A
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF
OCTOBER
16, 2007
The
Lake County Board of
INVOCATION
AND PLEDGE
Reverend
Isaac Deas, from The Father’s House, in Leesburg, gave the Invocation and led
the Pledge of Allegiance.
AGENDA
UPDATE
Ms.
Cindy Hall, County Manager, pulled Tab 8, a request from Public Works for
approval of a resolution to advertise a Public Hearing for Vacation Petition
No. 1125, Lake County and A.E. Langley, to vacate and cease maintenance on
portions of Lakeshore Drive (#1040) and Lake Louisa Road (#0847), in the
Clermont area, Commission District 2, until a later date; and requested an
addition to the Agenda of a discussion under Departmental Business by Mr.
Fletcher Smith, Community Services Director, on the Transportation Disadvantage
Program.
Commr.
Hill requested an addition to the Agenda of a letter of support for the
Children’s
On a motion by Commr. Hill, seconded by Commr.
Renick and carried unanimously, by a 3-0 vote, the Board approved those items
to be placed on the Agenda.
MINUTE
APPROVAL
Commr. Renick requested a change on
page 6, line 4, of the September 11, 2007, minutes, changing the name of
“Barkin” to “Barker.”
On a motion by Commr. Renick, seconded
by Commr. Hill and carried unanimously, by a 3-0 vote, the Board approved the
Minutes of July 27, 2007 (Special Meeting), as presented; September 11, 2007
(Regular Meeting), as presented; and September 25, 2007, (Regular Meeting), as
presented.
CLERK
OF COURTS’ CONSENT AGENDA
On a motion by Commr. Hill, seconded by Commr. Renick and carried
unanimously, by a 3-0 vote, the Board approved the Clerk of Courts Consent
Agenda, Tab 2, Items 1-11 as follows:
List
of Warrants
Request to acknowledge receipt of list of
warrants paid prior to this meeting, pursuant to Chapter 136.06 (1) of the
Florida Statutes, which shall be incorporated into the Minutes as attached
Exhibit A and filed in the Board Support Division of the Clerk's Office.
Annexation
Ordinance from the of City of
Request to acknowledge receipt of Annexation Ordinance No. 2007-15 – Amending the boundaries of the City of Tavares by annexing approximately 1 acre on the North Side of Woodlea Road, approximately 184 feet East of Cedar Avenue.
Meeting Notice – Southwest Florida Water Management
District
Request
to acknowledge receipt of Meeting Notice – Southwest Florida Water Management
District Governing Board Meeting Agenda for September 25, 2007, to be held at
9:00 a.m., at the Brooksville Headquarters, 2379 Broad Street, Brooksville,
Florida; and Approved Minutes of the Meeting of the Governing Board, held on
July 31, 2007.
Fiscal
Year 2007/08 for Sumter Landing Community Development District
Request
to acknowledge receipt of adopted budget for the Sumter Landing Community
Development District for the Fiscal Year 2007/08, in accordance with Chapter
190.008(2) (b) (c), Florida Statutes.
Notice
Before
Request to acknowledge receipt of Notice Before the Florida Public Service Commission – In re: Application for increase in water and wastewater rates in Alachua, Brevard, Highlands, Lake, Lee, Marion, Orange, Palm Beach, Pasco, Polk, Putnam, Seminole, Sumter, Volusia, and Washington Counties by Aqua Utilities Florida, Inc.; Docket No. 060368-WS; Order No. PSC-07-0773-FOF-WS; Issued: September 24, 2007.
Notice Before
Request
to acknowledge receipt of Notice Before
the Florida Public Service Commission – In re: Notice of Commission
Hearing and Rehearing to All Investor-Owned Electric and Gas Utilities and All
Other Interested Persons; Docket Nos. 070001-EI; 070002-EG; 070003-GU;
070004-GU; and 070007-EI.
Minutes
of Meeting of Pine Island Community Development District
Request to acknowledge receipt of Minutes of Meeting of Pine Island Community Development District dated August 9, 2007.
Meeting Notice - Southwest Florida Water Management
District
Request to acknowledge receipt of Meeting Notice – Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Public Input Meetings for Update to Schedule for Establishment of Minimum Flows and Levels to be held October 1, 2007, District Bartow Office at 170 Century Boulevard, Bartow; October 3, 2007, Brooksville Headquarters, 2379 Broad Street, Brooksville; October 8, 2007, District’s Tampa Office, 7601 Hwy. 301 N., Tampa; and October 10, 2007, District’s Sarasota Office, 6750 Fruitville Road, Sarasota.
