[{"_1":2,"_94":-5,"_95":-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",[32,74,84],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6328169,"mediaKeyId","2321575-231159f4717314988b16bda94df79e7c","parentId",2321575,"title","Commissioners warned Holmes County budget cushions are gone as staff discuss sales, sewer needs and funding options","audioSeconds",263,"startMs",594000,"endMs",857000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2321575-231159f4717314988b16bda94df79e7c&start=594&end=857","thumbnailUrl","https://d352y6ypj4mjo3.cloudfront.net/AudioPlaceholder.png","articleUrl","/articles/6328169/Holmes-County/Florida/Commissioners-warned-Holmes-County-budget-cushions-are-gone-as-staff-discuss-sales-sewer-needs-and-funding-options","mediaUrl","author","Holmes County, FL","date","2025-02-04T00:00:00Z","article","County staff and outside presenters told the Holmes County Board of County Commissioners that prior one-time federal funds and local cushions used to balance recent budgets have been exhausted and that the county must plan for a tighter fiscal year ahead.

County financial reports presented at the meeting showed the county used ARPA, CARES Act and other one-time federal sources to close budget gaps in recent years and moved transportation-trust funds to cover departmental needs. Staff said those cushions are no longer available and asked commissioners to keep that in mind while considering spending requests.

On a separate but related agenda item, the Holmes County Development Commission and private prospective buyers described interest in the county\u000027s Deacon Road property. Joe Rohn of the Holmes County Development Commission said a buyer would pay substantially more than the $400,000 minimum if the county could extend sewer to the parcel; Rohn said grant funds and a city partnership could make sewer feasible and that the development commission could do the work to pursue grants.

A private developer, Paul Graves of Opportunity Zone USA, said his company would consider a fair market offer and reiterated that without sewer the site is less valuable; he said his firm might offer roughly $400,000 as-is but far more with sewer service. Commissioners discussed whether to accept sealed bids, pursue grant-funded sewer extension, or move forward with the sale to cover current-year budget needs.

Separately, staff reported on Project Gateway, saying the commission has received closing proceeds from a Busy Bee sale that removed a previously counted $308,000 project entry from the budget. Staff urged commissioners that some previously counted funds will not recur and to be cautious in planning.

The board also discussed options for short-term project financing. First Federal representatives told commissioners a line of credit could be structured on a project-by-project basis, typically tied to work-in-progress rather than a standing multi-project line; current prime-based pricing was discussed (prime roughly mid-7 percent at the time of the meeting). County staff and commissioners also discussed a new DOT advance-funding mechanism that would allow the county to request payments earlier in project schedules; staff said DOT still requires the county to cut checks and request reimbursement, and the process involves paperwork and internal cash flow management.

Commissioners asked staff to schedule follow-up discussions with DOT staff and bank representatives to clarify reimbursement mechanics, timelines, and the budgetary implications of borrowing versus using county validated funds.

Ending: Staff urged caution in committing recurring expenditures because previous one-time federal cushions have been spent; commissioners directed staff to pursue grant opportunities for sewer and to return with options and cost estimates for potential Deacon Road remediation and sale.","mediaType","Audio","parentTitle","Holmes County Board of County Commissioners Regular Session February 4, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","County staff told commissioners that one-time cushions such as ARPA and CARES funds used to balance prior budgets have been exhausted, and the board must plan for tighter finances while staff pursues grant, sale and financing options.","taxTitle","Holmes County, Florida","taxId",72979,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":50,"_51":81,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":82,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":83,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6328162,"Votes at a glance: Holmes County commission approves infrastructure requests, project bids and planning steps",674,2348000,3022000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2321575-231159f4717314988b16bda94df79e7c&start=2348&end=3022","/articles/6328162/Holmes-County/Florida/Votes-at-a-glance-Holmes-County-commission-approves-infrastructure-requests-project-bids-and-planning-steps","The Holmes County Board of County Commissioners took a series of votes on project and planning items during the meeting. Below are the actions the board approved or considered for follow-up.

Votes and key details

- SCRAP 2025 road recommendations: The board approved recommended SCRAP (Small County Road Assistance Program) projects for 2025, including 179 Phase 2 and Phase 3, County Road T and A and Bonifay Kipley Phase 2, and two bridge/road items recommended by the bridge engineer (Whitaker Road and Johnson Road Bridge). (Motion and second recorded; discussion limited; vote passed.)

- Legislative appropriations submission: The board authorized submitting appropriation requests to the county's legislative delegation, directing staff to request $1,000,000 for jail design (with the board noting architecture/design would make the project more shovel-ready) and $250,000 for parks repairs/renovations. Commissioners discussed the legislative environment and the probability of receiving partial funding; they approved the motion to submit these requests.

- Pilot-project construction bids: Commissioners authorized advertising construction bids for the pilot infrastructure project (site work, utilities, and related items). Staff noted stormwater pond design remained outstanding but the project was at bid-ready status for many trades; the board approved moving forward to advertise and solicit bids.

