Minutes November 14, 2023 Page 1  MINUTES  The City of Blountstown, County ofCalhoun, State of] Florida, met in Regular Session' Tuesday, November 14, 2023, at 5:001 P.M. The following members oft the City Council present were: Mayor Tony Shoemake, Councilman Bill Gaskin, Councilwoman Mert Stephens, Councilman Jackson, and Councilwoman Sheila] Blackburn. Also present were: City Manager Traci Hall, City Attorney Jeffo Carter, Police Chief Mark Mallory, Public Works Director Phillip Griffin, Fire Chief Ben Hall, and Also present were: Titus Overholt, Chris Johnson, Kurt Battles, Carrie Baker, Colton Purvis, Chris Adkin, Patrica Simmons, Debbie Hammond, Csrarsisius Puling, and Mayor Tony Shoemake called the meeting to order at 5:01 P.M. Councilwoman Next Mayor Shoemake presented to the Council the Additions and Add-on Bills. Next was the approval of October 2, 2023 Final Budget Hearing, October2,2023 Special Meeting, and October 10, 2023) Regular Monthly Meeting. Councilwoman Stephens made ar motion to approve the minutes oft the October 2, 2023 Special Meeting, October 2, 2023 Final Budget Hearing, and October 10, 2023 Regular Monthly Meeting. The Monthly Bills were presented for action. Councilman Gaskin made ai motion toa approve the Monthly Bill and Add-ons. Councilman Jackson seconded the motion.  Council Secretary Joni Lambeth.  Cara Goodman.  Stephens led the Invocation. Mayor Shoemake led the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilman Gaskin made ai motion to adopt the. Agenda with the Add-ons. Councilwoman Stephens seconded the motion. Motion passed.  Councilman Gaskin seconded the motion. Motionj passed.  Motionj passed.  Next was Proclamations and Awards. There were no Proclamation and Awards.  The first item in Old) Busiress was Capital Solutions Report. Mrs. Hall stated] Mr. Patrick Belli is absent, buti ifthe Council has any questions, that she willt try to answer them or they may have tol leavel him ai message due to all the meetings. Next in Old Business was Engineer' s Report. Mr. Colton! Purvis stated the WWTF Effluent Reuse System nearing 90% plans and hope to be finalized after Thanksgiving. Hes stated therei is another environmental permit that willl have to be done fort the whole Next Mr. Purvis updated the Council about the Inflow and Infiltration Improvements. He stated the contractor. has completed the video ànd lined 3,385 linear feet oft thes sewer lines. Mr. Purvis stated theyl have reviewed some more oft the lines and made's sure there were no more defects. They located a few defects, but will be minimum to do, and they are going through the process to see whati is most feasible to carry on with  project andi not sure what the turnaround time willl be.  and the most efficiént with the money.    Minutes November 14, 2023 Page2  Councilwoman Blackburn asked ift thel lines were in better shape than what was thought? Mr. Purvis stated there are some, but there are other areas that are cracked and seepage coming in, buti iti is not where they have to dig down toi make repairs. Next Mr. Purvis updated the Council about the Beautification Grant. He stated Next Mr. Purvis discussed the FDEP Sand and Grit Grant. He spoke with the contractor with Hydro International andt they plan to begin work around January. Councilwoman Blackburn asked how much time do wel have on the Beautification Grant?] Mr. Halls stated April 30th andt then another extension willl be due. Nexti in Old] Business was Wheeler Emergency Services. Mr. Titus Overholt stated the M0077 HMGP Generator Project was not bid on when advertised the first time and then someone came in and bid twice the amount ont the 2nd, round. He is going to ask for additional funds. Mr. Overholt stated he will submit that Thursday or Friday. Mr. Overholt stated M115 Waste Water Treatment Plant environmental application has been completed and willl be submitted this week. Mr. Overholt stated the 4281 Project with the Police Department and the red barn, that they were going to use that as leverage toi find out about the time extensions. Mrs. Hall stated the 4281 Projecti is FEMA money for the PD: and the red barnt that is being moved over to City Hall. Mr. Overholt stated maybe they can send an email back to see if we can geta at time frame on the time extensions or maybe approve one that is not within acouple months ofi it going out. He stated hopefully he will come back next meeting with Next Mrs. Hall updated the Council about City Hall and reviewed the sequence of emails concerning FEMA extension. She stated FEMA in Atlanta had approved the first extension: request on City Hall 4281 Project, that extension request expired October 1st and the letteri is dated October 10th, so 9 days aftert the expiration date they approved it. She informed the Council how shel has made several attempts to contact FEMA staff with no replies, except an auto reply of being out of office. She stated the 2nd extension request Firsti in New) Business was Blountstown High School Jingle Bell Fun) Run. Ms. Cara Goodman, requested approval fort the. Jingle Belll Fun Run on behalf ofl Melissa O'Bryan Scholarship on December 2, at 4:30P.M prior tot the Annual Christmas Parade. Councilman Jackson made the motion to approve the. Jingle Bell Funl Run. Councilman Nexti inl New Business was St. Francis of Assisi - Our Lady of Guadalupe March Request. Father Csrarsisius Puling with St. Francis of Assisi is requesting approval for the Our Lady of Guadalupel March that will start att thel Mexican restaurant following the trail over to Charlie. John St. and down tos state road 20 at the new light and then back to the church on Gaskin St. It will be held on Sunday, December 10th at 1:00P.M. Councilman Gaskin made ai motion to approve St. Francis of Assisi Our Lady of Guadalupe March. Councilman Jackson seconded the motion. Motion passed.  