[Call to Order]
[00:00:06]
>> IT IS 6:30 IN THE EVENING. WE WILL CONVENE THIS MEETING OF THE HISTORICAL-- HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD.
SHOULD BE HISTORICAL. (LAUGHTER) ANYONE HAVING-- WELL, I GUESS THIS HAS BEEN A LITTLE REORDER.
[Approval of Minutes]
SO GOOD. HAS EVERYBODY HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK OVER THE MINUTES FOR FEBRUARY? THEY SEEM TO BE FAIRLY DETAILED. IS THERE ANY COMMENT ABOUT THE CONTENTS OF THE PROPOSED MINUTES? I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THEM.IF THERE ARE NO CORRECTIONS. DO YOU NEED A LITTLE MORE TIME? I DON'T THINK THE CHAIR IS SUPPOSED TO INITIATE A MOTION.
YOU WILL BE THE PROPOSAL. >> I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE
MINUTES FOR JANUARY 19, 2023. >> OH.
I THOUGHT THEY WERE-- THESE W WERE-- OKAY.
I'M SORRY. I GUESS I MISSPOKE.
WAS THERE A SECOND? >> YES, SIR.
ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY AYE. >> AYE.
THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. TO ACCEPT THESE MINUTES.
[Public Comment]
IF THERE IS ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC, THIS WOULD BE THE TIME TO STEP FORWARD WITH YOUR PROPOSALS, QUESTIONS, BUT THEY ARE PRETTY SCARCE TODAY. ALL RIGHT.THE EXISTING AGENDA HAS THINGS LAID OUT IN THIS WAY.
SO WE MIGHT AS WELL FOLLOW IT. MAUREEN, DO YOU HAVE-- OR
[Old Business]
DR. JUNG, DO YOU HAVE ANY UPDATES FOR US ON THE MIDDLEBURGCOLORED SCHOOL? >> YES, SIR, I DO.
>> HAS EVERYONE VISITED THE FORMER MIDDLEBURG COLORED SCHOOL? DO YOU KNOW THE BUILDING I'M TALKING ABOUT? DOES ANYONE NOT KNOW?
>> WELL, IT HAS BEEN SO MANY YEARS.
ACTUALLY, I HAVE NOT. >> THIS IS A PICTURE THAT WAS TAKEN FROM THE MASTER SITE LIST OF HISTORIC SITES IN FLORIDA, AND THEY DID A SITE SURVEY BACK IN 1988, AND KIND OF INTERESTINGLY, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THESE DESCRIPTIONS ON THE MASTER SITE LIST, THE NAME FOR THE SCHOOL WAS SOMETHING LIKE OLD BLACK SCHOOL. IT WAS NOT LISTED BY ITS ACTUAL NAME, SO THAT MADE IT A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO ACTUALLY FIND THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECORD OF IT. IT STARTED OUT AS A ONE-ROOM SCHOOLHOUSE LOCATED ON EVERETT AVENUE IN MIDDLEBURG WHICH IS LOCATED ACROSS FROM THE MIDDLEBURG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE COLORED SCHOOL WAS LOCATED ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE WHITE SCHOOL. OVER NEARLY 70 YEARS, THE LITTLE SCHOOLHOUSE SERVED OVER FOUR GENERATIONS OF BLACK CHILDREN WHO LEARNED TO READ AND WRITE IN THE BUILDING.
FOR MOST OF THE THAT TIME, A SINGLE TEACHER TAUGHT GRADES ONE THROUGH EIGHT IN THAT ROOM. OFTEN WITH MORE THAN 40 STUDENTS AT A TIME. BY THE 1960S, AS INTEGRATION WAS COMING, AS SCHOOL WAS REPLACED, AND IT WAS REPURPOSED AND SERVED A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS FOR THE COUNTY, INCLUDING ADULT EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS.
EVENTUALLY, IT BECAME ABANDONED AND WAS JUST SITTING THERE.
IN 1994, THE MIDDLEBURG VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT NEEDED
[00:05:02]
THE LAND WHERE THE BUILDING SAT. PLANS WERE MADE TO BURN THE BUILDING IN A TRAINING EXERCISE FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS.THAT IS WHEN THE LATE JAMES HOUSEHOLDER GOT INVOLVED.
SOME OF YOU MAY REMEMBER JAMES HOUSEHOLDER.
HE SERVED AS DIRECTOR OF COUNTY FACILITIES AND ALSO OF PARKS AND RECREATION. HE GOT INVOLVED BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT ONE OF HIS FORMER TEACHERS, HAD ATTENDED THAT SCHOOL AS A CHILD. HE CONTACTED MS. JACKSON, AND SHE AND FORMER STUDENTS WORKED WITH MEMBERS OF THE CLAY COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION TO MOBILIZE THE COMMUNITY AND APPEAL TO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO SAVE THE BUILDING.
THEY WERE SUCCESSFUL. A 1994 ''95 CONTRACT APPROVED THE BUILDING MOVE TO HUNTER DOUGLAS PARK IN THE HISTORICALLY BLACK COMMUNITY KNOWN AS HILLTOP.
THE CONTRACT ALSO PROVIDED THAT THIS COMMUNITY WOULD ESTABLISH THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN MUSEUM IN THE FORMER SCHOOL BUILDING AND WORK WITH COUNTY EDUCATORS TO CREATE A LOCAL BLACK HISTORY CURRICULUM. ALL THAT HAPPENED.
THE BUILDING OPENED ITS DOORS IN 1995 AND SINCE THEN, HAS OPERATED A MUSEUM AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS THAT HAVE REACHED ALL OVER NORTHEAST FLORIDA. IN 2020, THE BUILDING SHUT DOWN.
OF COURSE, WHEN COVID ARRIVED. AND THAT IS WHEN THE BLACK COMMUNITY DECIDED TO REDOUBLE THEIR EFFORTS TO PRESERVE THE CENTURY-OLD BUILDING AND DOCUMENT ITS HISTORY.
IN 199-- PARDON ME. IN 2001, THE CLAY COUNTY HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD APPROVED EFFORTS TO SAVE THE BUILDING AND NOMINATE IT FOR HISTORIC RECOGNITION.
RESEARCH BEGAN TO IDENTIFY RELATIVE RECORDS HELD BY THE COUNTY, AND WE DISCOVERED THAT VERY FEW RECORDS REMAINED.
IN FACT, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFICES DON'T HOLD A SINGLE PIECE OF PAPER THROUGHOUT HISTORY RELATED TO THESE BLACK PUBLIC SCHOOLS. PRELIMINARY RESEARCH IN THE MINUTES OF THE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD HAVE IDENTIFIED AT LEAST 16 OF THESE LITTLE SCHOOLHOUSES WERE LOCATED IN CLAY COUNTY.
SO WHEN WE DECIDED TO WORK ON THIS PROJECT, A NUMBER OF CLAY ORGANIZATIONS AND COUNTY DEPARTMENTS STEPPED UP.
PARKS AND REC ENABLES US TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE MUSEUM BUILDING WHICH IS LOCATED IN HUNTER DOUGLAS PARK.
AND THEY HAVE PROVIDED TEMPORARY STORAGE FOR THE COLLECTION AT THE MUSEUM. TARA GREEN, HEAD OF CLAY COUNTY CLERK OF COURT AND HISTORICAL ARCHIVES FUNDED THE PURR WHICH IS OF BOXES AND PACKING MATERIALS AND DONATED THE TIME AND EXPERTISE OF COUNTY ARCHIVIST.
WITH MS. GEHRIG AND A GROUP OF VOLUNTERS, WE CALLED THE ENTIRE COLLECTION. A CREW OF TRUSTEES FROM COUNTY CORRECTIONS REMOVED TWO WHOLE TRAILER LOADS OF DISCARDS TO THE COUNTY LANDFILL. IN ADDITION TO HER PHYSICAL LABOR, AND HER EXPERTISE, YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED IN CLAY TODAY AND IN NEIGHBOR-TO-NEIGHBOR, SHE HAS PUBLISHED LENGTHY ARTICLES AND INTERVIEWS ON MAUDE JACKSON AS ONE OF THE IDENTIFIED PIONEERS IN BLACK HISTORY AFTER INTEGRATION.
SHE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST BLACK TEACHERS HIRED TO TEACH IN THE CLAY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. IN CORRESPONDENCE WITH PRESERVATION OFFICER FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA, ANDREW BABIER, HE NOTED THAT BEFORE THE BUILDING COULD BE CONSIDERED FOR NOMINATION, IT HAD TO BE STRUCTURALLY SOUND.