Notification of Publication of Annexations for William
Schmid
Request
to acknowledge receipt of Notification, pursuant to the Florida Statutes, of Publication
of Annexations for applicant, William Schmid, the properties being Parcels #1
and #2 for Tax Parcel Identification Numbers 33-21-24-0003-000-00102 and
33-21-24-0003-000-00105, respectively, as described on the submitted map
(Exhibit “A”). Subject to all right of ways, easements and restrictions of
record. The Ordinance relevant to the referenced annexations will be published
in the Daily Commercial on October 14, 2007.
Notice
of Public Hearing from City of
Request to acknowledge receipt of a Notice of Public Hearing from the City of Mt. Dora, regarding Resolution No. 2007-08, adopting an amendment to the Northeast Community Redevelopment Agency (NECRA) Master Plan to provide for the development and implementation of community policing, pursuant to Sec. 1563.346, Florida Statutes.
Changes
to Direct Pay Procedure
Request for approval of changes to the direct pay procedure - The direct pay procedure is used for goods and services that do not require the issuance of a purchase order. This is a request to revise the direct pay procedure for the following items:
Purchase
Limit for
To
give the
Payment
Authorization under Affordable Housing Assistance Fund
To
allow the
Payments
of Medicaid Nursing Home and Hospital Bills under Health Care Responsibility
Act
To
allow payments for Medicaid Nursing Home and Hospital bills and other payments
under the Health Care Responsibility Act to be paid using a direct pay request
authorized by the
On
a motion by Commr. Hill, seconded by Commr. Renick and carried unanimously, by
a 3-0 vote, the Board approved the
Budget
Request to approve Budget
Transfer and Check Request, as follows:
Budget
transfer - Law Enforcement Trust Fund, Constitutional Offices - Sheriff.
Transfer
$400,000
from Other Current Charges and Obligations to Machinery and Equipment. A
transfer is needed to cover equipment purchases from confiscated funds.
Approval
of request from the Sheriff's Office for payment of expenditures from the Law
Enforcement Trust Fund. The request exceeds the
Community
Services
Request
for approval to continue the direct pay procedure during FY 2007/08 for the
monthly Medicaid Nursing Home and Hospital bills as well as for direct pay for
the monthly Health Care Responsibility Act (HCRA) bills received by the
Department of Community Services, effective with the fiscal year beginning
October 1, 2007.
Request
for approval of amendments to the FY 2006/09 Local Housing Assistance Plan
retroactive to July 1, 2007.
Procurement
Request that the Board (1) declare the
items on the submitted lists surplus to County needs, (2) authorize the removal
of all of the items on said lists from the County’s official fixed asset
inventory system records, and (3) authorize the Procurement Services Director
to sign vehicle titles.
Public
Works
Request for authorization to release
a letter of credit for maintenance in the amount of $23,451.70 posted for Grand
Oak Estates. Grand Oak Estates consists of 40 lots and is located in Section
34, Township 19 South, Range 26 East. Commission District 3.
Request for authorization to release
a performance bond in the amount of $1,792,693.12; accept a maintenance bond in
the amount of $111,042.02; execute a Developer's Agreement for Maintenance of
Improvements Between Lake County and DeLuca Enterprises, Inc.; and execute
Resolution No. 2007-160, accepting
the following roads into the County Road Maintenance System: Ryegrass Street
(#0360A), Yelloweyed Drive (#0360D), Fetterbush Court (#0360E), and Maidencain Street
(#0360F). Sawgrass Bay Phase 1B consists of 114 lots and is located in Section
14, Township 24 South, Range 26 East. Commission District 2.
Request for authorization to release
a performance bond in the amount of $56,800.40, accept a maintenance bond in
the amount of $38,596.57, execute a Developer's Agreement for Maintenance of
Improvements Between Lake County and DeLuca Enterprises, Inc.; accept a
maintenance bond in the amount of $229,617.35; execute a Developer's Agreement
for Maintenance of Improvements Between Lake County and Rose Isle Development,
LLC and Greater Lakes/Sawgrass Bay Community Development District; and execute
Resolution No. 2007-161, accepting the following roads into
the County Road Maintenance System: Superior Boulevard “Part” (#0357), Sawgrass
Bay Boulevard (#0360), Ryegrass Street "Part" (# 0360A), and St.