they didi not receive any bids and are readvertising again.  information on the extensions.  has been submitted.  Gaskin seconded the motion. Motionj passed.    Minutes November 14, 2023 Page3  Nexti in New Business was Annual Black History Parade Request. Mr. Curt Battles requested approval for the Annual Black History Parade on Saturday, February 17h at 10:00 A.M. He stated line upi is at 9:00A A.M. andt the route willl be the same as prior years. Councilman Gaskin made the motion to approve the Black History Parade. Nexti inl New Business was City's Annuall Financial Audit. Mr. Chris Johnson with Grimsley & Associates presented the City's Annual Financial Audit for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022. He stated the City was within budget int the general funds, the other funds were within budget. He stated no finding, whichi isi rare. He stated the City met the threshold for single audit this year, which means youl have $750,000 or more inj Federal or State grant expenditures they identify andi review certain grants, which was thel Hurricane Michael Upgrade grant to renovate the new Police Department and there was noi finding on that. He stated everything looks tol bei in a good healthy financial Next in New] Business was the 2nda and Final reading of Ordinance 2023-10 Electric Rates Ordinance Amendment. Mr. Carter read Ordinancel by title only. Councilman Gaskin made the motion to approve the 2ndi reading of Ordinance 2023-10 regarding Electric rate increase. Councilwoman Stephens seconded the motion. Motion Nexti in New) Business was the 2nd and final Reading of Ordinance 2023-11 Gas Rate Mark Up Increase. Mr. Carter read Ordinance by title only. Councilman Gaskin made ai motion to approve the 2nd and final reading of Ordinance 2023-11. Councilman Nexti inl New Business was the 2nd andi final reading of Ordinance 2023-012 Garbage Rates Ordinance Amendment. Mr. Carter read Ordinance by title only. Councilman Gaskin made the motion to approve the 2nd and final reading ofOrdinance 2023-12. Councilman Jackson seconded the motion. Motion passed. Nexti in New Business was Wheeler Emergency Services Task Order Approval. Mrs. Hall reviewed the attached task orders for October, November, and December. The hours and amounts! listed are the maximums they believe they would work on the City's projects eachi month once FEMA approves our time extensions. Shei is requesting the Council to approve the task orders and authorize staff to execute them. Councilman Gaskin made ai motion to approve the task orders and authorize staff to execute them. Next in New Business was the Approval ofl Dewberry Continuing Services Contract Extension. Mrs. Hall stated thisi is the 3rd and final extension of our current engineering continuing services contraçt with) Dewberry. The extension period is from November 2023-1 November 2024. Mrs. Halli is requesting the Council to approve and authorize stafft to execute the 3rd and final extension of the Dewberry Contract. Councilman Gaskin: made ai motion to approve and authorize staff to execute the 3rd and  Councilman Jackson seconded the motion. Motion passed.  condition.  passed.  Jackson seconded the motion. Motion passed.  Councilwoman Stephens seconded the motion. Motion passed.    Minutes November 14, 2023 Page 4 Motion passed.  final extension oft the Dewberry Contract. Councilman. Jackson seconded the motion.  Nexti inl New Business was Fiscal Year 22/23 Budget Amendments. Mrs. Hall stated November of every year within 60 days of the end oft the fiscal year, ifthere are any unbudgeted items, shel has to1 make budget amendments for those. She reviewed the attachment of each fund that had al budget increase or decrease and what they were for. She stated general fund, water and sewer all saw al budget amendment and the overall increase is $603,356 to our overall budget. She's requesting the Council accept the budget amendments to our 2022/2023 budget. Councilman Gaskin made ai motion accept the budget amendments for fiscal year 2022/2023 budget. Councilman Jackson seconded Nexti in New Business was Approval to Advertise for Request for Proposals for Disaster Debris Removal, Disposal, Monitoring, and) Financial Recovery Services. Mrs. Hall stated after Hurricane Michael the City had a couple emergency contracts in place but! had to go out for RFP's for debris removal, disposal services, debris monitoring services, and disaster financial recovery services which contracts expire in January 2024. Mrs. Hall isi requesting permission from the Council to advertise for RFP's for these services again. She stated we do not pay unless we use them, buti itisa as safety net tol have on file. Councilwoman Stephens madet the motion to approve permission to advertise for RFP's for Disaster Debris Removal and Disposal Services, Disaster Debris Monitoring Services, and Disaster Financial Management Services. Councilman Gaskin seconded the  the motion. Motion passed.  