Christian Peterson
reporter.riverbendnews@gmail.com
On Monday, June 23, the Lafayette County Board of County Commissioners met for its regularly scheduled meeting. The meeting began with the Board approving the minutes from the previous meeting, followed by a call for public comment, to which there was one response. Spencer Nabors stood up to update the Board about the Community Block Development Grant. He informed the Board the State had reached out to conduct a site visit and gather additional information. He explained that, for the most part, this doesn't happen unless the project is getting funded, so he thought things were looking good for the County.
The Board then called for department head reports. Public Works Director Seth Jackson informed the Board they were cleaning up the boat ramps and preparing for the Fourth of July. Shawn Jackson from the Extension Office told them the office was busy with summer camps. After those brief updates, the Board turned to its scheduled agenda items.
First, the Board considered approving an interlocal agreement with the City of Live Oak for Reciprocal Building Official Services. Steve Land explained Building and Zoning Director Garret Land has a good relationship with the building inspector in Live Oak. The agreement would allow the pair to essentially fill in for each other and assist one another when needed. The Board approved the item unanimously. The meeting continued with the consideration of an agreement for professional services with Volkert, Inc. He explained this item was standard and the Board had already approved the scope of service for the project, which was County Road 400. The Board approved the agreement unanimously. The following item on the agenda was to approve the 911 Rural Grant Program with the Department of Management Services. Steve Land went into detail, explaining it is a standard grant program covering the routine maintenance of the 911 system. He also stated A.K. Associates would be the company responsible for the maintenance.
The meeting continued, with the next item being the consideration of approval of the scope of services for construction, engineering and inspection services for County Road 536 with H.W. Lochner. Steve Land explained this was the first step in the process and reminded the Board that North Florida Professional Services had designed the project. The Board approved the item unanimously. The Board then set a public hearing for Tuesday, July 22, at 5:30 p.m., to hear any concerns about closing a portion of Brack Abbott Road. Immediately after that, the Board set a second public hearing for the same date and time to hear concerns about closing a portion of Southeast Sidney Drive. Gary Haines filed a petition to close the road, as it goes through his yard, and allegedly, no one else uses it.
The Board then paid its monthly bills. To wrap up the meeting, the Board approved a consultant agreement with Lochner, Inc., for CEI services for County Roads 410 and 411, as well as the guaranteed maximum price for the Lafayette County Emergency Operations Center project. After that, the meeting was adjourned. The next Lafayette County Board of County Commissioners meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 8, at 5:30 p.m. in the Lafayette County Courthouse located at 120 W Main St., in Mayo.