[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6674947,"mediaKeyId","2218824-787c79f6d009e6284977fa361b0e81d4","parentId",2218824,"title","Bay County commissioners approve consent agenda including water-system contract and courthouse renovation change order","audioSeconds",275,"startMs",222000,"endMs",497000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2218824-787c79f6d009e6284977fa361b0e81d4&start=222&end=497","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2218824-787c79f6d009e6284977fa361b0e81d4/thumbnail_222000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6674947/Bay-County/Florida/Bay-County-commissioners-approve-consent-agenda-including-water-system-contract-and-courthouse-renovation-change-order","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6674947-fdd04e2290093a3df1aa5f43546cce14/orig.mp4?Expires=1775468447&Signature=E3akH2awzRSRK2dsKL3y52IRAXRUK8wkoMtvIcw~B2o8Qrl47Rie5JbG45TBh7xdKn4gpPsalgz26z-KyrQOvG7LE70FN4jivy~0olehgHhPTmbub2IKD0yV4MaRRTs1Y4DoueWiL0kErYb96W6uMMsewTkLQqDsjcx2yOIKTACqNl6CG3JU4j2DIuHmm2ZjV9auTq3u-9IZbu6ZydRpMyyZW7qaIc8dE8RQ2Edwn2xPzpmfNMfDW812~OX04jwyMpunPPOhHnLetK3l5aPy0zU7lWhU8hSfHuO0JQ0jW4hhPMD~Ba9MLRD5GYPXUH87bJGEYgulrzlBhhTJ1pY96w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Bay County","date","2025-02-04T00:00:00Z","article","The Bay County Board of County Commissioners approved the consent agenda, authorizing budget amendments, grant agreements, contract awards and a courthouse renovation change order, the board voted during its meeting.

Highlights approved under the consent agenda included:

- Clerk of Court and Comptroller FY25 budget amendment (scope change for workday ERP implementation) (item 2): staff recommended and the board approved an amendment to the clerk's fiscal year 2025 budget.

- Fiscal Year 24/25 budget amendment (item 3): the board adopted a resolution amending the county budget as presented by the budget office.

- State of Florida subaward and grant agreement for Hurricane Helene with the Florida Division of Emergency Management (item 4): the board authorized the chairman to execute the federally funded subaward and grant agreement.

- Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant application for Gulf County Public Library (item 5): the board authorized the library director to submit the application and authorized the chairman to execute contract documents with the Florida Department of State's Division of Library and Information Services.

- Southport Fire Station litigation settlement agreement (item 6): the board approved a mutual settlement and release with plaintiff Clinton McLemore and authorized execution of the settlement.

- Ratification of sufficiency bonds for county officers (item 7): the board reviewed and acknowledged bonds were sufficient.

- Board appointments (item 8): the board ratified appointments and reappointments to the Bay Medical Center Board of Trustees and the Bay County Library Advisory Board.

- NGA 911 LLC agreement termination (item 9): the board authorized the county attorney's office to send a termination letter to NGA 911 LLC and directed the county manager to seek a replacement service provider under county purchasing policies.

- Ratify Department of Health Emergency Medical Services matching grant applications (item 10): the board ratified EMS matching grant applications signed by the chairman.

- Bay County Courthouse first- and second-floor renovation change order (item 11): the board approved a change order for unforeseen additional work in the amount of $46,343.18 to Gage Golden Construction DBA BGN Contractors.

- U.S. Department of Justice Direct Byrne Local grant (item 12): the board approved the FY24 Byrne Local grant for $26,620.

- Colonial Landing East final plat approval (item 13): the board approved the final plat.

- Right-of-way transfer associated with US-231 widening project (item 14): the board reviewed and approved legal instruments and resolutions to transfer county right-of-way interests to the Florida Department of Transportation and authorized recording.

- Florida Department of Transportation agreement for Star Avenue (Bridge over Callaway Bayou) (item 15): the board authorized the chairman to sign the resolution and any necessary modifications as approved by the county attorney.

- Military Point filter rebuild (item 16): staff recommended and the board authorized issuing a purchase requisition for the rebuild of a traveling bridge filter (16-foot by 65-foot with 12-foot sails) from Aqua Aerobic Systems Inc. at a cost of $553,791 and authorized the chairman to execute the agreement.

- Potable water distribution system hardening project (item 17): the board awarded contract 24-21 in the amount of $2,469,690 to Marshall Brothers Construction and Engineering Inc. and authorized the chairman to execute the contract and approved contract modifications as reviewed by the county attorney.

Board action: A motion to approve the consent agenda carried on a roll-call vote with Commissioners Carroll, Crosby, Raffield, Peace and Chairman Moore voting yes.

