[0:00] Good afternoon everybody. Welcome to the Swany County Board of County

[0:03] Commissioner meeting for September 1st, 2026. This time I'd like to get

[0:07] Commissioner Fleming to do the invocation. Commissioner Molly to do the

[0:10] pledge if you'll stand. Thank you. >> Let's pray. Father, we come once again

[0:16] in your name. Thank you for many blessings you bestowed upon us. Thank

[0:19] you for making a way for us. Thank you for how you watched over and protect us.

[0:23] You kept us safe. We pray God that you be with the Brie families. Oh God,

[0:27] somebody had tra tragedy, but have mercy if we pray. We pray God that [snorts]

[0:31] you lift us up. Be with us this day. Watch over and protect us. Keep us safe

[0:35] from all hurt, harm, and danger. For we call in your name because we need you

[0:38] this afternoon and we can't get along without you. Father, we ask these and

[0:42] all blessings in Jesus name we pray. Amen.

[0:45] » Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the

[0:51] republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and

[0:57] justice for all.

[1:08] Moving on to item number one, approval of minutes for the August 18th, 2026

[1:13] regular meeting. Do I hear any corrections, deletions, or a motion to

[1:17] approve? >> So move.

[1:19] » Motion by Commissioner Hail. >> Second.

[1:21] » Second by Commissioner Fleming. All in favor? I. I. All oppose. Same sign.

[1:26] Motion carries five to zero. Public concerns and comments.

[1:31] Uh Mr. Broers

[1:40] and just announce everything but that one. So that way the record's clear.

[1:45] Hey Jason, can you get a recusal phone? You want me to say

[1:52] » good evening and how are you? >> I'm doing okay. Getting older every day.

[1:55] » I [laughter] hear you. >> Keith Broers, 970 Southwest Pine

[2:00] Mountain Road in Lake City. What I want to talk tonight a little bit about is

[2:03] something called the original intent of our founding fathers. If you understand

[2:09] that the original intent basically means is that the the constitution means today

[2:14] what it meant on the day that it was written by the founding fathers. Uh

[2:18] there is a way to change the constitution and it's through an

[2:20] amendment. But what we have done over the years is we've amended the

[2:24] constitution by misinterpreting it. And that is a lot easier to misinterpret

[2:29] than it is to go through the amendment process. The amendment in particular

[2:33] that I want to mention is the 14th amendment.

[2:37] I don't know if you know the reason that the 14th amendment was passed. I

[2:40] encourage all of you to go to your AI and ask the question, why did the

[2:44] founding fathers propose the 14th amendment? And it made it very clear.

[2:47] The purpose was to create a situation where the black Americans would be

[2:52] treated with equality and justice. That was the purpose of the amendment. It

[2:56] wasn't to try to increase the number of immigrants. it was to basically improve

[3:02] the the quality of of the immigrants and um frankly um one of the one of the

[3:12] things that comes up and I'm in very much along I go along with Donald Trump

[3:16] on this idea of the birthright citizenship there's two types of

[3:20] citizenships there's the citizenship that is be conferred upon you by your by

[3:25] the land upon which you were born and the second form of citizenship ship is

[3:30] the type of citizenship that is based upon your lineage. You inherit the in

[3:36] you inherit the citizenship of your parents. Well, in in our country

[3:41] initially the founding fathers believed that they wanted both. They wanted

[3:45] people to be born on US soil but they also wanted the people who were uh to

[3:51] run for president to be to owe their complete and total allegiance to America

[3:56] and not to a foreign power. And if you go to AI and ask the question, uh, why

[4:02] did the founding fathers insist on a clause

[4:07] for the birthright citizenship? Check it out and you'll see that what

[4:12] they what the founding fathers believed was was written by a guy by the name of

[4:16] Vatell who wrote a book called the well the law of nations. And in that he said

[4:21] that a natural-born citizen is a child who was born in a country to parents

[4:26] that were citizens of that country at the time of the birth. And frankly uh

[4:32] obviously there's there's one guy who did who uh well anyway this is important

[4:37] because if you elect people who have a divided loyalty, how do you know whose

[4:42] interests are going to be looked after? I find that a lot of times our

[4:46] presidents make decisions that benefit other countries more than our own.

[4:49] Anyway, check it out on AI. Ask the question, why was the 14th amendment

[4:54] written and why did the founding fathers insist on the clause for birthright

[5:00] citizenship? Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Broers.

[5:03] Miss Martin.

[5:13] Greetings, Wendy Martin, 15850 141st Road, Macalpin. A quick response.

[5:20] AI is replete with a lot of incorrect information because it's dependent on

[5:24] the people that are answering the questions initially.

[5:28] Um the 14th amendment was also started after reconstruction, not by the

[5:33] founding fathers. And in regards to elections, I want to complement the

[5:38] Swany County Division of Elections for the saving us and some of the security

[5:42] they've enacted because now instead of having to pre-order a bunch of ballots,

[5:47] they're not printing the ballots up till we need them, which saved us on paper

[5:50] and ink, we don't have to do the accounting to account for why did you

[5:55] destroy these ballots that were not used. So again, that's money and time.

