Microsoft Word - 101811REG.docREGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD, OCTOBER
18, 2011
1. The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. in the Board of
County Commission
Chambers at 600 S. Commerce Ave., Sebring, Florida, with the
following members present:
Commissioner Barbara Stewart Commissioner R. Greg Harris
Commissioner Jack L. Richie Commissioner Don Elwell
Also present: Ricky Helms, J. Ross Macbeth, Robert W. Germaine, and
Pamela Nava. 2. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance The meeting
opened with a prayer by Commissioner Stewart. The Pledge of
Allegiance was led by Commissioner Richie. 3. ANNOUNCEMENTS
Oct 18 300 pm Highlands Soil & Water Conservation District Rm.
3, Bert J. Harris, Jr. Agricultural Center, 4509 George Blvd.,
Sebring, FL
Oct 19 9:00 am Children’s Services Council of Highlands County 1968
Sebring Parkway, Sebring, FL Oct 19 12:00 pm Highlands County
Health Facilities Authority City Council Chambers, City of
Sebring,
368 S. Commerce Ave., Sebring, FL Oct 20 10:30 am Keep Highlands
County Beautiful, Inc. Board of
Directors Wauchula State Bank, 1385 US 27 S., Sebring, FL
Oct 20 2:00 pm Recreation & Parks Advisory Committee 216
Sheriff’s Tower Road, Sebring, FL Oct 24 1:15 pm Special Meeting of
the Highlands County Hospital
District Board Highlands Regional Medical Center Cafeteria, 3600 S.
Highlands Ave., Sebring, FL
Oct 27 4:00 pm Southwest Florida Water Management’s meeting
concerning the proposed Flood Plain Maps
Sam Polston Auditorium, Bert J. Harris, Jr. Agricultural Center,
4509 George Blvd., Sebring, FL
A. Other meetings:
Ricky Helms, County Administrator, announced that there are only 66
shopping days left until Christmas.
The Sebring Airport Authority will meet on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. at
the Sebring Airport.
The Public Health Performance Standards meeting will be held at the
Ag Center on
Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
The Heartland Workforce Board will meet on Wednesday, October 19,
2011, at 1:30 p.m. at the Heartland Workforce building on US
27.
The Highlands County Economic Development Commission has a special
meeting
tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. at the EDC Building on US 27. 4.
CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS – ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Gary Ritter, South Florida Water Management District – Okeechobee
Services Center, commented on the water levels of the Kissimmee
River and stated that the Lake Istokpoga boat ramp park is closed.
Mr. Ritter also stated that Arbuckle Creek will be flowing heavier
with the rainfall this week.
BOOK 22 PAGE 42
101811REG
5. RECOGNITIONS, PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS: Commissioner
Stewart reminded everyone of the importance of having their
mammograms done. 6. CONSENT AGENDA: Public input was received from
John Drennan concerning item 6C. The Commission addressed his
concerns. Commissioner Richie made a motion and Commissioner Elwell
seconded the motion, to move to approve the consent agenda as
submitted. Upon roll call, all Commissioners voted aye. The motion
carried.
A. Request approval to pay all duly authorized bills and employee
benefits October 18, 2011. See Check Report 2011 file.
GENERAL FUND 226,119.05 COUNTY TRANSPORT TRUST 28,227.87 LOCAL GOVT
INFRA SURTAX 66,916.00 TOURIST DEV TRUST FUND 18.90 HOME
INITIATIVES PARTNER 50,000.00 SEBRING PARKWAY MAINT 2,193.13 STATE
COURT FACILITIES TF 2,394.96 BUILDING FUND 1,718.04 SOLID WASTE
14,093.34 PLACID UTILITIES 9,976.07 HIGHWAY PARK UTILITY 2,603.71
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT FUND 7.56
B. Request approval of the minutes of the Board of County
Commissioners and
Special Benefits District meeting for October 4, 2011. See Clerk of
Courts website.
C. Request approval of an Interlocal Agreement with the City of
Avon Park for the restoration of a concrete wall at Head Field. See
City of Avon Park file.
D. Request approval of a Tower Removal Agreement between Skyway
Towers,
Jahna Concrete and Highlands County Board of County Commissioners.
