Columbia County's Infamous County 5 Give Away $45,000 Based on an Undated Letter, 12th Hour Public Comment, and a Mysterious Conversation
'Our rent went up $700 a month. We need $45k to help us buy the building'
September 24, 2024
12:55 pm | 7 min read |
Just Com. Murphy, 3 min read
Columbia County Observer photo and graphic.
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – This year's Columbia County's budget cycle ended last Thursday evening – with a $45,000 bang. County Manager David Kraus was previously on the record as telling the County 5, "On the outside agencies, we've funded them, for the most part with a couple of exceptions, at current levels. We are not able at this point to have any additional." At the 12th hour, County 5 member Tim Murphy didn’t see it that way.
Not interested in the background:
Commissioner Murphy's
presentation begins here.
Background
Historically (at least since 2006, when this reporter began covering the County budget cycles), the funding for outside agencies, known through the years as "culture/recreation" were budget lines that were explored during budget workshops.
This year, the County was on track to handle the culture/recreation items the same way. On August 1, 2024, during a County budget workshop, non-county agencies provided documentation and had the opportunity to make their pitch.
As the presentations progressed, County Manager Kraus told The 5, "The last (group) requesting money from the general fund would be the Gateway Art Gallery. Is anybody here from the Gateway Art Gallery?"
Mr. Kraus looked around the room. No one responded.
Mr. Kraus continued, "They basically are having some issues – their rent is going up. They never sought funding from us before. This is their initial request for funding."
None of The 5 or anyone else had any questions about the art gallery, so Mr. Kraus moved on.
As the workshop concluded, County Manager Kraus told The 5, "By the time we have that called meeting [a specially called meeting to finalize the tentative budget before the tentative budget hearing] at the end of the month, your budget's done."
Clerk of the Court Jay Swisher did not attend
the final budget hearing meeting. Had he
attended, he may have ensured his deputy
clerk had precise information to accurately
record Mr. Murphy's motion. This was not the
first time. Photo: Columbia County Observer
The Gateway Art Gallery Letter
"We want to expand our many programs."
A letter from the Gateway Art Gallery was included as supporting material for the August 1 workshop. The letter was addressed to Commissioner Williams and sent to his home. As in many instances with correspondence or official documents in Columbia County, it was not dated.
The letter listed programs provided by the art gallery and asked support for the following:
"... That our county commissioners budget $45,000 to help us continue and expand our many programs, which contribute to the quality of life for the citizens of Columbia County."
Ms. Van Arsdall's letter is here. The letter does not say anything about a County contribution to buy a building.
August 22, 2024
Special Budget Meeting
Prior to the August 22 special budget meeting, County Manager Kraus held a series of budget workshops with the County 5 to obtain feedback necessary to develop the proposed budget. The 5 were provided with the opportunity to develop not only the proposed budget but also any proposed program enhancements or reductions and revenue adjustments.
As the special meeting kicked off, County Manager Kraus announced, " On the outside agencies, we've funded them, for the most part with a couple of exceptions, at current levels. We are not able at this point to have any additional. We are trying to hold all current stuff at current levels.
Giving $45,000 to the Art Gallery appeared to be on no one's mind and was not mentioned.
September 5, the Tentative Budget Hearing
The Art Gallery Makes Its Pitch:
"Give us $45,000 so we can buy this building"
On September 5, 2024, The 5 held its first budget hearing. This hearing was to approve the tentative budget and give the public the opportunity to provide input on the budget.
Jeanne Van Arsdall, the founding member of the Gateway Art Gallery, came to the microphone to make her pitch for the taxpayer-funded $45,000.
Ms. Van Arsdall [abridged]:
I'm Jean Van Arsdall. I'm with Gateway Art Gallery here in Lake City. We have been in business for ten years in this location. Our rent has increased over $700 a month. We don't have those funds. We're asking that you help us with this. We asked for $45,000 to help us get ourselves established and organized so that we can buy this building and we don't have to pay this exorbitant amount of rent each month. If you could help us with that, we would greatly appreciate it.
Commissioner Phillips said, "They do a real good job."
There were no other comments about gifting money to the art gallery to purchase the building. The address was not provided.
Commissioner Ford moved that the tentative budget be approved as presented. The vote was unanimous: approved – public funding for the Art Gallery was not added to the budget.