[6:01] It also mitigates any of the claim, you know, election security about who got

[6:06] what ballot when it came out. We don't have to worry about whatever the lies

[6:10] they were promoting that led to some of the revolt in 2020. But Miss Kinsey did

[6:16] Jennifer did a very good I think she conducted a very good election and the

[6:21] improvements that she's made with the technology.

[6:25] kudos other than I suck at that woodscribe or whatever for the auto

[6:30] signature, but it is what it is. Thank you.

[6:33] » Thank you. Appreciate it. >> Anybody else public concerns and

[6:36] comments

[6:48] Clipper? Uh on the uh on this item six on the consent. Y'all y'all gonna

[6:56] u y'all got plans on doing terminating whatever? We still let

[7:02] I requested quite a while back for the outcome of that last uh 12 $15,000 we

[7:09] spent and it hadn't been published that I guess I got to go through for you. Um

[7:15] I don't know why that has to be it's a disconnect. govern and and and so I'm

[7:22] requesting again for y'all to publish right now uh what what happened with

[7:27] that last cherry bracket money what they come up with on that last one incomplete

[7:33] u and I request y'all to u you know defund again uh sheriff's department

[7:40] with the flock cameras the axon that's coming up behind them that they're if

[7:45] y'all are reading I'm reading they're putting dum spy

[7:49] stuff on top of the light poles now, you know. So, they're just trying to surveil

[7:55] us and you know, y'all could y'all could put a stop to some of it. Um, yeah, Axon

[8:00] Axo N. And then y'all not going to chairman not going to let me speak to

[8:05] general business number nine on the North Florida Water Utility Authority.

[8:10] Y'all were misinformed by legal counsel about the interlocal agreement. Uh

[8:17] Columbia County's got 180 days to back out of that deal with North Florida

[8:21] Water Utility Authority. It it it plainly states that the second

[8:26] interlocal does not uh eliminate the terms and conditions of the first. So,

[8:32] you know, we're in a mess with that. And if it's ego that's going to get us there

[8:37] and I don't like the fact that we're just spending money hand over fist.

[8:40] We're paying uh the lawyer. We got over $400 an hour. Uh, you know, it's just

[8:46] money, money, money. We can do it more efficiently here. Um, I'm certain with

[8:51] inter local. So, we just need to be more efficient because amendment three is

[8:56] coming through, folks. So, we y'all going to be short about $6 million out

[9:01] of the out of the operating budget. So, uh, y'all need to start being more

[9:08] efficient with spending our money and finding creative [clears throat] ways

[9:12] to, uh, be more efficient, you know, and transparency. Actually, you utilizing

[9:19] I've watched, uh, for a long time u, you know, people come up this podium and

[9:25] offer services over at the coliseum. There's a lady that her husband was in

[9:29] trucking. they offered to uh assist with assistance and y'all never y'all never

[9:35] utilize that. There's many things that y'all could do for free. People want to

[9:39] help and instead NDAs and all that stuff, y'all try to hide stuff from us

[9:44] instead of letting us help. So anyway, we need to get better.

[9:48] » Thank you, sir. Anybody else? Public concerns and

[9:52] comments. >> Moving on to the consent agenda. Is any

[9:56] any commissioners want to pull any item for discussion?

[9:58] » Mr. Chair, I pull number two. >> Number two for discussion.

[10:04] Any others?

[10:08] » Seeing that, we will be voting on items 3 through eight of the consent agenda.

[10:13] Do I have a motion to approve? >> Motion.

[10:17] » Motion by Commissioner Fleming. >> Second.

[10:18] » Second by Commissioner Lan. All in favor? I. I. All oppose, same sign.

[10:23] Motion carries five to zero. Item number two, approval of payment of process

[10:28] invoice. Mr. Bland. >> Yes, sir. In there um in inside of

[10:32] number two on that on the payment vouchers, there is a $700 check to Harry

[10:36] T. Reed Funeral Home. I need to abstain um from voting on that due to a

[10:40] conflict. My wife and I are owners of Harry T Reed Funeral Home. We

[10:43] transported a deceased person to the medical examiner's office at the

[10:46] county's request. >> Well, thank you for letting us know that

[10:49] and appreciate that. Uh seeing that uh Commissioner Lan will recuse itself from

[10:54] voting on item number two. Do I have a motion to approve? Beside that payment

[11:00] of pro processed invoice. Motion by Commissioner Mobly.

[11:04] » Second. >> Second by Commissioner Hail.

[11:06] » All in favor? I I all oppose saying sign. Motion carries four to zero with

[11:11] Commissioner Land of Stanley.

[11:17] No time specific constitutional officers.

[11:22] » Staff,

[11:26] » any commissioner items? >> County attorney.

