Nov 17, 2020 Special Board of County Commissioners

[Call to Order by Chair]

[00:00:19]

>> TO REDUCE RISK OF COVID-19 ILLNESS.

THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, ADOPTED PROCEDURES, TO CONDUCT MEETINGS, THROUGH EMERGENCY ORDER NUMBER 2020-10. THE PUBLIC HAS MEANS TO COMMENT WITHOUT PHYSICALLY ATTENDING. THE COUNTY'S WEBSITE PROVIDES THE TELEPHONE NUMBER TO ATTEND THE MEETING.

PARTICIPANTS ARE ADVISED AT THAT PEOPLE MAY BE LISTENING WHO DO NOT PROVIDE COMMENT AND THOSE PERSONS MAY NOT BE REQUIRED TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES. FOR THOSE CALLING INTO COMMENT, IF YOU RECEIVE A BUSY SIGNAL, PLEASE CALL BACK.

IN ADDITION, PLEASE, THREE MINUTE TIMER.

PLEASE MUTE YOUR PHONE WHILE YOU'RE WAITING TO COMMENT AND MUTE THE MEETING ON YOUR PHONE OR TELEVISION AND OR COMPUTER WHEN YOU ARE SPEAKING. PLEASE BE AWARE THERE MAY BE A 30 SECOND DELAY IN THE VISUAL PRESENTATIONS.

IF WE EXPERIENCE ANY TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES, WE MAY BRIEF BRIEFLY WHILE RESOLVING THE MEETING.

ONCE YOU FIND THE MEETING AND AGENDA, YOU COULD ACCESS THE SUPPORTING MATERIALS. IF ANY MEMBER OF THE BOARD IS PARTICIPATING REMOTELY, EACH WILL BE CONDUCTED BY ROLE CALL.

MAY I HAVE THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLE.

>> CHAIR COMMISSIONER, JEB SMITH?

>> PRESENT. >> ADVICE COMMISSIONER, JEREMIAH

RAY BLOCKER? >> HERE.

>> COMMISSIONER JAMES JOHNS? >> PRESENT.

>> COMMISSIONER HENRY DEAN? >> PRESENT.

>> AND GOOD MORNING, PASTOR. >> LET'S PRAY.

DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THE DAY GOD FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET. GOD WE PRAY FOR THE COMMISSIONERS, GOD THIS SPECIAL MEETING, AS THERE'S REORDERING.

GOD WE PRAY THEY HOLD TRUTH TO THEIR OATH, THEY ARE ABOUT TO TAKE AND THEY HAVE ALREADY TAKEN.

GOD, WE HOPE THEY REMEMBER THEY REPRESENT THEIR FAMILIES IN A POSITIVE WAY. GOD, MAY THEY NEVER FORGET CONTROLLED BY A GOD WHO ORDAINS ALL THINGS AND THEY WERE PLACED BY THE MEN AND WOMEN, WHO PRAYED HARD BEFORE THEY COLORED THE BUBBLE AND VOTED THEM IN. GOD, WE PRAY THROUGHOUT THE MEETING, AS THE CHANGES, MAY BE EXCITING CHANGES BUT MAY THEY BE FOCUSED ON THE THINGS. WE LOVE YOU IN THESE THINGS IN

JESUS NAME. >> YOU COULD PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

>> THANK YOU. YOU MAY BE SEATED.

AT THIS POINT, IT'S NOT ON THE POINTED AAGENDA, WE WILL OFFER

[Additional Item]

IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA. WE WILL OFFER THAT MORNING.

COMMISSIONER DEAN, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO BEFORE WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME, THE BOARD WILL HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS THAT'S NOT ON THE REGULAR. I GUESS THIS IS ON THE REGULAR AGENDA, THIS ITEM. WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT.

LET ME SAY, I KNOW WE HAVE AT LEAST ONE CALLER WHO HAS BEEN STANDING BY. AT ANY EVENT, WE'LL TAKE THE FIRST CALL. GO AHEAD.

