* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:02] GOOD MORNING. YOU'RE GOING TO CALL THIS A PUBLIC FORUM TO ORDER PUBLIC FORUM, JUNE 18, 2020 8:30 AM. GARY SANSING PUBLIC FORUM IS INTENDED FOR MATTERS, NOT INCLUDED ON THE AGENDA FOR THE 9:00 AM MEETING. CITIZENS' WISHING TO ADDRESS ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. MUST SIGN UP TO SPEAK TO SUCH ITEM AT THE REGULAR BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, MEETING SPEAKERS, PLEASE REFRAIN FROM THE ABUSIVE OR PROFANE REMARKS, DISRUPT PROTESTS OR OTHER CONDUCT, WHICH INTERFERES WITH THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THE MEETING. FIRST SPEAKER THIS MORNING. IT'S MICHAEL LOWRY. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. GOOD MORNING, LIKE LORI PRESIDENT OF BUSINESS, AGENT OF ATU, LOCAL 1395. AS YOU KNOW, WE HAD A POSITIVE AT ECAT, UH, OF A EMPLOYEE THAT CAME POSITIVE FOR COVID-19. I COME TO YOU TODAY TO SAY THAT, UH, THIS WAS VERY CONCERNING TO THE EMPLOYEES, UM, DUE TO THE RELAXATION OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE RELAXATION OF DRIFTING AWAY FROM WEARING MASK. THESE EMPLOYEES, UM, ARE ESSENTIAL, CRITICAL EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE A LOT OF DIRECT CONTACT WITH, UH, CITIZENS. SO OUR CONCERN IS THIS EMPLOYEE THAT RETURNED HAD A LOT OF CONTACT WITH A LOT OF OTHER FELLOW EMPLOYEES. I FIRST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HAVING A TESTING DONE ONSITE AND SETTING THAT UP THAT IS ESSENTIAL AND A VERY IMPORTANT THING BECAUSE THE EMPLOYEES NEED TO KNOW. WHAT I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THOUGH, IS THAT WE ADMITTEDLY HAVE INDIVIDUALS AND COMING DIRECTLY FROM THE INDIVIDUAL THAT HAD COVID-19 HAS STATED TO THE, THAT THEY HAD DIRECT CONTACT, PHYSICAL CONTACT. IN SOME CASES WITH SOME OF THESE EMPLOYEES, AS MANY AS ALMOST 30, PLEASE, WE FEEL THAT THESE EMPLOYEES SHOULD BE QUARANTINE NOW, AND THESE EMPLOYEES WHILE BEING TESTED UNTIL THEY HAVE NEGATIVE RESULTS, BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT THEM ON THOSE BUSES RIGHT NOW WITH OTHER CITIZENS. THE GOOD NEWS IS THE INDIVIDUAL THAT CAME UP POSITIVE FOR COVID-19. AND WE BELIEVE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH CONTACT WITH RIDERS, BUT SHE HAD CONTACT WITH OTHER EMPLOYEES. IT'S THE OTHER EMPLOYEES THAT WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT RIGHT NOW. IT'S ABOUT PROTECTING THE PUBLIC AND THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT. WE SHOULDN'T JUST BE TESTING AND JUST WAITING FOR THE RESULTS AND ALLOWING THOSE DRIVERS OUT THERE THAT WE KNOW HAD DIRECT CONTACT WITH HER OUT THERE, DRIVING THOSE BUSES RIGHT NOW AND OUT IN THE PUBLIC. WE PRAY FOR HER. WE'RE CONCERNED FOR HER AND HER FAMILY. SHE HAD A ROUGH NIGHT LAST NIGHT, BAD NIGHT. HER DAUGHTER IS ALSO POSITIVE FOR COVID-19. I'M ASKING YOU DIRECT MANAGEMENT TO LOOK AT THE LIST THAT I PROVIDED TO THEM. I SPOKE DIRECTLY TO HER. IT DIRECTLY SAYS SOME PEOPLE HAD DIRECT CONTACT WITH HER. OTHERS HAD INDIRECT. THAT MIGHT BE CONSIDERABLE. THAT THOSE MAY BE SHOULD NOT BE QUARANTINE. WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT WARRANTY FOR SOME OF THOSE EMPLOYEES. MR. CHAIRMAN, I CAN RESPOND. THANK YOU, TONYA. AND MR. HALL CAN ALSO RESPOND IF NECESSARY, BUT I HAVE ALREADY BEEN ON THE PHONE WITH DR. LANZA THIS MORNING FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE PROVIDED THE LIST OF THOSE THAT HAVE DIRECT, UH, CONTACT AS MR. LOWRY HAS MENTIONED, THOSE THAT MAY HAVE HUGGED OR KISSED MISS THE, THE EMPLOYEE WHEN THEY CAME BACK, YOU KNOW, WELCOMING THEM BACK AFTER NUMEROUS WEEKS OF NOT SEEING EACH OTHER. AND THAT MAY HAVE BEEN IN THE BREAK ROOM AND MAY HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, HAD LUNCHES IN THE SAME AREA. SO WE DO HAVE THAT LIST. AND TANYA, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE HOW MANY THAT WAS SPECIFICALLY THAT WE BELIEVE HAD DIRECT CONTACT, BUT I KNOW THAT WE ARE DOING THE CONTACT TRACING WITH DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH THIS MORNING. EXCUSE ME, MR. CHAIRMAN, SIR. UH, MINISTER TO GILLY. WE QUARANTINE THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN DIRECT CONTACT, UH, WE'VE RECEIVED THE LIST AND THAT IS WHAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS CURRENTLY HELPING US WORK ON. UM, GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. UM, I DID RECEIVE A CALL FROM DR. LANZA THIS MORNING. WE PROVIDED THEM THE LIST YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AND, UH, WE ARE GOING TO, UM, THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT HAD DIRECT CONTACT OR BEING ASKED TO LEAVE WORK AND TO NOT COME BACK UNTIL THEY HAVE A NEGATIVE TEST. SO THE ANSWER IS THE PEOPLE THAT BECAME IN DIRECT CONTACT HAD BEEN QUARANTINED. THEY'LL BE QUOTING. YES, SIR. THEY WILL BE, ARE THEY HAVE BEEN, UM, WE'RE NOTIFYING THEM TODAY. OKAY. SO THEY SHOULD IMMEDIATELY. YES, SIR. WE DON'T NEED DR. LANZA TO TELL US THAT IF SOMEONE'S BEEN IN CONTACT THAT IT NEED TO BE QUARANTINED. CORRECT. OKAY. SO THAT'S FOR THE RECORD. I JUST WANT TO, BECAUSE I'VE HAD MULTIPLE PHONE CALLS, TARA LOVELY IS A DEAR FRIEND OF MINE. THE PEOPLE WHO CAME IN CONTACT ARE BEING QUARANTINED. YES, [00:05:01] SIR. THAT IS PERFECT. THANK YOU TIME. AND I JUST WANT TO JUST, UH, FOR THE PUBLIC, UM, SHE DID HAVE VERY MINIMAL CONTACT AFTER COMING BACK FROM, UM, BEING OUT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. UM, AND WE HAVE, UH, FOGGED OUR, FOR THE ENTIRE FACILITY LAST EVENING AS WELL DONE ADDITIONAL CLEANING OF THE, UH, THE PRIMARY, UH, AREAS THAT EMPLOYEES CONGREGATE AND THE EMPLOYEE HAS NOT THAT PARTICULAR EMPLOYEE HAS NOT BEEN BACK TO THE FACILITY SINCE SATURDAY. THAT IS CORRECT. OKAY. WELL, I DO WANT TO SAY THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE REALIZE HOW SERIOUS THIS IS AND THAT SOCIAL DISTANCING AND ALL THE RULES FROM THE CDC OR SHOULD BE ADHERED TO IN OUR WORKPLACE. AND SO IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY ALL WERE NOT AT A YEAR OR TWO INSIDE OF THE BREAK ROOM. AND TO ME, THAT PRESENTS A FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM. IF WE, I MEAN, WE HAVE COMMUNITY CENTERS THAT ARE JUST OPEN. WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE GOING, UM, THE GUIDELINES WERE THERE FOR A REASON BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN TESTED AND THEY WORK. YES, SIR. WE HAVE SIGNAGE THAT'S BEEN UP THAT HAS BEEN UP SINCE THE BEGINNING THAT HAS AN ENCOURAGED SOCIAL DISTANCING, REQUIRING A MASK OF ALL EMPLOYEES WHEN THEY'RE TRAVELING BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS AS WELL AS A REQUIREMENT FOR THEM TO WEAR A MASK WHEN THEY'RE ON THE BUS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR MAN. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, SIR. I JUST WANTED TO BE ASSURED THAT THOSE PEOPLE WHO WERE IN CONTACTED BEING QUARANTINED AND THEN THEY WILL BE TESTED, CORRECT AMOUNT OF ADMINISTRATOR. YES. FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HAS WORKED WITH US. THEY ARE SETTING UP A TESTING SITE AT THE FACILITY TODAY FOR EMPLOYEES. UM, WE ARE TESTING BETWEEN ONE TO FIVE TODAY AND TOMORROW, SO THAT ANY EMPLOYEE, IT IS, IT IS STILL VOLUNTARY. WE ARE NOT MANDATING, UH, THE EMPLOYEES TEST, BUT IT IS AVAILABLE FOR THEM FOR TESTING, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE TO, THEY DON'T HAVE TO MEET ANY RISK FACTORS. RIGHT. I MEAN, THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE SYMPTOMATIC. THEY DON'T HAVE TO HAVE DONE ANYTHING ELSE, NO REQUIREMENTS. THERE ARE NO LIMITATIONS. AND, UM, AND WE ARE DOING IT FROM ONE TO FIVE, TWO DAYS SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE, UH, HANDLE THE SHIFTS. ANY SHIFT CHANGE. SUPER THANKS. YES, SIR. MR. CHAIRMAN, UM, BUT THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN QUARANTINED WHO WERE IN DIRECT DIRECT CONTACT WITH THIS PERSON WILL BE TESTED, CORRECT? YEAH. THAT IS WHAT I WAS IN DISCUSSION WITH, WITH DR. LANZA AND WITH TANYA TO ENSURE THAT THOSE ARE DEFINITELY CORN AND WE'RE REQUIRING FROM MANAGEMENT TO THE BUS DRIVER TO THE CUSTODIAN TO WEAR A MASK AND TO PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING. CORRECT, SIR, WE HAVE SIGNS EVERYWHERE. YEAH, YEAH. ALL BLOOD ARE WE REQUIRING THEM TO DO IT? WE ARE. YES, SIR. AND SOME PEOPLE WOULD JUST, AND I