- Replat and exemption approvals (planning): The board approved a minor replat related to the pilot project (adjusting interior lot lines without creating new parcels) and granted an exemption request to allow a family housing arrangement on a 40-acre parcel for an elderly resident (affidavit to be recorded). Staff said the exemption type will be codified in future LDR updates.

- Florida Boating Improvement Program application: The board authorized staff to apply for Florida Boating Improvement Program funding for a boat ramp project, and to move forward with required work to apply.

- Deed update for Myrtle Road (county-maintained road): Staff requested and the board approved preparing an updated record confirming county maintenance of Myrtle Road to assist a property sale; staff said the action was largely administrative to facilitate a closing.

- Lake Cassidy survey and purchase (see separate article): The board approved the finalized survey and directed staff to proceed toward closing under the mediated settlement agreement; one commissioner voted no on the record.

How votes were recorded

Where the transcript did not include precise mover/second names or a roll-call tally, the summary marks outcomes indicated in the record. Several motions were seconded and passed by voice vote; a small number of items had limited debate. When a formal vote tally was not read aloud in the transcript, the board's stated pass/fail outcome is recorded here.

Ending: Staff will carry out follow-up tasks for each approved item, including preparing bid advertisements, completing planning recordation, submitting legislative application forms in the delegation packet, and preparing grant or permit materials for boating and other infrastructure items.","The commission approved a batch of project and planning actions: SCRAP road picks, the county\u000027s legislative request packet, bids for a pilot infrastructure project, planning approvals and a boating-grant application.",{"_33":85,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":86,"_41":87,"_43":88,"_45":89,"_47":90,"_49":50,"_51":91,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":92,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":93,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6328173,"Holmes County approves survey and purchase terms to settle long-running Lake Cassidy ownership dispute",1949,3200000,5149000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2321575-231159f4717314988b16bda94df79e7c&start=3200&end=5149","/articles/6328173/Holmes-County/Florida/Holmes-County-approves-survey-and-purchase-terms-to-settle-long-running-Lake-Cassidy-ownership-dispute","The Holmes County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve a finalized survey and move forward with a purchase-and-sale agreement covering roughly the area the public has used at Lake Cassidy, resolving a lawsuit over ownership and access.

County counsel and outside counsel told the board the mediated settlement would buy the area the public has used for boat landings and swimming and that closing the deal would remove a risk of court sanctions. Kayla Patrady, an attorney with Remberger Kurt representing the county\u000027s insurer, said the court has warned that if the parties have not resolved the matter by the next case-management conference the judge \"may enter sanctions,\" including fines or orders that could reduce what the county obtains by settlement.

The commission debated the exact boundary lines shown on the newly completed survey and whether those lines reflect the area the county road department has historically maintained. Several commissioners asked for a site visit so each commissioner could view the flags and boundary marks before final closing; one commissioner said they could not identify the flags when they went to the site.

Patrady told commissioners the survey attached to the purchase-and-sale agreement describes the acreage the county already has been maintaining and that the new survey actually shows slightly more land (about 0.56 acres) than the earlier exhibit to the mediated settlement.

County staff said the county budget includes money to complete the purchase; a staff member noted the funds for this settlement have been set aside in the budget since 2018. Commissioners asked about ongoing maintenance obligations for the stretch of roadway and the embankment at the lakeside, and counsel said the county would be responsible only for the land described in the survey and any maintenance obligations that are part of the settlement documents.

After discussion, a motion to approve the survey and proceed with the purchase-and-sale agreement passed. One commissioner stated on the record they voted against approving the survey, citing concerns about not having a chance to see the exact boundaries in person before the vote.

Commission staff said the county\u000027s next steps will be: sign the purchase-and-sale agreement, obtain mutual releases from the plaintiffs, file a voluntary dismissal in the court case, and implement the post-settlement items described in the mediated settlement (including bringing back a gate design and any fee structure for restricted access for board approval). Staff said the plaintiffs and their representatives had indicated willingness to cooperate on the practical details following closing.

The county attorney and staff recommended commissioners complete the vote before the court\u000027s next case-management conference to reduce the risk of judicial sanctions or additional expense.

The commission also asked staff to prepare cost estimates and options for a gate and controlled access (including possible permit or decal systems) and to return with those proposals for the board\u000027s approval.

Ending: The board approved the survey and directed staff to proceed toward closing under the mediated settlement; staff will return with gate and access options and any administrative details needed for implementation.","The county commission approved a finalized survey and moved to complete a purchase-and-sale agreement for roughly a half-acre of lakeside land at Lake Cassidy to resolve litigation, with counsel warning the court could impose sanctions if the case is not closed.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners warned Holmes County budget cushions are gone as staff discuss sales, sewer needs and funding options

Votes at a glance: Holmes County commission approves infrastructure requests, project bids and planning steps

Holmes County approves survey and purchase terms to settle long-running Lake Cassidy ownership dispute