Regular Meeting - August 19, 1977 Milton, Florida. The Board of County Commissioners of Santa Rosa County, Florida, met in regular session on the above date with the following members present: Chairman Lewis, Vice-Chairman Smith and members Butler, Godwin and Rollo. Attorney Johnson and the Deputy Clerk were also present. The meeting was called to order at 9:00 A.M. CDT by Chairman Lewis and opened with prayer by Rev. Paul S. Mixon. The audience joined the Board in the pledge of allegiance to the flag. After the reading of the minutes of the regular meeting of August 11, 1977, with no corrections or additions, the Chairman declared the minutes approved as read. Next on the agenda was Mr. Lee with the Department of Transportation to discuss the implementation of the requirements of Section 13, Laws of Florida 77-165 as amended, which directs itself to the administration of the Second Gas Tax Surplus. Mr. Lee noted that the Department of Transportation couldnt continue with the secondary priority list unless the County adopts a resolution setting out the roads to be completed, and no projects can be started that cannot be completed prior to July 1, 1980. Any project with an estimated cost of $50,000 or 5% of the total cost of projects for the year, must be let to contract. The County is not required to employ an engineer, but an engineer registered in the state of Florida must sign construction plans. This could be handled on retainer or piecework if the County so desires. The Department of Transportation will be submitting right of way maps and the county will be holding public hearings; but that will be the extent of the Department of Transportations participation after complete take-over by the county. Roads on the county system that are to be reclassified as county roads will be brought up to standard before they are reclassified if it is determined it is needed; however, if the State and County disagrees on the condition of any road, the Board can ask for a public hearing. After a general discussion, Butler moved approval of a resolution requesting the Department of Transportation to construct the Ditch in Pace and the Overpass in Gulf Breeze. Smith seconded the motion and it carried by unanimous vote. Mr. Lee advised that the contract would be let for 87-A from State Road 4 to the county line in October 1977. The extension of SR 89 from US 90 to Bagdad was brought up for discussion and Mr. Lee said the State could do the project; however, there is some question as to the definition of project. It is not clear if this would cover the entire project from the design and survey to completion of construction, or if it could be done in phases and each phase could be classified as a project. After some discussion, Butler moved approval for a resolution requesting the Department of Transportation to move as soon as possible on this project and also SR 191 from Milton to Bagdad and complete whatever portion is possible under the law. Godwin seconded the motion and it carried by unanimous vote. Will Robinson presented for approval of the Board a Contract for the Pace Recreation project. The state appropriation was in the amount of $43,500. Butler moved approval, which was seconded by Smith and carried by unanimous vote. Will recommended that he be appointed liaison officer to deal with the recreation matters between the Board and the State. Rollo moved approval, which was seconded by Smith and carried by unanimous vote. Will advised that the Rehab Program is moving along and requested approval for the Willie Mae Simmons house at Bagdad. He said they had inspected the residence and determined that it would qualify for repairs over and above the $5,000.allowed to be spent on any one home. However, he said he had worked out an agreement with the City for a house to be moved into the County that can be renovated for the $5,000 limit. Butler moved approval, which was seconded by Smith and carried by unanimous vote. Will said he is continuing to work with Barrett, Daffin 4 Figg on the Industrial Park project and the application for the Council on Aging grant. Butler brought up and discussed briefly the proposed recreation park to be constructed on the 20 acres just off Bagdad Highway and moved Will be appointed as liaison officer between the Board and the Saddle Club to secure a grant for the development. Smith seconded the motion and it carried by unanimous vote. Godwin requested that Will look into the possibility of funding to develop the park at Santa Villa and Butler requested that he look into the possibility of funding for development of a park at the end of the Glen Gibson Road. The Board also requested that Will check on the status of the OEDP report. Will requested approval of his expense to attend the Florida Housing Association meeting in Tampa on August 24 -26.Butler moved approval, which was seconded by Smith and carried by unanimous vote. Attorney Johnson advised that he is working with Frank Fabre of Baskerville Donovan with regard to the sewer system at Pace. Mr. Joe Black with the Social Security Administration called to the attention of the Board the increased workload and crowded condition of the basement area provided for the social security representatives and requested a larger and more accessible space be provided. Butler moved the social security representatives be authorized to use the County Commissioners room each Tuesday from 9:00 A.M. to 12:00 p.m., which was seconded by Godwin and carried by unanimous vote. David McDonald, Supervisor of Elections, called to the attention of the Board the new election code requires the County to have one voting machine for every 400 voters. At the present time we have nearly 24,000 voters and 60 voting machines, which just meets the requirements of law. However, with