's been on the books for a long time
[1:12:27] that if, obviously, we'll apply some grants, we'll get parts, if we get partial funding that
[1:12:35] if our revenues are higher than we expect, that they would be a top priority to get those
[1:12:46] parts done, not look at other projects. I think we can make that kind of commitment to our
[1:12:52] residents that have been waiting so long for these projects. I know they got to understand
[1:12:57] what we're going to do right now, but I think we should show that kind of commitment that they will be a
[1:13:01] priority if the funding revenue sources are higher than what we are anticipating and move forward
[1:13:10] that in that case.
[1:13:12] Thank you.
[1:13:14] Commissioner Foldire?
[1:13:15] Thank you.
[1:13:17] I'm going to segue off of what Commissioner Cates just said, and I'm really looking forward
[1:13:23] when we can sit down and have a workshop on this and as one of the newer commissioners here
[1:13:29] on the day is I wasn't here and neither was commissioner Kate's when the pilot projects studies were
[1:13:37] first created and I think at the workshop it would be nice if we went into a little of that history
[1:13:43] as well because when I hear the word a pilot project study I feel like we're going to do a project
[1:13:49] not just a study. And if there's that word project in there, I would have anticipated
[1:13:56] all along that we would have had even maybe a line item in our budget where we've been
[1:14:02] throwing a little money in every year to get ready for when we were ready for the construction
[1:14:08] part of the project. And this is something that I would like for us to be able to discuss at the workshop
[1:14:15] Because I agree if this is supposed to be a project where we're going to practice to see what
[1:14:22] works for our flooding areas and this is already identified as an area, I feel like this
[1:14:28] is the next step.
[1:14:30] And even if we can't completely find it this year, if we at least start having a line item,
[1:14:36] where this is money that's going to go in there, then we know we're doing our part and as
[1:14:41] We have a workshop and we discuss other ideas of what kind of public private partnerships
[1:14:47] we can come up with not just grants but everything else that we're adding to that
[1:14:52] So that we can start funding these projects.
[1:14:58] So I'm looking...
[1:15:00] We're going to go forward to this workshop, but I'm going to guess we're going to have more than one. So I hear it. And I understand that we'll make sure we get that, you know, discussion at the workshop.
[1:15:14] Well, I probably won't be here when this workshop takes place, but trust me, I will be
[1:15:22] listening. It's going to be very, very interesting.
[1:15:27] Yeah, would it be out of line for me to say something to Commissioner Murphy?
[1:15:32] Because it next week's going to be a really long day, and then we're going to try to get the budget.
[1:15:38] And I might get rushed through it, but this is your last budget.
[1:15:42] I don't want to cry, but I want to just, it's better pleasure in an honor to serve.
[1:15:49] And you've really made me grow and pushed my limits. And I love you very much. It, thank you.
[1:15:59] And now you're making me cry.
[1:16:03] Yeah, probably all of us will be.
[1:16:09] I think I shall put my goodbyes in like this.
[1:16:13] I think I can stand up and read it.
[1:16:16] If I can't finish reading it, I think seven would finish it for me.
[1:16:20] Would you Kevin?
[1:16:23] They're getting ready to cry too.
[1:16:27] Yeah.
[1:16:27] Oh, Kevin will not cry, trust me.
[1:16:31] I just needed to tell you that before we got so caught up, that I didn't get the opportunity.
[1:16:36] Well, thank you.
[1:16:37] Thank you very much, Tina.
[1:16:39] I have not seen her since she was not the director, not the assistant director, not the
[1:16:46] anything really. You just sat there and did her different job and she did it so well,
[1:16:54] but there she sits now. She's the boss. Congratulations, Kessa.
[1:16:59] Thank you, Commissioner Murphy. You will be missed. Very much.
[1:17:05] Thank you.
[1:17:07] Absolutely. Commissioners, any other comments about the budget update?
[1:17:15] Any other public input?
[1:17:19] Seeing no members from the public with their hands raised.
[1:17:23] All right. Next item, Pam.
[1:17:26] Item F, announcement of the public hearing for final adoption of the fiscal year 2021
[1:17:33] millilitrates and budget public hearing to be held at 505 p.m. on Wednesdays at
[1:17:39] 16, 2020 at htpf, colon, forward slash, forward slash,
[1:17:47] www.monrockcounty-ethel.gov, forward slash, budget, set 16, and that's B-U-E-D-S-A-P-16.
[1:17:59] For soon to executive order, number 20-69, extended by executive orders, number 20-12-20-139,
[1:18:09] 20-150, and 20-179, Monroe County Emergency Directives, 20-06, and 20-10, and the Center for Disease Control,
[1:18:20] social distancing guidelines established to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
[1:18:26] The September 16th, 2020 public hearing will be conducted via communication, media
[1:18:32] technology using a Zoom webinar platform.
[1:18:42] Any comments?
[1:18:43] We have G, Commissioners comments.
[1:18:51] All right, here I am now, I'll entertain a motion to adjourn, which I know Commissioner Rice always likes to be the first one to give.
[1:19:00] All right, we're honored and we'll talk to you all next week and enjoy the rest of the week, guys.