THEY ARE NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THE WORK OF IDENTIFYING AND APPROVING A BUILDING FOR THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION-- OR FOR THE HISTORIC-- WHAT AM I STARTING TO SAY? NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.
THEY DON'T WANT IT TO FALL DOWN IF THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH ALL OF THAT WORK. SO IN RESPONSE TO THAT, TO THAT INFORMATION, CLAY COUNTY GRANT WRITERS WORKING FOR THE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SUBMITTED A PROPOSAL TO THE STATE FOR A HISTORICAL ARCHITECT TO EVALUATE THE BUILDING AND CREATE ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS AND PRESERVATION PLANS.
[00:10:03]
THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN RANKED NUMBER 12 OF 54 PROPOSALS THE STATE RECEIVED, SO IT IS A VERY GOOD CANDIDATE FOR FUNDING.AND WE EXPECT TO HEAR WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS WHETHER OR NOT THAT IS FUNDED. WE HAVE ALSO WORKED WITH STAFF OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS FROM THE CLAY COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM WHO HAVE PROVIDED EQUIPMENT, TECHNICAL SUPPORT, AND FACILITIES, INCLUDING FACILITIES FOR ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEWS, IN-PERSON AND ZOOM MEETINGS AND TEACHER TRAININGS THROUGH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE. THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE HAS VOICED STRONG SUPPORT FOR THIS PROJECT, AND THE ECOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL PRESERVE DONATED TO THE PROJECT A LARGE GLASS-TOP DISPLAY CASE FOR THE MUSEUM TO USE FOR EXHIBITS THAT SHOWCASE THE SCHOOL'S HISTORY AND ARFY TACT COLLECTION WHILE THE BUILDING IS SHUT DOWN AS WE EXPECT IT TO BE WHILE IT IS BEING REHABILITATED. SO WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO DO THIS? I THOUGHT IT WAS A JOKE REALLY WHEN I FIRST CAME ON THE BOARD IN 2020, AND JERRY WAS IN THE PROCESS OF FINALIZING THE DRAFT FOR THE AUGUSTA SAVIDGE HISTORICAL MARKER. SOMEONE REMARKED IT HAD BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR ABOUT 25 YEARS. I THOUGHT OH, THAT IS FUNNY.
IT ACTUALLY WAS A REAL THING. AND THESE PEOPLE HERE WERE ALL FORMER STUDENTS OF MIDDLEBURG COLORED SCHOOL.
THEY STARTED WORKING IN 1994. THE LAST 29 YEARS, THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON PRESERVING THE SCHOOLHOUSE AND ITS STORIES.
SO PART OF MY VIEW OF WHY THIS PROJECT IS SO SIGNIFICANT IS THAT IT HAS A LONG HISTORY OF SUPPORT AMONG THE COUNTY FROM ALL OF THE HISTORY ORGANI ORGANIZATIONS, THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION, NOW THE HISTORICAL PRESERVATION BOARD, AND SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN HIGHLY INTERESTED IN HAVING SPEAKERS THAT ADDRESS THE COUNTY'S BLACK HISTORY FOR STUDENTS AS THEY GO THROUGH THEIR LOCAL HISTORY EDUCATION. THE QUESTION FOR ME IS SHOULD WE BUILD ON THE ACTIONS OF PREVIOUS COUNTY BOARD MEMBERS AND COMMISSIONERS, OR DO WE DROP UNFINISHED PROJECTS ONCE THE PERSON LEAVES? THE LATE COUNTY COMMISSIONER GEORGE BUSH SPOKE AT THE UNVEILING OF THE COUNTY'S VERY FIRST COUNTY HISTORICAL MARKER IN 1996.
DEDICATED TO THE FOUNDER OF HILLTOP'S BLACK COMMUNITY.
HE SAID, "WE ARE HERE TO REFLECT UPON THE LIFE AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF GRANT FORMAN AND HIS ANCESTORS AND THE SACRIFICES OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE THIS COUNTY A GREAT PLACE.
PERHAPS THE GREATESTK A SAYS THEY MADE WAS IN THE FAMILIES THAT THEY KEPT AND THE VALUES THEY INSTILLED.
WE ARE HERE TODAY TO PAY HOMAGE TO PEOPLE OF ALL RACES.
WE WILL WORK TOGETHER IN HARMONY TO MAKE THIS COUNTY A BETTER PLACE." THAT IS OUR GOAL IN WORKING ON THIS HISTORICAL PRESERVATION PROJECT, AND WE WANT TO GIVE RESPECT TO THE HISTORIC BLACK PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT WERE IN THE COUNTY AND THE STUDENTS WHO ATTENDED THEM AND HELPED MAKE THIS COUNTY WHAT IT IS TODAY, A PLACE THAT WE ALL LIVE IN AND
LOVE. >> ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? HOW CLOSE DO YOU SUPPOSE WE ARE
TO A TEXT THAT COULD BE RUN UP? >> NOT EVEN CLOSE.
>> WELL, JUST-- WE ALL NEED TO TO GET FUNDING LINED UP, THERE IS A PROCESS, AND IT TAKES A WHILE.
>> A QUESTION. HAS THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY
THAT IS GOING TO BE THE ROLE OF THE HISTORICAL ARCHITECT WHO WILL COME IN, ASSESS THE BUILDING.
[00:15:04]
>> OKAY. >> AT THAT TIME, DETERMINE HOW
MUCH IT WILL COST? >> HE WILL DETERMINE WHETHER IT'S IN GOOD ENOUGH CONDITION THAT IT CAN BE RESTORED TO ALMOST ITS ORIGINL STATUS. HOW MANY CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE, WHAT KINDS OF CHANGES. WE CAN DOCUMENT WELL BACK INTO THE 90S MANY PARTS OF THE CHANGE.
INCLUDING THE REMOVAL OF THE SCHOOL BUILDING ON TO A FLATBED TRUCK AND MOVING IT UP TO THE HILLTOP PARK LOCATION.
SO WE'VE GOT ALL OF THAT DOCUMENTED.
AN ISSUE WITH BOTH THE STATE HISTORIC MARKER AND THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES DESIGNATION IS THAT THE BUILDING HAS BEEN MOVED. IT IS AN ISSUE UNLESS IT IS DETERMINED THAT IT HAD TO BE MOVED TO PRESERVE IT FROM BEING DESTROYED. AND WE CAN COMPLETELY DOCUMENT
>> IT ALSO HAS TO BE REMOVED TO A PLACE THAT'S FITTING WITH WHAT IT WAS IN ITS ORIGINAL STATE. WE BELIEVE WE CAN SHOW THAT NOW,
>> YEAH. >> WE WORKED UP IN THAT BUI BUILDING, TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, CLEAR IT OUT AND WRAP UP SOME OF THE PIECES THAT WE WERE GOING TO, HOPEFULLY, PRESERVE AND THEN OTHERS THAT WE WERE GOING TO JUST TOSS.
I CAN'T REMEMBER NOW-- WHAT WAS THE ROOF LIFE? THE ROOF IS GOING TO GREATLY AFFECT THE WHOLE BODY.
>> YES. >> I REMEMBER THERE WAS WOOD ROT AND THAT KIND OF THING. BUT YOU KNOW, THAT CAN EASILY BE REPAIRED IF THE ROOF IS IN PRETTY DECENT SHAPE.
CHANCES ARE THE BUILDING, YOU KNOW, CAN BE IN OKAY SHAPE UNTIL THEY GET SOMEONE OUT THERE TO FIX IT.
IF THE ROOF IS IN DISREPAIR, OR THERE IS HOLES IN THE ROOF, WHEN IT RAINS, IT IS GOING TO BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP THAT
FROM BEING DESTROYED. >> YOU ARE RIGHT.
AND THE COUNTY CAME IN IN, I BELIEVE, 2018 OR 2019S, TO PUT ON A NEW ROOF, REPLACING THE OLD ONE WHICH WAS REALLY IN BAD SHAPE. HOWEVER, SINCE WE HAVE CLOSED THE BUILDING AND CALLED THE COLLECTION AND PACKED A LOT OF IT AWAY, A LOT OF THE CEILING SECTIONS ARE COMING DOWN.