[11:30] » Uh yes, Mr. Chairman. I got three things real quick. Uh the first is there's

[11:36] going to be a meeting of the uh Live Oak Community Redevelopment Authority on

[11:41] September the 29th. uh as your >> 22

[11:45] » 22nd I'm sorry um yeah the fourth Tuesday I apologize

[11:50] uh so on September 22nd um as you're aware Mr. Chairman uh the

[11:56] CRA recently was voting to expand the county and the city and the CRA had some

[12:01] very constructive conversations about some of the county's concerns. Uh

[12:05] they've invited me to come speak at that 22nd meeting regarding those concerns.

[12:09] Uh I've discussed this individually with each member of the board just so they're

[12:12] aware as to what's been going on. So I would just uh due to uh our position in

[12:18] that matter and me going and speaking on behalf of the county, I'd like to be

[12:21] able to say I'm doing so uh with the author with speaking with the voice of

[12:25] the county uh of the board of county commissioners. So Mr. Mr. Chairman, I'd

[12:29] like a motion uh and approval by the board to authorize me to speak on behalf

[12:34] of the board at that September 22nd meeting of the SW of the Live Oak CRA.

[12:39] » Any questions of Mr. Morrison on that before we move to Do I have a motion to

[12:43] approve that? >> So move.

[12:45] » Motion by Commissioner Lamb. >> Second.

[12:47] » Second by Commissioner Fleming. >> All in favor? I. I. All oppose. Same

[12:52] sign. Motion carries 5 to zero. >> Uh next, Mr. Chairman, speaking of

[12:57] something that came up before, I'd been asked about uh flock cameras here in

[13:00] Swany County because yesterday the Department of Transportation through an

[13:05] order from Governor DeSantis ordered that all flock cameras be taken off of

[13:09] the um roads maintained by the Florida Department of Transportation. So, the

[13:15] Florida the Florida Highway System. Since I knew that the next question was

[13:18] going to be, what about the roads maintained by the county or county

[13:23] roads? I had a conversation with dep uh chief deputy Williams this afternoon. Uh

[13:28] he's authorized me to represent to the board and to the public that effective

[13:32] today uh all flock cameras have been turned off in Swany County. So there are

[13:38] no more flock c uh and it's not just that the board that they're not

[13:41] searching it. They're not using their license. The they've been turned off at

[13:46] least as to the cameras they control. Certainly if some other law enforcement

[13:49] agency has put some up somewhere that we're not aware of, they can't control

[13:52] that. any uh flock camera put up by the uh

[13:56] that's permanently installed by the Swany County Sheriff's Office is turned

[14:01] off uh immediately and permanently effective today per Deputy Sheriff

[14:06] Williams and uh the >> Did they say they were going to remove

[14:09] them or >> they're going I the anticipation is

[14:12] they're going to be removed. they're off, but since they're not the property

[14:15] of the sheriff, then he can't take them down, and he certainly doesn't want to

[14:20] be the one removing them and then be found liable for screwing them up. So,

[14:24] » uh, but he wanted to make sure that I communicated to the board and the

[14:27] citizenry that they are off. So, it's not just that they are not being

[14:30] searched, it's that the actual cameras are off.

[14:34] » Mr. Chairman, >> Commissioner Hail,

[14:36] » just just a question of that, Mr. Attorney, does the board need to make

[14:40] any kind of motion on that to >> No, sir. because it's all within the

[14:43] purview of the sheriff. I was just letting this because I know that the

[14:46] questions have come to you guys as me you guys as commissioners as well as the

[14:50] public. So, I'm just letting you all know.

[14:52] » Gotcha. >> So, yeah, no board actions necessary.

[14:54] » Approve them. So, >> yeah, the board didn't approve. It was

[14:56] how he spent his own budget, but just FYI.

[14:58] » Yep. >> Uh and then lastly, Mr. Chairman, uh Mr.

[15:01] Furry and I had excellent conversations uh last week regarding bonding and

[15:07] moving forward with that matter with the wastewater treatment plant. Um the good

[15:11] news uh is that there are several sources of revenue that are pledgeable.

[15:16] So we should be okay for purposes of being able to secure a bond and moving

[15:20] forward with that process. For clarification though, the question that

[15:24] was asked is what about the interest rate? Because that was originally the

[15:27] appeal of it. Um and when I had originally spoken to Mr. Sprattling my

[15:32] friend from 20 years ago. He apparently quoted me a rate from 20 years ago

[15:36] because uh the rate that was thrown around by the people who remember we're

[15:41] dealing with municipal advocates. So these are people who work for us uh is

[15:44] going to be in the 4 point I you know on the low end in the 4.6 to 4.8 range. Um

[15:51] and the reason for that is if you look at what a 10-year T-note is going for

[15:55] right now is 4.8%. That's lending to the federal government. So, it's just a

[15:59] matter of poor timing as to when we're having to go out for the loan. If it

[16:03] were 3 years ago, it would be a significantly lower interest rate, but

[16:07] that just the timing is what it is. So, just wanted to make you board members

[16:11] aware of what kind of interest rate we're looking at. I'm not we don't need

[16:14] any board action right now to say stop or move forward. I wanted to inform the

