Washington County commissioners praised County Administrator Jeff Massey for landscape work done recently at the County Annex on South Boulevard during Thursday’s BOCC meeting.
by Kathy Foster
Agreeing that the work was needed and an improvement, commissioners also said they had received comments regarding the county paying for a private company to do the work and it not being put out for bid.
However, commissioners said there is no requirement to get bids for every project. The need to get specific jobs done quickly lies with the discretion of the county administrator when cost falls under specific limitations.
Commissioners did recommend that a list of local businesses providing some needed services be compiled and when county employees are not available to handle jobs in a reasonable time frame the local businesses be contacted – on a rotating basis.
Board of County Commission Chairman Tray Hawkins also directed that county staffers be very careful to document who is contacted, circumstances of the required work, when the business is contacted, and cost of the job.
Additionally, Hawkins directed the county employees develop a policy as to how companies will be hired without going out for bids and bring it back before the BOCC in June.
Commissioner Todd Abbott made it clear that everyone is to have the same opportunity to provide needed services to the county and “in-house” crews will always be used when the time is available.
County commissioners had the pleasure at Thursday’s meeting of receiving a $15,000 check from Nestle for work at the recently opened Culpepper Landing project.
Also dealing with the Culpepper Landing project, commissioners were informed by the county engineer that he would have plans for proposed work at the site before the BOCC in June.
Washington County resident Conrad Futch was at Thursday’s meeting to talk with commissioners about the unavailability of parking spaces at some of the county’s boat ramps. Bringing up Pate Pond in particular, Futch said there are only two parking spaces, which he did not think was a sufficient number for any boat landing.
Commissioner Hawkins assured Futch that he would look into the problem which he agreed did cause difficulties for those using the boat ramps.
Animal control throughout Washington County was another concern raised at Thursday’s meeting.
Commissioners announced that Animal Control Officer John Rooney would be retiring soon and the county would be advertising for his replacement.
Washington County Sheriff Kevin Crews was present to ask the BOCC to consider augmenting that office to include additional personnel.
Crews said currently deputies with his department are being called on to assist in animal calls, taking the deputies away from other law enforcement duties.
Commission Steve Joyner said he didn’t think local residents realize the number of tax dollars being spent on animal control in Washington County.
Commissioners’ bottom line was that people need to be more responsible and realize they need to keep their animals contained.
Dealing with other agenda items, commissioners took the following actions:
- Declared June 14th Grandparent Alienation Awareness Day in Washington County.
- Approved payment of April vouchers totaling $1,413,279.30.
- Approved advertising for audit services.
- Approved an agreement for Code Enforcement Speical Magistrate Services with John McDaniel, PA
- Approved a contract for the old Project Pipe Capital Improvement Project totaling $750,000.
- Approved a grant application for Inter-local Agreement for Proposed Water/Sewer grant for the City of Vernon.
- Approved an agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation regarding County-owned property amind the SR 77 widening project.
- Approved a Public Services Policy Manual for the County’s Library System.
- Approved a policy regarding Unused Sick Leave.
- Approved Dewberry Engineers completing a Boundary & Topographic Survey for Twin Pond Raod in the amount of $6,000.
- Approved the 2018 Mudhill Landfill Environmental Services agreement with Dewberry Engineers in the amount of $11,8000.
- Approved a survey for Greenhead Property – Voting Precinct and Fire Department.
- Approved a resolution to deed the voting precinct building located at the corner of Spring Pond Road and SR 77 to the Florida Department of Transportation at a cost of $3,600.
- Approved reimbursement to the Clerk for FEMA audit fees in the amount of $3,000.