TWO HAVE ACTUALLY FALLEN, SO IT IS A GOOD THING THAT WE REM REMOVED-- THE FIRST ONE FELL IN AN AREA FILLED WITH GLASS-TOP DISPLAY CASES. LUCKILY, WE HAD REMOVED THOSE AREAS THAT LOOKED LIKE THEY MIGHT BE SAFER.
THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING STILL GOING ON WITH THE ROOF, BUT WHAT WE DO FIND ALREADY IS TONGUE AND GROOVE FLOORING, TONGUE AND GROOVE CEILING. SO THIS BUILDING AT OVER 125 YEARS OLD, IS REALLY REMARKABLE FOR THE PITTANCE OF PRESERVATION THAT HAS BEEN DONE SO FAR. IT IS STILL STANDING.
CERTAINLY, THAT HAS TO BE A CREDIT TO THE, YOU KNOW,-- THE WOOD. THE WOOD.
THE BUILDER. >> THE CRAFTS MANSHIP.
>> THE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION.
WHO HIRED THE PERSON OR PURCHASED THE BUILDING.
AND SO THEN ALSO AUTHORIZED A FEW REPAIRS EARLY ON, LIKE ADDING THE BLACKBOARD IN 1905. SO WITH THE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD RECORDS, WE HAVE A SMALL BUT SIGNIFICANT SERIES OF SNAPSHOTS OVER TIME. IT IS BY NO MEANS A COMPLETE RECORD, BUT WE HAVE FOUND SOME RECORDS.
AND THEY WILL BE AUGMENTED BY THE ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEWS WITH FORMER STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIESMENT.
>> WHAT IS THE TIMELINE ON THIS FOR GETTING SOMEONE OUT THERE TO
ASSESS THE BUILDING? >> THAT, SHOULD IT BE FUNDED, TAKES PLACE, I BELIEVE, IN SEPTEMBER.
>> OKAY. >> IT SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THE YEAR WITH RECOMMENDATIONS, WITH PLANS.
AND THE VIEW IS IF IT CAN'T BE PRESERVED TO THIS REALLY HIGH LEVEL STATE OF NATIONAL HISTORIC RECORD, THAT IS OKAY.
WE WANT THE BUILDING PRESERVED. IT IS A COUNTY INSTITUTION, AND
[00:20:02]
SO IF IT HAS LESS THAN, YOU KNOW, HISTORICALLY ACCURATE FLOORS OR CEILINGS OR WHATEVER, WE CAN LIVE WITH THAT.SO THAT IS WHY WE DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE THE TIMELINE FOR THE TEXT
FOR THE MARKER. >> IS THERE A CRAWL SPACE UNDERNEATH-- ANY SPACE BETWEEN --
>> YES, THERE IS. >> HOW MUCH OF A CRAWLSPACE IS
18-24 INCHES. >> I COULD GET UNDER THERE.
I MEAN, IT IS LIKE THAT. >> ALL RIGHT.
>> IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU FOR-- FORESEE, AS A BOARD, OUGHT TO DO TO EXPEDITE THIS OR TO ENDORSE APPEALS FOR RESOURCES
AND SO FORTH? >> AT THIS TIME?
>> THE BLACK SCHOOLS HAD VEN VENDORS.
THE MILK COMPANIES, PEOPLE DELIVERED WATER.
PEOPLE DROVE SCHOOL BUSES. SO THERE MAY WELL BE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT IN THE HILLTOP COMMUNITY THAT DO KNOW ABOUT THIS SCHOOL AND HAVE TIES WITH IT OR KNOW PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED THE SCHOOL.
AND THERE ARE ALSO TEACHERS WHO WORKED THERE.
I THINK ONLY TWO OR THREE OF THE BLACK TEACHERS WHO WERE HIRED AFTER INTEGRATION IN '68, '69, ONLY TWO OR THREE STILL LIVE, SO WE ARE REALLY CATCHING THE LAST OF THE TEACHERS AND THE LAST OF THE STUDENTS, AND WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD AS QUICKLY AS
>> WHICH HAS BEEN HAMPERED, OF COURSE, BY COVID.
I THINK WE WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE A LOT MORE QUICKLY NOW.
>> IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT WE, AS OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AS A WHOLE OUGHT TO BE DOING THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF, THIS WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO-- WE COULD MOVE ON IT OR AT LEAST CONSIDER
SO AS I SAID, IF YOU KNOW PEOPLE WHO WERE VENDORS, WHO ATTENDED, WHO KNOW FAMILIES WHOSE RELATIVES ATTENDED, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION. AS FAR AS ACTUAL DOCUMENTS AND RECORDS, I'M THINKING THAT BETWEEN THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT FOR THE COUNTY, AND THE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD, THAT WE'VE GOT MOST OF THE RECORDS. THAT STILL LIVE.
>> VERY GOOD. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
THAT THOROUGH OVERVIEW. >> THANK YOU.
>> AND WE WISH YOU WELL ON THE PROGRESS OF IT.
WILL YOU HAVE THE LEAD AS FAR AS WE KNOW ON THE WRITING
EVENTUALLY OF THE MARKER ITSELF? >> PROBABLY.
MAUDE BURROWS JACKSON IS STILL THE RESIDENT EXPERT AND CONNECTOR FOR THE COUNTY FOR THE GROUPS.
>> YES. >> AND SO EVERYTHING THAT I WOULD WRITE WOULD BE, OF COURSE, RUN THROUGH THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY LIVED THROUGH THE LIFE OF THE SCHOOL.
>> VERY GOOD. >> WHAT IS THE PRIMARY OBJE OBJECTIVE? DEVELOPING AND PURCHASING A STATE MARKER? OR HAS THE INTEGRITY OF THE
TRUCKTURE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF? >> NO.
WE DON'T KNOW. WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL THE EXPERT HISTORICAL ARCHITECT GETS IN THERE.
>> THEN HE CAN GIVE US AN ESTIMATE.
>> ABOUT THE COST. >> THAT IS REALLY THE END OF THE YEAR IS WHEN WE COULD EXPECT TO SEE SOME CONCRETE RESULTS FROM
SO IT'S THE ENDORSEMENT OF ITS HISTRIESTY IS PENDING THIS --
>> WELL, THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY IS THE SPECIFIC TERM.
>> SO AS WE DISCUSSED, THE HISTORICAL VALUE OF THE BUILDING IS UNQUESTIONED. SHOULD IT BE APPROVED FOR NOMINATION TO THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES, THERE IS A GROUP, FLORIDA'S BLACK PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND IT WOULD BE ENTERED AS ONE OF THOSE SCHOOLS.
THERE USED TO BE HUNDREDS, MAYBE THOUSANDS OF THESE LITTLE SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE. AROUND 2000, PEOPLE SAID LET'S JUST MAKE THIS ONE BIG CATEGORY, AND AT THAT TIME, THEY ONLY KNEW ABOUT 20 OF THE SCHOOLS STATEWIDE.
THEY HAVE SINCE FOUND A FEW MORE.
[00:25:02]
>> WELL, THANKS VERY MUCH. I GUESS NEXT ITEM, THEN, WILL BE TO ASK MS. MURPHY ABOUT HER PROGRESS ON THE BLUE ANGELS
STATE HISTORIC MARKER. >> THE BLUE ANGELS HISTORIC MARKER, I TOOK THIS OVER WHEN WE HAD SOMEONE ELSE ON THE BOARD WHO HAD TO LEAVE THE BOARD, AND I VOLUNTEERED TO LOOK INTO THIS.
OF COURSE, EVERYONE KNOWS ABOUT THE BLUE ANGELS.
THEY ARE FAMOUS. YOU KNOW, WORLDWIDE.
AND I HAVE CERTAINLY SEEN THEM IN MANY SHOWS.
I DID NOT HAVE ANY IDEA ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE THAT THEY PLAYED IN MIDDLEBURG. AND ALL OF THAT.
IT'S BEEN FASCINATING LEARNING ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE BLUE ANGELS WITHIN MIDDLEBURG AND WITHIN CLAY COUNTY.
AND SO THERE IS ACTUALLY-- AND THIS WAS REALLY KIND OF OUT OF MY WHEELHOUSE, IF YOU WILL, TO WRITE SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
BECAUSE I HAD NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE.
SO IT WAS TAKEN ON, KNOWING THAT I COULD BE REALLY WORKING ON SOMETHING THAT I LITERALLY HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF.
AND SO IT'S BEEN, IT'S BEEN AN ABSOLUTE DELIGHT TO KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT THE BLUE ANGELS IN CLAY COUNTY.