UNDERSTAND, BUT FOR THE RECORD WE HAVE TO SAY WE'RE REQUIRING AND YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DON'T DO IT. THEN THEY PUT THEIR HEALTH AT RISK. AND WHEN THEY'RE PUTTING THEIR HEALTH AT RISK, THEY'RE PUTTING OTHER PEOPLE HEALTH AT RISK. YES, SIR. UH, WE, AND I DO THINK THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO RESOLVE PROBABLY AT MOST OF OUR DEPARTMENTS IN TERMS OF, UM, THE BREAK ROOMS AND THE AREAS WHERE YOU DO TYPICALLY EAT. BECAUSE AS WE ALL KNOW, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO EAT WITH A MASK ON. SO THAT IS AN ANOTHER LAYER OF, UM, OF, UH, PROTECTION THAT WE NEED TO TRY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE RESOLVE TO PROVIDE ENOUGH SPACE FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING SO THAT FOLKS CAN ACTUALLY EAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT THEIR MASK ON WHILE THEY'RE EATING. SO WE'RE, THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADDRESS. UH, AND THAT'S FINE. I'M NOT AN ADMINISTRATOR, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD NOT ALLOW ANY CONGREGATING. AND, UH, JUST AS IN A RESTAURANT, UH, THE SIX FEET AWAY, THE X IS, UH, THE SEPARATIONS, I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE INCLUDED BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE WILL JUST NOT BE RESPONSIBLE. WELL, WE HAVE TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND, UM, THAT THE GUIDELINES ARE IN PLACE FOR A REASON. THANK YOU, MR. JIM. ABSOLUTELY. AND TANYA, TANYA DID SAY THAT, THAT THE QUARANTINE DEPLOYS WOULDN'T BE ALLOWED BACK UNTIL THEY HAD A NEGATIVE TEST RESULT. RIGHT. OKAY. SO THAT IS SO WE ARE REQUIRING THAT OF THEM. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. NEXT SPEAKER IS JENELLE CONWAY. MORNING. MY NAME IS JENELLE CONWAY. I AM RESIDE AT 29 CASTLE CIRCLE IN MARY ESTHER. AND I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I WANTED TO BRING UP THE ISSUE OF, UM, BUDGETARY ALLOTMENTS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT VERSUS OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. I MYSELF, UH, HOLD A K-12 TEACHING LICENSURE. UM, AND I TEACH SPANISH. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, PARTICULARLY AT THIS POINT, WE, WHERE WE DON'T LOSE THE MOMENTUM AND STOP TALKING ABOUT BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENTS, WHERE WE TALK ABOUT THE NEED TO LOOK AT LAW ENFORCEMENT, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE HERE IN A SMALL COMMUNITY RELATIVE TO THE REST OF THE COUNTRY. AND WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF THINGS REGARDING LAW ENFORCEMENT UP ON THE AGENDA OR IN THE NATIONAL EYE. IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO STILL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND REALIZE THAT WE NEED TO START CHANGE AT A SMALL LEVEL SO THAT WE DON'T BECOME A PART OF THE NATIONAL DIALOGUE. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOT SEEN AS A PROBLEMATIC [00:10:01] AREA, THAT WE TAKE ACTION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE IMPROVE, BECAUSE THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENTS. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR BUDGET AND THAT WE'RE NOT PRIORITIZING, UM, ONE SIDE AS OPPOSED TO THE OTHER. AND BY THAT, I MEAN, WE NEED TO LOOK AT HOW MUCH WE'RE SPENDING ON LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT. BECAUSE ONE THING THAT I'VE HEARD A LOT RECENTLY IS HOW LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS SIMPLY TOO MUCH ON THEIR PLATES. THEY'RE CALLED FOR TOO MANY THINGS. SO AS PART OF THAT IS IMPORTANT TO DECREASE WHAT WE'RE GIVING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND DECREASE WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT. IT NEEDS TO BE MORE EXPLICITLY ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW IN HIGH TENSE, TENSION, UM, SITUATIONS. AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT GIVING FUNDING TO MENTAL HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS AND LETTING OTHER ORGANIZATIONS STEP UP TO THE BAT WHERE WE DON'T NECESSARILY NEED SOMEONE ARMED WITH LETHAL FORCE TO ADDRESS A SITUATION. SO, UM, ANOTHER