[16:18] board and that way if you guys want to think about it individually, if that

[16:22] changes anybody's feelings about moving forward with the bonding process, then

[16:26] we need to let them know sooner than later. But I wanted to share that

[16:29] information as soon as we had it. >> What What kind of term are we looking at

[16:33] as far as length of term on that? >> It can be whatever we want. Now, we can

[16:37] have 15 years easily within that range. If you get past 20 or if you get to 20,

[16:42] then it gets you may have to pay a higher interest rate to get that

[16:45] » fixed. Yes. Yes. And the actually the the real issue

[16:51] uh and we're going to want to include something is a prohibition on a

[16:54] prepayment penalty clause. So because it's anticipated again not to put carts

[17:00] before the horse about the North Florida Water Utility Authority, but ultimately

[17:05] if that treatment plant were to be moved into the utility authority, the utility

[17:08] authority would need to uh and we're already having that conversation now

[17:13] would basically need to buy out would need to reissue bonds in order to secure

[17:17] that debt for the utility authority and pay off ours. So we need to make sure

[17:21] that we can do that. Um and remember the way they're making money is interest.

[17:25] So, you know, you can get a lower interest rate, but you would have to put

[17:29] a you would have to agree to not be allowed to prepay. And I just don't

[17:33] think that's a clause that we can be okay with given that circumstance, which

[17:37] is foreseeable right now. So, we're still in that, like I said, 4.6 to 4.8

[17:41] 4. We don't have a number yet, but that's kind of the range that we're

[17:44] looking at. It can be amvertised over 10, 15 years at that rate without a

[17:48] problem. 20 again, we're going to have you can do it. You're just going to have

[17:51] to pay for it. So, and again, I don't need nobody needs

[17:55] to do anything right now. Just Mr. Furry and I discussed that we wanted to let

[17:58] the board know and if that interest rate gives anybody

[18:02] feelings about not wanting to pursue it, that's fine. We just need to know so we

[18:05] can communicate that to our partners who are working on our behalf.

[18:08] » Also, I would like to know is I you know I don't know much about bonds. I know

[18:13] about mortgages but not bonds. So, we get this bond that's at 4.8% interest

[18:20] rates drops. Can we borrow money from the bank at a lower interest, pay this

[18:24] off? Do >> we'd have to rebond? So, the short

[18:27] answer is yes. So, the the problem is is >> we're not allowed to mortgage our own

[18:31] property, as weird as that is, right? So, we have to pledge revenue, which we

[18:35] have. >> Um, and we have to be able and you can

[18:39] also just pledge that you're going to be able to pay for the bond. Uh, which is

[18:42] not a problem. Um, so yes, you can. And because we're going

[18:49] to negotiate for a prepay an allowable prepayment. So let's say there is a

[18:53] massive dropping in interest rates. If at that point in time, kind of like with

[18:56] a mortgage, it becomes worth it to pay the closing costs if the interest rate

[19:00] is at a certain lower rate. Yes, we could do that. But we would have to go

[19:03] through the bond process again because it's only through the bond process that

[19:06] we're allowed to take to take on debt as a government.

[19:11] » Understood. Any other questions? >> So did I say anything incorrect?

[19:14] » No, that's correct. >> All right. I don't have anything

[19:16] further, Mr. Chair. >> That's it. Yes, sir.

[19:19] » Any consultants?

[19:23] General business. Item number nine, discuss with possible board action

[19:26] approving North Florida Water Utility Association recommended water and

[19:31] wastewater rates for Swany County utility customers. Mr. Furry.

[19:35] » Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So, [clears throat] we've been talking about

[19:38] this a couple different times in budget workshops as well. Um,

[19:42] so the utility is is looking, we own the assets, so we get to set the rates for

[19:46] for our county assets. So they're looking for us to set the rates in order

[19:50] for them to adopt their final budget, which will be later this month. I

[19:55] believe Columbia County will be setting their rates this Thursday at their

[19:58] meeting as well. Um, our thought process initially, I

[20:02] think Mr. Roberts had brought a had brought a figure to the utility board

[20:06] and you correct me if I'm wrong um Commissioner Mauy and and White cuz you

[20:10] guys were there those meetings but um had brought a rate um which decreased

[20:14] the county's contribution down below 500,000 and then um I think brought

[20:19] another rate back to the board to the utility board um which lowered the

[20:24] customers rates because they were it was a pretty drastic increase and it and it

[20:29] went back to our original contribution of just over $500. 00,000 520,000 I

[20:34] think is is what the county has been contributing to the authority. So that's

[20:38] kind of the trade-off we talked in the past. The more the board contributes the

[20:41] less the rates can be. Um if we were running our own utility and we were for

[20:45] a while we didn't raise the rates ever is my understanding. I wasn't

[20:49] necessarily involved in that. Um but that's my understanding. We would have

[20:53] had to raise the rates if if we take it over tomorrow. We're probably going to

[20:56] increase the rates regardless. So uh I don't think it's a matter of you know do

[21:00] we raise the rates. It's just a matter of of how much do you want to go?