GO AHEAD, NAME AND ADDRESS. >> GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN, VICE CHAIRMAN, FOX 3084 AT FOX SLAVEN.COM.

AND I WANT TO THANK, FOR BEING ATTRIBUTED TO THE PEOPLE IN ISSUES LIKE TAXES. I WILL ALWAYS FINALLY REMEMBER HIS VERY FIRST DAY ON THE JOB AFTER HE WAS ORDAINED BY THE GOVERNOR, 2015. AND THERE WAS AN ISSUE ON 16.6 PERCENT SALES TAX INCREASE, WHICH THE DEVELOPERS BADLY WANTED, TO RELIEVE THEMSELVES $300 MILLION OF TAXES OVER 10 YEARS. HE HEARD THE CASE, LIKE HE HEARD

[00:05:01]

HE WAS THE DECIDING VOTE. HE VOTED AGAINST THE TAX INCREASE. AND EVER SINCE, HE HAS BEEN A MAN OF THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMISSION.

DIDN'T ALWAYS AGREE, BUT I ALWAYS THOUGHT HE GAVE PEOPLE A FAIR HEARING. HE'S A FINE PUBLIC SER VAPT AND WORTHY OF THE HONORS YOU WILL BESTOW TODAY.

I THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING PUBLIC COMMENT AND THANK COMMISSIONER DEAN FOR HIS SERVICE. HE WILL BE BACK.

I SEE HIM IN A STATE OR LEGISLATIVE.

HE'S GOING PLACES AND HE'S A FINE MAN.

I WANT TO THANK HIM. THANK YOU.

>> IS THERE ANOTHER CALLER? IT LOOKS LIKE IT.

NAME AND ADDRESS. HELLO, NAME AND ADDRESS?

GO AHEAD. >> TOM REYNOLDS, 50 BRIGTIN COURT, ST. JOHN'S, FLORIDA. I WAS THERE WHEN HE WAS SWORN IN TWICE AND I ALWAYS RESPECTED HOW POLITE HE'S ALWAYS BEEN UP THERE. YOU KNOW, THE DEFINITION OF INTEGRITY IS THE QUALITY OF BEING HONEST AND HAVING STRONG MORALE PRINCIPLES. JIMMY JOHNS'S PHOTO COULD BE NEXT TO THAT. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HE IS.

AND WHILE HE RESPECTED THE THOROUGHNESS OF THE AGENDA ITEMS IN THE DISCUSSION, ALSO, JAMES JOHNS IS A GREAT QUESTIONER.

I ALWAYS APPRECIATED HOW HE WOULD QUESTION AND OPEN IT UP.

HE ALWAYS MADE SURE THE AVERAGE PERSON KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON.

I WILL MISS JAMES JOHN. I KIND OF AGREE WITH EDDIE, I THINK JIMMY JOHNS WOULD MAKE A GREAT STATE LEGISLATURE.

I DON'T HOW MUCH LONGER CINDY STEVENS HAS.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE JIMMY JOHNS RUNS FOR THE OFFICE.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DID FOR THE COUNTY AND ALWAYS PUTTING

PEOPLE FIRST. >> ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT FROM GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE, GOING THREE TIMES.

BACK TO YOU MR. CHAIRMAN. >> IF WE WOULD HAVE ALL THE

COMMISSIONERS SKIP DOWN FRONT. >> WE'RE ALL GOING DOWN.

[1. Presentation and recognition of outgoing District 1 Commissioner James K. Johns]

>> COMMISSIONER, IF YOU WOULD. >> ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND THIS BOARD, ITS EMPLOYEES AND THE CITIZENS OF ST. JOHN'S COUNTY, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE TO OUR COMMUNITY. THE BIBLE SAYS IN NUMBERS 26:26-46. THE LORD BLESS AND KEEP THEE.

T LIKEWISE WE HAVE ONE MORE PRESENTATION.

