Leon County Commission Meeting Briefs: July 9, 2024

Below are the briefs from the Leon County Commission meeting on July 9, 2024.

The Board voted to award an agreement to Scott Carswell Presents LLC, to perform the work related to the Request for Proposals for Professional Management and Operational Services for County Concerts at the Adderley Amphitheater at Cascades Park.  These services will be primarily to provide management, operations, and promotional services for up to 10 ticketed concerts to be held annually at the Adderley Amphitheater.

The Board approved the semiannual status report regarding curbside waste collection service provided by Waste Pro, Inc. The current contract between the County and Waste Pro, Inc. features stricter quality stipulations and enforcement standards than their prior agreements to “ensure quality performance”.

The Board discussed a status report related to the Miccosukee Canopy Road Greenway and designated canopy road. The report went into detail on the history of the Miccosukee Greenway, the surrounding canopy roads, and concerns identified by citizens related to the impact of road construction. Commissioners approved several safety related changes to the planned Dempsey Mayo Road extension, but citizens were still concerned about the potential impact of the new road.

The Board voted to ratify actions taken at the June 18, 2024, FY 2025 Budget Workshop regarding the development of the FY 2025 Tentative Budget. These actions included the advance funding of capital projects in FY 2024 and a 5% pay raise for all Leon County Government and Constitutional Officer employees. In a separate vote, the Board voted 6-1 (Caban against) to establish the maximum countywide millage rate for FY 2025 at 8.3144.

The Board approved the proposed expenditures for the FY 2025 State Housing Initiatives Partnership allocation and authorized the County Administrator to realign funds within the State Housing Initiative Partnership program when necessary to maximize opportunities to increase or preserve affordable housing.

The Board voted to authorize the County Administrator to negotiate fees for Professional Auditing Services for Leon County with Thomas Howell Ferguson P.A./Law, Redd, Crona & Munroe, P.A. (THF/LRDM).  If negotiations are unsuccessful, the County Administrator will negotiate with the next highest ranked firms in order or ranking.

The Board was provided with an after-action report on Leon County’s preparation, response, and recovery efforts related to the tornado outbreak that occurred on May 10, 2024.  Acceptance of the after-action report served as a summary of actions taken to date by Leon County in response to the tornado outbreak, provides findings and recommendations from the emergency activation, approved the costs associated with the tornado recovery.

The Board approved the appointment of Tee Thompson to the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, reappointment of Steven Harris, and appointment of Jose Carlos Soria and William Wertman, to the Big Bend Health Council, and the reappointment of Todd Sperry and Thomas C. Proctor, Jr., to the Leon County Educational Facilities Authority.