CONSIDERATION WOULD BE AS PART OF DECREASING WHAT WE'RE GIVING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, BOTH IN BUDGET AND EXPECTATIONS IS THE IMPORTANCE OF INCREASING THE TRAINING THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT RECEIVES. I AS A K-12 EDUCATOR, WENT TO FOUR YEARS OF COLLEGE AND I HAD TO TAKE PASS STATE TESTING IN ORDER TO BE ALLOWED TO TEACH YOUNG CHILDREN. AND I DON'T HAVE THE POWER OF LETHAL FORCE. IF SOMEONE DOES HAVE THE POWER OF LETHAL FORCE, IT IS INCREDIBLE TO ME THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH TRAINING. THAT IS INCREDIBLY LESS TIME THAN I DID JUST TO STAND IN FRONT OF A CROWD OF HIGH SCHOOLERS. MR. G MR. CHAIRMAN, IF I MIGHT ONE SECOND, MS. MS. CONWAY. SO YOUR TIME IS UP. YES. MA'AM I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU. SURE. YEAH. UM, AND I APPRECIATE YOU COMING AND I APPRECIATE YOU SPEAKING, BUT WE, WE, UM, WE FUND OUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND EVERY YEAR IT'S, IT'S A BATTLE TO GET ENOUGH MONEY TOGETHER TO FUND THEM, UM, BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A DIFFICULT JOB AND IT'S SO DIFFICULT TO RECRUIT PEOPLE TO DO THAT JOB. AND WHEN I'M WITNESSING THINGS THAT I'M SEEING AROUND THIS COUNTRY TODAY, I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO GET ANY EASIER TO HIRE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHEN THEY'RE DISRESPECTED SPIT ON MARGINALIZED SECOND GUESSED BACKSTABBED SO LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING, CAUSE YOU BROUGHT IT TO US TODAY. UM, YOU WANT TO DEFUND THE POLICE. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR? I AGREE WITH A LOT OF THINGS THAT PEOPLE WHO STAY DEFUND, THE POLICE ARE SAYING, I HAVE NOT MYSELF STOOD BEHIND THAT PARTICULAR HASHTAG BECAUSE I THINK THAT IT'S SO BROAD AND IT DOESN'T TALK ABOUT THE INTRICACIES, WHICH I TRIED TO DISCUSS. I GET THAT I WAS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER. AND LET ME JUST TELL YOU WHEN I WAS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, I OFTEN THOUGHT THE MOST UNDER APPRECIATED EMPLOYEES IN OUR COUNTRY WERE TEACHERS. SECOND GUEST BLAMED FOR THINGS, NOT THEIR FAULT, UNDERPAID UNDER APPRECIATED. BUT NOW THAT I'M A COUNTY COMMISSIONER AND WE HAVE TO FUND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE OUR ENTIRE COUNTY AND WHAT I'M SEEING AROUND THE COUNTRY. I THINK THE MOST UNDERAPPRECIATED VILIFIED EMPLOYEES IN THE WORLD ARE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS NOW. AND I DON'T, I WORRY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO EVEN HIRE PEOPLE WHO WOULD WANT TO DO THIS JOB. I AM. UM, I JUST THINK IT'S, IT'S RIDICULOUS TO EVER EVEN TALK ABOUT DEFUNDING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I THINK ANYONE THAT SAYS THAT OUT LOUD IS MAKES A FOOL OF HIMSELF BY SAYING THAT I THINK WE NEED TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR POLICE OFFICERS INCREASE THE TRAINING AND WE NEED TO GET BACK TO A POINT WHERE WE RESPECT POLICE OFFICERS. AND THE OTHER THING I WANT TO SAY, SINCE WE'RE TALKING, DON'T FIGHT WITH THE POLICE. WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO SPEAK WITH YOU, WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH YOU AND WHEN UNFORTUNATELY THEY HAVE TO MAKE AN ARREST. IF YOU FIGHT IN COURT, YOU FIGHT IN COURT, YOU DON'T FIGHT OUT IN THE STREETS WITH THE COPS, YOU FIGHT IN THE STREET WITH THE COPS, IT DOESN'T END WELL. AND YOU GET WHAT I'M SEEING IN THIS COUNTRY. NOW WITH THE WAY POLICE OFFICERS BEING TREATED SICKENS ME. AND I WORRY ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU COMING TODAY. AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU KNEW HOW I FELT ABOUT THAT. DO YOU FUNDING LAW ENFORCEMENT IS RIDICULOUS AND I WILL NEVER SUPPORT THAT AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER. I THINK WE NEED TO INCREASE OUR FUNDING PER POLICE OFFICERS. THANK YOU, MS. PLEASE, PLEASE. PLEASE DO NOT APPLAUD EVERYONE. IS EVERYONE GOING TO BE VERY RESPECTFUL? PLEASE DO NOT APPLAUD MS. CONWAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. THANK YOU. ALL OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KEYSHAWN