THIS IS FROM FAC, FROM WHICH YOU'RE VERY INVOLVED.

I WILL READ THE LETTER, FROM MR. VIRGINIA, ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES. DEAR COMMISSIONERS JOHNS, IT IS WITH GREAT PLEASURE I PRESENT THIS SMALL TOKEN IN APPRECIATION TO ST. JOHN'S COUNTY AND THE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS. WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS. SINCERELY GINGER DELLGOT.

[00:10:01]

>> AS COMMISSIONER LEARNED TO SPEAK, EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT WANTING TO DO SO. IT'S NOT ABOUT ME TODAY.

I'VE ENJOYED GETTING TO KNOW SO MANY PEOPLE, MAKING SO MANY FRIENDS, STRENGTHENING OLD FRIENDSHIPS AND SERVING WHERE I COULD. IT'S TRULY BEEN AN HONOR AND I CONTINUE TO CONTINUE MANY FRIENDSHIPS IN THE FUTURE.

THANK YOU.

[2. Ceremonial Oaths of Office for new Commissioners by Brandon J. Patty, St. Johns County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller ]

>> SO AT THIS TIME, THERE'S GOING TO BE A SWEARING IN OF COMMISSIONER ELECT CHRISTIAN WHITEHURST, COMMISSIONER PAUL WALDRON AND COMMISSIONER HENRY DE

DEAN. >> I CHRISTIAN WHITE HURTT, DO SOLEMNLY THAT I WILL SUPPORT, PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONST CONSTITUTION IN GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

THAT I AM DUALLY QUALIFIED TO HOLD OFFICE UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE THAT I AM WELL AND FAITHFULLY PERFORMED THE DUTIES OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER ON WHICH I'M ABOUT

TO ENTER SO HELP ME GOD. >> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> I PAUL MICHAEL WALDRON. >> PROTECT THE CONSTITUTION, IN GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA, THAT I AM DUALLY QUALIFIED TO HOLD OFFICE, UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE AND I WILL WELL AND FAITHFULLY PERFORM THE DUTIES OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER ON WHICH I AM NOW

ABOUT TO ENTER SO HELP ME GOD. >> CONGRATULATIONS.

♪

>> AN ORDER, I HAVE A PLAN B. APPARENTLY MY WIFE IS RUNNING A LITTLE LATE. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO, IF SHE'S WILLING, TO ASK THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS TO COME UP AND HOLD MY BIBLE. WALDRON SWEARS ME IN.

YOU DON'T MIND. THE BEST SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS

IN THE STATE IN THE COUNTRY. >> I HENRY DEAN, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, THAT I WILL SUPPORT, PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA, THAT I'M DUALLY QUALIFIED TO HOLD OFFICE

[00:15:06]

>> CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU, SIR.

BREAK AND THEN WE'LL RECESS THIS SPECIAL MEETING AND THEN COME BACK IN WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ALONG WITH THE SPECIAL CEREMONIAL MEETING AGENDA, WITH AGENDA NUMBER THREE

[3. Review of nominating procedures for the election of County Commission Chair and Vice Chair by County Attorney Patrick F. McCormack]

NOW MR. MCCORMACK. >> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR.

AND AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE CLERK TO CONDUCT A ROLE

CALL. >> CHAIR COMMISSIONER JEB SMITH?

>> PRESENT. >> ADVICE COMMISSIONER JEREMIAH

RAY BLOCKER? >> PRESENT.

>> COMMISSIONER PAUL WALDRON? >> PRESENT.

>> COMMISSIONER HENRY DEAN? >> PRESENT.

>> THANK YOU. MR. CHAIR, COMMISSIONERS AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO REVIEW WITH YOU THE METHOD OF ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND I'M GOING TO READ A SHORT RULE FROM YOUR BOARD RULES AND POLICIES RULES 1.206.

THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR SHALL BE ELECTED ONE AT A TIME BEGINNING WITH THE CHAIR. THE VOTE WILL BE VIVA BO CE, WHICH IS VOICE VOTE AND NOMINATIONS SERVES AS A MOTION.

