Leon County Expo Center topic of discussion

Yvonne Kopy The Leon County Commissioners’ Court held its regular meeting on July 12, 2010 at the Leon County Annex I Courtroom. Judge Byron Ryder presided and all commissioners were present.

There was a lot of talk but not much action concerning the Expo Center. Yvonne Kopy with American Grant Funding encouraged the Court to use her company in applying for grants for the project. She would require $5,000 up front then would bill $125 per hour for her services. Kopy was encouraging about the probability of receiving fundable grants and provided her proposal along with references. She said there were funds available for projects such as this, but cautioned it takes someone with experience to know where to go to find them. The Court agreed to look further into the need for her services and bring it back to the next meeting.

Three other items on the agenda concerning the Expo Center were tabled as well. One was to approve Schaumburg & Polk, Inc. for engineering purposes to collect data, analyze data and create reports. Another was to approve Apex Geoscience, Inc. to obtain data and develop recommendations needed in the design and construction of the foundation system, support of slabs, pavement, and recommendations for general earth work.

Another tabled item was to authorize Leon County to send out a resolution to cities and economic development corporations requesting their assistance in establishing and the ongoing maintenance of Leon County Civic and Expo Center.

In the absence of District Clerk Diane Oden Davis, Leon County Auditor Susan Pugh addressed the Court regarding mandated computer conversion. The software would take $13,549; $2,169 to get the Dell Computers to meet state specs and $200 for batteries. Pugh explained that this is required by the state and Davis has only $5,000 in her budget for this purchase. The Court agreed to pay the difference out of the contingency fund.

Auditor Pugh presented the line item transfers as $70,775 for the County Clerk, Juvenile Justice and the Election Administrator.

There was a lengthy discussion about the need for another generator to be used in case of power outages. Commissioner Dean Player agreed to look into the situation and come back with options.

A representative from Big Oaks Vista Subdivision presented the final plat for the construction but Commissioner Joey Sullivan requested he look at the property before the Court gave final approval.

The Court agreed an order amending the Leon County 1988 Sub-Division Regulations to include culde sacs, effective immediately; approved a tax resale deed Suite #T-08-49 in the amount of $750.00 and Suite # T-08- 55 in the amount of $2,000.

The Court went into closed executive session and returned then took no action. There was no one present for public comments.