the voter registration increasing rapidly, he felt additional machines would be needed before the 1978 election, and recommended the County consider purchasing ten additional machines. He also called to the attention of the Board some used machines that have been reconditioned and carry a five-year new machine warranty. These machines are available for $850 each as compared to $3,000 each for new machines. Mr. McDonald also recommended the County purchase 8 folding tables and 30 folding chairs for the poll workers. The Board agreed to consider the request in the 1977/78 fiscal year budgets. Smith moved approval for installation of the following culverts, which was seconded by Butler and carried by unanimous vote: Mr. Smith A.L. Johnson Road (R 12 David Artist Rodella Street (R) 12 R.W. Hudson Woodbine Road (R) 24 Oliver Simmons Ventura Blvd (R) 15 D.J. Pimentel Hwy 98 Midway (R) 30 W.F. Flanders Hamilton Road (R) 12 W.D. Ward Rolling Acres (R) 15 In answer to the Boards request for the widening of the John Pittman bridge the Department of Transportation advised that the 1975 session of the legislature enacted a bill creating Section 335.18FS which provides among other things that 11(5) The cost of construction or alteration of a connection shall be borne by the permitted. Therefore, according to Directive Number 571-158 dated 8-11-75, All driveway construction on the state maintained system shall be performed by and at the expense of the permitted. In accordance with this statute the Department of Transportation cannot perform the requested work. Lewis entertained a motion that the County makes application for a permit to construct the bridge. Smith made the motion, which was seconded by Godwin and carried by unanimous vote. The Department of Transportation also advised that the construction of the additional lane on the south side of SR 184-A from Vanity Fair Mills to Glover Lane has been referred to the Traffic Operations Engineer and a recommendation will be made as soon as the study is completed. The construction will be handled either with Department of Transportation forces or through a mini contract. Butler moved approval of the following refund, which was seconded by Rollo and carried by unanimous vote. Rufus Hayes Double assessment $65.03 A letter from Dr. Noojin Walker, Vice President of Academic Affairs at Pensacola Junior College informed the Board that incorrect information was circulated regarding the Six Oclock Report. The intent was not to cancel it, but to redirect its focus back to local issues. Mr. Wm S. Rosasco expressed concern over the existing erosion on property, which joins his property on the north, being the northwest 1/4 of the southwest 1/4 of Section 33, Township 2 North, Range 28 West. The problem is brought about by work being done by Dr. Dayton Hobbs on property he owns adjacent to Mr. Rosascos property. Mr. Rosasco emphasized that he was not opposed to the development; he was only concerned about any subsequent damage that may result from surface water runoff. After some discussion the matter was referred to Mr. Stanhope for investigation and recommendation. Butler moved approval of the grant application for the Council on Aging for the 1977/78 fiscal years, which was seconded by Godwin and carried by unanimous vote. The grant is in the amount of $5,828 requiring a cash match of the same amount. Smith noted some of the equipment for the Road and Bridge Department is ready for delivery and requested the Company be notified the equipment is not to be delivered until next Thursday afternoon, August 25, in order for representatives of the other equipment companies to be present for the inspection and that Mr. Kelly be notified he is not to accept the equipment. Rollo moved approval of the following right-of-way deed, for recording purposes only, which was seconded by Butler and carried by unanimous vote: FROM: JAMES R. WELLS & GWENDOLYN ANNETTE WELLS RECORDED IN OR BOOK 411 PAGES 70 and 71 It was called to the attention of the Board that a Consent Order had been received from the Department of Environmental Regulations extending the date for closure of the landfill sites. The Personnel Committee recommended, and Rollo moved approval, of the following promotions to fill the vacant positions in the various departments: Steven M. Campbell to dozer operator in Mosquito Control Avid Whitfield to truck driver position in district 2 Lewis Burkett to truck driver position in district 4 See page 13 Larry Elliott to be employed to fill a dozer position in Mosquito Control. The position left vacant by the transfer of Terry Stevens is a CETA position and will be filled through the regular channels. Butler seconded the motion and it carried by unanimous vote. Rollo called to the attention of the Board that Mr. Pullem has requested the completion of the clean up of the old bridge at Navarre. LeFore Marine Industries, Inc. had agreed to remove the materials and clean up the area in exchange for whatever of the material they could salvage. However, they removed the steel and left the concrete. They have since gone bankrupt and cannot be located. After some discussion it was decided the County would move the broken concrete to be used in various locations over the County where we have erosion problems. Rollo said Mr. Pullem had moved his loader across highway 98 to this location and had done some cleaning and requested the County to move the loader back across the highway with County equipment. After some discussion Butler moved approval with the understanding law enforcement personnel would be available to direct the move. Rollo seconded the motion and it carried by unanimous vote. Rollo moved approval for a Resolution to the Department of Transportation requesting an acceleration-deceleration