[21:07] » Well, let me just jump in there a minute since I sit on that board and le

[21:11] Commissioner Mobly does as well. We had a rate study done for these rates. So,

[21:18] we're not just picking this out of thin air. And the rates because we don't have

[21:23] a lot of customers. We have the the ability to have customers. We just don't

[21:27] have a lot of them yet. And so they were looking at a study to replace

[21:35] everything the countyy's having to pay to run the utility. Well, when you done

[21:39] that, it just hit all your customers between the eyes with almost a doubling

[21:45] of their rates. So, we went back and looked at

[21:50] moving some money around inside the utility authority. the counties matching

[21:54] what they paid last year to lessen the burden some on those people that's got

[22:00] those utilities. So that's how we got to where we are and that's where we're at

[22:05] on it. So these rates that are here was not I guess the

[22:12] the top one was the original rates that was proposed and the second one was what

[22:17] we came up with after making >> the second page the two tables. That's

[22:20] correct. The top one is the original rate. Mr. Roberts brought and then the

[22:23] revised >> and Mr. Roberts is here if we need to

[22:27] ask him anything. But as I know it, that's what we [laughter] what we did.

[22:34] » And I think that's what we we'll be looking at it for discussion starting

[22:37] point is is the rates on the 716. Um and and you can you can go on down if

[22:44] you want. The next page shows you the wastewater and and the water rates um

[22:48] based on the on the size lines. But I would I would recommend that we we look

[22:53] at the same amount of contribution that that we have been giving. We can do that

[22:57] in the budget. No problem. Um and we we'll just have to communicate

[23:03] with those customers, which I believe the utility will be doing that as far as

[23:07] notifying them. But um I think they understand where we're at in in the

[23:11] process. >> We just tried to hit a happy medium here

[23:14] between the customers and and and the county taxpayers.

[23:20] to to fund this utility authority and and and not kill our businesses that are

[23:26] on those services. So, that's where we're at. And if you got any questions,

[23:31] I'll try my best to answer. Like I said, Shannon's in the audience and he can

[23:35] answer, too. >> Yes, sir. I'm good.

[23:38] » Anybody any public comment on this?

[23:46] Seeing none, can I get a motion to approve?

[23:49] » So move. >> I guess I need Do I need to clarify

[23:53] which one on this table or >> I would think so. Yes. The

[23:56] » the bottom. >> Yeah, the alternate rate increase.

[24:00] » Alternate rate increase would be correct.

[24:01] » July 16th. >> Correct.

[24:04] » Can I get a motion to approve? >> So moved.

[24:06] » Motion by Commissioner Lamb. >> Second.

[24:08] » Second by Commissioner Mobly. Any further discussion? All in favor? I. I.

[24:13] All oppose. Same sign. Motion carries. 5.

[24:18] Item number 10, approval of task order 10 with Miller Leg Pers [clears throat]

[24:22] Swania County agreement 2025-91 for the design of the regional emergency

[24:27] shelter for the phase one on-site roadway and infrastructure design.

[24:31] Budget impact $497,000 to be paid with great fun grant funds.

[24:36] Great funds grant funds, Mr. Pur, >> excuse me. Those grant funds are great

[24:41] funds. So, um yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So, this is just the next

[24:45] phase. We've been bringing task orders to you. Um, as you'll see in the next

[24:49] two items, they're they're going to start to get rather large. We're to the

[24:52] point where we've done the the programming and the planning and the and

[24:56] the master planning. And so, now we're getting into the design and and putting

[25:00] the details down to get to construction plans. So this particular one is for the

[25:04] on-site infrastructure um you know utilities, water, sewer,

[25:10] natural gas, um reuse and then of course the roadways. It's the internal roads on

[25:16] our property and this will be to design that. Um it's the same it's Miller Lake,

[25:21] our our engineers that we were that we hired through the RFQ process when we

[25:26] originally went out for this project. >> Any questions of Mr. Furry? Any public

[25:33] comment? Seeing none, do I have a motion to

[25:37] approve item number 10? >> So move.

[25:40] » Motion by Commissioner Hail, second by Commissioner Mobly. All in favor? I. I.

[25:45] All oppose, same sign. Motion carries five to zero. Item number 11, approval

[25:51] of task order 11 with Miller Lake per Swany County agreement 2025-91

[25:56] for project summit regional emergency shelter for site schematic design and

[26:00] design development services budget impact 3.546,250

[26:06] I mean just do that again $3,546,250 to be paid with grant funds. Mr. Furry

[26:16] my computer froze up on me. Yes, sir. So again, um just another task order. This

[26:20] is the $3.5 million. So this will get us to about 60% um design plans, the

[26:26] schematic and design development uh to go into the next step.

[26:31] It won't get us to full construction set of plans. There'll be an additional task

[26:34] order for that. But you got to remember this is a uh quite a large expensive

[26:38] building that we're doing. So this will get us going in the in that direction

[26:42] and get things started to get to the state once we start showing some of this

[26:46] progress here. I think the state's going to be a lot more willing to get us some

[26:50] more money um through the appropriation process and and try to get this thing

[26:55] closed out and across the finish line as they say.