AND IT HAS BEEN JUST A FUN JOURNEY.
WITH THAT SAID, WE HAVE TWO THINGS GOING ON.
THIS WAS WHY IT WAS REALLY CONFUSING FOR ME INITIALLY.
F TWO PEOPLE ARE WORKING ON A HISTORIC KIOSK, LIKE INTERACTIVE FOR THE SCHOOLS, AND THEY ARE WORKING ON THE BLUE ANGELS PROJECT. AND THIS WILL BE THE CLAY COUNTY MARKER. AND SO WHAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU THAT I JUST TITLED "BLUE ANGELS HISTORIC MARKER" ON MY WORD DOCUMENT IS WHAT I WROTE THAT WOULD TAKE BOTH SIDES OF A MARKER. SO THERE IS A SHORT VERSION, BUT I REALLY THINK THAT WE NEED ALL OF THIS TO REALLY DESCRIBE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BLUE ANGELS IN CLAY COUNTY.
AND I AM OPEN FOR YOU TO GO THROUGH THIS EITHER NOW OR TAKE THAT HOME AND THEN WHEN WE MEET AGAIN, TO EDIT WHAT YOU CAN.
BRING IT BACK TO ME SO I CAN CLEAN IT UP.
AND WE CAN'T GO OVER ANY MORE LETTERS OR SPACES WE HAVE.
>> FOR A SINGLE SIDE. >> A COUNTY MARKER?
>> YES. >> IF IT IS A COUNTY MARKER --
>> THIS WILL BE A STATE MARKER. >> I'M SORRY.
ALL RIGHT. >> AND THEY ARE WORKING ON GETTING SOME FUNDING THROUGH A LOCAL ORGANIZATION TO DO AN ACTUAL STRUCTURE WITH EDUCATIONAL BOARDS WHICH CAN HAVE GRAPHICS WHICH, OF COURSE, THE STATE MARKER CANNOT HAVE
GRAPHICS. >> THEIR MARKER IS MUCH MORE
>> HOWEVER, THIS PROJECT IS SLATED FOR OCTOBER, YOU SAID?
WE ARE HOPING. >> I MEAN, THE HOPE WOULD BE ANY TIME SOON. YOU KNOW? THERE IS THE HOPE THAT THERE WILL BE-- THEY ARE COMING BACK FOR THEIR NORMAL TOUR IN OCTOBER.
>> OKAY. >> I THINK THE INTENT WAS TO DO
>> RIGHT. >> AT THE SAME TIME.
>> OKAY. >> DID YOU WANT TO REVIEW THIS NOW OR DID YOU FEEL IT IS EASIER IF YOU JUST TOOK THIS HOME AND WENT THROUGH IT, HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO READ IT?
>> THE PROCEDURE, YOU KNOW, UNTIL THE RECENT MOVE OVER HE HERE-- SOME THINGS SEEM TO BE MORE RESTRICTED FROM MY POINT OF VIEW. IT WAS AS LONG AS WE ARE NOT TALKING BACK AND FORTH ABOUT THE SUGGESTIONS, WE CAN ALL SEE T THEM. YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE TO GO TO THE
CENTRAL DATA COLLECTION. >> THAT IS OKAY.
>> RIGHT. >> YOU DIDN'T ALL HEAR.
[00:30:04]
WE HAVE HAD SOME MAJOR ISSUES WITH OUR AGENDA.THAT IS WHY YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE-- AT LEAST THE SHORTER VERSION. YOU COULDN'T SEE THAT NECESSARILY UNTIL REAL LATE. YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE CHANCE TO READ THAT. BUT --
>> WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE, BETH, FOR EVERYONE TO TAKE THE LONG VERSION HOME, AND THEN WHEN WE MEET THE NEXT TIME, IF THEY COULD SEND EVERYTHING TO YOU, AND THEN ALL THOSE EDITS, I
>> IF YOU CAN DO THAT AND SEND EVERYTHING TO BETH, I'LL MAKE ALL THE EDITS TO INCORPORATE EVERYONE'S CHANGES AND THEN BRING IT BACK FOR YOU TO READ AT THE NEXT MEETING?
IS THAT OKAY? >> THAT IS CERTAINLY FINE.
>> AT THE SAME TIME, READ THE SHORT VERSION.
>> THE THING WE NEED TO CONSIDER WAS, I BELIEVE, IF WE GO BACK, WE WILL HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT IT.
THE BOARD APPROVED THIS FOR A SINGLE SIDE.
THAT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING. CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
THERE IS A PRICE DIFFERENCE. SO WE CAN GO BACK AND LOOK AT IT. AND NOT LIMIT THE NUMBER OF
CHARACTERS, OBVIOUSLY. >> CAN WE CHANGE WHAT WE ORIGINALLY DECIDED ON? AS A BOARD? CAN WE CHANGE IT TO BE A TWO-SIDED --
>> CHANGE WHAT? >> THAT IS UP TO THE BOARD.
>> I THINK-- PREVIOUSLY, WE AS A BOARD, HAD DECIDED IT WOULD BE ONE-SIDED. WITH THIS VERBAGE, IT WAS WOULD BE TWO-SIDED. IT COMES DOWN TO WHAT OUR BUDGET IS AND IF WE HAVE THE FUNDS. I BELIEVE WE HAVE THE FUNDS.
IS THAT CORRECT? >> WE HAVE A $5,000 BUDGET.
AND WE HAVE THE WHITMAN CAME IN FIRST.
>> DOES ANYONE RECALL? OH, SORRY.
>> YOU KNOW, I CAN-- WE CAN GO BACK AND LOOK AND SEE.
OR YOU COULD MAKE THE DECISION IF YOU WANT TO HAVE IT AS
TWO-SIDED. >> CAN WE MAKE THAT DECISION AFTER EVERYONE HAS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO READ IT?
>> I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO REACH OUT TO VISHI AND MARY TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT DUPLICATING THE LANGUAGE THEY ARE PUTTING.
THESE SHOULD WORK TOGETHER. >> RIGHT.
RIGHT. WELL, I HAVE TALKED TO THEM.
>> HAVE THEY REVIEWED THIS, THE LONG VERSION?
>> DO YOU HAVE THIS IN AWORD-- WORD DOC?
CAN YOU EMAIL THAT TO US? >> BETH HAS TO EMAIL IT TO YOU.
I CAN NOT SEND IT DIRECTLY TO YOU.
THAT IS THE RULES. >> THAT IS ONE REASON I THINK IT IS TIME WE NEEDED TO DIRECT SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT OUR OBLIGATIONS ARE UNDER THE CURRENT INTERPRETATIONS OF THE SUNSHINE LAWS BECAUSE THEY ARE TIGHTER THAN THEY WERE BEFORE.
>> IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT EVERYTHING GOES THROUGH BETH.
ANY EMAIL. AND THEN BETH WILL EMAIL TO
EVERYONE. >> THAT WAS NOT THE CASE BEFORE.
YES. THAT WAY WE ALL GOT A LOOK AT
THINGS GOING IN. >> IT MAKES IT EASIER.
SO PEOPLE COULD MAKE INDIVIDUAL COMMENTS BUT NOT TO EACH OTHER.
BUT JUST COMMENTS TO THE CENTRAL COLLECTION CRITTER.
>> YOU CAN CERTAINLY DISCUSS IT IN THIS MEETING.
YOU CAN DISCUSS IT HERE. YOU COULD HAVE COPIES AND EDIT
IT MUCH LIKE YOU DID BEFORE. >> YES.
>> YOU CAN'T COMMUNICATE BACK AND FORTH WITH EACH OTHER.
>> UNLESS WE ARE IN THIS FORUM. >> UNLESS YOU ARE IN A PUBLIC PLACE. PUBLIC MEETING.
>> IT WAS MORE PRACTICAL BEFORE. THEY SAID YOU CAN'T DISCUSS BACK AND FORTH BUT YOU CAN SAY IT SO PEOPLE CAN KNOW WHAT IS ON YOUR MIND. THE NEXT MEETING OCURSE.
THERE WILL BE SOMETHING PEOPLE ARE PREPARED TO TALK ABOUT.
>> YOU CAN DO THAT STILL IN THIS FORUM.
>> RIGHT. >> THAT IS NOT-- YOU KNOW, THE DETAILS OF THESE MARKERS DO N NOT-- YOU KNOW, THEY DO NOT CONFORM VERY WELL TO THAT KIND OF A PLAN.
