Microsoft Word - 032712REG.docREGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD, MARCH 27, 2012 1. The meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m. in the Board of County Commission
Chambers at 600 S. Commerce Ave., Sebring, Florida, with the following members present:
Commissioner Jack L. Richie Commissioner Don Elwell Commissioner Barbara Stewart Commissioner R. Greg Harris Commissioner Ron Handley
Also present: Ricky Helms, County Administrator; June Fisher, Assistant County Administrator; J. Ross Macbeth, Board Attorney; Robert W. Germaine, Clerk of Courts; and Pamela Nava, Deputy Clerk. 2. Invocation The meeting opened with a prayer by Ross Macbeth, Board Attorney. 3. Pledge of Allegiance The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mr. Rick Ingler. 4. ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mar 28 11:30 am Heartland Rural Health Network, Inc. Board of Directors
Central Florida Health Care, Inc., 950 Chairman Richie 17 A West, Avon Park, FL
Mar 28 4:00 pm Natural Resources Advisory Commission
Room #3, Bert J. Harris, Jr. Agricultural Center, 4509 George Blvd., Sebring, FL
Mar 29 9:00 am Highlands County Hospital District Board
Board room, 600 S. Commerce Ave., Sebring, FL
A. Other meetings:
The Tourist Development Council will meet on Thursday, March 29, 2012 at 8:15 a.m. at the Bert J. Harris, Jr. Agricultural Center in Sebring.
5. CLERK OF COURTS: Bob Germaine, Clerk of Courts, briefly announced that the new case management program, Clericus, was successfully installed over the weekend and all Court divisions went live on Monday morning. Mr. Germaine gave a special thanks to the Clerk’s Office staff who worked all weekend to make sure this installation was a complete success. See SMB 91 Page 27. 6. CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS – ANNOUNCEMENTS: No other announcements. 7. RECOGNITIONS, PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS: Fire Services
Supervisor: Presentation of Firefighter I Certificates. Tim Eures, Emergency Operations Director, and Charles Andrews, Fire Services Supervisor, invited the Commission to come forward to present Firefighter I Certificates of Completion to the volunteer firefighters. See SMB 91 Page 28.
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SMB 91 Page 27.pdf
8. CONSENT AGENDA: Commissioner Elwell questioned item 8C. Danielle Gilbert, General Services/Purchasing Manager, addressed his concerns. Commissioner Stewart made a motion and Commissioner Harris seconded the motion, to move to approve the consent agenda. Commissioner Elwell declared a conflict of interest on item 6A – a payment being made to Alan Jay – his current employer. A Memorandum of Voting Conflict form was provided to the Clerk to become part of the permanent record. Commissioner Stewart withdrew her motion and Commissioner Harris withdrew his second. Commissioner Stewart made a motion and Commissioner Harris seconded the motion, to move to approve the consent agenda with the exception of the payment to Alan Jay Automotive. Upon roll call, all Commissioners voted aye. The motion carried. Commissioner Harris made a motion and Commissioner Handley seconded the motion, to move to pay the bill to Alan Jay. Upon roll call, all Commissioners voted aye, except Commissioner Elwell, who abstained. The motion carried.
A. Request approval to pay all duly authorized bills and employee benefits March 27, 2012. See Check Report file for copy of check report and abstention form.
GENERAL FUND 295,567.81 COUNTY TRANSPORT TRUST 13,803.24 LOCAL GOVT INFRA SURTAX 94,995.16 TOURIST DEV TRUST FUND 2,461.55 SEBRING PARKWAY MAINT 519.58 STATE COURT FACILITIES TF 1,205.70 COURT TECH 28.24 (12) (E) 1 3,467.64 BUILDING FUND 4.34 SOLID WASTE 17,218.21 PLACID UTILITIES 20,571.74 HIGHWAY PARK UTILITY 6,149.67 ENERGY RECOVERY 43,149.63 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT FUND .62 INSURANCY FUND 28,473.09
B. Request approval of the minutes of the Board of County Commissioners meeting
for March 13, 2012. See Clerk of Courts website. C. Request to contract with RCH Vending, Inc., for the beverage vending services for
Highlands County Facilities RFP 12-020. See RCH Vending, Inc. file.