Augustine Street (#0360B). Sawgrass Bay Phase 1A consists of 49 lots and is
located in Section 14, Township 24 South, Range 26 East. Commission District 2.
Request for authorization to release a performance bond for
construction of improvements in the total amount of $14,775,163.13 that was
posted for Sullivan Ranch. Sullivan Ranch consists of 693 lots and is located
in Section 34, Township 19 South, Range 27 East. Commission District 4.
Request for approval of Resolution
No. 2007-162 to advertise Public Hearing for Vacation Petition No. 1118, Albert
VanZeyst and Rosalie VanZeyst, to vacate drainage and utility easement in the
Plat of Heathrow Estates, in the
Request
for approval of Resolution No. 2007-163 to advertise Public Hearing for
Vacation Petition No. 1120, to vacate utilities and drainage easements, in the
Plat of Blackwater Oaks Subdivision, in the Eustis area. Commission District 4.
Request
for approval and execution of an Interlocal Agreement with the Town of
Request
for approval to accept and execute a Sovereign Submerged Lands Easement from
the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), and authorization to
pay the associated processing fee in conjunction with the Picciola Bridge
Project. Commr. District 1.
Tourism
Request
for approval to accept Local Arts Agency Grant No. 08-8002 in the amount of
$4,800 for the 2007/08 program year awarded by the Florida Division of Cultural
Affairs.
On
a motion by Commr. Renick, seconded by Commr. Hill and carried unanimously, by
a 3-0 vote, the Board approved the
Request for approval of Lease
Between Lake County and The Village Green Office Center for Clerk of Court
office space. Commission District 5.
Request for approval of Second
Amendment to Lease Agreement between
PRESENTATIONS
“PUENTES
PAR LA VIDA” (BRIDGES TO LIFE)
Mr. Fletcher Smith, Director of Community Services,
addressed the Board stating that in December, 2006, a Lake County Community
Health Worker Program (LCCHWP) was created and a health study was considered
necessary to launch the program for the Lake County Hispanic community. Mr.
Smith explained that the Rural Women’s Health Project (RWHP) out of
Ms. Robin Lewy presented an overview of the Puentes par la Vida (Bridges to Life) pilot project, a part of the
Community Health Worker Program (CHWP) in
Ms.
Williams distributed a resource guide book, written in Spanish, called “La
Guia” to assist the Hispanic community in obtaining health care information
regarding facilities and services available within Lake County and surrounding
areas.
Ms. Lewy stated that the goals of the Puentes / Lake County Community Health Worker (LCCHW) Program were
to improve the health status of the Hispanic community through better access to
prevention, primary and specialty services; to minimize the consequences of
chronic diseases, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and asthma; and to
mount awareness and educational programs to build family and community
participation. She explained that the
RWHP was contracted in February, 2007, as consultants to focus on 5 key
elements: (1) Assessing health status of
the Hispanic community; (2) Increasing access to services for Spanish-speakers;
(3) Establishing a Community Health Worker (CHW) Program; (4) Strengthening the
community’s health literacy; and (5) Guiding the Puentes Project as a pilot community program. She then elaborated on these five elements
and the findings related thereto.
In regard to assessment of health status in the Hispanic
community, Ms. Lewy explained that it was important to find out the needs and
realities of Hispanics. She explained
that contrary to the thoughts of many in the community that Hispanics consisted
of a migrant group, it was found that about 73 percent had been in
Ms.
Lewy commented that the County wished to respond to the needs of the Hispanic
community not only through education of community health workers, but also by
providing a Spanish-language format. She
explained that being unable to speak English, Hispanics did not know where to
get health care and take advantage of the services available. She noted that a Spanish-language resource
guide, La Guia, (distributed to the Board) had been provided to respond to the
needs of those unable to speak English, noting that 10,000 copies were produced
and of that figure, 5,000 were distributed in the first two-and-a-half
weeks. She expressed the need for
guiding the future program by providing direction and support for Puentes and the LCCHW Program through
their participation and planning of initial advisory board meetings; support
for the development of partnerships with the American Cancer Society, Statewide
Migrant Health Associations, and Sister CHW programs; guidance on dual-track
growth plan such as program grants and organizational partnering; and
identification of training and conferences for LCCHW coordinator and CHWs.