Ending: The approved actions authorize staff to proceed with contract execution, grant application submissions and budget amendments; staff will make any necessary legal modifications and return to the board for further action if required.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Bay County - Board of County Commissioners - Feb 04, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Bay County Board of County Commissioners approved a multi-item consent agenda that included budget amendments, grant agreements, a courthouse renovation change order and awards for major utility and infrastructure contracts.","taxTitle","Bay County, Florida","taxId",4833,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6674951,"Bay County shifts code enforcement hearings to special magistrates, appoints two magistrates",1465,503000,1968000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2218824-787c79f6d009e6284977fa361b0e81d4&start=503&end=1968","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2218824-787c79f6d009e6284977fa361b0e81d4/thumbnail_503000.jpg","/articles/6674951/Bay-County/Florida/Bay-County-shifts-code-enforcement-hearings-to-special-magistrates-appoints-two-magistrates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6674951-9497036253a438cd56ab9ff5a5214cca/orig.mp4?Expires=1775468447&Signature=TVB3CaXwwr6MlQ571QXoQMsr4C4hLi3BbARwDEv1BqvHZxYmoi85uzMU~D0EhXvSai17iwXt4SGql5ehJz9zmEbUldr-vOxR5iPEPSbn~DqHoSfJtTxiRy~LGBbJdNnCGRWecj7ASMU18DViwcucvZ2QHAnKQ5Ntw0BZnyEHz6bHmFxXIMnlW5oov2~tnc5nQHFh9kOlJmA4cHjpvvaqRKxZkjAst9Kr0L0llmndJ1VnynMAbEmz9LL8v5qsqsNKwf2j0uD-zdgwixZDVxsRlBPYhwfFAe3HmYC0hNevSbj-Kv7ZGOnis-440xNISyOR4fZzObH4a2IzNONYy1kRDA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bay County Board of County Commissioners approved amendments to Chapter 7, Article 2 of the Bay County Code to replace use of the county's Code Enforcement Board with special magistrates for code enforcement hearings and to authorize magistrates to consider lien reductions, the board voted at its meeting.

The changes, presented by county legal staff, keep existing procedural protections in place and add a compliance hearing option while delegating timely consideration of lien reductions to special magistrates rather than reserving that authority exclusively for the board. \"The procedure is not changing,\" the county attorney said during the presentation, adding that the amendments are intended to improve efficiency and align the county with other jurisdictions in the region.

Why this matters: The amendment alters who hears code enforcement matters affecting property owners, adding a new role for magistrates in handling compliance hearings and lien-reduction requests. Supporters said the change will reduce delays caused by difficulties convening a full volunteer board; opponents warned it could reduce opportunities for members of the public to be heard by a multi-member board.

County staff told commissioners that many Florida municipalities already use special magistrates or hearing officers under Chapter 162 of the Florida Statutes and that the proposed ordinance codifies that approach for Bay County. The presentation explained that the ordinance also clarifies definitions and enforcement procedures and that notice and a business-impact statement were published in accordance with state statute.

During public comment, Jim Robinson, who identified himself as a 23-year member of Bay County's Code Enforcement Board, urged the commissioners to retain multi-member hearings. \"This is the people's court,\" Robinson said, saying people who come before the board \"want to be heard\" and that decisions about homes and personal property are intensely personal. Robinson said he believed it was \"way too much for 1 individual to make a decision for the citizens of Bay County.\"

Several commissioners acknowledged those concerns while expressing support for the ordinance as a way to reduce delays and improve consistency. Commissioners asked staff about safeguards: the county attorney's office said the ordinance does not change existing rights to representation or to appeal; appeals from magistrate final orders proceed to the circuit court under Florida law. Staff also said the county currently uses two magistrates, Tiffany Serto Brown and Bill Lewis, and that both have handled hearings in a timely manner; staff noted the city of Panama City uses multiple magistrates.

The board voted to adopt the ordinance changes and then moved to appoint the two existing magistrates to serve under the new ordinance. The appointment motion passed on a roll-call vote with Commissioners Carroll, Crosby, Raffield, Peace and Chairman Moore voting yes.

The board did not specify a timeline for further evaluation but several commissioners said the county could \"course correct\" and revise the process if elements proved ineffective.

Ending: The changes take effect as the county implements the new hearing procedures under Chapter 7, Article 2; appeals from magistrate final orders remain with the circuit court. Commissioners thanked outgoing Code Enforcement Board volunteers for their service and said staff will monitor implementation and return with any recommended adjustments.","The Bay County Board of County Commissioners approved amendments to Chapter 7, Article 2 of the county code to use special magistrates instead of the county's Code Enforcement Board for hearings and to allow magistrates to consider lien reductions. The board also appointed the two existing magistrates to serve under the new ordinance.","actionData","errors"]

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Bay County commissioners approve consent agenda including water-system contract and courthouse renovation change order

Bay County shifts code enforcement hearings to special magistrates, appoints two magistrates