ROGERS. UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK, UM, THESE ARE JUST IN GENERAL, BUT I THINK OUR, OUR BOARD HAS DONE A GOOD JOB AT FUNDING, OTHER PROGRAMS. UM, I THINK WE DID LAKEVIEW LAST YEAR. WE, WE DO [00:15:01] PATHWAYS FOR CHANGE. UM, WE, WE DO, UH, SPORTS PROGRAMS THAT, THAT ARE ALTERNATIVE THINGS. UM, WE ARE, UH, CONSTANTLY, I MEAN, WE OPERATE THE JAIL SO WE KNOW HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO INCARCERATE SOMEONE ON A DAILY BASIS VERSUS MAYBE WHAT THOSE ARE. UM, AND I SERVE ON THE JUVENILE JUSTICE COMMITTEE. AND SO YOU LOOK AT WHAT THOSE ORGANIZATIONS ARE DOING TO HELP OUR YOUTH. YOU HEAR STORIES FROM, UM, I MEAN, UNFORTUNATELY EVERYONE DOES RELY ON THE POLICE WHEN THERE'S AN ISSUE. SO IF THERE'S, UM, YOU KNOW, IF SOMEONE NEEDS TO BE BAKER ACTED, THEY CALL THE POLICE. AND WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT THE POLICE ARE TRYING TO DEESCALATE THE SITUATION. IF, IF THEY'LL ASK THE CALLER, DOES THIS PERSON GET AGITATED AT THE SIDE OF A POLICE OFFICER? IF THE ANSWER IS YES, THEN THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO WORK WITH THE COLOR ON HOW TO HANDLE THE SITUATION AS OPPOSED TO SHOWING UP. I MEAN, THEY ARE TAKING STEPS, BUT ALL TOO OFTEN, THEY'RE THERE THE, ON THE LAST LINE OF DEFENSE, THE ONLY ONES LEFT TO RESPOND. UM, AND, AND SO, UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REACH OUT TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. UH, WE'RE IN, UH, AN MOU WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT ON THEIR FUNDING RIGHT NOW, UM, THAT HE TOOK TO THE GOVERNOR. THAT WAS AN AGREEMENT THAT THREE YEARS AGO. UM, AND SO JUST EVERYONE'S AWARE THAT THERE'S, THERE IS THAT MOU THAT, THAT EXISTS THROUGH THIS YEAR. UM, AND, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, BUT I THINK THE, YOU KNOW, YOU TALKED TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, YOU SEE WHAT THEY'VE PUT OUT AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THEY HAVE. YOU, YOU MAY BE SURPRISED WHAT THEY'RE ALREADY DOING CORRECTLY. I'M NOT GOING TO LIE. I WISH I HAD MORE THAN THREE MINUTES. UM, BUT BEFORE I ACTUALLY SPEAK ON MY MAIN POINT, WHICH IS THE CONFEDERATE MONUMENTS, I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO SAY IT WAS VERY UNPROFESSIONAL THAT YOU SPOKE OVER HER WHEN SHE STARTED SPEAKING. AND IT WAS VERY RUDE. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU KNEW THAT, BUT TODAY, UH, I ACTUALLY WANNA SPEAK ON THE MONUMENTS. UM, I BELIEVE THEY'RE OBSOLETE AND THEY'RE A STAIN ON THIS COMMUNITY. I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE THOSE DOWN FOR MULTIPLE REASONS. FIRST, THE CONFEDERACY COMMITTED TREASON, THEY FOUGHT FOR SLAVERY. THERE IS NO OTHER ARGUMENT. PEOPLE TRY TO ARGUE THAT IT WAS FOUGHT OVER A FREE STATE. IF YOU ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE CONSTITUTION, IT STATES YOU'RE ALLOWED TO HAVE A MILITIA FOR FREE STATE. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE DEFINITION OF A FREE STATE, IT, IT SAYS THERE'S, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED SLAVERY. SO TO FIGHT FOR A FREE STATE IS TO FIGHT FOR THE ACTUAL NEED OF NO SLAVERY. SO THEY WERE ALSO MASS PRODUCED, NOT EVEN PRODUCED HERE IN THIS, IN THE CITY, THEY WERE MASS PRODUCED UP NORTH AND SHIPPED DOWN HERE. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE SO MANY OF THEM. AND IF YOU ACTUALLY LOOK ON ONE OF THE MONUMENTS, IT SAYS CONFEDERATE NOT DEAD. IT SAYS THAT ONLY TO INSTILL FEAR IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY, BECAUSE BACK THEN WHEN THOSE MONUMENTS WERE CREATED, THEY WERE USED TO TERRORIZE IT, TERRORIZED THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND LET THEM KNOW THAT WE ARE STILL HERE. EVEN THOUGH WE LOST A WAR, WE WILL FOREVER BE FIGHTING AGAINST YOU AND TO STAND FOR THE CONFEDERATE FLAG TO STAND FOR THESE MONUMENTS IS SO ILLOGICAL. AND I KNOW I SAW AN EMOTIONAL BUYER. I'M A MAN OF LOGIC. I'M A MAN OF STATISTICS. AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATISTICS FROM WHEN THOSE MONUMENTS WERE CREATED AND THE RISE AND LYNCHING AND THE RISE AND, AND, AND TAKING DOWN THE BLACK COMMUNITY, YOU WILL SEE