Ms.
Lewy reported that a media campaign had been developed including banners, car
magnets and posters and they had people taking those materials to functions in
the community such as the Cinco de Mayo Celebration and the Greatest Baby
Shower. She commented that by sharing
information at these activities, the community would know that there were
health workers in the community to serve them.
She stated that Puentes para
la Vida was making a difference by actually meeting with people; letting them
know services were available; and building trust in the services that exist
within the County and with private provider partners. She explained that
without proper medical attention there were more emergency room visits, later
detection of illnesses, and more difficulty in treatment.
Commr.
Hill questioned whether these resource guides could be distributed to other
governmental offices such as the Tax Collector, Property Appraiser, Sheriff’s
Office, and the
PEANUT
BUTTER P.O.P. - PEOPLE OVERCOMING THE PROBLEM OF HUNGER
PROJECT
Ms.
Helena Osborne-Ponsi, Director of VolunteerLAKE, stated that they were
requesting the endorsement of the Peanut Butter P.O.P. Project for Make A
Difference Day on Saturday, October 27, 2007, and permission for VolunteerLAKE
to once again partner in this event to make it countywide.
Ms. Osborne-Ponsi introduced Ms. Jennifer Sullivan, a
sixteen year-old citizen of
On
a motion by Commr. Hill, seconded by Commr. Renick and carried unanimously by a
3-0 vote, the Board approved the endorsement of the Peanut Butter P.O.P.
“People Overcoming the Problem of Hunger” project for Make A Difference Day on
Saturday, October, 27, 2007, and permission for VolunteerLAKE to partner again
this year with Peanut Butter P.O.P. to make October 27th a
countywide awareness event.
COMMUNITY SERVICES
AGREEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY OF
YALAHA
Mr. Fletcher Smith, Director of
Community Services, addressed the Board and stated that the Agreement with the
Community of Yalaha was allocating $176,790 to demolish and begin rebuilding
the community center in Yalaha. He explained that Community Services was
seeking authorization to proceed with the contract and would work with the
community to begin the demolishing process and to obtain architectural drawings
on the new facility.
On a motion by Commr. Hill, seconded
by Commr. Renick, and carried unanimously by a 3-0 vote, the Board approved the
request of Community Services to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign the
FY 2007/08 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Partnership Agreement
between the Yalaha Community Club, Inc., and the County, in an amount not to
exceed $100,000 from FY 2007/08 funds and $76,790 still remaining in FY 2005/06
funding; allocate CDBG funds to demolish the old community center; construct a
new community center; and direct the Community Services Department to execute
the Agreement and oversee completion of the project as covered in the Scope of
Services.
AGREEMENT BETWEEN CDBG, THE
COUNTY AND THE CITY OF
Mr. Fletcher Smith stated that the
Agreement between CDBG and the County, and the City of
On
a motion by Commr. Hill, seconded by Commr. Renick, and carried unanimously by
a 3-0 vote, the Board approved the request of Community Services to approve and
authorize the Chairman to sign three originals of the FY 2007/08 Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) Partnership Agreement between the City of
Tavares and the County in an amount not to exceed $220,886.74, granting the
City CDBG funds to improve Summerall Park, and to direct the Community Services
Department to execute the Agreement and oversee completion of the project
covered in the Scope of Services.
AMENDMENT
TO CONTRACT WITH COMMUNITY OF
Mr.
Fletcher Smith stated that this was an Amendment to a previous Contract, or
Agreement, with the Community of Ferndale for the construction of two American
Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant restrooms at the Ferndale Fire Station site. He stated that there were some coordination
challenges between Community Services, Fire Services and Growth Management to
get this worked out. Mr. Smith noted the
Contract actually expired at the end of September, 2007, and requested a
renewal and extension of the Contract until September 30, 2008.
On
a motion by Commr. Hill, seconded by Commr. Renick, and carried unanimously by
a 3-0 vote, the Board approved the request of Community Services to authorize
the Chairman to sign a First Amendment to the Community Enhancement Area
Partnership Agreement between the County and the Friends of Ferndale allocating
CDBG funds to construct two ADA compliant restrooms and replace the water well
and septic system needed for these restrooms at the Ferndale Community Center; and
to direct the Community Services Department to execute the Agreement and
oversee completion of the project as covered in the Scope of Services.