[27:00] Any questions of Mr. Furry on that one? >> Any public comment on that?

[27:06] Seeing none, do I have a motion to approve item number 11?

[27:10] » Motion, Mr. Chairman. >> Is that a motion by you, Commissioner

[27:12] Land? >> Mayor Fleman. One doesn't matter.

[27:15] » Motion by Commissioner Lan. Second by Commissioner Fleming. Any further

[27:19] discussion? All in favor? I. I. All oppose. Same sign. Motion carries 5 to

[27:24] zero. Item number 12, approval of Blackwater change order number seven for

[27:30] the discovery of unsuitable soils at the Jefferson [cough] Smith Civic Center.

[27:34] Mr. Furry. >> Okay. So, I've been kind of laying the

[27:38] groundwork for this, telling you this is coming. That if you've been by that

[27:41] building at all during the last few months, there's it sits up on a clay

[27:44] hill on that corner. That's why it's the highest spot. So, we uh Yeah, I know. I

[27:49] know. The um So, they they sent us a change order. There's a lot of clay

[27:54] there they had to remove. I did approve them to remove that at their cost with

[27:58] their trucks and their contractors. I didn't want to tie up Miss Flanigan and

[28:01] our trucks and our staff to try to do that. I didn't want to dump it on our

[28:05] county land right there next to it because it'll just stay there for 5

[28:08] years before it goes anywhere. So, we um we did negotiate. Our engineers have

[28:13] have went to bat for us on this. They initially submitted is about $135,000

[28:18] change order and the for the the cubic yards of material.

[28:23] They're the engineers. They've got all this software and they're smarter than I

[28:26] am. But they had a 3D model and they were able to go in there and show no you

[28:30] you only needed to go down X number 24 in and remove that. Anything else was

[28:35] excess on your that was yours um to eat. So, we did get it down under 100,000. Of

[28:39] course, right at 100,000 and then their overhead and profit brought it up to the

[28:43] 105, but you can see some pictures in there if you want if if you drove by

[28:47] there. Um, it was it was a mess. So, and now we've got that paid parking lot and

[28:53] and good to go. But this is uh so as it says, there is no more grant funds. All

[28:57] our other change orders we were able to do with the grant funding. Um, so this

[29:02] one's going to be it's going to be on the county. I can cover it in our budget

[29:05] here as we're winding down. and I've talked to finance to Mr. Gentry and and

[29:09] Miss Nina and and we've got the money in the budget as we wind down the year, but

[29:13] u it won't have to come out of reserves or contingency or any like anything like

[29:17] that. We'll just we'll be able to cover it out of the board's budget, but it is

[29:20] $100,000 and so that stings.

[29:26] Any questions? >> No, sir.

[29:30] » Any questions from the public? [clears throat]

[29:33] » Seeing none, do I have a motion to approve item number 12?

[29:36] So move. >> Motion by Commissioner Lan.

[29:39] » Second by Commissioner Mobly. Any further discussion? All in favor? I. I.

[29:44] All oppose. Same sign. Motion carries 5 to zero. Are there any additional agenda

[29:49] items?

[29:54] Oh yeah.

[29:57] Sorry, Mandy just reminded me on the um on that change order. And I don't

[30:02] hopefully it's not too late if we can amend this. I was supposed to ask you if

[30:05] we could authorize the clerk to go ahead and release the payment to that after

[30:09] tonight's meeting. We're winding down. We've only got a couple weeks left in

[30:12] the grant and the in the project the contract deadline and to close out the

[30:16] grant with commerce. So, we're trying to get those invoices turned in as quick as

[30:20] we as we process them instead of waiting till after the 15th meeting is when we

[30:26] would authorize that next that change order payment typically. But if you've

[30:30] approved it and we can authorize the clerk to release that check, we can go

[30:33] ahead and get that and pay them and turn that into commerce for reimbursement.

[30:37] » Mr. Morrison, can he just restate his motion or amend his motion?

[30:40] » We can just add a new motion authorization to release payment

[30:43] pursuant to the task order. >> Can I get a motion in that order?

[30:48] » So move. >> Motion by Commissioner Hail.

[30:51] » Second. >> Second by Commissioner Lan. All in

[30:53] favor? I. I. All oppose. Same sign. There you go.

[30:58] » Thank you. That was the additional agenda item. I guess we don't have any

[31:01] others. >> Thank you, sir.

[31:05] We're down to administrator's comments. >> Okay. Um, first,

[31:10] » did I miss anything? I'm not running through some stuff, so if I missed

[31:15] anything, now's your chance. >> I'm not going to slow you down now.