A DIRECT CORRELATION. AND I THINK THAT YOU GUYS HAVE THE POWER BECAUSE THE CITY COUNCIL IS CHOOSING TO PUT THIS OFF UNTIL JULY. WHEN THE COMMUNITY IS SAYING REPEATEDLY THAT WE WOULD LIKE THESE TAKEN DOWN NOW. AND I GET THAT THE CITY COUNCIL CAME AND VOTED IN A LAW IN 2000, BUT THEY CAN ALSO VOTE TO HAVE THAT LAW REPLACED, OR THEY CAN ALSO CHOOSE TO NOT IGNORE IT, BUT SAY, WE VOTE UNANIMOUSLY THAT WE CAN SPEAK ON THIS SUBJECT MATTER. NOW WE DON'T NEED THOSE 30 DAYS. AND I THINK YOU GUYS SHOULD GIVE THEM THE RECOMMENDATION TO TAKE IT DOWN. BUT ACTUALLY BEFORE I HAVE 30 SECONDS, AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW DEFUND, THE POLICE ACTUALLY MAKES SENSE. AND I KNOW YOU THINK IT'S CRAZY, BUT IF YOU ACTUALLY DEFUND THE POLICE PUT MORE MONEY INTO THE EDUCATION AND THE REQUIREMENTS, THESE POLICE OFFICERS WOULD ACTUALLY BE PAID MORE BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE AN HIGHER EDUCATION. THERE WOULD BE LESS OF THEM, BUT YOU CAN TRAIN THEM TO HANDLE SITUATIONS DIFFERENTLY. IF YOU ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE RIOTS AND THE PROTESTS, POLICE ARE SHOOTING PEOPLE WITH A, YOU KNOW WHAT? THIS IS, THAT MY TIME. SO I'M GOING TO RESPECT IT. I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE WRONG. AND THAT WAS VERY DISRESPECTFUL. AND MR. CHAIRMAN, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE SPEAKER. SURE. YOU SAID DEFUND THE POLICE. LET ME JUST ASK YOU A QUESTION. I'M GOING TO BE VERY RESPECTFUL. WHO DO I CALL? I'M A FORMER BUSINESS OWNER. I OWNED A BUSINESS FOR MANY YEARS AND I HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES THAT REQUIRED A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. I HAD ONE GENTLEMAN WALK INTO MY ESTABLISHMENT [00:20:01] AND COME AFTER ANOTHER PATRON WITH A KNIFE. WHO DO YOU CALL? IF YOU DEFUND THE POLICE, WHO WOULD YOU CALL IN THAT INSTANCE? HONESTLY, DO YOU, DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION YOU'RE ASKING? WE'RE NOT SAYING TAKE AWAY THE POLICE SOCIETY NEEDS THE POLICE. THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE SAYING. THE POLICE. WHAT ARE YOU SAYING? WHEN YOU SAY DEFINE WHAT I'M SAYING, DEFUND THE POLICE. I'M SAYING IT'S CORRECTIONS. I'M NOT SAYING, I'M SAYING THE POLICE AND CORRECTIONS DON'T NEED $110 MILLION WHEN EDUCATION SYSTEMS NOT EVEN GETTING HALF OF THAT, WHAT I'M SAYING, DEFUND A POLICE IS THEY DON'T NEED RIGHT HERE. THEY DON'T CONSTANTLY NEED FOR AS SUVS. THEY ALL DON'T NEED THEIR OWN CAR THERE. TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. THERE'S SO MANY MORE CHANGES THAT YOU CAN MAKE WITH THE MONEY THAT THEY HAVE. SO EVEN IF YOU DON'T WANT TO DEFEND THEM TO DEFUND THEM, YOU CAN MAKE DIFFERENT REFORMS. BUT IF YOU DEFUND A POLICE AND YOU REQUIRE A HIGHER EDUCATION, YOU CAN THEN PUT MORE MONEY INTO SOCIETY. WHAT YOU'RE NOT UNDERSTANDING IS THE POLICE ARE NOT A DICTATORSHIP. THEY ARE NOT THE JUDGE AND JURY, THEIR JOB IS TO PROTECT AND SERVE. I APPRECIATE THAT ANSWER. I GUESS. I GUESS WE WILL HAVE A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION, BUT WHEN I'VE GOT SOMEONE BREAKING INTO MY HOUSE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, I WOULD CALL HIM, YOU'RE TALKING OVER ME. LISTEN. IF SOMEONE'S BREAKING INTO MY HOUSE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, I WANT TO KNOW THAT I CAN CALL NINE ONE, ONE AND A TRAINED PROFESSIONAL. OFFICER'S GOING TO COME. NOT SOME MOBILE SOCIAL WORK SQUAD. WE NEED THE POLICE. WE NEED TO FUND THEM AT A HIGHER LEVEL AND WE NEED MORE OF THEM. AND WE, FRANKLY, TRAINING IS FUN. NO, IT'S NOT. AND IF YOU ACTUALLY KNOW MR. MR. ROGERS, MR. ROGERS, THANK YOU. WHY DOES HE GET TO SPEAK IN REBUTTAL, BUT I DON'T. DO YOU SEE HOW THAT'S UNFAIR TO MY ACTUAL CIVIL MR. ROBERTS, MR. ROGERS, YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. MR. ASKED YOU A QUESTION. YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO QUESTION MS. THE PUBLIC FORUM, TIME, YOUR PUBLIC THOMAS UP. ALRIGHT. WE BOARD. WE DO HAVE MULTIPLE MORE SPEAKERS. CAN WE PLEASE MOVE? I WANT TO ASK ANY MORE QUESTIONS. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. ROGERS, NEXT SPEAKER IS JONATHAN GREEN. THIS COUNTY HAS A BUDGET OF OVER $450 MILLION. IF YOU COULD PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, JONATHAN GREEN. IT WAS MY NAME. THANK YOU. THIS COUNTY HAS A BUDGET OF OVER $450 MILLION, WHICH OVER 110 MILLION GOES TO THE SHERIFF'S AND CORRECTIONS. AS MY COHORT SAID, THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE IS REAL. IF YOU FUND MORE INTO EDUCATION, YOU REDUCE CRIME ON THE FOREFRONT. YOU DON'T HAVE A NEED FOR POLICE ALSO DEFUND. THE POLICE IS NOT OF THE POLICE SYSTEM. SO YOU STILL HAVE NINE 11 TO CALL IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, SIR, BUT PAWNING OFF RESPONSIBILITIES. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN THIS CITY AND COUNTY LOVE TO DO THE BUDGET CAN BE INCREASED FOR COMMUNITY AND HUMAN SERVICES, WHICH IS UNDER $20 MILLION. HOWEVER, YOU HAVE A SHERIFF'S BUDGET THAT IS UNDER 63 MILLION, 62.9 TO BE EXACT AND $49. DO YOU EVER CORRECTIONS BUDGET OF OVER $53 MILLION, WHICH THEY HAVE CIVIL RIGHTS AND FRACTIONS GOING UP IN THROUGH THERE AND HUMAN RIGHTS INFRACTIONS. AND I CAN ATTEST PERSONALLY BECAUSE MY ATTEMPTS TO DEESCALATE TO OFFICER ON JUNE ON JANUARY 5TH, RESULTED IN THAT OFFICER ESCALATING AND ME BEING ARRESTED AND I'M HANDLING IT IN COURT, BUT THE CIVIL RIGHTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS AND FRACTIONS IN WHICH ARE FACED IN THAT JAIL AND DURING THEIR ARREST, YOU SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT. YOU SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT, WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE CORRUPTNESS OF A CURRENT SHERIFF WHO LOST FOOTAGE OF A SEXUAL ASSAULT. WE SHOULD CERN ABOUT EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTY, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO NEEDS PROTECTION. HUMAN RIGHTS AND FRACTIONS EXIST ON THE STREET BY OUR DEPUTIES BEING THE PERPETRATORS AND IN THE JAIL, THE CONFEDERATE MONUMENTS, YOU HAVE A BUDGET ITEM ON 14 ON THE AGENDA WHERE YOU RECEIVE OVER $430. THAT'S MORE THAN WHAT THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS RECEIVED. THEY GET 300 LESS THAN 357,000 FROM THE COUNTY. SO WHY CAN'T THE JUVENILE DETENTION CENTERS, REVENUE GO TO THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE TO HELP KEEP THE KIDS OUT OF INCARCERATION. INSTEAD OF GOING TO THE GENERAL FUND, [00:25:04] YOU CAN REALLOCATE THOSE FUNDS BECAUSE THE FUNDING DOESN'T MEAN DEFINED. DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANS? IT MEANS REALLOCATE THE FUNDS TO SOMEWHERE ELSE. YOU DON'T GET RID OF THE MONEY. THE FUNDING GOES SOMEWHERE ELSE. DON'T ACT IGNORANCE BECAUSE THAT'S A DEFINITION OF A WORD THAT IS NOT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. EXCUSE ME. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS MARIAH VILLA LOBOS. I'M SORRY. VIA LOBOS. HELLO, MY NAME'S MARIAH VILLALOBOS. AND, UM, I JUST WANT TO, UH, AGREE WITH BOTH THE KEYSHAWN AND JAY GREEN OVER HERE. AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ASK YOU, MR. , UM, DO YOU KNOW YOUR PHYSICAL, UH, YOUR FISCAL YEAR 2020 APPROVED BUDGET FOR YOUR GENERAL FUND? DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH GOES SPECIFICALLY TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND TO, UM, HUMAN SERVICES, MS. MRS. LOPEZ, THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO GIVE TO, FOR YOU TO GIVE YOUR COMMENTS AFTER, AFTER YOUR TIME, IF MR. WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND. HE'S WELCOME TO, SO PLEASE TAKE YOUR TIME PERFECTLY. UM, OKAY, WELL, I'M JUST GONNA TELL YOU IT'S, UM, 33 MILLION FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH INCLUDES POLICE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. AND I'M 23 OF THAT ACTUALLY GOES STRICTLY TO THE POLICE. AND I UNDERSTAND THE WORD DEFUND MIGHT SCARE YOU CAUSE LIKE I GET IT, LIKE WE'RE NOT, I DON'T WANT TO ABOLISH THE POLICE EITHER IF I'LL CALL NINE ONE ONE AND SOMEBODY'S ROBBING ME AS WELL, I WOULD LIKE THEM TO COME AS WELL. BUT I THINK 23 MILLION IS A LITTLE EXCESSIVE COMPARED TO, UM, THE PUBLIC SERVICES THAT GET $30,000 A YEAR. SO, UM, WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN LAKE VIEW CENTERS THAT COULD BE DEESCALATED AND