See Tower Removal Agreement file.
E. Request approval of Resolution and Budget Amendment #10-11-188
for the
Homeland Security Grant Closure with a fiscal impact of $9,488.00.
See Budget Amendment 2011 file, Res. Book 24 Page 103 & SMB 88
Page 56.
7. PUBLIC HEARING: Public Hearing to consider the adoption of a
zoning change for
the Florida Army National Guard, P&Z 1994. Susan Buchans,
Planning Supervisor, and Linda Conrad, Zoning Supervisor, presented
the request. Ms. Buchans read the caption of the Resolution into
the record. A Proof of Publication was submitted to the Clerk to
become part of the permanent record. Lara Diettrich, representing
the Florida Army National Guard, addressed their request. Public
input was received from Dale Wilson.
BOOK 22 PAGE 43
pnava
SMB 88 Page 56.pdf
Commissioner Elwell made a motion and Commissioner Richie seconded
the motion, to move to approve and adopt by Resolution P&Z
1994, amending the Zoning Atlas for approximately 19.07 from
Industrial (I-1) to Public and Quasi-Public Lands (P), referencing
the mandatory findings of fact and becoming effective as provided
by law. Upon roll call, all Commissioners voted aye. The motion
carried. See Comprehensive Plan Amendment 2011 file & Res. Book
24 Page 104 . 8. ACTION: Ricky Helms, County Administrator, stated
the Sheriff’s Office requested to pull item 8A from the agenda to
be brought back at a later date. Commissioner Elwell made a motion
and Commissioner Richie seconded the motion, to move to set the
action agenda as amended, removing item 8A, but leaving the letter.
Upon roll call, all Commissioners voted aye. The motion
carried.
A. Sheriff Benton: Request approval of Budget Amendment 11-12-008
to roll forward 2009 Bullet Proof Vests and Proceeds Housing
Inmates Projects. (This item was pulled from the agenda). See SMB
88 Page 57.
B. Supervisor of Elections: Request approval of Elections Project
10061 for the
Federal Elections Activities Grant and Resolution & Budget
Amendment 10- 11-189.
Tim Mechling, Budget Manager, presented the request. Commissioner
Harris made a motion and Commissioner Richie seconded the motion,
to move to approve Resolution and Budget Amendment 10-11-189. Upon
roll call, all Commissioners voted aye. The motion carried. See
Budget Amendment 2011 file, Res. Book 24 Page 105 & SMB 88 Page
58.
C. County Engineer and Florida Department of Transportation
representatives: Request for endorsement of the Florida Department
of Transportation (FDOT) District 1, Tentative Five Year Work
Program for fiscal years 2013 through 2017.
Ramon Gavarrete, County Engineer, introduced Lori Carlton and Susan
King, with the Florida Department of Transportation. Ms. Carlson
presented the Tentative Five Year Work Program for fiscal years
2013 through 2017. Public input was received from Jerry Kingsbury
and Dick Noel. Commissioner Harris made a motion and Commissioner
Richie seconded the motion, to move to endorse the Florida
Department of Transportation (FDOT) District 1, Tentative Five Year
Work Program for fiscal years 2013 through 2017. Upon roll call,
all Commissioners voted aye. The motion carried. See FDOT
file.
BOOK 22 PAGE 44
pnava
pnava
SMB 88 Page 58.pdf
D. County Engineer: Request for consideration of the proposed
Request for Proposal (RFP) 12-016 Recyclables Transfer &
Processing Services and Provision of Recycling Carts.
Ramon Gavarrete, County Engineer, presented the request. Bob
Diefendorf and Jessica Prescott, both with the Engineering
Department, were also present. Mr. Gavarrete addressed the changes
made to the RFP. The Commission discussed the request in great
detail. Gerald Secory, Administrative Services Director, addressed
some concerns pertaining to the Local Preference section of the
RFP. Commissioner Elwell, Commissioner Harris, and Commissioner
Richie concurred to leave the Local Preference in the RFP. Public
input was received from Gene Reese, John Drennan, Billie Hetherton,
and Sandy Adams. Commissioner Harris made a motion and Commissioner
Elwell seconded the motion, to move to approve the final draft of
the proposed Request for Proposal (RFP) 12-016 Recyclables Transfer
& Processing Services and Provision of Recycling Carts as
amended and instruct staff to move forward with advertising in
accordance with the Highlands County Purchasing Manual and to
authorized the County Administrator to approve amendments as needed
after legal review. Upon roll call, all Commissioners voted aye.