>> WELL, IF BETH SENDS EVERYTHING OUT TO YOU, TOMORROW OR WHATEVER, AND THEN YOU HAVE UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING.
JUST SEND EVERYTHING BACK. ALL YOUR EDITS BACK TO BETH.
SHE WILL SEND THEM TO ME. AND THEN I'LL MAKE ALL THOSE CORRECTIONS. THEN WE CAN SIT DOWN.
THEN YOU WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE READ THROUGH
>> WE CAN SIT DOWN AT THE NEXT MEETING AND SAY OKAY, DO WE WANT TO GO WITH THE TWO-SIDED MARKER OR DO WE JUST MASSAGE THIS TO
[00:35:06]
THE POINT WHERE IT FITS INTO A ONE-SIDED? IF WE WANT IT TO BE TWO-SIDED, THEN WE HAVE TO VOTE ON THAT TO CHANGE WHAT WE HAD PREVIOUSLY VOTED ON BEFORE.>> SO BETH, ARE YOU PREPARED, THEN, TO TAKE THESE INDIVIDUAL SUGGESTIONS AND SEND THEM BACK? SO WE KNOW WHAT IT WOULD LOOK
LIKE IF THEY WERE ALL APPROVED? >> ACTUALLY, I'M NOT SURE THAT IS THE APPROPRIATE WAY TO DO THIS.
IF IT IS FED TO YOU, IF YOU HAVE THE COPY TO READ, YOU SHOULD THEN COME WITH YOUR CHANGES TO THE NEXT MEETING AND DISCUSS IT IN THE MEETING. AND MAKE THOSE CHANGES TOGETHER.
>> OH, OKAY. >> THAT IS HOW YOU DO DID THE
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS PROJECT? ALL RIGHT. SINCE MR. HARRIS IS PRESENT TO TALK ABOUT WHATEVER HE HAS FOUND OUT ON THE PROGRESS OF THE --
>> OKAY. >> ACTUALLY, MR. HARRIS, COULD WE HOLD THAT OFF TO THE BOARD MEMBERS' COMMENT PERIOD?
>> THAT WOULD BE FINE. >> IT WILL BE IN SYNCH WITH OUR AGENDA. PLEASE, THANK YOU.
WE WILL PUT YOU ON THE AGENDA NEXT TIME.
AS OLD BUSINESS. >> YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT
REGULARLY. >> BY THEN, YOU WILL BE BACK ON THE BOARD OFFICIALLY, TOO, I SUPPOSE.
[New Business]
I SEE AS NEW BUSINESS, THERE IS OFFICER NOMINATIONS FOR THE BOARD. AND-- OF THE INCOMING YEAR STARTING, I GUESS, IN THE SUMMER FORWARD.ACCORDING TO THE BYLAWS THAT WE WERE SUPPOSEDLY WORKING UNDER, THERE IS OTHER THINGS WE OUGHT TO BE MINDFUL OF AS WELL, BUT USUALLY, WE WOULD GET A COMMITTEE, A NOMINATING COMMITTEE FOR A SLATE, ALTHOUGH RIGHT NOW WE SEEM TO BE REDUCED TO NUMBERS PRETTY WELL. THE GOOD THING ABOUT A SLATE IS AT LEAST THAT IS A WAY OF TESTING WHO IS WILLING TO ACTUALLY STAND FOR THESE OFFICES.
ANY PREFERENCES ABOUT THIS? WHETHER SIMPLY TO PROPOSE THINGS RIGHT NOW OR HAVE A COMMITTEE TO DO IT? OTHER PEOPLE WILL BE FREE TO NOMINATE THEMSELVES OR OTHER PEOPLE THAT THEY KNOW OF AS LONG AS THEY ARE ON THE BOARD.
AT THAT TIME. >> WHAT IS THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF BOARD MEMBERS THAT THIS BOARD CAN HAVE?
>> YEAH. THERE ARE INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT THE FORMAL STRUCTURE THAT HAS NEVER ACTUALLY BEEN COMPLETELY REALIZED, TO MY KNOWLEDGE.
BUT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO TRY TO HAVE A LICENSED ARCHITECT WHO KNOWS ABOUT HISTORICAL STRUCTURES.
THAT SHOULD BE A MEMBER OF THE BOARD.
A MEMBER OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY SHOULD BE THERE.
>> IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAD TO HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE REPRESENTATION FOR EACH DIS DISTRICT, AND THERE WAS ONE OF THE DISTRICTS THAT ALREADY HAD-- OR IS THAT NOT --
>> THERE ARE FIVE DISTRICTS-- POSITIONS.
THERE ARE THE AT-LARGE POSITIONS.
AND NO MORE THAN THREE OF THOSE CAN BE FROM THE SAME DISTRICT.
THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE A HISTORIAN-- ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN. THERE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SOME PROFESSIONAL AS WELL AS HISTORIC MEMBERS.
>> OH. NOMINATING-- WELL, ACCORDING TO THIS, A NOMINATING COMMITTEE SHALL BE FORMED NO LATER THAN THE APRIL MEETING AND SHALL PROPOSE A SLATE NO LATER THAN THE MAY MEETING. I GUESS WE COULD KIND OF CONSTITUTE OURSELVES A NOMINATING COMMITTEE IF ANYBODY HAS IN MIND WHO OUGHT TO BE GOOD MATERIAL FOR RUNNING THIS BOARD.
IN THE COMING YEAR. WOULD PEOPLE WANT TO SPEAK UP
[00:40:03]
ABOUT EITHER YOURSELF OR ONE OF YOUR COLLEAGUES OR-- OF COURSE, THEY HAVE TO BE A MEMBER IN ORDER TO HOLD THE OFFICE, WHICH PRETTY MUCH RESTRICTS-- I WOULD BE HAPPY IN TERMS OF MY POSITION RIGHT NOW, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO YIELD IT TO ANYBODY ELSE WHOFEELS PUMPED UP TO TAKE IT ON. >> WOULD YOU BE HAPPY TO SERVE
ANOTHER YEAR AS THE -- >> I THINK I WOULD BE-- OH.
I WOULD BE WILLING TO. YOU KNOW, I WOULD BE EVEN HAPPIER TO LET SOMEONE ELSE TAKE IT.
WELL, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE THREE OFFICES.
YOU KNOW, THE CHAIRMAN, THE VICE-CHAIRMAN, AND THE SECR SECRETARY. ACCORDING TO THE BYLAWS, THE SECRETARY STILL HAS THINGS TO DO.
THE OFFICE OF SECRETARY IS IN THE COUNTY'S REGULAION AS WELL.
IT IS STILL THERE. THOSE ARE THE THREE.
>> WE ARE CO-CHAIRS. ARE WE CO-CHAIRS RIGHT NOW?
>> YOU ARE VICE $CHAIR AND VICE. >> OKAY.
>> CAN WE VOTE TO LEAVE IT THE WAY IT IS?
(LAUGHTER). >> IF THAT IS YOUR NOMINATIONS.
>> I MEAN THAT, WOULD BE SOMETHING I WOULD SUGGEST.
THAT WOULD TAKE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF ATTENTION AWAY FROM OTHER PROJECTS WE CURRENTLY HAVE ON OUR TABLE.
>> OKAY. MY ONLY QUESTION IS SINCE SHE IS NOT HERE, IS WHETHER KARLA WOULD LIKE TO BE SECRETARY SINCE HER ORIGINAL ROLE HAS BEEN KIND OF AFFECTED BY THE CURRENT STRUCTURE. I MEAN, SHE IS STILL SUPPOSED TO SEND STUFF-- COLLECT STUFF, SECOND IT TO ME.
YOU KNOW? OR WHOEVER THE CHAIRMAN IS.
ACCORDING TO THIS. IN ANY CASE, THERE ARE FUNCTIONS THAT ARE SUPPOSEDLY DESIGNATED FOR ALL THREE OFFICES.
BUT KARLA, I HAVEN'T ASKED HER LATELY, BUT I HAD THE IMPRESSION SHE IS KIND OF INCLINED TO DISENGAGE.
I MEAN, SHE WAS AN EXCELLENT SECRETARY.
HAS BEEN. BUT I MEAN, IF THAT IS THE WISHES OF HER-- BUT STILL, WE WOULD HAVE TO ASK HER SOMEHOW.
SHE IS NOT HERE. MAYBE YOU COULD ASK HER.