PROCUREMENT
TERM & SUPPLY CONTRACTS FOR
TRAFFIC SIGN MATERIALS
Mr.
Barnett Schwartzman, Procurement Services Director, requested that the Board
award the Term & Supply contracts for Traffic Sign Materials to the ten
vendors listed in the “Background Summary” area. He explained the method of the award was
about 290 line items in solicitation and they were awarding the lowest price
per item. He commented that some of the
vendors were incumbent and some were new. He noted that normally this would
have been a consent item, but since the dollar value last year was about $250,000,
it was being brought to the Board for specific notice and approval.
On a motion by Commr. Hill, seconded
by Commr. Renick and carried unanimously, by a 3-0 vote, the Board approved a
request from Procurement to award the Term and Supply Contracts for Traffic
Sign Materials to the ten (10) vendors listed in the "Background
Summary" backup information.
REPORTS –
CIVIL AIR PATROL WREATH
LAYING CEREMONY
Ms. Cindy Hall,
On
a motion by Commr. Hill, seconded by Commr. Renick, and carried unanimously, by
a 3-0 vote, the Board moved to place on the agenda the request of the Civil Air
Patrol to conduct a memorial wreath laying ceremony, coinciding with the laying
of wreaths at
On
a motion by Commr. Hill, seconded by Commr. Renick, and carried unanimously, by
a 3-0 vote, the Board approved the request of the Civil Air Patrol to hold a
ceremony on Saturday, December 15, 2007, to conduct a memorial wreath laying
ceremony, coinciding with the laying of wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery
and all across the country.
REPORTS
–
INTRODUCTION
OF NEW DIRECTOR OF CODE ENFORCEMENT
Ms.
Cindy Hall,
REPORTS – COMMISSIONER HILL –
DISTRICT 1
CHILDREN’S
Commr. Hill stated that the
Children’s
On a motion by Commr. Hill, seconded
by Commr. Renick, and carried unanimously, by a 3-0 vote, the Board approved
the request of the Children’s Advocacy Center for a letter of support from the
Board to pursue having a medical team located in Lake County offices, rather
than having to transfer victims and children to Gainesville.
REPORTS – COMMISSIONER HILL –
DISTRICT 1
LAW
LIBRARY
Commr. Hill reported that the Law
Library Board had met, and the results of the meeting were made known to her by
Mr. Sandy Minkoff,
Commr.
Cadwell stated that it would make sense if the law library was under the
Commr.
Hill commented that she understood the legal aspect, but it seemed the Law
Library had become more of a citizens’ use library rather than a legal use
library. She stated they had close to
6,000 phone calls and 12,000 visitors to that particular library from citizens
that needed legal paperwork and had changes.
She stated they wanted to make it accessible to the citizens of
Commr.
Cadwell questioned whether the college had room for the law library.
Commr. Hill reported that they had room and adequate parking
at the
Mr. Sandy Minkoff,
Commr.
Renick suggested that someone like Judge Hill could act as a liaison from the
Judiciary to discuss issues as they occurred.
Commr. Cadwell asked Mr. Sandy Minkoff,
Mr.
Minkoff stated that the Law Library was entitled to use one quarter of the $65
filing fees. He stated he thought the Law Library itself had been
self-sufficient, except for the overhead, and the County could likely use that
fee to be able keep some of the personnel and if the space were free then it would
almost break even totally.
Commr.
Hill commented that she thought it would be very beneficial to have the Law
Library at the college, because their
Commr.
Cadwell suggested Mr. Minkoff work on an Interlocal Agreement with the college.
Mr. Minkoff agreed, stating that there had been discussions
regarding the Clermont Joint Use Library and that they had also contemplated
including a Law Library section in that public library so that it would be
available to the public in the South end of the County as well.
REPORTS
– COMMISSIONER HILL – DISTRICT 1
SCHOOL
IMPACT FEE
Commr.
Hill noted that the School Impact Fee Committee would meet this week and were
going to be presented with the School Impact Fee update and revisions from the
School Board. Contingent upon that
meeting, Commr. Hill would like to include in the Board’s Workshop in October
the presentation for the School Impact Fees for review during the
workshop. She stated that it may also be
helpful to have Mr. Minkoff go through the implementation ordinance that
accompanies the impact fee because there were changes. She noted that contingent upon how that Board
and that Committee reacts to this study, they may not forward it on so it may
not come to this Board, but just in case it came back, she suggested it be in
the October workshop.