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9. WORKSHOP: Ms. Ginger Delegal, General Counsel, Florida Association of
Counties: Presentation and discussion on Charter County form of government. Ms. Ginger Delegal, General Counsel for the Florida Association of Counties, gave a presentation on Charter County form of government. The Commission expressed their concerns in detail. Public input was received from John Nelson, Jan Grove, Elton Gissendanner, Michael Berry, Gabriel Read, Barry Foster, and Dick Noel. After discussion, the Commission came to a consensus to bring this item back for discussion at a future meeting. See SMB 91 Page 29 . Break: 6:46 p.m. to 6:58 p.m. 10. ACTION: Commissioner Stewart stated that there was a slight change on item 10B-3, Highlands County Farm Bureau. Commissioner Elwell made a motion and Commissioner Handley seconded the motion, to move to set the action agenda as presented, with the change on 10B-3 being listed as Highlands County Farm Bureau. Upon roll call, all Commissioners voted aye. The motion carried.
A. Ms. Julie Fowler, CPA, Engagement Director, CliftonLarsonAllen: Presentation of the final version of the CAFR and Management Letter.
Julie Fowler, Engagement Director with CliftonLarsonAllen, presented the final version of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and Management Letter. The Commission thanked Ms. Fowler for the presentation. See SMB 91 Page 30.
B. Tourist Development Director:
1. Request approval of a Highlands County Tourist Development Council Grant to Sebring Cruise, Inc. of Highlands County for advertising the Sebring Thunder III event, not to exceed the amount of $2,000.00.
John Scherlacher, Tourist Development Director, presented the request and read the recommended motion into the record. Commissioner Stewart made a motion and Commissioner Harris seconded the motion, to move to approve the attached grant contract not to exceed the amount of $2,000 to be disbursed from Tourist Development Trust Fund number 5303 – Off Season, to the Sebring Cruise, Inc. of Highlands County, for advertising the Sebring Thunder III event, with room verifications required, finding the project and purpose of the grant are in compliance with the requirements for use of tourist development tax revenues pursuant to Section 125.0101(5)(a), Florida Statutes. Upon roll call, all Commissioners voted aye. The motion carried. See TDC file.
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3-27-12 (Sebring Cruise, Inc.).pdf
2. Request approval of a Highlands County Tourist Development Council Grant to
the Highlands County Lakes Association, Inc. for the Monofilament Recovery and Recycle Project, not to exceed the amount of $700.00.
John Scherlacher, Tourist Development Director, presented the request and read the recommended motion into the record. Commissioner Stewart made a motion and Commissioner Elwell seconded the motion, to move to approve the grant contract, with the motion as read into the record by John Scherlacher. Upon roll call, all Commissioners voted aye. The motion carried. See TDC file.
3. Request approval of a Highlands County Tourist Development Council Grant to the Highlands County Farm Bureau, LAA for the All Florida Agricultural Show, in the amount of up to $3,000.00.
John Scherlacher, Tourist Development Director, presented the request and read the recommended motion into the record. Commissioner Stewart made a motion and Commissioner Handley seconded the motion, to move to approve the attached grant contract not to exceed the amount of $3,000 to be disbursed from the Tourist Development Trust Fund number 5303 – Off Season, to the Highlands County Farm Bureau, LAA, for advertising outside of Highlands County the All Florida Agricultural Show with room verifications required, find the project and purpose of the grant are in compliance with the requirements for use of tourist development tax revenues pursuant to Section 125.0104(5)(a), Florida Statutes. Upon roll call, all Commissioners voted aye. The motion carried. See TDC file.
4. Request approval of a Highlands County Tourist Development Council Grant to the Friends of Erin Park Canals and Little Lake Jackson, Inc. for the restoration of Little Lake Jackson shoreline, not to exceed the amount of $11,000.00.
John Scherlacher, Tourist Development Director, presented the request and read the recommended motion into the record. The Commission expressed their concerns. Ross Macbeth, Board Attorney, addressed the issue. Mr. George Adkinson, representing the Friends of Erin Park Canals and Little Lake Jackson, Inc., addressed some of the concerns that were raised. Public input was received from John Drozinski, Bill Youngman, John Ruggiero, and Dante Perfumo. Commissioner Stewart made a motion and Commissioner Elwell seconded the motion, to move to approve the attached grant contract not to exceed the amount of $11,000 to be disbursed from Tourist Development Trust Fund number 5306 – Tourist Development Lakes Fund, to the Friends of Erin Park Canals and Little Lake Jackson, Inc., for shoreline restoration of Little Lake Jackson where it intersects with the Erin Park canal system, with no room verifications required, finding that the project and purpose of the grant are in compliance with the requirements for use of tourist development tax revenues pursuant to Section 125.0104(5)(a), Florida Statutes. Upon roll call, all Commissioners voted aye. The motion carried. See TDC file.