September 19: Second Budget Hearing
Purpose: To Approve the Final Version of the
Budget
The required second budget hearing was introduced by County Manager Kraus: "What we would like to do is to amend, is to request the Board amend the submitted floor budget. The reason we are doing that is year-end funds must be appropriated as projects in this October budget according to the Charter [County Charter]. Last meeting, like the last public hearing, we identified 1.8 million year-end funds for new capital projects and Kevin Kirby is now going to go over those new capital projects, so the Board can say what you want to fund and what you don't want to fund."
The list of "new capital projects" could have been provided during the August 22 special meeting or the first budget hearing on September 5. It wasn't, giving the County Administration and County 5 the opportunity to mug the public with a last-minute $1.85 million list of special taxpayer-funded capital projects, rendering intelligent public comment impossible.
Assistant County Manager Kevin Kirby reviewed the capital projects by reading a slide, after which he said, "I am requesting this list, which totals $1.85 million – I need a motion, Mr. Chairman, to accept this list as your new capital projects for the next fiscal year."
Without comment or question from The 5 about any of the thirteen projects, the motion passed unanimously.
Columbia County Commissioner Ron Williams has
been a member of The 5 for over four decades.
The legislative process is still problematic for
him. (file photo)
Back to the $45,000 Gift of Public Funds or, Commissioner Tim Murphy gives another Joycian demonstration of stream-of-consciousness motion making
After Mr. Kirby wrapped up, Commissioner Murphy gave another Joycian demonstration of stream-of-consciousness motion-making.
Mr. Murphy:
Mr. Chair, I'm not sure if this is the correct time or not, but when we're amendin' this – and I don't know David [County Manager Kraus] if this would be an amendment, but, [Mr. Kraus, "Yes, it would."] I'd like to make the motion to – the presentation that was made to us from the Florida – not Florida – Columbia County arc project downtown purchasing this building -- we're not purchasing the building, but this is the site – did the research – it's definitely a positive community move.
David come up with a good idea. We was talkin' about, you know, numbers, where these types of monies come from, and me and David had a discussion today on the HCRA project – I'm sorry – line item if you wanna say -- and now with the Obama care bein' in place for the years that it has, we continue to (pause) [Chairman Williams, "Generate."] generate money for this, and I think it's a good idea David come up with, and it's definitely not a budget impact. And, we haven't spent that much money out of that, and I just think it's a good cause.
And I ran into a young lady this weekend, and she didn't know who I was, and I sure didn't know who – but she was braggin' about she had to go to her art lesson that afternoon. So, I – Board, I would like to make the motion to contribute – dedicate or whatever you want to say – $45,000 to this fund, [Chairman Williams, "Paid for out of"] paid out of the HCRA line item if you wanna say.
HCRA is the Health Care Responsibility Act. It is not a "project." Learn about the Health Care Responsibility Act here.
Commissioner Murphy added, "David, you may wanna help Amber [Amber Taylor, Deputy Clerk for the Clerk of the Court] down there. I know – I'm hopin' I'm statin' that correctly, but the…"
David Kraus: "It's to amend the budget."
Mr. Murphy, "Yeah."
Chairman Williams: "I've got a motion by Mr. Murphy, second by Mr. Phillips."
Commissioner Ford pointed out that for the prior two years, an art studio had "come before us wantin' funding, and we turned them down."
Commissioner Murphy asked, "Isn't it the same one?"
Commissioner Ford answered, "No, it's not the same one. No."
Commissioner Murphy said, "I don't recall."
County Manager Kraus said, "The other art studio was two or three doors down."
Commissioner Murphy addressed Deputy Clerk Taylor, "Amber, I would like to amend that motion to the point that this is a one-time action if you wanna say."
Mr. Murphy should have addressed the Chairman.
Commissioner Phillips announced, "I second that, too."
Without further comment, the motion passed unanimously.
Epilogue: The Motion and Public Purpose
The 5's approved rules of procedure state how a motion is made: "When a motion is made and, when required, seconded, it shall be restated by the Presiding Officer and the Commissioner who made the motion shall have the floor." This avoids confusion. The Board and its parliamentarian, County Attorney Joel Foreman, ignored the rule. Clerk of the Court Jay Swisher did not attend the meeting. Had he attended, he may have ensured his deputy clerk had precise information to accurately record Mr. Murphy's motion.
Can the Board amend the County Budget on the fly at the final budget hearing? Yes. However, to move funds from the Health Care Responsibility Act line in the approved budget, The 5 will have to make a budget resolution to transfer the funds to the Gateway Art Gallery.
Can the Board provide public funds for the Art Gallery to purchase a privately owned building without declaring and defining the public purpose? No.
The Columbia County 5: Columbia County's infamous 5 continues flying by the seat of its pants. It is what it does best.