REPORTS
– COMMISSIONER HILL – DISTRICT 1
AUDITOR
POSITION FOR BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSONERS.
Commr.
Hill questioned whether it would be viable to have an auditor position working
directly for the Board of County Commissioners, to be a liaison to the Budget
Office to answer questions and perform research for the Board that would not encumber
the Budget Office. She reported there
are some counties who have a liaison, or a budget auditor position, for their
Board. She stated that the auditor for
the Board would assist the Board members in understanding the budget process
throughout the year, not only during the budget season, and assist them with
questions such as funding for various items.
Commr.
Renick stated she would be interested in obtaining information regarding having
a year-round auditor for the Board.
Commr.
Cadwell stated that he was totally opposed to hiring another person in an
auditor position and that he would take the matter under advisement.
COMMUNITY SERVICES
TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGE
SAFETY PROGRAM
Mr.
Fletcher Smith, Community Services Director, addressed the Board and
distributed a memorandum dated October 14, 2007, to Ms. Cindy Hall,
Mr. Smith noted that another question dealt with client
services provided to the New Vision for Independence Program for the visually
impaired. He stated that the information
received from Lake County Connections for August and September revealed there
were actually twenty clients who depended on the Transportation Disadvantage
Program for services. He explained that
he broke those down by individual client, and 255 trips were provided for the
clients of New Vision for Independence for August and September, the total cost
of those trips being $20.43 per trip for a little over $5,200 for a two-month
period. He specified that of those trips
102 were medical trips, 94 educational and training trips, 17 for employment,
14 nutritional trips, 8 life sustaining trips and 20 other trips, for a total
of 255 trips. He commented the projection
would be around $32,000 to continue providing services for that group, at that
level; however, this was not indicative of the overall trips needed to be
provided where there was no funding available.
Mr. Smith explained the Transportation Disadvantage
Information spreadsheet attached to the Memorandum of October 14, 2007, calling
attention to the total number of trips per year indicating that the comparisons
between 2005/2006 and 2006/2007 showed an increase from 164,574 to
179,286. He explained that the
projections based on the first two months of the year were 195,580 trips, but
with the reduction in the number of trips by approximately 38,000 trips, only
around 13,000 trips per month would be available.
Mr.
Smith stated that he had discussed this matter with Mr. David Hope, MV
Transportation, to verify that the people being provided transportation truly
fit the guidelines for transportation disadvantaged. He expressed the need to requalify people
during the coming months to be sure they were eligible and that no alternative
transportation was available to them. He
commented that the drivers were the eyes and ears of the program itself and
could report anything unusual. He
explained that services were provided to those people who were eligible.
Mr. Hope stated that he would do anything the Board
requested with respect to recertification such as looking at cars in the
driveways of everyone in the system and this might save some money this
year. He would also look at the fixed
route system which would help bring the total cost down and decrease trips
within a certain guideline as well. He
stated that the ridership on the fixed route, since school started, was about
250 a day.
Commr. Renick commented that it was a balancing act making
sure that those you are serving are truly deserving and also that you do not
miss anyone who really needs the service.
She specified that speaking of the drivers being the eyes and ears of
the program, they probably did have a very good idea of those who need to be
checked and recertified.
Mr. Hope responded, stating that the people already in the
system could be asked if they had a car, a neighbor who could take them, or if
anything had changed in relation to their availability to transportation,
asking those types of questions to everyone in the system.
Mr. Hope described
funds received for all transportation in the County from different funding
sources, stating approximately one half million dollars per year was received
from Medicaid, but that now went to HMO’s, which had hurt the system overall.
Commr. Cadwell requested that Mr. Smith check for any
innovative programs in other places that could be duplicated.
Mr. Smith mentioned that there were volunteer programs which
had been in place in other parts of the country and stated that they would look
closely at those to see what the liability would be and the types of vehicles
the volunteers use. He also stated that
he would be speaking with churches to see if they could provide some type of
service to the people in their community.
Commr.