THAT AS WELL. SO IF POLICE OFFICERS, I MEAN YOUR OWN PRESIDENT A YEAR NIGHT, UNITED STATES JUST PASSED THE, UM, POLICE REFORM FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR, UM, POLICES TO COME WITH PEOPLE TO DEESCALATE A SITUATION. SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE. AND, UM, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH, IT CERTAINLY LET YOU GUYS KNOW. 30, 30,000 FOR PUBLIC SERVICES, 3 MILLION, 300 MILLION, I MEAN, 33, 30 MILLION FOR, UH, POLICE. AND THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS LARRY DOWNS. I THINK YOU'RE ALL GOOD. LARRY DOWNS, JUNIOR ONE, TWO, ONE FIVE, SIX, HAMBURG DRIVE, PENSACOLA, FLORIDA. UH, MAN, I JUST WANTED TO READ IN, UH, COMMISSIONER UNDERHILL'S, UH, EMAIL AND FINISH IT SINCE I WAS INTERRUPTED LAST TIME, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT. SO I THINK I'LL FORGO THAT I'LL POST IT ON MY FACEBOOK. IF ANYBODY WANTS TO READ HIS EMAIL, UH, ANYWAYS, UH, I THINK WE SHOULD, UH, YOU KNOW, DEFUND HALF OF OUR GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS RIGHT OFF THE BAT, THAT WOULD PROBABLY SAVE A LOT OF, A LOT OF PROBLEMS. WE HAVE TOO MANY LAWS COUNTRY WITH TOO MANY LAWS HAS TOO MANY PROBLEMS. UH, I, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT Y'ALL AND EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DEPEND UPON THE GOVERNMENT FOR EVERYTHING. STREETLIGHTS SAFETY PROTECTION, CALL THE GOVERNMENT FOR EVERY NEED. YOU HAVE, YOU'LL SEE WHAT THIS IS DOING. I'VE BEEN TELLING YOU ALL THIS FOR YEARS, IT CREATES A SOCIETY OF DEPENDENCE. AND JUST LIKE COMMISSIONER MAY SAYS, YOU KNOW, UH, WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA FORCE PEOPLE TO WEAR A MASK. WE'RE GOING TO FORCE THEM TO NOT CONGREGATE. I MEAN, HE, HE WANTS US TO DO THAT. THAT'S CRAZY. I DON'T NEED YOU TO SPEAK FOR WHAT I WANTED TO DO LATER. OKAY. I CAN SPEAK FOR MYSELF ANYWAYS. UH, YOU KNOW, Y'ALL ARE, Y'ALL ARE CLOSER THAN SIX FEET. I COULD PUT A TAPE MEASURE UP. Y'ALL ARE IN VIOLATION RIGHT NOW. ALL THESE PEOPLE HERE ARE IN VIOLATION. JUST LOOK AT THEM ALL. WE CAN MAKE OUR OWN DECISIONS OVER COVID-19 CORONA VIRUS, CHINA VIRUS, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, WE CAN DO OUR OWN. WE DON'T NEED Y'ALL TO PROTECT US FOR EVERYTHING. UH, YOU KNOW, WE DO NEED, UH, SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. WE DON'T NEED THEM OUT THERE FOR SOLVING EVERY PROBLEM WITH A CITIZEN. THAT'S THE REASON WHY IT COSTS SO MUCH, YOU KNOW? AND THEY'RE NOT ALL SUPER BUSY. I'LL TALK TO THEM ALL THE TIME. HEY, HOW BUSY ARE Y'ALL? OH, THEY'RE NOT. WE DON'T LIVE IN THAT SORT OF COMMUNITY. AND MR. JEFF COMMISSIONER BERGOSH YOU KNOW, IF, IF SOMEBODY COMES INTO YOUR STORE WITH A KNIFE, HANDLE IT, HANDLE IT, SIR, DON'T GO NINE ONE, ONE, PLEASE. PLEASE HELP ME HANDLE IT. ACTUALLY WE DID, [00:30:01] BUT THE GUY CAME AT ME WITH A KNIFE AND WE DID HANDLE IT, BUT THEN THE POLICE CAME AND ARRESTED HIM, CALL THE SHERIFF'S WERE THERE. THANK GOD THEY WERE THERE. CALL THEM AND TELL THEM TO COME GET THE BODY. IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE. I'M JUST SAYING THERE'S, THERE'S MORE THERE. THERE'S BETTER WAYS TO GO ABOUT THIS THAN TO JUST CREATE MORE AND MORE LAWS NOW EAT CAT, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, WHAT, WHAT SHOULD WE DO SHUT DOWN. ECAP. JUST SHUT THEM DOWN. I MEAN, THAT WOULD SAVE THEM FROM COVERT, RIGHT? I MEAN, YOU GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE CONGREGATING ON THE BUS, THEY GO ON AND OFF. THEY TOUCH EVERYTHING. EVERYBODY'S TOUCHING THAT DOOR. THEY TOUCH THEIR MASK. THIS IS JUST GOOD LUCK. THANK YOU, LARRY. THANKS. WE'LL ALL JUST DRINK SOME BLEACH AND WE'LL BE HEALED. ALRIGHT. A BOARD OF THE LAST SPEAKER FOR PUBLIC FORUM IS ANN SCHULTZ. GOOD. AND WE WILL MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO GO DIRECTLY INTO THE BOARD MEETING. OH, I'M SORRY. OH, OKAY. I APOLOGIZE. SHE WAS ON THE PUBLIC FORUM FORM RATHER THAN THE BOARD AGENDA FORM. OKAY. I SEE YOU'RE NODDING IN THE AUDIENCE. ALL RIGHT. WAS I WILL GET THAT PUT APPROPRIATELY. ALRIGHT, SO THAT WILL ADJOURN THE PUBLIC FORUM. IT IS. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.