>> I WOULD SUGGEST IF THAT IS WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE, BASICALLY, THOSE ARE THE PARTIES THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE FOR THE POSITIONS, THEN MAY WOULD BE-- YOU KNOW, IF WE DO IT THE WAY THE COMMITTEE, THE SLATE AND THEN MAY, YOU FORMALIZE UP THE SLATE. THEN JUNE YOU VOTE.
THAT WOULD GIVE US A CHANCE TO-- HOPEFULLY, SHE WOULD BE HERE AT THE NEXT MEETING. MAYBE BELLA WOULD BE INTERESTED IN A ROLE. MAYBE WE WILL HAVE NEW MEMBERS BY THEN. IF YOU WANT TO PUT FORTH SOME NOMINATIONS TONIGHT, AND THEN IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A MEETING
NEXT MONTH, WHICH -- >> I THINK WE COULD-- SUPPOSEDLY, THE DEADLINE IS NEXT MONTH.
TO COME UP WITH A SLATE. AND THEN THE OFFICE-- WELL, SUPPOSEDLY, PEOPLE TAKE OFFICE ON THE FIRST OF JULY.
SO WE'VE GOT-- WELL, IT DEPENDS ON WHETHER WE HOLD TO OUR ORIGINAL MONTHLY MEETING PLAN, TOO.
AS TO HOW FAR WE CAN GET WITH SOME OF THESE THINGS.
SO SHALL WELL ENTERTAIN A MOTION THAT WE HAVE A TENTATIVE NOMINATION OF THE EXISTING OFFICERS? OR HOW DO WE LET IT BE KNOWN? IF WE DON'T, HOW DO WE LET IT BE KNOWN THAT THERE ARE STILL THINGS THAT NEED TO BE PROPOSED? BECAUSE NOBODY ELSE SITTING HERE NOW SEEMS TO BE INTERESTED IN
MOVING THINGS AROUND. >> AND YOU ARE BOTH WILLING TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE ROLE THAT YOU ARE IN NOW AGAIN? OKAY. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE.
THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD WAY-- TO TAKE A VOTE ON IT.
[00:45:05]
IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A VOTE TO PROPOSE THESE SOB CONSIDERED FORTHE MAY FINAL SLATE. >> I COULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION, THEN, THAT WE MOVE AT LEAST TENTATIVELY TO HAVE THIS AS A SLATE. THAT WILL GIVE US A LITTLE TIME BY NEXT MEETING TO KNOW WHETHER EVERYBODY WE HAVE IN MIND IS
ONBOARD WITH ACCEPTING. >> THAT WOULD BE THAT JERRY WOULD BE PRESIDENT. I WOULD BE VICE-PRESIDENT.
>> AND THAT KARLA WOULD BE SECRETARY?
>> WE HAVE TO CALL A VOTE. >> OKAY.
SO WILL SOMEBODY MOVE IT? SOMEBODY SECOND IT?
THEN WE CAN VOTE. >> I MOVE THAT WE MOVE FORWARD ON THE SLATE THAT WE JUST DESCRIBED.
>> I HOPE I HAVE IT RIGHT. ACCORDING TO ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER, THE CHAIR IS SUPPOSED TO RESTATE EVERY MOTION.
SOMETIMES THEY ARE A LITTLE SQUISHY.
ALL RIGHT. SO BEYOND THAT, I'M JUST NOTICING, YOU KNOW, THE CURRENT BYLAWS HAVE A BUNCH OF OTHER LOOMING THINGS WE ARE SUPPOSED TO-- WITHIN THE LAST YEAR, HAVE WE HAD A TALK ON THE SUNSHINE LAWS?
>> WE DID. I CAN'T RECALL THE DATE.
I KNOW I DID A PRESENTATION AT ONE POINT.
>> OKAY. I GUESS WE CAN SET THAT ASIDE FOR LATER, BUT I DO HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS THAT I'LL BE WRITING UP FOR THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO SEE JUST, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE CAN STILL DO TO MOVE OUR BUSINESS FORWARD.
THE OTHER THINGS THAT SEEMS TO HAVE DROPPED OUT OF DISCUSSION DURING THE LAST FEW MONTHS IS THAT WE HAVE TO ANNUALLY REVIEW THE COUNTY-- YOU KNOW, THE BOARD'S FINANCES AND THE STATUS OF THE FUNDING FOR THE DIFFERENT MARKERS OR OTHER PROJECTS WE MAY HAVE. I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE DONE
THIS LATELY, BUT -- >> WE HAVEN'T.
WE HAVEN'T AS LONG AS I HAVE BEEN-- AND I'M NOT SURE IF CAROLYN DID BEFORE ME. PART OF IT IS THAT IT IS A LITTLE-- THE TIMING OF THE OFFICER CHANGING AND THEN THE FISCAL YEAR CHANGING WITH THE COUNTY-- I WISH THEY WERE MORE IN SYNCH. YOU HAVE THE CHAIR STARTING IN JULY WHICH IS ACTUALLY AUGUST SINCE YOU DON'T MEET IN JULY.
THEN THE NEW BUDGET COMES IN IN OCTOBER.
IT ALWAYS WAS A MESS. IT TOOK UP A LOT OF TIME.
>> NEVER QUITE TOGETHER. >> I GET A LITTLE NERVOUS SINCE I'M, YOU KNOW, SITTING WHERE I AM.
THAT WE MAY NOT BE DOING SOMETHING ON TIME THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO REGARDING THAT. YOU KNOW, IT IS ALWAYS AN ODD THING, TOO. IT IS NOT REALLY MOSTLY UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE BOARD MEM MEMBERS, BUT WE ARE STILL
SUPPOSED TO KNOW WHAT WE'VE GOT. >> UNDERSTOOD.
YOU HAVEN'T SPENT ANY MONEY SINCE THE AUGUSTA SAVIDGE
MARKER. >> WELL, THAT IS ANOTHER
DIFFICULT -- >> IT STARTS OVER EVERY YEAR.
IT STARTS OVER. HOPEFULLY, WE WILL HAVE THE BLUE ANGELS MARKER THIS YEAR. AND SLIM HITMAN.
IT STARTS OVER IN OCTOBER. >> WE WILL HAVE A NEW BUDGET IN OCTOBER. OKAY.
>> ON ONE HAND, I MEAN, IT IS GOOD IF WE DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH TRYING TO ALLOCATE MONEY THAT IS NOT AVAILABLE TO US BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER BUDGET WE WERE GIVEN.
SINCE THESE MARKERS ARE STILL IN THE WORKS, THEY ARE NOT RIPE FOR PROPOSAL. ON THE OTHER HAND, I SHOULD POINT OUT TO EVERYBODY THAT MOVING AHEAD WITH AS MUCH DELIBERATE SPEED AS WE CAN IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE LOST PART OF OUR MEAGER BUDGET BECAUSE THEY DETERMINED WE HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET THINGS THROUGH THE HOOPS, AND WELL, WHY DO YOU NEED $7,500 WHEN YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO USE IT ALL? SO NOW WE HAVE A REDUCED BUDGET,
[00:50:04]
AND I DON'T WANT TO GIVE TOCATION FOR IT TO BE REDUCED FURTHER. THAT IS ALREADY EMBARRASSINGLY MOD ES, COMPARED TO THE MISSION THAT THIS BOARD IS SUPPOSED TOHAVE. >> WITH THAT IN MIND,LY GO BACK TO THE GROUP AT HILLTOP AND SHIFT OUR DIRECTION A LITTLE BIT. WE CAN STILL APPLY FOR THE HISTORICAL MARKER, THE STATE HISTORICAL MARKER.
WE DID WANT TO INQUIRE ALSO ABOUT A COUNTY LEVEL HISTORICAL MARKER. THAT DISCUSSION KIND OF FRITTERED OUT. I SHOULD BE ABLE TO SAY AT THE NEXT MEETING WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN GO FORWARD TO HAVE THE TEXT
READY FOR OCTOBER. >> WELL, GOOD, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WILL BE SOON ENOUGH BECAUSE THE STATE REVIEW USUALLY TAKES PLACE IN SEPTEMBER. RIGHT?
>> THEY ARE DOING IT MULTIPLE TIMES.
THEY ARE REVIEWING THEM MULTIPLE TIMES EVERY MONTH.
THEY ARE DOING A REVIEW. >> OH, REALLY?
>> IT IS NOT LIMITED. >> BEFORE IT USED TO BE-- YOU HAD TO HAVE IT BY SOME SORT OF AN ANNUAL DATE.
