BY TRACY LEE TATE
Times Editor
LAKE BUTLER — At its March meeting the Union County Board of Commissioners discussed whether or not to enter into a franchise agreement with Florida Power and Light. The fee would be based on an agreement with FPL that the county would not, in the future, pursue setting up its own electrical power service, thus guaranteeing that FPL would be able to retain the customers it serves in the county.
County Coordinator Jimmy Williams said that he had been speaking with representatives from the city of Lake Butler, which has a similar agreement and that is raised about $100,000 per year from the fee. In the discussion it was also stated the both the Raiford had a fee as well. Williams said that in his discussions with FPL it was determined that the county would collect about $90,000 from the agreement.
Commissioner Willie Croft made motion to approve entering into the agreement with FPL and the motion passed on vote 5-0.
In other discussion, commissioners heard from Union County Emergency Medical Services Director Toby Witt concerning the hiring of a new medical director for the service. Witt said that there were numerous problems with communicating with current director, Dr. Matthew Odom, that were affecting the ability of the service to acquire the medications and medical supplies it needed to care for county residents. He noted numerous phone calls to Odom that have gone unanswered.
Witt introduced Dr. Robert Spindell to the board as his recommendation for the position. Witt and Spindell had worked together at one of Witt’s previous positions and Witt said that he (Spindell) had always been available when needed and seen to the needs of the departments he served.
Spindell is a retired emergency room director at the now defunct Shand at Live Oak emergency department, where he oversaw emergency operations for 20 years. He now works full time serving as medical director for several area counties, including Baker and Columbia. He offered Union County his lowest rate for service, at an amount of $20,000 per year. His contract states that he would be a county employee and qualify for the retirement program, but that he would waive worker’s compensation, health insurance and most other county benefits.
Motion was made by Commissioner Channing Dobbs to terminate the county’s contract with Odom which was approved by the board 5-0, then made motion to hire Spindell, which was also approved unanimously. The department will be operating with two directors for the next month, as Odom’s contract requires a 30-day notice of termination of services, but Spindell is on hand to see that EMS is able to meet its needs for medications and supplies.
Also EMS related, the board voted unanimously to terminate a long-standing interlocal agreement with Bradford County, entered into to deal with a personnel shortage in Union, to where off-duty Bradford EMS personnel would be sent to Union to make sure shifts were covered and be paid at the overtime rate plus benefits. Witt said that Bradford EMS Director Allen Parrish agreed that the need for this agreement had passed and was in favor of terminating the agreement. Witt noted that Union County EMS was now staffed and that he would rather see Union staff paid overtime if necessary, to cover shifts rather than sending the money out of the county. Commissioner Lacey Cannon made motion to give the required 60-day notice to Bradford County and then terminate the agreement and the matter was approved by the board 5-0.
In other discussion and action the Union County Board of County Commissioners:
—Heard a request from Wendy Crews, with Community Hospice and Palliative care, that the board accept and approve a proclamation recognizing the month of April as National Healthcare Decisions Month (and April 16 as National Healthcare Decisions Day). She said the observance was intended to make to increase public awareness of advance directives and other health related pre-event decisions made so that an individual is able to dictate the care they would receive in a case where they were not able to communicate their wishes. Motion was made by Cannon to approve the proclamation and the motion passed 5-0.
—Voted to release an unused easement given up by J.R. Davis to facilitate the work done on NW 150th Loop. Motion was made to give the property (easement) back to Davis and the motions passed 5-0.
—Heard comments from County Coordinator Jimmy Williams concerning the need for a workshop to finalized the spending plan for the monies received from the federal government under the ARPA program (COVID related). He said that there had been many changes required to the original plan as the Fed had taken much time to finalize the regulation as to how the money could be spent. Union County has been holding the $2.9 million in funds until it could formulate a plan that would best use the funds for the benefit of the county. Some of the possible expenditures to be discussed include public health and expenses and incurred, premium pay. The board agreed with Williams request and set a public workshop to discuss the matter for April 18 at 4 p.m., before the regular April board meeting.
—Heard a report from Williams that the county would be receiving a $7,500 grant for advertising from the state Enterprise Fund to assist in presenting information about the county with the intent of interesting businesses in locating here and to assist in other economic development areas. Williams noted in his report that the funds were not derived from tax fund but were raised by Enterprise itself for the purpose.
—Heard comments from Solid Waste Director Kim Hayes that the annual Tire Amnesty program was set to take place April 1-3 outside the Solid Waste department office at the West Gate of the DOC Reception Medical Center (RMC), behind the O.J. Phillips Park. She said tires to be disposed of would be limited to 20 per individual and would be accepted on or off the rim. She also noted that no commercial or off-road tires would be accepted.
—Heard comments from Cannon that he had been approached by Operation Grad to see if the county would allow the organization to use the meeting room at the Union County Agricultural Education Center for their annual after-graduation event. Cannon said that he had been assured by organizers that there would be not cost to the county and that there would be event insurance for the event and that Project Grad volunteers would take care of the clean-up afterward. Commission Chairman Jimmy Tallman said he thought it was a “great idea” and would help keep the young people safe and the board approved the use of the meeting room 5-0.