lane on Highway 98 at Bal Alex Estates Subdivision. Butler seconded the motion and it carried by unanimous vote. The Board had reviewed the gun ordinance and the garbage control ordinance and they were brought up for disposition. It was recommended, and Smith moved approval, for the investigation necessary for the issuance of the gun permits to be carried out by the Sheriffs Office and both ordinances be advertised for adoption. Godwin seconded the motion and it carried by unanimous vote. Rollo moved approval of the subdivision plat of McLANE ESTATES, for recording purposes only, which was seconded by Butler and carried by unanimous vote: Subdivision of a portion of Section 7, T2S, R 29W, Santa Rosa County, Florida, being a Te-subdivision of lots 18 and 19 of Town Point Estates, as recorded in Plat book All page 77. Butler moved Gail Thames be appointed to the Mental Health Board to replace Laura Cooley who has resigned. Rollo seconded the motion and it carried by unanimous vote. The increase in sewer rates for Santa Villa Subdivision was called to the attention of the Board. It was noted that the rates have increased from $3.00 to $12.75 within the last two years, and there is another $4.00 increase proposed. After some discussion Butler moved approval of a letter to the Public Service Commission in opposition to the rate increase, which was seconded by Rollo and carried by unanimous vote. Butler moved approval of the following donations from the Welfare Fund, Direct Relief, which was seconded by Godwin and carried by unanimous vote. 1. Jimmy Myers $25. 2. Audrey Austin $25.. 3. J.D. Lewis $25. 4. Billy Horn $25. Attorney Johnson submitted his resignation as Attorney to the Board of County Commissioners. Mr. Johnson said he intended to restrict severely his practice and to retire completely by December 31, 1977. However, he said he would be available for retainer consultation and to attend the meetings until December 31 but the Board should designate another Attorney to handle all matters not included in the retainer legal representation. Godwin moved the resignation be accepted and Attorney T. Sol Johnson be employed as Attorney to the Board. Rollo seconded the motion. Smith amended the motion to employ Allen Lindsay, Jr. as Attorney to the Board, which was seconded by Butler. The amendment failed with Smith and Butler in favor and Godwin, Rollo and Lewis opposed. The original motion carried by unanimous vote. Smith brought up and commented on the jail condition with his remarks being directed to the comments and recommendations made by Mr. Sands at the last meeting of the Board. Smith had before him reports made by the Division of Corrections Inspectors after various inspections of the jail and facilities. The reports went back to October 1970 in which Mr. R.B. Gramling said this continues to be a clean, well cared for jail, with 12 out of 23 items marked very good and 8 marked good, only one was marked bad and it was the lighting. In December 1970, the jail continued to be very clean and the Board had purchased Adams Security Lighting Fixtures and two of them had been installed. In May 1972 the jail was clean, the food was adequate and the jail equipment was in working order except for one broken toilet in one of the north cellblocks the lighting; was still inadequate. In March 1974 the jail continued to be a clean and well-operated jail. The plumbing had been recently repaired. The Creech cells in the jail had been removed and the space was being used as office space. A complaint regarding the female cellblock was investigated and found to be unfounded. April 1975, which was the last report filed, the jail continued to be a well-operated jail. A complaint regarding medical attention was investigated and found to be unfounded. 46 state prisoners were being held awaiting entry at the reception center. Smith commented that apparently the jail has gone from a clean well-operated jail to a broken down dilapidated one within the last five years. However, the only continuous problem listed in the reports was the lighting system. Smith called to the attention of the Board the existing problem with water in the Holley-Navarre area. He said representatives of the Northwest Florida Water Management District had made tests, using a chemical field kit and found very high nitrate levels. The Department of Environmental Regulations refused to do anything stating the Department has neither the authority nor the responsibility. The Health Department did a biological test on the wells and found the water safe for drinking, and said he saw no problem or threat of disease due to the high nitrate level. Neither Mr. Huff nor Dr. Anderson felt the results of the field analysis were accurate. Smith said the Pioneer Testing Lab in Pensacola will conduct a chemical test on the wells for approximately $40 per well and moved the Health Department be requested to proceed to have these tests made on three of the wells with the highest level of Nitrogen and the results be sent to the Board of County Commissioners. Butler seconded the motion and it carried by unanimous vote. Terry Stephens was promoted to truck driver position in District # 5 but was omitted from the list on page 12. It was called to the attention of the Board that Mr. Suther has been elected to travel to Japan in September for a week to promote Santa Rosa County. The total cost of the trip is approximately $3,000 and the Board was requested to contribute $700 of that amount. After some discussion, and the question being raised as to the legality, Godwin moved approval if it is legal, which was seconded by Butler and carried by unanimous vote. There being no further business to come before the Board at this time th
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