SO GOOD. HOPEFULLY, IT CAN SQUEEZE-- I'M DOUBTFUL THAT IT WILL, BUT YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN, THAT WILL BE
GREAT. >> AND WE ARE ACTUALLY LOOKING INTO THE HISTORIC SIGNS THAT WERE KIND OF CONTEMPLATED YEARS AGO FOR COUNTY HISTORIC SIGNS. THAT ARE REALLY JUST KIND OF THE GROUND SIGNS WITH NAMING THE LOCATION.
WE ARE LOOKING INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE.
>> YEAH. ONE REASON FOR BEING INTERESTED IN THAT IS BECAUSE OF MAUDE JACKSON'S AGE AND THE NUMBER OF YEARS THAT SHE HAS NOT ONLY FUNDED THE MUSEUM AND ITS PROGRAMS BUT ALSO WORKED ON THIS PROJECT AND SERVED THE SCHOOL SYSTEM OF CLAY COUNTY. AND WE WOULD DEFINITELY LIKE TO GET SOMETHING BEFORE SHE GETS TOO MUCH OLDER.
SHE IS 81 NOW. AND IN FRAGILE HEALTH.
>> OKAY. ANOTHER THING I'M NOT CLEAR ON, WHETHER WITHIN THE LAST YEAR, AGAIN, ACCORDING TO THIS OBLIGATION, TO HAVE OPTICS REVIEWED ABOUT THE PROCUREMENT PROCEDURES. REMEMBER ANYTHING ABOUT THAT?
>> I HAVEN'T DONE A BRIEFING ON THAT.
>> COUNTY PROCUREMENT PROCEDURES.
WE ARE ALSO SUPPOSED TO UPDATE, ALTHOUGH THERE IS NOT A SPECIFIC TARGET, OH, NO. I'M SUPPOSES TO UPDATE THIS COMMISSION. SORRY.
WELL, IT IS NOT A COMMISSION ANYMORE.
IT IS A BOARD. >> IT IS A BOARD.
>> THE OLD LANGUAGE IS STILL IN HERE.
I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER NEW BUSINESS ITEMS, THEN, THAT PEOPLE WANT TO BRING UP OR-- FOR THE GOOD OF THE BOARD? ANYTHING LIKE THAT THAT WE OUGHT TO BE-- I GUESS I COULD MENTION THAT I DID ATTEND ANOTHER MEETING OF THE ORANGE PARK COMMITTEE TO ACTUALLY CREATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION BYLAWS FOR THAT TOWN. VERY INTERESTING, IF THEY FINALLY GET OFF THE GROUND AND GET BLESSED BY THAT GOVERNMENT.
THE PERSON WHO DOES WORK FOR THE COUNTY IN TERMS OF KEEPING THINGS ON TRACK WITH THAT COMMITTEE ALSO RECOMMENDS THAT WE LOOK AT THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE'S MODEL WHICH IS SQUISHIER BUT PROBABLY BETTER SUITED FOR A COUNTY-WIDE ORDINANCE ON HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
BECAUSE TO MY SURPRISE, THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THAT COUNTY HAVE DIFFERENT PRESERVATION REQUIREMENTS.
SO THAT IS INTERESTING. BECAUSE IT FITS THE SORT OF NATURE OF CLAY COUNTY'S-- YOU KNOW, LOTS OF PLACES ARE UNINCORPORATED. PEOPLE MAY HAVE A DIFFERENT
[00:55:01]
POINT OF VIEW. IN CERTAIN AREAS.IF THAT HAS MATERIAL IN IT THAT WE CAN USE, MAYBE WE CAN ACTUALLY GO FORWARD WITH THAT PART OF OUR MISSION.
WHICH IS KIND OF-- FOR A LONG TIME.
OKAY. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? GO TO STAFF COMMENTS AND THEN BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS.
>> NO PUBLIC, BOARD MEMBERS. OH THAT, THAT'S RIGHT.
[Staff Comments]
STAFF COMMENTS IS BETH. I'M SORRY, BETH.YOU HAVE SOME ITEMS? >> THE ONLY OTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO ADD IS THAT DEIRDRE AND MARY AND VISHI AND I ARE GOING MONDAY AFTERNOON TO MEET WITH THE OAK LEAF HOA TO TALK WITH THEM ABOUT POTENTIAL USE OF SOME OF THEIR PROPERTY FOR THE LOCATION OF THE MARKER AND THE KIOSK.
I LOOKED AT LOCATIONS. I THINK WE HAVE A COUPLE OF GOOD SPOTS. VISIBLE FROM THE SCHOOL.
VISIBLE FROM THE INTERSECTION. UNDER SOME NICE PINE TREES.
MAYBE SOME POTENTIALLY GOOD LOCATIONS.
>> I DIDN'T HAVE TO-- I HAVE TO CONFESS, I DIDN'T BRING MY HEARING AID. IT IS A LITTLE HARD TO HEAR EVERYTHING THAT YOU SAID. BUT --
[Board Member's Comments]
>> NOW WE WANT TO GO TO BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE A COMMENT? >> I WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO SAY WHAT BETH JUST SAID. NO.
THAT IS PERFECTLY FINE. BUT JUST TO REITERATE, WE ARE GOING OUT TO TALK ABOUT LOCATIONS FOR THE BLUE ANGELS MARKER. THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO SAY IS, YOU KNOW, AS A REPRESENTING DISTRICT FOUR, TODAY WE HAD AN AMAZING EVENT, THE HERITAGE COMMISSION WHICH I AM CO-CHAIR OF RIGHT NOW. WE DID A TOUR FOR OUR FOURTH-GRADERS IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND WE HAD THEM ALL COME OUT. 110 KIDS, IF YOU CAN IMAGINE.
AND THEIR TEACHERS. AND ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION. WE HOSTED THEM, TEACHING HELP THE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF KEYSTONE HEIGHTS.
WE SET UP IN THE KEYSTONE PAVILION.
WE SET UP-- WE HAD THEM ALL SIT ON THE FLOOR.
AND IN THE PAVILION. WE DID A QUICK VIDEO OF WHAT IT WAS LIKE A HUNDRED YEARS AGO, AND THEN FROM THERE, THEY WENT TO DIFFERENT STAGES AND THROUGHOUT THE PARK.
WE TALKED TO THEM ABOUT THE KEYSTONE HISTORIC INN OF WHICH I BELIEVE A LOT OF THE CLAY COMMISSIONERS ATTENDED IN KEYSTONE HEIGHTS. THE PRESERVATION BOARD MET OVER IN KEYSTONE ABOUT A YEAR AGO MAYBE.
AND THEN THEY LEARNED ABOUT-- THEY HAD A GREAT TIME.
I THINK THE TEACHERS SAID THEY LEARNED A LOT.
ABOUT THE HISTORY OF KEYSTONE HEIGHTS.
IT WAS JUST VERY WELL-RECEIVED. IT WAS OUR FIRST TIME WE DID THIS. WE WILL GET BETTER NEXT YEAR.
SO I'M HOPING THAT WE CONTINUE THIS AS AN ANNUAL EVENT.
IT WAS JUST GREAT TO KIND OF PASS THE HISTORY-- YOU KNOW, THE EXCITEMENT YOU HAVE ABOUT PRESERVATION AND HISTORY OF A TOWN, AND TO SEE IT IN THE EYES OF NINE-YEAR-OLDS, THEY WERE EXCITED. SO AT THEIR LEVEL.
IT WAS GOOD. >> DURING THE CONFABULATION, DID ANYBODY UPDATE OR VERIFY THE CURRENT OWNERSHIP OF THE LAND ON
WHICH FORT NUMBER 11 STOOD? >> I DON'T KNOW.
I WAS OVER AT THE KEYSTONE INN BOOTH.
>> THAT WOULD MAKE A GREAT CANDIDATE FOR ANOTHER STATE MARKER IF WE CAN. IF WE CAN LOCATE IT.
WE COULD PROBABLY COME UP WITH DOCUMENTATION ABOUT WHAT IT AND WHEN IT WAS ACTIVE AND ALL THE REST.
>> YEAH. ACTUALLY, THE LAKE BEHIND MY HOUSE WHICH IS CALLED KEYSTONE LAKE WAS AT ONE TIME, CALLED "SOLDIERS POND. I'M THINKING-- THEY HAD TENTS ALL AROUND THERE. THE SOLDIERS DID.