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File Attachment
3-27-12 (Friends of Erin Park Canal and Little Lake Jackson, Inc.).pdf
5. Discussion of a proposed sunset provision for the Tourist Development Tax.
John Scherlacher, Tourist Development Director, gave a brief presentation on the Tourist Development Tax. Public input was received from Bill Youngman. Ross Macbeth, Board Attorney, addressed the purpose of a sunset. The Commission addressed their concerns in great detail regarding the proposed sunset provision for the Tourist Development Tax. Commissioner Elwell stated that he believes that no tax should go on forever, unchecked. Commissioner Stewart, Commissioner Harris, and Commissioner Handley concurred that they were not in favor of doing away with the tax and stated that they were ready to move on. Public input was received from Dick Noel, John Nelson, Michael Berry, Gene Reese, Ken Cherevko, Ray Royce, Dale Wilson, Barry Foster, Mike Waldron, Clint McVicker, Bill Youngman, and City of Sebring Councilman John Griffin. Chairman Richie stated that he was not in favor of doing away with the tourist tax and suggested moving on since discussion on this issue had already taken place. See SMB 91 Page 31.
C. Board Attorney: Request approval to start negotiations with Clifton Larson Allen LLP, for the Professional External Auditing Services RFP 12-017.
Ross Macbeth, Board Attorney, presented the request. Commissioner Stewart made a motion and Commissioner Handley seconded the motion, to move that the selection committee for RFP 12-017 Professional External Auditing Services be dissolved; second, that negotiations begin with the top ranked firm CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP; and third, that we appoint a negotiation team consisting of OMB Administrative Services Senior Manager Tim Mechling and Clerk of Courts Accounting Director Tasha Morgan. Chairman Richie stated that he would like the County Administrator to be on the negotiations team. Mr. Macbeth addressed the issue. Commissioner Stewart withdrew her motion and Commissioner Handley removed his second. Commissioner Stewart made a motion and Commissioner Harris seconded the motion, to move to: 1) dissolve the selection committee for RFP 12-017 Professional External Auditing Services; 2) begin negotiations with the top ranked firm, CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP; and 3) to appoint a negotiation team consisting of Mr. Rick Helms, County Administrator, and Tasha Morgan, Clerk of Courts Accounting Director. Commissioner Stewart stated for the record that really good discussions took place when the selection committee evaluated the firms that applied. Upon roll call, all Commissioners voted aye. The motion carried. See SMB 91 Page 32.
D. County Administrator: Request for approval of Management Responses to Findings contained in the Management Letter and Report on Compliance with Requirements for Major Federal Programs and State Projects.
Ricky Helms, County Administrator, presented the request.
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SMB 91 Page 32.pdf
Commissioner Elwell made a motion and Commissioner Stewart seconded the motion, to move to approve the responses to the findings contained in the Management Letter and Report on Compliance with requirements for major federal programs and state projects. Upon roll call, all Commissioners voted aye. The motion carried. See SMB 91 Page 33. 11. CITIZENS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Bill Youngman addressed the Board to state that he was in favor of putting a sunset on the tourist tax but was not in favor of doing away with the tax forever. Mr. Youngman informed the Commission that the Citizens for Government Accountability will begin collecting the 10,000 petitions needed to place the tourist tax repeal on a ballot per Section 125.0104(6)(d) of the Florida Statutes. See SMB 91 Page 34.
12. COMMISSIONERS:
Commissioner Harris: Commissioner Harris briefly commented on the meeting he had with Scott Noethlich, Bob Hoffman, and John Griffin regarding concerns raised by the City of Sebring and stated that a good outcome came out of that meeting.
Commissioner Stewart: Commissioner Stewart commented on the Avon Park Mall
Festival that took place this past weekend and spoke on behalf of the Tourist Development staff and thanked all the volunteers who have served on the Tourist Development Council for all these years.
Commissioner Handley: No report.
Commissioner Elwell: Commissioner Elwell stated that the overall direction of the
Tourist Development Council has come a long way in addressing public concerns. Commissioner Elwell also stated that he attended the Lake Istokpoga Management Committee meeting and the meeting on the libraries.
Commissioner Richie: Commissioner Richie stated to the public that the sunset on the
tourist tax was not dead.
13. ADJOURN The meeting was adjourned at 9:14 p.m.
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