By Susan K. Lamb Riverbend News
The Suwannee County Commission spent five hours Tuesday, April 13, in a workshop discussing: millions of dollars in federal money available from the CARES Act that can be applied for by the county; the possibility of a tax increase for property owners; a possible increase in the assessment for Suwannee County Fire Rescue; how this all might look on the upcoming budget for the next fiscal year and whether to spend money to have studies conducted to determine how much of these increases might touch tax payers.
One problem with the CARES money is no one is sure how the county can spend it, if they can get it, how much would be available for Suwannee County and what other federal requirements have to be met. Suwannee County Administrator Randy Harris said the money may be available within a month and could be used for food supply change, farm loan assistance, nutrition problems, food problems for schools, block grant programs and much, much more.
“I am all about helping the people of Suwannee County, but it is not just to help small businesses, it’s everybody’s money,” Commission Chairman Len Stapleton said of the CARES money. “Every citizen in this county, it’s their dollars too. I do want to help these folks, but I want to deal with people who are proud and want to help themselves, not interested in having a sign up and you go get your number and tomorrow you go and say you need a handout,” Stapleton said. “That’s what makes a great county. Most of those folks who take pride in what they do will meet all those terms…I am proud of Suwannee County and want it to go to people of Suwannee County who are proud of Suwannee County…the handout train is not here,” Stapleton stated. The other commissioners agreed.
This issue was set to be discussed again at the Tuesday, April 20 meeting also.
SUWANNEE COUNTY FIRE RESCUE
Before the meeting was over, it was clear the new budget for next year may bring a tax increase to property owners, as well as an assessment increase to help Suwannee County Fire Rescue. The current assessment for fire rescue for property owners is $100. The proposed increase would be to $118, Suwannee County Fire Rescue Chief Eddie Hand told the commissioners in talking about fire rescue’s need for more money in next year’s budget. Hand, a 23-year veteran of fire rescue, said his department is averaging a deficit of about $220,000 this year. “And that’s only in the fire side,” he pointed out. Hand talked about not having upgraded anything at any of the five fire stations in years; safety equipment is aging and needs to be replaced, as many firefighters are getting cancer from overusing safety equipment that is old and no longer safe. “Basically, we have a level of staff that has needed to be improved for several years. We operate in most of the county with a two-person staff on emergency vehicles. Most of our stations have a fire truck and ambulance and are a two-person team. If they are out on a fire call, no one is there to run that ambulance (or fire truck),” he said. “We need to get at least four people at every station.” Hand added the soon-to-be new station on US 129 north where the county got a $750,000 grant and put $250,000 in the budget to buy the land and build, is now expected to cost between $2-$2.2 million, with operational costs without salaries estimated at $225,000 per year. And that doesn’t include the new equipment. “Our budget doesn’t allow us to purchase new equipment,” he added. “We are running short on some trucks.” He said the new Station #6 on US 129 is already underfunded with no money at this time for the ambulance and pumper that will be needed.
Hand also pointed out his staff starts at about $12.50 per hour for people who are saving lives, which is just about 50 cents per hour above what the minimum wage will soon be. He said he desperately needs to pay his employees more, as all larger counties are paying more than Suwannee County and he’s losing people constantly. He estimates an assessment increase could help save more lives, prevent his personnel from sickness, new personnel can go to fires when ambulances are already out on calls, keep great personnel employed locally with proper raises and more.
Commissioner Clyde Fleming said he would rather have another person at the stations when one vehicle is on call and not lose a life. Hand said it has to be two, as neither a firefighter nor an EMT/Paramedic are allowed to go into a home alone on calls. The commission decided to move the matter to the consent items Tuesday, April 20, to have a study done on this issue to decide how to move forward.
OTHER UPCOMING COUNTY PROBLEMS
There are also other new problems, like a possible second landfill, since removing Suwannee County’s garbage to a landfill near Jacksonville is about to become astronomical in cost. The current high bidder for the contract to move local garbage, Waste Management, has increased rates for the coming year tremendously the commissioners were told. Waste Management, Harris said, gave the county a great bid that was accepted years ago but has since bought out the only company that bid against them at that time and now is upping the county’s costs unless commissioners can find an out. Harris said the county can’t make enough money to pay the costs this company wants.
The commissioners discussed becoming partners in already operating landfills with several other counties, building a new landfill and possibly letting other counties bring their waste here. Harris said there is no other company that can compete with Waste Management. Stapleton said he can’t just sit on the commission and take it where the prices have risen to the sky just because there’s no competition.
Harris was asked to find out what the best move for the county is, including building a new landfill and bring back his findings.
The commissioners voted to have a study done to help the county decide which direction to take on these issues.
The county is also working toward taking over removing trash from along the side of county roads by using inmates and there are a myriad of other problems which are troubling the elected officials, two of which are new to the board.
In an intense and extended meeting, the commission mentioned it would be good for local property owners to contact the commission to share ideas about some of these issues the commission is dealing with at this time. Anyone wishing to share ideas with the commission on the CARES Act or other issues may contact them by going to www.suwcounty.org, click on “county commissioners,” scroll down and find your commissioner and their email address.
Meanwhile, outside agencies that annually receive money from the county are seeking any help these agencies can get from the county and the CARES money, but answers are not readily available yet.
CARES ACT
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act, is a $2.2 trillion economic stimulus bill passed by the 116th U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump on March 27, 2020, in response to the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, according to Wikipedia.
While the government is giving away millions of dollars due to the COVID-19 pandemic to assist the nation in getting back on its feet, information regarding how to get that money, how much a county can receive, when to apply, how you can use the money and multiple other questions troubled commissioners as well as the audience. Nobody seems to know the who, what, why and when answers on CARES. It was discussed that many phone calls regarding getting those answers have not been successful. But, commissioners, as well as Harris, have been in contact with Florida’s senators, who are assisting to get some answers soon.
Commissioner Travis Land wants the CARES money now for Suwannee County residents. “If we are going to help the public, I would like to see it come sooner than later, but some of these folks may not make it until August,” Land stated of local businesses.
“I think we need a plan and to start heading in that direction,” Commissioner Don Hale said.
No one at the meeting knew for certain if the free government money can or cannot be used for items in the yet to be decided budget for next budget year.