The Community Paramedicine Program, a relatively new initiative, was the focal point of the meeting. Lieutenant David Weeks presented an overview, highlighting the engagement with residents to improve their quality of life by connecting them with community resources. The program has identified six official patients in its first month, with efforts to establish further partnerships with local agencies. The council commended Lieutenant Weeks and Chief Rogers for their work on the program.

The program endeavors to expand its services through public outreach, public advertising, and a joint commercial with the Department of Health and Meridian. Specific cases where the program had a positive impact were shared, such as conducting a telehealth appointment for a patient with a cough and assisting a substance abuse patient in obtaining a primary care visit. Risk reduction efforts were also part of the program’s activities, which included replacing a deck for a patient who had suffered a fall.

A council member praised the Community Paramedicine Program as one of the most impressive initiatives they had seen in their career. The program’s rapid progress was highlighted, and excitement was expressed about the potential positive effects on the county’s economic development, following the approval of a grant for an economic development strategic plan.

Another topic at the meeting was the discussion around the purchase of a 2018 Ford service truck. The truck, equipped with a full box and a crane capable of lifting 6,000 lbs with a 20-foot reach, was identified as a necessary tool to ensure the safety of certain projects and avoid potential injuries. The board voted in favor of purchasing the truck, with funding coming from the contingency fund without any issue.

The council also approved the chip seal project for several roads, including Southeast 11, Southeast 84th Avenue, Southeast 213th, Northeast 17th, Northeast 12th, Northeast 20th, Northeast 223rd Street, and Southeast 17th, at a total cost of $348,950.34. There was a request to prioritize certain roads, but the motion for approval was carried out as planned. Furthermore, the council reached a consensus to restrict commercial truck traffic on a specific road due to its deteriorating condition and to meet construction deadlines.

Departmental spending for the general fund, fire rescue fund, and road department fund was reviewed, with the general fund showing a use of fund balance of $1.1 million for the first two quarters, resulting in a current fund balance of $16.2 million. The fire rescue fund had a savings to their department’s fund balance of around $280,000, making the current fund balance $1.1 million. The road department fund experienced a use of their department’s fund balance of around $211,000, leading to a current fund balance of $1.4 million.

The meeting also touched upon the county manager’s contract, with the council discussing the process for providing input on contract negotiation. Suggestions included individual board members meeting with the county manager to offer feedback and the establishment of a written evaluation process. Ultimately, the council made a motion for the chair to enter into negotiations with the county manager, allowing for individual board member input as part of the process.

Debate ensued over whether to proceed with individual evaluations of the County Manager before entering into contract negotiations. The council agreed to have the manager and the council provide a form for discussion and review at the next meeting, with a vote of 3 to 2 in favor of proceeding with an evaluation stage prior to negotiations.

Commissioner Andrews proposed an appreciation day for county employees, which was supported by the council. Concerns were raised about the event being held on a workday, and consideration was given to potentially holding the event on a Saturday in the future. Other topics included condolences for the public defender’s loss, gratitude for living in Bradford County, and the positive impact of the gas tax on funding road projects. Discussions also covered potential cost-of-living adjustments for employees, with a decision scheduled for the next meeting on May 16th. Upcoming events such as the grand opening of the Hampton Hub and the Northeast Florida Economic Development Corps learning luncheon were announced, along with the next budget meeting date set for July 18th.