[31:17] » All right. Go ahead. >> Uh, similar to to Mr. Morrison

[31:20] requesting to speak on behalf of the board at the CRA meeting at the end of

[31:24] September. Um through our discussions with the shelter design as well. Uh I

[31:29] would like to go to the city next week at their regular city council meeting

[31:33] and start discussions with them about utilities out at the shelter. So the

[31:37] task order we just did was for onsite. We need to get the utilities to to the

[31:41] site. And so you know we would like to work with the city. We'd like to be

[31:44] partners of theirs. Obviously, we're going to be a customer of theirs if if

[31:48] this works out and and they'll get the revenue from that. But, uh, just like to

[31:51] go to them and request to be a customer, request them to, uh, make an investment

[31:56] to bring those utilities from the interstate. I think they're around BusyB

[31:59] right now. So, if they could make the investment to bring those utilities to

[32:03] us at the site for that development. It won't just be the shelter. Obviously,

[32:06] there's going to be a master plan for that whole 400 acres. So down the road,

[32:10] there's going to be plenty of businesses out there and and but this will at least

[32:13] start the discussion with the city to to how we move forward.

[32:16] » Do you just need consensus or >> I think so. Just it just make me feel

[32:20] better if if I knew you guys were allowing me to go speak to the city on

[32:23] our behalf. >> I'm good with it.

[32:25] » Is that good enough, Mr. Morrison? >> Yep.

[32:27] » Everybody good? >> All right.

[32:30] Thank you for that. Um just a couple little reminders. Nothing nothing really

[32:34] to report. Um budget hearing this Thursday evening. Don't forget about

[32:38] that. I think it's 505. Um, obviously, and I know you guys will

[32:42] speak to it, but just um, county employee Dennis Nixon and his family

[32:46] were just had that funeral last week and just continue to lift that family up and

[32:50] over the next little bit of time here. Um,

[32:56] talk about the city also. There's been some some reach out a little bit and

[33:00] some some discussion offline about Helston Street. I think there, you know,

[33:04] we went through that about county roads and city roads and that sort of thing. I

[33:07] think it is a county road. They're talking about making an investment to

[33:11] repair the utilities underneath there. So, if they do do that, it was always my

[33:15] understanding. I'm not sure. I'm not speaking for you all, but I'd kind of

[33:18] heard over the years that the county would pave that if they ever fixed it.

[33:22] We weren't going to we would never pave it until the utilities were fixed and

[33:24] had to be torn up. So, I guess I just say that that the city may officially be

[33:29] reaching out at some point to see if we could plan on budget for and and and

[33:34] pave that road if they are to make all those repairs underneath the street.

[33:39] Don't need any action. Just want to mention that out there that there'll be

[33:43] some more conversations regarding that and and some official action at some

[33:46] point. So, >> and if there's a different

[33:49] understanding, let me know so that I can share that with the city. But that was

[33:52] always my kind of general understanding of the project.

[33:59] Did meet with Cat Camics staff yesterday was in town and um just had a brief

[34:03] conversation with them. Um she's up in DC getting ready to to get

[34:08] to work. So just asking again if if there's anything we need, anything we

[34:12] can do to let her know and and reach out. We'll be going back up there I

[34:16] think in November, December to DC. So we'll uh we'll see them up there then.

[34:23] That's really Oh, I was going to mention 250 County Road 250. They have started.

[34:28] I think they're doing some cings and and some stuff that they're not really

[34:32] milling up in what you'd see heavy equipment out there in construction, but

[34:35] they have started out there and they will be doing that. Uh I think he's been

[34:39] out of town. Anderson Columbia has been out of town for a little while on

[34:42] vacation or or out of the office. But tomorrow, I think we're supposed to get

[34:45] an update on an actual start date. We see some some equipment

[34:49] out there and moving things. So, and I think that's it. We We went to the

[34:55] co building. Sorry. The Jefferson Smith Civic Center. Apologize. Uh today had a

[35:00] had a walk through with the engineers and the contractor. Kind of a a

[35:03] pre-close out punch list. And um it's looking good. If y'all get a chance and

[35:07] you're through town, stop in there and and um and walk in. But I even think Mr.

[35:11] Norris is going to going to appreciate it and and be surprised by the by the

[35:16] quality of that building. >> That's all I had. Commissioner, unless

[35:20] y'all have any questions for me. >> Any questions?

[35:25] » I do not. >> Moving on. Uh, which end did we start on

[35:30] last time? Did you start, Mr. PL? I think we'll start Commissioner Land this

[35:34] tonight. >> Man, you caught me off guard.

[35:36] » Well, we can start with Commissioner. >> Go ahead.

[35:40] » I don't know what to say, but >> I don't either. That's why I'm kicking

[35:43] it to you. Well,

[35:47] » you can just do the mobly thing and say, "Thank you for coming."

[35:50] » Yeah. Thank y'all for coming. [laughter] Thank you for coming. But got to say

[35:55] this. It is so good to be here.

[36:01] Um I say congratulation to uh [clears throat] Mr. Blue.

[36:07] Congratulations to you for the primary. Um,

[36:12] I know that um that we

[36:17] [snorts]

[36:20] have, you know, we voice our opinions and and and uh you know, we have our

[36:24] thoughts, we have our our minds and our understanding.

