Workshop Discussion with finance for Animal Control expenditures and for the School Board invoice. Commission Board Room Dixie County Courthouse 214 NE Hwy 351, Cross City, FL 32628 November 15, 2024 - 5:00 PM The Board meetings are audio recorded. The public CAR hear and participate in the meeting yia conference call by dialing 1(917900-1022 and enter code. 32628. COMMISSIONERS Jody Stephenson, District 1, Vice Chairman Daniel Wood, District 2 Mark Hatch, District 3 Jamie Storey, District 4, Chairman David Osteen, District 5 STAFE John. Jenkins, County Manager Chana Watson, County Attorney Barbie Higginbotham, Clerk of Court Verna Wilson, ChiefDeputy Clerk Brenda Royal, ChiefFinançial Officer Victoria Darkow, Deputy Clerk CALLTOORDER The Board MeetingWorkshop was called to order at 5:001 PM by Commissioner Storey. Thel Invocation was led by Commissioner Hatch andi thel Pledge toi the American Flag was. led by INVOCATION AND: PLEDGE' TOTHE AMERICANELAG Commissioner: Hatch. SHERIFE DARBY BUTLER Sheriffl Darby Butler readdressed the animal control position that was previously discussed at the last Board ofCounty Commissioners: meeting. He gave a breakdown ofa all the costs which included: Operating expense: for veterinary services- $8,000. Equipment & uniforms $2,000. He stated that the total increase is $57,366.80 without insurance. Training - $1,350. Fuel-$2,500. Workshop discussion with Finance Minutes- - November 15, 2024 - 6:001 PM - Page 1 of4 Chief] Financial Officer Brenda Royal stated that insurance was around $11,000. Sheriff Butler stated that when he came into office, he took the secondary animal control position out and Attorney Chana Watson asked ifa adding another officer would mean an additional veterinary cost. Sheriff Butler stated that yes, that their max capacity for the kennel is 20 dogs, and that it will have to Hes stated that they give as many animals as they can to thel Humane Society, but that normally in a rural Commissioner Osteen stated that hel had spoken to. Mrs. Barbie Higginbotham and the Finance Department and that they doi not have thei money in the budget to add another officer. County Manager, John. Jenkins stated that he found somei monies from the twoj park attendants that the County is not utilizing and some money from thel Freeman Track House that the County gavel back to Mr. Jenkins stated that he came up with 18,260 dollars between the Horseshoe and Shired park employees used the money for a drug interdiction unit. increase. : County, in his opinion, the dogs are aggressive and unadoptable. Florida Fish and Wildlife after maintenance. and Freeman track He said there are four (4) positions that aren't filled at the road department. Mrs. Royal stated that there are three (3) positions, that they changed at the last minute. Attorney Watson stated that the positions at Horseshoe! Beach: and Shired Island are: already filled, and the Mrs. Royal stated that they had been paying those employees for over a year sincel Idalia hit. She presented a packet to the Board on monthly cost toi run every department. Commissioner Stephenson requested a breakdown of all the taxes that were lost from the coastal Commissioner Storey stâted that the County isn'tcollecting all ofthel RV Special Exception taxes. He recommended. putting the Speçial Exception /RV permit annual fees on the individual's tax bill. Sheriff Butler stated that ifthe County can'ti find the funding, that he can't manage the animal control division, and that it does not fall under his duties as a sheriff. Hes stated that he would have to relinquish He stated that thèrei is $43,740 from the 2022-2023 and 2024 budget from a close out on audits and that it Commissioner Stephenson recommended using thel line of credit and Mrs. Royal stated that the line of Sheriff Butler stated that the County willl be looking for $43,000 next budget year to support the animal Board has to address that issue. communities because of the hurricanes. control back to thel Board ofCounty Commissioners. Sheriff1 Butler stated that the animal control budget is $68,031.35. ist not reoccurring. credit was closed out months ago. control position. Workshop discussion with Finance Minutes- - November 15, 2024 - 6:00 PM - Page 2 of4 Mrs. Higginbotham asked about thet two (2) employees that have received a check for over a year and how to go about stopping it. Thel Board discussed about not paying those employees until the parks got rebuilt. Mrs. Royal stated that she gave the Board ai recap of2 2024 and that the ending balance was supposed to be around $200,000 for cash carry forward and that the County ended up only having $17,000 cash carry Mrs. Royal stated that ify you do take money from the Solid Waste Department from the two available SheriffButler stated that he does not agree with cutting positions or downsizing and that it's not good for forward. positions, the County wouldn't be able to hire anybody else for Solid Waste. Hes stated that he would: rather look at money that's already on the table. the County. Commissioner Storey stated that they will review everything at the Board: meeting on' Tuesday November 19th and have everything ready for the Sheriff to add on another animal control position. SCHOOL BOARD INVOICE she needs to! look ati it first. will review it for thet next meeting. Attorney Watson stated that Mr. Jenkins found a fund and that the County may be able to use it, but that She stated that iti is a one-time grant called Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund and that she Commissioner Storey stated that he sat down with Mrs, Ganus: with al FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) representative who stated that FEMA is working on getting more money back for He: stated that he would check back with Mrs, Ganus to see if they had to pay the whole School Board He stated that thel FEMA representative asked for thel burn permit and that she has to have the number. Commissioner Stephensons stated that het talked to. Dwight about purchasing a woodchipper, and that they the County. invoice back at one time, or ifthey could bréak it down between storms. would not have to burn it, they could chipi it and movei it, PUBLIC COMMENTS AND CONCERNS There were none. ADJOURN approved. Commissioner. Hatch made the motion to adjourn at 5:48. Commissioner Stephenson seconded. Board Workshop discussion with) Finance Minutes- - November 15, 2024- - 6:00 PM - Page 3 of4 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DIXIE COUNTY, FLORIDA A ledy-Stephensen, Chairman Maric Hatch, Vice Chairman COUNTY, a.s-Nipsdkn Barbie Higginbotham, rerk-Auditor PLEASE BE ADVISED that ifay person decides to appeal any decision made by the Board with respect to any matter considered at such meeting or hearings, he/she will need a record oft the proceedings, and for such purpose, he/ she will need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the "Persons with disabilities requesting reasonable accommodations to participate in this proceeding should contact The Board meets thej first Thursday ofe each month at 10:00AM and the third Thursday ofeach month at 6:00 PM. Individuals that would like to be placed on the agenda should call Barbie Higginbotham, Clerk of Court, by testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. (352) 486-4931 (Voice & TDD) or via Florida Relay Service at (800) 955-8771." 4:00 PM on the Friday Preceding the Board meeting, at (352) 498-1200. Workshop discussion with Finance Minutes- - November 15, 2024 - 6:001 PM - Page 4 of4