motion. Motion passed.  Mayor Shoemake Opened Public Comments. Mayor Shoemake Closed Public Comments. Mayor Shoemake opened the meeting for City Staff Reports. Next City Attorney Jeff Carter had no comment.  Next Police ChiefMark Mallory stated he had no Police Department matters but will cover Codel Enforcement with Fire Chief Ben Hall. Chief! Mallory stated there are 5 boats on the Neese's property. Chief Hall stated none sea worthy. Chief Mallory stated thisi is listed property or title property, where therei is an owner tot that boat, so they can not destroy it or dispose ofit. He stated the vehicles were towed off. He stated that we can get the tow company and guarantee them to recoup their cost. Chief Mallory informed the Council of the choices and procedure tol havet the smaller boats and the larger boat removed from the property. After discussion, the Council decided tol have the four smaller boats removed for $500 each and ai minimum of $2,000 for the larger boat. Councilman Gaskin made ai motion to allow up to the amount of $5,0001 tol hire someone tor remove thosei items and file the legal papers to destroy them. Councilwoman Stephens Councilwoman: Blackburn askedi is there anything else on the land that has tol be disposed of? ChiefM Mallory stated water tanks. Chief Hall stated he will talk about that as  seconded the motion. Motion passed.  soon as he gets up there.    Minutes November 14, 2023 Page5  Next Fire Chief Ben Hall stated he spoke with) Mr.. Joe Wood about this and Mr. Woodl hads stopped where it was agreed ati financially. ChiefHall stated there are still some trailers, big white polly tank, and trees down. He stated if they are wanting this presentable and sellable, he is asking Mr. Wood for a quote toi makei it all ready to go. He stated Mr. Wood quoted it at $3,700 to finish cleaning it up. Councilwoman Blackburn stated the trailers are not titled, are they? Chief] Hall stated no. Councilman Gaskin made amotion toj proceed with arranging for Mr. Wood to do ai final clean up based on a quote for $3,7001 for the job. Councilwoman Stephens seconded the motion. Motion passed. Councilman Gaskin askedifMr. Wood hadt to wait for these boats to be moved Chief] Hall updated the Council about the Car wash. He stated owner has 10 days from today, then that timeline expires for complete and utter demolition. He stated raising thep property was the order from the hearing officer, and ifr not completed by then there willl be a $400,000 fine. Chief Hall stated the Council willl have tol look to see ifthey are wanting that property or not. The Council will discuss this further ini next meeting. ChiefHall updated the Council about issues with the buzzards opening dumpster lids and causing garbage to be strode everywhere. Chief Hall wanted to inform the Council oft this] problem and see what can be donei in the future toj prevent this. The ChiefHall updated the Council about the Catfish Crawl. He stated 177 participants and 153 ini the 5K. He stated they willl have enough to1 make as scholarship, Chief] Hall stated they were awarded al Forestry Title IV Grant again. Itis fora all new large amplifier hose and the grant is for about $36,000 witha al 100% reimbursement. Councilwoman Blackburn asked ift this would replace all ofit? ChiefHall stated we would not have an old stick ofl hose ont the firetruck when thisi is done. Chief Hall stated hei is requesting approval for this Titlel IV Grant for $36,000 pending the official award that should come end of November, first of] December and review by the City Attorney. Councilman Gaskin made the motion toj proceed with the Grant for replacement of the hoses when the grant come in. Councilman Jackson second the motion. Motionj passed Next] Public Works Director Mr. Phillip Griffin provided the Council with an update at Magnolia Square. He stated] David Simpson is doingt the cameras there andi is going to need a pole puti in and all they have arej power poles. Mr. Griffin asked the Council ift that was okay or do we want tol look at something else?. After discussion, Mr. Griffin will check into different choices, and come back to next meeting. Mr. Griffin discussed Mike Halley's parking lot, he has figured a way to get about 12/13 parking spots, but his concern ist the concrete that is there. He stated therei is 6to8 inches of concrete that needs tol be removed in order for them to makei ita aj parking lot. Councilwoman, Blackburn askedi ifthel Halley's are okay with us removing it?1 Mr. Griffin stated1 he would make sure. Mayor Shoemake askedi if we could use crossties instead of concrete bumpers? Mr. Griffin stated we may can, but he thinks the concrete would be  out oft the way? Chief Hall stated Mr. Wood can work around them.  Council will discuss morei ini next meetings.  thanks to good sponsorships.    Minutes November 14, 2023 Page 6  better.. After discussion the Council decided to remove the concrete ini the next 2-3 months. Mayor Shoemake state as long asl Mr. Halley agrees that iti is okay.  