THE NOMINATION MUST BE SECONDED. THE DIFFERENT NAMES SHOULD BE REPEATED BY THE OUTGOING OR ONGOING CHAIR, COMMISSIONER SMITH AS THEY ARE MOVED AND SECONDED.

THE VOTE SHALL BE TAKEN AFTER THE CHAIR DECLARES THE NOMINATIONS ARE CLOSE AND SHOULD BE TAKEN ON EACH NOMINEE IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY WERE NOMINATED UNTIL ONE IS ELECTED BY THE MAJORITY OF THE VOTES. IN OTHER WORDS, AS THE CHAIR OPENS UP THE NOMINATION PROCESS, ANY COMMISSIONER MAY NOMINATE ANY COMMISSIONER. ANY COMMISSIONER MAY SECOND ANY NOMINATION. ANY COMMISSIONER MAY VOTE FOR HIMSELF. SO WITH THAT, MR. CHAIR?

>> THANK YOU, MR. MCCORMACK. NOW WE HAVE THE RULES

[4. Election of the Chair of the Board of County Commissioners]

>> I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE COMMISSIONER JEREMIAH RAY

BLOCKER FOR CHAIRMAN. >> I HAVE A NOMINATION MOTION BY COMMISSIONER DEAN FOR JEREMIAH RAY BLOCKER FOR CHAIRMAN.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? >> SECOND.

>> I HAVE A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST.

ARE THERE ANY NOMINATION. SEEING NONE, WE WILL PROCEED.

>> MR. CHAIR, IF THE BOARD WILL OFFER PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME. THE PUBLIC COMMENT SHOULD BE THE NOMINATION OF CHAIRS AND VICE CHAIRS.

>> THANK YOU, MR. MCCORMACK. I SKIPPED THAT IN MY LIST.

WE OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. >> ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON OUR ELECTION PROCESS, CHAIRMAN, VICE CHAIRMAN? ANY CALL-IN. I THOUGHT I HEARD -- I'M SORRY.

>> TOM REYNOLDS, 50 BRIGATIN COURT.

COMMISSIONERS, I ASK YOU TO NOT VOTE FOR JEREMIAH BLOCKER.

I WANT TO GO OVER WHAT HAPPENED ONE YEAR AGO.

ONE YEAR AGO WAS THE WRONGFUL TERMATION OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. NOT THAT MR. WONCHECK BE TERMINATED AT ANOTHER TIME. THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, FRANCIS PATRICK MCCORMACK, HE CITED THE LAW.

AND JEREMIAH BLOCKER SAID HE MADE THE MOTION AND HE RULED OVER THE LAW. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A MAN WHO IS AN ATTORNEY. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A MAN WHO TOOK AN OATH OF OFFICE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A MAN WHO IS

[00:20:03]

THEN WE HAVE TO GO AND BREAK COUNTY ORDINANCE IN THE HIRING OF MR. CONRAD. THEN WE HAVE TO GO AND BREAK A THIRD LAW, DISCRIMINATION, WE DON'T HIRE ANY WOMEN, DON'T INTERVIEW ANYBODY ELSE FOR THE JOB.

JEREMIAH BLOCKER HAS BEEN HERE, THIS IS -- WILL START HIS THIRD YEAR. JEREMIAH BLOCKER SHOULD SIT ON THE BENCH AND HE SHOULD WATCH HOW OTHER PEOPLE DO IT AND OBEY THE LAW. JEB SMITH AND PAUL WALDRON WOULD BE MY CHOICE. AND THEY ARE ALWAYS BOTH FOLLOW THE LAW. JEREMIAH BLOCKER PROVED BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT, BEYOND THE SPECK OF A DOUBT, HE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE LAW. HENRY DEAN IS JUST AS GUILTY AS JEREMIAH BLOCKER. HE'S AN ATTORNEY.