Cadwell also suggested that Mr. Smith speak with Mr. Sandy Minkoff,
REPORTS
– COMMISSIONER STIVENDER – DISTRICT 3
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
On a motion by Commr. Hill, seconded
by Commr. Renick, and carried unanimously, by a 3-0 vote, the Board approved
the request of Commr. Stivender for Proclamation No. 2007-164, proclaiming October, 2007, as Breast
Cancer Awareness Month in
REPORTS – COMMISSIONER STIVENDER
– DISTRICT 3
DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH
On
a motion by Commr. Hill, seconded by Commr. Renick, and carried unanimously, by
a 3-0 vote, the Board approved the request of Commr. Stivender for Proclamation
No. 2007-165, proclaiming October as
Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
REPORTS
– COMMISSIONER HILL – DISTRICT 1
BUSINESS
AND PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S CLUB WEEK IN
On
a motion by Commr. Hill, seconded by Commr. Renick, and carried unanimously, by
a 3-0 vote, the Board approved the request of Commr. Stivender for Proclamation
No. 2007-166, proclaiming the week of October 16 - 20, 2007, as Business and
Professional Women's Club Week in
REPORTS
– COMMISSIONER CADWELL – CHAIRMAN AND DISTRICT 5
JAMES
C. WATKINS DAY IN
Commr.
Cadwell stated that the Board is planning to honor Mr. James C. Watkins, Clerk
of the Court, by presenting him with Proclamation No. 2007-167, proclaiming
November 5, 2007, James C. Watkins Day in
CITIZEN QUESTION AND COMMENT
PERIOD
Mr.
Richard Robertson addressed the Board concerning the need for para-transit
busing for people with disabilities. He
stated that it was very hard for him to get around and that he was dependent
upon others to transport him. He
explained the difficulty of obtaining transportation during the day as so many
people were working, and there was no way for him to get to his
destination. He noted that most of the
places he needed to go were to doctors or to get prescriptions filled. Mr. Robertson commented that it was very
frustrating not to be able to have transportation readily available, as he
would like to have his independence. He
mentioned that he did not use para-transit just to ride around, but rather for
necessary purposes. He specified that
mentally, physically, and for therapeutic reasons, the transportation was very
good for him because otherwise he would be in a very confined world. He related that para-transit busing allowed a
disabled person to see a little of the world.
Mr. Robertson expressed the dire need for this service if at all
possible.
Commr. Cadwell explained to Mr. Robertson that the County
was still working through the process to try and provide all the trips they
could.
Commr.
Renick stated that medical trips to the pharmacy, grocery store, and doctor
appointments were still available.
Ms.
Kelly Williams, a friend of Mr. Robertson, addressed the Board stating his
insurance had been cancelled, and she understood that busing was cancelled and
he was unable to make his appointments.
Commr.
Cadwell suggested that Ms. Williams and Mr. Robertson meet with the Community
Services staff to obtain the answer, as there must be some misunderstanding.
Ms.
Alice Taylor of Leesburg addressed the Board stating she had been using public
transportation for the last five years due to the fact she had to give up her
driver’s license because she is epileptic.
She stated she, and others in her position, needed the busing services
immediately to obtain groceries and make doctor’s appointments. She commented that the service was great
until the last four or five months, and now she had no way to get to
appointments or to purchase groceries as she had no family in the area. She stressed the urgency of this matter and
requested assistance from the Board.
Commr.
Hill replied that part of the problem was that prior to this event, a 48 hour
notification to the busing system was adequate, but now it looked as if they
were having to schedule two to three weeks in advance to be able to utilize the
busing system. She noted it was difficult to call so far in advance to schedule
doctor appointments and for grocery shopping, further stating that the
essential trips were still provided, but there were less of them.
Mr.
Fletcher Smith stated that 603 trips per day were provided, but these trips
filled up very quickly and must be scheduled two to three weeks in
advance. He explained that if there were
not 603 medical trips per day, some of the other trips could be provided.
Mr.
David Hope commented that emergency trips were handled whenever possible as
space permits.
Commr.
Cadwell reported that billboards would be posted by Emergency Medical Services
(EMS) encouraging people not to use the ambulance as a taxi, which happens
frequently. Commr. Cadwell stated that
the need to educate the public is important in finding transportation other
than ambulance service to get to the hospital.
ADJOURNMENT
There
being no further business to be brought to the attention of the Board, the
meeting was adjourned at 10:20 a.m.
____________________________________
WELTON
G. CADWELL, CHAIRMAN
ATTEST:
__________________________
JAMES C. WATKINS,
CLERK