The vacancy at the Health Department opened with the retirement of Patsy Justice from that post earlier this year and Davis came as the top applicant selected in Tallahassee.

 

Commissioners Ronnie Finch and Donnie Strickland opposed hiring Davis, stating they would like to see the post go to a Washington County resident. Their motion to look at other applicants failed by a 3 to 2 vote.

 

In a 5 p.m. hearing commissioners gave final approval to the FY 2008-09 county budget and the millage rate for the coming year. Both motions were approved in 5-0 votes.

 

The millage rate was set at 8.087 mills and the county budget was approved at $37,648,159.00.

 

Under the unagendaed portion of their meeting commissioners heard from Skylar Carter (shown at left) concerning two issues - the need for work on Deltona Blvd. where her family lives and the use of milled asphalt on a private driveway off Ledger Road.

 

Commissioner Eddy Holman called on Road & Bridge Department foreman Dallas Carter to address Skylar Carter's questions.

 

Regarding the driveway situation, Dallas Carter said erosion had been a long existing problem at the site, and dirt from the private property regularly blocked the county culvert at that location. By paving the driveway they hoped to eliminate that maintenance problem for the county.

 

Holman said he had talked with the county administrator, Peter Herbert, and Dallas Carter regarding what would be the best solution.

 

Herbert in turn said he had talked with the other commissioners and they had agreed to let the work be done.

 

Commissioners Joel Pate and Ronnie Finch disagreed that they had given the project their go ahead for the full length of the driveway.

 

Commissioner Donnie Strickland expressed the opinion that Deltona Blvd needed to be repaired, but no direction was given for the work to be done.

 

 

 

County resident Nan Thompson (shown at left) also spoke

about the private drive issue during meeting and asked why the county and not the property owner paid for the milled asphalt that was put down.

 

She quoted Florida law about commissioners not doing work to benefit themselves, family or friends.

 

 

 

In other business during the meeting commissioners took the following action:

 

* Heard from Bob Hughes, representing Northern Trust, regarding development of the Knight property that lies in Washington and Bay counties and the Town of Ebro. Hughes said plans are to carefully develop the environmentally sensitive land. Commissioners approved a motion to forward plans for the project to the Department of Community Affairs for their approval.

 

* Heard from residents in the Lucas Lake area concerning the need to pave Lucas Lake Road. Residents said the clay the county is putting on the roads is washing down into area ponds and creating problems. The residents will be holding an October 25 community meeting and asked the commissioners to attend.

 

* Accepted the low bidder, Hall Construction, for the White Double Pond Boat Ramp Improvements.

 

* Accepted the low bidder, C&C Construction, for the remediation project at Mud Hill Landfill.

 

* Reported they had received a grant for parking and playground improvements at the Equestrian Center.

 

* Appointed Patsy Justice to the Big Bend Health Council to replace Linda Booth.

 

* Approved payment in the amount of $11,000 for indigent medical care.

 

* Voted to go with the Florida League of Cities for the county's Workers Compensation insurance at a cost of $143,923.

 

* Were warned by Commissioner Joel Pate that further budget cuts may be handed down from Tallahassee in November.

 

* Approved forwarding plans for Florida Landings to the Department of Community Affairs for their review.

 

 

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