I'M THINKING THAT FORT 11 WAS VERY CLOSE TO THE DOWNTOWN.
I DO HAVE A HISTORIAN ON STAFF. WE HAD PEOPLE THAT DRESSED UP IN
[01:00:08]
PERIOD COSTUME. WE ACTUALLY HAD A CANON THAT WENT OFF FOUR TIMES TO LET THEM KNOW WHEN THEY NEEDED TO ROTATE.I MEAN, THEY LOVED THIS. (LAUGHTER).
>> THAT IS REALLY GOOD. >> ANYWAY, THAT IS THE END OF MY
WELL, IF THERE IS NO FURTHER BUSINESS, TO DISCUSS,.
>> I HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE FAMILY.
THERE IS CERTAIN PARAMETERS THAT HAVE STILL YET TO BE DETERMINED.
FOR EXAMPLE, IS IT GOING TO BE A ONE-SIDED OR TWO-SIDED WE ARE GOING TO GO AFTER? NOW, THEY WOULD LIKE IT OUT BY THE WOODPECKER PARADISE PRO PROPERTY.
THE SLIM WHITMAN HOUSE IS NO LONGER THERE.
HIS GRANDDAUGHTER LIVES ON THE BACK OF THE PROPERTY.
THEY WOULD LIKE THE STATE MARKER ON THE ENTRANCEWAY TO THAT PROPERTY. THE THINGS WE HAVE TO DETERMINE IS WHETHER OR NOT IT IS FACING PARALLEL WITH THE ROAD OR IF IT IS GOING TO BE TWO-SIDED, IF IT IS PERPENDICULAR.
HOWEVER THAT IS GOING TO BE. IT WOULD BE BETTER IF WE HAD A ONE-SIDED ONE. IT WOULD BE EASIER.
THEN THE NEXT HAS TO BE AN ONGOING PROCESS.
THE FAMILY WANTS TO REVIEW THE TEXT TO ENSURE THE ACCURACY OF IT AND THEN WE WILL MOVE FORWARD.
SO I'M TRYING TO SPEED IT UP A LITTLE BIT AND GET THINGS ROLLING. I'LL KEEP DOING THAT.
>> ONE OTHER ITEM THAT SHOULD NOT BE FORGOTTEN, IT OCCURS TO ME. THERE IS A REAL POSSIBILITY THAT WE COULD LOSE IF WE CANNOT PRESERVE EFFECTIVELY, THE HOME OF THE GUSTAFSONS. THE OWNERSHIP OF IT IS SPLIT AMONG CERTAIN HEIRS WHO DID NOT APPARENTLY SEE EYE TO EYE ALL THE TIME. ONE OF THEM, OF COURSE, GAVE A KEY TO FACILITATE SPRUCING UP THE PLACE.
THE OTHER PERSON, THE WIDOW OF ANOTHER HEIR DOESN'T SEEM TO BE QUITE SO COOPERATIVE. SO AT SOME POINT, SOON, I WOULD THINK WE OUGHT TO TRY TO GO ON RECORD AS BEING SUPPORTIVE OF SAVING THE PLACE AND MAYBE MAKING SOME SORT OF ASSESSMENT HOW WE COULD ENCOURAGE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE AUTHORIZED TO RAISE FUNDS, YOU KNOW, TO HELP IN THIS EFFORT AND OF COURSE, AS RANDY PROPOSED, HAVE VOLUNTEERS, MEANWHILE, CLEAN UP THE HOUSE. OF COURSE, IT WOULD BE FUTILE IF WE WOUND UP CLEANING UP THE HOUSE AND PREPPING IT ONLY TO HAVE IT SOLD OUT FROM UNDER EVERYBODY.
>> YEAH. I THINK WE HAD THAT DISCUSSION.
>> SOME DEVELOPER WHO WANTS TO KNOCK IT DOWN AND REPLACE IT
WITH EIGHT HOUSES. >> WELL, I HAVE BEEN ON TOP OF THAT AS WELL. I HAVE BEEN-- AS A MATTER OF FACT, TODAY, MISS GUSTAFSON AND MYSELF HAVE BEEN EXCHANGING TEXT MESSAGES. I TOLD HER I NEEDED TO TALK TO HER. AND FIND OUT FIRST OF ALL, ONE THING I HAVE TO SAY IS BOTH GUSTAFSON AND THE PROSPECTIVE BUYER HAVE BOTH AGREED THAT THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OF THE GUSTAFSON HOUSE IS NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
OKAY? AND SECONDLY, TH THERE ARE SOME OTHER IDEAS I HAVE HAD ABOUT POSSIBLY-- I DON'T KNOW.
MAYBE SOMETHING LIKE THAT COULD BE DONATED AS A TAX WRITE-OFF OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT. I HAVE NO IDEA.
BUT WITH THAT IN MIND, THERE ARE STILL SOME ISSUES I NEED TO GET AHOLD OF MISS GUSTAFSON DIRECTLY TO.
FIND OUT IF SHE IS ALREADY-- IF SHE HAS ALREADY SOLD THE PROPERTY. IF SHE DID SELL THE PROPERTY, BECAUSE SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO BUY THE PROPERTY, ALL THEY ARE INTERESTED IN IS THE LAND, THE PLATS OF LAND THAT SURROUNDS THE HOUSE. AND THEY ALSO AGREE THAT THEY WANT TO MAINTAIN THE HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE OF THE HOUSE.
SO WITH THAT IN MIND, LIKE I SAID, I WAS TALKING TO PEOPLE TODAY. I'LL KEEP TRYING TO GET AHOLD OF MISS GUSTAFSON. AND GET SOME POSITIVE DIRECTION ON WHICH WAY THIS THING IS GOING TO GO.
I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE POSITIVE REGARDLESS.
[01:05:01]
BECAUSE SHE HAS ALREADY STATED SHE DOES NOT WANT TO SELL THE PROPERTY AND THE HOUSE TO ANY DEVELOPER THAT IS NOT GOING TO MAINTAIN THE HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE OF THE HOUSE.NOW, WHETHER OR NOT SHE WILL GET GUARANTEES ON THAT OR WHETHER SHE CAN HAVE THE CONTRACT, I DON'T KNOW.
>> YES. THE OTHER LOOMING QUESTION IS SHE IS NOT THE ONLY SELLER INVOLVED IN THIS.
SO HER GOODWILL IS VERY IMPORTANT.
THAT IS FOR SURE. BUT IF THE OTHER HEIR DOES NOT
AGREE OR THEY ARE NOT ONBOARD -- >> WE SEE THIS IN REAL ESTATE A LOT. IT USUALLY DOESN'T END WELL.
>> NO. >> WHO IS THE OTHER HEIR?
WHO IS THE OTHER OWNER OF THIS? >> THE WIDO OF THE FELLOW WHO NEVER COOPERATED WHILE HE WAS ALIVE.
>> THAT IS MERT. >> THIS IS A WOMAN.
>> THE PERSON WHO WOULDN'T COOPERATE WAS HER
BROTHER-IN-LAW. >> AND HE PASSED AWAY.
>> HER BROTHER. HER SISTER-IN-LAW IS THE ONE WHO INHERITS HIS SHARE OF WHATEVER IT IS.
>> OKAY. WELL, I'LL GET ALL THAT CLEARED
BECAUSE YOU KNOW, IF WE DON'T NAIL SOME OF THIS DOWN IN TIME, THE SAME THING WILL HAPPEN THAT HAS HAPPENED SO MANY OTHER
>> THAT WOULD BE A SHAME. >> I UNDERSTAND THAT.
I HAVE BEEN INSIDE THE RESIDENCE ALREADY.
I HAVE TAKEN PICTURES. THERE WAS ALSO SOME ISSUES WITH
THE STRUCTURE. >> YOU HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB.
>> I HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STRUCTURES HAVE THE HIGHEST OF INTEGRITY TO MAKE SURE WE CAN GO FORWARD WITH THIS.
>> YES. >> TO MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY.
>> OKAY. >> BY NEXT MEETING, I WILL HAVE SOME HARD-CORE ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS.
>> VERY GOOD. NOW, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO HELP OUT OR BE PRESENT AT ANY OF THESE DISCUSSIONS, TOO.
THAT WOULD BE VERY GOOD. >> OKAY.
>> ALL RIGHT. IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER COMMENTS, TO BE OFFERED, WE WILL CONSIDER THIS TO BE AJOWRND.
UNTIL THE MAY
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.