Suwannee Commissioners announce FLOCK cameras shut down in Suwannee County

Christian Peterson

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On Tuesday, Sept. 1, the Suwannee County Board of County Commissioners met for its regularly scheduled meeting, beginning with the approval of the minutes from the Tuesday, Aug. 18, meeting.

The board then called for public comment.

The first speaker was Keith Broaders, who discussed the 14^th Amendment, and encouraged others to look into its creation.

Wendy Martin followed, also speaking on the 14^th Amendment and offering input on Broader’s comment about its creation. She then thanked the county for what she felt was an improved election process using technology.

The final public comment came from Moses Clepper. He expressed concerns with multiple agenda items. He then asked that the sheriff defund Flock cameras, and discussed his concerns with the North Florida Water Utilities Authority (NFWUA).

The board then moved onto its consent agenda, pulling one item for discussion before approving the remaining six. The pulled item was approval of payment of $4,941,711.21 in processed invoices. Commissioner Travis Land explained that the item was pulled because he needed to abstain from the vote on it due to a conflict of interest. One of the invoices was for $755 for the transport of a body by Harry T. Reid Funeral Home. Land and his wife own the company, and due to that conflict of interest, he must abstain from voting. The item was approved unanimously, with Land abstaining.

The meeting continued with County Attorney Adam Morrison’s items. He told the board that there was a Live Oak Community Redevelopment Agency meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 22, and he would be presenting some concerns on behalf of the county. He requested permission to speak on the county’s behalf, which the board authorized.

Morrison then spoke on Flock cameras. He explained that the cameras had been ordered to be removed from all state roads effectively. He had then spoken with the sheriff’s office, and as of the meeting date, those installed by the sheriff’s office were turned off immediately and permanently and would be removed soon. He clarified that the sheriff’s office had shut down all Flock cameras in the county, even those not on state-maintained roads.

The final item that Morrison brought up was bond sources for the wastewater treatment plant. He explained that the interest rate would be around 4.6% to 4.8%. He said work was continuing on it.

The meeting continued with the board’s general business. The first item was discussion and possible approval of the NFWUA recommended water and wastewater rates for Suwannee County utility customers. The board approved the recommended rates.

The next two items were connected. First was a task order with Miller Legg for the Phase 1 on-site roadway and infrastructure design for the Project Summit Regional Emergency Shelter. It had a budget impact of $497,000, which would be paid with grant funds. The second item was another task order with Miller Legg for site schematic design and design development services for the shelter. This would have a budget impact of $3,546, 250, which would be paid with grant funds. Both items were approved unanimously.

The final action item in general business was a change order for the discovery of unsuitable soils at the Jefferson-Smith Civic Center. County Administrator Jason Furry explained that clay soils had been discovered during construction work, and the price was roughly $105,000, which the board would need to cover. The board approved the change order and gave Furry permission to release the funds.

During Furry’s updates, he asked for permission from the board to discuss utilities for the regional shelter at the upcoming City of Live Oak meeting. The board approved. After the commissioner’s comments, the meeting was adjourned.

The next regular Suwannee County Board of County Commissioner’s meeting will be Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 5:30 p.m. in the Judicial Annex located at 218 Parshley St. SW in Live Oak.