[36:29] Uh but we've been have having a rash of death

[36:38] and it's kind of troubling. We can't change anything. We can't do anything

[36:42] about it. But um I lost some um classmates, man. Uh last Monday,

[36:51] JT Hinson. I was not able to attend his services

[36:55] but uh cuz one of my deacons at the church at my [clears throat] home church

[37:02] at the same time he's 52 years old heart attack massive heart attack

[37:08] it it it it scared you but it kind of prepared you

[37:13] and u my thought is that I want to tell my wife I either let me

[37:19] go to sleep first but I wouldn't know it or she she wouldn't know if anything

[37:24] happened to her. But we we we got to we have to continue praying.

[37:31] That's the only thing that that we have to keep us keep us in check. We're not

[37:37] perfect, but we have we have a God that's able

[37:42] to keep us in these times. And it's sad. It's so sad when a younger man than me

[37:50] that I actually looked up to because he was he meant so much to the community to

[37:55] our a home church and everything and uh uh Commissioner uh Lynn I know he have

[38:04] to face this with his business but it's hard to see loved ones crying and it

[38:12] make you uh give you cuz I've attended I think

[38:18] three services last week homegoing services and they weren't so pleasant.

[38:24] It was sad to see how people how they miss their loved ones.

[38:29] Uh I and I and I just tried to uh put myself in their shoes

[38:35] and I was sitting there and you tried to comfort these individuals and

[38:40] still don't make it easy. So, I I'm just going to get off of that,

[38:46] but it's tough and it's tough times and I know we got hard roads ahead of us and

[38:54] maybe I shouldn't have said it, but uh just just on my mind.

[39:01] » Well, thank you, sir. >> Mr. Hail, Commissioner Hail.

[39:05] » Yep. No, I just uh on the heels of that, a lot of loved ones, a lot of friends

[39:10] have passed in the recent days and weeks, and we just want to lift them up,

[39:14] lift their families up, and like you say, Mr. Fleman, continue to pray for

[39:17] them and be good to one another, be good to our neighbors. You know, it's been a

[39:22] while since I said that, but I think we take things for granted, take life for

[39:25] granted, and uh this is just a short period of time on this earth, folks.

[39:31] So, pray for those families, please. >> Amen.

[39:34] » Yeah. Commissioner Lyn.

[39:36] » Yes, sir. I'll disagree with the rest of them. You know, a lot of lot of loss in

[39:40] the community the last couple weeks. Mr. Fleming's Deacon, 52 years old, Mr. JT

[39:45] Henson, Mr. Avery Davis, Miss Batty Nixon, um Mr. Billy Jackson. I was

[39:51] really hoping County Road 250 would get asphalt so he could see it. I mean, Mr.

[39:55] Mr. Billy was 86, I think, born and raised in Swany County. I believe he

[40:01] lived on County Road 250 probably his whole life. if it was it was he was a

[40:05] small child if he if he wasn't living there but I was really hoping he'd have

[40:11] been here to see that asphalt because I promised him it was going to happen. Um

[40:15] so I'm glad to hear the the Anderson's about ready to roll. But uh anyway, just

[40:22] pray for those families as Commissioner Hail and Commissioner Flemings have been

[40:24] saying and a lot of loss and you know pray for your own families and I'm sure

[40:28] there's others. I always hate calling names up here because there's folks out

[40:31] there that are hurting and suffering that that I don't know or that don't

[40:35] know that they're hurting and suffering and or none of us do. So, just continue

[40:38] to pray for your neighbor. >> Thank you, sir. Commissioner Mley,

[40:42] » I really ain't got nothing. Y'all about said it all.

[40:45] » I'm the same. I just pray >> Cindy Cindy Romero too added that list.

[40:50] She passed away. >> Yeah.

[40:55] » All righty. Well, we just pray for all of them and everybody that's that's

[41:00] having issues and deaths in the family and sickness and uh I know it's a tough

[41:05] time, but I think I'm going to end on on a little good note. I'm excited about

[41:11] Swany County. I'm excited about what we got going on, you know, from Project

[41:16] Summit to well, just all the things. And also, I want to say thank you, Jean, to

[41:22] you and your crew. I actually got a phone call [clears throat] thanking me

[41:26] today for uh for the road y'all paved down in O'Brien Fletcher Road. And uh

[41:32] that's always nice to hear when you're a commissioner a lot of times is hey we

[41:36] appreciate that. So hats off to you guys. You did a good job on it. Looks

[41:40] nice. I appreciate it. Uh, but really excited about Swanny County and what we

[41:46] got going on and and uh I think I don't think everybody realizes kind of what's

[41:52] what's happening, but you will hear pretty soon and uh I think you're going

[41:57] to be excited as I am when you see it. So, with that, I just need a motion to

[42:02] adjurnn. So, move >> motion by Commissioner Lan. Second,

[42:05] » second by Commissioner Hail. >> 45 minutes

[42:08] » almost record, I think. A for

September 1, 2026 Suwannee County Board of County Commissioners Regular Meeting

Transcript