Next City Manager Mrs. Traci Hall stated shes spoke withl Mr. Frank Snowden and explained tol him what the City would) liket to do tot the corner lot by City Hall as well as Juniper Ave.) property. Mr. Snowden has surveyed both parcels or has access tol both surveys and oncel he pulls those surveys he will get with) Mr. Hall and see what options they have for leaving enough space for City Hall on the corner lot and splitting the lot on Mrs. Hall stated last month we: spoke about the Community Action issue ands she was glad to say that Community Action has done well trying to resolve that. She statedi it was originally about $20,000 ofr revoked payments. They went back and! had the applicants reapply, there are a few they are unable to get up with. There are a couple that have disconnected services and a couple that have already moved out oft town. Mrs. Hall hasi informed the Supervisor out ofTallahassee, thatt they willl be receiving al bill. She  Juniper Ave.  stated we are down to $4,100. must be completed by December 31st.  Mrs. Hall stated she wanted to remind everyone about there Ethics Training andi it Mrs. Hall informed the Council shei is working on the City Property list. There are Mrs. Hall reminded the Council of dates to remember. She stated the Christmas Parade is Saturday, December 2nd at 51 P.M. and line up will be behind the gym by 4:45  171 properties ands she will provide al list tot the Council once completed.  P.M.  Mayor Shoemake closed City Staff] Reports Mayor Shoemake opened for Council comments.  Next Councilwoman Stephens asked if they could take the Jepson property and make it where RV's can park and charge them? Councilwoman Blackburn asked what can we use that property for?1 Mrs. Hall asked who is going toi monitor, collect the money, who would be contacted ift there are problems, who is going to schedule all of that? She stated City Hall cannot take on something like that. Councilwoman Blackburn stated she just came from a town that had a city park with a marina, store, RV park, and the city owned all ofi it, but it generated enough revenue to do that. After discussion, the Council thought it was ag good idea andi may look further into this later down the road. with the correct street sign, it has. Juniper Street instead of Avenue.  Next Councilman Gaskin stated that Juniper Avenue sign needs to be replaced Councilman Gaskin asked if they had an active task with road department or anybody to go along and clean our street signs? Mrs. Hall stated yes, they did that last year actually or maybe the year before last. Councilman Gaskin stated he saw some signs that did not even reflect light any more or could not read. Mr. Griffin will work on Councilman Gaskin asked do we have utilities running along the north side of Highway 71 South from Gaskin Street down to the new Credit Union? Mr. Griffin stated  getting these cleaned up.    Minutes November 14,2023 Page7  gas, electric, and sewer, is on his side. Councilman Gaskin stated he was talking with the engineers working on the new hospital and they were talking about tearing up his yard duet to utilities. Mr. Griffin stated there is a sewer main coming from Altha that goes on  his side oft the road.  Councilman Gaskin stated that Morning Side Circle is looking al lot better.  Next Councilman Jackson) had no comments. Next Councilwoman Blackburn had no comments.  Next Mayor Shoemake stated they are tryingt tol look at bringing more: income into Blountstown through our utilities. He asked what would itt take tol bring other people onto thes sewer line, between Blountstown and Altha? Mayor Shoemake asked what it would taket to get people on1 tot the City sewer, and] havej potential customers on the sides streets. Mayor Shoemake stated he has been approached about Mobile homes again. He stated] Panama City dealt with theset the last two years and had an Ordinance where Panama City did not allow mobilel homes andt then] Florida Manufacture Housing Association said that they could not do that, that is discriminatory, plus it was against Florida Statue and said they would help them sit down and write an Ordinance. He stated he spoke with Mr. Carter andl he is going tol look intoi it and bringi it back tot the Council. Councilman Gaskin stated at the County Commissioner meetings there) havel been anumber of homes that were damaged and replaced withi mobile homes. He asked does the Council have any control of what the County does within the City limits? Councilwoman Blackburn statedt the Council does not have any say soi in what the County does (with the homes that were damaged and replaced with mobile homes due to Hurricane Michael) within the City limits. Councilman Gaskin stated there are a few more (trailers) that have not been taken care of, such as being a year old and are Therel being no further business Councilwoman Stephens made a motion to adjourn. Councilman Jackson seconded the motion. The motion passed. Mayor  After discussion, the Council willl looki into this more.  destroyed.  Shoemake adjourned the meeting at 6:26P.M.  BY( Cossigde Tony Shoeake, Mayor  ATTEST Asoci 82a00  Tracis. Hall, City Manager