AT THIS POINT, WE WILL STOP THIS AND WE WILL FOLLOW THE RULES.

THAT'S WHY I AM AGAINST JEREMIAH BLOCKER AND HENRY DEAN, AND THAT'S WHY THEY SHOULD APOLOGIZE FOR, FOR BREAKING STATE LAW, BREAKING COUNTY ORDINANCE AND BREAKING THE FEDERAL LAW.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS. >> THANK YOU, TOM.

>> ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT, CALL-INS.

SEEING NONE, I THINK THAT'S IT. >> WE'RE BACK TO THE BOARD.

WE HAVE THE NOMINATIONS FOR JEREMIAH BLOCKER BY COMMISSIONER DEAN AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WH WH WHITEHURST.

>> COMMISSIONER BLOCKER? >> YES, SIR

>> COMMISSIONER WALDRON? >> YES.

[5. Election of the Vice-Chair of the Board of County Commissioners]

>> COMMISSIONER. I'LL BE A YES AS WELL.

MOVE TO CHAIRMAN OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, I'LL ENTERTAIN

COMMISSION. >> ADVICE CHAIRS.

>> AND I WILL SPEAK OVER AND THAT'S WHY I MISSED.

I WILL ENTERTAIN NOMINATIONS OF VICE CHAIR OF THE ST. JOHN'S

COUNTY COMMISSIONER. >> I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE HENRY

DEAN AS VICE CHAIR. >> HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER

WHITEHURST. >> YOU DO SO, COMMISSIONER

BLOCKER. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BLOCKER. I HAVE A MOTION FOR NOMINATION FOR HENRY DEAN FOR VICE CHAIR. I HAVE A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BLOCKER. ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? SEEING NONE, NOMINATIONS NOW CEASED.

WE MOVE FORWARD. >> COMMISSIONER DEAN?

>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER BLOCKER?

>> YES, SIR >> COMMISSIONER WALDRON?

>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER WHITE HURST?

>> YES. >> I'LL BE A YES AS WELL.

WE HAVE A NEW CHAIR AND NEW VICE CHAIR.

[6. Presentation to outgoing Chair, Commissioner Jeb S. Smith]

>> IT'S BEEN MY HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO SERVE ON THE COMMISSION FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS WITH MY GOOD FRIENDS, COMMISSIONER JEB SMITH. I COULD TELL YOU VERY CLEARLY AND VERY EMPHATICALLY THAT HE HAS DONE A REMARKABLY GOOD JOB AS CHAIRMAN THIS YEAR AND IN HIS PREVIOUS SERVICE AS CHAIRMAN.

HE'S DEALT WITH HURRICANES, DEALT WITH COVID.

HE'S HAD TO ADJUST THE WAY WE CONDUCT MEETINGS.

HE'S ALWAYS FULLY PREPARED. ALWAYS TAKES BETTER NOTES THAN ANYONE WHEN IT COMES TO ITEMS. HE CARES DEEPLY ABOUT THE COUNTY, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I WILL SAY THIS MORNING. HE CARES ABOUT THE FAMILIES, WHETHER THEY LIVE IN FRUIT GROVE AND COMMISSION BEACH.

AND I WANT TO THANK CHAIRMAN FOR SERVING AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING SERVING WITH JEB.

[7. Presentation to outgoing Vice-Chair, Commissioner Jeremiah Ray Blocker]

>> I WAS GOING TO WAIT UNTIL COMMISSIONER BLOCKER RETURNS IN PERSON TO PRESENT HIS VICE CHAIRMAN AWARD IS THERE ANYONE HERE THAT SPECIFICALLY CAME ONLY FOR THE AWARD. I WILL TELL YOU TO COME BACK ON

[00:25:02]

THANK YOU. >> WE WILL NOW ADJOURN THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE ST. JOHN'S COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND WE WILL PLAN TO CONVENE OR TO START OUR NEXT MEETING, REGULAR MEETING IN FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.