The motion carried. See SMB 88 Page 59. BREAK: 10:59 a.m. to 11:11
a.m.
E. Board Attorney: No report. F. County Administrator:
Ricky Helms, County Administrator, stated that the Capital
Financial Strategy will be heard by the Board next Tuesday and
distributed a draft copy to the Commission. See SMB 88 Page 60. Mr.
Helms also stated that the request received from Mr. Colby to put
several items of interest on the agenda concerning the landfill is
currently not ready and may not make it on next week’s agenda. 9.
WORKSHOP:
A. Administrative Project Manager: Workshop regarding Mobile Food
Service Operations.
Chris Benson, Administrative Project Manager, presented the
request. Linda Conrad, Zoning Supervisor, and Tom Higginbotham,
Environmental Director, representing the Health Department, were
present for discussion. James Martin, President of the Florida
Hotdog and Concession Vendors, addressed his request. Commissioner
Stewart questioned if it was a consensus of the Commission to have
staff meet with the municipalities. The Commission concurred.
Public input was received from Sandy Adams, Joe Campbell, and
Charles Butcher. Commissioner Stewart questioned if it was the
consensus of the Commission to direct staff, under the County
Administrator’s direction, to continue working on this request. The
Commission stated yes. See SMB 88 Page 61.
BOOK 22 PAGE 45
B. Development Services Director, County Engineer and Parks &
Natural Resources Director: Workshop regarding changes to Chapter
163 Florida Statutes, the Community Planning Act.
Mark Hill, Development Services Director, Vicki Pontius, Parks
& Natural Resources Director, and Ramon Gavarrete, County
Engineer, presented the request. Mr. Hill read into the record the
School Board of Highlands County’s position on concurrency. Public
input was received from Billie Hetherton. The Commission concurred
to maintain the existing concurrency requirements, but over the
next 6 months, review these concurrency requirements for areas of
improvement. See SMB 88 Page 62. 10. CITIZENS NOT ON THE
AGENDA
John Skipper, Carol Skipper, Donald Skipper, and Harold Young, all
came to speak in relation to the “mud bog” track event held by a
neighbor on Saddle Ridge and addressed their concerns because this
track neighbors their property and requested that the Commission
look into this issue. Gary Ritter, with the South Florida Water
Management District, stated for the record that the District has
not given their approval to hold these events on Saddle Ridge and
spoke as to the permit conditions for that property. Mr. Ritter
stated that by the end of the week, the District is issuing a
Notice of Investigation to get an explanation reflecting their
intentions with the property or to come into compliance with the
permit that they originally applied for. Mark Hill, Development
Services Director, spoke as to the land development regulations.
The Commission addressed their concerns whether to issue a
moratorium until staff has a chance to take a look at this issue.
Ross Macbeth, Board Attorney, addressed the issue.
After discussion, Commissioner Stewart gave a suggested motion to
task staff with
pursuing the research and development of additional standards
regarding this type of use and also to prepare an item regarding
the moratorium for next week.
Commissioner Elwell moved and Commissioner Richie seconded the
motion. Upon roll
call, all Commissioners voted aye. The motion carried. 11.
COMMISSIONERS:
Commissioner Richie: No report.
Commissioner Elwell: Commissioner Elwell requested a brief update
on the meeting held to address the Sheriff’s space needs. Ricky
Helms, County Administrator, addressed his request.
Commissioner Harris: Commissioner Harris addressed the false
perception that one
district is not being represented with the absence of one
Commissioner and stated that the Commission represents the entire
County, and if anyone has any issues to please contact any of the
Commissioners.
Commissioner Stewart: Commissioner Stewart commented on the 4-H
event that she
attended last week and on the new Nu-Hope store that recently
opened in the County. 12. ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at 1:10
p.m.
BOOK 22 PAGE 46